cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proactive decision support for dynamic assignment and routing of Unmanned Aerial Systems

Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) missions are executed by teams of operators with highly specialized training and roles; however, the task demands on each operator are highly variable, often resulting in uneven workloads among operators and sometimes in mishaps. Therefore, there is a need to develop anticipative and effective decision support algorithms that permit the evaluation of courses of action (COAs), while assuring that operators are attending to the right task at the right time and that task demands do not exceed the operator's cognitive capabilities in dynamic multi-mission environments. Motivated by the need to assist UAS operators in efficiently managing their workloads, this paper develops algorithms for the dynamic scheduling of UAS tasks by providing efficient COA recommendations in an unobtrusive manner. The dynamic scheduling of a set of UASs to search for targets with varying rewards is an NP-hard problem. We model this problem as an extension to the open vehicle routing problem (OVRP). Extensions to OVRP include risk propensity of human decision making, task deadlines, and multiple vehicle types. UAS operators would benefit greatly from the COA recommendations and the algorithms proposed in this paper by a) enhancing rapid planning and re-planning capabilities; b) proactive allocation of UASs, while balancing operator workloads; and c) adapting plans as new targets of opportunity appear or information is updated about a target and/or UAS. The proposed algorithms are embedded in the Supervisory Control Operations User Testbed (SCOUTTM), an experimental paradigm developed by the Naval Research Laboratory-Washington DC.
Agile Virtual Infrastructure for Cyber Deception Against Stealthy DDoS Attacks

DDoS attacks have been a persistent threat to network availability for many years. Most of the existing mitigation techniques attempt to protect against DDoS by filtering out attack traffic. However, as critical network resources are usually static, adversaries are able to bypass filtering by sending stealthy low traffic from large number of bots that mimic benign traffic behavior. Sophisticated stealthy attacks on critical links can cause a devastating effect such as partitioning domains and networks. Our proposed approach, called MoveNet, defend against DDoS attacks by proactively and reactively changing the footprint of critical resources in an unpredictable fashion to deceive attacker’s knowledge about critical network resources. MoveNet employs virtual networks (VNs) to offer constant, dynamic and threat-aware reallocation of critical network resources (VN migration). Our approach has two components: (1) a correct-by-construction VN migration planning that significantly increases the uncertainty about critical links of multiple VNs while preserving the VN properties, and (2) an efficient VN migration mechanism that identifies the appropriate configuration sequence to enable node migration while maintaining the network integrity (e.g., avoiding session disconnection). We formulate and implement this framework using Satisfiability Modulo Theory (SMT) logic. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of our implemented framework on both PlanetLab and Mininet-based experimentations.
Divergence of Methanogens, Conservation of the His I Gene Sequence in all Three Biological Kingdoms and the Status of Methanobacterium Thermoautotrophicum

Methanogens are archaebacteria [1]. It was therefore somewhat surprising when it was shown that methanogen-derived genes could function in eubacterial species [2]. This has offered the opportunity of using gene cloning in Escherichia coli to investigate the basic structure of methanogen genes [3, 4] and to use E. coli to synthesize methanogen enzymes involved in methanogenesis [5] and nitrogen fixation [6].
Utilization Behavior and Frontal Lobe Lesions

Utilization behavior was investigated in an adult with an acute behavioral disturbance, memory deficits, and a localized inferior medial bifrontal lesion at the Psychology Department, National Hospital, Queen Square, London; the MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology, Atkinson Morley's Hospital, Wimbledon; and St. Andrews Hospital, Northampton, UK.
Cement hydration from hours to centuries controlled by diffusion through barrier shells of C-S-H

Abstract Although a few good models for cement hydration exist, they have some limitations. Some do not take into account the complete range of variation of pore relative humidity and temperature, and apply over durations limited from up a few months to up to about a year. The ones that are applicable for long durations are either computationally too intensive for use in finite element programs or predict the hydration to terminate after few months. However, recent tests of autogenous shrinkage and swelling in water imply that the hydration may continue, at decaying rate, for decades, provided that a not too low relative pore humidity (above 0.7) persists for a long time, as expected for the cores of thick concrete structural members. Therefore, and because design lifetimes of over hundred years are required for large concrete structures, a new hydration model for a hundred year lifespan and beyond is developed. The new model considers that, after the first day of hydration, the remnants of anhydrous cement grains, gradually consumed by hydration, are enveloped by contiguous, gradually thickening, spherical barrier shells of calcium-silicate hydrate (C-S-H). The hydration progress is controlled by transport of water from capillary pores through the barrier shells toward the interface with anhydrous cement. The transport is driven by a difference of humidity, defined by equivalence with the difference in chemical potential of water. Although, during the period of 4–24 h, the C-S-H forms discontinuous nano-globules around the cement grain, an equivalent barrier shell control was formulated for this period, too, for ease and effectiveness of calculation. The entire model is calibrated and validated by published test data on the evolution of hydration degree for various cement types, particle size distributions, water-cement ratios and temperatures. Computationally, this model is sufficiently effective for calculating the evolution of hydration degree (or aging) at every integration point of every finite element in a large structure.
A constitutive equation for thixotropic suspensions with yield stress by coarse‐graining a population balance model

A population balance model appropriate for the shear flow of thixotropic colloidal suspensions with yield stress is derived and tested against experimental data on a model system available in the literature. Modifications are made to account for dynamic arrest at the onset of the yield stress, in addition to enforcing a minimum particle size below which breakage is not feasible. The resulting constitutive model also incorporates a structural based relaxation time, unlike existing phenomenological models that use the inverse of the material shear rate as the relaxation time. The model provides a reasonable representation of experimental data for a model thixotropic suspension in the literature, capturing the important thixotropic timescales. When compared to prevalent structure kinetics models, the coarse-grained population balance equation is shown to be distinct, emphasizing the novelty of utilizing population balances as a basis for thixotropic suspension modeling. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 517–531, 2017
Risk factors for community-associated multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in veterans with spinal cord injury and disorder: a retrospective cohort study.

Retrospective cohort study To identify independent risk factors associated with community-associated multidrug-resistant Psedomonas aeruginosa (MDRPA) in a population of veterans with spinal cord injury and disorders (SCI/D). A total of 127 Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities. Laboratory results from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2013 were collected, and MDRPA cultures were compared with non-MDRPA cultures. One thousand four hundred forty-one cultures were collected from Veterans with SCI/D, including 227 cultures with MDRPA isolates. Characteristics associated with an increased odds of MDRPA include age 50–64 (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.80, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.13–2.87), MDRPA culture in the past 365 days (aOR=9.12, 95% CI=5.88–14.15) and carbapenem exposure in the past 90 days (aOR=2.56, 95% CI=1.35–4.87). In contrast, paraplegia was associated with a 53% decreased odds of MDRPA compared with those with tetraplegia (aOR=0.47, 95% CI=0.32–0.69). Risk factors for community-associated MDRPA include prior history of MDRPA and exposure to carbapenems. Awareness of these factors is important for targeted prevention and treatment of MDRPA in patients with SCI/D.
Corrosion Mechanism Analysis of a 20# Carbon Steel Lightning Rod on a Substation

A lightning rod on a coastal substation cracked, so the related equipment is forced to be shut down. Optical microscope, spectrometer, SEM, EDS and ion chromatograph were adopted to analyze the corrosion mechanism. Results show that the lightning rod is corroded severely. The material of this lightning rod is 20# carbon steel. The corroded part and the uncorroded part are divided into two layers. Nodulizing of pearlites is evident in the microstructure of corroded area. Both of EDS and ion chromatograph detect high concentration of chloride ion and sulfate ion from the corrosion products. In this sense, corrosion is probably induced by coastal-industrial atmosphere and rainwater pollution. Besides, improper structure of the lightning rod is also a factor to cause the corrosion.
Species, climate and landscape physiography drive variable growth trends in subalpine forests.

Forests around the world are undergoing rapid changes due to changing climate and increasing physiological stress, but forest response to climate at the ecosystem scale can be highly variable due to the mixed responses of different trees across heterogeneous landscapes. To determine the response of ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains to climate stress, we investigated the response of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) and Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), two widely distributed subalpine forest species of Rocky Mountains, to climate warming across a region characterized by gradients of elevation, aspect and soil type. We investigated the growth trend of individual trees through time, determined the climate variables most important for driving growth and quantified the interactions between climate and topography that influence long-term growth trends and potential ecological changes across the study region. Growth trends of these two species are similar through the first part of the century, but diverge during the last several decades. Since 1975, subalpine fir growth decreased through time, while Engelmann spruce growth increased. We find that aspect and warm summer temperatures are the most important factors determining growth in subalpine fir, and subalpine fir growth declines are greatest on east- and south-facing aspects. In contrast, Engelmann spruce growth is uniformly unresponsive to climate. In addition to highlighting the importance of species-level differences in growth response to climate, our results also identify interactions between climate and local physiography as controls on long-term growth trends and suggest that the local landscape physiography can mediate climate-related stress in forested ecosystems. This work advances our understanding of how forest stress is mitigated by landscape factors at the ecosystem scale, and how interactions of species, landscape and climate will control future ecosystem composition and forest growth dynamics.
LED-triggered photoconductive semiconductor switches for nanosecond pulse generation

Photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS) is of interest to the high voltage, pulsed power technology and their applications due to its excellent properties of high hold-off voltage, fast response time, low jitter and robust stability. It is known that optical switches have advantages in electrical insulation and flexibility over electrical switches especially for high voltage pulsed power switching. PCSSs are solid-state switches but optically triggered, and thereby promise low jitter, delay, and free of electromagnetic interference [1]. The traditional optical sources for triggering PCSS are nanosecond solid-state lasers or laser diodes and the lowest optical energy of triggering was reported at about 2 nJ [2]. With the recent development of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), triggering of PCSS with LEDs may be possible [3]. We report here a nanosecond pulsed power generation using a LED-triggered PCSS. A GaAs-based PCSS was tested to hold off up to 4.5 kV with a LED-based optical pulse. When the LED was driven by a 16.3-ns pulsed current of 110 A, with a rise time of 7.75 ns, the optical pulse of 0.8 nJ switched the PCSS into a low conductive phase, however, was not sufficient to fully turn on the PCSS (to a linear mode).
Study Behaviors: Their Influence on Studentss Academic Performance

Students are indispensable asset in any educational institutions; therefore, their academic performance is essential to schools as it reflects their competencies that can be of use when serving the community at large. This study looked into the relationship of students’ study behavior on their academic performance. Multiple regression analysis was utilized in the study. There were ninety-nine (99) hospitality management students participated in the study who were enrolled during the second semester of academic year 2015-2016. This study employed Bliss et al., (1993, 2004) study behavior inventory. Collectively, the study confirmed Schunk et al., (1994); Yumusak et al., (2007); Hughes et al., (2007) that the study behavior is predictive to students’ academic performance. However, the study further confirmed that only the academic self-efficacy was found to be a good predictor of one’s educational performance (Sharma et al., 2014). The result of the study supports the institutions’ academic paradigm shift in the practice and application of outcomes-based education.
Software-based gate-level information flow security for IoT systems

The growing movement to connect literally everything to the internet (internet of things or IoT) through ultra-low-power embedded microprocessors poses a critical challenge for information security. Gate-level tracking of information flows has been proposed to guarantee information flow security in computer systems. However, such solutions rely on non-commodity, secure-by-design processors. In this work, we observe that the need for secure-by-design processors arises because previous works on gate-level information flow tracking assume no knowledge of the application running in a system. Since IoT systems typically run a single application over and over for the lifetime of the system, we see a unique opportunity to provide application-specific gate-level information flow security for IoT systems. We develop a gate-level symbolic analysis framework that uses knowledge of the application running in a system to efficiently identify all possible information flow security vulnerabilities for the system. We leverage this information to provide security guarantees on commodity processors. We also show that security vulnerabilities identified by our analysis framework can be eliminated through software modifications at 15% energy overhead, on average, obviating the need for secure-by-design hardware. Our framework also allows us to identify and eliminate only the vulnerabilities that an application is prone to, reducing the cost of information flow security by 3.3 x compared to a software-based approach that assumes no application knowledge.CCS CONCEPTS• Computer systems organization→Special purpose systems; Embedded systems;
Culture: Contexts of Ethical Leadership

Ethical leadership is not divorced from contexts. Instead, the anchors of creation and eschatology help to provide lenses for appropriate use and modification of leadership models in given contexts. 1 Timothy is analysed as a document that contextualizes and appropriates leadership models from wider Greco-Roman culture for Christian, therefore ethical leadership. Revelation is also studied for its implications on political leadership and the use of power efficiently.
A Deeper Look at the Small Bowel: Training Pathways in Video Capsule Endoscopy and Device-Assisted Enteroscopy

Although there are guidelines for video capsule endoscopy (VCE) and device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE), little is known about fellowship training in these technologies. The aims were to better characterize current small bowel endoscopy training in 3-year GI fellowship programs and 4th-year advanced endoscopy programs in the U.S. We developed an online multiple-choice survey to assess current GI fellowship program training in small bowel endoscopy. The survey was distributed via email to GI fellowship program directors in the U.S. Of the 168 program directors contacted, 59 responded (response rate = 35.1%). There was no statistically significant difference in the availability of VCE or DAE between respondents and non-respondents. VCE training was universally available in 3-year training programs, with 84.8% (50/59) requiring it for fellows. The majority of 3-year GI fellows graduated with independence in VCE: 83.1% (49/59) of programs reported “most” or “all” graduates were able to read independently. DAE techniques were available in 86.4% of training programs (51/59). Training in DAE was more limited and shared between 3-year and 4th-year programs: 12.1% (7/58) of 3-year programs required training in DAE and 22.9% (8/35) of 4th-year programs required training in DAE . Training in VCE is widely available in U.S. GI fellowship programs, although programs have different ways of incorporating this training into the curriculum and of measuring competency. While DAE technology was available in the majority of programs, training was less frequently available, and training is shared between 3-year fellowship programs and 4th-year advanced endoscopy programs .
Die Wohlgestaltung des wahren Menschen

Nehmen Sie einfach an, dass wahre Menschen ein sehr empfindliches Seismographensystem haben, also einen ganz leicht verletzlichen Instinkt.
Using assertions about traces to write abstract specifications for software modules

A specification for a software module is a statement of the requirements that the final programs must meet. In this paper we concentrate on that portion of the specification that describes the interface between the module being specified and other programs (or persons) that will interact with that module. Because of the complexity of software products, it is advantageous to be able to evaluate the design of this interface without reference to any possible implementations. The first sections of this paper present an approach to the writing of black box specifications, that takes advantage of Guttag's work on abstract specification [9]. Then we illustrate it on a number of small examples, and discuss checking the completeness of a specification. Finally we describe a case history of a module design. Although the module is a simple one, the early specifications (written using an earlier notation) contained design flaws that were not detected in spite of the involvement of several persons in a series of discussions about the module. These errors are easily recognized using the method introduced in this paper.
Exercise increases inflammatory macrophage antitumor cytotoxicity

This study determined the effects of exercise on the ability of inflammatory macrophages to inhibit tumor cell growth in vitro (macrophage cytotoxicity). Thioglycollate injection (1 ml ip) was used...
Bioinspired Metal–Organic Framework for Trace CO2 Capture

A Zn benzotriazolate metal–organic framework (MOF), [Zn(ZnO2CCH3)4(bibta)3] (1, bibta2– = 5,5′-bibenzotriazolate), has been subjected to a mild CH3CO2–/HCO3– ligand exchange procedure followed by thermal activation to generate nucleophilic Zn–OH groups that resemble the active site of α-carbonic anhydrase. The postsynthetically modified MOF, [Zn(ZnOH)4(bibta)3] (2*), exhibits excellent performance for trace CO2 capture and can be regenerated at mild temperatures. IR spectroscopic data and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that intercluster hydrogen bonding interactions augment a Zn–OH/Zn–O2COH fixation mechanism.
Reframing the Protohistoric Period and the (Peri)Colonial Process for the North American Central Plains

In the North American Great Plains archaeologists struggle to define interpretative frameworks to capture events, people and processes between 1500 C.E. and 1800 C.E. Europeans did not simultaneous...
Monte Carlo stochastic simulation of the master equation for unimolecular reaction systems

Abstract In this chapter, the basic elements of Gillespie's stochastic simulation algorithm (SSA) are presented and it is shown how the SSA has been implemented for simulating multi-well, multi-channel unimolecular reaction systems. This includes the Monte Carlo selection of initial energies, collision step sizes, and reaction paths. Related processes are also described, including thermalization by spontaneous infrared emission, infrared multiphoton pumping, and competition between unimolecular and concurrent bimolecular reactions of excited intermediates. Several examples are presented.
Enhancing Mathematics Fluency: Comparing the Spacing of Practice Sessions With the Number of Opportunities to Respond

The number of opportunities to respond (OTR) and spacing (massed or distributed practice) of practice sessions are important variables to consider in instructional design. The purpose of this pilot...
Hypophosphorous acid–iodine: a novel reducing system.

Abstract A mixture of hypophosphorous acid (H3PO2) and iodine in hot acetic acid reduces diaryl ketones quickly and aryl alkyl ketones slowly to the corresponding methylene derivatives. The active reducing agent is hydrogen iodide, generated by reaction between iodine and hypophosphorous acid.
Electronic band structures of the scheelite materials CaMoO 4 , CaWO 4 , PbMoO 4 , and PbWO 4

Density-functional calculations using the linearized-augmented-plane-wave method were carried out for the scheelite materials ${\mathrm{CaMoO}}_{4},$ ${\mathrm{CaWO}}_{4},$ ${\mathrm{PbMoO}}_{4},$ and ${\mathrm{PbWO}}_{4}$ in order to determine their ground-state electronic properties. The results indicate that ${\mathrm{CaMoO}}_{4}$ and ${\mathrm{CaWO}}_{4}$ have direct band gaps at the center of the Brillouin zone, while ${\mathrm{PbMoO}}_{4}$ and ${\mathrm{PbWO}}_{4}$ have band extrema at wave vectors away from the zone center with possibly indirect band gaps. The magnitudes of the band gaps increase in the order ${\mathrm{PbMoO}}_{4}{l\mathrm{PbWO}}_{4}{l\mathrm{CaMoO}}_{4}{l\mathrm{CaWO}}_{4}.$ The valence and conduction bands near the band gap are dominated by molecular orbitals associated with the ${\mathrm{MoO}}_{4}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}$ and ${\mathrm{WO}}_{4}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}$ ions, where $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\approx}2.$ The valence-band widths are 5 and 5.5 eV for the Ca and Pb materials, respectively. In the Pb materials, the Pb $6s$ states form narrow bands 1 eV below the bottom of the valence bands, and also hybridize with states throughout the valence bands, while the Pb $6p$ states hybridize with states throughout the conduction bands. In the Ca materials, the Ca $3d$ states contribute to a high density of states 3--4 eV above the bottom of the conduction bands.
Assessment of textbook oncologic outcomes following pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Composite outcomes may more accurately reflect patient and provider expectations around optimal care. We sought to determine the impact of achieving a so-called "textbook oncologic outcome" (TOO) among patients undergoing resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS Patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for PDAC between 2006 and 2016 were identified in the National Cancer Database (NCDB). TOO was defined by: margin negative resection, compliant lymph node evaluation, no prolonged length-of-stay, no 30-day readmission/mortality, and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy. Factors associated with TOO and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using multivariable logistic and Cox regression models, respectively. RESULTS Among 18 608 patients who underwent PD at 782 hospitals, many patients successfully achieved certain TOO factors such as R0 margin (77.9%) and no 30-day mortality (96.9%), while other TOO criteria such as receipt of adjuvant therapy (48.2%) were achieved less frequently. Overall, only 3124 (16.8%) patients achieved a TOO. Factors associated with lower odds of TOO included: older age, Black race, Medicaid insurance, Community facility, and low PD facility (<20 PD/y) (all P < .05). Achievement of a TOO was associated with lower risk of mortality (HR 0.74; 95% CI, 0.70-0.77). CONCLUSIONS While TOO was associated with improved long-term survival, TOO was only achieved in 16.8% of patients undergoing PD.
Allergen Removal and Transfer with Wiping and Cleaning Methods Used in Retail and Food Service Establishments.

ABSTRACT Preventing the transfer of allergens from one food to another via food contact surfaces in retail food environments is an important aspect of retail food safety. Existing recommendations for wiping and cleaning food contact surfaces is mainly focused on preventing microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, from contaminating foods. The effectiveness of these wiping and cleaning recommendations for preventing the transfer of food allergens in retail and food service establishments remains unclear. This project investigated (i) allergen removal from surfaces by wiping with paper wipes, terry cloth, and alcohol quaternary ammonium chloride (quat) sanitizing wipes; (ii) cleaning of allergen-contaminated surfaces by using a wash-rinse-sanitize-air dry procedure; and (iii) allergen transfer from contaminated wipes to multiple surfaces. Food contact surfaces (stainless steel, textured plastic, and maple wood) were contaminated with peanut-, milk- and egg-containing foods and subjected to various wiping and cleaning procedures. For transfer experiments, dry paper wipes or wet cloths contaminated with allergenic foods were wiped on four surfaces of the same composition. Allergen-specific lateral flow devices were used to detect the presence of allergen residues on wiped or cleaned surfaces. Although dry wipes and cloths were not effective for removing allergenic foods, terry cloth presoaked in water or sanitizer solution, use of multiple quat wipes, and the wash-rinse-sanitize-air dry procedure were effective in allergen removal from surfaces. Allergens present on dry wipes were transferred to wiped surfaces. In contrast, minimal or no allergen transfer to surfaces was found when allergen-contaminated terry cloth was submerged in sanitizer solution prior to wiping surfaces. The full cleaning method (wash-rinse-sanitize-air dry) and soaking the terry cloth in sanitizer solution prior to wiping were effective at allergen removal and minimizing allergen transfer. HIGHLIGHTS
Trait mindfulness and intrinsic exercise motivation uniquely contribute to exercise self-efficacy

Objective: Traditional views of exercise motivation emphasize the long-term health benefits of exercise. We investigated whether mindfulness, present-moment awareness, is associated with greater ex...
Demographics and Outcomes of Pulmonary Hypertension Patients in United States Emergency Departments

Author(s): Wilcox, Susan R.; Faridi, M. Kamal; Camargo Jr., Carlos A. | Abstract: Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common, yet under-diagnosed, contributor to morbidity and mortality. Our objective was to characterize the prevalence of PH among adult patients presenting to United States (US) emergency departments (ED) and to identify demographic patterns and outcomes of PH patients in the ED.Methods: We analyzed the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) database, with a focus on ED patients aged 18 years and older, with any International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification (ICD)-9-CM or ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for PH from 2011 to 2015. The primary outcome was inpatient, all-cause mortality. The secondary outcomes were hospital admission rates and hospital length of stay (LOS).Results: From 2011 to 2015, in a sample of 121,503,743 ED visits, representing a weighted estimate of 545,500,486 US ED visits, patients with a diagnosis of PH accounted for 0.78% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75- 0.80%) of all US ED visits. Of the PH visits, 86.9% were admitted to the hospital, compared to 16.3% for all other ED visits (P l0.001). Likewise, hospital LOS and hospital-based mortality were higher in the PH group than for other ED patients (e.g., inpatient mortality 4.5% vs 2.6%, P l 0.001) with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.34 (95% CI, 1.31–1.37). Age had the strongest association with mortality, with an aOR of 10.6 for PH patients over 80 years (95% CI, 10.06–11.22), compared to a reference of ages 18 to 30 years.Conclusion: In this nationally representative sample, presentations by patients with PH were relatively common, accounting for nearly 0.8% of US ED visits. Patients with PH were significantly more likely to be admitted to the hospital than all other patients, had longer hospital LOS, and increased risk of inpatient mortality.
A study of robust portfolio optimization with European options using polyhedral uncertainty sets

Abstract We consider the problem of maximizing the worst-case return of a portfolio when the manager can invest in stocks as well as European options on those stocks, and the stock returns are modeled using an uncertainty set approach. Specifically, the manager knows a range forecast for each factor driving the returns and a budget of uncertainty limiting the scaled deviations of these factors from their nominal values. Our goal is to understand the impact of options on the optimal portfolio allocation. We present theoretical results regarding the structure of that optimal allocation, in particular with respect to portfolio diversification. Specifically, we show that the presence of options only leads to limited diversification across the financial instruments available. We compare our robust portfolio to several benchmarks in numerical experiments and analyze how the optimal allocation varies with the budget of uncertainty. Our results indicate that our approach performs very well in practice.
A case of thymoma with type A and micronodular thymoma with lymphoid stroma elements

Abstract Here we present a case of a 75-year-old man with an incidentally discovered anterior mediastinal mass, which on resection showed histologic features of both type A and micronodular thymoma with lymphoid stroma (MNT). MNT is a rare variant of thymoma with a characteristic appearance of distinct nodules of epithelial cells with few interspersed lymphocytes surrounded by abundant lymphoid stroma that lacks epithelial cells. We discuss features of this tumor and compare similar cases reported in the literature.
Stealing (Identity) From the Poor

The law of data breaches is new, dynamic, and evolving. The number and complexity of breaches increases each year and legal scholars, courts, and policymakers scramble to respond. In 2019, 14.4 million consumers became victims of identity theft, the most problematic consequence of data breaches for consumers. Indeed, one-third of all Americans have experienced identity theft at some point in their lives. Yet despite low-income groups comprising at least thirty percent of all identity theft victims, existing discourse and debate on the regulatory regime governing data breaches and identity theft primarily reflects the experiences and concerns of middle- and high-income groups. Debates remain uninformed by detailed analysis of how the use of illegally obtained data may uniquely harm low-income individuals and how these harms may be exacerbated for low-income victims who are Black. We lack careful theoretical assessment of the complex relationship between identity theft victimization and wider structures of inequality. This Article uses original data to fill these significant descriptive, theoretical, and normative gaps in the literature. It then turns toward exploring the common and understudied problem of aligning regulatory regimes with the needs of prototypical higher-income people, leaving those who are low-income to operate within a system that was not designed to help them—what I call plutocentric regulation. Finally, the Article proposes a new federal agency, the Data Privacy and Identity Recovery Agency (DPIRA), to streamline the process for identity theft victims and make the recovery process equitable for all victims, regardless of their income.
The Environment as an Input to Production and as a Provider of Amenities

The rhetoric of welfare analysis concerning the often-cited hypothetical tradeoffs of environmental amenities versus industrial production is analyzed here. These tradeoffs also pertain to the problem of equity for future generations and people at distance. A Rawlsian analysis of these equity problems is presented as an ethical solution. The rhetoric of the “Coase Theorem” is a substantial part of this notion of welfare efficiency as reviewed here. The cost–benefit analysis for government-provided environmental-related projects is also reviewed, and this includes the methodology for the current evaluation of environmental quality impacts.
Techniques for Subsea Transmission Systems

We review the most significant innovations happening in the submarine cable systems domain. The review includes wet-plant and transponder technologies, ranging from optical fiber switching in the branching units to advanced signal processing for earthquake detection.
Mani’s Metivta: Manichaean Pedagogy in its Late Antique Mesopotamian Context

This article investigates the nature of Manichaean pedagogy as expressed through the late antique codices known as the Kephalaia of the Teacher and the Kephalaia of the Wisdom of my Lord Mani. By paying attention to a range of contextual cues that frame each moment of instruction, it first argues that much like their rabbinic and Christian neighbors, Mesopotamian Manichaeans did not study in academic institutions. Rather, instruction took place on an ad-hoc, individual basis, often based on happenstance events; there is no mention of a building dedicated to learning, a standard curriculum, or a semester schedule. This article then contextualizes this form of non-institutionalized Manichaean instruction by comparing three formulae found in the Kephalaia codices that have parallels in the Babylonian Talmud: the formula of Mani “sitting among” his disciples (or of his disciples “sitting before” Mani), of Mani’s disciples “standing before” Mani, and of various people “coming before” Mani. In so doing, this article ultimately argues that the Babylonian Rabbis and Syro-Mesopotamian Manichaeans shared a common pedagogical habitus, one expressed through bodily comportment and hierarchy rather than through the imposition of institutional norms.
Rainfall Probability and Agricultural Yield in Ethiopia

Yield variability in Ethiopian agriculture can be partly explained by rainfall. The degree of yield variability over time is changed not only by the amount of rainfall, but also by the pattern and frequency of the rainfall cycle. Mean annual rainfall is often the only index of rainfall quoted for a place for the purpose of rainfall-yield relationship analysis. For agriculture, however, the critical question is how often a place receives too little, enough or too much rain for a particular form of crop production to be carried out successfully. Using station level rainfall data from 1954-1994 and agricultural production data of major cereal crops from 1980-1994 for four provinces of Ethiopia, this study attempts to show patterns of rainfall and provide insight into the preparation of an early warning system in the country. Time series analysis techniques, Auto-Regressive Moving Average (ARMA) and Vector Auto-Regressive (VAR) models are used to see the pattern of rainfall and response of yield to rainfall as well as to previous yield shocks. The results of this study show that rainfall cycle can be determined only for BELG rain in Gojjam (thirty-five years) and total rain in Harar (eleven years) and Jima (seventeen years). All other series have no cyclical component; however, drought-prone provinces show some deterministic component in the rainfall process. Results from estimation of VAR show that current levels of yield respond to previous levels of yield even more than responses to rainfall in most provinces.
Challenges in Drugs of Abuse Testing: Magic Mushrooms, Peyote Cactus, and Designer Drugs

Some designer drugs (such as MDMA) can be detected by amphetamine immunoassays, but many cannot. Examples of drugs of abuse that cannot be detected by routine testing include amphetamine analogs (and the recently introduced bath salts), synthetic marijuana (spices), and the date rape drug gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB). This chapter will discuss these designer drugs with an emphasis on what can be done to detect them in suspected urine specimens.
Assessing the effects of school‐wide Second Step implementation in a predominately English language learner, low SES, Latino sample

Because school violence is widespread, social and emotional competence must be targeted. Second Step is a social and emotional violence-prevention curriculum that teaches prosocial skills and reduces aggressive behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Second Step implementation on students (N = 403) in preschool through fourth grade who were predominately Latino, English language learners, and from families with low socioeconomic status. The data of 165 out of the 403 students were included in the present study. Analyses consisted of paired-samples t-tests to identify changes in social and emotional knowledge and behavioral and emotional risk. Results showed that there was a significant increase in both social and emotional knowledge and behavioral and emotional risk following the implementation of Second Step. These results are discussed with regard to previous and future research, limitations, and implications for school practice.
Battery Health Management System for Automotive Applications: A retroactivity-based aging propagation study

Advances in lithium-ion battery technology have created new opportunities for this energy storage system to penetrate much deeper into the transportation sector, especially through automotive hybridization. In automotive applications, managing and optimizing the safety and reliability of batteries is of great interest for both users and manufacturers. To this purpose, battery management system (BMS) implements critical tasks such as monitoring battery health status, charge control, and cell balancing together with the evaluation of state of charge, state of health, and state of life. In this paper, we focus on BMS tasks related to the battery health management. We first cover main definitions, terminology and concept of batteries in automotive applications. An electrical-thermal-aging model of the battery cell is proposed, which is written in terms of fast (i.e. state of charge) and slow (i.e. state of health) dynamics. The time-scale separation of the proposed model is characterized quantitatively. A framework to analyze the propagation of aging from cell-to-cell within a battery pack is developed and the properties of an interconnected system from a degradation standpoint are studied. Further, a generalized framework for interconnected cells exhibiting the phenomenon of retroctivity is described. In addition, the effect of retroactivity and the extent of aging propagation are evaluated in a series and parallel topology, first and in a mixed series-parallel battery configuration later.
Chemical Modification of Amino Acid Residues Associated with the δ4-3-Ketosteroid-dependent Photoinactivation of δ5-3Xetosteroid Isomerase

Abstract The photoinactivation of the δ5-3-ketosteroid isomerase of Pseudomonas testosteroni in the presence of 3-oxo-4-estren-17β-yl acetate and air is accompanied by destruction of histidine and aspartate (or asparagine). The first order rate constant of photoinactivation of the enzyme is. equal, within experimental error, to the first order rate constant for the destruction of a single aspartate (or asparagine) residue and is considerably greater than the first order rate constant for the destruction of a single residue of histidine. When thephotolysis is carried out under anaerobic conditions, only aspartic acid (or asparagine) is destroyed as enzyme is inactivated. Both inactivation and aspartate (or asparagine) destruction occur to a greater extent in the absence of oxygen than in its presence. The destruction of histidine, on the other hand, is found to be strictly oxygen-dependent. These results suggest that photochemical modification of a single residue of aspartate (or asparagine) is largely, if not entirely, responsible for photoinactivation of the enzyme under these conditions. When irradiated in the presence of 3-oxo-4-extren-17β-yl acetate, performic acid-oxidized bovine pancreatic ribonuclease does not suffer any detectable destruction of its aspartic or asparaginyl residues but does undergo significant destruction of its histidine residues. These observations suggest that the aspartate (or asparagine) residue modification found with isomerase is an active site-directed photochemical reaction, whereas the modification of histidine may not be.
An algorithm for order statistic determination and L-filtering

An algorithm is presented for order-statistic determination which operates in a number of steps fewer than or equal to the number of bits in the binary representation of the input. The algorithm uses a bit-level thresholding operation on input data in binary representation with both adaptive thresholds and adaptive binary weights, and it does not require any auxiliary data structure. A bit-level pipelined implementation for this scheme is also presented whose hardware complexity is bounded by N(log/sub 2/N) where N is the window size; this leads to a pipelined structure for L-filtering. >
"Slow" Voltage-Dependent Inactivation of CaV2.2 Calcium Channels Is Modulated by the PKC Activator Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-Acetate (PMA).

CaV2.2 (N-type) voltage-gated calcium channels (Ca2+ channels) play key roles in neurons and neuroendocrine cells including the control of cellular excitability, neurotransmitter / hormone secretion, and gene expression. Calcium entry is precisely controlled by channel gating properties including multiple forms of inactivation. “Fast” voltage-dependent inactivation is relatively well-characterized and occurs over the tens-to- hundreds of milliseconds timeframe. Superimposed on this is the molecularly distinct, but poorly understood process of “slow” voltage-dependent inactivation, which develops / recovers over seconds-to-minutes. Protein kinases can modulate “slow” inactivation of sodium channels, but little is known about if/how second messengers control “slow” inactivation of Ca2+ channels. We investigated this using recombinant CaV2.2 channels expressed in HEK293 cells and native CaV2 channels endogenously expressed in adrenal chromaffin cells. The PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) dramatically prolonged recovery from “slow” inactivation, but an inactive control (4α-PMA) had no effect. This effect of PMA was prevented by calphostin C, which targets the C1-domain on PKC, but only partially reduced by inhibitors that target the catalytic domain of PKC. The subtype of the channel β-subunit altered the kinetics of inactivation but not the magnitude of slowing produced by PMA. Intracellular GDP-β-S reduced the effect of PMA suggesting a role for G proteins in modulating “slow” inactivation. We postulate that the kinetics of recovery from “slow” inactivation could provide a molecular memory of recent cellular activity and help control CaV2 channel availability, electrical excitability, and neurotransmission in the seconds-to-minutes timeframe.
Comment on “On the Doubly Hydrogen Bonded Dimer of 7-Azaindole (0.1 M) as a Model for DNA Base Pairs in Acetonitrile Solutions at Rt”

In continuation of comments by Catalan, the latest here questions the steady-state emission spectra of 7-azaindole, and hence the validity of non-concerted proton transfer. In this comment, we show that his results are at fault and not supportive of his claims. We provide possible causes of the misleading claims, including the contamination of the solvent with water moisture. We conclude by calling for an end to such practice, which is counter productive, as it does not follow the scholarly approach of science.
Recombinant Interleukin-2

Recombinant interleukin (IL)-2 is a newly approved immunoregulatory protein produced by lymphocytes that exhibits a wide range of immunologic effects. It is a true biologic response modifier in that is has no known direct antitumor activity, but mediates its cytotoxicity through activation of effector cells including T cells, natural killer cells, and lymphokine-activated killer cells. Recombinant IL-2 has demonstrated activity in patients with renal cell carcinoma and melanoma, with objective response rates of approximately 15-20%. The median duration of response in renal cell carcinoma is 23 months. Toxicity experienced with high-dose IL-2 can be significant. The most common dose-limiting toxicities are hypertension, weight gain, oliguria, respiratory insufficiency, and neurotoxicity. These effects are generally manageable and reversible on discontinuation of therapy. Administration of low-dose IL-2 has emerged as a means of substantially reducing toxicity. At least in renal cell carcinoma, it appears that the response rate to low-dose IL-2 is comparable to that with higher dosages.
Validation of a patient headache care education system (PHCES) developed from a unified modeling language (UML) domain model

The research goal in the author's study of educational medical information systems tools is to improve the performance of patient decision making by integrating medical professional information with computer augmented information. In part, this goal may be reached by development with validated reusable PCES object design models and with the help of a valid PHCES derived from these models.