cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcome of Adult Patients with Hemophagocytic Syndrome: A Tertiary Care Center Experience

Abstract 1040 Introduction: Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a rare disorder characterized by fever, splenomegaly, cytopenias, hypofibrinogenemia, hyperferritinemia and hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow or lymph nodes. It is caused by pathologic activation of the immune system, and manifests clinically with signs and symptoms related to extreme inflammation. Primary HPS or familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) occurs predominantly in children ( 18 years) and is precipitated by autoimmune disorders, malignancy and a variety of infections. The results of HLH-94 trial, the largest prospective study in pediatric patients with HLH, reported an estimated 5-year survival of 54%. There is a paucity of information about HPS in adult patients. Methods: Records of all adult (≥ 18 years) patients with a diagnosis of “hemophagocytosis“ or “hemophagocytic syndrome” presenting from January 1996 through December 2011 at Mayo Clinic were reviewed. Our hematopathology database was also analyzed for patients bearing a diagnosis of HPS. Out of a total of 127 patients identified in the database, 50 adult patients were diagnosed to have HPS as per the diagnostic criteria of the HLH-1994 trial (for patients seen prior to 2004), and HLH-2004 trial (for patients seen after 2004). This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Mayo Clinic. Results: Baseline characteristics of all patients are shown in Table 1. The median time to diagnosis from the onset of symptoms was 38 days (4–158 days). Secondary HPS was diagnosed in 46 (92%) patients. The causes of secondary HPS are shown in Table 2. Twenty (40%) patients were treated with etoposide containing regimen, 26 (52%) were treated with therapeutic agents directed specifically to the underlying precipitating disease, and 4 (8%) patients did not receive any treatment. No patient in our study underwent a stem cell transplant (SCT). After a median follow-up of 43 months, 36 (72%) patients have died. The causes of death were infection (47%), malignancy (42%), bleeding (8%) and unknown (3%). The median overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 1.5 months (95% CI, 0.7–4.5 months). The median OS for patients with malignancy- related HPS was 0.8 months (95% CI, 0.4–2.4 months) compared to 11 months (95% CI, 0.7-not reached) for patients with non-malignancy related HPS (p-value:0.006; Figure). On univariableanalysis, factors associated with a worse survival were serum albumin 1.3 mg/dL (hazard ratio, 3.8). Conclusion: In this large series of adult HPS patients treated at a single tertiary care center, most cases are secondary, and are associated with a worse survival compared to historical outcomes reported for children enrolled on the HLH-94 trial. This is likely related to a marked delay in referral to our institution, and high early mortality precluding consideration of SCT. Adult patients with malignancy- related HPS in this study had a markedly inferior outcome compared to patients with non-malignancy related HPS. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Socioeconomic Status, Smoke Exposure, and Health Outcomes in Young Children With Cystic Fibrosis

BACKGROUND: Lower socioeconomic status (SES) and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure are both associated with poorer disease outcomes in cystic fibrosis (CF), and children with low SES are disproportionately exposed to ETS. We analyzed a large cohort of young children with CF to distinguish the impact of SES and ETS on clinical outcomes. METHODS: The Early Pseudomonas Infection Control Observational study enrolled Pseudomonas -negative young children with CF 1 ), crackles and wheezes, and weight-for-age percentile were assessed at each clinical encounter over at least 4 years. Repeated measures analyses estimated the association of SES and ETS exposures with longitudinal clinical outcomes, adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Of 1797 participants, 1375 were eligible for analysis. Maternal education was high school or less in 28.1%, 26.8% had household income 1 % predicted, presence of crackles or wheezes, and lower weight percentile. In combined models, effect estimates for SES changed minimally after adjustment for ETS exposures, whereas estimates for ETS exposures were attenuated after adjusting for SES. CONCLUSIONS: ETS exposure was disproportionately high in low SES families in this cohort of children with CF. Lower SES and ETS exposure had independent adverse effects on pulmonary and nutritional outcomes. Estimated effect of SES on FEV 1 decreased minimally after ETS adjustment, suggesting health disparity risks independent of ETS exposure.
Tokens of Power: Rethinking War

War presents a curious paradox. Interstate war is arguably the most carefully planned endeavor by states, yet military history is filled with disasters and blunders of monumental proportions. These anomalies happen because most military history presumes that states are pursuing optimal strategies in a competitive environment. This book offers an alternative narrative in which the pillars of military planning - evaluations of power, strategy, and interests - are theorized as social constructions rather than simple material realities. States may be fighting wars primarily to gain or maintain power, yet in any given historical era such pursuits serve only to propel competition; they do not ensure military success in subsequent generations. Allowing states to embark on hapless military ventures is fraught with risks, while the rewards are few.
The Cardiovascular System

The leading cause of death in the United States is cardiovascular disease. Myocardial infarctions claim over 600,000 lives a year, and strokes and other vascular diseases claim in excess of another 400,000. The family physician with a good basic background in cardiovascular disease can provide definitive care for the vast majority of problems. In order to maximize his effectiveness, he does need to become aware of his levels of competence; he must screen his patients carefully, identify their problems, and then characterize their therapeutic needs. Those persons whose problems fall within his capabilities should be treated by him. For those who do not, he should seek consultation with or refer to a cardiologist.
Laser powder bed fusion of Ti-6Al-4V parts: Thermal modeling and mechanical implications

Abstract A continuum-scale modeling approach is developed and employed with three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA), for simulating the temperature response of a Ti-6Al-4V, two-layered parallelepiped with dimensions of 10×5×0.06 mm3 during Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF), a metals additive manufacturing (AM) method. The model has been validated using experimental melt pool measurements from the literature and also accounts for latent heat of fusion and effective, temperature-dependent transport properties. The discretized temperature, temperature time rate of change (i.e. cooling rate) and temperature gradient are investigated for various scan strategies and number of lasers, i.e. 1, 2 or 4. The thermal response inherent to multi-laser PBF (ML-PBF) is investigated. The number of sub-regional areas of the powder bed dedicated to individual lasers, or ‘islands’, was varied. The average, maximum cooling rate and temperature gradient per layer, as well as the spatial standard deviation, or uniformity, of such metrics, are presented and their implications on microstructure characteristics and mechanical traits of Ti-6Al-4V are discussed. Results demonstrate that increasing the number of lasers will reduce production times, as well as local cooling rates and residual stress magnitudes; however, the anisotropy of the residual stress field and microstructure may increase based on the scan strategy employed. In general, scan strategies that employ reduced track lengths oriented parallel to the part's shortest edge, with islands ‘stacked’ in a unit-row, proved to be most beneficial for L-PBF.
Physical Sciences: History and Sociology

The physical sciences emerged as a coherent body of practices in Western Europe in the seventeenth century. Their scope has constantly evolved, encouraged by their institutionalization, and the formalization of their links with the state, philanthropies, and large corporations beginning in the late nineteenth century. This change in scope went along with ongoing reconfigurations of their relationship to mathematics, and often involved the colonization of neighboring disciplines and the imposition of a reductionist program on their objects, of which the molecularization of biology is a prime example. The development of the physical sciences has been made possible by the production of increasingly sophisticated, massive, and costly instruments, which have provided the essential technological and industrial underpinning for their success. Their practices have evolved to deal with the ensuing changes of scale imposed on the experimental workplace and their dependence on generous patrons has embedded them deeply in the policies and politics of the modern state. Current historiography reflects their ambiguous social status as agents of liberation and destruction.
Next-generation teaching: a template for bringing genomic and bioinformatic tools into the classroom

The recent increase in accessibility and scale of genetic data available through next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has transformed biological inquiry. As a direct result, the application ...
The Optimal Location to Measure Scapholunate Diastasis on Screening Radiographs.

Background: Lack of a universally accepted location and normal value limits the utility of measuring scapholunate diastasis. The primary purpose of this study was to define the optimal location to ...
Two-stage catalytic fast hydropyrolysis of biomass for the production of drop-in biofuel

Abstract The major obstacles for the production of drop-in fuel from traditional fast pyrolysis are low bio-oil yield, poor fuel heating value and high solid yield. To overcome these obstacles, we studied the introduction of high pressure hydrogen into the pyrolysis reactor, in a process known as catalytic fast hydropyrolysis (CFHP). CFHP of anisole, a bio-oil model compound, was performed at different temperatures and pressures, to determine the effects of those variables on the CFHP reaction network. Alkanes were observed at low temperature and high pressure, whereas aromatics were dominant at low pressure and high temperature. Aspen modelling and calculation of reaction equilibrium constants showed that there is a thermodynamic barrier for simultaneous pyrolysis and hydrogenation at 600 °C. Reduced heating rates and CFHP followed by second-stage hydroprocessing (SH) were proposed as a means to control reaction temperature and efficiently deoxygenate CFHP vapors. The two-stage CFHP followed by hydroprocessing produced nearly 18 mol% carbon yield to alkanes, and a total bio-oil carbon yield of 25 mol%. The approximate bio-oil higher heating value (HHV) and aromaticity were 43.4 MJ/kg and 28 wt%, respectively, both within the range of gasoline.
Computer vision for SHM of civil infrastructure: From dynamic response measurement to damage detection – A review

Abstract To address the limitations of current sensor systems for field applications, the research community has been actively exploring new technologies that can advance the state-of-the-practice in structural health monitoring (SHM). Thanks to the rapid advances in computer vision, the camera-based noncontact vision sensor has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional contact sensors for structural dynamic response measurement and health monitoring. Significant advantages of the vision sensor include its low cost, ease of setup and operation, and flexibility to extract displacements of any points on the structure from a single video measurement. This review paper is intended to summarize the collective experience that the research community has gained from the recent development and validation of the vision-based sensors for structural dynamic response measurement and SHM. General principles of the vision sensor systems are firstly presented by reviewing different template matching techniques for tracking targets, coordinate conversion methods for determining calibration factors to convert image pixel displacements to physical displacements, measurements by tracking artificial targets vs. natural targets, measurements in real time vs. by post-processing, etc. Then the paper reviews laboratory and filed experimentations carried out to evaluate the performance of the vision sensors, followed by a discussion on measurement error sources and mitigation methods. Finally, applications of the measured displacement data for SHM are reviewed, including examples of structural modal property identification, structural model updating, damage detection, and cable force estimation.
How Do We Provide Effective Student Advising and Mentoring During Record Growth?: (Abstract Only)

In their "Generation: CS" report this past year, The Computing Research Association detailed the explosive growth of computer science majors across both large and small institutions calling it "larger today than any time previously". Using data from The Taulbee Survey they show a 500% increase in the number of majors in computer science, but only a 50% increase in full-time faculty. Unfortunately, this growth has major consequences outside the classroom setting. The ability for faculty to engage in meaningful advising relationships with students has been severely impacted by this record growth. One solution could be to hire staff to assist students in course selection and degree requirements, but meaningful mentorship is much more than checking boxes and exemptions. Can we be effective advisors when advising loads have skyrocketed? In 2004, The CRA, lists effective mentoring as one of the challenges faced by broadening participation in computer science. In particular, they advocate for better training for mentors. Now faced with extreme ratios the need for creative mentoring practices is paramount. This BOF will provide a platform to discuss and share solutions from a variety of institutions. Questions such as: "How can we identify students who would like to do research and continue to graduate school?", "How do we expose students to independent learning in large classes?", "Can we leverage peer mentoring?" "How can we make advising better?" "What processes can be automated?".
Large Time, Weak Solutions to Reacting Euler Equations

We prove the large time existence of weak solutions to the Euler equations for one dimensional flow of an ideal gas, which undergoes a simple, one-step exothermic chemical reaction under Arrhenius type kinetics. For such kinetics, the Arrhenius function does not vanish except at absolute sero temperature. We assume that the initial temperature is bounded away from sero and that the total variation of the initial data is sufficiently small. As a consequence, we obtain uniform decay of the reactant to zero as t approaches infinity. This allows us to estimate the increase in total variation that results from the chemical reaction. Numerical calculations show that this increase can be very significant; there remains an interesting challenge to obtain large time existence where uniform decay of the reactant does not occur.
Confronting Social Criticisms: Challenges when Adopting Data-Driven Policing Strategies

Proponents of data-driven policing strategies claim that it makes policing organizations more effective, efficient, and accountable and has the potential to address some policing social criticisms (e.g. racial bias, lack of accountability and training). What remains less understood are the challenges when adopting data-driven policing as a response to these criticisms. We present results from a qualitative field study about the adoption of data-driven policing strategies in a Midwestern police department in the United States. We identify three key challenges police face with data-driven adoption efforts: data-driven frictions, precarious and inactionable insights, and police metis concerns. We demonstrate the issues that data-driven initiatives create for policing and the open questions police agents face. These findings contribute an empirical account of how policing agents attend to the strengths and limits of big data's knowledge claims. Lastly, we present data and design implications for policing.
Geomagnetic disturbances in the polar cap: Spq and DP-2

Abstract It is shown that the daily magnetic variation in the polar cap on moderately disturbed days is essentially identical to that of extremely quiet days, but significantly enhanced. On the basis of an extensive analysis of magnetic and auroral records, it is shown that the particular type of magnetic variation identified as the DP-2 mode is not a new and distinct variation, but is one of the manifestations of magnetospheric substorms.
The effects of ultrasound-guided shock waves during early pregnancy in Sprague-Dawley rats.

AbstractPregnancy is a contraindication to extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) because of its possible harm to the embryo or fetus caused by shock waves or ionizing radiation. In this study timed-pregnant rats were subjected to shock waves early in gestation using a lithotriptor having ultrasound imaging. In a pilot group undergoing immediate laparotomy, it was determined to what extent the pelvic structures were effected. Then a test group was exposed to shock waves and carried to near term pregnancy along with an identical group of pregnant, sham procedure rats. At laparotomy all were inspected for fetal viability, fetal abnormalities, and maternal organ damage. Fetuses located nearest the focal area of maximum shock wave energy showed lower mean weight than controls. There was no recognizable gross or microscopic fetal damage.
The Biosphere: Biogeochemical Cycling on Land

The essential constituent elements of land plants and animals move in biogeochemical cycles that begin with the uptake of nutrients from the soil, extending through allocations to plant biomass, especially photosynthetic tissues, and nutrient return to the soil in plant detritus. Decomposition of dead plant materials releases these nutrient elements for reuse or potential loss to stream waters. At any given time, this internal cycle of elements dwarfs the new sources of nutrients to the ecosystem from the atmosphere or rock weathering. Essential elements are strongly conserved within ecosystems, whereas nonessential or nonlimiting elements are potentially lost to stream water. For nitrogen, microbial transformations among forms in the soil result in small losses of nitrogen trace gases to the atmosphere. Animals influence the movement of materials within terrestrial ecosystems, and periodic fires result in large losses of nutrients. Human activities, resulting in acid rain, excess nitrogen deposition, rising CO 2 , and global warming, have all altered the cycle of essential elements in terrestrial ecosystems.
Single prolonged stress decreases sign-tracking and cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking

Exposure to prolonged, uncontrollable stress reduces reward-seeking behavior, resulting in anhedonia in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder. However, it is unclear to what degree stressed subjects lose interest in rewards themselves or in reward-related cues that instigate reward-seeking behavior. In the present study, we investigated the effects of single prolonged stress (SPS) on cue-directed behavior in two different procedures: Pavlovian conditioned approach (PCA) and cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking. In Experiment 1, rats were exposed to SPS and tested for the acquisition of sign-tracking (cue-directed) and goal-tracking (reward-directed) behaviors during a PCA procedure. In Experiment 2, rats were exposed to SPS and tested for the expression of sign- and goal-tracking as well as cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking. Because dopaminergic activity in the nucleus accumbens is known to play a central role in many cue-directed behaviors, including both sign-tracking and cue-induced reinstatement, Experiment 3 used in vivo microdialysis to measure the effect of SPS on baseline and evoked dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens. SPS decreased sign-tracking and increased goal-tracking during the acquisition of PCA behavior without affecting reward consumption. In addition, SPS decreased cue-induced reinstatement without affecting cocaine self-administration. Finally, SPS decreased evoked but not baseline levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. These results suggest that SPS decreases the motivational, but not consummatory, aspects of reward-seeking behavior, which may result from long-term, SPS-induced reductions in dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens.
Synthesis and Characterization of a Fluorescent Dianthraceno­indacene

A freely soluble dianthracenoindacene derivative has been synthesized using an ‘inside-out’ Friedel–Crafts alkylation method and is the first fluorescent diacenoindacene reported. Linear fusion of the anthracenes is confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies on the neutral molecule as well as its dianion. Based on predictions from our previous studies, this is also the least antiaromatic diacenoindacene derivative yet to be prepared, which is reflected in its highly negative and irreversible reduction. With its paratropicity essentially eliminated, we posit that the molecule is no longer deactivated by a conical intersection, typical of antiaromatic molecules, and therefore fluorescence is restored. This follows the trend shown in the related dianthracenopentalenes, with the reappearance of fluorescence when the outer acene groups are extended to linearly-fused anthracene moieties.
Genomics of Fungal Disease Resistance

Fungal diseases are prevalent on maize, for which resistance is controlled by numerous genes where sequence variation more typically gives rise to quantitative rather than qualitative phenotypes. Genomics is facilitating advances in genetics and systems biology while opening the door for convergence between the two. As this is leading to new perspectives about the nature of functionality versus variability during pathogenesis, changes may be afoot in how maize breeders handle the challenge of crop protection.
Abstract 260: COMPASS-CP for HF: An Electronic Application to Capture Patient-Reported Outcomes of Individuals with Heart Failure

Purpose: Heart failure (HF) admission variance is significantly influenced by functional, social, and behavioral health determinants. The Institute of Medicine and Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Ser...
Formative psychosocial evaluation using dynamic networks: trauma, stressors, and distress among Darfur refugees living in Chad

Research on the impact of various types of stressors on refugee wellbeing may not readily inform those designing interventions about the supports that will be most helpful in particular settings. Composite variables used in psychosocial research that represent overarching types of stressors provide only vague information about intervention targets. Dynamic networks model individual phenomena separately (i.e., specific stressors and symptoms of distress) to inform how phenomena interact with each other in ways that may be useful for individuals planning interventions in humanitarian aid settings. Using archival data from Darfur refugees, we used a dynamic networks approach to model relationships between locally-validated measures of traumatic events, displacement stressors, impairment, and distress. Findings aligned with previous research on the centrality of basic needs in refugee populations. Further, specific stressors were highlighted as particularly impactful for this population, and sleep and physical difficulties emerged as key aspects of distress and impairment, suggesting areas for targeted intervention. Conclusions: Dynamic network approaches may be fruitful for identifying setting-specific intervention targets and maximizing the impact of limited resources in humanitarian aid settings.
When Do Displaced Persons Return? Postwar Migration among Christians in Mount Lebanon

Under what conditions will forcibly displaced persons return to their original homes after wars end? We draw on theories of labor migration to show that even displaced persons who have positive feelings toward their original location may nevertheless choose to return as regular visitors rather than permanent residents unless the location offers attractive economic opportunities. Furthermore, we argue that violence can create negative emotions not only toward geographic locations of bloodshed but also against its perpetrators. After ethnic wars, the displaced may be unwilling to return to intermixed locations, exacerbating ethnic separation. We study postwar migration among Lebanese Christians displaced during the 1980s and identify economic conditions using exogenous price shocks for olive oil, a major local export. Among policy implications for economic reconstruction and transitional justice, our most important insight is that sometimes we should help the displaced in their new location rather than induce permanent return to their old homes.
Divided we tweet: The social media poetics of public online shaming:

This article explores the divisive nature of social media public culture in which impromptu communities of strangers affirm or antagonize one another in non-face-to-face interactions through memes,...
Interrater Reliability and Age-based Normative Values for Radiographic Indices of Syndesmosis and Deltoid Ligament Stability in Children

Purpose: While recent research has investigated the normative values, discriminative capacity, and interrater reliability of x-ray indices for evaluating syndesmosis and deltoid ligament competency in adults, no such data exists in children. The purpose of the current study was to determine the interrater reliability, and establish age-based normative values in children of common radiographic measures of syndesmosis and deltoid ligament competency. Methods: Consecutive patient radiographs from a level I pediatric trauma center were identified via an electronic database and used to create a balanced cohort of 242 patients by age and sex. Inclusion criteria were a complete three-view (anterior-posterior, lateral, and mortise) radiographic series with adequate resolution and full visualization of the ankle joint, and the absence of bony or ligamentous …
The International Branch Campus and and Institutional Social Capital: Exploring the Spatial Dimensions of Capital in Transnational Higher Education

The number of international branch campuses (IBCs) has continued to increase over the past few decades. Despite this increase, empirical research is lacking when it comes to the social implications for both the institutions engaged in transnational higher education through the development of IBCs and the students participating in these degree programs. The students studying at international branch campuses are both local and international, undertaking an international education without venturing overseas. The purpose of this study is to understand how students who have studied and are currently studying at an IBC narrate their experiences and expectations from transnational higher education, particularly focusing on the development and manifestation of institutional social capital and students’ ability to use this social capital in their specific local contexts. Through a pilot study employing semi-structured one-on-one interviews and focus group interactions with current students and alumni of an American IBC in Singapore, it is found that enrollment at IBC is mostly a feature of lack of access to one of the local universities, which hold the highest status. However, for some students with an interest in pursuing jobs or graduate studies overseas, earning an American degree is seen as a way to enhance their career prospects. The development of a strong alumni group in Singapore is highlighted as a way to increase the value of the degree in the Singapore context.
SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation stimulated by RNA and partitions into phases of human ribonucleoproteins

Tightly packed complexes of nucleocapsid protein and genomic RNA form the core of viruses and may assemble within viral factories, dynamic compartments formed within the host cells. Here, we examine the possibility that the multivalent RNA-binding nucleocapsid protein (N) from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) compacts RNA via protein-RNA liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and that N interactions with host RNA-binding proteins are mediated by phase separation. To this end, we created a construct expressing recombinant N fused to a N-terminal maltose binding protein tag which helps keep the oligomeric N soluble for purification. Using in vitro phase separation assays, we find that N is assembly-prone and phase separates avidly. Phase separation is modulated by addition of RNA and changes in pH and is disfavored at high concentrations of salt. Furthermore, N enters into in vitro phase separated condensates of full-length human hnRNPs (TDP-43, FUS, and hnRNPA2) and their low complexity domains (LCs). However, N partitioning into the LC of FUS, but not TDP-43 or hnRNPA2, requires cleavage of the solubilizing MBP fusion. Hence, LLPS may be an essential mechanism used for SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA viral genome packing and host protein co-opting, functions necessary for viral replication and hence infectivity.
Buildup with Bremsstrahlung in the Martian Atmosphere

Photon buildup is a function of energy, medium, and geometry and therefore must be specifically calculated for the case of interest. The Martian atmosphere, mostly comprising carbon dioxide, is bec...
Structural basis of superinfection exclusion by bacteriophage T4 Spackle

A bacterial cell infected with T4 phage rapidly establishes resistance against further infections by the same or closely related T-even-type bacteriophages - a phenomenon called superinfection exclusion. Here we show that one of the T4 early gene products and a periplasmic protein, Spackle, forms a stoichiometric complex with the lysozyme domain of T4 tail spike protein gp5 and potently inhibits its activity. Crystal structure of the Spackle-gp5 lysozyme complex shows that Spackle binds to a horseshoe-shaped basic patch surrounding the oligosaccharide-binding cleft and induces an allosteric conformational change of the active site. In contrast, Spackle does not appreciably inhibit the lysozyme activity of cytoplasmic T4 endolysin responsible for cell lysis to release progeny phage particles at the final step of the lytic cycle. Our work reveals a unique mode of inhibition for lysozymes, a widespread class of enzymes in biology, and provides a mechanistic understanding of the T4 bacteriophage superinfection exclusion.
Accounting for Health Risk Inequality in Regulatory Impact Analysis: Barriers and Opportunities

There has been increasing interest in accounting for inequality in health risks and benefits within regulatory impact analyses, both given more general interest in the distributions of benefits and growing concerns about inequity (defined as those inequalities deemed unjust or unfair) and environmental injustice (in this context, those health risk inequalities that are correlated with race/ethnicity and certain other sociodemographic factors). Although there has been growing literature on this topic, there has been limited progress in practice, and the lack of quantification limits consideration of inequality in the policy process. Controversy remains regarding the best approaches to formally incorporate inequality, when these approaches should be used, and even whether it makes sense to quantify inequality in this context. The objective of this article is to review the literature on approaches for incorporating estimates of, and concerns for, inequality into regulatory impact analyses, especially those where environmental justice considerations are relevant, and consider the interpretation of these approaches and the implications for decision making. Using the case example of the Transportation and Climate Initiative, a collaboration among Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector, multiple strategies are described that could be used to shed light on health risk inequality and inequity, consider them in pending policy decisions, and evaluate their implications for the policy or instrument choice. Given appropriate contextualization and acknowledgment of the multidimensionality of equity, quantitative inequality indicators can provide meaningful insight about both inequality and inequity in health risks.
Synthesis of a light-harvesting ruthenium porphyrin complex substituted with BODIPY units. Implications for visible light-promoted catalytic oxidations

A light-harvesting ruthenium porphyrin substituted covalently with four boron–dipyrrin (BODIPY) moieties has been synthesized and studied. The resulting complex showed an efficient decarbonylation reaction predominantly due to a photo-induced energy transfer process. Chemical oxidation of the ruthenium(II) BODIPY–porphyrin afforded a high-energy trans-dioxoruthenium(VI) species that is one order of magnitude more reactive towards alkene oxidation than those analogues supported by conventional porphyrins. In the presence of visible light, the ruthenium(II) BODIPY–porphyrin displayed remarkable catalytic activity toward sulfide oxidation and alkene epoxidation using iodobenzene diacetate [PhI(OAc)2] and 2,6-dichloropyridine N-oxide (Cl2pyNO) as terminal oxidants, respectively. The findings in this work highlight that porphyrin–BODIPY conjugated metal complexes are potentially useful for visible light-promoted catalytic oxidations.
Rapid Adoption of an Interdisciplinary Care Team Model for Surgical Residents Managing Coronavirus Disease-19.

Introduction: Patients infected with SARS-Cov-2, the causative virus behind the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, have been increasing rapidly in New York City. New York City has the highest incidence in the United States and fully 45% of all deaths from COVID-19. Our medical center is located within a high-density region of cases in south Brooklyn and, in fact, three of our neighborhood zip codes are in the top seven in New York in incidence. As a result, our center has experienced a dramatic increase in hospitalizations, particularly respiratory distress secondary to COVID-19, which rapidly exceeded the capacity of our internal medicine service. This necessitated the formation of new COVID-19 units throughout the hospital, replacing all former service lines. These units employed management teams composed of residents from many medical and surgical disciplines, including general surgery residents. Methods: Our general surgery residency program established a surgical COVID-19 (SCOVID) management team. Initially, 4 surgical residents (2 senior and 2 junior), 1 attending surgeon, and 1 attending internal medicine physician were allocated to the initial SCOVID team. On day 3 of implementation, to achieve more rapid competence in the complex management of these patients, a senior medicine resident with direct experience in the care of COVID-19 patients was added in an advisory capacity. Results: The addition of an experienced senior medical resident and attending allowed for the quick adoption of uniform management protocols by surgical residents and attendings. Discussion: We describe a protocol for the establishment of COVID-19 management teams staffed with general surgical residents, as well as a strategy for the achievement of rapid increases in competency. The addition of a senior internal medicine resident and attending to our SCOVID team allowed for rapid achievement of competency in the care of COVID-19 patients in our large institution at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.
AB InBev's Dividend Decision

In 2018, AB InBev was a widely recognized global leader of the beer industry. It had patiently built a global presence and a broad brand portfolio through carefully selected mergers and acquisitions of brewers, from small local craft breweries to large multinationals. The corporate treasury team was always the tip of the spear, securing the proper financing that enabled this aggressive growth strategy. 2016 marked the epitome of AB InBev's success—the company had successfully completed the acquisition of SABMiller. This $104 billion merger was the largest deal in the history of beer, and was enabled by the largest corporate bond offering to date—$61.9 billion. It was a huge win for AB InBev.But in October 2018, the financing side of the landmark deal had become the pain point for the company's management. Unexpectedly deteriorating economic conditions in Latin America, fluctuations in commodity prices, and changing consumer tastes slowed the growth in the company's EBITDA, undermining its ability to delever. The company's persistently high debt levels became the talk of the town, and the corporate treasury team was certain that leverage would have to be brought down to move AB InBev's price in a positive direction. But what sounded very simple was not an easy feat. Excerpt UVA-F-1907 Rev. Jul. 17, 2020 AB InBev's Dividend Decision The history of AB InBev is a global story that spans continents and generations. It's not just our history, it's the history of beer itself. —Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (AB InBev) Bruno Bouvier, head of AB InBev's corporate treasury, flipped through the presentation on his desk one more time. With less than 24 hours until the October 24, 2018, board meeting, he was still unsure about what recommendation he would make to address the global brewer's financial challenges. The lower-than-expected EBITDA growth, upcoming debt-repayment obligations, significant dividend payouts, and strategic objectives were putting pressure on the company's financing. These issues did not go unnoticed by the capital markets, with AB InBev's share price dropping from USD133 in September 2016 to just over USD81 in October 2018 (Exhibit1). . . .
Guest Editorial Introduction to the Special Issue on Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management

Advances of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) technology have spurred a rapid investment of commercial UAS use in broad public domains, such as cargo transport, agriculture support, emergency response, on-demand communication, and infrastructure health monitoring. Urban unmanned aerial transportation that can transport passengers over short distances is also on the way. With the forthcoming dense operations of UAS particularly over urban regions, ensuring airspace safety becomes an urgent issue.
Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Gait Instability after MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy

Background: MRgFUS thalamotomy is an incisionless procedure which effectively treats patients with tremor, although the procedure can result in adverse side effects including gait instability. By determining whether certain pre-existing conditions predispose patients to developing gait instability, we will be able to better counsel patients regarding risk of MRgFUS thalamotomy. Methods: All patients diagnosed with essential tremor, mixed tremor syndrome, or tremor predominant Parkinson disease who underwent MRgFUS thalamotomy at Mayo Clinic, Rochester between 2017 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline demographic and clinical data was extracted, and gait symptoms were compared pre- versus post-operatively. Results: Of 45 patients who underwent MRgFUS thalamotomy, 42 had at least one follow-up visit within twelve months and were included in the study. 39 patients had essential tremor, 1 had tremor predominant Parkinson disease, and 2 had mixed tremor syndrome. 19 out of 42 patients (45%) had gait decline. There were 10 (24%) females, and median age was 77.6 years (IQR 71.5–83.2). Older age was not correlated with gait decline (p = 0.82). Patients with a history of neuropathy and joint replacements were more likely to have gait decline after MRgFUS thalamotomy (p = 0.0099 and p = 0.0376). Patients with pre-existing gait aids were not more likely to have gait instability (p = 0.20). Conclusion: Patients who undergo MRgFUS thalamotomy for each of the tremor conditions, have an increased risk of experiencing gait decline, when there is a pre-procedure history of peripheral neuropathy, or joint replacement surgery. Older age or pre-existing gait aid use is not associated with worsened gait outcomes. Highlights: Patients who undergo MRgFUS thalamotomy for tremor syndromes have a significantly increased risk of experiencing gait decline when there is comorbid peripheral neuropathy or joint replacement Older age or pre-existing gait aid use is not associated with worsened gait outcomes
A real-time approach for damage identification using hyperchaotic probe and stochastic estimation

A real-time damage identification approach using an extended Kalman–Bucy filter is proposed for identification and real-time monitoring of damage-induced changes which is applicable both as a vibration-based technique and as a guided-wave technique for structural health monitoring. The proposed approach makes use of the intrinsic hypersensitivity of hyperchaotic systems to subtle changes in system parameters by applying the augmented state method along with an optimal filtering problem to provide simultaneous estimation of the states and parameters of a (possibly) nonlinear structural system driven by a tuned hyperchaotic excitation in order to monitor damage-induced changes. The proposed approach can also be employed for guided-wave structural health monitoring by discretizing the governing partial differential equation to obtain a process model in the context of optimal filtering problem, and thus to estimate the transmitted hyperchaotic wave and model parameters. Numerical simulation shows that the proposed approach is capable of real-time identification of reduction in elastic modulus of an isotropic beam.
A Study of the Concept of a Fission-Plate Converter as a Source for an Epithermal Neutron Beam

It has been suggested that a Fission-Plate Converter (FPC) at a reactor can enhance the intensity of an epithermal neutron beam produced by the reactor. By computer modeling, this concept has been applied to two sets of reactors to study how effective a FPC might be. The first set of reactors contains high-powered research reactors and is represented by the Missouri University Research Reactor and the Georgia Institute of Technology Research Reactor. The second set combines the FPC into the core of a low-powered reactor, yielding a thin, large area, reactor that we call a slab reactor. For these reactors, epithermal fluxes above 1 × 109 n/cm2.sec are predicted while the fast-neutron doses per epithermal neutron are < 3 × 10−11 cGy.cm2/n.
A Student's Guide to Numerical Methods

Preface 1. Fitting functions to data 2. Ordinary differential equations 3. Two-point boundary conditions 4. Partial differential equations 5. Diffusion: parabolic PDEs 6. Elliptic problems and iterative matrix solution 7. Fluid dynamics and hyperbolic equations 8. Boltzmann's equation and its solution 9. Energy-resolved diffusive transport 10. Atomistic and particle-in-cell simulation 11. Monte Carlo techniques 12. Monte Carlo radiation transport 13. Next steps Appendix A. Summary of matrix algebra Index.
Constitutional patriotism and the public sphere: interests, identity, and solidarity in the integration of Europe

theoretical discussion of postnational identity and citizenship. 4 Habermas's abstract theoretical formulations are not altogether separate from his contributions to German public debate?in this case notably in relation to the incorporation of the East into a united but Western dominated Germany, to the "historians' debate" over the legacy of the Third Reich, and to the contention over change in the citizenship law, enacted in watered down form to allow the children of immigrants rights to "naturalization". 5 For thoughtful examples, see essays in Daniele Archibugi and David Held, (eds.), Cosmopolitan democracy (Cambridge: Polity, 1995) and Daniele Archibugi, David Held, and Martin K?hler, (eds.), Re imagining political community (Cambridge: Polity, 1998) and the more sustained exposition in David Held, Democracy and the global order: From the modern state to cosmopolitan governance (Cambridge: Polity, 1995). Habermas offers a similar call in The inclusion of the other (ed. C. Cronin and P. De Greiff; Cambridge, MA: MIT, 1998). See the essays connecting the present to Kant's cosmopolitan project in James Bohman and Matthias Lutz-Bachmann, (eds.), Perpetual peace: Essays on Kant's cosmopolitan ideal (Cambridge, MA: MIT, 1997).
ULTRASOUND-GUIDED FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION

A simple and inexpensive modification of the ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy technique using an extension tube attached to the needle is described. One operator can easily manipulate the ultrasound transducer and biopsy needle while monitoring the entire procedure. This simple modification was found to facilitate ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration.
Human leukocyte antigen-class II-positive human corneal epithelial cells activate allogeneic T cells.

PURPOSE: To achieve a better understanding of the mechanism of corneal immune diseases, including corneal allograft rejection, the authors examined the potential of human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells to activate allogeneic T lymphocytes. METHODS: The mixed lymphocyte-HCE cell reaction (MLCER) was performed as follows: HCE cells from primary cultures, with or without treatment with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), were treated with mitomycin C and then mixed with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from normal volunteers. Triplicate cultures were incubated for 7 days. Interleukin-1-alpha (IL-1-alpha) was added to some cultures to examine its effect on MLCER: The lymphocyte responses were measured by 3H-thymidine uptake for the last 18 hours of incubation in MLCER: RESULTS: IFN-gamma-treated, HLA-class-II-bearing HCE cells stimulated allogenic lymphocytes, whereas IFN-gamma nontreated, class-II-negative HCE cells did not. The stimulation by IFN-gamma-treated HCE cells was blocked by anti-HLA class II monoclonal antibody. In addition, exogenous IL-1-alpha reduced the lymphocyte response in MLCER: This effort was inhibited by indomethacin. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that HLA-class-II-bearing HCE cells can activate allogeneic PBL by a major histocompatibility complex class II-dependent mechanism. In addition, HCE cells may regulate immune reactions, probably through prostaglandin production caused by IL-1.
Air Quality Management through Land-Use Measures

Land-use planning is examined as a new approach to better air quality. Measures that can aid air quality are primarily directed towards controlling and directing urban growth. Emission density regulations can directly supplement emission controls which alone may be insufficient to attain or maintain, or both, desired air quality as new sources enter an area already congested with individual sources. The topic of emission allocation, utilizing land-use control measures to restrict the air pollution potential of comprehensive land-use plans within an air quality maintenance area or some other defined region, is presented.
Behavior Disorder Assessment: Conceptual, Definitional, and Practical Considerations.

This article discusses the difficulties school psychologists have experienced in assessing behavior disorders in the schools. These difficulties are discussed in light of training and practice of s...