cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Unique Type of Birth Trauma Mistaken for Abuse

Pediatric abusive head trauma is a challenging subject across many disciplines. Of particular importance is the identification of mimics of abuse, so cause and manner of death can be properly assigned. We present the case of suspected child abuse involving an infant who presented unresponsive to the hospital with hypoglycemia, hypothermia, and bilateral parietal fractures. An autopsy revealed fractures associated with organizing scalp hemorrhage and gross leptomeningeal congestion and hemorrhage. The fractures were circular with external displacement, rounded margins, and subperiosteal new bone formation indicative of healing. Birth records revealed vacuum assist and cesarean section delivery. Although vacuum extraction-related injuries are typically cephalohematomas and/or linear fractures, the outbending and circular morphology of the fractures are consistent with vacuum extraction. Moreover, microscopic neuropathological examination revealed hemorrhagic purulent leptomeningitis. This unique case demonstrates the importance of considering birth trauma in the determination of cause and manner of death of an infant.
11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-II activity is affected by grapefruit juice and intense muscular work.

ABSTRACT Objective The enzymatic activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 (11β-HSD2) is key to protecting mineral corticoid receptors from cortisol and has been implicated in blood pressure regulation. Grapefruit juice (GFJ) and acidity are thought to inhibit this enzyme in vitro. This study examines the effect of GFJ and intense exercise on 11β-HSD2 enzyme activity in vivo. Subjects and methods Eighteen subjects ingested GFJ or apple juice (CON) on separate days prior to reporting to the laboratory in a randomized order. Saliva (Sal) samples were obtained at baseline, 15 and 45 minutes post-treadmill stress test; Sal cortisone (E) and cortisol (F) levels were determined, and the Sal cortisone:cortisol (E:F) ratio was used as an index of 11β-HSD2 enzyme activity at rest and after intense muscular work. Results GFJ treatment decreased baseline 11β-HSD2 enzyme activity (44%) and Sal-E (28%) compared to CON (both, p < 0.05). Sal-E (r = 0.61, p < 0.05) and Sal-F (r = 0.66, p < 0.05) were correlated with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in GFJ-treated individuals. Treadmill stress significantly increased Sal-E and Sal-F but did not alter 11β-HSD2 enzyme activity regardless of treatment. When treatments were examined separately, CON 11β-HSD2 enzyme activity decreased by 36% (p < 0.05) from baseline to 15 post-treadmill exercise. Conclusion Our findings suggest that GFJ and intense muscular work decrease 11β-HSD-2 activity independently, and no additive effect was noted. The association between DBP and the levels of Sal-F and Sal-E during the GFJ trial should be interpreted cautiously and warrants further investigation.
There's no place like home - HGF-c-MET signaling and melanocyte migration into the mammalian cochlea

ABSTRACTDuring vertebrate embryonic development, neural crest cells arise from the border region between neural and non-neural ectoderm, migrate to various locations of the embryonic body and differentiate into diverse tissues. In the cochlea of the inner ear, the neural crest cell-derived melanocyte is an important component to form the stria vascularis, a non-sensory structure crucial for auditory function. Our recent conditional knockout study in the mouse indicates that in the absence of HGF-c-MET signaling, neural crest cells properly migrate and find the right region of the prospective stria vascularis in the cochlear epithelium, but fail to start incorporating into the epithelium. Our study has shed light on a homing issue of migrating cells that is evident during development, or in cancer cell metastasis.
Adaptations in antagonist co-activation: Role in the repeated-bout effect.

Eccentric exercise results in an adaptation which attenuates muscle damage from subsequent exercise—termed the “repeated-bout effect (RBE).” Purpose: Study examined antagonist co-activation and motor-unit recruitment strategy, assessed via dEMG, concomitant to the RBE. Methods: Nine participants performed 5 sub-maximal isometric trapezoid (ramp-up, hold, ramp-down) contractions at force levels corresponding to 50% and 80% of maximal isometric strength (MVC). Surface EMG signals of the biceps brachii were decomposed into individual motor-unit action potential trains. The relationship between mean firing rate (MFR) of each motor-unit and its recruitment threshold (RT) was examined using linear regression. Eccentric exercise was then performed until biceps brachii MVC had decreased by ~40%. Surface EMG of the biceps and triceps were collected during eccentric exercise. MVC, range-of-motion (ROM), and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) were measured 24-hours, 72-hours, and 1-week following eccentric exercise. Three weeks later all procedures were repeated. Results: Changes in MVC (-32±14% vs -25±10%; p = 0.034), ROM (-11% vs 6%; p = 0.01), and DOMS (31.0±19mm vs 19±12mm; p = 0.015) were attenuated following the second bout of exercise. Triceps EMG was reduced (16.8±9.5% vs. 12.6±7.2%; p = 0.03) during the second bout of eccentric exercise. The slope (-0.60±0.13 vs -0.70±0.18; p = 0.029) and y-intercept (46.5±8.3 vs 53.3±8.8; p = 0.020) of the MFR vs. RT relationship was altered during contractions at 80% of MVC prior to the second bout of eccentric exercise. No changes were observed at 50% of MVC. Conclusion: A reduction in antagonist co-activation during the second bout of eccentric exercise suggests less total force was required to move an identical external load. This finding is supported by the increased negative slope coefficient and an increased y-intercept of the linear relationship between RT and MFR.
Materials responsible for formaldehyde and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions

Abstract: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are an important class of indoor air pollutants; with indoor concentrations generally higher than outdoors. Formaldehyde is a priority VOC because of its frequent occurrence in indoor air and the serious health outcomes resulting from exposure. Taking formaldehyde as a representative VOC, this chapter reviews the knowledge necessary to develop solutions to indoor VOC pollution. The toxicology of formaldehyde is briefly reviewed. Then the current understanding of VOC emission behavior is discussed, including experimental techniques for measuring emissions, modeling approaches for predicting emissions, and the impacts of environmental factors on emissions. With a comprehensive understanding spanning emission characteristics and toxicology, it is possible to develop effective strategies to maintain indoor VOC concentrations below a safe threshold.
Gesture Recognition: Focus on the Hands

Gestures are a common form of human communication and important for human computer interfaces (HCI). Recent approaches to gesture recognition use deep learning methods, including multi-channel methods. We show that when spatial channels are focused on the hands, gesture recognition improves significantly, particularly when the channels are fused using a sparse network. Using this technique, we improve performance on the ChaLearn IsoGD dataset from a previous best of 67.71% to 82.07%, and on the NVIDIA dataset from 83.8% to 91.28%.
Performance Characteristics of Sleep Apnea Screening Instruments in Former Professional Athletes (P1.094)

Objective: To study performance characteristics of sleep apnea screening instruments for predicting the respiratory event index (REI) in former professional athletes Background: Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the general population is influenced independently by age, sex and BMI. The influence of BMI on performance characteristics of screening instruments in professional male athletes is unknown Design/Methods: STOPBANG and home sleep apnea tests (HSAT) were performed in former professional male athletes. Spearman correlation evaluated relationships between REI and STOP, STOPBANG, STOPBAG and STOPBAG 2 (continuous variable for BMI/age; Katzan, 2016) scores. Comparison of scores between REI groups (cutoffs 5, 15, 30) was performed by Wilcoxon sum rank test and Chi-square test on prevalence of elevated STOP≥2, STOPBANG≥3, STOPBAG≥2 and STOPBAG 2 ≥0.395. Logistic regression and ROC analysis investigated optimal cutoffs for REI groups. Results: Among 68 subjects (age 37.6±6.9, BMI 32.9±5.3 kg/m 2 , neck circumference 17.5 in [16.9, 18.1]), REI was ≥5 in 73%, ≥15 in 30% and ≥30 in 10%. Correlation between REI and all instrument scores were significant (p 2 (0.85, 0.58 and 0.95, 0.60). For predicting REI≥15 vs. 2 (sensitivity and specificity of 0.50, 1.00; 0.85, 0.67; 0.90, 0.61, 0.95, 0.83, respectively). No significant difference in area under the curve between instruments was observed for any degree of OSA. Conclusions: All 4 instruments significantly correlated with REI in former professional male athletes. However, the STOPBAG 2 that weights the continuous variables had the highest observed sensitivity and specificity for predicting OSA. This work extends the limited literature on OSA prediction in professional athletes. Disclosure: Dr. Somboon has nothing to disclose. Dr. Alberts has nothing to disclose. Dr. Linder has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bena has nothing to disclose. Dr. Foldvary-Schaefer has nothing to disclose.
Capital and punishment: Resource scarcity increases endorsement of the death penalty

Abstract Faced with punishing severe offenders, why do some prefer imprisonment whereas others impose death? Previous research exploring death penalty attitudes has primarily focused on individual and cultural factors. Adopting a functional perspective, we propose that environmental features may also shape our punishment strategies. Individuals are attuned to the availability of resources within their environments. Due to heightened concerns with the costliness of repeated offending, we hypothesize that individuals tend towards elimination-focused punishments during times of perceived scarcity. Using global and United States data sets (studies 1 and 2), we find that indicators of resource scarcity predict the presence of capital punishment. In two experiments (studies 3 and 4), we find that activating concerns about scarcity causes people to increase their endorsement for capital punishment, and this effect is statistically mediated by a reduced willingness to risk repeated offenses. Perceived resource scarcity shapes our punishment preferences, with important policy implications.
Photothermoelectric Detection of Gold Oxide Nonthermal Decomposition

A thin coating of gold oxide, metastable at room temperature, can be formed by placing gold in a strongly oxidizing environment such as an oxygen plasma. We report scanning photovoltage measurements of lithographically defined gold nanowires subsequent to oxygen plasma exposure. Photovoltages are detected during the first optical scan of the devices that are several times larger than those mapped on subsequent scans. The first-scan enhanced photovoltage correlates with a reduction of the electrical resistance of the nanostructure back to preoxygen-exposure levels. Repeating oxygen plasma exposure “reinitializes” the devices. These combined photovoltage and transport measurements imply that the enhanced photovoltage results from the photothermoelectric response of a junction between Au and oxidized Au, with an optically driven decomposition of the oxide. Comparisons with the known temperature-dependent kinetics of AuOx decomposition suggest that the light-driven decomposition is not a purely thermal effect...
Electrification of powertrain systems — battery, fuel cell or both?

The increasing electrification of powertrain systems is driven by the idea of using electric power as an alternative energy source. Fuel cells combined with electric traction are one example. Batteries will have a sufficient energy density for a maximum mileage of 200 km, sufficient for driving even in the largest of conurbations. In urban surroundings, a market for fuel cells as a range extender may develop. For mobility with distances of more than 400 km, there is no real alternative to the internal combustion engine powered by liquid hydrocarbons, as Volkswagen engineers predict.
Neutrophiia-inducing Activity in Plasma of Neutropenic Human Beings

Humoral factors have been implicated in the bone marrow release of neutrophils in experimental animals in response to neutropenia. No comparable studies have yet been reported in man, although a humoral mechanism has been described in the neutrophilic response to endotoxin. Three patients with reversible drug-induced neutropenia were studied for the presence of neutrophilia-inducing activity by obtaining plasma during neutropenia and after recovery. When the blood neutrophil concentration and marrow granulocyte reserves were normal, the paired plasmas were returned to the donors on different days, and the blood neutrophil concentrations sequentially measured. Reinfusion of the plasmas obtained from the two patients with marked neutropenia was associated with a 2.5-3.5-fold increase in the total neutrophil concentration and an 8.5-fold increase in the nonsegmented neutrophils, with the peak 30-60 min after infusion. In contrast, plasma obtained when the blood neutrophil concentration was normal did not have this effect. Plasma from the patient with only slight neutropenia was not associated with neutrophilia-inducing activity. Neutrophilia-inducing activity is present in increased concentration in the plasma of severely neutropenic human beings and we suggest that it plays a role in regulating the blood neutrophil concentration by causing release of neutrophils from the bone marrow.
A Coordinated Control Strategy for Hybrid Multiterminal DC System for Effective Energy Sharing Between AC Grids

Hybrid Multi-terminal DC (H-MTDC) system with a combination of Line Commutated Converters (LCCs) and Voltage Source Converters (VSCs) will be one of the preferable solutions to solve challenges of interconnecting massive amount of renewable power generation in future power grid. Combining LCC and VSC topologies eliminates most of the limitations of these two HVDC technologies. However, a systematic control coordination strategy is required to operate such an H-MTDC grid. To that end, this paper proposes a new coordinated control scheme for a H-MTDC meshed network for exchanging power between multiple asynchronous AC areas. The effectiveness of the proposed approach following a single point failure (i.e. converter outage) is demonstrated using time-domain simulation in a five-terminal H-MTDC test system model developed in EMTDC/PSCAD.
Performance of Custom-Made Very High Temperature Thermocouples in the Advanced Gas Reactor Experiment AGR-5/6/7 during Irradiation in the Advanced Test Reactor

The Advanced Gas Reactor-5/6/7 (AGR-5/6/7) experiment is the fourth and final experiment in the AGR experiment series and will serve as the formal fuel qualification test for the TRISO fuels under development by the U.S. Department of Energy. Certain locations in this experiment reach temperatures higher than any of the previous AGR tests, up to 1500°C. Such extreme temperatures create unique challenges for thermocouple-based temperature measurements. High-temperature platinum-rhodium thermocouples (Types S, R, and B)and tungsten-rhenium thermocouples (Type C) suffer rapiddecalibration due to transmutation of the thermoelements fromneutron absorption. For lower temperature applications, previousexperience with Type K thermocouples in nuclear reactors haveshown that they are affected by neutron irradiation only to alimited extent. Similarly, Type N thermocouples, which are morestable than Type K at high temperatures, are only slightly affectedby neutron fluence. Until recently, the use of these nickel-basedthermocouples was limited when the temperature exceeds 1050°Cdue to drift related to phenomena other than nuclear irradiation.Recognizing the limitations of existing thermometery to measuresuch high temperatures, the sponsor of the AGR-5/6/7 experimentsupported a development and testing program for thermocouplescapable of low drift operation at temperatures above 1100°C. High Temperature Irradiation Resistant Thermocouples (HTIR-TCs)based on molybdenum/niobium thermoelements have been underdevelopment at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) since circa 2004. A step change in accuracy and long-term stability of thisthermocouple type has been achieved as part of the AGR-5/6/7thermometry development program. Additionally, long-termtesting (9000+ hrs) at 1250°C of the Type N thermocouplesutilizing a customized sheath developed at the University ofCambridge has been completed with low drift results. Both theimproved HTIR and the Cambridge Type N thermocouple typeshave been incorporated into the AGR-5/6/7 test, which beganirradiation in February 2018 in INL’s Advanced
Family Therapy Training: The Psychiatry Resident’s View

Training in family therapy has become part of the core curriculum in most psychiatric residencies in the past 10 years. To assess the impact of the training on residents a questionnaire was sent to 100 graduating residents. The 45% who responded indicated a high rate of interest in family therapy, an interest that was not sated by the time devoted to the modality in their training programs. Certain aspects of the contemporary climate in psychiatry that might explain these findings are discussed.
Yeast Securin is trafficked through the endomembrane system to regulate cell cycle arrest during the DNA damage response

Abstract The yeast securin protein, Pds1, belongs to a class of highly conserved eukaryotic proteins that regulate the timing of chromatid segregation during mitosis by inhibiting separase, Esp1. During the metaphase to anaphase transition Pds1 is degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the nucleus, unleashing Esp1’s protease activity to cleave cohesin surrounding sister chromatids. In response to DNA damage Pds1 is phosphorylated and stabilized, stalling mitotic progression to preserve genomic integrity. In addition, during the DNA damage checkpoint response, securin and separase are partially localized in the vacuole. Here we genetically dissect the requirements for securin’s vacuolar localization and find that it is dependent on the Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) endosomal transport pathway but not autophagy. Blocking retrograde traffic between the Golgi and the endoplasmic reticulum, by inhibiting COPI vesicle transport, drives Pds1 into the vacuole, whereas inhibiting antegrade transport by disrupting COPII-mediated traffic, results in the unexpected loss of Pds1 and the extinction of DNA damage-induced cell cycle arrest. We report that the induction of ER stress, either genetically or by treating cells with dithiothreitol, is sufficient to extinguish the DNA damage checkpoint, suggesting crosstalk between these two pathways. These data highlight new ways in which Pds1 and Esp1 are regulated during a DNA damage induced G2/M arrest and its requirement in the maintenance of the DNA damage checkpoint response.
The real meal deal: assessing student preferences for “real food” at Fort Lewis College

Fort Lewis College committed to purchasing 20% real food by 2020 as part of a national campaign called the Real Food Challenge, an initiative on college campuses that aims to shift food procurement toward real food, defined as ecologically sound, humane, fair, or local. Our research explored student preferences regarding food at Fort Lewis College. We analyzed students’ willingness-to-pay for 20% real food and the characteristics that predicted this willingness-to-pay. We also examined food preference parameters outside of the Real Food Challenge categories, considering how factors such as taste, health, price, and convenience influenced students when choosing what to eat. We found that all four Real Food Challenge categories were important to respondents, and two-thirds of respondents were willing to pay more for real food. Yet overall, taste, health, and price were statistically more important than any of the Real Food Challenge categories to respondents. Statistically significant positive parameters driving willingness-to-pay more for real food were that a respondent considered environment an important factor when deciding what to eat, that a respondent agreed with the statement “It is important that my food reflect my values,” that sustainability was a factor for the respondent in deciding what school to attend, and that a respondent was from Colorado (in-state). Convenience was a negative parameter. In order to match these student preferences, campus dining services should emphasize benefits to taste and health when creating real food meals and should attempt to meet Real Food Challenge objectives with minimal price increases.
An Image Fusion Method Based on Curvelet Transform and Guided Filter Enhancement

In order to improve the clarity of image fusion and solve the problem that the image fusion effect is affected by the illumination and weather of visible light, a fusion method of infrared and visible images for night-vision context enhancement is proposed. First, a guided filter is used to enhance the details of the visible image. Then, the enhanced visible and infrared images are decomposed by the curvelet transform. The improved sparse representation is used to fuse the low-frequency part, while the high-frequency part is fused with the parametric adaptation pulse-coupled neural networks. Finally, the fusion result is obtained by inverse transformation of the curvelet transform. The experimental results show that the proposed method has good performance in detail processing, edge protection, and source image information.
Employee Engagement and the Value of High Fidelity Simulation Problem Based Learning Scenarios During Annual Skills Review

Background: Employee engagement relates to the level of an employee9s commitment and connection to an organization. High levels of engagement encourage retention of top talent and higher levels of productivity. Employees want to feel they are continuously growing and developing while working in an environment that promotes trust and cooperation. Establishing clinical competence is a foundation of staff development and provides a means to employee engagement. Annually, we provide a Skills Review to promote and improve clinical competency. The purpose of this study was to explore attitudes surrounding participation in an Annual Skills Review (ASR) using high fidelity simulation scenarios; and its association with employee engagement. Methods: Over the course of 3 years, our ASR moved from the large group, didactic and discussion, to small group simulated problem based learning scenarios. We arranged 3 skills stations, 45 min each, to reinforce infrequently implemented respiratory care techniques. Each station was limited to no more than three Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCPs) in an effort to replicate actual staff to work-flow ratios in the ICU. Reducing the number of participants in the groups also allowed for full participation at each station. Following the 2017 ASR, we administered a survey to seek RCP feedback. The goal was to determine how well the ASR met their needs. The survey also allowed RCPs to comment on their experience. Results: The survey response rate was overwhelmingly positive.83% of RCP respondents found that the ASR met their needs extremely well or very well. Also included in the survey, was the opportunity to write comments answering the open ended question 9What was the most positive aspect of the ASR?9 Overall, the survey results demonstrated approval for the ASR and the open-ended question provided more insight related to employee engagement. Conclusions: Our RCPs felt that the learning environment was safe to make mistakes while still learning from their peers. The ASR afforded RCPs opportunity to ask questions and clarify practices that may have been unclear. While in the groups, they were able to appreciate the decision making process of their colleagues, further reinforcing their own critical thinking. Everyone working together in a relaxed, stress free environment, sharing skills and knowledge was a positive and engaging experience for our employees.
Development of a reliable bovine neuronal cell culture system and labeled recombinant bovine herpesvirus type-1 for studying virus-host cell interactions

Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) is the viral causative agent of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and a component of the bovine respiratory complex commonly referred to as shipping fever in calves. BoHV-1 is also responsible for losses of aborted calves and reductions in dairy productivity. BoHV-1 belongs to the neurotropic alphaherpesviruses which have a predilection to infect and establish latency in sensory neurons. Neuronal cell cultures provide a useful platform for experiments investigating neuronal entry, retrograde and anterograde transport, and the establishment of latency. Rodent neuronal cell lines and primary rabbit neuronal cells have been utilized for BoHV-1, though a reliable host-specific neuronal cell culture system has not been developed. In this study, BoHV-1 readily infected bovine-derived immortalized neuronal progenitor cells (FBBC-1) differentiated in cell culture producing neurite-like projections and exhibiting neuronal cell markers NeuN and L1CAM. FBBC-1 cells expressed both nectin-1 and nectin-2 alphaherpesvirus receptors on their cell surfaces, however, nectin-2 was detected in much greater abundance than nectin-1. To facilitate investigations of BoHV-1 infection, a recombinant BoHV-1 virus expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) cloned into a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) was used to generate an mCherry-VP26 fusion protein. The BoHV-1 GFP expressing VP26mCherry labeled virus infected differentiated FBBC-1 cells as evidenced by the production of infectious virions and the expression of both GFP and mCherry fluorophores. Time-lapse live cell microscopy revealed the presence of mCherry fluorescent capsids in neuronal projections immediately after virus entry moving retrograde in a saltatory manner. Proximity ligation assays (PLA) using MDBK cells demonstrated that BoHV-1 glycoprotein D (gD) interacted more efficiently with nectin-1 than nectin-2. However, the gD interaction with nectin-2 predominated in differentiated FBBC-1 cells in comparison to the gD nectin-1 interaction. The efficiently differentiated FBBC-1 neuronal cell line and fluorescently labeled BoHV-1 virions will assist experimentation aiming to elucidate specific mechanisms of virus entry and transport in a homologous bovine neuronal cell culture system.
Quantity-Discount-Dependent Consumer Preferences and Competitive Nonlinear Pricing

Abstract Producers of consumer packaged goods often offer several package sizes of the same product and charge a lower unit price for a larger size. In this article, the authors investigate the “quantity-discount effect,” or the phenomenon that consumers derive transaction utility from the unit price difference between a small and a large package size of the same product. The authors propose a modeling framework composed of a demand-side model and a supply-side model. The empirical results suggest that quantity-discount-induced gains or losses have a significant impact on consumer buying behavior. The authors also find a substantial amount of structural heterogeneity; that is, some consumers perceive quantity discounts as gains, whereas others perceive quantity discounts as losses. Conversely, the supply-side analysis suggests that manufacturers in the empirical application do not consider quantity-discount effects when setting prices. Through a series of policy experiments, the authors show that by accou...
30 Si + 14 N radiative capture

Cross sections for the reactions $^{30}\mathrm{Si}(^{14}\mathrm{N},\ensuremath{\gamma})^{44}\mathrm{Sc}^{m}$ and $^{30}\mathrm{Si}(^{14}\mathrm{N},n)^{43}\mathrm{Sc}$ have been measured at five bombarding energies in the 40 to 62 MeV range. Residual activities produced by the reactions are unique and sufficiently long-lived so that the reaction yields in thick targets of natural Si were measured off-line with a Ge(Li) detector. By unfolding the range-energy function, the cross sections were extracted from the yields. The capture cross section increases from 7.5 to 22 \ensuremath{\mu}b over the bombarding energy range. The cross section for single neutron emission is 75 \ensuremath{\mu}b and constant within the errors of this experiment. A Blann-Plasil code calculation resulted in a value that is a factor of ${10}^{3}$ lower. The experimental results have been analyzed to determine an upper limit on the moment of inertia of the excited compound nucleus. Values of the upper limit depend on the choice of optical model parameters and the radius parameter in the moment of inertia.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{30}\mathrm{Si}$ + $^{14}\mathrm{N}$, $E=40\ensuremath{-}62$ MeV; measured yields of activation products $^{43}\mathrm{Sc}$ and $^{44}\mathrm{Sc}^{m}$; calculated cross sections and limits on the moments of inertia. Natural targets, Ge(Li) detector.
Modified Legendre–Gauss–Radau Collocation Method for Optimal Control Problems with Nonsmooth Solutions

A new method is developed for solving optimal control problems whose solutions are nonsmooth. The method developed in this paper employs a modified form of the Legendre–Gauss–Radau orthogonal direct collocation method. This modified Legendre–Gauss–Radau method adds two variables and two constraints at the end of a mesh interval when compared with a previously developed standard Legendre–Gauss–Radau collocation method. The two additional variables are the time at the interface between two mesh intervals and the control at the end of each mesh interval. The two additional constraints are a collocation condition for those differential equations that depend upon the control and an inequality constraint on the control at the endpoint of each mesh interval. The additional constraints modify the search space of the nonlinear programming problem such that an accurate approximation to the location of the nonsmoothness is obtained. The transformed adjoint system of the modified Legendre–Gauss–Radau method is then developed. Using this transformed adjoint system, a method is developed to transform the Lagrange multipliers of the nonlinear programming problem to the costate of the optimal control problem. Furthermore, it is shown that the costate estimate satisfies one of the Weierstrass–Erdmann optimality conditions. Finally, the method developed in this paper is demonstrated on an example whose solution is nonsmooth.
FastSHAP: Real-Time Shapley Value Estimation

Shapley values are widely used to explain black-box models, but they are costly to calculate because they require many model evaluations. We introduce FastSHAP, a method for estimating Shapley values in a single forward pass using a learned explainer model. FastSHAP amortizes the cost of explaining many inputs via a learning approach inspired by the Shapley value's weighted least squares characterization, and it can be trained using standard stochastic gradient optimization. We compare FastSHAP to existing estimation approaches, revealing that it generates high-quality explanations with orders of magnitude speedup.
DESIGNING FOR DIVERSITY: INCLUSIVE SAMPLING

Experts in human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) and related fields have the ability and responsibility to broadly serve the needs and goals of diverse people, which encompasses issues of inclusion, equity, and justice. Importantly, HF/E designers, researchers, and practitioners can address these aims both as the intended outcomes of their work and how the work itself is conducted. Both pathways support progress toward more inclusive and equitable organizations and societies. This paper focuses upon one aspect of inclusive methodology—strategies for inclusive sampling. Sampling is an important focus because of its fundamental role in defining the internal and external validity of findings. Moreover, sampling is how diverse participants and perspectives are incorporated (or not), and thus represents an early way that exclusion, inequity, or inaccessibility may manifest. Three heuristic questions and six sets of strategies are briefly articulated: (1) purposive sampling, (2) oversampling, (3) community sampling, (4) removing barriers of distance, cost, communication, and awareness, (5) building trust, and (6) inclusive demographic categories. A variety of sources are cited to facilitate readers’ further consideration of these issues in their own HF/E endeavors.
EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE SUSTAINABLE WASTE-TO-ENERGY SYSTEM PERFORMANCE FOR THE POULTRY FARM

Poultry litter is one type of biomass and waste generated from the poultry farms. However, excess land application of poultry litter caused eutrophication problems of surface waters coming from the watershed and destroyed the aquatic ecology. Co-combustion of poultry litter and coal were widely studied in fluidized bed combustor as an alternative disposal method during last two decades. However, there are severe environmental problems (i.e., gaseous emissions) and public health impact associated with the poultry litter and coal co-combustion process. In this study, poultry litter and natural gas co-combustion was investigated in the lab-scale waste-to-energy system to provide a sustainable and cost-effective disposal route for poultry farms. This waste-to-energy system integrates the Stirling Engine (SE), Shell-Tube Heat Exchanger (STHE) and the lab-scale Swirling Fluidized Bed Combustor (SFBC) with other systems (e.g., cyclone, air supply system, fuel feeding system). Measures of heat transfer effect, electricity output and gas emissions levels were used to evaluate the lab-scale waste-to-energy system performance. Results indicated that lab-scale waste-to-energy system can produce electricity (close to 1 kW) and hot water (57.2°C) while reducing NOx and SO2 emissions during the poultry litter and natural gas co-combustion process. In addition, energy flow analysis indicated that SE and STHE system might use 14.7% and 21.0% of total energy input in fuels, respectively, to generate useful energy. In addition, a sustainable life cycle of poultry litter was built and suggested to process poultry wastes in the poultry farms.
Computational modeling of aberrant electrical activity following remuscularization with intramyocardially injected pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

Abstract Acute engraftment arrhythmias (EAs) remain a serious complication of remuscularization therapy. Preliminary evidence suggests that a focal source underlies these EAs stemming from the automaticity of immature pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (PSC-CMs) in nascent myocardial grafts. How these EAs arise though during early engraftment remains unclear. In a series of in silico experiments, we probed the origin of EAs—exploring aspects of altered impulse formation and altered impulse propagation within nascent PSC-CM grafts and at the host-graft interface. To account for poor gap junctional coupling during early PSC-CM engraftment, the voltage dependence of gap junctions and the possibility of ephaptic coupling were incorporated. Inspired by cardiac development, we also studied the contributions of another feature of immature PSC-CMs, circumferential sodium channel (NaCh) distribution in PSC-CMs. Ectopic propagations emerged from nascent grafts of immature PSC-CMs at a rate of
Leveraging Neutronics to Monitor Mass Transfer Corrosion in Lead and Lead-Bismuth Cooled Reactors

Corrosion phenomena in heavy liquid metal cooled reactors primarily result from dissolution and mass transfer of alloying elements such as nickel from the structural materials to the coolant. We propose and preliminarily demonstrate an approach to passively monitor nickel dissolution in lead and lead-bismuth cooled reactors based on the effect of mass transfer on the neutronics. We support this suggestion with parametric simulations that demonstrate the effect of nickel transfer on reactivity in a modified TRIGA Mark-III reactor with steel cladding and lead coolant. Simulations of a uranium sphere show that nickel contributes a negative effect on the reactivity in the fast spectrum through parasitic absorption which is stronger than its effect on moderation. Transfer of nickel from the cladding to lead in the modified TRIGA reactor model results in removal of some of the nickel from the active core and significantly increases the total reactivity.
Outgassing Measurements for Three Materials, Combined with Vacuum Ultraviolet Radiation Illumination of the Volatile Condensable Materials

The photolysis of three organic materials, by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation, has been quantified using 15-MHz temperature-controlled quartz microbalances (TQCM's). The rate at which molecular species, released from the individual samples, condensed on two TQCM s was measured for periods of up to 139.9-hours. The individual samples were heated in an effusion cell and the emitted molecular species collected on a pair of TQCM's which were maintained at -40 degrees Celsius. At several points during the deposition measurement, the deposition surface of one TQCM was illuminated by a 30 Watt deuterium lamp, and the loss of material from that surface was observed. V W illumination of the TQCM, concurrent with condensation, reduced the rate that material was lost from the deposition surface. These measurements present a contrasting picture of molecular deposition, in the presence of VUV, to that presented by other investigators who observed an enhanced rate of molecular deposition, when the deposition surface was illuminated by VUV.
Precursors to Adolescent Suicide Attempts

Publisher Summary Suicidal ideation is an important precursor to attempted suicide. However, only a small proportion of adolescents who think about suicide actually go on to attempt it. When examining suicidal behavior among adolescents, it is important to consider a broad range of factors that may be involved in the suicidal act. There are numerous precursors to suicidal behavior. Perhaps a useful starting point is an examination of factors that are directly involved in the suicidal process. Factors related to suicidal behavior include prior suicidal ideation, the method used, the degree of suicidal intent, and various precipitants that may have triggered the suicidal act. These factors play a central role in understanding the suicidal act and greatly influence the outcome. Thus, clinicians should be prepared to conduct a thorough evaluation of these precursors to the suicide attempt. A number of standardized measures are used to predict risk for suicidal behavior among adolescents. Although these measures have not been used specifically to predict risk of a repeated attempt, they are reviewed in this chapter because they may have potential to shed light on those factors that put an adolescent suicide attempter at risk for future suicide attempts. There is some value in having at-risk adolescents' complete measures of suicidal behavior, because clinicians may overestimate suicidality in patients making it more difficult to discriminate high-risk individuals.
Geographical indications and quality promotion in food and agricultural markets: domestic and international issues

This dissertation addresses three questions concerning the economics of geographical indications (GIs) and the role of intellectual property (IP) protection in the provision of quality in food and agricultural markets. The first essay compares and contrasts different instruments (i.e., alternative certification schemes and trademarks) used to provide IP protection for GIs. From a policy perspective, this essay offers recommendations with regard to the most desirable type of IP protection instrument for GIs. The model indicates that a sui generis scheme based on appellations is preferable to standard instruments, such as certification marks, that are currently used in many important markets including the United States, because appellations improve the collective reputation of certified products and reduce the total cost (i.e., the sum of production and information costs) of providing quality compared to standard instruments.The second essay investigates whether consumers recognize and value the informational content of a variety of nested geographical origin labels from foreign countries. This study disentangles three types of geographical origin labels with different levels of geographical differentiation: country-of-origin labels and two types of GIs, protected designations of origin (PDO) and protected geographical indications (PGI). Consumer data show that, within the context of a high-quality value-added commodity such as extra virgin olive oil, consumers' willingness to pay for oils from different countries varies, ceteris paribus, across countries, and that within a country consumers have a greater willingness to pay for GI-labeled than non-GI-labeled products. We also find evidence that consumers value PDOs more than PGIs.The third essay investigates the incentives of GI-exporting and GI-importing countries to strengthen the current TRIPS provisions for GIs. This essay explicitly considers the role of promotion in expanding market demand when consumers lack information regarding either the existence or the features of the GI and GI-like products. The model highlights the diverging interests of GI-exporting and GI-importing countries with regard to GI provisions in international markets and provides a key to interpret the current controversy over GIs among WTO members.
Stimulation of the de novo pathway for the biosynthesis of platelet-activating factor (PAF) via cytidylyltransferase activation in cells with minimal endogenous PAF production

Treatment of Ehrlich ascites cells with 2 mM oleic acid causes a greater than 10-fold increase in the formation of platelet-activating factor (PAF; 1-[3H]alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) from the de novo precursor of PAF, 1-[3H]alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol. Under these conditions, CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity, which is known to catalyze the rate-limiting step in phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, was stimulated 32% (p less than 0.001) over control cells. Surprisingly, the dithiothreitol-insensitive choline-phosphotransferase activity, which catalyzes the final step in PAF biosynthesis, was reduced approximately 95% in membranes isolated from cells that were pre-treated with 2 mM oleic acid. However, calculations of product formation at this reduced cholinephosphotransferase activity revealed that it was still sufficient to accommodate the increased synthesis of PAF observed in the intact oleic acid-treated cells. Kinetic studies and experiments done with cells treated with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (an acetylhydrolase inhibitor) indicate the various metabolic products formed are derived through the following sequence of reactions: 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol—-1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine—-1-alkyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine—-1-alkyl- 2(long-chain) acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. These results indicate PAF is the source of alkylacylglycerophosphocholine through the action of an acetylhydrolase and a transacylase as shown in other cell systems. The relative amounts of PAF, lyso-PAF, and alkylacylglycerophosphocholine produced after treatment of the cells with oleic acid in the absence of the phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride inhibitor indicate that the acylation rate for lyso-PAF is considerably slower (i.e. rate-limiting) than the deacetylation of PAF by acetylhydrolase. We further conclude that the final step in the de novo pathway for PAF biosynthesis is under the direct control of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase, which emphasizes the importance of this regulatory (rate-limiting) step in the biosynthesis of both phosphatidylcholine and PAF.
The upstream sequence -537 to -278 is necessary for transcription of the human nucleolar antigen p120 gene.

This paper discusses how two {ital cis}-acting elements in the p120 genes play important roles in transcription; the region from {minus}537 to {minus}278 is necessary for initiation of transcription, and the region from {minus}1426 to {minus}1223 is necessary for efficient transcription. The distal element(s) which lies upstream of {minus}278 is required for initiation of transcription.
GENETICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF QA-3 MUTANTS AND REVERTANTS IN THE QA GENE CLUSTER OF NEUROSPORA CRASSA

The qa-3 gene, one of the four genes in the qa gene cluster, encodes quinate (shikimate) dehydrogenase (quinate: NAD oxidoreductase, ER 1.1.1.24), the first enzyme in the inducible quinic acid catabolic pathway in Neurospora crassa. Genetic analyses have localized 26 qa-3 mutants at 11 sites on the aq-3 genetic map on the basis of prototroph frequencies. Certain mutants, e.g., 336-3-10 and 336-3-3, are located at opposite ends of the qa-3 gene. Data from four-point crosses (qa-1s mutant 124 X five different qa-3 mutants in triple mutants qa-3, qa-4, qa-2) indicate the following orientation of the qa-3 gene within the qa cluster; qa-1, qa-3 mutant 336-3-10 ("left" end) qa-3 mutant 336-3-3 ("right" end), qa-4, qa-2. Ultraviolet-induced revertants have been obtained from 14 of the qa-3 mutants. The revertable mutants fall into two major classes: those that revert by changes either at the same site or at a second site within the qa-3 gene, and those that revert by unlinked suppressor mutations. The intragenic revertants can be further distinguished by quantative and/or qualitative differences in their quinate dehydrogenase activities. Some revertants with activities either equivalent to or less than wild type produce a thermostable enzyme, and others an enzyme which is thermolabile in vitro at 35 degrees. A concentration of quinic acid or shikimic acid as low as 50 micron protects the enzyme markedly from heat inactivation. The genetic organization and the orientation of the qa-3 gene are discussed with respect to its direction of transcription and to the possible localization of a promoter (initiator) region(s) within the qa gene cluster.
Studies in metachromatic leukodystrophy: XV. Purification of normal and mutant arylsulfatase a from human liver

Abstract In this report we describe a method to purify both normal and abnormal (inactive) arylsulfatase A. The abnormal enzyme protein was isolated both from cases of late infantile and early juvenile forms of metachromatic leukodystrophy. Conventional protein isolation methods reported earlier were followed by size exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography in the final purification stages. Both the mutant enzyme and the normal enzyme had the same HPLC elution behavior. They thus appeared to self-associate in a similar pH-dependent fashion. Both could be followed by their reaction to a rabbit antibody to normal human arylsulfatase A. The amount of homogenous protein obtained from about 500 grams of liver was 300–400 micrograms.