cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discussion by R. Gnanadesikan

The author of this well-written and interesting paper is clearly that rare combination of someone at the interface between a substantive science (astronomy in this case) and statistics who feels comfortable with the languages, problems, and methodologies of both domains. Indeed, on balance, the paper’s contents are tilted toward multivariate statistical data analysis methods (perhaps motivated by a desire to communicate with statisticians in the audience) and exhibit a knowledge of not only the more classical techniques but also more recent developments. The author’s knowledge is far from superficial on these matters and the paper demonstrates a critical ability to sort through the methods and raise relevant questions about their value and limitations.
Platelet function, ultrastructure, and survival in the May-Hegglin anomaly

The May-Hegglin anomaly is one of the rare forms of heriditary thrombocytopenia. Since fewer than 100 cases of May-Hegglin anomaly have been described to date, major controversies regarding the adequacy of hemostasis in vivo and abnormalities of platelet function in vitro continue to prevail. This report describes the results of coagulation, platelet function, platelet ultrastructure, and survival studies performed for a family with six previously unreported cases occurring in three generations. One member of this family also had frequent epistaxis and a prolonged bleeding time associated with cyanotic heart disease that required open heart surgery for correction. The laboratory assessment of hemostasis in such patients before major surgery is also discussed.
6-Bromo-1H-indole-2,3-dione hemihydrate

The title compound, C8H4BrNO2·0.5H2O, has a single planar mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit with the non-H atoms having a mean deviation from planarity of 0.028 A. There is also a half of a water mol­ecule (twofold symmetry) present in the asymmetric unit, which hydrogen bonds with the isatin mol­ecules through O—H⋯O and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to form a two-dimensional framework in the ab plane. There are close Br⋯O contacts of 2.999 (2) A to link the layers. The nine-membered rings of the isatin mol­ecules stack along the a axis with parallel slipped π–π inter­actions [inter-centroid distances = 3.6989 (19) and 4.1227 (19) A].
Tracheal submucosal gland serous cells stimulated in vitro with adrenergic and cholinergic agonists A morphometric study

A morphometric analysis was made of alterations in serous cell structure induced by adrenergic and cholinergic agonists. Ferret tracheal rings were exposed for 30 min in vitro to one of the following agonists: phenylephrine, terbutaline, or methacholine (all at 10−5 M). Controls were incubated similarly in medium containing no drugs or medium containing both the agonist and an excess of the appropriate antagonist (phentolamine, propranolol or atropine, all at 10−4 M).
Diminishing returns in weight, nitrogen, and lysine gain of pigs fed six levels of lysine from three supplemental sources.

Diminishing returns responses to increments of lysine intake were evaluated in 82 crossbred barrows (10.2 +/- SE = .31 kg) fed one of six concentrations of lysine expressed as 55, 80, 90, 100, 115, or 140% of a concentration (10.9 g/kg of diet) that supported maximum weight gain. Supplemental lysine was provided from either soybean meal (SBM), SBM+synthetic lysine (SBM + L), or SBM+corn gluten meal (SBM + CGM) additions to a basal diet consisting of corn, minerals, and vitamins. A logistic equation was used to describe weight (kilograms/day), nitrogen (grams/day) and lysine (grams/day) gain as a function of lysine intake from each diet. The parameter Rmax, asymptotic maximum response at infinite intake, was shared for SBM and SBM+L (.70 +/- .02, 17.6 +/- .4 and 7.6 +/- .5, respectively) but was different (P < .05) for SBM + CGM (.62 +/- .02, 15.7 +/- .4 and 6.4 +/- .4, respectively) diets. A plateau in weight gain response was observed at approximately 100% of our estimate of the lysine requirement (9.8 g/kg, based on analyzed values), but nitrogen and lysine gain responses did not approach a plateau until 120 or 145% of the requirement. No differences were detected among pigs fed the SBM and SBM+L sources; however, the efficiency of lysine use by pigs fed the SBM+CGM diet was lower. Maximum marginal efficiency (dr/dI) occurred at 45, 40, and 35% of Rmax for weight, nitrogen, and lysine gain, respectively. The maximum marginal efficiency of lysine gain was 81% for pigs fed the SBM and SBM+L diets but only 68% for pigs fed the SBM+CGM diet. Consequently, diminishing returns were apparent for at least the upper 55 to 65% of the response curve. Whole-body lysine content increased (P < .03) from 5.5 to 6.0 g/16 g of N and glycine (9.6 to 7.9) and proline (6.4 to 5.4) content decreased (P < .001) as lysine intake increased. No changes were detected in body threonine content (pooled average = 2.8).
Channel Coding for Optical Channels

In this chapter, we describe different forward error correction (FEC) schemes currently in use or suitable for use in optical communication systems. We start with the description of standard block codes. The state-of-the-art in optical communication systems standardized by the ITU employ concatenated Bose–Chaudhuri–Hocquenghem (BCH)/RS codes [1, 2]. The RS(255,239), in particular, has been used in a broad range of long-haul communication systems [1, 2], and it is commonly considered as the first-generation of FEC [3, 4]. The elementary FEC schemes (BCH, RS, or convolutional codes) may be combined to design more powerful FEC schemes, e.g., RS(255,239) + RS(255,233). Several classes of concatenation codes are listed in ITU-T G975.1. Different concatenation schemes, such as the concatenation of two RS codes or the concatenation of RS and convolutional codes, are commonly considered as second generation of FEC [3, 4].
A Novel Method Produces Pd nanoparticles for Ink-Jet Printing Technology

The free-radical polymerization method was used in this study to synthesize three kinds of oligomers (hydrophobic PS, PS-co-PMMA, hydrophilic PVAc) with sulfate group on chain end which can be successfully applied in reduction and stabilization of Pd nanoparticles without any surfactant. Pd nanoparticles are further used as the reductant for catalyzing electroless nickel(EN). Since the Pd nanoparticles are existed on the surface of oligomer. Therefore, the oligomers can effectively prevent Pd nanoparticles from oxidation and aggregation and use in ink-jet printing process. We also demonstrated that the water-based ink containing these Pd nanoparticles can be ink-jet printed onto the PET substrate, then, a Ni pattern is fabricated successfully by the electroless Ni plating.
KinesioÃÂ® Tex Tape: Valuable Conservative Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis?

Purpose: To determine if Kinesio Taping® as a therapeutic intervention will decrease plantar pain and improve functional outcomes in individuals with plantar fasciitis (PF). Methods: 10 (7 F/3 M; mean age 40.3 years old) subjects reported for three sessions: baseline measurements, after 1 week of taping application, and after 3 weeks of taping application. At each session, the following data were collected: 1) Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (MSK US) imaging of plantar fascia thickness via a long-axis scan at the insertion of the calcaneus; 2) Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS); and 3) Foot and Ankle Ability Measure Scores (FAAM). At the initial session, patients were instructed on Kinesio Taping® protocol and supplied with enough product for daily re-application throughout the study. A 1-way ANOVA was used to compare the outcome measures from the three visits. Results: There was a trend towards significant decrease in thickness between the baseline and final measures (P=0.063). This study also revealed a significant and clinically meaningful decrease in NPRS scores (MCID=2) from baseline measurement to week 3 (P=0.031). No significant changes in FAAM scores for the ADL (P=0.639) or Sports (P=0.107) subscales were revealed over the treatment period. Conclusion: Kinesio Taping® may be considered an effective, conservative, and practical intervention in the treatment of plantar fasciitis for short-term pain relief when used with the exercise protocol. However a larger sample sized study with a control group is needed to warrant these results.
Sedimentation from buoyant muddy plumes in the presence of interface mixing: An experimental study

A series of flume experiments were conducted to study the sediment removal rates, characterized by an effective settling velocity, from buoyant muddy plumes overriding clear saltwater at steady state conditions under different Richardson numbers and initial suspended sediment concentrations. The experiments were all carried out in the subcritical regime, leading to cusps style instabilities at the interface of the two fluids. Flocculation in the experiments was not suppressed, yet flocs remained small while in the plume layer. Data from the experiments allowed for calculation of the individual floc settling velocity, Ws,f, and the overall effective settling velocity, Ws,eff, i.e., that velocity needed to predict the downward flux with CWs,eff. Results showed that Ws,eff was greater than the floc settling velocity in all runs. Ws,eff was found to increase with plume velocity and interface mixing but not with plume concentration. The difference between the effective and floc settling velocities, was therefore attributed to turbulent diffusion brought on by mixing at the interface and not to convective sedimentation or leaking. The turbulence enhanced settling velocity, Ws,t, was found to be a strong function of the Richardson number, and conceptual and empirical equations are presented to predict Ws,t as a function of the plume surface velocity, Ups, and Richardson number, Ri; this analysis showed that Ws,t ∝UpsRi−2. In the runs with low Richardson number, Ws,t was approximately equal to the floc settling velocity, leading to an overall doubling of the effective settling velocity relative to that of the individual particles. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Songs of Exile: Music, Activism, and Solidarity in the Latin American Diaspora

This article addresses the long-standing connection between music and social activism in Latin America, centering on a discussion of ‘the music of exile’ as a cultural artifact of historical and conceptual significance for diasporic Latin American communities. The music produced by artists who were persecuted during the years of military rule was characterized by an engagement with social and political affairs, and often helped bring people together in the struggle for democratization. Despite censorship laws and other repressive measures enacted by the dictatorships, the music not only endured, but traveled across nations and continents, carried by the millions of people who were displaced due to State-sponsored violence. Now distributed through new media platforms such as YouTube, this music functions as a repository of memory and an emblem of solidarity that connects dispersed Latin American communities. Using Cultural Studies as a theoretical framework and employing an interpretive methodology, this study focuses on a selection of songs written between 1963 and 1992, presenting an analysis that centers on their lyrics and connects their meanings to larger social processes.
Abstract 5908: Cancer-associated fibroblast driven drug resistance in colorectal cancer

Drug resistance remains a major problem in the treatment of most cancers. For example, KRAS wild-type colorectal cancers (CRCs) are typically treated with the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy cetuximab in combination with standard chemotherapy; however, of the 40% of patients that do respond, virtually all relapse within 3-12 months. Additionally, around 25% of nonresponders have no identifiable resistance mechanisms. This suggests that it is not just cell-intrinsic mechanisms that result in resistance, but that extrinsic factors play a role. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the dynamics of the tumor microenvironment, specifically cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and hypoxia, modify the response of CRC cells to cetuximab. We used a novel high-content imaging platform to generate quantitative phenotypic data (i.e. morphology, birth/death rates) of cellular co-cultures perturbed by multiple, co-occurring microenvironmental conditions. Preliminary data demonstrated reduced sensitivity of tumor cells to cetuximab in the presence of CAFs, which was dependent on patient specifics and time scale of co-culture. Additionally, we found that low oxygen conditions altered the effect of CAFs on tumor cell phenotypes, which highlights the importance of studying co-occurring microenvironmental factors. This work underlies the importance of considering not just the genetic makeup of patient tumors, but also the heterogeneity of the surrounding microenvironment when designing personalized treatment strategies. Citation Format: Colleen M. Garvey, Oscar Chen, Shannon M. Mumenthaler. Cancer-associated fibroblast driven drug resistance in colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5908. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5908
Occurrence of enrofloxacin in overflows from animal lot and residential sewage lagoons and a receiving-stream

Abstract Enrofloxacin (ENRO), a fluoroquinolone, was quantified in overflows from an animal lot and residential sewage lagoons and in a receiving-stream (Gans Creek). The concentrations of ENRO in samples was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography − tandem mass spectrometry. In total, ninety samples including duplicates were analyzed during several monthly sampling campaigns. The samples collected represented the residential sewage lagoon overflow (RLO), animal lot lagoon overflow (ALLO), the combined overflows (RLO and ALLO), and Gans Creek (upstream, midstream and downstream positions). The frequency of detection of ENRO was 90% for RLO and 100% for both ALLO and Gans Creek. The highest concentration of ENRO (0.44 μg/L) was found in ALLO sample collected during high precipitation. ENRO levels found in RLO samples ranged from
Radiation damage studies of SiPMs at low temperatures

We characterized the performance of Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) before and after exposure to 1012 neutron/cm2 dosage. Despite the typical orders of magnitude increase of dark current upon neutron irradiation that loss SiPM's photon number resolving capability and deem unusable, we show that the elevated dark current can be suppressed and single-photoelectron detection can be restored by operating it at a lower temperature. The required operating temperature depends on the dosage received. Furthermore, after thermal annealing at high temperature, there is strong evidence that the extrinsic dark current is lowered and the single-photon detection performance are to some extent revived at ambient temperature.
New Tools and Institutions to Foster Biophilic Cities

Moving cities in the direction of recognizing and fostering biophilic qualities will not be easy and will require significant and sustained investments in social and governmental infrastructure. Physical design, at the building, neighborhood, city, and regional levels, will only take us part of the way in creating a truly biophilic city. In addition to new design and planning codes and incentives that institutionalize biophilic design and planning, we need institutions that educate about nature or facilitate access and nudge us to explore nature and to live more outdoor lives.
ESSENCE II and the framework for evaluating syndromic surveillance systems.

Introduction: The Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-Based Epidemics (ESSENCE II) is a prototype syndromic surveillance system for capturing and analyzing public health indicators for early detection of disease outbreaks. Objectives: This paper presents a preliminary evaluation of ESSENCE II according to a CDC framework for evaluating syndromic surveillance systems. Methods: Each major topic of the framework is addressed in this assessment of ESSENCE II performance. Results: ESSENCE captures data in multiple formats, parses text strings into syndrome groupings, and applies multiple temporal and spatio-temporal outbreak-detection algorithms. During a recent DARPA evaluation exercise, ESSENCE algorithms detected a set of health events with a median delay ofl day after the earliest possible detection opportunity. Conclusions: ESSENCE II has provided excellent performance with respect to the framework and has proven to be a useful and cost-effective approach for providing early detection of health events.
'But Do Monolingual People Really Exist?' Analysing Elementary Students' Contrasting Representations of Plurilingualism through Sequential Reflexive Drawing.

ABSTRACTThis article draws on data generated through a multi-site collaborative inquiry with students across five English and French schools in Canada and France to investigate children’s social representations of plurilingualism. Children were asked to draw a sequence of reflexive drawings of a monolingual, a bilingual and a plurilingual individual, as well as themselves. Drawing on theories of social representations of language and plurilingualism, the focus herein is on analysing children’s language representations made visible through the medium of drawing. The article concludes with a discussion of the affordances of using creative multimodal methods in applied linguistics research.
Biodegradable Polymeric Materials in Degradable Electronic Devices

Biodegradable electronics have great potential to reduce the environmental footprint of devices and enable advanced health monitoring and therapeutic technologies. Complex biodegradable electronics require biodegradable substrates, insulators, conductors, and semiconductors, all of which comprise the fundamental building blocks of devices. This review will survey recent trends in the strategies used to fabricate biodegradable forms of each of these components. Polymers that can disintegrate without full chemical breakdown (type I), as well as those that can be recycled into monomeric and oligomeric building blocks (type II), will be discussed. Type I degradation is typically achieved with engineering and material science based strategies, whereas type II degradation often requires deliberate synthetic approaches. Notably, unconventional degradable linkages capable of maintaining long-range conjugation have been relatively unexplored, yet may enable fully biodegradable conductors and semiconductors with un...
Patients with type 2 diabetes demonstrate proprioceptive deficit in the knee.

AIM To investigate proprioceptive discrepancies in the lower extremity in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS In this cross-sectional study, a total of 46 older persons were divided into a T2DM group (n = 23) and a control group who did not have T2DM (n = 23). Participants were given a brief warm up with stretching exercises. Diabetic neuropathy scores were collected prior to proprioceptive testing. For proprioceptive testing, participants performed leg extensions to randomized target positions of 15°, 30°, 45, 60° degrees of elevation in the sagittal plane, each target was repeated a total of four times. Subjects were guided to target positions in the absence of visual feedback via auditory cues from a custom JPS application. When the participant entered the target position, they memorized the location of their limb in space and subsequently attempted to re-locate this position in space. Proprioceptive errors were measured from the target positioned, target remembered, target repositioned protocol. RESULTS Proprioceptive accuracy was lower in the diabetic group at all levels of target angle than the control group (P < 0.05). The diabetic group had 46% greater inaccuracy than the control group at all levels of target position. Diabetics also reported greater neuropathy scores than controls in the past 12 mo P < 0.01. CONCLUSION Deficits in lower limb localization and greater diabetic neuropathy scores were identified in this study. Our findings may be associated with deafferentation as peripheral neuropathy is a common complication with the disease. These findings may help to explain the declining balance function in the older persons with T2DM which is also commonly reported.
Effects of Flame Temperature and Air-Fuel Mixing on Emission of Particulate Carbon from a Divided-Chamber Diesel Engine

The effect of flame temperature on particulate carbon emission from divided-chamber diesel engines was examined by adding various quantities of 02 and N2 to the intake air with the engines operating at several different loads and speeds. At a given operating condition for a fixed combustion chamber geometry, intake gas addition was expected to influence chemical kinetics without affecting the air-fuel mixing. Particulate carbon and CO were found to increase with N2 addition and decrease with 02 addition, whereas NOx emissions exhibited opposite trends.
Abstract LB-276: Application of a CRISPR/Cas9 screen to identify novel therapeutic strategies with CDK4/6 inhibitors in pancreatic cancer

While mutational activation of KRAS occurs in nearly all pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC), clinically relevant agents directly targeting KRAS remain elusive. The second most frequent aberration in PDAC is loss of the tumor suppressor CDKN2A, which encodes INK4A, an endogenous inhibitor of the CDK4 and CDK6 cell cycle regulatory proteins that promote G1 cell cycle progression. KRAS and INK4A mutations cooperate to accelerate PDAC metastatic development, in part, by converging to block RB tumor suppressor activity. While no anti-KRAS targeted therapies have reached the clinic, pharmacologic restoration of CDKN2A function by inhibition of CDK4/6 may be an effective anti-KRAS therapeutic strategy. We found that CDK4/6 inhibitors (e.g., palbociclib) elicited single-agent activity in a subset of tested PDAC cell lines. Furthermore, concurrent treatment with the ERK inhibitor SCH772984 caused a potent synergistic reduction in anchorage-dependent and -independent cell growth, induced apoptosis, and increased senescence and G1 arrest. We next sought to identify novel genes that regulate sensitivity to palbociclib. Using a CRISPR/Cas9 loss-of-function screen, we individually silenced expression of 2500 genes from the “druggable genome” in combination with palbociclib. We identified genes that caused synergistic growth suppression in combination, suggesting small molecule combinations to overcome de novo or acquired CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance in the clinic. We also identified genes whose loss imparts a survival advantage, suggesting possible resistance mechanisms to single-agent CDK4/6 inhibition. In total, these data suggest that CDK4/6 inhibitors alone, or in combination, may benefit patients clinically. Citation Format: Craig Goodwin, Sehrish Javaid, Adrienne D. Cox, Kris Wood, Channing Der. Application of a CRISPR/Cas9 screen to identify novel therapeutic strategies with CDK4/6 inhibitors in pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-276.
Robotic transthoracic first-rib resection for Paget-Schroetter syndrome.

Objectives First-rib resection is a key component in the treatment of Paget-Schroetter syndrome. We report our experience with robotic first-rib resection. Methods Patients diagnosed with Paget-schroetter syndrome underwent thrombolysis followed by robotic first-rib resection. The diagnosis was made by preoperative venography (VA) and magnetic resonance venography. The robot was used to dissect the first rib, disarticulate the costosternal joint and divide the scalene muscles. Success of the first-rib resection was assessed by physical examination, venogram and magnetic resonance venography. Results Eighty-three robotic first-rib resections were performed (49 men and 34 women). The mean age of the patients was 24 years ± 8.5 years. The operative time was 127.6 min ± 20.8 min. The median hospitalization was 4 days. There were no surgical complications, neurovascular injuries or mortality. Patients with a patent subclavian vein on the postoperative venogram (57 of 83 patients, 69%) were anticoagulated with warfarin for 3 months. In the remaining 27 patients with a persistent postoperative occlusion of the subclavian vein, 21 (21 of 83 patients, 24%) underwent angioplasty and were anticoagulated with warfarin for 3 months, and 6 (6 of 83, 7%) required stent placement to achieve complete vein patency. Patients who underwent stent placement received antiplatelet therapy in addition to warfarin anticoagulation for 3 months. At a median follow-up of 24 months, all patients had an open subclavian vein with a patency rate of 100%. Conclusions The robotic transthoracic first-rib resection is feasible and allows for a minimally invasive resection of the first rib, while minimizing neurovascular complications.
The Interplay Between Cortical State and Perceptual Learning: A Focused Review.

Measurements of population activity in alert animals have demonstrated that the intrinsic response state of the cortex has profound effects on the neuronal representation of sensory inputs, raising the possibility that cortical state could influence the behavioral performance in perceptual learning (PL). Perceptual learning (PL) is a process by which sensory experience leads to gradual and semi-permanent improvements in perceptual judgment, and it is generally agreed that these improvements are modulated by sensory cortical areas. Although the precise neural mechanisms underlying the improved perceptual judgment remain unclear, cortical state has been shown to impact the behavioral outcome of PL. We discuss several ways in which cortical state might influence PL based on the recent evidence for state-dependent modulation of sensory encoding. Conversely, training in a certain perceptual task feeds back to modulate cortical state, suggesting a bi-directional relationship between cortical state and behavioral outcomes of PL. We highlight the recent studies that shed light on the mechanism of the interplay between cortical state and PL.
Effectiveness of Two Methods of Attaining a Full Draw by Beginning Archers

Abstract High school freshman girls (N=216) were used to compare the existing pull method and the new push method of attaining a full draw of the bow to determine if one is more effective than the other. The groups were equated with respect to intelligence, general motor ability, and beginning archery ability. All archers completed 19 lessons. The mean score of the final round of the control group (pull method) was compared with the mean score of the experimental group (push method) for the same round. No significant difference was found to exist between the means of the two groups.
Discovery-Based SNAr Experiment in Water Using Micellar Catalysis

Micellar catalysis has become an important aspect of the chemical industry’s effort to “go green”. However, this chemistry has yet to be fully explored in educational settings such as second-year organic chemistry laboratories. Reported herein is a discovery-based nucleophilic aromatic substitution experiment that introduces chemistry students to micellar catalysis, green chemistry, and systems thinking. The students prepare tandem reactions in water to explore how the leaving group identity affects the rate of reaction and how the reaction incorporates principles of green chemistry. The product of the fastest reaction is isolated through recrystallization, and the product’s identity is verified through infrared spectroscopy and melting point analysis.
Researching as a Critical Secretary: A Strategy and Praxis for Critical Ethnography.

This paper proposes a strategy for ethnographically investigating politically disparate education organizations. I develop the notion of researching as a critical secretary: a method of participant...
A CBA of corrective lenses, including the benefits for reducing the symptoms of dementia

We carried out a CBA of corrective lenses (CLs) that had direct benefits, and included indirect benefits working through a reduction in dementia symptoms. The benefits took the form of a reduction ...
Collecting immigrant voices to inform a participant-centered dialogical facilitation method:

This article describes how a new participant-centered facilitation method developed because the workshop facilitators wanted a process that was more culturally responsive to the perspectives of imm...
Not forgetting the family system of the substance using client

Millions of people have a substance use disorder, but it also affects their family members and loved ones who are often overlooked in approaches to treating these disorders. This study is a review ...
Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

Chapter 8 discusses the role of finance in the evolution of decentralized systems. In the 2020s, the market for DeFi has started to take off but fully decentralized DeFi solutions still have a long way to go. Because the decentralized economy is still missing the major institutions that society relies on to conduct profitable business, especially a secure and meaningful system for evaluating reputation for anonymous supranational partners, and an effective and dynamic governance system, it will not be able to fully proliferate until these systems have established themselves. Once these core decentralized infrastructure products become available, the decentralized economy becomes viable. Key indicators include cryptocurrency being used in authentic transactions such as insurance and equities in broad segments of industry and the tokenization of commodities and properties in a mainstream environment.
Sleep Duration Buffers The Effects of Adversity on Mental Health Among Recently Immigrated Latinx Adolescents

The rate of Latinx migration to the U.S. has risen rapidly over the last several decades. Recognizing that Latinx migrant youth are exposed to a high rate of adverse events and that sleep has potential buffering effects on mental health, the current study aimed to examine sleep duration as a moderator of the link between childhood adversity and emotional and behavioral symptoms among Latinx migrant youth. One hundred and twelve first-generation migrants of Latinx ethnicity (and 46 caregivers) participated in this study; the average age was 19 (SD = 2). Participants self-reported demographics: 59.8% of participants were male, with the racial breakdown as follows: 38.8% white, 6.1% black, 4.1% mixed race, and 51% marked “other.” Data were collected from a public high school for immigrant youth in the Southwestern U.S. and included average sleep duration, Adverse Childhood Experiences; the Child PTSD Symptoms Scale and the Child Behavior Checklist. Findings indicated experiences of neglect in childhood were associated with youth-reported mental health symptoms, but this relation was significantly moderated by sleep duration such that the relation was weakened in the presence of high sleep duration. Both effects were statistically significant and of medium size. Caregiver reports supported the buffering effects of sleep; medium or large interactions between sleep and all three adversity variables (abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction) were noted in multivariate analyses. The current study takes an important first step in identifying that short sleep duration is prevalent among Central American immigrant youth. Findings suggest that sleep duration has important public health potential as a means of buffering the effects of childhood adversity on mental health in a vulnerable group.
Covariance Analysis of Nonstationary Time Series

Publisher Summary Non-stationarity is a negative concept. A class of non-stationary time series, class (KF), has been introduced for its covariance analysis. A model of the “signal plus noise” form had been studied where the signal is a time series with zero mean and a periodic covariance and the noise is a stationary series with zero mean; it is termed “asymptotically stationary.” The class (KF) is one of the main results asserts that the class of harmonizable time series belongs to class (KF), and then an ergodic theorem is established. The class (KF) has been analyzed and an almost harmonizable class is introduced and shown to be of class (KF). This contains the harmonizable case, but the generalization gives a better insight, and shows the essential simplicity of the class (KF). The consistency of an estimator of the averaged mean function and a weak law of large numbers are established. This chapter focuses on the covariance analysis of time series governed by difference schemes with not necessarily constant coefficients. The basic sample function continuity of the solutions, the conditions under which they belong to class (KF), and the fact that they always belong to class (C), among others, have been established.
Electronic chart display overlay development at the Naval Oceanographic Office for use in tactical applications

The Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) has traditionally produced Special Tactical Oceanographic Information Charts (STOICs) that provide the warfighter with information superiority by describing the hydrographic/oceanographic nature of the battlespace in a paper chart or raster chart format. It is a compilation of information from all available sources, including imagery, foreign sources, historical data from databases, oceanographic models, and on-scene data collection. The centerpiece of a STOIC is the hydrographic chart, typically an 8/spl times/8 nautical mile area along a coast at 1:25,000 scale. This chart is surrounded by essential elements information, in text and graphic form, which succinctly describe environmental parameters that specifically affect mine warfare, special operations, and amphibious warfare. The present STOIC product cannot be simultaneously viewed with other geospatial data, such as route plans, order of battle, or terrain information, as required for achieving intelligence dominance of battlespace. In addition, the Navy is now transitioning to electronic navigation using Digital Nautical Charts (DNCs) and plans to be fully operational with Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems-Navy (ECDIS-N) on all ships by fiscal year 2004. To support these new geospatial capabilities, future NAVOCEANO tactical products will be based on standards-based geospatial information that allows for feature attribution and compliance with both NATO Digital Geographic Information Exchange Standard and the International Hydrographic Organization S-57 transfer standard. The new product line will be tactical layers that can be overlain on the DNC or Electronic Navigation Chart data and will exhibit the full functionality of ECDIS-N, the NATO Warship ECDIS, and other tactical decision aids. Battlespace visualization is changing, and NAVOCEANO intends to change as well to meet the needs of the 21st century warfighter. This paper outlines how NAVOCEANO will meet the challenge to modernize its tactical support by updating its production line.
Contaminant sequestration in karstic aquifers: Experiments and quantification

[1] A karstic aquifer typically has significant secondary porosity consisting of an interconnected system of caves or conduits. Conduit-borne contaminants can enter the contiguous limestone matrix, remain inside for a longer time than in the conduit, and subsequently be flushed out. This retention or sequestration can significantly influence the fate of contaminants within the aquifer and alter the shape of the breakthrough curve. The mechanisms involved in sequestration have been identified and quantified by analysis of the breakthrough curves generated by a set of laboratory experiments in which a conduit, porous limestone matrix, and conservative contaminant were simulated by a porous-walled pipe, chamber of closely packed glass beads, and salt, respectively. Experiments were conducted with both active and passive transfer of water between conduit and matrix, simulating differing hydrogeologic regimes. In active transfer the primary control parameter is the volume of water transferred; sequestration is primarily due to advection with the effects of diffusion and dispersion being minimal. In passive transfer the control parameters are the conduit Reynolds number and the duration that contaminant resides in the conduit; sequestration is caused by the combined effects of the conduit pressure drop, pressure variation due to bedform, and diffusion. Active and passive transfer can be unified by analyzing the ratio of the scale of pressure variation to the conduit length. In accordance with the resolved mechanisms a variety of models have been constructed to recover solute distributions in the matrix and to regenerate breakthrough curves. These analyses and models provide a potential approach to investigate contaminant migration in karstic aquifers.
State-to-State Espousal of Human Rights Claims

This short symposium piece examines the use of diplomatic protection and state-to-state espousal of human rights claims. Espousal occurs where a government takes up a claim on behalf of an aggrieved national and presents the claim to another State that was the author of the injury. There is a growing body of international practice (including that of the United States) to allow such claims to be presented in certain circumstances. While such a right to espousal remains permissive, some domestic courts are moving in the direction of holding that such espousals should not be unreasonably or capriciously refused. For the United States, it is highly unlikely that this approach will be adopted, but espousals may continue to be employed, and human rights claims presented, in appropriate cases.
Specificity of Arrest, Survival, and Growth of Selected Metastatic Variant Cell Lines

Animal tumor models for blood-borne metastasis have been developed by in vitro cloning or in vivo selection of malignant tumor cell populations to obtain organ-preferring variant tumor cell lines with altered arrest, survival, invasion, and growth properties. Selection and some tumor cell characteristics of lung-, brain-, and ovary-colonizing metastatic B16 melanoma, liver-colonizing RAW114 lymphosarcoma, and lung-colonizing MSV3T3 vasoformative sarcoma variant lines will be discussed along with additional data, suggesting that tumor cells of varying malignant potential preeexist in the unselected tumor population.
Cholesterol and bile acid metabolism in moderately advanced, stable cirrhosis of the liver

Abstract Bile acid and lipid metabolism were studied in a metabolic ward in 8 patients with moderately advanced, but stable alcoholic cirrhosis, and in 17 control subjects of comparable age and weight. Patients with biopsy-proved cirrhosis were well nourished and had neither ascites nor encephalopathy. Routine liver function tests were normal apart from elevated gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and significant BSP retention. However, concentrations of serum bile acids and excretion of urinary bile acids were elevated. Their pool sizes and hepatic secretion rates of bile acids were somewhat reduced, but not markedly so, as reported for patients with far-advanced cirrhosis. Also, in contrast to patients with more advanced cirrhosis, our patients did not show a marked reduction of either cholate or deoxycholate in the bile acid pool. Despite relatively low pools of bile acids, percent saturation of fasting gallbladder bile with cholesterol and hepatic secretion of cholesterol were similar to those of control subjects; this lack of an increased saturation in cirrhotics appeared to be due to a greater coupling of cholesterol to phospholipids and bile acids at low outputs of bile acids than found in normal subjects. Cholesterol absorption measured by a combined intestinal perfusion-sterol balance technique was comparable in the two groups. When the cirrhotic subjects were treated with cholestyramine (16 g/day) for 1 mo, they were able to increase their bile acid synthesis from 4.5 ± 1.6 to 19.8 ± 10.9 mg/kg/day , and this increase was comparable to 3 control subjects similarly tested. In addition, in both groups of subjects, cholic acid became the major bile acid in the pool (70 ± 5% in cirrhotic and 71 ± 8% in controls). Serum cholesterol fell to similar levels in both groups. These findings indicate that patients with moderately advanced, compensated cirrhosis do not have marked disturbance of cholesterol and bile acid metabolism that has been found in patients with advanced, decompensated cirrhosis. However, mild changes in biliary lipid metabolism anticipate those found in more severe cirrhosis.
Tulip-Tree in Bloom

At the time when the tulip-tree, even then rare, bloomed By the edge of the cloistered lane, They met, and each mildly wondered if ever again It might be assumed That such accident would bring them face to face In another such astutely designed, lovely, and lonely place. Would they part with a nod of civility? Or stand with a tentative smile until mutual timidity Of youth made them pass on? Almost surely not, For spring sun was reddening westward to gild earth's heaven. But secretly he stubbed the turf with the toe of a boot, And his tongue went dry, his brain drained. But how could he leave Without some recognition of her own, and beauty's, worth. At last in panic, he set heel firmly where boot-toe had scored earth.
GeoSTAR - a synthetic aperture approach for a geostationary microwave sounder

GeoSTAR is a new microwave atmospheric sounder under development, with capabilities similar to sensors now operating on low Earth orbiting weather satellites. GeoSTAR is intended for deployment in geostationary orbit - where it complements future infrared sounders and enables all-weather temperature and humidity soundings and rain mapping. The required spatial resolution of 50 km at 50 GHz dictates an aperture of 4 meters or more, which is difficult to achieve with a real aperture system. GeoSTAR is instead based on a synthetic aperture imaging approach. Among the advantages of such a system are that there are no moving parts, and the size of the aperture is easily expandable to meet future needs. A ground based prototype of GeoSTAR is currently under development in an effort led by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. We describe the measurement and calibration approach, system design, and selected technology elements.
Do Normative Data from the Full WCST Extend to the Abbreviated WCST

The standard Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) was administered to a mixed clinical sample of 332 individuals. The full version was compared to the 64-card version (WCST-64) by extracting the results of the first 64 cards. Percent scores for the WCST were converted to standard scores using the normative data corrected for age and education level. Percent scores for WCST-64 were converted to standard scores using the same WCST normative data. WCST-64 scores were not comparable to those obtained from the full WCST. A breakdown of the data based on performance level found WCST-64 to be useful only with respondents obtaining five or more categories by the end of the first deck. The authors recommend caution in applying WCST manual data to the WCST-64 in the clinical setting.
Abelian monopoles in SU2-valued lattice gauge-Higgs systems

Abstract We describe an algorithm which calculates the monopole number of an SU 2 -valued lattice gauge field together with a Higgs field on a simplicial lattice of dimension ≥ 3. The calculation is gauge invariant. The expected value of the monopole number (for a fixed Higgs field) does not depend on the Higgs field.
Some bases of aggression and their relationship to law

Aggression has been studied from several vantage points: the behavioral, the somatic, the social, the cultural and the experiential. Each of these vantage points dictates a different method of interfering with or ‘doing something about’ aggression. Each can be ‘corrected’: by behavior control, by surgery or drugs, by altering the social system, by changing cultural values and by reconstructing the interpretation of experience. Law can be seen as a cultural device for turning a social dyad into a triad in order to ‘solve’ a conflict at the same time that it reinstitutionalizes some cultural norms of basic social institutions in a legal context. All of the various vantage points must be recognized as law is reinstitutionalized from the primary institutions of society.
Trends in groundwater quality

The term 'trend' takes on a variety of meanings for groundwater quality in both a temporal and spatial context. Most commonly, trends are thought of as changes over time at either a regional or localized spatial scale. Generally water quality managers are most interested in changes associated with some form of human activity. Carefully defining what is meant by 'trend' is a critical step in trend analysis and may be accomplished by formulating a statistical model which includes a trend component. Although there are a great many regional groundwater studies which provide a 'snapshot' description of water quality conditions over an area at one point in time, there are relatively few which consider changes over time and fewer still which include a statistical analysis of long-term trend. This review covers both regional and localized studies of groundwater quality around the world, including a few snapshots, but focusing primarily on those studies which include an evaluation of temporal changes in groundwater quality. The studies include national assessments, agricultural case studies (the largest group, mostly regional in scope), urban case studies, and point source and hazardous waste case studies.
Characterization of the growth of intermetallic interfacial layers of Sn-Ag and Sn-Pb eutectic solders and their composite solders on Cu substrate during isothermal long-term aging

Single shear lap joints were made with four different solders, Sn-Pb and Sn-Ag eutectic solders, and their composites containing about 20 vol.% in-situ Cu6Sn5 intermetallic phases about 3–8 micrometers in diameter. Two sets of experiments were performed: In the first set, all of the above four solder joints were aged at 150°C for periods ranging to 5000 h and the intermetallic growth was monitored periodically. In the second set, each of the above four solder joints was aged at five different temperatures for 4000 h. The interfacial layers between solders and the Cu substrate were examined using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The growth kinetics of intermetallic interfacial layers formed between solder and Cu substrate was characterized. The effect of in-situ Cu6Sn5 intermetallic phases on the growth rate is discussed. The growth rate of the intermetallic layers in the eutectic Sn-Pb composite was slower for the first 150 h as compared to the eutectic Sn-Pb non-composite. The growth rate of the intermetallic layers were similar for both the eutectic Sn-Ag and eutectic Sn-Ag composite throughout the aging duration. The activation energies for Cu6Sn5 layer growth for the eutectic Sn-Pb and Sn-Ag solder joints are evaluated to be 111 kJ/mol and 116 kJ/mol, respectively. The eutectic Sn-Pb and Sn-Ag composite solder joints exhibit higher activation energies of 161 kJ/mol and 203 kJ/mol.
Investigation of the spin exchange interactions in the nanotube system Na2V3O7 by spin dimer analysis

Abstract The relative magnitudes of the spin exchange interactions expected for the nanotubes of Na 2 V 3 O 7 were examined by identifying the spin dimers of the nanotube and calculating their spin orbital interaction energies. Our analysis indicates that the spin exchange interactions of the nanotube are not described by three-legged ladders, but by six mutually intersecting helical chains, and the magnetic properties of the nanotube in the low temperature region can be well approximated by those of a single helical chain. Each helical chain is described by four antiferromagnetc spin exchange parameters J 1 – J 4 with the repeat sequence [– J 2 – J 1 – J 3 – J 4 –] ∞ , where | J 1 |>| J 2 |>| J 3 |>| J 4 |. The nanotube is expected to have a spin gap.