cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rotationally-invariant non-local means for image denoising and tomography

Many samples imaged in structural biology and material science contain several similar particles at random locations and orientations. Model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) methods can in principle be used to exploit such redundancies in images through log prior probabilities that accurately account for non-local similarity between the particles. However, determining such a log prior term can be challenging. Several denoising algorithms like non-local means (NLM) successfully capture such non-local redundancies, but the problem is two-fold: NLM is not explicitly formulated as a cost function, and neither can it capture similarity between randomly oriented particles. In this paper, we propose a rotationally-invariant nonlocal means (RINLM) algorithm, and describe a method to implement RINLM as a prior model using a novel framework that we call plug-and-play priors. We introduce the idea of patch pre-rotation to make RINLM computationally tractable. Finally, we showcase image denoising and 2D tomography results, using the proposed RINLM algorithm, as we highlight high reconstruction quality, image sharpness, and artifact suppression.
Equilibrium in a Uniform-Price Auction with Private Values

In a model incorporating bidders with private information bidding for multiple units of a homogeneous good, I show that the equilibrium bid functions can be completely characterized, sometimes in closed form. The equilibrium bid functions can be considered aggregated bid functions from first-price single unit bidders. This property allows one to extend results from the single-unit auction literature to this multi-unit setting.
Closed Loop Performance of a Slotless Lorentz Self-Bearing Motor

In previous work the authors presented a Lorentz self-bearing motor design targeted for precision pointing and smooth angular slewing applications. The motor also offers potential advantages when operated as a synchronous machine at high speed including larger power densities and shorter shafts. In this paper, the closed loop performance of the motor at low transient speeds (0–588 rpm) is presented. Using these results, several challenges to achieving high-speed rotation are identified and discussed. The most significant is the heavy cross coupling within the actuator which limits bearing stiffness and stability, and is amplified at rotor natural frequencies resulting in potential loss of levitation when passing through critical speeds. Of particular interest is the discovery of a significant cross coupling effect between the radial and tangential directions. A theory is put forth explaining this effect.© 2003 ASME
Factors affecting individual injury experience among petroleum drilling workers

To identify factors affecting the number of injuries experienced by petroleum drilling workers, we carried out a 44-month incidence density study on a cohort employed in January 1979 on mobile drilling units in the Gulf of Mexico. To control for job-related hazards, we computed a standardized ratio of observed to expected injuries for each worker based on his job history. The effect of personal and work history factors was then examined using analysis of variance. Age, rate of job changes, and rate of rig transfers had independent effects on injury rates. Length of service had little effect when age was controlled. The findings suggest that younger workers under stress such as job change may be more susceptible to injury than older workers, regardless of job. If so, targeted changes in procedures and environment which protect workers of all ages are important alternatives to reliance on supervision and experience in injury reduction.
High dietary iron increases oxidative stress and radiosensitivity in the rat retina and vasculature after exposure to fractionated gamma radiation.

Radiation exposure in combination with other space environmental factors including microgravity, nutritional status, and deconditioning is a concern for long-duration space exploration missions. Astronauts experience altered iron homeostasis due to adaptations to microgravity and an iron-rich food system. Iron intake reaches three to six times the recommended daily allowance due to the use of fortified foods on the International Space Station. Iron is associated with certain optic neuropathies and can potentiate oxidative stress. This study examined the response of eye and vascular tissue to gamma radiation exposure (3 Gy fractionated at 37.5 cGy per day every other day for 8 fractions) in rats fed an adequate-iron diet or a high-iron diet. Twelve-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of four experimental groups: adequate-iron diet/no radiation (CON), high-iron diet/no radiation (IRON), adequate-iron diet/radiation (RAD), and high-iron diet/radiation (IRON+RAD). Animals were maintained on the corresponding iron diet for 2 weeks before radiation exposure. As previously published, the high-iron diet resulted in elevated blood and liver iron levels. Dietary iron overload altered the radiation response observed in serum analytes, as evidenced by a significant increase in catalase levels and smaller decrease in glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant capacity levels. 8-OHdG immunostaining, showed increased intensity in the retina after radiation exposure. Gene expression profiles of retinal and aortic vascular samples suggested an interaction between the response to radiation and high dietary iron. This study suggests that the combination of gamma radiation and high dietary iron has deleterious effects on retinal and vascular health and physiology. Radiation exposure or astronaut food may explain visual problems found in more than half the astronauts returning from long space flights. Susana Zanello from the Universities Space Research Association and U.S. colleagues exposed rats to gamma radiation, high-iron diets, or both – mimicking the effects of spaceflight and the astronaut diet – and examined resulting changes in eye and blood vessel tissues. Compared to controls, the high-iron-diet only and radiation-only groups had more DNA damage in the eye, along with systemic gene expression changes. However, when the two treatments were combined, high-iron diets attenuated radiation-induced DNA damage in the eye. This study provides preliminary evidence of a complex interaction between blood iron levels and radiation damage in eye disease, demanding further research before astronauts embark on further long-term space voyages like a manned mission to Mars.
Comparative studies on photosynthesis in higher plants.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the localized altered regions or the damaged strands of DNA that are altered by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. If there is some denaturation of DNA during irradiation, there will be an enhancement of forming certain photoproducts in these denatured regions. It is reasonable that localized denatured regions should occur in irradiated DNA as many of the photoproducts will alter internucleotide spacings, disrupt normal hydrogen bonding, and cause a loss of base stacking. Hence, as the radiation dose increases, the likelihood of forming photoproducts favored by single-stranded DNA increases. The mechanisms of detection that are used to determine and locate the altered strands of DNA can be broken down into two broad categories—qualitative detection, which can be achieved through physical method, chemical analysis, and biochemical means, and quantitative measures like thermal melting analysis and kinetic formaldehyde method.
Chapter 9 The KdV Equation

Publisher Summary In 1895, Diederik Johannes Korteweg together with his Ph.D student, Gustav de Vries, derived analytically a nonlinear partial differential equation, well known now as the “KdV equation.” The KdV equation is used to model the disturbance of the surface of shallow water in the presence of solitary waves. The KdV equation is a generic model for the study of weakly nonlinear long waves, incorporating leading order nonlinearity and dispersion. Also, it describes surface waves of long wavelength and small amplitude on shallow water. The KdV equation in its simplest form is given by ut + auux + uxxx = 0. This equation incorporates two competing effects: nonlinearity represented by uux and linear dispersion represented by uxxx. Nonlinearity tends to localize the wave while dispersion spreads it out. The balance between these two weak nonlinearity and dispersion explains the formulation of solitons that consist of single humped waves. The equilibrium between these two effects is stable.
Computational Study of First-Row Transition Metals Supported on MOF NU-1000 for Catalytic Acceptorless Alcohol Dehydrogenation

Metal–organic frameworks (MOF) are a versatile family of mesoporous materials that can be used as solid supports to design well-defined catalytic sites. Herein we employ density functional theory (DFT) to evaluate first-row transition metals deposited on the MOF NU-1000 for acceptorless alcohol dehydrogenation, a reaction of great interest in hydrogen production and storage. The proposed mechanism reveals that the MOF support plays an active role in proton-transfer processes. The computational screening of first-row transition metals highlights Ni- and Co-derivatives as potential catalysts for the title reaction.
The single cell gel (SCG) assay: an electrophoretic technique for the detection of DNA damage in individual cells.

Techniques which permit the sensitive detection of DNA damage are needed to evaluate the genotoxic potential of biologically reactive intermediates. Since the effects of many reactive intermediates are tissue and cell-type specific, it is important to utilize techniques which can directly detect DNA damage in individual cells. Cytogenetic techniques, while providing information at the level of the individual cell, are largely limited to proliferating cell populations. Furthermore, these techniques require the processing of DNA damage into microscopically visible lesions. Biochemical techniques, such as alkaline elution and nucleoid sedimentation, circumvent these difficulties in that DNA damage can be evaluated directly in almost any cell population. However, the resulting data do not provide any information about the distribution of damage or repair among individual cells. Recently, an electrophoretic technique capable of detecting DNA single-strand breaks and alkali labile sites in individual cells was developed (Singh et al., 1988). Eukaryote cells are embedded in an agarose gel on a microscope slide, lysed by detergents and high salt at pH 10, and then electrophoresed for a short time under alkaline conditions. Cells with increased DNA damage display increased migration of the DNA from the nucleus towards the anode. The importance of this technique lies in its ability to detect intercellular differences in DNA damage in virtually any eukaryote cell population, and in its requirement for extremely small cell samples (from 1 to 10,000 cells). Data from three recent pilot studies, involving (i) the exposure of human lymphocytes to hydrogen peroxide, (ii) the incubation of isolated mouse hepatocytes with cyclophosphamide, and (iii) the treatment of mice with acrylamide, will be used to demonstrate the sensitivity and utility of this technique for evaluating intercellular differences in DNA damage.
Estimating risk of word-finding problems in adults undergoing epilepsy surgery

Objective: This retrospective, observational study examined the frequency and magnitude of change in naming ability as a function of side/site of epilepsy surgery and identified predictive factors to assist clinicians in identifying patients at low, moderate, or high risk of postoperative naming decline. Methods: A total of 875 adults with pharmacoresistant epilepsy (454 left/421 right; 763 temporal/87 frontal/25 posterior quadrant) met inclusion criteria and completed the Boston Naming Test before and after surgery. Clinically meaningful change in naming ability was assessed using reliable change indices for epilepsy. Demographic, cognitive, and seizure variables were examined to determine factors most predictive of naming decline and to develop a decision tree to assist with clinical decision-making. Results: Naming decline was rare in right-sided resections and did not exceed the level expected by chance (5% overall; 90% confidence interval [CI] ± 2%). Naming decline occurred in 41% (CI ± 5%) of patients after left temporal resection (TLR) compared to 10%–12% (CI ± 10%–19%) in other left-sided surgical groups. A sizable proportion of left TLR patients (17%; CI ± 4%) showed substantial declines in naming (>11 points). Decline following left TLR was related to later age at seizure onset, older age at surgery, and higher preoperative naming ability. These factors correctly predicted naming decline in 68% of patients and were associated with degree of decline following left TLR. A decision tree is provided to assist clinicians in identifying patients at low, moderate, or high risk for postoperative naming declines. Conclusions: In addition to discussions regarding risk for memory decline following left TLR, patients should be counseled about potential decline in word-finding ability.
Estimates of recovery of the Penobscot River and estuarine system from mercury contamination in the 1960's.

Abstract Mercury (Hg) was discharged in the late 1960s into the Penobscot River by a chlor-alkali production facility, HoltraChem. Using total Hg concentration profiles from 56 stations (58 sediment cores) in the Penobscot River (PBR), Mendall Marsh (MM), Orland River (OR) and Penobscot Estuary (ES), and sediment accumulation rates derived using detailed profiles of total Hg concentrations and radionuclide activities ( 137 Cs, 239,240 Pu, 210 Pb), recovery from system-wide Hg pollution was assessed. Total Hg concentration profiles showed sharp maxima at depths attributed in time to a 1967 release date, and were divided into two sections: the first 21 years (1967–1988; rapid recovery), and the recent 21 years (1988–2009; slower recovery). The recent 21 years of Hg input were used to estimate ‘apparent’ recovery rates, yielding exponentially decreasing total Hg concentrations. Apparent recovery half-times (T 1/2 = ln2/α) were calculated from an exponential fit of Hg(t) = Hg(t = 21) ∗ exp(− α ∗ t) + Hg(∞) to total Hg concentration profiles over the past 21 years (assuming Hg(∞) of 0, 100, or 400 ng g − 1 ). Mean T 1/2 values were, at PBR 31 years (16 of 24 cores), at MM 22 years (9 of 11 cores), at ES 20 to 120 years (mean of 78 years; 12 of 18 cores), and at OR 69 years (3 of 5 cores). In 18 out of 57 cores, concentrations either increased towards the surface or remained the same, indicating slower or incomplete ‘communication’ with the larger system. The Penobscot River and Estuary system has recovered substantially since 1967, and top 1 cm sediment Hg concentrations (Hg(0)) from areas in rapid communication with the larger system are converging to 600–700 ng g − 1 (1967 maxima of 70,000 + ng g − 1 ). However, to recover from Hg(0) of 700 ng g − 1 to a Hg(∞) of − 1 would require 3 or more half-times.
Preventing Substance Use Among Hispanic Urban Youth: Valuing the Role of Family, Social Support Networks, School Importance, and Community Engagement

Hispanic urban youth experience high levels of violence, access to drugs and alcohol, and limited access to quality educational institutions, as well as a disproportionate use of substances. Howeve...
Transient flame growth and spread processes over a large solid fabric in concurrent low-speed flows in microgravity – Model versus experiment

Abstract Concurrent-flow flame spread over a thin charring material was studied in an unmanned spacecraft. Two sample sizes were used: 5 cm by 29 cm and 41 cm by 94 cm, the largest ever samples burned in controlled experiments in microgravity. A low-speed ambient airflow of 20 cm/s was used. The samples were ignited from their upstream ends and were allowed to burn for several minutes. Video recorded during the burning process and readings from thermocouples on the sample surfaces were examined. The results showed that flames reached a quasi-steady state with nearly constant flame length for both sample sizes. However, the pyrolysis length exhibited an initial overshoot before reaching steady state for the large sample. This phenomenon has not been reported or observed until now. While steady state pyrolysis lengths were similar, the 5 cm wide sample had a slightly larger spread rate (by ∼13%) and a shorter burnout time (pyrolysis length over spread rate) compared to the 41 cm wide sample. A previously developed three-dimensional transient model was used to conduct the numerical study. Detailed profiles of the gas and solid phases, including flow patterns, species concentrations, temperature, solid burning rate, and heat flux distributions are examined. The modeling results reveal that flow reduction in a growing boundary layer along the sample surface accounts for the overshoot of the flame length observed for the large sample. Compared to a wide sample, a narrow sample has more effective oxygen transport across the width of the sample. This results in a stronger flame, a shorter flame standoff distance from the sample surface, and larger heat feedback to the sample. This accounts for the shorter burnout time for the narrow sample compared to the large sample.
Modeling [15O]oxygen tracer data for estimating oxygen consumption

The most direct measure of oxidative tissue metabolism is the conversion rate of oxygen to water via mitochondrial respiration. To calculate oxygen consumption from the analysis of tissue residue curves or outflow dilution curves after injection of labeled oxygen one needs realistic mathematical models that account for convection, diffusion, and transformation in the tissue. A linear, three-region, axially distributed model accounts for intravascular convection, penetration of capillary and parenchymal cell barriers (with the use of appropriate binding spaces to account for oxygen binding to hemoglobin and myoglobin), the metabolism to [15O]water in parenchymal cells, and [15O]water transport into the venous effluent. Model solutions fit residue and outflow dilution data obtained in an isolated, red blood cell-perfused rabbit heart preparation and give estimates of the rate of oxygen consumption similar to those obtained experimentally from the flow times the arteriovenous differences in oxygen contents. The proposed application is for the assessment of regional oxidative metabolism in vivo from tissue 15O-residue curves obtained by positron emission tomography.
Optimized heterogeneous plates with holes using 3D printing via vat photo-polymerization

Abstract New advancements in 3D printing enable manufacturing a solid part with spatially controlled and varying material properties; this research seeks to establish techniques for finding optimal designs that use this new technology for the greatest structural benefit. We describe the use of a sequential quadratic programming based optimization solver to find an optimal distribution of material properties that minimize strain energy gradients, as calculated using finite element analysis. This design method is applied to the case of a flat thin plate with a hole, and has been proven to successfully reduce strain energy gradients and therefore stress concentrations. The optimally designed plates are 3D printed using a novel technology that uses vat polymerization technology. The computational model is validated with experiments. Enabling design engineers to customize material properties around geometric discontinuities will provide greater flexibility in reducing stress concentrations without modifying geometry or adding additional supports.
Single-Cell and Bulk Fluorescence Excitation Signatures of Seven Phytoplankton Species During Nitrogen Depletion and Resupply.

Phytoplankton play a vital role as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems. One common approach to classifying phytoplankton is fluorescence excitation spectroscopy, which leverages the variation i...
A Goal Triggering Mechanism for Continuous Human-Robot Interaction

The deployment of autonomous robots capable to both socially interact and proactively offer support to human users in a common life scenario remains challenging despite the recent technical advancements. For instance, research for endowing autonomous robots with the capability of acting in “non-ideal” and partially observable environments as well as socially interacting with humans is still an area in which improvements are specifically needed. To this aim, this paper elaborates on the need for integrating different Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to foster the development of personal robotic assistants continuously supporting older adults. Recently, the authors have been working on proposing an AI-based cognitive architecture that integrates knowledge representation and automated planning techniques in order to endow assistive robots with proactive and context situated abilities. This paper particularly describes a goal triggering mechanism to allow a robot to reason over the status of the user and the living environment with the aim of dynamically generating high-level goals to be planned accordingly.
D2D-Assisted Physical-Layer Security in Next-Generation Mobile Network

Device-to-device (D2D) communication is a promising technology to improve the next-generation mobile network. In this paper, we propose a D2D-assisted physical layer security scheme to protect D2D users from eavesdroppers. In the proposed scheme, each D2D transmission link will be protected by other D2D relay users. The relay users will manage the interference to suppress the eavesdroppers so that the eavesdroppers cannot decode the message correctly while keeping successful transmission for legitimate users. We propose to compute optimal transmitting power for each D2D relay so that it can provide the highest secrecy capacity for its data receiver. In this work, we focus on the data receivers at the edge of each D2D communication area because they receive the lowest signal-to-noise-and-interference-ratio (SINR) compared with other data receivers in the same communication area. Moreover, fairness is taken into consideration that all studied data receivers are equally protected from eavesdroppers. The simulation results demonstrate that in our proposed scheme, all D2D data receivers can achieve a high secure secrecy capacity.
Analysis and application of seasonal ARIMA model in Energy Demand Forecasting: A case study of small scale agricultural load

This paper has presented the use of Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) method for forecasting of seasonal time series data. The dataset that has been used for modeling and forecasting is a small-scale agricultural load. ARIMA method can be applied only when the time series data is stationary. As seasonal variations make a time series non-stationary, this paper also presents analyses on testing stationarity and transforming non-stationarity into stationarity. Lastly, model has been developed with a specific selection of orders for autoregressive terms, moving average terms, differencing and seasonality and the forecasting performance has been tested and compared with the actual value. The results are encouraging, however there is scope of further research in refining the idea
Elevated Coefficient of Variation in Total Fecal Bile Acids Precedes Diagnosis of Necrotizing Enterocolitis.

Accumulation of bile acids (BAs) may mediate development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Serial fecal samples were collected from premature infants with birth weight (BW) ≤ 1800 g, estimated gestational age (EGA) ≤ 32 weeks, and <30 days old prior to initiation of enteral feeding. Nine infants that developed Bell’s Stage ≥ II NEC were matched with control infants based on BW, EGA, day of life (DOL) enteral feeding was initiated and DOL of the first sample. From each subject, five samples matched by DOL collected were analyzed for BA levels and composition. Fifteen individual BA species were measured via LC-MS/MS and total BA levels were measured using the Diazyme Total Bile Acid Assay kit. No statistically significant differences in composition were observed between control and NEC at the level of individual species (p = 0.1133) or grouped BAs (p = 0.0742). However, there was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.000012) in the mean coefficient of variation (CV) between the two groups with infants developing NEC having more than four-fold higher mean CV than controls. Importantly, these variations occurred prior to NEC diagnosis. These data suggest fluctuations in total fecal BA levels could provide the basis for the first predictive clinical test for NEC.
Informational masking of negative masking.

Negative masking (NM) is a ubiquitous finding in near-“threshold” psychophysics in which the detectability of a near-threshold signal improves when added to a copy of itself, i.e., a pedestal or masker. One interpretation of NM suggests that the pedestal acts as an informative cue, thereby reducing uncertainty and improving performance relative to detection in its absence. The purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis. Intensity discrimination thresholds were measured for 100-ms, 1000-Hz near-threshold tones. In the reference condition, thresholds were measured in quiet (no masker other than the pedestal). In comparison conditions, thresholds were measured in the presence of one of two additional maskers: a notched-noise masker or a random-frequency multitone masker. The additional maskers were intended to cause different amounts of uncertainty and, in turn, to differentially influence NM. The results were generally consistent with an uncertainty-based interpretation of NM: NM was found both in quiet and in notched-noise, yet it was eliminated by the multitone masker. A competing interpretation of NM based on nonlinear transduction does not account for all of the results. Profile analysis may have been a factor in performance and this suggests that NM may be attributable to, or influenced by, multiple mechanisms.
Subcategorizing T1 Staging in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Predicts Survival in Patients Undergoing Resection: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database

Purpose: According to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 7th edition, T1 staging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) is defined as tumor limited to the pancreas, ≤2 cm. The AJCC 8th editio...
TET family dioxygenases and the TET activator vitamin C in immune responses and cancer

Vitamin C serves as a cofactor for Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases including TET family enzymes, which catalyze the oxidation of 5-methylcytosine into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and further oxidize methylcytosines. Loss-of-function mutations in epigenetic regulators such as TET genes are prevalent in hematopoietic malignancies. Vitamin C deficiency is frequently observed in cancer patients. In this review, we discuss the role of vitamin C and TET proteins in cancer, with a focus on hematopoietic malignancies, T regulatory cells, and other immune system cells.
The gay rights backlash: Contrasting views from the United States and Latin America:

This essay examines the conditions that enable a ‘gay rights backlash’ through a comparison of the United States and Latin America. The United States, the cradle of the contemporary gay rights move...
Adverse outcomes associated with inappropriate direct oral anticoagulant starter pack prescription among patients with atrial fibrillation: a retrospective claims-based study.

Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) starter packs are designed for unique treatment dosing for acute venous thromboembolism (VTE). Inappropriate use of 30-day DOAC starter packs in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) may increase the risk for bleeding events given higher dosing in the first 1–3 weeks of treatment. A retrospective analysis of medical and outpatient pharmacy claims data from 2015 to 2018 in Optum’s De-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart was performed. Patients greater than 18 years of age with AF and a new prescription of apixaban or rivaroxaban were included. Patients with an acute VTE were excluded. The main outcome of interest was adverse events (emergency department [ED] visits, hospitalizations, and deaths within 90 days after prescription fill date) associated with inappropriate DOAC starter pack prescription. A total of 90,950 DOAC-treated patients with AF were identified. The mean age was 74.5 years (SD 10.0) and 42,717 (47.0%) were female. Inappropriate starter packs were used by 117 (0.1%) patients, who were younger than non-starter pack patients (71.3 years vs. 74.5 years). Patients who received an inappropriate DOAC prescription were more likely to identify as Black (12.0% vs. 8.8%). Rates of ED visits, hospitalizations, and deaths overall were numerically lower in patients with starter pack compared to non-starter pack DOAC prescriptions. In contrast, rates of ED visits and hospitalizations related to significant bleeding were numerically higher in patients with starter pack compared to non-starter pack DOAC prescriptions. Among patients with AF but no VTE, those who received an inappropriate DOAC starter pack had numerically higher rates of severe bleeding leading to ED visits and hospitalizations compared to those prescribed an appropriate non-starter pack DOAC anticoagulant.
Herbalism in wound care: A case of garlic burn.

Wound care is an important aspect of patient counseling after skin biopsies. The methods commonly used promote maintenance of a clean, insulated, moist wound surface with application of plain petrolatum or topical antibiotic ointment under a bandage. Recently, investigators explored the scientific evidence for alternative, herbal-based topicals, such as a 30% garlic ointment.1 When used in appropriate concentrations, such treatments can be medically efficacious. As some patients may prefer and attempt herbal wound care due to cultural background or beliefs, physicians should be aware of such practices and the associated benefits/risks. Here, we highlight a case of cultural influence on a patient's post-biopsy care causing localized garlic burn, and briefly discuss the scientific data pertaining to cutaneous application of garlic.
Assessing pesticide uses with potentials for down-the-drain transport to wastewater in California.

Pesticides and degradates are ubiquitously detected in municipal wastewater influent in the United States. However, little detailed information exists on their sources. The aim of this study is to investigate California Pesticide Use Report (PUR) and sales data to identify pesticide uses with a high potential for indoor down-the-drain (DtD) transport. The DtD transport of pesticides could result from direct applications to drains and sewers or through indirect activities such as washing pets, treated textiles, laundries, and cleaning surfaces treated with pesticides. An initial screening on pesticide products registered in California with DtD potentials showed that fipronil, imidacloprid, and seven pyrethroids were pesticides of concern due to the relatively high sales in DtD use patterns and high toxicity to aquatic organisms; and thus prioritized for additional evaluation. Uses and sales data of products containing the selected pesticides were analyzed for mass of active ingredient applied with specific DtD pathways and by different user groups. Professional uses were retrieved from the PUR and consumer uses were estimated by comparing PUR data to sales data. Overall, approximately 38,615 kg fipronil, 44,561 kg imidacloprid, and 240,550 kg pyrethroids were used annually in California from 2011 to 2015 with some likelihoods of DtD transport. The shares of professional use ranged from 56% (cypermethrin) to 98% (cyfluthrin), depending on the pesticide, with the majority of the mass applied in and around structures and for some pesticides (imidacloprid and permethrin) on landscapes as well. The remaining mass was applied by consumers on various DtD sources, including pet treatments (fipronil, imidacloprid, and permethrin), treated textiles (permethrin), indoor-only uses (cypermethrin), and mixed indoor/outdoor or outdoor-only applications (other pyrethroids). Results from this study help elucidate the relative significance of specific DtD pathways and pesticide occurrence in California waste streams.
Significance of Sodium Bisulfate (SBS) Tempering in Reducing the Escherichia coli O121 and O26 Load of Wheat and Its Effects on Wheat Flour Quality

The occurrence of recalls involving pathogenic Escherichia coli-contaminated wheat flours show the need for incorporating antimicrobial interventions in wheat milling. The objectives of this study were to assess the efficacy of sodium bisulfate (SBS) tempering in reducing E. coli O121 (ATCC 2219) and O26 (ATCC 2196) wheat load and to evaluate the impact of effective (≥3.0 log reductions) SBS treatments on wheat flour quality. Wheat grains were inoculated with E. coli (~6 log CFU/g) and tempered (17% moisture, 24 h) using the following SBS concentrations (%wheat basis): 0, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, and 1.5% SBS. Reductions in E. coli O121 and O26 wheat load at different time intervals (0.5, 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h) during tempering were evaluated. The addition of SBS during tempering resulted in E. coli (O121 and O26) log reductions of 2.0 (0.5% SBS) to >4.0 logs (1.5% SBS) (p ≤ 0.05). SBS tempering (1.25 and 1.5% SBS) produced acidic wheat flours (pH = 4.51–4.60) but had comparable wheat flour properties in terms of composition, dough, and bread-making properties relative to the control (0% SBS). SBS tempering reduced the E. coli O121 and O26 load of wheat after tempering with minimal effects on wheat flour quality.
Real-time Eco-Driving Control in Electrified Connected and Autonomous Vehicles using Approximate Dynamic Programming.

Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs), particularly those with a hybrid electric powertrain, have the potential to significantly improve vehicle energy savings in real-world driving conditions. In particular, the Eco-Driving problem seeks to design optimal speed and power usage profiles based on available information from connectivity and advanced mapping features to minimize the fuel consumption over an itinerary. This paper presents a hierarchical multi-layer Model Predictive Control (MPC) approach for improving the fuel economy of a 48V mild-hybrid powertrain in a connected vehicle environment. Approximate Dynamic Programming (ADP) is used to solve the Receding Horizon Optimal Control Problem (RHOCP), where the terminal cost for the RHOCP is approximated as the base-policy obtained from the long-term optimization. The controller was extensively tested virtually (using both deterministic and Monte Carlo simulations) across multiple real-world routes where energy savings of more than 20\% have been demonstrated. Further, the developed controller was deployed and tested at a proving ground in real-time on a test vehicle equipped with a rapid prototyping embedded controller. Real-time in-vehicle testing confirmed the energy savings observed in simulation and demonstrated the ability of the developed controller to be effective in real-time applications.
LHC detection of neutral MSSM Higgs bosons via gg → bh → bb

Abstract We demonstrate that simultaneous detection of two of the neutral Higgs bosons of the Minimal Supersymmetric Model will be possible at the LHC in the b b b b final state, provided tan β is large and b -tagging can be performed with good efficiency and purity. This mode enhances the already established guarantee that there is no region of supersymmetric parameter space for which none of the Higgs bosons of the model can be seen at the LHC.
Demand side frequency regulation from commercial building HVAC systems: An experimental study

Demand side resources can be valuable for providing inexpensive ancillary services to the power grid. This paper present an experimental demonstration of providing frequency regulation from a commercial building Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. The experiments were conducted in Pugh Hall, a 40,000 sq. ft. commercial building located at the University of Florida. In this paper, we describe the steps required to make this possible, including control architecture, system identification, and control design. The field experiments demonstrate: 1. satisfactory frequency regulation service can be provided by the HVAC system without noticeable effect on the indoor climate, and 2. the ancillary services provided by this system passes the qualification criteria for participating in PJM Interconnection's frequency regulation market.
A neutral theory predicts multigenic aging and increased concentrations of deleterious mutations on the mitochondrial and Y chromosomes.

Population genetic forces have molded the constitution of the human genome over evolutionary time, and some of the most important parameters are the initial frequency of the allele, p, the effective population size, Ne, and the selection coefficient, s. There is considerable agreement among evolutionary gerontologists that the amplitude of -s is small for alleles that are Deleterious In Late Life (DILL), and thus DILL traits are effectively neutral and should be fixed in the human population in relationship to Ne and p. Even higher rates of fixation of deleterious mutations are predicted to occur in the two nonrecombinant genomes in humans, i.e., the Y chromosome and the mitochondrial genome, as a consequence of their lower Ne than autosomes, and the predicted higher rate of fixation of deleterious alleles on the Y may explain the reduced average life span of males vs. females. The high probability of fixation of neutral and mildly deleterious mutations in the mitochondrial genome explains in part its fast rate of evolution, the high observed frequency of mitochondrial disease in relationship to this genome's small size, and may be the underlying reason for the transfer of mitochondrial genes over evolutionary time to the nucleus. The predicted higher concentration of deleterious mutations on the mitochondrial genome could have some leverage to cause more dysfunction than that predicted by mitochondrial gene number alone, because of the essential role of mitochondrial gene function in multisubunit complexes, the coupling of mitochondrial functions, the observation that some mtDNA sequences facilitate somatic mutation, and the likelihood of deleterious mutations either increasing the production of or the sensitivity to mitochondrial ROS.
Neogene Time Scale

The Neogene Period/System (approximately the past 24 million years) is the younger of a twofold subdivision of the Cenozoic Era which includes as its lower component the Palaeogene Period/System (65–24 Ma). It includes the Miocene, Pliocene and Pleistocene (and in some sources Holocene) Epochs/Series. Keywords: neogene; geochronology; chronostratigraphy; biostratigraphy; magnetostratigraphy; astrochronology
Fuel Composition and Molecular Structure Effects on Soot Formation in Direct-Injection Flames Under Diesel Engine Conditions

Numerous investigations have been conducted to determine the effect of fuel composition and molecular structure on particulate emissions using exhaust gas analysis, but relatively few measurements have been obtained in-cylinder or under conditions where fuel effects can be isolated from other variables. Recent work has shown that the amount of air entrained upstream of the lift-off length is critical to soot formation and therefore must be controlled when making relative comparisons of soot formed from various fuels. In this work, dimethoxymethane was used as the base fuel to produce a non-sooting flame with relatively constant lift-off length in a constant volume combustion vessel at 1000 K, and a density of 16.6 kg/m 3 . A second fuel was then mixed into the dimethoxymethane (DMM) to determine a point at which soot formation begins. Line-of-sight extinction measurements of soot produced in binary fuel mixture flames was used as the primary diagnostic tool to determine if a correlation existed between soot and fuel properties such as the number of C-C bonds, C/H ratio or C/O ratio. Tests to date show that fuels with different molecular structures have the same incipient soot limit at a C/H ratio near 0.4, while further increases in C/H ratio produce a linear increase in soot concentration, but with a different slope for each fuel. Soot was first formed with the addition of 10 vol% toluene to DMM, while it took 40 vol% undecane and 50 vol% n-heptane. The incipient soot oxygen-to-carbon ratio at the assumed 12 mm lift-off length was 0.6 for toluene, 0.37 for undecane, and 0.3 for n-heptane. These data indicate that the aromatic toluene has a greater tendency to produce soot than the alkanes.
Laser-induced plasmas and applications

This book discusses optical science, engineering, and technology. Topics covered include the laser and its many commercial and industrial applications, the new optical materials, gradient index optics, electro- and acousto-optics, fiber optics and communications, optical computing and pattern recognition, optical data reading, recording and storage, biomedical instrumentation, industrial robotics, integrated optics, infrared and ultraviolet systems.
WISPCam: A battery-free RFID camera

Energy-scavenging devices with general-purpose microcontrollers can support arbitrarily complex sensing tasks in theory, but in practice, energy limitations impose severe constraints on the application space. Richer sensing such as image capture would enable many new applications to take advantage of energy scavenging. Richer sensing faces two key challenges: efficiently retaining the necessary amount of harvested energy, and storing and communicating large units of sensor data. This paper presents the WISPCam, a passive UHF RFID camera tag based on the Wireless Identification and Sensing Platform that overcomes these two challenges to support reliable image capture and transmission while powered by an RFID reader. The WISPCam uses a novel charge-storage scheme designed specifically to match the image sensor's needs. This scheme optimally balances capacitance and leakage to improve the sensitivity and efficiency of the power harvester. The WISPCam also uses a novel data storage and communication scheme to reliably support the transfer of complete images to an RFID reader application. The WISPCam makes battery-free image capture practical for applications such as mechanical gauge reading and surveillance, both demonstrated in this paper, and opens the door to richer sensing applications on battery-free devices.
Models of Computation and Simulation of Hybrid Systems

A design (at all levels of the abstraction hierarchy from functional specification to final implementation) is generally represented as a set of components, which can be considered as isolated monolithic blocks, which interact with each other and with an environment that is not part of the design. The model of computation defines the behavior and interaction of these blocks. Compactness of description, fidelity to design styles, ability to simulate, synthesize to an appropriate implementation and optimize its behavior are criteria to follow for the choice of an MOC to describe and manipulate a design. For example, some MOCs are suitable for describing complicated data transfer functions and completely unsuitable for complex control, while others are designed with complex control in mind.
Trinucleon photoeffect: Isospin 1/2

I modify the Levinger-Fitzgibbon calculation of electric dipole transitions to final trinucleon states of isospin 1/2 by assuming that the photon energy is equal to the sum of the threshold for two-body breakup and the total kinetic energy of the final state. This modification greatly improves the following: (i) the threshold behavior of the cross section; (ii) the agreement between the integrated cross section found from sigma (E/sub ..gamma../) and that found from sum rules; (iii) the agreement between the total calculated cross section (summed over two isospin states) and Gorbunov's experiments (summed over two-body and three-body breakup).
Role Expansion: Implications of the Security Role Expanding into the EHS Function

The purpose of this study was to explore the perception of safety professionals regarding the expansion of their role into security functions. One hundred eleven returned surveys from practicing safety professionals in the manufacturing, oil and gas, and construction industries were examined. Fifty seven percent of respondents agree with role expansion into security and twenty three percent of participants do not. Thematic patterns emerged from their comments and are provided. The remaining twenty percent of respondents fell into a category of “it depends” and the provided reasons suggest other variables that could have influence. A Chi square test for independence indicated that role expansion is independent of industry type; suggesting there is agreement for role expansion into security functions regardless of industry type. Another primary finding is that although the majority of safety professionals agree with role expansion, security coursework is currently not required in a review of accredited occupational safety and health program curricula. This suggests recent graduates may not be formerly prepared for the security elements of their role and should seek or be offered additional training.
Neurologic and Neurobehavioral Effects of Electric and Lightning Injuries

There are few studies of the effects of electric and lightning injuries (ELI) on the neurologic and neuropsychological status of injured patients. We reviewed records of fourteen patients with ELI injuries seen at our hospital (12 with high-voltage electric and two with lightning injury). Eight had cardiac arrest after injury, and 10 had neurologic complaints when first evaluated. Eight had normal neuroimaging results. Six had electroencephalograms; four showed abnormal results. Thirteen underwent neuropsychological testing. Twelve (92%) showed cognitive dysfunction including impairments in memory, attention, and affective disturbances (anxiety, depression, irritability, and poor frustration tolerance). Five of 12 (62%) had multiple physically aggressive outbursts, not present before the injury. Patients with cardiac arrest did not differ in neurologic psychologic testing from patients not sustaining cardiac arrest. Patients with ELI who had neurobehavioral symptoms had a coherent syndrome characterized by disturbances in cognition (attention and memory), mood (distress with prominent irritability), and behavior (aggressive outbursts). Serial neurologic and neuropsychological evaluations will aid in better defining the sequelae of ELI.
The Status of Community Organizing in 2001: Community Practice Context, Complexities, Contradictions, and Contributions

As social work begins its second century, it has a “back to the community” ring to it. Community practice in myriad forms is commanding a greater space and place in social work education and practice, not only as a major area of specialization but also in the generalist BSW and MSW curricula. Community practice is also growing because of special interest groups such as the Association for Community Organization and Social Administration and the research and program development interests of faculty in community collaborations and other innovations in the field. Job opportunities, programs, conditions, and policies of these times all point to the growing need for skilled and principled professionals to collectively address the issues facing the people and places left out of the U.S. economic boom at the end of the 20th century and to sustain thriving and inclusive communities.