cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeted fascicular biopsy of the brachial plexus- rationale and operative technique

Objectif Nerve biopsy is useful in the diagnosis and the management of neuromuscular disorders and is commonly performed in distal, noncritical sensory nerves without using imaging to target the most involved regions. In general, these procedures are diagnozed in 20–50%. In selected cases where preoperative evaluation points towards a more localized (usually a more proximal) process, targeted biopsy would likely capture the disease. Synthesis of data obtained from clinical examination, electrophysiological testing and MRI allows a targeted fascicular biopsy of a major nerves to be performed safely and efficiently. Herein, our experiences with the brachial plexus are reported and a description of the operative technique is provided. Methods All cases of brachial plexus biopsy performed between 2003 and 2015 were reviewed. Only cases of targeted nerve biopsy approached from supraclavicular, deltopectoral and proximal medial arm were included. Demographic data, clinical presentation and the presence of percussion tenderness for each patient were recorded. Reviewed studies included electrodiagnostic tests and high resolution MR imaging. Previous nerve and muscle biopsies were noted. All details of the procedure, final pathology and its treatment implications were recorded. The complication rate was carefully assessed for temporary as well as permanent complications. Results Seventy-seven cases (29 men and 48 women) of brachial plexus biopsy were performed. Mean patient age was 57.25 years. Sixty-eight (87.1%) patients presented with symptoms in one upper extremity, 8 (10.4%), in both upper limbs, and 1 (17%), with all limb. All 74 patients (100%) patients had abnormal physical examinations, electrodiagnostic studies and MRIs. The overall diagnostic yield of biopsy was 74.4% ( n = 55). The most common diagnoses included breast carcinoma (17), neurolymphomatosis (9), inflammatory demyelination (13), perineurinoma (7) and nonspecific inflammatory changes (4). The series included 4 cases of (5.4%) increased numbness and 3 (4.0%) with additional weakness. Conclusion Targeted fascicular biopsy of the brachial plexus is an efficient diagnostic procedure and in highly selected cases can be offered as the initial procedure over distal cutaneous nerve biopsy. Diagnoses were very diverse and included entities considered very rare. Even for the most prevalent diagnoses, this biopsy technique allowed a more targeted approach resulting in a higher diagnostic yield and justification for more aggressive treatment.
Prevalence of Allo and Auto Antibodies in Adults with SCD

Abstract Abstract 4379 Introduction: Allo- and auto- antibody formation is one of the major and serious complications of RBC transfusion in patients with sickle cell disease. This problem appears to be more common than in other diseases requiring chronic transfusion that leads to acute and delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions, serious morbidity and occasional life threatening problems. Although there have been reports describing prevalence of immunization in SCD patients, data specific for adult population with SCD is lacking. We report the prevalence of allo- and auto-immunization in adult SCD patients. Methods: Patients aged 18 and above with diagnoses of SCD, confirmed by standard hemoglobin electrophoresis, who had at least one type and cross match done from 1995 through 2011 were considered eligible. To facilitate patient management all data on antibody identification, screening and transfusions were routinely recorded in the electronic database of the Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program at Grady Health System. We gathered red cell antigen phenotype, dates and results of antibody screens, antibody specificity, and demographics which include but not limited to age in years and gender of all transfused patients. Results: A total of 424 patients 230 females and 194 males were identified with SCD who have been tested for antibodies during this period. The average age of the patients is 34 (range 18–84). A total of 138/32.5% of patients had antibodies. The most common antibodies were E (14%), C (10%) and K (8%). This may be an under estimations because antibodies disappear over time without repeated exposure. A total of 82 (19.3%) of patients developed autoantibodies. Detailed results described in Table 1 . Conclusion: Allo and auto antibody formation remains significant limiting factor in finding compatible blood resulting in delays in availability of blood for transfusion that can compromise patient care in SCD. With better supportive care and hydroxyurea, adult population is growing resulting in increased need for blood transfusion and risk of antibody formation. Our practice is to do limited phenotypic matching in all patients and extended phenotype matching once antibodies are produced. Despite this practice allo- and autoimmunization continues to be a significant problem. Studies need to be done to understand pathophysiology of antibody formation in SCD and prospective randomized trials are required to define best preventive clinical practices. Table 1 . Antibody Number of patients Percentage % C 41 10 c 3 D 16 4 E 59 14 e 7 K 34 8 k 0 0 Jka 5 Jkb 24 6 Fya 27 6.35 Fyb 2 S 31 7.3 Auto Antibodies 82 19.3 M 12 3 Bga 4 A1 4 Jsa 10 2.35 Lea 9 2.11 Leb 2 HTLA 6 Goa 5 Kpa 1 f 1 C+E+ 21 5 C+K+ 12 3 E+K+ 17 4 C+E+K+ 7 Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Exposure to β-lactams results in the alteration of penicillin-binding proteins in Clostridium perfringens.

Clostridium perfringens causes a variety of mild to severe infections in humans and other animals. A decrease in the affinity of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) transpeptidases for β-lactams is considered one of the mechanisms of β-lactam resistance in bacteria. Two strains of C. perfringens isolated from bovines and one isolated from a chicken, which had decreased susceptibility to β-lactams, had variations in the amino acid sequences of the central penicillin-binding regions of the PBPs. β-Lactam-resistant mutants of another C. perfringens strain, ATCC 13124, were selected in vitro to determine the effects of exposure to β-lactams on the PBP genes. Cultures of the wild type rapidly developed resistance to penicillin G, cephalothin and ceftriaxone. The susceptibilities of all of the selected mutants to some other β-lactams also decreased. The largest PBP found in C. perfringens, CPF_2395, appeared to be the primary target of all three drugs. Strain resistant to penicillin G had mutation resulting in the substitution of one amino acid within the central penicillin-binding/transpeptidase domain, but the ceftrioxane and cephalothin-resistant strains had mutations resulting in the substitution of two amino acids in this region. The cephalothin-resistant mutant also had additional mutations in the CPF_0340 and CPF_2218 genes in this critical region. No other mutations were observed in the three other PBPs of the in vitro resistant mutants. Resistance development also altered the growth rate and cell morphology of the mutants, so in addition to the PBPs, some other genes, including regulatory genes, may have been affected during the interaction with β-lactam antibiotics. This is the first study showing the effects of β-lactam drugs on the substitution of amino acids in PBPs of C. perfringens and points to the need for studies to detect other unknown alterations affecting the physiology of resistant strains.
Recognition and Extraction of Cesium Hydroxide and Carbonate by Using a Neutral Multitopic Ion-Pair Receptor

Current approaches to lowering the pH of basic media rely on the addition of a proton source. An alternative approach is described here that involves the liquid-liquid extraction-based removal of cesium salts, specifically CsOH and Cs2CO3, from highly basic media. A multitopic ion-pair receptor (2) is used that can recognize and extract the hydroxide and carbonate anions as their cesium salts, as confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopic titrations, ICP-MS, single-crystal structural analyses and theoretical calculations. A sharp increase in the pH and cesium concentrations in the receiving phase is observed when receptor 2 is employed as a carrier in U-tube experiments involving the transport of CsOH through an intervening chloroform layer. The pH of the source phase likewise decreases.
7. Thoughts on DSGE Macroeconomics: Matching the Moment, But Missing the Point?

This article critically evaluates the benefits and costs of the dominant methodology in macroeconomics, the DSGE approach. Although the approach has led to great progress in some areas, I argue that its conceptual restrictions, numerical methods, and the resulting complexity have created biases that risk holding back progress in macroeconomics. There is great scope for making renewed progress by judiciously pushing the boundaries of some of these methodological restrictions. A richer set of methodologies would also make macroeconomics more robust and better prepared for new challenges in understanding and governing our economies.
An Experiential Exploration of Identity During Emerging Adulthood: The Impact of Growth Experiences on Emerging Adulthood Characteristics

Emerging adulthood provides an interesting inquiry into identity flexibility because it is a period of opaque identity metamorphosis. The emerging adult’s identity is a complex system of dichotomies: adolescent vs. adult, freedom vs. responsibility, expectations vs. exploration, and the overall sense of bouncing between all of these. The simple explanation of this phenomenon is contingent upon the answer to the following question: “what is an adult?” If one knows this answer, then one knows his or her level of identification within the adolescent-adult continuum.
Optimal sensor placement for MVDC ship power system

This paper offers a metric for the use of synchronized electrical sensor measurements for complete observability of the zonal MVDC ship power system. The placement of the multi-port sensors with the use of nodal voltage and the branch currents utilizing time synchronized measurements is studied in this paper. The Bacterial Foraging Algorithm (BFA), specifically desirable in high-dimensional function optimization, is used to minimize the total number of the sensors and the redundancy required for each of the system states. Simulation results on the 6 zone MVDC system are presented in this paper.
Ana Zúñiga Lacruz. Mujer y poder en el teatro español del Siglo de Oro: la figura de la reina

Ana Zuniga Lacruz Mujer y poder en el teatro espanol del Siglo de Oro: la figura de la reina Kassel: Reichenberger, 2015, vol. I. XIII + 1-532 p.; vol. II. 533- 1137 p. Teatro del Siglo de Oro. Estudios de Literatura, 124. ISBN 978-3-944244-41-9
Assessing an effective undergraduate module teaching applied bioinformatics to biology students.

Applied bioinformatics skills are becoming ever more indispensable for biologists, yet incorporation of these skills into the undergraduate biology curriculum is lagging behind, in part due to a lack of instructors willing and able to teach basic bioinformatics in classes that don’t specifically focus on quantitative skill development, such as statistics or computer sciences. To help undergraduate course instructors who themselves did not learn bioinformatics as part of their own education and are hesitant to plunge into teaching big data analysis, a module was developed that is written in plain-enough language, using publicly available computing tools and data, to allow novice instructors to teach next-generation sequence analysis to upper-level undergraduate students. To determine if the module allowed students to develop a better understanding of and appreciation for applied bioinformatics, various tools were developed and employed to assess the impact of the module. This article describes both the module and its assessment. Students found the activity valuable for their education and, in focus group discussions, emphasized that they saw a need for more and earlier instruction of big data analysis as part of the undergraduate biology curriculum.
The Pulse Mode Approach to Asynchronous FSM Design

This chapter illustrates asynchronous finite state machine (FSMs) that are designed to operate with nonoverlapping pulsed inputs and that use data-triggered memory elements called pulse mode sequential machines. The pulse-mode approach offers a simple and reliable means of designing clock-independent FSMs, but at the price of greatly restricted input signal conditions. Asynchronous FSMs are designed to operate in the fundamental mode. The fundamental mode is characterized, in part, by overlapping input signals and the potential to form certain types of timing defects such as endless cycles, critical races, and essential hazards, any of which, if present and active, is guaranteed to cause malfunction of the FSM. Fundamental mode FSMs can also cause malfunction due to the presence of static hazards in the NS-forming logic. However, like synchronous FSMs and unlike fundamental mode FSMs, properly designed pulse mode machines cannot have any of these timing defects—no endless cycles, no critical races, and no essential hazards. Furthermore, pulse mode FSMs cannot malfunction because of static hazards in the NS logic. Thus, pulse mode FSMs would seem to have all the advantages of synchronous FSMs, but with none of the timing defects of fundamental mode machines.
Secure Behavior over Time: Perspectives from the Theory of Process Memory

Research has investigated the role of numerous influences on individual information security behaviors, including protection motivation, deterrence, and various dispositional and environmental factors. Various theories have been applied to study these influences on security behaviors. One major research stream has looked at threat and coping appraisals by IT users. However, users' beliefs, attitudes, appraisals, and intentions are not static, and there has been little attention to how these factors interact over time. When users (directly or vicariously) experience a security threat, they tend to engage in improved security hygiene, but often only for a limited time. A major theory that can provide comprehensive and unified insights into the phenomenon of continuous secure behavior is the Theory of Process Memory which explains the role of prior experience effects and the underlying mechanisms of continuous behavior, including feedback mechanism, sequential updating mechanism, behavioral automaticity (habit), and reason-based action. The application of this theory to behavioral information security research can foster a deep understanding about how each cognitive mechanism can influence IT users' continuous secure behavior, and through which type of human memory each mechanism can act. This rich theory, which is well-established in cognitive psychology, can help behavioral information security scholars to rigorously investigate the very important, yet understudied, phenomenon of continuance secure behavior.
Pain clinic definitions in the medical literature and U.S. state laws: an integrative systematic review and comparison.

In response to widespread opioid misuse, ten U.S. states have implemented regulations for facilities that primarily manage and treat chronic pain, called “pain clinics.” Whether a clinic falls into a state’s pain clinic definition determines the extent to which it is subject to oversight. It is unclear whether state pain clinic definitions model those found in the medical literature, and potential differences lead to discrepancies between scientific and professionally guided advice found in the medical literature and actual pain clinic practice. Identifying discrepancies could assist states to design laws that are more compatible with best practices suggested in the medical literature. We conducted an integrative systematic review to create a taxonomy of pain clinic definitions using academic medical literature. We then identified existing U.S. state pain clinic statutes and regulations and compared the developed taxonomy using a content analysis approach to understand the extent to which medical literature definitions are reflected in state policy. In the medical literature, we identified eight categories of pain clinic definitions: 1) patient case mix; 2) single-modality treatment; 3) multidisciplinary treatment; 4) interdisciplinary treatment; 5) provider supervision; 6) provider composition; 7) marketing; and 8) outcome. We identified ten states with pain clinic laws. State laws primarily include the following definitional categories: patient case mix; single-modality treatment, and marketing. Some definitional categories commonly found in the medical literature, such as multidisciplinary treatment and interdisciplinary treatment, rarely appear in state law definitions. This is the first study to our knowledge to develop a taxonomy of pain clinic definitions and to identify differences between pain clinic definitions in U.S. state law and medical literature. Future work should explore the impact of different legal pain clinic definitions on provider decision-making and state-level health outcomes.
Role of Dietary Cancer-Preventive Phytochemicals in Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells.

This article provides a brief overview of cancer-preventive phytochemicals specifically targeting pancreatic cancer (PC) stem cells for prevention and treatment. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a small proportion of the total cells of a given tumor, and contribute to tumor growth, recurrence, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Many intertwined pathways, including hedgehog, Wnt Signaling, and NOTCH, have been shown to play a role in the formation of CSCs. Recently, numerous chemopreventive agents, such as genistein, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), sulforaphane, curcumin, resveratrol, and quercetin, have been shown to target CSCs mediated through the inhibition of multiple signaling pathways, to avoid toxicity and the side effects of chemical compounds. A growing body of research suggests that CSCs are the drivers in treatment resistance, cancer recurrence, and metastasis, in addition to tumor initiation and heterogeneity. Patient survival depends on these CSCs, which are one cause of tumor recurrence after surgery and chemotherapy. Therefore, target selection; an improved understanding of CSC biology, the genetic and molecular profiles of CSCs, and their key signaling pathways; and appropriate clinical trial endpoints that are designed to target CSCs will help in the development of drugs that will specifically target this small population of stem cells.
Performance of a second generation X -band rf photoinjector

rf photoinjectors produce incredibly bright electron beams enabling advanced photon science applications such as the current generation of free electron lasers and high energy x-rays and gamma-rays via laser-Compton scattering. A second generation 5.59 cell $X$-band rf gun has been developed, installed, conditioned, commissioned, tuned, and used to produce laser-Compton x-rays and multiple electron bunches. A charge per bunch from a few pC to 500 pC has been measured, consistent with a quantum efficiency of $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ using a 263 nm 10 Hz photocathode drive laser. The rf gun has operated close to design performance at high gradient, and more reliably at lower gradient achieving a root mean square normalized emittance of 0.3 mm mrad at both 80 pC at $185\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MV}/\mathrm{m}$, and 40 pC at $165\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MV}/\mathrm{m}$. Thermal emittance is estimated at $0.55\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{mm}\text{ }\mathrm{mrad}/\mathrm{mm}$. Energy spread of 0.03% has been achieved. These results agree very well with modeling predictions for the operating conditions under which the measurements were made. Unusually disruptive breakdowns were observed with an applied magnetic field of $0.5T$ used for emittance compensation.
Hydroclimatology of the Arctic Drainage Basin

By most estimates, runoff from the land surface represents the single largest input of freshwater to the Arctic Ocean. Alekseev and Buzuev [1] estimated the total freshwater input to the Arctic Ocean to be between 4300 and 6475 km3/year based on ice formation data. Treshnikov [2] (reported in [3]) estimated the total freshwater flux from gauged land surface areas to be 3300 km3/yr, or 51 to 77 percent of the total from [1]. Grabs et al. [4] report that the accumulated sum of mean annual flow from the 35 largest gauged Arctic basins is approximately 202 mm/yr (2603 km3). When extrapolated to the entire land area draining to the Arctic (approximately 19,300,000 km2), this yields a total annual freshwater flux from the land surface of approximately 4000 km3, or between 62 and 93% of the total freshwater input as estimated from [1]. Another estimate of total freshwater flux from land areas into the Arctic Ocean is 4269 km3/year, with 17 and 24% attributed to ungauged discharge from islands and mainland, respectively [5].
Serology of Propionibacteria

The propionibacteria are Gram-positive, non-sporing, anaerobic to aerotolerant, irregular rods, which produce propionic and acetic acids as the major end-products of fermentation.
Does Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm With Papillary-Like Nuclear Features (NIFTP) Have a Unique Molecular Profile?

Objectives Recognizing preoperative characteristics of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) is important for clinical management. Therefore, we assessed presurgical NIFTP molecular profiles using fine-needle aspiration (FNA) material. Methods Presurgical FNA reports of 39 surgically confirmed NIFTP cases from January 2013 through May 2017 were assessed for Afirma and ThyroSeq results. Results Twenty-one of 39 NIFTP nodules were preoperatively tested with Afirma with two benign and 19 suspicious results. Twenty-seven of 39 nodules were tested with ThyroSeq (nine of 39 had both Afirma and Thyroseq): 18 (67%) had RAS mutations (13 NRAS, four HRAS, one KRAS), and three of 18 had multiple alterations (NRAS + TP53, n = 1; NRAS + PTEN, n = 2). BRAF T599_R603 + EIF1AX mutation (n = 1), PTEN mutation (n = 1), MET overexpression (n = 1), PAX8/PPARG fusion (n = 3), and THADA/IGF2BP3 fusion (n = 3) comprised the remainder. Conclusions NIFTP cases most commonly displayed suspicious Afirma results and RAS mutations on ThyroSeq, lacking aggressive/BRAF-V600E-like mutations. While NIFTP remains a surgical entity, the lack of aggressive/BRAF-V600E-like mutations can aid in determining the extent of surgery.
Improvement of surgical wound classification following a targeted training program at a children's hospital.

Abstract Background Inaccurate assignment of surgical wound class (SWC) remains a challenge in perioperative documentation. The purpose of our intervention was to increase the accuracy of SWC through a targeted training program directed toward pediatric surgeons and nurses. Methods A retrospective electronic medical record (EMR) chart review of 400 operations was performed according to NSQIP criteria during specified periods in 2014 and 2017, assessing SWC errors before and after a training program and posting of reference materials in operating rooms at a 165-bed children's hospital. After each operation, nurses confirmed SWC with the surgeon before recording the value in the EMR. Differences in proportions of misclassified SWC were evaluated with a chi-square test. Results Following the educational program, misclassified SWC improved from 70/200 (35.0%) to 18/200 (9.0%), p Conclusions Accurate SWC assignment in the EMR was improved by an educational program and posting of materials to aid assignment, as well as enhanced communication between surgeons and nurses at the conclusion of each operation. We present the first known attempt to list all pediatric surgery procedures according to SWC. Accurate SWC allows stratification of risks and more effective targeted interventions. Level of evidence Level III.
Attribute-Level Item Selection Method for DCM-CAT.

Diagnostic classification models (DCMs) can provide multidimensional diagnostic feedback about students’ mastery levels of knowledge components or attributes. One advantage of using DCMs is the abi...
Seasonal abundance and population dynamics of a bamboo aphid, Takecallis arundinaria (Homoptera: Aphididae).

The anholocyclic life cycle of the aphid Takecallis arundinaria (Essig) on golden stem bamboo, Phyllostachys aurea (Carrie're) was investigated in 1987 – 1988. Aphid populations peaked from March – May, declined from June – October, and peaked again in December. Aphid population dynamics were strongly influenced by climatic conditions. When aphid populations were at constant or rising levels, significantly more nymphs were found in the southern and eastern quadrants, than in the northern and western quadrants. This directionality may have allowed T. arundinaria populations to be exposed to increased sunlight and decreased winds during the winter and early spring periods. Alate viviparae had a mean fecundity of 147 nymphs and a longevity of 46.5 days. Predators were few and no parasites were found. An alternate host study revealed no aphids on yellow sticky traps placed on nine woody plant species.
Transforming activity of an oncoprotein-encoding circular RNA from human papillomavirus

Single-stranded circular RNAs (circRNAs), generated through 'backsplicing', occur more extensively than initially anticipated. The possible functions of the vast majority of circRNAs remain unknown. Virus-derived circRNAs have recently been described in gamma-herpesviruses. We report that oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) generate circRNAs, some of which encompass the E7 oncogene (circE7). HPV16 circE7 is detectable by both inverse RT-PCR and northern blotting of HPV16-transformed cells. CircE7 is N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modified, preferentially localized to the cytoplasm, associated with polysomes, and translated to produce E7 oncoprotein. Specific disruption of circE7 in CaSki cervical carcinoma cells reduces E7 protein levels and inhibits cancer cell growth both in vitro and in tumor xenografts. CircE7 is present in TCGA RNA-Seq data from HPV-positive cancers and in cell lines with only episomal HPVs. These results provide evidence that virus-derived, protein-encoding circular RNAs are biologically functional and linked to the transforming properties of some HPV.
Yesterday’s Child, Tomorrow’s Plaintiff: Why We Should Expect an Uptick in Wrongful-Life Suits Following Embryonic Application of Gene-Editing Technologies

The opportunity that gene-editing technologies promise—or threaten—of chasing the “best life” for one’s child, or the “best child” for oneself, is becoming more tangible as these technologies conti...
Rapid regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 transcription by insulin in vivo and in vitro.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) is distinctive among the IGFBPs in human plasma in its dynamic regulation by metabolic changes [reviewed in 1]. IGFBP-1 levels are increased by acute fasting 2,3 and in diabetes 4,5, and normalized by refeeding and insulin treatment, respectively. IGFBP-1 also is increased by prolonged exercise, growth hormone deficiency and pregnancy 1, and following insulin-induced hypoglycemia 6.
Impact of ventilation method on residential indoor PM dispersion during dust storm events in Saudi Arabia

Dust storms are a major environmental hazard in arid regions such as the Middle East and other parts of Asia including China and Mongolia. The prevalence of dust storms has been widely linked with ...
Differential cortical activation during the perception of moving objects along different trajectories

Detection of 3D object-motion trajectories depends on the integration of two distinct visual cues: translational displacement and looming. Electrophysiological studies have identified distinct neuronal populations, whose activity depends on the precise motion cues present in the stimulus. This distinction, however, has been less clear in humans, and it is confounded by differences in the behavioral task being performed. We analyzed whole-brain fMRI, while subjects performed a common time-to-arrival task for objects moving along three trajectories: moving directly towards the observer (collision course), with trajectories parallel to the line of sight (passage course), and with trajectories perpendicular to the line of sight (gap closure). We found that there was substantial overlap in the pattern of activation associated with each of the three tasks, with differences among conditions limited to the human motion area (hMT+), which showed greater activation extent in the gap closure condition than for either collision or passage courses. These results support a common substrate for temporal judgments of an object’s time-to-arrival, wherein the special cases of object motion directly toward, or perpendicular to, the observer represent two extremes within the broader continuum of 3D passage trajectories relative to the observer.
Effective In-Plane Moduli of Fused Filament Fabrication Material with Aligned Mesostructure

Closed-form expressions are derived for the effective in-plane moduli $$E_{xx}$$ and $$G_{xy}$$ of fused filament fabrication material with aligned mesostructure at low porosity values. The void shape is approximated using a hypotrochoid, allowing stress and displacement fields around a single void to be calculated using the complex-variable method of elasticity. The effective moduli are then calculated by equating strain energies between a unit cell containing a void and an effective unit cell. Experimental results for $$E_{xx}$$ as well as unit cell simulations show good agreement with predictions. Finally, the closed-form solution for the Young’s modulus ratio is compared against several existing models.
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Synergistic effect of hybrid Pt-Cd additives on a 15%Co/Al2O3 catalyst

Abstract The study investigated a synergistic effect of the hybrid Pt-Cd additives on a cobalt catalyst. Adding 1%Cd to 0.5%Pt-15%Co/Al2O3 led to 90% activity loss and significantly increased CH4 and CO2 selectivities. HR-TEM/STEM micrographs revealed that a fraction of Cd nanoparticles deposited on large Co particles, resulting in the severe deactivation. More interestingly, the hybrid Cd-Pt additives were found to have a synergistic effect on the secondary reactions of 1-olefins; each modifier counteracted the other individual additive's role for the formation of olefins. For example, Cd suppressed the 1-olefin hydrogenation ability of Pt and Pt suppressed the 1-olefin isomerization ability of Cd. The XPS, TEM and NH3-TPD studies revealed that the Pt-Cd dual additives provided unique electronic effect (e.g., Pt and Cd enhanced electronic backdonation and Pt blocked electron transfer), which improved 1-olefin selectivity and suppressed 2-olefin selectivity of the cobalt catalyst.
Shock-induced reactions in metal nitride – Boron nanostructured composites

Abstract Shock-induced reactions were investigated in boron (B) – metal nitride (MeN: Me=Ga, Zr, Cr) exothermic systems. All considered powder mixtures were initially mechanically treated in a high-energy ball-mill to fabricate B-MeN nanostructured composite particles, which were subsequently shock loaded using an explosive charge. The structures of these materials were analyzed by conventional and synchrotron X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. It was discovered that shock-induced reactions in the GaN+B system resulted in the formation of the metastable wurtzitic form of boron nitride (w-BN). This directly implies that ultra-fast (0.5–5 μs) reactions took place under the high-pressure conditions of the shock wave.
Electrochemical esterification via oxidative coupling of aldehydes and alcohols

Abstract An electrolytic method for the direct oxidative coupling of aldehydes with alcohols to produce esters is described. Our method involves anodic oxidation in presence of TBAF as supporting electrolyte in an undivided electrochemical cell equipped with graphite electrodes. This method successfully couples a wide range of alcohols to benzaldehydes with yields ranging from 70 to 90%. The protocol is easy to perform at a constant voltage conditions and offers a sustainable alternative over conventional methods.
Research on Data Science, Data Analytics and Big Data

Big Data refers to a huge volume of data of various types, i.e., structured, semi structured, and unstructured. This data is generated through various digital channels such as mobile, Internet, social media, e-commerce websites, etc. Big Data has proven to be of great use since its inception, as companies started realizing its importance for various business purposes. Now that the companies have started deciphering this data, they have witnessed exponential growth over the years.Impact on various sectors like Retail, Banking and investment, Fraud detection and analyzing, Customer-centric applications and Operational analysis. Data Science deals with the slicing and dicing of the big chunks of data, as well as finding insightful patterns and trends from them using technology, mathematics, and statistical techniques. Data Scientists are responsible for uncovering the facts hidden in the complex web of unstructured data so as to be used in making business decisions. Data Scientists perform the aforementioned job by developing heuristic algorithms and models that can be used in the future for significant purposes. This amalgamation of technology and concepts makes Data Science a potential field for lucrative career opportunities. McKinsey once predicted that there will be an acute shortage of Data Science Professionals in the next decade. Impact on various sectors like Web development, Digital advertisements, E-commerce, Internet search, Finance, Telecom, Utilities. Data Analytics seeks to provide operational insights into complex business situations. The concept of big data has been around for years; most organizations now understand that if they capture all the data that streams into their businesses, they can apply analytics and get significant value from it. But even in the 1950s, decades before anyone uttered the term big data, Businesses were using basic analytics (essentially numbers in a spreadsheet that were manually examined) to uncover insights and trends. he new benefits that big data analytics brings to the table, however, are speed and efficiency. Whereas a few years ago a business would have gathered information, run analytics and unearthed information that could be used for future decisions, today that business can identify insights for immediate decisions. The ability to work faster – and stay agile – gives organizations a competitive edge they didn't have before. Looking into the historical data from a modern perspective, finding new and challenging business scenarios and applying methodologies to find a better solution are the prime concerns of a Data Analyst. Not only this, but a Data Analyst also predicts the upcoming opportunities which the company can exploit. Data Analytics has shown such a tremendous growth across the globe that soon the Big Data market revenue is expected grow by 50 percent.Impact on various sectors like Traveling and transportation, Financial analysis, Retail, Research, Energy management, Healthcare.
Probing the Rheological Properties of Liquids Under Conditions of Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Using Simulations and Machine Learning

In elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL), the lubricant experiences pressures in excess of 500 MPa and strain rates larger than $$10^5$$ $$\text{s}^{-1}$$ . The high pressures lead to a dramatic rise in the Newtonian viscosity and the high rates lead to large shear stresses and pronounced shear thinning. The extraction of accurate rheological properties using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations (NEMD) has played a key role in improving our understanding of lubricant flow in EHL conditions. However, the high dimensionality of the output data generated by NEMD simulations often makes a deeper interrogation of the link between molecular-scale features and rheological properties challenging. In this paper, we explore the use of machine learning to analyze and visualize the high-dimensional output data generated in typical NEMD simulations. We show that dimension reduction of NEMD simulation data describing the shear flow of squalane enables a clear visualization of the transition from Newtonian to non-Newtonian shear thinning with increasing shear rate and provides a reliable assessment of the correlation between shear thinning and the evolution in molecular alignment. The end-to-end atom pairs dominate the largest variations in pair orientation tensor components for low-pressure systems (0.1, 100 MPa) and provide the clearest separation of the orientation tensors with rate. On the other hand, the side atom pairs dominate the largest variation in the tensor components for the high-pressure systems ( $$P\ge 400$$ MPa) which exhibit an overall limited evolution in orientation tensors as a function of rate. Dimension reduction using all the six components of the orientation tensors of all 435 pairs associated with a squalane molecule shows that the decrease in viscosity with rate for low pressures is strongly correlated with changes in molecular alignment. However, for high pressures, shear thinning occurs at saturated orientational order.
Assessing the Limitations Inherent to the Notion of Sovereignty Itself

Chapter 2 opened the conceptual space for a freestanding inquiry into the moral nature and limits of sovereignty and sovereign discretion. This Chapter turns to that inquiry. Assessing the moral nature and limits of sovereignty and sovereign discretion unfolds through two distinct but related understandings of the moral limits to the legitimate zone of sovereign discretion. One seeks out the limits to the legitimate zone of moral discretion inherent to the notion of sovereignty itself. The other is grounded in our understanding of the best moral justification for sovereignty. This chapter is focused on the former.
Risk of Self-harm in Children and Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance Multiple studies have reported that people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at a higher risk for self-injurious behavior and suicide. However, the magnitude of this association varies between studies. Objective To appraise the available epidemiologic studies on the risk of self-injurious behavior and suicidality among children and adults with ASD. Data Sources PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were systematically searched for epidemiologic studies on the association between ASD and self-injurious behavior and suicidality. Databases were searched from year of inception to April through June 2020. No language, age, or date restrictions were applied. Study Selection This systematic review and meta-analysis included studies with an observational design and compared self-injurious behavior (defined as nonaccidental behavior resulting in self-inflicted physical injury but without intent of suicide or sexual arousal) and/or suicidality (defined as suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, or suicide) in children (aged <20 years) or adults (aged ≥20 years) with ASD. Data Extraction and Synthesis Information on study design, study population, ASD and self-harm definitions, and outcomes were extracted by independent investigators. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Overall summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were estimated using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects models. Main Outcomes and Measures The ORs for the associations of ASD with self-injurious behavior and suicidality were calculated. Analyses were stratified by study setting and age groups as planned a priori. Results The search identified 31 eligible studies, which were of moderate to high quality. Of these studies, 16 (52%) were conducted in children, 13 (42%) in adults, and 2 (6%) in both children and adults. Seventeen studies assessed the association between ASD and self-injurious behavior and reported ORs that ranged from 1.21 to 18.76, resulting in a pooled OR of 3.18 (95% CI, 2.45-4.12). Sixteen studies assessed the association between ASD and suicidality and reported ORs that ranged from 0.86 to 11.10, resulting in a pooled OR of 3.32 (95% CI, 2.60-4.24). In stratified analyses, results were consistent between clinical and nonclinical settings and between children and adults. Conclusions and Relevance This study found that ASD was associated with a substantial increase in odds of self-injurious behavior and suicidality in children and adults. Further research is needed to examine the role of primary care screenings, increased access to preventive mental health services, and lethal means counseling in reducing self-harm in this population.
Global, Regional and Local Food Production and Trade in a Changing Environment

Attempts to seriously investigate the impacts of potential changes in climate due to increased greenhouse gases dates to the mid- to late 1980's. Some of the advances in impact analysis since the first studies: 1) Explicit modeling of adaptation within the farm sector. 2) Consideration of agriculture as a global system that interacts through trade in agricultural products and input flows. Some work has been done but more is needed on: 1) How government policies and programs - ranging from crop insurance and disaster assistance to acreage reduction programs, tariffs and quotas, water pricing, and the level of agricultural research - will affect the response of the farm sector. 2) Consideration of climate change as only one of many forces along with changes in population, economic activity, and technology that will shape the agricultural economy over the coming decades. 3) Explicit consideration of the high levels of uncertainty in climate change prediction and the implications for adaptation of high levels of natural variability in weather. 4) Modeling of competition for land, water, labor, and capital as other sectors of the economy are affected by climate change.
ISOLATION OF PROLYCOPENE AND PRO-γ-CAROTENE FROM EVONYMUS FORTUNEI

It has been reported (1) that the ripe seeds of Evonymus europaeus L. (Celastraceae) contain unesterified zeaxanthin, C40H56O2, as the main polyene pigment. The same statement is valid for Evonymus fortunei, var. color., Rehd., commonly termed “winter-creeper euonymus,” from 1 kilo of which 1300 mg. of zeaxanthin were isolated. Upon evaporation of its saponified ether extract and addition of petroleum ether, abundant quantities of zeaxanthin crystallize. This paper describes an investigation of some of the pigments (about 200 mg. per kilo, of which one-fourth is β-carotene) which remain in the mother liquor. The mixture can be resolved by chromatographic analysis. In addition to some twenty less interesting pigments, two representatives of a stereochemically new class of natural carotenoids (2) were separated; viz., prolycopene, C40H56, and pro-γ-carotene, C40H66. The yields of pure crystals were 11 mg. and 0.5 mg. per kilo of seeds respectively. Hence, Evonymus fortunei may serve as a source of prolycopene while it does not offer any larger yield of pro-γ-carotene than does the fruit of Butia capitata (3). According to the foregoing paper (4) Pyracantha angustifolia is the best starting material for the isolation of pro-γ-carotene at the present time.
On the Nature and Importance of Archiving in the Digital Age

Abstract Digital preservation and archiving stand as grand challenges of the first decade of the 21st century. Our cultural heritage, modern scientific knowledge, and everyday commerce and government depend upon the preservation of reliable and authentic electronic records and digital objects. Issues such as software and hardware obsolescence, media fragility, expensive metadata creation, and intellectual property rights place all of these materials at risk. The archival and computer science professions must come together to solve the complex technical, conceptual, social, legal, and economic challenges that endanger the longevity of all digital objects. Basic archival principles must be built into information creation and management software and information creators must recognize the need to exert responsible custody over the digital information objects they manage. Archiving, and the preservation tools to facilitate it, must become ubiquitous if society is to preserve its memory in the digital age.
Relocating Barth's Theology of Culture: Beyond the ‘True Words’ Approach of Church Dogmatics IV/3

Barth's writings present two discrete approaches to culture and attempts to link the two overlook Barth's rationale for isolating them. Though interpreters of Barth's theology of culture typically turn to CD IV/3, I argue that this material is not the place to look for insights into his analyses of cultural forms (e.g. the Mozart essays), but is better understood simply as a necessary extension of his doctrine of the Word – identical in content and context to his remarks against theology of culture in CD I/1. Instead, Barth's eschatology provides us with greater insights into his theological approach to culture.
Eyes on a Climate Prize: Rewarding Energy Innovation to Achieve Climate Stabilization

Stabilizing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases at double their pre-industrial levels (or lower) will require emission reductions far in excess of what can be achieved with current or projected levels of technology at a politically acceptable cost. Substantial technological innovation is required if the nations of the world are to come anywhere close to proposed emission reduction targets. Neither traditional federal support for research and development of new technologies nor traditional command-and-control regulations are likely to spur sufficient innovation. Technology inducement prizes, on the other hand, have the potential to incentivize and accelerate the rate of technological innovation in the energy sector. This paper outlines the theory behind the use of inducement prizes to encourage and direct inventive efforts and technological innovation and identifies several comparative advantages inducement prizes have over traditional grants and subsidies for encouraging the invention and development of climate-friendly technologies. While no policy measure guarantees technological innovation, greater reliance on inducement prizes would increase the likelihood of developing and deploying needed technologies in time to alter the world’s climate future. Whatever their faults in other contexts, prizes are particularly well suited to the climate policy challenge.
Coactive learning with a human expert for robotic information gathering

We present a coactive algorithm for learning a human expert's preferences in planning trajectories for information gathering in scientific autonomy domains. The algorithm learns these preferences by iteratively presenting solutions to the expert and updating an estimated utility function based on the expert's improvements. We apply these algorithms, in the context of underwater data collection, using a pair of risk and reward maps. In simulated trials, the algorithm successfully learns the underlying weighting behind a utility map used by a human planning trajectories. We also present experimental trials demonstrating the algorithm using a temperature and depth monitoring task in an inland lake with an autonomous surface vehicle. This work shows it is possible to design algorithms for autonomous navigation with reward functions that capture the essence of a human's preferences.
Feeding the glutton

The Nuclear Energy Center Site Survey (NECSS) was a study of a potential alternative siting approach for nuclear power and fuel-cycle facilities-an approach that would cluster sizeable groups of such facilities on a relatively small number of sites, as contrasted with current `dispersed' siting practices.