cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary function and pleural fibrosis: quantitative relationships with an integrative index of pleural abnormalities.

Pleural fibrosis due to asbestos exposure was fully appreciated considerably later than pulmonary interstitial fibrosis due to similar exposure. This is well exemplified by the fact that pleura face on was included in the International Labour Office's International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses only in the last revision of the Classification. The functional relevance of pleural fibrosis, in particular circumscribed pleural fibrosis, has remained controversial. Since pleural fibrosis can occur at various sites (diaphragmatic plaques, chest wall in profile and face on, mediastinal) and can be of different thickness and extent, a comprehensive integrative assessment of pleural fibrosis was undertaken in order to permit a quantitative study of relationships between pleural fibrosis and pulmonary function. This approach was used for chest X-ray films of 1,584 asbestos insulation workers examined (1981–1983); 1,185 (75%) had pleural fibrosis. The distribution pattern of the integrative pleural index was found to be different in the subgroup with circumscribed (n = 975) from that with diffuse (n = 197) pleural fibrosis, with a higher profusion of high INDEX values in the latter. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that there was a significant inverse relationship between forced vital capacity (FVC) and the integrative index of pleural fibrosis in the subgroup with circumscribed pleural fibrosis. In the subgroup with diffuse pleural fibrosis, the obliteration of costophrenic angle(s), even with pleural fibrosis of limited extent, resulted in marked decrement in FVC % predicted; higher values of INDEX did not result in additional significant reductions of FVC. In those with both parenchymal and pleural abnormalities (n = 862) the pleural index was found to make a significant contribution, independent of that of parenchymal abnormalities, to decrements of FVC. Since pleural fibrosis has gradually become the predominant radiologically detectable abnormality in asbestos exposed workers, establishing its quantifiable functional relevance is useful.
Degradation of Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts by Synthetic Goethite and Magnetite

Corrosion of iron pipes leads to the release of ferrous iron, Fe(II), and the formation of iron oxides, such as goethite and magnetite, on the pipe surface. Fe(II), a potent reductant when associated with iron oxide surfaces, can mediate the reduction of halogenated organic compounds. Batch experiments were performed to investigate the kinetics and pathways of the degradation of selected chlorinated disinfection byproducts (DBPs) by Fe(II) in the presence of synthetic goethite and magnetite. Trichloronitromethane was degraded via reduction, while trichloroacetonitrile, 1,1,1-trichloropropanone, and trichloroacetaldyde hydrate were transformed via both hydrolysis and reduction. Chloroform and trichloroacetic acid were unreactive. Observed pseudo-first-order reductive dehalogenation rates were influenced by DBP chemical structure and identity of the reductant. Fe(II) bound to iron minerals had greater reactivity than either aqueous Fe(II) or structural Fe(II) present in magnetite. For DBPs of structure Cl3C...
The Death of Authentic Primitive Art and Other Tales of Progress

The Death of Authentic Primitive Art and Other Tales of Progress. Shelly Errington. Berkeley. University of California Press. I99.S. xxvri. 309 pp.
The safety of OP-1 for lumbar fusion with decompression-- a canine study.

OBJECTIVE: Bone morphogenetic proteins can serve as adjuncts to autologous bone to achieve bony fusion, and recombinant BMPs such as osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) have the potential to replace autologous bone altogether as fusion substrate. However, relatively little is known about the safety of OP-1 for spinal fusion procedures. This study examined the effects of OP-1 intentionally placed in the subarachnoid space following thecal sac decompression, and used as graft substrate in a canine dorsolateral lumbar spine fusion model. METHODS: Lumbar decompression with dorsolateral fusion was performed on 30 canines. The dura was opened to simulate an intraoperative rent and OP-1 was placed in the subarachnoid space and in the fusion bed. Animals were sacrificed after 16 weeks and the spines were examined manually, radiographically and pathologically. RESULTS: All animals treated with OP-1 developed new bone in the subarachnoid space. This bone compressed the spinal cord, but no clinical or pathological features of neurotoxicity were noted. Mild spinal stenosis was noted at the site of dural decompression in the OP-1 treated animals. Over 80% of animals treated with OP-1 developed fusion as assessed by palpation (52% by CT criteria), while only 25% of control animals fused. CONCLUSIONS: Recombinant human OP-1 is effective at promoting fusion in a canine dorsolateral lumbar spine fusion model. However, bone growth can occur over exposed, decompressed dura, and it can form in the subdural and subarachnoid spaces. The use of OP-1 as an adjunct to spinal fusion appears to have merit, but its use must be carefully controlled to avoid unwanted bone formation and subsequent neural compression.
Triple therapy with methotrexate, sulfasalazine, and hydroxychloroquine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

This article primarily covers the author's experience with the use of the combination of methotrexate (MTX), sulfasalazine (SSZ), and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Additionally, the effectiveness of MTX-SSZ-HCQ (triple) therapy is compared to treatment with the combination of MTX and cyclosporin A (CSA), which is the other combination that published data suggest is the most efficacious. The future of combination therapy is discussed along with the Rheumatoid Arthritis Investigational Network (RAIN), which has made the author's studies possible.
Sedimentary Controls on the Formation and Preservation of Microbial Mats in Siliciclastic Deposits: A Case Study from the Upper Neoproterozoic Nama Group, Namibia

Abstract Shallow-marine, siliciclastic depositional systems are dominated by physical sedimentary processes, with penecontemporaneous cementation playing only a minor role in sediment dynamics. For this reason, microbial mats rarely form stromatolites in siliciclastic environments; instead, mats are preserved as wrinkle structures on bedding surfaces. Microbial mat signatures should be widespread in siliciclastic rocks deposited before the Cambrian Period; however, siliciclastic shelf successions of the upper Neoproterozoic Nudaus Formation, Nama Group, Namibia, contain only sparsely distributed wrinkle structures. The facies distribution of observed structures reflects the superposition of a taphonomic window of mat preservation on the ecological window of mat development. Mat colonization is favored by clean, fine-grained, translucent quartz sands deposited at sites where hydrodynamic flow is sufficient to sweep mud from mat surfaces but insufficient to erode biostabilized laminae. During periods of red...
Obstetrics/gynecology and the law

Obstetrics/gynecology and the law. Fineberg, K.S.; Peters, J.D.; Willson, J.R.; and, Kroll, D.A. (Health Administration Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1984), 616 pages, $60.00.
Prostaglandin E2 and Other Cyclic AMP Elevating Agents Inhibit Interleukin 2 Gene Transcription by Counteracting Calcineurin-dependent Pathways

We have previously shown that prostaglandin E2 and other cAMP elevating agents inhibit the nuclear transcription of the human IL-2 gene by interfering with a Ca(2+)-sensitive T cell signal transduction pathway. Calcineurin, a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent 2B protein phosphatase, is an essential component of the T cell receptor signal transduction pathway leading to IL-2 gene expression. We have therefore tested the hypothesis that this phosphatase may be a target for the inhibitory effects of cAMP on IL-2 gene transcription. We report here that PGE2 markedly reduces the IL-2 promoter activity that is induced by a constitutively active form of calcineurin. In contrast to the complete inhibition of promoter activity produced by the immunosuppressants cyclosporin A and FK-506, this partial block suggests that PGE2 modulates downstream events needed for lymphokine gene activation. Overexpression of calcineurin in Jurkat cells decreases their apparent sensitivity to the inhibitory effects of PGE2 consistent with the fact that this enzyme plays a physiological role in dephosphorylating substrates of cAMP-dependent kinases in several tissues. These results provide evidence that cAMP-dependent pathways may antagonize calcineurin-regulated cascades for T cell activation in vivo, and suggest crosstalk between the Ca2+ and the cAMP signaling pathways during T cell activation.
Pretexting: Protecting Consumer Telephone Records from Unauthorized Disclosure

Telephone service providers maintain records of telephone numbers called, and the time and date of each call, which the FCC calls Consumer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI). Pretexting is the impersonation of an individual for the purpose of obtaining personal records such as CPNI. Federal law expressly prohibits pretexting for financial data (bank account and credit card numbers) under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, but the law does not cover telephone records, which are protected by a patchwork of state and federal laws governing identity theft, access to personal information in computer databases, and deceptive practices generally. This essay discusses the gaps in pretexting laws and the resulting threat to consumer privacy.
The hidden structure of image datasets

We propose the pdf of W, where W is the normalized withinss after a 1D random projection, as a way to visualize the amount of structure contained in a set of images. Using this pdf, we show that real image datasets tend to have a lot of structure and that part of that structure is highly likely to be captured by a 1D random projection. According to our experiments, the structure of image datasets does not appear to be compatible with that of clusters. Nevertheless, the high degree of structure in image sets leads to an efficient and effective way of clustering image datasets using 1D random projections.
Exercise and Cyclic Light Preconditioning Protect Against Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration and Evoke Similar Gene Expression Patterns

To compare patterns of gene expression following preconditioning cyclic light rearing versus preconditioning aerobic exercise. BALB/C mice were preconditioned either by rearing in 800 lx 12:12 h cyclic light for 8 days or by running on treadmills for 9 days, exposed to toxic levels of light to cause light-induced retinal degeneration (LIRD), then sacrificed and retinal tissue harvested. Subsets of mice were maintained for an additional 2 weeks and for assessment of retinal function by electroretinogram (ERG). Both preconditioning protocols partially but significantly preserved retinal function and morphology and induced similar leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) gene expression pattern. The data demonstrate that exercise preconditioning and cyclic light preconditioning protect photoreceptors against LIRD and evoke a similar pattern of retinal LIF gene expression. It may be that similar stress response pathways mediate the protection provided by the two preconditioning modalities.
Light Switch for Positive and Negative Group Velocities

We explore phenomena responsible for switching the group velocity of a probe between positive and negative regimes. We study a four-level N-Scheme in two distinct dressed states pictures. The presented study is supported by simulations.
The Effect of of Dilantin upon Fibroblast Proliferation

SummaryDilantin, at a concentration of 2 to 5 μg/ml, has no effect upon the rate of collagen synthesis by diploid human fibroblasts in vivo. Dilantin will stimulate the rate of proliferation of these cells reducing their population doubling time from 35 to 22 hr.
NEC : Some coïncidences are more equivalent than others

One of the most difficult tasks in medical imaging is the determination of image quality across the range of clinical imaging environments. Image quality is, of course, task dependent, and the ultimate metric is human observer performance; however, direct measurement of human observer performance is
Monitoring and Application of Drilling Pipe Frictional Welding Quality

Using pressure sensors and digital intelligent instrument,solve welding machine welding in force at the time of issue,calculated pressure parameters and sensor output conversion between values through data displayed on the meter.In the process of friction welding welding pressure monitoring to ensure welding quality.
The Role of Surface Drag in Tornadogenesis within an Idealized Supercell Simulation

AbstractTo investigate the effect of surface drag on tornadogenesis, a pair of idealized simulations is conducted with 50-m horizontal grid spacing. In the first experiment (full-wind drag case), surface drag is applied to the full wind; in the second experiment (environmental drag case), drag is applied only to the background environmental wind, with storm-induced perturbations unaffected. The simulations are initialized using a thermal bubble within a horizontally homogeneous background environment that has reached a balance between the pressure gradient, Coriolis, and frictional forces. The environmental sounding is derived from a prior simulation of the 3 May 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak but modified to account for near-ground frictional effects. In the full-wind drag experiment, a tornado develops around 25 min into the simulation and persists for more than 10 min; in the environmental-only drag experiment, no tornado occurs. Three distinct mechanisms are identified by which surface drag influences...
Comparative expression of TNF-α alleles from normal and autoimmune-prone MHC haplotypes

The tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha, or TNF) genes of NOD mice and NZW mice are reportedly underexpressed relative to the TNF genes of control mice in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced peritoneal macrophages. These findings, as well as the well-known major histocompatibility complex (MHC) linkage of the TNF genes, have prompted speculation that mutations affecting expression of the TNF-alpha loci might represent a primary cause of autoimmune diseases. Differences in expression of the TNF genes in different strains of mice might result either from effects of cis-acting mutations or from differences in the cellular environment that operate in trans. To discriminate between these possibilities, we directly examined the relative contribution made by each of two different TNF alleles (one associated with an autoimmune-prone haplotype and the other not) to the pool of TNF mRNA within the cells of F1 hybrid mice. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to amplify a polymorphic fragment derived from the total pool of TNF mRNA present in LPS-induced peritoneal macrophages of hybrid animals produced by crossing BALB/c to non-obese diabetic (NOD), and New Zealand black (NZB) to New Zealand white (NZW). In both types of F1 hybrid, the two alleles were represented in nearly equal quantities at the mRNA level. It may be inferred that at all pretranslational levels, the NZW and NOD TNF alleles are functionally equivalent to the control alleles that were examined. Interstrain differences in responsiveness to LPS are therefore responsible for interstrain differences in TNF gene expression.
Losing focus: goal displacement at an alternative newspaper in El Salvador

This study examines whether a Salvadoran alternative newspaper maintained its critical, independent, and alternative position after the country’s first leftist president was elected and the newspap...
Determination of residual chlorinated solvents in decaffeinated coffee by using purge and trap procedure

Presentation de 2 procedes et equipements pour la recuperation des solvants residuels avant dosage par chromatographie en phase gazeuse
Recognition of mucin components by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa remains one of the most important bacterial pathogens in lung diseases and especially in Cystic fibrosis. This unusual predilection is best explained by the existence of defects in host defense mechanisms as resulting from the genetic lesion and the presence of a specific colonization niche within the lungs. The niche has been identified as the mucus layer wherein mucin glycoproteins provide a substrate for binding and allows the persistence of this organism in this milieu by a number of possible mechanisms. While this organism is capable of binding to non CF mucins, it is perhaps a combination of factors e.g. increased binding and decreased mucociliary clearance that is responsible for this marked state of colonization in CF. The organism uses chiefly proteins of its flagellar apparatus to initiate this binding and recognizes a variety of oligosaccharides that have been identified in mucins. Among these are both, neutral oligosaccharides and several forms of acidic oligosaccharides derived from the Lewis antigens. There are more than likely a larger repertoire of receptors than those identified and certainly more adhesins present than those currently known. However, the information gathered to date provides an excellent example of the specificity of bacterial interactions with mucins that will certainly be expanded as we study more pulmonary pathogens.
Investigate the “Issues” in Chinese Students’ English Writing and Their “Reasons”: Revisiting the Recent Evidence in Chinese Academia

This research synthesis collected, compiled, and analyzed 29 academic research articles that were published in China in recent years, addressing and exploring the issues in undergraduate English writing education in China and the possible reasons causing and/or explaining the issues. Five major findings were discovered and discussed. Suggestions were made to reinforce the understanding of Chinese students' English writing practices in China and in the United States.
Study of Flexible Load Dispatch to Improve the Capacity of Wind Power Absorption

The dispatch method which track the trend of load demand by arranging the generation scheme of controllable hydro or thermal units faces great difficulties and challenges. With the increase of renewable energy sources such as wind power and photovoltaic power introduced to grid, system has to arrange much more spinning reserve units to compensate the unbalanced power. How to exploit the peak-shaving potential of flexible load which can be shifted with time or storage energy has become many scholars' research direction. However, the modelling of different kinds of load and control strategy is considerably difficult, this paper choose the Air Conditioner with compressor which can storage energy in fact to study. The equivalent thermal parameters of Air Conditioner has been established. And with the use of "loop control" strategies, we can predict the regulated power of Air Conditioner. Then we established the Gen-Load optimal scheduling model including flexible load based on traditional optimal scheduling model. At last, an improved IEEE-30 case is used to verify. The result of simulation shows that flexible load can fast-track renewable power changes. More than that, with flexible load and reasonable incentive method to consumers, the operating cost of the system can be greatly cut down.
A high-fidelity approach for vehicle mobility simulation: Nonlinear finite element tires operating on granular material☆

Abstract Assessing the mobility of off-road vehicles is a complex task that most often falls back on semi-empirical approaches to quantifying the vehicle–terrain interaction. Herein, we concentrate on physics-based methodologies for wheeled vehicle mobility that factor in both tire flexibility and terrain deformation within a fully three-dimensional multibody system approach. We represent the tire based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF), a nonlinear finite element approach that captures multi-layered, orthotropic shell elements constrained to the wheel rim. The soil is modeled as a collection of discrete elements that interact through contact, friction, and cohesive forces. The resulting vehicle/tire/terrain interaction problem has several millions of degrees of freedom and is solved in an explicit co-simulation framework, built upon and now available in the open-source multi-physics package Chrono . The co-simulation infrastructure is developed using a Message Passing Interface (MPI) layer for inter-system communication and synchronization, with additional parallelism leveraged through a shared-memory paradigm. The formulation and software framework presented in this investigation are proposed for the analysis of the dynamics of off-road wheeled vehicle mobility. Its application is demonstrated by numerical sensitivity studies on available drawbar pull, terrain resistance, and sinkage with respect to parameters such as tire inflation pressure and soil cohesion. The influence of a rigid tire assumption on mobility is also discussed.
Controlling FePt grain size with a granular MgO-C interlayer in L1 0 FePt-C media

Currently, granular L1 0 FePt thin film media is the candidate for heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) [1–5].
More than a Feeling: The MiFace Framework for Defining Facial Communication Mappings

Facial expressions transmit a variety of social, grammatical, and affective signals. For technology to leverage this rich source of communication, tools that better model the breadth of information they convey are required. MiFace is a novel framework for creating expression lexicons that map signal values to parameterized facial muscle movements. In traditional mapping paradigms using posed photographs, naive judges select from predetermined label sets and movements are inferred by trained experts. The set of generally accepted expressions established in this way is limited to six basic displays of affect. In contrast, our approach generatively simulates muscle movements on a 3D avatar. By applying natural language processing techniques to crowdsourced free-response labels for the resulting images, we efficiently converge on an expression's value across signal categories. Two studies returned 218 discriminable facial expressions with 51 unique labels. The six basic emotions are included, but we additionally define such nuanced expressions as embarrassed, curious, and hopeful.
Whispering-gallery-mode generation by means of an azimuthal array of apertures

The generation of low-power whispering-gallery modes is important for cold testing components to be used in transmission systems for gyrotrons. A whispering-gallery mode generator based on an azimuthal array of apertures in a circular waveguide will be discussed. Measured results will be presented.
Spontaneous regionalization of esophageal cancer surgery: an analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Background: Esophagectomy patients are up to three times more likely to die after surgery when cared for at low-volume hospitals (LVHs). Increased awareness by patients and clinicians of the hazards of esophagectomy at LVHs, may inspire a “spontaneous regionalization” away from LVHs, yet the extent to which this has taken place is unclear. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) across two eras: 2004–2006 (Era 1) and 2010–2012 (Era 2). Primary outcomes included the proportion of patients at high-volume hospitals (HVHs) (≥13/year per Leapfrog Group), adjusted, and unadjusted 90-day mortality. Results: The NCDB captured 5,968 esophagectomy patients in Era 1 and 5,580 in Era 2, a 6.5% decrease (P vs . 663, P=0.014), yet the proportion of patients treated at LVHs declined slightly between eras (73% vs . 70%, P Conclusions: Spontaneous regionalization of esophageal cancer surgery has not occurred on a large scale, yet for high-risk patients, the hazards of being cared for at LVHs have dissipated. Further study is needed to optimize alignment of esophagectomy patients and hospitals.
MixT: a language for mixing consistency in geodistributed transactions

Programming concurrent, distributed systems is hard—especially when these systems mutate shared, persistent state replicated at geographic scale. To enable high availability and scalability, a new class of weakly consistent data stores has become popular. However, some data needs strong consistency. To manipulate both weakly and strongly consistent data in a single transaction, we introduce a new abstraction: mixed-consistency transactions, embodied in a new embedded language, MixT. Programmers explicitly associate consistency models with remote storage sites; each atomic, isolated transaction can access a mixture of data with different consistency models. Compile-time information-flow checking, applied to consistency models, ensures that these models are mixed safely and enables the compiler to automatically partition transactions. New run-time mechanisms ensure that consistency models can also be mixed safely, even when the data used by a transaction resides on separate, mutually unaware stores. Performance measurements show that despite their stronger guarantees, mixed-consistency transactions retain much of the speed of weak consistency, significantly outperforming traditional serializable transactions.
Seasonality of Consumption of Nonstaple Nutritious Foods among Young Children from Nepal's 3 Agroecological Zones.

Background Children's dietary patterns vary seasonally, particularly in subsistence agriculture settings like Nepal, but the seasonality of nutritious nonstaple food consumption is not well explored in the literature. Objective This study aimed to examine seasonal differences in children's consumption of provitamin A-rich fruit and vegetables, dairy, eggs, meat, and fish in Nepal's 3 agroecological zones, and to assess whether seasonal patterns vary by wealth and caste/ethnicity. Methods Multivariable negative binomial regression models were used to analyze dietary data from 7-d food-frequency questionnaires, producing coefficient estimates in the form of incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Data were collected 3 times per year for 2 y from children aged 6-72 mo in Nepal's mountains (n = 226), hills (n = 168), and plains (n = 225). Results There were significant seasonal differences in children's consumption of provitamin A-rich fruit and vegetables, dairy, meat, and fish that varied by agroecological zone. Adopting monsoon season as the referent for all comparisons, children in the mountains ate provitamin A-rich fruit and vegetables less frequently during the postmonsoon and winter seasons (IRRs: 0.5 and 0.7, respectively; both P < 0.004), whereas in the plains, children's consumption of these foods was lower only during the postmonsoon season (IRR: 0.2; P < 0.001). Children's dairy intake frequency increased during the winter in the mountains (IRR: 0.7; P < 0.004) and decreased during the winter in the hills (IRR: 1.5; P < 0.001). Only in the plains did children's meat and fish intakes vary seasonally, increasing during the postmonsoon season (IRR: 1.6; P < 0.004). Wealth and caste/ethnicity variability influenced children's consumption of each of these nutritious groups of foods, and moderated seasonal effects in some instances. Conclusions Children's diets varied differently by season within each agroecological zone of Nepal and in some cases across socioeconomic groups, revealing the importance of taking a season- and location-specific approach to assessing diets and tailoring dietary strategies.
Cytokine Actions, Cellular Mechanism of

Cytokines represent a group of transiently expressed, low-molecular-weight molecules that play a vital role in intercellular communication and regulate numerous physiological and pathological events, such as lymphocyte development and activation, inflammatory processes, and programmed cell death.
Physical properties and structure of fine core–shell particles used as packing materials for chromatography: Relationships between particle characteristics and column performance

The recent development of new brands of packing materials made of fine porous-shell particles, e.g., Halo and Kinetex, has brought great improvements in potential column efficiency, demanding considerable progress in the design of chromatographic instruments. Columns packed with Halo and Kinetex particles provide minimum values of their reduced plate heights of nearly 1.5 and 1.2, respectively. These packing materials have physical properties that set them apart from conventional porous particles. The kinetic performance of 4.6mm I.D. columns packed with these two new materials is analyzed based on the results of a series of nine independent and complementary experiments: low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), inverse size-exclusion chromatography (ISEC), Coulter counter particle size distributions, pycnometry, height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP), peak parking method (PP), total pore blocking method (TPB), and local electrochemical detection across the column exit section (LED). The results of this work establish links between the physical properties of these superficially porous particles and the excellent kinetic performance of columns packed with them. It clarifies the fundamental origin of the difference in the chromatographic performances of the Halo and the Kinetex columns.
Tracking Multiple Maneuvering Targets Using Integer Programming and Spline Interpolation

In this paper, we propose an integer programming based model for tracking multiple maneuverable targets in a planar region. The objective function of this model uses both pairs and triplets of observations, which offer more accurate representation for constant velocity targets. Triplet scores in this model are calculated using a novel approach based on cubic spline interpolation, while the data association problem is solved using a specialized multi-dimensional assignment formulation. We show that the spline interpolation based scoring model provides more accurate reconstruction of trajectories, when compared to a naive model based on linear interpolation, on various randomly generated trajectories, at the expense of modest increase in computation time. The proposed multi-dimensional assignment formulation has nice structural properties and tight linear programming relaxation bound, which results in small computation times.
Looking Back [Turnstile]

Discusses the David Sarnoff Historical Exhibit that was on display at the IMS 2018 Conference.
Mechanosensing at Cellular Interfaces.

At the plasma membrane interface, cells use various adhesions to sense their extracellular environment. These adhesions facilitate the transmission of mechanical signals that dictate cell behavior. This review discusses the mechanisms by which these mechanical signals are transduced through cell–matrix and cell–cell adhesions and how this mechanotransduction influences cell processes. Cell–matrix adhesions require the activation of and communication between various transmembrane protein complexes such as integrins. These links at the plasma membrane affect how a cell senses and responds to its matrix environment. Cells also communicate with each other through cell–cell adhesions, which further regulate cell behavior on a single- and multicellular scale. Coordination and competition between cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesions in multicellular aggregates can, to a significant extent, be modeled by differential adhesion analyses between the different interfaces even without knowing the details of cellular si...
Synthesis of 1,3-Diynes via Cadiot-Chodkiewicz Coupling of Volatile, in Situ Generated Bromoalkynes.

A convenient Cadiot–Chodkiewicz protocol that facilitates the use of low molecular weight alkyne coupling partners is described. The method entails an in situ elimination from a dibromoolefin precursor and immediate subjection to copper-catalyzed conditions, circumventing the hazards of volatile brominated alkynes. The scope of this method is described, and the internal 1,3-diyne products are preliminarily evaluated in ruthenium-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloadditions.
Dynamic Process Intensification of Binary Distillation via Periodic Operation

This paper applies the concept of dynamic intensification (defined as changes to the dynamics, operation strategy, and/or control of a process that lead to a substantially more efficient processing path) to binary distillation columns. The resulting strategy consists of manufacturing a target product as a blend of two auxiliary products, both having lower energy demands than a reference value, which corresponds to producing the target product(s) in a column operating at steady state. A discussion of the appropriate control structures and switching strategies between the two auxiliary products is provided. An extensive case study concerning the separation of a methanol–1-propanol mixture was carried out, demonstrating that energy savings in the order of 1.4% are possible with no disruption in product quality or production rate.
Functionalized Nanoparticles for the Dispersion of Gas Hydrates in Slurry Flow.

Gas hydrates are crystals that can form in oil and gas production. Their agglomeration in flowlines may disrupt the normal production. One current strategy of hydrate management is to inject an anti-agglomerant, a type of low-dosage hydrate inhibitor that prevents hydrate agglomeration. Concerns in the use of these chemicals include their toxicity, cost, and environmental impacts. In this study, we exploited functionalized nanoparticles in place of anti-agglomerants to produce hydrate slurry, with the potential benefit of nanoparticles to be more environmentally friendly and conveniently recyclable. We coated 256 nm spherical silica nanoparticles with different hydrophobicity and evaluated their performance for the hydrate dispersion at atmospheric and high pressure. Nanoparticles with moderate hydrophobicity stabilized oil-in-water (O/W) or water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. Direct visualization of the cyclopentane hydrate formation from the nanoparticle-stabilized emulsions revealed different morphologies of...
Collaborative Workflow for Analyzing Large-Scale Data for Antimicrobial Resistance: An Experience Report

In real-life analytics-oriented information-integration projects, the processes of information curation and integration cannot be completely automated. Rather, in each large-scale project the key objectives include maximizing scalability and throughput, while at the same time keeping the processes manageable and productive for the human experts in the loop. In this paper, we describe our experience with addressing these major objectives in the process of building a scalable end-to-end data-extraction, integration, and analytics workflow in the domain of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The workflow is built using open-source tools, with the aims of enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of data collection and integration, while involving an acceptable level of efforts by collaborative multidisciplinary teams of humans-in-the-loop. We present the components of the proposed workflow, outline the challenges encountered in its development and testing, and discuss the experiences and lessons learned in enabling AMR experts and data analysts to interact with the workflow, with some of the lessons potentially applicable to other application domains.
Lions and foxes: revisiting Pareto’s bestiary for the age of late pluto-democracy

Vilfredo Pareto’s legacy is uncertain; while his reputation in economics is secure, references to Pareto in contemporary sociology are few and fleeting. Sociologists and members of the public who a...
Distribution and Functions of Carbonic Anhydrase in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is found along the entire gastrointestinal tract, from salivary glands to the colon. This review focuses on the distribution of CA and its role in gastric, pancreatic, biliary, and intestinal function. Numerous roles sub-served by the enzyme in the GI tract—acid–base transport, neutral salt absorption, cell volume, and intracellular pH regulation—have in large part been explored with the use of specific inhibitors. However, as Maren104 has argued, strict guidelines must be followed in their use. Emphasis will be given to those studies in which these precepts have been followed, most notably in the choice of inhibitor concentration.
The compensatory reserve: potential for accurate individualized goal-directed whole blood resuscitation.

Hemorrhagic shock can be mitigated by timely and accurate resuscitation designed to restore adequate delivery of oxygen (DO2 ). Current doctrine of using systolic blood pressure (SBP) as a guide for resuscitation can be associated with increased morbidity. The compensatory reserve measurement (CRM) is a novel vital sign based on the recognition that the sum of all mechanisms that contribute to the compensatory response to hemorrhage reside in features of the arterial pulse waveform. CRM can be assessed continuously and non-invasively in real time. Compared to standard vital signs, CRM provides an early, as well as more sensitive and specific, indicator of patient hemorrhagic status since the activation of compensatory mechanisms occurs immediately at the onset of blood loss. Recent data obtained from our laboratory experiments on non-human primates have demonstrated that CRM is linearly related to DO2 during controlled progressive hemorrhage and subsequent whole blood resuscitation. We used this relationship to determine that the time of hemodynamic decompensation (i.e., CRM = 0%) is defined by a critical DO2 at approximately 5.3 mL O2 ∙kg-1 ∙min-1 . We also demonstrated that a target CRM of 35% during whole blood resuscitation only required replacement of 40% of the total blood volume loss to adequately sustain a DO2 more than 50% (i.e., 8.1 mL O2 ∙kg-1 ∙min-1 ) above critical DO2 (i.e., threshold for decompensated shock) while maintaining hypotensive resuscitation (i.e., SBP at ~90 mmHg). Consistent with our hypothesis, specific values of CRM can be used to accurately maintain DO2 thresholds above critical DO2 , avoiding the onset of hemorrhagic shock with whole blood resuscitation.
Theoretical Uncertainties in the Subgiant--Mass Age Relation and the Absolute Age of Omega Cen

The theoretical uncertainties in the calibration of the relationship between the subgiant mass and age in metal-poor stars are investigated using a Monte Carlo approach. Assuming that the mass and iron abundance of a subgiant star are known exactly, uncertainties in the input physics used to construct stellar evolution models and isochrones lead to a Gaussian 1-sigma uncertainty of +/-2.9% in the derived ages. The theoretical error budget is dominated by the uncertainties in the calculated opacities. Observations of detached double lined eclipsing binary OGLEGC-17 in the globular cluster Omega Cen have found that the primary is on the subgiant branch with a mass of M = 0.809+/-0.012 M_sun and [Fe/H]= -2.29+/-0.15 (Kaluzny et al. 2001). Combining the theoretical uncertainties with the observational errors leads to an age for OGLEGC-17 of 11.10+/-0.67 Gyr. The one-sided, 95% lower limit to the age of OGLEGC-17 is 10.06 Gyr, while the one-sided, 95% upper limit is 12.27 Gyr.
Funding Crises: An Empirical Study of the Paycheck Protection Program

Though the medical damage wrought by COVID-19 has been examined thoroughly, economists and legislators are still seeking effective cures for the financial repercussions of the pandemic. To address the devastating consequences of business closures and millions of employees losing both their jobs and healthcare coverage during a public health emergency, the U.S. Congress funded a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). That program immediately pumped more than a half-trillion dollars in loans out to five million businesses. But criticism has been swift and widespread, if sometimes spurious, with detractors attacking the award of loans to wealthy celebrities such as Kanye West, politically connected donors such as the Kushner family, and large corporations such as Shake Shack and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. In this Article, we conduct one of the first empirical studies of the central component of the largest financial bailout in U.S. history. We examine quantitative data released by the Small Business Administration to answer various competing claims about the effect of the PPP. Critics have accused the program of being administered as a partisan political tool for the president’s reelection, as a corrupt slush fund for cronies of the Trump administration, and as an incompetent waste of money on undeserving recipients. We test these hypotheses to evaluate the distribution of funds and whether the disbursement materially suffered from politics, corruption, or waste. We find that the lending process not only suffered from high-profile failures, it failed to target the neediest areas, particularly early on. Other studies present mixed findings on whether the PPP successfully protected paychecks. We conclude that critical data does not yet exist, as the PPP’s greatest weakness was in failing to reach businesses unable to survive long enough to apply for or to receive loans. Accordingly, we call for a start to the process of theorizing a model for future programs to fund economic crises, which avoids the worst mistakes of the PPP. In 2008 and 2020, the U.S. government engaged in massive transfers of money from the federal fisc to corporations and, on both occasions, the task was cobbled together during an emergency, with predictable failures and shortcomings. We consider successful economic responses and how they might guide more effective, fair, and efficient models for providing emergency economic funding in the future. We may soon need one to address the continuing financial devastation from COVID-19 itself.
Messenger RNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2

The first two vaccines proven to be effective for inhibiting COVID-19 illness were both mRNA, achieving 95% efficacy (and safety) among 74,000 participants (half receiving placebo) after intramuscular delivery of two shots, 3-4 weeks apart. To view this Bench to Bedside, open or download the PDF.
Hyperuniformity and wave localization in pinwheel scattering arrays

We investigate the structural and spectral properties of deterministic aperiodic arrays designed from statistically isotropic pinwheel tiling. By studying the scaling of the cumulative integral of its structure factor in combination with a higher-order structural correlation analysis we conclude that pinwheel arrays belong to the weakly hyperuniformity class. Moreover, by solving the multiple scattering problem for electric point dipoles using the rigorous Green's matrix theory, we demonstrate a clear transition from diffusive transport to localization behavior. This is shown by studying the Thouless number as a function of the scattering strength and the spectral statistics of the scattering resonances. Surprisingly, despite the absence of sharp diffraction peaks, clear spectral gaps are discovered in the density of states of pinwheel arrays that manifest a distinctive long-range order. Furthermore, the level-spacing statistics at large optical density exhibits a sharp transition from level repulsion to the Poisson behavior, consistently with the onset of the wave localization regime. Our findings reveal the importance of hyperuniform aperiodic structures with statistically isotropic $k$ space for the engineering of enhanced light-matter interactions and localization properties.
Age Estimation of Bloodstained Fingermarks

Bloodstains and fingermarks discovered at crime scenes can provide crucial information to an investigation. A DNA profile can be obtained from a bloodstain and can be used to link someone to a crime scene, corroborating or disputing a witnesses’ statement. Besides DNA evidence, fingermark analysis is another common method that is also used to identify an individual. However, analysis of neither bloodstains nor fingermarks is able to answer a key question for investigators: how much time has passed since the criminal event occurred? Determining the time since deposition (TSD) of bloodstained fingermarks could be important for crime scene investigators. If crime scenes contain multiple sets of bloodstains, TSD determined for individual bloodstains should allow for selecting bloodstains relevant to the crime and as such reduce the number of samples which are collected and processed. Despite the extensive research conducted over the last century, there is still no definitive answer on how to determine the TSD of blood. This chapter summarizes the work that has been done thus far to tackle this momentous issue. However, there are still hurdles that must be overcome before methods for estimating TSD of bloodstained fingermarks become accepted by the judiciary in the court system.
Offline Preference-Based Apprenticeship Learning.

We study how an offline dataset of prior (possibly random) experience can be used to address two challenges that autonomous systems face when they endeavor to learn from, adapt to, and collaborate with humans : (1) identifying the human's intent and (2) safely optimizing the autonomous system's behavior to achieve this inferred intent. First, we use the offline dataset to efficiently infer the human's reward function via pool-based active preference learning. Second, given this learned reward function, we perform offline reinforcement learning to optimize a policy based on the inferred human intent. Crucially, our proposed approach does not require actual physical rollouts or an accurate simulator for either the reward learning or policy optimization steps, enabling both safe and efficient apprenticeship learning. We identify and evaluate our approach on a subset of existing offline RL benchmarks that are well suited for offline reward learning and also evaluate extensions of these benchmarks which allow more open-ended behaviors. Our experiments show that offline preference-based reward learning followed by offline reinforcement learning enables efficient and high-performing policies, while only requiring small numbers of preference queries. Videos available at this https URL.
Medical Therapies for Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder that manifests with abdominal pain and diarrheal bowel patterns, without structural explanation. Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome is a heterogeneous condition resulting from diverse pathophysiologic processes. Treatment strategies with varied mechanisms of action are beneficial in its management. The clinician must become familiar with a multi-dimensional approach to irritable bowel syndrome. The 3 approved medications are central to disease management. Effective treatment uses off-label medications and emerging therapies and a growing number of over-the-counter and supplemental agents to optimize symptom improvement for the patient with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
#PowerInNumbers: How Digital Libraries Use Collaborative Social Media Campaigns to Promote Collections

Social media provides ample opportunity for digital libraries to work together to promote their online collections to users. Despite this, institutions rarely connect on social networking platforms...