cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SMALL SCALE MODELING OF ICEBERG TRANSPORT

The transport of a large iceberg from Antarctica to an arid region is a major undertaking beset with many uncertainties. Identifying a suitable iceberg, insulating it, harnessing it, providing the power to transport it perhaps 5,000 miles through the open seas and across the tropics, mooring it at the destination and extracting the water from it are all challenging engineering problems for which solutions are without precedent. Perhaps the most complex and challenging problem is that of the actual transport. The magnitude of forces required, the possibility of fractures and fragmentation developing to cause the iceberg to roll in transit, the losses en route through melting, and possible insulation are all aspects for which answers must be obtained. One approach to solutions is to study the behavior of small scale models under the correct conditions in which significant parameters may be varied to optimize the solution, and to identify critical conditions. This paper presents the rational design of iceberg models for predicting necessary forces, hydrodynamic stability, and melting losses for icebergs of various configurations towed along selected routes. The analysis shows that the use of such small scale models can provide practical predictions for full scale design.
Capturing Invisible Motions in the Transition from Ground to Rare Excited States of T4 Lysozyme L99A

Proteins commonly sample a number of conformational states to carry out their biological function, often requiring transitions from the ground state to higher-energy states. Characterizing the mechanisms that guide these transitions at the atomic level promises to impact our understanding of functional protein dynamics and energy landscapes. The leucine-99-to-alanine (L99A) mutant of T4 lysozyme is a model system that has an experimentally well characterized excited sparsely populated state as well as a ground state. Despite the exhaustive study of L99A protein dynamics, the conformational changes that permit transitioning to the experimentally detected excited state (∼3%, ΔG ∼2 kcal/mol) remain unclear. Here, we describe the transitions from the ground state to this sparsely populated excited state of L99A as observed through a single molecular dynamics (MD) trajectory on the Anton supercomputer. Aside from detailing the ground-to-excited-state transition, the trajectory samples multiple metastates and an intermediate state en route to the excited state. Dynamic motions between these states enable cavity surface openings large enough to admit benzene on timescales congruent with known rates for benzene binding. Thus, these fluctuations between rare protein states provide an atomic description of the concerted motions that illuminate potential path(s) for ligand binding. These results reveal, to our knowledge, a new level of complexity in the dynamics of buried cavities and their role in creating mobile defects that affect protein dynamics and ligand binding.
Calcium and Free Radicals: Mediators of neurotrophic factor and excitatory transmitter-regulated developmental plasticity and cell death.

Abstract An intricate interplay between neurotrophic factor and excitatory transmitter signaling systems exists in both the developing and adult brain. Interactions between these signaling systems appears to be a fundamental mechanism regulating adaptive neuritic pruning and cell death. Accordingly, genetically and environmentally induced imbalances in this regulatory system are implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of acute (such as stroke and traumatic brain injury) and chronic (such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases) neurodegenerative disorders. Neurons exhibit both acute and delayed responses to neurotrophic factors and excitatory transmitters; acute responses include rapid structural remodeling of growth cones and synaptic contacts, and delayed responses include induction or suppression of the expression of gene products involved in neuroprotection. Intracellular free Ca2+ and free radicals appear to play key roles as mediators of both acute and delayed responses of neurons to excitatory transmitters and neurotrophic factors. For example, the delayed response to bFGF includes stabilization of Ca2+ homeostasis and induction of antioxidant enzymes; both of these actions of bFGF antagonize the dendrite outgrowth-stabilizing and excitotoxic actions of glutamate. Intricate regulatory interactions exist between glutamate and neurotrophic factor signaling systems so that glutamate can induce the expression of neurotrophic factors and their receptors, and neurotrophic factors modulate the expression of exitatory transmitter receptors. A novel signaling system that can interact with both glutamate and neurotrophic factor systems is that of the beta-amyloid precursor protein, which appears to play important roles in neuronal plasticity and survival. A working model for the regulation of neuronal survival and connectivity is presented, which considers spatial and temporal constraints on release of, and receptors for, neurotrophic factors and excitatory transmitters.
OP0199 Immune Responses To Prevotella copri in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background Recently, Scher et al. showed that Prevotella copri , an intestinal microbe, was over-expanded in stool samples from patients with new-onset RA (NORA). However, it has been unclear whether over-expansion of P. copri is simply a marker for dysbiosis in the bowel, or whether the organism itself actually has a pathogenic role in RA. Objectives To determine whether P. copri may have a pathogenic role in RA, we investigated whether patients had T and/or B cell responses to the organism and looked for P. copri DNA in synovial fluid (SF). Methods To identify immunogenic proteins of P. copri , we identified microbial HLA-DR-presented peptides (T cell epitopes) in patients9 synovial tissue, SF or peripheral blood (PB), using tandem mass spectrometry. The identified peptides were synthesized and tested for T cell reactivity with the matching patient9s PBMC by IFN-g ELISpot assay. Immunoreactive peptides or source proteins were then tested for T and B cell responses using cells and sera from our cohort of DMARD-naive NORA patients, chronic RA (CRA) patients, and controls. All RA patients met the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria for RA. Available serum and SF samples were analyzed for the presence of 16S rDNA of P. copri by nested PCR. Results From the HLA-DR-presented peptides isolated from the PB of one RA patient (HLA-DRB1*0401/0101), we identified an immunogenic T cell epitope derived from bacterial signal sequence of a 27-kDa protein of P. copri ( Pc -p27), implying that this organism or components of it were present in this patient9s circulating phagocytic cells. When testing was done in additional patients, 24 of 40 (60%) NORA patients had T cell reactivity with epitopes of Pc -p27 compared with none of 10 patients with Lyme arthritis (P=0.0007) and none of 15 healthy control subjects (P Pc -p27; 8 of 78 NORA patients (10%) and 6 of 49 CRA patients had IgA antibodies to this protein. Only 2 patients had both IgG and IgA antibody responses. Overall, 31 of 127 NORA or CRA patients (24%) had IgG or IgA antibody responses to P. copri , whereas low-level antibody responses to the organism were found in only 2 of 131 patients with Lyme arthritis, spondylarthropathy or lupus (P P. copri 16S rDNA in 3 of 5 RA patients with IgG antibody responses to P. copri , but in none of 13 patients with IgA P. copri antibodies or no response to the organism (P=0.01). Conclusions A subgroup of RA patients had P. copri -specific IgA or IgG antibody responses early or late in the disease, whereas patients with other types of arthritis rarely did, implying specificity of these responses in RA. IgA responses may occur because of interactions between host and immune cells in the gut mucosa, whereas IgG responses may be a sign of systemic spread of the organism to joints. These observations suggest that P. copri is more than a bystander in gut dysbiosis, and implies that the organism itself may have a pathogenic role in RA patients, creating a new paradigm to consider in RA pathogenesis. References Scher J. U. et al, Elife 2013 Disclosure of Interest None declared
Strain-Specific Propagation by an Amyloid-Beta Dodecamer

Soluble oligomers of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide have emerged as the primary neurotoxic agents in Alzheimer disease (AD). Increasing evidence implicates aggregates of Aβ to propagate towards fibrils in a strain-specific manner. Morphological differences observed within fibrils are known to arise due to micro-structural differences among the smaller aggregates that form the fibril building blocks. Furthermore, polymorphic fibrils correlate with the clinically observed phenotypes in AD pathology, cementing the idea that conformational strains of oligomers may have significance in phenotypic outcomes. Given the existing diversity among Aβ oligomers, it becomes imperative to determine the ability of various oligomeric strains to faithfully propagate their structure. However, dearth in a molecular understanding of Aβ oligomers has confounded the insights into such a mechanism. We have previously established that a distinct dodecamer of Aβ42, called large fatty acid-derived oligomers (LFAOs), are formed as an off-pathway species under interfacial conditions. Here we demonstrate that at high concentrations, LFAOs seed Aβ towards fibrils containing distinct morphological features different from those generated in the absence of the seed. More importantly, the fibril structure seems to contain units of parent LFAO seeds, indicating a biophysically faithful propagation of the seed. The observations reported here may have profound significance in deciphering the emerging roles of Aβ oligomer phenotypes in prion-like propagation and dissemination of toxicity in AD.
Sustainability and Spread

The sustainability and spread of quality improvement and/or patient safety innovations is often elusive, presenting continuous challenges to clinicians and healthcare leaders. Somewhere between 33 and 70% of all innovations are reportedly not sustained, and even fewer are spread beyond the original team, or to other units within an institution. In plain language, sustainability is defined as locking in progress, while continually building upon that foundation, while spread is the exchange of knowledge and experience on targeted work practices to achieve expected results. The literature supports the concept that sustainability is both multi-dimensional and multi-factorial and has several characteristics and pre-conditions. Two case studies are presented: one addressing the prevention of central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) and the other dealing with recognition and treatment of febrile neutropenia (FN). Two key quality improvement tools, which assisted with the quality improvement efforts as well as the ultimate success of sustainability and spread, were the key driver diagrams and cascading responsibility charts. We recommend considering the characteristics and pre-conditions of sustainability and spread in advance of a quality improvement process rather than at the conclusion of the initial initiative.
Agroecology Scaling Up for Food Sovereignty and Resiliency

The Green Revolution not only failed to ensure safe and abundant food production for all people, but it was launched under the assumptions that abundant water and cheap energy to fuel modern agriculture would always be available and that climate would be stable and not change. In some of the major grain production areas the rate of increase in cereal yields is declining as actual crop yields approach a ceiling for maximal yield potential. Due to lack of ecological regulation mechanisms, monocultures are heavily dependent on pesticides. In the past 50 years the use of pesticides has increased dramatically worldwide and now amounts to some 2.6 million tons of pesticides per year with an annual value in the global market of more than US$ 25 billion. Today there are about one billion hungry people in the planet, but hunger is caused by poverty and inequality, not scarcity due to lack of production. The world already produces enough food to feed nine to ten billion people, the population peak expected by 2050. There is no doubt that humanity needs an alternative agricultural development paradigm, one that encourages more ecologically, biodiverse, resilient, sustainable and socially just forms of agriculture. The basis for such new systems are the myriad of ecologically based agricultural styles developed by at least 75% of the 1.5 billion smallholders, family farmers and indigenous people on 350 million small farms which account for no less than 50% of the global agricultural output for domestic consumption.
Volumetric modulated arc therapy treatment planning of thoracic vertebral metastases using stereotactic body radiotherapy.

Purpose/objectives To retrospectively evaluate the plan quality, treatment efficiency, and accuracy of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans for thoracic spine metastases using stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Materials/methods Seven patients with thoracic vertebral metastases treated with noncoplanar hybrid arcs (NCHA) (1 to 2 3D-conformal partial arcs +7 to 9 IMRT beams) were re-optimized with VMAT plans using three coplanar arcs. Tumors were located between T2 and T7 and PTVs ranged between 24.3 and 240.1 cc (median 48.1 cc). All prescriptions were 30 Gy in 5 fractions with 6 MV beams treated using the Novalis Tx linac equipped with high definition multileaf collimators (HDMLC). MR images were fused with planning CTs for target and OAR contouring. Plans were compared for target coverage using conformality index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), D90, D98, D2, and Dmedian. Normal tissue sparing was evaluated by comparing doses to the spinal cord (Dmax, D0.35, and D1.2 cc), esophagus (Dmax and D5 cc), heart (Dmax, D15 cc), and lung (V5 and V10). Data analysis was performed with a two-sided t-test for each set of parameters. Dose delivery efficiency and accuracy of each VMAT plan was assessed via quality assurance (QA) using a MapCHECK device. The Beam-on time (BOT) was recorded, and a gamma index was used to compare dose agreement between the planned and measured doses. Results VMAT plans resulted in improved CI (1.02 vs. 1.36, P = 0.05), HI (0.14 vs. 0.27, P = 0.01), D98 (28.4 vs. 26.8 Gy, P = 0.03), D2 (32.9 vs. 36.0 Gy, P = 0.02), and Dmedian (31.4 vs. 33.7 Gy, P = 0.01). D90 was improved but not statistically significant (30.4 vs. 31.0 Gy, P = 0.38). VMAT plans showed statistically significant improvements in normal tissue sparing: Esophagus Dmax (22.5 vs. 27.0 Gy, P = 0.03), Esophagus 5 cc (17.6 vs. 21.5 Gy, P = 0.02), and Heart Dmax (13.1 vs. 15.8 Gy, P = 0.03). Improvements were also observed in spinal cord and lung sparing as well but were not statistically significant. The BOT showed significant reduction for VMAT, 4.7 ± 0.6 min vs. 7.1 ± 1 min for NCHA (not accounting for couch kicks). VMAT plans demonstrated an accurate dose delivery of 95.5 ± 1.0% for clinical gamma passing rate of 3%/3 mm criteria, which was similar to NCHA plans. Conclusions VMAT plans have shown improved dose distributions and normal tissue sparing compared to NCHA plans. Significant reductions in treatment time could potentially minimize patient discomfort and intrafraction movement errors. VMAT planning for SBRT is an attractive option for the treatment of metastases to thoracic vertebrae, and further investigation using alternative fractionation schedules is warranted.
No “Blank Canvas”: Public Art and Gentrification in Houston's Third Ward

Public art and urban renewal have become integral to reconstructing urban landscapes. In this essay we assess how these two spatial practices converge and diverge in the historically and predominately Black community of the Third Ward in Houston, Texas. The essay examines the work of MF Problem and the Black Guys, two Black artist collectives based in the Third Ward. We argue that their public performances critically engage the spatial processes of gentrification and ghettoization in their neighborhood. Furthermore, these performances indicate a unique spatial imaginary held by Black artists that privileges the use value associated with long-term residents’ views of public and private space over the potential exchange value rooted in urban renewal projects.
Say yes to “Sunday Dinner” and no to “Nyam and Scram”: Family mealtimes, nutrition, and emotional health among adolescents and mothers in Jamaica

Abstract We explore the quantity (frequency) and quality (priority, atmosphere, structure) of family mealtimes and associations with nutritional and emotional health in Jamaica. Urban adolescents (N = 330, M = 13.8 years, SD = 1.8, 64% girls) and their mothers (M = 41.4 years, SD = 7.8) completed questionnaires. On average, mothers reported having family meals 3–4 times/week and mealtime quality, but not quantity, was associated with health. Correlations revealed that mothers ate more unhealthily if they watched more TV during meals, and actor-partner independence modeling showed that high SES adolescents ate more unhealthily if their mothers had more difficulty finding time for family meals (and vice versa: partner interaction). Additionally, adolescents and mothers were more psychologically distressed if they themselves had more difficulty finding time for family meals, if they had less positive attitudes/behaviors around mealtime atmosphere (actor effects), or if they were high SES individuals placing lower importance on mealtimes (actor interaction). Overall, however many weekly meals Jamaican families are able to share together, what's important is to make those mealtimes count as quality time. Leisurely family meals with enjoyable conversation uninterrupted by television, such as the age-old Jamaican tradition of “Sunday Dinner”, may nourish both body and soul.
Brief Group Psychotherapy

This modality differs from group psychotherapy primarily in the length of time a patient spends in the group. Brief group psychotherapy has value for specially designed groups with varied purposes and make-up. A review of the literature suggests that brief group psychotherapy has value for inpatient adolescents, and, on an outpatient basis, for individuals or parents of children with chronic diseases.
Humanised monoclonal antibodies neutralise pertussis toxin by receptor blockade and reduced retrograde trafficking.

Pertussis toxin (PTx) is a major protective antigen produced by Bordetella pertussis that is included in all current acellular vaccines. Of several well-characterized monoclonal antibodies binding this toxin, the humanised hu1B7 and hu11E6 antibodies are highly protective in multiple in vitro and in vivo assays. In this study, we determine the molecular mechanisms of protection mediated by these antibodies. Neither antibody directly binds the B. pertussis bacterium nor supports antibody-dependent complement cytotoxicity. Both antibodies, either individually or as a cocktail, form multivalent complexes with soluble PTx that bind the FcγRIIb receptor more tightly than antibody alone, suggesting that the antibodies may accelerate PTx clearance via immune complex formation. However, a receptor binding assay and cellular imaging indicate that the main mechanism used by hu11E6 is competitive inhibition of PTx binding to its cellular receptor. In contrast, the main hu1B7 neutralising mechanism appears to be inhibition of PTx internalisation and retrograde trafficking. We assessed the effects of hu1B7 on PTx retrograde trafficking in CHO-K1 cells using quantitative immunofluorescence microscopy. In the absence of hu1B7 or after incubation with an isotype control antibody, PTx colocalizes to organelles in a manner consistent with retrograde transport. However, after preincubation with hu1B7, PTx appears restricted to the membrane surface with colocalization to organelles associated with retrograde transport significantly reduced. Together, these data support a model whereby hu11E6 and hu1B7 interfere with PTx receptor binding and PTx retrograde trafficking, respectively.
Scaling up psychology via Scientific Regret Minimization

Do large datasets provide value to psychologists? Without a systematic methodology for working with such datasets, there is a valid concern that analyses will produce noise artifacts rather than true effects. In this paper, we offer a way to enable researchers to systematically build models and identify novel phenomena in large datasets. One traditional approach is to analyze the residuals of models—the biggest errors they make in predicting the data—to discover what might be missing from those models. However, once a dataset is sufficiently large, machine learning algorithms approximate the true underlying function better than the data, suggesting, instead, that the predictions of these data-driven models should be used to guide model building. We call this approach “Scientific Regret Minimization” (SRM), as it focuses on minimizing errors for cases that we know should have been predictable. We apply this exploratory method on a subset of the Moral Machine dataset, a public collection of roughly 40 million moral decisions. Using SRM, we find that incorporating a set of deontological principles that capture dimensions along which groups of agents can vary (e.g., sex and age) improves a computational model of human moral judgment. Furthermore, we are able to identify and independently validate three interesting moral phenomena: criminal dehumanization, age of responsibility, and asymmetric notions of responsibility.
Illinois Childcare Parentage Law (R)Evolution

U.S. state childcare parentage laws, that is, laws designating parents for custody, visitation, parental responsibility allocation, parental decisionmaking and/or support purposes, have evolved dramatically in the past half century. The (r)evolution is due to major changes in both reproductive technologies and human conduct. Yet the (r)evolution is incomplete. The (r)evolution is especially incomplete in Illinois. Recent statutory amendments in Illinois chiefly reflect the work of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) in its 2000 model Uniform Parentage Act, not its 2017 model Uniform Parentage Act (2017 UPA). The latter better addresses the effects on childcare parentage of the changes in both reproductive technologies and human conduct. As well, the latest Illinois statutes do not reflect the NCCUSL’s 2018 model Uniform Nonparent Child Custody and Visitation Act which also address the changes in the ways in which U.S. families are formed and reformed by expecting and existing legal parents. Finally, the 2019 draft of the American Law Institute (ALI) Restatement of the Law on Children and the Law has only recently been available to Illinois lawmakers. Any (r)evolution in Illinois childcare parentage laws should not be fully fueled by the NCCUSL or ALI pronouncements. While a few other states have substantially embraced the 2017 UPA, it embodies certain public policy choices over which lawmakers can quite reasonably differ. As well, the 2017 UPA presents significant constitutional challenges. Parentage law (r)evolution in Illinois is chiefly the responsibility of the General Assembly. When asked to develop broad childcare parentage norms, the Illinois Supreme Court unanimously deferred, finding the complex issues merit broad "policy debate" in the General Assembly. Illinois legislators will be challenged when contemplating new parentage laws. The laudable goals of promoting certainty, recognizing the import of blood ties, furthering childrens’ best interests, respecting family members’ wishes, protecting parental rights, and enhancing public welfare often cannot be simultaneously pursued. Yet the General Assembly must act. Neither Congress nor the U.S. Supreme Court is likely to demand soon more national uniformity on parentage. Thus, as with many other family law matters (like marriage dissolution, heirs in probate, and standing to sue in tort), lawmaking on childcare parentage will substantially remain for state lawmakers. This paper first briefly notes some recent significant changes in technology and human conduct impacting legal parentage. Then it examines the federal constitutional boundaries on U.S. state childcare parent laws. Next it explores the diverse array of models, statutes and precedents on childcare parentage now operating outside of Illinois. Then it looks at current Illinois parental childcare laws. Finally, the paper elaborates on some of the key questions facing Illinois legislators when considering new childcare parentage norms.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy and buprenorphine for opioid use disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Recent systematic reviews have questioned the ability of psychosocial intervention to add substantive benefit to buprenorphine therapy. Objectives: The purpose of the present meta-analysis was to test the random effects model (REM) null hypothesis that, for opioid use disorder (OUD) and opioid biological sample outcomes, the summary effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) + buprenorphine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) = 0. Methods: A systematic review was conducted searching electronic databases and the reference lists of included studies. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) criteria were used to guide this review and the REM meta-analysis. Results: The initial meta-analytic model (k = 4) was insignificant (REM Hedges' g =.22, Z = 1.27, p =.206, 95% CI: -0.12-0.56) and heterogeneous (I2 = 53.47). A pre-specified categorical moderator analysis explained the heterogeneity via CBT modality. Categorical moderator analysis (k = 4) showed non-individual CBT RCTs (k = 2) to have a REM Hedges' g summary effect of.598 (p =.006) and individual-CBT RCTs (k = 2) to have a REM Hedges' g summary effect of -0.010 (p = .936). The difference between these two subgroups was significant (Q = 5.85, df = 1, p = .016). Conclusion: The evidence cautiously suggests that for OUD, there may be some benefit to adding non-individual CBT to buprenorphine therapy.
Devotional Sovereignty: Kingship and Religion in India: by Caleb Simmons, New York, NY, Oxford University Press, 2020, xii + 277 pp., US$99.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-19-008889-7

One hears of constant turns in the humanities and social sciences from the cultural turn and linguistic turn to the more recent post-human turn and ontological turn. Such turns, as it goes, help sc...
Cross and multiple herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass (Poa annua) populations from eastern Texas golf courses

Background Annual bluegrass is a troublesome weed in managed turf systems. A survey was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of herbicide resistance in golf course populations of annual bluegrass in eastern Texas. Screenings were conducted for two photosystem II (PS II)-inhibitor herbicides [simazine preemergence (PRE), amicarbazone postemergence (POST)], two acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors (foramsulfuron POST, trifloxysulfuron POST) and one microtubule assembly inhibitor (pronamide PRE/POST). Results Ninety percent of the populations were found to be resistant to at least one of the tested herbicides. The TX15-14 population was >490-, 178-, 10-, 26-, 4.3- and 3.8-fold, and the TX15-27 population was >490-, 16-, 28-, 84-, 5.2- and 4.1-fold less sensitive to simazine, amicarbazone, foramsulfuron, trifloxysulfuron, pronamide POST and pronamide PRE, respectively, compared to the susceptible standard TX15-SUS. Populations resistant to pronamide POST were completely controlled by pronamide PRE at the label recommended rate. The ALS and psbA gene sequence analysis indicated the presence of target site mutations (Ser-264-Gly in the psbA gene of TX15-14 and Trp-574-Leu in the ALS gene of TX15-27). However, given the absence of any target-site mutation in the ALS gene of TX15-14, the psbA gene of TX15-27 and α-tubulin of both populations, nontarget site mechanisms of resistance are suspected. Conclusion This is the first case of multiple herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass populations to three herbicide modes of action. Results show the widespread occurrence of multiple herbicide resistance in golf course annual bluegrass populations in eastern Texas and emphasize the need for the development and implementation of effective resistance management practices. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, and Potassium Bitartrate (Phexxi) Vaginal Gel for Contraception.

Given its high cost, mediocre contraceptive protection, and rate of adverse effects, Phexxi may be preferred only by people desiring to avoid hormonal contraception who wish to use on-demand contraception that they control, or for whom other contraceptive options are not suited or desired.
Reimagining GIS Instruction through Concept-Based Learning

Abstract. Research in geographic information science has not yet found clear answers to the questions of what geographic information is about or what a geographic information system (GIS) contains. This lack of consensus makes it especially challenging to teach and learn GIS. Existing pedagogical approaches either focus on the representational level of data (e.g., “raster and vector”) or are too generic (e.g., “geo-referenced information”). This characterization of GIS and its content is difficult for learners to transfer and apply broadly. As instructors, we approach the challenge of teaching GIS from a conceptual basis. We describe our process to develop a set of core concepts of spatial information, which we use to redesign an undergraduate-level introductory GIS course. Our intervention focuses instruction on the kinds of questions that geographic information enables before training students to produce workflows and answers through system commands. The course redesign complements and informs ongoing research on core concepts of spatial information. Our results demonstrate that GIS courses can deliver more than software training, indicating both theoretical gains and didactic challenges.
Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) in Treating Non-ventilated COVID-19 Patients with Moderate to Severe Hypoxia is Pharmacoeconomically Favorable When Appropriately Targeted

BackgroundPrior studies have shown that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) can improve outcomes in patients with COVID-19, but the high costs of IVIG leave questions as to its pharmacoeconomic value. MethodsThe hospital costs of 2 IVIG vs. non-IVIG COVID-19 patient groups were compared. The first cohort was a case-control analysis of 10 non-ventilated moderately to severely hypoxic COVID-19 patients who received IVIG (Privigen) matched 1:2 with 20 control patients of similar age, body mass index (BMI), degree of hypoxemia, and co-morbidities. The second cohort consisted of patients enrolled in a previously published randomized open-label prospective study of 14 COVID-19 patients receiving standard of care (SOC) versus 13 patients who received SOC plus IVIG (Octagam 10%). ResultsAmong the first case control population, mean total direct costs including IVIG for the treatment group was $21,982 per IVIG-treated case versus $42,431 per case for matched non-IVIG receiving controls, representing a net cost reduction of $20,449 (48%) per case. For the second (randomized) group, mean total direct costs including IVIG for the treatment group was $28,268 per case versus $62,707 per case for untreated controls, representing a net cost reduction of $34,439 (55%) per case. 24% of the non-IVIG patients had hospital costs exceeded $80,000, as compared to none of the IVIG patient host (p=0.016, Fisher exact test). ConclusionWhen allocated to the appropriate patient type (moderate to severe illness without end-organ comorbidities and age <70 years), IVIG can significantly reduce hospital costs in COVID-19 care. More importantly, it may reduce the demand on scare critical care resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Industrial control system device classification using network traffic features and neural network embeddings

Abstract Characterization of modern cyber–physical Industrial Control System (ICS) devices is critical to the evaluation of their security posture and an understanding of the underlying industrial processes with which they interact. In this work, we address two related ICS device identification tasks: (1) separating ICS from non-ICS devices and (2) identifying specific ICS device types. We propose two distinct methods (one based on the existing IP2Vec method, and a novel traffic-features-based method) for achieving the first task. For transferability of the first task between two datasets, the traffic-features-based method performs significantly better (75% overall accuracy) compared to IP2Vec (22.5% overall accuracy). We further propose a novel method called DNP2Vec to address the second task. DNP2Vec is evaluated on two different datasets and achieves perfect multi-class classification accuracy (100%) for both datasets.
Parametric morphological filters for pattern restoration

Summary form only given. A theoretical study of parametric morphological filters that best preserve the crucial topological structure of an input binary image from its noisy version is reported. The topological structure of the input binary image is given, and an arbitrary restoration filter is considered. A collection C of necessary and sufficient conditions for this filter to guarantee the restoration of a binary image from its noisy version, such that the input and restored images have identical topological structure, is derived. It is proved that each of the constraints in C generates a morphological filter. The approach used is to obtain a parametric filter that simultaneously satisfies as many of the constraints in C as possible. >
CAPACITY, CAPACITY, CAPACITY: THE CHALLENGE OF URBAN POLICY IN THE AGE OF OBAMA

The Act establishing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 1965 articulated a broad mission for the new cabinet-level department: The Congress hereby declares that the gener...
Stem cell models for functional validation of prostate cancer genes

Prostate cancer is a genomically complex disease in which initiation, progression, and metastasis are regulated by numerous molecular processes including oncogene activation or tumor suppressor inactivation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive prostate tumorigenesis has important clinical implications. Putative oncogenes or tumor suppressors are identified using technologies including SNP arrays, microarrays, and whole genome sequencing, but these targets must then be evaluated in cell and animal models to determine the functional consequences of these genomic alterations. Traditionally, potential prostate cancer genes have been validated with human prostate cancer cell line models (i.e., tissue culture and xenograft systems) or genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models. More recently, stem cell models have been utilized to evaluate candidate cancer genes. Because the normal adult prostate stem cell (PSC) shares many properties with the prostate tumor-initiating cell (TIC) including the capabilities for self-renewal, differentiation, and androgen independence, modeling gene alterations in PSCs may be more appropriate than traditional approaches. PSCs can be maintained in cell culture, genetically manipulated, and characterized using techniques including cell sorting, colony formation assays, and prostasphere assays in vitro and tissue recombination in vivo. A number of prostatic oncogenes and tumor suppressors including MYC, ERG, PTEN, P53, NKX3.1, and TAK1 have been evaluated using stem cell models. Compound genetic alterations have also been studied using PSC models. In this chapter we describe current approaches being used to investigate putative oncogenes and tumor suppressors in the context of the PSC and highlight a few examples of recent studies using stem cell models for target validation. We also discuss the limitations of existing models as well as strategies to improve upon these models for future studies.
Condition Monitoring of Crankcase Oils Using Computer Aided Infrared Spectroscopy

Infrared spectroscopy is one of the most fundamental tools of analysis available, and it has the ability to provide most, if not all, of the data required from a used lubricant. In the past successful, yet superficial, application of the technique has been made for condition monitoring of oils during service. The full potential of the application, however, has been limited by the inability to access the total information content of the infrared spectrum. Modern computer-assisted instrumentation now provides the sensitivity and the means to extract the data. This paper describes the technique and illustrates how it can be applied to the analysis of used lubricants.
Data product configuration management and versioning in large-scale production of satellite scientific data

This paper describes a formal structure for keeping track of files, source code, scripts, and related material for large-scale Earth science data production. We first describe the environment and processes that govern this configuration management problem. Then, we show that a graph with typed nodes and arcs can describe the derivation of production design and of the produced files and their metadata. The graph provides three useful by-products: • a hierarchical data file inventory structure that can help system users find particular files, • methods for creating production graphs that govern job scheduling and provenance graphs that track all of the sources and transformations between raw data input and a particular output file, •a systematic relationship between different elements of the structure and development documentation.
Evolution of Autonomous Self-Righting Behaviors for Articulated Nanorovers

Miniature rovers with articulated mobility mechanisms are being developed for planetary surface exploration on Mars and small solar system bodies. These vehicles are designed to be capable of autonomous recovery from overturning during surface operations. This paper describes a computational means of developing motion behaviors that achieve the autonomous recovery function. It proposes a control software design approach aimed at reducing the effort involved in developing self-righting behaviors. The approach is based on the integration of evolutionary computing with a dynamics simulation environment for evolving and evaluating motion behaviors. The automated behavior design approach is outlined and its underlying genetic programming infrastructure is described.
Purely endoscopic endonasal surgery of the craniovertebral junction: A systematic review.

Background Endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) is a relatively novel approach to the craniovertebral junction (CVJ). The purpose of this analysis is to determine the surgical outcomes of patients who undergo purely EES of the CVJ. Methods A search for articles related to EES of the CVJ was performed using the MEDLINE/PubMed database. A bibliographic search was done for additional articles. Demographics, presenting symptoms, imaging findings, complications, follow-up, and patient outcomes were analyzed. Results Eighty-five patients from 30 articles were included. The mean patient age was 47.9 ± 24.8 years (range, 3 to 96 years), with 44.7% being male. The most common presenting symptom was myelopathy (n = 64, 75.3%). The most common indications for surgery were brainstem compression secondary to basilar invagination (n = 41, 48.2%) and odontoid pannus (n = 20, 23.5%). Odontoidectomy was performed in 97.6% of cases. Intraoperative complications occurred in 16 patients (18.8%) and postoperative complications occurred in 18 patients (21.2%). Six patients developed postoperative respiratory failure necessitating a tracheostomy. Neurologic improvement was seen in 89.4% of patients at a mean follow-up of 22.2 months. Conclusion Our analysis found that EES of the CVJ results in a high rate of neurologic improvement with acceptable complication rates. Given its minimally invasive nature and high success rate, this approach appears to be a reasonable alternative to the traditional transoral approach in select cases. This study represents the largest pooled sample size of EES of the CVJ to date. Increasing use of the endoscopic endonasal approach will allow for further studies with greater statistical power.
Capability for suicide interacts with states of heightened arousal to predict death by suicide beyond the effects of depression and hopelessness

Background States of heightened arousal (e.g., agitation, sleep disturbance) have been repeatedly linked to suicidal thoughts and behaviors, including attempts and death. Studies have further indicated that these states may be particularly pernicious among individuals who evidence high suicidal capability. The objective of this study was to examine the interactive effects of heightened arousal and the capability for suicide in the prospective prediction of death by suicide. We examine this relation beyond the effects of robust predictors of suicide, namely depression and hopelessness.
Conflicting guidelines/consensus recommendations: what should the clinician do?

Journal of Clinical Anesthesia - In Press.Proof corrected by the author Available online since samedi 11 janvier 2014
A little bit of lavender goes a long way: A critique of research on sexual orientation 1

Despite the suspected large numbers of bisexually oriented people, there has been almost no research on bisexuality. More important, the research on homosexuality is thoroughly confounded by the inclusion of large numbers of bisexuals as homosexuals, making that research difficult to interpret. The few studies of bisexuals that have been done are reviewed in this paper. Comparisons show that bisexuals often significantly differ from homosexuals and heterosexuals. Therefore, the practice of combining bisexuals with homosexuals in studies of homosexuals should be discontinued. Comparison studies of bisexuals, heterosexuals, and homosexuals are recommended.
Relationships between motor-unit number estimates and isometric strength in distal muscles in ALS/MND.

Abstract Measurement of progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease (ALS/MND) is useful for charting the natural history and assessing efficacy in drug trials. Common measures are maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) which mainly focuses on proximal muscles, and electrophysiologic measures of the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and motor-unit number estimation (MUNE) which focus on distal muscles. We have undertaken a study to compare the relationships between MVIC, CMAP and MUNE recorded in intrinsic hand muscles of 10 subjects with ALS/MND. Grip and pinch (between the first and fifth digits) MVIC were recorded. The CMAP and MUNE (determined by the multipoint stimulation technique) were recorded from thenar and hypothenar muscle groups. To facilitate comparisons between strength and electrophysiologic measures, the MUNE values and the CMAP values from the thenar and hypothenar muscle groups were each summed. Test-retest correlations were high for all measures ( r = 0.75–0.99). Pinch and grip MVIC were highly correlated ( r = 0.83). However, MVIC measures showed weaker correlations with summed MUNE values (pinch r = 0.56, grip r = 0.64) and summed CMAP values (pinch r = 0.58 and grip r = 0.65). The weak correlations between MVIC and electrophysiologic measures are due to two factors. First, grip and pinch MVIC are correlated through co-activation of agonist muscle groups, for we recorded strong concomitant muscle activity from forearm flexor muscles during pinch. In contrast, CMAP and MUNE reflect measurement from isolated muscle groups in the hand. Second, MVIC and the CMAP are affected by collateral reinnervation and only indirectly assess motor-unit loss, while MUNE is uninfluenced by reinnervation and directly addresses the degree of motor-unit loss. These factors determine the information available from endpoint measures. We offer guidelines for choosing useful measures based upon the goals of a given study.
Previous exposure to VTA amphetamine enhances cocaine self-administration under a progressive ratio schedule in a D1 dopamine receptor dependent manner.

The effect of previous exposure to amphetamine (AMPH) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) on the subsequent self-administration of cocaine was assessed. Rats in different groups were pre-exposed to three injections into the VTA of either saline (0.5μl/side) or AMPH (2.5μg/0.5μl/side). Injections were given once every third day. Starting 7–10 days after the last pre-exposure injection, rats were trained to self-administer cocaine (0.3 mg/kg/infusion) under fixed ratio 1 and 2 (FR1 and FR2) schedules and then tested under a progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement for six consecutive days. No differences between groups were observed during self-administration training under the FR schedules of reinforcement. However, when tested under the PR schedule, VTA AMPH pre-exposed rats worked more and, as a result, obtained more infusions of cocaine than saline pre-exposed rats. Rats in a separate group pre-exposed to VTA AMPH but co-infused with the D1-like dopamine (DA) receptor antagonist SCH23390 (0.25 μg/0.5μl/side) did not show enhanced cocaine self-administration. These rats, as well as others pre-exposed to VTA SCH23390 alone showed levels of cocaine self-administration similar to saline pre-exposed rats. Thus, in a manner paralleling the sensitization of AMPH-induced locomotion and nucleus accumbens DA overflow, previous exposure to AMPH in the VTA leads to enhanced intravenous self-administration of cocaine and activation of D1 DA receptors in this site during pre-exposure is necessary for the production of this effect.
Electron beam stimulated oxidation of carbon

The patterning of carbon nanostructures by electron beam stimulated oxidation is described. Sputter deposited carbon thin films and carbon nanotubes are locally oxidized in a scanning electron microscope using injected water vapor. The resulting structures are examined with scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The electrical resistance obtained postprocessing is comparable to the as-deposited values. Linewidths are demonstrated down to 20 nm along with sub-2 nm nanowire fabrication in sputtered carbon films. A carbon nanowire is fabricated using this process and electrically characterized.
Retardation effects on high Rydberg states: A retarded R -5 polarization potential

The finiteness of the speed of light is known to change the long-range interaction of atomic systems. Stimulated by recent advances in precision measurements of high Rydberg states, we consider these "retardation effects," not on the interaction of two separate systems, but on the energy eigenvalues of the high Rydberg states of an isolated heliumlike ion, where the outer electron has quantum numbers $ngl\ensuremath{\gg}1$, and where the core---the nucleus and the inner electron---is in its (spherically symmetric) ground state. We analyze the time-ordered Feynman-like graphs that contain one or two instantaneous or transverse photons, and find a retardation correction, $\frac{11{e}^{2}\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{d}}{(4\ensuremath{\pi}\mathrm{mc}{R}^{2})}$ to the leading ($\ensuremath{-}\frac{{e}^{2}{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{d}}{2{R}^{4}}$) polarization potential; ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{d}$ is the static electric dipole polarizability of the ion core, and $R$ is the nuclear-outer-electron separation. The correction is also applicable to scattering problems, to high Rydberg states of atoms and ions with more than two electrons, and, with $m\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{m}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}$, to a muon bound to a nucleus. Very recently, Bernab\'eu and Tarrach used dispersion theory to obtain an identical term as the retardation correction for the interaction of a charged particle with a neutral polarizable system; their procedure is not applicable, as it stands, to the present situation.