cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of 3-Dimensional Volumetric Modeling of Adrenal Gland Size in Patients with Primary Pigmented Nodular Adrenocortical Disease.

Primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD) is a rare type of bilateral adrenal hyperplasia leading to hypercortisolemia. Adrenal nodularity is often appreciable with computed tomography (CT); however, accurate radiologic characterization of adrenal size in PPNAD has not been studied well. We used 3-dimensional (3D) volumetric analysis to characterize and compare adrenal size in PPNAD patients, with and without Cushing's syndrome (CS). Patients diagnosed with PPNAD and their family members with known mutations in PRKAR1A were screened. CT scans were used to create 3D models of each adrenal. Criteria for biochemical diagnosis of CS included loss of diurnal variation and/or elevated midnight cortisol levels, and paradoxical increase in urinary free cortisol and/or urinary 17-hydroxysteroids after dexamethasone administration. Forty-five patients with PPNAD (24 females, 27.8±17.6 years) and 8 controls (19±3 years) were evaluated. 3D volumetric modeling of adrenal glands was performed in all. Thirty-eight patients out of 45 (84.4%) had CS. Their mean adrenal volume was 8.1 cc±4.1, 7.2 cc±4.5 (p=0.643) for non-CS, and 8.0cc±1.6 for controls. Mean values were corrected for body surface area; 4.7 cc/kg/m(2)±2.2 for CS, and 3.9 cc/kg/m(2)±1.3 for non-CS (p=0.189). Adrenal volume and midnight cortisol in both groups was positively correlated, r=0.35, p=0.03. We conclude that adrenal volume measured by 3D CT in patients with PPNAD and CS was similar to those without CS, confirming empirical CT imaging-based observations. However, the association between adrenal volume and midnight cortisol levels may be used as a marker of who among patients with PPNAD may develop CS, something that routine CT cannot do.
Ultrafast (1 μs) Mixing and Fast Protein Folding in Nanodrops Monitored by Mass Spectrometry.

The use of theta-glass emitters and mass spectrometry to monitor reactions that occur as fast as one μs is demonstrated. Acidified aqueous solutions containing unfolded proteins are mixed with aqueous ammonium acetate solutions to increase the solution pH and induce protein folding during nanoelectrospray ionization. Protein charge-state distributions show the extent to which folding occurs, and reaction times are obtained from known protein folding time constants. Shorter reaction times are obtained by decreasing the solution flow rate, and reaction times between 1.0 and 22 μs are obtained using flow rates between 48 and 2880 pL/s, respectively. Remarkably similar reaction times are obtained for three different proteins (Trp-cage, myoglobin, and cytochrome c) with folding time constants that differ by more than an order of magnitude (4.1, 7, and 57 μs, respectively), indicating that the reaction times obtained using rapid mixing from theta-glass emitters are independent of protein identity. A folding tim...
Perceptions of Research Assistants on How Their Research Participants View Informed Consent and Its Documentation in Africa

This paper discusses the issue of informed consent from an African perspective with a particular emphasis on the problems posed by the documentation of consent in the African socio-cultural environ...
Charge Transport in Poly(3-butylthiophene) Nanowires and Their Nanocomposites with an Insulating Polymer

Self-assembled crystalline nanowires (NWs) of poly(3-butylthiophene) (P3BT), having an average width of 11.8 nm and aspect ratios of ∼330–850, and their nanocomposites with insulating polystyrene (PS) were found to have a high field-effect mobility of holes and a high dc conductivity. The intra-nanowire carrier mobility in the P3BT-NW/PS nanocomposites can be as high as 0.2 cm2 V–1 s–1, which is significantly enhanced compared to films of pure P3BT NWs. Nanocomposites of P3BT NWs with polystyrene were found to support high carrier densities (1017–1018 cm–3) with high mobility of holes, facilitating the development of high performance field-effect transistors. The observed high carrier mobility and high conductivity in the nanocomposites were explained by the rather low percolation threshold (0.5 wt % P3BT NWs).
An Algorithm for Building an Electronic Database.

Objective: We propose an algorithm on how to create a prospectively maintained database, which can then be used to analyze prospective data in a retrospective fashion. Our algorithm provides future researchers a road map on how to set up, maintain, and use an electronic database to improve evidence-based care and future clinical outcomes. Methods: The database was created using Microsoft Access and included demographic information, socioeconomic information, and intraoperative and postoperative details via standardized drop-down menus. A printed out form from the Microsoft Access template was given to each surgeon to be completed after each case and a member of the health care team then entered the case information into the database. Results: By utilizing straightforward, HIPAA-compliant data input fields, we permitted data collection and transcription to be easy and efficient. Collecting a wide variety of data allowed us the freedom to evolve our clinical interests, while the platform also permitted new categories to be added at will. Conclusion: We have proposed a reproducible method for institutions to create a database, which will then allow senior and junior surgeons to analyze their outcomes and compare them with others in an effort to improve patient care and outcomes. This is a cost-efficient way to create and maintain a database without additional software.
Unattended Sensor System With CLYC Detectors

We have developed an unattended sensor for detecting anomalous radiation sources. The system combines several technologies to reduce size and weight, increase battery lifetime, and improve decision-making capabilities. Sixteen Cs2LiYCl6:Ce (CLYC) scintillators allow for gamma-ray spectroscopy and neutron detection in the same volume. Low-power electronics for readout, high voltage bias, and digital processing reduce the total operating power to 1.7 W. Computationally efficient analysis algorithms perform spectral anomaly detection and isotope identification. When an alarm occurs, the system transmits alarm information over a cellular modem. In this paper, we describe the overall design of the unattended sensor, present characterization results, and compare the performance to stock NaI:Tl and 3He detectors.
Propeller Wake Sheet Roll-up Modeling in Three Dimensions

An algorithm for predicting the complete three-dimensional vortex sheet roll-up is developed. A higher order panel method, which combines a hyperboloidal panel geometry with a bi-quadratic dipole distribution, is used in order to accurately model the highly rolled-up regions. For given radial circulation distributions, the predicted wake shapes are shown to be convergent and consistent with those predicted from other methods. Then, a previously developed flow-adapted grid and the three-dimensional wake sheet roll-up algorithm are combined in order to estimate the propeller loading/trailing wake interaction. The complete wake geometry is determined by the method without the need of any experimental information on the shape of the wake. Predicted forces and tip vortex trajectories are shown to agree well with those measured in experiments.
Maori Waiata (Music): Re-Writing and Re-Righting the Indigenous Experience

This article examines the role of music in Maori culture and the ways music works to create meaning for Maori people. The article also provides an overview of Maori history and its context within New Zealand.
Improving Quality and Safety Through Use of Secondary Data: Methods Case Study:

Researchers need to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of data sets to choose a secondary data set to use for a health care study. This research method review informs the reader of the major issues necessary for investigators to consider while incorporating secondary data into their repertoire of potential research designs and shows the range of approaches the investigators may take to answer nursing research questions in a variety of context areas. The researcher requires expertise in locating and judging data sets and in the development of complex data management skills for managing large numbers of records. There are important considerations such as firm knowledge of the research question supported by the conceptual framework and the selection of appropriate databases, which guide the researcher in delineating the unit of analysis. Other more complex issues for researchers to consider when conducting secondary data research methods include data access, management and security, and complex variable construction.
Building low-power trustworthy systems: Cyber-security considerations for Real-Time Physiological Status Monitoring

Real-time monitoring of physiological data can reduce the likelihood of injury in noncombat military personnel and first-responders. MIT Lincoln Laboratory is developing a tactical Real-Time Physiological Status Monitoring (RT-PSM) system architecture and reference implementation named OBAN (Open Body Area Network), the purpose of which is to provide an open, government-owned framework for integrating multiple wearable sensors and applications. The OBAN implementation accepts data from various sensors enabling calculation of physiological strain information which may be used by squad leaders or medics to assess the team's health and enhance safety and effectiveness of mission execution. Security in terms of measurement integrity, confidentiality, and authenticity is an area of interest because OBAN system components exchange sensitive data in contested environments. In this paper, we analyze potential cyber-security threats and their associated risks to a generalized version of the OBAN architecture and identify directions for future research. The threat analysis is intended to inform the development of secure RT-PSM architectures and implementations.
A Modest Proposal towards Modernizing the Tamil Writing System

This paper proposes a new system of diacritics for the Tamil language. The idea is simple: introduce a set of diacritic marks which would allow for Tamil to have all the consonants that Devanagari has. This could be used, for instance, to write the names of Yoga poses and the names of medicines.
Obstetrician/Gynecologists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Weight Gain During Pregnancy.

Abstract Objective: Assess obstetrician–gynecologists' knowledge and counseling practices regarding gestational weight gain (GWG). Materials and Methods: Questionnaire studies were conducted in 2012 and 2014 sent to practicing obstetrician–gynecologists. Results: Response rates were 111/236 (47%) and 206/474 (43.5%). The majority of respondents agreed (50.0%) or strongly agreed (26.6%) that excessive GWG is a major health concern, often or always calculate the body mass index (BMI) of their patients (79.1%), and use BMI to modify their weight gain recommendations (78.5%). The physicians reported that, on average, 7.8% of pregnant patients gained too little weight, 47.3% gained an appropriate amount, and 45.1% gained too much. A greater proportion of patients with private insurance was associated with physician perception of fewer gaining excessive weight (r = −0.205, n = 198, p = 0.004), whereas high proportions with Medicaid or uninsured were positively correlated with a perception of excessive GWG (r = ...
Soil Moisture Uptake by Green Ash Trees After Transplanting

Abstract Forty-five Summit green ash trees (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. ‘Summit’) were planted on a compacted clay soil site. Unamended soil, amended soil, and friable topsoil were used as backfill, in combination with holes slightly larger than the root ball, twice, and 3 times the diameter of the root ball. Soil moisture tension (SMT) was monitored in the root ball, in the backfill, and outside of the planting hole. Soil moisture tension reached at least −50 KPa within the root ball in as little as two days. Improved backfill soil and large planting holes resulted in earlier significant uptake of soil moisture outside of the root ball compared to nearby soil where roots were excluded. SMT inside the root ball were significantly more negative than the surrounding soil for all treatments until twenty weeks after transplanting. At 68 weeks after transplanting, differences in SMT between the root ball, the backfill, and the soil outside the planting hole became insignificant for all treatments. Soil moist...
Five-Membered Ring Systems: Pyrroles and Benzo Analogs

Abstract The synthesis and reactions of pyrroles, indoles, isoindoles, and related fused heterocyclic ring systems from the year 2011 are reviewed in this monograph. Pyrroles and indoles are treated in separate sections; ring forming reactions are discussed by bond disconnection. Other sections include reactivity of the parent rings, reactions of side chains, C–H activation, and examples in total synthesis.
Examining military medical evacuation dispatching policies utilizing a Markov decision process model of a controlled queueing system

Military medical planners must develop dispatching policies that dictate how aerial medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) units are utilized during major combat operations. The objective of this research is to determine how to optimally dispatch MEDEVAC units in response to 9-line MEDEVAC requests to maximize MEDEVAC system performance. A discounted, infinite horizon Markov decision process (MDP) model is developed to examine the MEDEVAC dispatching problem. The MDP model allows the dispatching authority to accept, reject, or queue incoming requests based on a request’s classification (i.e., zone and precedence level) and the state of the MEDEVAC system. A representative planning scenario based on contingency operations in southern Afghanistan is utilized to investigate the differences between the optimal dispatching policy and three practitioner-friendly myopic policies. Two computational experiments are conducted to examine the impact of selected MEDEVAC problem features on the optimal policy and the system performance measure. Several excursions are examined to identify how the 9-line MEDEVAC request arrival rate and the MEDEVAC flight speeds impact the optimal dispatching policy. Results indicate that dispatching MEDEVAC units considering the precedence level of requests and the locations of busy MEDEVAC units increases the performance of the MEDEVAC system. These results inform the development and implementation of MEDEVAC tactics, techniques, and procedures by military medical planners. Moreover, an analysis of solution approaches for the MEDEVAC dispatching problem reveals that the policy iteration algorithm substantially outperforms the linear programming algorithms executed by CPLEX 12.6 with regard to computational effort. This result supports the claim that policy iteration remains the superlative solution algorithm for exactly solving computationally tractable Markov decision problems.
Interactions between water vapor and potential vorticity in synoptic-scale monsoonal disturbances: Moisture vortex instability

AbstractSouth Asian monsoon low pressure systems, referred to as synoptic-scale monsoonal disturbances (SMDs), are convectively-coupled cyclonic disturbances that are responsible for up to half of the total monsoon rainfall. In spite of their importance, the mechanisms that lead to the growth of these systems have remained elusive. It has long been thought that SMDs grow due to a variant of baroclinic instability that includes the effects of convection. Recent work, however, has shown that this framework is inconsistent with the observed structure and dynamics of SMDs.Here we present an alternative framework that may explain the growth of SMDs and may also be applicable to other modes of tropical variability. Moisture is prognostic and is coupled to precipitation through a simplified Betts-Miller scheme. Interactions between moisture and potential vorticity (PV ) in the presence of a moist static energy gradient can be understood in terms of a “gross” PV (qG) equation. qG summarizes the dynamics of SMDs a...
Gluon: a communication-optimizing substrate for distributed heterogeneous graph analytics

This paper introduces a new approach to building distributed-memory graph analytics systems that exploits heterogeneity in processor types (CPU and GPU), partitioning policies, and programming models. The key to this approach is Gluon, a communication-optimizing substrate. Programmers write applications in a shared-memory programming system of their choice and interface these applications with Gluon using a lightweight API. Gluon enables these programs to run on heterogeneous clusters and optimizes communication in a novel way by exploiting structural and temporal invariants of graph partitioning policies. To demonstrate Gluon’s ability to support different programming models, we interfaced Gluon with the Galois and Ligra shared-memory graph analytics systems to produce distributed-memory versions of these systems named D-Galois and D-Ligra, respectively. To demonstrate Gluon’s ability to support heterogeneous processors, we interfaced Gluon with IrGL, a state-of-the-art single-GPU system for graph analytics, to produce D-IrGL, the first multi-GPU distributed-memory graph analytics system. Our experiments were done on CPU clusters with up to 256 hosts and roughly 70,000 threads and on multi-GPU clusters with up to 64 GPUs. The communication optimizations in Gluon improve end-to-end application execution time by ∼2.6× on the average. D-Galois and D-IrGL scale well and are faster than Gemini, the state-of-the-art distributed CPU graph analytics system, by factors of ∼3.9× and ∼4.9×, respectively, on the average.
A multi-type multi-occurrence hazard lifecycle cost analysis framework for infrastructure management decision making

Abstract Infrastructure systems, especially in hazard-prone regions, may face multiple occurrences of multiple types of hazards during their lifetime. The type and intensity of the hazards and impacts on systems can vary from one event to another. An important factor that has yet to be properly addressed in natural hazard loss estimation models is the impact of damage induced by various types of prior events on the increased vulnerability of systems against various types of potential future hazards. This paper presents a new hazard lifecycle cost analysis framework that addresses this gap and accounts for effects of incomplete repairs of damage conditions induced by prior natural hazards on the future hazard performance of systems. Considering that the space of scenarios for multi-hazard occurrences and the impacts over the lifetime of infrastructure systems is significantly large, a recursive algorithm is proposed to efficiently determine the lifecycle cost of the system. This framework is applied to a realistic bridge exposed to flood and earthquake hazards to determine the optimal retrofit plan that reduces the overall lifecycle cost of the bridge. Results show the significance of considering different damage types induced by multiple types of hazards and repair time variations for lifecycle cost analysis of infrastructure systems.
Due Diligence in International Tax Law

The concept of due diligence has been primarily developed in the state context (e.g., investor protection, environmental law), where it has been stated that “[t]he obligation to take preventative measures is one of due diligence, not an absolute guarantee against the occurrence of harm.” In international finance law, the concept is applied to private actors, especially financial institutions. The concept was first developed in the prevention of money laundering (covered elsewhere in this book) but then applied to prevention of tax evasion. In that context, since it would put an unreasonable burden on financial institutions to completely prevent tax evasion, all that is required is due diligence. This chapter describes how the due diligence standard was developed in international tax law before 2008, and then how the standard was greatly modified after the financial crisis, the enactment of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2010 (FATCA), and the subsequent development of the Common Reporting Standards (CRS).
Pulse Duration in the Echolocation of Insects by the Bat, Pteronotus

The pulse durations of the orientation sounds of the bat, Pteronotus, are progressively shortened during the pursuit of a fruit-fly. If the position of the bat is calculated for each pulse, the echo from the fly is found to overlap the pulse by about 1.5 msec, in the approach phase, and by about 1.0 msec, in the terminal phase of each pursuit. Such pulse-echo overlaps has not previously been demonstrated in bats.
Mechanisms of Nutrient Action on Brain Function

It has long been known that inadequate nutrition during pregnancy and early development can have profound effects on the subsequent maturation of the brain and other tissues. For example, chronic consumption of foodstuffs that lack sufficient nutrient quality (i.e., diets that are inadequate in proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, or minerals) or energy density (i.e., calories) may produce permanent structural changes in the fetal and early postnatal growth and development of the brain (Winick and Noble, 1966; Winick and Rosso, 1969; Shoemaker and Bloom, 1977; Nowak and Munro, 1977). The structural changes seen in the brains of animals and humans exposed to inadequate nutrition early in life include reductions in the size and weight of the brain, decreased numbers of neurons and glial cells, retardations in the development of dendritic and axonal neuronal processes, alterations in the morphology of synapses, and reductions in nerve-cell packing density in various regions of the brain (Shoemaker and Bloom, 1977).
OOP: the rest of the story

The object-oriented paradigm has influenced software development for decades now and has found its place in the mainstream of CS curricula. Its facility for improving program organization is well known and today's programmers are expected to readily employ its features when they apply. Few programmers, and even fewer CS curricula, however, are cognizant of some of OOP's more powerful aspects. Polymorphism, for example, does not only apply to one class hierarchy, hence multimethods are part of the OOP repertoire. Software designers should also understand how method pre-and-post conditions interact with inheritance, since class interfaces constitute a contract with client programs. Finally, it is important to understand that the features of object-oriented programming do not explicitly require statically defined classes. In this paper we explore multimethods, contract programming, and implementing objects without an explicit class type, with examples in popular, modern programming languages.
Immunotherapy and molecular role of T-cell in PD-1 antibody treated resectable lung cancer patients

In the tumor microenvironment, overexpression of check point molecules, such as program death ligand-1 (PDL1) functions as a protector against the immune surveillance by T-cell through the interaction with program death-1 (PD1) receptor (1). It has been found that PD1 overexpressed on a variety of tumor-killing immune cells, such as monocytes, macrophages, cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, and dendritic cells has an active role in hijacking the antitumor immune response (2).
Assessing Trends in Functional and Structural Characteristics: A Survey of Statistical Methods With an Example From Ophthalmology

Purpose Clinical decisions on treatment are usually based on short-term records of consecutive measurements of structure and function. Useful models for analyzing average trends and a description of statistical methods for classifying individual subjects on the basis of subject-specific trend progressions are presented. Methods Random effects trend models allow intercepts and slopes of the trend regression to vary across subjects around group-specific mean intercepts and mean slopes. Model results assess whether average intercepts and slopes and subject variability in intercepts and slopes are the same across groups. Fisher's discriminant functions are used for classification. Results Methods are presented and illustrated on structural visual data from a multiyear perimetry study. Average thickness of the ganglion cell layer from the optical coherence tomography macula scan and of the retinal nerve fiber layer from the optic disc scan for both glaucoma patients on optimal treatment and normal subjects are analyzed. The random effects trend model shows that average intercepts of glaucoma patients and normal subjects are quite different, but that average slopes are the same, and that the subject variability in both intercepts and slopes is larger for the glaucoma group. These findings explain why the subject-specific trend progression is not a good classifier; it is the level of the measurement (intercept or baseline value) that carries useful information in this particular cohort example. Translational relevance Clinicians base decisions on short-term records of consecutive measurements and need simple statistical tools to analyze the information. This paper discusses useful methods for analyzing short time series data. Model results assess whether there exist significant trends and whether average trends are different across groups. The paper discusses whether clinical measures classify patients reliably into disease groups, given their variability. With ever more available data, classification plays a central role of personalized medicine.
Key issues for Li-ion battery recycling

Concerted efforts by stakeholders could overcome the hurdles and enable a viable recycling system for automotive LIBs by the time many of them go out of service. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) were commercialized in the early 1990s and gained popularity first in consumer electronics, then more recently for electric vehicle (EV) propulsion, because of their high energy and power density and long cycle life. Their rapid adoption brings with it the challenge of end-of-life waste management. There are strong arguments for LIB recycling from environmental sustainability, economic, and political perspectives. Recycling reduces material going into landfills and avoids the impacts of virgin material production. LIBs contain high-value materials like cobalt and nickel, so recycling can reduce material and disposal costs, leading to reduced EV costs. Battery recycling can also reduce material demand and dependence on foreign resources, such as cobalt from Democratic Republic of the Congo, where much production relies on armed aggression and child labor. Several companies are finding ways to commercialize recycling of the increasingly diverse LIB waste stream. Although Pb-acid battery recycling has been successfully implemented, there are many reasons why recycling of LIBs is not yet a universally well-established practice. Some of these are technical constraints, and others involve economic barriers, logistic issues, and regulatory gaps. This paper first builds a case as to why LIBs should be recycled, next compares recycling processes, and then addresses the different factors affecting LIB recycling to direct future work towards overcoming the barriers so that recycling can become standard practice.
Predicting Recidivism Among Defendants in an Expedited Domestic Violence Court

Specialized domestic violence courts are presumed to be more effective than general case processing in understanding and addressing the unique issues associated with this crime type, which should lead to reduced recidivism among offenders. Research, however, is less clear about whether and how domestic violence courts reduce recidivism. This study analyzes data from a misdemeanor, expedited domestic violence court in southeast Texas to assess whether defendant characteristics and court processing characteristics influence recidivism among offenders processed through the specialty docket. Results indicate that case processing time was a significant predictor of rearrest for domestic violence. Offenders who had a prior domestic violence arrest were twice as likely to have a subsequent domestic violence arrest. Offenders who received a jail sentence were significantly more likely to have a subsequent domestic violence arrest. Policy implications and future research needs are also discussed.
Chemical Imaging in Vivo: Photoacoustic-Based 4-Dimensional Chemical Analysis

We describe how 4-dimensional in vivo biochemical analysis can be performed using photoacoustic contrast nanoagents that have been designed to probe both structural and chemical information in vivo, enabling noninvasive, real time, spatially resolved chemical imaging. Early chemical imaging of a patient’s tumor can inform the decision of effective treatment, regarding choices of chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy.
Asthma Management Responsibility, Control, and Quality of Life Among Emerging Adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To examine how asthma control is related to the association between the division of responsibility for asthma management and asthma-related quality of life among early adolescents. METHODS Forty-nine youth aged 10-15 years (Mage = 12.25, 57.1% female) with a physician-verified asthma diagnosis completed the Standardized Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) and Asthma Control Test (ACT). Youth and their caregivers also completed the Asthma Responsibility Questionnaire (ARQ). Higher ACT scores indicate better asthma control. RESULTS There was a significant difference in ARQ scores between youth and caregivers (p < .001, d = .94). Youth reported sharing equal responsibility for asthma management with caregivers, while caregivers reported having more responsibility relative to youth. Greater youth-reported ARQ (p = .004) and greater ACT scores (p < .001) were associated with higher PAQLQ scores. ACT scores moderated the effect of youth-reported ARQ on PAQLQ scores (p = .043). For youth with lower ACT scores, higher youth-reported responsibility was associated with higher PAQLQ scores; while for youth with higher ACT scores, PAQLQ scores were high regardless of perceived responsibility. The interaction between caregiver ARQ scores and ACT scores was not significant. CONCLUSION This study suggests youth and caregivers report discrepant ARQ for asthma management tasks. Responsibility and level of asthma control are important factors for PAQLQ, with results indicating that fostering responsibility is an important factor, even among youth with poorly controlled asthma. Findings suggest that healthcare providers should assess family responsibility and help caregivers support adolescents in developing asthma management skills.
On the Valuation of Venture Capital Securities

Venture capitalists typically receive preferred stock when they invest. This preferred stock comes in many flavors and can include many different features. The resulting securities can be modeled as a portfolio of options with unknown expiration dates, with these expiration dates possibly correlated to underlying firm value. These securities can provide a significant premium to plain common stock, but past solutions for this premium are either unwieldy or require unrealistic assumptions. In this paper, we derive closed-form solutions for the value of VC securities using a flexible functional form that allows for a wide variety of realistic assumptions for the key parameter values. We then take this solution to the data and estimate the expected premium above common stock for typical VC securities. We find that this premium can be substantial, with estimates between 20 percent and 60 percent for the most common types of transactions.
Overlapping volumes, acousto-optic modulated diffuse correlation spectroscopy for increased depth sensitivity (Conference Presentation)

Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) is an established diffuse optical technique that uses the analysis of temporal speckle intensity fluctuations to measure blood flow in tissue. As a non-invasive technique, DCS has been used to monitor patient cerebral blood flow at the bedside. Though an effective measurement tool, extra-cerebral contamination of the DCS signal limits the sensitivity to changes in brain blood flow. In order to overcome this depth sensitivity challenge, we present a method, overlapping volumes, acousto-optic modulated DCS (AOM-DCS), to improve sensitivity to deeper tissue structures.
Simultaneous, multiplex quantification of protease activities using a gold microelectrode array.

Proteases are a large family of enzymes involved in many important biological processes. Quantitative detection of the activity profile of specific target proteases is in high demand for the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases such as cancers. This study demonstrates the fabrication and characterization of an individually addressable 3 × 3 Au microelectrode array for rapid, multiplex detection of cathepsin B activity based on a simple electrochemical method. The nine individual microelectrodes in the array show highly consistent cyclic voltammetric signals in Au surface cleaning experiments and detecting benchmark redox species in solution. The individual Au microelectrodes are further selectively functionalized with specific ferrocene-labeled peptide molecules which serve as the cognate substrates for the target proteases. Consistent proteolytic kinetics are measured by monitoring the decay of the AC voltammetry signal from the ferrocene label as the peptide molecules are cleaved by cathepsin B. Accurate activity of cathepsin B is derived with an improved fitting algorithm. Simultaneous detection of the proteolysis of cathepsin B on the microelectrode array functionalized with three different hexapeptides is demonstrated, showing the potential of this sensor platform for rapid detection of the activity profiles of multiple proteases in various diseases including many forms of cancer.
The mitochondrial hypothesis: Dysfunction, bioenergetic defects, and the metabolic link to Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) features mitochondrial dysfunction and altered metabolism. Other pathologies could drive these changes, or alternatively these changes could drive other pathologies. In considering this question, it is worth noting that perturbed AD patient mitochondrial and metabolism dysfunction extend beyond the brain and to some extent define a systemic phenotype. It is difficult to attribute this systemic phenotype to brain beta-amyloid or tau proteins. Conversely, mitochondria increasingly appear to play a critical role in cell proteostasis, which suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction may promote protein aggregation. Mitochondrial and metabolism-related characteristics also define AD endophenotypes in cognitively normal middle-aged individuals, which suggests that mitochondrial and metabolism-related AD characteristics precede clinical decline. Genetic analyses increasingly implicate mitochondria and metabolism-relevant genes in AD risk. Collectively these factors suggest that mitochondria are more relevant to the causes of AD than its consequences, and support the view that a mitochondrial cascade features prominently in AD. This chapter reviews the case for mitochondrial and metabolism dysfunction in AD and the challenges of proving that a primary mitochondrial cascade is pertinent to the disease.
Compassionate Horror or Compassion Fatigue? Responses to Human-Cost-of-War Photographs

Despite the insistence of photojournalists that war images have the potential for stirring concern, little academic research has looked specifically at the relationship between conflict photos and empathy, compassion, and engagement. This study used focus group interviews to investigate what type of visual frames in war photos might evoke empathy and compassion while encouraging engagement. More specifically, this study examined whether participants made meaning differently out of photos with three types of human-cost-of-war visual frames and a militarism frame in terms of empathic and compassionate responses and their intentions of future engagement with war coverage.
Sending retirees to the frontlines

Facing an unprecedented surge of patient volumes and acuity, institutions around the globe called for volunteer healthcare workers to aid in the effort against COVID-19. Specifically being sought o...
Automatic joint damage quantification using computer vision and deep learning.

Joint raveled or spalled damage (henceforth called joint damage) can affect the safety and long-term performance of concrete pavements. It is important to assess and quantify the joint damage over time to assist in building action plans for maintenance, predicting maintenance costs, and maximize the concrete pavement service life. A framework for the accurate, autonomous, and rapid quantification of joint damage with a low-cost camera is proposed using a computer vision technique with a deep learning (DL) algorithm. The DL model is employed to train 263 images of sawcuts with joint damage. The trained DL model is used for pixel-wise color-masking joint damage in a series of query 2D images, which are used to reconstruct a 3D image using open-source structure from motion algorithm. Another damage quantification algorithm using a color threshold is applied to detect and compute the surface area of the damage in the 3D reconstructed image. The effectiveness of the framework was validated through inspecting joint damage at four transverse contraction joints in Illinois, USA, including three acceptable joints and one unacceptable joint by visual inspection. The results show the framework achieves 76% recall and 10% error.
Treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia With Recombinant Alpha2 Interferon

Nine patients with progressive hairy cell leukemia were treated with subcutaneous injections of recombinant alpha2 interferon (2 to 10 × 106 U/m2) three times weekly. Eight patients completed at least eight weeks of treatment and were evaluable; one patient with refractory thrombocytopenia died of an intracerebral hemorrhage after two doses of interferon. Seven of eight patients responded, with responses occurring as early as two weeks. Four patients also had resolution of their monocytopenia. No complete responses were seen with up to 30 weeks of treatment. Bone marrow biopsies demonstrated improvement in all eight patients. No unforeseen toxicity occurred, but most patients had transient myelosuppression during the first few weeks of treatment. Recombinant alpha2 interferon is effective in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia, with acceptable toxicity.
COBRA: A Framework for Evaluating Compositions of Hardware Branch Predictors

We present COBRA, a framework which enables a realistic hardware-guided methodology for evaluating compositions of hardware branch predictors. COBRA provides a common interface for developing RTL implementations of predictor subcomponents, as well as a predictor composer that automatically generates hardware predictor pipelines from sub-components based on a high-level topological model of a desired algorithm. We demonstrate how COBRA aids in the design and evaluation of diverse predictor architectures and how our hardware-centric approach captures concerns in predictor characterization that are not exposed in software-based algorithm development. Using COBRA, we generate three superscalar pipelined branch predictors with diverse architectures, synthesize them to run at 1 GHz on a commercial FinFET process, integrate them with the open-source BOOM out-of-order core, and evaluate their end-to-end performance on workloads over trillions of cycles. The COBRA generator system has been open-sourced as part of the SonicBOOM out-of-order core.
Using the Rank Equity Index to measure emergency medicine faculty rank progression

Background Faculty diversity is a high-priority goal for academic emergency medicine (EM). Most administrators currently monitor faculty diversity using aggregate data, which may obscure underrepresentation by rank. We apply the Rank Equity Index (REI) to EM faculty data to assess rank progression. Methods We calculated the REI (% faculty cohort higher rank/% faculty cohort lower rank) for EM faculty. We performed REI analyses by faculty gender (women, men) and race/ethnicity (White, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian). We compared professor/assistant professor, professor/associate professor, and associate professor/assistant professor to establish rank parity for gender and race/ethnicity. Parity is an REI of 1.0. Results REI analysis by gender demonstrates that women faculty did not achieve parity at any rank comparison in any study year. REI analysis by race/ethnicity demonstrates that all faculty of color are below parity at the assistant to associate professor promotion. Latinx faculty are at parity for associate professor to professor, but Asian and Black faculty do not achieve parity in any comparison. Intersecting gender and race/ethnicity in the REI analysis demonstrates that Asian women have the lowest REIs among all faculty ranks and races/ethnicities. Men of all races/ethnicities achieved parity in two of three rank comparisons, except for Black men, who did not achieve parity in any comparison. Conclusions REI analysis demonstrates EM women faculty and faculty of color are not achieving rank parity and are disadvantaged at the first tier of promotion. A preliminary longitudinal trend analysis suggests little progress. Asian women and Black men experience the most rank inequity. REI analysis identifies a need for focused faculty development to enhance our most vulnerable faculty's rank progression, suggesting that targeted recruitment and retention efforts of women faculty of all races/ethnicities and faculty of color, in particular, will improve diversity at every tier of faculty rank.
Crisis in a lockdown

Robert P Crease describes how news of a radiation leak at a US neutron facility was handled in today's online, networked and locked-down world
Contact-timing and Trajectory Optimization for 3D Jumping on Quadruped Robots.

Performing highly agile acrobatic motions with a long flight phase requires perfect timing, high accuracy, and coordination of the whole body motion. To address these challenges, this paper presents a unified timing and trajectory optimization framework for legged robots performing aggressive 3D jumping. In our approach, we firstly utilize an effective optimization framework using simplified rigid body dynamics to solve for contact timings and a reference trajectory of the robot body. The solution of this module is then used to formulate a whole-body trajectory optimization based on the full nonlinear dynamics of the robot. This combination allows us to effectively optimize for contact timings while guaranteeing the accuracy of the jumping trajectory that can be realized in the hardware. We validate the efficiency of the proposed framework on the A1 robot model for various 3D jumping tasks such as double-backflips and double barrel roll off the high altitude of 2m and 0.8m respectively. Experimental validation was also successfully conducted for different 3D jumping motions such as barrel roll from a box or diagonal jumps.
Nudges versus subsidies: Experimental evidence on the demand for a nutritious food in India

Abstract Among mothers in Bihar, India, we launched a marketing campaign of a fortified food product for children. All mothers were offered the product at varying prices, while half of the mothers were randomly assigned to receive a low-cost nudge which reframes information from a nutrition behavioral change program. Among mothers who received the program, the nudge increased demand, reducing price elasticity by 18%. We find no effect of the nudge among mothers who had not completed the program. The impact of the nudge on demand was larger at higher prices and was as high as the impact of a 26% price reduction. We do not find differential impacts of the nudge by female empowerment, child health, or quality of child diets.
Proton-Scattering on (29)Si in Range Ep = 2.5-3.4 MeV*

Elastic and inelastic proton scattering measurements on "Si have been obtained in the energy range E = 2.5-3.4 MeV. 30 elastic and 32 inelastic resonances were observed. 14 prominent resonances from elastic scattering were analyzed. Results of the analysis for proton orbital momenta, spin and parity assignments, and proton partial widths are given. The inelastic resonance strengths measured relative to the known strength of the 1302-keV resonance in "Si(p,y)' P are also reported.
Thermospheric variations as an indicator of magnetic storm heating and circulation

In situ measurements of the neutral constituent densities and temperature were made at 200 km by the open source mass spectrometer on the AE-D satellite during a rapid onset of the magnetic activity that occurred in January 1976. At high latitudes a 340 K temperature increase was accompanied by an increase in N2 and O2 concentrations, a decrease in He concentration, and a variable response in O concentration. At low latitudes, the rise in temperature was smaller, however; all constituent densities increased. It is concluded that the observed variations are consistent with heating and upward winds at high latitudes, meridional flow towards lower latitudes and subsidence near the equator.
Dynamics of high-frequency CMOS dividers

Frequency dividers are an essential part of broadband communications IC's. They are often the most difficult part of a circuit designed to operate at very high frequencies, especially in CMOS. In order to optimize the circuit for high frequency performance, it is necessary to understand the dynamics of the dividers. This paper presents an analysis of the dynamics of high frequency CMOS dividers and sets some guidelines for circuit design.
ACUTE INFANTILE GAUCHER'S DISEASE

The present clinical conference takes up the case of a 5½-month-old boy who was admitted to the hospital because of irritability and failure to gain weight. His irritability progressed to definite neurologic signs, and marked enlargement of the spleen developed, together with some hepatomegaly. Bone marrow aspiration revealed abnormal cells, showing an eccentric nucleus and wavy, fibrillar cytoplasm, with an appearance consistent with Gaucher cells. A progressively downhill course ensued, characterized by opisthotonus and respiratory difficulties, and the child died at age 7 months. A discussion of numerous aspects of Gaucher9s disease is presented, including biochemical and genetic considerations. The problems encountered in genetic counseling of parents who have children with this disease are brought out. Since Gaucher9s disease as a syndrome exhibits a heterogenous pattern of inheritance, the dangers inherent in giving parents oversimplified genetic data are emphasized. If the parents ebect to have no further children of their own and instead wish to adopt children, certain implications which this course of action may raise are discussed. An experiment is described wherein spleen tissue obtained from two patients with Gaucher9s disease was analyzed for cerebroside content. Most of the cerebroside found in both spleens was the abnormal glucose form, whereas in normal human tissue the galactose cerebroside predominates. Studies are being made in this laboratory of the incorporation of carbon-14 labelled glucose and galactose using microsomal fractions of spleens from patients with Gaucher9s disease. On the basis of preliminary data, it is postulated that the site of the biochemical error in most patients with the disease is at the conversion of the glucocerebroside to the galactocerebroside. It is believed that a defect in a UDP-galactose-4-epimerase-like mechanism at this site would cause the accumulation of the "abnormal" glucose cerebroside. Figure 5 indicates graphically the location of this suggested metabolic block.
Domestic violence and child protection: Directions for good practice

Domestic violence creates a complex situation whereby the vulnerability of women as victims of violence compromises further the safety of children with whom they live. This book explores how the pr...