cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interferometric synthetic aperture radar terrain elevation mapping from multiple observations

All prior interferometric SAR imaging experiments to date dealt with pairwise processing. Simultaneous image collections from two antenna systems or two-pass single antenna collections are processed as interferometric pairs to extract corresponding pixel by pixel phase differences which encode terrain elevation height. The phase differences are wrapped values which must be unwrapped and scaled to yield terrain height. We propose two major classes of techniques that hold promise for robust multibaseline (multiple pair) interferometric SAR terrain elevation mapping. The first builds on the capability of a recently published method for robust weighted and unweighted least-squares phase unwrapping, while the second attacks the problem directly in a maximum likelihood (ML) formulation. We will provide several examples (actual and simulated SAR imagery) that illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of each method. >
On a class of time-varying systems

A class of time-varying systems whose matrices satisfy a certain matrix Riccati equation is discussed. For this class, the state transition matrix can be found in closed form.
Link adaptation evaluation for WLAN using a voice quality metric

Link adaptation, the process of adapting a mobile user's link speed as channel conditions change, is investigated for IEEE 802.11a wireless local area networks (WLANs). An ideal algorithm using channel signal-to-noise ratio and a practical algorithm based on acknowledgement message (ACK) reception are discussed, and their performance is compared to cases without link adaptation. The analysis is performed by simulating a combination voice and data WLAN system, and voice call quality is judged using a unique quality metric. The metric contains two scores: a packet loss percentage and an estimate of the number of audible imperfections based on the pattern of packet loss. System capacity estimates result from applying the metric, and are used to compare the link adaptation schemes.
Identifying sets of key players in a social network

A procedure is described for finding sets of key players in a social network. A key assumption is that the optimal selection of key players depends on what they are needed for. Accordingly, two generic goals are articulated, called KPP-POS and KPP-NEG. KPP-POS is defined as the identification of key players for the purpose of optimally diffusing something through the network by using the key players as seeds. KPP-NEG is defined as the identification of key players for the purpose of disrupting or fragmenting the network by removing the key nodes. It is found that off-the-shelf centrality measures are not optimal for solving either generic problem, and therefore new measures are presented.
The mutant type 1 protein phosphatase encoded by glc7-1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae fails to interact productively with the GAC1-encoded regulatory subunit.

Abstract Loss-of-function gac1 mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fail to accumulate normal levels of glycogen because of low glycogen synthase activity. Increased dosage of GAC1 results in increased activity of glycogen synthase and a corresponding hyperaccumulation of glycogen. The glycogen accumulation phenotype of gac1 is similar to that of glc7-1, a type 1 protein phosphatase mutant. We have partially characterized the GAC1 gene product (Gac1p) and show that levels of Gac1p increase during growth with the same kinetics as glycogen accumulation. Gac1p is phosphorylated in vivo and is hyperphosphorylated in a glc7-1 mutant. Gac1p and the type 1 protein phosphatase directly interact in vitro, as assayed by coimmunoprecipitation, and in vivo, as determined by the dihybrid assay described elsewhere (S. Fields and O.-k. Song, Nature [London] 340:245-246, 1989). The interaction between Gac1p and the glc7-1-encoded form of the type 1 protein phosphatase is defective, as assayed by either immunoprecipitation or the dihybrid assay. Increased dosage of GAC1 partially suppresses the glycogen defect of glc7-1. Collectively, our data support the hypotheses that GAC1 encodes a regulatory subunit of type 1 protein phosphatase and that the glycogen accumulation defect of glc7-1 is due at least in part to the inability of the mutant phosphatase to interact with its regulatory subunit.
Temperature Adaptation at Homologous Sites in Proteins from Nine Thermophile–Mesophile Species Pairs

Whether particular amino acids are favored by selection at high temperatures over others has long been an open question in protein evolution. One way to approach this question is to compare homologous sites in proteins from one thermophile and a closely related mesophile; asymmetrical substitution patterns have been taken as evidence for selection favoring certain amino acids over others. However, most pairs of prokaryotic species that differ in optimum temperature also differ in genome-wide GC content, and amino acid content is known to be associated with GC content. Here, I compare homologous sites in nine thermophilic prokaryotes and their mesophilic relatives, all with complete published genome sequences. After adjusting for the effects of differing GC content with logistic regression, 139 of the 190 pairs of amino acids show significant substitutional asymmetry, evidence of widespread adaptive amino acid substitution. The patterns are fairly consistent across the nine pairs of species (after taking the effects of differing GC content into account), suggesting that much of the asymmetry results from adaptation to temperature. Some amino acids in some species pairs deviate from the overall pattern in ways indicating that adaptation to other environmental or physiological differences between the species may also play a role. The property that is best correlated with the patterns of substitutional asymmetry is transfer free energy, a measure of hydrophobicity, with more hydrophobic amino acids favored at higher temperatures. The correlation of asymmetry and hydrophobicity is fairly weak, suggesting that other properties may also be important.
Positive feedback in hierarchical connectionist models: Applications to language production

Recent connectionist models of the perception and production of words make use of positive feedback from later to earlier levels of processing. This paper focuses on production and identifies several specific effects of phoneme-tomorpheme feedback. In addition, I argue that there is support for the use of this kind of feedback in production from experimental and naturalistic studies of slips of the tongue.
Analysis of assessment using signals, systems concept inventory for systems courses

The Signals and Systems Concept Inventory (SSCI) is a set of multiple-choice questions that measures students' understanding of fundamental concepts in continuous-time (CT) and discrete-time (DT) signals and systems. In this paper, we discuss and analyze statistically the results of these assessment tests in our undergraduate courses. We use the results to assess the students' performance from year to year and determine evidence of learning outcomes. We offer useful suggestions for future offerings of the courses based on our findings. Some conclusions are made on whether we meet our assessment goals and on the efficacy of the SSCI CT Tests and the impact it has had on our pedagogy.
DISPLAR: an accurate method for predicting DNA-binding sites on protein surfaces

Structural and physical properties of DNA provide important constraints on the binding sites formed on surfaces of DNA-targeting proteins. Characteristics of such binding sites may form the basis for predicting DNA-binding sites from the structures of proteins alone. Such an approach has been successfully developed for predicting protein–protein interface. Here this approach is adapted for predicting DNA-binding sites. We used a representative set of 264 protein–DNA complexes from the Protein Data Bank to analyze characteristics and to train and test a neural network predictor of DNA-binding sites. The input to the predictor consisted of PSI-blast sequence profiles and solvent accessibilities of each surface residue and 14 of its closest neighboring residues. Predicted DNA-contacting residues cover 60% of actual DNA-contacting residues and have an accuracy of 76%. This method significantly outperforms previous attempts of DNA-binding site predictions. Its application to the prion protein yielded a DNA-binding site that is consistent with recent NMR chemical shift perturbation data, suggesting that it can complement experimental techniques in characterizing protein–DNA interfaces.
Informed consent and biobanks.

Biomedical research has always relied on access to human biological materials and clinical information, resources that when combined form biobanks. In the past, it appears that investigators sometimes used these resources with relatively little oversight, and without the consent of the individuals from whom these materials and information were obtained. Several developments in the last ten to fifteen years have converged to place greater emphasis on the role of individual consent in the creation and use of biobanks. The most important by far is the power of information technology, which has transformed our lives in almost every domain. In the research setting, it is now easy to abstract information from electronic medical records. Computers make it possible to analyze enormous datasets and have contributed in essential ways to the dramatic increases in our understanding of genomics and other areas of biomedical science.
Charge Pumping as a Monitor of off -State TDDB in Asymmetrically Stressed Transistors

Two parameters - the distribution of failure times and the voltage dependence of defect generation - define IC lifetime limited by time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB). While the physics of both parameters for uniformly stressed thin-gate dielectric are well known, we find that the corresponding parameters for asymmetric off-state TDDB are anomalous and cannot be understood by a simple application of the classical models. Here we report experimental and theoretical resolutions of the anomaly and show that, despite the complexity of the breakdown process, a simple charge-pumping measurement provides an unambiguous/effective/inexpensive monitor of the anomalous Weibull slopes and nontraditional voltage-acceleration factors for off-state TDDB.
Rainfall runoff modeling in agricultural watershed using 2D shallow water equations

A 2D numerical model based on shallow-water equations is used for rainfall-runoff modeling. The rainfall intensity and infiltration rate are added as source and sink terms in the continuity equation. The Green-Ampt method is used for calculation of the infiltration rate. The model considers the spatial variability of rainfall, infiltration parameters and the Manning’s friction coefficient. The GIS layers such as DEM, soil type, and land use can be directly used as input for the model. Spatio-temporal distribution of the rainfall over the watershed is determined based on rain gauge records. The model is applied to Goodwin Creek experimental watershed located in northern Mississippi. The model parameters are first calibrated using a single storm event. Using the calibrated parameters, the model is then applied to a serried of consecutive storm events. The comparison of computed and measured runoff discharge at the outlet of the watersheds shows good agreement. The results of this study indicate that this model can be used for modeling rainfall-runoff in large watersheds based on a historical or predicted rainfall distribution.
Bilateral Trade and Islamic Sects

This paper explores the effects of religion and Islamic sects on bilateral trade activities by employing an extended version of the gravity model. A stratified sample of 33 countries for the average period 1996-99 is selected. Although gravity models have been extensively used in the literature, to the best of our knowledge, they have neither been used to examine the impact of Islamic sects on bilateral trade nor to estimate religion within a model that incorporates oil-exporting countries, culture, regional trading arrangements, and political freedomessential control variables for the specification of the model. Findings reveal that Muslim majority countries trade less than their Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, or other counterparts. In addition, when disaggregating the Muslim sample into Sunni and Shia sects, results show that Sunni majority countries trade more than their Shiite counterparts. Other results and policy implications are discussed.
Databases and Genome Browsers

The advent of the human genome project and subsequent projects to sequence genomes of other species and multiple individuals has driven the need for tools that can visualize vast amounts of genomics data. Software for genome browsing has had a vast impact in the arenas of human medical and genetics research, enabling researchers to process and integrate different data types from a large variety of sources. Three major genome browsers are freely accessible online — the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) Genome Browser, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (WTSI)/European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) Ensembl browser and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) MapViewer. The UCSC Genome Browser is a key part of the UCSC Genome Bioinformatics suite of integrated tools that facilitate data mining, together with allowing users to visualize and query their own data in the context of the existing Genome Browser annotations. The chapter provides an overview of the types of annotation data displayed by the Genome Browser, as well as step-by-step examples illustrating how to create custom tracks and query both the Genome Browser and Table Browser. The Genome Browser offers links to several programs: BLAT for performing fast sequence alignment to genomes; the In Silico PCR tool for aligning primers to the genome, and liftOver for converting genomic coordinates from one assembly to another. Other tools in the suite include the Gene Sorter for sorting genes based on their relationships such as expression profiles and genomic proximity; the Proteome Browser, which shows protein-related information in graphical form and links out to external protein-related sites; and Genome Graphs, which allows the user to display genome-wide datasets such as those from SNP association studies, linkage studies and homozygosity mapping. The suite of UCSC Genome Bioinformatics tools, data downloads, extensive documentation and links to further training materials can be found at http://genome.ucsc.edu.
Structural and Electrical Properties of BaTio3 Thin Films Grown on p-Si Substrates with Different Device Designs

RF magnetron sputtering of BaTiO3 on (100) P-Si was performed to produce a high-quality BaTiO3/p-Si interface and BaTiO3 insulator gates with high dielectric constant and low leakage current. Through different processing and device designs, different capacitor structures, including single layer amorphous, single layer polycrystalline and bi-layer amorphous on polycrystalline, were investigated in this study. Raman spectroscopy showed the optical phonon modes of the BaTiO3 thin films with different structures. The structural properties of the films were characterized by X-ray diffraction. Using both the quasistatic and the high-frequency capacitance-voltage measurements, the interface-trap density was estimated at high 1011 eV−1cra−2. The relative dielectric constant of the composite structure was controlled in a range from 30 to 130. The leakage current density was as low as 8×l0−10 A/cm2 at a field intensity of (2±0.5)×l05 V/cm. Breakdown voltage varied from 5×l05 to 2×l06 V/cm.
The Aryl-hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) as a Therapeutic Target in Human Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is currently the most prevalent malignancy among women in industrialized countries, and 1 in 8 women living in the United States will develop the disease at some point in her lifetime. Although the incidence of breast cancer has increased 0.3% per year since 1990, the mortality rate has decreased by 2% per year since 1990 due to improvements in treatment and early detection. New treatment strategies and a better molecular understanding of the disease will be important to continue the progress science has made against this disease. The aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has been traditionally associated with activation by environmental contaminants, acute toxicity, and cancer risks associated with exposures. However, the AhR has been highly conserved throughout evolution suggesting an important biological role for the receptor independent of its response to environmental contaminants. There is a significant body of evidence indicating the AhR plays a role in breast epithelial cell differentiation and that receptor agonists can inhibit breast cancer growth. A 50% reduction in estrous-induced terminal end buds was observed in the mammary glands of AhR knockout animals when compared to wild type suggesting a role for the AhR in mammary development. In 2 independent rodent cancer bioassays, treatment with the AhR agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-pdioxin (TCDD) significantly reduced the incidence of spontaneous rat mammary tumors. These and other studies support the premise that the AhR plays a fundamental role in breast epithelial cell differentiation. This review provides a brief summary of the current evidence that the AhR may be an important pharmacological target for treating human breast cancer.
Analysis of negative grounding in excitation circuit of generator

Through the analysis of alarm and message arising form rotor grounding protection in the operation of units in a power plant,the test of rotor grounding protection of generator and the insulation inspection of excitation circuit,this paper concludes that the reason causing negative grounding in excitation circuit is secondary wear and tear of cable which can be repaired to remove the hidden safety danger.
You are where you shop: grocery store locations, weight, and neighborhoods.

Background Residents in poor neighborhoods have higher body mass index (BMI) and eat less healthfully. One possible reason might be the quality of available foods in their area. Location of grocery stores where individuals shop and its association with BMI were examined. Methods The 2000 U.S. Census data were linked with the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Study (L.A.FANS) database, which consists of 2620 adults sampled from 65 neighborhoods in Los Angeles County between 2000 and 2002. In 2005, multilevel linear regressions were used to estimate the associations between BMI and socioeconomic characteristics of grocery store locations after adjustment for individual-level factors and socioeconomic characteristics of residential neighborhoods. Results Individuals have higher BMI if they reside in disadvantaged areas and in areas where the average person frequents grocery stores located in more disadvantaged neighborhoods. Those who own cars and travel farther to their grocery stores also have higher BMI. When controlling for grocery store census tract socioeconomic status (SES), the association between residential census tract SES and BMI becomes stronger. Conclusions Where people shop for groceries and distance traveled to grocery stores are independently associated with BMI. Exposure to grocery store mediates and suppresses the association of residential neighborhoods with BMI and could explain why previous studies may not have found robust associations between residential neighborhood predictors and BMI.
18 Months Is a Reliable Period for Storing Immunofluorescent (IF) Slides of Renal Biopsies for Review in Room Temperature (70 0F)

Immunofluorescent (IF) slides are ideally kept for later internal and external reviews in addition to available slides for light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM). But there is no standard for how long the IF slides should be kept, yet the maintenance of IF staining intensity over time is a major concern. In this quality control study, we determined whether IF …
Design, manufacture and test techniques for multipactor free RF devices

Sierra Microwave has been involved in the design, manufacturing and testing for multipaction of numerous high power RF passive devices, including isolators, circulators, filters, power divides/combiners, loads, etc for use in space environment. During the design phase, the device is usually analyzed using E-M simulation resulting in the electric field distribution, gap voltage values and multipaction threshold for the critical regions of the structure and optimized to reduce the gap-voltages and increase multipaction threshold. For ferrite devices operating under DC magnetic field, multipaction analysis includes both electric and magnetic fields to account for electron confinement. Coaxial and Waveguide interfaces are common with TNC and TNC Wedge being the most common from VHF through C band. Typically, C band and lower frequency high power devices require some degree of design mitigation to comply with the system multipaction margin requirements. Some of these common methods will be discussed.
Pneumococcal Vaccines in Preterm Infants: Are More Doses Better? Implications for Other Vaccines

* Abbreviations: IPD — : invasive pneumococcal disease PCV — : pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have significantly decreased invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in whole populations, and they are among the many ongoing stories of vaccine successes around the world. However, IPDs remain far too common, especially in certain populations. When it comes to the timing of PCV administration, most physicians follow their nationally recommended vaccine schedules, which have been well studied in specific and well-defined populations. In the United States the recommended immunization schedule for children is the one approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and endorsed by the major professional societies including the American Academy of Pediatrics.1 The timing of vaccine doses in the schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is based on a thorough evaluation of available science, age-dependent variation in the immune system, vaccine interactions, and practical considerations related to vaccine delivery, but we have more to learn to truly optimize vaccine delivery.2 It turns out for PCV that the levels of … Address correspondence to Mark H. Sawyer, MD, FAAP, 3020 Children’s Way, #5124, San Diego, CA 92123. E-mail: mhsawyer{at}ucsd.edu
Cancelled Primary Care Appointments: A Prospective Cohort Study of Diabetic Patients

Patients scheduled for primary care appointments often cancel or no show. For diabetic patients, nonattendance can affect continuity of care and result in higher emergency department (ED) and hospital use. Nonattendance also impacts appointment scheduling, patient access, and clinic work load. While no show has received significant attention, little research has addressed the prevalence and impact of appointment cancellation. Data on 46,710 appointments for 7586 adult diabetic patients was used to conduct a prospective cohort study examining primary care appointment behavior. The independent variable was the status of the INDEX appointment, which was attended, cancelled, or no showed. Dependent variables included the dates of (1) the last attended appointment, (2) scheduling the NEXT appointment, (3) the next attended follow-up appointment, and (4) ED visits and hospitalizations within six months of the INDEX. Cancellation was more prevalent than no show (17.7% vs 12.2%). Of those who cancelled and scheduled a next appointment, 28.8% experienced over 30 days delay between the INDEX and NEXT appointment dates, and 59.9% delayed rescheduling until on or after the cancelled appointment date. Delay in rescheduling was associated with an 18.6% increase in days between attended appointments and a 26.0% increase in ED visits. For diabetic patients, cancellation with late rescheduling is a prevalent and unhealthy behavior. Although more work is necessary to address the health, intervention, and cost issues, this work suggests that cancellation, like no show, may be problematic for many clinics and patients.
The 2016 Josephine Waters Bennett Lecture: Humanism and Printing in the Work of Conrad Gessner

I discuss how printing affected the practice of scholarship by examining the working methods of Conrad Gessner (1516–65), a prolific humanist, bibliographer, and natural historian. Gessner supplemented his revenue as city physician in Zurich through his publishing activities. He hailed printing, along with libraries to preserve the books, as crucial to the successful transmission of learning to the distant future. Gessner also used printing as a kind of social media: to reach readers rapidly all over Europe, in order to solicit contributions to his research projects underway, to advertise forthcoming books, and to develop his own thinking through multiple iterations.
The Four Ways of Eco-global Criminology

In charting out the ‘four ways’ of eco-global criminology, this paper discusses the importance of recognising and acting in regards to the differences evident in (1) ways of being (ontology), (2) ways of knowing (epistemology), (3) ways of doing (methodology) and (4) ways of valuing (axiology). The paper assumes and asserts that global study of environmental crime is essential to the green criminology project, and particularly an eco-global criminology approach. Specific instances of criminal and harmful activity therefore need to be analysed in the context of broad international social, political, economic and ecological processes. The article outlines the key ideas of eco-global criminology, a perspective that argues that global study must always be inclusive of voices from the periphery and margins of the world’s metropolitan centres, and critical of the social relations that sustain the epistemological as well as material realities and legacies of colonialism and imperialism. Yet, in doing so, there arise many paradoxes and conundrums that likewise warrant close attention.
Comparative evaluation of commercial 1200 V SiC power MOSFETs using diagnostic I-V characterization at cryogenic temperatures

We present a comparative study of the electrical characteristics of different 1200 V commercial SiC power MOSFETs at cryogenic temperatures down to 77 K. As compared to conventional silicon power MOSFETs, SiC MOSFETs show very different operating characteristics at low temperatures which is due to unique material and design parameters used in SiC MOSFETs. Of particular interest is a non-linear mixed triode/pentode-like I-V characteristic exhibited by all SiC MOSFETs at 77 K, which is demonstrated to be due to short channel effects in the constituent JFET.
Modeling the Light Interception and Carbon Gain of Individual Fluttering Aspen (Populus Tremuloides Michx) Leaves

Poplars (Populus spp.) have a particular petiole morphology that enhances leaf flutter even in light winds. Previous studies have shown that this trait enhances whole canopy carbon gain through changes in the temporal dynamics and spatial distribution of light in the lower canopy. However, less is known about the effects of flutter for leaves at the top of the canopy ("sun leaves"). A computer simulation model was developed that uses latitude, time of day, day of year, azimuth and a slope component, which was varied at a 3 Hz frequency over an arc of rotation to create the flutter motion, and generate data on light interception for both surfaces of a fixed or fluttering leaf. The light files generated (10 Hz) were input into a dynamic model of photosynthesis to estimate the carbon gain for both fluttering and fixed leaves. As compared to leaves fixed at various angles and azimuths, fluttering leaves had a more uniform light interception. Depending on their angle and azimuth, fixed leaves may not always be intercepting high photon flux density (PFD) even when exposed to full sun. Leaf flutter continuously randomizes leaf angles creating uniform PFD inputs for photosynthetic reactions regardless of variation in leaf orientation and solar position. These effects on light interception could have positive impacts on carbon gain for leaves at the top of the canopy.
Research Practices of Agricultural Scientists at The Ohio State University

ABSTRACTThe Ohio State University Libraries was one of 19 institutions collaborating in the Ithaka S+R Research Support Services for the Field of Agriculture study. Based on a series of individual, semistructured interviews with faculty researchers affiliated with the agricultural sciences at the Ohio State University, the study gathered information about current research practices. The study highlighted challenges of the agricultural research process and identified opportunities for improving research support services for agricultural scientists.
Identification and Prediction of Intrinsically Disordered Regions in Proteins Using n-grams

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) play an important role in many biological processes and are closely related to human diseases. They also have the potential to serve as targets for drug discovery, especially in disordered binding regions. Accurate prediction of IDPs is challenging, most methods rely on sequence profiles to improve accuracy making them computationally expensive. This paper describes a method based on n-gram frequencies using reduced amino acid alphabets, which tries to overcome this challenge by utilizing only sequence information. Our results show that the described IDP prediction approach performs at the same level as some of the other state of the art ab initio methods. However, the simplicity of n-grams allows to construct decision trees which can provide important insights into common patterns and properties associated with disordered regions.
Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America

Dyson wrote Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America in the form of a Baptist worship service. The sermon (i.e., the main text) was preceded by a call to worship where he positioned America’...
The Scientist as a Symbolic Reasoner, Or “What do we Make of the Distinction Between the Natural and the Social Sciences?”

Es dammert jetzt vielleicht in funf, sechs Kopfen, dass Physik auch nur eine Welt-Auslegung und Zurechtlegung … und nicht eine Welt-Erklarung ist. 1
Pediatric Abdominal Tumors: Neuroblastoma

■ The clinical presentation of neuroblastoma can be nonspecific and sometimes confusing (strong evidence).
Learner-Centered Assessment in US Colleges and Universities

Over the past two decades, US postsecondary faculty members have moved away from “sage on the stage” to learner-centered instruction and assessment of learning. The assessment of student learning continues to be an important issue among educators and other constituents. This chapter discusses faculty member use of learner-centered assessment techniques in US colleges and universities, based on responses from the 1993 and 2004 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF).
Invented Place, Created Space

On the first page of The Return of the Native, Thomas Hardy (1959) introduced an unusual, nonhuman character—Egdon Heath. The heath, a wide-open, barren plain, was not a typical actor. By all reckoning, the heath should have been a silent, natural spectator, a desolate and foreboding stage upon which the passions of Clym Yeobright and Eustacia Vye could be played out. But for Hardy, as for millions of readers since the novel first appeared in 1878, Egdon Heath was neither a mere backdrop nor a disinterested eavesdropper. Hardy infused the heath with an emotive and passionate character, and pressed its weighty presence down upon the story’s characters. Egdon Heath became “almost one of the leading characters in the novel” (Hutchings 1968:65).
Playing Music for Hospitalized Patients Enhances Mood and Reduces Perceptions of Pain

OBJECTIVES For most people, music serves as a calming influence or as a pleasurable stimulus that lifts their spirits. In an attempt to both distract and cheer up hospitalized patients, we designed a brief intervention that would bring music to their hospital rooms in attempt to enhance their mood and minimize their awareness of pain. METHODS In this prospective study of adult patients on the general medicine ward at Johns Hopkins Hospital, we assessed the impact of self-selected music delivery on patients' mood and their perception of pain. Patients' mood and pain were assessed using the modified Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Verbal Numerical Rating Scale, a validated 10-point Likert pain scale. RESULTS Of the 151 patients studied, their mean age was 57 years, 57% were women, and 65% were white. Ninety-seven percent of patients described listening to music regularly at home, but only 28% of patients reported that they had listened to any music since being in the hospital (P < 0.0001). The patients' modified Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score and pain score were decreased significantly (-4.99, standard error 0.45, P < 0.0001, and -0.72, standard error 1.51, P < 0.0001, respectively) after listening to a couple of their favorite songs. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that bringing music to hospitalized patients and encouraging them to listen to their favorite songs are genuinely appreciated. If this intervention can enhance moods and reduce pain for patients in the hospital, then directing resources to make it sustainable may be justified.
Noninvasive Contrast-Free 3D Evaluation of Tumor Angiogenesis with Ultrasensitive Ultrasound Microvessel Imaging

Ultrasound microvessel imaging (UMI), when applied with ultrafast planewave acquisitions, has demonstrated superior blood signal sensitivity in comparison to conventional Doppler imaging. Here we propose a high spatial resolution and ultra-sensitive UMI that is based on conventional line-by-line high-frequency ultrasound imagers and singular value decomposition (SVD) clutter filtering for the visualization and quantification of tumor microvasculature and perfusion. The technique was applied to a chicken embryo tumor model of renal cell carcinoma that was treated with two FDA-approved anti-angiogenic agents at clinically relevant dosages. We demonstrate the feasibility of 3D evaluation with UMI to achieve highly sensitive detection of microvasculature using conventional line-by-line ultrasound imaging on a preclinical and commercially available high-frequency ultrasound device without software or hardware modifications. Quantitative parameters (vascularization index and fractional moving blood volume) derived from UMI images provide significantly improved evaluation of anti-angiogenic therapy response as compared with conventional power Doppler imaging, using histological analysis and immunohistochemistry as the reference standard. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that high-frequency UMI is a low-cost, contrast-agent-free, easily applicable, accessible, and quantitative imaging tool for tumor characterization, which may be very useful for preclinical evaluation and longitudinal monitoring of anti-cancer treatment.
More Than Aesthetic: Visual Boundaries and Perceived Variety

Abstract Many online retailers use seemingly innocuous visual boundaries when presenting choice sets to consumers. In contrast to previously studied aspects of information presentation, visual boundaries do not alter underlying information structure. The authors argue that, beyond their aesthetic role, visual boundaries can systematically increase or decrease perceived choice variety but the impact of visual boundaries on variety perceptions depends on consumer cognitive load. Study 1 finds that, by-attribute (vs. alternative) boundaries increase (decrease) perceived variety under high but not low cognitive load. Study 2 further demonstrates that retailer intent moderates the interaction between visual boundaries and cognitive load such that, when cognitive load is high, effects of visual boundaries on perceived variety are strengthened when consumers believe that retailers use boundaries to aid consumer navigation but reversed when they believe retailers use boundaries to persuade consumers to make purchases. Finally, Study 3 rules out attribute order and number of attribute levels as alternative accounts for the effect and enhances generalizability through a different manipulation of cognitive load. This work advances understanding of how simple environmental cues affect consumer behavior, with implications for retail strategy.
Cancer-derived small extracellular vesicles promote angiogenesis by heparin-bound, bevacizumab-insensitive VEGF, independent of vesicle uptake

Cancer-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) induce stromal cells to become permissive for tumor growth. However, it is unclear whether this induction solely occurs through transfer of vesicular cargo into recipient cells. Here we show that cancer-derived sEVs can stimulate endothelial cell migration and tube formation independently of uptake. These responses were mediated by the 189 amino acid isoform of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the surface of sEVs. Unlike other common VEGF isoforms, VEGF189 preferentially localized to sEVs through its high affinity for heparin. Interaction of VEGF189 with the surface of sEVs profoundly increased ligand half-life and reduced its recognition by the therapeutic VEGF antibody bevacizumab. sEV-associated VEGF (sEV-VEGF) stimulated tumor xenograft growth but was not neutralized by bevacizumab. Furthermore, high levels of sEV-VEGF were associated with disease progression in bevacizumab-treated cancer patients, raising the possibility that resistance to bevacizumab might stem in part from elevated levels of sEV-VEGF.
Can Extracorporeal Shockwave Promote Osteogenesis of Equine Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro?

Both bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMDMSCs) and extracorporeal shockwave (ESW) have shown promise for enhancing fracture repair. If exposure of BMDMSCs to ESW enhances osteogenic diff...
Juvenile radicalization into violent extremism: investigative and research perspectives

At least since the September 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks on America, Western countries have ranked terrorism as a high-priority security threat. Many Western nations have viewed violent extremism principally as an external threat-committed on or against one's homeland by individuals who have migrated or traveled from a foreign country. More recently, however, concern has accelerated about violent extremism emerging from people who have been born in, or at least spent considerable time as a resident of, the target country. This has been labeled "homegrown violent extremism" (HVE).
Queue-aware scheduling in full-duplex wireless networks

Contemporary progress in telecommunication technologies have made full-duplex wireless communications feasible. The latter promise to double the capacity of wireless networks by allowing devices to concurrently transmit and receive on the same radio resources. In this paper, we devise mathematical optimal formulations for scheduling in full-duplex and hybrid full-duplex/half-duplex orthogonal frequency division multiple access networks. Our optimal models are queue-aware and address the new interferences that arise from working with full-duplex wireless networks: self-interference and intra-cell co-channel interference. We apply these models with different scheduling objectives, tackling issues such as signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) maximization and user fairness. Accordingly, we first propose an optimal full-duplex Max-SINR algorithm and an optimal full-duplex Proportional Fair algorithm. Additionally, and since full-duplex communications may not always be profitable, we introduce an optimal hybrid Max-SINR algorithm and an optimal hybrid Proportional Fair algorithm. These algorithms switch between full-duplex and half-duplex transmissions, so as to enhance network performance. Moreover, to avoid possible intractability with the optimization problems, we propose heuristic versions of our algorithms. We simulate these proposals, showing that they achieve near optimal performances, and asserting the different gains they attain with respect to their half-duplex counterparts: more than a 50% increase in user equipment throughput values alongside a three fold decrease in the average user equipment waiting delay.
Factors Associated with Lumbar Puncture Participation in Alzheimer's Disease Research.

BACKGROUND Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) provides insight into the spectrum of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. While lumbar punctures (LPs) for CSF collection are generally considered safe procedures, many participants remain hesitant to participate in research involving LPs. OBJECTIVE To explore factors associated with participant willingness to undergo a research LP at baseline and follow-up research study visit. METHODS We analyzed data from 700 participants with varying cognition (unimpaired, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia) in the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. We evaluated the relationship of demographic variables (age, sex, race, ethnicity, and years of education) and clinical variables (waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index, AD parental history, cognitive diagnosis) on decision to undergo baseline LP1. We evaluated the relationship of prior LP1 experience (procedure success and adverse events) with the decision to undergo follow-up LP2. The strongest predictors were incorporated into regression models. RESULTS Over half of eligible participants opted into both baseline and follow-up LP. Participants who underwent LP1 had higher mean education than those who declined (p = 0.020). White participants were more likely to choose to undergo LP1 (p < 0.001); 33% of African American participants opted in compared to 65% of white participants. Controlling for age, education, and AD parental history, race was the only significant predictor for LP1 participation. Controlling for LP1 mild adverse events, successful LP1 predicted LP2 participation. CONCLUSION Race was the most important predictor of baseline LP participation, and successful prior LP was the most important predictor of follow-up LP participation.
Clinical features of COVID-19 mortality: development and validation of a clinical prediction model

Summary Background The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of individuals and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. Predicting mortality among patients with COVID-19 who present with a spectrum of complications is very difficult, hindering the prognostication and management of the disease. We aimed to develop an accurate prediction model of COVID-19 mortality using unbiased computational methods, and identify the clinical features most predictive of this outcome. Methods In this prediction model development and validation study, we applied machine learning techniques to clinical data from a large cohort of patients with COVID-19 treated at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, NY, USA, to predict mortality. We analysed patient-level data captured in the Mount Sinai Data Warehouse database for individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 who had a health system encounter between March 9 and April 6, 2020. For initial analyses, we used patient data from March 9 to April 5, and randomly assigned (80:20) the patients to the development dataset or test dataset 1 (retrospective). Patient data for those with encounters on April 6, 2020, were used in test dataset 2 (prospective). We designed prediction models based on clinical features and patient characteristics during health system encounters to predict mortality using the development dataset. We assessed the resultant models in terms of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) score in the test datasets. Findings Using the development dataset (n=3841) and a systematic machine learning framework, we developed a COVID-19 mortality prediction model that showed high accuracy (AUC=0·91) when applied to test datasets of retrospective (n=961) and prospective (n=249) patients. This model was based on three clinical features: patient's age, minimum oxygen saturation over the course of their medical encounter, and type of patient encounter (inpatient vs outpatient and telehealth visits). Interpretation An accurate and parsimonious COVID-19 mortality prediction model based on three features might have utility in clinical settings to guide the management and prognostication of patients affected by this disease. External validation of this prediction model in other populations is needed. Funding National Institutes of Health.
Extreme thrombocytosis is associated with critical illness and young age, but not increased thrombotic risk, in hospitalized pediatric patients

Background Extreme thrombocytosis (EXT, platelet count > 1000 × 103 /μL) is an uncommon but potentially clinically significant finding. Primary EXT in the setting of myeloproliferative disorders is linked to thrombotic and/or bleeding complications more frequently than secondary EXT, which typically occurs in reaction to infection, inflammation, or iron deficiency. However, comorbidities have been reported in adults with secondary EXT. Clinical implications of EXT in children are not well defined, as prior studies targeted small and/or specialized pediatric populations. Objectives Our objectives were to determine etiologies and sequelae of EXT in a hospitalized general pediatric patient population. Patients and methods We retrospectively analyzed EXT cases from a single-center pediatric cohort of ~80 000 patients over 8 years. Results Virtually all cases (99.8%) were secondary in nature, and most were multifactorial. Many cases of EXT occurred in children under 2 years old (47%) and/or during critical illness (55%). No thrombotic or bleeding events directly resulted from EXT, confirming a paucity of clinical complications associated with EXT in pediatric patients. There were indications that neonatal hematopoiesis and individual genetic variation influenced some cases, in addition to certain diagnoses (eg, sickle cell anemia) and clinical contexts (eg, asplenia). Conclusion Our findings confirm that thrombotic events related to EXT are rare in pediatric patients, which can inform the use of empiric anti-platelet therapy.
Immunity to fungal infections.

Medically-important fungi potentially capable of initiating life-threatening disease can be categorized roughly into two groups, viz., primary pathogens and opportunists. The primary pathogens are those fungi which regularly cause disease in individuals with no known underlying clinical conditions, while the opportunists seldom create problems for the healthy person, but instead attack the patient whose normal defenses are compromised by iatrogenic factors or disease.
“The stereotype does not define us”: The social influences and life experiences that led Asian American men to pursue a teaching career

Abstract Few Asian American men choose to become teachers in the United States, and the career paths of those who do are not well understood. Guided by Situated Expectancy-Value Theory, analyses of interviews with 12 Asian American male preservice teachers revealed three themes. First, men navigated social discouragement and variable parental support for a teaching career. Second, their career decisions were grounded in commitments to personal agency, non-conformity, and making a social contribution. Third, career exploration, including early teaching experiences and exploring non-teaching career possibilities, clarified strengths and values. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.