cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiolabeled absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion studies in drug development: why, when, and how?

Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) studies are an integral part of the comprehensive safety evaluation of a new molecular entity, and they represent a standard suite of studies included in the registration package for all new small molecule drugs. In vivo studies in preclinical toxicology species and humans using radiolabeled (3H or 14C) compound provide quantitative assessments of overall routes of excretion of drug-related material, pharmacokinetics of total drug-derived radioactivity in circulation, relative to parent compound and quantitation, and characterization of metabolites in excreta and circulation. These data serve as the starting point for metabolite in safety testing (MIST). These studies involve the administration of a radiolabeled drug to laboratory animals and humans followed by a quantitative collection of excreta and blood. Using appropriate plasma-pooling strategies, these studies could allow for modeling the metabolite exposure at the steady state. Information ...
Longer Follow-Up Of The Combination Of Clofarabine, Idarubicin, and Cytarabine (CIA) As Frontline Therapy For Patients Younger Than 61 Years With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Background Clofarabine is a second generation nucleoside analogue with activity in adults with AML. In a phase II trial of clofarabine in combination with idarubicin and cytarabine in newly diagnosed patients (pts) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) </= 60 years old, the overall response rate (ORR) was 79%. The combination was well tolerated with low induction mortality. Compared to historical pts who were treated with idarubicin and cyarabine (IA), the overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were significantly longer for CIA treated pts and mainly for pts </= 40 years old. Aim To report a longer follow up of this study. Patients and Methods Eligible were adults between 18-60 years old with newly diagnosed AML with adequate renal (creatinine 2, cardiac ejection fraction < 45%, or active and uncontrolled infection. For the first 30 pts, induction therapy consisted of Clofarabine 22.5 mg/m2 iv daily (days 1-5), Idarubicin 6 mg/m2 daily (days 1-3), and Cytarabine 0.75 g/m2 daily (days 1-5). From pt 31 onward, induction doses were amended to Clofarabine 20 mg/m2 x 5, Idarubicin 10 mg/m2 x 3, and Cytarabine 1 g/m2 x 5. Pts who did not achieve a complete remission (CR) following induction could receive one re-induction course. Pts in CR/CRp continued with up to 6 consolidation cycles with Clofarabine 22.5 mg/m2 x 3, Idarubicin 6 mg/m2 X 2, and Cytarabine 0.75 g/m2 x 3, subsequently amended to Clofarabine 15 mg/m2 x 3, Idarubicin 8 mg/m2 x 2, and Cytarabine 0.75 g/m2x 3. Results From April 2010 until February 2012, 57 pts were evaluable. With median follow up of 21.5 months (1.5-33.4), the median OS was 27.4 months, median relapse-free survival was not reached, and median EFS was 11.5 months. Patients 40 years. Compared to a historical cohort of pts treated with IA, CIA continued to show superior OS (HR 0.8, CI 0.51-1.27, P = 0.043). In multivariate analysis, CIA retained its prognostic value on OS even when transplant was added as time dependent covariate (HR 0.84, CI 0.53-1.33, P = 0.04). Pts </= 40 years had superior OS (HR 0.15, CI 0.03-0.65, P = 0.039) when they were treated with CIA compared to IA. Conclusion A longer follow up of the CIA combination in newly diagnosed pts with AML </= 60 continues to show OS benefit compared to IA alone. Patients </=40 years continue to benefit the most from this combination regardless of transplant. A randomized trial to compare this combination to standard therapy in AML is needed to further investigate the role of this combination in AML. Disclosures: Off Label Use: Clofarabine use in AML. Kantarjian: Sanofi-Aventis: Research Funding. Ravandi: Sanofi-Aventis: Research Funding. Faderl: Sanofi-Aventis: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.
Optimization of rice bran oil low-temperature leaching conditions

Rice bran oil was extracted by the low temperature solvent. Oil extraction rate and the wax content were as an indicator to determine best extraction conditions by orthogonal experiment. Physical and chemical properties detection were contrasted crude oil in high temperature optimum extraction conditions with what was in low temperature. Results showed that the optimum parameters of the low-temperature extraction of rice bran oil:extraction temperature at 20℃,the solid-liquid ratio of 1 ∶3,extraction time 1.5h,this process conditions,extraction of rice bran crude oil,was repeated three times,take the average. The extraction rate of 16.70%,the wax content of 0.79%. At low temperature,wax content was about 1.83% lower than the room temperature's in rice bran crude oil.
Measures for Training Professionals of Business Administration at the Undergraduate Level

The transition from cultivating researchers to training practical business administration professionals is an urgent issue as business administration is closely related to a nation's socio-economic development.With an analysis of the nature of the discipline and required qualifications of the professionals,four aspects of the training of practical business administration professionals are discussed——the reform of the teaching mode,changes in the teaching material,strengthening of the teaching staff,and incorporation of practice-based teaching.
Mathematical models for predicting G-duration tolerances.

Mathematical models that predict fatigue-based G-duration tolerances for relaxed and straining subjects are developed and validated using published data. These models are based on regression analysis calculations using published G-duration tolerance data of relaxed subjects exposed to 3-5 G and subjects exposed to 6-9 G using an anti-G suit and performing the anti-G straining maneuver. These G-duration models are derived from published G-level tolerance models based on intravascular hydrostatic pressures and physiologic responses to maximum voluntary contractions (MVC%). Included in the validation of these models are the baroreceptor and muscle contraction cardiovascular reflexes that support arterial BP. A basic energy pool that supports a G-duration of 140 s for G exposures > 5 G is theorized. Because of the long duration of sustained G exposures in these models, the physiologic dynamics involved in predicting straining G-duration tolerances, are identified and validated using different time periods, i.e., Phases I and II. These models, based on sustained G exposures to a constant G level are also applicable to exposures of variable G levels known as simulated aerial combat maneuver (SACM) G-profile tolerances, G-duration tolerances > 9 G are predicted using these models for subjects using reclined-seat backs and positive pressure breathing.
MEMORY PROCESSES IN DEPRESSED GERIATRIC PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT SUBCORTICAL HYPERINTENSITIES ON MRI

In this study, 12 patients over age 60 with depression with moderate to severe subcortical hyperintensities (SH) localized to the periventricular white matter were identified by quantitative MRI. Using the California Verbal Learning Test, they were compared with 12 age-, education-, and severity-matched patients with depression with minimal white matter changes on specific aspects of memory performance. Patients with cortical lesions, neurologic or systemic illness affecting cognition, and history of substance abuse were excluded. Patients in the group with high SH showed reduced use of semantic encoding strategies (p < 0.05), reduced learning efficiency (p < 0.05), and a greater discrepancy between free recall and recognition discriminability (p < 0.05) than their low SH counterparts. This pattern of performance on memory tasks is similar to that found in previous studies to be associated with subcortical degenerative disorders such as Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases. Geriatric patients with depression with SH may represent a subgroup with greater subcortical involvement, with associated cognitive and functional decline.
Novel nanostructures for efficient photon upconversion and high-efficiency photovoltaics

Abstract Upconversion of low-energy photons theoretically allows the creation of single-junction solar cells with efficiency far above the Shockley-Queisser (SQ) limit. However, the net efficiency gains that can be realized depend critically on details of the upconversion process employed. We define three important metrics of the performance of an upconversion material: upconversion quantum efficiency (UQE), photon energy sacrifice (PES), and absorption bandwidth (AB). We analyze the performance of existing upconversion materials relative to both these metrics and existing computational models of a single-junction photovoltaic (PV) cell backed by an upconverter. Guided by the results of this analysis, we develop a design for new solid state upconversion nanostructures that suppresses the dominant energy loss pathways and can enable substantial improvements in overall solar energy harvesting. We describe and model the performance of a specific realization of this design that uses an InAs quantum dot (QD) and a graded InAlBiAs layer to suppress both radiative and nonradiative loss pathways. We show that this design can be tailored to maximize upconversion efficiency and can enable a practical upconversion-backed PV system to exceed the SQ limit.
Emotions as Situated, Embodied, and Fissured: Methodological Implications of Thinking with Theories

How one theoretically defines emotion influences methodological actions. Defining emotions as verb or as collisions of contact between people presents opportunities to invent new ways of researching emotions. This chapter explores how theory(ies) matters in relation to research methodologies and methods of analyzing data. Kuby demonstrates an analytical tool created to study emotions as situated, embodied, and fissured: critical performative analysis of emotions (CPAE). This tool bricolages theories, perhaps viewed as incommensurable: critical sociocultural, narrative (permformative), and poststructural (rhizomatic). I illustrate a CPAE with an interaction between a boy and his second grade teacher when he forgot to return books. The chapter concludes with discussions about disrupting traditional ways of studying emotions, expanding theoretical and philosophical assumptions about emotions and how that shapes methodological actions, and creating different approaches of thinking-with-theories rather than reductionist codes for analysis.
Assessing Creativity Using the Consensual Assessment Technique

The Consensual Assessment Technique (CAT) is a way of judging the creativity of a group of artifacts in a domain, such as a group of poems, stories, or works of art (the three domains in which the CAT has been used most widely, although the CAT can be used in any domain). The CAT follows the method most often used in judging creativity in the “real world” in that it is based on the combined assessments of experts in the domain. Although the word “consensual” points to the social aspect of CAT assessments, which rely on the combined judgments of groups of human experts, the CAT’s focus is on creative products; these assessments can then also be used to make inferences about thought processes, environments, and personality traits that lead to creativity. Unlike many creativity assessments, the CAT is not tied to a specific theory of creativity, making it especially useful in empirical studies comparing different theoretical predictions. The CAT is also well suited for making decisions about the creativity of applicants for educational programs and for judging the creativity of submissions to competitions of all kinds.
Microwave radiometry of blackbody radiation

We outline the theoretical formulation of radiometry of the free-space radiation emitted by a blackbody target. Simulation shows a much smaller drop of radiation intensity of a Lambertian source than that of an incoherent source in the near-field region, indicative of a powerful influence produced by the coherence property of the blackbody source. Further, the coupling of the radiation to a radiometer is formulated by the plane-wave scattering theory of the radiation field.
Remote Sensing of Socio-Ecological Dynamics in Urban Neighborhoods

Remote sensing has often been applied to study cities and the spatial arrangements of their people, buildings, roads, and trees. Rarely do these studies examine the socio-ecological processes that give rise to the spatio-temporal patterns of a neighborhood’s biotic and abiotic components. Yet the primacy of land in facilitating and mediating reciprocal human–environment interactions makes remote sensing of land changes a powerful approach for investigating socio-ecological change. This article reviews recent developments in remote sensing studies of urban populations, vegetation, and housing and discusses how remote sensing observations of these patterns can connect to underlying socio-ecological processes.
Virtual Exemplars in Health Promotion Campaigns

Abstract. Virtual simulations allow individuals to concretely view the future negative health consequences of present dietary choices. Integrating exemplification theory with risk communication research, the effect of using virtual simulations to exemplify the health risks of soft drink consumption was assessed across 3 weeks. A three-group pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest design (N = 62) compared the effect of three channels of delivering health risk information – base-rate statistics, picture, and virtual simulation – embedded in a digital health promotion pamphlet. Three dimensions of risk perception (perceived likelihood, susceptibility, severity), involvement with the health issue, and soft drink consumption were measured across 3 weeks. Virtual exemplars were the most effective channel for increasing perceived likelihood, perceived susceptibility, involvement, and soft drink consumption over time. Exemplification did not affect perceived severity. The paper discusses the potential of virtual ...
Ionization and proton induced radiation damage in crystal scintillators (Conference Presentation)

Crystal detectors have been used widely in high energy and nuclear physics experiments, medical instruments and homeland security applications. A crucial issue for crystal detectors to be used for future HEP experiments at the energy and intensity frontiers is radiation damage by ionization dose as well as charged and neutral hadrons. This paper reports recent investigations on radiation damage in various crystal scintillators. Irradiations up to 340 Mrad of ionization dose, 1E16 p/cm^2 fluence and 1016 n/cm2 fluence were carried out at the JPL total ionization dose facility and the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, respectively. Results of these investigations show excellent radiation hardness of bright and fast LYSO crystals which may provide a stable detector in an extreme harsh radiation environment, such as the proposed HL-LHC.
Trends in Infective Endocarditis in California and New York State, 1998-2013.

Importance Prophylaxis and treatment guidelines for infective endocarditis have changed substantially over the past decade. In the United States, few population-based studies have explored the contemporary epidemiology and outcomes of endocarditis. Objective To quantify trends in the incidence and etiologies of infective endocarditis in the United States. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective population epidemiology study of patients hospitalized with a first episode of endocarditis identified from mandatory state databases in California and New York State between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2013. Exposure Infective endocarditis. Main Outcomes and Measures Outcomes were crude and standardized incidence of endocarditis and trends in patient characteristics and disease etiology. Trends in acquisition mode, organism, and mortality were analyzed. Results Among 75 829 patients with first episodes of endocarditis (mean [SD] age, 62.3 [18.9] years; 59.1% male), the standardized annual incidence was stable between 7.6 (95% CI, 7.4 to 7.9) and 7.8 (95% CI, 7.6 to 8.0) cases per 100 000 persons (annual percentage change [APC], −0.06%; 95% CI, −0.3% to 0.2%; P = .59). From 1998 through 2013, the proportion of patients with native-valve endocarditis decreased (from 74.5% to 68.4%; APC, −0.7%; 95% CI, −0.9% to −0.5%; P P P P P P = .77; adjusted: APC, −1.3%; 95% CI, −1.8% to −0.7%; P P = .44); adjusted risk of 90-day mortality decreased (adjusted hazard ratio per year, 0.982; 95% CI, 0.978 to 0.986; P Conclusions and Relevance In California and New York State, the overall standardized incidence of infective endocarditis was stable from 1998 through 2013, with changes in patient characteristics and etiology over this time.
It’s About Time: Examining the Effect of Interviewer-Quoted Survey Completion Time Estimates on Survey Efficiency

Declining response rates may introduce bias into survey results and increase costs. Two national surveys, the National Immunization Survey (NIS) and the NIS-Teen, were used to study the impact of survey length, as stated by the interviewer, and inclusion of a topic of interest to respondents on response rates. The two studies included comparisons of the standard survey instruments to revised, condensed instruments. The NIS study also included variations of the standard survey with sections considered of interest for parental respondents, the Parental Concerns Module (PCM), which contained questions about parents’ thoughts and beliefs about vaccinations. The outcomes of interest were differences in the response rates and resulting survey costs in each of the study conditions. The shortened instruments resulted in higher response rates compared to both the standard instruments and the instruments including the PCM and reduced the overall time needed to complete an interview. Based on these results, the NIS and NIS-Teen questionnaires were both shortened.
Preoperative surgical rehearsal using cadaveric fresh tissue surgical simulation increases resident operative confidence

Background: Rehearsal is an essential part of mastering any technical skill. The efficacy of surgical rehearsal is currently limited by low fidelity simulation models. Fresh cadaver models, however, offer maximal surgical simulation. We hypothesize that preoperative surgical rehearsal using fresh tissue surgical simulation will improve resident confidence and serve as an important adjunct to current training methods. Methods: Preoperative rehearsal of surgical procedures was performed by plastic surgery residents using fresh cadavers in a simulated operative environment. Rehearsal was designed to mimic the clinical operation, complete with a surgical technician to assist. A retrospective, web-based survey was used to assess resident perception of pre- and post-procedure confidence, preparation, technique, speed, safety, and anatomical knowledge on a 5-point scale (1= not confident, 5= very confident). Results: Twenty-six rehearsals were performed by 9 residents (PGY 1-7) an average of 4.7±2.1 days prior to performance of the scheduled operation. Surveys demonstrated a median pre-simulation confidence score of 2 and a post-rehearsal score of 4 (P Conclusions: Fresh tissue-based preoperative surgical rehearsal was effectively implemented in the residency program. Resident confidence and perception of technique improved. Survey results suggest that cadaveric simulation is beneficial for all levels of residents. We believe that implementation of preoperative surgical rehearsal is an effective adjunct to surgical training at all skill levels in the current environment of decreased work hours.
Decreased mortality in patients prescribed vancomycin after implementation of antimicrobial stewardship program

Background The impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) on 30-day mortality rates was evaluated in patients prescribed vancomycin in a Veterans Affairs hospital. Methods A retrospective chart review of patients receiving a minimum of 48 hours of vancomycin during October 2006-July 2014. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of mortality. Interventions of the ASP consist of appropriate antibiotic selection, dosing, microbiology, and treatment duration. Results Death occurred in 12.4% of 453 patients. Of the 56 deaths, 64.3% occurred during prestewardship versus 35.7% during stewardship (P = .021). Increased mortality was associated with pre-ASP (odds ratio [OR], 2.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-4.27), age (unit OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.05-1.12), nephrotoxicity (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.27-8.01), and hypotension (OR, 3.28; 95% CI, 1.42-7.44). Patients treated in the intensive care unit were associated with increased mortality. Patients in the stewardship group experienced lower rates of mortality, which may be caused by interventions initiated by the stewardship team, including minimizing nephrotoxicity and individualized chart review. Conclusions Mortality in patients treated with vancomycin was decreased after antimicrobial stewardship was implemented. As anticipated, older age, hypotension, nephrotoxicity, and intensive care unit admission were associated with an increased incidence of mortality.
Dopamine Secretion Is Mediated by Sparse Active Zone-like Release Sites

Dopamine controls essential brain functions through volume transmission. Different from fast synaptic transmission, where neurotransmitter release and receptor activation are tightly coupled by an active zone, dopamine transmission is widespread and may not necessitate these organized release sites. Here, we determine whether striatal dopamine secretion employs specialized machinery for release. Using super resolution microscopy, we identified co-clustering of the active zone scaffolding proteins bassoon, RIM and ELKS in ∼30% of dopamine varicosities. Conditional RIM knockout disrupted this scaffold and, unexpectedly, abolished dopamine release, while ELKS knockout had no effect. Optogenetic experiments revealed that dopamine release was fast and had a high release probability, indicating the presence of protein scaffolds for coupling Ca2+ influx to vesicle fusion. Hence, dopamine secretion is mediated by sparse, mechanistically specialized active zone-like release sites. This architecture supports spatially and temporally precise coding for dopamine and provides molecular machinery for regulation.
Designing for Participation: Dignity and Autonomy of Service (Part 2)

This paper explores a conceptual framework for deepening our understanding of the social and ethical aspects of service, such as human dignity. A philosophical survey of this topic reveals that the...
The Pharmacotherapy of Parkinson's Disease: Current Status and Future Opportunities

Abstract Three decades after the discovery of levodopa's therapeutic value in Parkinson's disease (PD), a clearer understanding of the pharmacologic basis for some of its limitations has begun to emerge and new strategies are being developed to limit the declining efficacy and increasing adverse effects associated with use in patients with advanced disease. The major thrust of research directed towards improving the pharmacotherapy of PD will, however, shift in future decades towards measures that attempt to modify the natural history of the neurodegenerative process rather than those merely seeking to alleviate parkinsonian symptoms. These measures will include steps to prevent genetic and/or environmental factors from hastening the demise of dopaminergic neurons or once begun to retard progression of the selective neuronal loss. In addition, preclinical trophic factor research has now advanced to the point where clinical assessments of the therapeutic potential of stimulating neurorestorative processes within the central nervous system of PD patients can now be contemplated. Parkinson's disease (PD) is generally included among the heredo-degenerative disorders affecting the central nervous system. All have an insidious onset and progressive clinical course reflecting the selective loss of functionally or anatomically related neuronal systems. For none is the etiology of the degenerative process known and for most there is no treatment other than general supportive care. A few of the degenerative disorders can be palliated, such as by the use of neuroleptics in Huntington's disease or the administration of anticholinergics or dopaminergics to some with torsion dystonia. Even in these disorders, however, palliation is ordinarily incomplete and may be associated with substantial adverse effects. PD thus stands alone therapeutically: it has long had the most effective symptomatic treatment, due in large measure to the early application of brain neurochemistry and rapid development of animal models, and recent research now promises even more effective strategies for the control of this disorder. Three approaches, currently receiving intense investigative scrutiny, will briefly be considered: 1, disease prevention; 2, symptom suppression; and 3, modification of the degenerative process either by protecting vulnerable neurons against further damage or by stimulating restorative mechanisms.
Initiation of electron avalanches on an alumina insulator by an electron beam

An insulator placed between parallel electrodes in vacuum obtains a positive charge when the applied field exceeds a threshold value. The charging is due to an electron avalanche, as noted by Boersch et al.,1 de Tourreil and Srivastava,2 Watson,3 and Brainard and Jesen.4 The avalanche involves high gain multiplication of secondary electrons over large areas of the insulator and can reach several amperes in a few nanoseconds. The multiplication on the insulator surface is uncontrolled in that once it has been initiated, it cannot be stoppped until saturation is reached. The saturation, which occurs in less than 50 nsec, is due to positive charge accumulation on the surface which reduces the average path length of the electrons, and therefore the energy extracted from the applied field to a value E I (Figure 1) where the secondary emission coefficient equals unity. It has been suggested2,4 that field emitted electrons originating from the cathode near the insulator surface trigger the avalanche. The most probable source of these electrons is the cathode-vacuum-insulator interface (triple junction), where the field emission is increased due to field enhancement in micron-size vacuum voids between the cathode and insulator.5
Source Localization and Tracking

Abstract A high-level survey of existing source localization and tracking algorithms using multiple sensors is provided. This chapter begins with a review of triangulation based source localization methods. Then signal propagation models corresponding to several different signal modalities are surveyed. This is followed by derivations of existing source localization algorithms. Finally, traditional tracking algorithms are presented.
Syncretism and millennium in Herrera's Kabbalah

One of Gershom Scholem’s most influential hypotheses was that the millenarian and messianic expectations of the Jewish people in the early modern period — in particular, the Marranos — found mystical expression in the new Kabbalah introduced by Isaac Luria at Safed around 1570. Scholem interpreted what he called the three great symbols of mystical experience as mirrors of Jewish history in the wake of the 1492 expulsion: in his reading, the Lurianic doctrines of zimzum (the metaphorical shrinking or self-limitation of Ein-Sof, the First Cause), shevirah (the breaking of the sefirot kelim, the lower metaphorical parts of Adam Kadmon, the emanated second being), and tikkun ha-parzufim (restoration of the sefirot into the reconfigured faces of God) were direct reflections of the “shattering” of a seven-hundred year old culture, its reconfiguration in exile, and the anticipated deliverance from bondage that would come with the fulfillment of messianic prophecy.1 This phenomenon coincided with the widespread belief among Christians that the Second Coming would take place in the millenial year of 1666, a belief whose roots can be traced from the Book of Revelation through individuals as different as Joaquim of Fiore, Arnold of Vilanova, Christopher Columbus, and the Portuguese cobbler Bandarra, who predicted the return of King Sebastian, dead in battle against the Moors, to spearhead the 1640 rebellion of the Portuguese against their Spanish overlords.2 In the Jewish world, according to Scholem, the most complete historical representation of this Jewish-Christian millenarian syncretism was to found in the career of the would-be Messiah Sabbetai Zevi. The link with Kabbalah was forged by those Sabbatians who used Lurianic doctrine — especially his idea of tikkun — to justify Zevi’s conversion to Islam at Constantinople in 1666.3
Bariatric Surgery in Adolescence

The increase in overall prevalence of childhood obesity in the U.S. and elsewhere appears to have continued to rise and as a result, has been cited as a major threat to the health and well-being of millions of affected individuals. Recent data estimate that approximately 17% of the US pediatric population is classified as being obese. Furthermore, it has been recently estimated that an additional 7% of the affected population in this country are further categorized as being “severely obese” (i.e., body mass index (BMI) ≥120% of the 95th percentile or BMI ≥35 kg/m2). Although there have been some indications of a “leveling off” of obesity prevalence within specific subgroups of general pediatric population, obese adolescents and in particular, severely obese adolescents (age 12–19 years) have continued to show a steady rise in prevalence since the 1980s. In addition to these alarming trends in the U.S. and other western countries, recent data also suggest that a correspondingly rapid increase in the rate childhood obesity has also been observed in the developing world. Furthermore, such trends represents unique challenges to governments and populations that have traditionally struggled with significant problems associated with ongoing undernutrition. In addition to a seemingly unabated rise in the prevalence of childhood obesity over the past several decades, an expanding body of corresponding literature highlighting the coexistence of many obesity-related comorbid disease states, including evidence of cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose metabolism, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, polycystic ovarian disease, and fatty liver disease, has recently emerged. The establishment of various related comorbid conditions, previously thought to primarily exist only within the severely obese adult population, coupled with evidence demonstrating poor outcomes related nonsurgical therapeutic interventions (i.e., exercise and diet and behavioral modification regimens) and evidence that severely obese youth have an extraordinarily high risk of becoming severely obese adults, has resulted in an increased interest in the application of weight loss surgery (i.e., bariatric surgery) during the adolescent time period.
BisQue for 3D Materials Science in the Cloud: Microstructure–Property Linkages

Accelerating the design and development of new advanced materials is one of the priorities in modern materials science. These efforts are critically dependent on the development of comprehensive materials cyberinfrastructures which enable efficient data storage, management, sharing, and collaboration as well as integration of computational tools that help establish processing–structure–property relationships. In this contribution, we present implementation of such computational tools into a cloud-based platform called BisQue (Kvilekval et al., Bioinformatics 26(4):554, 2010). We first describe the current state of BisQue as an open-source platform for multidisciplinary research in the cloud and its potential for 3D materials science. We then demonstrate how new computational tools, primarily aimed at processing–structure–property relationships, can be implemented into the system. Specifically, in this work, we develop a module for BisQue that enables microstructure-sensitive predictions of effective yield strength of two-phase materials. Towards this end, we present an implementation of a computationally efficient data-driven model into the BisQue platform. The new module is made available online (web address: https://bisque.ece.ucsb.edu/module_service/Composite_Strength/ ) and can be used from a web browser without any special software and with minimal computational requirements on the user end. The capabilities of the module for rapid property screening are demonstrated in case studies with two different methodologies based on datasets containing 3D microstructure information from (i) synthetic generation and (ii) sampling large 3D volumes obtained in experiments.
Multilevel Mapping of Sexual Dimorphism in Intrinsic Functional Brain Networks

Differences in cognitive performance between males and females are well-described, most commonly in certain spatial and language tasks. Sex-related differences in cognition are relevant to the study of the neurotypical brain and to neuropsychiatric disorders, which exhibit prominent disparities in the incidence, prevalence and severity of symptoms between men and women. While structural dimorphism in the human brain is well-described, controversy exists regarding the existence and degree of sex-related differences in brain function. We analyzed resting-state functional MRI from 650 neurotypical young adults matched for age and sex to determine the degree of sexual dimorphism present in intrinsic functional networks. Multilevel modeling was pursued to create 8-, 24-, and 51-network models of whole-brain data to quantify sex-related effects in network activity with increasing resolution. We determined that sexual dimorphism is present in the majority of intrinsic brain networks and affects ∼0.5-2% of brain locations surveyed in the three whole-brain network models. It is particularly common in task-positive control networks and is pervasive among default mode networks. The size of sex-related effects varied by network but can be moderate or even large in size. Female > male effects were on average larger, but male > female effects spread across greater network territory. Using a novel methodology, we mapped dimorphic locations to meta-analytic association test maps derived from task fMRI, demonstrating that the neurocognitive footprint of intrinsic neural correlates is much larger in males. All results were replicated in a motion-matched sub-sample. Our findings argue that sex is an important biological variable in human brain function and suggest that observed differences in neurocognitive performance have identifiable intrinsic neural correlates.
Nitrogen ion implantation into pure iron for formation of surface nitride layer

Abstract Low energy N ion implantation into pure Fe was performed to study Fe1−xNx formation under various ion irradiation conditions. It was shown that after the room-temperature implantation the amount of N introduction reaches a saturation at about 42% atomic density. Increasing N fluences further does not increase N levels. For the N saturated layer, adding post-irradiation annealing causes N out-diffusion at 300 °C and higher temperatures. On the other hand, N implantation at elevated temperatures does not provide extra thermal stability. Transmission electron microscopy and localized diffraction analysis show that the metastable N saturated layer contains a mixture of Fe3N and FeN2.
U.S. Education and the Persistence of Slavery.

This study presents an examination of the institution of American slavery as it relates to current hegemonic issues in education, revealing a persistence of slave trade ideology through education a...
Fast Regression with an $ell_infty$ Guarantee

Sketching has emerged as a powerful technique for speeding up problems in numerical linear algebra, such as regression. In the overconstrained regression problem, one is given an n x d matrix A, with n >> d, as well as an n x 1 vector b, and one wants to find a vector \hat{x} so as to minimize the residual error ||Ax-b||_2. Using the sketch and solve paradigm, one first computes S \cdot A and S \cdot b for a randomly chosen matrix S, then outputs x' = (SA)^{\dagger} Sb so as to minimize || SAx' - Sb||_2. The sketch-and-solve paradigm gives a bound on ||x'-x^*||_2 when A is well-conditioned. Our main result is that, when S is the subsampled randomized Fourier/Hadamard transform, the error x' - x^* behaves as if it lies in a "random" direction within this bound: for any fixed direction a in R^d, we have with 1 - d^{-c} probability that (1) \langle a, x'-x^* \rangle \lesssim \frac{ \|a\|_2\|x'-x^*\|_2}{d^{\frac{1}{2}-\gamma}}, where c, \gamma > 0 are arbitrary constants. This implies ||x'-x^*||_{\infty} is a factor d^{\frac{1}{2}-\gamma} smaller than ||x'-x^*||_2. It also gives a better bound on the generalization of x' to new examples: if rows of A correspond to examples and columns to features, then our result gives a better bound for the error introduced by sketch-and-solve when classifying fresh examples. We show that not all oblivious subspace embeddings S satisfy these properties. In particular, we give counterexamples showing that matrices based on Count-Sketch or leverage score sampling do not satisfy these properties. We also provide lower bounds, both on how small ||x'-x^*||_2 can be, and for our new guarantee (1), showing that the subsampled randomized Fourier/Hadamard transform is nearly optimal. Our lower bound on ||x'-x^*||_2 shows that there is an O(1/epsilon) separation in the dimension of the optimal oblivious subspace embedding required for outputting an x' for which ||x'-x^*||_2 <= epsilon ||Ax^*-b||_2 \cdot ||A^{\dagger}||_2$, compared to the dimension of the optimal oblivious subspace embedding required for outputting an x' for which ||Ax'-b||_2 <= (1+epsilon)||Ax^*-b||_2, that is, the former problem requires dimension Omega(d/epsilon^2) while the latter problem can be solved with dimension O(d/epsilon). This explains the reason known upper bounds on the dimensions of these two variants of regression have differed in prior work.
Vast Expanses: A history of the oceans

Historians interested in the briny part of the world have had ranging discussions about ‘iron men’ and ‘wooden ships’, sea captain’s wives and motley crews, fishers, whalers, smugglers, and scienti...
Being Extraordinary: How CEOs’ Special Names Predict Their Distinctive Strategies and Performance

We integrate recent theories and studies about the relational self with studies on uncommon names to explain why the uncommonness of CEOs' names is an important predictor of their strategic decisio...
"Out of Luck": Socio-Economic Differences in Student Coping Responses to Technology Problems

Despite high levels of digital technology access among college students, technology disruption remains an issue. This study was conducted to understand how technology disruption might contribute to socio-economic disparities in academic performance. Data were analyzed from a non-representative sample of 748 undergraduate students. We examined socio-economic differences in types of technology problems students experience; the consequences of those problems; and beliefs about how to handle future problems. Socio-economic status was not associated with types of technology problems, but it was associated with greater negative consequences and less-efficacious beliefs about handling future situations. These findings are consistent with sociological work on socio-economic differences in student help-seeking. They also elaborate mechanistic understanding of the technology maintenance construct. Finally, for those interested in designing to reduce socio-economic inequalities, they suggest the need for interfaces that go beyond information accessibility to facilitate student empowerment and student-teacher communication.
Effects of magnesium dopants on grain boundary migration in aluminum-magnesium alloys

Abstract Atomistic simulations have been used to study the grain boundary (GB) migration in pure Al and Mg-doped Al binary alloys. The results of shearing simulations indicate that the effect of dopants on the GB migration depends on the character of the GB. Negligible influence is found on the migration of the coherent ∑3 GB and only a slight change was found in its strength due to the doping. For the other GBs considered in our study, GB migration was pinned by dopants at the GBs, which results in a strengthening effect. The atomic-level GB migration mechanisms are identified for both shear-coupled GB migration in pure Al and dopants pinning GB migration in Mg-doped Al alloys.
Re(framing) identity: teacher educators’ experiences with marginalization

Interest in teacher educator research continues to grow with a focus on the influence of identity development on educator practices in teacher education programs. Scant in the research, however, is...
Characterization of Dental Pulp Stem Cell Responses to Functional Biomaterials Including Mineralized Trioxide Aggregates

Introduction: Many studies in stem cell biology have demonstrated that dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) may be highly proliferative and capable of pluripotent differentiation into many different tissue types. Recent advances in stem cell research have outlined methods for directing in vitro or in vivo growth, viability, and proliferation, as well as differentiation of DPSC—although much remains to be discovered. Based upon this information, the primary objective of this study was to understand the functional biomaterials needed to more effectively direct DPSC viability, growth, and proliferation. Methods: Using an approved protocol, previously collected and isolated samples of DPSC from an existing repository were used. Previously established stem cell biomarkers (Sox-2, Oct-4, NANOG) from each isolate were correlated with their proliferation rates or doubling times to categorize them into rapid, intermediate, or slow-dividing multipotent DPSC. Growth factors and other functional dental biomaterials were subsequently tested to evaluate DPSC responses in proliferation, viability, and morphology. Results: Differential responses were observed among DPSC isolates to growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenic protein (BMP-2), and functional biomaterials such as mineralized trioxide aggregates (MTA). The responsiveness of DPSC isolates did not correlate with any single factor but rather with a combination of proliferation rate and biomarker expression. Conclusions: These data strongly suggest that some, but not all, DPSC isolates are capable of a robust and significant in vitro response to differentiation stimuli, although this response is not universal. Although some biomarkers and phenotypes that distinguish and characterize these DPSC isolates may facilitate the ability to predict growth, viability, and differentiation potential, more research is needed to determine the other intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may contribute to and modulate these DPSC responses to these functional biomaterials for biotechnology and bioengineering applications.
Individual, social, and environmental factors associated with active transportation commuting during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective Physical inactivity is a major public health concern. Though active transportation through bicycling and walking can increase physical activity and thereby positively affect health, factors that influence people's decisions to commute using active transportation modes remain underexplored and often fail to capture equity-related barriers. Increases in active transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic call for a better understanding of these influences. This study examines the commute mode choices of essential workers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA to explore the extent to which active transportation to work is explained by individual, social, and environmental factors and whether active transportation choices reflect inequalities. Methods Drawing on the theory of planned behavior and the social-ecological model, this study utilizes data from an online survey (N = 213) completed between June and August 2020. Bivariate analyses compare respondents who commuted using active transportation modes to those who did not using chi-square and ANOVA tests. A series of logistic regression models using forward stepwise selection, controlling for demographic characteristics and commute distance, identify salient individual, social, and environmental factors associated with active transportation. Results Nearly half of respondents changed their commute mode during the pandemic, most often to limit exposure to COVID-19. The full model, accounting for 54% of variation in active transportation commuting, indicated significantly lower odds of active transportation use among non-white (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.155) respondents and those who reported time constraints (OR: 0.450), concerns about safety from traffic (OR: 0.482), and greater satisfaction with community support for bicycling and pedestrian issues (OR: 0.551) and significantly higher odds among those who reported safety concerns around germs (OR: 1.580). Conclusions Structural and social investments that make bicycling and walking safer commuting alternatives during COVID-19 could protect essential works and contribute to sustained behavior change. Community engagement is essential for implementation efforts.
Route Planning: A

This chapter is concerned with making successive decisions in the presence of uncertainty. The decisions affect the cost at each step but also the “state” of the system. We start with a simple example: choosing a route with uncertain travel times. We then examine a more general model: controlling a Markov chain.
Robustness analysis framework for computations associated with building performance models and immersive virtual experiments

Abstract Building performance models (BPMs) have been used to simulate and analyze building performance during design. While extensive research efforts have made to improve the performance of BPMs, little attention has given to their robustness. Uncertainty is a crucial factor affecting the robustness of BPMs, in which such effect needs to be quantified through a suitable approach. The paper offers a robustness analysis framework for BPMs by using perturbation techniques to simulate uncertainty in input datasets. To investigate the efficacy of the framework, a generative adversarial network (GAN)-based framework was selected as a case study to analyze light switch usages in a single-occupancy office simulated using an immersive virtual environment (IVE). The robustness of the GAN was analyzed by comparing differences between a baseline (i.e., a BPM obtained from the GAN trained on a non-perturbed dataset) and BPMs obtained from the GAN trained on perturbed datasets. Overall, the robustness of the GAN significantly reduced when the training datasets were perturbed by using structured transformation techniques. The GAN remained relatively robust when the training datasets were perturbed by using an additive perturbation. Additionally, the sensitivity of the GAN involves different magnitudes corresponding to different levels of perturbed input datasets. The study suggests that the perturbation analysis is effective for investigating data uncertainty affecting the robustness of BPMs.