cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiometric Inter-Calibration between Himawari-8 AHI and S-NPP VIIRS for the Solar Reflective Bands

The Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) on-board Himawari-8, which was launched on 7 October 2014, is the first geostationary instrument housed with a solar diffuser to provide accurate onboard calibrated data for the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) bands. In this study, the Ray-matching and collocated Deep Convective Cloud (DCC) methods, both of which are based on incidently collocated homogeneous pairs between AHI and Suomi NPP (S-NPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), are used to evaluate the calibration difference between these two instruments. While the Ray-matching method is used to examine the reflectance difference over the all-sky collocations with similar viewing and illumination geometries, the near lambertian collocated DCC pxiels are used to examine the difference for the median or high reflectance scenes. Strong linear relationships between AHI and VIIRS can be found at all the paired AHI and VIIRS bands. Results of both methods indicate that AHI radiometric calibration accuracy agrees well with VIIRS data within 5% for B1-4 and B6 at mid and high reflectance scenes, while AHI B5 is generally brighter than VIIRS by ~6%–8%. No apparent East-West viewing angle dependent calibration difference can be found at all the VNIR bands. Compared to the Ray-matching method, the collocated DCC method provides less uncertainty of inter-calibration results at near-infrared (NIR) bands. As AHI has similar optics and calibration designs to the GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), which is currently scheduled to launch in fall 2016, the on-orbit AHI data provides a unique opportunity to develop, test and examine the cal/val tools developed for ABI.
The Morphology of Rubber Latex Particles. A Critical Review

Abstract The morphology of the hydrocarbon particles of latices obtained from several rubber producing plants has in recent years again been the subject of studies applying the most modern tools of research. Lucas used for his studies an ultraviolet light microscope and later ultramicrocinematography. Quite recently Hendricks, Wildman, and McMurdie applied electron microscopy for the first time for this purpose. Since some of the deductions in regard to the form and structure of latex particles which have been drawn from these studies differ in several respects from conclusions based on micrugic and ultramicroscopic studies, some of which were reported twenty years ago, it seems advisable to clarify the picture. Such clarification is most important at present, because a better knowledge of the morphology of natural and synthetic rubber latex particles might offer a valuable aid in explaining some of the differences in the properties of these hydrocarbon polymers, which are not readily explainable on the b...
Studies of two-photon transition nonlinearities near half the band gap in semiconductors based on AlGaAs for nonlinear switching

Because of their strong and fast response, the nonlinearities induced by two-photon transitions in semiconductors have been considered for ultrafast all-optical switching.1-3 The switching is efficient, particularly for wavelengths near half the band gap where the nonlinear refractive index, n2, is enhanced by the onset of two-photon absorption. Below the band gap, an important figure of merit related to two-photon absorption is defined by T = 2 β2λ to /n2.4 Here, β2 is the two-photon absorption coefficient and λ is the wavelength in vacuum. T < 1 is the criterion for efficient nonlinear switching. Hence, knowledge of β2 and η2 is important.
Density, Viscosity, Speed of Sound, Bulk Modulus, Surface Tension, and Flash Point of Direct Sugar to Hydrocarbon Diesel (DSH-76) and Binary Mixtures of N-Hexadecane and 2,2,4,6,6-Pentamethylheptane

The physical properties of direct sugar to hydrocarbon diesel (DSH-76) and several binary mixtures of n-hexadecane and 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane were measured in this work. The density and viscosity were measured at temperatures ranging from (293.15 to 393.15) K, and the pure component values fell within the range of previously reported values. Speed of sound data at temperatures ranging from (293.15 to 323.15) K increased from (1089 to 1357) m·s–1. The bulk modulus was calculated from the density and speed of sound data, and its values ranged from (858 to 1425) MPa. Flash point values ranged from (318 to 408) K, and the surface tension values ranged from (21.8 to 27.3) mN·m–1. The values of density, viscosity, speed of sound, bulk modulus, flash point (378 K), and surface tension (25.0 mN·m–1) for the DSH-76 fell within the range of values measured for the binary mixtures of n-hexadecane and 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane. These data suggest that a binary mixture of n-hexadecane and 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethy...
The Labor Vote: A Local Union's Impact on the Political Conduct of Its Members

stimulate planning for the decade ahead by members and chairmen of sociology departments. Assuming that they want to raise the research-toteaching ratio (or at least not let it be lowered by rising enrollments and increased teaching loads wherever resources lag), then what steps will raise or preserve the ratio? If the above steps are not suitable or feasible in one's own department, then what better alternatives can be planned? If no plans are made, then automatically the decision is made to let research be crowded out whenever needs for traditional teaching rise. Can sociologists, experts on social organization, reorganize their own departments to meet changes in society? In summary, it is here argued that:
Label-Free Single Cell Kinetics of the Invasion of Spheroidal Colon Cancer Cells through 3D Matrigel

This article reports label-free, real-time, and single-cell quantification of the invasion of spheroidal colon cancer cells through three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel using a resonant waveguide grating (RWG) imager. This imager employs a time-resolved swept wavelength interrogation scheme to monitor cell invasion and adhesion with a temporal resolution up to 3 s and a spatial resolution of 12 μm. As the model system, spheroids of human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells are generated by culturing the cells in 96-well round-bottom ultralow attachment plates. 3D Matrigel is formed by its gelation in 384-well RWG biosensor microplates. The invasion and adhesion of spheroidal HT29 cells is initiated by placing individual spheroids onto the Matrigel-coated biosensors. The time series RWG images are obtained and used to extract the optical signatures arising from the adhesion after the cells are dissociated from the spheroids and invade through the 3D Matrigel. Compound profiling shows that epidermal growth factor accelerates cancer cell invasion, while vandetanib, a multitarget kinase inhibitor, dose-dependently inhibits invasion. This study demonstrates that the label-free imager can monitor in real-time the invasion of spheroidal cancer cells through 3D matrices.
Optogenetic Control of Calcium Oscillation Waveform Defines NFAT as an Integrator of Calcium Load.

It is known that the calcium-dependent transcription factor NFAT initiates transcription in response to pulsatile loads of calcium signal. However, the relative contributions of calcium oscillation frequency, amplitude, and duty cycle to transcriptional activity remain unclear. Here, we engineer HeLa cells to permit optogenetic control of intracellular calcium concentration using programmable LED arrays. This approach allows us to generate calcium oscillations of constant peak amplitude, in which frequency is varied while holding duty cycle constant, or vice versa. Using this setup and mathematical modeling, we show that NFAT transcriptional activity depends more on duty cycle, defined as the proportion of the integrated calcium concentration over the oscillation period, than on frequency alone. This demonstrates that NFAT acts primarily as a signal integrator of cumulative load rather than a frequency-selective decoder. This approach resolves a fundamental question in calcium encoding and demonstrates the value of optogenetics for isolating individual dynamical components of larger signaling behaviors.
Age-related changes in the chemical composition of gallstones.

BACKGROUND: The association between pigment cholelithiasis and advancing age has been previously described but little is known about the time-course of these changes. AIM: To determine the specific changes that occur in the chemical composition of gallstones with increasing age. METHODS: Gallstones were collected from 387 non-cirrhotic patients and visually classified as either cholesterol or pigment. All stones were quantitatively analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for cholesterol, bilirubin, carbonate and phosphate and the results correlated with stone type and patient age. RESULTS: Forty-five patients had pigment stones (12 %) and 342 had cholesterol stones (88 %). No patient had both types. There was a reciprocal relationship between the mean cholesterol and bilirubin contents of stones over time with cholesterol accounting for 54% of the weight of gallstones before age 30 and only 17% after age 70. Similarly, the mean content (by weight) of bilirubin was 35% before age 30 but 61% after age 70. In addition, the fraction of gallstones containing carbonate or phosphate salts increased sequentially with age (6% at age 30 to 57% at age 70). CONCLUSIONS: (1). The ratio of pigment to cholesterol gallstones increases directly with age. (2) The cholesterol content of stones steadily decreases after age 50 while the content of bilirubin, phosphate and carbonate gradually increases. (3) These data suggest that, during aging, cholesterol may become solubilized and may be replaced by calcium salts of carbonate, phosphate or bilirubinate.
The Role of Metallurgical Variables in Hydrogen-Assisted Environmental Fracture

This chapter focuses on two kinds of environmental fracture, stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and hydrogen embrittlement, and discusses the role in such failures of a number of metallurgical variables. These include chemical composition; microstructural components such as precipitate type and structure, and grain size and shape; crystallographic texture; heat treatment and its effect on the foregoing variables; and processing, particularly the thermomechanical treatments (TMT), which are attracting increased attention for property optimization. These variables are expected to be of great importance in the development of new engineering materials to meet demanding service conditions.
Beyond 100Gb/s

Advanced coherent modulations, increased symbol rate, and superchannels enable optical connections of 150, 200, 400, or 1000+ Gb/s. Enhanced signal processing in CMOS allows superior reaches to be cost-effectively achieved in commercial networks. Article not available.
Controlling Nucleation and Crystal Growth of Ge in a Liquid Metal Solvent

The electrochemical liquid–liquid–solid (ec-LLS) deposition of crystalline germanium (Ge) in a eutectic mixture of liquid gallium (Ga) and indium (In) was analyzed as a function of liquid metal thickness, process temperature, and flux. Through control of reaction parameters, conditions were identified that allow selective nucleation and growth of crystalline Ge at the interface between e-GaIn and a crystalline Si substrate. The crystal growth rates of Ge by ec-LLS as a function of process temperatures were obtained from time-dependent powder X-ray diffraction measurements of crystalline Ge. The driving force, Δμ, for crystal formation in ec-LLS was estimated through analyses of the experimental data in conjunction with predictions from a finite-difference model. The required Δμ for Ge nucleation was tantamount to a supersaturation approximately 102 larger than the equilibrium concentration of Ge in e-GaIn at the investigated temperatures. These points are discussed both in the context of advancing new, lo...
Poor Outcome for Children and Adolescents with Progressive Disease or Relapse of Lymphoblastic Lymphoma - a Report of the BFM Group

Background/Objectives: Little is known about the outcome of pediatric patients with lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) who suffer form progressive disease or relapse. Patients and Methods: We analyzed the pattern of LBL-relapses after current NHL-BFM-frontline therapy between 4/90 and 3/03. Relapse therapy was according to ALL-Relapse-BFM protocols or ALL-BFM protocols for high-risk patients. Results: 28 of 251 registered T-LBL-patients (11%) and six of 73 pB-LBL-patients (8%) suffered from relapse. Of the 28 T-LBL-patients, one died from infection during relapse-chemotherapy, 18 failed to achieve stable remission and died from disease-progression, and nine reached allogeneic stemcell transplantation (SCT). Two of these nine SCT patients died from transplantation-associated toxicity, three died from disease-progression and four are still alive. The patients are in 2 nd remission of their lymphoma for 48, 68, 125 and 131 months respectively after allogeneic SCT. One of the four patients developed colon adenocarcinoma 47 months after SCT. Of the six relapsed pB-LBL patients one died due to toxicity of relapse-chemotherapy, two died from disease-progression after chemotherapy and three received allogeneic SCT. Of these, two died from subsequent disease-progression while one patient is still alive 57 months after allogeneic SCT. Conclusions: Outcome of LBL-patients with relapse during or after current intensive 1 st line therapy is poor. More than 50% of these patients failed to achieve remission to intensive 2 nd line chemotherapy. Consolidation by allogeneic SCT may offer a cure for those who reach second remission.
Genomic Analysis of Cucurbit Fruit Growth

Fruit development in cucurbit species follows the canonical progression of ovary development, fruit set, expansive fruit growth, and maturation and ripening. This commonality, however, belies tremendous morphological diversity. Variation in timing, amount, and orientation of cell division and cell expansion pre- and post-anthesis, as well as factors influencing carpel number, floral sex, photosynthetic capacity and trichome development all drive extreme variability in fruit size and shape. New genomic approaches utilizing recently assembled draft genomes for the four major cucurbit crop species (Cucumis sativus, Cucumis melo, Citrullus lanatus, Cucurbita spp), next generation high throughput sequencing, molecular mapping methods, transcriptomic analyses, gene cloning, and transgenic approaches are all contributing to an increased understanding of the key processes underlying cucurbit fruit development. Extensive quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses have identified numerous QTL for features such as ovary length, width, and shape, and fruit length, width, shape, flesh thickness and cavity diameter. Most recently, multi-pronged approaches combining mapping, sequence, and transcriptional analyses have allowed for identification specific candidate genes influencing cucurbit fruit morphology.
Burnout and interventions in pediatric residency: A literature review

Abstract Despite an increase in interest in issues related to burnout in medical education and mandates from the national residency accrediting body, available literature is sparse in pediatrics, a medical discipline that requires special empathy and compassion, as well as enhanced communication skills to effectively care for children and their families. Burnout prevalence ranges from 17 to 67.8% of pediatric residents in recent studies. There is little that details the pathogenesis of burnout in these residents and little that compares them with those in other medical disciplines. This comprehensive literature review describes all that is published on burnout and burnout interventions since 2005 in pediatrics and other primary care oriented specialty residents, as well as key papers from pre-2005. This review, with its focus on the available information and evidence-based intervention strategies, identifies four areas for focus for future interventions and directions. It should serve as a useful resource to program directors, medical educators and graduate medical education leadership who are committed to preventing and/or treating burnout in their residents and molding these young physicians to be able to maintain resilience through their careers. This review should also be useful to investigators exploring burnout in other health care professionals.
INTERANNUAL VARIABILITY IN BIOGEOCHEMISTRY OF PARTIALLY MIXED ESTUARIES: DISSOLVED SILICATE CYCLES IN NORTHERN SAN FRANCISCO BAY

Much of the interannual variability in partially mixed estuaries in dissolved inorganic nutrient and dissolved oxygen patterns results from an enhancement or reduction of their annual cycle (generally via climatic forcing). In northern San Francisco Bay estuary the annual cycle of dissolved silicate supply peaks in spring and the effect of phytoplankton removal peaks in fall. Because riverine silicate sources are enhanced in wet years and reduced in dry years, the annual silicate cycle is modified accordingly. Effects of phytoplankton removal are reduced and delayed in wet years and enhanced and advanced (seen earlier) in dry years. Similar reasoning can apply to interpreting and understanding other mechanisms and rates.
CNS manifestations of voltage-gated calcium channel antibodies (P2.371)

Objective: To report 2 patients with CNS disorders associated with serum voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) antibodies. Background: Antibodies directed to VGCC most often accompany Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), though a handful of cases have been associated with autoimmune myeloneuropathy, encephalitis and cerebellar degeneration. Design/Methods: Case reports. Results: Case 1. A 52 year-old man developed subacute onset of amnestic syndrome and depression with suicidal ideation. Brain MRI found asymmetric hyperintense FLAIR signal in anteromedial temporal cortex without enhancement. EEG was normal. CSF disclosed mild lymphocytic pleocytosis with oligoclonal bands and was negative for multiple infectious pathogens, NMDA antibody and 14-3-3 protein. Serum antibodies to N- and P/Q­-type VGCC were identified at 2 reference laboratories 4 months apart. No other paraneoplastic autoantibodies were detected. Imaging (CT and FDG-PET) failed to identify occult neoplasia. The patient had a favorable response to treatment with solumedrol and IVIG. Case 2. A 62 year-old man developed rapidly evolving change in gait and speech associated with memory disturbance, prominent apathy and pseudobulbar affect. Examination revealed symmetric akinetic-rigid syndrome with preserved ocular motility and mild executive dysfunction on cognitive testing. Brain MRI showed mild volume loss and subcortical white matter signal abnormality. CSF was normal; nerve conduction and EMG found no evidence of LEMS. Serum antibodies to P/Q-type VGCC were identified and remained elevated 4 months later. No other antineuronal antibodies were detected. Imaging identified no occult malignancy. He experienced a substantial response to solumedrol and IVIG. Conclusions: Uncommon manifestations of VGCC antibodies include limbic encephalitis and what resembled progressive supranuclear palsy. Study Supported by: Not applicable Disclosure: Dr. Adair has nothing to disclose.
Development of a tool to assess client-centered practice on a domestic violence hotline:

SummaryClient-centered practice, also termed survivor-centered practice in the context of domestic violence, has broad support as a set of strategies for working effectively with trauma survivors. However, research, evaluation and staff training are limited by a lack of measurement tools. This paper describes the process of developing an index of hotline caller reactions to practitioners’ client-centered practices.FindingsThe project was a collaborative effort between academic researchers and practitioners working in a community agency. To generate and refine the items, researchers consulted the scholarly literature and agency materials, had discussions with practitioners, and coded a group of 25 recorded calls to the agency’s hotline. The resulting tool separates two phases of the hotline calls and identifies 23 client reactions to advocate behaviors that indicate the client-centeredness of the interaction.ApplicationThe collaborative nature of the process ensured that the final product included multiple...
Predicting longleaf pine coarse root decomposition in the southeastern US

Abstract Storage of belowground carbon (C) is an important component of total forest C. However, belowground C changes temporally due to forest growth and tree mortality (natural and via harvesting) and these fluctuations are critical for modeling C in forests under varying management regimes. To date, little progress has been made in quantifying the rate of decay of southern pines in general, and specifically in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) coarse root systems. Decomposition rates of lateral roots and tap roots of longleaf pine were quantified in situ under field conditions across the species’ range to create a model for necromass loss. The roots of 37 longleaf pine stumps were excavated from Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and North Carolina. The age of the trees when cut ranged from 14 to 260 years, and the time since cut ranged from 5 to 70 years. Remaining lateral roots to a 1 m depth plus the entire tap root were removed, dried, weighed and analyzed for C and nitrogen (N) content. Total dry necromass of harvested roots ranged from 8 to 195 kg tree−1. Soil C and N content at 15 cm depth were significantly higher near the stump compared to half-way between and adjacent to the nearest living longleaf pine. A regression model was developed to predict necromass loss. The final model included years since cut, stump diameter, and average minimum monthly air temperature as predictors (R2 = 0.83). For example, a 100-year-old tree would have a predicted root decomposition rate (k) of −0.120 for lateral roots and −0.038 per year for tap roots. Results suggest that longleaf pine coarse roots persist in the environment longer than the tap roots of loblolly pine.
Computational and Robotic Models of the Hierarchical Organization of Behavior: An Overview

The hierarchical organisation of behaviour is a fundamental means through which robots and organisms can acquire and produce sophisticated and flexible behaviours that allow them to solve multiple tasks in multiple conditions. Recently, the research on this topic has been receiving increasing attention. On the one hand, machine learning and robotics are recognising the fundamental importance of the hierarchical organisation of behaviour for building robots that scale up to solve complex tasks, possibly in a cumulative fashion. On the other hand, research in psychology and neuroscience is finding increasing evidence that modularity and hierarchy are pivotal organisation principles of behaviour and of the brain. This book reviews the state of the art in computational and robotic models of the hierarchical organisation of behaviour. Each contribution reviews the main works of the authors on this subject, the open challenges, and promising research directions. Together, the contributions give a good coverage of the most important models, findings, and challenges of the field. This introductory chapter presents the general aims and scope of the book and briefly summarises the contents of each chapter.
Three essays on biofuel, environmental economics, and international trade

This dissertation focuses on two independent areas: the analysis of biofuel and related energy policies, and the relationship between trade and the environment with heterogeneous firms. Chapter 1 provides quantitative estimates of the welfare benefits of U.S. biofuel and related energy polices. The remaining two chapters investigate the firm-level relationship between trade and the environment using theoretical model and empirical evidence. Chapter 2, theoretical in nature, explores the impact of the stringency of environmental policy and exposure to trade on the induced clean technology adoption and on firm dynamics. Using a unique detailed facility-level dataset containing criteria air emissions and economic activity data, chapter 3 investigates whether exporters are more environmentally friendly than non-exporters in terms of lower emissions per value of sales.
Wastewater irrigation impacts on soil hydraulic conductivity: Coupled field sampling and laboratory determination of saturated hydraulic conductivity

Since the early 1960s, an alternative wastewater discharge practice at The Pennsylvania State University has been researched and its impacts monitored. Rather than discharging treated wastewater to a stream, and thereby directly impacting the stream quality, the effluent is applied to forested and cropped land managed by the University. Concerns related to reductions in soil hydraulic conductivity occur when considering wastewater reuse. The methodology described in this manuscript, matching soil sample size with the size of the laboratory-based hydraulic conductivity measurement apparatus, provides the benefits of a relatively rapid collection of samples with the benefits of controlled laboratory boundary conditions. The results suggest that there may have been some impact of wastewater reuse on the soil's ability to transmit water at deeper depths in the depressional areas of the site. Most of the reductions in the soil hydraulic conductivity in the depressions appear to be related to the depth from which the sample was collected, and by inference, associated with the soil structural and textural differences.
A diversity-generating retroelement encoded by a globally ubiquitous Bacteroides phage

Diversity-generating retroelements (DGRs) are genetic cassettes that selectively mutate target genes to produce hypervariable proteins. First characterized in Bordetella bacteriophage BPP-1, the DGR creates a hypervariable phage tail fiber that enables host tropism switching. Subsequent surveys for DGRs conclude that the majority identified to date are bacterial or archaeal in origin. This work examines bacteriophage and bacterial genomes for novel phage-encoded DGRs. This survey discovered 92 DGRs that were only found in phages exhibiting a temperate lifestyle. The majority of phage-encoded DGRs were identified as prophages in bacterial hosts from the phyla Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes. Sequence reads from these previously unidentified prophages were present in viral metagenomes (viromes), indicating these prophages can produce functional viruses. Five phages possessed hypervariable proteins with structural similarity to the tail fiber of BPP-1, whereas the functions of the remaining DGR target proteins were unknown. A novel temperate phage that harbors a DGR cassette targeting a protein of unknown function was induced from Bacteroides dorei. This phage, here named Bacteroides dorei Hankyphage, lysogenizes 13 different Bacteroides species and was present in 34% and 21% of whole-community metagenomes and human-associated viromes, respectively. Here, the number of known DGR-containing phages is increased from four to 92. All of these phages exhibit a temperate lifestyle, including a cosmopolitan human-associated phage. Targeted hypervariation by temperate phages may be a ubiquitous mechanism underlying phage-bacteria interaction in the human microbiome.
Abnormal Spontaneous Activity in Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (P02.205)

OBJECTIVE: Abnormal spontaneous activity on needle electromyography (EMG) is not considered a classic finding in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, while it is a recognized feature of botulism, another presynaptic disorder of neuromuscular transmission. BACKGROUND: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is a rare, autoimmune, presynaptic disorder of neuromuscular transmission frequently associated with antibodies against the P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel. DESIGN/METHODS: We report a case of seronegative LEMS in a young man presenting with subacute proximal weakness, where needle EMG showed markedly abnormal spontaneous activity. RESULTS: Routine electrodiagnostic testing revealed diffusely low compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) and normal sensory nerve action potentials. More than 100% increment in CMAP amplitude was observed in multiple nerves after ten seconds of maximal exercise. Repetitive nerve stimulation at 3 Hz showed an abnormal decrement. Needle EMG demonstrated frequent fibrillation potentials and positive sharp waves in multiple muscles, together with myopathic motor units which were unstable. CONCLUSIONS: We review the literature on needle EMG findings in LEMS, and identify additional reports of abnormal spontaneous activity in LEMS. Cases of LEMS presenting with subacute proximal weakness with marked fibrillation potentials and positive sharp waves on needle EMG can thus be confused with irritable myopathies. A high index of suspicion in such cases should prompt post-exercise testing and repetitive nerve stimulation to distinguish an irritable myopathy from Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. By analogy to botulism, we hypothesize that the fibrillation potentials and positive sharp waves in LEMS indicate effective denervation of muscle fibers due to severely impaired presynaptic neuromuscular transmission. Disclosure: Dr. Roy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Youssof has nothing to disclose.
There are No Bit Parts for Sign Bits in Black-Box Attacks.

We present a black-box adversarial attack algorithm which sets new state-of-the-art model evasion rates for query efficiency in the $\ell_\infty$ and $\ell_2$ metrics, where only loss-oracle access to the model is available. On two public black-box attack challenges, the algorithm achieves the highest evasion rate, surpassing all of the submitted attacks. Similar performance is observed on a model that is secure against substitute-model attacks. For standard models trained on the MNIST, CIFAR10, and IMAGENET datasets, averaged over the datasets and metrics, the algorithm is 3.8x less failure-prone, and spends in total 2.5x fewer queries than the current state-of-the-art attacks combined given a budget of 10, 000 queries per attack attempt. Notably, it requires no hyperparameter tuning or any data/time-dependent prior. The algorithm exploits a new approach, namely sign-based rather than magnitude-based gradient estimation. This shifts the estimation from continuous to binary black-box optimization. With three properties of the directional derivative, we examine three approaches to adversarial attacks. This yields a superior algorithm breaking a standard MNIST model using just 12 queries on average!
Effects of Band Population on the Magnetooptical Propertiers of the Lead Salts

Recent experimental and theoretical studies of the lead salts have developed the major features of the one-electron band structure. The valence and conduction band extrema are located at the L point of the Brillouin zone and have only the twofold Kramers degeneracy required by time-reversal symmetry. There are four equivalent valence bands and four equivalent conduction bands. For each compound the effective masses in the conduction and valence bands are nearly equal. The bands are somewhat anisotropic and nonparabolic. (The energy ellipsoids, oriented along the [111] directions, are illustrated in Fig. 1.) These features of the band structure make the lead salts very attractive for studying the dynamical effects due to free carriers and particularly the interband effects, since the complications arising from a complex valence or conduction band are avoided.
The History of Americanist Hunter-Gatherer Research

As we have seen, social evolutionary theory rested on the premise that material economy—more particularly subsistence economy—is fundamental to cultural progress and determines its evolutionary trajectory. Hunter-gatherers were conceptually critical to that premise. In opposing culture and nature, progressive evolutionary theory necessarily implied that the behavior of primitive peoples was to be construed in natural rather than cultural terms, that is, as a direct response to nature, technology, and environment. It followed that in its initial stages evolutionary progress was accomplished by replacing the natural hunting and gathering economy with a cultural economy founded on agriculture (see later discussion). As hunter-gatherers known in the nineteenth century showed, without this first step human progress was impossible (cf. Chinard 1947:51; Pearce 1988:66–72, 132). In social evolutionary theory, then, ecology and environment and hunter-gatherer research were inseparable; one could not account for the latter without considering the former.
Accelerated Ovarian Failure as a Unique Model to Study Peri-Menopause Influence on Alzheimer's Disease.

Despite decades of extensive research efforts, efficacious therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are lacking. The multi-factorial nature of AD neuropathology and symptomatology has taught us that a single therapeutic approach will most likely not fit all. Women constitute ~70% of the affected AD population, and pathology and rate of symptoms progression are 2-3 times higher in women than men. Epidemiological data suggest that menopausal estrogen loss may be causative of the more severe symptoms observed in AD women, however, results from clinical trials employing estrogen replacement therapy are inconsistent. AD pathological hallmarks – amyloid A, neurofibrillary tangles, and chronic gliosis - are laid down during a 20-year prodromal period before clinical symptoms appear, which coincides with the menopause transition (peri-menopause) in women (~45-54-year-old). Peri-menopause is marked by widely fluctuating estrogen levels resulting in periods of irregular hormone-receptor interactions. Recent studies showed that peri-menopausal women have increased AD phenotype indicators of AD phenotype (brain Aβ deposition and hypometabolism), and peri-menopausal women who used hormone replacement therapy had a reduced AD risk. This suggests that neuroendocrine changes during peri-menopause may be a trigger that increases risk of AD in women. Studies on sex differences have been performed in several AD rodent models over the years. However, it has been challenging to study the menopause influence on AD due to lack of optimal models that mimic the human process. Recently, the rodent model of accelerated ovarian failure (AOF) was developed, which uniquely recapitulates human menopause, including a transitional peri-AOF period with irregular estrogen fluctuations and a post-AOF stage with low estrogen levels. This model has proven useful in hypertension and cognition studies with wild type animals. In this review, weThis review will highlight the molecular mechanisms by which peri-menopause may influence the female’s brain vulnerability to AD and AD risk factors, such as hypertension and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. Studies on these biological mechanisms together with the use of the AOF model have the potential to shed light on key molecular pathways underlying AD pathogenesis for the development of precision medicine approaches that take sex and hormonal status into account.
Female Team Physician Representation in Professional and Collegiate Athletics.

Background:Although a sex-based balance in US graduate medical education has been well-documented, a discrepancy remains in orthopaedic surgery. In orthopaedic sports medicine, the representation o...
Enhancing Dialectical Behavior Therapy for the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a third wave, behavioral therapy that is designed to target emotion dysregulation. The current study investigated whether DBT could be an effective treatment intervention for bipolar disorder and how it could be adapted for this population. Although empirical study of DBT and bipolar disorder is limited, there is evidence to suggest that DBT is a promising treatment for bipolar disorder. In this study, adapted DBT products were created for bipolar disorder, and feedback on the products was elicited from five experts in the field through semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and coded for analyses. The findings from the interviews were integrated into revised products with the intention to be used in the clinical community. Several experts reported currently using DBT for bipolar disorder treatment. We conclude that a form of DBT using adapted materials could be a promising intervention for the treatment of bipolar disorder, although more research is needed to demonstrate efficacy. Future directions include conducting randomized controlled trials on DBT and bipolar disorder, as well as testing the created product in clinical practice.
Assessing post-discharge costs of hepatopancreatic surgery: an evaluation of Medicare expenditure

Abstract Background The true cost of liver and pancreatic surgery may not be completely ascertained by examining costs associated solely with the index hospitalization. We sought to assess post-discharge costs related to liver and pancreatic surgery after the index hospitalization. Methods We identified Medicare beneficiaries who underwent liver and pancreatic resection between 2013 and 2015. To assess post-discharge costs, costs were assessed for the following: all inpatient readmissions associated with an operative complication, follow-up outpatient visits with their operating surgeon, and use of skilled nursing facilities, hospice, and home health care within 90 days of discharge. Results Among the 21,737 patients who underwent either pancreatic or liver resection, the median cost of the index admission was $20,500 (interquartile range: $16,100–$34,300) (pancreas median: $22,100; interquartile range: $16,800–$36,500 vs liver median: $19,100; interquartile range: $15,100–$29,000). Approximately 30% (n = 6,435) had an all-cause readmission; more than half of readmissions (55.8%; n = 3,589) were related to an operative complication. Skilled nursing facilities and home health care services were utilized by 18.5% (n = 4,016) and 42.6% (n = 9,259) of patients, respectively. In total, nearly 75% of patients had additional, post-discharge hidden costs associated with their operative episode of care (n = 15,733: 72.4%). Male sex (95% confidence interval: 1.15–1.30) and black/African American race (95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.34) were associated with greater odds of post-discharge costs (both Conclusion Nearly 3 out of 4 patients who underwent a liver or pancreatic resection had post-discharge costs. Male and black/African American patients had greater odds of incurring post-discharge costs. As payers move to more bundled care payment models, strategies aimed at bending the cost curve associated with both the in-hospital, as well as the post-discharge setting, are needed.
Securitizing Digital Debts

The promise of financial technology (“fintech”) and artificial intelligence (“AI”) in broadening access to financial products and services continues to capture the imagination of policymakers, Wall Street, and the public. This has been particularly true in the realm of fintech credit where platform companies increasingly provide online loans to consumers, students, and small businesses by harnessing AI underwriting and alternative data. In 2019 alone fintech lenders represented nearly 50% of total non-credit card, unsecured consumer loan balances in the United States. One of the most prevalent ways fintech credit firms operate is by securitizing the online loans they help originate. In doing so, fintech lenders are able to access the capital markets and further the spread of borrowed capital and credit risk. Against this backdrop of increasing institutional investment in fintech securitized assets, this Article reveals how consumer finance law is playing a subtle but increasingly important role in commercial financial transactions. I do this by exploring how structured finance has come to operate in the fintech credit marketplace and by comparing it to pre-2008 securitization activity in the home mortgage context. In doing so, I critique algorithm-driven credit securitization and point out certain economic and legal risks that make it similar to pre-2008 mortgage securitization, as well as other risks that are unique to fintech finance. These pertain to, among other things, the opacity of loans underwritten through the use of alternative data and machine learning, the untested efficacy of such underwriting techniques, and the ways consumer finance laws—such as licensing, usury, and standards-based regulation—and the growth of nonbank finance companies intersect with the securitization process. The paper concludes by offering policy recommendations for addressing these future risks.
ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 Expression in the Normal and COVID-19 Pancreas

Diabetes is associated with increased mortality from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Given literature suggesting a potential association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and diabetes induction, we examined pancreatic expression of the key molecule for SARS-CoV-2 infection of cells, angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). Specifically, we analyzed five public scRNAseq pancreas datasets and performed fluorescence in situ hybridization, Western blotting, and immunolocalization for ACE2 with extensive reagent validation on normal human pancreatic tissues across the lifespan, as well as those from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. These in silico and ex vivo analyses demonstrated pancreatic expression of ACE2 is prominent in pancreatic ductal epithelium and the microvasculature, with rare endocrine cell expression of this molecule. Pancreata from COVID-19 patients demonstrated multiple thrombotic lesions with SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein expression primarily limited to ducts. SARS-CoV-2 infection of pancreatic endocrine cells, via ACE2, appears an unlikely central pathogenic feature of COVID-19 as it relates to diabetes. Funding: These efforts were supported by NIH P01 AI42288 and UC4 DK108132 (MAA), JDRF (MAA), NIH R01 DK122160 (MCT), NIH R01 AI134971 (DH), NIH P30 DK020541 (D.H.), JDRF 3-PDF-2018-575-A-N (VvdH), R01 DK093954 (CEM); VA Merit Award I01BX001733 (CEM), Imaging Core of NIH/NIDDK P30 DK097512 (CEM), gifts from the Sigma Beta Sorority, the Ball Brothers Foundation, and the George and Frances Ball Foundation (CEM), the Network for Pancreatic Organ donors with Diabetes (nPOD; RRID:SCR_014641) (5-SRA-2018-557-Q-R) and The Leona M. & Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (2018PG-T1D053). Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no relevant conflicts of interest exist. Ethical Approval: Transplant-quality pancreas, duodenum, and kidney were recovered by JDRF nPOD (www.jdrfnpod.com) from 36 COVID-19 negative organ donors without diabetes (Table S2) according to established protocols and procedures (Campbell-Thompson et al., 2012), as approved by the University of Florida Institutional Review Board (201400486), the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), and according to federal guidelines with informed consent obtained from each donor’s legal representative.
Ovule siRNAs methylate and silence protein-coding genes in trans

Abstract 24-nt small interfering siRNAs maintain asymmetric DNA methylation at thousands of euchromatic transposable elements in plant genomes in a process call RNA-directed DNA Methylation (RdDM). Although this methylation occasionally causes transcriptional silencing of nearby protein-coding genes, direct targeting of methylation at coding sequences is rare. RdDM is dispensable for growth and development in Arabidopsis, but is required for reproduction in other plant species, such as Brassica rapa. 24-nt siRNAs are particularly abundant in reproductive tissue, due largely to overwhelming expression from a small number of loci in the ovule and developing seed coat, termed siren loci. Here we show that siRNAs are often produced from gene fragments embedded in siren loci, and that these siRNAs can trigger methylation in trans at related protein-coding genes. This trans-methylation is associated with transcriptional silencing of target genes and may be responsible for seed abortion in RdDM mutants. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a consensus sequence in at least two families of DNA transposons is associated with abundant siren expression, most likely through recruitment of the CLSY3 putative chromatin remodeller. This research describes a new mechanism whereby RdDM influences gene expression and sheds light on the role of RdDM during plant reproduction.
Source Apportionment of Volatile Organic Compounds, CO, SO2 and Trace Metals in a complex urban atmosphere

Abstract A commixture of gasphase compounds including carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and trace metals were collected at a site located at the urban/industrial interface in Houston, Texas. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis yielded nine factors: gas/crude oil (21.3±5.5%), isoprene emission (17.0±7.1%), Si-rich (14.6±1.3%), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (11.2±4.0%), traffic (10.6±0.4%), Fluidized-bed Catalytic Cracking (FCC)/high temperature operations (7.2±4.3%), oil refinery (6.8±0.9%), soil and road dust (6.2±0.6%), and petrochemical industries (5.0±5.0%). Daytime and nighttime PMF runs were carried out to see potential differences among and within emission sources. Notable findings include: (1) Nocturnal isoprene emission was identified from traffic exhaust and industrial sources. (2) LPG emissions were higher during the day most likely due to temperature dependent evaporative processes. (3) V/Ni and SO2/V ratios reveal greater contribution from crude oil in the merged natural gas/crude oil emission factor. Corrosion might be responsible for emitting metals (i.e., Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni) from oil refineries during nighttime. (4) In the soil and road dust factor, metals relevant to plant physiological processes are mostly retained by the plants while the lanthanoids and other metals (i.e. Y, Pb, Mn, Ga, Ba) are more prone to physical removal during the day. (5) FCC/high temperature operations are dominated by metals at night. (6) The traffic factor increases during the day possibly due to the higher number of vehicles. Bivariate polar plots suggest the Houston Ship Channel area as the primary emission source for LPG, natural gas/crude oil, FCC/high temperature operations, and petrochemical industries.
Displacements and Stresses in Nonhomogeneous Solid

An analysis is described for determining the displacements and stresses in an isotropic nonhomogeneous elastic solid whose modulus of rigidity varies with the depth. The solid, which is assumed to occupy a semi-infinite region, is deformed by the application of normal load symmetrically distributed over a circular portion of the horizontal surface. The physical quantities of interest (e.g., surface displacement, maximum normal and shear stresses, and stress isobars) are computed and the results are displayed graphically. Comparison with the known solution for homogeneous solid suggests that variations in the stiffness exponent, α, could have important influence on the contact settlement and the stress field in the solid.