cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Between marginality and privilege: gaining access and navigating the field in multiethnic settings:

In this article we propose a framework of credibility and approachability for researchers to use as they prepare for fieldwork and write up their data. Highlighting intersectional perspectives from two women and scholars of color, this framework translates the important theoretical critiques of dichotomous thinking (for example, insider-outsider) into methodological practice. We argue that credibility and approachability are not just performed by researchers, but are also perceived by respondents and placed on researchers’ bodies. By conceptualizing credibility and approachability as both performed behaviors and perceived characteristics, we are able to incorporate the researcher’s positionality, the standpoint of the researched, and the power-laden particularities of the interaction in our data analyses and fieldwork reflections for the benefit of both researchers and readers.
Properties-preserving high order numerical methods for a kinetic eikonal equation

For the BGK (Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook) equation in the large scale hyperbolic limit, the density of particles can be transformed as the Hopf-Cole transformation, where the phase function converges uniformly to the viscosity solution of an effective Hamilton-Jacobi equation, referred to as the kinetic eikonal equation. In this work, we present efficient high order finite difference methods for numerically solving the kinetic eikonal equation. The methods are based on monotone schemes such as the Godunov scheme. High order weighted essentially non-oscillatory techniques and Runge-Kutta procedures are used to obtain high order accuracy in both space and time. The effective Hamiltonian is determined implicitly by a nonlinear equation given as integrals with respect to the velocity variable. Newton's method is applied to solve the nonlinear equation, where integrals with respect to the velocity variable are evaluated either by a Gauss quadrature formula or as expansions with respect to moments of the Maxwellian. The methods are designed such that several key properties such as the positivity of the viscosity solution and the positivity of the effective Hamiltonian are preserved. Numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the methods.
SeqLib: a C ++ API for rapid BAM manipulation, sequence alignment and sequence assembly.

We present SeqLib, a C ++ API and command line tool that provides a rapid and user-friendly interface to BAM/SAM/CRAM files, global sequence alignment operations and sequence assembly. Four C libraries perform core operations in SeqLib: HTSlib for BAM access, BWA-MEM and BLAT for sequence alignment and Fermi for error correction and sequence assembly. Benchmarking indicates that SeqLib has lower CPU and memory requirements than leading C ++ sequence analysis APIs. We demonstrate an example of how minimal SeqLib code can extract, error-correct and assemble reads from a CRAM file and then align with BWA-MEM. SeqLib also provides additional capabilities, including chromosome-aware interval queries and read plotting. Command line tools are available for performing integrated error correction, micro-assemblies and alignment. Availability and Implementation SeqLib is available on Linux and OSX for the C ++98 standard and later at github.com/walaj/SeqLib. SeqLib is released under the Apache2 license. Additional capabilities for BLAT alignment are available under the BLAT license. Contact jwala@broadinstitue.org ; rameen@broadinstitute.org.
Plasma Membrane Orai1 and Septin Organization during Calcium Signalling

The STIM-ORAI-mediated calcium release-activated calcium channel, or CRAC channel, is a key source of calcium influx that maintains cellular calcium balance and mediates calcium signaling. STIM in the ER membrane senses depletion of ER calcium stores and moves to ER-plasma membrane junctions, then recruits plasma membrane ORAI channels to the junctions and directly gates the channels. We have shown previously that septins are crucial for efficient STIM1-ORAI1 cluster formation following store depletion. Septins are known to specify diffusive barriers in the plasma membrane and to serve as scaffolds to recruit signalling proteins, but their detailed role in calcium signaling remains to be characterized. Here we utilize live-cell super-resolution microscopy and single-molecule tracking to map ORAI1 relative to STIM1 and membrane-localized septins. These observations at high spatial and temporal resolution enable precise analyses of ORAI1 movements before and after store depletion, and of the relation of septins to the membrane nanodomains where STIM and ORAI interact.
The effects of substrate plasma etching on the performance of thin metal films

Abstract In very thin Group 11 metal films (i.e., copper, silver, and gold), with thicknesses of the same order of magnitude or smaller than the electron mean free path, the morphology of the film surface can affect the physical properties of the film. To investigate the effects of etching a substrate with a low-pressure argon plasma (as a surface “pre-treatment”) using a custom-built plasma etcher, we grew a set of Group 11 metal films in a custom-built electron-beam deposition system at room temperature on both treated and untreated c-cut Al2O3 substrates. We compared the properties expected to be most affected by surface morphology (i.e., roughness, conductivity, surface free energy, and adhesion) for each film. Although the surface free energy of the metal films was not affected by plasma etching the substrate, the surface morphology (roughness and conductivity) was affected.
Abstract P147: Office Blood Pressure: An Inadequate Guide to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertension

Hypertension is a cardiovascular (CV) disease with high risk for CV morbid events (ME) that benefits from anti-hypertensive therapy. Resting blood pressure (BP) >140/90 mmHg serves as the diagnostic criterion for hypertension, and management has been aimed at BP reduction. Progression of CV disease in the absence of elevated blood pressure identifies individuals who might benefit from CV-protective therapy but are not currently being recognized as in need of treatment. In 2017 asymptomatic individuals evaluated for early functional and structural CV abnormalities, 1534 not taking anti-hypertensive drugs were available to determine the relationship between office blood pressure and the severity of CV abnormalities, as defined by a 10-test non-invasive disease score (DS) of 0-20. Previous studies have documented the high predictive value of DS for future CVME. The population was 53% male, average age 50±11 years, BP 122/77mmHg, LDL cholesterol 129±38 mg/dL, HDL 52±17mg/dL, triglycerides 109 mg/dL. DS was adjusted by eliminating the score for BP, but 9-test DS was still directly related to BP: 2.3 in those (n=550) 6 indicative of high risk was present in 10% of Group I, 20% of Group II and 30% of Group III. BP was largely overlapping in individuals with no CV disease (DS 0-2), early disease (DS 3-5) and advanced disease (DS 6+). Therefore, reliance on resting BP leaves many at-risk individuals undiagnosed and untreated for early CV disease likely to progress. The hypertensive state exists in the absence of elevated BP and should be recognized and treated to prevent CVME.
Sulfide bonded atomic radii

The bonded radius, r b(S), of the S atom, calculated for first- and second-row non-transition metal sulfide crystals and third-row transition metal sulfide molecules and crystals indicates that the radius of the sulfur atom is not fixed as traditionally assumed, but that it decreases systematically along the bond paths of the bonded atoms with decreasing bond length as observed in an earlier study of the bonded radius of the oxygen atom. When bonded to non-transition metal atoms, r b(S) decreases systematically with decreasing bond length from 1.68 A when the S atom is bonded to the electropositive VINa atom to 1.25 A when bonded to the more electronegative IVP atom. In the case of transition metal atoms, rb(S) likewise decreases with decreasing bond length from 1.82 A when bonded to Cu and to 1.12 A when bonded to Fe. As r b(S) is not fixed at a given value but varies substantially depending on the bond length and the field strength of the bonded atoms, it is apparent that sets of crystal and atomic sulfide atomic radii based on an assumed fixed radius for the sulfur atom are satisfactory in that they reproduce bond lengths, on the one hand, whereas on the other, they are unsatisfactory in that they fail to define the actual sizes of the bonded atoms determined in terms of the minima in the electron density between the atoms. As such, we urge that the crystal chemistry and the properties of sulfides be studied in terms of the bond lengths determined by adding the radii of either the atomic and crystal radii of the atoms but not in terms of existing sets of crystal and atomic radii. After all, the bond lengths were used to determine the radii that were experimentally determined, whereas the individual radii were determined on the basis of an assumed radius for the sulfur atom.
New Geospatial Technologies Leading to New Strategies: The Case of Kerkenes Dağ, Turkey

Innovations in geospatial technologies have exploded over the past ­several decades, significantly impacting archaeological research. At Kerkenes Dag, a massive late Iron Age city in Central Turkey, a variety of these technologies have been employed over the past two decades. The techniques used include: aerial photography, satellite imaging, magnetometry survey, resistivity survey, and micro-topographic GPS survey. The availability of this data has allowed a map of the ancient city to be developed and new strategies and methods to be devised, including archaeological transportation modeling using both Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) and Transportation Geographic Information Systems (GIS-T), to understand how the city was used by its inhabitants. The potential impacts of these new strategies for both archaeological interpretation and site management are explored in this chapter.
Partitioning Technique for Determinantal Equations

The partitioning of large arrays into block components which could themselves be manipulated as algebraic entities is a technique which has been used with particular effectiveness by P.-O. Lowdin and his school. This “partitioning technique” underlies the Lowdin analysis /1/ of the relationship between perturbation and variational treatments of Schrodinger’s equation, and leads to the resolvent algebra, inner projections, and other important formal developments. In this brief note we describe how this technique can also simplify the treatment of determinantal equations, which permit a unified approach to certain problems of numerical approximation, interpolation, and quadratures which arise frequently in quantum chemistry, as well as to the determination of rigorous error bounds for the quality of approximate wavefunctions and the associated quantum-mechanical properties /2/.
Acoustic transmission in the dentate nucleus. I. Patterns of activity to click and hiss; II. Changes in activity and excitability after conditioning

Recordings were made from 95 units of the dentate nucleus of naive cats to determine if patterns of response to 70 dB clicks could be distinguished from those to another acoustic stimulus (a hiss) of approximately equal sound pressure level. Further studies of an additional 309 units were conducted to determine if unit excitability and the response to clicks changed after Pavlovian conditioning in which blink responses were elicited by the clicks as conditioned stimuli. Over 50% of units tested before conditioning responded to click or hiss with increased activity, and 8% responded in the first 4-8 ms after the onset of the rapidly rising click. Cross-correlation of the respective 160 ms poststimulus histogram averages of mean activity showed dissimilar patterns of response to clicks and hisses (Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient + 0.02). Thus the averaged population responses distinguished these stimuli. In addition, individual cells were found in each behavioral state that responded selectively to either click or hiss. After conditioning with click as the conditioned stimulus, the number of units responding in the first 4-8 ms to click increased to 23%. The mean magnitude of activity 4-8 ms after presenting the click increased after conditioning but not after sensitization produced by backward pairing of the stimuli used for conditioning. After backward pairing only 6% of the units responded in the first 4-8 ms to click. The changes in activity after conditioning were accompanied by increases in neural excitability to intracellularly applied depolarizing current. In contrast with the changes in activity, the increases in neural excitability were also found after backward pairing. We conclude that short as well as long latency acoustic transmissions to click change in the dentate nucleus after conditioning, that changes in response to click are expressed in 4-8 ms responsive cells, and that many of these cells have different patterns of spike activity in response to click and hiss. The findings support the hypothesis that the dentate nucleus can play a significant role in short as well as long latency, adaptive acoustic transmission that can enhance the response to an acoustic signal used as a Pavlovian conditioned stimulus.
Expression of Aquaporin-1 in Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells: Role in Resting Cell Volume

PURPOSE: Drainage of aqueous humor from the human eye appears dependent on intracellular volume of trabecular meshwork (TM) cells, the predominant cell type of the human outflow pathway. Thus, the modulation of water and solute flux across the plasma membrane of TM cells is predicted to be an important factor in regulating outflow facility. Aquaporin (AQP)-1 is a hexahelical integral membrane protein that functions as a regulated channel for water and cations in fluid-secreting and -absorbing tissues. AQP1 is present in many tissues of the human eye, including the TM; however, its role in outflow facility is unknown. The purpose of the present study was twofold: to evaluate the prospect of manipulating AQP1 protein levels in TM cells using sense and antisense mRNA and to investigate the functional role of AQP1 in TM cells. METHODS: An adenovirus (AV) expression system was used to alter AQP1 protein levels. AQP1 protein expression was monitored using immunoblot analysis, and resting cell volume was measured by forward light scatter, electronic cell sizing, and [(14)C]-sucrose/urea equilibration. Permeability of TM monolayers to [(14)C]-sucrose was also assessed as an indirect evaluation of cell volume. RESULTS: AV-mediated gene transfer of AQP1 cDNA to TM cells resulted in a titer-dependent increase in recombinant AQP1, whereas transfer of antisense cDNA decreased native AQP1 protein by 71.7% +/- 5.5% (P < 0.01) after 5 days. A novel finding of this study is that mean resting volumes of AQP1(s) AV-infected TM cells in suspension were 8.7% +/- 3.0% greater (P < 0.05) than control cells. Conversely, AQP1 antisense (as) AV-infected cells had resting volumes 7.8% +/- 2.9% less than control cells (P < 0.05). Similar effects of AQP1 expression on resting cell volume were observed in TM monolayers. Consistent with this finding, paracellular permeability of AQP1(s) AV-infected TM monolayers to [(14)C]-sucrose decreased by 8.0% +/- 1.4% (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to influencing the osmotic permeability of TM plasma membranes, the level of AQP1 protein expression influences resting intracellular volume and thus paracellular permeability of TM cell monolayers in vitro. These data suggest that AQP1 expression may affect outflow facility in vivo.
Emergence of Rapid Methods for Identifying Microbial Pathogens in Foods

Because of the complexities of food analysis, conventional microbiological methods must use time-consuming enrichment steps for culturing viable bacterial cells in foods. With rapid advancements in technology, however, numerous so-called rapid methods were introduced into the field of food microbiology in a relatively short time. Culture methods that were once used to obtain profiles for bacterial identification were simplified or automated. Many microbiological procedures were also streamlined or automated to reduce assay time, labor, and materials. Nucleic acid-based assays are used to identify gene sequences in foodborne bacteria, and antibody-based assays are used in numerous formats to detect bacterial pathogens and toxins in foods. The difficulties of analyzing food, however, remain challenging, and rapid methods need to be evaluated thoroughly before they are used for routine food analysis.
Knowledge Economy Immigration: A Priority for U.S. Growth Policy

The single most important policy reform that will boost long-term economic growth in the United States is to reduce the barriers facing highly skilled and highly educated immigrants. At least 50,000 workers with advanced degrees are sent out of the United States each year, although they have already passed security tests and become part of the productive fabric of the U.S. economy. In a world where the knowledge economy adds more value to national incomes than physical labor, the current U.S. stance of exiling many of the smartest people in the world imposes self-inflicted wounds on our currently troubled economy.
Abstract 1790: TNFR2-targeted elimination of Tregs and tumor-residing T cells in advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma

Background: Tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2, or TNFRSF1B) is a lymphoid marker of the most potent regulatory T cell (Treg) subtype and a commonly expressed oncogene in human tumors. TNFR2 Tregs are also enriched in the tumor microenvironment. TNFR2 antagonistic antibodies have been recently developed to inhibit NFkB-driven growth through the TNFR2 receptor, showing both Treg and tumor inhibition with specificity for the tumor microenvironment (Sci Signaling 2017). TNFR2 is a candidate oncogene in cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL), with recurrent point mutations and gain of function alteration of TNFR2 resulting in abnormal expression of TNFR2 on CD4+CD26- tumor cells (Nat Genet 2015). Methods: We designed monoclonal antibodies to target the TNFR2 oncogene and directly kill human tumor cells in CTCL. TNFR2-directed monoclonal antibodies were screened for their ability to induce the death of leukemic cells in patients with Stage IV CTCL (Sezary syndrome) on a diversity of prior treatment regimens, as well as their ability to induce killing of tumor-associated Tregs and induce effector T cell (Teff) proliferation. Studies were performed in vitro on sorted CD4+CD26- Sezary cells or V-beta specific populations when a tumor was typed. Results: Baseline blood samples from patients with CTCL showed significant burdens of tumor cells within the CD26- subset of CD4 cells, in contrast to control blood cells. In CTCL subjects, numbers of Tregs (CD4+CD25hiFoxp3) were also elevated at baseline (CTCL vs Control, 11% vs 7%, p Citation Format: Denise L. Faustman, Heather Torrey, Michael Khodadoust, Audrey Defusco, Danielle Baum, Ziba Rahbar, Youn H. Kim. TNFR2-targeted elimination of Tregs and tumor-residing T cells in advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1790.
Fusion of Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

In recent years, the concept of big data has become a more prominent research topic as the volume of data and the rate at which it is produced are increasing exponentially. By 2020 the amount of data being stored is estimated to be 44 Zettabytes and currently over 31 Terabytes of data is being generated every second. Algorithms and applications must be able to effectively scale to the volume of data being generated. One such application that has excelled due to the surge in Big Data is the Convolutional Neural Network. The breakthroughs in the development of Graphical Processing Units have led to the advancements in the state-of-the-art on tasks such as image classification and speech recognition. These multi-layered convolutional neural networks are very large, complex and require significant computational resources to train and evaluate models. In this paper, we explore several novel architectures for the fusion of multiple convolutional neural networks, including stacked representation fusions and mixed model fusion. We differ from existing fusion methods in that our approaches take in the raw outputs of several CNN models and use classifiers as fusers. Other methods typically hand-craft the fusion or have used the original input space as the fusion method. Advancements in this area will better enable the leveraging of the vast amount of pre-trained models and improve accuracy of these models. The approaches generated are application agnostic and will apply across a breadth of tasks.
On the system stability and calibration of the image plate/scanner system for plasma diagnosis at the National Ignition Facility

At the National Ignition Facility (NIF), storage phosphor image plates (IP) are used extensively for recording x-rays, charged particles, and neutrons. For x-ray imaging and spectroscopy, absolute and relative calibrations are important for extracting plasma information from the diagnostics. We use Fuji MS, SR, and TR image plates that have been cut to fit custom diagnostic envelopes. The image plates are scanned on a General Electric FLA 7000 IP flying spot scanner. Calibrations for sensitivity, spatial scale, and temperature dependent fade are applied. During a set of recent calibrations, we noticed large shifts in the absolute calibration of the image plate system. The possible source of these shifts is discussed. We discuss scanner stability and a method for calibration. We discuss the fade and temperature effects of the image plates and how this correction is applied within the NIF environment. We also compare our NIF GE FLA 7000 IP scanner with a new General Electric Amersham Typhoon IP scanner.
The Impact of a Specialized Font on the Reading Performance of Elementary Children with Reading Disability

Dyslexie is a specialized font style that was designed to enhance reading performance in students with reading disabilities. The present study sought to examine Dyslexie’s impact, compared to two commonly used fonts, on reading performance while controlling for Dyslexie’s large size and spacing. We recruited 36 fourth and fifth grade students identified by their school districts as having a specific learning disability in the area of reading, asked them to read three stories aloud, and measured the students’ speed, accuracy, and comprehension. We found that Dyslexie, when compared to other common fonts that have been adjusted to control for Dyslexie’s large size and spacing, appears to have no effect on readers’ accuracy, fluency, or comprehension.
Data Collection Inside Industrial Facilities with Autonomous Drones

Advancements in drone and image processing technologies opened a new era for data collection. Comprehension by visual sensors is an emerging area which created a completely new view point to many sectors including the production industry. New dimensions are added to abilities of visual human sensors with these technologies. Image processing provide fast, reliable, and integrated information that the industrial facilities require for improving efficiency. On top of this, drones can extend these properties by providing multi-dimensional and continuous view. In this chapter, we propose a new approach for data collection in industrial facilities. Our approach utilises autonomous drones that can fly over the production lines, collect indoor aerial image and video, processes the visual data, and converts it to useful managerial information. Although developing such a system for different manufacturing domains is a challenge, especially Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) can utilise this approach to help achieve Industry 4.0 goals in their manufacturing facilities.
199-OR: Time-Restricted Feeding Ameliorates Metabolic Dysfunction through the Restoration of Circadian Beta-Cell Function and Transcriptional Identity

There are clear associations between circadian disruption (CD), induction of pancreatic β-cell failure and T2DM. However, the underlying mechanisms driving these associations remain unclear. CD is behaviorally characterized by the dysregulation of circadian feeding patterns, which play a key role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. Therefore, we set out to test the hypothesis that disrupted circadian feeding patterns mediate CD-induced metabolic dysfunction by promoting β-cell failure and reprogramming of the circadian islet transcriptome. To address this, C57B6 mice were assigned into 3 protocols for 12 weeks: 1) LD: exposed to standard light-dark cycle on ad libitum chow; 2) CD: Constant light exposure, to disrupt endogenous circadian rhythms, on ad libitum chow; 3) CD-tRF: Constant light exposure with time-restricted access to chow (tRF) during the first 8h of the circadian “active/feeding” phase. CD led to a loss of circadian rhythmicity in feeding, activity and energy expenditure (p Disclosure M. Brown: None. T.K. Her: None. A. Matveyenko: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (R01DK98468)
HLA-Bw62 Variants Identified by a Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Clone and Isoelectric Focusing Gel Electrophoresis

We have used a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte clone (CTLc) and isoelectric focusing (IEF) gel electrophoresis to test for heterogeneity among HLA-Bw62 antigens. One CTLc, specific for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) and restricted by an HLA class I determinant, was found to react with 13 of 15 Bw62+ target cells tested. IEF gel electrophoesis showed these CTLc-defined variants differed by net charge and therefore represent Bw62 structural variants. Altogether, four distinct Bw62 molecules were identified. These results indicate that Bw62 is a public specificity shared by four or more unique B-locus alleles.
Decay studies of neutron deficient nuclei near the Z=64 subshell: 142Dy, 140,142Tb, 140,142Gd, 140,142Eu, 142Sm, and 142Pm.

The electron-capture and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\beta}}}^{+}$-decay branchings (EC/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\beta}}}^{+}$) and delayed proton decays of A=142 isotopes with 61\ensuremath{\le}Z\ensuremath{\le}66 and A=140 isotopes with 63\ensuremath{\le}Z\ensuremath{\le}65 were investigated with the OASIS facility on-line at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory SuperHILAC. Electron capture and positron-decay emission probabilities have been determined for $^{142}\mathrm{Pm}$ and $^{142}\mathrm{Sm}$ decays, and extensive decay schemes have been constructed for $^{142}\mathrm{Eu}^{\mathit{g}}$(2.34\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.12 s), $^{142}\mathrm{Gd}$(70.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6 s), $^{140}\mathrm{Eu}$(1.51\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 s), and $^{140}\mathrm{Gd}$(15.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4 s). Decay schemes for the new isotopes $^{142}\mathrm{Tb}^{\mathit{g}}$(597\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}17 ms), $^{142}\mathrm{Tb}^{\mathit{m}}$(303\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}17 ms), $^{142}\mathrm{Dy}$(2.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3 s), $^{140}\mathrm{Eu}^{\mathit{m}}$(125\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 ms), and $^{140}\mathrm{Tb}$(2.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 s) are also presented. We have assigned \ensuremath{\gamma} rays to these isotopes on the basis of \ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma} and x\ensuremath{\gamma} coincidences, and from half-life determinations. Electron-capture and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\beta}}}^{+}$-decay branchings were measured for each decay, and \ensuremath{\beta}-delayed proton branchings were determined for $^{142}\mathrm{Dy}$, $^{142}\mathrm{Tb}$, and $^{140}\mathrm{Tb}$ decays. ${\mathit{Q}}_{\mathrm{EC}}$ values, derived from the measured EC/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\beta}}}^{+}$ branchings and the level schemes are compared with those from the Wapstra and Audi mass evaluation and the Liran and Zeldes mass calculation. The systematics of the N=77 isomer decays are discussed, and the intense ${0}^{+}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${1}^{+}$ and ${1}^{+}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${0}^{+}$ ground-state beta decays are compared with shell-model predictions for simple spin-flip transitions.
Non-Hermitian dynamics without dissipation in quantum systems

Models based on non-Hermitian Hamiltonians can exhibit a range of surprising and potentially useful phenomena. Physical realizations typically involve couplings to sources of incoherent gain and loss; this is problematic in quantum settings because of the unavoidable fluctuations associated with this dissipation. Here, we present several routes for obtaining unconditional non-Hermitian dynamics in nondissipative quantum systems. We exploit the fact that quadratic bosonic Hamiltonians that do not conserve particle number give rise to non-Hermitian dynamical matrices. We discuss the nature of these mappings from non-Hermitian to Hermitian Hamiltonians, and explore applications to quantum sensing, entanglement dynamics, and topological band theory. The systems we discuss could be realized in a variety of photonic and phononic platforms using the ubiquitous resource of parametric driving.
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Astrocytes Activate PPARγ Signaling in Cancer Cells to Promote Brain Metastasis

Brain metastasis, the most lethal form of melanoma and carcinoma, is the consequence of favorable interactions between the invading cancer cells and the brain cells. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) has ambiguous functions in cancer development, and its relevance in advanced brain metastasis remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that astrocytes, the unique brain glial cells, activate PPARγ in brain metastatic cancer cells. PPARγ activation enhances cell proliferation and metastatic outgrowth in the brain. Mechanistically, astrocytes have a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids that act as "donors" of PPARγ activators to the invading cancer cells. In clinical samples, PPARγ signaling is significantly higher in brain metastatic lesions. Notably, systemic administration of PPARγ antagonists significantly reduces brain metastatic burden in vivo. Our study clarifies a prometastatic role for PPARγ signaling in cancer metastasis in the lipid-rich brain microenvironment and argues for the use of PPARγ blockade to treat brain metastasis. SIGNIFICANCE: Brain-tropic cancer cells take advantage of the lipid-rich brain microenvironment to facilitate their proliferation by activating PPARγ signaling. This protumor effect of PPARγ in advanced brain metastases is in contrast to its antitumor function in carcinogenesis and early metastatic steps, indicating that PPARγ has diverse functions at different stages of cancer development.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1631.
Comparative efficacy of epidural clonidine versus epidural fentanyl for treating breakthrough pain during labor: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

Abstract Background Breakthrough pain during neuraxial labor analgesia is typically alleviated with additional administration of epidural local anesthetics, with or without adjuvants. Sometimes avoiding neuraxial opioids may be warranted and clonidine is an alternative. In a randomized double-blind trial we compared the efficacy of clonidine versus fentanyl, added to bupivacaine, for the management of breakthrough pain. Methods Term parturients (n=98) receiving bupivacaine 0.0625% with fentanyl 2 μg/mL at 12 mL/h, a patient-administered bolus of 5 mL at lockout 6–10 min and a maximum of four boluses per hour, and experiencing breakthrough pain ≥5/10, were randomized to receive a 10 mL bolus containing 12.5 mg bupivacaine and either clonidine 100 μg or fentanyl 100 μg. The primary outcome was ‘success’ of study drug treatment, defined as a pain score reduction ≥4/10 within 15 min of administration. Maternal hemodynamics and fetal heart rate were documented for two hours after treatment. Results There was no significant difference between groups in success rates (66.0% after clonidine (n=47) vs 74.5% after fentanyl (n=51), P=0.48) or in the incidence of hypotension (systolic blood pressure ≤80% of baseline or Conclusion Epidural clonidine 100 μg was not superior to fentanyl 100 μg for decreasing pain scores within 15 min of co-administration with bupivacaine 0.125% for intrapartum breakthrough pain. The analgesic efficacy and hemodynamic side effects did not significantly differ.
A Fusion Approach for Water Area Classification Using Visible, Near Infrared and Synthetic Aperture Radar for South Asian Conditions

Consistent estimation of water surface area from remote sensing remains challenging in regions such as South Asia with vegetation, mountainous topography, and persistent monsoonal cloud cover. High-resolution optical imagery, which is often used for global inundation mapping, is highly impacted by clouds, while synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery is not impacted by clouds and is affected by both topographic layover and vegetation. Here, we compare and contrast inundation extent measurements from visible (Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2) and SAR (Sentinel-1) imagery. Each data type (wavelength) has complementary strengths and weaknesses which were gauged separately over selected water bodies in Bangladesh. High-resolution cloud-free PlanetScope imagery at 3-m resolution was used as a reference to check the accuracy of each technique and data type. Next, the optical and radar images were fused for a rule-based water area classification algorithm to derive the optimal decision for the water mask. Results indicate that the fusion approach can improve the overall accuracy by up to 3.8%, 18.2%, and 8.3% during the wet season over using the individual products of Landsat8, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2, respectively, at three sites, while providing increased observational frequency. The fusion-derived products resulted in overall accuracy ranging from 85.8% to 98.7% and Kappa coefficient varying from 0.61 to 0.83. The proposed SAR-visible fusion technique has potential for improving satellite-based surface water monitoring and storage changes, especially for smaller water bodies in humid tropical climate of South Asia.
Investigation of Smoked Beef Brisket Palatability from Three USDA Quality Grades

The objective of this study was to investigate differences in smoked beef brisket palatability from 3 USDA quality grades (USDA Prime, average [middle 1/3] Choice, and Select). Briskets (n = 54; 18 per quality grade) were seasoned with a blend of 1:1 coarse salt/black pepper, and then cooked in a smoker to a final internal temperature of 93°C for approximately 6 to 7 h. For sensory analysis, briskets were separated into point (pectoralis superficialis) and flat (pectoralis profundus) portions and then sliced perpendicular to the muscle fibers. Consumer panelists (N = 360) evaluated palatability traits, acceptability of each trait, and willingness to pay (WTP). An interaction between quality grade and muscle was observed (P ≤ 0.03) for all palatability traits, proportion of acceptable samples, and WTP. Consumers could not distinguish among quality grades of the point portions for tenderness, juiciness, flavor liking, and overall liking (P > 0.05). Point samples, regardless of quality grade, were scored greater (P < 0.05) than Prime flat samples for all palatability traits. Choice and Select flat samples were scored lesser (P < 0.05) than all other treatment combinations for tenderness, flavor liking, and overall liking. In alignment with palatability traits, consumers’ WTP was greatest for point portions, regardless of quality grade (P < 0.05), followed by Prime flat portions. Choice and Select flat portions had the lowest WTP (P < 0.05). Consumer acceptability of cooked beef brisket generally followed similar trends as palatability scores. Quality grade had no effect on the eating quality of the point portions of smoked briskets, and point portions received superior palatability scores to flat portions. Prime flat portions had greater eating quality compared to that of Choice and Select flat portions, and consumers had greater WTP for what they perceived as superior eating quality.
Towards Intelligent Architecting of Aerospace System-of-Systems: Part II

System-of-Systems (SoS) are composed of large scale independent and complex heterogeneous systems which collaborate to create capabilities not achievable by a single system, for example air transportation system, satellite constellations, and space exploration architectures. To support architecting of aerospace SoS, in this work we present a methodology to accurately predict different aspects of performance for design/operation and SoS architecting, expanding previous work on intelligent architecting of aerospace SoS, by adding rigorous Uncertainty Quantification via Bayesian Neural Networks. A Bayesian Neural Network is a neural network with a-priori distribution on its weights. In addition to solving the overfit problem, which is common to traditional deep neural networks, Bayesian Neural Networks provide automated model pruning (or reduction of feature design space), that addresses a well-known dimensionality curse in the SoS domain. We enable SoS design/operation by using modeling and simulation, quantifying the uncertainty inherently present in SoS, and utilizing Artificial Intelligence and optimization techniques to design and operate the system so that its expected performance or behavior when the unexpected occurs (for example, a failure) still satisfies user requirements. Much of the research effort in the field of SoS has focused on the analysis of these complex entities, while there are still gaps in developing tools for automated synthesis and engineering of SoS that consider all the various aspects in this problem domain. In this expansion of the use of Artificial Intelligence towards automated design, these techniques are used not only to discover and employ features of interest in a complex design space, but also to assess how uncertainty can affect performance. This capability supports the automated design of robust architectures, that can effectively meet the user needs even in presence of uncertainty. The SoS design and evaluation methodology presented in this paper and demonstrated on a synthetic modular satellites problem starts from modeling and simulation, and design of experiments to explore the design space. The following step is deep learning, to develop a model which relates SoS architectural features with performance metrics. Uncertainty Quantification techniques are then applied to assess the performance metrics for different architectures. Once the most critical features that affect the SoS performance are identified, stochastic optimization of the SoS on a reduced design space can be performed to determine Pareto optimal features. The final step is determining if any additional design/operation measures need to be explored to further maximize the SoS performance.
The SEC’s Deterrence Effect on Corporate Fraud

I estimate, using hand-collected data, a model of strategic corporate fraud that incorporates and quantifies firms' adjustments to fraud propensities in response to their expectations of regulators' information processing capacity. The findings are economically significant. With a one standard deviation change in different regulatory interventions, 10 to 58 additional fraudulent cases are committed each year. I exploit the 2005 option backdating scandal as an exogenous shock to regulatory attention, and find further support for both opportunism in fraud and the SEC's deterrence effect. Heterogeneity in fraud driven by executive incentives and firm complexity is documented.
Increasing Availability of Services for Youth at Risk for Suicide: An Example of a Brief Crisis Intervention Protocol

In this article, we describe the Stanford Crisis Clinic protocol, a brief, evidence-informed clinical service that we developed to address the barriers to care for youth with SITBs in our local com...
End-to-End Demand Response Model Identification and Baseline Estimation with Deep Learning

This paper proposes a novel end-to-end deep learning framework that simultaneously identifies demand baselines and the incentive-based agent demand response model, from the net demand measurements and incentive signals. This learning framework is modularized as two modules: 1) the decision making process of a demand response participant is represented as a differentiable optimization layer, which takes the incentive signal as input and predicts user's response; 2) the baseline demand forecast is represented as a standard neural network model, which takes relevant features and predicts user's baseline demand. These two intermediate predictions are integrated, to form the net demand forecast. We then propose a gradient-descent approach that backpropagates the net demand forecast errors to update the weights of the agent model and the weights of baseline demand forecast, jointly. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through computation experiments with synthetic demand response traces and a large-scale real world demand response dataset. Our results show that the approach accurately identifies the demand response model, even without any prior knowledge about the baseline demand.
Technology Tools Available for Implementing Social Skill Instruction

General and special education teachers report feeling inadequate in providing social skill instruction to students. Yet, researchers and government bodies (ASELA, 2015) report students receiving so...
Evolution in the Presence and Evidence Category of Radiation Therapy Treatment Recommendations in National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Some perceptions exist regarding potential decline in the utilization of radiation therapy (RT) with expanding systemic therapy options. We sought to understand the recommended utilization of RT across a broad range of solid tumors by examining National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines. We conducted a comprehensive review and categorization of RT recommendations, with their subsequent supporting evidence categories, in NCCN Guidelines from 2000 through 2019. MATERIALS/METHODS The 2000, 2009, and 2019 versions of NCCN Guidelines were individually examined for RT-specific recommendations among the 10 most common solid tumors. The presence of RT as a recommended modality was recorded for each tumor type, along with the branch of management. Recommendation categories including Category 1, 2A, 2B and 3 were tallied and compared descriptively to examine totals and percentage distributions. RESULTS 3858 recommendations were individually reviewed. The presence of a recommendation inclusive of RT increased by 129% from 2000 to 2009 and by 111% from 2009 to 2019. From 2000 to 2019, RT recommendations overall increased by 206%. In 2019 NCCN Guidelines, the most Category 1 RT recommendations were found within small cell lung (13%), non-small cell lung (5%), breast (5%), bladder (2%), rectal (2%) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (1%). Pancreatic, uterine, prostate, melanoma, kidney, and colon cancer guidelines had no Category 1 RT recommendations. Of note, rectal cancer had 31 (27%) preferred recommendations. The majority (89%) of 2019 RT recommendations were for initial therapy, while 9% were specific to salvage therapy. Tumor sites with the highest proportion of RT Category 1 evidence were small cell lung (29%), non-small cell lung (24%), and breast cancer (24%). CONCLUSION The frequency of RT recommendations in NCCN Guidelines has increased over the past 20 years among the 10 most common solid tumors. A majority of recommendations remain Category 2A, and this proportional percentage of 2A recommendations is increasing. Consideration of evidence categories by solid tumor type is highly relevant to identify areas in need of expanded prospective, randomized, evidence regarding the use of RT.
Global Capital and National Governments

1. National governments and global capital: a review and a recasting 2. Financial market influence on government policy: theory and hypotheses 3. Financial market influence in developed nations: a quantitative assessment 4. Financial market-government relations in emerging economies 5. Politics meets markets: domestic responses to financial market pressures 6. Alternative domestic responses: changes to financial market-government relations 7. History repeating itself? Financial markets and national government policies before the first World War 8. Financial market-government relations in the twenty-first century.
Spread and wander of a laser beam propagating through anisotropic turbulence

In applications where a laser beam is propagated at high altitude or through layered zones of the atmosphere, there is a chance that atmospheric turbulence cells are not isotropic. In this paper we analytically describe how the spread of a laser beam is affected by anisotropic eddies of optical turbulence. We show that anisotropic turbulence is responsible for an elliptical beam spread and beam wander over the planes x-y, orthogonal to the direction of propagation z.
Fellow Travelers on the Road to Consumer Society

The invasive arrival of consumerist options in Eastern Europe after the collapse of socialist economies of shortage in 1989-90 has affected many aspects of people’s lives, including their values, identities, economic (and consumption) strategies, and family relations. In the Czech Republic, seniors habituated to socialist life ways particularly struggle with adjusting to new and unfamiliar norms. The demand conditioned under socialism for intergenerational solidarity within the family, in the form of pooling resources and providing in-kind assistance, has gradually disappeared, while time-honored efforts by seniors to remain helpful to their offspring are encountered with lukewarm response or even open disapproval, often leading to or exacerbating intergenerational conflict. Ironically, among seniors, relief from frustrations over the erosion of family ties is sought within the realm of capitalist consumerism. Older Czechs find a degree of purpose and agency in sales tours (předvaděcky [i] ), which serve not only as a site of capitalist consumption, but just as importantly as a platform for redefining identity and group. This study of seniors' shopping ideas and practices and their offsprings’ response to them illustrates profound shifts in postsocialist consumption culture. It further sheds light on qualitative changes in late life in a structurally altered society and provides insight into newly emerging trends for this demographic group, among them the eclipse of intergenerational family relations by newly formed ties of friendship and support within peer cohorts. Keywords: post-socialism, consumerism, seniors, generational conflict, economy of gratitude Notes [i] I use the idiom ‘sales tour’ to translate the popular term “ předvaděcka ” (sg.) – or “ předvaděcky ” (pl.) - which is a shortened form of “ p ředvaděci akce “, i.e. “demonstration events“. The English phrase, ‘sales tour,‘ is thus slightly inaccurate. However, the travel component will be critical for the current analysis, and therefore I decided to employ this more loaded term.
Slow Strain Rate Fracture of High-Strength Steel at Controlled Electrochemical Potentials in Ammonium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, and Ammonium Nitrate Solutions

Slow strain rate testing has been undertaken to determine the effects of individual chemical species on the fracture process of high-strength 4340 steel. Test environments included potassium chloride, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium chloride at concentrations from 0.001 to 1.0 mole por liter at ambient temperature. Tests were performed at cathodic and anodic controlled potentials, as well as at the open-circuit potential, to delineate the stress corrosion cracking range.