cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of MRI scanner parameters on breast cancer radiomics

We studied the effect of different MRI scanner parameters on breast radiomics.We extracted 529 radiomic features from 272 breast cancer patients in our cohort.The radiomic features were categorized into relevant groups.Scanner parameters affected tissue radiomics more compared to tumor radiomics. PurposeTo assess the impact of varying magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner parameters on the extraction of algorithmic features in breast MRI radiomics studies. MethodsIn this retrospective study, breast imaging data for 272 patients were analyzed with magnetic resonance (MR) images. From the MR images, we assembled and implemented 529 algorithmic features of breast tumors and fibrograndular tissue (FGT). We divided the features into 10 groups based on the type of data used for the feature extraction and the nature of the extracted information. Three scanner parameters were considered: scanner manufacturer, scanner magnetic field strength, and slice thickness. We assessed the impact of each of the scanner parameters on each of the feature by testing whether the feature values are systematically diverse for different values of these scanner parameters. A two-sample t-test has been used to establish whether the impact of a scanner parameter on values of a feature is significant and receiver operating characteristics have been used for to establish the extent of that effect. ResultsOn average, higher proportion (69% FGT versus 20% tumor) of FGT related features were affected by the three scanner parameters. Of all feature groups and scanner parameters, the feature group related to the variation in FGT enhancement was found to be the most sensitive to the scanner manufacturer (AUC=0.810.14). ConclusionsFeatures involving calculations from FGT are particularly sensitive to the scanner parameters.
The Role of Cyber Activism in Disambiguating the Cosmopolis and Discourse of Democratization

Democracy and democratization have become universal norms and organizing principles that validate various forms of world governance and statehood. In particular in emerging and dependent economies, the policies and programs behind development aid have expanded their jurisdiction to include democracy, human rights, and good governance, along with policies of global neoliberalism. Notwithstanding the holding of regular elections, there is a need to keep identifying specific reasons why most emerging economies have witnessed little or no significant improvement in democracy, human rights, or good governance. This chapter focuses on the ambiguity reflected in the discourse of global public diplomacy deployed by purveyors of democracy and contestants of world influence, who double as Cold War warriors and democracy promoters. Discourse has become a creative and mutating technique used to co-opt not only the language of what used to be dissenters of global neoliberalism, but also international non-governmental organizations regarded as symbols of independent global civil society. The chapter proposes cyber communications as alternative tools for a new form of global civil society and citizens’ media that can promote genuine grassroots initiatives and disambiguate the discourse of the cosmopolitics of democratization through cyber activism and education.
Neural Indices of Semantic Processing in Early Childhood Distinguish Eventual Stuttering Persistence and Recovery.

Purpose Maturation of neural processes for language may lag in some children who stutter (CWS), and event-related potentials (ERPs) distinguish CWS who have recovered from those who have persisted....
Antibody–Drug Conjugates for the Treatment of Solid Tumors: Clinical Experience and Latest Developments

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are complex immunoconjugates designed to selectively deliver toxic small molecules preferentially to cancer cells. These immunoconjugates consist of a monoclonal antibody - directed to a tumor antigen - and a cytotoxic agent that is conjugated to the antibody via a molecular linker. Following the binding to a specific antigen on the surface of cancer cells, the conjugate is internalized and releases its cytotoxic payload to kill the malignant cell. ADCs that have gained regulatory approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include brentuximab vedotin for CD30-positive Hodgkin's lymphoma and trastuzumab emtansine for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. Several other agents are in advanced stages of clinical development, including sacituzumab govitecan for breast cancer, mirvetuximab soravtansine for ovarian cancer, rovalpituzumab tesirine for lung cancer, depatuxizumab mafodotin for glioblastoma, and oportuzumab monatox for bladder cancer. This review provides an overview of the recent clinical experience with the approved, most advanced, and other promising candidates of ADCs for solid tumors, including a description of biology and chemistry of ADCs, drug resistance and biomarkers, and the future perspective on combination strategies with these new immunoconjugates.
The Adenovirus E1A C Terminus Suppresses a Delayed Antiviral Response and Modulates RAS Signaling

Summary The N-terminal half of adenovirus e1a assembles multimeric complexes with host proteins that repress innate immune responses and force host cells into S-phase. In contrast, the functions of e1a's C-terminal interactions with FOXK, DCAF7, and CtBP are unknown. We found that these interactions modulate RAS signaling, and that a single e1a molecule must bind all three of these host proteins to suppress activation of a subset of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). These ISGs were otherwise induced in primary respiratory epithelial cells at 12 hr p.i. This delayed activation of ISGs required IRF3 and coincided with an ∼10-fold increase in IRF3 from protein stabilization. The induced IRF3 bound to chromatin and localized to the promoters of activated ISGs. While IRF3, STAT1/2, and IRF9 all greatly increased in concentration, there were no corresponding mRNA increases, suggesting that e1a regulates the stabilities of these key activators of innate immune responses, as shown directly for IRF3.
Roasting and leaching behaviors of vanadium and chromium in calcification roasting–acid leaching of high-chromium vanadium slag

Calcification roasting–acid leaching of high-chromium vanadium slag (HCVS) was conducted to elucidate the roasting and leaching behaviors of vanadium and chromium. The effects of the purity of CaO, molar ratio between CaO and V2O5 (n(CaO)/n(V2O5)), roasting temperature, holding time, and the heating rate used in the oxidation–calcification processes were investigated. The roasting process and mechanism were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry (TG–DSC). The results show that most of vanadium reacted with CaO to generate calcium vanadates and transferred into the leaching liquid, whereas almost all of the chromium remained in the leaching residue in the form of (Fe0.6Cr0.4)2O3. Variation trends of the vanadium and chromium leaching ratios were always opposite because of the competitive reactions of oxidation and calcification between vanadium and chromium with CaO. Moreover, CaO was more likely to combine with vanadium, as further confirmed by thermodynamic analysis. When the HCVS with CaO added in an n(CaO)/n(V2O5) ratio of 0.5 was roasted in an air atmosphere at a heating rate of 10°C/min from room temperature to 950°C and maintained at this temperature for 60 min, the leaching ratios of vanadium and chromium reached 91.14% and 0.49%, respectively; thus, efficient extraction of vanadium from HCVS was achieved and the leaching residue could be used as a new raw material for the extraction of chromium. Furthermore, the oxidation and calcification reactions of the spinel phases occurred at 592 and 630°C for n(CaO)/n(V2O5) ratios of 0.5 and 5, respectively.
Coherent Arbitrariness: Duration-Sensitive Pricing of Hedonic Stimuli Around an Arbitrary Anchor

In three experiments, subjects stated their willingness to accept pain ? from listening to annoying sounds ? in exchange for payment (WTA). Subjects were presented with annoying sounds of different durations, indicated their WTA, and received the sounds and payment that resulted from their prices. At the onset of each experiment subject were asked to listen to the sound. Since the sound was very simple, from that point subjects had full information about the hedonic experience. After the initial exposure subjects were asked to state whether, hypothetically, they would be willing to listen to the noise for 30 seconds for either a large or small payment. Subsequently, their actual WTA was elicited to listen to the noise for different intervals (10, 30 and 60 seconds in the first experiment). WTA values exhibited a pattern that we label "coherent arbitrariness." Suggestive of coherence, prices were systematically related to noise duration. But, suggestive of arbitrariness, prices were powerfully influenced by the arbitrary high/low anchor accompanying the hypothetical question. The first study documented the effect at the individual level, the second in experimental markets, and the third examined more deeply the effect of the initial anchor.
Statistical Models for Quality of Life Measures

Quality of life (QOL) measures are becoming an integral part of the analysis of clinical trials data to determine the efficacy of interventions. A brief overview of the QOL measures and their corresponding methods of analysis is presented. Then, we propose a statistical model for a discrete QOL measure based on a first order homogeneous Markov process. Heuristically, the model incorporates covariates and allows for nonignorable censoring. Using the model, the efficacy of an intervention can be evaluated by comparing among the treatment groups the expected length of stay in the “good” QOL state in conjunction with the analysis of survival time.
The addition of hydromorphone to epidural fentanyl does not affect analgesia in early labour

Epidural fentanyl after a lidocaine and epinephrine test dose, provides adequate analgesia and allows for ambulation during early labour. The current study was designed to determine the influence of hydromorphone added to an epidural fentanyl bolus (e.g., whether there is an increase in duration of analgesia). Forty-four labouring primigravid women, at less than 5 cm cervical dilation, who requested epidural analgesia were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind study. After a 3 mL test dose of lidocaine with epinephrine, patients received fentanyl 100 μg (in 10 mL volume). They randomly received the fentanyl with either saline or hydromorphone (300 μg). After administration of the initial analgesic, pain scores and side effects were recorded for each patient at ten, 20, and 30 min, and every 30 min thereafter, by an observer blinded to the technique used. The patients were taller in the hydromorphone group (P < 0.04). There were no other demographic differences between the two groups. The mean duration prior to re-dose was not significantly different in the group that received hydromorphone ( 135 ± 52 min) compared to the control group (145 ± 46 min). Side effects were similar between the two groups. No patient in either group experienced any detectable motor block. In early labouring patients, the addition of hydromorphone (300 μg) to epidural fentanyl (100 μg after a lidocaine and epinephrine test dose) neither prolongs the duration of analgesia nor affects the ability to ambulate, and cannot be recommended according to the current study.
Regulation of APP Processing by First Messengers

Brain amyloid deposits are invariant neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Down’s syndrome, and are sometimes also found in lesser amounts in brains of non-demented aged human subjects. Alzheimer disease-type brain amyloid consists of aggregated amyloid s- (As) peptides which are self-aggregating molecules of 39–43 residues in length. As is derived, by proteolytic processing, from a larger amyloid s-protein precursor (APP). The hydrophobic C-terminal region of the amyloidogenic As domain is located within the single transmembrane domain of APP, and its N-terminus extends 28 residues into the ectodomain (for review, see Selkoe, 1994). The APP gene is expressed at remarkably high levels in brain but is also expressed in many peripheral tissues. The biological function of APP is unclear and it is possible that individual proteolytic derivatives of APP have distinct biological consequences. For instance, accumulating evidence suggests that the full-length protein and its secreted N-terminal derivatives can promote cell adhesion (Schubert et al., 1989), stimulate neunte outgrowth (Milward et al., 1992), and protect cultured neurons from excitotoxic damage (Mattson et al., 1993). In contrast, As and its aggregates can be cytotoxic and induce cell death in cultured neurons (Yankner et al., 1990; Loo et al., 1993). Moreover, As inhibits the normal function of a potassium channel which appears to be impaired in fibroblasts obtained from AD patients (Etcheberrigaray et al., 1994). These initial data support the concept that large portions of the N-terminal ectodomain have trophic functions whereas the As domain can be cytotoxic. The biochemical mechanisms involved in the regulation of local brain tissue concentrations of particular proteolytic APP derivatives may thus play an important role in determining the actual functions of APP.
Passive Sampling of Ambient and Work Place Atmospheres by Means of Gas Permeation

Sampling is often the most critical and most difficult step in the analytical process. Passive sampling of atmospheres holds great promise in the study of ambient air and work place atmospheres. The permeation of gases through membranes has been introduced as a means for passive sample collection that provides both accuracy and convenience. The permeation technique has the advantage that it is relatively free from disturbing effects such as variations in temperature, humidity, movement and the presence of copollutants. Because no power is required the sampling units are small, light, convenient and essentially indestructible. Thus, permeation devices offer the ideal approach for personal monitors and fills a unique need for industrial hygiene studies.
Using DMSP OLS Imagery to Characterize Urban Populations in Developed and Developing Countries

Nighttime Satellite imagery shows great potential for mapping and monitoring many human activities including: (1) population size, distribution, and growth, (2) urban extent and rates of urbanization, (3) impervious surface, (4) energy consumption, and (5) CO2 emissions. Surprisingly the relatively coarse spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution of the imagery proves to be an advantage rather than a disadvantage for these applications.
Trachypithecus auratus sangiranensis, A New Fossil Monkey from Sangiran, Central Java, Indonesia

We describe a new extinct subspecies of the Javan lutung—Trachypithecus auratus sangiranensis—based on an isolated, tooth-bearing upper jaw. The specimen was in volcanic breccia situated between the Lower Pucangan and the Upper Kalibeng Formations 500 m south of the village of Sangiran, near Surakarta, central Java, Indonesia. The new fossil monkey bears morphological similarities to the two living species of leaf monkey from Java, Presbytis comata comata and Trachypithecus auratus auratus, and to the Middle Pleistocene form, Trachypithecus cristatus [=auratus] robustus, from Tegoean, central Java. It is significantly larger than any of these forms, and differs from them in details of dental anatomy. Because the greatest number of similarities are between the new fossil and Trachypithecus auratus subspecies, we designated the specimen as T. a. sangiranensis. The geochronological age of the breccia from which the fossil came, is 1.9± 0.05 Ma (million years), making T. a. sangiranensis one of the oldest fossil monkeys from eastern Asia.
Linking obesity-induced leptin-signaling pathways to common endocrine-related cancers in women

Obesity is related to many major diseases and cancers. Women have higher rates of obesity and obesity is linked to commonly occurring cancers in women. However, there is a lack of knowledge of the unique mechanism(s) involved in each type of cancer. The objective of this review is to highlight the need for novel experimental approaches and a better understanding of the common and unique pathways to resolve controversies regarding the role of obesity in cancer. In women, there is a link between hormones and obesity-associated genes in cancer development. Leptin is an obesity-associated gene that has been studied extensively in cancers; however, whether the defect is in the leptin gene or in its signaling pathways remains unclear. Both leptin and its receptor have been positively correlated with cancer progression in some endocrine-related cancers in women. This review offers an up-to-date and cohesive review of both upstream and downstream pathways of leptin signaling in cancer and a comprehensive picture of cancer pathogenesis in light of current evidence of leptin effects in several major types of cancer. This work is intended to aid in the design of better therapeutic strategies for obese/overweight women with cancer.
Unspoken Rules: Resolving Underdetermination With Closure Principles

When people learn normative systems, they do so based on limited evidence. Many of the possible actions that are available to an agent have never been explicitly permitted or prohibited. But people will often need to figure out whether those unspecified actions are permitted or prohibited. How does a learner resolve this incompleteness? The learner might assume if an action-type is not expressly forbidden, then acts of that type are permitted. This closure principle is one of Liberty. Alternatively, the learner might assume that if an action-type is not expressly permitted, then acts of that type are prohibited. This closure principle would be one of Residual Prohibition (Mikhail, 2011). On the basis of principles of pedagogical sampling (e.g., Shafto, Goodman, & Griffiths, ), we predicted that participants would infer the Liberty Principle (LP) when trained on prohibitions, and they would infer the Residual Prohibition Principle when trained on permissions. This is exactly what we found across several experiments. We also found a bias in favor of Liberty insofar as participants trained on both a prohibition and a permission rule tended still to infer the LP. However, we also found that if an action is potentially harmful, this diminishes the tendency to infer the LP.
Deep Time Series Neural Networks and Fluorescence Data Stream Noise Detection

The advent of fluorescence microscopy and the discovery of green fluorescent protein has resulted in an explosion of fluorescence techniques and the promise of characterizing complex biochemical reactions in the living cell. Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) which relies on correlation function analysis (CFA) is a powerful tool used for single molecule and single cell measurements that provide new insights into complex biomolecular interactions. FCS time series analysis coupled with the use of deep time-series neural networks provides better insight into a data set than correlation functions alone. Typical correlation functions average over many molecular events to give an average characterization of concentration, mobility, binding or enzymatic processivity. The benefit of coupling CFA with deep-learning is the added ability to perform quantitative measurements in the presence of noise. In this paper, a unique systematic approach for identifying noise in fluorescence data is explained. How classical CFA can be enhanced using a deep time-series neural network is illustrated. How wavelet transforms facilitate signal noise isolation and root cause analysis in both stationary and non-stationary fluorescence signals is also explained. While CFA has been used to study neural networks, this article uniquely combines classical CFA with a time-series neural network for the detection of noise in fluorescence data streams.
Why inference to the best explanation doesn’t secure empirical grounds for mathematical platonism

Proponents of the explanatory indispensability argument for mathematical platonism maintain that claims about mathematical entities play an essential explanatory role in some of our best scientific explanations. They infer that the existence of mathematical entities is supported by way of inference to the best explanation from empirical phenomena and therefore that there are the same sort of empirical grounds for believing in mathematical entities as there are for believing in concrete unobservables such as quarks. I object that this inference depends on a false view of how abductive considerations mediate the transfer of empirical support. More specifically, I argue that even if inference to the best explanation is cogent, and claims about mathematical entities play an essential explanatory role in some of our best scientific explanations, it doesn’t follow that the empirical phenomena that license those explanations also provide empirical support for the claim that mathematical entities exist.
Sensor-Controlled Corridor Lighting in a High-Rise Residential Tower: Occupancy Patterns, Dimming Energy Savings, and Occupant Acceptance

ABSTRACTIn six corridors of a high-rise apartment building, light emitting diode (LED) luminaires were installed that dim to a low output when vacant (“bilevel”). Energy impacts were studied for th...
Improving Correctional Strategies for Women at the Margins: Recommendations for an Intersectionally-Responsive Approach

ABSTRACTSince the early 1990s, an abundance of research and scholarship has been devoted toward developing “what works” in correctional assessment and rehabilitative treatment, including gender-res...
Neocortical Cell Classes: Essential Contributions from Electrophysiology

Neocortical cells form classes that likely take on unique functional roles in the cortical microcircuit. A new study finds that, with sufficient sampling, the electrophysiological signature of cells distinguishes four cell classes across primate frontal and parietal cortex.
Clinical Considerations in Neurosurgical Radiosurgery in the Time of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting all aspects of the healthcare ecosystem, including administration of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) The clinical and logistical challenges created by the COVID-19 public health crisis are clear, but the solutions to these issues are less readily apparent The goal of this work is to use our experience at a large, academic medical center as a lens for interpreting the many looming issues specific to radiosurgery and its role in the treatment of brain and spine disorders While the full impact of the pandemic remains to be seen, the aim of this paper is to provide a structural framework to optimize delivery of neurosurgically oriented radiosurgery with proposed clinical workflow strategies Innovative solutions to the current pandemic crisis affecting the healthcare ecosystem will be driven by increased interdisciplinary and global dialogue
Potentially Inappropriate Medications Are Associated with Increased Healthcare Utilization and Costs.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES To examine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) prescribing and its association with healthcare utilization and related expenditures utilizing nationally representative data from the United States. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING The 2011-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). PARTICIPANTS Community-dwelling sample of U.S. adults aged 65 and older during the first round of each MEPS cycle. MEASUREMENTS A qualified definition operationalized from the 2019 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria® was used to estimate the prevalence of PIM prescribing over the study period. Negative binomial models were assembled to examine associations between PIM exposure and healthcare utilization including hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, and outpatient provider visits. Generalized linear models with the log link function and gamma distribution were used to analyze associations between PIM exposure and healthcare expenditures. Sensitivity analyses were conducted utilizing inverse probability treatment weighting using propensity scores for being prescribed a PIM. RESULTS The period prevalence of PIM prescribing over the 5-year sample was 34.4%. PIM prescribing was positively associated with hospitalizations (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] = 1.17; 95 confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-1.26; P < .001), ED visits (aIRR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.17-1.35; P < .001), and outpatient provider visits (aIRR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.14-1.21; P < .001). PIM exposure was associated with higher marginal costs within outpatient visits ($116; 95% CI = $105-$243; P < .001), prescription medications ($128; 95% CI = $72-$199; P < .001), and total healthcare expenditures ($458; 95% CI = $295-$664; P < .001). Similar results were found in our propensity score analyses. CONCLUSION PIMs continue to be prescribed at a high rate among older adults in the United States. Our results suggest that receipt of PIMs is associated with higher rates of healthcare utilization and increased costs across the healthcare continuum. Further work is needed to implement evidence-based deprescribing interventions that may in turn reduce unnecessary healthcare utilization.
Inner-Product Spaces

This chapter focuses on inner-product spaces. Some consequences for a class of vector spaces include spaces of n-tuples of real numbers. A subset of a euclidean space is called an orthogonal set if and only if each of its members is orthogonal to every other member. An orthogonal set of nonzero vectors can be converted into an orthonormal set by multiplying each element by the scalar. A finite-dimensional euclidean space has an orthonormal basis. A maximal element of an orthonormal set is called a maximal orthonormal set. This chapter describes the orthogonal complements and orthogonal projections.
Turbulence dissipation rate estimated from lidar observations during the LAPSE-RATE field campaign

Abstract. The International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely-piloted Aircraft (ISARRA) hosted a flight week in July 2018 to demonstrate unmanned aircraft systems' (UASs) capabilities in sampling the atmospheric boundary layer. This week-long experiment was called the Lower Atmospheric Profiling Studies at Elevation – a Remotely-piloted Aircraft Team Experiment (LAPSE-RATE) field campaign. Numerous remotely piloted aircraft and ground-based instruments were deployed with the objective of capturing meso- and microscale phenomena in the atmospheric boundary layer. The University of Oklahoma deployed one Halo Streamline lidar, and the University of Colorado Boulder deployed two WindCube lidars. In this paper, we use data collected from these Doppler lidars to estimate turbulence dissipation rate throughout the campaign. We observe large temporal variability of turbulence dissipation close to the surface with the WindCube lidars that is not detected by the Halo Streamline. However, the Halo lidar enables estimating dissipation rate within the whole boundary layer, where a diurnal variability emerges. We also find a higher correspondence in turbulence dissipation between the WindCube lidars, which are not co-located, compared to the Halo and WindCube lidar that are co-located, suggesting a significant influence of measurement volume on the retrieved values of dissipation rate. This dataset has been submitted to Zenodo (Sanchez Gomez and Lundquist, 2020) for free and is openly accessible ( https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4399967 ).
Kinetic Study of Paper Waste Thermal Degradation

Abstract Paper waste generation has been rising in the past decades, with a large amount being landfilled. These paper wastes can be great energy sources after thermal treatment since they are considered carbon neutral. These wastes contain mainly cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and some minerals. The thermal decomposition of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin have been extensively studied, however, the knowledge of thermal degradation of paper wastes at lower temperatures, which are more practical for industrial applications are still lacking. In this study, paper wastes have been characterized and thermogravimetric analyses were performed from 200°C to 400°C and the char produced were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Two kinetic approaches were taken while developing the kinetic model of paper waste thermal degradation: (i) reconstructing the TGA results of paper waste thermal degradation by an additive law of the degradation of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin; (ii) considering paper waste as one material and develop a multi-step consecutive reaction mechanism that focuses on solid products at different temperatures. It was observed that there are potential interactions between cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin during paper waste degradation. Therefore, the second approach was concluded to be more plausible, and one set of kinetic parameters were determined according to the experimental results at different temperatures. These results provided insights into the degradation kinetic mechanism and solid product distribution of the paper waste. It was found that the first reaction was due to dehydration of cellulose and the 6th and 7th reaction can be attributed to the thermal degradation of lignin. The NMR and FTIR results also validated that the cellulose started degrading at lower temperatures, and lignin degradation became more pronounced at higher temperatures.
Socio-demographic and health vulnerability in prescribed-burn exposed versus unexposed counties near the National Forest System.

Abstract Prescribed fire is an increasingly important tool in restoring ecological conditions and reducing uncontrolled wildfire. Prescribed burn techniques could reduce public health impacts associated with wildfire smoke exposure. However, there have been few assessments of the health impacts of prescribed burning, and potential vulnerabilities among populations exposed to smoke from prescribed fires. Our study area focused on counties in and near U.S. National Forests – a set of lands distributed across the U.S. In county-level analyses, we compared the sociodemographic and health characteristics of areas that were exposed with those that were not exposed to prescribe burns during the years 2010–2019 on a national level and within three regions. In addition, using spatial error regression models, we looked for associations between prescribed fire exposure and health behaviors and outcomes while controlling for spatial autocorrelation. On a national level, we found disproportionate prescribed fire exposure in rural counties with higher percentage mobile home and vacant housing units, and higher percentage African-American and white populations. Regionally, we found evidence of disproportionate exposure to prescribed burns among counties with lower percentage white population, higher percentage Hispanic population and mobile homes in the southern region, and to high poverty counties with high vacancy in the western region. These findings could indicate that vulnerable populations face potential health risks from prescribed burning smoke exposure, but also that they are not missing out on the benefits of prescribed burning, which could involve considerably lower smoke exposure compared to uncontrolled wildfire. In addition, in regression analyses, we found no evidence of disproportionate health burden in exposed compared to unexposed counties. Awareness of these patterns could influence both large-scale or institutional polices about prescribed burning practice, and could be used to build decision-making factors into modeling tools and smoke management plans, as well as community-engagement around wildfire risk reduction.
Where You Live Matters: Local Bank Competition, Online Marketplace Lending, and Disparity in Borrower Benefits

In the past decade, the proliferation of online marketplace lending has been disrupting the consumer credit market, especially for personal loans for debt consolidation. These lenders, for example,...
Frame occupancy-based dispatching schemes for buffered three-stage Clos-network switches

The three-stage Clos-network switch architecture has attractive scalability features that makes it appealing as an alternative for scalable switches. However, scheduling packets in a Clos-network switch is complex. This complexity can be simplified by adding buffers to the first and third stages. By adding these buffers, the scheme used for dispatching packets from the first stage of the switch becomes important. Several dispatching schemes for Clos-network, without internal expansion, that deliver high throughput under uniform traffic model have been proposed. However, there is a need of dispatching schemes that provide high throughput under several admissible traffic patterns, including those with nonuniform distributions, with a small number of matching iterations and without internal expansion. In this paper, we propose two frame-occupancy based dispatching schemes to increase throughput performance in Clos-network switches without using internal expansion. We show that frame-occupancy based schemes deliver high throughput under uniform and nonuniform traffic patterns.
The Biomimetic Synthesis of Metal Oxide Nanomaterials

Depending on their coordination in vivo, metal clusters operate as oxygen or electron transporters, structural determinants, or as signals for cellular communication. The basic chemistry behind these genetically controlled nanomaterials can be identified, once the coordinated metals have been isolated from their natural environment, and applied towards the synthesis of a wide range of materials. A bioinspired, or biomimetic, approach to materials synthesis would reduce the generation of excess waste from the high-temperature reaction environments currently used, and enable further functionalization with specific control of nanoparticle morphology. In this chapter, we will focus exclusively on metal oxide clusters and crystals, presenting an overview of current techniques used for the biomimetic syntheses of nanomaterials. Keywords: biomineralization; biomimetics; synthesis; metal oxide; nanomaterials; materials synthesis
Monopoles and the early universe

Grand unified theories predict the existence of superheavy magnetic monopoles. Combining these theories with standard big band cosmology appears to lead to the conclusion that an unacceptably large abundance of these would have been produced in the early universe. Several proposed mechanisms for suppressing the monopole abundance are reviewed.
Human-Centered Face Computing in Multimedia Interaction and Communication

Facial image computing has been an extensively studied topic since its wide applications in human-centered computing, human-avatar interaction, virtual reality, and multimedia communication. Successful systems have been equipped with realistic face models, efficient compression algorithms, reliable animation techniques and user friendly interaction schemes. In this chapter, we will mainly focus on techniques, algorithms, models, applications and real-world systems. Comprehensive summarization of the state-of-the-art works will be presented as well as our experiences and contributions in the field, especially several real prototype systems developed in our group, such as the online interactive gaming system hMouse, humanoid emotive audio-visual avatar, and 3D face/head tracking based video compression. Performances of these three systems are also illustrated based on standard evaluations.
Law School Faculty as Free Agents

The phenomenon of law professors changing jobs from one law school faculty to another - faculty free agency - has increased in recent years and appears to be part of a general phenomenon of increased mobility across academia. In this paper, I consider the consequences of free agency in law school markets. It is likely that law professors have benefited financially from free agency. Whether it has benefited law schools generally, or advanced the quality of legal education is another matter. The paper raises some issues that at least give reason for pause about free agency. The consequences of free agency have been similarly questioned in other industries, most notably professional sports. But studies suggest that the adverse effects that some predicted when free agency was officially instituted there have not materialized. Thus, in the absence of similar studies about academic free agents, one might claim that my concerns are overstated. But those studies are often most interesting because they focus on characteristics of professional sports that have little or no analogue in faculty markets. The market for professional sports differs from the academic market in ways that I suggest have significant effects on free agency. Academic free agency may have different, and more negative, impact in academia. To the extent that is true, law schools face a classic prisoners' dilemma in adjusting. Even if it would benefit legal education generally to constrain free agency, it is contrary to the interests of any law school to constrain itself unless competitors do the same. I conclude, therefore, with some practical ideas about how to address the negative effects of free agency.
Medical Image Processing You Can Apply

John C. Engdahl reviews Applied Medical Image Processing: A Basic Course, 2nd ed., by W. Birkfellner, declaring it well constructed and extremely useful within its stated scope.
Location Registration and Recognition (LRR) for Longitudinal Evaluation of Corresponding Regions in CT Volumes

The algorithm described in this paper takes (a) two temporally-separated CT scans, I 1 and I 2 , and (b) a series of locations in I 1 , and it produces, for each location, an affine transformation mapping the locations and their immediate neighborhood from I 1 to I 2 . It does this without deformable registration by using a combination of feature extraction, indexing, refinement and decision processes. Together these essentially "recognize" the neighborhoods. We show on lung CT scans that this works at near interactive speeds, and is at least as accurate as the Diffeomorphic Demons algorithm [1]. The algorithm may be used both for diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
Characteristics of the Decay of Ba 1 3 1 m

Sources of ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{131m}$ were produced by bombarding sodium iodide with ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}$ ions of about 38-MeV energy, and its half-life was redetermined as 14.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 min. Its decay was studied by means of scintillation techniques. The decay of ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{131m}$ proceeds by a (78\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5)-keV $E3$ transition (${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{K}=12.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.5$), followed by a (107\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3)-keV $M1+E2$ transition (${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{K}=0.90\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15$). Included is a discussion of possible spin and parity assignments for the levels involved in this decay. An auxiliary experiment showed that less than 1% of ${\mathrm{La}}^{131}$ decays lead to ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{131m}$.
Ectopic Expression of CXCR5/BLR1 Accelerates Retinoic Acid- and Vitamin D3-Induced Monocytic Differentiation of U937 Cells

The product of the blr1 gene is a CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR5) that regulates B lymphocyte migration and has been implicated in myelomonocytic differentiation. The U937 human leukemia cell line was used to study the role of blr1 in retinoic acid-regulated monocytic leukemia cell growth and differentiation. blr1 mRNA expression was induced within 12 hr by retinoic acid in U937 cells. To determine whether the early induction of blr1 might regulate inducible monocytic cell differentiation, U937 cells were stably transfected with blr1 (U937/blr1 cells). Ectopic expression of blr1 caused no significant cell cycle or differentiation changes, but caused the U937/blr1 cells to differentiate faster when treated with either retinoic acid or 1α,5-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Treated with retinoic acid, U937/blr1 cells showed a greater increase in the percentage of CD11b expressing cells than vector control cells. Retinoic acid also Induced a higher percentage of functionally differentiated blr1 transfectants as assessed b...
Curvature of the forelimb bones of anthropoid primates: Overall allometric patterns and specializations in suspensory species

It has previously been reported that brachiating primates, particularly gibbons, are characterized by distinctively straight forelimb long bones, yet no hypotheses have been proposed to explain why straight limb bones may be adaptive to suspensory locomotion. This study explores quantitatively the curvature of the long bones in 13 species of anthropoid primates and analyzes the functional consequences of curvature in biomechanical terms. These analyses demonstrate that, whereas the humeri of gibbons and spider monkeys are functionally less curved than those of other taxa, the ulnae of brachiators are neither more nor less curved than those of other anthropoids, and the gibbon radius is far more curved than would be predicted from body size alone. The humerus is likely significantly less curved in brachiators because of its torsion-dominated loading regime and the greatly increased stress magnitude developed in torsionally loaded curved beams. The large curvature of the radius is localized in the region of attachment of the supinator muscle. Analysis presented here of muscle mass allometry in catarrhines demonstrates that gibbons are characterized by an extremely massive supinator, and the large radial curvature is therefore most likely due to forearm muscle mechanics. This study also demonstrates that the overall pattern of limb bone curvature for anthropoids is distinct from the pattern reported for mammals as a whole. This distinctive scaling relationship may be related to the increased length of the limb bones of primates in comparison to other mammals.
CCD Implementation of a Three-Dimensional Video-Tracking Algorithm

Implementation of a three-dimensional video tracking algorithm using CCD's is presented. The algorithm does not require conventional pattern recognition or continuous segmentation updating. The only requirements, for the class of targets presented, are that the sampling lattice contain only points inside the target and that the background vary slowly. Several well-known segmentation techniques are available for initial segmentation and determination of target points. The use of CCD devices simplifies the architecture of the processor and permits real time processing at a high sampling rate. Some of the vector and matrix operations require either the use of continuously variable tapweight transversal filters or analog multipliers. The use of analog multipliers, which can be on-chip, reduces the number of components and offers higher accuracy than presently available variable tap weight transversal filters.
Testing the Extent of the Gender Trap: College Students’ Perceptions of and Reactions to Intimate Partner Violence

Prior research has explored perceptions of intimate partner violence (IPV), and how these perceptions differ based on gender of the participant, victim, and perpetrator. In the current study, 178 undergraduate students (n = 88 males; n = 90 females) attending a university in the Southwestern United States read a hypothetical IPV scenario, experimentally crossed by victim gender and perpetrator gender, and completed measures exploring gender (i.e., participant gender, victim gender, and perpetrator gender) and situational perceptions on participants’ intended responses to an IPV scenario. Results indicated that perceptions of the IPV situation and responses varied by genders of the participant, victim, and perpetrator. Specifically, males were more likely than females to hold the victim responsible for the violence, and ignore the situation; females were more likely than males to encourage the victim to seek professional help and seek help from another person regarding the IPV scenario as presented in the vignette. When the victim was a male, participants viewed the situation as less serious, the victim as more responsible, and were more likely to ignore the situation, than when the victim was female. Overall, results indicated that gender factors (especially participant gender) had a stronger and more consistent influence on responses to the IPV scenario than perceptions of the situation. The findings of the current study are discussed in light of implications for future research to expand an understanding of the role of gender and perceptions influencing anticipated helping behavior for victims of IPV, which will inform intervention.
Low density lipoprotein modulation of porcine coronary artery contractile response to histamine

Abstract Right coronary artery ring segments from miniature swine contracted to histamine with a force and sensitivity comparable to that reported for human right coronary artery ring segments. When the ring segments were suspended in preparations of human low density lipoprotein (LDL) the contractility was reduced. With denuded rings the contractility was significantly lower in the LDL at 1.1 × 10 −4 M histamine. With intact rings significantly less tension was generated in the LDL at concentrations greater than 6 × 10 −5 M histamine. Thus LDL attenuates the contractile response of the porcine right coronary artery to histamine.
Stiffness requirements for transverse stiffeners of rectangular CFT compression panels

This paper presents a more rational calculation of the minimum stiffness required for transverse stiffeners of stiffened concrete filled tube (CFT) compression panels. As longitudinal stiffeners are essentially compression members, transverse stiffeners are required to control the effective length. Both the longitudinal stiffener and transverse stiffener subdivide the compression panel in a grid pattern so the relatively thin plate can carry the induced compressive load in the most efficient manner. However, the provisions for the required rigidity of transverse stiffeners in the literature are inconsistent in general and in particular; do not exist in the case of the concrete filled compression panels. Here, the parameters that govern the behavior of the transverse stiffeners are identified theoretically using the column buckling approximation. In order to calibrate and quantify the analytical equations developed, incremental nonlinear analyses were performed on a large number of finite-element models. The numerically collected data were then used to validate the equations developed.
Earthquake hazards reduction

Only minor changes were made in the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program at a recent markup of reauthorizing legislation by the House Science, Research, and Technology subcommittee. The subcommittee's action would increase funding slightly above the FY 1980 level, expedite planning for earthquake preparedness, and eliminate some fuzzy areas in administration of the program. Extra money would be provided for a number of areas, including public education, disaster planning and preparedness, and studies to improve the resistance of buildings to earthquakes. The bill gives special attention to ‘policy research,’ a part of the NSF Problem-Focused Research Division's effort to assess the social consequences of predicting, and preparing for, earthquakes—an area formerly given short shrift by a practical-minded Congress.