cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A practical approach to real-time neutral feature subtraction for facial expression recognition

Methods for automated facial expression recognition — identifying faces as happy, sad, angry, etc. — typically rely on the classification of features extracted from images. These features, designed to encode shape and texture information, depend on both (1) the expression an individual is making, and (2) the individual's physical characteristics and lighting conditions of the image. To reduce the effect of (2), a common strategy is to establish a "baseline" for an individual and subtract out this individual's baseline neutral feature. This extra neutral feature information often is not available — in particular for in-the-wild, real-time classification of a previously unseen subject. Thus, in order to implement "neutral subtraction," one must estimate the individual's neutral feature. Existing methods to do this are susceptible to class imbalance at test time (e.g., averaging over all facial features), require a more complex model specific to the individual to be trained, or are restricted to features computed entirely from tracked landmark points (taking advantage of a subset of "stable points" which move little as an individual emotes). We extend neutral subtraction to different computer vision feature spaces as a method to correct for inter-face and lighting variance. We further propose a simple, real-time method which is robust to class imbalance and in principal works over a wide class of feature choices. We test this method on feature extraction techniques that lead to high baseline accuracy without neutral subtraction (97% on the Extended Cohn-Kanade Dataset). We find that on difficult classification tasks our method recovers almost 2/3 of the ∼ 8% gain shown by a "cheating" neutral-subtracted feature classifier, which uses examples that have been labeled as neutral, validating with both HOG and SIFT features.
Chemistry and transport effects on critical flame initiation radius for alkanes and aromatic fuels

Abstract The combined effects of transport and fuel reactivity on the critical flame initiation radius for n-alkanes and aromatics are investigated experimentally and numerically using outwardly propagating spherical flames at atmospheric pressure. The effects of transport on the critical flame initiation radius are examined by comparing n-alkanes with different sizes (n-heptane vs. n-decane) but similar molecular structure and reactivity. The effect of fuel reactivity and chemistry on the flame initiation radius are investigated by comparing two alkylated benzene isomers, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene and n-propylbenzene, which have distinctive reactivity and molecular structures but have the same molecular size and transport properties. The results showed that for n-alkanes, consistent with theoretical predictions, the effect of transport on the critical flame initiation is small for large hydrocarbon fuels. For aromatic fuels, it is found that fuel reactivity defined by fuel molecular structure has a significant impact on the critical flame initiation radius. This observation also supports the theoretical prediction. The results show that fuel with lower reactivity (1,3,5-trimethylbenzene) has a larger critical radius than that with higher reactivity (n-propylbenzene). It is also demonstrated that there is a linear correlation between the critical strain rate and the peak in-flame OH concentration. A radical index combined with transport-weighted enthalpy is proposed to correlate the critical radius of all tested alkanes and aromatic fuels. It is found that the critical radius of all fuels can be reasonably correlated to the product of the radical index and the transport-weighted enthalpy. The results reveal that, similar to flame extinction limits, the critical radius is subject to the combined effect of enthalpy transport and fuel reactivity. The present results suggest that an increase of the product of the transport weighted enthalpy and fuel reactivity may lead to lower chance of ignition failure in internal combustion engines and turbine engine relight.
Abstract 3406: Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) expression and proliferation index (Ki-67) in neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas

EZH2 is a polycomb group protein that is involved in the progression of multiple human cancers including prostatic, endometrial, and colonic adenocarcinomas. Its expression has been shown to increase from typical carcinoid to atypical carcinoid and further to small cell/large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung. Here we examine the EZH2 expression and the proliferation index (PI) by Ki-67 expression in neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and pancreas. We retrieved 72 cases of GI and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors of grades G1 (n = 56), G2 (n = 6) and G3 (n = 10) which were graded according to the WHO classification. Expression of EZH2 and Ki-67 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies (EZH2 at 1:200; Ki-67 at 1:70). Expression of EZH2 was determined to be low (10%), and was compared with the respective PI. All G1 tumors had low EZH2 expression and a low PI (20%). In G2 tumors, EZH2 expression was intermediate (1-10%) and PI was between 0-8%. One of the G2 tumors had a low PI of 0, however, the EZH2 expression was intermediate (3%). There was increased EZH2 expression relative to increasing tumor grade from G1 to G3 (p EZH2 expression increases incrementally from G1 neuroendocrine tumors to G2 and further to G3 tumors, suggesting an association or a role in progression of neuroendocrine tumors. There is strong correlation between the expression of EZH2 and PI in G1, G2 and G3 tumors. EZH2 appears to be a better predictor of tumor grade in G2 tumors as compared to PI. Thus, EZH2 could be used as an additional diagnostic marker in examining atypical GI neuroendocrine tumors. Citation Format: Jia Qin, Raag Agrawal, Miguel G. Echevarria, LAura A. Martello, M.A Haseeb, Raavi Gupta. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) expression and proliferation index (Ki-67) in neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3406. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3406
Hospital Medicine Resident Training Tracks: Developing the Hospital Medicine Pipeline

Background Hospital medicine (HM) is rapidly evolving into new clinical and nonclinical roles. Traditional internal medicine (IM) residency training likely does not optimally prepare residents for success in HM. Hospital medicine residency training tracks may offer a preferred method for specialized HM education. Methods Internet searches and professional networks were used to identify HM training tracks. Information was gathered from program websites and discussions with track directors. Results The 11 HM tracks at academic medical centers across the United States focus mostly on senior residents. Track structure and curricular content are determined largely by the structure and curricula of the IM residency programs in which they exist. Almost all tracks feature experiential quality improvement projects. Content on healthcare economics and value is common, and numerous track leaders report this content is expanding from HM tracks into entire residency programs. Tracks also provide opportunities for scholarship and professional development, such as workshops on abstract creation and job procurement skills. Almost all tracks include HM preceptorships as well as rotations within various disciplines of HM. Conclusions HM residency training tracks focus largely on quality improvement, health care economics, and professional development. The structures and curricula of these tracks are tightly linked to opportunities within IM residency programs. As HM continues to evolve, these tracks likely will expand to bridge clinical and extra-clinical gaps between traditional IM training and contemporary HM practice. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2017;12:173-176.
Constitutively Active SPAK Causes Hyperkalemia by Activating NCC and Remodeling Distal Tubules

Aberrant activation of with no lysine (WNK) kinases causes familial hyperkalemic hypertension (FHHt). Thiazide diuretics treat the disease, fostering the view that hyperactivation of the thiazide-sensitive sodium-chloride cotransporter (NCC) in the distal convoluted tubule (DCT) is solely responsible. However, aberrant signaling in the aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron (ASDN) and inhibition of the potassium-excretory renal outer medullary potassium (ROMK) channel have also been implicated. To test these ideas, we introduced kinase-activating mutations after Lox-P sites in the mouse Stk39 gene, which encodes the terminal kinase in the WNK signaling pathway, Ste20-related proline-alanine-rich kinase (SPAK). Renal expression of the constitutively active (CA)-SPAK mutant was specifically targeted to the early DCT using a DCT-driven Cre recombinase. CA-SPAK mice displayed thiazide-treatable hypertension and hyperkalemia, concurrent with NCC hyperphosphorylation. However, thiazide-mediated inhibition of NCC and consequent restoration of sodium excretion did not immediately restore urinary potassium excretion in CA-SPAK mice. Notably, CA-SPAK mice exhibited ASDN remodeling, involving a reduction in connecting tubule mass and attenuation of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and ROMK expression and apical localization. Blocking hyperactive NCC in the DCT gradually restored ASDN structure and ENaC and ROMK expression, concurrent with the restoration of urinary potassium excretion. These findings verify that NCC hyperactivity underlies FHHt but also reveal that NCC-dependent changes in the driving force for potassium secretion are not sufficient to explain hyperkalemia. Instead, a DCT-ASDN coupling process controls potassium balance in health and becomes aberrantly activated in FHHt.
Beam-contamination-induced compositional alteration and its neutron-atypical consequences in ion simulation of neutron-induced void swelling

ABSTRACTAlthough accelerator-based ion irradiation has been widely accepted to simulate neutron damage, neutron-atypical features need to be carefully investigated. In this study, we have shown that Coulomb force drag by ion beams can introduce significant amounts of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen into target materials even under ultra-high vacuum conditions. The resulting compositional and microstructural changes dramatically suppress void swelling. By applying a beam-filtering technique, introduction of vacuum contaminants is greatly minimized and the true swelling resistance of the alloys is revealed and matches neutron behavior closely. These findings are a significant step toward developing standardized procedures for emulating neutron damage.
Variations in Tibial Tuberosity to Trochlear Groove and Posterior Cruciate Ligament Distances due to Tibial External and Valgus Rotations

Tibial rotations with respect to the femur influence measurements used to assess the lateral position of the tibial tuberosity. This study utilized computational modeling to quantify how the tibial tuberosity to trochlear groove (TT-TG) and tibial tuberosity to posterior cruciate ligament attachment (TT-PCL) distances vary with tibial internal/external and varus/valgus rotations. Computational models were developed from magnetic resonance imaging data to represent eight knees with patellar instability. TT-TG and TT-PCL distances were quantified from the computational models for a neutral orientation and with the tibia rotated internally and externally and into varus and valgus in 1-degree increments to 5 degrees. Regression analyses related tibial rotations to TT-TG and TT-PCL distances. TT-TG distance increased with tibial external rotation, and both TT-TG and TT-PCL distances increased with valgus orientation (r 2 > 0.94 for all regressions). The average increase in TT-TG distance for each 1 degree of tibial external rotation was 0.55 mm (range: 0.50–0.62 mm), compared with 0.00 mm (range: −0.05 to 0.04 mm) for TT-PCL distance. The average increase in TT-TG distance for each 1 degree of valgus was 1.01 mm (range: 0.91–1.14 mm), compared with 0.46 mm (range: 0.32–0.60 mm) for TT-PCL distance. TT-TG distance varies more with tibial rotations than TT-PCL distance due to both points being on the tibia and a smaller proximal–distal distance between the points for TT-PCL distance.
Multiplexed Isobaric Tagging Protocols for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Approaches to Auditory Research

Modern biologists have at their disposal a large array of techniques used to assess the existence and relative or absolute quantity of any molecule of interest in a sample. However, implementing most of these procedures can be a daunting task for the first time, even in a lab with experienced researchers. Just choosing a protocol to follow can take weeks while all of the nuances are examined and it is determined whether a protocol will (a) give the desired results, (b) result in interpretable and unbiased data, and (c) be amenable to the sample of interest. We detail here a robust procedure for labeling proteins in a complex lysate for the ultimate differential quantification of protein abundance following experimental manipulations. Following a successful outcome of the labeling procedure, the sample is submitted for mass spectrometric analysis, resulting in peptide quantification and protein identification. While we will concentrate on cells in culture, we will point out procedures that can be used for labeling lysates generated from tissues, along with any minor modifications required for such samples. We will also outline, but not fully document, other strategies used in our lab to label proteins prior to mass spectrometric analysis, and describe under which conditions each procedure may be desirable. What is not covered in this chapter is anything but the most brief introduction to mass spectrometry (instrumentation, theory, etc.), nor do we attempt to cover much in the way of software used for post hoc analysis. These two topics are dependent upon one's resources, and where applicable, one's collaborators. We strongly encourage the reader to seek out expert advice on topics not covered here.
2016 AERA Presidential Address: Public Scholarship: Education Research for a Diverse Democracy:

AERA’s centennial provides an opportunity to reinvigorate the aspirations that gave rise to our research community in the United States: hope and determination that research can strengthen public e...
Living Situations and Social Support in the Era of Extended Foster Care: A View from the U.S.

Social support is important for promoting resiliency and decreasing the occurrence and impact of negative life events as foster youth transition to adulthood. However, the types and amount of support may vary by where youth are placed. Additionally, it is not known whether state policies that extend the foster care age limit beyond age 18 are associated with greater social support. This paper examines how types and sources of social support vary by youths’ foster care placement and foster care status at age 19. Data come from the CalYOUTH Study, a representative sample of youths in California foster care where 611 participants were interviewed at ages 17 and 19. Information was gathered on youths’ perceived adequacy of three types of social support (emotional, tangible, and advice/guidance) and their sources of support (family, peers, and professionals). Overall, a third or more of the particpants reported having inadequate support in each of the three support domains, which calls for renewed efforts to ensure that foster youth have adults they can rely on as they transition to adulthood regardless of where they happen to be living. After controlling for prior social support and other characteristics, youth in foster homes with relatives had less contact with professionals than did youth in other placements. In-care youth were more likely than out-of-care youth to have adequate advice and tangible support and to identify a professional as a support. These findings provide early support for the role of extended care in linking youth to important social resources.
Permanental Processes with Kernels That Are Not Equivalent to a Symmetric Matrix

Kernels of $\alpha$-permanental processes of the form \[ v(x,y)=u(x,y)+f(y),\qquad x,y\in S, \] in which $u(x,y)$ is symmetric, and $f$ is an excessive function for the Borel right process with potential densities $u(x,y)$, are considered. Conditions are given that determine whether $\{v(x,y);x,y\in S\}$ is symmetrizable or asymptotically symmetrizable.
Speech genres and cultural value in the Anglo-American public speaking course as a site of language socialization

ABSTRACTSpeech genres have a significant role in socializing children and adults not only to speak in culturally appropriate ways but also to present desirable identities. We analyze narratives of self-transformation collected in an undergraduate public speaking course in the United States to learn how the acquisition of public speaking as a speech genre contributes to U.S. students’ language socialization. Our study contributes to two traditions of intercultural communication research, one interested in the context-bound, culturally situated character of Anglo-American speech, and another that seeks to explain how local communication resources, including speech genres, travel across cultural boundaries.
Constructive System Use.

Information and communication technologies are so embedded in modern society that we have arrived at the point at which learning to use technology constructively may affect our day to day lives as much as does learning to eat properly. While information systems scholars have studied interesting post-adoption constructs such as continuance intentions and IT-appropriation, research explaining and predicting constructive system-use (i.e., system-use that is both fulfilling and productive) has been scarce. Better understanding constructive system-use would benefit both research and practice – scholars’ knowledge of positive outcomes of human computer interactions would expand and practitioners could gain insights toward improving employee productivity in terms of system-use. We pursue this study by developing a theory around user attributes, behaviors, learning styles, and use outcomes.
Ayn Rand and Natural Rights

In the language of set theory, contractarianism and natural rights theories have a very large intersection but neither is a proper subset of the other. It might seem that the unanimity requirement of Buchanan’s contractarianism, the one being examined here, incorporates natural rights. After all, it is unanimity that distinguishes the social contract: no one is forced into it, and it is precisely the ban on initiating coercion that characterizes or is a principal conclusion of natural rights theories, and in particular that of Ayn Rand. The difference is chiefly one of emphasis: natural rights theory emphasizes bilateral exchange in the economy, while contractarianism emphasizes omnilateral exchange in the polity. At first blush, the two theories, except for emphasis, are identical.
Survival benefit of post-operative chemotherapy for intermediate-risk advanced stage head and neck cancer differs with patient age.

Abstract Objectives The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines state that surgical patients with advanced-stage head and neck cancer (HNC) and risk factors other than extranodal extension (ENE) or positive margins should consider post-operative chemoradiation (POCRT). The goal of our study was to determine if POCRT is associated with overall survival (OS) compared with post-operative radiation therapy (PORT) and whether this varies with patient age. Material and Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 5319 adult patients with stage III-IV HNC who received primary surgical treatment with POCRT or PORT in the National Cancer Database (2010–2013). Patients with distant metastases, ENE, and positive margins were excluded. Intermediate risk features included pT3-T4, pN2-N3 disease, and lymphovascular invasion. Our main outcome was overall survival (OS). Statistical analysis included chi-squared tests and Cox proportional hazards regressions. Results On multivariable analysis for non-oropharyngeal cancer patients Conclusion Chemoradiation may offer a survival benefit for non-oropharyngeal intermediate-risk advanced-stage HNC patients
Barack Obama, the Idealistic Realist, 2009–2017, Part I: The Middle East and East Asia

Barack Obama entered the White House intending to emulate the more realistic foreign policy philosophy of the first President Bush without abandoning American ideals. However, more often than not, his foreign policies reflected the greater emphasis he placed on realistic rather than idealistic considerations. Nowhere were the realistic and idealistic components of Obama’s foreign policy more difficult to blend than in the Middle East. In Eastern Asia, on the other hand, he was confronted with the rising economic and military power of China and the threat of an increasingly nuclear-armed North Korea.
Treatment of Interstitial Lung Disease Associated With Myositis and the Anti-Synthetase Syndrome

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, including the anti-synthetase syndrome, are frequently complicated by interstitial lung disease (ILD). ILD in these patients can range from indolent to fulminant, and its presence is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This review will focus on the most recent evidence guiding the management of myositis-associated ILD. Treatment of ILD typically involves the use of corticosteroids in combination with one or more immunosuppressive agents. Evidence supporting the use of each agent is limited to retrospective studies and case series, and there may be a benefit to starting more intensive therapy at the time of ILD diagnosis. Response to therapy is monitored by serial pulmonary function testing, as well as functional studies assessing O2 requirements with ambulation. A majority of patients demonstrate stabilization or improvement in pulmonary function with therapy; however, a minority worsens despite treatment. In a select group of these patients who fail to respond to conventional therapy, lung transplantation may be an option. Despite limited supporting data, a combination of corticosteroids and various immunosuppressive agents remains the first-line treatment of myositis-associated ILD. Outcomes are variable, and randomized trials are needed to determine the most effective combination of these drugs.
Intradural Extramedullary Tumor: Cervical

Intradural extramedullary tumors of the cervical spine are located within the dural sheath and outside the spinal cord. Nerve sheath tumors, including the subset of dumbbell tumors, and meningiomas make up the vast majority of these tumors. Using standard exposures and microsurgical techniques, it is possible to completely resect these tumors while preserving neurological function in most cases. Timely treatment on appropriate selected patients, combined with a well-developed plan for an operative approach, can lead to gratifying outcomes for both patient and surgeon. While benign, noninvasive, and biologically indolent, these tumors are subject to so many variables that each case must be considered unique. Key considerations of the tumors, including size, axial and sagittal location, origin, attachments, vascularity and consistency, as well as patient conditions and co-morbidities and surgeon preferences and experience, must all be incorporated into the treatment plan. In this chapter, we aim to describe the initial approach, surgical techniques, as well as modifications and pearls in order to optimize surgical management of these tumors.
A novel compound fast fractional integral sliding mode control and adaptive PI control of a MEMS gyroscope

This study considers a novel compound fast fractional integral sliding mode control and adaptive PI control (APIFFOISMC) of a MEMS gyroscope. MEMS gyroscope has been constantly encountered with external noises such as temperature change, vibration, and shock, which a new control law should be designed in order to be robust against mentioned perturbations. A novel fast fractional integral sliding mode control (FFOISMC) are proposed, which can suppress external disturbances. The main drawbacks of FFOISMC is creating a chattering phenomenon. Therefore, by using an adaptive PI controller, a novel compound control method is designed. An adaptive PI controller is able to continuously calculate an error value and applies correction value and then eliminates the chattering phenomenon. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control technique.
Law in American History (Chapter 6)

This is Chapter Six of Law in American History: Volume One, From the Colonial Years Through the Civil War.The book’s purpose is to explore the relationship of law to some central themes of American history from the initial colonial settlements through the conclusion of the Civil War. The themes singled out in the book include the displacement of Amerindian tribes from land they occupied on the North American continent; the emergence of agricultural householding as the principal form of family life in colonial British America; the detachment of the American colonies from the British Empire and the theories of sovereignty and grievance that accompanied that development; the evolution of American forms of government from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution; the emergence of the Supreme Court of the United States as a major institution of American grievance; the westward movement of enterprise and population in the decades between the 1830’s and the 1850’s; the central role of slavery and westward expansion and the gradual dissolution of the Union during these decades; and the role of the Civil War as a culmination of the central themes of early American history and as a force in transforming the subsequent course of that history.
Fine-needle aspiration of adrenal lesions: A 20-year single institution experience with comparison of percutaneous and endoscopic ultrasound guided approaches.

Background Historically, sampling of adrenal lesions has been performed by percutaneous image-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. Endoscopic ultrasound guided (EUS)-FNA of the adrenals was first employed at Cleveland Clinic ~10 years ago. We report a two-decade experience of adrenal FNA in our institution. Methods An electronic retrieval identified adrenal FNAs from 1997 to 2017. Data points from each case (diagnosis, method of FNA, age, sex, laterality, needle gauge, size of lesion, adequacy of sample, and histologic follow up) were analyzed. Results Our retrieval confirmed 198 adrenal FNAs performed over 20 years. Of these, 90% (179/198) were percutaneous, and the remaining 10% (19/198) were collected by EUS. Of the 179 CT guided FNAs, 93% (162/179) yielded an adequate specimen as compared with an adequacy rate of 89% (17/19) for EUS-FNAs, with no significant difference in adequacy rates by collection method, P = .64 (Fisher's exact). Of all adrenal FNAs, 53% (105/198) confirmed metastases, 33% (65/198) showed adrenal cells or primary adrenal neoplasms (85% cortical cells, 14% cortical neoplasia, 1% pheochromocytoma), 8% were inadequate (15/198), 3% were atypical (7/198), and 2% were suspicious for malignancy (5/198). Conclusion FNA of the adrenal glands can be useful in the diagnosis and staging of metastatic neoplasms, as well as in distinguishing primary adrenal cortical from medullary neoplasms and characterizing hematolymphoid and mesenchymal neoplasms. Overall adequacy rates for adrenal cytology are high (92%) with no statistically significant difference between CT-guided (93%) and EUS-FNA adequacy (89%). The majority of our procedures confirmed metastases, sparing patients unnecessary surgery.
Exhaled Carbon Monoxide as a Marker of Hemolysis In Transgenic Mouse Models of Sickle Cell Anemia.

Abstract Abstract 1642 Sickle cell disease is characterized by recurring episodes of hemolysis and painful vasoocclusion, which leads to ischemia-reperfusion injury and organ damage. Recently, the roles of heme-induced oxidative stress, nitric oxide consumption, endothelial cell activation, and inflammation in sickle cell disease have been recognized, in part because of the development of transgenic murine models of this condition. These mouse models provide insights into the pathophysiology of human sickle cell disease and the development of new therapeutic approaches. However, hemolytic rates and disease severity vary considerably between mouse models. Ferrous (Fe2+) hemoglobin (Hb) is easily oxidized in circulation to ferric (Fe3+) Hb, which readily releases free heme. Free heme is degraded by heme oxygenase which produces carbon monoxide (CO) as a byproduct. Endogenous CO production has been used as a measure of in vivo hemolysis in humans and mice, but there have been no reports of endogenous CO production in sickle mouse models. VCO was measured in sickle mouse models using a previously described rebreathing technique t (Levitt et al. J Lab Clin Med 113:241-247). Expired CO levels were highest in Hb-S knock-in Townes-SS sickle mice, almost 7-fold higher than normal control Townes-AA mice (p Disclosures: Belcher: Sangart: Consultancy, Research Funding. Vercellotti: Sangart: Consultancy, Research Funding.
Obtaining plasma to measure baseline corticosterone concentrations in reptiles: How quick is quick enough?

Abstract There is growing interest in the use of glucocorticoid (GC) hormones to understand how wild animals respond to environmental challenges. Blood is the best medium for obtaining information about recent GC levels; however, obtaining blood requires restraint and can therefore be stressful and affect GC levels. There is a delay in GCs entering blood, and it is assumed that blood obtained within 3 min of first disturbing an animal reflects a baseline level of GCs, based largely on studies of birds and mammals. Here we present data on the timing of changes in the principle reptile GC, corticosterone (CORT), in four reptile species for which blood was taken within a range of times 11 min or less after first disturbance. Changes in CORT were observed in cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus; 4 min after first disturbance), rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus; 2 min 30 s), and rock iguanas (Cyclura cychlura; 2 min 44 s), but fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) did not exhibit a change within their 10-min sampling period. In both snake species, samples taken up to 3–7 min after CORT began to increase still had lower CORT concentrations than after exposure to a standard restraint stressor. The “3-min rule” appears broadly applicable as a guide for avoiding increases in plasma CORT due to handling and sampling in reptiles, but the time period in which to obtain true baseline CORT may need to be shorter in some species (rattlesnakes, rock iguanas), and may be unnecessarily limiting for others (cottonmouths, fence lizards).
Integrated Transmission Systems Convex Optimal Power Flow Considering Security Constraints

In this paper, a new voltage stability constrained optimal power flow (VSC-OPF) model is developed using semidefinite programming (SDP), which optimally calculates the cost of increasing stability margins. The main advantages of the proposed method are, it a) incorporates voltage stability constraints in a convex optimal power flow (OPF) formulation, b) always finds the optimal solution in comparison with probable local optimum solutions while using other non-convex methods, and c) can compare the cost of increasing loading margin using convex relaxation. The effectiveness of this method is evaluated using the IEEE 14-bus and IEEE 118-bus test systems with various network constraints. The results show that the proposed convex formulation find the optimal operating schedule and critical loading point. The effect of incorporating voltage stability margin can also be examined using the proposed method.
From Megacity to Megacity Region: Is an Asian Paradigm Emerging?

Given the current and projected proliferation of Asian megacities, and their transformational reach into surrounding territories, a common understanding of the evolving ‘megacity region’ (MCR) phenomenon is needed to initiate meaningful conversation on a coherent research and planning agenda for sustainable development. This does not appear to have happened yet. Even in the West, where the concept of city region was born and matured, the discussion has been characterized by a gamut of different interpretations and nuances as per inter and intradisciplinary orientations. Partly as a corollary to this diversity, definitional ambiguities and overlaps on scalar and other variations of the city region have further impeded a common understanding of city-regional dynamics. Following a brief discussion of this and a few related issues, I take a look at the evolving city-regional character of Asia through the respective lenses of a small number of scholars and researchers over the last few decades, taking note of the unique perspectives and research initiatives that have relevance for the Asian MCR.
Bedside Rounds in Intensive Care Units during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

A survey-based pilot study was performed to examine the feasibility of videoconferencing to facilitate multidisciplinary rounds following the initiation of strict isolation and social distancing policies in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The use of a mobile workstation was implemented as the central hub for rounding at the bedside by the attending physicians, while other members of the multidisciplinary and multispecialty team joined rounds from other locations with maintaining appropriate social distance. Fifty-eight staff members who participated in videoconferencing rounds completed the postimplementation survey. Eighty-eight per cent of staff agreed that the use of videoconferencing to facilitate rounds was an effective strategy to maintain social distancing between team members during the pandemic. Sixty-four percent of staff agreed that the use of videoconferencing improved participation of the PICU team and consultants by increasing access to rounds. Over 50% of staff agreed that the use of videoconferencing improved the efficiency of rounds and team productivity. Only 4% of staff responded that videoconferencing increased the duration of rounds and 37% responded that it decreased resident and team education. Fifty-five percent of staff agreed that videoconferencing was used to promote parental participation during this pandemic month. Videoconferencing was found to be a feasible solution to safely conduct multidisciplinary rounds while maintaining social distancing, and participants found it effective without interfering with normal workflow. Incorporating videoconferencing into traditional rounding practices may be advantageous following the pandemic to improve team and family access to rounds and workflow efficiency and rounding structure.
When Reparation Is Impossible: A Discussion of “‘When Reparation Is Felt to Be Impossible’: Persecutory Guilt and Breakdowns in Thinking and Dialogue about Race”

In this paper, Dr. Kali Cyrus thoughtfully responds to Dr. Jane Caflisch’s comments (this issue) on the schizoid-inducing nature of racial conflict for white people. Using personal and professional...
Effectiveness of osteoporosis medication on site‐specific fracture‐risk attenuation among adults with epilepsy

Objective The objective of this propensity score-matched, observational cohort study was to determine the effectiveness of osteoporosis medication on reducing the risk of non-trauma fracture (NTFx) among adults with epilepsy. Methods Data from 01/01/2012 to 09/30/2015 was extracted from Optum Clinformatics Data Mart. NTFx risk attenuation from 12 months prior to 12 months after the individual's index date was examined for each group of adults ≥50 years of age as risk ratios (RRs with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]). Groups were stratified based on: (1) epilepsy status, as with vs without epilepsy (EP); and (2) if and when osteoporosis medication was first prescribed, as new users (treatment naive), consistent users (osteoporosis medication prescribed in pre-index period), and no users. Comparison groups were matched 1:1 to EP new users (n = 828/group) for demographics, glucocorticoid and antiseizure medication, and the Elixhauser comorbidity index. Difference-in-difference analysis compared the change in pre- to post-index NTFx risk among groups as the ratio of the RR (RRR). Results The pre- to post-index NTFx risk at any site was reduced for EP new users (RR = 0.49; 95% CI = 0.40-0.61) and EP consistent users (RR = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.38-0.98), but nonsignificantly elevated for EP no users (RR = 1.39; 95% CI = 0.93-2.07)-findings were consistent for most sites (eg, vertebral column). EP new users had a larger NTFx risk attenuation at any site compared to EP no users (RRR = 0.35; 95% CI = 0.23-0.54) and EP consistent users (RRR = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.51-0.97). EP consistent users had a larger NTFx risk attenuation at any site compared to EP no users (RRR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.32-0.79). The extent of NTFx risk attenuation at any site was similar for new users with vs without epilepsy (RRR = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.73-1.34) and consistent users with vs without epilepsy (RRR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.55-1.17). There was evidence of site-specific effects (eg, hip). Conclusion Osteoporosis medication is associated with a clinically meaningful 12-month NTFx risk attenuation for adults with epilepsy, especially for those just starting osteoporosis medication.
Abstract PO-228: Trends in uterine cancer incidence and mortality in New York City

According to the American Cancer Society9s 2020 Annual Report, uterine cancer continues to pose a serious threat to the lives of women in the United States, particularly among African-Americans. Nationally, the incidence of uterine cancers rose 1% per year from 2007 to 2016 among Caucasian women but it rose 2% each year among African-American women. Although the mortality rate increased by 2% per year from 2008 to 2017 for both African-American and Caucasian women, the survival rates are strikingly different. The 5-year relative survival rate is 84% for Caucasian women but drops to 62% for African-American women. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the local trends in uterine cancer incidence and mortality among women in New York City. Methods: Publicly available data from the New York State Cancer Registry were analyzed. We evaluated uterine cancer incidence and mortality rates between 1976 to 2016 according to race and borough. Uterine cancer incidence and mortality rates according to Hispanic ethnicity were also evaluated from 2012-2016. Results: Between 1976 and 2016, the uterine cancer incidence rate increased from 24.1 cases per 100,000 women to 31 cases per 100,000 women among Caucasian women. During the same period, the uterine cancer incidence rate more than doubled from 16 cases per 100,000 women to 34.2 per 100,000 women among Black women. By 2010, the uterine cancer incidence rate among Black women had surpassed those of their Caucasian counterparts. From 2012 to 2016, uterine cancer incidence was lower for Hispanic women (24.2 per 100,000) compared to Black and Caucasian women. However, the mortality rate (5.1 per 100,000) for Hispanic women was comparable to that of Caucasian women (5.9 per 100,000) but nearly half of that for Black women (11.3 per 100,000). Between 1976 and 2016, uterine cancer incidence rates nearly doubled in the Bronx and Kings County. Uterine cancer mortality also nearly doubled in the Bronx over the past 4 decades. Conclusion: In New York City, uterine cancer mortality and incidence rates have risen sharply among Black women. The reasons for disparities among uterine cancer patients require further investigation. They may include access to healthcare, socioeconomic status, health literacy and genetic mutations. Citation Format: Onyinye Balogun. Trends in uterine cancer incidence and mortality in New York City [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-228.
Teaching Creative and Practical Data Science at Scale

Abstract–Nolan and Temple Lang’s Computing in the Statistics Curricula (2010) advocated for a shift in statistical education to broadly include computing. In the time since, individuals with traini...
Reviewing strategies and the normalization of uncertain texts

Reviewers help ease cultural products’ testing transition from the stage of production to that of circulation. Given their intermediate position between stages, reviewers have to deal with uncertainty when valuating new cultural products. How do reviewers in a transnational setting make sense of a novel product that challenges existing aesthetic boundaries, has commercial success, and is made by a little-known creator? Along with the strategies of description, accommodation, and rejection, this paper argues that reviewers’ most effective, long-term strategy to normalize the uncertainty of a brand-new product is to come up with an aesthetic label for it, either by rescuing one (recycling) or by proposing a new one (neo-labeling). These two strategies of resignification help to normalize the product’s aesthetic uncertainty. This paper studies reviewers’ initial valuation of the novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. They applied the above-mentioned strategies to read the text, especially as they could not agree on its aesthetics. A key strategy consisted in recycling the little-known label magical realism. In the long-run, magical realism turned into the normal label applied to the novel worldwide. This paper offers insights into actors’ perception of uncertain cultural products and the standardization of heterogeneous interpretations of such products.
User Authentication via Electrical Muscle Stimulation

We propose a novel modality for active biometric authentication: electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). To explore this, we engineered an interactive system, which we call ElectricAuth, that stimulates the user’s forearm muscles with a sequence of electrical impulses (i.e., EMS challenge) and measures the user’s involuntary finger movements (i.e., response to the challenge). ElectricAuth leverages EMS’s intersubject variability, where the same electrical stimulation results in different movements in different users because everybody’s physiology is unique (e.g., differences in bone and muscular structure, skin resistance and composition, etc.). As such, ElectricAuth allows users to login without memorizing passwords or PINs. ElectricAuth’s challenge-response structure makes it secure against data breaches and replay attacks, a major vulnerability facing today’s biometrics such as facial recognition and fingerprints. Furthermore, ElectricAuth never reuses the same challenge twice in authentications – in just one second of stimulation it encodes one of 68M possible challenges. In our user studies, we found that ElectricAuth resists: (1) impersonation attacks (false acceptance rate: 0.17% at 5% false rejection rate); (2) replay attacks (false acceptance rate: 0.00% at 5% false rejection rate); and, (3) synthesis attacks (false acceptance rates: 0.2-2.5%). Our longitudinal study also shows that ElectricAuth produces consistent results over time and across different humidity and muscle conditions.
Transient absorption spectroscopy to explore cellular pathways to photobiomodulation.

Abstract Photobiomodulation (PBM) describes the use of low irradiance light in the red to near-infrared wavelength range to stimulate biological effects in tissue, and many biological and spectroscopic techniques are used to study PBM. However, these techniques focus on the products or downstream effects rather than the electronic transitions that initiate the PBM processes. This study presents a novel approach to studying low irradiance light exposures on individual proteins and/or protein complexes by combining a continuous wave (CW) laser diode with femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS), coined here as CW-TAS, and tests the system on reduced cytochrome c (Cyt c) for proof of principle. TAS was conducted using a 532-nm excitation pump beam and a 350–600 nm supercontinuum probe. CW laser diodes with wavelengths of 450 nm, 635 nm, and 808 nm were interchangeably fiber coupled into the HELIOS Fire. Samples of Cyt c were tested by TAS using a pump power of 15 μW, both with and without CW exposure. CW exposures were carried out with irradiances of 1.60 and 3.20 mW/cm2, except for 808 nm, which was only tested at 1.60 mW/cm2. Both kinetic and global analyses were performed on the TAS data and the time constants for sets with and without CW exposures were compared. The TAS data for Cyt c with the full dosage of CW exposures did not alter the TAS data distinguishably from the control data. No new electronic transient signals were observed beyond the background when testing Cyt c with the CW exposures. Kinetic analysis confirmed that existing transients did not deviate beyond uncertainty. Global time constants for Cyt c were calculated to be 0.25 ± 0.03 ps and 5.1 ± 0.3 ps for the control study, and the time constants for the CW exposed Cyt c were not significantly different. This study concludes that CW irradiation, at doses delivered, does not alter the transient absorption data of Cyt c. The CW-TAS method provides a new tool for studying PBM effects in other proteins and protein complexes that might respond to the CW wavelengths, such as Complex IV, in future studies.
Caring by lying

Caring for loved ones with dementia can sometimes necessitate a loose relationship with the truth. Some might view such deception as categorically immoral, and a violation of our general truth-telling obligations. I argue that this view is mistaken. This is because truth-telling obligations may be limited by the particular relationships in which they feature. Specifically, within caregiving relationships, we are often permitted (and sometimes obligated) to deceive the people with whom we share them. Our standing to deceive follows from certain features of caregiving relationships. Specifically, they are relationships that involve obligations to promote a person's interests and values (and not simply their autonomy), that often permit us to assume the hypothetical consent of the person with whom we share them, and in which we are often entitled to act out of self-interest. Once we appreciate these features, we will be able to recognize that the truth-telling norms governing our relationships with loved ones with dementia do not represent a radical departure from our general truth-telling obligations, but are instead consistent with truth-telling norms that feature in other caregiving relationships. In addition, we will be able to understand why we may feel conflicted about lying to loved ones with dementia, even when lying is permissible.
An assessment of repeated loads on general aviation and transport aircraft.

An assessment is made of recent repeated loads data from short-haul jet transports and several general aviation airplanes. The jet transport data indicate that except for check flight maneuvers the load histories are essentially independent of operator and airplane type. General aviation data show a large amount of scatter in the repeated load history. The use and geographical location of operations may be the primary means of specifying the repeated loads environment.