cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Judgment Day: Judicial Decision Making at the International Criminal Tribunals

This book demonstrates how, after many years of inactivity after the World War II tribunals, judges at the Yugoslav, Rwanda and Sierra Leone tribunals, and to a lesser extent the International Criminal Court, have seized the opportunity to develop international law on war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Meernik and Aloisi argue that judges are motivated by a concern for human rights protection and the legacy of international criminal justice. They have progressively expanded the reach of international law to protect human rights and have used the power of their own words to condemn human rights atrocities. Judges have sentenced the guilty to lengthy and predictable terms in prison to provide justice, deterrence of future violations and even to advance peace and reconciliation. On judgment day, we show that judges have sought to enhance the power of international justice.
A 4th-Order Continuous-Time Delta-Sigma Modulator Using 6-bit Double Noise-Shaped Quantizer

This paper presents a continuous-time delta-sigma modulator using a double noise-shaped quantizer (DNSQ), which not only provides 2nd-order noise shaping but also generates a 6-bit quantization in the modulator. The proposed DNSQ efficiently extracts the quantization error in the time domain from a noise-shaped integrating quantizer (NSIQ), and directly applies it to a gated ring oscillator-based quantizer, hence achieving a 2nd order of noise shaping on its own. By incorporating the DNSQ, the modulator can achieve 4th-order noise shaping with only a 2nd-order loop filter. The proposed modulator is fabricated in a 0.13- $\mu \text{m}$ CMOS process with an active area of 0.17 mm2. It operates at 640 MHz and achieves a peak SNDR of 80.4 dB in a 15-MHz bandwidth while consuming 11.4 mW from a 1.2-V power supply.
P225 Airfuge (high speed centrifugation) – Does it really reduce background in heart patients

Aim The Luminex Single Antigen Assay is an integral part of the transplant program to determine patient antibodies. It has an important clinical impact on transplant outcomes. It is suggested that the Luminex single antigen testing on heart transplant patients often has a high mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of the negative control bead (NC), which makes antibody interpretation difficult. This study aims to determine if airfuge is useful to reduce this background. Methods HLA class I and class II single antigen testing was performed on 20 serum samples from pre- or post-heart transplant patients. All samples were tested in parallel with and without airfuge. Out of 20 samples, 10 samples were randomly selected from our daily heart patient worklist. Another 10 samples exhibited a high background in the original assay. The valid range for the negative control bead cutoff was defined as 0–1000 in our laboratory. Results MFI of NC in single antigen testing on the randomly selected samples were all below 200. MFI of NC in one sample increased from 100 to 250 after airfuge. For the group of samples that originally displayed high background, airfuge treatment decreased MFI of NC 2 folds in only 7, out of 20, tests. Of these 7 tests, NC in 5 tests that had MFI > 5000 without airfuge, decreased to around 2000 after airfuge. However, NC beads in 4 tests having MFI Conclusions High NC MFI was not observed in the majority of testing on heart patients. Treatment of sera with airfuge in heart patient samples before testing has a significant effect in decreasing NC value only for some high background sera. It is not effective in most patients’ sera. It is unnecessary to pretreat sera with airfuge for single antigen testing for heart transplant patients.
Parallel Compression and Indexing of Large-Scale Geospatial Raster Data with GPGPUs

Global remote sensing and large-scale environment modeling have generated vast amounts of raster geospatial data. Performing spatial queries over such data has applications in many domains, such as climate impact studies, water and wildlife management, and urban planning. Processing those queries is greatly facilitated by the existence of spatial indices. However, I/O transfer is still a major bottleneck in the overall system performance. One of the solutions to this issue is to compress data before sending it over the I/O channel. Therefore, a lossless compression technique that also supports spatial indexing to improve query response time is highly desirable. To fill this gap, in this paper we propose two parallel GPGPU algorithms, called Multi-Block per Tile (MBPT) and One-Block per Tile (OBPT), to compress and index large-scale geospatial raster data using BQ-Trees. Experiments comparing our best performing proposed algorithm, OBPT, against HFPaC, a state-of-the-art geospatial parallel GPGPU compression algorithm, using three real datasets of satellite images, show that our algorithm achieves a compression time speedup of up to 2X, and a 2.5X increment in compression ratio. OBPT also yields a comparable average spatial query response time to HFPaC.
Vitamin E Succinate Inhibits Protein Kinase C: Correlation with its Unique Inhibitory Effects on Cell Growth and Transformation

Both succinate and phosphate esters of vitamin E (d-αtocopherol) at low (1-25 μM) concentrations either inactivated or activated protein kinase C (PKC) depending on the conditions. in the absence of cofactors (ATP, Mg2+, and substrate protein), irreversibly inactivated PKC, while in their presence reversibly activated the enzyme. Nonetheless, at physiological ionic-strength the inhibition (inactivation) was favored even in the presence of protective cofactors. Furthermore, at this condition, vitamin E succinate completely abolished the diolein-sensitized arachidonic acid-mediated activation of PKC. Contrary, vitamin E, its charge-free esters acetate and nicotinate, and the water soluble analogue Trolox all failed to affect PKC activity even at a high (250 µM) concentration. In intact cells treated with vitamin E succinate, there was an initial inhibition of PKC activity as judged by in vitro protein phosphorylation, followed by an irreversible inactivation of the enzyme with a prolonged treatment. Among the various analogues of vitamin E tested, only vitamin E succinate inhibited growth and transformation of various cell types in culture. Vitamin E phosphate, although was very effective in inhibiting PKC activity in a test tube, did not inhibit cell growth and transformation probably due to its cell impermeability. Since orally administered vitamin E succinate is hydrolyzed, a topical administration couldallow chemopreventive actions of this charged ester at sites such as oral cavity and skin. Taken together these results suggest that unhydrolyzed vitamin E succinate, having a negative charge, membrane permeability, and stability in intracellular compartments, inhibits cell growth and transformation, at least in part due to the inhibition of PKC.
Adalearner: an adaptive distributed mobile learning system for neural networks

Neural networks hold a critical domain in machine learning algorithms because of their self-adaptiveness and state-of-the-art performance. Before the testing (inference) phases in practical use, sophisticated training (learning) phases are required, calling for efficient training methods with higher accuracy and shorter converging time. Many existing studies focus on the training optimization on high-performance servers or computing clusters, e.g. GPU clusters. However, training neural networks on resource-constrained devices, e.g. mobile platforms, is an important research topic barely touched. In this paper, we implement AdaLearner-an adaptive distributed mobile learning system for neural networks that trains a single network with heterogenous mobile resources under the same local network in parallel. To exploit the potential of our system, we adapt neural networks training phase to mobile device-wise resources and fiercely decrease the transmission overhead for better system scalability. On three representative neural network structures trained from two image classification datasets, AdaLearner boosts the training phase significantly. For example, on LeNet, 1.75--3.37× speedup is achieved when increasing the worker nodes from 2 to 8, thanks to the achieved high execution parallelism and excellent scalability.
Inferring Loop Invariants through Gamification

In today's modern world, bugs in software systems incur significant costs. One promising approach to improve software quality is automated software verification. In this approach, an automated tool tries to prove the software correct once and for all. Although significant progress has been made in this direction, there are still many cases where automated tools fail. We focus specifically on one aspect of software verification that has been notoriously hard to automate: inferring loop invariants that are strong enough to enable verification. In this paper, we propose a solution to this problem through gamification and crowdsourcing. In particular, we present a puzzle game where players find loop invariants without being aware of it, and without requiring any expertise on software verification. We show through an experiment with Mechanical Turk users that players enjoy the game, and are able to solve verification tasks that automated state-of-the-art tools cannot.
Rapid fabrication of hybrid aerogels and 3D printed porous materials

In this manuscript, methods will be reviewed that alleviate or solve processing issues of aerogels. Techniques will be described that allow one-pot, rapid synthesis of both native-aerogels and mechanically reinforced-aerogels, as well as porous oxide monoliths with hierarchical pore size distribution. Farther, techniques will be reviewed that allow fabrication of inhomogeneous/anisotropic porous monoliths. Techniques will be described that allow to reinforce or functionalize selected regions of monoliths. These techniques are photolithographic in nature and allow to fabricate a wide variety of structures, including honeycombs and functionally graded materials. These materials consist of functionalized and/or mechanically reinforced regions embedded into an otherwise native aerogels and they will be termed as “hybrid”. Finally, techniques will be reviewed that alleviate or solve geometrical constraints. Typically, porous materials are produced by pouring a sol into a mold. Techniques will be presented that allow additive manufacturing of porous materials. It will be shown that technical issues likely prevent large-scale additive manufacturing of oxide aerogels. However, techniques are available and will be discussed which allow additive manufacturing of porous polymeric structures.
Contesting Instrumental Knowledge With Communicative Action: Why Kalabagh Dam (Pakistan) Remains Unbuilt:

The building of Kalabagh Dam—Pakistan’s largest hydropower development project—has been stalled for decades. This article interrogates why and how this project has been grounded for so long. It sho...
Hair Cell Regeneration in the Mammalian Ear, Is Gene Therapy the Answer?

In vertebrates the sensation of hearing is dependent on the presence of mechanosensory hair cells located within the coiled cochlea of the inner ear. The apical surface of each hair cell contains a specialized stereociliary bundle that acts to detect sound-induced pressure waves. In mammals, hair cells are only generated during a finite period in embryogenesis. Therefore, hair cell loss, as a result of either genetic or environmental factors, leads to a permanent loss in hearing acuity. Recent results have identified some of the genes that are instructive for the formation of hair cells. In particular, forced expression of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, Atoh1, was found to be sufficient to induce hair cell formation in different cell types within the embryonic inner ear. These findings suggested that expression of Atoh1 within a damaged mammalian inner ear might be sufficient to induce the formation of new hair cells. In fact, studies in mature animals that can spontaneously regenerate hair cells, such as birds, indicates that re-expression of Atoh1 is a key step in this process. In contrast, existing data indicates that Atoh1 is never re-expressed in a mature mammalian ear, regardless of the nature or degree of damage. Based on these observations, it has been suggested that induction of hair cell regeneration might be accomplished through gene therapy. The inner ear is well suited for gene transfer-based treatments as it is a relatively enclosed space with limited communication with the rest of the body. Preliminary results in animals using both adeno- and adeno-associated virus-based vectors have demonstrated that inner ear tissues can be efficiently transfected. Moreover, in one publication, forced expression of Atoh1 resulted in some degree of recovery in deafened animals. These results, while very promising, will require replication by additional laboratories as well as further study.
Effect of Ion Exchange Resin Particle Size on X-Ray Fluorescent Analysis

The effect of resin particles on copper x-ray fluorescence was studied. For any given resin size the relationship between copper concentration and x-ray intensity was linear. As the particle size decreased, the x-ray intensity increased for any given copper concentration. The general shape of the curves are similar to the ones predicted by Bernstein for a minor constituent in a power sample. This study indicates that the variation in intensity with particle size can be eliminated by using resins with a mean particle diameter of 56 microns or less.
Celibacy in African Traditional Religion: The Case of Zimbabwe

The research findings indicate that most Zimbabweans believe that permanent celibacy as practiced by Catholic priests is unZimbabwean and that only ascribed celibacy was practiced in Zimbabwe. Research viewing the social, economic, political, spiritual and ethical roles of celibacy from ATR perspectives indicates that celibacy in ATR is a result of social and economic factors, and not an import of Christian religion. The conclusion is that only ascribed celibacy was practiced in Zimbabwe and also that celibacy within the indigenous religion of Zimbabwe is voluntarily sought for material, social and spiritual benefits. I argue that ascribed/notional celibacy in Zimbabwe’s African Traditional Religion (ATR) is not an innovation of Christianity. I further maintain that permanent celibacy which was practiced in Zimbabwe was done by regional and family spirit mediums who were possessed by the spirits of deceased chiefs or family members until they die, or they had occasional ritual sexual intercourse with a relative or a chief in order to strengthen the chiefdom (kupinga nyika) or to bring financial and material wealth to one’s family.
Electron acceleration through spatiotemporal shaping of ultrashort light pulses

We report on a novel scheme based on spatiotemporal pulse shaping to accelerate electrons in vacuum to high kinetic energies using the transverse component of the electromagnetic field. Relatively high energies on the order of 100 MeV can be reached with only modest laser intensities (∼ 1015 W/cm2).
90 – Surgical Education Research

Scientific analysis of surgical education is necessary in order to evaluate the existing training methodologies or to introduce new methods and validate them. Studies have uncovered significant problems with current curricula. These include the lack of continuity from undergraduate to graduate surgical training and lack of supervision when acquiring physical examination skills, ultimately resulting in poor performance. The challenges facing healthcare require to rethink all aspects of surgical education. Even though the operating room remains a central part of the training, other teaching arenas will supplement its use. The methods of surgical education are changing rapidly. Bartlett had stated that “there is no simulator for the patient.” However, surgical simulation is now beginning to play a role in surgical residency programs. With increasing computer speed and ongoing bandwidth explosion, web-based education will become commonplace. Scientific evaluation of these new methods is necessary for validation and improvement.
REGULATORY IMPORTANCE OF EPA GUIDELINES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FATE STUDIES

ABSTRACT Data generated by environmental fate studies, along with toxicological, crop residue and ecological effects data, are used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess the hazards associated with use of a pesticide product. The studies are interrelated and are used by EPA to determine whether the products should be used in the United States.
Against Herbicide Resistance (1990)

I pulled weeds out of half-mile rows of soybeans on grandma and grandpa’s farm long before I heard of the controversy surrounding herbicide resistance and genetic engineering. Twenty years ago, Gordie, Richard, Greg, and I “walked beans,” not knowing that our fists and scythes were not the only means available to Grandpa for killing weeds. We knew little then about uprooting thistles with tractors and discs or about spraying chemicals onto mustard. We knew only that a cool thermos of lemonade and some stem looks from Mom would motivate our troop into action because every good Iowan hated volunteer corn and sunflower shoots. The hatred stemmed as much from the fact that the weeds made a field “look messy from the highway” as from the fact that they cut down yields; Grandma had aesthetic sensibilities as highly developed as any character in Greg Brown’s song.
An Ethological—Cognitive Model for the Attenuation of Mother—Child Attachment Behavior

During the past two decades there has been an explosive increase in our knowledge of mother-infant attachment during the first year of life.1 This increase refers not only to the content of mother-infant interaction and its development but also to the many innovative observational and analytic tools for the study of behavioral development which have evolved in the course of this research. Three of the most important innovations are the following: (a) the construction of behavior catalogues—precisely defined lists of behavior that serve as the data base for naturalistic and standardized observations (e.g., Blurton Jones, 1972; Brannigan & Humphries, 1972); (b) data reduction techniques such as those of Hinde (Hinde & Atkinson, 1970; Hinde, 1974), which allow precise descriptive statements concerning not only the behavior of the individuals, but also of relationships; and (c) comparative studies of nonhuman primates, which have given us many of our basic ideas concerning the infant’s development, and the development of his relationship with his mother. From these have developed the basis for a comprehensive theory of mother-infant attachment specifically, and of infant behavioral development in general (e.g., Bowlby, 1969, 1973; Ainsworth, 1969). This theory provides us with an integration of a number of perspectives, including those of both phylogeny and ontogeny (e.g., Bowlby, 1969; Ainsworth, 1969), of behavior and cognition (e.g., Bell, 1970), and of anthropology and ecology (e.g., Ainsworth, 1967; Marvin, Vaeven- der, Iwanaga, Line, & Line, in press).
Spectroscopic probes of muscle proteins

The use of site-directed spectroscopic probes in elucidating the molecular mechanism of force generation in muscle is reviewed, focusing on recent technical and conceptual advances. High-resolution crystal structures of actin and myosin suggest mechanistic models for force generation, but spectroscopic probe experiments under functional conditions are required to test and refine these models. An array of complementary spectroscopic techniques has been developed that can detect disorder and dynamics directly, resolve multiple conformational states, and can be applied to complex protein assemblies, taking advantage of the beautiful symmetry of the myofibrillar lattice. Recently developed instrumentation has the capacity to resolve simultaneously both biochemical and structural kinetics of myosin and/or actin. These new insights support a model in which structural and biochemical transitions are not tightly coupled, and disorder-to-order transitions play central roles in both force generation and its regulation.
Preserve the Brain: Primary Goal in the Therapy of Atrial Fibrillation

Treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) involves 3 major strategies: prevention of stroke, maintenance of sinus rhythm, and rate control [(1)][1]. Stroke is the most dreaded complication of AF, and its prevention is key. Anticoagulation with warfarin and the newer agents dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and
Novel devices for studying acute and chronic mechanical stress in retinal pigment epithelial cells

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a major cause of blindness in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic protein, by retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is a key stimulator of CNV. Mechanical stress occurs during different stages of AMD and is a possible inducer of VEGF expression in RPE cells. However, robust and realistic approaches to studying acute and chronic mechanical stress under various AMD stages do not exist. The majority of previous work has studied cyclic stretching of RPE cells grown on flexible substrates, but an ideal model must be able to mimic localized and continuous stretching of the RPE as would occur in AMD in vivo. To bridge this gap, we developed two in vitro devices to model chronic and acute mechanical stress on RPE cells during different stages of AMD. In one device, high levels of continuous mechanical stress were applied to focal regions of the RPE monolayer by stretching the underlying silicon substrate to study the role of chronic mechanical stimulation. In the second device, RPE cells were grown on porous plastic substrates and acute stress was studied by stretching small areas. Using these devices, we studied the effect of mechanical stress on VEGF expression in RPE cells. Our results suggest that mechanical stress in RPE cells induces VEGF expression and promotes in vitro angiogenesis. These results confirm the hypothesis that mechanical stress is involved in the initiation and progression of CNV.
Tradeoffs for Routing Flights in View of Multiple Weather Hazards

Adverse weather impacts the safety and efficiency of aviation. Convective storms, turbulence, and icing are aviation weather hazards that can lead to unpleasant rides and, in the worst case scenari...
A Flexible, Heterogeneously Integrated Wireless Powered System for Bio-Implantable Applications using Fan-Out Wafer-Level Packaging

Fan-Out Wafer-Level Packaging (FOWLP) is used to fabricate a near field wireless implantable system on an ultra-flexible (∼5mm bending radius) & biocompatible elastomeric substrate. A $\mu \text{LED}$ is powered wirelessly with an efficiency > 15% @ 1cm transmit distance. The implantable system is only $\sim 535\mu \mathrm{m}$ thick with a diameter <2cm.
The conditions that form us: media, affect, social change

Under what conditions is social change possible today? The essays comprising this special issue grapple, each in their own way, with this question. Together, the authors contend that any attempt to...
Sixty Years On: Ponseti Method for Clubfoot Treatment Produces High Satisfaction Despite Inherent Tendency to Relapse.

Background:Developed at the University of Iowa in 1950, the Ponseti method to manage idiopathic clubfoot deformity was slow to gain wide acceptance until the mid-1990s. There is a paucity of intermediate and long-term outcome studies involving this technique, with nearly all such studies coming from
Targeting Fe3O4 Au nanoparticles in photoacoustic nuclear magnetic dual-mode imaging

Abstract Multi-mode complementary imaging can improve the accuracy of medical diagnosis. Multi-mode probes are a bridge between various imaging modes, which means that the development of multi-mode, multi-functional nano-probes is very necessary. This paper develops a targeted as a probe for nuclear magnetic and photoacoustic dual-mode imaging, Fe3O4@Au nanoparticles have superparamagnetism and can enhance the nuclear magnetic signal of T2 sequence. The needle has optical absorption properties and can enhance photoacoustic signals. After modifying the surface of Integrin monoclonal antibody, the probe has selective targeting to U87-MG tumor cells. Nuclear magnetic based on Fe3O4@Au nanoparticles /Photoacoustic dual-mode imaging will play a major role in tumor diagnosis.
Management of bow legs in children: A primary care protocol.

Objective To reduce unnecessary orthopedic referrals by developing a protocol for managing physiologic bow legs in the primary care environment through the use of a noninvasive technique that simultaneously tracks normal varus progression and screens for potential pathologic bowing requiring an orthopedic referral. Methods Retrospective study of 155 patients with physiologic genu varum and 10 with infantile Blount`s disease. We used fingerbreadth measurements to document progression or resolution of bow legs. Final diagnoses were made by one orthopedic surgeon using clinical and radiographic evidence. We divided genu varum patients into 3 groups: patients presenting with bow legs before 18 months of age (MOA), patients presenting between 18 and 23 MOA, and patients presenting at 24 MOA or older for analyses relevant to the development of the follow-up protocol. Results Physiologic genu varum patients walked earlier than average infants (10 months vs 12-15 months; P<.001). Physiologic genu varum patients presenting before 18 MOA demonstrated initial signs of correction between 18 and 24 MOA and resolution by 30 MOA. Physiologic genu varum patients presenting between 18 and 23 MOA demonstrated initial signs of correction between 24 MOA and 30 MOA and resolution by 36 MOA. Conclusion Primary care physicians can manage most children presenting with bow legs. Management focuses on following the progression or resolution of varus with regular follow-up. For patients presenting with bow legs, we recommend a follow-up protocol using mainly well-child checkups and a simple clinical assessment to monitor varus progression and screen for pathologic bowing.
Activity Limitations and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Couples: The Moderating Role of Spousal Care

Objectives Limitations in performing basic daily activities, as well as spousal caregiving that arises from activity limitations, are important factors that have ramifications for mental health among couples. The objective of this study was to investigate the interplay of these factors by focusing on whether the associations between activity limitations and depressive symptoms among coupled-individuals were moderated by receipt and provision of spousal care. Methods Longitudinal household data from the Health and Retirement Study (2004-2014; dyad N = 6,614) were analyzed to estimate within-person associations between one's own and spousal activity limitations, receipt and provision of spousal care, and depressive symptoms. Results Findings showed a consistent link between one's own activity limitations and depressive symptoms for both spouses, whereas spousal activity limitations were associated with depressive symptoms for wives only. We also found moderating effects of spousal care in the link between one's own and spousal activity limitations and depressive symptoms. Discussion Receipt and provision of activities of daily living-related assistance may contextualize the association between activity limitations and depressive symptoms among older coupled-individuals in a direction that could alleviate or aggravate the risk of depression.
Delay of Antibiotic Administration Greater than 2 Hours Predicts Surgical Site Infection in Open Fractures

Abstract Aims Antibiotic administration, severity of injury, and debridement are associated with surgical site infection (SSI) after internal fixation of open fractures. We sought to validate a time-dependent treatment effect of antibiotic administration. Patients Consecutive open fracture patients at a level 1 trauma center with minimum 30-day follow-up were identified from an orthopaedic registry from 2013-2017. Methods The primary endpoint was SSI within 90 days. A threshold time to antibiotic administration associated with SSI was ascertained by receiver-operator analysis. A Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age, smoking, and drug use determined the treatment effect of antibiotic administration within the threshold period. Results Ten percent of 230 patients developed a SSI. There was a trend for patients who did not develop an SSI to receive antibiotics earlier than those who did develop an SSI (61 minutes, IQR 33-107 vs 83 minutes, IQR 40-186), p=0.053). Intravenous antibiotic administration after 120 minutes of presentation of an open fracture to emergency department was significantly associated with a 2.4 increased hazard of surgical site infection (p=0.036) within 90 days. Conclusion Antibiotic administration greater than 120 minutes after ED presentation of an open fracture was associated with an increased risk of SSI.
Psychotherapy for binge eating

There are many types of psychotherapy used to treat binge eating in bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge-eating disorder (BED). Some of the most common psychotherapies include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), behavioral weight-loss treatment (BWL), third-wave therapies (e.g., dialectical behavior therapy, DBT), and family-based therapy (FBT). This chapter was designed to review the empirical evidence for each of these interventions to treat binge eating in both BN and BED. The chapter highlights the most well-supported psychotherapies and briefly discusses promising psychotherapies that are emerging in the field. Given the vast differences in binge eating treatment for adults and youth, the chapter discusses each population separately to provide the most comprehensive overview of the literature. The chapter also discusses the efficacy of these psychotherapies to address comorbidities that are often associated with binge-eating-related disorders (e.g., depression) and reviews future directions of the field.
Heterogeneity of Benzodiazepine Receptors

Evidence has accumulated from almost a decade of study of neurotransmitter and putative neurotransmitter receptors to support the conclusion that most neurotransmitters interact with a heterogeneous population of receptors. The existence of receptor subtypes for various neurotransmitters provides a means by which the functional capabilities of a neurotransmitter may be extended.
Calibration free, time-resolved diffuse optical spectroscopy using combined Monte-Carlo and diffusion theory

Near-infrared spectroscopy has been widely employed in biophotonics to study and quantify the optical properties of biological tissues. Unlike steady-state approaches, time-resolved spectroscopic techniques enable optical absorption and scattering properties of the medium to be separated, allowing for quantitation of depth-dependent absolute tissue optical properties. However, robust analysis of time-resolved signals requires careful consideration of calibration techniques and computational models. Here, we consider the effect of the time window employed when fitting a diffusion theory model to Monte-Carlo simulations. Next, we describe the impact of the temporal position of the instrument response function (IRF) in recovery of the optical properties. Finally, we discuss a technique to analyze time-resolved measurements without knowledge of the timescale of the IRF or the time-resolved measurement by fitting the relative shape of the photons’ distribution time-of-flight (DTOF).
Multi-magnification-based machine learning as an ancillary tool for the pathologic assessment of shaved margins for breast carcinoma lumpectomy specimens.

The surgical margin status of breast lumpectomy specimens for invasive carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) guides clinical decisions, as positive margins are associated with higher rates of local recurrence. The "cavity shave" method of margin assessment has the benefits of allowing the surgeon to orient shaved margins intraoperatively and the pathologist to assess one inked margin per specimen. We studied whether a deep convolutional neural network, a deep multi-magnification network (DMMN), could accurately segment carcinoma from benign tissue in whole slide images (WSIs) of shave margin slides, and therefore serve as a potential screening tool to improve the efficiency of microscopic evaluation of these specimens. Applying the pretrained DMMN model, or the initial model, to a validation set of 408 WSIs (348 benign, 60 with carcinoma) achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.941. After additional manual annotations and fine-tuning of the model, the updated model achieved an AUC of 0.968 with sensitivity set at 100% and corresponding specificity of 78%. We applied the initial model and updated model to a testing set of 427 WSIs (374 benign, 53 with carcinoma) which showed AUC values of 0.900 and 0.927, respectively. Using the pixel classification threshold selected from the validation set, the model achieved a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 78%. The four false-negative classifications resulted from two small foci of DCIS (1 mm, 0.5 mm) and two foci of well-differentiated invasive carcinoma (3 mm, 1.5 mm). This proof-of-principle study demonstrates that a DMMN machine learning model can segment invasive carcinoma and DCIS in surgical margin specimens with high accuracy and has the potential to be used as a screening tool for pathologic assessment of these specimens.
Connect or protect? Social class and self-protection in romantic relationships.

Lower SES (socioeconomic status) couples tend to face particular challenges in their relationships. Relative to higher SES couples, they are less likely to marry and more likely to divorce-but they do not value their romantic relationships any less. Drawing on risk regulation theory and theories of social class as culture, we suggest that lower SES individuals adapt to their more chronically precarious environments by prioritizing self-protection more than higher SES individuals do, but that the need to self-protect may undermine relationship satisfaction. We investigate these ideas across 3 studies, using cross-sectional, longitudinal, and daily-diary methods. Lower SES individuals were more self-protective, both in their thoughts about their relationship (Studies 2-3), and in the judgments they made about their partner's commitment level over 2 years (Study 1) and 2 weeks (Study 3). Self-protection, in turn, was associated with lower relationship satisfaction (Studies 2-3). However, lower SES individuals were only self-protective when feeling vulnerable in their relationships (Study 3). Taken together, these studies identify psychological mechanisms to explain why the structural challenges that lower SES individuals experience can make it more difficult to achieve satisfying relationships. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Connection, inclusion, support, and transition: the contextual significance of aging within faith communities

Older adults play a vital role as elders in faith communities, yet little is known about their needs, perceptions, support, and belonging within faith-based communities. The present qualitative stu...
Microstructure-sensitive large-deformation model for thermomechanical processing simulations

Abstract Current computational mechanics methods lack coupling between remeshing and microstructure-sensitive models. However, this combination is necessary to consider microstructural evolution during large-deformation, thermomechanical forming operations. A model focused on improving microstructure prediction under forming operations through the advancement of remeshing capabilities integrated with crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) is developed. To enable coupling between remeshing and a large deformation crystal plasticity model, the current 3D adaptivity (i.e., remeshing) capabilities in LS-DYNA were enhanced to be compatible with a CPFE model. These enhancements include developing remapping techniques that properly account for crystallographic texture evolution during deformation. The techniques used for mapping of microstructure-related variables differ from the smooth interpolation schemes typically used for mapping of other field variables such as stress or displacement. It is demonstrated that combining the nonlinear large deformation capabilities of LS-DYNA, microstructure-sensitive remapping, and a CPFE model yields a simulation framework capable of accurately predicting evolution of location-specific forged part microstructures and shear band formation. Greater microstructural accuracy in large-deformation models can lead to improved strength, life, and manufacturing yield of lightweight forged parts.
Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Parenting Concerns Questionnaire—Advanced Disease:

Purpose:When patients with advanced cancer have minor children (age < 18), their health-related quality of life is closely linked to their concerns about the impact of progressive illness and death...
The frequency of contraception documentation and women with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis within the RISE Registry.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE We sought to understand the frequency of contraception documentation for women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a large U.S. electronic health record (EHR)-based registry, and to identify disparities by teratogen prescription and patient race and ethnicity. METHODS Contraception documentation from structured data fields within the RISE (Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness) Registry was collected for women of childbearing age (18-45 years) in 2018 who had at least 2 visits with ICD-9/10 diagnosis codes for SLE or RA (at any time). Univariate and multivariate analyses compared the frequency of contraception documentation based on patient characteristics including diagnosis, age, race, and teratogenicity of prescribed anti-rheumatic medications. RESULTS In 2018 there were 9,826 women of childbearing age with SLE and 19,009 with RA, of whom 9.1% had any contraception documented. Rates of contraceptive documentation were significantly lower for women with SLE (adjusted OR 0.84 (0.76, 0.92)). Women of Hispanic ethnicity, Black and Asian race were all less likely than white women to have contraception documentation. Teratogen prescription was associated with higher rates of contraception documentation for women with RA but not SLE (RA adjusted OR 1.31 (1.16, 1.47); SLE adjusted OR 1.08 (0.91, 1.28)). CONCLUSION There are large gaps in contraception documentation within the RISE registry that are particularly stark among women of color. While these data likely underestimate contraception use, they highlight that most rheumatologists do not have a systematic approach to collecting and recording this information in the EHR.
T cell-derived tumor necrosis factor induces cytotoxicity by activating RIPK1-dependent target cell death

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligation of TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) promotes either inflammation and cell survival by inhibiting RIPK1's death-signaling function and activating NF-kB, or causes RIPK1 to associate with the death-inducing signaling complex to initiate apoptosis or necroptosis. The cellular source of TNF that results in RIPK1-dependent cell death remains unclear. To address this, we employed in vitro systems and murine models of T cell-dependent transplant or tumor rejection in which target cell susceptibility to RIPK1-dependent cell death could be genetically altered. We show that TNF released by T cells is necessary and sufficient to activate RIPK1-dependent cell death in target cells and thereby mediate target cell cytolysis, independent of T cell frequency. Activation of the RIPK1-dependent cell death program in target cells by T cell-derived TNF accelerates murine cardiac allograft rejection and synergizes with anti-PD1 administration to destroy checkpoint blockade-resistant, murine melanoma. Together, the findings uncover a distinct immunological role for TNF released by cytotoxic effector T cells following cognate interactions with their antigenic targets. Manipulating T cell TNF and/or target cell susceptibility to RIPK1-dependent cell death can be exploited to either mitigate or augment T cell-dependent destruction of allografts and malignancies to improve outcomes.
What Makes Characters Seem Life-Like

What are the qualities that make characters seem life-like to the people who interact with them? Based on experience creating and evaluating dozens of interactive characters during the past decade, I suggest that characters seem more life-like when they are made to seem: conversational, intelligent, individual, social, empathic, variable, and coherent. In this chapter, I briefly describe five illustrative characters to ground the discussion of life-like qualities: Improv Puppets, Erin the Bartender, Jack the Canine Web Site Host, Katherine the Interactive Newscaster, and STAR Workshops featuring Coach Harmony and Role-Play Partners Nina and Ed. I then describe each of the life-like qualities in terms of behavioral features, attempt to rationalize them intuitively with reference to human behavior, and illustrate them with reference to the behavior of the illustrative characters. I conclude by proposing a variation on the Turing Test to evaluate the degree to which a character seems life-like.
SU-E-T-213: Comparison of Treatment Efficiency of Gamma Knife SRS Plans for Brain Metastases with Different Planning Methods

Purpose: To improve Gamma Knife SRS treatment efficiency for brain metastases and compare the differences of treatment time and radiobiological effects between two different planning methods of automatic filling and manual placement of shots with inverse planning. Methods: T1-weighted MRI images with gadolinium contrast from five patients with a single brain metastatic-lesion were used in this retrospective study. Among them, two were from primary breast cancer, two from primary melanoma cancer and one from primary prostate cancer. For each patient, two plans were generated in Leksell GammaPlan10.1.1 for radiosurgical treatment with a Leksell GammaKnife Perfexion machine: one with automatic filling, automatic sector configuration and inverse optimization (Method1); and the other with manual placement of shots, manual setup of collimator sizes, manual setup of sector blocking and inverse optimization (Method2). Dosimetric quality of the plans was evaluated with parameters of Coverage, Selectivity, Gradient-Index and DVH. Beam-on Time, Number-of-Shots and Tumor Control Probability(TCP) were compared for the two plans while keeping their dosimetric quality very similar. Relative reduction of Beam-on Time and Number-of-Shots were calculated as the ratios among the two plans and used for quantitative analysis. Results: With very similar dosimetric and radiobiological plan quality, plans created with Method 2 had significantly reduced treatment time. Relative reduction of Beam-on Time ranged from 20% to 51 % (median:29%,p=0.001), and reduction of Number-of-Shots ranged from 5% to 67% (median:40%,p=0.0002), respectively. Time of plan creation for Method1 and Method2 was similar, approximately 20 minutes, excluding the time for tumor delineation. TCP calculated for the tumors from differential DVHs did not show significant difference between the two plans (p=0.35). Conclusion: The method of manual setup combined with inverse optimization in LGP for treatment of brain metastatic lesions with the Perfexion can achieve significantly higher time efficiency without degrading treatment quality.
A charge transfer-based high performance, ultra-low power PLL charge pump

This paper presents a high performance, ultra-low power scalable charge pump (CP) design for analog phase locked loops (PLLs). The compact CP circuit uses 4 minimum-sized transistor switches and a relatively small capacitor for transferring charge within the PLL to adjust the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) frequency. Unlike the state of the art, the proposed CP design does not use current mirrors, has the ability to operate at very low voltages, and does not suffer from traditional mismatch errors due to its unique design. The fast switching action of the proposed CP allows for the use of a no-added delay D-flip flop (DFF) based phase-frequency detector (PFD) resulting in reduced PLL control loop delay and very low reference spurs in a PLL design. The proposed CP has been fabricated with a 1–10GHz PLL in TSMC all-digital 40nm CMOS process and physically tested with a variable 0.5–1.2V supply and a 50MHz–1GHz reference frequency. The charge pump has an active area of 0.0004mm2, consumes on average 250pW power, and has a 0.1–0.3° phase error, depending on the PLL frequency of operation.
Actinomycin Resistance and Actinomycin Excretion in a Mutant of Escherichia coli

A mutant of Escherichia coli resembles its parent in taking up actinomycin after treatment with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid but differs in that it survives this uptake and excretes actinomycin at an increased rate.
Nutritional and Baking Quality of low Phytic Acid Wheat

Phytic acid is the major storage form of phosphorus in wheat grain. Non-ruminant animals cannot utilize phytic acid phosphorus, and phytic acid reduces the nutritional availability of important minerals. We have identified a wheat mutant (Lpa1-1) with reduced phytic acid P and increased inorganic P (Pi). Ideally, LPA wheats will have improved micronutrient availability without detrimental effects on baking quality. To test this hypothesis, the mutant phenotype was transferred via backcrossing into the hard red spring wheat cultivar ‘Grandin.’ Wild-type (WT) and low phytic acid (LPA) sib selections from two backcross families were grown in replicated, irrigated yield trials at Aberdeen, ID in 2003 and 2004. Total P, Pi, and phytic acid P (PAP) were measured in grain and in fractions obtained after milling on a Quadrumat Sr. experimental mill. Elemental concentrations (Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, S, and Zn) were measured in flour and bran fractions by ICP mass spectrometry. Total P concentration in grain of WT and LPA sib lines was similar. However, the distribution of P between phytic acid and Pi was altered: Pi in LPA grain was up to 340% of WT grain, and PAP in LPA grain was reduced to as low as 65% of the concentration in WT grain. This difference in P composition of grain was reflected in flour: Pi in break and reduction flours of LPA wheat was 3- to 4-times the concentration in break and reduction flours from WT wheat. Total P concentration in LPA flours was 20% greater than in WT flours. Mineral concentrations in bran and shorts of LPA and WT wheats were similar. However, magnesium concentrations in LPA break and reduction flours were significantly greater than in WT flours. The LPA genotype had little effect on concentrations of other minerals. Increases in P and Mg concentration in LPA flours were manifested in greater flour ash concentration. Flour ash of WT flours averaged 3.86 g kg-1; flour ash of LPA flours averaged 4.38 g kg-1. Protein concentration of LPA and WT flours was similar. However, LPA flours had a longer time to mixograph peak and greater mixograph peak height than WT flours. Bread loaf volume of LPA and WT flours was similar. The results of this study indicate that the LPA trait can produce flours with greater Pi and Mg concentration and little effect on bread flour functionality