cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transportation systems STEM summer academy for teachers

This paper summarizes the efforts related to, and outcomes from, the development and implementation of a 3-day long transportation systems-based summer academy for teachers. It also includes lessons learned and suggestions for the adoption of this program in other settings. The academy utilized an experiential learning process to alert, engage, attract, and excite teachers in pre-collegiate (K-12) systems to adopting “authentic” transportation systems (engineering and beyond) contexts to facilitate learning. It also provides teachers first-hand experiences about educational and career opportunities in transportation. It facilitates collaborative learning, the development of professional networks, and peer-support groups. The program includes brief ‘in-class’ overviews of transportation systems, logistics and supply chain management, followed by 2 days of site/field visits to a variety of real-life settings such a state Department of Transportation (DOT) Traffic Management Center, an air-traffic control to...
The Tail in the Volatility Index

Both volatility and the tail of the stock return distribution are impacted by discontinuities (“large jumps”) in the stock price process. In this paper, we construct model-free volatility and tail indexes in a manner that clearly distinguishes one from the other. Our tail index measures time-variation in jump intensity, and is constructed non-parametrically from the identical set of 30-day index options used to construct a volatility index. We use the indexes to examine the relative economic importance of volatility and tail in predicting market returns over 1996-2009. Over this period, our predictability regressions indicate that the first order impact of jumps is through stock return volatility rather than the tail of the distribution.
Dimensional reduction analysis for Physical Layer device fingerprints with application to ZigBee and Z-Wave devices

Radio Frequency RF Distinct Native Attribute (RF-DNA) Fingerprinting is a PHY-based security method that enhances device identification (ID). ZigBee 802.15.4 security is of interest here given its widespread deployment in Critical Infra-structure (CI) applications. RF-DNA features can be numerous, correlated, and noisy. Feature Dimensional Reduction Analysis (DRA) is considered here with a goal of: 1) selecting appropriate features (feature selection) and 2) selecting the appropriate number of features (dimensionality assessment). Five selection methods are considered based on Generalized Relevance Learning Vector Quantization-Improved (GRLVQI) feature relevance ranking, and p-value and test statistic rankings from both the two-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) Test and the one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) F-test. Dimensionality assessment is considered using previous qualitative (subjective) methods and quantitative methods developed herein using data covariance matrices and the KS and F-test p-values. ZigBee discrimination (classification and ID verification) is evaluated under varying signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions for both authorized and unauthorized rogue devices. Test statistic approaches emerge as superior to p-value approaches and offer both higher resolution in selecting features and generally better device discrimination. With appropriate feature selection, using only 16% of the data is shown to achieve better classification performance than when using all of the data. Preliminary first-look results for Z-Wave devices are also presented and shown to be consistent with ZigBee device fingerprinting performance.
Hormonal stimulation of alpha-amylase synthesis in porcine pancreatic minces.

Abstract Minces of porcine pancreas maintained a linear rate of protein synthesis for more than 4 h with similar kinetics in the presence or absence of hormones. α-Amylase protein, quantitated by using glycogen precipitation, SDS polyacrylamide gel analysis, and radioimmunoassay, was found to represent 6-7% of the total protein content of the minces. The addition of prostaglandin E1 (10-7m), or a pancreozymin preparation (3-10 Crick-Harper-Raper units/ml) to the incubation media produced within 60 min an increase in α-amylase protein above that stored in the tissue 10- to 20-fold greater than that observed in control minces. The addition of cAMP analogs (10-3m) to the medium produced a more variable stimulation of α-amylase content. Quantitation of the incorporation of radiolabeled amino acid into α-amylase protein with simultaneous determination of the specific activity of the precursor pool suggested that these agents produced at least 3- to 5-fold stimulation of de novo α-amylase synthesis. This stimul...
Regulating anti-social behavior on the Internet: The example of League of Legends

Anti-social behavior such as flaming is pervasive and problematic in many online venues. This behavior breaks established norms and unsettles the well-being and development of online communities. Therefore, regulating anti-social behavior becomes an important issue in online management. In this paper, we examine flaming in the context of an online game, League of Legends. We discuss an effort the game developer, Riot Games, presents to deal with anti-social behavior. The "Tribunal System" empowers players to judge misbehavior. We conducted an ethnographic study of the game to explore the reasons for anti-social behavior, and we analyzed the development of the Tribunal System.
Incremental validity of the episode size criterion in binge‐eating definitions: An examination in women with purging syndromes

Objective Of the two primary features of binge eating, loss of control (LOC) eating is well validated while the role of eating episode size is less clear. Given the ICD-11 proposal to eliminate episode size from the binge-eating definition, the present study examined the incremental validity of the size criterion, controlling for LOC. Method Interview and questionnaire data come from four studies of 243 women with bulimia nervosa (n = 141) or purging disorder (n = 102). Hierarchical linear regression tested if the largest reported episode size, coded in kilocalories, explained additional variance in eating disorder features, psychopathology, personality traits, and impairment, holding constant LOC eating frequency, age, and body mass index (BMI). Analyses also tested if episode size moderated the association between LOC eating and these variables. Results Holding LOC constant, episode size explained significant variance in disinhibition, trait anxiety, and eating disorder-related impairment. Episode size moderated the association of LOC eating with purging frequency and depressive symptoms, such that in the presence of larger eating episodes, LOC eating was more closely associated with these features. Neither episode size nor its interaction with LOC explained additional variance in BMI, hunger, restraint, shape concerns, state anxiety, negative urgency, or global functioning. Discussion Taken together, results support the incremental validity of the size criterion, in addition to and in combination with LOC eating, for defining binge-eating episodes in purging syndromes. Future research should examine the predictive validity of episode size in both purging and nonpurging eating disorders (e.g., binge eating disorder) to inform nosological schemes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016)
Climate Change and Civil Unrest: Evidence from the El Niño Southern Oscillation

A growing body of research connects short-run deviations in temperature and precipitation with violence. Less well understood is the extent to which these studies are representative of the impacts of global climate change. We follow the approach of Hsiang, Meng, and Cane (2011, Science) in using the existing climactic forces of El Nino and La Nina to analyze the potential consequences of climate change. We show that these events are strongly associated with subsequent periods of elevated social unrest. The effects we document are especially pronounced for Latin America which is particularly vulnerable both to existing climactic cycles and to projected climate change. Climate forces strongly influence the onset and frequency of government crises and anti-government demonstrations in Latin America specifically, suggesting a critical need to further develop political and social infrastructure to cope with these evolving challenges.
Comparative cardiovascular safety of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists versus other antidiabetic drugs in routine care: a cohort study.

Aims To evaluate the comparative cardiovascular disease (CVD) safety of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in head-to-head comparisons with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, sulphonylureas or insulin, when added to metformin, as used in ‘real-world’ patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Within a large US commercial health plan database linked to laboratory test results, we identified three pairwise 1 : 1 propensity-score-matched cohorts of patients with T2DM aged ≥18 years treated with metformin who initiated a GLP-1 RA or a comparator, i.e. DPP-4 inhibitor (n = 35 534), second-generation sulphonylureas (n = 28 138) or insulin (n = 47 068), between 2005 and 2013. We examined the association between drug initiation and a composite CVD endpoint, comprising hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke or coronary revascularization. Results During the course of 1 year, there were 13.9 and 13.7 CVD events per 1000 person-years among propensity-score-matched initiators of GLP-1 RAs versus DPP-4 inhibitors [hazard ratio (HR) 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84–1.24]; and 12.1 versus 14.0 events among initiators of GLP-1 RAs versus sulphonylureas (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.69–1.08). The effect estimates for GLP-1 RAs versus insulin were sensitive to the adjustment for glycated haemoglobin, after which the HR was 1.01 (95% CI 0.73–1.41). Results were robust across several sensitivity analyses, including an as-treated analysis considering up to 8.7 years of follow-up. Conclusions This large study, performing head-to-head comparisons of GLP-1 RAs with other antidiabetic agents in real-world patients, provides estimates of relative safety precise enough to exclude large differences in CVD risk and adds further understanding to results from recent clinical trials.
Autopia’s End The Decline and Fall of Detroit’s Automotive Manufacturing Landscape

Since the 1980s, Detroit’s historic building stock of automotive manufacturing facilities has mostly disappeared. Demolition, redevelopment, and abandonment have left little to mark the city’s twen...
The use of exchange transfusion for the treatment of severe erythroblastosis due to A-B sensitization, with observations on the pathogenesis of the disease.

Two unusual cases of severe erythroblastosis due to A and B sensitization have been presented. When injections of A and B group substances failed to arrest the disease, exchange transfusions were carried out, using 900 to 1,000 cc. of fresh group O blood. In each case the response was prompt and dramatic, although the convalescence in one was prolonged by an intercurrent diarrhea. Both infants have made complete recoveries and have developed normally both physically and mentally. Observations have been presented regarding the pathogenesis of erythroblastosis and icterus precox due to A-B sensitization. The following conclusions seem to be warranted on the basis of the evidence presented: 1. The greatest majority of cases of jaundice and anemia of the newborn that cannot be explained on the basis of Rh incompatibility are caused by incompatibility of the major blood groups. 2. High maternal alpha and beta antibody titers per se are not necessarily correlated with disease in the infant. 3. Univalent alpha and beta antibodies present in the maternal serum traverse the placenta and are the cause of the disease in the infant. Bivalent antibodies are held back by the intact placenta and play no or hardly any role in the causation of the disease. Univalent alpha and beta antibodies are demonstrable in the sera of a large proportion of "normal" individuals. 4. A-B sensitization in pregnancy occurs mainly when the infant belongs to the secretor type. 5. A theory is suggested that the quality of the alpha and beta antibodies, namely, whether they are homospecific or heterospecific, may affect the severity of the manifestations in the infant. Technics of titrating alpha and beta and Rh antibodies are described and discussed. A table has been prepared which converts antibody titers into concentrations of immune globulin in the serum, and demonstrates the impossibility of certain extravagantly high titers claimed in the literature.
On the choice and use of books.

'Tis not a melancholy Utinam of my own, but the desires of better heads that there were a general Synod… For the benefit of learning, to reduce it as lay at first, in a few and solid authors.—Religio Medici.
Willingness to Use Health Insurance at a Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic: A Survey of Patients at 21 US Clinics.

Objectives. To survey patients of publicly funded sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics across the United States about their willingness to use health insurance for their visit.Methods. In 2013, we identified STD clinics in 21 US metropolitan statistical areas with the highest rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance reports. Patients attending the identified STD clinics completed a total of 4364 surveys (response rate = 86.6%).Results. Nearly half of the insured patients were willing to use their health insurance. Patients covered by government insurance were more likely to be willing to use their health insurance compared with those covered by private insurance (odds ratio [OR] = 3.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.79, 4.65), and patients covered by their parents’ insurance were less likely to be willing to use their insurance compared with those covered by private insurance (OR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.52, 1.00). Reasons for unw...
Analysis of Chemically Induced Mutation in Single Cell Populations

This discussion is about tools to analyze the complex relationship between chemicals and mutation in a relatively simple biological system: the exponentially growing single cell population. Three assumptions are made about this relationship: that some DNA adducts are premutagenic lesions, that adducted DNA may be repaired, misrepaired or unrepaired at the time of DNA synthesis and that unrepaired DNA may be replicated, misreplicated or unreplicated at the time of mitosis. These three assumptions lead to the definition of variables ascertainable by experimental measurement which, in turn, lead to explicit formulae which should be useful as guides in the analysis of dose(adduct) -response(mutation) relations.
CloudPerf: A Performance Test Framework for Distributed and Dynamic Multi-Tenant Environments

The evolution of cloud-computing imposes many challenges on performance testing and requires not only a different approach and methodology of performance evaluation and analysis, but also specialized tools and frameworks to support such work. In traditional performance testing, typically a single workload was run against a static test configuration. The main metrics derived from such experiments included throughput, response times, and system utilization at steady-state. While this may have been sufficient in the past, where in many cases a single application was run on dedicated hardware, this approach is no longer suitable for cloud-based deployments. Whether private or public cloud, such environments typically host a variety of applications on distributed shared hardware resources, simultaneously accessed by a large number of tenants running heterogeneous workloads. The number of tenants as well as their activity and resource needs dynamically change over time, and the cloud infrastructure reacts to this by reallocating existing or provisioning new resources. Besides metrics such as the number of tenants and overall resource utilization, performance testing in the cloud must be able to answer many more questions: How is the quality of service of a tenant impacted by the constantly changing activity of other tenants? How long does it take the cloud infrastructure to react to changes in demand, and what is the effect on tenants while it does so? How well are service level agreements met? What is the resource consumption of individual tenants? How can global performance metrics on application- and system-level in a distributed system be correlated to an individual tenant's perceived performance?In this paper we present CloudPerf, a performance test framework specifically designed for distributed and dynamic multi-tenant environments, capable of answering all of the above questions, and more. CloudPerf consists of a distributed harness, a protocol-independent load generator and workload modeling framework, an extensible statistics framework with live-monitoring and post-analysis tools, interfaces for cloud deployment operations, and a rich set of both low-level as well as high-level workloads from different domains.
Evidence of Ebola Virus Replication and High Concentration in Semen of a Patient During Recovery

In one patient over time, we found that concentration of Ebola virus RNA in semen during recovery is remarkably higher than blood at peak illness. Virus in semen is replication-competent with no change in viral genome over time. Presence of sense RNA suggests replication in cells present in semen.
Riboflavin-containing telodendrimer nanocarriers for efficient doxorubicin delivery: High loading capacity, increased stability, and improved anticancer efficacy.

Abstract We have developed two linear-dendritic telodendrimers (TDs) with rational design using amphiphilic riboflavin (Rf) as building blocks for efficient doxorubicin (DOX) delivery. Micellar TD nanoparticles (NPs) are composed of a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) shell and a Rf-containing affinitive core for DOX encapsulation. Strong DOX-Rf interactions and amphiphilic Rf structure render these nanocarriers with an ultra-high DOX loading capacity (>1/1, DOX/TD, w/w), ∼100% loading efficiency, the sustained drug release and the optimal particle sizes (20–40 nm) for efficient tumor-targeted drug delivery. These nanoformulations significantly prolonged DOX circulation time in the blood without the accelerated clearance observed after multiple injections. DOX-TDs target several types of tumors efficiently in vivo , e.g. Raji lymphoma, MDA-MB-231 breast cancer, and SKOV-3 ovarian cancer. In vivo maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of DOX was increased by 2–2.5 folds for the nanoformulations in mice relative to those of free DOX and Doxil ® . These nanoformulations significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival of mice bearing SKOV-3 ovarian cancer xenografts. In summary, Rf-containing nanoformulations with high DOX loading capacity, improved stability and efficient tumor targeting lead to superior antitumor efficacy, which merit the further development for clinical application.
OPEN ARCHITECTURE DIRECT DRIVE MANIPULATOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE

This paper describes the Direct Drive Manipulator Research and Development Package, which includes a two link direct drive manipulator, amplifiers, a multi-processing controls workstation, a mathematical model of the manipulator system, and software environment which is used for the development and execution of real-time control algorithms. The software provides a C-language based Robot Programming Language (RPL), control algorithm development environment, and a robot simulator. The package is based on an open architecture with full user programming capability. The user can enter the control loop at any level with the ability to modify or replace any part of the RPL, servo routine, inverse kinematics, or trajectory generation modules. The package provides a convenient workstation to develop a control algorithm, simulate, implement, and fine-tune the controller. The simulation is a unique part of this package being a “semi-active” simulation which uses a mathematical model of the mechanical system while using the actual control hardware that is used for control implementation. Mechanical nonlinearities such as dynamic coupling and Coulomb friction are taken into account. Since the actual controller is used, the simulation accounts for quantization, integer overflow, and controller dynamics. This package is ideal for an advanced robotics research program or a lab oriented graduate course in robotics or controls.
Capital cost of compressors for conceptual design

Abstract Many process intensification techniques involve the use of gas compressors. Gas recycles is typically used to improve yield and selectivity in reactor/separation processes. Vapor recompression in distillation systems are becoming more widely applied, particularly with complex separations such as divided-wall, reactive, extractive and azeotropic distillation systems. At the conceptual design stage it is vital to have reasonable estimates of the capital cost of compressors involved in these processes. The literature correlations use only the compressor power to estimate capital cost, and there are significant differences in the published methods. However, in addition to power, it appears that suction pressure also must be considered in cost estimation. The proprietary Aspen Economics program gives results that show a strong dependency of cost on the pressure of the gas being compressed. The purpose of this paper is to provide a simple method to estimate compressor capital cost that incorporates both compressor power and compressor suction pressure. A case study illustrates that the conventional heuristic of using equal compression ratios in multistage compression trains does not give the optimum economic design.
Large-scale malware analysis, detection, and signature generation

As the primary vehicle for most organized cybercrimes, malicious software (or malware) has become one of the most serious threats to computer systems and the Internet. With the recent advent of automated malware development toolkits, it has become relatively easy, even for marginally skilled adversaries, to create and mutate malware, bypassing Anti-Virus (AV) detection. This has led to a surge in the number of new malware threats and has created several major challenges for the AV industry. AV companies typically receive tens of thousands of suspicious samples daily. However, the overwhelming number of new malware easily overtax the available human resources at AV companies, making them less responsive to emerging threats and leading to poor detection rates. To address these issues, this dissertation proposes several new and scalable systems to facilitate malware analysis and detection, with the focus on a central theme: “automation and scalability”. This dissertation makes four primary contributions. First, it builds a large-scale malware database management system called SMIT that addresses the challenges of determining whether a suspicious sample is indeed malicious. SMIT exploits the insight that most new malicious samples are simple syntactic variations of existing malware. Thus, one way to ascertain the maliciousness of an unknown sample is to check if it is sufficiently similar to any existing malware. SMIT is designed to make such decisions efficiently using malware's function call graph—a high-level structural representation that is less susceptible to the low-level obfuscation employed by malware writers to evade detection. Second, the dissertation develops an automatic malware clustering system called MutantX. By quickly grouping similar samples into clusters, MutantX allows malware analysts to focus on representative samples and automatically generate labels based on samples' association with existing groups. Third, this dissertation introduces a signature-generation system, called Hancock, that automatically creates high-quality string signatures with extremely low false-positive rates. Finally, observing that two widely used malware analysis approaches—i.e., static and dynamic analyses—have their respective pros and cons, this dissertation proposes a novel system that optimally integrates static-feature and dynamic-behavior based malware clusterings, mitigating their respective shortcomings without losing their merits.
The Cultural Foundations of Inequality in Households

In this chapter I follow up on a frequently expressed argument that an elaboration of culture, especially in the realms of symbolic systems and ritual behavior, is a process central to the establishment and institutionalization of social inequality. For example, Bloch (1977:289) argues that ritual communication creates a “mystified nature” in which an order of inequality “takes on the appearance of an inevitable part of an ordered system” (cf. Bourdieu’s [1978–79] concept of “symbolic power”). I propose a hypothesis relating culture to inequality within a specific social context: the household. I then evaluate the hypothesis by analyzing a category of data commonly available to archaeologists, namely, the form of the house. Because the analysis required me to contextualize the formal properties of houses with reference to the social and cultural behavior of their residents, the data I use were coded from ethno-graphically described cases, and the method I use is cross-cultural.
Management of Chiari I malformation in children: personal opinions

This manuscript describes our management philosophy of Chiari I malformation in children based on a single neurosurgeon’s personal experience. Based on 61 infants and children with Chiari I malformation treated from 2007 to 2017, typical symptoms, surgical indications, types of surgery, and evaluation of surgical decompression are reviewed. Sixty-one patients had 69 decompressions, with 90% having symptom improvement. Seven (11.5%) needed reoperation, 1 of which needed 2 reoperations for recurrence. The recurrence rates were 20% (5 of 25) after dural scoring and 5.6% (2 of 36) after duraplasty (p = 0.1116, Fisher’s exact test). Six (16%) of 36 patients developed pseudomeningocele or CSF leak. We recommend surgical intervention for Chiari I malformation for clearly symptomatic patients and those with significant hydromyelia regardless of symptoms. A bony decompression with dural scoring is recommended for patients with typical occipital headaches with a lesser degree of tonsillar descent, while an expansile duraplasty is standard for those with high-grade tonsillar descent, medullary kink, or hydromyelia. Intraoperative ultrasound is often helpful to ensure the adequacy of the decompression. Most patients will have improvements in symptom and imaging after either type of decompressive surgery.
Decolonial Particularity or Abstract Universalism? No, Thanks!: The Case of the Palestinian Question

Taking “capitalism itself as the ultimate horizon of the political situation” enables us to reframe binationalism and the Palestinian question (Jameson 2006). It helps to underscore binationalism as a universalist project, engaged in a fight against domination and exploitation. Seeking economic justice at home invariably links the Palestinian plight to other labor movements in Israel and elsewhere in the region. The solidarity of workers can effectively challenge the interests of the few, de naturalize their exploitation (that is, contest the ways exploitation is effortlessly built into the functioning of the economy), and foreground binationalism as a socio-economic project, not limited to its own particularist interests, but “grounded in the ‘part of no-part,’ the singular universality exemplified in those who lack a determined place in the social totality, who are ‘out of place’ in it” (Žižek 2012: 831). If decoloniality and others fetishize the enemy (“the elevation of Zionism into the neo-imperialist racism par excellence”), over-emphasizing his or her exceptionality (Israel as the embodiment of modernity/coloniality and its racist ideology), and thus always risk reifying the antagonism, binationalism, if it is to be transformative, must embrace its role as a supplement to the Palestinian/Israeli antagonism, taking the task of co-existence, of living together with each other’s (real) neighbor, as an urgent ethico-political challenge, fully cognizant that there is no guarantee of success (Žižek 2014a: 108). And each is killing the other by the window.
Second Thoughts: Understanding the Impact and Appropriate Use and Non-use of Technologies

Trends are often narrowly described in educational technology as those that directly affect our domain, such as the use of hardware or software advances or the shift to mobile computing. In a larger sense, trends also describe changes in how we live, how society changes, and the resulting tides of human life. Trends are inclinations or drifts in a particular direction, the winds of change in society. These large, subtle trends are often illustrated or caused by our relationship with technology on a personal or societal level. They can and will have an impact on education, on educational technology, and on media use, and they must be addressed in our educational efforts. Now the question becomes, what are you turning off? What is the value of consciously “unplugging” from technologies? How is learning different away from digital technology?
Fracking and Risky Sexual Activity

This paper examines the impact of the U.S. fracking boom on local STI transmission rates and prostitution activity as measured by online prostitution review counts. We first document significant and robust positive effects on gonorrhea rates in fracking counties at the national level. But we find no evidence that fracking increases prostitution when using our national data, suggesting sex work may not be the principal mechanism linking fracking to gonorrhea growth. To explore mechanisms, we then focus on remote, high-fracking production areas that experienced large increases in sex ratios due to male in-migration. For this restricted sample we find enhanced gonorrhea transmission effects and moderate evidence of extensive margin effects on prostitution markets. This study highlights public health concerns relating to economic shocks and occupational conditions that alter the local demographic composition.
Verbal slips and the intentionality of skills

Many have thought that exercises of skill are intentional. The argument of the paper is that this thesis fails to account for important types of mistakes and errors. In what psychologists and linguists call “verbal slips with semantic bias”, a speaker mistakenly switches, reverses, or blends certain conceptual contents. Nevertheless, the speaker has successfully exercised an intellectual skill, insofar as her slip uses concepts in conformity to semantic and logical rules. To flesh out how one might successfully exercise skills without doing so intentionally, the paper appeals to the idea of habit. Verbal slips thus show how human skillfulness has a considerably wider scope than is often supposed.
Recent Advances in Fertility Preservation

Fertility is a concern for the majority of young men and women diagnosed with cancer, though many will face infertility as a consequence of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and delayed childbearing. Fertility concerns can impact quality of life as well as treatment decisions, adherence to therapy, and possibly survival. Therefore, fertility preservation is an important aspect of comprehensive cancer care for young men and women. Recent advances in fertility preservation techniques, such as oocyte, embryo, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation, have expanded the options available to prepubescent girls and young women, though long-term outcome data is limited. While semen cryopreservation is an established option for men, advances in testicular tissue cryopreservation may lead to an option for prepubescent boys. Future advances will expand our understanding of the risk of infertility with newer cancer therapies and the long-term safety and efficacy of current fertility options. In addition, the possibility of in vitro maturation of gametes and the development of artificial gametes may create options for individuals with cancer who are unable to bank gametes prior to treatment.
Colorism and the Poetics of Resistance Among Black Youth: An Application of the Colorist-Historical Trauma Framework:

The colorist-historical trauma framework offers scholars, practitioners, and educators a new lens with which to more effectively combat racial disparities in society through the understanding of th...
Component-Level Reliability Evaluation Model for Cyber Power Devices

Reliability evaluation of power components in the presence of automation devices and cyber links is critical for the improved performance of a smart grid. This work presents a model representing a cyber power component for reliability studies, incorporating interdependency and common-cause failure while reducing computational complexity. Power-component failure, automation-component failure, communication failure, communication delay, and cyberattack are incorporated to develop a comprehensive component-level reliability-evaluation model. A multistate model is proposed with 36 states for a cyber-enabled power component by integrating cyber links as a part of the smart component. Based on the power system reliability analysis, this model is reduced to a 12-state model. Finally, a two-state model is presented for its practical adaptation to specific applications. Due to the nature of the smart component, the following basic applications are considered in this work: (i) health monitoring, (ii) real-time monitoring, and (iii) actuation. A sensitivity analysis is carried out to evaluate the impact of cyber failure and cyberattacks on the reliability of the smart component. Model-reduction techniques, reliability-evaluation procedures, and example case study are provided in order to validate the proposed method.
Genetic control of murine susceptibility to 3-methylcholanthrene-induced T cell lymphoma.

It has been known since the 1940’s that genetic background has an effect on the susceptibility of mice to lymphoma induced by chemical carcinogens (Law 1941 ; Morton 1941) . In most cases, however, the biochemical basis for this variation in susceptibility has yet to be elucidated. We describe here our work on a system in which T cell lymphoma is induced in mice by exposure to the coal tar-derived carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) . One gene controlling the likelihood of developing lymphoma after exposure to MCA has been identified, and it appears that the remaining differences in susceptibility which cannot be attributed to this known locus may themselves stem from the action of a second single gene. This fact makes more feasible the mapping and identification of the biochemical entity involved.
Accelerating Assessments of Optical Components Using Machine Learning: TDECQ as Demonstrated Example

Transmitter and dispersion eye closure quaternary (TDECQ) penalty has replaced eye mask and transmitter dispersion penalty (TDP) methodologies for qualifying PAM-4 transmitters. TDECQ correlates better than the eye mask test with BER, and its implementation of receiver equalizers abstracts the metric from receiver features, enabling robust and systematic component assessments. However, assessing TDECQ is computationally intensive and time-consuming. Here, we present the use of machine learning (ML) to dramatically accelerate TDECQ assessments of PAM-4 transmitter signals. Explored techniques include convolutional neural networks and long short-term memory. We demonstrate that these methods provide comparable assessment accuracies compared to the conventional method, while tremendously reducing computational time. Some ML methods were ∼4500 times faster than the conventional method. Described architectures are generic and can be modified to accelerate any class of optical component assessments.
What Is Socially Engaged Art History

This essay argues for the development of socially engaged art history as a rigorous disciplinary practice through a consideration of the historical interconnectedness of the social bases of art and art history. A working definition for socially engaged art history is proposed, and its links with sustainability and socially engaged art are explored. The history of art history in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries is explored through the writings of Meyer Schapiro, Erwin Panofsky, Irving Lavin, and James Ackerman, which provide various perspectives on the social bases of art history. While socially engaged practices are relatively new to art and art history, the argument in favor of a socially engaged art history is based on the longstanding and interconnected social bases of both.
On the Nature of Hearing Loss in Méniere's Disease.

OBJECTIVE To explain the pathophysiology of the hearing loss in Meniere's disease (MD). BACKGROUND In a previous report, we described a dramatic recovery of hearing in 12/31 patients with MD using antiviral (AV) drugs. The hearing loss in the remaining 19 patients with a longer history of MD remained unchanged or else worsened. Vertigo control was complete in the group with improved hearing but poorer in the group with greater hearing loss (and a longer MD history). Since achieving the recovery of hearing and control of the vertigo using AV drugs in these patients with a shorter history (≤2 years) of MD, we have continued to record dramatic hearing recovery in MD when patients have a shorter history of symptoms. We describe this here in 5 representative MD patients. We feel that the most likely explanation for the outcome is the removal of viral nucleic acids (NA) from the organ of Corti. SUMMARY A likely explanation for the sensorineural hearing loss in MD is paralysis of the cochlear amplifier function of the outer hair cells due to the toxicity ofNA. These NA are released from neurotropic viruses located in the vestibular nerve ganglion. Key Messages: (1) Viruses (Herpes family) are the cause of the symptoms in MD. (2) Hearing loss is the result of viral NA in the organ of Corti. (3) A short history of MD symptoms (<2 years) favors hearing recovery.
Legionella Pneumonia in the ICU: A Tertiary Care Center Experience Over 10 Years.

Few studies have reported the complications and outcomes of patients with Legionella pneumonia requiring ICU admission. The objective of our study is to report the clinical course, complications, and 30-day mortality of patients with Legionella pneumonia admitted to the critical care units at our medical center over a 10-year period. Design Retrospective observational study. Setting Tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients All adult (≥ 18 yr old) patients with Legionella pneumonia admitted to the ICUs from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019. Interventions None. Measurements and main results A total of 88 patients with Legionella pneumonia were admitted to ICUs over the 10-year period. The majority of infections (n = 80; 90.9%) were community acquired. The median (interquartile range) age of patients was 60 years (51.5-71.0 yr); 58 (66%) were male, and 41 (46.6%) identified their race as Black. The median (interquartile range) Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at ICU admission was 6 (3-9). The distribution of infections showed seasonal dominance with most cases (86%) occurring in the summer to early fall (May to October). Invasive mechanical ventilation was required in 62 patients (70.5%), septic shock developed in 57 patients (64.8%), and acute respiratory distress syndrome developed in 42 patients (47.7%). A majority of patients developed acute kidney injury (n = 69; 78.4%), with 15 (21.7%) receiving only intermittent hemodialysis and 15 (21.7%) requiring continuous renal replacement therapy. Ten patients required venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support; eight (80%) survived and were successfully decannulated. Overall 30-day mortality was 26.1% (n = 23). Advanced age, higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at admission, and not receiving Legionella-specific antimicrobial therapy within 24 hours of hospital admission were predictors of 30-day mortality. Conclusions Patients with Legionella pneumonia may require ICU admission and major organ support. Legionella-targeted antibiotics should be included in the empiric regimen for any patient with severe pneumonia. Outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy in this population are encouraging.
What Does It Mean to Have a Presidential Image? A Multiple-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis Measuring Trump and Biden in 2020

U.S. presidential candidates aspire to have a “presidential image.” Political communication researchers, media pundits, political scientists, pollsters, campaign consultants, and other political ma...
Congenital muscular dystrophy, cardiomyopathy, and peripheral neuropathy due to merosin deficiency: Peripheral nerve histology of cauda equina

Abstract Peripheral neuropathy, white matter abnormalities, and cardiomyopathy are associated findings with merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy. Although characterization of the neuropathy with nerve conduction studies has been well documented, limited research has been able to correlate histopathology with nerve biopsy in humans. Our understanding of the mechanism, described as a demyelinating neuropathy, is mainly derived from mouse model studies. We report a 23-year-old male who succumbed to respiratory failure and ultimately cardiac arrhythmia in the setting of an uncharacterized end stage progressive muscular disease complicated by cardiomyopathy and severe scoliosis. Autopsy revealed extensive muscular atrophy and replacement by fibroadipose tissue throughout the skeletal muscle and myocardium. Immunohistochemical analysis of the muscle biopsy showed a complete loss of merosin. Thus, the cause for both his muscular disease and demyelinating neuropathy was established with the diagnosis of merosin-deficient muscular dystrophy. Nerve biopsy obtained from the cauda equina showed clear evidence of segmental demyelination and remyelination, providing a better understanding of the proximal peripheral nerve histopathological changes in this disease entity.
Obesity-Related Effects on Pancreatic Disease

Obesity has become a global epidemic in the 21 century. In America alone, over one-third of adults are currently obese, the incidence of obesity continues to rise, and obesity is occurring at younger ages (30,92). Obesity significantly increases the risk for numerous chronic diseases including insulin resistance, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, hyperlipidemia, arthritis, asthma, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and some forms of cancer (100). Adipose tissue expansion and infiltration into body tissues is accompanied by an altered leukocyte profile and subsequent induction of the local proinflammatory cytokine milieu. This milieu in turn generates a systemic proinflammatory state, the end results of which have been well documented in the pathogenesis of disease processes such as atherosclerosis (63) and NASH (39). It is intuitive that a similar process would affect the pancreas in obesity.
Funding, Financing and Other Resources for Home Modifications

There is an increasing recognition of the growth in the need for and benefits of, home modifications. At the same time there is a lack of awareness of resources. There are also threats to many existing funding and financing sources. The public has limited familiarity of the private or public resources for home modification projects that are available to households of all income levels: the most frequently asked question from callers to the Center for Universal Design's national information services relates to paying for home modifications. As with almost all affordable housing initiatives, programs directed at home modifications for people with low incomes have insufficient funds to meet their needs. Waiting lists are common while many people receive no assistance. Federal initiatives that currently provide millions of dollars of support for home modifications for low and moderate income households are in danger of elimination or reduced funding. This will create greater competition for the uses of the remaining funds and new demands on funding from within states. Another factor in under-utilization of home modifications is that manufacturers and the housing industry do not sense great demand in the private sector. Too few households see home modifications as viable remodeling options. Remodelers have not developed skills and experience and manufacturers and retailers do not emphasize product development, design or marketing. This article reviews funding, financing, and other resources for home modifications, outlines the current constraints and future limitations to these resources, and suggests actions to increase the availability of home modifications. © 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
The ideological ends of mid-century Student Union buildings: a study of disciplinary connections

This paper closely considers the ideological underpinnings of Student Union buildings during the postwar period, when there was general agreement among student union proponents that the programs and buildings should prepare students for the political and economic realities of the postwar period. Underlying the ideological purpose of mid-century Student Union buildings were a crucial set of interdisciplinary professional connections that made the ideas of Unions manifest. Using the writing and professional work of two Union proponents – Union Director Porter Butts and architect Michael Hare – as well as several built and un-built mid-century Union buildings, this paper illustrates the disciplinary contributions of these men, what ideologies shaped the form and function of Unions, and what buildings effectively taught students in the postwar period.
Robust acoustic-based syllable detection.

In this paper, we describe a method to detect syllabic nuclei in continuous speech. It employs two basic and robust acoustic features, periodicity and energy, to detect syllable landmarks. This method is evaluated on TIMIT, noise additive TIMIT and NTIMIT datasets with typical total error rates of around 30% in all the datasets, except for extremely adverse 0dB signal-noise-ratio environments, while HMM-based systems degrade rigorously. Based on the landmarks, a vowel classifier is further constructed and achieves the same performance as HMM-based systems.