cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical Modeling of a Slurry Droplet Containing a Spherical Particle

A numerical investigation of the fundamental processes governing the momentum, energy, and mass exchanges between the solid, liquid, and gas phases of a vaporizing slurry droplet is presented. The axisymmetric configuration consists of an isolated slurry droplet with a large spherical solid particle in its core that is suddenly injected in a gaseous high-temperature, laminar, convective environment. The model allows for independent motion of the solid particle along the axis of symmetry of the slurry droplet, and considers variable gas-phase thermophysical properties as well as variable liquid-phase viscosities and latent heat of vaporization. Additional features of the model include internal liquid circulation with transient droplet heating, droplet surface regression due to vaporization, and droplet deceleration with respect to the free flow due to drag. The numerical calculation employs an iterative solution procedure that has been successfully used previously for an isolated all-liquid droplet. We found that the relative motion of the solid particle and the liquid-carrier fluid is very significant during the early stages of the simulation. In that respect, the fluid mechanics dominate the heat and mass transport phenomena involved, thus strongly suggesting a high possibility of secondary atomization as a result of the penetration of the solid particle through the gas/liquid interface.
Radial diffusion of relativistic electrons in Neptune's magnetosphere

Measurements of ≳1 MeV electrons in Neptune's magnetosphere from L ≈ 4 to 14 are well represented by solutions of a model radial diffusion equation that includes losses due to absorption by the satellite Proteus. The model provides estimates of the radial diffusion coefficient, which is 5 × 10^(−8)(L/5)^8 s^(−1), and the outer boundary energy spectrum, which is an exponential with an e-folding energy of 0.1 MeV. The diffusion coefficient is consistent with theoretical estimates based on the assumption that diffusion is driven by atmospheric neutral winds.
Afferent neurodynamic and neurologic control of the respiratory rhythm

The respiratory central pattern generator (RCPG) is actively controlled by afferent feedbacks from vagal slowly-adapting stretch receptors (SAR) and carotid chemoreceptors. Earlier studies have shown that the central processing of these feedback signals exhibits both frequency and temporal filtering actions in the form of dynamic adaptation and phase-locked gating, respectively, demonstrating sophisticated integral-differential calculus and logic computations in corresponding central pathways. The paper presents several models that elucidate such afferent neurodynamic and neurologic control of the respiratory rhythm, based on physiological and anatomic data obtained in the rat. These computational models reveal certain basic organization/operation principles of central afferent signal processing that conform with and extend some classic models of nonassociative learning.
Characterizing the Efficacy of the NRL Network Pump in Mitigating Covert Timing Channels

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Network Pump, or Pump, is a standard for mitigating covert channels that arise in a multilevel secure (MLS) system when a high user (HU) sends acknowledgements to a low user (LU). The issue here is that HU can encode information in the "timings" of the acknowledgements. The Pump aims at mitigating the covert timing channel by introducing buffering between HU and LU, as well as adding noise to the acknowledgment timings. We model the working of the Pump in certain situations, as a communication system with feedback and use then this perspective to derive an upper bound on the capacity of the covert channel between HU and LU in the Pump. This upper bound is presented in terms of a directed information flow over the dynamics of the system. We also present an achievable scheme that can transmit information over this channel. When the support of the noise added by Pump to acknowledgment timings is finite, the achievable rate is nonzero, i.e., infinite number of bits can be reliably communicated. If the support of the noise is infinite, the achievable rate is zero and hence a finite number of bits can be communicated.
Plant-Derived Antimicrobials Reduce E. coli O157:H7 Virulence Factors Critical for Colonization in Cattle Gastrointestinal Tract In Vitro

This study investigated the effect of subinhibitory concentrations (SIC) of five plant-derived antimicrobials (PDAs), namely, trans cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, carvacrol, thymol, and β-resorcylic acid, on E. coli O157:H7 (EHEC) attachment and invasion of cultured bovine colonic (CO) and rectoanal junction (RAJ) epithelial cells. In addition, PDAs' effect on EHEC genes critical for colonization of cattle gastrointestinal tract (CGIT) was determined in bovine rumen fluid (RF) and intestinal contents (BICs). Primary bovine CO and RAJ epithelial cells were established and were separately inoculated with three EHEC strains with or without (control) SIC of each PDA. Following incubation, EHEC that attached and invaded the cells were determined. Furthermore, the expression of EHEC genes critical for colonization in cattle was investigated using real-time, quantitative polymerase chain reaction in RF and BICs. All the PDAs decreased EHEC invasion of CO and RAJ epithelial cells (P < 0.05). The PDAs also downregulated (P < 0.05) the expression of EHEC genes critical for colonization in CGIT. Results suggest that the PDAs could potentially be used to control EHEC colonization in cattle; however follow-up in vivo studies in cattle are warranted.
Regenerated Cellulose Capsules for Controlled Drug Delivery, Part 2: Modulating Membrane Permeability by Incorporation of Depolymerized Cellulose and Altering Membrane Thickness

For application of regenerated cellulose (RC) membranes in capsule dosage forms, the methods to modify drug release from these membranes are described. Membranes were fabricated by blending native and depolymerized celluloses dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and paraformaldehyde solvent system, prior to casting on molds, precipitation in water, and thermal annealing. The effect of laminating layers of RC to fabricate membranes with increasing thickness was also investigated. Solute diffusion studies using ionic and hydrophobic solutes, as well as large protein molecules, were conducted in side-by-side diffusion cells. Microscopic as well as physiological evaluation of these membranes indicated that pore size, porosity, and water uptake decreased as the fraction of depolymerized cellulose increased in the membranes. Permeability analysis of small ionic and hydrophobic solutes indicated that the solute transport across the hydrated membrane occurs through diffusion in the water-filled pores that are formed in situ. The apparent path for solute diffusion increases as the fraction of depolymerized cellulose increases. Permeability analysis of large protein molecules indicated that the pore sizes and distribution in these membranes is heterogeneous. Increasing the membrane thickness by lamination of RC does not influence porosity but causes formation of dead-end pores because of blocking by subsequent laminate layers.
Ventricular augmentor fibers in the cervical vagosympathetic trunk.

SummaryThe existence of ventricular augmentor fibers in the cervical vago-sympathetic trunk of the dog has been established by electrical stimulation after atropine. These fibers are distributed directly to both right and left ventricles, although preliminary evidence indicates disproportionate supply to the right ventricle. Augmentation in atrial systole during vagal stimulation after atropine also indicates significant innervation of atrial musculature, but these influences may often be subordinate to alterations in mean atrial pressure. Cardioaccel-erator responses may or may not accompany the augmentor changes in intraventricular pressure, and are usually more characteristic of right vagal stimulation.
Colloidally templated two-dimensional conducting polymer arrays and SAMs: binary composition patterning and chemistry.

A facile approach and strategy toward binary-composition, two-dimensional (2D) patterned surfaces of conducting polymer periodic arrays, together with thiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) is described. The method involved a Langmuir−Blodgett (LB)-like deposition of latex microsphere particles, electropolymerization via cyclic voltammetric (CV) techniques, and self-assembly of an amphiphile. The LB-like technique enabled the monolayer deposition of different sizes of polystyrene (PS) particles in hexagonal packing arrangement on planar substrates. Combining the LB-like method with CV electropolymerization is advantageous because it provides deposition control of a polymer interconnected network, controlled composition ratio of polymer and SAMs, and control of 2D size and spacing of the spherical void pattern. Electrochemical-quartz crystal microbalance (EC-QCM) in situ monitoring of the film deposition quantified a constant and linear growth rate, with varying viscoelastic behavior of the conducting poly...
Differential Control of Alveolar and Ductal Development in Grafts of Monodispersed Rat Mammary Epithelium

Multicellular secretory alveolar units (AU) develop in grafts of monodispersed mammary cells in intact recipient rats co-grafted with mammotropic hormone-secreting pituitary tumor (MtT). The cumulative evidence is consistent with a postulated clonal origin of these structures. Small numbers of multicellular structures of a second type, mammary ductal units (DU), were found in mammary cell grafts in intact Wistar/Furth recipients co-grafted with MtT W10 but not in intact F344 recipients co-grafted with MtT F4. Studies in (Wistar/Furth x F344) F1 hybrid recipients grafted with mammary cells from either parent strain demonstrated that this difference in DU formation is dependent on the strain of grafted MtT, and is not a genetic characteristic of the rat strain. DU formation is stimulated and AU formation is inhibited by elevation of mammotropic hormones from MtT coupled with glucocorticoid deficiency induced by adrenalectomy. cortisol treatment reverses this effect. Finally, in mammary glands in situ in intact rats, the total numbers of AU-forming clonogens decrease during 6 weeks after MtT transplantation. In contrast, during the same period, elevated mammotropins from grafted MtT coupled with glucocorticoid deficiency from adrenalectomy cause an increase in the total number of cells that are capable of AU formation when transplanted to intact recipients co-grafted with MtT. Thus, the same hormonal combination that stimulates DU formation in mammary cell grafts and has previously been shown to promote cancer in mammary glands in situ also stimulates an increase in the glandular content of assayable AU-forming cells in situ.
Multispectral Ocular Biometrics

This chapter discusses the use of multispectral imaging to perform bimodal ocular recognition where the eye region of the face is used for recognizing individuals. In particular, it explores the possibility of utilizing the patterns evident in the sclera, along with the iris, in order to improve the robustness of iris recognition systems . Commercial iris recognition systems typically capture frontal images of the eye in the near-infrared spectrum . However, in non-frontal images of the eye, iris recognition performance degrades considerably. As the eyeball deviates away from the camera, the iris information in the image decreases, while the scleral information increases. In this work, we demonstrate that by utilizing the texture of the sclera along with the vascular patterns evident on it, the performance of an iris recognition system can potentially be improved. The iris patterns are better observed in near-infrared spectrum, while conjunctival vasculature patterns are better discerned in the visible spectrum. Therefore, multispectral images of the eye are used to capture the details of both the iris and the sclera. The contributions of this paper include (a) the assembly of a multispectral eye image collection to study the impact of intra-class variation on sclera recognition performance , (b) the design and development of an automatic sclera, iris, and pupil segmentation algorithm, and (c) the improvement of iris recognition performance by fusing the iris and scleral patterns in non-frontal images of the eye.
Professional online community membership and participation among healthcare providers: An extension to nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Background and purpose Professional online communities allow healthcare providers to exchange ideas with their colleagues about best practices for patient care. Research on this topic has focused almost exclusively on primary care physicians and specialists, to the exclusion of advanced practice providers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. We expand this literature by examining membership and participation on these websites among each of these provider groups. Methods Participants (N = 2008; approximately 500 per provider group) responded to an Internet-based survey in which they were asked if they use professional online communities to dialogue with colleagues and if so, what their motivation is for doing so. Conclusions Nearly half of the participants in our sample reported utilizing professional online communities. Select differences were observed between provider groups, but overall, similar patterns emerged in their membership and participation on these websites. Implications for practice Nurse practitioners and physician assistants utilize professional online communities in similar proportion to primary care physicians and specialists. Providers should be cognizant of the impact this use may have for both themselves and their patients. Researchers are urged to take into account the various professional roles within the healthcare community while developing research on this topic.
Fertilization and in vitro development of cryopreserved human prophase I oocytes

Objective o determine the potential for in vitro maturation, fertilization, and cleavage after cryopreservation of immature, prophase I human oocytes. Design Immature oocytes obtained in excess of the number required by the patient were randomized and cryopreserved at the prophase I stage or cultured as control. After thawing and maturation in vitro, test and control oocytes were inseminated with husband's sperm and evaluated for fertilization and cleavage in vitro. Setting In vitro fertilization program. Patients Consenting patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for the purposes of IVF. Main Outcome Measures Rates of maturation to metaphase II, fertilization, and cleavage were compared between control and cryopreserved oocytes. Results Upon thaw, 58.5% (72/123) of prophase I oocytes were viable. Control oocytes demonstrated a 74.8% (98/131) maturation rate to metaphase II, a 56.5% (52/92) fertilization rate, and an 11.5% (6/52) blastocyst rate. Cryopreserved oocytes showed a 83.3% (60/72) rate of maturation, a 57.7% (30/52) fertilization rate, and a 3.3% (1/30) blastocyst rate. No significant differences were noted between any of these parameters. Conclusions These results demonstrate that prophase I oocytes from stimulated IVF cycles are able to survive cryopreservation and resume meiosis to achieve full nuclear maturation post-thaw. In addition, cryopreserved oocytes retain the same capacity for fertilization and development as control oocytes.
Unequilibrated eucrites and the equilibrated Juvinas eucrite; pyroxene REE systematics and major, minor, and trace element zoning

In unequilibrated eucrites, pyroxene is a sensitive recorder of variables that affect their crystallization histories. Therefore, major, minor, and trace element systematics of pyroxene were evaluated from several unequilibrated eucrites and an equilibrated eucrite, Juvinas, by EMP and SIMS techniques. The Cr, AI, and Ti zoning trends in pyroxene reflect its igneous crystallization history, including the sequence of crystallization of pyroxene and plagioclase. The primary substitutional couples in unequilibrated pyroxene among Cr, AI, and Ti are [6JCr3+_14IAP+, 16IAP+_14JAP+, and 16JTi4+_2[4JAP+, with the 16JTi4+_2[4JAP+ couple dominating over 16JAP+_14JAP+ following the onset of plagioclase crystallization. Reequilibration erases the primary igneous zoning trends of Cr, AI, and Ti, and the dominant substitutional couples in homogenized pyroxene are 16ITi4+_214JAP+ and 16JCr3+_14JAP+ in equal proportions. Trace element compositions in unequilibrated eucrites are variable because of igneous zoning, but averaged analyses show core-rim differences that reflect their Ca-rich rims relative to Ca-poor cores. The pyroxene REE abundances in the unequilibrated samples are as much as ten times chondrite in their rims, whereas homogenized Juvinas pyroxenes have abundances between the core and rim values of pyroxene from unequilibrated eucrites. The ratio of REEs (homogenized pyroxenelbulk composition) for Juvinas is significantly higher than the ratio of REEs (pyroxene coreslbulk composition) for the unequilibrated eucrites. This is especially true for the HREEs. The higher observed REE concentrations in the equilibrated pyroxene result from the intracrystalline exchange between Ca-poor cores and Ca-rich rims and also from intercrystalline exchange with other phases, including plagioclase, phosphates, and mesostasis. Use of the equilibrated pyroxene REE concentrations and igneous D values leads to an incorrect estimate of the parental melt composition. The estimated chondrite-normalized melt REE concentrations are too high by a factor of two to four. These studies suggest that great care must be used to take into account subsolidus elemental redistributions when attempting to estimate parental melt compositions from measured mineral trace element concentrations.
Can’t Touch This: Haptic Cues and Their Personality

For centuries, humans have been engaging their senses when assessing their surroundings. As consumers, haptic feel, visual cues, audio tunes, and other sensory aspects affect our perceptions and attitudes toward brands and purchasing behaviors. The sensory marketing literature argues that touch is the most influential sense of all sensory cues. However, scant research in the sensory marketing literature addresses haptic cues and how these cues affect brand attributes, such as brand personality. Therefore, this conceptual paper proposes a model of haptic cues and brand personality that identifies which haptic cue associates most with a brand personality dimension. In addition, need-for-touch is suggested as a moderator between the aforementioned relationships. While we cannot always touch products or may not have a high need for touch, determining which haptic cue relates most with a certain brand personality dimension provide much contribution to the sensory marketing and branding literature in determining sensory signatures for brands.
Abstract 1426: Racial variation in annexin A2(AnxA2) gene expression and poor outcome in triple-negative breast cancer

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is identified by the absence of three major receptors that drive most breast cancers. The incidence of TNBC is also associated with health disparity due to its disproportionate occurrence in African American (AA) women. Our previous studies and others have shown that AnxA2 is overexpressed in TNBC, but its association with racial variation and outcomes is unknown. Methods: AnxA2 gene expression was evaluated in breast cancer subtypes from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Breast Invasive Carcinoma (BRCA) mRNA database that include 1,094 patients. Associations between clinical outcomes and AnxA2 gene expression were tested in a genome wide association study of combined publicly available datasets that include 4,147 patients. Results: AnxA2 gene expression was significantly increased in TNBC in comparison to other breast cancer subtypes. Furthermore, AnxA2 gene expression was significantly elevated in AA women in comparison with Caucasian (CA) women and was associated with the disproportionate occurrence of TNBC in AA women. High expression levels of AnxA2 was associated with reduced overall survival (hazard of death = 2.66; 95% confidence interval {CI] = 1.14 - 6.25, P = 0.0192), reduced relapse free survival (hazard of relapse = 1.45; 95% confidence interval {CI] = 1.12 – 1.89, P = 0.0051), and reduced distant metastasis free survival (hazard of metastasis = 1.7; 95% confidence interval {CI] = 1.00 – 2.91, P = 0.048). AnxA2 gene expression was not associated with poor outcome in other intrinsic breast cancer subtypes, such as Luminal A, Luminal B, and Her-2, indicating the specific association of AnxA2 with the aggressive behavior of TNBC. Conclusion: AnxA2 overexpression is associated with racial variation and is a potential prognostic candidate for TNBC. Impact: AnxA2 has potential prognostic value, implicating a role for AnxA2 in the aggressive biology of TNBC in AA women. Citation Format: Lee D. Gibbs, Jamboor K. Vishwanatha. Racial variation in annexin A2(AnxA2) gene expression and poor outcome in triple-negative breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1426.
The American Way of Life in the Post–World War II Era

The USA emerged from World War II economically robust. Buoyed by optimism, the peace bonus, and a return to civilian life, Americans embraced the pursuit of the American Dream. Beneath the veneer of a vibrant gross national product, however, American sociologists probed the nation’s purpose and prospects. David Riesman and his colleagues examined in The Lonely Crowd what they discerned as a shift in value orientations as society shifted from a focus on production to one oriented toward consumption. C. Wright Mills illumined the world of the mass middle-class buried in the drab offices of corporate and government offices in White Collar while Seeley, Sim, and Loosley explored the competitive underside of suburbia. Galbraith, echoing Riesman, noted the affluent society’s effect on expanded, indeed limitless, expectations.
Geometric Learning and Topological Inference With Biobotic Networks

In this study, we present and analyze a framework for geometric and topological estimation for mapping of unknown environments. We consider agents mimicking motion behaviors of cyborg insects, known as biobots , and exploit coordinate-free local interactions among them to infer geometric and topological information about the environment, under minimal sensing and localization constraints. A metric estimation procedure is presented over a graphical representation referred to as the encounter graph in order to construct a geometric point cloud using manifold learning techniques. Topological data analysis (TDA) along with the proposed classification method is used to infer robust topological features of the space (e.g., existence of obstacles). We examine the asymptotic behavior of the proposed metric in terms of the convergence to the geodesic distances in the underlying manifold of the domain, and provide stability analysis results for the topological persistence. The proposed framework and its convergences and stability analysis are demonstrated through numerical simulations and experiments with Hexbugs.
Research on the detection of high-resistivity body by transient electromagnetic method

Although transient electromagnetic method is sensitive to low-resistivity body, abnormality of high resistivity has been observed in inflatable old mines or some water-filled old mines. Therefore, the key to the applicability of this method to detect old mines lies in that whether this method can indicate apparent abnormality of high-resistivity bodies. And results from simulating the underground transmission and reflection processes of transient electromagnetic field induced by step pulse with the help of FDTD method show that during the diffusion of electromagnetic field, distortion of contour line in electric field caused by high-resistivity is hardly to be noticed. However, by making comparison between contour lines, it can be seen that induced electro-dynamic force is high without high-resistivity body; while when there are high-resistivity bodies, eddy induced is small. There are still differences for the induced electro-dynamic force observed on ground surface with or without high-resistivity bodies. Therefore, transient electromagnetic method is applicable to be applied in detecting combusted area.
A Contigs Strategy of Southern Blot Hybridization: Screening for DNase I Hypersensitive Sites in the 200 Kb Region 5′ to the B-Globin Locus LCR.

Abstract Formation of DNase I hypersensitive sites is an indication of local disruption of chromatin conformation. It has been documented that HS sites are frequently associated with functional DNA sequences, such as, promoters, enhancers, and insulators. While Southern blot hybridization is the standard method to detect HS sites, this procedure is time-consuming and labor intensive. To improve the efficiency of HS detection through Southern blot hybridization, we designed a contigs strategy of Southern blot hybridization and test it in the 200 kb region 5′ to the LCR in the b-globin locus. Based on the human genome sequence we made physical maps of seven 6-bp-cut restriction enzymes in the 200 kb region. From the map we selected continuous contigs of 10 to 15 kb fragment; and designed hybridization probes for the 5′ and 3′ ends of each fragment (some probes can be used in two neighboring fragments). The screening was performed on erythroid (K562) and non-erythroid (Jurkat) cell lines. We found about 40 HS sites within the region. The major sites were either erythroid specific (for instance, HSs at −66 kb, −142 kb, and −236 kb, the cap site of the e-globin gene is +1), or non-erythroid specific (for instances, HSs at −111 kb, −164 kb, and −205 kb). These HS sites will be investigated for enhancer, promoter, and insulator function using transient and stable transfection studies. Due to the limited number of enzyme required and the fact that each blot could be used several times, this strategy can greatly expedite the screening process for presence of DNase I hypersensitive sites. Estimated efficiency of this screening approach is about 0.5 to1 Mb per person per year.
Single Event Testing of SDRAM, DDR2 and DDR3 Memories

SEE test results are presented for SDRAM, DDR2, and DDR3. No tested devices exhibited SEL. SBUs were observed, but no MBUs were observed in data words. SEFI data were taken at low and high speed.
Light Field Imaging and Display Systems

Light fields provide a natural way of representing the information that is captured and processed by the human visual system. Light fields can be acquired using compact imaging systems and the information can be used for a variety of applications including analysis, interpretation and display. Light field display architectures enable true 3D displays that provide a natural and comfortable experience. In both imaging and display, the system design has to consider a complex set of tradeoffs. This seminar will provide an introduction to light fields, followed by an in-depth discussion of state-of-the-art light field imaging and display systems, some interesting applications such as AR and VR and the key tradeoffs that have to be considered during the design process.
FRI0532 Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry testing in women with breast cancer initiating therapy with aromatase inhibitors reduces subsequent fracture risk

Background Estrogen receptor positive breast cancer is commonly treated with aromatase inhibitors (AI). A well-known adverse effect of this therapy is osteoporosis and related bone fractures. National guidelines have promoted the use of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for screening purposes. Objectives To evaluate the association between use of DXA among women with breast cancer treated with AI enrolled in Medicare, and subsequent fracture risk. Methods Retrospective cohort study using the Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) and the National Cancer Institute9s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data linked with Medicare claims. To help estimate the likelihood of performing a DXA, a multivariable logistic regression model was used. Covariates of age, ethnicity, stage, residence area, and socioeconomic variables were controlled for the analyses. The outcome variable a DXA claim within 12 months after the initiation of the AI therapy. Cox regression model to evaluate time to first fracture after initiation of AI. Results The total number of cases within the SEER-Medicare database was 15,350 and in the TCR 4,532. Women aged between 66–74 years and Non-Hispanic white were more likely to get DXA than were Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black. In TCR, 2714 patients did not get treatment for osteoporosis in the first 12 months after AI therapy initiation. 2989 patients did not receive treatment for osteoporosis within 12 months of obtaining their first DXA scan. 1330 patients who did not undergo DXA were not treated for osteoporosis; and 1384 patients who underwent DXA got treated for osteoporosis. The duration of AI treatment was negatively associated with the risk of fracture. Women who received DXA scan showed 11% lower risk of fracture than those who were not scanned (HR 0.89 (0.83, 0.94). Conclusions National guidelines suggest to obtain a DXA and start bisphosphonate therapy in female breast cancer patients who are treated with AI therapy. Our data suggests that the majority of women in the TCR and SEER database were not treated for osteoporosis within the first 12 months after initiation of AI therapy. Women who received DXA scan showed a lower risk of fracture than those who were not scanned. References National guidelines suggest to obtain a DXA and start bisphosphonate therapy in female breast cancer patients who are treated with AI therapy. Our data suggests that the majority of women in the TCR and SEER database were not treated for osteoporosis within the first 12 months after initiation of AI therapy. Women who received DXA scan showed a lower risk of fracture than those who were not scanned. Disclosure of Interest None declared
The United States Agency for International Development and forest loss: A cross-national analysis of environmental aid

Abstract Among scholars of international development, there is a debate regarding the effectiveness of bilateral aid to improve the natural environment. Here we focus on evaluating whether United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) aid in the environmental sector reduces forest loss. Little empirical evidence exists on this question, partly because of the challenge of modeling such a relationship, given the problem of endogeneity whereby the same social, political, or economic processes that affect forest loss may also be correlated with a nation receiving aid from international donors. We contribute to this debate by utilizing a two-stage instrumental variable regression model to analyze cross-national data for a sample of 74 low and middle income nations. After controlling for potential endogeneity, we find that higher levels of USAID’s aid for environmental protection correspond with lower rates of forest loss. We also find that a forest’s proximity to infrastructure, agricultural and forestry exports, agricultural land area, and tropical climate are related to increased forest loss.
Prioritizing Tasks in the Cockpit: A Review of Cognitive Processing Models,Methods of Dealing with Cognitive Limitations, and Training Strategies

Pilots must continuously assess, prioritize, execute, monitor, and terminate tasks to the best of their ability to safely and effectively complete the flight mission, often in time critical situations and in a dynamic environment. Limitations on pilot abilities to multitask are related to many factors described in the literature. To better understand and manage those limitations cognitive processes, such as single channel theory, multiple channel theory, and multiple resource theory are identified and related to cognitive limitations. The methods pilots use to deal with those cognitive limitations, including attention, workload, and task management are explored. Results from task prioritization specific training studies indicate multitasking may be trainable. Outcomes from studies reviewed can be used to inform design and implementation of training curricula. Some strategies for design and implementation of task prioritization training are given.
Isolation of a novel receptor tyrosine kinase cDNA expressed by developing erythroid progenitors

Activation of distinct receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK), such as the products of the c-fms and c-kit proto-oncogenes, profoundly affects hematopoietic development. We have isolated a novel RTK cDNA, called met-related kinase (MRK), which is expressed on early erythroid progenitors. MRK is also expressed in many hematopoietic cell lines, and is not lineage restricted. Several regions within the catalytic domain of MRK have amino acid similarity to the c-met proto-oncogene and v-sea oncogene. Specific polyclonal anti-MRK antisera detects an 84-Kd polypeptide in COS cells transfected with an expression vector containing the MRK cDNA. Further studies of this novel RTK will provide potential insight into its role during hematopoiesis.
A review of Border Capitalism, Disrupted: Precarity and Struggle in a Southeast Asian Industrial Zone. By Stephen Campbell

The theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches used to understand the precariat in the Global North cannot be easily transposed to the Global South, particularly in areas that did not pas...
Collaborative Anomaly Detection on Blockchain from Noisy Sensor Data

This paper proposes a framework for collaborative anomaly detection on Blockchain. Taking condition-based management of industrial asset as a practical example, we extend the notion of Smart Contract, which has been implicitly assumed to be deterministic, to be able to handle noisy sensor data. By formalizing the task of collaborative anomaly detection as that of multi-task probabilistic dictionary learning, we show that major technical issues of validation, consensus building, and data privacy are naturally addressed within a statistical machine learning algorithm. We envision Blockchain as a platform for collaborative learning rather than just a traceable, immutable, and decentralized data management system, suggesting the direction towards "Blockchain 3.0".
Compromised collaborations: food, fuel, and power in transnational food security governance

This essay analyses how the relation between food and fuel shapes the practice of collaborative food governance. Dominant explanations for the persistence of global hunger often point to the influe...
Cost-effective power grid protection through defender–attacker–defender model with corrective network topology control

Power grid vulnerability is a critical issue in power industry. In order to understand and mitigate power grid vulnerability under threats, existing research often makes use of defender–attacker–defender (DAD) models to derive effective protection plans and evaluate grid performances under various contingencies. Corrective topology control (also known as corrective line switching) can be used as an operation to mitigate outages or attacks. In this paper, we propose to extend the traditional defender–attacker–defender model with the post-contingency corrective line switching operations as an effective post-contingency mitigation method. The proposed new model cannot be solved by existing algorithms used to solve the traditional defender–attacker–defender models because of the introduced binary transmission switching variables in the inner level problem. To solve this complicated DAD with transmission line switching (DAD-TLS) model, we customized and developed an exact algorithm based on the nested column-and-constraint generation (NCCG) algorithm, to compute global optimal solutions. A set of numerical studies on IEEE RTS one-area system demonstrate the significant improvements of power system resilience under malicious attacks due to line switching, and highlight that hardening plans derived from this new DAD model are much more cost-effective compared with those obtained from traditional DAD models.
Precocious puberty and Chiari I malformation with syrinx: a case report of an unusual presentation of Costello syndrome

Costello syndrome (CS) is a rare RASopathy causing developmental delays, short stature and classically, delayed puberty. We present a patient with CS and central precocious puberty (CPP). A female patient with CS presented at 6 years 10 months of age with breast development. CPP was biochemically confirmed at 7 years 1 month of age, no additional pituitary dysfunction was noted and puberty progressed at follow-up. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a Chiari I malformation with a syrinx, requiring surgical decompression. The patient was successfully treated with histrelin. Although recent publications do not recommend routine brain MRI in girls with isolated CPP over 6 years of age, in those with CS actionable MRI findings are more likely and imaging should be performed. It is unclear whether the cerebral malformation in the patient contributed to CPP or was an incidental syndromic finding.
Using Personas as Curricular Design Tools: Engaging the Boundaries of Engineering Culture

This innovative practice paper introduces the use of personas as a design technique to guide the large-scale curriculum reform of an Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) program at [University X], a large Mid-Atlantic research-intensive institution. The team has created five personas to explore the potential breadth of the curriculum and expand the faculty perspective on who could be a successful ECE student in the department. The concept of personas originated in the field of human-computer interaction to represent subsets of potential users as abstracted sets of characteristics. Drawing from qualitative data including observations of team meetings and document analysis, this work describes the ethnographic inquiry designers used to develop profiles not solely based on their biases. Responses to personas during implementation show that they can be used to engage the boundaries of culture, bringing to light not only characteristics of students who are not typically present in the program, but also faculty members’ assumptions about characteristics needed for success.
The effects of dispositional restrictiveness on physiological markers of challenge and threat during a hypothetical transitional period in romantic relationships

Restrictiveness, a component of relationship dominance associated with monitoring and regulating partners' behavior, is a risk factor and accelerant of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Few studies, however, have examined in vivo physiological responses associated with restrictiveness. Toward this end, 105 romantic couples (N = 210) completed measures of restrictiveness and had their physiological responses recorded in anticipation of and during a dyadic interaction in which they discussed a hypothetical transitional period in which one person (the discloser) revealed to their partner (the responder) that they had just gotten into their dream school or was offered their dream job. Individuals high (vs. low) in restrictiveness exhibited physiological responses indicative of greater psychological challenge (e.g., elevated cardiac output and lower peripheral resistance) in anticipation of and during the conversation. In contrast, their partners exhibited greater physiological indicators of psychological threat in anticipation of (but not during) the conversation, particularly when assigned to the discloser role. Exploratory analyses of communication behaviors corroborated the physiological data. This research integrates the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat with theories of relationship power and dominance to demonstrate the physiological manifestations of a well-known risk factor for IPV in romantic relationships and interpersonal restrictiveness.
Sexually Dimorphic Crosstalk at the Maternal-Fetal Interface.

Context Crosstalk through receptor ligand interactions at the maternal-fetal interface is impacted by fetal sex. This affects placentation in the first trimester and differences in outcomes. Sexually dimorphic signaling at early stages of placentation are not defined. Objective Investigate the impact of fetal sex on maternal-fetal crosstalk. Design Receptors/ligands at the maternal-fetal surface were identified from sexually dimorphic genes between fetal sexes in the first trimester placenta and defined in each cell type using single-cell RNA-Sequencing (scRNA-Seq). Setting Academic institution. Samples Late first trimester (~10-13 weeks) placenta (fetal) and decidua (maternal) from uncomplicated ongoing pregnancies. Main outcome measures Transcriptomic profiling at tissue and single-cell level; immunohistochemistry of select proteins. Results We identified 91 sexually dimorphic receptor-ligand pairs across the maternal-fetal interface. We examined fetal sex differences in 5 major cell types (trophoblasts, stromal cells, Hofbauer cells, antigen-presenting cells, and endothelial cells). Ligands from the CC family chemokine ligand (CCL) family were most highly representative in females, with their receptors present on the maternal surface. Sexually dimorphic trophoblast transcripts, Mucin-15 (MUC15) and notum, palmitoleoyl-protein carboxylesterase (NOTUM) were also most highly expressed in syncytiotrophoblasts and extra-villous trophoblasts respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis using sexually dimorphic genes in individual cell types identified cytokine mediated signaling pathways to be most representative in female trophoblasts. Upstream analysis demonstrated TGFB1 and estradiol to affect all cell types, but dihydrotestosterone, produced by the male fetus, was an upstream regulator most significant for the trophoblast population. Conclusions Maternal-fetal crosstalk exhibits sexual dimorphism during placentation early in gestation.
Donations in Humanitarian Operations: Earmarking, Competition, and Joint Fundraising

Problem definition: A staggering proportion of humanitarian donations are designated for a particular purpose, i.e., earmarked. While earmarking increases donors' willingness to donate, it hurts the operational performance of humanitarian organizations (HOs) because it limits their flexibility to use their funds. We study the trade-off between earmarked funding, fundraising costs, and operational performance in the presence of competition for funding. We also analyze two joint fundraising models where HOs mutually contact donors: coalition funding, where donors cannot earmark their donations to a specific HO, and collaborative funding, where donors can choose their desired HO. While extant literature investigates the negative consequences of earmarked funding, we explore how competition for funding affects HO earmarking decisions under different fundraising models. We also shed light on the benefits and hurdles of joint fundraising from an operational perspective. Methodology/results: We use a game-theoretic framework and deploy a multinomial logit model for the donor choice problem. We find that competition for funding significantly contributes to the prevalence of earmarked donations in humanitarian response. When funding is ``abundant,'' a coalition improves operational performance and reduces fundraising costs. However, when funding is severely scarce, a coalition may incentivize the HOs to engage in competition to increase their share of funding. In this case, we show that collaborative funding outperforms the other models even though it results in the highest earmarking and the lowest operational performance. We also numerically calibrate our results using data from the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Managerial implications: Our results guide HOs to manage their fundraising strategies to mitigate the negative consequences of earmarked funding under competition. Moreover, we provide novel insights to understand and measure the impact of competition and joint fundraising on fundraising costs and operational performance.
On the Performance-Complexity Tradeoff in Stochastic Greedy Weak Submodular Optimization

Weak submodular optimization underpins many problems in signal processing and machine learning. For such problems, under a cardinality constraint, a simple greedy algorithm is guaranteed to find a solution with a value no worse than 1 − e−γ of the optimal. Given the high cost of queries to large-scale signal processing models, the complexity of GREEDY becomes prohibitive in modern applications. In this work, we study the tradeoff between performance and complexity when one resorts to random sampling strategies to reduce the query complexity of GREEDY. Specifically, we quantify the effect of uniform sampling strategies on the performance through two criteria: (i) the probability of identifying an optimal subset, and (ii) the suboptimality of the solution’s value with respect to the optimal. Building upon this insight, we propose a simple progressive stochastic greedy algorithm, study its approximation guarantees, and consider its applications to dimensionality reduction and feature selection tasks.
Rethinking Countercyclical Financial Regulation

The 2008 financial crisis exposed a longstanding problem in financial regulation: traditional regulatory strategies tend to be procyclical. That is, regulatory tools—most notably, bank capital requirements—incentivize excessive credit growth during economic expansions and insufficient lending during contractions. The procyclicality of U.S. financial regulation was a key driver of the housing bubble in the mid-2000s and the massive credit crunch that followed. To combat this phenomenon, Congress and the federal banking agencies attempted to mitigate procyclical boom-and-bust cycles by implementing regulatory approaches that were explicitly countercyclical. The Dodd-Frank Act and related post-crisis reforms included several countercyclical features that were designed to become stricter during periods of economic growth and more lenient during contractions, with the goal of smoothing economic cycles. Less than a decade later, however, these countercyclical tools failed to prevent unprecedented financial stress during the COVID-19 recession. This Article is the first legal scholarship to revisit the design of countercyclical rules in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reveals weaknesses in Dodd-Frank’s countercyclical approach and the significant costs of failing to implement an effective countercyclical strategy. The Article also establishes a blueprint for strengthening the United States’ countercyclical framework going forward. The Article identifies three principles—automaticity, portfolio strategy, and market-wide coverage—that should guide countercyclical policymaking. It then applies these principles to five specific areas in which financial regulators should bolster countercyclical oversight: bank capital requirements, accounting standards, securitization rules, early remediation guidelines, and margin requirements. Taken together, these reforms are critical to making countercyclical financial regulation work and creating a more stable and prosperous financial system.