cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Frame Shift Mutation in the Fibrinogen Aα Chain Gene in a Kindred With Renal Amyloidosis

A new American kindred with amyloidosis was found by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis to have a mutation in the fibrinogen A alpha chain gene. Affected members in this kindred have autosomal dominant amyloid nephropathy. DNA sequencing showed a single nucleotide deletion at the third base of codon 524 of the fibrinogen A alpha chain genes (4904delG) that resulted in a frame shift and premature termination of the protein at codon 548. Antiserum was produced to a portion of the abnormal peptide predicted by the DNA sequence and amyloid deposits were immuno-histologically proven to contain this abnormal peptide. Two of the propositus' 4 children were positive for the mutant fibrinogen A alpha chain gene by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis based on polymerase chain reaction. These two mutant gene carriers now in the second decade of life show no clinical symptoms of amyloidosis as yet but have lower plasma fibrinogen concentrations when compared with their normal siblings. This the first description of a kindred with renal amyloidosis and low plasma fibrinogen and also the first report of amyloidosis caused by a frame shift mutation.
A Critique of WIPO's RFC3

The World Intellectual Property Organization’s plan to restructure the way Internet domain names in .com, .net, and .org are assigned and adjudicated is deeply flawed. The WIPO plan’s flaws include: bias, enabling censorship, zero privacy, intimidation, a tilting of the playing field, and a smorgasbord approach to law. This paper proposes an alternative, fairer, reform plan. The key elements of the plan are: Reduce speculative registration: Require advance payment before registration; Penalize false contract details: De-register domains with fake contact information; Create special rules to penalize mass speculation; Trust courts to continue to clarify relevant law; Understand that rapid changes in technology may make domain names less important; Create differentiated commercial and non-commercial top-level domains.
Alcoa STARprobe™ — Update in Further Development for Measuring Cryolite Properties

Efficient aluminum smelting operation requires routine but necessary measurement and control of individual cell key parameters. Two of the critical measurement and control parameters are cell temperature and bath chemistry. Bath chemistry of interest for the cryolitic bath is cryolite molar ratio and other components such as CaF2 and Al2O3, and sometimes other additives such as LiF and MgF2. Determination of these properties requires various analytical equipment and rigorous procedures from tedious sampling to analytical preparation. STARprobe™, an Alcoa proprietary instrument specifically developed and designed for use in aluminum smelters, combines tedious time-consuming sampling procedures and all expensive analytical equipment into one simple portable instrument for potroom operators on potroom floor. Now, the STARprobe™, together with Alcoa proprietary Integrated Pot Control system, becomes an integral technology component in Alcoa smelters for an efficient operation. This paper will update our further development in more accurately measuring alumina concentration, and also addition of property measurement including %CaF2 and %LiF when needed.
Carbon — Bridged Cations

In the last chapter, the evidence for π-, aryl-, and σ-participation in representative systems was examined. Unambiguous evidence for both π- and aryl participation was found, but no unambiguous evidence for σ-participation was uncovered in symmetrical systems not undergoing rearrangement to more stable structures. However, detailed consideration of 2-norbornyl and cyclopropylcarbinyl, considered at one time to be the best examples for such σ-participation, was deferred until later (Chapters 5 and 6).
The Dynamics of Mesoscale Winds in the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere

Spectral analysis is applied to infer the dynamics of mesoscale winds from aircraft observations in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Two datasets are analyzed: one collected aboard commercial aircraft and one collected using a dedicated research aircraft. A recently developed wave–vortex decomposition is used to test the observations’ consistency with linear inertia–gravity wave dynamics. The decomposition method is shown to be robust in the vicinity of the tropopause if flight tracks vary sufficiently in altitude. For the lower stratosphere, the decompositions of both datasets confirm a recent result that mesoscale winds are consistent with the polarization and dispersion relations of inertia–gravity waves. For the upper troposphere, however, the two datasets disagree: only the research aircraft data indicate consistency with linear wave dynamics at mesoscales. The source of the inconsistency is a difference in mesoscale variance of the measured along-track wind component. To further test the observed flow’s consistency with linear wave dynamics, the ratio between tropospheric and stratospheric mesoscale energy levels is compared to a simple model of upward-propagating waves that are partially reflected at the tropopause. For both datasets, the observed energy ratio is roughly consistent with the simple wave model, but wave frequencies diagnosed from the data draw into question the applicability of the monochromatic theory at wavelengths smaller than 10 km.
Beyond Phelix: Compact transformer drive For other high current applications

The approach called PHELIX, for Precision High Energy-density Liner Implosion eXperiment, provides a technique to allow research on high energy-density phenomena associated with liner implosions in a scaled-down system suitable for use with proton radiography. In the embodiment selected at Los Alamos National Laboratory, a static transformer arrangement is used to obtain currents in excess of 5MA from a compact, 486 kJ capacitor bank that provides 1.3 MA to the primary circuit. The cm-scale liner implosion on the secondary side successfully attains speeds in the km/s range. It has been noted that the ratio of load current to bank energy is almost an order of magnitude higher using this transformer technique than achievable with direct drive from high energy capacitor banks. This increase in current per stored-joule offers the opportunity for using similar transformer arrangements for other applications apart from imploding liners. These potential applications include rail-guns, and the dense plasma focus (DPF). In the latter case, the strong dependence of neutron yield on peak current (Y ~ J4, perhaps) places a premium on performing DPF research at higher currents. For systems comparable to the PHELIX apparatus at LANL, modest capacitor banks may thus allow progress on DPF studies without demanding large systems, such as Shiva Star or Atlas. Similar improvements in the current per joule may also apply to explosively-driven generator sources, thereby reducing the resources required for explosive operation. Larger devices to obtain operation at much higher currents (e.g., beyond Z) may also be possible. Results from the dimensionless analyses previously used successfully to design PHELIX will be described for these new applications and design limitations will be discussed. Such limitations may require a shift to dynamically-switched vs static transformer operation, which may be satisfactory for experiments that involve significant load and diagnostic refurbishment each shot.
Subversive scholarship or anti-intellectual identity politics? An analysis of media frames of fat studies

ABSTRACTFat studies courses have emerged on college campuses during a time when the paradigm of the “obesity epidemic” dominates scientific and public discourses. Although scholars have assessed the media’s framing of fat and the “obesity epidemic,” research has yet to examine media frames of fat studies courses. Using data from LexisNexis and Google News, the authors analyze news media frames of fat studies. Our results indicate fat studies is nearly invisible in the media. However, fat studies is receiving some positive media coverage via articles written by fat studies scholars and activists, despite resistance from both conservatives and proponents of the “obesity epidemic” paradigm. The authors contend that fat studies scholars should continue to not only engage in fat studies pedagogy and communicate their research findings, but also implore journalists to conduct neutrality in reporting and the public to critically evaluate media sources.
LPHT annealing of brown-to-yellow type Ia diamonds

Abstract Low-pressure, high-temperature (LPHT) annealing of yellow-to-brown type Ia natural diamonds was performed to monitor its effects on optical centers within diamond, changes in the observed color, and to assess the process's viability as a commercial gem treatment. With LPHT annealing only, the mostly brown diamonds showed a shift towards yellow coloration; Vis-NIR absorption spectra showed this change was due to a modest increase in H3 intensity. Even at long annealing times (24 h at 1800 °C) or annealing at high temperatures (2000 °C for five minutes), the diamonds did not significantly lose brown coloration. LPHT annealing showed itself as an ineffective means to break apart the vacancy clusters causing the brown color or causing nitrogen disaggregation, which resulted in only a small H3 generation. With LPHT annealing, “amber centers”—a group of several independent bands in the IR between 4200 and 4000 cm− 1 that disappear with HPHT annealing—were seen to anneal out gradually at various temperatures from 1700 to 2000 °C. In contrast, high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) annealing effectively removes brown color at similar time/temperature conditions. Without the high stabilizing pressure provided by HPHT annealing techniques, the LPHT annealing showed pronounced damage on inclusions and dramatic surface etching. In subsequent experiments, LPHT annealing was used as a follow-up to laboratory irradiation. The irradiation-related vacancies created greater concentrations of H3 and the vacancy-assisted disaggregation of nitrogen created donors which led to a high concentration of H2 centers. This combination of defects resulted in a pronounced and favorable shift towards saleable yellow colors due to an increase in H3 and a dramatic increase in the H2 center, which led to the suppression of the remaining brownish component. The annealing characteristics for many centers detected by Vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy, FTIR absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy were chronicled throughout the study and compared with other LPHT annealing studies and HPHT annealing experiments.
Computational prediction of new auxetic materials.

Auxetics comprise a rare family of materials that manifest negative Poisson's ratio, which causes an expansion instead of contraction under tension. Most known homogeneously auxetic materials are porous foams or artificial macrostructures and there are few examples of inorganic materials that exhibit this behavior as polycrystalline solids. It is now possible to accelerate the discovery of materials with target properties, such as auxetics, using high-throughput computations, open databases, and efficient search algorithms. Candidates exhibiting features correlating with auxetic behavior were chosen from the set of more than 67 000 materials in the Materials Project database. Poisson's ratios were derived from the calculated elastic tensor of each material in this reduced set of compounds. We report that this strategy results in the prediction of three previously unidentified homogeneously auxetic materials as well as a number of compounds with a near-zero homogeneous Poisson's ratio, which are here denoted "anepirretic materials".There are very few inorganic materials with auxetic homogenous Poisson's ratio in polycrystalline form. Here authors develop an approach to screening materials databases for target properties such as negative Poisson's ratio by using stability and structural motifs to predict new instances of homogenous auxetic behavior as well as a number of materials with near-zero Poisson's ratio.
Root recolonization of previous root channels in corn and alfalfa rotations

Distribution of root systems through soils and recolonization of root channels by successive crops are fundamental, though difficult to study, processes of soil ecology. This article reports a minirhizotron (MR) study of corn and alfalfa root systems throughout the soil profile of Kalamazoo loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalf) monolith lysimeters for a three-year succession of corn, alfalfa and corn. Multiple-date comparisons within and between years were conducted to estimate total root densities in each soil horizon. Root recolonization was assessed by comparing every video frame of paired minirhizotrons, from recordings conducted one growing season apart. Distributions of corn root systems were modified by tillage practices. In 1994, root populations of corn in the Bt1 horizon peaked 75–90 days after planting (DAP). Numbers of corn roots per m2 in the Bt1 horizon were consistently higher for no-tillage (NT) than for conventional tillage (CT) lysimeters, in 1994 and 1996. Distribution of alfalfa roots within the soil profile was not significantly modified by tillage. However, alfalfa root decomposition rates responded to conventional and no-tillage practices and were specific for each soil horizon. Corn root systems growing in soils previously cropped with alfalfa presented similar patterns of root distribution by horizons as that of the previous alfalfa crop. Successive corn root systems did not display similar distribution patterns throughout the soil profile from one growing season to the next. Proportions of roots of the current crop recolonizing root induced macropores (RIMs) of the previous crop averaged 18% for corn after corn, 22% for alfalfa after corn and 41% for corn after alfalfa, across Bt horizons and tillage treatments. In conclusion, distribution of corn root systems appeared to be modified by tillage practices and root recolonization of RIMs was controlled by the preceding crop.
Projektmanagement im Messewesen

Das Messewesen nimmt in Deutschland im Vergleich mit anderen Landern immer noch eine herausragende Position ein und stellt einen bedeutenden Wirtschaftsfaktor dar. Dennoch hat sich in den beiden letzten Jahrzehnten und vor allem in den letzten Jahren ein starker Wandel bei der Positionierung von Messen im Markt und als Folge auch eine intensivere und systematischere Vorgehensweise beim Projektmanagement vollzogen. Messen sind nicht mehr wie in der Vergangenheit eher Selbstlaufer, sondern mussen uber einen viel groseren Aufwand an speziellen Marketingaktivitaten im Markt platziert und entwickelt werden. Generell wird eine punktgenaue Ansprache der Zielgruppen – Aussteller und Besucher – immer notwendiger, um neben dem Leistungsversprechen ein langfristiges Vertrauen in die Kompetenz der Messegesellschaft wie auch das Projektmanagement aufzubauen.
Type 2 inflammatory response protects against Staphylococcus aureus-induced sepsis

Sepsis is defined as new organ dysfunction due to acute infection and has a mortality rate >20%. Recent studies indicate that type 2 cytokines, best known for their role in allergies, may be beneficial to the host during sepsis. We hypothesized that these responses protect against mortality during Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) induced sepsis. We tested this hypothesis in 2 different mouse models, using either house dust-mite (HDM) sensitization and challenge to activate an adaptive type 2 response, or pre-treatment with IL-33 via intratracheal instillation to induce an innate type 2 response. This was followed by intravenous infection with S. aureus to induce sepsis. Pre-treatment with either HDM or IL-33 protected against S. aureus -induced mortality, indicating that activation of type 2 responses is beneficial during acute infection. Analysis of lung immune cell populations by flow cytometry revealed increased levels of type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) in mice pre-treated with HDM or IL-33 compared to untreated controls. Further, we found a relative decrease in lung neutrophils and an increase in lung eosinophils in type 2-stimulated compared to untreated mice, suggesting that type 2 responses may suppress an overwhelming neutrophilic response. However, systemic depletion of neutrophils prior to infection resulted in accelerated mortality compared to non-depleted mice, indicating that neutrophils are necessary to protect against S. aureus infection, and that augmented eosinophilia may confer protection against mortality. We conclude that the type 2 response is protective during sepsis, possibly due to the activity of ILC2s and a delicate balance of eosinophils and neutrophils in the inflamed lung.
Metabolic Demand of Hiking in Wildland Firefighting

Introduction The objective of this study was to document characteristics of hiking during wildland firefighter (WLFF) training and wildfire suppression. For the first time, the overall physical demands during wildland firefighting were evaluated in the field using global positioning systems coupled with wireless physiological monitoring and load carriage prediction models. Methods Male (n=116) and female (n=15) interagency hotshot crew and type II WLFFs on wildfires volunteered for this direct observation study. Participants' heart rate, internal temperature, speed, and elevation gain were monitored throughout training and during wildfire suppression. The Pandolf and Santee equations were used to predict metabolic rate to estimate oxygen consumption of uphill and downhill hiking. Results Equipment weight varied by crew type (type II: 24±9 kg and interagency hotshot crew: 28±6 kg; P Conclusions The greatest metabolic demand during wildfire assignments occurred during ingress hikes. On average, this was close to the estimated metabolic demand of the job qualification arduous pack test. However, greater metabolic demand occurred for periods during both shift (on the job) and training hikes. These data quantify the demands associated with actual wildland performance of WLFFs and can help define future work capacity testing and training procedures.
Programmable Synapses and Gain-Adjustable Neurons

Significant progress has been made in using analog circuit design techniques for early vision processing. The sensory neural networks differ from others in highly localized information processing [1]. At the same time, artificial neural networks for digital signal and image processing usually require heavy interconnections between the neurons. Several experimental neural hardware designs, which typically function as direct accelerators for software computation, have been reported [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. These hardware accelerators consist of main digital processors, mathematical coprocessors, and associated memories. In most cases, the rich properties of neural networks associated with massively parallel processing using programmable synapses and neurons to process digital pictures for machine intelligence have not yet been fully explored.
Fluorescence enhancement : New selective detection principle for liquid chromatography

Abstract A new detection principle for liquid chromatography based on the continuous measurement of the fluorescence emission intensity of a fluorescent dye, and its enhancement in the presence of solute, is described. The selective detection of polar lipids using 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid as the fluorescent dye was demonstrated. Detector sensitivity, linearity, and several response-affecting factors were studied for this type of detection.
Supported Catalysts for Polypropylene: Aluminum Alkyl-Ester Chemistry

The reactions of aluminum alkyl cocatalysts with the ethyl benzoate (EB) component of MgCl2 supported TiCl4 catalysts have a strong influence on both activity and stereospecificity. NMR investigations show that AlEt3 alkylates ethyl benzoate by the following reaction: PhCO2Et + 3 AlEt3 → 1/2 (Et2AlOEt)2 + Et3Al·Et2AlOCEt2Ph. The rate of ethyl benzoate consumption decreases with lower Al/PhCO2Et ratios. Atmospheric pressure polymerization studies reveal that the interaction of ethyl benzoate with the catalyst is responsible for achieving high isotacticity as measured by heptane insolubles (% HI). The aluminum alkoxide products from the alkylation reaction increase HI indirectly by complexing AlEt3, lowering the free [AlEt3] and the AlEt3/PhCO2Et ratio. However, lower free [AlEt3] also reduces polymerization rate. The introduction of steric bulk into the aluminum alkyl component minimizes the ester alkylation reaction while maintaining catalyst activity. Two types of cocatalysts have been found which give significantly better catalyst performance than the AlEt3 cocatalyst: (1) sterically hindered trialkyl aluminum cocatalysts, such as s-Bu2AlEt and t-Bu2AlEt and (2) certain aluminum dialkyl and diary1 amides such as Et2Al-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide and Et2AlNPh2.
Redefining Success: The Foundation for Creating Work-Life Balance

The line between work and home has become blurred by our ability to communicate and share information 24/7. The work day, indeed the work week, has expanded beyond the boundaries of place and time that formerly provided some buffer between work and the other arenas of life. While employees at all levels of the organization are affected by this blurring of boundaries, this is especially true for managers, technical people, and individual contributors in the middle and upper ranks of an organization – referred to throughout the chapter as professionals – because they are often expected to do “whatever it takes” to accomplish their assignments.
Post-intervention Durability of Alcohol Care Management: 1-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Alcohol care management (ACM) is one model of embedding a behavioral health provider (BHP) into primary care clinics.1, 2 We previously reported on the effectiveness of a 6-month trial of ACM vs referral to outpatient specialty care (SC) for treatment engagement and reducing alcohol consumption.3 Though designed to empower patient/primary care provider (PCP) dyads to independently manage problematic alcohol use, the durability of ACM following the BHP’s departure is unknown: Here, we evaluate the post-intervention effects of ACM on drinking outcomes. It was predicted that, compared to SC referral, ACM-mediated improvements in alcohol consumption would persist over the 6 months following intervention.
Passive Viewpoints in a Collaborative Immersive Environment

Widespread acceptance of virtual reality has been partially handicapped by the inability of current systems to accommodate multiple viewpoints, thereby limiting their appeal for collaborative applications. We are exploring the ability to utilize passive, untracked participants in a powerwall environment. These participants see the same image as the active, immersive participant. This does present the passive user with a varying viewpoint that does not correspond to their current position. We demonstrate the impact this will have on the perceived image and show that human psychology is actually well adapted to compensating for what, on the surface, would seem to be a very drastic distortion. We present some initial guidelines for system design that minimize the negative impact of passive participation, allowing two or more collaborative participants. We then outline future experimentation to measure user compensation for these distorted viewpoints.
It’s “Instant Custom”: How the Bush Doctrine Became Law After the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001

Historically, courts have recognized a customary international law only upon finding evidence of uniform state practice over a protracted period of time. In today's rapidly evolving global society, however, "instant custom" theorists contend that new customary international laws may form in much less time than the decades upon decades of consistent practice traditionally required. This Note considers the instant custom theory and argues that the Bush Doctrine became a new customary international law in the immediate aftermath ofthe terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Cardiac MRI in Diagnosis and Management

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is an essential tool in the diagnosis, risk stratification and treatment of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). CMR works by manipulating protons found in myocytes and contrast agents such as Gadolinium, using magnetic pull to create and then detect energy differences and thus obtain images. CMR is ideal for detecting the location and extent of hypertrophy, presence or absence of membranes, the distribution of fibrosis and the anatomy and physiology of the mitral valve, all of which are crucial for diagnosis of HCM, which can be missed on standard echocardiography. This is especially true for hard to see areas of the heart such as the apical area as well as atypical presentations such as focal segmental hypertrophy or mass-like HCM. Additionally, extremely accurate assessments of the left ventricular volumes, mass and function are prognostic as well as diagnostic. Magnetic resonance tagging and delayed-enhancement with Gadolinium allow for strain and perfusion analysis, further increasing the utility of CMR to detect regional function and cardiac microvascular ischemia, of which HCM patients are particularly susceptible. Delayed enhancement distribution and extent may also impact risk stratification for sudden cardiac death. Limitations of CMR include assessment of the left ventricular outflow tract gradient and highly mobile structures on the mitral valve, although newer protocols and improved technology may be able to compensate for these deficits in the future.
Porosity and storage capacity of Middle Devonian shale: A function of thermal maturity, total organic carbon, and clay content

Abstract Porosity and pore size distribution (PSD) are critical reservoir parameters. Pore surface area, pore volume, PSD, and porosity were measured using subcritical nitrogen (N2) adsorption, and helium porosimetry. A suite of 17 samples were collected from 4 wells in Pennsylvania and West Virginia to analyze the evolution of porosity with increasing thermal maturity in Middle Devonian shales of the Appalachian Basin. The thermal maturity of the tested samples covers a wide range in the hydrocarbon generation sequence from wet gas/condensate zone (vitrinite reflectance (Ro) = 1.16%) to post-mature zone (Ro = 2.79%). Shale samples from the Marcellus Shale and Mahantango Formation used in this study have total organic carbon contents from 0.41 to 7.88 wt%. Results indicate that total organic carbon (TOC) has the strongest effect on porosity and pore structure. The presence of organic matter in shale strongly enhances the storage capacity by increasing the specific surface area and pore volume, which represents sorption storage capacity and free-gas storage capacity. Differences in porosity and pore structure have a complex relationship to thermal maturity, micro texture, mineralogy, clay content, and TOC.
Environmental and socio-economic sustainability in India: evidence from CO2 emission and economic inequality relationship

This study demonstrates the evolution of the relationship between anthropogenic CO2 emission from fossil fuels use and inequality in consumption expenditure in India based on state-level panel data...
Metabolic Syndrome and the Effectiveness of Low-dose Aspirin on Reproductive Outcomes.

BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome is associated with increases in both inflammation and aspirin resistance, but effectiveness of aspirin in improving reproductive health among women with metabolic syndrome is unknown. We evaluated the effectiveness of low-dose aspirin in improving reproductive outcomes across metabolic syndrome score. METHODS The EAGeR trial randomly assigned 1228 women with a history of pregnancy loss to receive 81 mg aspirin or placebo for up to six menstrual cycles of attempting pregnancy and, if they became pregnant, throughout pregnancy. We assessed components of metabolic syndrome at enrollment, including: waist circumference ≥88 cm, triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl, high-density lipoprotein ≤50 mg/dl, blood pressure ≥130 mmHg systolic or ≥85 mmHg diastolic, and glucose ≥100 mg/dl. We summed components to calculate metabolic syndrome score. RESULTS A total of 229 participants (20%) met full criteria for metabolic syndrome, 207 (18%) had two components, 366 (31%) one component, and 372 (32%) no components. Among those without any component of metabolic syndrome, aspirin was associated with 10.7 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2, 20.2] more pregnancies and 13.7 (95% CI = 3.3, 24.0) more live births per 100 couples. Effects were attenuated as metabolic syndrome score increased and we observed no clear effect of aspirin on pregnancy or live birth among women with metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS Low-dose aspirin is most effective in increasing pregnancy and live birth among women with no or few components of metabolic syndrome. Reduced effectiveness among women with metabolic syndrome may be due to differences in effective dose or aspirin resistance.
A Local Structure Graph Model: Modeling Formation of Network Edges as a Function of Other Edges

Localized network processes are central to the study of political science, whether in the formation of political coalitions and voting blocs, balancing and bandwagoning, policy learning, imitation, diffusion, tipping-point dynamics, or cascade effects. These types of processes are not easily modeled using traditional network approaches, which focus on global rather than local structures within networks. We show that localized network processes, in which network edges form in response to the formation of other edges, are best modeled by shifting from the traditional theoretical framework of nodes-as-actors to what we term a nodes-as-actions framework, which allows for zeroing in on relationships among network connections. We show that the proposed theoretical framework is statistically compatible with a local structure graph model (LSGM). We demonstrate the properties of LSGMs using a Monte Carlo experiment and explore action–reaction processes in two empirical applications: formation of alliances among countries and legislative cosponsorships in the US Senate.
Computational Finite Element Method (FEM) forward modeling workflow for transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) current flow on MRI-derived head: Simpleware and COMSOL Multiphysics tutorial

Abstract Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) dose designs are often based on computational Finite Element Method (FEM) forward modeling studies. These FEM models educate researchers about the resulting current flow (intensity and pattern) and so the resulting neurophysiological and behavioral changes based on tDCS dose (mA), resistivity of head tissues (e.g. skin, skull, CSF, brain), and head anatomy. Moreover, model support optimization of montage to target specific brain regions. Computational models are thus an ancillary tool used to inform the design, set-up and programming of tDCS devices, and investigate the role of parameters such as electrode assembly, current directionality, and polarity of tDCS in optimizing therapeutic interventions. Computational FEM modeling pipeline of tDCS initiates with segmentation of an exemplary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of a template head into multiple tissue compartments to develop a higher resolution (
Performance of community-based lung cancer screening program in a Histoplasma endemic region.

Abstract Objectives Lung cancer screening with low dose computed-tomography (LDCT) is currently recommended for high-risk populations based on mortality benefit shown in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST). This study evaluated performance of a community-based lung cancer screening program in a Histoplasma endemic region. Materials and Methods Demographic and clinical information was collected through retrospective review of patients in the Lung Cancer Screening program of a Kentucky (Histoplasma endemic region) health system from 2016 and 2017. A positive LDCT screen is defined as Lung-RADS version 1.0 assessment categories 3 or 4. Patients characteristics, initial screening results and follow up were analyzed and compared to NLST results. Results A total of 4500 LDCT screens were performed in 2016 (39%) and 2017 (61%) with 43% adherence rate to repeat annual screen in 2017. Mean age of patients was 64 years, with majority being females (54%) and current smokers (69%) with average 52-pack year smoking history. The rate of positive LDCT was 13.3% (600) varying based on baseline (14.6%) and annual (9.5%) screen. A total of 70 lung cancers were diagnosed among all positive LDCT screens (11.7%) with a false positive rate of 12%. Conclusions Baseline positive screens in our study are similar to NLST data with Lung-RADS criteria implementation (14.6% vs 13.6%, p = 0.15) despite being a Histoplasma endemic region. Our study shows a successful performance of a community-based lung cancer screening program in a Histoplasma endemic region.
Trends in Comorbidities and Complications Among Patients Undergoing Inpatient Spine Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective database study. OBJECTIVE We sought to identify trends in demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications among patients undergoing ACDF and PLF. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA As demand for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and posterior lumbar fusion (PLF) surgery continues to increase, it is important to understand changes in the healthcare system and patient populations undergoing these procedures. METHODS We identified 220,520 ACDF and 151,547 PLF surgeries (2006-2016; Premier Healthcare database). Annual proportions or medians were calculated for patient and hospital characteristics, and (Elixhauser) comorbidities. Postoperative complications, including blood transfusions, cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, or wound complications, hemorrhage, stroke, sepsis, thromboembolism, delirium, inpatient falls, and mortality, were reported per 1000 inpatient days. Trends were assessed by Cochran-Armitage tests and linear regression for binary and continuous variables, respectively. RESULTS The median age of patients undergoing ACDF and PLF increased significantly from 2006 to 2016 (50 to 57 yr and 58 to 61 yr, respectively; P < 0.001) coinciding with an increasing comorbidity burden (30.2% to 47.9% and 44.9% to 55.7%, respectively representing the share of patients with ≥2 Elixhauser comorbidities; P < 0.001). Overall rate of any complication experienced a significant decline after both ACDF (24.5 to 20.8 per 1000 inpatient days; P = 0.002) and PLF (30.5 to 23.1 per 1000 inpatient days; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The comorbidity burden of patients undergoing ACDF and PLF increased substantially from 2006 to 2016, however without a corresponding increase in overall complication rate. Understanding these changes can help guide future practice, advise in the allocation of resources, and inform future areas of research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
Stimulus-specific hypothalamic encoding of a persistent defensive state

Persistent neural activity in cortical, hippocampal, and motor networks has been described as mediating working memory for transiently encountered stimuli1,2. Internal emotional states, such as fear, also persist following exposure to an inciting stimulus3, but it is unclear whether slow neural dynamics are involved in this process. Neurons in the dorsomedial and central subdivisions of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHdm/c) that express the nuclear receptor protein NR5A1 (also known as SF1) are necessary for defensive responses to predators in mice4-7. Optogenetic activation of these neurons, referred to here as VMHdmSF1 neurons, elicits defensive behaviours that outlast stimulation5,8, which suggests the induction of a persistent internal state of fear or anxiety. Here we show that in response to naturalistic threatening stimuli, VMHdmSF1 neurons in mice exhibit activity that lasts for many tens of seconds. This persistent activity was correlated with, and required for, persistent defensive behaviour in an open-field assay, and depended on neurotransmitter release from VMHdmSF1 neurons. Stimulation and calcium imaging in acute slices showed that there is local excitatory connectivity between VMHdmSF1 neurons. Microendoscopic calcium imaging of VMHdmSF1 neurons revealed that persistent activity at the population level reflects heterogeneous dynamics among individual cells. Unexpectedly, distinct but overlapping VMHdmSF1 subpopulations were persistently activated by different modalities of threatening stimulus. Computational modelling suggests that neither recurrent excitation nor slow-acting neuromodulators alone can account for persistent activity that maintains stimulus identity. Our results show that stimulus-specific slow neural dynamics in the hypothalamus, on a time scale orders of magnitude longer than that of working memory in the cortex9,10, contribute to a persistent emotional state.
Soft x-ray seeding studies for the SLAC Linac Coherent Light Source II

Author(s): Hemsing, E; Marcus, G; Fawley, WM; Schoenlein, RW; Coffee, R; Dakovski, G; Hastings, J; Huang, Z; Ratner, D; Raubenheimer, T; Penn, G | Abstract: We present the results from studies of soft X-ray seeding options for the LCLS-II X-ray free electron laser (FEL) at SLAC. The LCLS-II will use superconducting accelerator technology to produce X-ray pulses at up to 1 MHz repetition rate using 4 GeV electron beams. If properly seeded, these pulses will be nearly fully coherent, and highly stable in photon energy, bandwidth, and intensity, thus enabling unique experiments with intense high-resolution soft X-rays. Given the expected electron beam parameters from start to end simulations and predicted FEL performance, our studies reveal echo enabled harmonic generation (EEHG) and soft X-ray self-seeding (SXRSS) as promising and complementary seeding methods. We find that SXRSS has the advantage of simplicity and will deliver 5-35 times higher spectral brightness than EEHG in the 1-2 nm range, but lacks some of the potential for phase-stable multipulse and multicolor FEL operations enabled by external laser seeding with EEHG.
Residential Segregation and Intermarriage

Residential segregation has long been a central focus of sociology and demography. It refers to the settlement separation of two or more groups into a defined geographical area (e.g., a city or county). In traditional demographic and sociological inquiry, residential segregation can be based on race indicating the uneven distribution of two or more racial groups within a city. Segregation can also be measured by income and class. For example, if we take a close observation of U.S. metropolitan areas, we can see neighborhoods with different characteristics scattering over a given metropolis. Some have magnificent houses and well-maintained public facilities, while others are in a process of recession. Given the interaction of race and class, segregation patterns by race and class can be intertwined.
Unmuted: Solutions to Safeguard Constitutional Rights in Virtual Courtrooms and How Technology Can Expand Access to Quality Counsel and Transparency in the Criminal Justice System

A defendant’s fundamental right to a public trial, and the press and community’s separate right to watch court have been threatened by the shift to virtual hearings. These independent constitutional rights can be in harmony in some cases and clash in others. They cannot be incompatible. Public interest in criminal justice transparency is increasingly crystallized, but courts have often become more opaque, which jeopardizes First and Sixth Amendment rights. This paper addresses the conflict and confronts a key question: how can we be assured that remote and virtual hearings like Zoom arraignments or trials guarantee the same rights as traditional court hearings? Instead of rejecting virtual criminal hearings outright, new proposals are offered for how virtual courtrooms can safeguard constitutional rights. The prevailing belief that criminal defendants should reject virtual trials is questioned. Virtual trials may lead to better outcomes for defendants than traditional trials, specifically during the ongoing pandemic. Beyond preserving rights in a virtual courtroom, the ways technology can improve the criminal justice system are explored. Through an analysis of existing indigent defense and First Amendment scholarship, the myth that traditional court decorum should trump open court and virtual hearings is addressed. Judicial legitimacy and transparency may benefit when criminal cases are accessible on virtual platforms or livestreamed. Transparency can help safeguard defendants’s rights and improve indigent clients’s representation and outcomes. Instead of disrupting the courtroom—whether a hearing is virtual or traditional—convenient public access helps a community learn more about the criminal justice system and evaluate cases, judges, and attorneys. These proposals are practitioner focused and have significant implications for courts and clients by providing a framework for virtual litigation, and leveraging technology for a more equitable criminal justice system. Livestreams and virtual, remote hearings can improve the right of representation for indigent defendants by increasing access to quality counsel, reducing costs, creating a more competitive legal market, and expanding a client’s choice of attorneys.
Social Determinants of Kidney Health: Focus on Poverty.

Poverty is arguably one of the most significant social conditions of the 21st century. For the first time in over 20 years, global extreme poverty is expected to increase in the year 2020. Fueled by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, preliminary estimates for 2020 project that an additional 88
Analysis of a Hybrid Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with a BLDC Propulsion Motor Based on HIL Simulation

In this paper, a new multi-functional integrated DC-DC converter for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications is presented. Hybrid power sources, including a fuel cell (FC), battery, and solar, are used in the proposed UAV power system to prolong the flight endurance time. For those multiple sources, the proposed integrated DC-DC converter involves in different functional structures, which offer performance optimization of FC and solar panel, charging/discharging operation of the battery, DC bus voltage regulation, and is able to perform in the regenerative operating mode if it is needed. A permanent magnet BLDC motor is employed for the system working with the multi-functional integrated converter. Moreover, the proposed integrated converter can also be used to charge the battery through the grid from any outlet charging station. A real-time hardware-in-the-loop simulation setup has been used to verify the proposed converter and control strategy.
Costs and Benefits of Fair Regression.

Real-world applications of machine learning tools in high-stakes domains are often regulated to be fair, in the sense that the predicted target should satisfy some quantitative notion of parity with respect to a protected attribute. However, the exact tradeoff between fairness and accuracy with a real-valued target is not entirely clear. In this paper, we characterize the inherent tradeoff between statistical parity and accuracy in the regression setting by providing a lower bound on the error of any fair regressor. Our lower bound is sharp, algorithm-independent, and admits a simple interpretation: when the moments of the target differ between groups, any fair algorithm has to make an error on at least one of the groups. We further extend this result to give a lower bound on the joint error of any (approximately) fair algorithm, using the Wasserstein distance to measure the quality of the approximation. With our novel lower bound, we also show that the price paid by a fair regressor that does not take the protected attribute as input is less than that of a fair regressor with explicit access to the protected attribute. On the upside, we establish the first connection between individual fairness, accuracy parity, and the Wasserstein distance by showing that if a regressor is individually fair, it also approximately verifies the accuracy parity, where the gap is given by the Wasserstein distance between the two groups. Inspired by our theoretical results, we develop a practical algorithm for fair regression through the lens of representation learning, and conduct experiments on a real-world dataset to corroborate our findings.
Type 3 Endoleaks in Complex Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair within the Vascular Quality Initiative.

Abstract Objective Type 3 Endoleaks (T3EL) following complex EVAR (c-EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm have been historically difficult to study due to their relative rarity. Previous studies within standard infrarenal EVAR have found an association between T3EL and decreased survival. This study aims to evaluate the occurrence of T3EL in a national multicenter cohort, identify potential procedural characteristics associated with T3EL development, and determine their impact on clinical outcomes in c-EVAR. Methods A retrospective cohort review was conducted of elective c-EVAR for non-ruptured aneurysms within the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) between January 2010 and March 2020. The VQI standards define c-EVAR as suprarenal or pararenal AAA repaired with any thoracoabdominal repairs, fenestrated/branched repairs, parallel stent repairs, custom manufactured devices, and physician modified endografts. End-points assessed were rates of T3EL within c-EVAR, and impact of T3EL on reintervention and survival. Index endoleaks were defined as endoleaks discovered during index hospitalization. Incident endoleaks were defined as new endoleaks, that were not present at index hospitalization, discovered at follow-up. Results 4,070 c-EVAR cases were identified between January 2010 and March 2020, of which, 2,656 (65.2%) had appropriate follow-up data. Half the cohort had a modified or custom graft (n=2,055/4,070, 50.5%). Branches were employed in 3,687 patients (90.5%), while fenestrations and chimney techniques were documented in 13% (n=533) and 15.1% (n=613) respectively . The rate of index T3EL was 4.1% (n=167), and the rate of incident T3EL at follow-up was 0.04% (n=1). Devices categorized as either custom or physician modified were utilized more frequently in patients with index T3EL (78.4%, n=131/167) compared to patients without index T3EL (49.2%, n=1,924/3,903) (p Conclusions T3EL in c-EVAR remain relatively uncommon and are identified predominately at index hospitalization. Development of T3EL was associated with higher device modularity and modification, which suggests that as device technologies continue to advance and become more intricate the occurrence of T3EL may persist and continue to require evaluation. In this study, the presence of T3EL did not appear to have a statistically significant relationship with aortic reinterventions or survival, however these findings are not definitive due to low event rate numbers and high potential for Type 2 errors. Amid the theoretical risk of device fatigue and degeneration, continued evaluations of large cohorts at extended follow-up intervals and diligent reporting remain paramount.