cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
User–producer integration for accelerated application development of composite materials

Driven by the need for closer integration between engineering design and materials science, a new approach to the process of specifying and qualifying advanced new materials for structural applications is emerging. It calls for expanding the range of considerations accounted for in this process beyond the fundamental engineering properties, to include additional material–related aspects, such as manufacturing processes, environmental degradation, salvage, and recycling potential. An essential element of the new approach is the link that can be established, for a given application, between functional and material requirements in order to distill quickly the range of potential candidates to a few viable materials and expedite the process of qualifying these materials for the application. An Integrated Qualification Environment, based on a shareable knowledge base of relevant material–related information and a modular suite of integrated models of material behaviour, structural response, and manufacturing process, can provide such a link. It can accelerate significantly the process of application development for new advanced materials by supporting closer, more sustained and rational collaboration between the users and the suppliers of such materials. This is likely to lead to enhanced understanding and confidence levels of component designers in the new material performance that, in turn, should enable more efficient and affordable qualification processes through fewer tests for material characterization, more balanced data accuracy requirements, and the ability to extract more information from each test by using advanced procedures for data reduction, analysis and recording. This paper describes a simplified but representative version of such an 'Integrated Qualification Environment' (IQE) that has been developed in to demonstrate the potential benefits of this concept in the specific case of continuous fibre metal–matrix composites (CFMMC) materials.
Centerline Depletion in Direct-Chill Cast Aluminum Alloys: The Avalanche Effect and Its Consequence for Turbulent Jet Casting

Avalanche dynamics of sedimenting grains in direct-chill casting of aluminum ingots is investigated as a primary driving force for centerline segregation. An analytical model predicting the importance of avalanche events as a function of casting parameters is proposed and validated with prior art results. New experimental results investigating the transient and steady-state centerline segregation of DC casting with a turbulent jet are reported.
Antimicrobial Resistance Among Nontyphoidal Salmonella Isolated From Blood in the United States, 2003–2013

Background Salmonella causes an estimated 100 000 antimicrobial-resistant infections annually in the United States. Salmonella antimicrobial resistance may result in bacteremia and poor outcomes. We describe antimicrobial resistance among nontyphoidal Salmonella blood isolates, using data from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System. Methods Human nontyphoidal Salmonella isolates from 2003 to 2013 were classified as fully susceptible, resistant to ≥1 antimicrobial agent, or resistant to a first-line agent. Logistic regression was used to compare resistance patterns, serotypes, and patient characteristics for Salmonella isolated from blood versus stool and to determine resistance trends over time. Results Approximately 20% of blood isolates had antimicrobial resistance to a first-line treatment agent. Bacteremia was associated with male sex, age ≥65 years, and specific serotypes. Blood isolates were more likely to be resistant to ≥1 agent for serotypes Enteritidis, Javiana, Panama, and Typhimurium. Blood isolates were most commonly resistant to tetracycline (19%), and more likely resistant to a first-line agent (odds ratio, 1.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.56-2.11) than stool isolates. Ceftriaxone resistance increased in blood isolates from 2003 to 2013 (odd ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.22). Conclusions Resistance to first-line treatment agents in patients with Salmonella bacteremia is a concern for public health and for informing clinical decisions. Judicious antimicrobial use is crucial to limit resistance.
Hyperthermia and Brain Ischemia

This chapter reviews recent experimental studies concerning the detrimental consequences of hyperthermia on ischemic outcome. The chapter also discusses potential mechanisms underlying the detrimential consequences of mild hyperthermia. Fever is frequently observed following cardiopulmonary resuscitation and is considered prognostic of poor outcome in patients with acute stroke. In acute stroke patients, hyperthermia during the first 7 days is an independent predictor of poor outcome. Experimental studies using animal models of cerebral ischemia have provided novel data concerning the importance of brain temperature on ischemic outcome. While mild to moderate levels of brain and/or whole body hypothermia provide neuroprotection, mild elevations in temperature worsen outcome. Clinical and experimental data indicate that mild elevations in brain temperature during or following an ischemic insult may adversely affect the temporal progression of the injury process as well as the final outcome. Thus, the therapeutic window for pharmacotherapy after an ischemic insult could potentially be shortened by mild temperature elevations. Postischemic hyperthermia may also be a secondary injury mechanism that could potentially affect outcome days after the primary insult. Because of the adverse effects of hyperthermia reported in experimental models, periods of fever could potentially negate the beneficial effects of pharmacotherapy.
Trinity, generality, and dominance

I defend a relative identity solution to the identity puzzle posed by the doctrine of the Trinity. It has been argued that relative identity theories which admit absolute identity, such as the account proposed here, do not succeed in saving the doctrine of the Trinity from logical incoherence. I show that this argument fails. Relative identity theories that admit absolute identity are logically conservative, metaphysically innocent, and unproblematic. And, given the account I propose we can, without incurring any logical or metaphysical costs, hold that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the same being but not the same trinitarian person.
Monitoring Photochemical Reaction Pathways of Tungsten Hexacarbonyl in Solution from Femtoseconds to Minutes.

Metal–organic complexes are widely used across disciplines for energy and biological applications, however, their photophysical and photochemical reaction coordinates remain unclear in solution due to pertaining molecular motions on ultrafast time scales. In this study, we apply transient absorption and tunable femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) to investigate the UV photolysis of tungsten hexacarbonyl and subsequent solvent binding events. On the macroscopic time scale with UV lamp irradiation, no equilibrated intermediate is observed from W(CO)6 to W(CO)5(solvent), corroborated by vibrational normal mode calculations. Upon 267 nm femtosecond laser irradiation, the excited-state absorption band within ∼400—500 nm exhibits distinct dynamics in methanol, tetrahydrofuran, and acetonitrile on molecular time scales. In methanol, solvation of the nascent pentacarbonyl–solvent complex occurs in ∼8 ps and in tetrahydrofuran, 13 ps which potentially involves the associative oxygen-donating ligand re...
From Mute Objects to Militant Subjects: The Politics of Rebellious Animals

Dominant animal rights discourse fails to analyze the boundary of the political community as marked by a historical division between logical animals (humans) and phonic animals (nonhumans). In so doing, this discourse merely enables nonhumans to become mute objects of representation rather than subjects of speech, maintaining the exclusion of animals from the political community of speaking subjects. Eschewing moral approaches to the political problem of exclusion, Cohen demonstrates that the work of radical democrats provides a political lens with which to approach nonhuman subjectivity and speech. By exploring three episodes of nonhuman resistance, Cohen argues that a radical democratic framework illuminates how nonhuman animals actively oppose their exclusion from the political community, thus transforming nonhumans from objects of political deliberation into subjects of politics.
Rb based alkali antimonide high quantum efficiency photocathodes for bright electron beam sources and photon detection applications

High quantum efficiency alkali antimonide photocathodes have been grown over both stainless steel and glass substrates using sequential evaporation of Sb, K, Rb, and Cs. Quantum efficiencies well above 25% have been measured at 400 nm. A bi-alkali Rb-K-Sb photocathode grown on a stainless steel substrate has been installed in a high voltage DC gun at Cornell University and the intrinsic electron beam emittance was measured at different photon energies.
Fighting Climate Change in the Energy Sector – A Holistic View

Abstract A simple but complete model of the energy sector is proposed. It includes electricity, heating and transportation as final consumption forms. Two types of optimization approaches are used, (1) a linear programming solver for a dispatch optimization that minimizes operation costs of the energy system on an hour-by-hour basis; (2) an evolutionary investment optimizer that proposes a cost-optimal investment path from a status quo towards a future low-CO2 energy system. The model characterizes all assets by efficiency and costs (investment, variable & fixed operation and maintenance). It is applied to three European countries which vary in terms of climatic conditions and renewable potential. The results show the importance of linking the different energy sectors: strong CO2 emission reductions of >80% can only be achieved through an electrification of heating and transportation. Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) can play a vital role in reaching those important targets at minimum costs. Only a technology-neutral, holistic system approach that integrates conventional and renewable technologies will lead to a reliable, affordable and clean energy supply for Europe.
Demo: WiFi-Assisted 60 GHz Wireless Networks

Despite years of innovative research and development, multi-Gbps 60 GHz wireless networks are still not mainstream. The unfavorable propagation characteristics due to short wavelength and high directionality, makes the 60 GHz links highly vulnerable to blockage and mobility. However, the advent of multi-band chipsets opens the possibility of leveraging the more robust WiFi technology to assist 60 GHz in order to provide seamless, Gbps connectivity. In this demonstration, we will present MUST, an 802.11-compliant real-time system that provides seamless, high-speed connectivity over multi-band 60 GHz and WiFi devices. MUST has two key design components: (1) a WiFi-assisted 60 GHz link adaptation algorithm, which can instantaneously predict the best beam and PHY rate setting, with zero probing overhead at 60 GHz; and (2) a proactive blockage detection and switching algorithm which can re-direct ongoing user traffic to the robust interface within sub-10 ms latency. We have implemented MUST on off-the-shelf devices where our experiments show high throughput gain and almost 2 orders of magnitude cross-band switching latency improvement over state-of-the-art solutions.
A numerical lattice method to characterize a contact fatigue crack growth and its Paris coefficients using configurational forces and stress-life curves

Abstract Paris’ law material constants have computationally been determined using the implications of Configurational Mechanics and total stress-life curves to characterize fatigue crack growth rate, which is a challenge in experimental programs for measuring these parameters. A 2D plane strain lattice approach with a brittle erosion algorithm was employed to characterize total fatigue life and fracture behavior of propagating cracks of a pad-substrate system under high-cycle fatigue loadings in the context of LEFM. The capability of the lattice in predicting the direction of crack tip extension was validated by comparing with the analytical results of a center inclined cracked domain under uniaxial direct tension and also the surface crack initiation angle of the contact fatigue pad-substrate system. The lattice not only does fairly predict the Paris’ coefficients comparing to experimental measurements in literature, but also obtains total fatigue life by assuming a failure value for the crack length and demonstrates a curved fatigue crack. Having a simple constitutive formulation and a straightforward erosion algorithm, the numerical lattice can be integrated with the proposed fatigue fracture approach to obtain the Paris’ material constants, contact fatigue life, and crack propagation path.
p53 and β-Catenin Expression Predict Poorer Prognosis in Patients With Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma

Abstract Background The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is a major target of p53. β-Catenin/p53 coexpression predicts poorer survival in carcinoma patients. Conversely, CD99 inhibits tumor metastasis through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. We therefore assessed p53, β-catenin, and CD99 by immunohistochemistry. Patients and Methods We studied 45 patients with systemic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL), including 20 anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive and 25 ALK-negative ALCL. β-Catenin expression was analyzed using phospho-β-catenin-S552 antibody because its nuclear localization indicates Wnt signaling. Results In this cohort, p53 expression was associated with ALK-negative ALCL. Furthermore, p53 or β-catenin expression alone or β-catenin/p53 double expression showed poorer overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with ALCL overall and in patients with ALK-negative ALCL. CD99 expression was more frequent in ALK-positive ALCL but had no prognostic significance. Conclusion This is the first study to evaluate phospho-β-catenin-S552 expression in ALCL. The results of this study, although limited by small patient size, suggest that β-catenin and p53 may play a role in pathogenesis and may be helpful in risk stratification of ALCL patients.
Systemic therapy for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) after progression on immune-oncology plus VEGF targeted therapy combinations (IO-VEGF).

4576Background: IO-VEGF combinations are the backbone for current and future therapeutic developments in RCC with several IO-VEGF regimens reporting positive results in phase 3 trials. However, lim...
Hardware IP Classification through Weighted Characteristics

Today’s business model for hardware designs frequently incorporates third-party Intellectual Property (IP) mainly due to economic motivations. However, allowing third-party involvement also increases the possibility of malicious attacks, such as hardware Trojan insertion, which is a particularly dangerous security threat because functional testing can often leave the Trojan undetected. This research provides an improvement on a Trojan detection method and tool known as Structural Checking which analyzes Register-Transfer Level (RTL) soft IPs. Given an unknown IP, the tool will break down the design and label ports and signals with assets. Analyzing the asset patterns reveals how the IP is structured and provides information about its overall functionality. The tool incorporates a library of known designs referred to as the Golden Reference Library (GRL). All entries in the library, grouped into known-clean and know-infested, are analyzed in the same manner. A weighted percent match for each library entry against the unknown IP is calculated. A report is generated detailing all mismatched locations where users need to take a closer look. Due to the structural variability of soft IP designs, it is vital to provide the best possible weighting to best match the unknown IP to the most similar library entry. This paper provides a statistical approach to finding the best weights to optimize the tool’s matching algorithm.
Impact of the Glass Thickness in Fluid-Filled Negative Curvature Fibers for Temperature Sensing

We study fluid-filled negative curvature fibers with relatively larger air holes as temperature sensors. Negative curvature fibers with thicker glass tubes have a higher sensitivity.
New Perspectives on Axion Misalignment Mechanism

A zero initial velocity of the axion field is assumed in the conventional misalignment mechanism. We propose an alternative scenario where the initial velocity is nonzero, which may arise from an explicit breaking of the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry in the early Universe. We demonstrate that, depending on the specifics of the initial velocity and the time order of the PQ symmetry breaking vs inflation, this new scenario can either enhance or suppress the axion relic abundance relative to the conventional prediction. As a result, new viable parameter regions for axion dark matter may open up.
Positive Emotions, More Than Anxiety or Other Negative Emotions, Predict Willingness to Interact With Robots:

Like early work on human intergroup interaction, previous research on people's willingness to interact with robots has focused mainly on effects of anxiety. However, existing findings suggest that other negative emotions as well as some positive emotions also have effects. This article systematically examines the roles of positive and negative emotions in predicting willingness to interact with robots, using an integrative analysis of data across five studies that use diverse interaction conditions and several types of robots. We hypothesize and find that positive emotions account for more variance than negative emotions. Practically, the findings suggest new strategies for interventions, aimed at increasing positive emotions to increase willingness to engage in intergroup interaction. No existing work has examined whether positive emotions are stronger predictors than negative emotions for willingness for human intergroup interaction, an important topic for future research.
The Feasibility and Acceptability of Using a Wearable UV Radiation Exposure Monitoring Device in Adults and Children: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study

Background: In the United States, melanoma is the fifth most common type of cancer. Reducing UV radiation (UVR) exposure is essential for the prevention of melanoma. The assessment of individual-level UVR exposure using wearable technology is a promising method to monitor and reduce UVR exposure. However, the feasibility and acceptability of using wearable UVR monitoring devices have not been assessed. Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using a commercially available UVR monitoring wearable device in adults and children. Methods: We recruited families (1 parent and 1 child) to test a new, commercially available UVR monitoring device (namely, Shade). Participants wore Shade for 2 weeks and completed questionnaires assessing the feasibility and acceptability of wearing the device. Qualitative analyses were conducted to summarize participants’ open-ended responses regarding device feasibility. Results: A total of 194 individuals (97 adults and 97 children) participated in this study. The participating children were aged, on average, 12.7 years. Overall, adults and children reported moderate satisfaction with wearing Shade. The feasibility of the use of Shade was adequate, with 73% (65/89) of adults and 61% (54/89) of children reporting that they wore the device “all of the time they were outside.” Through open-ended responses, participants reported that the device was easy to use, was compact, and increased their awareness about their exposure to UVR. Conclusions: Adults and children can feasibly use a wearable UVR monitoring device, and the use of the device was acceptable to participants. The device could be integrated into melanoma preventive interventions to increase individuals’ and families’ awareness of UVR exposure and to facilitate the use of recommended melanoma preventive strategies.
The Role of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Treatment of Extensive-Stage Extrapulmonary Small Cell Carcinoma

Small cell carcinoma is a type of highly aggressive poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumor that can arise from multiple organs, including but not limited to bronchial tissue, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary system. The most commonly studied type is small cell lung cancer (SCLC) which carries the worst prognosis among lung cancers. After multiple promising clinical trials, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network has recently added atezolizumab and durvalumab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy/etoposide to the first-line treatment regimen for extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). Meanwhile, the recommended treatment for extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma (EPSCC) remains unchanged. In this review, we try to explore the role of immunotherapy in the treatment of EPSCC.
Current innovation in virtual and augmented reality in spine surgery

In spinal surgery, outcomes are directly related both to patient and procedure selection, as well as the accuracy and precision of instrumentation placed. Poorly placed instrumentation can lead to spinal cord, nerve root or vascular injury. Traditionally, spine surgery was performed by open methods and placement of instrumentation under direct visualization. However, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has seen substantial advances in spine, with an ever-increasing range of indications and procedures. For these reasons, novel methods to visualize anatomy and precisely guide surgery, such as intraoperative navigation, are extremely useful in this field. In this review, we present the recent advances and innovations utilizing simulation methods in spine surgery. The application of these techniques is still relatively new, however quickly being integrated in and outside the operating room. These include virtual reality (VR) (where the entire simulation is virtual), mixed reality (MR) (a combination of virtual and physical components), and augmented reality (AR) (the superimposition of a virtual component onto physical reality). VR and MR have primarily found applications in a teaching and preparatory role, while AR is mainly applied in hands-on surgical settings. The present review attempts to provide an overview of the latest advances and applications of these methods in the neurosurgical spine setting.
Breast MRI biopsy cancellation due to lesion nonvisualization

It is a clinical dilemma when a finding reported as suspicious on a breast MRI is not visualized at the time of a scheduled MRI-guided breast biopsy. We retrospectively reviewed all canceled MRI-guided biopsies at our institution between 6/1/2009 and 9/20/2019 and found a cancellation rate of 6.9% (72/1051). In one case, a mastectomy was performed after the canceled biopsy revealing a focus of DCIS in the same quadrant as the original finding (malignancy rate 2.1%). Our results support the current practice of 6-month follow-up MRI recommendation after a canceled MRI-guided biopsy for lesion nonvisualization.
Towards a Measure of Individual Fairness for Deep Learning.

Deep learning has produced big advances in artificial intelligence, but trained neural networks often reflect and amplify bias in their training data, and thus produce unfair predictions. We propose a novel measure of individual fairness, called prediction sensitivity, that approximates the extent to which a particular prediction is dependent on a protected attribute. We show how to compute prediction sensitivity using standard automatic differentiation capabilities present in modern deep learning frameworks, and present preliminary empirical results suggesting that prediction sensitivity may be effective for measuring bias in individual predictions.
The Ethical Challenges of Stem Cell Therapy in Vascular Disorders

Most ethical conflicts in clinical medicine are resolvable with the foundational basic principles of bioethics, i.e. autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. However, the modern medicine is continuously evolving, and in doing so asks challenging questions not just scientifically, but also deeply probes the far-reaching depths of bioethics, generating political, religious, and cultural controversies. Stem cell research, the latest in therapeutic advancements of modern medicine has demonstrated immense potential in laboratory experiments and clinical applications, but these successes have unearthed highly controversial debates on “personhood” and the criteria that would define a human being besides the biological concept. The futuristic potential of stem cell research although marks an exciting phase for scientists, yet horrifies the philosophers, religious thinkers and ethicists about the birth, existence, and proliferation of human clones and chimera. Thus, the inevitable clash between science, ethics, and religion opens the portal to political controversies. This chapter herein will provide the readers an opportunity to reflect on different viewpoints to the argument and ethical debate in stem cell research with special attention to the therapeutic applications in vascular disorders of limbs and myocardial ischemia related disorders.
The space–time cube as an approach to quantifying future wildfires in California

Throughout history California has been subjected to large catastrophic wildfires and the trend seems to be accelerating in recent years. We analysed and mapped the spatial–temporal patterns of predicted wildfire occurrence across California from 2000 until the end of the century. We identified areas that are extremely vulnerable to wildfires and analysed the threat to the wildland–urban interface and across California’s ecosystems. Mapping statewide projections of wildfire occurrence through space and time, and identifying different types of wildfire hot spots, is essential in identifying locations that will be increasingly threatened in the near and distant future. This newfound knowledge enhances our ability to conceptualise wildfire risk and make informed decisions.
Quantitative T1 and T2 mapping by magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) of the placenta before and after maternal hyperoxia.

Abstract Introduction MR relaxometry has been used to assess placental exchange function, but methods to date are not sufficiently fast to be robust to placental motion. Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) permits rapid, voxel-wise, intrinsically co-registered T1 and T2 mapping. After characterizing measurement error, we scanned pregnant women during air and oxygen breathing to demonstrate MRF's ability to detect placental oxygenation changes. Methods The accuracy of FISP-based, sliding-window reconstructed MRF was tested on phantoms. MRF scans in 9-s breath holds were acquired at 3T in 31 pregnant women during air and oxygen breathing. A mixed effects model was used to test for changes in placenta relaxation times between physiological states, to assess the dependency on gestational age (GA), and the impact of placental motion. Results MRF estimates of known phantom relaxation times resulted in mean absolute errors for T1 of 92 ms (4.8%), but T2 was less accurate at 16 ms (13.6%). During normoxia, placental T1 = 1825 ± 141 ms (avg ± standard deviation) and T2 = 60 ± 16 ms (gestational age range 24.3–36.7, median 32.6 weeks). In the statistical model, placental T2 rose and T1 remained contant after hyperoxia, and no GA dependency was observed for T1 or T2. Discussion Well-characterized, motion-robust MRF was used to acquire T1 and T2 maps of the placenta. Changes with hyperoxia are consistent with a net increase in oxygen saturation. Toward the goal of whole-placenta quantitative oxygenation imaging over time, we aim to implement 3D MRF with integrated motion correction to improve T2 accuracy.
Molecular Chirality and Cloud Activation Potentials of Dimeric α-Pinene Oxidation Products.

The surface activity of ten atmospherically relevant α-pinene-derived dimers having varying terminal functional groups and backbone stereochemistry is reported. We find ∼10% differences in surface activity between diastereomers of the same dimer, demonstrating that surface activity depends upon backbone stereochemistry. Octanol-water (KOW) and octanol-ammonium sulfate partitioning coefficient (KOAS) measurements of our standards align well with the surface activity measurements, with the more surface-active dimers exhibiting increased hydrophobicity. Our findings establish a link between molecular chirality and cloud activation potential of secondary organic aerosol particles. Given the diurnal variations in enantiomeric excess of biogenic emissions, possible contributions of such a link to biosphere:atmosphere feedbacks as well as aerosol particle viscosity and phase separation are discussed.
Using Electric Water Heater Tanks as an Energy Storage Solution to Solve the Duck Curve Issue

The electricity production transition leads to the development of low-carbon content renewable energy resources, such as photovoltaic (PV) panels. Due to the later, utilities operators see a significant drop in mid-day net load, raising concerns that the conventional power system will be unable to accommodate the ramp rate and change needed to fully utilize solar energy. Also, this could result in overgeneration and curtailed renewable energy, increasing its cost and reducing its environmental benefit. This paper presents and quantifies a solution that has the potential to help solve this issue and help the development of more PV panels. It consists of using electric water heater tanks to store the excess energy produced by the PV panels by heating the water above the typical setpoint during mid-day hours. Simulations have been run through EnergyPlus (EP) using the average profile of hot water consumption in the US and modified scheduled of water heater to show the feasibility and impact of the methodology. Across California, it has been evaluated that up to 59 GWh of energy could be potentially stored per day during mi-day hours through this technique, reducing by 97% the current need to add expensive energy storage devices, such as batteries, to flatten the duck curve.
Integration into cancer studies

Abstract Metabolic reprogramming has emerged as a fundamental hallmark of cancer. Alterations in oncogenic signaling pathways that drive tumor initiation and maintenance also rewire tumor bioenergetics and redox. This relationship provides the unique opportunity to devise metabolic imaging strategies that can inform on tumor burden and response to therapy. Hyperpolarized 13C-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging (HP 13C MRS/I) is a noninvasive method of monitoring dynamic metabolic fluxes in real time in vivo. This chapter presents a detailed discussion of oncogenic metabolic reprogramming and the various HP 13C MRS/I agents that have used to interrogate this reprogramming in preclinical tumor models. Emerging human studies that point to the promise as well as challenges associated with translating HP 13C MRS/I to the clinic are also discussed.
The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Health of People Who Use Illicit Opioids in New York City, the First 12 Months

Abstract Background : Concurrent opioid-related overdose and COVID-19 crises in the U.S. have imposed unprecedented challenges on people who use illicit opioids. Methods : Using the experiences of 324 people who use illicit opioids between April 2020 and March 2021, we examine four domains of health and well-being potentially impacted by COVID-19: drug risks and responses, healthcare and related services, material hardship, and mental health. Data were drawn from participants’ completed monthly survey assessments which were grouped into four periods of interest for the unfolding pandemic: April-June 2020, July-October 2020, November-January 2021, and February-March 2021. Results : A majority of measures in our four domains showed early COVID-19 related impacts, which quickly diminished as people and agencies responded to the pandemic. Difficulty obtaining food was the most frequently reported material hardship and appeared worst in April-June 2020. Over half of the population reported depression in April-June 2020, but this declined over the study period. Some participants reported changes to the heroin supply, including higher prices, lower quality, difficulty finding the drug, and fentanyl contamination. There was no discernable temporal shift in the frequency of use of each substance or the frequency of withdrawal symptoms. Over the study period the mean number of overdoses per month decreased while the percent of opioid use events at which both a witness and naloxone were present (i.e., protected events) increased. Most participants receiving MOUD experienced an increase in take-home doses. Conclusions : Findings speak to the resilience of people who use drugs as a population with disproportionate experience of trauma and crisis and also to the rapid response of NYC health agencies and service providers working with this population. Despite evident signs of adaptability and resilience, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted some of the unique vulnerabilities of people who use illicit opioids and the need for greater rates of “protected” opioid use and greater availability of wrap-around services to efficiently address the safety, food security, mental health, and treatment needs of the population.
Evaluation of Aggregate-Surfaced Roads for Timber Haul

The Siuslaw and Willamette National Forests in western Oregon have approximately 8,000 mi (12,900 km) of aggregate- and native-surfaced roads. These forest roads provide access for the general public (mainly recreation) and allow timber to be hauled to local lumber mills. The forests have developed a procedure for assessing whether an existing aggregate-surfaced road has the capacity to support this traffic. The procedure notes any existing surface distress, determines aggregate depths and material quality, ascertains the subgrade characteristics along the road segment, and then segments the road into like sections according to these observations. Next, the surfacing thickness program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is used to determine aggregate requirements for supporting traffic without excessive surface deterioration. Options for mitigating typical surface distress are addressed. The Siuslaw and Willamette National Forests have found that this procedure provides a reasonable and c...
The Perception and Cognition of Environmental Distance: Direct Sources of Information

Research on direct sources of information for the perception and cognition of environmental distance is reviewed. Environmental distances are relatively large and cannot be perceived in entirety from a single place.Directly-acquired knowledge of environmental distance is based on the sensorimotor apprehension of information fromthe body or from the environment during locomotion. The paper is organized around the idea that distance knowledge is derived from multiple, partially redundant information sources. After briefly discussing general issues, I review literature on direct sources of distance information,including environmental features, travel time, and travel effort. Theories of how these sources provide information about distance are considered. To date, only information from environmental features has received much empirical support as a direct source of distance knowledge, particularly to the extent that the features segment routes into vistas. Key weaknesses in the empirical literatureare discussed, and importantresearch directions are identified.
Geometrization in superspace and local supersymmetry

A brief review of the recent progress in gauge supersymmetry and the development of its connection with superspace formulations of supergravity is given. The equivalence of the metric approach and the supervierbein approach for super gravity mass-shell spaces is given. Recent progress in gauge supersymmetry includes the establishment of a rigorous theorem (including all quantum connections) on the existence of a residual preserved group, field content of gauge supersymmetry and finiteness of one and two loop connections to propagators for N ≥ 2, where 4N is the dimensionality of the fermionic part of superspace.
Cytogenetic analysis of 434 consecutively ascertained specimens of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: clinical correlations.

Cytogenetic and histopathologic data were correlated with clinical parameters from 423 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Clinical correlations were performed on subgroups of 149 patients with low-grade lymphoma (LG) and 205 patients with diffuse lymphoma with a large cell component (DLLC). Correlations were made between clinical outcome and individual recurring cytogenetic aberrations, each of which was noted in greater than 5% of cases belonging to LG NHL and DLLC, and derived measures of karyotypic complexity, comprising modal chromosome number, number of marker chromosomes, and number of translocation breakpoints. No correlations with survival were noted in LG NHL, although median follow-up was only 2 years. Seven patients with t(8;14) LG NHL had an indolent course. Among 104 patients with DLLC and abnormal karyotypes at diagnosis, breaks at 1q21–23 or more than 4 marker chromosomes was associated with a shortened median survival. Using these variables we constructed a proportional hazards model with a good fit to observed data. Breaks at 6q21–25 predicted a decreased probability of achieving remission. Patients with DLLC and breaks at 1q21–23 or 1p32–36 had a shorter duration of complete remission. Of 41 DLLC studied at relapse, the only long-term survivors had t(14;18).
Stacking catalogue sources in WMAP data

We stack WMAP 7-year temperature data around extragalactic point sources, showing that the proles are consistent with WMAP’s beam models, in disagreement with the ndings of Sawangwit & Shanks (2010a). These results require that the source sample’s selection is not biased by CMB uctuations. We compare proles from sources in the standard WMAP catalog, the WMAP catalog selected from a CMB-free combination of data, and the NVSS catalog, and quantify the agreement with ts to simple parametric beam models. We estimate the biases in source proles due to alignments with positive CMB uctuations, nding them roughly consistent with those biases found with the WMAP standard catalog. Addressing those biases, we nd source spectral indices signicantly steeper than those used by WMAP, with strong evidence for spectral steepening above 61 GHz. Such changes modify the power spectrum correction required for unresolved point sources, and tend to weaken somewhat the evidence for deviation from a Harrison-Zel’dovich primordial spectrum, but more analysis is required. Finally, we discuss implications for current CMB experiments.
Model Assessment and Selection

The generalization performance of a learning method relates to its prediction capability on independent test data. Assessment of this performance is extremely important in practice, since it guides the choice of learning method or model, and gives us a measure of the quality of the ultimately chosen model.
Use of dynamical downscaling to improve the simulation of Central U.S. warm season precipitation in CMIP5 models

[1] Despite supporting exceptionally productive agricultural lands, the Central U.S. is susceptible to severe droughts and floods. Such precipitation extremes are expected to worsen with climate change. However, future projections are highly uncertain as global climate models (GCMs) generally fail to resolve precipitation extremes. In this study, we assess how well models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) simulate summer means, variability, extremes, and the diurnal cycle of Central U.S. summer rainfall. Output from a subset of historical CMIP5 simulations are used to drive the Weather Research and Forecasting model to determine whether dynamical downscaling improves the representation of Central U.S. rainfall. We investigate which boundary conditions influence dynamically downscaled precipitation estimates and identify GCMs that can reasonably simulate precipitation when downscaled. The CMIP5 models simulate the seasonal mean and variability of summer rainfall reasonably well but fail to resolve extremes, the diurnal cycle, and the dynamic forcing of precipitation. Downscaling to 30 km improves these characteristics of precipitation, with the greatest improvement in the representation of extremes. Additionally, sizeable diurnal cycle improvements occur with higher (10 km) resolution and convective parameterization disabled, as the daily rainfall peak shifts 4 h closer to observations than 30 km resolution simulations. This lends greater confidence that the mechanisms responsible for producing rainfall are better simulated. Because dynamical downscaling can more accurately simulate these aspects of Central U.S. summer rainfall, policymakers can have added confidence in dynamically downscaled rainfall projections, allowing for more targeted adaptation and mitigation.
Increased AβPP processing in familial Danish dementia patients.

An autosomal dominant mutation in the BRI2/ITM2B gene causes Familial Danish Dementia (FDD). We have generated a mouse model of FDD, called FDDKI, genetically congruous to the human disease. These mice carry one mutant and one wild type Bri2/Itm2b allele, like FDD patients. Analysis of FDDKI mice and samples from human patients has shown that the Danish mutation causes loss of Bri2 protein. FDDKI mice show synaptic plasticity and memory impairments. BRI2 is a physiological interactor of amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP), a gene associated with Alzheimer’s disease, which inhibits processing of AβPP. AβPP/Bri2 complexes are reduced in synaptic membranes of FDDKI mice. Consequently, AβPP metabolites derived from processing of AβPP by β-, α-, and γ-secretases are increased in Danish dementia mice. AβPP haplodeficiency prevents memory and synaptic dysfunctions, consistent with a role for AβPP-metabolites in the pathogenesis of memory and synaptic deficits. This genetic suppression provides compelling evidence that AβPP and BRI2 functionally interact. Here, we have investigated whether AβPP processing is altered in FDD patients’ brain samples. We find that the levels of several AβPP metabolites, including Aβ, are significantly increased in the brain sample derived from an FDD patient. Our data are consistent with the findings in FDDKI mice, and support the hypothesis that the neurological effects of the Danish form of BRI2 are caused by toxic AβPP metabolites, suggesting that Familial Danish and Alzheimer’s dementias share common pathogenic mechanisms.
X-Ray and EUV Observations of CME Eruption Onset

Why Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) erupt is a major outstanding puzzle of solar physics. Signatures observable at the earliest stages of eruption onset may hold precious clues about the onset mechanism. We present observations from SOHO/EIT and from TRACE in EUV, and from Yohkoh/SXT in soft X-rays of the pre-eruption and eruption phases of CME expulsion, along with the eruption's magnetic setting found from SOHO/MDI magnetograms. Most of our events involve clearly-observable filament eruptions and multiple neutral lines, and we use the magnetic settings and motions of the filaments to help infer the geometry and behavior of the associated erupting magnetic fields. Pre-eruption and early-eruption signatures include a relatively slow filament rise prior to eruption, and intensity "dimmings" and brightenings, both in the immediate neighborhood of the "core" (location of greatest magnetic shear) of the erupting fields and at locations remote from the core. These signatures and their relative timings place observational constraints on eruption mechanisms; our recent work has focused on implications for the so-called "tether cutting" and "breakout" models, but the same observational constraints are applicable to any model.
From Nü Guo to Nü'er Guo: Negotiating Desire in the Land of the Mosuo

Tourism at Lugu Lake exploded in the 1990s, drawing on government representations of the Mosuo as “matriarchal” and as engaging in traditional sexual relations (zouhun) outside of marriage. The vil...
Reduction of rotational asymmetry in PSF synthesis for a broadband forward-looking ring array

Aperture synthesis using a forward-looking ring array is an area of current interest in intracardiac imaging [1]. In general, data from multiple transmits are coherently combined to implement the synthesis, and schemes for the specification of the transmit and receive array weightings of the component beams are required. Often schemes originating in narrowband imaging are applied to broadband, pulse-echo imaging, but the result is usually sidelobes that are very different from those of the narrowband scheme and a rotationally asymmetric two-way response. Beam asymmetry is a potential disadvantage since the orientation of the array with respect to strong sidelobe reflectors may not be controllable. In the present work, we look for pulse-echo aperture synthesis approaches that produce rotationally symmetric PSFs with low sidelobe levels. Such rotational asymmetry can be decreased by minimizing the maximum delay used in a broadband scheme, and we introduce the idea that this minimization can be accomplished by the combination of delays with phase inversions. We also consider the use of more elements, structured as two rings, in order to increase the number of degrees of freedom available in a small number of transmits. The latter approach allows the design of the desired rotationally symmetric PSFs, which also have much lower peak sidelobe levels than alternative schemes. The proposed scheme makes use of two transmissions per look direction of the dual-ring array. Simulations of planar imaging of spherical voids are presented to illustrate the potential contrast improvement of this approach.
Modeling of Li $_{x}$ FePO $_{4}$ Cathode Li-Ion Batteries Using Linear Electrical Circuit Model

It is demonstrated that a physical-based equivalent electrical circuit could be developed based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to describe electrochemical performance of a commercial Li1-xPO4-cathode, Li-ion cell. This model uses only EIS modeling and Fourier transform techniques to provide reasonably accurate voltage performance characteristics while providing insight into the physical processes at work in the cell.
Reducing Chest Injuries in Automobile Collisions: Rib Fracture Timing and Implications for Thoracic Injury Criteria

The purpose of this study was to quantify the biomechanical response of the human thorax during dynamic shoulder belt loading representative of that seen in a severe automotive collision. Two post-mortem human surrogates (PMHSs) (one male and one female) were instrumented with 26 single-axis strain gages on the ribs, sternum, and clavicle. The thorax of each PMHS was placed on a custom spine support bracket designed to support the thorax on either side of the spinous process, thereby allowing free motion at the costovertebral joints. In addition, the support bracket raised the thorax above the flat base plate, which could otherwise constrain the deformation and motion of the posterior region of the rib cage. The thorax of each PMHS was then loaded using a custom table-top belt loading system that generated thoracic displacement rates representative of a severe automotive collision, 1.3 m/s for the male PMHS and 1.0 m/s for the female PMHS. The rib fracture timing data, determined by analyzing the strain gage time histories, showed that severe thoracic injury (AIS = 3) occurred at 16% chest compression for the male and 12% chest compression for the female. However, these values are well below the current thoracic injury criteria of 29% chest compression for the male and 23% chest compression for the female. This data illustrates that serious thoracic injury (AIS = 3) occurs at lower chest compressions than the current ATD thoracic injury criteria. Overall, this study provides critical data that can be used in the design and validation of advanced ATDs and finite element models, as well as the establishment of improved, more stringent thoracic injury criteria.