cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract A03: ERβ expression and breast cancer risk prediction for women with atypias

Introduction: Estrogen receptor beta (ERβ), which is highly expressed in benign breast epithelium, is postulated to function as a tumor suppressor of breast cancer. Atypias of the breast increase the lifetime risk of breast cancer four-fold. However, little is known about ERβ expression in association with atypias or whether ERβ plays a role in mitigating breast cancer risk in high-risk individuals. We therefore undertook this study to examine the relationship of ERβ expression in atypias and adjacent normal lobules with the risk of subsequent breast cancer. Methods: We studied women in a well-characterized benign breast disease cohort with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) or atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH) diagnosed from 1967 to 1991. Nuclear and cytoplasmic ERβ expression was assessed via immunohistochemistry in both the atypical hyperplasia epithelium (atypia) and background normal lobules for percent (scores 0-4 for 75%, respectively) and intensity (scores 0-3 for negative, weak, intermediate, strong, respectively) using a highly specific ERβ monoclonal antibody (PPG5/10). For nuclear staining, an ERβ sum score (percent + intensity, range 0-7) was created and grouped as low (0-2), moderate (3-5) or high (6-7). Competing risks regression was used to assess the association of ERβ expression with future breast cancer risk while also accounting for the competing risk of death from other causes. Results: 171 women, median age 56, were studied (79 ADH and 92 ALH). Median follow-up was 15 years overall, and 36 women developed breast cancer at a median of 13 years after their atypia biopsy. ERβ expression was lower in the atypia versus normal lobules whether evaluated by nuclear percent stained, nuclear intensity or cytoplasmic intensity (all p Conclusions: Increased ERβ expression in normal and atypical lobules was associated with a significantly decreased risk of breast cancer in our high-risk patient cohort. These data suggest that in women with atypical hyperplasia, ERβ expression is protective against the future development of breast cancer. ERβ may serve as a useful biomarker to further stratify breast cancer risk in women with benign breast disease. Citation Format: Tina J. Hieken, Jodi M. Carter, John R. Hawse, IV, Tanya L. Hoskin, Marlene Frost, Lynn C. Hartmann, Derek C. Radisky, Daniel W. Visscher, Vernon S. Pankratz, Amy C. Degnim. ERβ expression and breast cancer risk prediction for women with atypias. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirteenth Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2014 Sep 27-Oct 1; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2015;8(10 Suppl): Abstract nr A03.
Entertainment Effects: Enjoyment

Enjoyment as a concept has been central to media effects research for decades, though an exact definition of the term has proven difficult for communication scientists. This entry offers an overview of the concept of enjoyment, its causes, and its effects. Focusing on the development of entertainment research and theories of enjoyment, it offers a retrospective look at a central media effect and a view on where current research and development in the study of media enjoyment are situated today. Keywords: communication theory; enjoyment; entertainment; mass media
High beam headlamp use rates: Effects of rurality, proximity of other traffic, and roadway curvature.

ABSTRACTObjective: The few observational studies of the prevalence of high beam use indicate the rate of high beam use is about 25% when vehicles are isolated from other vehicles on unlit roads. Recent studies were limited to 2-lane rural roads and used measurement methods that likely overestimated use. The current study examined factors associated with the rate of high beam use of isolated vehicles on a variety of roadways in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area.Methods: Twenty observation sites were categorized as urban, rural, or on a rural/urban boundary and selected to estimate the effects of street lighting, road curvature, and direction of travel relative to the city on high beam use. Sites were selected in pairs so that a majority of traffic passing one site also passed through the other. Measurement of high beams relied on video data recorded for 2 nights at each site, and the video data also were used to derive a precise measure of the proximity of other traffic. Nearly 3,200 isolated vehicles (10 s or ...
What Do We Do When the Other Speaks Her Own Language: Returning to the Ethics of Comparativism

This article examines the ethical dimensions of the Other, as it is configured in the discipline of Comparative Literature, particularly as it is practiced in the US in the recent proliferation of critical schools that claim to engage alterity in a respectful and inclusive fashion. It begins with a summary of the philosophical employments of the Other dating from the Greeks through Existentialism. It then investigates the role of the Other in the hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer and Paul Ricoeur and the historiography of Michel de Certeau. Examining how these conceptions of alterity have impacted upon literary studies, attention is then turned to the work of Emmanuel Levinas. How can the thoughts of these various thinkers contribute to and/or reanimate current theoretical approachs to “reading” the Other that appear to have become the goal of literary studies today?
Winter Climate Change Influences on Soil Faunal Distribution and Abundance: Implications for Decomposition in the Northern Forest

Winter is typically considered a dormant period in northern forests, but important ecological processes continue during this season in these ecosystems. At the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, we used an elevational climate gradient to investigate how changes in winter climate affect the litter and soil invertebrate community and related decomposition rates of Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) litter over a 2-year period. The overall abundance and richness of litter invertebrates declined with increasing elevation, while the diversity and abundance of soil invertebrates was similar across the gradient. Snow depth and soil temperature were correlated to the abundance and distribution of the litter invertebrate community, whereas soil organic matter, soil moisture, and soil frost were correlated with the distribution and abundance of the soil invertebrate community. Decomposition rates were initially faster at lower-elevation sites following 1 year of decomposition, then stabilized at the end of 2 years with no difference between higher- and lower-elevation sites. This pattern may be explained by the distribution and abundance of the litter and soil invertebrates. Higher abundances of litter invertebrates, especially Collembola, at lower-elevation sites contribute to faster initial breakdown of litter, while greater abundances of Acari in soils at higher elevation contribute to the later stages of decay. The interaction between decomposition and the associated invertebrate community responded to changes in climatic conditions, with both soil temperature and soil moisture being important determinants.
Hyperthyroidism, Childhood and Adolescence

Hyperthyroidism can have profound effects on the growing child and adolescent, including somatic and behavioral effects. In the pediatric population, the hyperthyroid state can be present for extended periods before recognition, contributing to physical decline. A number of conditions can result in hyperthyroidism in childhood; however, Graves’ disease (GD) is the most common cause. Fortunately, the different causes of hyperthyroidism can be distinguished and specific treatments rendered. Updated guidelines for the treatment of pediatric hyperthyroidism can be found from the American Thyroid Association and from the Japanese Pediatric Thyroid Committee.
Single-Shot Electro-Optic Measurement of Mid-Infrared Pulses

We generate temporally chirped white light through self-phase-modulation in glass. By mixing the white light with ultrafast mid-infrared pulses in GaSe via the electro-optic effect, we observe the phase of the mid-infrared light via spectrally resolving the electro-optic signal.
Die Bedeutung der Mesotherapie für ästhetische Indikationen

Mit zunehmender Erfahrung, langfristigem Uberblick uber die erzielten Ergebnisse sowie deren statistischer Aufarbeitung lasst sich prognostizieren, dass die kommenden Jahre eine Verwissenschaftlichung der asthetischen Therapieoptionen der Mesotherapie ermoglichen werden. Auch wenn der evidenzbasierte Nachweis in kontrollierten Doppelblindstudien in der Asthetik allgemein und in der Mesotherapie im besonderen schwer fallt, gibt es dennoch Moglichkeiten, eine wissenschaftlichere Perspektive einzunehmen.
STUDIES ON PROBLEMS OF CYTOCHROME c OXIDASE ASSAY

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the studies on the problems of cytochrome c oxidase assay. The enzyme cytochrome c oxidase is a combination of cytochromes a and a3, and the cytochrome a3 reacts directly with oxygen. These studies have shown that the cytochrome c oxidase is inhibited by soluble cytochrome c in either its reduced or oxidized form. Other proteins besides cytochrome c, are also inhibitory to the oxidase. With a given tissue the maximum cytochrome c oxidase activity is obtained with either the washed insoluble particles from a homogenate or with washed mitochondria that have been allowed to stand for about 60 min in water or dilute buffer. The observations on cytochrome c oxidase activity of tissue preparations are most simply explained by assuming that cytochrome c or other proteins can bind to the oxidase in such a manner that its oxidative reaction with cytochrome c in solution is blocked.
CORONA Satellite Imagery and Ancient Near Eastern Landscapes

The declassification of imagery from CORONA and subsequent intelligence satellite programs has inspired a revolution in landscape archaeology in the Near East. CORONA imagery is inexpensive, easily accessible, of high spatial resolution, and in many cases predates destructive modern development. It has become a standard tool for both remote sensing analysis and field survey. This chapter reviews how archaeologists have used CORONA to study settlement, movement, and land use via case studies from Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq.
Domain Decomposition and hp-Adaptive Finite Elements

In this work, we report on an ongoing project to implement an hp-adaptive finite element method. The inspiration of this work came from the development of certain a posteriori error estimates for high order finite elements based on superconvergence [7–9].We wanted to create an environment where these estimates could be evaluated in terms of their ability to estimate global errors for a wide range of problems, and to be used as the basis for adaptive enrichment algorithms.
The Influence of Pricing Strategies on Willingness to Pay for Accommodations: Anchoring, Framing, and Metric Compatibility:

Travel providers advertise low prices to attract customers, which can decrease willingness to pay through anchoring effects. Customers often approach purchases with a budget goal, which can influen...
Metabolomics Approach for Validation of Self-Reported Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen Use

Over-the-counter analgesic use is common and is typically assessed through self-report; therefore, it is subject to misclassification. Detection of drug metabolites in biofluids offers a viable tool for validating self-reported analgesic use. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the utility of a metabolomics approach for the validation of acetaminophen and ibuprofen use in blood samples. Untargeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomics analysis was conducted in serum samples from 1547 women and plasma samples from 556 men. The presence of two metabolites each for acetaminophen and ibuprofen at levels at or above a defined cutoff value was used to determine concordance with self-reported use. For acetaminophen use based on the presence of both acetaminophen and acetamidophenylglucuronide, concordance was 98.5⁻100% among individuals reporting use today, and 79.8⁻91.4% for those reporting never or rare use. Ibuprofen use based on the presence of both carboxyibuprofen and hydroxyibuprofen resulted in concordance of 51.3⁻52.5% for individuals reporting use today and 99.4⁻100% for those reporting never or rare use. Our findings suggest that an untargeted metabolomics approach in blood samples may be useful for validating self-reported acetaminophen use. However, this approach appears unlikely to be suitable for validating ibuprofen use.
Selecting Favorable Energy Storage Technologies for Nuclear Power

Abstract Energy storage technologies can enable nuclear power plants to follow electricity demand throughout the day and minimize cycling costs. Several dynamic performance requirements and heuristics (such as cost and environmental impact) are presented in this chapter to compare energy storage technologies that could be integrated with nuclear power. These characteristics are compared to suggest potential energy storage integration options for Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4, two pressurized-water nuclear reactors being built in the United States. This chapter suggests that thermal energy storage technologies such as hot and cold water storage might be the most favorable for integration with a nuclear power plant due to their low cost and limited environmental impact.
Marketing of e-cigarettes to vulnerable populations: An emerging social justice issue.

PURPOSE To describe the practice of e-cigarette marketing to vulnerable populations and to suggest strategies to help reduce e-cigarette use. CONCLUSIONS E-cigarette companies target vulnerable populations through civil rights, freedom marketing, and advertising strategies, which may perpetuate continued tobacco disparities in these populations. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Health care providers have the responsibility as social justice advocates to engage in efforts to reduce e-cigarette use among vulnerable populations. We must increase knowledge, education, and training specific to e-cigarettes. Awareness of marketing strategies related to vulnerable populations is necessary to develop and implement counter strategies.
Passive stiffness of hindlimb muscles in anurans with distinct locomotor specializations

Anurans (frogs and toads) have been shown to have relatively compliant skeletal muscles. Using a meta-analysis of published data we have found that muscle stiffness is negatively correlated with joint range of motion when examined across mammalian, anuran and bird species. Given this trend across a broad phylogenetic sample, we examined whether the relationship held true within anurans. We identified four species that differ in preferred locomotor mode and hence joint range of motion (Lithobates catesbeianus, Rhinella marina, Xenopus laevis and Kassina senegalensis) and hypothesized that smaller in vivo angles (more flexed) at the knee and ankle joint would be associated with more compliant extensor muscles. We measured passive muscle tension during cyclical stretching (20%) around L0 (sarcomere lengths of 2.2 μm) in fiber bundles extracted from cruralis and plantaris muscles. We found no relationship between muscle stiffness and range of motion for either muscle-joint complex. There were no differences in the passive properties of the cruralis muscle among the four species, but the plantaris muscles of the Xenopus and Kassina were significantly stiffer than those of the other two species. Our results suggest that in anurans the stiffness of muscle fibers is a relatively minor contributor to stiffness at the level of joints and that variation in other anatomical properties including muscle-tendon architecture and joint mechanics as well as active control likely contribute more significantly to range of motion during locomotion.
The Jena Circle and Hegel: The Modernity of Painting, and the Return of the Classical

This chapter begins with the paradigm-shift that took place in the last decade of the eighteenth century: the break with Winckelmann’s sculptural aesthetics, and the turn to painting, which is touted as the quintessentially ‘modern’ art. The important figures here are August and Friedrich Schlegel, and G.W.F. Hegel. In his 1799 dialogue The Paintings, August Schlegel dramatizes the shift to a new sensitivity. The drama opens with three friends who meet in a wing of Dresden’s Antikensammlung. Despite their admiration for ancient sculpture, the trio feels somewhat repulsed by it. In a symbolically freighted gesture, they exit the museum, and spend the rest of the day in a freewheeling discussion of various paintings. I then move to Friedrich Schlegel’s Descriptions of Paintings (1802–5). Here, taking to heart Wackenroder’s turn to Christian painting, and in opposition to Weimar classicism, Friedrich Schlegel develops an aesthetics of “angular, even skinny figures.” Gorgeousness of ekphrastic prose aside, what makes the Descriptions so compelling is their willingness to explore the time-bending cross-pollination between classical form and Christian motifs (in Raphael, Andrea Del Sarto, Correggio). Schlegel offers incisive remarks both about the potentials and the limits of such hybridization. The final section of this chapter is devoted to a highly succinct discussion of Hegel’s aesthetics of Christian painting. In many ways, Hegel simply deepens and gives philosophical clarity to insights which were at work in Schlegel. Even more than his (incidentally, much-detested) predecessor, Hegel is fascinated by a beauty that is temporally plural. In the Madonnas of Raphael, Perugino, and Correggio, Hegel sees a palingenesis-cum-metamorphosis of the classical line of grace. In another sense, however, Hegel denies to classical beauty the power to speak across the sands of time. For Hegel, classical beauty has become largely a matter of aesthetic delight and of historical insight. Furthermore, Hegel declares that with Christian Art (Crucifixions, martyrdoms), the ugly has become a recognized denizen of the philosophy of art. Two claims, thus, are at stake: the definitive pastness of classical beauty, and the new, positive role of deformed corporeality. With these two themes, the parable of FTA (and my narrative thereof) comes to a conclusion.
Real-Time Monitoring and Diagnostics of Anomalous Behavior in Dynamical Systems

Real-time condition monitoring of complex dynamical systems is of critical importance for predictive maintenance. This chapter focuses on data-driven techniques of fault diagnostics with an emphasis on real-time detection of anomalous behavior in combustion systems. It presents the applications of well-known statistical learning techniques such as D-Markov modeling and hidden Markov modeling (HMM) as possible data-driven solutions for anomaly detection in combustion systems. From the perspective of real-time monitoring and diagnostics, such statistical tools are applicable to stochastic dynamical systems in general. Both D-Markov and HMM algorithms have been validated on experimental data from a laboratory apparatus, which is an electrically heated Rijke tube.
Interaction of Oatp1b2 expression and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis on pravastatin plasma clearance

Abstract The downregulation of hepatic uptake transporters, including those of the OATP family, are a well known consequence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Prior studies have shown that the combination of NASH and Oatp1b2 knockout synergistically reduces the clearance of pravastatin (PRAV) in the methionine and choline deficient (MCD) mouse model of NASH, and the current study therefore aimed to determine the impact of NASH and genetic heterozygosity of Oatp1b2 on PRAV clearance, modeling the overlap between the 24% of the human population who are heterozygous for non-functioning OATP1B1, and the ~15% with NASH, potentially placing these people at higher risk of statin-induced myopathy. Therefore, male C57BL/6 wild-type (WT), Oatp1b2+/− (HET), and Oatp1b2−/− (KO) mice were fed either a control (methionine and choline sufficient) or methionine and choline-deficient (MCD) diet to induce NASH. After six weeks of feeding, pravastatin was administered via the carotid artery. Blood and bile samples were collected throughout 90 min after PRAV administration. The concentration of PRAV in plasma, bile, liver, kidney, and muscle was determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. MCD diet did not alter the plasma AUC values of PRAV in either WT or HET mice. However, the MCD diet increased plasma AUC by 4.4-fold in KO mice. MCD diet and nonfunctional Oatp1b2 synergistically increased not only plasma AUC but also the extrahepatic tissue concentration of pravastatin, whereas the partially decreased function of Oatp1b2 and NASH together were insufficient in significantly altering PRAV pharmacokinetics. These data suggest that a single copy of fully functional OATP1B1 in NASH patients may be sufficient to avoid the increase of pravastatin toxicity.
Using machine learning algorithms to predict the risk of small Unmanned Aircraft System violations in the National Airspace System

Abstract The increasing number of small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) encounters with manned aircraft or airports increases the risk of collision in the National Airspace System. The purpose of this research is to develop and test predictive models for sUAS violation incidents in NAS using machine learning. This research uses machine learning algorithms to predict the risk of sUAS violation incidents using the FAA's UAS sighting data with a sample size of 2088. Three sUAS violation types are identified: flying above 400 feet, flying with 5 miles from an airport, and flying in restricted airspace. Seven machine learning algorithms were used, including classification regression, decision tree, neural network, gradient boosting, random forest, Bayesian networks, and Memory-Based Reasoning. The results show that Gradient boosting produces the best predictive model. This model can predict the sUAS violation incidents with an accuracy of 95.7 percent. Location, distance to the airport, state, sUAs altitude, airport type, and aircraft type are the most influential predictors to the sUAS violation incidents.
Misconceptions about instantaneous frequency, and complex signal representations through pole-zero manipulations

Instantaneous frequency is an important characteristic of time-varying or nonstationary signals. The definition and interpretation of instantaneous frequency have been the subject of discussion and debate for decades. The most common approach is due to Gabor, whereby a specific complex signal, called the analytic signal, is associated with a given real signal by inverting the spectrum of the real signal over only the positive frequency axis; the instantaneous frequency is then taken to be the derivative of the phase. Other approaches for associating a particular complex signal to a given real signal, and hence obtaining different instantaneous frequencies, have also been proposed. One way to define the associated complex signal / instantaneous frequency is by imposing physical constraints, which we discuss. We also discuss the common interpretation of instantaneous frequency as the average frequency at each time, and point out when this interpretation holds, which is not usually the case. This leads to the question of what is the “average frequency at each time?” The answer, coupled with physical constraints on the complex signal representation, leads to a quadrature-AM / FM signal model. Finally, we consider methods that manipulate the poles and zeros of the signal to obtain a complex representation.
Low-profile elastic exosuit reduces back muscle fatigue.

We investigated the extent to which an un-motorized, low-profile, elastic exosuit reduced the rate of fatigue for six lumbar extensor muscles during leaning. Six healthy subjects participated in an A-B-A (withdrawal design) study protocol, which involved leaning at 45o for up to 90 s without exosuit assistance (A1), then with assistance (B), then again without assistance (A2). The exosuit provided approximately 12-16 Nm of lumbar extension torque. We measured lumbar muscle activity (via surface electromyography) and assessed fatigue rate via median frequency slope. We found that five of the six subjects showed consistent reductions in fatigue rate (ranging from 26% to 87%) for a subset of lumbar muscles (ranging from one to all six lumbar muscles measured). These findings objectively demonstrate the ability of a low-profile elastic exosuit to reduce back muscle fatigue during leaning, which may improve endurance for various occupations.
Introduction: Examining Higher Education Institutions Public Mission Initiatives Through the Lens of Organizational Perspective

An analysis of the evolution of higher education as a sector shows how its complexity grew over time, in synchronicity with the richer and more demanding contexts in which it is situated. Concurrent with having to redefine their commitment to the public good, colleges and universities have been facing increasing accountability and public scrutiny in an era of scarce financial resources. Consequently, the public mission of these institutions of higher education had to be refined to distinguish among initiatives focused on economic development, knowledge transfer, and community engagement. In either case, in order to develop a better understanding of various public mission initiatives across the globe and why these were adopted by colleges and universities, the editors use a theoretical framework that emerges from organizational perspective. This chapter outlines cases from the US, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia included in the book.
Tuning the Coherence Group Velocity in Free Space

We introduce the concept of ‘coherence group velocity’, which is the speed of the peak of the coherence function and confirm experimentally that incorporating spatiotemporal spectral correlation into an incoherent field allows tuning its coherence group velocity in free space.
Stories of the Self: Life Writing After the Book: by Anna Poletti, New York, New York University Press, 2020, 248 pp., ISBN: 978-1479836666

Think about the last time you took a picture with your phone. What, if anything, did your picture document? Was it a photo of your family, or your breakfast, or your cat? Was it a selfie posing in ...
Characterization of interstitial infiltrates in MPO and PR3 anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody glomerulonephritis

It has been recognized that T cells have a pathogenic role in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody- (ANCA) associated vasculitis, in addition to being dominant cells in the interstitium in ANCA glomerulonephritis (GN). Given there are differences in renal outcomes based on ANCA type, we sought to characterize the interstitial infiltrate in ANCA GN to determine differences in relation to ANCA type and renal function. Immunohistochemistry stains for CD3, CD4, CD20, C4d and FOXP3 were done in renal biopsies of patients with ANCA GN. Light microscopy was used to determine the percentage of cortical interstitium containing positive cells. Demographics, ANCA type and entry eGFR were recorded. The level of staining was compared between ANCA type and entry eGFR using Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Renal biopsies of 16 patients with MPO and 14 with PR3 ANCA GN were studied. CD3 cells were the predominant cells, with all biopsies staining positive for CD4 and FOXP3. C4d staining was negative in all biopsies, with no significant difference in staining between MPO and PR3 groups for any of the identified cell types. However, regardless of ANCA type, FOXP3 staining was significantly higher in patients with baseline GFR 10 mL/min/1.73 m2(mean 7.54, SD 6.6 versus mean 2.67, SD 3.6; p = 0.04). These data confirm the role of T cells in ANCA GN and demonstrate no differences in interstitial T and B cell infiltrates between PR3 and MPO ANCA GN. Higher FOXP3 signal associates with lower renal function, suggesting a role for regulatory T cells. Further characterization of this T cell subset should be explored in future studies.
Terrain Adaptive Trajectory Planning and Tracking on Deformable Terrains

In this work, a novel single-level adaptive trajectory planner and tracking controller is developed for off-road autonomous vehicles operating on deformable terrains. Trajectory planning and tracking algorithms often rely on a simplified vehicle model to predict future vehicle states based upon control inputs, hence requiring accurate modeling and parameterization. On off-road deformable terrains this is a challenging task due to unknown terrain parameters and the complex interactions at tire-terrain interfaces, which pose issues in continuous differentiability, operating conditions, and computational time. To address these difficulties, in this paper, a neural network deformable terrain terramechanics model and its implementation within a terrain adaptive model predictive control algorithm is presented to improve vehicle safety and performance through more accurate prediction of the plant response. It is shown in simulations that the neural network is able to predict the lateral tire forces accurately and efficiently compared to the Soil Contact Model as a state-of-the-art model and is able to yield accurate bicycle model predictions. It is demonstrated that the implementation of the neural network within model predictive control can outperform both a baseline Pacejka-based and a rapidly exploring random tree controller by improving performance and allowing for more severe maneuvers to be completed that otherwise lead to failure when terrain deformations are not explicitly taken into account. The improved performance achieved through estimating terrain parameters online in an adaptive controller is highlighted against the nonadaptive realization. Finally, it is shown the algorithm is conducive to real-time implementation.
Effect of Sign-recognition Performance on the Usability of Sign-language Dictionary Search

Advances in sign-language recognition technology have enabled researchers to investigate various methods that can assist users in searching for an unfamiliar sign in ASL using sign-recognition technology. Users can generate a query by submitting a video of themselves performing the sign they believe they encountered somewhere and obtain a list of possible matches. However, there is disagreement among developers of such technology on how to report the performance of their systems, and prior research has not examined the relationship between the performance of search technology and users’ subjective judgements for this task. We conducted three studies using a Wizard-of-Oz prototype of a webcam-based ASL dictionary search system to investigate the relationship between the performance of such a system and user judgements. We found that, in addition to the position of the desired word in a list of results, the placement of the desired word above or below the fold and the similarity of the other words in the results list affected users’ judgements of the system. We also found that metrics that incorporate the precision of the overall list correlated better with users’ judgements than did metrics currently reported in prior ASL dictionary research.
20 Differential performance of pediatric key performance indicators by health equity factors

Background Growing literature shows that a number of social factors can be predictors of health outcomes – with influence on health issues such as infant mortality, surgical outcome, and wait times for kidney transplantation. Objectives We evaluated the influence of multiple social factors on performance on multiple key performance indicators (KPIs) tracked at our pediatric healthcare system. Methods We compared performance for rates on the following KPIs for a 2-year period (2019, 2020) – Serious Safety Events (SSE), Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI), Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injury (HAPI), Codes Outside ICU, and Influenza Non-vaccination. We evaluated differential performance on those rates by the following factors that might affect health equity - patient gender, language preference, health insurance payer category, race and ethnicity, and estimated median household income based on zip code analysis - by creating simultaneous 95% confidence intervals using the Wilson method with continuity correction and a Bonferroni adjustment for the number of categories compared. Results Children who resided in an area with a lower median household income had a statistically significant greater chance to develop HAPI (figure 1). A similar but not statistically significant trend was also seen with CLABSI. The SSE rate was 2.3 times higher in Spanish-speaking as compared to English-speaking children and 2.2 times higher for Medicaid as compared to commercially ensured patients (not statistically significant). Statistically significant differences in influenza non-vaccination rate were present for the following indicators: Spanish and Chinese Dialects > than English speaking; Hispanic > many other race and ethnicities; Commercial Conclusions Factors influencing health equity correlated with decreased performance on a number of our health system KPIs. This quality and safety issue will benefit from improvement initiatives that seek to better understand and decrease the influence of these factors.
Assessment of litter prevalence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in preweaned piglets utilizing an antemortem tracheobronchial mucus collection technique and a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay.

The swine industry currently lacks validated antemortem methods of detecting baseline herd prevalence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. The focus of our study was to evaluate alternative antemortem detection techniques and to determine baseline litter prevalence in preweaned pig populations utilizing the selected technique and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. Preliminary data was analyzed on weaned piglets with evidence of respiratory disease (n = 32). Five sample types (antemortem nasal swab, tracheobronchial mucus, postmortem deep airway swab, bronchoalveolar lavage, and lung tissue) were collected from each pig. Individual samples were tested for M. hyopneumoniae using qPCR. Compared to nasal swabs, tracheobronchial mucus demonstrated higher test sensitivity (P < 0.0001). Tracheobronchial mucus was collected from apparently healthy preweaned piglets (n = 1,759; sow farms 1–3) and preweaned piglets exhibiting signs of respiratory disease (n = 32; sow farm 4), ranging in age from 12 to 25 d...
Simultaneous registration and segmentation of anatomical structures from brain MRI

In this paper, we present a novel variational formulation of the registration assisted image segmentation problem which leads to solving a coupled set of nonlinear PDEs that are solved using efficient numerical schemes. Our work is a departure from earlier methods in that we have a unified variational principle wherein non-rigid registration and segmentation are simultaneously achieved; unlike previous methods of solution for this problem, our algorithm can accommodate for image pairs having very distinct intensity distributions. We present examples of performance of our algorithm on synthetic and real data sets along with quantitative accuracy estimates of the registration.
Community wildfire protection planning in the American West: homogeneity within diversity?

As large wildfires have become common across the American West, federal policies such as the Healthy Forests Restoration Act have empowered local communities to plan for their own wildfire protection. Here, we present an analysis of 113 community wildfire protection plans from 10 western states where large fires have recently occurred. These plans contain wide diversity in terms of specific plan elements and dimensions, yet less diversity in the paradigms underlying their fire protection approaches. These patterns held true across both plans constructed solely by local actors as well as those constructed with the help of outside consultant expertise.
Design and flight qualification of a paraffin-actuated heat switch for Mars surface applications

Missions to the surface of Mars pose unique thermal control challenges to rover and lander systems.
Rheumatologic Skin Disease

In common rheumatologic diseases skin findings are an important diagnostic clue for astute clinicians. Skin manifestations can help identify systemic disease or may require therapy uniquely targeted at the cutaneous problem. This article discusses 3 common rheumatologic conditions seen in adults by dermatologists: cutaneous lupus, dermatomyositis, and morphea. The focus is on the cutaneous findings and clinical presentation. Some approaches to treatment are explored. Clues to help identify systemic disease are also highlighted.
Functional Characterization of NAC and MYB Transcription Factors Involved in Regulation of Biomass Production in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

Switchgrass is a promising biofuel feedstock due to its high biomass production and low agronomic input requirements. Because the bulk of switchgrass biomass used for biofuel production is lignocellulosic secondary walls, studies on secondary wall biosynthesis and its transcriptional regulation are imperative for designing strategies for genetic improvement of biomass production in switchgrass. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of a group of switchgrass transcription factors, including several NACs (PvSWNs) and a MYB (PvMYB46A), for their involvement in regulating secondary wall biosynthesis. PvSWNs and PvMYB46A were found to be highly expressed in stems and their expression was closely associated with sclerenchyma cells. Overexpression of PvSWNs and PvMYB46A in Arabidopsis was shown to result in activation of the biosynthetic genes for cellulose, xylan and lignin and ectopic deposition of secondary walls in normally parenchymatous cells. Transactivation and complementation studies demonstrated that PvSWNs were able to activate the SNBE-driven GUS reporter gene and effectively rescue the secondary wall defects in the Arabidopsis snd1 nst1 double mutant, indicating that they are functional orthologs of Arabidopsis SWNs. Furthermore, we showed that PvMYB46A could activate the SMRE-driven GUS reporter gene and complement the Arabidopsis myb46 myb83 double mutant, suggesting that it is a functional ortholog of Arabidopsis MYB46/MYB83. Together, these results indicate that PvSWNs and PvMYB46A are transcriptional switches involved in regulating secondary wall biosynthesis, which provides molecular tools for genetic manipulation of biomass production in switchgrass.
Familial Risk in Low-Income Children With Chronic Illness Exposed to Passive Smoke

Background. This study highlights the family characteristics of a child living in a state of triple risk: chronically ill, exposed to passive smoke, and residing in a low-income household. Methods. Head Start families were divided into 4 groups based on passive smoke exposure and child chronic illness status. Analyses of covariance controlling for parent education, parent employment, marital status, and residence were conducted to identify group differences in the Family Map risk areas. Results. Families of chronically ill, passive smoke–exposed children demonstrated the highest levels of risks across a range of areas including: meeting basic needs, family conflict, parenting stress, and parental depression and anxiety. Conclusions. Children living in poverty with a chronic illness who are exposed to smoke are likely to face many challenges in addition to their illness. Healthcare professionals can identify family risks and provide targeted educate and support to potentially reduce risk factors for children.
Activation of the coagulation system following exposure of mice to chlorine

Chlorine (Cl2) is a highly irritant and reactive gas produced in large quantities throughout the world. The accidental release of large amounts of Cl2 in 30 large cities world-wide, caused significant mortality and morbidity to humans and animals. Our previous findings show that exposure of rodent to Cl2 causes both pulmonary and systemic injury (Zarogiannis et al. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2011;45(2):386-92; Honavar et al.Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 201145(2):419-25.) Herein we tested the hypothesis that exposure to Cl2 activates intraalveolar and systemic coagulation cascades which in turn may contribute to the development of lung and other end-organ injury. Male C57Bl/6 mice (6-8 weeks) were exposed to either Cl2 (600 ppm for 45 minutes in environmental chambers) or air (0 ppm). Mice were returned to room air and sacrificed immediately or at 1 h post-exposure and their lungs were lavaged. Mice exposed to Cl2 had much higher levels of Thrombin/anti-Thrombin (TAT) complexes (measured by ELISA) as compared to those exposed to air both in the BAL (10 ± 2 ng/ml vs. 0.5 + 0.1; mean + SE; n=6; p<0.01) and plasma (25±0.1 ng/ml vs. 0.1±0.05; mean + SE; n=6; p<0.01) at 1 h post exposure. In addition clotting time in the blood (measured by thromboelastometry) was significantly prolonged in Cl2 exposed mice as compared with air controls (275 ± 25 sec. vs. 150 2±10; mean + SE; n=6; p<0.01). In contrast, there was no significant change in the clotting time blood taken from mice immediately after Cl2. Taken together, these data demonstrates a strong activation of the coagulation within the airspaces as well as the development of a systemic disseminated intravascular coagulation after Cl2 exposure in mice.
Nickel Ion Irradiation Effects on the Microstructure of 2 1/4% Cr 1% Mo Steel and a Comparison with Neutron Irradiation Data

A 2 1 / 4 Cr 1% Mo steel, heat treated to consist of upper and lower bainite and ferrite, has been shown to undergo substantial microstructural modification when irradiated with 14-MeV nickel ions at 500°C to 350 dpa at the peak damage depth. The original cementite (Fe 3 C) in upper and lower bainite was replaced by Chi phase, M 7 C 3 and M 2 C in upper bainite, and Chi and M 7 C 3 in lower bainite. The originally precipitate-free ferrite contained a significant fraction of G phase after irradiation. The replacement of Fe 3 C by M 7 C 3 and M 2 C is consistent with the fact that M 7 C 3 and M 2 C form in a quenched and tempered 2 3 / 4 Cr 1 Mo steel, but at higher tempering temperatures than does Fe 3 C. On the other hand, Chi and G phases have not been reported to occur in this steel as a result of thermal treatments. The steel is resistant to void swelling, which amounted to 0.2% or less even at the rather high dpa levels employed in this study. The quantitative data for precipitate and void number densities and sizes agree quite well with a companion neutron irradiation study of the same steel possessing an identical microstructure.
Radical cage effects in the photochemical degradation of polymers: effect of radical size and mass on the cage recombination efficiency of radical cage pairs generated photochemically from the (CpCH2CH2N(CH3)C(O)(CH2)nCH3)2Mo2(CO)6 (n = 3, 8, 18) complexes.

This study explored the effect of radical size, chain length, and mass on the cage recombination efficiency of photochemically generated radical cage pairs. Radical cage pairs containing long-chain radicals of the type [(CpCH2CH2N(CH3)C(O)(CH2)nCH3)(CO)3Mo•, •Mo(CO)3(CpCH2CH2(CH3)NC(O)(CH2)nCH3)] were generated in hexanes/squalane solution by photolysis (λ = 546 nm) of the Mo−Mo bonds in (CpCH2CH2N(CH3)C(O)(CH2)nCH3)2Mo2(CO)6 (n = 3, 8, 18). The cage recombination efficiencies (denoted as FcP, where FcP = kcP/(kcP + kdP), kdP is the diffusion rate constant, and kcP is the radical recombination rate constant) for the radical cage pairs were obtained by extracting them from quantum yield measurements for the photoreactions with CCl4 (a metal-radical trap) as a function of solvent system viscosity. The results show that FcP increases as the length of the chain on a radical center increases. This finding likely provides at least one of the reasons why the quantum yields for photolytic polymer degradation (and...
Ground State and Excited Levels of Cl 40

A calculation to determine the level scheme of Cl/sup 40/ is done by using matrix elements of the nuclear interaction determined from a previous analysis of nuclear energies. The value of the spin J = 2 obtained for the ground state is in agreement with experimental results. (auth)
Identification of ammonia as an important sediment‐associated toxicant in the lower fox River and green bay, Wisconsin

Toxicity of sediment pore water from 13 sites in the lower Fox River/Green Bay watershed was assessed using a number of test species. Sediment pore water from the 10 lower Fox River sites exhibited acute toxicity to fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) and Ceriodaphnia dubia, and pore water samples from all 13 sites were chronically toxic to C. dubia. Sediment pore water from seven of the sampling sites was toxic to Selenastrum capricornutum, but none of the samples were toxic to Photobacterium phosphoreum. Toxicity characterization, identification and confirmation procedures indicated that a significant amount of the acute toxicity of the pore water to fathead minnows and C. dubia was due to ammonia. The identification of ammonia, a naturally occurring compound in sediments, as a potentially important sediment-associated toxicant has implications for sediment toxicity assessment and control, not only in the Fox River and Green Bay, but in other freshwater and marine systems as well.
The role of computed tomography in determining delayed intervention for gunshot wounds through the liver

Gunshot wounds through the liver are highly lethal and are prone to delayed morbidity due to late complications. A retrospective study was performed to determine the incidence, morbidity, and need for late interventions in patients shot through the liver, and the role of post-injury CT in making those determinations. 83 patients were shot through the liver. Injury grades were: Grade V—12 (14 %), Grade IV—41 (49 %), Grade III—12 (14 %), Grade II—8 (10 %), Grade I—1 (1 %), and nine were ungraded. Ten (12 %) died in the ED, three (4 %) died in the OR, and two (2 %) died postoperatively. Of the 68 survivors, 52 (76 %) had follow-up CT scans performed a median of 7 days (95 % CI 2–13 days) after injury. Seventeen (33 %) had 25 complications related to the bullet tract: 12 (48 %) abscesses, 6 (24 %) infected hematomas, 3 (12 %) bilomas, 3 (12 %) unclassified fluid collections, and 1 (4 %) hepatic necrosis. Treatment included CT-guided drainage in 15 (60 %), ultrasound-guided drainage in 3 (12 %), surgical drainage and debridement in 2 (8 %), and observation in 5 (20 %). Overall morbidity rate including hepatic and non-hepatic complications was 74 % (50/68). Patients having their CT scan-determined intervention (for all complications) within 7 days of injury (n = 24), compared to those having their CT scan-determined intervention on day 8 or later (n = 28), had a significantly decreased rate of overall complications and morbidity (p = 0.03). This difference was due to early detection and intervention for abscesses, anastomotic breakdown, and missed injuries. Those having a CT scan within 7 days of injury also had a significantly reduced length of stay compared to those scanned on day 8 or later (median 14 days, 95 % CI 4–24 days versus 18 days, 95 % CI 6–30 days, p = 0.05). Gunshot wounds to the liver have a high morbidity and mortality rate. Survivors should have a follow-up CT scan performed within 7 days to allow detection and intervention for complications, as this dramatically decreases the overall morbidity rate and length of stay.