cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Persistent Fever in the ICU

Disorders of elevated body temperature may be classified as either fever or hyperthermia. Fever is caused by a pyrogen-mediated upward adjustment of the hypothalamic thermostat; hyperthermia results from a loss of physiologic control of temperature regulation. Fever in the ICU can be due to infectious or noninfectious causes. The initial approach to a febrile, critically ill patient should involve a thoughtful review of the clinical data to elicit the likely source of fever prior to the ordering of cultures, imaging studies, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Both high fever and prolonged fever have been associated with increased mortality; however, a causal role for fever as a mediator of adverse outcomes during non-neurologic critical illness has not been established. Outside the realm of acute brain injury, the practice of treating fever remains controversial. To generate high-quality, evidence-based guidelines for the management of fever, large, prospective, multicenter trials are needed.
Co-occurring gland tensors in localized cluster graphs: Quantitative histomorphometry for predicting biochemical recurrence for intermediate grade prostate cancer

Quantitative histomorphometry (QH), computational tools to analyze digitized tissue histology, has become increasingly important for aiding pathologists in assessing cancer severity. In this study, we introduce a novel set of QH features utilizing co-occurring gland tensors (CGT) in localized cluster graphs to quantitatively evaluate prostate cancer (CaP) histology. CGTs offer three main advantages over previous QH features: 1) gland tensors represent a novel measurement that has been anecdotally described as one of interest, but never quantitatively modeled, 2) CGTs extract measurements based on local rather than global glandular networks, constructed using cluster graphs, and 3) second order statistical features (energy, homogeneity, energy, and correlation) obtained from a co-occurrence matrix capture the spatial interactions of gland tensors in the image. We extract 4 CGT features from 56 regions across 40 intermediate grade CaP patients and evaluated the ability of CGT features to predict biochemical recurrence (BCR) within 5 years of radical prostatectomy. Intermediate Gleason score 7 cancers represent the predictive borderline for BCR cases, where 50% of cases develop BCR. We found that CGT features outperformed 5 different sets of QH features, previously shown to be effective in CaP grading, when evaluated via a Random Forest classifier (66% accuracy for CGT features versus 55% for the next closest QH feature set), all comparisons being statistically significant.
Specifying the target identity of motoneurons

Summary In the vertebrate spinal cord, motoneurons are clustered into longitudinal columns in agreement with the targets they innervate. Motoneurons within each column acquire properties early in development that ensure their axons navigate to appropriate targets, but how this target identity is specified is unknown. Recently, Tsuchida et a/.(’) described the expression of putative regulatory genes within motor columns in the chicken spinal cord. Combinations of LIM-family homeobox genes differentially mark columns that project to distinct target groups. Expression precedes column formation and axon outgrowth, making these genes candidates for specifying the target AcceDted 6 Maich 1995 identity of motoneuron groups.
Explaining International Human Rights Regimes: Liberal Theory and Western Europe

Under what conditions are effective international regimes for the promotion of human rights likely to emerge? Case studies of European institutions — the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Community and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe — confirm hypotheses more consistent with Liberal theories of international relations than their Institutionalist or Realist counterparts. The uniquely successful mechanisms of the European regime, in particular its fine-grained system of individual petition and supranational judicial review, function not by external sanctions or reciprocity, but by `shaming' and `coopting' domestic law-makers, judges and citizens, who pressure governments from within for compliance. The evolution of these mechanisms presupposes the existence of an autonomous independent civil society and robust domestic legal institutions and, even in the relatively propitious circumstances of postwar Europe, required several generations to evolve. Such institutions appea...
Economic burden of prescription opioid misuse and abuse.

BACKGROUND: Prescription opioid abuse and its associated costs are a problem in the United States, with significant epidemiologic and economic consequences. The breadth and depth of these consequences are not fully understood at present. OBJECTIVE: To summarize published, English-language biomedical evidence pertaining to the epidemiology and costs of prescription opioid analgesic misuse and abuse and to describe efforts to reduce the burden of these problems. METHODS: Published English-language articles on the epidemiology and economics of abuse, misuse, or diversion of prescribed opioid analgesics in the United States were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Science, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature database (CINAHL), EconLit, and PsycInfo, using (economics OR epidemiology) AND (misuse OR abuse) AND opioid as search terms or Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms. Article bibliographies were also searched manually for applicable papers. The search was limited to articles published from 1995 through July 2009. RESULTS: The literature search identified 2,347 titles, of which all but 41 were excluded as not pertaining specifically to the epidemiology or economics of prescription opioid abuse or misuse in the United States. In 2006, approximately 5.2 million individuals in the United States reported using prescription analgesics nonmedically in the prior month, up from 4.7 million in 2005. The total cost of prescription opioid abuse in 2001 was estimated at $8.6 billion, including workplace, health care, and criminal justice expenditures. One study of commercially insured beneficiaries in the United States found that mean per-capita annual direct health care costs from 1998 to 2002 were nearly $16,000 for abusers of prescription and nonprescription opioids compared with approximately $1,800 for nonabusers who had at least 1 prescription insurance claim. CONCLUSIONS: The economic burden of prescription opioid misuse and abuse is large. While the existing evidence indicates that persons who abuse or misuse prescription opioids incur higher costs and health care resource use, differences in methods used to explore this question make estimating the actual societal burden imposed by this problem difficult. Efforts to establish and maintain a balance between access to these drugs for legitimate pain management while decreasing the risk of abuse and misuse are critically important and include such tools as patient and provider education, patient screening, and use of technology.
Effects of Induced Mood on Social Cognitions

-Previcus studies have shown that depressed persons make negative interpretations of social stimuli. In the present smdy normal undergraduates were exposed to elated or depressed mood-induction procedures and were asked to interpret drawings of social situations. Subjects rated their own stories on a pleasantness-unpleasantness scale. The stories were also transcribed and rated by independent judges. Both the ratings of judges and subjects differed for elated and depressed subjects. The data suggest that mood may alter social perceptions in important ways and that these effects can be observed in normal persons after a brief mood-altering experience. The results are related to cognitive theories of depression.
Health promotion counseling of chronic-disease patients during primary care visits.

OBJECTIVES. This study was designed to provide an empirical description, based on a review of visit audiotapes, of primary care practice with chronic-disease patients. METHODS. We analyzed 439 interactions between adult patients with chronic disease and 49 physicians. We explored the content, frequency, intensity, and dynamics of health promotion discussion during these routine visits. RESULTS. There was evidence of health promotion discussion in more than half (53%) of the audiotapes reviewed. When life-style topics were discussed, the discussion lasted a mean of 4 1/2 minutes, or 20% of the length of the visit. Diet/weight control was the most frequently discussed topic, followed by exercise, stress, smoking, and alcohol. Stress was by far the most time-consuming topic; stress-related discussion took an average of 6 minutes. CONCLUSIONS. Nearly 60% of the discussion that took place were not merely perfunctory but were attempts to counsel or encourage behavior change in the patient. Physicians used a wid...
Metrics for scene change detection in digital video sequences

Five metrics for scene change detection in video sequences are presented. Metrics previously applied to this problem are surveyed, and are quantitatively compared to the new metrics. Results show that the proposed metrics are superior.
Knee maturation as a differentiating sign between congenital rubella and cytomegalovirus infections

Knee epiphyseal maturation is retarded in most neonates with congenital rubella infection, whereas neonates with congenital cytomegalovirus infection have relatively normal maturation. Asse-sment of knee maturation is useful in differentiating rubella from cytomegalovirus infection in the neonate.
Censored life-data analysis using linguistic variables

Parameter estimates for censored life data using ordinary censoring methods (noninformative censoring) can be biased when the cause of censoring for a unit is related to its final life (informative censoring). An algorithm is presented for obtaining estimated lifetimes for informatively censored units. It is based on linguistic variable concepts from fuzzy set theory. These estimates are combined with the lifetimes for actual field units to form a complete sample for parameter estimation purposes. >
Optically active surface polaritons

A new wave-vector-space method of finding electromagnetic wave propagation in bounded media without use of boundary conditions is applied to finding surface polaritons on an optically active anaxial crystal. Because a proper constitutive derivation of the optical-activity tensor shows that the quadrupolar interaction plays an important role, the continuity of the tangential component of the H field is no longer a valid boundary condition. In its absence the use of the wave-vector-space method that uses no boundary conditions is essential. Another unique aspect of the wave-vector-space method is that it derives a surface-nonlocality tensor that accounts for the altered nonlocal interaction of optical activity near the surface. The dispersion relation of the surface polariton is found to be independent of both the bulk optical-activity parameter and the surface-nonlocality parameters. The electric field profile is dependent on the bulk optical-activity parameter to first order. This dependence causes the surface polariton to lose the TM-mode character that it has in a nonoptically active crystal. Surprisingly, the surface-nonlocality parameters also disappear from the field profile to first order. This complete disappearance to first order of the nonlocality parameters is a surprising and physically unexplained result because it does not happen in the transmission and reflection problem or in the optically active waveguide problem.
A Reexamination of the Empirical Distribution of Stock Price Changes

Abstract Teichmoeller [11] applied Fama and Roll's [5] technique of estimating the characteristic exponent parameter of symmetric stable distributions to a sample of empirical distributions of stock price changes and found the parameter to be fairly stable as the differencing interval was increased. We criticize the sample of stocks used by Teichmoeller and, using the same estimation technique on a different sample, find the empirical distributions of stock price changes to be unstable.
Stability of networked passive switched systems

In this paper the problem of controlling nonlinear switched systems over a network with time-varying delay is addressed. The solution presented is an extension of results from the control of continuously-varying passive systems over a network using the wave variable transformation. Background material is presented on passivity and the wave variable transformation. The concept of passivity for switched systems is also covered in this paper. Stability results are then shown for passive switched systems connected over a network with time-varying delay.
Incidence of tissue toxicities in gamma ray and fission neutron-exposed mice treated with Amifostine.

Purpose: To determine the effects of Amifostine or WR-151327 on the incidence of lethal and non-lethal toxicities in a large cohort of mice exposed to γ-ray or fission-spectrum neutron radiation.Methods: To analyze data from 4000 B6CF1 mice which received a single whole body irradiation (WBI) with 206 cGy or 417 cGy cobalt-60 gamma rays or 10 cGy or 40 cGy of fission-spectrum neutrons (average energy 0.85 MeV) produced by the Janus reactor at Argonne National Laboratory. In the neutron cohort, Amifostine, WR-151327, saline or nothing was injected once, intraperitoneally, 30 minutes before irradiation. In the cobalt-60 cohort, WR-151327 was omitted from the same protocol. At the time of natural death, tissue toxicities found in these mice were recorded, and these records were analyzed. While all previous studies focused on the modulation of life shortening effects of WBI by Amifostine, in this study we calculated changes in the frequencies of 59 tissue toxicities and changes in the total number of toxiciti...
Nectar Sources for Eumaeus atala (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae)

I report on nectar sources used by the tropical hairstreak butterfly Eumaeus ?tala atala Poey and the subspecies E. atala florida R?ber (Lycae nidae: Lepidoptera), including those that have not been published previously. In addition to the importance and presence of larval host plants, availability of nectar sources for adults is also im portant in establishing viable populations. I also list the current conservation status of the atala
Imaging with PCA-based active illumination

We consider an incoherent imaging system with active illumination profiles derived from Principal Component Analysis (PCA). We observe a significant improvement in reconstruction performance compared to traditional imaging case with uniform illumination.
Foreign Debt Expansion, the International Monetary Fund, and Regional Variation in Third World Poverty

Although Third World indebtedness represents one of the major issues in today's rapidly changing international political economy, there have been few quantitative attempts to assess its effects. This study (1) tests the impact of structural adjustment and different types of foreign debt on both economic growth and physical quality of life; (2) controls for regional differences exhibited by Africa and Latin America; and (3) attempts to place the debt crisis in theoretical perspective, especially as it relates to arguments advanced by monetarists and dependency-oriented scholars. Our data analysis produces a rich and complex array of findings, as the effects of foreign debt often vary according to type of debt and geographic region. Moreover, several important variables demonstrate different effects on economic growth and physical quality of life, underscoring the need to separate these concepts in development studies. Finally, the results also support theories posited by both monetarists and dependency scholars, although the latter receive more extensive validation.
Gun Prevalence and Crime Rates: Is There a Relationship?

Does gun ownership increase crime rates? Analyzing national gun firearm purchase data and crime rates provides strong evidence that the number of guns in America does not increase crime rates; indeed, the evidence suggests the opposite.
A Short Note on Pynchon's Sources for "The Firm"

As a backdrop to the multiple conspiracies in Gravity's Rainbow, "The Firm" is a silent presence on almost every page of the book. A world-spanning net of political and financial power, it has been recognized as Pynchon's metaphor for the political and technocratic apparatus of our time. My presentation of a text which Pynchon might well have used as a source for his concept of lithe Firm" will only confirm this interpretation, providing some more clues as to Pynchon's intentions for the use of the concept.
Two highly porous single-crystalline zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks

Herein we report two highly porous Zr-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs, 1 and 2 ) constructed by the truncated octahedral secondary building unit (SBU) of Zr6O4(OH)4(CO2)12 and the organic linear ligand of 4,4ʹ-stilbenedicarboxylic acid (H2sbdc) or 4,4′-azobenezenedicarboxylic acid (H2abdc). Both Zr-based MOFs are obtained as single crystals of suitable size for single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Furthermore, these two Zr-based MOFs have been fully characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) studies, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and gas adsorption analysis. In particular, their CO2 gas adsorption behaviors have been investigated and discussed.
WE-DE-201-07: Measurement of Real-Time Dose for Tandem and Ovoid Brachytherapy Procedures Using a High Precision Optical Fiber Radiation Detector

Purpose: Development of a novel on-line dosimetry tool is needed to move toward patient-specific quality assurance measurements for Ir-192 HDR brachytherapy to verify accurate dose delivery to the intended location. This work describes the development and use of a nano-crystalline yttrium oxide inorganic scintillator based optical-fiber detector capable of acquiring real-time high-precision dose measurements during tandem and ovoid (T&O) gynecological (GYN) applicator Ir-192 HDR brachytherapy procedures. Methods: An optical-fiber detector was calibrated by acquiring light output measurements in liquid water at 3, 5, 7, and 9cm radial source-detector-distances from an Ir-192 HDR source. A regression model was fit to the data to describe the relative light output per unit dose (TG-43 derived) as a function of source-detector-distance. Next, the optical-fiber detector was attached to a vaginal balloon fixed to a Varian Fletcher-Suit-Delclos-style applicator (to mimic clinical setup), and localized by acquiring high-resolution computed tomography (CT) images. To compare the physical point dose to the TPS calculated values (TG-43 and Acuros-BV), a phantom measurement was performed, by submerging the T&O applicator in a liquid water bath and delivering a treatment template representative of a clinical T&O procedure. The fiber detector collected scintillation signal as a function of time, and the calibration data was applied to calculate both real-time dose rate, and cumulative dose. Results: Fiber cumulative dose values were 100.0cGy, 94.3cGy, and 348.9cGy from the tandem, left ovoid, and right ovoid dwells, respectively (total of 443.2cGy). A plot of real time dose rate during the treatment was also acquired. The TPS values at the fiber location were 458.4cGy using TG-43, and 437.6cGy using Acuros-BV calculated as Dm,m (per TG-186). Conclusion: The fiber measured dose value agreement was 3% vs TG-43 and −1% vs Acuros-BV. This fiber detector opens up new possibilities for performing patient-specific quality assurance for Ir-192 HDR GYN procedures. Funding from Coulter Foundation, Duke Bio-medical Engineering. Company is being created around the detector technology. Duke holds patents on the technology.
Psychological contributors to noncompletion of an adolescent preoperative bariatric surgery program

Abstract Background Noncompletion of preoperative bariatric programs is a significant problem among adolescents. Adult studies suggest that psychological factors contribute to noncompletion of preoperative bariatric programs. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the association between adolescent psychological functioning and completion of the preoperative phase of a bariatric program. Setting The study was conducted at a tertiary care children's hospital affiliated with a university medical center. Methods Seventy-four adolescents and their parents completed an assessment measure of psychological functioning with the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition. We compared these scores between adolescents who completed the preoperative phase of the bariatric program and proceeded to surgery (completers) to those who did not (noncompleters) using multivariate analysis of covariance and logistic regression analyses, adjusting for demographic characteristics and baseline body mass index. Results The mean age was 16.0 (1.1) years, most were female (79.8%), and the group was diverse (48.6%, Caucasian; 33.8%, black; 17.6%, other, including Hispanic, Asian, and biracial). Average body mass index was 50.5 (7.6) kg/m 2 . Forty-two percent of participants were noncompleters. Noncompleters were reported by parents to have more clinically significant externalizing and internalizing behaviors and fewer adaptive behaviors. Noncompleters self-reported more clinically significant internalizing symptoms, emotional problems, and poor personal adjustment. Conclusion Adolescents who did not complete the preoperative phase of a bariatric surgery program had more clinically significant psychological symptoms across multiple domains compared with those who successfully proceeded to bariatric surgery. Early identification and treatment of psychological symptoms may be important in helping adolescents successfully proceed to surgery.
CMOS Capacitive Biointerfaces for Lab-on-Chip Applications

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction On - Chip Sensing Electrodes Capacitive Biochemical Methods Capacitive Interface Circuits Microfluidic Packaging Conclusion References
Do Market Size and Remittances Explain Foreign Direct Investment Flows to Sub-Sahara Africa?

The paper analyzes the effect of remittances in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We apply an unbalanced panel data set for 40 African countries for the period 1981–2013. The results indicate positive and significant impacts of remittances on net FDI inflows to SSA conditioned on the level of per capita GDP in the host country. Therefore, a threshold of per capita GDP is needed for a SSA country to benefit from the positive impact of remittances on net FDI inflows. In addition, host country demand positively affects net FDI inflows to Africa, which supports the market size hypothesis.
Application of lightning optical path monitoring system on 500kV transmission lines in mountain area

In order to obtain optical path photographs of lightning strike with a higher resolution, providing the necessary technical means for the accurate identification of 500kV transmission line lightning fault in mountain area, we developed an embedded, low-power remote online Lightning Optical Path Monitoring System based on 3G communication technology. Then, a case containing a lightning which struck the transmission line was analyzed in this paper combined with the results of the Lightning Optical Path Monitoring System, State Grid Lightning Location System and the Transmission Line Distributed Fault Diagnosis System.
Interactive Wall: Dynamic Structure in Living Spaces

The Interactive Wall is a part of a dynamic living space that allows three-dimensional customization based on simple interactions. The goal is to present to users the idea of existing in a space that allows one to have a hand it forming its shape, and to understand how a user would respond to and interact with it. The project will also raise questions that should be considered when designing such dynamic systems in livable spaces. This paper will describe previous works that touch on these ideas, and will present a plan for the design, build, and interface of such an object.
A pseudo-thermodynamic description of dispersion for nanocomposites

Abstract Dispersion in polymer nanocomposites is determined by the kinetics of mixing and chemical affinity. Compounds like reinforcing filler/elastomer blends display some similarity to colloidal solutions in that the filler particles are close to randomly dispersed through processing. It is attractive to apply a pseudo-thermodynamic approach taking advantage of this analogy between the kinetics of mixing for polymer compounds and thermally driven dispersion for colloids. In order to demonstrate this pseudo-thermodynamic approach, two polybutadienes and one polyisoprene were milled with three carbon blacks and two silicas. These samples were examined using small-angle x-ray scattering as a function of filler concentration to determine a pseudo-second order virial coefficient, A2, which is used as an indicator for compatibility of the filler and polymer. It is found that A2 follows the expected behavior with lower values for smaller primary particles indicating that smaller particles are more difficult to mix. A2 is analogous to the excluded volume and long-range interaction potential for non-equilibrated nanocomposites. The measured values of A2 can be used to specify repulsive interaction potentials for coarse grain DPD simulations of filler/elastomer systems. In addition, new methods to quantify the filler percolation threshold and filler mesh size as a function of filler concentration are obtained. The results represent a new approach to understanding and predicting dispersion in polymer nanocomposites based on a thermodynamic analogy.
Chemical modification of Crotalus atrox phospholipase A2 by means of a photolabile phosphatidylethanolamine analog.

Although sequences have been reported for a number of pancreatic and venom phospholipase A2 enzymes, our knowledge of the interaction of these enzymes with their substrates is still very meager. There is general agreement (1,2) that a histidine residue plays a role in the catalytic reaction, but how it functions and what is the detailed course of the hydrolysis remains obscure. The necessary structural features for a compound to be a substrate have been known for some time (3,4), but we do not understand which of these features is involved in the protein-lipid interaction.
Assessing the Decision-Making Capacity of Terminally Ill Patients with Cancer.

Objective Despite the clinical, ethical, and legal magnitude of end-of-life decision-making, the capacity of terminally ill patients to make the medical decisions they often face is largely unknown. In practice, clinicians are responsible for determining when their patients are no longer competent to make treatment decisions, yet the accuracy of these assessments is unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore decision-making capacity and its assessment in terminally ill cancer patients. Methods Fifty-five patients with advanced cancer receiving inpatient palliative care and 50 healthy adults were administered the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T) to evaluate decision-making capacity with regard to the four most commonly used legal standards: Choice, Understanding, Appreciation, and Reasoning. Participants made a hypothetical treatment decision about whether to accept artificial nutrition and hydration for treatment of cachexia. Participants' physicians independently rated their decision-making capacity. Results Terminally ill participants were significantly more impaired than healthy adults on all MacCAT-T subscales. Most terminally ill participants were able to express a treatment choice (85.7%), but impairment was common on the Understanding (44.2%), Appreciation (49.0%), and Reasoning (85.4%) subscales. Agreement between physician-rated capacity and performance on the MacCAT-T subscales was poor. Conclusions The use of the MacCAT-T revealed high rates of decisional impairment in terminally ill participants. Participants' physicians infrequently detected impairment identified by the MacCAT-T. The findings from the present study reinforce the need for engagement in advance care planning for patients with advanced cancer.
Partner Abuse and HIV Infection: Implications for Psychosocial Adjustment in African American Women

A prospective study of the effects of partner abuse among HIV-infected and noninfected African American women (N = 137) revealed that there were both concurrent and longitudinal effects of abuse on several indices of psychosocial adjustment. Specifically, higher levels of both verbal and physical abuse were found among the HIV-infected group. In addition, the effects of abuse on suicidal ideation were significantly stronger among the HIV-infected group (n = 53) than among their demographically similar noninfected counterparts (n = 84), resulting in significant HIV status by partner abuse interactions. The findings of this study advance our understanding of intimate relationships with regard to partner abuse by examining a group of women at high-risk for abuse, yet understudied in both the HIV/AIDS and relationship literatures.
Control of Protein Synthesis by RNA Regulators

It is increasingly recognized that RNA plays a wide variety of roles in macromolecular synthesis. RNA can serve as the repository of genetic information (as in RNA viral genomes) or as a transient intermediary in the conversion of genetic information from a DNA to a protein form (mRNA). During the act of translation, RNA also serves a structural role (rRNA) and as an adaptor in the decoding operation (tRNA). RNA molecules serve as primers at the origin of DNA replication, as templates for telomere synthesis, as guide sequences during splicing and editing, and doubtless they subserve other functions yet to be described. Perhaps most dramatically, RNA molecules can display catalytic functions previously believed restricted to proteins. Finally, and most relevant here, RNA can play a regulatory role. Central to the present discussion is the observation that RNAs can regulate the efficiency of protein synthesis in the cell and the animal by controlling the activity of a protein kinase. This notion will be elaborated below.
Polygenicity of complex traits is explained by negative selection

Complex traits and common disease are highly polygenic: thousands of common variants are causal, and their effect sizes are almost always small. Polygenicity could be explained by negative selection, which constrains common-variant effect sizes and may reshape their distribution across the genome. We refer to this phenomenon as flattening, as genetic signal is flattened relative to the underlying biology. We introduce a mathematical definition of polygenicity, the effective number of associated SNPs, and a robust statistical method to estimate it. This definition of polygenicity differs from the number of causal SNPs, a standard definition; it depends strongly on SNPs with large effects. In analyses of 33 complex traits (average N=361k), we determined that common variants are ~4x more polygenic than low-frequency variants, consistent with pervasive flattening. Moreover, functionally important regions of the genome have increased polygenicity in proportion to their increased heritability, implying that heritability enrichment reflects differences in the number of associations rather than their magnitude (which is constrained by selection). We conclude that negative selection constrains the genetic signal of biologically important regions and genes, reshaping genetic architecture.
Mechanism and Resolution of Implant Induced Electrical Discharge Damage in GaAs IC

Electrical discharge damage is an unpredictable source of yield loss and a constant challenge to device reliability for the micro-electronics industry. There is considerable history and established methodology for handling charging effects for the silicon semiconductor sector, but literature is generally limited for GaAs and III–V compound semiconductor manufacturing. In this paper, electrical charging and subsequent discharge defects created during isolation implant processing of epitaxial wafers combining hetero-junction bipolar transistor and HEMT are discussed. As is common in semiconductor fabrication, a combination of the circuit layout, process sequence and tool configuration formed the ideal condition for a surge of electrical charging related yield failures. Through extensive examination and analysis, the primary source and mechanism of the failure were identified. These findings lead to development of proper detection and the resolution of the issue through key process improvements that ultimately enhanced yield and the GaAs integrated circuit die robustness against charging induced damage.
Social justice disaster relief, counseling, and advocacy: the case of the Northern California wildfires

Using our professional experiences with natural disaster relief, as well as existing theory, the authors introduce an equity-oriented framework – Social Justice Disaster Relief, Counseling, and Adv...
Sentimentalism about Moral Understanding

Some have attempted to explain why it appears that action based on deferential moral belief lacks moral worth by appealing to claims about an attitude that is difficult to acquire through testimony, which theorists have called “moral understanding”. I argue that this state is at least partly non-cognitive. I begin by employing case-driven judgments to undermine the assumption that I argue is responsible for the strangeness of deferential moral belief: the assumption that if an agent knows that some fact gives them a moral reason to act in some way, then they’re in a position to act that way for the moral reason given by that fact. I then argue that cases from non-moral epistemology concerning properly-based belief give us independent reason to reject this assumption and conclude by sketching a Davidson-inspired account of normative reasons that explains why acting for moral reasons requires the right non-cognitive state, which is worth calling a kind of moral understanding.
Evidences, Implications, and Critical Interrogations of Neoliberalism in Information Studies: An Introduction

Guest editors Jamie A. Lee and Marika Cifor introduce the issue on Evidences, Implications, and Critical Interrogations of Neoliberalism in Information Studies.
Maximizing outcomes in the treatment of radial head fractures

The radial head plays a critical role in the stability of the elbow joint and its range of motion. Injuries may occur across a spectrum of severity, ranging from low energy non-displaced fractures to high energy comminuted fractures. Multiple classification systems exist to help characterize radial head fractures and their associated injuries, as well as to guide treatment strategies. Depending on the type of fracture, non-operative management may be possible if early range of motion is initiated. Other options include open reduction and internal fixation or excision followed by arthroplasty. A lateral approach is typically used for adequate surgical exposure. Controversy still remains regarding operative management of more severe fractures, but studies have shown good outcomes after radial head replacement for these fractures. We will review the current treatments available for radial head fractures, highlighting gaps in knowledge, as well as providing recommendations for the care of these injuries. Level of evidence: Level V.
Spectral Analysis of a Finite-Difference Frequency-Domain Solver Based on the Quasi-TEM Approximation

A finite-difference frequency-domain (FDFD) solver, based on the quasi-TEM approximation, is analyzed to determine the validity of the quasi-TEM approximation as a function of frequency. A full-wave finite-difference time-domain characteristics in a transmission line structure (stripline) at frequencies in the vicinity of the lowest waveguide mode cutoff frequency. Results show that the transverse fields in the stripline are near constant over a wide range of frequencies, even at frequencies above the dominant waveguide mode cutoff frequency.
The Poetics and Politics of the Veil in Iran: An Archival and Photographic Adventure

Azadeh Fatehrad’s The Poetics and Politics of the Veil in Iran: An Archival and Photographic Adventure promises to offer the reader an adventure in the title, and it does exactly that. Despite much...
Tomographic mapping of the nanoscale water-filled pore structure in corroded borosilicate glass

Cryo-based atom probe tomography has been applied to directly reveal the water-solid interface and hydrated corrosion layers making up the nanoscale porous structure of a corroded borosilicate glass in its native aqueous environment. The analysis includes morphology and compositional mapping of the inner gel/glass interface, isolation of a tomographic sub-volume of the tortuous water-filled gel, and comparison of the gel structure with simulations. The nanoscale porous structure is qualitatively consistent with that of the molecular dynamics simulation, enabling in greater confidence in both interrogations. Comparison of the gel/glass interface between desiccated and cryogenically preserved samples reveals consistently abrupt B dissolution behavior and quantitative differences in the apparent H ingress into the glass. These comparisons give some guidance to future experimental approaches to understanding glass corrosion behavior. More broadly, the cryogenic preservation and 3D visualization of the native water/solid structure in 3D at the nanoscale has direct relevance to a wide range of materials systems beyond glass science.
Granulosa cell proliferation is inhibited by PGE2 in the primate ovulatory follicle.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a key paracrine mediator of ovulation. Few specific PGE2-regulated gene products have been identified, so we hypothesized that PGE2 may regulate the expression and/or act...
Managerial Influence and Organizational Performance

Agents need to be motivated to develop ideas and to share information regarding their potential value. When the agents fail to agree on which alternative to implement, the principal needs to decide how to resolve the disagreement. When the agents’ information is soft, favoring one of the agents in the case of disagreement is always optimal in the present setting. In contrast, if the information is hard, a balanced treatment of the agents is preferred to encourage competition. The reason for the difference is the high cost of sustaining both informative communication and effort in a balanced organization.
How various types of disabilities impact children’s school attendance and completion - Lessons learned from censuses in eight developing countries

Abstract Equity in education is a central issue for researchers and policymakers, and inequality in access to education for students with disabilities is one of the most critical challenges. Existing studies treat school-age children with different kinds of disabilities as a homogeneous group due to sample size limitations, while this study sheds light on the interaction between education systems and heterogeneous disabilities using census data from eight developing countries in 2006-2012, overcoming the problem of small sample size. We find that there are consistent gaps in education indicators between students with and without disabilities and students with different kinds of disabilities.
New Women: Sexological Outcomes of Male-to-Female Gender Reassignment Surgery

This research study investigated sexological outcomes of gender reassignment surgery in 17 postoperative male-to-female transsexuals (new women). Study procedures included self-report questionnaires, a structured interview, a medical history and physical examination with gynecological evaluation (the New Woman's Gynecological Index), and neovaginal blood flow assessment by photoplethysmography. The results of descriptive analysis, correlational analysis, discriminant analysis, and multiple regression analysis identifying predictors of good sexual functioning are presented. Gender reassignment was rated as successful by 94% of the new women. Two-thirds of the new women were orgasmic. The best predictors of orgasmic potential were genital sensitivity and congruence between gender identity and body. The best predictors of sexual satisfaction were the Stress Inventory total score and the genital neurosensory evaluation. The best predictors of overall success of gender reassignment were vaginal depth and vulva...
A nonparametric empirical Bayes approach to large-scale multivariate regression

Abstract Multivariate regression has many applications, ranging from time series prediction to genomics. Borrowing information across the outcomes can improve prediction error, even when outcomes are statistically independent. Many methods exist to implement this strategy, for example the multiresponse lasso, but choosing the optimal method for a given dataset is difficult. These issues are addressed by establishing a connection between multivariate linear regression and compound decision problems. A nonparametric empirical Bayes procedure that can learn the optimal regression method from the data itself is proposed. Furthermore, the proposed procedure is free of tuning parameters and performs well in simulations and in a multiple stock price prediction problem.
Predicting Gemcitabine Uptake by 18F-FAC in Murine Models of Pancreatic Cancer

1234 Introduction: PEGylated hyaluronidase (PEGPH20) has been proposed as a means of increasing drug uptake in pancreatic cancer, via its anti-stromal effects. To determine whether the success of this strategy could be validated by PET we employed 18F-FAC (29-deoxy-29-[18F] fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine), a PET tracer developed at UCLA, with close structural similarity to gemcitabine. Methods: 18F-FAC was synthesized at MSKCC according to a previously published protocol. Three patient derived xenograft (PDX) models were grown in the flanks of NOD/SCID mice. Mice were given PEGPH20 (Halozyme, San Diego CA) or vehicle i.v. 24 hours prior to co-injection of 18F-FAC and 14C-gemcitabine (Moravek Biochemicals, La Brea CA). Animals were sacrificed and imaged one hour after tracer administration on a Focus microPET. Tumor and muscle uptake of both 18F-FAC and 14C gemcitabine was obtained ex vivo. In some instances, tumor cryosections were prepared to demonstrate the efficacy of PEPGPH20 through staining with biotinylated hyaluronic acid binding protein. Additionally, an organoid culture initiated from a KPC (Pdx-1 Cre LSL-Kras G12D LSL-p53 R172H) tumor generously supplied by DA Tuveson, was used to generate orthotopically growing tumors in C57BL/6J mice, which were then serially transplanted. Animals were injected with PEGPH20 and 14C gemcitabine as described above to validate increased drug uptake by ex vivo assay. PET images were obtained using a PET insert on a 7T Brucker MR scanner. Animals were imaged immediately before injection with PEGPH20, and again 24 hours later. Results: Tumor/muscle ratiosof14C gemcitabine and 18F-FAC correlated well (r = 0.802) in two untreated PDX models. In a separate study, applying PEGPH20 and assessing 18F-FAC uptake by PET, 18F-FAC PET signal correlated strongly with ex vivo counts (r = 0.977). There was a significant increase in the tumor PET signal in PEGPH20 treated animals (6.95 %ID/g vs 5.44, p = 0.03) and in ex vivo counts (p= 0.044), though the effect disappeared when tumor/muscle ratios were considered. Ex vivo, PEGPH20 unambiguously raised 14C gemcitabine levels in KPC-derived tumors (T/M 2 vs 2.5, control vs treated, p = 0.0045). PET/MR 18F-FAC images showed a 12% increase in tumor 18F-FAC following PEGPH20 treatment (p=0.023). PEGPH20 treated animals uniformly displayed clear reductions in hyaluronic acid staining. Conclusions: PEGPH20 had moderate effects on tumor uptake of gemcitabine. 18F-FAC PET was shown to be a good surrogate for gemcitabine uptake, and when combined with MR, to successfully determine drug uptake in tumors growing in the pancreas.18F-FAC identified PEGPH20-increases in tumor gemcitabine.
Hemodynamic Profiles of Shock in Patients with COVID-19

Patients with serious COVID infections develop shock frequently. To characterize the hemodynamic profile of this cohort, 156 patients with COVID pneumonia and shock requiring vasopressors had interpretable echocardiography with measurement of ejection fraction (EF) by Simpson's rule and stroke volume (SV) by Doppler. RV systolic pressure (RVSP) was estimated from the tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity. Patients were divided into groups with low or preserved EF (EFL or EFP, cutoff ≤45%), and low or normal cardiac index (CIL or CIN, cutoff ≤2.2 L/min/m2). Mean age was 67 ± 12.0, EF 59.5 ± 12.9, and CI 2.40 ± 0.86. A minority of patients had depressed EF (EFLCIL, n = 15, EFLCIN, n = 8); of those with preserved EF, less than half had low CI (EFPCIL, n = 55, EFPCIN, n = 73). Overall hospital mortality was 73%. Mortality was highest in the EFLCIL group (87%), but the difference between groups was not significant (p = 0.68 by ANOVA). High PEEP correlated with low CI in the EFPCIL group (r = 0.44, p = 0.04). In conclusion, this study reports the prevalence of shock characterized by EF and CI in patients with COVID-19. COVID-induced shock had a cardiogenic profile (EFLCIL) in 9.6% of patients, reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on myocardial function. Low CI despite preservation of EF and the correlation with PEEP suggests underfilling of the LV in this subset; these patients might benefit from additional volume. Hemodynamic assessment of COVID patients with shock with definition of subgroups may allow therapy to be tailored to the underlying causes of the hemodynamic abnormalities.
Sanctioned terror: economic sanctions and more effective terrorism

The literature on unintended consequences of economic sanctions is well developed, but few studies have addressed terrorism in target states, and none have assessed whether that terrorism becomes more effective when sanctions are in place. In this study, we test whether economic sanctions lead to an increase in the lethality of terrorism. Using data from multiple sources, we find that while sanctions are unrelated to the rate of success of terrorist attacks, they are positively associated with the number of fatalities resulting from terrorist attacks. These findings further the need for policymakers to consider the consequences sanctions have on the target country populace.
Rapid detection of color-treated pearls and separation of pearl typesusing fluorescence analysis

Pearl identification plays a key role to maintain transparency in the gem industry by disclosing potential color treatments and classifying pearl species. Current techniques for pearl identification have been limited by expensive instrumentations and long measurement time, severely restricting their use outside of major gemological laboratories. There is a strong demand for simple and inexpensive identification instruments designed for non-specialized users and small-scale gemological laboratories. For this purpose, we demonstrate a portable fluorescence spectroscopy for pearl treatment detection and species classification based on pearl’s nacre fluorescence detection. This device can be used to rapidly separate naturally colored pearls from treated colored pearls, detect potential treatments applied to white colored pearls, and separate pearls between certain species in seconds, based on their differences in nacre fluorescence intensity. The system enables noninvasive testing of loose pearls, pearl strands, and mounted pearl jewelry under normal office lighting conditions. The experimental prototype demonstrates high accuracy for automatic pearl color treatment screening, referring 100% of the treated colored pearls. Furthermore, similar protocols can be applied to evaluate popular pearl enhancements such as bleaching and to extend its application to separate akoya pearls and their South Sea counterparts.