cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Key Drivers of the US Government's Social Cost of Carbon: A Model Diagnostic and Inter-Comparison Study of Climate Impacts in DICE, FUND, and PAGE

The social cost of carbon (SCC) is a monetary estimate of the climate change damages to society from an additional emission of carbon dioxide (CO2). US agencies are now required to apply the SCC to assess the potential benefits of CO2 reductions in federal regulations, including rules and proposals affecting appliances, transportation, industry, and power generation. This paper presents the first in-depth model diagnostic and inter-comparison examination of the three integrated assessment models used to estimate the SCC – DICE, FUND, and PAGE – to reveal how they uniquely determine damages from climate change. Specifically, we reviewed the source code, published documentation, and underlying literature of each of the three models, and then performed controlled experiments to diagnose the contribution of particular sectors, regions, and other model assumptions (parametric and structural) to the resulting cost. We find that DICE and PAGE project substantially higher climate damages, and therefore higher SCC values, than FUND, which includes the potential for net benefits in the near-term. Despite the fact that FUND is highly-disaggregated sectorally and regionally, 95% of its SCC can be explained by a few damage function parameters related to cooling, agriculture, avoided heating, and water resources, particularly those for China. The DICE SCC can only be decomposed into sea level rise damages and an aggregation of all other damages, with the latter category being the dominant SCC driver. The PAGE SCC is mostly driven by non-economic damages, with all costs distributed globally though greatest in the US and least in the former Soviet Union. In all three models, impacts from sea level rise contribute less than one-tenth of the SCC. This study's diagnostic analysis improves public understanding of the SCC, informs future SCC estimation, and sets research priorities for climate impacts modeling.
Distributed sensing and nonlinear MISO models for predicting the propulsive forces of flexible, multi-DOF robotic fins

Fish are capable of producing a wide repertoire of 3D propulsive forces using their fins, and have inspired the development of compliant, multiple-DOF, robotic fins with similar capabilities. Most of these robotic fins are under open-loop control on propulsive force because the forces are challenging to model. Understanding how to predict propulsive forces for these types of fins would significantly advance the state of the art towards closed-loop control of forces. Distributed sensors within robotic fins have been used to predict propulsive forces using linear models, but these models fail to predict forces when fin kinematics become more complex. The objective of the work presented herein is to understand the use of nonlinear, multiple-input-single-output (MISO) Volterra series models between intrinsic sensory measurements and propulsive forces of a flexible robotic fin. Techniques in nonlinear system identification are used to address model conditioning. Nonlinear models predict the propulsive forces well, capturing features of both thrust and lateral forces. Nonlinear models significantly outperformed linear models both in cost of implementation and performance. The best sensor sampling practice was to sample from multiple locations with both pressure and bending modalities. Distributed sensing paired with nonlinear Volterra series models was successful for predicting the forces created by flexible robotic fins with complex kinematics and multiple degrees of freedom.
Modelling Closed Surface Geometry for Skull and Torso Using Snapping

Many branches of biomedical science and engineering require geometric modelling of human body parts. The success of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other imaging modalities of computer-aided tomography has lead to many achievements in the scientific visualization of parts of the human body [1],[2]. Typical methods based on slice data generate geometries containing hundreds of thousands triangles that provide excellent details for 3D visualizations, but cannot be used directly for scientific analysis with numerical methods because of to their huge size and lack of “smoothness.”
The Eerie Silence

Whether or not we are alone in the universe is one of the great outstanding questions of existence. For thousands of years it was restricted to the realm of philosophy and theology, but 50 years ago it became part of science. In April 1960 a young US astronomer, Frank Drake, began using a radio telescope to investigate whether signals from an extraterrestrial community might be coming our way. Known as the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, or SETI, it has grown into a major international enterprise, involving scientific institutions in several countries. Apart from a few oddities, however, all that the radio astronomers have encountered is an eerie silence. So is humankind the only technological civilization in the universe after all? Or might we be looking for the wrong thing in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Spatial Distribution of Generation of Lorenz’s Available Potential Energy in a Global Climate Model

AbstractPrevious studies have estimated global available potential energy (APE) and global APE generation, but no study has focused on the geographic distribution of contributions to global APE and APE generation. To obtain the information needed for this analysis, simulations were performed using the NCAR CESM1.0.4 climate model. Based on these simulation results, maps of the spatial and seasonal distribution of APE contributions and APE generation in the atmosphere were obtained from the analysis. APE is generated by processes that cool relatively cool areas or warm relatively warm areas. It was found that there are two regions of the mid- to upper troposphere that contribute primarily to APE generation: 1) the tropics, especially the western tropical Pacific, owing largely to latent heat released in the intertropical convergence zone, and 2) the polar regions, especially in the relatively cold polar night, where longwave cooling is not offset by shortwave warming. It was also found that these qualitati...
Who Wants to Follow the Leader? Using Personality and Work Value Profiles to Predict Preferences for Charismatic, Ideological, and Pragmatic Styles of Leading

Despite the contributions of charismatic and transformational theories, their universal applicability has recently been called into question. Dovetailing this debate is a growing interest in followers. We contribute to these discussions by examining the impact of follower individual difference profiles on preferences for charismatic, ideological, and pragmatic styles of leading. Drawing on Weber’s (1924) taxonomy of managerial authority in its reconceptualized form as the charismatic-ideological-pragmatic (CIP) model, we conducted a vignette study in which 415 working adults first completed an online survey assessing their personality and work values. Eight weeks later, a second survey asked them to read a fictional scenario about an organization and three speeches depicting each leader’s style. Participants then indicated their leader preference, which we sought to predict using their personality and work values profiles. Results of discriminant function analyses indicated certain linear combinations of personality and work values variables discriminated between participants’ leader preferences.
A Study of Diffusion in Lithium-ion Electrodes Under Fast Charging Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

An in-depth look at diffusion mechanics within lithium-ion electrodes under fast charging conditions is presented. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is used as the primary technique to investigate lithium diffusion within electrode material and in electrolyte near the electrode-electrolyte interface. Half-cells of silicon are charged under varying galvanostatic rates while obtaining impedance data. Collected data is analyzed with the help of an electrical equivalent circuit model that provides mechanical and electrochemical parameters for each instance. The novelty of this equivalent circuit partly lies in its ability to resolve between solid-phase diffusion and liquid-phase diffusion, both of which occur during cycling of a lithium-ion electrode. Observed patterns in the parameters of this circuit provide insight into impact of fast charging on mechanics of lithium diffusion, both inside the electrode matrix and within electrolyte.
Influence of the Body Schema on Multisensory Integration: Evidence from the Mirror Box Illusion.

When placing one hand on each side of a mirror and making synchronous bimanual movements, the mirror-reflected hand feels like one’s own hand that is hidden behind the mirror. We developed a novel mirror box illusion to investigate whether motoric, but not spatial, visuomotor congruence is sufficient for inducing multisensory integration, and importantly, if biomechanical constraints encoded in the body schema influence multisensory integration. Participants placed their hands in a mirror box in opposite postures (palm up, palm down), creating a conflict between visual and proprioceptive feedback for the hand behind the mirror. After synchronous bimanual hand movements in which the viewed and felt movements were motorically congruent but spatially in the opposite direction, participants felt that the hand behind the mirror rotated or completely flipped towards matching the hand reflection (illusory displacement), indicating facilitation of multisensory integration by motoric visuomotor congruence alone. Some wrist rotations are more difficult due to biomechanical constraints. We predicted that these biomechanical constraints would influence illusion effectiveness, even though the illusion does not involve actual limb movement. As predicted, illusory displacement increased as biomechanical constraints and angular disparity decreased, providing evidence that biomechanical constraints are processed in multisensory integration.
In welchem ich argumentiere, dass Bewusstsein eine grundlegende Eigenschaft von vernetzten Entitäten ist, und von der Theorie der integrierten Information schwärme, die viele rätselhafte Eigenschaften des Bewusstseins erklärt und eine Vorlage für den Bau empfindungsfähiger Maschinen liefert

Die Beschaftigung mit der physischen Basis des Bewusstseins steht im Zentrum meines intellektuellen Lebens – und das ist seit zwei Dutzend Jahren so. Francis Crick und ich haben Tage lang in seinen Studio gesessen und daruber diskutiert, wie lebende Materie subjektive Gefuhle hervorbringen kann. Wir haben zwei Bucher und zwei Dutzend gelehrte Artikel geschrieben und die Notwendigkeit erklart, bestimmte Aspekte des Bewusstseins mit bestimmten Gehirnmechanismen und -regionen zu verknupfen. Wir postulierten eine Beziehung zwischen Bewusstsein und der rhythmischen Entladung von corticalen Neuronen, die alle 20–30 Millisekunden feuern. (Unsere so genannte 40-Hertz-Hypothese erlebt momentan im Zusammenhang mit der selektiven Aufmerksamkeit eine Renaissance). Wir betonten, wie wichtig es ist, dass die Neurone ihre Aktionspotenziale synchron abfeuern. Wir unterstrichen die entscheidende Rolle der neocorticalen Pyramidenzellen in Schicht 5 als Vermittler fur den Inhalt des Bewusstseins. Wir argumentierten, dass eine geheimnisvolle Schicht von Neuronen unterhalb des cerebralen Cortex, das so genannte Claustrum (Vormauer), essenziell fur das Gewahrwerden von Perzepten ist, die Bilder und Schallereignisse oder Bilder und Tasteindrucke umfasst. Ich habe unzahlige grostenteils uberflussige Manuskripte und Bucher gelesen und an Hunderten von Seminaren teilgenommen (wobei ich gelegentlich eingeschlafen bin). Ich habe mit Wissenschaftlern, Freunden und Menschen aus allen Schichten der Gesellschaft uber Bewusstsein und Gehirn diskutiert. Ich habe sogar einen Brief an den Playboy zu diesem Thema geschrieben.
Macrophage Infection Models for Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis colonizes, survives, and grows inside macrophages. In vitro macrophage infection models, using both primary macrophages and cell lines, enable the characterization of the pathogen response to macrophage immune pressure and intracellular environmental cues. We describe methods to propagate and infect primary murine bone marrow-derived macrophages, HoxB8 conditionally immortalized myeloid cells, Max Planck Institute alveolar macrophage-like cells, and J774 and THP-1 macrophage-like cell lines. We also present methods on the characterization of M. tuberculosis intracellular survival and the preparation of infected macrophages for imaging.
Structural Health Monitoring Using Digital Speckle Photography

Infrastructure aging is of current national concern and the need to monitoring its state of health is paramount. The prevailing monitoring techniques are mostly point-wise and qualitative. In this paper we present some results on using the technique of DSP (Digital Speckle Photography) to monitor the deflection and strain distribution of a model bridge. A truss wood bridge with a span of 10 ft was constructed with pine wood beams of various sizes. A load of 400 lbs was distributed across the span using sand bags to simulate uniform load. One surface of the wood bridge was painted with a thin coat of retro-reflective paint. A 300w flood light was used to illuminate the bridge from one side of a 3008 x 2000 pixel CCD camera. Specklegrams before and after the application of load were recorded digitally and analyzed using a special program called CASI to yield deflection of the entire truss bridge as well as regional local strain distributions. The deflection result was compared with the finite element prediction and the strain results were compared with strain gage readings. Reasonable agreements were obtained.
Control of Gene Regulatory Networks Using Bayesian Inverse Reinforcement Learning

Control of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) to shift gene expression from undesirable states to desirable ones has received much attention in recent years. Most of the existing methods assume that the cost of intervention at each state and time point, referred to as the immediate cost function, is fully known. In this paper, we employ the Partially-Observed Boolean Dynamical System (POBDS) signal model for a time sequence of noisy expression measurement from a Boolean GRN and develop a Bayesian Inverse Reinforcement Learning (BIRL) approach to address the realistic case in which the only available knowledge regarding the immediate cost function is provided by the sequence of measurements and interventions recorded in an experimental setting by an expert. The Boolean Kalman Smoother (BKS) algorithm is used for optimally mapping the available gene-expression data into a sequence of Boolean states, and then the BIRL method is efficiently combined with the Q-learning algorithm for quantification of the immediate cost function. The performance of the proposed methodology is investigated by applying a state-feedback controller to two GRN models: a melanoma WNT5A Boolean network and a p53-MDM2 negative feedback loop Boolean network, when the cost of the undesirable states, and thus the identity of the undesirable genes, is learned using the proposed methodology.
Die Spinalanästhesie zur Wehenschmerzbehandlung

Die Spinalanasthesie hat im Vergleich zur Periduralanasthesie einen wesentlichen pharmakokoinetischen Vorteil. Epidural applizierte Medikamente mussen durch die „Dura-Cuff-Region“, beim Austritt der segmentalen Ruckenmarksnerven aus dem Spinalraum, diffundieren, um an ihren Angriffsort, die segmentalen Nerven und das Ruckenmark, zu gelangen. Subarachnoidal verabreichte Substanzen werden jedoch direkt an ihren Wirkort, die unmyelinisierten spinalen Nerverfasern, plaziert und werden daher nicht von den Diffusionsbarrieren des Periduralraumes beinflust. Die Spinalanasthesie produziert daher eine verlaslichere Blockade ohne
2KQ: Resource-Aware Middleware for Active and Configurable Distributed Services

Rapid growth of distributed services in heterogeneous environments calls for an adaptive and unified QoS framework, which allows flexibility and configurability in distributed service provisioning. In this paper, we present a resource-aware and component-based middleware called 2K Q . 2K Q enables active and configurable distributed services in highly dynamic and heterogeneous environments. The key idea of 2K Q is dynamic and resource-aware service configuration. Multiple service configurations are defined for the delivery of one distributed service: each service configuration consists of a different set of service components. At runtime, 2K Q dynamically select an appropriate service configuration for each service request, based on the current end-to-end resource availability condition. If a service component is not available on a host, 2K Q will initiate active downloading of this service component. The selected service configuration performs customized service delivery with satisfactory QoS to the requesting client. Our prototype of 2K Q as well as an example Video Streaming service on top of it demonstrate the soundness of 2K Q .
High-Risk Nutrients in the Aging Population

Many aging individuals have chronic health concerns, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, physical frailty and cognitive decline. As a modifiable risk factor, healthy diet offers tremendous promise for improving health and wellbeing with age. Unfortunately, intakes of several nutrients are inadequate for a large segment of the older population. These “shortfall nutrients” include macronutrients: protein, n-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber; vitamins: vitamins B6, B12, D, E, and carotenoids (vitamin A precursors); and minerals: calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Other nutrients tend to be consumed in excess, increasing risk of obesity, hypertension and related chronic conditions. These include: saturated fats (i.e. fatty meats, processed meat, full fat dairy products), trans fat (i.e. hydrogenated oils, margarine, shortening, many processed baked products, crackers), refined carbohydrate foods (i.e. soft drinks, fruit drinks, white bread and products with white flour, white rice), sodium (salt and sodium compounds in canned and other processed foods, table salt), and phosphorus (cola, processed meats and commercial baked products). Relative to food group intake recommendations, older adults tend to report inadequate intakes of fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts or seeds, fish, lean meat, poultry, and low fat fluid dairy products. Because of lower energy needs, but higher needs for some nutrients, the importance of these nutrient dense food groups is of central importance. Supplements may be needed in the case of nutrient deficiencies, and when health conditions or medications interfere with absorption or effective nutrient utilization of specific nutrients, making it difficult or impossible to obtain adequate intakes from diet alone. Examples of these include vitamin B-12 with atrophic gastritis, use of acid blocking medication, metformin or other interfering medications, and vitamin D for individuals who get inadequate sun exposure, and during the winter months in northern latitudes. For most nutrients, however, increasing intakes of nutrient dense whole foods, while reducing energy dense refined and processed foods, is the best way to optimize metabolism, protect cellular and organ function and maintain health with aging.
Exercise testing problems in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease

Problems associated with exercise testing will always require special consideration. Disease prevalence, analysis of multiple variables, lead selection and many factors influence the diagnostic power of the method. New information indicates that septal Q waves, R wave amplitude, and possibly QT intervals are of importance in the diagnosis of ischemia. The analysis of blood pressure and heart rate response also contribute to the predictive power. At times, the response to nitroglycerin and beta blockers will help in the analysis of ST changes. Also, the time of ST onset and offset are helpful. Although computer analysis of the ECG is becoming more common, special attention to the fiduciary points, especially the baseline, will help identify errors introduced by these machines.
Cerebral Blood Flow during Isovolemic Hemodilution: Mechanistic Observations

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes several experiments intended to provide some insight into the mechanisms by which hemodilution alters cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the normal brain. The results demonstrated that the expected increase in CBF has been accompanied by an increase in CBV indicating the occurrence of at least some active cerebrovasodilation. Tissue hematocrit has also been lower than arterial hematocrit. More importantly, tissue hematocrit decreased more rapidly during hemodilution than did arterial hematocrit. There are no differences in the flow patterns seen in the hemisphere contralateral to the lesion. However, a very different pattern has been seen for cortical CBF from anterior and posterior portions of the lesioned hemisphere, with a marked attenuation of the CBF response to hemodilution seen in lesioned animals. These results again support the concept that the CBF responses to hemodilution are active and can be abolished over a wide area by a small focal lesion. Two groups have directly compared the CBF effects of hypoxia and hemodilution. Both reported that reductions in CaO2 produced by either intervention resulted in similar CBF increases, suggesting that viscosity played little role. It has been suggest that nitric oxide (NO) may be playing a different role in hypoxic versus diluted animals. It is also speculated that this may be related to induce spreading depression, with consequent alterations in the function of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and perhaps NO production.
Forecasting Similar Time Series with Bayesian Pooling Methods: Application to Forecasting European Output Growth

It is shown how simple, easily motivated, pooling methods can be used to increase the accuracy of forecasts of similar time series, and how the use of parametrized prior distributions on the linear parameters of the models can provide large further improvements in accuracy. Two principle approaches are discussed: those which pool the data to arrive at similar models for all of the series and those which shrink the forecasts themselves toward a common value. All methods are explicated within the context of a simple Bayesian state-space structure, and issues regarding parameter estimation are discussed. The techniques are applied to forecasting the real output growth of several countries.
Designing Dynamic Support for Game-Based Learning

The role of support for game-based learning cannot be overemphasized. It remains inconclusive as to what, when, and how support for learning should be designed and implemented to foster learners’ extended engagement, in-game performance, and game-based disciplinary knowledge learning and transfer. In this chapter, we review prevalent support features in digital games, prior theoretical and empirical research on scaffolding and support in game-based learning, and the support design conjectures deemed effective. We then share our observations of the obstacles that learners experienced in game-based learning processes when using E-Rebuild, describe the corresponding learning support strategies and features, and report the findings from the iterative testing and refinement of these support features. Propositions for future research and the design of support for game-based learning are discussed in relation to the current project findings and prior research.
Endovascular Treatment of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis and Insights into Intracranial Coagulopathy

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) requires anticoagulation to promote vessel recanalization. Current anticoagulation paradigms utilize plasma tests from peripheral venous/arterial samples for therapeutic monitoring. We describe a medically-refractory case of CVST in a 35-year-old woman later found to have JAK2 mutation and essential thrombocytosis. Despite therapeutic anticoagulation levels, worsening cerebral edema and progression to coma prompted endovascular treatment. Failed endovascular thrombectomy attempts led to placement of 2 separate indwelling microcatheters for continuous infusion of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Forty-hours of continuous-tPA in addition to systemic intravenous-heparin led to complete radiographic and clinical resolution of CVST. Whole blood coagulation testing using Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) from simultaneous samples taken intracranially (via cerebral microcatheters) and peripherally (via antecubital vein) all revealed prolonged intrinsic pathway activation clotting times consistent with heparin anticoagulation use. However, both intracranial ROTEM samples identified faster clotting times compared to the peripheral sample suggesting lower anticoagulation levels intracranially. Our findings were speculative and hypothesis generating as to whether this explained medical treatment failure. If there are coagulopathy differences at local sites of injury not adequately captured by peripheral blood draws, further investigation is required to identify better approaches to avoid under-treatment of similar cases.
Clinicopathologic features, incidence, and survival trends of gynecologic neuroendocrine tumors: a SEER database analysis.

Background Primary gynecologic neuroendocrine tumors are uncommon malignant neoplasms associated with poor prognosis. Clinically, these tumors present a significant challenge because of the lack of standardized management guidelines. Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathologic features, incidence, and survival trends in gynecologic neuroendocrine tumors. Materials and Methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registry was queried for women diagnosed with primary gynecologic neuroendocrine tumors from 1987 to 2012. Data regarding stage, grade, presence of extrauterine disease, receipt of adjuvant radiation, surgical intervention, incidence, and overall survival were extracted. Patients were classified as having early-stage disease (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage I/II) or advanced-stage disease (Stage III/IV). Extrauterine disease was defined as either regional or distant metastasis. χ2 Tests, Pearson correlation, and Kaplan–Meier curves were used for statistical analysis. Results In all, 559 cases of gynecologic neuroendocrine tumors were identified during the study period: 242 cervical, 160 ovarian, 118 uterine, and 39 vulvar/vaginal. The majority of patients in all subsets of gynecologic neuroendocrine tumors presented with poorly differentiated tumors, extrauterine disease spread, and advanced-stage disease. Poorly differentiated tumors represented 65.0% of cervical tumors, 45.3% of ovarian tumors, and 57.4% of uterine tumors. Extrauterine disease at the time of diagnosis was present in the case of 66.9% of cervical tumors, 83.5% of ovarian tumors, and 83.6% of uterine tumors. The overall incidence of gynecologic neuroendocrine tumors increased 4-fold during the study period, from 0.3 in 1987 to 1.30 per million in 2012. The study period was divided into two 13-year periods (1987–1999 and 2000–2012) for time trend mean survival analysis. We observed no significant change in overall survival across all gynecologic neuroendocrine tumor subtypes. The mean survival time of cervical neuroendocrine tumors was 74.3 vs 45.4 months (P = .31), ovarian neuroendocrine tumors 47.8 vs 41.2 months (P = .56), and uterine neuroendocrine tumors 42.9 vs 47.7 months (P = .44) for each time period, respectively. Conclusion Neuroendocrine tumors of the gynecologic tract are uncommon aggressive malignancies. These poorly differentiated tumors present at advanced stage, with a high incidence of extrauterine disease. Despite 25 years of advances in cancer therapy, we observed no improvement in overall survival.
Differences in Substance Use-Related Attitudes across Behavioral and Primary Health Trainees: A Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Training Investigation

ABSTRACTIn order to investigate inter-disciplinary differences in substance use-related attitudes, 651 trainees from counseling, dentistry, nursing, physician assistant, and psychology programs wer...
Health Care Utilization and Payments of Postoperative and Drug Abuse-Related Spinal Infections.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis of data extracted from the MarketScan database (2000-2016) using International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9, ICD-10, and Current Procedural Terminology-4 codes. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the economic costs and health care utilization associated with spine infections. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Spinal infections (SI) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A recent spike in SI is attributed to the drug abuse epidemic. Management of SI represents a large burden on the health care system. METHODS We assessed payments and outcomes at the index hospitalization, 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow up. Outcomes assessed included length of stay, complications, operation rates, and health care utilization. Outcomes were compared between cohorts with spinal infections: (1) with prior surgery, (2) drug abuse, and (3) without previous exposure to surgery or drug abuse, denoted as control. RESULTS We identified 43,972 patients; 15.6% (N = 6847) of patients underwent prior surgery, 3.8% (N = 1,668) were previously expose to drug abuse while 80.6% fell into the control group. Both the postsurgical and drug abuse groups longer hospital stay compared with the control cohort (5 d vs. 4 d, P < 0.0001). Exposure to IV drug abuse was associated with increased risk of complications compared with the control group (43% vs. 38%, P < 0.0001). Payments at 1-month follow-up were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher among the postsurgical group compared with both groups. However, at 12-months follow-up, payments were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in the drug abuse group compared with both groups. Only postsurgical infections were associated with higher number of surgical interventions both at presentation and 1 year follow up. CONCLUSION SI following surgery or IV drug abuse are associated with higher payments, complication rates, and longer hospital stays. Drug abuse related SI are associated with the highest complication rates, readmissions, and overall payments at 1 year of follow up despite the lower rate of surgical interventions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
Mind-reading motivation: Individual differences in desire to perspective-take influence narrative processing

Abstract Previous research suggests a link between perspective-taking and the tendency to become immersed in narratives or literature. We extend that research by considering both individual differences and persuasion outcomes. Specifically, Mind-Reading Motivation (MRM) is an individual difference in the willingness to effortfully engage with other people’s perspectives and mental states. Stories may be most influential when readers put themselves in the place of another person, even a fictional other. In Study 1, higher MRM was correlated with more fiction reading but not more nonfiction reading. Studies 2a and 2b demonstrated that higher MRM was associated with greater transportation into a narrative. We replicated this effect in Study 3, showing that MRM was associated with both higher transportation and narrative persuasion. The effect of MRM on persuasion is mediated by connections to the characters. This research helps identify which individuals are most likely to be persuaded by narrative communications.
Use of Mobile Health Apps and Wearable Technology to Assess Changes and Predict Pain During Treatment of Acute Pain in Sickle Cell Disease: Feasibility Study.

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited red blood cell disorder affecting millions worldwide, and it results in many potential medical complications throughout the life course. The hallmark of SCD is pain. Many patients experience daily chronic pain as well as intermittent, unpredictable acute vaso-occlusive painful episodes called pain crises. These pain crises often require acute medical care through the day hospital or emergency department. Following presentation, a number of these patients are subsequently admitted with continued efforts of treatment focused on palliative pain control and hydration for management. Mitigating pain crises is challenging for both the patients and their providers, given the perceived unpredictability and subjective nature of pain. Objective: The objective of this study was to show the feasibility of using objective, physiologic measurements obtained from a wearable device during an acute pain crisis to predict patient-reported pain scores (in an app and to nursing staff) using machine learning techniques. Methods: For this feasibility study, we enrolled 27 adult patients presenting to the day hospital with acute pain. At the beginning of pain treatment, each participant was given a wearable device (Microsoft Band 2) that collected physiologic measurements. Pain scores from our mobile app, Technology Resources to Understand Pain Assessment in Patients with Pain, and those obtained by nursing staff were both used with wearable signals to complete time stamp matching and feature extraction and selection. Following this, we constructed regression and classification machine learning algorithms to build between-subject pain prediction models. Results: Patients were monitored for an average of 3.79 (SD 2.23) hours, with an average of 5826 (SD 2667) objective data values per patient. As expected, we found that pain scores and heart rate decreased for most patients during the course of their stay. Using the wearable sensor data and pain scores, we were able to create a regression model to predict subjective pain scores with a root mean square error of 1.430 and correlation between observations and predictions of 0.706. Furthermore, we verified the hypothesis that the regression model outperformed the classification model by comparing the performances of the support vector machines (SVM) and the SVM for regression. Conclusions: The Microsoft Band 2 allowed easy collection of objective, physiologic markers during an acute pain crisis in adults with SCD. Features can be extracted from these data signals and matched with pain scores. Machine learning models can then use these features to feasibly predict patient pain scores.
Timing of Cholecystectomy after Emergent Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography for Cholangitis.

Debate remains regarding the timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy after emergent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for acute cholangitis. We hypothesized that patients undergoing early laparoscopic cholecystectomy would have fewer operative complications and a lower conversion rate. This study is a retrospective review of an ERCP database from 2012 to 2016 of adults with a diagnosis of cholangitis secondary to choledocholithiasis who underwent ERCP followed by a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patient demographics, ERCP details, timing of operation ( 72 hours after ERCP), complications, and mortality were recorded. Analysis included chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, where appropriate. In the 127 patients (65 per cent male; median age, 67 years; 48 (38%) early surgery), there were no differences in demographics, BMI, vital signs, or laboratory values. Patients in the late surgery group were more likely to have a Charlson Comorbidity Index > 3 (P = 0.002), require pre-operative endoscopic sphincterotomy (P < 0.002), need pre-operative insertion of a ductal stent (P < 0.03), and had more postoperative complications (P = 0.04). Patients in the late laparoscopic cholecystectomy group had more comorbidities and suffered more complications.
Association between the metabolic syndrome and C-reactive protein in the general population

Background In the last few years, metabolic syndrome (MS) has gained much attention. The definition of the MS was established in 2005. Some studies have shown that there is an association between MS and inflammation, proven by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), but in limited population-based studies. This study tried to show the association between MS and us-CRP in the general population. Patients and methods A total of 200 persons were included in this cross-sectional study. The guidelines from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the American Heart Association were used in the diagnosis of MS. Any three of the following traits in the same individual meet the criteria for the MS: (a) abdominal obesity: a waist circumference of 102 cm or more in men and 88 cm or more in women, (b) serum triglycerides of 150 mg/dl or above, (c) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of 40 mg/dl or lower in men and 50 mg/dl or lower in women. (d) Blood pressure of 130/85 or more, (e) fasting blood glucose of 100 mg/or more. Commercial kits were used to determine the level of CRP. Results Individuals with MS had a higher mean us-CRP value in global measures (P Conclusion Us-CRP was highly associated with the presence of MS and MS criteria. Us-CRP is a good marker for showing the development of MS and may be used as a reference in routine care.
Simulation framework for evaluating lightweight spectral cameras in drone-based aquatic sensing applications

Optical remote sensing of aquatic environments using aerial drones is becoming more feasible as lightweight, low-power, spectral cameras increase in availability. Use of these cameras in such applications involves complex trade-offs in optical design and in deployment strategies, and simulations provide a means to examine this multidimensional design space to identify specific limitations on performance for a given measurement scenario. In this paper, such a simulation framework is developed, and its use in two realistic aquatic remote sensing scenarios is explored. Such a framework can provide insight into not only uses of existing camera systems, but also aspects of optical design or hardware that would lead to improved accuracy when using such cameras aerially over natural water bodies.
The Making of a Conservation Landscape: Towards a Practice of Interdependence

The role of indigenous peoples in the conservation of biological diversity and the role of biological diversity in the lives of indigenous peoples have attracted increasing amounts of attention in the conservation literatures. This interest has led to increasing calls to develop a better understanding of both the complexity and the potential of relations between indigenous groups and Western conservation ideas and organisations. This paper presents a case of landscape making in the Madidi region of Bolivia to take a close look at collaborations and conflicts between various groups—indigenous communities, conservation organisations, and protected area officials. I will demonstrate that these groups have emerged out of a process of creating a shared landscape and that they are interdependent—both deeply entwined and radically distinct. Building on recent scholarship, I highlight the importance of interdependence as an active process of becoming, in which the spaces of contact and friction become so complex that the existence of one group is contingent on active engagement with the other. I argue that the concept of interdependence provides a fresh look at histories of encounters and relations in the making of a conservation landscape—uncovering spaces of hope that offer something different for the people involved—and thus can prompt new ways of imagining and practicing conservation in the future.
Data Size Aware Forwarding in Opportunistic Mobile Networks

With the proliferation of mobile devices, sending data by taking advantage of the opportunistic contact in an opportunistic mobile network (OMN) becomes a hot topic. Many previous data forwarding schemes assume that content can always be entirely transmitted over a single contact. However, with the increase of data sizes, such an assumption may no longer hold. In this paper, we propose a data size aware forwarding (DSAF) scheme for OMNs. Our method dynamically discovers the maximum transmission unit of an arbitrary path (PMTU) so that the source can adjust the amount of data to send in each transmission. Since the performance of DSAF is largely dependent on the latency to get the Message Too Big (MTB) feedback message, we first conduct theoretical analysis of the latencies for the receiver(s) to receive MTBs and then compare our theoretical results with the practical ones using a real trace. Simulation results show that our theoretical values closely match the practical ones and our DSAF scheme implemented by additive and multiplicative decrease flavors have low overhead compared with the benchmark algorithm where PMTU is pre-known.
OER Initiatives at Liberal Arts Colleges: Building Support at Three Small, Private Institutions

INTRODUCTION Liberal arts colleges (LAC) are arguably ideal environments for the use of open educational resources (OER) given their shared emphasis on innovative pedagogy and individualized learning. However, library-led OER initiatives at LAC have just started to make progress. LAC librarians have very few models or sources of advice to which they can turn when planning OER initiatives suitable to their particular institutional context. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS In this article, librarians describe their experience promoting and supporting OER usage at three small, private LAC, each at a different stage in developing formal programs to assist faculty interested in adopting and creating OER. The authors discuss strategies employed, obstacles encountered, and lessons learned, providing practical advice for achieving OER success in the LAC environment. NEXT STEPS The authors believe practical advice for the LAC context will benefit librarians at various stages of OER program implementation.
EML webinar overview: Extreme mechanics of soft materials for merging human–machine intelligence

Abstract Long-term, high-efficacy and highly compatible interfaces between human bodies and machines are critical to both addressing grand societal challenges such as healthcare and answering great scientific questions such as understanding human brain. We propose to understand and exploit soft materials technology – polymers, elastomers, hydrogels and biological tissues with designed properties – to form the interfaces between human bodies and machines. In this Extreme Mechanics Letters (EML) webinar (Zhao, 2020), we discussed the design of soft materials to achieve extreme mechanical properties, which are crucial to forming such long-term, high-efficacy and highly compatible interfaces that can potentially merge humans and machines and their intelligence ultimately. EML Webinar speakers and videos are updated at https://imechanica.org/node/24098 .
Immune landscape of human prostate cancer: immune evasion mechanisms and biomarkers for personalized immunotherapy

Despite recent advances in cancer immunotherapy, the efficacy of these therapies for the treatment of human prostate cancer patients is low due to the complex immune evasion mechanisms (IEMs) of prostate cancer and the lack of predictive biomarkers for patient responses. To understand the IEMs in prostate cancer and apply such understanding to the design of personalized immunotherapies, we analyzed the RNA-seq data for prostate adenocarcinoma from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) using a combination of biclustering, differential expression analysis, immune cell typing, and machine learning methods. The integrative analysis identified eight clusters with different IEM combinations and predictive biomarkers for each immune evasion cluster. Prostate tumors employ different combinations of IEMs. The majority of prostate cancer patients were identified with immunological ignorance (89.8%), upregulated cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) (58.8%), and upregulated decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) (51.6%). Among patients with immunologic ignorance, 41.4% displayed upregulated DcR3 expression, 43.26% had upregulated CTLA4, and 11.4% had a combination of all three mechanisms. Since upregulated programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and/or CTLA4 often co-occur with other IEMs, these results provide a plausible explanation for the failure of immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy for prostate cancer. These findings indicate that human prostate cancer specimens are mostly immunologically cold tumors that do not respond well to mono-immunotherapy. With such identified biomarkers, more precise treatment strategies can be developed to improve therapeutic efficacy through a greater understanding of a patient’s immune evasion mechanisms.
Toward an ultrafast double-pulse stretcher─compressor

The design of an ultrafast double-pulse stretcher–compressor, which can be utilized in applications like Raman chirped adiabatic passage experiments, is presented. Experimental PG FROG traces obtai...
Diverging gaps in childcare time by parental education in South Korea.

BACKGROUND Parental time is a key resource for children's development. Studies in the United States highlight diverging gaps in parental time for children between highly educated and low-educated parents. South Korea offers an interesting context in which to examine the trend. OBJECTIVE This study assesses whether differences in childcare time have diverged or converged between parents with higher and lower levels of education over the 15-year period. Utilizing the advantage of household survey, the total amount of childcare time spent by both fathers and mothers is examined, in addition to separate time for each parent. METHODS The Korean Time Use Surveys (KTUS), conducted in 1999, 2004, 2009, and 2014, provide time diary data for two consecutive days. OLS regression models are applied to 14,044 married mothers and fathers who have at least one child under school age in order to examine how educational differences in childcare time have changed across the four surveys. RESULTS The OLS results show that both mothers and fathers have spent increasingly more time for childcare between 1999 and 2014, regardless of educational levels. However, the rise of time use is more substantial among mothers and fathers with a university degree than their counterparts with high school or less education. The diverging trend is even more evident for the combined childcare time spent by both mothers and fathers. CONTRIBUTION The divergence in childcare time by parental education is consistent with emerging trends of growing educational gaps in family behavior in Korea, raising the concern for diverging destinies between advantaged and disadvantaged children.