cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Society for Vascular Surgery Wound, Ischemia, foot Infection (WIfI) score correlates with the intensity of multimodal limb treatment and patient-centered outcomes in patients with threatened limbs managed in a limb preservation center.

Abstract Objective The Society for Vascular Surgery Wound, Ischemia, foot Infection (WIfI) system aims to stratify threatened limbs according to their anticipated natural history and estimate the likelihood of benefit from revascularization, but whether it accurately stratifies outcomes in limbs undergoing aggressive treatment for limb salvage is unknown. We investigated whether the WIfI stage correlated with the intensity of limb treatment required and patient-centered outcomes. Methods We stratified limbs from a prospectively maintained database of consecutive patients referred to a limb preservation center according to WIfI stage (October 2013-May 2015). Comorbidities, multimodal limb treatment, including foot operations and revascularization, and patient-centered outcomes (wound healing, limb salvage, amputation-free survival, maintenance of ambulatory and independent living status, and mortality) were compared among WIfI stages. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of wound healing and limb salvage. Results We identified 280 threatened limbs encompassing all WIfI stages in 257 consecutive patients: stage 1, 48 (17%); stage 2, 67 (24%); stage 3, 64 (23%); stage 4, 83 (30%); and stage 5 (unsalvageable), 18 (6%). Operative foot debridement, minor amputation, and use of revascularization increased with increasing WIfI stage ( P ≤ .04). Revascularization was performed in 106 limbs (39%), with equal use of open and endovascular procedures. Over a median follow-up of 209 days (interquartile range, 95, 340) days, 1-year Kaplan-Meier wound healing cumulative incidence was 71%, and the proportion with complete wound healing decreased with increasing WIfI stage. Major amputation was required in 26 stage 1 to 4 limbs (10%). Increasing WIfI stage was associated with decreased 1-year Kaplan-Meier limb salvage (stage 1: 96%, stage 2: 84%, stage 3: 90%, and stage 4: 78%; P = .003) and amputation-free survival ( P = .006). Stage 4 WIfI independently predicted amputation (hazard ratio, 12; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-94). Amputation rates in patients with severe Ischemia grade 3 were lower in those who underwent revascularization than in those who did not (14% vs 41%; P = .01) Ambulatory and independent living status at follow-up deteriorated significantly from baseline in stage 4 but not stage 1 to 3 patients. Mortality was not different between WIfI stages. Conclusions In patients treated aggressively for limb salvage, WIfI stage correlated with intensity of multimodal limb treatment and with limb salvage and patient-centered outcomes at 1 year. Revascularization improved limb salvage in severe ischemia. These data support the Society for Vascular Surgery WIfI system as a powerful tool to risk-stratify patients with threatened limbs and guide treatment.
Concordance of a positive tuberculin skin test and an interferon gamma release assay in bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccinated persons.

BACKGROUND: False-positive tuberculin skin test (TST) results due to prior bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination may lead to unnecessary treatment of presumed latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Recently approved interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) are more specific for LTBI in this group. METHODS: A total of 316 BCG-vaccinated foreign-born individuals with a positive TST had a commercially available IGRA (QuantiFERON ® -TB Gold In-Tube) performed as part of a two-step procedure to determine the need for isoniazid therapy. Baseline demographic information and TST size were recorded and analyzed for characteristics associated with an increased likelihood of having a positive IGRA. RESULTS: Increasing age, male sex, origin from a country with a high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB), shorter time since arrival in the United States, and increasing TST size were all independently associated with a positive IGRA. CONCLUSION: Patient characteristics and TST size can help determine those at highest risk for LTBI. A two-step procedure for LTBI screening should be considered for foreign-born persons with prior BCG vaccination and a positive TST.
Trade‐offs Between Efficacy and Cardiac Toxicity of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Early‐Stage Breast Cancer Patients: Do Competing Risks Matter?

Evidence about treatment efficacy and long-term toxicities for adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early-stage breast cancer is often presented in different formats and studies. This leads to challenges for patients and their physicians to adequately weigh the trade-offs between effectiveness and long-term cardiac toxicity when making decisions about adjuvant chemotherapy. We used a decision-analytic framework to quantify these trade-offs by combining the available evidence into a single, comparable metric. We developed a Markov model to simulate a hypothetical cohort of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients under three scenarios: no treatment, anthracycline (AC)-based adjuvant chemotherapy (more effective but also more cardiotoxic), and non-AC-based adjuvant chemotherapy. We derived the model parameters from medical literature (e.g., clinical trials). Our primary outcome is 10-year mortality, and other metrics such as cause of death; life years (LYs) and quality-adjusted LYs over 10 years were evaluated in sensitivity analysis. For 55-year-old women with a 10-year risk of metastatic recurrence <12.5% no chemotherapy resulted in the preferred strategy. In general, non-AC-based adjuvant chemotherapy resulted in lower 10-year mortality than AC-based chemotherapy. Patients with low risk of metastatic recurrence are better off without adjuvant chemotherapy regardless of the outcome considered (i.e., the risks of cardiac toxicity from chemotherapy outweighed the benefits). Trade-offs between effectiveness and induced cardiac toxicity impact health outcomes. The choice of adjuvant treatment must consider the patient's risk of distant recurrence and the quality of life associated with different health outcomes.
Effective Constitutive Response of Sustainable Next Generation Infrastructure Materials through High-Fidelity Experiments and Numerical Simulation

Abstract Design of novel infrastructure materials requires a proper understanding of the influence of microstructure on the desired performance. The priority is to seek new and innovative ways to develop sustainable infrastructure materials using natural resources and industrial solid wastes in a manner that is ecologically sustainable and yet economically viable. Structural materials are invariably designed based on mechanical performance. Accurate prediction of effective constitutive behavior of highly heterogeneous novel structural materials with multiple microstructural phases is a challenging task. This necessitates reliable classification and characterization of constituent phases in terms of their volume fractions, size distributions and intrinsic elastic properties, coupled with numerical homogenization technique. This paper explores a microstructure-guided numerical framework that derives inputs from nanoindentation and synchrotron x-ray tomography towards the prediction of effective constitutive response of novel sustainable structural materials so as to enable microstructure-guided design.
Abstract P346: Left Ventricular Function in Patients With Cardiomyopathy: Predictors of Long Term Improvement

Introduction: Spontaneous improvement in ejection fraction in patients with heart failure has been shown to occur in a small percentage of patients by 8-12 months. No studies exist on the long term improvement in left ventricular function beyond 12 months in patients with ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary academic center. Electronic medical records were reviewed to abstract data on patients with EF≤35% between July 2001 and June 2006. Echocardiographic reports were reviewed to ascertain if EF has improved over time (>12 months from initial echo) until April 2009. Patients who had an improvement in EF in Results: Inclusion criteria were met by 718 patients and had a mean EF of 30%. 11.4% of patients improved their EF over 44±19 months from a baseline EF of 27±7% to 48±8%. Mortality in the group with EF improvement was 11% and was 37% in the group without improvement (p= Conclusions: Patients with EF improvement had a lower mortality compared to those who did not. Survival benefit of ICDs in the group with EF improvement is statistically significant but not as much as the EF improvement in itself. Younger patients are more likely to improve their EF over long term. Further studies are necessary to clearly define the patients who are most likely to benefit from an ICD.
Representation Theory of Complex Semisimple Lie Algebras

In this chapter, we discuss the representation theory of complex semisimple Lie algebras. While we give full details for \( \mathfrak{s}{{\mathfrak{l}}_{n}} \)(ℂ), we only sketch the details for other semisimple Lie algebras. For more details, we refer the reader to [26].
Case 246: MR Imaging of a Complex Cystic Mass in a Newborn Girl

History A 6-day-old female neonate presented to the outpatient pediatric surgery clinic for evaluation of a possible prenatal abdominal mass. The neonate was delivered at term via cesarean section due to macrosomia, with a reported birth weight of 11 lb 8.7 oz (5.23 kg). The patient's postnatal course was remarkable for resolving neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. A physical examination was remarkable for a palpable mass in the abdomen. Maternal risk factors included class II obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Prenatal images obtained at an outside institution were not available at this time. Ultrasonography (US) of the abdomen and pelvis was performed 6 days after birth. Follow-up US at 29 days of life revealed no substantial change in the appearance of the findings. This patient remained asymptomatic, and gadolinium-enhanced (Magnevist; Bayer Pharma, Berlin, Germany) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the abdomen and pelvis was performed at 84 days of life. The mass was excised surgically at 89 days of life, and the patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course.
Removal of Tin from Extreme Ultraviolet Collector Optics by In - Situ Hydrogen Plasma Etching

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography produces 13.5 nm light by irradiating a droplet of molten Sn with a laser, creating a dense, hot laser-produced plasma and ionizing the Sn to the + 8 through + 12 states. An unwanted by-product is deposition of Sn debris on the collector optic, which focuses the EUV light emitting from the plasma. Consequently, collector reflectivity is degraded. Reflectivity restoration can be accomplished by means of Sn etching by hydrogen radicals, which can be produced by an H2 plasma and etch the Sn as SnH4. It has previously been shown that plasma cleaning can successfully create radicals and restore EUV reflectivity but that the Sn removal rate is not necessarily limited by the radical density. Additionally, while Sn etching by hydrogen radicals has been shown by multiple investigators, quantification of the mechanisms behind Sn removal has never been undertaken. This paper explores the processes behind Sn removal. Experiments and modeling show that, within the parameter space explored, the limiting factor in Sn etching is not radical flux or SnH4 decomposition, but ion energy flux. Thus the removal is akin to reactive ion etching.
Detectability of Galactic Faraday Rotation in multiwavelength CMB observations

We introduce a new cross-correlation method to detect and verify the astrophysical origin of Faraday Rotation (FR) in multiwavelength surveys. FR is well studied in radio astronomy from radio point sources but the $\lambda^{2}$ suppression of FR makes detecting and accounting for this effect difficult at millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelengths. Therefore statistical methods are used to attempt to detect FR in the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Most estimators of the FR power spectrum rely on single frequency data. In contrast, we investigate the correlation of polarized CMB maps with FR measure maps from radio point sources. We show a factor of $\sim30$ increase in sensitivity over single frequency estimators and predict detections exceeding $10\sigma$ significance for a CMB-S4 like experiment. Improvements in observations of FR from current and future radio polarization surveys will greatly increase the usefulness of this method.
Activation of the rat olfactory bulb by direct ventral stimulation after nerve transection.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to demonstrate how direct electrical stimulation can activate the olfactory bulb after denervation of the olfactory nerve input. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 5) were anesthetized and olfactory bulbs exposed. Olfactory nerves were transected by passing a Teflon blade between the cribriform plate and ventral surface of the bulb. A cochlear implant electrode array was used to stimulate 6 different positions along the ventral surface of the olfactory bulb. Biphasic constant-current pulses were used (50-1000 μA, 50-1000 μs) to stimulate the bulb, and a 16-electrode paddle array was used to record localized negative field potential responses at the dorsal surface of the bulb. RESULTS Localized negative field potentials were reliably obtained using biphasic, 500-μA, 200-μs pulses. A shift in stimulating position by 1 mm resulted in a significant change in the dorsal field potential. CONCLUSION Direct stimulation of the deafferented olfactory bulb was effective in generating localized field potential responses. These findings support the potential use of direct electrical stimulation for the treatment of anosmia.
Minding Justice: Laws That Deprive People with Mental Disability of Life and Liberty

Preface 1. The Clinical and Legal Landscape Part I: The Punishment Model 2. The Insanity Defense 3. Mental Disability and the Death Penalty Part II: The Prevention Model 4. A Jurisprudence of Dangerousness 5. The Civilization of the Criminal Law Part III: The Protection Model 6. Competency in the Criminal Process 7. Treatment Decision-Making Conclusion: Rethinking Legally Relevant Mental Disorder Notes Index
Endothelial Cells and Adhesion Molecules in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Under normal circumstances, entry of immune system cells into the central nervous system (CNS) is restricted by the blood-CNS barrier. However, with activation, cells of the immune system undergo changes that allow for an immune response within the CNS. The animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), is an important tool by which to investigate these processes. Using EAE, it has been shown that the establishment of an immune response in the CNS involves activation not only of the infiltrating inflammatory cells, but also of the CNS endothelial cells. Receptor-ligand interactions between CNS-EC and invading immune cells involved in EAE are multi-factorial. Particularly critical interactions occur between cell surface selectins on leukocytes and addressins on CNS-EC, and between integrins on leukocytes and their ligands on CNS-EC and other CNS cells. These interactions are good targets for potential therapies of MS, the human disease for which EAE is a model.
Personal Boundary Management and Social Structure

In one of his last published works, the late A.K. Rice advanced two propositions regarding the nature of the individual’s dynamic relationship to a social collectivity (1969). One of these tenets held that group membership inherently involves the potentiation of primitive, latent anxieties around the preservation of ego identity, that is the sense of self as a familiar, integrated and demarcated entity. As a corollary, Rice posited that the capacity for joining in the rational, task-oriented activities of a group was directly limited by the extent to which the individual needed to defend against these archaic threats to the integrity of self boundaries. Rice’s insights into these group-induced processes of regression and primitivization which affect the participant’s self concept have served as an important aspect of the theoretical elucidation of the interface between the personality system and social system. The present paper, incorporating recent contributions from such diverse areas as developmental psychology and object relations theory, aims at expanding upon and further articulating the self boundary issues attending participation in group life.
Impact of Patient Language on Emergency Medical Service Use and Prenotification for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background and Purpose:Use of emergency medical services (EMS) is associated with decreased door-to-needle time in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Whether patient language affects EMS utilization and ...
How do changes in income, employment and health insurance affect family mental health spending?

Using eight two-year panels from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data for the period 2004 to 2012, we examine the effect of economic shocks on mental health spending by families with children. Estimating two-part expenditure models within the correlated random effects framework, we find that employment shocks have a greater impact on mental health spending than do income or health insurance shocks. Our estimates reveal that employment gains are associated with a lower likelihood of family mental health services utilization. By contrast employment losses are positively related to an increase in total family mental health. We do not detect a link between economic shocks and mental health spending on behalf of fathers.
Transurethral ablation of a prostatic utricle cyst with the use of a holmium laser.

Objective To demonstrate a safe and effective approach to the treatment of obstructing midline prostate utricle cyst with the use of a holmium laser. Design Video presentation. Setting University hospital. Patient(s) A 33-year-old man presented with chronic pelvic pain, pain with ejaculation, and infertility. Semen analysis demonstrated oligoasthenospermia with poor viability and computerized tomographic scan identified the presence of a midline 2–3-cm prostatic cyst with dilated seminal vesicles bilaterally. Transrectal ultrasound in the office confirmed the diagnosis of midline obstructing prostatic utricle cyst and estimated the distance from the urethra. Intervention(s) Transurethral ablation of a midline prostate utricle cyst with the use of a holmium laser. Main Outcome Measure(s) Intraoperative technique highlighting the main steps for a transurethral ablation of a midline prostate utricle cyst with the use of a holmium laser. Result(s) This video highlights the technique for transurethral ablation of a midline prostate utricle cyst with the use of a holmium laser to unroof the cyst. Retrograde vesiculography was performed to confirm patency of the ejaculatory ducts. Outpatient surgery was tolerated well and the patient was discharged. After surgery at 4 weeks, his symptoms had abated and semen analysis revealed normozoospermia. Conclusion(s) We demonstrate safe and effective transurethral ablation of a midline prostate utricle cyst with the use of a holmium laser. Preoperative transrectal ultrasound or cross-sectional imaging can be useful for operative planning. When the orifices of the ejaculatory ducts can be identified, vesiculography can be performed to confirm patency of the ducts and seminal vesicles after relief of the obstructing cyst.
Weight stigma and acculturation in relation to hair cortisol among Asian Americans with overweight and obesity: A cross-sectional study.

Weight stigma is a pervasive problem for Americans, but little is known about its impact on the health of Asian Americans. Authors examined the relationship between weight stigma and cortisol and w...
A Review of Modern Assessment Methods for Metal and Metal-Oxide Based Primers for Substrate Corrosion Protection

Pigmented coatings developed for the corrosion protection of engineering alloys have been successful in the field of corrosion control, and thus are ubiquitous in application. Supporting this success are an array of methods to diagnostically assess these systems and measure their state of degradation. These methods assist the development of next generation coatings, in-service evaluation, and post-mortem analysis of performance. This review comprehensively explores these modern assessment methods, used to screen candidate corrosion prevention pigments, assess pigment protection efficiency, quantify overall pigment effectiveness, and/or predict coating service lifetime. Coating service life assessment is conducted based on the class of coating considered, as categorized by (1) chemical inhibition, (2) galvanic protection, (3) high impedance ion barrier, or a combination of these protection mechanisms. Exciting new in-situ and operando methods are growing in use to enable high fidelity measurement of chemical inhibitor release and deposition, such as micro and in-situ Raman spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), to name a few. In the galvanic protection coating class, service life and the state of coating performance are now being quantified through methods such as galvanostatic pulse and accelerated cycle testing. Galvanic throwing power is assessed by scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET), multi-electrode array (MEA), and scanning kelvin probe (SKP). The performance of high impedance ion barrier coatings has traditionally been understood through use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and equivalent circuit modeling, which have been applied to all coating classes. Finite element analysis (FEA) models the combined effects of coating resistance, water layer thickness, and pigment potential on galvanic coupling and/or inhibitor species release as well. The development of effective corrosion prevention pigments and the in-service evaluation of their efficiency/effectiveness demands a broad collection of techniques. These methods now include new advances in thermodynamic modeling via chemical stability diagrams to assess pigment function in specific conditions, in-situ pH measurement, as well as energy dispersive (EDS) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analyses to determine elemental distribution and corrosion product formation. These techniques and more are explored in this review to document the state-of-the-art in the field.
The bidirectional and directional hemispheric reflectance of Apollo 11 and 16 soils: Laboratory and diviner measurements

Abstract We have acquired a comprehensive laboratory bidirectional measurements of Apollo 11 and Apollo 16 lunar soil samples and have successfully fit photometric models to the laboratory data and have determined the solar spectrum averaged hemispheric reflectance as a function of incidence angle. The Apollo 11 (sample 10,084) and 16 (sample 68,810) soil samples are two representative end member samples from the Moon, dark lunar maria and bright lunar highlands. We used our solar spectrum averaged albedos in a thermal model and compared our model-calculated normal bolometric infrared emission curves with those measured by the LRO Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment. We found excellent agreement at the Apollo 11 site, but at the Apollo 16 site, we found that the albedos we measured in the laboratory were 33% brighter than those required to fit the Diviner infrared data. We attribute this difference at Apollo 16 to increased compaction and decreased maturity of the laboratory sample relative to the natural lunar surface, and to local variability in surface albedos at the Apollo 16 field area that are below the spatial resolution of Diviner.
Abstract 272: miRNA-7 Leads to Enhanced Fibrosis in the Heart

MicroRNA-7 (miR-7) is known to target epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) in oncogenic cells however, less is known about its role and function in the heart. Our studies have identified recip...
ARDS Subphenotypes: Understanding a Heterogeneous Syndrome.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a heterogeneous syndrome, presenting challenges to both frontline clinicians and researchers testing novel therapies. Identifying more homogeneous subgroups within the broader ARDS population could allow for more efficient testing of interventions in targeted cohorts of patients, as well as better-tailored therapy at the bedside. Over the past decade, various physiologic, clinical, and biologic characteristics have been used to identify ARDS patients at highest risk for poor clinical outcomes. Using those markers to select patients for enrollment in clinical trials is called prognostic enrichment. Similarly, some studies have shown that different subgroups of ARDS patients respond differently to a specific therapy. Selecting patients for trials based on a higher likelihood of responding to a therapy is called predictive enrichment. For example, a mix of clinical and biologic markers has been used to identify two distinct subphenotypes of ARDS—termed hypoinflammatory and hyperinflammatory—that not only are present in multiple different clinical trial populations, but have divergent clinical outcomes and may respond differently to several experimental therapies. The future of the field will involve developing more pragmatic methods to stratify ARDS patients, harnessing new ‘omics technology to improve subphenotyping, and using subphenotypes prospectively to guide enrollment in clinical trials of focused therapies for ARDS. Advances in our ability to discern subphenotypes within the general ARDS population could help us move from a one-size-fits-all approach to ARDS management to therapy tailored to the unique clinical and biologic profile of each ARDS patient.
Central Hypersomnias in Adult Women of Childbearing Age

The differential diagnosis of primary hypersomnias in women includes narcolepsy (type 1/with cataplexy and type 2/without cataplexy), idiopathic hypersomnia, recurrent hypersomnia (Klein-Levin Syndrome, menstrual-related hypersomnia), idiopathic hypersomnia, behaviorally induced insufficient sleep syndrome, hypersomnia due to a medical disorder, hypersomnia due to a medication or substance, and hypersomnia associated with a psychiatric disorder. The hallmark symptom of hypersomnia is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). There is evidence suggesting higher prevalence of EDS in women, possibly due to work and family responsibilities, increased prevalence of mood disorders, hormonal changes, and/or the underdiagnoses of sleep disorders in women. In the realm of recurrent hypersomnias, menstrual-related hypersomnia is especially of importance in the evaluation of women. Similarly, given the increased prevalence of depression in women, the relationship between hypersomnia and depression is important to be aware of in evaluating these patients as well. There are several different options for treatment of primary hypersomnias. Special consideration should be given when prescribing modafinil or armodafinil to women given the interaction of these medications with exogenous hormones and oral contraceptives, leading to reduced efficacy and increased clearance of these hormonal treatments. Not enough pregnancy safety data exists with any of the pharmacological treatments for hypersomnia.
Femtosecond Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy

Femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy is a method of time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy that has been developed since 1994. The method requires three ultrafast laser pulses: a 20–150 femtosecond (fs) actinic pump that excites a sample to an excited electronic state, a 1–3 picosecond (ps) Raman pump pulse that initiates the stimulated Raman transition, and a 20–150 fs broad-bandwidth probe pulse. In femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy, the probe experiences amplification at Raman resonances, that is, at wavelengths whose optical frequency differs from that of the Raman pump by an amount that matches a Raman-active molecular vibration in the sample.
Solar and sensor geometry, not vegetation response, drive satellite NDVI phenology in widespread ecosystems of the western United States

Abstract Satellite-derived phenology metrics are valuable tools for understanding broad-scale patterns and changes in vegetated landscapes over time. However, the extraction and interpretation of phenology in ecosystems with subtle growth dynamics can be challenging. US National Park Service monitoring of evergreen pinyon-juniper ecosystems in the western US revealed an unexpected winter-peaking phenological pattern in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time-series derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) imagery. In this paper, we assess the validity of the winter peaks through ground-based observation of phenology and examination of solar and satellite geometry effects. To test the premise of a true vegetation response, we analyzed NDVI values extracted from a time series of ground-based digital camera (‘phenocam’) images collected September 2017 to December 2018 in a pinyon-juniper woodland in Arizona, US. Results show pinyon and juniper growth peaked in the warm season, as did the other species in the phenocam field of view. NDVI time series from four other sensors (Landsat 7, Sentinel-2, VIIRS, and Proba-V) confirmed that winter peaks in this ecosystem are not limited to MODIS products. Examination of NDVI time series (2003–2018) derived from daily 250-m MODIS data in the broader pinyon-juniper ecosystem revealed that solar-to-sensor angle, sensor zenith angle, and forward/back-scatter reflectance explained >80% of intra-annual variability. Solar-to-sensor angle exerted the greatest control, and the direction of its correlation (positive) was the opposite of that which would be expected if it were driven by vegetation greenness. Solar-to-sensor angle is controlled seasonally by solar zenith angle and daily by variations in satellite overpass geometry. We mapped winter peaks across the western US in Google Earth Engine using 500-m MODIS MCD43A4 data, which correct for reflectance differences caused by view angle. In areas where winter vegetation peaks are ecologically improbable (i.e., locations with sub-freezing December temperatures), consistent winter peaks (≥ 14 years in 2003 to 2018) are widespread in both pinyon-juniper and non-pinyon-juniper conifer ecosystems; winter peaks are common (≥ 5 years in 2003 to 2018) across areas of shrubland. We attribute winter peaks to the positive correlation of NDVI with solar-to-sensor angle and solar zenith angle in combination with sparse, vertically oriented evergreen vegetation canopies. Increasing shadow visibility has been shown to increase overall NDVI, and the prevalence of the winter peaking in evergreen western sparse canopy ecosystems is consistent with this hypothesis. The extent of winter peaking patterns may have been previously overlooked due to temporal compositing, curve fitting, and incomplete snow screening.
Do graded representations support abstract thought

Relational reasoning requires the reasoner to go beyond her/his specific experience, abstracting from items to make inferences about categories and kinds on the basis of structural or analogical similarities. Reasoning about the relations same and different is one of the best-studied cases of relational reasoning, both across species and over human development, and has become a paradigm case study for abstract representation. However, decades of careful study have nonetheless produced seemingly contradictory findings — with surprising successes and puzzling failures — in both the comparative and developmental literatures. In this article, we review these literatures and suggest first steps toward a reconciliation of these contradictions by suggesting that same-different reasoning is supported by graded representations.
Classifying Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) Behaviors from a Novel, Multi-Sensor Tag.

Inertial measurement unit sensors (IMU; i.e., accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer combinations) are frequently fitted to animals to better understand their activity patterns and energy expenditure. Capable of recording hundreds of data points a second, these sensors can quickly produce large datasets that require methods to automate behavioral classification. Here, we describe behaviors derived from a custom-built multi-sensor bio-logging tag attached to Atlantic Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) within a simulated ecosystem. We then compared the performance of two commonly applied machine learning approaches (random forest and support vector machine) to a deep learning approach (convolutional neural network, or CNN) for classifying IMU data from this tag. CNNs are frequently used to recognize activities from IMU data obtained from humans but are less commonly considered for other animals. Thirteen behavioral classes were identified during ethogram development, nine of which were classified. For the conventional machine learning approaches, 187 summary statistics were extracted from the data, including time and frequency domain features. The CNN was fed absolute values obtained from fast Fourier transformations of the raw tri-axial accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer channels, with a frequency resolution of 512 data points. Five metrics were used to assess classifier performance; the deep learning approach performed better across all metrics (Sensitivity = 0.962; Specificity = 0.996; F1-score = 0.962; Matthew’s Correlation Coefficient = 0.959; Cohen’s Kappa = 0.833) than both conventional machine learning approaches. Generally, the random forest performed better than the support vector machine. In some instances, a conventional learning approach yielded a higher performance metric for particular classes (e.g., the random forest had a F1-score of 0.971 for backward swimming compared to 0.955 for the CNN). Deep learning approaches could potentially improve behavioral classification from IMU data, beyond that obtained from conventional machine learning methods.
Here To Stay: Measuring Hologram Stability in Markerless Smartphone Augmented Reality.

Markerless augmented reality (AR) has the potential to provide engaging experiences and improve outcomes across a wide variety of industries; the overlaying of virtual content, or holograms, onto a view of the real world without the need for predefined markers provides great convenience and flexibility. However, unwanted hologram movement frequently occurs in markerless smartphone AR due to challenging visual conditions or device movement, and resulting error in device pose tracking. We develop a method for measuring hologram positional errors on commercial smartphone markerless AR platforms, implement it as an open-source AR app, HoloMeasure, and use the app to conduct systematic quantitative characterizations of hologram stability across 6 different user actions, 3 different smartphone models, and over 200 different environments. Our study demonstrates significant levels of spatial instability in holograms in all but the simplest settings, and underscores the need for further enhancements to pose tracking algorithms for smartphone-based markerless AR.
Computational Methods for Electromagnetic Phenomena: Electrostatics in Solvation, Scattering, and Electron Transport

A unique and comprehensive graduate text and reference on numerical methods for electromagnetic phenomena, from atomistic to continuum scales, in biology, optical-to-micro waves, photonics, nanoelectronics and plasmas. The state-of-the-art numerical methods described include: Statistical fluctuation formulae for the dielectric constant Particle-Mesh-Ewald, Fast-Multipole-Method and image-based reaction field method for long-range interactions High-order singular/hypersingular (Nystrom collocation/Galerkin) boundary and volume integral methods in layered media for Poisson–Boltzmann electrostatics, electromagnetic wave scattering and electron density waves in quantum dots Absorbing and UPML boundary conditions High-order hierarchical Nedelec edge elements High-order discontinuous Galerkin (DG) and Yee finite difference time-domain methods Finite element and plane wave frequency-domain methods for periodic structures Generalized DG beam propagation method for optical waveguides NEGF(Non-equilibrium Green's function) and Wigner kinetic methods for quantum transport High-order WENO and Godunov and central schemes for hydrodynamic transport Vlasov-Fokker-Planck and PIC and constrained MHD transport in plasmas
Glocalization of Subway in India: How a US Giant Has Adapted in the Asian Subcontinent:

This paper examines how Subway, the US fast food restaurant franchise, has adapted to Indian culture. Glocalization theory will be the guiding framework used in this analysis. Glocalization rests on the premise that a universal concept must change to fit and function in a local culture. Blending the local and the global, it provides a passage to empowerment where modifications to a particular commodity can make it prosper in various traditions. Four important themes of glocalization emerged from this analysis: (1) adjustment of restaurant ambience; (2) adoption of Jain values; (3) adjustment of advertising practices; and (4) adjustment of the use of social media. An important conclusion is that, although India is embracing modernity, Subway has honoured many religious and cultural views in that nation.
Molecular characterization of a unique retrovirus associated with a fish tumor.

Abstract The walleye dermal sarcoma is a mesenchymal tumor which seasonally affects up to 27% of adult walleye fish (Stizostedion vitreum). It arises multicentrically in the dermis, in which its development remains restricted. We report the molecular cloning of a type C retrovirus from this tumor. The genome of this virus (13.2 kb) is larger than that of all retroviruses and in that respect is approximated only by the recently characterized spumaviruses. In tumors, the predominantly unintegrated linear viral DNA has a single-stranded gap region which is similar to the structure found in some lentiviruses and all spumaviruses. The presence of at least four viral transcripts suggests that this virus has the capacity to encode accessory functions and is reminiscent of the transcriptional complexity of lentiviruses and spumaviruses.
Adhesion and failure of polymer-metal interfaces in microelectronic packaging

This chapter focuses on polymer/metal interfaces. Attention is given to two common aspects of tremendous practical interest, namely, surface roughness andmoisture. Debonding of polymer/metal interfaces often involves both interfacial and cohesive failure. Since the cohesive strength of polymers is usually much greater than the polymer/metal interfacial strength, cohesive failure near the interface is usually desired to enhance the interfacial adhesion. Roughened surfaces generally produce more cohesive failure and, therefore, are used commonly in practice to obtain better adhesion. In this chapter, a fracture mechanics model is developed that can be used to quantitatively predict the amount of cohesive failure once the surface roughness data are given. Moisture, on the other hand, tends to degrade the interfacial strength. To quantify such degradation, a systematic and multidisciplinary study is conducted to better understand the fundamental science of moistureinduced degradation of interfacial adhesion. The approach is comprised of both experimental and modeling components of analysis and addresses some of the key issues needed to advance the understanding of the effect of moisture on interfacial adhesion.
The biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin in rat brain: purification and characterization of 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin (2'-oxo)reductase

Abstract An enzyme with 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin (6PPH4) (2'-oxo)reductase activity was purified to near homogeneity from whole rat brains by a rapid method involving affinity chromatography on Cibacron blue F3Ga-agarose followed by high performance ion exchange chromatography and high performance gel filtration. The enzyme has a single subunit of Mr 37,000 and has a similar amino acid composition to previously described aldoketo reductases. The reductase activity is absolutely dependent on NADPH, will only catalyze the reduction of the C-2'-oxo group of 6PPH4, and is inactive towards the C-1'-oxo group. However, the enzyme also shows high activity towards nonspecific substrates, such as 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, phenanthrenequinone, and menadione. The role of this 6PPH4 reductase in the formation of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) was investigated. Measurements were made of the rate of conversion of 6PPH4, generated from dihydroneopterin triphosphate with purified 6PPH4 synthase, to BH4 in the presence of mixtures of pure sepiapterin reductase and the 6PPH4 (2'-oxo)reductase purified from rat brains. The results suggest that when sepiapterin reductase activity is limiting, a large proportion of BH4 synthesis proceeds through the 6-lactoyl intermediate. However, when sepiapterin reductase is not limiting, most of the BH4 is probably formed via reduction of the other mono-reduced intermediate which is produced from 6PPH4 by sepiapterin reductase alone.
A method for deciding node densities in non-uniform deployment of wireless sensors

In a wireless sensor network, if the sensors are deployed uniformly across the network, they experience different traffic intensities, thereby, different energy depletion rates depending on their locations. Usually, the sensors near the sink tend to deplete their energy sooner; when enough of them exhaust their energy, they leave holes in the network, causing the remaining nodes to be disconnected from the sink. One of the solutions to this energy-hole problem is to deploy the sensors non-uniformly. This paper describes a method for deciding the sensor deployment densities so as to equalize the energy consumption rates of all nodes. The method is general and can be applied to other objectives and constraints.
Fractal Behavior of Single-Particle Trajectories and Isosets in Isotropic and Anisotropic Fluids

Fractal behavior associated with single-particle trajectories and isosets is observed in molecular dynamics simulations of liquids and superionic conductors. Fractal dimensions of trails and isosets are found to be 2 and 0.5, respectively. These values are shown to be universal in that they are independent of the spatial dimensionality, the nature of the interparticle interaction, and the thermodynamic state of the system.
Committee Ideology and the Decline of Prefloor Deliberations in the U.S. House

Which committees are most likely to be omitted from legislative deliberations? Does the ideological composition of committees affect the degree to which they participate in bill development? A large literature has examined panel rosters to determine whether committees are organized largely for informational or partisan purposes, but no study has examined how committee ideology affects committee activity. Using NOMINATE data, I calculate ideological scores for all House panels between 1989 and 2010 to see whether panel extremity is associated with the absence of markups. I find that polarized committees and committees with moderate chairs are frequently omitted from prefloor deliberations.
Regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in spinach chloroplasts by ribulose 1,5-diphosphate and NADPH/NADP+ ratios.

Abstract The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) from spinach chloroplasts is strongly regulated by the ratio of NADPH/NADP+, with the extent of this regulation controlled by the concentration of ribulose 1,5-diphosphate. Other metabolites of the reductive pentose phosphate cycle are far less effective in mediating the regulation of the enzyme activity by NADPH/NADP+ ratio. With a ratio of NADPH/NADP+ of 2, and a concentration of ribulose 1,5-diphosphate of 0.6 mM, the activity of the enzyme is completely inhibited. This level of ribulose 1,5-diphosphate is well within the concentration range which has been reported for unicellular green algae photosynthesizing in vivo. Ratios of NADPH/NADP+ of 2.0 have been measured for isolated spinach chloroplasts in the light and under physiological conditions. Since ribulose 1,5-diphosphate is a metabolite unique to the reductive pentose phosphate cycle and inhibits glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the presence of NADPH/NADP+ ratios found in chloroplasts in the light, it is proposed that regulation of the oxidative pentose phosphate cycle is accomplished in vivo by the levels of ribulose 1,5-diphosphate, NADPH, and NADP+. It already has been shown that several key reactions of the reductive pentose phosphate cycle in chloroplasts are regulated by levels of NADPH/NADP+ or other electron-carrying cofactors, and at least one key-regulated step, the carboxylation reaction is strongly affected by 6-phosphogluconate, the metabolite unique to the oxidative pentose phosphate cycle. Thus there is an interesting inverse regulation system in chloroplasts, in which reduced/oxidized coenzymes provide a general regulatory mechanism. The reductive cycle is activated at high NADPH/NADP+ ratios where the oxidative cycle is inhibited, and ribulose 1,5-diphosphate and 6-phosphogluconate provide further control of the cycles, each regulating the cycle in which it is not a metabolite.
Corruption, Attitudes, and Education: Survey Evidence from Nepal

Summary Social norms can reduce the costs of corrupt behavior and push a society toward a high-corruption equilibrium, but what determines individual attitudes toward corruption? How does acceptance vary across different types of corrupt behavior? An original survey of Kathmandu residents shows substantial variation in attitudes toward different types of corrupt behavior. Overall, respondents generally agreed that large-scale bribery was unacceptable, but there was relative discord over behaviors involving petty corruption, gift giving, and favoritism. Education consistently emerged as the primary determinant of these attitudes, with more educated respondents showing less accepting attitudes across the range of corrupt behaviors. These findings suggest that improving access to education in developing countries may reduce the presence of corruption norms and ultimately corruption itself, although further research is needed to test the strength of these relationships outside of Nepal.
Biocompatibility of poly(ethylene glycol)‐based hydrogels in the brain: An analysis of the glial response across space and time

Poly(ethylene glycol) or PEG-based hydrogels provide a useful methodology for tissue engineering and the controlled-release of drugs within the central nervous system (CNS). To be successful, the local neuroinflammatory response to an implant must be well understood. Toward this end, the focus was to examine the localized recruitment and activation of microglia and astrocytes following implantation of PEG-based hydrogels in the brain. Because they are of clinical relevance and may impact brain tissue differently, hydrogels with different mass loss profiles were examined. At all time points, a needle penetration in sham animals evoked a greater astrocytic response than hydrogel conditions. The astrocyte response that ensued varied with degradation rate. An attenuated response was present in more slowly degrading and nondegrading conditions. Relative to sham, hydrogel conditions attenuated the acute microglial response during the week after implant. By 56 days, microglial levels in shams decreased below the observed response in slowly degrading and nondegradable gels, which remained constant overtime. Although the inflammatory response to PEG-based hydrogels was complex depending on degradation rates, the magnitude of the acute microglia response and the long-term astrocyte response were attenuated suggesting the use of these materials for drug and cell delivery to the CNS.