cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dark-matter decays and Milky Way satellite galaxies

We consider constraints on a phenomenological dark-matter model consisting of two nearly degenerate particle species using observed properties of the Milky Way satellite galaxy population. The two parameters of this model, assuming the particle masses are ≳ GeV, are v_k, the recoil speed of the daughter particle, and τ, the lifetime of the parent particle. The satellite constraint that spans the widest range of v_k is the number of satellites that have a mass within 300 pc M_(300)>5×10^6M_⊙, although constraints based on M_300 in the classical dwarfs and the overall velocity function are competitive for vk≳50 km s^(-1). In general, we find that τ≲30 Gyr is ruled out for 20 km s^(-1)≲v_k≲200 km s^(-1), although we find that the limits on τ for fixed vk can change by a factor of ~3 depending on the star-formation histories of the satellites. We advocate using the distribution of M300 in Milky Way satellites, determined by next-generation all-sky surveys and follow-up spectroscopy, as a probe of dark-matter physics.
Action chaining by a developmental robot with a value system

A developmental cognitive learning architecture with a value system is proposed for an artificial agent to learn composite behaviors upon the acquisition of basic ones. This work is motivated by researches on classical conditioning in animal learning areas. Compared to former works, the proposed architecture enables an agent to conduct learning in unknown environments through online realtime experiences. All possible perceptions and actions, including even the actual number of classes, are not available until the programming is finished and the robot starts to learn in the real world. Experiments with our SAIL (Self-organizing Autonomous Incremental Learner) robot are reported to show how a trainer instructed (or shaped) the behaviors of the agent through verbal commands.
Functional Differentiation of Bundle Sheath and Mesophyll Maize Chloroplasts Determined by Comparative Proteomics

Chloroplasts of maize (Zea mays) leaves differentiate into specific bundle sheath (BS) and mesophyll (M) types to accommodate C4 photosynthesis. Consequences for other plastid functions are not well understood but are addressed here through a quantitative comparative proteome analysis of purified M and BS chloroplast stroma. Three independent techniques were used, including cleavable stable isotope coded affinity tags. Enzymes involved in lipid biosynthesis, nitrogen import, and tetrapyrrole and isoprenoid biosynthesis are preferentially located in the M chloroplasts. By contrast, enzymes involved in starch synthesis and sulfur import preferentially accumulate in BS chloroplasts. The different soluble antioxidative systems, in particular peroxiredoxins, accumulate at higher levels in M chloroplasts. We also observed differential accumulation of proteins involved in expression of plastid-encoded proteins (e.g., EF-Tu, EF-G, and mRNA binding proteins) and thylakoid formation (VIPP1), whereas others were equally distributed. Enzymes related to the C4 shuttle, the carboxylation and regeneration phase of the Calvin cycle, and several regulators (e.g., CP12) distributed as expected. However, enzymes involved in triose phosphate reduction and triose phosphate isomerase are primarily located in the M chloroplasts, indicating that the M-localized triose phosphate shuttle should be viewed as part of the BS-localized Calvin cycle, rather than a parallel pathway.
U.S. Health Care Spending In An International Context

Using the most recent data on health spending published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), we explore reasons why U.S. health spending towers over that of other countries with much older populations. Prominent among the reasons are higher U.S. per capita gross domestic product (GDP) as well as a highly complex and fragmented payment system that weakens the demand side of the health sector and entails high administrative costs. We examine the economic burden that health spending places on the U.S. economy. We comment on attempts by U.S. policy-makers to increase the prices foreign health systems pay for U.S. prescription drugs.
Axial Wind Effects on Stratification and Longitudinal Salt Transport in an Idealized, Partially Mixed Estuary*

Abstract A 3D hydrodynamic model [Regional Ocean Model System (ROMS)] is used to investigate how axial wind influences stratification and to explore the associated longitudinal salt transport in partially mixed estuaries. The model is configured to represent a straight estuarine channel connecting to a shelf sea. The results confirm that wind straining of the along-channel salinity gradient exerts an important control on stratification. Two governing parameters are identified: the Wedderburn number (W) defined as the ratio of wind stress to axial baroclinic pressure gradient force, and the ratio of an entrainment depth to water depth (hs/H). Here W controls the effectiveness of wind straining, which promotes increases (decreases) in stratification during down-estuary (up-estuary) wind. The ratio hs/H determines the portion of the water column affected by direct wind mixing. While stratification is always reduced by up-estuary wind, stratification shows an increase-then-decrease transition when down-estuar...
Effects of Nintendo Wii on Quality of Life, Social Relationships, and Confidence to Prevent Falls

ABSTRACTOur society is aging and is the fastest growing sector of the population. The increased longevity of the population over 65 is also associated with declining health, impaired mobility, feelings of isolation, and loneliness (Drewnowski & Evans, ). Since the elderly population is steadily increasing, occupational therapy needs to focus attention on resources that promote independence and improve quality of life. Additional qualitative and quantitative research investigating the utilization of the Nintendo Wii on the geriatric population will benefit evidence-based practice. Purpose of study: This pilot study investigated the effects of the Nintendo Wii on quality of life, social relationships, and the confidence in the ability to prevent falls. Setting: This study was conducted at three assisted living facilities in the piedmont/triad area of North Carolina. Participants: Total sample size was 21 participants 60 years and older. Design: This study was a repeated measures design collecting both quant...
Predicting biomass partitioning to root versus shoot in corn and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

Abstract Knowledge of how plants will partition their new biomass will aid in understanding competition between crops and weeds. This study determined if the amount of biomass partitioned to the root versus the shoot can be predicted from tissue carbon [C] and nitrogen [N] concentrations and the daily gain in C (GC) and N (GN) for each unit shoot and root biomass, respectively. Pots measuring 28 cm diameter and 60 cm deep were embedded in the ground, and each contained one plant of either corn or velvetleaf. Each plant received one of three nitrogen treatments: 0, 1, or 3 g of nitrogen applied as ammonium nitrate in 2001 and 0, 2, or 6 g of nitrogen in 2002. Measurements of total above- and belowground biomass and tissue [C] and [N] were made at 10 different sample dates during the growing season. Fraction of biomass partitioned to roots (Pr) was predicted from [C], [N], GC, and GN. Accurate prediction of the fraction of biomass partitioned to roots versus shoots was evaluated by comparing observed and pr...
A Temperature-Stable Piezoelectric MEMS Oscillator Using a CMOS PLL Circuit for Temperature Sensing and Oven Control

In this paper, design, analysis, and implementation of a piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) oscillator on an ovenized microplatform is presented. An oxide-refill process is used to compensate the first-order temperature coefficient of frequency of MEMS resonators, as well as to realize thermal isolation structures. The technology enables fabrication of low-power ovenized device fusion platforms using standard silicon on insulator wafers. Utilizing the intrinsic frequency-temperature characteristic of two MEMS resonators, temperature sensing and closed-loop oven-control is realized by phase-locking two MEMS oscillators at an oven-set temperature. The design of the phase-lock control loop is studied using multidomain linear models. Control loop dynamics, noise properties, and nonideal effects are analyzed. Low-power and low-noise phase-locked loop-based control circuitry is designed in 0.18- $\mu \text{m}$ CMOS to interface with the MEMS resonators. Using the developed technology, an oven controlled MEMS oscillator exhibits an overall frequency drift of <8 ppm over −40 °C to 70 °C without the need for system calibration. In addition, the MEMS oscillators exhibit near zero phase noise degradation in closed-loop operation. [2015-0023]
Biophysical basis for convergent evolution of two veil-forming microbes

Microbes living in stagnant water typically rely on chemical diffusion to draw nutrients from their environment. The sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Thiovulum majus and the ciliate Uronemella have independently evolved the ability to form a ‘veil’, a centimetre-scale mucous sheet on which cells organize to produce a macroscopic flow. This flow pulls nutrients through the community an order of magnitude faster than diffusion. To understand how natural selection led these microbes to evolve this collective behaviour, we connect the physical limitations acting on individual cells to the cell traits. We show how diffusion limitation and viscous dissipation have led individual T. majus and Uronemella cells to display two similar characteristics. Both of these cells exert a force of approximately 40 pN on the water and attach to boundaries by means of a mucous stalk. We show how the diffusion coefficient of oxygen in water and the viscosity of water define the force the cells must exert. We then show how the hydrodynamics of filter-feeding orient a microbe normal to the surface to which it attaches. Finally, we combine these results with new observations of veil formation and a review of veil dynamics to compare the collective dynamics of these microbes. We conclude that this convergent evolution is a reflection of similar physical limitations imposed by diffusion and viscosity acting on individual cells.
'Save Fuel, Save the Nation': Oil, Liberation, and Political Economy in Tanzania

Using archival material from the Tanzanian Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and oral histories with its head oilman, this chapter examines African economic and political liberation as a complex technological project that was dispersed across the globe. I reveal how the technologies that were supposed to lead to liberation also imbricated Tanzania in costly externalities that sapped its ability to control the direction of economic and social change within its borders. Procuring, refining, and moving oil or building roads (asphalt is made of the by-product of oil refining) were considered necessary steps for newly independent nations to modernize. But these nation-building projects also linked Tanzania into a global assemblage of ideas and resources in which it participated as an unequal partner. By exploring the global oil crisis of the 1970s from the perspective of a developing nation, this research makes two historiographic contributions. First, it replaces a focus on nation-building as an ideological project with nation-building as a material project that required refineries, ships, crude oil, foreign exchange, and lines of credit. Second, it explores the costs of liberation efforts and challenges the notion that the transfer of external technology and expertise to Africa provides easy answers to post-colonial development.
iSIG-Blocks: interactive creation blocks for tangible geometric games

This paper presents interactive creation blocks, called iSIG-Blocks (interactive SIG-Blocks), for automated tangible geometric games. iSIG-Blocks can detect physical motions and assembly configurations using embedded sensors. Each block features programmable LED display, a buzzer, and a vibration motor to provide sensory feedback to the player. A graphical user interface and tangible pattern design software (TAPware) were also developed for game administration, performance monitoring, and game customization. TAPware incorporates a computational measure of geometric complexity for generating game items of varying difficulty levels. For preliminary evaluation, a tangible memory game, Memorix, was developed and tested on a small group of young adults (N=12). The test results revealed that accuracy in correctness and in manipulation speed measurements was over 98%. Also, high correlation was found between the game performance and the complexity measure (r=0.84, p<0.01). Parameter sensitivity analysis revealed that the participants’ failure rate was more sensitive to color than to length or geometric shape, used in the game pattern.
Abstract 4848: Pegylated arginine deiminase induces autophagy in canine melanoma and canine osteosarcoma

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Arginine is a nonessential amino acid in adult mice, men and dogs, which undergoes both synthesis and degradation in complex series of compartmentalized steps at the cellular and systemic level. The urea cycle enzymes are responsible for this axis and is dependent on the levels of are argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS1) and argininosuccinate lyase (ASL). It has been shown that many human tumor types are auxotrophic for L-arginine typically due to very low or no specific activities of ASS1 and/or ASL and are thus sensitive to induction of cell death as a result of the depravation of this single nutrient. Pegylated arginine-deiminase (PEGADI) is a molecule with this mechanism of action and has entered phase I and II clinical trials in humans where it has proven its clinical utility in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and melanoma. The cancer-bearing dog serves an excellent spontaneous out-bred immune competent large animal model for numerous homologous neoplastic diseases in humans. The purpose of this study is to determine the status of arginine-synthetic enzymes and then evaluate the action of PEGADI in cultured canine cancer melanoma (12, 23, 36) and osteosarcoma (D17, 48-4, 29) cell lines. Using western blot analysis we found that each of these six canine cell lines expressed ASS1 and ASL. PEGADI depleted arginine in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in the cultured canine melanoma and osteosarcoma as measured by HPLC. Furthermore, the canine melanoma and osteosarcoma cells were very sensitive to this depletion. In particular, there was a dramatic loss of clonogenic survival in these cells treated with PEGADI (IC50 range: 0.03 uM at 96 h to 0.3 at 24 h). This sensitivity was apparently due to caspase independent cell killing as caspase 3, 8, or 9 were not activated. Changes in cell cycle distribution were quantitated with flow cytometry. Despite the lack of caspase activation, there was an increase in the number of cells in the Sub G1 population. To determine if PEGADI induced autophagy in these cells the conversion of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B)-I to its lipidated form LC3B-II was assessed and showed there was a dose dependent induction of LC3B-II. Consistent with the induction of autophagy, results demonstrate an induction in the formation autophagolysosomes as determined by flow cytometery analysis of acridine orange staining of acidic vesicles, as well as fluorescent microscopy of treated cells stained with monodansylcadaverine. Our results support the notion that PEGADI may have clinical utility in the management of canine neoplasia. A clinical trial for this species is planned. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4848.
Preparing Engineers for a Global Future through Guided Opportunities to Innovate for Underserved Communities

The necessary transformation of engineering education is currently the focus of many debates, primarily focused on how best to prepare engineering students to innovate effectively in a future that is increasingly global. A global future means engineers will not be able to solely depend on their personal and local experiences when designing solutions. This article presents our approach to training future engineers to succeed in this complex global future through opportunities to innovate for underserved communities. Appropriately designed technology solutions can truly transform the lives of people in many situations; especially in underserved communities such as communities in the developingworld and people with disabilities. Yet, designing engineering solutions that are both relevant and accessible to underserved communities is often non-trivial because the innovation teamdoes not share much common ground with the target community. This leads to bad assumptions and other barriers clouding the innovation process, and ultimately resulting in poor solutions that may even exacerbate issues rather than solving them. Over the past decade, we have explored best practices in innovating for underserved communities, and educating students to follow these best practices. The stages of our innovation process include establishing strong partnerships, assessing needs, recruiting and training innovation teams, participatory iterative innovation, dissemination, and deployment. This article introduces our approach to engineering education, describes our innovation process, details the student experience, illustrates our innovation process through two specific projects, surveys the related work,and concludes with lessons learned and a brief summary of future work.
Conductivity of Styrene Lines on Si(100)-(2×1):H: Effects of Molecular Orientation and Surface Charge

First-principles electronic structure calculations of styrene lines on H-covered Si(100) show that phenyl ring orientations at chain ends are fluxional, favoring structures with the terminal ring a...
Innovative assessment of inpatient and pulmonary drug costs for children with cystic fibrosis

SummaryBackground Previous estimates of the cost of care for pediatric Cystic fibrosis (CF) showed wide variation, without specific summary of pulmonary drug costs. Methods Enrolled CF children from the Wisconsin newborn screening trial were evaluated quarterly per protocol. Assessments systematically included all treatments, hospitalizations, and nutritional and pulmonary outcomes. Direct medical costs from hospital billing and medical records from 1989 to 2010 were used to describe costs by age-ranges and subgroups throughout follow-up. Outpatient drugs were separated by category (pulmonary/otherwise). Inpatient and drug costs were examined by clinical risk factors (presence of meconium ileus, pancreatic insufficiency, and expected severity of genetic mutations). Results Seventy-three children were followed for an average of 12.9 years with an average annual total cost of care of $24,768. Outpatient drug costs (53%) and hospitalizations (32%) represented the majority of costs. Drug costs were 48% for pulmonary indications and 52% for non-pulmonary. Pulmonary drug costs for children taking dornase were 54% of their drug costs while pulmonary drug costs were only 31% for children not taking dornase. Significant differences in frequency of inpatient stays existed for children with pancreatic insufficiency. Substantial differences in treatment costs exist as children age and by clinical risk factor. Conclusion This study provides more accurate longitudinal estimates of CF care costs throughout childhood and shows that increasing age, pancreatic insufficiency, use of dornase, and hospitalizations are key determinants of cost. These estimates can be included in evaluations of the cost-effectiveness of new, highly expensive treatments being introduced for any CF population. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016; 9999:1–9. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Growth of Cs2LiCeCl6 Crystals and their response to gamma-rays and thermal neutrons(Conference Presentation)

The self-activated novel scintillating material, Cs2LiCeCl6, was grown and evaluated at BNL for dual gamma and thermal-neutron detector applications. Cs2LiCeCl6 belongs to the elpasolite family. Because of its cubic structure, Cs2LiCeCl6 has good potential for growth of large-volume ingots. The emission spectra showed doublet emission bands peaking at 384 nm and 402 nm, similar to CLYC. An energy resolution of ~ 6% at 662 keV was measured. Thermal neutrons were also detected with a resolution of ~ 4%. Results on the grown ingots using natural Li and enriched 6Li source materials will be presented and discussed.
Long-wavelength interband cascade infrared photodetectors towards high temperature operation

High temperature operation of long wavelength interband cascade infrared photodetectors (ICIPs) has been demonstrated with a working temperature above 300 K. We conducted a comparison study of three sets of ICIP structures, which comprise single absorber barrier detectors and multi-stage ICIPs with four, six and eight discrete absorbers. The 90% cutoff wavelength of these detectors was between 7.5 and 11.5 μm from 78 to 340 K. Advantages of the multi-stage ICIPs over the one-stage devices are demonstrated in terms of lower dark current density, higher detectivity (D*) and higher operating temperatures. Multiple stage ICIPs were able to operate at temperatures up to 340 K with a monotonically increasing bias-independent responsivity up to 280 K, while the one-stage detectors operated at temperatures up to 250 K with the responsivity decreased at 200 K with bias dependence. The D* values for these ICIPs at 200 and 300 K were higher than 1.0×109 and 1.0×108 cmˑHz1/2/W at 8 μm, respectively, which is more than a factor of two higher than the corresponding values for photovoltaic HgCdTe detectors with similar cutoff wavelengths. Interestingly, negative differential conductance (NDC) was observed in these detectors at high temperatures. The underlying physics of the NDC was investigated and correlated with the number of cascade stages and electron barriers. With enhanced electron barriers in the multiple-stage ICIPs, the NDC was reduced, and the device performance, in terms of D*, was improved.
Chapter 3 – The Nature of Evidence

Anything can be submitted for scientific analysis in an investigation, becoming the samples that yield data for forensic scientists to interpret. As evidence, however, these samples and data follow different rules than in other scientific, non-forensic laboratories. The context of the evidence is central to how it is analyzed and interpreted in the reconstruction of the criminal events. The scientific method still applies, however, and forensic scientists still employ that approach as do other non-forensic scientists. These differences and similarities will follow forensic scientists into the courtroom and either support, if done well, or weaken, if done poorly, the fruits of their scientific labors.
Erratum: Author Correction: Identification of donor microbe species that colonize and persist long term in the recipient after fecal transplant for recurrent Clostridium difficile.

The affiliation details are incorrect in this article. The correct affiliation details are given below: 1Biomedical Informatics, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; 2Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; 3Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; 4Department of Genetics and Heflin Center for Genomic Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; 5Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA and 6Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. In addition, this article was originally published without the accompanying supplementary tables. This file is now available in the HTML version of the article; the PDF was correct from the time of publication.
Breakdown of classical electrostatics in the depolarization of quantum wires and nanotubes

In quantum wires, such as metallic nanotubes, the optical absorption of the transverse polarization is controlled by the depolarization effect which stems from the redistribution of conduction electrons around the circumference of the system. The traditional electrostatics treatment of the depolarization effect relies on approximating the system by a cylinder with some effective dielectric permittivity. We demonstrate that this simple intuitive picture does not adequately describe optical absorption near its threshold, as the depolarization effect becomes dominated by many-body correlations which strongly modify the spectral dependence of absorption.
Congenital Disorders of the Child’s Cervical Spine

Anomalies of the cervical spine are rare and often are undetected. The anomalies can be life threatening, so it is important to be vigilant. The classic triad of low hairline, webbed neck, and limited cervical motion is the presentation of a variety of cervical spine anomalies. Many anomalies are difficult to detect because of apparently normal cervical spine motion. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for optimal surgical management. Multicenter studies are required to determine optimal treatment for os odontoideum and basilar invagination.
Quantitative surface field analysis: learning causal models to predict ligand binding affinity and pose

We introduce the QuanSA method for inducing physically meaningful field-based models of ligand binding pockets based on structure-activity data alone. The method is closely related to the QMOD approach, substituting a learned scoring field for a pocket constructed of molecular fragments. The problem of mutual ligand alignment is addressed in a general way, and optimal model parameters and ligand poses are identified through multiple-instance machine learning. We provide algorithmic details along with performance results on sixteen structure-activity data sets covering many pharmaceutically relevant targets. In particular, we show how models initially induced from small data sets can extrapolatively identify potent new ligands with novel underlying scaffolds with very high specificity. Further, we show that combining predictions from QuanSA models with those from physics-based simulation approaches is synergistic. QuanSA predictions yield binding affinities, explicit estimates of ligand strain, associated ligand pose families, and estimates of structural novelty and confidence. The method is applicable for fine-grained lead optimization as well as potent new lead identification.
A Hierarchy of Evolution Programs

In this book we discussed different strategies, called Evolution Programs, which might be applied to hard optimization problems and which were based on the principle of evolution. Evolution programs borrow heavily from genetic algorithms However, they incorporate problem-specific knowledge by using “natural” data structures and problem-sensitive “genetic” operators. The basic difference between GAs and EPs is that the former are classified as weak, problem-independent methods, which is not the case for the latter.
Can Social Reference Management Systems Predict a Ranking of Scholarly Venues

New scholarly venues (e.g., conferences and journals) are emerging as research fields expand. Ranking these new venues is imperative to assist researchers, librarians, and research institutions. However, rankings based on traditional citation-based metrics have limitations and are no longer the only or the best choice to determine the impact of scholarly venues. Here, we propose a venue-ranking approach based on scholarly references from academic social media sites, and we compare a number of citation-based rankings with social-based rankings. Our preliminary results show a statistically significant correlation between the two approaches in a number of general rankings, research areas, and subdisciplines. Furthermore, we found that social-based rankings favor open-access venues over venues that require a subscription.
Becoming a Police Ethnographer

Police ethnography is a field of interdisciplinary inquiry populated by scholars from a range of social scientific disciplines. Work in this area is united by the commitment to ethnographic inquiry—an approach which has traditionally been taken as offering an inside, up close view on the practice of policing as it takes place in daily life. This chapter charts the author’s circuitous route into police ethnography. In so doing, it shows how such an unconventional approach allowed the author to adopt a unique perspective on police and policing and revealed blind spots in the wider ethnography of police which have yet to be fully remedied.
Haciendo Ciencia, Preservo mi Región: una experiencia de enseñanza no formal en la región de Valparaíso, Chile

La disminucion en el interes de los jovenes por aprender ciencia, asi como la falta de valoracion y compresion de las ciencias por el publico general, son problematicas actuales y de importancia para la divulgacion cientifica, siendo atractivo utilizar estrategias de ensenanza-aprendizaje tipo Indagacion, en un contexto no formal, para aportar al desarrollo de habilidades cientificas. Ejemplo de ello, es el proyecto “Haciendo Ciencia, Preservo mi Region”, iniciativa que contemplo una serie de talleres en la tematica de preservacion y conservacion ambiental junto al desarrollo de una investigacion cientifica, para 260 alumnos de educacion primaria de la Region de Valparaiso.
Validation of Digital Visual Analog Scale Pain Scoring With a Traditional Paper-based Visual Analog Scale in Adults

Background:The visual analog scale (VAS) is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum between “no pain” and “worst pain.”Methods:One hundred consecutive patients aged ≥18 years who presente
Introducing a Novel Diagnostic Modality for Thyroid Cancer: Thyroidography.

Thyroid cancer, with an estimated 64,300 new cases and 1980 deaths in 2016, is the most common endocrine malignancy in the United States [1]. Even though thyroid cancer is associated with high over...
Leading with racial equity: promoting Black family resilience in early childhood

ABSTRACTIt has been 47 years since Billingsley and Giovannoni penned a pointed analysis of child welfare’s failure of Black children the United States. This conceptual paper asserts that this failu...
Ultrafast core-excited electron dynamics in model crystalline organic semiconductors

Electron transfer is key to the operation of devices based on molecular (organic) semiconductors. Others have shown that electron transfer in the solid state often proceeds on sub-50 fs timescales, the details of which can be difficult to temporally resolve using pump–probe spectroscopy. A popular technique to measure average time scales for such rapid electron-transfer events is the core-hole clock implementation of resonant Auger electron spectroscopy at a single X-ray absorption edge. This is often done on relatively small molecules with core-excited states that are highly localized. We have used resonant Auger spectroscopy to probe sub-50 fs electron dynamics of two relatively large model organic semiconductors: Cu phthalocyanine (CuPc) along with its fluorinated analog, F16CuPc. We have interrogated electron dynamics simultaneously at N and C K-edges, along with calculations of initial and final states participating in the core-excited states. Our measurements show that the electron dynamics differ substantially across the two absorption edges for a given molecule, and that there are significant differences at a given edge between the two derivatives. X-ray spectroscopy calculations suggest that the extension of π-electron density onto peripheral F atoms in F16CuPc is implicated in the large change in ultrafast electron dynamics upon fluorination. We believe our results have important implications for analysis of core-hole clock measurements on relatively large organic semiconductors.
Historical and Institutional Perspectives on American Agricultural Development

Biological innovations played a far more important role in American agricultural development than previously thought. These innovations were essential in allowing farmers to combat pests and diseases, to move the agricultural production into new environments, and to increase farm productivity. Many biological advances, especially those aimed at fighting contagious animal diseases, required unprecedented federal government interventions to overcome the free‐rider problem and to transfer new knowledge into effective public policy. Early USDA animal disease programs significantly increased productivity and trade in the livestock sector and prevented hundreds of thousands of untimely deaths in the United States from food‐borne illnesses by 1940.
Innovation, Technology Scope and Firm Productivity

In this paper, we examine the relationship between productivity and innovation, using the U.S. manufacturers' patent data from 1976-2006. First, we investigate whether productive firms actively participate in innovation in terms of having more patents. We then examine whether their innovation activities are involved in a wide spectrum of technological categories. Moreover, we are interested in, to successfully develop a new patent in a certain technological field, whether productive firms need to cite more or less patents within the field and/or across various related fields. The firm-level productivity is estimated as the total factor productivity (TFP). We find that: (1) productivity is positively correlated with the number of patents granted and the number of technological categories for these patents; and (2) productivity is positive correlated with the number of citations per granted patent, and is also positively correlated with the number of technological categories for cited patents per granted patent. Whereas the former finding indicates that productive firms actively conduct research and their innovation is involved in different technological fields, the latter suggests that, to develop a new patent, productive firms are capable of learning from cited patents in various technological fields.
Contouring the magnetically controlled growing rods: impact on expansion capacity and proximal junctional kyphosis.

To quantitatively determine the relationship between the contouring of the magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR), their expansion capacity and the risk of developing proximal junctional kyphosis in early onset scoliosis (EOS). MCGRs allow gradual expansion and correction of the spinal deformity in EOS while reducing the need for repeated surgeries. As the expansion of the MCGRs is controlled externally, several factors can impact the discrepancy between the intended and actual expansions of the rods. The expansion capacity of the growing rods as a function of the expanded length has been tested in experimental setups; however, no study has evaluated the role of contouring of the MCGRs on its function and long-term surgical outcome. A total of 25 EOS patients, a total of 48 MCGRs, with right thoracic curves, were studied retrospectively. All patients had two view spinal radiographs at pre-operative, after MCGR implantation, and after 6 lengthening visits. The first post-operative radiographs were used to calculate the 3D contour of the MCGR at the proximal end. 2D ultrasound images before and after lengthening visits were used to measure the rod lengthening at each visit. The relationship between the increase in the rod length and rod curvature was determined. Finally, the rod curvature was correlated to the changes in proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) angle between the pre-operative and the most recent follow-up, i.e., after 6 visits. The average rod 3D angle at the proximal end was 13.5° ± 9.7° [0°-37.2°]. The overall increased length after six lengthening visits for the rod at the concave side was 18.8 mm and at the convex side was 16.9 mm. 62% of the patients with a contoured rod at the proximal end developed a PJK exceeding 10° whereas in patients with a straight rod PJK occurred in 9.1%. Contouring the MCGR impacts both the mechanics of the rod expansion and the prevalence of PJK in EOS patient population.
E-044 Capitated pricing model for stroke thrombectomies: a single institution experience

Introduction With a continued rise in health care expenditures, there is a demonstrable focus on curbing expenses. Recent studies estimate direct and indirect costs of stroke to be $73.7 – 103.5 billion1,2. Since 2015, numerous studies demonstrate the benefit of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for treatment of large vessel occlusions (LVOs)3–10; however, notable costs are associated with devices utilized in each procedure. Some institutions have negotiated capitated pricing models in an effort to reduce these costs; however, the cost savings has yet to be critically evaluated. Materials and Methods We reviewed mechanical thrombectomy cases performed at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s (UPMC) Presbyterian and Mercy hospitals between February 2018 and August 2019, identifying those meeting criteria under capitation models negotiated with Companies A, B, and C (table 1). We calculated the cost of equipment for each thrombectomy using the negotiated cost for individual devices utilized and compared this sum to the total derived from cost-negotiated bundled equipment packages, resulting in the difference between non-capitated and capitated cost. Results 107 cases were identified as meeting the criteria for capitation under the negotiated contracts; 39 cases using Company A (28 using stentrievers), 44 cases using Company B (3 using stentrievers), and 24 cases using Company C (14 using stentrievers). Total cost of equipment with the capitated model was $689,435 compared to $891,805.50 with the non-capitated model, a difference of $202,370.50. This amounted to $1,891.31 savings per case. Mean capitation model equipment costs were $1,245.26 [$570.00 – $7,670.00], $1,110.80 [$165.00 – $5,755.00], and $4,372.10 [-$64.00 – $16,116.00] lower per case than non-capitation for Companies A, B, and C, respectively. The variation in cost savings between companies relates to multiple devices utilized that raise non-capitated costs. When combining the stentriever and non-stentriever bundles, irrespective of company, the capitated model yielded $2947 ± 3759 and $1124 ± $1330 savings compared to the non-capitated model, respectively. Conclusion Overall, at our institution, the negotiated capitation model yielded total cost savings, savings within each company, and with bundles including or not including stentrievers. This may serve as a model for other centers in controlling costs for patients undergoing MT for LVO. Disclosures K. Shah: None. M. Brown: None. S. Desai: None. B. Jankowitz: 2; C; Medtronic. T. Jovin: 2; C; Stryker Neurovascular (PI DAWN - Unpaid), Blockade Medical. 5; C; Anaconda, FreeOx Biotech, Route92. 6; C; Honoraria: Cerenovus. A. Jadhav: None. B. Gross: 2; C; Medtronic, Microvention.
Identifying Task-Related Brain Functional States Via Cortical Networks

A long standing goal of neuroscience studies has been to understand how brain functions are related to behavior. In this paper, we investigate changes in brain functional networks under two behavioral conditions (lick (L) and no-lick (NL)) across two frequency bands. Cortical activity in Thy1-GCaMP6s transgenic calcium reporter mice is recorded during L/NL activity experiments using widefield calcium imaging. We demonstrate how cortical connectivity can be used to identify behavior-related brain states. Connectivity links that significantly contribute to the network difference of L and NL behavioral conditions are spatially localized in two frequency bands. The effectiveness of cortical networks in predicting L and NL behavior are assessed using commonly-used classifiers. Results demonstrate that frequency-dependent cortical network analysis can be utilized to decode the brain states associated with behavior.
A Parametric Study on Factors Influencing the Onset and Propagation of Aortic Dissection Using the Extended Finite Element Method

Objective: Aortic dissection is a life-threatening event which starts most of the time with an intimal tear propagating along the aortic wall, while blood enters the medial layer and delaminates the medial lamellar units. Studies investigating the mechanisms underlying the initiation sequence of aortic dissection are rare in the literature, the majority of studies being focused on the propagation event. Numerical models can provide a deeper understanding of the phenomena involved during the initiation and the propagation of the initial tear, and how geometrical and mechanical parameters affect this event. In the present paper, we investigated the primary factors contributing to aortic dissection. Methods: A two-layer arterial model with an initial tear was developed, representing three different possible configurations depending on the initial direction of the tear. Anisotropic damage initiation criteria were developed based on uniaxial and shear experiments from the literature to predict the onset and the direction of crack propagation. We used the XFEM-based cohesive segment method to model the initiation and the early propagation of the tear along the aorta. A design of experiment was used to quantify the influence of 7 parameters reflecting crack geometry and mechanics of the wall on the critical pressure triggering the dissection and the directions of propagation of the tear. Results: The results showed that the obtained critical pressures (mean range from 206 to 251 mmHg) are in line with measurement from the literature. The medial tensile strength was found to be the most influential factor, suggesting that a medial degeneration is needed to reach a physiological critical pressure and to propagate a tear in an aortic dissection. The geometry of the tear and its location inside the aortic wall were also found to have an important role not only in the triggering of tear propagation, but also in the evolution of the tear into either aortic rupture or aortic dissection. A larger and deeper initial tear increases the risk of aortic dissection. Conclusion: The numerical model was able to reproduce the behaviour of the aorta during the initiation and propagation of an aortic dissection. In addition to confirm multiple results from the literature, different types of tears were compared and the influence of several geometrical and mechanical parameters on the critical pressure and direction of propagation was evaluated with a parametric study for each tear configuration. Significance: Although these results should be experimentally validated, they allow a better understanding of the phenomena behind aortic dissection and can help in improving the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
Multimodal brain predictors of current weight and weight gain in children enrolled in the ABCD study

Multimodal neuroimaging assessments were utilized to identify generalizable brain correlates of current body mass index (BMI) and predictors of pathological weight gain (i.e., beyond normative development) one year later. Multimodal data from children enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study® at 9-to-10-years-old, consisted of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), resting state (rs), and three task-based functional (f) MRI scans assessing reward processing, inhibitory control, and working memory. Cross-validated elastic-net regression revealed widespread structural associations with BMI (e.g., cortical thickness, surface area, subcortical volume, and DTI), which explained 35% of the variance in the training set and generalized well to the test set (R2 = 0.27). Widespread rsfMRI inter- and intra-network correlations were related to BMI (R2train = 0.21; R2test = 0.14), as were regional activations on the working memory task (R2train = 0.20; (R2test = 0.16). However, reward and inhibitory control tasks were unrelated to BMI. Further, pathological weight gain was predicted by structural features (Area Under the Curve (AUC)train = 0.83; AUCtest = 0.83, p < 0.001), but not by fMRI nor rsfMRI. These results establish generalizable brain correlates of current weight and future pathological weight gain. These results also suggest that sMRI may have particular value for identifying children at risk for pathological weight gain.
Iraq’s popular mobilisation units: intra-sectarian rivalry and Arab Shi’a mobilisation from the 2003 invasion to Covid-19 pandemic

The Popular Mobilisation Units’ (PMU) rise in Iraq resulted from a de facto, post-2003 hybridization of security governance, opposed to an emergency measure to combat Islamic State after 2014. Rather than a cohesive sectarian movement, the PMU moniker granted a government veneer to an array of pre-existing or new militias, representing a decentralized Shi’a Arab mobilisation prior to 2014, symptomatic of Iraq’s divisive patronage politics. Perceived by the US and the Arab world as ‘pro-Iranian Shi’a militias’, as a spoiler to Iraq’s sovereignty, and an Iranian means of securing its control over Baghdad, while some militias began as NSAAs, the PMU have evolved into quasi-state actors by becoming part of the state, but not under its complete control. Ultimately, their power within Iraq is constrained by the other political institutions, such as the electoral cycle, the Shi’a clerical establishment, and a protest movement, in addition to a pandemic, Covid-19.
CUDAMicroBench: Microbenchmarks to Assist CUDA Performance Programming

Programming to achieve high performance for NVIDIA GPUs using CUDA has been known to be challenging. A GPU has hundreds or thousands of cores that a program must exhibit sufficient parallelism to achieve maximum GPU utilization. A system with GPU accelerators has a heterogeneous and deep memory system that programmers must effectively and correctly use to fully take advantage of the GPU’s parallelism capability. In this paper, we present CUDAMicroBench, a collection of fourteen microbenchmarks that demonstrate performance challenges in CUDA programming and techniques to optimize the CUDA programs to address these challenges. It also includes examples and techniques for using advanced CUDA features such as data shuffling between threads, dynamic parallelism, etc that can help users optimize the CUDA program for performance. The microbenchmark can be used for evaluating the performance of GPU architectures, the memory systems of GPU itself and of the whole system architectures, and for evaluating the effectiveness of compiler and performance tools for performance analysis. It can be used to help users understand the complexity of heterogeneous GPU-accelerator systems through examples and guide users for performance optimization. It is released as BSD-licensed open-source from https://github.com/passlab/CUDAMicroBench.git.