cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction matrix localization (IML) permits solution of larger scattering problems

The interaction matrix localization (IML) replaces the usual N-by-N moment method matrix, with N/sup 2/ nonzero elements, by a sparse N-by-N matrix with roughly 100 N nonzero elements. It gives a similar reduction in the number of operations required per iteration for iterative solution methods. While these savings are significant, additional reductions are possible by using the structure of the sparse matrix to develop preconditioners which allow a solution in fewer iterative steps. The method considered is preconditioning by incomplete LU (ILU) decomposition. A problem is solved with N=15000 using less memory than that required for N=1500 problems using standard methods. The number of operations necessary to iteratively solve for each incidence angle (i.e., the right hand side of the matrix problem) is approximately equal to the number of operations needed by standard methods to solve for each right hand side, even after the inverse of the moment method matrix has been calculated. Saving orders of magnitude in the storage needed and in the execution time needed extends the range of applicability of the moment method to significantly larger bodies. >
Amplitude and phase noise of self-pulsations in laser diodes

The amplitude and phase noise of individual harmonic of self-pulsations in a two-section laser diode have been characterised experimentally. Both amplitude and phase noise are 1/f in nature for 10 kHz frequency offsets.
Education, Income and Ethnic Differences in Cumulative Biological Risk Profiles in a National Sample of US Adults: NHANES III (1988–1994)

Data from the nationally representative NHANES III cohort were used to examine the hypothesis that socio-economic status is consistently and negatively associated with levels of biological risk, as measured by nine biological parameters known to affect health risks (i.e., diastolic and systolic blood pressure, pulse, HDL and total cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin, c-reactive protein, albumin and waist-hip ratio), resulting in greater cumulative burdens of biological risk among those of lower education and/or income. As hypothesized, consistent education and income gradients were seen for biological parameters reflecting cardiovascular, metabolic and inflammatory risk: those with lower education and income exhibiting greater prevalence of high risk values for each of nine individual biological risk factors. Significant education and income gradients were also seen for summary indices reflecting cumulative burdens of cardiovascular, metabolic and inflammatory risks as well as overall total biological risks. There were no significant ethnic differences in the patterns of association between socio-economic status and biological risks. Multivariable cumulative logistic regression models revealed that the education and income effects were each independently and negatively associated with cumulative biological risks, and that these effects remained significant independent of age, gender, ethnicity and lifestyle factors such as smoking and physical activity.
A pilot trial of topiramate for the treatment of cocaine dependence

Background: Both GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons appear to be important modulators of the brain reward system and medications that affect GABA and glutamatergic neurotransmission may reduce the rewarding properties of cocaine and reduce cocaine craving. Topiramate, an anticonvulsant, raises cerebral GABA levels, facilitates GABAergic neurotransmission and inhibits glutametergic activity at AMPA/kainite receptors. Thus, it may be useful for treating cocaine dependence. Methods: The efficacy of topiramate for cocaine dependence was tested in a 13-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial ( n = 40). Topiramate was titrated gradually over 8 weeks to a dose of 200 mg daily. The primary outcome measure was cocaine abstinence verified by twice weekly urine benzoylecgonine tests (UBT). Results: Eighty-two percent of subjects completed the trial. Analysis of the UBT using a GEE model showed that after week 8, when the dose titration was completed, topiramate-treated subjects were more likely to be abstinent from cocaine compared to placebo-treated subjects ( Z = 2.67, P = 0.01). Topiramate-treated subjects were also more likely to attain 3 weeks of continuous abstinence from cocaine (χ 2 = 3.9, d.f. = 1, P = 0.05). Conclusion: Topiramate may be effective for the treatment of cocaine dependence.
Wind‐driven lateral circulation in a stratified estuary and its effects on the along‐channel flow

[1] In the stratified rotating estuary of Chesapeake Bay, the Ekman transport drives a counterclockwise lateral circulation under down-estuary winds and a clockwise lateral circulation under up-estuary winds (looking into estuary). The clockwise circulation is about twice as strong as the counterclockwise circulation. Analysis of the streamwise vorticity equation reveals a balance among three terms: titling of the planetary vorticity by vertical shear in the along-channel current, baroclinic forcing due to sloping isopycnals at cross-channel sections, and turbulent diffusion. The baroclinic forcing is highly asymmetric between the down- and up-estuary winds. While the counter-clockwise lateral circulation tilts isopycnals vertically and creates lateral barolinic pressure gradient to oppose the Ekman transport under the down-estuary wind, the clockwise circulation initially flattens the isopycnals and the baroclinic forcing reinforces the Ekman transport under the up-estuary wind. The Coriolis acceleration associated with the lateral flows is of the first-order importance in the along-channel momentum balance. It has a sign opposite to the stress divergence in the surface layer and the pressure gradient in the bottom layer, thereby reducing the shear in the along-channel current. Compared with the non-rotating system, the shear reduction is about 30–40%. Two summary diagrams are constructed to show how the averaged streamwise vorticity and along-channel current shear vary with the Wedderburn (W) and Kelvin (Ke) numbers.
Multiscale modeling of nanoscale device fabrication

Density function theory calculations provide the foundation for hierarchical modeling of the processes controlling fabrication of nanoscale devices. The roles of atomistic methods in nanotechnology modeling are described and examples of their application given. The resulting physical models provide both deeper insight into the processes controlling device fabrication, as well as tools for technology development and optimization.
Energy and sustainability, from the point of view of environmental physics

The author defines sustainability as the condition that must be developed globally for humanity to flourish until technology advances extraterrestrial travel that will allow migration to another planet once conditions here deteriorate. The emphasis is on anthropogenic climate change caused primarily by changes in the chemistry of the atmosphere due to dominant use of fossil fuels. This review is focused on climate change. It is based on the understanding that anthropogenic climate change is caused primarily by changes in the chemistry of the atmosphere due to dominant use of fossil fuels. Stabilization of the climate requires energy transition from business as usual scenarios to a mixture of noncarbon based energy sources. The starting point for discussing this transition is the so-called Kaya–IPAT identity, which parametrizes the transition in terms impact (I) driven by population growth (P), increase in the standard of living (A), the required energy intensity, and the transition to different sources of energy (T), i.e., both “hard” and “soft” science parameters. Important issues that are not explicitly part of the identity are the differentiated requirements of developed and developing countries and the required duration of such transition. Such a transition inevitably involves winners and losers and is, thus prone to lead to political conflicts on local and global scale. Such a transition brings also opportunities for future growth. The review highlights some of the specific opportunities that such a transition brings to material science.
The Subject Effaced: Identity and Race in Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino’s stated ambition for Django Unchained was to create a film that grapples with “America’s horrible past with slavery . . . but do them like spaghetti westerns.” This article considers the implications of those priorities—a serious treatment of slavery on one hand, and reference to genre tropes on the other. It concludes that, although the spaghetti Western may be particularly well suited to depict the nihilistic and dehumanizing violence that undoubtedly characterized chattel slavery, the genre’s resistance to the representation of human subjectivity mirrors the relative silence around the psychological dimension, not only of slavery, but also of continuing crisis of structural racism in the post–civil rights era. As such, through the specific narrative and aesthetic strategies he employs, Tarantino unwittingly undermines his own pretensions to social consciousness, producing instead a film that reflects and reproduces the ignorance, strategic silence, and White guilt surrounding America...
Flight Test Results for Glide Slope Control of Parafoil Canopies of Various Aspect Ratios

The addition of glide slope control to guided airdrop systems has the potential to provide dramatic improvements in landing accuracy. Dynamic rigging incidence control has been demonstrated in flight test and shown to provide effective glide slope control. The current work presents a description of the development of a flight test vehicle for exploring variable incidence angle control and a summary of flight test results exploring the range of glide slope control that can be achieved with high performance parafoil canopies of two different aspect ratios. The low and medium aspect ratio canopies have peak glide ratios of 4.4 and 4.9, respectively. By varying incidence angle in flight, glide slope can be reduced from these peak values to a glide slope near 2 for both canopies. Flight tests investigating the relationship between symmetric brake and incidence control demonstrate that symmetric braking produces effective airspeed control with little effect on glide slope, while varying incidence angle produces significant effects on both glide slope and airspeed. Finally, it was found that the rapid variation of incidence angle in flight can lead to significant long period oscillations in glide slope and airspeed.
Exploring the Synthesis Parameters and Spark Plasma Sintering of Tantalum Carbide Powders Prepared by Solvothermal Synthesis

Tantalum carbide is a technologically important material for use in ultra-high temperatures and corrosive environments. In this report, we describe the scalability of a low temperature solvothermal method for the preparation of this useful material. X-ray diffraction shows phase-pure powders with no change in average crystallite size or compound stoichiometry compared to synthesis in smaller batches, remaining at 25 nm and 0.94 respectively. Dynamic light scattering shows a slight decrease in particle size distribution with scale-up. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in air shows a decrease in surface species on the powders, but the powders oxidize at a lower temperature when scaling the synthesis. Mass spectrometry performed alongside TGA in a helium atmosphere reveals that water is the most abundant species on the surface of the powders, but oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen are also detected. Oxygen analysis reveals that the oxygen content of the powders is high (>6%). The oxygen source and methods of decreasing oxygen content are discussed. Initial sintering trials were performed and demonstrate the need for further powder processing.
Design and Experimental Verification of a Dust Removal Device for a Magnetically Stabilized Fluidized Bed

The design method of a dust removal device for a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed is presented with a focus on the description of key component design. Meanwhile, an experimental verification was conducted of the major factors having an impact on the dust removal efficiency. The results of the experiments indicate that keeping the dust removal device in a magnetically stabilized state is a key factor for achieving high dust-removal efficiency. Other factors, such as bed layer thickness, gas apparent flow-speed ratio, etc also exert some influence on the dust removal efficiency.
Using photogrammetry to interpret human action on Neolithic monument boulders in Ireland's Cavan Burren

Abstract Digital technology has been increasingly employed in the documentation and analysis of archaeology in the last ten years. We utilized user-friendly digital photogrammetry and animation to assist in the analysis of archaeological evidence in Ireland. Our tools were commercially available software, a consumer-grade hand-held or tripod-supported digital camera, and a personal computer. The method was developed for and has been subsequently used by local archaeological surveyors in an extensive documentation of prehistoric settlement features within the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark in Ireland. The boulder monuments are unusual in that they are made from glacial erratics whose surfaces display traditional North Atlantic rock art and a new sculpting art form. Pieces making up two boulder monuments were digitally manipulated via animation into what is believed to be their original source stone configurations. Their matching surfaces were studied in detail. The process was employed to demonstrate, non-invasively, how the monuments might have resulted from some actions other than weathering. The analysis supports the hypothesis that humans worked the monuments, which, in turn, supports protection of the monuments for further study.
SU‐F‐J‐11: Radiobiologically Optimized Patient Localization During Prostate External Beam Localization

Purpose: To present a novel positioning strategy which optimizes radiation delivery with radiobiological response knowledge, and to evaluate its application during prostate external beam radiotherapy. Methods: Ten patients with low or intermediate risk prostate cancer were evaluated retrospectively in this IRB-approved study. For each patient, a VMAT plan was generated on the planning CT (PCT) to deliver 78 Gy in 39 fractions with PTV = prostate + 7 mm margin, except for 5mm in the posterior direction. Five representative pretreatment CBCT images were selected for each patient, and prostate, rectum, and bladder were delineated on all CBCT images. Each CBCT was auto-registered to the corresponding PCT. Starting from this auto-matched position (AM-position), a search for optimal treatment position was performed utilizing a score function based on radiobiological and dosimetric indices (D98_DTV, NTCP_rectum, and NTCP_bladder) for the daily target volume (DTV), rectum, and bladder. DTV was defined as prostate + 4 mm margin to account for intra-fraction motion as well as contouring variability on CBCT. We termed the optimal treatment position the radiobiologically optimized couch shift position (ROCS-position). Results: The indices, averaged over the 10 patients’ treatment plans, were (mean±SD): 77.7±0.2 Gy (D98_PTV), 12.3±2.7% (NTCP_rectum), and 53.2±11.2% (NTCP_bladder). The corresponding values calculated on all 50 CBCT images at the AM-positions were 72.9±11.3 Gy (D98_DTV), 15.8±6.4% (NTCP_rectum), and 53.0±21.1% (NTCP_bladder), respectively. In comparison, calculated on CBCT at the ROCS-positions, the indices were 77.0±2.1 Gy (D98_DTV), 12.1±5.7% (NTCP_rectum), and 60.7±16.4% (NTCP_bladder). Compared to autoregistration, ROCS-optimization recovered dose coverage to target volume and lowered the risk to rectum. Moreover, NTCPrectum for one patient remained high after ROCS-optimization and therefore could potentially benefit from adaptive planning. Conclusion: These encouraging results illustrate the potential utility of applying radiobiologically optimized correction for online image-guided radiotherapy of prostate patients.
Application of hydrophobic and magnetic plastic particles for enhanced flotation recovery

Abstract The effect of hydrophobic and magnetic plastic particles having a contact angle of around 83° on flotation performance was evaluated using coal particles of varying degrees of floatability. The magnetic plastic material were recovered by a low intensity magnetic separator and recycled back to the flotation feed for re-use. Flotation rate tests conducted on coal using a conventional cell proved that combustible recovery and flotation rate were significantly enhanced with the addition of the plastic particles, especially for difficult-to-float coals, which was corroborated by flotation column tests. Carrying capacity and particle size-by-size flotation tests further showed that the magnetic plastic particles preferentially increased the recovery of coarse particles by as much as 35 absolute percentage points due to froth stabilization which reduced the selective detachment of coarse and/or weakly hydrophobic particles. The enhanced flotation recovery was attributed to the influence on liquid drainage rate in the froth zone, froth stability, bubble coalescence and flotation rates.
Regulation of NKG2D + CD8 + T-cell-mediated antitumor immune surveillance: Identification of a novel CD28 activation-mediated, STAT3 phosphorylation-dependent mechanism

The natural killer (NK) group 2D (NKG2D) receptor, which displays on mouse and human NK cells, activates CD8+ T cells and small subsets of other T cells. NKG2D+CD8+ T cells play critical roles in both innate and adaptive immunity upon engagement with NKG2D ligands to eliminate tumor and infected cells. Despite the important role of NKG2D+CD8+ T cells in immune surveillance, the mechanisms of how NKG2D expression on CD8+ T cells is regulated remain poorly defined. We treated mouse and human CD8+ T cells with CD80 recombinant protein, plus a pharmacologic model with small molecular inhibitors to determine which signaling pathway leads to NKG2D regulation on CD8+T cells. This study revealed that CD28 activation gives rise to sustained NKG2D expression on both mouse and human CD8+ T cells in a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation-dependent manner. Further, we found that CD28 activation stimulated sustained activation of the tyrosine kinase Lck, which recruits and triggers Janus kinase/STAT3 signaling to phosphorylate STAT3, and in turn increases NKG2D expression. Moreover, NKG2D induction on CD8+ T cells exerts cytolytic activity against target tumor cells in vitro, as well as significantly improves the antitumor therapeutic effects in vivo in an NKG2D-dependent manner. Taken together, these results elucidated a novel mechanism of NKG2D regulation by phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) on CD8+ T cells upon CD28 activation. This mechanism may shed light on the effectiveness of CD80-based, NKG2D-dependent antitumor immunotherapy.
Aging, Somatic Evolution, and Cancer

Abstract As multicellular organisms, humans experience changes in the cellular composition of their renewed tissues over time, whereby genetic and epigenetic nonheritable changes appear in somatic cells in a process called somatic evolution. One particular example is cancer, which is a malignant, life-threatening form of somatic evolution. Cancers are known to occur mostly late in life, which has long been explained by the time needed for oncogenic mutations to accumulate. In the present work, we analyze the links between aging and cancer from a broader perspective, including new evidence on the general character of somatic evolution in human bodies, cancer in other mammals, and basic evolutionary theoretical concepts of fitness, selection, and drift that have not been incorporated into earlier models of cancer. We present evidence that the link between aging and somatic evolution is more complicated than previously believed, and aging is not so much a factor of the time required for somatic mutation accumulation, but a direct agent promoting somatic evolution and disease in human and animal bodies.
Multispectral dual MSM photodetector for avionic communication systems

We report the design and fabrication of dual MSM photodetector based on transparent conductive oxides (TCO) on Ge using post-growth fabry-perot optical filters to detect multiple wavelengths which can be used in aerospace communication systems.
The Obesity Paradox in Survival after Cancer Diagnosis: Tools for Evaluation of Potential Bias

The effects of overweight or obesity on survival after cancer diagnosis are difficult to discern based on observational data because these associations reflect the net impact of both causal and spurious phenomena. We describe two sources of bias that might lead to underestimation of the effect of increased body weight on survival after cancer diagnosis: collider stratification bias and heterogeneity in disease bias. Given the mixed evidence on weight status, weight change, and postdiagnosis survival for cancer patients, systematic evaluation of alternative explanations is critical. The plausible magnitudes of these sources of bias can be quantified on the basis of expert knowledge about particular cancer types using simulation tools. We illustrate each type of bias, describe the assumptions researchers need make to evaluate the plausible magnitude of the bias, and provide a simple example of each bias using the setting of renal cancer. Findings from simulations, tailored to specific types of cancer, could help distinguish real from spurious effects of body weight on patient survival. Using these results can improve guidance for patients and providers about the relative importance of weight management after a diagnosis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(1); 17-20. ©2017 AACR.
Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a compressive neuropathy of the median nerve at the wrist. It is one of the most common ailments of the hand, and thus, carpal tunnel release (CTR) is one of the most common procedures performed in the upper extremity. The vast majority of CTS cases are idiopathic. Some are associated with systemic conditions such as diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, renal failure, and rheumatologic disorders. CTS is a known extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis in the early stages of the disease and the most common compressive neuropathy in rheumatoid arthritis [6, 7].
Professional Identity Development in Counseling Professionals

ABSTRACTThis study examined group differences in professional identity among 316 counseling professionals (i.e., master's- and doctoral-level counseling students and counselor educators) using the Professional Identity Scale in Counseling (PISC). Counselor educators rated five out of six subscales (i.e., Engagement behaviors, Knowledge of the profession, Philosophy of the profession, Attitude, and Professional roles and expertise) in the PISC significantly higher than doctoral students, followed by master's students. On the Professional values subscale, a different pattern in group comparisons was found with doctoral students having higher scores than counselor educators. Implications for the counseling profession are addressed.
Brief report: How short is too short? An ultra-brief measure of the big-five personality domains implicates "agreeableness" as a risk for all-cause mortality.

Controversy exists over the use of brief Big Five scales in health studies. We investigated links between an ultra-brief measure, the Big Five Inventory-10, and mortality in the General Social Surv...
Transmission of Bacterial Endophytes.

Plants are hosts to complex communities of endophytic bacteria that colonize the interior of both below- and aboveground tissues. Bacteria living inside plant tissues as endophytes can be horizontally acquired from the environment with each new generation, or vertically transmitted from generation to generation via seed. A better understanding of bacterial endophyte transmission routes and modes will benefit studies of plant–endophyte interactions in both agricultural and natural ecosystems. In this review, we provide an overview of the transmission routes that bacteria can take to colonize plants, including vertically via seeds and pollen, and horizontally via soil, atmosphere, and insects. We discuss both well-documented and understudied transmission routes, and identify gaps in our knowledge on how bacteria reach the inside of plants. Where little knowledge is available on endophytes, we draw from studies on bacterial plant pathogens to discuss potential transmission routes. Colonization of roots from soil is the best studied transmission route, and probably the most important, although more studies of transmission to aerial parts and stomatal colonization are needed, as are studies that conclusively confirm vertical transfer. While vertical transfer of bacterial endophytes likely occurs, obligate and strictly vertically transferred symbioses with bacteria are probably unusual in plants. Instead, plants appear to benefit from the ability to respond to a changing environment by acquiring its endophytic microbiome anew with each generation, and over the lifetime of individuals.
Effects of coating materials on antibacterial properties of industrial and sunscreen-derived titanium-dioxide nanoparticles on Escherichia coli

Abstract Organic or inorganic stabilizers are often used for coating nanoparticles (NPs) in consumer products. However, upon release of stabilized NPs into the environment, uncertainty exists as to the antimicrobial properties of NPs due to stabilizers and the resultant bioaccumulation in organisms. This study investigates antibacterial effects and subsequent mechanisms of TiO2 NPs on Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the presence and absence of stabilizers (CMC, PVP, and SiO2) commonly used in consumer products. Compared with uncoated TiO2 NPs, the presence of any stabilizers tested in this study increased toxicity of NPs and enhanced growth inhibition in E. coli. While the particle sizes of TiO2 were smaller as the result of coating with PVP or CMC and appeared to contribute to E. coli cell damage, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was independent of stabilizer type. In fact, coating with PVP and CMC exerted ROS scavenging properties. In contrast, increased ROS production was observed at higher concentrations of TiO2 and upon coating with SiO2. This impact of SiO2 can be related to the formation of a Ti O Si chemical bond. The results of the present study emphasize the importance of nanoparticle coating to their anti-bacterial activity and toxicity.
The assignment problem in distributed computing

This dissertation focuses on the problem of assigning the modules of a program to the processors in a distributed system with the goal of minimizing the overall cost of running the program. The cost depends on the execution times of the modules on the processors and on the cost of communication between modules. This module allocation problem arises in a variety of situations where one is interested in making optimum use of available computer resources. The general module allocation problem is intractable; however it becomes polynomially-solvable when the communication graph is restricted. In this dissertation, we restrict our attention to k-trees. As the first problem, we study parametric module allocation on partial k-trees. We allow the costs, both execution and communication, to vary linearly as functions of a real parameter t. We show that if the number of processors is fixed, the sequence of optimum assignments that are obtained, as t varies from zero to infinity, can be constructed in polynomial time. As an auxiliary result, we develop a linear-time algorithm to find a separator in a k-tree. We discuss the implications of our results for parametric versions of the weighted vertex cover, independent set, and 0-1 quadratic programming problems on partial k-trees. Next, we consider two variants of the assignment problem. The first problem is to find a minimum-cost assignment when one of the processors has a limited memory. The second is to find an assignment that minimizes the maximum processor load. We present exact dynamic programming algorithms for both problems, which lead to approximation schemes for the case where the communication graph is a partial k-tree. Faster algorithms are presented for trees with uniform costs. In contrast to these results, we show that, for arbitrary graphs, no fully polynomial time approximation schemes exist unless P = NP. Both dynamic programming algorithms have been implemented. The implementation details and our experimental results are presented.
Benefits of Exercise in the Elderly

There is an abundance of evidence supporting the claim that physical activity enhances the quality of life in both elderly men and women. These benefits extend well beyond the cardiovascular system and are not limited to those who get into the habit of exercise on a regular basis at a young age. It is apparent that physical exercise not only reduces the functional deterioration associated with ageing but also helps to reverse some of these trends in those who start an exercise program late in life. In this chapter, we have reviewed some of the physiological concepts associated with exercise training in the elderly together with some of the evidence supporting health benefits that are likely to follow in patients with common non-communicable diseases associated with ageing, such as coronary atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and osteoporosis.
Revisiting of the laser induced filamentation damage conditions in fused silica for energetic laser systems

The need for optics that can sustain higher laser fluences and intensities grows as new technological advancements allow laser systems to operate at increased in peak power. This has motivated a substantial effort in recent decades to study laser-induced damage mechanisms and their mitigations. One well known laser-induced damage mechanism is filamentation in fused silica glass, due to Kerr self-focusing of the light [1]. The study of filamentation has been an ongoing effort for the last few decades [2] as it turned out to be a major limitation to laser systems at high peak intensities. Past studies have led to a set of simplified rules that allows for the operation of laser system below the onset point of filamentation to occur, namely what is known as the “IL rule” (intensity times the length before filamenting equals some empirical constant) and the Bespalov-Talanov (BT) perturbation growth theory [3-8]. The necessity to increase the laser beam intensities and optimize the throughput, closer to the point where the optical propagation length in the material is comparable to the predicted filamentation distance, requires revisiting and improving our understanding of the current rule set.
Moonshot to Cancer Cure: Recruiting Policy to Break Down Silos.

Funded by the 21st Century Cures Act, The Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative is broad, deep, integrative, and intended to expediently address cancer’s most vexing problems. Launched in 2015, it is an effort to accelerate the pace of cancer research with a focus on breaking down silos through cross-pollination of research, recruitment of multidisciplinary clinical and basic science research teams, sharing of complex scientific databases, and the creation of public-private research partnerships. This audacious approach to cancer treatment is intended to alleviate the current burden of cancer within countries and across borders. At its core is the rapid development of safe drug therapies across different disciplines through the employment of genomics, targeted proteomics with predictive analytics, and other emerging drug therapies. It will use expansive patient registries and increase early access to clinical trials. The initiative is cocooned in forward-thinking drug policies that consider the specific needs of all oncology stakeholder groups both nationally and internationally.
Nano-wall like visible-light active carbon modified n-TiO2 thin films for efficient photoelectrochemical oxygen separation from water

Abstract Efficient photoelectrochemical oxygen separation from water was demonstrated using a nano-wall like carbon modified n-type titanium oxide (CM-n-TiO2) electrode during water splitting reaction. The CM-n-TiO2 electrode was synthesized by flame-oxidation of Ti metal sample. The combustion products of natural gas flame acted as the carbon source. The oxygen separation rate during water splitting was evaluated in terms of anodic photocurrent density, Jp, under solar simulated light illumination of 1 sun. Upon incorporation of carbon within the titanium oxide, the photocurrent density was enhanced to 4.97 mA cm−2 at CM-n-TiO2 electrode compared to 0.66 mA cm−2 at regular of n-TiO2 both at the same measured potential of - 0.6 V/SCE. Such a multiple-fold increase in photocurrent density at CM-n-TiO2 thin film electrode was attributed to its enhanced absorption in the UV region, red-shift to visible region due to carbon incorporation and as well as due to pronounced nano-wall like surface morphology generated under the harsh conditions of flame oxidation. CM-n-TiO2 photoelectrodes were characterized in terms of photocurrent measurements under white light and as well as under monochromatic light illuminations, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), the valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the AC-impedance measurements.
Teachers as “Tests”: Differential Validity of Teacher Judgments in Identifying Students At-Risk for Learning Difficulties

The discriminant validity of teacher judgments in differentiating various groups of students who were at-risk for learning difficulties based on their referral to School Study Teams (SSTs) was asse...
Goal Conflict Encourages Work and Discourages Leisure

Leisure is desirable and beneficial, yet consumers frequently forgo leisure in favor of other activities—namely, work. Why? We propose that goal conflict plays an important role. Seven experiments demonstrate that perceiving greater goal conflict shapes how consumers allocate time to work and leisure—even when those activities are unrelated to the conflicting goals. This occurs because goal conflict increases reliance on salient justifications, influencing how much time people spend on subsequent, unrelated activities. Because work tends to be easier to justify and leisure harder to justify, goal conflict increases time spent on work and decreases time spent on leisure. Thus, despite the conflicting goals being independent of the specific work and leisure activities considered (i.e., despite goal conflict being “incidental”), perceiving greater goal conflict encourages work and discourages leisure. The findings further understanding of how consumers allocate time to work and leisure, incidental effects of goal conflict on decision-making, and the role of justification in consumer choice. They also have implications for the use of “time-saving” technologies and the marketing of leisure activities.
Dislocation Dipole Study on Material Hardening/Softening

Dislocation dynamics simulations often reveal interesting phenomena in regard to material deformation, which may not be captured by experiments. In this work, we investigate the effect of dislocation dipoles on plastic material properties under different dipole configurations (i.e. the distance between active glide planes, and the signs of the two dislocations) using a 3D Discrete Dislocation Dynamics code. The simulations show that a dipole is causing a hardening effect when the Burgers vectors of the dislocations forming the dipole are of opposite sign and causing a hardening/softening effect when they are of the same sign. The distance between the two neighboring dislocations was also affecting the proportional limit for the material. Such hardening or flow stress results, as in this study, can be incorporated in larger-scale modeling work.
In “Alma Mater” We Trust? Exploring Attitudes toward Institutions and Alumni Giving:

Background/ContextGovernment support for higher education has decreased over the past few decades. In turn, institutions are seeking alternative sources of funding and increasing reliance on alumni...
The Hanaoka Incident and Practices of Local History and Memory Making in Northern Japan

This chapter discusses how local students and educators have framed and engaged with the history of the Hanaoka Incident in Akita Prefecture, northern Japan. Although the Allies chose to prosecute a select group of Japanese perpetrators for the Incident at the Yokohama War Crimes Tribunal, my focus on local memory cultures provides a counterbalance to national narratives which often privilege legal mechanisms to frame and respond to this and other Japanese war crimes. By turning to the local level, we are able to clearly see the contested nature of the war crimes trial and verdict which were meant to conclusively punish the guilty Japanese, and instead reveal alternative narratives and meanings which are important and visible to those who live in and around the community where these events took place. Rather than viewing and measuring these community-driven efforts against the truth claims championed by official narratives and state-actors, I focus on local pedagogical practices in schools and community organizations. In doing so we are able to see the collaborative and community-driven processes of history and memory making across several decades in northern Japan.
Open Repair Versus Closed Repair: A Cost-Analysis of the Two Surgical Approaches for the Treatment of Craniosynostoses

Purpose The purpose of this study was to quantify the hospitalization charges of the 2 general surgical approaches in the treatment of craniosynostosis and determine if there was a significant difference between the 2. Several studies compared them side-by-side according to specific variables, such as success rates, postoperative complications, blood loss, and length of stay, but were limited by small sample sizes. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study that was conducted using the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID). All patients diagnosed with craniosynostosis (Q75.0) were identified. The procedures were grouped according to the approach taken, whether it was a traditional, open approach, or a closed, minimally invasive approach. The primary predictor variable was the surgical approach (open vs closed). The outcome variables were the hospital charges (US dollars) and length of stay (days). Statistical analyses were based on the univariate and multivariate linear regression models, and P value less than .05 marked the significance level. Results Among a sample of 2,585 cases, an open approach was employed in 2,353 cases and a closed approach in 232 cases. Race, payer information, hospital region, admission status (elective vs not elective), patient location, and surgical approach (open vs closed) were all significant predictors (P Conclusions The traditional open approach added nearly $60,000 to the cost of the procedure when compared with the closed, endoscopic approach. The scope and invasiveness of the open approach demand greater surgical services, hospital services, supplies, and equipment, ultimately contributing to this increased cost.
Performance comparison between solid phase extraction and magnetic carbon nanotubes facilitated dispersive-micro solid phase extractions (Mag-CNTs/d-µSPE) of a cyanide metabolite in biological samples using GC–MS

Dispersive-micro solid phase extraction (d-µSPE) has gained increasing attention due to its convenience, effectiveness, and flexibility for sorbent selection. Among a various selection of materials, magnetic carbon nanotubes (Mag-CNTs) is a promising d-µSPE sorbent with excellent separation efficiency in addition to its high surface area and adsorption capability. In this work, two different surface-modified Mag-CNTs, Mag-CNTs-COOH and Mag-CNTs-SO3H, were developed to facilitate d-µSPE (Mag-CNTs/d-µSPE). The cyanide metabolite, 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (ATCA), was selected to evaluate their extraction performance using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. The Mag-CNTs-COOH enabled a one-step derivatization/desorption approach in the workflow; therefore, a better overall performance was achieved. Compared to the Mag-CNTs-SO3H/d-µSPE and SPE workflow, the one-step desorption/derivatization approach improved the overall extraction efficiency and reduced solvent consumption and waste production. Both Mag-CNTs/d-µSPE workflows were validated according to ANSI/ASB 036 guidelines and showed excellent analytical performances. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) of ATCA in synthetic urine were 5 and 10 ng/mL, respectively, and that in bovine blood were achieved at 10 and 60 ng/mL. The SPE method’s LOD and LOQ were also determined at 1 and 25 ng/mL in bovine blood samples. The Mag-CNTs/d-µSPE methods demonstrated great potential to extract polar and ionic metabolites from biological matrices. The extraction processes of ATCA described in this work can provide an easier-to-adopt procedure for potential routine forensic testing of the stable biomarker in cyanide poisoning cases, particularly for those cases where the cyanide detection window has passed.
Diet and Dermatitis: Food Triggers

Given increasing awareness of the link between diet and health, many patients are concerned that dietary factors may trigger dermatitis. Research has found that dietary factors can indeed exacerbate atopic dermatitis or cause dermatitis due to systemic contact dermatitis. In atopic dermatitis, dietary factors are more likely to cause an exacerbation among infants or children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis relative to other populations. Foods may trigger rapid, immunoglobulin E-mediated hypersensitivity reactions or may lead to late eczematous reactions. While immediate reactions occur within minutes to hours of food exposure, late eczematous reactions may occur anywhere from hours to two days later. Screening methods, such as food allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin E tests or skin prick tests, can identify sensitization to specific foods, but a diagnosis of food allergy requires specific signs and symptoms that occur reproducibly upon food exposure. Many patients who are sensitized will not develop clinical findings upon food exposure; therefore, these tests may result in false-positive tests for food allergy. This is why the gold standard for diagnosis remains the double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge. In another condition, systemic contact dermatitis, ingestion of a specific food can actually cause dermatitis. Systemic contact dermatitis is a distinct T-cell mediated immunological reaction in which dietary exposure to specific allergens results in dermatitis. Balsam of Peru and nickel are well-known causes of systemic contact dermatitis, and reports have implicated multiple other allergens. This review seeks to increase awareness of important food allergens, elucidate their relationship with atopic dermatitis and systemic contact dermatitis, and review available diagnostic and treatment strategies.
New computer promises to accelerate climate change research

The acquisition of a new IBM SP supercomputer and advanced technologies, announced on November 9 by a Boulder, Colorado-based research organization, could accelerate research into global and regional climate change, short- and long-range weather prediction, atmospheric chemistry, space weather, and other areas. The equipment, announced by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and its parent organization, the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), will provide atmospheric scientists with access to new computational, storage, and communications capabilities. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) purchased the machine for use at NCAR to advance geoscience research.
Fibonacci Determinants — A Combinatorial Approach

In this paper, we provide combinatorial interpretations for some determinantal identities involving Fibonacci numbers. We use the method due to Lindstrom-Gessel-Viennot in which we count nonintersecting n-routes in carefully chosen digraphs in order to gain insight into the nature of some well-known determinantal identities while allowing room to generalize and discover new ones.
Savoir lire les médias sans savoir lire

Dans une perspective de litteraties multiples, comment se manifestent des habiletes de litteratie mediatique chez des personnes qui ne possedent pas les competences de litteratie alphabetique? Lors d'une recherche-action qui visait a en apprendre plus sur la facon dont les apprenants adultes qui ne possedent pas les competences de litteratie de base font preuve de pensee critique par rapport aux medias, il a ete constate que la facon dont nous envisagions la pensee critique etait grandement influencee par la maitrise du code ecrit. Apres quelques echecs pour instaurer un climat propice a la manifestation d'une pensee critique dans des ateliers medias, des obstacles et des conditions facilitantes ont ete identifies. Cet article aborde un des principaux themes qui est ressorti de cette etude: l'utilisation de l'oral par des personnes analphabetes dans la manifestation d'une pensee critique par rapport aux medias.
The Community Practice Pilot Project

ABSTRACT The Community Practice Pilot Project tested an approach for preparing students for work in organizations in which no social workers were employed. Field placements were clustered in a small geographic area. Classroom learning was linked with field instruction, advising, and Experiential Learning. Goals included integrating content on community-based practice into the foundation curriculum, exposing students to community building initiatives, and influencing the master's curriculum. The Project provided some evidence that early exposure to community initiatives has a positive influence on increasing student enrollment in macro concentrations and courses. Implications for social work include viewing the “environment-surrounding-the-person” as a starting point for instruction in foundation methods courses.
A regime - switching approach to studying speculative attacks : focus on European Monetary System crises

The author uses a regime switching framework to study speculative attacks against European Monetary System (EMS) currencies during 1979-93. She identifies speculative attacks by modeling exchange rates, reserves, and interest rates as time series subject to discrete regime shifts. She assumes two states:"tranquil"and"speculative."She models the probabilities of switching between states as a function of fundamentals and expectations. She concludes that: A) The switching models with time -varying transition probabilities capture most of the conventional episodes of speculative attacks. B) Speculative attacks do not always coincide with currency realignments. C) Both economic fundamentals and expectations determine the likelihood of switching from a period of tranquility to a speculative attack. The budget deficit appears to be an especially important factor driving the probability of switching to a speculative regime. Given the importance of anticipating and, wherever possible, avoiding crises, it might be useful to conduct forecasting exercises to determine whether the switching framework proposed here can be used to forecast crises in countries outside the sample. Because currency crises tend to occur simultaneously in two or more countries, it also might be useful to adapt the regime - switching framework to explore the role of contagion in explaining crises.
A space-optimal wait-free real-time synchronization protocol

We present a wait-free protocol for the single-writer/multiple-reader problem in small-memory embedded real-time systems. We analytically establish that our protocol requires lesser (or equal) number of buffers than previously best wait-free protocols for this problem. Further, we prove that our protocol is space-optimal - the first space optimality established for wait-free protocols that consider a-priori knowledge of preemptions. Our evaluation studies and implementation measurements using the SHaRK RTOS kernel confirm the protocol's superiority and effectiveness.