cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial Factors That Create Barriers to Managing Serum Phosphorus Levels in Pediatric Dialysis Patients: A Retrospective Analysis

Objective Abnormal phosphorus homeostasis is among the medley of metabolic disturbances commonly associated with chronic kidney disease. We sought to determine the psychosocial factors that create barriers to controlling serum phosphorus levels in children on dialysis and to evaluate the perceptions of children and caregivers on the ease or difficulty of following a dietary phosphorus restriction and taking phosphorus binder medications. Design Single center cross-sectional study. Setting Pediatric dialysis unit at a children's hospital. Subjects Forty-eight patients on chronic hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis (mean age: 11.03 ± 6.88 years; 69% male). Main Outcome Measure Serum phosphorus levels were recorded from electronic health records and converted to a mean phosphorus standard deviation score (SDS) for each individual. Mean phosphorus SDS values were compared to each independent categorical variable using an analysis of variance test, continuous variables were analyzed using linear regression, and logistic regression was used to determine odds ratios. Results There was a significant relationship between age and phosphorus SDS ( P P = .003). However, of the patients and caregivers who reported that serum phosphorus levels were "controlled," 46% were hyperphosphatemic. Furthermore, 73% and 87% of patients and caregivers reported that following a phosphorus-restricted diet and taking phosphorus binders were "easy"; yet, 40% and 49% of these patients were hyperphosphatemic, respectively. Conclusion In the present study, elevated serum phosphorus levels were most common in adolescent dialysis patients. There also appears to be a disconnect between the perceived ease of following a phosphorus-restricted diet and taking phosphorus binders and the achievement of normal serum phosphorus levels. These data further emphasize the importance of ongoing education regarding dietary and medical management requirements.
Cardiothoracic CT and MRI in adults with tetralogy of Fallot: 11-year experience in a diverse, inner-city population

a Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY b Department of Radiology, Division of Cardiology Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY c Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY d Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore Medical Center and The Childrens Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY e Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore Medical Center and The Childrens Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY f Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore Medical Center and The Childrens Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY g Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
Analysis of STD Epidemic Situation of Chengde in 2008

Objective: To know the characteristics of STD epidemic situation in Chengde,and provide strategies for control and prevention measures.Methods: Descriptive epidemiological method was applied to analyze the STD reported records of Chengde in 2008.Results:There were 423 reported cases of STDs of Chengde in 2008.Among them the 219 cases were males,whereas 204 cases were females.The cases of STDs among males was 1.07 times the cases among females,The incidence rate of STD was 11.72 /100,000.Among the percentages of the 6 main STDs,Condyloma acuminata was the highest,which accounted for 34.75%.Non-gonococcal urethritis was second,which accounted for 23.40%.The transmissior modes of the 6 STDs were mainly non marriage sex contacts,which accounted for 44.91%.Conclusion: The number of patients with STD in 2008 has increased than 2007,The cases of condyloma acuminata is more than Non-gonococcal urethritis,main transmitted routes were primarily the sex behavior between strangers.The congenital syphilis situation demonstrates serious,which indicated we should enhance the health education for sound sex behavior.
The Role of the Model of End-Stage Liver Disease Score in Predicting Outcomes of Carotid Endarterectomy:

Objectives:The Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score has been traditionally utilized to prioritize for liver transplantation; however, recent literature has shown its value in predicting su...
Transport of Radioactive Material by Alpha Recoil

The movement of high-specific-activity radioactive particles (i.e., alpha recoil) has been observed and studied since the early 1900s. These studies have been motivated by concerns about containment of radioactivity and the protection of human health. Additionally, studies have investigated the potential advantage of alpha recoil to effect separations of various isotopes. This report provides a review of the observations and results of a number of the studies.
Expanding Host Range and Cross-Species Infection of Hepatitis E Virus.

The author's research on HEV is supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01AI074667 and R01AI050611). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Analysis of Field Errors for LARP Nb$_3$ Sn HQ03 Quadrupole Magnet

Author(s): Wang, X; Ambrosio, G; Chlachidze, G; DiMarco, J; Ghosh, AK; Holik, EF; Prestemon, SO; Sabbi, G; Stoynev, SE | Abstract: The U.S. large hadron collider (LHC) Accelerator Research Program, in close collaboration with The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), has developed three generations of high-gradient quadrupole (HQ) Nb3Sn model magnets, to support the development of the 150 mm aperture Nb3Sn quadrupole magnets for the high-luminosity LHC. The latest generation, HQ03, featured coils with better uniformity of coil dimensions and properties than the earlier generations. The HQ03 magnet was tested at fermi national accelerator laboratory (FNAL), including the field quality study. The profiles of low-order harmonics along the magnet aperture observed at 15 kA, 1.9 K can be traced back to the assembled coil pack before the magnet assembly. Based on the measured harmonics in the magnet center region, the coil block positioning tolerance was analyzed and compared with earlier HQ01 and HQ02 magnets to correlate with coil and magnet fabrication. To study the capability of correcting the low-order nonallowed field errors, magnetic shims were installed in HQ03. The expected shim contribution agreed well with the calculation. For the persistent-current effect, the measured a4 can be related to 4% higher in the strand magnetization of one coil with respect to the other three coils. Finally, we compare the field errors due to the interstrand coupling currents between HQ03 and HQ02.
REVIEW ESSAY: "Song Buried in the Muscle of Urgency"

Review essay: Joy Harjo. Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings . New York: W.W. Norton, 2015. Print. Casandra Lopez. Where Bullet Breaks . Little Rock, AR: Sequoyah National Research Center, U of Arkansas at Little Rock, 2014. Print. Kimberly L. Becker. Words Facing East . Cincinnati, OH: WordTech Editions, 2011. Print. Kim Shuck. Clouds Running In . Petaluma, CA: Taurean Horn, 2014. Print. Allison Adele Hedge Coke, Effigies II: An Anthology of New Indigenous Writing . Cromer: Salt, 2014. Print.
Heat shock protein that facilitates myelination of regenerating axons.

It is widely recognized that neurons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) are capable of regeneration after injury. In contrast, those neurons that are entirely located within the CNS (i.e., the brain and spinal cord) largely do not regenerate. What is often not emphasized, however, is that the extent of PNS regeneration is limited and that this results in incomplete functional recovery (1). A great deal of attention has been focused recently on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying degeneration and regeneration in the PNS, with an eye toward enhancing this regeneration. Regeneration is not a neuron-autonomous process, but depends heavily on interactions between neurons, glial cells (i.e., Schwann cells in the nerve and satellite cells in peripheral ganglia), and immune cells, particularly macrophages (2, 3). Among the several reasons that have been postulated for the incomplete regeneration in the PNS, is the extremely slow rate of this regeneration (about 1–2 mm per day), leading perhaps to an eventual decrease in the intrinsic growth capacity of the injured axons and the limited period after injury during which Schwann cells actively promote axonal elongation (4). Once an axon is transected or crushed (referred to as axotomy), the distal segment fragments and then is cleared by phagocytic cells by a process called Wallerian degeneration. Advances in our understanding of the mechanism of Wallerian degeneration have come from genetic studies on the mutant gene WLDs and its normal counterpart NMNAT1 , both of which temporarily protect the axon from degeneration (5), and SARM1 , which is involved in triggering axon degeneration (6, 7). Schwann cells upregulate their expression and release of the macrophage chemokine CCL2, which draws in inflammatory monocytes that then differentiate into macrophages and are involved in phagocytosis of myelin and axonal debris (2). Although it was … [↵][1]1Email: rez{at}case.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Colorectal cancer disparities among racial/ethnic minorities in Texas, 1995–2003

ABSTRACTColorectal cancer (CRC) interventions can be more precisely targeted geographically if locations of high-risk population groups can be detected and risk factors at these locations can be identified. This study aims to detect small geographic areas where CRC late-stage diagnosis and mortality rates were disproportionally high among racial/ethnic minorities (i.e., non-Hispanic African Americans and Hispanics) in Texas using non-Hispanic Whites as a reference group. The analysis used data about CRC cases diagnosed between 1995 and 2003 in Texas with follow-up data up to 2008. In addition, this study identifies neighborhood-level factors that are associated CRC mortality disparities in the identified geographic areas using a logistic regression analysis. Analysis results indicate that CRC mortality disparities existed in the Austin-San Antonio, the Dallas-Fort Worth, and the Houston metropolitan areas for both non-Hispanic African Americans and Hispanics. Additionally, for non-Hispanic African America...
White reflection from cuttlefish skin leucophores.

The highly diverse and changeable body patterns of cephalopods require the production of whiteness of varying degrees of brightness for their large repertoire of communication and camouflage behaviors. Leucophores are structural reflectors that produce whiteness in cephalopods; they are dermal aggregates of numerous leucocytes containing spherical leucosomes ranging in diameter from 200–2000 nm. In Sepia officinalis leucophores, leucocytes always occur in various combinations with iridocytes, cells containing plates that function as Bragg stacks to reflect light of particular wavelengths. Both spheres and plates contain the high-refractive-index protein reflectin. Four leucophore skin-patterning components were investigated morphologically and with spectrometry. In descending order of brightness they are: white fin spots, White zebra bands, White square, and White head bar. Different densities, thicknesses and proportions of leucocytes and iridocytes were correlated with the relative brightness measurements of the skin. That is, White fin spots and White zebra bands had leucocytes of the highest density, the greatest number of reflective cell layers, and the highest proportion of leucocytes to iridocytes. In contrast, the White square and White head bar had the lowest density of reflective cells, fewer cell layers and the lowest ratios of leucocytes to iridocytes. Leucophores are white in white light, yet reflect whatever colors are in the available light field: e.g. red in red light, green in green light, etc. Leucophores are physiologically passive, thus their ultrastructure alone is capable of diffusing all ambient wavelengths in all directions, regardless of the angle of incident light. However, the specific optical contributions of spherical leucosomes versus the associated plate-like iridosomes in producing whiteness versus brightness are yet to be determined. This study reveals complex morphological arrangements that produce white structural coloration for different brightnesses of skin by differentially combining spheres and plates.
A wireless, low-drift, implantable intraocular pressure sensor with parylene-on-oil encapsulation

This paper presents a wireless, implantable continuous intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring system that features a parylene-on-oil sensor encapsulation method for achieving long-term low-drift in vivo. The system is implanted in the superotemporal quadrant of the eye between the sclera and conjunctiva. It consists of a commercial pressure sensor (STMicroelectronics LPS25H) with digital readout, a 65nm CMOS chip that supports wireless power/data telemetry and the I2C serial communication interface with the pressure sensor. The chip and pressure sensor are assembled on a flexible polyimide PCB, and then the sensor is submerged in biocompatible silicone oil and coated with parylene in situ. The implant uses an on-chip integrated RF coil to receive power from near-field RF coupling at 915 MHz and transmit measurement bits via RF-backscattering to an external reader. A 2 mm × 1.2 mm chip is fabricated in TSMC 65nm CMOS process. The IOP implant achieves a pressure sensitivity of 0.17 mmHg with a total power consumption of 9.7μW. We demonstrate pressure offset drift of less than 0.5 mmHg for more than 4 months over a temperature range of 27–38 °C. The implant successfully tracks induced IOP variations in a porcine eye ex vivo, validating the system functionality and surgical implantation.
Psychological Testing and Measurement

This chapter focuses on how cultural factors influence the validity and application of instruments of measurement and the process of formal psychological testing. In clinical and research work, psychological testing is often conducted to evaluate a patient's psychological status, personality, psychopathology, the stress encountered, and patterns of adjustment and coping. This provides supplemental objective data in addition to subjective clinical information that lead to a comprehensive understanding, assessment, and diagnosis of the patient. Most of the tools of psychological measurement have been designed by Euro-American behavior scientists or clinicians for respondents of Euro-American backgrounds. It would be more correct to assume that there are always problems and limitations in the transcultural application of psychological measurement. The impact of culture on psychological assessment is derived from multiple sources. It may simply be related to how the measurement is administered, how the instrument is translated, or whether there are basic problems in the design of the instrument regarding the scope of the areas covered. The problems may be simply a matter of norm and can be resolved by modifying the cutting point. When the instrument is designed to distinguish between normality and abnormality by a score, the cutting point may need adjustment when the subjects being investigated are from other cultural backgrounds. If the instrument is going to be used in a setting in which the subject uses a language other than that used in the original instrument, extra effort and caution are required in translating the instrument. When the existing inventory is found unsuitable for transcultural application in the investigation of a particular cultural group, one final solution is to construct a new, culturally appropriate, and valid inventory.
Stocked rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) affect space use by Warpaint Shiners (Luxilus coccogenis)

Due to widespread stocking, Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) are perhaps the most widely distributed invasive species in the world. Nonetheless, little is known about the effects of stocked Rainbow Trout on native non‐game species. We conducted experiments in an artificial stream to assess the effects of hatchery Rainbow Trout on home range and behaviour of Warpaint Shiners (Luxilus coccogenis Cope), a common minnow frequently found in stocked Southern Appalachian streams. We used the LoCoH algorithm to generate polygons describing the home ranges used by Warpaint Shiners. When a stocked trout was present Warpaint Shiners: (a) increased home range size by 57%, (b) were displaced into higher velocity mesohabitats, and (c) reduced mean overlap between the home ranges of individual warpaint shiners. Rainbow Trout did not significantly affect the edge/area ratio of Warpaint Shiner home ranges. Warpaint Shiner density (two and five fish treatments) did not significantly affect any response variable. Displacement from preferred microhabitats and increases in home range size likely result in increased energy expenditure and exposure to potential predators (i.e., decreased individual fitness) of Warpaint Shiners when stocked trout are present.
Projecting groundwater storage changes in California's Central Valley.

Accurate and detailed knowledge of California’s groundwater is of paramount importance for statewide water resources planning and management, and to sustain a multi-billion-dollar agriculture industry during prolonged droughts. In this study, we use water supply and demand information from California’s Department of Water Resources to develop an aggregate groundwater storage model for California’s Central Valley. The model is evaluated against 34 years of historic estimates of changes in groundwater storage derived from the United States Geological Survey’s Central Valley Hydrologic Model (USGS CVHM) and NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (NASA GRACE) satellites. The calibrated model is then applied to predict future changes in groundwater storage for the years 2015–2050 under various precipitation scenarios from downscaled climate projections. We also discuss and project potential management strategies across different annual supply and demand variables and how they affect changes in groundwater storage. All simulations support the need for collective statewide management intervention to prevent continued depletion of groundwater availability.
Estimates of reproductive potential and timing in California sea cucumbers Parastichopus californicus (Stimpson, 1857) from Southeast Alaska based on natural spawning.

Accurate estimates of fecundity and spawn timing are essential to fisheries management but can be difficult to obtain in nonaggregating broadcast-spawning species such as the commercially harvested sea cucumber Parastichopus californicus. Individuals of P. californicus collected from Southeast Alaska (SEAK) over 3 y were examined to determine the timing of spawning based on seasonal variations in gonad indices (GI). Gonad indices measured at different time points in the annual reproductive cycle were compared with gonad lipid content and egg development to validate GI as an indicator of gonad maturation. Fecundity was estimated as the total number of eggs and as the number of viable eggs produced in both live-spawned and strip-spawned animals. Results suggest spawning may occur slightly earlier than previously reported in British Columbia, Canada, where fecundity was about two times higher than in SEAK. Seasonal changes in gonad total lipid and maturation stage were recorded. Gonad index was moderately correlated with both gonad lipid content and maturation stage. Estimates of total fecundity and viable eggs based on live spawning did not significantly differ among the 3 y sampled. Live spawning yielded comparable estimates of total fecundity and viable eggs per gram female wet weight compared with strip spawning. These findings inform aquaculture efforts and management of the commercially harvested SEAK population of P. californicus.
Miniature fiber optic acoustic pressure sensors with air-backed graphene diaphragms

Graphene has been known to possess exceptional mechanical properties, including its extremely high Young’s modulus and atomic-layer thickness. Although there are several reported fiber optic pressure sensors using a graphene film, a key question that is not well understood is how the suspended graphene film interacts with the backing air cavity and affects sensor performance. Based on our previously analytical model, we will show that sensor performance suffers due to the significantly reduced mechanical sensitivity by the backing cavity. To remedy this limitation, we will, through experimental and numerical methods, investigate two approaches to enhance the sensitivity of fiber optic acoustic pressure sensors using the graphene film. First, a graphene-silver composite diaphragm is used to enhance the optical sensitivity by increasing the reflectivity. Compared with a sensor with pure graphene diaphragm, a graphene-silver composite can enhance the sensitivity by three-fold, while the mechanical sensitivity is largely unchanged. Second, a fiber optic sensor is developed with enlarged backing air volume through the gap between an optical fiber and a silica capillary tube. Experimental results show that the mechanical sensitivity is increased by 10xfrom the case where the gap side space is filled.
Terrorism and Corporate Social Responsibility: Testing the Impact of Attacks on CSR Behavior

This is the first study to empirically examine the effects of terrorism on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Their relationship is not intuitive. The theoretical literature on CSR suggests tha...
A MICRO-ENTREPRENEUR IN THE GIG ECONOMY: CASE STUDY AND IMPLICATIONS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

Through the methodology of auto-ethnographical case study, this research includes a review of the entrepreneurial nature of the current U.S. workforce and explores the experiences and insights of a...
Analysis of gate-coupled silicon controlled rectifier on HBM protection under voltage overshoot

Abstract A systematic study on the early failure of GCSCR ESD modules due to voltage overshoot is conducted. The ineptness of considering quasi-static TLP data alone on the design of HBM ESD structures with voltage overshoot is demonstrated with production level ESD module. GCSCR structures with different ESD parameters are fabricated and tested to analyze the behavior of voltage overshoot in an HBM event. Several design considerations are presented to achieve reliable HBM ESD protection structure.
Complications of Endovascular and Hybrid Surgery

The development of the Seldinger technique in 1953 for safe catheter-based angiography by Dr. Sven Ivar Seldinger and the first percutaneous transluminal angioplasty by Dr. Charles Dotter in 1963 were major innovations that led to the field of endovascular surgery (Friedman SG, A history of vascular surgery. Blackwell, Malden, 2005). With such technological advances, the vascular surgeon’s armamentarium has rapidly expanded to include endovascular and hybrid approaches to classically open, morbid operations. The use of endovascular technology has been applied to other surgical specialties with great success and utility as well. Yet, as with all procedures, such techniques are not without potential complications. This chapter discusses common access site, intra-procedural, and post-procedural complications associated with endovascular and hybrid surgery.
Soil Fabric and Anisotropy as Observed Using Bender Elements during Consolidation

AbstractThis study examined the effects of soil minerals on soil anisotropy and determined the amount of changes in anisotropy during the consolidation process of soils. Soil fabric and anisotropy ...
Revision and Psychometric Validation of a Survey Tool to Measure Critical Nutrition Literacy in Young Adults

Abstract Objective To refine and psychometrically validate the Revised Critical Nutrition Literacy Tool in a young adult sample. Methods Young adults recruited from 3 universities completed the 11-item Critical Nutrition Literacy Tool claims scale. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and item response theory were used to validate the Critical Nutrition Literacy Tool. Omega and Cronbach α assessed reliability. Results A total of 1,718 participants completed the survey. Results from exploratory factor analysis and CFA analyses suggested that a 2-factor, 7-item instrument showed a reasonable fit to the data based on the comparative fit index and standardized root mean residual values, χ2(13) =161.64, P 0.60) or acceptable (>0.70) internal consistency. Conclusions and Implications A revised 2-factor instrument capturing (factor 1) critical appraisal of media and (factor 2) evidence-based sources of nutrition information demonstrated sound psychometric characteristics. Further item testing is necessary for different populations, and item development is warranted to capture Internet/social media sources and the relationship among critical nutrition literacy, dietary behaviors, and health outcomes.
Beta-band power modulation in the human hippocampus during a reaching task

Objective. Characterize the role of the beta-band (13–30 Hz) in the human hippocampus during the execution of voluntary movement. Approach. We recorded electrophysiological activity in human hippocampus during a reach task using stereotactic electroencephalography (SEEG). SEEG has previously been utilized to study the theta band (3–8 Hz) in conflict processing and spatial navigation, but most studies of hippocampal activity during movement have used noninvasive measures such as fMRI. We analyzed modulation in the beta band (13–30 Hz), which is known to play a prominent role throughout the motor system including the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. We conducted the classic 'center-out' direct-reach experiment with nine patients undergoing surgical treatment for medically refractory epilepsy. Main results. In seven of the nine patients, power spectral analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in power within the beta band (13–30 Hz) during the response phase, compared to the fixation phase, of the center-out direct-reach task using the Wilcoxon signed-rank hypothesis test (p < 0.05). Significance. This finding is consistent with previous literature suggesting that the hippocampus may be involved in the execution of movement, and it is the first time that changes in beta-band power have been demonstrated in the hippocampus using human electrophysiology. Our findings suggest that beta-band modulation in the human hippocampus may play a role in the execution of voluntary movement.
Sean J. McGrath: Thinking nature: an essay in negative ecology

Thinking Nature is essay in negative ecology, written in part to commemorate the deaths nature has died, pace Morton, Žižek, and even Latour. We have killed it; what now should we do? How to move forward? The path ahead will require eco-political action, to be sure. But brazen activism without the guidance of contemplative thought, McGrath argues, will not be sufficient to meet the demands of the present. Such a task demands discernment regarding the deeper roots of our ecological crisis, and knowledge of the developments that make possible both the emergence and the collapse of modernity, with its advancements in science and technology.
Trends in operative time and outcomes in minimally invasive hysterectomy from 2008 to 2018.

ABSTRACT Background There is a national shift toward laparoscopic hysterectomy as the predominant form of minimally invasive hysterectomy. Prior research suggests that vaginal hysterectomy is associated with lower operative time and improved outcomes; however, this has not been validated in a modern cohort of women. Objective This analysis aims to evaluate whether total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH) remains associated with lower operative times and postoperative complications as compared to those undergoing total laparoscopic (TLH), or laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), given recent shifts in clinical practice patterns and training experience. Study Design A secondary analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Three primary outcomes were defined for the analysis: operative time, rate of major complications, and rate of minor complications. Secondary outcomes included changes in route of surgery over time. Descriptive analyses were performed for all outcomes of interest. Operative time, rate of major complications, and rate of minor complications were compared for each of the three forms of minimally invasive hysterectomy: TLH, LAVH and TVH. Bivariate analyses were performed using ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson ꭕ2. or Fisher exact tests where appropriate. Multivariable ordinary least squares (OLS) and logistic regression were used to assess for overall differences in outcomes as well as trends over time, controlling for sociodemographic factors and medical comorbidities. Sensitivity analyses were performed using a propensity score-matched cohort created to balance groups across time. Results 161,626 women met criteria for inclusion. Rates of TVH fell from 51 to 13 percent between 2008 and 2018, while TLH increased from 12 to 68 percent (p Conclusion This analysis highlights recent shifts in rates of minimally invasive hysterectomy. Alongside this change in practice pattern, this study also brings to light a resultant shift in the complication rates associated with each surgical approach as laparoscopic hysterectomy has lower rates of complications than vaginal hysterectomy despite longer operative times.
Performance Analysis of Scientific Computing Workloads on Trusted Execution Environments

Author(s): Akram, Ayaz; Giannakou, Anna; Akella, Venkatesh; Lowe-Power, Jason; Peisert, Sean | Abstract: Scientific computing sometimes involves computation on sensitive data. Depending on the data and the execution environment, the HPC (high-performance computing) user or data provider may require confidentiality and/or integrity guarantees. To study the applicability of hardware-based trusted execution environments (TEEs) to enable secure scientific computing, we deeply analyze the performance impact of AMD SEV and Intel SGX for diverse HPC benchmarks including traditional scientific computing, machine learning, graph analytics, and emerging scientific computing workloads. We observe three main findings: 1) SEV requires careful memory placement on large scale NUMA machines (1×−3.4× slowdown without and 1×−1.15× slowdown with NUMA aware placement), 2) virtualization−a prerequisite for SEV−results in performance degradation for workloads with irregular memory accesses and large working sets (1×−4× slowdown compared to native execution for graph applications) and 3) SGX is inappropriate for HPC given its limited secure memory size and inflexible programming model (1.2×−126× slowdown over unsecure execution). Finally, we discuss forthcoming new TEE designs and their potential impact on scientific computing.
Ag and Ag–Cu interactions in Si

Noble metals are often used for contacts on Si. A considerable amount of research has been done on Cu- and Au-related defects, but much less is known about Ag. Silver is a common contaminant in metallic copper and the *Cu0 photoluminescence defect has been shown to contain one Ag atom. In this study, we predict the properties of isolated interstitial (Agi) and substitutional (Ags) silver. The calculated migration barrier of Agi is 0.53 eV, less than half the value extracted from the high-temperature solubility data. Agi has a donor level high in the gap and is in the positive charge state for most positions of the Fermi level. When interacting with a pre-existing vacancy, Agi becomes Ags with a gain in energy slightly higher than in the case of Cu but still less than the formation energy of the vacancy calculated at the same level of theory. The calculated donor and acceptor levels of Ags are close to the measured ones, and we predict a double-acceptor level that matches a Ag-related (but otherwise unidentified) level reported in the literature. The AgsCui pair is more stable than the CusAgi pair. Ags can trap several Cuis and form Ags1Cuin complexes (n = 1–4) that are similar to the Cus1Cuin ones. When needed, their calculated binding energies are corrected to account for a change of the charge state following the formation of the complex. This correction is Fermi level dependent. We tentatively assign the *Cu0 defect to Ags1Cui3 even though the single-donor level associated with *Cu0 does not match the calculated one.
Risk Factors for Wound Infection in Outpatients With Lower Extremity Burns.

BackgroundWe sought to evaluate risk factors for wound infection in patients with lower extremity (LE) burn.MethodsAdults presenting with LE burn from January 2014 to July 2015 were included. Data ...
Noncovariance of “covariant polymerization” in models of loop quantum gravity

It is possible to implement a certain form of modified gravity inspired by loop quantization through nonbijective canonical transformations. The canonical nature might suggest that such modifications are guaranteed to preserve general covariance. Here, however, we show that a dedicated space-time analysis is still required, even in the case of a bijective canonical transformation. In addition, a complete global analysis is presented for a recent proposal of a nonbijective transformation, showing that it does not preserve general covariance and that the only novel physical effect introduced by the modification is the presence of certain time-reversal hypersurfaces between classical space-time regions. These results provide further insights into the physical interpretation of modified dynamics in models of loop quantum gravity.
A Functional Analysis of 2016 Nonpresidential Campaign Tweets

A functional analysis was conducted on 2016 candidate tweets in races for governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House. The 2016 presidential campaign left no doubt that Twitter has come of age as a campa...
Allometric analysis of brain cell number in Hymenoptera suggests ant brains diverge from general trends.

Many comparative neurobiological studies seek to connect sensory or behavioural attributes across taxa with differences in their brain composition. Recent studies in vertebrates suggest cell number...
Trust or Not?: A Computational Robot-Trusting-Human Model for Human-Robot Collaborative Tasks

The trust of a robot in its human partner is a significant issue in human-robot interaction, which is seldom explored in the field of robotics. This study addresses a critical issue of robots’ trust in humans during the human-robot collaboration process based on the data of human motions, past interactions of the human-robot pair, and the human’s current performance in the co-carry task. The trust level is evaluated dynamically throughout the collaborative task that allows the trust level to change if the human performs false positive actions, which can help the robot avoid making unpredictable movements and causing injury to the human. Experimental results showed that the robot effectively assisted the human in collaborative tasks through the proposed computational trust model.
A brief research communication

This research communication adds important information to William Murphy's biographical portrayal of Lydia Stahl, a prominent Soviet spy in the United States and Western Europe in the pre-WWII period.
Funding Implications of Normal and Excessive Profitability in the Nonprofit Sector

We study how nonprofit profitability affects external funding. Using a sample of over 273 thousand U.S. nonprofit organization (NPO) observations between 1999-2019, we find that profitability is associated with greater public support; however, when NPOs are excessively profitable, they receive fewer subsequent donations. We find a similar relationship, but to a smaller degree, between NPO profitability and government grant funding. We infer that funders desire moderate but not overly high profitability. We also find that donors are more tolerant of normal and excessive profitability for NPOs in the healthcare industry, smaller NPOs, and NPOs with shorter planning horizons. The relationship between profitability and external funding is weaker during recession periods, with funders not penalizing excessively profitable organizations during economic downturns.
Privacy Preservation Using Logical Coordinates

When mobile devices are used as mobile sinks for collecting information from a deployed sensor network, the location privacy of both mobile sinks and data sources becomes very important for some applications. We present the SinkTrail and its improved version, SinkTrail-S protocol, two low-complexity, proactive data reporting protocols for privacy preserving and energy-efficient data gathering. SinkTrail uses logical coordinates for location privacy protection and to establish data reporting routes. In addition, SinkTrail is capable of accommodating multiple mobile sinks simultaneously through multiple logical coordinate spaces. It possesses desired features of geographical routing without requiring GPS devices or extra landmarks installed. SinkTrail is capable of adapting to various sensor field shapes and different moving patterns of mobile sinks. We systematically analyze energy consumptions of SinkTrail and other representative approaches and validate our analysis through extensive simulations. The results demonstrate that SinkTrail preserves location privacy as well as effectively reduces overall energy consumption. The impact of various design parameters used in SinkTrail and SinkTrail-S are investigated to provide guidance for implementation.
Behavior, Knowledge, and Attitudes Towards Khat Among Yemeni Medical Students and Effects of a Seminar

This study describes khat behavior, knowledge, and attitudes among Yemeni medical students (MS) and the effects of a seminar. The students completed a survey (n = 62); a subgroup participated in a discussion-based seminar and follow-up survey (n = 18). Although the students demonstrated knowledge about khat's health effects and considered it unacceptable for health professionals to chew khat, they disagreed that health professionals should advise patients to quit. Knowledge and attitudes improved post-seminar (not significant, except for a borderline significant increase in students correctly identifying khat as addictive; P = 0.063). Although effects were small, seminars may help health professionals address khat use in Yemen.
Productivity Growth in Telecommunications: The Case of Tennessee

A divisia index of total factor productivity (TFP) growth is calculated for each of 16 regulated local telephone companies operating in Tennessee over the years 1989 through 1993. Year over year changes in TFP, in Tornqvist form, yield a growth in total factor productivity estimate for each company. These growth rates, however, contain the effects of both scale and technical change. Using the method suggested by Caves and Christensen, the effects are decomposed indirectly by regressing the annual percentage changes in TFP growth against measures of scale, service density, and network size. The results are consistent with the findings of economies of density and nearly constant returns to scale prevalent in the telecommunications literature.
Generating reading orders over document collections

Given a document collection, existing systems allow users to browse the collection or perform searches that return lists of documents ranked based on their relevance to the user query. While these approaches work fine when a user is trying to locate specific documents, they are insufficient when users need to access the pertinent documents in some logical order, for example for learning or editorial purposes. We present a system that automatically organizes a collection of documents in a tree from general to more specific documents, and allows a user to choose a reading sequence over the documents. This a novel way to content consumption that departs from the typical ranked lists of documents based on their relevance to a user query and from static navigational interfaces. We present a set of algorithms that solve the problem and we evaluate their performance as well as the reading trees generated.
Deposition of various radioactive elements on the surface of a platinum anode—III: The number of active centres as a function of the anode voltage and the temperature

Abstract The change of the equilibrium distribution coefficient—which characterizes the anodic deposition of 144 Ce—with increasing Ce 2 (SO 4 ) 3 concentration was investigated. The Langmuir isotherm applies to the deposition data. The experimental data show that the number of active centres, which is a characteristic of the anodic deposition, depends on the anode voltage and, at constant voltage, on the temperature. The activation energy for a given voltage was determined from the temperature dependence of the number of active centres. The voltage dependence of the activation energy for deposition was studied by the evaluation of isotherms obtained for several voltages at different temperatures.
An Empirical Comparison of Methods for Reengineering Procedural Software Systems to Object-Oriented Systems

This study empirically compared two methods for reengineering a procedural system to an object-oriented system. Our hypothesis was that it is possible to support this process with a repeatable method. The first method was manual and was used as a baseline for evaluating the second method, which was repeatable and based on analysis of procedure coupling. The repeatable method was found to be effective for identifying objects. It produced code that was much smaller, more efficient, and passed more regression tests than the manual method. Analysis of object-oriented metrics indicated both simpler code and less variability among classes. Particularly striking was the order of magnitude difference between the average cohesion metric (LCOM) for the manual and repeatable methods.
Action rules discovery system DEAR_3

E-action rules, introduced in [8], represent actionability knowledge hidden in a decision system. They enhance action rules [3] and extended action rules [4], [6], [7] by assuming that data can be either symbolic or nominal. Several efficient strategies for mining e-action rules have been developed [6], [7], [5], and [8]. All of them assume that data are complete. Clearly, this constraint has to be relaxed since information about attribute values for some objects can be missing or represented as multi-values. To solve this problem, we present DEAR_3 which is an e-action rule generating algorithm. It has three major improvements in comparison to DEAR_2: handling data with missing attribute values and uncertain attribute values, and pruning outliers at its earlier stage.
Interface mechanics and toughness

In this chapter, we discuss the role of interface in CMCs with special emphasis on mechanics of the fiber/matrix interface as related to that somewhat elusive property called toughness. We discussed the general features of interface and its importance in composites in Chapter 5. Now we look at the subject of tailoring this interface in CMCs with a view to obtaining an enhanced fracture toughness in these materials. We give some examples of the interface structure in some CMCs, briefly review the topic of toughness in different types of CMCs and then analyze in some detail the toughening mechanisms in fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites because of the importance of toughness enhancement in CMCs.
Case of mediastinal epithelioid hemangioendothelioma associated with hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and literature review

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is commonly associated with malignancies of the lungs and stomach. A few cases associated with epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, a rare vascular soft tissue neoplasm, have been reported. Presented here is the first report of a case of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy as the initial symptom of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the mediastinum. A 64-year-old woman presented with pain around the long bones and diffuse puffiness of bilateral hands and feet. She had a history of multiple malignancies, all of which were in remission. She had clubbing of her fingernails and toenails. Her chest X-ray was negative. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan performed showed metabolically active soft tissue that extensively infiltrated the mediastinum, with several sites of disease involving the pericardium. Mediastinal biopsy and subsequent pleural fluid cytology obtained by thoracocentesis was consistent with metastatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. Our case supports that the PET scan has a valuable role in localizing malignancies in such patients who present with hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and no lung or stomach involvement.
Resuscitation and Withdrawal of Therapy in Pediatric Intensive Care

Although issues concerning withdrawal and limitation of life support are commonly discussed,1-6 actual practices in pediatrics are largely unknown and are limited to neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) studies. In the neonatal ICUs at Yale-New Haven Hospital and at Hammersmith Hospital, 14% and 30%, respectively, of all deaths followed withdrawal of care.7,8 In adult ICUs, limitation and/or withdrawal of therapy is common,9 and in one investigation, resuscitation was not attempted immediately before ICU death in nearly two-thirds of cases.10 Nonetheless, many physicians believe that most hospital deaths occur only after all resuscitative attempts have failed,6,11,12 and others believe that resuscitative efforts neither are indicated nor desirable in many cases.1,13
Management of abortion at the Cook County Hospital

T HE term abortion as used here is the interruption of pregnancy before the twentieth week. In the city of Chicago, a pregnancy which terminates at the twentieth week of gestation is reportable as a birth, and the hospital records so record it. Since 1939 when Hillis’ presented his statistics, new drugs and the liberal use of whole blood have altered the method of treatment. It is our intention, in so far as is practicable, to compare this review of abortions treated at the Cook County Hospital in the year 1949 with the previous report made ten years earlier. The management of abortions as outlined by Dr. Hillis was one of extreme conservatism and, indeed, it was the only safe procedure before the advent of the antibiotics. Quinine and Pituitrin in small divided doses were given to aid in evacuation of the uterus and no immediate interference was undertaken except in acute hemorrhage. If, after five days of normal temperature, the uterus had not emptied completely, a dilatation and curettage were done.