cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Information-Flow Aware Virtual Machines: Foundations for Trustworthy Computing

Many software systems in use today have enormous trusted computing bases (TCBs). We propose an architecture that makes it possible to shrink the TCB of many such systems. Our solution is based on a virtual-machine (VM) with added information-flow capabilities. In our architecture, all application programs run outside of the TCB under the control of the VM and cannot cause information leaks even if they try. We have implemented a prototype of this architecture and found that the resulting run-time overhead is much lower than expected. In many deployment contexts, it will be perfectly reasonable to make such a moderate performance sacrifice for the benefit of security.
Keeping (Direct) reference in mind

This paper explores the psychological analogues of a cluster of arguments that have played an important role in motivating a now widespread, reference-based approach in philosophy of language. What I will call the psychological analogues of Kripke-style arguments provide a substantial motivation for a reference-based approach to concepts. Insofar as such an approach is rarely given serious consideration, the availability of these arguments suggests the need for a rethinking of some foundational assumptions in philosophy of mind and other branches of the cognitive sciences.
Astrocytic Dysfunction and Addiction: Consequences of Impaired Glutamate Homeostasis

Addiction is characterized as a chronic relapsing disorder whereby addicted individuals persistently engage in drug seeking and use despite profound negative consequences. The results of studies using animal models of addiction and relapse indicate that drug seeking is mediated by alterations in cortico-accumbal plasticity induced by chronic drug exposure. Among the maladaptive responses to drug exposure are long-lasting alterations in the expression of proteins localized to accumbal astrocytes, which are responsible for maintaining glutamate homeostasis. These alterations engender an aberrant potentiation of glutamate transmission in the cortico-accumbens circuit that is linked to the reinstatement of drug seeking. Accordingly, pharmacological restoration of glutamate homeostasis functions as an efficient method of reversing drug-induced plasticity and inhibiting drug seeking in both rodents and humans.
The Transient Receptor Potential Superfamily of Ion Channels

ABSTRACT. The transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily of proteins is cation-selective ion channels with six predicted transmembrane segments and intracellularly localized amino and carboxyl termini. Members of the TRP superfamily are identified on the basis of amino acid sequence and structural similarity and are classified into TRPC, TRPV, TRPM, TRPP, TRPN, and TRPML subfamilies. TRP channels are widespread and have diverse functions, ranging from thermal, tactile, taste, osmolar, and fluid flow sensing to transepithelial Ca2+ and Mg2+ transport. Mutations of TRP proteins produce many renal diseases, including Mg2+ wasting, hypocalcemia, and polycystic kidney diseases. This review focuses on recent advances in the understanding of their functions.
A Randomized, Double‐Blind Trial Comparing the Effects of Amlodipine Besylate/Benazepril HCl vs Amlodipine on Endothelial Function and Blood Pressure

Evidence suggests that renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibition ameliorates endothelial dysfunction. The authors examined the effect of amlodipine besylate/benazepril HCl combination treatment compared with amlodipine besylate monotherapy in modulating endothelial dysfunction. This multicenter, double-blind, 12-week study randomized 70 hypertensive subjects with at least one other endothelial dysfunction risk factor to amlodipine besylate/benazepril HCl (5/20 mg/d force-titrated to 5/40 mg/d) or amlodipine besylate monotherapy (5 mg/d force-titrated to 10 mg/d). Both the combination and monotherapy produced significant median increases from baseline in percentage flow-mediated vasodilation (2.0% and 1.2%, respectively) and percentage change in percent flow-mediated vasodilation (25% and 16%, respectively). These improvements were numerically larger with combination treatment, but between-group differences did not achieve statistical significance. Reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly greater (P=.0452/P=.0297) with combination treatment (−18.6/−12.3 mm Hg) than with monotherapy (−14.8/−9.1 mm Hg). A highly positive correlation between change in systolic blood pressure and change in percent of flow-mediated vasodilation was demonstrated only for combination treatment.
Economic Modeling of Livestock Disease Outbreaks

The paper surveys articles examining the economic impacts of a livestock disease outbreak and focuses on modeling issues. One set of papers considers setting an import barrier when there is a livestock disease risk. They show that the level of a risk-based import barrier is sensitive to the impact of disease on economic welfare. The remaining articles focus on estimates of the economic impacts. An outbreak is modeled in a U.S. agricultural sector model and shows the importance of lost exports and consumer response to the magnitude of losses. The final paper argues for de-composition of the welfare impacts. Lessons for future research include improved links to epidemiological research, improved inclusion of trade, extension to non-agricultural sectors, and knowledge of consumer response.
Stabilization of time delay systems

We first consider the problem of stabilizing a first-order plant with dead time using a constant gain controller. Using a version of the Hermite-Biehler theorem applicable to quasipolynomials, a complete analytical characterization of all stabilizing gain values is provided as a closed form solution. A similar approach is then used to tackle the problem of stabilizing a first-order plant with time delay using a PI controller, and once again the complete stabilizing set is determined.
An asymptotic analysis of DS/SSMA communication systems with random polyphase signature sequences

Direct-sequence spread-spectrum multiple-access (DS/SSMA) communication systems with random m-phase sequences, for even m, are considered. By examining the asymptotic behavior of the normalized multiple-access interference (MAI), the authors find that a system with random m-phase sequences, for m>4, should have the same performance as one with random quadriphase sequences asymptotically. However, a system, with random m-phase sequences, for m/spl ges/4, may perform better than one with random binary sequences when the number of simultaneous users is relatively small. A new Gaussian approximation is proposed to estimate the probabilities of error in these systems. In two cases, the new approximation reduces to established results which have been shown to provide close estimates to the probabilities of error.
Geophysical Study of Unconsolidated Sediments and Basin Structure in Cache Valley, Utah and Idaho

During the summer of 1969, an integrated geophysical study was completed in Cache Valley near the state line between Utah and Idaho. The survey covered about 30 sq mi and was designed to provide data on unconsolidated sediments and basin structure in a study of the ground-water resources of the area. Gravity, magnetic, resistivity, and seismic reflection methods were employed to obtain the desired information. Detailed gravity data revealed that the west side of Cache Valley is underlain by a trough which is about 5 mi wide and which is filled with as much as 7,000 ft of Quaternary and Tertiary sedimentary units. The magnetic data revealed a probable mafic dike intruded into Paleozoic and Precambrian bedrock in the Lewiston area and possibly a buried volcanic flow unit in the Tertiary sediments. Interpretations of 38 vertical electrical soundings supported by three well logs showed that an area of about 8 sq mi in the center of the surveyed area is underlain by conductive clays (resistivity less than 10 ohm-meters) that are as much as 400 ft thick. Most of the area surveyed is underlain at depths of 100 to 500 ft by more resistive materials (20 to 40 ohmmeters) interpreted to contain a higher percentage of coarse-grained sediments. These sediments may constitute a potential aquifer. Seismic reflection data further confirmed the existence of the massive clays in the central part of the surveyed area, revealed complex sedimentary geology at the valley margins, and defined subtle structures within the valley fill.
Verschiedene Längeneinheiten auf den Koordinatenachsen

Bei den graphischen Darstellungen von Funktionen y = f(x) verwendet man aus verschiedenen Grunden sehr oft verschiedene Langeneinheiten auf den Koordinatenachsen. Die richtige Grosenbeziehung zwischen den durch die Gleichung y = f (x) aneinander gebundenen Grosen x und y kommt aber nur bei gleichen Langeneinheiten zur Veranschaulichung; denn mir dann sind die in der Zeichnung gemessenen Abstande eines Punktes von den Koordinatenachsen den Zahlen x und y proportional. Wir mussen daher in Zukunft genau auseinanderhalten: das Bild, das der Gleichung y = f (x) bei gleichen Langeneinheiten entspricht, von jenem Bild, das bei verschiedenen Masstaben entsteht.
Seasonal and Spatial Distributions of Adult Screwworms (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in the Panama Canal Area, Republic of Panama

The distribution of screwworms, Cochliomyia hominivorax, (Coquerel) was studied in a seasonally moist lowland tropical forest in the Republic of Panama using a combination of field collections and satellite imagery. We found that different forest types could be distinguished and mapped using remotely sensed data. To determine the temporal and spatial distribution of flies, we collected flies coming to rotted liver at 82 sites in ten vegetation types (open areas, edge forest, dry scrub forest, forest successional stage 1, forest successional stage 2, forest successional stage 3, forest successional stage 4, forest successional stage 5, mature forests, palm swamp forest, and forest along streams) over three seasons (dry, transitional, wet). Nine of the vegetation types (excluding dry scrub forest) were identified and mapped using SPOT XS and Landsat 5 TM satellite data. Screwworm flies were most abundant during the transition from wet to dry season. Fly numbers were consistently higher in forest habitats, particularly those with trees 20-30 m in height and a fairly open canopy composed of many deciduous species that shed their leaves during the dry season. Screwworm numbers were also high in palm swamp forest, edge forest, and mature growth forest. Traps sampled in open areas had fewer flies and were unrelated to proximity to cattle. Females accounted for 88% of the total fly counts. This study further substantiates the importance of forests in the ecology and behavior of screwworm flies and demonstrates that remotely sensed data can be used to construct the spatial distribution of these flies in a tropical landscape. We discuss implications of this information to the screwworm eradication program.
Labor Adjustment Patterns In The U.S. Steel Industry

This study examines labor demand in the U.S. steel industry. During the period of 1963-1988, the industry witnessed a tremendous decline in its output and employment. This decline has been particularly severe in the 1980s. The overall goal of this study is to estimate models of labor demand for the industry. The study makes two main contributions. First, the study constructs a new high-frequency monthly data set on steel output and factor prices. Hamermesh (1993) notes that most studies of labor demand rely on annual data or quarterly data which is too intertemporally aggregated to model short-run labor adjustment. Second, labor demand in the industry is modeled as a function of the unfilled orders variable. This variable is included as a measure of future demand for the industry's output. The main challenge of this study is to deal with a number of econometric modeling issues. Recognizing that the industry's output demand is potentially an endogenous variable, the output is instrumented with a set of demand related variables including controls for various steel protection regimes. This study also corrects for serial correlation in these data through differencing and Hatanaka ’s autocorrelation procedures. The main results of the study are fourfold. First, as in previous studies, the Instrumental Variable (IV) estimates show that the real wage rate and output are the key variables for explaining the fluctuations in employment. Second, the IV results do suggest that endogeneity of output is a problem and that the OLS results are biased downward. Third, the unfilled orders variable increases the demand for labor. However, this result is somewhat sensitive across specifications. Lastly, the study finds a fast short run employment adjustment period of 1.6 months. A final note of caution concerns serial correlation. Serial correlation is relatively severe in the data. The study solves this problem through both differencing and autocorrelation corrections. However, the success of these procedures proved to be mixed. Thus, the estimates reported herein vary across different estimation approaches.
Classifying Language-Related Developmental Disorders from Speech Cues: the Promise and the Potential Confounds

Speech and spoken language cues offer a valuable means to measure and model human behavior. Computational models of speech behavior have the potential to support health care through assistive technologies, informed intervention, and efficient long-term monitoring. The Interspeech 2013 Autism SubChallenge addresses two developmental disorders that manifest in speech: autism spectrum disorders and specific language impairment. We present classification results with an analysis on the development set including a discussion of potential confounds in the data such as recording condition differences. We hence propose study of features within these domains that may inform realistic separability between groups as well as have the potential to be used for behavioral intervention and monitoring. We investigate template-based prosodic and formant modeling as well as goodness of pronunciation modeling, reporting above chance classification accuracies. Index Terms: autism spectrum disorders, intonation, specific language impairment, goodness of pronunciation
Applications of the Photoaffinity Technique to the Study of Active Sites for Energy Transduction

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the applications of the photoaffinity technique to the study of active sites for energy transduction. One of the major metabolic controlling devices in bioenergetic systems, and perhaps the one most easily amenable to current investigative methodologies of photoaffinity labelling, is ligand interaction with receptor sites on membrane surfaces. Ion channels of excitable membranes consist of two functional components, which may or may not correspond to separate entities. There is an ion translocator that determines the type of ion having access to the channel, and a gate, which regulates the ion flow by opening or closing. In excitable tissues, this gate is under the control of the membrane potential. The ATP molecule contains three distinct structural groupings: (1) the adenine base, (2) the ribose sugar, and (3) the triphosphate component. A most significant contribution of photoaffinity labeling is in the elucidation of active-site structure and in the mechanistic details of the catalytic process
Statements of inference and begging the question

I advance a pragmatic account of begging the question according to which a use of an argument begs the question just in case it is used as a statement of inference and it fails to state an inference the arguer or an addressee can perform given what they explicitly believe. Accordingly, what begs questions are uses of arguments as statements of inference, and the root cause of begging the question is an argument’s failure to state an inference performable by the reasoners the arguer targets. In these ways, my account is distinguished from other pragmatic accounts (e.g., Walton, Synthese 152:237–284, 2006; Hazlett, Erkenntnis, 65:343–363, 2006; Truncellito, Argumentation, 18:325–329, 2004 and Wilson, Metaphilosophy, 19:38–52 1988). By taking the defect of a question-begging use of an argument to be its failure to state its purported inference, my account highlights in a unique way why question-begging is not an epistemic defect, and why it is not a fallacy, understood as a mistake in reasoning. These points have been made elsewhere (e.g., Hazlett, Erkenntnis, 65:343–363, 2006; Woods, Dialogues, logics and other strange things: essays in honour of Shahid Rahman, 523–544, 2008), but I believe that their plausibility is enhanced by considering begging the question as nullifying the role of an argument as a statement of inference. Since question-begging uses of arguments fail to state their purported inferences, using an argument in a question-begging-way is not a ratiocinative mistake. This undermines accounts of begging the question that adopt an epistemic approach (e.g., Biro, Metaphilosophy, 8:257–271 1977; Sanford, Metaphilosophy, 12:145–158, 1981; Sinnott-Armstrong, Aus J Philos, 77:174–191, 1999).
Samurai Sudoku-Based Space-Filling Designs for Data Pooling

Pooling data from multiple sources plays an increasingly vital role in today’s world. By using a popular Sudoku game, we propose a new type of design, called a Samurai Sudoku-based space-filling design to address this issue. Such a design is an orthogonal array-based Latin hypercube design with the following attractive properties: (i) the complete design achieves uniformity in both univariate and bivariate margins; (ii) it can be divided into groups of subdesigns with overlaps such that each subdesign achieves uniformity in both univariate and bivariate margins; and (iii) each of the overlaps achieves uniformity in both univariate and bivariate margins. Examples are given to illustrate the properties of the proposed design, and to demonstrate the advantages of using the proposed design for pooling data from multiple sources.[Received August 2013. Revised July 2015.]
Electron-phonon coupling in CdSe nanocrystals from an atomistic phonon model.

Phonon frequencies and eigenvectors, electron–phonon couplings, and the associated resonance Raman spectra have been calculated for approximately spherical, wurtzite form CdSe nanocrystals having radii of 1.4 to 2.3 nm and containing 318 to 1498 atoms. Calculations of the equilibrium geometries and phonon modes are carried out using an empirical force field, and the electron and hole wave functions are calculated as particle-in-a-sphere envelope functions multiplying the Bloch functions, with valence-band mixing included for the hole functions. The coupling of each phonon mode to the 1Se–1S3/2 and 1Se–2S3/2 excitations is evaluated directly from the change in Coulombic energy along the phonon coordinate. Ten to 50 different modes in each crystal have significant Huang–Rhys factors, clustered around two frequency regions: acoustic phonons at 20–40 cm–1 depending on crystal size, and optical phonons at 185–200 cm–1. The Huang–Rhys factors are larger for the acoustic modes than for the optical modes and decr...
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor: Pleiotropic Cytokine with Potential Clinical Usefulness

Abstract Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a 23-kDa glycoprotein with remarkably diverse effects on immune and nonimmune cells. GM-CSF induces differentiation of granulocyte, macrophage, and eosinophil precursor cells. Proliferation of monocyte-macrophages, T lymphocytes, keratinocytes, and endothelial cells is also stimulated by GM-CSF. In addition, GM-CSF alters the functional properties of mature granulocytes, macrophages, eosinophils, and basophils. GM-CSF is produced by T lymphocytes, macrophages, and several cell types in extramedullary sites, where it may act in a paracrine manner to regulate the local response to antigenic challenge. Clinical trials of GM-CSF have been conducted in patients with AIDS, aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and sarcoma and following bone marrow transplantation and accidental radiation exposure. GM-CSF significantly increased circulating numbers of several myeloid cells and produced dose-dependent toxicity consisting primarily of myalgias, fever, fluid retention, and serosal effusions. Additional studies are needed to define the role of GM-CSF in treatment of patients with qualitative and quantitative dysfunction of immune cells.
Dose to breast in breast undergoing mantle treatments.

Abstract There is considerable interest in dose to the breast in patients undergoing mantle treatment for Hodgkin's disease. This is because the patients are quite young (adolescents) and the latency period between irradiation and appearance of tumors is long. In a prospective study TLD chips were placed in several positions on the breast of the patients undergoing mantle treatment. Some parts of the breast were in the irradiated region. TLDs were placed under 2 and 3 cm of superflab bolus. Mantle field is irradiated with 10MV X-rays with a 2 cm spoiler placed 15 cm from the patient's skin. Treatment is given at 120 cm SAD. Doses in the range of 20–30 cGy per fraction were measured underneath the blocks in most cases, and doses of 30–50 cGy were measured at the edge of the block. The prescription is 200 cGy per fraction. The implication of these results will be discussed.
JmjC lysine demethylases

Among the most fundamental questions in the regulation of gene expression in mammals is how epigenetic methylation patterns of histone lysine residues are established, recognized and erased. This chapter reviews recent studies on, and discusses the resulting biochemical and structural insights into, the Jumonji C (JmjC)-containing lysine demethylases (KDMs), focusing on their biological functions, three-dimensional structures, mechanism and substrate specificities.
SU-G-IeP3-14: Updating Tools for Radiographic Technique Charts

Purpose: Manual technique selection in radiography is needed for imaging situations where there is difficulty in proper positioning for AEC, prosthesis, for non-bucky imaging, or for guiding image repeats. Basic information about how to provide consistent image signal and contrast for various kV and tissue thickness is needed to create manual technique charts, and relevant for physicists involved in technique chart optimization. Guidance on technique combinations and rules-of-thumb to provide consistent image signal still in use today are based on measurements with optical density of screen-film combinations and older generation x-ray systems. Tools such as a kV-scale chart can be useful to know how to modify mAs when kV is changed in order to maintain consistent image receptor signal level. We evaluate these tools for modern equipment for use in optimizing proper size scaled techniques. Methods: We used a water phantom to measure calibrated signal change for CR and DR (with grid) for various beam energies. Tube current values were calculated that would yield a consistent image signal response. Data was fit to provide sufficient granularity of detail to compose technique-scale chart. Tissue thickness approximated equivalence to 80% of water depth. Results: We created updated technique-scale charts, providing mAs and kV combinations to achieve consistent signal for CR and DR for various tissue equivalent thicknesses. We show how this information can be used to create properly scaled size-based manual technique charts. Conclusion: Relative scaling of mAs and kV for constant signal (i.e. the shape of the curve) appears substantially similar between film-screen and CR/DR. This supports the notion that image receptor related differences are minor factors for relative (not absolute) changes in mAs with varying kV. However, as demonstrated creation of these difficult to find detailed technique-scales are useful tools for manual chart optimization.
Military Conflict among the Elite

Successful politicians in both the Henriad and the Cecilian regime announce one intention while secretly pursuing another strategy. In R2 Bolingbroke says that he returns from banishment only to claim his dukedom of Lancaster, but all the while he plans usurpation, demonstrated by his unwarranted execution of royal favorites. Likewise, at the end of R2 and the opening of 1H4 Bolingbroke (now Henry IV) seeks to destroy his previous aristocratic henchmen, following the logic of Richard’s prophecy to Northumberland that usurpation will create mutual suspicion between Henry and his aristocratic supporters (R2, 5.1.55-68). Henry uses the Machiavellian strategy of announcing a crusade to the ‘Holy Land’ (5.6.49; also 1H4, 1.1) to mask his plan to eliminate henchmen. But we are not made privy to this intention until late in 2H4, when the king gives deathbed instructions in realpolitik to Prince Hal. After dismissing everyone except Hal and then acknowledging the illegitimacy of his kingship (4.5.183-5), Henry explains the art of government:
Wax transfer printing to enable robust barrier definition in devices based on non-standard porous materials

Wax printing has become a common method of fabricating channels in cellulose-based microfluidic devices. However, a limitation of wax printing is that it is restricted to relatively thin, smooth substrates that are compatible with processing by a commercial wax printer. In the current report, we describe a simple patterning method that extends the utility of wax printers for creating hydrophobic barriers on non-standard porous substrates via a process called wax transfer printing. We demonstrate the use of multiple wax transfer cycles to create well-defined, robust, and reproducible barriers in a thick cellulose substrate that is not compatible with feeding through a wax printer. We characterize the method for (i) wax spreading within the substrate as a function of heating time, (ii) the ability to create functional barriers in a substrate, and (iii) reproducibility in line width.
Biomass, Nutrient and Product Models for Nutrient-limited Batch Growth of Recombinant E. Coli

Abstract Both the Monod and the logistic models for single-nutrient-limited growth and two models for two-nutrient-limited growth were were fitted to data from the growth of recombinant E. coli as well as host strains, under various conditions of nutrient concentration and nutrient feeding in complex medium. The biomass data for the growth of strain JM101 in L-broth plus glycerol as the energy source fits best to a simple Monod model, whereas with acetate as an energy source, it fits best to a logistic model. The data from the growth of E. coli HB101 in L-broth with initial glucose is best described by a model in which the growth rate is limited by glucose and the acetate derived from it. The biomass data for the growth of strain JM101 in L-broth plus glucose feeding fits best to a model with two noncomplementary, sequential nutrients.
Unification of Countermanding and Perceptual Decision-making

Perceptual decision-making, studied using two-alternative forced-choice tasks, is explained by sequential sampling models of evidence accumulation, which correspond to the dynamics of neurons in sensorimotor structures of the brain. Response inhibition, studied using stop-signal (countermanding) tasks, is explained by a race model of the initiation or canceling of a response, which correspond to the dynamics of neurons in sensorimotor structures. Neither standard model accounts for performance of the other task. Sequential sampling models incorporate response initiation as an uninterrupted non-decision time parameter independent of task-related variables. The countermanding race model does not account for the choice process. Here we show with new behavioral, neural and computational results that perceptual decision making of varying difficulty can be countermanded with invariant efficiency, that single prefrontal neurons instantiate both evidence accumulation and response inhibition, and that an interactive race between two GO and one STOP stochastic accumulator fits countermanding choice behavior. Thus, perceptual decision-making and response control, previously regarded as distinct mechanisms, are actually aspects of more flexible behavior supported by a common neural and computational mechanism. The identification of this aspect of decision-making with response production clarifies the component processes of decision-making.
Usability and acceptance evaluation of ACESO: a Web-based breast cancer survivorship tool.

The specific objective of this research is to design and develop a personalized Web application to support breast cancer survivors after treatment, as they deal with post-treatment challenges, such as comorbidities and side effects of treatment. A mixed-methods approach, utilizing a combination of think-aloud analysis, personal interviews, and surveys, was adopted for user acceptance and usability testing among a group of breast cancer survivors. User feedback was gathered on their perceived value of the application, and any user-interface issues that may hinder the overall usability were identified. The application’s portability and capability of organizing their entire breast cancer-related medical history as well as tracking various quality of life indicators were perceived to be valuable features. The application had an overall high usability; however, certain sections of the application were not as intuitive to locate. Visual elements of the website were appreciated; however, overall experience would benefit from incorporating more sociable elements that exhibit positive re-enforcement within the end user and provide a friendlier experience. The results of the study showcase the need for more personalized tools and resources to support survivors in self-management. It also demonstrates the ability to integrate breast cancer survivorship care plans from diverse providers and paves the way to add further value-added features in consumer health applications, such as personal decision support. Using a personal decision support-based tool can serve as a training tool and resource, providing these patients with pertinent information about the various aspects of their long-term health, while educating them about any related side effects and symptoms. It is hoped that making such tools more accessible could help in engaging survivors to play an active role in managing their health and encourage shared decision-making with their providers.
Text Messaging to Reduce Alcohol Relapse in Prelisting Liver Transplant Candidates: A Pilot Feasibility Study

Background Many liver transplantation programs require documented alcohol sobriety prior to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) listing. This pilot study examined the feasibility of the first mobile, alcohol relapse prevention intervention for liver transplant patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Methods This was a randomized 8-week pilot feasibility trial of a text message-based alcohol intervention. In-treatment assessment was conducted at 4 weeks (4W), and immediate posttreatment assessment was conducted at 8W. Participants were liver transplant candidates (N = 15) diagnosed with ALD who reported at least 1 drinking episode in the past year. Primary feasibility outcomes were percent of messages responded to and posttreatment intervention satisfaction ratings. Preliminary clinical efficacy outcomes were any biologically confirmed alcohol consumption, stress, abstinence self-efficacy, and alcohol craving. Results On feasibility outcomes, participants responded to 81% of messages received and reported high rates of intervention satisfaction, looked forward to receiving the messages, and found it easy to complete the intervention. On preliminary efficacy outcomes, zero participants in the text message (TM) had positive urine alcohol tests at 8W. Two of the 6 participants in standard care (SC) tested positive at 8W. No effects were seen on craving. For stress, a condition × time interaction emerged. TM participants had less stress at 4W and 8W compared with SC at baseline. They maintained their stress level during the intervention. For self-efficacy, a trend for condition effect emerged. TM participants had higher self-efficacy than SC participants. Conclusions Participants reported high satisfaction with the intervention, looked forward to the messages, and found it easy to complete. Participants who received the intervention had better treatment outcomes than those who received standard care. They maintained higher levels of self-efficacy and lower stress. Mobile alcohol interventions may hold significant promise to help ALD liver transplant patients maintain sobriety.
A Complexity Method for Assessing Counterterrorism Policies

The incidence of terrorism is marked by uncertainty in time of onset, location, severity, and other attributes. This method applies the theory of political uncertainty and complexity theory to assessment of counterterrorism (CT) policies. Results from this method provide new, potentially actionable insights on the effect of CT policies by examining changes in the time between terrorism incidents T and the severity of such events S (fatalities). Most terrorism incidence patterns lack the “normal” (bell-shaped) or Gaussian distribution that is characteristic of equilibrium systems. Instead, terrorism event distributions often show heavy tails, symptomatic of non-equilibrium dynamics, in some cases approximating a power law with critical or near-critical exponent value of 2. Empirical hazard force analysis comparing pre- and postinterventions can also provide insights on CT policy effectiveness and change in the threat environment. Selected policy implications are discussed, including the usefulness of real-time and anticipatory analytical strategies.
Mu Opioid Receptor Agonist DAMGO Produces Place Conditioning, Abstinence-induced Withdrawal, and Naltrexone-Dependent Locomotor Activation in Planarians

Abstract Unlike the behavioral effects planarians display when exposed to cocaine, amphetamines, cathinones, ethanol and sucrose, effects of opioid receptor agonists, especially mu opioid receptor agonists, are poorly defined in these flatworms. Here, we tested the hypothesis that planarians exposed to a selective mu opioid receptor agonist, DAMGO (0.1, 1, 10 µM), would display a triad of opioid-like effects (place conditioning, abstinence-induced withdrawal, and motility changes). DAMGO was selected versus morphine because of its greater mu opioid receptor selectivity. In place conditioning and abstinence experiments, the planarian light/dark test (PLDT) was utilized (i.e., planarians are placed into a petri dish containing water that is split into light and dark compartments and time spent in the compartments is determined). Planarians conditioned with DAMGO (1 µM) spent more time on the drug-paired side compared to water controls. In abstinence experiments, planarians exposed to DAMGO for 30 min were removed and then placed into water, where light avoidance (e.g. defensive responding) and depressant-like effects (i.e., decreased motility) were quantified. Compared to water controls, DAMGO-withdrawn planarians spent less time in the light (10 µM) and displayed decreased motility (1, 10 µM). Acute DAMGO exposure (1 µM) produced hypermotility that was antagonized by naltrexone (1, 10, 100 µM). In contrast, acute exposure to the kappa opioid receptor agonist U50,488H (0.1, 1, 10 µM) resulted in decreased motility. Our results show that a mu opioid agonist produces mammalian-like behavioral responses in planarians that may be related to addiction and suggest opioid-like behavioral effects are conserved in invertebrates.
Mechanics of Plate

In most structural applications, composite structures can be idealized as beams, plates or shells. The analysis is reduced from a three-dimensional elasticity problem to a one-dimensional or two-dimensional problem based on certain simplifying assumptions that can be made because the structure is thin. This chapter presents the basic assumptions made in the development of several commonly used plate theories. The simplifying assumptions deal with various ways of approximating the transverse normal strain and the transverse shear strains. The present discussion also applies to beam theories and shell theories where parallel developments take place. Knowledge of the basic elements of these structural theories is required for the development of mathematical models for modeling the impact event.
Chromium in the prevention and control of diabetes

Chromium is an essential nutrient involved in the metabolism of glucose, insulin and blood lipids. Suboptimal dietary intake of chromium is associated with increased risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Within the past five years, chromium has been shown to improve glucose and related variables in subjects with glucose intolerance and type 1, type 2, gestational and steroid-induced diabetes. Severe neuropathy and glucose intolerance of a patient on total parenteral nutrition, who was receiving currently recommended levels of chromium, were reversed by additional supplemental chromium. Chromium increases insulin binding to cells, insulin receptor number and activates insulin receptor kinase leading to increased insulin sensitivity. Additional studies are urgently needed to elucidate the mechanism of action of chromium and its role in the prevention and control of diabetes.
Time-resolved studies of thermal and acoustic transport in metals

The interaction of light with the electrons in metals is an area rich in fundamental physics. In recent years, optical studies of metals have been eclipsed by studies of technologically relevant semiconducting materials. However, new and sophisticated material growth processes are now being used to produce exotic metal systems ranging from amorphous alloys to compositionally modulated structures. The Interest in these materials is motivated by the potential for discovery of new physical properties.
How May Brains Work? A View from Comparative Physiology

The first assertion that must be made about the title question is that for the present and a long time to come we expect divergent answers from experts who do not disagree but have different expectations of explanation or understanding. It may help to state my personal view of what constitutes understanding in the context of how the brain works. In the broadest terms, to explain or understand the mechanism of a phenomenon is basically to describe it in the language of any lower integrative level, even the very next level. There are always levels below us (nervous system, subsystem, circuit, cluster, cell, organelle, molecule, atom, particle, etc.); thus any explanation is just pushing the mystery down to phenomenology at a lower level. This is relevant because the extreme diversity of points of view about understanding the brain, many of them resulting from outstanding successes in cellular, membrane and molecular approaches, underlines a diversity in the conceptual goals of various integrative levels of inquiry (Gerard 1940).
The Use Of Oxytocin

Synthetic oxytocin offers a safe and effective means of producing regular uterine activity and has a fairly large therapeutic index; however, the mild antidiuretic and vasoactive properties of oxytocin increase the risk of water intoxication and hypotension. The issue of reduction in cesarean section rates through the use of an active management protocol is being studied actively in the United States and Canada at this time. The authors recommend infusion protocols for the augmentation and induction of labor that use low doses of dilute oxytocin, increased at intervals no more than 40 minutes. Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies support the use of oxytocin in the physiologic range as efficacious and prudent. The longer induction to delivery time demonstrated by some, but not all authors, in our opinion, is a reasonable alternative to avoidable uterine hyperstimulation with the potential for fetal and maternal injury. We advocate the use of the lowest dose necessary to produce adequate uterine contractility and cervical change.
Dynamic bipedal locomotion over stochastic discrete terrain

Owing to their morphology and mechanical design, bipedal robots have the ability to traverse over a wide range of terrain including those with discrete footholds such as stepping stones. This paper...
Effect of a central call center on employee perceptions of safety culture within community pharmacies in an academic health system.

PURPOSE This study evaluated employee perceptions of safety culture in 9 health-system-owned community pharmacies using a safety culture survey before and after implementation of a Pharmacy Services Call Center (PSCC) designed to reduce distractions through reduction of phone volume related to refills and prescription readiness. METHODS The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Community Pharmacy Survey on Patient Safety Culture (CPSPSC) was used to collect employee safety culture perceptions pre-post PSCC implementation. A percent positive score (PPS) was calculated for each of 11 CPSPSC composite questions and for 1 overall rating of patient safety question based on AHRQ-suggested analytic procedures. Pre-post PSCC implementation, PPSs were compared using a chi-square test. RESULTS Overall, the lowest composite PPS (Staffing, Work Pressure, and Pace) and the highest composite PPS (Patient Counseling) ranked the same in both survey periods. Of the nine PSCC pharmacies, statistically significant (p < 0.05) PPS improvements occurred in 4 composites including Teamwork (11.9%), Communication About Mistakes (18%), Staff Training and Skills (20.6%), and Staffing, Work Pressure, and Pace (11.8%). PSCC pharmacies also reported a 9.3% (NS) improvement in overall rating of pharmacy patient safety post PSCC implementation. Separate analysis of pharmacist responses was consistent with pharmacy level results, but technician results differed slightly in overall rating of safety perceptions. CONCLUSION Presence of the PSCC appeared to increase pharmacy employees' perceptions of safety culture in the community pharmacies, an integral part of overall patient safety.
A REVIEW OF SOME RECENT THEORETICAL CALCULATIONS OF PHASE TRANSITIONS AND COMPARISONS WITH EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

We review some recent studies on structural phase transitions, metallization and melting. Theoretical methods have been increasingly successful in predicting these properties. A major difficulty remains in the determination of effective metal pair-potentials for finite temperature calculations in non-simple metals.
Interdisciplinary Responses to Climate Change in the University Classroom

Abstract This case report describes a novel bridge course developed by the authors, entitled, What If They're Right? Individual Responses to Climate Change. The course challenges university student...
Findings, issues, and new directions for research on emotion socialization

This special issue consists of 20 articles that focus on issues related to Eisenberg and colleagues' (Eisenberg, Cumberland, & Spinrad, 1998; Eisenberg, Spinrad, & Cumberland, 1998) model of emotion socialization processes and its relevance for understanding a range of aspects of children's socioemotional functioning. The various papers have addressed a variety of issues including key mediating pathways, predictions of emotion-related socialization behaviors, moderators of pathways, and various potential outcomes of emotion-related socialization behaviors. Methods used in the articles include experimental interventions and nonexperimental longitudinal studies. The goals for this commentary include organizing the findings in this special issue to better highlight their relevance for the 1998 heuristic model and suggesting issues to consider in future research. Moreover, some gaps in the literature are noted. Finally, several minor changes to the model are suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Disabling barriers experienced by students with disabilities in postsecondary introductory physics

Introductory physics students are better supported by instructors who intentionally choose to conceptualize disability as situated in the interaction between the individual and instructional structures and actively work to remove barriers and add supports for all students.
Unitarity and the BFKL pomeron

Abstract High energy onium-onium scattering is calculated as a function of impact parameter in the one- and two-pomeron exchange approximation. Difficulties with using the multiple scattering series to unitarize single pomeron exchange at high energy are noted. An operator formalism which sums all numbers of pomeron exchange is given. A toy model which has a similar operator structure at high energy as QCD is presented and the S-matrix is evaluated. Estimates of the energies and impact parameters at which blackness occurs in onium-onium scattering are given. It is emphasized that the problem of unitarity in high energy onium-onium scattering can be solved in a purely perturbative context, with a non-running coupling if the onium is heavy enough.
Trillion Sensors Security

The advancement of ubiquitous computing in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) applications boosted the number of connected devices increased in the last decade. The prevalence use of IoT applications with pervasive sensing enables billions of devices connected to the internet, and each device may have multiple sensors attached, which lead us to the age of trillion sensors. However, the widespread use of sensors in critical infrastructures and applications, such as smart grid, smart city, industry 4.0 (smart manufacture), and healthcare, also raises additional security concerns. It is necessary to understand the infrastructure consisting of trillions of sensors to identify and thwart the potential threats before they occur. In this chapter, we aim to provide a detailed survey of the applicability and capabilities of the trillion sensors in diversified application domains. We present a comprehensive taxonomy of sensors introduced in [3] that have been widely adopted in IoT/CPS applications. We illustrate the IoT/CPS architecture and the underlying vulnerabilities in the trillion sensors era. We analyze and discuss future directions and solutions for solving security issues.
A Neural Network-Based Linguistic Similarity Measure for Entrainment in Conversations.

Linguistic entrainment is a phenomenon where people tend to mimic each other in conversation. The core instrument to quantify entrainment is a linguistic similarity measure between conversational partners. Most of the current similarity measures are based on bag-of-words approaches that rely on linguistic markers, ignoring the overall language structure and dialogue context. To address this issue, we propose to use a neural network model to perform the similarity measure for entrainment. Our model is context-aware, and it further leverages a novel component to learn the shared high-level linguistic features across dialogues. We first investigate the effectiveness of our novel component. Then we use the model to perform similarity measure in a corpus-based entrainment analysis. We observe promising results for both evaluation tasks.