cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Globalization and Comparative Family Law: A Discussion of Pluralism, Universality and Markets (Symposium Foreword)

The following foreword introduces the presentations and papers that comprised the Albany Law School special symposium Issue on Globalization and Comparative Family Law: A Discussion of Pluralism, Universality and Markets. The symposium focused on the international gender equality project, exploring the relationship and interaction of domestic and international legal norms and policies with culture, religion, markets and families. The presenters all examine how not just law, but culture, religion, and markets can be used to challenge or reinforce gender roles. Professor Frances Olsen’s keynote address discusses her work on the ideological interaction between the state, the family and the market and the effect that international institutions can have on gender roles. Professor Berta Esperanza Hernandez-Truyol explores the challenges that war, dislocation and dispossession in Africa and Afghanistan pose to liberal women’s rights. Professor Penelope Andrews uses the experience of Cuban women to show the potential of law to change culture, yet shows how culture can resist or withstand such efforts. Doctor Leslye Amede Obiora notes that the free market reformers have overlooked the resistance and agency of African women when these women are portrayed as having acquiesced in their own oppression. Justice Mokgoro’s luncheon discusses how poverty and inequality are intertwined with gender in South Africa. Professor Marie-Clair Belleau reveals the practical challenges that mail-order brides pose to women’s rights, as these women are faced with a lack of opportunity and the romantic fantasy of a husband in a developed country.
A Novel Unsupervised 2-Stage k-NN Re-Ranking Algorithm for Image Retrieval

In many image retrieval systems, re-ranking is an important final step to improve the retrieval accuracy given an initial ranking list. K-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) re-ranking algorithms are the class of algorithms that re-rank an initial ranked list by comparing the similarity between a query image's k-NN and the k-NN of candidate database images, e.g. the initially high ranked images. In this paper, we present a novel 2-stage k-NN re-ranking algorithm. In stage one, we generate an expanded list of candidate database images for re-ranking so that some lower ranked ground truth images will be included for the next stage. In stage two, we re-rank the list of candidate images using a confidence score which is calculated based on both the ranking consistency and reciprocal k-NN properties. Our experimental results on two popular benchmark datasets along with a large-scale 1 million distraction dataset show improved performance over existing k-NN re-ranking methods.
Fungi of a Long Island Oak-Birch Forest II. Population Dynamics and Hydrolase Patterns for the Soil Penicillia

The penicillia in the A-horizon of a Long Island oak-birch forest form a natural association or taxocene of 32 species studied over a 15 month period by dilution plate analysis. The co-dominants, P...
Dual function microscope for quantitative DIC and birefringence imaging

A spectral multiplexing interferometry (SXI) method is presented for integrated birefringence and phase gradient measurement on label-free biological specimens. With SXI, the retardation and orientation of sample birefringence are simultaneously encoded onto two separate spectral carrier waves, generated by a crystal retarder oriented at a specific angle. Thus sufficient information for birefringence determination can be obtained from a single interference spectrum, eliminating the need for multiple acquisitions with mechanical rotation or electrical modulation. In addition, with the insertion of a Nomarski prism, the setup can then acquire quantitative differential interference contrast images. Red blood cells infected by malaria parasites are imaged for birefringence retardation as well as phase gradient. The results demonstrate that the SXI approach can achieve both quantitative phase imaging and birefringence imaging with a single, high-sensitivity system.
High-capacity quantum Fibonacci coding for key distribution

Quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution (QKD) have been the most successful applications of quantum information processing, highlighting the unique capability of quantum mechanics, through the no-cloning theorem, to securely share encryption keys between two parties. Here, we present an approach to high-capacity, high-efficiency QKD by exploiting cross-disciplinary ideas from quantum information theory and the theory of light scattering of aperiodic photonic media. We propose a unique type of entangled-photon source, as well as a physical mechanism for efficiently sharing keys. The key-sharing protocol combines entanglement with the mathematical properties of a recursive sequence to allow a realization of the physical conditions necessary for implementation of the no-cloning principle for QKD, while the source produces entangled photons whose orbital angular momenta (OAM) are in a superposition of Fibonacci numbers. The source is used to implement a particular physical realization of the protocol by randomly encoding the Fibonacci sequence onto entangled OAM states, allowing secure generation of long keys from few photons. Unlike in polarization-based protocols, reference frame alignment is unnecessary, while the required experimental setup is simpler than other OAM-based protocols capable of achieving the same capacity and its complexity grows less rapidly with increasing range of OAM used.
Design of error injector based on FPGA for high-speed data

LOCic is a two-channel radiation-tolerant low power high-speed serializer in ATLAS liquid argon calorimeter's frontend electronic read out unit for CERN LHC.The burst of multi-bits errors and bit slip errors appear in the LOCic as the highspeed data are collected and transferred under the extremely high levels of radiation environment.Based on above issues,the design of error injector based on Stratix II GX FPGA was proposed to simulate the errors and was applied to the design and test of the decoder and restore system of back-end system.The results of experiments and tests show the error injector is valid.
C-reactive protein levels in African Americans: a diet and lifestyle randomized community trial.

Background Chronic inflammation is linked to poor lifestyle behaviors and a variety of chronic diseases that are prevalent among African Americans, especially in the southeastern U.S. Purpose The goal of the study was to test the effect of a community-based diet, physical activity, and stress reduction intervention conducted in 2009–2012 on reducing serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in overweight and obese African-American adults. Methods An RCT intervention was designed jointly by members of African-American churches and academic researchers. In late 2012, regression (i.e., mixed) models were fit that included both intention-to-treat and post hoc analyses conducted to identify important predictors of intervention success. Outcomes were assessed at 3 months and 1 year. Results At baseline, the 159 individuals who were recruited in 13 churches and had evaluable outcome data were, on average, obese (BMI=33.1 [±7.1]) and had a mean CRP level of 3.7 (±3.9) mg/L. Reductions were observed in waist-to-hip ratio at 3 months (2%, p =0.03) and 1 year (5%, p p =0.05), but no change after 1 year. No differences were noted in BMI or interleukin-6. Conclusions In overweight/obese, but otherwise "healthy," African-American church members with very high baseline CRP levels, this intervention produced significant reductions in CRP at 3 and 12 months, and in waist-to-hip ratio, which is an important anthropometric predictor of overall risk of inflammation and downstream health effects. Trial registration This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01760902.
Cardiac outcomes in women receiving aromatase inhibitors as adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer.

e11501 Background: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have been reported to increase the risk of cardiotoxicity in women with early stage breast cancer (BC). This study was performed to further elucidate t...
Abstract 3785: Targeting PDLIM5 for lung cancer

Rationale: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States and worldwide. Despite decades of efforts on research and smoking cessation, the 5-year survival rate of lung cancer patients remains poor at 15%, and the population of adenocarcinoma cases in nonsmokers is rising. PDLIM5, a member of the Enigma subfamily of PDZ and LIM domain protein family, contains an N-terminal PDZ domain and 3 LIM domains at its C-terminus. We have previously shown that PDLIM5 regulates TGF-β/Smad family, which are known to participate in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. In this study, we aim to investigate whether PDLIM5 plays a role in lung cancer and establish a high throughput screening (HTS) platform for PDLIM5-targeted drug discovery. Methods: We searched the Oncomine data base for PDLIM5 gene expression. We suppressed PDLIM5 in A549 cells and determined the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers. We exposed A549 cells to hypoxia or treated them with TGF-β1 and measured the expression levels of PDLIM5. We generated a stable mink lung epithelial cell line (MLEC) containing a TGFβ/Smad luciferase reporter with lentivirus-mediated suppression of PDLIM5 (MLEC-shPDLIM5) and measured levels of Smad2/3 and pSmad2/3. We used MLEC-shPDLIM5 and a control cell line (MLEC-shCTL) to screen the Prestwick library (1,200 compounds). We treated MLEC and A549 cells with paclitaxel and determined levels of Smad2/3 and pSmad2/3. Results: We found that PDLIM5 was overexpressed in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients and that the expression levels of PDLIM5 inversely correlated with the survival rate of lung cancer patients. Hypoxia but not TGF-β1 induced PDLIM5 expression levels. Suppression of PDLIM5 induced E-cadherin levels while decreased levels of vimentin and α-SMA. In MLEC, suppression of PDLIM5 decreased Smad-dependent luciferase activity, smad3, and pSmad2. More importantly, we identified and validated that paclitaxel as a PDLIM5 inhibitor in MLEC. Furthermore, we showed that paclitaxel inhibited Smad2 expression and Smad3 phosphorylation in A549 cells. Conclusions: We have shown that PDLIM5 is overexpressed in lung cancer cells and its upregulation is hypoxia-dependent but TGF-β independent. Loss of PDLIM5 inhibits EMT. We have identified paclitaxel as a PDLIM5 inhibitor. This system is robust and suitable for PDLIM5 targeted drug discovery. Support: a UIC UICentre Arm1 Inception Grant, a Gilead Sciences Research Scholars Program in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension award and R01 HL123804 (G. Zhou). Citation Format: Deborah Park, Han Cheng, Tianji Chen, Merve Tor, Nour Khatib, Jason Huang, Qiyuan Zhou, Lijun Rong, Guofei Zhou. Targeting PDLIM5 for lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3785.
On the Lagrangian description of absolutely continuous curves in the Wasserstein space on the line; well-posedness for the Continuity Equation

The Lagrangian description of absolutely continuous curves of probability measures on the real line is analyzed. Whereas each such curve admits a Lagrangian description as a well-defined flow of its velocity field, further conditions on the curve and/or its velocity are necessary for uniqueness. We identify two seemingly unrelated such conditions that ensure that the only flow map associated to the curve consists of a time-independent rearrangement of the generalized inverses of the cumulative distribution functions of the measures on the curve. At the same time, our methods of proof yield uniqueness within a certain class for the curve associated to a given velocity, i.e. they provide uniqueness for the solution of the continuity equation within a certain class of curves.
Trade-creation and trade-diversion effects of regional trade arrangements: low-income countries

Although the number of regional trade arrangements (RTAs) among the lowest-income developing countries is surging, the literature on their welfare effects is still scarce, and the few that exist fa...
Gadd45 Genes Participate in Myeloid Cell Fate Determination.

The gadd45 family of genes is rapidly induced by different stressors, including differentiation-inducing cytokines, and there is a large body of evidence that their cognate proteins are key players in cellular stress responses. Gadd45 gene(s) were found to be primary response gene(s) to IL-6 mediated terminal differentiation of M1 monocytic leukemia cells, as well as to G-CSF mediated terminal differentiation of 32Dcl3 cells; furthermore, gadd45 gene(s) were induced by myeloid differentiation inducing cytokines such as IL-3 and GM-CSF in primary murine bone marrow (BM) cells (Zhang et al., Oncogene18:4899–4907, 1999; Abdollahi et al, Oncogene6:165–167, 1990). Induction of gadd45 genes at the onset of myeloid differentiation suggested that Gadd45 protein(s) play a role in hematopoiesis, yet no apparent abnormalities were observed in either the BM or peripheral blood compartments of mice deficient for either gadd45a or gadd45b. Both BM and Hoxb8 immortalized macrophage progenitors induced to differentiate in vitro revealed that deficiency in either gadd45a or gadd45b resulted in loss of macrophages and an increase in neutrophils compared to cells derived from wild type mice. How Gadd45a and Gadd45b influence the expression and activation of transcription factors that regulate myeloid cell determination will be discussed.
Maternal Mental Health Disorders and Reports to Child Protective Services: A Birth Cohort Study

Background. Existing literature has documented a strong relationship between parental mental illness and child maltreatment, but little is known about the prevalence of mental illness among childbearing women. In the present study, linked administrative records were used to identify the prevalence of maternal mental health (MH) disorders documented at birth and determine the associated likelihood of maltreatment reports during infancy. Materials and Methods. Vital records for California’s 2006 birth cohort were linked to hospital discharge and Child Protective Services (CPS) records. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) billing codes from the mother’s delivery hospitalization were used to determine diagnosed maternal MH disorders for 551,232 infants born in 2006, and reports of alleged maltreatment were documented from CPS records. Vital birth records were used to control for sociodemographic factors. Finally, the associated risk of reported maltreatment during the first year of life was examined using generalized linear models. Results. Among infants in this statewide birth cohort, 2.8% were born to a mother with a documented MH disorder, of which 41.3% had documented maternal substance abuse issues versus less than 0.5% of infants born to mothers without a diagnosed MH disorder. Further, 34.6% of infants born to mothers with a MH disorder were reported to CPS within one year, and a majority of those reports were made within the first month of life (77.2%). In contrast, among children born to mothers without a MH disorder, 4.4% were reported to CPS during infancy. After controlling for sociodemographic factors, the rate of CPS reports during infancy for infants born to mothers with a MH disorder but no substance use disorder was 2.6 times that of infants born to mothers without a MH disorder (95% CI = 2.47, 2.73). Among infants born to mothers with MH and substance use disorders, the rate of CPS reports during infancy was 5.69 times that of infants born to mothers without a MH disorder (95% CI = 5.51, 5.87). Conclusions. Administrative records provide a method for identifying infants born to mothers with MH disorders, enabling researchers to track rates over time and generate population-level data to inform policy development and improve service delivery.
The Value of Patience and Start-Up Firms: A Re-Examination of Entry Timing for Emerging Markets

We investigate how changing technological and industry conditions in emerging markets, driven by product innovation, affect the exit rates of start-up versus established firms. We find that these c...
Significantly Increased Odds of Reporting Previous Shoulder Injuries in Female Marines Based on Larger Magnitude Shoulder Rotator Bilateral Strength Differences.

Background:Musculoskeletal injuries to the extremities are a primary concern for the United States (US) military. One possible injury risk factor in this population is side-to-side strength imbalan...
Detrimental effects of nitroglycerin use during regadenoson vasodilator stress testing: A cautionary tale

Vasodilator agents such as adenosine and regadenoson are commonly used pharmacologic stressors to assess for ischemia in patients undergoing myocardial perfusion studies. The recommended reversal agent for this mode of stress is aminophylline, although nitroglycerin is commonly administered as an attempt to reverse the symptoms or electrocardiographic (EKG) changes during the stress test. We demonstrate through two cases that incorrect administration of nitroglycerin can induce hypotension and worsen coronary steal, whereas appropriate administration of aminophylline can reverse the effects of pharmacologic vasodilators. While nitroglycerin is often used in patients with organic angina, it has the potential to worsen ischemia in the setting of pharmacologic vasodilator administration. These cases underscore the importance of administering the correct reversal agent for pharmacologic stress tests.
Streptococcus pneumoniae Sialidase SpNanB-Catalyzed One-Pot Multienzyme (OPME) Synthesis of 2,7-Anhydro-Sialic Acids as Selective Sialidase Inhibitors.

Streptococcus pneumoniae sialidase SpNanB is an intramolecular trans-sialidase (IT-sialidase) and a virulence factor that is essential for streptococcal infection of the upper and lower respiratory tract. SpNanB catalyzes the formation of 2,7-anhydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid (2,7-anhydro-Neu5Ac), a potential prebiotic that can be used as the sole carbon source of a common human gut commensal anaerobic bacterium. We report here the development of an efficient one-pot multienzyme (OPME) system for synthesizing 2,7-anhydro-Neu5Ac and its derivatives. Based on a crystal structure analysis, an N-cyclohexyl derivative of 2,7-anhydro-neuraminic acid was designed, synthesized, and shown to be a selective inhibitor against SpNanB and another Streptococcus pneumoniae sialidase SpNanC. This study demonstrates a new strategy of synthesizing 2,7-anhydro-sialic acids in a gram scale and the potential application of their derivatives as selective sialidase inhibitors.
National Findings from an LGBT Healthcare Organizational Needs Assessment.

Abstract Purpose: LGBT populations require expanded access to healthcare that meets their unique needs. This article presents the primary findings of a training and technical assistance needs asses...
Systematic Review of Temporal Bone-Resurfacing Techniques for Pulsatile Tinnitus Associated with Vascular Wall Anomalies.

ObjectiveTo systematically review literature evidence on temporal bone–resurfacing techniques for pulsatile tinnitus (PT) associated with vascular wall anomalies.Data SourcesWe searched PubMed, Emb...
Enhanced ultrasonographic imaging of the equine distal limb using saline injection of the digital flexor tendon sheath: A cadaver study

Injuries to the structures within the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) can lead to lameness with a variable degree of effusion in horses. In some cases, effusion is absent or minimal, and this may be related to the chronicity and type of injury, or veterinary interventions. The purpose of this study was to determine if saline injection into the DFTS would improve ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance imaging of the distal limb without introducing artifact. Nine normal equine cadaver forelimbs were collected. Non-weight-bearing ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination of each limb was performed pre- and immediately post-injection of the DFTS. The presence of fluid in the DFTS significantly improved the delineation of the deep digital flexor tendon, manica flexoria, and straight distal sesamoidean ligament visualised using both ultrasonography and MRI (P<0.05). Significant improvement in visualisation of the margins of the superficial digital flexor tendon was noted only with MRI (P<0.05). Saline distension did not alter the size/shape of the intra- and extrathecal structures. The findings of this study support further evaluation of this imaging technique in clinical cases with minimal DFTS effusion.
Summer rest site selection by Appalachian eastern spotted skunks

Eastern spotted skunks (Spilogale putorius) have suffered a dramatic range-wide decline leading to concern that the species is likely vulnerable to extinction, but were recently discovered to persist in a portion of the southern Appalachian Mountains (United States). For 2 years we investigated habitat selection by eastern spotted skunks to develop an understanding of their habitat and conservation needs in northwestern South Carolina. We used a discrete choice modeling framework to evaluate vegetative and topographic features that we predicted would influence rest site selection by male and female spotted skunks. Using VHF telemetry, we tracked 15 spotted skunks (10 males and 5 females) to 215 day-time rest sites between the months of April and August. Spotted skunks selected rest sites in close proximity to drainage channels, where the relative probability of selection decreased 18% and 50% with every 20-m increase in distance to a drainage channel for males and females, respectively. Relative probability of selection by female spotted skunks increased 30% for every one-unit increase in coarse woody debris (CWD), and relative probability of selection by male spotted skunks increased 25% for every 10% increase in understory cover. These results are consistent with previous studies that have identified cover as important for protection from predators; however, we additionally identified CWD and drainage channels as important to habitat selection by spotted skunks. These latter attributes are likely selected based on prey availability, but alternate ecological functions of these features warrant further investigation. Preservation of understory vegetation and CWD within drainage networks might benefit conservation of eastern spotted skunks in the southern Appalachians.
Non-peptide glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. 6. Design and synthesis of rigid, centrally constrained non-peptide fibrinogen receptor antagonists

Abstract Low molecular weight non-peptide inhibitors of platelet aggregation based on rigid bicyclic scaffolds are described. Consideration of the reported conformational preferences of 1-alkyl-3-carbonyl pyrroles led to the synthesis of pyrrolopiperazinone 2a which was shown to be a potent, selective antagonist.
Echocardiographic Assessment of Right Ventricular Function and Response to Therapy in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Echocardiography is a key tool in the management of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but many potential parameters could be used to assess response to therapy. In this retrospective study of 48 patients with severe PAH at baseline, we examined echocardiographic variables before and after initiation of PAH-specific therapy to evaluate which measures of right ventricular (RV) function best correlated with clinical response to therapy as assessed by 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and 3-year all-cause mortality. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), mid-RV and basal-RV diameters, RV systolic pressure, and RV global longitudinal strain were all found to significantly improve after initiation of a PAH therapy. Decreases in right atrial area (r = −0.50, p = 0.002) and mid-RV diameter (r = −0.36, p = 0.03) were most strongly correlated with improvement in 6MWD. Pretreatment values of RA area (hazard ratio [HR] per 1 SD: 2.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.58, 4.69), mid-RV diameter (HR 2.03; 1.20, 3.45), basal-RV diameter (HR 2.27; 1.40, 3.70), and RV global longitudinal strain (HR 2.36; 1.22, 4.56) were all associated with mortality risk. 6MWD and TAPSE were the 2 variables for which pretreatment measures (6MWD – HR 0.35; 0.17, 0.72; TAPSE – HR 0.41; 0.21, 0.82) and change with treatment (6MWD – HR 0.26; 0.10, 0.64; TAPSE – HR 0.40; 0.21, 0.77) were both significantly associated with 3-year mortality. Change in RV systolic pressure with treatment was significantly associated with mortality (HR 2.55; 1.23, 5.28,) but pretreatment baseline had no association (HR 1.48; 0.72, 3.06). Although many echocardiographic parameters change with initiation of PAH treatment, the strong association of both baseline TAPSE and change in TAPSE with mortality supports the ongoing use of TAPSE as an important measure in the assessment of disease severity and treatment response in PAH.
Comparison of Sestamibi SPECT/CT and Parathyroid 4D CT with a 1-Stop Simultaneous Imaging Protocol

233 Objectives: Accurate preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas or hyperplasia is critical to the success of minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP). While sestamibi scintigraphy has been the traditional modalities for parathyroid imaging, four-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT) has gained increasing use in the past decade. Yet, few studies have directly compared the diagnostic performance of the two modalities in preoperative localization. Methods: Three hundred fifty seven patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who underwent parathyroid imaging protocol and parathyroidectomy were included. The imaging protocol consisted of consecutively acquired dual phase sestamibi SPECT/CT and 4D CT, with 4D CT acquired immediately after the delayed phase sestamibi SPECT/CT acquisition and the patient in the same position and SPECT/CT scanner. Diagnostic performance was compared for the two modalities using a 4-quadrant analysis. Results: In patients with solitary adenomas (80.2% of cohort), 4D CT had a higher sensitivity compared to sestamibi SPECT/CT (85% vs. 65%), while both 4D CT and sestamibi SPECT/CT had high specificity (92% vs. 98%). In patients with multigland disease (19.8%), 4D CT also had a higher sensitivity (55% vs. 25%). The combination of 4D CT and sestamibi SPECT/CT did not result in a significant higher sensitivity compared to 4D CT alone in the solitary adenoma group (85% vs. 87%) or multigland disease group (55% vs. 56%) nor did it significantly improve specificity compared to sestamibi SPECT/CT alone in solitary adenoma group (98% vs. 98%) and multigland disease group (97% vs. 95%). Conclusion: Parathyroid 4D CT provides better preoperative localization compared to sestamibi SPECT/CT in patients with solitary adenomas and multigland disease. The combination of the two modalities does not result in improved diagnostic accuracy compared to either modality alone. 4D CT and sestamibi SPECT/CT image of a left upper parathyroid adenoma.
Bowel preparation prior to minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy: a randomized controlled trial

The objective was to determine if a bowel preparation prior to minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy (MIS) influences post-operative constipation symptoms. We hypothesized that women who underwent a bowel preparation would have an improvement in post-operative defecatory function. In this randomized controlled trial, women undergoing MIS received a pre-operative bowel preparation or no bowel preparation. Our primary outcome was post-operative constipation measured by the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) 2 weeks post-operatively. Secondary outcomes included surgeon’s perception of case difficulty. Both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol analyses (PPA) were performed. Analyses were carried out using t test, Fisher’s exact test, the Wilcoxon test and the Chi-squared test. Of 105 enrolled women, 95 completed follow-up (43 preparation and 52 no preparation). Baseline characteristics and rates of complications were similar. No differences were noted on ITT. The post-operative abdominal PAC-SYM subscale was closer to baseline for women who received a bowel preparation on PPA (change in score 0.74 vs 1.08, p = 0.045). Women who underwent a preparation were less likely to report strain (6.0% vs 26.7%, p = 0.009) or type 1 Bristol stool on their first post-operative bowel movement (4.3% vs 17.5%, p = 0.047). Surgeons were more likely to rate the complexity of the case as “more difficult than average” (54.4% vs 40.1%, p = 0.027) in those without a bowel preparation. Although there was no difference in ITT analysis, women who underwent a bowel preparation prior to MIS demonstrated benefit to post-operative defecatory function with a corresponding improvement in surgeon’s perception of case complexity.
Hypnotic techniques for chronic pain management: Favorite methods of master clinicians: edited by Jensen, M. P., Kirkland, WA, Denny Creek Press, 2018, 312pp., $25.00 (paperback). ISBN: 9780463336656

In this book editor Mark Jensen again treats us to knowledge gleaned from a worldwide selection of experts in the field of hypnosis. The second in his Voices of Experience Series, this time the foc...
Some Thoughts on Controlling Federal Spending

This paper is an overview of thoughts about controlling federal spending. At the outset, I note my concern that federal spending is too high and comes at the detriment of good incentives, productivity, and growth. I review the market-oriented economist’s view of the proper role of government and note that many government activities go well beyond them. “Doing something” about it is problematic due to the difficult politics of special interests and of reliance on government programs. In this light, I discuss four specifics. Regarding Social Security, I suggest moving it further toward a program for low-income seniors and allowing younger people outside options. For Medicare, I suggest moving to premium support and capping the real dollar value of government-paid premiums. This should be combined with encouraging competitive pricing of insurance plans for seniors well as for care. This avoids the harsh effects of “cost controls” through price controls and government care restrictions. Mean-tested programs should diminish with strong economic growth, though better targeting and effectiveness can reduce their burden. Finally, I offer hope that fiscal rules (e.g., debt brakes, base closing commissions) may arise to help reduce spending.
Production of 52Fe from symmetric complete fusion-evaporation reactions

Abstract A promising method for the production and extraction of 52Fe utilizing near-symmetric, heavy-ion fusion-evaporation reactions is presented. A 28Si beam was used to bombard a 27Al target, producing 52Fe through the reaction: 27Al (28Si, p2n)52Fe. After irradiation, the aluminum target was dissolved, and the 52Fe was separated from the aluminum matrix and other reaction products through the use of a cationic-exchange column. It was possible to recover the 52Fe (t1/2 = 8.3 h) with high specific activity, higher than can be achieved with the high energy proton spallation reactions currently used to produce this isotope, which has significance in medical research. The production yields for this reaction were measured and compared to PACE4 calculations. These results demonstrate the potential for dedicated accelerator production of 52Fe using heavy-ion beams, which will result in higher specific activities with robust radiochemical purification techniques.
Formal insurance for the informally insured: Experimental evidence from Kenya

Abstract Creating markets for formal insurance is a popular proposal to improve welfare among subsistence farmers in the developing world, but rates of adoption have been low. I hypothesized that this empirical puzzle may be caused by the substitution of informal sharing which crowds out formal insurance. I created an experiment in which individuals made private decisions but could also interact within a small group. In one risk-smoothing treatment, I introduced an option to informally transfer investment yields within a group. In the other risk-smoothing treatment, I also added an option to play a new game, which amounted to purchasing formal insurance. Using this experimental design among Kenyan adults, I found that formal insurance reduced the amount of informal group sharing and increases in past informal group sharing reduced the adoption of formal insurance. Thus, policies to increase formal insurance adoption must account for consumer substitution between both formal insurance and informal sharing.
Better Matches: An American Sociolegal View of Criminality at Work (Book Review)

Criminality at Work, a new book edited by professors Alan Bogg, Jennifer Collins, Mark Freedland, and Jonathan Herring, explores the contemporary and developing relationship between criminal law and labour law. Comprehensive and counting with twenty-six chapters, Criminality at Work explores how and when criminal law and labour law might act in concert — or not. Chapters discuss subjects such as harassment, sex work, compulsory labour, union activist blacklisting, health and safety, immigration enforcement, issues related to the fissured workplace, wage theft, discrimination and marginalization of subordinated classes of workers, such as those with criminal records or who are members of racialized groups, among other topics. I argue that Criminality at Work also has a normative goal: To find ‘better matches’ between labour law and criminal law. I develop the idea of ‘better matches’ from the work of sociologist Viviana Zelizer, who has coined a similar phrase, ‘good matches’, to describe actions by social actors who, in their everyday lives, try to balance and reconcile apparently incongruent ‘separate spheres’ or ‘hostile worlds. ‘Better matches’ is a similar activity. Here, scholars attempt to improve the already existing, empirical matches between labour law and criminal law, two areas recognized for their incongruence, not complementarity. In this sense, the book places the reader on a path where she can observe existing good and bad matches between these two areas of law, and then try find their better matches.
Limitations of an inextensible model for the vibration of high-speed rotating elastic rings with attached space-fixed discrete stiffnesses

Abstract This study examines the inextensible vibration of rotating elastic rings coupled to space-fixed discrete stiffnesses. For axisymmetric, rotating, elastic rings without discrete stiffnesses, closed-form solutions for the natural frequencies are derived. Galerkin's method is used to determine the natural frequencies for systems with attached discrete stiffnesses. Limitations of the inextensible ring model compared to the extensible one are demonstrated. The inextensible elastic ring model works poorly at high rotation speeds. For systems with discrete stiffnesses the inextensible ring model does not accurately predict vibration modes that have large strain energy in the discrete stiffnesses.
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE USES OF TECHNOLOGY IN HUMAN INTERACTIONS

Abstract Technological advances and current changes in the family and society have the potential to create individuals capable of widespread destruction, without the desire or capacity to control these impulses. The authors examine the history of current trends and place the children they have observed in the context of β society which looks to technology to save us from ourselves rather than developing human resources in order to have technology serve positive human needs. Educators, families, social policy makers, and technologists are presented with a challenge to alter these trends.
Odds of Successful Transfer of Low-Level Concepts: a Key Metric for Bidirectional Speech-to-Speech Machine Translation in DARPA’s TRANSTAC Program

Abstract : The Spoken Language Communication and Translation System for Tactical Use (TRANSTAC) program is a Defense Advanced Research Agency (DARPA) program to create bidirectional speech-to-speech machine translation (MT) that will allow U.S. Soldiers and Marines, speaking only English, to communicate, in tactical situations, with civilian populations who speak only other languages (for example, Iraqi Arabic). A key metric for the program is the odds of successfully transferring low-level concepts, defined as the source-language content words. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has now carried out two large-scale evaluations of TRANSTAC systems, using that metric. In this paper we discuss the merits of that metric. It has proven to be quite informative. We describe exactly how we defined this metric and how we obtained values for it from panels of bilingual judges--allowing others to do what we have done. We compare results on this metric to results on Likert-type judgments of semantic adequacy, from the same panels of bilingual judges, as well as to a suite of typical automated MT metrics (BLEU, TER, METEOR).
Intersecting Discourses on Race and Sexuality: Compounded Colonization Among LGBTTQ American Indians/Alaska Natives

This article examines discourses on race and sexuality in scientific literature during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries in context of U.S. settler colonialism. It uses a theoretical and methodological intersectional perspective to identify rhetorical strategies deployed in discursive representations salient to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two-Spirit, and queer American Indians and Alaska Natives. These representations reflect a context of compounded colonization, a historical configuration of co-constituting discourses based on cultural and ideological assumptions that invidiously marked a social group with consequential, continued effects. Hence, language is a vector of power and a critical vehicle in the project of decolonization.
Enhancing 2D Cervical Length With 3D Cervix Imaging Emphasizing the Center Reference Point

Use of transvaginal ultrasonography for cervical length measurement at the 20-week anatomic examination has been suggested as a screening method to predict the risk of preterm birth. This article d...
Engineering education for the 21st century

We share a concern for the education of the next generation of engineers. Young people who are beginning their college studies will pursue their professional careers entirely in the 2lst century. What skills must those engineers have? How should they be prepared to excel as engineers in the years ahead? These concerns are discussed.
TOMS Near Realtime System design document

The System Design Document for the TOMS (Total Mapping Spectrometer) Near Realtime System provides detailed definition of the system functions and records the system history from a data processing and development point-of-view. The system was designed to produce map products displaying ozone concentrations over the United States as measured by the TOMS flown on the NIMBUS 7 satellite. The maps were produced and delivered to the user within six hours of round receipt of the satellite data for the period March 1, 1981 through May 15, 1981 on a daily basis. Sample system products are shown and data archival locations are listed.
Interacting with physical devices over the web

The educational experience of students in a Computer Engineering capstone design course can be greatly enhanced by providing a framework that enables students to design devices that are accessible over the web. The framework consists of inexpensive hardware and software that permits the connection of arbitrary devices to a web page. Remote users can then interact with the physical device through a form-based or Java-applet interface that can exploit data flow in both directions. Examples of devices that can be connected to the web range from positionable digital cameras to robots to distance-learning aids to home control devices. The contribution of this work is an inexpensive, bi-directional, public-domain method that does not require the insertion of special boards in the machine hosting the hardware nor modification to server software.
CD8α+ Dendritic Cell Trans Presentation of IL-15 to Naive CD8+ T Cells Produces Antigen-Inexperienced T Cells in the Periphery with Memory Phenotype and Function

Various populations of memory phenotype CD8(+) T cells have been described over the last 15-20 y, all of which possess elevated effector functions relative to naive phenotype cells. Using a technique for isolating Ag-specific cells from unprimed hosts, we recently identified a new subset of cells, specific for nominal Ag, but phenotypically and functionally similar to memory cells arising as a result of homeostatic proliferation. We show in this study that these virtual memory (VM) cells are independent of previously identified innate memory cells, arising as a result of their response to IL-15 trans presentation by lymphoid tissue-resident CD8α(+) dendritic cells in the periphery. The absence of IL-15, CD8(+) T cell expression of either CD122 or eomesodermin or of CD8a(+) dendritic cells all lead to the loss of VM cells in the host. Our results show that CD8(+) T cell homeostatic expansion is an active process within the nonlymphopenic environment, is mediated by IL-15, and produces Ag-inexperienced memory cells that retain the capacity to respond to nominal Ag with memory-like function. Preferential engagement of these VM T cells into a vaccine response could dramatically enhance the rate by which immune protection develops.
Factors governing selection of operating frequency for subsurface-imaging synthetic-aperture radar

ABSTRACT A subsurface-imaging synthetic-aperture radar (SISAR) has potential for application in areas as diverse as non-proliferationprograms for nuclear weapons to environmental monitoring. However, subsurface imaging is complicated by propagationloss in the soil and surface-clutter response. Both the loss and surface-cluuer response depend on the operating frequency.This paper examines several factors which provide a basis for determining optimum frequencies and frequency ranges which will allow synthetic-aperture imaging of buried targets. No distinction can be made between objects at different heightswhen viewed with a conventional imaging radar (which uses a one-dimensional synthetic aperture), and the return from aburied object must compete with the return from the surface clutter. Thus, the signal-to-clutter ratio is an appropriatemeasure of performance for a SISAR. A parameter-based modeling approach is used to model the complex dielectric constant of the soil from measured data obtained from the literature. Theoretical random-surface scattering models, based
Secure scalable group signature with dynamic joins and separable authorities

To date, a group signature construction that is efficient, scalable, allows dynamic adversarial joins, and proven secure in a formal model has not been suggested. In this work we give the first such construction in the random oracle model. The demonstration of an efficient construction proven secure in a formal model that captures all intuitive security properties of a certain primitive is a basic goal in cryptographic design. To this end we adapt a formal model for group signatures capturing all the basic requirements that have been identified as desirable in the area and we construct an efficient scheme and prove its security. Our construction is based on the Strong-RSA assumption (as in the work of Ateniese et al.). In our system, due to the requirements of provable security in a formal model, we give novel constructions as well as innovative extensions of the underlying mathematical requirements and properties.
Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering of Ultrathin Cadmium Chalcogenide Films on Gold Formed by Electrochemical Atomic-Layer Epitaxy: Thickness-Dependent Phonon Characteristics

The utility of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for characterizing phonon and related interfacial vibrations within ultrathin semiconductor layers on gold substrates is demonstrated, specifically for cadmium chalcogenide (CdSe, CdS) films formed by electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy. The occurrence of quantum-confinement effects for CdSe films less than ca. 10 monolayers thick is clearly evident from the observed ca. 12 cm-1 phonon redshifts and bandshape changes. Milder phonon redshifts are seen for the ultrathin CdS films, suggesting the presence of offsetting blueshifts from lattice compression. The observed sensitivity of the phonon spectra to the order of initial Cd/Se or Cd/S monolayer electrodeposition, along with the retention of Au−Se and Au−S vibrational bands upon layer growth, signal the importance of the initial chemisorbate to the epitaxial film structure and vibronic properties.
Effect of Solder Reflow Process Variables on the Solder Wettability of Lead Free Solder Alloys

A quantitative dynamic solder wettability measurement was used to evaluate the effects of reflow processing on the wettability parameters associated with two non‐lead bearing solders, 96.5% Sn/3.5% Ag and 58% Bi/42% Sn. An experimental design approach employing full factorial experiments was formulated to investigate the solder wetting dependence of the reflow parameters: atmosphere, peak reflow temperature, time above liquidus and metallisation. Solder wettability was determined with respect to the final degree of spread and the extent of solder wetting onto the lands of surface mount components. The solder alloy composition of 96.5% Sn/3.5% Ag was found to exhibit better wetting characteristics than the 58% Bi/42% Sn alloy. This wetting behaviour was enhanced under the reflow conditions of a nitrogen atmosphere and the use of a gold metallisation. The wetting of the conventional 63% Sn/37% Pb solder alloy was improved over the comparatively processed 58% Bi/42% Sn alloy. However, the 63% Sn/37% Pb solder alloy displayed a greater sensitivity to reflow atmosphere than the 96.5% Sn/3.5% Ag alloy, which generally exhibited better wetting characteristics than the Sn/Pb alloy.
Hematologic picture of mice during chronic ingestion of high levels of polyoxyethylene sorbitan derivatives

Abstract Decreased hematologic values apparently were one aspect of the aging process in normal male C57BL 6 Jax mice. PSML and PSMS, fed at 5% and 10% concentrations, induced an earlier, more pronounced rate, and greater magnitude of decrease than shown by controls. The effect was directly related to concentration and type of polyoxyethylene sorbitan derivative. No characteristic morphologic anemia was evident in any diet group during the investigation.
Nitrous oxide in flux

In drought conditions, forest soils can serve as a small but surprisingly persistent sink for the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. The effect highlights a research avenue necessary for predicting Earth's climate.
Towards holistic project scheduling using critical chain methodology enhanced with PERT buffering

Since the publication of Goldratt's Critical Chain (1997), Critical Chain Methodology (CCM) for project scheduling has received much attention both in the popular press and in academic journals. Key reasons for the enthusiasm for the methodology are that it takes a holistic, or integrated, approach to project scheduling and it is simple to apply. The CCM approach is designed for situations where task durations are probabilistic and where resources are constrained. However, CCM provides no specific method for determining appropriate project buffer sizing based on task uncertainty and no method for resolving resource constraint. We suggest the simple addition of a heuristic approach to Resource Constrained Project Scheduling (RCPS) to fill the resource constraint resolution gap and the addition of an enhanced Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) method for project buffer sizing.