cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wire congestion and thermal aware 3D global placement

The recent popularity of 3D IC technology stems from its enhanced performance capabilities and reduced wire-length. However, wire congestion and thermal issues are exacerbated due to the compact nature of these layered technologies. In this paper, we develop techniques to reduce the maximum temperature and wire congestion of 3D circuits without compromising total wirelength and via count. Our approach consists of two phases. First, we use a multi-level min-cut placement with a modified gain function for local wire congestion and dynamic power consumption reduction. Second, we perform simulated annealing together with full-length thermal analysis and global routing for global wire congestion and maximum temperature reduction. Our experimental results show smooth tradeoff among congestion, temperature, wirelength, and via.
Designing an Accurate and Robust LC-Compliant Asynchronous ΣΔ Boost DC-DC Converter

Portable electronic devices not only require switching DC-DC converters to be compact and integrated but also compliant to wide off-chip LC filter variations, which are subject to manufacturing tolerances, temporal and thermal parameter drifts, and more often than not, application-driven constraints. While optimal LC compliance has been demonstrated in ΣΔ buck converters, little has been done in boosting applications. This paper presents an asynchronous ΣΔ boost converter and describes how LC variations affect stability, steady-state error, and switching frequency, and how a frequency-dependent gain mitigates these effects. Simulations show the circuit is stable for 1-30μH inductances and 15-350μF output capacitances, its steady-state error is less than 1%, and its switching frequency varies 15% less (over load and line variations) than in conventional ΣΔ converters.
Evaluation of Roadway Infrastructure Data Collection Technologies

To protect their sizable investment in roadways, responsible agencies maintain and regularly update roadway infrastructure inventories. An infrastructure inventory includes information on different roadway elements such as lane width, traffic sign width, traffic sign height, and sign condition. The inventory element must include both georeference information (location) and descriptive information. Due to technological advances in data collection equipment, many transportation agencies are considering the use of mobile mapping systems: data collection vehicles equipped with a Global Positioning System receiver, an inertial navigation system, several digital cameras, and a computer. The host system is driven on a roadway, and data are collected on the fly. These raw data are then processed on a computer using photogrammetric software packages and input to an inventory database. This article presents a stepwise protocol that transportation agencies can use to evaluate different data collection methods. Based on results of four experiments, the protocol provides guidance on different activities associated with the recommended evaluation process. The protocol is accompanied by information that transportation agencies may use as a benchmark for evaluating different inventory data collection methods.
Conflicting Expert Testimony and the Search for Gravitational Waves

How can we make informed decisions about whom to trust given expert disagreement? Can experts on both sides be reasonable in holding conflicting views? Epistemologists have engaged the issue of reasonable expert disagreement generally; here I consider a particular expert dispute in physics, given conflicting accounts from Harry Collins and Allan Franklin, over Joseph Weber’s alleged detection of gravitational waves. Finding common ground between Collins and Franklin, I offer a characterization of the gravity wave dispute as both social and evidential. While experimental evidence alone may not have forced resolution of the dispute, there were also credibility‐based reasons warranting epistemic trust and distrust. Thus we see how social factors can have evidential significance and how expert disagreement can be reasonable.
Perspectives on Evolution and Climate Change Among Mennonites in Kansas, USA

The theory of evolution and the idea of climate change are aspects of mainstream science that are not accepted by a large fraction of the United States population. Many persons in the United States subscribe to Young Earth Creationism and also deny the existence of climate change. Suspicion toward science is dangerous for the long-term viability of the United States economy and public health, and thus understanding the roots of suspicion toward science is useful toward improving science education. The Mennonite religion, although part of the wider Evangelicalism of the United States, has some unique beliefs, traditions, and its own educational institutions. It is a relatively powerful demographic in Kansas. This study compared younger and older Mennonite Church USA (MCUSA) denomination members from south central Kansas to each other and to the United States population as a whole. We found that MCUSA Generation Y (18–33 year olds) was more accepting of the theory of evolution than both older Mennonites and...
Mortality among styrene-exposed workers in the reinforced plastic boatbuilding industry

Background We updated mortality through 2011 for 5203 boat-building workers potentially exposed to styrene, and analysed mortality among 1678 employed a year or more between 1959 and 1978. The a priori hypotheses: excess leukaemia and lymphoma would be found. Methods Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% CIs and standardised rate ratios (SRRs) used Washington State rates and a person-years analysis programme, LTAS.NET. The SRR analysis compared outcomes among tertiles of estimated cumulative potential styrene exposure. Results Overall, 598 deaths (SMR=0.96, CI 0.89 to 1.04) included excess lung (SMR=1.23, CI 0.95 to 1.56) and ovarian cancer (SMR 3.08, CI 1.00 to 7.19), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (SMR=1.15, CI 0.81 to 1.58). Among 580 workers with potential high-styrene exposure, COPD mortality increased 2-fold (SMR=2.02, CI 1.08 to 3.46). Conclusions COPD was more pronounced among those with potential high-styrene exposure. However, no outcome was related to estimated cumulative styrene exposure, and there was no change when latency was taken into account. We found no excess leukaemia or lymphoma mortality. As in most occupational cohort studies, lack of information on lifestyle factors or other employment was a substantial limitation although we excluded from the analyses those (n=3525) who worked
Studying the community corrections field: Applying neo-institutional theories to a hidden element of mass social control

The growth in US incarcerated populations has produced unintended negative consequences for other justice system agencies. The community corrections field is faced with two related problems stemmin...
Superconductivity in epitaxially grown self-assembled indium islands: progress towards hybrid superconductor/semiconductor optical sources

Currently, superconducting qubits lead the way in potential candidates for quantum computing. At the same time, transferring quantum information over long distances typically relies on the use of photons as the elementary qubit. Converting between stationary electronic qubits in superconducting systems and traveling photonic qubits is a challenging yet necessary goal for the interface of quantum computing and communication. One promising path to achieving this goal appears to be the integration of superconductivity with optically active semiconductors, with quantum information being transferred between the two by means of the superconducting proximity effect. Obtaining good interfaces between superconductors and semiconductors is the next obvious step for improving these hybrid systems. Here, we report on our observation of superconductivity in a 2.3 μm diameter self-assembled indium structure grown epitaxially on the surface of a semiconductor material.
ANG II-independent prorenin/(pro)renin receptor signaling pathways in the central nervous system.

the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is important in the physiological and pathophysiological regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular function. The (pro)renin receptor (PRR, also called ATP6AP2) is one of the newer member of the RAS ([10][1], [20][2]). Emerging evidence indicates that the PRR
The Application of Analytic Hierarchy Process in the Enterprise Employees Health Management

In recent years,the enterprise staff's health influence the enterprise more and more,it not only can change the survival and development of enterprises,but can change the enterprise's competitive ability.Through the establishment of the health of employees hierarchical structure and construction of pair-wise comparison matrix,use quantitatively fuzzy analytic hierarchy process(FAHP)are given the statutory factors on the importance of improving the health of employees and their priorities,to provide the relevant theoretical basis to the health management.
Epidemiological Analysis of Dengue Fever in Baiyun District of Guangzhou City in 2006

Objective To analyze the epidemic characteristics of dengue fever in Baiyun district in 2006 and provide scientific basis for prevention and control measures of dengue fever.Methods Descriptive epidemiology investigation was conducted.ELISA test method was used for detecting IgM/IgG anti-dengue virus antibodies.Results The epidemic was caused by type I dengue virus and lasted 83 days.The cases were mainly occurred from August to November and mainly in suburb and downtown.Among the 70 patients,25 were male and 45 were female.And the age was between 6 and 81 years old.The incidence rates of dengue fever of the home workers,farmers and students were higher than others.Conclusion The epidemic of dengue fever increased in Baiyun district in 2006,but it can be prevented and controlled by more effective prevention strategy and management pattern.
Diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Ultrasound diagnosis is reliable

In the presence of typical ultrasonographic signs (Murphy's sign, established pericholecystitis) in patients with a relevant history and clinical presentation, diagnosis of acute cholecystitis can be established with a high degree of accuracy. As a non-invasive method, ultrasound can be used at the bedside of the severely ill patients, thus enabling the more economical use of more sophisticated and expensive examination methods. In the acute stage, the urgency of surgical intervention can be assessed. During follow-up, the effectiveness of conservative measures can be checked, failed treatment detected early on, and complications avoided. In high-risk patients, interventional procedures (puncture, percutaneous drainage) can be performed under US-control. Thus, US is the diagnostic modality of first choice for the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. It has relevance for decision-taking, and is an indispensable procedure in the emergency setting.
Permanent Magnets: History, Current Research, and Outlook

Recent developments in permanent magnetism are summarized, considering both intrinsic and extrinsic properties. After a general introduction to permanent magnetism, several classes of materials are discussed in the light of future improvements. Emphasis is on magnets rich in Fe, Co, and Mn. The search for new magnetic compounds with improved magnetization, Curie temperature, and anisotropy is accompanied by the need to realize a microstructure that ensures high coercivity. This need refers to both bulk magnets, where hcp Co and tetragonal FeNi are briefly discussed as negative and positive examples, respectively, and to aligned hard–soft nanocomposites. A very recent concept is imaginary magnetic hardness, which reflects easy-plane magnetism and may be exploited in some ferromagnetic compounds. In aligned two-phase nanostructures, soft-in-hard geometries are better than hard-in-soft geometries, and different shapes behave different in the first and second quadrants of the hysteresis loops. Both intrinsically and extrinsically, the most important task is to maximize the hard phase anisotropy while maintaining a high magnetization. Anisotropy field and magnetic hardness can be maximized by choosing a small magnetization, but this strategy is detrimental to the energy product. The last section deals with the behavior of permanent magnets above room temperature, with emphasis on nanoscale effects. Throughout the chapter, current research trends are critically evaluated, and several common misconceptions are dispelled.
Simulating non-equilibrium dynamics of molecules confined in zeolite nanopores: Effects of implicit and explicit thermostats on microwave heated fluids

We have simulated the non-equilibrium dynamics of methanol adsorbed in FAU zeolite driven by external microwave (MW) radiation. We have modelled steady states produced by augmenting this MW-driven system with a thermostat that acts as a balancing heat sink. We have compared results from an implicit thermostat (Andersen velocity replacement) and an explicit thermostat (helium atoms subjected to Andersen velocity replacement). We find very good agreement between the implicit and explicit thermostats for energy distributions and diffusion coefficients produced under MW-heated steady-state conditions. This augurs well for the continued use of implicit thermostats, which are computationally more efficient.
“On the Fence” versus “All in”: Insights from Turtles for the Evolution of Aquatic Locomotor Specializations and Habitat Transitions in Tetrapod Vertebrates

Though ultimately descended from terrestrial amniotes, turtles have deep roots as an aquatic lineage and are quite diverse in the extent of their aquatic specializations. Many taxa can be viewed as "on the fence" between aquatic and terrestrial realms, whereas others have independently hyperspecialized and moved "all in" to aquatic habitats. Such differences in specialization are reflected strongly in the locomotor system. We have conducted several studies to evaluate the performance consequences of such variation in design, as well as the mechanisms through which specialization for aquatic locomotion is facilitated in turtles. One path to aquatic hyperspecialization has involved the evolutionary transformation of the forelimbs from rowing, tubular limbs with distal paddles into flapping, flattened flippers, as in sea turtles. Prior to the advent of any hydrodynamic advantages, the evolution of such flippers may have been enabled by a reduction in twisting loads on proximal limb bones that accompanied swimming in rowing ancestors, facilitating a shift from tubular to flattened limbs. Moreover, the control of flapping movements appears related primarily to shifts in the activity of a single forelimb muscle, the deltoid. Despite some performance advantages, flapping may entail a locomotor cost in terms of decreased locomotor stability. However, other morphological specializations among rowing species may enhance swimming stability. For example, among highly aquatic pleurodiran turtles, fusion of the pelvis to the shell appears to dramatically reduce motions of the pelvis compared to freshwater cryptodiran species. This could contribute to advantageous increases in aquatic stability among predominantly aquatic pleurodires. Thus, even within the potential constraints of a body plan in which the body is encased by a shell, turtles exhibit diverse locomotor capacities that have enabled diversification into a wide range of aquatic habitats.
EXPLOSIVE EVOLUTION OF PERENNIAL ATRIPLEX IN WESTERN AMERICA

New habitats opened up in western North America since the recession of Lake Bonneville and Lake Lahontan have admitted a host of new species of Atriplex . Every known evolutionary force is operating and at accelerated paces. Autoploidy appears to be more common than in any other reported group of plants. Natural hybridization between closely related species has provided a wealth of fertile segregants from which new adaptive types have been and are being selected. Hybrids between more distantly related species are sterile and some appear to have given rise to fertile alloploid derivatives. All evidence points to a center of origin for Atriplex in northern Mexico. The numerous species which have migrated northward into western United States and Canada were apparently able to do so because attributes acquired to make them adaptive in the hot dry deserts of Mexico were characteristics which, uniquely, also pre-adapted them for colder climates and alkaline clay soils to the north. Woody species such as Atriplex canescens and A. confertifolia hybridize rather easily with herbaceous perennial species such as A. cuneata, A. gardneri, A. corrugata, and A. obovata. Since most such hybrids are at least partly fertile and produce F 2 segregants of both woody and nonwoody types, the genetic basis for the accumulation of wood is apparently rather simple.
Uncertainties in the relative biological effectiveness of therapeutic proton beams associated with bias towards high doses per fraction in radiobiological experiments

Most data supporting the widely accepted relative biological effectiveness (RBE) value of 1.1 for therapeutic proton beams are from radiobiological experiments with relatively high doses per fraction. The purpose of this study was to estimate bias in RBE that differences in dose levels between these experiments and proton radiotherapy treatments may cause. The linear quadratic model was applied to calculate, using prior experimental data, RBE variations with dose and a/b ratio for doses delivered in a standard fractionation regimen. The results suggest that the RBE measured at relatively high doses per fraction typical for a radiobiological experiment underestimates the RBE of proton radiotherapy with a standard fractionation. The bias increases with decreasing radiation dose and decreasing a/b ratio, suggesting that, if differences in dose levels are not accounted for, there may be a large underestimation of biological effects in late-responding tissues exposed to low doses of radiation.
Corrigendum: Relationship between Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Knowledge, HIV-Related Stigma, and HIV Testing among Young Black Adults in a Southeastern City.

The southeast is identified as the epicenter of the nation’s HIV epidemic, accounting for nearly 44 percent of all persons living with a HIV diagnosis in the United States. HIV stigma and knowledge have been cited as some of the complex factors increasing risk of acquiring HIV within African American communities. We sought to understand how HIV knowledge and HIV-related stigma impact HIV testing experience among young Black adults who completed a community-based participatory research survey in a Southeastern city. Survey measures were developed with active engagement among the research team and community members, with the goal of balancing community knowledge, interests and concerns with scientiﬁc considerations and the realities of funding and the project timeline. A total of 508 of the 513 ACASI questionnaires completed were analyzed. Eighty-one percent of participants had ever tested and had an intention-to-test for HIV in the next 12 months. Overall, analyses revealed low HIV-related stigma and relatively moderate to high HIV knowledge among young Black adults in the Southeastern city. Logistic regression indicated that having ever tested for HIV was positively correlated with HIV knowledge [odds ratio (OR): 1.50; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23 to 1.84, p<0.001], but inversely correlated with low HIV-related stigma (OR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.76, p<0.03). However, there were no significant relationships between HIV-related stigma, HIV knowledge, and intention-to test for HIV in the future. These findings suggest that reducing HIV-related stigma and increasing HIV knowledge are not sufficient in promoting HIV testing (i.e., intention-to-test) among young Black adults in this city, unless specific emphasis is placed on addressing internalized HIV-related stigma and misperceptions about HIV prevention and control.
Comparison of the three CPU schedulers in Xen

The primary motivation for enterprises to adopt virtualization technologies is to create a more agile and dynamic IT infrastructure -- with server consolidation, high resource utilization, the ability to quickly add and adjust capacity on demand -- while lowering total cost of ownership and responding more effectively to changing business conditions. However, effective management of virtualized IT environments introduces new and unique requirements, such as dynamically resizing and migrating virtual machines (VMs) in response to changing application demands. Such capacity management methods should work in conjunction with the underlying resource management mechanisms. In general, resource multiplexing and scheduling among virtual machines is poorly understood. CPU scheduling for virtual machines, for instance, has largely been borrowed from the process scheduling research in operating systems. However, it is not clear whether a straight-forward port of process schedulers to VM schedulers would perform just as well. We use the open source Xen virtual machine monitor to perform a comparative evaluation of three different CPU schedulers for virtual machines. We analyze the impact of the choice of scheduler and its parameters on application performance, and discuss challenges in estimating the application resource requirements in virtualized environments.
Abstract WP169: Racial Disparities n Risk of Stroke and Mortality Among Patients Undergoing Rhythm Control of Atrial Fibrillation

Introduction: Racial disparities in cardiovascular therapies and outcomes have been previously reported. We sought to investigate the risks of stroke and death in African American (AA) and white patients undergoing rhythm control of atrial fibrillation (AF). Hypothesis: AA patients have greater risk of stroke and death compared to white patients. Methods: We collected data on 5632 white and 241 AA patients that initiated rhythm control therapy for AF at our institution from 2006-2013. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to assess risk factors for stroke and mortality by race. Results: Patients were followed for a median of 40 months (range 1-101). AA patients had higher risk of stroke (6.6% vs. 3.9%, p=0.01) and all-cause mortality (16.2% vs. 13.1%, p=0.03) than white patients. Multivariate modeling confirmed the higher risk of stroke (HR=1.98, 95% CI [1.18-3.31], p=0.01) and mortality (HR=1.49, 95% CI [1.04-2.06], p=0.02) in AA patients after adjusting for baseline differences between race groups (age, HTN, DM, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease). AA patients with DM had an especially high risk of stroke (see Figure). Conclusions: African-American patients treated with a rhythm management strategy had significantly greater risk of stroke and all-cause mortality compared to white patients. AA patients with DM had an especially high risk, but the difference between AA patients vs. white patients was not explained by differences in baseline risk factors. Further investigation is required to determine the root causes of these racial disparities.
A Call for Methodological Plurality: Reconsidering Research Approaches in Adult Education:

Within this AEQ forum, the authors call for a dialogue and examination of research methods in the field of adult and continuing education. Using the article by Boeren as a starting point, the autho...
On Some Characterizations of the Geometric Distribution

This paper is concerned with characterizations of the geometric distribution based on lack of memory and on properties of order statistics and record values. A number of known characterizations are reviewed and extended. A few new characterizations are also obtained.
A Comparison of Mentorship Attitudes and Attributes Between Civilian and Army Healthcare Leaders.

Introduction The purpose of this study is to compare the differences in mentorship expectations and attitudes between Army and civilian healthcare leaders, and to review cultural differences between the Army and civilian sectors. Materials and methods This study used survey data from Army Medical Service Corps officers and members of a regional chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) to compare attributes of, and attitudes toward, mentorship. A principal component analysis was used to develop three broad mentorship factors, and a comparison of individual attributes was conducted between populations. Institutional approval (IRB) was granted by the University of New Hampshire (IRB #: 6676). Results The principal component analysis showed similar underlying factors for both populations. An attribute level comparison demonstrated important differences in attitudes toward mentors and mentoring between the Army and civilian participants. Conclusion The differences between the Army and civilian samples appear to arise from differences in their respective cultures. The utilization by the Army of formal training programs such as the Army's Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC), fill a need provided by mentors in civilian organizations. The common experience of professional training like BOLC is part of what creates and sustains the "thick" culture of the Army. Former Army members making the transition to a civilian career should bear in mind that they are leaving behind a thick culture, and that individual relationships may have greater impact on their future careers than they had experienced in the Army.
Design of a Physiology-based Adaptive Virtual Reality Driving Platform for Individuals with ASD

Driving is essential for many people in developed countries to achieve independence. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), in addition to having social skill deficits, may experience difficulty in learning to drive due to deficits in attention-shifting, performing sequential tasks, integrating visual-motor responses, and coordinating motor response. Lacking confidence and feeling anxiety further exacerbates these concerns. While there is a growing body of research regarding assessment of driving behavior or comparisons of driving behaviors between individuals with and without ASD, there is a lack of driving simulator that is catered toward the needs of individuals with ASD. We present the development of a novel closed-loop adaptive Virtual Reality (VR) driving simulator for individuals with ASD that can infer one's engagement based on his/her physiological responses and adapts driving task difficulty based on engagement level in real-time. We believe that this simulator will provide opportunities for learning driving skills in a safe and individualized environment to individuals with ASD and help them with independent living. We also conducted a small user study with teenagers with ASD to demonstrate the feasibility and tolerability of such a driving simulator. Preliminary results showed that the participants found the engagement-sensitive system more engaging and more enjoyable than a purely performance-sensitive system. These findings could support future work into driving simulator technologies, which could provide opportunities to practice driving skills in cost-effective, supportive, and safe environments.
Aging alters the role of basolateral amygdala in intertemporal choice

Abstract Aging is associated with an increased ability to delay gratification. Moreover, even when matched for performance, young and aged subjects recruit distinct brain circuitry to complete complex cognitive tasks. Experiments herein used an optogenetic approach to test whether altered recruitment of the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a brain region implicated in valuation of reward-cost contingencies, contributes to age-dependent changes in intertemporal decision making. BLA inactivation while rats deliberated prior to choices between options that yielded either small, immediate or large, delayed rewards rendered both young and aged rats less impulsive. In contrast, BLA inactivation after choices were made (during evaluation of choice outcomes) rendered young rats more impulsive but had no effect in aged rats. These data define multiple, temporally-discrete roles for BLA circuits in intertemporal decision making and implicate altered recruitment of BLA in the elevated preference for delayed rewards that is characteristic of advanced age. Impact Statement Basolateral amygdala (BLA) performs multiple, temporally-discrete functions during intertemporal decision making. Differential engagement of BLA contributes to the enhanced ability to delay gratification that is characteristic of advanced ages.
Carbohydrate-Based Polymeric Surfactants for Chiral Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography (CMEKC) Coupled to Mass Spectrometry

Polymeric surfactants (molecular micelles, MoMs) with a variety of chiral head groups and chain lengths may be the most promising chiral selectors when used for sensitive detection of chiral compounds in micellar electrokinetic chromatography-mass spectrometry (MEKC-MS). Various carbohydrate-based MS compatible surfactants with phosphate and sulfate head groups have been recently synthesized in our laboratory for its application in CMEKC-MS. In this chapter, we illustrate that the synthesized glucopyranoside-based MoMs are fully compatible with electrospray ionization MS and can be successfully used as a chiral selector for high-throughput screening of multiple chiral compounds using MRM mode in CMEKC-MS/MS experiments. This chapter describes in detail synthesis and utility of α- and β-glucopyranoside-based polymeric surfactant with two different chain lengths and head groups. The presented examples optimize the effect of appropriate millimolar concentration of monomer sugar surfactants required for polymerization as it affects the separations of acidic and basic compounds. Under the optimized concentration of the monomer needed for polymerization (i.e., an equivalent monomer concentration of MoMs), the superiority of MEKC-MS over MEKC-UV is evident. Structurally similar basic drugs with the difference in hydrophobicity are first tested in MEKC-MS to find the optimum head group and optimum chain length with the aim for developing a widely applicable polymeric glucopyranoside-based surfactant. The partial enantioresolution of several structurally similar basic compounds is significantly improved when switching from one head group to another head group of the glucopyranoside MoMs. Thus, complementary separations using poly-N-β-D-SUGP versus poly-N-β-D-SUGS were seen. This phenomenon also exists when comparing the MoMs, which differ in an anomeric configuration such as poly-N-α-D-SUGP and poly-N-β-D-SUGP.
Abstract 5088: Silibinin inhibits UVB-induced promotion and progression of microscopic basal cell carcinoma formation via targeting bone morphogenic protein 2

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) account for about half of all malignancies diagnosed annually in the United States. Around 80% of NMSCs are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 20% are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Whereas the efficacy of several chemopreventive agents has been examined and reported against both BCC and SCC, a majority of these studies have focused on the test agent’s activity in a long-term setting to determine the amount of tumors formed. Notably, the studies evaluating the efficacy of chemopreventive agents during early stage/s of BCC development are lacking. Accordingly, utilizing the well-established patched (Ptch)+/- mouse model of UVB-induced BCC formation, we excised skin samples from UVB exposed mice prior to tumor formation to study the promotion/progression of BCC and to determine the target/s of silibinin, a well-known skin cancer (SCC) chemopreventive agent, in tumor growth inhibition. Ptch+/- and Ptch+/+ mice were irradiated with UVB 240mJ/cm2 3 times per week with or without topically applied silibinin 5 times per week. As early as one month, we found that UVB exposure significantly increased the number of mast cells in Ptch+/- mice by about 48% (P Citation Format: Cynthia M. Rigby, Gagan Deep, Anil K. Jain, David J. Orlicky, Chapla Agarwal, Komal Raina, Rajesh Agarwal. Silibinin inhibits UVB-induced promotion and progression of microscopic basal cell carcinoma formation via targeting bone morphogenic protein 2 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5088.
Environmental injustice and Hurricane Harvey: A household-level study of socially disparate flood exposures in Greater Houston, Texas, USA.

Abstract Environmental justice research on flooding has relied heavily on analyses of aggregated geographic areal units and assessing exposure to ‘pre-flood’ risks (e.g., residence in 100-year flood zones) rather than actual flood events. To address these limitations, we examined disproportionate exposure to flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017 in Greater Houston (Texas). Using primary survey data collected from 377 representative households before Harvey and spatial data on Harvey-induced inundation developed by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, we found that the areal extent of flooding around residents' home sites was distributed inequitably with respect to race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES). Hispanic, black and other racial/ethnic minority households experienced more extensive flooding than white households, and lower SES households faced more extensive flooding than higher SES households. Findings align with prior flood risk research in Greater Houston and provide cause for concern, as social inequities in flood exposure may have influenced social disparities in flood impacts and post-disaster needs. Since flood events in Greater Houston are expected to increase in frequency and magnitude due to climate change, socially disparate impacts are likely to become an increasingly salient public policy issue. Thus, proactive approaches for reducing flood risks and ameliorating disparities should be implemented.
On the Measure of Intelligence.

To make deliberate progress towards more intelligent and more human-like artificial systems, we need to be following an appropriate feedback signal: we need to be able to define and evaluate intelligence in a way that enables comparisons between two systems, as well as comparisons with humans. Over the past hundred years, there has been an abundance of attempts to define and measure intelligence, across both the fields of psychology and AI. We summarize and critically assess these definitions and evaluation approaches, while making apparent the two historical conceptions of intelligence that have implicitly guided them. We note that in practice, the contemporary AI community still gravitates towards benchmarking intelligence by comparing the skill exhibited by AIs and humans at specific tasks such as board games and video games. We argue that solely measuring skill at any given task falls short of measuring intelligence, because skill is heavily modulated by prior knowledge and experience: unlimited priors or unlimited training data allow experimenters to "buy" arbitrary levels of skills for a system, in a way that masks the system's own generalization power. We then articulate a new formal definition of intelligence based on Algorithmic Information Theory, describing intelligence as skill-acquisition efficiency and highlighting the concepts of scope, generalization difficulty, priors, and experience. Using this definition, we propose a set of guidelines for what a general AI benchmark should look like. Finally, we present a benchmark closely following these guidelines, the Abstraction and Reasoning Corpus (ARC), built upon an explicit set of priors designed to be as close as possible to innate human priors. We argue that ARC can be used to measure a human-like form of general fluid intelligence and that it enables fair general intelligence comparisons between AI systems and humans.
Piecing together fragments: Linguistic cohesion mediates the relationship between executive function and metacognition in schizophrenia

Speech disturbances are prevalent in psychosis. These may arise in part from executive function impairment, as research suggests that inhibition and monitoring are associated with production of cohesive discourse. However, it is not yet understood how linguistic and executive function impairments in psychosis interact with disrupted metacognition, or deficits in the ability to integrate information to form a complex sense of oneself and others and use that synthesis to respond to psychosocial challenges. Whereas discourse studies have historically employed manual hand-coding techniques, automated computational tools can characterize deep semantic structures that may be closely linked with metacognition. In the present study, we examined whether higher executive functioning promotes metacognition by way of altering linguistic cohesion. Ninety-four individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders provided illness narratives and completed an executive function task battery (Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System). We assessed the narratives for linguistic cohesion (Coh-Metrix 3.0) and metacognitive capacity (Metacognition Assessment Scale - Abbreviated). Selected linguistic indices measured the frequency of connections between causal and intentional content (deep cohesion), word and theme overlap (referential cohesion), and unique word usage (lexical diversity). In path analyses using bootstrapped confidence intervals, we found that deep cohesion and lexical diversity independently mediated the relationship between executive functioning and metacognitive capacity. Findings suggest that executive control abilities support integration of mental experiences by way of increasing causal, goal-driven speech and word expression in individuals with schizophrenia. Metacognitive-based therapeutic interventions for psychosis may promote insight and recovery in part by scaffolding use of language that links ideas together.
MAC: Multilevel Autonomous Clustering for Topologically Distributed Anomaly Detection

Anomaly detection in networks is an important cybersecurity threat detection capability. Anomalies in networks are often not localized to a single point, but are spread over a range of nodes. In this case of distributed anomalies, the anomalies are typically too subtle to detect at an individual-node level, and so require anomaly detection over groups of nodes. But it is usually not known a priori on which subset of nodes to focus, and it is infeasible to check all 2N subsets of nodes in a network. This renders distributed anomaly detection extremely challenging. An emerging strategy for detecting such anomalies is to apply a detection technique to a hierarchy of clusters of nodes in the network. However, developing such a hierarchy is challenging in large, decentralized networks with no central controller. In this work, we present Multilevel Autonomous Clustering (MAC), a novel local algorithm for self-organized, hierarchical clustering in distributed networks. MAC enables individual devices in a distributed system to determine their cluster membership at multiple levels using only local information, without centralized computation or information about the entire network. The result is an approach to hierarchical graph clustering that is both practical to use in large, real-world systems, as well as effective for distributed anomaly detection. The algorithm is evaluated on both synthetic and real-world networks. Its effectiveness for anomaly detection is demonstrated on various test problems.
Cancer Publication Portal: an online tool for summarizing and searching human cancer-genomic publications

A search of PubMed lists >582,000 citations with the keywords “cancer” and “gene”. The large volume of cancer genomic publications necessitates the development of text-mining tools to help cancer researchers navigate and summarize articles efficiently. We developed a Cancer Publication Portal (CPP) to help researchers efficiently search and summarize cancer genomic publications, based on one or more genes of interest. CPP integrates data from several sources, including PubTator, the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) database; the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee human gene name database; PubMed, a database of biomedical literature citations; and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Thesaurus. Following each query, results are summarized and include the publication frequency for each cancer type, as well as publication frequencies for cancer terms, pharmacological agents, genomic mutations, and additional genes stratified by cancer type. Cancer terms were identified by comparing titles and abstracts from cancer-related (N=851,868) and non-cancer related articles (N=2,607,020). CPP allows a user to quickly obtain publication statistics, such as the frequency of articles mentioning EGFR across cancer types, and to explore associations, such as the association between pharmacological agent and cancer type. Result summaries are interactive, so additional filters can be easily added as the literature is explored. After a search is completed, a PubTator collection can be quickly created, in order to view article titles and abstracts in PubTator. CPP currently includes information for ~1.1 million cancer-related publications associated with >23,000 human genes. Database URL: https://gdancik.github.io/bioinformatics/CPP/ .
A novel and green nanoparticle formation approach to forming low-crystallinity curcumin nanoparticles to improve curcumin’s bioaccessibility

Health-promoting effects of curcumin are well-known; however, curcumin has a very low bioavailability due to its crystalline structure. The main objective of this study was to develop a novel green nanoparticle formation method to generate low-crystallinity curcumin nanoparticles to enhance the bioavailability of curcumin. Nanoporous starch aerogels (NSAs) (surface area of 60 m2/g, pore size of 20 nm, density of 0.11 g/cm3, and porosity of 93%) were employed as a mold to produce curcumin nanoparticles with the help of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). The average particle size of the curcumin nanoparticles was 66 nm. Impregnation into NSAs decreased the crystallinity of curcumin and did not create any chemical bonding between curcumin nanoparticles and the NSA matrix. The highest impregnation capacity was 224.2 mg curcumin/g NSA. Curcumin nanoparticles significantly enhanced the bioaccessibility of curcumin by 173-fold when compared to the original curcumin. The concentration of curcumin in the bioaccessible fraction was improved from 0.003 to 0.125 mg/mL by impregnation of curcumin into NSAs (42-fold). This is a novel approach to produce food grade curcumin nanoparticles with reduced crystallinity and maximize the utilization of curcumin due to increased bioaccessibility.
Pressure dependence ofTx2113;ℓx2113;ℓx2113;ℓ

For simplified analysis of PVT data to locateTll and other secondary transitions, we demonstrate that series expansion of the term, lne(1 +P/b), in the Tait equation yields a number of approximations of varyine accuracy but all linear inP. The most useful ones are: (1 − V/Vo)=(C'/b)PforP/b 0.2 and the compressibility, /gz = (C/b)(1 -P/b) which requires a calculation of point-to-point derivatives, V,−1 (/gDV//gDP), and hence is less satisfactory. C' andb are parameters in the Tait equation. We use C' = 0.0894.b = C' /-K, where /-K, is bulk modulus, increases with decreasing temperature but also has a step increase at each pressure-induced isothermal transition.b has a value of 1000 – 1500 bars nearTll.
One Lung Soldier: A Ventilation Conundrum in a Postpneumonectomy Syndrome Complicated by Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

Postpneumonectomy syndrome involves mediastinal shift causing dynamic airway obstruction via compression of the main bronchus and distal trachea. A few case reports describe the development of ARDS in patients with postpneumonectomy syndrome. Reeb et al. (2017) describe the mortality of postpneumonectomy ARDS anywhere from 33% to 88%. One may encounter difficulty in intubation and ventilation as parameters based on ideal body weight may not apply. Prone positioning ventilation and ECMO have been successfully used in isolated cases. We present such a case and highlight challenges in management. A 70-year-old male Vietnam veteran with remote history of right pneumonectomy thirty years prior presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea. Physical exam was significant for T 36.3°C, BP 162/73, heart rate 145 BPM, RR 22 breaths/minute, ht. 1.72 m, and wt. 78 kg, with transmitted right lung sounds and rhonchi on the left. Labs showed WBC 23.92/nL and procalcitonin 0.84 ng/mL. CXR showed left infiltrate and opacification of right hemithorax with right mediastinal shift. EKG showed atrial fibrillation. He was started on broad spectrum antibiotics for pneumonia, but deteriorated, and was intubated for respiratory distress from ARDS. Vasopressors were initiated for shock. Given the history of pneumonectomy, he was initially ventilated with lower tidal volumes (320 mL). However, incremental changes were made to tidal volumes, and ETT was repositioned several times for hypoxia. Epoprostenol and cisatracurium were also initiated. Positional changes would lead to sudden desaturation; hence, prone positioning ventilation was not done. He was not considered for ECMO due to his pneumonectomy status. Unfortunately, his condition worsened progressively and he expired. The guidelines for ARDS are well established. However, postpneumonectomy patients are unique as seen in our patient. It is unclear whether an endobronchial tube advanced into the left bronchus could have helped difficult airway management resulting from suspected postpneumonectomy syndrome as suggested by CXR. Higher tidal volumes were also unsuccessful in alleviating hypoxia and led to persistently elevated plateau pressures and driving pressures as high as 23, which was inconsistent with our goal of lung protective ventilation. Few case reports describe the successful use of prone positioning ventilation or ECMO in postpneumonectomy patients with ARDS. Although not well studied, low tidal volumes supported with ECMO may have been a favorable strategy for our patient.
Effectiveness of Copper-Impregnated Solid Surfaces on Lowering Microbial Bio-burden Levels in an Acute Care Hospital

Background Microbial bio-burden on high-touch surfaces in patient rooms may lead to acquisition of health care-associated infections in acute care hospitals. This study examined the effect of a novel copper-impregnated solid material (16%-20% copper oxide in a polymer-based resin) on bacterial contamination on high-touch surfaces in patient rooms in an acute care hospital. Methods Five high-touch surfaces were sampled for aerobic bacterial colonies (ABCs) 3 times per day over a 3-day period in 16 rooms with copper installed and 16 rooms with standard noncopper laminate installed on high-touch surfaces. A Bayesian multilevel negative binomial regression model was used to compare ABC plate counts from copper-impregnated surfaces with standard hospital laminate surfaces. Results The mean and median (interquartile range [IQR]) ABC counts from copper-impregnated surfaces were 25.5 and 11 (4-27), and for standard hospital laminate surfaces they were 60.5 and 29 (10-74.3). The negative binomial regression model-estimated incidence rate for ABC counts on plates taken from copper-impregnated surfaces was 0.40 (0.21-0.70) times the incidence rate of ABC counts on plates taken from standard hospital laminate surfaces. Conclusions Copper-impregnated solid surfaces may reduce the level of microbial contamination on high-touch surfaces in patient rooms in the acute care environment, as our study demonstrated a decline in microbial bio-burden on samples taken from copper-impregnated compared with standard hospital laminate high-touch surfaces.
SUPERball v2: A Tensegrity Rover for Planetary Exploration

A presentation of our SUPERball v2 robotic prototype as an invited speaker for a tensegrity based workshop at the International Conference of Robotics and Automation.