cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional phase development of the Non-proliferation Experiment within the western United States

Abstract To effectively monitor a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, seismologists must be able to confidently detect and identify low-yield explosions. This requires the use of short-period regional phases, which can be extremely complicated. The Non-Proliferation Experiment (NPE) was a low-yield chemical explosion detonated at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) and recorded at more than 50 broadband seismic stations located throughout the western United States. These data were used to investigate the development of Lg and Pn , two seismic phases used in regional discriminants. The frequency-dependent attenuation for Lg recorded at 43 stations is described by the relation Q Lg (vertical) = 238 f 1.28 . The amplitude decay for Pn recorded at 38 stations is proportional to Δ −(1.29 + 0.05 f ) for the frequency window of 1 to 6 Hz. After removing the effects of distance and attenuation, we found the values of the spectral ratio Lg (4-6)/(2-4) to group according to the geologic terrain associated with the path traveled. Stations located within the Basin and Range had lower ratio values than stations located outside the Basin and Range. However, for the spectral ratio Pn (2-4)/(4-6), geologic terrain had an indirect effect. Pn is affected by Moho structure associated with the backazimuth, causing an azimuthal dependence. Of course, Moho structure can be a function of geologic terrain. Furthermore, the Pn arrival may be large or small, independent of azimuth. The values of the discriminant phase ratio Pn (1-2)/ Lg (2-4) have an order of magnitude more scatter than Lg / Lg or Pn / Pn . Nonetheless, the values are both a function of geologic terrain (the Lg contribution) as well as Moho structure ( Pn contribution).
Collaborators, Bystanders or Rescuers? The Role of Local Citizens in the Holocaust in Nazi-Occupied Belarus

The complete physical annihilation of Soviet Jews—described in Nazi propaganda as the main supporters of the Bolshevik regime and the worst enemies of the German nation—was one of the major objectives of the war in the East. This meant that the German campaign against the Jews in the occupied areas of the Soviet Union was much harsher than the campaigns in Western Europe. While the atrocities committed by the German Einsatzgruppen and the Wehrmacht and the complicity of all levels of the Nazi bureaucracy in the pursuit of the ‘Final Solution’ have been extensively analysed by historians, the collusion and participation of ordinary citizens in the persecution of Jews in occupied areas of the Soviet Union still remains relatively understudied. Indeed, it is a controversial subject. This article aims to assess the role of the local population of Nazi-occupied Belarus in the Holocaust there. Most studies of collaboration in the Holocaust in Belarus have focused on the roles of the local auxiliary police and the indigenous administration; little has been done on the attitudes and roles of the general public.
Offloading Support for OpenMP in Clang and LLVM

OpenMP 4.5 allows performance portability by enabling users to write a single application code and run it on multiple types of accelerators. Our goal is to deliver a high-performance implementation of OpenMP into the Clang/LLVM project. This paper describes our initial work to fully support code generation for OpenMP device offloading constructs. We describe a new driver implementation to handle compilation for multiple host and device types, which generalizes the current Clang CUDA implementation and supports OpenMP. It can also be extended to any offloading based language including OpenCL and OpenACC. We describe an implementation of the OpenMP offloading constructs in the runtime library, giving details on two critical aspects. First, how data mapping is implemented. Second, how different device code sections in the binaries are handled to enable application execution on different devices without recompilation. We report initial performance on a prototype that extends current LLVM trunk repositories with all our proposed patches plus future ones, showing near-CUDA performance of our solution.
Excessive Gestational Weight Gain and Subsequent Maternal Obesity at Age 40: A Hypothetical Intervention.

Objectives. To model the hypothetical impact of preventing excessive gestational weight gain on midlife obesity and compare the estimated reduction with the US Healthy People 2020 goal of a 10% reduction of obesity prevalence in adults.Methods. We analyzed 3917 women with 1 to 3 pregnancies in the prospective US National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, from 1979 to 2012. We compared the estimated obesity prevalence between 2 scenarios: gestational weight gain as reported and under the scenario of a hypothetical intervention that all women with excessive gestational weight gain instead gained as recommended by the Institute of Medicine (2009).Results. A hypothetical intervention was associated with a significantly reduced estimated prevalence of obesity for first (3.3 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0, 5.6) and second (3.0 percentage points; 95% CI = 0.7, 5.2) births, and twice as high in Black as in White mothers, but not significant in Hispanics. The population attributable fraction was...
Ideal crop plant architecture is mediated by tassels replace upper ears1, a BTB/POZ ankyrin repeat gene directly targeted by TEOSINTE BRANCHED1

Axillary branch suppression is a favorable trait bred into many domesticated crop plants including maize compared with its highly branched wild ancestor teosinte. Branch suppression in maize was achieved through selection of a gain of function allele of the teosinte branched1 (tb1) transcription factor that acts as a repressor of axillary bud growth. Previous work indicated that other loci may function epistatically with tb1 and may be responsible for some of its phenotypic effects. Here, we show that tb1 mediates axillary branch suppression through direct activation of the tassels replace upper ears1 (tru1) gene that encodes an ankyrin repeat domain protein containing a BTB/POZ motif necessary for protein-protein interactions. The expression of TRU1 and TB1 overlap in axillary buds, and TB1 binds to two locations in the tru1 gene as shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation and gel shifts. In addition, nucleotide diversity surveys indicate that tru1, like tb1, was a target of selection. In modern maize, TRU1 is highly expressed in the leaf trace vasculature of axillary internodes, while in teosinte, this expression is highly reduced or absent. This increase in TRU1 expression levels in modern maize is supported by comparisons of relative protein levels with teosinte as well as by quantitative measurements of mRNA levels. Hence, a major innovation in creating ideal maize plant architecture originated from ectopic overexpression of tru1 in axillary branches, a critical step in mediating the effects of domestication by tb1.
Elevated CO2 boosts reproduction and alters selection in northern but not southern ecotypes of allergenic ragweed

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Many plants increase reproduction in response to rising levels of atmospheric CO2 . However, environmental and genetic variation across heterogeneous landscapes can lead to intraspecific differences in the partitioning of CO2 -induced carbon gains to reproductive tissue relative to growth. METHODS We measured the effects of rising atmospheric CO2 on biomass allocation in the allergenic plant Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) across a geographic climate gradient. We grew plants from three latitudes at 400, 600, and 800 µL·L-1 CO2 and analyzed biomass allocation and natural selection on flowering phenology and growth. KEY RESULTS Both the latitude of origin and CO2 treatment had significant effects on allocation and on estimates of selection. Northern plants were under stronger selection than southern plants to flower quickly, and they produced larger seeds and more reproductive mass per unit of growth. Northern plants were under stronger selection than southern plants to flower quickly, and they produced larger seeds and more reproductive mass per unit of growth. While all plants grew larger and produced heavier seeds at higher CO2 , only northern plants increased male flower production. Both size and time to flowering were under selection, with a relaxation of the size-fitness function in northern ecotypes at high CO2 . CONCLUSIONS Northern ecotypes allocate more CO2 -induced carbon gains to reproduction than do southern plants, pointing to a geographic gradient in future pollen and seed production by this species arising from local adaptation. Relaxed selection on size at elevated CO2 could amplify reproductive enhancements to northern ecotypes, although more growth and seed provisioning can be expected overall. Our results demonstrate potential for ecotypic divergence in ragweed responses to climate change.
A large single-institution review of tracheoesophageal fistulae with evaluation of the use of transanastomotic feeding tubes.

Abstract Introduction Transanastomatic feeding tube (TAT) use in the repair of tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEF) with or without esophageal atresia (EA) and EA with or without TEF allows for earlier enteral feedings, however, may predispose to esophageal stricture. Methods We review our institutional experience with esophageal atresia repair over a 15-year period from 2000 to 2015 and report on our observed complication rate with emphasis on the surgical approach and use of TATs. Results We identified 110 TEF repairs. Ninety-six were Type C, 7 were Type A, 4 were Type D, and 3 were Type E (H-Type). TATs were used in 74% of patients. The stricture rate with the TAT approached 56% versus 17% without a TAT (p Conclusion Our data suggests that the use of TATs does not protect against anastomotic leak, but may increase stricture rate. Further, the thoracoscopic group showed no difference in the leak or stricture rate and demonstrated less musculoskeletal complications. Confirmation of these findings will require a prospective study. Level of evidence III.
Residential particulate matter and distance to roadways in relation to mammographic density: results from the Nurses’ Health Studies

High mammographic density is a strong, well-established breast cancer risk factor. Three studies conducted in various smaller geographic settings reported inconsistent findings between air pollution and mammographic density. We assessed whether particulate matter (PM) exposures (PM2.5, PM2.5–10, and PM10) and distance to roadways were associated with mammographic density among women residing across the United States. The Nurses’ Health Studies are prospective cohorts for whom a subset has screening mammograms from the 1990s (interquartile range 1990–1999). PM was estimated using spatio-temporal models linked to residential addresses. Among 3258 women (average age at mammogram 52.7 years), we performed multivariable linear regression to assess associations between square-root-transformed mammographic density and PM within 1 and 3 years before the mammogram. For linear regression estimates of PM in relation to untransformed mammographic density outcomes, bootstrapped robust standard errors are used to calculate 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Analyses were stratified by menopausal status and region of residence. Recent PM and distance to roadways were not associated with mammographic density in premenopausal women (PM2.5 within 3 years before mammogram β = 0.05, 95% CI –0.16, 0.27; PM2.5–10 β = 0, 95%, CI –0.15, 0.16; PM10 β = 0.02, 95% CI –0.10, 0.13) and postmenopausal women (PM2.5 within 3 years before mammogram β = –0.05, 95% CI –0.27, 0.17; PM2.5–10 β = –0.01, 95% CI –0.16, 0.14; PM10 β = –0.02, 95% CI –0.13, 0.09). Largely null associations were observed within regions. Suggestive associations were observed among postmenopausal women in the Northeast (n = 745), where a 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 within 3 years before the mammogram was associated with 3.4 percentage points higher percent mammographic density (95% CI –0.5, 7.3). These findings do not support that recent PM or roadway exposures influence mammographic density. Although PM was largely not associated with mammographic density, we cannot rule out the role of PM during earlier exposure time windows and possible associations among northeastern postmenopausal women.
New Locality Records of Splendid Tamarisk Weevil, Coniatus splendidulus (Fabricius)1, and Chionaspis2 scale in West Texas and New Mexico

Because of detrimental effects of salt cedar on riparian communities in the southwestern United States, there is active research to control and minimize its impact. One such control program being monitored is use of the salt cedar leaf beetle, Diorhabda sublineata (Brulle'), to reduce the biomass of this invasive plant species. Beetle activity has been monitored in different regions of Texas, various southwestern states of the U.S, and Mexico since 2001. Recently, other biological control agents, Coniatus splendidulus (Fabricius) and Chionaspis scale, were reported from new areas of Texas and New Mexico. While these biological control agents were not intentional introductions, their activity resulted in notable defoliation (40–80%) and biomass reduction and is worthy of monitoring.
Varicella Zoster Virus Infections

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is an exclusively human neurotropic alphaherpesvirus. Primary infection causes varicella (chickenpox), after which the virus becomes latent in ganglionic neurons along the entire neuraxis. With advancing age or immunosuppression, cell-mediated immunity to VZV declines and virus reactivates to cause zoster (shingles), dermatomal-distribution pain and rash on an erythematous base in 1–3 dermatomes. Zoster may develop anywhere on the body. Skin lesions resolve within 1–2 weeks, while complete cessation of pain usually takes 4–6 weeks. Unfortunately, zoster can be followed by chronic pain (post-herpetic neuralgia), cranial nerve palsies, zoster paresis, vasculopathy, meningoencephalitis, cerebellitis, myelopathy, and multiple ocular disorders. VZV reactivation also produces chronic radicular pain without rash (zoster sine herpete). In fact, all of the neurological and ocular disorders listed above may also develop without rash. This review covers clinical, laboratory and pathological features of neurological complications of VZV reactivation, including diagnostic testing to verify active VZV infection in the nervous system and the potential value of examining saliva for VZV DNA in patients with neurological disease without rash. Additional perspectives are provided by discussions of the VZV genome, VZV latency, viral pathology, pathogenesis and immunity, and of the value of vaccination of elderly individuals to boost cell-mediated immunity to VZV and prevent VZV reactivation.
Points, Pixels, and Gray Levels: Digitizing Image Data

Microscopical images are now almost always recorded digitally. To accomplish this, the flux of photons that forms the final image must be divided into small geometrical subunits called pixels. The light intensity in each pixel will be stored as a single number. Changing the objective magnification, the zoom magnification on your confocal control panel, or choosing another coupling tube magnification for your charge-coupled device (CCD) camera changes the size of the area on the object that is represented by one pixel. If you can arrange matters so that the smallest feature recorded in your image data is at least 4 to 5 pixels wide in each direction, then all is well.
Development and Implementation of a Telemedicine Platform for Radiation Oncology Training and Peer Review

Background: Telemedicine has been posited as a potential means of bolstering radiation therapy delivery in developing nations. World Aid Exchange (WaidX) is an innovative intercontinental telemedic...
Impacts of pre- vs. postcolonial land use on floodplain sedimentation in temperate North America

Abstract This paper evaluates the relative importance of anthropogeomorphic sedimentation on floodplains in the mid-latitudes of North America before and after the arrival of EuroAmericans. Geohistorical and geoarchaeological theories have emerged that have conflicts concerning the relative effectiveness of pre- and postcolonial anthropogeomorphic change in North America. Many geoarchaeologists, paleoecologists, historians, and cultural geographers have concluded that intensive precolonial land use resulted in substantially humanized landscapes prior to the arrival of colonists. This presents a geomorphic paradox to fluvial geomorphologists and river restorationists who interpret buried floodplain soils as evidence of landscape stability. Evidence for these theories is reviewed from a geomorphic perspective while making distinctions between ecological and geomorphic change and recognizing spatial and temporal variability. In some locations, mid-millennial land use generated erosion and floodplain sedimentation. Subsequent indigenous population declines and reductions in land-use intensity may have been followed by precolonial geomorphic stability and pedogenesis. An abandoned landscape hypothesis, that floodplain soils developed on precolonial anthropogenic alluvium and were subsequently buried, should be considered where indigenous populations and land-use activities were high. Variability is also noted in postcolonial floodplain sedimentation. Many stratigraphic studies show that rates of sedimentation increased greatly after colonization in response to land clearance for agriculture, timbering, and mining. An inventory of studies that document postcolonial floodplain sediment shows strong spatial patterns. Most studies of postcolonial sedimentation cluster in the eastern USA from the Mid-Atlantic southward and in the Mississippi Valley from Wisconsin to Mississippi, but many occurrences of mining sediment are scattered throughout the west. Few of the studies reviewed in the west document anthropogenic floodplain sediment from agriculture or logging, although more thorough regional inventories could change that. Vast areas of temperate North America do not have historical deposits that are well represented in the scientific literature, so assumptions that legacy sediment on floodplains is ubiquitous are ill-founded. Spatial and temporal variations in pre- and postcolonial floodplain sedimentation are complex and more research is needed to fill in the knowledge gaps.
The dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine releasing activities of a series of methcathinone analogs in male rat brain synaptosomes.

Novel synthetic “bath salt” cathinones continue to appear on the street as abused and addictive drugs. The range of subjective experiences produced by different cathinones suggests that some compounds have primarily dopaminergic activity (possible stimulants) while others have primarily serotonergic activity (possible empathogenics). An understanding of the structure activity relationships (SARs) of these compounds will help in assessing the likely behavioral effects of future novel structures, and to define potential therapeutic strategies to reverse any reinforcing effects. A series of methcathinone analogs was systematically studied for their activity at the dopamine and serotonin transporters. Compound structures varied at the aromatic group, either by substituent or by replacement of the phenyl ring with a naphthalene or indole ring. A novel, high-yielding synthesis of methcathinone hydrochlorides was developed which avoids isolation of the unstable free bases. Neurotransmitter transporter release activity was determined in rat brain synaptosomes as previously reported. Compounds were also screened for activity at the norepinephrine transporter. Twenty-eight methcathinone analogs were analyzed and fully characterized in dopamine and serotonin transporter release assays. Compounds substituted at the 2-position (ortho) were primarily dopaminergic. Compounds substituted at the 3-position (meta) were found to be much less dopaminergic, with some substituents favoring serotonergic activity. Compounds substituted at the 4-position (para) were found to be far more serotonergic, as were disubstituted compounds and other large aromatic groups. One exception was the fluoro-substituted analogs which seem to favor the dopamine transporter. The dopaminergic to serotonergic ratio can be manipulated by choice of substituent and location on the aromatic ring. It is therefore likely possible to tweak the subjective and reinforcing effects of these compounds by adjusting their structure. Certain substituents like a fluoro group tend to favor the dopamine transporter, while others like a trifluoromethyl group favor the serotonin transporter.
Mortality, hospital admission, and healthcare cost due to injury from venomous and non-venomous animal encounters in the USA: 5-year analysis of the National Emergency Department Sample

Background Injuries due to encounters with animals can be serious, but are often discussed anecdotally or only for isolated types of encounters. We sought to characterize animal-related injuries presenting to US emergency departments (ED) to determine the impact of these types of injuries. Methods All ED encounters with diagnosis codes corresponding to animal-related injury were identified using ICD-9-CM codes from the 2010 2014 National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS). Outcomes assessed included inpatient admission, mortality, and healthcare cost. Survey methodology was applied to univariate and multivariate analyses. Weighted numbers are presented. Results There were 6 457 534 ED visits resulting from animal-related injuries identified. Bites from non-venomous arthropods (n=2 648 880; 41%), dog bites (n=1 658 295; 26%) and envenomation from hornets, wasps or bees (n=812 357; 13%) constitute the majority of encounters. There were 210 516 patients (3%) admitted as inpatients. Inpatient admission was most common for those suffering from venomous snakes or lizard bites (24%, n=10 332). Death was infrequent occurring in 1162 patients (0.02% of all ED presentations). The greatest number of deaths was due to bites from non-venomous arthropods (24% of deaths, n=278) whereas rat bites proved the most lethal (6.5 deaths per 10 000 bites). Among persons aged 85 years or greater, odds of hospital admission for any animal-related injury was 6.42 (95% CI 5.57 to 7.40) and the OR for death was 27.71 (95% CI 10.38 to 73.99). Female sex was associated with improved survival (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.73) and lower rates of hospital admission (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.79). The total healthcare cost for these animal encounters during the observed time period was $5.96 billion (95% CI $5.43 to $6.50 billion). Conclusion The morbidity, mortality, and healthcare cost due to animal encounters in the USA is considerable. Often overlooked, this particular mechanism of injury warrants further public health prevention efforts. Level of Evidence Level IV.
Body mass index (BMI) and toxicities and association with clinical outcomes (CO) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients (pts) treated with cabozantinib (cabo).

613Background: BMI has been explored as a prognostic factor in cancer pts and treatment-related toxicities have been associated with responses to VEGF-targeted therapy in mRCC pts. We investigated ...
Microstructure evolution during near-net-shape fabrication of NixAly-TiC cermets through binder jet additive manufacturing and pressureless melt infiltration

Abstract Titanium carbide-nickel aluminide (TiC-Ni x Al y ) intermetallic matrix composite materials were fabricated with additive manufacturing and pressureless melt infiltration for applications intended for high-wear and corrosive environments while maintaining low density. Here, two compositions of nickel aluminide are infiltrated into porous, printed TiC preforms. Net shaping of a nickel-rich infiltrant is less compared to the net shaping of the aluminum-rich infiltrant due to dissolution of TiC in the molten infiltrant. The microstructures and porosity of the two infiltrants with TiC are examined after processing. The explanation of shape retention from infiltration is explained, and the excellent shape retention in an Al-rich infiltrant system is thought to be from peritectic behavior and a metered infiltration of different phases during cooling and solidification without significant dissolution. The metered infiltration contributed to some porosity, microcracking, and segregated Ni x Al y phases. This work demonstrates that TiC can be shaped and infiltrated with intermetallics to provide a method of making composites with limited shrinkage and controlled geometry.
Two Distinct Domains Mediate Self-Assembly of Knob Protein in Plasmodium Falciparum -Infected Human Erythrocytes.

Plasmodium falciparum associated mortality is believed to originate from the adhesion of infected erythrocytes to the endothelial cells. The adhesion of mature parasite infected erythrocytes is mediated by the surface protrusions called knobs. A dominant constituent of knobs is the parasite derived knob-associated histidine-rich protein termed KAHRP or knob protein. Gene deletion experiments have shown that the knob protein is essential in malaria pathogenesis. Without the knob protein (KAHRP), adherence of malaria-infected erythrocytes is not established under physiological shear stress. The adhesive properties of infected erythrocytes are propagated by the direct interaction of KAHRP, a peripheral membrane protein, with the cytoplasmic domain of the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein-1 (PfEMP1). Unlike the highly polymorphic extracellular domain, the cytoplasmic domain of PfEMP1 is conserved across species, hence the interest in delineating the mechanism of its interaction with KAHRP and components of the erythrocyte membrane. Our studies have observed recombinant KAHRP to self-associate into large aggregates in vitro . Under transmission electron microscopy, both knobs isolated from malaria-infected erythrocytes and self-assembled recombinant KAHRP in vitro have revealed a unique spiral shaped morphology. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that the unique knob spiral is formed by the self-assembly of KAHRP monomers and therefore must be encoded by distinct sequence elements within KAHRP. To investigate this speculation, we devised a solution binding assay and engineered a series of GST (glutathione S-transferase) and Trx (thioredoxin) fusion peptides to encompass the entire length of KAHRP. Binding measurements using heterologous combination of defined fusion peptides reveal a core histidine-rich amino terminal segment associating with a lysine-rich segment located within the carboxyl half of KAHRP. These findings suggest a novel head-to-tail interaction strategy employed by the intracellular parasite to assemble the spiral-shaped scaffold of KAHRP under the surface of electron dense knobs. Significantly, our results identify a novel self-interaction site within KAHRP that could be amenable to therapeutic intervention against cerebral malaria.
Gender Differences in Negative Mood, Emotional Intelligence and Tobacco Use among Young Adults.

Background: Tobacco use is recognized as a form of addiction and remains a significant health concern. Despite this well accepted problem, the various components associated with tobacco use across ...
Light Emission Study of Free-Standing Quasi-2D-γ-Alumina Grown by Graphene-Assisted Atomic Layer Deposition

Intensity-dependent photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopy were carried out to probe light emission characteristics and underlying radiative carrier recombination mechanisms in quasi-2D γ-alumina prepared by the two-step graphene-assisted atomic layer deposition method. The room-temperature cw-emission spectrum consists of a single emission peak at ~387 nm, with its intensity exhibiting a weak saturation as excitation power increases, and is attributed to non-interband, intrinsic defect-assisted radiative recombinations. The PLE spectrum obtained for the ~387 nm emission consists of three distinctive, Lorentz line-shaped bands with their peaks in the spectral range of ~3.46–3.82 eV. This study can open a door to engineering radiation hard, robust light emitting nano-opto-electronic devices such as blue-color light emitters based on low-cost crystalline quasi-2D γ-alumina.
Thoracic and Extrathoracic Malignancies in Lung Cancer Screening Patients With Histories of Malignancy.

Abstract Purpose The objective of this study was to assess whether a history of malignancy affects the incidence of extrathoracic malignancies and lung cancer in patients undergoing CT lung cancer screening (LCS). Methods All patients who underwent a LCS CT between June 2014 and August 2018 in a single health care system were included. History of prior nonskin malignancy was extracted from billing records. Subsequent diagnoses of malignancy were extracted from clinical pathology reports. Risk for subsequent malignancy was compared between patients with and those without prior malignancy and evaluated using multivariate logistic regression including age and history of malignancy. Results A total of 5,835 LCS CT studies were included, and 1,243 (21%) were performed on patients with diagnoses of malignancy before CT. For the 4,592 scans performed on patients without histories of malignancy, 87 patients (1.9%) were diagnosed with lung cancer and 68 (1.5%) were diagnosed with nonlung malignancies in the following year. Among patients with histories of malignancy, 17 (1.4%) were diagnosed with lung cancer, and 25 (2%) were diagnosed with nonlung malignancies. Logistic regression for subsequent diagnosis of malignancy (including lung cancer) demonstrated age to be predictive, with an odds ratio of 1.6 per decade (P Conclusions Patients with histories of malignancy referred for LCS have a similar risk for developing lung cancers and extrathoracic malignancies as patients without histories of malignancy. Patients with histories of malignancy who are believed by their referring providers to be at low risk for metastasis should not be excluded from LCS.
Mapping real time growth of experimental laccoliths: The effect of solidification on the mechanics of magmatic intrusion

Abstract The dynamics of solidification front growth along the margins of magmas have been widely found to be fundamental in controlling magma transport and emplacement. In this vein, the role of solidification fronts in determining the basic growth mechanics of laccoliths are investigated here in a series of scaled experiments using two contrasting magma analogs, water and molten wax that are injected into a visco-elastic gelatin based crustal analog. In non-solidifying, water-style experiments, intrusion is a relatively simple process. In contrast, wax magma emplacement displays a vast palette of compelling behaviors: propagation can slow, stop, and reactivate, and the directionality of lateral growth becomes much more variable. Small flow deviations in water-based intrusions are likely the product of flow instabilities, the result of injecting a viscous fluid along an interface (similar to Hele-Shaw cell experiments). However, the much more complex emplacement style of the wax experiments is attributed to solidification at the leading edge of the crack. The overall effects of solidification during emplacement can be described by a non-dimensional parameter measuring the relative competition between the rates of crack propagation and solidification at the crack leading edge. In this context, laccolith growth mechanics can be separated into three distinctive characteristic stages. Namely, I: A thin pancake style sill initially emanating radially from a central feeder zone, II: As solidification stalls magma propagation at the leading edges, enhanced thickening begins, forming a true, low aspect ratio laccolith, and III: As stresses accumulate, tears and disruptions readily occur in the solidified margin causing fresh breakouts, thus reactivating lateral growth into new lobes. The competitive combination of these latter stages often leads to a characteristic pulsatile growth. The unexpected richness of these results promises to add fundamentally to the basic understanding of laccolith growth mechanisms, and also adds key observations to growth processes to be sought in field studies that have been hitherto suspected but rarely observed. Despite seemingly simple shapes, the growth history of laccolithic intrusions is likely quite complex.
Free surface profile of evaporative liquids at the vicinity of the contact line

Interfacial phenomenon, specifically those associated with evaporation from thin liquid films near the contact line of a liquid drop, plays a major role in many current engineering applications which require high local heat fluxes, as evident in heat pipes, grooved evaporators, fuel cells, and suction nucleate boiling devices (Potash and Wayner in Int J Heat Mass Transf 15:1851–1863, 1971; Hanchak et al. in Int J Heat Mass Transf 75:196–206, 2014). This study will prove useful in the improvement of such applications. Fluorescence microscopy was used as our main technique for investigating the free-surface profiles of evaporative liquids at the vicinity of the contact line, as it delivers sufficient range and resolution to address the challenge of capturing the microscopic and macroscopic aspects of this phenomenon. The free-surface profiles of relatively low evaporative liquids were compared with those of nonevaporative liquids, specifically one centistoke silicon oil was compared with one hundred centistokes silicon oil and qualitatively no difference has been observed between both profiles near the contact line.
Religious Arbitration and the New Multiculturalism: Negotiating Conflicting Legal Orders

This Article considers a trend towards what I have termed the “new multiculturalism,” where conflicts between law and religion are less about recognition and symbolism and more about conflicting legal orders. Nothing typifies this trend more than the increased visibility of religious arbitration, whereby religious groups use current arbitration doctrine to have their disputes adjudicated not in U.S. courts and under U.S. law, but before religious courts and under religious law. This dynamic has pushed the following question to the forefront of the multicultural agenda: under what circumstances should U.S. courts enforce arbitration awards issued by religious courts in accordance with religious law. Indeed, with growing skepticism regarding the oppressive potential of religious majorities, critics have questioned whether religious arbitration has any place in a regime dedicated to individual liberties. By contrast, this Article contends that current arbitration doctrine can meet the challenges of the new multiculturalism. To do so, this Article makes two concrete policy recommendations: (1) courts should redefine the scope of enforceability of religious arbitration awards by limiting the application of the public policy exception to vacate religious arbitration awards and (2) courts should expand the application of unconscionability to void religious arbitration agreements.
Fifth International Workshop on Detection, Classification, Localization and Density Estimation of Marine Mammals using Passive Acoustics

Abstract : The goals of this project were to (1) organize and hold the Fifth International Workshop on Detection, Classification, Localization and Density Estimation of Marine Mammals using Passive Acoustics and (2) Compile papers from this workshop for publication in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America as a Special Issue Passive Detection, Classification, Localization, and Density Estimation of Marine Mammals .
Same-Sex Marriage, Second-Class Citizenship, and Law's Social Meanings

Government acts, statements, and symbols that carry the social meaning of second-class citizenship may, as a consequence of that fact, violate the Establishment Clause or the constitutional requirement of equal protection. Yet social meaning is often contested. Do laws permitting same-sex couples to form civil unions but not to enter "marriages" convey the social meaning that gays and lesbians are second-class citizens, as some courts have held? Do official displays of the Confederate battle flag unconstitutionally convey support for slavery and white supremacy? Different audiences reach different conclusions about the meaning of these and other contested statements and symbols. Accordingly, to implement the existing cross-ideological consensus that the Constitution forbids at least some government acts, statements, and symbols that convey the social meaning of second-class citizenship, one needs some method for selecting the relevant audience. No method is perfect, but this Article tentatively advances a "reasonable victim" perspective as the presumptive starting point for constitutional analysis.
SVM incremental learning, adaptation and optimization

The objective of machine learning is to identify a model that yields good generalization performance. This involves repeatedly selecting a hypothesis class, searching the hypothesis class by minimizing a given objective function over the model's parameter space, and evaluating the generalization performance of the resulting model. This search can be computationally intensive as training data continuously arrives, or as one needs to tune hyperparameters in the hypothesis class and the objective function. In this paper, we present a framework for exact incremental learning and adaptation of support vector machine (SVM) classifiers. The approach is general and allows one to learn and unlearn individual or multiple examples, adapt the current SVM to changes in regularization and kernel parameters, and evaluate generalization performance through exact leave-one-out error estimation.
Reactions of arylcarbamoyl chlorides—II : Reaction with aromatic amines

Abstract The reaction of N-arylcarbamoyl chlorides with anilines in acetonitrile initially gives isocyanates, which can react with primary or secondary amines to give N,N-diaryl ureas. The rate of HCl elimination fits the Bronsted catalysis law with β ≈ 1, suggesting that there is extensive proton transfer in the transition state. Plots of log k against σ have ϱ ≈ 0 when the aryl substituent has a negative σ and ϱ ≈ 1 when it has a positive σ value. These observations and the kinetic deuterium isotope effect suggest that with electron attracting substituents, an initial proton transfer gives an ion pair which then loses chloride ion, but with electron releasing substituents, these steps become more concerted.
Prioritizing bellman backups without a priority queue

Several researchers have shown that the efficiency of value iteration, a dynamic programming algorithm for Markov decision processes, can be improved by prioritizing the order of Bellman backups to focus computation on states where the value function can be improved the most. In previous work, a priority queue has been used to order backups. Although this incurs overhead for maintaining the priority queue, previous work has argued that the overhead is usually much less than the benefit from prioritization. However this conclusion is usually based on a comparison to a non-prioritized approach that performs Bellman backups on states in an arbitrary order. In this paper, we show that the overhead for maintaining the priority queue can be greater than the benefit, when it is compared to very simple heuristics for prioritizing backups that do not require a priority queue. Although the order of backups induced by our simple approach is often sub-optimal, we show that its smaller overhead allows it to converge faster than other state-of-the-art priority-based solvers.
IQC characterizations of signal classes

Worst case average performance analysis is considered in this paper. The disturbance in the system is assumed to belong to a “class of inputs signals”. A class of signals is here defined to be a set of families of signals, where each family satisfies an average spectral constraint. Exact characterizations in terms of integral quadratic constraints (IQC) are given for a class of white signals and a class of signals that are generated by autonomous linear systems. The IQCs are defined in terms of multipliers and important issues in numerical optimization of the multipliers are discussed in the paper.
Experience with an XTP implementation for embedded systems

An implementation of the XTP protocol is discussed relative to the embedded systems environment. An overview of the embedded system architecture and unique design constraints is followed by a description of the protocol development environment. The original development approach is presented with a critique based on experience thus far. Embedded system implementation and protocol development issues experienced in this type of environment and proposed solutions are presented to provide a framework for similar development efforts. >
A reexamination of various extraoral appliances in light of recent research findings.

Abstract The location of the center of resistance of the dentomaxillary complex has recently been identified more accurately than before. Based on this new finding, various modifications of the common facebow are presented for use in protraction therapy. Clinical applications for specific treatment objectives are also reviewed. Orthopedic and biomechanical implications of various standard retraction type extraoral appliances are also analyzed.
A data-consistent linear prediction method for image reconstruction from finite fourier samples

Linear prediction (LP) methods have been widely used for high-resolution spectral estimation from finite Fourier samples. Their application to image reconstruction, on the other hand, has been markedly less successful. In this article, we present an improved LP method for high-resolution image reconstruction. The distinguishing feature of the proposed method is its use of a generalized series model to enforce the data consistency constraint to compensate for reconstruction error resulting from LP modeling. Several reconstruction examples from magnetic resonance imaging data are included to demonstrate the performance of the method. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
When Does Parents’ Differential Treatment Have Negative Implications for Siblings?

We compared the extent of parents’ differential treatment (PDT) and girls’ and boys’ perceptions of parents’ fairness in middle childhood and adolescence as a function of the gender constellation of the sibling dyad. Further, we examined links between PDT in three domains, parental warmth, parents’ temporal involvement, and the allocation of household tasks, and both siblings’ self esteem and positivity in the sibling relationship. Participants were mothers, fathers and both first- and secondborn siblings from 385 families. To collect information on siblings’ family experiences and well-being, family members were interviewed individually in their homes. During the subsequent 2–3 weeks, 7 evening telephone interviews also were conducted; these focused on siblings’ daily activities. Analyses revealed different patterns of PDT for siblings as a function of age and gender constellation, stronger links with self esteem and sibling positivity for perceptions of fairness than for PDT, and different patterns of association with self esteem and sibling relations across domains of PDT. We emphasize the importance of studying the processes through which PDT experiences have implications for siblings.
Coherent Lattice Vibrations in Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

We have generated and detected coherent lattice vibrations in single-walled carbon nanotubes corresponding to the radial breathing mode (RBM) using ultrashort laser pulses. Because the band gap is a function of diameter, these RBM-induced diameter oscillations cause ultrafast band gap oscillations, thereby modulating the interband excitonic resonances at the phonon frequencies (3-9 THz). Excitation spectra show a large number of pronounced peaks, allowing the determination of the chiralities present in particular samples and relative population differences of particular chiralities between samples.
Acetylcholine esterase activity of synaptic vesicle fractions and membrane fractions prepared from rat brain tissue

— —The synaptic vesicle fraction, M2, isolated from rat brain tissue contained acetylcholine, acetylcholine esterase activity, and gangliosides. The separation of M2 into several subfractions showed that the enriched synaptic vesicle subfraction, M2A, contained acetylcholine, but little acetylcholine esterase and ganglioside. The membrane subfraction, M2B, was enriched in the enzyme and ganglioside. Calcium ions facilitated the removal of membrane material from the synaptic vesicle fraction. In addition, the acetylcholine esterase of the synaptic vesicle fractions, M2 and M2A, frequently were activated by calcium ions as well as other cations.
Plate motion and crustal deformation estimated with geodetic data from the Global Positioning System

We use geodetic data taken over four years with the Global Positioning System (GPS) to estimate (1) motion between six major plates and (2) motion relative to these plates of ten sites in plate boundary zones. The degree of consistency between geodetic velocities and rigid plates requires the (one-dimensional) standard errors in horizontal velocities to be ∼2 mm/yr. Each of the 15 angular velocities describing motion between plate pairs that we estimate with GPS differs insignificantly from the corresponding angular velocity in global plate motion model NUVEL-1A, which averages motion over the past 3 m.y. The motion of the Pacific plate relative to both the Eurasian and North American plates is observed to be faster than predicted by NUVEL-1A, supporting the inference from Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) that motion of the Pacific plate has sped up over the past few m.y. The Eurasia-North America pole of rotation is estimated to be north of NUVEL-1A, consistent with the independent hypothesis that the pole has recently migrated northward across northeast Asia to near the Lena River delta. Victoria, which lies above the main thrust at the Cascadia subduction zone, moves relative to the interior of the overriding plate at 30% of the velocity of the subducting plate, reinforcing the conclusion that the thrust there is locked beneath the continental shelf and slope.
Using Simulations and Standardized Patients in Intervention Research

Caregiving is both an art and a science; both knowledge and skills are necessary to improve the quality of care that professionals provide. Researchers are often limited in their assessment of skill performance due to inadequate and unrealistic measurement options. Simulation using standardized patients offers researchers an objective method to evaluate skill performance. This article describes the use of simulations by researchers in their quest to measure changes in violence prevention skills after an intervention program given to nurse assistants working in long-term care facilities.
Scaling, Power, and the Future of CMOS Technology

Over 40 years ago, Gordon Moore wrote a short paper that has come to define this industry. In addition to the prediction that IC device counts would grow exponentially, this paper also described three main challenges to scaling: power, design cost, and what to do with the available functionality. While we have found good uses for the added functionality, power and design cost remain critical issues today, and with the ending of Dennard scaling, power looms as the largest challenge in our ability to continue to scale computing performance. This talk looks briefly at the origins of this power crisis, and then explores architectural and circuit approaches to produce energy efficient designs. The results have some interesting implications for device design.