cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving Smartphone Security and Reliability

Users are increasingly relying on smartphones, hence concerns such as mobile app security, privacy, and correctness have become increasingly pressing. Software analysis has been successful in tackling many such concerns, albeit on other platforms, such as desktop and server. To fill this gap, he have developed infrastructural tools that permit a wide range of software analyses for the Android smartphone platform. Developing these tools has required surmounting many challenges unique to the smartphone platform: dealing with input non-determinism in sensor-oriented apps, non-standard control ow, low-overhead yet high-fidelity record-and-replay. Our tools can analyze substantial, widely-popular apps running directly on smartphones, and do not require access to the app’s source code. We will first present two tools (automated exploration, record-and-replay) that increase Android app reliability by allowing apps to be explored automatically, and bugs replayed or isolated. Next, we present several security applications of our infrastructure: a permission evolution study on the Android ecosystem; understanding and quantifying the risk posed by URL accesses in benign and malicious apps; app profiling to summarize app behavior; and Moving Target Defense for thwarting attacks.
“Modern Band” as school music: A case study:

This purpose of this study was to uncover the nature and value associated with involvement in “Modern Band” (rock band), the primary, not supplemental, means to music education in one US school. Th...
Mapping the Functional Genome: The ENCODE and Roadmap Epigenomics Projects

A major goal of current biology is to delineate the DNA sequences that control fundamental functions of complex genomes, including RNA transcription, chromatin packaging, and DNA replication. This task is compounded by the fact that, in complex multicellular organisms, these functions fall under the control of distinct sequence elements in different cell types. Two complementary and concurrent efforts – the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) ENCODE Project and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Roadmap Epigenomics Program – are addressing these challenges through the coordinated application of multiple technologies to generate genome-scale profiles of RNA transcription, regulatory factor binding, DNA methylation, and chromatin structure and modification. To date, these efforts have produced and publicly released thousands of genome-wide datasets that greatly illuminate genomic function, providing a rich resource for diverse researchers to explore for insights into both fundamental biology and its relevance to clinical medicine.
Curriculum Design and Social Media: 140 Characters at a Time:

Social media presents both challenges and opportunities regarding education and professional development in Christian ministry within and beyond the classroom. Ministers, like those in other professional fields, must manage their digital footprint to avoid costly mistakes. Similarly, Christian educators may find themselves establishing guidelines to protect the safety of students and professional practice due to unwanted social media use. In the face of the challenges, social media may still offer creative options, harnessing selective attention often attributed to multitasking. Case studies highlight the possible steps Christian educators may use to respond proactively with social media in the classroom.
Direct Structural and Chemical Characterization of the Photolytic Intermediates of Methylcobalamin Using Time-Resolved X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

Cobalt–carbon bond cleavage is crucial to most natural and synthetic applications of the cobalamin class of compounds, and here we present the first direct electronic and geometric structural characteristics of intermediates formed following photoexcitation of methylcobalamin (MeCbl) using time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). We catch transients corresponding to two intermediates, in the hundreds of picoseconds and a few microseconds. Highlights of the picosecond intermediate, which is reduced in comparison to the ground state, are elongation of the upper axial Co–C bond and relaxation of the corrin ring. This is not so with the recombining photocleaved products captured at a few microseconds, where the Co–C bond almost (yet not entirely) reverts to its ground state configuration and a substantially elongated lower axial Co–NIm bond is observed. The reduced cobalt site here confirms formation of methyl radical as the photoproduct.
How similar are states' Medicaid preferred drug lists?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the generosity and consistency of 10 states' Medicaid preferred drug lists (PDLs) in high-volume therapeutic classes. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive comparisons of 7 of the top 10 therapeutic classes by Medicaid sales and of the top 10 most populous states with Medicaid PDLs. METHODS: A PDL specifies which drugs are available to patients without receiving prior approval from the state. State PDLs were collected in January 2008 to determine the status (covered or not covered) of 110 different drugs in each state. The US Food and Drug Administration Orange Book provided patent status for each drug. States were compared for generosity and similarity of coverage overall, by patent status, and by therapeutic class. RESULTS: For 42 (38%) of the drugs, there was wide consistency in PDL design, with at least 9 states classifying the drug with the same PDL status. For the other 62% of drugs, there was greater variation, with 2 or more states classifying the drugs differently than the others. Generosity and consistency also varied by therapeutic class and patent status. CONCLUSION: For most drugs, Medicaid PDLs are not implemented consistently across states, suggesting that states do not rely on common clinical evidence to make value-based coverage decisions. Greater involvement by the federal government in designing or regulating monopolistic Medicare Part D PDLs may result in similar inconsistencies.
Parental Feeding Beliefs and Practices and Household Food Insecurity in Infancy.

Abstract Objective Food insecurity is associated with childhood obesity possibly mediated through caregiver feeding practices and beliefs. We examined if caregiver feeding practices differed by household food security status in a diverse sample of infants. We hypothesized that feeding practices differ based on food security status. Patients and methods Included in the baseline cross-sectional analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial to prevent obesity were 842 caregivers of 2-month-old infants presenting for well-child care at 4 academic institutions. Food insecurity exposure was based on an affirmative answer to 1 of 2 items in a 2-item validated questionnaire. Chi-square tests examined the association between parent feeding practices and food security status. Logistic regression adjusted for covariates. Differences in caregiver feeding practices by food security status and race/ethnicity were explored with an interaction term (food security status x race/ethnicity). Results Forty-three percent of families screened as food insecure. In adjusted logistic regression, parents from food-insecure households were more likely to endorse that “the best way to make an infant stop crying is to feed him or her” (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28–2.29) and “when my baby cries, I immediately feed him or her” (aOR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.06–1.83). Food-insecure caregivers less frequently endorsed paying attention to their baby when he or she is full or hungry (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.34–0.96). Racial/ethnic differences in beliefs and behaviors were observed by food security status. Conclusions During early infancy, feeding practices differed among caregivers by household food security status. Further research is needed to examine whether these practices are associated with increased risk of obesity and obesity-related morbidity.
Abstract 35: Hyperexcitability and Seizures in Primary Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Introduction: While seizures are uncommon but reported in primary intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), little evidence is available on the prevalence of hyperexcitable patterns on long term EEG monit...
Photonic Integration Beyond Silicon

Microwave photonics demands on photonic circuits go beyond what can be delivered with silicon photonics alone. The potential for next generation integration platforms, including silicon nitride and tantalum pentoxide, to handle high power, deliver low phase noise, and realize photonic microwave functional circuits will be described. This platform opens performance over new ranges, not achievable with other integration techniques, to bring power efficient, ultra-high systems to the chip-scale and enable transformative signal processing, computation and communications techniques.
The iCook 4-H Study: Report on Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Youth Participating in a Multicomponent Program Promoting Family Cooking, Eating, and Playing Together.

Abstract Objective To report physical activity and sedentary time outcomes of youth in iCook 4-H. Study Design and Setting iCook 4-H was a 5-state, randomized, control–treatment, family-based childhood obesity prevention intervention promoting cooking, eating, and playing together. Participants and Intervention Youth aged 9–10 years and the main preparer of their meals participated in the 12-week program followed by monthly newsletters and biyearly booster sessions until 24 months. Main Outcome Measure(s) A total of 155 youth were fitted with an Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer, which they wore for 7 days at baseline and 4, 12, and 24 months to measure mean daily minutes per hour of waking wear time for sedentary time (ST), light physical activity (PA) (LPA), moderate PA, vigorous PA, and moderate to vigorous PA. Self-reported PA was assessed using the Block Kids Physical Activity Screener and additional questions querying for the program goal of the frequency of family actively playing together. Linear mixed models were used to determine differences from baseline to 24 months. Significance was set at P ≤ .05. Results There was a significant (P Conclusions and Implications iCook 4-H was a multicomponent program observing youth aged 9–10 years for 24 months that focused on enhancing cooking skills, mealtime behavior and conversation, and PA through daily family activities. Greater emphasis on developing PA skills, changing environmental factors, and increasing PA both in and after school may be needed.
Instantaneous Pulse Power Compensator for High-Density Single-Phase Inverters

In this paper, instantaneous pulse power compensator (IPPC) method is proposed to achieve power pulsation decoupling function for single-phase inverter applications. A smaller capacitor is placed in series with the traditional dc-link capacitor, and this smaller capacitor voltage is controlled using pulse currents to cancel out the dc-link voltage ripple. Unlike twice-line-frequency power decoupling method, the proposed IPPC method can compensate the pulsating power with all the orders harmonics on the dc-link line, not only the second-order component. Both modeling and simulation results show that IPPC method can achieve nearly zero voltage ripple for the dc-link capacitor since the pulse current is fully compensated. Whereas twice-line-frequency power decoupling method has limit in voltage ripple reduction, especially in small dc-link capacitance conditions. The experimental results based on a full-bridge topology decoupling circuit and a single-phase inverter application show consistent results with simulation results. A 16% reduction of the prototype size, i.e., 16% higher power density with only ∼1% efficiency penalty can be achieved by the proposed IPPC method when compared to the second-order power decoupling method.
Missed Serious Neurologic Conditions in Emergency Department Patients Discharged With Nonspecific Diagnoses of Headache or Back Pain.

Study objective Serious neurologic conditions can be missed on initial emergency department (ED) visit and discharge diagnosis oftentimes remains a nonspecific symptom. We aim to examine the incidence of potential harm from serious neurologic conditions in ED patients discharged with a nonspecific diagnosis of headache or back pain, identify specific missed conditions, and determine risk factors for potential misdiagnosis-related harm. Methods This was a retrospective analysis using the population-based data of 6 US states from the State Emergency Department Databases and State Inpatient Databases from 2006 through 2012. We identified adults (≥18 years) discharged from the ED with a diagnosis of atraumatic headache or back pain. The primary outcome was a composite of return ED visit and hospitalization for primary diagnosis of a serious neurologic condition or inhospital death within 30 days of ED discharge. Results There were 2,101,081 ED discharges with a nonspecific diagnosis of headache and 1,381,614 discharges with a nonspecific diagnosis of back pain. Overall, 0.5% of the headache patients and 0.2% of back pain patients had a primary outcome. The most common missed condition for headache was ischemic stroke (18.1%). The most common missed condition for back pain was intraspinal abscess (41%). In both populations, advanced age, male sex, non-Hispanic white, and comorbidities (eg, neurologic disorders, HIV/AIDS, malignancy) were associated with higher odds of outcome. Conclusion A small proportion of ED patients discharged with nonspecific diagnoses of headache or back pain returned with a serious neurologic condition or inhospital death within 30 days.
Electrocoagulación en la remoción de contaminantes de efluentes provenientes de fertilizantes nitrogenados

The fertilizer overuse joined to the urban and agricultural waste leaching has increased the nitrates presence in the water sources, wich has increased the concern due to its human and environmental health repercution. The electrocoagulation has proven to be a suitable technique for the nitrites removal presenting a series of advantages over other purification methods like the chemical coagulation, reverse osmosis, the ion Exchange and the biological treatments. This article introduces a review of the electrocoagulation technology progress, including information over the set of electrochemical reactions in the electrodes, as well as oxide - reduction electrochemical and balanced reactions within the solution. A discussion is made over the study of different variables that affect over the removal efficiency, like: current density, pH, type of electrodes, cell design and retention time, as well as a description of advantages and disadvantages of this technology. The article concludes with some general conclutions together with outlooks and approaches that, according to several authors, must be addressed in future research to empty spaces in the knowledge of this technology.
A look at periodic trends in d-block molecular electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction

Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction is of continued interest to sustainable energy research. Mononuclear transition metal complexes from Group 6 to Group 10 with a select subset of ligand frameworks have been demonstrated to be efficient electrochemical CO2 reduction catalysts. Here, we review the known mononuclear complexes from Group 6 to Group 10, examining trends in activity, electronic structure of catalytic intermediates, and product selectivity. The correlation between differences in electronic structure and CO2 reduction activity between these metal centers are discussed.
Collisional broadening and shift of five OH A2Σ+←X2Π (0-0) transitions in the Q1-branch, by H2O, O2, CO2, N2 and Ar, at 1220 K

Abstract We report on the values of collisional broadening (2γOH-A) and collisional shift (δOH-A) parameters for five transitions in the Q1 branch of the A2Σ+←X2Π (0-0) band of the hydroxyl radical (OH), considering five colliders (A = H2O, O2, N2, CO2, Ar) at TOH = 1220 K. The lines analyzed include the strongest absorbing OH transitions from T = 300–3000 K, notably covering the range of temperatures typically explored in combustion studies. Furthermore, the targeted collision partners encompass the most commonly encountered diluents and major combustion products. Accordingly, the provided parameters allow for accurate modeling of OH transitions, often necessary for fixed-wavelength and wavelength-modulated quantitative absorption diagnostics, over an extensive range of conditions. These are the first measurements of broadening and shift parameters for Q1 branch transitions with collision partners H2O, O2 and CO2. This effort builds upon previous studies by extending measurements to lower temperatures, for more accurate estimates of the temperature-dependence coefficients (nOH-Ar,N2 and mOH-Ar,N2) of Q1(5.5). A heated optical cell was filled with H2O and O2 to produce measurable steady-state concentrations of OH at nominally TOH = 1220 K. Rapid-scanning, tunable UV light directed through the cell enabled quantitative lineshape and shift measurements through scanned direct-absorption. A two-line, near-IR H2O diagnostic was simultaneously routed through the cell to support accurate component-pressure measurements and scaling of the thermocouple-measured temperature distribution.
Can you take your soul to work

David White in The Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation of Soul in Corporate America explores ways for professionals to take their souls to work, instead of checking them at the door. "We simply spend too much time and have too much psychic and emotional energy invested in the workplace for us to declare it a spiritual desert bereft of life-giving water." Several ideas are presented to help physician executives preserve their souls in an increasingly corporatized U.S. health care system: (1) Figure out what you are meant to do as your life's calling; (2) know what you think and want; (3) share some of what you think at work, while being careful to not lose your job unless you choose to; (4) be a trustworthy listener and find one; (5) get yourself outside; (6) pay attention to your physical space; and (7) develop some new hobbies or refresh old ones. "One of the disciplines of building a rich soul life seems to be the simple act, on a daily basis, of remembering what is most important to us."
Electrically Small Platform-Based Antennas for an Unmanned Ground Vehicle

We present a design strategy for platform-based antennas operating on electrically small platforms such as unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). Specifically, we report the design of a platform-based antenna operating at the lower end of the very-high-frequency (VHF) band for a small UGV with physical dimensions of 99 cm × 67 cm × 39 cm. The antenna is mounted on the bottom of the platform resulting in an extremely low-profile design and generating vertically polarized, monopole-like radiation patterns. Using characteristic-mode theory (CMT), performance metrics of the antenna including its maximum potential bandwidth and radiation patterns are investigated. The performance of the antenna when operating in a realistic operational environment is analyzed using full-wave electromagnetic simulations. A full-scale prototype of the antenna mounted on the bottom of the vehicle was fabricated and experimentally characterized. Finally, the design of this low-profile antenna is extended to a two-element antenna array mounted on the same platform and a prototype of this two-element array was fabricated. Basic experiments were conducted to study impedance matching and mutual coupling effects in this electrically small antenna array. The performance of this array as part of a two-element direction-finding system was investigated through computer simulations.
Indirect Detection of Burkholderia pseudomallei Infection in a US Marine After Training in Australia

In 2012, the United States Marine Corps began annual deployments around Australia, including highly endemic areas for Burkholderia pseudomallei. B. pseudomallei infection, or melioidosis, is difficult to diagnose, and culture remains the gold standard. Accurate and timely diagnosis is essential, however, to ensuring appropriate therapy. Ten days after returning from Australia, a Marine presented to a community hospital with massive cervical lymphadenopathy, fever, and cough. Computed tomography demonstrated scattered pulmonary infiltrates with small cavitations; lymphadenopathy involving the cervical, supraclavicular, and mediastinal nodes; and splenomegaly. Sputum and blood cultures were negative. Empiric antimicrobial therapy with ceftazidime was initiated for suspected melioidosis. Retrospectively, a prototype iSTAT cartridge modified to detect B. pseudomallei capsular polysaccharide antigen was used to test a specimen of the patient's blood and was determined to be positive. Over the course of therapy, B. pseudomallei capsular antigen levels in blood declined as the patient improved. The leveraging of an existing point-of-care (POC) analyzer to create a rapid diagnostic assay for melioidosis provides a template for rapid POC diagnostics that could significantly improve the ability of clinicians to deliver timely and appropriate therapy for serious infections.
A Re-Examination of the Nature of the Service Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty Relationship Through the Lens of Attribution Theory

For services, the relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty has been treated as mostly direct and linear indicating that higher levels of satisfaction lead to higher levels of loyalty. The present research suggests that the relationship between satisfaction and loyalty is moderated by locus of control, a focal construct of attribution theory. Locus of control refers to the degree of perceived controllability of an event or behavior. In general, internal locus of control beliefs are associated with outcomes attributed to personal effort. External locus of control beliefs are associated with outcomes attributed to extraneous forces such as luck or powerful others (Rotter 1966, Marks 1998). Although empirical studies linking the construct to consumption behavior (e.g., customer satisfaction, loyalty) are lacking, Bradley and Sparks (2002) speculate that perceptions of control affect purchase behaviors. Following attribution theory, they distinguish between the two primary loci of service control: internal and external. With internal control the service customer determines the services outcomes, whereas with external control the service organization or luck influences the outcome.
ODR Providers Operating in the U.S.

Technology is revolutionizing the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) field, especially in the wake of Covid-19. Despite the long-held assumptions that increasing understanding, building empathy, and crafting resolution are only possible in-person, effective ways have emerged for assisting the resolution of the exploding number of disputes that have burgeoned online. Technology has become the “fourth party” through the growing field of online dispute resolution (ODR), which includes use of technology and computer-mediated-communication (CMC) in negotiation, mediation, arbitration and other dispute resolution processes. ODR is infiltrating every area of dispute resolution, from courts (small claims, civil, and family) to the block chain. Furthermore, the most prevalent process option is mediation, followed by negotiation and arbitration. This Chart aims to collect providers that self-identified as providing “ODR” to the National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution (NCTDR).Curiously, firms had self-identified as “ODR Providers”, but did not all offer ODR. The authors continue to gather and explore firms that identify themselves as “ODR Providers” and thus the attached is a work-in-progress. Moreover, inclusion in the chart is not an endorsement or agreement with that designation. Again, this merely reports findings regarding those that identified themselves to the NCTDR and will hopefully engage ongoing research in the area.
Home oxygen therapy.

History records that oxygen was first used for treatment purposes in the United States on March 6, 1887, by Dr George E Holzapple. He used it for a teenager with pneumococcal pneumonia, generating oxygen from chlorate of potassium and black oxide of manganese, producing the life-giving gas in large test tubes heated by a lamp. Holzapple observed the resolution of cyanosis and the reduction in tachypnea in a matter of minutes.
Survival of Clostridioides difficile in finished dairy compost under controlled conditions.

AIM The survival of Clostridioides difficile (previously Clostridium difficile) vegetative cells and endospores was compared at different levels of indigenous microflora using autoclaved and unautoclaved dairy composts with different moisture contents (MCs). METHODS AND RESULTS Both types of composts adjusted to 20, 30 and 40% MCs were inoculated with a suspension of C. difficile that contained both vegetative cells (c. 5-6 log CFU per gram) and endospores (c. 5·0 CFU per gram), and then stored aerobically inside a humidity-controlled chamber at room temperature 22·5 ± 0·8°C for 1 year. The level of indigenous microflora was very stable during the storage after day 7 in both types of compost. The greatest reductions of C. difficile vegetative cell counts occurred during the first 24 h of storage in autoclaved and unautoclaved composts, which had 4·7 and 5·5 log CFU per gram with 20% MC, 1·8 and 2·1 log CFU per gram with 30% MC, and 2·3 and 1·3 log CFU per gram with 40% MC, respectively. Both MC and the duration of storage have significant (P 0·05) except for the autoclaved compost with 30% MC. CONCLUSION The highly resistant C. difficile endospores to the unfavourable environmental conditions survived for more than a year while vegetative cells died off exponentially upon the initial aerobic exposure. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The long-term survival of C. difficile endospores in contaminated compost may transmit the pathogen to fresh produce, animals or water in pre-harvest conditions.
Advancing Grounded Theory with Mixed Methods

This groundbreaking book introduces an innovative new perspective on mixed method grounded theory methodology (MM-GTM) by conceptualizing it holistically as a distinct, qualitatively driven methodology that appreciates the integrity of each of the methods it embraces. This practical and accessible text advocates for using MM-GTM in a way that promote meaningful interaction between qualitative and quantitative data during analysis. Its principal contribution is to provide a set of research tools to develop or refine a multi-faceted analytical framework in applied fields in the social and behavioral sciences, including nursing. Used as either a resource or a textbook in a survey course about research methods, the text references dozens of examples about how a dialectical exchange between different sources of data can be built into core grounded theory procedures, including theoretical sampling, coding, case-based memoing, and integrated visual displays. With a whole chapter devoted to reporting, the book also considers the way that indexes of quality that extend beyond methodological transparency can be used to evaluate research that partners mixed methods with grounded theory and other qualitative methods. Featuring student-friendly pedagogy throughout, including self-assessment questions, a glossary, and a framework that summarizes key points, this text is an essential read for all research methods students or early career researchers ambitious to develop a theoretical perspective with qualitative, mixed methods, or evaluation.
Suction-Assisted Lipectomy with Simultaneous Skin Excision for Lymphedema - the “Flying Squirrel” Technique

Liposuction is an effective bulk-reducing treatment for solid predominant extremity lymphedema. The skin excess created as a result of bulk removal is traditionally left behind due to theoretical wound healing concerns of immediate skin resection. The resulting skin excess is presumed to resolve by spontaneous skin contracture. Problems associated with this approach include contour irregularity, seroma, hematoma, and skin necrosis. Having experienced the above-mentioned complications, we modified the technique by excising excess skin immediately following liposuction. The senior author (WFC) reviewed his experience of immediate skin excision following liposuction for extremity lymphedema, and found it to be safe, associated with lower risks of postoperative complications, and resulting in a higher patient satisfaction. In this chapter, authors share their experience with this new approach. After reading this chapter, the reader will gain knowledge in patient selection, excess skin assessment, technical pearls of skin excision, and postoperative care for these complex patients.
Positive expiratory pressure: a potential therapy to mitigate acute bronchoconstriction in the asthma of obesity.

Late-onset non-allergic (LONA) asthma in obesity is characterized by increased peripheral airway closure secondary to abnormally collapsible airways. We hypothesized that positive expiratory pressu...
Palestinian Labor Migration to Israel Since Oslo and Beyond

The paper analyses the changes in Palestinian labour flows to Israel since 1993. By using available Israeli and Palestinian labor data, it first explores the nature of institutional rigidities imposed on labor mobility and the extent to which Palestinian labour migration to Israel has become regulated by security, rather than by economic, considerations. The paper then explores the domestic Palestinian labor market conditions and analyses Israeli demand and the extent to which it has been influenced by the entry of foreign workers into the Israeli labor market. Finally, special attention is given to the growth of Israeli construction sector, particularly in settlements in the West Bank. The paper reveals that Palestinian labor flows are not yet over and that they continue to be a function of Israeli demand as well as of Israel’s demarcation of its borders with the Palestinian territories.
Strategies for retinal repair: cell replacement and regeneration.

The retina, like most other regions of the central nervous system, is subject to degeneration from both genetic and acquired causes. Once the photoreceptors or inner retinal neurons have degenerated, they are not spontaneously replaced in mammals. In this review, we provide an overview of retinal development and regeneration with emphasis on endogenous repair and replacement seen in lower vertebrates and recent work on induced mammalian retinal regeneration from Muller glia. Additionally, recent studies demonstrating the potential for cellular replacement using postmitotic photoreceptors and embryonic stem cells are also reviewed.
Sparse sampling and unsupervised learning of lung texture patterns in pulmonary emphysema: MESA COPD study

Pulmonary emphysema is defined morphologically by enlargement of alveolar airspaces and manifests as textural differences on thoracic computed tomography (CT). This work presents an unsupervised approach to extract the most dominant local lung texture patterns on CT scans. Since the method does not use manually annotated labels restricted to predefined emphysema subtypes, it can be used for discovery of novel image-based phenotypes with greater efficiency and reliability. This study demonstrates the applicability of the learned patterns for content-based image retrieval.
This Lemon Comes as a Lemon. The Lemon Test and the Pursuit of a Statute’s Secular Purpose.

Lemon is a curious fruit. The Lemon Test, derived from Lemon v. Kurtzman, is a three-pronged test to determine whether a government action violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. This article will focus on the first prong of the Lemon Test, which queries whether a statute has a “secular purpose.” While many other articles have focused on the secular aspect of this prong, few have considered what exactly purpose means. Before piercing the citric skin of the purpose prong of the Lemon test, I consider intentionalism and purposivism as jurisprudential schools of thought. What is the purpose behind a law? Does a law even have a purpose? Should purpose even matter in the Lemon test? I argue that the purpose prong forces Judges to rely on unreliable extrinsic sources, like legislative history.By tracing the evolving nature of the courts’ reliance on legislative history, and applying a commonly used evidentiary principle this article advances a novel theory of legislative analysis and argues that older legislative history is more reliable than modern legislative history, and applies this dynamic to originalism and interpreting founding era documents. Forging a novel research trail, this article chronicles every case in which the Supreme Court has struck down a statute for violating the purpose prong, and dissects the methodology the Court used to divine purpose. Based on this inquiry, I conclude that the Supreme Court has not taken a principled approach to interpreting these sources, and as a result, the purpose prong consistently yields inconsistent results, and allows savvy politicians to manipulate the record to avoid Establishment Clause challenges. For these reasons, I propose two modest proposals to the purpose prong. First, I recommend that judges follow the Lemon test, and actually focus on the purpose of the statute in question, rather than some metaphysical and largely unknowable purpose of the legislature. Second, I seek to replace the “objective observer” standard announced in McCreary with an original public meaning analysis. These two suggestions will allow courts to engage in a more robust establishment clause jurisprudence, and further the purpose of the Lemon test in rooting out excessive entanglement of religion in government, and keeping the wall between church and state high, impregnable, and resolute. Much like the proverbial wolf who comes not in sheep’s clothing, but in wolf’s clothes, this lemon comes as a lemon.
MONOAMINE OXIDASE A AND B : STRUCTURE, FUNCTION, AND BEHAVIOR

Publisher Summary Monoamine oxidase (MAO) A and B (amine: oxygen oxidoreductase [de-aminating], EC 1.4.3.4) are key isoenzymes that degrade biogenic and dietary monoamines. They also oxidize xenobiotics, including the parkinsonism producing neurotoxin MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3, 6-tetrahydropyridine). These isoenzymes are integral proteins of the outer mitochondrial membrane and are distinguished by differences in substrate preferences, inhibitor specificities, tissue and cell distribution, and immunological properties. MAO-A oxidizes serotonin, norepinephrine, and epinephrine and is inactivated by the irreversible inhibitor clorgyline. MAO-B oxidizes phenylethylamine and benzylamine and is inactivated by the irreversible inhibitors pargyline and deprenyl; tyramine, and tryptamine are oxidized by both forms. Placental tissue contains predominantly MAO-A, whereas platelets and lymphocytes express only MAO-B. The chapter argues that the cloning of human liver MAO-A and MAO-B has demonstrated that the two forms of the enzyme are made of different polypeptides and are coded for by different genes. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of the human liver MAO-A and MAO-B shows approximately a 70% identity. Expression of functional enzymes by transient transfection of the cDNAs provides evidence that the different catalytic activities of MAO-A and MAO-B reside in their primary amino acid sequences. The chapter discusses about MAO-A and MAO-B being located on the X-chromosome, made of 15 exons with identical intron-exon organization, suggesting they are derived from a common gene. Details are presented on the organization of MAO-A and MAO-B promotor being distinctly different, even though they share 60% sequence identity. It is stated that there are two cysteines in MAO-A, three cysteines in MAO-B that are important for their catalytic activity. There is discussion on replacement of MAO-A amino acids 161-375 with the corresponding region of MAO-B that results in a change of catalytic properties resembling those of MAO-B. Details have been presented on how MAO-A-deficient mice exhibit increased serotonin levels and aggressive behavior.
Parallelizing a convergent approximate inference method

The ability to efficiently perform probabilistic inference task is critical to large scale applications in statistics and artificial intelligence. Dramatic speedup might be achieved by appropriately mapping the current inference algorithms to the parallel framework. Parallel exact inference methods still suffer from exponential complexity in the worst case. Approximate inference methods have been parallelized and good speedup is achieved. In this paper, we focus on a variant of Belief Propagation algorithm. This variant has better convergent property and is provably convergent under certain conditions. We show that this method is amenable to coarse-grained parallelization and propose techniques to optimally parallelize it without sacrificing convergence. Experiments on a shared memory systems demonstrate that near-ideal speedup is achieved with reasonable scalability.
On the maximum achievable conversion efficiency on a parametric acoustic array

In order to maximize the conversion efficiency of a parametric acoustic array, the designer must have access to an experimentally verified mathematical model capable of predicting the amplitude/frequency dependence of the nonlinearly generated 'difference-frequency' field on the primary waves under source-saturated conditions. Although competing phenomenological models have been developed to address this need, their inherent assumptions and limitations are not generally understood. In this paper, following a brief review of these limitations, a new extension [9] of previous analytical models will be summarized and presented in a simple concise form for making design calculations.
Direct propylene epoxidation on chemically reduced Au nanoparticles supported on titania

A highly selective titania supported propylene epoxidation catalyst was synthesized from chemically reduced, thiol capped, gold nanoparticles, and characterized by TEM and XPS.
Novel comparison of microscopy and diffraction techniques on the structure of iron oxide nanoparticle monolayers transferred by Langmuir-Schaefer method.

Iron oxide nanoparticles undergo self-assembly into well-ordered monolayer films of macroscopic size at the air-water interface. This self-assembly process is the result of the van der Waals forces between the constituent particles. For roughly spherical particles, this monolayer is a 2D hexagonal close packed lattice. With Grazing Incidence X-Ray Diffraction (GID), one can obtain global statistical information about the film’s spacing and correlation length. Herein, we demonstrate that comparable structural information can be obtained by a novel Fourier transform analysis method applied to Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images taken of the film after it has been transferred to a silicon substrate. This consists of using numerical methods to isolate the lattice structure of the monolayer in the SEM image to which a 2D discrete Fourier Transform is applied and the result integrated. This results in Bragg peak information akin to that obtained from GID, whose structure shows the same hexagonal close packed lattice with similar spacing and of greater peak contrast. This analysis technique may prove to be a suitable alternative or compliment to GID for many applications.
Palpable Lymph Nodes in Healthy Newborns and Infants

We examined 548 healthy neonates and infants to document the frequency, size, and location of palpable lymph nodes. The subjects consisted of 214 neonates from birth to 4 weeks of age and 334 infants from 4 weeks to 1 year of age. All of the infants were asymptomatic and had been free of major or minor systemic or cutaneous infections in the past. Of the 214 neonates, 73 (34%) had palpable nodes at one or more sites. Of the 334 infants, 190 (57%) had palpable lymph nodes. Inguinal, cervical, and axillary lymph nodes can be palpable in neonates and infants. Supraclavicular nodes are not generally palpable. The commonest site of palpable nodes is the inguinal area in neonates and the cervical area in older infants. It would appear that the palpable nodes noted in the neonatal period do not disappear but persist. This knowledge is useful in determining when adenopathy may be abnormal.
Equitable List Coloring of Graphs with Bounded Degree

A graph G is equitably k-choosable if for every k-list assignment L there exists an L-coloring of G such that every color class has at most vertices. We prove results toward the conjecture that every graph with maximum degree at most r is equitably -choosable. In particular, we confirm the conjecture for and show that every graph with maximum degree at most r and at least r3 vertices is equitably -choosable. Our proofs yield polynomial algorithms for corresponding equitable list colorings.
Plasma sphingolipids are biomarkers of metabolic syndrome in non-human primates maintained on a Western-style diet

Plasma sphingolipids are biomarkers of metabolic syndrome in non-human primates maintained on a Western-style diet
Performance and Flight Characteristics of the Sandhawk Family of Rocket Systems

The requirement for a sounding rocket capable of carrying large and heavy payloads (79.4385.6 kg) to high altitudes has led to the development of the 0.33-m (13-in.-diam) Sandhawk rocket motor. The Sandhawk has been flown in a single-stage configuration, as a booster for the Sandhawk-Tomahawk 9 system, and as a second stage for the Terrier-Sandhawk 13 system. A Terrier-Sandhawk 17 system is currently being developed. Expected performance, estimated pay load-impact dispersion, flight characteristics, and aerodynamic data for each of these rocket systems are presented. Selected flight data are also presented.
Building on 50 Years of Mission Operations Experience for a New Era of Space Exploration

The U.S. National Space Policy, I the 14-nation Global Exploration Strategy,2 and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) 2006 Strategic Plan3 provide foundational direction for far-ranging missions, from safely flying the Space Shuttle and completing construction of the International Space Station by 2010, to fielding a next generation space transportation system consisting of the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle!Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and the Ares V Cargo Launch Vehicle!Altair Lunar Lander (fig. 1). Transportation beyond low-Earth orbit will open the frontier for a lunar outpost, where astronauts will harness in-situ resources while exploring this 4 billion-year-old archaeological site, which may hold answers to how the Earth and its satellite were formed. Ultimately, this experience will pave the way for the first human footprint on Mars. In October 2007, NASA" announced assignments for this lunar exploration work.4 The Marshall Space Flight Center is responsible for designing, developing, testing, and evaluating the Ares I and Ares V, which are Space Shuttle derived launch vehicles, along with a number of lunar tasks. The Marshall Center's Engineering Directorate provides the skilled workforce and unique manufacturing, testing, and operational infrastructure needed to deliver space transportation solutions that meet the requirements stated in the Constellation Architecture Requirements Document (CARD). While defining design reference missions to the Station and the Moon, the CARD includes goals that include reducing recurring and nonrecurring costs, while increasing safety and reliability. For this reason, future systems are being designed with operability considerations and lifecycle expenses as independent variables in engineering trade studies.
Communication and Information Technologies: A Dialectical Model of Technology and Human Agency.

This essay appraises the relationship between technology and human agency with specific attention to communication and information technologies. Naive models of technological determinism, as well as models that disregard the deterministic qualities of technology, are rejected. In place of these a general, dialectical model of technology is presented, in which technologies and attitudes toward technologies are viewed as socially constructed. The model is then applied in an analysis of some of the classic and contemporary literatures on communication and information technologies.
Race, Turnout, and Public Policy In the American States

We attempt to bridge the conceptual gap between the black politics and state politics literatures by studying the effect of racial differences in elec toral participation on public policy. If state...
The effect of localizing the stimulus at the response key on generalization along the hue dimension in the pigeon

After training with a variable-interval schedule of positive reinforcement, pigeons were tested for stimulus generalization along the hue dimension. For one group, the stimulus was located on the response key. For a second group, the stimulus was located on a surface adjacent to the response key. The stimulus-on-key group produced the typical steep gradients normally found with hue stimuli; the stimulus-off-key group produced flat gradients. After discrimination training between the presence and absence of the hue stimulus, both groups produced decremental gradients. In a second experiment, naive pigeons were trained to peck a transparent key with the stimulus surface located approximately 3.8 cm behind the key. When tested for generalization, the hue gradients were decremental. The results suggest that location of the stimulus in the line of sight with pecking is a necessary condition for stimulus control by hue after nondifferential training.
Effects of magnesium depletion on inflammation in chronic disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To update findings supporting the opinion that commonly occurring subclinical magnesium deficiency induced by a low dietary intake is a predisposing factor for chronic inflammatory stress that contributes to the incidence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. RECENT FINDINGS Both deficient magnesium intakes (<250 mg/day) and serum magnesium concentrations (≤ 0.75 mmol/l) have been associated with elevated serum C-reactive protein concentration, a widely used indicator of inflammation. Achieving magnesium intakes or serum magnesium concentrations that indicate an adequate magnesium status generally attenuates elevated serum C-reactive protein to concentrations that are not indicative of chronic low-grade inflammation. Individuals that are obese or have chronic diseases for which low-grade inflammation is a risk factor are commonly found to be magnesium-deficient. SUMMARY Subclinical magnesium deficiency caused by low dietary intake often occurring in the population is a predisposing factor for chronic inflammatory stress that is conducive for chronic disease. Magnesium deficiency should be considered a nutrient of significant concern for health and well-being.
Simple, fast, tissue-specific bacterial artificial chromosome transgenesis in Xenopus.

We have developed a method of injecting bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) DNA into Xenopus embryos that is simple and efficient, and results in consistent and tissue-specific expression of transgenes cloned into BAC vectors. Working with large pieces of DNA, as can be accommodated by BACs, is necessary when studying large or complex genes and conducive to studying the function of long-range regulatory elements that act to control developmentally restricted gene expression. We recombineered fluorescent reporters into three Xenopus tropicalis BAC clones targeting three different genes and report that up to 60% of injected embryos express the reporter in a manner consistent with endogenous expression. The behavior of these BACs, which are replicated after injection, contrasts with that of smaller plasmids, which degrade relatively quickly when injected as circular molecules and generally fail to recapitulate endogenous expression when not integrated into the Xenopus genome. genesis 50:307–315, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.