cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Arabian Nights in America: Hybrid Form and Identity in Diana Abu-Jaber's Crescent

ABSTRACT Diana Abu-Jaber's 2003 novel, Crescent, examines the complex position of Arabs and Arab Americans living in the United States with respect to notions of identity by creating a complex hybrid text. Crescent offers characters who face different forms of exile and have to work through fractured, destabilized identities to create for themselves new identities that account for and embrace their hyphenated, hybrid positions. The novel does so using a narrative that creatively combines what initially looks like a rather conventional version of the Western born novel form with a storytelling form deriving from the infamous The Thousand and One Nights, often referred to as the Arabian Nights and historically associated with the East.
Surface shear stress, strain, and shear displacement for screw dislocations in a vertical slab with shear modulus contrast

Summary Shear stresses, strains, and shear displacements on the free surface of a three-phase half-space (i.e. a half-space containing a vertical slab) produced by screw dislocations within the slab have been determined for shear modulus ratios in the range 0.10 < μ slab/μ half-space < 10.0 and depths of 1.0–10 km. Normalized quantities were computed using the ratios of stress, strain, or displacement in the three-phase material to those which would exist in a homogeneous medium. For modulus ratios less than 1.0, increasing the burial depth of the dislocation increases the normalized quantities, and the quantities decrease with increasing dislocation depth for modulus ratios greater than 1.0. With a modulus contrast of 0.25, which msy be representative of parts of the San Andreas fault zone, and a single dislocation in the slab, increasing the dislocation depth from 1.0 to 10.0 km increases the normalized stress maximum from 0.45 to 0.95 and the normalized strain maximum from 1.7 to 3.8 in the slab. Nomialized displacements are significantly different from 1.0 only within 1–2 fault-zone thicknesses of the dislocation. As the modulus ratio is changed from 1.0 to 0.25, and with only a single dislocation in the slab, the fraction of the displacement occurring within the fault zone to total displacement nearly doubles. A slip zone in the slab of finite width, modelled using a pair of dislocations with opposing Burger's vectors, causes the normalized quantities to decrease as the distance between the dislocations decreases.
460: Universal cervical length screening to prevent preterm birth: a cost-effectiveness analysis

Objective To determine whether routine measurement of second-trimester transvaginal cervical length by ultrasound in low-risk singleton pregnancies is a costeffective strategy. Methods We developed a decision analysis model to compare the cost-effectiveness of two strategies for identifying pregnancies at risk for preterm birth: (1) no routine cervical length screening and (2) a single routine transvaginal cervical length measurement at 18–24 weeks’ gestation. In our model, women identified as being at increased risk (cervical length < 1.5 cm) for preterm birth would be offered daily vaginal progesterone supplementation. We assumed that vaginal progesterone reduces preterm birth at < 34 weeks’ gestation by 45%. We also assumed that a decreased cervical length could result in additional costs (ultrasound scans, inpatient admission) without significantly improved neonatal outcomes. The main outcome measure was incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Results Our model predicts that routine cervical-length screening is a dominant strategy when compared to routine care. For every 100 000 women screened, $12 119 947 can be potentially saved (in 2010 US dollars) and 423.9 quality-adjusted life-years could be gained. Additionally, we estimate that 22 cases of neonatal death or long-term neurologic deficits could be prevented per 100 000 women screened. Screening remained costeffective but was no longer the dominant strategy when cervical-length ultrasound measurement costs exceeded $187 or when vaginal progesterone reduced delivery risk at < 34 weeks by less than 20%.
Does Exposure to Muscularity-Idealizing Images Have Self-Objectification Consequences for Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Men?

Although there is a substantial body of research on the effects of body objectification in women, there is a paucity of research on this topic in men. In the limited objectification theory research with men, experimental designs that test causal effects of objectification exposure are underemployed. Furthermore, in this research, muscularity-idealizing exposure, which may be particularly salient for men, and the potential role of sexual minority status are not attended to consistently. To address these gaps, we employed an experimental design to test the effects of exposure to muscularity-idealizing media images, versus exposure to control images (e.g., animals, landscapes, objects), on men’s body image. We also explored potential main and interaction effects involving sexual minority status. Data from 140 heterosexual and sexual minority undergraduate men were analyzed. Results indicated that compared with participants who viewed the control images, participants who viewed muscularity-idealizing magazine images did not report more negative body image on the 5 dependent variables (i.e., drive for muscularity, body dissatisfaction, body surveillance, body shame, and social physique anxiety). However, sexual minority status did have significant main (but not interaction) effects for 3 of the body image variables, with sexual minority men reporting more body dissatisfaction, body surveillance, and social physique anxiety relative to heterosexual men.
Eye-Tracking Patterns of Web Portal Browsing

This paper reports on the scan patterns of users browsing a 2-column and 3-column web portal page. Consistent scanning patterns for each of the 2-column and 3-column web portal pages were found. Users typically fixated the portal channel in the upper left of the 2-column layout and in the top, center channel of the 3-column page. Implications including the likelihood and efficiency of portal users finding information on portal pages are discussed.
The Social Relations Model: An integrative method for personality research

As outlined by Snyder and Ickes (1985), the study of personality can be undertaken using one of three research approaches dispositional, situational, and interactive We show how the Social Relations Model provides an integrative method to estimate simultaneously dispositional, situational, and interactive effects Reviewed are component approaches to the study of personality The Social Relations Model is shown to be a component model (a special case of generalizability theory) applied in a social interaction context In the model, dispositional, situational, and interactive effects are termed actor, partner, and relationship effects, respectively The Social Relations Model can be used to answer a number of important issues in personality research The model can be used to assess reliability, measure the validity of self-ratings, and validate self-report inventories The model requires special designs in winch each person interacts with multiple partners Empirical examples are presented in which social anxiety, sex role inventories, and self-disclosure are studied
Design perspectives on 22nm CMOS and beyond

This paper presents technology and economic challenges posed by 22nm CMOS and beyond, and how they can be addressed by advances in design technology, validation, and testing, to exploit the benefits of scaling we have enjoyed over the decades.
Development and commercial use of Bollgard® cotton in the USA – early promises versus today's reality

Bollgard cotton is the trademark given to a number of varieties of cotton bio-engineered to produce an insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). When produced by the modified cotton plants, this protein controls certain lepidopterous cotton insect pests. Commercially available since 1996, these cotton varieties are purchased under a license agreement in which the growers pay a fee and agree to abide by the terms, which include a 1-year license to use the technology and agreement to participate in an insect resistance management program. Today, Bollgard cotton is grown on more than one-third of all cotton acreage in the USA. This product has reduced cotton production costs and insecticide use by providing an effective alternative to chemical insecticides for the control of tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens; cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa zea; and pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella. The specificity and safety profile of the Bt protein produced in planta in cotton was maintained. It has retained its selectivity for lepidopterous insects and lacks the characteristics found in potential allergenic proteins. Fiber quality, the agronomic characteristics of the plant and seed composition remain unchanged. New cotton technology is being developed to provide improved insect control and a wider spectrum of activity. These future products could further reduce insecticide use in the production of cotton, while maintaining the high level of safety and reliability that has been demonstrated by five seasons of Bollgard cotton use.
Body Image Change and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms.

Gender differences in adolescent depressive symptoms are substantially reduced when body image is statistically controlled. The current investigation examines the temporal association (13-month time lag) between body image and depressive symptoms in an ethnically diverse sample of male and female adolescents. It was anticipated that body image would have a stronger impact on the depressive symptoms of girls than of boys and that African Americans would be less likely than the other groups to exhibit increased depressive symptomatology as a function of a change toward a more negative body image. Findings showed that girls were more influenced by change in body image than boys, but our assumption that African American girls would be least affected by body image changes was strongly disconfirmed. Relative to girls from other race/ethnicity groups, African American girls experienced a steeper increase in psychological distress as body image declined.
Moving From Street to Home: Health Status of Entrants to a Housing First Program

Housing First (HF) is an evidence-based practice that ends chronic homelessness for individuals with serious mental illness by providing immediate access to permanent independent housing and team-based community supports. Little is known about the health status of homeless individuals entering HF programs. Through a cross-sectional analysis, this paper reports on the chronic physical disease burden of people entering a newly established HF program and examines whether these individuals recognize and request support for ongoing health-related issues. The authors' evaluation confirmed significantly higher rates of chronic disease (60%) and fair/poor self-reported health status (47%) than the general urban population of Philadelphia. The majority of clients reported they wanted to address both medical (67%) and mental health (68%) problems, but a much lower percentage reported wanting to reduce substance use (23%) or take psychiatric medications (25%). The authors conclude that formerly homeless entrants to HF programs have a high burden of chronic disease with complex health-related needs. Additionally, these individuals look to the program for health-related assistance. As the HF model is disseminated throughout the United States to end chronic homelessness, these findings support the development of flexible, integrated, person-centered health services within the HF service delivery system as a potentially effective method to address complex health needs.
Neumann-Type Boundary Conditions for Hamilton-Jacobi Equations in Smooth Domains

Neumann or oblique derivative boundary conditions for viscosity solutions of Hamilton-Jacobi equations are considered. As developed by P.L. Lions, such boundary conditions are naturally associated with optimal control problems for which the state equations employ "Skorokhod" or reflection dynamics to ensure that the state remains in a prescribed set, assumed here to have a smooth boundary. We develop connections between the standard formulation of viscosity boundary conditions and an alternative formulation using a naturally occurring discontinuous Hamiltonian which incorporates the reflection dynamics directly. (This avoids the dependence of such equivalence on existence and uniqueness results, which may not be available in some applications.) At points of differentiability, equivalent conditions for the boundary conditions are given in terms of the Hamiltonian and the geometry of the state trajectories using optimal controls.
Dynamics of Atomic Adsorbates: S on Cu(100),

Abstract Dissociated H2S on Cu(1 0 0) at 300 K has been studied by a combination of Auger electron spectroscopy, and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) in the 400–2200 cm−1 frequency range using synchrotron radiation. The absorption of ir radiation across a broad range of frequencies upon S adsorption can be explained by diffusive scattering of substrate electrons from the adsorbates. S coverages up to and including the p(2×2) overlayer (0.25 monolayers (ML)) induce a change in reflectivity ΔR/R at high frequency (2200 cm−1) which changes monotonically with increasing coverage up to 0.044 ML, and then remains constant. Persson and Volokitin have proposed a model where the linear change in ΔR/R versus coverage is proportional to a scattering cross-section σ of the adatoms for the substrate free electrons. The observed behavior suggests a coverage-dependent σ for the S adsorbates. S at very low coverages, adsorbed at defect sites and step edges, has a σ∼34 A2. At higher coverages S adatoms occupy fourfold hollow terrace sites, where either local structural affects related to the bonding site or coherent scattering from locally ordered adsorbates can alter the S scattering cross-section. Surprisingly, σ for these additional adatoms is less than 10% of σ for the S adatoms occupying the defect sites and step edges.
Survey of Intestinal Spirochaetes for NADH Oxidase by Gene Probe and by Enzyme Assay

NADH oxidase activity has been found in a number of host-associated bacterial species by previous investigators. NADH oxidase may play an essential role in the colonisation of the mammalian intestinal tract by diverse bacterial species. In this study, 45 strains of intestinal spirochaetes were screened for NADH oxidase by enzyme assay and by using an oligodeoxynucleotide probe (5'-ATGAAAGT(TA)AT(TA)GT(TA)AT(TA)GG-3') complementary to the 5'-end of the NADH oxidase ( nox ) gene from Serpulina (Treponema) hyodysenteriae B204. The strains surveyed included 18 strains of S. hyodysenteriae , S. innocens strains B256 and 4/71, Treponema succinifaciens 6091, T. bryantii RUS-1, and 23 strains of uncharacterised (unclassified) intestinal spirochaetes. The uncharacterised spirochaetes had been isolated from the intestinal contents of different animal hosts (human, swine, avian, nutria). NADH oxidase was absent from T. succinifaciens and T. bryantii , but was present in every strain of S. hyodysenteriae , in the two recognised strains of S. innocens , and in every uncharacterised strain of intestinal spirochaete. Cells of four strains contained NADH oxidase activity but their DNA did not react with the probe. NADH oxidase is a common enzyme for the intestinal spirochaetes included in this survey. Keywords: NADH oxidase; spirochaete; intestinal bacteria; Serpulina hyodysenteriae ; nox ; intestinal microecology.
A Feature-Based Approach for Determining Dense Long Range Correspondences

Planar motion models can provide gross motion estimation and good segmentation for image pairs with large inter-frame disparity. However, as the disparity becomes larger, the resulting dense correspondences will become increasingly inaccurate for everything but purely planar objects. Flexible motion models, on the other hand, tend to overfit and thus make partitioning difficult. For this reason, to achieve dense optical flow for image sequences with large inter-frame disparity, we propose a two stage process in which a planar model is used to get an approximation for the segmentation and the gross motion, and then a spline is used to refine the fit. We present experimental results for dense optical flow estimation on image pairs with large inter-frame disparity that are beyond the scope of existing approaches.
Motion of damped sine-Gordon kinks in the presence of thermal fluctuations.

The motion of damped sine-Gordon kinks in the presence of thermal fluctuations is studied to first order in ${k}_{B}$T by using a singular perturbation expansion. The change in the average shape of the kink is determined as well as its mobility. These results are compared with the earlier results of Kaup on the overdamped sine-Gordon equation, and it is found that the heavily damped limit of the damped sine-Gordon kink is not the same as that of the overdamped sine-Gordon kink. In particular, we find the change in the shape of a heavily damped sine-Gordon kink to be approximately one-half that of an overdamped sine-Gordon kink at comparable temperatures. We also verify that the singular perturbation method gives the correct results for the average kinetic energies of kinks and phonons. Lastly, we also evaluate the low-temperature correlation function for the damped sine-Gordon field and the diffusion coefficient for a soliton.
Nuclear data sheets for A = 179

Abstract Nuclear data for the 10 known members of the A = 179 mass chain are compiled. Included in the compilation are drawings presenting most of the experimental data, Summary Sheets showing adopted level and gamma-ray properties, and Data Sheets tabulating the experimental data. Also included are data on the alpha decay of members of the A = 183 mass chain. For brevity, gamma-gamma-coincidence data and some reaction results are presented only on the drawings. This compilation is based on references received before June 1975. Substantial detail is known for the level structures of 179Hf, 179Ta, 179W, and, to a lesser extent 179Re. The levels of 179Hf are well studied by beta decay, (n,γ) reactions, and isomer decay. The charged-particle reactions leading to levels in 179Hf lack definitive l-transfer values. Beta decay and in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy studies which populate levels in 179Ta and 179W are reported. Levels in 179Re have been studied by in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy. Beta decay of 179Os to levels in 179Re is now being studied. Nothing is known about excited levels in 179Lu, 179Os, 179Ir, 179Pt, 179Au, or 179Hg.
The school food environment and adolescent obesity: qualitative insights from high school principals and food service personnel

This study examines high school personnel's perceptions of the school environment, its impact on obesity, and the potential impact of legislation regulating schools' food/beverage offerings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the principal and dietitian/food service manager at 8..Principal themes included: Obesity is a problem in general, but not at their school, Schools have been unfairly targeted above more salient factors, Attempts at change should start before high school, Student health is one priority area among multiple competing demands; academic achievement is the top priority, Legislation should be informed by educators and better incorporate the school's perspective. Foodservice themes included: Obesity is not a problem at their school; school food service is not the cause, Food offerings are based largely on the importance of preparing students for the real world by providing choice and the need to maintain high participation rates; both healthy and unhealthy options are available, A la carte keeps lunch participation high and prices low but should be used as a supplement, not a replacement, to the main meal, Vending provides school's additional revenue; vending is not part of food service and is appropriate if it does not interfere with the lunch program. Discrepancies exist between government/public health officials and school personnel that may inhibit collaborative efforts to address obesity through modifications to the school environment. Future policy initiatives may be enhanced by seeking the input of school personnel, providing recommendations firmly grounded in evidence-based practice, framing initiatives in terms of their potential impact on the issues of most concern to schools , and minimizing barriers by providing schools adequate resources to carry out and evaluate the effectiveness of their efforts.
Safety and Efficacy of Sling for Persistent Stress Urinary Incontinence After Bulking Injection

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the impact of injectable agents on subsequent incontinence surgery outcomes to assess safety and efficacy of this treatment combination. Periurethral bulking agents are a minimally invasive treatment option for stress urinary incontinence (SUI), but often lack durability necessitating further surgical intervention. METHODS Retrospective review of 43 patients with SUI following bulking agent who underwent subsequent sling placement from November 2000 to September 2009 were evaluated for demographics, symptoms, urodynamics (UDS), bulking agent characteristics, concomitant procedures, pad requirements per day (PPD), subjective outcomes, and complications. RESULTS Mean patient age was 67 years, with mean follow-up of 37.3 months. All demonstrated SUI, and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) was noted in 81.4%. Almost half (48.8%) had undergone a prior antiincontinence procedure. Mean number of injections was 3. After a bulking injection, 25 autologous fascia pubovaginal slings, 13 midurethral slings, and 5 biological pubovaginal slings were placed. Concomitant pelvic surgery was performed in 37.2%. Postoperatively, mean PPD decreased from 5.3 to 0.65, with a 60.5% subjective cure rate (no pads or leakage under any circumstances). No association was seen between number or type of injection, or type of sling with regards to patient outcomes. Results were significantly related to concomitant surgery (P = .007). SUI recurred in 8 patients (18.6%), which was not statistically associated with other parameters. Complications included urinary retention (8 patients) de novo urgency (1 patient), UTI (4 patients), abdominal wound infection (3 patients), and cystotomy (1 patient). CONCLUSIONS Prior treatment with bulking agents does not appear to negatively affect outcomes for future antiincontinence surgery in our patient population.
Refocusing Perspectives on Public Corruption Away from the Individual: Insights from the Moldovan Social Matrix

Public corruption has received significant attention from scholars across a large array of disciplines. Despite the numerous academic efforts, however, our current understandings of the motivation and the evolution of public corruption still suffer from an agonizing amount of ambiguity, and on many occasions fail to provide practical guidance. One of the reasons for the limited progress in the area is the fact that, given its nature, corruption does not lend itself easily to empirical studies. Especially rare is qualitative research that examines and challenges the findings of previous studies within different institutional, cultural and social environments. This article provides the results of a study that examined nine theory building propositions suggested by de Graaf and Huberts (2008) within the context of developing democracies, specifically the Republic of Moldova. The study confirmed six of the nine propositions. Among others, it was determined that in developing de- mocracies corruption is highly influenced by the social matrix and public officials often assume their positions with the implicit expectations of reaping rewards from corrupt behaviors.
Partnerships between parents and health care professionals to improve adolescent health

Abstract Introduction Research on partnerships between parents and health care professionals (HCPs) to improve adolescent health is limited. In this study, we have developed an empirically derived framework to guide research in this particular area. Methods We conducted a qualitative study using focus groups and in-depth semi-structured interviews. A total of 85 participants (51 HCPs, 17 mothers of patients of ages 12–18 years, and 17 adolescents) were recruited from three free-standing adolescent health clinics and five school-based health centers across North Carolina. We independently explored the perceptions of HCPs and mothers regarding the roles of parents, HCPs, and parent–HCP partnerships in preventing and addressing adolescent health problems. We then elicited feedback of adolescents on mother and HCP perceptions. We identified common and informative themes during content analysis using ATLAS.ti, and triangulated perspectives of HCPs, mothers, and adolescents to develop a framework for building parent–HCP partnerships to improve adolescent health. Results A general framework emerged that conceptualizes both direct and indirect strategies for building parent–HCP partnerships. Direct strategies involve strengthening relationships and/or communication between parents and HCPs in both practice and community settings. Indirect strategies involve opportunities for HCPs to influence parent–adolescent relationships and/or communication within the context of adolescent visits. For example, HCPs can discuss the importance of parental involvement and monitoring with adolescents, encourage and facilitate parent–adolescent communication, and deliver tailored parental guidance while also respecting adolescents' desires for confidential health care when appropriate. Conclusions Interventions that directly strengthen parent–HCP relationships and/or communication, and those that indirectly support parent–HCP partnerships within the context of adolescent health care, should be designed targeting health outcomes.
Comparison of substance abuse treatment utilization and preferences among Native Hawaiians, Asian Americans and Euro Americans

Use and preferences for substance abuse treatment can vary by ethnicity. However, little is known about use and preferences among Native Hawaiians and Asian Americans. Interviews from 192 admitted multi-ethnic residents from two treatment facilities in Hawaii were conducted. More similarities than differences were found. The most utilized treatments were Alcoholics Anonymous and the emergency department, with no significant ethnic differences. However, Native Hawaiians and Asian Americans were significantly less likely to have spoken to a mental health provider about alcohol problems (32%, 39%, respectively vs. 69% of Euro Americans) and to have seen a physician for a drinking-related problem (21% of Native Hawaiians and 19% of Asian Americans vs. 41% of Euro Americans). Native Hawaiians were significantly more likely to consider marriage counselling to be an effective form of treatment (33% vs. 11% of Asian Americans and 9% of Euro Americans). Implications for substance abuse treatment are discussed. The findings suggest that it is important to integrate the field of substance abuse in multiple systems; including substance abuse, medical, criminal, social service and community settings to ensure treatment preferences are met. Ethnic differences may also have implications for expanding and tailoring services.
Vertical RF Transition with Mechanical Fit for Three-Dimensional Heterogeneous Integration

This paper presents the design, simulation and measurement of a vertical interconnect with mechanical fit for three-dimensional heterogeneous integration. The mechanical fit is a strategy employing interlocking SU-8 structures to transition between flip-chip style stacked chips through vertical CPW transmission lines. The mechanical fit is introduced in this paper to reduce flip-chip alignment difficulty and increase the reliability of the interconnects. This paper also describes a process for using pre-fabricated active ICs in a mechanical fit vertical configuration. Experimental results show excellent RF performance up to 50 GHz, with extremely low insertion loss (better than 0.25 dB at 40 GHz per transition). The transitions have been fabricated and tested for 380 ?m-thick silicon substrates with passive components and experiments are being conducted on active components.
Going Concern: Where Is It Going?

On June 26, 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an exposure draft concerning disclosure of uncertainties surrounding the going concern presumption. This exposure draft is the FASB’s most recent attempt to bring closure to a project that began in 2007. This paper examines the going concern presumption and the FASB’s treatment of the going concern from 2007 to the present.
Correlation among [18-F] FDG-PET/CT, tumor marker CA 27.29, and circulating tumor cells in metastatic breast cancer

10533 Background: Both tumor marker CA 27.29 and combined [18-F]-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan (PET/CT) are used to follow up response to treatment and di...
Baseball and the Search for Electronic Records

Since 2002, the government has been investigating the Bay Area Lab Cooperative (BALCO) for its involvement in the use of illegal steroids, particularly among athletes. As part of its BALCO investigation, the government obtained search warrants for CDT’s records, specifically focusing on ten individuals who had allegedly been connected to BALCO. However, because the records were in the form of computer files, the government actually obtained the records for hundreds of ballplayers, other athletes, and other individuals. In late August, the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the government had misused its authority to properly seize records under the search warrants, and ordered the records returned. More importantly, the Court issued strong new guidelines on the seizure of electronic records and datafiles.
Some Effects of Avian Predators on the Western Spruce Budworm 1 in North Central Washington

Single-branch exclosures were used to examine the effects of avian predators on Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman in north central Washington. Pupal densities on protected branches were twice as high as on control branches. Comparisons between sites and crown levels revealed that apparent differences in predation may have been influenced by differences in natural budworm densities.
Open Mappings and the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra

(1970). Open Mappings and the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 39-40.
Low gravity and inertial effects on the growth of E. coli and B. subtilis in semi-solid media.

Background Several published experimental results have shown that cultures of suspended bacteria exhibit increased growth in the spaceflight environment. HYPOTHESIS AND METHODS: To test whether these differences were due to fluid mechanics and not cellular effects, E. coli and B. subtilis were grown on agar cultures under static, agitated, and rotated conditions in the laboratory, and under low-gravity conditions on four Space Shuttle flights. Growth experiments were terminated with glutaraldehyde, and individual cells were counted after quantitative elution from the agar. Results The spaceflight results, in conjunction with static, rotation, and agitation experiments indicate that E. coli and B. subtilis cultures on agar, unlike their suspension grown counterparts, do not experience heightened final cell concentration when the inertial environment is changed. Conclusions This finding points to fluid dynamics and extracellular transport phenomena and not cellular dynamics as the most likely cause of previously reported increases in bacterial growth in microgravity.
TH-CD-207B-09: Task-Driven Fluence Field Modulation Design for Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction in CT

Purpose: There has been increasing interest in integrating fluence field modulation (FFM) devices with diagnostic CT scanners for dose reduction purposes. Conventional FFM strategies, however, are often either based on heuristics or the analysis of filtered-backprojection (FBP) performance. This work investigates a prospective task-driven optimization of FFM for model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) in order to improve imaging performance at the same total dose as conventional strategies. Methods: The task-driven optimization framework utilizes an ultra-low dose 3D scout as a patient-specific anatomical model and a mathematical formation of the imaging task. The MBIR method investigated is quadratically penalized-likelihood reconstruction. The FFM objective function uses detectability index, d’, computed as a function of the predicted spatial resolution and noise in the image. To optimize performance throughout the object, a maxi-min objective was adopted where the minimum d’ over multiple locations is maximized. To reduce the dimensionality of the problem, FFM is parameterized as a linear combination of 2D Gaussian basis functions over horizontal detector pixels and projection angles. The coefficients of these bases are found using the covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES) algorithm. The task-driven design was compared with three other strategies proposed for FBP reconstruction for a calcification cluster discrimination task in an abdomen phantom. Results: The task-driven optimization yielded FFM that was significantly different from those designed for FBP. Comparing all four strategies, the task-based design achieved the highest minimum d’ with an 8–48% improvement, consistent with the maxi-min objective. In addition, d’ was improved to a greater extent over a larger area within the entire phantom. Conclusion: Results from this investigation suggests the need to re-evaluate conventional FFM strategies for MBIR. The task-based optimization framework provides a promising approach that maximizes imaging performance under the same total dose constraint.
Grief following spontaneous abortion.

Grief following spontaneous abortion is a common occurrence that is often overlooked by clinicians until serious manifestations occur. Often patients report prolonged distress following this condition. This article defines symptoms and signs of normal and pathologic grief following spontaneous abortion. It discusses the types of psychological disability associated with this condition and makes specific suggestions for interventions. The variables affecting the onet and severity of the condition are further defined as are alternative approaches to treatment.
On spaceflight instrument adaptive electrical and electronics subsystem functional framework

Near-earth heritage spaceflight missions and contemporary large observatories such as the NASA Hubble Space Telescope (HST), future James Web Space Telescope (JWST), or planetary fly-by (Cassini with its 12 instruments) and orbiting deep space observatories like the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) have carried large electronics subsystems. The Kepler cosmology observatory 95 mega pixels focal plane servicing electronics comprises some 50 electronic boards. The future cosmology mission Wide Field Infra-Red Survey Telescope (WFIRST with 2 instruments) envisions a focal plane with 18 large 4Kx4K sensors totaling 4.8318e+09 bits also serviced by a multitude of electronic boards. On the other hand, a new class of NASA Earth small satellite missions (SmallSat), the Department of Defense Operationally Responsive Space small satellites (ORS) and planetary surface mission instruments require smaller scale electrical and electronics subsystems. These are challenged with unique external space launch technology requirements for ever-smaller mass and volume, constraints on power and communications bandwidth, in addition to the requirements of space extreme environment of temperature variations and cosmic radiation. Within this wide range of space exploration and earth remote-sensing missions there is a need to revisit these external and internal spaceflight instrument science requirements from the point of view of developing the future spaceflight instrument scalable and adaptive electrical and electronics subsystem (IAEES) conceptual framework. We consider these instrument requirements and conceptual functionality framework on the precedent of the two future Decadal missions — the flagship cosmology observatory WFIRST pre-cursor study and proposal DESTINY [1] and the proposed Mars-2020 mission instrument — the Pulsed Neutron Generator and Gamma Ray Spectrometer (PING). Both proposals are now history with the first materializing as the winning WFIRST [2] and the PING destined to fly on some other than Mars-2020 mission. The purpose of this paper is to delineate the IAEES framework in proposal phase broad enough to be scalable and adaptive for future implementation. Representative top-level requirements — each originating in science definition and the instrument's other subsystems and the spacecraft needs constitute the basis of such a framework. A representative IAEES conceptual framework is elaborated on the precedent of the two future mission instruments' proposals and is analyzed as a reference scalable adaptive IAEES and its simulators.
What Is Common Among Return Anomalies? Evidence from Insider Trading

ABSTRACTFor a broad set of anomalies, we establish a common pattern of underreaction to information contained in preceding insider trading activity. Our main analysis focuses on the anomalies' short legs, which generate persistent negative abnormal returns. For stocks in the short legs, future returns are systematically related to the information signal contained in preceding insider trading activity, indicating underreaction. For insider trading information, we consider the possibility of net buying, net selling, and no trading (or silence). The underreaction effect is economically significant, with the most negative signal accounting for an average of 71% of short-leg returns. This underreaction effect survives numerous robustness checks and remains important after accounting for investor sentiment, information environment, and limits to arbitrage.
Characterization of a Novel Iron Acquisition Activity That Coordinates the Iron Response with Population Density under Iron-Replete Conditions in Bacillus subtilis

Iron is an essential micronutrient required for the viability of many organisms. Under oxidizing conditions, ferric iron is highly insoluble (∼10-9 to 10-18 M), yet bacteria typically require ∼10-6 M for survival. To overcome this disparity, many bacteria have adopted the use of extracellular iron-chelating siderophores coupled with specific iron-siderophore uptake systems. In the case of Bacillus subtilis, undomesticated strains produce the siderophore bacillibactin. However, many laboratory strains, e.g., JH642, have lost the ability to produce bacillibactin during the process of domestication. In this work, we identified a novel iron acquisition activity from strain JH642 that accumulates in the growth medium and coordinates the iron response with population density. The molecule(s) responsible for this activity was named elemental Fe(II/III) (Efe) acquisition factor because efeUOB (ywbLMN) is required for its activity. Unlike most iron uptake molecules, including siderophores and iron reductases, Efe acquisition factor is present under iron-replete conditions and is regulated independently of Fur repressor. Restoring bacillibactin production in strain JH642 inhibits the activity of Efe acquisition factor, presumably by sequestering available iron. A similar iron acquisition activity is produced from a mutant of Escherichia coli unable to synthesize the siderophore enterobactin. Given the conservation of efeUOB and its regulation by catecholic siderophores in B. subtilis and E. coli, we speculate that Efe acquisition factor is utilized by many bacteria, serves as an alternative to Fur-mediated iron acquisition systems, and provides cells with biologically available iron that would normally be inaccessible during aerobic growth under iron-replete conditions. IMPORTANCE Iron is an essential micronutrient required for a variety of biological processes, yet ferric iron is highly insoluble during aerobic growth. In this work, we identified a novel iron acquisition activity that coordinates the iron response with population density in laboratory strains of Bacillus subtilis We named the molecule(s) responsible for this activity elemental Fe(II/III) (Efe) acquisition factor after the efeUOB (ywbLMN) operon required for its uptake into cells. Unlike most iron uptake systems, Efe acquisition factor is present under iron-replete conditions and is regulated independently of Fur, the master regulator of the iron response. We speculate that Efe acquisition factor is highly conserved among bacteria and serves as a backup to Fur-mediated iron acquisition systems.
Residential broadband Internet service architecture

In this talk, I will present an end-to-end broadband Internet service architecture to enable a variety of new services for public network operators. This broadband service architecture provides tremendous new business opportunities for public network operators, such as Web hosting. Business solution providers and MIS outsourcing. The residential broadband service model is based on a PPP over ATM architecture between the home or small business and the destination networks, which can be an ISP for Internet access or a corporate network for telecommuting.
Intergranular Li metal propagation through polycrystalline Li6.25Al0.25La3Zr2O12 ceramic electrolyte

Abstract The potential to enable unprecedented performance, durability, and safety has created the impetus to develop bulk-scale all-solid-state batteries employing metallic Li as the negative electrode. Owing to its low density, low electronegativity and high specific capacity, Li metal is the most attractive negative electrode. However, failure caused by the formation of dendrites has limited the widespread use of rechargeable batteries using metallic Li negative electrodes coupled with liquid electrolytes. One approach to mitigate the formation of dendrites involves the use of a solid electrolyte to physically stabilize the Li–electrolyte interface while allowing the facile transport of Li-ions. Though in principle this approach should work, it has been observed that at high Li deposition rates Li metal can propagate through relatively hard ceramic electrolytes and Li dendrite formation causing short circuit has been reported. Why this occurs is poorly understood, emphasizing the need to close the knowledge gap and facilitate the development of advanced batteries employing solid electrolytes. Here, through precise microstructural control, striking electron microscopy, and high-resolution surface spectroscopy, we directly observed for the first time the propagation of Li metal through a promising polycrystalline solid electrolyte based on the garnet mineral structure (Li6.25Al0.25La3Zr2O12). Moreover, we observed that Li preferentially deposits along grain boundaries (intergranularly). These results offer insight into the electrochemical-mechanical phenomena that govern the stability of the metallic Li–polycrystalline solid electrolyte interface and are essential to the maturation of solid-state batteries.
Peripheral Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio Improves Prognostication in Colon Cancer.

Abstract Background We studied the role of peripheral neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on survival outcomes in colon and rectal cancer to determine if its inclusion improved prognostication within existing staging systems. Patients and Methods Disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) hazard ratios (HRs) of pretreatment NLR were calculated for 2536 patients with stage I to III colon or rectal cancer and adjusted for age, positive/total number of nodes, T stage, and grade. The association of NLR with clinicopathologic features and survival was evaluated and compared with the American Joint Committee on cancer (AJCC) TNM staging and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) models. Results High NLR was significantly associated with worse DFS (HR, 1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.70; P = .009) and OS (HR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.29-2.10; P Conclusion NLR is an independent prognostic variable for nonmetastatic colon cancer that enhances existing clinical staging systems.
Lung and Heart Dose Variability During Radiation Therapy of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose To investigate the hypothesis that positional and anatomic variations during radiation therapy induce changes in lung and heart volumes and associated radiation doses. Methods and Materials In this longitudinal investigation, variations in lung and heart volumes and standard dose parameters of mean lung dose, lung V20Gy, mean heart dose, and heart V40Gy were analyzed on weekly 4-dimensional CT scans of 15 lung cancer patients during conventionally fractionated radiochemotherapy. Tumor, individual lung lobes, and heart were delineated on the mid-ventilation phase of weekly 4-dimensional CT scans. Lung lobes and heart were also contoured on individual breathing phases of pre-, mid-, and end-of-treatment scans. Planning dose was transferred to consecutive scans via rigid registration. Volume and dose variations were assessed relative to the initial planning scan. Results Interfraction lung volume variability relative to week 0 was twice as large as tidal volume variability (8.0% ± 5.3% vs 4.0% ± 3.3%, P=.003). Interfraction lung volume variation ranged between 0.8% and 17.1% for individual patient means. Lower lung lobes had larger volume variability compared with upper lobes (13.5% ± 8.1% vs 7.0% ± 5.0%, P Conclusions Anatomic and positional variations during radiation therapy induce changes in radiation doses to lung and heart. Repeated lung and heart dose assessment will provide a better estimate of the actual delivered dose and will improve prediction models for normal tissue toxicity, if assessed in larger cohorts.
Predictive Control of Thin Film Surface Microstructure in a Complex Deposition Process

Abstract In this work, a complex deposition process including two types of molecules whose growth behaviors are very different and influenced by long range interactions is investigated. The study of this process is motivated by recent experimental results on the growth of high-κ dielectric thin films using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). A multi-component kinetic Monte-Carlo (kMC) model is developed for the deposition. The dependence of the surface microstructure of the thin film, such as island size and surface roughness, on substrate temperature are studied. The surface morphology is found to be strongly influenced by these two factors and growth regimes governed by short and long range interactions are observed. Furthermore, a kMC model-predictive control scheme which uses the substrate temperature to control the final surface roughness of the thin film is proposed. The closed-loop simulation results demonstrate that robust deposition with controlled thin film surface roughness can be achieved under the proposed kMC model-predictive controller.