cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Making Foreigners: Immigration and Citizenship Law in America, 1600-2000

This book reconceptualizes the history of US immigration and citizenship law from the colonial period to the beginning of the twenty-first century by joining the histories of immigrants to those of Native Americans, African Americans, women, Asian Americans, Latino/a Americans and the poor. Parker argues that during the earliest stages of American history, being legally constructed as a foreigner, along with being subjected to restrictions on presence and movement, was not confined to those who sought to enter the country from the outside, but was also used against those on the inside. Insiders thus shared important legal disabilities with outsiders. It is only over the course of four centuries, with the spread of formal and substantive citizenship among the domestic population, a hardening distinction between citizen and alien, and the rise of a powerful centralized state, that the uniquely disabled legal subject we recognize today as the immigrant has emerged.
Training Rules and the Athletic Association

(1927). Training Rules and the Athletic Association. American Physical Education Review: Vol. 32, No. 7, pp. 500-505.
Fuzzy Rule Base System for Software Classification

Given the central role that software development plays in the delivery and application of information technology, managers have been focusing on process improvement in the software development area. This improvement has increased the demand for software me asures, or metrics to manage the process. This metrics provide a quantitative basis for the development and validation of models during the software development process. In this paper a fuzzy rule -based system will be developed to classify java application s using object oriented metrics. The system will contain the following features: Automated method to extract the OO metrics from the source code, Default/base set of rules that can be easily configured via XML file so companies, developers, team leaders, etc, can modify the set of rules according to their needs, Implementation of a framework so new metrics, fuzzy sets and fuzzy rules can be added or removed depending on the needs of the end user, General classification of the software application and fin e-grained classification of the java classes based on OO metrics, and Two interfaces are provided for the system: GUI and command.
The Families of The Rhinocerotoidea (Mammalia, Perissodactyla)

On the basis of molar cusp pattern, the family Hyrachyidae is transferred from the Rhinocerotoidea to the Tapiroidea and is classified as a subfamily of the Helaletidae. The family Rhinocerotidae is restricted to forms with the unique chisel-shaped I1 and procumbent, lanceolate I2 shearing specialization seen in Epiaceratherium and Trigonias and, with modifications, their descendants. Non-amynodontid rhinocerotoids with other anterior dental specializations are placed in the Hyracodontidae.
Four dimensional motility tracking of biological cells by digital holographic microscopy

We utilize quantitative phase microscopy by digital holography to track cellular motility in four dimensions. The three-dimensional trajectories have been measured as a function of time at sub-second and micrometer level.
Trial Results and Main Cultivation Techniques of Hybrid Rice Combination Quanyou 527 at Shaoguan City

Trial results of a hybrid rice combination Quanyou 527 were summarized in late rice at Shaoguan City of Guangdong province.According to the characteristics and spike traits related to yield of this cultivar from trial results,its key cultivation techniques were put forward.Under ensuring effective panicles and improving seed setting rate,to obtain high yield should be large spike.Promoting the coordinated development of main panicle and tiller panicles is the advantage of high and stable yield.
The thinking about the female employment in informatization

The female workers’ labor productivity, economic status and welfare level have been greatly improved by the informatization, at the same time, the women are faced with great challenge of coping with the competitive change in technology and labor market. This paper discussed the relationship between the informatization and the female employment, in order to provide some references for government, enter-prises or individual recognizing the function and significance of women in the age of informatization.
Simultaneous determination of chloroform,ethyl acetate,acetone and benzene in the air by gas chromatography

[Objective]To establish the method for determination of chloroform,ethyl acetate,acetone and benzene in the air by gas chromatography.[Methods]Using capillary column,simultaneous determination of chloroform,ethyl acetate,acetone,benzene was performed with FID detector.[Results]Under the determination conditions,the detection limit of each component ranged from 0. 01-4 μ g / ml; RSD was 1-5%,the recovery rate was 91.8-98.9%.[Conclusion]The method has good separation,high precision,short analysis time and satisfactory results,and meet the operating environment requirements in workplace.
Secure Web Development Teaching Modules

Web application security has been an emerging topic while an increasing number of information systems are designed based on Extensible Makeup Language (XML) and using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) for communications. For example, in recent years, social networking software has been used intensively, especially among college students, and integrated with various marketing or gaming software. This workshop will discuss security issues in web application development and demonstrate web security vulnerabilities and countermeasures through hands-on exercises. The exercises are developed by a NSF-funded project called SWEET (Secure web development teaching). SWEET is consisted of eight teaching modules of web application security. To demonstrate potential web server vulnerabilities, the teaching modules include hands-on exercises that are preconfigured in Linux virtual machines. The workshop will also discuss examples of incorporating SWEET in Information Systems curriculum. Workshop Leader Information (Please attach a copy of your resume in your email submission) Name: Li-Chiou Chen Affiliation: Pace University Postal Address: 320 Goldstein Academic Center 861 Bedford Rd. Pleasantville, NY10549 Telephone: 914-7733907 Cell: Fax: Email: lchen@pace.edu Additional Workshop Presenters (copy for each one) Name: Affiliation: Postal Address: Telephone: Cell:
Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder by Developmental-Behavioral Pediatricians in Academic Centers: A DBPNet Study

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical practices of physicians in the Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Network (DBPNet) to (1) diagnose autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), identify comorbidities, and evaluate etiology and (2) compare actual practice to established guidelines. METHODS: A total of 56 developmental-behavioral pediatricians completed encounter forms, including demographic/clinical information, for up to 10 consecutive new-patient visits given a diagnosis of ASD. Data were summarized by using descriptive statistics. Analysis of the statistical significance of differences between sites ( n = 10) used general estimating equations and mixed-effects logistic regression to adjust for clustering by clinician within site. RESULTS: A total of 284 ASD forms were submitted. Most assessments (56%) were completed in 1 visit (27.5% in 2 visits, 8.6% in 3 visits). Use of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, or Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children varied across sites from 28.6% to 100% of encounters ( P P = .061), parent behavior rating scales were reviewed/completed at 65.9% (range: 35.7%–91.4%; P = .19), and teacher behavior rating scales were reviewed/completed at 38.4% (range: 15%–69.2%; P = .19). Only 17.3% (95% confidence interval: 12.8%–21.7%) of evaluations were completed by an interdisciplinary team. A majority (71%) of patients had at least 1 comorbid diagnosis (31% had at least 2 and 12% at had least 3). Etiologic evaluations were primarily genetic (karyotype: 49%; microarray: 69.7%; fragile X: 71.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite site variability, the majority of diagnostic evaluations for ASD within DBPNet were completed by developmental-behavioral pediatricians without an interdisciplinary team and included a developmental assessment, ASD-specific assessment tools, and parent behavior rating scales. These findings document the multiple components of assessment used by DBPNet physicians and where they align with existing guidelines.
A new species of small-eared shrew in the Cryptotis thomasi species group from Costa Rica (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae)

We describe a new species of small-eared shrew, genus Cryptotis Pomel, 1848 (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae), from near the community of Monteverde in the Tilaran highlands of northwestern Costa Rica. The new species is immediately distinguished from all other Costa Rican shrews its large size and long tail. Morphologically, it belongs to the Cryptotis thomasi group of small-eared shrews, a clade that is more typically distributed in the Andes Cordillera and other highland regions of northern South America. The new Costa Rican species and the Panamanian endemic Cryptotis endersi Setzer, 1950 are the only two members of this species group known to occur in Central America. Like most other members of the C. thomasi group for which the postcranial skeleton has been studied, the new species tends be more ambulatory (rather than semi-fossorial) when compared with other members of the genus. Our survey efforts over several decades failed to locate a population of the new species, and we discuss its conservation status in light of its limited potential distribution in the Tilaran highlands and the significant climatic change that has been documented in the Monteverde region during the past four decades.
Computing with words (CW) and its application to decision support and systems analysis

Computing with words (CW) is inspired by the remarkable human capability to perform a wide variety of physical and mental tasks without any measurements and any computations. Everyday examples of such tasks are driving a car in city traffic, playing tennis and summarizing a story. Computing with words abandons bivalence. By so doing, computing with words lays the groundwork for a radical enlargement of the role of natural languages in scientific theories and, more particularly, in information processing, decision and control. A key component of computing with words is precisiated natural language (PNL). The principal function of PNL is to serve as a system for computation and reasoning with perceptions. Computing with words provides a basis for an important generalization of probability theory, namely, perception-based probability theory (PTp). Computing with words is an additional tool, which significantly enhances the ability of methods of design and analysis to deal with real-world problems.
Knee symptoms among adults at risk for accelerated knee osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

The purpose of this study was to examine if adults who develop accelerated knee osteoarthritis (KOA) have greater knee symptoms with certain activities than those with or without incident common KOA. We conducted a case-control study using data from baseline and the first four annual visits of the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Participants had no radiographic KOA at baseline (Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) = 1 knee developed advance-stage KOA (KL = 3 or 4) within 48 months, (2) common KOA: > = 1 knee increased in radiographic severity (excluding those with accelerated KOA), and (3) no KOA: no change in radiographic severity by 48 months. We focused on individual items from the WOMAC pain/function subscales and KOOS pain/symptoms subscales. The index visit was a year before a person met the definition for accelerated, common, or no KOA. To examine group difference in knee symptoms, we used ordinal logistic regression models for each symptom. Results are reported as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Individuals who developed accelerated KOA were more likely to report greater difficulty with lying down (OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.04 to 4.25), pain with straightening the knee fully (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.08, 3.85), and pain walking (OR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.38, 4.84) than adults who developed common KOA. Individuals who develop accelerated KOA report greater symptoms with certain activities than those with common KOA. Our results may help identify individuals at risk for accelerated KOA or with early-stage accelerated KOA.
Are Young People Becoming More Risk Averse? An Analysis of Factors Contributing to the Rise in Precautionary Savings Among Young Adults

Since the late 1980s, young people aged 18–34 have increasingly stated that their primary reason for increasing their saving rate has been to protect themselves against uncertain future times. The rate of increase in “precautionary” savings exceeds that of all other age groups, and has occurred against a backdrop of declining real income, a tepid economic recovery from the Great Recession of 2008–09, a tightened credit environment, and changing household demographics. This study considers the impact of these and other elements on young adults’ decisions to save for precautionary purposes, and considers what possible impacts these developments might have for broader consumption and production trends in the U.S economy.
Humans, Hierarchy,And Human Rights

In “Humans, Hierarchy, and Human Rights” Harold McDougall seeks to understand why so many social justice movements form, burn brightly, then either fade or are transformed away from their original mission. His explora­tion is interdisciplinary, using biological, anthropological, psychological, and sociological research to explain the causes which bring humans to band together in search of justice. It goes on to explain how hierarchies emerge within these groups, beginning with patriarchy and then "ramifying endlessly" in other forms of subordination. All these hierarchies “other” outsiders, foster fears and prejudices, change their missions, and ultimately lead to the groups’ undoing. This tendency toward forming hierarchies has limited the lifespans of countless organizations and movements comprising the "human rights project" that might have otherwise lived on to battle some of humanity’s worst social ills and inspire future generations. The answer lies in small-group organizing, scaled to match our genetically-engineered empathic connections.
Extended Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection in Bladder Cancer

Abstract Introduction: Radical cystectomy and extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) are the gold standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer and BCG unresponsive nonmuscle-invasiv...
Mathematical modeling of the adsorption/desorption characteristics of anthocyanins from muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia cv. Noble) juice pomace on Amberlite FPX66 resin in a fixed bed column.

Muscadine grape pomace, a by-product of juicing and wine-making, contains significant amounts of anthocyanin 3,5-diglucosides, known to be beneficial to human health.; Results: The objective of this research was to use mathematical modeling to investigate the adsorption/desorption characteristics of these anthocyanins from muscadine grape pomace on Amberlite FPX66 resin in a fixed bed column. Anthocyanins were extracted using hot water and ultrasound, and the extracts were loaded onto a resin column at five bed depths (5, 6, 8, 10 and 12 cm) using three flow rates (4, 6 and 8 mL min-1 ). It was found that adsorption on the column fitted the bed depth service time (BDST) model and the empty bed residence time (EBRT) model. Desorption was achieved by eluting the column using ethanol at four concentrations (25, 40, 55 and 70% v/v) and could be described with an empirical sigmoid model. The breakthrough curves of anthocyanins fitted the BDST model for all three flow rates with R2 values of 0.983, 0.992 and 0.984 respectively. The EBRT model was successfully employed to find the operating lines, which allow for column scale-up while still achieving similar results to those found in a laboratory operation. Desorption with 40% (v/v) ethanol achieved the highest recovery rate of anthocyanins at 79.6%.; Conclusion: The mathematical models established in this study can be used in designing a pilot/industrial- scale column for the separation and concentration of anthocyanins from muscadine juice pomace. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Tobacco Mosaic Virus Cytopathological Effects

Inclusion bodies were listed as one of the criteria for virus classification by the Plant Virus Subcommittee of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (Harrison et al., 1971), although they were not used in that classification scheme. This paper did, however, establish the tobacco mosaic virus group which was designated by the acronym tobamoviruses. Fenner (1976) was the first to incorporate inclusions in the classification of plant viruses. Gibbs (1977) listed, among the main characteristics of the tobamovirus group, cytoplasmic inclusions composed of virus particles in elongated paracrystalline arrays, in plate-shaped crystalline form, and aggregated cell constituents with or without virus particles forming X-bodies. Martelli and Russo (1977) stated that tobamovirus members induce inclusions of virus particles aggregated in crystalline arrays appearing as plates with hexagonal or rounded shapes. Edwardson and Christie (1978) suggested cytoplasmic crystalline inclusions as a main characteristic of the group and proposed them as diagnostic for infection by tobamoviruses. Matthews (1979, 1982) listed, as the main characteristics of the tobamovirus group, virus-induced viroplasms, and virus particles often forming large crystalline arrays, visible by light microscopy. We assume Matthews uses the term viroplasm in place of the term X-body. The morphology and structure of these and other inclusions induced by tobamoviruses are well depicted in the following: Warmke and Christie (1967), Esau (1968), Warmke (1974), Christie and Edwardson (1977).
Expression of immediate early gene and growth factor mRNAs in a focal cerebral ischemia model in the Rat

Background and Purpose: Increased release of excitatory neurotransmitters leading to activation of signal transduction has been noted after cerebral ischemia. One of the biochemical events in the signaling processes is an alteration of gene expression. A focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model in the rat was used to study the postischemic alteration of selected proto-oncogene and neurotrophin gene expression. Methods: Focal ischemia in the cerebral cortex irrigated by the right middle cerebral artery was induced by temporary occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery and both common carotid arteries for 30 or 90 minutes. Expression of selected proto-oncogenes and neurotrophin genes was studied with Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization
An equatorial thermal wind equation: Applications to Jupiter

Abstract To relate the vertical wind shear to horizontal temperature gradients at and near the equator, we derive an “Equatorial Thermal Wind Equation” (EQTWE) using a minimum set of assumptions that are easily satisfied for the atmospheres of all the giant planets and Earth. Similar to the textbook Thermal Wind Equation (TWE), the EQTWE requires a small Rossby number, but the relevant Rossby number for the EQTWE depends on the velocity and length scales of the equatorial flows, and on the Coriolis parameter at the north pole (which is large), rather than the Coriolis parameter at the equator (which goes to zero). Unlike the TWE, the EQTWE is valid only for the east-west component of the wind. We apply the EQTWE to the Jovian wind measured by the Galileo probe Doppler wind experiment at jovicentric latitude 6.53°N (7.46°N jovigraphic), which is valid because the EQTWE is accurate at latitudes θ
Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry detection with a 50 ms modulation period.

An ultrafast flow modulation period, PM of 50 ms, for comprehensive two-dimensional (2D) gas chromatography (GC × GC) with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) detection is demonstrated, producing narrow peak widths, 2W (4σ width-at-base on the 2D dimension), demonstrating the potential for ultrafast (2D) separations with high peak capacity. The modulator is a pulse flow valve that injects a narrow pulse of carrier gas at a user defined PM, at the union between the 1D and 2D columns. The raw data produced combines the properties of vacancy chromatography and frontal analysis. Deconvolution of the raw data using unconstrained multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) analysis facilitates identification and quantification for overlapped analyte peaks. The peak profile loadings obtained from MCR-ALS are converted into traditional appearing GC × GC data through a process commonly used with frontal analysis. An 18-component test mixture at seven different injected mass levels was studied. The 2D peaks generated ranged from an 2W of 16 to 36 ms with an average of 26 ms. At an on-column injected mass of 14 ng per analyte, an average mass spectral match value, MV, of 822 was achieved using in-house collected spectra for comparison, with an average match value RSD of 7.1%. Calibration of overlapped test analytes was evaluated using the areas of the MCR-ALS loadings, with excellent quantification demonstrated. The advancement demonstrated in modulation performance for GC × GC represents a significant decrease in PM as most commercial modulators have a minimum PM of 1 s, while maintaining the benefits of a duty cycle of essentially 1.0, which promises to enable new chemical analyzer designs, compatible with the vacuum requirements of the TOFMS detector.
Rooting of Semi-Hardwood Peach Cuttings as Affected by Basal Fungicide, Mist, and Anti-Transpirant Treatments

Dipping semi-hardwood Prunus persica ‘Harmony’ and ‘Cresthaven’ cuttings in a Captan-Benomyl mixture following an IBA quick dip treatment increased rooting compared to cuttings not receiving the fungicide treatment. Fungicide treated cuttings rooted as well or better in moist sand with daily watering as they did under intermittent mist. An anti-transpirant dip did not improve rooting and was deleterious to rooting in some treatments.
Regulation of pesticide application with respect to spray drift

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act mandates that the Administrator will make a determination as to whether a pesticide "will perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on the environment." Spray drift has become, in many instances, an unreasonable adverse effect to humans, fish, wildlife, and plants. Presently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is building its expertise to understand the overall subject of spray drift, the factors causing and affecting it, and the numerous problems that can be associated with it. In an effort to understand and evaluate spray drift, guidelines are being proposed that would afford the EPA the opportunity to collect data from actual spray drift tests. Certain regulations, such as those governing the quantities of pesticides applied, the buffer zones, and the use of aerial application, could be implemented as necessary on the basis of these and other actual data.
Food and animal welfare

Henry Buller and Emma Roe’s Food and Animal Welfare examines animal life—and death—conditions as defined by producers, scientists, and consumers throughout the production and consumption chain. Its...
Flash Visual Evoked Potential Topographic Mapping: Normative and Clinical Data

Little is known about the neural sources of various components of the flash-evoked potential. Although the anatomy and physiology of human striate and peristriate cortex have been well studied, there is a paucity of information about visual projections to areas outside the occipital lobe (Von Essen 1979). Anatomical (Kuypers et al. 1965; Pandya and Kuypers 1969) and physiological (Bignall and Imbert 1969; Boyd et al. 1971) studies have indicated cortico-cortical connections from visual association areas to the parietal lobe, premotor cortex, prefrontal cortex and middle and inferior temporal gyri. Depth recordings in humans (Walter and Walter 1949; Brazier 1964) have shown visual evoked potentials in frontal and temporal regions. Little is known, however, about the functional relationship between these areas. Accordingly, we performed a prospective mapping study in a series of normal subjects and patients with focal cerebral lesions.
Volatile Etch Species Produced during Thermal Al2O3 Atomic Layer Etching

The thermal atomic layer etching (ALE) of Al2O3 can be achieved using sequential fluorination and ligand-exchange reactions. Although previous investigations have characterized the etch rates and s...
Epicardial Posterior Papillary Muscle Repositioning with Mitral Annular Reduction for FIMR Treatment: Initial Ex Vivo Heart Model Study.

BACKGROUND High recurrent functional ischemic mitral regurgitation (FIMR) has been observed after annuloplasty. Since annuloplasty alone could not prevent late recurrent FIMR or improve the survival rate after CABG, adjunctive subvalvular opt for better treatment tailored for each individual patient. METHODS Ex vivo ovine heart models with annular dilatation and PPM displacement were used for analysis of mitral regurgitation (MR) flow, left ventricular and annular geometry after treatment by mitral annular reduction alone (MA, nMA = 12) or combined with epicardial PPM repositioning (MA+PPM, nMA+PPM=13). RESULTS MR significantly was reduced from baseline in both the MA (P = .03) and MA+PPM (P = .02) groups, but was not significantly different between the groups. The septo-lateral mitral annular distance decreased after applying both methods (MA group P = .005; MA+PPM group P = .05). The tethering α angle of the APM in the frontal plane significantly increased from baseline in the MA+PPM group (P = .027). Furthermore, the MA+PPM group had a larger APM and PPM α angle in the frontal plane compared with the MA group after reducing the MR (P = .04). There were no statistically significant changes in tethering angles found in the MA group compared with baseline. MR reduction correlated with percentage decrease of septo-lateral mitral annular distance (rs = 0.51, P = .01), the percentage decrease of fibrosa-PPM distance (rs = 0.43, P = .03), and the percentage increase of the PPM anterior displacement (rs = -0.41, P = .04). CONCLUSION The decreased tethered angle of the PPM referred to the annulus, and the decreased interpapillary muscles distance suggested the PPM was repositioned inward and toward the septal annulus by the epicardial pushing pad. Epicardial repositioning of the PPM adjunct with mitral annular reduction facilitated leaflet coaptation without the risk of overlying restriction of the mitral annular orifice.
Identifying a clinical decision tool to predict discharge disposition following operative treatment of hip fractures in the United States.

Abstract Background Post-discharge management following operative treatment of hip fractures continues to be performed on a case-by-case basis, with no uniform guidelines dictating management. Predicting discharge to post-acute care (PAC) facilities (i.e. skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities) can assist preoperative planning and potentially decrease length of stay secondary to disposition issues. The goal of this study was to develop a nomogram using easily identified variables to preoperatively predict discharge disposition following operative treatment of hip fractures. Methods Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, patients who underwent surgical intervention for hip fractures between 2012 and 2015 were identified. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors for discharge to a PAC facility, and a predictive nomogram was created based on these results. Results From 2012 to 2015, 33,371 hip fractures were identified: 13,336 (40%) femoral neck fractures, and 20,035 (60%) intertrochanteric femur fractures. Of the patients identified, 26,082 (78.2%) were discharged to a PAC while the remainder were discharged home with or without home health. 70% of patients were female and 92.4% were Caucasian. When accounting for comorbidities, using the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification system, 6,122 patients (18.4%) had ‘Mild Systemic Disease’ (ASA 2), 20,872 (62.6%) patients had ‘Severe Systemic Disease’ (ASA 3), and 6,006 (18.1%) had ‘Life Threatening Disease’ (ASA 4/5). The majority of patients were brought in from a ‘Home’ setting, while 10.4% of patients were admitted from a ‘Long-Term Care’ setting. After controlling for confounding variables, older age and increasing ASA class were predictive of an increased risk of discharge to a PAC. Diabetes, dyspnea, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were not associated with an increased risk of discharge to a PAC. Discussion Discharge disposition following operative treatment of hip fractures can be reliably predicted using a nomogram with commonly identified preoperative variables. Level of evidence Level III, Retrospective Cohort Design, Observational Study
Dielectric properties of beryllia in the near-millimeter wavelength range

The refractive indices and absorption coefficients of four beryllia (BeO) ceramic samples have been measured between 4 and 18 cm−1 with a Michelson interferometer. The index, n, follows a linear relationship with density, p, over the range 2.8 < p < 3.0 g/cc, and thus exhibits a density-dependent index variation of about 3 percent.
The Population Genetics of Pleiotropy, and the Evolution of Collateral Resistance and Sensitivity in Bacteria

Abstract Pleiotropic fitness tradeoffs and their opposite, buttressing pleiotropy, underlie many important phenomena in ecology and evolution. Yet, predicting whether a population adapting to one (“home”) environment will concomitantly gain or lose fitness in another (“non-home”) environment remains challenging, especially when adaptive mutations have diverse pleiotropic effects. Here, we address this problem using the concept of the joint distribution of fitness effects (JDFE), a local measurable property of the fitness landscape. We derive simple statistics of the JDFE that predict the expected slope, variance and co-variance of non-home fitness trajectories. We estimate these statistics from published data from the Escherichia coli knock-out collection in the presence of antibiotics. We find that, for some drug pairs, the average trend towards collateral sensitivity may be masked by large uncertainty, even in the absence of epistasis. We provide simple theoretically grounded guidelines for designing robust sequential drug protocols.
Experimental Wireless Testbed for Ultrabroadband Terahertz Networks

Communication at terahertz (THz) frequencies will be a key component of the 6th generation (6G) wireless networks and beyond. In this paper, a state-of-the-art wireless platform that supports three major frequency bands above 100 GHz in the THz band is presented. The specifications of the overall THz experimental platform built by Northeastern University are discussed, detailing the capabilities of the different available THz front-ends and signal processing back-ends. Moreover, an ongoing effort to build a scalable real-time backend engine that supports multiple multi-GHz-wide channels at baseband is also presented. Preliminary results of the transmitter-side implementation are presented with a detailed overview of the envisioned system.
Non-cardiac biopsy sites with high frequency of transthyretin amyloidosis.

Aims Cardiac scintigraphy, a non-invasive technique for diagnosing ATTR cardiac amyloidosis, lacks specificity in patients with concomitant monoclonal gammopathy (up to 40% of cases). For these patients, amyloid type is often established by endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), which has clinical risk. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of ATTR in amyloid-positive tendon/synovium, urinary bladder, and prostate biopsies, sites for which prior biopsy specimens might exist for patients suspected of having cardiac amyloidosis, and, when available, determine the amyloid type concordance rate with other anatomic sites and provide clinical data regarding subsequent development of cardiac amyloidosis. Methods and results We queried our reference laboratory database of 19,298 amyloid specimens from myriad anatomic sites typed by mass spectrometry-based proteomics (LC-MS/MS) to investigate the frequency of ATTR amyloid in tendon/synovium, urinary bladder, and prostate. The amyloid type was ATTR in 104/138 (75.4%) tendon/synovium, 173/453 (38.0%) urinary bladder, and 27/81 (33.3%) prostate samples. Of 62 patients with available clinical data, 12 (19%) had bona fide ATTR cardiac amyloidosis prior to/concomitant with the non-cardiac site biopsy. Of the remaining 14 with follow-up, 8 developed bona fide and 2 probable cardiac amyloidosis; at last follow-up 4 had no evidence of cardiac amyloidosis. Fourteen of 16 patients (87.5%) for whom we typed both non-cardiac and cardiac sites had concordant amyloid types. There were 2 discordant cases (prostate = ASem1/heart = AL and urinary bladder = AL/heart = ATTR); only the latter is potentially clinically consequential. Conclusions In patients suspected of having cardiac amyloidosis based on cardiac scintigraphy, LC-MS/MS typing of Congophilic deposits in pre-existing biopsy specimens from non-cardiac sites may help establish the cardiac amyloid type, obviating the need for EMB. However, if the amyloid type identified in the non-cardiac site is not in keeping with other clinical features, then EMB for typing the cardiac amyloid might be indicated.
Methodology development and optimization for direct quantification of total selenium concentration in mine water by total-reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Abstract Methodology for direct quantification of total selenium (Se) concentration in mine water by total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometry was developed and optimized. Inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), as a recognized standard test method, was used as a benchmark for results verification. Preliminary measurements with aqueous multi-element standard solutions showed that Se concentration can be accurately determined down to 10 ng/g by using a single-drop of solution (10 μL) and a measurement time of 600 s. Quantification of lower Se concentration below 10 ng/g was subsequently optimized, also with aqueous multi-element standard solutions. Improvement in detection limit was accomplished by increasing amount of sample deposition as well as increasing measurement time. TXRF analysis of SRM1640a, Trace Elements in Natural Water, was also performed for accuracy check. The developed methodology was applied to analyze five raw mine water samples (MW-1, MW-2, MW-3, MW-4 and MW-5) collected from anonymous mine site locations. TXRF analysis was performed on the as-received samples directly without filtration, dilution and digestion. Samples were prepared as single-drop specimens and analyzed using a measurement time of 600 s. Se and fifteen other elements were detected in varying degree in the as-received samples. Se concentrations quantified by TXRF were 256.5 ± 22.5, 88.4 ± 1.4 and 61.3 ± 2.8 ng/g for mine water samples MW-1, MW-2 and MW-3, respectively, compared to 255.3 ± 5.6, 87.3 ± 2.6 and 59.7 ± 3.5 ng/g by ICP-MS. No clear Se-Kα peak above background was observed for samples MW-4 and MW-5. Increasing amount of sample deposition by preparing triple-drop specimens and using a longer measurement time of 1800 s, allowed a Se-Kα peak to emerge above the background for MW-4, but not MW-5. Se concentration in MW-4 quantified by TXRF was 4.9 ± 0.5 ng/g, compared to 6.7 ± 0.7 ng/g by ICP-MS, which represents an agreement within three standard deviation values between the two techniques. For sample MW-5, even after using triple-drop specimens and increasing the measurement time to 1800 s, Se concentration could not be determined because a Se-Kα peak was not detected by TXRF, compared to the Se concentration of 0.83 ± 0.1 ng/g obtained by ICP-MS. Overall, our analysis results showed that the TXRF technique can be used for direct analysis of total Se concentration in raw mine water samples down to ng/g range, providing high-quality, accurate and repeatable analysis comparable to ICP-MS while requiring much simpler sample preparation.
MR elastography of the abdomen: Basic concepts

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is an emerging imaging modality that maps the elastic properties of tissue such as the shear modulus. It allows for noninvasive assessment of stiffness, which is a surrogate for fibrosis. MRE has been shown to accurately distinguish absent or low stage fibrosis from high stage fibrosis, primarily in the liver. Like other elasticity imaging modalities, it follows the general steps of elastography: (1) apply a known cyclic mechanical vibration to the tissue; (2) measure the internal tissue displacements caused by the mechanical wave using magnetic resonance phase encoding method; and (3) infer the mechanical properties from the measured mechanical response (displacement), by generating a simplified displacement map. The generated map is called an elastogram.While the key interest of MRE has traditionally been in its application to liver, where in humans it is FDA approved and commercially available for clinical use to noninvasively assess degree of fibrosis, this is an area of active research and there are novel upcoming applications in brain, kidney, pancreas, spleen, heart, lungs, and so on. A detailed review of all the efforts is beyond the scope of this chapter, but a few specific examples are provided. Recent application of MRE for noninvasive evaluation of renal fibrosis has great potential for noninvasive assessment in patients with chronic kidney diseases. Development and applications of MRE in preclinical models is necessary primarily to validate the measurement against "gold-standard" invasive methods, to better understand physiology and pathophysiology, and to evaluate novel interventions. Application of MRE acquisitions in preclinical settings involves challenges in terms of available hardware, logistics, and data acquisition. This chapter will introduce the concepts of MRE and provide some illustrative applications.This publication is based upon work from the COST Action PARENCHIMA, a community-driven network funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) program of the European Union, which aims to improve the reproducibility and standardization of renal MRI biomarkers. This introduction chapter is complemented by another separate chapter describing the experimental protocol and data analysis.
Electrical characterization of phytoplankton suspensions using impedance spectroscopy

This study used impedance spectroscopy measurements to extract the electrical properties of phytoplankton cells in suspension. Experimental measurements were acquired, and the single-shell model was applied to extract the specific membrane capacitance, cytoplasm permittivity, and conductivity of assumingly spherical cells in suspension utilizing Maxwell’s mixture theory of a controlled volume fraction of cells. The impedance of suspensions of algae was measured at different frequencies ranging from 3 kHz to 10 MHz and impedance values were compared to investigate differences between two types of cells by characterizing their change in cytoplasm permittivity and specific membrane capacitance. Differentiation between healthy control and nitrogen-depleted cultured algae was attempted. The extracted specific membrane capacitances of Chlamydomonas and Selenastrum were 15.5 ± 3.6 and 40.6 ± 12.6 mF m− 2 respectively. Successful differentiation based on the specific membrane capacitance of different algae species was achieved. However, no significant difference was noticed between nitrogen-abundant and nitrogen-depleted cultures.
Characteristics and overall survival in pediatric versus adult esthesioneuroblastoma: A population-based study

Abstract Background Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is an uncommon sinonasal malignancy and is even less common in the pediatric population. Objective The purpose of this study is to compare characteristics and outcomes of ENB between adult and pediatric patients. Methods The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with histologically proven ENB of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, and then baseline characteristics, treatment, and survival data compared between the pediatric (age Results 1411 patients were identified, with 45 in the pediatric cohort and 1366 in the adult cohort. Ten-year overall survival (OS) in the pediatric cohort was improved compared to the adult cohort, 87% and 66%, respectively (p Conclusion Treatment of ENB in pediatric patients more commonly includes chemotherapy and more commonly occurs at academic medical centers. OS is improved in pediatric ENB compared to adults as well, but larger studies are necessary.
A Multistage Approach to External Auditor's Evaluation of the Internal Audit Function

External auditors are continually facing intense pressure to be more efficient in conducting audits without compromising quality and effectiveness. Optimal utilization of internal audit work can improve both the efficiency and the effectiveness of external audits and can enhance the value of internal auditors to the client organization. The objective of this study is to understand how the three factors (objectivity, work performance, and competence of the internal auditors) identified by auditing standards and by prior research interact in determining the strength of the internal audit function' Most prior studies have attempted to understand external auditors? rank ordering of the importance of the three factors, without an explicit attempt to model the interactions among the factors. The results from these studies are mixed and inconclusive. Hence, prior studies have not produced a consensus about how external auditors seem to weight and combine these factors in order to make assessments relating to the strength of the internal audit function. This study employs analytical methods based on Bayesian probability to model external auditors? evaluation of the internal audit function. Specifically, models based on multistage (cascaded) inference theory are developed and analyzed using numerical sensitivity analysis. The modeling contribution is significant in the sense that it is the only study that provides a theoretical model for the decision process. Results reveal that the importance of the three factors varies with the type of evidence (convergent or conflicting) observed and is contingent on the interrelationships among the three factors. A major conclusion of this study is that in the Bayesian context, it is futile to attempt a ranking of the factors since no single factor will dominate under all conditions. The study also provides avenues for future research and for improving the guidance provided by professional auditing standards that relate to the evaluation of internal audit work.
Coronary Calcium Predicts Events Better With Absolute Calcium Scores Than Age-Sex-Race/Ethnicity Percentiles: MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis)

Objectives In this study, we aimed to establish whether age-sex–specific percentiles of coronary artery calcium (CAC) predict cardiovascular outcomes better than the actual (absolute) CAC score. Background The presence and extent of CAC correlates with the overall magnitude of coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden and with the development of subsequent coronary events. Methods MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) is a prospective cohort study of 6,814 asymptomatic participants followed for coronary heart disease (CHD) events including myocardial infarction, angina, resuscitated cardiac arrest, or CHD death. Time to incident CHD was modeled with Cox regression, and we compared models with percentiles based on age, sex, and/or race/ethnicity to categories commonly used (0, 1 to 100, 101 to 400, 400+ Agatston units). Results There were 163 (2.4%) incident CHD events (median follow-up 3.75 years). Expressing CAC in terms of age- and sex-specific percentiles had significantly lower area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) than when using absolute scores (women: AUC 0.73 versus 0.76, p = 0.044; men: AUC 0.73 versus 0.77, p 90th percentile associated with a hazard ratio [HR] of 16.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.30 to 28.9, and score >400 associated with HR of 20.6, 95% CI: 11.8 to 36.0). Within groups based on age-, sex-, and race/ethnicity-specific percentiles there remains a clear trend of increasing risk across levels of the absolute CAC groups. In contrast, once absolute CAC category is fixed, there is no increasing trend across levels of age-, sex-, and race/ethnicity-specific categories. Patients with low absolute scores are low-risk, regardless of age-, sex-, and race/ethnicity-specific percentile rank. Persons with an absolute CAC score of >400 are high risk, regardless of percentile rank. Conclusions Using absolute CAC in standard groups performed better than age-, sex-, and race/ethnicity-specific percentiles in terms of model fit and discrimination. We recommend using cut points based on the absolute CAC amount, and the common CAC cut points of 100 and 400 seem to perform well.
Control and braiding of Majorana fermions bound to magnetic domain walls

Owing to the recent progress on endowing the electronic structure of magnetic nanowires with topological properties, the associated topological solitons in the magnetic texture---magnetic domain walls---appear as very natural hosts for exotic electronic excitations. Here, we propose to use the magnetic domain walls to engender Majorana fermions, which has several notable advantages compared to the existing approaches. First of all, the local tunneling density-of-states anomaly associated with the Majorana zero mode bound to a smooth magnetic soliton is immune to most of parasitic artifacts associated with the abrupt physical ends of a wire, which mar the existing experimental probes. Second, a viable route to move and braid Majorana fermions is offered by domain-wall motion. In particular, we envision the recently demonstrated heat-current induced motion of domain walls in insulating ferromagnets as a promising tool for nonintrusive displacement of Majorana modes. This leads us to propose a feasible scheme for braiding domain walls within a magnetic nanowire network, which manifests the nob-Abelian exchange statistics within the Majorana subspace.
The Effect of Solar Proton Events on Ozone and Other Constituents

Solar proton events (SPEs) can cause changes in constituents in the Earth's middle atmosphere. The highly energetic protons cause ionizations, excitations, dissociations, and dissociative ionizations of the background constituents. Complicated ion chemistry leads to HO(x) production and dissociation of N2 leads to NO(y) production. Both the HO(x) and NO(y) increases can result in changes to ozone in the stratosphere and mesosphere. The HO(x) increases lead to short-lived ozone decreases in the mesosphere and upper stratosphere due to the short lifetimes of the HO(x) constituents. The NO(y) increases lead to long-lived stratospheric ozone changes because of the long lifetime of NO(y) constituents in this region. The NO(y) induced ozone changes are generally decreases, however, the NO(y) constituents can interfere with chlorine and bromine radicals in the lowest part of the stratosphere and cause ozone increases. Temperature changes have been predicted to occur as a result of the larger SPEs. Eleven SPEs have caused measurable atmospheric variations since 1969. Neutral wind variations were measured shortly after the July 1982 and April 1984 SPEs. The recent July 2000 SPE caused NO(x) increases that lasted for two months past the event. The two periods of largest SPEs (August 1972 and October 1989) caused ozone decreases that lasted for several weeks past the events.