cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relation between Cognitive Function and Mortality in Middle-aged Adults The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

An independent, inverse association between cognitive function and all-cause mortality has been reported in elderly cohorts. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the same association exists in middle-aged persons. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study is a cohort study initiated in 1987 to investigate the development of atherosclerosis in middle-aged persons. Three cognitive function measures were included in the second cohort examination conducted from 1990 to 1992 when the participants were aged 48–67 years: the Delayed Word Recall Test (DWRT), the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) (a subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised), and the Word Fluency Test from the Multilingual Aphasia Examination. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to determine whether all-cause mortality ascertained through 1997 was associated with each measure after adjustment for sociodemographic, biologic, psychologic, and behavioral risk factors. Without adjustment, there was a significantly lower mortality hazard associated with higher scores on all three measures. After covariate adjustment, the hazard ratios for the DWRT and the DSST remained significant (hazard ratio1-point DWRT score increment = 0.90, 95% confidence interval: 0.84, 0.97; hazard ratio7-point DSST score increment = 0.86, 95% confidence interval: 0.80, 0.93). Cognitive function measured in middle age appears to have prognostic importance for life expectancy similar to that reported in elderly adults. cognition; cohort studies; mortality; risk factors
Investigation of broadband electromagnetic induction scattering by highly conductive, permeable, arbitrarily shaped 3-D objects

Operating as low as tens of hertz and as high as hundreds of kilohertz, new broadband electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensors have shown promise for classification of unseen buried metallic objects. The three-dimensional (3-D) and bodies-of-revolution (BOR) numerical studies reported here are designed to explain key scattering sensitivities that may either be useful in or may limit object classification capability. The target is excited either by a spatially uniform oscillating primary magnetic field or by the oscillating field from a loop antenna. The problem is formulated in terms of Poison's equation for scalar potential outside the object, where conductivity and electric field values are low and consequent conduction currents are generally negligible. The Helmholtz equation for vector potential applies inside the highly conducting and permeable object. In both regions, the electromagnetic phenomena of interest are magneto-quasi-static (MQS). The simulation algorithm uses the method of auxiliary sources (MAS), with auxiliary magnetic charges and auxiliary magnetic current elements distributed on auxiliary surfaces. These surfaces generally conform to but do not coincide with physical surfaces, providing extraordinarily efficient and accurate 3-D solutions. Comparisons to available analytical solutions and experimental data validate the solutions. The simulations and data illuminate broadband MQS scattering phenomenology for both magnetic and nonmagnetic metallic objects. Distinctive sensitivities are shown and signature effects analyzed relative to the scatterer's shape and aspect ratio, orientation, sharp points and edges, finite wall thickness in hollow bodies, and compound structure in which a geometrically complex body consists of a number of distinct sections, e.g., fins.
TTF-1 and Napsin a Double Staining in Diagnosing Lung Adenocarcinoma

Pulmonary cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, and is the leading cause of cancer mortality in men [1]. Lung cancer is divided into small cell cancer and Non-Small Cell Cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC accounts for 80% of all lung cancers and is comprised of Adenocarcinoma (ADC), Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SqCCA) and large cell carcinoma [2]. In addition, 60% of NSCLCs present with locally advanced disease at the time of initial diagnosis [3]. Traditionally, the pathologic lung cancer differential diagnosis was between small cell carcinoma and NSCLC, as sub-typing NSCLC had not been shown to predict differences in patient outcomes. Recent advances in molecular biology have led to an increase in target-specific chemotherapeutic therapies that require the sub-categorization of NSCLCs. The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, the American Thoracic Society, and the European Respiratory Society has outlined a new classification of lung ADCs based on a multidisciplinary approach. They have outlined the importance of further classifying NSCLCs as either ADCs or SqCCAs, since ADCs should be tested for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) fusion gene mutations, as targeted chemotherapeutic agents can be used with greater efficacy [4]. Lung ADCs are often associated with EGFR mutations, and can be effectively treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as gefitinib [5,6]. In addition, ADC have been shown to have improved outcomes when compared to SqCCAs when treated with pemetrexed therapy, which inhibits specific enzymes in purine and pyrimidine synthesis. Finally, the distinction between ADC and SqCCA can avoid potentially hazardous outcomes, as life-threatening hemorrhages have been rarely reported when patients with SqCCAs are treated with bevacizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor [7]. If the classification of NSCLCs cannot be achieved with cytologic/histologic criteria alone, Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining should be employed. Thyroid Transcription Factor 1 (TTF-1) and Napsin A are both stains that have been proven to stain a majority of lung ADCs. TTF-1 is a nuclear stain that has been reported in 87% lung ADCs and 2% of SqCCAs [8]. Napsin A is a cytoplasmic stain that is relatively specific for ADC of the lung and reportedly stains 80% of cases [9]. A combined TTF-1 and Napsin A double stain has also been shown to be useful in the diagnosis of ADC in cell blocks from fine needle aspirates (FNAs) [10].
Encapsulated MEMS resonators — A technology path for MEMS into Frequency Control applications

MEMS resonators have been discussed as replacements for quartz crystals in electronics timing applications for more than 40 years. The emergence of high-quality, low-cost packaging for MEMS resonators has enabled the first demonstrations of long-term stability and opened the door for commercial applications.
Delayed deglaciation or extreme Arctic conditions 21-16 cal. kyr at southeastern Laurentide Ice Sheet margin?

[1] The conventionally accepted ages of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) retreat of the southeastern Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) are 26–21 cal. kyr (derived from bulk-sediment radiocarbon ages) and 28–23 cal. kyr (varve estimates). Utilizing accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)14C dating of earliest macrofossils in 13 lake/bog inorganic clays, we find that vegetation first appeared on the landscape at 16–15 cal. kyr, suggesting ice had not retreated until that time. The gap between previous age estimates and ours is significant and has large implications for our understanding of ocean-atmosphere linkages. Older ages imply extreme Arctic conditions for 9–5 cal kyr; a landscape with no ice, yet no deposition in lakes. Our new AMS chronology of LIS retreat is consistent with marine evidence of deglaciation from the N. Atlantic, showing significant freshwater input and sea level rise only after 19 cal kyr with a cold meltwater lid, perhaps delaying ice melt.
Empowerment in Social Work Practice with Older Women

Literature describing the interface of ageism and sexism on older women, the majority of the nation's elderly population, has resulted in the knowledge that they are a population at risk. Empowerment is a social work process and intervention that has been recommended for work with oppressed populations and with women. An analysis of traditional, feminist, and social work conceptualizations of empowerment, however, identifies issues that are problematic for social workers. This article suggests reasons for broadening the definition and concept of empowerment to allow social welfare professionals to better speak to the multiple needs of women in their later years.
Chick Survival, Fledgling Residency and Evaluation of Methods for Estimating Fledging Success in Least Terns

Abstract Fledgling counts are often used to estimate fledgling production or calculate an index of chick survival (i.e., fledging success) in the Least Tern (Sterna antillarum). Timing of counts is critical because numbers of fledglings present may be influenced by temporal patterns in fledgling departures from colonies and post-fledging mortality. The objectives of the present study were to measure chick survival and fledgling residence time (FRT) at three Least Tern colonies in Maine and examine the accuracy of single or multiple counts of fledglings for estimating fledgling production and fledging success. Chicks were color-banded at age zero to one d in 2002-2003 to estimate chick survival using mark-resighting methods and to examine relationships between fledging date and FRT. Colony sites were searched for banded chicks and fledglings every one to three d from just prior to fledging until their disappearance from the vicinity of nesting areas at three colonies. Data on numbers of banded fledglings k...
Grater: An approximation workflow for exploiting data-level parallelism in FPGA acceleration

Modern applications including graphics, multimedia, web search, and data analytics not only can benefit from acceleration, but also exhibit significant degrees of tolerance to imprecise computation. This amenability to approximation provides an opportunity to trade quality of the results for higher performance and better resource utilization. Exploiting this opportunity is particularly important for FPGA accelerators that are inherently subject to many resource constraints. To better utilize the FPGA resources, we devise, Grater, an automated design workflow for FPGA accelerators that leverages imprecise computation to increase data-level parallelism and achieve higher computational throughput. The core of our workflow is a source-to-source compiler that takes in an input kernel and applies a novel optimization technique that selectively reduces the precision of kernel's data and operations. By selectively reducing the precision of the data and operation, the required area to synthesize the kernels on the FPGA decreases allowing to integrate a larger number of operations and parallel kernels in the fixed area of the FPGA. The larger number of integrated kernels provides more hardware context to better exploit data-level parallelism in the target applications. To effectively explore the possible design space of approximate kernels, we exploit a genetic algorithm to find a subset of safe-to-approximate operations and data elements and then tune their precision levels until the desired output quality is achieved. GRATER exploits a fully software technique and does not require any changes to the underlying FPGA hardware. We evaluate Grater on a diverse set of data-intensive OpenCL benchmarks from the AMD SDK. The synthesis result on a modern Altera FPGA shows that our approximation workflow yields 1.4×–3.0× higher throughput with less than 1% quality loss.
The Motion of Particles Ahead of a Solidification Front

Fig. 1 shows particles of magnesium oxide and zink, which are piled up at the solidification front of salol and thymol, respectively. The particle diameter is about 5µm. The solidification rate was 10µm/s. Fig. 1 is taken from a paper of Uhlmann, Chalmers and Jackson (1964).
The FDA, Contraceptive Approval, and Controversial Use: Depo-Provera and the Risk of Osteoporosis

Depo-Provera is a three month injectable drug that held out the promise that it could play a prominent role in the contraceptive revolution. Upjohn, the drug's manufacturer, submitted it for Food and Drug Administration approval in 1967, but the scientific and political controversy delayed the drug's approval until 1992. Since Depo-Provera's approval, the drug's use has raised serious concerns about the risk of breast cancer and osteoporosis. The drug's lengthy approval process and continuing evidence of its health risks can be told by two women: Dr. Judith Weisz, a reproductive biologist at the University of Pennsylvania's Hershey Medical Center, and Anne MacMurdo, a student at the University of New Orleans.
Prospects for destructive self-induced interactions in a vortex pair due to sinusoidal disturbances

The vortex wakes of large transport aircraft can pose a hazard to smaller following aircraft in the vicinity of airports during landing and take-off operations if certain separation guidelines are not observed. In order to reduce the hazard potential, and thereby the separation distances, efforts are being made to find more rapid wake-dissipation mechanisms. In this paper numerical simulations are made of the three-dimensional time-dependent instabilities that might be initiated in a vortex pair by sinusoidal displacements of the filaments. The objective of the study was to find those displacements and phase angles that would produce the most rapid destruction of the vortices. It is concluded that, of the wave patterns tried on the one pair of wake filaments, the only instability mode that leads to destructive interactions of the vortices is the Scorer-Crow process.
Future Directions for the Implementation and Dissemination of Statewide Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric Integrated Health Care

The integration of mental health and pediatric health care services has long been a goal for both research and practice. With the advent of federal policies developed to mandate clinical efficiency across the health care spectrum, this issue is becoming more salient. Applied literature on this topic is only recently emerging, however, and there are limited contextual examples to guide program development, research, and refinement. This article presents background information relevant to the development of such a program (the Center for Advancement of Youth). The cultural and organizational contexts for the project are discussed, with particular emphasis on models for cooperation among several institutions of varying size and scope. The implications for the future of tangible research in this area are also discussed, with attention to extending lessons learned to diverse settings motivated to integrate various aspects of health care service provision.
Renal Artery Thrombosis: A Cause of Reversible Acute Renal Failure

Acute renal failure can be produced by interruption of the arterial blood supply. We describe a case of acute renal failure that developed owing to thrombosis of the renal artery of the only functioning kidney. This thrombosis occurred in an artery that was stenosed probably by an arteriosclerotic plaque. The blood flow was re-established successfully by the passage of the catheter into the thrombosed artery and intra-balloon dilation of the stenosis.
Tone-dependent responses of histamine in feline pulmonary vascular bed

Under conditions of controlled pulmonary blood flow and constant left atrial pressure, histamine produced tone-dependent responses in the pulmonary vascular (PV) bed of intact-chest, spontaneously breathing cats. At low, baseline PV tone, histamine produced dose-dependent increases in mean lobar arterial pressure that were antagonized by the selective histamine H1-receptor antagonist, diphenhydramine. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor, meclofenamate, and the thromboxane A2 (TxA2) receptor antagonist, SQ-29548, had no effect on these vasoconstrictor responses of histamine. After an increase in PV tone with an intralobar arterial infusion of a TxA2 mimic, U-46619, histamine produced vasodilator responses at low doses, biphasic vasodilator/vasoconstrictor responses at midrange doses, and vasoconstrictor responses at high doses. Diphenhydramine antagonized vasoconstrictor responses and the vasodilator responses of low to midrange doses and enhanced vasodilator responses of high doses of histamine at elevated PV tone. Selective H2-receptor antagonists, ranitidine and meclofenamate, and selective H3-receptor antagonist, thioperamide, did not antagonize vasodilator responses of histamine. H1- and H2-receptor antagonism was more effective in reducing the vasodilator responses of histamine at elevated PV tone than H1-receptor antagonism alone. These data support that histamine produces vasoconstrictor responses at low baseline and elevated PV tone by acting on H1 receptors that do not induce the release of vasoconstrictor prostanoids. At elevated PV tone, histamine produces vasodilation by acting on H1 receptors that are not coupled to the release of vasodilator prostaglandins and also, in part, by acting on H2 receptors.
Purchasing Patterns and Advertisement Audience for Consumer Purchases and Repurchasing Decisions

The research examined the concept that advertising appears to be directed toward tradtional social models while actual consumer roles may have changed. It was noted that initial purchases appear to involve a consultation however, when repurchases were investigated major differences existed. This has implications for advertising and marketing strategies.
The Biology of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Chronic graft-versus-host (GVHD) disease occurs in as many as 30–50% of long-term survivors after allogeneic marrow transplantation, even when the donor was an HLA genotypically identical sibling (1, 2). Because of severe morbidity and mortality associated with this syndrome, it has a major effect on long-term results of clinical marrow transplantation (3). Chronic GVHD generally develops within 3 months to one year after transplantation. Three forms of onset have been recognized (4): 1) Progressive chronic GVHD, i.e. as a continuation of acute GVHD, 2) quiescent chronic GVHD, i.e. after a disease-free, asymptomatic interval following acute GVHD, and 3) de novo chronic GVHD in patients who never had any clinical manifestation of acute GVHD. The prognosis is the worst for patients with progressive chronic GVHD, intermediate with quiescent, and best with de novo chronic GVHD.
Variability in GRMHD Simulations of Sgr A∗: Implications for EHT Closure Phase Observations

NSF GRFP [DGE 1144085]; NASA/NSF TCAN [NNX14AB48G]; NSF [TM6-17006X, AST 1312034, AST-1207752, 1228509]; John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation; Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University
A regularized, model-based approach to phase-based conductivity mapping using MRI.

Purpose To develop a novel regularized, model-based approach to phase-based conductivity mapping that uses structural information to improve the accuracy of conductivity maps. Theory and Methods The inverse of the three-dimensional Laplacian operator is used to model the relationship between measured phase maps and the object conductivity in a penalized weighted least-squares optimization problem. Spatial masks based on structural information are incorporated into the problem to preserve data near boundaries. The proposed Inverse Laplacian method was compared against a restricted Gaussian filter in simulation, phantom, and human experiments. Results The Inverse Laplacian method resulted in lower reconstruction bias and error due to noise in simulations than the Gaussian filter. The Inverse Laplacian method also produced conductivity maps closer to the measured values in a phantom and with reduced noise in the human brain, as compared to the Gaussian filter. Conclusion The Inverse Laplacian method calculates conductivity maps with less noise and more accurate values near boundaries. Improving the accuracy of conductivity maps is integral for advancing the applications of conductivity mapping. Magn Reson Med 78:2011–2021, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
The alkali-silica reaction: The surface charge density of silica and its effect on expansive pressure

Abstract Electrical double-layer theory has been used successfully to explain the expansion caused by the alkali-silica reaction. The net proton surface charge density of the reactive aggregate is a critical parameter for this approach. However, little work has been done to measure the surface charge density of silica as a function of pH at background electrolyte concentrations that are relevant to the conditions existing in concrete pore solution. We therefore measured the net proton surface charge density of silica gel, opal, and quartz as a function of pH in 0.7 mol·L −1 electrolyte solution (NaCl and KCl). The effects of electrolyte concentration and pH on the electrical double-layer estimate of expansive pressure caused by the alkali-silica reaction are significant.
Effects of sow-crate design on sow and piglet behavior

The effects of sow-crate design on certain behaviors of sows and piglets at farrowing and again approximately 3 wk later were evaluated with a 2 x 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of crate width (narrow [N = 55 cm] or wide [W = 64] between lowest horizontal pipes), length (short [S = 183 cm] or long [L = 198] from rump stop to front gate) and side type (lower side of sow crate "fingered" [F], "bowed" bottom bar 20 cm above the floor [B], or straight bottom bar 20 cm [S20] or 25 cm above the floor [S25]). Farrowing-crate design influenced both sow and piglet behaviors both during and immediately after parturition and during nursing-suckling bouts approximately 3 wk later. Activities of 51 sows and their piglets were videorecorded during and immediately following parturition. Sow-crate design affected neither the interval between births of successive piglets in a litter nor the frequency of standing by the sow during parturition. Latency from birth to first mammary contact (LMC) was greater with S25-sided and S sow crates, and especially with S, W crates. A significant interaction occurred between sow-crate side type and dimensions; LMC was longer when S25 sides were combined with S or W crates. Data on suckling behavior were collected from 113 litters over three successive sucklings approximately 3 wk after farrowing. Sow-crate design had no effect either on the consistency with which a piglet suckled a particular teat or teat pair or on the frequency of multiple-teat use. Piglets maintained fewer functional teats with S, S20 crates. The distribution of functional teats between rows was less symmetric with S crates. Piglets nursed with their bodies over a side bar more frequently with B- and S20-sided crates. The sow permitted her piglets to suckle while she was in a vertical stance more frequently with S and N crates, and especially with S, N crates. Sow-crate design affected important behaviors of sows and piglets both during and immediately after parturition as well as during nursing-suckling bouts about 3 wk later.
Online Catalogs and the Retrospective Conversion of Special Collections

The perspective in this paper is that of a systems librarian who, in the course of the last four years, has worked closely with special collections staff at Brown University to develop specifications for retrospective conversion and to load special collections records into Brown’s online catalog. Brown University devotes a significant portion of its resources to the acquisition, organization, service, and preservation of rare books and special collections. The John Hay Library at Brown is devoted entirely to special collections. It houses some 250,000 monographs, 300,000 pieces of sheet music, over two million manuscript items, and sundry collections of broadsides, . . .
Photothermal intracellular delivery with self-aligned cell seeding

We demonstrated a photothermal delivery approach with self-aligned cell seeding, which was realized by simple fabrication of microwells and sharp tips. Calcein molecules (622 Da) were successfully delivered into cells with above 80% viability.
Molecular Alterations in the Pathogenesis of Bladder Cancer Subtypes and Urothelial Carcinoma Variants

Carcinoma of the urinary bladder exhibits a wide spectrum of morphologies that is characteristic of this disease. Urothelial carcinoma (UCa) represents the most common tumor that develops in the urinary bladder and it is well established that there is remarkable propensity for divergent differentiation in this disease. A number of well-documented variant histologies are commonly encountered in approximately one third of invasive UCa (Amin, Mod Pathol 22: S96–S118, 2009; Linder, et al., J Urol 190: 1692–6, 2013; Shah, et al., Urol Oncol 31: 1650–5, 2013; Moch, et al., World health organization classification of tumours, 2016). These include squamous, glandular, micropapillary, sarcomatoid, small cell/neuroendocrine, clear cell, lymphoepithelioma-like, and plasmacytoid types among others. Pure squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma can also occur in the bladder but are generally rare. In this chapter we will provide an update on the recent molecular developments with particular focus on those related to the variant histologies of bladder cancer.
Dasatibib-induced authophagy is synergistically enhanced in combination with temozolomide and is further augmented in PTEN-functional glioma

1325 Glioblastoma is defined by its high cellularity and mitotic activity, aggressive invasiveness, microvascular proliferation, and central necrosis. BMS-354825 (dasatinib) is an ATP-competitive small-molecule inhibitor effective in treating drug-resistant tumors with mutant BCR-ABL, KIT, and EGFR by blocking tyrosine phosphorylation sites that are critical in tumorigenesis. In studying the action of dasatinib in human glioblastoma, we found that levels of phosphorylated SRC, AKT, and ribosomal protein S6 were decreased in cell lines treated with low-nanomolar concentrations of dasatinib at baseline and following stimulation with epidermal growth factor. Furthermore, an increased sensitivity to dasatinib was noted in glioma cells with functional PTEN. These data indicate that the assessment of PTEN, MAPK, AKT, and rpS6 in glioblastoma treatment may provide a guide on which optimal therapeutic solutions can be based. Reduction of invasive potential was observed in vitro at concentrations well below dasatinib’s IC 50 , which was corroborated by immunofluorescence staining showing disruption of paxillin localization to focal adhesions and decreases in FAK autophosphorylation. Cell cycle analysis revealed modest levels of G 1 arrest but a significant increase in autophagic cell death in glioma cells treated with dasatinib as assessed by acridine orange staining and a concomitant increase in LC3 expression and processing. Combination treatment of glioma cells with dasatinib and temozolomide resulted in a highly significant increase in cell cycle disruption and autophagic cell death, notably increasing the therapeutic efficacy of temozolomide. These results strongly support the use of dasatinib in the treatment of glioblastoma and provide a rationale for combination therapy with dasatinib and temozolomide.
Le for Les in the Spoken Educated Spanish of Eleven Cities

A phenomenon that is encountered fairly frequently in Spanish but has received relatively little attention on the part of linguists is the use of the singular indirect object pronoun le when the plural les would be expected, as illustrated in the following examples: Hay que darle un justo precio a las personas. (BOG-8:107) Mi papa le tenia terror a las balas perdidas. (CAR-34:615) Nosotros le calentamos a los ninos la comida. (HAV-2:30) Se le ponia bola negra a las que se lo merecian. (MAD-16:266) Es poco el tiempo que puedo dedicarle a mis hijos. (MEX-13:168) To my knowledge, only Kany (1951:107–109) has attempted to deal with this topic in a comprehensive, global manner, and his presentation is limited to one brief paragraph of commentary illustrated by examples taken primarily from works written in the 1920s and 1930s. The present paper will present a general study of this construction focusing primarily on a description of its contemporary usage as reflected in the spoken Spanish of educated speakers from eleven cities, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Havana, La Paz, Lima, Madrid, Mexico City, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Santiago (Chile) and Seville.
Creating the World’s Deadliest Catch: The Process of Enrolling Stakeholders in an Uncertain Endeavor:

There is growing interest in the processes by which entrepreneurial opportunities are cocreated between entrepreneurs and their stakeholders. The longitudinal case study of de novo firm Wakefield S...
High-Quality Multi-tissue Mesh Generation for Finite Element Analysis

Mesh generation on 3D segmented images is a fundamental step for the construction of realistic biomechanical models. Mesh elements with low or large dihedral angles are undesirable, since they are known to underpin the speed and accuracy of the subsequent finite element analysis. In this paper, we present an algorithm for meshing 3D multi-label images. A notable feature of our method is its ability to produce tetrahedra with very good dihedral angles respecting, at the same time, the interfaces created by two or more adjoining tissues. Our method employs a Delaunay refinement scheme orchestrated by special point rejection strategies which remove poorly shaped elements without deteriorating the representation of the objects’ anatomical boundaries. Experimental evaluation on CT and MRI atlases have shown that our algorithm produces watertight meshes consisting of elements of very good quality (all the dihedral angles were between 19 and 150 degrees) which makes our method suitable for finite element simulations.
Low-κ polymers

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the need for an interlayer dielectric (ILD) material, with a dielectric constant lower than that of the silicon dioxide and preferably in the range of 1.5–2.5. The chapter briefly examines polymer chemistry related variations in the monomers and their polymerized products. The chapter also discusses the status of the polymer-interlayer dielectric (ILD) related works and knowledge, with special emphasis on the role of the structure and its stability, preparation methods, interactions with the surrounding materials during preparation of the device/circuit structures and under actual use conditions, and the adhesion of such polymers on a metal film and of a metal film on the given polymer. The task of synthesizing an ideal working polymer for ILD application is not simple because of the basic characteristic differences between the polymers and the material like silicon dioxide, which is ideal, but with higher dielectric constant, as an ILD material.
The Influence of Usage Experience on Adoption of Successive ICT Products

When a new version of an information technology product or service appears in the market, consumers’ usage experience with the prior version may influence their adoption patterns. However, this important determinant has been ignored in current research. This study uses mobile services to examine the role of usage experience. We empirically test our hypotheses by using actual field data from China. We find that, in addition to perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment, usage experience with the prior version, that is the 2G service, has a significant influence on intentions to adopt the 3G service. Understanding the influence of usage experience is an important finding given that ICT vendors deliver successive versions of their products, and with this knowledge they could promote faster adoption and diffusion of new products. We discuss some practical implications, highlight factors that influence the adoption of newer generations of products, and delineate future research avenues.
Difficulties in Measuring Wet and Dry Deposition on Forest Canopies and Soil Surfaces

Our ability to determine the effects of wet and dry deposition of acidic substances on soils and forests is directly dependent on: 1. The identification of the important wet- and dry-deposition processes. 2. The determination of the nature of the effect, i.e. cumulative versus episodic, relative to the depositional process. 3. The quantitative measurement of the deposition rates of each process.
A formal model towards scientific workflow security in a cloud

Scientific workflow management systems (SWFMS) may be vulnerable in a cloud since they may have not embraced practical security solutions yet. This paper presents an approach to formal modelling of scientific workflow security in the cloud. We focus on the procedure to build secure data flows in a holistic way. This work also suggests that a whitelist approach to input validation can play a role in protecting the flows from zero-day attacks.
Whole mouse brain connectomics.

Methods have been developed to allow quantitative connectivity of the whole fixed mouse brain by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We have translated what we have learned in clinical imaging to the very special domain of the mouse brain. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of perfusion fixed specimens can now be performed with spatial resolution of 45 μm3 , that is, voxels that are 21,000 times smaller than the human connectome protocol. Specimen preparation has been optimized through an active staining protocol using a Gd chelate. Compressed sensing has been integrated into high performance reconstruction and post processing pipelines allowing acquisition of a whole mouse brain connectome in <12 hr. The methods have been validated against retroviral tracer studies. False positive tracts, which are especially problematic in clinical studies, have been reduced substantially to ~28%. The methods have been streamlined to provide high-fidelity, whole mouse brain connectomes as a routine study. The data package provides holistic insight into the mouse brain with anatomic definition at the meso-scale, quantitative volumes of subfields, scalar DTI metrics, and quantitative tractography.
POLICY SERIES: A VIEW OF WOMEN’S ECONOMIC SECURITY: POLICY ISSUES & PRACTICAL STEPS

AbstractImportant changes across the retirement landscape that impact women’s financial security are making news every day. These changes can be complicated and confusing, but women need to become informed to ensure they make the best decisions and avoid costly mistakes that will affect the rest of their lives. Being financially prepared helps women build financial security and empowers them to make choices. This session will explore the different factors and policies that impact women’s economic security, including ways to measure financial well-being in later life. Also included will be steps and strategies older adults can take to plan for and manage their overall retirement journey.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress and liver diseases

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress occurs when ER homeostasis is perturbed with accumulation of unfolded/misfolded protein or calcium depletion. The unfolded protein response (UPR), comprising of inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α), PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) signaling pathways, is a protective cellular response activated by ER stress. However, UPR activation can also induce cell death upon persistent ER stress. The liver is susceptible to ER stress given its synthetic and other biological functions. Numerous studies from human liver samples and animal disease models have indicated a crucial role of ER stress and UPR signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, cholestatic liver disease, drug-induced liver injury, ischemia/reperfusion injury, viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Extensive investigations have demonstrated the potential underlying mechanisms of the induction of ER stress and the contribution of UPR pathways during the development of the diseases. Moreover ER stress and the UPR proteins and genes have become emerging therapeutic targets to treat liver diseases.
Planned and Unplanned Drug Use during a Night out at an Electronic Dance Music Party.

Background Electronic dance music (EDM) parties at nightclubs and festivals are high-risk scenes for drug use. Although intention to use drugs (such as ecstasy) has been shown to be the most proximal determinant of use, little is known regarding the extent to which drug use is unplanned in this high-risk scene. Methods We surveyed 954 adults entering EDM parties in New York City in 2017 and asked about planned drug use that night. A quarter (n = 236) completed the optional online follow-up survey which asked about drug use during their outing. We examined prevalence and correlates of planned and unplanned use. Results A fifth (21.0%) of attendees reported planning to use a specific drug the night of the party and over a third (35.4%) reported using a drug later that night. A quarter (26.6%) used in an unplanned manner. Unplanned marijuana use was most common (10.7%), followed by unplanned use of ecstasy (7.3%), cocaine (4.7%), amphetamine (1.4%), LSD (1.3%), and MDA (1.1%). Unplanned initiation of ecstasy and PMA also occurred. Unplanned drug use was more likely to occur among those recruited outside of nightclubs compared to festivals. Non-heterosexual participants and those with a college degree or higher were also more likely to engage in unplanned marijuana use compared to heterosexual and less educated participants, respectively. Conclusions Unplanned drug use is common at EDM parties. Results can inform prevention and harm reduction in these scenes as unplanned use may exacerbate potential adverse outcomes related to drug use and often extreme party environments.
How should we define Information Flow in Neural Circuits

We develop a theoretical framework for defining information flow in neural circuits, within the context of "eventrelated" experimental paradigms in neuroscience. Here, a neural circuit is modeled as a directed graph, with "clocked" nodes that send transmissions to each other along the edges of the graph at discrete points in time. We are interested in a definition that captures the flow of "stimulus"-related information, and which guarantees a continuous information path between appropriately defined inputs and outputs in the directed graph. Prior measures, including those based on Granger Causality and Directed Information, fail to provide clear assumptions and guarantees about when they correctly reflect stimulus-related information flow, due to the absence of a theoretical foundation with a mathematical definition. We take a methodical approach— iterating through candidate definitions and counterexamples— to arrive at a definition for information flow that is based on conditional mutual information, and which satisfies desirable properties, including the existence of information paths.
Slab Waveguide-to-Fiber Coupling based on Multiplane Light Conversion

We propose low-loss, low-crosstalk slab waveguide-to-fiber coupling using multiplane light conversion. For coupling between a 6-mode waveguide and fiber, insertion loss and mode-dependent loss are 0.38 dB and 0.23 dB, respectively, with 7 phase plates
The Oncology Evaluation Center: Implementation of a same-day evaluation and treatment center to avoid unnecessary ED visits.

81Background: Oncology patients have high rates of both Emergency Department (ED) visits and readmissions. The Hematology-Oncology Division at this urban, 776-bed academic medical center establishe...
Using Demand Curves to Quantify the Reinforcing Value of Social and Solitary Drinking.

BACKGROUND Young adults typically drink in social settings and report high levels of episodic heavy drinking despite a range of adverse consequences. Behavioral economics posits that this may reflect a reinforcer pathology in which alcohol is overvalued relative to other reinforcers. Theoretically, the value of alcohol is related to both the direct pharmacological effects of alcohol (euphoria, sedation) and the associated social reinforcement, but to date no studies have differentiated the value of social vs. solitary drinking. The current study examines two modified hypothetical alcohol purchase tasks (APTs), one explicitly social and one explicitly solitary, in order to quantify the reward value of social vs. solitary drinking and to determine whether there are unique clinical correlates of solitary alcohol demand. METHODS Participants were young adults (N = 274, Mage = 25.15, SD = 4.10) recruited from Mturk and from a university subject pool. Participants completed a solitary and social APT, in addition to measures of alcohol consumption and problems. RESULTS Participants reported significantly greater demand in the social APT compared to the solitary APT across all demand indices. Elevated solitary and social demand were associated with elevated levels of alcohol use and problems. Using a residualized change approach, solitary demand amplitude (maximum consumption and expenditure) and persistence (price sensitivity) contributed additional variance above and beyond their social APT composite counterparts in predicting typical drinks per week and the self-care, academic/occupational, and physical dependence subscales of the YAACQ. CONCLUSIONS The presence of peers increases alcohol demand compared to a solitary scenario, and greater relative solitary drinking demand may be a risk factor for greater alcohol consumption and problems.
Observations of SNR CTA 1 and the Cyg OB1 region with VERITAS

The Cygnus region is a nearby very active star forming region, containing several OB associations, considered as tracers of young pulsars. Above 12 TeV, the Milagro Collaboration has reported the discovery of a very large source, MGRO J2019+37, lying towards the Cyg OB1 association, at the edge of the Cygnus region. The young and energet- ic pulsar PSR J2021+3651 has been proposed to power this emission. We present here the result of deep VERITAS observations of this region at energies above 650 GeV. These observations unveil extended and complex TeV emission compatible with MGRO J2019+37, likely made of multiple sources, and a clearly separated point source emission from the direction of CTB 87, a pulsar wind nebula candidate. We will also report on the detection of TeV emission from the young Galactic SNR CTA 1, likely powered by the first pulsar discovered through its gamma-ray radiation.
Factors limiting oyster growth in Willapa Bay (Washington, USA) evaluated with in situ feeding experiments

Abstract Natural and anthropogenic environmental changes in estuaries affect the growth and health of organisms living there, often along spatiotemporal gradients. Throughout the world's estuaries, aquaculture and wild oyster populations support food and cultural systems, so quantifying factors affecting growth may inspire interventions to prevent future losses of oyster productivity. In Willapa Bay (Washington, USA), an estuary that produces 10–20% of US oysters, oysters are primarily harvested for market from the lower estuary, putatively due to food limitation up-estuary. We present studies in which in situ experimental systems were designed to manipulate food availability in the upper, and in one case contrasting to the lower, estuary. Contrary to expectations, food addition did not improve survival, shell growth rate or tissue mass of post-metamorphosis juvenile Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas. Instead, the experiment did not recapitulate the impaired growth up-estuary that typifies on-bottom oyster outplants, and irrespective of food addition, growth rates in the upper estuary were equivalent to rapid summer growth (>10 mm month−1) in other regions of the bay. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that elevating oysters above the substrate in the experimental systems removed food limitation caused by reduced clearance rates, thus allowing oysters to grow rapidly, even when other environmental conditions such as carbonate chemistry were poor. This observation is consistent with experience of shellfish growers and a valuable observation for managers of wild and aquaculture shellfish in estuaries.
Ayurvedic Approaches to Acne and Rosacea

Ayurveda, meaning “knowledge of life” in Sanskrit, is a traditional form of medicine that originated in India and is thought to be between 5000 and 15,000 years old. Ayurvedic medicine is built upon the principles that are meant to describe the human body in terms of balance vs imbalance. Diagnostic descriptions are heavily focused on understanding how the body may be shifting out of balance, and interventions are aimed to restore balance. Imbalances encompass physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual states.
Using Interviews to Understand Why: Challenges and Strategies in the Study of Motivated Action:

This article examines an important and thorny problem in interview research: How to assess whether what people say motivated their actions actually did so? We ask three questions: What specific cha...
Visualization of impact cratering in granular media using quarter space penetration tests

Impact cratering has a number of important scientific, military, and civilian applications. In this study, the techniques of quarter space penetration, transparent soil modeling, and high-speed photography are combined to visualize impact cratering of spherical projectiles as they penetrate into different granular media. The shape and size of the cross section of the impact crater were visualized and quantified using these techniques for two granular materials, in both dry and saturated conditions. The crater rate of expansion and the velocity decay were also mapped and used to estimate deceleration rates of the crater expansion. A tool is presented for assessing the shape and size of the crater for the case when the penetrator diverges from the observation window. Shallower craters were observed in angular fused quartz targets in comparison to the rounded sand targets. Similarly, higher viscosity saturating fluids lead to narrower cavities. Besides the open cavity, permanent dilation regions ahead of the projectile were also mapped. The evolution of the crater versus time was used to estimate the deceleration of the rate of expansion of the crater. New Poncelet parameters are also developed for specific testing conditions not available in the literature.
Associations between positively valenced affect and health behaviors vary by arousal

Evidence is mixed with regard to whether positively valanced affect (PA) is associated with engagement in health behaviors. Both affective arousal (activated/deactivated) and level of analysis (between and within-person) may influence such associations. Adults (N = 121; 25-65 years) completed ambulatory assessments of affect and daily reports of sleep, diet, and physical/sedentary activity. Patterns of association were generally consistent at between and within-person levels, although associations varied by arousal. Activated PA was positively associated with action tendencies (i.e., higher physical activity, lower sedentary activities) and riskier behaviors (such as poor diet) whereas deactivated PA was positively associated with engaging in satiety and rest (i.e., better diet, better sleep quality, and more sedentary activity). Results were maintained when covarying for indicators of relative socioeconomic advantage and neuroticism. Overall, arousal appears to be related to the nature of the associations between PA and health behaviors, highlighting the importance of assessing and evaluating a range of arousal states.