cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electromagnetics-thermal co-analysis of real-life 3-D ICs using non-conformal domain decomposition method

Advances in integrated circuit (IC) and package technologies, such as the increase of the number of metal layers and 3-D stacking technique, have paved the way for faster speed and higher performance in today's electronic products. However, continuing down-scaling in feature size poses crucial issues, such as the parasitic couplings between circuit elements and localized Joule heat dissipation. In this work, we introduce a systematic computational Electromagnetic (CEM)-thermal coupling approach capable of dealing with multiscale problems such as 3-D ICs and subsystems. A non-conformal finite element domain decomposition method is utilized to iterative the electrostatic, full-wave electromagnetic and thermal simulation. Moreover, we included preliminary numerical results demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
“Listen My Children and You Shall Hear”: Auditory Preferences in Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Purpose This study tests the hypothesis that toddlers with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) will show differences from contrast groups in preferences for attending to speech. Method This study examined auditory preferences in toddlers with ASD and matched groups of (a) typical age-mates, (b) age-mates with nonautistic developmental disabilities, and (c) younger children matched for language age. The experimental procedure measured time spent oriented to auditory stimuli that were created to exemplify language patterns that had been studied in typically developing infants. Results Findings suggest that toddlers with ASD show a reduced preference for child-directed speech, compared with typical age-mates, but few differences from children with nonautistic developmental disorders. Correlational analysis revealed that time spent listening to child-directed speech by children with ASD was related to their concurrent receptive language ability as well as to receptive language abilities 1 year later. This relatio...
NONSTATIONARITY OF BETA AND TESTS OF MARKET EFFICIENCY

Conclusions from event type studies are usually supported by data generated from some form of the market model. This study examines the robustness of these conclusions to different static and dynamic estimates of beta when the event under investigation occurs during a period of changing systematic risk. The results indicate that when beta is nonstationary, the findings of market inefficiency (or efficiency) in previous studies may be an artifact of the static beta estimation method.
Surface micromachined polysilicon accelerometer

A surfaced micromachined polysilicon accelerometer is designed and manufactured. The sensing element represents a differential capacitor comprised of three polysilicon layers. The structure is made such that the seismic mass (polysilicon layer 2) is movable while the other polysilicon layers (layers 1 and 3) are nonmovable (fixed). The seismic mass is centered between the two fixed layers, thereby creating a differential capacitance: the bottom capacitance being formed between polysilicon layers 1 and 2, and the top capacitance being formed between polysilicon layers 2 and 3. The sensitive axis of the structure is in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. The device can be used with a signal processing circuit configured as an open loop system to achieve a sensitivity of 0.35 mV/g/V. >
Ultrasonographic measurement of aortic diameter by emergency physicians approximates results obtained by computed tomography

To assess agreement between emergency physicians' measurements of abdominal aortic diameter using ultrasound in the Emergency Department (ED) and measurements obtained by computed tomography (CT), a double-blinded, prospective study was conducted. The study enrolled a convenience sample of patients over 50 years of age presenting to the ED and scheduled to undergo CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis. Before CT scan, each patient received an ultrasound from a resident or attending emergency physician measuring anterior-posterior aortic diameter transversely at the approximate level of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), longitudinally midway between the SMA and the iliac bifurcation, and transversely approximately 1 cm above the iliac bifurcation. Two radiologists blinded to the ultrasound measurements then independently measured aortic diameters at the corresponding anatomical points as imaged by CT. The ultrasonographic measurements were then compared with an average of the two CT measurements. Forty physicians enrolled a total of 104 patients into the study. Ultrasonographic measurements of aortic diameter were slightly smaller than those obtained by CT scan, with a difference of means of -0.39 cm (95% CI -0.25 to -0.53) at the level of the SMA, -0.26 cm (95% CI -0.17 to -0.36) on longitudinal view, and -0.11 cm (95 % CI -0.01 to 0.22) at the bifurcation. At the level of the SMA, the difference in measurements by ultrasound and CT would be expected to be less than 1.41 cm, 95% of the time. At the bifurcation, we expect 95% of the differences to be less than 1.05 cm. Agreement was closest on longitudinal view, with 95% of the differences expected to be less than 0.94 cm. Participating physicians estimated the time required to complete their ultrasound studies to be less than 5 min in a majority of cases. In conclusion, ultrasonographic measurement of aortic diameter by emergency physicians rapidly and effectively approximates measurements obtained by CT scan.
Audit Fees and Client Industry Homogeneity

SUMMARY: This study examines the relationship between a client industry's homogeneity and audit fees. We assume that audit efficiencies occur in audits in industries whose members have similar operations and, therefore, are where auditors benefit from the use of similar audit procedures and experience lower average audit costs. To identify industries with similar operations, we use operational expense homogeneity, which is based on the correlations between the changes in operating expenses among industry members. Adapting a standard fee model (Hay, Knechel, and Wong 2006), we find that homogeneity is negatively associated with audit fees. Further, we find that specialist auditors charge lower fees in homogenous industries. Finally, we observe a lower standard deviation of fees in more homogenous industries. Together, these results suggest that auditors sustain lower costs in audits of homogenous clients and that the similarly lower costs incurred across auditors are passed on to clients in the form of low...
An Object Type Graph System

While object types are an abstract specification of object behaviors, object behaviors are significantly affected by method interdependencies in objects. Conventionally, method interdependency information of objects is not reflected in object types. As a result, objects with sufficiently distinct behaviors can be confused to have the same type in conventional type systems, which, among other things, opens the door to let more faulty programs to be compiled and thus weakens the reliability of programs. In this paper, we (1) introduce the notion of object type graphs (OTG) which captures method interdependencies and integrates them into object types; (2) define object typing and subtyping under OTG; (3) demonstrate how problems existing in conventional type systems can be easily resolved under OTG; (4) present an algorithm for computing object method interdependencies; and (5) provide a soundness proof of the OTG system. We argue that OTG system is one step forward towards increasing the reliability of programs.
Mid-infrared materials and devices on a Si platform for optical sensing

In this article, we review our recent work on mid-infrared (mid-IR) photonic materials and devices fabricated on silicon for on-chip sensing applications. Pedestal waveguides based on silicon are demonstrated as broadband mid-IR sensors. Our low-loss mid-IR directional couplers demonstrated in SiNx waveguides are useful in differential sensing applications. Photonic crystal cavities and microdisk resonators based on chalcogenide glasses for high sensitivity are also demonstrated as effective mid-IR sensors. Polymer-based functionalization layers, to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of our sensor devices, are also presented. We discuss the design of mid-IR chalcogenide waveguides integrated with polycrystalline PbTe detectors on a monolithic silicon platform for optical sensing, wherein the use of a low-index spacer layer enables the evanescent coupling of mid-IR light from the waveguides to the detector. Finally, we show the successful fabrication processing of our first prototype mid-IR waveguide-integrated detectors.
Optical Purity Determination, Conformer Populations, and 1H NMR Spectral Simplification with Lanthanide Shift Reagents. Part VII: 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)

The 60 MHz 1H NMR spectra of racemic 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 1, have been studied with the achiral shift reagent, tris(6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedionato) europium (III), 2, and the chiral tris[3-(trifluoromethylhydroxymethylene)-d-camphorato]europium (III), 3. Moderate values of the enantiomeric shift difference, ΔΔδ, were observed for each of the benzylic protons and the CH3, with the use of added 3 in CDCl3 solutions at 28°C. The CH3 resonance was analytically useful for direct optical purity assays; as little as 3% of the minor enantiomer should be detectable. The (+)-isomer of 1 had its CH3 absorption at higher field in spectra shifted by 3. Appropriate peak height measurements were determined for best accuracy in optical purity assays. The relative abundances of the different conformers with respect to Cα-Cβ bond rotation based on coupling constants in the CH2CH moiety are discussed.
The effects of social area characteristics on the relationship between social class and delinquency

This article presents a replication and extension of Johnstone's (1978) work on the effects of social class and the social characteristics of areas on delinquency. Using a sample of middle and junior high school students from several cities around the United States, the analysis conducted by Johnstone, who used a sample of youths from Chicago, is replicated. The analysis conducted here is designed to test whether the manner in which social context affects the impact of social class on involvement in delinquency is consistent with a relative deprivation explanation. While the results of this study provide replicative support for Johnstone's findings, it also was found that the pattern of results provides more support for opportunity explanations of offending than relative deprivation explanations.
What Are the Chances an Availability SLA will be Violated

There is danger in coming to important conclusions based on averages, as insights into spread are not provided by this single measure. When promises are made about availability this is a "mean". Knowledge of availability probabilistic distribution is paramount in understanding what is being offered and what is being bought, as the chance an availability SLA will be violated can be ascertained. Here, the distribution of a typical availability promise, "Five-Nines" or 0.99999, is determined for different DS-3 reliability and maintainability scenarios. As two random variables are in play, "time to fail" and "time to restore", the determination of availability distribution is analytically intractable. Monte Carlo simulation, with exponential failure and repair distributions, is performed to gain insights into availability distribution. The principal findings are that significant chances Five-Nines availability will be violated exist, and that the reliability/maintainability strategy used by the carrier determines availability SLA violation risk.
Contributors to fatigue resistance of the hamstrings and quadriceps in cerebral palsy.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to elucidate relationships between quadriceps and hamstrings voluntary muscle fatigue and upper motor lesion impairments in cerebral palsy in order to gain a better understanding of their contribution to the observed fatigue resistance. Methods Seventeen ambulatory subjects with cerebral palsy (mean age: 17.0, SD = 4.8 years) were recruited. Quantitative measures of strength, spasticity, cocontraction, and stiffness for both muscle groups were collected on an isokinetic dynamometer and entered in a factor analysis. The resulting factors were used as independent variables in a multiple regression analysis with quadriceps and hamstrings fatigue as dependent variables. Findings Five independent factors explained 90% of the variance. In order of loadings, higher hamstring cocontraction and spasticity and lower hamstring strength were associated with lower levels of hamstring fatigue. Higher quadriceps cocontraction and lower quadriceps strength were the most predictive of lower levels of quadriceps fatigue. Interpretation Greater motor impairments of the agonist muscle, particularly cocontraction, spasticity, and weakness, were associated with lower rates of muscle fatigue of the same muscle during performance of a voluntary fatigue protocol for the hamstrings and quadriceps. Muscles are highly adaptable; therefore, the results of this study suggest that the observed fatigue resistance may be due to the effect of the primary neural insult on motor unit recruitment and rate modulation or the result of secondary adaptations to spasticity, weakness, or excessive cocontraction.
Recognition of the N-terminal Modules of Thrombospondin-1 and Thrombospondin-2 by α6β1 Integrin

In addition to its recognition by α3β1 and α4β1 integrins, the N-terminal pentraxin module of thrombospondin-1 is a ligand for α6β1 integrin. α6β1 integrin mediates adhesion of human microvascular endothelial and HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells to immobilized thrombospondin-1 and recombinant N-terminal regions of thrombospondin-1 and thrombospondin-2. α6β1 also mediates chemotaxis of microvascular cells to thrombospondin-1 and thrombospondin-2. Using synthetic peptides, LALERKDHSG was identified as an α6β1-binding sequence in thrombospondin-1. This peptide inhibited α6β1-dependent cell adhesion to thrombospondin-1, thrombospondin-2, and the E8 fragment of murine laminin-1. The Glu residue in this peptide was required for activity, and the corresponding residue (Glu90) in the N-terminal module of thrombospondin-1 was required for its recognition by α6β1, but not by α4β1. α6β1 was also expressed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells; but in these cells, only certain agonists could activate the integrin to recognize thrombospondins. Selective activation of α6β1 integrin in microvascular endothelial cells by the anti-β1 antibody TS2/16 therefore accounts for their adhesion responses to thrombospondins and explains the distinct functions of α4β1 and α6β1 integrins as thrombospondin receptors in microvascular and large vessel endothelial cells.
One Concept and Some of Its Applications

This article introduces one key concept from the author9s most recent book and explores some of its applications. The concept is that a dollar in a tax-deferred account, such as a 401(k), should be viewed as (1 - tn) dollar in a tax-exempt account, such as a Roth IRA, where tn is the expected tax rate in retirement. This concept has several implications for private wealth management. This article discusses some of these implications and their applications.
Leadership and institutional change in the public provision of transportation infrastructure : an analysis of India's Bihar

This study examines the role of leadership in the development of transportation infrastructure, specifically bridges, in the Indian state of Bihar during the 2000s. Drawing from interviews and quan...
Turn-key, liquid-nitrogen-cooled 3.9 [micro sign]m semiconductor laser package with 0.2 W CW output

A CW 3.9 µm diode-pumped InAsSb/GaSb laser yielded 0.2 W at 84 K and 0.26 W at ~68 K in a collimated beam, limited only by the pump power. The beam exhibited 62% coupling efficiency into a 250 µm core, 0.2 NA infrared fibre.
CAPTURE AND FISSION PATTERNS OF U$sup 238$ IN EBR-I (MARK II)

The capture and fission probabilities of U238 have been determined radiochemically as functions of horizontal position in EBR-I (Mark II). The ratios σc(U238)/σf(U235) and σc(U238)/σf (Pu239) are a...
Not Like the South? Regional Variation and Political Participation through the Lens of Section 2

Congress voted last summer to reauthorize the expiring provisions of the Voting Rights Act. Among the reauthorized provisions is the Section 5 preclearance process, which requires "covered" jurisdictions to obtain federal approval before implementing changes to their voting laws. It is widely assumed that the reauthorization of Section 5 will survive constitutional scrutiny only if the record Congress amassed to support the statute documents pervasive unconstitutional conduct in covered jurisdictions for which preclearance offers a remedy. This paper takes issue with that assumption, arguing that precedent requiring such a record for new congressional legislation enforcing civil rights ought not apply when Congress renews an existing, operational statute such as Section 5. To require such a record would mean that only ineffective statutes are entitled to reauthorization. Instead, the inquiry should consider the quality of minority political participation in covered jurisdictions operating without the constraints imposed by the preclearance requirement. Judicial decisions construing the Section 2 of Voting Rights Act offer one lens through which to consider this prospect. While Section 2 differs from Section 5 in significant ways, the very complexity of the Section 2 inquiry renders judicial opinions addressing these claims a rich source of information detailing political participation in the defendant jurisdictions. This paper provides an overview of judicial findings from 331 Section 2 lawsuits decided since 1982, and compares how these findings differ between covered and non-covered jurisdictions.
Simplify Uncertainty Analysis With Excel Macros

A simple classroom exercise is used to teach students about the law of propagation of uncertainty in experimental measurements and analysis. Students calculate the density of a rectangular wooden block with a hole from several measurements of mass and length using a ruler and scale. The ruler and scale give students experience with estimating fixed uncertainties from analog and digital instruments. The analysis is simplified using VBA macros in an Excel workbook that students create as a template for uncertainty analysis.
Changes in plasma prothrombin, Ac-globulin, and antithrombin concentration following intravenous administration of estrogens.

SummarySolutions of estrogenic steroids were administered intravenously to dogs. There was a sharp rise in the plasma Acglobulin and prothrombin concentration. These changes began within the first 15 minutes, reached a peak in about 1 and 1/2 hours. In about 3 or 4 hours normal concentrations were again found. A small decrease in antithrombin activity of plasma was found. Theoretically all these changes tend to enhance coagulability of the blood.
A phase II study of sunitinib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

4637 Background: Patients (pts) with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have a poor prognosis. HCC is a highly vascular tumor with increased levels of angiogenic factors including VEGF and VEG...
Analysis on epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis in Shenyang City from 2004-2012

[Objective]To understand the epidemiological characteristics and laws of tuberculosis(TB) in Shenyang City in recent years,provide the basis for TB prevention and control in the future. [Methods]The epidemic data of TB in Shenyang City from 2004-2012 were analyzed by descriptive epidemiological method. [Results]A total of 46 110 TB cases were reported in Shenyang City from 2004-2012,with the average annual reported incidence rate of 68. 68 / lakh,and there were 210 death cases with the average annual reported mortality rate of 0. 31 / lakh. The ratio of male to female in reported cases was 2. 31∶ 1. The smear positive cases accounted for 38. 22%,sputum negative cases accounted for 55. 64%,cases without sputum examination accounted for 5. 74%, and the culture positive cases accounted for only 0. 40%. The peak season appeared in March. The majority of TB patients were housework,unemployed and farmers,and most cases were people aged 20-59 years old. The incidence rate was high in floating population concentrated areas.[Conclusion]It is necessary to carry out comprehensive prevention and control measures to control and reduce the incidence and prevalence of TB.
The steady state performance analysis and mathematical model of static synchronous series compensator

The steady state performance and mathematical model were presented, which included alternating current and direct-current system. The AC part and DC part of SSSC were analyzed and modeled separately and combined through power conservation law of both side, so the integrated model of SSSC was made. The simulation model of SSSC was derived by EMTDC, the single machine infinite bus system and detailed model of SSSC were simulated. The sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) approach was adopted for the voltage source converter (VSC) to producing fire pulse. The mathematic model and steady state performance are tested by simulation model and the result of simulation is satisfied.
Numerical model of pore‐pressure diffusion associated with the initiation of the 2010–2011 Guy–Greenbrier, Arkansas earthquakes

We model pore-pressure diffusion caused by pressurized waste-fluid injection at two nearby wells and then compare the buildup of pressure with the observed initiation and migration of earthquakes during the early part of the 2010–2011 Guy–Greenbrier earthquake swarm. Pore-pressure diffusion is calculated using MODFLOW 2005 that allows the actual injection histories (volume/day) at the two wells to diffuse through a fractured and faulted 3D aquifer system representing the eastern Arkoma basin. The aquifer system is calibrated using the observed water-level recovery following well shut-in at three wells. We estimate that the hydraulic conductivities of the Boone Formation and Arbuckle Group are 2.2 × 10−2 and 2.03 × 10−3 m day−1, respectively, with a hydraulic conductivity of 1.92 × 10−2 m day−1 in the Hunton Group when considering 1.72 × 10−3 m day−1 in the Chattanooga Shale. Based on the simulated pressure field, injection near the relatively conductive Enders and Guy–Greenbrier faults (that hydraulically connect the Arbuckle Group with the underlying basement) permits pressure diffusion into the crystalline basement, but the effective radius of influence is limited in depth by the vertical anisotropy of the hydraulic diffusivity. Comparing spatial/temporal changes in the simulated pore-pressure field to the observed seismicity suggests that minimum pore-pressure changes of approximately 0.009 and 0.035 MPa are sufficient to initiate seismic activity within the basement and sedimentary sections of the Guy–Greenbrier fault, respectively. Further, the migration of a second front of seismicity appears to follow the approximately 0.012 MPa and 0.055 MPa pore-pressure fronts within the basement and sedimentary sections, respectively.
Of bicycles and bombs: assembling ecological testimonies of conflict in Michael Ondaatje’s Anil’s Ghost

ABSTRACTCritical scholarship on Sri Lankan - Canadian author Michael Ondaatje’s postmodernist novel Anil’s Ghost has primarily focused on human and spectral agencies that animate the postcolonial politics of the novel. In this paper, I seek to complicate and expand such predominantly anthropocentric lenses by contending that material objects in the novel supplement its witnessing ‘from below’ in critical ways. I establish how bicycles, forest spaces, plantation houses and bombs are invested in as seminal ‘actants’ in the novel that impel a complex narrative of conflict violence and imaginaries of the future. The physical makeup of these objects as ‘assemblages’ are harnessed in the novel to produce an eco-critical ethics of witnessing, narrating and engaging with the postcolonial conflict zone that decentres the spectacular violence to foreground lived experiences of war and subaltern resistances to it.
Creativity is Gendered: The Perceived Association Between Masculinity and Creative Ability

In the current research, we propose that lay theories of creativity are gendered in nature and that the gendering of creativity contributes to gender inequality in the workplace. Specifically, we h...
Lymphokine profile in bone marrow transplant recipients

Immune reconstitution after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) recapitulates immune ontogeny. At birth there is an imbalance in lymphokine production, with decreased production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) compared with interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-2. We investigated whether a similar imbalance in lymphokine production occurs in BMT recipients within 6 months after transplantation. Our results show that BMT recipients not treated with immunosuppressive drugs have a decrease in IFN-gamma production and IL-2, in comparison with IL-4. This imbalance was likely to result from impaired signal transduction through surface receptors, because it was detectable on stimulation with Concanavalin A (ConA), but was overcome completely or largely by stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) + ionophore, which bypass surface receptors and mimic the effects of second messengers. In contrast, lymphokine production in patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs (cyclosporine A, corticosteroids) was abnormal after stimulation with PMA and ionophore, as well as ConA. Thus, treated BMT recipients exhibit an additional deficit, which affects the signaling cascade down-stream of second messenger generation and results in impaired lymphokine production.
Define Your Goals Before You Design a CURE: A Call to Use Backward Design in Planning Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences

We recommend using backward design to develop course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). The defining hallmark of CUREs is that students in a formal lab course explore research questions with unknown answers that are broadly relevant outside the course. Because CUREs lead to novel research findings, they represent a unique course design challenge, as the dual nature of these courses requires course designers to consider two distinct, but complementary, sets of goals for the CURE: 1) scientific discovery milestones (i.e., research goals) and 2) student learning in cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains (i.e., pedagogical goals). As more undergraduate laboratory courses are re-imagined as CUREs, how do we thoughtfully design these courses to effectively meet both sets of goals? In this Perspectives article, we explore this question and outline recommendations for using backward design in CURE development.
Oxidative stress mediated by nitrogen at elevated pressure inhibits non-small cell lung cancer growth.

ABSTRACTPurpose/Aim: High pressures of gases such as nitrogen enhance production of singlet oxygen. Therefore, we hypothesized that growth of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells and a human-derived NSCLC explant could be inhibited by an oxidative stress mechanism using high-pressure nitrogen. Materials and Methods: Growth of human NSCLC explants and A549 cells in Matrigel were assessed after implantation into nude mice who were exposed to elevated pressures. Results: Subcutaneous implant growth of NSCLC in nude mice was inhibited by a daily 78-minute protocol using nitrogen/oxygen breathing mixture such that at the maximum pressure of 2.78 atmospheres over ambient, mice breathed oxygen at normal atmospheric pressure. In vivo growth inhibition of A549 cells by high-pressure nitrogen could be abrogated in subcutaneous Matrigel implants when supplemented with 10-mM N-acetylcysteine as an antioxidant. Ex vivo A549 cell exposures exhibited elevated singlet oxygen production, and reactive oxygen speci...
Stimuli-responsive polymer nano-science: Shape anisotropy, responsiveness, applications

Abstract Polymeric nanomaterials capable of altering volume, color, or shape have attracted significant scientific interests as these materials become increasingly critical in advancing unique technological developments. Design, synthesis, and assembly of nanomaterials with precisely controlled shapes and directional responsiveness are particularly critical in the development of new functional, near-device level materials. Spatial anisotropies are typically introduced by the placement of symmetrically or asymmetrically located responsive components enabling either interactions with the environment manifested by dimensional or color changes, energy storage and transfer, or diffusion. This review outlines recent advances in the synthesis, fabrication, and assembly of isotropic and anisotropic polymer-based nanomaterials in which dimensional, color, and morphological changes are induced by external stimuli. Specifically, core-shell, hollow, Janus, gibbous/inverse gibbous nanoparticles prepared with precisely controlled morphologies capable of spatially responding totemperature, pH, electromagnetic radiation or biological changes are discussed. Recent advances in the nanoparticle surface modifications which are introduced to guide nanomaterials to selectively interact and communicate with the environment are also highlighted. Since high aspect ratio nanomaterials, including polymeric nanowires or nanotubes containing responsive components, are particularly attractive in the development of 3D multi-functional objects, their manufacturing as well as applications are examined. Although many uses of stimuli-responsive nanomaterials in electronics, energy conversion, sensing, or biomedicine and other technologies are already in place, there are limitless opportunities for new applications as long as proper regulatory measures are exercised to elevate the impact of these materials on the environment. Polymeric stimuli-responsive nanomaterials offer a tremendous opportunity for the development of cognitive materials’ systems, particularly when protein-like polymers containing amino acids joined by polypeptide bonds with enzymes or sugar-phosphate moieties as well as other sugar-containing interactions are utilized as building blocks and components of future materials.
Transcatheter embolization of persistent embryonic veins in venous malformation syndromes.

Persistent embryonic veins represent a major source of venous hypertension and morbidity in venous malformation syndromes, such as Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome and congenital lipomatous overgrowth, vascular malformations, epidermal nevus, and skeletal deformities syndrome. Surgical stripping and phlebectomy are the most commonly reported alternatives to compression therapy for refractory cases. These techniques, although effective in those patients who meet the necessary anatomic criteria, can be associated with bleeding, wound-related complications, and recurrence. Herein, we present a less invasive endovascular technique for elimination of these incompetent persistent embryonic veins. This technique has fewer anatomic restrictions and can be a suitable first-line option for management of refractory venous insufficiency in this particular population of patients.
Total synthesis of [13C]2-, [13C]3-, and [13C]5-isotopomers of xanthohumol, the principal prenylflavonoid from hops

Abstract Xanthohumol [(E)-6´-methoxy-3´-(3-methylbuten-2-yl)-2´,4´,4´´-trihydroxychalcone], the principal prenylated flavonoid from hops, has a complex bioactivity profile and 13C-labelled isotopomers of this compound are of potential use as molecular probes and as analytical standards to study metabolism and mode-of-action. 1,3-[13C]2-Xanthohumol was prepared by an adaptation of the total synthesis of Khupse and Erhardt in 7 steps and 5.7% overall yield from phloroglucinol by a route incorporating a cascade Claisen-Cope rearrangement to install the 3´-prenyl moiety from a 5´-prenyl aryl ether and an aldol condensation between 1-[13C]-2´,4´-bis(benzyloxymethyloxy)-6´-methoxy-3´-(3-methylbuten-2-yl)acetophenone and 1´-[13C]-4-(methoxymethyloxy)benzaldehyde. The 13C-atom in the methyl ketone was derived from 1-[13C]-acetyl chloride while that in the aryl aldehyde was derived from [13C]-iodomethane. Tri- and penta-13C-labelled xanthohumols were similarly prepared by applying minor modifications to the route.
Kernel‐based measures of association

A general framework for association measures that unifies existing methods and guides derivation of novel measures for complex data types.
Sex Differences in Faculty Rank Among Academic Surgeons in the United States in 2014.

Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate sex differences in full professorship among a comprehensive, contemporary cohort of US academic surgeons.Summary of Background Data:Previous work demonstrates that women are less likely than men to be full professors in academic medicine, and in certai
Training reproductive health providers to talk about intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion: an exploratory study

To explore the effect of provider communication-skills training on frequency of intimate partner violence (IPV) and reproductive coercion (RC) assessment, four family planning clinics were randomized to IPV/RC communication-skills building workshop or standard knowledge-based IPV/RC training and compared to historical controls from the same clinics (before any training). Female patients aged 16-29 completed after-visit surveys. Primary outcomes included provider discussion about IPV/RC, receipt of safety card with IPV/RC resources and patient disclosure of IPV/RC. Chi-square tests were used to compare groups that received training and historical controls. Participants (training: n = 103; historical control: n = 576) were predominantly white with mean age of 22. More patients reported discussion about healthy relationships in both training groups (78-90%) compared to historical controls (49-52%, P < 0.001 for both). Discussion on birth control sabotage and pregnancy coercion was infrequent with patient-participants in both groups (6-17 and 4-13%, respectively). More patients in the clinics that received training reported receiving a safety card (72-84%) as compared to historical controls (9%, P < 0.001 for both). Overall, in this exploratory study, both communication-skills and standard training improved frequency of IPV communication when compared to historical controls but with few differences when compared to each other.
Modeling and Rendering Physically-Based Wood Combustion

Rendering of wood combustion has received some attention recently, but prior work has not incorporated effects of internal wood properties such as density variation (i.e. "grain") and pre-combustion processes such as drying. In this paper we present the status and results of our extensions to prior work of others in the graphics community, leveraging insights and modeling results from physical science fields to simulate the influence of wood grain and moisture on the speed and pattern of decomposition of a burning wooden object.
Maya Angelou's Inaugural Poem

Maya Angelou's performance of her poem On the Pulse of Morning at the inauguration of William Jefferson Clinton as 42nd President of the United States on January 20, 1993, was compared with other poetry and prose performances. Measurements of her pause frequency, pause location, pause duration, phrase length, speech rate, articulation rate, and percentage of pause time all uniquely characterized her performance. Printed versions of Angelou's inaugural poem were also analyzed. Inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, spacing, and line and stanza breaks, along with additions, omissions, and sequence changes of words and phrases, were found. The poem performed possesses a richness unpredictable from either the extant literature on poetry readings or from Angelou's own printed pages.
Collaborative response to disruption propagation (CRDP) in cyber-physical systems and complex networks

Abstract Disruptive events, such as natural disasters and manmade coordinated attacks, have inspired greater interests in the concept of disruption propagation and disruption response in cyber-physical systems (CPSs) and complex networks. Due to the high interconnectedness and complex interactions within and between CPSs, disruptions are not isolated events, and can propagate with severe impacts both locally and remotely, and must be contained lest catastrophic and irreversible damages occur. Responding agents are often employed to tackle the disruptions, and the agents' effectiveness becomes a critical concern, which is addressed in this article. Although the phenomenon of disruption propagation in CPSs and complex networks is becoming better understood, the interactions between the responding agents and the disruption propagation have not yet been investigated and studied in detail. In this work, the Collaborative Response of Disruption Propagation (CRDP) model is introduced as a general approach to the network disruption propagation problem. The CRDP model captures the important components of the problem: The client network, the agent network, the disruptions, and their interactions. Three system awareness analytics and two novel online scheduling protocols have been developed based on the analysis of the interactions. The analytics and protocols seek to provide insights into the system's conditions, and guide the response agents and their management to contain and eliminate the disruption propagation. The CRDP model, together with its developed analytics and protocols, can be applied to different network types, different disruption scenarios, and different response mechanisms available due to the generality of the model.
Community Forum Identifies Opportunities to Engage with Eastern Kentucky Community Leaders about Chronic Disease and Environmental Pollution.

The NIEHS-sponsored Appalachian Health & Well-Being Community Forum held in Eastern Kentucky brought various community members together to communicate and establish better coordination of efforts t...
A-UGV capabilities

A-UGV has been defined by ASTM Committee F45 as an “Automatic, Automated, or Autonomous vehicle that operates while in contact with the ground without a human operator”. However, what do the levels actually mean to manufacturers, users, or especially potential users? This paper defines, and in many cases provides examples of, recommended autonomy levels for all three automatic, automated, and autonomous unmanned ground vehicles.
Low cycle ductile performance of screws used in timber structures

Abstract Self-tapping screws are largely used in both lightweight and massive timber constructions, being able to carry out simultaneously axial (withdrawal) and lateral (shear) loads. In Europe, the requirements of such fasteners are described in EN 14592; however, the standard used until today addresses only their applications under monotonic conditions and it lacks of prescriptions when the screws are used to withstand cyclic loads. Recently, the standard has undergone a significant revision and some specific rules for screws used in seismic areas have been introduced. Specifically, the revised version of EN 14592 defines three low cycle ductility classes, to which a fastener must be assigned based on the outcomes of monotonic and cyclic bending tests. Following the new seismic provisions included in EN 14592, this paper describes the results of an independent study aimed at assessing the low cycle ductile performance of self-tapping screws that are currently available on the market. Approximately 200 experiments are presented and critically analysed, demonstrating that screws with a diameter of 6 mm must be assigned to the lowest low cycle ductility class. Conversely, all screws with diameter greater than or equal to 8 mm have the potential to be assigned to the highest low cycle ductility class.
Hand Calculators: Where Do You Stand?.

Teacher publish careful arguments for and against a particular proposal to stimulate thought and air honest differences regarding issues relevant to the teaching of mathematics. Such pro and con discussions have been difficult to organize. At the risk of being accused of being on the wrong side of an issue by everyone, I would like to raise what appear to be the arguments proposed for and against the use of hand calculators in school mathematics.
The complex nature of research dissemination practices among public health faculty researchers

Objective: This study explores the variety of information formats used and audiences targeted by public health faculty in the process of disseminating research. Methods: The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with twelve faculty members in the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago, asking them about their research practices, habits, and preferences. Results: Faculty scholars disseminate their research findings in a variety of formats intended for multiple audiences, including not only their peers in academia, but also public health practitioners, policymakers, government and other agencies, and community partners. Conclusion: Librarians who serve public health faculty should bear in mind the diversity of faculty’s information needs when designing and improving library services and resources, particularly those related to research dissemination and knowledge translation. Promising areas for growth in health sciences libraries include supporting data visualization, measuring the impact of non-scholarly publications, and promoting institutional repositories for dissemination of research.
Neurological morbidity in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

9529 Background: The majority of children diagnosed with ALL over the past two decades have achieved long-term survival. This remarkable success is attributed in part to intensive central nervous s...
Clinical trials and future directions in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS), a description specific for children with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), was proposed in the recent Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference (PALICC, 2015). This recent standardization of PARDS diagnosis is expected to aid in uniform earlier recognition of the entity, enable use of consistent management strategies and potentially increase the ease of enrollment in future PARDS clinical trials—all of which are expected to optimize outcomes in PARDS. Clinical trials in PARDS are few but ongoing studies are expected to lay the foundation for future clinical studies. The Randomized Evaluation of Sedation Titration for Respiratory Failure trial (RESTORE) trial has revealed that a goal directed sedation protocol does not reduce the duration of invasive ventilation in critically ill children. PROSpect trial is a large multi-institute clinical trial that is expected to reveal optimal ventilation strategies and patient positioning (supine vs. prone) in patients with severe PARDS. The PARDS neuromuscular blockade (NMB) study is expected to yield important information about the impact of active NMB on PARDS outcomes. Information from these studies could be used to design future clinical trials in PARDS and to lessen the anecdotal or extrapolated experiences from adult clinical studies that often guide clinical practices in PARDS management. Finally, it is expected that these definitions and management strategies will be revised periodically as our understanding of PARDS evolves. Emerging data on PARDS subtypes suggest that patient heterogeneity is an important factor in designing these clinical trials.
Patient-related factors may influence nursing perception of sleep in the Intensive Care Unit.

Objective There exist conflicting data regarding the accuracy of ICU nurses accurately assessing patient sleep using validated questionnaires. Using the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RSQ), we hypothesize that patient factors might influence nursing perception of their sleep. Methods Patients in the ICU who met the inclusion criteria were asked to complete the sleep questionnaire, as were their nurses and intraclass correlation analysis was done. Results 38 paired patient-nurse surveys were included for analysis. The mean difference in total average score of the RSQ was not significantly different between patients and nurses. There was fair intraclass correlation by patient age, black race, and admission for respiratory illnesses. A good intraclass correlation existed for non-blacks and admission for non-respiratory reasons. Most striking was the intraclass correlation by sex, with poor intraclass correlation for women compared to an excellent correlation for men. Conclusion The results of our study confirm that patients in our ICU have poor sleep with a fair intraclass correlation. When examined by patient related factor, the greatest divergence between patient and nursing perception of sleep in the ICU using the RCSQ was patient female sex. More research is needed in this area to better understand the divergence and improve sleep in the ICU.
Manufacturing of poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate)-based hollow microvessels using microfluidics

The microvasculature is a vital organ that distributes nutrients within tissues, and collects waste products from them, and which defines the environmental conditions in both normal and disease situations. Here, a microfluidic chip was developed for the fabrication of poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) (PEGDA)-based hollow self-standing microvessels having inner dimensions ranging from 15 μm to 73 μm and displaying biocompatibility/cytocompatibility. Macromer solutions were hydrodynamically focused into a single microchannel to form a concentric flow regime, and were subsequently solidified through photopolymerization. This approach uniquely allowed the fabrication of hollow microvessels having a defined structure and integrity suitable for cell culturing.
Validation of triple-wash procedure with a H2O2-peroxyacetic acid mixer to improve microbial safety and quality of butternut squashes and economic feasibility analysis

Abstract This study aims to i) evaluate two triple-wash procedures with an H2O2-peroxyacetic-acid mixer (SaniDate-5.0) to improve microbial safety and quality of butternut squashes and ii) determine the feasibility of the triple-wash application in a processing plant. In study I, fresh squashes were dip-inoculated with a mixture of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes, followed by two triple-wash steps including water dip-antimicrobial dip-water dip (WAW) or water dip-water dip-antimicrobial dip (WWA). Tested antimicrobials were i) lactic/citric acid blend (LCA; 2.5%); ii) sodium hypochlorite (SH; 100 ppm); and iii) SaniDate-5.0, 0.0064, 0.25 and 0.50%. Surviving bacteria were recovered using XLT-4 agar for Salmonella and MOX agar for L. monocytogenes. In study II, freshly harvested squashes were either left unwashed or triple-washed using WWA in water and SaniDate-5.0 (0.0071 and 0.45%) at a processing plant followed by storage at 9 °C for 70 days. Aerobic Plate Counts (APCs), coliforms/Escherichia coli, lactic-acid-bacteria, and psychrotrophs on squashes were tested every seven days. Counts of Salmonella and L. monocytogenes on unwashed squash were 5.0–5.3 and 5.4–6.0 log CFU/squash, respectively. WWA wash was more effective (P
Advance of study on the impact of climate change on malaria

Malaria is an infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes.The changes of various climate and environment factors,including global warming which has been becoming evident in recent decades,all may have impacts on the epidemic risk of this disease,causing the changes of malaria epidemic intensity and distribution as well as its vector distribution.This paper reviewed the advances of studies on the relationships between malaria transmission and general meteorological factors,the impacts of seasonal and interannual climate variations and extreme weather events on malaria,the possible impact on malaria already caused by climate change and the projection of climate change＇s impact on malaria in the future. Key words: Malaria; Transmission risk; Climate change; Impact