cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
hp Boundary element modeling of the external human auditory system––goal-oriented adaptivity with multiple load vectors

In this paper we consider two common problems encountered in boundary element analysis of acoustical scattering problems. The first is the need to resolve the solution only in a finite subregion of the domain, instead of resolving the solution in a global energy norm. This could occur, for example, when attempting to match experimental data that involved microphones placed at discrete points of the domain. The second unresolved issue is multiple right-hand sides, which correspond to rotating angles of incidence of an impinging plane or spherical wave. Constructing a separate adaptive mesh for each right-hand side would quickly become impractical. In this work we present a goal-oriented adaptivity procedure for resolving the boundary element solution only in a finite subregion of the domain, and we implement the method within a multiple right-hand sides context, so that the resulting meshes will be optimized not only for the selected subdomain, but also for all right-hand sides simultaneously. All of this work is part of a general effort to model the external human auditory system. More extensive results on using the above methodology for computing the head-related transfer function of a typical human head/ear will be presented in a forthcoming publication.
Phage display selection can differentiate insecticidal activity of soybean cystatins

Summary Plant cysteine proteinase inhibitors (phytocystatins) have been implicated as defensive molecules against Coleopteran and Hemipteran insect pests. Two soybean cystatins, soyacystatin N (scN) and soyacystatin L (scL), have 70% sequence identity but scN is a much more potent inhibitor of papain, vicilin peptidohydrolase and insect gut proteinases. When these cystatins were displayed on phage particles, papain-binding affinity and CPI activity of scN were substantially greater than those of scL, in direct correlation with their relative CPI activity as soluble recombinant proteins. Furthermore, scN substantially delayed cowpea weevil ( Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)) growth and development in insect feeding bioassays, whereas scL was essentially inactive as an insecticide. Papain biopanning selection of phage-displayed soyacystatins resulted in a 200‐1000-fold greater enrichment for scN relative to scL. These results establish that binding affinity of cystatins can be used in phage display biopanning procedures to select variants with greater insecticidal activity, illustrating the potential of phage display and biopanning selection for directed molecular evolution of biological activity of these plant defensive proteins.
Rater Reactions to Forced Distribution Rating Systems

Two experiments examined raters' reactions to a forced distribution rating system (FDRS), which, despite its popularity in organizations, has been largely ignored in the empirical research literature. Greater difficulty and less fairness were reported by raters when the FDRS was used for administrative purposes and when there was reduced variability in ratee performance. In addition, the FDRS was found to be more difficult and less fair than a more traditional rating scale format. Finally, difficulty and fairness reactions had significant implications for raters' confidence in their ability to provide feedback to the ratees and their self-efficacy for using the system going forward.
Commands, competence, and cariño: maternal socialization practices in Mexican American families.

Early research on the socialization of Latino children has posited that mothers exercise authoritarian practices, compared with lateral reasoning (authoritative) strategies emphasized by Anglo mothers. This work aimed to categorize fixed types of parenting practices tied to the mother’s personality rather than to culturally bounded contexts; it often ignored the emotional warmth or harshness present in compliance attempts and relied on interview questions rather than naturalistic observation. We built from ecocultural theory to observe daily home activities in which Mexican American mothers attempted to correct their young child’s behavior or encourage completion of a task (compliance attempt). We observed 24 first or second-generation mothers and their 4-year-old children and analyzed the activity contexts and multiple forms of 1,477 compliance attempts. Mothers typically led with direct verbal commands in their attempt to achieve compliance. Many blended commands with other compliance strategies, rather than repeating simple behaviors. Drawing on Crockenberg and Litman’s (1990) differentiation of variable compliance strategies, we find that most mothers relied on low power-assertive methods, including verbal commands, rather than inductive strategies that involved reasoning. Few compliance episodes prompted high power-assertive or harsh strategies. The degree of reliance on verbal commands and the complexity of mothers’ repertoires appear to be related to their education and acculturation levels.
Levels of NAD+-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase are reduced in inflammatory bowel disease: Evidence for involvement of TNF-α

Increased amounts of PGE2 have been detected in the inflamed mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This increase has been attributed to enhanced synthesis rather than reduced ca...
Inhaled nitric oxide in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

Nitric oxide (NO) has vasodilatory effects on the pulmonary vasculature in adults and animals. We examined the effects on systemic oxygenation and blood pressure of inhaling up to 80 parts per million by volume of NO at FiO2 0.9 for up to 30 minutes by 6 infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). In all infants this treatment rapidly and significantly increased preductal oxygen saturation (SpO2); in 5 infants postductal SpO2 and oxygen tensions also increased. Inhalation of NO did not cause systemic hypotension or raise methaemoglobin. These data suggest that low levels of inhaled NO have an important role in the reversal of hypoxaemia due to PPHN.
Influence of Tie Flexibility, Relative Length, and End-Boundary Condition on Brick Veneer-Metal Stud Flexural Bond Stress

Based on insights from the Clemson test report on the wall system under discussion, the authors analytically examined the issue of the relative stiffness between the brick veneer and the metal stud. Much controversy has surrounded the contention that the inherent stiffness of the brick veneer will result in critical flexural bond stresses in the veneer when laterally supported on metal studs. Using ordinary conventional relative stiffness methods of analysis, the brick veneer can attract 85% or more of the wind load, whereas the metal studs attract 15% or less. Even if the studs are designed to take full wind load at a span-deflection ratio of 360 to 600, ordinary analysis may still indicate that critical flexure bond stresses will occur in the veneer prior to full participation of the stud. This paper shows that if the inherent tie flexibility, normal shorter metal stud length, and usually free top boundary wall condition are taken into account, critical flexural bond stresses do not exist in the brick veneer on typical brick veneer/metal stud walls. Recommendations on the utilization of inherent boundary conditions to minimize the development of critical flexural bond stresses in the veneer are presented.
Implementation and Quantitative Analysis of a Shared-Memory Based Parallel Server Architecture for Aerospace Information Exchange Applications

This paper focuses on the implementation and quantitative analysis of a high-performance parallel processing aerospace information server. An innovative model of software architecture is provided to effectively utilize the computational power of a parallel server platform for efficient, on-demand aerospace information exchange through the Internet. This is a representative application for servers whose features are common to the classical client-server model. The server architecture supports thread, core, and/or processor-level parallel processing for high performance computing. Memory devices (i.e. cache memory, main memory, and secondary memory) are either shared or distributed among the computational units. Such features facilitate our study of identifying and overcoming the architectural bottlenecks of current commercial server configurations.
Difference or disparity: will big data improve our understanding of sex and cardiovascular disease?

Variations in clinical outcomes, such as mortality rates and complications,1–4 between men and women have been reported in cardiovascular disease for many years. However, whether these are the result of divergent underlying biology, which we often refer to as a difference, or whether they are the consequence of inadequate or inappropriate treatment, which we would refer to as a disparity, remains unclear. Even the definitions of these 2 words are not universally agreed upon, and they are often used interchangeably.5,6 However, the distinction is important to inform the solutions clinical leaders and policymakers might put into place. The major barrier to understand the proportion of variation that is because of different biology versus variation that is because of disparate treatment or differential response to treatment, particularly in complex real-world settings, is that we rarely have the opportunity to concurrently examine data that might elucidate each. However, our growing ability to leverage big data through novel analytics may begin to change that in meaningful ways. The objective of this piece is to present information on areas in which existing data suggest that there are differences, areas in which existing data suggest that there are disparities, and ways in which new big data sources and analytic techniques may allow us to disentangle the 2. Women have long been reported to have ≤2-fold higher rates of in-hospital mortality in the setting of acute myocardial infarction compared with their male counterparts1,2; this relationship is particularly powerful in women <50 years of age and when assessed in community settings.3,4 However, women are typically older when they present with cardiovascular disease, and studies suggest that much, though not all, of the increased mortality risk for women with acute myocardial infarction may be explained …
Robust Preprocessing Algorithm for Face Recognition

The face recognition includes enhancement and segmentation of face image, detection of face boundary and facial features, matching of extracted features against the features in a database, and finally recognition of the face. The face detection algorithms are based on either gray level template matching or computation of geometric relationships among facial features. Though a number of algorithms are devised for face recognition, the technology is not matured enough to recognize the face of a person with and without beard to be the same. This research proposes a robust algorithm for preprocessing the face image with beard for face recognition. Simulation is done using eighteen JPEG images of 9 different persons having beard and without beard. This research finds application in homeland security where it can increase the robustness of the existing face recognition algorithms.
Weak minimization of DFA: an algorithm and applications

DFA minimization is a central problem in algorithm design and is based on the notion of DFA equivalence: Two DFA's are equivalent if and only if they accept the same set of strings. In this paper, we propose a new notion of DFA equivalence (that we call weak-equivalence):We say that two DFA's are weakly equivalent if they both accept the same number of strings of length k for every k. The motivation for this problem is as follows. A large number of counting problems can be solved by encoding the combinatorial objects we want to count as strings over a finite alphabet. If the collection of encoded strings is accepted by a DFA, then standard algorithms from computational linear algebra can be used to solve the counting problem efficiently. When applying this approach to largwe-scale applications, the bottleneck is the space complexity since the computation involves a matrix of order k × k if k is the size of the underlying DFA M. This leads to the natural question: Is there a smaller DFA that is weakly equivalent to M? We present an algorithm of time complexity O(k2) to find a compact DFA equivalent to a given DFA. We illustrate, in the case of tiling problem, that our algorithm reduces a (strongly minimal) DFA by a factor close to 2.
Safeguards and the Perils of Preferential Trade Agreements: Dominican Republic – Safeguard Measures

The legal-economic implications of how WTO members apply an import-restricting safeguard measure become more complex in light of the increasing web of trade concessions undertaken through their preferential trade agreements (PTAs) in addition to their WTO commitments. This paper examines a number of complex issues that arose in the WTO litigation between five new PTA partners through the Dominican Republic – Safeguard Measures disputes. First, we highlight the difficulties in assessing the extent to which safeguards imposed following a PTA are the result of PTA concessions relative to developments that pre-date or are otherwise unrelated to the PTA. Second, we analyze the WTO Panel decision through which a number of previously unresolved questions in the WTO’s safeguards jurisprudence arose. Third, we identify how safeguard-related provisions within a PTA may themselves give rise to constraints that subsequently affect how a country may apply safeguards made available under the WTO Agreements, and we describe some implications for PTA design and negotiation. Finally, we examine the broader implications that arise from the interplay of PTAs, safeguards, and dispute settlement in light of the availability of both relatively substitutable policy instruments and dispute resolution forums.
Scattering Measurements for High Throughput Materials Science Research

We present a high throughput X0ray scattering study (SAXS/WAXS) of the formation and stability of the vesicle phase of a water soluble diblock copolymer, The vesicle shape and shell thickness were investigated as a func, tion of block copolymer concentration and temperature. We were able to eatablish a gowth in the SAXS peak as concentration increased, indicating a greater polymer concentration of vesicles. The effect of temperature was also investigated.
Immunostaining of Estrogen Receptors in Paraffin Sections of Breast Cancers Using Anti-Estrophilin Monoclonal Antibodies

A monoclonal antibody against estrophilin was used to visualize estrogen receptors in paraffin sections of 59 specimens of primary and metastatic or recurrent breast carcinomas from 28 patients. Immunostaining was carried out with the avidin-biotin technique. Positive staining in the form of brown granules, was seen predominantly in the nucleus of carcinoma cells and less frequently in the cytoplasm. Variations in intensity and extent of the immuno-reactivity was observed in all the sections, among different samples from the same specimens, and among different specimens from the same patients. These staining variations are probably related to heterogeneity of the tumor cell population and suggest the need of examining multiple sections from every specimen and as many specimens as possible from any patient with metastases or recurrences. A good correlation was obtained between immunostaining and receptor content of the corresponding specimens examined by dextran-coated charcoal analysis. About one half of the patients with positively stained tumors responded favorably to anti-estrogen therapy, whereas most of those with negatively stained tumors failed to respond. This study indicates that immunostaining of estrogen receptors in paraffin sections of breast carcinomas is a reliable technique and correlates well with biochemical assays for estrophilin. In this group of patients, positive immunostaining could not be used as a predictor for response to anti-estrogen therapy. On the contrary, negative immunostaining appeared to indicate that the patient was unlikely to benefit from anti-estrogens.
Rituals, Compulsions, and Other Syncretic Tools: Insights from Werner's Comparative Psychology

In line with theme of this special issue, this article speaks to a topic in developmental psychology from a Wernerian perspective. We take a Wernerian, comparative, and orthogenetic approach in addressing rituals and other compulsive behaviors in a variety of contexts: Ritual as cultural practice, as a part of pathologic behavior, and as a normative aspect of child development. We discuss the similarities and differences in these various forms of ritual, and conclude by incorporating recent advances in the study of obsessive-compulsive disorder to shed light on the normative variant of compulsive behavior. Our goal is to emphasize the continued relevance Werner's work in light of contemporary trends in developmental psychology, developmental psychopathology, and neuroscience.
Coarse-Grained Order Parameter Dynamics of the Synergetic Computer and Multistable Perception in Schizophrenia

The synergetic computer that has originally been developed as an algorithm for pattern recognition has also been used in the life sciences as a model for various self-organizing perceptual processes. Coarse-graining of the order parameter equations of the synergetic computer is discussed for sets of to-be-perceived patterns that vary in the degree to which they can be distinguished from each other. Coarse-gaining is exploited to conduct a model-based analysis on literature data of multistable perception under schizophrenia as tested in motion-induced blindness (MIB) experiments. The analysis not only supports earlier suggestions that schizophrenia reduces the occurrence frequency of the MIB effect but also suggests that the perceptual system of schizophrenia patients is characterized by a greater degree of asymmetry.
Unusual pit membrane remnants in perforation plates of Cyrillaceae

SCHNEIDER, E. L AND S. CARLQUIST (Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105). Unusual pit membrane remnants in perforation plates of Cyrillaceae. J. Torrey Bot Soc. 130: 225-230. 2003-Pit membrane remnants occur in all collections of Cyrillaceae studied: they are minimal in Cliftonia monophylla, C. parviflora, and Purdiaea antillana, whereas in the specimen of Cyrilla racemiflora, many perforations possess intact pit membranes or membranes with small pores or, in a few cases, large holes. Some perforation pit membranes in C. racemiflora appear to possess holes only in one of the two pit membranes of the two adjacent cells. Retention of pit membrane remnants in C. racemiflora may represent a tendency to lose conductive capability related to the habitat (understory, marshy ground) This could be considered a stage in vessel loss except for the fact that three other criteria for vessel loss are not met. Presence of pit membrane remnants in Cyrillaceae is consistent with such presence in the sister family Clethraceae as well as in other families of Ericales (Theales of some authors) as defined on the basis of recent molecular data.
Comparison of Epitaxial Graphene Growth on Polar and Nonpolar 6H-SiC Faces: On the Growth of Multilayer Films

We present epitaxial graphene (EG) growth on nonpolar 6H-SiC-faces by solid-state decomposition of the SiC substrate in the Knudsen flow regime in vacuum. The material characteristics are compared with those known for EG grown on polar SiC-faces under similar growth conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements indicate that nonpolar faces have thicker layers than polar faces. Among nonpolar faces, the m-plane (1100) has thicker layers than the a-plane (1120). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) shows nanocrystalline graphite features for nonpolar faces, consistent with the small grain size measured by Raman spectroscopy. This is attributed to the lack of a hexagonal template, unlike on the polar Si- and C-faces. These nonpolar face EG films exhibited stress decreasing with increasing growth temperature. These variations are interpreted on the basis of different growth mechanisms on the various faces, as expected from the large differences in surface energy and step dynamics on the various S...
Lymphocyte zinc metabolism in disease : Paroxysmal noctural hemoglobinuria.

Lymphocytes were obtained from two patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria as well as from apparently healthy controls and from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Subsequently, several aspects of zinc metabolism were studied in vitro in short-term cultures of these lymphocytes in order to assess lymphocyte functional capacity. The results of mitogen stimulation and zinc uptake studies for lymphocytes from donors with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria were similar to those obtained for leukemic lymphocytes. The results of studies to determine the inducibility of the low molecular weight zinc-binding protein, metallothionein, by zinc were complicated by the decrease in overall protein synthesis in lymphocytes from donors in the paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. It is proposed that paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is indeed a clonal disorder and the relationship between lymphocytes in this disorder and leukemic lymphocytes is discussed.
The spectrum of the gray zone in breast cytology : a review of 186 cases of atypical and suspicious cytology

A "gray zone" exists in fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of breast; there an unequivocal diagnosis cannot be made. Previous studies have reported a gray zone incidence of 6.9-20%. We reviewed 2,197 fine needle aspirations (FNAs) of the breast performed at our institution to determine the incidence of the gray zone, analyze the sources of difficulty and establish guidelines to minimize the size of the gray zone. One hundred eighty-six (10%) of the total 2,197 FNAs were diagnosed as atypical (91) or suspicious for malignancy (95). The cytologic smears from all 186 equivocal cases and histopathologic sections from 156 of these patients who underwent a biopsy or mastectomy were reviewed. Clinical follow-up was obtained on the remaining 30 cases. Upon review, the causes of the equivocal diagnoses were divided into three categories: (1) technical, in which the smears were either markedly limited in cellularity or obscured by blood and/or drying artifact; (2) inexperience, which included cases that were reclassified by the reviewing cytopathologist as benign or malignant; and (3) the overlap of cytologic features of benign and malignant lesions due to the nature of the lesion, justifying a confirmational biopsy. Technical difficulties accounted for 103 equivocal diagnoses (4.5%); inexperience of the cytopathologist was responsible for 44 cases (2.4%). The third category, which represents the true gray zone in breast cytology, accounted for 39 cases (2%). Fibroadenomas constituted the largest single cause of equivocal diagnoses (17 cases). These fibroadenomas exhibited very cellular smears with marked discohesiveness and occasional nuclear atypia and prominent nucleoli. Other breast lesions in this category were intracystic papillary carcinoma, low grade apocrine carcinoma, solitary intraductal papilloma, and intraductal and atypical hyperplasia. The remaining lesions, and useful criteria of help with the differential diagnosis of the above categories, are discussed.
Case 2: Fever and Neck Swelling in a 3-year-old Boy.

1. Mahdi Alsaleem, MD* 2. Lina Saadeh, MD* 3. Eric McGrath, MD* 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI. A 3-year-old previously healthy boy presents to the emergency department (ED) with a high temperature (39°C [102.2°F]) despite taking acetaminophen and left-sided neck swelling. He has decreased activity and oral intake. He has had clear rhinorrhea with an occasional cough for 1 week but no sore throat or headache. Two days ago, he was seen at the ED and complete blood cell count, rapid streptococcal antigen test, and chest and neck radiographs were normal. He was treated with azithromycin and sent home. However, he has since remained febrile over 2 days and developed swelling and erythema of the left side of his neck, prompting his return to the ED. On physical examination, his temperature is 38.6°C (101.5°F), heart rate is 140 beats/min, respiratory rate is 23 breaths/min, and blood pressure is 100/56 mm Hg. His left posterior cervical region has a tender, firm, freely mobile, enlarged mass measuring 3×2 cm, with induration and overlying erythema. The remainder of his examination findings are unremarkable. Laboratory evaluation reveals a white blood cell count of 22,400/μL (22.4×109/L) with 80% neutrophils, no bands, and 13% lymphocytes; hemoglobin of 10.2 g/dL (102 g/L), and platelet count of 352×103/μL (352×109/L). C-reactive protein is elevated at 117 mg/L (1,114.31 nmol/L). Ultrasonography of the neck reveals multiple lymph nodes in the …
Post-CMP Cleaning

Abstract Chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) has emerged as a critical step in integrated circuit fabrication for achieving global surface planarization of various thin films in the front- and back-end processing. This has led to the development of novel and advanced post-CMP cleaning techniques that can effectively remove different types of contaminants (e.g., particulate, organic, metallic, etc.) from surfaces. There is an increasing effort toward improving the fundamental understanding of the interfacial phenomena and the underlying physical and mechanical mechanisms that drive the post-CMP cleaning process. In this chapter, a review of batch- and single-wafer brush and megasonic cleaning processes with emphasis on the effect of different process variables on particle removal is provided. The first few sections briefly describe the forces that drive particle adhesion and removal in a post-CMP cleaning process. The last part of the chapter focuses on the typical chemical formulations and the role of additives in post-CMP cleaning of silicon dioxide, tungsten, and copper films.
High-Sensitivity Mass Spectrometry for Probing Gene Translation in Single Embryonic Cells in the Early Frog (Xenopus) Embryo.

Direct measurement of protein expression with single-cell resolution promises to deepen the understanding of basic molecular processes during normal and impaired development. High-resolution mass spectrometry provides detailed coverage of the proteomic composition of large numbers of cells. Here we discuss recent mass spectrometry developments based on single-cell capillary electrophoresis that extend discovery proteomics to sufficient sensitivity to enable the measurement of proteins in single cells. The single-cell mass spectrometry system is used to detect a large number of proteins in single embryonic cells in blastomeres in the 16-cell embryo of the South African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) that give rise to distinct tissue types. Single-cell measurements of protein expression provide complementary information on gene transcription during early development of the vertebrate embryo, raising a potential to understand how differential gene expression coordinates normal cell heterogeneity during development.
The synthetic triterpenoid, CDDO-Imidazolide blocks nuclear factor-κB activation through direct inhibition of IκB kinase-beta.

Fifth AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, Nov 12-15, 2006 A94 Signaling cascades emanating from nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) activation have been shown to play pivotal roles in the processes of tumor initiation, promotion, and progression. Inhibition of this pathway is in an attractive target for chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents. The synthetic triterpenoid 1-[2-cyano-3-,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oyl]imidazole (CDDO-Im) is a multifunctional agent with potent anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, cytoprotective, and apoptotic activities, whose molecular targets are unknown. Using both cell-free and cellular assays we show that CDDO-Im, at mid to high nM concentrations is a direct inhibitor of IκB kinase-beta (IKKβ), and that it thereby inhibits binding of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) to DNA and subsequent transcriptional activation. Pretreatment of cells with CDDO-Im prevents IκB alpha (IκBα) phosphorylation and degradation in response to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). The kinetics of this inhibition by CDDO-Im are rapid and occur with 15 minutes. A biotinylated analog of CDDO-Im showed that CDDO-Im binds to the IKK signalsome. Furthermore, we show that cysteine 179 on IKK is a target for CDDO-Im. This is the first report to demonstrate that this novel synthetic triterpenoid binds to and inhibits IKKβ directly. Due to the critical role played by NF-κB in tumor initiation, promotion, and progression, inhibition of IKKβ by this novel triterpenoid may play an important pharmacological role in its chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic capabilities. CDDO-Im is currently being evaluated as a chemopreventive agent in a number of preclinical disease models.
Sean Mills, A Place in the Sun: Haiti, Haitians, and the Remaking of Quebec

The sad irony that Montreal was home to more Haitian doctors in the 1960s than Haiti itself is regularly invoked by scholars to highlight the underdevelopment of the Caribbean country and to unders...
Transformations of Uniform Deviates: General Methods

Sampling of random variates from a nonuniform distribution is usually done by applying a transformation to uniform variates. Each realization of the nonuniform random variable might be obtained from a single uniform variate or from a sequence of uniforms. Some methods that use a sequence of uniforms require that the sequence be independent; other methods use a random walk sequence, a Markov chain.
Systematic analysis of the timing and power impact of pure lines and cuts routing for multiple patterning

Line and cut based patterning for BEOL layers is an attractive solution to address the block mask patterning challenges related to self-aligned double patterning. It also enables integrated fill, with fill as an artifact of unused metal routes following lines and cuts patterning. Traditional post-layout fill involves inserting metal at large distances to limit design impact, but is less effective at alleviating metal thickness variation due to density effects. While integrated fill reduces metal thickness variation, it has a negative impact on capacitance, delay and power dissipation. This work studies the impact of pure lines/cuts integrated fill on design performance metrics using a predictive 7 nm PDK. Two fully implemented auto-place and routed (APR) designs are considered for the experiments, one small and one large. Our comparison is from no fill to integrated fill, assuming conventional fill would not impact timing. The impact of integrated fill on capacitance and overall timing is evaluated using Calibre PEX and PrimeTime. We show these results are in line with simple “back of the envelope” estimates and simple models and are very significant for large designs.
Socio-Spatial Analysis of Study Abroad Students’ Experiences in/of Place in Morocco:

This article builds upon existing place-based research through the application of a socio-spatial perspective to make sense of how students’ experiences in/of place shape, and are shaped by, the pr...
Metabolic and Molecular Aspects of Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia refers to the loss of skeletal muscle protein mass and function that occurs with advancing age. Sarcopenia impairs motor function, and is associated with dysregulated substrate metabolism and reduced quality of life in the elderly. This chapter outlines several phenotypic alterations that are associated with sarcopenia, and considers several physiological processes and molecular level signaling pathways that may be dysregulated and involved in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. The pathogenesis is complex and multifactorial. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms will help identify potential therapeutic targets, and lead to better treatments for sarcopenia.
Clinical presentation of Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, and indeterminate colitis: Symptoms, extraintestinal manifestations, and disease phenotypes

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising with 25% of IBD diagnosed in children under 18 years of age. The clinical presentation of IBD in children is often vague leading to initial misdiagnosis as infectious colitis or irritable bowel syndrome. When IBD is identified, overlap in histologic and endoscopic features may lead to difficulty distinguishing Crohn's disease from ulcerative colitis, resulting in a higher frequency of the diagnosis indeterminate colitis or IBD unspecified. Recognizing the common and the atypical presentation of pediatric IBD and extraintestinal manifestations will aid in expeditious referral and early diagnosis. Activity severity scoring tools and more specific classification systems for pediatric IBD direct therapeutic algorithms and allow for improved longitudinal assessment since disease severity and location have been shown to be associated with outcome.
Teaching relevant climate change topics in undergraduate chemistry courses: Motivations, student misconceptions, and resources

This short review gives an overview of recent publications on public views on climate change, student views and misconceptions, and resources for making connections in the classroom and the laboratory between chemistry concepts and climate change concepts.
Mentoring for the Educational Leadership Professoriate: Perspectives From Jay D. Scribner Mentoring Award Recipients and Mentees:

This article presents findings from a study of Jay D. Scribner Award recipients. The purposes were to learn why professors engage in mentoring and to identify activities and supports provided to me...
Precordial S-T segment elevation mapping: An atraumatic method for assessing alterations in the extent of myocardial ischemic injury

Abstract A noninvasive technique for evaluating the extent of myocardial ischemic injury after experimental coronary artery occlusion was devised and applied to study alterations in the extent of injury produced by hemodynamic and pharmacologic interventions. The technique was then extended to the assessment of myocardial ischemic injury in patients with acute myocardial infarction. In 7 closed chest dogs, electrocardiograms were recorded from 15 sites on the chest wall before and after intermittent occlusions of the left anterior descending coronary artery. There was no S-T segment elevation before the occlusion; 15 minutes after occlusion the sum of S-T segment elevations (ΣS-T) averaged 15.0 ± 3.0 mm (SEM, 1 mm deflection = 0.1 mv), and an average of 4.2 ± 0.6 sites exhibited elevations exceeding 0.1 mv (NS-T). Occlusions occurring during administration of isoproterenol (0.25 μg/kg per min) increased ΣS-T to 51.0 ± 9.0 mm and NS-T to 10.6 ± 0.9, whereas occlusions occurring after administration of propranolol (1 mg/kg) decreased ΣS-T to 3.0 ± 1.5 mm and NS-T to 0.2 ± 0.2. In 8 dogs the extent of ischemic injury, manifested by S-T segment changes, was decreased by propranolol and norepinephrine and increased by hemorrhagic hypotension and isoproterenol, applied up to 6 hours after occlusion. Reproducible S-T segment maps, using 35 surface electrodes, were obtained in 19 patients with acute myocardial infarction. In 15 patients studied serially, ΣS-T decreased from 54.25 ± 7.00 to 38.50 ± 6.30 mm and NS-T from 18.7 ± 2.5 to 12.3 ± 2.8, respectively, during a 24 hour period. However, in 3 patients in whom ventricular fibrillation, arterial hypotension and further ischemic pain occurred, ΣS-T and NS-T increased whereas in another patient propranolol decreased ΣS-T and NS-T. Thus, precordial mapping, both in dogs and patients, shows changes parallel to those measured by the epicardial technique and should provide a useful clinical tool for determining acute changes in the extent of ischemic injury.
Energy Partioning in the Photochemistry of Alkanes

The factors which control the partioning of energy to fragments in the photodissociation of alkanes are poorly understood. This is not surprising as there are no reliable estimates of alkane photofragment energies now available. I am convinced, however, that the pursuit of such estimates will provide insight into the detailed mechanisms of alkane photochemistry. This belief is based on the success now being enjoyed by the variety of methods used to determine energy distribution aspects of unimolecular and bimolecular reactions of simple alkyl halides.1,2,3
Defining Governance in Latin America

This exploratory research aims to propose a conceptual definition of governance and to speculate on the state of governance in Latin America. Political instability, corruption, government trust, the rule of law, and nascent democracy complicate the definition and practice of governance in the region. Nevertheless, this papers offered a working definition. Such definition applies variously across countries-- some cases show disheartening results, others seem promising. Common to all countries is that governance is not sufficiently collaborative and innovative in designing democratically responsible solutions to complex twenty-first-century problems because it still depends on highly hierarchical structures and it is rule driven.
Tricuspid valve dysplasia and a patent foramen ovale resulting in severe tricuspid regurgitation and right-heart dilation in a Red Angus calf.

Abstract A two-month-old Red Angus heifer calf presented to the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Care for evaluation of suspected severe bronchopneumonia. Pertinent physical exam findings included tachycardia, tachypnea, dyspnea with a significant abdominal component, and cyanotic mucous membranes. On thoracic auscultation, wheezes were present bilaterally, as well as a grade 2/6 right apical systolic murmur. Thoracic radiographs revealed cardiomegaly, most severely affecting the right side. Echocardiography showed tricuspid valve dysplasia, resulting in severe tricuspid regurgitation and right-heart dilation, as well as a patent foramen ovale. A postmortem examination confirmed the presence of the aforementioned cardiac abnormalities and revealed only mild pulmonary changes. This case report is the first to describe tricuspid dysplasia in the absence of multiple, complex congenital cardiac abnormalities in a calf, and it highlights the value of echocardiography for an antemortem diagnosis.
Inclusion of older adults in research: ensuring relevance, feasibility, and rigor

This Editorial comments on the articles by Vaughan et al, Bowling et al, and Lockett et al. in this issue.
Manifestations of anxiety and coping strategies in patients with metastatic lung cancer and their family caregivers: a qualitative study.

Objective: Advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is common, deadly, and associated with impairing anxiety for patients and caregivers who often co-experience similar symptoms that can vary to...
Toward Quantifying Vertex Similarity in Networks

AbstractVertex similarity is a major concept in network science with a wide range of applications. In this work we provide novel perspectives on finding (dis)similar vertices within a network and across two networks with the same number of vertices (graph matching). With respect to the former problem, we propose to optimize a geometric objective that allows us to express each vertex uniquely as a convex combination of a few extreme types of vertices. Our method has the important advantage of supporting efficiently several types of queries such as, which other vertices are most similar to this vertex? by using appropriate data structures and by mining interesting patterns in the network. With respect to the latter problem (graph matching) we propose the generalized condition number—a quantity widely used in numerical analysis— κ(LG, LH) of the Laplacian matrix representations of G, H as a measure of graph similarity, where G, H are the graphs of interest. We show that this objective has a solid theoretical...
Examining the Role of Financial Therapy on Relationship Outcomes and Help-Seeking Behavior

Disagreements about money are a significant and frequent source of conflict in couple relationships. Few studies to date have explored the dynamics of money in a couple context, and even fewer have explored the influences financial therapy may have on relationship outcomes and help-seeking intentions. The current exploratory study describes a three-session model involving a collaborative approach to financial therapy. Initial findings demonstrate a benefit to the couple relationship as well as insights on subsequent help-seeking intentions following the collaborative process. Financial therapy approaches may help prime couples for additional therapeutic and financial services, as emotional and relational topics tied to shared financial decisions and behaviors are disentangled. Implications and benefits for therapists and financial planners are discussed.
Paralysis Proofs: Secure Dynamic Access Structures for Cryptocurrency Custody and More

The growing adoption of digital assets---including but not limited to cryptocurrencies, tokens, and even identities---calls for secure and robust digital assets custody. A common way to distribute the ownership of a digital asset is (M, N)-threshold access structures. However, traditional access structures leave users with a painful choice. Setting M = N seems attractive as it offers maximum resistance to share compromise, but it also causes maximum brittleness: A single lost share renders the asset permanently frozen, inducing paralysis. Lowering M improves availability, but degrades security.In this paper, we introduce techniques that address this impasse by making general cryptographic access structures dynamic. The core idea is what we call Paralysis Proofs, evidence that players or shares are provably unavailable. Using Paralysis Proofs, we show how to construct a Dynamic Access Structure System (DASS), which can securely and flexibly update target access structures without a trusted third party. We present DASS constructions that combine a trust anchor (a trusted execution environment or smart contract) with a censorship-resistant channel in the form of a blockchain. We offer a formal framework for specifying DASS policies, and show how to achieve critical security and usability properties (safety, liveness, and paralysis-freeness) in a DASS.To illustrate the wide range of applications, we present three use cases of DASSes for improving digital asset custody: a multi-signature scheme that can "downgrade" the threshold should players become unavailable; a hybrid scheme where the centralized custodian can't refuse service; and a smart-contract-based scheme that supports recovery from unexpected bugs.
Vortex core size in 3He–4He films with monolayer superfluid 4He

Abstract The superfluid transition of 3He–4He mixture films adsorbed on alumina powder is studied, with a 4He superfluid coverage near one layer. With up to 1.3 layers of 3He added, the transition becomes strongly broadened, indicating a linear increase in the vortex core size for 3He coverages below one layer. Annealing of the sample mixture at 4.2 K is found to be critically important in ensuring a homogeneous film across the porous substrate.
Assessing Students’ Understanding of Solid-State Electronics in the First Introductory-Level ECE Course

This research paper presents the results of an explorative study to identify what concepts beginning students find challenging regarding semiconductors physics, diodes and transistors at an introductory electric circuits course. In order to prepare students for practically-important and application-relevant circuits and systems, there is a need to properly introduce semiconductors and solid-state electronics early in the electrical/computer engineering curriculum. Such concepts are not traditionally covered in the very first circuits course in most electrical/computer engineering programs. The purpose of this paper is to explore students’ level of understanding of basic semiconductor physics, diodes, transistors and simple circuits that utilize such devices. To address the research purpose, we utilize a Design-Based Research (DBR) methodology. Design-Based Research is an iterative process where new theory is developed through applying research and theory to a specific educational problem, developing conjectures about the relationship between variables, testing and then revising educational intervention based on findings and then retesting. We analyze students’ final exam scores (n=99) to determine which topics were most challenging and then qualitatively analyze students’ work to explore common errors. As more Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) programs look to modernize their introductory courses to include topics of semiconductor physics and devices, this research can inform instructional and curricular interventions.
Spatially fractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy (Lattice SBRT) for large tumors

Abstract Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has demonstrated clinical benefit for patients with metastatic and/or unresectable cancer. Technical considerations of treatment delivery and nearby organs at risk (OARs) can limit the use of SBRT in large tumors or those in unfavorable locations. Spatially fractionated radiotherapy (SFRT) may address this limitation as it can deliver high-dose radiation to discrete sub-volume “vertices” inside a tumor target while restricting the remainder of the target to safer lower dose. Indeed, SFRT, such as GRID, has been utilized for treatment of large tumors with reported dramatic tumor response and minimal side effects. Lattice is a modern approach to SFRT delivered with arc-based therapy, which may allow for safe, high-quality SBRT for large and/or deep tumors. Here we report the results of a dosimetry and quality assurance (QA) feasibility study of Lattice SBRT in 11 patients with 12 tumor targets, each ≥ 10 cm in an axial dimension. Prior CT simulation scans were used to generate volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) Lattice SBRT plans that were then delivered on clinically available Linacs. QA testing included external portal imaging device (EPID) and ion chamber (IC) analysis. All generated plans were able to meet the standard SBRT dose constraints, such as those from AAPM Task Group 101. Additionally, we provide a step-by-step approach for generating and delivering Lattice SBRT plans using commercially available treatment technology. Lattice SBRT is currently being tested in a prospective trials for patients with metastatic cancer needing palliation of large tumors (NCTXXXX, NCTXXXX).
Steep Subthreshold Swing Originating from Gate Delay

Complex gate dielectrics are being widely explored to provide voltage amplification leading to steep subthreshold swing (SS) in transistors [1]. Here we show that hysteretic steep SS can arise simply from the introduction of a series resistance in the gate of a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), i.e. as a dynamic effect. The choice of measurement slew rate (SR) and slew direction then directly affects the measured SS as has been previously reported [2]. We use an ionic polymer gate dielectric to illustrate how in this case the series resistance arises from the ionic conductance, which controls the time response of the electric double layer (EDL) at the polymer/metal [3] or polymer/semiconductor interface [4]. While the ionic polymer in an EDL transistor is used to illustrate the effects, the principles apply generally to other complex insulating gates including ferroelectrics and piezoelectrics.