cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fotografia contra Vontade: as fotografias de Dorothea Lange dos campos de concentração dos Estados Unidos

Este artigo tem como objeto principal as imagens que Dorothea Lange produziu para o governo estadunidense dos campos de concentracao para japoneses-americanos durante a guerra do Pacifico (1941-1945). Considerando o contexto das politicas raciais, as restricoes visuais sobre os campos e a forma como as imagens foram produzidas, suprimidas e comentadas, percebemos que algumas das imagens de Lange resistem a inscricao original, produzindo um contra-arquivo frente a vontade inaugural que as produziu. Propomos aqui uma atencao as imagens dos corpos imoveis, sugerindo ali uma resistencia a demanda da “inclusao” no futuro da estado-nacao liberal.
Variation by state in Medicaid sterilization policies for physician reimbursement.

Abstract Objective To evaluate state-level variation in Medicaid sterilization reimbursement policies for physicians in terms of policy details, flexibility, and review process. Study Design We reviewed state Medicaid websites and interviewed state employees to better understand reimbursement policies and implementation. We attempted to obtain policy details and instructions for physicians from all 50 state Medicaid office websites. We invited employees in all 50 state Medicaid director's offices to participate in semi-structured qualitative interviews. Results We were able to collect data from 48 states’ websites for analysis, conducted 15 telephone interviews, and received 4 written responses from state Medicaid employees. State policies varied greatly in terms of degree of instruction available online to clinicians, number of content-related and logistical changes made compared to the federal policy, type of procedures included, corrections permitted, flexibility in terms of surgeon and procedure changes, review process, reasons for and ramifications of denial, and date of last policy revision. Conclusion There is need for increased transparency and instruction by state Medicaid offices as well as revision of the Medicaid policy to account for the contemporary clinical practice of female permanent contraception. Clinicians should communicate with state Medicaid employees in order to clarify important policy details and obtain greater understanding of their state's review process and ramifications to ensure their clinical practice is both correct and reimbursable. Implications Greater consistency between states in terms of Medicaid policy and implementation is crucial to ensuring physicians are fairly reimbursed for their work, and female permanent contraception remains an accessible contraceptive method for women.
Testing string theory with cosmic microwave background

Future detection/non-detection of tensor modes from inflation in cosmic microwave background observations presents a unique way to test certain features of string theory. The current limit on the ratio of tensor to scalar perturbations, r = T/S, is ; future detection may take place for –10−3. At present all known string theory inflation models predict tensor modes well below the level of detection. Therefore a possible experimental discovery of tensor modes may present a challenge to string cosmology. The strongest bound on r in string inflation follows from the observation that in most of the models based on the Kachru–Kallosh–Linde–Trivedi construction, the value of the Hubble constant H during inflation must be smaller than the gravitino mass. For the gravitino mass in the usual range, TeV, this leads to an extremely strong bound . A discovery of tensor perturbations with would imply that the gravitinos in this class of models are superheavy, GeV. This would have important implications for particle phenomenology based on string theory.
Determinants of caregiver burden in male patients with epilepsy following penetrating traumatic brain injury

Abstract Purpose We determined burden of caring for patients with post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) following penetrating traumatic brain injury (TBI) and identified factors predicting higher burden. Method We assessed 331 caregiver-veteran dyads in Phase 2 (136 PTE, 136 non-PTE, and 59 HC dyads), 133 in Phase 4 (47 PTE, 56 non-PTE, and 30 HC dyads) – 30 years later, and 46 dyads in the follow-up study (18 PTE, 19 non-PTE, and 9 HC). Caregiver’s burden was measured by Zarit Burden Index and a questionnaire. Veterans completed demographic, mental and physical well-being, quality-of-life, and medical-related information. Caregivers provided information about burden and their assessments of cognitive decline and neuropsychiatric status of the veterans. Results PTE caregivers perceived significantly more burden than comparison groups at all phases. Bivariate analyses revealed that caregiver distress due to the veteran’s neuropsychiatric state including cognitive decline, apathy, and disinhibition and the veteran’s characteristics including older age at epilepsy onset and role limitation due to physical problems were associated with higher burden. Finally, we revealed disinhibition distress, and role imitation due to physical problems as the predictors in a model of caregiver burden. Conclusion Elevated PTE caregiver burden is persistent across the life span suggesting that caregivers could benefit from counseling and targeted psychosocial interventions to reduce their burden.
The Prosthetic Penis and the Trans Penis: Changing Representations of and Cultural Discourses About the Penis

Two cultural discourses about the penis strongly tied to medicine, representation, and sexual practice became prominent within the last decade: the prosthetic penis and the trans penis. Both relate...
Experience is not enough: A dynamic explanation of the limited adaptation to extreme weather events in public organizations

Abstract This study advances theory articulating the micro-level processes behind public organization adaptation to extreme weather. It tackles a persistent puzzle about the limited adaptation to extreme weather among public organizations: why does adaptation remain deficit after public organizations have experienced repeated extreme weather and some catastrophic consequences? We develop a computational agent-based model that integrates extant theory and data from semi-structured interviews of U.S. public transit agency managers, and use the model to investigate how micro-level cognition and behavior interact with environmental constraints to facilitate or impede the diffusion of adaptation. We articulate in greater detail how experience with influential extreme weather events matters to adaptation, highlighting that such experience is insufficient for adaptation to occur. A key insight is that the potential benefits from both increased risk perception and additional financial resources stemming from disaster- or non-disaster-induced opportunities can be underutilized, absent effective coupling between heightened risk perception and availability of resources that creates windows for adaptation. Using this insight, we further identify managerial and policy interventions with maximum leverage to promote adaptation to extreme weather in public organizations. The experiments show that slowing risk perception decay and synchronizing opportunities with extreme weather occurrences can stimulate adaptation.
Comparative assessment of test characteristics of cervical cancer screening methods for implementation in low-resource settings

Cervical cancer disproportionately affects low-resource settings. Papanicolaou, human papillomavirus (HPV), and visual inspection of cervix with acetic acid (VIA) testing, each with different characteristics, will reduce cervical cancer burden. We conducted a critical literature review using PubMed, Cochrane, WHO, and grey literature from 1994 to 2020. We examined efficacy, harms, and comparative effectiveness of screening methods by age, human immunodeficiency virus, provider characteristics, and assessed implementation challenges in low-resource settings. Comprehensive data on utility and efficacy of screening tests indicates that each screening has strengths and shortcomings but all confer acceptable performance. HPV and VIA appear more promising. Primary HPV test-and-treat, self-testing, and co-testing have been studied but data on triage plans, cost, support system, implementation and sustainability is unclear in low-resource settings. HPV testing could help target subgroups of older or higher risk women. VIA offers local capacity-building and scalability. Quality VIA technique after HPV testing is still required to guide post-screening treatments. VIA competencies decline gradually with current standard trainings. Stationary cervicography improves VIA quality but isn't scalable. Affordable smartphones eliminate this barrier, enhance training through mentorship, and advance continuing education and peer-to-peer training. Smartphone-based VIA facilitates cervical image storage for patient education, health promotion, record-keeping, follow-up care, remote expert support, and quality control to improve VIA reliability and reproducibility and reduce mis-diagnoses and burden to health systems. Rather than ranking screening methods using test characteristics alone in study or higher-resource settings, we advocate for scalable strategies that maximize reliability and access and reduce cost and human resources.
Philosophy of Legal Reasoning

Practical legal reasoning and argumentation, as is all behavior, are subject to resource limitations. Decisions and judgments are usually made under time pressure, for example. Of particular interest here, however, are limitations on information and knowledge about the law, about the facts of a case, and more generally on our ability to experience, understand and reason rationally about the world. The theory and computational model of legal reasoning to be developed in this book attempts to take some of these pragmatic limitations on rationality into consideration. This chapter and the next discuss certain theories and models of legal philosophy and Artificial Intelligence, respectively, to see what they can contribute to our understanding of legal reasoning in the face of such limitations. After a critical examination of this previous work, my own theory of legal argumentation will then try to take into account the lessons learned.
Documentary film classics

Documentary Film Classics offers close readings on a number of major films, such as Nanook of the North, Land Without Bread, Night and Fog, Chronicle of a Summer and Don't Look Back. Spanning the history of the documentary film tradition, William Rothman analyses the philosophical and historical issues and themes implicit in these works. Designed to guide film students through the 'texts' of a wide range of documentaries, his readings also focus on the achievements of these works as films per se.
The metabolic syndrome and mammographic breast density in a racially diverse and predominantly immigrant sample of women

The metabolic syndrome [MetS, clustering of elevated blood pressure, triglycerides and glucose, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), abdominal obesity] has been associated with increased breast cancer risk, but less is known about its association with mammographic breast density, a strong risk factor for breast cancer. We collected data on risk factors, body size, and blood pressure via in-person interviews and examinations and measured glucose, triglycerides, and HDL-C from dried blood spots from women recruited through a mammography screening clinic (n = 373; 68 % Hispanic, 17 % African-American, 63 % foreign born). We performed linear regression models to examine the associations of each MetS component and the MetS cluster (≥3 components) with percent density and dense breast area, measured using a computer-assisted technique and Cumulus software. About 45 % of women had the MetS, with the prevalence of the individual components ranging from 68 % for abdominal obesity to 33 % for elevated triglycerides. The prevalence of the MetS increased with higher body mass index (BMI) and postmenopausal status, but did not vary substantially by ethnicity, immigrant generational status, parity, age at menarche, or alcohol consumption. Low HDL-C (<50 mg/dL), but not the MetS cluster or the other MetS components, was associated with larger dense breast area after adjusting for age, BMI, fasting time, and educational attainment (β = 8.77, 95 % CI 2.39, 15.14). The MetS and its individual components were not associated with BMI-adjusted percent density. HDL-C alone may have an influence on dense breast tissue that is independent of BMI, and may be in the same direction as its association with breast cancer risk.
Groupwise registration by hierarchical anatomical correspondence detection

We present a novel feature-based groupwise registration method to simultaneously warp the subjects towards the common space. Due to the complexity of the groupwise registration, we resort to decoupling it into two easyto-solve tasks, i.e., alternatively establishing the robust correspondences across different subjects and interpolating the dense deformation fields based on the detected sparse correspondences. Specifically, several novel strategies are proposed in the correspondence detection step. First, attribute vector, instead of intensity only, is used as a morphological signature to guide the anatomical correspondence detection among all subjects. Second, we detect correspondence only on the driving voxels with distinctive attribute vectors for avoiding the ambiguity in detecting correspondences for non-distinctive voxels. Third, soft correspondence assignment (allowing for adaptive detection of multiple correspondences in each subject) is also presented to help establish reliable correspondences across all subjects, which is particularly necessary in the beginning of groupwise registration. Based on the sparse correspondences detected on the driving voxels of each subject, thin-plate splines (TPS) are then used to propagate the correspondences on the driving voxels to the entire brain image for estimating the dense transformation for each subject. By iteratively repeating correspondence detection and dense transformation estimation, all the subjects will be aligned onto a common space simultaneously. Our groupwise registration algorithm has been extensively evaluated by 18 elderly brains, 16 NIREP, and 40 LONI data. In all experiments, our algorithm achieves more robust and accurate registration results, compared to a groupwise registration method and a pairwise registration method, respectively.
Active Handwritten Character Recognition Using Genetic Programming

This paper is intended to demonstrate the effective use of genetic programming in handwritten character recognition. When the resources utilized by the classifier increase incrementally and depend on the complexity of classification task, we term such a classifier as active. The design and implementation of active classifiers based on genetic programming principles becomes very simple and efficient. Genetic Programming has helped optimize handwritten character recognition problem in terms of feature set selection. We propose an implementation with dynamism in pre-processing and classification of handwritten digit images. This paradigm will supplement existing methods by providing better performance in terms of accuracy and processing time per image for classification. Different levels of informative detail can be present in image data and our proposed paradigm helps highlight these information rich zones. We compare our performance with passive and active handwritten digit classification schemes that are based on other pattern recognition techniques.
Modification of fatty acids in eggplant affects its resistance to Verticilliumdahliae

Abstract Expression of the yeast Δ-9 desaturase gene in eggplant increased its levels of 16:1, 18:1, and 16:3 fatty acids and enhanced its resistance to Verticillium dahliae . Eggplants responded to V. dahliae inoculation with transitory upsurges in phospholipase A 2 and lipoxygenase activities, as well as levels of free fatty acids and lipid peroxides. The upsurges of certain fatty acids, in particular the 16:1 and 16:3 fatty acids, were more pronounced in the transgenic plants. cis -Δ9 16:1 was found to directly inhibit the growth of V. dahliae . The results suggest that increasing the production of 16:1 in plants could be an approach to enhance their resistance to fungal diseases
A comparison of alternative 60-mer probe designs in an in-situ synthesized oligonucleotide microarray.

DNA microarrays have proven powerful for functional genomics studies. Several technologies exist for the generation of whole-genome arrays. It is well documented that 25mer probes directed against different regions of the same gene produce variable signal intensity values. However, the extent to which this is true for probes of greater length (60mers) is not well characterized. Moreover, this information has not previously been reported for whole-genome arrays designed against bacteria, whose genomes may differ substantially in characteristics directly affecting microarray performance. We report here an analysis of alternative 60mer probe designs for an in-situ synthesized oligonucleotide array for the GC rich, β-proteobacterium Burkholderia cenocepacia. Probes were designed using the ArrayOligoSel3.5 software package and whole-genome microarrays synthesized by Agilent, Inc. using their in-situ, ink-jet technology platform. We first validated the quality of the microarrays as demonstrated by an average signal to noise ratio of >1000. Next, we determined that the variance of replicate probes (1178 total probes examined) of identical sequence was 3.8% whereas the variance of alternative probes (558 total alternative probes examined) designs was 9.5%. We determined that depending upon the definition, about 2.4% of replicate and 7.8% of alternative probes produced outlier conclusions. Finally, we determined none of the probe design subscores (GC content, internal repeat, binding energy and self annealment) produced by ArrayOligoSel3.5 were predictive or probes that produced outlier signals. Our analysis demonstrated that the use of multiple probes per target sequence is not essential for in-situ synthesized 60mer oligonucleotide arrays designed against bacteria. Although probes producing outlier signals were identified, the use of ratios results in less than 10% of such outlier conclusions. We also determined that several different measures commonly utilized in probe design were not predictive of outlier probes.
Brief report on the effect of providing single versus assorted brand name condoms to hospital patients: a descriptive study

This study examined condom acquisition by persons in a hospital setting when single versus assorted brand name condoms were provided. Condom receptacles were placed in exam rooms of two clinics. During Phase 1, a single brand name was provided; for Phase 2, assorted brand names were added. Number of condoms taken was recorded for each phase. For one clinic there was nearly a two-fold increase in number of condoms taken (Phase 1 to Phase 2); for the second clinic there was negligible difference in number of condoms taken. The provision of assorted brand name condoms, over a single brand name, can serve to increase condom acquisition. Locations of condoms and target population characteristics are related factors.
Expression of AbdB-type homeobox genes in human tumors.

BACKGROUND Homeobox (HOX) genes of the ANT-C/BX-C type control rostral-caudal patterning during embryogenesis. Previous work has shown that tissues express unique HOX gene expression profiles that persist upon transplantation to distant sites. These properties suggest that analysis of HOX genes may be useful for the diagnosis and evaluation of primary and metastatic tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We analyzed normal and neoplastic tissues for the expression of three AbdB-type HOX genes; HOXD10, HOXA9, and HOXC9 to evaluate three hypotheses: (a) that tumors express HOX genes found in their tissue of origin, (b) that metastatic tumors continue to express HOX genes found in the primary tumor, and (c) that the level of HOX expression is related to tumor grade. RESULTS Malignant tumors gave consistent patterns of HOX gene expression that paralleled their tissues of origin. Normal kidney and Wilm's tumors expressed all three genes. Other renal tumors expressed distinct permutations of the three genes. One epithelial Wilm's tumor expressed only an aberrant 0.3 kb HOXD10 transcript. Outside of the kidney, HOXD10 was most characteristic of uterine tumors, HOXA9 of colonic adenocarcinomas, and HOXC9 of two groups of tumors: neoplasms derived from neural crest and mesenchymal tumors derived from intermediate mesoderm. Metastatic tumors retained their HOX gene expression profiles and did not express HOX genes transcribed at the site of metastasis. While modulation of HOX gene expression was observed in some poorly differentiated tumors this was not a consistent measure of tumor grade. CONCLUSIONS HOX gene profile was a reliable indicator of histologic subtype in a variety of tumors and in selected cases provided useful diagnostic information. Persistent expression in metastatic tumors confirmed that HOX expression profiles are potentially useful for diagnosing tumors of unknown origin. Continued analysis of the relationship between level of expression and tumor grade/behavior is indicated.
Alignment of Do-Not-Resuscitate Status With Patients' Likelihood of Favorable Neurological Survival After In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Importance After patients survive an in-hospital cardiac arrest, discussions should occur about prognosis and preferences for future resuscitative efforts. Objective To assess whether patients’ decisions for do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders after a successful resuscitation from in-hospital cardiac arrest are aligned with their expected prognosis. Design, Setting, and Participants Within Get With The Guidelines–Resuscitation, we identified 26 327 patients with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after in-hospital cardiac arrest between April 2006 and September 2012 at 406 US hospitals. Using a previously validated prognostic tool, each patient’s likelihood of favorable neurological survival (ie, without severe neurological disability) was calculated. The proportion of patients with DNR orders within each prognosis score decile and the association between DNR status and actual favorable neurological survival were examined. Exposures Do-not-resuscitate orders within 12 hours of ROSC. Main Outcomes and Measures Likelihood of favorable neurological survival. Results Overall, 5944 (22.6% [95% CI, 22.1%-23.1%]) patients had DNR orders within 12 hours of ROSC. This group was older and had higher rates of comorbidities (all P P for both trends Conclusions and Relevance Although DNR orders after in-hospital cardiac arrest were generally aligned with patients’ likelihood of favorable neurological survival, only one-third of patients with the worst prognosis had DNR orders. Patients with DNR orders had lower survival than those without DNR orders, including those with the best prognosis.
Adsorption Capacity of Activated Carbon for Water Purification

Adsorption on activated carbon is an effective method for water purification. In this article, results for the adsorption capacity of activated carbon for removing organic chemicals from water are presented for a wide variety of substances—alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, acetates, benzenes, chloroalkanes, chloro-olefins, and bromoalkanes. The results use the adsorption capacity as a function of the adsorption potential of the chemical in the aqueous liquid. The correlation constants are displayed in an easy to use tabular format that is especially applicable to rapid engineering usage. Correlation results and experimental data are in favorable agreement. Keywords: activated carbon; water purification; adsorption capacity
Expansile crosslinked polymersomes for pH sensitive delivery of doxorubicin

We report a new crosslinked polymersome with pH-responsive swelling properties through acidic hydrolysis of hydrophobic contents from the amphiphilic polymer chains. Its unique stability under physiological conditions and large swelling capability under low pH conditions give this polymersome promising potential for anticancer drug delivery.
Expression of rat intestinal fatty acid binding protein in E. coli and its subsequent structural analysis: a model system for studying the molecular details of fatty acid-protein interaction

A prokaryotic expression vector containing the rec A promoter and a translational enhancer element from the gene 10 leader of bacteriophage T7 was used to direct efficient synthesis of rat intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) in E. coli. Expression of I-FABP in E. coli has no apparent, deleterious effects on the organism. High levels of expression of I-FABP mRNA in supE+ strains of E. coli, such as JM101, is associated with suppression of termination at its UGA stop codon. This can be eliminated by using a sup-Estrain as MG1655 and by site-directed mutagenesis of the cDNA to create an in frame UAA stop codon. E. coli-derived rat I-FABP lacks its initiator Met residues. It has been crystallized with and without bound palmitate. High resolution x-ray crystallographic studies of the 131 residue apo- and holo-proteins have revealed the following. I-FABP contains 10 anti-parallel β-strands organized into two orthogonally situated β-sheets. The overall conformation of the protein resembles that of a clam — hence the term β-clam. The bound ligand is located in the interior of the protein. Its carboxylate group forms part of a unique five member hydrogen bonding network consisting of two ordered solvent molecules as well as the side chains of Arg106 and Gln115. The hydrocarbon chain of the bound C16:0 fatty acid has a distinctive bent conformation with a slight left-handed helical twist. This conformation is maintained by interactions with the side chains of a number of hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids. Apo-I-FABP has a similar overall conformation to holo-I-FABP indicating that the β-clam structure is stable even without bound ligand. The space occupied by bound ligand in the core of the holo-protein is occupied by additional ordered solvent molecules in the apo-protein. Differences in the side chain orientations pf several residues located over a potential opening to the cores of the apo- and holo-proteins suggest that solvent may play an important role in the binding mechanism. Comparison of the Cα coordinates of apo- and holo-I-FABP with those of other proteins indicates it is a member of a superfamily that currently includes (i) 10 mammalian intracellular lipid binding proteins, (ii) the photoactive yellow protein from the purple photoautotrophic bacterium Ectothiorhodospira halophila and (iii) a group of extracellular lipid binding proteins from a diverse number of phyla that have a common β ‘barrel’ consisting of 8 anti-parallel β-strands stacked in two nearly orthogonal sheets. In summary, E. coli-derived I-FABP not only represents a useful model for assessing the atomic details of fatty acid-protein interactions and the mechanisms which regulate acquisition and release of this type of ligand, but also structure/function relationships in other superfamily members.
Detection of ultrastructural changes in genetically-altered and exercised skeletal muscle using PS-OCT

Birefringence of skeletal muscle has been associated with the ultrastructure of individual sarcomeres, specifically the arrangement of A-bands corresponding to the thick myosin filaments. Murine skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius) was imaged with a fiber-based PS-OCT imaging system to determine the level of birefringence present in the tissue under various conditions. In addition to muscle controls from wild-type mice, muscle from abnormal mice included: genetically-modified ( mdx ) mice which model human muscular dystrophy, transgenic mice exhibiting an overexpression of integrin (α7β1), and transgenic integrin (α7β1)knockout mice. Comparisons were also made between rested and exercised muscles to determine the effects of exercise on muscle birefringence for each of these normal and abnormal conditions. The PS-OCT images revealed that the presence of birefringence was similar in the rested muscle with dystrophy-like features (i.e., lacking the structural protein dystrophin - mdx) and in the integrin (α7β1)knockout muscle when compared to the normal (wild-type) control. However, exercising these abnormal muscle tissues drastically reduced the presence of birefringence detected by the PS-OCT system. The muscle exhibiting an overexpression of integrin (α7β1) remained heavily birefringent before and after exercise, similar to the normal (wild-type) muscle. These results suggest that there is a distinct relationship between the degree of birefringence detected using PS-OCT and the sarcomeric ultrastructure present within skeletal muscle.
DNA distortion mechanism for transcriptional activation by ZntR, a Zn(II)-responsive MerR homologue in Escherichia coli.

MerR-like DNA distortion mechanisms have been proposed for a variety of stress-responsive transcription factors. TheEscherichia coli ZntR protein, a homologue of MerR, has recently been shown to mediate Zn(II)-responsive regulation ofzntA, a gene involved in Zn(II) detoxification. To determine whether the MerR DNA distortion mechanism is conserved among MerR family members, we have purified ZntR to homogeneity and shown that it is a zinc receptor that is necessary and sufficient to stimulate Zn-responsive transcription at the zntA promoter. Biochemical, DNA footprinting, and in vitro transcription assays indicate that apo-ZntR binds in the atypical 20-base pair spacer region of the promoter and distorts the DNA in a manner that is similar to apo-MerR. The addition of Zn(II) to ZntR converts it to a transcriptional activator protein that introduces changes in the DNA conformation. These changes apparently make the promoter a better substrate for RNA polymerase. We propose that this zinc-sensing homologue of MerR restructures the target promoter in a manner similar to that of other stress-responsive transcription factors. The ZntR metalloregulatory protein is a direct Zn(II) sensor that catalyzes transcriptional activation of a zinc efflux gene, thus preventing intracellular Zn(II) from exceeding an optimal but as yet unknown concentration.
Augmented Meaningful Use Criteria to Identify Patients Eligible for Lung Cancer Screening

Background Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose–radiation (low-dose computed tomography [LDCT]) saves lives. Despite recent US Preventive Services Task Force (USPTF) draft endorsement of LCS, a minority of eligible patients get screened. Meaningful use is a set of standards for electronic health records (EHR) established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and includes reporting of smoking status. We sought to improve rates of LCS among patients treated at our institution by identifying eligible patients using augmented smoking-related meaningful use criteria. Methods We launched an LCS program at our institution, a National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) cancer center, in January 2013. We developed a "tobacco screen," administered by clinic staff to all adult outpatients every 6 months and entered into the EHR. This contained smoking-related meaningful use criteria as well as a pack-year calculation and quit date if applicable. Weekly electronic reports of patients who met eligibility criteria for LCS were generated, and EHR review excluded patients who had had chest computed tomography (CT) within 12 months or who were undergoing cancer treatment. We then contacted eligible patients to review eligibility for LCS and communicated with the primary treating physician regarding the plan for LCS. Results During the first 3 months of the program, 4 patients were enrolled, 2 by physician referral and 2 by self-referral. We then began to use the tobacco screen reports and identified 418 patients potentially eligible for LCS. Over the next 7 months, we enrolled a total of 110 patients. Fifty-eight (53%) were identified from the tobacco screen, 32 (29%) were self-referred, and 20 (18%) were physician referrals. Three stage I lung cancers were detected and treated. The tobacco screen was easily implemented by clinic staff and took a median time of 2 minutes to enter for current and former smokers. Lack of response to attempts at telephone contact and objection to paying out-of-pocket costs were the most common reasons for failing to screen eligible patients. Conclusions Use of augmented meaningful use criteria containing detailed tobacco exposure history is feasible and allows for identification of patients eligible for LCS in a medical center. Barriers to LCS include lack of insurance coverage and lack of systematic referral of patients at high risk.
Reproducibility of the measurement of coronary calcium with ultrafast computed tomography

The differences observed in repeated coronary calcium measurements underscores the importance of considering reproducibility issues when evaluating the significance of serial calcium scores. Furthermore, reproducibility data have important implications for planning intervention trials in which ultrafast computed tomography is used to monitor the evolution of atherosclerotic disease.
Chemistry at the Dirac point: Diels-Alder reactivity of graphene.

Most of the interesting physics of graphene results from the singular electronic band structure at the so-called Dirac point, where the conduction and valence bands cross in momentum space. Although graphene is very stable thermodynamically, the electronic structure at the Dirac point facilitates basal plane chemistry including pericyclic reactions such as the Diels–Alder reaction.We have discovered a series of facile Diels–Alder reactions in which graphene can function either as a diene when paired with tetracyanoethylene and maleic anhydride or as a dienophile when paired with 2,3-dimethoxybutadiene and 9-methylanthracene. In this Account, we seek to rationalize these findings using simple arguments based on considerations of orbital symmetry and the frontier molecular orbital theory.The graphene conduction and valence bands (HOMO and LUMO) cross at the Dirac point, which defines the work function (W = 4.6 eV). Thus, the HOMO and LUMO form a degenerate pair of orbitals at this point in momentum space wi...
Evaluation of semiochemical baits for management of southern corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in peanuts

Field trials to test the efficacy of insecticidal semiochemical baits for management of the southern com rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber, in peanuts were conducted in 1992, 1993, and 1994 in North Carolina and Virginia. The baits contained a mixture of cucurbitacins as a feeding arrestant, volatile feeding attractants (1,2,4-trimethoxy-benzene, indole, and trans-cinnamaldehyde), and carbaryl as a toxicant. Results were similar in both North Carolina and Virginia. In 1992 and 1993, there were no statistically significant differences in in-shell yield because of treatment. Numerically highest yields were always obtained in the chlorpyrifos-treated plots; numerically lowest yields occurred in the semiochemical bait-treated plots in 1993 and 1994. In 1994, in-shell yield was significantly higher in the chlorpyrifos-treated than in granular semiochemical bait-treated peanuts. Percentage of undamaged pods was highest in chlorpyrifos-treated and lowest in bait-treated peanuts. Possible reasons for lack of efficacy of baits as applied are discussed relative to the biology of southern corn rootworm in peanuts.
Manometric asymmetry of the lower-esophageal high-pressure zone

The lower-esophageal high-pressure zones (LEHPZ) of 10 normal subjects, 8 patients with hiatus hernia and one patient with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) were investigated using a special 8-lumen recording catheter, the lateral orifices of which were spaced at 45° intervals around the circumference of the catheter. While similar pressures were recorded from all orifices within the stomach and esophageal body, pressures within the LEHPZ were found to be related to spatial orifice position. In normal subjects, but not in patients with hiatus hernia, a significantly higher localized pressure was detected by orifices directed toward the left posterior quadrant of the circumference of the distal esophagus, while a lesser, rather uniform, pressure was recorded from the other three quadrants. From the PSS patient, who had severe gastroesophageal reflux, a LEHPZ was detected only in the left posterior quadrant. The results suggest that the recorded LEHPZ represents the summation of two factors: an intrinsic force possibly due to a physiologic loweresophageal sphincter and an extrinsic force possibly resulting from compression of the distal esophagus by the lateral margin of the diaphragmatic hiatus.
Bridging the Web Accessibility Divide

The Web has become the primary medium for accessing information and for conducting many types of online transactions, including shopping, paying bills, making travel plans, etc. The primary mode of interaction over the Web is via graphical browsers designed for visual navigation. Sighted users can visually segment web pages and quickly identify relevant information. On the contrary, screen readers - the dominant assistive technology used by visually impaired individuals - function by speaking out the screen's content serially. Consequently, users with visual impairments are forced to listen to the information in web pages sequentially, thereby experiencing considerable information overload. This problem becomes even more prominent when conducting online transactions that often involve a number of steps spanning several pages. Thus, there is a large gap in Web accessibility between individuals with visual impairments and their sighted counterparts. This paper we describe our ongoing work on this problem. We have developed several techniques that synergistically couple web content analysis, user's browsing context, process modeling and machine learning to bridge this divide. These techniques include: 1) context-directed browsing that uses link context to find relevant information as users move from page to page; 2) change detection that separates the interface from the implementation of web pages and helps users find relevant information in changing web content; and 3) process modeling that helps users find concepts relevant in web transactions. We describe these three techniques within the context of our Hearsay non-visual web browser.
Automatic computation and drawing of facility layouts with logical aisle structures

A fast heuristic for the facilities layout problem including aisle location is developed. The procedure utilizes the scatter diagram of Drezner to obtain a relative location between departments. A simple modification of the new algorithm produces a powerful technique for pure and near-pure flowshops.
Concealed ventricular premature complexes in a population sample.

Abstract One hundred fifty patients were analyzed with a random sample of patients whose Holter recordings indicated ventricular premature complexes (VPCs). Thirty-five patients (23%) had more than 30 VPCs/hour. Of these 35 patients, 19 had concealed VPCs. This represents 54% of the patients with more than 30 VPCs/hour and 13% of the total sample of 150 patients with VPCs. The most common type of concealed VPCs was the classic concealed bigeminy (S = 2n − 1), which was found in 10 of 19 patients (52%) whose electrocardiograms and patterns were characteristic of concealed VPCs. This was followed by the “even variant” 2n in 5 patients (26%), concealed trigeminy (S = 3n − 1) in 1 (5%), the 3n − 2 variant in 1 (5%) and the “interpolated variant” of 1 + (2n − 1) in 1 (5%). One patient showed a conversion from 2n − 1 to 2n.
Nucleolin/Nsr1p binds to the 3' noncoding region of the tombusvirus RNA and inhibits replication

Previous genome-wide screens identified >100 host genes affecting tombusvirus replication using yeast model host. One of those factors was Nsr1p (nucleolin), which is an abundant RNA-binding shuttle protein involved in rRNA maturation and ribosome assembly. We find that overexpression of Nsr1p in yeast or in Nicotiana benthamiana inhibited the accumulation of tombusvirus RNA by approximately 10-fold. Regulated overexpression of Nsr1p revealed that Nsr1p should be present at the beginning of viral replication for efficient inhibition, suggesting that Nsr1p inhibits an early step in the replication process. In vitro experiments revealed that Nsr1p binds preferably to the 3' UTR in the viral RNA. The purified recombinant Nsr1p inhibited the in vitro replication of the viral RNA in a yeast cell-free assay when preincubated with the viral RNA before the assay. These data support the model that Nsr1p/nucleolin inhibits tombusvirus replication by interfering with the recruitment of the viral RNA for replication.
Solar-fossil HYBRID system analysis: Performance and economics

Abstract This study has developed a method of accounting for the dominant energy flows within a solar fossil hybrid power plant. The method is incorporated in a computer code called HYBRID, which can be linked to a solar central receiver code such as STEAEC. STEAEC, or a similar code, must be used to calculate the power from the solar central receiver (solar power) on an hourly or quarter-hourly basis. HYBRID determines the quantity of solar power directed to thermal storage, the quantity of solar power directed to a specified load, the amount of power retrieved from thermal storage, and the mass of fuel used by the fossil portion of the hybrid power plant. HYBRID uses the calculated fuel requirements to determine the present value of required revenue for the life of the plant. Fuel consumption is shown to be a dominant variable cost in the economic evaluation of a solar-fossil hybrid system. Fuel costs and other economic parameters are normalized to the present value of the capital investment. The range of normalized parameters is established to reflect economic unknowns and system design variability. It is shown that, under the most favorable economic conditions allowed in this study, the present value of the capital investment for a solar-fossil hybrid system should not exceed 2.5 time the present value of the capital investment for a comparable fossil power system if the hybrid is to be economically competitive. Under more probable conditions, this ratio declines to 1.5–2.0.
Collagenolytic activity of sarcoma tissues in culture.

THE possibility that the invasiveness of malignant tissues may result from collagenolytic action of tumour cells was early considered1–3. This idea, however, was not supported by subsequent efforts to isolate a specific enzyme from neoplastic tissues or by attempts to obtain lysis of collagen enclosed in perfusion chambers embedded in tumour bearing animals4.
Fault Tolerance and Extrapolation Stability of a Neural Network Air-Data Estimator

Neural networks have been employed in signal-processing software used to translate the measured pressure distribution from the nose of an aircraft into estimates of freestream static pressure, vehicle speed, and vehicle attitude relative to the e owe eld. The performance of the resulting system under normal e ight conditions has been previously reported. This paper investigates the performance of the neural network system under more adverse conditions. Specie cally, the effect of partial signal failure from the pressure distribution measurements is investigated. Additionally, the stability of the system is tested for applications outside the original domain of the training set. The neural network air-data estimator was found to be both tolerant to faults in the input data and stable when applied to moderate distances of extrapolation.
Appropriate choice of event length in sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-induced dissociation (SORI-CID) experiments: Activated ion collision-induced dissociation

Sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-induced dissociation (SORI-CID) is used in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR/MS) to activate ions through multiple, low-energy collisions. This is done by irradiating the ions with RF energy with a frequency offset, Δf, from their resonant frequency. This causes the orbit radius and kinetic energy of the excited ions to fluctuate with a periodicity of 1/Δf. In this paper we demonstrate that the extent of ion activation (and subsequent dissociation) is strongly influenced when SORI-CID event lengths are not integer multiples of 1/Δf. This is due to residual kinetic energy in the ions following the SORI event. These effects are seen over a range of Δf values. Small variations in SORI-CID event lengths can therefore be used to enhance or suppress dissociation, and care must be taken to account for these effects when comparing threshold dissociation energies obtained using these methods.
Innovative Design for Courses with Group Projects

In this paper, we describe an innovative design for courses with group projects that we have implemented in the graduate Decision Support Systems DSS course offered at the Harriman School for Management and Policy, College of Business, at Stony Brook University. Each group is associated with two projects. For one project, the group acts as the client that is interested in purchasing the DSS under development by a second group. For the other project, the group acts as the developer of a DSS that a third group is interested in purchasing. This design enables students to experience the technical and managerial aspects of software development from the perspectives of both the buyer and the seller. In addition, the design increases each student's in-depth experience with two projects rather than one, thereby providing the student with a broader understanding of the course material. We perform an assessment of the design and present results from a questionnaire about student perceptions.
Television's Interpellation: Heeding, Missing, Ignoring, and Resisting the Call for Pan‐National Identity in the Brazilian Amazon

ABSTRACT In this article, I focus on the ways in which audiences in the Amazonian community of Gurupa respond to television's interpellation for pan-national identity. I examine how viewers heed, miss, ignore, and resist the call for identity as well as how their various responses to this “call” shape their worldview and behavior and impact the process of nation building. Utilizing audience ethnography over a 25-year period, I show in this study how televisual messages are contextualized and localized, mitigating the forces of nationalistic homogenization.
Ceci est mon corps ou L’exécution du testament du marquis de Sade

Le 2 decembre 1959, a l’occasion du 145e anniversaire de la mort du marquis de Sade, l’artiste canadien Jean Benoit accomplit un ceremonial d’expiation au cours duquel il se marque symboliquement et physiquement au fer rouge du nom de Sade. Cet episode se deroula a Paris, dans le cadre de la 8e Exposition internationale du surrealisme. A partir de cet episode, nous analysons la place imaginaire que le marquis de Sade tient dans le mouvement surrealiste et la specificite de la performance theâtrale accomplie par Jean Benoit.
Computer communications student design projects

Three undergraduate design projects in the field of computer communications are described: a microprocessor-controlled private branch exchange (PBX); a ring type local area network; and a computer network design software project. These projects are particularly useful for allowing students to integrate course work in communications, microprocessors, and digital logic and software. Readings for each project which are suitable for undergraduate students are also listed. The undertaking of these projects is divided into four phases. Initially, the students perform reading on the technology in question. This is followed by an initial hardware design and/or software design. During the next (construction) phase, the initial plan is usually modified. Finally, experimentation and modifications are carried out with the completed system. Students typically underestimate the time it will take to produce operational hardware and software. Thus, the faculty advisor's most important task is to see that it is completed in time to allow experimentation. >