cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling Clutter from Bosnian and Puerto Rican Rough Ground Surfaces for GPR Subsurface Sensing Applications Using the SDFMM

The Steepest Descent Fast Multipole Method (SDFMM) is used to analyze the distorting effect of random rough ground surfaces on scattered and transmitted electromagnetic waves. Two well-measured loamy soils: Bosnian and Puerto Rican clay loam are investigated, each with a variety of surface roughness. This study is important in understanding the effects of different soil properties and is meant to be an a priori phase of investigating scattering from buried targets under the rough ground. In this work, we investigated the scattering from rough soil ground without buried objects. The SDFMM is an integral equation-based fast algorithm that is well suited for two-dimensional penetrable rough surfaces (3-D scattering) in the frequency domain. The scattered and transmitted near electric field of an incident Gaussian beam are calculated at different locations above and below the mean plane of the dielectric rough interface. The receiver locations above are chosen to simulate GPR measurement protocols. The obtained numerical results show that the scattered field undergoes more distortion than the transmitted field from both soil types. Moreover, the transmitted fields into the higher dielectric constant Puerto Rican soil experience more distortion than those transmitted into Bosnian soil.
Design of a Power System State Estimator

A new decoupled fonnulation for static state estimation in power systems is developed in this paper. Efficient state estimation algorithms for small as well as for large power systems are derived, and shown to rapidly yield the required state vector.
Nondegenerate optical Kerr effect in semiconductors

We calculate the nondegenerate bound electronic nonlinear refractive index n/sub 2/(/spl omega//sub 1/;/spl omega//sub 2/) (i.e., an index change at frequency /spl omega//sub 1/ due to the presence of a beam at frequency /spl omega//sub 2/) in semiconductors. We calculate this nonlinearity and its dispersion using a Kramers-Kronig transformation on the calculated nondegenerate nonlinear absorption spectrum due to two-photon absorption, electronic Raman and optical Stark effects. The calculated n/sub 2/ values and their dispersion are compared to new experimental values for ZnSe and ZnS obtained using a 2-color Z-scan. >
Linoleic acid kinetics and conversion to arachidonic acid in the pregnant and fetal baboon.

Linoleic acid plasma kinetics in pregnant ba- boons and its conversion to long chain polyunsaturates (LCP) in fetal organs is characterized over a 29-day period using stable isotope tracers. Pregnant baboons consumed an LCP-free diet and received (U- 13 C)linoleic acid (18:2*) in their third trimester of gestation. In maternal plasma, 18:2* dropped to near baseline by 14 days post-dose, while labeled arachidonic acid (20:4*) plateaued at 10 days at about 70% of total labeled fatty acids. After 2-5 days, total tracer fatty acids decreased in visceral organs, but increased in the fetal brain. Maximal fetal incorporation of 18:2* was 1-2 days post-dose; thereafter it dropped while 20:4* in- creased reciprocally. Labeled 20:4 replaced 18:2* in neural tissues by 5 days post-dose. In liver, kidney, and lung, 20:4* became dominant by 12 days, but in heart the crossover was . 29 days. Fetal brain 20:4* plateaued by 21 days at 0.025% of dose, while fetal liver 20:4* was constant from 1 to 29 days at 0.006% of dose. Under these dietary conditions we estimate that the fetus derives about 50% its 20:4 re- quirement from conversion of dietary 18:2, with the bal- ance from maternal stores, and conclude that 1 ) fetal or- gans accumulate 18:2 within a day of a maternal dose and convert much of it to 20:4 within weeks, 2 ) modest dietary 18:2 levels may support fetal brain requirements for 20:4, and 3 ) the brain retains n-6 fatty acids uniquely compared with major visceral organs. —Su, H-M., T. N. Corso, P. W. Nathanielsz, and J. T. Brenna. Linoleic acid kinetics and converstion to arachidonic acid in the pregnant and fetal baboon. J. Lipid Res. 40: 1304-1311.
Prediction of Soil Layer R-Value Dependence on Moisture Content

i Acknowledgement ii List of Tables v List of Figures vi Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Chapter 2 Literature review 7 Chapter 3 Project Objective 15 Chapter 4 Theoretical Model 16 Physical Model 16 Chapter 5 Experimental Methods 27 5.1 Thermal conductivity test 27 5.2 Soil Dry out test 29 Chapter 6 Results and Discussion 37 6.1 Experimental Results 37 6.2 Theoretical analysis of soil layer thermal performance and its comparison with experimental results 47 Conclusion 51 iv References 52
The History of South American Tropical Precipitation for the Past 25,000 Years

Long sediment cores recovered from the deep portions of Lake Titicaca are used to reconstruct the precipitation history of tropical South America for the past 25,000 years. Lake Titicaca was a deep, fresh, and continuously overflowing lake during the last glacial stage, from before 25,000 to 15,000 calibrated years before the present (cal yr B.P.), signifying that during the last glacial maximum (LGM), the Altiplano of Bolivia and Peru and much of the Amazon basin were wetter than today. The LGM in this part of the Andes is dated at 21,000 cal yr B.P., approximately coincident with the global LGM. Maximum aridity and lowest lake level occurred in the early and middle Holocene (8000 to 5500 cal yr B.P.) during a time of low summer insolation. Today, rising levels of Lake Titicaca and wet conditions in Amazonia are correlated with anomalously cold sea-surface temperatures in the northern equatorial Atlantic. Likewise, during the deglacial and Holocene periods, there were several millennial-scale wet phases on the Altiplano and in Amazonia that coincided with anomalously cold periods in the equatorial and high-latitude North Atlantic, such as the Younger Dryas.
The Cross-National Market in Human Beings:

Human trafficking, as defined here, is moving human beings across borders for the purpose of enslaving them. Human trafficking may be in the sex trade, forced labor or service, extraction of body parts, or other forms of exploited labor or debt bondage. The market is believed to be extensive, with its own distribution channels, pricing systems, and other market functions. The purposes of this article are to present an understanding of cross-border human trafficking as a marketing system, to explicate the societal effects of that system, and to show how the extent of cross-border trafficking may be estimated, using as an example several countries where it is believed to be a substantial problem. Additionally, we seek to show that cross-border human trafficking may be a much more serious problem than what is visible to governments.
Civil Society, Political Violence, and Democratic Transitions: Business and the Peace Process in South Africa, 1990 to 1994

On September 14, 1991, when the National Peace Accord was signed in Johannesburg, the cream of South Africa's political elite was there: future President Nelson Mandela, then President F. W. De Klerk, Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and other luminaries, new and old. But amid the politicians stood a different kind of figure, looking slightly out of place: a chubby, balding, middle-aged businessman named John Hall. Yet to the surprise of no one present, Hall was chosen unanimously to head the National Peace Committee they had just created in a bid to end the political violence blazing across the country. Although this moment was a turning point in South Africa's transition to democracy, it has been almost forgotten. Indeed, despite the acres of print dedicated to democratization in South Africa, commentators have largely ignored a crucial factor in its success: business. Business helped South Africa's transition to democracy to succeed by spearheading the creation and running of institutions to curb political violence. Before those bodies were formed, the spread of local-level clashes in black communities, stoked by elements seeking to destabilize the transition, had all but halted the delicate negotiations for democratization begun after Mandela's release from prison in 1990. Business intervention in the transition, while facilitated by narrowing differences between black and white leaders in civil society, took shape in novel initiatives driven by self-interest, shifting loyalties, and deeply held values. At the grassroots, it helped to set up a framework which permitted communication, built trust, and survived flare-ups of conflict among the warring parties, leading to local pacts to end violence and the formation of new local elites transcending party and racial lines.
Crystal Chemistry of Hydrous Calcium Silicates: III, Morphology and Other Properties of Tobermorite and Related Phases

Three very similar hydrous calcium silicates that serve as binders for, or are closely related to the binding material of, autoclaved and moist-air-cured concrete and related products have been differentiated by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, infrared absorption, degree of stability to the acetoacetic ester, and oxide composition. Tobermorite, 4–5CaO.5SiO2.5H2O, is the binder of properly autoclaved concrete and related products. It integrates uniformly into a dimension-ally stable solid of high strength. This phase is identified by X-ray diffraction lines at 11, 3.07, and 2.97 a.u. of strong intensity, by a basal spacing at 11 a.u., and by a flat platy crystal habit. The analogous hydrate of similar CaO/SiO2 molar ratio (C/S) and designated the 0.8 to 1.33 C/S hydrate, generally shows a basal spacing at 14 a.u., occurs in crinkly foils, and exhibits a strong exothermic effect in differential thermal analysis at 835° C. This phase differs markedly from tobermorite, does not undergo any crystal-to-crystal binding, and shows some of the physical characteristics of clay. It is the low-lime intermediate in the formation of tobermorite. The binder of low-pressure-steam-cured concrete occurs in part in gel-like globules, sometimes in the shape of spheres. This phase, having a probable composition anywhere between 1.5 and 2.0 C/S, depending on the time of curing, is characterized by the gel-like morphological characteristic, a basal spacing of about 10 a.u., and variable but still characteristic differential thermal analysis effects. Apparently the same product is obtained by reacting lime and silicic acid, but it Occurs in the form of distinctly fibrous crystals.
Reduced Complementary Dynamic and Differential Logic: A CMOS Logic Style for DPA-Resistant Secure IC Design

In recent years, Differential Power Analysis (DPA) attack has become a major threat to the security of embedded cryptographic ICs (secure ICs) like smart cards. DPA attack is a powerful side-channel attack. During a DPA attack, the attacker uses power consumption measurements from the secure IC and statistical techniques to correlate the power consumption information leaked with the secret key stored in the secure IC, thus retrieving the secret key, and effectively breaking the secure IC. In this paper, we present a Reduced Complementary Dynamic and Differential Logic (RCDDL) style to design DPA-resistant, secure ICs. RCDDL style ensures that the power consumption of the secure IC remains invariant, and hence, uncorrelated to the input data (secret key). As opposed to existing DDL styles that complement every gate in the uncomplementary logic to generate the differential output, RCDDL style proposes reuse of gates, thus ensuring that a reduced number of gates in the uncomplementary logic are complemented to generate the differential output. Further, we present an analysis of how reduced complementation is achieved while maintaining the capacitance and switching requirements for power invariance. To evaluate the proposed logic style, we built a set of logic gates typically used to design secure ICs. Experiments on a set of circuits, designed using the set of RCDDL gates, show significant improvements in security strength, power consumption and area.
Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA) in Four Calves

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), or Bland-White-Garland syndrome, is a rare congenital malformation described in children and adults. In this condition, the left coronary artery, which normally originates from the left coronary sinus in the aorta, instead originates from the pulmonary trunk, which results in retrograde flow of blood away from the myocardium into the lower-pressure pulmonary artery. Myocardial hypoxic-ischemic injury results in cardiac dysfunction, failure, and eventually in patient death if not surgically repaired. This report describes gross and microscopic findings in 4 beef calves with ALCAPA. All the calves had a history of being found dead with few or no premonitory signs, 2 shortly after sudden strenuous exercise. Gross necropsy lesions suggestive of heart failure included cardiomegaly with atrial and ventricular dilation and/or ventricular hypertrophy, and hepatomegaly. Dissection of each heart revealed the origin of the left coronary artery arising in the pulmonary trunk above the anterior cusp of the pulmonic valve. No degeneration; mineralization; and fiber loss, with replacement by fibrous connective tissue, predominantly in the left ventricular papillary muscle and the interventricular septum. Changes observed in the liver and lungs, including hepatomegaly, sinusoidal congestion, centrilobular fibrosis, and pulmonary congestion, edema, and intra-alveolar pigment-laden macrophages were consistent with heart failure.
Challenging institutional barriers to community-based research

Those of us attempting to develop truly equal partnerships with communities and community organizations, using the method of community-based research, encounter many barriers. These barriers revolve around who sets the schedule, who determines the labor pool, who controls the product, and who gets the funding. In this article, a case study shows how those barriers exert themselves, and evaluates the success of strategies to challenge those barriers. It ends with a set of recommendations for changing university overhead policies, developing university quality control practices, refining the university IRB process, institutionalizing a flash seminar structure, and training community members to control the research relationship.
Complementation of the Radiosensitive M059J Cell Line

M059J is a radiosensitive cell line established from a human glioblastoma tumor that fails to express the catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs, now known as PRKDC). Another cell line, M059K, established from the same tumor is radioresistant. Neither M059J nor M059K cells have been fully characterized, beyond the lack of expression of PRKDC and low expression of ATM in M059J cells. To determine whether its radiosensitive phenotype is due to a defect in the gene that encodes PRKDC, we show here that M059J cells can be complemented with the PRKDC gene by introducing a fragment of human chromosome 8 containing a copy of the human PRKDC gene. Two hybrid cell lines that retain an extra copy of PRKDC display active kinase activity and are radioresistant, demonstrating that the primary defect in M059J cells is in PRKDC. In addition, these cell lines derived from M059J cells provide us with a closer genetic match to M059J than M059K cells in studies to elucidate the function of DNA-PK.
Microbiome: Fibre for the future

A chronic lack of dietary fibre has been found to reduce the diversity of bacteria in the guts of mice. This effect is not fully reversed when fibre is reintroduced, and increases in severity over multiple generations. See Letter p.212 Over our history, humans have experienced major dietary changes, including a shift to low-fibre intake in Westernized populations, which is paralleled by a general loss in the diversity of the gut microbiota. Microbiota-accessible carbohydrates (MACs), which are abundant in dietary fibre, are the primary source of carbon and energy for the distal gut microbiota. This study shows that in mice on a low-MAC diet, the diversity of the microbiota is depleted and that this effect is transferred and compounded over generations, such that the low abundant taxa are progressively lost from one generation to the next, particularly those of the order Bacteroidales, which are proficient in the consumption of dietary fibre. This phenotype is not reversible simply by reintroducing dietary MACs, but requires supplementation of the missing taxa via faecal microbiota transplantation. These findings suggest that a change in diet alone may be insufficient to restore a healthy microbiota in individuals with dysbiosis.
Intracerebral haemorrhage: Prognostic scales versus clinical judgment in ICH.

Prognostic scoring systems are widely used as objective outcome predictors in neurocritical care, for example, after haemorrhagic stroke. A new study, however, has unexpectedly shown that clinicians can predict outcome after intracerebral haemorrhage more accurately than do formal scoring scales.
Chemical analysis of massive crystalluria following primidone overdose.

A 43-year-old woman was hospitalized with a 36-hr. history of stupor and massive crystalluria following an apparent suicide attempt. Toxicologic studies revealed phenobarbital and primidone in both blood and urine. Col-lection, purification, and chemical analysis of the urinary crystals are described. Microscopic examination, melting-point studies, infrared and ultra-violet spectroscopy, and thin-layer and gas–liquid chromatography identified the crystals as primidone. The clinical utility of crystalluria in the diagnosis of primidone overdosage is emphasized.
Quality Function Deployment: A Valuable Marketing Tool

Translating the "voice of the customer" into business processes is critical for developing products, services, and marketing programs that satisfy customers. The author maintains that many organizations’ lack of success in achieving customer satisfaction may be attributable to their failure to link business processes to customer needs. To remedy that situation, Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is proposed as a method for translating customer needs and expectations into the design of a product or service. QFD has been used mainly as a tool for continuous improvement or new product creation. The author expands its use to the design of customer-driven marketing programs.
Nano-Fabrication of Space Varying Spectral Filters Based on Lattice Constant Variations

This paper investigates the design and fabrication of space varying spectral filters. Short wave IR spectral filters are fabricated using a nano-patterned multilayered structure based on a lattice constant variation.
Epigenetic Biomarkers of Preterm Birth and Its Risk Factors

A biomarker is a biological measure predictive of a normal or pathogenic process or response. Biomarkers are often useful for making clinical decisions and determining treatment course. One area where such biomarkers would be particularly useful is in identifying women at risk for preterm delivery and related pregnancy complications. Neonates born preterm have significant morbidity and mortality, both in the perinatal period and throughout the life course, and identifying women at risk of delivering preterm may allow for targeted interventions to prevent or delay preterm birth (PTB). In addition to identifying those at increased risk for preterm birth, biomarkers may be able to distinguish neonates at particular risk for future complications due to modifiable environmental factors, such as maternal smoking or alcohol use during pregnancy. Currently, there are no such biomarkers available, though candidate gene and epigenome-wide association studies have identified DNA methylation differences associated with PTB, its risk factors and its long-term outcomes. Further biomarker development is crucial to reducing the health burden associated with adverse intrauterine conditions and preterm birth, and the results of recent DNA methylation studies may advance that goal.
Juvenile steelhead movements in relation to stream habitat, population density, and body size: consequences for individual growth rates

Anadromous salmonids can display considerable movement within their natal streams prior to outmigration, reflecting behavioural responses to biotic and abiotic conditions. Here we quantify dispersa...
Pictura in Arcana: The Traumatic Real as In/visible Crack

“At the level of the gaze/’ Slavoj Zizek notes in The Plague of Fantasies, “the Real is not so much the invisible Beyond, eluding our gazes which can perceive only delusive appearances, but, rather,” he adds, “the very stain or spot which disturbs and blurs our “direct” perception of reality - which “bends” the direct straight line from our eyes to the perceived object” (214). Louis Martin notes in To Destroy Painting, “[But] how can I see a lack? We see only what is there. If I see what is not there,” she adds, “I must have been expecting to see something” (146).
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor RNA: expression in hematopoietic cells

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] induces differentiation and inhibits proliferation of myeloid leukemic cells from various lines and patients; these effects are probably mediated through the 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor. Little is known of expression of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor RNA in hematopoietic cells. We examined the expression and modulation of expression of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor RNA in various proliferating and nonproliferating hematopoietic cells. Constitutive expression of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor RNA was detected in various kinds of hematopoietic cells, including macrophages and activated T lymphocytes, as well as in cell lines KG-1 (myeloblasts), HL-60 (promyelocytes), ML-3 (myelomonoblasts), U937, THP-1 (monoblasts), K562 (erythroblasts), and S-LB1 (HTLV-1-transfected T lymphocytes). Receptor transcripts were 4.6 kilobases (kb), and no variant sizes were observed. All cell lines examined in this group also expressed 1,25(OH)2D3 receptors. Most B lymphocyte lines expressed negligible levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor RNA and protein; however; analysis of a lymphoid/myeloid somatic hybrid suggested that suppression of expression of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor RNA in B lymphocytes may be a dominant characteristic. HL-60 cells were cultured with 10(-7) mol/L 1,25(OH)2D3 for 24 to 72 hours, and levels of expression of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor and its RNA were examined. Levels of RNA coding for the receptor were not modulated by exposure to high levels of ligand. Levels of occupied 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor protein increased in these HL-60 cells; but the total number of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptors decreased about 50% at 24 hours and returned toward normal at 72 hours. Steady-state levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor RNA were not affected by terminal differentiation of HL-60 toward either granulocytes or macrophages. Nondividing macrophages from normal individuals also expressed 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor RNA. In contrast, nondividing peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal individuals did not express 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor RNA; with stimulation of proliferation of these cells, accumulation of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor RNA increased markedly. Half-life (t1/2) of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor RNA in T lymphocytes was short (1 hour) as determined by measuring decay of the message after addition of actinomycin D. Consistent with this short t1/2, accumulation of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor RNA increased in cells as their protein synthesis was inhibited. Further studies are required to understand the physiologic role of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptors in myeloid cells and proliferating T lymphocytes.
Abstract 3083: Novel inhibitor GZ17-06.12 suppresses pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis

Purpose: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) or pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies in humans. The survival rate for two years is very limited in most of cases (10%) after diagnosis of this disease. This is because current therapeutic regimens have limited effectiveness. Novel therapeutic targets are needed to treat this disease. GZ17-06.12 contains a nutraceutical for its anti-cancer properties, in several cancers. Crude extracts of the plant Arum palaestinum Boiss used in traditional Israeli and Palestinian medicine, have demonstrated cytostatic and cytotoxic activities in colon, prostrate and lung carcinoma. Therefore, we hypothesize that GZ17-06.12 will inhibit tumor progression and metastasis in PDAC. Experimental Procedure: In this study, we have determined cell proliferation, pancosphere formation and apoptosis following treatment of different doses oGZ17-06.12 for 24-72 hours using MiaPaCa-2 and S2-007 human pancreatic cancer cells. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were measured using flow cytometic analysis. Orthotopic pancreatic cancer model in athymic mice was developed and GZ17-06.12 was given orally for 20 days to those mice. Proliferative markers, pEGFR/pAkt and apoptotic markers, Bax/Bcl-2, were monitored following treatment with GZ17-06.12 in both in vivo and in vitro models. Metastatic markers, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured in metastatic tissues in orthotopic models. Results: GZ17-06.12 inhibited proliferation of pancreatic cancer cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis suggested that cells were arrested in S and G2 phase following treatment. In addition, GZ17-06.12 induced apoptosis in both in vitro and in vivo pancreatic cancer. Moreover, the compound significantly inhibited epidermal growth factor receptor and Akt phosphorylation. Furthermore, GZ17-06.12 decreased the number and size of the pancospheres in S2-007 cells with concomitant inhibition of pancreatic cancer stem cell markers, DCLK1, Lgr5 and EpCam. The effect of GZ17-06.12 suppressed tumor growth and metastatic potential as indicative of MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in primary and metastatic tumors. Conclusions: GZ17-06.12 significantly reduces tumorigenesis and metastasis in both in vitro and in vivo pancreatic cancer models, inhibiting proliferation with concomitant increase of apoptosis. Citation Format: Santanu Paul, Lisa Stehno-Bittel, Animesh Dhar. Novel inhibitor GZ17-06.12 suppresses pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3083.
Constrained fast point-to-point control of a visco-elastic actuator

In this paper, we develop a control algorithm for the point-to-point motion control of a visco-elastic servo to achieve both precision positioning and fast move while satisfying various physical constraints. The visco-elastic servo is modeled as two lumped masses connected by a spring and a damper The control input is the actuation applied on one mass and the goal is to maneuver the motion of the other To achieve fast and precision point-to-point move in the presence of physical constraints, we employ a dual-module control structure, i.e., a control module for trajectory tracking and a planning module for real-time trajectory generation. While the control module uses a full state feedback controller for trajectory tracking, the planning module generates a reference trajectory that conforms to the 4th order dynamics of the system, minimizes the convergence time and satisfies all the hard constraints on spring displacement, mass velocity and input saturation, which is the key focus of this paper We propose an analytical solution to this problem by applying a state and input transformation to the desired trajectory dynamics, and developing an integrated phase portrait method to generate a bang-bang-like trajectory that meets all the design objectives. The analytical nature of the proposed method renders it computationally efficient and easy to implement. The effectiveness of the proposed method is tested via simulation.
A Tutorial on Testing, Visualizing, and Probing an Interaction Involving a Multicategorical Variable in Linear Regression Analysis

ABSTRACTEmpirical communication scholars and scientists in other fields regularly use regression models to test moderation hypotheses. When the independent variable X and moderator M are dichotomous or continuous, the practice of testing a linear moderation hypothesis using regression analysis by including the product of X and M in a model of dependent variable Y is widespread. However, many research designs include multicategorical independent variables or moderators, such as in an experiment with three or more versions of a stimulus where participants are randomly assigned to one of them. Researchers are less likely to receive training about how to properly test a moderation hypothesis using regression analysis in such a situation. In this tutorial, we explain how to test, visualize, and probe interactions involving a multicategorical variable using linear regression analysis. While presenting and discussing the fundamentals—fundamentals that are not software specific—we emphasize the use of the PROCESS...
Spiral spin state with open boundary conditions in a magnetic field

In order to model a spiral spin state in a thin film, we study a classical Heisenberg model with open boundary conditions. With magnetic field applied in the plane of the film, the spin state becomes ferromagnetic above a critical field that increases with thickness $N$. For a given $N$, the spiral passes through states with $n={n}_{0}$ up to 0 complete periods in steps of 1. These numerical results agree with earlier analytic results in the continuum limit and help explain the susceptibility jumps observed in thin films.
Classifications, applications, and design challenges of drones: A review

Abstract Nowadays, there is a growing need for flying drones with diverse capabilities for both civilian and military applications. There is also a significant interest in the development of novel drones which can autonomously fly in different environments and locations and can perform various missions. In the past decade, the broad spectrum of applications of these drones has received most attention which led to the invention of various types of drones with different sizes and weights. In this review paper, we identify a novel classification of flying drones that ranges from unmanned air vehicles to smart dusts at both ends of this spectrum, with their new defined applications. Design and fabrication challenges of micro drones, existing methods for increasing their endurance, and various navigation and control approaches are discussed in details. Limitations of the existing drones, proposed solutions for the next generation of drones, and recommendations are also presented and discussed.
Making practice-level struggles visible: researching UX practice to inform pedagogy

Teaching user experience (UX) can be challenging due to the situated, complex, and messy nature of the work. However, the complexity of UX in practice is often invisible to students learning these methods and practices for the first time in class. In this article, we present findings from a study of rhetorical strategies of UX practitioners and pair them with strategies for teaching UX to students. While previous work on teaching UX reflects current practices in the classroom or reflections of practitioners, this study demonstrates the benefits of researching existing industry practices in order to inform pedagogy.
Etirinotecan Pegol (NKTR-102) in Third-line Treatment of Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Non-Small-cell Lung Cancer: Results of a Phase II Study

Abstract Background Third-line treatment options are limited for patients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Etirinotecan pegol (NKTR-102) is a long-acting topoisomerase-I inhibitor. We conducted a single-arm phase II trial to evaluate its efficacy in third-line treatment. Patients and Methods Patients aged ≥ 18 years with histologically proven NSCLC who had received 2 previous systemic therapy regimens, measurable disease, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 1, and adequate end-organ function were eligible. Etirinotecan pegol was administered at a dose of 145 mg/m2 intravenously once every 3 weeks until progression. The response was assessed every 6 weeks using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors, version 1.1. The primary endpoint was the overall objective response rate. The secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. A Simon 2-stage design was implemented for futility. Results From January 2013 to January 2015, 40 patients were enrolled. Their median age was 66 years (range, 19-85 years), 45% were female, 30% had an ECOG performance status of 0, 96% were current and former smokers, and 31 had adenocarcinoma. Patients received a median of 3 cycles (range, 2-15) of protocol therapy. The best response was a partial response in 2 patients. The treatment was well tolerated; 3 patients had grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity attributable to therapy. The median PFS was 2.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-4.4 months), and the median OS was 7.1 months (95% CI 4.2-11.4 months). Conclusions Etirinotecan pegol was well tolerated and led to 2 partial responses and disease stabilization with this third-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC. However, the study failed to meet its prespecified response rate endpoint.
Mathematical modeling of lymphocyte kinetics reveals true residence times in and preferential migration of lymphocytes via ovine lymph nodes (CAM4P.157)

There are many published values of lymphocyte residence times in lymph nodes of various mammals such as mice, rats, and sheep. Yet, most of these estimates have been obtained semiquantitatively, without the use of mathematical modeling, which raises a question about assumptions underlying such estimates. We developed a novel mathematical model for migration of lymphocytes in the whole body which takes into account the known biological details of how lymphocyte enter and exit major lymphoid tissues. We applied this novel mathematical model to experimental data on cannulation of different ovine lymph nodes (LNs). In particular, we predicted that in sheep, recirculatory lymphocytes spend on average 3 hours in the spleen and 20 hours in LNs with a distribution of residence times in LNs following a skewed gamma (lognormal-like) distribution. This is in contrast which a recent suggestion that the distribution of residence times of naive T cells in murine LNs is exponential. We also found that lymphocytes isolated from the prescapular LN have a two-fold increased entrance rate into the prescapular LN as opposed to the intestinal LN. Importantly, the data could not be explained by preferential retention of cells in a specific LN. Taking together, our work illustrates the power of mathematical modeling in predicting the kinetics of lymphocyte migration in sheep and provides quantitative estimates of lymphocyte residence times in major ovine lymphoid tissues.
Impact of forests on snow albedo: Lessons from the SnowEx campaign

There is a clear and urgent need to quantify seasonally varying snow water equivalent and albedo. In this study, the snow bidirectional distribution function (BRDF) from NASA Cloud Absorption Radiometer (CAR) will be used to analyze the impact of forests on snow albedo based on measurements from SnowEx field campaign in western Colorado over Grand Mesa and Senator Beck. Seasonal snow cover is the largest single component of the cryosphere in areal extent (covering an average of 46M km2 of Earth's surface (31 % of land areas) each year. Current space-based techniques underestimate storage of snow water equivalent (SWE) by as much as 50% [1, 2]. That number is likely to be greater in the boreal forest and other densely-forested areas around the globe, with the boreal forest being the largest biome on Earth (20M km2).
Does Changing the Story Change Voting Behavior? The Occupy Movement and the Crisis of the American Party System

As of the end of 2011, most of the tent encampments of the Occupy movement had been cleared away by police, while the movement sought to rechannel its energy into a variety of decentralized actions: fighting home foreclosures, demanding student loan forgiveness, and protesting the corporate domination of America. The general feeling of the protesters was that, as many signs proclaimed, “You can’t arrest an idea.” To some extent, the protests have succeeded in changing the story, reversing the earlier change accomplished by the Tea Party. It is now once again acceptable, even popular, to condemn the domination of politics by the wealthy - the “1 percent” - and insist that politics should serve the people instead.It is less clear that what influence this change of story will have on the coming elections. There were some progressive electoral victories during 2011, but these were much more the result of labor union activism than of the Occupy movement. Despite calls from many to “Occupy the ballot box,” the core activists continued to eschew any partisan connections.Nevertheless, this paper argues, the Occupy movement, in a mutually reinforcing interaction with the new labor activism, opens the possibility of ending the crisis of the American party system, in which large portions of the public feel that neither elected officials nor political parties represent their views or their needs. It is difficult to be very specific when proposing to study events that have not yet taken place, but this paper will examine both the content of the public dialogue (looking at such questions as deficit reduction or stimulus, free market or strong regulation, and the moral standing of corporations) and the protest and electoral activities of the Occupy movement and organized labor.
Pneumatic rock drill vs. electric rotary hammer drill: Productivity, vibration, dust, and noise when drilling into concrete.

Abstract Objectives Both pneumatic rock drills and electric rotary hammer drills are used for drilling large holes (e.g., 10–20 mm diameter) into concrete for structural upgrades to buildings, highways, bridges, and airport tarmacs. However, little is known about the differences in productivity, and exposures to noise, handle vibration, and dust between the two types of drills. The aim of this study was to compare these outcomes with similar mass electric rotary and pneumatic rock drills drilling into concrete block on a test bench system. Method Three experiments were conducted on a test bench system to compare an electric (8.3 kg) and pneumatic drill (8.6 kg) on (1) noise and handle vibration, (2) respirable silica dust, and (3) drilling productivity. The test bench system repeatedly drilled 19 mm diameter x 100 mm depth holes into cured concrete block while the respective exposure levels were measured following ISO standards. Results Productivity levels were similar between the electric and the pneumatic drill (9.09 mm/s vs. 8.69 mm/s ROP; p = 0.15). However, peak noise (LPeak: 117.7 vs. 139.4 dBC; p = 0.001), weighted total handle vibration (ahw: 7.15 vs. 39.14 m/s2; p = 0.002), and respirable silica dust levels (0.55 vs. 22.23 mg/m3; p = 0.003) were significantly lower for the electric than the pneumatic drill. Discussion While there were no differences in drilling productivity between an electric and pneumatic drill of similar mass, there were substantial differences in exposure levels of noise, handle vibration, and respirable silica dust. Structural contractors should switch from pneumatic rock drills to electric rotary hammer drills for structural drilling into concrete in order to reduce worker exposures to the hazards of noise, hand vibration, and silica dust.
Identification of Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Young Adult College Students

Long-considered a disorder restricted to children and adolescents, more research is needed to understand how oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) affects adults. Recent research suggests that symptoms of ODD persist into adulthood and are associated with specific negative functional outcomes. This current study seeks to investigate the prevalence and associated impairments of ODD symptoms in young adults. Two large samples of college students between the ages of 18–24 years old (N = 1792; N = 1497) completed self-report measures of ODD symptoms, ADHD symptoms, psychiatric diagnoses, and functional impairments. Rates and internal consistency of ODD symptoms were calculated, and multiple regression was used to estimate the association between high levels of ODD severity scores and social and authority-related impairments, as well as online antagonistic behavior. In the two samples, the proportion of individuals reporting four or more symptoms of ODD was estimated to be 3.39 and 4.12% respectively, and did not vary significantly by gender. Higher ODD severity was associated with social impairment, online antagonistic behavior, and greater conflict with authority figures, even after controlling for ADHD symptoms and self-reported depression or anxiety diagnoses. ODD symptoms measured in college students demonstrate acceptable reliability and are uniquely associated with specific impairments. The findings from this study support greater consideration of ODD symptoms in adult populations.
Pursuing Sustainability: A Case for Regional Approach

This article makes a case for regional approach to promoting sustainability. To this end, regional sustainability is conceptualized in terms of four dimensions: environmental, physical, social, and economic. For this article, regional approach to sustainability implies policies, programs, and other initiatives taken by regional organizations such as councils of governments, regional planning councils, or associations of governments that can directly or indirectly contribute to promoting sustainability within or outside of a given region. Summarizing a number of practical as well as normative arguments regarding sustainability, the author demonstrates that pursuing sustainability goals is not just fulfilling moral responsibilities but such pursuits can also benefit the society as a whole. Finally, employing arguments from regionalism literature, the author explains why a regional approach to sustainability can be the most effective and efficient in the United States.
The association between Medicare accountable care organization enrollment and breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer screening

BACKGROUND Despite the rapid diffusion of accountable care organizations (ACOs), the effect of ACO enrollment on cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship remains unknown. The objective of this study was to determine whether Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) ACO enrollment was associated with changes in screening for breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers. METHODS The authors built a cohort of Medicare beneficiaries from 2006 through 2014 comprising 39,218,652 person-years of observation before and 17,252,345 person-years of observation after MSSP enrollment. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services attribution methodology was recapitulated; and screening services were identified for breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer, implementing both sensitive and specific definitions of cancer screening. Adjusted difference-in-differences analyses were performed using linear regression to characterize changes in annual screening rates after ACO enrollment relative to contemporaneous changes in a non-ACO control group of Medicare beneficiaries. RESULTS Medicare beneficiaries attributed to ACO-enrolled providers had higher rates of breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer screening before enrollment. A 1.8% relative reduction in breast cancer screening was observed among women attributed to ACO providers (P < .0001), a 2.4% relative increase was observed in colorectal cancer screening (P = .0259), and a 3.4% relative reduction was observed in prostate cancer screening among men attributed to ACO providers (P = .0025) compared with contemporaneous changes in non-ACO controls. CONCLUSIONS Small-magnitude reductions were observed in breast and prostate cancer screening rates, and a small increase was observed in colorectal cancer screening associated with ACO enrollment. Although ACO enrollment does not appear to drive wholesale changes in cancer screening, small differences may map to meaningful changes in the epidemiology of screen-detected cancers among Medicare beneficiaries.
LIMA1: A Newly Identified Player in the Field of Cholesterol Control.

Higher concentrations of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) are causally linked to risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Correspondingly, lowering cholesterol leads to a proportional lowering of risk in randomized control trials. Thus, a key objective of CVD risk mitigation is lipid lowering—and the lower, the better. The Odyssey randomized control trial suggests that there is no LDL-C concentration too low for safety, and those achieving the lowest values displayed the greatest risk reduction. What complicates the matter is the multifaceted nature of lipid homeostasis. Although approximately half of cholesterol variability is controlled by genetic variability (other factors being diet and lifestyle), only a small percentage of risk has been linked to genetic variance. Furthermore, lipid screening is poor at identifying individuals with genetic lipidemias. For example, it …
Clarithromycin use and the risk of mortality and cardiovascular events: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Although studies reported increased cardiovascular (CV) risks in patients treated with macrolides, the risks remain controversial among clarithromycin (CLR) users. We aimed to summarize the association between CLR use and the risks of mortality and CV events. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies with population exposed to CLR published until December 31st, 2018. These studies reported either all-cause mortality (primary outcome) or CV adverse events (secondary outcomes) based on multivariate models. Effect measures were synthesized by study design and follow-up duration (long-term, ≥ 1 year; short-term, ≤ 3 months; and immediate, ≤ 2 weeks). This study has been registered on PROSPERO (ID: CRD42018089605). Results This meta-analysis included 13 studies (3 RCTs and 10 observational studies) and 8,351,815 subjects (1,124,672 cases and 7,227,143 controls). Overall, CLR use was not associated with increased long-term all-cause mortality (pooled rate ratio RR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.91-1.32), either among patients with or without comorbidities of cardiovascular diseases. Comparing CLR users to placebo, there is no additional risks of cardiac mortality (pooled RR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.53-2.01), acute myocardial infarction (pooled RR = 1.29, 95% CI = 0.98-1.68), and arrhythmia (pooled RR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.62-1.32). Conclusions Our findings suggested no significant association between CLR use and subsequent long-term all-cause mortality, regardless having comorbidity of cardiovascular diseases or not. Further RCTs investigating the short-term CV risks of CLR use compared to alternative antibiotics are warranted, particularly in high-risk populations.
Serum allergen-specific IgE reactivity: is there an association with clinical severity and airway eosinophilia in asthmatic cats?:

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the results of serum allergen-specific IgE testing in cats with a clinical diagnosis of asthma and to determine if the number of allergens with posit...
Compliance with Management Control Systems: A Comparative Study of Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials

U.S. organizations are now populated by three distinct generations of employees: the Baby Boomers (those born before 1967), Generation X’ers (those born between 1968 and 1980), and the Millennial Generation (those born between 1981 and 1995). Each of these generations evince different attitudes and behaviors regarding work. A strong implication of this diversity is that organizations may have difficulty in obtaining compliance to the strictures of their management controls systems. Without compliance organizational objectives may not be met. In this exploratory research, we study all three groups simultaneously to on which behavioral dimension each group differs. We then discuss the implications of these differences for compliance with management control systems.