cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Breathing Pulses in an Excitatory Neural Network

In this paper we show how a local inhomogeneous input can stabilize a stationary-pulse solution in an excitatory neural network. A subsequent reduction of the input amplitude can then induce a Hopf instability of the stationary solution resulting in the formation of a breather. The breather can itself undergo a secondary instability leading to the periodic emission of traveling waves. In one dimension such waves consist of pairs of counterpropagating pulses, whereas in two dimensions the waves are circular target patterns.
The MSAM/TopHat program for measuring the CMBR anisotropy

We describe a series of three complementary balloon-borne measurements of the anisotropy in the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) and astrophysical foreground sources on angular scales from 0.5° to 180° at frequencies between 70 and 700 GHz. On the largest angular scales, we plan to finish mapping the entire sky in the far-infrared with 3.8° resolution and sensitivity comparable to the COBE/DMR first year maps. The analysis of the first flight of this Far-Infrared Survey (FIRS) led to the confirmation of the LOBE anisotropy discovery. On the 0.5° to 3° angular scale we will refine our pointing telescope and make an additional flight of the Medium-Scale Anisotropy Measurement (MSAM) using the existing radiometer. This will strengthen the results obtained from the first flight (Cheng et al. 1993a). Two subsequent flights, observing the same sky positions with a lower frequency multi-channel radiometer (MSAM 11), will ensure that the result is not contaminated by Galactic or extragalactic foreground radiation. Concurrent with the above program, we will implement a new concept in CMBR measurements which will provide the next step in observational capabilities. This experiment, named TopHat, will be mounted on top of a balloon and will observe for two weeks in a circumpolar flight launched from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. By providing a combination of reduced systematics and extended integration time, it offers a factor of 30 improvement in sensitivity to CMBR anisotropy over existing measurements.
RFID mutual authentication protocols

As RFID-tagged systems become ubiquitous, the acceptance of this technology by the general public necessitates addressing related security/privacy issues. The past six years have seen an increasing number of publications in this direction, specifically using cryptographic approaches. We consider a stream of publications among these that consider mutual authentication of tag and reader, and identify some existing vulnerabilities.
Effect of estrogen versus testosterone on circulating osteoprotegerin and other cytokine levels in normal elderly men.

Recent studies have shown that estrogen (E) likely plays a dominant role in inhibiting bone resorption in normal elderly men. Because both E and T inhibit osteoclast development and activity, stimulate osteoclast apoptosis, and inhibit osteoblast production of IL-6, it is unclear why T is less potent than E in inhibiting bone resorption in vivo. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) binds to and inactivates RANKL, the final mediator of osteoclastogenesis. In vitro, OPG production is stimulated by E, and preliminary data suggest that T has the opposite effect. Thus, we analyzed serum for OPG levels from a study in which 59 elderly men (mean age, 68 yr) were made acutely hypogonadal using a GnRH agonist and were also placed on an aromatase inhibitor to block conversion of androgens to estrogens. They were studied first under conditions of physiologic E and T replacement, and then randomized to no replacement, replacement with E alone, T alone, or both E and T. E alone resulted in an 18.6 ± 7.9% (mean ± sem) increase in ser...
Transforming Social Structures And Environments To Help In HIV Prevention

Interest in social and structural interventions for HIV prevention is growing. Such approaches modify social norms, institutions, laws, and policies to reduce vulnerability and create environments in which individuals can protect themselves against HIV infection. Examples include expanding access to sterile syringes for injecting drug users and subsidizing stable housing for low-income people. Evidence of the effectiveness of such interventions is emerging despite scientific and political obstacles to their development, implementation, and evaluation. The U.S. government can help build the evidence base for such interventions. It can also implement those with demonstrated or promising results as part of a cost-effective HIV prevention strategy domestically and globally.
Molecular approaches to ectomycorrhizal diversity studies: variation in ITS at a local scale

In most ectomycorrhizal (EM) community studies involving molecular identification methods there is a poor correspondence between fungi that appear dominant as sporocarps and those that appear dominant on EM roots and the species richness belowground is higher than that above ground. As a consequence, many fungi from root tip samples remain unidentified. In most studies, genetic data from multiple samples of an EM morphotype collected from various sampling locations are compared to genetic data from one to a few sporocarps of each species for identification purposes. The mismatch between above- and belowground species richness may be influenced by these different sampling efforts. To address this, intra-specific variation in the ITS region first investigated in Karen et al. (1997) is revisited here, but at a spatial scale in which variation is expected to be low. Sporocarps were collected across a 7 km region of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in western North America. ITS—RFLP data are presented for 3–18 sporocarps from each of 44 EM species in 18 genera. A total of 311 sporocarps were analyzed. Fifty-three ITS—RFLP types were observed. Of the 44 species, 38 (86% of total) yielded a single, species specific, RFLP type. No 2 species had the same RFLP type. Polymorphic ITS—RFLP types were observed in six species (14%). The following three species had two ITS-RFLP types with one type dominating: Inocybe lacera, Laccaria proximo, and Rhizopogon subcaerulescens. The following three species had three RFLP types with no type dominating: Laccaria laccata, Lactarius deliciosus, and Tricholoma flavovirens. A phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences in Tricholoma revealed that two of the RFLP types in T. flavovirens were apparently the result of intra-specific variation, while the third RFLP type was likely a cryptic species. All the other RFLP types observed in Tricholoma represented unique phylogenetic species. These results suggest that ITS—RFLP data from single samples (sporocarp or EM) are robust for characterizing most of the species at this scale. However, restriction endonucleases detect a limited amount of existing nucleotide variation and thus have limited value to detect cryptic species. Therefore, additional analyses of sequence data should be added to the RFLP matching technique to identify unknown RFLP types. These data also suggest that polymorphic RFLP types within species do not adequately explain the mismatch between above- and belowground views of EM species richness.
Magnets for fields above 100 kg

Classifying coils above and below 100 kG does not separate types or methods, but rather indicates the degree of difficulty. It is no longer true that conventional dc fields above 100 kG require larger than existing or contemplated power supplies, and it has been established that superconducting materials will be suitable for fields approaching twice that field. Problem areas, economics, and experience above 100 kG are discussed in three major areas: 1) water-cooled dc magnets, principally those now in operation at the National Magnet Laboratory; 2) pulse magnets covering the continuum from sub-millisecond pulses to the low-duty cycle cryogenic magnet systems; 3) superconducting magnets with emphasis on hybrid systems, combining water-cooled copper magnets and superconducting coils.
Constructing attack scenarios through correlation of intrusion alerts

Traditional intrusion detection systems (IDSs) focus on low-level attacks or anomalies, and raise alerts independently, though there may be logical connections between them. In situations where there are intensive intrusions, not only will actual alerts be mixed with false alerts, but the amount of alerts will also become unmanageable. As a result, it is difficult for human users or intrusion response systems to understand the alerts and take appropriate actions. This paper presents a practical technique to address this issue. The proposed approach constructs attack scenarios by correlating alerts on the basis of prerequisites and consequences of intrusions. Intuitively, the prerequisite of an intrusion is the necessary condition for the intrusion to be successful, while the consequence of an intrusion is the possible outcome of the intrusion. Based on the prerequisites and consequences of different types of attacks, the proposed approach correlates alerts by (partially) matching the consequence of some previous alerts and the prerequisite of some later ones. The contribution of this paper includes a formal framework for alert correlation, the implementation of an off-line alert correlator based on the framework, and the evaluation of our method with the 2000 DARPA intrusion detection scenario specific datasets. Our experience and experimental results have demonstrated the potential of the proposed method and its advantage over alternative methods.
Manufacturable GaAs VFET for power switching applications

We have developed a manufacturable process to fabricate high performance GaAs vertical field effect transistors (VFET's). Our process uses ion implantation to form the gate as opposed to previous VFET processes, which used epitaxial regrowth or angled evaporation. In this process, trenches 1.2 /spl mu/m wide by 0.6 /spl mu/m deep with a period of 2.4 /spl mu/m are formed by reactive ion etch (RIE) then the gate region is formed at the bottom of the trench by Ar/C ion co-implantation. Current handling capability of these devices exceeds 200 A/cm/sup 2/ with a specific on-resistance of 0.25 m/spl Omega/-cm/sup 2/ and calculated delay times of 13.9 ps.
Flow time measurements for underfills in flip-chip packaging

Flow time is a key material property for underfill materials in flip-chip applications. In this paper, we will discuss how to use flow time testing for underfill flow evaluation and material screening. The flow time of several underfills was measured at elevated temperatures using test pieces made from glass microscope slides. The material properties impacting underfill flow, such as viscosity, contact angle, and surface tension, were also experimentally measured and used to calculate estimated flow times using the Washburn equation. Empirical and calculated flow times were compared. The effects of channel width and flow distance on flow time were also studied. Additionally, the effect of a tilted stage on flow time, epoxy tongue, and void formation was evaluated.
Reconstruction of truncated TCT and SPECT data from a right-angle dual-camera system for myocardial SPECT

The authors investigated methods to accurately reconstruct 180/spl deg/ truncated TCT and SPECT projection data obtained from a right-angle dual-camera SPECT system for myocardial SPECT with attenuation compensation. The 180/spl deg/ data reconstruction methods would permit substantial savings in transmission data acquisition time. Simulation data from the 3D MCAT phantom and clinical data from large patients were used in the evaluation study. Different transmission reconstruction methods including the FBP, transmission MLEM, transmission ML-SA, and BIT algorithms with and without using the body contour as support, were used in the TCT image reconstructions. The accuracy of both the TCT and attenuation compensated SPECT images were evaluated for different degrees of truncation and noise levels. The authors found that using the FBP reconstructed TCT images resulted in higher count density in the left ventricular (LV) wall of the attenuation compensated SPECT images. The LV wall count density obtained using the iteratively reconstructed TCT images with and without support were similar to each other and were more accurate than that using the FBP. However, the TCT images obtained with support show fewer image artifacts than without support. Among the iterative reconstruction algorithms, the ML-SA algorithm provides the most accurate reconstruction but is the slowest. The BIT algorithm is the fastest but shows the most image artifacts. It is concluded that accurate attenuation compensated images can be obtained with truncated 180/spl deg/ data from large patients using a right-angle dual-camera SPECT system.
HIV-1 Antigen–specific and –nonspecific B Cell Responses Are Sensitive to Combination Antiretroviral Therapy

We studied how combination antiviral therapy affects B cell abnormalities associated with HIV-1 infection, namely elevated circulating immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibody-secreting cell (ASC) frequencies and hypergammaglobulinemia. Within a few weeks of starting antiviral therapy, there is a marked decline in IgG-ASC frequency in both acutely and chronically infected people, whereas the hypergammaglobulinemia often present during chronic infection is more gradually resolved. These reductions are sustained while HIV-1 replication is suppressed. HIV-1 antigen–specific B cell responses are also affected by therapy, manifested by a rapid decline in circulating gp120-specific ASCs. Anti-gp120 titers slowly decrease in chronically infected individuals and usually fail to mature in acutely infected individuals who were promptly treated with antiretroviral therapy. Long-term nonprogressors have high titer antibody responses to HIV-1 antigens, but no detectable gp120-specific IgG-ASC, and normal (or subnormal) levels of total circulating IgG-ASC. Overall, we conclude that HIV-1 infection drives B cell hyperactivity, and that this polyclonal activation is rapidly responsive to decreases in viral replication caused by combination antiviral therapy.
Diagnostic biases in translational bioinformatics.

With the surge of translational medicine and computational omics research, complex disease diagnosis is more and more relying on massive omics data-driven molecular signature detection. However, how to detect and prevent possible diagnostic biases in translational bioinformatics remains an unsolved problem despite its importance in the coming era of personalized medicine. In this study, we comprehensively investigate the diagnostic bias problem by analyzing benchmark gene array, protein array, RNA-Seq and miRNA-Seq data under the framework of support vector machines for different model selection methods. We further categorize the diagnostic biases into different types by conducting rigorous kernel matrix analysis and provide effective machine learning methods to conquer the diagnostic biases. In this study, we comprehensively investigate the diagnostic bias problem by analyzing benchmark gene array, protein array, RNA-Seq and miRNA-Seq data under the framework of support vector machines. We have found that the diagnostic biases happen for data with different distributions and SVM with different kernels. Moreover, we identify total three types of diagnostic biases: overfitting bias, label skewness bias, and underfitting bias in SVM diagnostics, and present corresponding reasons through rigorous analysis. Compared with the overfitting and underfitting biases, the label skewness bias is more challenging to detect and conquer because it can be easily confused as a normal diagnostic case from its deceptive accuracy. To tackle this problem, we propose a derivative component analysis based support vector machines to conquer the label skewness bias by achieving the rivaling clinical diagnostic results. Our studies demonstrate that the diagnostic biases are mainly caused by the three major factors, i.e. kernel selection, signal amplification mechanism in high-throughput profiling, and training data label distribution. Moreover, the proposed DCA-SVM diagnosis provides a generic solution for the label skewness bias overcome due to the powerful feature extraction capability from derivative component analysis. Our work identifies and solves an important but less addressed problem in translational research. It also has a positive impact on machine learning for adding new results to kernel-based learning for omics data.
Help-Seeking Among Jamaican Adolescents: An Examination of Individual Determinants of Psychological Help-Seeking Attitudes

Underutilization of mental health resources is a well-documented problem. Little is known about the help-seeking attitudes of Jamaican adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine predictors o...
Dextromethorphan/quinidine for pseudobulbar affect associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage

ABSTRACT: Dextromethorphan/quinidine, sold under the brand name Nuedexta® (Avanir Pharmaceutics, CA, USA), is currently the only US FDA-approved medication for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect (PBA) in the USA. However, the clinical trials for approval of this medication only involved patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or multiple sclerosis. This case report describes a 43-year-old woman who developed PBA following an acute subarachnoid hemorrhage with a basilar artery aneurysm. After failing to respond to valproate or haloperidol, she was treated with dextromethorphan/quinidine and showed a reduction in her PBA symptoms. The patient's Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale score improved in 1 week and the improvement was maintained at 3 weeks.
Efficient Classloading Strategies for Interprocedural Analyses in the Presence of Dynamic Classloading

In the presence of dynamic classloading, performing interprocedural analysis (IPA) too early can lead to repeatedly performing the IPA as new classes are loaded, while performing it too late will cause a performance degradation by running unoptimized code for too long. This paper investigates how programs load classes and how this affects the performance when performing IPA. From this investigation, two classloading techniques are described and evaluated. We first describe a classloader that eagerly preloads classes whose names appear in the constant pool. By loading classes as early as possible, the preloading classloader reduces the chances of new classes being loaded after an IPA is performed, and thus can improve performance by reducing the number of IPAs performed. We next describe a technique that delays the IPA, causing it to be performed late enough to dramatically reduce the need for re-analyses and early enough to obtain the benefits of the IPA. When these two classloading techniques are used with a real IPA - an escape analysis to enforce sequential consistency in Java programs - the speedups relative to the default non- preloading classloader are 1.87 and 2.30 respectively, on average.
"With the Flash Came a Delayed Roll of Thunder": The Discursive Struggle Over the Atomic Bomb

"With the Flash Came a Delayed Roll of Thunder": The DiscursiveStruggle Over the Atomic Bomb
Ecological Risk Assessment and Animal Models

An ecological risk assessment attempts to determine the effects of contaminants or other environmental stressors on individuals, populations, and communities of species. Although ecological risk assessments can be used for regulating chemicals and managing watersheds, the most typical use is for the study and remediation of contaminated sites. The organismal effects that can be examined vary considerably, depending on the ultimate use of the assessment, but most often focus on the organisms’ ability to survive, grow and develop appropriately, and reproduce. The choice of which organisms to use should be based on easily evaluated criteria, such as the ease of sampling a particular organism, ensuring that the organism can both respond to the toxicant or mixture of toxicants, and that the organismal response is graded with respect to increasing exposure concentrations and/or times.
Cyberbullying among college students with disabilities

Cyberbullying has received increasing attention in recent years. However, the majority of this research has focused on children in middle school and on neurotypical youth, to the omission of people with disabilities. The current study, however, examines cyberbullying as it occurs among college students with and without disabilities. Two hundred five students completed a survey examining their experiences with cyberbullying, along with measures of predictor and outcome variables theorized to be related to cyberbullying. The results revealed that, as with traditional bullying, students with disabilities are at particular risk for cyberbullying victimization. Predictors of victimization included traditional bullying victimization, Internet use, and the noticeability of the disability. Outcomes of cyberbullying victimization (e.g., low self-esteem, high depression) appear to be particularly pronounced for individuals with disabilities. Cyberbullying among college students with disabilities is examined.Students with disabilities at particular risk for cyberbullying victimization.Traditional bullying victimization and disability noticeability predictors of victimization.
Decolonizing Praxis in Eastern Europe: Toward a South-to-South Dialogue

This article pursues two distinct yet interrelated levels of analysis. Theoretically, the article seeks to destabilize Western narratives of a transition from humanism to anti- and post-humanism in radical scholarship by foregrounding two traditions from Eastern Europe and the Caribbean where the language of the human persisted long after its declared obsolescence in the West. The argument made here is that these divergent narratives (or “bifurcations”) of the human were neither wholly contingent nor just a matter of distinct intellectual traditions, but were deeply interwoven with both the history of the Cold War and the legacies of colonialism. On a praxical-political level, the article also engages in a close reading of arguably the major tradition of Marxist humanism in Eastern Europe, that of the Praxis circle in former Yugoslavia. While examining the specific political and theoretical reasons for the persistence of humanism in the writings of Praxis, the article argues that, in the end, their radica...
Leaving Money on the Table(s): An Examination of Federal Income Tax Policy Towards Indian Tribes

The advent and rapid expansion of Indian gaming has finally provided tribes with a viable economic development opportunity. In 2001, tribal gaming operations generated revenue of $12.7 billion. This income goes untaxed at the tribal level since, for nearly forty years, the IRS has taken the position that the income of Indian tribes is not subject to federal income taxation. In recent years, however, Congress has been eyeing Indian gaming as a potential source of revenue. This Article reviews the current federal income tax treatment of Indian tribes, compares this treatment to the federal income tax treatment of states, and addresses whether Indian tribes should be subject to federal income taxation from both a tax policy and Indian policy perspective. The IRS generally views states and tribes as falling outside the scope of the income tax provisions of the IRC. This Article argues that, despite the changes in Indian country brought about by Indian gaming, federal tax policy towards Indian tribes is best kept at the status quo. While tribes could be viewed either as governments or business entities, they are really more like states than private businesses. States are just as aggressive as (and compete with) Indian tribes in their commercial endeavors - particularly when it comes to gambling. Therefore, the important tax policy goal of horizontal equity would be violated if tribes were taxed differently from states. Furthermore, federal Indian policy views tribes as self-determinative governments that should have the opportunity to pursue economic development activities. Tax policy has and should continue to follow this federal Indian policy of self-determination. Unless and until there are major changes in tax policy towards states or federal policy towards Indian tribes, imposing the federal income tax on tribes would frustrate both tax policy and federal Indian policy.
Chemical-Mechanical Polishing of Copper in Glycerol Based Slurries

The development of a reliable/reproducible chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) process to planarize and define copper using a dual damascene approach is essential for introducing copper as the interconnection metal. In this paper we present results of a new polishing slurry containing glycerol and Al 2 O 3 abrasive. The slurry is a near-neutral medium and does not have the effect of acidic or basic slurries on copper. The effect of glycerol concentration and the abrasive size on the CMP behavior is investigated. The changes in the slurry temperature, pH, viscosity, dielectric constant and surface tension were examined as a function of the glycerol concentration. The results, indicating a strong dependence on both the glycerol concentration and the abrasive size, are explained on the basis of viscosity and dielectric constant of the solution and the van der waal forces and the electrostatic repulsion between the particles.
Individual Variation in Mammals

The study of individual variation offers an underexploited wealth of opportunities for mammalogists. This paper addresses recent developments in the study of both intra- and inter-individual variation. After reviewing several methods (e.g., intraclass correlation, product-moment correlation, and confirmatory factor analysis) for quantifying intra-individual consistency or repeatability, we discuss how these measures of repeatability can serve as guides for appropriately defining traits and how they may be helpful in ensuring that appropriate statistical models are used (e.g., in accounting for measurement errors in regression analyses). We discuss three aspects of inter-individual variation; phenotypic selection, alternative individual strategies and phenotypic integration, and quantitative genetic analyses. The value of these approaches for studying inter-individual variation is illustrated with recent examples from the literature. Finally, we discuss how many field studies of mammals may be well poised to exploit the unique insights that can be gained from studying individual variation.
Value Change and Political Action: Postmaterialism, Political Consumerism, and Political Participation

Understanding how people engage in politics, and what motivates them to do so, has been an ongoing concern in the social science literature. Over the past decade, scholarly interest in boycotts and buycotts, which collectively comprise political consumerism—the deliberate purchase or avoidance of products for political or ethical reasons—has increased. However, these activities not been well conceptualized, and it is not clear what motivates people to engage in political consumerism. In this paper, I theorize that postmaterialist values increase the likelihood of engaging in political consumerism in the United States. To test this expectation, I use original, nationally representative U.S. survey data, and I find that postmaterialist values significantly increase the likelihood of engaging in political consumerism, while materialist values not, with controls in place for partisanship, ideology, and other democratic norms.
A simple procedure for mapping tree locations in forest stands

La methode consiste en une cartographie directe en coordonnees cartesiennes. Elle demande un equipement peu couteux et est facile a enseigner au personnel de terrain. Une verification sur 401 arbres de 18 placettes carrees de 18 m de cote, par des equipes differentes â differentes epoques, montre que cette methode est rapide et precise, et adaptable a des placettes circulaires. Des recommandations d'utilisation sont donnees
TheK-admissibility of 2A6 and 2A7

LetK be a field and letG be a finite group.G isK-admissible if there exists a Galois extensionL ofK withG=Gal(L/K) such thatL is a maximal subfield of a centralK-division algebra. This paper contains a characterization of those number fields which areQ16-admissible. This is the same class of number fields which are 2A6=SL(2, 9) and 2A7 admissible.
Plasmacytoid Transformation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia CLL with Multiple Lytic Bony Lesions

Abstract Abstract 4590 Richter transformattion in patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia CLL can happen in 3%- 15%. This involve transformation of relatively indolent CLL cells into higher grade and aggressive form of Lymphoma. Plasmcytoid transformation of CLL with paraprotinemia, multiple lytic lesions and hypercalcemia can occur. This abstract will describe six patients with CLL who presented with hypercalcemia and lytic bony lesions in the course of their disease. Mean age is 72 years old. All were males, four whites and two blacks. One patient had solitary bony lesion with solitary small lung lesion that biopsy showed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Bone scan was negative and monoclonal IgG lambda was present. The second patient had multiple lytic lesions with nephrotic range proteinuria of five grams; kappa light chain with bone marrow biopsy showing plasma more than 10%. Two patients has progressive adenopathy with elevated IgM level more than 2 grams with increased LDH. One patient progressed to PLL and developed renal failure that required hemodialysis with lambda light chain in urine. One patient with progressive bony lesion involving the scapula and close vertebrae with IgG spike. All patients expired in a short period less than six months with therapy. Biopsy was available for four patients which showed plasmacytoid or plasmablastic morphology. In conclusion: Plasmacytoid transformation in patient with CLL should be considered when hypercalcemia, lytic bony lesions and paraproteinemia is present. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Human trafficking of minors and childhood adversity in Florida

Objectives. To examine the link between human trafficking of minors and childhood adversity.Methods. We compared the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and cumulative childhood adversity (ACE score) among a sample of 913 juvenile justice–involved boys and girls in Florida for whom the Florida child abuse hotline accepted human trafficking abuse reports between 2009 and 2015 with those of a matched sample.Results. ACE composite scores were higher and 6 ACEs indicative of child maltreatment were more prevalent among youths who had human trafficking abuse reports. Sexual abuse was the strongest predictor of human trafficking: the odds of human trafficking was 2.52 times greater for girls who experienced sexual abuse, and there was a 8.21 times greater risk for boys who had histories of sexual abuse.Conclusions. Maltreated youths are more susceptible to exploitation in human trafficking. Sexual abuse in connection with high ACE scores may serve as a key predictor of exploitation in human traff...
Metaphoric Abstraction: Further Explorations of the Starfield Interface

Interfaces based on metaphoric abstractions enable operators to make sense of the flood of data generated by complex systems by essentially leveraging the operator’s experience with a familiar concept--the metaphor--to yield insights into an unrelated process or system. This paper describes continuing research on metaphoric abstractions in developing an interface that employs the starfield (the night sky) as its underlying metaphor. The goal of this research is to create an interface that presents operators with vast quantities of data in such a way that useful information can readily be extracted. The initial starfield prototype presented simulated fan system data from a facility management system. In this prototype, each fan system is represented by a “primary” star which is plotted along the x-axis equidistant from other primary stars and along the y-axis according to the time of the corresponding system’s last change-of-state. Each primary star is surrounded by many smaller “secondary” stars which represent differences between room temperatures and corresponding setpoints. Depending on the size and color of the primary stars, users can determine whether the corresponding fan systems are “on” or “off” and whether they are in an alarm or normal condition. The color and position of the secondary stars indicate whether specific zones or rooms are too warm, too cool, or comfortable.
Unbundling sincerity: Language, mediation, and interiority in comparative perspective

This HAU collection is an exploratory group effort in promoting comparative studies of followers of different religious traditions. We take the concept of sincerity as it is defined and used in the anthropology of Christianity and examine how it is attended to (or not) among ultra-Orthodox Jews in New York, Eastern Orthodox Russian women, Shi’a women in Iran, and Lutheran missionaries in Papua New Guinea. Sincerity in this sense is argued to be closely associated with autonomy, agency, freedom, and is seen to underlie modern subjectivity. We found a great deal of anxiety over notions of sincerity and its implications for constructing a relationship to the divine in our various communities. In unbundling sincerity from its associated concepts and consequences, we examine the different senses of interiority implicated by local concepts of sincerity in order to unpack those anxieties on the part of both believers and institutional clerical authorities. We argue that attending to interiority complements rather than denies the fundamental role of historical power relations in forming the religious subject. Power relations do not fully determine how, over time, the subject finds ways of shaping that relationship. In considering the modernity of Protestantism as illuminated through its attachment to sincerity, we show how, in moments of change, the very ideas, assumptions, and practices that have come to define certain communities as not-quite-modern become objects of reflection, intense debate, and disagreement, both within individuals and in their broader contexts.
Emotional Distress, Medical Utilization, and Disability Claims in Adult Refugees

The refugee health screener-15 (RHS-15) is utilized as a diagnostic proxy for common mental disorders in refugees. Studies are needed to determine its clinical and social utility. A retrospective chart analysis of adult refugees compared RHS-15 scores to utilization of medical services and presence of disability claims. Refugees with negative, positive, and highly positive RHS-15 scores attended 3.1, 4.4, and 5.7 mean primary care visits and 1.6, 2.8, and 4.4 mean non-primary care visits, respectively (p < .000). The 11% (43/392) claiming disability were 5.1 times more likely to have a positive RHS-15 (OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.1–8.8). A positive RHS-15 was not predictive of a disability claim (19% PPV), and those with a negative RHS-15 were unlikely to claim disability (96% NPV). The RHS-15 score correlates with visit utilization. A positive score is not predictive of a subsequent disability claim.
A 10MHz 2mA-800mA 0.5V-1.5V 90% peak efficiency time-based buck converter with seamless transition between PWM/PFM modes

We present a 10MHz buck converter with enhanced light load efficiency achieved by combining time-based PWM control with PFM. The proposed seamless transition technique provides additional degree of freedom to extend high efficiency regime across a wider range of load current. Fabricated in a 65nm CMOS, the prototype achieves 90% peak efficiency and > 80% efficiency over I load range of 2mA to 800mA. Vo changes by less than 40mV during PWM to PFM transitions.
Beware of Multiphase CTA Interpretation

We read with interest the recent article by Byrne et al,[1][1] which describes the “delayed vessel sign” as a reliable indicator of vessel occlusion. This is very useful, especially when trying to diagnose an embolic occlusion of a distal vessel. According to the authors, the delayed vessel
An anthology of Arabic literature: from the classical to the modern

It is very clear from the outset that the compiler of this new anthology devoted to the Arabic literary tradition intends that it should be different. Khalidi is at pains to point out that his anth...
Self-sustained, high-frequency detonation wave generation in a semi-bounded channel

Abstract Combustion dynamics in a linear, semi-bounded channel were studied to characterize injection, mixing, and ignition processes in a two dimensional analogue of a rotating detonation wave combustor. The linear channel was developed to operate using natural gas and oxygen and to provide large optical accessibility in support of high-fidelity diagnostics at thermal power density levels representative of rotating detonation wave combustors over a broad range of flow conditions. Measurements of pressure and heat release were performed using an array of high-frequency dynamic pressure probes and OH*-chemiluminescence, respectively. Self-sustained, periodic generation of detonation waves was observed. These traveling combustion waves were initiated from low amplitude deflagrative fronts and steepened as they traveled through the combustion channel. The sensitivity of this instability to changes in acoustic boundary conditions was explored to determine the origin of the high-amplitude dynamics. The change in acoustic boundary at the end-wall affected the transverse acoustic mode frequency as expected, but had no effect on the detonation wave initiation. The detonation wave dynamics were found to be correlated with resonant frequencies in the propellant manifolds. It was determined that the frequency of the self-sustained chamber dynamics depends on which manifold has the strongest injection pressure ratio. OH*-chemiluminescence and pressure measurements indicate that the observed transition to detonation is linked to the auto-ignition of the reactants and that the auto-ignition event is coupled with the fluctuation in reactant mass flow associated with the manifold dynamics.
Using SAB as a Tool: Advice from a Veteran

In reviewing the literature for my previous chapter in this book (Chapter 5), I was struck by the difference between the 1980s and the “heyday” of alternation studies in the 50s and 60s. First, there are now very few studies being done on this topic at all. I believe that one important reason for this is the shift to the radial maze by people who would have studied alternation in the past and who in many cases are repeating old alternation studies with a different apparatus. The radial maze measures basically the same underlying processes as alternation, but in an inefficient manner. That is, in an eight-arm radial maze it is not until the sixth trial that entering a new alley becomes improbable by chance alone. Further, it is possible for a rat to be very successful in a radial maze by adopting a circling strategy, and I have personally seen that many rats do just that. Having used both tasks, I believe that the standard SAB paradigm is more efficient and valid and that the radial maze could be more profitably employed by rewarding rats for entering a given alley rather than for avoiding it. That is, the rat would be started from a different, randomly chosen, alley on each trial and rewarded for going to a given location in space. In that way the first response would contain almost three bits of information instead of almost zero. With this procedure one would no longer be measuring curiosity but would be efficiently investigating a mechanism, spatial orientation, that is importantly involved in alternation.
The Influence of Imperfections on the Stability of Subsonic Boundary Layers

The primary and subharmonic instabilities of two-dimensional subsonic flows over surface imperfections are discussed. Some highlight results of the instabilities of these flows with different velocity and thermal boundary conditions are presented.
Process improvement strategy to prepare and administer bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine in compliance with United States Pharmacopeia chapter 800 standards.

Purpose This case study describes a multidisciplinary initiative to promote the safe use, preparation, and administration of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in patients with bladder cancer that is in compliance with United States Pharmacopeia chapter 800. Summary After an evaluation of a hospital's medication-use process for the preparation and administration of BCG identified inconsistencies with guideline-based procedures for the safe handling and manipulation of hazardous drug products, a revised medication-use process promoting the inclusion of pharmacy services was developed by pharmacy and urology clinic leaders. Implementation of the enhanced medication-use process included (1) the shift of BCG vaccine preparation from urology clinic nurses to a pharmacy equipped with the appropriate engineering controls for the safe preparation of hazardous product, (2) greater involvement by pharmacists in BCG order justification and verification, and (3) a process that ensured just-in-time preparation and delivery of medication for enhanced patient satisfaction. After initial process changes resulted in increased turnaround time from preparation to administration, a study on time to preparation, delivery, and administration was conducted and resulted in complete reduction of turnaround times and increased patient satisfaction. Conclusion Through a multidisciplinary initiative involving pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and leadership, a new process to promote the safe preparation and administration of the tuberculosis vaccine Mycobacterium bovis BCG was developed and implemented. The results of a post-implementation time study indicated that a standardized approach to scheduling, preparing, and administering BCG was effective in managing the operations of BCG through having high clinic and patient satisfaction.
Classification of acute myeloid leukemia by the revised fourth edition World Health Organization criteria: a retrospective single-institution study with appraisal of the new entities of acute myeloid leukemia with gene mutations in NPM1 and biallelic CEBPA.

Summary The 2016/2017 World Health Organization (WHO2016/2017) classification for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) includes new entities with gene mutations in NPM1 (AML-NPM1mut) and biallelic CEBPA (AML-biCEBPAmut). To retrospectively identify and study these new molecularly defined WHO2016/2017entities, we reviewed clinicopathologic data and pretherapy archived pathologic materials at diagnosis for 143 consecutive AML cases (55.2% male, median age 62 [range 18-89] years) and classified all cases by the 2008 WHO (WHO2008) and revised WHO2016/2017 criteria. By WHO2008, cases included 21 (15%) with recurrent genetic abnormalities (52.3% male, median age 54 [range 18-82] years), 54 (38%) with myelodysplasia-related changes (57.4% male, median age 65 [range 32-84] years), 3 (2%) therapy related (100% male, median age 66 [range 32-84] years), and 65 (45%) not otherwise specified (52.3% male, median age 61 [range 19-89] years). Twenty-two (15.4%) cases (21 AML, not otherwise specified; 1 AML with myelodysplasia-related changes by WHO2008) reclassified by WHO2016/2017 as AML-NPM1mut showed female predominance (54.5%), and median (range) values were as follows: age 60.5 (23-84) years, hemoglobin 8.6 (5.6-12.9) g/dL, total leucocytes 30.1 (2.58-241.84) × 109/L, monocytes 1.65 (0-49.34) × 109/L, neutrophils 1.96 (0-29.79) × 109/L, platelets 55 (11-320) × 109/L, blasts (peripheral blood 41% [2%-98%], bone marrow 66% [17%-97%]), with myeloblastsCD34neg (17 [77%]/21), cytogeneticsnormal (20 [91%]/22), FLT3-ITDpos (9 [41%]/22), FLT3-ITDnegFLT3-TKDpos (5 [23%]/22), FLT3-ITDnegFLT3-TKDneg (8 [36%]/22), and extramedullary involvement (6 [27%]/22), including 1 novel cutaneous presentation. Notably, presenting features among AML-NPM1mut included those of anemia (22 [100%]) and thrombocytopenia (20 [91%]/22). This is also the first report of 4 [18%]/22 AML-NPM1mut (including 3 [75%]/4 nonsmokers) with a family history of leukemia and one 74-year-old with familial AML-biCEBPAmut. This study validates the application of the WHO2016/2017 classification criteria by retrospectively identifying AML-NPM1mut and AML-biCEBPAmut cases using single-gene molecular analyses. Additional studies are needed to characterize the complete spectrum of WHO2016/2017-defined AML-biCEBPAmut and for familial AML including AML-NPM1mut.
The contribution of residential greenness to mortality among men with prostate cancer: a registry-based cohort study of Black and White men.

Background Black men with prostate cancer (CaP) experience excess mortality compared with White men. Residential greenness, a health promoting contextual factor, could explain racial disparities in mortality among men with CaP. Methods We identified Pennsylvania Cancer Registry cases diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2015. Totally, 128,568 participants were followed until death or 1 January 2018, whichever occurred first. Residential exposure at diagnosis was characterized using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) with 250 m resolution. We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) using Cox models, adjusting for area-level socioeconomic status, geographic healthcare access, and segregation. To determine whether increasing residential greenness could reduce racial disparities, we compared standardized 10-year mortality Black-White risk differences under a hypothetical intervention fixing NDVI to the 75th percentile of NDVI experienced by White men. Results We observed 29,978 deaths over 916,590 person-years. Comparing men in the highest to lowest NDVI quintile, all-cause (adjusted HR [aHR]: 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.84, 0.92, Ptrend < 0.0001), prostate-specific (aHR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80, 0.99, Ptrend= 0.0021), and cardiovascular-specific (aHR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.90, Ptrend < 0.0001) mortality were lower. Inverse associations between an interquartile range increase in NDVI and cardiovascular-specific mortality were observed in White (aHR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.86, 0.93) but not Black men (aHR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.89, 1.06; Phet = 0.067). Hypothetical interventions to increase NDVI led to nonsignificant reductions in all-cause (-5.3%) and prostate-specific (-23.2%), but not cardiovascular-specific mortality disparities (+50.5%). Discussion Residential greenness was associated with lower mortality among men with CaP, but findings suggest that increasing residential greenness would have limited impact on racial disparities in mortality.
Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading and Grid Impact Studies in Smart Communities

The rise of peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplace paradigms has transformed existing marketplace models, but the extent to which this approach can be applied to the energy marketplace has yet to be considered. In this paper, we examine existing approaches taken in the application of a P2P paradigm to the energy marketplace, further presenting an approach towards facilitating an online P2P energy marketplace, implementing a prototype P2P web application named SolTrade. Furthermore, we submit initial statistics based on simulated transactions facilitated through the platform, which illustrate the physical impact of marketplace transactions on the energy grid. In particular, these results show that, as the number of users rises, the chance of overloading the grid rises, but the chance of the grid being unable to sustain itself without an external source of energy falls.