cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Victim Participation in Sentencing: And the Debate Goes On …

The right of victims in adversarial legal systems to provide input into sentencing decisions is still controversial. The paper presents the various forms victim input takes and the arguments for and against its use in sentencing. It then surveys the relevant research that has addressed these arguments and examines the implementation of this right. The article concludes that victim input may have some beneficial results for victims and for the justice system, without any of the predicted adverse effects on them.
Heterogeneous checkpointing for multithreaded applications

We present the first heterogeneous checkpointing scheme for applications using POSIX threads. The scheme relies on source code instrumentation to achieve heterogeneity. It supports various types of synchronization primitives, such as locks, semaphores, condition variables, and join operations. Unlike other non-heterogeneous checkpointing schemes proposed in the literature, our scheme supports both kernel-level and application-level threads executing as part of the same application under various scheduling policies. Also, unlike other non-heterogeneous checkpointing mechanisms proposed in the literature, our solution does not interfere with the semantics of the application and does not use signals. Test results on various hardware platforms running Solaris, Linux, and Windows NT show that the overhead of our scheme is low.
Impacts of El Niño–Southern Oscillation Events on the Distribution of Wintering Raptors

Abstract We report the effects of El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on the distribution and abundance of 3 raptor species at continental, regional, and landscape scales. We correlated values from the southern oscillation index (SOI), an index of ENSO phase and strength, with Christmas Bird Count data over a 30-year period. We investigated the relationship between the SOI and winter raptor distributions at 3 spatial scales: continental (central United States), regional (TX, USA), and landscape (3 roadside transects within TX). At the continental scale, ENSO events resulted in regional shifts for American kestrel (Falco sparverius), northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), and red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) winter abundances. As expected, these shifts were northward during El Nino (warm) winters, and southward for red-tailed hawks and northern harriers during La Nina (cold) winters. Within Texas, northern harrier distributions shifted towards arid west Texas during wet El Nino winters but were restr...
ARTEX: A Self-organizing Architecture for Classifying Image Regions

A self-organizing architecture is developed for image region classification. The system consists of a preprocessor that utilizes multiscale filtering, competition, cooperation, and diffusion to compute a vector of image boundary and surface properties, notably texture and brightness properties. This vector inputs to a system that incrementally learns noisy multidimensional mappings and their probabilities. The architecture is applied to difficult real-world image classification problems, including classification of synthetic aperture radar and natural texture images, and outperforms a recent state-of-the-art system at classifying natural textures.
B70-5 Theories of Abstract Automata

Scientific writing has long been adversely affected by the common misconception that "objective" and "dull" must be synonyms. That this is not the case Professor Arbib has once more proven by producing a sound and scientifically precise book that is also a pleasure to read. It will elicit more than just an occasional chuckle from its readers, and may even send some of them scurrying for their dictionaries with Greek polysyllables as "prolegomenon," "idiosyncratic," "palindrome," "polycephalic," and others; their search is doomed to failure with "possibilistic," for the author has apparently coined this one himself. Sometimes it is difficult to separate his wit from misprints and misspellings as in "... partial recursive with respect to one radix, they are partial recursive with respect to all radishes," granted, even, that "radish" comes from the same Latin word for "root," "radix." The flavor of the book is certainly unique. Can the reader think of any other book on automata theory closing with a phrase even remotely resembling "That is why both nature and nurture are important"?
Transition temperature shift exponent ψ for anisotropic-Heisenberg, and dipolar systems

Abstract The transition temperature shift exponent ψ is calculated for spin systems with (a) anisotropic exchange and (b) dipole-dipole interactions, using Feynman graph methods. The results are in agreement with calculations of the corresponding cross-over exponents.
Considerations for treating dyslipidemia in special diabetic populations.

This is a review of the problem of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in special diabetic populations. Clearly all patients with diabetes are at increased risk for CVD compared to non-diabetic populations. But within the subset that is patients with diabetes there are individuals who are particularly vulnerable. These groups include women, who are often overlooked and undertreated for their cardiovascular risk. Additionally, it includes those with fewer resources, many from minority populations, who are at very high risk for poor preventive care and serious cardiovascular morbidity. This review details the risk for CVD in a variety of different diabetic high-risk groups. It then discusses treatment options and approaches that should be employed in these populations.
Behavioral Auditory Function After Transection of Crossed Olivo-Cochlear Bundle in the Cat: I. Pure-tone Threshold and Perceptual Signal-to-noise Ratio

The feline subjects were behaviorally conditioned to respond to pure tone signals at different frequencies based upon the avoidance conditioning procedure. After the transection of crossed olivo-cochlear bundle, the pure tone threshold (250–14 000 Hz) was not altered. Neither was any alteration found in the measurement of the perceptual signal-to-noise ratio at the levels of 30, 50, and 70 dB above the subjects' pure tone thresholds. Morphological confirmation of the brain stem and cochlear end organs demonstrated that proper surgical lesions had been made and there had been subsequent degeneration of the efferent nerve endings around the outer hair cells; especially in the basal coils. It is concluded, therefore, that the absence of the crossed olivo-coch-lear bundle has no effect on the behavioral measurement of pure tone thresholds and perceptual signal-to-noise ratio in the cat.
Small UAV Design Using an Integrated Design Tool

Anumerical design tool was developed that greatly facilitates the design process of small UAVs. The integrated approach of the method makes it highly suitable for the aerodynamic needs of such small aircraft. Traditional design tools and methodologies are typically tailored for the design of larger aircraft, such as for general aviation, whose aerodynamics generally exhibit more linear behaviors. Building on this motivation, a user friendly integrated design tool was developed and validated in order to provide a more tailored approach to designing low Reynolds number aircraft. At the heart of the tool is a performance prediction that relies on a higher-order free wake potential flow aerodynamic code that employs viscous drag corrections. Subsequently, the method provides accurate characteristics for a wide range of Reynolds numbers and aspect ratio wings. In a validation process, the flight performance results of the method are compared with the results of other prediction methods as well as with several ...
Apoptosis is my favorite word: an introduction and performance.

This article contains the script for a theatrical performance, including an explanatory introduction and commentary. This one-person performance is based on scholarly research and personal narrative. It explores the history of cancer research and treatment as well as selected individual experiences of cancer. Cancer stories told by contemporary patients, caregivers, and family members as well as historical figures, such as Fannie Burney, are represented. This performance argues that the concept of collateral history is important for studying stories of cancer experiences that arise from multiple interrelated perspectives.
Forest wildfire and grassland prescribed fire effects on soil biogeochemical processes and microbial communities: Two case studies in the semi-arid Southwest

Abstract Fire is a natural disturbance that shapes many ecosystems. In semi-arid regions, where high temperatures and low soil moisture limit nutrient cycling and plant growth, fire is critical to supply nutrients and drive vegetation composition. We examined soil chemical and biological properties to assess the short-term impacts of wildfire and prescribed fires on soil functioning in semi-arid regions of Texas. Better understanding of soil organic matter transformation and nutrient cycling processes will aid land managers in predicting ecosystem recovery response post-fire. Soil samples were collected following both prescribed grassland fires in June of 2009 in Lubbock, TX and the April 2012 Livermore Ranch Complex Fire located in the Davis Mountains, TX. Prescribed fire samples (0–2.5 cm) were collected within six h prior to burning and again at 0.5, 24, 48, and 168 h post-fire to experimentally examine short-term influences of fire and fire frequency (1× vs. 2×) on soil carbon dynamics, inorganic nitrogen, and microbial community composition. Wildfire samples (0–5 cm) were collected two and six months following the wildfire. We evaluated the effects of three burn severity levels and sampled under three tree species (Juniperus deppeana, Pinus cembroides, and Quercus grisea). Within 0.5 h of the prescribed fire, CO2 flux, NH4+-N concentration and total microbial biomass (as estimated by total fatty acid methyl esters) increased. A shift in the microbial community from a predominance of fungi to Gram positive bacteria occurred immediately following the fire. Chemical shifts were short lived (decreased within 24 h), but the biotic shift to a dominance of Gram negative bacteria and actinomycetes was measured in samples collected after 168 h. Soil pH and NH4+-N concentration increased at two and six months following the wildfire. In contrast, soil organic matter content decreased at two months post wildfire which, in combination of abiotic conditions such as low moisture content (
Me, my self, and I(T): conceptualizing information technology identity and its implications

As social roles and relationships become increasingly inseparable from people's interactions with information technologies (ITs), new constructs representing this intertwinement are needed to expand understandings of human behavior. As part of that endeavor, this paper draws on structural symbolic interactionist identity theories to systematically develop a conceptual definition of one such construct, IT identity--defined as the extent to which an individual views use of an IT as integral to his or her sense of self--as a new form of identity. The construct is framed within a theoretical model. Our goal is to facilitate the establishment of IT identity as an important and relevant construct that can improve our understanding of a variety of phenomena. In doing so, this paper makes three contributions to the information systems (IS) literature. First, it delineates current understanding of IT as a medium, determinant, or consequent of identity. Second, it defines the conceptual domain and theme of IT identity, which is necessary for investigating the construct's theoretical influence. Third, it demonstrates the utility of IT identity to a wide range of IS topics relating to how people express, maintain, and expand their self-concepts. In doing so, it offers potential directions and opportunities for IS researchers to incorporate this novel concept into IS research.
Nucleate Boiling of Liquid Helium I on Gallium Single Crystals

The surface roughness in nucleate boiling is known to be an important parameter. It permits the trapping of vapor or gas which may preexist as an uncondensed phase in cavities prior to nucleation. This behavior is significant for room-temperature liquids because changes in the rms roughness values are known to affect the surface excess temperatures ΔT (above the saturation temperature of the bulk liquid). In contrast, in liquid He I (He4 above the λ point), no marked ΔT differences between various rough surfaces have been found [1] (though polishing caused an increase in ΔT). Optimum surface conditions, however, are desirable for efficient cooling in some components of liquid-helium cryosystems. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to provide additional details of this anomalous behavior by obtaining nucleate-cooling data for well-defined single-crystal surfaces (Ga). The crystal surface temperature was determined directly, i.e., without additional thermal-contact resistances between the heat-transfer surface and thermometer. This condition was realized by using the gallium single crystal as the resistance thermometer. The first part of this paper considers the experimental program with details of the gallium crystals used. This is followed by results of the study and conclusions concerned with optimum surface treatment for minimum solid excess temperatures, and with data interpretation.
The Impact and Persistence of Ambitious Energy Conservation Programs: Evidence from the 2001 Brazilian Electricity Crisis

There is little evidence on the impacts of ambitious energy conservation programs, which aim at large reductions in energy use. Ambitious programs are more likely to trigger lumpy adjustments inherent in the use of energy (e.g., appliance stock or habits). In this paper, I estimate the impacts on residential consumption of the most ambitious electricity conservation program to date. This was an innovative program of economic (e.g., fines) and social (e.g., conservation appeals) incentives implemented by the Brazilian government in 2001 in areas facing supply shortages of over 20%. I find that the program reduced average electricity consumption per customer by 28% during the nine months of its implementation, and by 13% until ten years later. Using individual billing data for three million customers, I show that average effects came from widespread reductions among customers. I also provide evidence that long-term impacts came mostly from lumpy adjustments in consumption behaviors (new habits). Finally, I structurally estimate a simple model to quantify the role of social incentives and lumpy adjustments. Social incentives played a major role and may be particularly powerful in times of crisis. Importantly, a permanent 80% tariff increase would have been necessary to achieve similar impacts without lumpy adjustments. The possibility of triggering lumpy adjustments may thus substantially reduce the incentives necessary to achieve large changes in energy use.
Measurement of insulin activity in blood.

Background: Body mass index (BMI) correlates positively with insulin resistance (IR) and leptin. BMI is a risk factor for asthma in children. Inflammatory adipokines/cytokines affect insulin stimulated glucose uptake in-vitro, but to-date there is little evidence for such a role in in-vivo. Individuals with allergic asthma have a heightened inflammatory state. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between IR and inflammatory adipokines in children with asthma.Conclusion: We confirm other studies showing BMI, leptin and resistin to be significantly correlated to IR, however, a significant relationship between IL-6, TNF-a and IR emerged in AA children, which may explain the increased variation in HOMA we observed in this group and this warrants further investigation.
Simultaneous optimization of the cavity heat load and trip rates in linacs using a genetic algorithm

In this paper, a genetic algorithm-based optimization is used to simultaneously minimize two competing objectives guiding the operation of the Jefferson Lab's Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility linacs: cavity heat load and radio frequency cavity trip rates. The results represent a significant improvement to the standard linac energy management tool and thereby could lead to a more efficient Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility configuration. This study also serves as a proof of principle of how a genetic algorithm can be used for optimizing other linac-based machines.
LBOVI-A-4

BACKGROUND A direct comparison of the gastrointestinal (GI) and cardiac safety of NSAIDs in elderly patients is not possible based on randomized trials since different trials employed non-overlapping patient populations and comparison exposures. We sought to estimate the risk reduction of GI complications and risk increase in acute myocardial infarction (MI) by celecoxib and rofecoxib compared with several non-selective NSAIDs addressing confounding by using instrumental variable methods. METHODS We identified 49,731 Medicare beneficiaries who initiated non-selective NSAIDs or selective COX2 inhibitors between 1/1/99 and 7/31/03. Risk increase of GI complications and MI in 180 days after initiation of NSAID therapy (rofecoxib, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and naproxen compared with celecoxib) was assessed using instrumental variable analysis adjusting un/measured confounders. RESULTS Compared with celecoxib, a tendency for increased risk of GI complications was observed for ibuprofen (risk difference = 0.93 events per 100 patients; −1.88; 3.73) and diclofenac (RD=5.20; −1.07;11.5). We found a clear increase in the risk of MI for rofecoxib (RD=2.17; 0.12;4.21) and diclofenac (RD=7.63; 0.24;15.0), while naproxen had the lowest risk (RD = −1.59; −4.62;1.44). CONCLUSIONS Diclofenac appears to have the least favorable safety profile among NSAIDs, while naproxen has the lowest risk of MI with no meaningful increase in risk for GI complications, making it a viable alternative to celecoxib. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 79, P83–P83; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2005.12.296
Patent dispute resolution under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act

The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (BPCIA) creates a pathway for expedited FDA approval of follow-on biologic drugs. As part of this pathway, the BPCIA includes special procedures to resolve patent disputes between the brand, or reference product sponsor, and the follow-on drug manufacturer. This article outlines the basics of the BPCIA and details procedures that reference product sponsors and follow-on applicants will follow to resolve patent issues under the Act. Finally, the article notes that the BPCIA patent dispute mechanism may lead to several unintended consequences: (1) it may be unlikely to provide patent certainty to the parties because it may not address the full portfolio of patents covering a biologic product; (2) it may also be unlikely to raise and resolve all pertinent patent issues prior to FDA approval; and (3) it is unclear whether there is a manner in which parties can enforce the rules of the patent dispute mechanism. At this time, no drug has been approved u...
Modeling of Stress Concentrations in SMA Components Considering Plastic and Viscoplastic Yielding

The compact actuation solutions provided by shape memory alloys (SMAs) continue to be explored by engineers and designers in the aerospace industry. However, the response of this material at stress concentrations such as fastener installations has not been widely studied. This work describes the theoretical constitutive models and numerical implementation required to analyze the coupled evolution of both recoverable and irrecoverable inelastic strains in SMA bodies that include stress concentrations. The irrecoverable strains can be induced by high local stresses at conventional temperatures, where they are rate-independent. They can also be induced by moderate local stresses at higher temperatures, where they are rate-dependent. SMA components are being designed for use in each of these conditions, and thus it is important that analytical tools accounting for both be developed. This work addresses both rate-independent and rate-dependent evolution of irrecoverable strains in SMAs. After review of the mathematical models, two example analyses are considered, one in which the stress concentration is represented by a crack tip, and another where it is represented by a circumferential notch in a cylindrical tensile specimen. These analyses demonstrate the importance of considering the coupled evolution of inelastic strains, both recoverable and irrecoverable.
Multimodal chelation platform for near-infrared fluorescence/nuclear imaging.

Dual-labeled compounds containing nuclear and near-infrared fluorescence contrast have the potential to molecularly guide surgical resection of cancer by extending whole-body diagnostic imaging findings into the surgical suite. To simplify the dual labeling process for antibody-based agents, we designed a multimodality chelation (MMC) scaffold which combined a radiometal chelating agent and fluorescent dye into a single moiety. Three dye-derivatized MMC compounds were synthesized and radiolabeled. The IRDye 800CW conjugate, 4, had favorable optical properties and showed rapid clearance in vivo. Using 4, an epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) targeting MMC-immunoconjugate was prepared and dual-labeled with 64Cu. In vitro binding activity was confirmed after MMC conjugation. Multimodal imaging studies showed higher tumor accumulation of 64Cu-7 compared to nontargeted 64Cu-4 in a prostate cancer model. Further evaluation in different EpCAM-expressing cell lines is warranted as well as application of th...
Radiation safety of receptive anal intercourse with prostate cancer patients treated with low-dose-rate brachytherapy

Abstract Purpose Prostate low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy involves implantation of radioactive seeds permanently into the prostate gland. During receptive anal intercourse, the penis of the partner may come in close proximity to the implanted prostate gland. We estimate the potential intrarectal dose rates and suggest guidance on radiation precautions. Methods and Materials One hundred two patients were included in the study. After implantation, with patients under anesthesia in the dorsal lithotomy position, a new set of ultrasound (US) images and a CT scan were obtained. The images were fused, radioactive seeds and US probe locations were determined on the CT, and prostate, bladder, and rectal contours were drawn on the US. Dose rates (cGy/h) were calculated for the portion of the US probe spanning the prostate for several dose-volume histogram parameters. Results Twenty patients were treated with 125 I and 82 patients with 103 Pd. Average dose rates at Day 0 to the portion of the US probe spanning the prostate were 2.1 ± 1.3 cGy/h and 2.5 ± 0.8 cGy/h for patients treated with 125 I and 103 Pd, respectively. After 60 days, average calculated probe dose drops to 1.0 ± 0.6 cGy/h and 0.2 ± 0.1 cGy/h for 125 I and 103 Pd, respectively. Conclusions During the immediate weeks after prostate seed implant, the estimated intrarectal dose rates are higher in 103 Pd compared to 125 I. As 103 Pd decays faster than 125 I, 2 months after the implant, radiation exposure from 103 Pd becomes lower than 125 I. Receptive anal intercourse time should be kept as low as possible during 2 and 6 months after low-dose-rate brachytherapy of the prostate with 103 Pd and 125 I, respectively.
Households' Awareness and Attitude and Affectting Factors to Grain for Green Policy——A Case Study of Yangjiagou Township of Mizhi County

In order to deeply grasp households' awareness and attitude toward the grain for green policy,we investigate more than 100 households of Yangjiagou Township,Mizhi County,Shaanxi Province and then seriously deal with questionnaire with the help of Spss software tool.Analysis indicates that about 97.17% households have a positive attitude toward the Grain for Green Policy and however,they do not really understand its aim according to our inquiry.Through correlation analysis,we find that it is farmers' age,knowledge level,the area of returning cultivated land,family size,the number of labor force,the area of cultivated land,economic income,etc.that significantly affect households' awareness and attitude toward Grain for Green Policy.The former 3 factors are the ones that influence more dominantly those families whose income is mainly from crop and domestic animal,while the economic income exerts more impact on those families who make money mainly by their labor forces.
‘As a lever gains power by its distance from the fulcrum’: tracing Frederick Douglass in the Irish Atlantic World

AbstractFollowing the publication of his autobiography and fearing recapture and return to slavery, in 1845 the abolitionist Frederick Douglass embarked on an 18-month lecture tour of the United Kingdom, during which his thinking on the subject of abolitionism developed significantly. While this period in Douglass’ life has received only modest scholarly attention, even less has been paid to the fact that the tour commenced in Ireland – then arguably more akin to a colony than an integral region of the UK. Drawing on archival research and scholarship that advocates for a more interconnected sense of place, a more oceanic perspective on history and consequently a better sense of how political activity is forged relationally, the paper traces Douglass’ journey through the Irish nodes of the abolitionist Atlantic network. In the process, it considers the degree to which Douglass was influenced by this colonial and deeply sectarian society, it illuminates a forgotten world of Irish abolitionist activity, and ...
Effects of a Story-Mapping Procedure Using the iPad on the Comprehension of Narrative Texts by Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study investigated the effects of a modified system of least prompts and an electronic story-mapping intervention for elementary students with autism spectrum disorder. Participants were first...
The Bauhaus in Brazil: Pedagogy and Practice

This article analyzes the rhetorical and discursive resonance of the claims by artists and art professionals in Brazil in the 1950s of a connection to the Bauhaus. I examine the curricula of two new art schools established in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, emphasizing the role of central figures, including Mario Pedrosa, and the works by artists trained at the schools, and study paintings by Lygia Clark that in part elicited Alfred H. Barr, Jr. in 1957 to dismiss Brazilian contemporary art as “Bauhaus exercises.” Rather than a case of imitation, as Barr suggested, Brazilian actors transformed Bauhaus ideas, mediated by Cold War re-interpretations of the German school and its approaches to artistic education, to articulate tactics of citation and adaptation and to assert a non-derivative, radical conception of modernism.
Reprecincting and Voting Behavior

Despite the expansion of convenience voting across the American states, millions of voters continue to cast ballots at their local precincts on Election Day. We argue that those registered voters who are reassigned to a different Election Day polling place prior to an election are less likely to turn out to vote than those assigned to vote at the same precinct location, as a new precinct location incurs both search and transportation costs on reassigned voters. Utilizing voter file data and precinct shape files from Manatee County, Florida, from before and after the 2014 General Election, we demonstrate that the redrawing of precinct boundaries and the designation of Election Day polling places is not a purely technical matter for local election administrators, but may affect voter turnout of some registered voters more than others. Controlling for a host of demographic, partisan, vote history, and geospatial factors, we find significantly lower turnout among registered voters who were reassigned to a new Election Day precinct compared to those who were not, an effect not equally offset by those voters turning to other available modes of voting (either early in-person or absentee). All else equal, we find that registered Hispanic voters were significantly more likely to abstain from voting as a result of being reassigned than any other racial group.
Genetic Testing for Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis occurs in 1 in 2000 to 4000 whites, and about 1 in 25 people are heterozygous carriers. The CF gene is cloned, and a single common mutation is found on 70% to 75% of CF chromosomes in most populations. Numerous different mutations are found on the remaining CF chromosomes. DNA analysis for carrier testing should be offered to relatives of CF patients and to reproductive partners of proven carriers. Population based carrier screening could detect about 72% of at-risk couples, and pilot studies are in progress to assess the feasibility of such screening. With regard to these factors, the possibility of gene therapy, and the questions raised, CF serves as a useful model for many genetic disorders.
Transport Processes in Polymers

The dependence of diffusion and relaxation processes on polymer structure is related to the polymer chain segmental mobility and the associated free volume content and distribution. The combination of diffusion and relaxation data for analysis of this mutual dependence has been obtained using a series of isoprene-methyl methacrylate copolymers and several penetrants of increasing molecular size. The effects of specific polymerpenetrant interactions have been studied by concurrent diffusion-relaxation and dynamic mechanical techniques using the Nylon 6-water system. The results of these studies emphasize the marked dependence of transport properties on subtle variations in polymer composition and structure and show the utility of combined transport measurements for elucidation of the complex nature of such systems.
Race, ABO Blood Type, Gender, Age and Venous Thromboembolism Risk: Not Black and White

Abstract 568 Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevalence has been noted to be different for different racial groups: Non-Hispanic blacks tend to have a higher risk compared with non-Hispanic whites. Different ABO blood types have also been previously shown to be associated with different risk of VTE, with individuals with O blood type carry the lowest VTE risk. Given that blacks have a higher percentage of O blood type, one would expect to see a lower prevalence of VTE. In order to explain this paradoxical finding, we utilized the Clinical Looking Glass (CLG) system to study the relative influence of race, gender, age, and ABO blood type on the VTE risk. A total of 61,077 adult patients admitted to our large diverse urban hospital between 2000 and 2009 who had blood typing performed were included in the study. Four cohorts were established according to ABO blood group and the prevalence of VTE among each cohort was examined. We confirmed the higher prevalence of VTE in blacks (7.05% vs. 6.75%, p Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The Use of Medical Marijuana in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract In this chapter, we aimed to investigate the current evidence in the medical literature about the possible use of medical marijuana in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Medical marijuana refers simply to the use of marijuana or cannabis derivates as a medical therapy to treat a medical condition or to relieve its symptoms. Marijuana is often consumed recreationally for its effects of heightened mood (euphoria), and relaxation, however, historic evidence shows that it was also used as a medicine . While medicinal use of marijuana has been debated for the treatment of medical conditions, (ie, pain, multiple sclerosis, nausea in cancer chemotherapy), patients who are suffering from mental disorders have also reported some benefit. Although it appears like majority of anecdotally reported improvements are related to the effects of heightened mood or euphoria, and relaxation, there is some meaningful and promising research data available for some anxiety disorders; especially posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Medicine, as an evidence-based science, has been approaching the medical marijuana issue very cautiously due to the lack of sufficient, supportive clinical data, and also due to the legal risk of being penalized by using, researching or recommending a chemical compound which has been declared as a crime under federal law.
Aquatic Tardigrades of North Carolina with a New North American Record of a Lotic Tardigrade, Dactylobiotus haplonyx Maucci, 1980 (Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae)

Abstract We provide a comprehensive list of all records of freshwater aquatic tardigrades from North Carolina. In addition, 24 samples of medium and coarse sand were taken from the Davidson River, Transylvania County, NC near the Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery in the Pisgah National Forest on April 26 and May 3, 2016. Approximately 1900 interstitial microinvertebrates were found with nematodes, oligochaetes, and tardigrades being the most abundant. Tardigrades were individually mounted on slides and identified to species when possible. Ten species were identified among the 344 tardigrades isolated. Of these, two were “accidentals” that normally occur in terrestrial habitats, and seven were previously known from North Carolina. Dactylobiotus haplonyx was a new North American record. This is a rare species, and we compare our specimens with previously published accounts.
Modeling Clinically Validated Physical Activity Assessments Using Commodity Hardware

Consumer-grade wearable activity devices such as Fitbits are increasingly being used in research settings to promote physical activity (PA) due to their low-cost and widespread popularity. However, Fitbit-derived measures of activity intensity are consistently reported to be less accurate than intensity estimates obtained from research-grade accelerometers (i.e., ActiGraph). As such, the potential for using a Fitbit to measure PA intensity within research contexts remains limited. This study aims to model ActiGraph-based intensity estimates from the validated Freedson vector magnitude (VM3) algorithm using measures of steps, metabolic equivalents, and intensity levels obtained from Fitbit. Minute-level data collected from 19 subjects, who concurrently wore the ActiGraph GT3X and Fitbit Flex devices for an average of 1.8 weeks, were used to generate the model. After testing several modeling methods, a naive Bayes classifier was chosen based on the lowest achieved error rate. Overall, the model reduced Fitbit to ActiGraph errors from 19.97% to 16.32%. Moreover, the model reduced misclassification of Fitbit-based estimates of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) by 40%, eliminating a statistically significant difference between MVPA estimates derived from ActiGraph and Fitbit. Study findings support the general utility of the model for measuring MVPA with the Fitbit Flex in place of the more costly ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer for young healthy adults.
Thermolysis reactions of N-alkyl-N′-CBZ amino acid amides. A route to substituted imidazolidine-2,4-diones

Abstract Reaction of N-alkyl-N′-CBZ amino acid amides under microwave conditions in water and in the presence of an acid catalyst results in the formation of N-substituted imidazolidine-2,4-diones in good yields.
The social functions of shamanism

Cultural evolutionary accounts of shamanism must explain the cross-cultural recurrence and variation in associated practices. We suggest that Singh's account of shamanism would be strengthened by considering the social functions of shamanism in groups. Shamanism increases social group cohesion, making it distinct from other magico-religious practices.
Adaptive Knowledge-Driven Optimization for Architecting a Distributed Satellite System

As distributed satellite systems gain interest, there is a growing need for design tools that can identify system architectures with good trades in multiple metrics. Evolutionary algorithms have sh...
On the P 4 structure of perfect graphs

Abstract Two vertices x, y of a graph G are called partners if there exist vertices u, v, w distinct from x, y such that {x, u, v, w} and {y, u, v, w} each induce a chordless path in G. The partner graph of G is the graph whose vertices are the vertices of G and whose edges are partners in G. The partner graph of G is completely determined by the P4-structure of G. We show that the Strong Perfect Graph Conjecture holds for graphs with triangle-free partner graphs.
Complexity and Regulation of the Immune System: The Network Approach

It is probably fair to say that none of the theoretical frameworks developed so far has demonstrated the capacity to rationalize the bulk of the phenomena which most immunologists would agree to be well established and relevant. The pacemakers in this field are certainly not the theoreticians, as the experimentalists attending this meeting have convincingly shown. However, the interactions between theory and experiment form a complicated network of their own, and I think that e.g. the Bret-scher-Cohn two-signal theory has markedly influenced many workers in the field. It should go without saying that the only serious goal for us theoreticians can be to make useful contributions to understanding the system’s complexity — contributions that are intelligible to the common sense of an immunologist, and are expressed in the language he has determined to be appropriate for the phenomena.
Before the garage: The entrepreneurial ecosystem that produced Silicon Valley

During its first half century (1909-1959), Silicon Valley relied upon an abundance of supporting institutions and accessible resources rather than one garage-based start-up after another inscribed ...
Screening for adolescent alcohol and drug use in pediatrics: predictors and implications for practice and policy

We describe findings from a web survey of pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) and a pilot study of a screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) model of primary care-based adolescent behavioral health care. The survey (N = 437) examined PCP attitudes and knowledge, patient characteristics, and environmental influences, (e.g., mental health parity and medical marijuana laws). We examined how PCP, panel, and organizational characteristics influence screening practices. The pilot examined whether SBIRT versus usual care increased problem identification and specialty treatment rates and the feasibility of SBIRT in pediatric patients. Respondents were less concerned about alcohol than other drug use, rated alcohol use as more difficult to discuss (19% versus 15%) and diagnose (56% versus 70%) than depression, and were more comfortable discussing sexual practices than alcohol (32% versus 22%). They were more likely to screen boys than girls (male PCPs were even more likely: 23% versus 6% [p < 0.0001]). Self-reported screening rates were far higher than electronic medical record (EMR)-documented rates for all substances. Experience, specialty, and recent AOD training (all p < 0.05) predicted self-reported rates; only patient age predicted actual rates. Organizational approaches (e.g., EMR tools and workflow) may matter more than PCP or patient characteristics in determining screening. Respondents reported that SBIRT was highly feasible and that it improved care; more (77) teens receiving SBIRT were referred for further assessment than those receiving usual care, and specialty treatment initiation increased from 8.73% to 12% (p < 0.0001). Organizational factors, lack of training, and discomfort with screening may impact adolescent screening and intervention. Integrated models of care for adolescent behavioral health care should be considered.
Application of Lidar and other profiling techniques to study the impact that Severe weather hazards have on the New York City built environment

The complexity of urban boundary layer dynamics poses challenges to those responsible for the design and regulation of buildings and structures in the urban environment. Lidar systems in the New York City Metropolitan region have been used extensively to study urban boundary layer dynamics. These systems, in conjunction with other sensing platforms can provide an observatory to perform research and analysis of turbulent and inclement weather patterns of interest to developers and agencies.
Distortion energy-based topology optimization design of hyperelastic materials

Highly stretchable material is widely used in the engineering field ranging from soft robots to stretchable electronics. Some highly stretchable 3D-architected mechanical metamaterials have been developed recently. However, failure of material is still the most critical design constraint when stretchability of the structure is considered, and existing topology optimization methods based on, e.g., von Mises stress failure criterion, are not accurate when applied to design hyperelastic materials under large deformation. To address this issue, this paper presents a topology optimization method based on distortion energy for designing nonlinear hyperelastic material against failure. For this purpose, a new objective function based on distortion energy for hyperelastic materials is proposed in the p-norm form. The adjoint method is applied to obtain the sensitivities, and the corresponding optimization problem is solved by the method of moving asymptotes. Excessive mesh distortion in low-density area is addressed through an interpolation scheme of the strain energy known as the fictitious domain method. Four numerical design examples are presented to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in significantly reducing local distortion energy concentration. One of these examples involves design of highly stretchable metamaterial where the optimized design is shown to sustain three times the finite strain of its base material under uniaxial tension without failure. Therefore, the proposed method has great potential in designing extremely stretchable materials such as stretchable electronics in the future.
Association between cardiovascular health metrics and depression among U.S. adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2014.

Abstract Purpose The American Heart Association has identified seven modifiable cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics, including four health behaviors (body mass index, smoking, physical activity, and dietary intake) and three health factors (total cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting glucose). We sought to examine the association between CVH metrics and depression. Methods We analyzed data on 14,561 adults aged 20 years or older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2014. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire; a score of 0–4, 5–9, and 10 or higher represented no or minimal, mild, moderate or severe depressive symptoms, respectively. CVH was categorized as inadequate, average, or optimum. We used multinomial logistic regression to assess the association between CVH and depression, adjusted for age, gender, race or ethnicity, education, and alcohol use. Results Prevalence of inadequate, average, and optimum CVH were 6.1%, 59.7%, and 34.2%; 14.9% and 7.8% of adults had mild and moderate/severe depression, respectively. Compared with participants with optimum CVH, prevalence ratios for moderate or severe depression were 4.39 (95% confidence interval, 3.32–5.80) and 2.64 (2.15–3.24) for those with inadequate and average CVH, respectively. The corresponding prevalence ratios for mild depression were 2.11 (1.77–2.52) and 1.36 (1.19–1.55). The association appeared to be stronger for CVH behaviors. Conclusions There was a graded association between CVH metrics, particularly for health behaviors, and mild and moderate/severe depression among U.S. adults.
Emerging applications of glass

Abstract From glass windows and containers to lenses and optical fiber, glass has proven to be one of the most important materials for enabling the development of contemporary human civilization. Owing to this indelible impact of glass on modern society, it has been proposed that we are now living in The Glass Age. The positive influence of glass on our world continues to grow as new glass products and processes are developed to address global challenges in energy, the environment, health care, information/communication technology, and more. In this closing chapter, we review some new emerging applications of glass that promise to address many of these grand challenges. We hope that these new and anticipated applications of glass will inspire students to pursue dedicated research in these areas to invent the new materials and processes required for solving these grand challenges and improving the quality of life for all of humanity.
Subjects Disregarded in the Literature of the Palestinian-Israeli Negotiations

This chapter sheds further light on other factors that influence the trajectory and outcomes of the negotiating process in a decisive manner in an attempt to broaden the analytical framework aiming at analyzing the Palestinian-Israeli negotiating experience. There are factors that have not been considered by previous studies while trying to assess the negotiating process in question. Therefore, they have lost an important opportunity, which would help to better analyze that experience. This chapter analyzes the impact of such a gap on the findings of the previous studies and how these were reflected on the nature of the recommendations they have made to break the negotiating deadlock. One of the most salient repercussions of that gap was the concentration on the manifestations of the conflict and not on the conflict itself, as well as the preoccupation with attempts to alter its nature rather than seeking an enduring solution.
Demo: Measuring Distance Traveled by an Object using WiFi-CSI and IMU Fusion

Accurately measuring the distance traveled by an object or odometry, in indoor environments is important in many applications such as video-game controller tracking or robot route guidance. While the distance traveled by an object can be simply measured using an accelerometer, it is wellknown that distances measured with accelerometers suffer from large drift errors. In this paper, we demonstrate WIO, a WiFiassisted Inertial Odometry technique that uses WiFi signals as an auxiliary source of information to correct such drift errors. The key intuition behind WIO is that, among multiple paths of a transmitted WiFi signal that arrive at a moving object equipped with a WiFi receiver, WIO can isolate the path that is most parallel to the object’s direction of motion and use the change in the length of that path as an estimate of the traversed distance. WIO then fuses this distance estimate with the distance measured from an accelerometer on-board the object to correct drift errors. We implement WIO using commodity devices, and evaluate it on a robot car. Our results demonstrate an average error of just 4.37% in estimating the distance traversed by the car.
Draft Genome Sequence of an Adomavirus Associated with Raised Mucoid Skin Lesions on Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu).

ABSTRACT Raised mucoid skin lesions have been observed on smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) for years. Here, we report the draft genome of a novel adomavirus (Micropterus dolomieu adomavirus 2) associated with this disease. The circular genome is 17,561 bp and most similar to that of alpha-adomaviruses.