cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unified Incremental Physical-Level and High-Level Synthesis

Achieving design closure is one of the biggest challenges for modern very large-scale integration system designers. This problem is exacerbated by the lack of high-level design-automation tools that consider the increasingly important impact of physical features, such as interconnect, on integrated circuit area, performance, and power consumption. Using physical information to guide decisions in the behavioral-level stage of system design is essential to solve this problem. In this paper, we present an incremental floorplanning high-level-synthesis system. This system integrates high-level and physical-design algorithms to concurrently improve a design's schedule, resource binding, and floorplan, thereby allowing the incremental exploration of the combined behavioral-level and physical-level design space. Compared with previous approaches that repeatedly call loosely coupled floorplanners for physical estimation, this approach has the benefits of efficiency, stability, and better quality of results. The average CPU time speedup resulting from unifying incremental physical-level and high-level synthesis is 24.72times and area improvement is 13.76%. The low power consumption of a state-of-the-art low-power interconnect-aware high-level-synthesis algorithm is maintained. The benefits of concurrent behavioral-level and physical-design optimization increased for larger problem instances.
Regulation of the helix-loop-helix proteins, E2A and Id3, by the Ras-ERK MAPK cascade

Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways leads to cellular differentiation and/or proliferation in a wide variety of cell types, including developing thymocytes. The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins E12 and E47 and an inhibitor HLH protein, Id3, play key roles in thymocyte differentiation. We show here that E2A DNA binding is lowered in primary immature thymocytes consequent to T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated ligation. Whereas expression of E2A mRNA and protein are unaltered, Id3 transcripts are rapidly induced upon signaling from the TCR. Activation of Id3 transcription is regulated in a dose-dependent manner by the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) MAPK module. These observations directly connect the ERK MAPK cascade and HLH proteins in a linear pathway.
Increasing Latina/o Students' Baccalaureate Attainment: A Focus on Retention

Notwithstanding years of retention efforts, graduation rates of Latinas/os remain alarmingly low. The purpose of this review is threefold. First, the authors go beyond traditional theory and highlight those scholars who shed new information on retention for Latina/o students. Second, they summarize factors that specifically affect Latina/o students. Third, promising practices for effectively retaining Latina/o students in higher education institutions are highlighted.
48.3: New Maskless, Completely Dry Color Filter Manufacturing System Based on Breakthrough Direct Laser Writing Technology: DuPont Thermal Color Filters (DuPont TCF)

In response to the strong industry need for cost reduction DuPont has been developing a new breakthrough technology including materials, equipment and process which comprise a system for manufacturing LCD Color Filters. This new technology significantly reduces process steps and clean room space required by conventional photolithography, thereby providing significant capital and operational savings. Since the system is based on digital technology, the direct writing precision patterning process eliminates photomasks for RGB, is highly scalable and greatly simplifies pattern change over.
Evidence for a Shared Genetic Susceptibility to Migraine and Epilepsy

Summary Purpose Although epilepsy and migraine are known to co-occur within individuals, the contribution of a shared genetic susceptibility to this comorbidity remains unclear. We investigated the hypothesis of shared genetic effects on migraine and epilepsy in the Epilepsy Phenome/Genome Project (EPGP) cohort. Methods We studied prevalence of a history of migraine in 730 EPGP participants aged ≥12 years with nonacquired focal epilepsy (NAFE) or generalized epilepsy (GE) from 501 families containing two or more individuals with epilepsy of unknown cause. Information on migraine without aura (MO) and migraine with aura (MA) was collected using an instrument validated for individuals ≥12 years. Because many individuals have both MO and MA, we considered two nonoverlapping groups of individuals with migraine: those who met criteria for MA in any of their headaches (MA), and those who did not (“MO-only”). EPGP participants were interviewed about the history of seizure disorders in additional nonenrolled family members. We evaluated associations of migraine prevalence in enrolled subjects with a family history of seizure disorders in additional nonenrolled relatives, using generalized estimating equations to control for the nonindependence of observations within families. Key Findings Prevalence of a history of MA (but not MO-only) was significantly increased in enrolled participants with two or more additional affected first-degree relatives. Significance These findings support the hypothesis of a shared genetic susceptibility to epilepsy and MA.
Into the Dustbin of History? The Evaluation and Preservation of Slavic Materials

One of the greatest challenges facing area studies librarians today is preservation of collections. Area studies collections in libraries, the backbone of international studies programs for most colleges and universities in North America, are in danger. Most materials in these collections were published on acidic paper and poorly bound leaving them susceptible to rapid deterioration. Slavic collections, for example, appear to be in dire need of preservation treatment, but there is very little hard data on the scope of the problem. This research project, conducted at the University of Kansas Libraries, is the first step toward gaining a better understanding of the overall condition of Slavic collections. A survey of the Slavic holdings was conducted to provide statistical information on their physical condition. Results of the survey reveal that the condition of these collections should be cause for serious concern. However, the problems are not so great that they cannot be overcome through careful preservation planning and interlibrary cooperation.
Genetic isolation of stem cell-derived pacemaker-nodal cardiac myocytes

Dysfunction of the cardiac pacemaker tissues due to genetic defects, acquired diseases, or aging results in arrhythmias. When arrhythmias occur, artificial pacemaker implants are used for treatment. However, the numerous limitations of electronic implants have prompted studies of biological pacemakers that can integrate into the myocardium providing a permanent cure. Embryonic stem (ES) cells cultured as three-dimensional (3D) spheroid aggregates termed embryoid bodies possess the ability to generate all cardiac myocyte subtypes. Here, we report the use of a SHOX2 promoter and a Cx30.2 enhancer to genetically identify and isolate ES cell-derived sinoatrial node (SAN) and atrioventricular node (AVN) cells, respectively. The ES cell-derived Shox2 and Cx30.2 cardiac myocytes exhibit a spider cell morphology and high intracellular calcium loading characteristic of pacemaker-nodal myocytes. These cells express abundant levels of pacemaker genes such as endogenous HCN4, Cx45, Cx30.2, Tbx2, and Tbx3. These cells were passaged, frozen, and thawed multiple times while maintaining their pacemaker-nodal phenotype. When cultured as 3D aggregates in an attempt to create a critical mass that simulates in vivo architecture, these cell lines exhibited an increase in the expression level of key regulators of cardiovascular development, such as GATA4 and GATA6 transcription factors. In addition, the aggregate culture system resulted in an increase in the expression level of several ion channels that play a major role in the spontaneous diastolic depolarization characteristic of pacemaker cells. We have isolated pure populations of SAN and AVN cells that will be useful tools for generating biological pacemakers.
Preparation of Nursing Students for Change and Innovation

As health care technology advances and patients require more care, nurses will need to be prepared to change old and incorporate new care practices and systems. Nurses must not only be able to deliver quality nursing care, but will also need to be capable of creating innovative approaches, reacting quickly, and taking calculated risks. Using the Organizational Engineering Model, this study examines the informational processing styles of students entering the nursing profession and in turn, measures the way they process information at the end of their education. The information processing style predicts the ability to innovate, take risks, and change. The findings of this study demonstrate that we attract nursing students who fall within the Conservator information processing style. Conservators focus on outcome certainty and a deliberate response. Schools of nursing also graduate students with this same profile, indicating that we have not altered their information processing style during their education.
Effectiveness of communication of spatial engineering information through 3D CAD and 3D printed models

Poor engineering information provided to construction crews results in inefficient communication of design, leading to construction rework, disputes, and lower worker morale. The resulting errors, omissions, and misinterpretations indicates that a significant opportunity exists to improve the traditional documentation of engineering information that craft professionals use to complete their work. Historically, physical three dimensional (3D) models built by hand provided 3D physical representations of the project to assist in sequencing, visualization, and planning of critical construction activities. This practice has greatly diminished since the adoption of three dimensional CAD (computer-aided design) and BIM (building information modeling) technologies. Recently, additive manufacturing technologies have allowed for three dimensional printing of 3D CAD models. The effectiveness of 2D drawings, a 3D computer model, and a 3D printed model in delivering engineering information to an end-user are scientifically measured. The 3D printed model outperformed the 2D drawings and 3D computer interface in productivity and workload measures. A physical model has the ability to improve communication of spatial design for certain tasks. This could lead to improved productivity, reduction of errors, and better quality for construction tasks. This paper's primary contribution to the body of knowledge is that it identifies how different mediums of engineering information impact the communication of spatial engineering information.
Hand motion expertise analysis using dynamic hierarchical activity modeling and isomap

Several domains such as sports, surgery, dance etc. are characterized by a significant influence of expertise of the performer on the motion pattern and style. The retrieval of expertise level of the performer through automated motion analysis is the subject of this paper. We employ a novel neuropsychologically inspired algorithm that employs a dynamic hierarchical layered structure to represent the human anatomy, and low-level parameters to characterize motion in the layers of this hierarchy which correspond to different segments of the human body. This characterization is representative of the expertise of the performer of the motion. These motion profiles are then compared using dynamic time warping to generate a similarity matrix. We employ isomap to reduce dimensionality and the cluster the data into different expertise classes. This algorithm was tested on a library of surgical movements that contained 3D hand motion data of common surgical laparoscopic procedures. Linearly separable clusters were obtained between novice, intermediate and expert performances. Test sequences were projected into manifold spaces. A recognition percentage of 98.56% was obtained for classifying the test sequences into correct expertise clusters.
Microstructural effects on ductile fracture in heterogeneous materials. Part I: Sensitivity analysis with LE-VCFEM

Abstract Ductile failure of heterogeneous materials, such as cast aluminum alloys and discretely reinforced aluminums or DRA’s, initiates with cracking, fragmentation or interface separation of inclusions, that is followed by propagation in the matrix by a ductile mechanism of void nucleation and growth. Damage localizes in bands of intense plastic deformation between inclusions and coalesces into a macroscopic crack leading to overall failure. Ductile fracture is very sensitive to the local variations of the microstructure morphology. This is the first of a two part paper on the effect of microstructural morphology and properties on the ductile fracture in heterogeneous ductile materials. In this paper the locally enhanced Voronoi cell finite element method (LE-VCFEM) for rate-dependent porous elastic–viscoplastic materials is used to investigate the sensitivity of strain to failure to loading rates, microstructural morphology and material properties. A model is also proposed for strain to failure, incorporating the effects of important morphological parameters.
Reduction and association of the scaphoid and lunate procedure: short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Purpose To evaluate the success of reduction and association of the scaphoid and lunate with a fibrous union in an effort to evaluate the technique's validity and reproducibility. Methods A retrospective review was performed on 7 patients (8 wrists) with an average follow-up of 38 months. Static and grip radiographs were examined in the preoperative, immediate postoperative, and final follow-up settings to evaluate scapholunate (SL) diastasis, SL angle, hardware position, and complications. At final follow-up, grip strength and wrist range of motion were recorded, and patients completed the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand and the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation outcome questionnaires. Results Radiographic success, defined by maintenance of corrected SL diastasis, absence of dorsal intercalated segmental instability, and no progression of SL advanced collapse was achieved in 3 of the 8 wrists. One wrist developed radioscaphoid arthritis. No patients required a salvage procedure. Despite the loss of reduction that occurred in all patients, the patients' disability remained minimal as detected by the scores on the outcome measures. Conclusions The procedure was ineffective in providing stability about the SL interval. With a majority of patients experiencing early radiographic failure of the procedure in the short term, our experience suggests that the reduction and association of the scaphoid and lunate procedure should be abandoned despite the relatively low outcomes measures scores, which may be reflective of the short follow-up duration for this series. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
The Time Course of Grammaticality Judgement

The results of three experiments which investigated the time course of grammaticality judgement are presented. We used sentences that varied in error type (agreement, transposition, omission of function words), part of speech (auxiliaries vs determiners) and location (early vs late error placement). Experiment 1 was a word-by-word cloze experiment in which subjects were presented with successively longer fragments of a sentence and instructed to complete the sentence grammatically, if possible. Experiment 2 was a self-paced, word-by-word grammaticality judgement experiment. The results of both experiments are quite similar, showing that some error types elicit a broad and variable “decision region" instead of a more punctate ”decision point". To explore the implications of this finding, Experiment 3 looked at on-line judgements of the same stimuli in an RSVP paradigm, with a single response (and reaction time). Correlations among the three experiments were extremely high and all significant, suggesting th...
DNA Methylation, Age-Related Immune Defects, and Autoimmunity

The adaptive immune system is a highly proliferative organ that combines ongoing differentiation with preservation of memory. CpG DNA methylation is central to many of the fate decisions that occur from early lymphoid development to late effector functions of end-differentiated cells. Many of the DNA demethylation-sensitive genes play an important role in autoimmune diseases and in the immune defects that are associated with the aging process, suggesting that failing epigenetic control mechanisms of genes involved in adaptive immune responses contribute to these diseases.
Review of: The Right to Exploit by Gijs Van Donselaar

Review of Gijs van Donselaar, The Right to Exploit (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009).
Blockmodels for connectome analysis

In the present work we study a family of generative network model and its applications for modeling the human connectome. We introduce a minor but novel variant of the Mixed Membership Stochastic Blockmodel and apply it and two other related model to two human connectome datasets (ADNI and a Bipolar Disorder dataset) with both control and diseased subjects. We further provide a simple generative classifier that, alongside more discriminating methods, provides evidence that blockmodels accurately summarize tractography count networks with respect to a disease classification task.
Social System Evolution and Sociobiology

E. O. Wilson’s [Wilson, 1975] overly-confident conception of “sociobiology” challenges the sociologist to join the “grand Darwinian synthesis,” which means, for him, to accept—without substantial evidence—the genetic determination of the central features of the social roles characteristic of human societies—apparently in all their cultural diversity. Such speculation is of questionable worth to the social scientist, since the great bulk of anthropological and sociological evidence points to the enormous range of actual and potential patterned social activities, and attests to the inherent plasticity of such actions within the very broad limits set by man’s biological and psychological make-up.
Recent Results from Cleo on the Decay of B Mesons

The CLEO collaboration has investigated Kobayashi-Moskawa favored and disfavored decays of B mesons. Upper limits on the matrix element V bu have been obtained through searches for b → u transitions. There is no evidence for the decay modes B - → ppπ - or B 0 → ppπ + π - reported by the ARGUS collaboration.
Area-wide systemic insecticide treatment for control of cattle grubs, Hypoderma spp. (Diptera: Oestridae): two approaches.

As part of the Joint United States—Canada Cattle Grub Project, progress of two different governmental approaches toward eradication of cattle grubs, Hypoderma spp., was evaluated. In the United States, governmental assistance to purchase insecticide and provide labor to apply the chemical was used for 3 consecutive years as an inducement to achieve 100% participation by producers in the treatment area. In Canada, long-standing legislation requires treatment of all cattle with costs for treatment borne by the individual stockowner. Compliance is monitored in Canada by federal and provincial government inspectors in the spring, at auction markets and slaughter facilities, and during follow-up visits to farms with infested cattle. The two approaches were evaluated by extensive onranch examination of cattle in the spring following each fall’s treatment. Following systemic insecticide application in the United States treatment area, prevalence dropped from 85% before initiation of the project to 9.2, 2.5, and 1.2%, respectively, for each of the 3 years 1983–85. In comparison, prevalence in the Canadian treatment area remained relatively steady at 8.8, 6.7, and 7.3% for the same 3 years. Although both approaches substantially reduced populations of grubs by >90%, neither achieved the long-range goal of eradication. Samples of segregated untreated monitor cattle from both treatment areas indicated reinfestation rates as high as 90% and resulted in recommendations for utilization of integrated management techniques to complement progress achieved with chemical control strategies.
Application of simulation case teaching method in the course of pediatric nursing

The teaching of pediatric nursing course is influenced by the seasons due to difference diseases.In order to overcome the shortage,the simulation case teaching method was applied in different teaching stages in the course of pediatric nursing,which broadened students' theoretical knowledge,trained their ability of self-study and literature searching,improved their ability of analysis and problem-solving,as well as communication skills.This method is beneficial not only for the students to master the theoretical knowledge,but also for the enhancement to teaching.
Simulation Research of Iterative Learning in Excitation Control Based on PSB

A nonlinear learning law is proposed based on iterative learning control theory,which is applied to excitation control of synchronous generator.Its convergence is improved.It is simulated by MATLAB/SIMULINK in the single-infinite and two machines systems,which indicates the validity and universality of the method.Performance is greatly improved.The strong ability for supporting the terminal voltage of synchronous generator is obtained.The convergence is speed up comparing with the usual PIDcontroller and linear iterative learning controller,which is in favor of the stability in power system.
The Impact of Molecular Technology on STD Control

Sexually transmitted diseases have afflicted humankind for millennia, based on references to apparent gonorrhea or nongonococcal urethritis in the Old Testament (Leviticus). For most of history there has been no means of specific diagnosis, and clinical diagnosis of syndromes was fraught with error. Usually, this made no difference because there was no specific therapy and no means of prevention other than abstinence or monogamy, which was slightly effective at best (witness the very high prevalence of syphilis in much of Europe and the USA before advent of specific therapy, approaching 10% in many populations and 25% in some). Occasionally, syndromic diagnosis did cause serious consequences. If we could talk with John Hunter today, he certainly would bemoan the absence in his time of specific diagnostic tests for gonorrhea and syphilis. Had he had access to such tests, he certainly would not have inoculated himself with urethral exudate from a patient with gonorrhea and subclinical syphilis, resulting in the acquisition of both gonorrhea and syphilis (1)! Not only did he suffer from both diseases, but he also understandably but incorrectly concluded that both diseases had the same etiology, which held back the entire field until the discovery that Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Treponema pallidum were separate causes of the very distinctive diseases.
Cancer Preventive Activities of Tea Polyphenols

The cancer preventive activities of tea (Camellia Sinensis Theaceae) have been investigated extensively. Green tea polyphenols have been shown to inhibit tumorigenesis in different animal models, including those for cancers of the lung, oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, bladder, liver, pancreas, skin, prostate and mammary glands. Enhancement of apoptosis, suppression of cell proliferation, and inhibition of angiogenesis have been shown to be associated with the inhibition of carcinogenesis by tea polyphenols in animals. Many studies in cell lines have demonstrated the modulation of signal transduction and metabolic pathways by (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant and active polyphenol in green tea. The cancer preventive activity of green tea in humans, however, has not been conclusively demonstrated in epidemiological studies. The relationship between tea consumption and cancer risk may become clearer if we could better quantify the tea consumption, adjust for confounding factors and consider genetic polymorphisms of the population. Ongoing human studies on the prevention of prostate, oral, lung, colon, and breast cancers by tea polyphenols are expected to yield more information on this important topic.
Fighting for the Right to Be White: A Case Study in White Racial Identity

Membership in extremist groups, such as White Revolution and the Ku Klux Klan, embody specific behavioral attributes. These attributes include practicing endogamy and exhibiting racial pride. There is general consensus among members as to what it means to be part of a socially constructed extremist group. There are also strong motivational factors that support maintaining in-group solidarity and dominant status. By adhering to the rules dictated by group membership, both the self and the group are uplifted based on white racial identity. The process of self-categorization for white racial activists accentuates their own physical similarities along with perceived negative physical differences among racial and ethnic groups. The result is a reinforcement of norms that favor the in-group over the out-group. Subjective belief structures, such as the superiority of whiteness and heterosexuality, legitimize the existence of a universal higher status in-group (at least in the white supremacist worldview). This project is based on ongoing field research that began in July 2009, survey data collected in May 2010, and discussion topics posted on the hate site, Stormfront.org in 2013 and 2014. These findings, among others, contribute to literature about why some people join extremist groups, adhere to racialist ideology, and believe that whites are superior to all other groups.
Sweeteners: Consumer acceptance in tea

Sucrose, fructose, aspartame, and saccharin were compared for consumer preference, aftertaste, and cost to determine acceptability of the sweeteners. A 23-member taste panel evaluated tea samples for preference and aftertaste. Mean retail cost of the sweeteners were calculated and adjusted to take sweetening power into consideration. Sucrose was the least expensive and most preferred sweetener. No significant difference in preference for fructose and aspartame was found, but both sweeteners were rated significantly lower than sucrose. Saccharin was the most disliked sweetener. Fructose was the most expensive sweetener and aspartame the next most expensive. Scores for aftertaste followed the same pattern as those for preference. Thus, a strong, unpleasant aftertaste seems to be associated with a dislike for a sweetener. From the results of this study, it seems that there is no completely acceptable low-calorie substitute for sucrose available to consumers.
Small-molecule binding sites to explore protein–protein interactions in the cancer proteome

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) offers an unprecedented opportunity to identify small-molecule binding sites on proteins with overexpressed mRNA levels that correlate with poor survival. Here, we analyze RNA-seq and clinical data for 10 tumor types to identify genes that are both overexpressed and correlate with patient survival. Protein products of these genes were scanned for binding sites that possess shape and physicochemical properties that can accommodate small-molecule probes or therapeutic agents (druggable). These binding sites were classified as enzyme active sites (ENZ), protein-protein interaction sites (PPI), or other sites whose function is unknown (OTH). Interestingly, the overwhelming majority of binding sites were classified as OTH. We find that ENZ, PPI, and OTH binding sites often occurred on the same structure suggesting that many of these OTH cavities can be used for allosteric modulation of enzyme activity or protein-protein interactions with small molecules. We discovered several ENZ (PYCR1, QPRT, and HSPA6) and PPI (CASC5, ZBTB32, and CSAD) binding sites on proteins that have been seldom explored in cancer. We also found proteins that have been extensively studied in cancer that have not been previously explored with small molecules that harbor ENZ (PKMYT1, STEAP3, and NNMT) and PPI (HNF4A, MEF2B, and CBX2) binding sites. All binding sites were classified by the signaling pathways to which the protein that harbors them belongs using KEGG. In addition, binding sites were mapped onto structural protein-protein interaction networks to identify promising sites for drug discovery. Finally, we identify pockets that harbor missense mutations previously identified from analysis of TCGA data. The occurrence of mutations in these binding sites provides new opportunities to develop small-molecule probes to explore their function in cancer.
Analysis of GNSS-R Altimetry for Mapping Ocean Mesoscale Sea Surface Heights Using High-Resolution Model Simulations

The capability of global navigation satellite system reflectometry (GNSS-R) altimetry to map mesoscale sea surface height (SSH) fields is analyzed using synthetic measurements derived from a high-resolution (1/10°) numerical model of the North Pacific. As an example, we consider the GPS and GLONASS constellation transmitters and assume six reflection-capable receivers onboard the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate satellites in high-inclination (720 km, 72°) orbits. An individual GNSS-R measurement has a ∼10-km footprint. The SSH measurement error is simulated as a function of the incidence angle and the error in the delay measurement between the transmitter and receiver. The delay measurement error is assumed to have Gaussian white noise distribution with a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 1.0 or 2.0 m. Two days of synthetic measurements are used to reconstruct SSH fields using a two-dimensional variational algorithm. For the 1.0-m delay error, the basin-wide RMSE of the mapped field is 2.3 cm and the spatial correlation between the mapped and true mesoscale fields is larger than 0.9. For the 2.0-m delay error, the basin-wide RMSE is 3.8 cm and the spatial correlation is larger than 0.8. Spectral and synoptic analyses suggest that two days of measurements can reproduce mesoscale features down to 100 km. The result demonstrates the ability of GNSS-R altimetry to suppress large measurement errors due to the high density of measurements and the potential to constrain mesoscale features down to scales beyond what the constellation of existing nadir-altimeters allows.
SU-F-J-32: Do We Need KV Imaging During CBCT Based Patient Set-Up for Lung Radiation Therapy?

Purpose: To evaluate the role of 2D kilovoltage (kV) imaging to complement cone beam CT (CBCT) imaging in a shift threshold based image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) strategy for conventional lung radiotherapy. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by analyzing IGRT couch shift trends for 15 patients that received lung radiation therapy to evaluate the benefit of performing orthogonal kV imaging prior to CBCT imaging. Herein, a shift threshold based IGRT protocol was applied, which would mandate additional CBCT verification if the applied patient shifts exceeded 3 mm to avoid intraobserver variability in CBCT registration and to confirm table shifts. For each patient, two IGRT strategies: kV + CBCT and CBCT alone, were compared and the recorded patient shifts were categorized into whether additional CBCT acquisition would have been mandated or not. The effectiveness of either strategy was gauged by the likelihood of needing additional CBCT imaging for accurate patient set-up. Results: The use of CBCT alone was 6 times more likely to require an additional CBCT than KV+CBCT, for a 3 mm shift threshold (88% vs 14%). The likelihood of additional CBCT verification generally increased with lower shift thresholds, and was significantly lower when kV+CBCT was used (7% with 5 mm shift threshold, 36% with 2 mm threshold), than with CBCT alone (61% with 5 mm shift threshold, 97% with 2 mm threshold). With CBCT alone, treatment time increased by 2.2 min and dose increased by 1.9 cGy per fraction on average due to additional CBCT with a 3mm shift threshold. Conclusion: The benefit of kV imaging to screen for gross misalignments led to more accurate CBCT based patient localization compared with using CBCT alone. The subsequently reduced need for additional CBCT verification will minimize treatment time and result in less overall patient imaging dose.
Co-invasion of similar invaders results in analogous ecological impact niches and no synergies

Exotic species can cause changes to their invaded ecosystems, which can be large and long lasting. Despite most landscapes being invaded by multiple exotic plant species, >90 % of impact studies only characterize the impacts of single species. Therefore, our knowledge of invasive plant impacts does not reflect the co-invaded nature of most landscapes, potentially ignoring complex interactions among exotic species. Our objective was to characterize potential invader synergies (positive interactions) on biotic and abiotic ecological parameters among the important forest invaders Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) and wavyleaf basketgrass (Oplismenus undulatifolius), which co-invade eastern US deciduous forests. To characterize synergies, we used a factorial selective removal study, as well as an observational study to further explore invader cover-impact relationships. Although both invaders can reduce native plant richness by 70 % individually or in combination, there were no impact synergies. Total cover of any combination of the two invaders had a negative quadratic effect on total, exotic, and native plant richness; i.e., all community metrics were greatest at intermediate levels of total invader cover and lowest at maximum invader cover. Native richness was more greatly affected than exotic richness by the co-invasion. Soil metrics had no clear trend in either study. Japanese stiltgrass and wavyleaf basketgrass appear to have overlapping impact niches—the number, magnitude, and direction of biotic and abiotic changes to the invaded ecosystem—that only vary in impact magnitude, not breadth. As a result of their overlapping impact niches and non-synergies in this co-invaded system, the addition of the recent invader wavyleaf basketgrass has not resulted in additional changes to the invaded forests. Future impact studies should focus on multiple species and identifying synergies, especially as they relate to invader cover, which informs ecological interactions and management prioritization.
Ethnic neighborhoods, social networks, and inter-household carpooling: A comparison across ethnic minority groups

Abstract The implications of racial residential segregation on travel behavior have remained understudied, despite the persistent existence of segregation. Using the 2009 National Household Travel Survey, I investigate whether residence in a co-ethnic neighborhood affects the likelihood that ethnic minorities will form inter-household carpools, and if so, how such effects differ across race or ethnic groups. Inter-household carpooling requires arrangements and interactions between people living in geographical proximity, so it will likely reflect the social networks of a neighborhood. The results show that Hispanics and Asians who reside in their co-ethnic neighborhoods, regardless of immigrant status, are more likely to use inter-household carpools for non-work purposes than their counterparts living outside co-ethnic neighborhoods. In contrast, black neighborhood residency is not associated with the likelihood that African Americans will do inter-household carpooling, regardless of trip purpose. These differences across racial/ethnic groups suggest that the role of neighborhoods in promoting social ties as reflected by activities such as external carpooling is complex. Residence in a black neighborhood may be less of a choice than residence in a Hispanic or Asian neighborhood due to the long history of black segregation in the US. With less residential choice, the propensity to develop local social ties may be weaker.
Stratigraphic record of Pliocene-Pleistocene basin evolution and deformation within the Southern San Andreas Fault Zone, Mecca Hills, California

Abstract A thick section of Pliocene-Pleistocene nonmarine sedimentary rocks exposed in the Mecca Hills, California, provides a record of fault-zone evolution along the Coachella Valley segment of the San Andreas fault (SAF). Geologic mapping, measured sections, detailed sedimentology, and paleomagnetic data document a 3–5 Myr history of deformation and sedimentation in this area. SW-side down offset on the Painted Canyon fault (PCF) starting ~ 3.7 Ma resulted in deposition of the Mecca Conglomerate southwest of the fault. The lower member of the Palm Spring Formation accumulated across the PCF from ~ 3.0 to 2.6 Ma during regional subsidence. SW-side up slip on the PCF and related transpressive deformation from ~ 2.6 to 2.3 Ma created a time-transgressive angular unconformity between the lower and upper members of the Palm Spring Formation. The upper member accumulated in discrete fault-bounded depocenters until initiation of modern deformation, uplift, and basin inversion starting at ~ 0.7 Ma. Some spatially restricted deposits can be attributed to the evolution of fault-zone geometric complexities. However, the deformation events at ca. 2.6 Ma and 0.7 Ma are recorded regionally along ~ 80 km of the SAF through Coachella Valley, covering an area much larger than mapped fault-zone irregularities, and thus require regional explanations. We therefore conclude that late Cenozoic deformation and sedimentation along the SAF in Coachella Valley has been controlled by a combination of regional tectonic drivers and local deformation due to dextral slip through fault-zone complexities. We further propose a kinematic link between the ~ 2.6–2.3 Ma angular unconformity and a previously documented but poorly dated reorganization of plate-boundary faults in the northern Gulf of California at ~ 3.3–2.0 Ma. This analysis highlights the potential for high-precision chronologies in deformed terrestrial deposits to provide improved understanding of local- to regional-scale structural controls on basin formation and deformation along an active transform margin.
Identifying through-thickness material properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics using the virtual fields method combined with moiré interferometry

An investigation into the use of a novel curved-beam composite specimen is conducted to measure the interlaminar (through-thickness) tensile properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. A combination of a numerical model and full-field displacement/strain measurement with moire interferometry is utilized in this study. Through-thickness material properties are identified from the measured displacement distribution using the virtual fields method. Because of the shape and the loading condition of the proposed curved composite beam, both tensile and shear stresses exist in the through-the-thickness direction. Therefore, the interlaminar tensile modulus, as well as the interlaminar shear modulus, can be evaluated. The measurement results by moire interferometry provide the material properties through inverse analysis.
Privatized Gains and Public Losses—The Cost of a Market Society

An inventory of goods and services for sale opens the Introduction to What Money Can’t Buy, but the listing is eye-opening in the assortment of human needs or desires sold or solved with cash: the ...
Optical absorption coefficients of vanadium pentoxide single crystals

Abstract The optical absorption coefficients of orthorhombic V2O5 single crystals were evaluated using incident polarized light over the wavelength range 0.47–1·8μ, and in unpolarized light from 1·5 to 7·5μ. The intrinsic absorption edges were found to have an exponential dependence on photon energy. Fundamental absorption was observed at incident photon energies of 2·15, 2·22 and 2·17 eV for E∥a, E∥b and E∥c, respectively. Some evidence for a direct forbidden transition mechanism with band gaps of 2·36 and 2·34 eV was observed for E∥a and E∥c, respectively. A double absorption peak was observed for the polarization E∥a; the major peak occurs at 1·00 μ and the minor peak at 0·83 μ. Since this peak is completely missing in the absorption spectra when E∥b and E∥c, the mechanism associated with the absorption peak for E∥a must itself be optically anisotropic. This double peak is associated with nonstoichiometric defects which act as donors. For wavelengths greater than 1·0μ there is an absence of absorption maxima until lattice or impurity absorption sets in at 4·4μ. A critical comparison of the results of this investigation with earlier studies of the optical properties of V2O5 is presented.
Feasability Study of Evaporative Cooling Under Algerian Climate

Reducing the energy demand for air conditioning applications is an important goal to achieve for energy saving purposes. It is, therefore, necessary to develop alternative techniques to adapt and improve the existing refrigeration equipments. So, applying new technologies, using clean and environmentally friendly materials, appears unavoidable. Furthermore, the use of the solar panels’ generated heat constitutes an interesting option to adapt to the new generation of air conditioning processes, for the cold in demand usually coincides with the most warm and sunny period. In this regard, the ‘liquid desiccant cooling’ (LDC) stands as an innovative technology allowing atmosphere refreshment through changes in the state of water, the exploitation of solar energy and the use of liquid desiccant solutions, highly characterized with the specific distinction of dehumidifying the air. Indeed, the LDAC systems’ cooling capacity proves to increase with the integration of evaporative coolers, culminating in the design of a rather commercially competitive HVAC product.
The diagnostic pathway of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in a large U.S. healthcare system

OBJECTIVE To examine the current diagnostic pathway of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and identify factors associated with time to diagnosis. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of patients with OPSCC in an integrated healthcare system from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2013. Patient demographics, tobacco and alcohol use, chief complaint, tumor stage, human papilloma virus (HPV) status, physician factors (diagnosis, antibiotic prescription, performance of endoscopic exam, biopsy), and time intervals were examined. Time variations by patient characteristics and physician practice were assessed. RESULTS We identified 152 patients with OPSCC. Of those, 90% had stage III to IV disease. The cohort was largely male (85%), white (79%), with HPV-positive tumors (84%). Most common chief complaints were neck mass (52%) and sore throat (20%). Among those with neck a mass, 94% had HPV-positive tumors. Prescription of antibiotics was associated with longer time to first otolaryngology evaluation. Median time from symptom onset to first primary care physician (PCP) contact was 3.0 weeks; from PCP to otolaryngologist was 1.1 weeks, and from otolaryngologist to tissue diagnosis was 0.4 weeks. At the first otolaryngology visit, 82% underwent in-office flexible endoscopy and 58% had same-day biopsy, resulting in rapid time to tissue diagnosis. Diagnostic time intervals did not differ by HPV status. CONCLUSION The overall diagnostic process was efficient, although initial antibiotic treatment resulted in longer time to first otolaryngology visit. Tumor HPV status was associated with presenting findings but not time to diagnosis. The variation in diagnostic delay time and impact on survival outcomes is unknown and merits further investigation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4. Laryngoscope, 1867-1873, 2018.
An event study analysis of too-big-to-fail after the Dodd-Frank act: Who is too big to fail?

Abstract One feature of the Dodd-Frank Act is the elimination of too-big-to-fail (TBTF) banks. TBTF is a government guarantee of large banks that has been shown to increase the value of these banks, so removing the guarantee should result in a price decline of TBTF bank stock. Using event study methods, we find very limited reaction to the process of eliminating TBTF. Specifically, there is limited reaction among the largest banks and banks receiving special attention, such as Systemically Important Financial Institutions (SIFI) banks. Instead, smaller banks not receiving special attention show some evidence of negative returns with the elimination of TBTF.
Articulatory and acoustic investigation of coronals in Hakha Chin

Coronal obstruents are profoundly common typologically, occurring in most or all of the world’s known languages. Very few languages, however, contrast coronal obstruents at the dental and alveolar places of articulation. Hakha Chin—also known as Lai—is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken in western Myanmar that is reported to do so. Very little phonetic research on Chin exists, but Maddieson and Van Bik (2004) provide acoustic and static articulatory data (palatography and linguography) suggesting that the contrast is between a lamino-dental series and an apico-alveolar series. We follow up on that research using dynamic, volumetric articulatory imaging in the form of 3D/4D ultrasound. Articulatory and acoustic data from two native speakers of Chin are presented in order to contribute to a more thorough understanding of this typologically uncommon contrast.Coronal obstruents are profoundly common typologically, occurring in most or all of the world’s known languages. Very few languages, however, contrast coronal obstruents at the dental and alveolar places of articulation. Hakha Chin—also known as Lai—is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken in western Myanmar that is reported to do so. Very little phonetic research on Chin exists, but Maddieson and Van Bik (2004) provide acoustic and static articulatory data (palatography and linguography) suggesting that the contrast is between a lamino-dental series and an apico-alveolar series. We follow up on that research using dynamic, volumetric articulatory imaging in the form of 3D/4D ultrasound. Articulatory and acoustic data from two native speakers of Chin are presented in order to contribute to a more thorough understanding of this typologically uncommon contrast.
Multi-element and lead isotope characterization of early nineteenth century pottery sherds from Native American and Euro-American sites

Abstract Fine earthenwares imported from England are a distinctive artifact type frequently found on early nineteenth century Native American and Euro-American sites in eastern North America. Relatively rapid changes in decorative motifs and technologies can easily be identified by eye and provide information about site chronology and economic status. However, visual analyses of sherds usually can provide only general information because most assemblages are very fragmented. We present the chemical composition of pigments and glazes from sherds from two sites occupied during the first half of the nineteenth century: Pokagon Village, a Native American site (southwestern Michigan); and Collier Lodge, a Euro-American site (northwestern Indiana). Multi-element compositions of glazed portions of 12 sherds (with 3 different decorations, 2 specimens from each site of each pattern) were determined by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), micro X-ray fluorescence (μXRF), and laser-ablation-inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). SEM-EDS was especially useful for determining glaze composition, μXRF rapidly provides information on pigment composition and Pb content, and LA-MC-ICP-MS provides information on trace elements and Pb isotopes that reflect different raw material sources.
Fertility Preservation in Adult Male Cancer Patients

Cancer may have deleterious effects on male reproduction through a number of mechanisms. Genitourinary tumors can alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, autoimmune responses and cytokine release can impair spermatogenesis, and systemic alterations such as fever can halt spermatogenesis. Moreover, many cancer treatments are directly gonadotoxic, as both radiation therapy and chemotherapy demonstrate dose-dependent gonadotoxicity, in some cases irreversible. Even surgical therapy or supportive pharmacotherapy can cause impairment of sexual or endocrine function, thereby contributing to infertility.