cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Race and Nicotine Replacement Treatment Outcomes Among Low-Income Smokers

Background Prior research suggests that racial/ethnic minority smokers experience more difficulty with cessation than white smokers and access formal treatment less often. Minority smokers may respond differently to treatment interventions than white smokers. This prospective, observational cohort study compared long-term cessation outcomes among four racial/ethnic groups after an aided quit attempt using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Methods A random cohort of smokers (N=1782) who recently filled a prescription for NRT was selected, stratified by race, using Minnesota Health Care Programs (e.g., Medicaid) pharmacy claims databases between July 2005 and September 2006. The primary outcome was 7-day point prevalence abstinence, which was assessed about 8 months after the NRT index prescription fill date using a mixed-mode survey protocol. Results The overall survey response was 58.2%. Overall, abstinence outcomes did not significantly vary by race. Unadjusted comparisons show that among survey respondents, at 8 months, 7-day point prevalence abstinence was 13.8% among whites, 13.6% among blacks, 14.1% among American Indians/Alaska Natives, and 20.7% among Asians ( p =0.42). Similarly, the 30-day duration abstinence was 10.0% among whites, 11.5% among blacks, 8.9% among American Indians/Alaska Natives, and 18.3% among Asians ( p =0.14). In multivariate analysis using propensity adjustment for potential confounding and response bias, there was no evidence that the effectiveness of NRT was lower for racial/ethnic minority smokers compared to white smokers. Conclusions These findings indicate that racial/ethnic minorities are as likely to quit smoking at a level similar to whites when using cessation treatment that includes NRT. Given documented disparities in the use of evidence-based cessation treatments such as NRT, interventions are sorely needed to improve access and utilization of these treatments in racial/ethnic minority groups.
The Macroinvertebrate Fauna of Rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum)–Dominated Low-Energy Rocky Shores of the Northern Gulf of Maine

Abstract LARSEN, P.F. 2012. The macroinvertebrate fauna of rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum)–dominated low-energy rocky shores of the northern Gulf of Maine. Sheltered, rockweed-dominated rocky shores are one of the most characteristic habitats of the northern Gulf of Maine. Rockweed, Ascophyllum nodosum, provides essential ecological services and recently has been subject to increasing commercial harvesting. This communication documents the associated macroinvertebrate fauna (>1.0 mm) of six characteristic rockweed shores along a 350 km gradient across the northern Gulf of Maine. Seventy-four putative taxa were identified. Numbers of species at each site ranged from 21 to 40. Arthropods, predominantly the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides, accounted for 70% of the individuals encountered. Densities per station ranged from 132 to 48,023 per m2. Numerical analyses demonstrated that rockweed-dominated rocky shores of the northern Gulf of Maine are characterized by nine widely distributed taxa that represent 88.6...
Simultaneous voice and data operation for GPRS/EDGE: class A dual transfer mode

Class A dual transfer mode of GPRS/EDGE operation addresses barriers in the migration path from the so-called 2.5G services offered by GSM to similar ones offered by UMTS and the ability to offer users a reasonably priced service that combines voice and data interchange capabilities with a low-cost mobile station.
The Effect of Environment, Cold Work, and Crystallography on the Stress Corrosion Cracking of C36000 Alloy

Abstract Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) of C36000 brass, a multiphase copper-zinc alloy, in two ammoniacal environments, aqueous and vapor, was examined. Both environments caused a significant decrease in mechanical properties relative to the values measured in air. The effect of cold working the alloy on SCC was determined. Increasing cold work increased resistance to SCC, as determined by constant load tests in both ammoniacal environments and constant strain rate tests in ammonia vapor. The dependency of cold work on SCC was determined to result from the preferred orientation imparted during cold working. No effect of cold work was found in constant strain rate tests in ammoniacal solution. This is attributed to the lower cupric ion concentration in the solution. The crystallographic dependence of SCC in 70 Cu-30 Zn brass was investigated. It was determined from single crystal studies that SCC initiates along (111) planes.
Rejoinder to Rebecca Edwards and James L. Huston

I would like to thank Rebecca Edwards and James L. Huston for their thoughtful and challenging responses to my essay. Both these authors have thought deeply about periodization and synthesis, and for that reason it occurred to me to allow their responses to stand alone and go unanswered. But in the interests of sparking further discussion I would like to offer a few clarifications and additional thoughts with regard to periodization. Due to considerations of space I will not try to answer all the reservations and criticisms expressed and alternative views advanced but will focus only on a few points that bear on the thrust of my essay.
Evolution of Resource Reciprocation Strategies in P2P Networks

In this paper, we consider the resource reciprocation among self-interested peers in peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, which is modeled as a stochastic game. Peers play the game by determining their optimal strategies for resource distributions using a Markov decision process (MDP) framework. The optimal strategies enable the peers to maximize their long-term utility. Unlike in conventional MDP frameworks, we consider heterogeneous peers that have different and limited ability to characterize their resource reciprocation with other peers. This is due to the large complexity requirements associated with their decision making processes. We analytically investigate these tradeoffs and show how to determine the optimal number of state descriptions, which maximizes each peer's average cumulative download rates given a limited time for computing the optimal strategies. We also investigate how the resource reciprocation evolves over time as peers adapt their reciprocation strategies by changing the number of state descriptions. Then, we study how resulting download rates affect their performance as well as that of the other peers with which they interact. Our simulation results quantify the tradeoffs between the number of state descriptions and the resulting utility. We also show that evolving resource reciprocation can improve the performance of peers which are simultaneously refining their state descriptions.
Ligand--receptor interactions: facts and fantasies.

Except when radiation participates, all biological activities involve contact interactions between constituent reactants. At the molecular level, if one of the participants is smaller than its complementary partner, the former is usually designated the ‘ligand’ and the latter the ‘receptor’. Thus in an enzyme–substrate complex, the substrate is the ligand, the enzyme is the receptor. In immunological interactions, the ligand is the hapten or antigen, the receptor is the immunoglobulin. Neurotransmitters or hormones are effector ligands when they are bound to receptor sites at synapses or on cell membranes.
Relationships between lightning and properties of convective cloud clusters

[1] Satellite observations of convective system properties and lightning flash rate are used to investigate the ability of potential lightning parameterizations to capture both the dominant land-ocean contrast in lightning occurrence and regional differences between Africa, the Amazon and the islands of the maritime continent. As found in previous studies, the radar storm height is tightly correlated with the lightning flash rate. A roughly second order power-law fit to the mean radar echo top height above the 0°C isotherm is shown to capture both regional and land-ocean contrasts in lightning occurrence and flash rate using a single set of parameters. Recent developments should soon make it possible to implement a parameterization of this kind in global models. Parameterizations based on cloud top height, convective rain rate and convective rain fraction all require the use of separate fits over land and ocean and fail to capture observed differences between continental regions.
The binding and metabolism of low-density lipoprotein by skin fibroblasts of fetuses and newborns with anencephal

We have previously demonstrated that the fetus with anencephaly is hypercholesterolemic. The plasma levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are threefold greater than those of normal fetuses. We have provided evidence that elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were caused by reduced uptake and metabolism of low-density lipoprotein by atrophic adrenal glands deficient in low-density lipoprotein receptors. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if other tissues, namely, skin fibroblasts, of the fetus with anencephaly were also deficient in low-density lipoprotein receptors. We compared the binding and jmetabolism of low-density lipoprotein by skin fibroblasts of fetuses with anencephaly and normal subjects. Cultures of skin fibroblasts were grown to confluency. Thereafter, the medium was changed to lipoprotein-deficient serum for 24 hours. The raze of uptake and degradation of iodine 125—iodo-LDL was determined as a function of time and concentration of low-density lipoprotein. The maximal specific binding of low-density lipoprotein was also determined. The rate of uptake, degradation, and the maximal binding of low-density lipoprotein was similar in skin fibroblasts of infants with anencephaly and normal subjects. We conclude that the elevated level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in cord blood of fetuses with anencephaly is not caused by deficiency of low-density lipoprotein receptors and metabolism in skin fibroblasts but instead by deficiency of low-density lipoprotein receptors and metabolism by atrophic adrenal glands.
Issues With Replicating Results in Sports Economics

This article illustrates the difficulty of replicating results in the area of sports economics. This article gives three different examples that seem straightforward, but are actually quite difficult to replicate. Furthermore, the evidence suggests that the discrepancies are not due to human error. It is argued that the differences in results are due to differences in computing power over time, differences in statistical programs, or slight differences in available data. This gives evidence that researchers should be somewhat skeptical of any single empirical study.
A new class of modular adaptive controllers, Part I: Systems with linear-in-the-parameters uncertainty

This paper presents a novel adaptive nonlinear control design which achieves modularity between the controller and the adaptive update law. Modularity between the controller/update law design provides flexibility in the selection of different update laws that could potentially be easier to implement or used to obtain faster parameter convergence and/or better tracking performance. For a class of linear-in-the-parameters (LP) uncertain Euler-Lagrange systems subject to additive bounded non-LP disturbances, the result in this (Part I) paper is based on a controller that uses a model-based feedforward adaptive term in conjunction with the recently developed robust integral of the sign of the error (RISE) feedback term. Modularity in the adaptive feedforward term is made possible by considering a generic form of the adaptive update law and its corresponding parameter estimate. This generic form of the update law is used to develop a new closed-loop error system and stability analysis that does not depend on nonlinear damping to yield the modular adaptive control result.
The Policy Sciences: The Challenge of Complexity

This essay reviews some of the recent criticisms of positivist science. It interprets this criticism, more generally, as directed towards the complexity of social science phenomena and the difficulty of dealing with complexity epistemologically and methodologically. Rather than ignoring complexity, changing the subject matter or explaining it away, we argue that complexity may be acknowledged and studied systematically withn the context of post-positivist approaches. The essay than proposes several strategies for conceptualizing and researching complexity (at a “meta-level” from substantive policy research) that are based in systems theory.
Observed interannual variability of zonal currents in the equatorial Indian Ocean thermocline and their relation to Indian Ocean Dipole

Interannual variability of zonal currents in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean thermocline is significantly correlated with sea surface temperature (SST) in the eastern pole of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). This relationship is more significant than for zonal currents and the Dipole Mode Index, the latter of which measures zonal SST anomaly gradient. The variability of zonal currents in the thermocline is consistent with the variations of eastward pressure gradient force in the thermocline and the equatorward geostrophic thermocline flows associated with the shallow meridional overturning circulations in the eastern tropical Indian Ocean. Our analysis suggests a positive feedback between zonal currents in the thermocline and SST in the eastern pole of IOD. The combination of equatorial wind and off-equatorial wind stress curls associated with SST anomalies in the eastern pole of the IOD drives interannual variability in equatorial zonal thermocline flows and its covariability with the shallow meridional overturning cells.
A tridentate Ni pincer for aqueous electrocatalytic hydrogen production

A NiII complex with a redox-active pincer ligand reduces protons at a low overpotential in aqueous acidic conditions. A combined experimental and computational study provides mechanistic insights into a putative catalytic cycle.
Loaded wheel running and muscle adaptation in the mouse

Voluntary cage wheel exercise has been used extensively to determine the physiological adaptation of cardiac and skeletal muscle in mice. In this study, we tested the effect of different loading co...
Novel Benzthiodiazepinones as antiherpetic agents: SAR improvement of therapeutic index by alterations of the seven-membered ring

A series of novel benzthiodiazepinones was studied as antiherpetic agents. Significant improvements in potency and therapeutic index in a viral replication assay were realized over the starting molecule. The role of stereospecific substitution on the diazepine ring and optimal nitrogen substitution were investigated.
Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome

Upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) is a distinct, commonly underdiagnosed syndrome of sleep-disordered breathing. It is characterized by abnormal respiratory effort, airflow limitations, and frequent nocturnal arousals. Patients with UARS have significant impairment in their daytime functioning and suffer from sleepiness, fatigue, and sleep disruption. If left untreated, sleep-related symptoms inevitably worsen over time and patients go on to develop insomnia and depression among other complications.
Social Class and Status

The changing meanings and significance of social class and social status in sociology, and the use of these two significant sociological concepts in sociolinguistic analysis is explored. Classification of past and current approaches, to understandings of social class and social status, in terms of the work of Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Emile Durkheim, and the broad schools that developed around their work in sociological thought are also examined. Discussed are significant authors who have used the concepts of class and status in their analysis of language and society, such as Basil Bernstein, William Labov and Pierre Bourdieu. The complexity and changing nature of social class and social status and its application to sociolinguistic analysis, is focused on.
Laboratory Evaluation of Promising Systemic Insecticides in Guinea Pigs against Oriental Rat Fleas.

Fourteen systemic insecticides administered orally caused complete mortality of oriental rat fleas, Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild), without noticeably affecting the guinea pigs. These compounds and the lowest effective dosages were: American Cyanamid 12503, O,O -diethyl O -[6-(3(2- phcnyl) -pyridazinonyl) ] phosphorothioate, 200 mg/kg; American Cyanamid 18706, S -ethylcarbamoylmethyl O,O - dimethyl phosphorodithioate, 100 mg/kg; American Cyanamid CL-26691, O,O -dimethyl O-p -sulfamoylphenyl phosphorothioate, 5 mg/kg; American Cyanamid CL-28865, dimethyl p -sulfamoylphenyl phosphate, 25 mg/kg; Famophos, O-p- - (dimethylsulfamoyl)phenyl O,O -dimethyl phosphorothioate, 100 mg/kg; American Cyanamid CL-38106, O,O -dimethyl O-[p- (methylsulfamoyl)phenyl] phosphorothioate, 25 mg/kg; Bayer 23655, O,O -dimethyl- S - (2-isopropyl) ethylsulfinyl thiolphosphate, 50 mg/kg; Bayer 25198, O,O -dhnethyl O -£-methylsulfinyl)phenyl phosphorothioate, 100 mg/kg; fenthion, 50 mg/kg; butonate, 50 mg/kg; dimethoate, 100 mg/kg; Monsanto CP-12432, dimethyl (1-hydroxyvinyl)phosphonate diethyl phosphate, 200 mg/kg; Vamidoate, O,O -dimethyl S -[2-[(1-methylcarbamoylethyl) thio]ethyl] phosphorodithioate, 25 mg/kg; and trichlorfon, 100 mg/kg. Three other compounds killed all the fleas, but also killed the guinea pigs. These compounds with the lowest effective dosages were: American Cyanamid CL-38064, O-p -(ethylsulfamoyl)phenyl O,O dimethyl phosphorothioate, 25 mg/kg; Meta-Systox-R®, S -2- (ethylsulfinyl)ethyl O,O -dimethyl phosphorothioate, 200 mg/kg; and diazinon, 400 mg/kg.
Empirical Definition of Limit to work in Hot Environments for Women

Occupational exposure to hot environments can be considered safe if the core body temperature (Tc) does not rise above the expected work-specific equilibrium level. The ambient vapor pressure at wh...
4-Methylumbelliferone Diminishes Catabolically Activated Articular Chondrocytes and Cartilage Explants via a Mechanism Independent of Hyaluronan Inhibition

Depletion of the cartilage proteoglycan aggrecan is one of the earliest events that occurs in association with osteoarthritis. This loss is often accompanied by a coordinate loss in another glycosaminoglycan, hyaluronan. Chondrocytes experimentally depleted of cell-associated hyaluronan respond by switching to a pro-catabolic metabolism that includes enhanced production of endogenous inflammatory mediators and increased synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases. Hyaluronan turnover is also increased. Together, such a response provides for possible establishment of a self-perpetuating spiral of events that maintains or prolongs the pro-catabolic state. Chondrocytes or cartilage can also be activated by treatment with pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators such as IL-1β, TNFα, LPS, fibronectin fragments, and hyaluronan oligosaccharides. To determine the mechanism of chondrocyte activation due to hyaluronan loss, a depletion method was required that did not include degrading the hyaluronan. In recent years, several laboratories have used the coumarin derivative, 4-methylumbelliferone, as a potent inhibitor of hyaluronan biosynthesis, due in part to its ability to sequester intracellular UDP-glucuronic acid and inhibition of hyaluronan synthase transcription. However, contrary to our expectation, although 4-methylumbelliferone was indeed an inhibitor of hyaluronan biosynthesis, this depletion did not give rise to an activation of chondrocytes or cartilage. Rather, 4-methylumbelliferone directly and selectively blocked gene products associated with the pro-catabolic metabolic state of chondrocytes and did so through a mechanism preceding and independent of hyaluronan inhibition. These data suggest that 4-methylumbelliferone has additional useful applications to block pro-inflammatory cell activation events but complicates how it is used for defining functions related to hyaluronan.
Analysis of drug resistance of Escherichia coli

Objective:To analyze drug resistance of Escherichia coli in the first half of 2009 in Shenzhen to provide drug resistance surveillance data and references for the rational use of drugs.Methods:ESBLs was determined by the disk diffusion method.WHONET 5.4 was employed to analyze the drug resistance.Results:43.2% of Escherichia coli procedued ESBLs.The sensitive rate of meropenem,imipenem,amikacin and piperacillin-tazobactam was over 90%.The resistance rate of ampicillin,piperacillin,trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole,cefuroxime axetil,Cefuroxime Sodium,ampicillin-sulbactam and cefazolin was over 50%.Conclusion:Drug resistance of Escherichia coli is serious in Shenzhen.Resistance surveillance should be emphasized.Antibiotics should be used rationally.
Relationship Between Rural Women Population Quality and the Future Population Quality

Women are the main force for population reproduction.A sauvy shows that women in rural area put much more force in population reproduction than women in urban area in current situation,but the stuff or quality of women in rural area is much lower than that in urban.This is an important and urgent problem for future population quality.The main measures for this solution include improving women education and developing skills in children education and agricultural technology in rural areas.A combined efforts is needed for the improvement involving all aspects of the society.
Prospective evaluation of surgical outcomes of robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy and sacrocervicopexy for the management of apical pelvic support defects.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate outcomes of robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy (RSCP) and sacrocervicopexy (RCSP). METHODS We conducted a prospective study of women undergoing RSCP or RCSP between June 2008 and January 2010. RESULTS A total of 85 cases (48 RSCP and 37 supracervical hysterectomy with concomitant RCSP) were performed: 33% (28/85) for stage II, 54% (46/85) for stage III, and 13% (11/85) for stage IV pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Six weeks postoperatively, 96% (80/83) had stage 0, 2.4% (2/83) had stage I, and 1.2% (1/83) had stage II POP (P < 0.001). Six months postoperatively, 77% (24/31) had stage 0, 6.5% (2/31) had stage I, and 16% (5/31) had stage II POP (P < 0.001). Mean surgical time, estimated blood loss, and length of hospital stay was 194 ± 54 minutes, 49 ± 48 cm, and 1.6 ± 0.72 days, respectively. There were 2 cases of mesh erosion (2.3%), both in the RSCP group. CONCLUSIONS RSCP and RCSP are effective, efficient, and safe procedures.
Effect of personality traits on trust and risk to phishing vulnerability: Modeling and analysis

In cyberspace, various types of social engineering attacks have made humans in a system more vulnerable than ever. One of the popular social engineering attacks is a phishing attack, exploiting humans' vulnerability in order to obtain individuals' private or credential information. Recent studies have found that the so called ‘phishing susceptibility’ (i.e., the likelihood of being phished) is closely correlated with the individuals' personality traits. In particular, the relations between phishing susceptibility and Big Five personality traits have been analyzed via empirical studies in diverse domains. However, little prior work has proposed a mathematical model investigating the effect of an individual's personality traits on perceived trust or risk and decision performance. This work proposes a probability model using Stochastic Petri Nets in order to examine the effect of an individual human's personality traits on perceived trust and risk, and decision performance. Our results show that agreeableness and neuroticism have significant effect on perceived trust and risk, and decision performance particularly when openness and conscientiousness is very low. The developed mathematical model can be applied to predict what personality profiles in an organization are more exposed to social engineering, suggesting customized security training scenarios.
Peasants and Socialism

Volumes have been written about the American intervention in Vietnam and mistakes Americans made there. Journalists have written in great detail about the dependence of the Saigon government and its corruption. We have vivid pictures of the moral degradation accompanying US intervention — the drugs, prostitution and atrocities. Millions of Americans were awakened to the realities of what US intervention in other countries means. Our sources told us much about the USA and its political system but little about Vietnam, so that our picture of Vietnam and the Vietnamese is still clouded.
The Coevolution of Appraisal and Influence Networks Leads to Structural Balance

In sociology, an appraisal structure, represented by a signed matrix or a signed network, describes an evaluative cognitive configuration among individuals. In this article we argue that interpersonal influences originate from positive interpersonal appraisals and, in turn, adjust individuals’ appraisals of others. This mechanism amounts to a coevolution process of interpersonal appraisals and influences. We provide a mathematical formulation of the coevolutionary dynamics, characterize the invariant appraisal structures, and establish the convergence properties for all possible initial appraisals. Moreover, we characterize the implications of our model to the study of signed social networks. Specifically, our model predicts the convergence of the interpersonal appraisal network to a structure composed of multiple factions with multiple followers. A faction is a group of individuals with positive-complete interpersonal appraisals among them. We discuss how this factions-with-followers is a balanced structure with respect to an appropriate generalized model of balance theory.
Treatment of Patients with Cirrhosis.

This guide to the practical treatment of patients with cirrhosis summarizes recent developments. It includes advice on medical management, invasive procedures, nutrition, prevention, and strategies to protect the cirrhotic liver from harm.
Understanding Cyber Security Perceptions Related to Information Risk in a Healthcare Setting

Healthcare organizations are facing an information system expansion for efficiency, for effectiveness, and to enhance profitability. We cannot expect all healthcare employees to become information systems or security experts; however, human perceptions of risks and the identification of those risks require an organizational approach. A case study analysis of physicians practicing through a multi-million dollar healthcare organization is presented to better understand their group perceptions of risk relating to the organization’s information strategy.
Reaction pathway analysis of Ag-alloyed Cu(In, Ga)Se 2 absorber materials

The addition of Ag to Cu-Ga-In precursors for reaction to form (AgCu)(InGa)Se 2 (ACIGS) has shown benefits including improved adhesion, greater process tolerance and potential for improved device performance. In this study, metal precursors with a Cu-Ga/In/Ag-Ga sequence were sputtered with Ag/(Cu+Ag) ∼ 0.25 and (Ag+Cu)/(Ga+In) ∼ 0.90. Chemical pathways of formation of the ACIGS were studied by ex-situ time-progressive experiments using rapid thermal processing at 450°C under 5% Ar/H 2 Se atmosphere. Composition measurements using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy show that Ga grading occurs in the first 10 min of the reaction. Although x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of samples annealed in Ar or selenized at 450°C for 2 minutes were similar, Raman spectroscopy indicates formation of amorphous In-Se phases on the surface after 2 min selenization. XRD patterns show unreacted intermetallic phases up to 7 min reaction time. The chalcopyrite phase fully formed after 10 min reaction. No significant changes are seen in XRD patterns of samples selenized from 10–45 min.
Segmentation of organs-at-risks in head and neck CT images using convolutional neural networks

Purpose Accurate segmentation of organs-at-risks (OARs) is the key step for efficient planning of radiation therapy for head and neck (HaN) cancer treatment. In the work, we proposed the first deep learning-based algorithm, for segmentation of OARs in HaN CT images, and compared its performance against state-of-the-art automated segmentation algorithms, commercial software, and interobserver variability. Methods Convolutional neural networks (CNNs)—a concept from the field of deep learning—were used to study consistent intensity patterns of OARs from training CT images and to segment the OAR in a previously unseen test CT image. For CNN training, we extracted a representative number of positive intensity patches around voxels that belong to the OAR of interest in training CT images, and negative intensity patches around voxels that belong to the surrounding structures. These patches then passed through a sequence of CNN layers that captured local image features such as corners, end-points, and edges, and combined them into more complex high-order features that can efficiently describe the OAR. The trained network was applied to classify voxels in a region of interest in the test image where the corresponding OAR is expected to be located. We then smoothed the obtained classification results by using Markov random fields algorithm. We finally extracted the largest connected component of the smoothed voxels classified as the OAR by CNN, performed dilate–erode operations to remove cavities of the component, which resulted in segmentation of the OAR in the test image. Results The performance of CNNs was validated on segmentation of spinal cord, mandible, parotid glands, submandibular glands, larynx, pharynx, eye globes, optic nerves, and optic chiasm using 50 CT images. The obtained segmentation results varied from 37.4% Dice coefficient (DSC) for chiasm to 89.5% DSC for mandible. We also analyzed the performance of state-of-the-art algorithms and commercial software reported in the literature, and observed that CNNs demonstrate similar or superior performance on segmentation of spinal cord, mandible, parotid glands, larynx, pharynx, eye globes, and optic nerves, but inferior performance on segmentation of submandibular glands and optic chiasm. Conclusion We concluded that convolution neural networks can accurately segment most of OARs using a representative database of 50 HaN CT images. At the same time, inclusion of additional information, for example, MR images, may be beneficial to some OARs with poorly visible boundaries.
Comparisons of College Students’ Enjoyment in Physical Activity & Exergames

The purpose of this study was to compare college students’ enjoyment levels in three domains of activity (traditional physical activities, exergames, and non-exergames). Volunteers (n = 141) from a Midwestern university completed an online survey composed of a modified version of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES). Significant differences were detected across the three domains regarding level of enjoyment, F(2, 232) = 32.49, p < .001, with the highest enjoyment levels reported in the traditional physical activity domain. Additional results revealed that Wii Sports (49%) and Just Dance (29%) had the highest percentage of use with exergamers, while non-exergame participants reported playing video games such as Pokemon, Zelda, Mario Kart, Madden (59%), and Clash of Clans (25%). These results suggest that traditional physical activities and exergaming activities are psychologically enjoyable pursuits for college-aged individuals that can help increase their physical health and quality of life.
A Web Based Pipeline Tool for the Combination of Logic Conditions for NGS Data

Development of software tools to analyze next-generation sequencing (NGS) data is one of the urgent tasks in bioinformatics field. Currently, lots of next-generation sequencing data analysis software has been developed. However, most of them only support one type of analyses such as sequence alignments or function annotations by command lines. Therefore, a friendly user interface of NGS data with fewer configurations is necessary. In this paper, a web based automatic pipeline running on high performance computing environment was introduced. The raw data was generated from Illumine sequencing instrument. The GATK based parallel commutating scheme is used to control and generate the result. The pipeline starts from fastQ file uploaded by the graphical interface. Then the data will be analyzed automatically.
Issues in Communication Theory: A Metatheoretical Analysis

(1981). Issues in Communication Theory: A Metatheoretical Analysis. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 5, Communication Yearbook 5, pp. 1-27.
A protocol for Reviewing Hotel Anchored Public Private Partnerships

ABSTRACTThis article examines public subsidies used to encourage hotel development and proposes a robust protocol for their review by authorities having jurisdiction. The article begins by examining the size and scope of Public Private Partnerships to encourage hotel development in the United States, and with a discussion of the rationale for and against the subsidies. It goes on to provide an overview of typical subsidy financing arrangements and presents a methodology for the evaluation of public subsidies for proposed hotels. The case is made that publicly subsidized hotels can create benefits for both private developers and sponsoring governmental units which can include local, state, and federal levels. However, there is often an asymmetry of political power and data that favors private developers over those negotiating on behalf of taxpayers (Laslo and Judd 2004, Perry 2003). The article examines typical processes used to review subsidy proposals and recognizes the challenges of overcoming the signi...
Ignaczak equation of elastodynamics

The development of linear elastodynamics in pure stress-based formulation began over half-a-century ago as an alternative to the classical displacement-based treatment that came into existence two ...
Maximizing the Return on Investment for Distance Education Offerings

The costs associated with the development of online distance education materials necessitates that the materials be used as many times as possible to maximize the return on investment based upon the costs to produce these materials. This article will discuss how to maximize the return on investment based upon the concept of transformative income generation as well as ways in which the re-purposing of the materials is a natural by-product of the developmental process.
Many-body systems with random spatially local interactions

We extend random matrix theory to consider randomly interacting spin systems with spatial locality. We develop several methods by which arbitrary correlators may be systematically evaluated in a limit where the local Hilbert space dimension $N$ is large. First, the correlators are given by sums over stacked planar diagrams which are completely determined by the spectra of the individual interactions and a dependency graph encoding the locality in the system. We then introduce heap freeness as a generalization of free independence, leading to a second practical method to evaluate the correlators. Finally, we generalize the cumulant expansion to a sum over dependency partitions, providing the third and most succinct of our methods. Our results provide tools to study dynamics and correlations within extended quantum many-body systems which conserve energy. We further apply the formalism to show that quantum satisfiability at large $N$ is determined by the evaluation of the independence polynomial on a wide class of graphs.
The shear modulus of lower-leg muscles correlates to intramuscular pressure.

Abstract Shear wave elastography (SWE) is emerging as an innovative tool to evaluate muscle properties and function. It has been shown to correlate with both passive and active muscle forces, and is sensitive to physiological processes and pathological conditions. Similarly, intramuscular pressure (IMP) is an important parameter that changes with passive and active muscle contraction, body position, exercise, blood pressure, and several pathologies. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify the dependency of shear modulus within the lower-leg muscles on IMP in healthy individuals. Nineteen healthy individuals (age: Mean age ± SD, 23.84 ± 6.64 years) were recruited. Shear modulus was measured using ultrasound SWE on the tibialis anterior (TA) and peroneus longus (PL) muscles using pressure cuff inflation around the thigh at 40 mmHg, 80 mmHg, and 120 mmHg. Changes in IMP were verified using a catheter connected to a blood pressure monitor. It was found that IMP was correlated to TA and PL shear modulus (spearman's rank correlation = 0.99 and 0.99, respectively). Applying a gradual increase of cuff pressure from 0 to 120 mmHg increased the shear modulus of the TA and PL muscles from 15.83 (2.46) kPa to 21.88 (4.33) kPa and from 9.64 (1.97) kPa to 12.88 (5.99) kPa, respectively. These results demonstrate that changes of muscle mechanical properties are dependent on IMP. This observation is important to improve interpretation of ultrasound elastograms and to potentially use it as a biomarker for more accurate diagnosis of pathologies related to increased IMP.
The Ease of Hard Work: Embodied Neoliberalism among Rocky Mountain Fun Runners

In contemporary Western countries, thin, fit, and “healthy” bodies operate as important markers of social status. This paper draws together Foucauldian and Bourdieusian literatures on this topic to investigate how “embodied neoliberalism” (internalized individualism and self-responsibility) intersects with performances of “embodied cultural capital” (high-status markers used to create social distinction). Through an ethnographic case study of upper-middle class white “Fun Runners” in Boulder, Colorado, I ask how people with culturally valued thin, fit bodies enact social status and produce exclusion in an interactional setting. My findings challenge a straightforward translation of “hard work” into status, as we might expect based on neoliberal discourse. Instead, I argue that runners engage in two simultaneous (seemingly paradoxical) forms of boundary work: First, they perform hard work, discipline, and deservingness – drawing boundaries against those who do not engage in the work of bodily discipline; Second, they perform ease and fun – drawing boundaries against those who lack the habitus to make this work appear easy and natural. I contend that the resulting performance of the “ease of hard work” makes the status of thin, fit bodies appear both earned and natural, a doubly effective means of producing exclusion and legitimizing status. These findings reveal that embodied neoliberalism intersects with race and class-based habitus, while also shedding light on how people in privileged positions claim to “deserve” their status through narratives of color-blind meritocracy despite evidence of structural inequalities.
Effect of Size, Coverage, and Dispersity on the Potential-Controlled Ostwald Ripening of Metal Nanoparticles

Here, we describe the size-dependent, electrochemically controlled Ostwald ripening of 1.6, 4, and 15 nm-diameter Au nanoparticles (NPs) attached to (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES)-modified ...
Stress Localization Resulting from Grain Boundary Dislocation Interactions in Relaxed and Defective Grain Boundaries

Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations are used to study strain and stress localization in atomistic polycrystalline FCC digital samples in a thin-film configuration, deformed in tension. Special focus is placed on the effects of additional grain boundary disorder on the dislocation–grain boundary interaction. The development of the localized stress and strain regions is studied as dislocations are emitted from and arrive at grain boundaries. Digital samples with two different degrees of disorder in the grain boundaries but otherwise identical microstructures are compared in order to understand the effects of additional defects on the stress concentration that develops at the grain boundaries. Localization phenomena are found to depend on the details of the grain boundary defect structure and relaxation state. The results clearly show that the samples with more disordered grain boundaries are more prone to strain and stress localization, with a higher fraction of atoms experiencing extreme deformation. The simulation results are validated by comparison with the predictions of continuum theories and experimental measurements of localized stress performed in austenitic stainless steel.
The Importance of Mycological and Plant Herbaria in Tracking Plant Killers

Mycological herbaria contain important records of plant biodiversity and past outbreaks of plant disease. Mycological herbaria have been used to: 1) understand the life history of plant pathogens; 2) identify outbreak strains and track their source; 3) understand the landscape ecology, biodiversity and distribution of native plants and their diseases and 4) examine the impact of climate change on pests and plant diseases. In this review, recent ecological and evolutionary questions being addressed using mycological herbarium specimens will be discussed followed by a case study on the evolution and migration of the historic outbreak strain of the Irish famine pathogen, Phytophthora infestans. Herbarium specimens are providing new information on the population biology and source of one of oldest plant diseases.
Advances in studies on biotinidase deficiency

Biotinidase deficiency is an autosomal recessive genetic disease with the decrease of biotinidase activity, which is caused by mutations of biotinidase gene.In recent years, with the development of genetic metabolic disease screening, biotinidase deficiency has been diagnosed constantly.Its incidence is about 1∶60 000 persons overseas and its clinical manifestations are complicated with high mortality and morbidity.In this paper, advances on pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of biotinidase deficiency will be reviewed. Key words: Biotinidase deficiency; Biotinidase gene; Clinical manifestation; Treatment
Indigenous tourism and cultural justice in a Tz’utujil Maya community, Guatemala

Despite explicit links to justice issues inherent in indigenous rights movements, little research has been undertaken to understand Indigenous Tourism from a justice perspective. This study employs...
Morality is in the eye of the beholder: the neurocognitive basis of the "anomalous‑is‑bad" stereotype

Are people with flawed faces regarded as having flawed moral characters? An "anomalous-is-bad" stereotype is hypothesized to facilitate negative biases against people with facial anomalies (e.g., scars), but whether and how these biases affect behavior and brain functioning remain open questions. We examined responses to anomalous faces in the brain (using a visual oddball paradigm), behavior (in economic games), and attitudes. At the level of the brain, the amygdala demonstrated a specific neural response to anomalous faces-sensitive to disgust and a lack of beauty but independent of responses to salience or arousal. At the level of behavior, people with anomalous faces were subjected to less prosociality from participants highest in socioeconomic status. At the level of attitudes, we replicated previously reported negative character evaluations made about individuals with facial anomalies, and further identified explicit biases directed against them as a group. Across these levels of organization, the specific amygdala response to facial anomalies correlated with stronger just-world beliefs (i.e., people get what they deserve), less dispositional empathic concern, and less prosociality toward people with facial anomalies. Characterizing the "anomalous-is-bad" stereotype at multiple levels of organization can reveal underappreciated psychological burdens shouldered by people who look different.
Temporal oscillations in preference strength provide evidence for an open system model of constructed preference

The decision process is often conceptualized as a constructive process in which a decision maker accumulates information to form preferences about the choice options and ultimately make a response. Here we examine how these constructive processes unfold by tracking dynamic changes in preference strength. Across two experiments, we observed that mean preference strength systematically oscillated over time and found that eliciting a choice early in time strongly affected the pattern of preference oscillation later in time. Preferences following choices oscillated between being stronger than those without prior choice and being weaker than those without choice. To account for these phenomena, we develop an open system dynamic model which merges the dynamics of Markov random walk processes with those of quantum walk processes. This model incorporates two sources of uncertainty: epistemic uncertainty about what preference state a decision maker has at a particular point in time; and ontic uncertainty about what decision or judgment will be observed when a person has some preference state. Representing these two sources of uncertainty allows the model to account for the oscillations in preference as well as the effect of choice on preference formation.
Biases and variability in partition model absorbed doses following Y90 microsphere therapy

1336 Objectives The partition model (PM) assumes uniform distribution of 90Y microspheres within tumor (T) and non-tumoral (NT) compartments; it assumes a single scalar uptake ratio (TNR) to describe the relative concentration of 90Y microspheres between T and NT. Monte Carlo (MC) voxel-based absorbed dose models provide distributions of absorbed dose throughout T and NT. In this work we calculate 1) the differences between PM and MC for mean absorbed doses to T and NT, and 2) the sensitivity of PM to estimates of TNR because a small spherical VOI in NT is often used clinically when estimating TNR. Methods We analyzed 21 90Y glass-microsphere therapy (YMT) cases with 7 cases consisting of single tumors. We calculated MC absorbed doses from quantitative 90Y SPECT/CT. Tumors and livers were segmented by a radiologist. Uptake ratios for PM calculations were based on average counts in NT and average or volume-weighted counts in T. The percent difference (%Δ) for mean absorbed dose to T and NT between PM and MC were characterized. Three spheres (D=2.5cm) were placed in the NT by radiologist and 3 uptake ratios were calculated to assess its effect on PM absorbed dose estimates. We calculated the coefficient of variation (COV) in absorbed dose to T and NT. Results For single tumors, the average %Δ and (range) was 70% (31% to 99%) for T and 71% (23% to 90%) for NT. For multiple tumors, the average %Δ and (range) was 103% (-28% to 426%) for T and 54% (20 to 99%) for NT. The %Δ does not exhibit strong dependence on tumor doses but increase substantially at lower doses in the case of multiple tumors. The average COV in uptake ratios was 0.46 ± 0.33 that translated to an average COV of 0.28 ± 0.19 for T and 0.16 ± 0.18 for NT. Conclusions Even in the best case scenario of single tumors, substantial differences exist between PM and MC for absorbed dose estimates of both T and NT. There is also large variability in PM absorbed dose estimates from the uncertainties in the TNR. Research Support NIH/NCI R01CA138986