cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decentralized Algorithms for Operating Coded Wireless Networks

The problem of subgraph optimization for multicast connections with network coding can be solved using the sub-gradient method. In this paper, we focus on the problem of min-energy multicast in both static and dynamic multi-hop wireless networks. We take this optimization problem and construct different candidate algorithms for solving it in a distributed manner. Our simulations show that the subgradient method is robust to network changes, and yields significant energy savings in multicasts as compared to cases where only routing is allowed. Moreover, the distributed method can be easily extended to lossy networks.
Superposition of multiplicative multifractal traffic processes

Telecommunications network systems have been observed to contain processing and switching nodes that are loaded by highly bursty traffic streams. Such flows have been noted to exhibit long-range-dependent (LRD) properties. The design and sizing of electronic processing and switching systems critically depends on the features of such processes. LRD traffic streams are modelled as a multiplicative multifractal process. It is proven that superposition of a finite number of multiplicative multifractal traffic streams results asymptotically in another multifractal process. Noting that traffic processes driving network nodes result from the superposition of multiple traffic streams at the input ports of the node, this property makes the multiplicative multifractal traffic model a versatile tool for modelling LRD traffic flows at different locations and levels across a network.
The fundamental hominin niche in late Pleistocene Central Asia: a preliminary refugium model

Aim We examine hominin presence in Central Asia during the late Pleistocene in order to identify the abiotic characteristics that best predict site distribution during interglacial and glacial periods. Our goal is to build a preliminary framework for climate-mediated hominin dispersals in this understudied part of the Old World. Location Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Methods We developed an ecological niche model using presence-only data to explain the spatial relationship of abiotic variables and hominin locations (n = 15) during glacial–interglacial transitions. The model was evaluated using the Cram�–von Mises goodness-of-fit statistic and empirical K-function. Results Hominin locations were spatially aggregated during both glacial and interglacial periods. Of the abiotic variables analysed on a small scale (30-m resolution), only distance to water differed significantly between glacial and interglacial periods, although most locations were within 5 km of water. At a coarse scale (5-km resolution), hominin locations appear to have been constrained by low temperatures during glacial periods, but not during interglacials. Main conclusions Hominin groups did not abandon Central Asia during colder periods. This suggests one of three possibly complementary scenarios: (1) late Pleistocene hominin groups had a more flexible behavioural repertoire than previously anticipated and were able to buffer climatic instability culturally; (2) our study area was not as hostile an environment as traditionally considered; and (3) the area examined here represents a refugium during late Pleistocene glaciations.
Severe back pain among farmworker high school students from Starr County, Texas: baseline results.

Purpose This cohort study is among the first to estimate the prevalence of and examine potential risk factors for severe back pain (resulting in medical care, 4+ hours of time lost, or pain lasting 1+ weeks) among adolescent farmworkers. These youth often perform tasks requiring bent/stooped postures and heavy lifting. Methods Of 2536 students who participated (response rate across the three public high schools, 61.2% to 83.9%), 410 students were farmworkers (largely Hispanic and migrant). Students completed a self-administered Web-based survey including farm work/nonfarm work and back-pain items relating to a 9-month period. Results The prevalence of severe back pain was 15.7% among farmworkers and 12.4% among nonworkers. The prevalence increased to 19.1% among farm workers (n = 131) who also did nonfarm work. A multiple logistic regression for farmworkers showed that significantly increased adjusted odds ratios for severe back pain were female sex (4.59); prior accident/back injury (9.04); feeling tense, stressed, or anxious sometimes/often (4.11); lifting/carrying heavy objects not at work (2.98); current tobacco use (2.79); 6+ years involved in migrant farm work (5.02); working with/around knives (3.87); and working on corn crops (3.40). Conclusions Areas for further research include ergonomic exposure assessments and examining the effects of doing farm work and nonfarm work simultaneously.
Nanometer Size Lead Iodide Particles

Nanometer size lead iodide particles have been synthesized in the porous network of a cross-linked polymer matrix. The optical band gap of the nanocrystals is shifted towards higher energy as compared to the bulk value. This shift is attributed to the quantum size effect on excitons. Intercalation with aniline leads to a further shift in the band gap which depends on the dipole moment of the intercalated guest species. Differential scanning calorimetry and high temperature x-ray diffraction have been used to analyze the ferroelectric transition in Pbl2.
The orbit, mass, size, albedo, and density of (65489) Ceto/Phorcys: A tidally-evolved binary Centaur

Abstract Hubble Space Telescope observations of Uranus- and Neptune-crossing object (65489) Ceto/Phorcys (provisionally designated 2003 FX128) reveal it to be a close binary system. The mutual orbit has a period of 9.554 ± 0.011 days and a semimajor axis of 1840 ± 48 km . These values enable computation of a system mass of ( 5.41 ± 0.42 ) × 10 18 kg . Spitzer Space Telescope observations of thermal emission at 24 and 70 μm are combined with visible photometry to constrain the system's effective radius ( 109 −11 +10 km ) and geometric albedo ( 0.084 −0.014 +0.021 ) . We estimate the average bulk density to be 1.37 −0.32 +0.66 g cm −3 , consistent with ice plus rocky and/or carbonaceous materials. This density contrasts with lower densities recently measured with the same technique for three other comparably-sized outer Solar System binaries (617) Patroclus, (26308) 1998 SM165, and (47171) 1999 TC36, and is closer to the density of the saturnian irregular satellite Phoebe. The mutual orbit of Ceto and Phorcys is nearly circular, with an eccentricity ⩽0.015. This observation is consistent with calculations suggesting that the system should tidally evolve on a timescale shorter than the age of the Solar System.
Analysis of growth curves with patterned correlation matrices using quasi-least squares

Abstract Growth curve models with patterned correlation matrices for analyzing repeated measurements were studied extensively in the literature, under the assumption of multivariate normality for the response variables. This paper discusses estimation of the regression, correlation and scale parameters in those models, alleviating the normality assumption, using the method of quasi-least squares. We derive asymptotic properties of the quasi-least squares estimates and compare them with the maximum likelihood estimates obtained under the normality assumption for two important cases: the first order autoregressive (AR(1)), and the equicorrelated correlation matrices. The quasi-least squares estimate of the regression parameter is asymptotically as efficient as the maximum likelihood estimate, even though the two methods differ in how they estimate the correlation parameter. For the AR(1) correlation structure using the asymptotic relative efficiency criterion, we show that the quasi-least squares correlation and scale parameters are good competitors to the maximum likelihood estimates over the entire range of the correlation parameter. But if there is a departure from normality, for example, if the marginals are Student- t distributions, we show by simulation that the asymptotic relative efficiencies are more than one over almost the entire range. We also show that the quasi-least squares estimates are more efficient than the moment estimates. For the equicorrelated structure the quasi-least squares and the method of moment estimates coincide with the maximum likelihood estimates.
Stress and the Menstrual Cycle: Short- and Long-Term Response to a Five-Day Endotoxin Challenge during the Luteal Phase in the Rhesus Monkey

Previously, we reported that in the rhesus monkey a 5-day inflammatory-like stress during the early-mid follicular phase acutely stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and exerts effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, delays folliculogenesis and in some animals decreases luteal function in the post-treatment cycle. Because the endocrine environment at the time of the stress may influence the response to the stress, we now investigate the acute and long-term responses to a similar stress challenge during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, at a time of progesterone dominance. Nine monkeys with normal cycles were injected with endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS, 150 microg i.v.) twice a day for 5 days starting on days 4-8 after the LH peak. Blood samples were taken at hour 3 and hour 8 after each morning LPS injection to monitor the acute gonadotropin and cortisol responses. To verify cyclicity, menses were checked every day, and daily blood samples were taken for estradiol and progesterone measurement. Two control cycles, the LPS treatment cycle, and two post-treatment cycles were documented. Endotoxin activated the adrenal axis: mean (+/-SE) cortisol secretion was significantly increased at hour 3 after the first morning LPS injection (74.1 +/- 4.9 vs. 24.1 +/- 1.8 microg/dL in the control; P < 0.05) and remained elevated at hour 8. This response decreased progressively with time: on day 5 of LPS treatment, the cortisol level was still significantly higher than control at hour 3 (38.5 +/- 5.0 microg/dL; P < 0.05) but had returned to the control concentration by hour 8 (days 3-5 of LPS). Mean integrated progesterone through the luteal phase of the LPS treatment cycle was significantly decreased (33.5 +/- 3.3 ng/ml vs. 48.9 +/- 3.7 and 54.0 +/- 4.9 in the two control cycles; P < 0.05), but luteal phase length remained unchanged. When compared with control levels on the same day of the luteal phase, about one third of LH and FSH values were lower than one SD below mean control levels. LPS administration had no effect on the two post-treatment cycles, except that integrated luteal progesterone in 3 out of 9 monkeys was still reduced in post-treatment cycle 1. There were no differences in follicular phase length and preovulatory estradiol peaks between control cycles and post-treatment cycles. When compared with our previous study, the results illustrate specific responses to stress at different phases of the menstrual cycle and support the notion that a moderate short-term inflammatory-like stress episode has the potential to subtly alter critical aspects of cyclicity.
Silicon waveguides and ring resonators at 5.5 µm

We fabricate and characterize silicon waveguides and ring resonators around 5.5 µm on the Silicon-on-Sapphire (SOS) platform. The waveguide loss is 4.1 ± 0.7 dB/cm, and a Q value of 1.4k is achieved.
Assessing the Obstacles to Industrialisation: The Mexican Economy, 1830–1940

After England began what came to be known as the First Industrial Revolution at the end of the eighteenth century, industrial technology quickly diffused throughout the nations of the North Atlantic. Within fifty years of the first rumblings of British industrialisation, the factory system had spread to Western Europe and the United States. Latin America, however, lagged behind. It was not until the twentieth century that manufacturing came to lead the economies of Latin America and that agrarian societies were transformed into industrial societies. This article seeks to understand this long lag in Latin American industrialisation through an analysis of the experience of Mexico during the period 8 30-1940. The purpose of the paper is to look at the obstacles that prevented self-sustaining industrialisation from taking place in Mexico, as well as to assess the results of the industrialisation that did
Whose Right to Rest? Contesting the Family Vacation in the Postwar Soviet Union

The idea of leisure and vacations in the Soviet Union at first glance suggests a paradox. As a system based on the labor theory of value, the USSR emphasized production as the foundation of wealth, personal worth, and the path to a society of abundance for all. Work—physical or mental—was the obligation of all citizens. But work took its toll on the human organism, and along with creating the necessary incentives and conditions for productive labor a socialist system would also include reproductive rest as an integral element of its economy. The eight-hour work day, a weekly day off from work, and an annual vacation constituted the triad of restorative and healthful rest opportunities in the emerging Soviet system of the 1920s and 1930s.
What Does the Author Say, What Does the Author Mean? Reading in the Social Studies

In interviews I've conducted with students, they have confided that "you don't have to read the textbook to answer the questions in the chapters or do the tests." For, as they explain, the limited aims of their teachers are easily met by a more or less mechanical procedure. "The questions are in the same order as the text is written and if you just find the same words and write the whole paragraph around them, you don't have to know what they're talking about and the teacher gives you credit anyway!" The result is deceptive. Although students in class may appear to be reading the text and may be writing assignments, frequently they have not actually read anything because they have failed to comprehend what the author has written.
Effect of drought on the growth of Lolium perenne genotypes with and without fungal endophytes

1 Grass leaves are often inhabited by fungal endophytes that can enhance host growth. In some forage species, endophytes improve host resistance to, and recovery from, drought. 2 Our objective was to determine if the growth of genotypes of Lolium perenne L. was improved by endophytes during recovery from drought. 3 Thirteen infected genotypes were cloned into ramets. Half were treated with a systemic fungicide to eliminate the endophyte (E−); half were untreated and retained high endophyte levels (E+). In a glasshouse, half of all E− and E+ ramets were watered regularly, whilst half were exposed to a 2 week drought on two occasions, each followed by a 3 week recovery period. 4 After the first drought and recovery period, endophytes significantly reduced tiller production in the drought-stressed group. 5 After the second drought and recovery period, effects of drought on live leaf area and dry mass were highly dependent on host genotype, but not endophytes. The mean tiller mass of E+ ramets after drought was significantly less than that of watered E+ ramets, but this was not true in E− ramets. For six genotypes there was greater mass allocation to storage in the tiller bases of E− ramets after drought. 6 This perennial ryegrass population showed marked genotypic variation in the ability to recover from drought stress, but endophytes played little or no role in this ability. For some host genotypes there may be a metabolic cost of harbouring endophytes during environmentally stressful conditions.
Crystallization kinetics of isotactic polystyrene from isotactic-atactic polystyrene blends

In an attempt to facilitate a better understanding of the role of noncrystallizable components on the crystallization kinetics, spherulitic growth rates as well as the morphology and melting behavior of isotactic polystyrene in blends with various molecular weight atactic polystyrenes (900 to 1,800,000) over a wide range of concentrations have been studied. The growth rates are uniformly depressed with increasing amounts of atactic diluent. In addition, they are dependent on the molecular weight of the added polystyrene, generally decreasing in the molecular weight ranges between 4800 and 19,800 and between 51,000 and 1,800,000. However, between these two ranges, anomalous growth rates showing a sudden increase are observed, which may be explained by an increase in the entrapment of the noncrystallizable diluent. An explanation based on morphological observations, which showed an increase in coarseness of the spherulites with increasing molecular weight of the added atactic polystyrene, is offered.
Nitrogen Fixation and Nitrogen Isotope Abundances in Zooplankton of the Oligotrophic North Atlantic

Deep-water nitrate is a major reservoir of oceanic combined nitrogen and has long been considered to be the major source of new nitrogen supporting primary production in the oligotrophic ocean. 15N:14N ratios in plankton provide an integrative record of the nitrogen cycle processes at work in the ocean, and near-surface organic matter in oligotrophic waters like the Sargasso Sea is characterized by an unusually low 15N content relative to average deep-water nitrate. Herein we show that the low dΔ15N of suspended particles and zooplankton from the tropical North Atlantic cannot arise through isotopic fractionation associated with nutrient uptake and food web processes but are instead consistent with a significant input of new nitrogen to the upper water column by N2 fixation. These results provide direct, integrative evidence that N2 fixation makes a major contribution to the nitrogen budget of the oligotrophic North Atlantic Ocean.
Battered Women in the Restraining Order Process Observations on a Court Advocacy Program

Between the months of January and May, 1998, the author spent approximately 150 hours as a legal advocate in a court advocacy program in southeastern Wisconsin that assists battered women obtain restraining orders. This article reports observations of how legal advocates in the program are affecting battered women's lives through their services as well as accounts of battered women's experiences in the court system and responses by court personnel to them. These observations are discussed in relation to existing research and theory on work with battered women and to the social context in which such work occurs.
Passive microwave humidity profile retrievals using neural networks

A multilayer feedforward neural network was developed for passive microwave relative humidity profile retrievals. Retrievals for radiosonde-based simulated radiances at fifteen frequencies between 23.8 and 183.3 GHz yielded rms retrieval errors in relative humidity of 6-14 percent both over ocean and over land at pressure levels ranging from 131 mb to 1013 mb. These radio frequencies approximated those of the temperature- and humidity-sounding NOAA AMSU and MHS microwave spectrometers planned for U.S. operational low-Earth-orbit meteorological satellites. These retrieval results were comparable or superior to those obtained earlier with an iterative combined statistical and physical retrieval scheme. >
Electrical potential of an asymmetric membrane

Abstract A theory is proposed on the transmembrane potential caused by a membrane with asymmetrical distribution with respect to the surface charges of the membranes. The transmembrane potential is calculated by solving Poisson equation for the asymmetric membrane-electrolyte system, for both cases of linearized Poisson equation and nonlinearized Poisson equation. For the linear case, the magnitude of the transmembrane potential is proportional to the difference between two surface charge densities. However, for the nonlinearized case, the magnitude of the potential is smaller than that for the linearized case, and is no longer proportional to the difference between two surface charge densities of the membrane.
Inter-flow consistency: A novel SDN update abstraction for supporting inter-flow constraints

Software Defined Networks (SDNs) have opened up a new era for networking by decoupling the control and data planes. With a centralized controller, the process of updating networks becomes much more convenient when compared to traditional networks. However, even with SDNs, transitional network states during network updates may still cause problems. Such states may result in a breakdown of isolation guarantees or other critical constraints and this could lead to incorrect behavior or even security vulnerabilities. In this paper, we propose a novel abstraction for network updates, inter-flow consistency, that can account for relationships and constraints among different flows during updates. We present a generic inter-flow consistency constraint, version isolation, and a special case, spatial isolation. We propose update scheduling algorithms based on dependency graphs and a data structure that captures dependencies among different update operations & network elements. We also implemented a prototype system on a Mininet OpenFlow network and Ryu SDN controller to evaluate our approach. Experimental results show that our approach is able to enforce inter-flow consistency constraints with reasonable overheads and that overheads for version isolation are higher than for spatial isolation. Furthermore, when only spatial isolation constraints are in use, overheads on update times for flows that have no isolation constraints are very small (around 1%).
Tom J. Mabry's Natural Products Chemistry Program: 1960-2007

This paper presents an overview of Dr. Mabry's accomplishments in his career as a natural product chemist, first at the University of Zurich as a post-doctoral fellow, and from 1962, as a faculty m...
The role of the tubulointerstitium in radiation-induced renal fibrosis.

Abstract Robbins, M. E. C., O'Malley, Y., Zhao, W., Davis, C. S. and Bonsib, S. M. The Role of the Tubulointerstitium in Radiation-Induced Renal Fibrosis. The functional and morphological response of the remaining hypertrophied kidney in unilaterally nephrectomized rats to single doses of 0–20 Gy X rays was investigated. Functional and histological end points were assessed serially 4–24 weeks postirradiation. Renal irradiation led to time- and dose-dependent reductions in renal function, seen in terms of a decreased glomerular filtration rate, increased blood urea nitrogen, and reduced hematocrit. These changes were accompanied by morphological changes in the glomerular, tubular and interstitial portions of the kidney. However, dose-dependent changes were observed only in terms of tubulointerstitial lesions. Significant increases in the degree of interstitial staining for collagen type III and fibronectin were observed 24 weeks postirradiation. These increases in extracellular matrix components were accom...
Raymond Kennedy, 1906–50

After graduation from Yale College in 1928 Raymond Kennedy began, almost fortuitously, a career in Far Eastern affairs by teaching for a year at the Brent School in the Philippines, Then, a year later, he became a field representative for General Motors in what was then called the Netherlands East Indies. As the peripatetic automobile salesman discovered the cultural riches of the fabulous Indies, he became progressively less interested in American machines and more fascinated by Indonesian people. This led him to give up his commercial job and return to his alma mater in New Haven for graduate study in anthropology and sociology. He knew well that “he who would bring home the wealth of the Indies must carry the wealth of the Indies with him. ” Thus began the academic career of one of American's pioneer scholars in the field of Southeast Asian studies.
Designing Product Lines for Diverse Customer Markets

With global trade expanding rapidly and customer preferences becoming more diverse, many manufacturing firms are grappling with the problem of product proliferation. In this paper we consider the problem of determining which of many (potential) products to offer and how to price them, taking into account the costs of product design and manufacturing resources.
Iowa Beef Center

During 2016, IBC staff made 183 presentations to more than 13,700 participants, conducted 564 personal consultations, and over 4,100 phone or email consultations. The webinars and videos IBC produced were viewed more than 20,000 times, and the online software tools had 375,000 downloads. There were 180,000 website visitors and 3,500 social media contacts. IBC funded 4 mini grant projects investigating current industry questions including: Management effects on ergovaline content of stockpiled tall fescue for winter grazing • Grazing cover crops • Calving management on Iowa beef cattle farms • Corn silage characteristics on Iowa farms Iowa Beef Center staff are also involved in current ISU Beef Research projects related to cover crop grazing by stocker cattle, bull reproduction and fescue tolerance. Beef team staff authored nine 2017 Animal Industry Research reports. They annually conduct a needs assessment such as listening sessions, formal surveys, or think tanks. The following are some examples of featured programs evaluated in 2016.
Towards a comprehensive education and training program in agroforestry

As a field of study, agroforestry is directly relevant to a wide variety of individuals and offers the opportunity to bring together the broad fields of forestry and agriculture to offer the scientific underpinnings for the development of a new, comprehensive and integrative land-use strategy. There are a number of constraints that must be considered as this new field develops further. One constraint is that science tends to operate as a reduction process where subjects are divided and then subdivided as more is learned about their nature and properties. However, agroforestry programs will only be successful at solving real-world problems if an integrative and comprehensive approach is adopted and maintained. Also, there can be no single education or training model that is universally applicable, because approaches to education and training in agroforestry must be country-specific depending on ecological, socioeconomic, and cultural needs. These were some of the issues addressed by the working groups at the Workshop. A summary of their recommendations highlights some key issues and possible approaches to meeting specific future needs in the areas of agroforestry education, training, and support.
Shock tube/laser absorption measurements of the reaction rates of OH with ethylene and propene.

Reaction rates of hydroxyl (OH) radicals with ethylene (C2H4) and propene (C3H6) were studied behind reflected shock waves. OH + ethylene → products (rxn 1) rate measurements were conducted in the temperature range 973−1438 K, for pressures from 2 to 10 atm, and for initial concentrations of ethylene of 500, 751, and 1000 ppm. OH + propene → products (rxn 2) rate measurements spanned temperatures of 890−1366 K, pressures near 2.3 atm, and initial propene concentrations near 300 ppm. OH radicals were produced by shock-heating tert-butyl hydroperoxide, (CH3)3−CO−OH, and monitored by laser absorption near 306.7 nm. Rate constants for the reactions of OH with ethylene and propene were extracted by matching modeled and measured OH concentration time-histories in the reflected shock region. Current data are in excellent agreement with previous studies and extend the temperature range of OH + propene data. Transition state theory calculations using recent ab initio results give excellent agreement with our measu...
ID: 61: WARFARIN, HEMOTHORAX AND THROMBOLYTICS

Introduction Hemorrhagic complications due to Warfarin use are frequently seen. Hemothorax is a rare complication, and trauma is a major risk factor. Massive non-traumatic hemothorax is an extremely rare condition. Tube thoracostomy drainage is the primary mode of treatment. In cases of retained hemothorax, surgical procedures are recommended. Treatment options are limited for patients who are not surgical candidates. First described in 1981, intrapleural administration of fibrinolytics seems to be a safe procedure for treatment of retained traumatic hemothorax. Intrapleural administration of t-PA & DNase has also been successfully used for infected pleural fluid & is associated with reduced hospital stay & need for surgery. Our report focuses on successful treatment of Coumadin induced non-traumatic hemothorax with these agents. Case Report A 72 yo male on Coumadin for Afib, was brought to the hospital because of SOB, confusion & hypoxemia in the 709s. CXR revealed new large left sided pleural effusion. Relevant labs included Hgb of 6.7 g/dl (4 gram below baseline), INR 7.1 & platelet count 323. Sampling of the pleural fluid showed Hgb of 7.2 & hemotocrit 21.6. Coagulopathy was corrected and decision was made to proceed with tube thoracostomy. Patient drained almost a liter of old blood in the subsequent 24 hrs. It stopped afterwards. CXR revealed improved but persistent opacity. His health precluded surgery as an option. After long discussion with the patient, t-PA 10 mg & DNase 5 mg Once Daily was started. Pt. received a total of 3 doses with significant improvement in symptomatology and imaging. He drained almost 7 liters of old blood and was able to come off of supplemental oxygen. Hgb stayed stable after initial resuscitation. Discussion For treatment of retained hemothorax secondary to trauma, administration of fibrinolytics has been validated in several studies. Response measured by radiologic/clinical improvement as well as PFTs is impressive. Bleeding risk is low & pleuritic pain is the most common reported adverse effect. We propose that t-PA & DNase at the dose of 10 mg & 5 mg Daily respectively, is a safe treatment for selected patients with spontaneous non-traumatic hemothorax secondary to Coumadin use. More data is needed in medical ICU patients before this regimen can be generalized.
145 SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH HIV TESTING EVENTS.

Purpose To examine self-reported characteristics and risk behaviors of adolescents offered free HIV testing in a community setting in order to increase our understanding of this population and to design effective outreach activities targeting high-risk youth. Methods Adolescents age 14-24 were offered free Orasure HIV tests at community events and given the option of completing a survey to provide demographic information and self-reported risk behaviors including past sexual behavior and drug and alcohol use. Participants who responded positively to the practice of oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse were defined as sexually active. Results Among the 172 participants, 59% reported one or more types of sexual intercourse and 37% reported past drug or alcohol use. Eighty percent of the participants were African American and the mean age was 17.63 years. The mean percentage of sexually active 14-17 year olds was 55%, which was higher than the mean percentage of sexually active 18-21 year olds (52%). In the univariate analysis, age, African American race, lifetime drug use, tobacco use, alcohol use, and marijuana use were found to be significant predictors of sexual activity. In the multivariate models, African American race, lifetime drug use, tobacco use, and alcohol use were each found to be significant predictors of sexual activity. Forty-five percent of sexually active females reported previous drug use. Sexually active drug users were less likely to be African American. Conclusions Our findings indicate that free community HIV testing effectively reaches sexually active teenagers and can increase HIV testing among high-risk youth. The high percentage of sexually active 14-17 year olds indicates that we accessed a high-risk group of adolescents. Although sexual activity was positively correlated with high-risk sexual behaviors and with drug and alcohol use, our study also shows that many sexually active adolescents, especially African American females, are not drug users.
Reflections on the Self-service Cloud Computing Project

Modern cloud computing infrastructures use virtual machine monitors VMMs that often include a large and complex administrative domain with privileges to inspect client VM state. Attacks against or misuse of the administrative domain can compromise client security and privacy. Moreover, these VMMs provide clients inflexible control over their own VMs, as a result of which clients have to rely on the cloud provider to deploy useful services, such as VM introspection-based security tools. This paper discusses the self-service cloud computing SSC project that addresses these two shortcomings. SSC splits administrative privileges between a system-wide domain and per-client administrative domains. Each client can manage and perform privileged system tasks on its own VMs, thereby providing flexibility. The system-wide administrative domain cannot inspect the code, data or computation of client VMs, thereby ensuring security and privacy. SSC also allows providers and clients to establish mutually trusted services that can check regulatory compliance while respecting client privacy. We have used a prototype implementation of SSC atop the Xen hypervisor to build user domains to perform privileged tasks such as memory introspection, storage intrusion detection, and anomaly detection.
Morphology and classification of myelodysplastic syndromes.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of hematopoietic neoplasms having ineffective production of one or more cell lines with accompanying morphologic abnormalities in common. This may include notably ringed sideroblasts, megaloblastic erythroid precursors, hypogranulation/hyposegmentation of the granulocytes, and micromegakaryocytes. The percentage of leukemic blasts is variable. Both primary (idiopathic) and secondary (therapy-related) MDS are discussed. The French-American-British (FAB) group classifies MDS into five subgroups. These groups are based on the presence of dysplasia, the number of monocytes, and the percentage of ringed sideroblasts and myeloblasts. Excellent correlation exists between the FAB subgroup and acute leukemic progression/survival. Outcome to a large degree is based on the percentage of blasts at diagnosis, the degree of pancytopenia, and dysplasia.
RNA Structure Determination by Structural Probing and Mass Spectrometry: MS3D

Recent advances of detection strategies based on mass spectrometry (MS) have reawakened the interest in chemical methods for RNA structural elucidation by enabling experimental protocols that minimize their typical pitfalls. At the same time, the development of ever more sophisticated modeling techniques has helped close the resolution gap by providing atomic-level details that were previously beyond reach. Here, we describe the integration of MS-assisted structural probing with appropriate computational techniques, which has been termed MS3D, and illustrate its application to the elucidation of RNA substrates of biological significance. We address typical concerns faced by probing applications and possible solutions supported by the MS platform. We describe strategies for translating sparse spatial constraints afforded by footprinting and cross-linking reagents into testable all-atom structures. We also discuss future advances that would take further advantage of the synergy between experimental and computational approaches to increase the accuracy of chemical methods and to expand their scope to progressively larger and more complex targets.
Recent Developments in (F2+)A Color Center Lasers

(Summary) This talk reviews recent experimental progress in the development of stable, broadly-tunable, color-center lasers using (F2+)A centers in KI:Li and RbI:Li crystals as the active media. We report the first successful production of these centers in additively-colored KI:Li.1 This was accomplished through the elimination of nitrogen contamination in each stage of crystal preparation. Nitrogen diffuses into the KI lattice at elevated temperatures, especially during the additive-coloration process, and combines with isolated lithium inhibiting the formation of (F2+)A centers. This material now offers the possibility of obtaining a stable color center laser medium with tunability extending from 2.4 to 4.0 microns.2
A Memoir—Why?

It was not until this memoir was well underway that I fully appreciated why I had to do it. As the remaining years dwindled away, I got a yearning to take stock of the 56 years that I have spent as a meteorologist. I needed to take a retrospective look while my memory still served me, with the perspective of one who has seen the evolution of the discipline in general and of radar meteorology in particular. From this view at the apex of the remarkable scientific developments of the second half of the twentieth century, I wondered how the work that my colleagues and I had done in a seemingly helter-skelter fashion fitted into a coherent picture of the present state of the art. I also thought it would be fun to relive the exquisite joys I have experienced as a researcher and to reevaluate some of the painful periods.
The Anatomy of Delusion

Abstract Delusions are maintained false beliefs despite compelling evidence to the contrary. They can occur in both psychiatric and neurologic disorders. They are distinct from hallucinations and confabulations and involve different neural circuitries and anatomy. Different content-specific delusions likely have different underlying anatomy and neurobiology; however, it is postulated that all delusions share a common anatomical and physiological denominator. This underlines the basis of the two-factor hypothesis, which proposes that delusions arise from two distinct brain dysfunctions. For example, formation of the Capgras delusion may require a dysfunction of both facial processing neural networks as well as hypothesis-appraisal networks. There may be some genetic factors influencing the occurrence and content of delusions.
Characteristics of Effective Simulation (Preclinical) Teachers as Identified by Dental Students: A Qualitative Study

The aim of this qualitative research study was to identify and categorize criteria for simulation teacher quality preferences as reported by dental students. Second-year dental students at New York University College of Dentistry in 2015 were given a two-question, open-ended survey asking what qualities they liked most and least in a simulation or preclinical teacher. Responses were collected until data saturation was reached. Key words in the responses were identified and coded based on similar relationships and then were grouped into defined categories. A total of 168 respondents out of the target group of 363 students (46.3%) provided 1,062 written comments. Three core themes-character, competence, and communication-emerged from 16 defined categories, which were validated using references from the educational literature. The theme of character encompassed eight of the defined categories (motivation, available, caring, patience, professionalism, empathy, fairness, and happiness) and accounted for 50% of the total student responses. The theme of competence comprised five categories (expertise, knowledgeable, efficient, skillful, and effective) and represented 34% of all responses. The communication theme covered the remaining three categories (feedback, approachable, and interpersonal communication) and contained 17% of the responses. Positive and negative comments in the category of motivation accounted for 11.2% of all student responses. Expertise was the next highest category with 9.3% of the responses, followed closely by 9.1% in the category of available. Among these students, the top five attributes of simulation teachers were motivation, expertise, available, caring, and feedback. While the study did not attempt to correlate these findings with improved student performance, the results can be used in the development of assessment tools for faculty and targeted faculty development programs.
Self-Initiation and Planning

Causal Agency Theory describes volitional action as action that is intentionally conceived (planned) and self-initiated. Volitional actions involve the initiation and activation of causal capabilities—the capacity to cause something to happen—in one’s life. Acting in an intentionally conceived, self-initiated manner is therefore a critical element of volitional action. This chapter will review the literature on self-initiation and planning as it pertains to human agentic action and self-determination and provide a description of the development of the ability to self-initiate.
Book Review: Forgotten Continent: The Battle for Latin America’s Soul

Reid, Michael. 2007 . Forgotten Continent: The Battle for Latin Americaâ€™s Soul. Yale University Press, New Haven .
Some Pathobiological Considerations of Detection of Breast Cancer by Ultrasonic Holography

In this presentation some of the expected problems associated with the early diagnosis of carcinoma of the breast using ultrasonic holography will be considered. In the absence of much practical experience at a clinical level with ultrasonic holography I think that some useful general lessons on procedure and particularly the frightening logistic problems of mass screening may be learned from the now considerable body of data available on the early diagnosis of mammary cancer by X-ray techniques I will not deal with the engineering problems associated with ultrasonic holography and others are much better qualified than I to comment on its feasibility for this purpose. However I hope to show that from a consideration of some of the basic pathobiological aspects of the disease a reasonably clear idea of the engineering requirements can be obtained.
Local Phase-Based Learning for Needle Detection and Localization in 3D Ultrasound

Described here is a novel method for automatic detection and enhancement of needles under 3D ultrasound guidance. We develop a detector consisting of a linear learning-based pixel classifier that utilizes Histogram of Oriented Gradients descriptors extracted from local phase projections. The detector automatically identifies slices of the volume that contain needle data, reducing the needle search space. Needle tip enhancement is performed on a projection of the extracted sub-volume, followed by automatic tip localization using spatially distributed image statistics within the trajectory constrained region. Evaluation of the proposed method on 40 volumes of ex vivo bovine tissue shows \(88\%\) detection precision, \(98\% \) recall rate, mean classification time per slice of 0.06 s and mean tip localization error of \(0.44\pm 0.13\) mm. The promising results indicate potential of the method for further evaluation on clinical pain management procedures.
Le bilan énergétique én mécanique des roches

L'article etend a la mecanique des roches une conception generale basee sur le bilan energetique des phenomenes. Cette approche est appliquee aux problemes suivants qu'elle eclaire d'un jour nouveau :—fracturation hydraulique et abattage a l'explosif ;—stabilite de la roche en compression ;—stabilite des tunnels ;—stabilite d'un massif forme d'un assemblage de blocs ;—dimensionnement des piliers de mine.Les nouvelles possibilites du traitement conversationnel sur ecran cathodique sont largement exploitees.
Associated Disorders of Chiari Type I Malformations

There exists a plethora of diseases affiliated with CIM and certainly more to be discovered in the future. While the final outcome of CIM may be the same, the strength of the correlation and pathophysiological mechanisms of each differs greatly, and some may be spurious associations. Thus, the need for additional genetic research and investigation of CIM continues. This chapter will discuss the conditions associated with CIM in order to potentially shed light on how the pathophysiological mechanism of one condition, no matter how remote, might lead to the development of CIM. It should be noted that many of these associations may be incidental with an asymptomatic hindbrain hernia being identified due to testing for other pathologic entities, for example, endocrinopathies.
Who Gets the Job? First-Generation College Students' Perceptions of Employer Screening Methods.

What are first-generation college students' (FGCS) perspectives of employment screening methods? The authors investigate which methods FGCS believe are likely to cause an employer to extend a job o...
Variability of Arctic Sea Ice Thickness Using PIOMAS and the CESM Large Ensemble

AbstractBecause of limited high-quality satellite and in situ observations, less attention has been given to the trends in Arctic sea ice thickness and therefore sea ice volume than to the trends i...
Design of tapered optical fibers to achieve high spatial selectivity during infrared neural stimulation (Conference Presentation)

Purpose: Optical stimulation methods in development aim to provide high spatial selectivity of target tissue, overcoming a critical limitation of contemporary neural prostheses. The purpose of this study is to determine if tapered fibers are capable of delivering the minimum necessary power density 1W/mm2 within a 0.050mm spot size to induce focused infrared neural stimulation (INS). Materials: A numerical simulation program based on equations derived from Snell’s law was developed in MATLAB to predict the energy emitted from a tapered fiber coupled to a Capella laser (λ=1863nm, Lockheed Martin Aculight). Energy predictions were compared to emittance from a tapered fiber (core diameter = 200µm, tapered output face = 50µm, NA=0.22) to determine its accuracy. Energy measurements were made at 17.8, 41.6, 65.4, 89.3, and 113.1µJ output energy and at distances between 0-2 mm from the fiber-tip with a Coherent FieldMax Energy meter coupled to a detector with a 2.1 mm aperture. Results: Mean difference between the predicted and measured energy ranged from 4.3±1.9µJ (17.8µJ) to 16.3±11.3 µJ (113.1µJ). Minimum required power density within a 0.05 mm spot size was predicted to be achieved at 0 mm for all energies, at 2 mm for 41.6µJ, and at distances ≥ 1.0 mm for 17.8 µJ. Conclusion: A numerical simulation program was developed that accurately predicts within minimal error the emittance from a tapered fiber. The predicted results indicate feasibility of tapered optical fibers to provide a more efficient and selective means of delivering the minimum power density necessary to achieve INS.
Do Health Promotion Behaviors Affect Levels of Job Satisfaction and Job Stress for Nurses in an Acute Care Hospital

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to explore the relationships between nurse-reported health-promoting behaviors (HPBs), job stress, and job satisfaction in a hospital setting.BACKGROUNDJob stress and satisfaction are key components of the nursing work environment; however, evidence of the relation
The Erythrocyte Aminophospholipid Translocase

Our understanding of cellular membranes has rapidly progressed from the point of view of the lipid bilayer being only a simple permeability barrier and matrix for membrane proteins to one in which membrane lipids are viewed as dynamic components capable of initiating and regulating various cellular functions. Only recently, however, has it become clear that the distribution of lipids between bilayer leaflets plays an important role in many cellular processes. While most of these phenomena are directly associated with what is considered to be normal membrane lipid asymmetry, the “atypical” display of phosphatidylserine (PS) on the cell’s outer leaflet has significant physiological consequences. PS participates, for example, in various cell-cell interactions (Schroit et al., 1985; Schlegel et al., 1985), cell activation and hemostasis (Bevers et al., 1983; Rosing et al., 1985; Sims et al., 1989), cell aging (Shukla and Hanahan, 1982; Herrmann and Devaux, 1990), membrane fusion events (Farooqui et al., 1987; Song et al., 1992; Schewe et al., 1992), and apoptosis (Fadok et al., 1992a, 1992b).