cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conformity and Deviance

History teaches that there is something novel in pursuing justice – instead of vengeance – in the aftermath of atrocity. This is a new endeavor. It is bold, fresh, exciting, at times anxious, and certainly lacking in experience. International criminal lawyers have stepped into this experiential void. One way for the architects of international criminal process, most of whom are Western or Western-trained, to assuage anxiety is to turn to that which is familiar to them: namely, domestic criminal and human rights frameworks in liberal states. Even though experiences with these frameworks are not easily transferable to mass atrocity, it is somehow easier to replay preexisting doctrinal frameworks rather than develop new ones. The fact that atrocity prosecutions are reactive to cataclysmic events – sometimes expediently so – makes them even more prone to claim a quick-fix identity. It thus becomes understandable why the structure, rules, and methodologies of the process and punishment of extraordinary international criminality largely constitute a transplant of the structure, rules, and methodologies of ordinary criminal process and punishment in those states that dominate the international order. Assuredly, the transplant is not a perfectly repotted plant. Certain adaptations have taken place along the way. Some of these, for example regarding the laws of evidence, arose in part in response to the difficulties in convicting individuals for group crimes. Yet, as I explore in this chapter, these adaptations are narrow, programmatic, and at times embarrassing to the institutions that promulgate them.
Magnesium alloy AZ91 exhibits antimicrobial properties in vitro but not in vivo

Magnesium alloys hold great promise for developing orthopedic implants that are biocompatible, biodegradable, and mechanically similar to bone tissue. This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial properties of magnesium-9%aluminum-1%zinc (AZ91) and commercially pure titanium (cpTi) against Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab307). The in vitro results showed that as compared to cpTi, incubation with AZ91 significantly reduced both the planktonic (cpTi = 3.45e8, AZ91 = 8.97e7, p < 0.001) colony forming units (CFU) and biofilm-associated (cpTi = 3.89e8, AZ91 = 1.78e7, p = 0.01) CFU of Ab307. However, in vivo results showed no significant differences in the CFU enumerated from the cpTi and AZ91 implants following a 1-week implantation in an established rodent model of Ab307 implant associated infection (cpTi = 5.23e3, AZ91 = 2.46e3, p = 0.29). It is proposed that the in vitro results were associated with an increased pH in the bacterial culture as a result of the AZ91 corrosion process. The robust in vivo buffering capacity likely diminished this corrosion associated pH antimicrobial effect. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 221-227, 2018.
Episodic ponding and outburst flooding associated with chaotic terrains in Valles Marineris

The Valles Marineris canyons are among the deepest of topographic depressions on Mars. As such, they may be expected to have served as sinks for a variety of mobile materials, including water, regardless of their particular formation history. The interpretation of ILD formation is not critical to the putative Valles Marineris lake considered here. Considerably more important are chaotic terrains, which may constitute the primary source of water for certain putative ancient lakes in, and near, the Valles Marineris. Chaotic terrains are large regions of fractured and subsided materials found, in several cases, at the termini of Valles Marineris canyons. Some chaotic terrains that are topographically connected to Valles Marineris canyons suggest that groundwater discharge at these terrains flooded both the canyons and the outflow channels. Such floods undoubtedly led to ponding, either locally or at points along the drainage path. Coincidence of the MOLA-derived basin overflow point with channel erosion strongly supports the ponding hypothesis. Although the most likely source of ponded water was groundwater discharge at chaotic terrain in Capri and Eos Chasmata, or at large-scale fractures bounding the Valles Marineris canyons, an alternative supply from a northern plains ocean, which has a putative shoreline at a similar elevation to the Valles Marineris paleolake, is possible. Direct production of channel floods by groundwater discharge remains difficult to explain, and the buffering effect provided by surface ponding may circumvent this problem.
Peripheral Visual Fields in ABCA4 Stargardt Disease and Correlation With Disease Extent on Ultra-widefield Fundus Autofluorescence.

Purpose To evaluate the disease extent on ultra-widefield fundus autofluorescence (UWF-FAF) in patients with ABCA4 Stargardt disease (STGD) and correlate these data with functional outcome measures. Design Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods Setting: Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan. Study Population: Sixty-five patients with clinical diagnosis and proven pathogenic variants in the ABCA4 gene. Observational Procedures: The UWF-FAF images were obtained using Optos (200 degrees) and classified into 3 types. Functional testing included kinetic widefield perimetry, full-field electroretinogram (ffERG), and visual acuity (VA). All results were evaluated with respect to UWF-FAF classification. Main Outcome Measures: Classification of UWF-FAF; area comprising the I4e, III4e, and IV4e isopters; ffERG patterns; and VA. Results For UWF-FAF, 27 subjects (41.5%) were classified as type I, 17 (26.2%) as type II, and 21 (32.4%) as type III. The area of each isopter correlated inversely with the extent of the disease and all isopters were able to detect differences among UWF-FAF types (IV4e, P = .0013; III4e, P = .0003; I4e, P −8 ). ffERG patterns and VA were also different among the 3 UWF-FAF types ( P 6 and P −5 , respectively). Conclusion Patients with widespread disease presented with more constriction of peripheral visual fields and had more dysfunction on ffERG and worse VA compared to patients with disease confined to the macula. UWF-FAF images may provide information for estimating peripheral and central visual function in STGD.
Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Formation: A Brief Perspective on the Infrastructure in Europe:

This essay provides one perception of the infrastructure of academic entrepreneurship in Europe from the perspective of an American academic working there. It is not intended to provide a comprehen...
An Integrated Approach to Basin Analysis and Mineral Exploration

An integrated approach to mineral exploration in basin analysis involves taking into consideration geological, geophysical, geochemical, and topographical data. Different spatial parameters such as structure, unit thickness, porosity, gravity, magnetics, paleotopography, etc., are important in locating potential areas of interest for mineral exploration. A complete analysis in precomputer times was accomplished using handprepared maps, many of which took considerable effort and time to construct. Now with the availability of databases and plotting/contouring software these tasks can be completed in a matter of minutes. Different combinations of maps can be comparedorintegrated to determine which data sets are the most informative, by comparing the results to a target map—one showing the location of the known mineral-type of interest. Most data have to be pretreated (normalized, standardized, transformed, etc.) before analysis, which is accomplished by (1) pairwise comparison, (2) stacking and weighting, or (3) combining. This approach then can be used to determine the optimum combination of data sets and weights for use in exploration. A mature oil-producing area in southcentral Kansas, which includes part of the Pratt Anticline, is used as an example of this integrated, automated approach. The area has a thin cover of Paleozoic sediments over the crystalline Precambrian basement. Most of the structures are the result of vertical movement of, and compaction of sediments over, basement features where oil/gas accumulations are present in structural and stratigraphic traps.
Estimating the quantity and time course of alcohol consumption from transdermal alcohol sensor data: A combined laboratory-ambulatory study.

Abstract Transdermal alcohol sensors offer enormous promise for the continuous, objective assessment of alcohol use. Although these sensors have been employed as abstinence monitors for some time now, it is only recently that models have been developed aimed at allowing researchers to derive estimates of the precise amount and time course of drinking, directly from transdermal data. Using data from a combined laboratory-ambulatory study, the current research aims to examine the validity of recently developed methods for estimating BrAC (breath alcohol concentration) directly from transdermal data. Forty-eight heavy social drinkers engaged in 7 days of ambulatory assessment outside the laboratory, and also participated in a laboratory alcohol-administration session. Participants wore the SCRAM transdermal sensor throughout the study, and during the 7 days of ambulatory assessment, they provided daily self-reports of their drinking and also took randomly prompted photographs 6 times per day, which were then evaluated for evidence of alcohol consumption. Results indicated strong associations between daily self-reports of drinking quantity and estimates of BrAC derived from transdermal sensors at both the between- and within-subject level. Data from randomly prompted photos indicated that the time course of estimated BrAC also had validity. Results offer promise for novel methods of estimating BrAC from transdermal data, including those taking a nomothetic (population-based) approach to this estimation, thus potentially adding to our arsenal of techniques for understanding, diagnosing, and ultimately treating alcohol use disorder.
Quantization of surface charge density on hyperboloidal and paraboloidal domains with application to plasmon decay rate on nanoprobes

Field quantization in high curvature geometries help understanding the elastic and inelastic scattering of photons and electrons in nanostructures and probelike metallic domains. The results find important applications in high-resolution photonic and electronic modalities of scanning probe microscopy, nano-optics, plasmonics, and quantum sensing. We present a calculation of relevant photon interactions in both hyperboloidal and paraboloidal material domains. The two morphologies are compared for their plasmon dispersion properties, field distributions, and radiative decay rates, which are shown to be consistent with the corresponding quantities for the finite prolate spheroidal domains. The results are relevant to other material domains that model a nanostructure such as a probe tip, quantum dot, or nanoantenna.
The Impact of VLSI on the Automobile of Tomorrow

Publisher Summary Microprocessors had been used as subsections of large computers and computer terminals for many years before they became a household word in the marketplace. Economics, however, prevented them from becoming widely accepted. Initially, where a microprocessor was needed in only small quantities, it was built on individual printed-circuit cards, using standard SSI/MSI logic circuits, demanding two to three hundred individual packages. Even with the lowest-cost TTL families, such cards would be priced far beyond the market for mass applications. On the other hand, where a large market was anticipated, as with electronic calculators, equipment manufacturers were joined by semiconductor manufacturers in the very expensive task of developing custom LSI chips. This reduced the assembly and hardware cost of the microcomputer but restricted its end use to specific, dedicated applications.
Due Process, Transparency and Procedural Fairness in Asian Antitrust

This essay begins with a discussion on defining procedural fairness. Then it explains why this is a particularly hot topic for Asian antitrust in 2015. Finally, this essay explores the benefit for increased procedural fairness in Asian antitrust. The push for increased transparency and due process comes not merely from the business community but from antitrust authorities themselves. Best practices involving due process and transparency are emerging and these best practices seem to clash with the practices of some jurisdictions in Asia. Some of these pressure points may become explosive in 2015, but Asian antitrust authorities have time and opportunity to improve their systems of due process and transparency before such concerns reach a crisis point.
Strategies for Testing and Assessing Population Reliability for Nonhomogeneous Populations of One Shot Devices

This case study discusses a situation where a subcontractor was producing munition subcomponents with a flawed subpopulation. These particular subcomponents behave in such a way that their functioning could be cycled. The failures were random and independent of the number of cycles. Two parameters were estimated: the proportion of the population that were flawed and the probability of failure of the each of the subpopulations as well as the overall probability of failure if any subcomponent was selected at random from the general population. This measure was then reported as the population reliability.It was found that traditional reliability approaches (homogenous population assumptions and time-to-failure type analysis) resulted in overly optimistic assessments of the true reliability of the population. The results were highly dependent on both the proportion of the population that was estimated to be flawed as well as the estimated probability of a flawed subcomponent actually failing. The rate of increase in overall failure probability as a function of number of found failures increases as the proportion of the flawed population increase. This resulted in a more realistic estimate of the population reliability as well as a better informed path forward for future reliability assessments.
Immunocrit, colostrum intake, and preweaning body weight gain in piglets after split suckling based on birth weight or birth order

Preweaning survival and growth are compromised in litters with larger numbers of piglets. We evaluated two approaches for altering initial nursing with the goal to improve access to colostrum by groups of piglets that are known to have reduced access to colostrum. Therefore, we temporarily (1.5 h) removed either the heaviest six piglets in the litter (WT) or the first half of the piglets born (ORD) to provide a short period of nursing with reduced competition for the remaining piglets. We found that WT piglets were heavier (P ≤ 0.05) at 7 d after farrowing and gained more body weight (BW) from farrowing to day 7 than control (CON) piglets which were raised in litters with ad libitum nursing during the same period. Further, we found that the heaviest piglets consumed more (P 0.10) greater immunocrits. Although ORD piglets had similar colostrum intake, immunocrits, and preweaning weights as controls, we found that overall the piglets born in the first half of litters had greater (P < 0.01) immunocrits than piglets born in the last half of the litter. Therefore, both birth weight and birth order have effects on traits that are important for prenatal growth and survival, but they differ in that birth weight is more closely related to colostrum intake and birth order affects immunocrit.
Integrating In-Network Computing for Secure and Efficient Cascaded Delivery in DTNs

Delay tolerant networks can facilitate communication in the aftermath of disasters and emergency situations. However, the routing of messages between the nodes in such sparsely connected networks could be challenging. There have been many algorithms proposed to increase the delivery likelihood of messages while staying in the limitations of such challenged environments. In almost all of these studies, the routing problem has been considered between a source and destination pair. However, the communication between different source-destination pairs may be correlated and the delivery of one message may trigger another message routing process (e.g., a response back or separate message to another node). In this paper, we study such a cascaded delivery process in delay tolerant networks, in which there is a chain of source-destination pairs that are connected in terms of their message generation. We utilize a multi-copy based routing scheme and propose integrating in-network computing at relay nodes in order to achieve an efficient routing scheme with increased delivery ratio and reduced delay without increasing the number of message forwardings. Moreover, to address the potential privacy issues, we also utilize homomorphic encryption based computations. We evaluate the proposed scheme via simulations and show that it can improve the routing performance without releasing the content of intermediate messages to unintended destinations.
Quakers, Peace and the League of Nations: The Role of Bertram Pickard

Bertram Pickard belonged to a generation of Friends who helped to redefine the nature of Quaker international work between 1920 and 1940. In the aftermath of the First World War he played a major role in broadening the Quaker approach to peacemaking, encompassing not only conflict resolution through the peaceful settlement of disputes but also conflict prevention through institution-building at the international level. His support, however, for collective security and a peace enforcement role for the newly created League of Nations provoked strong opposition from those in London Yearly Meeting who viewed any support for the use of force as incompatible with Quaker beliefs. This paper attempts to highlight the dilemmas Pickard faced in trying to reconcile his profound pacifist convictions with his perceived responsibilities as a 'Quaker citizen', having to engage with the emergent realities of political power and the use of force at the inter-state level.
Koerber, Amy. From Hysteria to Hormones: A Rhetorical History. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2018. 239 pp. $99.95 (hardcover). ISBN-13: 978-0-271-08085-7.

Women’s bodies have historically been subjugated and infantilized by the medical community. Amy Koerber’s book, From Hysteria to Hormones: A Rhetorical History, traces the historical rhetorical nar...
An Approach to Epoxy Resins: Oxysilylation of Epoxides

We report here a method of synthesizing self-reinforced epoxy resin nanocomposites via oxysilylation that avoids the use of polyamines. Nanocomposites with three-dimensional (3-D) ordered architectures can be produced by reaction of [HSiMe2OSiO1.5]8 (OHS) linked via diepoxides using the Piers–Rubinsztajn reaction or oxysilylation. We describe several basic aspects of oxysilylation of diepoxides with TMDS (HMe2SiOSiMe2H, tetramethyldisiloxane), OHS, D4H [(CH3SiHO)4, tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane], and D5H [(CH3SiHO)5, pentamethylcyclopentasiloxane] in mixtures of dichloromethane and hexane, or as simple mixtures catalyzed by B­(C6F5)3 at ambient temperature. Diepoxides react with TMDS to form mostly linear polymers with MWs of 1–20 kDa per gel permeation chromatography (GPC). These polymers are stable in boiling water for several hours. Diepoxides with simple structures react rapidly. As the complexity of the diepoxide increases, reaction rates decrease, which is often coincident with gelation with higher MWs. Oxysilylation of diepoxides with OHS typically forms gels before full completion of the reaction due to high cross-link densities. These gels retain Si–H bonds, yet are also stable in boiling water (5 h) and capable of solvent uptake.
Ex Machina Determination of Structural Correlation Functions.

Determining the structural properties of condensed-phase systems is a fundamental problem in theoretical statistical mechanics. Here we present a machine learning method that is able to predict str...
Clinical significance of exhaled breath carbon dioxide monitoring in children undertaking PICU mechanical ventilation

Objective To analyze the clinical value and significance of monitoring exhaled carbon dioxide at the end in the process of mechanical ventilation in pediatric patients and provide support for China's medical industry development and progress. Methods The data of the pediatric patients undertaking ventilator intervention were collected from the pediatric intensive care unit of our hospital. Carbon dioxide monitoring was carried out in the children. Carbon dioxide partial pressure monitoring of arterial blood was performed in pediatric patients. The clinical monitoring information was recorded. The PetCO2 and PaCO2 were compared. Results The data of children's PetCO2 and PaCO2 were collected and compared; and the results showed that there was no correlation between the 1 d and 1 year old children; there was a significant correlation between children ≥ 3 years old, with a radius of 0.531, P=0.027 and a radius of 0.681, P=0.001. There was a significant association between the groups of children with central respiratory failure, with a radius of 0.873, P < 0.05. Under the condition of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, there were statstitical differences in PetCO2 between different groups (P<0.05). Conclusion The results show that the research in PetCO2 can realize the monitoring of the changes of PaCO2 through its monitoring function and can reduce the presence of respiratory acidosis and alkali poisoning. Determining PaCO2 in the patients receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the process can predict their cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Key words: PICU; Mechanical ventilation; Children; Exhaled breath carbon dioxide; Monitoring; Clinical significance
Dimensional reduction of helium-4 inside argon-plated MCM-41 nanopores

The angstrom-scale coherence length describing the superfluid wave function of $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ at low temperatures has prevented its preparation in a truly one-dimensional geometry. Mesoporous ordered silica-based structures, such as the molecular sieve MCM-41, offer a promising avenue towards physical confinement, but the minimal pore diameters that can be chemically synthesized have proven to be too large to reach the quasi-one-dimensional limit. We present an active nano-engineering approach to this problem by preplating MCM-41 with a single, well controlled layer of Ar gas before filling the pores with helium. The structure inside the pore is investigated via experimental adsorption isotherms and neutron scattering measurements that are in agreement with large scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations. The results demonstrate angstrom and Kelvin scale tunability of the effective confinement potential experienced by $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ atoms inside the MCM-41, with the Ar layer reducing the diameter of the confining media into a regime where a number of solid layers surround a one-dimensional quantum liquid.
Factors Affecting Patient Adherence to Lung Cancer Screening.

Objectives The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) demonstrated a 20% reduction in mortality with low-dose computed tomography (CT) for lung cancer screening (LCS). The NLST found the greatest benefit to LCS for patients who underwent annual screening for a full 3-year follow-up period. The adherence to serial imaging in the NLST was 95%. Methods We conducted a prospective study of 268 patients who presented for LCS and who were not enrolled in a research study to determine the adherence to recommended follow-up imaging and biopsy at a single center. We evaluated the correlations among sociodemographic characteristics, Lung Imaging and Reporting Data System, and adherence. Results Only 48% of the patient population received recommended follow-up (either imaging or biopsy) after their referent LCS. Patients with abnormal LCS (Lung Imaging and Reporting Data System 3 or 4) were more likely to adhere to the recommended follow-up (additional imaging or biopsy) compared with those with negative screens. Sex, ethnicity, smoking status, and household income were not correlated with adherence to screening and biopsy. Conclusions The benefits from LCS observed in the NLST may be undermined by low adherence to follow-up screening. Studies targeting LCS patients to bolster adherence to follow-up are needed.
Comparing Outcomes of Upper Extremity Brachiobasilic Arteriovenous Fistulas and Arteriovenous Grafts: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective:It is unclear what the optimal upper extremity hemodialysis access is for patients without a suitable cephalic vein for arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). The objective of this systematic rev...
Retrosplenial cortical connectivity with frontal basal ganglia networks

Previous studies of the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) have focused on its role in navigation and memory, consistent with its well-established medial temporal connections, but recent evidence also suggests a role for this region in reward and decision making. Because function is determined largely by anatomical connections, and to better understand the anatomy of RSC, we used tract-tracing methods to examine the anatomical connectivity between the rat RSC and frontostriatal networks (canonical reward and decision-making circuits). We find that, among frontal cortical regions, RSC bidirectionally connects most strongly with the anterior cingulate cortex, but also with an area of the central-medial orbito-frontal cortex. RSC projects to the dorsomedial striatum, and its terminal fields are virtually encompassed by the frontal-striatal projection zone, suggestive of functional convergence through the basal ganglia. This overlap is driven by anterior cingulate cortex, prelimbic cortex, and orbito-frontal cortex, all of which contribute to goal-directed decision making, suggesting that the RSC is involved in similar processes.
Rock varnish record of the African Humid Period in the Lake Turkana basin of East Africa

Rock varnish is a manganiferous dark coating accreted on subaerially exposed rocks in drylands. It often contains a layered microstratigraphy that records past wetness variations. Varnish samples f...
The intersectional role of social stress in fracture risk: results from the Women’s Health Initiative

Background The biological consequences of stress from the social environment pattern health outcomes. This study investigated whether social stress is prospectively associated with fracture incidence among racially and ethnically diverse, postmenopausal women. Methods Data from 160 709 postmenopausal women in the Women’s Health Initiative was analysed using Cox proportional hazards regression models to examine prospective associations of social stress with time to total and hip fracture incidence. Self-reported questionnaires measuring social strain, social functioning and social support were used to assess social stress. Results Age and race/ethnicity modified associations between social stress and total and hip fractures. HRs for the associations between higher social support (indicating lower social stress) and total fractures among those age 50–59 years were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90 to 0.94); HR=0.94 (95% CI: 0.93 to 0.95) for those age 60–69 years and HR=0.96 (95% CI: 0.95 to 0.98) for those age 70–79 years. Higher social strain was associated with greater hip fracture incidence among Native American women (HR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.10 to 3.10), Asian women (HR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.86) and white women (HR=1.04, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.08). Conclusion Identifying population patterns of fracture incidence as biological expressions of social environments reveals how race/ethnic specific social environmental factors influence disparities in fractures.
Poly(para-phenylene) fibers – Characterization and preliminary data for conversion to carbon fiber

Abstract Given the exceptionally high thermal stability of poly (para-phenylene) (PPP) among linear polyaromatics, it is expected that PPP fibers will have myriad applications. In this study, PPP fibers were obtained starting from the enzymatic dihydroxylation/reduction of benzene to 5,6-cis-dihydroxycyclohexa-1,3-diene, followed by esterification, polymerization, and thermal aromatization. Polymer precursor was characterized in terms of its thermal and rheological properties. High levels of aromatization were achieved, and the obtained PPP fibers were mostly para-linked. Carbonization of PPP fibers by pyrolysis was studied at different temperatures (600–1500 °C). Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy results showed that PPP transformed into disordered carbon at temperatures above 800 °C, similarly to commercial carbon fiber (CF). Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that PPP fibers and CFs had smooth surfaces, were nonporous, and retained their original fiber shape during the aromatization and carbonization steps. Our research highlights the high potential of using PPP as an alternate precursor to CF.
Dependent functional status rather than age is a better predictor of adverse outcomes after excision of an infected abdominal aortic graft

Abstract Objective The optimal management of infected abdominal aortic grafts is complete surgical excision plus in situ or extra-anatomic revascularization in patients who can tolerate this morbid operation. In addition to using age and the presence of comorbidities for risk assessment, physicians form a global clinical impression when deciding whether to offer excision or to manage conservatively. Functional status is a distinct objective measure that can inform this decision. This study examines the relative impact of age and functional status on outcomes of infected abdominal aortic graft excision to guide surgical decision-making. Methods Current Procedural Terminology code 35907 was used to identify patients undergoing excision of infected abdominal aortic graft in the 2005 to 2017 American College of Surgeons – National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Patients were stratified by the upper age quartile (75 years old) as a cutoff, and then by functional status, independent vs dependent (as defined by NSIQIP). The patients were then stratified into four groups: Younger ( Results There were 814 patients who underwent infected abdominal aortic graft excision: 508 patients (62%) were Younger/Independent, 89 patients (11%) were Younger/Dependent, 176 patients (22%) were Older/Independent, and 41 patients (5%) were Older/Dependent. There was no statistically significant difference in 30-day mortality for Younger/Dependent (odds ratio [OR], 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90-3.09; P = .536) or Older/Independent (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.78-2.19; P = .311) patients when compared with Younger/Independent patients, which suggests that neither old age nor dependent functional status by itself adversely affects mortality. However, when both factors were present, Older/Dependent patients had three times higher mortality when compared with Younger/Independent patients (41.5% vs 13.4%, respectively; OR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.46-6.71; P = .003). Furthermore, as long as patients presented with independent functional status, old age by itself did not adversely affect major organ-system dysfunction (ORs for Older/Independent vs Younger/Independent were 0.76 [P = .454], 1.04 [P = .874], and 0.90 [P = .692] for cardiac, pulmonary, and renal complications, respectively). On the contrary, even in younger patients, dependent functional status was significantly associated with higher pulmonary complications (Younger/Dependent vs Younger/Independent: OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.33-3.73; P = .002) and higher rates of unplanned reoperation (OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.62-4.41; P Conclusions Dependent functional status has significant association with adverse outcomes after excision of infected abdominal aortic grafts, whereas old age alone does not. Therefore, this procedure could be considered in appropriately selected elderly patients with otherwise good functional status. However, caution should be applied in dependent patients regardless of age due to the risk of pulmonary complications.
Prediction of Non-Equilibrium Heat Conduction Using Parallel Computation of the Phonon Boltzmann Transport Equation

Non-equilibrium heat conduction, as occurring in modern-day sub-micron semiconductor devices, can be predicted effectively using the Boltzmann Transport Equation (BTE) for phonons. In this article, strategies and algorithms for large-scale parallel computation of the phonon BTE are presented. An unstructured finite volume method for spatial discretization is coupled with the control angle discrete ordinates method for angular discretization. The single-time relaxation approximation is used to treat phonon-phonon scattering. Both dispersion and polarization of the phonons are accounted for. Three different parallelization strategies are explored: (a) band-based, (b) direction-based, and (c) hybrid band/cell-based. Subsequent to validation studies in which silicon thin-film thermal conductivity was successfully predicted, transient simulations of non-equilibrium thermal transport were conducted in a three-dimensional device-like silicon structure, discretized using 604,054 tetrahedral cells. The angular space was discretized using 400 angles, and the spectral space was discretized into 40 spectral intervals (bands). This resulted in ∼9.7×109 unknowns, which are approximately 3 orders of magnitude larger than previously reported computations in this area. Studies showed that direction-based and hybrid band/cell-based parallelization strategies resulted in similar total computational time. However, the parallel efficiency of the hybrid band/cell-based strategy — about 88% — was found to be superior to that of the direction-based strategy, and is recommended as the preferred strategy for even larger scale computations.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Understanding and predicting where people look in images

For many applications in graphics, design, and human computer interaction, it is essential to understand where humans look in a scene. This is a challenging task given that no one fully understands how the human visual system works. This thesis explores the way people look at different types of images and provides methods of predicting where they look in new scenes. We describe a new way to model where people look from ground truth eye tracking data using techniques of machine learning that outperforms all existing models, and provide a benchmark data set to quantitatively compare existing and future models. In addition we explore how image resolution affects where people look. Our experiments, models, and large eye tracking data sets should help future researchers better understand and predict where people look in order to create more powerful computational vision systems. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Conversational Speech Biometrics

This paper discusses a new modality for speaker recognition - conversational biometrics - as a high security voice-based authentication method for E-commerce applications. By combining diverse simultaneous conversational technologies, high accuracy transparent speaker recognition becomes possible even in channel or environment mismatches. For speaker identification over very large populations, we combine dialogs to reduce the set of confusable speakers and text-independent speaker identification to pin-point the actual speaker. Similarly, dialogs with personal random or predefined questions are used to perform simultaneously knowledge-based and acoustic-based verifications of the user. Adequate design of the dialog allows to tailor the ROC curves to the needs of most applications. We demonstrate the conceptual advantages using our telephony prototype. Users familiar with the system can log into the system with 0.8% or 1.3% false rejection and ca. 5.10-12% or 2.10-6% false acceptance rates in about 40 sec or 20 sec respectively which is an impressive result as compared to purely voice-print based authentication.
"Same-day" thyroid surgery: an analysis of safety, cost savings, and outcome.

Twenty-three-hour observation or "same-day" thyroid surgery was initiated at our institution for patients with nodular thyroid disease in July 1993. A retrospective review of all patients with nodular thyroid disease who underwent same-day thyroid surgery was performed to determine the safety and cost effectiveness of this approach. Eighty consecutive patients with nodular thyroid disease underwent thyroidectomy, followed by < or = 23 hours of observation in 71 (88%) and a planned hospital admission in 9 (12%) patients. Hospital admission preceded thyroidectomy in four patients (5%) because of transient ischemic attacks (one), airway obstruction (one), pulmonary disease (one), and suppurative thyroiditis (one). Five patients (6%) had a planned postoperative admission because of concominant modified neck dissection (two), median sternotomy (two), or soft tissue tumor resection (one). Of the 71 patients who underwent same-day thyroid surgery, 47 had near-total or total thyroidectomy, 20 lobectomy, and 4 completion thyroidectomy. Morbidity consisted of hematoma in one, recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis in two, and transient hypocalcemia in eight patients. Only 1 of the 71 patients required subsequent hospitalization for an anxiety attack. There was no mortality. Twenty-three-hour observation was associated with a 32 per cent and a 47 to 56 per cent reduction in cost for unilateral and bilateral thyroidectomy, respectively. Same-day thyroid surgery is a safe and costeffective approach for patients with nodular thyroid disease.
Discount Brokerage in Residential Real Estate Markets

Transaction costs are thought to affect asset prices and market liquidity, but the direction and magnitude of these effects continue to be the subject of debate. In the single-family residential market, discount brokers offer to list a house for a lower price and thus reduce the transaction costs associated with obtaining a match. In this article we obtain empirical estimates of the price and liquidity impact of a seller selecting a discount broker to market a single-family residential property. The unique data set allows for the identification of residential properties that were listed by a discount brokerage firm. The empirical results confirm the predictions of our theoretical model. Using a sample of 318,221 listings and 243,625 sales, we find that houses listed by discount brokers sell at prices similar to non-discount brokerage listings, but are less likely to sell, and when they do sell, take approximately three days longer to sell. The results indicate that lower transaction costs do not impact housing prices in this market, but that they are related to asset liquidity.
The Synthesis of Aliphatic and Alicyclic Nitro Compounds

This chapter is concerned with the synthesis of nitro compounds in which the nitro group is on a saturated carbon atom. The most important methods available are as follows: 1. Treatment of alkyl halides with silver nitrite; 2. Reaction of allyl bromides and iodides with sodium nitrite; 3. Oxidation of amines; 4. Oxidation of oximes; 5. Nitration of active methylene compounds; 6, Nitration of active methylene compounds with nitric acid. These reactions are discussed and also noted are miscellaneous reactions of limited utility. Comparison of methods is given. Keywords: aliphatic nitro compounds; alicyclic nitro compounds; silver nitrite; stereochemistry; sodium nitrite; oxidations; amines; oximes; active methylene compounds; esters; nitric acid; oxides; nitro group
Executive Burnout and Stress Management

(1989). Executive Burnout and Stress Management. Hospital Topics: Vol. 67, No. 5, pp. 14-17.
Histone lysine trimethylation exhibits a distinct perinuclear distribution in Plzf-expressing spermatogonia

Chromatin structure plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Methylation of lysine residues on histone tails is an epigenetic mark that influences chromatin repression when specifically imparted on lysines 9 and 27 of histone H3, and on lysine 20 of H4. Histone lysines can be mono-, di-, and trimethylated, and all three modification states have been identified in different nuclear domains. Correlation of these methylated histone states to different stages of cell differentiation, however, is not extensive. Mammalian spermatogenesis is a developmental process ideal for studying the epigenetic control of differentiation. Maintenance of spermatogonial stem cells requires the transcriptional repressor Plzf, but a role for histone methylation has not been established. Here we show that Plzf-expressing spermatogonia completely lack monomethyl-H3-K27 and monomethyl-H4-K20, and contain very little monomethyl-H3-K9. Dimethylated H3-K27 and H4-K20 are detected as punctate foci in Plzf-positive cells, but dimethyl-H3-K9 is absent. Trimethylated H3-K9 and H4-K20 exhibit a unique perinuclear distribution that coincides with Plzf expression, localizing to punctate foci in more differentiated spermatogonia. Loss of Plzf correlates with increased punctate distribution of trimethylated H3-K9 and H4-K20 at the expense of perinuclear localization. These data signify the possible importance of different histone lysine methylation states in the epigenetic control of spermatogenesis.
Mathematical evaluation of behavioral deterrent systems to disrupt fish movement

Abstract Although behavioral deterrent systems, directed at exploiting fish sensory systems, are the common place in fisheries management, little is understood about the link between imposed sensory signals (e.g., sound intensity) and the resulting fish movements. Here, an advection–diffusion equation, incorporating a stimuli specific repulsive flux, is coupled with calculation of the generated stimulus field in order to model fish movement near a behavioral deterrent system. A stability analysis of this model is then used to determine the effectiveness of a deterrent stimulus to disrupt the natural movement of fish. Results of laboratory experiments of a bubble curtain to inhibit common carp, Cyprinus carpio, movement are used to develop the model and verify stability analysis predictions. This experimental data demonstrate that the acoustic stimulus (sound pressure levels) produced by bubble curtain systems can be sufficient to disrupt the natural movement of carp, i.e. inhibit fish passage. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is used to investigate how model stability is impacted by changes in movement behaviors (i.e. diffusion and advection rates). This coupling of a movement model and stability analysis could find general application in the assessment of behavioral deterrent systems, in particular at field sites where long term physical testing may be impractical.
Enterprise Systems Training Strategies: Knowledge Levels and User Understanding

Enterprise systems ESs are customizable, integrated software applications designed to support core business processes. This paper reports research contrasting the relative effectiveness of two strategies for ES end-user training that differentially reflect the Sein, Bostrom, and Olfman 1999 hierarchical knowledge-level model. One strategy-procedural-involves training that targets the three lowest knowledge levels of the model command-based, tool-procedural, and business-procedural; the other-tool-conceptual-involves training that also includes a higher knowledge level tool-conceptual. A non-equivalent quasi-experimental design was used for groups of senior business students being trained to use an authentic ES. Performance measures were administered during training and ten days after training concluded. Both experiments demonstrated that training involving the tool-conceptual knowledge level leads to superior mental models, compared with training oriented toward lower knowledge levels, as expressed in the recollection and communication of ES concepts. Tool-conceptual knowledge-level training can be used to promote understanding and communication, and should be incorporated into training strategies for ES.
Comparisons of Deterministic and Stochastic Traffic Loading Models

Stochastic route choice models have been proposed as a more realistic alternative to the simpler deterministic route choice representations in models for loading traffic onto a network. However, studies on stochastic route choice models have thus far been limited to small experimental networks. Because stochastic models are in general considered to be more realistic in their assumptions than deterministic models, it becomes pertinent to examine their implementation and the corresponding traffic loading on a network of realistic size. Such an implementation for two stochastic route choice models is examined. The results indicate that the differences among the models, at the network level, for predicted link flows and average travel times between origin and destinations are not major, and therefore, deterministic models may suffice for long-range network planning. However, stochastic models predict the usage of more links in the network, and the difference in the flows at the link level may play an importan...
Termination of parental care in male giant waterbugs, Belostoma flumineum Say (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) is associated with breeding season, egg pad size, and presence of females

Reproductive effort and/or success sometimes increase with the age of a parent. We found that reproductive effort was greatest in older egg-brooding male giant waterbugs, Belostoma flumineum Say. Consistent with previous studies, males with large egg pads were unlikely to discard them unhatched under any condition. However, males with small egg pads were significantly more likely to discard the eggs unhatched in the autumn (when breeding adults are young) than in the spring. By brooding smaller pads, older males invested more heavily in each offspring. Males bearing small egg pads were also significantly less likely to discard them in the presence of females. Three kinds of hypotheses have previously been proposed to explain why reproductive investment and/or success might increase with age: selection hypotheses predict differential survival of better parents; experience hypotheses predict that more experienced parents achieve greater success without additional cost per offspring; and residual reproductio...