cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deep Learning Using Chest Radiographs to Identify High-Risk Smokers for Lung Cancer Screening Computed Tomography: Development and Validation of a Prediction Model.

BACKGROUND Lung cancer screening with chest computed tomography (CT) reduces lung cancer death. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) eligibility criteria for lung cancer screening with CT require detailed smoking information and miss many incident lung cancers. An automated deep-learning approach based on chest radiograph images may identify more smokers at high risk for lung cancer who could benefit from screening with CT. OBJECTIVE To develop and validate a convolutional neural network (CXR-LC) that predicts long-term incident lung cancer using data commonly available in the electronic medical record (EMR) (chest radiograph, age, sex, and whether currently smoking). DESIGN Risk prediction study. SETTING U.S. lung cancer screening trials. PARTICIPANTS The CXR-LC model was developed in the PLCO (Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian) Cancer Screening Trial (n = 41 856). The final CXR-LC model was validated in additional PLCO smokers (n = 5615, 12-year follow-up) and NLST (National Lung Screening Trial) heavy smokers (n = 5493, 6-year follow-up). Results are reported for validation data sets only. MEASUREMENTS Up to 12-year lung cancer incidence predicted by CXR-LC. RESULTS The CXR-LC model had better discrimination (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve [AUC]) for incident lung cancer than CMS eligibility (PLCO AUC, 0.755 vs. 0.634; P < 0.001). The CXR-LC model's performance was similar to that of PLCOM2012, a state-of-the-art risk score with 11 inputs, in both the PLCO data set (CXR-LC AUC of 0.755 vs. PLCOM2012 AUC of 0.751) and the NLST data set (0.659 vs. 0.650). When compared in equal-sized screening populations, CXR-LC was more sensitive than CMS eligibility in the PLCO data set (74.9% vs. 63.8%; P = 0.012) and missed 30.7% fewer incident lung cancers. On decision curve analysis, CXR-LC had higher net benefit than CMS eligibility and similar benefit to PLCOM2012. LIMITATION Validation in lung cancer screening trials and not a clinical setting. CONCLUSION The CXR-LC model identified smokers at high risk for incident lung cancer, beyond CMS eligibility and using information commonly available in the EMR. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE None.
Linking Residential Parking to Automobile Transportation Impact Outcomes at a Development Level

Although there exists a well-studied relationship between parking policies and automobile demand, conventional practices evaluating the transportation impacts of new land development tend to ignore...
A thermal-dissociation–cavity ring-down spectrometer (TD-CRDS) for the detection of organic nitrates in gas and particle phases

Abstract. A thermal-dissociation–cavity ring-down spectrometer (TD-CRDS) was developed to measure NO2 , peroxy nitrates (PNs), alkyl nitrates (ANs), and HNO3 in the gas and particle phase, built using a commercial Los Gatos Research NO2 analyzer. The detection limit of the TD-CRDS is 0.66 ppb for ANs, PNs, and HNO3 and 0.48 ppb for NO2 . For all four classes of NOy , the time resolution for separate gas and particle measurements is 8 min, and for total gas + particle measurements it is 3 min. The accuracy of the TD-CRDS was tested by comparison of NO2 measurements with a chemiluminescent NOx monitor and aerosol-phase ANs with an aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS). N2O5 causes significant interference in the PN and AN channel under high oxidant concentration chamber conditions, and ozone pyrolysis causes a negative interference in the HNO3 channel. Both interferences can be quantified and corrected for but must be considered when using TD techniques for measurements of organic nitrates. This instrument has been successfully deployed for chamber measurements at widely varying concentrations, as well as ambient measurements of NOy .
Deep Learning Based Multi-layer Metallic Metasurface Design

An innovative deep-learning based design approach for multi-layer metallic metasurfaces has been presented in this paper. By leveraging the strength of deep-learning networks, the higher order degree of freedom for metasurface design is unlocked. The structure and performance of the proposed deep neural network (DNN) are discussed. It is demonstrated that it can predict the possible amplitude and phase coverage of metasurface unit-cells under consideration. The physical insight derived from the proposed DNN can be utilized towards achieving a more time efficient and accurate metasurface design.
Removal of Airway Foreign Body in a Premature Neonate

Objective:Airway foreign bodies are the leading cause of infantile deaths and fourth among preschool children. Airway foreign bodies in extremely premature neonates represent a rare but potentially...
Peer-to-Peer Risk Sharing with an Application to Flood Risk Pooling

In contrast with classic centralized risk sharing, a novel peer-to-peer risk sharing framework is proposed. The presented framework aims to devise a risk allocation mechanism that is structurally decentralized, Pareto optimal, and mathematically fair. An explicit form for the pool allocation ratio matrix is derived, and convex programming techniques are applied to determine the optimal pooling mechanism in a constrained variance reduction setting. A tiered hierarchical generalization is also constructed to improve computational efficiency. As an illustration, these techniques are applied to a flood risk pooling example. It is shown that peer-to-peer risk sharing techniques provide an economically viable alternative to traditional flood policies.
African-American Consumer Attitudes Toward Domestic and Foreign-Made Products.

Thethirtytwo-millionAfiican-Americans in the United States make up approximately 12 percent of the population with a $400 billion buying power (Hudson, 1996). They purchase nearly 12 percent of all new cars, especially imports (Berry, 1991), consumer electronics (TV s, V CRs, and stereo systems) and fashion accessories (clothing, shoes, purses, and handbags).
TrackAdvisor: Taking Back Browsing Privacy from Third-Party Trackers

Even though most web users assume that only the websites that they visit directly become aware of the visit, this belief is incorrect. Many website display contents hosted externally by third-party websites, which can track users and become aware of their web-surfing behavior. This phenomenon is called third-party tracking, and although such activities violate no law, they raise privacy concerns because the tracking is carried out without users’ knowledge or explicit approval. Our work provides a systematic study of the third-party tracking phenomenon. First, we develop TrackAdvisor, arguably the first method that utilizes Machine Learning to identify the HTTP requests carrying sensitive information to third-party trackers with very high accuracy (100 % Recall and 99.4 Precision). Microsoft’s Tracking Protection Lists, which is a widely-used third-party tracking blacklist achieves only a Recall of 72.2 %. Second, we quantify the pervasiveness of the third-party tracking phenomenon: 46 % of the home pages of the websites in Alexa Global Top 10,000 have at least one third-party tracker, and Google, using third-party tracking, monitors 25 % of these popular websites. Our overarching goal is to measure accurately how widespread third-party tracking is and hopefully would raise the public awareness to its potential privacy risks.
Generalization of processing gain definition and selection of spread spectrum signals

It is shown that optimization of a data modulation technique in a spread spectrum communication system requires generalization of processing gain definition because conventionally defined processing gain is not always a sufficient parameter. Introduction of the generalized parameter, relative effective processing gain, allows selection of the signals with maximum jam resistance and multiple access capacity.
Phrase-level System Combination for Machine Translation Based on Target-to-Target Decoding

In this paper, we propose a novel lattice-based MT combination methodology that we call Target-to-Target Decoding (TTD). The combination process is carried out as a “translation” from backbone to the combination result. This perspective suggests the use of existing phrase-based MT techniques in the combination framework. We show how phrase extraction rules and confidence estimations inspired from machine translation improve results. We also propose system-specific LMs for estimating N-gram consensus. Our results show that our approach yields a strong improvement over the best single MT system and competes with other state-of-the-art combination systems.
High Temperature Degradation Mechanisms in Polymer Matrix Composites

Polymer matrix composites are increasingly used in demanding structural applications in which they may be exposed to harsh environments. The durability of such materials is a major concern, potentially limiting both the integrity of the structures and their useful lifetimes. The goal of the current investigation is to develop a mechanism-based model of the chemical degradation which occurs, such that given the external chemical environment and temperatures throughout the laminate, laminate geometry, and ply and/or constituent material properties, we can calculate the concentration of diffusing substances and extent of chemical degradation as functions of time and position throughout the laminate. This objective is met through the development and use of analytical models, coupled to an analysis-driven experimental program which offers both quantitative and qualitative information on the degradation mechanism. Preliminary analyses using a coupled diffusion/reaction model are used to gain insight into the physics of the degradation mechanisms and to identify crucial material parameters. An experimental program is defined based on the results of the preliminary analysis which allows the determination of the necessary material coefficients. Thermogravimetric analyses are carried out in nitrogen, air, and oxygen to provide quantitative information on thermal and oxidative reactions. Powdered samples are used to eliminate diffusion effects. Tests in both inert and oxidative environments allow the separation of thermal and oxidative contributions to specimen mass loss. The concentration dependency of the oxidative reactions is determined from the tests in pure oxygen. Short term isothermal tests at different temperatures are carried out on neat resin and unidirectional macroscopic specimens to identify diffusion effects. Mass loss, specimen shrinkage, the formation of degraded surface layers and surface cracking are recorded as functions of exposure time. Geometry effects in the neat resin, and anisotropic diffusion effects in the composites, are identified through the use of specimens with different aspect ratios. The data is used with the model to determine reaction coefficients and effective diffusion coefficients. The empirical and analytical correlations confirm the preliminary model results which suggest that mass loss at lower temperatures is dominated by oxidative reactions and that these reaction are limited by diffusion of oxygen from the surface. The mechanism-based model is able to successfully capture the basic physics of the degradation phenomena under a wide range of test conditions. The analysis-based test design is successful in separating out oxidative, thermal, and diffusion effects to allow the determination of material coefficients. This success confirms the basic picture of the process; however, a more complete understanding of some aspects of the physics are required before truly predictive capability can be achieved.
Left dorsal displacement of the large colon in the horse

Summary Left dorsal displacement of the large colon is a condition unique to the horse that results in an obstruction of the colon and signs of colic. This condition may be successfully treated medically with analgesia, i.v. or oral fluids and feed restriction, exercise with or without administration of phenylephrine, or rolling under general anaesthesia with or without administration of phenylephrine, or a combination of these conservative options. Surgical correction via standing left flank laparotomy or, more commonly, ventral midline laparotomy under general anaesthesia, is required in cases where conservative therapy is unsuccessful. Recurrence rates range from 3.2% to 21%. Surgical attempts to prevent recurrence of this condition include large colon resection, colopexy, and ablation of the nephrosplenic space.
Space-time geometry and the bundle of biframes. II : Applications to the RMW theory

When one considers bivectors on space-time as the basic geometrical objects in place of vectors one is led to the principal bundle of biframesL2M in place of the linear frame bundleLM.L2M is thus the natural arena for studying the geometry of bivectors on space-time. In this paper we develop the geometry onL2M including the concepts of connections, soldering form, curvature, bitorsion, generalized Bianchi identities, and associated bundles. In particular we show that the soldering form onL2M is a two-form, rather than a one-form as is the soldering form onLM. The corresponding torsion of a given connection one-form onL2M, or bitorsion, is thus a three-form. Furthermore, we show that the structure equation for the bitorsion of a given connection onL2M can be recast in a form which is analogous to the field equations which occur in typical non-Abelian (Yang-Mills type) gauge theories. In this analogy, the bitorsion itself plays the role of an external geometrical source for the field equations, while conservation of the total geometrical source is guaranteed by the bitorsion Bianchi identity. Finally, we show that the introduction of a difference form onL2M, which is the difference between a general connection one-form onL2M and a connection one-form onL2M which is induced by a Riemannian connection one-form onLM, provides a fundamental relation between the biframe Ricci tensor and the Riemannian Einstein tensor.
Education, Learning in

Learning takes place in many settings, but educational institutions foster both breadth and depth of learning. Different types of teaching make very different assumptions about what learning is. Keywords: cognitive mediation; social context; teaching; schools; human nature
A self-organizing method for predictive modeling with highly-redundant variables

Rapid advancement of sensing and information technology brings the big data, which presents a gold mine of the 21st century. However, big data also brings significant challenges for data-driven decision making. In particular, it is not uncommon that a large number of variables (or features) underlie the big data. Complex interdependence structures among variables challenge the traditional framework of predictive modeling. This paper presents a new methodology of self-organizing network for variable clustering and predictive modeling. Specifically, we developed a new approach, namely nonlinear coupling analysis to measure nonlinear interdependence structures among variables. Further, all the variables are embedded as nodes in a complex network. Nonlinear-coupling forces move these nodes to derive a self-organizing topology of network. As such, variables are clustered as sub-network communities in the space. Experimental results demonstrated that the proposed methodology not only outperforms traditional variable clustering algorithms such as hierarchical clustering and oblique principal component analysis, but also effectively identify interdependent structures among variables and further improves the performance of predictive modeling. The proposed new idea of self-organizing network is generally applicable for predictive modeling in many disciplines that involve a large number of highly-redundant variables.
Chapter 12 Be creative: Develop engineering solutions beyond current or dominant technologies, and improve, innovate, and invent technologies to achieve sustainability

Publisher Summary This chapter explores sustainable design and construction that have been applied to the engineering technologies. The examples of sustainable engineering provide a wide range of applications, from technology intensive solutions to more traditional approaches used in construction engineering. The diverse set of case studies presented includes (1) an internet-based evaluation, approval and control mechanism for chemical usage and waste generation at a US Department of Energy national laboratory. (2) The life cycle assessment of a brewery in Estonia using a computer model to optimize sustainability and efficiency. (3) The conversion of large quantity process waste streams in India (gypsum and iron oxide) into valuable commercial products. Each of these case studies present a new approach to old “waste” issues, whether addressing the potential value of a traditional solid or hazardous waste or the inefficiency in processes that leads to wasted resources. As the case studies illustrate, the savings, both economic and environmental, can be substantial especially if adapted to large-scale operations.
Normal myocardial function in severe right ventricular volume overload hypertrophy.

Severe left ventricular volume overloading causes myocardial and cellular contractile dysfunction. Whether this is also true for severe right ventricular volume overloading was unknown. We therefor...
Fiber Optic Distributed Sensing with Active Self-heating

We report distributed sensing with active control using self-heated optical fibers. The heat loss profile along the fiber is spatially interrogated with Rayleigh backscattering to perform gas flow, liquid level and hydrogen gas leakage measurements.
Educational trajectory and “action orientation”: Grade and track differences

A life-span developmental perspective suggests that variations in social context will lead to differences among individuals in their “action orientations.” An action orientation is defined by an individual's values, control beliefs, goal orientation, and decision-making perspective. To investigate differences in the action orientations of adolescents embedded in different contexts, 83 sophomore and senior high school students on either a vocational training or college-preparatory trajectory participated in the study. A discriminant function analysis of action orientations showed that the action orientations of vocational training and college-preparatory students differed: College-preparatory students had a “career preparation” action orientation and vocational students had an “adult preparation” action orientation; also, sophomores may have had a “socializing” orientation. The findings are discussed in terms of the developmental tasks facing students in different grades and on different life-course trajectories.
An obstruction theory for diagrams of simplicial sets

Abstract We describe a version of obstruction theory for simplicial sets, which involves canonical obstruction cocycles and then use this to obtain a similar theory for diagrams of simplicial sets. An application of the latter (to the problem of realizing diagrams in the homotopy category by means of diagrams of simplicial sets) will be given in [4].
Systemic metabolic radiopharmaceutical therapy in the treatment of metastatic bone pain

Bone pain due to skeletal metastases constitutes the most common type of chronic pain among patients with cancer. It significantly decreases the patient's quality of life and is associated with comorbidities, such as hypercalcemia, pathologic fractures and spinal cord compression. Approximately 65% of patients with prostate or breast cancer and 35% of those with advanced lung, thyroid, and kidney cancers will have symptomatic skeletal metastases. The management of bone pain is extremely difficult and involves a multidisciplinary approach, which usually includes analgesics, hormone therapies, bisphosphonates, external beam radiation, and systemic radiopharmaceuticals. In patients with extensive osseous metastases, systemic radiopharmaceuticals should be the preferred adjunctive therapy for pain palliation. In this article, we review the current approved radiopharmaceutical armamentarium for bone pain palliation, focusing on indications, patient selection, efficacy, and different biochemical characteristics and toxicity of strontium-89 chloride, samarium-153 lexidronam, and rhenium-186 etidronate. A brief discussion on the available data on rhenium-188 is presented focusing on its major advantages and disadvantages. We also perform a concise appraisal of the other available treatment options, including pharmacologic and hormonal treatment modalities, external beam radiation, and bisphosphonates. Finally, the available data on combination therapy of radiopharmaceuticals with bisphosphonates or chemotherapy are discussed.
Atypical metastases from transitional vesical carcinoma

A patient with documented transitional vesical carcinoma also manifested bilateral pulmonary nodules of extraordinary and uncharacteristic dimensions, confirmed as metastatic by transthoracic needle biopsy. A summary of reported uncommon manifestations of metastatic bladder cancer is reported, as well as recommended reactions to pulmonary lesions of indeterminate origin.
Incubating Innovation or Cultivating Corruption? The Developmental State and the Life Sciences in Asia

A substantial body of literature purports to document the growth of scientific misconduct in Northeast Asia. This article traces the apparent growth of research fraud and falsification to two distinct features of the national innovation systems common to the region: liberal research regimes adopted by developmental states and marked by freedom from government oversight, and illiberal laboratory cultures imported from Germany and marked by all-powerful lab directors and their vulnerable underlings. Based on comparative, qualitative case studies of pioneering countries in bio-medical research, as well as cross-national quantitative analyses of the permissiveness of national stem-cell research policies, we argue that Asia's scientific pathologies are the products of two institutional factors: funding and freedom offered to scientists by developmental states, and the lack of informal control prevalent in the German model of higher education. We conclude that, while Northeast Asian officials offer their biomedical researchers funding and freedom to take advantage of opportunities that rarely exist in the West, their scientists stifle open debate and criticism, and thereby hinder the growth of informal as well as formal control mechanisms that are critical for deterring and detecting scientific fraud.
High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging of Noninvasive Laser Coagulation of the Canine Vas Deferens

Background and Objectives A noninvasive approach to vasectomy may eliminate male fear of complications related to surgery (e.g., hematoma, infection, acute and chronic pain, sterilization failure) and increase its acceptance. Noninvasive laser thermal occlusion of the canine vas deferens has recently been reported. In this study, high-frequency ultrasound is used to confirm successful laser thermal coagulation and scarring of the vas in a short-term canine model. Materials and Methods Bilateral noninvasive laser coagulation of the vas was performed in a total of nine dogs using a laser wavelength of 1,075 nm, incident power of 9.0 W, pulse duration of 500 milliseconds, pulse rate of 0.5 Hz, and 3-mm-diameter spot. Cryogen spray was used to cool the scrotal skin surface and prevent burns during the procedure. A clinical ultrasound system with a 13.2-MHz high-frequency transducer was used to image the vas before and after the procedure. Burst pressure measurements were performed on excised vas to confirm thermal occlusion. Results Day 0 and 28 burst pressures averaged 291 ± 31 mmHg and 297 ± 26 mmHg, respectively, significantly greater than ejaculation pressures of 136 ± 29 mmHg. Ultrasound showed a hyperechoic vas segment after thermal coagulation (Day 0) and scarring (Day 28). Doppler ultrasound showed normal blood flow through the testicular artery, indicating no collateral thermal damage to proximal structures. Conclusions High-frequency ultrasound may be used as a noninvasive diagnostic tool to assist in determining successful short-term laser thermal coagulation and scarring of the vas. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Tours for the traveling salesman

Two characterizations are given for the set of all tours for the nxn traveling salesman problem. New insights about tours are obtained by viewing them as discrete points which are uniformly distributed on a tours. When n is a prime number, the algebraic structure of tours yields combinatorial results which give significant properties to the geometric model on the tours. When a distance matrix is changed by adding or deleting a row and column of zeros, then under certain conditions, optimal tours for the matrices are related.
Low-voltage manipulation of an aqueous droplet in a microchannel via tunable wetting on PPy(DBS)

This paper presents experimental results and analyses on the controlled manipulation of a liquid droplet. The droplet was manipulated upon local reduction and oxidation (redox) of dodecylbenzenesulfonate doped polypyrrole (PPy(DBS)) in an immiscible organic fluid of bulk dichloromethane (DCM, CH2Cl2). The electrochemically tunable wetting property of PPy(DBS) permitted liquid droplet manipulation at very low voltages (−1.5 V to 0.6 V). In particular, the actuation behavior of a salt water droplet upon redox of PPy(DBS) in a microchannel configuration was characterized and analyzed. The controlled lateral transport of the droplet was successfully demonstrated in a slightly tilted microchannel configuration.
Studies on monomer reactivity ratios. III. Comparison of various mathematical models

Seven mathematical models for the treatment of monomer reactivity ratios in free-radical copolymerization are compared from the viewpoint of their relative simplicity, accuracy, and the number of parameters necessary for their use. It is concluded that the electronegativity and charge-transfer models proposed in previous papers represent the best compromise for routine usage if quantitative accuracy is the primary concern.
Whole body protein turnover in children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of whole body protein turnover (WBPT) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children, and to determine the relationship between WBPT and growth. The rate of WBPT was calculated from the cumulative excretion of labeled urinary ammonia after a single intravenous dose of 15 N-glycine in three groups of children: 1) HIV+ with growth retardation (HIV+Gr); 2) HIV+ with normal growth (HIV+); and 3) HIV-uninfected with normal growth (HIV−). Twenty-six children between 2 and 11 y of age were studied (10 HIV+Gr, 12 HIV+, 4 HIV−). All children were afebrile and free of acute infection during the study. Rates of WBPT (mean ± SD) for the study groups were: HIV+Gr, 12.2 ± 4.8; HIV+, 10.7 ± 5.1; and HIV−, 8.6 ± 2.1 g · protein · kg −1 · d −1 (NS, P > 0.05). Although not statistically significant, mean WBPT was 42% greater in HIV+Gr, and 24% greater in HIV+ compared to HIV−. Statistically significant correlations were found between WBPT and Z scores for height ( r = −0.39, P = 0.05) and weight-for-age ( r = −0.51, P = 0.01) and dietary intake of protein ( r = 0.39, P = 0.05), and between protein balance (synthesis-catabolism) and intakes of energy ( r = 0.47, P = 0.02) and protein ( r = 0.40, P = 0.04). There was no statistically significant correlation between WBPT and resting energy expenditure ( r = 0.27, P = 0.19), or CD4 cell number ( r = 0.05, P = 0.82). These data suggest an association between increased rates of protein turnover and low weight and height-for-age Z scores, and that it may be possible to achieve positive protein balance given an adequate intake of nutrients.
Actinic Granuloma of the Conjunctiva

Actinic granuloma is a condition showing actinic elastosis accompanied by a chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate and multinucleated giant cells absorbing elastotic fibers. 1 It differs from granuloma annulare by the absence of necrobiotic collagen and palisading histiocytes. 1,2 Lesions typically occur in the skin and begin as papules that progress to plaques and then to incomplete or complete annular lesions. In the conjunctiva, actinic elastosis is the hallmark of Pingueculae 3 and to the best of our knowledge has been noted in association with a granulomatous reaction in only one previous report. 4 We recently studied a conjunctival lesion with the histologic features of actinic granuloma.
Restoring Redundancy to the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe Propulsion System

The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe is a follow-on to the Differential Microwave Radiometer instrument on the Cosmic Background Explorer. Attitude control system engineers discovered sixteen months before launch that configuration changes after the critical design review had resulted in a significant migration of the spacecraft's center of mass. As a result, the spacecraft no longer had a viable backup control mode in the event of a failure of the negative pitch-axis thruster. A tiger team was formed and identified potential solutions to this problem, such as adding thruster-plume shields to redirect thruster torque, adding or removing mass from the spacecraft, adding an additional thruster, moving thrusters, bending thruster nozzles or propellant tubing, or accepting the loss of redundancy. The project considered the impacts on mass, cost, fuel budget, and schedule for each solution, and decided to bend the propellant tubing of the two roll-control thrusters to allow the pair to be used for backup control in the negative pitch axis. This paper discusses the problem and the potential solutions, and documents the hardware and software changes and verification performed. Flight data are presented to show the on-orbit performance of the propulsion system and lessons learned are described.
Viscosity of argon to 5 GPa and 673 K

A rolling-sphere technique has been used to measure shear viscosities of (supercritical) fluid argon in the diamond-anvil cell between the temperatures of 294 and 673 K, up to a maximum pressure of 5 GPa. At these pressures, the viscosities can be fit to a modified free-volume expression. A single correlation between reduced viscosity and reduced residual entropy is shown to give a good account of the current high pressure data, data at lower pressures and those for the sub-critical liquid.
Genes, Brains and Gendered Behavior: Rethinking Power and Politics in Response to Condit, Liesen, and Vandermassen

In response to the commentaries by Condit, Liesen, and Vandermassen, I argue that we lack a more nuanced understanding of women’s political behavior (and therefore politics in general) because of the sustained barrier between the social and natural sciences, historical missteps, researcher bias, and perhaps an inclination to ask the wrong questions. By taking a Darwinian feminist approach to exploring gendered political behavior, and with the tools of behavior genetics and cognitive neuroscience, we can better understand the psychological and behavioral repertoires of men and women as well as predict political outcomes.
Altered intestinal epithelial homeostasis in mice with intestine-specific deletion of the Krüppel-like factor 4 gene.

The zinc finger transcription factor, Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), is expressed in the post-mitotic, differentiated epithelial cells lining the intestinal tract and exhibits a tumor suppressive effect on intestinal tumorigenesis. Here we report a role for KLF4 in maintaining homeostasis of intestinal epithelial cells. Mice with conditional ablation of the Klf4 gene from the intestinal epithelium were viable. However, both the rates of proliferation and migration of epithelial cells were increased in the small intestine of mutant mice. In addition, the brush-border alkaline phosphatase was reduced as was expression of ephrine-B1 in the small intestine, resulting in mispositioning of Paneth cells to the upper crypt region. In the colon of mutant mice, there was a reduction of the differentiation marker, carbonic anhydrase-1, and failure of differentiation of goblet cells. Mechanistically, deletion of Klf4 from the intestine resulted in activation of genes in the Wnt pathway and reduction in expression of genes encoding regulators of differentiation. Taken together, these data provide new insights into the function of KLF4 in regulating postnatal proliferation, migration, differentiation, and positioning of intestinal epithelial cells and demonstrate an essential role for KLF4 in maintaining normal intestinal epithelial homeostasis in vivo.
A serpin takes a bite out of the flu.

Other than annual vaccinations, there are few remedies for seasonal influenza virus infections. A recent study in Cell from Dittmann et al. (2015) designed to reveal immune strategies against the flu has uncovered an Achilles' heel for influenza replication based on its requirement for host proteolytic machinery to enable efficient spread.
The migrant personality and college students' plans for geographic mobility.

Desires to stay in Pittsburgh or leave the region after graduation were assessed in a sample of 1805 undergraduates. Overall, about equal percentages wanted to stay and leave. Those higher in family centrality, affiliation motivation, attending religious services and wanting a job with more time for family were more likely to want to stay in the Pittsburgh area. Those higher in work centrality were more likely to want to leave. Regression analysis indicated that being high in family centrality was the most important predictor of the desire to stay, followed by being low in power motivation, and attending religious services more often. Women wanting to stay were found to want more children. These data suggest that appeals to family concerns may an effective strategy for communities concerned about losing young adults through migration.
Cumulus Cloud Properties Derived Using Landsat Satellite Data

Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) digital data are used to remotely sense cumulus cloud properties such as cloud fraction and cloud reflectance, along with the distribution of cloud number and cloud fraction as a function of cloud size. The analysis is carried out for four cumulus fields covering regions approximately 150 km square. Results for these initial cloud fields indicate that: (1) the common intuitive model of clouds as nearly uniform reflecting surfaces is a poor representation of cumulus clouds, (2) the cumulus clouds were often multicelled, even for clouds as small as 1 km in diameter, (3) cloud fractional coverage derived using a simple reflectance threshold is sensitive to the chosen threshold even for 57-meter resolution Landsat data, (4) the sensitivity of cloud fraction to changes in satellite sensor resolution is less sensitive than suggested theoretically, and (5) the Landsat derived cloud size distributions show encouraging similarities among the cloud fields examined.
Prediction of Driver Action at Signalized Intersections by Using a Nested Logit Model

The primary objective of this research was to identify factors that influenced whether a vehicle would stop or proceed through, either legally or illegally, during the yellow indication when the vehicle was approaching a signalized intersection. For this objective to be accomplished, naturalistic driver behavioral data were collected at 72 signalized intersection approaches selected from four regions of the United States. Data were obtained for 6,208 vehicles that were approaching a study intersection during the yellow interval. With these data, a nested logit model was developed to investigate the influence of various factors on the likelihood that a driver approaching a signalized intersection during the yellow interval would stop, would proceed through legally, or would commit red light running (RLR). The nested logit model represented an improvement over prior binary logistic regression models, because it allowed the simultaneous estimation of all three potential driver actions. With the use of this m...
Promoted iron Fischer-Tropsch catalysts: characterization by nitrogen sorption

Abstract The effects of promoters on BET surface area and porosity of precipitated iron catalysts are examined. A series of metal oxide promoted iron catalysts was prepared by coprecipitation of the nitrate salts to produce 6% by weight of promoter oxide. Surface areas and pore volumes tend to decrease with increasing promoter ionic radius although there is essentially no change in the shape of the nitrogen isotherm or pore size distribution. Addition of alkali (K) or alkaline-earth (Ca) metals to silica or alumina promoted iron catalysts also results in a decrease in surface area and pore volume with increasing metal loading. The presence of alkali or alkaline-earth metals appears to impede crystallization during heating.
The use of transvaginal sonography for evaluation of postmenopausal ovarian size and morphology

Ultrasonic evaluation has been suggested as a possible screening tool for early changes in ovarian morphology. This study uses transvaginal sonography to evaluate the ovaries in postmenopausal women who were scheduled for gynecologic surgery unrelated to adnexal disease. The findings of ultrasonic ovarian examination are compared with the findings at surgery and the pathologic evaluation of the ovaries. Nine (17.3%) abnormal ovaries were identified by ultrasonography and at surgery and were confirmed at pathologic examination. Among the abnormal ovaries there were one malignancy (10%) and two neoplasms with known malignant potential (20%). One ovary that was identified to have microscopic areas of Brenner tumor cells at pathologic examination was described as normal by both ultrasound and surgical evaluation. The sensitivity (90%) and specificity (100%) of vaginal sonography were the same as that of gross examination of the ovary at the time of surgery. We conclude that vaginal sonography is a reliable tool in the detection of early abnormalities in the postmenopausal ovary.
Chemical crosslinking of proteins in avian sarcoma and leukemia viruses.

Abstract We have investigated the nearest neighbor relationships of proteins in avian sarcoma and leukemia viruses by means of bifunctional crosslinking agents. In intact virions dimethyl suberimidate and dithiobispropionimidate induce the formation of covalently linked multimeric species of all four internal structural proteins ( gag proteins). By immunological tests and by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the major species were identified as homotypic dimers of p27, p19, p15, and p12, and homotypic tetramers of p27. No recognizable heterotypic multimers of gag proteins are formed. We conclude that the major gag protein-protein interactions in virions occur between like species. The crosslinking agents also introduce links into the env protein dimer, gp85-gp37, and form a higher multimer of this dimer.
Peter Waterman and T-matrix methods

This paper summarizes the scientific legacy of Peter C. Waterman (1928–2012) who introduced concepts and theoretical techniques that have had a major impact on the fields of scattering by particles and particle groups, optical particle characterization, radiative transfer, and remote sensing. A biographical sketch is also included.
Electron transfer: Lower tunnel barriers.

A better understanding of electron transfer through molecules could provide the basis for many technological breakthroughs. Now, the rate of electron transfer has been enhanced in a family of molecules by making them more rigid, and this phenomenon may be explained by the loss of electronic energy to vibrations.
Is Social Spending Procyclical? Evidence for Developing Countries

Summary This paper studies the cyclical behavior of public spending on health and education in 145 countries during 1987–2007. It finds that spending on education and health is procyclical in developing countries and acyclical in developed countries. In addition, education and health expenditures follow an asymmetric pattern in developing countries; they are procyclical during periods of positive output gap and acyclical during periods of negative output gap. Furthermore, the degree of cyclicality is higher the lower the level of economic development.
A simple forward-backward procedure for real-time signal timing adjustment on oversaturated arterial networks

Under oversaturated traffic conditions, signal timing needs to be adjusted based on real-time traffic performance measures. Building upon the recently proposed oversaturation severity index (OSI), we develop a simple forward-backward procedure (FBP) to manage oversaturation. The forward process aims to increase green time by searching available green time which can be taken from side streets or conflict phases, therefore improve the throughput for main streets; and the backward process is to gate the traffic at some intersections to prevent residual queues and downstream queue spill-back when available green time increase is insufficient. The FBP is designed for real-time implementation, although it is also applicable for off-line signal timing adjustment. The simulation tests for the network in the City of Pasadena, CA indicate that the FBP can effectively and efficiently reduce oversaturation.
Novel approach to real-time joint fourier transform correlation

Current methods for real-time optical correlation employing a jointFourier transform approach use a spatial light modulator (SLM) in the focal plane to store the interference intensity which is subsequently read out by coherent light. Because the resolution required for accurate representation of the image transform is extremely high the spatial light modulators which meet the specifications are prohibitively expensive. We propose a novel approach to jointFourier transform correlation (JTC). The method obviates the use of the spatial light modulator in the focal plane and still preserves the real time aspects of the measurements. The approach incorporates the use of acousto-optic technology for optical mixing SLMs for image representation and electronically tuned detection of the heterodyne optical signal.
Using a portable ion mobility spectrometer to screen dietary supplements for sibutramine.

Abstract In response to recent incidents of undeclared sibutramine, an appetite suppressant found in dietary supplements, we developed a method to detect sibutramine using hand-held ion mobility spectrometers with an analysis time of 15 s. Ion mobility spectrometry is a high-throughput and sensitive technique that has been used for illicit drug, explosive, volatile organic compound and chemical warfare detection. We evaluated a hand-held ion mobility spectrometer as a tool for the analysis of supplement extracts containing sibutramine. The overall instrumental limit of detection of five portable ion mobility spectrometers was 2 ng of sibutramine HCl. When sample extractions containing 30 ng/μl or greater of sibutramine were analyzed, saturation of the ionization chamber of the spectrometer occurred and the instrument required more than three cleaning cycles to remove the drug. Hence, supplement samples suspected of containing sibutramine should be prepared at concentrations of 2–20 ng/μl. To obtain this target concentration range for products containing unknown amounts of sibutramine, we provided a simple sample preparation procedure, allowing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other agencies to screen products using the portable ion mobility spectrometer.
The double-strand-break repair model for recombination

Gene conversion is the nonreciprocal transfer of information from one DNA duplex to another; in meiosis, it is frequently associated with crossing-over. We review the genetic properties of meiotic recombination and previous models of conversion and crossing-over. In these models, recombination is initiated by single-strand nicks, and heteroduplex DNA is generated. Gene conversion is explained by the repair of mismatches present in heteroduplex DNA. We propose a new mechanism for meiotic recombination, in which events are initiated by double-strand breaks that are enlarged to double-strand gaps. Gene conversion can then occur by the repair of a double-strand gap, and postmeiotic segregation can result from heteroduplex DNA formed at the boundaries of the gap-repair region. The repair of double-strand gaps is an efficient process in yeast, and is known to be associated with crossing-over. The genetic implications of the double-strand-break repair model are explored.
On the equivalence of stress- and strain-based failure criteria in Elastic Media

Abstract Conditions for which strain-based and stress-based failure criteria are mathematically equivalent in elastic media are explored by expressing the criteria in the spectral eigenspace of the elasticity tensor. For scalar-valued quadratic criteria that are homogeneous functions of degree one, stress-based and strain-based criteria are most likely to be mathematically equivalent when the criteria's operators are linear combinations of the elasticity's spectral eigenbasis tensors. For the commonly employed fiber-direction strain-based and fiber-direction stress-based “composite” failure criteria, the equivalence conditions are explicitly examined for orthotropic and transversely isotropic material symmetry. The difference between the two criteria decreases as the degree of extensional anisotropy increases but, in general, is unbounded for arbitrary deformation states. Over a moderate, but restricted, range of loading conditions, the difference between the criteria is small for high-modulus fiber-reinforced uni-directional lamina, often less than the uncertainties in either the elastic coefficients or failure values, and the two criteria appear interchangeable.
Dissolution of the toxic parasporal crystals from Bacillus thuringiensis var. pacificus by the gut secretions of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Abstract The mode of action of the fluid secreted by the midgut of the silkworm, Bombyx mori , on the “B.t. δ endotoxin” (crystal toxin) produced by Bacillus thuringiensis var. pacificus was investigated by using selective experimental conditions. Initial dissolution of the proteinaceous, crystalline toxin is accomplished in the insect gut only by action of the nonenzymatic alkaline components (e.g., potassium carbonate). Thereafter the proteolytic enzymes present are capable of attacking and further degrading the crystalline structure. This initial solubilization probably is accomplished by the conversion of the silicon moiety within the parasporal crystals to a soluble salt of silicic acid by the alkaline components of the gut secretions. However, the time during the degradation process when the toxic principle is released is yet to be determined.
Application of global sensitivity equations in multidisciplinary aircraft synthesis

The present paper investigates the applicability of the Global Sensitivity Equation (GSE) method in the multidisciplinary synthesis of aeronautical vehicles. The GSE method provides an efficient approach for representing a large coupled system by smaller subsystems and accounts for the subsystem interactions by means of first-order behavior sensitivities. This approach was applied in an aircraft synthesis problem with performance constraints stemming from the disciplines of structures, aerodynamics, and flight mechanics. Approximation methods were considered in an attempt to reduce problem dimensionality and to improve the efficiency of the optimization process. The influence of efficient constraint representations, the choice of design variables, and design variable scaling on the conditioning of the system matrix was also investigated.