cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Criminal Expertise and Offender Decision-Making An Experimental Analysis of How Offenders and Non-Offenders Differentially Perceive Social Stimuli

Do criminals and non-criminals think differently? Although we often assume so because of way that they behave, there is little research that specifically addresses this issue. If differential cognitive functioning patterns are assumed to exist between offend ers and non-offenders, then more specific questions regarding the nature of those dif ferences must be addressed. Cognitive operations specifically germane to the planning or execution of crimes are of particular interest to criminologists as they relate to offender decision-making. In a classical assessment of offenders, Hirschi (1986) argued that they 'are not very good at what they do', maintaining little or no expertise that is particular to the enactment of crime in general or to specific types of crime. Indeed, he asserted that the offender career 'does not appear to be a career of increasing skill and sophistication', but rather one that '. . . starts with litde of either and goes downhill from there'. Yet, rational choice perspectives would argue that offenders maintain some form of specialized knowledge emanating from their personal histories of engaging in crime and that such specialization increases their chance of initiating crime and experiencing success. A small body of experimental research (Wright et al. 1995; Decker et al. 1993; Wright and Logie 1988) confirms this, maintaining that offenders perceive the environment of their crimes differently from non-offenders and that differences in perception are directly related to specialized offending knowledge. Their work has focused on how burglars assess the immediate physical environment and settings within which their crimes occur. Active burglars and non-offender control participants were shown photo graphs of residences and asked to judge whether they would make for attractive bur glary targets. In a later stage of the study, participants viewed altered versions of the previous photographs and were asked to point out burglary-relevant target changes. Contrary to Hirschi's appraisal of offenders as unskilled, results indicated that they do indeed develop, maintain and use crime-specific cognitive abilities in assessing their targets. Offenders were more attuned and sensitive to alterations in photographic stim uli than were control participants and employed such knowledge in selecting dwellings for burglary. Results confirmed previous interview-based work by Carroll and Weaver (1986) that linked technical expertise and interactional personal skills to the assessment of criminal opportunities. Since then, a number of other studies have tackled the issue of criminal expertise, with some success. Some have continued to focus on the capabilities of burglars, looking at their proficiency in breaking into automobiles (Michael et al 2001), comparing their assessments of defensible space to those of police officers (Ham-Rowbottom et al. 1999),
Automatic selection of independent freedoms in constraint conditions with constant terms

Abstract A method of automatically investigating the constraint conditions with constant terms for a finite element problem is discussed and applied. The procedure automatically selects the independent freedoms and gives the required transformation.
Recent adjustments in water use and treatment by U.S. manufacturers

Abstract This paper seeks to provide two types of information on the trends in water reuse and water treatment by manufacturers in the U.S. The first type of information is simply a display and discussion of these trends for the period 1964–1968 for the largest water using industries, based on the most recent comprehensive data. Sizable adjustments in reuse and treatment are found both in aggregate and for individual industries. The second type of information concerns the extent to which the adjustments in reuse and treatment observed over the period can be viewed as responses made to changes in the price of water to manufacturers, broadly defined. Tests of the price/quantity and price/treatment relations are made using regional observations on four major water using industries. The results show this to be a profitable approach to analyzing such adjustments, although the weakness of the data do not permit reliable quantification of the effects of the individual “price” variables.
ACTIVATORS OF THE NUCLEAR RECEPTOR PPARGAMMA ENHANCE COLON POLYP FORMATION

A high-fat diet increases the risk of colon, breast and prostate cancer. The molecular mechanism by which dietary lipids promote tumorigenesis is unknown. Their effects may be mediated at least in part by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). These ligand-activated nuclear receptors modulate gene expression in response to fatty acids, lipid-derived metabolites and antidiabetic drugs. To explore the role of the PPARs in diet-induced carcinogenesis, we treated mice predisposed to intestinal neoplasia with a synthetic PPARgamma ligand. Reflecting the pattern of expression of PPARgamma in the gastrointestinal tract, treated mice developed a considerably greater number of polyps in the colon but not in the small intestine, indicating that PPARgamma activation may provide a molecular link between a high-fat diet and increased risk of colorectal cancer.
Optimal Meter Placement for Water Distribution System State Estimation

Real-time state estimates (SEs) of nodal demands in a water distribution system (WDS) can be developed using data from a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. These estimates provide information for improved operations and customer service in terms of energy consumption and water quality. The SE results in a WDS are significantly affected by measurement characteristics, i.e., meter types, numbers, and topological distributions. The number and type of meters are generally selected prior to a SCADA layout. Thus, selecting measurement locations is critical. The aim of this study is to develop a methodology that optimally locates field measurement sites and leads to more reliable SEs. An optimal meter placement (OMP) problem is posed as a multiobjective optimization form. Three distinctive objectives are formulated: (1) minimization of nodal demand estimation uncertainty; (2) minimization of nodal pressure prediction uncertainty; and (3) minimization of absolute error between demand estimat...
The Socialization of Female Islamists: Paternal and Educational Influence

Many women have played an important role in Islamic renewal as advocates and activists within Islamist movements and parties. Women's participation is of particular interest, given the reputation of these groups as insufficiently supportive of women's rights. The specific influences and experiences that lead women to approach their own empowerment through Islam and to reform Islamist movements from within have been neglected. This article investigates some of the important influences on two prominent female Islamists: Heba Raouf Ezzat, Professor of Political Science at Cairo University, and Nadia Yassine, founder and head of the women's branch of the Moroccan movement Justice and Spirituality (JSA). First and foremost, it overviews the circumstances in which prominent women in Egypt and Morocco have asserted themselves in the past century, highlighting the consistent importance of paternal influence and the expansion of access to education, as well as the evolving role of religion and religious discourse in arguments for women's rights. This article discusses the role of paternal influence and schooling as agents of political socialization, pointing out that scholars have underestimated the important role that fathers play in strongly patriarchal societies and the ability of schools in former colonies to produce anti colonial and nationalist political sentiments. It then turns to Ezzat and Yassine themselves, presenting in detail the influence their fathers and foreign schools had on their political socialization. Both fathers held progressive views on women's education, but they differed in their specific political views, such as their attitude towards Islamism, and the extent to which they sought to transfer their political views to their daughters. This article ends by discussing the role of foreign education in Ezzat's and Yassine's socialization and identity construction, emphasizing the importance of encounters with racist and condescending attitudes as a contributing factor to women's search for Islamic alternatives.
Dramaturgy and Social Movements: The Social Construction and Communication of Power

The sociology of social movements currently lacks a conceptual framework to understand collective attempts to construct and reconstruct definitions of power. This defic-iency highlights a paradox. On the one hand, movement activists devote considerable time articulating their under-standing of power relations. Movement scholars, on the other hand, have generally neglected the processes by which these meanings are developed, sustained, and transformed.
Sulfur geochemistry of hydrothermal waters in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. III. An anion-exchange resin technique for sampling and preservation of sulfoxyanions in natural waters

A sampling protocol for the retention, extraction, and analysis of sulfoxyanions in hydrothermal waters has been developed in the laboratory and tested at Yellowstone National Park and Green Lake, NY. Initial laboratory testing of the anion-exchange resin Bio-Rad™ AG1-X8 indicated that the resin was well suited for the sampling, preservation, and extraction of sulfate and thiosulfate. Synthetic solutions containing sulfate and thiosulfate were passed through AG1-X8 resin columns and eluted with 1 and 3 M KCl, respectively. Recovery ranged from 89 to 100%. Comparison of results for water samples collected from five pools in Yellowstone National Park between on-site IC analysis (U.S. Geological Survey mobile lab) and IC analysis of resin-stored sample at SUNY-Stony Brook indicates 96 to 100% agreement for three pools (Cinder, Cistern, and an unnamed pool near Cistern) and 76 and 63% agreement for two pools (Sulfur Dust and Frying Pan). Attempts to extract polythionates from the AG1-X8 resin were made using HCl solutions, but were unsuccessful. Bio-Rad™ AG2-X8, an anion-exchange resin with weaker binding sites than the AG1-X8 resin, is better suited for polythionate extraction. Sulfate and thiosulfate extraction with this resin has been accomplished with KCl solutions of 0.1 and 0.5 M, respectively. Trithionate and tetrathionate can be extracted with 4 M KCl. Higher polythionates can be extracted with 9 M hydrochloric acid. Polythionate concentrations can then be determined directly using ion chromatographic methods, and laboratory results indicate recovery of up to 90% for synthetic polythionate solutions using AG2-X8 resin columns.
Paleopedology of soils in thick Holocene loess, Nebraska, USA

Bignell Loess is a Holocene loess unit that has accumulated in the central Great Plains since 9,000 14 C yr BP. The Brady Soil separates Bignell Loess from last glacial Peoria Loess and thick sections, which can reach 6 m thickness, may contain four buried soils beneath the modern surface soil. The Brady Soil has A/B/C horizonation, including a thick dark A and a blocky or prismatic structured B horizon. The Brady soil is intensely burrowed, probably by nymphs of cicada species, which require woody vegetation. Secondary carbonate is present in all genetic horizons and was emplaced post burial. The Holocene soils are dominated by A horizon characteristics, namely dark colors, but blocky or prismatic structured B horizons occur in several sections. Secondary carbonate is present in most, but not all Holocene soils. Three phases of loess deposition and soil formation are evident from the thick proximal stratigraphic sections presented here. Initial rates of Bignell Loess deposition were low relative to the rate of soil formation, producing a basal aggraded A horizon above the Brady Soil, that is capped by a increment of loess with minimal pedogenic features. The middle portion of the Bignell Loess is finer textured and contains multiple dark buried soils. The final increment of loess is coarser and contains the weakly expressed modern surface soil. Climatically, termination of Brady Soil formation marks a shift to drier Holocene climates with a decrease in woody species, episodes of new loess deposition and soil formation, and secondary carbonate accumulation.
Synergistic effects of carbon fillers on tensile and flexural properties in liquid‐crystal polymer based resins

One emerging market for thermally and electrically conductive resins is bipolar plates for use in fuel cells. Adding carbon fillers to thermoplastic resins increases the composite thermal and electrical conductivity. These fillers have an effect on the composite tensile and flexural properties, which are also important for bipolar plates. In this study, various amounts of three different types of carbon (carbon black, synthetic graphite particles, and carbon fibers) were added to Vectra A950RX liquid-crystal polymer. In addition, composites containing combinations of fillers were also investigated via a factorial design. The tensile and flexural properties of the resulting composites were then measured. The objective of this study was to determine the effects and interactions of each filler with respect to the tensile and flexural properties. The addition of carbon black caused the tensile and flexural properties to decrease. Adding synthetic graphite particles caused the tensile and flexural modulus to increase. The addition of carbon fiber caused the tensile and flexural modulus and ultimate flexural strength to increase. In many cases, combining two different fillers caused a statistically significant effect on composite tensile and flexural properties at the 95% confidence level. For example, when 40 wt % synthetic graphite particles and 4 wt % carbon black were combined, the composite ultimate tensile and flexural strength increased more than what would be expected from the individual additive effect of each single filler. It is possible that linkages were formed between the carbon black and synthetic graphite particles that resulted in improved ultimate tensile and flexural strength. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Effects of responding to, initiating and ensuring joint attention in human-robot interaction

Inspired by the developmental timeline of joint attention in humans, we propose a conceptual model of joint attention with three parts: responding to joint attention, initiating joint attention, and ensuring joint attention.We conduct two experiments to investigate effects of joint attention in human-robot interaction. The first experiment explores the effects of responding to joint attention. We show that a robot responding to joint attention improves task performance and is perceived as more competent and socially interactive. The second experiment studies the importance of ensuring joint attention in human-robot interaction.We find that a robot's ensuring joint attention behavior is judged as having better performance in human-robot interactive tasks and is perceived as a natural behavior.
A method for mobile robot navigation on rough terrain

This paper presents a new obstacle negotiation method for mobile robot navigation on rough terrain. The proposed method first transforms a local terrain map surrounding the robot's momentary position into a grid-type traversability map by extracting the slope and roughness of a terrain patch through least-squares plane-fitting. It then computes so-called "polar obstacle densities" for the cells in the traversability map and transforms the traversability map into a traversability field histogram, from which the velocity and the steering command for the robot are determined. Simulation results show that the algorithm is able to navigate the robot to the target with a finite-length path.
Spatial warping by oriented line detectors can counteract neural delays

The slow speed of neural transmission necessitates that cortical visual information from dynamic scenes will lag reality. The “perceiving the present” (PTP) hypothesis suggests that the visual system can mitigate the effect of such delays by spatially warping scenes to look as they will in ~100 ms from now (Changizi, 2001). We here show that the Hering illusion, in which straight lines appear bowed, can be induced by a background of optic flow, consistent with the PTP hypothesis. However, importantly, the bowing direction is the same whether the flow is inward or outward. This suggests that if the warping is meant to counteract latencies, it is accomplished by a simple strategy that is insensitive to motion direction, and that works only under typical (forward-moving) circumstances. We also find that the illusion strengthens with longer pulses of optic flow, demonstrating motion integration over ~80 ms. The illusion is identical whether optic flow precedes or follows the flashing of bars, exposing the spatial warping to be equally postdictive and predictive, i.e., peri-dictive. Additionally, the illusion is diminished by cues which suggest the bars are independent of the background movement. Collectively, our findings are consistent with a role for networks of visual orientation-tuned neurons (e.g., simple cells in primary visual cortex) in spatial warping. We conclude that under the common condition of forward ego-motion, spatial warping counteracts the disadvantage of neural latencies. It is not possible to prove that this is the purpose of spatial warping, but our findings at minimum place constraints on the PTP hypothesis, demonstrating that any spatial warping for the purpose of counteracting neural delays is not a precise, on-the-fly computation, but instead a heuristic achieved by a simple mechanism that succeeds under normal circumstances.
High throughput multiplex image analyses for androgen receptor function

Evidence suggest that a subgroup of patients affected by either prostate cancer or androgen insensitivity syndrome harbor mutations within the androgen receptor that may contribute to the disease phenotype. To characterize the effects of these AR mutations, we have developed a high content screening assay able to determine AR transcriptional activity, cellular distribution, and cellular patterning simultaneously at the single cell level. We demonstrate that two mutations (F764L, R840C) isolated from AIS patients retain the ability to achieve similar levels of transcriptional activity, nuclear translocation, and nuclear hyperspeckling as wild type receptor, but require significantly higher levels of agonist. Differences in responses seen between the different compounds tested also suggest that the assay could be amendable to agonist screening for personalized patient drug selection.
Collateral density, remodeling, and VEGF-A expression differ widely between mouse strains

Substantial variability exists in collateral density and ischemia-induced collateral growth among species. To begin to probe the underlying mechanisms, which are unknown, we characterized two mouse...
Persistent vesicocutaneous fistula after repair of classic bladder exstrophy: A sign of failure?

Abstract Objective To describe the potential predisposing clinical characteristics at initial closure, the treatments of and outcomes associated with vesicocutaneous fistula (VCF) after primary bladder closure. Materials and methods Eighteen patients were referred for VCF after primary bladder exstrophy closure. Aspects from the primary closure such as gender, timing of diagnosis and repair, osteotomies, pelvic immobilization, layers of closure, use of tissue adjuncts, and complications in addition to details from their required treatment of VCF were retrospectively extracted from the medical record. Results A diagnosis of failed closure was made at the time of evaluation in 13 of 18 patients who presented with VCF. All 13 patients underwent delayed single-layer closures and had a widened pubic diastasis. Five patients with secure closures who underwent successful simple fistula repairs were all closed early in life, had multi-layered closures with pelvic osteotomies, and had minimal change in pubic diastasis. Conclusion VCF may represent a failed bladder closure. Factors which may suggest failure are a fistula tract in the lower abdominal midline between the pubic rami, a pubic diastasis increased from pre-closure measurement, and cystoscopic evidence of an anteriorly positioned bladder.
Biodegradation of animal waste by Lumbricus terrestris.

Abstract The possibility of recycling animal waste through the common earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris was studied. Earthworms were raised in beds and fed only raw feces and water with lime added as a buffer. The conversion of kilograms of fecal dry matter to kilograms of live earthworms was 2:1. The excretion (castings) of the earthworm was a loose, friable humus type of soil containing 3.0% nitrogen. Earthworm meal dry matter analyzed 58% protein and 2.8% fat and proved to be verypalatable when fed to domestic cats. Worm dirt was equal to greenhouse potting soil for the production of flowering plants. An added advantage is that the worm dirt weighs only about 50% as much as normal potting soil.
Sustained-Release Verapamil Formulations for Treating Hypertension

Verapamil, the first calcium-channel blocker to be introduced for clinical use, is a major drug used for the treatment of systemic hypertension. During the past 10 years, the use of verapamil for hypertension has produced a considerable clinical database to support the efficacy and safety of the agent in many patients. Because of its short half-life, verapamil was originally administered 3 to 4 times daily. During the past decade, a sustained-release formulation of verapamil has been marketed in the US. This product allows for once-daily dosing up to 240 mg/d; however, when higher doses are needed, this sustained-release formulation should be administered twice daily. In addition, the medicine should be taken with food to avoid the high peak blood levels of verapamil, which appears to be related to the delivery system. A new pellet-filled capsule formulation of verapamil (Verelan, Lederle, Wayne, NJ and Wyeth-Ayerst, Philadelphia, PA) is available and provides controlled absorption, 24-hour blood pressure control, improved peak-to-trough plasma levels, and once-daily dosing regardless of dosage size. Prolonged-release verapamil can be taken without food.
Commissioning an image-guided localization system for radiotherapy.

Abstract Purpose: To describe the design and commissioning of a system for the treatment of classes of tumors that require highly accurate target localization during a course of fractionated external-beam therapy. This system uses image-guided localization techniques in the linac vault to position patients being treated for cranial tumors using stereotactic radiotherapy, conformal radiotherapy, and intensity-modulated radiation therapy techniques. Design constraints included flexibility in the use of treatment-planning software, accuracy and precision of repeat localization, limits on the time and human resources needed to use the system, and ease of use. Methods and Materials: A commercially marketed, stereotactic radiotherapy system, based on a system designed at the University of Florida, Gainesville, was adapted for use at the University of Washington Medical Center. A stereo pair of cameras in the linac vault were used to detect the position and orientation of an array of fiducial markers that are attached to a patient’s biteblock. The system was modified to allow the use of either a treatment-planning system designed for stereotactic treatments, or a general, three-dimensional radiation therapy planning program. Measurements of the precision and accuracy of the target localization, dose delivery, and patient positioning were made using a number of different jigs and devices. Procedures were developed for the safe and accurate clinical use of the system. Results: The accuracy of the target localization is comparable to that of other treatment-planning systems. Gantry sag, which cannot be improved, was measured to be 1.7 mm, which had the effect of broadening the dose distribution, as confirmed by a comparison of measurement and calculation. The accuracy of positioning a target point in the radiation field was 1.0 ± 0.2 mm. The calibration procedure using the room-based lasers had an accuracy of 0.76 mm, and using a floor-based radiosurgery system it was 0.73 mm. Target localization error in a phantom was 0.64 ± 0.77 mm. Errors in positioning due to couch rotation error were reduced using the system. Conclusion: The system described has proven to have acceptable accuracy and precision for the clinical goals for which it was designed. It is robust in detecting errors, and it requires only a nominal increase in setup time and effort. Future work will focus on evaluating its suitability for use in the treatment of head-and-neck cancers not contained within the cranial vault.
Beyond the reach of the invisible hand: Impediments to economic activity, market failures, and profitability

In this paper it is argued that failures of the competitive market are necessary conditions for supranormal profitability. Three fundamental causes of these market failures—production economies and sunk costs, transactions costs, and imperfect information—are developed from the theory of competitive markets and discussed in terms of their impact on profitability. The identification of these ‘impediments to economic activity’ is useful for determining successful strategies to exploit market failures.
The mystery of the tower revealed: a non-reflective description of the reflective tower

In an important series of papers [8, 9], Brian Smith has discussed the nature of programs that know about their text and the context in which they are executed. He called this kind of knowledgereflection. Smith proposed a programming language, called 3-LISP, which embodied such self-knowledge in the domain of metacircular interpreters. Every 3-LISP program is interpreted by a metacircular interpreter, also written in 3-LISP. This gives rise to a picture of an infinite tower of metacircular interpreters, each being interpreted by the one above it. Such a metaphor poses a serious challenge for conventional modes of understanding of programming languages. In our earlier work on reflection [4], we showed how a useful species of reflection could be modeled without the use of towers. In this paper, we give a semantic account of the reflective tower. This account is self-contained in the sense that it does not employ reflection to explain reflection.
An argument for the importance of material property characterization of hydrogels

Hydrogels are being fabricated for use in many tissue engineering applications. In order to advance the field, material properties must be characterized to determine the most desirable attributes. The data presented shows the importance of both surface charge and mechanical properties on dorsal root ganglia neurite extension.
Monte Carlo Modeling of Phonons at Crystal Interfaces

One of the strategies in the effort to directly detect dark matter particles is to measure the phonon and charge signals produced in an incidental collision of a weakly interacting massive particle with a nucleon in a crystalline detector. Proper calibration of the detected phonon energy relies on detailed models of phonon propagation through the crystal to the instrumented surface. Previous Detector Monte Carlo incorporate probabalistic anharmonic decay and mass defect scattering but neglect the mode dependent scattering at crystal boundaries. We calculate mode specific reflection and transmission at detector interfaces with a simple acoustic mismatch model. We find that mode preserving transmission is the most probable outcome at germanium-aluminum detector interfaces, but the probability of reflection is not negligible. The average phonon reflection probability at near normal angles of incidence at a Ge/Al interface is near 20 %, but grows dramatically for oblique incidence. We develop a code using Geant4, which should allow modeling extensions to all phonon mediated dark matter detection schemes. Our models are adaptable to other crystal materials and are generally useful in any phonon interface problem.
Data transmission performance of 18 kbps non-coherent GMSK in the land mobile environment

Data is presented showing the BER performance of 18 kbps GMSK using non-coherent demodulation. Multilevel decision data detection is used for data recovery in the radio designed for use at 851-870 MHz with a 25 kHz channel separation. A 0.2 Gaussian FIR and a 7-pole analog premodulation filter are compared for frequency response, transmit eye pattern, and modulated spectrum. Performance is compared for two receivers with different IF selectivities provided by crystal filters having 8-poles (10.7 kHz bandwidth) and 10-poles (13.6 kHz bandwidth). Received eye patterns are shown to compare distortion from the receiver bandpass filters. Static BER data is compared along with sensitivity degradation from frequency offset. Receiver susceptibility to adjacent-channel interference is also presented.
Depressive Symptoms and Cigarette Smoking Predict Development and Persistence of Sleep Problems in US Adolescents

Objective. To evaluate factors related to the development and persistence of adolescent sleep problems. Methods. In this longitudinal, population-based study, the Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey was administered by telephone to 7960 adolescents (3921 girls and 4039 boys) 12 to 18 years old in 1989 and at follow-up in 1993. Sleep problems at both time points were assessed using a single item on the Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey. Those who responded that they “often or sometimes” had trouble going to sleep or staying asleep during the past 12 months were categorized as reporting sleep problems, whereas those who responded “often” were categorized as having frequent sleep problems. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify baseline characteristics predictive of the development and persistence of sleep problems or frequent sleep problems, respectively, from baseline to follow-up. Results. Of the 4866 adolescents without sleep problems at baseline, 28% developed sleep problems by 1993, and 9% developed frequent sleep problems. Of the 3094 adolescents who reported sleep problems at baseline, 52% reported sleep problems in 1993, and 21% reported frequent sleep problems. Female sex and notable depressive symptoms were associated with the development and persistence of sleep problems and frequent sleep problems at follow-up. Cigarette smoking status showed a dose–response relationship with development of sleep problems and frequent sleep problems, and with persistence of frequent sleep problems at follow-up. Conclusion. The reduction of depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking among adolescents are important factors to consider in prevention and treatment efforts focused on adolescent sleep problems.
The influence of margin width and volume of disease near margin on benefit of radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery for DCIS: Results of long-term follow-up

531 Background: There remains variation in the use of radiation (RT) in women with DCIS, despite prospective randomized trials documenting its benefit in reducing the risk of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR). Methods: Patients with DCIS treated with excision alone or excision plus radiation at our institution from 1991–1995 were identified. A dedicated breast pathologist assessed margin width, number of involved ducts at closest margin, nuclear grade, and presence of necrosis and lobular neoplasia. Pathological variables, age, and presence of palpable mass were tested in uni- and multivariate analysis for association with risk of IBTR and added value of RT. Results: 294 patients with a median follow-up of 11 years had actuarial 10- and 15-year overall IBTR rates of 22 and 29%. For lesions excised with margins of <1mm, 1–9mm, and ≥10mm, the actuarial 10-year IBTR rates were 28, 21, and 19%, respectively. RT reduced adjusted IBTR rates by 62% (12 vs. 28%; p=0.002) for all patients; 83% for lesions...
Of diet and profit: on the question of subsistence crises in nineteenth-century Iran

ABSTRACTThis article enquires into the socioeconomic causes of recurrent food scarcity in the nineteenth-century Middle East. Focusing on Iran as a case study, the paper shows that certain categories involved in the production and distribution of grain engaged in profiteering schemes and thereby contributed to the making of food shortage in urban settings. The most important of these groups were the government officials, the landed classes, and the grain merchants. The local bakers were also involved, but they did not have as decisive a role as the other groups. In showing how these categories engaged in market manipulation, the paper contends that food scarcity cannot be explained without a proper understanding of the commercialization of grain and the economic integration of the Middle East in the nineteenth century.
Trust threshold based public key management in mobile ad hoc networks

Public key management in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) has been studied for several decades. However, the unique characteristics of MANETs have imposed great challenges in designing a fully distributed public key management protocol under resource-constrained MANET environments. These challenges include no centralized trusted entities, resource constraints, and high security vulnerabilities. This work proposes a fully distributed trust-based public key management approach for MANETs using a soft security mechanism based on the concept of trust. Instead of using hard security approaches, as in traditional security techniques, to eliminate security vulnerabilities, our work aims to maximize performance by relaxing security requirements based on the perceived trust. We propose a composite trust-based public key management (CTPKM) with the goal of maximizing performance while mitigating security vulnerability. Each node employs a trust threshold to determine whether or not to trust another node. Our simulation results show that an optimal trust threshold exists to best balance and meet the conflicting goals between performance and security, by exploiting the inherent tradeoff between trust and risk. The results also show that CTPKM minimizes risk (i.e., information leakout) using an optimal trust threshold while maximizing service availability with acceptable communication overhead incurred by trust and key management operations. We demonstrate that CTPKM outperforms both existing non-trust-based and trust-based counterparts.
Preparation of Y-Ba-Cu-O Superconducting Films by Modified Dc Sputtering Process

High Tc Y-Ba-Cu-O superconducting thin films have been successfully deposited by DC sputtering techniques with excellent adhesion properties. Onset temperature of 95K had been achieved without any heat treatment nor annealing. Typical deposition rate is 1–2A/sec. It is possible to fabricate the superconducting thin films on a variety of substrates with this techniques, i.e., SiO2, Si and MgO. Analysis indicated that the films were predominantly the orthorhombic perovskite structure with traces of copper oxide.
Interface structure and film polarization in epitaxial SrTiO 3 /Si(001)

Phenomenological models suggest that thin epitaxial SrTiO${}_{3}$ films on silicon will exhibit ferroelectric behavior as a result of compressive strain. However, such models do not include atomic-scale interface effects, which can dramatically alter the predicted behavior. In this paper, we use density functional theory computations to systematically elucidate the effects of the interface atomic structure and composition on the properties of SrTiO${}_{3}$/Si heterostructures. We show that while the band alignment and metallicity of the heterostructure are highly sensitive to the chemical composition and geometry of the interface, the system also exhibits several important features that are universal to all compositions. These universal features, which include an electronic dipole across the interface and a large cation-oxygen displacement in the interfacial oxide layer, conspire to induce a net positive polarization in ultrathin SrTiO${}_{3}$ films. We demonstrate that, due to its origin in the chemical bonds at the interface, this polarization is pinned in a single direction. Our results provide a fundamental understanding of the important role played by interfacial chemical bonds within the general class of atomically abrupt, oxide-semiconductor heterostructures and, furthermore, suggest guidelines for the future design of coupled functional oxide-semiconductor devices.
VASIR: An Open-Source Research Platform for Advanced Iris Recognition Technologies

The performance of iris recognition systems is frequently affected by input image quality, which in turn is vulnerable to less-than-optimal conditions due to illuminations, environments, and subject characteristics (e.g., distance, movement, face/body visibility, blinking, etc.). VASIR (Video-based Automatic System for Iris Recognition) is a state-of-the-art NIST-developed iris recognition software platform designed to systematically address these vulnerabilities. We developed VASIR as a research tool that will not only provide a reference (to assess the relative performance of alternative algorithms) for the biometrics community, but will also advance (via this new emerging iris recognition paradigm) NIST's measurement mission. VASIR is designed to accommodate both ideal (e.g., classical still images) and less-than-ideal images (e.g., face-visible videos). VASIR has three primary modules: 1) Image Acquisition 2) Video Processing, and 3) Iris Recognition. Each module consists of several sub-components that have been optimized by use of rigorous orthogonal experiment design and analysis techniques. We evaluated VASIR performance using the MBGC (Multiple Biometric Grand Challenge) NIR (Near-Infrared) face-visible video dataset and the ICE (Iris Challenge Evaluation) 2005 still-based dataset. The results showed that even though VASIR was primarily developed and optimized for the less-constrained video case, it still achieved high verification rates for the traditional still-image case. For this reason, VASIR may be used as an effective baseline for the biometrics community to evaluate their algorithm performance, and thus serves as a valuable research platform.
Layer I ectopias and increased excitability in murine neocortex.

Cortical dysplasias are associated with both epilepsy and cognitive impairments in humans. Similarly, several animal models of cortical dysplasia show that dysplasia causes increased seizure suscep...
The G143A Mutation is Responsible for Strobilurin Fungicide Resistance in Cercospora cf. flagellaris, a Leaf Blight and Purple Seed Stain Pathogen of Louisiana Soybean

Cercospora leaf blight and purple seed stain are economically important diseases of soybean throughout the Lower Mississippi River Valley and Gulf South USA. Fungicide resistance was documented in ...
Evaluating upper arm anthropometric measurements.

Jelliffe's standards for evaluating measurements of mid-upper arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, and mid-upper arm muscle circumference of American adults were compared with percentile distributions developed from the first Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I). These comparisons show that the standards poorly represent the adult U.S. population. Replacement of the standards with updated sex-specific values is not recommended, as (a) no single value for each arm parameter can be considered as "normal" for men or women of all ages and (b) the expression of arm measurements as percentages of standards is an inappropriate method of evaluation. Instead, measurements should be evaluated by comparison with age- and sex-specific percentile distributions developed from the NHANES I.
Atomistic Simulation of a Two-Dimensional Polymer Tougher Than Graphene

A graphene/polyethylene hybrid 2D polymer, “graphylene”, exhibits a higher theoretical fracture toughness than graphene, while remaining 2× stiffer and 9× stronger than Kevlar®, per mass. Within the base structure of graphylene, the sp3-bonded polyethylene linkages provide compliance for ductile fracture, while the benzene rings contribute to high stiffness and strength. Combining stiff and compliant units to achieve enhanced mechanical performance demonstrates the potential of designing 2D materials at the molecular level.
From Alienation to Co-existence and Beyond: Examining the Evolution of the Borderland in Kashmir

ABSTRACTThe article applies Oscar Martinez’s theory of borderland evolution to the case of Kashmir. The India–Pakistan border in Kashmir is a violent and contested South Asian border with implications for the states and the people living along the contested geographical space. The article challenges the premise that the borderland is static in Kashmir. It contends that though it is difficult to predict the course of evolution of the borderland in Kashmir, it is equally imprudent to ignore the evolution of this borderland from being highly rigid to being relatively flexible. Drawing from historical analyses and ethnographic data collected over the last decade, the article makes a case for an engagement with the borderland in Kashmir, and argues that such a reorientation will bring this contested landscape to the center of borderland discourse in South Asia and beyond.
Sub-Marginal Endothelial Cells Dynamically Regulate Endothelial Sheet Migration.

Migration of endothelial cells as a sheet in fully differentiated blood vessels is essential for reducing vascular permeability during wound healing. Indeed, loss of collective endothelial sheet migration contributes to increased vascular permeability in tumor angiogenesis and several vascular proliferative disorders. Despite this significance, mechanisms responsible for keeping migrating endothelial cells in a monolayer, sheet or tube are poorly understood. To unravel the basis for collective endothelial cell migration, we used time-lapse video microscopy to study early events of wound closure in confluent monolayers of primary microvascular endothelial cells in a live cell chamber. Immediately after wounding (0– 20 min), endothelial cells at the margin of the wound (marginal cells) retracted away from the wounded area and showed no visible lamellipodia extensions. The next phase of early wound healing (20 min – 6 hours) revealed extensive lamellipodia formation and migration of marginal cells into the wounded region. Remarkably, sub-marginal endothelial cells that were several microns away from the wound edge protruded lamellipodia that formed dynamic cell-cell contacts with the substratum of marginal cells at the wound edge. In several instances sub-marginal cells physically and coordinately pulled back endothelial cells at wound edge to maintain regularity of the endothelial sheet front. Cell-tracking measurements revealed autonomous and yet coordinated migration of marginal and sub-marginal endothelial cells culminating in net protrusion of the endothelial sheet into the wound. This study provides in real-time evidence of retraction of endothelial cells at the wound edge by several microns prior to the initiation of forward migration. In addition, we show for the first time that endothelial cells several microns away from the wound edge actively participate in sheet migration through the extention of lamellipodia into the substratum of cells at the wound edge. These findings highlight an important role in endothelial sheet migration for the Rho family of GTPases given their intimate control of cell retraction and lamelipodia extensions. Future studies will directly evaluate the influence of Rac, Cdc42 and RhoA in retraction of marginal cells and formation of lamellipodia by sub-marginal cells in endothelial sheet migration.
Safety and Short-Term Outcomes of Therapeutic Hypothermia in Preterm Neonates 34-35 Weeks Gestational Age with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Objective To evaluate the safety and short-term outcomes of preterm neonates born at 34-35 weeks gestation with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Study design Medical records of preterm neonates born at 34-35 weeks gestational age with HIE treated with therapeutic hypothermia were retrospectively reviewed. Short-term safety outcomes and the presence, severity (mild, moderate, severe), and patterns of brain injury on magnetic resonance imaging were reviewed using a standard scoring system, and compared with a cohort of term neonates with HIE treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Results Thirty-one preterm and 32 term neonates were identified. Therapeutic hypothermia-associated complications were seen in 90% of preterm infants and 81.3% of term infants ( P = .30). In the preterm infants, hyperglycemia (58.1% vs31.3%, P = .03) and rewarming before completion of therapeutic hypothermia (19.4% vs 0.0%, P = .009) were more likely compared with term infants. All deaths occurred in the preterm group (12.9% vs 0%, P = .04). Neuroimaging showed the presence of injury in 80.6% of preterm infants and 59.4% of term infants ( P = .07), with no differences in injury severity. Injury to the white matter was more prevalent in preterm infants compared with term infants (66.7% vs 25.0%, P = .001). Conclusions Therapeutic hypothermia in infants born at 34-35 weeks gestational age appears feasible. Risks of mortality and side effects warrant caution with use of therapeutic hypothermia in preterm infants.
Associations between treatment-emergent symptoms and early discontinuation of aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy.

e20745 Background: The Exemestane and Letrozole Pharmacogenetics (ELPh) trial addressed associations between pharmacogenetics and effects of AI therapy. Here we describe changes in health-related q...
Abstract 168: YAP and TAZ Mediate Mechanical Control of Vasculogenesis

Physical cues such as the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix are known to modulate blood vessel formation, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional activator with PDZ-binding domain (TAZ) were recently identified as key mediators of cellular mechanotransduction [1], but the roles of YAP and TAZ in neovascular mechanobiology have not been investigated. We hypothesized that YAP and TAZ mediate neovascular mechanotransduction of extracellular matrix rigidity by vasculogenic endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) cultured on/in matrices of controllable rigidity. YAP and TAZ depletion abrogated ECFC migration (Fig. 1A), and YAP/TAZ expression and nuclear localization (i.e., activation) was significantly upregulated in migrating cells (Fig. 1B). Combinatorial depletion also abrogated tubular network formation and 3D vasculogenesis in collagen matrices of variable rigidity but constant matrix density (data not shown). In 2D, PDMS rigidity regulated YAP/TAZ subcellular localization (data not shown). In 3D, vasculogenesis was enhanced in stiff (G’= 1049 Pa) collagen oligomer matrices compared to soft (G’ = 305 Pa) monomer matrices formulated at constant collagen matrix density. YAP and TAZ were nuclear localized (activated) in the stiff oligomer matrices, but cytosolic in soft monomer matrices (Fig. 1C). Mechanistically, YAP and TAZ depletion reduced cytoskeletal stress fiber formation (data not shown), implicating YAP and TAZ in a feedback mechanism to control cytoskeletal remodeling. Delivered in oligomer matrices in vivo , ECFCs formed a functional human neovascular plexus and exhibited strong expression and nuclear localization of YAP and TAZ and expression of downstream genes, Cyr61 and CTGF (data not shown). In summary, YAP and TAZ are essential for mechanical control of ECFC migration and vasculogenesis. [1] Dupont et al. 2011 Nature. 474:179-185.