cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Receiver, Laser Driver, and Phase-Locked Loop Design Issues

This chapter provides an overview of receiver, laser driver, and phase-locked loop (PLL) designs used in high-speed fiber optic communications. In particular, the chapter explores the real-world environment within which these designs perform. The chapter also discusses the strategies designers must use in order to build a robust design. Fiber optic receivers convert the optical signal into an electrical signal and amplify it enough to be treated as a digital signal. The transimpedance receiver is one of the most popular configurations and exhibits good sensitivity as well as dynamic range. The transimpedance amplifier consists of an inverting amplifier of gain with a feedback resistor. The laser has a characteristic threshold current, the current at which lasing begins, and the differential quantum efficiency, the slope of the optical power versus current curve. The laser driver converts the bit stream into the correct current levels. Lasers often come in several topologies. It is observed that two timing functions are generally required in a serial data link: a transmit synthesizer and a clock recovery circuit. As these functions run at bit rates that present demanding design challenges, the transmit synthesizer must generate a bit rate clock from the byte rate or reference clock. The most common approach is to use a PLL or a delay-locked loop (DLL).
Feasibility of quantifying intramyocardial blood volume using SPECT/CT

404 Objectives SPECT/CT quantification of intramyocardial blood volume (IMBV) using Tc99m labeled red blood cell (RBC) can provide invaluable information on myocardial microcirculatory function and microvascular disease. However, the RBC tracer concentration within the blood pool is much higher than the adjacent myocardium, causing substantial “spill-in” activity due to partial volume effect (PVE), scatter, and respiratory/cardiac motion, resulting in substantial overestimation of IMBV. We developed methods to correct for PVE, scatter, and motion, and evaluated the IMBV responses to various vasodilators using simulation and large animal studies. Methods Respiratory motion was corrected by extracting listmode data from the end-expiration phases, which was further rebinned into dual gated data to correct for cardiac motion. CT angiography was used to define the myocardium to facilitate region-based voxel-wise partial volume correction (PVC). To suppress the noise amplification introduced by PVC while preserving quantification, an anatomical-based non-local means filter (ANLM) was applied. Triple energy window (TEW) method was used to correct for scatter. We studied the IMBV changes as a response to various vasodilators in a dog study to investigate the IMBV sensitivity to the change of microcirculation function. All data were acquired using a dedicated cardiac SPECT/CT system (GE Discovery NM/CT 570c). Results Corrections of PVC, respiratory and cardiac motion, and scatter effectively reduced the activity contamination from blood pool to myocardium. In simulation study, PVC with ANML filter reduced image noise while preserving accurate quantification of both blood pool and myocardium. In animal study, the IMBV increased by 22.5%, 9.7%, and 15.4% with adenosine, nitroglycerin, and dobutamine, respectively. Conclusions With quantitative correction methods, it is feasible to accurately quantify IMBV using Tc99m-RBC SPECT/CT. The SPECT-derived IMBV is sensitive to the intervention of microcirculation function.
A “Beheaded” TAML Activator: A Compromised Catalyst that Emphasizes the Linearity between Catalytic Activity and pKa

Studies of the new tetra-amido macrocyclic ligand (TAML) activator [FeIII{(Me2CNCOCMe2NCO)2CMe2}OH2]− (4) in water in the pH range of 2–13 suggest its pseudo-octahedral geometry with two nonequivalent axial H2O ligands and revealed (i) the anticipated basic drift of the first pKa of water to 11.38 due to four electron-donating methyl groups alongside (ii) its counterintuitive enhanced resistance to acid-induced iron(III) ejection from the macrocycle. The catalytic activity of 4 in the oxidation of Orange II (S) by H2O2 in the pH range of 7–12 is significantly lower than that of previously reported TAML activators, though it follows the common rate law (v/[FeIII] = kIkII[H2O2][S]/(kI[H2O2] + kII[S]) and typical pH profiles for kI and kII. At pH 7 and 25 °C the rate constants kI and kII equal 0.63 ± 0.02 and 1.19 ± 0.03 M–1 s–1, respectively. With these new values for pKa, kI and kII establishing new high and low limits, respectively, the rate constants kI and kII were correlated with pKa values of all TAML...
New approaches for DC balanced spacewire: Session: SpaceWire networks and protocols, short paper

Direct Current (DC) line balanced SpaceWire is attractive for a number of reasons. Firstly, a DC line balanced interface provides the ability to isolate the physical layer with either a transformer or capacitor to achieve higher common mode voltage rejection and/or the complete galvanic isolation in the case of a transformer. Secondly, it provides the possibility to reduce the number of conductors and transceivers in the classical SpaceWire interface by half by eliminating the Strobe line. Depending on the modulator scheme — the clock data recovery frequency requirements may be only twice that of the transmit clock, or even match the transmit clock: depending on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) decoder design. In this paper, several different implementation scenarios will be discussed. Two of these scenarios are backward compatible with the existing SpaceWire hardware standards except for changes at the character level. Three other scenarios, while decreasing by half the standard SpaceWire hardware components, will require changes at both the character and signal levels and work with fixed rates. Other scenarios with variable data rates will require an additional SpaceWire interface handshake initialization sequence.
Keynote speech 2: Attribute-based access control status and directions

This keynote speech analyses the current positioning of vendors and operators concerning the mobile market and its evolution towards the 5G. The seminar will deal with the analysis of the Mobile World Congress 2017, focusing then in the 5G process and the last advances in 3GPP specifications. Special attention will be paid to the D2D and mmW communication topic and the last advances in the research conducted in Prof. Monserrat group.
Distinguishing complexes of isomeric peptides: Structures, energetic, and reactions of sodium cation-coordinated ProLeu or LeuPro trimers in the gas phase

Abstract The unimolecular chemistries and structures of Na+(ProLeu)3 and Na+(LeuPro)3 complexes have been studied in the gas phase by both experimental and theoretical methods. Temperature-dependent blackbody infrared radiative dissociation (BIRD) experiments clearly differentiated between the complexes composed of isomeric peptides, Na+(ProLeu)3 and Na+(LeuPro)3. Master equation modeling resulted in very similar dissociation thresholds of 110(±13) and 103(±13) kJ mol−1 for the Na+(ProLeu)3 and Na+(LeuPro)3 complexes, respectively. Comparison of the experimentally obtained binding energies with those computed from electronic structure calculations was also consistent with the Na+(ProLeu)3 complexes being more thermodynamically stable than Na+(LeuPro)3. IRMPD spectroscopy on both complexes produced intense broad features with some assignable structure below 3400 cm−1 and for Na+(ProLeu)3, O H stretching bands at ∼3550 cm−1 were observed. The observed spectra are consistent with the computed IR spectra for the lowest energy structures of these complexes. Together, IRMPD spectroscopy, BIRD kinetics, and computational methods prove to be adequate in differentiating the structures composed of these isomeric peptides and in determining the structures and thermochemistries for dissociation of the two trimeric complexes.
Social venue range and referral chain impact: Implications for the sampling of hidden communities.

BACKGROUND It has been argued that the success of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) in generating unbiased estimates for epidemiologic outcomes depends on participants' abilities to generate long referral chains. While this is thought to depend on the number of people participants know in the target population, this idea is rarely tested. Furthermore, little attention has been paid to the role of other aspects of social connectedness in recruitment, such as participants' involvement in local clubs and venues. METHODS We examine whether the recruitment potential of young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) depends on (1) their social network size and (2) their affiliations with a variety of sex venues across geographic areas. We analyze data from a 2014 RDS study of 598 YBMSM on the south side of Chicago. RESULTS Both a participant's personal network size and the number of different types of sex venues with which he was affiliated were significantly positively associated with (1) the total number of recruits in the participant's prospective referral chains and (2) the lengths of those chains. However, only venue affiliation remain significantly associated with recruitment potential in the multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS The success of RDS in generating valid samples may depend more on recruiting participants who are involved in multiple venues within the community (i.e., their affiliation networks) than on recruiting those who have large personal social networks.
Calls to Florida Poison Control Centers about mercury: Trends over 2003-2013.

Abstract Objective The aim of this analysis was to contrast trends in exposure-report calls and informational queries (a measure of public interest) about mercury to the Florida Poison Control Centers over 2003–2013. Materials and methods Poison-control specialists coded calls to Florida Poison Control Centers by substance of concern, caller demographics, and whether the call pertained to an exposure event or was an informational query. For the present study, call records regarding mercury were de-identified and provided along with daily total number of calls for statistical analysis. We fit Poisson models using generalized estimating equations to summarize changes across years in counts of daily calls to Florida Poison Control Centers, adjusting for month. In a second stage of analysis, we further adjusted for the total number of calls each day. We also conducted analyses stratified by age of the exposed. Results There was an overall decrease over 2003–2013 in the number of total calls about mercury [Ratio per year: 0.89, 95% CI: (0.88, 0.90)], and calls about mercury exposure [Ratio per year: 0.84, 95% CI: (0.83, 0.85)], but the number of informational queries about mercury increased over this time [Ratio per year: 1.15 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.18)]. After adjusting for the number of calls of that type each day (e.g., call volume), the associations remained similar: a ratio of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.87, 0.89) per year for total calls, 0.85 (0.83, 0.86) for exposure-related calls, and 1.17 (1.14, 1.21) for informational queries. Conclusion Although, the number of exposure-related calls decreased, informational queries increased over 2003–2013. This might suggest an increased public interest in mercury health risks despite a decrease in reported exposures over this time period.
Maternal Substance Use Disorders and Infant Outcomes in the First Year of Life among Massachusetts Singletons, 2003-2010.

Objective To determine the association of maternal substance use disorders (SUDs) during pregnancy with adverse neonatal outcomes and infant hospital re-admissions, observational stays, and emergency department utilization in the first year of life. Study design We analyzed 2 linked statewide datasets from 2002 to 2010: the Massachusetts Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal data system and the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Abuse Services Management Information System. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the association of maternal SUDs and neonatal outcomes and infant hospital-based care in the first year of life, controlling for maternal and infant characteristics. Results Maternal SUDs increased from 19.4 per 1000 live births in 2003 to 31.1 per 1000 live births in 2009. In the adjusted analysis, exposed neonates were more likely to be born preterm (aOR 1.85; 95% CI 1.75-1.96) and low birthweight (aOR 1.94; 95% CI 1.80-2.09). After controlling for maternal characteristics and preterm birth, SUD-exposed neonates were more likely to have intrauterine growth restriction, cardiac, respiratory, neurologic, infectious, hematologic, and feeding/nutrition problems, prolonged hospital stay, and higher mortality (aOR range 1.26-3.80). Exposed infants were more likely to be rehospitalized (aOR 1.10; 95% CI 1.04-1.17) but less likely to have an observational stay (aOR 0.90; 95% CI 0.82-0.99) or use the emergency department (aOR 0.87; 95% CI 0.83-0.90) in the first year of life. Conclusions Infants born to mothers with SUD are at higher risk for adverse health outcomes in the perinatal period and are also more likely to be rehospitalized in the first year of life.
Illuminating the nomological network of digital aggression: Results from two studies.

We examined the nomological network surrounding digital aggression (DA), in regards to other forms of aggression/antisocial behavior and individual difference variables commonly associated with other forms of aggression/antisocial behavior. Two large samples of university students (N = 713 and 633, respectively) completed a series of questionnaires and in some cases, an additional experience sampling study. Results revealed that, in emerging adulthood, DA appears to have a unique demographic profile relative to the other forms of aggression and antisocial behavior. Results further suggested that, when examined simultaneously, only social aggression and non-aggressive rule-breaking evidenced independent associations with DA. These associations persisted even in the absence of social media use. Unique associations with most individual difference variables dissipated once we controlled for social aggression and rule-breaking, although DA was independently associated with extraversion and alcohol use problems. Such findings begin to embed DA in its broader nomological network and suggest clear functional links with both social aggression and non-aggressive rule-breaking.
Assessing acute psychological distress in the immediate aftermath of stroke.

Background and purpose:High acute stress may presage the development of subsequent cardiovascular ailments. Understanding how best to assess acute stress may inform early interventions seeking to p...
MC3A: Markov Chain Monte Carlo ManyCore Accelerator

The paper presents "MC3A"- Markov Chain Monte Carlo Many Core Accelerator, a high-throughput, domain-specific, programmable manycore accelerator, which effectively generates samples from a provided target distribution. MCMC samplers are used in machine learning, image and signal processing applications that are computationally intensive. In such scenarios, high-throughput samplers are of paramount importance. To achieve a high-throughput platform, we add two domain-specific instructions with dedicated hardware whose functions are extensively used in MCMC algorithms. These instructions bring down the number of clock cycles needed to implement the respective functions by 10x and 21x. A 64-cluster architecture of the MC3A is fully placed and routed in 65 nm, TSMC CMOS technology, where the VLSI layout of each cluster occupies an area of 0.577 mm^2 while consuming a power of 247 mW running at 1 GHz clock frequency. Our proposed MC3A achieves 6x higher throughput than its equivalent predecessor (PENC) and consumes 4x lower energy per sample. Also, when compared to other off-the-shelf platforms, such as Jetson TX1 and TX2 SoC, MC3A results in 195x and 191x higher throughput and consumes 808x and 726x lower energy per sample generation, respectively.
Linear Death-Migration Models

Consider now modeling n populations connected by linear migration, with each population having both immigration and death events occurring at linear rates. Specifically, the assumptions for unit changes in this linear system fromt to t + Δt, using the general formulation in (9.3) and (9.4), would be: 1 Prob#x007B;X, will increase by 1 due to immigration} = I i Δt 2 Prob#x007B;Xi will decrease by 1 due to death} = μ i X i Δt 3 Prob{Xi will increase by 1 and X; will decrease by 1 due to migration} = k ij X j Δt, for i ≠ j.
K(ATP)-channel inhibition improves hemodynamics and cellular energetics in hemorrhagic shock

We tested whether activation of K(ATP) channels contributes to vasodilatation and end-organ hypoperfusion in severe hemorrhagic shock (HS). Anesthetized juvenile pigs were hemorrhaged to a portal blood flow of 45% of baseline for 45 min and then resuscitated with Ringer lactate (RL; 100% volume of shed blood; n = 10) or RL in combination with the K(ATP)-channel antagonist glibenclamide (10 mg/kg iv bolus injection; n = 10). Addition of glibenclamide to the resuscitation fluid caused a sustained recovery of systemic blood pressure, cardiac index, portal blood flow, renal blood flow, renal cortical ATP concentration, and ileal mucosal P(CO2). Treatment with RL alone caused only a partial and transient hemodynamic and metabolic benefit. Glibenclamide treatment of sham-shocked control pigs (n = 6) transiently increased mesenteric and systemic vascular resistance. Inhibition of K(ATP)-channel activity in HS, which effectively and safely restores systemic hemodynamics, regional perfusion, and tissue metabolism, is a potentially novel therapeutic approach to the management of severe HS.
Coping with the stress of being sued.

Malpractice accusations can be emotionally devastating. Here's how to withstand the pressure.
Methodological Issues in Treatment Research for Anxiety Disorders in Youth

This article identifies and addresses three methodological domains relevant to the treatment of anxiety disorders in youth: (a) procedural matters, (b) the assessment of anxious distress, and (c) the analysis of treatment-produced change. Procedural topics include the need to manualize treatment, have diversity among participants and comparability of the duration of treatment and control conditions, and control for medication status. Multiple-method measurement issues include child and parent reports, observations, and structured interviewing. Our examination of change issues considers comorbidity, analyzing the intent-to-treat sample, treatment "spillover," and clinical as well as statistical significance. Problems are identified and potential ameliorative strategies are offered.
Domain Specific Knowledge-based Information Retrieval Model using Knowledge Reduction

Information is a meaningful collection of data. Information retrieval (IR) is an important tool for changing data to information. Of the three classical IR models (Boolean, Support Vector Machine, and Probabilistic), the Support Vector Machine (SVM) IR model is most widely used. But this model does not convey enough relevancies between a query and documents to produce effective results reflecting knowledge. To augment the IR process with knowledge, several techniques are proposed including query expansion by using a thesaurus, a term relationship measurement like Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI), and a probabilistic inference engine using Bayesian Networks. Our research aims to create an information retrieval model that incorporates domain specific knowledge to provide knowledgeable answers to users. We use a knowledgebased model to represent domain specific knowledge. Unlike other knowledge-based IR models, our model converts domain-specific knowledge to a relationship of terms represented as quantitative values, which gives improved efficiency.
Scientific Strategies and Historical Change

There are moments when we become aware that the tide of thought is turning, and that the natural flow of men’s proper concerns is carrying us in a new direction. Only a few years back, the ‘multidisciplinary’ topic of this particular session would have been regarded as hardly serious. Most philosopher of science then saw their tasks as centered on formal logic, and they happily set aside the history, sociology and psychology of science as being ‘of merely empirical interest’. (In this they agreed with Descartes. As he put it: historical enquiries, like foreign travel, may broaden the philosopher’s mind, but they have no relevance to his professional problems.) Their indifference was required. Historians, sociologists and pyschologist of science were equally content to have philosophy leave them to their own devices.
Sensing with photoluminescent semiconductor quantum dots.

Fluorescent sensors benefit from high signal-to-noise and multiple measurement modalities, enabling a multitude of applications and flexibility of design. Semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs) are excellent fluorophores for sensors because of their extraordinary optical properties. They have high thermal and photochemical stability compared to organic dyes or fluorescent proteins and are extremely bright due to their large molar cross-sections. In contrast to organic dyes, QD emission profiles are symmetric, with relatively narrow bandwidths. In addition, the size tunability of their emission color, which is a result of quantum confinement, make QDs exceptional emitters with high color purity from the ultra-violet to near infrared wavelength range. The role of QDs in sensors ranges from simple fluorescent tags, as used in immunoassays, to intrinsic sensors that utilize the inherent photophysical response of QDs to fluctuations in temperature, electric field, or ion concentration. In more complex configurations, QDs and biomolecular recognition moieties like antibodies are combined with a third component to modulate the optical signal via energy transfer. QDs can act as donors, acceptors, or both in energy transfer-based sensors using Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET), nanometal surface energy transfer (NSET), or charge or electron transfer. The changes in both spectral response and photoluminescent lifetimes have been successfully harnessed to produce sensitive sensors and multiplexed devices. While technical challenges related to biofunctionalization and the high cost of laboratory-grade fluorimeters have thus far prevented broad implementation of QD-based sensing in clinical or commercial settings, improvements in bioconjugation methods and detection schemes, including using simple consumer devices like cell phone cameras, are lowering the barrier to broad use of more sensitive QD-based devices.
Exploiting the Inherent Limitation of L0 Adversarial Examples

Despite the great achievements made by neural networks on tasks such as image classification, they are brittle and vulnerable to adversarial example (AE) attacks, which are crafted by adding human-imperceptible perturbations to inputs in order that a neural-network-based classifier incorrectly labels them. In particular, L0 AEs are a category of widely discussed threats where adversaries are restricted in the number of pixels that they can corrupt. However, our observation is that, while L0 attacks modify as few pixels as possible, they tend to cause large-amplitude perturbations to the modified pixels. We consider this as an inherent limitation of L0 AEs, and thwart such attacks by both detecting and rectifying them. The main novelty of the proposed detector is that we convert the AE detection problem into a comparison problem by exploiting the inherent limitation of L0 attacks. More concretely, given an image I, it is pre-processed to obtain another image I' . A Siamese network, which is known to be effective in comparison, takes I and I' as the input pair to determine whether I is an AE. A trained Siamese network automatically and precisely captures the discrepancies between I and I' to detect L0 perturbations. In addition, we show that the pre-processing technique, inpainting, used for detection can also work as an effective defense, which has a high probability of removing the adversarial influence of L0 perturbations. Thus, our system, called AEPECKER, demonstrates not only high AE detection accuracies, but also a notable capability to correct the classification results.
Economic Decision-Making and the Impact of Risk Management: How They Relate to Each Other

The purpose of this article is to adequately identify and assess economic risk in decision-making within project environments. A systematic literature review approach is used to recognize the key relationships between risk and economic decision-making. The study shows that the most critical element associated with economic decision-making is the risk. The article highlights the implications of this relationship and how it impacts a project-based environment. Review of the literature has shown limited research in this area. This study seeks to fill a gap within the existing research. The results of this research study contribute to economic decision-making and risk management.
Stakeholder Perspectives on Eliminating Disparities in Mental Health Service Use for Latinx Youth: A Qualitative Study

Roughly 88% of Latinx youth in the United States have unmet mental health needs. Studies have examined barriers to treatment, though few have explicitly examined solutions for eliminating ethnic di...
Efficacy and toxicity of q 2 weeks docetaxel versus weekly versus q 3 weeks in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

e16087 Background: Standard treatment for metastatic CRPC is docetaxel 75 mg/m2q3weeks. Methods: We retrospectively studied patients treated with q 1, 2, or 3 weeks docetaxel regimens at 30, 60 and...
Resurrecting the Hospital Autopsy: Impact of an Office of Decedent Affairs on Consent Rates, Providers, and Next-of-Kin

Context.— Autopsy rates have decreased dramatically despite providing important clinical information to medical practices and social benefits to decedents' families. Objective.— To assess the impac...
Study of internal environment of neonates with hyperbilirubinemia before and after blood exchange transfusion

Objective To discuss the influence of blood exchange transfusions on hemato- microenvironment of neonates with hyperbilirubinemian.Methods Blood exchange transfusion was performed in 35 neonates.Mean transfusion volume was (136.9±27.4) ml/kg.The speed of blood exchange transfusion was 92 ml/(kg·h).Blood bilirubin,blood electrolyte,blood routine and blood sugar levels were measured before,during and after the transfusion.Results Serum total bilirubin (TB) decreased by 53.78% after blood exchange,but there was no change in Na~+,Cl~-,and blood sugar (P＞0.05),and K~+ was remarkably decreased from (4.45±2.40)mmol/L to (3.87±0.52)mmol/L (t=21.979,P＜0.05).TB,Hb,PLT,WBC,Ca~(2+) were decreased[TB from(511.52±80.21) μmol/L to (236.41±66.54) μmol/L;Hb from (145.20±11.70) g/L to (128.66±2.54) g/L;PLT from (207.84±70.67)×10~9/L to (134.86±48.61)×10~9/L;WBC from (16.90±10.56)×10~9/L to (8.94±7.44)×10~9/L,and Ca~(2+) from (1.26±0.32) mmol/L to (0.99±0.22) mmol/L,P＜0.05 or ＜0.01].Conclusions Blood exchange transfusion can not influence Na~+,Cl~-,and blood sugar,but has remarkable effect on total bilirubin,Ca~(2+),Hb,K~+,PLT,and WBC. Key words: Hyperbilirubinemia; Neonatal; Blood exchange; Internal environment
Two-Field vs. Three-Field Lymphadenectomy for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Three-field lymph node dissection for squamous cell cancer of the esophagus was pioneered by Japanese surgeons. With such an extended resection, 25–40% of patients will be found to have occult metastases to the recurrent laryngeal and deep cervical nodes. The Western experience with this technique, where adenocarcinoma is the predominant cell type, is limited to only a handful of centers. The prevalence of occult nodal metastases to the recurrent laryngeal and/or cervical nodes in esophageal adenocarcinoma may be as high as 20–30% and can be predicted by tumor location, depth of invasion, and by nodal metastatic burden. In experienced hands, three-field lymph node dissection can be performed safely with a hospital mortality of less than 5% and with only slightly increased overall morbidity compared to two-field dissections, although the risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy is certainly higher. In the absence of adequately powered randomized trials comparing two- and three-field dissection, the existing retrospective data suggest that dissection of the third field, the recurrent laryngeal and/or cervical nodes, may improve staging and local control in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. We therefore recommend dissection of the third field in patients with T2 or deeper tumors above the lower third of the esophagus and in all patients with proven nodal disease along the lower esophagus.
Destination debts: Local and translocal loans in the migrant experience

Abstract An established body of research now documents the ways that debt both motivates and shapes migration processes. Yet little scholarship examines the debts migrants incur after arriving in their destinations. Drawing on qualitative interviews with Cambodians living and working in Thailand, this paper explores debts imposed upon and taken by migrants after they have arrived in their destination. In Thailand, migrants take on debts in an attempt to obtain documents, to move into better paying jobs, and to start entrepreneurial projects. Often, these loans are translocal; taken by proxy borrowers in Cambodia, and sent across the border in what might be described as a ‘reverse remittance’ financed by debt. By exploring these debts and their consequences, this work elaborates the spatial nature of debt and draws attention to its capacity to engender spatially diffuse vulnerabilities.
Native Advertising in a Mobile Era: Effects of Ability and Motivation on Recognition in Digital News Contexts

Digital news is progressively blurring with commercial content at the same time that mobile technology is increasingly being used to access news. To understand if these trends affect ability to dis...
Submillimeter Wave Generation through Stimulated Scattering with an Intense Relativistic Electron Beam and Zero Frequency Pump

We report a configuration of pulsed, intense, relativistic electron beam and rippled magnetic field which shows promise for production of electromagnetic energy in the wavelength range below 1 mm. The technique has been studied theoretically [1] and experimentally [2] in the microwave regime and a similar mechanism has been proposed as a means of generating shorter wavelength radiation [3]. Our apparatus has produced radiation at wavelengths in the 1-2 mm range at power levels of roughly 50 kW.
Synthetic aperture gradient light interference microscopy (SA-GLIM) for high throughput label-free imaging

We propose synthetic aperture gradient light interference microscopy (SA-GLIM) as a solution to avoid computational complexity in standard Fourier pytchographic microscopy. This new system combines direct phase measurements from GLIM with various illumination angles, and a synthetic aperture reconstruction method, to produce high resolution, large FOV quantitative phase maps. Using a 5× objective lens (NA = 0.15), SA-GLIM generates phase maps with a spatial resolution of 850 nm and FOV approximately 1.7×1.7 mm2. We tested the performance using a mixture of polystyrene beads (1 μm and 3 μm in diameter), and the smaller beads can be easily resolved in the final image. Compared with standard FPM, SA-GLIM records substantially fewer low-resolution images, which makes the data throughput highly efficient.
Fear of blackness: Understanding white supremacy as an inverted relationship to oppression

How can psychoanalytic theory help make sense of the social and psychic dimensions of white supremacy? This paper seeks to make sense of the relationships between identity, privilege, and oppression among white Americans. Drawing on decades of social science and psychoanalytic work on race and racism, it argues that the normativity and invisibility of whiteness is integral to the ego identity of white Americans. The cohesion of this internal identity becomes threatened by any challenge to this invisibility, resulting in an inverted internal identification with oppression and privilege.
Assessment of the American Woodcock Singing-Ground Survey Zone Timing and Coverage

The American woodcock (Scolopax minor; hereafter, woodcock) Singing-Ground Survey (SGS) was developed to inform management decisions by monitoring changes in the relative abundance of woodcock. The timing of the designated survey windows was designed to count resident woodcock while minimizing counting of migrating woodcock. Since the implementation of the SGS in 1968, concerns over survey protocols that may bias data have been raised and investigated; however, the extent of survey coverage and the timing of the survey window zones have not been critically investigated. We used 3 years of data collected from male and female woodcock marked with satellite tags to assess the extent of survey coverage and the timing of the SGS survey windows relative to presence of woodcock. SGS coverage encompassed the majority of woodcock breeding-period sites (locations where marked woodcock returned to in spring) within the U.S. (n = 17, 92%) and approximately half of the breeding-period sites in Canada (n = 6, 43%). Thirteen of the 37 monitored woodcock with known breeding-period site arrival dates (35%) were migrating through a survey zone during an active survey window, all in the northernmost 4 of 5 SGS zones. Thirteen woodcock arrived at breeding-period sites after the start of surveys, and all but one of these was located in the northernmost 2 zones. The combination of migration through a SGS zone during the survey window and arrival at breeding-period sites after the beginning of the survey window in northern zones may result in the SGS weighing too heavily the contribution of routes in the southern portion of the primary breeding range, while weighing too lightly the routes in the northern portion of the primary breeding range. We suggest that additional information is necessary to evaluate whether current survey windows are sufficient, or whether they need to be changed.
Association Between Time to First RNA-Negative Test Result Among People With Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Homelessness or Testing at a Correctional or Substance Use Treatment Facility, New York City.

OBJECTIVE Curative treatments for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are available, but access and barriers to treatment can delay initiation. We investigated the time to first negative RNA test result among people with HCV infection and examined differences by homeless status and whether people were tested at a correctional facility or substance use treatment facility. METHODS We used surveillance data to identify New York City residents first reported with HCV infection during January 1, 2015-December 31, 2018, with ≥1 positive RNA test result during January 1, 2015-November 1, 2019. We used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to determine the time from the first positive RNA test result to the first negative RNA test result, with right-censoring at date of death or November 1, 2019. We determined substance use treatment, incarceration, or homelessness by ordering facility name and address or from patient residential address. RESULTS Of 13 952 people with an HCV RNA-positive test result first reported during 2015-2018, 6947 (49.8%) subsequently received an RNA-negative test result. Overall, 25% received an RNA-negative test result within 208 (95% CI, 200-216) days and 50% within 902 (95% CI, 841-966) days. Homelessness, incarceration, or substance use treatment was indicated for 4304 (30.9%) people, among whom 25% received an RNA-negative test result within 469 (95% CI, 427-520) days and <50% received an RNA-negative test result during the study period. CONCLUSIONS Efforts to connect people to treatment should occur soon after diagnosis, especially for people who could benefit from hepatitis C care coordination.
Universal Coverage: The Elusive Quest for National Health Insurance

Universal health coverage has become the Mount Everest of public policy in the United States: the most daunting challenge on the political landscape. But, despite numerous attempts, all efforts to achieve universal health care have failed. In Universal Coverage, Rick Mayes examines the peculiar and persistent lack of universal health coverage in America, its economic and political origins dating back to the 1930s, and the current consequences of this significant problem. Accessible, cleverly argued, and provocative. Mayes provides fresh answers to the enduring question of why the U.S. lacks national health insurance. ---Jonathan Oberlander, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Author of The Political Life of Medicare Aaron Wildavsky said good policy studies should use policy as a window on politics. Mayes does it brilliantly. --- Deborah Stone, Dartmouth College A readable and accessible account that is informed by previous scholarship yet backed up by telling details from historical archives. --- Jacob Hacker, Yale University This book makes a genuine contribution to the literatures on political institutions and interest groups. --- Kevin Esterling, University of California, Riverside Mayes is highly knowledgeable about health policy and his writing is clear and spirited. --- Martha Derthick, University of Virginia Rick Mayes is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy in the University of Richmond's Department of Political Science and a Faculty Research Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley's Petris Center on Healthcare Markets and Consumer Welfare.
Parameter selection for and implementation of a web-based decision-support tool to predict extubation outcome in premature infants

Approximately 30% of intubated preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) will fail attempted extubation, requiring reintubation and mechanical ventilation. Although ventilator technology and monitoring of premature infants have improved over time, optimal extubation remains challenging. Furthermore, extubation decisions for premature infants require complex informational processing, techniques implicitly learned through clinical practice. Computer-aided decision-support tools would benefit inexperienced clinicians, especially during peak neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) census. A five-step procedure was developed to identify predictive variables. Clinical expert (CE) thought processes comprised one model. Variables from that model were used to develop two mathematical models for the decision-support tool: an artificial neural network (ANN) and a multivariate logistic regression model (MLR). The ranking of the variables in the three models was compared using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. The best performing model was used in a web-based decision-support tool with a user interface implemented in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and the mathematical model employing the ANN. CEs identified 51 potentially predictive variables for extubation decisions for an infant on mechanical ventilation. Comparisons of the three models showed a significant difference between the ANN and the CE (p = 0.0006). Of the original 51 potentially predictive variables, the 13 most predictive variables were used to develop an ANN as a web-based decision-tool. The ANN processes user-provided data and returns the prediction 0–1 score and a novelty index. The user then selects the most appropriate threshold for categorizing the prediction as a success or failure. Furthermore, the novelty index, indicating the similarity of the test case to the training case, allows the user to assess the confidence level of the prediction with regard to how much the new data differ from the data originally used for the development of the prediction tool. State-of-the-art, machine-learning methods can be employed for the development of sophisticated tools to aid clinicians' decisions. We identified numerous variables considered relevant for extubation decisions for mechanically ventilated premature infants with RDS. We then developed a web-based decision-support tool for clinicians which can be made widely available and potentially improve patient care world wide.
Experimental study of a plasma-filled backward wave oscillator

We present experimental studies of a plasma-filled X-band backward wave oscillator (BWO). Depending on the background gas pressure, microwave frequency upshifts of up to 1 GHz appeared along with an enhancement by a factor of 7 in the total microwave power emission. The bandwidth of the microwave emission increased from ≤0.5 GHz to 2 GHz when the BWO was working at the RF power enhancement pressure region. The RF power enhancement appeared over a much wider pressure range in a high beam current case (10–100 mT for 3 kA) as compared to a lower beam case (80–115 mT for 1.6 kA). The plasma-filled BWO has higher power output compared to the vacuum BWO over a broader region of magnetic guide field strength. Trivelpiece-Gould modes (T-G modes) are observed with frequencies up to the background plasma frequency in a plasma-filled BWO. Mode competition between the Trivelpiece-Gould modes and the X-band TM 01 mode prevailed when the background plasma density was below 6×1011 cm−3. At a critical background plasma density of n cr ≅8×1011 cm−3 power enhancement appeared in both X-band and the T-G modes, with mode collaboration. Power enhancement of the S-band in this mode collaboration region reached up to 8 dB. Electric fields measured by Stark-effect method were as high as 34 kV/cm while BWO power level was 80 MW. These electric fields lasted throughout the high power microwave pulse.
Abstract 18305: Statin Use is Associated with Change in Coronary Artery Calcium Density: The Dallas Heart Study

Background: Statins are associated with lower CVD rates, but do not alter the progression of coronary artery calcium (CAC) burden over time. Recently, CAC density has been shown to have an inverse ...
Biomechanical reaction of the head in anterior horizontal translation of standing blindfolded subjects

Postural control biomechanical reaction to short external perturbations (∼1mm) was studied in blindfolded subjects while stood on a platform that was given a short anterior perturbation presented in one of 2 sequential 4s intervals (2-Alternative-Forced-Choice) for a set of 30 trials. Head acceleration in the anterior-posterior direction (AP) was considered as only biomechanical response to the perturbations. Our result revealed that postural control system response to external stimulus by producing a ringing signal in the head that could imply more vestibular system input, possibly from the otoliths.
Model complexity control and statisticallearning theory

We discuss the problem of model complexity control also known as model selection. This problem frequently arises in the context of predictive learning and adaptive estimation of dependencies from finite data. First we review the problem of predictive learning as it relates to model complexity control. Then we discuss several issues important for practical implementation of complexity control, using the framework provided by Statistical Learning Theory (or Vapnik-Chervonenkis theory). Finally, we show practical applications of Vapnik-Chervonenkis (VC) generalization bounds for model complexity control. Empirical comparisons of different methods for complexity control suggest practical advantages of using VC-based model selection in settings where VC generalization bounds can be rigorously applied. We also argue that VC-theory provides methodological framework for complexity control even when its technical results can not be directly applied.
Predicting Mercury(II) Binding by Organic Ligands: A Chemical Model of Therapeutic and Environmental Interests

Knowing binding constants for the complexes Hg(II) forms with organic ligands is of special importance from therapeutic and environmental perspectives. In this work, in light of critical discussion of the current literature on stability constants of Hg(II) complexes, a quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) for predicting equilibrium constants of Hg(II) binding by small organic molecules has been developed and validated. The QSPR has a standard error of prediction (Spred) value of 1.60 log units and describes 96.5% of the variability in data.
The New Role of the Internal Auditor: Implications for Internal Auditor Objectivity

The role of the internal auditor continues to evolve. The recent emphasis on consulting activities has brought new questions and concerns regarding the ability of internal auditors to function in an independent and objective manner. The purpose of this research is to explore whether internal auditors view their consulting role as one in which they are to provide objective feedback to management or one in which they are to provide solutions that they believe are in the best interests of their company. Specifically, we examine whether the internal auditors' judgments are dependent on their company's role (buyer or seller) in an acquisition. Results revealed that the role of the company in the negotiation process did influence judgments. This suggests that internal auditors are likely to assume the position that is in the best interests of their employer. Implications of these results are discussed as are suggested areas for future research.
The New Unitary Executive and Democratic Theory: The Problem of Alexander Hamilton

Central to the recent argument from the “unitary executive” is the claim that the unitary executive is consistent with the text and history of the Constitution. But because this veracity and importance of this claim is contested, unitarians also argue that the unitary executive is consistent with democratic theory. This article examines that argument by addressing a question in the political thought of Alexander Hamilton. Although Hamilton was an important defender of an energetic executive, and is associated with an expansive interpretation of executive power, he wrote in The Federalist that the president and Senate would share the removal power. In contrast with existing scholarship, which either overlooks Hamilton's statement on removals or dismisses it as a careless error, this article argues that Hamilton's statement limiting presidential removals illuminates his larger argument about executive energy. By showing how “duration” would check “unity,” this article clarifies Hamilton's political thought and offers an important critique of the modern argument from the unitary executive.
Expansion of B Cells Is Necessary for the Induction of T-Cell Tolerance Elicited through the Anterior Chamber of the Eye

Antigens injected into the anterior chamber (AC) of the eye induce a form of peripheral immune tolerance termed anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID). ACAID is initiated by F4/80+ ocular antigen-presenting cells (APC) which capture ocular antigens and migrate to the spleen where they transfer antigenic peptides to B cells, which act as ancillary APC for the induction of T-regulatory cells (T(reg)) that inhibit delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses. Here we show that ocular-like APC induce the expansion of tolerogenic splenic B cells. Furthermore, we show that inhibiting B-cell proliferation with either mitomycin-c or gamma-irradiation abolishes the ability of B cells to induce T(reg). To our knowledge, this is the first study to report that B-cell proliferation is needed for B-cell-induced T-cell tolerance.
Effect of Cultural Conditions and Media on the Antimicrobial Activity of Streptococcus Thermophilus

When Streptococcus thermophilus was grown in basal medium with or without fermentable carbohydrate (lactose, glucose or sucrose at 2% level), antimicrobial activity was detected only in the cell-free medium and cells were free of any antimicrobial activity. Peanut milk, soymilk and basal medium with a fermentable sugar supported the production of antimicrobial compound(s) by S. thermophilus. Milk-based medium did not appear to be a necessity for such activity. When tested independently, the optimum temperature for maximum production of antimocrobial activity by S. thermophilus in whole milk was 50°C while the optimum time of incubation was 48 hr. An initial pH of 6.0 resulted in maximum antimicrobial activity in basal medium with 2% lactose.