cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Erosive wear and impact damage of high-chromium white cast irons

Abstract High-chromium white cast irons are used extensively in environments where small particle impact causes considerable damage. In this study, three white cast irons with a variation in carbide volume fraction were eroded by spherical and angular particles. The white cast irons eroded at a higher rate when the erodent was WC–Co spheres than when the erodent was alumina particles. When eroded by spherical WC–Co particles, the eutectic white cast iron eroded at a higher rate than the hypoeutectic white cast iron. The results of the erosion experiments were interpreted in terms of a mechanism of platelet formation involving strain localization. The greater strain hardening rate of the hypoeutectic white cast iron can account for the better erosion resistance compared to the eutectic white cast iron, based on the strain localization mechanism. The larger size and greater density of the WC–Co spheres can account for the higher erosion rates of the white cast irons when eroded with WC–Co spheres compared to the erosion rate with alumina particles.
Dependency and ego-strength as indicators of patients' attendance in psychotherapy

Studied patients' decisions to continue treatment. Ss (N = 100) were adult, nonpsychotic outpatients, who received individual psychotherapy at least once a week. The collected data were analyzed to identify the number of patients and the mean number of sessions in each category of dependency and ego-strength. Findings indicated that there was no direct relationship between patients' dependency scores and the number of sessions in psychotherapy and between patients' ego-strength and attendance in psychotherapy. The data indicated, however, that a statistically inverse relationship existed between dependency and ego-strength scores. The conclusion was that neither dependency nor ego-strength are indicators for predicting patients' attendance in psychotherapy, at least when the population is composed of adult, nonpsychotic outpatients.
Comparative Positron-Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging and Phototherapeutic Potential of 124I- Labeled Methyl- 3-(1′-iodobenzyloxyethyl) pyropheophorbide-a vs. the Corresponding Glucose- and Galactose-Conjugates

In our present study, 3-(1′-m-iodobenzyloxyethyl)pyropheophorbide-a methyl ester 1, 3-(1′-m-iodobenzyloxyethyl)-172-{(2-deoxy)glucose}pyropheophorbide-a 2, and 3-(1′-m-iodobenzyloxyethyl)-172-{(1-deoxy)galactose}pyropheophorbide-a 3 were synthesized and converted into the corresponding 124I-labeled analogues by reacting the intermediate trimethyltin analogues with Na124I. Photosensitizers 1−3 were evaluated for the PDT efficacy in C3H mice bearing RIF tumors at variable doses and showed a significant long-term tumor cure. Among the compounds investigated, the non-carbohydrate analogue 1 was most effective. These results were in contrast to the in vitro data, where compared to the parent analogue the corresponding galactose and glucose derivatives showed enhanced cell kill. Among the corresponding 124I-labeled analogues, excellent tumor images were obtained from compound 1 in both tumor models (RIF and Colon-26) and the best tumor contrast was observed at 72 h after injection. Conjugating a glucose moiety ...
A CYTONUCLEAR INCOMPATIBILITY CAUSES ANTHER STERILITY IN MIMULUS HYBRIDS

Multilocus interactions (also known as Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities) are thought to be the major source of hybrid inviability and sterility. Because cytoplasmic and nuclear genomes have conflicting evolutionary interests and are often highly coevolved, cytonuclear incompatibilities may be among the first to develop in incipient species. Here, we report the discovery of cytoplasm-dependent anther sterility in hybrids between closely related Mimulus species, outcrossing M. guttatus and selfing M. nasutus. A novel pollenless anther phenotype was observed in F2 hybrids with the M. guttatus cytoplasm (F2G) but not in the reciprocal F2N hybrids, F1 hybrids or parental genotypes. The pattern of phenotypic segregation in the F2G hybrids and two backcross populations fit a Mendelian single-locus recessive model, allowing us to map the underlying nuclear locus to a small region on LG7 of the Mimulus linkage map. Anther sterility was associated with a 20% reduction in flower size in backcross hybrids and we mapped a major cytoplasm-dependent corolla width QTL with its peak at the anther sterility locus. We argue that the cytonuclear anther sterility seen in hybrids reflects the presence of a cryptic cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and restorer system within the hermaphroditic M. guttatus population and therefore name the anther sterility locus restorer-of-male-fertility (RMF). The genetic mapping of RMF is a first step toward testing hypotheses about the molecular basis, individual fitness consequences, and ecological context of CMS and restoration in a system without stable CMS-restorer polymorphism (i.e., gynodioecy). The discovery of cryptic CMS in a hermaphroditic wildflower further suggests that selfish cytoplasmic evolution may play an important, but often undetected, role in shaping patterns of hybrid incompatibility and interspecific introgression in plants.
The Shuttle puzzle [Space Suttle Columbia disaster]

Will the Columbia catastrophe prove to have been an "accident" in the strict sense of the word? The author discusses the causes of the Challenger disaster and possible causes of the Columbia disaster. The steps that led to the Columbia disaster-paved, like the road to hell, with good intentions and judgments that each in isolation look acceptable-are still being worked out. Only then will we be able to determine whether this event deserves to be called an accident of unforeseeable and unpreventable surprises-or is the grim consequence of incompetent engineering management.
Cellular Stoichiometry of the Chemotaxis Proteins in Bacillus subtilis

The chemoreceptor-CheA kinase-CheW coupling protein complex, with ancillary associated proteins, is at the heart of chemotactic signal transduction in bacteria. The goal of this work was to determine the cellular stoichiometry of the chemotaxis signaling proteins in Bacillus subtilis. Quantitative immunoblotting was used to determine the total number of chemotaxis proteins in a single cell of B. subtilis. Significantly higher levels of chemoreceptors and much lower levels of CheA kinase were measured in B. subtilis than in Escherichia coli. The resulting cellular ratio of chemoreceptor dimers per CheA dimer in B. subtilis is roughly 23.0 ± 4.5 compared to 3.4 ± 0.8 receptor dimers per CheA dimer observed in E. coli, but the ratios of the coupling protein CheW to the CheA dimer are nearly identical in the two organisms. The ratios of CheB to CheR in B. subtilis are also very similar, although the overall levels of modification enzymes are higher. When the potential binding partners of CheD are deleted, the levels of CheD drop significantly. This finding suggests that B. subtilis selectively degrades excess chemotaxis proteins to maintain optimum ratios. Finally, the two cytoplasmic receptors were observed to localize among the other receptors at the cell poles and appear to participate in the chemoreceptor complex. These results suggest that there are many novel features of B. subtilis chemotaxis compared with the mechanism in E. coli, but they are built on a common core.
A Linguistic Innovation of Women in Cairo.

This article investigates the sociolinguistic variable of apical palatalization in Cairene Arabic. First, I discuss its linguistic features and then its sociolinguistic distribution. The significance of palatalization as a sociolinguistic variable is its status as a stylistic resource of Cairene Arabic. Depending on the complex interaction of a number of factors, some Egyptians use features of Classical Arabic while speaking in Egyptian Arabic for stylistic purposes. Palatalization, on the other hand, is an example of a stylistic resource that belongs to Cairene Arabic proper. The roles of gender and social class in the distribution of palatalization are explored in some detail. As in a number of other speech communities, women in Cairo seem to have been the innovators of this sound change.
Accessing antecedents and outcomes of RFID implementation in health care

Abstract This research first conceptualizes, develops, and validates four constructs for studying RFID in health care, including Drivers (Internal and External), Implementation Level (Clinical Focus and Administrative Focus), Barriers (Cost Issues, Lack of Understanding, Technical Issues, and Privacy and Security Concerns), and Benefits (Patient Care, Productivity, Security and Safety, Asset Management, and Communication). Data for the study were collected from 88 health care organizations and the measurement scales were validated using structural equation modeling. Second, a framework is developed to discuss the causal relationships among the above mentioned constructs. It is found that Internal Drivers are positively related to Implementation Level, which in turn is positively related to Benefits and Performance. In addition, Barriers are found to be positively related to Implementation Level, which is in contrast to the originally proposed negative relationship. The research also compares perception differences regarding RFID implementation among the non-implementers, future implementers, and current implementers of RFID. It is found that both future implementers and current implementers consider RFID barriers to be lower and benefits to be higher compared to the non-implementers. This paper ends with our research implications, limitations and future research.
Vibrotactile force feedback system for minimally invasive surgical procedures

Lack of adequate force feedback for the surgeon in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) can lead to unnecessary trauma to tissue and adverse events during surgery. The successful use of vibrotactile stimulation to augment overloaded or deficient sensory modes in the human operator in other application areas warrants an investigation into its application in MIS. A vibrotactile force feedback system was designed, and its ability to provide useful force information to subjects performing a simulated MIS task was evaluated. Results showed that the system responds as predicted against the bottom surface of the foot, and that subjects were able to perceive a linear increase in force as linear increase in vibration intensity. Furthermore, vibrotacile force information increased one's sensitivity to tissue contact (1.3 N maximum force - no vibration, 1.0 N maximum force- fine step vibration feedback; p<0.001) and improved one's ability to consistently and accurately differentiate tissue softness in a simulated MIS task. Vibrotactile force feedback in MIS appears to have benefits which can lead to a decrease in trauma to tissue and adverse events.
FGFs and BMP4 induce both Msx1-independent and Msx1-dependent signaling pathways in early tooth development

During early tooth development, multiple signaling molecules are expressed in the dental lamina epithelium and induce the dental mesenchyme. One signal, BMP4, has been shown to induce morphologic changes in dental mesenchyme and mesenchymal gene expression via Msx1, but BMP4 cannot substitute for all the inductive functions of the dental epithelium. To investigate the role of FGFs during early tooth development, we examined the expression of epithelial and mesenchymal Fgfs in wild-type and Msx1 mutant tooth germs and tested the ability of FGFs to induce Fgf3 and Bmp4 expression in wild-type and Msx1 mutant dental mesenchymal explants. Fgf8 expression is preserved in Msx1 mutant epithelium while that of Fgf3 is not detected in Msx1 mutant dental mesenchyme. Moreover, dental epithelium as well as beads soaked in FGF1, FGF2 or FGF8 induce Fgf3 expression in dental mesenchyme in an Msx1-dependent manner. These results indicate that, like BMP4, FGF8 constitutes an epithelial inductive signal capable of inducing the expression of downstream signaling molecules in dental mesenchyme via Msx1. However, the BMP4 and FGF8 signaling pathways are distinct. BMP4 cannot induce Fgf3 nor can FGFs induce Bmp4 expression in dental mesenchyme, even though both signaling molecules can induce Msx1 and Msx1 is necessary for Fgf3 and Bmp4 expression in dental mesenchyme. In addition, we have investigated the effects of FGFs and BMP4 on the distal-less homeobox genes Dlx1 and Dlx2 and we have clarified the relationship between Msx and Dlx gene function in the developing tooth. Dlx1,Dlx2 double mutants exhibit a lamina stage arrest in maxillary molar tooth development (Thomas B. L., Tucker A. S., Qiu M., Ferguson C. A., Hardcastle Z., Rubenstein J. L. R. and Sharpe P. T. (1997) Development 124, 4811–4818). Although the maintenance of molar mesenchymal Dlx2 expression at the bud stage is Msx1-dependent, both the maintenance of Dlx1 expression and the initial activation of mesenchymal Dlx1 and Dlx2 expression during the lamina stage are not. Moreover, in contrast to the tooth bud stage arrest observed in Msx1 mutants, Msx1,Msx2 double mutants exhibit an earlier phenotype closely resembling the lamina stage arrest observed in Dlx1,Dlx2 double mutants. These results are consistent with functional redundancy between Msx1 and Msx2 in dental mesenchyme and support a model whereby Msx and Dlx genes function in parallel within the dental mesenchyme during tooth initiation. Indeed, as predicted by such a model, BMP4 and FGF8, epithelial signals that induce differential Msx1 and Msx2 expression in dental mesenchyme, also differentially induce Dlx1 and Dlx2 expression, and do so in an Msx1-independent manner. These results integrate Dlx1, Dlx2 and Fgf3 and Fgf8 into the odontogenic regulatory hierarchy along with Msx1, Msx2 and Bmp4, and provide a basis for interpreting tooth induction in terms of transcription factors which, individually, are necessary but not sufficient for the expression of downstream signals and therefore must act in specific combinations.
Scutellaria baicalensis decreases ritonavir-induced nausea.

Background Protease inhibitors, particularly ritonavir, causes significant gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, even at low doses. This ritonavir-induced nausea could be related to its oxidative stress in the gut. Alleviation of drug-induced nausea is important in effectively increasing patients' compliance and improving their quality of life. Conventional anti-emetic drugs can only partially abate the symptoms in these patients, and their cost has also been a concern. Rats respond to nausea-producing emetic stimuli by increasing consumption of non-nutritive substances like kaolin or clay, a phenomenon known as pica. In this study, we used this rat pica model to evaluate the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis, a commonly used oriental herbal medicine, on ritonavir-induced nausea.
Self-Inflicted Industry Wounds: Early Warning Signals and Pelican Gambits:

Systemic risks arising from underlying interdependencies can create havoc at an industry level and are often too formidable for any single firm to manage. The contagion effects of these risks, including the recent financial crisis, offshore oil spills, and the Japanese nuclear disaster, have upended industry practices. Sometimes they have even pulled economies apart at the seams. We recommend that leaders heed models of cooperative behavior found in nature by engaging in "Pelican Gambits," which we define as strategic moves towards cooperation in highly competitive economic environments for the purpose of limiting risk to one's firm, the industry and society.
International Economic Development and the Illusion of Legal Certainty

adverse effect, in the long run, upon the ability of underdeveloped coun tries to secure public money from governments of countries whose private investors complain about the matter. Numerous techniques have been advocated for dealing with this complex, ranging from ambitious investment codes of behavior to which host coun tries are desired to conform, through a variety of arbitral or litigative techniques designed to provide more adequate remedies for state action which injures investment, to reassessments of the international legal ideas of just compensation, and to the newer, postwar national and multilateral investment guaranties which insure against risks which eventuate. These and perhaps others will be discussed in the setting of the social change and accompanying conflict which we see about us.
Beyond 1984: The Anomalies of American Politics

Efforts to anticipate electoral politics in 1988 must deal with a number of anomalies or paradoxes. Ronald Reagan was reelected overwhelmingly and as of the first quarter of 1986 has the highest approval rating of any president at a comparable point in office, since polling began. But on issue after issue, sizeable majorities of Americans voice opposition to his specific policy positions. The Republicans have been the majority party on a presidential level in most postwar elections, but the Democrats have retained control of most state political offices, at least one house of Congress, and, as of early 1986, have regained a large lead in party identification. When the public is asked by pollsters to designate themselves as liberal or conservative, the latter consistently receives a plurality, but the term "progressive" turns out to be the most popular ideological self-descriptor of all. The historical record tells us that Americans almost invariably turn strongly against the party controlling the White House in the mid-year second term Congressional contests, and in presidential races in which there is no incumbent on the ballot. But the record also informs us that incumbent parties benefit greatly from economic upswings and prosperity, circumstances which will probably describe 1986 and may characterize 1988 as well.
Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Spin-Capable Carbon Nanotube Sheet/MnOx Composites for High-Performance Energy Storage Devices

Inspired by the high specific capacitances found using ultrathin films or nanoparticles of manganese oxides (MnO(x)), we have electrodeposited MnO(x) nanoparticles onto sheets of carbon nanotubes (CNT sheets). The resulting composites have high specific capacitances (C(sp) ≤ 1250 F/g), high charge/discharge rate capabilities, and excellent cyclic stability. Both the C(sp) and rate capabilities are controlled by the average size of the MnO(x) nanoparticles on the CNTs. They are independent of the number of layers of CNT sheets used to form an electrode. The high-performance composites result from a synergistic combination of large surface area and good electron-transport capabilities of the MnO(x) nanoparticles with the good conductivity of the CNT sheets. Such composites can be used as electrodes for lithium batteries and supercapacitors.
Does treatment of depression in ageing populations decrease risk of mortality

Commentary on: Gallo JJ, Morales KH, Bogner HR, et al. Long-term effect of depression care management on mortality in older adults: follow-up of cluster randomised clinical trial in primary care. BMJ 2013;346:f2570.[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] Multiple epidemiological studies have found that depression is a risk factor for mortality in ageing populations.1–⇓3 For instance, a recent meta-analysis found that comorbid depression increases the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with diabetes by about 50%.2 Systematic reviews have also found that comorbid depression increases the risk of mortality in patients with coronary artery disease by up to twofold.3 However, prior studies that enhanced the quality of treatment of depression and depressive outcomes in ageing populations or those with specific chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or heart disease, … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBMJ%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1136%252Fbmj.f2570%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F23738992%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=bmj&resid=346/jun05_2/f2570&atom=%2Febmed%2F19%2F2%2F60.atom
Clinical manifestations and X-ray features of 43 elderly tuberculosis patients detected by physical examination in centers for disease control and prevention

Objective To study the X-ray manifestations of elderly tuberculosis. Methods Of the 28 902 elderly people who received physical examination in our center from January 2008 to December 2012,43 elderly people found to have tuberculosis were analyzed. Forty-four middle-aged and young people with tuberculosis were selected as the comparable group. Results According to the diagnostic standards of New classification method of tuberculosis (1998),tuberculosis was mainly divided into type Ⅰ ,type Ⅱ ,type Ⅲ ,type Ⅳ and type Ⅴ . The two groups lacked statistically significant difference in the type distribution of tuberculosis (P 0.05). The elderly group and the comparable group had statistically significant differences in the extent of disease and the bronchial dissemination condition (P0.05). The two groups had statistically significant difference in the proportion of disease type (P0.05). Conclusion In routine physical examination,X-ray examination has a high diagnostic value for elderly tuberculosis and therefore more attention should be paid to the X-ray examination in elderly physical examination.
Cell contact regulates neuroblast formation in the Caenorhabditis elegans lateral epidermis.

A single line of epidermal seam cells lies along each side of the nematode C. elegans. During normal development, one of these cells, V5, produces a neuroblast that will give rise to a sensory structure, the postdeirid. If seam cells located either anterior or posterior to V5 are ablated however, this neuroblast formation is blocked. Because of this requirement for the presence of adjacent seam cells, we have asked whether V59s ability to produce a neuroblast depends on direct contact with its seam cell neighbors. We find that direct contact between seam cells is required for commitment to neuroblast production. Seam cells lose and reform their contacts with each other as they go through rounds of cell division during larval development. Signaling required for neuroblast formation occurs when the seam cells make contact after their first round of division. If this contact is prevented, no neuroblast is made; when it is delayed, the time of signaling is also delayed. The characteristics of these signals suggest that a seam cell must be part of a continuous epithelium in order to develop normally and that signaling may occur via a cell recognition/cell adhesion pathway. The effect of seam cell ablations on neuroblast formation is altered in mab-5(−) animals, suggesting that this HOM-C gene is part of the pathway by which seam cell signaling controls the decision to make a postdeirid neuroblast.
Dielectric behavior of barium titmate single crystals in the paraelectric state

The non-linearity of the dielectric behavior of Barium Titanate single crystals above the 120°C transition has been investigated in the temperature range 120°C to 150°C. The single crystals used in this experiment were grown in our laboratory. They are characterized by a very high peak of the dielectric constant at the Curie point (16,000).
89. In Silico Reconstruction of AAV Evolutionary Intermediates To Identify Genetic Determinants of Capsid Function

Study of naturally occurring isolates of adeno-associated virus has revealed a wide range of phenotypes across several viral characteristics relevant to gene therapy. These fundamental differences in viral properties such as receptor binding, particle assembly, and capsid stability are believed to influence vector properties such as tissue tropism and the efficiency of gene transfer. Although well described, many of these properties of AAV capsids have proven difficult to modulate with traditional biochemical and molecular techniques, such as domain swapping. Epistatic interactions between seemingly disparate mutations along the evolutionary lineage of AAV may be a contributing factor to these difficulties. The goal of our project is to leverage the evolutionary history of AAV towards the end of engineering viral capsids modulated in these viral properties, and in doing so, elucidating novel genetic determinants of capsid function.In this project, our group performed an in-silico, maximum likelihood reconstruction of several putative evolutionary intermediates of AAV. We have predicted, synthesized, and have begun to characterize nine such capsids in vitro, and in vivo. These capsids constitute structurally distinct and phenotypically novel vectors, differing between 1% and 9% in terms of amino acid identity from previously described vectors, and remain capable of gene transfer. The putative evolutionary intermediates demonstrate log-fold differences in particle assembly, producing between 3% and 183% of AAV8 production levels. Moreover, the newly designed and synthesized capsids transduce cells at levels 25% to 851% of AAV8 levels measured through titer-controlled in vitro infectivity experiments. Towards the end of compensating for the uncertainty inherent to our probabilistic methods, we describe a technique for rapidly introducing targeted mutations into an AAV capsid gene, thereby creating well-defined libraries of capsids. Our studies provide novel vector reagents for gene transfer, and are expected to lead to mechanistic and structural insights into AAV biology of transduction and host interaction.
Separation in condensers as a way to improve efficiency

Abstract This paper introduces the concept of separation of two-phase flow in condensers and discusses its possible application of enhancing the heat transfer performance by capitalizing on the high local heat transfer coefficient of vapor flow. The benefit of vapor–liquid refrigerant separation and the reason why it will improve the condenser performance are explained. Numerical studies are performed on an R-134a microchannel condenser. Model predicts that at the same mass flow rate, the exit temperature is lower by 1.3 K in the separation condenser than in the baseline condenser while the difference of pressure drop remains within 2%. 6.1% more flow rate of condensate is predicted in the separation condenser as another comparison criterion. In addition, the trade-off between high quality and low mass flux for the vapor path downstream of the separation header is investigated by the model and results are presented. Modeling is conducted with pre-assumed separation efficiency in the header. The real value requires further investigation.
Appraising Newness: Whiteness, Neoliberalism & the Building of the Archive for New Poetry

The Archive for New Poetry (ANP) at the University of California San Diego was founded with the specific intention of collecting alternative, small press publications and acquiring the manuscripts of contemporary new poets. The ANP’s stated collection development priority was to acquire alternative, non-mainstream, emerging, “experimental” poets as they were writing and alive, and to provide a space in which their papers could live, along with recordings of their poetry readings. In this article, I argue that through racialized understandings of innovation and new, whiteness positions the ANP’s collection development priority. I interrogate two main points in this article: 1) How does whiteness—though visible and open—remain unquestioned as an archival practice? and 2) How are white archives financed and managed? Utilizing the ANP’s financial proposals, internal administrative correspondences, and its manuscript appraisals and collections, I argue that the ANP’s collection development priority is racialized, and this prioritization is institutionally processed by literary scholarship that linked innovation to whiteness. Until very recently, US Experimental and “avant-garde” poetry has been indexed to whiteness. The indexing of whiteness to experimentation, or the “new” can be witnessed in the ANP’s collection development priorities, appraisals, and acquisitions. I argue that the structure of the manuscripts acquired by the ANP reflect literary scholarship that theorized new poetry as being written solely by white poets and conclude by examining the absences in the Archive for New Poetry.
mBalloon: enabling elastic memory management for big data processing

Big Data processing often suffers from significant memory pressure, resulting in excessive garbage collection (GC) and out-of-memory (OOM) errors, harming system performance and reliability. Therefore, users tend to give an excessive heap size to applications to avoid job failure, causing low cluster utilization. In this paper, we demonstrate that lightweight virtualization, such as OS containers, opens up opportunities to address memory pressure: 1) tasks running in a container can be set to a large heap size to avoid OOM errors without worrying about thrashing the host machine; 2) tasks that are under memory pressure and incur significant GC activities can be temporarily "suspended" by depriving the hosting container's resources, and can be "resumed" later when other tasks complete and release their resources. We propose and develop mBalloon, an elastic memory manager, that leverages containers to flexibly and precisely control the memory usage of big data tasks. Applications running with mBalloon can survive from memory pressure, incur less GC overhead and help improve cluster utilization.
SEALANT: A detection and visualization tool for inter-app security vulnerabilities in androic

Android’s flexible communication model allows interactions among third-party apps, but it also leads to inter-app security vulnerabilities. Specifically, malicious apps can eavesdrop on interactions between other apps or exploit the functionality of those apps, which can expose a user’s sensitive information to attackers. While the state-of-the-art tools have focused on detecting inter-app vulnerabilities in Android, they neither accurately analyze realistically large numbers of apps nor effectively deliver the identified issues to users. This paper presents SEALANT, a novel tool that combines static analysis and visualization techniques that, together, enable accurate identification of inter-app vulnerabilities as well as their systematic visualization. SEALANT statically analyzes architectural information of a given set of apps, infers vulnerable communication channels where inter-app attacks can be launched, and visualizes the identified information in a compositional representation. SEALANT has been demonstrated to accurately identify inter-app vulnerabilities from hundreds of real-world Android apps and to effectively deliver the identified information to users. (Demo Video: https://youtu.be/E4lLQonOdUw)
Modeling the glacial lake outburst flood process chain in the Nepal Himalaya: reassessing Imja Tsho's hazard

Abstract. The Himalayas of South Asia are home to many glaciers that are retreating due to climate change and causing the formation of large glacial lakes in their absence. These lakes are held in place by naturally deposited moraine dams that are potentially unstable. Specifically, an impulse wave generated by an avalanche or landslide entering the lake can destabilize the moraine dam, thereby causing a catastrophic failure of the moraine and a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF). Imja-Lhotse Shar Glacier is amongst the glaciers experiencing the highest rate of mass loss in the Mount Everest region, in part due to the expansion of Imja Tsho. A GLOF from this lake may have the potential to cause catastrophic damage to downstream villages, threatening both property and human life, which prompted the Nepali government to construct outlet works to lower the lake level. Therefore, it is essential to understand the processes that could trigger a flood and quantify the potential downstream impacts. The avalanche-induced GLOF process chain was modeled using the output of one component of the chain as input to the next. First, the volume and momentum of various avalanches entering the lake were calculated using Rapid Mass Movement Simulation (RAMMS). Next, the avalanche-induced waves were simulated using the Basic Simulation Environment for Computation of Environmental Flow and Natural Hazard Simulation (BASEMENT) model and validated with empirical equations to ensure the proper transfer of momentum from the avalanche to the lake. With BASEMENT, the ensuing moraine erosion and downstream flooding was modeled, which was used to generate hazard maps downstream. Moraine erosion was calculated for two geomorphologic models: one site-specific using field data and another worst-case based on past literature that is applicable to lakes in the greater region. Neither case resulted in flooding outside the river channel at downstream villages. The worst-case model resulted in some moraine erosion and increased channelization of the lake outlet, which yielded greater discharge downstream but no catastrophic collapse. The site-specific model generated similar results, but with very little erosion and a smaller downstream discharge. These results indicated that Imja Tsho is unlikely to produce a catastrophic GLOF due to an avalanche in the near future, although some hazard exists within the downstream river channel, necessitating continued monitoring of the lake. Furthermore, these models were designed for ease and flexibility such that local or national agency staff with reasonable training can apply them to model the GLOF process chain for other lakes in the region.
Entheseal changes and demographic/health indicators in the upper extremity of modern Americans: Associations with age and physical activity

The purpose of this study is to further the understanding of the relationship between age and entheseal changes by using trends in living Americans compared to skeletal remains of modern Americans, which are applicable to the bioarchaeological record. Documentation of age, activity level, BMI, stature, and body mass were combined with entheseal change scores gathered from the upper extremity to statistically test the relationship between age and entheseal change with and without controls of documented demographic and health factors. An active subsample was constructed using self-reported repetitive activities and discernment of position within stated career. Fibrocartilaginous entheses reported in the literature to be better suited to estimate occupation were separated from other entheses. A series of Cochran-Mantel-Hanzel and ANOVA-based tests were applied to the data. Interobserver reliability was also examined with a linear-weighted Cohen's Kappa. Statistical analysis shows only one enthesis has a significant positive relationship with age and two with activity. BMI and body mass were associated with nine entheses that were spread across the occupation-associated fibrocartilaginous entheses and all other entheses. Interobserver reliability ranged from low to substantial agreement. Interobserver error estimates suggest some entheses are more reliable than others. Results provide little support for a relationship between age and entheseal changes, activity and entheseal changes, and occupation-associated fibrocartilaginous entheses, which partially coincides with previous research. An increase in activity with age in our sample, around the age of retirement, mirrors trends in living Americans and supports our conclusions. For bioarchaeologists, these results suggest interpretations of entheses should revolve around body size rather than activity levels.
SpaceTokens: Interactive Map Widgets for Location-centric Interactions

Map users often need to interact repetitively with multiple important locations. For example, a traveler may frequently check her hotel or a train station on a map, use them to localize an unknown location, or investigate routes involving them. Ironically, these location-centric tasks cannot be performed using locations directly; users must instead pan and zoom the map or use a menu to access locations. We propose SpaceTokens, interactive widgets that act as clones of locations, and which users can create and place on map edges like virtual whiteboard magnets. SpaceTokens make location a first-class citizen of map interaction. They empower users to rapidly perform location-centric tasks directly using locations: users can select combinations of on-screen locations and SpaceTokens to control the map window, or connect them to create routes. Participants in a study overwhelmingly preferred a SpaceTokens prototype over Google Maps on identical smartphones for the majority of tasks.
Dexamethasone as an Adjuvant to Femoral Nerve Block in Children and Adolescents Undergoing Knee Arthroscopy: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background and Objectives Perineural dexamethasone has been demonstrated to extend postsurgical analgesia after peripheral nerve blockade in adults. The mechanism of action of dexamethasone as a regional anesthetic adjuvant is unclear as intravenous dexamethasone has been shown to have similar analgesic efficacy as perineural dexamethasone. The efficacy of perineural dexamethasone has not been previously explored in the pediatric population. Methods After obtaining informed consent, children (aged 10–18 years) presenting for arthroscopic knee surgery with a femoral nerve block were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: ropivacaine 0.5% and intramuscular saline (group R), ropivacaine 0.5% plus perineural dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg (maximum 4 mg) and intramuscular saline (group D), and ropivacaine 0.5% and intramuscular dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg (maximum 4 mg) (group M). The primary outcome was the number of doses of analgesic agents in the first 48 hours after hospital discharge. The number of doses was compared across study groups using Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results Seventy-seven patients were enrolled in the study, of whom 4 were withdrawn because of additional surgical repair being performed, emergence delirium requiring unblinding, or loss to follow-up. The remaining 36 boys and 37 girls (aged 15 ± 2 years) included 23 patients randomized to group D, 23 patients randomized to group M, and 27 patients randomized to group R. The median number of pain medication doses within 48 hours of discharge was 2, 3, and 2 in groups D, M, and R, respectively. There were no significant differences in this outcome between groups D and M (difference in medians, 1; 95% confidence interval [CI] of difference in medians, −1 to 2; P = 0.475), groups D and R (difference in medians, 0; 95% CI of difference, −2 to 1; P = 0.821), or groups M and R (difference in medians, −1; 95% CI of difference, −2 to 1; P = 0.594). Other secondary outcomes, including time to first analgesic consumption after discharge, visual analog scale pain score, and subjective intensity of motor block, did not evince statistically significant differences among the study groups. Conclusions In the pediatric population, perineural or intramuscular dexamethasone did not improve analgesia after femoral nerve blockade for knee arthroscopy. Whether the observed lack of benefit reflects a true adult-pediatric difference or a limitation of the study could not be determined. Future pediatric studies are needed to evaluate dexamethasone for other block types and other types of surgery. Clinical Trial Registration This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT01971645.
Activity-Based Costing: Does it Warrant Inclusion in a Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)?:

Profit is a critical consideration in project selection. Using traditional cost-accounting techniques standardized during the Industrial Age, estimators and accountants determine project costs. Tho...
Determinants of reovirus interaction with the intestinal M cells and absorptive cells of murine intestine.

Abstract Reovirus type 1 penetrates the gastrointestinal tract in suckling mice via specialized epithelial cells, designated membranous cells, or M cells, located in the epithelium overlying Peyer's patches. We have examined whether the interaction of reovirus with murine mucosa of in situ closed ileal loops is influenced by mouse age or strain or reovirus serotype. Neither mouse age (suckling or adult), strain (C 3 H/HeJ or Balb/cJ), nor reovirus serotype (types 1 and 3) affected reovirus adherence to and transport through M cells. In all conditions, reovirions adhered to the M-cell surface and were transported across M cells in endocytic vesicles. The adherence to and endocytosis by M cells of type 1 reovirus and reassortants with the viral hemagglutinin of type 1 were selective in suckling mice; type 1 virus was not adherent to nor endocytosed by absorptive cells. In adult mice, type 1 reovirions adhered to the surface of a minority of absorptive cells but were never seen within absorptive cell cytoplasm. In contrast, type 3 reovirus and reassortants with the viral hemagglutinin of type 3 adhered to and were endocytosed not only by M cells but also by absorptive cells of suckling mice. Virions accumulated within lyso-somelike bodies in absorptive cells but transport of virions across absorptive cells was not observed. These studies indicate that (a) adherence of reovirus to the apical surface of and transcellular transport by M cells is independent of viral serotype or viral surface proteins, (b) adherence of reovirus to and transcellular transport by M cells is independent of mouse age after 9 days and comparable in two mouse strains, and (c) adherence of reovirus to and their endocytosis by absorptive cells of suckling mice is determined by the viral hemagglutinin ( σ 1 protein).
Structural Health Monitoring Systems for Bridge Decks and Rehabilitated Precast Prestress Concrete Beams

Bridges are an integral part of a highway network and represent a multi-billion dollar investment. It is imperative that they are always open to traffic, resistant to natural disaster, and undaunted by millions of loading cycles per year. However, bridges are expensive to maintain and do occasionally fail. Early signs of deterioration are often not seen because concrete, some type of deck overlay, paint, protective wrap or other bridge components mask them.
Can We (Anti)Trust LEED?: An Analysis of the Antitrust Implications for the Green Building Movement

Sustainable construction and energy efficient structures are en vogue, and a “green building movement” has produced buildings all over the country and the world that are constructed from sustainable, energy efficient materials meant to minimize the building’s impact on the environment. A leader in this movement is the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a private, non-profit organization that stresses sustainability in all areas of construction. The USGBC’s flagship work is a rating system called Leadership in Environmental Design (LEED) that measures and endorses the sustainability of a building. The success of this movement in general and the LEED rating in particular could be compromised, however, by the possibility of antitrust liability deriving from the widespread adoption of the LEED standard. This Note examines the green building movement and relevant antitrust case law and recommends ways that the USGBC can avoid antitrust scrutiny and continue its important work.
Designing and implementing unsupervised online database labs

Lab-based learning that provides students with hands-on experience is an integral component of Computer Science (CS) education. Unfortunately, CS departments in many small institutions often lack the resources necessary to offer a full spectrum of lab courses in their curriculum. In this article, we present the setup and contents of a sequence of unsupervised online labs for a typical undergraduate database course. Problems that occurred during the implementation of the labs and how they were addressed are also discussed. The labs were designed to be fully self-explanatory with no need for teaching assistants, extra credit hours, or physical laboratories. The labs incorporate a tutorial style which allows students to learn new technologies outside of the classroom and apply them to a comprehensive course project. Multiple years of feedbacks indicated that the labs were effective in helping students learn and preparing them for real-world applications. Our experience shows that unsupervised labs, if properly designed and administered, can be a promising alternative to physical labs in CS education.
Upfront middle meningeal artery embolization for treatment of chronic subdural hematomas in patients with or without midline shift.

ObjectivesThere is limited data on upfront middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization in the context of significant midline shift (MLS) (greater than 5mm) for the treatment of chronic subdural hema...
Integrating Screening and Treatment of Unhealthy Alcohol Use and Depression with Screening and Treatment of Anxiety, Pain, and Other Substance Use Among People with HIV and Other High-Risk Persons

We review and synthesize results from a series of analyses estimating the benefit of screening for unhealthy alcohol use, depression, and tobacco to detect individuals at heightened risk for co-occurring anxiety, pain, depression, unhealthy alcohol use, and other substance use among people with HIV and HIV-uninfected individuals in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study. We also examine the potential impact of reducing unhealthy alcohol use and depressive symptoms on the incidence of co-occurring conditions. We found that screening for alcohol and depression may help identify co-occurring symptoms of anxiety, depression, and pain interference, treating unhealthy alcohol use may improve co-occurring pain interference and substance use, and improving depressive symptoms may improve co-occurring anxiety, pain interference, and smoking. We propose that an integrated approach to screening and treatment for unhealthy alcohol use, depression, anxiety, pain, and other substance use may facilitate diagnostic assessment and treatment of these conditions, improving morbidity and mortality.
Micro Units and the First Translational Response Universal

In this chapter, we investigate the first translational response universal which posits that translators mentally segment texts into units that can be kept in memory and processed by their available cognitive resources. We investigate the observable traces of the first translational response, i.e., keystrokes, gaze patterns, and pauses of the translator’s first translation draft, which reveal characteristics that cohere, among other things, with the language pair, the properties of the text to be translated, and the “longest stretch of translation that a translator can deal with at once” (Malmkjaer, Translation universals, 91, 2011). Our findings suggest that the typing pause that precedes the initial translational response depends—among other things—on the information content of the source and the non-literality of the translation, i.e., the syntactic and semantic cross-linguistic similarity. We relate our findings to the literal translation hypothesis showing that the first translational response is likely to be more literal than successive revised versions. If is also more literal when the preceding pause is short. We conclude that translators tend to proceed in the most compositional manner and produce the shortest possible stretch of translation that the context allows for.
Basic quadratic forms

A brief classical introduction Quadratic spaces and lattices Valuations, local fields, and $p$-adic numbers Quadratic spaces over $\mathbb{Q}_p$ Quadratic spaces over $\mathbb{Q}$ Lattices over principal ideal domains Initial integral results Local classification of lattices The local-global approach to lattices Lattices over $\mathbb{F}_q[x]$ Applications to cryptography Further reading Bibliography Index.