cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lunar Phases and Emergency Department Visits for Renal Colic Due to Ureteral Calculus.

Background Urolithiasis affects an estimated 5% of the population and the lifetime risk of passing a stone in the urinary tract is estimated to be 8–10%. Urinary calculus formation is highly variable and while certain risk factors such as age, gender, seasonality, anatomic abnormality, and metabolic diseases have been identified, not much is known regarding the association of environmental factors such as lunar phases on renal colic. We conducted a retrospective study to test the hypothesis that full moon phase is an environmental factor associated for increased emergency department (ED) visits for renal colic due to ureteral calculus. Methods We analyzed 559 renal colic diagnoses by the ED at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in a 24-month period and compared them with corresponding lunar phases as well as supermoon events. The lunar phases were defined as full moon ± two days, new moon ± two days, and the days in-between as normal days according to the lunar calendar. Supermoon event dates were obtained from NASA. Results 90 cases (16.1%) were diagnosed during full moon phase, 89 cases (15.9%) were diagnosed during new moon phase, and 380 cases (68.0%) were diagnosed during normal days. The incidence of renal colic showed no statistically significant association with lunar phases or supermoon events. Conclusion In this retrospective longitudinal study with adequate power, neither full moon phase nor supermoon event exhibited an association with increased renal colic diagnoses due to ureteral calculus by the ED at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Enabling Practical Backscatter Communication for On-body Sensors

In this paper, we look at making backscatter practical for ultra-low power on-body sensors by leveraging radios on existing smartphones and wearables (e.g. WiFi and Bluetooth). The difficulty lies in the fact that in order to extract the weak backscattered signal, the system needs to deal with self-interference from the wireless carrier (WiFi or Bluetooth) without relying on built-in capability to cancel or reject the carrier interference. Frequency-shifted backscatter (or FS-Backscatter) is based on a novel idea --- the backscatter tag shifts the carrier signal to an adjacent non-overlapping frequency band (i.e. adjacent WiFi or Bluetooth band) and isolates the spectrum of the backscattered signal from the spectrum of the primary signal to enable more robust decoding. We show that this enables communication of up to 4.8 meters using commercial WiFi and Bluetooth radios as the carrier generator and receiver. We also show that we can support a range of bitrates using packet-level and bit-level decoding methods. We build on this idea and show that we can also leverage multiple radios typically present on mobile and wearable devices to construct multi-carrier or multi-receiver scenarios to improve robustness. Finally, we also address the problem of designing an ultra-low power tag that can frequency shift by 20MHz while consuming tens of micro-watts. Our results show that FS-Backscatter is practical in typical mobile and static on-body sensing scenarios while only using commodity radios and antennas.
Mistreatment and the learning environment for medical students on general surgery clerkship rotations: What do key stakeholders think?

Abstract Background Mistreatment has potential downstream effects on students. General surgery rotations tend to have a higher incidence of mistreatment reports. This study was undertaken to identify dominant themes contributing to a negative learning environment. Methods A qualitative study was performed using Delphi consensus technique to develop a discussion guide. Four focus groups were performed (n = 30 participants) with medical students, residents, nurses, and attending surgeons. Participants were selected using purposive-stratified criterion-based sampling. Results Multiple themes emerged: 1) unclear expectations for medical students; 2) passive mistreatment (neglect); 3) failure to integrate students into surgical team; 4) witnessed or experienced active mistreatment, 5) negative attitude of residents towards medical students' lack of knowledge. Conclusions Medical student mistreatment persists and is a threat to the learning environment and individual learning process. Passive mistreatment (neglect) represents the most distressing component of mistreatment. These findings suggest a need for education aimed at surgical residents and others in the learning environment.
Mean first passage time in a thermally fluctuating viscoelastic fluid

Abstract The motion of a passive spherical particle in a fluid has been widely described via a balance of force equations known as a Generalized Langevin Equation (GLE) where the covariance of the thermal force is related to the time memory function of the fluid. For viscous fluids, this relationship is simply a delta function in time, while for a viscoelastic fluid it depends on the constitutive equation of the fluid memory function. In this paper, we consider a general setting for linear viscoelasticity which includes both solvent and polymeric contributions, and a family of memory functions known as the generalized Rouse kernel. We present a statistically exact algorithm to generate paths which allows for arbitrary large time steps and which relies on the numerical evaluation of the covariance of the velocity process. As a consequence of the viscoelastic properties of the fluid, the particle exhibits subdiffusive behavior, which we verify as a function of the free parameters in the generalized Rouse kernel. We then numerically compute the mean first passage time of a passive particle through layers of different widths and establish that, for the generalized Rouse kernel, the mean first passage time grows quadratically with the layer’s width independently of the free parameters. Along the way, we also find the linear scaling of the mean first passage time for a layer of fixed width as a function of the particle’s radius.
Diffusion of small Cu islands on the Ni(111) surface: A self-learning kinetic Monte Carlo study

Abstract We elucidate the diffusion kinetics of a heteroepitaxial system consisting of two-dimensional small (1–8 atoms) Cu islands on the Ni(111) surface at (100–600) K using the Self-Learning Kinetic Monte Carlo (SLKMC-II) method. Study of the statics of the system shows that compact CuN (3≤N≤8) clusters made up of triangular units on fcc occupancy sites are the energetically most stable structures of those clusters. Interestingly, we find a correlation between the height of the activation energy barrier (Ea) and the location of the transition state (TS). The Ea of processes for Cu islands on the Ni(111) surface are in general smaller than those of their counterpart Ni islands on the same surface. We find this difference to correlate with the relative strength of the lateral interaction of the island atoms in the two systems. While our database consists of hundreds of possible processes, we identify and discuss the energetics of those that are the most dominant, or are rate-limiting, or most contributory to the diffusion of the islands. Since the Ea of single- and multi-atom processes that convert compact island shapes into non-compact ones are larger (with a significantly smaller Ea for their reverse processes) than that for the collective (concerted) motion of the island, the later dominate in the system kinetics -- except for the cases of the dimer, pentamer and octamer. Short-jump involving one atom, long jump dimer-shearing, and long-jump corner shearing (via a single-atom) are, respectively, the dominating processes in the diffusion of the dimer, pentamer and octamer. Furthermore single-atom corner-rounding are the rate-limiting processes for the pentamer and octamer islands. Comparison of the energetics of selected processes and lateral interactions obtained from semi-empirical interatomic potentials with those from density functional theory show minor quantitative differences and overall qualitative agreement.
Endoscopic Lateral Cartilage Graft Tympanoplasty

Objective To describe a novel technique for lateral graft tympanoplasty. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary care university hospital. Subjects and Methods Pediatric and adult patients with tympanic membrane perforations deemed unfavorable for a medial graft technique due to the perforation characteristics or myringitis. Results Between 2014 and 2016, 34 ears from 31 patients underwent a transcanal endoscopic lateral cartilage graft tympanoplasty. The mean age was 24.4 years (range, 6-71 years), and 22 patients (65%) were younger than 18 years. All patients had tympanic membrane perforations. Eighteen patients (53%) had total or near-total perforations, leaving a minimal anterior remnant, and 16 patients (47%) had extensive myringitis. A bisected tragal cartilage-perichondrium shield graft was used in 33 patients (97%). The mean (SD) follow-up length was 9.8 (5.7) months. Initial perforation closure rate was 88.2% (30/34). Three of the persistent perforations underwent a revision endoscopic medial graft tympanoplasty with successful closure, leaving a final closure rate of 97.1% (33/34). Five patients (15%) required topical therapy for postoperative myringitis. Mean (SD) pure-tone average and air-bone gap significantly improved by 11.5 (10.7) dB ( P < .001) and 11.4 (10.6) dB ( P < .001), respectively. Twenty-seven patients (79%) closed their air-bone gap within 20 dB. Conclusion Transcanal endoscopic lateral cartilage graft tympanoplasty is feasible, and initial data support favorable outcomes. Further data are necessary for evaluation of long-term results and efficacy comparisons.
Successful transplantation of HLA-matched and HLA-mismatched umbilical cord blood from unrelated donors: analysis of engraftment and acute graft-versus-host disease

To reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with unrelated donor bone marrow (BM) transplantation and potentially extend the pool of suitable donors, cryopreserved unrelated donor umbilical cord blood was considered as an alternate source of hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation. Patients with leukemia, BM failure syndrome, or inborn error of metabolism were eligible for a phase I clinical trial designed to estimate the risk of graft failure and severe acute graft-versus-host disease after transplantation of umbilical cord blood from unrelated donors. As of December 21, 1995, unrelated donor umbilical cord blood was used to reconstitute hematopoiesis in eighteen patients aged 0.1 to 21.3 years weighing 3.3 to 78.8 kg with acquired or congenital lympho-hematopoietic disorders or metabolic disease. Patients received either HLA-matched (n = 7) or HLA-1 to 3 antigen disparate (n = 11) grafts collected and evaluated by the New York Blood Center (New York, NY). The probability of engraftment after unrelated donor umbilical cord blood transplantation was 100% with no patient having late graft failure to date. The probability of grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease at 100 days was 11%. With a median follow-up of 6 months (range, 1.6 to 17 months); the probability of survival at 6 months is 65% in this high risk patient population. We conclude that cryopreserved umbilical cord blood from HLA-matched and mismatched unrelated donors is a sufficient source of transplantable hematopoietic stem cells with high probability of donor derived engraftment and low risk of refractory severe acute graft-versus-host disease. Limitations with regard to recipient size and degree of donor HLA disparity remain to be determined.
The Transition to Adulthood Matters

Three ways that researchers can continue to move forward in the study of the transition to adulthood are offered by Schoon (Chap. 9): (1) address the considerable and increasing heterogeneity in the timing and sequencing of social role attainments ; (2) attend to the influence of socioeconomic background, childhood, and adolescent behaviors and orientations that influence social role attainment heterogeneity; and (3) consider indicators of adulthood in addition to the Big 5 markers (i.e., school completion, work acquisition, residential independence, union formation, and parenthood) that signify more or less successful transitions, such as life satisfaction and positive well-being. We describe how researchers can use multilevel latent class models to analyze the heterogeneity of adult role attainment across time. These models can help look at how the timing and sequencing of role attainment has changed, especially as roles such as school completion and parenting are occurring progressively later in life. Multilevel models can include childhood orientations, behaviors, and backgrounds, as well as other markers of successful transitioning, to help further explain the heterogeneity in life course experiences for different groups at different ages.
Loss of Consciousness Following Head Trauma

A 40-year-old male motorcyclist is brought to the emergency room by paramedics after rear-ending a car at highway speeds. He was wearing a helmet, but was thrown from his motorcycle. He was awake in the field, but then quickly became unconscious. His airway is patent and his respiration is shallow and irregular. His blood pressure is 150/90 mmHg, heart rate is 60/min, and respiratory rate is 20/min. In response to sternal rub, the patient moans and withdraws his right upper and lower extremity, he does not move the left upper or lower extremity, and he does not open his eyes (GCS of 7). His right pupil is 6 mm and nonreactive, while his left is 3 mm and reactive to light. There is no obvious head injury or laceration. There is no discharge from the nose or ears; however, there is right hemotympanum. The oropharynx is clear. The remainder of the physical examination is normal.
Wer ist Wir?: Die Konstruktion von Communities im US-Mexikanischen Grenzdiskurs

Im folgenden Beitrag soll beschrieben werden, wie ein Redner Indexikalitat einsetzt, um bei binationalen Grenzkonferenzen eine Atmosphare kooperativen Engagements aufzubauen. Binationale Grenzkonferenzen sind offizielle Treffen von Experten aus Mexiko und den USA, die in der Nahe der US-Mexikanischen Grenze stattfinden. Gegenstand dieser Konferenzen, die ublicherweise sowohl auf Englisch als auch auf Spanisch abgehalten werden, ist die Erorterung von Problemen der an der Grenze lebenden Communities. Eine solche binationale Grenzkonferenz zu veranstalten, ist ein komplexes Unterfangen, weil die Teilnehmer aus zwei Staaten kommen und ein sehr unterschiedliches Niveau an Spanisch- bzw. Englischkenntnissen besitzen. Zudem stellen die Konferenzen aufgrund ihrer geographischen Ansiedlung an der US-mexikanischen Grenze eine komplexe kommunikative Herausforderung dar.
Functions and Continuity

Calculus is the study of the rate of change and the total accumulation of processes described by functions. In this chapter we review some familiar notions of function and explore functions that are defined by sequences of functions.
A variational synthesis nodal discrete ordinates method

A self-consistent nodal approximation method for computing discrete ordinates neutron flux distributions has been developed from a variational functional for neutron transport theory. The advantage of the new nodal method formulation is that it is self-consistent in its definition of the homogenized nodal parameters, the construction of the global nodal equations, and the reconstruction of the detailed flux distribution. The efficacy of the method is demonstrated by two-dimensional test problems.
Economic value of environmental and weather information for agricultural decisions – A case study for Oklahoma Mesonet

Abstract For the past 24 years, weather information and monitoring provided by the Oklahoma Mesonet (the state’s largest weather and environmental monitoring network) has been used by many farmers across the state to optimize their farm operations and improve profitability of agricultural production. Several research studies delineated advantages of Mesonet weather information for efficient agricultural decision-making. However, these studies are mainly qualitative or conceptual, while comprehensive quantitative research in this field is still missing. This paper aims at filling this gap by quantifying the value of weather information for Oklahoma farmers in all climate regions, based on profitability analysis, USDA NASS and agricultural output statistics, as well as crop budgets from the Oklahoma Extension Center. The results show that the cumulative economic benefits for agricultural production in Oklahoma from utilizing Mesonet information (assuming the profitability factor of 3.7% and with 73% of farmers applying Mesonet) amounted to $183.1 million in 2006–2014 (combining generated profits and prevented losses in agricultural production). Mesonet information was found to provide higher annual economic benefits in terms of prevented losses than additional production profits, especially in drought years. A regional analysis for Oklahoma climate regions revealed the highest cumulative benefits of Mesonet applications in the Southwest ($45.9 million), North Central region ($38.2 million), and in Panhandle ($34.5 million) in 2006–2014. Also, high temporal variations were found for all Oklahoma climate regions. This research is focused on the agricultural sector, while it also sets the baseline for a more holistic understanding of the economic value and benefits of weather information provided by the Oklahoma Mesonet that can further be applied to other sectors in the state.
Blind Study Validating Parametric Costing Tools PRICE Trueplanning and SEER-H for NASA Science Missions

Two of the primary parametric costing tools used to estimate the development and production cost of future spacecraft hardware are PRICE True Planning - Space Missions Catalog by PRICE Systems, and SEER-H by Galorath. These are standard tools used by NASA and industry to estimate the cost of new aerospace hardware. However, no independent verification of the accuracy of these tools is publicly available. Both PRICE Systems and Galorath have completed internal validation studies of their parametric cost estimating tools; however, they only provided the results of the studies and did not detail the exact methods used to perform the validation. In the present study, cost estimators used PRICE True Planning and SEER-H to estimate the cost of twelve different past NASA science missions. The estimators were prevented from knowing the actual cost of the missions in an effort to minimize cognitive biases. In the present study, SEER had an average error of 23%, median error of -0.3%, with a standard deviation of 43%. PRICE had an average error of 52%, median error of 50%, and standard deviation of 45%. There were several factors independent of PRICE and SEER which may have affected the accuracy of the results in the present study including: uncertainty in the technical data used for the estimates, the methods used to estimate uncertainty in spacecraft component mass and numbers of prototypes, and the experience of the estimators.
E-cigarettes, alcohol use, and mental health: Use and perceptions of e-cigarettes among college students, by alcohol use and mental health status.

Abstract Introduction Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are popular among college students, who display risky alcohol use patterns. However, little is known about patterns of co-use of e-cigarettes and alcohol. Further, relationships between e-cigarette use and mental illness among college students are unclear. Methods College student participants (N = 631) at a northeastern U.S. university were invited via email to participate in a survey about e-cigarettes and alcohol use. Mental health was self-reported diagnosis of psychiatric (depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, anxiety disorder, personality disorder), and substance (alcohol and other drug) use disorders. Current use of e-cigarette, combustible cigarette, and other tobacco products were assessed via self-reported past 30-day use frequency. Alcohol consumption was assessed via number of self-reported standard alcoholic beverages consumed during a typical drinking episode. Participants also reported regarding co-use of alcohol, e-cigarettes and/or combustible cigarettes. Participants were categorized as non-drinkers, moderate drinkers or binge drinkers, and associations between e-cigarette use, drinking patterns and mental health diagnoses were examined. Results E-cigarette use was associated with drinking alcohol χ2 = 18.62, p Conclusions Drinking college students (especially binge drinkers) and those with mental illness may have heightened risks for e-cigarette use. More research is needed to elucidate relationships between risky alcohol and/or nicotine use and mental illness, and to guide appropriate prevention and intervention efforts for vulnerable college students.
Is Regular Migration Safer Migration? Insights from Thailand:

In the context of sharply increasing levels of international migration, development actors across Southeast Asia have begun to focus their attention on programming intended to make migration safer ...
Do dialectical self-beliefs moderate the indirect effect of betrayal traumas on posttraumatic stress through self-compassion?

Abstract Background Traumatic events experienced in childhood, particularly those that are perpetrated by someone whom the child trusts or depends upon (i.e., high betrayal traumas [HBTs], such as abuse by a parent) can lead to long-term negative consequences, including a tendency to see oneself in a negative light, low self-compassion, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Although negative psychological consequences of HBTs are well-documented in the literature, little is known surrounding the protective factors that may reduce the effects of HBTs on individuals’ functioning. The present study focused on one potential protective factor, dialectical self-beliefs, that may moderate the negative effects of HBTs experienced in childhood on self-compassion, and hence reduce posttraumatic stress (PTS). Objective The present study is aimed at determining whether dialectical self-beliefs moderate the indirect effect of HBTs on PTS via self-compassion. Participants and setting Data of the present study were collected from 747 college students attending a university in the Northeast region of the United States. Method Using a correlational study design, the data of this study were collected from college students through an online survey. Results The results of a moderated mediation analysis indicated that the hypothesized model explained 25% of the variance in PTS. After controlling for low betrayal traumas, the indirect effect of HBTs on PTS through self-compassion was moderated by dialectical self-beliefs. These findings provide support for our hypotheses and suggest that having a dialectical self-view may enhance the adjustment of individuals with a history of HBTs by reducing the negative effect of HBTs on self-compassion.
Changes in standing stability with balance-based torso-weighting with cerebellar ataxia: A pilot study.

Objectives People with cerebellar ataxia have few options to improve the standing stability they need for function. Strategic placement of light weights on the torso using the balance-based torso-weighting (BBTW) method has improved stability and reduced falls in people with multiple sclerosis, but has not been tested in cerebellar ataxia. We examined whether torso-weighting increased standing stability and/or functional movement in people with cerebellar ataxia. Methods Ten people with cerebellar ataxia and 10 matched controls participated in this single-session quasi-experimental pilot study. People with ataxia performed the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) prior to clinical testing. All participants donned inertial sensors that recorded postural sway; stopwatches recorded duration for standing and mobility tasks. All participants stood for up to 30 s on firm and foam surfaces with eyes open then eyes closed, and performed the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Light weights (0.57-1.25 kg) were strategically applied to a vest-like garment. Paired t tests compared within-group differences with and without BBTW weights. Independent t tests assessed differences from controls. All t tests were one-tailed with alpha set at .05. Results Duration of standing for people with ataxia was significantly longer with weighting (p = .004); all controls stood for the maximum time of 120 s with and without weights. More severe ataxia according to SARA was moderately correlated with greater improvement in standing duration with BBTW (Pearson r = .54). Tasks with more sensory challenges (eyes closed, standing on firm surface) showed less body sway with weighting. Duration for the TUG was unchanged by torso-weighting in people with ataxia. Conclusion Strategic weighting improved standing stability but not movement speed in people with ataxia. BBTW has potential for improving stability and response to challenging sensory conditions in this population. Future studies should further examine gait stability measures along with movement speed.
Earnings Performance and Discretionary Disclosure

While the influence of earnings performance on disclosure is a fundamental issue in the disclosure literature, our understanding of this influence is limited. In this paper, I examine a comprehensive set of disclosures from a sample of firms experiencing an extended period of seasonally adjusted earnings increases. I study how these firms adjust disclosure in response to earnings increases, how disclosure changes as the period of strong earnings performance nears an end and how firms disclose during a subsequent period of earnings decline. I find an increase in disclosure during the period of increased earnings. This increase is pervasive across all types of disclosure and tends to be bundled with earnings announcements. The market responds positively to this disclosure. Firms continue to disclose at a high level as they approach earnings declines. However, they shift to disclosures that focus on the positive short-term results and do not discuss the impending decreases. While this behavior is systematic, the market does not appear to anticipate the subsequent earnings declines. Once the firms announce earnings declines, the magnitude of disclosure returns to the level provided prior to the increased earnings.
Further Evaluation of a Multiple Schedule Thinning Procedure Following Functional Communication Training in a School Setting

The effects of a multiple schedule of reinforcement for two children with autism spectrum disorder who engaged in problem behavior were evaluated in a school setting. Following functional behavior assessments, functional communication training was provided to teach a replacement behavior for requesting preferred items. Next, we introduced a fixed-sequence multiple schedule of reinforcement with one S-Delta within a reversal design. One child’s problem behavior was reduced with the initial treatment, but the other child required the addition of an alternative activity procedure. Resurgence of problem behavior was observed with the child whose treatment did not include an alternative activity procedure. Generalized responding across teachers and settings was demonstrated for one of the two children. The addition of an alternative activity was necessary for one child. The use of an alternative activity in a multiple schedule of reinforcement intervention may facilitate generalized responding.
Settler Colonialism and Land-Based Struggle in Palestine: Toward a Decolonial Political Economy

This chapter explores the structures and processes of settler colonialism in occupied Palestine, how it constrains the livelihoods of Palestinians, and how Palestinians respond to those social, political, and economic realities. Much work has been done in recent years to understand these dynamics and the difference a frame or approach that gives attention to settler colonialism and indigeneity makes for understanding Palestinian life and land. This chapter provides an overview of that discussion and explores land-based configurations of power, struggle, and resistance—resistance that envisions alternative understandings of land and the everyday acts that express those visions. In doing so, it begins to explore the contours of a decolonial approach to political economy that foregrounds land and the experience of indigeneity in the context of racialized settler colonialism—an approach that also uncovers global, transnational, anti-colonial inflections of that struggle. Exploring settler colonialism and political economies of resistance in Palestine underscores a decolonial approach that not only gives attention to enduring indigeneity, erasure, and interpretation, but also to the role of land in social and political economy in the struggle for autonomy, sovereignty, and self-determination.
Development and Finance in Islam

The first book presents the papers and proceedings of the International Seminar on "Islamic Thought: Current Issues and Challenges", held at the International Islamic University, Malaysia during July 1987. The papers presented covered the following areas: Historical and Ideological Basis of Islamic Economics, Development in Islam, Financing Development in Islam, Some Special Aspects in Economics and Business and Case Studies.The second book contains a series of papers which narrowly focuses on financing economic development in Islam and contrasts the same with the mainstream approach.It presents papers primarily in the areas of consumer behavior, savings and investment behavior, sources of financing development and resource mobilization from a development perspective. The remaining papers on public finance and financial systems study financing the economic development.
FluSense: Harnessing Syndromic Signals of Influenza-Like Illness from Hospital Waiting Room Crowd with Contactless Sensing System

Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection that leads to regular seasonal epidemics. It is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality, and in the United States, since 2010, it has infected between 9.2 million and 60.8 million people and has caused between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths. [2]. Moreover, the economic impact [1] of influenza is estimated to be 47 billion to 150 billion dollars per year in the USA alone.
Fiscal Consequences of Electoral Institutions

Abstract There are more than 500,000 elected local government officials in the United States. The most electorally dense county has more than 20 times the average number of elected officials per capita. This paper offers the first systematic investigation of the link between electoral density and fiscal outcomes. Electoral density presents a tradeoff between accountability and monitoring costs. Increasing the number of specialized elected offices promotes issue unbundling, reducing slack between citizen preferences and government policy; but the costs of monitoring a larger number of officials may offset these benefits, producing greater latitude for politicians to pursue their own goals at the expense of citizen interests. We predict diminishing returns to electoral density and a \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage...
Evaluating Deep Scattering Spectra with deep neural networks on large scale spontaneous speech task

Deep Scattering Network features introduced for image processing have recently proved useful in speech recognition as an alternative to log-mel features for Deep Neural Network (DNN) acoustic models. Scattering features use wavelet decomposition directly producing log-frequency spectrograms which are robust to local time warping and provide additional information within higher order coefficients. This paper extends previous works by showing how scattering features perform on a state-of-the-art spontaneous speech recognition utilizing DNN acoustic model. We revisit feature normalization and compression topics in an extensive study, putting emphasis on comparing models of the same size. We observe that scattering features outperform baseline log-mel in all conditions, with additional gains from multi-resolution processing.
Performance of no vibration / no admixture masonry grout containing high replacement of Portland cement with fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag

When hollow concrete masonry is used for construction in high seismic regions, structural designs typically require fully grouted walls. For a fully grouted 203x203x406 mm (8x8x16) concrete masonry unit (CMU), 52 percent of total volume is grout. Grouting process is laborintensive, time consuming and has a high energy demand due to requirements of consolidation in each and subsequent grout lifts. Self-consolidating grout with admixtures has been successfully used without segregation in walls of up to 3.86 m (12.67 ft.) in height. Investigation of selfconsolidating grout mixes without admixtures has potential for sustainability improvement. This paper reports on the compression strength and consolidation observations of selfconsolidating characteristics of no vibration/no admixture grout made by substituting various proportions of Portland cement with Type F fly ash and/or ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). The percentages of Portland cement replacement were 0%, 50%, 60%, and 70% for Type F fly ash replacement. The percentages of Portland cement replacement were 0%, 60%, 70% and 80% for Type F fly ash and GGBFS. Compression test specimens were made from individual 203x203x406 mm (8x8x16) concrete masonry hollow core units, where the cells were filled with no vibration/ no admixture grout. The specimens were dry cured and compression testing performed at 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, and 130 days. Consolidation testing specimen walls were 3.86 m (12.67 ft.) tall by 1.22 m (4.0 ft.) long with 203x203x406 mm (8x8x16) CMU. The relative performance assessed by comparing to traditional grouted masonry and evaluating consolidation characteristics around mortar fins and reinforcement at 130 days as well as compressive strength of the grout at various wall heights.
The Developmental Transition From Living With to Dying From Cancer: Hospice Decision Making

Despite increasing utilization of hospice care, older adults with cancer enroll in hospice for shorter periods of time than those with other life-limiting illnesses. How older adults with cancer and their family members consider hospice is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare decision making in late-stage cancer in people who enrolled in hospice with those who declined. Concepts from the Carroll and Johnson (1990) decision-making framework guided the development of a hospice decision-making model. The study design was exploratory-descriptive, cross-sectional, and used a two-group comparison. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected in the same interview. Open-ended questions were used to explore the illness trajectory and decision-making process. The interrelationships between functional ability, quality of life, and social support with hospice decision making were assessed using the Katz, QLQ-30, and Lubben Social Network Scales. Study participants included 42 older adults with cancer who had been offered hospice enrollment (24 non-hospice and 18 hospice) and 38 caregivers (15 non-hospice and 23 hospice); N = 80. The decisional model illustrates that the recognition of advanced cancer and information and communication needs were experienced similarly by both groups. There was interaction between the decisional stages: formulation of awareness and generation of alternatives that informed the evaluation of hospice but these stages were different in the hospice and non-hospice groups. The hospice enrollment decision represents a critical developmental juncture, which is accompanied by a transformed identity and substantive cognitive shift. Increased attention to the psychosocial and emotional issues that accompany this transition are important for quality end-of-life care.
Effects of stress on microstructural evolution during irradiation

Abstract Many theories have been postulated to describe irradiation creep but few have been supported with microstructural evidence. The purpose of this paper is to review microstructural studies of the effects of stress during irradiation to assess the validity of the available irradiation creep theories. Microstructural studies based on high-voltage electron, ion, proton and neutron irradiation are described, with major emphasis placed on interpreting behavior demonstrated in austenitic steels. Special attention is given to work on fast-neutron-irradiated Nimonic PE16, a precipitation-strengthened superalloy.
Comparative metabolism and toxicity of dichlorobenzenes in Sprague-Dawley, Fischer-344 and human liver slices:

1. Precision-cut liver slices, prepared from Sprague-Dawley and Fischer-344 rats and donated human liver tissue, were used to identify differences in 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB), 1,3-dichlorobenzene (1,3-DCB) and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB) metabolism and how it may relate to toxicity. 2. Rat and human liver slices were incubated with 1 mM of either dichlorobenzene to determine metabolism and toxicity, at 2 and 6 h of organ culture. 3. The human liver slices metabolised the dichlorobenzenes to a greater extent than those from either of the rat strains. Liver slices from the Fischer-344 strain had a higher metabolic rate than the slices from the Sprague-Dawley rat strain. 4. The metabolic rate of dichlorobenzene isomers did not consistently correlate with its toxicity. For example, human slices did not exhibit any hepatoxicity, even though they metabolised these compounds to a greater extent than either rat strain. 5. Cross species covalent binding did not correlate with toxicity endpoints measured in this study. 6. The phase two metabolite profiles for each of the isomers in human and rat slices were similar in that the glutathione-cysteine conjugate was the major metabolite. 7. The use of an in vitro system which utilises human liver slices might provide an important bridge between animal derived data and the human situation.
Tests of the mate-guarding hypothesis for social monogamy: does population density, sex ratio, or female synchrony affect behavior of male snapping shrimp (Alpheus angulatus)?

There are at least two mechanisms by which social monogamy in the absence of biparental care may evolve: as a form of territorial cooperation, in which one or both sexes benefits by sharing a territory with a partner, and as a form of extended mate guarding, in which males guard females through entire, and perhaps multiple, reproductive cycles. I examined the effects of population variables (density, sex ratio, female synchrony) on male pairing behavior in the snapping shrimp, Alpheus angulatus, to test the hypothesis that social monogamy in this genus has evolved as a result of selection on males for long-term mate guarding of females. There was no evidence that pairing behavior changes with differences in population density; in a natural population, there was a 1:1 relationship between the number in pairs and local population density. In a laboratory experiment, males altered their pairing behavior in response to manipulated differences in sex ratio. Males in female-biased sex ratios were significantly more likely to abandon recently mated females than males in equivalent sex ratios, though there was no significant difference in the duration of pairing or the number of times males switched females. Observations of shrimp maintained for an extended period in the laboratory revealed no evidence that females molt and become sexually receptive synchronously, which would reduce the likelihood that a searching male would encounter additional receptive females. These data suggest that sex ratio may have contributed to the evolution of social monogamy in snapping shrimp, but provide no evidence that population density or female synchronous receptivity have contributed to the evolution of social monogamy.
Poison aversion and sexual behavior in the golden hamster.

Disruption of 10 male Golden hamsters sexual behavior following pairing of lithium chloride poisoning and female vaginal secretion was studied using male and female hamsters that had been isolated for 5 wk. prior to poisoning. Sniff/lick latencies were longer for poisoned males than for controls but mount times and intromission times were unaffected. These results are consistent with cue-uniqueness effects and also demonstrate conditioned aversion to olfactory sexual cues is not necessarily sufficient to disrupt the male sexual response sequence.
Hepatitis C viral infection in incarcerated patients

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Therapeutic Intervention: Assessing the Role of the International Consensus Guidelines

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, fatal lung disorder of unknown etiology. The consensus statement released by the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society has provided guidelines for the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of patients with IPF. These guidelines suggest the use of conventional treatment options including therapy with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents. The guidelines statement acknowledged the fact that there is little good-quality evidence to support the safety and efficacy of such therapies in patients with IPF. The statement was published in 2000 and was based on an extensive review of the literature up to and including December 1998. The goal of this review is to reexamine the treatment recommendations of the guidelines statement in the context of data that has since become available.
Urban Governance and the Production of New State Spaces in Western Europe, 1960–2000

While many analyses of globalization and the changing state have focused on the construction of new supranational political regimes, such as the European Union, this chapter argues that the subnational scales of major urban regions represent strategic institutional arenas in which far-reaching transformations of state spatiality are unfolding. I suggest, in particular, that processes of urban governance represent a key mechanism for the rescaling of (western European) state space. First, managerial-welfarist forms of urban governance are shown to have played a major role in the consolidation and eventual crisis of nationalized state spaces between the 1950s and the mid-1970s. Second, the entrepreneurial, growth-oriented approaches to urban governance that have proliferated during the post-1970s period are interpreted as significant expressions and catalysts of a fundamental rescaling of inherited national state spaces. In contrast to the project of national territorial equalization associated with Keynesian welfare national states, contemporary “urban locational policies” promote the formation of Rescaled Competition State Regimes (RCSRs) in which (a) significant aspects of economic regulation are devolved to subnational institutional levels; and (b) major socio-economic assets are reconcentrated within the most globally competitive urban regions and industrial districts.
The 3R's of El Salvador's Civil War: Revolution, Religion and Radio

Abstract For the 12 years of the civil war in El Salvador, a rebel radio station collaborated with elements of the Roman Catholic Church that shared a desire for a fundamental change in the country. In an overwhelmingly Catholic country, church leaders were regularly quoted and one priest in particular frequently spoke on rebel radio, supporting the insurgency. The alliance that brought religion to the rebel airwaves contributed to expanding the public sphere and laying a foundation for democratic decision making.
Room temperature photovoltaic charging in photoemission from diamond

Photovoltaic effects in ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy of in-situ hydrogenated diamond (111) are evaluated. Significant photovoltaic charging is found at room temperature under typical conditions of band bending for type IIb p-type semiconducting diamond. At low temperature, major shifts in the apparent band bending are observed. These measurements are consistent with predictions of Hecht [M.H. Hecht, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 8 (1990) 1018] based on restoring currents limited by carrier transport through the depletion region. Extra care must therefore be taken in analyzing photoelectron spectroscopy measurements to determine the band alignment of diamond surfaces relative to the Fermi level.
Ultrahigh-resolution full-field optical coherence microscopy using InGaAs camera

Full-field optical coherence microscopy (FFOCM) is an interferometric technique for obtaining wide-field microscopic images deep within scattering biological samples. FFOCM has primarily been implemented in the 0.8 μm wavelength range with silicon-based cameras, which may limit penetration when imaging human tissue. In this paper, we demonstrate FFOCM at the wavelength range of 0.9 - 1.4 μm, where optical penetration into tissue is presumably greater owing to decreased scattering. Our FFOCM system, comprising a broadband spatially incoherent light source, a Linnik interferometer, and an InGaAs area scan camera, provided a detection sensitivity of 86 dB for a 2 sec imaging time and an axial resolution of 1.9 μm in water. Images of phantoms, tissue samples, and Xenopus Laevis embryos were obtained using InGaAs and silicon camera FFOCM systems, demonstrating enhanced imaging penetration at longer wavelengths.
Inhibition of apoptosis and caspase‐3 in vascular smooth muscle cells by plasminogen activator inhibitor type‐1

Increased expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) is associated with decreased apoptosis of neoplastic cells. We sought to determine whether PAI-1 alters apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and, if so, by what mechanisms. A twofold increase in the expression of PAI-1 was induced in VSMC from transgenic mice with the use of the SM-22alpha gene promoter (SM22-PAI+). Cultured VSMC from SM22-PAI+ mice were more resistant to apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor plus phorbol myristate acetate or palmitic acid compared with VSMC from negative control littermates. Both wild type (WT) and a stable active mutant form of PAI-1 (Active) inhibited caspase-3 amidolytic activity in cell lysates while a serpin-defective mutant (Mut) PAI-1 did not. Similarly, both WT and Active PAI-1 decreased amidolytic activity of purified caspase-3, whereas Mut PAI-1 did not. WT but not Mut PAI-1 decreased the cleavage of poly-[ADP-ribose]-polymerase (PARP), the physiological substrate of caspase-3. Noncovalent physical interaction between caspase-3 and PAI-1 was demonstrable with the use of both qualitative and quantitative in vitro binding assays. High affinity binding was eliminated by mutations that block PAI-1 serpin activity. Accordingly, attenuated apoptosis resulting from elevated expression of PAI-1 by VSMC may be attributable, at least in part, to reversible inhibition of caspase-3 by active PAI-1.
Selective uptake and anterograde transport of horseradish peroxidase by hippocampal granule cells.

Abstract Introduction of horseradish peroxidase into the ventriculocisternal system results in selective labeling of the granule cells of the dentate gyrus and their axons, the mossy fibers. This labeling pattern is not seen after direct injections of horseradish peroxidase into the dorsal hippocampus. The density of the granule cell labeling appears to be related to their proximity to the site of highest horseradish peroxidase concentration. The combined distribution of horseradish peroxidase in the granule cells and mossy fibers strongly suggests that the latter element is labeled as the result of anterograde transport of horseradish peroxidase taken up by the granule cell perikarya or dendrites. This labeling was found in the absence of injury to the hippocampus, suggesting that neuronal damage is not necessary for anterograde transport horseradish peroxidase to occur.