cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical Observations of Binary X-Ray Sources

Compact galactic X-ray sources are undeniably an exciting discovery by the New Astronomy of X-ray observations. Some of these objects were studied briefly, and without much notice, with optical telescopes long before they were known to be sources of high-energy photons. These earlier observations gave no indication of the special properties which compel us at this time to consider the possiblity that systems of this class contain such bizarre objects as neutron stars or black holes.
Glass Solutions for Packaging and IoT

Abstract The interest in glass as a semiconductor packaging material has continually grown over the past several years. Glass, and its material properties, provides many opportunities for application in advanced packaging. As an insulator, glass is well-suited due to its low electrical loss, particularly at high frequencies. The relatively high stiffness and ability to adjust coefficient of thermal expansion gives the opportunity to better manage warp in glass core substrates as well as bonded stacks, either in carrier or interposer applications. Forming processes allow the potential to both manufacture in a panel format as well as at thicknesses as low as 100 um. Both of these give real opportunity to provide cost-effective packaging solutions. Via fabrication technology development continues to advance providing via diameters < 20 um in size in a production ready environment. As the industry adopts glass solutions, significant advancements have been made in downstream processes such as glass handling an...
Evaluation of Drug Combination Effect Using a Bliss Independence Dose–Response Surface Model

To test the anticancer effect of combining two drugs targeting different biological pathways, the popular way to show synergistic effect of drug combination is a heat map or surface plot based on t...
In memory of Jay A. Siegel, PhD, 1946–2017

On September 25 2017, Jay A. Siegel, PhD died at his home in Mt. Arlington, New Jersey at the age of 71. At the time of his death due to heart failure, Dr Siegel was highly regarded internationally...
Comment on “Measurement and Correlation of Solubility of Two Isomers of Cyanopyridine in Eight Pure Solvents from 268.15 to 318.15 K”

Several mathematical errors in the published paper by Zhang and co-workers are identified. The errors pertain to the published equation coefficients for the modified Apelblat, for the empirical fou...
On the Connection Between Macdonald Polynomials and Demazure Characters

We show that the specialization of nonsymmetric Macdonald polynomials at t e 0 are, up to multiplication by a simple factor, characters of Demazure modules for \widehat{sl(n)}. This connection furnishes Lie-theoretic proofs of the nonnegativity and monotonicity of Kostka polynomials.
Power consumption in enterprise-scale backup storage systems

Power consumption has become an important factor in modern storage system design. Power efficiency is particularly beneficial in disk-based backup systems that store mostly cold data, have significant idle periods, and must compete with the operational costs of tape-based backup. There are no prior published studies on power consumption in these systems, leaving researchers and practitioners to rely on existing assumptions. In this paper we present the first analysis of power consumption in real-world, enterprise, disk-based backup storage systems. We uncovered several important observations, including some that challenge conventional wisdom. We discuss their impact on future power-efficient designs.
The evolution of body composition in oncology—epidemiology, clinical trials, and the future of patient care: facts and numbers

There is growing interest from the oncology community to understand how body composition measures can be used to improve the delivery of clinical care for the 18.1 million individuals diagnosed with cancer annually. Methods that distinguish muscle from subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, such as computed tomography (CT), may offer new insights of important risk factors and improved prognostication of outcomes over alternative measures such as body mass index. In a meta-analysis of 38 studies, low muscle area assessed from clinically acquired CT was observed in 27.7% of patients with cancer and associated with poorer overall survival [hazard ratio: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.32-1.56]. Therapeutic interventions such as lifestyle and pharmacotherapy that modify all aspects of body composition and reduce the incidence of poor clinical outcomes are needed in patients with cancer. In a meta-analysis of six randomized trials, resistance training exercise increased lean body mass assessed from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry [mean difference (MD): +1.07 kg, 95% CI: 0.76-1.37; P < 0.001] and walking distance [MD: +143 m, 95% CI: 70-216; P < 0.001] compared with usual care control in patients with non-metastatic cancer. In a meta-analysis of five randomized trials, anamorelin (a ghrelin agonist) significantly increased lean body mass [MD: +1.10 kg, 95% CI: 0.35-1.85; P = 0.004] but did not improve handgrip strength [MD: 0.52 kg, 95% CI: -0.09-1.13; P = 0.09] or overall survival compared with placebo [HR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.85-1.14; P = 0.84] in patients with advanced or metastatic cancer. Early screening to identify individuals with occult muscle loss, combined with multimodal interventions that include lifestyle therapy with resistance exercise training and dietary supplementation combined with pharmacotherapy, may be necessary to provide a sufficient stimulus to prevent or slow the cascade of tissue wasting. Rapid, cost-efficient, and feasible methods to quantify muscle and adipose tissue distribution are needed if body composition assessment is to be integrated into large-scale clinical workflows. Fully automated analysis of body composition from clinically acquired imaging is one example. The study of body composition is one of the most provocative areas in oncology that offers tremendous promise to help patients with cancer live longer and healthier lives.
Using environmental stressor information to predict the ecological status of Maryland non-tidal streams as measured by biological indicators.

In Maryland, U.S., an interim framework has recentlybeen developed for using biologically based thresholds, or `biocriteria', to assess the health of nontidal streams statewide at watershed scales. The evaluation of impairment is based on indices of biological integrity from the Maryland Biological Stream Survey (MBSS). We applied logistic regression to quantify how the biotic integrity of streams at a local scale is affected by cumulative effects resulting from catchment land uses, point sources, and nearby transmission line rights-of-way. Indicators for land use were developed from the remote sensing National Land Cover Data and applied at different scales. We determined that the risk of local impairment in nontidal streams rapidly increases with increased urban land use in the catchment area. The average likelihood of failing biocriteria doubled with every 10% points increment in urban land, thus an increase in urban land use from 0 to 20% quadruples the risk of impairment. For the basins evaluated in this study, catchments with more than 40–50% urban land use had greater than 80% probability of failing biocriteria, on average. Inclusion of rights-of-way and point sources in the model did not significantly improve the fit for this data set, most likely because of their low numbers. The overall results indicate that our predictive modeling approach can help pinpoint stream ecosystems experiencing or vulnerable to degradation.
Polarity of chloroform eluent critical to quantification of arbuscular mycorrhizal biomass in soil using the neutral lipid fatty acid biomarker C16:1cis11

Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form mutualisms with the majority of terrestrial plants. The fatty acid biomarker C16:1cis11, abundant in the neutral lipids, has become the preferred method for quantification of AMF biomass within the soil. The neutral lipids are eluted from silica gel with chloroform; however, commercially available chloroform is stabilized with varying amounts of ethanol (0.5–1.9%) which influences its chromatographic properties. At ethanol contents below 1.0%, neutral lipids are being lost to the glycolipid fraction thereby underestimating AMF biomass in soil. Thus, quantification of AMF biomass in soil using C16:1cis11 found in neutral lipids is highly dependent on the chloroform used. Combining the neutral and glycolipid fractions is proposed as one alternative to address this issue.
Finding a Resting Place: How Environmental Conditions Influence the Habitat Selection of Resting Batoids

Many batoid species will form aggregations while resting on the seafloor; however, the environmental variables that drive resting habitat selection behavior, and how it varies among species are not well understood. Bat rays (Myliobatis californica), shovelnose guitarfish (Pseudobatos productus), and round stingrays (Urobatis halleri) have been observed forming heterospecific aggregations. We investigated the effects of substrata type and seafloor water temperature as two likely variables that would influence resting habitat selection for these species. Spatial distribution patterns of individuals were determined via diver-based surveys over two survey seasons (Fall 2013 and Summer 2014) and related to detailed georeferenced habitat maps. While these batoids were found resting on both soft sediment types available, fine-sand was selected by all three species, whereas bat rays were the only one of the three species to select for vegetated-sand. The varying thermal sensitivities of the batoids likely influenced their responses to daily and seasonal temperatures within the study area. During Fall 2013, the three species were most abundant across a narrow temperature range (18.00 – 18.25°C); during Summer 2014, there were higher densities of bat rays in areas where daily maximum seafloor temperature reached 20°C. Each species demonstrated habitat selection decisions that were indicative of balancing tradeoffs between environmental variables. As K-selected, meso-level predators, aggregating in predictable ways can ultimately make batoids more susceptible to fishing and anthropogenic pressures. Therefore, knowledge of how batoids select their resting habitat and how environmental conditions shape distributions may provide managers with opportunities to implement better protection for resting species.
Non-contact Characterization of Antenna Impedance, Gain and Pattern through Open-Fixture Network Calibration

We present a novel, non-contact characterization technique for simultaneous characterization of conventional antenna parameters, including the antenna port input impedance, antenna gain and its radiation pattern, without requiring a network analyzer connection to the antenna port. The test antenna and the network analyzer are considered as a 2-port open-air fixture whose network representation corresponds to the desired antenna parameters. The unknown network parameters of the 2-port open-air fixture are determined via a novel calibration process using 4 offset-short termination standards. The error parameters determined by the calibration are then related to the test antenna port impedance and its gain as a function of frequency. Furthermore, the radiation pattern of the test antenna can also be characterized using measured reflection coefficient at the network analyzer port for two offset-short terminations of the test antenna port, while rotating the test antenna over the desired angular range. This novel technique is particularly attractive for installed-antenna applications where an active connection to the test antenna port is either difficult or undesirable, such as on-chip antennas and implanted antennas, to name a few. To demonstrate the efficacy our new method, we present the measured impedance, gain and radiation pattern of a diagonal-horn antenna operating over 360–450 GHz, and a lens-integrated planar butterfly antenna for the 220–325GHz band.
From the Deeming Rule to JUUL-US News Coverage of Electronic Cigarettes, 2015-2018.

Introduction News media may influence public perceptions and attitudes about electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), which may influence product use and attitudes about their regulation. The purpose of this study is to describe trends in US news coverage of e-cigarettes during a period of evolving regulation, science, and trends in the use of e-cigarettes. Methods We conducted a content analysis of e-cigarette topics and themes covered in US news articles from 2015 to 2018. Online news databases (Access World News, Factiva) were used to obtain US news articles from the top 34 circulating newspapers, four national wire services, and five leading online news sources. Results The number of articles increased by 75.4% between 2015 and 2018 (n = 1609). Most articles focused on policy/regulation (43.5%) as a main topic, followed by health effects (22.3%) and prevalence/trends (17.9%). Discussion about flavor bans quadrupled (6.1% to 24.6%) and discussion of youth e-cigarette use was most prevalent (58.4%) in 2018, coinciding with an increase in coverage about JUUL. JUUL was mentioned in 50.8% of 2018 articles. Across years, articles more frequently mentioned e-cigarette risks (70%) than potential benefits (37.3%). Conclusions E-cigarettes continue to be a newsworthy topic, with coverage both reflecting numerous changes and events over time, and providing repeated opportunities for informing the public and policymakers about these novel products. Future research should continue to track how discourse changes over time and assess its potential influence on e-cigarette perceptions and policy changes. Implications E-cigarette news coverage in the United States increased between 2015 and 2018 and predominantly focused on policy and regulation. Notable spikes in volume were associated with some but not all major e-cigarette events, including the FDA's deeming rule, Surgeon General's report, and release of the National Youth Tobacco Survey data in 2018. Coverage of the 2018 National Academy of Medicine, Engineering, and Sciences report on the Public Health Consequences of E-cigarettes received minimal news coverage. The high volume in 2018 was driven in large part by coverage of the e-cigarette brand JUUL; over half of news articles in 2018 referenced JUUL specifically.
Altered climate leads to positive density-dependent feedbacks in a tropical wet forest

Climate change is predicted to result in warmer and drier Neotropical forests relative to current conditions. Negative density-dependent feedbacks, mediated by natural enemies, are key to maintaining the high diversity of tree species found in the tropics, yet we have little understanding of how projected changes in climate are likely to affect these critical controls. Over 3 years, we evaluated the effects of a natural drought and in situ experimental warming on density-dependent feedbacks on seedling demography in a wet tropical forest in Puerto Rico. In the +4°C warming treatment, we found that seedling survival increased with increasing density of the same species (conspecific). These positive density-dependent feedbacks were not associated with a decrease in aboveground natural enemy pressure. If positive density-dependent feedbacks are not transient, the diversity of tropical wet forests, which may rely on negative density dependence to drive diversity, could decline in a future warmer, drier world.
La incidencia del macro y micro entorno en la intención emprendedora de las productoras rurales

El macro y el micro entorno empresarial y de negocios en que se desenvuelven los emprendimientos rurales femeninos, han sido comprendidos de manera aislada a pesar de ser claves para el analisis de la intencion emprendedora. En este sentido este estudio propone el planteamiento de una hipotesis con dos dimensiones: el entorno macrosocial que incluye el apoyo en asistencia tecnica y el entorno local; y el entorno microsocial con el capital social. El analisis tomo en cuenta un enfoque cuantitativo, con una muestra de 182 mujeres emprendedoras rurales y se aplico el calculo de ecuaciones estructurales por medio de software especializado: SmartPLS 3. La principal conclusion a la que se arribo senala que la asistencia tecnica no tiene una relacion significativa con la intencion emprendedora; mientras que el entorno local y el capital social si tienen una relacion significativa. Por otro lado se concluye que la mejora de la intencion emprendedora se mejora en la medida que se fortalezcan los emprendimientos de las productoras rurales a traves de la asistencia tecnica y se establezcan politicas publicas que hagan mas amigable el entorno local a favor de este tipo de negocios.
Alterations in neural circuits underlying emotion regulation following child maltreatment: a mechanism underlying trauma-related psychopathology

Background Disruptions in neural circuits underlying emotion regulation (ER) may be a mechanism linking child maltreatment with psychopathology. We examined the associations of maltreatment with neural responses during passive viewing of negative emotional stimuli and attempts to modulate emotional responses. We investigated whether the influence of maltreatment on neural activation during ER differed across development and whether alterations in brain function mediated the association between maltreatment and a latent general psychopathology (‘p’) factor. Methods Youth aged 8–16 years with (n = 79) and without (n = 72) exposure to maltreatment completed an ER task assessing neural responses during passive viewing of negative and neutral images and effortful attempts to regulate emotional responses to negative stimuli. P-factor scores were defined by a bi-factor model encompassing internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. Results Maltreated youth had greater activation in left amygdala and salience processing regions and reduced activation in multiple regions involved in cognitive control (bilateral superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex) when viewing negative v. neutral images than youth without maltreatment exposure. Reduced neural recruitment in cognitive control regions mediated the association of maltreatment with p-factor in whole-brain analysis. Maltreated youth exhibited increasing recruitment with age in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex during reappraisal while control participants exhibited decreasing recruitment with age. Findings were similar after adjusting for co-occurring neglect. Conclusions Child maltreatment influences the development of regions associated with salience processing and cognitive control during ER in ways that contribute to psychopathology.
Comparative Study of Territoriality across Forager Societies

Land tenure systems vary considerably across forager societies. The economic defensibility model explains this variation by considering the costs and benefits of defending resources that vary in density and predictability. The purpose of our study was to describe and explain the variation in tenure systems across 30 hunter-gatherer societies from across the world using the economic defensibility model. We used qualitative data from the Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) database on defense and sharing of resources among groups, and quantitative data from Binford’s Frames of References (2001) as indicators of resource density, resource predictability, and competition for resources. However, we were unable to explain the variation in territoriality using these independent variables. We argue that the diversity and complexity of foragers’ subsistence strategies is one of the main reasons for our failure to find correlations between territoriality and resource density and predictability. We propose that it may better to conceptualize tenure systems in foraging societies as assemblages of multiple property regimes.
Craniomaxillofacial Trauma in Dogs—Part II: Association Between Fracture Location, Morphology and Etiology

Treatment of craniomaxillofacial (CMF) trauma in dogs requires a thorough understanding of the CMF skeletal structures involved. The human medical literature has several examples of CMF trauma and fracture classification, including the classically described Le Fort fractures. The recent classification schemes require large studies using computed tomography (CT). In the veterinary medical literature, such studies are lacking. The aims of part II of this retrospective study were to use a large number of CT studies of dogs evaluated for CMF trauma to determine whether specific fracture locations in the CMF region occur concurrently, and whether trauma etiology influences fracture morphology. This information may then be used to form a fracture classification scheme in the future. The medical records and CT studies of 165 dogs over a 10-year period were evaluated. The skeletal location of CMF fractures as well as the severity of displacement and fragmentation of each fracture was recorded. Dogs' demographic data and trauma etiology were also recorded. Fractured portions of the mandible tended to occur with fractures of adjacent bones, with the major exception of symphyseal separation, which occurred simultaneously with fractures of the cribriform plate. Fractures of the maxillary bone were accompanied by many concurrent fractures affecting the majority of the midface, skull base, and cranial vault. When the zygomatic bone was fractured, the other bones comprising the orbit also tended to fracture. Fractures of the relatively superficially located frontal and nasal bones were often accompanied by fractures of the skull base. Fracture etiology influenced fracture morphology such that vehicular trauma resulted in a relatively higher number of severely displaced and comminuted fractures than did other trauma etiologies. This study provides examples of fractures that, when found, should prompt veterinarians to look for additional injuries in specific locations. In addition, it further highlights the need for thorough CT evaluation of the entire CMF region, even when clinically apparent fractures appear relatively superficial.
Evidence of continued exposure to legacy persistent organic pollutants in threatened migratory common terns nesting in the Great Lakes.

Abstract Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) accumulate in the food web of the Great Lakes ecosystem, causing concern that these chemicals play a role in the decline of avian species such as colonial-nesting waterbirds. In this study, samples from four life stages of the common tern (Sterna hirundo), a threatened species in New York State, were collected post-mortem in the Buffalo-Niagara region (United States). Brains (n = 26) and livers (n =27) were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and the insecticide p,p’-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its two metabolites p,p’-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and p,p’-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD). Detectable concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs were observed in all samples; concentrations of total PCBs ranged from 5.59 to 2,490 ng/g wet weight (ww), total PBDEs ranged from 1.09 to 494 ng/g ww, and DDE metabolites ranged from 0.56 to 637 ng/g ww. Analysis of the primary food source for terns in the Buffalo-Niagara region, emerald shiners (Notropis atherinoides), revealed that all three classes of POPs had similar contaminant profiles in the fish to those in the brains and livers of tern samples. Overall, small chicks contained greater concentrations of pollutants than medium chicks and juveniles, likely from maternal loading to eggs. These results underline the persistence of these legacy contaminants in the Great Lakes, despite their banning, and their biomagnification in threatened species through food web interactions.
Cryo-Electron Tomography of the Herpesvirus Procapsid Reveals Interactions of the Portal with the Scaffold and a Shift on Maturation

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) requires seven proteins to package its genome through a vertex in its capsid, one of which is the portal protein, pUL6. The portal protein is also thought to facilitate assembly of the procapsid. While the portal has been visualized in mature capsids, we aimed to elucidate its role in the assembly and maturation of procapsids using cryo-electron tomography (cryoET). We identified the portal vertex in individual procapsids, calculated a subtomogram average, and compared that with the portal vertex in empty mature capsids (A-capsids). The resulting maps show the portal on the interior surface with its narrower end facing outwards, while maintaining close contact with the capsid shell. In the procapsid, the portal is embedded in the underlying scaffold, suggesting that assembly involves a portal-scaffold complex. During maturation, the capsid shell angularizes with a corresponding outward movement of the vertices. We found that in A-capsids, the portal translocates outward further than the adjacent capsomers and strengthens its contacts with the capsid shell. Our methodology also allowed us to determine the number of portal vertices in each capsid, with most having one per capsid, but some none or two, and rarely three. The predominance of a single portal per capsid supports facilitation of the assembly of the procapsid.IMPORTANCE Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infects a majority of humans, causing mostly mild disease but in some cases progressing toward life-threatening encephalitis. Understanding the life cycle of the virus is important to devise countermeasures. Production of the virion starts with the assembly of an icosahedral procapsid, which includes DNA packaging proteins at a vertex, one of which is the dodecameric portal protein. The procapsid then undergoes maturation and DNA packaging through the portal, driven by a terminase complex. We used cryo-electron tomography to visualize the portal in procapsids and compare them to mature empty capsids. We found the portal located inside one vertex interacting with the scaffold protein in the procapsid. On maturation, the scaffold is cleaved and dissociates, the capsid angularizes, and the portal moves outward, interacting closely with the capsid shell. These transformations may provide a basis for the development of drugs to prevent HSV-1 infections.
Predicting Neuroimaging Eligibility for Extended Window Endovascular Thrombectomy or tPA (1054)

Objective: To develop a predictive model for acute ischemic stroke patient triage decisions that typically require perfusion neuroimaging. Background: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) are effective ischemic stroke treatments. In the extended treatment window, patients often require perfusion neuroimaging to determine eligibility. Many hospitals do not have access to advanced imaging tools or EVT. To assist transfer decisions, we developed risk indices that could identify patients likely to be eligible for extended window EVT or tPA. Design/Methods: We retrospectively identified stroke patients who had concurrent CT angiogram and perfusion. The first outcome was large vessel occlusion (LVO) and target mismatch (TM) in patients 5 to 23 hours from last known normal (LKN). The second outcome was TM in patients 5 to 15 hour from LKN with known LVO. These two outcomes are relevant to the neuroimaging inclusion criteria for the DEFUSE 3 and DAWN trials of EVT. The third outcome was TM in patients 4.5 to 12 hour from LKN, which is relevant to the EXTEND trial tPA neuroimaging inclusion criteria. We created multivariable models using backward stepping with ∝-error criterion of 0.05 and assessed them using C statistics. Results: The final predictors included NIHSS, ASPECTS, and age at different cutoff points. The prediction of the first outcome had a C statistic of 0.71 (n=145), the second outcome had a C statistic of 0.85 (n=56), and the third outcome had a C statistic of 0.86 (n=54). Giving one point for each predictor at different cutoffs, a score of 3 had a probability of true positive of 80%, 90%, and 94% for the first, second, and third outcomes. Conclusions: These risk indices are hypothesis-generating, but warrant additional prospective study to determine if they can be used to identify stroke patients that warrant expedient transfer to a center with perfusion and EVT capability. Disclosure: Dr. De Havenon has received research support from Regeneron, AMAG, and Chiesi pharmaceuticals. .Dr. Mickolio has nothing to disclose. Dr. Taussky has received research support from Medtronic, Stryker. Dr. Awad has nothing to disclose.
The Association between Prenatal Care and Birth Weight among Women Exposed to Cocaine in New York City

Objectives — Although the association between antenatal cocaine use and adverse birth outcomes has been well documented, relatively little is known about interventions that may ameliorate these consequences. We therefore examined the relationship between prenatal care and birth weight among a population of prenatal cocaine users. Design — Population-based retrospective analysis. Patients — All single-gestation live births to white non-Hispanic, black non-Hispanic, and Hispanic residents of New York City who gave birth between 1988 and 1990 with a positive indication for cocaine recorded on birth certificates (N=7923). Main Outcome Measures — We contrasted mean birth weight and rates of low birth weight ( Main Results — Adjusted odds ratios of low birth weight for cocaine users with four prenatal care visits or more as compared with those who had none were 0.51 for blacks (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.44 to 0.59), 0.39 for whites (95% CI, 0.23 to 0.66), and 0.37 for Hispanics (95% CI, 0.28 to 0.48). Adjusted mean birth weight differences between users with four visits or more and those with none were 262 g for blacks (P Conclusions — The receipt of prenatal care among cocaine users is associated with significant improvements in birth weight. Enrollment of cocaine users in prenatal care may be an effective start to a more comprehensive approach to this problem.
Impact of opioid use disorder on resource utilization and readmissions after operative trauma.

Abstract Background Although patients with opioid use disorder have been shown to be more susceptible to traumatic injury, the impact of opioid use disorder after trauma-related admission remains poorly characterized. The present nationally representative study evaluated the association of opioid use disorder on clinical outcomes after traumatic injury warranting operative intervention. Methods The 2010 to 2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to identify adult trauma victims who underwent major operative procedures. Injury severity was quantified using International Classification of Diseases Trauma Mortality Prediction Model. Entropy balancing was used to adjust for intergroup differences. Multivariable regression models were developed to assess the association of opioid use disorder on in-hospital mortality, perioperative complications, resource utilization, and readmissions. Results Of an estimated 5,089,003 hospitalizations, 54,097 (1.06%) had a diagnosis of opioid use disorder with increasing prevalence during the study period. Compared with others, opioid use disorder had a lower proportion of extremity injuries and falls but greater predicted mortality measured by Trauma Mortality Prediction Model. After adjustment, opioid use disorder was associated with decreased odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.53–0.70) but had greater likelihood of pneumonia, infectious complications, and acute kidney injury. Additionally, opioid use disorder was associated with longer hospitalization duration as well as greater index costs and risk of readmission within 30 days (adjusted odds ratio: 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.25–1.49). Conclusion Opioid use disorder in operative trauma has significantly increased in prevalence and is associated with decreased in-hospital index mortality but greater resource utilization and readmission.
Pharmacoresistant seizures and IDH mutation in low-grade gliomas.

Background Many low-grade gliomas (LGG) harbor isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations. Although IDH mutation is known to be epileptogenic, the rate of refractory seizures in LGG with IDH mutation vs wild-type had not been previously compared. We therefore compared seizure pharmacoresistance in IDH-mutated and wild-type LGGs. Methods Single-institution retrospective study of patients with histologic proven LGG, known IDH mutation status, seizures, and ≥2 neurology clinic encounters. Seizure history was followed until histological high-grade transformation or death. Seizures requiring ≥2 changes in anti-epileptic drugs were considered pharmacoresistant. Incidence rates of pharmacoresistant seizures were estimated using competing risks methodology. Results Of 135 patients, 25 patients (19%) had LGGs classified as IDH wild-type. Of those with IDH mutation, 104 (94.5%) were IDH1 R132H; only 6 were IDH2 R172K. 120 patients (89%) had tumor resection, and 14 (10%) had biopsy. Initial post-surgical management included observation (64%), concurrent chemoradiation (23%), chemotherapy alone (9%), and radiotherapy alone (4%). Seizures became pharmacoresistant in 24 IDH-mutated patients (22%) and in 3 IDH wild-type patients (12%). The 4-year cumulative incidence of intractable seizures was 17.6% (95% CI: 10.6%-25.9%) in IDH-mutated and 11% (95% CI: 1.3%-32.6%) in IDH wild-type LGG (Gray's P-value = .26). Conclusions 22% of the IDH-mutated patients developed pharmacoresistant seizures, compared to 12% of the IDH wild-type tumors. The likelihood of developing pharmacoresistant seizures in patients with LGG-related epilepsy is independent to IDH mutation status, however, IDH-mutated tumors were approximately twice as likely to experience LGG-related pharmacoresistant seizures.
When is Nearest Neighbor Meaningful: Sequential Data

Nearest neighbor search is a fundamental problem in data management and analytics with vast applications. However, a seminal paper by Beyer et al demonstrated the curse of dimensionality, where under certain conditions with high dimensionality, all the data points tend to be equidistant and thus the nearest neighbor problem is meaningless. This influential work has spawned a series of investigations of the concentration phenomenon, which, for the most part, are limited to the vector space. In this paper, we extend this investigation to sequence data, which do not have an inherent notion of dimensions or attributes. For similarity measures we consider the commonly used edit distance and longest common subsequence. We perform theoretical analysis and prove conditions under which sequences will concentrate. We also conduct experiments on synthetic data to verify the theoretical findings. Rather than the curse of dimensionality as previous studies demonstrate, we attempt to demonstrate the curse of length for sequential data.
SU-F-BRB-11: An Integrated Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers for Treatment Planning Optimization

Purpose: To propose a new parallel-friendly optimization algorithm, based on alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), for solving optimization problems emerging in treatment planning and imaging Methods: ADMM, emerging as a powerful tool for distributed optimization, is employed here for IMRT treatment planning. We modify the existing ADMM by integrating that with two optimization techniques known as Barzilai-Borwein gradient method and line search. We apply original and integrated ADMM, with various penalty parameter values, on three IMRT treatment planning cases and we compare their performance. Each algorithm terminates once it found a solution within the relative error of 1E-4 from the optimal solution. We also compare the performance of original and integrated ADMM against the commercial optimization software CPLEX. Results: Our experiments on three different cancer sites (prostate, head and neck, and GYN) indicate that integrated ADMM is much faster than original ADMM (5.8 times faster on average). Moreover, while the performance of original ADMM heavily depends on the selected penalty parameter, integrated ADMM performs very robust against the penalty parameter. Compared to the commercial software CPLEX, integrated ADMM turns out to be around 4–7 times faster. Conclusion: Integrated ADMM is a very efficient optimization algorithm to cope with the large-scale optimization problems. It is a parallel-friendly optimization algorithm and provides an idea platform for cloud-based treatment planning and imaging.
High temperature thermochemical processing of biomass and methane for high conversion and selectivity to H2-enriched syngas

Abstract Hybrid thermochemical processes show promise to increase plant performance with respect to fungible hydrocarbon production as a substitute to petroleum-based transportation fuels. Biomass, methane, and steam were reacted in a high temperature, indirectly heated reactor to determine the effects of biomass type (microalgae, rice hulls, cotton stalk), temperature (1600–1800 K), and reactant ratios (α = 0–2.0; β = 1.0–4.8) on carbon conversion, cold gas efficiency, and syngas composition. This hybrid co-feed system was shown to achieve high H2-content syngas with CO selectivity >0.90 and carbon conversion of both biomass and methane >0.90. Temperature was the dominant factor on the yields of CO, CO2, and CH4, while reactant ratios could be used to fine-tune the syngas composition. H2 yield was only slightly dependent on temperature and excess steam. CO formation was highly kinetically-limited for this temperature range. Biomass type slightly affected gasifier performance, most likely due to total char and soot yield from devolatilization. Allothermal reactor design results in comparable gasifier efficiencies depending on steam input and thermal efficiency; a solarthermal reactor would negate 1.3–1.6 kgCO2/kgC processed and represents the recommended configuration for this type of process operation.
The equation curl 73-173-173-1(x)=0 in quantum field theory

In one time and arbitrarily many space dimensions we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a local operator solution of the equation ∂ v ω=W v . Here the given local fieldsW v satisfy ∂µW v -∂ v Wµ=0 and the spectrum of the two point function (Ω,Wµ(x)W v (y)Ω) is assumed to have a mass gap.
International Law and Treaties

International law is the law generated by more than one state to regulate the international transactions of both states and private parties. It includes rules drawn from treaties, customary international law, general principles of law, natural law, and equity. It is applied in international diplomacy, international courts and arbitrations, and domestic courts and arbitral tribunals. Its fields include the laws of war and peace, the law of the sea, the laws of diplomatic practice, the law of treaties, the law of recognition and succession of states and governments, international trade and commerce, international human rights law, the law of international organizations, international environmental law, international business law, and international criminal law.
On Asymmetry in Biology and Nature

Symmetry has attracted a substantial amount of effort because considerable simplifications are possible in the mathematical and physical treatment of phenomena and natural systems that possess a certain degree of symmetry. Among physical and chemical systems the most widely known are those related to crystals and fluids. Whereas crystals have a lattice structure and a symmetry caused by ‘perfect’ order which can be classified by mathematical symmetry groups, most fluids have an average isotropic, highly-disordered ‘structure’ that is often considered to be random.Asymmetry is widely encountered in Biology and ecological systems- from amino acids to trees forests, and tribes, from physiological processes to anatomy- one often finds asymmetry to be present , although symmetries are also encountered whenever nature affords it. An important case is that of cell biomembranes that possess a marked structural and functional asymmetry which is essential to the survival of cells and microorganisms. Asymmetry both in time and selection ‘criteria’ plays a key role in the evolution of organisms and species.
Web-based technology in a constructivist community of learners

Undergraduate and postgraduate students in chemistry, pre-medical sciences, and sci-ence education enroll in coursework which focuses on contextual learning experiencesin science through supervised research. A theoretical framework of constructivismguides the learning activities in this research community, linking to students’ priorexperiences and understandings within a real-life context. Three aspects that make this study different from traditional scientific research in a non-medical school settinginclude: • using contextual learning, grounded in constructivism, • developing a learning community of postgraduate students and undergraduatestudents in both the sciences and education, and• sharing medical knowledge learned through a world wide website.These studies also differ from the typical university instructional environments because students must autonomously search and make sense of information usingmany different sources. Science education majors work side by side with the sciencestudents, seeking ways to improve the teaching and learning of science in both thekindergarten–12th grade and post-secondary education sectors. The contextual learning course has three goals:• to help students develop a deeper understanding of the biochemistry of disease,• to provide relevant opportunities for students to learn about the dynamic nature ofscientific research, and share their learning on cancer and autoimmune diseases,and• to develop a collaborative learning community.
Providing Source-Location Privacy in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) have been widely used in many areas for unattended event monitoring. Mainly due to lack of a protected physical boundary, wireless communications are vulnerable to unauthorized detection, interception and and even node capture. Privacy is becoming one of the major issues that jeopardize the successful deployment and survivability of wireless sensor networks. While confidentiality of the message can be ensured through content encryption, it is much more difficult to adequately address the source-location privacy. For WSN, source-location privacy service is further complicated by the fact that the sensor nodes consist of low-cost and low-power radio devices, computationally intensive cryptographic algorithms (such as public-key cryptosystems) and large scale broadcasting-based protocols are not suitable for WSN. In this paper, we propose a two-step routing strategy for the messages to be routed from the actual source node to the SINK node through either a single, or multiple, randomly selected intermediate node(s) away from the source node so that it is to make it infeasible for the adversaries to trace back to the source node through hop-by-hop routing analysis. In the first protocol, the messages will be routed to a single intermediate node. This scheme can provide very good local source-location privacy. We also propose routing through multiple randomly selected intermediate nodes based on angle and quadrant to further improve the performance and security. While providing source-location privacy for WSN, our simulation results demonstrate that the proposed schemes are very efficient in energy consumption, and transmission latency. The proposed schemes can also assurance high message delivery ratio. Therefore, they can be used for many practical applications.
Discovery of small-molecule enhancers of reactive oxygen species that are nontoxic or cause genotype-selective cell death.

Elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels has been observed in many cancer cells relative to nontransformed cells, and recent reports have suggested that small-molecule enhancers of ROS may selectively kill cancer cells in various in vitro and in vivo models. We used a high-throughput screening approach to identify several hundred small-molecule enhancers of ROS in a human osteosarcoma cell line. A minority of these compounds diminished the viability of cancer cell lines, indicating that ROS elevation by small molecules is insufficient to induce death of cancer cell lines. Three chemical probes (BRD5459, BRD56491, BRD9092) are highlighted that most strongly elevate markers of oxidative stress without causing cell death and may be of use in a variety of cellular settings. For example, combining nontoxic ROS-enhancing probes with nontoxic doses of l-buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of glutathione synthesis previously studied in cancer patients, led to potent cell death in more than 20 cases, sug...
A high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the purification of mouse monoclonal antibodies

Abstract High-performance liquid chromatography was applied to the purification of monoclonal antibodies from mouse ascites fluid. The method was based on anion-exchange chromatography using a TSK DEAE-5PW column and a gradient elution with 20 m m Tris, pH 8.5, and 20 m m Tris, pH 8.5, containing 2.0 m sodium acetate. The method can be applied to analytic or preparative scale separations. Purified immunoglobulins were isolated from samples of 20 to 1000 μl containing up to 19 mg total protein. The average recovery of total protein was 89 ± 12%. Recovery of the immunoglobulins, based on recovery of immunological activity, was quantitative. In addition to separating the immunoglobulins from the other serum proteins, the various classes of IgG were resolved.
Temperature-mediated characteristics of the dusky salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) of Southern Appalachia.

Abstract Thermal preference of the salamander Desmognathus fuscus was measured in a linear thermal gradient with floor temperatures ranging from 10 to 30°C. Salamanders were acclimated to 21±1°C and a 12 : 12 photoperiod with photophase centered at 1200 h for 8 weeks prior to being placed in the gradient. Substrate temperatures were measured under the salamanders’ stomachs from 1200 to 2400 h at 2 h intervals immediately after feeding and after seven days fasting. We found no selection for temperature in fasting or postprandial D. fuscus. We compared the rate at which D. fuscus cooled and heated with that of a control and found no significant difference. We determined the desiccation rate of D. fuscus at 16 and 26°C and found a significantly more rapid desiccation at 26°C.
Reattachment of a separated boundary layer to a convex surface.

Fig. 4 Predicted saturation effects in a constant temperature SF6-air mixture at near-atmospheric pressures. 9 Patel, C. K. N. and Slusher, R. E, "Self-Induced Transparency in Gases," Physical Review Letters, Vol. 19, No. 18, Oct. 1967, pp. 1019-1022. Anderson, J. D., Wagner, J. L., and Knott, J., "CO2 Laser Radiation Absorption in SF6-Air Boundary Layers," NOLTR 72-172, Aug. 1972, Naval Ordnance Lab., White Oak, Md. 11 Hertzberg, A. et al., "Photon Generators and Engines for Laser Power Transmission," AIAA Journal, Vol. 10, No. 4, April 1972, pp. 394-400. 12 Anderson, J. D, Jr., Wagner, J. L., and Knott, J., "CO2 Laser Radiation Absorption in SF6-Air Boundary Layers," AIAA Paper 73-262, Washington, D.C, 1973. 13 Armstrong, J. J. and Gaddy, O. L., "Saturation Behavior of SF6 at High Pressure and Laser Intensity," IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, Vol. QE-8, No. 10, Oct. 1972, pp. 797-802. 14 Lengyel, B. A., Lasers, 2nd ed., Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1971, pp. 12-25.