cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complex coacervation of Mg(ii) phospho-polymethacrylate, a synthetic analog of sandcastle worm adhesive phosphoproteins.

The highly phosphorylated Pc3 proteins, major components of the sandcastle worm adhesive, are sequestered with Mg as spherical sub-granules within heterogeneous secretory granules in adhesive gland cells. The phase behavior of a synthetic phospho-polymethacrylate analog of the Pc3 phosphoproteins, in the presense of Mg(II), was characterized to determine whether it is chemically possible for the natural adhesive components to be packaged and stored as liquid complex coacervates. Of several multivalent metal salts tested, only MgCl induced complex coacervation of the phospho-copolymer. Complex coacervates formed at Mg/P ratios from 0.5–8, and in [NaCl]s from 0–3 M. At low temperature and pH, the complex coacervates were clear and homogeneous. At higher temperatures and pH, the coacervate phases were translucent. The elastic and viscous moduli initially decreased as temperature increased, but then increased significantly near the temperature boundary between clear and translucent forms. A mechanism is proposed in which relatively weak, ionic strength-independent, outer shell crossbridging of –PO32− sidechains by Mg[H2O]62+ complex ions is responsible for the clear homogeneous lower viscosity coacervate form. At higher temperature and pH, displacement of inner shell H2O molecules by phosphate O− ligands creates stronger crossbridges, additional dehydration, and more viscous coacervates. The results demonstrate that Pc3 phosphoproteins can exist as condensed phospho/Mg(II) complex coacervates under conditions expected in the adhesive glands of sandcastle worms in their natural environment. Considering the common regulatory role of phosphorylation and the intracellular abundance of Mg2+ it is possible that soft bridging of phosphate groups by Mg[H2O]n2+ may promote other regulated cellular liquid liquid phase separation phenomena.
Evaluation of Treatment Patterns and Survival Outcomes in Elderly Pancreatic Cancer Patients: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results‐Medicare Analysis

Background Management of pancreatic cancer (PC) in elderly patients is unknown; clinical trials exclude patients with comorbidities and those of extreme age. This study evaluated treatment patterns and survival outcomes in elderly PC patients using linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) and Medicare data. Materials and methods Histology codes 8140, 8500, 8010, 8560, 8490, 8000, 8260, 8255, 8261, 8263, 8020, 8050, 8141, 8144, 8210, 8211, or 8262 in Medicare Parts A and B were identified. Data regarding demographic, characteristics, treatments, and vital status between 1998 and 2009 were collected from the SEER. Determinants of treatment receipt and overall survival were examined using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively. Results A total of 5,975 patients met inclusion. The majority of patients were non-Hispanic whites (85%) and female (55%). Most cases presented with locoregional stage disease (74%); 41% received only chemotherapy, 30% chemotherapy and surgery, 10% surgery alone, 3% radiation, and 16% no cancer-directed therapy. Patients with more advanced cancer, older age, and those residing in areas of poverty were more likely to receive no treatment. Among patients 66-74 years of age with locoregional disease, surgery alone (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39-0.74) and surgery in combination with chemotherapy (HR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.53-0.91) showed survival benefit as compared with the no treatment group. Among patients ≥75 years of age with locoregional disease, surgery alone (HR = 2.04; 95% CI: 0.87-4.8) or in combination with chemotherapy (HR = 1.59; 95% CI: 0.87-2.91) was not associated with better survival. Conclusion Treatment modality and survival differs by age and stage. Low socioeconomic status appears to be a major barrier to the receipt of PC therapy among Medicare patients. Implications for practice Elderly patients with cancer are under-represented on clinical trials and usually have comorbid illnesses. The management of elderly patients with pancreatic cancer is unknown, with many retrospective experiences but low sample sizes. Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked data to analyze treatment patterns and survival of elderly patients with pancreatic cancer on a larger population scale, this study highlights treatment patterns and their effect on survival and proposes possible obstacles to access of care in elderly patients with pancreatic cancer other than Medicare coverage.
Enhancing Security Education Through Designing SDN Security Labs in CloudLab

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) represents a major shift from ossified hardware-based networks to programmable software-based networks. It introduces significant granularity, visibility, and flexibility into networking, but at the same time brings new security challenges. Although the research community is making progress in addressing both the opportunities in SDN and the accompanying security challenges, very few educational materials have been designed to incorporate the latest research results and engage students in learning about SDN security. In this paper, we presents our newly designed SDN security education materials, which can be used to meet the ever-increasing demand for high quality cybersecurity professionals with expertise in SDN security. The designed security education materials incorporate the latest research results in SDN security and are integrated into CloudLab, an open cloud platform, for effective hands-on learning. Through a user study, we demonstrate that students have a better understanding of SDN security after participating in these well-designed CloudLab-based security labs, and they also acquired strong research interests in SDN security.
The White Hotel: trauma, recovery, and the question of the Holocaust’s uniqueness

D. M. Thomas’ The White Hotel negotiates an uneasy point of intersection between our theories of psychic injury and our assessments of atrocity by attempting to depict two positions that appear to ...
Surface-Active Organics in Atmospheric Aerosols

Surface-active organic material is a key component of atmospheric aerosols. The presence of surfactants can influence aerosol heterogeneous chemistry, cloud formation, and ice nucleation. We review the current state of the science on the sources, properties, and impacts of surfactants in atmospheric aerosols.
Cross-age peer mentoring for elementary students with behavioral and academic risk factors

In many cases, the school failure cycle begins in elementary school for students with specific risk factors. Young students with learning difficulties and behavioral problems require a timely and s...
Management of difficult polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: Updates for clinical practice

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) represent a family of systemic inflammatory diseases occurring in adults aged 50 years and above. Clinical presentation of PMR/GCA can be variable, making diagnosis at times challenging. There has been an increased appreciation of the role of various large-vessel imaging modalities to help confirm a diagnosis of GCA. Systemic corticosteroids (CS) remain the mainstay of treatment for both PMR and GCA, yet both relapses and CS-related side effects are common. Recent research has demonstrated efficacy of certain biologic agents in these diseases, with particular emphasis on the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) blockade in GCA. This chapter discusses the latest updates on the diagnosis and treatment of PMR/GCA, with an emphasis on clinical care.
Extracellular Matrix in Early Limb Development

The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) in limb patterning and to help place some of the other chapters on related topics in perspective with other aspects of pattern formation in the developing limb. A very tentative scheme is illustrated in Fig. 1. Retinoids or some comparable signalling mechanism is assumed to modulate the spatial expression of various DNA binding proteins. These in turn might alter the expression of genes that act more distally to regulate growth, morphogenesis, and differentiation. These later factors include cell adhesion molecules (CAM’s), substrate attached molecules (SAM’s), extracellular matrix components (ECM), growth factors and their receptors, and proteases.
Intraductal Carcinoma of the Prostate (IDC-P) and Atypical Intraductal Proliferation (AIP)

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) is an intraglandular/ductal neoplastic proliferation of prostatic glandular epithelial cells that is characterized by marked expansion of glandular architecture and nuclear atypia that often exceeds than seen in invasive carcinoma. It has been long recognized that some “invasive” prostatic carcinomas had residual basal cells on H&E staining or basal cell immunostains. McNeal and Yemoto first reported that it represented an aggressive form of acinar carcinoma. The concept of IDC-P has evolved significantly since then to culminate in recognizing it as a distinct entity in the 2016 WHO blue book.
The Bouse Formation, a controversial Neogene archive of the evolving Colorado River: a scientific drilling workshop report (28 February–3 March 2019 – BlueWater Resort & Casino, Parker, AZ, USA)

Abstract. Neogene deposits of the lower Colorado River valley, especially the Miocene(?) and early Pliocene Bouse Formation, have been the focus of intense debate regarding the early paleoenvironmental history of this important continental-scale river system in southwestern North America and its integration with the proto-Gulf of California. Fine-grained units within these Neogene deposits also hold a promising archive of Pliocene paleoclimate history for this part of the world. Because the depocenter deposits of the Bouse Formation and the deposits that overlie and underlie it are poorly exposed and highly weathered, the formation is ripe for study through collection of drill cores. A workshop was held 28 February–3 March 2019 in Parker, AZ, USA, to discuss how scientific drilling might be employed to help resolve the Bouse controversies and improve our understanding of paleoclimate history in the region.
Experimental Determination of Flaw Shapes and Stress Intensity Distributions; Conditions for Application to Composite Materials

An extension of studies described in the proceedings of the first USA-USSR Symposium concerning the application of the “frozen stress” method to the determination of both flaw shapes and stress intensity distributions in three dimensional (3D) crack problems in single phase materials is presented. Analytical foundations are extended to include shear modes of fracture and its’, potential use in angle ply laminates is discussed.
Ithyoclinostomum yamagutii n. sp. (Digenea: Clinostomidae) in the great blue heron Ardea herodias L. (Aves: Ardeidae) from Mississippi, USA.

With only six recognised genera, the family Clinostomidae Luhe, 1901 remains a global research interest of parasitologists and ecologists. Recent efforts have focused on providing molecular data to investigate species diversity, elucidate life-cycles, and make inferences on the group’s evolutionary history. Of the clinostomid genera, the monotypic Ithyoclinostomum Witenberg, 1926 has remained more enigmatic compared to the commonly encountered Clinostomum Leidy, 1856. Recent morphological and molecular evidence from metacercariae suggests a second Ithyoclinostomum species may exist in freshwater cichlids in Central America and Mexico. In a recent survey of great blue herons Ardea herodias L. from commercial catfish production farms in Mississippi, USA, two specimens of an abnormally large (> 20 mm) clinostomid were encountered in the oesophagus of a single bird. These specimens were identified as an Ithyoclinostomum sp. morphologically distinct from the only nominal species Ithyoclinostomum dimorphum (Diesing, 1850). Using morphological and molecular data these adult specimens were confirmed as conspecific with the larval metacercariae previously described from Central America and Mexico and represent the novel species, Ithyoclinostomum yamagutii n. sp.
Management of headache in women.

Chronic headache is more prevalent in women than in men. In addition, women often experience increases in headache activity in relation to different life stages. Changes in headache pattern coincide with changes in estradiol levels, with elevated levels of estradiol (e.g., during pregnancy) associated with reduced headache, and cycling of estradiol (e.g., during menses) associated with worsened headache. Headache treatment for women must be modified to address the changes in headache that accompany menses, pregnancy, and menopause.
Use of cone beam computed tomography imaging for airway measurement to predict obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: This retrospective chart review examined whether airway parameters were correlated with scores on the STOP-Bang questionnaireMethods: Minimal upper airway area, upper airway volume, minimal retropalatal area, retropalatal volume, minimal retroglossal area, and retroglossal volume were calculated from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Patients were grouped based on their STOP-Bang scores (<3 or ≥3) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and airway parameters were compared across the 2 groups.Results: Thirty-one (43%) of 72 patients with a minimal upper airway area of <110 mm2 had STOP-Bang scores of ≥3. Most patients (90%) with STOP-Bang scores of ≥3 had minimal retropalatal areas of <110 mm2. Differences were found between groups for minimal upper airway area (P=.03), upper airway volume (P=.04), and minimal retropalatal area (P=.001).Discussion: To assess OSA risk, dentists should compare CBCT images with STOP-Bang scores.
Novel Optical Fibers for Silicon Photonic Chip Packaging

We present new optical fiber designs for silicon photonic chip packing applications, including Titania-clad bend-insensitive fiber for surface coupling, D-shaped fiber for evanescent wave coupling and multicore fiber for edge coupling.
The Relationship between Burnout and Help-Seeking Behaviors, Concerns, and Attitudes of Residents

PURPOSE To evaluate the relationship between help-seeking concerns and attitudes and burnout among residents. METHOD In 2019, all residents across the 4 Mayo Clinic sites were surveyed. The survey included 2 items from the Maslach Burnout Inventory, an item from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication about likelihood of seeking professional help for a serious emotional problem, and items developed to explore residents' help-seeking behaviors and concerns. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted for each outcome variable and included age, gender, specialty, postgraduate year, site, and burnout. RESULTS Of the 1,146 residents to whom surveys were sent, 762 (66.5%) responded. Nearly half (342/747, 45.8%) were concerned about negative consequence to their career if they went on medical leave, and one-third (247/753, 32.8%) were reluctant to seek professional help for a serious emotional concern. Of the 437 residents who had never attended a personal health appointment during scheduled work, 34.6% (151) thought it would be difficult to tell a supervising physician they needed to miss work due to a scheduled appointment. On multivariable analysis, burnout was independently associated with reporting it would be difficult to tell a supervising physician of a need to attend an appointment (odds ratio [OR] 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46, 3.67; P < .001), being concerned about negative consequence to their career if they went on medical leave (OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.49, 2.93; P < .001), and reluctance to seek professional care for a serious emotional problem (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.17, 2.34; P = .004). CONCLUSIONS Barriers to self-care and help-seeking are common among residents and may be worse among those with burnout. Strategies to reduce stigma and promote a culture of well-being are needed.
The Role of Real Estate in the Portfolio Allocation Process

This study explores the role of direct real estate investment in a portfolio context incorporating the real estate imperfections of indivisible assets and no short sales. Mean-variance efficient portfolios are calculated using Treasury-bills, bond and equity indices together with cash flows and appraised values from a set of twenty-two properties having an aggregate appraised value of $336 million. Real estate diversification benefits are shown to be the greatest with smaller properties and are most advantageous at higher target levels of return. The study suggests that a 9% allocation to real estate is optimal, rather than the 20% figure suggested in other studies.
A Method of Conforming Feature Extraction in Non - Invasive Load Monitoring

Aiming at the poor performance of traditional Non-Invasive Load Monitoring (NILM) method in power load identification[1], a feature extraction method based on load power and currents harmonic is proposed. This method adopts the phase-locked loop[2] technology to ensure the consistency between the extracted features data and the original sampling data. And considering a single load of different working modes or multiple loads with different working state as different sub-categories, the currents amplitude of different-frequency and load power are extracted by Fourier transform and coordinate transformation, different weight factors are given to the characteristic quantity of different identification, and labels are given to different electrical loads to improve the load identification accuracy rate.
Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Gut Microbiota, and Alzheimer's or Parkinson's Disease Risk: A Systematic Review

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are the two most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, both without prevention or cure. The Mediterranean diet (MeDi) may be neuroprotective by modulating gut microbiota. We aimed to assess the effects of adherence to MeDi on the gut microbiota in relation to AD or PD risk. It was our hypothesis that weak adherence to the MeDi, gut microbial dysbiosis, and AD or PD are in a chain of causality. Methods: A search from inception to November 2020 was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, Global Health, Biological Abstracts, and Grey Literature Report databases. Two searches were conducted: 1) (MeDi or Microbiota) and (PD or AD) and 2) MeDi and microbiota. Inclusion criteria for papers were specified prior to review. Findings: Of 4,672 studies identified, 65 were eligible for inclusion. These studies were divided into five groups: MeDi and AD risk (n=5), MeDi and PD risk (n=2), MeDi and microbial composition or metabolomics (n=21), AD and microbial composition or metabolomics (n=7), and PD and microbial composition or metabolomics (n=30). Adherence to the MeDi was associated with a lower risk of AD, but the results were conflicting for PD risk due to the limited studies. The gut microbiota of MeDi non-adherers shared commonalities with the gut microbiota of AD or PD cases, while the gut microbiota of MeDi adherers was more similar to the gut microbiota of healthy controls than of cases. Eight genera and two species had an inverse relationship with MeDi and AD, and one family, eight genera and three species had an inverse relationship with MeDi and PD. Interpretation: Adherence to the MeDi is associated with a lower risk for AD, and to a lesser extent PD. MeDi, gut microbiota, and neurodegeneration may be causally related. Registration Details: Prospero (CRD42020221170). Funding Information: There was no funding source for this study. Declaration of Interests: None to declare.
Developing community-centered programs for rural information professionals

Using survey tools to develop and implement community outreach plans, librarians and information professionals in rural Texas found out what their constituents wanted and built community-centered outreach programs. Community-centered outreach programs gained more institutional support and increased competitiveness of rural information professionals.
Student clinical experiences in shelters for battered women

This article describes the critical social problem of wife battering and clinical experiences for student nurses in shelters for battered women. The argument is presented that due to increasing frequency and severity, nurses must become more aware of and effective in caring for battered women and their children. In keeping with the call from nursing leaders and health care reformers, the shelter clinical experience provides students with an opportunity to shift from a focus on high technology to community-based primary care. Students are able to function as advocates, advisers, case managers, and health care teachers, and to focus on broad concerns of daily living problems. Lindeman's four recommendations for teaching in clinical settings were used as a framework for this article. Language: en
Subcutaneous Leg Nodules

The clinical differential diagnosis of subcutaneous leg nodules includes various types of (inflammatory) panniculitis, subcutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and infection. The panniculitides vary in their preference for sites of involvement (anterior versus posterior legs, overlying joints), whether they involute rapidly or persist for several weeks to a few months, whether they ulcerate or not, and history of apparent precipitating factors, or associated systemic disorders. Rarely, bacterial, atypical mycobacterial and systemic fungal infection may present with deep dermal and subcutaneous nodules that may be mistaken clinically for inflammatory panniculitis.
On criteria for J-dominance of crack-tip fields in large-scale yielding

Very detailed finite-strain/finite-element analyses of deeply cracked plane-strain center-notch panel and single-edge crack bend specimens were generated using nonhardening and power-law-hardening constitutive laws. The deformation was followed from small-scale yielding into the fully plastic range. The objective was to provide insight as to the minimum specimen size limitations, relative to the characteristic crack-tip opening dimension J/σ o , necessary to assure a J-based dominance of the crack-tip region. The criterion used to judge the degree of dominance was the extent of agreement of the present stress and deformation fields at the blunted crack tips with those calculated by McMeeking for small-scale yielding. For deeply cracked bend specimens, we find very close agreement of the near-tip fields with those of small-scale yielding up to J values of σ o L/25, where L represents the remaining uncracked ligament (and in the deeply cracked case, the only pertinent specimen dimension). This value is consistent with previously proposed J testing size limitations. However, we find that quite detectable deviation from the small-scale yielding fields occurs in both hardening and nonhardening center-crack specimens at considerably smaller J values relative to ligament dimension. This suggests that minimum specimen size requirements necessary to ensure a J-based characterization of the crack tip region may well be more stringent for center-crack or other low plastic constraint configurations than in bend-type specimens. A perhaps overly conservative value of 200 is proposed as the minimum ligament-to-J/σ o ratio which ensures a sensible J-based characterization of the crack-tip region in center-crack specimens of materials exhibiting moderate to low strain hardening.
The Social Costs of Choice, Free Market Ideology and the Empirical Consequences of the 401(k) Plan Large Menu Defense

Regulatory reforms have recently improved 401(k) plan participation rates, but recent decisions by certain courts threaten to reverse that trend. These courts have substituted their free market ideology for fiduciary duties under ERISA in dismissing claims against plan sponsors on the ground that the menu offered was so large as to abrogate the sponsors’ ERISA duties. Under the “large menu defense,” courts have held that, even assuming a failure to exercise due care in selecting plan options, the employer can nonetheless claim the protection of the employee-control safe harbor under ERISA because, when the plan’s menu is sufficiently large, the plan participant is deemed to have exercised legal control over the relevant investment decision. The courts’ interpretation of the control safe harbor contradicts the plain meaning of the statute. Far worse, the courts’ free market assumption that large menus will increase participants’ wealth is empirically false. Research has shown that large 401(k) menus result in lower participation rates, overly conservative allocations, inferior investment options and other adverse effects that, collectively, cost workers billions of dollars every year.
A 0.8V accurately-tuned continuous-time filter

An accurately tunable, low-voltage, linear continuous-time filter is presented in this paper. The system, designed using 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS process, occupies 0.4 mm/sup 2/ of area. The filter part of the circuit dissipates 2.6 mW and the tuning part of the circuit dissipates 2 mW of power. The filter achieves good tuning accuracy. The THD of the filter for a 10-kHz, 250-mVpp signal at 0.8-V supply voltage is 0.01%.
A simple and efficient method for image segmentation with deformable templates

A method for the automated segmentation of images containing structures of interest is presented in this work. The method employs a template image for which a segmentation is available. Segmentation of the target image is achieved by deforming the template so as to maximize a similarity measure of the target and template images. The deformations are chosen in accordance with a viscous fluid model. A simplification of the fluid model proposed elsewhere is shown to retain desirable properties of the deformation while allowing extremely efficient numerical implementation. The technique is validated on both binary and anatomical images.
Decentralised adaptive control in a game situation for discrete-time, linear, time-invariant systems

This paper deals with the decentralized adaptive control problem of a discrete-time multi-input multi-output linear time-invariant system, controlled by many controllers having their own information sets, models and objective functions. It is shown that the decentralized one-step-ahead adaptive control scheme with the projection algorithm (for the deterministic case) or the stochastic approximation algorithm (for the stochastic case) will ensure that the behaviour of the closed-loop system with unknown parameters gets closer and closer to that of the closed-loop system with known parameters as time elapses.
Resource selection reflects fitness associations for an endangered bird in restored habitat

Conservation practitioners frequently have limited information on the structure and function of the ecosystems they wish to preserve, and as a result, they may use shortcuts to guide conservation actions. One such shortcut is the umbrella species approach, whereby conservation actions are geared toward one or a few key species, with the assumption that the entire community will benefit. However, fitness–habitat associations and resource use may vary across space and across management regimes, and so too may the utility of umbrella species as ecosystem surrogates. The federally endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) has been used as an umbrella species in the restoration of the longleaf pine ecosystem of the southeastern US. Restoration efforts were based on early habitat selection information in largely degraded landscapes. We examined patterns of resource selection of 97 social groups of red-cockaded woodpeckers in a restored landscape in northwest Florida. Similar to previous studies in degraded landscapes, woodpecker groups selected forest stands containing higher densities of large pines and lower densities of small pines for foraging. However, we found no evidence for another aspect of habitat selection widely documented in degraded habitat, the avoidance of areas with substantial components of hardwoods. These results align with new woodpecker fitness–habitat associations within restored landscapes and lend support to previous findings that current ecosystem restoration efforts in the study area, namely prescribed burning, may have reduced hardwood densities to below those at which they have negative impacts. The red-cockaded woodpecker has served as an effective umbrella species in degraded longleaf ecosystems by promoting management, especially prescribed burning, that benefits many other species. Whether it will continue to do so in restored habitat is not yet clear, but its tolerance of a range of hardwood conditions provides reason for optimism.
Decrease in stress-induced c-Fos-like immunoreactivity in the lateral septal nucleus of learned helpless rats.

Inescapable stress can induce learned helplessness in many species of animals. Learned helplessness is a phenomenon which has some behavioral and neurotransmitter analogies with human clinical depression. Stress can also induce the expression of immediate early genes, including c-fos in many areas of the central nervous system. We examined stress-induced c-Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) using the learned helplessness paradigm. Naive rats showed significantly higher FLI than the tested groups in all the amygdaloid regions and in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. However, in the lateral septal nucleus, helpless animals showed significantly reduced FLI in response to stress, compared to the other groups. These, and other previous data, highlight the importance of the septal area in mediating behavioral responses to inescapable stress.
On the path to sustainable, scalable, and energy-efficient data analytics: Challenges, promises, and future directions

As scientific data is reaching exascale, scalable and energy efficient data analytics is quickly becoming a top notch priority. Yet, a sustainable solution to this problem is hampered by a number of technical challenges that get exacerbated with the emerging hardware and software technology trends. In this paper, we present a number of recently created “secret sauces” that promise to address some of these challenges. We discuss transformative approaches to efficient data reduction, analytics-driven query processing, scalable analytical kernels, approximate analytics, among others. We propose a number of future directions that could be pursued on the path to sustainable data analytics at scale.
Inverse scattering methods and microstructure design

Recent advances in methods for inverting scattered field data, originally pursued for imaging penetrable objects, can be considered for the design and synthesis of structures that have prescribed scattered field patterns. Unlike imaging, lack of uniqueness can be useful for synthesis problems, The method used for structure synthesis is described.
Impaired bowel motility following small intestinal transplantation

Abstract Little information is available concerning motility following bowel transplantation and the appropriate timing of offering enteral feedings. Eight Lewis rats (300 g) underwent small bowel transplant as described by R. P. Harmel, Jr., and H. Stanley ( J. Pediatr. Surg. 21: 214, 1986). Silver oxide electrodes were placed in the native proximal ileum and in the distal segment of the homograft. Four control rats underwent laparotomy and placement of silver oxide electrodes in the jejunum and proximal ileum. Leads were brought out through a stab wound and the abdominal incision was closed. The electrodes were connected to a continuous recorder. Basal electrical rhythm (BER) was recorded periodically and was evaluated daily as the average of three readings per animal per day. Homograft electrical activity was not observed until at least 40 hr post-transplant and never attained the level of BER of the native intestine ( P
Empirical Quicksand or Empirical Smokescreen

L'A. presente une analyse des constructions en creole haitien utilisant les elements se et ye, elements paralleles avec une distribution complementaire, jouant un role commun de lien dans les predications. Elle repond dans cet article a une critique de DeGraff sur la validite des bases empiriques de sa recherche
Can Liberalism Lose the Enlightenment

John Rawls’s Political Liberalism asserts that liberal politics can and should be conducted without engaging debates about the truth of its theoretical foundations. This paper argues that political liberalism is in fact far more concerned with questions of truth than Rawls was willing to admit. Once political liberalism’s relation to truth claims is understood more clearly, it becomes evident that political liberalism is closer to its Enlightenment predecessor than Rawls claimed, and that affinity with the Enlightenment enables a reevaluation of political liberalism’s position on the place of religious argument in political debate.
The Chinese Correctional System and its Development

Lao Gai—short for Lao Dong Gai Zao—is a twentieth-century invention, an institution presented to humanity by the Chinese Communist theoreticians. It means Reform Through Labor (which stands for corrections in the People's Republic of China)…[W]hat the Chinese Communists knew all along is that convict labor can never be productive or profitable if it is extracted only by coercion or torture. The Chinese were the first to grasp the art of motivating prisoners. That's what Lao Gai is all about.
Effects of Threat and Failure on Concern for Others.

Abstract A state measure of social interest or concern for others was developed from an existing trait measure. The state measure was significantly correlated with the trait scale and with volunteering to help others in need. Replicating previous research on the relationship between affect and altruistic behavior, social interest was significantly correlated with affective arousal in three studies comprising a total of 259 subjects. Failure on an ego-involving task and theaanticipation of a midterm examination both resulted in significant reductions in social interest. Results supported the hypothesis that negative affect resulting from personal threat typically produces increased concern for self along with decreased concern for the interests of others, thereby resulting in reductions of altruistic behavior. The potential relevance of social interest to relationships between stressful conditions and other aspects of interpersonal behavior was discussed.
Experimental studies of Mars‐analog brines

Evaporite deposits may represent significant sinks of mobile cations (e.g., those of Ca, N, Mg, and Fe) and anions (e.g., those of C, N, S, and Cl) among the materials composing the Martian surface and upper crust. Carbon and nitrogen are especially interesting because of their role as atmospheric gases which can become incorporated into crustal rocks. However, the nature of evaporite precursor brines formed under Martian conditions is poorly understood. To date, only a very limited number of laboratory investigations have been reported which have any bearing on a better understanding of various processes related to brine or evaporite formation on Mars. Here we report on preliminary laboratory experiments that exposed igneous minerals analogous to those in Martian (Shergottites, Nakhlites, and Chassigny (SNC) group) meteorites to a simulated Martian atmosphere and pure, deoxygenated water. Analysis of the water over intervals of time approaching 1 year showed that atmospheric gases dissolved to form carbonate and nitrate ions while minerals dissolved to form sulfate and chloride along with various cations. On an annual basis, ion formation gave a carbonate/sulfate ratio that is comparable to the ratio found among salts in SNC meteorites. The sulfate/chloride ratio of the experimental brines is higher than in SNC meteorites but lower than in surface soils measured at the Viking and Pathfinder landing sites.
Endogenous Information Acquisition with Cournot Competition

This paper studies information production in a model where both entry of analysts and their optimal information quality is endogenous. We show existence of the Bayesian–Nash equilibrium and solve for it in closed form. The model displays rich behavior. In particular, we find that the precision of an individual signal will always be bounded from above by the precision of the prior belief on payoff uncertainty. Furthermore, we give examples that contradict the naive intuition about information acquisition. For instance, we show how a change in the cost structure that makes information cheaper decreases price informativeness, while at the same time market liquidity and the amount of resources society spends on information acquisition can change either way. The model gives a simple, fully rational explanation on why the number of analysts following a stock can be quite large. Endogenizing the cost of information by allowing the manager to choose an optimal informational policy, we find a variety of optima that depend discontinuously on the model parameters. As a consequence, among two similar firms, one may find it optimal to attract many analysts, the other will cooperate with only a few.
Perturbation analysis of optimal decaying-catalyst systems: Fixed-time, regular perturbations

Abstract A regular perturbation analysis of constrained optimal control policies, which does not seem to have been given heretofore, is developed in this paper. This is then applied to compute neighboring optimal paths for decaying-catalyst reactors operated for a fixed-time to maximize total yield. One thus has an algorithm for optimal feedback control, based on an update of the current estimate of the system parameters, or the current feed composition. Alternatively, one can determine the loss in production due to minor side-reactions, or to slow deactivation of one group of catalyst sites in a bifunctional catalyst.
MR thermal monitoring of ultrasound interstitial thermal therapy

This study investigates the feasibility of using MR to monitor tissue thermal coagulation and necrosis during ultrasound interstitial thermal therapy (USITT). Recent studies have demonstrated significant advantages of these multi-transducer ultrasound applicators, most notably the capability to dynamically tailor the longitudinal and angular heating distribution which are important for conformable treatments and preserving critical non-targeted tissue. In this effort we consider the use of MRI-based monitoring as a means of on-line treatment control and verification of USITT with these applicators. Applicator design strategies were devised which have improved MR compatibility and reduced image degradation. For this initial feasibility study, one MR thermal imaging approach was investigated: fast spoiled gradient echo (FSPGR) sequence with temperature elevation dependent on differential phase maps. Thermal lesions were produced using interstitial ultrasound applicators in vitro and monitored in real time using the MR technique. MR-based temperature and lesion maps were correlated to physical examination of thermal lesions and temperature measurements. The temperature sensitivity and contrast of lesion determination as applied to USITT are discussed, and specific recommendations on applicator fabrication and implementation of MR imaging sequences are given.
Comparison of the flow rates of central venous catheters designed for rapid transfusion in infants and small children

Large-bore Hickman catheters are useful in infants and small children for the rapid transfusion of blood or fluids into the central circulation. Recently high-flow plastic sheaths have been developed for the same purpose. We compared the flow rates of normal saline, 5% albumin and packed red blood cells through two sizes of Hickman catheters that have been recommended for major surgery in infants to five sizes of Arrow plastic sheaths of comparable external diameters, and to 14 and 16 gauge Jelco catheters. The flow rates of all three solutions through the plastic sheaths and the 14 gauge Jelco catheters were superior to both sizes of Hickman catheters. Shortening the Hickman catheters improved their flow. High-flow plastic sheaths can provide a useful alternative to Hickman catheters in patients where permanent, large-bore central venous catheters are not required. Hickman catheters should be shortened as much as safely possible if massive haemorrhage is anticipated.
Mechanisms for regulation of cellular responsiveness to human IFN-beta1a

Interferons (IFNs) are potent, pleiotropic cytokines, and therefore it is likely that the cell has mechanisms to modulate IFN activity in response to excessive or prolonged IFN exposure. To investigate this question, Jurkat T cells were exposed to IFN-β1a in vitro. The effect of dose and frequency of IFN treatment on receptor expression, the signal transduction pathway, and biologic activity was examined. Results demonstrate that at even modest doses of IFN (60 IU/ml), cell surface expression of the IFN receptor subunit, IFNAR-1, decreased significantly, and the cells were unresponsive to further IFN treatment. More interestingly, after an initial treatment with very low concentrations of IFN (<10 IU/ml), even when receptor levels remained normal and phosphorylation of signaling molecules occurred, cells were still refractory to further IFN treatment. After withdrawal of IFN, full cellular responsiveness was a progressive but surprisingly slow process. Cells retreated 2 days or 4 days after the initial IF...
Attention problems versus conduct problems as 6-year predictors of signs of disturbance in a national sample.

ABSTRACT Objective To test whether attention problems predicted different signs of disturbance than conduct problems over 3 and 6 years. Method Gender-specific criteria for deviance on parents' ratings of attention versus conduct problems were tested as predictors of interview-reported signs of disturbance in a national sample first assessed at ages 4 to 16 years. Results Males and females deviant on both attention and conduct problems showed higher rates of several signs of disturbance than did those deviant on only one type of problem. Subjects deviant only on conduct problems showed higher rates of several signs than did controls, whereas those deviant only on attention problems exceeded controls mainly on special education services. Unaggressive “delinquent” conduct problems predicted dropping out of school, unwed pregnancy, and total signs for both genders during transitions to adulthood. Conclusions Attention problems predict receipt of special education but contribute much less than conduct problems to predicting other signs of disturbance. Differential assessment of aggressive versus unaggressive conduct problems can improve prediction, as can gender specificity in setting criteria for deviance and in testing outcomes.
Using robots to reduce personnel radiation exposure at the savannah river plant

The Savannah River Laboratory is using robots to improve safety and reduce personnel radiation exposure in the nuclear process environment. This paper reviews several successful applications at this site. A detailed discussion is presented on an application to transfer materials in a line of shielded radiation work cells.
Generation of Artificial Acoustic-Gravity Waves and Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances in HF Heating Experiments

We report the results of our ionospheric HF heating experiments to generate artificial acoustic-gravity waves (AGW) and traveling ionospheric disturbances (TID), which were conducted at the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program facility in Gakona, Alaska. Based on the data from UHF radar, GPS total electron content, and ionosonde measurements, we found that artificial AGW/TID can be generated in ionospheric modification experiments by sinusoidally modulating the power envelope of the transmitted O-mode HF heater waves. In this case, the modulation frequency needs to be set below the characteristic Brunt–Vaisala frequency at the relevant altitudes. We avoided potential contamination from naturally-occurring AGW/TID of auroral origin by conducting the experiments during geomagnetically quiet time period. We determine that these artificial AGW/TID propagate away from the edge of the heated region with a horizontal speed of approximately 160 m/s.
Reflection–Absorption Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic Study of Transferred Films of Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Using the Langmuir–Blodgett Technique

Reflection–absorption Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (RA-FTIR) has been utilized to investigate the tertiary structures of a series of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) films transferred to silver substrates using the Langmuir–Blodgett technique. A surface pressure−area isotherm of PDMS of molecular weight of 2400 Da with low polydispersity (PDI of 1.09) was measured on a water subphase at 20 °C. Films were transferred onto silver substrates at various surface pressures associated with regions on the isotherm where structural changes are indicated. The infrared data from the films indicated the structural changes identified by analysis of the isotherm could be related to polymeric backbone orientational adjustments. This was evidenced by relative intensity changes of the asymmetric and symmetric Si−O−Si stretches located at 1050 and 1110 cm−1, respectively. Infrared data from the films also showed increases in absorption consistent with varying film thickness. Ratios of the peak intensity of 1265 cm−...
Artificial uniaxial and biaxial dielectrics with use of two-dimensional subwavelength binary gratings

Two-dimensional symmetric and asymmetric subwavelength binary gratings are investigated. A method for determining the three effective indices of a two-dimensional (2-D) subwavelength grating is presented, as well as a theoretical formalization for the effective index parallel with the normal to the surface. It is shown that a 2-D asymmetric binary grating on the surface of a dielectric substrate is analogous to a biaxial thin film. If the grating is symmetric, then the two effective indices perpendicular to the normal are equal, and the grating is analogous to a uniaxial thin film. Using these effective indices and the quarter-wave Tschebyscheff synthesis technique, we designed two- and three-level binary gratings to suppress reflections over a broad band. It is shown that for a substrate index of ns = 3.0 a three-level 2-D binary grating reduced reflections below 0.1% from 8 μm to 12 μm.
I.A. Richards revisited: Do people agree in their interpretations of literature?

Abstract Many theorists hold that people do not agree very well in their interpretations of literary texts. This could not be the case. If there were little or no inter-subject agreement, reader-response studies would never yield significant results. Data showing that people agree very well in their assessment of art and music suggest that the same should also be true of literature. Two studies of the 13 poems used in I.A. Richards' (1929) experiment on literary interpretation were undertaken. Rating scales were used in the first study and open-ended essays in the second. In both studies, highly significant inter-subject agreement was found. If Richards' data were anything like ours, one can only conclude that he completely misinterpreted them.
Microwave Photonics Applications of Whispering Gallery Mode Resonators

Whispering gallery resonators (WGRs) made of electro-optic crystals are suitable for the realization of widely tunable microwave photonic filters as well as electro-optical modulators. We review recent progress in the field and discuss possible solutions of problems related to design and fabrication of narrow-band widely tunable high- order filters based on high-Q LiNbO3 WGRs and demonstrate fifth-order filter function with the resonators.