cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disparities in the Use of Single-fraction Stereotactic Radiosurgery for the Treatment of Brain Metastases From Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

PURPOSE Radiation treatment patterns in patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been well elucidated. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was used to evaluate trends in the use of whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastasis from NSCLC. METHODS This NCDB study included patients > 18 years old with metastatic NSCLC treated with single-fraction SRS or WBRT between 2004 and 2014. Chi-square, t-test, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of SRS versus WBRT. RESULTS Of 40,803 patients, 34,183 (83.8%) received WBRT and 6,620 (16.2%) received SRS. SRS utilization increased from 7% (157 cases) in 2004 to 37% (1,346 cases) in 2014 (p < .001). SRS was utilized more by academic than community facilities (22% versus 13%, p < .001). The strongest independent predictors of SRS included year of diagnosis in 2010-2014 versus 2004-2009 (odds ratio [OR] 2.62, 95% CI 2.46-2.79, p < .0001), metropolitan versus rural (OR 2.26, CI 1.79-2.85, p < .0001), distance from cancer-reporting facility of ≥ 30 versus < 30 miles (OR 2.36, CI 2.18-2.56, p < .0001), private insurance versus non-insured patients (OR 1.96, CI 1.68-2.29, p < .0001), and academic versus community facility (OR 1.76, CI 1.66-1.87, p < .0001). CONCLUSION SRS for NSCLC brain metastases has steadily increased in the United States; however, WBRT remains the most commonly used. Wide geographic and socioeconomic variations exist in the utilization of SRS and WBRT for this patient population.
Genome wide analysis of Ga1-s modifiers in maize

ABSTRACT A one way reproductive barrier exists between most popcorn varieties and dent corn varieties grown in the United States. This barrier is predominantly controlled by the ga1 locus. Using data from a diverse population of popcorn accessions pollinated by a dent corn tester, we found that the non-reciprocal pollination barrier conferred by ga1 is more complex than previously described. Individual accessions ranged from 0% to 100% compatible with dent corn pollen. Using conventional genotyping-by-sequencing data from 371 popcorn accessions carrying Ga1-s, seven significant modifiers of dent pollen compatibility were identified on five chromosomes. One locus may either be a nonfunctional ga1 allele present within popcorn, or second necessary gene for the reproductive barrier in genetic linkage with ga1, while the other modifiers are clearly genetically unlinked. The existence of ga1 modifiers segregating in a popcorn genetic background may indicate selective pressure to allow gene flow between populations, which should be incorporated into future models of the impact of genetic incompatibility loci on gene flow in natural and agricultural plant populations.
A Bayesian approach to biosignature detection on ocean worlds

Astrobiologists hope to detect signs of life on ocean worlds such as Europa. But the major challenge will actually come if such detections are successful — how to prove they are real and not artefacts of contamination or exotic chemistry?
Technology stigma and secondary stakeholder activism: the adoption and growth of clean power programs in the U.S. utility sector

"While researchers have recognized the importance of social movements for market emergence, we know little about the mechanisms through which mobilized secondary stakeholders trigger interest in new markets among incumbent firms. We investigate the possibility that social movements create and amplify a polluting technology stigma that leads incumbents to develop a stigma dilution strategy, which is associated with entering a new market. We also examine the contingent factors that enhance the positive environmental consequences of technology stigma. Our quantitative analyses of the adoption of green power programs by U.S. electric utilities and the subsequent growth in green power consumption allows us to test hypotheses about the effect of technology stigma, secondary stakeholders and moderator effects. The analysis confirms our hypotheses, speaking to the literature on movements, organizations and markets."
Synthesis of thiazole compounds via lithiation: an unexpected rearrangement

Abstract A novel rearrangement was discovered during an investigation of the lithium-bromine exchange reactions of bromothiazole derivatives and their subsequent reactions with various electrophiles.
Parents of newborns in the NICU enrolled in genome sequencing research: hopeful, but not naïve

In 2014, our institution launched a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing rapid genome sequencing (GS) to standard clinical evaluations of infants with suspected genetic disorders. This study aimed to understand parental response to the use of GS for their newborn babies. Twenty-three of 128 parents whose infant had enrolled in the RCT completed a retrospective survey and interview addressing attitudes about GS and responses to receiving diagnostic information. We also collected information about participants’ genetic literacy, genetic knowledge, numeracy, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. The majority reported positive (13; 56.5%) or neutral 4 (4; 17.4%) feelings when approached about GS for their infant and 100% felt that GS was generally beneficial. The 12 participants who had received a unifying diagnosis for their child’s symptoms described personal utility of the information. Some reported the diagnosis led to changes in medical care. Participants showed understanding of some of the psychological risks of GS. For example, 21 (91.3%) agreed or strongly agreed that genetic testing could reveal disturbing results. Parents who enrolled their newborn in a RCT of GS demonstrated awareness of a psychological risk, but generally held positive beliefs about GS and perceived the benefits outweighed the risk.
The Assessment of Marital Adjustment with Chinese Populations: A Study of the Psychometric Properties of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale

This article presents findings from a study of the psychometric properties of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) with 63 Chinese-Americans. The analysis revealed high internal consistency for DAS scores. Coefficient alpha for the total DAS score was r = .93. Convergent validity was established with the Locke-Wallis Marital Adjustment Scale (LWMAT) (r = .87) and divergent validity by evidence of an inverse relationship with the Marital Disaffection Scale (MDS) (r = −.79). Correlations with each measure were found to be (p = 0.01). The result of factor analysis fail to support the presence of four separate subscales. Results show that the global DAS score is of potential utility with Asian samples.
Vibrational Communication in Elephants: A Case for Bone Conduction

We present new physiological data on bone conduction hearing from cadaveric temporal bone ears of an elephant. We discuss the results in the context of the elephant’s ability to detect and interpret ground-borne vibrations as signals and compare with similar measurements in a human cadaveric temporal bone ear. Large ossicles are potentially indicative of superior bone conduction hearing, and elephant ossicles are the largest among terrestrial mammals. Using 3D laser vibrometry, we measured stapes velocity in each x, y, z planes and the promontory velocity to determine relative velocity as an indication of vibrational input to the cochlea via the footplate. Since elephant ossicles are at least seven times the mass of human ossicles, we compare the sensitivity of both species to vibrations in the frequency range of 8–10,000 Hz and report that elephants have up to an order of magnitude greater sensitivity below 200 Hz, indicating a heightened sensitivity to bone conduction hearing in comparison to humans.
Nutritional Advancement in the Hospitalized Child After NPO: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: A clear-liquid diet is commonly used after a nil per os (NPO) order in children recovering from acute gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses. Our purpose for this study was to compare outcomes in patients receiving a clear-liquid diet after an NPO order with outcomes in those receiving a regular diet. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients aged 1 to 18 years admitted to a tertiary care children’s hospital between 2016 and 2017 were screened to identify those who had an NPO order placed for acute GI illnesses. Patients with complex medical needs, a feeding disorder, or chronic GI disorders were excluded. RESULTS: Of 39 total patients, 17 (44%) received a clear-liquid diet after an NPO order. There was no difference in diet tolerance between patients receiving a clear-liquid diet and those receiving a regular diet on the basis of emesis in the first 12 hours (P = .40), pain scores after the first oral intake (P = .86), return to clear-liquid diet (P = .57), or return to NPO status (P > .99). Patients started on a clear-liquid diet had a longer length of stay (LOS) after diet initiation compared with those receiving a regular diet (median: 43.7 hours [interquartile range: 29.8–53.4] vs median: 20.8 hours [interquartile range 6.7–47.3]), both in the univariate analysis (P = .01) and after controlling for age, diagnosis category, and pain score before and after the first oral intake (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Patients transitioned to a clear-liquid diet after NPO status have a longer LOS after the first oral intake independent of patient age, diagnosis, and pretransition abdominal pain. Both groups had similar diet tolerance, suggesting that transition to a regular diet after NPO status may decrease LOS without significant adverse effects.
From simplicity to complexity: The gain or loss of spot rows underlies the morphological diversity of three Drosophila species

To understand how novel animal patterning emerged, one needs to ask how the development of color patterns has changed among diverging species. Here we examine three species of fruit flies - Drosophila guttifera (D. guttifera), Drosophila palustris (D. palustris), and Drosophila subpalustris (D. subpalustris) - displaying a varying number of abdominal spot rows that were either gained or lost throughout evolutionary time. Through in situ hybridization, we examine the mRNA expression patterns for the pigmentation genes Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc), tan (t), and yellow (y) during pupal development. Our results show that Ddc, t, and y are co-expressed in identical patterns, each foreshadowing the adult abdominal spots in D. guttifera, D. palustris, and D. subpalustris.
Rapid deployment of virtual mind-body interventions during the COVID-19 outbreak: feasibility, acceptability, and implications for future care.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 increased stress levels while reducing access to mind-body services in patients with cancer. We describe the rapid deployment of remotely delivered mind-body services to people with cancer during COVID-19, rates of participation, and acceptability from patients' perspectives. METHODS: Eligible participants were patients with cancer age ≥ 18 years enrolled in a single academic cancer center's online patient portal. Interventions included mind-body group therapy sessions in fitness, meditation, yoga, dance, tai chi, and music delivered using Zoom video conferencing. Sessions were 30-45 min and led by an integrative medicine clinician. Following each session, participants were asked to complete a three-item questionnaire assessing (1) satisfaction with the class session, (2) reduction in stress/anxiety, and (3) likelihood of recommending the class to others. Patients could also provide comments in real-time using the Zoom chat function. RESULTS: Among 5948 unique visits, the most frequently attended classes were fitness (n = 2513, 42.2%) followed by meditation (n = 1176, 19.8%) and yoga (n = 909, 15.3%). Of these visits, 3902 (65.6%) had an associated completed questionnaire. Across class types, a large majority of participants reported being extremely satisfied (n = 3733, 95.7%), experiencing extreme reductions in anxiety/stress (n = 3268, 83.8%), and being extremely likely to recommend the class to others (n = 3605, 92.4%). Fitness had the highest endorsement among class types (all p values < 0.001). Themes from the chat responses included gratitude, expressions of helpfulness, and feelings of connection. CONCLUSION: High utilization of and satisfaction with these virtual mind-body services demonstrate the significant potential of remote delivery to facilitate patient access to services.
Ganging Up on Girls: Young Women and their Emerging Violence

This article examines the trend of girl violence, particularly in the context of girls in gangs. The emergence of girls, gangs, and violence raises two questions for the criminal justice system. First, why are girls becoming more violent? Second, how should the criminal justice system respond to what is likely to be an ongoing trend? Existing answers to the first question are largely unsatisfactory, falling into the trap of polemic discourse. Current theories posit these girls as either liberated, autonomous beings accessing male power structures through violence, or as oppressed victims trapped in a violent world created and maintained by men. Some still deny that young women are becoming more dangerous. What one thinks the legal system ought to do with these girls depends on where one falls in the liberation-oppression debate described above. Some argue that for girls, like boys, there are no excuses for violence; others argue that for girls, unlike boys, there are many. This article has three criticisms of current research. Most academic discourse about female violence is completely disconnected from popular culture, which strongly influences the lives of young women. [ Much of it is written in such coded language that it is completely inaccessible to anyone outside the academy, let alone those who are the subject of the text. This Article is intentionally written with popular references to break down the wall that insulates those of us in the academy from the rest of the world. Second, most current theories view violence from a social constructionist viewpoint, arguing that it is essentially learned behavior. This viewpoint fails to understand the biological underpinnings of aggression. Aggression is part of human nature for both men and women. It is from this biologically-informed starting point that we ought to analyze the rise of female violence. Third, and most importantly, both liberation and oppression theories fail to recognize that women's violence is not just about the battles we fight against men, but the battles we fight for them. Most explain female aggression as women fighting back against men, such as when a woman kills her abuser. True? Sometimes. But I argue that it is only part of the picture. It is imperative to distinguish between motives. Granted, some female violence is, at its core, a battle between the sexes, an extreme manifestation of our hatred for men. However, this Article suggests that most female violence is a battle among the sexes, rooted in our hatred of other women, an extreme manifestation of our love for men.
Detecting damage initiation in short fiber composites via in-situ X-ray tomography and digital volume correlation

Abstract In-situ X-ray tomography is an effective means for the acquisition of time-resolved 3D images of fiber reinforced composites during mechanical loading and deformation. However, the manual comparison of corresponding in-situ X-ray images at successive loading instances to detect damage and its propagation is a time-consuming process. To improve the detection of damage using in-situ X-ray tomography, digital volume correlation (DVC), a full field 3D-strain technique that determines relative deformation between consecutive image volumes, was used. Specifically, regions of high strain were isolated from the heterogeneous strain computed from DVC within the microstructure and compared to manually detected damage. In this study, 59 out of 63 manually detected damage events, which included fiber breakage, micro-void nucleation, and fiber debonding, were within the search spaces of high strains beyond the 60th percentile threshold computed by DVC. Results of this study demonstrate the use of DVC as a tool to confine volumes of potential damage sites within the in-situ X-ray tomograms of composites to improve the efficiency of incipient damage detection.
On the Complexity of Exact Maximum-Likelihood Decoding for Asymptotically Good Low Density Parity Check Codes: A New Perspective

The problem of exact maximum-likelihood (ML) decoding of general linear codes is well-known to be NP-hard. In this paper, we show that exact ML decoding of a class of asymptotically good low density parity check codes - expander codes - over binary symmetric channels (BSCs) is possible with an average-case polynomial complexity. This offers a new way of looking at the complexity issue of exact ML decoding for communication systems where the randomness in channel plays a fundamental central role. More precisely, for any bit-flipping probability p in a nontrivial range, there exists a rate region of non-zero support and a family of asymptotically good codes which achieve error probability exponentially decaying in coding length n while admitting exact ML decoding in average-case polynomial time. As p approaches zero, this rate region approaches the Shannon channel capacity region. Similar results can be extended to AWGN channels, suggesting it may be feasible to eliminate the error floor phenomenon associated with belief-propagation decoding of LDPC codes in the high SNR regime. The derivations are based on a hierarchy of ML certificate decoding algorithms adaptive to the channel realization.In this process, we propose an efficient O(n 2) new ML certificate algorithm based on the max-flow algorithm. Moreover, exact ML decoding of the considered class of codes constructed from LDPC codes with regular left degree, of which the considered expander codes are a special case, remains NP-hard; thus giving an interesting contrast between the worst-case and average-case complexities.
COVID-19 Testing: Frequency Wins over Sensitivity in Control of Disease Transmission

Emerging pathogens have no known therapies or vaccines and therefore can only be controlled via traditional methods of contact tracing, quarantine and isolation that require rapid and widespread te...
The Segmentation of Image Curves

IN THIS CHAPTER we will apply the methods of perceptual organization to the difficult but important problem of segmenting image curves. Smoothed, segmented image curves are important perceptual structures in themselves, as well as being needed for the subsequent detection of collinearity, parallelism, connectivity, and other perceptual groupings. Most current edge detectors only detect edge points (image locations through which an edge is judged to pass) and possibly link these together into lists of points on the basis of proximity. The gap between the output of edge-detection techniques and the smoothed, segmented curve descriptions needed for model matching and many perceptual grouping operations is a significant missing link in current image-description methodology. One reason for the difficulty of curve segmentation is that it is actually a combination of several different problems: choosing the best scale of description for a curve, deciding where to place tangent discontinuities (corners), and assigning levels of significance to the final segmentations. This chapter will outline the various requirements that an ideal solution to this problem should satisfy, and will demonstrate a computer program that satisfies most of them.
Prescribed fire alters structure and composition of a mid-Atlantic oak forest up to eight years after burning

Prescribed fire in Eastern deciduous forests has been understudied relative to other regions in the United States. In Pennsylvania, USA, prescribed fire use has increased more than five-fold since 2009, yet forest response has not been extensively studied. Due to variations in forest composition and the feedback between vegetation and fire, Pennsylvania deciduous forests may burn and respond differently than forests across the eastern US. We measured changes in forest structure and composition up to eight years after prescribed fire in a hardwood forest of the Ridge and Valley region of the Appalachian Mountains in central Pennsylvania. Within five years post fire, tree seedling density increased more than 72% while sapling density decreased by 90%, midstory density decreased by 46%, and overstory response varied. Following one burn in the mixed-oak unit, overstory tree density decreased by 12%. In the aspen–oak unit, where pre-fire harvesting and two burns occurred, overstory tree density increased by 25%. Not all tree species responded similarly and post-fire shifts in species relative abundance occurred in sapling and seedling size classes. Abundance of red maple and cherry species decreased, whereas abundance of sassafras, quaking aspen, black oak, and hickory species increased. Forest composition plays a key role in the vegetation–fire relationship and localized studies are necessary to measure forest response to prescribed fire. Compositional shifts in tree species were most pronounced in the aspen–oak unit where pre-fire overstory thinning and two prescribed fires were applied and significant structural changes occurred in all stands after just one burn. Increases in fire-tolerant tree species combined with reductions in fire-intolerant species highlight the role of prescribed fire in meeting management objectives such as altering forest structure and composition to improve game habitat in mid-Atlantic hardwood forests.
Abstract 372: Association between pre-treatment biomarkers and survival in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with first-line pembrolizumab

Background: The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab has significantly improved the outcomes of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Pre-treatment biomarkers and clinical parameters such as body mass index (BMI), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), albumin, and antibiotic exposure have been shown to be prognostic factors in other immunotherapy-treated cancers. Here we report an association between these biomarkers and survival outcomes in metastatic NSCLC patients who received first-line treatment with pembrolizumab-based regimens. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, 3-center study using electronic medical record data for patients with NSCLC treated with first-line pembrolizumab, either as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to describe our primary end-points, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) after initiation of immunotherapy. Log-rank test was used to compare the PFS and OS for antibiotics usage one month prior to therapy initiation. Univariate analysis and Cox proportional modeling were used to analyze pre-treatment BMI, NLR, and albumin relative to PFS and OS. Results: 136 patients were identified in our cohort. 50 (36.8%) patients received pembrolizumab monotherapy, and 86 (63.2%) patients received pembrolizumab with chemotherapy. 95 (69.9%) patients had exposure to antibiotics one month prior to therapy initiation, 40 (29.4%) patients had no exposure, and 1 (0.7%) patient had no reported data on antibiotics usage. Mean NLR was 7.61 (n=135), mean albumin was 3.27 g/dL (n=133), and mean BMI was 25.89 (n=134). On univariate analysis, exposure to antibiotics (log-rank p-value = 0.03), higher NLR (hazard ratio = 1.027; p-value = 0.021), and lower albumin (hazard ratio = 0.385; p-value Conclusion: Exposure to antibiotics within one month of pembrolizumab initiation, higher baseline NLR, and lower baseline albumin are associated with worse PFS. Elevated baseline NLR, lower baseline albumin, and lower BMI are associated with poorer OS. These results enhance our understanding of how these biomarkers may predict efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in patients with NSCLC. Larger prospective studies should further investigate the clinical utility of these biomarkers. Citation Format: Ishani Joshi, Monica Peravali, Xue Geng, Jiahua Zhang, Giuseppe Giaccone, Chul Kim. Association between pre-treatment biomarkers and survival in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with first-line pembrolizumab [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 372.
Machines as Programs: P $\neq$ NP

The Curry-Howard correspondence is often called the proofs-as-programs result. I offer a generalization of this result, something which may be called machines as programs. Utilizing this insight, I introduce two new Turing Machines called "Ceiling Machines." The formal ingredients of these two machines are nearly identical. But there are crucial differences, splitting the two into a "Higher Ceiling Machine" and a "Lower Ceiling Machine." A potential graph of state transitions of the Higher Ceiling Machine is then offered. This graph is termed the "canonically nondeterministic solution" or CNDS, whose accompanying problem is its own replication, i.e., the problem, "Replicate CNDS" (whose accompanying algorithm is cast in Martin-L\"of type theory). I then show that while this graph can be replicated (solved) in polynomial time by a nondeterministic machine -- of which the Higher Ceiling Machine is a canonical example -- it cannot be solved in polynomial time by a deterministic machine, of which the Lower Ceiling Machine is also canonical. It is consequently proven that P $\neq$ NP.
The Social Context of Health: Effects of Time, Place and Person

Health and illness can be understood only in a social context. The ways people live, the values they hold and the choices available to them are major determinants of ‘perceived’ health status as well as of ‘actual’ health status. It is not only that culture determines our views of who is well and who is sick but that the conditions of social life influence our very biology as well as our psychology. What we are, as well as what we think we are, is shaped by the way we live.
Modelling of magnetic interactions in partially-ionized gas: application to the FIP effect

We have adapted the ZEUS code to model magnetic interactions in partially ionized gas. When two regions of opposite polarity come into contact with each other, ions drifting in response to the Lorentz force fall into the minimum of the magnetic field, and then the drifting ions force the neutrals to take part in the flow. Because of the finite time required for ion-atom collisions to occur, the gas which emerges from the interaction site has an ion/atom ratio which may be altered relative to that in the ambient medium. In order to model this effect, we adapt the Zeus code to a two-step iterative process involving a cycle between the hydrodynamic (HD) and the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) versions of the code. The ion and atom fluids are coupled by collisions. Our simulations show that in chromospheric conditions, outflowing gas exhibits enhancements in ion/atom ratios which may be as large as a factor of 10 or more. The magnitude of the enhancements is determined by two key ratios which enter into the problem: the degree of ionization (ni/na), and the plasma β parameter. We show that, in the context of the mechanism we propose here, the amplitude of the ion/atom enhancements in the solar chromosphere is subject to a remarkable self-regulation because the ion density ni is almost invariant over the height range of interest to us. Our results are relevant in the context of the Sun, where the coronal abundances of elements with low first ionization potential (FIP) are systematically enhanced in certain magnetic structures. Although data for stars other than the Sun are sparse, we point out that our results are also useful for interpreting the available stellar data.
Cultural Models and their Interplay in Global Software-Engineering Practice

Cultural dynamics play a significant role in the unfolding of the global software practice. Research in the other disciplines have utilized the idea of cultural models to help researchers investigate cultural influence in their respective fields. Cultural models are defined as the taken-for-granted, pre-supposed models of the world that are shared widely by members of a society and that help the members understand their world and influence their behavior in that world. Utilizing this cultural models idea, we conducted an ethnographically-informed investigation of a global software practice at a large vendor organization in India to uncover some cultural models embedded in the practice. This paper presents an ethnographic account of an escalation situation that occurred in the field. Using this situation as our unit of analysis, we uncovered three cultural models -- Agreement, Flexibility, and Trust Cultural Models -- that appear to have influenced the organization of the behaviors of the participant members. The findings illustrate how the internalized cultural models influenced the members' behaviors to make decision that conflicted the business prospects (e.g., Agreement Model), the different members internalized different understanding of the cultural elements (e.g., Trust Model), and the cultural models tacitly played the role of "cultural blind spots" (e.g., Flexibilty Model). Thus, the research demonstrates how the technical system of global software engineering is complexly intertwined with the cultural system of its members.
Evaluating and Blending Multimedia Mobile Applications into Technical Training

This study in the aerospace ground equipment (AGE) apprentice course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, examined the use of mobile digital devices to determine which device leveraged the best results and was most compatible with military technical training requirements. The sample consisted of 160 students who attended the course between January and June, 2010. Three devices loaded with course materials were issued to the students, who used the devices in the classroom and were encouraged to use the devices to enhance their study time after class. Quantitative data were obtained by comparing block test scores to determine if any device produced a significant change in student learning. Qualitative data were collected from surveys administered to instructors and students to measure which device instructors and students found easiest to understand and use, and student satisfaction with the device. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a statistically significant difference (p < .05) in the block test mean scores between groups using mobile devices and the students in the control group that had no device. Post hoc comparisons on each block showed that there was a statistically significant difference between students using the smartphone and students using the other devices, but no statistically significant difference in the block test mean scores between students using the iPod and the netbook. The netbook leveraged the best results, both in block test scores and student satisfaction. The greatest reported disadvantage of the smartphone and the iPod Touch was the small screen size.
Matlab demonstrations for concepts in electromagnetics

In this contribution we present some interactive demonstrations that visualize various concepts in electromagnetics. The demonstration modules are developed in Matlab and they are used in undergraduate electromagnetics courses to improve student learning of electromagnetic concepts.
Auricular Mass in a Child.

A 5-year-old boy presented with a 1-year history of a mass gradually growing over the helix of his left auricle. It was associated with minimal pain and intermittently fluctuated in size. Physical examination revealed a single 1.0 × 0.7-cm mass on the left mid helix that was firm, nontender, nonerythematous, and nonerosive. Surgical resection was performed. The resected specimen appeared cystic (Figure, A) with granulomatous reaction at the periphery (Figure, B). The lesion was found to be superficially located in the dermis and filled with a soft white material that appeared as purple to blue crystals. Quiz at jamaotolaryngology.com Hematoxylin-eosin, original magnification ×1 A Hematoxylin-eosin, original magnification ×20 B
Reply by Author to A. E. Bryson Jr.

where the integrals are line integrals in the qlt q1 phase space; thus the work done is path -dependent. The solution to the second example appears to be correct, indicating that Bailey again used virtual work, not work, in determing the solution. We agree with Bailey that there is some confusion on this subject in the recent literature. For example, Goldstein has an incorrect derivation of Lagrange's equations for nonconservative systems using a principle similar to that of Ref . 1 and Lanczos apparently chooses not even to discuss the issue in his treatise. However, Whittaker in 1904 gave a complete discussion (see Ch. IX of Ref. 2).
In situ monitoring of molecular-beam-epitaxy grown Hg1−xCdxTe by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

One of the major drawbacks associated with in situ pyrometry is the fact that the sample emissivity is unknown. Real-time in situ measurements of HgCdTe growth temperature are made even more difficult by the change in emissivity that takes place during deposition. In this article, a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer was utilized to measure simultaneously the sample emission and its emissivity, thereby making it possible to determine the sample temperature at any growth stage. Two different methods of temperature determination from the spectral radiance were compared, and applied to the in situ monitoring of the growth of a HgCdTe/CdTe(211)B/Si(211) heterostructure. A computer simulation of the measuring procedure showed that the technique is very sensitive to signal reduction resulting from beam misalignment and/or imperfect calibration of the detector spectral response.
Inventing E-Regulation in the US, EU and East Asia: Conflicting Social Visions of the Internet & the Information Society

This paper attempts to assess the international approach to Internet policy in the context of distinctive socio-political frameworks evolving in the US, the European Union (EU), and East Asia. The comparative review will develop a set of underlying structural models of the Information Society particular to each region, along with an analysis of their defining characteristics in relation to one another. This examination demonstrates how each region, given its regulatory legacy, has elected a different mix of good and bad socio-political choices in public policy for the Internet. Despite the range and diversity of paths to e-regulation suggested in these choices, none adequately addresses the underlying issue of how to promote an innovative society that is open to broad social participation. The paper evaluates principal weaknesses in these regional models of Internet policy and argues the need for re-conceptualizing the cultural, political and economic approach to the new information space of the Internet.
Biocomplexity in the environment: Opportunities for biogeosciences research and education

The term “biocomplexity” has not been commonly encountered in the traditional Earth sciences. It is one of many concepts that are finding new significance in the growing efforts of Earth scientists to understand the role of organisms (including humans) in Earth processes. Important opportunities for Earth science research are embodied in the recent National Science Foundation (NSF) program announcement, “Biocomplexity in the Environment: Integrated Research and Education in Environmental Systems.“ (See http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2001/nsf0134/nsf0134.htm). The announcement solicits proposals in four topical areas, all of which are subjects of active interest in biogeoscience research. Under the topic, “Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems” (CNH), emphasis is placed on support of interdisciplinary teams from the natural and social sciences to focus on subjects such as land use, vulnerability to environmental change, and “natural capital” (including fuel, water, and soil).
Observation of Kerr nonlinearity in micro-cavities at room temperature

We have devised and experimentally verified a method for observation of the optical Kerr effect in micro-cavities at room temperature. The technique discriminates against typically dominant thermal component of nonlinearity using its relatively slow frequency response.
Automated Left Ventricular Endocardial Border Detection Using Acoustic Quantification in Children

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and accuracy of automated border detection using acoustic quantification in children. BACKGROUND: Acoustic quantification has shown promise in adult patients as a method for on-line estimation of left ventricular size and function. However, in children, the smaller ventricular size might magnify the importance of measurement error. METHODS: We compared the cross-sectional area and fractional area change of the left ventricle as measured on line by acoustic quantification with the area and fractional area change derived by hand-digitizing the endocardial border of the left ventricle off line, both with and without the papillary muscles included in the left ventricular cavity. RESULTS: The areas and area change fractions from the two methods were highly correlated, both with inclusion and exclusion of the papillary muscles for off-line analysis. However, the regression slope was closer to unity when the papillary muscles were excluded from the left ventricular cavity during off-line digitization of the endocardial border. Analysis of agreement between the two methods showed good agreement for area measurements and fair agreement for function measurements. The magnitude of the difference between the two methods for area measurement was directly proportional to the size of the ventricle. That is, the larger the ventricle the larger the difference between the area measurements by the two methods. DISCUSSION: Automatic border detection using acoustic quantification appears to be an acceptable method for estimating the cross-sectional area and fractional area change of the left ventricle in children.
PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE DESIGN OF COMPOSITE STRUCTURES

The design of composite structures is far from straightforward because of the anisotropy of the building materials. Many practical considerations on the subject ought to be addressed. First, common restrictions imposed on the layup of laminates, such as symmetry, balance, and population rules, are investigated. Rules for filtration of imposed multiple loadsets are also established. Next, the issues of design optimization itself are addressed. Netting analysis, although very tempting;, is proven to be wrong. Methods of local and global optimization are surveyed and confronted Major differences between statically determinate and indeterminate structures, illustrated by typical beam problems, are raised For the purpose of global structural optimization, superplies, sublaminates, and ply drops were introduced, along with new design and optimization criteria by Manne and Tsai [1-3]. Direct applications of the latter, such as easy manufacturing, stiffness-controlled and hybrid designs are provided for composite...
Effect of the Addition of Citrolas to High-Moisture Forage for Silage on Nutrient Losses and Animal Response

Summary Four tower silos were filled with moderately high-moisture oat forage with the addition of (a) 0, (b) 149, (c) 274, and (d) 425 lb. of citrolas crumbles per ton of fresh forage. Total dry matter losses calculated as a percentage of the forage dry matter ensiled were (a) 14, (b) 14, (c) 24, and (d) 31, respectively. Corresponding dry matter losses by seepage were: (a) 5.3, (b) 7.3, (c) 2.7, and (d) 1.7. Thus, with the lowest level of citrolas, seepage dry matter losses were higher than when none was added. The fermentation losses were much higher in the two silos with the most additive. The dry matter content and specific gravity of the seepage were higher with the additive, but the amount of additive had no effect. The maximum average temperatures were not affected by the treatments. Each of the silages was fed to six lactating dairy cows in a continuous-type feeding experiment. There was no significant difference in weight gains, milk production, or fat test of the milk. Cows fed the silages containing the two lowest amounts of the additive consumed highly significantly more silage dry matter than did those fed the other silages. Average pounds of silage dry matter consumed per thousand pounds of body weight were (a) 18.6, (b) 22.1, (c) 21.0, and (d) 19.0, for the four groups, respectively.
Modeling of long-term fatigue damage of soft tissue with stress softening and permanent set effects

One of the major failure modes of bioprosthetic heart valves is non-calcific structural deterioration due to fatigue of the tissue leaflets. Experimental methods to characterize tissue fatigue properties are complex and time-consuming. A constitutive fatigue model that could be calibrated by isolated material tests would be ideal for investigating the effects of more complex loading conditions. However, there is a lack of tissue fatigue damage models in the literature. To address these limitations, in this study, a phenomenological constitutive model was developed to describe the stress softening and permanent set effects of tissue subjected to long-term cyclic loading. The model was used to capture characteristic uniaxial fatigue data for glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium and was then implemented into finite element software. The simulated fatigue response agreed well with the experimental data and thus demonstrates feasibility of this approach.
Cross-border ties and self-rated health status for young Latino adults in Southern California.

At the same time that health researchers have mostly ignored the cross-border nature of immigrant social networks, scholars of immigrant "transnationalism" have left health largely unexamined. This paper addresses this gap by analyzing the relationship between cross-border ties and self-rated health status for young Latino adults living in the greater Los Angeles area (n = 1268). Findings based on an ordered logistic regression analysis suggest that cross-border relationships may have both protective and adverse effects on overall health status. Specifically, those reporting a period of extended parental cross-border separation during childhood have lower odds of reporting better categories of self-rated health, all else equal. Conversely, a significant positive association was found between having a close relative living abroad and self-rated health status for foreign-born respondents when interacted with immigrant generation (foreign versus U.S.-born). Given the findings of significant negative and positive relationships between cross-border ties and self-rated general health status, I discuss the implications for future research on the social determinants of immigrant health.
Spin-dependent electronic transport through a porphyrin ring ligating an Fe ( II ) atom: An ab initio study

Conductance calculations employing density functional theory methodology and Landauer formalism predict that a ligated iron atom can be used as a switching device. The iron atom is ligated in our models by a porphyrin molecule. The iron-porphyrin molecular device is shown to lose more than 66% of its conductance by shifting from the low spin coupling state to excited spin states. Further reduction is also correlated with a mechanical distortion of the porphyrin plane. Both the distortions and spin transitions are fast processes that can be invoked by manipulating the iron's ligation scheme through the axial ligands.
On the Origin and Evolution of Jupiter and Saturn

Arguments are presented which make it very unlikely that Jupiter and Saturn were formed by contraction from initially extended, gaseous states. Formation of these and other planets (in the solar system) by the mechanism of accretion does not appear to present any difficulties.
pH dependence of the reduction of dioxygen to water by cytochrome c oxidase. 2. Branched electron transfer pathways linked by proton transfer.

Recent time-resolved optical absorption studies in our laboratory have indicated that the putative peroxy intermediate formed during the reduction of dioxygen to water by cytochrome oxidase (PR) is a pH-dependent mixture of compound A, P, and F [Van Eps, N., et al. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 5065−5073]. This conclusion is based on a kinetic analysis of flow-flash time-resolved data using a unidirectional sequential scheme with five apparent lifetimes. To account for this observation, we propose a more complex kinetic model that consists of branched pathways, one branch producing the 607 nm P form and the other the 580 nm F form. The two pathways are interconnected, and the rate of exchange between the two is pH-dependent. The kinetic analysis and testing of the new model involves a novel algebraic approach which transforms the intermediates of the complex branched scheme into intermediates comparable to those derived on the basis of a sequential model. The branched model reproduces the experimental data very...
Diabetes Risks and Health Literacy in Southern African American and Latino Women

Minority women experience health disparities, especially related to diabetes. The purpose of this article is to examine diabetes risk in minority women. A survey design was used to recruit 52 African Americans (AA) and 48 Latina women. Participants described their health, health behaviors, and health literacy. Blood pressure and body mass index were measured. AA women had more diabetes risks than Latinas, and older women had more risks than younger women. All of the women had low health literacy. Women with higher numbers of diabetes risks had lower health literacy. Findings can be used to develop diabetes prevention and education programs.
Two Sides of the Coin: Assessing the Influence of Social Network Site Use During the 2012 U.S. Presidential Campaign

The increasing popularity of social network sites (SNSs) in election campaigns provides a unique climate for scholarly inquiry. The study reported here builds upon Zhang, Johnson, Seltzer, and Bichard and investigates the impact of different types of SNS use on voters' attitudes and behavior during the 2012 U.S. presidential campaign. Sites such as Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter, and YouTube are included to offer a robust assessment of distinct relationships. A national online panel of Internet users was utilized to examine reliance on SNSs and the multiple consequences on political attitudes and behavior such as political participation, political interest, selective exposure, selective avoidance, and strength of party affiliation. The findings are evaluated for theoretical and practical implications on democratic governance.