cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurocutaneous melanocytosis: outcome not uniformly fatal.

TO THE EDITOR: We were perturbed to read the article by Livingstone et al entitled, “Neurocutaneous Melanosis: A Fatal Disease in Early Childhood.” First, the authors use one patient example to declare that neurocutaneous melanocytosis (NCM) is fatal in early childhood. Clinicians perusing Journal of Clinical Oncology may be led to believe, incorrectly, that the disease is universally fatal. Patients with NCM may have serious neurologic issues, but studies reveal that 5% to 30% of patients with large congenital melanocytic nevi (LCMN) have asymptomatic NCM, with the largest registry—Nevus Outreach Inc—estimating approximately 5%. Studies regarding the conversion from asymptomatic NCM to symptomatic NCM are ongoing and range from 7% in Foster et al to 85% in Kinsler et al. It is important to acknowledge that occasionally the symptoms of NCM may be temporary, while at other times they may be controllable with antiseizure medications, removal of surgically resectable mass lesions, or placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Although the long-term prognosis for patients with symptomatic disease remains guarded, it is not uncommon to encounter patients living relatively normal lives many years after their symptoms first appeared. We encourage Livingstone et al to attend the biennial Nevus Outreach Conference (www.nevus.org), where children and adults with LCMN and/or patients with NCM with or without symptoms gather to socialize and to educate themselves and others about their condition. Secondly, Livingstone et al state that “MRI [magnetic resonance imaging] scans are highly sensitive in detecting melanotic spots on the brain.” This may be true; however, the sensitivity is dependent, to some extent, on the timing of the MRI scan and the size of the melanin deposits. As mentioned by Becher et al, small melanin deposits may be missed on MRI scans. Furthermore, MRI scans performed before myelination of the brain (ie, 4-6 months of age) provide the highest sensitivity for detecting melanin deposits in the leptomeninges since both myelin and melanotic spots appear white on MRI. In other words, myelin may, on occasion, obscure the ability to visualize melanotic spots. Finally, we strongly encourage a multidisciplinary team approach in managing these patients. The members of this team may include primary care physicians, surgeons, radiologists, psychologists, pathologists, dermatologists, and pediatric neurologists.
Optimal path routing in single- and multiple-clock domain systems

Shrinking process geometries and the increasing use of intellectual property components in system-on-chip designs give rise to new problems in routing and buffer insertion. A particular concern is that cross-chip routing will require multiple clock cycles. Another is the integration of independently clocked components. This paper explores simultaneous routing and buffer insertion in the context of single- and multiple-clock domains. We present two optimal and efficient polynomial algorithms that build upon the dynamic programming fast path framework. The first algorithm solves the problem of finding the minimum latency path for a single-clock domain system. The second considers routing between two components that are locally synchronous yet globally asynchronous to each other. Both algorithms can be used for interconnect planning. Experimental results verify the correctness and practicality of our approach.
Convex set theoretic adaptor control systems

Set theoretic adaptor control (STAC) systems employ a set theoretic concept in their problem formulations, which provides them with many unique properties. Among others, the most prominent one is the guarantee of achieving performance within a finite time. To be able to work, STAC systems need to keep track of a set formed by intersection of many other sets, called information sets. The exact representation of such intersection is quite challenging. Although it is possible to approximate the intersection by using discrete points chosen from its boundary, a large amount of memory may be required. This paper investigates the conditions under which ellipsoidal information sets can be obtained so that the more compact results for approximation of intersection of ellipsoids can possibly be incorporated with STAC schemes making them more attractive in practical applications. >
ANALYSIS OF FAILURE MECHANISMS IN THE INTERCONNECT LINES OF MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS

Interconnect lines are thin wires inside microelectronic circuits. The material in an interconnect line is subjected to severe mechanical and electrical loading, which causes voids to nucleate and propagate in the line: microelectronic circuits often fail because an interconnect is severed by a crack. Many of the mechanisms of failure are believed to be associated with diffusion of material through the line; driven by variations in elastic strain energy and stress in the solid, by the flow of electric current, and by variations in the free energy of the solid itself. With a view to modelling interconnect failures, we have developed a finite element method that may be used to compute the effects of diffusion and deformation in an electrically conducting, deformable solid. Our analysis accounts for large changes in the shape of the solid due to surface diffusion, grain boundary diffusion, and elastic or inelastic deformation within the grains. The methods of analysis is reviewed in this paper, and selected examples are used to illustrate the capabilities of the method. We compute the rate of growth of a void in an interconnect by coupled grain boundary diffusion and creep; we investigate void migration and evolution by electromigration-induced surface diffusion; we study the influence of electromigration and stress on hillock formation in unpassivated interconnects, and compute the distribution of stress and plastic strain induced by electromigration in a passivated, polycrystalline interconnect line.
Reward: Wanted – a better definition

Rolls's book depends significantly on a definition relating emotion to reward and learning. This definition confuses two separable concepts, and may result in the exclusion of notions of emotion and motivation from lower animals that may possess limited learning capacities. A more useful definition might revolve around the notion that emotions are states that function to optimize the performance of behavior.
Making Peer-to-Peer Anonymous Routing Resilient to Failures

One hurdle to using peer-to-peer networks as anonymizing networks is churn. Node churn makes anonymous paths fragile and short-lived: failures of a relay node disrupt the path, resulting in message loss and communication failures. To make anonymous routing resilient to node failures, we take two steps: (1) we use a simple yet powerful idea based on message redundancy by erasure coding and path redundancy to mask node failures; (2) we base mix choices of a path on node lifetime prediction and choose stable nodes as relay nodes, thereby prolonging single path durability. We present an allocation of erasure-coded message segments among multiple paths that provides a guideline on how to maximize routing resilience upon different node availabilities in real-world systems. Via detailed simulations, we compare routing resilience of our approach and existing anonymity protocols, showing that our approach greatly improves routing resilience while consuming modest bandwidth.
Expression of Stimulated by Retinoic Acid Gene 8 (Stra8) and Maturation of Murine Gonocytes and Spermatogonia Induced by Retinoic Acid In Vitro

Abstract Vitamin A deficiency in the mouse results in an arrest in the progression of undifferentiated spermatogonia to differentiating spermatogonia. The supplement of retinol to vitamin-A-deficient mice reinitiates spermatogenesis in a synchronous manner throughout the testes. It is unclear whether the effects of retinoids are the result of a direct action on germ cells or are indirectly mediated through Sertoli cells. The expression of Stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8), which is required for spermatogenesis, is directly related to the availability of retinoic acid (RA). Analysis of gene expression by microarrays revealed moderate levels of Stra8 transcript in gonocytes and high levels in A and B spermatogonia. Stra8 mRNA levels were greatly reduced or absent in germ cells once they entered meiosis. This study examined the effect of retinoic acid on cultured neonatal testes and isolated gonocytes/spermatogonia in vitro. THY1+ and KIT+ germ cells were isolated by magnetic-activated cell sorting ...
Transmission of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis from Tuberculosis Patients with HIV Infection or AIDS

Contacts exposed to tuberculosis patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection were compared with contacts of HIV-negative patients for evidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission, based on a review of records of tuberculin skin tests administered during routine health department follow-up investigations in Miami/Dade County, Florida, from 1985 through 1989. After an adjusted analysis designed to balance background prevalence, tuberculin positivity was 42.0% in 2,158 contacts of HIV-negative patients compared with 28.6% and 31.3% in 363 contacts of HIV-infected patients and 732 contacts of AIDS patients, respectively. Similar results were observed in a subset of 5- to 14-year-old contacts of United States-born black or white tuberculosis patients chosen to minimize the possibility of false-negative tuberculin tests in contacts due to undiagnosed HIV infection. Analysis of contacts as sets showed a more than expected number of sets with none or all contacts infected, but this did not differ by HIV/AIDS group. In this study, tuberculosis patients with AIDS or HIV infection were less infectious to their contacts and, in this community, exposed fewer contacts than HIV-negative tuberculosis patients.
Bilateral Subfoveal Neurosensory Retinal Detachment Associated With MEK Inhibitor Use for Metastatic Cancer

Importance Bilateral central serous retinopathy–like events have been described in patients receiving drugs that inhibit the mitogen-activated protein kinase enzyme MEK for metastatic cancer. To date, the clinical details of this ocular adverse effect have not been adequately described in the literature. We report on a series of bilateral subfoveal neurosensory retinal detachments in patients with metastatic cancer undergoing systemic therapy with MEK inhibitors enrolled in clinical trials at our center. Observations The clinical records of all patients with metastatic cancer enrolled in clinical trials requiring protocol ophthalmologic evaluation at our center were reviewed. Patients were excluded if they were receiving a non-MEK inhibitor, such as a BRAF inhibitor. Results of visual acuity and ophthalmic diagnostic tests, as well as clinical course and management, were determined. Three patients who received oral MEK inhibitors developed bilateral subfoveal neurosensory retinal detachment. Patient 1 had metastatic uveal melanoma; the findings resolved without intervention, and subsequent mild uveitis was responsive to topical corticosteroids. Patient 2 had metastatic cholangiocarcinoma, and his findings resolved after 2 weeks of observation. Patient 3 had metastatic rectal cancer, with bilateral uveitis and bilateral subfoveal retinal detachment. Her findings resolved with observation and topical corticosteroids for uveitis. No patient developed permanent ocular sequelae, and none withdrew from the clinical trial of MEK inhibitor therapy. Conclusions and Relevance In this series, we report the detailed clinical findings of bilateral subfoveal neurosensory retinal detachment associated with MEK inhibitor use for treatment of metastatic cancer. A clinical finding of uveitis may prompt the ophthalmologist to consider subfoveal neurosensory retinal detachment.
The quagmire of relaxation times

NMR researchers continue to be puzzled by the quagmire of relaxation times of normal and malignant cells. Here a simple theory points out that the dissimilarities of relaxation behavior are not due to macromolecule alterations or phase transition in the water but to the consumption of dissolved oxygen in the cell associated water. The percentage of hypoxic and anoxic cells and growth rate of a tumor will determine the oxygen consumption in the absence of reduced blood flow, which is indeed a reflection of relaxation behavior.
Seed germination cues and the importance of the soil seed bank across an environmental gradient in the Serengeti

Soil seed banks are an important source of new individuals for many plant populations and contribute to future genetic variability. In general, the size and persistence of soil seed banks is predicted to be greater where growth occurs in unpredictable pulses, where opportunities for disturbance-related recruitment are frequent and where the probability of recruitment failure is high. In savanna ecosystems, characterized by disturbance from fire and unpredictable water availability, soil seed banks should be relatively important sources of recruitment. However, the few studies conducted in savannas are inconclusive about the importance of soil seed banks and, more specifically, how seed banks should change across environmental gradients. We determined the number of viable seeds in the soil seed bank across savanna-grasslands in the Serengeti, an ecosystem characterized by frequent fire and seasonal drought. Soils were exposed to a combination of smoke and heat, cues which may be required to break seed dormancy in such ecosystems. Our a priori expectation was to observe large seed banks in regions characterized by seasonal drought and comparatively smaller seed banks in regions of higher moisture availability and high fire frequencies. In contrast to our hypothesis, seed germination increased strongly with precipitation and fire frequency. In addition, there was a significant interaction effect between fire and rainfall: low rainfall sites with frequent fire had greater seed germination than low rainfall sites with low fire frequency. Moreover, in laboratory experiments, heat had a negative, smoke a positive effect on final seed germination numbers. Together, these findings suggest that fire may be a key factor in driving herbaceous seed bank dynamics in tropical savannas.
Invisible but not indivisible: Russia, the European Union, and the importance of “Hidden Governance”

Abstract Several scholars studying energy relations between Europe and Russia have grappled with the question of why such fragmented governance architecture has emerged between these two actors. While this question seems obsolete in the context of the current EU–Russian political impasse, it is, at the very least, odd that despite the standoff, plans for the South Stream pipeline have until recently proceeded almost apace. 1 How has this been possible? It is now widely, albeit reluctantly, accepted that Europe depends on Russia's gas and that Russia, in its turn, cannot do without the lucrative EU market. While this reality is basically indisputable, at the macro level this energy trade relationship has been marked with controversies since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Despite the frostiness at what I will call the macro-level , in the past decade, individual EU states and the Kremlin have signed a handful of IGAs for joint pipeline development. Even more importantly, EU companies have concluded a number of important deals with Gazprom: pipelines have been built together, asset swaps concluded, and joint ventures implemented. All this has occurred against the background of increasingly tense relations at the macro level. Therefore, the biggest dilemma when looking into the black box of the EU-Russia gas relationship is how we might make sense of such a vast, multi-faceted, and yet deeply fraught relationship, occurring at so many different levels with varying actors. This article considers a number of political explanations for gas policy and shows that it is usually the economic interests of big energy firms that frequently take precedence, although these are often ignored and hidden as factors.
Recovery benefits of the "therapeutic alliance" among 12-step mutual-help organization attendees and their sponsors

Abstract Background The “therapeutic alliance” between clinicians and patients has been associated with treatment response and outcomes in professionally-delivered psychotherapies. Although 12-step mutual help organizations (MHOs), such as Alcoholics Anonymous, are the most commonly sought source of support for individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), little is known about whether a stronger alliance in comparable MHO relationships between 12-step sponsors and those they help (“sponsees”) confers benefits similar to those observed in professional contexts. Greater knowledge could inform clinical recommendations and enhance models that explain how individuals benefit from 12-step MHOs. Method Young adults (N = 302) enrolled in a prospective, clinical effectiveness study of residential SUD treatment were assessed at treatment entry, and 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge on whether they had a sponsor, contact with a sponsor, and degree of sponsor alliance. Hierarchical linear models (HLM) tested their effects on 12-step MHO attendance, involvement, and percent days abstinent (PDA). Results Approximately two-thirds of the sample (n = 208, 68.87%) reported having a sponsor at one or more follow-up time points. Both having sponsor contact and stronger sponsor alliance were significantly associated with greater 12-step participation and abstinence, on average, during follow-up. Interaction results revealed that more sponsor contact was associated with increasingly higher 12-step participation whereas stronger sponsor alliance was associated with increasingly greater abstinence. Conclusions Similar to the professional-clinical realm, the “therapeutic alliance” among sponsees and their sponsors predicts better substance use outcomes and may help augment explanatory models estimating effects of MHOs in SUD recovery.
Chicano Gang Members in Recovery: The Public Talk of Negotiating Chicano Masculinities

Using ethnographic data from Los Angeles, this article examines the ritualized forms of verbal communication used in two Chicano gang recovery programs, Homeboy Industries and Victory Outreach. These two distinctive programs facilitate recovery from gangs through contrasting models of communication anchored in religion and therapeutic rehabilitation. In recovery, ritualized verbal displays subordinate gang masculinity and elevate conventional notions of masculinity. Former gang members use sermons, group therapy, 12-step programs, and personal testimonials to articulate hegemonic ideals of masculinity, such as responsible fatherhood. A critical component of these gang rehabilitation programs rearticulates the meanings of Chicano masculinity to include abstaining from drug use, providing for family members, and engaging in nurturing behavior. Through these verbal rituals, reformed gang masculinity is repositioned as dominant, desirable, and accessible to marginalized Chicano men with past gang affiliations and addictions.
Nicotinic acid and pantothenic acid content of sunflower seed meal and some oil seed products.

SummarySunflower seed meal is an excellent source of nicotinic acid. The content of pantothenic acid is equal or superior to that of soybean meal, wheat germ or corn, germ.
Abstract B75: Factors correlated with follow up after an abnormal mammogram: A population-based study

Introduction: There are a plethora of data regarding factors correlating with screening mammography, yet a relative paucity of data regarding factors correlated with following the recommendation for further testing after an abnormal mammogram. We hypothesized that socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity and insurance would be key drivers in patients9 decision to follow the recommendation for further tests. Methods: The National Health Interview Survey is a face-to-face population-based study conducted annually by the CDC, and is the largest source of health information for Americans. Data from the 2010 Cancer Supplement, which included questions regarding follow-up after abnormal mammograms, were used for this analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using SAS-Callable SUDAAN software. Results: In 2010, there were 8518 women over the age of 30 who answered the question regarding the recommendation for further testing after their most recent mammogram, representing 65,226,785 women in the population. Of these, 10.6% were recommended to have further tests done. Women under the age of 65 were significantly more likely to be recommended to have further imaging than their older counterparts (p=0.0005). Recommendation for further testing did not vary by region (p=0.599), race/ethnicity (p=0.126), income (p=0.124), and education (p=0.771). Insurance status was also associated with recommendation for further testing on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, however, neither age nor insurance were predictive of recommendations for further testing. Of the 881 people (6,912,415 in the population) for whom additional testing was recommended, 82.4% followed this guidance. Factors correlating with following these recommendations included insurance status (p=0.008), education (p=0.010), and income (p Conclusion: Nearly 11% of women undergoing mammography will be recommended to have further testing; however, nearly 20% will not follow these recommendations. Lack of insurance status was the only factor correlating with a significantly lower likelihood to comply with recommended further testing; race/ethnicity, income and education were not independent predictors on multivariate analysis. This finding highlights the importance of insurance as a means to secure access for early breast cancer detection. Citation Format: Taber C. Lightbourne, Anees B. Chagpar. Factors correlated with follow up after an abnormal mammogram: A population-based study. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B75.
The Alexandria Biennale and Egypt’s Shifting Mediterranean

On July 26 1955, President Gamal Abdel Nasser inaugurated the Alexandria Biennale for Mediterranean Countries. At first glance, an international exhibition organized around the Mediterranean basin appears reminiscent of Egypt’s ancien regime and its prerevolution intellectual and cultural politics. However, a closer look reveals how the event, shaped by Nasserism and third worldism, imagined and reinscribed the Mediterranean as a much more polyvalent space, a transnational rather than regional one. This chapter explores the role of the Mediterranean in the wider cultural politics of postindependence Egypt. It demonstrates how the biennale shaped a fluid geographical space, imbuing it with changing meanings and malleable boundaries. In tracing the links between aesthetics, artistic production, and the political economy that this event forged, this chapter maps the shifting meanings of Alexandria and the Mediterranean.
IDC Re-Engineering Phase 2 Data Model to IDC Schema Mapping.

This initial draft document contains formative data model content for select areas of Re-Engineering Phase 2 IDC System. The purpose of this document is to facilitate discussion among the stakeholders. It is not intended as a definitive proposal.
High throughput VLSI architecture supporting HEVC loop filter for Ultra HDTV

In-Loop filtering in HEVC/H.265 is one of most computation intensive block taking around 15-20% of overall complexity for decoding. The loop filtering in HEVC is more sophisticated with introduction of Sample adaptive offset (SAO) filter in addition to de-blocking filter in comparison to H.264. In this paper, very high performance as well as area efficient VLSI architecture is proposed for HEVC decoder, which supports 4K@60fps for next generation Ultra HDTV at 200 MHz clock. The design can process Largest Coding Unit (LCU) of size 64×64 in less than 1200 cycles with performance directly scaling down based on LCU size. The architecture consists of LCU level pipelining across de-blocking and SAO filtering with four & three stage internal pipeline within each block. The architectures proposes fully on-the-fly filtering avoiding memory bandwidth, custom filtering order as well as scanning, 4×4 based block processing and FIFO based asynchronous architecture to achieve high performance. The final design in 28nm CMOS process is expected to take around 0.2 mm2 after actual place & route. The proposed design is capable of handling 4K@60fps as well as fully compliant to HEVC video standard specification including all corner conditions handling like slice and tiles processing via generic region definition.
Toward a mild dehydroformylation using base-metal catalysis

Dehydroformylation, or the reaction of aldehydes to produce alkenes, hydrogen gas, and carbon monoxide, is a powerful transformation that is underdeveloped despite the high industrial importance of the reverse reaction, hydroformylation. Interestingly, nature routinely performs a related transformation, oxidative dehydroformylation, in the biosynthesis of cholesterol and related sterols under mild conditions using base-metal catalysts. In contrast, chemists have recently developed a non-oxidative dehydroformylation method; however, it requires high temperatures and a precious-metal catalyst. Careful study of both approaches has informed our efforts to design a base-metal catalyzed, mild dehydroformylation method that incorporates benefits from each while avoiding several of their respective disadvantages. Importantly, we show that cooperative base metal catalysis presents a powerful, mechanistically unique approach to reactions which are difficult to achieve using conventional catalyst design.
Solubility limits and LaGaO3 compatibility in the LaO1.5-GaO1.5-NiO ternary system

Phase compatibility and solubility limits in the LaO1.5-GaO1.5-NiO system at 1400°C were measured using phase analysis and disappearing phase methods, focusing on compatibility of LaGaO3 with NiO and Lan+1NinO3n+1 Ruddlesden-Popper phases. For the first time, it was observed that, similar to La4Ni3O10, the incorporation of gallium stabilized La3Ni2O7 over a narrow composition range. The compositional limits of stability involving LaGaO3 were determined in detail, and the full quasiternary diagram is presented as a best estimation that is consistent with the observations of this study. LaGaO3 showed compatibility with NiO, with gallium and nickel substituting for each other in both phases. The lowest attainable amount of nickel in LaGaO3 in equilibrium with gallium-saturated NiO was measured to be around 7% nickel on gallium sites. Of the Ruddlesden-Popper phases, only La4Ni3O10 showed compatibility with LaGaO3, with the two-phase region spanning between ~40%-55% gallium on nickel sites in La4Ni3O10 and ~20%-50% nickel on gallium sites in LaGaO3. The electrical conductivity of La4(Ni1−xGax)3O10 was also measured, and found to decrease monotonically with the addition of gallium. Implications relating to fabrication of solid oxide fuel cells with Sr- and Mg-doped LaGaO3 electrolytes are discussed.
Native plant landscaping and species selection to promote sustainability and biodiversity in Qatar

The State of Qatar has chosen to pursue the path of sustainable development, making it the focus of the Qatar National Development Strategy. Given the large scale industrialization and the limited land availability, the urban environment will be crucial in maintaining native species. Current landscaping practices in Qatar are heavily reliant on introduced species that require extensive irrigation and modified soils in this hyper-arid desert environment. We provide an analysis of the dominant landscaping plants currently in use, including both the costs and benefits of the use of such plants. We also provide solutions by outlining options for the use of native plants in landscaping in Qatar. This includes the architectural, social and aesthetic aspects of the native species as well as the physical requirements such as water availability and soil demands.
Epicentral confidence regions of nuclear test events at teleseismic distances

The accurate location of seismic events is a basic discriminant for underground nuclear test monitoring (Bolt, 1976; Dahlman and Israelson, 1977; Blandford, 1982). Of particular interest are determining epicentral confidence regions and providing constraints on estimated focal depths. In this study, only routine teleseismic P travel-time data are used, as provided by worldwide stations reporting to the International Seismological Centre (ISC). This lessens the need to model the effects of crustal and shallow-mantle velocity variations, as is necessary with seismographic networks operating at regional distances (Blandford, 1981; Evernden et al., 1986).
Adding Polyamine Metabolism to the mTORC1 Toolkit in Cell Growth and Cancer.

The mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a major nutrient sensor and regulator of cellular metabolic flux. Reporting recently in Nature , Zabala-Letona et al. (2017) show that mTORC1 regulates an additional branch of metabolism in the cell—polyamine synthesis—that is important for prostate cancer tumorigenicity.
Characterization of Porosity in Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Composites with Ultrasonic Backscatter

Previous work has shown that ultrasonic backscatter is sensitive to the presence of porosity in fiber-reinforced laminates. In the case of oblique incidence, the dependence of backscatter on azimuthal angle will change with the introduction of randomly distributed porosity [1–6], and the observed change in azimuthal dependence appears to depend on the morphology of the introduced porosity [4]. Additionally, it was shown that temporal frequency spectra of backscatter from composite laminates display characteristics arising from the laminate structure which can be observed through appropriate signal processing, and that these spectral characteristics are altered by the introduction of porosity [4]
Serendipitous vs. systematic search for room-temperature superconductivity

This article summarizes the results from a decade of research which began following a serendipitous discovery and continued with a systematic, Edisonian approach. During the serendipitous stage, there were indications of very-high- $$T_\mathrm{c}$$ superconductivity (at about 200–250 K) detected in laser-treated samples of doped strontium ruthenates. The synthesis route that had been used was strongly out of equilibrium. In spite of our intense studies, later, synthetic efforts along a route closer to equilibrium conditions did not reveal high- $$T_\mathrm{c}$$ superconductivity in the new samples, though there were indications of low- $$T_\mathrm{c}$$ superconductivity. Before the arrival of results on nonequilibrium synthetic routes, it is an appropriate time to summarize the results found within the equilibrium routes, analyze potential corollaries of the complex structure of samples within our initial findings, and discuss the next steps of research.
Big Data Reveal Insights into Alopecia Areata Comorbidities

Autoimmune diseases create a substantial burden of disease, and alopecia areata is among the more prevalent forms. Comorbidities are medical conditions that tend to occur together and may provide etiologic insights, suggest novel therapeutic strategies, and help patients and family members understand the risk of other health conditions. It is well established that having one autoimmune disease increases risk for others because of an underlying shared biology. Precision medicine initiatives are creating vast amounts of data that allow us to efficiently identify comorbidities. A survey across various datasets suggests that patients with autoimmune disease, and patients with alopecia areata in particular, may have comorbid neuropsychiatric and metabolic conditions.
The Development of County HR Policies: The Perspectives of Counties in Two States:

We conducted 40 semi-structured interviews with county HR directors (20 in New York, 20 in North Carolina) to learn more about the development of internal HR policies. Key resources used by directo...
Abstract 18720: HDL Particle Subclasses, Rosuvastatin Therapy, and Risk of Vascular Events: An Analysis From the JUPITER Trial

Background: In the JUPITER trial, total HDL particle concentration (HDL-P) performed better that HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) in predicting residual vascular risk. It is uncertain whether biological heterogeneity of HDL particle subclasses relates to differential vascular risk in the setting of statin therapy. Methods: We analyzed data from JUPITER (NCT00239681) in which participants with LDL-C Results: A total of 308 first vascular events (MI, stroke, revascularization, unstable angina, CVD death) occurred during maximum follow-up of 5.0 (median, 1.9) years. For baseline risk, multivariable adjusted Cox regression models demonstrated that the baseline concentrations of all HDL subclasses were inversely associated with incident vascular events (Table), with statistically significant associations for large HDL (adjusted HR per SD: 0.85, 95% CI, 0.76-0.95) and medium HDL (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.80-0.98) even after mutually adjusting for the other HDL subclasses. By contrast, among rosuvastatin-allocated participants, on-treatment concentrations of very large HDL subclasses were associated with an increased risk of residual risk of vascular events (adjusted HR per SD: 1.65, 95% CI, 1.02-2.66). Conclusion: In JUPITER participants, baseline levels of HDL subclasses were inversely associated with the risk of incident vascular events with significant associations for the large and medium particles. However, on-statin levels of very large HDL particles were significantly associated with an increased risk of vascular events.
The Regulation of Inflammation by Innate and Adaptive Lymphocytes

Inflammation plays an essential role in the control of pathogens and in shaping the ensuing adaptive immune responses. Traditionally, innate immunity has been described as a rapid response triggered through generic and nonspecific means that by definition lacks the ability to remember. Recently, it has become clear that some innate immune cells are epigenetically reprogrammed or “imprinted” by past experiences. These “trained” innate immune cells display altered inflammatory responses upon subsequent pathogen encounter. Remembrance of past pathogen encounters has classically been attributed to cohorts of antigen-specific memory T and B cells following the resolution of infection. During recall responses, memory T and B cells quickly respond by proliferating, producing effector cytokines, and performing various effector functions. An often-overlooked effector function of memory CD4 and CD8 T cells is the promotion of an inflammatory milieu at the initial site of infection that mirrors the primary encounter. This memory-conditioned inflammatory response, in conjunction with other secondary effector T cell functions, results in better control and more rapid resolution of both infection and the associated tissue pathology. Recent advancements in our understanding of inflammatory triggers, imprinting of the innate immune responses, and the role of T cell memory in regulating inflammation are discussed.
Racial Contexts and White Interests: Beyond Black Threat and Racial Tolerance

The impact of racial context on white voters' support for black candidates in biracial elections has drawn considerable attention from students of racial politics. Two major theories—black threat and social interaction—use different geographic units and provide conflicting explanations. The present study seeks to contribute to the resolution of the controversy by empirically examining white crossover voting at both election unit and neighborhood levels. Twenty-nine mayoral and councilmanic district elections in New Orleans from 1977 to 1998 are investigated. The findings are not consistent with the hypotheses derived from black threat and social interaction theories. Rather than a reflection of racial tolerance or hostility, the changes in white crossover voting in different racial contexts may indicate a rational and strategic adjustment on the part of white voters when they face the prospect of black electoral success.
Two Worlds, Large and Small: Earth and Atom

As I stood in an unlighted horizontal passageway of the Cashmere Cavern and looked up at the narrow ventilation shaft receding to a small circular opening some twenty meters above me, I felt a shiver of fascination and amusement as I thought of my New Zealand colleagues being raised and lowered by a rope harness. Located under the Cashmere Hills just outside Christchurch on the South Island, the cavern was originally excavated shortly after the start of World War II to serve as a command post in the event of a Japanese invasion. With the passage of time, it had long since faded from public memory until rediscovered by accident. A timely rediscovery, too. With its solid bedrock floor and sheltered environment, the cavern is expected to provide an ideal workplace thirty meters below ground for the University of Canterbury Ring Laser Laboratory. A wide horizontal adit seventy meters in length now gives easy, if less dramatic, access for the construction crew and physicists.
Reciprocity-Based Measurement Models for Ultrasonic NDE

Quantitative NDE objectives such as the evaluation of flaw signals and the assessment of inspection capabilities generate the need for models of ultrasonic scattering measurements capable of including all aspects of the measurement process: radiation and reception characteristics of probes, propagation of finite beams, scattering of nonplane-wave fields, and the like. Once such models are developed and validated, that is, proven able to predict the received voltages obtained in actual ultrasonic experiments, they can be used to gain a thorough understanding of the NDE inspection process. Specifically, these models will be useful in investigations of the factors that significantly affect ultrasonic inspections, and they will form the basis for the proper interpretation of flaw signals[1].
Drug Abuse Heterogeneity and the Search for Subtypes

In addition to the research on the association between substance use disorders and antisociality, there is a large body of literature reporting connections with behavior disinhibition and affect dysregulation. It is not possible in this short chapter to review these and other findings on risk factors for substance use disorders. However, the above discussion illustrates the convergences in the research findings on risk factors that point to possible clusters having implications for further understanding the heterogeneity of substance abuse and the identification of drug abuse subtypes.
An Overview of Data Communications

Data communications components are usually described as supplements to the conventional (mainframe/primary storage/secondary storage/peripheral devices) computer systems. As a result, computer specialists concerned with data communications tend to emphasize transmission channels and terminal devices even though similar channels (viz., selector channels, multiplexor channels, etc.) and device controllers have existed in conventional systems. The purpose of this chapter is to present data communications as a complete integral subsystem. This overview will describe all of the essential components of a data communications system and their relationships to one another in a concise form. Many new terms will be introduced and briefly explained. References to succeeding chapters of this text will be given where more detailed explanations may be found.
Laser Folding in a Roll-to-Roll Manufacturing Process

Origami-inspired design allows three dimensional systems to be made from two dimensional patterns typically far easier to create. We demonstrate a self-folding roll-to-roll process based on laser machining and folding. Using a low cost laser cutter, metal is cut, optically folded into 3D shapes and removed from an unpatterned roll of thin metal sheeting, all without manual handling. Folding is done through laser forming, localized laser heating to cause expansion and contraction for bending. Two different laser forming mechanisms, based on different temperature distributions within the workpiece, are characterized and demonstrated to allow both up and down bending using only the laser itself. These mechanisms are then used to prototype a series of parts using a roll-to-roll setup, with individual parts taken from a blank sheet of metal to a finished folded part in minutes. Our roll-to-roll laser origami approach is a major advance in production technology, allowing the use of a widely available 2D machine tool to create repeated custom 3D parts without human intervention.
Carolinas Association for Community Health Equity-CACHE

This manuscript will describe the evolution of a unique community model in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, designed to provide educational empowerment to the healthcare consumer around the area of health disparities. The model has also effectively raised the level of awareness of the social responsibility of the healthcare delivery system to hold itself accountable in the provision of equity in healthcare. This community model brings together all stakeholders in the healthcare delivery and consumer equation, around a common goal of communal stewardship, emphasizing community and corporate obligation and responsibility.
Three-Dimensionally Structured Betavoltaics

In this work we demonstrate three-dimensionally structured silicon diodes for use as a betavoltaic power source in conjunction with147Pm. The concept of using a three-dimensionally structured semiconductor to increase the power density and efficiency of a betavoltaic device has existed for some time, even specifically for the combination of Si and Pm [1], [2], however this work is the first demonstration of infiltration of the radioisotope into the structured semiconductor; the previous works utilized either an e-beam gun or a sealed source to demonstrate power generation. MCNP simulations were carried out to determine the optimal feature sizes for maximizing power density and efficiency. We have fabricated three devices, which were filled with approximately 3, 7, and 28 mCi of PmCl 3 respectively. These devices produced an output current greater than what could be achieved in a coplanar device, demonstrating successful infiltration of the radioisotope.
JOINT PARTIAL-TIME PARTIAL-BAND JAMMING OF A MULTICARRIER DS-CDMA SYSTEM IN A FADING ENVIRONMENT

The impact of joint partial-band, partial-time jamming on a multi-carrier asynchronous DS-CDMA system in a Rayleigh fading environment is studied. Two types of partial-time jamming are studied: equal probability jamming per symbol, and burst jamming. An easy to evaluate upper bound using the Chernoff bound is provided and compared to simulation results.
Challenges with Implementing the Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) Reform Model: A Case Study in Ohio

This case study examined the implementation of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) model in two schools funded for three years (2011–2014) through the Ohio Network of Education Tran...
General Linear Model

The general linear model incorporates many of the most popular and useful models that arise in applied statistics, including models for multiple regression and the analysis of variance. The basic model can be written succinctly in matrix form as $$Y = X\beta + \epsilon,$$ (14.1) where Y, our observed data, is a random vector in \(\mathbb{R}^n, X\) is an n×p matrix of known constants, \(\beta \in \mathbb{R}^p\) is an unknown parameter, and $$ is a random vector in ℝ n of unobserved errors. We usually assume that e1,…, e n are a random sample from \(N(0, \sigma^2)\), with σ > 0 an unknown parameter, so that $$\epsilon \sim N(0, \sigma^2 I).$$ (14.2)
The Gulf Information War | The Gulf Information War and the Role of Media and Communication Technologies: Editorial Introduction

The usual narrative about Arabian Gulf countries has been one of unity and close relationships. The air and trade blockade on Qatar from its neighboring countries, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, as well as from Egypt, proves that the aspired unity is probably just a myth and that the political divide is worse than ever nearly two years into the blockade. Media, information, and new technology are at the core of the divide and have contributed to igniting the crisis. This Special Section, with the scholars’ contributions, offers some perspectives to think about media and technology as foci in this political conflict. It launches a debate about the information war, and this introduction notes a possible vulnerability for members of the larger academic community in the region who take part in this debate.
The 2011 Libyan Intervention

This chapter analyzes the 2011 Libyan revolution. Concerned about the possibility of a humanitarian crisis in Libya and spillover into other states in North Africa and the Middle East, the international community acted quickly to formulate plans for a possible intervention. The resulting operations—Operation Odyssey Dawn (OOD) and Operation Unified Protector (OUP)—reveal the US-NATO relationship under the Obama administration and the benefits of NATO participation to the legitimacy of the Libyan intervention. The legitimizing effects of NATO factored into the United States’ decision to pursue NATO leadership during the planning of Operation Unified Protector—many American officials believed NATO leadership would lend more legitimacy to the operation than a coalition of states or an individual state. However, legitimation of the operation was a secondary concern for the United States, as its primary reason for pushing the alliance’s leadership was to alleviate the military and political burden on the United States. As OUP continued, the alliance’s weaknesses and the Europeans’ inability to end the operation without substantial support from the United States became clear and the administration was forced to increase its contributions to effectively end operations.