cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Navigating DACA in Hospitable and Hostile States: State Responses and Access to Membership in the Wake of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

This study examines the ways in which liminally legal young immigrants respond to shifting policies that either legitimize or delegitimize their presence within state and national boundaries. Borne out of two larger studies that rely on ethnographic and in-depth interview data in Massachusetts and North Carolina, we primarily focus on longitudinal interviews with individuals responding to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). We examine the ways in which federal and state policies interact to affect access to membership for young adult immigrants in states with very different political climates. In Massachusetts, young adults felt more legitimacy and were more optimistic in their abilities to redirect their life pathways after DACA. In contrast, in the more hostile environment of North Carolina, state policies continued to impede mobility pathways and differentiate previously undocumented youth as outsiders even after the passage of DACA. Instead of characterizing the transition to adulthood for ...
Past, present and future of ferroelectric and multiferroic thin films for array antennas

In addition to providing a number of microwave components with frequency agility and voltage-controlled impedance matching, ferroelectric thin films have enabled electrical-control of beam-steerabilty in both reflectarray and phased array antennas. We present a brief history of developments, beginning in the 1830s, which led to the realization of array antennas based on ferroelectric thin films. We highlight key performance differences provided by competing thin film deposition techniques, and we discuss the outlook of the impact that voltage-controlled magnetism and magnetoelasticity (provided by emerging multiferroic thin films) will have on future array antenna technologies.
Thickness vibrations of flat piezoelectric plates with massy electrodes of unequal thickness

We develop a set of six coupled equations governing the modal amplitudes and phase angles (mode-center offsets) for the flat, piezoelectric plate resonator with massy electrodes of unequal thickness. The case of the AT-cut resonator is used to obtain a set of transcendental equations describing the resonance frequencies and phase angles of an isolated single mode. These show that the phase angle (and corresponding even mode amplitude) is proportional to the electrode mass-loading imbalance, and for a given total electrode mass-loading, the resonance frequencies depend also on the electrode mass imbalance.
Uruguay’s middle-ground approach to cannabis legalization

Cannabis legalization is a serious topic of discussion in the Western Hemisphere. Since 2012, voters in eight U.S. states have passed laws to legalize large-scale cannabis production and allow profit-maximizing companies to grow and sell it for nonmedical purposes. Voters in Washington DC also approved legalization, but supply is limited to home production and gifting—retail sales are not allowed. In 2013, Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica ratified a legalization bill that is noteworthy for at least three reasons. Most importantly, it made Uruguay the first country in the world to remove the prohibition on cannabis supply for nonmedical purposes. Second, Uruguay’s middle-ground approach to cannabis supply falls in between the two options commonly discussed in the United States: prohibition versus the standard commercial model. Third, the law was approved by politicians, not the voters.
A Summary of the Department of Energy’s Advanced Demonstration and Test Reactor Options Study

AbstractAn assessment of advanced reactor technology options was conducted to provide a sound comparative technical context for future decisions by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) concerning these technologies. Strategic objectives were established that span a wide variety of important missions, and advanced reactor technology needs were identified based on recent DOE and international studies. A broad team of stakeholders from industry, academia, and government was assembled to develop a comprehensive set of goals, criteria, and metrics to evaluate advanced irradiation test and demonstration reactor concepts. Point designs of a select number of concepts were commissioned to provide a deeper technical basis for evaluation. The technology options were compared on the bases of technical readiness and the ability to meet the different strategic objectives. Using the study’s evaluation criteria and metrics, an independent group of experts from industry, universities, and national laboratories scored each ...
Macrophage exosomes as natural nanocarriers for protein delivery to inflamed brain

Recent work has stimulated interest in the use of exosomes as nanocarriers for delivery of small drugs, RNAs, and proteins to the central nervous system (CNS). To overcome the blood-brain barrier (BBB), exosomes were modified with brain homing peptides that target brain endothelium but likely to increase immune response. Here for the first time we demonstrate that there is no need for such modification to penetrate the BBB in mammals. The naive macrophage (Mϕ) exosomes can utilize, 1) on the one hand, the integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and, 2) on the other hand, the carbohydrate-binding C-type lectin receptors, to interact with brain microvessel endothelial cells comprising the BBB. Notably, upregulation of ICAM-1, a common process in inflammation, promotes Mϕ exosomes uptake in the BBB cells. We further demonstrate in vivo that naive Mϕ exosomes, after intravenous (IV) administration, cross the BBB and deliver a cargo protein, the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), to the brain. This delivery is enhanced in the presence of brain inflammation, a condition often present in CNS diseases. Taken together, the findings are of interest to basic science and possible use of Mϕ-derived exosomes as nanocarriers for brain delivery of therapeutic proteins to treat CNS diseases.
Oxymetazoline hydrochloride cream for facial erythema associated with rosacea.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Rosacea is a chronic skin condition characterized by transient and persistent erythema of the central face. The symptom of persistent erythema can be particularly frustrating for both patients and physicians as it is difficult to treat.Areas covered: Current treatment options for the treatment of rosacea include metronidazole, azelaic acid, sodium sulfacetamide-sulfur, and brimonidine. Until recently, brimonidine gel was the only option approved specifically for the treatment of facial erythema. However, oxymetazoline hydrochloride 1% cream is a newly FDA approved topical medication for adult rosacea patients. A primarily alpha-1a agonist, oxymetazoline hydrochloride (HCl) is thought to diminish erythema through vasoconstriction. Our paper seeks to evaluate evidence for topical oxymetazoline HCl with respect to its efficacy and safety for its approved indication of treating the persistent erythema associated with rosacea.Expert commentary: While assessment of available clinical trial...
Matrix Metalloproteinases, Vascular Remodeling, and Vascular Disease

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that degrade various proteins in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Typically, MMPs have a propeptide sequence, a catalytic metalloproteinase domain with catalytic zinc, a hinge region or linker peptide, and a hemopexin domain. MMPs are commonly classified on the basis of their substrates and the organization of their structural domains into collagenases, gelatinases, stromelysins, matrilysins, membrane-type (MT)-MMPs, and other MMPs. MMPs are secreted by many cells including fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle (VSM), and leukocytes. MMPs are regulated at the level of mRNA expression and by activation through removal of the propeptide domain from their latent zymogen form. MMPs are often secreted in an inactive proMMP form, which is cleaved to the active form by various proteinases including other MMPs. MMPs degrade various protein substrates in ECM including collagen and elastin. MMPs could also influence endothelial cell function as well as VSM cell migration, proliferation, Ca2+ signaling, and contraction. MMPs play a role in vascular tissue remodeling during various biological processes such as angiogenesis, embryogenesis, morphogenesis, and wound repair. Alterations in specific MMPs could influence arterial remodeling and lead to various pathological disorders such as hypertension, preeclampsia, atherosclerosis, aneurysm formation, as well as excessive venous dilation and lower extremity venous disease. MMPs are often regulated by endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), and the MMP/TIMP ratio often determines the extent of ECM protein degradation and tissue remodeling. MMPs may serve as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for certain vascular disorders.
A prospective phase I comparison of toxicity and cosmesis outcomes of single-fraction IORT and hypofractionated radiotherapy with IORT boost in early-stage breast cancer.

Abstract Purpose Radiation therapy is proven to reduce local recurrence in patients with early-stage breast cancer. To reduce toxicity, treatment time, and improve accuracy, intraoperative radiation therapy was used as definitive treatment or as a boost. The study's objective was to compare the short-term toxicity and cosmesis of single-fraction (SF) IORT and hypofractionated radiotherapy with IORT boost (HfB) given as definitive treatment. Methods and Materials Between March 2011 and December 2013, 57 patients aged 45–91 years and 24 patients aged 43–83 years (total n = 81) with Stage 0–II were treated with SF or HfB (Mobetron, IntraOp Medical, Sunnyvale, CA). For SF treatment, 21 Gy was delivered using 4.5–6 cm applicators with electron energies from 6 to 12 MeV. For HfB, an intraoperative boost of 10 Gy was delivered using 4–7 cm applicators with energies from 4 to 12 MeV followed by whole-breast radiation with 40.5 Gy over 15 fractions. Toxicity was assessed at 2 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months per Radiation Therapy Oncology Group acute skin toxicity criteria and cosmesis. Results At 12 months, SF and HfB were well tolerated by all patients with no Grade 3+ toxicity. At 1 year, Grade-2 toxicity was resolved. Ninety-eight percent of SF patients and ninety percent of HfB patients had 0–1 grade toxicity. In the SF and HfB groups, 100% of patients had excellent or good cosmesis at 12-month followup interval. The SF exhibited a more favorable cosmesis with a higher percentage of excellent scores compared with HfB (80.4% vs. 45%; p = 0.0033). Conclusions After breast conservation surgery, SF or HfB may be an option for patients with early-stage breast cancer compared to conventional external beam radiotherapy.
Depression and Marijuana Use among a Sample of Urban Females: Is Stage of Development Important?

BACKGROUND Increasing rates of marijuana use and high rates of depression among females are major public health concerns and ambiguous study results suggest a complex association between the two. Inconsistent findings may be due to differences in sample characteristics (e.g., females vs. males) and result from differences in the relationship over time (i.e., across developmental stages). OBJECTIVES Presently, the extent to which the relationship between depression and marijuana use differed for females in emerging adulthood, compared to young adult females, was examined. METHODS Two hundred forty females (mean age = 23.9 ± 3.4 years) from low-income urban neighborhoods completed a semi-structured HIV-risk interview, Beck's Depression Inventory II, and provided a urine sample that was tested for the presence of psychoactive drugs. RESULTS Approximately 35% tested positive for marijuana and 21% were experiencing depression. Results from unadjusted logistic regression analyses indicated a relationship between depression and marijuana use (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.08-3.93). African Americans had higher odds of testing positive for marijuana, compared to Whites (OR = 4.6; 95% CI = 2.52-8.68). In the full model, the relationship between depression and marijuana use did not differ by developmental stage. CONCLUSIONS Interventions aimed at reducing depression may prove beneficial for decreasing marijuana use among females between 18 and 29 years of age residing in disadvantaged communities. However, more research is needed to identify risk factors for marijuana use and to explicate the relationship between marijuana use and depression. Special consideration should be given to African American females.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy: A systematic review of the literature.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare cause of heart failure. It is defined as cardiomyopathy that develops in the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months of the postpartum period without an identifiable cause. We conducted a systematic review of literature of prospective studies with a focus on echocardiographic and long-term clinical outcomes in PPCM. We searched MEDLINE and Embase up to October 1, 2017. Prospective studies (sample size ≥20) reporting all-cause mortality and follow-up duration of ≥1 year were included. Of the 956 studies identified, 7 met the inclusion criteria. A total of 445 patients with a mean age of 30 years (range, 27-32 years) were included. The mean follow-up duration was 41 months (range, 12-61 months). The majority of patients had New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms at the time of diagnosis. Only 3 studies reported data on ethnicity where the majority of patients were non-Caucasian. Most of the patients (81%-93%) were on guideline-directed medical therapy, except 1 study (41%). Left ventricular ejection fraction at baseline ranged from 24% to 35% (mean, 28%) and at follow-up from 31% to 53% (mean, 44%). Recovery in systolic function was noted in 20% to 82% (mean, 50%) of patients. All-cause mortality ranged from 0% to 28% (mean, 16%). This systematic review summarizes the evidence to date on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with PPCM. Multicenter registries with long-term follow-up will help shed further light on characteristics and outcomes of patients with this rare disease.
Renal Outcomes in Medically and Surgically Treated Primary Aldosteronism

Lifelong therapy with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) or surgical adrenalectomy are the recommended treatments for primary aldosteronism (PA). Whether these treatments mitigate the ri...
Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction Catalyzed by Organometallic Complexes

Abstract The development of molecular organometallic electrocatalysts for the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) is reviewed. Organometallic complexes are a promising subset of the many catalysts capable of electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to organic small molecules such as carbon monoxide (CO), formate (HCO2−), and oxalate (C2O42−). The carbon-based supporting ligands of organometallic complexes provide electron-rich metal centers and engender good chemical stability, factors that help place organometallic catalysts among the most impressive molecular systems for CO2 reduction. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of CO2 electroreduction by organometallic complexes, defined as those containing metal–carbon bonds in the supporting ligands.
Sociopolitical change and transgender people's perceptions of vulnerability and resilience.

Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) people have gained visibility in public discourse leading to greater awareness, understanding, and social change. However, progress made in policies to combat stigma and improve public accommodation and healthcare for this minority population has been targeted for reversal, particularly since the 2016 presidential election. This study investigated the impact of changes in sociopolitical climate on perceptions of vulnerability and resilience among participants of a longitudinal study of transgender identity development. We randomly selected 19 TGNC participants in New York, San Francisco, and Atlanta and conducted in-depth interviews about their perceptions of societal progress and setbacks, community engagement, and desired future change. The participants ranged in age from 18 to 68; half (47.4%) identified their gender identity along the feminine spectrum (male assigned at birth) and the other half (52.6%) along the masculine spectrum (female assigned at birth). Content analysis revealed that greater media visibility was perceived as both positive (improved awareness of needs) and negative (increased vulnerability to stigma). Setbacks included concerns about personal safety, the safety of others (particularly those with multiple stigmatized identities), healthcare access, and policies regarding public accommodation and non-discrimination protections. Coping strategies included social support, activism and resistance, and an enduring sense of optimism about the future. TGNC Americans, in spite of a long history of adversity, are resilient. The participants demonstrated unwavering motivation to create a better future for themselves, other minorities, and society. Research is needed to quantify the impact of policy changes on health and well-being and identify moderators of resilience amenable to intervention.
Sexual and Gender Minority U.S. Youth Tobacco Use: Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Wave 3, 2015-2016.

Introduction Tobacco use disparities by sexual identity are well characterized among adults, but relatively less is known about tobacco use disparities in sexual minority youth. Moreover, no national study has reported tobacco use behaviors among gender minority (e.g., transgender) youth. Methods Data from Wave 3 (2015–2016) of the Population Assessment of Health Study from youth aged 14–17 years (n=7,772), analyzed in 2018, were stratified by transgender identity, sex, and sexual identity to describe tobacco product use. Results Transgender youth (n=79) were more likely to report ever use of tobacco products compared with nontransgender youth (electronic nicotine products, 40.2% vs 23.0%; cigarettes, 33.9% vs 14.1%; and smokeless tobacco, 21.5% vs 6.0%, respectively) and more likely to report past 30-day use of these products. Similarly, female sexual minority youth, compared with straight female youth, were more likely to report ever use of electronic nicotine products (37.9% vs 20.1%); cigarettes (28.9% vs 12.0%); cigars (11.3% vs 5.2%); hookah (12.7% vs 7.6%); and past 30-day use of electronic nicotine products, cigarettes, and cigars. Among male youth, sexual minority youth were more likely to report ever use of cigarettes compared with straight youth (25.1% vs 13.5%), but they did not differ in ever or past 30-day use of any other tobacco products. Conclusions Sexual minority youth and transgender youth are more likely to use tobacco products compared with their nonminority peers. Similar to patterns among adults, this is especially true for female sexual minority youth. This information is useful for developing communication and education efforts to prevent youth tobacco initiation in these high-risk groups.
An outbreak vector-host epidemic model with spatial structure: the 2015-2016 Zika outbreak in Rio De Janeiro.

A deterministic model is developed for the spatial spread of an epidemic disease in a geographical setting. The disease is borne by vectors to susceptible hosts through criss-cross dynamics. The model is focused on an outbreak that arises from a small number of infected hosts imported into a subregion of the geographical setting. The goal is to understand how spatial heterogeneity of the vector and host populations influences the dynamics of the outbreak, in both the geographical spread and the final size of the epidemic. Partial differential equations are formulated to describe the spatial interaction of the hosts and vectors. The partial differential equations have reaction-diffusion terms to describe the criss-cross interactions of hosts and vectors. The partial differential equations of the model are analyzed and proven to be well-posed. A local basic reproduction number for the epidemic is analyzed. The epidemic outcomes of the model are correlated to the spatially dependent parameters and initial conditions of the model. The partial differential equations of the model are adapted to seasonality of the vector population, and applied to the 2015–2016 Zika seasonal outbreak in Rio de Janeiro Municipality in Brazil. The results for the model simulations of the 2015–2016 Zika seasonal outbreak in Rio de Janeiro Municipality indicate that the spatial distribution and final size of the epidemic at the end of the season are strongly dependent on the location and magnitude of local outbreaks at the beginning of the season. The application of the model to the Rio de Janeiro Municipality Zika 2015–2016 outbreak is limited by incompleteness of the epidemic data and by uncertainties in the parametric assumptions of the model.
Complexity, diversity and the role of the public sphere on the Internet:

This article explores the relationship between deliberative democracy, the Internet, and systems theory’s thoughts on diversity. After introducing Habermas’s theory of deliberative democracy and ho...
The Non-Data Sharing Data-Sharing Network: One Anti-Money Laundering Innovation Requires a Closer Look

Financial authorities worldwide are focused on how new technologies can be used to more effectively combat money laundering and financial crime. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) is one of the leaders in the movement towards using financial technology (FinTech) and regulatory technology (RegTech) to fight money laundering. In the FCA’s most recent conference on this issue, which was attended by over 100 technology firms, regulators, and law enforcement agencies from the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, participants were tasked with developing proposals to address fifteen problem statements relating to how new technologies can more effectively combat money laundering and financial crime. This article addresses one of the proposals that received significant attention during and subsequent to the conference. The proposal, offered by Santander Bank and others, called for financial institutions to use distributed ledger technology to develop a database of “bad actors” without requiring the institutions to share the underlying transactional data that led to the “bad actor” designation. The goal for the database was to create a money laundering detection network to benefit all financial institutions in the ecosphere without running afoul of data privacy restrictions. This “Catch the Chameleon” proposal won the “Eureka” award at the conference for the “most original idea” and, according to the FCA website, will receive “support to progress” from Level 39, RegTech Associates and The Disruption House. Following the conference, the proposal continued to receive attention from other major financial institutions. For example, Credit Suisse highlighted the proposal in its letter responding to FINRA’s request for comment on FinTech innovation, deeming the proposal worthy of exploration. I propose that while clearly worthy of merit, there are at least three significant dangers of the platform or database as described on the FCA website, and in light of the heightened attention this proposal has received, these concerns are worthy of further discussion and exploration.
Varying Coefficient Neural Network with Functional Targeted Regularization for Estimating Continuous Treatment Effects

Motivated by the rising abundance of observational data with continuous treatments, we investigate the problem of estimating the average dose-response curve (ADRF). Available parametric methods are limited in their model space, and previous attempts in leveraging neural network to enhance model expressiveness relied on partitioning continuous treatment into blocks and using separate heads for each block; this however produces in practice discontinuous ADRFs. Therefore, the question of how to adapt the structure and training of neural network to estimate ADRF remains open. This paper makes two important contributions. First, we propose a novel varying coefficient neural network (VCNet) that improves model expressiveness while preserving continuity of the estimated ADRF. Second, to improve finite sample performance, we generalize targeted regularization to obtain a doubly robust estimator of the whole ADRF curve.
Outcomes of salvage radiation for recurrent world health organization grade II meningiomas: a retrospective cohort study.

The optimal modality of radiation—intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)—in patients with recurrent WHO grade II meningiomas is not well-established. The purpose of this study was to compare progression-free survival (PFS) in patients undergoing salvage IMRT vs SRS. We compared PFS in those with and without history of prior radiation. Forty-two patients with 71 tumor recurrences treated with IMRT or SRS were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-two salvage treatments were performed on recurrent tumors never treated with prior radiation (‘radiation-naive’ cohort), whereas 39 salvage treatments were performed on recurrent tumors previously treated with radiation (‘re-treatment cohort’). In the ‘radiation-naive’ cohort, 3-year PFS for IMRT and SRS was 68.8% and 60.7%, respectively (p = 0.61). The median tumor volume for patients treated with IMRT was significantly larger than for patients treated with SRS (5.7 vs 2.2 cm3; p = 0.04). The 3-year PFS for salvage IMRT or SRS in the ‘re-treatment’ cohort was 45.4% vs 65.8% in the ‘radiation-naive’ cohort (p = 0.008). When analyzing the outcome of multiple re-treatments, median PFS was 47 months for 1st or 2nd salvage radiation (IMRT or SRS) compared to 16 months for the 3rd or greater salvage radiation treatment (p = 0.003). For salvage radiation of recurrent grade II tumors that are ‘radiation-naive’, comparable 3-year PFS rates were found between IMRT and SRS, despite the IMRT group having significantly larger tumors. Salvage radiation overall was less successful in the ‘re-treatment’ cohort compared with the ‘radiation-naive’ cohort. Additionally, the effectiveness of radiation significantly declines with successive salvage radiation treatments.
Associations between eating disorder symptoms, employment status, and occupational functioning among female veterans.

Abstract Background Eating disorders (EDs) have been shown to negatively impact occupational functioning and may be associated with employment status. Findings have been inconsistent, and depression may mediate this relation. Further, prior research focuses mainly on binge eating disorder's (BED) impact on occupational functioning. We assessed the association between transdiagnostic ED symptoms and occupational functioning and employment status among female veterans, who tend to have high rates of EDs and unemployment but who remain understudied. Method Participants were 198 female veterans (Mage = 54.09) in the New England region who participated in a larger study. They completed a mailed survey including the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, employment status (employed vs. unemployed and out of the workforce), and the Inventory of Psychosocial Functioning to assess occupational functioning. Results ED symptoms were not significantly related to employment status but were negatively associated with occupational functioning when controlling for body mass index. Depressive symptoms mediated the associations between ED symptoms and both being out of the workforce and occupational functioning, respectively. Discussion Higher levels of ED symptoms were associated with worse occupational functioning in a female veteran sample. Further, comorbid depressive symptoms may be an important treatment target when addressing occupational health in women experiencing ED symptoms.
Seasonal Drought on Roman Rivers: Transport vs. Irrigation

Seasonal variation in the flow of rivers posed challenges for the Romans who relied on rivers for irrigation and transportation. This chapter mobilizes Roman law to investigate Roman strategies for responding to low flow in rivers and to evaluate their success in this endeavor. Roman law was a key component in the Roman response to climate that supplements incomplete environmental data and to probe the relationship between climate and society. Romans used interdicts, a kind of adminsitrative order, to regulate perennial rivers that were critical for transportation and activities that diverted water. After examining the internal logic of the interdicts, this chapter applies lessons from the law to three case studies built on literary, epigraphic, and archaeological evidence. In turn, the case studies offer new perspectives on the effectiveness and the limitations of Roman law for managing rivers so as to promote commerce and good governance. The chapter focuses on the classical period of Roman law, c. 50 BCE–225 CE, which produced most of the law and the case studies.
Outlook: The Importance of Trust

In Chap. 5 the vision and strategy of life-cycle solution provision were laid out. In Chap. 6 two conceptual CRM models to implement a life-cycle solution provision strategy were presented that may help to increase satisfaction and loyalty of the customer to the financial services provider by generating superior solutions for customer’s (latent) financial problems and providing a customer with information based on his preferences and (latent) needs. However, a misbalanced CRM strategy — not focusing on trust issues, but just on customer lock-in — will ultimately drive a financial services provider out of the market. In this chapter it is the objective to challenge the CRM business model in the financial services sector and derive important recommendations for firms operating in the market. Specifically, it will be shown that the strategy of acquiring a customer with a significant investment and locking this customer in with specially tailored services may not be sustainable, if this lock-in is based on the notion of assumed high switching costs.
Time Domain Correlations and Gated Detection of Quantum Solitons

We study the time-domain quantum-noise properties of solitons in optical fibers. Perturbation theory, including quantum description of the continuum, is used to derive a complete analytical expression for the second-order correlator of the amplitude quadrature in time domain. This correlator is subsequently used to calculate the photon-number noise reduction below the standard quantum limit by means of a time-gating filter. For propagation distances up to three soliton periods, the length at which the best noise reduction occurs, a square band-reject time filter is found to produce approximately 3.2 dB of squeezing.
Design and fabrication of millimeter wave photonic modulators

In this paper we presented the modeling, design and fabrication of a millimeter wave (MMW) photonic modulator operating at 94 GHz. Our approach combines high quality factor (Q) photonic cavities with the nonlinear property of an electro-optic material that interacts with the applied millimeter wave to achieve optical modulation. The high Q values and strong field densities associated with whispering gallery modes in microdisk resonators result in the enhancement of the nonlinear interaction of optical fields with a material that exhibits coherent attributes, even with weak millimeter waves. To achieve efficient modulation, careful designs are implemented and initial experimental results are presented.
Hydan: Hiding Information in Program Binaries

We present a scheme to steganographically embed information in x86 program binaries. We define sets of functionally-equivalent instructions, and use a key-derived selection process to encode information in machine code by using the appropriate instructions from each set. Such a scheme can be used to watermark (or fingerprint) code, sign executables, or simply create a covert communication channel. We experimentally measure the capacity of the covert channel by determining the distribution of equivalent instructions in several popular operating system distributions. Our analysis shows that we can embed only a limited amount of information in each executable (approximately \(\frac{1}{110}\) bit encoding rate), although this amount is sufficient for some of the potential applications mentioned. We conclude by discussing potential improvements to the capacity of the channel and other future work.
Bankruptcy: The Disposition of the Debtor's Unliquidated Cause of Action for Personal Injuries

This Comment examines the disposition of personal injury causes of action in bankruptcy courts in California. Defining and applying the "fresh start" doctrine expounded by the United States Supreme Court in such cases as Lines v. Frederick and Kokoszka v. Belford, the author suggests that the present practice in California, under which the entire cause of action normally passes to the trustee in bankruptcy, is erroneous. He proposes that personal injury causes of action should be broken into their component parts, with the "fresh start" doctrine applying to some components of the cause of action but not to others.
Tamara S. Wagner, ed., Frances Trollope: Beyond ‘Domestic Manners’

Review by Natasha Duquette (Biola University) of Tamara S. Wagner, ed., Frances Trollope: Beyond ‘Domestic Manners’. New York: Routledge, 2013. Pp. 144. $145.00. ISBN 9780415527934.
On determining a 1-tailed upper limit for future sample HorRat values.

Two formulas were developed for use in computing 1-tailed upper limits for future HorRat values obtained from the collaborative study of materials. One formula is applicable when a future sample HorRat value HorRat 1 = RSD R 0.02C -0.1505 is computed based on a known concentration (e.g., C = spike level and RSD R is the sample relative reproducibility standard deviation) and the other formula is applicable when the true concentration (C) is unknown and a future sample HorRat value HorRat 2 = RSD R 0.02y -0.1505 is computed using the sample mean (e.g., y, the collaborative study overall mean for an analyte). A Monte Carlo simulation procedure was developed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software to assess the accuracy of the 2 developed formulas. Based on the degree of closeness between the simulated and calculated limits, the formulas for computing upper limits for future sample HorRat values will prove to be useful to Study Directors in determining worst case scenarios concerning a method's reproducibility precision relative to that predicted using the "Horwitz equation." We also define the current empirical HorRat limits as 1-tailed 100p% upper limits to assess the statistical consequence, in a probability sense, of their application as an analytical methods screening tool.
Is the Universe a Universal Computer

A New Kind of Science . Stephen Wolfram. Wolfram Media, Champaign, IL, 2002. 1280 pp. $44.95, £40, C$69.95. ISBN 1-57955-008-8. Wolfram argues that the best way to understand many systems in nature is to think in terms of simple programs instead of mathematical equations.
A Review of “Sisters in the Faith: Shaker Women and Equality of the Sexes”

Independent scholar Glendyne Wergland adds to her previous scholarship on New Lebanon Shakers with her latest book, Sisters in the Faith. Seeking to challenge previous authors’ evaluations of Shake...
Enhancing Soybean Rhizosphere Colonization by Rhizobium japonicum

A study was conducted to seek means to increase the colonization of the rhizosphere of soybeans (Glycine max L. Merrill) by Rhizobium japonicum. For this purpose, a strain of R. japonicum that was resistant to benomyl, streptomycin, and erythromycin was used. The numbers of R. japonicum rose quickly in the first 2 days after soybean seeds were planted in soil and then rapidly fell. The decline was slower if the seeds were coated with benomyl. This fungicide reduced the numbers of bacteria and protozoa in the rhizosphere, but the effect became less or disappeared as the plants grew. In sterile soil inoculated with R. japonicum and a mixture of microorganisms, the numbers of R. japonicum were usually lower if protozoa were present than if they were absent. Nodulation and plant yield were increased by the addition of benomyl to soybean seeds sown in sterile soil inoculated with R. japonicum and a mixture of microorganisms. The addition of streptomycin and erythromycin to soil stimulated the growth of R. japonicum but inhibited other bacteria in the presence or absence of soybeans. The data indicate that colonization can be increased by the use of antimicrobial agents and R. japonicum strains resistant to those inhibitors.
Phase microscopic observations of rat incisor enamel

Thin ground sections (4–10 μ) of rat incisor enamel were prepared in appropriate planes using a modified hand grinding technique. Phase microscopic observations of these sections confirmed the previously defined rod arrangement in the inner layer of enamel, and also demonstrated a high degree of structural orientation in the outer layer of enamel. The initial layer of enamel formed was found to present a morphologic picture which has not been previously defined: a series of inter-connected pillars of enamel on an elevated base which has a “fish net” appearance in tangential section.
Effect of elastic bending energy on the emulsification failure in a microemulsion

Small angle neutron scattering experiments have been carried out to study the phase stability of very dilute water-in-oil AOT microemulsion. At a fixed water to surfactant mole ratio of w=30, we observed a decrease in droplet radius and an increase in polydispersity when the dispersed-phase volume fraction was diluted to less than 1%. Upon further dilution to below 0.1%, the droplets disappeared. This suggested that in the concentration range, 0.1% < ϕ < 1%, a single phase microemulsion was unstable, and a phase separation known as the emulsification failure occurred. To understand this interesting phase behavior we have formulated an analytical solution for the size distribution function based on the theory of Borkovec, et al. for a two-phase microemulsion. We found that the distribution function attained a simple Gaussian form and the width of the distribution function was inversely proportional to the elastic bending constant of the system. The other features predicted by the theory were also in qualitative agreement with our measurements.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRIMARY CULTURE OF HEMOCYTES OF PENAEUS

ABSTRACT A study of the primary culture of hemocytes of Penaeus was conducted to examine growth and maintenance of these cellular populations. Hemocytes rapidly attached to flask surfaces and could be maintained for approximately one month. A medium consisting of 2 × L-15, 20% Cellect Gold fetal calf serum, 20% AKN salt solution, and other supplements was suitable for long term hemocyte maintenance. Initial cell counts were found to be more representative of monolayer confluency than volume of hemolymph collected. Bacterial contamination of cell cultures was common, but could be controlled by the addition of antibiotics to the growth medium. Contaminants were identified as members of the genera Vibrio, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Aeromonas, or Proteus. Attempts to subculture hemocyte monolayers using enzymatic and mechanical methods were unsuccessful. Additional investigations concluded that hemocyte cryoprotection by DMSO was poor when cells were frozen at –20 or -70°C, that monolayer integrity was optimal at a temperature range of 25–32°C, that hemocyte populations appear to contain heterologous surface residues, and that only 1-2% of fresh hemocytes are in an active proliferation cycle at the time of collection.
A dark papule within an unevenly pigmented plaque

the Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative rvices, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, d the Department of Dermatology, University of Rochester hool of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester. rodell is on the speaker’s bureau for Allergan, Galderma, /Graceway Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline/Stiefel, Deric, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Sanofi-Aventis, edicis, and PharmaDerm, a division of Nycomed US Inc. He s serves as a consultant for Galderma Laboratories, LP, edicis, Dow Pharmaceuticals Sciences, and Promius; has rved on advisory boards for Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences d Nycomed US Inc, and has received grant/research support from Galderma, Abbott Laboratories, and Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences. None of these disclosures are thought to be relevant conflicts of interest. Ms Shlapak and Dr Ward have no conflicts to disclose. Funding sources: None. Reprint requests: Robert T. Brodell, MD, 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216. E-mail: rbrodell@umc.edu. J Am Acad Dermatol 2013;68:e149-50. 0190-9622/$36.00 a 2012 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2012.10.029
Characterization of Interface Bond of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Bridge Deck Overlays:

Critical components of the nation's bridge network, concrete bridge decks, are deteriorating at a rapid rate. This deterioration can be attributed to several factors; however, winter salt application, the diffusion of chlorides to the reinforcing steel, and eventual corrosion of the reinforcement are primary culprits. Multiple protection solutions, include concrete protective systems, sealers, additional cover to the reinforcement, membranes, and epoxy-coated reinforcement, but each solution has shortcomings and does not completely address the problem. Ultra-high-performance concrete, a relatively new material with exceptional strength and durability characteristics, may be a solution to these problems when it is used as a thin overlay on bridge decks. An experimental study was performed to evaluate the bond strength between an ultra-high-performance concrete overlay and a normal concrete substrate with different types of surface textures, including smooth, low roughness, and high roughness. Slant shear a...
A Discrete Analysis of Non-reflecting Boundary Conditions for Discontinuous Galerkin Method

We present a discrete analysis of non-reflecting boundary conditions for the discontinuous Galerkin method. The boundary conditions considered in this paper include the recently proposed Perfectly Matched Layer absorbing boundary condition for the linearized Euler equation and two non-reflecting boundary conditions based on the characteristic decomposition of the flux on the boundary. The analyses for the three boundary conditions are carried out in a unifled way. In each case, eigensolutions of the discrete system are obtained and applied to compute the numerical reflection coefficients of a specified out-going wave. The dependencies of the reflections at the boundary on the out-going wave angle and frequency as well as the mesh sizes arc? studied. Comparisons with direct numerical simulation results are also presented.
Accuracy of computerized tomographic evaluation of canine radio-ulnar incongruence in vitro.

Objective— To evaluate the accuracy of linear measurements obtained from computer tomography (CT) images of staged radio-ulnar incongruence in a canine cadaver forelimb model. Study Design— CT evaluation of induced progressive radio-ulnar incongruence in canine cadaveric forelimbs. Sample Population— Eight cadaveric canine left forelimbs. Procedure— A type 2 external skeletal fixator (ESF) with linear motors was attached to the radius in 8 cadaveric left canine forelimbs. Contiguous incremental and helical CT images of the proximal radio-ulnar articulation were acquired in the transverse, sagittal and dorsal planes. The radius was shortened by 1, 2, and 4 mm increments and scanning protocols were repeated at each increment. Digital caliper and CT image analysis measured the progressive change in distance between 2 marking spheres and the epiphyseal bone surfaces of the radio-ulnar articulation. Statistical analysis of measurements from incremental and helical CT acquisitions, and direct and reformatted images were compared with inter-sphere distance using Pearson product moment correlation coefficients. Results— The reformatted incremental acquisition series at the mid-coronoid in the oblique plane had the highest correlation coefficient (r-value) at 0.908. The mid-coronoid in the dorsal plane had the second highest r-value (0.856). The coronoid incisure in the sagittal plane had an r-value of 0.826. The reformatted incremental acquisition series at the coronoid incisure in the oblique plane had the lowest r-value, 0.592. Conclusion— Measurement of radioulnar incongruence may be best performed using reformatted incremental acquisition CT in the mid-coronoid region in an oblique plane. Clinical Relevance— Use of the technique reported in this study may enable determination of the association, if any, between radioulnar incongruence and developmental diseases of the canine elbow.
A Meta-Analytic Investigation of Business Ethics Instruction

The education of students and professionals in business ethics is an increasingly important goal on the agenda of business schools and corporations. The present study provides a meta-analysis of 25 previously conducted business ethics instructional programs. The role of criteria, study design, participant characteristics, quality of instruction, instructional content, instructional program characteristics, and characteristics of instructional methods as moderators of the effectiveness of business ethics instruction were examined. Overall, results indicate that business ethics instructional programs have a minimal␣impact on increasing outcomes related to ethical perceptions, behavior, or awareness. However, specific criteria, content, and methodological moderators of effectiveness shed light on potential recommendations for␣improving business ethics instruction. Implications for␣future research and practice in business ethics are discussed.
Pyocin Typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Over the last 10 years, pyocin typing has been a useful tool for the epidemiological fingerprinting of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The widely used "scrape-andstreak" method of Gillies and Govan, although simple to perform, has not been sensitive enough in differentiation of strains. Use of additional indicator strains might correct this deficiency. The "growth-in-broth" method of typing has shown promise; because it is easily automated, it may become the method of choice when very sensitive results are required. The value of pyocin typing appears to be well established in the study of nosocomial infections; however, in some situations it may give misleading results. Further studies are required for demonstration of the relative value and relationships of serological, pyocin, and bacteriophage typing.
A higher-order tangent linear parabolic-equation solution of three-dimensional sound propagation

A higher-order square-root operator splitting algorithm is employed to derive a tangent linear solution for the three-dimensional parabolic wave equation due to small variations of the sound speed in the medium. The solution shown in this paper unifies other solutions obtained from less accurate approximations. Examples of three-dimensional acoustic ducts are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the solution. Future work on the applications of associated adjoint models for acoustic inversions is proposed and discussed.
An agile implementation of SCRUM

Is Agile a way to cut corners? To some, the use of an Agile Software Development Methodology has a negative connotation - “Oh, you're just not producing any documentation”. So can a team with no experience in Agile successfully implement and use SCRUM?