cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous transmit and receive with digital phased arrays

A new architecture is proposed for achieving Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (STAR) with a digital phased array. We demonstrate how digital beamforming and cancellation enables adjacent transmitting and receiving sub-arrays to operate simultaneously in the same frequency band without a significant reduction in performance. Our approach uses only digital signal processing techniques and does not require custom radiators or analog cancelling circuits that can increase front-end losses and add significant size, weight and cost to the array. Simulated results are presented for a 50-element array that achieves more than 160 dB of effective isolation between transmit and receive beams over a 100 MHz instantaneous band centered at 2.45 GHz.
Bone mass, microarchitecture and strength are influenced by race/ethnicity in young adult men and women

Abstract Lower rates of fracture in both Blacks compared to Whites, and men compared to women are not completely explained by differences in bone mineral density (BMD). Prior evidence suggests that more favorable cortical bone microarchitecture may contribute to reduced fracture rates in older Black compared to White women, however it is not known whether these differences are established in young adulthood or develop during aging. Moreover, prior studies using high-resolution pQCT (HR-pQCT) have reported outcomes from a fixed-scan location, which may confound sex- and race/ethnicity-related differences in bone structure. Purpose We determined differences in bone mass, microarchitecture and strength between young adult Black and White men and women. Methods We enrolled 185 young adult (24.2 ± 3.4 yrs) women ( n = 51 Black, n = 50 White) and men ( n = 34 Black, n = 50 White) in this cross-sectional study. We used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to determine areal BMD (aBMD) at the femoral neck (FN), total hip (TH) and lumbar spine (LS), as well as HR-pQCT to assess bone microarchitecture and failure load by micro-finite element analysis (μFEA) at the distal tibia (4% of tibial length). We used two-way ANOVA to compare bone outcomes, adjusted for age, height, weight and physical activity. Results The effect of race/ethnicity on bone outcomes did not differ by sex, and the effect of sex on bone outcomes did not differ by race/ethnicty. After adjusting for covariates, Blacks had significantly greater FN, TH and LS aBMD compared to Whites ( p Conclusion These findings demonstrate that more favorable bone microarchitecture in Blacks compared to Whites and in men compared to women is established by young adulthood. Advantageous bone strength among Blacks and men likely contributes to their lower risk of fractures throughout life compared to their White and women counterparts.
Construction of Multiple Stable Measures and Integrals Using Lepage Representation

Consider a symmetric α-stable, 0 < α < 2, random measure M with a Radon control measure, defined on (R, B). Let f be a Banach-valued deterministic function defined on R n, symmetric in its arguments and vanishing on the diagonals. We provide a construction of the product measure $${M^{\left( n \right)}}\left( {d{x_1},...,d{x_n}} \right) = n!M\left({d{x_1}} \right)...M\left( {d{x_n}} \right)$$ and of the multiple stochastic integral $${I_n}\left( f \right) = \int_{{R^n}} f \left( {{x_1},...,{x_n}} \right)M\left( {d{x_1}}\right)...M\left( {d{x_n}} \right)$$ using a multiple Lepage representation.
Instrumental learning and cognitive flexibility processes are impaired in children exposed to early life stress

Children who experience severe early life stress show persistent deficits in many aspects of cognitive and social adaptation. Early stress might be associated with these broad changes in functioning because it impairs general learning mechanisms. To explore this possibility, we examined whether individuals who experienced abusive caregiving in childhood had difficulties with instrumental learning and/or cognitive flexibility as adolescents. Fifty-three 14-17-year-old adolescents (31 exposed to high levels of childhood stress, 22 control) completed an fMRI task that required them to first learn associations in the environment and then update those pairings. Adolescents with histories of early life stress eventually learned to pair stimuli with both positive and negative outcomes, but did so more slowly than their peers. Furthermore, these stress-exposed adolescents showed markedly impaired cognitive flexibility; they were less able than their peers to update those pairings when the contingencies changed. These learning problems were reflected in abnormal activity in learning- and attention-related brain circuitry. Both altered patterns of learning and neural activation were associated with the severity of lifetime stress that the adolescents had experienced. Taken together, the results of this experiment suggest that basic learning processes are impaired in adolescents exposed to early life stress. These general learning mechanisms may help explain the emergence of social problems observed in these individuals.
Fungating breast mass in a developed country.

A 56-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a left breast mass. Initially, she noticed two small lumps on the left breast that evolved in 18 months into an ulcerated mass with foul-odour drainage. Four months prior to admission, she developed fevers, fatigue and progressive dyspnoea. She normally could walk a block without limitations but progressed to dyspnoea with minimal exertion. Her family noted that she was spending most of the day in bed secondary to fatigue. Her fevers measured as high as 101.5°F and was alleviated by acetaminophen. One week prior to admission, she had a syncopal episode while standing up from her couch. Her mother came to visit after the syncope and noticed a foul odour. After she revealed the mass to her mother, she was taken to a primary care doctor …
Parameters Affecting the Growth of Large Silicalite Crystals

A statistical method was employed to optimize the synthesis of large silicalite crystals. Using a starting reactant batch composition of 10Na 2 O-100Si 2 O.249H 2 O-ll TPABr, a factorial method was used to adjust the contents of NaOH and TPABr in the synthesis mixture in order to maximize the crystal size. It was found that lesser amounts of NaOH and TPABr favored the growth of large crystals. Crystals up to a size of 400×80×80μm were identified, with the optimum reaction batch mixture being 2.25Na 2 O-100Si 2 O-2832H 2 O-5.22TPA. Additional experiments were performed using KOH, CsOH and sodium salts to replace NaOH in the batch formulation. Products from these runs were found to be well-crystallized, uniform material with crystal lengths of up to 200μm.
A Seismo-Acoustic Finite Element Model for Underwater Acoustic Propagation

The finite element technique can provide an accurate description of the physics of wave propagation in inhomogeneous media. The authors have developed a finite element acoustic model which handles range and depth dependence in both sound speed and density, as well as almost arbitrary variations in bottom topography. We discuss modifications to this model which will allow us to treat the ocean bottom as an elastic medium with range and depth dependence in shear speed and shear attenuation.
Effects of grinding process on residual stresses in nanostructured ceramic coatings

This paper investigates the depth profiles of residual stresses using the sin2ψ method combined with grazing incident X-ray diffraction (GIXD) technique. It specifically focuses on the effects of grinding process on the residual stresses in the thermally sprayed nanostructured WC/12Co and Al2O3/13TiO2 (n-WC/12Co and n-Al2O3/13TiO2) coatings on low carbon steel substrates. The influence of grinding parameters, such as depth of cut (DOC), table feedrate, abrasive grit size and wheel bond type, on residual stresses is studied. The conditions and limitations of X-ray diffractometry for residual stress measurements are discussed. Discussed also is the difference between the average and actual depth profiles of residual stresses. The paper introduces a method for retrieving the actual depth profiles from the measured average depth profiles. Finally, the influence of peak broadening of grain size, anisotropy from different diffraction planes and surface finish of the samples on the measurement results is explored.
Developing a genetic services assessment tool to inform quality improvement efforts in state genetic service delivery.

The Institute of Medicine recommended the utilization of metrics to improve quality in health care, although they have rarely been used in genetics. This study developed and tested a set of metrics for a quality assessment tool for genetic services A systematic review of literature, guidelines, and consensus statements identified candidate measures for a possible assessment tool. An expert panel conducted a modified Delphi technique to rank the metrics. Ratings were computed to generate a score for each metric, creating a set of metrics for consensus discussions, pilot testing, and feasibility testing in eight Midwestern states. The panel reduced 61 candidate metrics to 21 for pilot testing in two states, which further limited and refined the set to 16 metrics. These 16 were categorized into five domains: service capacity, access to care, data systems, performance reporting, and workforce. Further feasibility testing in one Regional Genetics Collaborative identified the tool’s usefulness and barriers to implementation. These quality metrics for both clinical and public health genetics across the lifespan may help medical professionals and policymakers evaluate quality and cost-effectiveness of genetic services on a statewide basis and stimulate outcome-oriented, health services research in medical genetics and genomics.
Left Atrial Electromechanical Remodeling Following 2 Years of High-Intensity Exercise Training in Sedentary Middle-Aged Adults

Background: Moderate intensity exercise is associated with a decreased incidence of atrial fibrillation. However, extensive training in competitive athletes is associated with an increased atrial f...
Duration of protection from live attenuated vs. sub unit HSV-2 vaccines in the guinea pig model of genital herpes: Reassessing efficacy using endpoints from clinical trials.

Background Although herpes simplex viruses (HSV) are a major target for vaccine development no vaccine is currently licensed. Methods A live attenuated HSV virus vaccine, VC2 was compared to a subunit HSV vaccine, glycoprotein D (gD2) administered with the adjuvant, MPL/Alum using the guinea pig model of genital herpes. Three doses of intramuscular (IM) vaccine were provided followed by intravaginal challenge with HSV-2 at either 3 weeks or six months after the last vaccination. Results Both VC2 and gD2 vaccines reduced acute genital disease. VC2 was somewhat more effective in reducing acute vaginal replication, the amount of virus in neural tissue, subsequent recurrent disease and recurrent virus shedding following challenge at 3 weeks post vaccination. Both vaccines continued to provide protection at 6 months after vaccination but the differences between the vaccines became more pronounced in favor of the live attenuated vaccine, VC2. Significant differences in acute disease, acute vaginal virus replication, recurrent disease and recurrent virus shedding (P<0.05 for each) was observed comparing the vaccines. Re-examination of protection for this study using criteria similar to those used in recent clinical trials (inclusion of recurrent disease) showed that efficacy may not be as high in this model as previously thought prompting a need to assess the best predictive outcomes for protection in humans. Conclusion While both the live attenuated vaccine, VC2, and the gD2 subunit vaccine provided protection, the duration of protection appeared to be greater for VC2. Using the same evaluation criteria as used in human trials provided unique insights into the utility of the guinea pig model.
Estimation and prediction for a mechanistic model of measles transmission using particle filtering and maximum likelihood estimation

Disease incidence reported directly within health systems frequently reflects a partial observation relative to the true incidence in the population. State-space models present a general framework for inferring both the dynamics of infectious disease processes and the unobserved burden of disease in the population. Here, we present a state-space model of measles transmission and vaccine-based interventions at the country-level and a particle filter-based estimation procedure. Our dynamic transmission model builds on previous work by incorporating population age-structure to allow explicit representation of age-targeted vaccine interventions. We illustrate the performance of estimators of model parameters and predictions of unobserved states on simulated data from two dynamic models: one on the annual time-scale of observations and one on the biweekly time-scale of the epidemiological dynamics. We show that our model results in approximately unbiased estimates of unobserved burden and the underreporting rate. We further illustrate the performance of the fitted model for prediction of future disease burden in the next one to 15 years.
Quickest Detection of False Data Injection Attacks in Smart Grid with Dynamic Models

A quickest intrusion detection algorithm is proposed to detect false data injection attacks (FDIA) in smart grids with time-varying dynamic models. The quickest detection algorithm aims at minimizing the worst-case detection delays of cyber-attacks, subject to an upper bound of the false alarm rate. Since power grid state transitions could be caused by either cyber-attacks or sudden change in loads or grid configurations, we propose to distinguish between FDIA and sudden system change by using a time-varying dynamic model, which can accurately capture the dynamic state transitions due to changes in system configurations. A dynamic state estimation algorithm is developed to estimate and track the time-varying and non-stationary power grid states. The quickest detection algorithm is developed by analyzing the statistical properties of dynamic state estimations, such that the algorithm minimizes the worst-case detection delay while accurately distinguishing FDIA from sudden system changes. A Markov-chain-based analytical model is used to identify the detector’s parameter and quantify its performance. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can accurately detect and remove false data injections or system faults with minimum delays. The proposed algorithm can be implemented to harden intelligent electronic devices or supervisory control and data acquisition systems to improve their resilience to cyber-attacks or system faults, thus improving the cyber-security of smart grids.
Long-Term Quality of Life Comparison between Supraclavicular and Infraclavicular Rib Resection in Patients with vTOS.

Background Rib resection in venous thoracic outlet syndrome (vTOS) may be approached via a transaxillary, supraclavicular, or infraclavicular approach based on surgeon preference. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term postoperative quality of life function after surgery for vTOS and to determine if there were long-term patency differences associated with the surgical approach or whether prophylactic postoperative venography was performed. Methods All patients with vTOS undergoing rib resection at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. In 2012, we switched our approach to infraclavicular with postoperative venogram performed within 2 weeks of rib resection. Clinical records and imaging results were tabulated, and postoperative outcomes, complications, and long-term symptom follow up via the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score surveys. The disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score ranges from 0 to 100 with lower numbers indicating better functional status (100 = worst). Results During the 19-year study period, we performed 109 rib resections in patients with vTOS (mean age, 29.8 years). From 2000 to 2012, 54 patients were approached via a supraclavicular approach, and from 2012 to 2018, 55 patients were approached via an infraclavicular approach. There was a significant decrease in the number of complications in the infraclavicular cohort compared with the supraclavicular group. There was no difference in patency between the 2 groups even with a higher rate of postoperative venogram in the infraclavicular cohort. There was no difference in long-term the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand scores. There was an increased rate of complications in the supraclavicular cohort as compared with the infraclavicular group (P Conclusions The infraclavicular approach in patients with vTOS is associated with a lower rate of complications, but long-term quality of life outcomes and patency are not different between groups.
Agreement between the Apple Series 1, LifeTrak Core C200, and Fitbit Charge HR with Indirect Calorimetry for Assessing Treadmill Energy Expenditure.

The purpose of this study was to examine agreement in energy expenditure between the Apple Series 1 Watch, LifeTrak Core C200, and Fitbit Charge HR with indirect calorimetry during various treadmill speeds in young adults. Participants were a sample of college-aged students (mean age = 20.1 (1.7) years; 13 females, 17 males). Participants completed six structured 10-minute exercise sessions on a treadmill with speeds ranging from 53.6 m·min−1 to 187.7 m·min−1. Indirect calorimetry was used as the criterion. Participants wore the Apple Watch, LifeTrak, and Fitbit activity monitors on their wrists. Group-level agreement was examined using equivalence testing, relative agreement was examined using Spearman’s rho, and individual-level agreement was examined using Mean Absolute Percent Error (MAPE) and Bland-Altman Plots. Activity monitor agreement with indirect calorimetry was supported using the Apple Watch at 160.9 m·min−1 (Mean difference = −2.7 kcals, 90% C.I.: −8.3 kcals, 2.8 kcals; MAPE = 11.9%; rs = 0.64) and 187.7 m·min−1 (Mean difference = 3.7 kcals, 90% C.I.: −2.2 kcals, 9.7 kcals; MAPE = 10.7%; rs = 0.72) and the Fitbit at 187.7 m·min−1 (Mean difference = −0.2 kcals, 90% C.I.: −8.8 kcals, 8.5 kcals; MAPE = 20.1%; rs = 0.44). No evidence for statistical equivalence was seen for the LifeTrak at any speed. Bland-Altman Plot Limits of Agreement were narrower for the Apple Series 1 Watch compared to other monitors, especially at slower treadmill speeds. The results support the utility of the Apple Series 1 Watch and Fitbit Charge HR for assessing energy expenditure during specific treadmill running speeds in young adults.
From inspiration to App Store in 90 minutes: a tutorial on iPhone development

The iPhone needs no introduction: it has garnered popular acclaim and huge sales since its introduction, and all of your students will be familiar with it. What they will be less acquainted with, but just as curious about, is Phone development. To help faculty assuage their students' curiosity (as well as their own), in this tutorial we will provide a detailed roadmap for learning how to create iPhone applications. We will discuss the languages, frameworks, and development tools that make iPhone development possible. We will demonstrate how to create several applications that illustrate the key issues in iPhone development, and the end products, while not quite ready for the "App Store", will prove excellent starting points. With this information, faculty contemplating offering a course or independent study in iPhone Development will better understand what is involved. They will learn that the most important reasons for learning how to write iPhone applications have nothing to do with its current popularity. Rather, it is because the iPhone is an ideal platform for illustrating some key concepts in Computer Science (algorithm choice does matter; profligate memory usage is perilous; model-view-controller is not just a classroom exercise, but a powerful paradigm), and provides an excellent platform for students to hone their development skills. Attendees should be familiar with any modern object-oriented language (not necessarily Objective-C) to benefit from this tutorial.
Can I use direct oral anticoagulants to treat cancer-associated venous thromboembolism?

Yes. The direct oral anticoagulants rivaroxaban, edoxaban, and apixaban have been studied in cancer-associated venous thromboembolism and are increasingly replacing low-molecular-weight heparins such as dalteparin and enoxaparin for this purpose. Individualizing care by balancing risks and benefits
Abstract B32: Impact of cancer-associated fibroblasts on head and neck cancer stem cells

Background: The tumor microenvironment (TME) is made up of epithelial cancer cells and mesenchymal stromal cells including tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and endothelial cells. Within the cancer cell population are cancer stem cells (CSC), a subpopulation of cells defined as having the capacity for self-renewal, tumorigenesis, and the ability to recapitulate a heterogeneous tumor. The interaction of the TME with cancer cells remains of interest. The focus of this study is to investigate the effect of patient-derived CAFs on head and neck CSC and tumor activity. Methods: Patient-derived head and neck cancer cell lines and patient-derived fibroblasts lines have previously been established by our group. Tumor cells were grown alone or in combination with patient-matched fibroblasts in a coculture chamber system, allowing for mixture of media but not cells. Scratch tests were performed and closure rates were compared between the two conditions (tumor cells alone and coculture). Tumor cells were then grown alone or in direct contact with matched fibroblasts for one week. Cancer cells were selected for based on epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) status and in vitro tumor growth and stem cells percentages (defined as proportion of CD44-high and ALDH-positive cells) were calculated. Results: Patient-derived cancer cells cocultured with matched fibroblasts showed a significant increase in closure rates compared with tumor cells alone at three defined time points (p=0.03-0.002). Coculture conditions resulted in greater in vitro tumor growth after one week (6.4-fold vs. 3.7-fold increase) and an increased proportion of CD44-high tumor cells (9% vs. 5%). The effect of coculture on ALDH-positive percentages was variable. Conclusion: CAFs have previously been shown to potentiate tumorigenesis and metastases. We validated these findings with matched patient derived tumor cells and CAFs. We were then able to demonstrate that CAFs increase the proportion of head and neck CSC, suggesting the mechanism for CAF-associated increased tumor activity may be mediated through CSC. Further studies investigating the relationship between CAFs and CSC are warranted. Citation Format: Molly E. Heft Neal, John Henry J. Owen, Matthew E. Spector, Thomas E. Carey, Mark E.P. Prince, Steven B. Chinn. Impact of cancer-associated fibroblasts on head and neck cancer stem cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; 2019 Apr 29-30; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(12_Suppl_2):Abstract nr B32.
Effect of broad-band phase-based motion magnification on modal parameter estimation

Abstract In this paper, broad-band phase-based motion magnification (BPMM) is used to improve the modal parameter estimation from high-speed video of a structure undergoing low amplitude vibration. The authors use a novel application of the phase-based motion magnification technique to obtain improved results in the presence of image noise. A numerical simulation is performed to demonstrate and quantify the effect of broad-band motion magnification. A clear correlation is found between the magnification factor and the error in the motion obtained from 2-dimensional point tracking (2DPT). In a laboratory experiment, operational modal analysis is performed on a metallic nozzle with a 5.3 in exit diameter and a constant wall thickness of 0.03 inches. Fluorescent markers are painted on the nozzle lip. The nozzle is attached to a test stand and excited by pressurized air. The induced vibrations are captured by a single high-speed camera, which takes images of the nozzle lip. Using a 2DPT algorithm, the displacement history of the markers in the nozzle exit plane is extracted. As is typical for small and stiff structures, the resonant frequencies are quite high and the resulting vibration amplitudes are fairly low. This leads to low signal-to-noise ratio in the higher frequencies, which makes the following operational modal analysis much harder. By using BPMM as a preprocessor, the authors demonstrate that the outcome of modal analysis is greatly improved. Comparison with Finite Element analysis shows that the mode shapes agree much better with the experimental results when motion magnification is used. The modal parameters of the first six modes are found in the frequency range 0–1400 Hz using the new methodology, whereas without motion magnification only the first five modes are found.
Neurovascular compression of the oculomotor nerve presenting with aberrant reinnervation.

Abstract Purpose To report a case of neurovascular compression in a patient presenting with ophthalmic evidence of aberrant reinnervation. Observation A 68-year-old woman diagnosed with right partial third nerve palsy with aberrant regeneration. Suspicion was based on isolated clinical features of the right eye, including ptosis, upper eyelid elevation on adduction, mydriasis, exotropia, and hypotropia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed atrophy of the right oculomotor nerve secondary to neurovascular compression from a prominent right superior cerebellar artery. Conclusion and importance This case highlights the importance of utilizing Fast Imaging Employing Steady-state Acquisition (FIESTA) for the diagnosis of oculomotor nerve palsy presenting with evidence of aberrant reinnervation.
An Important Step toward Understanding the Role of Body-based Cues on Human Spatial Memory for Large-Scale Environments.

Moving our body through space is fundamental to human navigation; however, technical and physical limitations have hindered our ability to study the role of these body-based cues experimentally. We...
Austenite formation and cementite dissolution during intercritical annealing of a medium-manganese steel from a martensitic condition

Abstract In the present study, in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction (HEXRD), dilatometry, and metallography were conducted for the purpose of understanding microstructure evolution during intercritical annealing of a Fe-0.19C-4.39Mn steel from a martensitic initial condition. Three different simulations for austenite growth and solute partitioning during isothermal holding were conducted using the DICTRA™ module of Thermo-Calc®. The microstructures after intercritical annealing exhibit film-like retained austenite; however, in situ HEXRD indicates that retained austenite in the initial martensitic microstructure had decomposed upon heating to the isothermal holding temperature, suggesting that film-like austenite may be generated during intercritical annealing via nucleation and growth of new austenite and without necessarily preserving initial retained austenite films in the martensitic microstructure. Metallography and in situ HEXRD also indicate that cementite had formed upon heating but did not readily dissolve during an 1800 s isothermal hold although considerable growth of austenite had occurred during the isothermal hold, suggesting that austenite nucleation and initial growth during intercritical annealing does not solely occur due to carbon partitioning. A simulation incorporating cementite suggests that the increase in austenite fraction during intercritical annealing initially occurs in association with Mn partitioning followed by austenite growth induced by gradual cementite dissolution.
A Preliminary survey of North Carolina slaughterhouse bulls for Tritrichomonas foetus

450 bulls presented to a North Carolina slaughterhouse were tested for Tritrichomonas foetus. A sample of preputial smegma was collected from each bull and inoculated into a propriety medium, specifically designed for the diagnosis of T. foetus infections. Each sample was monitored periodically throughout the 5 day incubation interval for growth of the organism. No cases of trichomoniasis were identified at any stage of the screening process. The ability of the organism to survive and multiply in the culturing system, both as a pure culture and in the presence of smegma from an uninfected bull, was verified using a positive control strain T. foetus 1119.
Benchmarking Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes Turbulence Models for Water Clarification Systems

AbstractTurbulence is inherent in clarification basin systems; turbulence is challenging to quantify, yet directly impacting particulate matter (PM) separation. In computational fluid dynamic (CFD)...
The Fundamental Reasons Patients Get IIH

This chapter discusses why we think patients develop IIH. The fundamental problem in IIH is high venous pressures inside the head. We explore how elevated venous pressures in the body, or vein narrowing in the head and neck, can cause high venous sinus pressures. Different people can therefore have different reasons for developing IIH. We discuss why we think transverse sinus narrowing develops and how this narrowing impacts venous pressures in the head. We briefly then discuss general treatment options before moving onto these individual treatments in more detail later on in the book.
Features associated with surgically significant abscesses on computed tomography evaluation of the neck in pediatric patients.

Abstract Background Neck-related chief complaints are common in the pediatric Emergency Department (ED), and although the incidence of pathology such as retropharyngeal abscesses is rare, the ability to rule out abscesses requiring surgical/procedural intervention is essential. However, there are no clear clinical guidelines regarding work-up and diagnosis in this population, possibly contributing to an excess use of potentially harmful and costly computed tomography (CT) imaging. Objective In this study we sought to identify historical, physical exam, and laboratory findings associated with surgically significant neck abscesses to better delineate CT neck imaging criteria. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients ≤18 years presenting to a pediatric ED between 2013 and 2017 who underwent CT neck imaging. Surgically significant abscesses (SSAs) were defined as abscesses ≥2 cm, retropharyngeal abscesses (RPA), parapharyngeal abscesses (PPA), or peritonsillar abscesses (PTA). Historical factors, physical exam findings, laboratory results, demographics, and CT results were analyzed using univariate statistical analysis and regression models. Results A total of 718 patients received neck CTs and 153 SSAs were identified. In children younger than 6 years, factors associated with statistically significant increased odds of an SSA were reported throat pain (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.05, 1.33), fussiness (OR 1.18; 1.01, 1.39), lethargy (OR 1.43; 1.07, 1.91), tonsillar enlargement (OR 1.17; 1.02, 1.34), C-reactive protein (CRP) > 10 (OR 1.22; 1.07, 1.40), and an ED visit within the preceding week (OR 1.18; 1.04, 1.33). In children older than 6 years, the factors associated with statistically significant increased odds of an SSA included current antibiotic use (OR 1.12; 1.02, 1.22) and a CRP >10 (OR 1.14; 1.03, 1.26). Conclusion Some historical, physical exam, and laboratory findings are associated with SSAs, and while not definitive in isolation, may be beneficial additions to routine SSA assessment, as a supplement to clinical judgement regarding CT and observation decisions. This may potentially allow for the identification of patients requiring CT versus those who may not, and thus the opportunity to safely reduce the use of CT imaging in select patients.
Biogeochemical consequences of macrofauna burrow ventilation

The burrow walls created by macrofauna in aquatic sediments are sites of intense chemical mass transfer. Quantitative measurement of their significance is, however, difficult because chemistry in the immediate vicinity of burrow walls is temporally dynamic due to periodic ventilation of burrows by macrofauna. A temporally dynamic, 2D multicomponent diffusion-reaction model was utilized to depict the magnitude and time dependency of chemical mass transfer in the immediate vicinity of burrow walls as well as at the water/sediment interface. The simulation results illustrate that sediment particles, pore water, and microorganisms within a few millimeters of burrow walls experience significant oscillation in pH (as much as two pH units) and dissolved oxygen concentration (between saturation and near anoxia) whereas such oscillation is absent at the water/ sediment interface. The geochemical oscillation is expected to affect the net stability of mineral phases, activities and community structures of microorganisms, and rates and magnitudes of microbial diagenetic reactions.
Public Health and Social Controls: Implications for Human Rights

This paper which is part of a larger project on social control and human rights commissioned by the International Council on Human Rights Policy explores the difficult and complex relationship between public health, human rights, and the social controls that states use to protect their population’s health, especially from infectious diseases. The paper highlights the importance of recognizing that public health interventions operate as social controls and shares the insights that social control theory can offer to public health and human rights advocates. The paper begins by reviewing the right to public health protection and discusses contemporary understandings in international law and public health ethics of the relationship between the right to health and other human rights in the face of serious epidemics. The paper then explores the role that social factors play in constructing how societies perceive epidemics and respond to them. Particular emphasis is given to contemporary fears of emerging epidemics and the development of public health preparedness. The paper then looks closely at several different types of public health interventions that operate as social controls and may infringe upon the rights of individuals, particularly in marginalized communities, including surveillance, mandatory testing, travel controls, isolation and quarantine, mandatory vaccination, and criminalization. Examples are given relating to many different infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, SARS, and influenza, from many nations around the world. The paper demonstrates why the social construction of emerging infections undermines the ability of the existing international human rights framework to ensure that public health protection does not result in the unnecessary infringement of human rights or discrimination against vulnerable populations. The paper concludes by offering guidelines for human rights activists and public health officials hoping to protect both public health and human rights.
Cybernetics: Or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine

This Is A Study Of Human Control Functions And Mechanico-Electrical Systems Designed To Replace Them.
In Memoriam: Ernst Moerk: 1937–2004

Ernst Moerk, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at California State University, Fresno, passed way on August 2, 2004, in Los Angeles, after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Although not a behavior analyst by training, his unwavering pursuit of the truth and his search for environmental explanations in the language acquisition process led him increasingly to the behavioral community. He published in JEAB and TAVB, and attended many behavioral conferences where he participated in several DEV SIG symposia.
Verified ROS-Based Deployment of Platform-Independent Control Systems

The paper considers the problem of model-based deployment of platform-independent control code on a specific platform. The approach is based on automatic generation of platform-specific glue code from an architectural model of the system. We present a tool, ROSGen, that generates the glue code based on a declarative specification of platform interfaces. Our implementation targets the popular Robot Operating System (ROS) platform. We demonstrate that the code generation process is amenable to formal verification. The code generator is implemented in Coq and relies on the infrastructure provided by the CompCert and VST tool. We prove that the generated code always correctly connects the controller function to sensors and actuators in the robot. We use ROSGen to implement a cruise control system on the LandShark robot.
Ski/Sno and TGF-β signaling

Transforming growth factor-beta is a potent inhibitor of epithelial cell proliferation. Proteins involved in TGF-beta signaling are bona fide tumor suppressors and many tumor cells acquire the ability to escape TGF-beta growth inhibition through the loss of key signaling transducers in the pathway or through the activation of oncogenes. Recent studies indicate that there is a specific connection between the TGF-beta signaling pathway and the Ski/SnoN family of oncoproteins. We summarize evidence that Ski and SnoN directly associate with Smad proteins and block the ability of the Smads to activate expression of many if not all TGF-beta-responsive genes. This appears to cause abrogation of TGF-beta growth inhibition in epithelial cells.
The evolved threat paradigm: look who's wearing the black hats!

The “average user” against which most of the classes of the Department of Defense Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria [1] (TCSEC) were developed is much more computer literate, and perhaps more “sophisticated, ” than was envisioned. The threat against which the higher-assurance classes (BGAl) of the TCSEC were developed the “malicious user” has emerged as far less nefarious than was assumed. Computer technology is far more powerful, distributed, and mass-marketable than could ever have been predicted. Yet the standard developed ten years ago for building trustworthy systems remains with us, and few systems are being designed to meet its most stringent assurance requirements. This paper challenges the appropriateness of this legacy in our current, rapidly evolving threat environment, contends that the TCSEC classes for which products are being built provide user services but little assurance, and suggests that a “security infrastructure” may be needed to accommodate the new “bad good guy” paradigm.
The cytology of Hofbauer cells.

Cytological investigation of Hofbauer cells in various stages of gestation reveals that they are similar to normal macrophages except for unusually large cytoplasmic flanges and included vacuoles. The system of vacuoles is apparently the result of macropinocytotic activity. The individual vacuoles undergo asymmetrical collapse in regions adjacent to small juxtavacuolar tubules thought to be derived from the agranular endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, coated micropinocytotic vesicles are common. Hofbauer cells thus appear to be a type of macrophage with an unusual capacity for fluid ingestion. In younger placentas, Hofbauer cells are usually associated with extracellular compartments within the stroma. These compartments are relatively free of collagen fibrils and demonstrable ground substance and are clearly demarcated from the rest of the stroma by processes of fibroblasts. The abundance of these cells in early placentas, their location in the stroma, and evidence of their pinocytotic activity suggest that these cells may play a role in removal of proteins from interstitial fluid. Hofbauer-like cells were also studied in the guinea pig and the little brown bat. Of these two species, the Hofbauer-like cells of the bat more closely resemble human Hofbauer cells in that they show evidence of extensive macropinocytotic activity.
The KaffeOS Java runtime system

Single-language runtime systems, in the form of Java virtual machines, are widely deployed platforms for executing untrusted mobile code. These runtimes provide some of the features that operating systems provide: interapplication memory protection and basic system services. They do not, however, provide the ability to isolate applications from each other. Neither do they provide the ability to limit the resource consumption of applications. Consequently, the performance of current systems degrades severely in the presence of malicious or buggy code that exhibits ill-behaved resource usage. We show that Java runtime systems can be extended to support processes, and that processes can provide robust and efficient support for untrusted applications.We have designed and built KaffeOS, a Java runtime system that provides support for processes. KaffeOS isolates processes and manages the physical resources available to them: CPU and memory. Unlike existing Java virtual machines, KaffeOS can safely terminate processes without adversely affecting the integrity of the system, and it can fully reclaim a terminated process's resources. Finally, KaffeOS requires no changes to the Java language. The novel aspects of the KaffeOS architecture include the application of a user/kernel boundary as a structuring principle for runtime systems, the employment of garbage collection techniques for resource management and isolation, and a model for direct sharing of objects between untrusted applications. The difficulty in designing KaffeOS lay in balancing the goals of isolation and resource management against the goal of allowing direct sharing of objects.For the SpecJVM benchmarks, the overhead that our KaffeOS prototype incurs ranges from 0% to 25%, when compared to the open-source JVM on which it is based. We consider this overhead acceptable for the safety that KaffeOS provides. In addition, our KaffeOS prototype can scale to run more applications than running multiple JVMs. Finally, in the presence of malicious or buggy code that engages in a denial-of-service attack, KaffeOS can contain the attack, remove resources from the attacked applications, and continue to provide robust service to other clients.
Models of intermolecular interactions involving proton transfer in biopolymers.

The results of spectrophotometric and conductimetric studies of the ionization of several phenol derivatives in the presence of amines in dioxane and aqueous dioxane solutions, were used to delineate the ranges of solvent polarity over which 1:1 proton transfer complexes are formed. Increasing polarity favors the formation of proton transfer complexes up to a point determined by the nature of the acid-base pair. Proton transfer complexes display a measurable stability over an appreciable range of solvent polarity varying from low (D < 11) to medium (11 < D < 45). Their formation involves a free energy change ranging from −2.0 to −7.1 kcal · mole−1 and a decrease in enthalpy ranging from 6.1 to 16.8 kcal · mole−1. The effects of proton transfer complex formation between side chain groups of biopolymers are subdivided into structural, chemical and kinetic, and the relevance of the results obtained from model studies to biopolymers is discussed. It is suggested that formation of proton transfer complexes can affect the direction of conformational change in macromolecules and play an important role in the formation of oligomeric structures. The numerical inferiority of proton transfer complexes in biopolymers, relative to hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions should be partially offset by the greater contribution of the former to the total free energy and enthalpy of formation of specific biopolymer conformations.
Changing Forest Service values and their implications for land management decisions affecting resource-dependent communities

Employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service (USFS) are frequently confronted with difficult trade-off decisions in establishing multiple-use priorities that affect rural communities economically dependent on national forests. Although such decisions are often tied to laws and agency policies, in many cases they may also reflect the value orientations of USFS personnel. This study utilizes survey data collected from a nationwide sample of USFS employees to examine value orientations and management priorities across the different levels of USFS line officers. Results indicate sharp differences between established ongoing management practices and the directions these officers believe the agency should be moving, with greater emphasis given to noncommodity uses such as recreation and wildlife rather than timber.
Acyclic analogues of adenosine bisphosphates as P2Y receptor antagonists: phosphate substitution leads to multiple pathways of inhibition of platelet aggregation.

Activation by ADP of both P2Y1 and P2Y12 receptors in platelets contributes to platelet aggregation, and antagonists at these receptor subtypes have antithrombotic properties. In an earlier publication, we have characterized the SAR as P2Y1 receptor antagonists of acyclic analogues of adenine nucleotides, containing two phosphate groups on a symmetrically branched aliphatic chain, attached at the 9-position of adenine. In this study, we have focused on antiaggregatory effects of P2Y antagonists related to a 2-chloro-N6-methyladenine-9-(2-methylpropyl) scaffold, containing uncharged substitutions of the phosphate groups. For the known nucleotide (cyclic and acyclic) bisphosphate antagonists of P2Y1 receptors, there was a significant correlation between inhibition of aggregation induced by 3.3 μM ADP in rat platelets and inhibition of P2Y1 receptor-induced phospholipase C (PLC) activity previously determined in turkey erythrocytes. Substitution of the phosphate groups with nonhydrolyzable phosphonate groups...
Financial performance and voluntary environmental disclosures during the Asian Financial Crisis: the case of Hong Kong

Voluntary environmental reporting and disclosures (VED) in annual reports provide managers with an effective way to manage expectations of the sustainability and risk exposure of the firm. Many studies have documented that VED are fairly common among publicly listed firms. However, in the case of Hong Kong (HK) during the Asian Financial Crisis, VED use was very low. This study contributes to the research on VED by examining the association of VED levels and firm performance in a unique environment, one where VED are more likely to be truthful. The theoretical argument tested is that in low-information and economically volatile environments, the relatively few firms that include VED in their annual reports are truthfully indicating their superior financial performance. After controlling for capital and debt structure, the statistically significant results show that firms with VED are more profitable than firms that did not disclose during the same period. This suggests that, firms that are in difficult economic environments, such as emerging capital markets or severe economic crises, are less likely to use VED and thus the VED are more likely to be truthful.
Recovery of gamma irradiated Rhizopus stolonifer sporangiospores during autoinhibition of germination.

The effect of the absence of germination on recovery from gamma irradiation was evaluated in sporangiospores of the Phycomycetous fungus, Rhizopus stolonifer. Emphasis was placed on effects of temperature and media on recovery when spores were held for varying post-irradiation periods under autoinhibitory conditions and to the effect of autoinhibition upon spore respiration and longevity. (C.H.)