cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
It's all about the benjamins: an empirical study on incentivizing users to ignore security advice

We examine the cost for an attacker to pay users to execute arbitrary code--potentially malware. We asked users at home to download and run an executable we wrote without being told what it did and without any way of knowing it was harmless. Each week, we increased the payment amount. Our goal was to examine whether users would ignore common security advice--not to run untrusted executables--if there was a direct incentive, and how much this incentive would need to be. We observed that for payments as low as $0.01, 22% of the people who viewed the task ultimately ran our executable. Once increased to $1.00, this proportion increased to 43%. We show that as the price increased, more and more users who understood the risks ultimately ran the code. We conclude that users are generally unopposed to running programs of unknown provenance, so long as their incentives exceed their inconvenience.
Observations of the flow field near the nose of a buoyant coastal current

Abstract Low-salinity water from Chesapeake Bay forms an intermittent buoyant gravity current that propagates more than 100 km southward along the coast. During five events when wind and surface gravity-wave forcing were weak, the buoyant coastal current 90 km south of Chesapeake Bay was less than 5 km wide, was 5–10 m thick, and propagated alongshore at ∼50 cm s−1. The density decreased 2–3 kg m−3 over a few hundred meters at the nose of the buoyant coastal current, which was located about 1 km offshore in ∼8 m of water. Water up to 4 km ahead of the advancing nose was displaced southward and offshore (maximum velocities near the nose of 20 and 10 cm s−1, respectively). The southward alongshore current increased abruptly to ∼50 cm s−1 at the nose and continued to increase to a supercritical maximum of ∼70 cm s−1 about 1 km behind the nose. An onshore flow of between 5 and 15 cm s−1, which extended at least 5 km behind the nose, supplied buoyant water to the onshore region of weak, subcritical alongshore ...
PP2A inhibition with LB100 enhances cisplatin cytotoxicity and overcomes cisplatin resistance in medulloblastoma cells

The protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) inhibitor, LB100, has been shown in pre-clinical studies to be an effective chemo- and radio-sensitizer for treatment of various cancers. We investigated effects associated with LB100 treatment alone and in combination with cisplatin for medulloblastoma (MB) in vitro and in vivo in an intracranial xenograft model. We demonstrated that LB100 had a potent effect on MB cells. By itself, LB100 inhibited proliferation and induced significant apoptosis in a range of pediatric MB cell lines. It also attenuated MB cell migration, a pre-requirement for invasion. When used in combination, LB100 enhanced cisplatin-mediated cytotoxic effects. Cell viability in the presence of 1 uM cisplatin alone was 61% (DAOY), 100% (D341), and 58% (D283), but decreased with the addition of 2 μM of LB100 to 26% (DAOY), 67% (D341), and 27% (D283), (p < 0.005). LB100 suppressed phosphorylation of the STAT3 protein and several STAT3 downstream targets. Also, LB100 directly increased cisplatin uptake and overcame cisplatin-resistance in vitro. Finally, LB100 exhibited potent in vivo anti-neoplastic activity in combination with cisplatin in an intracranial xenograft model.
Function of the Compressed Tail of Surface Swimming Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus)

The movement and function of the laterally flattened tail of surface swimming muskrats ( Ondatra zibethicus ) were studied by forcing individual animals to swim against a constant water flow of velocity ranging from 0.2 to 0.75 m/s. Simultaneous lateral and ventral views of the swimming muskrats were filmed. During swimming the tail produces a series of traveling waves that moved posteriorly with increasing amplitude at a velocity faster than the muskrat was swimming. The characteristics of the traveling waves were analogous to the body and tail undulations observed in the swimming of anguilliform fish. Calculations showed that the tail provided a maximum of 1.4% of the total thrust power necessary to propel the muskrat at 0.75 m/s. Amputation of a muskrat tail causes the animal to yaw while swimming. The compressed tail of the muskrat may allow for the effective generation of thrust in surface swimming by producing small amounts of thrust in conjunction with the prevention of yaw.
Exploring implicit ingroup and outgroup bias toward Hispanics

Racial and ethnic biases often manifest without awareness. The underlying causes of these attitudes are not fully understood. While outgroup bias is well studied, ingroup bias has received far less attention. We examined ingroup biases among Hispanic women and outgroup biases toward Hispanics among White (Caucasian non-Hispanic) females using the startle eyeblink paradigm, the Implicit Association Test (IAT), and an explicit self-report measure. Hispanic and White male faces were used as exemplars during both the startle task and the IAT. A similar pattern of results were observed for indirect measures: both groups displayed startle and IAT responses indicative of negative attitudes toward Hispanic male faces relative to White male faces, although less so for Hispanic participants. Combined groups correlational analyses revealed a significant positive relationship between startle eyeblink amplitude and subtle subscale bias scores. However, no relationships were found between any measures when groups were ...
Economic evaluation of using surge valves in furrow irrigation of row crops in Louisiana: A net present value approach

Abstract Addressing irrigation water efficiency continues to emerge as one of the potential solutions to minimize irrigation water use, improve water quality, and enhance soil health. Despite the clear importance of financial information in decision‐making regarding adoption of irrigation tools, little information is available regarding the profitability outlook of such adoption. Lack of assessment of costs and returns could lead to producers resisting adoption citing profit reductions. Hence, a cost-assessment using the financial information is necessary to evaluate the tools’ economic outlook. By using long-term projections of input prices, crop yield, and crop prices, this paper develops a financial analysis of irrigation using surge valves by calculating annual cash flows and net present value. The analysis is based on demonstration plot results and anecdotal estimates related to water savings and yield improvements in corn and soybeans in Louisiana and Mississippi. The positive estimates for net present value indicate that an investment in irrigation efficiency improvement is an economically sound choice. These estimates can enhance the adoption of irrigation‐efficiency improvement practices by providing an initial understanding of the overall profitability independent of short-term management decisions.
Electroencephalograph (EEG) study on self-contemplating image formation

Electroencephalography (EEG) is one of the most widely used electrophysiological monitoring methods and plays a significant role in studies of human brain electrical activities. Default mode network (DMN), is a functional connection of brain regions that are activated while subjects are not in task positive state or not focused on the outside world. In this study, EEG was used for human brain signals recording while all subjects were asked to sit down quietly on a chair with eyes closed and thinking about some parts of their own body, such as left and right hands, left and right ears, lips, nose, and the images of faces that they were familiar with as well as doing some simple mathematical calculation. The time is marker when the image is formed in the subject’s mind. By analyzing brain activity maps 300ms right before the time marked instant for each of the 4 wave bands, Delta, Theta, Alpha and Beta waves. We found that for most EEG datasets during this 300ms, Delta wave activity would mostly locate at the frontal lobe or the visual cortex, and the change and movement of activities are slow. Theta wave activity tended to rotate along the edge of cortex either clockwise or counterclockwise. Beta wave behaved like inquiry types of oscillations between any two regions spread over the cortex. Alpha wave activity looks like a mix of the Theta and Beta activities but more close to Theta activity. From the observation we feel that Beta and high Alpha are playing utility role for information inquiry. Theta and low Alpha are likely playing the role of binding and imagination formation in DMN operations.
Analysis of Results of Monitoring HIV among Drug Users in Zhenning County of Guizhou Province

[Objective]To understand HIV infection,transmission and epidemic features among drug users in Zhengning county of Guizhou province,and provide scientific evidence for the development of AIDS prevention and control strategies.[Methods]All drug users who underwent detoxification in Zhenning detoxification centers were investigated and the venous blood was drawn from each one for the detection of HIV.[Results]476 drug users were investigated,63(3.24%)were detected HIV positive.The rate of HIV infection among different age groups had statistical difference(P0.05).406 were venous drug users,59(14.53%)were detected HIV positive.70 were oral drug users,4(5.71%)were detected HIV positive.The differences in the comparison was significant(P0.05).[Conclusion]The infection rate among drug users in Zhenning county is higher,those who infected HIV are mainly young and strong,so effective measures should be taken to prevent HIV from spreading in these people and other high-risk population and ordinary people.
The Histopathologic Diagnosis and Subclassification of Hodgkin’s Disease

Hodgkin’s disease is considered a distinct clinical entity, but it exhibits a wide range of histologic and cytologic features. Four histologic subtypes and numerous variant subtypes have been described and are important to recognize for diagnostic purposes. Histologic subtypes may have clinical significance and may be important to take into consideration when interpreting data regarding the origin of the Reed-Sternberg cell.
Thin-film CdTe detector for microdosimetric study of radiation dose enhancement at gold-tissue interface

Presence of interfaces between high and low atomic number (Z) materials, often encountered in diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy, leads to radiation dose perturbation. It is characterized by a very narrow region of sharp dose enhancement at the interface. A rapid falloff of dose enhancement over a very short distance from the interface makes the experimental dosimetry nontrivial. We use an in-house-built inexpensive thin-film Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) photodetector to study this effect at the gold-tissue interface and verify our experimental results with Monte Carlo (MC) modeling. Three-micron thick thin-film CdTe photodetectors were fabricated in our lab. One-, ten- or one hundred-micron thick gold foils placed in a tissue-equivalent-phantom were irradiated with a clinical Ir-192 high-dose-rate (HDR) source and current measured with a CdTe detector in each case was compared with the current measured for all uniform tissue-equivalent phantom. Percentage signal enhancement (PSE) due to each gold foil was then compared against MC modeled percentage dose enhancement (PDE), obtained from the geometry mimicking the experimental setup. The experimental PSEs due to 1, 10, and 100 μm thick gold foils at the closest measured distance of 12.5μm from the interface were 42.6 ± 10.8 , 137.0 ± 11.9, and 203.0 ± 15.4, respectively. The corresponding MC modeled PDEs were 38.1 ± 1, 164 ± 1, and 249 ± 1, respectively. The experimental and MC modeled values showed a closer agreement at the larger distances from the interface. The dose enhancement in the vicinity of gold-tissue interface was successfully measured using an in-house-built, high-resolution CdTe-based photodetector and validated with MC simulations. A close agreement between experimental and the MC modeled results shows that CdTe detector can be utilized for mapping interface dose distribution encountered in the application of ionizing radiation.
Bioinformatics and Orphan Diseases

In general, a rare or orphan disease is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population. Since a majority of the known orphan diseases are genetic, they are present throughout the life of affected individuals. Many of the orphan diseases appear early in life and approximately 30 % of children with orphan diseases die before the age of 5. Further, a large majority of these diseases lack effective treatments. While most of genes and pathways underlying orphan diseases remain obscure, technological advances and innovative informatics approaches are expected to accelerate the rate of identification of underlying causal mutations and therapeutic discovery. Recent technological advances in DNA sequencing for instance, can aid in identifying genes associated with orphan diseases of previously unknown etiology using DNA from as few as 2–4 patients. Likewise, advanced computational statistical techniques permit integration and mining of omics data from orphan disease patients with high throughput “signatures” representing cellular responses to perturbing agents to identify therapeutic candidates for orphan diseases. In this chapter, we review some of the current bioinformatic analytical options available for orphan disease and drug research including computational approaches for candidate gene prioritization and high throughput compound screening to enable therapeutic discovery. We also discuss strategies and present examples and case studies of common drugs being repositioned for treatment of orphan diseases.
Uptake of Pyrene onto Fatty Acid Coated NaCl Aerosol Particles.

Photoelectric charging experiments monitor the uptake of pyrene onto NaCl aerosol particles coated with either oleic acid or myristic acid. In both cases, thin coatings produce a small net decrease in pyrene uptake. In the larger coverage limit, the uptake of the myristic acid coated particles remains nearly constant whereas the oleic acid coated particles exhibit greater uptake rates than the bare NaCl particles. Fitting the results with a multilayer kinetic model yields uptake rate coefficients as well as parameters that describe the distribution of organic molecules on the aerosol particle surface. The model accounts for the decrease in uptake associated with thin coatings of oleic acid through a concomitant reduction in surface area. The adsorption rate constants for the myristic and oleic acid coated surfaces are 50 and 80 times faster, respectively, than for NaCl. The desorption rates for pyrene on the fatty acid surfaces are faster, as well. For myristic acid coatings, the fast desorption (over 400...
A film set for the elicitation of emotion in research: A comprehensive catalog derived from four decades of investigation.

Emotions are highly influential to many psychological processes. Indeed, research employing emotional stimuli is rapidly escalating across the field of psychology. However, challenges remain regarding discrete evocation of frequently co-elicited emotions such as amusement and happiness, or anger and disgust. Further, as much contemporary work in emotion employs college students, we sought to additionally evaluate the efficacy of film clips to discretely elicit these more challenging emotions in a young adult population using an online medium. The internet is an important tool for investigating responses to emotional stimuli, but validations of emotionally evocative film clips across laboratory and web-based settings are limited in the literature. An additional obstacle is identifying stimuli amidst the numerous film clip validation studies. During our investigation, we recognized the lack of a categorical database to facilitate rapid identification of useful film clips for individual researchers’ unique investigations. Consequently, here we also sought to produce the first compilation of such stimuli into an accessible and comprehensive catalog. We based our catalog upon prior work as well as our own, and identified 24 articles and 295 film clips from four decades of research. We present information on the validation of these clips in addition to our own research validating six clips using online administration settings. The results of our search in the literature and our own study are presented in tables designed to facilitate and improve a selection of highly valid film stimuli for future research.
Stop Stroke: A Brief Report on Door-to-Needle Times and Performance After Implementing an Acute Care Coordination Medical Application and Implications to Emergency Medical Services.

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Stop Stroke (Pulsara; Bozeman, Montana USA) medical application on door-to-needle (DTN) time in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with an acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of the Good Shepherd Health System (Longview, Texas USA) stroke quality improvement dashboard for a 25-month period from February 2012 through February 2014. Data analysis includes all data from Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS; Baltimore, Maryland USA) reportable cases receiving Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) for AIS during the study period. The primary outcome was mean DTN times before and after initiating Stop Stroke. Secondary outcome was the effect on the DTN≤60-minute benchmark. Results During the study period, there were 533 stroke activations (200 before Stop Stroke implementation and 333 after). A total of 68 patients meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed (34 pre-app and 34 post- app). The observed mean DTN times post-app decreased 21 minutes (77 to 56 minutes), a 28% improvement (P=.001). Further, the patients meeting DTN≤60 minutes improved from 32% (11 of 34) to 82% (28 of 34) after the app’s implementation. Conclusions In this cohort of patients with AIS, Stop Stroke improved mean DTN times and number of patients treated within 60 minutes of arrival. These results demonstrate the app’s effect of increasing awareness of suspected AIS and improving coordination of care, evidenced by the magnitude of its effect on treatment times. Dickson R , Nedelcut A , McPeek Nedelcut M . Stop Stroke: A Brief Report on Door-to-Needle Times and Performance After Implementing an Acute Care Coordination Medical Application and Implications to Emergency Medical Services . Prehosp Disaster Med . 2017 ; 32 ( 3 ): 343 – 347 .
The Metal Aversion of Long-duration Gamma-Ray Bursts

Recently, it has been suggested that the metallicity aversion of Long-duration Gamma Ray Bursts (LGRBs) is not intrinsic to their formation, but rather a consequence of the anti-correlation between star formation and metallicity seen in the general galaxy population. To investigate this proposal, we compare the metallicity of the hosts of LGRBs, broad-lined Type Ic (Ic-bl) supernovae (SNe), and Type II SNe to each other and to the metallicity distribution of star-forming galaxies using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to represent galaxies in the local universe and the Team Keck Redshift Survey (TKRS) for galaxies at intermediate redshifts. The differing metallicity distributions of LGRB hosts and the star formation in local galaxies forces us to conclude that the low-metallicity preference of LGRBs is not primarily driven by the anti-correlation between star formation and metallicity, but rather must be overwhelmingly due to the astrophysics of the LGRBs themselves. Three quarters of our LGRB sample are found at metallicities below 12+log(O/H) < 8.6, while less than a one-tenth of local star formation is at similarly low metallicities. However, our SN samples are statistically consistent with the metallicity distribution of the general galaxy population. Additionally, we show that the star formation rate distribution of the LGRB and SNe host populations are consistent with the star formation rate distribution of the SDSS galaxy sample. This provides further evidence that the low-metallicity distribution of LGRBs is not caused by the general properties of star-forming galaxies. Using the TKRS population of galaxies, we can exclude the possibility that the LGRB host metallicity aversion is caused by the decrease in galaxy metallicity with redshift, as this effect is clearly much smaller than the observed LGRB host metallicity bias over the redshift span of our sample. The presence of the strong metallicity difference between LGRBs and Type Ic-bl SNe largely eliminates the possibility that the observed LGRB metallicity bias is a byproduct of a difference in the initial mass functions of the galaxy populations. Rather, metallicity below half-solar must be a fundamental component of the evolutionary process that separates LGRBs from the vast majority of Type Ic-bl SNe and from the bulk of local star formation.
Exposure to Animal Feces and Human Health: A Systematic Review and Proposed Research Priorities

Humans can be exposed to pathogens from poorly managed animal feces, particularly in communities where animals live in close proximity to humans. This systematic review of peer-reviewed and gray literature examines the human health impacts of exposure to poorly managed animal feces transmitted via water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related pathways in low- and middle-income countries, where household livestock, small-scale animal operations, and free-roaming animals are common. We identify routes of contamination by animal feces, control measures to reduce human exposure, and propose research priorities for further inquiry. Exposure to animal feces has been associated with diarrhea, soil-transmitted helminth infection, trachoma, environmental enteric dysfunction, and growth faltering. Few studies have evaluated control measures, but interventions include reducing cohabitation with animals, provision of animal feces scoops, controlling animal movement, creating safe child spaces, improving veterinary ca...
pH dependence of bentonite aggregate size and morphology on polymer-clay flocculation

Abstract Polymer-driven flocculation of suspended particulate is a commonly used technique in applications ranging from water treatment to composite material synthesis. When complex particulate is present, such as anisotropic clays, solution physiochemical effects on flocculation become nontrivial. Properties such as ionic strength and pH affect both the individual particulate aggregates themselves, as well as the polymer – particle flocculation event. Using bentonite, a common inorganic clay, and cationic polyacrylamide, we show here that the clay’s aggregate morphology is a more direct control parameter of optimal polymer dose and final turbidity than zeta potential for aqueous bentonite systems. Solutions were studied over a pH range from 3 to 11, resulting in zeta potentials from −73 to −106 mV and bentonite area averaged particle sizes ranging from 2 to 4.5 μm. Flocculation performance is the same when bentonite aggregate morphology is the same, regardless of a change in zeta potential. Likewise, when bentonite aggregate morphology changes, flocculation performance also changes, regardless of the identical zeta potential. The optimal polymer dosing for flocculation also depends on aggregate structure. Aggregates formed by edge-face dominated structures formed at low pH require less polymeric dosing, whereas aggregates formed by face-face dominated structures formed at high pH require more polymer dosing. Finally, using laser scanning confocal microscopy, it was observed that when the aggregate size remains relatively constant, the internal floc structure also remains constant, regardless of pH or bentonite aggregate morphology. Therefore, it appears that initial clay aggregate morphology controls the extent of polymer adsorption, determining optimal polymer dose, while aggregate size controls the internal floc structure. This work sheds light on the complexities of polymer flocculation towards improving reagent polymer dosing and optimization for applications such as water purification.
A CYCLIC-TIME MODEL FOR ECLIPSE PREDICTION IN MESOAMERICA AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE ECLIPSE TABLE IN THE DRESDEN CODEX

This study describes, illustrates, and applies an “eclipse family” representation for the cyclic timing of eclipses in Mesoamerica. This theoretical construct is based on daykeepers’ approach to divination, anchored in the divinatory calendar (DC); empirically, it emerges from data on the timing of eclipses in Lowland Mayan 1 territory between 100 b.c.e. and 1500 c.e. drawn from Espenak and Meuss's (2007, 2009) eclipse canons. An eclipse family consists of a sequence of stations on which an eclipse might be visible in Mesoamerica – one every 88 new or full moons for 170 to 200 years, restricted to one of three DC zones. Cyclic and linear time relationships among dates of eclipses follow from this representation: intervals between successive stations in concurrent families in the same zone, and between successive stations across zones; between successive families in a zone; and among the first or last stations of families, within and across zones. One and only one eclipse-family representation fits the lunar stations of the Dresden Codex; its properties show that it is a solar eclipse table. In real time, the table pertains to a 405-month interval sometime between 1076 and 1148 c.e., most likely from April 19, 1083 c.e. to January 16, 1116 c.e.
The Structure of the “Memory-Code-Word” Scotophobin

The tentative structure of scotophobin, a pentadecapeptide amide isolated from brain of rats which had been trained to have a fear of the dark, was confirmed by a synthetic approach. The synthetic material was prepared via the solid phase method and was cleaved from the solid carrier by direct ammonolysis. The purified product showed 100% biological activity and an undistinguishable dose-response-curve as the natural scotophobin. The synthetic peptide and its tryptic fragments showed identical properties by thin layer chromatography. Furthermore, micro-dansylation of the synthetic and natural materials gave the same results. According to these findings scotophobin has the following primary structure: \(\mathop {{\text{Ser}}}\limits_{\text{1}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{Asp}}}\limits_{\text{2}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{Asn}}}\limits_{\text{3}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{Asn}}}\limits_{\text{4}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{Gln}}}\limits_{\text{5}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{Gln}}}\limits_{\text{6}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{Gly}}}\limits_{\text{7}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{Lys}}}\limits_{\text{8}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{Ser}}}\limits_{\text{9}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{Ala}}}\limits_{{\text{10}}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{Gln}}}\limits_{{\text{11}}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{Gln}}}\limits_{{\text{12}}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{Gly}}}\limits_{{\text{13}}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{Gly}}}\limits_{{\text{14}}} {\text{ - }}\mathop {{\text{TyrN}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}}\limits_{{\text{15}}} \)
The Development of Nonanatomic Denture Occlusion: Part III

Part III of this four-part series about nonanatomic denture tooth development traces the evolution of this movement from the mid-1930s through the World War II era up to the early 1950s. By this time, the general preference for posterior denture occlusion had shifted from anatomic to nonanatomic teeth, and all the major denture tooth manufacturing companies listed at least one nonanatomic design in their inventories.
Neuronal Tissue Engineering

The human nervous system gathers, transmits, processes, and stores information with remarkable speed and fidelity. These capabilities are made possible by networks of highly specialized neural cells, organized within an intricate three-dimensional framework of interconnected neural tissue. Only through a gradual and complex sequence of development does this neural tissue form and mature, in a process beginning soon after conception, and continuing long after the time of birth.
Self-Criticism Impacts Emotional Responses to Pain.

Abstract Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is associated with numerous negative outcomes (e.g., suicide attempts), making it a focus of great clinical concern. Yet, mechanisms reinforcing NSSI remain unclear. The benefits and barriers model proposes that NSSI engagement is determined by both benefits of and barriers to NSSI. Benefits include mood improvement, a function reported by most who engage in NSSI; barriers include a desire to avoid pain and bodily harm. Self-criticism is generally understood as a trait lowering desire to avoid pain and bodily harm, thus decreasing that specific barrier. However, recent research demonstrated that self-criticism may also increase NSSI benefits. Highly self-critical people may view NSSI and pain in the context of feeling deserving of pain and punishment—thus, pain may improve mood for self-critical individuals. We tested whether self-criticism impacted emotional responding to pain among adult females with (n = 44) and without (n = 65) NSSI histories. After a negative mood induction, participants rated their moods before, during, and after self-administered pain. In participants with and without NSSI histories, self-criticism was positively correlated with mood improvements during pain. Thus, regardless of NSSI history, self-criticism impacted emotional responses to pain. Together, results suggest that self-criticism may not only decrease an important NSSI barrier but also enhance NSSI benefits, specifically leading to more mood improvement during pain.
Partnering Research, Education, and Operations via a Cool Season Severe Weather Soundings Program

AbstractRecent research has improved our knowledge and forecasting of high-shear, low-CAPE (HSLC) severe convection, which produces a large fraction of overnight and cool season tornadoes. However,...
Unicorns, Gazelles, and Other Distractions on the Way to Understanding Real Entrepreneurship in the United States

Dazed and confused by the wild hype surrounding “gazelles” and “unicorns,” entrepreneurship researchers have focused on the “black swans” of the entrepreneurial world, even though IPOs and venture ...
A nomogram to determine required seed air kerma strength in planar 131Cesium permanent seed implant brachytherapy.

Purpose Intraoperatively implanted Cesium-131 (131Cs) permanent seed brachytherapy is used to deliver highly localized re-irradiation in recurrent head and neck cancers. A single planar implant of uniform air kerma strength (AKS) seeds and 10 mm seed-to-seed spacing is used to deliver the prescribed dose to a point 5 mm or 10 mm perpendicular to the center of the implant plane. Nomogram tables to quickly determine the required AKS for rectangular and irregularly shaped implants were created and dosimetrically verified. By eliminating the need for a full treatment planning system plan, nomogram tables allow for fast dose calculation for intraoperative re-planning and for a second check method. Material and methods TG-43U1 recommended parameters were used to create a point-source model in MATLAB. The dose delivered to the prescription point from a single 1 U seed at each possible location in the implant plane was calculated. Implant tables were verified using an independent seed model in MIM Symphony LDR™. Implant tables were used to retrospectively determine seed AKS for previous cases: three rectangular and three irregular. Results For rectangular implants, the percent difference between required seed AKS calculated using MATLAB and MIM was at most 0.6%. For irregular implants, the percent difference between MATLAB and MIM calculations for individual seed locations was within 1.5% with outliers of less than 3.1% at two distal locations (10.6 cm and 8.8 cm), which have minimal dose contribution to the prescription point. The retrospectively determined AKS for patient implants using nomogram tables agreed with previous calculations within 5% for all six cases. Conclusions Nomogram tables were created to determine required AKS per seed for planar uniform AKS 131Cs implants. Comparison with the treatment planning system confirms dosimetric accuracy that is acceptable for use as a second check or for dose calculation in cases of intraoperative re-planning.
Sarcoidosis‐associated hypercalcemia potentiating calcific uremic arteriolopathy in a patient with a left ventricular assist device

Calcific uremic arteriolopathy is a rare, life-threatening syndrome of vascular calcification characterized by occlusion of microvessels that results in extremely painful skin necrosis. We present a case of sarcoidosis-associated hypercalcemia potentiating calcific uremic arteriolopathy in a patient with a left ventricular assist device. The patient's calcific uremic arteriolopathy was successfully treated with sodium thiosulfate. Clinicians should be vigilant in diagnosing calcific uremic arteriolopathy early since it is especially life-threatening in patients with multiple risk factors.
Automated Detection of Rule Conflicts for Enterprise IoT

In this paper, we propose a method for automated detection of rule conflicts for enterprise IoT that improves quality of rules. The detection process starts with extracting the IoT context descriptor from the runtime-specific rules to normalize conditions and actions. Then the optimization step is conducted on the normalized model so that the rule conflicts can be detected and duplications of rules can be eliminated. We conducted an experiment to evaluate the feasibility of our approach in a connected vehicle service. In a preliminary experiment, we showed how to detect rule conflicts with our sample rules. We then confirmed that although the two real applications did not include rule conflicts, our algorithm could reduce the number of rules from 92 to 60, which had a significant impact on the performance of the system.
Synthesis of (MeCN) 2 Pd(CF 3 )OTs,a General Precursor to Palladium(II) Trifluoromethyl Complexes LPd(CF 3 )X

In palladium-catalyzed aryl–trifluoromethyl cross-coupling reactions, reductive elimination is often the rate-limiting step. Stoichiometric studies of reductive elimination have proved effective in evaluating the ability of various ligands to facilitate this challenging elementary step. However, the difficulty of synthesizing palladium trifluoromethyl complexes has hindered the use of this strategy. To address this deficiency, we herein report the synthesis of (MeCN)2Pd(CF3)OTs, an air- and moisture-stable solid that can be used as a common precursor to access various LPd(CF3)X complexes. From this complex we were able to prepare palladium trifluoromethyl complexes bearing many monophosphine, bisphosphine, and diamine ligands that are known to help facilitate Ar–CF3 and vinyl–CF3 reductive elimination. Further, we found that the anionic ligand (X) could be readily changed by modifying the NaX or AgX salt used.
Percutaneous Transgluteal Ureteral Stump Access: A Novel Approach to Hybrid Management of Ureteral Stump Syndrome

Duplicated collecting systems with minimal-to-no function of the upper moiety are often treated surgically with upper pole heminephrectomy and ureterectomy. Complications associated with the ureteral stump can occur and are collectively known as ureteral stump syndrome. We present a case of ureteral stump syndrome treated with percutaneous transgluteal access into the stump which aided in identification of an ectopic ureteral opening that could not be identified by surgical means alone.
Evaluations of the performance of multi-metallic layered composite cladding for the light water reactor accident tolerant fuel

Abstract Multi-metallic layered composite (MMLC) fuel cladding is designed to survive a longer period of time during accident scenarios for light water reactor (LWR) fuel. One proposed MMLC cladding concept joining Zircaloy to steel via interaction barrier layers will increase corrosion resistance, but result in a neutron absorption penalty. This cladding could also result in negative impacts due to mismatches between the mechanical behavior of its layers. In this study, the mechanical performance of the MMLC has been evaluated in two ways: small scale thermo-mechanical simulations and full-length fuel rod simulations. Both were carried out using the BISON fuel performance code. The small scale simulations predicted a reduction in residual stress and elastic deformation compared with standard Zircaloy cladding. The fuel rod simulations predicted decreased creep strain, larger pellet-clad gaps, and possible plastic deformation under long time use when compared to Zircaloy and stainless-steel cladding alone. The performance of various gap widths and layer thicknesses were compared to assist in the design of MMLC cladding; we recommend an MMLC with a Zircaloy/steel layer thickness ratio of at least 1.75 and an initial gap width of 40 μm.
Ethnic Identity among Second-Generation Vietnamese American Adolescents

Prior research shows that minority youths face many challenges as they develop their ethnic identity. These challenges include cultural conflicts (between home and school), language conflicts, and intergenerational conflicts. These conflicts may cause negative impacts on adolescents’ self-identification, mental health, behavioral patterns, and tensions in family relationships. This qualitative study examines the development of ethnic identity in second-generation Vietnamese American adolescents. Data collection took place in the form of focus groups, individual interviews, observations, and free listing of eleven Vietnamese American adolescents and two parents at their homes and at a Buddhist youth program. The results suggest that within a structured youth program that validates their individuality, ethnic minority youths can develop a healthy sense of ethnic identity; and in the process, socio-cultural and intergenerational conflicts can be mitigated.
Ethical Compass: Up Close and Personal: Whether or Not You Decide to Report a Confidentiality Exception

In your role as lawyer or neutral, have you every reported an otherwise confidential communication because it was one of these permissible confidentiality exceptions? Why? This column will discuss how our ethical and personal considerations shape our decisions as advocates and dispute resolution professionals about whether to report ethically permissible exceptions to confidentiality. You are invited to rethink your ethical obligations and develop more self-awareness about your personal rationales for your reporting choices.
The Concept of Evanescent Microbial Ecosystems in Earth’s Atmosphere

This essay presents the hypothesis that short-lived or evanescent microbial ecosystems exist in Earth’s lower troposphere (~ 18 km). Volcanic eruptions, dust storms, fires, and sea spray are known to seed the atmosphere with microorganisms and to serve as potential nutrient sources while in the atmosphere and upon deposition. Recent research has demonstrated that microorganisms are metabolically active in clouds; for example, archaea capable of utilizing gases such as methane and hydrogen-nitrogen have been identified in clouds and in the atmosphere over natural and anthropogenic gas seeps. The only difference between this hypothesized ecosystem to more traditionally defined ecosystems is its evanescent characteristics where clouds or gas plumes eventually dissipate as they reside over and traverse Earth’s terrestrial and/or aquatic environments. The life cycle of these hypothesized evanescent airborne ecosystems would be short-lived relative to the classically defined biomes or ecosystems.
Follow-up Studies in Women with Gestational Diabetes mellitus. The Experience at Los Angeles Country/ University of Southern California Medical Center

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) has been defined as abnormal carbohydrate metabolism diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy; most women are asymptomatic and the diagnosis is made by the routine use of an oral glucose tolerance test (Freinkel, 1985). In most patients the fasting serum glucose is normal and remain so throughout pregnancy, but in about 10–15% fasting hyperglycemia is first diagnosed or develops with progression of gestation. In the majority of patients, carbohydrate metabolism returns to normal immediately following delivery. The incidence of GDM has been reported to be between 2–13% of all pregnancies (Mestman etal., 1971; Hadden, 1980; Sepe etal., 1985); it varies according to age, obesity, race, and family history of diabetes. A few studies available on the natural history of gestational diabetes indicate a high prevalence of overt diabetes mellitus years after the initial event (Mestman etal., 1972; Stowers etal., 1985; O’Sullivan, 1984; Metzger etal., 1985) (Table98). Furthermore, early studies in Pima Indians, suggest that the offspring of gestational diabetic mothers have a much higher incidence of diabetes than children of control mothers (Pettitt etal., 1985). In a previous publication (Mestman etal., 1972), we reported an incidence of 90% of abnormal oral Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT), in a group of 51 pregnant women with pregnancy fasting hyperglycemia up to 5 years after their pregnancies: the incidence of abnormal glucose tolerance test. was 45%. in those women with an abnormal pregnancy GTT but fasting euglycemia.
Using multi-pyranometer arrays and neural networks to estimate direct normal irradiance

Abstract Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) is a critical component of solar irradiation for estimating Plane of Array (POA) irradiance on flat plate systems and for estimating photovoltaic and concentrating system power output. Current approaches to measuring or estimating DNI suffer from either high equipment costs or low precision and may require detailed environmental data. An alternative approach, using artificial neural networks to estimate DNI from the irradiance measurements of multiple pyranometers, is studied. We consider various neural network topologies and study the resulting errors. The neural network-based estimators are found to have higher accuracy than those obtained from empirical correlations of GHI measurements alone. Additionally, the use of a different GHI sensor than the one used to obtain the neural network training data does not induce significant errors. The ability of this method to be used as a quality-control instrument for pyrheliometer measurements is also discussed. We find that the proposed methodology is capable of detecting many instances of unreliable DNI measurements by considering the deviation between the predicted DNI and measured DNI. A more detailed analysis can be conducted by taking advantage of the data streams from the individual pyranometers.
The Role of Schools in Developing Sex Role Attitudes

I would like to discuss in this paper the role of schools and the educational process in transmitting and developing healthy attitudes toward sex roles. I will take the approach that in order for this to be accomplished, we must examine the behaviors and attitudes both of those who are educating and those who are being educated. My observations and data will be drawn from the environment with which I am most familiar, the American public education system, but I will also attempt to extend my remarks to include salient aspects of the educational systems of other cultures as I know them or have reports of them.
The Big Book of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Sequences

Traditionally, research on aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs, EC 1.2.1) has focused on three groups: class 1, 2, and 3 ALDHs. Class 1 and 2 ALDHs are very closely related homotetramers and both participate in ethanol metabolism, though class 1 ALDHs can oxidize wide range of metabolites, including retinal (reviewed Lindahl, 1982; Yoshida et al., 1). Class 3 ALDHs appear at first glance to be highly divergent from the other 2 classes. Class 3 ALDHs share only about 25% sequence identity with class 1 and 2 ALDHs and are homodimers. However, in main-chain folding, the structures of the class 2 and 3 monomers are nearly identical (Hempel et al., 1999)
Knowledge of one's own responding and the relation of such knowledge to learning: A developmental study☆

Abstract First-, third-, fifth-grade children, and college students (ages 6, 8, 10, and 19 years) acquired a paired-associate list under the study-test procedure to a one error-less trial criterion. In addition, as each pair was presented the individual indicated whether he/she had that pair correct on the immediately preceding trial (postdiction responses). The data were interpreted in terms of a discrimination-utilization hypothesis which postulates that individuals discriminate their own correct and incorrect responses on a given trial and use this information for distributing processing effort on the subsequent trial. Analyses involving the accuracy of postdiction responses, the relation of postdiction accuracy to acquisition, and the consideration of the acquisition data in terms of a two-stage model led to the conclusion that older children and adults may use the discrimination-utilization strategy but younger children tend not to use it, probably because of both mediation and production deficiencies.
Extrapancreatic effects of sulfonylureas: Potentiation of insulin action through post-binding mechanisms

Abstract Previous studies have suggested that sulfonylureas exert at least some of the hypoglycemic effects at extrapancreatic sites. We have recently used an organ culture system for adipose tissue in an attempt to determine what parameters of insulin action, if any, are directly influenced by the sulfonylureas, tolazamide and glyburide. We measured insulin binding, basal and insulin-stimulated hexose uptake, and glucose metabolism in adipocytes from the cultured tissue. These studies demonstrate that sulfonylureas in vitro potentiate insulin action beyond the binding portion of the receptor—primarily at the level of insulin-stimulated glucose transport.
Electromagnetic Wave Scattering From a Cylinder Immersed in a Warm Plasma

and TM-EK scattering) to the corresponding primary cross section are also presented. The effect of varying the cylinder radius, plasma frequency, electron temperature, and angle of incidence are shown. A comparison is also made of results obtained from a vacuum-sheath model with those due to a more realistic inhomogeneous sheath model. It is found that, except for near-grazing angles of incidence for cylinder radii much fess dian the EM wavelength or the plasma frequency nearly equal to th~ incident wave frequency, the conve:t:sion cross sec~ions are on the order of I0-2 or less of the primary cross sections. Th~ primary cross sections are, at the same time, not appreciably affected by the sheath or nonzero temperature.
Infinite Divisibility in Euclidean Quantum Mechanics

An interesting and well studied class of quantum mechanical Hamiltonians consists of examples of the form $$\mathcal{H} = - \tfrac{1}{2}{\partial ^2}/\partial {x^2} + V(x),$$ expressed in units where m = ћ = 1l, where the real potential V(x) is chosen so that the spectrum of \( \mathcal{H} \) is nonnegative and the real, normalizable, nowhere vanishing ground state φ o (x) has zero energy eigenvalue; such systems are referred to as “simple systems” in this article. In this case, the ground state itself determines the Hamiltonian completely since $$\mathcal{H} = - \tfrac{1}{2}[{\partial ^2}/\partial {x^2} - {\phi ''_o}(x)/{\phi _o}(x)],$$ , and therefore φ o (x) — just as much as \( \mathcal{H} \) itself — can be said to determine all the properties of the system.