cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiative breaking of the minimal supersymmetric left–right model

Abstract We study a variation to the SUSY Left–Right symmetric model based on the gauge group SU ( 3 ) c × SU ( 2 ) L × SU ( 2 ) R × U ( 1 ) BL . Beyond the quark and lepton superfields we only introduce a second Higgs bidoublet to produce realistic fermion mass matrices. This model does not include any SU ( 2 ) R triplets. We calculate renormalization group evolutions of soft SUSY parameters at the one-loop level down to low energy. We find that an SU ( 2 ) R slepton doublet acquires a negative mass squared at low energies, so that the breaking of SU ( 2 ) R × U ( 1 ) BL → U ( 1 ) Y is realized by a non-zero vacuum expectation value of a right-handed sneutrino. Small neutrino masses are produced through neutrino mixings with gauginos. Mass limits on the SU ( 2 ) R × U ( 1 ) BL sector are obtained by direct search results at the LHC as well as lepton-gaugino mixing bounds from the LEP precision data.
Systematic review of oncology nurse practitioner navigation metrics.

Background Nurse practitioners should become more active in patient navigation and its subcomponent, care coordination, because research has shown that these roles are influential in improving patient care at all levels of an organization. Well-defined process and outcome measures, as well as educational initiatives, are critical to these programs because they serve as the structure for program evaluation. Objectives This article aims to assess and define metrics that nurse practitioners in the oncology setting can use to evaluate navigation programs, which is essential for the evolution of research pertaining to the navigation field. Methods The current article is a systematic review that describes oncology nurse practitioner navigation metrics using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) format for the systematic literature review process. These metrics are then compared to current standards of care. Findings Seven studies met the criteria for this review. Research is emerging that shows benefit in using an oncology nurse practitioner navigator for ensuring timely care and patient and staff satisfaction. These metrics are in line with expert consensus recommendations. The need for more research identifying sound research tools that have been rigorously tested has been identified.
Jeff Koons: In His Space

Space, a major visual element, can be examined in depth in Jeff Koons’s artwork. Koons produces art in different series and each series contains numerous pieces. The appendages of the mechanical devices, a major element of space in the early series, accentuate the sexuality present in Koons’s art, as well as the surface quality and materials used in all the series. Koons’s obsession with perfection is what generates the flawless exteriors making the surface material void of human touch and elevating the sometimes kitsch subjects of the pieces. Koons uses stainless steel, a relatively inexpensive material associated with manufactured goods commonly used by everyone. This combination of commonly found material for the low-brow subject matter on one side, and the artist’s obsession with the surface’s perfection on the other side, represents a major challenge to traditional sculpture. Traditional sculpture commonly uses expensive materials, such as bronze or marble, to represent allegorical subject matter, mainly addressing the upper classes. Through this strategy, Koons elevates kitsch into high art. The series examined include: Pre New, The New, Equilibrium, Luxury, and Degradation, Statuary, Kiepenkerl, Banality, Made in Heaven, and Celebration. JEFF KOONS: BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES In 1955 Jeff Koons began his life in York, Pennsylvania. He started his higher education at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore in 1972. Koons also attended school for a year at the Art Institute in Chicago. After graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor in Fine Arts from Maryland Institute College of Art, he decided to move to New York (Guggenheim Museum). Koons resides and works in both New York and York, Pennsylvania.1 JEFF KOONS: IN HIS SPACE 19 1The list of places Koons has exhibited in the United States and abroad is quite impressive and consists of New York, Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, Santa Monica, CA, London, UK, the Netherlands, Germany, and Japan. Koons has lectured at numerous locations, including: Harvard University, Columbia University, Yale University, Royal Academy of Arts, New York University, Museum of Modern Art, Hirshhorn Museum, and Corcoran Gallery of Art. Although there has been much controversy involving Koons’s art, he has obtained awards and recognitions throughout the years: Art Start for Children Award in 1999, BZ Cultural Award in 2000, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur in 2001, Skowhegan Medal for Sculpture in 2002, Appointed to Board of Directors for the International GS019 JUR09_GS JUR text 1/21/10 4:29 PM Page 19
Oviposition and hatching in two species of ticks in relation to moisture deficit.

Studies were done with the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say), and the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acarina: Ixodidae), to determine the fecundity of these ticks, the resistance of eggs to desiccation, and egg viability in relation to different moisture deficits of the environmental air. The mean number of eggs deposited by undisturbed D. variabilis was 5379±31.0, with peak numbers on the 3rd day of oviposition. More than 50% of the eggs were deposited by the end of the 5th day, and more than 90% by the end of the 10th day. The mean number of eggs deposited by A. americanum females subjected to daily manipulation was 6436 ±30.3, with peak production on the 4th day. Most of the eggs were deposited early in the oviposition process. Oviposition was not influenced by the relative humidity of the environmental air at constant temperature (27°C). However, water loss from eggs was dependent upon the relative humidity. D. variabilis eggs lost more water than A. americanum eggs held under the same relative humidities. Almost all eggs hatched in undisturbed egg masses of D. variabilis when the relative humidity (at 27°C) was between 95 and 65%, but few eggs hatched in masses stored at lower humidities. Hatching of 24-hour oviposits of this species was less than in unseparated masses, except those stored at 95% RH. Hatching of eggs in 24-hour oviposits of A. americanum held under the same environmental conditions was lower than for eggs of D. variabilis. Further, few A. americanum eggs hatched at 65 or 60% RH, and none hatched at 55% RH. The data on water loss and hatching in relation to the relative humidity of the environmental air were used to estimate hatching of D. variabilis and A. americanum eggs in different vegetative types of a natural area, where records of temperature and relative humidity in these types were available. The low woody deciduousforest type was found to be most satisfactory for incubation of eggs of the 3 vegetative types studied, while a grass-herb-dominated old field provided the least satisfactory habitat for incubation.
A Fluid Structure Interaction Approach for Patient Based Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Rupture Risk Prediction

Fluid structure interaction (FSI) simulations of patient-specific fusiform non-ruptured and contained ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) geometries were conducted. The goals were: (1) to test the ability of our FSI methodology to predict the location of rupture, by correlating the high wall stress regions with the rupture location, (2) estimate the state of the pathological condition by calculating the ruptured potential index (RPI) of the AAA and (3) predict the disease progression by comparing healthy and pathological aortas.The patient specific AAA FSI simulations were carried out with advanced constitutive material models of the various components of AAA, including models that describe wall anisotropy based on collagen fibers orientation within the arterial wall, structural strength of the aorta, intraluminal thrombus (ILT), and embedded calcifications. The anisotropic material model used to describe the wall properties closely correlated with experimental results of AAA specimens.The results demonstrate that the anisotropic wall simulations showed higher peak wall stresses as compared to isotropic material models, indicating that the latter may underestimate the AAA risk of rupture. The ILT appeared to provide a cushioning effect reducing the stresses, while small calcifications (small-Ca) appeared to weaken the wall and contribute to the rupture risk. FSI simulations with ruptured AAA demonstrated that the location of the maximal wall stresses and RPI overlap the actual rupture region.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
REACTIONS OF BETA‐SUBSTITUTED AMINES PART 3, COMPLETE PRODUCT STUDY OF THE REACTIONS OF 3‐CHLORO‐1‐ETHYLPIPERIDINE AND 2‐CHLOROMETHYL‐1‐ETHYLPYRROLIDINE WITH HYDROXIDE ION

Abstract A complete product study of the reaction of 3-chloro-1-ethylpiperidine (1) in aqueous sodium-hydroxide showed the formation of three bis-(β-aminoethers), 2,2′-bis-(N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinomethyl) ether (6), 3-(N′-ethyl-2′-pyrrolidinomethoxy)-N-ethylpiperidine (7) and 3,3′-bis-N-ethyl-3-piperidinyl ether (8) in addition to the two previously reported products. The structures of these three ethers are demonstrated and their formation is shown to be consistent with the previously suggested mechanism1 of the reaction. Reactions of 2-chloromethyl-1-ethylpyrrolidine (2) are shown to proceed by the same mechanistic pathways with the formation of the same products. Reaction of 1 or 2 with two other nucleophiles, methoxide and ethoxide are also examined.
The study of the in vitro experiments of the laser microcavity ECM acting on the urethra

Objective To study the physical effect of various kinds of CO2 laser acting on the urethral ECM. Methods Various kinds of laser are performed on the urethral ECM,the variation of the microcave before the wash and after the wash is compared,the thermal damage is assessed,the physical degradation and the concave rate are also compared. Results The 60ms superpluse CO2 laser causes less thermal damage on the urethral ECM,the reaction is inobvious; the microcave ECM has an appropriate physical degradation and concave rate which could promote the cell proliferation. Conclusion The microcave ECM is appropriate to work on the urethral ECM.
Large basilar perforator pseudoaneurysm: A case report:

Basilar perforator aneurysms are rare and a communication between a basilar perforator and a separate pseudoaneurysm cavity is extremely rare. We describe a case presenting with high grade subarach...
Contraception in Patients with Rheumatic Disease

Contraception represents an important area of reproductive health for patients with rheumatic diseases given the potential pregnancy risks associated with active disease, teratogenic medications, and severe disease-related damage. A high proportion of patients with rheumatic disease do not use effective contraception. Long-acting contraceptives are most effective. Antiphospholipid-negative patients with stable systemic lupus erythematosus may use oral combined contraceptives. Antiphospholipid-positive patients, or patients with rheumatic disease with other risk factors for thrombosis, should avoid estrogen-containing contraceptives. Contraceptive methods should be addressed by both the rheumatologist and gynecologist to determine the safest, most effective, and most convenient form for each patient.
Enhanced stabilization of inorganic cesium lead triiodide (CsPbI 3 ) perovskite quantum dots with tri-octylphosphine

In recent years, significant attention has been paid to perovskite materials. In particular, lead triiodide-based perovskites have exhibited superb optoelectronic properties. Enhancing the stability of these materials is an essential step towards large-scale applications. In this study, by simply adding trioctylphosphine (TOP) as part of the post-synthesis treatment, we significantly enhance the stability of CsPbI3 quantum dots (QDs) in the solution phase, which otherwise decay rapidly in hours. For CsPbI3 QDs treated with TOP, the absorption and photoluminescence emission properties are unchanged over the course of weeks, and the quantum yield remains almost constant at 30% even after 1 month. The morphologies of both treated and untreated QDs are initially cubic; however, the treated QDs largely maintain their initial size and shape, while the untreated ones lose size uniformity, which is a sign of degradation. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirm the presence of P in the TOP-treated QDs. We insights that help to resolve the intrinsic instability issue of triiodide perovskite materials and devices.
Prevalence of curli genes among Cronobacter species and their roles in biofilm formation and cell-cell aggregation

Cronobacter species are food-borne opportunistic pathogens that cause sepsis, meningitis, and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates. Bacterial pathogens such as pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella species express extracellular curli fimbriae that are involved in rugosity, biofilm formation, and host cell adherence. csgBAC operon encodes the major curli structural subunit CsgA and the nucleator protein CsgB. csgDEFG operon encodes the regulatory protein CsgD and putative assembly factors. In this study, the curli operons were analyzed in the sequences of 13 Cronobacter strains and other enteric bacterial pathogens. Isogenic mutants of csgA and csgB were generated in C. turicensis LMG23827 (z3032). csgA and csgB mutants did not express curli fimbriae as indicated by a lack of Congo red binding and absence of curli by electron microscopic evaluation. Compared to the wild type strain, biofilm formation and cell-cell aggregation of csgA and csgB mutants were remarkably decreased. The prevalence of curli operons were investigated in 231 Cronobacter strains isolated from different sources using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The results of the PCR analysis showed that csgA and csgG were present in 30% clinical isolates, 8% food, and 11% environmental isolates. These genes were present in C. dublinensis, C. malonaticus, C. turicensis, and C. universalis, but not in C. muytjensii and C. sakazakii. Our data indicate that csgBAC and csgDEFG operons were present about three fold higher in clinical isolates than in isolates from other sources. The csgA and csgB genes were shown to be involved in the early stages of biofilm development and cell-cell aggregation in Cronobacter.
Detecting the Potential Pharmacological Synergy of Drug Combination by Viability Assays In Vitro

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a molecular chaperone necessary for the folding and proper function of multiple "client" proteins. HSP90 is involved in numerous biological processes and is critical to maintain proteostasis and to protect the cells from potentially harmful environmental stresses such as heat. However, in cancer, the role of HSP90, and other molecular chaperones, is corrupted as many of HSP90 clients are kinases and transcription factors whose aberrant activation or mutation drives tumor growth. Thus, developing a polytherapy, or combination therapy, that includes an HSP90 inhibitor in addition to targeting an oncogene or oncogenic pathway is an appealing therapeutic approach. This protocol will provide detailed methods on how to assess the potential synergy of polytherapy by viability assays in vitro.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an articulation between the mandibular condyle and glenoid fossa of the zygoma. TMJ disorders include pathologies directly resulting from micropathology to the joint itself or referred from a surrounding structure. Panoramic radiographs can assess for joint space narrowing and for evaluation of key structures of the temporomandibular joint. Serious conditions must be ruled out including unstable angina and temporal arteritis. Unstable angina can refer symptoms of pain to the jaw which may mimic TMJ pain. Temporal arteritis pain must be ruled out to avoid vision loss. Referral to dentistry and oral maxillofacial surgery can assist in acute and chronic management of TMJ-related disorders.
Operation of Choice for Metabolic Surgery

In addition to achieving significant weight loss, bariatric/metabolic surgery causes improvement, and even complete remission, of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a substantial number of severely obese patients. Diabetic patients with body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m2, especially those with other weight-related comorbidities and acceptable surgical risk and have not responded adequately to nonsurgical management, are candidates for metabolic surgery. Currently accepted metabolic operations include Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), biliopancreatic diversion (BPD), and the duodenal switch variant (BPD-DS). The operations differ in the degree of benefit they impart on an individual’s state of metabolic profile. The general understanding, based on the results of limited high-quality trials, suggests the presence of an antidiabetic efficacy gradient among standard operations (i.e., BPD > RYGB > SG > AGB). More extensive diversionary procedures are generally associated with greater weight loss and more profound metabolic benefits in the long term, but at the cost of more surgical complications. The choice of metabolic surgery requires precise assessment of risk versus benefit for each operation and must be individualized for each patient. Patient’s operative risk and severity of T2DM are among the main determinants in the choice of metabolic surgery. In appropriate-risk patients with prediabetes or established T2DM, RYGB is the best overall option. The recommendations of this chapter are subject to change as more comparative studies become available.
Intracellular Signaling and Chlorophyll Synthesis

The chloroplast proteome is encoded by genes that reside in both the chloroplast and the nucleus. This separation of genetic material necessitates a system for coordinating the expression of genes that reside in each compartment. Because the overwhelming majority of genes that encode chloroplast proteins reside in the nucleus, the regulation of nuclear genes by developmental and environmental cues plays a dominant role in chloroplast development and function. However, the chloroplast is not indifferent to its own protein composition. In fact, the chloroplast generates signals that have dramatic effects on the expression of nuclear genes that encode particular chloroplast proteins. Currently it is known that plastids produce at least a few distinct signals during chloroplast development that are required for proper expression of particular nuclear genes that encode components of the photosynthetic machinery. In response to certain environmental signals, mature chloroplasts send additional signals that regulate nuclear gene expression. The molecular nature of most of these plastid-to-nucleus signaling pathways is not well established. However, a number of studies have suggested that accumulation of certain chlorophyll precursors within plastids is a signal that regulates nuclear gene expression during chloroplast development and during the diurnal cycle. Future work in this area should provide detailed molecular information on the influence of chlorophyll synthesis and other plastid-localized metabolism on nuclear gene expression and how plants utilize this formof interorganellar communication during their lifecycles.
Gamifying the memorization of brand/generic drug names.

Abstract Background and purpose The objective of this study was to determine how the implementation of Quizlet, an electronic flashcard/quiz/gaming platform, affected the doctor of pharmacy candidate's ability to successfully complete quizzes based on brand and generic names of the most commonly used medications. Educational activity and setting Brand name, generic name, and class of Top 300 Prescription Medications were uploaded into the program in four different study sets. Students were encouraged to utilize the provided games to prepare for quizzes. Quiz results were compared to results from the previous year. A survey was administered to measure the student's perception of the efficacy of and engagement in the program in comparison to traditional printed text-based materials. Findings Students who played the games in spring 2017 scored significantly higher than the spring 2016 cohort who did not utilize gaming (average 94.1% vs. 86.9%). Most (61.2%) of the students in the 2017 course reported that they primarily utilized the games to study vs. other methods. Summary The use of gaming could be a resource that increases student motivation to independently memorize material for quizzes in didactic courses.
Advances in Management of Psychosis in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Psychosis is broadly defined as a disengagement from reality. It describes syndromes that impair both thought content and thought process. Psychosis negatively impacts an individual’s quality of life, in addition to the families caring for them. Psychosis with different types of hallucinations and delusions occurs in the context of delirium. Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are almost universal in the course of common neurodegenerative disorders (NDD) like Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this paper, the authors took an effort to characterize AD and PD psychosis with a special focus on the most diagnostically reliable features. Effectiveness and limitations of pharmacological interventions are discussed. Consensus diagnostic criteria have evolved for psychosis secondary to AD as well as psychosis in PD. Psychotropic medications can be effective in the treatment of NPS in NDD; however, clinicians must be mindful of the side effects. There is a consensus on benefit of initiating any acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (ACHI: donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine) as a first line of treatment for psychosis in AD, as it may reduce and/or avoid the need for the use antipsychotics. Pimavanserin, a selective-serotonin inverse agonist that preferentially targets 5-HT2A receptors, while avoiding activity at dopamine and other receptors commonly targeted by antipsychotics had recently been approved by FDA to treat hallucinations and delusions in PD. Quetiapine is widely prescribed for the treatment of psychosis in different NDD, but the data remains equivocal. Psychosis with different types of hallucinations and delusions may occur in the context of delirium and is almost universal as a neuropsychiatric symptom in the course of PD and AD. Currently, pimavanserin remains the only pharmacologic agent approved for treatment of psychosis in PD. In cases of other NPS in other than Parkinson’s diseases, atypical antipsychotics are commonly used off-label. More research is greatly needed to advance this field and address NPS especially psychosis in geriatric population.
Defining Small-Scale Fisheries and Examining the Role of Science in Shaping Perceptions of Who and What Counts: A Systematic Review

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) have long been overshadowed by the concerns and perceived importance of the industrial sector in fisheries science and policy. Yet in recent decades, attention to SSF is on the rise, marked by a proliferation of scientific publications, the emergence of new global policy tools devoted to the small-scale sector, and concerted efforts to tally the size and impacts of SSF on a global scale. Given the rising tide of interest buoying SSF, it’s pertinent to consider how the underlying definition shapes efforts to enumerate and scale up knowledge on the sector—indicating what dimensions of SSF count and consequently what gets counted. Existing studies assess how national fisheries policies define SSF, but to date, no studies systematically and empirically examine how the definition of SSF has been articulated in science, including whether and how definitions have changed over time. We systematically analyzed how SSF were defined in the peer-reviewed scientific literature drawing on a database of 1,724 articles published between 1960 and 2015. We coded a 25% random sample of articles (n=434) from our database and found that nearly one-quarter did not define SSF. Among those that did proffer a definition, harvest technologies such as fishing boats and gear were the most common characteristics used. Comparing definitions over time, we identified two notable trends over the 65-year time period studied: a decreasing proportion of articles that defined SSF and an increasing reliance on technological dimensions like boats relative to sociocultural characteristics. Our results resonate with findings from similar research on the definition of SSF in national fisheries policies that also heavily rely on boat length. We call attention to several salient issues that are obscured by an overreliance on harvest technologies in definitions of SSF, including dynamics along the wider fisheries value chain and social relations such as gender. We discuss our findings considering new policies and emerging tools that could steer scientists and practitioners toward more encompassing, consistent, and relational means of defining SSF that circumvent some of the limitations of longstanding patterns in science and policy that impinge upon sustainable and just fisheries governance.
National Trends in Incidence of Purulent Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Patients Presenting to Ambulatory and Emergency Department Settings, 2000–2015

Nationally representative data from 2000-2015 demonstrated a rise in the incidence of outpatient visits for skin infections, peaking in 2010-2013, followed by a plateau. While cephalexin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic at the beginning, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was most frequently prescribed by the end of the study period.
A 72.6 dB SNDR 14b 100 MSPS Ring Amplifier Based Pipelined SAR ADC with Dynamic Deadzone Control in 16 nm CMOS

Ring amplifiers have emerged as scaling friendly amplification alternatives to conventional OTA-based switched capacitor residue amplifiers. To address potential instability in feedback as the supply voltage is shrunk in deep nanoscale CMOS, we merge a dynamic deadzone control circuit into the second stage inverter structure of a three stage amplifier, enhancing stability and enabling operation at ultra-low supply voltage of 0.75 V, thereby significantly reducing power consumption. A technique to enable the amplifier to perform both coarse estimation and fine settling is also disclosed. A 14 bit 100 MSPS pipelined SAR ADC prototype in 16nm consumes 2.5 mW and achieves measured SNDR and SFDR of 72.6 dB and 86.5 dB respectively, close to Nyquist input frequency, yielding a SNDR based FOM of 175.6 dB without calibration.
Clustering of rapidly settling, low-inertia particle pairs in isotropic turbulence. Part 1. Drift and diffusion flux closures

In this two-part study, we present the development and analysis of a stochastic theory for characterizing the relative positions of monodisperse, low-inertia particle pairs that are settling rapidly in homogeneous isotropic turbulence. In the limits of small Stokes number and Froude number such that particles is only weakly anisotropic, which is in conformity with prior observations from direct numerical simulations of isotropic turbulence containing settling particles.
Dual generalized inverses and their use in solving systems of linear dual equations

Abstract This paper deals with properties of dual generalized inverses and uses them in solving linear dual equations. The first part of this paper addresses several properties of dual generalized inverses of dual matrices and provides new theoretical and computational insights. In the second part necessary and sufficient conditions for a dual matrix to have a {1}-dual generalized inverse are obtained. A dual matrix with a rank deficient primal part generically (almost always) is shown to have no {1}-dual generalized inverse and hence, neither a {1,3}-dual generalized inverse or a Moore-Penrose dual generalized inverse. The necessary and sufficient condition to have a solution to a system of linear dual equations is obtained. An explicit expression for the solution, when one exists, is obtained and it is shown not to be unique, in general. The dual analog of the real least-squares problem is obtained through the {1,3}-dual generalized inverse; as with real matrices, it is shown that this least-squares dual solution is not unique, in general. The dual analog of the real minimum-length least-squares solution is obtained through the development of the Moore-Penrose dual generalized inverse. Numerical examples are provided throughout, mainly from kinematics, to illustrate the results obtained.
Nonmodal Growth of TravelingWaves on Blunt Cones at Hypersonic Speeds

The existing database of transition measurements in hypersonic ground facilities has established that, as the nosetip bluntness is increased, the onset of boundary layer transition over a circular cone at zero angle of attack shifts downstream. However, this trend is reversed at sufficiently large values of the nose Reynolds number, so that the transition onset location eventually moves upstream with a further increase in nose-tip bluntness. Because modal amplification is too weak to initiate transition at moderate-to-large bluntness values, nonmodal growth has been investigated as the potential basis for a physics-based model for the frustum transition. The present analysis investigates the nonmodal growth of traveling disturbances initiated within the nose-tip vicinity that peak within the entropy layer. Results show that, with increasing nose bluntness, both planar and oblique traveling disturbances experience appreciable energy amplification up to successively higher frequencies. For moderately blunt cones, the initial nonmmodal growth is followed by a partial decay that is more than overcome by an eventual, modal growth as Mack-mode waves. For larger bluntness values, the Mack-mode waves are not amplified anywhere upstream of the experimentally measured transition location, but the traveling modes still undergo a significant amount of nonmodal growth. This finding does not provide a definitive link between optimal growth and the onset of transition, but it is qualitatively consistent with the experimental observations that frustum transition in the absence of sufficient Mack-mode amplification implies a double peak in disturbance amplification and the appearance of transitional events above the boundary-layer edge.
Cultural Capital in Undergraduate Research: An Exploration of How Biology Students Operationalize Knowledge to Access Research Experiences at a Large, Public Research-Intensive Institution.

Undergraduate research experiences are becoming essential for pursuing future opportunities in science, but little has been done to identify what factors predict which students get to participate in research and which students do not. In this manuscript, we propose “scientific research capital” and specifically “scientific research cultural capital” as constructs to explain what students may need to know and do in order to successfully engage in an undergraduate research experience. We begin to articulate what comprises one component of scientific research cultural capital, embodied cultural capital, by identifying the knowledge that students may need to have in order to obtain an undergraduate research experience at a large, research-intensive institution where there are many more undergraduates vying for research positions than opportunities available. We interviewed 43 researchers, defined as undergraduates who had participated in research, and 42 non-researchers, defined as undergraduates who were interested in participating in research but had not yet successfully obtained a position, in a biology department at an R1 institution. We analyzed the data using inductive coding. We identified 10 “rules of research” or aspects of scientific research cultural capital that undergraduates reported about finding and securing undergraduate research. We used logistic regression to test whether undergraduate researchers were more likely than non-researchers to know particular rules. Researchers were more likely than non-researchers to know rules about securing research opportunities. Since researchers were more likely than non-researchers to know rules related to securing research, educating students about how to secure research experiences and encouraging faculty to re-examine the criteria they use to admit students into their labs may be a key step in leveling the playing field for students who are vying for research positions. We propose that the construct of scientific research cultural capital can help publicize the hidden curriculum of undergraduate research so that students can more equitably gain access to undergraduate research.
Trends in Radiation Oncology Treatment Fractionation at a Single Academic Center, 2014-2020.

Purpose/Objective(s) Recent landmark studies in radiation oncology suggest hypofractionation is appropriate for treatment of many cancers. The COVID-19 pandemic may have increased pressure to adopt hypofractionation because of concerns about disease spread at treatment centers. We know of no recent U.S. study of trends in radiation fractionation that includes comparisons of multiple disease sites and data post-COVID. Therefore, we sought to describe trends in treatment fractionation at a single academic center from 2014-2020. Materials/Methods From our institutional database, for the years 2014-2020, we extracted the total number of patients treated, total number of fractions delivered, and mean number of fractions per treatment course for all cancers and specifically for treatment of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and bone metastases. For breast and prostate, we included only radiation courses delivered to the primary site. Results The dataset included 16,224 courses of radiation treatment and 257,352 treatment fractions. The mean number of fractions per treatment course overall declined steadily throughout the study period, from 18.3 in 2014 to 14.9 in 2020. For breast cancer, the mean number of fractions per treatment course was steady from 2014-2016 but began to decline more rapidly from 2017-2020. Fractionation for prostate cancer followed a similar time trend, but there was a more substantial decline from 2014 (mean 36.6 fractions per treatment course) to 2020 (mean 16.7 fractions per treatment course). For bone metastases, fractionation was relatively consistent throughout the study period. For breast patients, during the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, the monthly rate of decrease in number of fractions increased to 0.19 from a historical mean of 0.05, as the mean number of sessions dropped from 22 to 19. For bone metastases, in 2020, the mean number of sessions dropped from 6.3 to 5.3, with a monthly rate of decrease of 0.13 compared to historical mean of 0.03. COVID-19 did not spike the monthly rate of change in number of fractions for prostate which began a steady decline in 2017 with increased use of SBRT. Conclusion We observed increased adoption of hypofractionation at our institution during the study period for both breast and prostate cancer. For bone metastases, hypofractionation had largely been adopted before the study period. There was evidence of an accelerated trend toward hypofractionation for some cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Early relaxation of community mitigation policies and risk of COVID-19 resurgence in the United States.

This study aimed to assess the impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) prevalence in the United States in the week leading to the relaxation of the stay-at-home orders (SAH) on future prevalence across states that implemented different SAH policies. We used data on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 21, 2020 on county level. We classified states into four groups based on the 7-day change in prevalence and the state's approach to SAH policy. The groups included: (1) High Change (19 states; 7-day prevalence change ≥50th percentile), (2) Low Change (19 states; 7-day prevalence change <50th percentile), (3) No SAH (11 states: did not adopt SAH order), and (4) No SAH End (2 states: did not relax SAH order). We performed regression modeling assessing the association between change in prevalence at the time of SAH order relaxation and COVID-19 prevalence days after the relaxation of SAH order for four selected groups. After adjusting for other factors, compared to the High Change group, counties in the Low Change group had 33.8 (per 100,000 population) fewer cases (standard error (SE): 19.8, p < 0.001) 7 days after the relaxation of SAH order and the difference was larger by time passing. On August 21, 2020, the No SAH End group had 383.1 fewer cases (per 100,000 population) than the High Change group (SE: 143.6, p < 0.01). A measured, evidence-based approach is required to safely relax the community mitigation strategies and practice phased-reopening of the country.
Does the Type of Federalism Make a Difference for Electoral Behavior? Comparing Spain and Germany

In multi-level systems, voters have several opportunities to cast their ballots. This paper focuses on the relationship between electoral behavior at the regional and state levels. The paper assesses the ramifications of the way in which state-level and regional-level elections are linked for electoral behavior analyzing the cases of Germany and Spain. In Germany, regional (Lander) level elections are directly linked to state-level policy making as the parties composing the Lander governments constitute the upper house (Bundesrat), which has considerable policy-making powers. Thus, regional elections are more than just “second-order” elections, but have direct and explicit ramifications for state-level governance. In contrast, Spain lacks a powerful upper house representing the regional governments; regional-level elections are thus of less immediate consequence for state-level governance. This paper explores whether these institutional differences are reflected in voting behavior. In particular, the paper analyzes whether differences in electoral turnout in regional and statewide elections exist across the two cases. We hypothesize that given the higher significance of regional elections for state-level policymaking in Germany, voter turnout at regional-level elections should be more closely linked to voter turnout in statewide elections compared to Spain, where regional elections are of less import for state-level politics than in Germany. Our initial findings confirm this hypothesis.
Defending Against Malevolent Insiders Using Access Control

Determining the insider adversary potential or insider threat spectrum is the first step in designing or evaluating the effectiveness against insider adversaries of an access control system. An insider adversary has knowledge, access, and authority that is not available to the outsider adversary. The single malevolent insider, the most probable insider threat, may be active or passive, violent or nonviolent, and motivated by a broad variety of drivers. Access control allows authorized individuals into a secured area while preventing entry by unauthorized individuals. Two primary tools of access control, contraband detection and tamper-indicating devices, are directed to thwarting insider adversaries as they are deployed in restricted areas accessible only to authorized and identified personnel. Additional elements of access control systems that reduce the likelihood of insider adversary success include entry/exit logs, antipassback features, two-person rule enforcement, and compartmentalization. These features can deter, deny, or dramatically reduce the effect of the malevolent insider. The unique characteristics of the insider threat and the access control features that are likely to affect this adversary are discussed. Keywords: insider threat; malevolent insider; access control; entry/exit control; contraband detection; compartmentalization
Properties of cells derived from adenovirus-induced hamster tumors by long-term in vitro cultivation: I. Clonal stability of three biological characteristics

Abstract After several hundred generations in vitro, HT cells originally derived from type 12 adenovirus (Ad.12)-induced hamster tumors have retained their malignant character, the capacity to synthesize Ad.12-specific antigen(s), and a significantly reduced capacity, compared with that of normal hamster cells, to produce infectious type 2 adenovirus (Ad.2) in response to superinfection. Of four independently derived cell lines studied, one (HT2) consistently produces less Ad.2 than the other three lines. No evidence has been obtained for “rescue” of Ad.12 among the yields from Ad.2-superinfected HT cells. The low yield from such cells is not due to poor adsorption of inoculum virus. Thirteen clones of two cell lines (HT2 and HT8) have been established after microdrop isolation of single cells. The fact that all clones tested have retained the three characteristics suggests genetic homogeneity of the parental populations. In particular, the differing extent to which synthesis of Ad.2 is depressed in the two parental lines is reflected in the response of their derived clones. The evidence argues against the idea that HT cell populations consist of a majority of genetically stable “resistant” and a minority of stably “susceptible” cells.
Tendons, concentric tubes, and a bevel tip: Three steerable robots in one transoral lung access system

Lung cancer is the most deadly form of cancer, and survival depends on early-stage diagnosis and treatment. Transoral access is preferable to traditional between-the-ribs needle insertion because it is less invasive and reduces risk of lung collapse. Yet many sites in the peripheral zones of the lung or distant from the bronchi cannot currently be accessed transorally, due to the relatively large diameter and lack of sufficient steerablity of current instrumentation. To remedy this, we propose a new robotic system that uses a tendon-actuated device (bronchoscope) as a first stage for deploying a concentric tube robot, which itself is a vehicle through which a bevel steered needle can be introduced into the soft tissue of the lung outside the bronchi. In this paper we present the various components of the system and the workflow we envision for deploying the robot to a target using image guidance. We describe initial validation experiments in which we puncture ex vivo bronchial wall tissue and also target a nodule in a phantom with an average final tip error of 0.72 mm.
Violence Risk: From Prediction to Management

There has been enormous progress in violence risk assessment during the last decade.Muchofthisprogresshasbeenseenintheimprovedcapacitytoaccuratelyidentifyin-dividuals at high risk for future violent behavior, in populations including adults withsevere mental illness (Monahan et al., 2001; Steadman et al., 1998), correctional pop-ulations(DouglasandWebster,1999;AndrewsandBonta,1995),mentallydisorderedoffenders (Webster et al., 1997; Quinsey et al., 1998), and sexual offenders (Hanson,1998). Associated with these advances have been both conceptual changes (Monahanand Steadman, 1994a; Steadman et al., 1994) and implications for improved practice(Dvoskin and Heilbrun, 2001).The term ‘risk assessment’ may be construed narrowly, to describe the process ofidentifying risk of future violence and enhancing the accuracy of predictions of suchfuture violence. It may also be considered more broadly, to include the areas of
Properties of RBSN and RBSN‐SiC Composites

Strengths, fracture toughnesses, hardnesses, and dimensional changes have been measured for RBSN and RBSN/SiC composites. Samples were made from mixtures of Si and either Si- or C-rich SiC powders. For pure, 75 pct dense RBSN dispersed with octanol, strengths up to 858 MPa have been achieved. Improved strengths result from a combination of microstructural perfection and increased fracture toughness. The mechanical properties of the composites were approximately equal to those of methanol processed RBSN but not quite equal to those of the octanol-processed RBSN. Results are discussed in terms of observed microstructural features.
A tungsten-in-glass iontophoresis assembly for studying input-output relationships in central neurons: Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 49 (1993) 211–223

Abstract A method is described for the production of an electrode capable of monitoring and modulating the input-output relationship of thalamic neurons. Tungsten-in-glass electrodes were manufactured with the ability to simultaneously record lateral geniculate nucleus action potentials and associated, retinally evoked S-potentials. The recording electrodes were mounted onto multibarreled micropipettes with iontophoretic capability. The completed electrode assembly permitted micropharmacological modulation of the fraction of lateral geniculate nucleus output spikes to retinal input spikes (the transfer ratio). Iontophoretically applied γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) decreased the transfer ratio, an effect countered by the GABAA antagonist, bicuculline. Elevated transfer ratios produced by stimulation of an afferent pathway originating in the parabrachial region of the brainstem were decreased by concurrently applied GABA. The fabrication of this electrode assembly employs simple modifications of existing techniques and separate construction of recording and iontophoretic elements to provide high-quality single-unit recordings coupled with micropharmacological function.
Empirical Evidence on Managing Networks: The Case of European Banking

With the movement toward globalization, the question of how efficiencies can be achieved through cross-border integration is becoming increasingly important. This paper argues that one avenue for cross-border efficiency is through the greater utilization of firms with under-used distribution channels by other firms with over-used distribution channels. The analysis examines the contemporary European commercial banking industry, and develops an empirical model concerning the degree to which banks' branch networks are over-utilized or under-utilized and what the efficiency implications would be of further organic growth. I find evidence indicating that larger banks are more likely to have heavily utilized branch networks than smaller banks and to exhibit fewer cost efficiencies from building more branches. I find this result both across countries, as well as within countries. The within-country effect suggests that the result is size-driven and can be independent of competitive conditions?larger banks handle more transactions within their existing networks and have higher physical capital costs in opening up new branches. The variance and magnitude of the findings within each country relative to the findings in other countries suggest the impact of factors related to different competitive environments. The findings suggest that cross-border consolidation between larger banks with over-utilized branch networks and smaller banks with under-utilized branch networks could yield cost efficiencies. The larger banks could market a greater diversity of products to an international clientele using the under-utilized distribution channels of the smaller banks.
Series of Abstractions for Hybrid Automata

We present a technique based on the use of the quantifier elimination decision procedure for real closed fields and simple theorem proving to construct a series of successively finer qualitative abstractions of hybrid automata. The resulting abstractions are always discrete transition systems which can then be used by any traditional analysis tool. The constructed abstractions are conservative and can be used to establish safety properties of the original system. Our technique works on linear and non-linear polynomial hybrid systems, that is, the guards on discrete transitions and the continuous flows in all modes can be specified using arbitrary polynomial expressions over the continuous variables. We have a prototype tool in the SAL environment [13] which is built over the theorem prover PVS [19]. The technique promises to scale well to large and complex hybrid systems.