cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Privacy-Preserving Spectral Analysis of Large Graphs in Public Clouds

Large graph datasets have become invaluable assets for studying problems in business applications and scientific research. These datasets, collected and owned by data owners, may also contain privacy-sensitive information. When using public clouds for elastic processing, data owners have to protect both data ownership and privacy from curious cloud providers. We propose a cloud-centric framework that allows data owners to efficiently collect graph data from the distributed data contributors, and privately store and analyze graph data in the cloud. Data owners can conduct expensive operations in untrusted public clouds with privacy and scalability preserved. The major contributions of this work include two privacy-preserving approximate eigen decomposition algorithms (the secure Lanczos and Nystrom methods) for spectral analysis of large graph matrices, and a personalized privacy-preserving data submission method based on differential privacy that allows for the trade-off between data sparsity and privacy. For a N-node graph, the proposed approach allows a data owner to finish the core operations with only O(N) client-side costs in computation, storage, and communication. The expensive O(N2) operations are performed in the cloud with the proposed privacy-preserving algorithms. We prove that our approach can satisfactorily preserve data privacy against the untrusted cloud providers. We have conducted an extensive experimental study to investigate these algorithms in terms of the intrinsic relationships among costs, privacy, scalability, and result quality.
Clinical Management of Selected Precancerous Lesions of the Uterus, Fallopian Tube, and Ovary

The vast majority of precancerous lesions of the gynecologic tract are diagnosed post hoc. Often the surgery by which the lesion was diagnosed is sufficient treatment. However, a few exceptions exist. The most notable is endometrial hyperplasia, which is usually diagnosed on an endometrial biopsy or curettage and definitively treated with hysterectomy. Nonsurgical treatment of endometrial hyperplasia can be considered in select patients. The role of surgical staging (lymphadenectomy, omentectomy, etc.) for the majority of precancerous lesions of the fallopian tube and ovary is unclear. In the absence of upstaged and confirmed invasive carcinoma, adjuvant chemotherapy is not recommended.
Strategically recruiting diverse students into your undergraduate computing major

Description: This tutorial will show participants how to develop a comprehensive strategy for increasing the pipeline of high-achieving women and minority students in undergraduate computer science programs using a "high yield in the short term" approach for recruiting. This approach encompasses strategies to help identify and evaluate a do-able and successful set of internal and external recruiting initiatives.
Mariam and the Critique of Pure Reason

The young Elizabeth Tanfield was a voracious reader. Linguistically gifted, she mastered Latin, French and Italian as a girl, studied Hebrew and, according to her daughter Lucy, read ‘very exceeding much’. Poetry, theology, classical history and English chronicle all figured significantly in this reading, as did books ‘treating of moral virtue or wisdom (such as Seneca, Plutarch … French Mountaine, and English Bacon)’. Indeed, the future Elizabeth Cary not only translated Seneca’s Epistles, but thoroughly immersed herself in the realm of wisdom literature — and ‘not without making her profit’.1 What that profit was and how it manifested itself are questions one might well desire to ask Cary’s daughter, as are the related matters of precisely when, and in what circumstances and intellectual context, Cary encountered Montaigne and Bacon — and, in the case of the former, whether she read his Essays in French or in Florio’s recent English version. But that Montaigne in particular had a perceptible impact on Cary’s habits of contemplating ‘moral virtue’ seems beyond dispute. The Tragedy of Mariam, published in 1613 but composed between 1602 and 1609, illustrates in varied ways not only that Cary was indebted to Montaigne, but that like the French essayist and many contemporary intellectuals she was intrigued by the complex epistemological relations among knowing, perceiving, seeming and believing.
The trade in cooking pots under the aztec and spanish empires

Elizabeth Brumfiel studied the local production and exchange of pottery in Xaltocan as part of her ongoing efforts to study the link between women's work and political change. We give continuity to Brumfiel's work by presenting a chemical characterization study of Plain Ware and lead-glazed earthenware in Xaltocan, Mexico. These wares were mostly used by women for cooking and storage. The pattern shows that the people of Postclassic Xaltocan increased their reliance on Plain Ware from nearby Cuauhtitlan through time, before and after they were conquered by the Aztecs. After the Spanish conquest, the people of Xaltocan relied more heavily on locally produced Plain Ware and began using lead-glazed earthenware. These two different empires affected the trade in cooking tools even though it was not part of their policies to affect the domestic economy directly.
Chapter 7 – Working Memory

This chapter presents step-by-step lessons that can help practitioners, educators, and parents teach executive function skills referred to as working memory. Specifically, this chapter’s lessons focus on teaching studying skills, remembering to turn in homework, and keeping track of personal items. Studying strategies for learning and memorizing information needed for school tests are provided. Procedures for teaching the learner to remember to turn in homework and to keep track of (1) school items (e.g., jackets, water bottles, lunch boxes), (2) items taken on outings and to extracurricular activities, and (3) cell phone are outlined. Worksheets and graphs are also provided for tracking progress.
Tuning the optical, electronic and thermal properties of Cu3NbS4−xSex through chemical substitution

Several compositions of the Cu3NbS4−xSex (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 4) series were synthesized through combination of the elements using conventional solid-state reactions. X-ray powder diffraction patterns suggest that the synthesized polycrystalline powder samples are isostructural to sulvanite (Cu3VS4). However, plotting the refined lattice parameters as well as the measured “true” density as a function of Se content (x) showed deviations from linearity, suggesting that the Cu3NbS4−xSex series is not a “true” solid solution. Differential scanning calorimetry data showed that all compounds incongruently melt at ∼1100 K and recrystallize with a minor impurity phase. Optical diffuse reflectance UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy revealed a nearly linear contraction of the optical band gap with increasing Se content. The direct band gap decreases from 2.53 eV for x = 0.1 to 2.43 eV for x = 0.8. Electronic transport data indicate p-type semiconducting behavior for all samples. Thermal conductivity data showed a rather surprising trend, with the substituted compositions exhibiting higher thermal conductivity than the two end members.
Impacts of incorporating dominant crop rotation patterns as primary land use change on hydrologic model performance

Abstract Crop rotation is a commonly used management practice in the central U.S. whereby different agricultural crops are grown on a farm field in successive years to help maintain the productive capacity of the soil. Understanding hydrologic responses to crop rotation is critical for developing appropriate crop rotation strategies for sustainable water resources management. These responses are not well understood due to limited availability of multi-year, crop-specific land use-land cover data. The study focuses on the Smoky Hill River watershed in west-central Kansas, a typical agro-ecosystem watershed in the Central Great Plains of the U.S. A multi-year land use dataset developed for the state of Kansas was used to identify 3-year crop rotation patterns in the watershed for three different periods (2006–08, 2008–10, 2010–12). Out of 276 unique rotations, 21 rotations were found to be dominant, with rotation patterns of grain sorghum-fallow-winter wheat (G-F-W), winter wheat-winter wheat-fallow (W-W-F), and continuous winter wheat (W-W-W) occupying more than 81% of the cropland in each rotation period. From 2006 to 2012, the coverage of grain sorghum increased by 26% and corn by 305%, while winter wheat decreased by 20%. Three 11-year simulation scenarios based on three 3-year crop rotation patterns were implemented in the SWAT model and separately calibrated for streamflow at two gauge sites. The SWAT model produced good calibration statistics for the periods corresponding to the applied crop rotations, while the statistics tended to decrease for other periods, with Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency coefficient becoming unsatisfactory for periods of six to eight years outside of the calibration period. Applying a different number of dominant crop rotations to the SWAT model, it was found that the number can be reduced down to the five most dominant without significant loss in model performance. While the optimum number of crop rotations must be evaluated for each agricultural watershed, this finding provides valuable information for watershed model development and calibration, which can help to avoid issues of over-parameterization and equifinality.
On the periodic coordination of linear stochastic systems

The decentralized stochastic control of a linear dynamic system consisting of several subsystems is considered. A two-level approach is used by the introduction of a coordinator who collects measurements from the local controllers periodically and in return transmits coordinating parameters. Two types of coordination are considered: open-loop feedback and closed loop. The resulting control laws are found to be intuitively attractive.
Effect of ion milling on the perceived maturity of shale samples: Implications for organic petrography and SEM analysis

Abstract Sample polishing by argon ion beam is a widely used method for examining shale samples for inherent porosity characteristics; the high quality of these surfaces suggests that this technique may also be used for optical reflectance measurements to provide information about the thermal maturity of samples. Yet, the inevitable surface heating that this polishing method engenders has raised concerns that the measured reflectance properties are no longer those of the original sample. To explore the impact of ion milling on the maturity of shale samples as measured by vitrinite and solid bitumen reflectance, five different ion milling configurations were applied to a set of organic-rich New Albany Shale (Late Devonian-Early Mississippian) samples that range in maturity from immature to post-mature. Using two ion mill designs, edge milling vs planar milling, single and dual ion beams, variable acceleration voltages, and milling at room temperature vs samples cooled by liquid nitrogen, provided a wide range of beam heating scenarios. Reflectance of macerals was measured before and after ion milling to investigate whether and to what extent various ion-milling approaches change the reflectance values, and by extension the perceived thermal maturity of organic matter in these samples. Our results demonstrate that more aggressive milling methods, such as the use of multiple beams and higher acceleration voltages elevate reflectance values, and that this effect is most pronounced in immature samples and diminishes for samples of increasing original maturity. Specifically, for the two least mature samples, the most aggressive milling method (configuration D) increased reflectance of vitrinite from 0.48% to 0.58%, and from 0.58% to 0.74%. Increase of reflectance (perceived maturity) can be counteracted by reducing beam intensity (e.g., fewer beams, lower voltage) and cooling of samples with liquid nitrogen. The severity of heating artifacts depends partially on the ion mill design, and non-damaging settings must be determined experimentally for a given ion mill model. Because thermal alteration of organic matter typically involves the expulsion of volatiles, there is also a danger that ion beam heating of immature and oil window samples can skew the porosity characteristics of shale samples. Thus, determining non-damaging ion mill settings has the dual benefit of avoiding measuring false maturity levels and misleading porosity characteristics.
Arid3a regulates mesoderm differentiation in mouse embryonic stem cells

Research into regulation of the differentiation of stem cells is critical to understanding early developmental decisions and later development growth. The transcription factor ARID3A previously was shown to be critical for trophectoderm and hematopoetic development. Expression of ARID3A increases during embryonic differentiation, but the underlying reason remained unclear. Here we show that Arid3a null embryonic stem (ES) cells maintain an undifferentiated gene expression pattern and form teratomas in immune-compromised mice. However, Arid3a null ES cells differentiated in vitro into embryoid bodies (EBs) significantly faster than control ES cells, and the majority forming large cystic embryoid EBs. Analysis of gene expression during this transition indicated that Arid3a nulls differentiated spontaneously into mesoderm and neuroectoderm lineages. While young ARID3A-deficient mice showed no gross tissue morphology, proliferative and structural abnormalities were observed in the kidneys of older null mice. Together these data suggest that ARID3A is not only required hematopoiesis, but is critical for early mesoderm differentiation.
Observations of Wintering Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) Positively Associated with Rock Breakwater-Influenced Shorelines in Southwestern Louisiana

ABSTRACT Selman, W. and Collins, S.A., 2018. Observations of wintering piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) positively associated with rock breakwater-influenced shorelines in southwestern Louisiana. Much of the coastline in southwestern Louisiana is undergoing high rates of shoreline erosion, but long-term plans are to armor the majority of this shoreline with offshore rock breakwaters. This area is also considered critical wintering habitat for Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus). However, to date, little information is available to assess the influence of these shoreline protection measures on Piping Plovers. From 2009 to 2010, three experimental breakwater sections were built along the shoreline of Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge (RWR) in southwestern Louisiana to determine their effectiveness at combating shoreline encroachment. Thereafter, annual Piping Plover surveys were conducted from 2013 to 2017 at RWR along ∼14.5 km of shoreline inclusive of the test sections. Observations included 89 total Piping ...
The Collateral Effects of Civil Unions on Family Law

This article examines how the legal changes to marriage changed marriage and its perception, showing the differences between various marriage choices.
RELATIONAL CONCEPTIONS OF JUSTICE: RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HEALTH OUTCOMES

Numa sociedade democratica, as regras sociais sao impostas a cada um por todos. Como “recebedores” de tais regras, tendemos a pensar que elas deviam ser designadas para engendrar a melhor distribuicao possivel de bens e males ou qualidade de vida. Enquanto autores das regras, tendemos a pensar que os maleficios por nos impostos atraves de tais regras tem maior peso moral que os danos que nos meramente deixamos de evitar ou mitigar. Embora as atuais teorias (consequencialistas e rawlsianas) sejam dominadas pela primeira perspectiva, uma concepcao adequada da justica exige um balanceamento de ambas tendencias. O tema da equidade na saude e bem apropriado para mostrar como concepcoes da justica puramente dirigidas aos recebedores estao fadadas ao fracasso e como esbocar uma alternativa mais promissora.
Surveilling Strangers: The Disciplinary Biopower of Digital Genre Assemblages

Abstract This article identifies and names the digital visual genre of strangershots: photographs of strangers taken without their knowledge or consent and then shared online, accruing derogatory comments as they circulate through online networks. By closely describing a specific strangershot posted on Reddit and then connecting it to further examples, I aim to demonstrate that strangershots constitute a genre identifiable by the recurring social actions they accomplish by producing similar responses to recurring social situations. After identifying the genre, I apply actor-network theory to demonstrate how this genre is produced by assemblages of humans and non-human technologies. Following that, I argue that the genre reifies normalcy by leveraging biopower against non-normative bodies through explicit public shaming. The technological assemblage producing the genre, and the very notion of this genre as a regularized response to recurring social situations, has created new avenues for biopower to regulate individuals. This critical genre analysis provides nuance to assemblage theories of composition pedagogy by valuing ethical analyses of assemblage genre’s social actions. This analysis of strangershots helps us meet the digital imperative to pedagogically address 21st-century technology-driven composition practices while meaningfully considering the social actions performed by the genres and texts we teach.
Radical scavenging of poly(methyl methacrylate) bone cement by rifampin and clinically relevant properties of the rifampin-loaded cement.

Objectives The objective of this study was to characterize the effect of rifampin incorporation into poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement. While incompatibilities between the two materials ...
Demographic Techniques: Small-area Estimates and Projections

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by J.M. Alho, volume 5, pp. 3483–3486, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
Molecularly targeted imaging in multiple myeloma (Conference Presentation)

Introduction. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer of terminally differentiated plasma B-cells that originates in the hematopoietic bone marrow and accounts for 15-20% of all hematologic malignancies. Combination therapies are commonly prescribed to patients with relapsed/refractory MM, which necessitates the stratification of responding patients to minimize toxicities and improve quality of life. Very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) and cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) are over-expressed proteins on MM cells. Here, we will demonstrate VLA-4 and CD38 targeted molecular imaging as potential surrogates for targeted therapy. Materials and Methods: Daratumumab (Janssen Biotech), CD38 targeted antibody, was provided by the Siteman Cancer Center pharmacy. Sulfo-Cyanine5 (Cy5) NHS ester (Lumiprobe) was conjugated resulting in a 5:1 dye to antibody ratio. In vivo fluorescence imaging was performed on fox chase severe combined immunodeficient beige mice bearing MM1.S-GFP subcutaneous myeloma tumors (n = 7). VLA-4 imaging was performed using a highly selective peptidomimetic ligand (LLP2A) for the activated form of VLA-4 in 5TGM1-GFP syngeneic mouse model. Results and Conclusion. Here we used selective near-infrared fluorescent probes LLP2A-Cy5 and daratumumab-Cy5 to target α4β1 and CD38 expression respectively in vitro and in vivo in relevant myeloma models. Specificity for α4β1 over expressing cells was maintained in vivo in medullar MM with 7-fold and 2-fold increase in LLP2A-Cy5 uptake into tumor-bearing bone marrow and spleen, respectively. Tumor uptake of the fluorescently-labelled daratumumab increased through the imaging period with tumor to blood ratio 7 days post-contrast nearly doubling relative to pre-contrast. We are validating molecular imaging approaches for targeted therapy.
Perioperative Bundle Decreases Postoperative Hepatic Surgery Infections.

Postoperative infections are a costly and morbid complication. The introduction of perioperative infection prevention bundles have decreased surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients undergoing colorectal and pancreatic surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine if the implementation of a perioperative bundle would reduce postoperative infectious complications in patients undergoing hepatic surgery. An evidence-based, low cost, perioperative infection bundle was created, and a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed on 163 consecutive patients undergoing hepatic surgery. Patient characteristics, operative details, outcomes, and complications were reviewed, and differences pre- and post-bundle were assessed with univariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 113 patients received standard infection prophylaxis, while 50 received the perioperative bundle. Twenty-five patients had infections (16 deep abscesses, 3 superficial SSIs, 4 urinary tract infections, 1 pneumonia, 1 bacteremia). The overall infection rate decreased from 20.4 % (23/133) pre-bundle to 4 % (2/50) post-bundle. The SSI rate also decreased from 15 % (17/113) to 4 % (2/50). Univariate analysis showed that institution of the bundle was associated with a lower overall infection rate (p = 0.008), lower SSI rate (p = 0.06), and lower overall complication rate (p = 0.04). Multivariate analysis confirmed that the use of the bundle was independently associated with a lower infection (p = 0.008) and SSI (p = 0.05) rate. The primary length of stay (LOS) and LOS for 60 days postoperatively both significantly decreased post-bundle (from median of 5–4 days, p ≤ 0.001; 6–4 days, p ≤ 0.001). Implementation of a perioperative infection prevention bundle significantly decreased overall infections, SSIs, and postoperative LOS in patients undergoing hepatic surgery.
The Jamaican airs: An introduction to unpublished pieces of musical notation from enslaved people in the eighteenth-century Caribbean

“The Jamaican airs” is a paper introducing an unpublished primary source from the C. E. Long Papers at the British Library in London. Although much of the source’s content was originally printed in...
Silicon Nitride (Si 3 N 4 ) (De-)Multiplexers for 1- μ m CWDM Optical Interconnects

We discuss the design and demonstration of 4-channel coarse wavelength-division (de-)multiplexers based on cascaded Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) lattice filters and arrayed waveguide gratings (AWG) on a 150 nm silicon nitride (Si3N4) platform. The 1 × 4 (de-)multiplexers are designed for a channel separation of 25 nm and operate within 990–1065 nm for bottom emitting vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL)-based optical links. For Si3N4 Gaussian AWGs, we demonstrate crosstalk <−35 dB at the peak transmission band with insertion loss <0.5 dB. Measurements were performed over many dies, and pass-band standard deviations for channel 1–4 are 0.49, 0.66, 0.42, and 0.37 nm, respectively. Results for flat-top AWGs indicate crosstalk <−20 dB, with insertion loss <3 dB for the best devices. Flat-top cascaded 2nd order and 3rd order MZI lattice filters show a minimum of crosstalk <−15 dB and <−20 dB, respectively. The pass-band temperature shift was determined to be 14.5 pm/°C, which is lower than reported values for silicon. The device footprint of the Gaussian and flat-top AWGs are both ∼670 × 200 μm. The device footprint of the flat-top cascaded 2nd order and 3rd order lattice filters are 1160 × 470 μm and 1570 × 470 μm, respectively. We believe the Si3N4 platform has potential for its use in CWDM and possibly DWDM transceiver/optical-modules for data/computer communication in high temperature environments up to 80 °C.
Perceived Nervous Reactions during Initial Attraction and Their Potential Adaptive Value

We sought to examine perceived nervous reactions when first interacting with a particularly attractive person/potential romantic partner. From a theoretical standpoint, we cogitate on the possible adaptive nature of these reactions that appear seemingly counterproductive for future mating success. We documented 280 participants’ retrospective self-reports of experiencing a variety of physiological, vocal, and behavioral reactions during an initial encounter with a person they found highly attractive. We also asked participants to rate the reactions of others that they used to determine if another person was attracted to them. Participants reported most frequently experiencing increased attentiveness, smiling, staring, heart rate, giggling/laughter, blushing, and difficulty concentrating during this first encounter. Both sexes reported speaking faster and being less able to express themselves clearly, and women reported using a higher pitch and having a more unsteady tone of voice during an initial encounter of attraction. Further, participants reported observing similar nervous reactions by others whom they perceived were attracted to them. These findings were examined while considering individual differences in sociosexual orientation (i.e., propensity toward uncommitted sex), self-perceived mate value, empathy, and gender. Participants reported that they did, indeed, experience a cluster of anxiety-related physiological and behavioral reactions during an initial encounter with someone they found highly attractive. Although appearing nervous and awkward during an initial encounter with an attractive other may seem counterproductive for future mating success, we discuss potential adaptive functions for displaying these responses.
FFA3 activation stimulates duodenal bicarbonate secretion and prevents NSAID-induced enteropathy via the GLP-2 pathway in rats

The duodenal mucosa expresses the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) receptors FFA2 and FFA3, implicating SCFAs generated by foregut luminal flora in the pathological condition termed small intestinal b...
Abstract B50: ERK MAPK inhibition enhances the immunogenicity of KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer

The three RAS genes are the most commonly mutated oncogenes in cancer and are refractory to conventional therapies. Oncogenic mutation of KRAS in 44% of colorectal cancers (CRC) leads to aberrant activation of downstream effector pathways, including the ERK MAPK signaling cascade, which can lead to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Single-agent therapies targeting the ERK MAPK cascade or immune checkpoint (PD-1/PD-L1) have been mostly unsuccessful in KRAS-mutant CRC, and efforts are under way to identify effective combination strategies. We employed an unbiased RNA-seq approach to identify gene signatures significantly upregulated upon ERK MAPK pathway inhibition in a panel of KRAS-mutant CRC cell lines. We found that treatment with either the MEK inhibitor trametinib or ERK inhibitor Vx-11e induced upregulation of interferon gene signatures and JAK/STAT pathway signaling components. Inhibition of MEK or ERK also transcriptionally increased levels of MHC Class I and antigen presentation machinery. Upregulation of MHC Class I was reversed with either pharmacologic inhibition of JAK/STAT signaling or genetic knockdown of the transcription factor IRF1. We propose that combining MAPK inhibition with checkpoint immunotherapy may provide an effective treatment in KRAS-mutant CRC tumors in vivo and that potential synergy may be due to enhancing the immunogenicity of tumors through priming of interferon response pathways and antigen presentation machinery. Citation Format: Meagan B. Ryan, Ferran Fece de la Cruz, Leanne G. Ahronian, Sarah Phat, David T. Myers, Heather A. Shahzade, Catriona Hong, Ryan B. Corcoran. ERK MAPK inhibition enhances the immunogenicity of KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Targeting RAS-Driven Cancers; 2018 Dec 9-12; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2020;18(5_Suppl):Abstract nr B50.
β - and γ -Vibrational Bands of Sm 152 and Gd 154

Employing radioactive sources of $^{152}\mathrm{Eu}$ (12.4 yr) and $^{154}\mathrm{Eu}$ (16 yr) in both $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray singles and $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence experiments, we have determined the intensities of most of the weak $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray transitions depopulating the 0+, 2+, and 4+ members of the $\ensuremath{\beta}$-vibrational bands and the 2+, 3+, and 4+ members of the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-vibrational bands in $^{152}\mathrm{Sm}$ and $^{154}\mathrm{Gd}$. From these $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray intensities, ratios of reduced $E2$ transition probabilities have been determined and a detailed analysis of band mixing in these nuclei has been accomplished. Mixing of the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ bands into the ground-state rotational band and into each other has been considered but is found to be grossly insufficient in explaining the $B(E2)$ ratios from members of the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ band. However, this treatment does seem to be adequate in explaining the ratios from members of the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ band in each nucleus. From our $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray intensities and literature values for the internal-conversion electron intensities and the reduced $E2$ transition probabilities, it has been possible to evaluate the reduced nuclear matrix element $\ensuremath{\rho}$ for the electric-monopole transitions between the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ and ground-state bands in each nucleus. For $^{152}\mathrm{Sm}$, $\ensuremath{\rho}$ is determined to be 0.28\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02, while only an estimate of 0.44 is possible for $^{154}\mathrm{Gd}$. Values of $X$, the dimensionless ratio of the squares of the $E0$ to $E2$ reduced matrix elements, are determined and compared to the model predictions. The experimental values are generally 2.5 to 5 times smaller than predicted. Furthermore, the effects of non-adiabatic perturbations on the ground-state rotational band are considered. The contributions of centrifugal stretching to the observed energy shifts and to changes in radius within the rotational spectra can be estimated from our experimental determination of the band-mixing amplitudes. The results indicate that centrifugal stretching of the nucleus cannot explain the energy shifts in $^{152}\mathrm{Sm}$ and $^{154}\mathrm{Gd}$ but probably can account for the observed changes in radius for $^{152}\mathrm{Sm}$ and $^{154}\mathrm{Gd}$.
Assessing the Risk of HIV and Hepatitis C among Internally Displaced Persons in Georgia.

Background: Georgia is leading one of the world’s first hepatitis C (HCV) elimination programs alongside interventions to combat a HIV epidemic concentrated among high-risk groups. Although progress has been substantial, neither strategy accounts for the nearly 150,000 internally displaced persons residing in collective centers (CC-IDPs) who are susceptible to deeply integrated risk environments that could promote infection. Achieving dedicated goals for HCV elimination and HIV suppression requires a clear understanding of the risks facing CC-IDPs. Objectives: This literature review aims to consolidate what is known about the socio-economic and physical/mental health status of IDPs living in collective centers in Georgia, and to assess their vulnerability to HIV and HCV in light of local and global epidemiological trends. Methods: Sources were compiled from journal publications, reports by government ministries and transnational organizations, and the Integrated Household Survey database (2009–2018; updated annually by the National Statistics Office of Georgia) through manual searches in PUBMED, Google Scholar and Search, ProQuest, and digital repositories of government offices. Findings: Reports indicate that CC-IDPs are more susceptible to poverty, poor living conditions, mental illness, disability, substance use, and in some cases infectious disease; although, the correlation is not always present and subject to variability. These factors were linked to increased transmission and acquisition of HIV/HCV in both displacement and non-displacement contexts abroad. The geographic concentration of HIV/HCV in areas with greater clusters of CC-IDPs, and shared characteristics with local high-risk groups, indicate the possibility of inordinate transmission among CC-IDPs in Georgia. Conclusions: The disproportionate prevalence of psychosocial and clinical harms among CC-IDPs testifies to the serious potential of a greater burden of HIV and hepatitis C. Going forward, targeted research is needed to inform interventions and clarify the health status of CC-IDPs in Georgia.
Brief Announcement: On Implementing Software Transactional Memory in the C++ Memory Model

High-performance software transactional memory (STM) implementations rely on nuanced use of synchronization variables to coordinate speculative accesses to program data. We discuss some consequences of the C++ memory model on STM, identify an easy-to-fix implementation error, and describe an unavoidable formal race condition that occurs in an important class of STM algorithms.
The Increasing Prevalence of Fentanyl: A Urinalysis-Based Study Among Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder in New York City.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Opioid-related overdose deaths in North America have increased drastically, partially due to the increased prevalence of illicitly manufactured fentanyl. The current study sought to assess the prevalence and intentionality of fentanyl use among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). METHODS For this secondary analysis (study 1) we screened a total of 1118 urine samples from 316 participants with OUD from 2016 to 2019. Fentanyl knowledge and intentionality of use were assessed in a separate OUD sample (study 2; N = 33). RESULTS In study 1, 34.6% of all urine samples tested positive for fentanyl. Overall, 149 (47.2%) participants provided more than or equal to one urine sample that tested fentanyl-positive, and 93 (29.4%) provided more than or equal to two fentanyl-positive samples. The number of fentanyl-positive samples, relative to the number of samples tested each year, increased by 330% from year 1 to 3. Study 2 found all participants had pre-existing knowledge that drugs may be adulterated with fentanyl, yet 67% were surprised by their own fentanyl-positive test result. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Like previous studies, our data indicate the high prevalence of fentanyl exposure and low perception of fentanyl-related risk among individuals with OUD, respectively, suggesting that opioid overdose harm reduction efforts may need to focus more on drug users' understanding of risks related to fentanyl use and adulteration of drugs. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE The current studies provide longitudinal data on fentanyl exposure prevalence and risk perception that is uniquely granular by assessing OUD treatment status, and by identifying potential associations between fentanyl exposure with the presence of other drug use and nonfatal overdose. (Am J Addict 2021;30:65-71).
The utility of PRAME staining in identifying malignant transformation of melanocytic nevi

Background PReferentially expressed Antigen in MElanoma (PRAME) immunohistochemical (IHC) staining is used to aid melanoma diagnosis. PRAME expression in nevus-associated melanoma (NAM) has not been evaluated. Methods PRAME IHC was applied to cases of NAM; staining for each population of melanocytes (benign and malignant) was graded based on the percentage of labeled cells. No labeling was graded 0, 1% to 25% labeling was 1+, 26% to 50% was 2+, 51% to 75% was 3+, and >76% was 4+. Results Thirty-six cases were reviewed. Sixty-seven percent (24/36) of melanomas were PRAME positive (4+) while no (0/36) nevi showed 4+ positivity. Eighty-one percent (29/36) of nevi were completely PRAME negative compared to 17% (6/36) of melanomas. In 67% of cases (24/36) PRAME differentiated between benign and malignant melanocyte populations. Conclusions We identified a high rate (67%) of differential PRAME staining in adjacent benign and malignant melanocyte populations in NAM. In PRAME positive (4+) melanomas, PRAME differentiates 100% (24/24) of benign and malignant melanocyte populations. When 4+ staining is used as the threshold for positivity, PRAME staining has a sensitivity of 67% (24/36) and a specificity of 100% (36/36). These results support PRAME IHC can assist in distinguishing melanocyte populations in melanoma arising within nevi.
Increased PD-L1 Expression in Human Skin Acutely and Chronically Exposed to UV Irradiation.

Overexpression of PD-L1 (CD274) on tumor cells may represent a hallmark of immune evasion, and overexpression has been documented in several tumors including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). While PD-L1/PD-1 activity in the skin has been primarily described in inflammatory models, our goal was to examine PD-L1 expression in human keratinocytes exposed to UV irradiation. We assessed PD-L1 expression in human sun protected (SP) and sun damaged (SD) skin, actinic keratosis (AK), and cSCC using IHC and protein microarray. Both methods found low baseline levels of PD-L1 in SP and SD skin and significantly increased expression in cSCC. Next, we examined PD-L1 expression in acute models of UV exposure. In human SP skin exposed to 2-3 MED of UV (n = 20), epidermal PD-L1 was induced in 70% of subjects after 24 hours (p = 0.0001). SKH-1 mice exposed to acute UV also showed significant epidermal PD-L1 induction at 16, 24 and 48 hours. A time- and dose-dependent induction of PD-L1 was confirmed in cultured human keratinocytes after UV, which was markedly reduced in the presence of MEK/ERK, JNK or STAT3 inhibitors. These findings suggest that UV induces upregulation of PD-L1 through established, pharmacologically targetable stress-signaling pathways in keratinocytes.
Cell Therapy in Patients with Heart Failure: A Comprehensive Review and Emerging Concepts.

This review summarizes the results of clinical trials of cell therapy in patients with heart failure (HF). In contrast to acute myocardial infarction (where results have been consistently negative for more than a decade), in the setting of HF the results of Phase I-II trials are encouraging, both in ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Several well-designed Phase II studies have met their primary endpoint and demonstrated an efficacy signal, which is remarkable considering that only one dose of cells was used. That an efficacy signal was seen 6-12 months after a single treatment provides a rationale for larger, rigorous trials. Importantly, no safety concerns have emerged. Amongst the various cell types tested, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow, umbilical cord, or adipose tissue show the greatest promise. In contrast, embryonic stem cells are not likely to become a clinical therapy. Unfractionated bone marrow cells and cardiosphere-derived cells have been abandoned. The cell products used for HF will most likely be allogeneic. New approaches, such as repeated cell treatment and intravenous delivery, may revolutionize the field. As is the case for most new therapies, the development of cell therapies for HF has been slow, plagued by multifarious problems, and punctuated by many setbacks; at present, the utility of cell therapy in HF remains to be determined. What the field needs is rigorous, well-designed Phase III trials. The most important things to move forward are to keep an open mind, avoid preconceived notions, and let ourselves be guided by the evidence.
Somos Escritoras/We Are Writers: Latina Mothers and Daughters Writing and Sharing “En Convivencia”:

This paper shares the stories of Latina mothers and daughters as they participarted in Somos Escritoras, a creative space, that invites them to write and perform stories from their lived experience...
And the Wall Comes Tumbling Down: How the Supreme Court Is Striking the Wrong Balance between Majority and Minority Rights in Church and State Cases

One of the Supreme Court’s primary responsibilities in church and state cases is to strike the right balance between majority and minority rights. But in two high profile cases decided in its last term, the Supreme Court struck the wrong balance in both. In Town of Greece v. Galloway, concerning prayers at the beginning of a small town’s board meetings, the Court was too deferential to the religious majority’s preferred prayer practice and inadequately sensitive to the practice’s impact on religious minorities. In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., concerning the right of for-profit corporations to be exempted from the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate, the Court was too deferential to the religious minorities’ objections and not sufficiently protective of the secular majority’s interest in women’s healthcare. The common thread in these cases is the advancement of religious interests over secular. The legislative prayer case made it more acceptable to use overtly sectarian prayers in the public sphere. The contraception mandate case made it easier for religious groups to gain exemptions from secular laws. Each case removed one more brick from the wall separating church and state. This essay explains how the Court decided these cases, how its reasoning was flawed, and why each case would have been better decided if the Court had struck a more sensible balance between majority and minority interests.
Ligand GA: a genetic algorithm for automated protein inhibitor design

Ligand GA is introduced in this work and approaches the problem of finding small molecules inhibiting protein functions by using the protein site to find close to optimal or optimal small molecule binders. Genetic algorithms (GA) are an effective means for approximating or solving computationally hard mathematics problems with large search spaces such as this one. The algorithm is designed to include constraints on the generated molecules from ADME restriction, localization in a binding site, specified hydrogen bond requirements, toxicity prevention from multiple proteins, sub-structure restrictions, and database inclusion. This algorithm and work is in the context of computational modeling, ligand design and docking to protein sites.
Rethinking the business core curriculum: The case against calculus

In this paper, the authors question the value of a required calculus class for undergraduate business students. We use the tenets of Transfer of Learning theory along with the Theory of Formal Disc...
A Framework for eVTOL Performance Evaluation in Urban Air Mobility Realm.

In this paper, we developed a generalized simulation framework for the evaluation of electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) in the context of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) and under the concept of Urban Air Mobility (UAM). Unlike most existing studies, the proposed framework combines the utilization of UTM and eVTOLs to develop a realistic UAM testing platform. For this purpose, we first enhanced an existing UTM simulator to simulate the real-world UAM environment. Then, instead of using a simplified eVOTL model, a realistic eVTOL design tool, namely SUAVE, is employed and an dilation sub-module is introduced to bridge the gap between the UTM simulator and SUAVE eVTOL performance evaluation tool to elaborate the complete mission profile. Based on the developed simulation framework, experiments are conducted and the results are presented to analyze the performance of eVTOLs in the UAM environment.
Studies of the molecular pathogenesis of hexane neuropathy. I. Evaluation of the inhibition of glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase by 2,5‐hexanedione

Inhibition of the sulfhydryi enzyme glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) by 2,5‐hexanedione (2,5‐HD) was found to be irreversible, proceeding via a reversible enzyme‐inhibitor intermediate, while acetone was a weak reversible inhibitor. Comparison of 2,5‐HD and acetone with p‐chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB) and N‐ethylmaleimide (NEM) demonstrated that the former are not significant sulfhydryi reagents, since they must be present at more than 10 4 times higher concentrations than PCMB or NEM to effect measurable inhibition of this enzyme. Thus it is unlikely that inhibition of GAPDH by 2,5‐HD has any significance in the molecular pathogenesis of hexane neuropathy. The irreversibility of 2,5‐HD inhibition, on the other hand, suggests that 2,5‐HD reacts with amino groups rather than sulfhydryi groups on proteins. This reaction is proposed as the molecular lesion in hexane neuropathy.
Slugging Flow of Water Draining from the Bottom of a Nonvented Container

Experiments were run to observe the behavior of water exiting through an orifice at the bottom of an non-vented container. Initially, the container is nearly full of water with a small air space on top. Once the orifice was uncovered, the slugging rate and the drain rate of the water leaving the container were measured. Upon initially opening the orifice, water drains out until the air pressure above the water reduces enough that the air pressure drop from inside to outside of the container supports the water column and the water stops flowing. Air then enters the container through the orifice forming a bubble, which grows until it detaches and bubbles through the water to reach the air space. Once the bubble enters, this added air increases the pressure in the air space enough to allow the water to start flowing out again. This cycle of flow out, flow stoppage, air inflow, and bubble breakoff continues over and over until the hole is closed or the container empties. This is referred to as the “slugging cycle.” A mechanism is proposed to describe the slugging cycle which is modeled analytically. This paper presents the description of the experiments, data obtained, themore » mechanistic model, and comparison of the model to the experimental data. The model predicts outflow rates close to experimental values. Flow rates from non-vented containers are more than 10 to 20 less than vented containers. The bubbles which must enter the container periodically to increase the internal air pressure stop the water flow momentarily so are responsible for this large decrease in flow rate. Swirl induced in the non-vented container causes the flow rates to increase by a factor of two. The flow rate out of a non-vented container is independent of water height which is in direct contrast to a vented container where the flow rate is proportional to the square root of the water height. The constant rate is due to the container pressure. The higher the water level, the lower the air pressure is in the container. This analytical model requires input of the bubble size. The volume recommended is the volume of a cylinder with the base of the orifice area and length of 3.3 cm. Slugging rate varies only a small amount falling in the range to 2 to 4 cycles/sec. Preliminary work with other containers indicates larger containers, larger orifices and nozzle exit shapes produce higher specific flow rates. The standard multiphase flow equations could not be used to analyze this situation because the two phases are not interpenetrating. Instead one phase must fully stop before the other can flow. Interpenetrating phases allow can pass one another each affecting the other with friction and virtual mass. An interesting observation: The negative air pressure in the container is observable. It equals the water height.« less
From enemies to 'colleagues': Relations between Palestinian journalists and Israeli West Bank beat reporters, 1967-1994:

Using the agenda-building perspective, this study traces the evolving relations between Israeli and Palestinian journalists. It examines group characteristics that affect the Palestinian-Israeli interaction, and identifies key symbols disputants use to gain allies and change the cleavages among different groups. In the process, the study describes how the improved working relations between some Israeli and Palestinian journalists have affected the relations between Palestinian journalists and the Western Press, and altered the pattern of source use in the coverage of the occupied territories. The study concludes, however, that the same human right symbols that influenced Israeli and Western reporters have been less effective with the Israeli mass public.