cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
"No Excuses" in New Orleans: The Silent Passivity of Neoliberal Schooling.

AbstractDrawing on ethnographic data, this article critically analyzes pedagogy in “no excuses” charter schools in New Orleans. Employing Ladson-Billings's framework for culturally relevant pedagogy, the author describes the level of academic rigor, cultural competence, and critical consciousness development across classrooms. This study provides empirical evidence that within a market-based system, the purpose of schooling shifts toward the production of assessment data at the expense of culturally relevant practices.
SNF Interim Storage Canister Corrosion and Surface Environment Investigations

This progress report describes work being done at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) to assess the localized corrosion performance of container/cask materials used in the interim storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Of particular concern is stress corrosion cracking (SCC), by which a through-wall crack could potentially form in a canister outer wall over time intervals that are shorter than possible dry storage times. In order for SCC to occur, three criteria must be met. A corrosive environment must be present on the canister surface, the metal must susceptible to SCC, and sufficient tensile stress to support SCC must be present through the entire thickness of the canister wall. SNL is currently evaluating the potential for each of these criteria to be met.
Development of a Test Stand for the Characterization of Thermoelectric Modules for Power Generation

The characterization of thermoelectric modules for power generation applications has only received minimal attention by researchers. This paper describes the development of a test stand for the characterization of the thermoelectric power modules. The test stand has the ability to provide constant temperatures on the hot and cold side of thermoelectric modules and measure the amount of electrical power generated. Great care was taken to provide a uniform temperature on both the hot side and cold side of the module, with the hot side having the capability to provide temperatures of up to 600°C and the cold side able to be maintained at room temperature. The system is able to deliver a controlled heat flux of 140 kW/m2 to a thermoelectric module. A data acquisition system was developed to record the electrical performance of tested modules under a wide range of operating temperatures regulated by the control system. Using the collected data it will be possible to compare many modules and evaluate their performance with one another as well as provide module power generation parameters which can be useful for thermoelectric system design. This project was commissioned through the RIT Multidisciplinary Senior Design program as a capstone to the undergraduate degree curricula.© 2007 ASME
Embolic Strokes of Unknown Source and Cryptogenic Stroke: Implications in Clinical Practice

Up to a third of strokes are rendered cryptogenic or of undetermined etiology. This number is specifically higher in younger patients. At times, inadequate diagnostic workups, multiple causes, or an under-recognized etiology contributes to this statistic. Embolic stroke of undetermined source, a new clinical entity particularly refers to patients with embolic stroke for whom the etiology of embolism remains unidentified despite through investigations ruling out established cardiac and vascular sources. In this article, we review current classification and discuss important clinical considerations in these patients; highlighting cardiac arrhythmias and structural abnormalities, patent foramen ovale, paradoxical sources, and potentially under-recognized, vascular, inflammatory, autoimmune, and hematologic sources in relation to clinical practice.
Harmonic functions of linear growth on Kähler manifolds with nonnegative Ricci curvature

The subject began in 1975, when Yau [Y1] proved that there are no nonconstant, positive harmonic functions on a complete manifold with nonnegative Ricci curvature. A few years later, Cheng [C] pointed out that using a local version of Yau’s gradient estimate, developed in his joint work with Yau [CY], one can show that there are no nonconstant harmonic functions of sublinear growth on a manifold with nonnegative Ricci curvature. Using Euclidean space as a model, this prompted Yau [Y3] to suggest in his 1981 IMU lectures the study of the space of harmonic functions of polynomial growth on manifolds with nonnegative Ricci curvature. He later conjectured that the space of harmonic functions which grows at most polynomially of order p, for p ∈ Z, on a complete manifold with nonnegative Ricci curvature is finite dimensional. Part of this conjecture was verified by Tam and the author in [TL1]. In fact, they proved a sharp estimate on the dimension of the space of harmonic functions of linear growth. To state this theorem in a precise form, let us first make the following definition:
Analysis of Airport Ground Delay Program Decisions Using Data Mining Techniques

Air traffic service providers have to make decisions regarding changes to air traffic flow in the event of major weather disturbances and traffic congestions to maintain safety of the system. The behavior of the air traffic management system will be more predictable if consistent decisions are made under similar traffic and weather conditions. Consistency of deciding on control action depends on the weather and traffic conditions as well as accuracy in predicting these conditions. Weather parameters (defined in terms of forecast and actual weather and traffic conditions) on different days can be used to categorize days into days with little decision consistency, days with moderate decision consistency and days with high decision consistency. Four years of traffic, weather and ground delay program decisions data at major airports in the United States are used in the analysis. This paper examines performance of different data mining methods in the three regions of decision consistency. Not surprisingly, data mining methods have the best performance in the region of most decision consistency and have the poorest performance in the region of little decision consistency. In applications where data mining methods have differing performance in differing regions, it would be more useful to characterize the region specific performance instead of characterizing performance by a single parameter. Finally, the results show no significant variation in the performance of different data mining methods for this particular problem. The fact that different mining methods show no significant variation also provides further confidence in the results of data mining methods. Work in this abstract discusses initial results. This paper describes the results in terms of both forecast and actual environmental conditions and discusses how prediction errors impact decision consistency.
Distinct signaling pathways regulate transformation and inhibition of skeletal muscle differentiation by oncogenic Ras

Expression of oncogenic Ras in 23A2 skeletal myoblasts is sufficient to induce both a transformed phenotype and a differentiation-defective phenotype, but the signaling pathways activated by oncogenic Ras in these cells and their respective contribution to each phenotype have not been explored. In this study, we investigated MAP kinase activity in control 23A2 myoblasts and in 23A2 myoblasts rendered differentiation-defective by the stable expression of an oncogenic (G12V)Ha-ras gene (Ras9 cells). The MAP kinase immunoprecipitated from Ras9 cells was 30-40% more active than that from control 23A2 cells. To establish if this elevated MAP kinase activity is essential to the maintenance of the oncogenic Ras-induced phenotype, we utilized the selective MAP kinase kinase 1 (MEK1) inhibitor, PD 098059. PD 098059 decreased the MAP kinase activity in Ras9 cells to the level found in 23A2 cells. PD 098059 did not affect the ability of 23A2 myoblasts to differentiate. PD 098059 reverted the transformed morphology of Ras9 cells but did not restore the ability of these cells to express the muscle-specific myosin heavy chain gene or to form muscle fibers. Treatment with PD 098059 also did not affect the ability of oncogenic Ha-Ras to establish a non-myogenic phenotype in C3H10T1/2 cells co-expressing MyoD. These results demonstrate that the activation of MAP kinase is necessary for the transformed morphology of Ras9 cells but is not required by oncogenic Ras to establish or to maintain a differentiation-defective phenotype. While these data do not rule out the possibility that constitutive signaling by MEK1 or MAP kinase could inhibit myoblast differentiation, they clearly demonstrate that other pathways activated by oncogenic Ras are sufficient to inhibit differentiation.
Effects of Changfeifangchuan Prescription on the Eotaxin,ICAM-1 in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Asthma Model Rats

Objective:To investigate the effects of Changfeifangchuan Prescription on the eotaxin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) of asthma model rats.Methods:Rat asthma models were established by ovalbumin(OVA) challenge methods.The content of eotaxin and ICAM-1 in the BALF of the normal,the model,the dexamethasone groups and the large,middle and light dosage Changfeifangchuan Prescription groups were detected by the method of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results:The results showed that the contents of eotaxin and ICAM-1 in model group increased than that in normal group.After treatment,the contents of eotaxin and ICAM-1 decreased.Conclusion:The results indicated that one of the anti-inflammation mechanisms on asthma of Changfeifangchuan Prescription might be the function of decreasing the contents of eotaxin and ICAM-1.
Regulation of Intracellular pH by Toadfish (Opsanus Beta) Hepatocytes

The BCECF [2′,7′-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein] method for measurement of intracellular pH (pHi) was successfully applied to toadfish (Opsanus beta Goode and Bean) hepatocytes and used for investigating the pHi regulatory properties of the hepatocytes. As in previous studies of fish hepatocytes, toadfish hepatocyte pHi showed a marked dependence on extracellular pH (pHe) with characteristic values of about 0.15–0.2 units below pHe. Measurement of membrane potential (−33.76±3.07mV, N=3) in toadfish hepatocytes by the S14CN− distribution method allowed calculation of equilibrium pHi values and, despite the close tracking of pHi and pHe, proton equilibration across the membrane was never observed. Furthermore, when toadfish hepatocytes were acidified by the NH4CI prepulse method, recovery to normal pHi values could be inhibited by addition of O.5mmoll−1 amiloride or replacement of extracellular Na+, indicating that these cells possessed a Na+/H+ exchanger. These experiments led to the conclusion that pHi is regulated in toadfish hepatocytes. I next exposed toadfish hepatocytes to a physiological range of several extracellular variables that change during exercise (pHe, Pcoco2 [lactate], [catecholamine], [glucose]), in the presence and absence of amiloride, in an attempt to determine the importance of Na+/H+ exchange to hepatocyte pHi regulation in a physiological context. The exchanger plays a significant role in post-exercise recovery from acidosis induced by changes in Pcoco2 and pHe. Further experiments employing inhibitors of lactate metabolism (3-mercaptopicolinic acid and amino-oxyacetic acid) and amiloride established that the increased lactate metabolism associated with ‘post-exercise’ recovery creates an intracellular acid load, and that Na+/H+ exchange protects the cell from changes in pHi caused by lactate metabolism.
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus

By far the greatest bulk of opinion in the intelligent AIDS research community is that HIV is the cause, the etiologic agent, for AIDS. I should probably not refer to their belief as “opinion,” and should not even refer to it as “belief,” since it is based on an enormous amount of thought and research. But there is a small number of intelligent persons, such as Robert Root-Bernstein and others, who dissent from this view, some of whom have quite impressive credentials. (There are also, as always, a number of not so thoughtful dissenters.) This small number of renegade researchers — even though many of them disagree even among themselves1 — continues to question how certain we should be that HIV is the etiologic agent for AIDS. They are still actively debating the issue, presenting data, and pursuing the argument, and their efforts must not be minimized. Still, most AIDS researchers feel that the evidence is compelling that HIV does cause AIDS. A recent issue of Science reported on the journal’s latest, quite thorough, three-month investigation of the arguments and evidence for this minority thesis, and still concluded that the evidence supporting the HIV-causes-AIDS thesis was very compelling.2
Similarities/Differences in Gender and Far-Right Politics in Europe and the USA

This article compares the far right in Europe and the USA. It shows similarities in terms of the growing numbers and importance of women, the focus on ethnic-religious groups as a primary target (Jews in the USA, Muslims in Europe), and the emphasis on the dangers of women’s sexuality. There are also substantial differences between the US and European far right. Unlike in Europe, far-rightists in the USA are not affiliated with a political party, do not seek to attract public approval, find few allies, and have less interest in promoting gender equity. Future research is needed on masculinity and on-line interactions in the far right, as well as on the similarities and differences among far-right movements over time and across national and regional borders.
RSV Takes Control of Neonatal Breg Cells: Two Hands on the Wheel

The viral attachment protein of RSV has many surprising features, especially its mimicry of fractalkine (CX3CL1). Zhivaki et al. (2017) now show that, in addition to using this homology to attach to ciliated cells, it activates human neonatal regulatory B cells, thereby inhibiting immunological responses.
An Evaluation of the Present Economic Position of Agriculture, by Regions and in GeneralPart II. Farm Real Estate Values

Qualitatively, the present position of agriculture with reference to the principal item on its balance sheet-the value of its real estate-may fairly be described as bordering on the chaotic in important agricultural areas of the country. During the two or three years immediately preceding the price collapse of 1930, it looked as though farm real estate values might be groping for a "bottom," in some sort of adjustment to the prevailing levels of product-prices, cost and incomes. But the drastic decreases in incomes during the last three years brought the sharpest declines in farm real estate values since those which in 1921 and 1922 followed the break of the war time boom. Associated with
Standardization of Urine Albumin Measurements: Status and Performance Goals

Background: Urine albumin is a key laboratory test used for classification, assessment of risk, and monitoring treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease. Urine albumin measurement results are not standardized among different measurement procedures. Consequently, clinical guidelines using fixed decision values for urine albumin cannot be applied consistently. Content: Isotope dilution mass spectrometry reference measurement procedures and certified reference materials are being developed to enable standardization of immunoassay measurement procedures for urine albumin. A previous report determined calibration bias was the major error source for differences in results among different measurement procedures for urine albumin. Performance goals for between-day precision, ≤6% CV above 15 mg/L, and for specimen-specific effects, ≤6% CV, were established on the basis of the performance capability of current measurement procedures. The biological variation model was used to estimate a total allowable error of ≤24%–30% and from that the goal for bias of ≤7%–13%. Summary: A reference system of higher-order certified reference materials and reference measurement procedures is being developed to enable standardization of urine albumin measurement results. Goals have been established for total allowable error, specimen-specific effects, imprecision, and bias to facilitate efforts to standardize urine albumin measurement results.
Group 1 CD1-restricted T cells can recognize Staphylococcus aureus lipid antigen (MPF2P.751)

CD1-restricted T cells are a unique subset of T cells that respond to lipid self- and foreign antigens presented by group 1 CD1 (CD1a, -b, -c) and group 2 CD1 (CD1-d) antigen presenting molecules. Previous studies have shown that group 1 CD1-restricted T cells can respond to lipid antigens derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis . As group 1 CD1 molecules can accommodate a variety of lipid species, we sought to address whether group 1 CD1-restricted T cells can be activated by Staphylococcus aureus (SA) lipids. Using a transgenic mouse strain that expresses human group 1 CD1 molecules (hCD1Tg), it was found that group 1 CD1-restricted T cell responses against SA lipids can be observed in immunization and infection settings. When DCs coated with total lipid from MRSA strain USA300 were injected into hCD1Tg mice, lymphocytes produced significantly higher amounts of IFN-g in response to SA lipid in a group 1 CD1-dependent manner. Lymphocytes from SA-infected animals also produced more IL-17 in a group 1 CD1- and SA lipid antigen-dependent manner. Finally, long-term cultured CTL clones derived from immunized and infected animals displayed specificity toward SA lipid antigens. These clones produced IL-10 and TNF-α in response to SA lipid, demonstrating that group 1 CD1-restricted T cells isolated from immunized or infected animals can produce multiple cytokines in response to SA lipid.
The Perils of Buying and Selling Art at the Fair: Legal Issues in Title

The possibility that an artwork has been stolen or that there are questions concerning the provenance of a work, affects every aspect of the art market. Collectors may remain at risk for claims asserted against their artworks decades after acquisition. Sellers may be caught in the middle of a dispute between an original owner (or heirs) and good faith purchaser.
Physical chemical properties and cell toxicity of sanding copper-treated lumber

AbstractTo protect against decay and fungal invasion into the wood, the micronized copper, copper carbonate particles, has been applied in the wood treatment in recent years; however, there is little information on the health risk associated with sanding micronized copper-treated lumber. In this study, wood dust from the sanding of micronized copper azole-treated lumber (MCA) was compared to sanding dust from solubilized copper azole-treated wood (CA-C) and untreated yellow pine (UYP). The test found that sanding MCA released a much higher concentration of nanoparticles than sanding CA-C and UYP, and the particles between about 0.4–2 µm from sanding MCA had the highest percentage of copper. The percentage of copper in the airborne dust from sanding CA-C had a weak dependency on particle size and was lower than that from sanding MCA. Nanoparticles were seen in the MCA PM2.5 particles, while none were detected in the UYP or CA-C. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis found that the ...
A skeletal muscle L-type Ca2+ channel with a mutation in the selectivity filter (CaV1.1 E1014K) conducts K .

A glutamate-to-lysine substitution at position 1014 within the selectivity filter of the skeletal muscle L-type Ca2+ channel (CaV1.1) abolishes Ca2+ flux through the channel pore. Mice engineered to exclusively express the mutant channel display accelerated muscle fatigue, changes in muscle composition, and altered metabolism relative to wildtype littermates. By contrast, mice expressing another mutant CaV1.1 channel that is impermeable to Ca2+ (CaV1.1 N617D) have shown no detectable phenotypic differences from wildtype mice to date. The major biophysical difference between the CaV1.1 E1014K and CaV1.1 N617D mutants elucidated thus far is that the former channel conducts robust Na+ and Cs+ currents in patch-clamp experiments, but neither of these monovalent conductances seems to be of relevance in vivo. Thus, the basis for the different phenotypes of these mutants has remained enigmatic. We now show that CaV1.1 E1014K readily conducts 1,4-dihydropyridine-sensitive K+ currents at depolarizing test potentials, whereas CaV1.1 N617D does not. Our observations, coupled with a large body of work by others regarding the role of K+ accumulation in muscle fatigue, raise the possibility that the introduction of an additional K+ flux from the myoplasm into the transverse-tubule lumen accelerates the onset of fatigue and precipitates the metabolic changes observed in CaV1.1 E1014K muscle. These results, highlighting an unexpected consequence of a channel mutation, may help define the complex mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle fatigue and related dysfunctions.
THE ECONOMIC COSTS AND CO-BENEFITS OF CARBON TAXATION: A GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM ASSESSMENT

I examine the general equilibrium costs of climate policies that levy taxes on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States and return the revenue in the form of lump-sum rebates and tax rel...
High-Pressure Condensing Refrigerant Flows through Microchannels, Part I: Pressure Drop Models

Condensation of high-pressure refrigerants in small-diameter channels over a wide range of reduced pressures approaching the critical point is investigated in this two-part study. In this paper, Pa...
A Joint Source Channel Arithmetic Map Decoder Using Probabilistic Relations Among Intra Modes in Predictive Video Compression

In this paper, residual redundancy in compressed videos is exploited to alleviate transmission errors using joint source channel arithmetic decoding. A new method is proposed to estimate a priori probability in MAP metric of H.264 intra modes decoder. The decoder generates a decoding tree using a breadth first search algorithm. An introduced statistical model is then implemented stage by stage over the decoding tree. In this model, a priori PMF of intra block modes in a macroblock is estimated from the intra block modes seated in its spatially adjacent macroblocks previously generated up to the current stage of the decoding tree. The estimated PMFs are categorized as either reliable or unreliable based on their local entropies. In the unreliable case, the decoder assumes uniform PMF and switch to ML metric instead. The simulation results show the proposed method reduces the error rate 1 % to 13% at various SNRs compared to the ML.
Linking process and structure in the friction stir scribe joining of dissimilar materials: A computational approach with experimental support

Abstract Friction stir welding (FSW) is a popular technique to join dissimilar materials in numerous applications. The solid state nature of the process enables joining materials with strikingly different physical properties. For welds in lap configuration, an enhancement to this technology is made by introducing a short, hard insert, referred to as a cutting-scribe, at the bottom of the tool pin. The cutting-scribe induces deformation in the bottom plate which leads to the formation of mechanical interlocks or hook like structures at the interface of two materials. A thermo-mechanical computational model employing a coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian approach is developed to quantitatively capture the morphology of these interlocks during the FSW process. Simulations using this model are validated by experimental observations. The identified interface morphology coupled with the predicted temperature field from this process–structure model can be used to estimate the post-weld microstructure and joint strength.
Risks associated with fertility preservation for women with sickle cell anemia.

Objective To highlight the risk of complications among women with sickle cell anemia (SCA) receiving fertility preservation treatment (FPT) before hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Design Single-center case series. Setting Academic fertility center. Patient(s) Women aged 15–32 years with SCA undergoing FPT before HSCT. Intervention(s) Retrospective, systematic review. Main Outcome Measure(s) FPT modality, SCA complications during FPT. Result(s) Over an 8-year period (2009–2017), seven women with SCA ages 15–32 years (mean 28.5 years) underwent FPT with embryo cryopreservation (n = 1), oocyte cryopreservation (n = 4), and ovarian tissue cryopreservation (n = 2). The five women subjects who underwent oocyte or embryo cryopreservation were treated with an antagonist controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocol and individualized gonadotropin dosing. The trigger medications included leuprolide acetate (n = 2), and human chorionic gonadotropin (n = 3). Most patients (n = 5) received a disease-modifying therapy for SCA (hydroxyurea or chronic transfusions) before FPT. Three patients experienced periprocedural SCA complications that included life-threatening respiratory failure, painful crisis requiring interruption of a stimulation cycle, and severe postharvest painful crisis. Conclusion(s) Women with SCA may choose to undergo diverse FPT strategies before HSCT and are at risk for serious SCA-related complications. Evidence-based strategies to mitigate SCA-related morbidity and to optimize fertility preservation outcomes are needed.
Name Brand: The Rise of the Independent Reporter Through Social Media

A theory of branding was applied to news reporters to assess if conditions are right for them to create a personal brand, as opposed to the news brand of their outlet. Attitudinal data were collected through a purposive survey of television and newspaper reporters across the U.S. Results suggested that while reporters are not actively trying to brand themselves, the conditions are ripe for personal branding to take place. Several environmental factors would need to change before such change could occur.
Lamotrigine Therapy and Biomarkers of Cerebral Energy Metabolism in Older Age Bipolar Depression.

ABSTRACT Objective This study compared brain energy metabolism, as measured by cerebral concentrations of glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), and N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), in older age bipolar depression (OABD) to that of psychiatrically healthy comparison subjects using proton (1H) magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging at 4-Tesla. Metabolite levels were assessed in OABD subjects before and after 8 weeks of lamotrigine therapy with the goal of determining relationships between cerebral energy metabolism, depression symptom severity, and changes in depression symptom response. Methods Individuals (n = 21, mean age: 62.0 ± 5.9 years) with bipolar disorder, current episode depressed, and a healthy comparison group (n = 14, mean age: 67.5 ± 8.8 years) were selected. Participants with bipolar disorder, current episode depressed, were treated in open label fashion with lamotrigine monotherapy for 8 weeks. All subjects were scanned with 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 4T at baseline and again after 8 weeks to assess levels of cerebral metabolites in the anterior cingulate cortex and parieto-occipital cortex. Metabolite levels were examined as ratios relative to creatine (Cr). Response to 8 weeks of lamotrigine treatment in the bipolar disorder, current episode depressed group, was assessed as a continuous measure on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Results NAA/Cr ratio in OABD was significantly lower by 14% (95% confidence interval: [1%, 26%]) than in comparison subjects at baseline. However, there were no associations between NAA/Cr, Glu/Cr, or Gln/Cr and either depression severity or lamotrigine treatment. Conclusion Group differences in NAA suggest evidence for a deficit in cerebral energy metabolism in OABD.
Minotaur: Adapting Software Testing Techniques for Hardware Errors

With the end of conventional CMOS scaling, efficient resiliency solutions are needed to address the increased likelihood of hardware errors. Silent data corruptions (SDCs) are especially harmful because they can create unacceptable output without the user's knowledge. Several resiliency analysis techniques have been proposed to identify SDC-causing instructions, but they remain too slow for practical use and/or sacrifice accuracy to improve analysis speed. We develop Minotaur, a novel toolkit to improve the speed and accuracy of resiliency analysis. The key insight behind Minotaur is that modern resiliency analysis has many conceptual similarities to software testing; therefore, adapting techniques from the rich software testing literature can lead to principled and significant improvements in resiliency analysis. Minotaur identifies and adapts four concepts from software testing: 1) it introduces the concept of input quality criteria for resiliency analysis and identifies PC coverage as a simple but effective criterion; 2) it creates (fast) minimized inputs from (slow) standard benchmark inputs, using the input quality criteria to assess the goodness of the created input; 3) it adapts the concept of test case prioritization to prioritize error injections and invoke early termination for a given instruction to speed up error-injection campaigns; and 4) it further adapts test case or input prioritization to accelerate SDC discovery across multiple inputs. We evaluate Minotaur by applying it to Approxilyzer, a state-of-the-art resiliency analysis tool. Minotaur's first three techniques speed up Approxilyzer's resiliency analysis by 10.3X (on average) for the workloads studied. Moreover, they identify 96% (on average) of all SDC-causing instructions explored, compared to 64% identified by Approxilyzer alone. Minotaur's fourth technique (input prioritization) enables identifying all SDC-causing instructions explored across multiple inputs at a speed 2.3X faster (on average) than analyzing each input independently for our workloads.
On the Non-Simplicity of a Subring of M(G)

The internal structure of the ring NQ(G) of all normal quasi-endomorphisms is investigated for different groups G.
Temperament in Adults Who Stutter and Its Association With Stuttering Frequency and Quality-of-Life Impacts.

Purpose The study aim was to determine whether self-reported temperament traits differentiate adults who stutter (AWS) from adults who do not stutter (AWNS). Additionally, associations between temp...
Leveraging the Expertise of the New Jersey Mosquito Control Community to Jump Start Standardized Tick Surveillance

Despite the rising incidence of tick-borne diseases (TBD) in the northeastern United States (US), information and expertise needed to assess risk, inform the public and respond proactively is highly variable across states. Standardized and well-designed tick surveillance by trained personnel can facilitate the development of useful risk maps and help target resources, but requires nontrivial start-up costs. To address this challenge, we tested whether existing personnel in New Jersey’s 21 county mosquito control agencies could be trained and interested to participate in a one-day collection of American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis), a presumably widespread species never before surveyed in this state. A workshop was held offering training in basic tick biology, identification, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for surveillance, followed by a one-day simultaneous collection of D. variabilis across the state (the “NJ Tick Blitz”). In total, 498 D. variabilis were collected from 21 counties and follow-up participant surveys demonstrated an increase in knowledge and interest in ticks: 41.7% of respondents reported collecting ticks outside the Tick Blitz. We hope that the success of this initiative may provide a template for researchers and officials in other states with tick-borne disease concerns to obtain baseline tick surveillance data by training and partnering with existing personnel.
Governance: A peaceful Arctic

Encourage dialogue between the producers and consumers of scientific knowledge in the north to keep the region conflict free, says Oran R. Young.
Normal subgroups of the group of units of incidence algebras

Abstract We investigate the group of units of incidence algebras and its normal subgroups. This includes a detailed discussion of the structure and properties of maximal abelian, normal subgroups, and criteria for solvability and nilpotency.
Limited Partners' Derivative Suits Under the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act

The long-existing need for a form of business association that permits an investor to contribute capital and receive a share of the profits while remaining free from both management responsibility and personal liability in excess of the amount invested is being met in the United States principally by two forms of business organization -- the corporation and limited partnership. The two are compared and contrasted in this article, and an analysis of limited partners' derivative suits is offered.
Novel approaches to prediction in severe brain injury.

Purpose of review Recovery after severe brain injury is variable and challenging to accurately predict at the individual patient level. This review highlights new developments in clinical prognostication with a special focus on the prediction of consciousness and increasing reliance on methods from data science. Recent findings Recent research has leveraged serum biomarkers, quantitative electroencephalography, MRI, and physiological time-series to build models for recovery prediction. The analysis of high-resolution data and the integration of features from different modalities can be approached with efficient computational techniques. Summary Advances in neurophysiology and neuroimaging, in combination with computational methods, represent a novel paradigm for prediction of consciousness and functional recovery after severe brain injury. Research is needed to produce reliable, patient-level predictions that could meaningfully impact clinical decision making.
Optical and molecular longitudinal tracking of primary colorectal murine tumors shows differences in the angiogenic response to maximum-tolerated and metronomic approaches

The current paradigm for chemotherapy in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) is based on the maximum-tolerated dose approach (MTD), which uses high doses of cytotoxic agents with the aim of killing tumor cells. However, the toxicity of MTD chemotherapy requires drug delivery in a cyclic manner with rest periods that allow the tumor to recover. In contrast, metronomic chemotherapy (MET) uses low but continuous doses that target the endothelial cells of tumors, thereby directly affecting the development of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Because the potential impact of MET when used as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in CRC has not been explored and contrasted with the effects in perfusion of the standard MTD regimen, this study uses an azoxymethane-induced primary model of CRC to assess changes in perfusion and angiogenic markers. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) was used to longitudinally quantify oxygen saturation (StO2) and compare these changes with the change in expression of VEGF-A between MET and MTD treatments. In the MTD group, an increase in StO2 from 65 to 81% was observed by week 4 of treatment and a reduction of VEGF-A expression from 81% to 16% was observed between weeks 4 and 6.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation alters multivoxel patterns in the absence of overall activity changes.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has become one of the major tools for establishing the causal role of specific brain regions in perceptual, motor, and cognitive processes. Nevertheless, a persistent limitation of the technique is the lack of clarity regarding its precise effects on neural activity. Here, we examined the effects of TMS intensity and frequency on concurrently recorded blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signals at the site of stimulation. In two experiments, we delivered TMS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in human subjects of both sexes. In Experiment 1, we delivered a series of pulses at high (100% of motor threshold) or low (50% of motor threshold) intensity, whereas, in Experiment 2, we always used high intensity but delivered stimulation at four different frequencies (5, 8.33, 12.5, and 25 Hz). We found that the TMS intensity and frequency could be reliably decoded using multivariate analysis techniques even though TMS had no effect on the overall BOLD activity at the site of stimulation in either experiment. These results provide important insight into the mechanisms through which TMS influences neural activity.
Formal and informal social participation and elder mistreatment in a national sample of older adults

Background/objectives Older adults' susceptibility to mistreatment may be affected by their participation in social activities, but little is known about relationships between social participation and elder mistreatment. Design Cross-sectional analysis. Setting/participants National probability sample of older community-dwelling U.S. adults interviewed in 2015-2016, including 1268 women and 973 men (mean age 75 years and 76 years, respectively; 82% non-Hispanic white). Measurements Frequency of participation in formal activities (organized meetings, religious services, and volunteering) and informal social activities (visiting friends and family) was assessed by questionnaire. Elder mistreatment included emotional (four items), physical (two items), and financial mistreatment (two items) since age 60. Multivariable logistic regression examined associations between each type of social participation and elder mistreatment among men and women, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, education, and comorbidity. Results Forty percent of women and 22% of men reported at least one form of mistreatment (emotional, physical, or financial). Women reporting at least monthly engagement in formal social activities were more likely to report emotional mistreatment (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-2.33). Among men, monthly organized meeting attendance was associated with increased odds of emotional mistreatment (AOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.01-1.93). Weekly informal socializing was inversely associated with emotional mistreatment (AOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.44-0.78) and financial mistreatment (AOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.42-0.85) among women. Conclusion In this national cohort, older adults who were frequently engaged in formal social activities reported similar or higher levels of mistreatment than those with less frequent organized social participation. Older women with regular informal contact with family or friends were less likely to report some kinds of mistreatment. Strategies for detecting and mitigating elder mistreatment should consider differences in patterns of formal and informal social participation and their potential contribution to mistreatment risk.
Postoperative Opioid Utilization and Patient Satisfaction in General Surgery Procedures: A Prospective Observational Study.

BackgroundWide variation of opioid prescribing persists despite attempts to quantify number of opioids utilized postoperatively. We aim to prospectively determine number of opioids used after commo...
Substrate Effects in Hysteresis of Microscale Ni-Mn-Sn Heusler Alloy Films

During martensitic phase transformations in thin films, substrates impact hysteresis by introducing an additional interface, which can inhibit martensite/austenite interface motion. In order to reduce hysteresis, we examine 2.9-14.5 μm thick Ni-Mn-Sn films which in some cases have been delaminated from the substrates before or after annealing. We compare thermal hysteresis and defect densities at the interface. Delaminating films prior to annealing decreases hysteresis, whereas delaminating films after annealing does not significantly impact hysteresis. Substrate effects are attributed to the thermal expansion mismatch between the film and substrate, resulting in dislocations at the interface and consequentially, an increase in hysteresis.
A Review of Modern Legal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Forensic Science

“Where does a 3050-g, 7.5-cm-thick textbook come to rest? Anywhere it wants to,” to paraphrase the old joke—but preferably, for this book, on the ready reference shelf of every pathologist who does forensic science cases, and certainly in the library of every forensic pathology training program. The authors of this weighty compendium state that it is “the first comprehensive single volume work covering the entire field of legal medicine and the allied forensic sciences.” Although it may not live up to that claim of universality, it does appear to be the first major single-volume textbook on forensic pathology and forensic science in this country since the classic 1954 edition of Gonzales et al (not counting Professor Camps' updates of Gradwohl [1968 and 1976], which are British in orientation, nor the recent multivolume work of Tedeschi et al [1977]).
Housing the Elderly

This paper explores the intergenerational housing option as a viable and frequently necessary housing option for elderly invidividuals. The advantages and disadvantages are presented both for the elderly individual as well as the affected family members; along with cultural and religious affiliations that influence filial intergenerational housing responsibilities. The following topics are also discussed: federal and local support systems, housing style options and future research recommendations for intergenerational housing.
Nucleotide sequence analysis of DNA. IX. Use of oligonucleotides of defined sequence as primers in DNA sequence analysis.

Abstract A radioactive octanucleotide d(C-T-T-T-C-C-C-C) complementary to one of the cohesive ends of bacteriophage 186 DNA has been isolated. The octanucleotide was used as a model oligonucleotide for binding studies with the single-strand ends of 186 DNA. Its role as a primer in the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase-catalyzed incorporation of radioactive nucleotides was also investigated. It was found that although this octanucleotide did not form a stable duplex with 186 DNA, it could serve as a primer for the addition of nucleotides to its 3′-end in the DNA polymerase-catalyzed repair synthesis. The addition of one, three or eight nucleotides of defined sequences to this octanucleotide greatly increased its stability in duplex formation with 186 DNA. These results also showed that radioactive nucleotides can be added to the primer to produce a new segment suitable for DNA sequence analysis.
Monitoring of Solid Rocket Motors

As so-called wooden rounds, which are intended to sit stably in storage for extended periods and then function precisely as desired at a moment's notice, missiles would appear to be an ideal application for health monitoring. However, the solid rocket motors that serve as the propulsion system for these missiles present a number of unique challenges for the development of integrated vehicle health monitoring systems. Mechanical and chemical complexity, long service lives, aging materials, and designs with small margins are typical for solid motors, but the payoff for health monitoring is extreme as well. Maintaining a healthy and capable fleet—ensuring the viability of the missiles in the fleet, while not retiring or destroying good assets before it is necessary—could save as much as 50% in costs over a 50-year life cycle. In this article, a number of unique aspects of solid rocket motors are explored, the difficulties and successes in the development of sensors and diagnostic systems are discussed, and a path to further continue the development of these systems is proposed. Keywords: solid rocket motors; stress sensors; bondline; chemical aging; mechanical damage
Bisimulation and Propositional Intuitionistic Logic

The Brouwer-Heyting-Kolmogorov interpretation of intuitionistic logic suggests that p⊃q can be interpreted as a computation that given a proof of p constructs a proof of q. Dually, we show that every finite canonical model of q contains a finite canonical model of p. If q and p are interderivable, their canonical models contain each other.
Design and analysis of wave sensing scheduling protocols for object-tracking applications

Many sensor network applications demand tightly-bounded object detection quality. To meet such stringent requirements, we develop three sensing scheduling protocols to guarantee worst-case detection quality in a sensor network while reducing sensing power consumption. Our protocols emulate a line sweeping through all points in the sensing field periodically. Nodes wake up when the sweeping line comes close, and then go to sleep when the line moves forward. In this way, any object can be detected within a certain period. We prove the correctness of the protocols and evaluate their performances by theoretical analyses and simulation.
Plate-Slide for the Culture and Morphological Observation of Fungi

Adaptation of a polystyrene plate-slide is extremely well suited for the simultaneous macroscopic and microscopic diagnosis of fungi. This technique obviates the disorientation of identifying structures when cultures are mechanically disaggregated during preparation of slides for microscopy.
The Hiv-1 Tat Protein Selectively Enhances Cxcr4 and Inhibits Ccr5 Expression in Megakaryocytic K562 Cells

The hematopoietic compartments act as long-term reservoirs for human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). Although hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) are rarely infectable, HPCs committed to t...
Symbolic approximation of analog circuits using Sspice

Sspice is a symbolic SPICE circuit analyzer and approximator. Input files are in the SPICE format and the program performs a symbolic AC analysis. Symbolic approximation is performed by using the magnitude of the largest term for each power of the Laplace variable s times a user specified threshold. >
The maximum number of Kj-subgraphs in a graph with k independent edges

Abstract For 1 ≤ k , 2 k n , and 2 ≤ j ≤ 2 k + 1, let f ( n , k , j ) be the maximum possible number of complete subgraphs on j vertices among all graphs G on n vertices where the maximum number of independent edges in G is k . Erdos and Gallai, in 1959, determined f ( n , k , 2). In this paper we determine f ( n , k , j ) for all j ≥ 2. We also show that the extremal graphs in the case of general j are the same as in the j = 2 case.
Challenges on the road to exascale computing

Supercomputing systems have made great strides in recent years as the extensive computing needs of cutting-edge engineering work and scientific discovery have driven the development of more powerful systems. The first teraflop computer, ASCI Red, came on the scene in late 1996, and now a machine must achieve 5.9 teraflops to gain entry to the very bottom of the Top500 supercomputing list.With the emergence of petascale supercomputers expected in 2008 or 2009, we have set our sights on the increased capacity and expected muscle of exascale computing. This has also been the focus of organizations such as the Institute for Advanced Architectures jointly launched at Sandia and Oak Ridge National Laboratories. However, the challenges of exascale computing will not be solved by the technologies of today.If today's most power and energy efficient supercomputer was linearly scaled to the exascale level, it would consume around 200MWatts of power, contain over 60 million cores, and require over 400M dollars of memory. Such a system will present significant problems in management and programmability as current bounds of parallelism are tested. Data accessibility will also be a significant issue as our ability to sense, generate and calculate on data is growing faster than our ability to access, manage and even "store" that data. These problems only get worse as the systems computational power scales up. In this talk, I will discuss exascale computing challenges to be overcome in the areas of power, architecture, programmability, management, and data accessibility.