cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
H-MRST: A Novel Framework For Supporting Probability Degree Range Query Using Extreme Learning Machine

Data classification is an important application in the domain of cognitive computation, which has various applications. In this paper, we use classification techniques to solve some key issues in answering range query over probabilistic data. The key of answering this query is to store the feature of each uncertain object in a lightweight structure and use these structures for pruning/validating. However, in these works, the costly integral calculation has to be carried out when dealing with objects that cannot be pruned/validated, and some of the structure construction algorithms are not general. In this paper, we employ ELM, a popular classification technique, to tackle the above issues. Our proposed methods are as follows: We firstly propose a new query called PDR (short for probabilistic degree range) query to substitute the traditional prob-range query, which helps us avoid the costly integral calculation. We propose an ELM-based “adapter” to construct the lightweight structure for uncertain data in a more general manner. We design the GO-ELM algorithm for answering PDR query. It first avoids most of the integral calculation via using a group of bit vector-based filter. In addition, we propose an ELM-based classifier, which is designed to further avoid integral operations. From the experiment results, we find that: (1) our ELM-based adapter is superior compared with both SVM-based and DNN-based adapter due to its better training efficiency and classification efficiency as well; (2) the performance of H-MRST is better than that of U-tree and UD-tree; and (3) ELM-filter could effectively avoid integral calculation. This paper studies the problem of PDR query over uncertain data. We firstly define PDR query and propose a general scheme to handle uncertain object if its PDF is discrete. We then design GO-ELM algorithm for answering PDR query. Our experiments faithfully demonstrated the efficiency of our indexing techniques.
Combined simulations for evaluation of 2D and 3D wholebody PET imaging protocols

Full characterization or optimization of 2D and 3D PET imaging protocols requires many independent but identically distributed realizations, which can be obtained from simulations of a given scanner. These rely on accurate estimations of single and coincident photon rates, particularly for the fractions of true, scattered and random coincidences recorded. To facilitate such studies, e.g. the combined effect of patient thickness and scan duration on lesion detectability, we propose to combine a photon tracking simulation (SimSET) with a faster analytic projection-based simulation (ASIM). SimSET accurately predicts true, scattered, and random coincidence rates, while ASIM is able to produce the necessary number of realizations with accurate noise properties. We present the simulation modifications and count rate comparisons between real and simulated measurements.
Absolute measurement of the 242Pu neutron-capture cross section

The absolute neutron-capture cross section of $^{242}\mathrm{Pu}$ was measured at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center using the Detector for Advanced Neutron-Capture Experiments array along with a compact parallel-plate avalanche counter for fission-fragment detection. The first direct measurement of the $^{242}\mathrm{Pu}(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})$ cross section was made over the incident neutron energy range from thermal to $\ensuremath{\approx}6$ keV, and the absolute scale of the $(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})$ cross section was set according to the known $^{239}\mathrm{Pu}(n,f)$ resonance at ${E}_{n,R}=7.83$ eV. This was accomplished by adding a small quantity of $^{239}\mathrm{Pu}$ to the $^{242}\mathrm{Pu}$ sample. The relative scale of the cross section, with a range of four orders of magnitude, was determined for incident neutron energies from thermal to $\ensuremath{\approx}40$ keV. Our data, in general, are in agreement with previous measurements and those reported in ENDF/B-VII.1; the $^{242}\mathrm{Pu}(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})$ cross section at the ${E}_{n,R}=2.68$ eV resonance is within $2.4%$ of the evaluated value. However, discrepancies exist at higher energies; our data are $\ensuremath{\approx}30%$ lower than the evaluated data at ${E}_{n}\ensuremath{\approx}1$ keV and are approximately $2\ensuremath{\sigma}$ away from the previous measurement at ${E}_{n}\ensuremath{\approx}20$ keV.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Pathophysiology and Management

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is rapidly becoming the leading cause of end-stage liver disease and liver transplant. With a prevalence of 30% in the United States, it has reached epidemic proportions. The clinical syndrome of NAFLD spans from bland steatosis to steatohepatitis, which can progress to fibrosis and cirrhosis. The pathogenesis includes the roles of hormones, nutritional and intestinal dysbiosis, insulin resistance, lipotoxicity, hepatic inflammation, and genes. Noninvasive testing and liver biopsy indications are reviewed. Approved and investigational therapies for NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis are outlined in this article.
Entrepreneurs use of internet and social media applications

While it is recognized that the Internet and entrepreneurial opportunity are linked, the majority of studies analyzing business use of the Internet focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To address a need for adoption studies focused on new ventures, which differ from SMEs in terms of organizational stage and number of employees, this study analyzes survey data from entrepreneurs to understand factors that influence the adoption of multiple Internet and social media platforms, and the role of business incubation facilities in providing information technology assistance to these ventures. Regression analysis of survey data reveal that prior entrepreneurial experience was the most important factor in explaining a diverse number of Internet application and social media use. This finding likely stems from differences in cognitive frameworks between novice and experienced entrepreneurs, which impacts their ability to recognize opportunities and respond to technological change. The location of a new venture within a business incubation facility did not help in the diverse use of Internet applications. This result did vary by gender as model results highlighted that women in business incubation facilities were more likely to use a diversity of Internet applications than those not located in these facilities. These findings point to policy implications regarding the implementation of technology training programs for female entrepreneurs, and digital awareness/ training for novice entrepreneurs. First look at business incubation facilities in enabling use of various Internet applications.Entrepreneurial experience drives diverse uses of Internet and social media.Gender differences in reason for hiring technology assistance.Gender differences in relevance of incubation facilities to Internet and social media use.Need to change policy emphasis from broadband availability to questions of effective use.
Solid State Electrochemical Systems–Opportunities for Nanofabricated or Nanostructured Materials

Many electrochemical systems remain at the conceptual ordevelopmental stage largely because of material limitations. In this articlewe discuss the opportunities that nanofabricated or nanostructured materialsmay provide for solving some of these materials problems. Furthermore, weevaluate research areas which appear promising in clarifying the keyfundamental and processing issues relevant to utilizing nanostructured solidionic materials.
The lignans of Podophyllum

Abstract Lignans are a widely distributed class of dimeric phenylpropanoid derivatives, many of which have strong antimicrobial, antiviral, or antifeedant activity and thus play important roles in plant defense. Of more restricted taxonomic distribution, the aryltetralin lignans have been found in highest abundance in plants of the genus Podophyllum (Berberidaceae). Foremost among these lignans, podophyllotoxin is a particularly cytotoxic inhibitor of microtubule assembly and astrong antiviral agent. Semisynthetic epimeric derivatives of podophyllotoxin having inhibitory activity against DNA-topoisomerase II have been developed as effective antineoplastic drugs. Current work on Podophyllum lignans is focused on two fronts: 1) Structure optimization to generate derivatives with superior pharmacological profiles and broader therapeutic use, and 2) Development of alternative sources of podophyllotoxin. Numerous variations of the basicaryltetralin structure have been created. Some of the new compounds have shown promising activity profiles, but practically little has been achieved besides improvement in solubility. Interest in new derivatives remains strong, which, along with the formulation of existing drugs for new indications, is increasing the demand for podophyllotoxin. While intense collection has severely reduced the natural stocks of Indian Podophyllum , the primary source of podophyllotoxin, a North American species has emerged as a rich and renewable source of this compound.
The social construction of disasters in the United States: A historical and cultural phenomenon

Introduction: Societal risks from hazards are continually increasing. Each year, disasters cause thousands of deaths and cost billions of dollars. In the first half of 2011, the United States endured countless disasters—winter snowstorms in the Midwest and Northeast; severe tornadic weather in the Mississippi, Alabama, and Missouri; flash flooding in Nashville; flooding along the Mississippi River; an earthquake on the East Coast, wildfires in Texas, and Hurricane Irene. Fundamental disaster planning is regarded as an interdisciplinary approach to develop strategies and instituting policies concerned with phases of emergency management; as such, its needs are predicated on the identification of hazards and assessment of risks. Problem: Even if the probability or intensity of risks to disasters remains fairly constant, population growth, alongside economic and infrastructural development, will unavoidably result in a concomitant increase of places prone to such events. One of the greatest barriers to emergency management efforts is the failure to fully grasp the socially and politically constructed meaning of disasters. Purpose: This article investigates the ways in which language has been used historically in the American lexicon to make sense of disasters in the United States in an effort to improve communal resiliency. Serving as both an idea and experience, the terminology used to convey our / the modern-day concept of disaster is a result of a cultural artifact, ie, a given time and specific place. Methodology: Tools such as Google Ngram Viewer and CASOS AutoMap are used to explore the penetration, duration, and change in disaster terminology among American English literature for more than 200 years, from 1800 to 2008, by quantifying written culture. Findings: The language of disasters is an integral part of disaster response, as talking is the primary way that most people respond to and recover from disasters. The vast majority of people are not affected by any given disaster, and so it is through discussing a disaster that people make sense of it, respond, and react to it, and fit something that is overwhelming and beyond human control into the normal order of life.
Modified electron beam induced current technique for in(Ga)As/InAsSb superlattice infrared detectors

Electron beam induced current (EBIC) measurements provide a powerful tool for characterizing semiconductor based materials and devices. By measuring the current generated by the electron beam of a scanning electron microscope (SEM), EBIC allows us to extract the minority carrier diffusion length (L) and the surface recombination velocity to diffusivity ratio (S/D) of a material. When combined with information on minority carrier lifetime (τ), for instance from time-resolved photoluminescence measurements, the minority carrier mobility of the material can be extracted. However, the EBIC technique relies heavily on the accurate modeling of the carrier generation and collection process. Traditionally, this was achieved using a combination of empirical analytical expressions (and later Monte Carlo simulations) for carrier generation and analytical diffusion/recombination expressions for carrier collection. This approach introduces significant uncertainties into the extracted material parameters. Here, we present a numerical approach to EBIC modeling which improves the spatial resolution of our model, while also retaining information regarding the relative EBIC signal as a function of incident beam energies and currents. We apply this technique to investigate the temperature dependent minority carrier mobility of InAs/InAsSb and InGaAs/InAsSb strained layer superlattice infrared detectors and compare our results to the values obtained using external quantum efficiency measurements of the same samples. Our approach not only allows for an improvement in the uncertainty of the extracted material parameters, but also offers insight into the material and device behavior as a function of nonequilibrium carrier concentration. The technique presented here offers potentially improved characterization of not only infrared detectors, but a range of semiconductor-based devices.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Myelodysplasia-Related Changes, Therapy-Related Myeloid Neoplasms, and Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Not Otherwise Specified

The World Health Organization (WHO) classification of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) attempts to integrate the biologic aspects of AML derived from cytogenetic and molecular testing with a more conventional morphology-based system. A major area of emphasis in the 2016 revision of the WHO classification is on molecular genetics in cytogenetic normal AMLs (CN-AML). In this context, insight into the underlying causative driver mutations with concurrent genetic modifiers in acute myeloid leukemia, not otherwise specified (AML, NOS ), acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC), and therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MNs), a large but genetically heterogeneous AML subtype accounting for over 50% of all AMLs, paves the way for a more precise classification for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. This chapter summarizes the diagnostic criteria; morphologic and immunophenotypic features; cytogenetic alterations in AML, NOS , AML-MRC, and t-MNs; molecular abnormalities identified in over 95% of CN-AMLs; molecular lesions enriched in secondary AMLs, including AML-MRC and t-MNs; as well as their clinical relevance, and the development of novel and more specific therapies targeting these disease-causing mutations.
Current Therapy for Basal Cell Carcinoma and the Potential Role for Immunotherapy with Checkpoint Inhibitors

Abstract Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy worldwide. Fortunately, it is often diagnosed while still localized and can be effectively treated with simple excision or Mohs micrographic surgery. However, a subset of patients are diagnosed with locally advanced, metastatic, or recurrent disease. As our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of BCC and the Hedgehog signaling pathway has increased, Hedgehog inhibitors such as vismodegib and sonidegib have been introduced to improve the survival rates in this patient population. However, even with these advances, a significant proportion of patients will not respond to current therapies and remain at risk of developing either resistance during therapy or disease recurrence. This review paper discusses currently approved therapies in the treatment of localized, locally advanced, and metastatic BCC and the possible contribution that immune checkpoint inhibitors might add to the treatment of this malignancy.
Form factors and generalized parton distributions of heavy quarkonia in basis light front quantization

The authors calculate electromagnetic observables for a selection of spin-1 heavy quarkonia using the basis light front quantization method. They solve the relativistic Hamiltonian mass eigenvalue problem in a convenient basis representation that provides a compact form of the eigenfunctions. The approach provides insight into the spin-sensitive structure and internal dynamics of hadrons at low and medium momentum transfer.
Placed in a steady magnetic field, the flux density inside a permalloy-shielded volume decreases over hours and days

Following the application of an external magnetic field to a thin-walled demagnetized Permalloy cylinder, the magnetic flux density at the center of the shielded volume decreases by roughly 20% over periods of hours to days. We measured this effect for applied magnetic fields from 0.48 A/m to 16 A/m, the latter being comparable to the Earths magnetic field at its weakest point. Delayed changes in magnetic flux density are also observed following alternating current demagnetization. We attribute these effects to delayed changes in magnetization, which have previously been observed in thin Permalloy films and small bulk samples of ferromagnetic materials. Phenomenological models of thermal activation are discussed. Some possible effects on experiments that rely on static shielding are noted.
A Rainy Day in the City

My passion for traveling, photography, watercolor painting, and textile design were fused together to create my piece titled, “A Rainy Day in the City.” From a distinct memory of my first, rainy day in Paris, France, I created a watercolor painting based on my photographs. I captured the colors in the moment of the atmosphere that surrounded me by emphasizing the reflections of the buildings onto the water.
Three-Dimensional Models for Teaching Neuroanatomy to Blind Students:

Describes an audio-tactile course that enabled two blind students to grasp the anatomy of the human brain. Since the preserved brain was worn out by the students’ tactile explorations, a means of d...
Themes in Male Sexuality

Undoubtedly persons hoping to learn something about male sexuality in the United States get a distorted picture from films such as 48 Hours. Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy, portraying a policeman and a convict respectively, successfully present a “wham, bam, thank you ma’am,” inborn-sexual-impulse perspective of heterosexual male sexuality—a perspective that is insulting to many men and women in American society. Unfortunately this does not mean that many men in American do not hold sexual attitudes and exhibit sexual behaviors of the kind presented in 48 Hours. Indeed, to0 many American men do display these kinds of sexual attitudes and behaviors, despite the fact that sexuality is a much more complex issue. In addition, the position taken here is that the source of such attitudes and behaviors lies in socio-cultural conditions rather than in innate tendencies. A basic assumption underlying this chapter, then, is that male sexual behavior is largely acquired through experience and socialization (Gross, 1978). This perspective contends that male sexuality is more than the sexual act and involves more than the biological component of sexual response. Male sexuality consists of affective, cognitive, behavioral, and physiological components which interact, become defined, and are experienced by men as sexual events.
A Geometric Preprocessor for an h-Refinement Technique for the Boundary Element Method

A previously developed self-adaptive h-refinement technique is coupled with a geometric preprocessing method for two-dimensional domains. The previously developed adaptive method has been observed to deteriorate when the aspect ratio of the domain becomes large. This deterioration in the accuracy of the boundary element method has also been observed in non-adaptive solutions when the aspect ratio of the domain is large. By automatically dividing the domain into regions before applying the self-adaptive method, the robustness of the self-adaptive h-technique is improved. Two example problems comparing the self-adaptive method with and without geometric preprocessing are presented utilizing quadratic discontinuous boundary elements in two-dimensional elasticity applications.
Comparison of the Effect of Dog, Surgeon and Surgical Procedure Variables on Improvement in Eight-Week Static Weight-Bearing following Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy.

Objective The purpose of this article was to compare the effect of surgeon and tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) procedure variations on the outcome of TPLO in naturally occurring cranial cruciate ligament disease. Materials and Methods Records from 142 dogs that had a TPLO procedure were reviewed for information regarding surgical procedure, status of meniscus at the time of surgery, surgeon identity, ACVS diplomate or resident, meniscal release, progression of healing at the progress evaluation based on radiographic interpretation and complications encountered. The primary outcome measure was static force on the affected limb at re-evaluation (42–84 days postoperatively) on a PetSafe Stance Analyzer. Results Re-evaluation tibial plateau angle (TPA) was negatively and significantly correlated with improvement (r = −0.2132, p = 0.013). Postoperative and re-evaluation TPA were all significantly correlated with one another. The amount of TPA change from initial to immediate postoperative values was significantly correlated with the preoperative TPA (r = 0.628, p Clinical Significance TPLO show improvement of 4.58% body weight on the affected limb at 6 to 12 weeks rechecks on a Stance Analyzer. Surgeon, surgical experience, arthrotomy, meniscal damage, meniscal intervention, complications, postoperative TPA and initial TPA have no effect on this measurement of surgical outcome.
Contextual influences on the perception of pregnant women who use drugs: Information about women's childhood trauma history reduces punitive attitudes.

Punitive attitudes and consequences (e.g., incarceration) for prenatal illicit drug use persist in the United States despite evidence that these policies are ineffective and even harmful to women a...
The Songs of Spring: Quest Myths, Metaphors, and Medical Progress

The major medical/scientific research project of the past two decades consists of the human genome project and its clinical applications. The project can usefully be framed as a quest to cure disease, especially cancer, and even to defy mortality. The hero of this quest is the project leader, who currently is trying, almost desperately, to “translate” the science of the genome into public health practice and the practice of medicine, termed ‘personalised medicine.’ In America’s dysfunctional and patchwork healthcare system, adding another layer of extremely expensive and (to date) marginally effective screening procedures is a hard sell. Nonetheless, using metaphor to frame the human genome project as a mythical ‘quest for life’ can make it seem altogether normal, even natural, and can help rally the public to its support. A second, parallel quest is the political quest for a system that guarantees universal access to healthcare for Americans. The ultimate success of this quest will depend not on any scientific or medical breakthrough, but on political will. An alternative literary device: the deployment of narratives of real Americans whose lives have been made much more miserable by the lack of access to decent healthcare, is more likely to create and sustain political support for universal healthcare. Literary devices—quest myths, metaphor, and narrative—used in relation to new technology and political change—can be employed for both ethical and unethical outcomes.
Tumor-associated O-glycans of MUC1: Carriers of the glyco-code and targets for cancer vaccine design

The transformation from normal to malignant phenotype in human cancers is associated with aberrant cell-surface glycosylation. It has frequently been reported that MUC1, the heavily glycosylated cell-surface mucin, is altered in both, expression and glycosylation pattern, in human carcinomas of the epithelium. The presence of incomplete or truncated glycan structures, often capped by sialic acid, commonly known as tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs), play a key role in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Accumulating evidence suggests that expression of TACAs is associated with tumor escape from immune defenses. In this report, we will give an overview of the oncogenic functions of MUC1 that are exerted through TACA interactions with endogenous carbohydrate-binding proteins (lectins). These interactions often lead to creation of a pro-tumor microenvironment, favoring tumor progression and metastasis, and tumor evasion. In addition, we will describe current efforts in the design of cancer vaccines with special emphasis on synthetic MUC1 glycopeptide vaccines. Analysis of the key factors that govern structure-based design of immunogenic MUC1 glycopeptide epitopes are described. The role of TACA type, position, and density on observed humoral and cellular immune responses is evaluated.
Exploring the gel phase of cationic glycylalanylglycine in ethanol/water. II. Spectroscopic, kinetic and thermodynamic studies.

HYPOTHESIS Recently, we reported a three-dimensional phase diagram for the gelation of cationic tripeptide glycylalanylglycine (GAG) in water-ethanol mixtures. We showed that the gel strength reaches an optimum for a peptide concentration of 200 mM and ethanol/water mixtures with ca. 55-60 mol% ethanol. An increase of the ethanol fraction causes a substantial upshift of the gel's softening temperature which is indicative of a reduced peptide solubility. We expect the formation of long crystalline fibrils which form the sample spanning network of the gel phase to precede the gelation process and that the fibril microstructure depends on the rate and concentration of peptide. EXPERIMENTS We used UV circular dichroism (UVCD) spectroscopy to probe the kinetics of GAG fibril formation as a function of peptide concentration and ethanol fraction. We provide experimental evidence for the notion that the utilized CD signal reflects the three-dimensional assembly of peptides rather than a two-dimensional sheet structure. UVCD was also used to probe the melting of GAG fibrils with increasing temperature. FTIR and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the structure of sheets with which the observed fibrils were formed. FINDINGS Fibrilization and gelation kinetics occur on a very similar time scale for very short gelation times (<7 min) observed at high peptide concentrations and/or ethanol fractions. Otherwise, gelation proceeds significantly slower than fibrilization. The trends in the UVCD spectral response parallel the trends in the storage modulus as a function of peptide concentration and ethanol fraction. IR and VCD profiles of amide I' reveal that fibril structure and the respective chirality are both affected by peptide concentration and solvent composition. At high ethanol fractions, the VCD changes its sign suggesting a conversion from phase II to phase I. Generally, the latter is obtained only at temperatures below 15 °C. Altogether, our results reveal how GAG fibrilization and gelation are interrelated and how the gel properties can be tuned by changing the composition of the ternary GAG/water/ethanol mixture.
Mutiny in Africa, 1950–2018:

The majority of literature on civil–military relations has focused on coups d’etat. Yet, studying lesser forms of military insubordination can offer valuable insight into the true condition of stat...
Spectrum of Random $d$-regular Graphs Up to the Edge

Consider the normalized adjacency matrices of random $d$-regular graphs on $N$ vertices with fixed degree $d\geq3$. We prove that, with probability $1-N^{-1+{\varepsilon}}$ for any ${\varepsilon} >0$, the following two properties hold as $N \to \infty$ provided that $d\geq3$: (i) The eigenvalues are close to the classical eigenvalue locations given by the Kesten-McKay distribution. In particular, the extremal eigenvalues are concentrated with polynomial error bound in $N$, i.e. $\lambda_2, |\lambda_N|\leq 2+N^{-c}$. (ii) All eigenvectors of random $d$-regular graphs are completely delocalized.
Advancements in optomechanical resonators for novel inertial sensors

Our work in the Laboratory of Space Systems and Optomechanics (LASSO) at Texas A&M University involves using optomechanical resonators coupled with compact, high-precision interferometers to create novel inertial sensors. These resonators are etched from monolithic fused silica, which is known to have very low internal losses, allowing for high mechanical quality factors and low thermal acceleration noise in the test mass. Previous measurements at mTorr pressures have demonstrated Q’s of 1.91 x 105, corresponding to estimated thermal acceleration noise floor on the order of 10-10 m s- 2/√Hz for frequencies above 30 mHz. In this pressure regime, gas damping is still the dominant loss mechanism. At sufficiently low pressures such that gas damping is negligible, we anticipate mechanical quality factors of the order of 106 and thermal acceleration noise at levels of 10-11 m s-2/√Hz in the sub-Hz regime. As expected, previous measurements have shown significant ambient vibrations that limit our ability to observe the noise floor of the resonator. Hence, we have developed a dedicated vibration isolation platform to mitigate external disturbances, which consists of a pendulum with a magnetic anti-spring to lower the resonant frequency. Sensors constructed with these resonators would be lightweight and cost-effective, making them promising candidates for field applications in geophysics, navigation, and site exploration.
The Association of Socio-Economic Factors with Outcomes for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Abstract Background Numerous studies have identified the associations of socio-economic factors with outcomes of cardiac procedures. The majority have focused on easily measured factors like sex, race, and insurance status, or on socio-economic characteristics of patients’ 5-digit zip codes. The impact of more granular census-derived socio-economic information on outcomes has rarely been studied. Methods The independent impact of the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) on short-term mortality and readmissions was tested on patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in New York by using it in logistic regression models in conjunction with patient risk factors and typical disparities measures (race, ethnicity, payer). Changes in hospitals’ risk-adjusted outcomes and outlier status with the addition of socio-economic measures were also tested. Results After adjusting for numerous patient characteristics, patients in the fourth and fifth highest ADI quintiles (most deprived) were more likely to experience in-hospital/30-day mortality following CABG surgery (AOR = 1.54 (1.08, 2.20) and AOR = 1.50 (1.02, 2.21)), respectively. ADI was not associated with readmissions, but African Americans (AOR = 1.49 (1.18, 1.87)), Hispanics (AOR = 1.33 (1.06, 1.65)) and Medicaid patients (AOR = 1.34 (1.09, 1.64)) were more likely to be readmitted. Conclusions Patients with high ADIs are more likely to experience short-term mortality following CABG surgery. African Americans, Hispanics and Medicaid patients are more likely to experience 30-day readmissions. This information should be taken into account when monitoring patients to reduce adverse events following surgery, and more studies related to ADI are needed to fully understand its implications.
SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance Reveals Little Spread From a Large University Campus to the Surrounding Community.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had high incidence rates at institutions of higher education (IHE) in the United States, but the transmission dynamics in these settings are poorly understood. It remains unclear to what extent IHE-associated outbreaks have contributed to transmission in nearby communities. Methods: We implemented high-density prospective genomic surveillance to investigate these dynamics at the University of Michigan and the surrounding community during the Fall 2020 semester (August 16-November 24). We sequenced complete severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes from 1659 individuals, including 468 students, representing 20% of cases in students and 25% of total cases in Washtenaw County over the study interval. Results: Phylogenetic analysis identifiedâ >200 introductions into the student population, most of which were not related to other student cases. There were 2 prolonged student transmission clusters, of 115 and 73 individuals, that spanned multiple on-campus residences. Remarkably, <5% of nonstudent genomes were descended from student clusters, and viral descendants of student cases were rare during a subsequent wave of infections in the community. Conclusions: The largest outbreaks among students at the University of Michigan did not significantly contribute to the rise in community cases in Fall 2020. These results provide valuable insights into SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics at the regional level.
The paradoxical TGF-β vasculopathies

Two new studies show that haploinsufficiency for TGFB2 causes a familial syndrome of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections with other clinical features that overlap the Marfan, Loeys-Dietz spectrum of syndromes. Their finding of loss-of-function mutations in yet another transforming growth factor (TGF)-β pathway gene reinforces the seeming paradox of observed increases in the downstream TGF-β signaling pathway.
Second-Order Phase Transitions

This chapter treats the thermodynamic and group theoretical techniques useful in the consideration of phase transitions which occur without the coexistence of two phases, i.e., without the nucleation and growth of a new phase. The transitions under consideration occur with a change of symmetry at a certain thermodynamic state during a continuous structure change through that state. Such crystal-structure changes may be of three types: order-disorder, displacive and a combination of order-disorder and displacive.
Polluted Promises: Environmental Racism and the Search for Justice in a Southern Town – By Melissa Checker

This article reviews the book "Polluted Promises: Environmental Racism and the Search for Justice in a Southern Town" by Melissa Checker.
Leydig-cell tumor of the testis with gynecomastia and elevated estrogen levels.

A case report of a Leydig-cell tumor of the testis in a 24-year-old male patient with gynecomastia but no other evidence of feminization is presented. Genitalia were reported to be normal at 1st examination. 4 months later a 2cm nontender mass was felt in the right testis. A right radical orchidectomy was performed. The tumor was reported to be a Leydig-cell neoplasm without evidence of invasion of adjacent tissues of metastases. The gynecomastia was resolved within 3 months after surgery. No recurrence of the tumor has occurred after 10 months. Serum and urine tests for human chorionic gonadotropin were negative. Prior to orchidectomy serum estradiol was elevated and serum testosterone depressed. Postoperatively these values became normal. Reinke crystalloids were found in tumor tissue. Photographic reproductions illustrate histologic findings. After surgical removal of a Leydig-cell tumor an estradiol increase in serum may signal recurrence. It is recommended that all endocrine nutritional neoplastic chromosomal and drug etiologies of gynecomastia be investigated before surgical resection of the enlarged breasts.
Alcohol use and pregnancies among youth: Evidence from a semi-parametric approach

Despite a well-established correlation between alcohol intake and various risk-taking sexual behaviors, the causality remains unknown. I model the effect of alcohol use on the likelihood of pregnancy among youth using a variety of estimation techniques. The preference is given to the semi-parametric model where the cumulative distribution of heterogeneity is approximated by a 4-point discrete distribution. Using data on 17-28 year-old women from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, I find that alcohol consumption increases the likelihood of pregnancy by 4.7 percentage points. Quantitatively similar but statistically weaker effects were found in the fully parametric models such as the two-stage least squares model and the bivariate probit model. Finally, the fully parametric models that ignore the effect of unobserved heterogeneity failed to establish this relationship.
Plasma control for ITER and future fusion power plants

An overview of advanced plasma control strategies that are being developed in current fusion test facilities such as DIII-D and NSTX-U in order to meet the challenges of ITER and future fusion power plants will be presented. The ITER fusion reactor, which is under construction, will produce 500 MW of power and pave the way for future fusion power plants. An economically feasible tokamak power plant requires operation at physics parameters that are simultaneously close to the limits of plasma stability and to the technical possibilities of existing materials required at the plasma wall interface. This necessitates operations with high plasma energy content, heat flux, neutron flux, and very long pulse operation, which places novel performance demands in specific areas ranging from plasma boundary and divertor regulation to plasma kinetics. This presentation focuses on the application of advanced control solutions that address these key challenges. After an overview, present solutions that are being developed for heat flux control to avoid damage to the plasma facing components, fusion scenario control to achieve and sustain high fusion energy throughout the whole discharge, and active stability control against various plasma instabilities such as tearing modes to avoid disruption of the plasma will be explained.
Bounds on the Reliability of Structural Systems

Most civil engineering structural problems are characterized not by a single random resistance subjected to a single random load, but by a complicated structural system exhibiting a number of mutually dependent modes acted on by a sequence of mutually dependent random loads. The task of determining the reliability of such a system under these conditions would be extremely difficult even if the necessary joint distribution functions were known. It is possible, however, to determine, with relative ease, bounds on the system reliability. One or the other of these bounds may also serve as an approximation to the desired reliability if the conditions leading to its derivation bold. In particular, it is likely that in many civil engineering situations the conditions are more nearly those of perfect dependence among modal failure events than perfect independence as is often assumed. In this case, a system reliability approximation is most readily obtained. The bounds are derived for general conditions of modal resistance and load distribution including time-dependent cases. The results prove valuable in a qualitative sense by showing the effect of such factors as number of modes, length of design life, and probabilistic dependence among modal resistances and among successive loads on the reliability of the system as a whole.
Reduced Triphosphopyridine Nucleotide Oxidase-catalyzed Alterations of Membrane Phospholipids IV. DEPENDENCE ON Fe3+

Abstract Fe3+ was shown to be required for enzyme-catalyzed peroxidative chain-scission of polyunsaturated fatty acids of phospholipids in liver microsomal membranes. The Km value for iron in the reaction is different from that of nonenzymic processes which cause similar alterations of phospholipids. The products of both reactions include malondialdehyde which was shown to be the only substance formed which reacts with thiobarbituric acid to form a pigment absorbing at 532 mµ. The enzymic reaction proceeds first through the formation of peroxides on the β position polyunsaturated fatty acids followed by cleavage of the carbon chain to yield carbonyl compounds. Iron was shown to be required for formation of the phospholipid peroxides. The activity of the enzymic system in microsomes could be reduced to low levels by washing the particles several times in iron-free media. Activity could be restored by addition of Fe3+ to the assay system. The results suggest that TPNH-dependent oxidation processes may contribute to the normal catabolism of phospholipids in microsomal membranes.
Power of Tests for a Dichotomous Independent Variable Measured with Error

Objective To examine the implications for statistical power of using predicted probabilities for a dichotomous independent variable, rather than the actual variable.
Why the Garden Club Couldn’t Save Youngstown: The Transformation of the Rust Belt. By Sean Safford

Why the Garden Club Couldn’t Save Youngstown is a book about economic change and crisis, about how cities succeed or fail in their attempts to adjust, adapt, and evolve in the face of major change ...
Surgical techniques: defibulation of Type III female genital cutting.

Female genital cutting (FGC) is a tradition practiced in parts of Africa Middle East and Asia. Type III FGC also known as infibulation involves removing part or all of the external genitalia generally the prepuce clitoris labia minora and majora. The remnant raw surfaces are sutured together (infibulated) using catgut sutures thorns or other adhesive concoctions to cover the urethra and most of the vagina. A stick is introduced in the posterior incision to guarantee a small opening (neo-introitus) for the passage of urine and menses. The girls legs are bound together for 1-2 weeks on bed rest with minimal oral intake to minimize urination and defecation in order to facilitate wound healing. Women who have undergone FGC can suffer immediate and long-term complications. Immediate complications include bleeding hemorrhage infection sepsis and death. Long-term complications include dysmenorrhea dyspareunia infertility chronic vaginal and urinary tract infections. (excerpt)
Hypnotic Susceptibility Revisited

Abstract The concept and measurement of hypnotic susceptibility are re-examined in their relation to hypnotizability, hypnotic depth and suggestibility. The Stanford Scales and similar instruments are found to have failed to take into account essential features defining traditional hypnosis and suggestibility and to have created confusion in the scientific inquiry into hypnotism. Other available measures have not been particularly successful, but some bear further attention. Recent claims that hypnotizability can be trained have failed to distinguish between hypnotizability proper and accessory processes, leaving some question about what is actually being trained. Possible future directions of work on susceptibility are considered. Attempts to distinquish between “clinical” and “laboratory” hypnotizability are examined and found to have been premature and loosely based on facts.
Localization of the Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group D Gene to a 200-kb Region on Chromosome 3p25.3

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare autosomal recessive disease manifested by bone-marrow failure and an elevated incidence of cancer. Cells taken from patients exhibit spontaneous chromosomal breaks and rearrangements. These breaks and rearrangements are greatly elevated by treatment of FA cells with the use of DNA cross-linking agents. The FA complementation group D gene ( FANCD ) has previously been localized to chromosome 3p22-26, by use of microcell-mediated chromosome transfer. Here we describe the use of noncomplemented microcell hybrids to identify small overlapping deletions that narrow the FANCD critical region. A 1.2-Mb bacterial-artificial-chromosome (BAC)/P1 contig was constructed, bounded by the marker D3S3691 distally and by the gene ATP2B2 proximally. The contig contains at least 36 genes, including the oxytocin receptor ( OXTR ), hOGG1, the von Hippel-Lindau tumor-suppressor gene ( VHL ), and IRAK-2. Both hOGG1 and IRAK-2 were excluded as candidates for FANCD. BACs were then used as probes for FISH analyses, to map the extent of the deletions in four of the noncomplemented microcell hybrid cell lines. A narrow region of common overlapping deletions limits the FANCD critical region to ∼200 kb. The three candidate genes in this region are TIGR-A004X28, SGC34603, and AA609512.
Groundwater processes and sedimentary uranium deposits

Hydrologic processes are fundamental in the emplacement of all three major categories of sedimentary uranium deposits: syngenetic, syndiagenetic, and epigenetic. In each case, the basic sedimentary uranium-enrichment cycle involves: (1) leaching or erosion of uranium from a low-grade provenance; (2) transport of uranium by surface or groundwater flow; and (3) concentration of uranium by mechanical, geochemical, or physiochemical processes. Although surface flow was responsible for lower Precambrian uranium deposits, groundwater was the primary agent in upper Precambrian and Phanerozoic sedimentary uranium emplacement. Meteoric or more deeply derived groundwater flow transported uranium in solution through transmissive facies, generally sands and gravels, until it was precipitated under reducing conditions. Syndiagenetic uranium deposits are typically concentrated in reducing lacustrine and swamp environments, whereas epigenetic deposits accumulated along mineralization fronts or tabular boundaries.
Design of Studies to Evaluate Plaque Control Agents

The importance of plaque in the etiology of periodontal diseases is reviewed. A survey is also presented of the various indices for scoring plaque in clinical trials. Variations in the clinical design, type of population studied, and difficulty in scoring gingival plaque are reviewed. A survey is presented of some recent published studies of plaque-inhibiting agents.
Status of BNL E791: Study of very rare KL0 decays

Abstract BNL E791 is a search for the lepton-number non-conserving decay K L 0 → μe . During the 1988 run, the apparatus was also sensitive to the decays K L 0 → μμ , K L 0 → ee , and K L 0 → π 0 ee . Preliminary limits on the branching fractions from this run are: B ( K L 0 → μe ) −10 and B ( K L 0 → ee ) −10 . For the decay K L 0 → μμ , we identified 87 candidate events. We expect to reach a single-event sensitivity in the 10 −11 range in the future.
The Limited Effect of Nasal Interferon Induced by Rhinovirus and a Topical Chemical Inducer on the Course of Infection

In six of 11 subjects challenged with rhinovirus 21, nasal interferon was produced in levels sufficient to inhibit replication of 3 logs or more of rhinovirus 21 in tissue culture. In eight of 14 subjects similarly challenged after treatment for 24 hr with an alkyl-substituted propanediamine, nasal interferon was produced 24 hr earlier, and the levels were slightly higher. Drug alone induced interferon in four of eight subjects. Thus, topical application of the nonabsorbable compound, N,Ndioctadecyl-N'-bis-(hydroxyethyl) -propanediamine, induced nasal interferon and enhanced production of virus-induced interferon. Overall, there was no difference between the drug- and placebo-treated groups in rate of infection or incidence of illness. Faster recovery from illness was associated with appearance of high titers of interferon in nasal secretions. The reduced severity of symptoms that followed pretreatment with drug was independent of the effect of interferon. It may be concluded that any beneficial effect of secretory interferon as a result of viral infection is poorly related to its antiviral action. This infection began during the lag phase before interferon production, and no inference can be made as to the effect of preformed interferon on rhinovirus infection.