cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toward a scalable method for quantifying aspects of fault tolerance, software assurance, and computer security

Quantitative assessment tools are urgently needed in the areas of fault tolerance, software assurance, and computer security. Assessment methods typically employed in various combinations are fault injection, formal verification, and testing. However these methods are expensive because they are labor-intensive, with costs scaling at least linearly with the number of software modules tested. Additionally, they are subject to human lapses and oversights because they require two different representations for each system, and then base results on a direct or an indirect representation comparison. The Ballista project has found that robustness testing forms a niche in which scalable quantitative assessment can be achieved at low cost. This scalability stems from two techniques. Associating state-setting information with test cases based on data types, and using one generic, but narrow, behavioral specification for all modules. Given that this approach has succeeded in comparing the robustness of various operating systems, it is natural to ask if it can be made more generally applicable. It appears that Ballista-like testing can be used in the fault tolerance area to measure the generic robustness of a variety of API implementations and in particular to identify reproducible ways to crash and hang software. In software assurance, it can be used as a quality check on exception handling, and in particular as a means to augment black box testing. Applying it to computer security appears more problematic, but might be possible if there is a way to orthogonally decompose various aspects of security-relevant system state into analogs of Ballista data types. While Ballista-like testing is no substitute for traditional methods, it can serve to provide a useful quality assurance check that augments existing practice at relatively low cost. Alternately, it can serve to quantify the extent of potential problems, enabling better informed decisions by both developers and customers.
The Heritabilities of Seasonally Determined Egg Quality Traits

Abstract During four generations, 1954 through 1957, of the Pennsylvania random-bred flock of S.C.W. Leghorns four egg quality characteristics were assessed at different periods throughout the laying year. Egg weight, Haugh units and shell thickness were determined for the full four year period but egg shape index (W/L × 100) measurements were confined to the first two years. Within years, samples of three eggs from each pullet were obtained during four periods; period one, December and January; period 2, February; period 3, March and April; period 4, June. Random selection of breeding birds was employed throughout the experiment. In 1954–55 a standard, one-shift mating procedure using eight sires was employed. In the three succeeding years sixteen breeding pens were used but the males were shifted in a manner unique to a given year. In view of the varied mating design and the restriction, during the last three years, of offspring…
Lay attitudes toward trust, uncertainty, and the return of pediatric research results in biobanking

ABSTRACTBackground: Trust plays a role in participants’ reactions to clinical residual biobanks. The purpose of this study is to assess whether trust in medical researchers and negative reactions to uncertainty influence the attitudes of parents of pediatric research participants toward the return of genomic research results from biobanking. Methods: Focus groups were conducted in collaboration with two community-based organizations. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and the trust in research and intolerance of uncertainty scales. The focus groups were then conducted according to a thematic focus-group guide; discussions were transcribed and analyzed by two trained coders. Results: Emerging themes included the importance of returning research results to both children and parents, sharing results with few limitations based on a child's age, and the desire for results even when researchers had concerns about analytic validity. Negative reactions to uncertainty appear to have influenced only...
Clinical course of light-chain smouldering multiple myeloma (idiopathic Bence Jones proteinuria): a retrospective cohort study

Summary Background Bence Jones proteinuria is a disorder that is defined by the excretion of monoclonal light-chain protein. About 15–20% of patients with multiple myeloma secrete monoclonal light chains only, without expression of the normal immunoglobulin heavy chain, which constitutes light-chain multiple myeloma. The definition, prevalence, and progression of these premalignant phases of light-chain multiple myeloma have not been fully characterised. We aimed to identify a subset of patients with idiopathic Bence Jones proteinuria who had a high risk of progression to light-chain multiple myeloma analogous to that seen in patients with smouldering multiple myeloma. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, we studied all patients seen at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA) within 30 days of diagnosis of idiopathic Bence Jones proteinuria between Jan 1, 1960, and June 30, 2004. Inclusion criteria were monoclonal light chain in the urine (≥0·2 g/24 h), absence of intact monoclonal immunoglobulin (M protein) in the serum, and no evidence of multiple myeloma, light-chain amyloidosis, or other related plasma-cell proliferative disorders. The primary endpoint was progression to symptomatic multiple myeloma or light-chain amyloidosis. We examined the cumulative probability of progression and the association of potential risk factors on progression rates to identify patients with a high risk of progression to multiple myeloma or light-chain amyloidosis. Findings We identified 101 patients with idiopathic Bence Jones proteinuria. During 901 total person-years of follow-up, 27 (27%) patients developed multiple myeloma and seven (7%) developed light-chain amyloidosis. The major risk factors for progression were amount of urinary excretion of M protein per 24 h, proportion of bone marrow plasma cells, presence of a markedly abnormal free-light-chain ratio ( 100), and reduction of all three uninvolved immunoglobulins. Based on the risk of progression, monoclonal light-chain excretion of 0·5 g/24 h or greater or at least 10% bone marrow plasma cells, or both, in the absence of end-organ damage was used to define light-chain smouldering multiple myeloma. The cumulative probability of progression to active multiple myeloma or light-chain amyloidosis in patients with light-chain smouldering multiple myeloma was 27·8% (95% CI 14·2–39·2) at 5 years, 44·6% (27·9–57·4) at 10 years, and 56·5% (36·3–70·2) at 15 years. Interpretation Light-chain smouldering multiple myeloma as defined in this study is associated with a high risk of progression to symptomatic light-chain multiple myeloma, and this subset of patients needs careful observation and could benefit from clinical trials of early intervention. Funding Jabbs Foundation (Birmingham, UK), US National Cancer Institute, and Henry J Predolin Foundation (Madison, WI, USA).
The Thermal-Stability of Oligomers in Alpha-Pinene Secondary Organic Aerosol

Recent studies characterizing laboratory generated secondary organic aerosol (SOA) have shown that 50% or more of the particle mass is made up of oligomeric species, which based on molecular weight and structure should be nonvolatile. On the other hand, about 75% the particle mass is lost when SOA is passed through a denuder heated to 100°C, suggesting that it is semi-volatile. To study the reason for this discrepancy, the chemical effects of a thermal denuder (TD) on oligomers in laboratory SOA formed by ozonolysis of α-pinene were examined with high-resolution molecular mass spectrometry. Both monomers and oligomers in the particle phase were lost to the gas phase upon heating to 100°C. Additionally, when the species released to the gas phase during heating were allowed to readsorb onto the remaining particle mass, almost all of the readsorbed material was monomeric. Both of these observations suggest that oligomers decompose when heated in a TD. Chemical analysis of the remaining particle mass after pa...
Simultaneous messages vs. communication

In the multiparty communication game introduced by Chandra, Furst, and Lipton [CFL] (1983), k players wish to evaluate collaboratively a function f(x0,⋯, xk−1 for which player i sees all inputs except x i . The players have unlimited computational power. The objective is to minimize the amount of communication.
Dynamic energy-balance model predicting gestational weight gain

Background: Gestational weight gains (GWGs) that exceed the 2009 Institute of Medicine recommended ranges increase risk of long-term postpartum weight retention; conversely, GWGs within the recommended ranges are more likely to result in positive maternal and fetal outcomes. Despite this evidence, recent epidemiologic studies have shown that the majority of pregnant women gain outside the target GWG ranges. A mathematical model that predicts GWG and energy intake could provide a clinical tool for setting precise goals during early pregnancy and continuous objective feedback throughout pregnancy. Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a differential equation model for energy balance during pregnancy that predicts GWG that results from changes in energy intakes. Design: A set of prepregnancy BMI–dependent mathematical models that predict GWG were developed by using data from a longitudinal study that measured gestational-changes in fat-free mass, fat mass, total body water, and total energy expenditure in 63 subjects. Results: Mathematical models developed for women with low, normal, and high prepregnancy BMI were shown to fit the original data. In 2 independent studies used for validation, model predictions of fat-free mass, fat mass, and total body water matched actual measurements within 1 kg. Conclusions: Our energy-balance model provides plausible predictions of GWG that results from changes in energy intakes. Because the model was implemented as a Web-based applet, it can be widely used by pregnant women and their health care providers.
Transitions: Pastoralists Living with Change

This review covers two major causes of change in pastoral systems. First is fragmentation, the dissection of a natural system into spatially isolated parts, which is caused by a number of socioeconomic factors such as changes in land tenure, agriculture, sedentarization, and institutions. Second is climate change and climate variability, which are expected to alter dry and semiarid grasslands now and into the future. Details of these changes are described using examples from Africa and Mongolia. An adaptation framework is used to place global change in context. Although pastoral systems are clearly under numerous constraints and risks have intensified, pastoralists are adapting and trying to remain flexible. It is too early to ask if the responses are enough, given the magnitude and number of changes faced by pastoralists today.
Power-Efficient Impedance-Modulation Wireless Data Links for Biomedical Implants

We analyze the performance of wireless data telemetry links for implanted biomedical systems. An experimental realization of a bidirectional half-duplex link that uses near-field inductive coupling between the implanted system and an external transceiver is described. Our system minimizes power consumption in the implanted system by using impedance modulation to transmit high-bandwidth information in the uplink direction, i.e., from the implanted to the external system. We measured a data rate of 2.8 Mbps at a bit error rate (BER) of <10-6 (we could not measure error rates below 10-6 ) and a data rate of 4.0 Mbps at a BER of 10-3. Experimental results also demonstrate data transfer rates up to 300 kbps in the opposite, i.e., downlink direction. We also perform a theoretical analysis of the bit error rate performance. An important effect regarding the asymmetry of rising and falling edges that is inherent to impedance modulation is predicted by theory and confirmed by experiment. The link dissipates 2.5 mW in the external system and only 100 muW in the implanted system, making it among the most power-efficient inductive data links reported. Our link is compatible with FCC regulations on radiated emissions.
Simplification of non-deterministic multi-valued networks

We discuss the simplification of non-deterministic multi-valued (MV) networks and their internal nodes using internal flexibilities. Given the network structure and its external specification, the flexibility at a node is derived as a non-deterministic MV relation. This flexibility is used to simplify the node representation and enhance the effect of Boolean resubstitution. We show that the flexibility derived is maximum. The proposed approach has been implemented and tested in MVSIS. Experimental results show that it performs well on a variety of MV and binary benchmarks.
Tobacco Smoke Exposure Is Associated With the Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents

Background— The metabolic syndrome predicts future coronary artery disease and type II diabetes and often emerges in childhood. Tobacco smoke potentially contributes to insulin resistance in this syndrome. This study evaluates the association of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and active smoking with the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in US adolescents. Methods and Results— Data from 2273 subjects 12 to 19 years of age were examined from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III, 1988 to 1994). Serum cotinine levels, presence of household smokers, and self-report of smoking were used to determine ETS exposure and active smoking. The metabolic syndrome was defined as having ≥3 criteria from the National Cholesterol Education Panel definition. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted. Among adolescents, 5.6% met the criteria for metabolic syndrome, and prevalence increased with tobacco exposure: 1.2% for nonexposed, 5.4% for those exposed to ETS, and 8.7% for active smokers ( P P =0.01). In multivariable logistic regression analyses among all adolescents, ETS exposure was independently associated with the metabolic syndrome (ETS exposure: odds ratio, 4.7, 95% CI, 1.7 to 12.9; active smoking: odds ratio, 6.1; 95% CI, 2.8 to 13.4). Conclusions— Considering that tobacco and obesity are the 2 leading causes of preventable death in the United States, these findings of a dose-response, cotinine-confirmed relationship between tobacco smoke and metabolic syndrome among adolescents may have profound implications for the future health of the public.
Tumor in the Lesser Sac

Tumors in the lesser sac present difficulties for their resection because of the crowding of large vessels and other important structures. The resection of the tumor depends not only on the size of the tumor and its precise location, but also on whether the margins of the tumor have infiltrated adjacent structures. When the tumor does not extend laterally to involve the lateral abdominal wall, the operation can be done with the patient supine on the operating table, using a midline incision (Fig. 36.1). After the abdomen is opened, exploration is carried out to define the extent of the disease (Fig. 36.2). The lesser omentum (gastrohepatic ligament) is incised close to the liver surface, using an avascular area of this ligament. The lesser sac is opened (Fig. 36.3). The gastrocolic ligament may be divided below the gastroepiploic arcade, exposing the lower portion of the lesser sac (Fig. 36.4). Alternatively, whenever there is need for the omentum to be removed en bloc with the gastrocolic ligament and the underlying tumor, the greater omentum is lifted and dissected off its attachment to the transverse colon. The decision whether to divide the gastrocolic ligament below the gastroepiploic arcade or to include the greater omentum with this ligament depends on the location and biology of the tumor. Soft tissue sarcomas rarely metastasize to lymph nodes, so it is generally not necessary to include what may be the regional nodal area, except for purposes of wide excision. The short gastric vessels are ligated and divided. In the case illustrated, it is appreciated through the opening in the gastrosplenic ligament that the proximal portion of the stomach is free. Because the posterior wall is attached to the tumor, however, the distal portion of the stomach will be removed en bloc with the tumor mass by stapling through the first portion of the duodenum, ligating and dividing the right gastric and right gastroepiploic vessels. The proximal part of the stomach is also divided, leaving the gastric remnant for anastomosis later with the proximal jejunum. The splenic artery is identified (Fig. 36.5). Because this artery is clearly involved distally by the tumor, it is ligated and divided proximally (Fig. 36.6). Before dividing this artery, however, one makes certain that good pulses continue in the superior mesenteric artery and its mesenteric branches after the artery is ligated or temporarily occluded (for 10 min) with a vascular clamp. With the obscurity caused by the tumor mass, it is possible to confuse the splenic artery with the superior mesenteric artery, so before any major vessels in that area are divided, it is mandatory to ensure that the pulses of the superior mesenteric artery in the mesentery of the bowel remain strong and normal.
Electric fishes

ALL ANIMALS in the phylogenetic scale above those which have tissues but no organs, which is to say that all animals above and including the most primitive worms, have developed some sort of mechanism that both produces and operates on electricity. In almost all animals this is a purely internal phenomenon, the nervous system, by means of which the creature sees, hears, feels, tastes, smells, moves, and thinks — if it thinks at all. In a few very special animals, there has been developed a modification of this in that some of the electricity produced can be released outside the body rather than being confined within it. All of these animals are fishes, which is not surprising, for it would not do a terrestrial animal, a bird or insect, for instance, much good to have electricity which can be released outside the body when there is no medium to conduct it. Why only some fishes have produced this peculiar mechanism, or why any of them did so, is something about which we can only conjecture, but it remains that a number of fishes, some extinct and some living at present, have developed it.
Oncogenic AKT1(E17K) mutation induces mammary hyperplasia but prevents HER2-driven tumorigenesis

One of the most frequently deregulated signaling pathways in breast cancer is the PI 3-K/Akt cascade. Genetic lesions are commonly found in PIK3CA, PTEN, and AKT, which lead to excessive and constitutive activation of Akt and downstream signaling that results in uncontrolled proliferation and increased cellular survival. One such genetic lesion is the somatic AKT1(E17K) mutation, which has been identified in 4-8% of breast cancer patients. To determine how this mutation contributes to mammary tumorigenesis, we constructed a genetically engineered mouse model that conditionally expresses human AKT1(E17K) in the mammary epithelium. Although AKT1(E17K) is only weakly constitutively active and does not promote proliferation in vitro, it is capable of escaping negative feedback inhibition to exhibit sustained signaling dynamics in vitro. Consistently, both virgin and multiparous AKT1(E17K) mice develop mammary gland hyperplasia that do not progress to carcinoma. This hyperplasia is accompanied by increased estrogen receptor expression, although exposure of the mice to estrogen does not promote tumor development. Moreover, AKT1(E17K) prevents HER2-driven mammary tumor formation, in part through negative feedback inhibition of RTK signaling. Analysis of TCGA breast cancer data revealed that the mRNA expression, total protein levels, and phosphorylation of various RTKs are decreased in human tumors harboring AKT1(E17K).
Cross-attraction of five species of stored-product Phycitinae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in a wind tunnel

Sharing of the sex-pheromone communication channel by five species of phycitine moths was measured in a wind tunnel. Overall, male pheromonal response was characterized both by high levels of interspecific attraction and broad overlap in the circadian periods of male response, with attraction to nonconspecific females 75% of that to conspecifics, on average. Cadra cautella (Walker), Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), and Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) males demonstrated high levels of upwind-flight response throughout an 8-h scotophase. P. interpunctella and A. kuehniella males responded to nonconspecific females at levels that were as high as to conspecifics. Ephestia elutella (H¨bner) males showed the greatest level of response discrimination with the probability of flight to nonconspecific females only 41% of that to conspecific females, although relative importance of pheromonal differences and temporal effects could not be determined. Poor reproductive isolation by long-distance parameters points to a greater reliance on less efficient short-range mechanisms, such as courtship and male pheromones. Significance of these findings to current thought concerning evolution of reproductive isolating mechanisms is considered.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type II A Review for Sonographers

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type II is a form of skeletal dysplasia which results in poor skeletal ossification and multiple long bone and rib fractures. The following cases illustrate the sonographic appearances of fetuses afflicted with OI type II. The etiology of OI, suggested scanning techniques, and differential diagnosis for skeletal dysplasia are discussed.
Cdk5: A regulator of epithelial cell adhesion and migration.

Abstract Cell adhesion is a fundamental property of epithelial cells required for anchoring, migration and survival. During cell migration, the formation and disruption of adhesion sites is stringently regulated by integration of multiple, sequential signals acting in distinct regions of the cell. Recent findings implicate cyclin dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) in the signaling pathways that regulate cell adhesion and migration of a variety of cell types. Experiments with epithelial cell lines indicate that Cdk5 activity exerts its effects by limiting Src activity in regions where Rho activity is required for stress fiber contraction and by phosphorylating the talin head to stabilize nascent focal adhesions. Both pathways regulate cell migration by increasing adhesive strength.
The Software Design of IEC 61850 Fast Message Real-time Performance Improvement

This paper presented a highly efficient dual-processor ethernet interface data link layer software design.It was implemented on the hardware platform of FREESCALE′s PowerQUICC II.This implementation program aimed for improving and solving the Digital Substation Bay Level equipment IEC 61850 Fast Message network problems in real time.This paper designed a new driver of Power QUICC II Ethernet port and new IP layer code in the case of non-operating system.It greatly improved the efficiency of the CPU in the Ethernet port communications.This paper also did the Real-time experiment on simulating the current Digital Substation network architecture.Experimental results showed that the program was better than the current IEC 61850-9-2 Digital Substation Bay Level equipment on combined platform of Power QUICC II and VxWorks in real-time network.
DIII-D Electron Cyclotron Heating System Status and Upgrades

The DIII-D electron cyclotron heating (ECH) system consists of six 110-GHz gyrotrons with corrugated coaxial 31.75-mm waveguide transmission lines, and steerable launching mirrors. The system has been gradually updated, leading to an increased experimental flexibility and a high system reliability of 91% in the past year. Operationally, the gyrotrons can generate up to a total of 4.8 MW of RF power for pulses up to 5 seconds. The maximum ECH energy injected into the DIII-D is 16.6 MJ. The HE1,1 mode content is over 85% for all the lines, and the transmission coefficient is better than −1.1 dB for all the transmission lines, close to the theoretical value. A new depressed collector gyrotron was recently installed and was injected up to 640 kW of power into the plasma during 2014–2015 tokamak operations. Four dual waveguide launchers, which can steer the RF beams ±20° poloidally and toroidally, are used for real-time neoclassical tearing mode control and suppression. The launchers now have increased poloidal scanning speed and beam positioning accuracy of approximately ±2 mm at the plasma center. Two more gyrotrons are expected to be installed and operational in 2015–2016. The first is a repaired 110-GHz, 1-MW gyrotron that had a gun failure after more than 11 years of operation at DIII-D. The second is a newly designed depressed collector tube in the 1.5 MW class, operating at 117.5 GHz, manufactured by Communications and Power Industries.
Getting Active With Passive Crossings: Investigating the Use of In-Vehicle Auditory Alerts for Highway-Rail Grade Crossings

This paper investigates the plausibility of a novel in-vehicle auditory alert system to warn drivers of the presence of railroad crossings. Train-Vehicle collisions at highway-rail grade crossings continue to be a major issue despite improvements over the past several decades. In 2014 there were 2,286 highway-rail incidents leading to 852 injuries and 269 fatalities. This marked the first time in the past decade that incident rates increased from the previous year. To prevent the overall trend in safety improvement from plateauing, interest is shifting towards novel warning devices that can be applied to all crossings at minimal cost. These novel warnings are intended to complement but not replace the primary visual warnings that are already in place at both active and passive crossings. Few in-vehicle warning systems have been described and tested in the rail safety literature. The ones that have been described only manipulate the modality or reliability of the warning message, and pay little attention to message content, timing of presentation, mappings between crossing events and warning logic, and driver habituation associated with long term use. To this end, a line of research has been being carried out to design in-vehicle auditory alerts and measure subjective preference and driver behavior in response to in-vehicle auditory alerts. The first study included a subjective evaluation of potential auditory cues. Cues rated as most effective and appropriate were included in the design of prototype systems in the follow up study. The second study will measure compliance rates in a driving simulator with and without in-vehicle auditory alerts. The results of first study and the study design for the second study are discussed.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Transformational Approach to Infusing American Sign Language and Deaf Perspectives in Humanities Education

Society's views largely impact the Deaf population's ability to thrive. The traditional "disability model" imparts a negative, individualistic view of a medical impairment needing remediation, while the more current "culturo-linguistic model" fosters a positive, collective view of a whole person with a rich language and culture. American Sign Language (ASL), identified by linguists as a true natural language distinct from spoken English, is the heart of American Deaf culture. Society benefits from education and increased cultural understanding between non-Deaf professionals and the Deaf community. This paper provides a rationale and a model for infusing study of ASL and Deaf cultural perspectives following the culturo-linguistic model across all disciplines in higher education Humanities programs. This model prepares students as future professionals and prepares current working professionals to embrace Deaf perspectives, to better communicate with the Deaf community, and to provide a higher quality of service. Key features of a successful American Sign Language program in the humanities include a practical application and approach to teaching ASL and Deaf culture, authority figures as educators, a student-centered environment, direct connections to the local Deaf community, and collaboration across disciplines.
Abstract B101: Mechanism of T cell activation by phase separation

Activation of many cell surface receptors triggers the reorganization of downstream signaling molecules into micron- or submicron-sized clusters. However, the functional consequences of such clustering have been unclear. We biochemically reconstituted a 12-component signaling pathway on model membranes, beginning with T cell receptor (TCR) activation and ending with actin assembly. When TCR phosphorylation was triggered, downstream signaling proteins spontaneously separated into liquid-like clusters that promoted signaling outputs both in vitro and in human Jurkat T cells. Reconstituted clusters were enriched in kinases but excluded phosphatases and enhanced actin filament assembly by recruiting and organizing actin regulators. These results demonstrate that protein phase separation can create a distinct physical and biochemical compartment that facilitates signaling. Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference. Citation Format: Xiaolei Su, Jonathon Ditlev, Enfu Hui, Michael Rosen, Ronald Vale. Mechanism of T cell activation by phase separation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B101.
The Learning Curve of Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery and How to Start Applying Robotic Technology in Colorectal Surgery

The mastery of the field of colorectal surgery, with its multitude of complex procedures and ever evolving modalities, begins in general surgery residency, often progresses to fellowship, and continues throughout one’s career as a lifelong endeavor. Many learning curves are encountered and overcome at each stage. During the training phase the mastery of new skills is developed in a controlled environment monitored by experienced surgeons. Post-training the surgeon learns, develops, and masters new skills in an environment that is sometimes without a roadmap, yet he or she has to begin successfully implementing this skill in a safe manner for his/her patients. Although learning curves are inevitable, they also impact the subset of patients who fall under the front end of the surgeon’s learning curve. During the initial learning curve, many factors contribute to the surgeon’s eventual acquisition of the desired skill.
(S)wordswoman versus (S)wordsman: Maxine Hong Kingston and Frank Chin

(S)WORDSWOMAN AND (S)WORDSMAN interweaves the gender debates involving Maxine Hong Kingston and Frank Chin with an analysis of the two writers’ verbal pyrotechnics. It correlates the historical debasement of Asian men in the United States with the traditional subjugation of women in China, and cautions against boosting manhood by subscribing to patriarchal conventions of masculinity. Concomitantly, it demonstrates how Kingston and F. Chin retool Chinese classics to create a usable past relevant to their concerns as Chinese American female and male, respectively. By invoking the Chinese heroic tradition to voice their gender and cultural nationalist concerns, these two writers launch a transnational literary tradition that straddles the dyadic ideal of wen-wu (literary arts and martial arts)—writing and fighting.
Lung Cancer and Other Thoracic Malignancies

Lung cancer is the deadliest malignancy in the United States, and much research has been dedicated over the last many decades to improve patient outcomes. Smoking cessation education, lung cancer screening, improved diagnostic and functional imaging, improved surgical and radiation techniques, multimodality therapy, and targeted biologic and immunologic therapy have all lead to earlier detection of lung cancer and improved treatment resulting in improvements in overall survival. There are still many controversies that exist within each of these many aspects in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. This chapter is dedicated to the controversies that exist in the management and treatment of all aspects of lung cancer with additional discussion of the controversies regarding thymoma and malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Application of Next-Generation Sequencing in Noonan Spectrum Disorders

Noonan spectrum disorders (NSDs) are a group of disorders with aberrant signal transduction in the RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, and therefore they are also known as RASopathies. All NSDs known to date are caused by germline dominant mutations in genes encoding proteins participating in the RAS-MAPK pathway. The molecular characterization thus far explains approximately 80% of individuals affected with a NSD. Pathogenic variants in the PTPN11 gene cause about 50% of all NSD cases. The other 17 genes account for an additional 20–30% NDS cases. High genetic heterogeneity in NSDs and their considerable overlap in clinical presentations had made the diagnosis of these disorders expensive and time consuming in a gene by gene approach. In this chapter, we provide a brief overview of clinical features of Noonan syndrome and closely related conditions, the molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis, and the advantages and challenges in implementing next generation sequencing (NGS) in clinical laboratories for the molecular diagnosis of NSDs.
Conclusion: Rhetorical Education and the Local Production of Global Higher Education

This chapter concludes by calling on rhetorical scholars and educators to pursue two key collaborative projects—a project of institutional research and critique that draws on their collective rhetorical knowledge and resources to critically interrogate the questions and motives of global higher education, and a project of curricular research that examines the role rhetoric, communication, and composing play in courses on global issues that are taught across the curriculum. The chapter calls for these collaborative projects as a local means toward making room for rhetorical education in the rapidly globalizing curriculum of US colleges and universities.
Functional Approaches to Linguistics

Functional approaches to linguistics have contributed considerably to an understanding of the relationship between contexts of language use and the communicative competence of speakers in those contexts. Insights into this relationship are well-represented by two linguistic traditions: the Prague School and the British tradition. As a representative of a functional approach, each is concerned with language as a tool which performs many tasks and with analysis in terms of the uses, or functions, that language serves. Each tradition has been particularly influential in the work of Michael Halliday, whose systemic-functional theory reflects a convergence of both approaches.1 The Prague and British traditions can be distinguished from one another by the extent to which each explores the functional resources of a language and by the particular linguistic problems each focuses upon. The compatibility of their goals and aims and the complementary results of the efforts of scholars working within these traditions have led to a greater appreciation of the nature of language, of “why it is as it is.” This chapter is a look at the goals and outcomes of the Prague School and the British tradition and their convergence into Halliday’s functional approach. As such it provides an historical and theoretical perspective on the significance of functional approaches for a variety of theoretical and applied sociolinguistic and pedagogical issues taken up in subsequent chapters.
Identification in H∞ using time-domain measurement data

The problem of identification in H∞ is considered for feedback systems. A novel time-domain experimental procedure is developed to obtain the frequency response data of the coprime factors of the true unknown (possibly unstable) plant. The identified model is represented by its normalized coprime factors and the worst case identification error between the true unknown plant and the identified model is quantified by the gap metric (with the radius of the directed gap ball). Under certain mild assumptions on the closed-loop system, the convergence of the various existing algorithms from identification in H∞ is established for identification of feedback systems. Further, an explicit identification error bound for the two-stage nonlinear algorithm is given.
6.20 Sulfuric Acid Caves: Morphology and Evolution

Many hypogene caves are formed by sulfuric acid produced by the oxidation of sulfides, particularly hydrogen sulfide. This cave development can take place below, at, or above the water table. Most cave enlargement is subaerial, in water films and droplets that absorb gaseous hydrogen sulfide and oxygen. Sulfuric acid caves have irregular patterns with large variations in cross section and elevation, with relatively few subhorizontal passages formed along the water table. Cave origin is scattered, localized, and sporadic. Sulfuric acid caves provide evidence for regional geomorphic and tectonic history, groundwater flow patterns, and redox geochemistry.
Meinongian Semantics and Artificial Intelligence

This essay describes computational semantic networks for a philosophical audience and surveys several approaches to semantic-network semantics. In particular, propositional semantic networks (exemplified by SNePS) are discussed; it is argued that only a fully intensional, Meinongian semantics is appropriate for them; and several Meinongian systems are presented.
Evidence for Interventions to Improve and Maintain Occupational Performance and Participation for People With Serious Mental Illness: A Systematic Review.

Objective This systematic review evaluates the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions within the scope of occupational therapy to improve and maintain performance and participation for people with serious mental illness. Areas included in this review are activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, leisure, social participation, and rest and sleep. Method Databases searched included MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, OTseeker, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Reviewers read and assessed citations, abstracts, and full-text articles for inclusion and analysis. Results Sixty-one articles were selected for inclusion. The review yielded strong evidence for psychoeducation and occupation- and cognitive-based interventions, moderate evidence for skills-based interventions, and limited evidence for technology-supported interventions. Conclusion Results of this review support use of evidence-based practice within the scope of occupational therapy, inclusion of occupational therapy practitioners as mental health service providers, and continued research.
ANESTHESIA UTILIZATION IN CARDIAC ABLATIONS IN THE US: PRIMARY RESULTS OF A NATIONWIDE SURVEY

The number of institutions performing ablation procedures has increased significantly over the past 10 years. There are no standards for the utilization of anesthesiology services (AN) for ablation procedures. To quantify the use of AN in ablations in the US, an online survey was sent to US
Surgical management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Despite advances in systemic therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma, durable responses remain rare and surgical management remains a mainstay of treatment for many patients with metastatic disease. Management of the primary tumor in metastatic patients can occur as 1) palliative nephrectomy for symptomatic patients in whom cure is not achievable, 2) cytoreductive nephrectomy before systemic therapy, or 3) consolidative nephrectomy after systemic therapy. Palliative nephrectomy is rarely performed in centers where angioembolization is available. The evidence for cytoreductive nephrectomy is based on randomized trials in the cytokine era and retrospective studies in the more recent targeted therapy era. Consolidative nephrectomy is utilized after systemic therapy for intermediate- and poor-risk patients or in patients with potentially unresectable disease based on retrospective evidence. Resection of metastatic lesions, or metastasectomy, is utilized in select patients, with efficacy predicated on the organs involved and the extent of resection that is achievable, based on retrospective data. Herein, the evidence for surgical management of both the primary tumor and metastatic lesions in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma is reviewed.
Searching for tics.

Introduction: In the current edition, Szejko and colleagues describe a subset of patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) who had dystonic tics (DTs), which occurred more frequently in those with a greater number of tics and likely contribute to impairment. Clinical Reflections: DTs manifest as an abnormal posture that may be difficult to distinguish from other movements, such as dystonia and other tic types. Electromyography is an invaluable tool that can aid clinicians in making this important distinction. Clinical Implications: Accurately diagnosing these movements can significantly impact treatment decisions and contribute to more homogenous research populations.
Technical Documentation for the 2019 Patent Examination Research Dataset (Patex) Release

This new version of the Patent Examination Research Dataset (PatEx) is based on data that the Office of the Chief Economist downloaded from Patent Examination Data System (PEDS) on April 26, 2020. We parsed the XML and organized the data into the familiar PatEx data files, following the organization of the Public PAIR portal. However, there are some minor differences between the new PatEx release and the previous ones. This is the main rationale behind the new technical documentation for this release and we advise users to read the relevant sections to better acclimate themselves to the new data.
Physiological sensation word usage in social anxiety disorder with and without comorbid depression.

Abstract Background & Objectives Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by a fear of showing anxiety symptoms, which may manifest in greater physiological sensation (PS) word usage, especially when describing their anxious experiences. However, the role of comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) is unknown. Given blunted physiological arousal in MDD, the SAD only group (SAD) may use more PS words than the comorbid (COM) group with SAD and MDD when discussing anxious memories. Due to more severe symptomology, however, the COM group may use more PS words than the SAD group. We examined these competing hypotheses. Methods The SAD (n = 30), COM (n = 19), and control (CTL; n = 30) groups recalled their happiest, saddest, and most anxious events. The proportion of PS words was examined. Results The SAD group used significantly more PS words than the CTL group, whose PS words did not differ significantly from the COM group; the SAD group used marginally more PS words than the COM group. Anxious memories contained significantly more PS words than happiest and saddest memories. Happiest and saddest memories did not significantly differ in PS words. Limitations The PS words list was created by the authors, and a LIWC dictionary was not used. Conclusions Blunted physiological arousal in MDD may have contributed to lower PS word usage in the COM group than the SAD group. Understanding linguistic differences between these groups may provide clinicians with insight into these individuals’ preoccupations with bodily sensations that may maintain or exacerbate symptoms of anxiety.
Variable plural marking in Palenquero Creole

One of the most salient putative African features of Palenquero, an Afro-Hispanic creole spoken in northern Colombia, is the prenominal plural marker ma. However, plural number is not categorically marked with ma, which alternates with bare forms in plural contexts and also occurs in singular contexts. In a principled sample of noun phrases (n = 1,186) from the spontaneous speech of twenty-seven Palenquero-Spanish bilinguals, the rate of ma (versus zero) is 51% in plural and 13% in singular contexts. Singular ma is favored with subjects and specific objects, consistent with an association with definiteness. In plural contexts, where it is robust, selection of ma is favored with specific and generic referents in subject role. This conditioning indicates that plural marking is favored for discourse referential nouns, in accordance with the cross-linguistic generalization that morphological marking tends to appear on instances that approach the prototypical function of a category (Hopper & Thompson, 1984).
Postural Control Strategies in Standing With Handrail Support and Active Assistance From Robotic Upright Stand Trainer (RobUST)

In people with severe neuromotor deficits of trunk and lower extremities, regaining balance in standing is often performed in rehabilitation with manual assistance, rigid body supports or by the use of handrails. To investigate and further expand postural control training in standing, we developed a Robotic Upright Stand Trainer (RobUST). In this study, we used RobUST to deliver trunk perturbations while simultaneously providing postural assistive forces on the pelvis in 10 able-bodied adults. Posture control responses with ’pelvic support’ was then compared to ’no support’ and ’hand supported’ standing, with and without assistance from RobUST. We characterize postural imbalance with kinematic displacements and center of pressure (COP) outcomes, such as amplitude and root mean square of the excursions of COP. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was also applied to investigate muscle control. We additionally investigated ground reaction and handrail forces during standing to analyze how postural strategies and muscle mechanisms with ’pelvic support’ via RobUST would differ from standing with ’no support’ and with the ’handrail support’. Our results show that during perturbations, pelvic assistive support decreased kinematic and COP excursions compared to standing with no support. The pelvic assistance from RobUST showed similar level of COP changes as the use of handrail support but without reducing muscle activity or ground reaction forces. As expected, the maximum level of postural stability was observed when participants used the handrail and received pelvic assistive forces. In conclusion, RobUST demonstrates potential as a training device since it enhances postural balance without significantly removing muscular control mechanisms that are of interest in re-training postural control strategies in standing.
Entrepreneurship as a Bridge to Employment? Evidence from Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

While entrepreneurship is increasingly seen as a career choice to move ahead, many entrepreneurs eventually transition back to wage-employment. This leads to an important question of whether entrep...
Disaggregating the Between-Person and Within-Person Associations Between Peer Acceptance and Academic Achievement in Early Elementary School.

Abstract We examined the between-person and within-person associations between peer acceptance and academic achievement in early elementary school years. Drawing on a sample of 784 academically at-risk students, the random intercept cross-lagged panel model was implemented to disaggregate the between- and within-person associations between peer acceptance and academic achievement from Grades 1 to 3. Academic achievement was measured using standardized achievement tests and teacher reports. Peer acceptance was measured using sociometric ratings. Positive associations between peer acceptance and academic achievement were found at the between-person level. At the within-person level, peer acceptance was not associated with standardized achievement test scores, and it was negatively predicted by teacher-reported academic achievement. These findings reveal the heterogeneous associations between peer relation and academic achievement at different levels of analyses and highlight the importance of disaggregating the between- and within-person associations for a better understanding of the nature of this developmental relation.