cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Concentrations and spatial patterns of organic contaminants in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) eggs at United States and binational Great Lakes Areas of Concern, 2010-2015.

Tree swallows, Tachycineta bicolor, were sampled across the Great Lakes basin in 2010 through 2015 to provide a system-wide assessment of current exposure to organic contaminants. The results provide information identified as critical by regulators to assess the "bird or animal deformity or reproductive problems" beneficial use impairment. Eggs were collected from 69 sites across all 5 Great Lakes, including 27 Areas of Concern (AOCs), some with multiple sites, and 10 sites not listed as an AOC. Concentrations of organic contaminants in eggs were quantified and compared with background and reproductive effect thresholds. Approximately 30% of AOCs had geometric mean concentrations of total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at or below average background exposure (0.34 μg/g wet wt). Exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) was minimal, and only 3 of 27 AOCs and 1 non-AOC had geometric mean concentrations that exceeded background for tree swallows (96 ng/g wet wt). Concentrations of both PCBs and PBDEs were 10 to 20 times below the lower limit associated with impaired hatching success. In contrast, geometric mean concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and furan (PCDD-F) toxic equivalents (TEQs) at the Saginaw River and Bay AOC and Midland, Michigan, USA (a non-AOC site), exceeded the lower limit for hatching effects (181 pg/g PCDD-F TEQs). The rest of the sites had geometric mean concentrations of PCDD-F TEQs below background levels (87 pg/g PCDD-F TEQs). Other organic contaminants, including p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, mirex, heptachlor, and chlordane, were at or below background or adverse effect concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:3071-3092. Published 2016 Wiley Periodicals Inc on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
The Grants Economy and the Development Gap

The problem of the gap between rich and poor countries is a familiar one, and we need not spend much time in repeating what everybody knows about it. Nevertheless Figure 6.1 may throw some additional light on the nature of the problem. Here we plot, for as many countries as data could be obtained, the rate of growth of per capita G.N.P. against the per capita G.N.P. itself on a logarithmic scale.1 It is clear that the nations of the world divide out into two fairly distinct groups, which we may call the ‘A’ nations and the ‘B’ nations. The A nations are clearly participating in a long-term growth process of some kind. They lie approximately on a straight line, suggesting that the growth process itself is logistic, with the rate of growth diminishing as growth proceeds. For the A nations it is clear that ‘the poorer the faster, the richer the slower’. The implication of this is that for these nations growth will proceed until all are about equally rich and are proeeeding towards an asymptotic rate of growth which is zero, which seems to be somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000 of the per capita G.N.P. Two interesting facts emerge about the A nations — they are nearly all within the Temperate Zone, or just outside it, and it does not seem to make any difference, at least from this point of view, whether they are socialist or capitalist.
Demographics, Health Drivers, and Impacts on Land-Cover and Land-Use Change in Ghana

We first describe the macrolevel relationships between population growth (based on decadal census data) and land-cover and land-use change (data derived primarily from Landsat multispectral satellite data) in Ghana. We then focus on the southern part of the country to analyze the interaction of demographic and health changes with shifts occurring in land cover and land use, focusing especially on the greater metropolitan areas of Accra and Kumasi, using a set of geospatial methods including spatial regression models.
Using multiple adaptive regression to address the impact of track geometry on development of rail defects

Abstract This paper presents an application of multivariate regression splines (MARS) to a model looking at the railroad track defect behavior. MARS is a non-parametric function estimation technique that shows great promise for fitting non-linear multivariate functions. The MARS approach was used here, together with traditional regression analysis techniques, to develop equations to predict the life (in Millions of Gross Tons or MGT) of a rail defect in the presence of track geometry defects. The MARS approach, using extensive input data, identified and accounted for the key variables contributing to a reduction in rail life. The MARS technique allows for easy interpretation of the relative importance of the different input parameters, to include defect type, and resulted in the development of rail defect life predictive equations as a function of these key parameters. As part of this study, it was determined that there is a reduction in rail life of approximately 30%, when track geometry defects are present.
Design, fabrication, and characterization of ultra high speed AlGaAs/InGaAs MODFETs

The authors report the design, fabrication, and characterization of ultra-high-speed 0.15- mu m mushroom gate Al/sub 0.30/Ga/sub 0.70/As/In/sub 0.25/Ga/sub 0.75/As modulation-doped field-effect transistors (MODFETs) with current gain cutoff frequency (f/sub T/) over 150 GHz. It is demonstrated that with proper device design and fabrication techniques, the switching speed of the AlGaAs/InGaAs (on GaAs) MODFET approaches that of the best AlInAs/InGaAs (lattice matched to InP) devices (f/sub T/=165 GHz at 0.1- mu m gate length). The devices reported here typically exhibit a maximum current density of 630 mA/mm, peak transconductance of 650 mS/mm, peak f/sub T/ of 152 GHz, and best power-gain cutoff frequency in excess of 200 GHz. >
Improving Rates of Post-Essure Hysterosalpingography in an Urban Population Using Electronic Tracking Reminders.

Abstract Study Objective To demonstrate the efficacy of electronic reminders for follow-up hysterosalpingography (HSG) after Essure hysteroscopic sterilization in an urban tertiary care hospital obstetrics and gynecology practice. Design Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). Setting Obstetrics and gynecology practice at a university-affiliated urban tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients Two hundred and fifty patients who underwent Essure hysteroscopic sterilization between June 2011 and July 2014. Intervention Implementation of electronic reminders for the office staff. Measurements and Main Results Two hundred and fifty of 259 patients (96.5%) underwent Essure hysteroscopic sterilization and successful placement of coils into bilateral Fallopian tubes. Among these 250 patients, 135 (54%) returned for HSG at 3 months post-Essure as advised at the time of procedure. The use of electronic reminders prompted another 45 patients (18%) to return for HSG, improving the total post-Essure follow-up rate to 72%. Conclusion Electronic reminders for the office staff of an urban tertiary care hospital's obstetrics and gynecology practice is an effective method for improving the rate of post-Essure HSG.
Evaluating metrics of responsiveness using patient‐reported outcome measures in chronic rhinosinusitis

Background Responsiveness, or sensitivity to clinical change, is important when selecting patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for research and clinical applications. This study compares responsiveness of PROMs used in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) to inform the future development of a highly responsive instrument that accurately portrays CRS patients’ symptom experiences. Methods Adult CRS patients initiating medical therapy (MT; n = 143) or undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery after failing MT (ESS; n = 123) completed the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), European Position Statement on Rhinosinusitis (EPOS) visual analog scale (VAS), and 29-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29) at baseline and 3 months after treatment. Cohen's d and paired t statistics were used to evaluate the responsiveness of each measure. Results Fifty-two (36.4%) subjects and 42 (34.1%) subjects in the MT and ESS groups, respectively, completed baseline and 3-month questionnaires. Subjects with and without 3-month data were similar with respect to baseline demographics, VAS scores, and SNOT-22 scores (p > 0.05). In MT patients, CRS-specific measures, like VAS (d = −0.58, p 0.05) and SNOT-22 (d = −0.70, p 0.05 for Cohen's d). In ESS patients, VAS (d = −1.97; t = −9.63, both p < 0.01) and SNOT-22 (d = −1.56; t = −9.99, both p < 0.01) scores were similarly more responsive, although changes in PROMIS-29 domains of Fatigue (d = −0.82, p = 0.01; t = −4.63, p < 0.01), Sleep Disturbance (d = −0.83; t = −3.77, both p < 0.01), and Pain Intensity (d = −1.0; t = −5.67, both p < 0.01) were significant. All 22 individual SNOT-22 items differed significantly after surgery, whereas only 8 items were consistently responsive after MT. Conclusions For both MT and ESS patients, CRS-specific PROMs are more responsive to posttreatment clinical changes than general health measures. Still, the SNOT-22 contains items that likely decrease its overall responsiveness. Our findings also indicate that existing PROMs had a greater response to ESS than MT.
Writing for Democracy

This chapter casts academic writing performed in classrooms as a democratic activity. Specifically, this chapter draws on the notions of self-authorship and provides a template for teachers and students to use to guide their writing through different levels of cognitive development, from summary, to evaluation to creation. This process is linked to citizenship because summary, evaluation and creation are cast as necessary to grapple with the ever-increasing amounts of information. This chapter also promotes the idea that students should use their writing to create insights for democracy, which later generations can make meaning from. The chapter concludes by linking the ideas of writing for democracy with relevant skills, dispositions and school climate attributes.
Throughput analysis of a horizontal traffic queue under safe car following models

We consider a horizontal traffic queue (HTQ) on a periodic road segment, where vehicles arrive according to a spatio-temporal Poisson process, and depart after traveling a distance that is sampled independently and identically from a spatial distribution. When inside the queue, the motion of vehicles is governed by a car following model. We consider safe first and second order car following models. In the first order models, the speed of a vehicle is proportional to a power m > 0 of the distance to the vehicle in front. For the first order model, we show monotonicity of the service rate in between arrivals and departures. We extend the busy period calculations for M/G/1 queue to our setting, including for non-empty initial conditions in order to derive a probabilistic lower bound on the throughput for the m > 1 case. For the m < 1 case, we study throughput under a release control policy, where the additional expected waiting time caused by the release control policy is interpreted as the magnitude of the perturbation to the arrival process. We derive a lower bound on throughput for a given combination of maximum allowable perturbation and m < 1. For the second order model, we design a safe release control policy which guarantees a provable lower bound on the throughput. Illustrative simulation results are also presented.
Partial Orchiectomy for Bilateral Synchronous Testicular Masses in a Prepubescent Boy: A Case Report

Testicular masses in prepubescent children are typically benign. Most masses are mature teratomas, epidermoid cysts, and stromal tumors. Synchronous bilateral testicular masses in children are rare. The etiology of these includes synchronous primary testicular masses, lymphoma, leukemia, and adrenocortical rest hyperplasia. Partial orchiectomy, or testis-sparing surgery, is now preferred in the management of testicular masses deemed to be benign. We present a case of benign bilateral testicular masses managed with testis-sparing surgery. Six-month follow-up revealed no residual tumor, normal contour of the testes, and no evidence of atrophy.
Interbank markets and bank bailout policies amid a sovereign debt crisis

Abstract Interbank markets have been at the core of the international transmission of recent financial crises, including the euro area sovereign debt crisis. This paper studies the transmission of shocks in a two-country DSGE model where government bonds are used as collateral in interbank markets. We isolate an “interbank collateral channel” of transmission, which works through banks portfolio allocation between loans and government bonds, the resulting value of banks bond holdings and the tightness of collateral constraints in the interbank market. We find that, while in some scenarios this channel compounds a “bank net worth channel” in amplifying negative shocks, in other scenarios the “interbank collateral channel” can mitigate the effects of shocks. Bank bailout policies financed by government debt can erode this stabilizing effect.
Obesity and intensive staffing needs of nursing home residents.

Abstract The objective of this study is to examine how increasing body mass index (BMI) among nursing home residents affects the amount of staffing assistance needed for activities of daily living (ADL). We analyzed 1,627,141 US nursing home residents reported in the 2013 Minimum Data Set in seven BMI categories, from underweight (BMI
Non-deterministic group contest with private information

Abstract I study a non-deterministic group contest a la Tullock in which contestants are privately informed about their valuation for winning the contest. A group of two and a single contestant compete against each other to win the contest. I analyze contestants’ incentive to free-ride in the large group and I offer a sufficient condition for all contestants to exert strictly positive expected effort in equilibrium. Lastly, I apply this model to verify the validity of Olson’s paradox, which asserts that large groups are less effective than small groups at winning a contest.
Early specification and development of rabbit neural crest cells.

Abstract The phenomenal migratory and differentiation capacity of neural crest cells has been well established across model organisms. While the earliest stages of neural crest development have been investigated in non-mammalian model systems such as Xenopus and Aves, the early specification of this cell population has not been evaluated in mammalian embryos, of which the murine model is the most prevalent. Towards a more comprehensive understanding of mammalian neural crest formation and human comparative studies, we have used the rabbit as a mammalian system for the study of early neural crest specification and development. We examine the expression profile of well-characterized neural crest markers in rabbit embryos across developmental time from early gastrula to later neurula stages, and provide a comparison to markers of migratory neural crest in the chick. Importantly, we apply explant specification assays to address the pivotal question of mammalian neural crest ontogeny, and provide the first evidence that a specified population of neural crest cells exists in the rabbit gastrula prior to the overt expression of neural crest markers. Finally, we demonstrate that FGF signaling is necessary for early rabbit neural crest formation, as SU5402 treatment strongly represses neural crest marker expression in explant assays. This study pioneers the rabbit as a model for neural crest development, and provides the first demonstration of mammalian neural crest specification and the requirement of FGF signaling in this process.
Development of the Vertebrate Heart

The developmental pattern of heart formation is highly conserved among all vertebrates. Lineage tracing studies of heart precursors in pregastrulating embryos have shown that the earliest identifiable presumptive cardiac cells are located on two patches lateral to the anterior-posterior axis of the epiblast (1, 2, 3). In the pregastrulation period, these cells migrate via ingression through to the primitive streak and position themselves within the primitive streak, later undergoing gastrulation to take up position in the antero-lateral mesoderm. These cells eventually become part of the lateral splanchnic mesoderm. The presumptive cardiac cells of the splanchnic mesoderm subsequently form a simple tube consisting of two layers—an inner endocardium and an outer myocardium—separated by a connective tissue-filled space called the cardiac jelly. The cardiac jelly is greatly expanded in the regions of the forming valves.
Oil Market Shocks and the Economy in a Quarterly Structural Vector Error Correction Model of the United States Economy

This paper evaluates the impacts of oil market shocks on the economy using a structural vector error correction model of the United States (US) economy. The model is estimated with quarterly data for ten endogenous oil market and macroeconomic variables. Supply and demand driven oil market shocks are identified by examining the pattern of their impacts on oil market variables and the real US gross domestic product (GDP). The implied supply/demand elasticities, and elasticities of the real US GDP to these shocks are presented. The estimated quarterly oil price elasticity of the real US GDP under the oil price shock has a range of -0.04 to -0.004 with a mean of -0.02 about three years after the initial shock. The impacts of supply shocks on the real US GDP are also found to be significant. The quarterly price elasticity of global oil demand to an oil price shock has a range of -0.06 to -0.02 with a mean of -0.04, and the global oil supply elasticity under the global oil demand shock has a range of 0.10 to 0.2 with a mean of 0.11. These findings show that supply, demand and non-systematic oil market shocks have significant price and economic implications, even after controlling for monetary variables. In addition, the findings emphasize that the impacts of oil market shocks are complex and that elasticities estimated from multi-equation systems are conditional on the responses of other model components. Future work will use the model to explore the economic implications of historical oil market events.
Depression and Epilepsy

A 32-year-old, right-handed gentleman with a long history of depression presents with a several-year history of brief paroxysmal recurrent spells of an unpleasant gastric sensation (as if his “stomach is turning around”) and feeling of deja vu. According to his wife, he will occasionally repeat phrases during the event such as “Oh, my stomach,” and be unaware of the events after they occur. They suspect these events are happening about once or twice per week. He has never experienced a convulsion. The patient’s only potential risk factor for seizures was a traumatic, closed-head injury and brief concussion that he sustained 12 years ago while serving in the military. He was ultimately dismissed from active military duty due to persistent depression, which was severe. He is currently maintained on paroxetine 40 mg daily with some improvement in mood, but admits to occasional passive suicidal ideation without an active plan. MRI of the brain and basic labs are within normal limits. He is admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) to clarify the differential diagnosis of the recurrent spells. Interictally, right temporal sharp waves were present. The following segment of EEG represents a clinical event that progressed to include bicycling motions of legs, mumbling, and inability to communicate (Fig. 11.1). The entire event lasted 1 min and 40 s. After the event the patient was amnestic for the episode that was identified by his family.
A New Robust Control Method for Switched Reluctance Motor

A new robust control method for switched reluctance motor is presented in this paper. Since the high uncertainty and non-linearity of the SRM model, an adaptive synergetic control method is introduced to guarantee the robustness and reduce the chattering of the control system, fuzzy logic is applied to estimate the model to simplifies the design of the controller. In this study, the basic principle and the control law is analyzed, the controller is designed and the system response is proposed. Simulation and experimental results verify the good starting performance and strong robustness and adaptability to external load disturbance and given speed change of the SRM system under the proposed control method.
Modular path integral methodology for real-time quantum dynamics

In a recent communication [N. Makri, J. Chem. Phys. 148, 101101 (2018)], it was shown that the locality of interactions in many systems of interest allows a decomposition of the path integral and its evaluation via sequential linking of the paths of relatively small "modules" (e.g., chemical groups or monomers). The present paper describes the modular path integral methodology for simulating dynamical properties by propagating the density matrix in real time. The procedure is first presented for the simple topology of a single-file arrangement of units interacting via nearest neighbor couplings and subsequently extended to the calculation of two-particle correlations in arrays that may also contain some long-range interactions, to the treatment of systems with side chains or cyclic structures, to the simulation of internal dynamics in long organic molecules, and to the modifications required for coupling of one or several units of a system to dissipative environments. Illustrative applications to the dynamics of interacting two-level-systems are presented.
Ionization bias and the ghost proximity effect near z ≳ 6 quasars in the shadow of proximate absorption systems

The larger-than-expected scatter in the opacity of the Ly$\alpha$ forest suggests that the metagalactic ionizing background is strongly fluctuating at $z > 5.5$. Models for ionizing background fluctuations predict a strong positive bias on large scales, so the environments of massive $>10^{12}\,{\rm M}_\odot$ dark matter halos, e.g. $z\sim6$ quasar hosts, would be ideal laboratories to constrain the sources of ionizing photons. While the quasars themselves should overwhelm any plausible ionizing photon contribution from neighboring galaxies, proximate damped Ly$\alpha$ absorbers (DLAs) have recently been discovered in the foreground of $z\sim6$ quasars, and the Ly$\alpha$ forest in the shadow of these DLAs could probe the local ionization environment. Using Gpc$^3$ simulations of $z=6$ ionizing background fluctuations, we show that while the Ly$\alpha$ forest signal from ionization bias around a quasar host halo should be strong, it is likely suppressed by the associated intergalactic matter overdensity. We also show that the quasar itself may still overwhelm the clustering signal via a "ghost" of the proximity effect from the quasar radiation causing a large-scale bias in the ionizing photon mean free path. This ghost proximity effect is sensitive to the lifetime and geometry of quasar emission, potentially unlocking a new avenue for constraining these fundamental quasar properties. Finally, we present observations of a $z\sim6$ quasar with a proximate DLA which shows a strong excess in Ly$\alpha$ forest transmission at the predicted location of the ghost proximity effect.
Combined Transoral and Transmandibular Approach: Labiomandibular Approach with or Without Glossotomy

The emergence of the transoral approach provided exposure to a previously inaccessible region. Although this allowed proper decompression and treatment of a variety of CVJ pathology, the approach was still limited in its exposure below the C2–3 interspace and above the 1/3 inferior aspect of the clivus. Combining the standard transoral approach with previously described techniques of craniofacial osteotomies that split the mandible and divided the tongue enhance access inferiorly to the C4–5. We consider these to be “extended transoral approaches.”
Peer mentoring reduces unplanned readmissions and improves self-efficacy following inpatient rehabilitation for individuals with spinal cord injury

Evaluate effectiveness of peer interventions on self-efficacy, unplanned hospital readmissions, and quality of life for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) undergoing inpatient rehabilitation.In...
Beta distributions for particle size having a finite range and predetermined mode, mean or median

Abstract The beta distribution function is a flexible model of unimodal particle size distributions that have a finite range. It is especially useful for size reduction and enlargement processes where the size distributions of the entering and leaving particles have opposite skewness. The beta distribution function's main drawback is that its two parameters do not have a clear intuitive meaning, a predicament that can be alleviated by converting one of its parameters into an algebraic term that contains the other and the distribution's mode, mean or median. In this form one can conveniently describe a variety of particle size distributions types and their conversion to others. An interactive program to calculate and plot beta distribution functions with a chosen predetermined mode, mean or median and controlling their spread by a single parameter has been developed and posted on the Internet as a freely downloadable Wolfram Demonstration.
Investigating written expressions of mathematical reasoning for students with learning disabilities

Abstract Assessment results from two open-construction response mathematical tasks involving fractions and decimals were used to investigate written expression of mathematical reasoning for students with learning disabilities. The solutions and written responses of 51 students with learning disabilities in fourth and fifth grade were analyzed on four primary dimensions: (a) accuracy, (b) five elements of mathematical reasoning, (c) five elements of mathematical writing, and (d) vocabulary use. Results indicate most students were not accurate in their problem solution and communicated minimal mathematical reasoning in their written expression. In addition, students tended to use general vocabulary rather than academic precise math vocabulary and students who provided a visual representation were more likely to answer accurately. To further clarify the students struggles with mathematical reasoning, error analysis indicated a variety of error patterns existed and tended to vary widely by problem type. Our findings call for more instruction and intervention focused on supporting students mathematical reasoning through written expression. Implications for research and practice are presented.
Isolated splenic abscess due to Salmonella Berta in a healthy adult.

A 38-year-old man without a significant medical history, sick contacts or recent travel presented with fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. Three weeks prior to admission, he developed nasal congestion and dizziness. He was given amoxicillin/clavulanate for a presumptive diagnosis of sinusitis. A few days
Relict Plant Communities at Prehispanic Sites in Oaxaca, Mexico: Historical Implications

Coordinated with excavations at two prehispanic sites in the eastern arm of the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, we documented a diversity of economically useful plants at both localities. Many plants that abound at El Palmillo and the Mitla Fortress are used locally as food, medicine, and in ritual activities. These hilltop settlements were abandoned during the prehispanic era and never resettled, leaving relict floral communities that were once tended by their prehispanic inhabitants. A comparison of plant communities at El Palmillo, the Mitla Fortress, and other locales in the Valley of Oaxaca illustrates the higher incidence of xerophytic plants in the drier eastern (Tlacolula) arm of the valley, with the greatest abundance in archaeological contexts. These findings affirm the importance of a broad array of succulents (especially Agave spp.), yucca, and cacti for the region’s inhabitants, thereby helping account for the dense prehispanic populations that resided there.
Taming America’s Sugar Rush: A Traffic-Light Label Approach

Excess added sugar negatively impacts health and can lead to a litany of problems, such as diet-related chronic diseases, e.g., diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and obesity, costing Americans millions in rising medical bills each year. Even more, new studies reveal that individuals with these underlying chronic diseases are at a higher risk of complications from COVID-19 and other viruses compared to those who are deemed healthy. And yet added sugars are difficult to avoid because unlike naturally occurring sugars found in fruits, vegetables, and milk, these sweeteners are added during food processing and preparation. The problem is that while consumers base their first impressions on the nutritional quality of a product by looking at the front of the package, there is no federal regulation or standard for food manufacturers to quickly communicate added sugar risks to consumers on the front of the package. The new Food and Drug Administration’s Nutritional Fact Panel regulations require food manufacturers to disclose sugar content only on the back of the food package, leaving the front of the package for catchy brand advertising. The food industry takes advantage of this regulatory gap, using unregulated phrases like “just a tad sweet,” “sorta sweet,” “lightly sweetened,” and “slightly sweet,” to peddle their foods as low in sugar when they are actually high in added sugar. Angered by this, consumers are filing lawsuits against food and beverage companies for misleading claims and false advertising. Federal regulators could act upon misleading claims, but instead they remain silent as the food industry profits from the added sugars in nearly 80% of the approximately 600,000 foods in the marketplace. This Article presents a timely, new labeling solution to address this problem: a mandatory, colorful traffic-light indicator on the front of the package, warning consumers of high nutritional content—i.e., an indicator of high fat, salt, sugar, or added sugar content—similar to one used in the United Kingdom. The new label also responds to two additional and pressing trends: (1) the rise in demand for regulating the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in the United States, evidenced by a growing number of local taxes and warning labels; and (2) the rise in demand for regulating the consumption of unhealthy foods generally, evidenced by warning labels and plain-packaging approaches in Chile and other countries. This Article uniquely examines mandatory front-of-package labeling in the context of tobacco regulation to gauge food industry response to a traffic-light labeling approach. Using comparative law, this Article presents an accurate and thorough discussion of the legal challenges a new label will encounter in domestic court, arbitral tribunals, e.g., the Bilateral Investment Treaty, Philip Morris v. Australia claim, and multilateral courts, e.g., the World Trade Organization, Australia Tobacco Plain Packaging claim.
Lessons From the Social Innovation Fund: A Tested Evaluation Technical Assistance Approach to Strengthening Evaluation Practice and Building a Body of Evidence.

The Social Innovation Fund (SIF), a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service that received funding from 2010 to 2016, is one of a set of tiered evidence initiatives that was de...
Impact of cuddler service-learning program in medical student education of opioid use disorder in pregnancy and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.

Background: Given the increasing incidence of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), medical student training on substance use disorders (SUDs) and opioid use disorder (OUD) in pregnancy must ...
Assessment of Knowledge-Based Planning for Prostate Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy

Purpose To assess the performance of a proton-specific knowledge based planning (KBPP) model in creation of robustly optimized intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) plans for treatment of patients with prostate cancer. Materials and Methods Forty-five patients with localized prostate cancer, who had previously been treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy, were selected and replanned with robustly optimized IMPT. A KBPP model was generated from the results of 30 of the patients, and the remaining 15 patient results were used for validation. The KBPP model quality and accuracy were evaluated with the model-provided organ-at-risk regression plots and metrics. The KBPP quality was also assessed through comparison of expert and KBPP-generated IMPT plans for target coverage and organ-at-risk sparing. Results The resulting R2 (mean ± SD, 0.87 ± 0.07) between dosimetric and geometric features, as well as the χ2 test (1.17 ± 0.07) between the original and estimated data, showed the model had good quality. All the KBPP plans were clinically acceptable. Compared with the expert plans, the KBPP plans had marginally higher dose-volume indices for the rectum V65Gy (0.8% ± 2.94%), but delivered a lower dose to the bladder (-1.06% ± 2.9% for bladder V65Gy). In addition, KBPP plans achieved lower hotspot (-0.67Gy ± 2.17Gy) and lower integral dose (-0.09Gy ± 0.3Gy) than the expert plans did. Moreover, the KBPP generated better plans that demonstrated slightly greater clinical target volume V95 (0.1% ± 0.68%) and lower homogeneity index (-1.13 ± 2.34). Conclusions The results demonstrated that robustly optimized IMPT plans created by the KBPP model are of high quality and are comparable to expert plans. Furthermore, the KBPP model can generate more-robust and more-homogenous plans compared with those of expert plans. More studies need to be done for the validation of the proton KBPP model at more-complicated treatment sites.
Narrative Risk Communication as a Lingua Franca for Environmental Hazard Preparation

Incorporating narrative elements into risk communication may encourage preparation for environmental hazards in ways that scientific language alone does not. We integrate narrative theory, narrativ...
From Convenience Sampling to Crowd Sourcing : Complexity Methods in Organizational Research

From Convenience Sampling to Crowd Sourcing : Complexity Methods in Organizational Research
Effects of Professional Visual Search Experience on Domain-General and Domain-Specific Visual Cognition

Vision is one of the dominant human senses and most human-computer interfaces rely heavily on the capabilities of the human visual system. An enormous amount of effort is devoted to finding ways to visualize information so that humans can understand and make sense of it. By studying how professionals engage in these visual search tasks, we can develop insights into their cognitive processes and the influence of experience on those processes. This can advance our understanding of visual cognition in addition to providing information that can be applied to designing improved data visualizations or training new analysts.
Radiative B Decays: Standard Candles of Flavor Physics

Rare radiative decays based on b->s+gamma transitions are among the most prominent examples of flavor-changing neutral current processes. They benefit from good theoretical control and experimental accessibility, large sensitivity to physics beyond the Standard Model, and the availability of many observables. In this talk I summarize the status of the theoretical understanding of these decays and review how they may be used to constrain extensions of the Standard Model, with particular focus on supersymmetric models.
CT colonography at low tube potential: using iterative reconstruction to decrease noise.

Aim To determine the level of iterative reconstruction required to reduce increased image noise associated with low tube potential computed tomography (CT). Materials and methods Fifty patients underwent CT colonography with a supine scan at 120 kVp and a prone scan at 100 kVp with other scan parameters unchanged. Both scans were reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) and increasing levels of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASiR) at 30%, 60%, and 90%. Mean noise, soft tissue and tagged fluid attenuation, contrast, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were collected from reconstructions at both 120 and 100 kVp and compared using a generalised linear mixed model. Results Decreasing tube potential from 120 to 100 kVp significantly increased image noise by 30–34% and tagged fluid attenuation by 120 HU at all ASiR levels ( p 0.0001, all measures). Increasing ASiR from 0% (FBP) to 30%, 60%, and 90% resulted in significant decreases in noise and increases in CNR at both tube potentials ( p 0.001, all comparisons). Compared to 120 kVp FBP, ASiR greater than 30% at 100 kVp yielded similar or lower image noise. Conclusions Iterative reconstruction adequately compensates for increased image noise associated with low tube potential imaging while improving CNR. An ASiR level of approximately 50% at 100 kVp yields similar noise to 120 kVp without ASiR.
Genomic footprinting and sequencing of human beta-globin locus. Tissue specificity and cell line artifact

In order to gain further insights of the regulatory mechanisms of human beta-like globin gene switch during erythroid development, we have studied protein-DNA interaction in vivo at the human adult beta and fetal gamma globin promoters and their upstream enhancer, 5'HS-2, in purified human adult erythroblasts, in which the beta, but not gamma or epsilon, globin gene is actively transcribing. This genomic footprinting analysis of adult erythroblasts was carried out in conjunction with those of different non-erythroid human tissues, an embryonic/fetal erythroid cell line K562, and several non-erythroid human cell lines. Protein-DNA binding in the beta globin promoter, in particular at the two CACC promoter boxes and the CCAAT box, is detectable only in the adult erythroblasts. As expected, the gamma globin promoters were bound with specific nuclear factors in the expressing K562 cells, but not in non-erythroid tissues or cell lines. Relatively weak protein binding could also be detected in the vicinities of the two CCAAT boxes of the inactive gamma globin promoters in the adult erythroblasts. Although the patterns of nuclear factor-DNA interaction in vivo at the NF-E2/AP1, GATA-1, and GT-I motifs of 5'HS-2 enhancer in adult erythroblasts are similar to those in K562 cells, we have identified a previously undetected factor-binding motif of 5'HS-2 that is protected only in the adult erythroblasts. This motif is identical in sequence to the 3'-CACC box of the human beta globin promoter, and it is well conserved at the same location among all mammalian 5'HS-2 enhancers, suggesting an important regulatory role of this element in human beta globin gene transcription in adult erythroblasts. All of the above four motifs of 5'HS-2 are free of nuclear factor binding in non-erythroid tissues, but two of them, NF-E2/AP1 and GT-I, are bound with factors in some non-erythroid cell lines but not in others. The functional implications of these genomic footprinting data and the tissue-specific CpG methylation patterns of the beta-like globin promoters we obtained by genomic sequencing are discussed in terms of positive and negative regulation of the human beta-like globin switch during erythroid development.
Filtering and Implementation for Air-to-Air Target Tracking

This paper discusses some aspects of the design problem involved in the choice of a realization or approximation of a desired system behavior (as for instance dictated by the analytical solutions to a filtering problem) by parameters that can only be approximately adjusted, e.g., due to quantization, component tolerances (analog case) and finite wordlength (discrete case). The paper first addresses the mathematical characterization of this robustness problem, and its solutions under various criteria of optimality. Earlier results are here extended to multi-mode systems which can arise in non-linear approximation problems. The feasibility of this approach in multi-mode filtering is shown, and is illustrated by an air-to-air tracking example.
Running on Karma - P2P reputation and currency systems

Peer-to-peer (P2P) systems allow users to share resources with little centralized control. Malicious users can abuse the system by contributing polluted resources. Moreover, selfish users may just connect for their own benefits without donating any resources. The concepts of reputation and currency give possible approaches to address these problems. However, to implement these ideas is non-trivial, due to the nonexistence of a single trusted party. Existing works circumvent this by placing trust assumption on certain nodes of an overlay network. This work presents a new reputation system and a new currency system. Our designs are simple thanks to the full use of the trust assumption.
Local water mass modifications by a solitary meander in the Agulhas Current

We present full-depth hydrographic and velocity observations across a solitary meander within the Agulhas Current, and assess the degree to which the meander causes upwelling, cross-frontal mixing, and diapycnal transport. These events can input nutrients onto the continental shelf as well as advect larvae offshore. We find that the meander drives inshore upwelling with vertical velocities of at least 13 m d−1. The meander also causes diapycnal transport resulting in 1°C cooler and 0.25 fresher central waters and 1°C warmer, 0.25 saltier intermediate waters below the thermocline. We introduce a new coordinate system that separates these changes into kinematic changes due to meandering and property changes along transport streamlines. This reveals that most of the observed diapycnal transport below the thermocline is due to property changes. We find a small amount of enhanced cross-frontal mixing associated with solitary meanders of the Agulhas Current, but it is statistically insignificant. We believe this is due to the strongly barotropic nature of the meandering Agulhas Current, which maintains a deep steering level that inhibits mixing.
NOISE AND AIR POLLUTION OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL SYSTEMS

Transportation noise and air pollution problems are a nemesis to our modern society. Each transportation system, highspeed rail HSR included, has its own noise spectra, characteristic air pollutant...
Sun-Synchronous Robotic Exploration: Technical Description and Field Experimentation

Sun-synchronous robotic exploration is accomplished by reasoning about sunlight: where the Sun is in the sky, where and when shadows will fall, and how much power can be obtained through various courses of action. We conducted experiments in the Canadian high arctic using a solar-powered rover to prove the concept of Sun-synchronous exploration. Using knowledge of orbital mechanics, local terrain, and locomotion power, the rover Hyperion planned Sun-synchronous routes to visit designated sites while obtaining the necessary solar power for continuous operation. Hyperion executed its plan, beginning and ending each 24-h period with batteries fully charged, after traveling two circuits of more than 6 km in barren, Mars-like terrain.The objective of the Sun-Synchronous Navigation project (http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/sunsync) was to create hardware and software technologies needed to realize Sun-synchronous exploration and to validate these technologies in field experimentation. In the process, we learned import...
Is robot telepathy acceptable? Investigating effects of nonverbal robot-robot communication on human-robot interaction

Recent research indicates that other factors in addition to appearance may contribute to the “Uncanny Valley” effect, and it is possible that “uncanny actions” such as “robot telepathy” - the nonverbal exchange of information among multiple robots - could be one such factor. We thus specifically examine whether humans are negatively affected by displays of nonverbal robot-robot communication through a disaster relief scenario in which one robot must relay information from a human participant to another robot in order to successfully complete a task. Our results showed no significant difference between the verbal and nonverbal communication strategies, thus suggesting that “telepathic information transmission” is acceptable. However, we also found several unexplained robot-specific effects, prompting future follow-up studies to determine their causes and the extent to which these effects might impact human perception and acceptance of robot communication strategies.
The collisional plasma model: a velocity orthogonal-function representation for the distribution function of a collisional plasma

The choice of functions is determined by several criteria: (1) the functions must provide an accurate representation of the Coulomb collision operator; (2) the representation must be efficient in that physical plasmas be represented by as few terms as possible in order to minimize both computer time and storage requirements; and (3) the collision and Vlasov operators must lead to simple expressions which can be rapidly and easily calculated. The collision operator is developed both for the non-linear and approximately linear cases.
Physical Properties of Whey Protein Stabilized Emulsions as Related to pH and NaCl

Corn oil-in-water emulsions (20 wt%, d32∼ 0.6 μm) stabilized by 2 wt% whey protein isolate were prepared with a range of pH (3–7) and salt concentrations (0–100 mM NaCl), and particle size, rheology and creaming were measured at 30°C. Appreciable droplet flocculation occurred near the isoelectric point of whey protein (pH 4–6), especially at higher NaCl concentrations. Droplet flocculation increased emulsion viscosity and decreased stability to creaming. Results are related to the influence of environmental conditions on electrostatic and other interactions between droplets.
Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Associated With Decreased Cardiac Death After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Objectives Our purpose was to compare outcomes of patients treated for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) versus patients with untreated OSA, all of whom had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background Obstructive sleep apnea has been associated with increases in fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events. It is not known whether treatment of OSA in patients who have had PCI results in a better outcome. Methods In a retrospective cohort study, a group of patients with OSA diagnosed with polysomnography between 1992 and 2004 (apnea-hypopnea index ≥15) who subsequently underwent a PCI (n = 371) were stratified according to whether they were treated for OSA (n = 175) or not (n = 196). Main outcome measures were cardiac death, general mortality, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (severe angina, myocardial infarction, PCI, coronary artery bypass grafting, or death), and major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Results Patients treated for OSA had a statistically significant decreased number of cardiac deaths on follow-up when compared with untreated OSA patients (3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0% to 6%] vs. 10% [95% CI 5% to 14%] after 5 years, p = 0.027), as well as a trend toward decreased all-cause mortality (p = 0.058). There was no difference in the number of MACE or MACCE between the 2 groups (p = 0.91 and 0.96, respectively). Conclusions Treatment of OSA is associated with a reduction in the number of cardiac deaths, but not in MACE or MACCE, after PCI. Screening for and treating OSA in patients with coronary artery disease who may undergo PCI may result in decreased cardiac death.