cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Financial Burden Associated With Treatment Options for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

The aim of this study is to assess the financial burden associated with treatment options for resectable pancreatic cancer. As the volume of cancer care increases in the United States, there is growing interest among both clinicians and policy-makers to reduce its financial impact on the healthcare system. However, costs relative to the survival benefit for differing treatment modalities used in practice have not been described. Patients undergoing resection for pancreatic cancer were identified in the Truven Health MarketScan database. Associations between chemoradiation therapies and survival were performed using parameterized multivariable accelerated failure time models. Median payments over time were calculated for surgery, chemoradiation, and subsequent hospitalizations. A total of 2408 patients were included. Median survival among all patients was 21.1 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 19.8–22.5 months], whereas median follow-up time was 25.1 months (95% CI: 23.5–26.5 months). After controlling for comorbidity, receipt of neoadjuvant therapy, and nodal involvement, a longer survival was associated with undergoing combination gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel [time ratio (TR) = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02–1.57, P = 0.035) or capecitabine and radiation (TR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.04–1.51, P = 0.018). However, median cumulative payments for gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel were highest overall [median $74,051, interquartile range (IQR): $38,929–$133,603). Total payments for an episode of care relative to improvement in survival vary significantly by treatment modality. These data can be used to inform management decisions about pursuing further care for pancreatic cancer. Future investigations should seek to refine estimates of the cost-effectiveness of different treatments.
Sensitivity of fine-needle aspiration biopsy for diagnosing and grading follicular lymphomas using a multiparameter approach in a cancer center

Objectives The diagnosis and grading of follicular lymphomas (FLs) by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) has not been systematically compared with core needle biopsy (CNB). We evaluated the sensitivity of FNAB in diagnosing and grading FLs using a multiparameter approach in a large cancer center. Methods We retrospectively identified CNBs of lymph nodes diagnosed as FL that also had a concurrently acquired FNAB on the same site. The majority of cases had flow cytometric analysis and these results were available for interpretation of both the FNAB and CNB. Results Out of 342 patients, CNB diagnoses included 291 (85%) low-grade (LG) FLs, 30 (9%) high-grade (HG) FLs, and 21 (6%) non-graded FLs/other. FNAB diagnoses included 194 (57%) LG FLs, 19 (6%) HG FLs, 93 (27%) non-graded FLs, 9 (3%) large B-cell lymphomas (LBCL) of follicle center origin, and 27 (7%) insufficient for diagnosis/other. Review of non-graded FLs showed 45% LG, 35% indeterminate due to polymorphous lymphoid cells with increased numbers of large cells, and 20% scant cellularity. Sensitivity of FNAB for diagnosing FL was 89%, and 66% for LG FL. The latter increased (94%), however, when grading was performed. Conclusion FNAB is highly sensitive for diagnosing FLs when cellular material for cytomorphology and flow cytometric analysis is obtained, and grading is feasible for most LG FLs. A subset of FLs composed of a polymorphous lymphoid population with increased numbers of large cells may be more difficult to grade, and HG FLs can be difficult to distinguish from CD10-positive diffuse LBCLs.
Mechanical Properties of Polymers at Cryogenic Temperatures

The relaxation behavior of linear polymers below 80°K is reviewed. Tensile behavior over the temperature range 2–300°K is reported for one linear polymer, polyethylene terephthalate. Three regimes in tensile behavior are distinguished, and transitions from one regime to the next are correlated with the onset of molecular relaxation processes. The 6C process at about 50°K is associated with departures from linearity in the stress strain curves. The transition from a temperature dependent fracture stress to a temperature independent fracture stress also occurs at the 6C temperature. The transition from brittle to ductile behavior is observed in the temperature region of the y process, 150–200°K. A fourth behavior regime (45–140°K) can be observed when specimens are tested in the presence of nitrogen. Crazing and apparent yielding characterize the behavior within this region.
The Unexplored Crossroads of the Female Athlete Triad and Iron Deficiency: A Narrative Review

Despite the severity and prevalence of iron deficiency in exercising women, few published reports have explored how iron deficiency interacts with another prevalent and severe condition in exercising women: the ‘female athlete triad.’ This review aims to describe how iron deficiency may interact with each component of the female athlete triad, that is, energy status, reproductive function, and bone health. The effects of iron deficiency on energy status are discussed in regards to thyroid function, metabolic fuel availability, eating behaviors, and energy expenditure. The interactions between iron deficiency and reproductive function are explored by discussing the potentially impaired fertility and hyperprolactinemia due to iron deficiency and the alterations in iron metabolism due to menstrual blood loss and estrogen exposure. The interaction of iron deficiency with bone health may occur via dysregulation of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis, hypoxia, and hypothyroidism. Based on these discussions, several future directions for research are presented.
Echocardiography & Gated Myocardial Perfusion SPECT Imaging: more common grounds in localizing dyssynchrony prior to CRT

1536 Objectives Global synchrony measures, calculated using phase analysis in gated myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS), have been shown to correlate with tissue Doppler imaging-derived measures of dyssynchrony and to predict response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Our aim was to determine concordance between speckle tracking ECHO and SPECT for the determination of the latest activated LV segment Methods Out of 187 patients enrolled in the STARTER trial, 54 had both ECHO and SPECT at baseline and were included in this study. ECHO and SPECT were read by blinded interpreters using a 17-segment model. Patients were grouped into Group 1 if both modalities detected the same or adjacent latest activated segment; Group 2 if the difference was more than one segment apart. Amplitude, defined as the magnitude of myocardial contraction, was obtained from MPS phase analysis. Logistic regression was used for analysis. Results Compared to Group1, Group2 patients had elevated end diastolic (EDV) and end systolic volumes (ESV) (347 and 272 vs. 240 and 167, P=0.01 and P=0.006 respectively) and more depressed EF (33 vs. 24%, P=0.004) (Table 1). Group2 patients also had lower global synchrony (86 vs. 94%, P=0.03) and wider histogram bandwidth (103 vs. 81 degrees, P=0.077). After adjusting for age, gender, histogram bandwidth, and global synchrony, discordance between ECHO and SPECT was 13% lower with higher EF (OR=0.88, CI 0.79-0.97, P=0.01). 12/20 (60%) discordant patients had the latest activated LV segment in the septum/apex and of those 8 (67%) patients had the lowest amplitude in these same delayed segments. Conclusions SPECT and ECHO are concordant in the majority of CRT patients in their assessment of the latest activated LV segment. Discordance is associated with the degree of LV dysfunction and the regional location of the latest activated segment.
Utilization of a virtual patient for advanced assessment of student performance in pain management.

Abstract Background and purpose To assess student performance and achievement of course objectives following the integration of a virtual patient case designed to promote active, patient-centered learning in a required pharmacy course. Educational activity and setting DecisionSim™ (Kynectiv, Inc., Chadsford, PA), a dynamic virtual patient platform, was used to implement an interactive patient case to augment pain management material presented during a didactic session in a pharmacotherapy course. Simulation performance data were collected and analyzed. Student exam performance on pain management questions was compared to student exam performance on nearly identical questions from a prior year when a paper-based case was used instead of virtual patient technology. Findings Students who performed well on the virtual patient case performed better on exam questions related to patient assessment (p = 0.0244), primary pharmacological therapy (p = 0.0001), and additional pharmacological therapy (p = 0.0001). Overall exam performance did not differ between the two groups. However, students with exposure to the virtual patient case demonstrated significantly better performance on higher level Bloom's Taxonomy questions that required them to create pharmacotherapy regimens (p=0.0005). Students in the previous year (exposed only to a paper patient case) performed better in calculating conversions of opioids for patients (p = 0.0001). Summary Virtual patient technology may enhance student performance on high-level Bloom's Taxonomy examination questions. This study adds to the current literature demonstrating the value of virtual patient technology as an active-learning strategy.
Inefficient angular momentum transport in accretion disc boundary layers: Angular momentum belt in the boundary layer

We present unstratified 3D magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) simulations of an accretion disc with a boundary layer (BL) that have a duration of ∼1000 orbital periods at the inner radius of the accretion disc. We find the surprising result that angular momentum piles up in the boundary layer, which results in a rapidly rotating belt of accreted material at the surface of the star. The angular momentum stored in this belt increases monotonically in time, which implies that angular momentum transport mechanisms in the BL are inefficient and do not couple the accretion disc to the star. This is in spite of the fact that magnetic fields are advected into the BL from the disc and supersonic shear instabilities in the BL excite acoustic waves. In our simulations, these waves carry only a small fraction (⁠|${\sim } 10 \hbox{ per cent}$|⁠) of the angular momentum required for steady state accretion. Using analytical theory and 2D viscous simulations in the R−φ plane, we derive an analytical criterion for belt formation to occur in the BL in terms of the ratio of the viscosity in the accretion disc to the viscosity in the BL. Our MHD simulations have a dimensionless viscosity (α) in the BL that is at least a factor of ∼100 smaller than that in the disc. We discuss the implications of these results for BL dynamics and emission.
Microstructure and Porosity of Silica Xerogel Monoliths Prepared by the Fast Sol-Gel Method

An adaptation of the fast sol-gel method to the synthesis of xerogel monoliths using tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) as the alkoxide precursor is described in this paper. The procedure involves running the reaction at 70–80°C in an open vessel, which accelerates hydrolysis and condensation and reduces the amount of liquid by expelling excess methanol through outdistillation. This procedure yields crack-free monoliths. The porosity and microstructure of these xerogel monoliths were studied by using N2 adsorption and desorption and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM data show that the solid skeletal phase has a globular morphology with particles, 20–40 nm in diameter, arranged into agglomerates a few hundred nm in diameter. The microstructure of the acid-catalyzed xerogel is a consolidation of these agglomerates. The isotherm data show these xerogels to be microporous. In contrast, the base-catalyzed xerogel has a hierarchical morphology with the clusters of agglomerates organized into larger clusters approaching 1 μm in diameter. An analysis of the isotherm data shows these xerogels to be less microporous with a narrow distribution of mesopores having an average diameter of 50 A.
An Unsustainable Bounty from the Blue: Cities to the Rescue?

What (and how) we grow, harvest or extract from the ocean has significant implications for long term sustainability of this immense ecosystem. Our current industrial approach to seafood harvesting is clearly not sustainable and cities can and must take the lead in developing new approaches. Urbanites must begin to shift their consumer and political power behind more sustainable ideas and practices. Some of these new approaches are explored here, including support for smaller scale, locally based fishing (and new mechanisms such as Community Supported Fisheries [CSFs]), and a shift towards more sustainable and humane forms of shellfish aquaculture and ocean vegetable farming.
Gender Representation in Urologic Subspecialties

Objective To examine associations between urologic subspecialization, surgeon gender and practice patterns among certifying urologists over the last 13 years. Materials and Methods Demographic data of certifying and recertifying urologists (2004 to 2015) were obtained from the American Board of Urology. We investigated gender-specific trends in self-reported practice type (academic practice, private practice), subspecialization, and employment as a full-time vs part-time physician, relative to certification year and cycle. Results Of 9140 urologists applying for certification or recertification over the study period, 815 (8.9%) were women. The largest proportion of female surgeon candidates (65.0%) was first-time certifiers. Women represented 16.7% of first-time certifying urologists (P Conclusion A growing proportion of certifying urologists are women, with the greatest enrichment among those seeking first-time certification. Since 2004, female surgeons account for a disproportionate volume of urologists who practice in the academic setting and identify as subspecialists.
Effect of sputter pressure on Ta thin films: Beta phase formation, texture, and stresses

Abstract The metastable tetragonal beta phase of tantalum can be made in thin film form by sputter deposition and has very different properties from the stable BCC alpha phase. Both phases are important in thin film technologies. However, despite fifty years of study, the mechanism of phase selection remains unknown. To evaluate the role of energetic deposition, we prepared a series of films under varying Ar sputter pressures. Measurements of film stress as a function of sputter gas pressure allow us to unambiguously index diffraction peaks to determine phase and texture. This peak indexing allows us to confirm that β-Ta has a distorted Frank-Kasper sigma structure ( P 4 ¯ 2 1 m ), rather than the β-U structure ( P 4 2 / m n m ) that is usually assumed. We find only the beta phase in our films in the form of a dominant (002) β-Ta fiber component that becomes broader as the pressure increases. Based on calculations of the energy of incident Ta atoms and Ar neutrals, we show that resputtering could account for the changes in texture distribution. By comparing these results with a detailed review of the literature, we are able to propose a phase selection mechanism that is consistent with the vast majority of published results, namely that β-Ta grows epitaxially on a T a O x layer, possibly T a O 2 , that forms during the initial phase of deposition. Oxygen is not required in the growing film to maintain the beta structure.
An interesting case of Nocardial brain abscess mimicking brain tumor in an immunocompetent patient. (P5.134)

Objective: Nocardia cerebral abscess is rare, constituting approximately 1–2% of all cerebral abscesses. It is a very severe infection that carries the highest mortality rate among all bacterial cerebral abscesses, with mortality rates as high as 55% and 20% in immune compromised and immunocompetent patients, respectively. Background: We report a 53-year-old woman presenting with Nocardial brain abscess mimicking primary brain tumor. Patient presented with progressive aphasia, R arm weakness and headaches × 3 weeks. Initial Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain demonstrated a left frontal lobe lesion with surrounding vasogenic edema suspicious for metastatic brain tumor. Initial lab work up was unremarkable and there was no evidence of immunological abnormalities. Follow up CT scan of the head revealed increase in size of the previous heterogeneous mass in the left frontal lobe with increased amount of surrounding vasogenic edema and brain compression on the adjacent sulci. Patient underwent a left sided craniotomy with resection of left frontal lobe mass. During the procedure, purulent material was obtained from the lesion. Intraoperative Gram stain revealed 2+ WBCs with no organisms seen. Bacterial culture revealed gram-positive branching filamentous bacteria, consisting of Nocardi abscessus. Patient was started on targeted antibiotic therapy with linezolid and imipenem. Four months later, patient recovered and MRI brain showed no residual abscess. Design/Methods: NA -case report Results: NA -case report Conclusions: We report a case of nocardial brain abscess mimicking metastatic brain tumor. Nocardial brain abscesses are rare but very severe infection that carries a high mortality rate. Despite their low incidence, we need to consider nocardial infection in the differential diagnosis of a cerebral lesion, even in immunocompetent patients, in order to obtain an early diagnosis and to start treatment as soon as possible. Disclosure: Dr. Rakhesh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Singh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nurmukhamedov has nothing to disclose. Dr. Young has nothing to disclose.
The Ethical Visions of Copyright Law

This symposium essay explores the imagined ethics of copyright: the ethical stories that people tell to justify, make sense of, and challenge copyright law. Such ethical visions are everywhere in intellectual property discourse, and legal scholarship ought to pay more attention to them. The essay focuses on a deontic vision of reciprocity in the author-audience relationship, a set of linked claims that authors and audiences ought to respect each other and express this respect through voluntary transactions. Versions of this default ethical vision animate groups as seemingly antagonistic as the music industry, file sharers, free software advocates, and Creative Commons. "Respect copyrights," "Don't sue your customers," "Software should be free," and "I love to share" are all ethical claims about copyright that share some common intuitions, even as they draw very different conclusions. The essay provides a framework for thinking about these ethical visions of intellectual property and then puts these various visions into conversation with each other.
Integrating portable and distributed storage

We describe a technique called lookaside caching that combines the strengths of distributed file systems and portable storage devices, while negating their weaknesses. In spite of its simplicity, this technique proves to be powerful and versatile. By unifying distributed storage and portable storage into a single abstraction, lookaside caching allows users to treat devices they carry as merely performance and availability assists for distant file servers. Careless use of portable storage has no catastrophic consequences. Experimental results show that significant performance improvements are possible even in the presence of stale data on the portable device.
Physiological and Clinical Implications of Human Plasma Protein Abnormalities

The functions of plasma proteins are revealed by correlating inherited variations in protein structure or synthesis with clinical abnormalities. This chapter discusses the mutations of genes encoding the coagulation factors, plasma inhibitors, complements factors, and apolipoproteins. The chapter reviews the clinical abnormalities accompanying these mutations. Over 18 plasma proteins participate in a complex series of protein–protein interactions that lead to the formation of blood clots to counteract vascular injury and bleeding. The deficiencies of blood clotting factors are responsible for human coagulation defects. There is increasing evidence that an association exists between plasma fibrinogen levels and thrombogenic processes resulting in ischemic heart disease and stroke. The elevated levels of fibrinogen in the plasma have a positive correlation with arteriosclerotic diseases. The derivative of fibrinogen, fibrin, is the major structural protein in blood coagulation. The conversion of fibrinogen into an insoluble fibrin clot is initiated by thrombin. The first fibrinogen disorder, afibrinogenemia, is rare and results from a homozygous state of an autosomal recessive gene having variable penetrance. In the condition, fibrinogen is missing from the circulation causing severe defects in blood coagulation.
Abstract B194: Quantifying the interaction between macrophages and deformable microparticles with cell-like mechanical properties

Macrophages are able to phagocytose vastly different targets, ranging from bacteria to apoptotic and cancer cells. Especially the difference in rigidity between such targets is striking, with bacteria being ~1000 fold stiffer than human cells. Phagocytosis can also be strongly affected by target rigidity and is seemingly less efficient for softer targets. However, mechanistic studies have largely focused on the uptake of stiff particles, and it is currently poorly understood how macrophages adapt the phagocytic mechanism for efficient uptake of soft targets. Here, we developed deformable hydrogel microparticles to study phagocytosis in unprecedented detail, using targets that more accurately mimic cellular physical properties. We used extrusion through Shirasu Porous glass (SPG) membranes to create emulsions with uniformly sized droplets containing acrylamide, bis(acrylamide) and acrylic acid. Subsequent polymerization yields monodisperse (CV 10 Pa) directly from the deformed particle shape. We observed highly localized force exertion by the phagocytes and 4 implied mechanically distinct steps in the phagocytic process. Initially, we observe outward-directed pushing forces from the phagocytic cup base. During subsequent pseudopod extension the majority of the deformation is localized in a ring that is initially irregular, but becomes uniform during cup closure. Surprisingly, strong localized punches at the cup base occur in these stages. After cup closure, we observe some of the strongest forces, seemingly pushing the engulfed target into the cell. Our novel approach gives us unprecedented detail on the mechanical interaction between phagocyte and target in phagocytosis. The presented method here is expected to find broad applications in the study of the immune system in vitro and in vivo. Citation Format: Daan Vorselen, Yifan Wang, Matt Footer, Wei Cai, Julie Theriot. Quantifying the interaction between macrophages and deformable microparticles with cell-like mechanical properties [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; Sept 30-Oct 3, 2018; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2019;7(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B194.
Can Density Functional Theory Describe Strongly Correlated Electronic Systems

Summarized here are the ideas of Kohn-Sham spin density functional theory for the many-electron ground state, the effects of exchange and correlation, and the limits of weak and strong correlation. In particular, the suppression of electron number fluctuations in one-electron regions due to correlation is discussed. While the standard local spin density and generalized gradient approximations (GGA’s) for the exchange-correlation energy can work for certain cases of strong correlation, they fail dramatically for others. It is suggested that the new self-correlation-free meta-GGA’s and self-interaction-free hyper-GGA’s might yield a more reliable description of strong correlation.
Beauty is pain: pediatric burns resulting from hair curling and flat irons.

Ceramic and metal hair straightening and curling irons are common household items which reach up to 450°F in as little as five seconds. Of particular concern is the threat these devices pose to children. Our objective is to characterize and bring attention to this preventable injury in the pediatric population. Retrospective records from a high-volume level I trauma center and regional burn center from 2011-2015 were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were defined as patients <11 years of age, as those presenting with burns above this age were more likely to be utilizing the tools for hair styling. A total of 59 patients were identified with an average age of 2.4 years. The average burn size was 0.30%, with an average 0.24% 2nd degree TBSA. The etiology of the burns included touching a hair iron that was within reach (61%), pulling a hair iron’s power cord (15%), stepping/rolling/jumping onto a hair iron left on the ground (17%), and hair irons falling (7%). The majority of households were comprised of unemployed (64%), single (60%) parents. CPS consult was required for 20% of patients. Grafting and excision was necessary for 20% of patients The pediatric population is at risk for accidental burns with household hair irons. These burns typically have a small TBSA, but may require excision and grafting and extended follow-up.
16 – Process Applications

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a discussion of how the principles described for designing and evaluating a physical protection systems (PPS) can also be applied to other security applications. Executive protection is a specialized area of security that is commonly found in government organizations and large corporations. While the protection of senior executives is an important part of the overall protection approach for these groups, the process that is used parallels the one used in PPS. For corporate security managers it is critical to understand the differences between public sector executive protection and corporate executive protection. When planning executive protection, facility characterization takes the form of checking all the locations that the principal frequents or will visit. The primary detection, delay, and response functions for executives generally are provided by the person providing protection. In the case of a ground vehicle, the facility is the vehicle itself. Characterizing the vehicle involves the same methodology as a fixed site, but the components vary. Technology used in vehicle protection could include exterior locks on cargo holds and the incorporation of RF tracking devices on pallets or individual components to aid in recovery of assets.
Hyperglycaemia-related occipital lobe seizures:

Recognition of the role of hyperglycaemia in seizures is vital, because they tend to refractory to antiepileptic drugs and respond to insulin therapy and hydration.
Resolving the problem: Examining officer characteristics possibly linked to mediation selection in police oversight agencies:

Currently, research that examines mediation within independent police oversight agencies are quite scarce. The few studies that analyze this process focus on civilian satisfaction. This study adds ...
Epigenetics, aging and early life

Abstract The study of epigenetic aging in utero and in childhood is an emerging area of research with the potential to elucidate the lifelong effects of early-life exposures. Epigenetic aging encompasses the accumulation of select DNA methylation changes that reflect a host of aging-related biological processes. Among the various markers of epigenetic aging, a large focus has been on particular sets of DNA methylation loci, termed “epigenetic clocks.” Several epigenetic clocks have demonstrated a robust relationship to chronological age across the life span. As such, we describe the current state of the literature examining the relationship of early-life epigenetic aging (as estimated by epigenetic clocks) to exposure to chemical and nonchemical stressors and outcomes. Studies of early-life epigenetic aging have focused on nonchemical stressors, such as the prenatal and maternal milieu, as the first modulating environment of the developing human, while the study of chemical exposures is thus far limited to inhaled pollutants. With respect to health outcomes, advanced epigenetic aging at birth has focused on growth trajectory, while the impact of epigenetic aging in early life on long-term health outcomes remains understudied.
Open-source method of image cytometry in dorsal root ganglia tissue with immunofluorescence

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a valuable tool in clinical and biological research for evaluating proteins and other antigens in spatially bound tissue. In neuroinflammatory pain research, primary afferent neurons of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) are studied to understand molecular signaling mechanisms involved in nociception (pain) and inflammation. Measuring IHC (immunofluorescence) in DRG neurons requires manual hand tracing of nuclear and somatic boundaries, which is laborious, error-prone, and may require several weeks to collect the appropriate sample size with a mouse or pen-input display monitor. To overcome these limitations and increase standardization of sampling and measurement, we employed a reliable neuronal cytoplasmic reporter, exclusive to DRG neuronal soma, in a semi-automated algorithm-based approach of Image Cytometry in rat DRG (IC-DRG). The resulting output images are binary nuclear and somatic masks of DRG neurons, defining boundaries of measurement for CellProfiler and manually scored at 94% accurate. Herein, we successfully show a novel approach of automated image analysis for DRG neurons using a robust ImageJ/FIJI script, overcoming morphological variability and imaging artifacts native to imaging frozen tissue sections processed with immunofluorescence.
CONTENDING DISCOURSES OF BLACK AUTOBIOGRAPHY: RESPECTABILITY, AUTHENTICITY, AND MASCULINITY

Summary After historicizing the politics of racial representation in the slave narrative, this article considers how race, gender, and class intersect historically in the autobiographical production of Black men in the United States. At the dawn of the Jim Crow era, Black autobiography conformed to a cultural politics of racial synecdoche, which avowed that racial progress depended on the respectability of esteemed individuals. Dominated by aspirational figures who presented themselves as racial emblems, Black autobiography became closely aligned with the imperatives of Black middle-class formation, actuating a discrete form of racial publicity that erected disciplinary boundaries around Black self-presentation and silenced disreputable figures. With the emergence of criminal and sexual self-reference, whether subtle or striking, in the narratives of Black men, autobiographers like boxer Jack Johnson, scholar J. Saunders Redding, and writer Claude Brown, disrupted the class-bound constraints that had determined Black autobiographical production, staging an internecine class struggle over the terms of racial representation—that is, between contending discourses of racial respectability and racial authenticity.
Designing Highly Luminescent Molecular Aggregates via Bottom-Up Nanoscale Engineering

Coupling of excitations between organic fluorophores in J-aggregates leads to coherent delocalization of excitons across multiple molecules, resulting in materials with high extinction coefficients, long-range exciton transport, and, in particular, short radiative lifetimes. Despite these favorable optical properties, uses of J-aggregates as high-speed light sources have been hindered by their low photoluminescence quantum yields. Here, we take a bottom-up approach to design a novel J-aggregate system with a large extinction coefficient, a high quantum yield and a short lifetime. To achieve this goal, we first select a J-aggregating cyanine chromophore and reduce its nonradiative pathways by rigidifying the backbone of the cyanine dye. The resulting conformationally-restrained cyanine dye exhibits strong absorbance at 530 nm and fluorescence at 550 nm with 90% quantum yield and 2.3 ns lifetime. We develop optimal conditions for the self-assembly of highly emissive J-aggregates. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) reveal micron-scale extended structures with 2D sheet-like morphology, indicating long-range structural order. These novel J-aggregates have a strong red-shifted absorption at 600 nm, resonant fluorescence with no Stokes shift, 50% quantum yield, and 220 ps lifetime at room temperature. We further stabilize these aggregates in a glassy sugar matrix and study their excitonic behavior using temperature-dependent absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. These temperature- dependent studies confirm J-type excitonic coupling and superradiance. Our results have implications for the development of a new generation of organic fluorophores that combine high speed, high quantum yield and solution processing.
Trading Applications Using EVA Style Analysis

The authors apply economic value added (EVA) style analysis to four corporate actions: acquisitions, share repurchases, stock splits, and dividend announcements. Firms acquiring public targets provide significant shorting opportunities on value-destroying growth and “wise” restructurers. Acquiring firms with private targets provide longing opportunities on underinvesting and wise restructurers. For share repurchases, the authors find consistent alpha opportunities on repurchasing firms by longing their stocks, with the highest alpha on the wise restructurers. The post-announcement returns for stock splits were negative for value destroyers and positive for restructurers. For dividend increases, post-announcement effects are small except for positive alpha on the wise restructurers. For dividend decreases, negative abnormal returns continue for the value destroyers and restructurers. The best longing opportunity is on the stocks of share repurchasing companies in a wise restructurer position, while the best shorting opportunity is on the stocks of dividend-decreasing companies in a value-destroyer position. For active investors, EVA style analysis illuminates the naivete of a “one size fits all” trading strategy on corporate actions.
The Gold Standard: The Traditional Approach

Introduction What was the traditional approach to the gold standard? In this chapter, I try to provide an answer to the question by examining the works of major writers on the subject since the eighteenth century. The choice of writers and works surveyed is based on my judgment that the works encompassed a significant share of the content of the traditional approach and that the writers played a significant role in the history of economic thought. Six major themes formed the traditional approach, and five major schools of thought may be identified. Major themes in the literature The first theme, which runs from Cantillon to present-day writers, was that gold (the precious metals) was an ideal monetary standard, domestically and internationally, because of its unique qualities both as a standard of value and a medium of exchange. A stable price level in the long run that an automatically operated gold standard produced, in line with the commodity theory of money, was invariably contrasted to the evils of inconvertible fiduciary money. At the hands of even wellmeaning policymakers the latter would inevitably lead to depreciation of the value of money. However, most writers, following Adam Smith, emphasized the social saving from using fiduciary money instead of a commodity money and hence were concerned with the properties of a convertible (or mixed) standard to ensure price stability. The second theme was the price-specie-flow mechanism.
Chapter 2 – Transport and Rate Processes

Using a limited number of principles , classical thermodynamics describes systems in mechanical, thermal, and chemical equilibria. Classical thermodynamics provides a set of extremum principles and mainly targets systems at equilibrium. According to the extremum principles, the entropy of an isolated system attains a maximum value while its free energy reaches a minimum at equilibrium. Classical thermodynamics plays an important role in science and engineering fields, such as physical chemistry and biochemistry. However, many real processes, such as physical and biological processes, occur in nonequilibrium, irreversible, and open systems. For such systems, the laws of classical thermodynamics provide a set of inequalities describing only the direction of change. Consequently, we can use kinetic equations and statistical models to describe the transport of matter, energy, electricity, as well as biological systems such as muscle contractions. Equations of continuity, motion, and energy can all be derived from the Boltzmann equation, producing expressions for the flows and transport properties. Similar kinetic theories are also available for polyatomic gases, monatomic liquids, and polymeric liquids. In this chapter, we briefly summarize nonequilibrium systems, the kinetic theory, transport phenomena, and chemical reactions.
Separations in circular security for arbitrary length key cycles

While standard notions of security suffice to protect any message supplied by an adversary, in some situations stronger notions of security are required. One such notion is n-circular security, where ciphertexts Enc(pk1, sk2), Enc(pk2, sk3), . . . , Enc(pk n , sk1) should be indistinguishable from encryptions of zero.
FlipIt: An LLVM Based Fault Injector for HPC

High performance computing HPC is increasingly subjected to faulty computations. The frequency of silent data corruptions SDCs in particular is expected to increase in emerging machines requiring HPC applications to handle SDCs. In this paper we, propose a robust fault injector structured through an LLVM compiler pass that allows simulation of SDCs in various applications. Although fault injection locations are enumerated at compile time, their activation is purely at runtime and based on a user-provided fault distribution. The robustness of our fault injector is in the ability to augment the runtime injection logic on a per application basis. This allows tighter control on the spacial, temporal, and probability of injected faults. The usability, scalability, and robustness of our fault injection is demonstrated with injecting faults into an algebraic multigird solver.
Metal/ceramic interface structures and segregation behavior in aluminum-based composites

Abstract Trimodal Al alloy (AA) matrix composites consisting of ultrafine-grained (UFG) and coarse-grained (CG) Al phases and micron-sized B4C ceramic reinforcement particles exhibit combinations of strength and ductility that render them useful for potential applications in the aerospace, defense and automotive industries. Tailoring of microstructures with specific mechanical properties requires a detailed understanding of interfacial structures to enable strong interface bonding between ceramic reinforcement and metal matrix, and thereby allow for effective load transfer. Trimodal AA metal matrix composites typically show three characteristics that are noteworthy: nanocrystalline grains in the vicinity of the B4C reinforcement particles; Mg segregation at AA/B4C interfaces; and the presence of amorphous interfacial layers separating nanocrystalline grains from B4C particles. Interestingly, however, fundamental information related to the mechanisms responsible for these characteristics as well as information on local compositions and phases are absent in the current literature. In this study, we use high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy, and precession assisted electron diffraction to gain fundamental insight into the mechanisms that affect the characteristics of AA/B4C interfaces. Specifically, we determined interfacial structures, local composition and spatial distribution of the interfacial constituents. Near atomic resolution characterization revealed amorphous multilayers and a nanocrystalline region between Al phase and B4C reinforcement particles. The amorphous layers consist of nonstoichiometric AlxOy, while the nanocrystalline region is comprised of MgO nanograins. The experimental results are discussed in terms of the possible underlying mechanisms at AA/B4C interfaces.
Optimal downlink power allocation in cellular networks

Abstract In this paper, we introduce a novel approach for power allocation in cellular networks. In our model, we use sigmoidal-like utility functions to represent different users’ modulation schemes. Each utility function is a representation of the probability of successfully transmitted packets per unit of power consumed by a user, when using a certain modulation scheme. We consider power allocation with utility proportional fairness policy, where the fairness among users is in utility percentage i.e. percentage of successfully transmitted packets of the corresponding modulation scheme. We formulate our power allocation optimization problem as a product of utilities of all users and prove that it is convex and therefore the optimal solution is tractable. We present a distributed algorithm to allocate base station powers optimally with priority given to users running lower modulation schemes while ensuring non-zero power allocation to users running higher modulation schemes. Our algorithm prevents fluctuation in the power allocation process and is capable of traffic and modulation dependent pricing policy. This can be used to flatten traffic and decrease the service price for users. We also compare our results with a benchmark algorithm and show that our algorithm performs better in allocating powers fairly to all users without dropping any user in order to maximize performance.
Augmented reality using spatially multiplexed structured light

Augmented reality (AR) superimposes computer-generated 3-D graphics or 2-D information on the user's view of a surrounding environment in real-time, enhancing the user's perception of the real world. Typical AR systems either use fiducial markers or information about an object in the scene for AR tracking. The former, called marker-based AR, requires artificial markers be placed in the scene to be tracked by the system. When applied to mobile applications, these markers clutter the small view in the mobile device. Often times in the latter method, markerless AR, there is a requirement for offline training of some sort making it unsuitable for unprepared environments. In applications which do not have these requirements, such as structure from motion (SFM) approaches, there can still be the requirement of an initial reference object in the application. Based on these remarks, this research focuses on markerless AR in mobile applications and proposes a tracking method using structured light (SL). The proposed architecture consists of a three-stage process. In the first stage, invariant feature tracking methods are implemented to track real regions between successive video frames. Spatially multiplexed SL, involving projecting a known active image onto a scene, is used to extract 3D range data from a captured image in the second stage. The final stage utilizes the captured 3D data and tracking information to impose AR activities into the live video.
Recent Progress in the Design and Analysis of Admissible Heuristic Functions

In the past several years, significant progress has been made in finding optimal solutions to combinatorial problems. In particular, random instances of both Rubik's Cube, with over 1019 states, andt he 5 × 5 sliding-tile puzzle, with almost 1025 states, have been solved optimally. This progress is not the result of better search algorithms, but more effective heuristic evaluation functions. In addition, we have learned how to accurately predict the running time of admissible heuristic search algorithms, as a function of the solution depth and the heuristic evaluation function. One corollary of this analysis is that an admissible heuristic function reduces the effective depth of search, rather than the effective branching factor.
Photonic surfaces for designable nonlinear power shaping

We introduce a mechanism for nonlinear optical power transmission using partially absorptive resonances in photonic crystal slabs. We experimentally demonstrate increasing, decreasing, and nonmonotonic transmission as a function of optical power.
Pasteurization of milk with pulsed electric fields

Abstract: Pulsed electric fields (PEF) is a novel and very promising technology for pasteurization of pumpable foods. The food enters the PEF chamber, flows between two electrodes, and undergoes pulsing by electric fields. Microorganisms present in the food are inactivated as a result. There are theories regarding the mechanism of this inactivation. One of the most studied theories is related to electroporation of cell membranes. PEF treatment times are very short (microseconds), and processing temperatures are near room temperature or below, the main reason why PEF is called a nonthermal technology. Due to PEF’s short processing times and low temperatures, foods keep their original sensorial and nutritional characteristics after processing. The effectiveness of PEF to inactivate bacteria and extend the shelf-life of food also ensures the microbiological quality of the final product. Energy savings using PEF are also important compared with conventional thermal treatment. This chapter presents the basic principles of PEF technology with special focus on its use in processing milk. Microbiological and enzymatic studies are mentioned as well. The advantages of this technology and current challenges and limitations are discussed throughout the chapter.
LOOKING TOWARD SINGLE-STAGE LAUNCH SYSTEMS

The prospects for utilization of single-stage-to-orbit launch vehicles to meet requirements for improved space transportation economics near the turn of the century are addressed. Vehicle concepts based on incremental or derivative advancements in technology are described. Comparative sizing and economic features of single and two-stage concepts are shown.
Guanfacine and Guanfacine Extended Release: Treatment for ADHD and Related Disorders

Guanfacine, an alpha(2A) adrenoceptor agonist, is U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for the treatment of hypertension in adolescents and adults. It also has been used "off-label" for several years in children as a possible treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs). Small placebo-controlled trials support the use of guanfacine for the treatment of ADHD. There is more limited research on the use of guanfacine in treating hyperactivity occurring in children diagnosed with PDD. Recently, guanfacine extended release (GXR), a once-daily formulation has been manufactured and studied in phase III clinical trials. Based on preliminary scientific presentations, it also appears to be efficacious in improving ADHD in children. The most common adverse effects associated with guanfacine and GXR treatment is sedation. Adverse cardiovascular effects are uncommon, although modest reductions in blood pressure and heart rate are common. If GXR is FDA-approved, it would be the first alpha(2A) adrenoceptor agonist marketed for ADHD.
Inclusion of social aspects in Life Cycle Assessment of food.

Abstract: This chapter focuses on how the social ‘pillar’ of sustainability might be more fully integrated into the Life Cycle Assessment framework in the specific context of food production systems. The chapter includes a discussion of why social impacts are relevant in the context of food production systems and also highlights several existing food system applications of social impacts using life-cycling thinking.