cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fourteen million women with limited options: HIV/AIDS and highly effective reversible contraception in sub-Saharan Africa

An estimated 14 million women in sub-Saharan Africa are HIV infected and these women deserve access to evidence-based family planning services. Increasing contraceptive use in HIV-infected women can reduce the numbers of unintended pregnancies and thus reduce maternal death and vertical transmission of HIV. A delicate balance exists between risks associated with pregnancy and any theoretical risks of acquiring, transmitting or worsening HIV attributable to using a contraceptive. This commentary reviews interactions between hormonal, intrauterine and barrier contraception in HIV-infected women, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, the evidence on these interactions to guide family planning providers is limited and more research in this area is urgently needed.
Alternaria alternata Causing Flower Stem Blight of Lupinus havardii

Lupinus havardii Wats., commonly known as Big Bend or Chisos bluebonnet, is a showy winter annual that can reach 1.0 to 1.5 m in height and produces blue, fragrant inflorescence (racemes). L. havardii is native to a narrow geographic range along the Mexican border in southwest Texas. The inflorescence of L. havardii has considerable potential in the cut flower industry where there is a need for high-quality, durable flowers with a blue color (1). Several crops have been produced in the greenhouse to determine production and post-harvest characteristics of the cut inflorescence. Under greenhouse growing conditions during March through June 1999, numerous plants of L. havardii cv. Texas Sapphire grown in raised beds and in containers in both Dallas and El Paso, TX, were observed with blighted flower racemes with light brown to gray lesions ranging from 1 to 5 cm in length. The racemes were attacked at varying ages and eventually assumed a hooked appearance where the terminal 15 cm of the raceme was bent downward. Isolations from symptomatic lesions removed from L. havardii flower stalks consistently yielded cultures of an Alternaria sp. on potato-dextrose agar. Typical conidia measured 27 μm length and 11 μm width with 3 to 5 transverse septa. The fungus was identified as A. alternata (Fries) Keissler consistent with the description in Ellis (2). Pathogenicity tests were conducted in the laboratory by inoculating cut inflorescences with agar disks containing the fungus. Inoculations produced light brown lesions on the racemes that were typical of disease symptoms observed on greenhouse crops. In addition to the blue-flowered Texas Sapphire cultivar, we also observed the disease symptoms on pink and white flowered breeding lines of L. havardii. This disease is important as a flower stem blighting pathogen and could severely restrict production of cut flowers during the growing season. This is the first report of Alternaria sp. attacking L. havardii. References: (1) T. D. Davis. HortScience 29:1110, 1994. (2) M. B. Ellis. 1971. Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute Kew, England.
Neutrino oscillations in the early universe

Abstract Numerical studies are performed for neutrino oscillations for t > 1 3 seconds after the big bang. The effects of electron, positron and neutrino backgrounds are properly included. Flavor evolution of the neutrino background is dominantly smooth. However, in a certain parameter region, coherent undamped oscillations of the neutrino background are possible. In addition, neutrino CP asymmetry is found to be considerably smaller than expected. Reasons are provided for the above effects and some physical implications are discussed.
Hexokinase Binding in Ischemic and Reperfused Piglet Brain

Hexokinase catalyzes the first step in cerebral glucose utilization and is a rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis. Glucose utilization is tightly coupled to cerebral blood flow so that during ischemia the brain has a decreased supply of glucose, as well as oxygen. We studied hexokinase enzymatic activity in a newborn piglet model of ischemia-reperfusion to determine if any changes in the activity or mitochondrial binding of the enzyme occurred. We observed that mitochondrial binding of cortical HK increased from 55 to 71% with ischemia and returned toward control levels, but did not completely recover, after 2 h of reperfusion.
Evaluating the Multidimensional Nature of Supported Employment

The emergence of supported employment services in the United States has raised expectations concerning the viability of employment in promoting the work productivity, social integration and personal independence of persons with severe disabilities. Although several studies have offered preliminary insights on the efficacy of supported employment's contribution to worker productivity and earnings, little attention has been given to testing the other expected outcomes of such service activities empirically. This paper examines the multidimensional outcomes of supported employment in terms of its effectiveness and efficiency and offers several policy recommendations for improving these outcomes. Three sets of questions are addressed. The first examines factors that separately influence each of the multiple outcomes through ordinary least-squares regression techniques. A second set estimates recursive relationships among the multiple outcomes through the use of two-stage least-squares regression techniques. And a third set explores efficiency relationships between these outcomes and the costs of providing employment-related services. The data used in the study were originally collected in 1991 for a purposive sample of 40 programmes for estimating the economic costs and benefits of supported employment in Minnesota. Preliminary conclusions indicate positive degrees of both efficacy and efficiency in the programmes examined.
Does the body orientation of waggle dance followers affect the accuracy of recruitment

The honey bee waggle dance is a cascade of behaviors used to advertise the availability of a resource, and communicate its location. Little is known, however, about the behaviors of dance follower bees that allow them to extract information from the dance. We test competing hypotheses that suggest that either follower bees must be located behind a dancer bee or to the side of a dancer bee to be able to extract information from the dance. We also test if behaviors relating to the time that a follower bee spends following a dance are important in collecting dance information. We find that the bees are equally efficient finding a resource indicated by the dance after following a dance from the side or behind a dancer bee. We also find that the number of waggle runs followed has a significant effect on the accuracy of a foraging flight.
Novel approaches for the treatment of small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by its exquisite sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Despite dramatic tumor shrinkage, however, patients rarely are cured and median survival is less than 1 year for most patients who present with extensive-stage disease and 18 months for patients with limited-stage disease. Other articles in this issue have detailed current strategies to improve survival by evaluating new cytotoxic agents and radiotherapy techniques. Meanwhile, our growing understanding of the biology of SCLC provides additional targets to exploit for therapeutic benefit. In this article, the authors review the current status of biologically targeted agents directed toward molecular abnormalities found in SCLC.
The Fifth Consensus Conference on Testing for Human Retroviruses

In late 1985, the Association of State and Territorial Public Health Laboratory Directors (ASTPHLD) first recognized the need for standardization and uniformity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test procedures, interpretation and reporting among public health laboratories. In 1986, the HIV Committee of ASTPHLD conducted its first Consensus Conference, with the objective of promoting quality and uniformity among laboratory programs through the exchange of data, sharing of expertise and formulation of consensus recommendations. There were 41 participants at this conference that addressed four topics: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, immunofluorescence and methods standardization.
Analysis of conserved binding proteins for nuclear localization sequences.

Correct targeting of nuclear proteins is mediated by nuclear localization sequences (NLS) which permit specific binding to the nucleus and subsequent translocation across the nuclear envelope via the nuclear pore complex. It is proposed that nuclear import is facilitated by NLS-receptors which reside in the cytoplasm and at the nuclear pore. These NLS-receptors could facilitate an early step of nuclear protein import, i.e. targeting and binding of nuclear proteins at the nuclear pore. We have generated anti-idiotype antibodies against the SV40 T-antigen nuclear localization sequence that allowed us to study NLS-binding proteins in a variety of different organisms. Proteins of similar size are recognized by these antibodies in yeast, Drosophila, rat and human cells. Cytological analysis indicates that the NLS-binding proteins reside in part at nuclear pores. One of the proteins recognized by anti-idiotype antibodies is identical to a previously identified NLS-binding protein. Using isolated yeast nuclei we demonstrate that the anti-idiotype antibodies compete for binding of nuclear proteins in vitro. We show that the yeast mutant npl3, which is defective in nuclear protein localization, has an altered distribution of antigens recognized by these anti-idiotype antibodies, at the semi-permissive temperature. Our results suggest that a set of proteins common to various eukaryotes recognizes nuclear localization sequences.
Iliac vein compression syndrome from anterior perforation of a pedicle screw

May–Thurner syndrome is an anatomic variant where the right common iliac artery compresses the left common iliac vein. The variant exists in a significant portion of the population, but is usually asymptomatic; however, clinically significant stenosis can occur by iatrogenic means. In this report, we describe a patient who presents with left lower extremity pain and swelling. Initial workup for deep vein thrombosis was negative. After being referred to our venous clinic, a magnetic resonance angiography revealed narrowing of the left common iliac vein with a tortuous right common iliac artery crossing over the constriction. During left iliac vein stent placement, a pedicle screw from a prior L2–S1 spinal fusion was noted to be perforated through L5 vertebral body impinging the posterior aspect of the vein. This case demonstrates that increased scrutiny must be applied when dealing with pathology in close proximity to any implanted medical device.
Using sampling and inverse distance weighted modeling for mapping invasive plants

Accurate time- and cost-efficient mapping is central to successful rangeland invasive plant management. In this study sampling together with Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation modeling was tested as a mapping alternative to expensive full-coverage delineation survey mapping methods. Our objective was to examine accuracies of presence/absence maps generated from 18 sampling strategies (3 sampling methods × 6 sample densities) using IDW. Invasive plant field survey maps with known accuracies were used to generate samples and to test interpolation results at 2 sites. Site 1 was approximately 6.0 km 2 , dominated by Russian knapweed ( Acroptilon repens L.). Site 2, an upland area of approximately 13.5 km 2 , was dominated by spotted knapweed ( Centaurea maculosa Lam). Sampling method × sample density combinations were gathered from field survey infestation maps using repeated computer-based sampling methods. IDW modeling was applied to each of the sample data sets. Accuracies of the IDW interpolation results were calculated by re-referencing field survey maps. We determined that sampling at density of 0.25% (about 1 point per ha) using a systematic sampling method was the preferred sampling strategy for both sites. This combination of sampling density and method yielded 85% accurate presence/absence maps. We conclude that sampling combined with IDW interpolation modeling can generate accurate invasive plant maps and is a potential alternative to current delineation survey methods.
The Sanctions Paradox: Conclusions, implications, speculations

Theories can never be proven true, but they can amass support. This support is more robust if the evidence varies across time and place. The evidence has ranged in place from the corridors of power in Washington to the oil fields of the Caspian Sea to the demilitarized zone on the Korean peninsula. It has moved in time from the Peloponnesian war to the present day. This chapter summarizes what has been learned about economic coercion in international relations. It first reviews the predictions and performance of the conflict expectations model, and summarizes additional insights gained from the empirical record. It then offers up a critique of the theories and methodologies developed in the previous chapters. These conclusions have ramifications for the study and practice of foreign policy. This chapter concludes by discussing the model's policy implications, and then considering the broader implications for international relations theory and future research. A review When states decide whether to threaten economic coercion, or how to respond to such a threat, they care about the immediate costs and benefits of sanctions implementation, but they also care about the likelihood of future political conflicts. Concessions made in the present can be translated into future leverage, or can blemish a reputation for tough bargaining. When states anticipate frequent conflicts in the future, they will care more about the relative gains implications of the immediate outcome.
Interference contrast microscopy for identification of urinary sediments.

Interference contrast microscopy was used to study elements of the urinary sediment. This technic provides a relief, or “three-dimensional” image. Recognition of sedimentary elements such as casts, cells, and bacteria was facilitated. Interference contrast microscopy proved particularly useful in teaching morphologic identification of elements in the urinary sediment.
Leapfrog Migration in North American Shorebirds: Intra- and Interspecific Examples

Description d'une methode permettant de detecter les migrations par depassement et application de la methode a l'etude des migrations de quelques Charadriidae d'Amerique du Nord
District 9: directed by Neill Blomkamp, and written by Neill Blomkap and Terri Tatchell. Produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. Culver City, CA: TriStar Pictures, 2009

History has shown us that despite good intentions, humans are more or less xenophobic. Past efforts to assist foreign or different groups of people have slowly become exploitative, at best, and fat...
New Madrid Seismicity, Gravity Anomalies, and Interpreted Ancient Rift Structures

Seismicity data for the New Madrid seismic zone recorded by a regional seismograph network since 1974 delineate prominent epicentral trends associated with the Reelfoot rift in northeastern Arkansas, northwestern Tennessee, and southeastern Missouri. Additional epicentral trends and more diffuse clusters of epicenters have also become visible during the 20-plus years of microearthquake monitoring. Several of these trends appear to be spatially correlated with geophysical anomalies, particularly gravity anomaly data. The geophysical anomalies are interpreted to be caused primarily by crustal structure variations, some of which are related to ancient rifting. The epicentral patterns and associated gravity anomalies extend considerably beyond the interpreted Reelfoot rift structure, particularly to the north. A substantial amount of new data, particularly the precise epicenter information, and recent geophysical studies have significantly improved our understanding of the causes of earthquakes in the Reelfoot segment of the New Madrid seismic zone. However, the geographical extent of the seismic zone, detailed information on the structure of the crust in the seismically active areas, and a refined seismotectonic model for the New Madrid area remain to be determined.
Analysis of drinking water sanitary recuperative condition in Mianyang after earthquake

Objective:To understand the drinking water sanitary recuperative condition in Mianyang quake-hit areas after 5.12 earthquake happened one month and provide definitive measures for the government.Methods:The central supplied out-factory water and distal water were continuous monitored in Beichuan,Pingwu,Anxian and Jiangyou which were suffered serious in this earthquake,fast surveillance work was conducted at victim resettlement sites.Results:The total qualification rate of the out-factory water and distal water in the four quake-hit areas were 82.50% and 82.38%,the qualification rate of chlorine residual which was fast detected in the victim resettlement sites was 93.88%.The qualification rate of out-factory water,distal water and chlorine residual was just 76.47%,71.15% and 84.24% in June 1th,but it rose day by day and exceeded 95% until June 24th.The qualification rates were had significant difference in the four areas,the indexes of Beichuan and Pingwu were low relatively.ConclusionThere were difference in the recuperative speed for drinking water of these four quake-hit areas,Jiangyou and Anxian were faster than Beichuan and Pingwu.These monitoring results were important to ensure the drinking water safety in these areas.
Computing Tools and Techniques for Emergency Response

From social networks to autonomous robotics, computing technologies improve our ability to quickly and effectively respond to emergencies. This article includes a sidebar entitled, "Supporting Disaster Volunteers from the Internet," by Dai Sato, which describes the development and use of large-scale online volunteer activities in Japan.
Connectionist Models of Bilingual Word Reading

A number of connectionist models (inspired by biological neural networks) have been designed to simulate human data in bilingual word reading tasks. These models have in common a reliance on neuron-like nodes that are connected by a distributed pattern of synapse-like connections. When some nodes become active due to linguistic input, this activation pattern spreads throughout the network and eventually activates other nodes that correspond to word recognition states and/or motor responses. Various models differ with one another on certain architectural details. Some models use localist representations, where a single node represents each word, while others use distributed representations, where each word is represented by a pattern of activation across many nodes. Some models focus on how the connection strengths are developed via a learning algorithm, while others focus more on real-time processing dynamics. By fitting existing human data, and then making explicit predictions for future experiments, these different models steadily advance our understanding of how bilinguals comprehend written words.
Effectiveness of chemical compounds and biocontrol agents for management of bacterial spot of Pumpkin caused by Xanthomonas cucurbitae

ABSTRACT Bacterial spot, caused by Xanthomonas cucurbitae, has become one of the most important diseases of pumpkin. Seventeen chemical compounds and five biocontrol agents were evaluated for their...
New determination of the third-order nonresonant susceptibility of H 2

A new value of the electronic contribution (the electronic hyperpolarizabiiity) to the third-order nonlinear susceptibility of gaseous H2 has been determined. A phase-modulated version of stimulated Raman (gain/loss) spectroscopy1, is employed for these measurements. A phase-modulated signal wave is generated at the probe frequency by use of two orthogonally polarized phase-modulated pump waves. With this technique a signal linearly proportional to either the real or imaginary part of the third-order susceptibility can be selected. Highresolution (10-yHz) GW laser sources are used in these measurements.
Atomic resolution structure determination by the cryo-EM method MicroED

The electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM) method MicroED has been rapidly developing. In this review we highlight some of the key steps in MicroED from crystal analysis to structure determination. We compare and contrast MicroED and the latest X-ray based diffraction method the X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL). Strengths and shortcomings of both MicroED and XFEL are discussed. Finally, all current MicroED structures are tabulated with a view to the future.
The Benefits of Wilderness Programs for Cancer Patients and Survivors: A Literature Review

on Long Island, NY. Methods.—Metals were assessed in egg (prespawning), embryo (early postspawning), and larvae (late postspawning) stages. At all sites, eggs were extracted from adult females to obtain a baseline contamination level (ie, metals are transferred during egg formation). Embryos and larvae were collected from the sediment of each beach. Sediment and water were collected from all sites, and metal levels were compared to organism samples. Metal concentrations in all samples were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Descriptive statistics are reported and differences in life stages were analyzed using a Kruskal-Wallis test. Results.—All trace metals accumulated, but to varying degrees based on life stage and beach. Essential metals that are required for physiological function showed significant accumulation from egg to larval stages for most sites (P o .001). Nonessential metals, which can have toxic effects, showed significant accumulation from egg to larval stages for most sites (P o .001). Conclusions.—For a given metal, early stages related to sediment and water concentrations at some sites. Thus, local abiotic conditions may affect the uptake rate of each metal. We showed that metal bioaccumulation occurred at concentrations naturally found in habitats and suggested factors other than local levels of a contaminant should be considered when addressing the danger to organisms, including humans, that heavily use these areas. Funding: WMS Hultgren Grant (2015).
Reasoning about partially observed actions

Partially observed actions are observations of action executions in which we are uncertain about the identity of objects, agents, or locations involved in the actions (e.g., we know that action move(?o, ?x, ?y) occurred, but do not know ?o, ?y). Observed-Action Reasoning is the problem of reasoning about the world state after a sequence of partial observations of actions and states. In this paper we formalize Observed-Action Reasoning, prove intractability results for current techniques, and find tractable algorithms for STRIPS and other actions. Our new algorithms update a representation of all possible world states (the belief state) in logic using new logical constants for unknown objects. A straightforward application of this idea is incorrect, and we identify and add two key amendments. We also present successful experimental results for our algorithm in Blocks-world domains of varying sizes and in Kriegspiel (partially observable chess). These results are promising for relating sensors with symbols, partial-knowledge games, multi-agent decision making, and AI planning.
Adaptive Spectral Element Methods for Turbulence and Transition

These notes present an introduction to the spectral element method with applications to fluid dynamics. The method is introduced for one-dimensional problems, followed by the discretization of the advection and diffusion operators in multi-dimensions, and efficient ways of dealing with these operators numerically. We also discuss the mortar element method, a technique for incorporating local mesh refinement using nonconforming elements; this is the foundation for adaptive methods. An adaptive strategy based on analyzing the local polynomial spectrum is presented and shown to give accurate solutions even for problems with weak singularities. Finally we describe techniques for integrating the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, including methods for performing computational linear and nonlinear stability analysis of non-parallel and time-periodic flows.
30 GHz frequency comb spanning 160 THz in the near-infrared

We generate a 30 GHz electro-optic frequency comb at 1064 nm and extend its spectral bandwidth to 160 THz through nonlinear spectral broadening. Further, we frequency double the broadened spectrum producing a visible comb which spans over 100 THz.
The Sun at small scales

Many important phenomena in the solar atmosphere are thought to occur on length scales smaller than the 0.2 arcsecond (140 km) resolution limit of current solar telescopes. So the search is on for ways to improve resolution, and topic was debated at a recent meeting of solar physicists.
Bovine neonatal immunology.

Early fetal immune development occurs independent of antigen exposure, whereas later development depends on exposure to specific antigens. Although neonates are immunocompetent at birth, they are clearly immunonaive and dependent on passively acquired maternal immunoglobulins, immune cells, and other substances from colostrum for protection. Neonates that suffer failure of passive transfer of maternal immunoglobulins may be at increased risk for disease; however, many other factors interact in conjunction with the level of passively acquired immunoglobulin to determine the occurrence of disease.
The elements of power: gadgets, guns, and the struggle for a sustainable future in the rare metal age

In the aftermath of the industrial revolution, strategists and politicians began using the term ‘war potential’ to measure a nation’s economic capacity to exert military force on the world stage. T...
Exploiting Microstructural Instabilities in Solids and Structures: From Metamaterials to Structural Transitions

Instabilities in solids and structures are ubiquitous across all length and time scales, and engineering design principles have commonly aimed at preventing instability. However, over the past two decades, engineering mechanics has undergone a paradigm shift, away from avoiding instability and toward taking advantage thereof. At the core of all instabilities—both at the microstructural scale in materials and at the macroscopic, structural level—lies a nonconvex potential energy landscape which is responsible, e.g., for phase transitions and domain switching, localization, pattern formation, or structural buckling and snapping. Deliberately driving a system close to, into, and beyond the unstable regime has been exploited to create new materials systems with superior, interesting, or extreme physical properties. Here, we review the state-of-the-art in utilizing mechanical instabilities in solids and structures at the microstructural level in order to control macroscopic (meta)material performance. After a brief theoretical review, we discuss examples of utilizing material instabilities (from phase transitions and ferroelectric switching to extreme composites) as well as examples of exploiting structural instabilities in acoustic and mechanical metamaterials.
Knowing Ratio and Proportion for Teaching.

Ratio and proportion have been part of school mathematics since the earliest manifestations of anything like school math in the Middle Ages. In this paper, I compile and comment on statements from primary sources of the last 2300 years to exhibit ideas that appear to have influenced the treatment of these topics in schoolbooks today. Historical sources clarify many points about the contemporary curriculum, supporting the contention that an understanding of history of ideas concerning ratio and proportion is an important component of knowledge of mathematics for teaching.
Radical Résistance in France: François Hollande’s German Crisis

Friendship between France and Germany, which was one of the primary factors behind the European recovery after World War II, has begun, ever so slightly, to change in the face of a stagnant and far less impressive economic recovery from the most recent global financial crisis. The new strain on Franco- German relations, and the new threat to European economic stability, is becoming particularly apparent under the presidency of Francois Hollande, France’s current Socialist executive. As a result of German interests in implementing Europe-wide austerity policies, and the weak and seemingly ineffective centrist leadership under Hollande, significant changes seem almost inevitable.
Sleep Problems, Anxiety, and Global Self-Rated Health Among Hospice Family Caregivers.

Background:Although research has linked sleep problems, anxiety, and poor health outcomes among patients’ family members in nonhospice settings, little is known about these often interrelated issue...
Zusammenfassung und übergreifende Diskussion

Beginnend mit dem Warum?, der Frage nach der eigenen Motivation fur dieWissenschaft, und zweier fiktiver Professoren, die sich trotz gleicher Umstande deutlich in ihrem Erleben und Verhalten unterschieden, wurden in vorliegender Arbeit die Ziele von Wissenschaftler(inne)n in Lehre und Forschung betrachtet.
Forcing and anti-forcing edges in bipartite graphs

Abstract Let G be a connected bipartite graph with a perfect matching and the minimum degree at least two. The concept of an anti-forcing edge in G was introduced by Li in Li (1997). One known generalized version for an anti-forcing edge is an anti-forcing set S , which is a set of edges of G such that the spanning subgraph G − S has a unique perfect matching. In this paper, we introduce a new generalization of an anti-forcing edge: an anti-forcing path and an anti-forcing cycle. We show that the existence of an anti-forcing edge in G is equivalent to the existence of an anti-forcing path or an anti-forcing cycle in G . Then we show that G has an edge that is both forcing and anti-forcing if and only if G is an even cycle. In addition, e -anti-forcing paths and e -anti-forcing cycles in hexagonal systems are identified. The parallel concepts of forcing-paths and forcing-cycles of G are also presented.
Computational Modeling of Aortic Heart Valves

Computational modeling is an excellent tool with which to investigate the mechanics of the aortic heart valve. The setting of the heart valve presents complex dynamics and mechanical behavior in which solid structures interact with a fluid domain. There currently exists no standard approach, a variety of strategies have been used to address the different aspects of modeling the heart valve. Differences in technique have included the imposition of the load, the portion of the cardiac cycle simulated, the inclusion of the fluid component of the problem, the complexity of anatomical parameters, and the definition of material characteristics. Simplifications reduce computational costs, but could compromise accuracy. As advancements in modeling techniques are made and utilized, more physiologically relevant models are possible. Computational studies of the aortic valve have contributed to an improved understanding of the mechanics of the normal valve, insights on the progression of diseased valves, and predictions of the durability and efficacy of surgical repairs and valve replacements.
A Dynamic Assessment of VoIP Adoption, Innovation and their Interaction with CALEA Regulation

The need to expand Communications Assistance for the Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), also known as the wiretapping act, to VoIP is situated in a socio-technical context that is starkly different from the first passing of the act in 1994. A socio-technical context that is marked by service delivery models where the access provider and the service provider are separate entities, technology such as packet-switching that is not conducive to wiretapping, political environment where the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) are paranoid about homeland security and, the Internet-criminal who is savvy about their choice of encryption and other VoIP innovations. Such a system can be envisioned as a complex feedback system where, regulatory decisions lead to technology and investment choices by the industry and the consumer which may have repercussions on the adequacy of the very decision that led to these choices. In such a system, are there ways to model the cause and effect of regulatory decisions that may be dispersed in time and space? In this paper we present a system dynamics model to understand the complex feedback system surrounding VoIP adoption, innovation and the current VoIP CALEA proceedings. System dynamics is a methodology for studying and managing complex feedback systems using a computer simulation. We model the adoption of the “managed” (facility-based or VoIP that interconnects with PSTN) and “unmanaged” (peer-to-peer) VoIP to understand the fraction of VoIP that will be under the CALEA jurisdiction. We then model the cost of compliance for the providers of the managed VoIP service and the resulting incentive structure for the new entrants to provide the unmanaged service, instead. Finally, we model the trends of the number of lawful intercepts required annually and the fraction of network that will have the CALEA-compliant technology deployed to carryout such enforcement wiretaps. Our model provides a framework as well as a computer simulation for understanding the overall CALEA compliance in a network, the cost of compliance as affected by various factors.
Resonances of Compact Tapered Inhomogeneous Axially Loaded Shafts

An important technical area is the bending of shafts subjected to an axial load. These shafts could be tapered and made of materials with spatially varying properties (Functionally Graded Material – FGM). Previously the transverse vibrations of such shafts were investigated by the authors assuming the shafts had large slenderness ratios so that Euler-Bernoulli theory could be employed. Here compact shafts are treated necessitating the use of Timoshenko beam theory. For constant axial load case analysis of the effects of both FGMs and tapering on frequencies, the value of the compressive load is chosen to be 80% of the smallest critical (buckling) value for the shafts considered. The equations of motion give rise to two coupled differential equations with variable coefficients. These equations in general do not have analytic solutions and numerical methods must be employed (here using MAPLE®) to find the natural frequencies. MAPLE®’s built-in solver for two-point boundary value problems does not directly provide the eigenvalues. The strategy used is to solve a harmonically forced motion problem. On varying the excitation frequency and observing the mid-span deflection the resonance frequency can be found noting where a change in sign occurs. For example, results for FGM cylindrical and tapered shafts show that for a compact cylindrical beam the resonant frequency obtained differs from the Euler-Bernoulli prediction by 11%, and for a tapered beam by 12%, indicating that the effects of compactness can be significant. Since Timoshenko theory requires a value for the shear coefficient, which is not readily available for FGM beams, a sensitivity study is conducted in order to access the effect of the value on the results. Some effects of axial load variations on frequencies are also presented.
Interfacial Adhesion Strength Characterization of SiCOH/TaN Stack by 4-Point-Bending

SiCOH film layers with different process steps are experimented to characterize the interfacial adhesion strength between tantalum nitride (TaN) and SiCOH film using the 4-Point-Bending (4PB) technique. Variation in critical load value Gc, an indicator of the interfacial adhesion strength, is observed. Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) is performed for elemental analysis to confirm the interface of delamination.
Traumatic brain injury results in altered physiologic, but not subjective responses to emotional stimuli

Background: While the cognitive sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are well known, emotional impairments after TBI are suboptimally characterized. Lack of awareness of emotional difficulties ...
How Organized Crime Controls Guatemala’s Judiciary

Guatemala suffers from a long and troubled history of corruption and weak governmental institutions. Although the root of the issues are both numerous and difficult to pinpoint, some trace the problems directly to the weak judicial branch, which lacks the capacity to carry out its most basic functions. This factor has led to rates of impunity for criminals as high as 98%. Recently, a handful of honest and diligent judges with the help of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala -CICIG- have confronted corruption. This chapter outlines the history of that struggle and highlights future issues that these brave judges and the Commission must face.
Total Synthesis of (−)‐Cephalotaxine and (−)‐Homoharringtonine via Furan Oxidation–Transannular Mannich Cyclization

Homoharringtonine and its congener cephalotaxine were synthesized. Oxidative ring-opening of a furan unveils an amine-tethered dicarbonyl, which undergoes spontaneous transannular Mannich cyclization. The cascade builds the full cephalotaxine substructure in a single operation in 60 % yield. A Noyori reduction enabled synthesis of the title compounds with excellent enantioselectivity (krel =278).
Associations of Perfluoroalkyl Substances with Incident Natural Menopause: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation

Context Previous epidemiologic studies of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and menopausal timing conducted in cross-sectional settings were limited by reverse causation because PFAS serum concentrations increase after menopause. Objectives To investigate associations between perfluoroalkyl substances and incident natural menopause. Design and setting A prospective cohort of midlife women, the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, 1999-2017. Participants 1120 multiracial/ethnic premenopausal women aged 45-56 years. Methods Serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyls were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. Natural menopause was defined as the bleeding episode prior to at least 12 months of amenorrhea not due to surgery or hormone use. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Participants contributed 5466 person-years of follow-up, and 578 had incident natural menopause. Compared with the lowest tertile, women at the highest tertile of baseline serum concentrations had adjusted HR for natural menopause of 1.26 (95% CI: 1.02-1.57) for n-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (n-PFOS) (Ptrend = .03), 1.27 (95% CI: 1.01-1.59) for branched-PFOS (Ptrend = .03), and 1.31 (95% CI: 1.04-1.65) for n-perfluorooctanoic acid (Ptrend = .01). Women were classified into four clusters based on their overall PFAS concentrations as mixtures: low, low-medium, medium-high, and high. Compared with the low cluster, the high cluster had a HR of 1.63 (95% CI: 1.08-2.45), which is equivalent to 2.0 years earlier median time to natural menopause. Conclusion This study suggests that select PFAS serum concentrations are associated with earlier natural menopause, a risk factor for adverse health outcomes in later life.
Metastatic human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma mimicking primary cutaneous sweat-gland carcinoma.

The practicing pathologist will see a wide variety of metastatic tumors to the skin, many of which are not easily identifiable as metastases through histopathologic exam or clinical history. Furthermore, primary origin of tumors thought to be metastatic may not be readily apparent through initial histopathologic exam alone. We report an unusual cutaneous metastasis of an HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with histopathologic features that closely mimicked a primary cutaneous sweat gland carcinoma. Clinical correlation and tissue testing for human papilloma virus (HPV) allowed for the correct diagnosis. Testing for HPV may be considered for lesions of unknown primary with similar histopathology. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Time Series Approach to the Evolution of Networks: Prediction and Estimation

The paper analyzes non-negative multivariate time series which we interpret as weighted networks. We introduce a model where each coordinate of the time series represents a given edge across time. The number of time periods is treated as large compared to the size of the network. The model specifies the temporal evolution of a weighted network that combines classical autoregression with non-negativity, a positive probability of vanishing, and peer effect interactions between weights assigned to edges in the process. The main results provide criteria for stationarity vs. explosiveness of the network evolution process and techniques for estimation of the parameters of the model and for prediction of its future values. Natural applications arise in networks of fixed number of agents, such as countries, large corporations, or small social communities. The paper provides an empirical implementation of the approach to monthly trade data in European Union. Overall, the results confirm that incorporating non-negativity of dependent variables into the model matters and incorporat- ing peer effects leads to the improved prediction power.
The Research Prospectus in First-Year Writing (and Beyond): Teaching Writing for Transfer

This paper discusses a first-year writing research prospectus prompt designed to support first-year undergraduate students transitioning from high school writing—which often focuses on summary and synthesis—to college-level writing. In college, “research papers” often require knowledge production: developing research questions that address gaps in existing scholarship. My prospectus prompt offers a scaffolded structure for writers embarking on such college-level projects, and it also offers a tool to facilitate writing transfer, with the goal of enabling students to develop major research projects independently in other classes. It does so in two ways. First, it labels the components of major research projects (e.g. objects of study, research questions about those objects of study, and the theoretical frameworks used to analyze objects of study). Second, it provides a process for approaching research projects, including showing students how to develop research questions and how to move beyond summarizing and synthesizing other scholars.
Copper to gold thermal compression bonding in heterogenous wafer-scale systems

Direct metal-metal thermocompression bonding (TCB) process is necessary to scale the bump pitches to $\leq 10\mu\mathrm{m}$ as previously demonstrated using Copper(Cu) to Copper TCB on Silicon Interconnect Fabric (Si-IF). However, to extend the bonding process to a wafer level assembly of dielets, passivation of exposed Cu is necessary throughout the bonding process. In this work, we explore Copper-to-Gold TCB process to address the problem of Cu oxidation on Si-IF substrate prior to bonding. Any exposed copper the Si-IF is capped with Titanium (Ti) and Gold (Au) of thickness 20 nm and 200 nm respectively. This gold coating prevents any oxidation of copper on the substrate irrespective of the TCB temperature. First, the Cu-Au phase diagram was analysed to get an estimate of the parameters necessary for diffusion between Au and Cu during TCB. Next, bonding tests were performed, in which $2\mathrm{X}2\ \text{mm}^{2}$ dielets with copper pads were bonded to blanket Au capped Cu samples. We found Cu to Au thermocompression bonding to be feasible, even when the Si-IF substrate was exposed to high temperatures (≈100°C) for several hours. With optimization of bonding force and time, the shear force required to remove die from the substrate was found to be ≈ 110 N. In addition, the reliability of the bonded structures were investigated through high temperature storage testing. Post high temperature storage at 125 °C for two weeks, the shear strength was found to vary within 10% of its pre-storage value. Using the optimized process, daisy chain dielets terminated with Cu pads were bonded to Au capped Cu pillars on the Si-IF. We observed 100% connectivity across all the testable daisy chains. The average specific contact resistance of each pillar was found to be $0.762\ \Omega-\mu\mathrm{m}^{2}$ which is close to that of pure Cu-Cu TCB based daisy chains. The gold capping eliminates the problem of Cu oxidation on Si-IF substrate and therefore this bonding mechanism can be extended to achieve full wafer dielet population even on large 300 mm Si-IF substrates.
Association Between E-Cigarette Use and Visual Impairment in the United States.

Abstract Purpose To determine whether there is an association between e-cigarette use and visual impairment in the United States adult population. Design Cross-sectional Methods – Setting Population survey study Study Population 1,173,646 adults ages 18 or older from all 50 United States and 3 U.S. territories with self-reported responses to the CDC's 2016-2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) annual telephone survey. Exposure E-cigarette use (current, former, or never), assessed by the questions: “Have you ever used an e-cigarette or other electronic vaping product, even just one time, in your entire life?” and “Do you now use e-cigarettes or other electronic vaping products every day, some days, or not at all?” Main Outcome and Measure Visual impairment, defined as a binary outcome “yes” or “no” to: “Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses?” Results After excluding missing data, there were 1,173,646 participants. The adjusted odds ratio of visual impairment in current e-cigarette users compared to never e-cigarette users was 1.34 (95% CI, 1.20-1.48), and in former e-cigarette users was 1.14 (95% CI, 1.06-1.22) In the subgroup of 662,033 never users of traditional cigarettes (weighted 59.6% of study population), the adjusted odds ratio of visual impairment in current e-cigarette users compared to never e-cigarette users was 1.96 (95% CI, 1.48-2.61), and in former e-cigarette users was 1.02 (95% CI, 0.89-1.18). Conclusions Current compared to never e-cigarette usage was associated with a higher odds of visual impairment in the BRFSS 2016-2018 population, independent of traditional cigarette use.
Commerce and its Discontents in Eighteenth-Century French Political Thought

Histories of economics tend to portray attitudes towards commerce in the era of Adam Smith as celebrating what is termed doux commerce, that is, sweet or gentle commerce. Commerce and Its Discontents in Eighteenth-Century French Political Thought proposes that reliance on this doux commerce thesis has obscured our comprehension of the theory and experience of commerce in Enlightenment Europe. Instead, it uncovers ambivalence towards commerce in eighteenth-century France, distinguished by an awareness of its limits - slavery, piracy and monopoly. Through a careful analysis of the Histoire des deux Indes (1780), the Enlightenment's best-selling history of comparative empires, Anoush Fraser Terjanian offers a new perspective on the connections between political economy, imperialism and the Enlightenment. In discussing how a 'politics of definition' governed the early debates about global commerce and its impact, this book enriches our understanding of the prehistory of globalisation.