cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Murder and Capital Punishment in the Evolving Context of the Post-Furman Era

In view of (1) escalating national attention, and political and judicial activity centering on capital punishment during the past decade and a half, and (2) concomitant changes in homicides, this paper investigates the impact of the death penalty on state homicide rates for the post-Furman period, 1973-84. The research also addresses the debate over the relative merits of the contiguous state matching strategy versus multiple regression as a means of controlling for the influence of possible confounding factors in examining the capital punishmentlhomicide relationship. The two approaches yield quite similar results. Consistent with a long line of deterrence research, the analysis produces no indication that our national return to capital punishment since Furman has had a systematic downward impact on homicide. This paper investigates the impact of the death penalty on homicides for the post-Furman period, 1973-84. The question of the place of capital punishment in our criminal justice system continues to be a matter of public, political, and academic debate. While this controversy has focused on a wide variety of issues, a major area of disagreement is the deterrent effect of capital punishment: "Does capital punishment provide a more effective deterrent to homicide than imprisonment?" Consistent with the prominence of this issue, there is an extensive empirical literature on the deterrence question dating back over six decades. Despite the accumulation of evidence, the impact of the death penalty since the late 1960s remains a largely unaddressed issue in the deterrence literature. Instead, most studies have considered the role of the death penalty for various periods between 1900 and 1969. This is unfortunate since the 1970s and 1980s have witnessed an unprecedented amount *We gratefully acknowledge valuable comments provided by David Greenberg and an anonymous referee. Address correspondence to Ruth D. Peterson, Department of Sociology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 C 1988 The University of North Carolina Press
Consistency Of The Stock Market In Anticipating Economic Cycles

This paper examines how consistent the stock market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, has been in anticipating the effect economic contractions and expansions have on dividends/earnings. In 22 of 26 instances, the S&P 500 reached a peak and trough prior to the beginning and ending of 13 economic contractions during the period 1929-2009. Changes in dividends/earnings are directly related to economic activity as measured by changes in real GDP. An economic recession or expansion lowers or raises the intrinsic value of the expected dividend/earnings stream. Actual stock prices, as measured by the S&P 500, change in the same direction as the change in intrinsic value with the historical evidence showing the high degree of consistency the stock market has in anticipating economic contractions and expansions.
Decoherence of CW random lasers

Measurements of output power and spatial coherence length versus excitation rate of an electrically-pumped alumina random laser are compared with conventional laser equations and one-dimensional modeling to test the consistency of quenching and decoherence behavior.
Spin relaxation of conduction electrons in GaAs

Abstract We have used optical spin orientation techniques to measure T1 of conduction electrons in GaAs (NinA ≈ 1017 cm-3) for 4.7 K ⩽ T ⩽ 200 K. From Hall effect measurements we estimated the electron momentum relaxation time τp. For 50 K ⩽ T ⩽ 200 K, the product T1τp agrees with our earlier order of magnitude estimate of the D'yakonov-Perel' mechanism, in which band structure induced precession is strongly narrowed by momentum relaxation. The Elliott mechanism is one to two orders of magnitude weaker.
Cost-utility analysis of the use of prophylactic mesh augmentation compared with primary fascial suture repair in patients at high risk for incisional hernia.

Background Although hernia repair with mesh can be successful, prophylactic mesh augmentation (PMA) represents a potentially useful preventative technique to mitigate incisional hernia risk in select high-risk patients. The efficacy, cost-benefit, and societal value of such an intervention are not known. The aim of this study was to determine the cost-utility of using prophylactic mesh to augment fascial incisions. Methods A decision tree model was employed to evaluate the cost-utility of using PMA relative to primary suture closure (PSC) after elective laparotomy. The authors adopted the societal perspective for cost and utility estimates. A systematic review of the literature on PMA was performed. The costs in this study included direct hospital costs and indirect costs to society, and utilities were obtained through a survey of 300 English-speaking members of the general public evaluating 14 health state scenarios relating to ventral hernia. Results PSC without mesh demonstrated an expected average cost of $17,182 (average quality-adjusted life-year [QALY] of 21.17) compared with $15,450 (expected QALY was 21.21) for PMA. PSC was associated with an incremental cost-efficacy ratio (ICER) of −$42,444/QALY compared with PMA such that PMA was more effective and less costly. Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis was performed demonstrating more simulations resulting in ICERs for PSC above the willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000/QALY, supporting the finding that PMA is superior. Conclusion Cost-utility analysis of PSC compared to PMA for abdominal laparotomy closure demonstrates PMA to be more effective, less costly, and overall more cost-effective than PSC.
Time-averaged flow structure in the central region of a stream confluence

Previous process-oriented field studies of stream confluences have focused mainly on fluvial dynamics at or immediately downstream of the location where the confluent flows enter the downstream channel. This study examines in detail the spatial evolution of the time-averaged downstream velocity, cross-stream velocity, and temperature fields between the junction apex, where the flows initially meet, and the entrance to the downstream channel. A well-defined, vertically oriented mixing interface exists within this portion of the confluence, suggesting that lateral mixing of the incoming flows is limited. The downstream velocity field near the junction apex is characterized by two high-velocity cores separated by an intervening region of low-velocity or recirculating fluid. In the downstream direction, the high-velocity cores move inwards towards the mixing interface and high-velocity fluid progressively extends downwards into a zone of scour, resulting in an increase in flow velocity in the centre of the confluence. The cross-stream velocity field is dominated by flow convergence, but also includes a component associated with a consistent pattern of secondary circulation. This pattern is characterized by two surface-convergent helical cells, one on each side of the mixing interface. The helical cells appear to be the mechanism by which high-momentum fluid near the surface is advected downwards into the zone of scour. For transport-ineffective flows, the dimensions and intensities of the cells are controlled by the momentum ratio of the confluent streams and by the extant bed morphology within the confluence. Although the flow structure of formative events was not measured directly in this study, documented patterns of erosion and deposition within the central region of the confluence suggest that these events are dynamically similar to the measured flows, except for the fact that formative flows are not constrained by, but can reshape, the bed morphology. The results of this investigation are consistent with and augment previous findings on time-averaged flow structure in the downstream portion of the confluence. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nonuniruledness results for spaces of rational curves in hypersurfaces

We prove that the sweeping components of the space of smooth rational curves in a smooth hypersurface of degree d in P are not uniruled if (n + 1)/2 ≤ d ≤ n − 3. We also show that for any e ≥ 1, the space of smooth rational curves of degree e in a general hypersurface of degree d in P is not uniruled roughly when d ≥ e √ n.
Transforming SHARF etc. into lattice

A general approach to transforming direct-form adaptive infinite impulse response (IIR) filtering algorithms into lattice-form adaptive IIR filtering algorithms is presented. Computer simulations are given to show the convergence of the lattice algorithms developed. The lattice-form adaptive IIR algorithms derived are expected to have faster convergence, easier stability monitoring, and greater robustness for finite precision implementation than the direct-form algorithms. >
Persistent hijacking of brain proteasomes in HIV-associated dementia

Immunoproteasome induction sustains class 1 antigen presentation and immunological vigilance against HIV-1 in the brain. Investigation of HIV-1-associated alterations in brain protein turnover by the ubiquitin-proteasome system was performed by (1) determining proteasome subunit changes associated with persistent brain inflammation due to HIV-1; (2) determining whether these changes are related to HIV-1 neurocognitive disturbances, encephalitis, and viral loads; and (3) localizing proteasome subunits in brain cells and synapses. On the basis of neurocognitive performance, virological, and immunological measurements obtained within 6 months before death, 153 autopsy cases were selected. Semiquantitative immunoblot analysis performed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex revealed up to threefold induction of immunoproteasome subunits LMP7 and PA28α in HIV-1-infected subjects and was strongly related to diagnoses of neuropsychological impairment and HIV encephalitis. Low performance on neurocognitive tests specific for dorsolateral prefrontal cortex functioning domains was selectively correlated with immunoproteasome induction. Immunohistochemistry and laser confocal microscopy were then used to localize immunoproteasome subunits to glial and neuronal elements including perikarya, dystrophic axons, and synapses. In addition, HIV loads in brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood plasma were robustly correlated to immunoproteasome levels. This persistent “hijacking” of the proteasome by HIV-1-mediated inflammatory response and immunoproteasome induction in the brain is hypothesized to impede turnover of folded proteins in brain cells. This would disrupt neuronal and synaptic protein dynamics, contributing to HIV-1 neurocognitive disturbances.
Response to Comments on: Selvin et al. sRAGE and Risk of Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Death. Diabetes 2013;62:2116–2121

We thank Drs. Schalkwijk and Stehouwer (1) and Dr. Yamagishi (2) for their interest in our recent article (3). We agree with the authors that it is interesting that some studies in populations with preexisting conditions (i.e., type 1 or type 2 diabetes) have shown positive associations of …
A probabilistic approach to the single-point, single-dose problem

A general probabilistic approach is applied to the single-point single-dose method for estimating individual infusion rates and serum drug concentrations. By using transformations of probability density functions, the effects of variations in the elimination rate constant on pharmacokinetic variables can be studied, and optimal sampling times can be chosen. Although this study treats the case of error-free sampling in a single compartment model with a normal distribution of rate constants, the methods presented can be extended to more general situations. >
A Brief Primer on Probability Distributions

This four-page note provides information about five probability distributions. The note describes the parametrics of each distribution, the moments of each distribution, and the important properties of each distribution.
Homodyne Detection of Ultrasound Through Turbid Media Using an Adaptive Interferometer

We demonstrate laser-based adaptive ultrasonic detection through turbid media using a photorefractive quantum well as a receiver, and a fsec-laser as a light source. An adaptive Mach-Zehnder interferometer is based upon two-wave mixing for homodyne detection. When the fsec-laser propagates through the turbid media, the transmitted light shows the first arrived unscattered signals and the delayed scattered background. Two laser pulses from a signal arm and a reference arm in the interferometer are combined at the adaptive holographic quantum well film. By choice of center wavelength, the two pulses are phase-locked for compensation of wavefront phase distortions. In addition, the scattered background is eliminated by adjusting the optical delay of the reference arm. Using this system, ultrasonic homodyne signals through 11 mean-free paths (mfp) turbid media are successfully detected.
Enhancement of brain glutamate dehydrogenase activity and glutamate oxidation by adenine nucleotides.

The rate of oxidation of glutamate by brain homogenates or mitochondria was enhanced approximately 4-fold by 59-AMP, cyclic 39,59-AMP, or 59-ADP. These nucleotides were equally effective in augmenting glutamate oxidation, while 39-AMP, 29-AMP, and 29,39-AMP were without effect. Cyclic 39,59-AMP did not increase the rate of glutamate oxidation in heart or testis homogenates but produced 13% and 89% stimulation by liver and kidney homogenates, respectively. Kinetic and gel filtration evidence indicates that glutamate dehydrogenases of brain, liver, and kidney mitochondria are not identical in their properties. The enhancement of activity of the brain enzyme by 59-AMP or cyclic 39,59-AMP was dependent on the pH of the reaction mixture and the concentration of NAD. At pH 8.0, the apparent Km for NAD was decreased from 2 mM in the absence of adenine nucleotides to 0.4 mM or 0.5 mM in the presence of 59-AMP or cyclic 39,59-AMP, respectively. At pH 7.5, 59-AMP evoked twice the stimulation produced by corresponding concentrations of cyclic 39,59-AMP. Kinetic evidence indicates that brain glutamate dehydrogenase contains at least two cooperative sites for NAD in the absence of adenine nucleotides, and only one site in the presence of these activators. Density gradient studies suggest that the molecular weight of the activated enzyme is approximately 250,000.
Synthesis and catalytic epoxidation activity with TBHP and H2O2 of dioxo-, oxoperoxo-, and oxodiperoxo molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(VI) compounds containing monodentate or bidentate phosphine oxide ligands: crystal structures of WCl2(O)2(OPMePh2)2, WCl2(O)(O2)(OPMePh2)2, MoCl2(O)2dppmO2.C4H10O, WCl2(O)2dppmO2, Mo(O)(O2)2dppmO2, and W(O)(O2)2dppmO2.

The dioxo tungsten(VI) and molybdenum(VI) complexes WCl2(O)2(OPMePh2)2, WCl2(O)2dppmO2, and MoCl2(O)2dppmO2, the oxoperoxo compounds WCl2(O)(O2)(OPMePh2)2, WCl2(O)(O2)dppmO2, and MoCl2(O)(O2)dppmO2, and the oxodiperoxo complexes, W(O)(O2)2dppmO2 and Mo(O)(O2)2dppmO2 have been prepared and characterized by IR spectroscopy, 31P NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. The structural and X-ray crystallographic data of compounds WCl2(O)2(OPMePh2)2, WCl2(O)(O2)(OPMePh2)2, MoCl2(O)2dppmO2·C4H10O, WCl2(O)2dppmO2, Mo(O)(O2)2dppmO2, and W(O)(O2)2dppmO2 are also detailed. All complexes were studied as catalysts for cis-cyclooctene epoxidation in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) or H2O2 as an oxidant. The Mo-based catalysts showed a superior reactivity over W-based catalysts in the TBHP system. On the other hand, in the H2O2 system, the W-based catalysts (accomplishing nearly 100% epoxidation of cyclooctene in 6 h) are more reactive than the Mo catalysts (<45% under some condit...
Elastic reverse-time migration with an excitation amplitude imaging condition

SUMMARY The conventional cross-correlation imaging condition for elastic reverse-time migration (ERTM) produces significant artifacts. We develop an excitation amplitude imaging condition for ERTM to remove migration artifacts. During the forward propagation of the source wavefield, we store the maximum amplitude of the wavefield and the corresponding excitation time for each imaging point, and apply the cross-correlation imaging condition only at the excitation time and when the amplitude of the receiver wavefield at this excitation time satisfies a certain criterion. We demonstrate using synthetic multicomponent seismic data that our excitation amplitude imaging condition effectively removes migration artifacts for both PP and PS images. Our new imaging condition also significantly improves the computational efficiency and reduces the computer-memory requirement for ERTM.
Adaptive Smoothing for Forecasting Seasonal Series

Abstract Seasonal series can be forecast by using Brown's adaptive forecasting method. The main advantage of this approach is that explicit expressions for the variance of the forecast error are derived without the use of numerical matrix inversion. This allows the forecaster to devise means to obtain a signal warning of possible failure of the forecasting model. Explicit expressions are also given for the smoothing vector, and the coefficients of the model can be updated without the use of either matrix inversion or multiplication, thus making the computation of the forecasts simple.
From Subgroups to Bottlenecks: New Directions for the Empirical Study of Intergenerational Mobility — A Comment on Timothy Smeeding, 'Multiple Barriers to Economic Opportunity in the United States'

This short response piece argues that the empirical study of intergenerational mobility is reaching a new stage. Instead of merely estimating overall, aggregate mobility, new work in the field focuses specifically on particular bottlenecks through which people must pass in order to reach better economic outcomes. This paper then raises some questions that this important new work inspires, about which type of mobility we ought to be concerned about -- mobility at the bottom, middle, or the top; what is driving the rising levels of parental financial investment in children at the top; and the limits of income as a measure of what we ought to care about if we care about mobility.
Analysis of mortality rates and prevalence trends of major pulmonary diseases in Liyang of Jiangsu Province from 2009 to 2013

Objective To investigate the mortality rates and prevalence trends of lung cancer,pneumonia or bronchitis,pulmonary heart disease,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)in Liyang;to provide basis for making prevention strategies.MethodsInformation of death cases caused by above 4kind of pulmonary diseases and demographic data from 2009 to 2013in Liyang was collected to calculate the crude mortality rates,age-related mortality rates,annual percentage changes(APC)of mortality and 95%CIof above indicators.Results The crude mortality rates of lung cancer,pulmonary heart disease,pneumonia or bronchitis,COPD were36.26/105,22.62/105,27.51/105 and 29.92/105,respectively;while annual average age standardized mortality rates of above 4kind of diseases were 16.34/105,6.30/105,7.39/105 and 8.28/105,respectively.During the 5-year period,the mortality rates of the lung cancer(APC=4.5%,95%CI:-5.3%-14.3%)and pulmonary heart disease(APC=-10.0%,95%CI:-33.1%-13.1%)were steady;while those of pneumonia or bronchitis(APC=20.1%,95%CI:9.4%-30.8%)and COPD(APC=69.3%,95%CI:41.5%-97.1%)demonstrated an ascending trend.Conclusion For residents in Liyang,the mortality rates of COPD and pneumonia or bronchitis demonstrated an ascending trend;standardized mortality rate maintained in high level;while mortality rate of pneumonia heart disease was stable with slight decline.
Molecular biology of sarcomas.

SUMMARY There has been a virtual explosion of information relating to the biology of sarcomas with which we as orthopaedists deal. Much more is yet to be learned. These findings will teach us more about the etiology of these tumors. More important, the findings will alter the way in which these tumors are treated. It is unlikely that we will continue to treat osteosarcoma or Ewing’s sarcoma patients with currently available drug regimens and surgery or make treatment decisions based on the histologic classification of tumors we know today. If we are to remain active in the management of these patients we must be aware of the findings as they occur. That will ensure both that we remain the primary caretakers of these patients, and that we will continue to be stimulated intellectually by these intriguing scientific investigations.
Synthesis of Stoichiometric FeS2 through Plasma-Assisted Sulfurization of Fe2O3 Nanorods

Pyrite (FeS2) thin films were synthesized using a H2S plasma to sulfurize hematite (Fe2O3) nanorods deposited by chemical bath deposition. The high S activity within the plasma enabled a direct solid-state transformation between the two materials, bypassing S-deficient contaminant phases (Fe1–xS). The application of plasma dramatically enhanced both the rate of conversion and the quality of the resulting material; stoichiometric FeS2 was obtained at a moderate temperature of 400 °C using a chalcogen partial pressure 105 cm–1 in the visible range. Room-temperature conductivity of FeS2 films was on the order of 10–4 S cm–1 and approximately doubled under calibrated solar illumination.
Gastroesophageal reflux in infants and children. Recognition and treatment

Gastroesophageal reflux is common in infants and children and is associated with a broad spectrum of symptoms and disease. The majority of young patients with reflux can be managed nonoperatively because growth and time usually bring maturation of the antireflux mechanisms. We feel that operation is justified and indicated for the child with complications of reflux that are not reversed by a six-week medical trial, and children with stricture or infants with reflux-related apnea should have operation without delay. In our experience, analysis of the 24-hour esophageal pH tracing has proved most useful to correlate respiratory symptoms with reflux. The Nissen fundoplication is the most effective and the most reliable antireflux procedure, but it must be constructed loosely to minimize the side effects of dysphagia and gas bloating. Because the population at risk for reflux disease has approximately a 50 per cent incidence of significant associated medical problems, morbidity and mortality from some of these problems is inevitable. There should be little or no mortality associated with the antireflux operation itself.
Diverse Functions of Ceramide in Cancer Cell Death and Proliferation

Ceramide, a bioactive sphingolipid, is now at the forefront of cancer research. Classically, ceramide is thought to induce death, growth inhibition, and senescence in cancer cells. However, it is now clear that this simple picture of ceramide no longer holds true. Recent studies suggest that there are diverse functions of endogenously generated ceramides, which seem to be context dependent, regulated by subcellular/membrane localization and presence/absence of direct targets of these lipid molecules. For example, different fatty-acid chain lengths of ceramide, such as C(16)-ceramide that can be generated by ceramide synthase 6 (CerS6), have been implicated in cancer cell proliferation, whereas CerS1-generated C(18)-ceramide mediates cell death. The dichotomy of ceramides' function in cancer cells makes some of the metabolic enzymes of ceramide synthesis potential drug targets (such as Cers6) to prevent cancer growth in breast and head and neck cancers. Conversely, activation of CerS1 could be a new therapeutic option for the development of novel strategies against lung and head and neck cancers. This chapter focuses on recent discoveries about the mechanistic details of mainly de novo-generated ceramides and their signaling functions in cancer pathogenesis, and about how these mechanistic information can be translated into clinically relevant therapeutic options for the treatment of cancer.
The Return or the Nostoï

‘The Return or the Nostoi’ addresses going home — or a return to the country — in contemporary French films that focus on the Maghreb and near East regions; however the term can apply to other locations. The term ‘nostoi’ draws from Ulysses and Vladimir Jankelevich’s reflections on nostalgia. In negotiating a return home, films tackle the situation of exile, the location and meaning of ‘home’, and displacement. In so doing, history and identity are reexamined along North-South lines. Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche, Ismael Ferroukhi, Tony Gatlif, and Francois Dupeyron adopt this figure in their respective films: Bled Number One (2006), Le Grand Voyage (2004), Exils (2004), and Mr. Ibrahim (2003). All four films, which stem from different perspectives, share the return motif, configuring a North-South trajectory and a masculine outlook on homecoming.
A Probability Model for Grid Faults Using Incomplete Information

Utilities face the challenge of responding to power outages due to storms and ice damage, but most power grids are not equipped with sensors to pinpoint the precise location of fault causing the outage. Instead, utilities have to depend primarily on phone calls (trouble calls) from customers who have lost power. This paper presents an information model of the grid in the presence of outages; the developed model is used to estimate the probability of power line faults causing the outages. However, the computational complexity of the problem grows exponentially with the number of power lines in the grid. Thus, several methods are proposed for handling the combinatorial growth of events and the behavior is demonstrated using the data of a real-power grid. Performance results show that power line fault detection can be achieved with high accuracy, even with a very low percentage of customers calling to report an outage.
Explaining Practical Normativity

Ethical non-naturalists often charge that their naturalist competitors cannot adequately explain the distinctive normativity of moral or more broadly practical concepts. I argue that the force of the charge is mitigated, because non-naturalism is ultimately committed to a kind of mysterianism about the metaphysics of practical norms that possesses limited explanatory power. I then show that focusing on comparative judgments about the explanatory power of various metaethical theories raises additional problems for the non-naturalist, and suggest grounds for optimism that a naturalistic realist about practical normativity will ultimately be able to explain the distinctive normativity of practical norms. I then show that radical pluralism or particularism about the structure of normative ethics would complicate the naturalistic strategy that I defend. This suggests a perhaps surprising way in which the resolution of the debate between ethical naturalists and non-naturalists may rest in part on the answers to substantive normative questions.
Observation of Pair—Quasiparticle Potential Difference in Non-equilibrium Superconductors

A difference V has been observed1 between the pair potential and the “quasi-particle potential” in a superconductor in nonequilibrium, when there is an imbalance between the electronlike and holelike excitations. A current I passed through an Al-Al2O3-Sn tunnel junction at a voltage much higher than the Sn gap Δ(T) injected electronlike excitations into the superconducting Sn where it overlayed the Al and removed condensed pairs from the same region. The pair potential was constant throughout the Sn strip. The quasiparticle potential was measured by a normal metal probe (Cu) overlaying the junction and weakly connected to the Sn via a thin oxide barrier. V was measured between the Sn and Cu strips at points far removed from the nonequilibrium region. The potential difference closely followed the theoretical prediction2,3 $$V = I{\tau _Q}/2{e^2}N(0){g_{NS}}$$ where g NS is the normalized tunneling conductance for a superconductor-normal metal junction and N(0) is the density of states at the Fermi level for electrons of one spin. τ Q is the relaxation time for the imbalance in the population of the electronlike and holelike branches, and for Sn was found to be approximately 4 × 10−10Δ(0)/Δ(T) sec. This result is in quite good agreement with the calculated value2,3 of 2 × 10 −10 Δ(0)/Δ(t) sec.
Pazopanib (P) and trametinib (T) in advanced cholangiocarcinoma (CC): A phase Ib study.

4072 Background: CC is an aggressive disease with a dismal prognosis and no clear therapy in the refractory setting. Mek inhibition and anti-angiogenic therapies have shown modest activity in advan...
Operative traffic in orthopedics: A glimpse into surgical team transformations

Abstract Operative traffic can reduce the sterility of the operating room (OR) and put patients at risk of infection. Such traffic can also change the makeup of the surgical team, yet these transformations have not been investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze operative traffic in regards to the number of people that entered the OR and characterize personnel transformations within operative teams across a surgical day and surgical procedure. Over three months, surgical cases performed by one orthopedic surgeon in an academic hospital were observed. Data were collected on the time of personnel entry and exit, and the characteristics of the case. Transition patterns were classified based on the number of transitions for each personnel role. Overall, 465 individuals (M = 23.21 individuals, SD = 7.25) entered the OR across all 19 surgical days, with 286 identified as surgical personnel (M = 15.05 personnel, SD = 3.05). Six transition patterns were found in the data. Patterns with three or more transitions per role occurred 38.9% of the time and were observed for registered nurses, certified surgical technicians, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and anesthesiologists. The transition patterns of these roles present increased opportunity for errors during a procedure and should be further investigated. In future studies, the authors plan to study other specialties, procedures, and accrue a larger sample to further understand how operative traffic and surgical site infections relate to one another.
Decohesion models informed by first-principles calculations: The ab initio tensile test

Abstract Extreme deformation and homogeneous fracture can be readily studied via ab initio methods by subjecting crystals to numerical “tensile tests”, where the energy of locally stable crystal configurations corresponding to elongated and fractured states are evaluated by means of density functional method calculations. The information obtained can then be used to construct traction curves of cohesive zone models in order to address fracture at the macroscopic scale. In this work, we perform an in depth analysis of traction curves and how ab initio calculations must be interpreted to rigorously parameterize an atomic scale cohesive zone model, using crystalline Ag as an example. Our analysis of traction curves reveal the existence of two qualitatively distinct decohesion criteria: (i) an energy criterion whereby the released elastic energy equals the energy cost of creating two new surfaces and (ii) an instability criterion that occurs at a higher and size independent stress than that of the energy criterion. We find that increasing the size of the simulation cell renders parts of the traction curve inaccessible to ab initio calculations involving the uniform decohesion of the crystal. We also find that the separation distance below which a crack heals is not a material parameter as has been proposed in the past. Finally, we show that a large energy barrier separates the uniformly stressed crystal from the decohered crystal, resolving a paradox predicted by a scaling law based on the energy criterion that implies that large crystals will decohere under vanishingly small stresses. This work clarifies confusion in the literature as to how a cohesive zone model is to be parameterized with ab initio “tensile tests” in the presence of internal relaxations.
The Efficacy of Using Peer Mentors to Improve Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Hispanic Families: Findings from a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction The Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker (MIHOW) program is a home visiting program, utilizing peer mentors to improve maternal/child health outcomes in underserved communities. Findings are presented from a randomized clinical trial (RCT) testing the efficacy of the MIHOW model in a sample of Hispanic women in Tennessee. We hypothesized maternal and infant outcomes would be better in women assigned to MIHOW than women assigned to the minimal education intervention (MEI) group (receipt of educational materials). Methods Women entered the study during pregnancy (< 26 weeks gestation) and were followed through 6 months postpartum. A total of 188 women were enrolled and randomly assigned (MEI = 94; MIHOW = 94), with 178 women completing the study (MEI = 87; MIHOW = 91). Results Positive and statistically significant (p < 0.01) effects of MIHOW were observed on breastfeeding self-efficacy and exclusivity, levels of depressive symptoms and parenting stress, safe sleep practices, and infant stimulation in the home. No statistically significant differences were noted in number of prenatal visits. Discussion Results expand limited empiric evidence and provide strong support of the effectiveness of MIHOW on improving health outcomes in this sample of Hispanic mothers and their infants. MIHOW is a viable option for providing culturally sensitive services to immigrant and underserved families.
Assessing Effects on Long-term Survival after Early Termination of Randomized Trials

In this paper we present an approach to using historical control data to augment information from a randomized controlled clinical trial, when it is not possible to continue the control regimen to obtain the most reliable and valid assessment of long term treatment effects. Using an adjustment procedure to the historical control data, we investigate a method of estimating the long term survival function for the clinical trial control group and for evaluating the long term treatment effect. The suggested method is simple to interpret, and particularly motivated in clinical trial settings when ethical considerations preclude the long term follow-up of placebo controls. A simulation study reveals that the bias in parameter estimates that arises in the setting of group sequential monitoring will be attenuated when long term historical control information is used in the proposed manner. Data from the first and second National Wilms' Tumor studies are used to illustrate the method.
Propagation of material behavior uncertainty in a nonlinear finite element model of reconstructive surgery

Excessive mechanical stress following surgery can lead to delayed healing, hypertrophic scars, and even skin necrosis. Measuring stress directly in the operating room over large skin areas is not feasible, and nonlinear finite element simulations have become an appealing alternative to predict stress contours on arbitrary geometries. However, this approach has been limited to generic cases, when in reality each patient geometry and procedure are unique, and material properties change from one person to another. In this manuscript, we use multi-view stereo to capture the patient-specific geometry of a 7-year-old female undergoing cranioplasty and complex tissue rearrangement. The geometry is used to setup a nonlinear finite element simulation of the reconstructive procedure. A key contribution of this work is incorporation of material behavior uncertainty. The finite element simulation is computationally expensive, and it is not suitable for uncertainty propagation which would require many such simulations. Instead, we run only a few expensive simulations in order to build a surrogate model by Gaussian process regression of the principal components of the stress fields computed with these few samples. The inexpensive surrogate is then used to compute the statistics of the stress distribution in this patient-specific scenario.
Implementing the patient reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) global health scale in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) oncology population.

6565Background: Advances in quality of life (QOL) measurement, including improved precision and brevity, greatly enhance the incorporation of QOL assessment at the point-of-care. In this study we r...
Definitions of Scientific Terminology in Popular Science Books: An Examination of Definitional Chains:

This article explores scientific terminology in popular science books. It goes beyond existing approaches to definitions in popularizations to suggest a dual, macro and micro, structure for the maj...
A Priority-Aware MAC Protocol for the Smart City

We propose a contention-based priority wireless reservation MAC protocol that guarantees latency and throughput for users with time-critical applications. The protocol is designed to accommodate two anticipated requirements of Smart City networks: first, that critical traffic be served within a specified delay without excessive throttling of non-critical traffic; and second, that surges in critical traffic from a geographically-concentrated region be handled gracefully without expansive overprovisioning.
Approximate Probabilistic Security for Networked Multi-Robot Systems

In this paper, we formulate a combinatorial optimization problem that aims to maximize the accuracy of a lower bound estimate of the probability of security of a multi-robot system (MRS), while minimizing the computational complexity involved in its calculation. Security of an MRS is defined using the well-known control theoretic notion of left invertiblility, and the probability of security of an MRS can be calculated using binary decision diagrams (BDDs). The complexity of a BDD depends on the number of disjoint path sets considered during its construction. Taking into account all possible disjoint paths results in an exact probability of security, however, selecting an optimal subset of disjoint paths leads to a good estimate of the probability while significantly reducing computation. To deal with the dynamic nature of MRSs, we introduce two methods: (1) multi-point optimization, a technique that requires some a priori knowledge of the topology of the MRS over time, and (2) online optimization, a technique that does not require a priori knowledge, but must construct BDDs while the MRS is operating. Finally, our approach is validated on an MRS performing a rendezvous objective while exchanging information according to a noisy state agreement process.
Coupling Electromagnetic Waves to Spin Waves: A Compact Model for Frequency Selective Limiters

A nonlinear circuit model is developed for magnetic material based frequency-selective limiters (FSL). The dominant magnetic-behaviors of FSL devices are translated into equivalent circuits with parameters rigorously determined from fundamental physics. The spin motions as well as the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) are modeled by RLC parallel circuits with parameters derived from Polder’s tensor and Kittel’s equations. The exchange coupling between spins is modeled by an inductor added between adjacent RLC circuits based on quantum spin theory. The nonlinear cross-frequency coupling from signal at ω to spin waves at ω/2 is represented by a pendulum model that predicts the parametric oscillations of spins. A FSL device described in literature is used as an example to validate the circuit model. The simulation results match the measurement results published, and the model successfully predicts the threshold power level, nonlinear insertion loss, time delay, and frequency selectivity of the device.
Refined Insights in the Photochromic spiro-Dihydroindolizine/Betaine System

We have revisited the photochromic spiro-dihydroindolizine/betaine system by comparing state-of-the-art density functional theory calculations with experimental data. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations are employed to examine the transformations occurring after photoexcitation. This study confirms that photoexcitation of the spiro-dihydroindolizine leads to the formation of the cis-betaine. However, isomerization to the trans-betaine follows through a complicated and formerly unknown potential energy landscape, which consists of a network of transition states and intermediates. The available pathways across this potential energy landscape will determine the kinetics of the forward reaction from the cis-betaine to the trans-betaine and then, even more importantly, the back-reaction. Virtually all practical applications of this optical switch rely on these reactions and, therefore, occur within this landscape. Predicting the network of transition states and intermediates for substituted s...
Transient-State Analysis and Modeling of Renewable Energy Inverter

A commercial 3.6 kVA inverter designed for solar photovoltaic (PV) applications was tested to determine its performance under variable ac system conditions. The results showed that output real power varied as ac system voltage varied. Even though the inverter is capable of supplying reactive power, it always consumed reactive power from the ac system, and local load reactive power was also supplied by the ac system. Using the test results, a power flow model was developed. The model was demonstrated in a distribution power flow analysis of the IEEE 13-bus test feeder.
A shotgun wedding.

Abstract A 69-year-old woman developed a carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) after firing a shotgun. Initially, the patient had mild visual symptoms, but later on developed prominent features of CCF including chemosis, proptosis, ophthalmoparesis and conjunctival injection . The fistula was embolized via an intravascular coiling procedure. We are unaware of another patient who developed a CCF due to blunt force from shotgun use.
Introduction to the Special Section on the 2019 IEEE BCICTS Conference

This Special Section of the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits features expanded versions of key invited papers that were presented at the 2019 IEEE BiCMOS and Compound Semiconductor Integrated Circuits and Technology Symposium (BCICTS), held at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, Nashville, TN, USA, on November 3–6, 2019.
Preferences, inflation, and welfare

Abstract This paper systematically examines how degrees of household risk aversion (RA) and elasticity of intertemporal substitution (EIS) impact the welfare costs of inflation in a heterogeneous-agent environment featuring capital and essential money. Empirical evidence suggests that households have degrees of RA and EIS that differ on average from traditional values and display large amounts of dispersion. Capturing these empirical features of preference values in an otherwise standard model leads to welfare enhancements of inflation due to household substitution of money for capital. The analysis also compares the welfare implications for alternative ways to implement monetary policy.
Role and Applications of Synchrotron Removal from Raman Spectra for Quantitative Analysis of Cancer Tissues

In the current paper, the effect of presence and absence of synchrotron on quantitative analysis of sample is investigated using Fourier transform filters method. Using Raman spectroscopy on cancer tissues sample, which is one of the most important herbs, quantitative and qualitative analyses are performed. DNA/RNA of cancer cells was detected in the sample and the performance of Raman arrangement for measuring DNA/RNA of cancer cells concentration was evaluated at two parts using calibration graph. In the first part, spectra are containing synchrotron while in the second part, spectra are filtered and synchrotron are removed.
The Right to Barcelona: Spectrality, Unbuiltness, and El fantasma de Gaudí

DiFrancesco examines the Spanish graphic novel El fantasma de Gaudi (2015) by Jesus Alonso Iglesias and El Torres from a perspective informed by urban theory, Derridean spectrality, anarchitecture, and comic studies. As DiFrancesco explores the murder mystery-ghost story at the heart of the novel, she draws attention to the ways in which the book’s illustrations simulate architect Antoni Gaudi’s trencadis mosaic designs. According to DiFrancesco, the mosaic style imitated in the novel and reflective of Gaudi’s unique work becomes eerily emblematic of underlying social and economic instabilities as present in today’s Barcelona as it was at the turn of the twentieth century.
Microdrilling Demonstrates Superior Patient-Reported Outcomes and Lower Revision Rates Than Traditional Microfracture: A Matched Cohort Analysis.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare patient-reported outcomes and revision rates between the standard microfracture awl versus the microdrilling technique. Methods Microfracture patients were queried from a single-institution database between 2001 and 2016. Patient-reported outcome measure data were collected at preoperative and 6- and 12-month time points, inclusive of the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Short Form 12 (SF12) Physical Component Score (PCS) and Mental Component Score, and all Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales. A matching algorithm based on previous procedures, lesion size, and demographic factors created 2 technique-based cohorts. Outcomes including revision rates and both statistically and clinically significant differences (i.e., the minimally clinically important difference [MCID]) between awl and microdrill cohorts were compared using univariate statistics. Results A total of 68 patients (aged 32.0 ± 13.1 years, 48.5% female, body mass index 26.7 ± 5.3 kg/m2), with 34 patients in each group, were included after the match. At 6 months, the microdrilling group demonstrated significantly greater levels of improvement than the awl group on the IKDC, SF12 PCS, and KOOS Pain, Symptom, Sport, and Quality of Life (P Conclusions Microdrilling demonstrated superior outcomes relative to traditional microfracture awl techniques with respect to patient-reported outcomes at 6 months and revision rates within 3 years of follow-up. In addition, clinically meaningful differences were evident at 6 months in the microdrilling group. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Mimicry between DNA, Carbohydrates, and Peptides: Implications in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder that is complex in clinical manifestation and, most likely, in etiology. This chapter focuses on molecular mimicry of host structures by microbial pathogens, one of the possible mechanisms that contributes to autoreactivity in lupus. Studies of serum from patients with bacterial infections led to the realization that nonautoimmune hosts, during the time of infection, make antibodies with specificities similar to those of autoantibodies in sera from patients with SLE. Reciprocal inhibition assays with dsDNA and pneumococcal polysaccharide performed with three of the cross-reactive antibodies demonstrated that dsDNA and polysaccharide bind at the same or a proximal site on these antibodies. DNA-protein binding usually requires a more polar interface and a far greater number of hydrogen bonds, both direct and water mediated, than protein-protein interactions. The anti-DNA specificity is generated both by activation of cross-reactive antibodies and by the process of somatic mutation but is most likely downregulated by the normal host. The cross-reactivity may be germ line gene encoded or may be generated by somatic mutation of the antibody. Nonautoimmune hosts can generate B cells with potentially pathogenic autospecificities, and the antigenic relatedness of DNA to carbohydrate antigens is sufficient to activate cross-reactive B cells. In humans, it remains to be determined if this cross-reactivity is potentially pathogenic; in mice, it clearly is. Immunization with a peptide mimotope of DNA can also induce lupus-like autoreactivity in mice.