cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Applying the Regression-Discontinuity Design to Infer Causality with Non-Random Assignment

The impact of developmental mathematics programs on student success in college-level mathematics has been a controversial topic in higher education. One limitation of the current research is that scholars have been unable to isolate the causal impact of such participation on the student's success in college-level mathematics because it is unreasonable to randomly assign students to a developmental program. This study uses the regression-discontinuity design to infer causality with non-random assignment. The findings suggest that the odds of succeeding in college-level mathematics are greater for students who take developmental programs compared to equivalent students who did not.
The Automatic Sequencing of Block-Operators in the Digital Simulation of Analog and Analog-Hybrid Computers

The all-digital simulation of analog or analog-hybrid systems requires that the processing sequence of the elements simulated be admissible in the sense that no element should be processed until the values of all of its input variables are known. This paper presents an algorithm to automatically ascertain an admissible processing sequence from a given interconnection configuration, and to automatically detect any algebraic loops contained therein. As a result, a parallel language, rather than a sequential one, may be used to write source programs for digital simulation.
Thoracic tuberculosis: Clinical aspects

UBERCULOSIS was at the beginning of this century the most common single cause of death in the United States. It caused more deaths in 1900 (201 per 100,000) than heart disease or cancer and stroke put together.53 Tuberculosis is no longer the scourge that it was. The decline in deaths, disease, and infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis represents the most important single contribution to health that has resulted from medical attention. It must be acknowledged that some portion of the improved situation about which we congratulate ourselves is the result of improving social conditions, but the most modest of phthisiologists can claim success resulting from his or her efforts. The changes and improvements continue. Further significant advances have been made over the last 10 years. The clinical picture of tuberculosis is markedly influenced by epidemiologic circumstances, and it is appropriate that roentgenologists, who have always had a particular interest in this disease and who have contributed so much toward the successes in the continuing fight, should be aware of what is going on in the epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory worlds that live outside their lead-lined
Rietveld analysis of X‐ray powder diffraction patterns as a potential tool for the identification of impact‐deformed carbonate rocks

Previous X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) studies revealed that shock deformed carbonates and quartz have broader XRD patterns than those of unshocked samples. Entire XRD patterns, single peak profiles and Rietveld refined parameters of carbonate samples from the Sierra Madera impact crater, west Texas, unshocked equivalent samples from 95 miles north of the crater and the Mission Canyon Formation of southwest Montana and western Wyoming were used to evaluate the use of X-ray powder diffraction as a potential tool for distinguishing impact deformed rocks from unshocked and tectonically deformed rocks. At Sierra Madera dolostone and limestone samples were collected from the crater rim (lower shock intensity) and the central uplift (higher shock intensity). Unshocked equivalent dolostone samples were collected from well cores drilled outside of the impact crater. Carbonate rocks of the Mission Canyon Formation were sampled along a transect across the tectonic front of the Sevier and Laramide orogenic belts. Whereas calcite subjected to significant shock intensities at the Sierra Madera impact crater can be differentiated from tectonically deformed calcite from the Mission Canyon Formation using Rietveld refined peak profiles, weakly shocked calcite from the crater rim appears to be indistinguishable from the tectonically deformed calcite. In contrast, Rietveld analysis readily distinguishes shocked Sierra Madera dolomite from unshocked equivalent dolostone samples from outside the crater and tectonically deformed Mission Canyon Formation dolomite.
Equilibrium swelling behavior of pH-sensitive hydrogels

The equilibrium swelling behavior of hydrogels sensitive to pH or ionic strength changes of the swelling medium was studied using new structural models which are based on the Flory—Huggins thermodynamic theory, the rubber elasticity theory, and ionic interaction deviations therefrom. The number average molecular weight between crosslinks was related to equilibrium swelling characteristics, the thermodynamic compatability of the polymer—swelling agent system, the ionic charges, the pKa of the ionizable polymer moieties, and the pH and ionic strength of the surrounding medium. The models have predictive, correlative and design capabilities.
Two Men in a Boat: Antiphon, on the Murder of Herodes 42

Antiphon, in his fifth oration, relates that c. 422–413 B.C. Euxitheos, a young Mytilenean, and Herodes, probably an Athenian cleruch in Mytilene, embarked together on a ship bound from Mytilene for Ainos in Thrace. Shortly after they left port, a storm forced them to put into an unnamed harbour in Methymnian territory. The two men left their uncovered ship to take shelter in a covered one; whether others from their own ship went with them is not indicated. During the night, a drinking party ensued. Herodes, after heavy drinking, left the covered ship and disappeared; he could not be found in the morning, nor even after two days of searching. When the weather cleared, the search was abandoned, and all ships in the port resumed their voyages. On Euxitheos' return to Mytilene, a charge of murder was brought against him by Herodes' relatives, who tried him in Athens. Antiphon's fifth oration is his final defence; we do not know whether the speech was successful.
Distinct protein kinase C isozymes signal mitogenesis and apoptosis in human colon cancer cells.

Abstract Background & Aims: Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of serine-threonine kinases that transmit signals from cell surface receptors. To determine if distinct PKC isozymes transmit proliferative and/or apoptotic signals in colon cancer cells, we examined the effects of 3 PKC agonists, phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate (PMA), ingenol 3,20-dibenzoate (IDB), and bistratene A, and a selective PKC inhibitor, GF 109203X, on proliferation, apoptosis, and activation of individual PKC isozymes in 5 colon cancer cell lines. Methods: Effects were assayed by a formazan-based colorimetric assay, [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation, fluorescent nuclear staining, annexin V binding, DNA fragmentation assay, and immunoblotting of cytoplasmic and membrane fractions for PKC isozymes. Results: Two cell lines, SNU-C1 and SNU-C4, showed proliferative responses to PMA (0.1-1 nmol/L) and IDB (10-1000 nmol/L) and marked apoptotic responses to PMA (>5 nmol/L) and bistratene A (>1 μmol/L). GF 109203X blocked proliferative and apoptotic effects of PMA with distinct IC 50 s. Proliferative concentrations of PMA and IDB caused translocation of PKCϵ alone, whereas apoptotic concentrations of PMA and bistratene A induced translocation of PKCδ. Conclusions: Activation of PKCϵ and PKCδ triggers proliferative and apoptotic signals, respectively, in SNU-C4 colon cancer cells. These 2 isozymes may play important opposing roles in normal homeostasis and neoplastic transformation of the colorectal epithelium. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1999;117:848-857
Sensor network localisation based on sorted RSSI quantisation

Range estimation is essential in many sensor network localisation algorithms. Although wireless sensor systems usually have available received signal strength indication (RSSI) readings, this information has not been effectively used in the existing localisation algorithms. In this paper, we present a novel approach to localisation of sensors in an ad hoc sensor network based on a sorted RSSI quantisation algorithm. This algorithm can improve the range estimation accuracy when distance information is not available or too erroneous. The range level used in the quantisation process can be determined by each node, using an adaptive quantisation scheme. The new algorithm can be implemented in a distributed way and achieves significant improvement over existing range-free algorithms. The performance advantage for various sensor networks is shown, with experimental results from our extensive simulation with a realistic radio model.
Perpendicular write process and head design

A potential advantage of perpendicular recording derives from the supposition that the perpendicular geometry, with the medium effectively in the write gap, permits higher anisotropy media for a given head saturation induction. We test these conjectures by looking in more detail at practical considerations limiting write field, using analytical approximations and finite element models, and report some experiments verifying the ability to write high coercive field media.
Clustering Sensors in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks Operating in a Threat Environment

Sensors in a data fusion environment over hostile territory are geographically dispersed and change location with time. To collect and process data from these sensors, an equally flexible network of fusion beds (i.e., clusterheads) is required. To account for the hostile environment, we allow communication links between sensors and clusterheads to be unreliable. We develop a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to determine the clusterhead location strategy that maximizes the expected data covered minus the clusterhead reassignments, over a time horizon. A column generation (CG) heuristic is developed for this problem. Computational results show that CG performs much faster than a standard commercial solver, and the typical optimality gap for large problems is less than 5%. Improvements to the basic model in the areas of modeling link failure, consideration of bandwidth capacity, and clusterhead changeover cost estimation are also discussed.
Approximate solution of the finite cylinder problem using Legendre polynomials

Governing equations of elasticity for small deformations of a hollow cylinder of finite length are examined to define suitable approximate theories. Each dependent variable in the problem is represented as a series expansion in Legendre polynomials in the radial coordinate; such representations permit the field equations to be exactly reduced to two-dimensional sets of equations by separation of variables. Attention is directed toward establishment of a logical approach to truncation of the series; important variables for approximate theories of any order are established by consideration of the strain energy expression, and a truncation scheme is postulated. To establish the validity of the truncation scheme and hence of the resulting approximate theories, the problem of an infinitely long thick cylinder under axisymmetric band loading is considered. Comparisons with exact solutions and with well-known shell theories are obtained; results indicate that the new approximate theories yield predictions in better agreement with exact solutions than previous efforts in this area.
OTPICALLY ILLUMINATED DIELECTRIC INTERFACES AS HIGH-SPEED FAR-INFRARED MODULATORS

A new device for the gigahertz modulation of far-infrared radiation is analytically and numerically analyzed. It consists of a thin layer of a high-mobility, direct-bandgap semiconductor, such as GaAs, in which a high-density electron-hole plasma is rapidly created and destroyed, thereby rapidly changing the free-carrier reflectivity of the active layer. Illumination by a high-power, near-infrared laser diode array generates the plasma through intrinsic photoconduction. It is shown that this device acis primarily as an amplitude modulator, and that its efficiency increases sharply with increasing far-IR frequency, in contrast to a Schottky diode, which acts primarily as a phase modulator, and whose efficiency falls off sharply with far-IR frequency. The breakeven frequency lies at about 1.5 THz, depending slightly on the assumed device parameters. The relative advantage of the new device increases rapidly with increasing far-infrared frequency. At an operating frequency of 2.5 THz (119 μm), for example, a 1 GHz modulation bandwidth may be achieved with a single-sideband conversion loss of only-21 db, versus a Schottky's loss of-39 db, assuming a laser diode power of 1 W, which is readily available from recently developed laser diode arrays.
Loss of the Type I Interferon Pathway Increases Vulnerability of Mice to Genital Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Infection

The mouse model of genital herpes relies on medoxyprogesterone treatment of female mice to render the vaginal lumen susceptible to inoculation with herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2). In the present study, we report that mice deficient in the A1 chain of the type I interferon receptor (CD118(-/-)) are susceptible to HSV-2 in the absence of medroxyprogesterone preconditioning. In the absence of hormone pretreatment, 2,000 PFU of a clinical isolate of HSV-2 was sufficient to establish a productive infection in the vagina of 75% ± 17% and in the spinal cord of 71% ± 14% of CD118(-/-) mice, whereas the same dose of HSV-2 replicated to detectable levels in only 13% ± 13% of vaginal samples and 0% of spinal cord samples from wild-type mice, as determined at day 5 postinfection. The susceptibility to HSV-2 infection in the CD118(-/-) mice was associated with a significant reduction in the infiltration of HSV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes into the vaginal tissue, the local production of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and the expression of T cell-recruiting chemokines CCL5, CXCL9, and CXCL10. Collectively, the results underscore the significant contribution of type I IFNs in resistance to genital HSV-2 infection.
Technique of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Chest Wall Resection

c t m ( s w s Operative procedures used for cancerous chest wall invasion involve complete resection of the lung mass en loc with adjacent segments of ribs, traditionally involving a otentially disfiguring resection, lengthy hospitalization, and painful and protracted recovery period. As video-assisted horacoscopic surgery experience has grown, the proportion f patients deemed suitable for this type of approach as oposed to the traditional thoracotomy for lung resection has ncreased. Although experience with this approach is still merging, there is sufficient evidence demonstrating dereased morbidity and hospital stays with oncologic equivaency.1-3 As thoracoscopic resection for lung cancer evolved and became our predominant approach with the ability to perform an equivalent dissection to open procedures, we have naturally extended its indications to more complex situations. There have been few reports of thoracoscopic chest wall resection in an en bloc fashion, possibly because the perception that any benefit gained by avoiding rib spreading and the incision of other chest wall tissue would be eclipsed by perturbing the rib cage.4,5 For those interested in pursuing en bloc thoracoscopic resection, patients whose chest wall invasion lies near enough to an access incision favorable for lung resection and who require resection of 4 or fewer ribs are optimal candidates. The staging workup for all patients with chest wall invasion includes preoperative computed tomography scans in addition to positron emission tomography demonstrating no evidence of metastatic disease prior to being considered for chest wall resection. Moreover, preoperative imaging should demonstrate that the musculature and soft tissues superficial to the rib are uninvolved. Patients with larger tumors or with hilar lymph node involvement may not be suitable candidates for the hybrid approach secondary to limited mobility of the tumor and
An example of balanced truncation method and its surprising time domain performance

This paper presents an example of using the balanced truncation method (BTM) for a distributed RLC interconnect model reduction. The example shows a surprising result and some possible hidden phenomenon in model reduction methods. We find that a high order BTM model has much worse performance than a low order BTM model, in view of the original model and their step responses in the time domain. This unexpected finding contradicts to our common expectation from the well-known approximation error upper bound results of the BTM in frequency domain. It reveals a fact that though the high order system keeps more states than the low order system, the approximation error behavior in the time domain may be totally different from its counterpart in the frequency domain. In addition, the paper also presents a closed form of the state space model for general evenly distributed RLC interconnect line circuits. The closed form has a very low computation complexity of O(1), which may be extended for use not only in circuits, but also in various complex systems with transmission lines, networks, or delay lines. Since the BTM is a popular practical model reduction method in various areas, thus this example may bring some further insight thinking for development.
On the internationalization of European wireless telecommunications service providers

Companies can benefit from diversifying internationally. This paper analyzes the internationalization efforts of four major European wireless telecommunications service providers: Telefonica, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, and Vodafone. Although the four companies have all invested heavily in foreign markets, their internationalization paths have not been the same, resulting in market portfolios with different characteristics. Utilizing a proportionate customer weighting scheme the paper examines how some key aggregate growth, profitability, and risk characteristics of the companies' foreign market portfolios compared in 2007, and how these characteristics changed from 2002 to 2007.
On the structure of factorization structures

For any category K we investigate the family of all factorization structures on K. In particular, for each such structure, (E,M), we investigate the complete lattice of all factorization structures on K with left factor a subclass of E; this investigation is based on a Galois connection between all such structures and the lattice of all full isomorphism-closed subcategories of K. The Galois-closed families are precisely all the E-reflective subcategories of K and all the (E,M)-dispersed factorization structures of Herrlich, Salicrup and Vazquez.
JATIS papers among SPIE’s most downloaded

This PDF file contains the editorial “JATIS papers among SPIE’s most downloaded” for JATIS Vol. 1 Issue 04
BubbLeNet: Foveated Imaging for Visual Discovery

We propose a new method for turning an Internet-scale corpus of categorized images into a small set of human-interpretable discriminative visual elements using powerful tools based on deep learning. A key challenge with deep learning methods is generating human-interpretable models. To address this, we propose a new technique that uses bubble images -- images where most of the content has been obscured -- to identify spatially localized, discriminative content in each image. By modifying the model training procedure to use both the source imagery and these bubble images, we can arrive at final models which retain much of the original classification performance, but are much more amenable to identifying interpretable visual elements. We apply our algorithm to a wide variety of datasets, including two new Internet-scale datasets of people and places, and show applications to visual mining and discovery. Our method is simple, scalable, and produces visual elements that are highly representative compared to prior work.
What's Age Got to Do With It? A Comparison of Bariatric Surgical Outcomes Among Young, Midlife, Older and Oldest Adults.

Bariatric surgery has become an accepted method to treat obesity and its related diseases in adults; nevertheless, few bariatric surgery follow-up studies compare changes in body mass index (BMI), ...
"A day late and a dollar short": physicians and HPV vaccination.

See related article by Gilkey et al., p. 1673 The results of the 2014 U.S. National Immunization Survey–Teen (NIS-Teen) indicated very modest increases in human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination rates for 13- to 17-year-old females, with series initiation at 60%, a 3.3% increase over 2013 ([1][1
Raman, Absorption, and Photoluminescence Studies of a CdSxSe1−x Semiconductor Doped Color Glass

A CdSxSe1−x semiconductor doped sodium zinc borosilicate glass has been made and investigated by Raman, linear absorption, and photoluminescence measurements. The glass color changes from colorless through yellow and orange to red after annealing at 625 C with increasing annealing time. The average size of Cd(S, Se) quantum dots in glass has been determined by low-frequency Raman scattering in the order of several nanometers and increases with annealing time. The resonant Raman spectra from colored glasses show the longitudinal optical phonons of CdSe and CdS-like modes in alloy microcrystals, at 204 cm−1 and 284 cm−1, respectively. The stoichiometric composition of CdSxSe1−x nano-particles, x, determined by Raman scattering, is about 0.3. The photoluminescence spectra of colored glass samples show two emission bands, which are attributed to the electron-hole recombination and emission from trap centers of surface states, respectively.
Operation of Milwaukee's Major Treatment Plants as an Integrated System, U.S.A.

Milwaukee has integrated the operation of its two large secondary treatment plants in a manner similar to that of an industrial complex. Raw materials, intermediate and final products are interchanged between its plants to optimize process capacity, O/M costs and product delivered. The key materials interchanged have been raw wastewater, thickened waste activated sludge and digested sludge. Detailed direct operating and maintenance costs are kept for each process. Indirect costs are also allocated to each process in proportion to its direct costs. Since early 1982 it has been advantageous to transfer waste activated sludge and digested sludge from the plant producing a liquid sludge, AGRI-LIFE, for agricultural application to the plant that produces a heat dried sludge, Milorganite, for commercial sale. The interplant transfer has been by truck, however, the District is now designing a 12 mile pipeline to connect the two plants. Operations and maintenance costs are presented for each of Milwaukee9s processes.
Molecular Testing Is a Valuable Adjunct for Distinguishing Second Primary Tumors of Lung From Intrapulmonary and Extrapulmonary Metastases

Background: Multiple lung tumor nodules may be the result of synchronous second primary tumors (SPTs) or metastasis. Patients with SPTs have better survival and may require different therapy than those with metastatic disease. The distinction between these entities is typically made on histology alone. However, the distinction is not always clear as SPTs may have similar histological appearances and …
Hemodialysis Access in North America

End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is a devastating disease affecting the health of many people world-wide. The primary goal of therapy for patients with ESRD is to maintain health throughout their life. The most effective therapy for ESRD is renal transplantation. Alternatively there are two modes of renal replacement therapy (RRT), peritoneal and hemodialysis. Peritoneal dialysis can be an excellent option for patients who have not undergone major abdominal operations, but does require wherewithal to perform peritoneal dialysis nightly. In North America many vascular surgeons do not perform placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters and as such this chapter will focus on hemodialysis.
Myelographic sign of brachial plexus avulsion.

When roots of the brachial plexus are avulsed, a cuff of dura-arachnoid is torn out of the spinal theca. With retraction and shrinkage of the severed stump, a cavity is created which fills with spinal fluid. It is gradually enclosed by re-formation of the ruptured arachnoid and dura, and a traumatic meningocele is formed. This can be readily filled with radiopaque media, and the presence and extent of root avulsion can be demonstrated by myelography.
The relationship between performance status and sleep quality in cancer patients.

e20544 Background: Poor sleep is common, and is linked to impaired cognitive, psychological, and physical functioning and a lower quality of life. The purpose of this study is to measure quality of...
Robust control under parametric uncertainty: An overview and recent results

Abstract Modern Robust Control has had two distinct lines of development: (a) Robustness through quadratic optimization and (b) Robustness under parametric uncertainty. The first approach consists of Kalman’s Linear Quadratic Regulator and H∞ optimal control. The second approach is the focus of this overview paper. It provides an account of both analysis as well as synthesis based results. This line of results was sparked by the appearance of Kharitonov’s Theorem in the early1980s. This result was rapidly followed by further results on the stability of polytopes of polynomials such as the Edge Theorem and the Generalized Kharitonov Theorem, stability of systems under norm bounded perturbations and the computation of parametric stability margins. Many of these analysis results established extremal testing sets where stability or performance would breakdown. Starting in 1997, when it was established that high order controllers were fragile, attention turned to the synthesis and design of the parameters of low order controllers such as three term controllers and more particularly Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers. An extensive theory of design of such systems has developed in the last twenty years. We provide a summary without proofs, of many of these results.
Trends in Opioid Use Disorder Diagnoses and Medication Treatment Among Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

ABSTRACTObjective: Despite long-standing interest in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and opioid use disorder comorbidity, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence of opioid use disorder in patients with PTSD. Therefore, there is limited understanding of the use of medications for opioid use disorder in this population. We determined the prevalence of diagnosed opioid use disorder and use of medications for opioid use disorder in a large cohort of patients with PTSD. Methods: We obtained administrative and pharmacy data for veterans who initiated PTSD treatment in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) between 2004 and 2013 (N = 731,520). We identified those with a comorbid opioid use disorder diagnosis (2.7%; n = 19,998) and determined whether they received a medication for opioid use disorder in the year following their initial clinical PTSD diagnosis (29.6%; n = 5,913). Using logistic regression, we determined the predictors of receipt of opioid use disorder medications. Results: Comorbid opio...
Abstract 314: Evidence for the Expression of Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) and a Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase (ADAM) 17-mediated shedding of ACE2 in COS-7 cells

The renin angiotensin system (RAS) plays a vital role in the regulation of the cardiovascular and renal system. COS-7 is a robust and easily transfectable cell line derived from the kidney of the African green monkey, Cercopithecus aethiops. The aim of this study was to 1) demonstrate the presence of an endogenous and functional RAS in COS7 cells and 2) to investigate the role of ADAM17 in the ectodomain shedding of ACE2. COS-7 cells were grown to 90% confluency followed by incubation in serum-free media for 24 hours. Western blot, immunohistochemistry and mass spectrometry (MS)-based enzyme assays were used to study RAS protein expression and activity in COS7 cells. Western blot and immunostaining confirmed endogenous expression of ACE (195 kDa), ACE2 (75-70 kDa), AT1R (43 kDa), renin (41 kDa) and ADAM17 (130 kDa) in COS7 cells. A sensitive and selective MS approach was used to determine endogenous RAS enzymatic activity in COS-7 lysate and media using the natural RAS substrate Ang II (m/z 1046). MS analysis detected Ang-(1-7) formation (m/z 899) in lysate and media of COS7 cells. While Ang-(1-7) formation in media was completely blocked by the ACE2-specific inhibitor MLN-4760, Ang-(1-7) formation in the lysate was significantly inhibited by the prolyl carboxypeptidase-specific inhibitor Z-pro-prolinal. Using short-hairpin (sh) RNA-mediated technology, ADAM17 protein expression and activity was significantly reduced in silenced cells compared to normal cells. Western blot analysis showed a significant increase of ACE2 protein expression in the lysate of silenced cells compared to normal cell and ACE2 shedding into the media was significantly reduced in silenced cells. This is the first study to demonstrate endogenous expression of the RAS and ADAM17 in COS-7 cells. Use of COS-7 could enhance our understanding of the cross talk between different arms of the RAS and dissect the direct effects of ACE inhibitors and Ang II receptor blockers. The transfectable nature of this cell line makes it an attractive in vitro cell model for studying the molecular, functional and pharmacological properties of the renal RAS. The data support the utility of COS-7 for the study of ectodomain shedding of ACE2 in vitro.
Intrinsic damping phenomena from quantum to classical magnets: An ab initio study of Gilbert damping in a Pt/Co bilayer

A fully quantum-mechanical description of the precessional damping of a Pt/Co bilayer is presented in the framework of the Keldysh Green's function approach using ab initio electronic structure calculations. In contrast to previous calculations of classical Gilbert damping (${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\mathrm{GD}}$), we demonstrate that ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\mathrm{GD}}$ in the quantum case does not diverge in the ballistic regime due to the finite size of the total spin $S$. In the limit of $S\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$ we show that the formalism recovers the torque correlation expression for ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\mathrm{GD}}$ which we decompose into spin-pumping and spin-orbital torque correlation contributions. The formalism is generalized to take into account a self-consistently determined dephasing mechanism which preserves the conservation laws and allows the investigation of the effect of disorder. The dependence of ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\mathrm{GD}}$ on Pt thickness and disorder strength is calculated, and the spin-diffusion length of Pt and the spin mixing conductance of the bilayer are determined and compared with experiments.
Dynamic weather effects induced from the 2017 total solar eclipse

This research project was part of a nationwide effort organized by Montana Space Grant Consortium to study and image the 2017 total solar eclipse with high altitude balloons. Our mission was to measure the changes in light from the total solar eclipse and its effects on the local weather conditions in the air and on the ground. Our results showed that the effects of totality on the ambient light levels were gradual until 90 seconds before totality when light levels decreased sharply. Air temperature and pressure decreased throughout the eclipse as a result of the loss of sunlight. A short-term pressure increase, associated with totality, was measured at our ground station. We propose that this localized high-pressure event is the result of a column of sinking cold air around the umbra.
Information Framing Reduces Initial Negative Attitudes in Cancer Patients' Decisions About Hospice Care

Abstract Background Negative attitudes toward hospice care might prevent patients with cancer from discussing and choosing hospice as they approach end of life. When making a decision, people often naturally focus on either expected benefits or the avoidance of harm. Behavioral research has demonstrated that framing information in an incongruent manner with patients' underlying motivational focus reduces their negative attitudes toward a disliked option. Objective Our study tests this communication technique with cancer patients, aiming to reduce negative attitudes toward a potentially beneficial but often-disliked option, that is, hospice care. Methods Patients ( n = 42) with active cancer of different types and/or stages completed a paper survey. Participants read a vignette about a patient with advanced cancer and a limited prognosis. In the vignette, the physician's advice to enroll in a hospice program was randomized, creating a congruent message or an incongruent message with patients' underlying motivational focus (e.g., a congruent message for someone most interested in benefits focuses on the benefits of hospice, whereas an incongruent message for this patient focuses on avoiding harm). Patients' attitudes toward hospice were measured before and after receiving the physician's advice. Results Regression analyses indicated that information framing significantly influenced patients with strong initial negative attitudes. Patients were more likely to reduce intensity of their initial negative attitude about hospice when receiving an incongruent message ( b = −0.23; P b = −0.13; P = 0.08). Conclusion This finding suggests a new theory-driven approach to conversations with cancer patients who may harbor negative reactions toward hospice care.
Suppression of pupillary unrest by general anesthesia and propofol sedation

The pupil undergoes irregular oscillations when exposed to light. These oscillations, known as pupillary unrest in ambient light, originate from oscillatory activity within the Edinger-Westphal nucleus in the midbrain. The midbrain and upper pons also contain nuclei known to be very sensitive to the effects of anesthetics that play a central role in maintaining wakefulness. We hypothesized that anesthetics may display similar effects on wakefulness and pupillary unrest. Repeat measurements of pupillary unrest using infrared pupillometry were performed in 16 patients undergoing general anesthesia and 8 patients undergoing propofol sedation. Pupil scans were analyzed using fast Fourier transformation to quantify the effects of the anesthetics on pupillary unrest. During general anesthesia and deep sedation, observed pupillary unrest values below 0.1 (AU) indicate complete suppression of pupillary oscillations. Pupillary unrest decreased more during general anesthesia [to 24% of baseline (95% CI 17-30%)] than pupil size [51% of baseline (95% CI 45-57%)]. Sedation with propofol was associated with a reduction in pupillary unrest that was correlated to the depth of sedation as assessed by the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale and the processed electroencephalogram. Pupillary unrest is caused by oscillatory activity within the midbrain that is affected by the state of wakefulness or by hypnotics directly. Increased sedation and general anesthesia reduce and then abolish pupillary unrest as wakefulness decreases. We speculate that midbrain nuclei responsible for wakefulness and pupillary unrest are either communicating or share a similar sensitivity to the effects of commonly used anesthetics.
Modeling and simulation of networks using CSIM

In performance analysis of communication networks, simulation modeling is often used because it provides a convenient and reliable tool for such studies. In this paper, the authors present the use of a discrete-event simulation language- CSIM-to model the local networks by providing various simulation case studies. A description of CSIM is provided along with fragments of the code for simulating several token ring network models, as examples.
Immunological Aspects of Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery has been used increasingly to treat different neoplasia including liver, bone, breast, lung, and prostate and of course the variety of benign, premalignant, and malignant skin lesions. Proposed primary advantages of cryosurgery in comparison to surgical excision include minimal morbidity, less damage of surrounding structures, ease of use, and lower cost. Potential secondary advantages include the induction of antitumoral response triggered by natural absorption of malignant tissue, which releases hidden tumoral epitopes after intracellular cryoinjury. Several published studies and anecdotal reports have shown distal disease regression after cryoablation of primary tumor, or disappearance of untreated warts at the different location from the treated lesions in the same individual. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the therapeutic effects of cryosurgery, but until very recently the literature has been controversial on the issue. Lately, cryoimmunological responses have been more adequately measured due to a development of more accurate and reproducible, immunological assays. Factors affecting success of cryoablation are especially analyzed, including but not limited to time and amount of freeze, type of the tumor treated, ratio of induced apoptosis vs. necrosis, type of inflammatory infiltrate (macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils), and relationship of T-regulatory cells vs. T cytotoxic cells. Eventually the use of immunological adjuvants to optimize the effects of cryoinjury is discussed. It is not surprising that there is tremendous interest in immunological aspects of cryosurgery, since cryoablation has the potential for both local and systemic therapy, i.e., direct ablation of the tumor and eradication of micrometastases through the immune system with minimal systemic toxicity. However, the generation of antitumor immune response is complex, and several factors may contribute not only to a positive response but also tilt it to the opposite direction, including immune suppression. Further directions would possibly include clarification and definition of ideal parameters for optimal destruction of tumor and induction of strong protective immunity with the obliteration of metastatic disease.
Through the glass darkly : Prehispanic obsidian procurement and exchange in southern Peru and northern Bolivia

Recent discovery of the major geological sources of Central Andean obsidian permits a new understanding of the patterns of obsidian procurement and exchange by the Prehispanic societies of southern Peru and northern Bolivia. Based on the trace element analysis of obsidian artifacts from 160 archaeological sites, it can be established that the two major deposits of obsidian were being exploited by 9400 BP, and that volcanic glass was being transported over long distances throughout Andean prehistory. Inhabitants of the Cuzco region acquired most obsidian from the Alca source in central Arequipa, while those in the high plateau surrounding Lake Titicaca obtained most obsidian from the Chivay source in southern Arequipa. Obsidian evidence suggests close ties between the Cuzco and Circum-Titicaca regions throughout prehistory, except during the Middle Horizon (ca. 1400–1050 BP), when the expansion of the Huari and Tiahuanaco states disrupted this pattern.
Seven Lectures on Finite Elasticity

This is the first of two introductory lectures on the equations of nonlinear elasticity theory and some example problems for both general and special material models. The kinematics of finite deformations is discussed by others, so we shall assume knowledge of the polar decomposition theorem and of various related deformation tensors. Relations essential to my presentation, however, will be recorded again as the need arises but without details. We shall begin with Euler’s laws of balance from which the Cauchy stress principle and Cauchy’s laws of motion are obtained. The Cauchy and engineering stress tensors are described. The theory of elasticity of materials for which there exists an elastic potential energy function is known as hyperelasticity. While much of our work emphasizes hyperelasticity theory, some results within the general theory of elasticity that do not require existence of a strain energy function will be noted here and there. The general constitutive equation for hyperelastic materials is derived from the mechanical energy principle. Implications of frame indifference and of material symmetry on the form of the strain energy function are sketched. This leads to constitutive equations for compressible and incompressible, isotropic hyperelastic materials. The empirical inequalities are introduced for use in subsequent applications. Discussion of special constitutive equations is reserved for another lecture.
Graphene-Based on-Chip ESD Protection

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) failure is a devastating IC reliability problem. Traditional in-Si PN-junction based on-chip ESD protection structures are becoming unsuitable to IC at advanced technology nodes due to ESD-induced parasitic effects and layout issues [1–3]. On-chip ESD protection for future chips calls for revolutionary solutions. This paper reviews recent advances in developing graphene-based ESD protection structures including systematic and statistical transient ESD characterization of graphene ribbons (GR) as possible ESD interconnects [4] and graphene nano-electromechanical system (NEMS) ESD protection structures [3, 5]. The novel graphene-based ESD protection concept shows the potential for future chips.
The Cross Talk between TbTim50 and PIP39, Two Aspartate-Based Protein Phosphatases, Maintains Cellular Homeostasis in Trypanosoma brucei

ABSTRACT Trypanosoma brucei, the infectious agent of a deadly disease known as African trypanosomiasis, undergoes various stresses during its digenetic life cycle. We previously showed that downregulation of T. brucei mitochondrial inner membrane protein translocase 50 (TbTim50), an aspartate-based protein phosphatase and a component of the translocase of the mitochondrial inner membrane (TIM), increased the tolerance of procyclic cells to oxidative stress. Using comparative proteomics analysis and further validating the proteomics results by immunoblotting, here we discovered that TbTim50 downregulation caused an approximately 5-fold increase in the levels of PIP39, which is also an aspartate-based protein phosphatase and is primarily localized in glycosomes. A moderate upregulation of a number of glycosomal enzymes was also noticed due to TbTim50 knockdown. We found that the rate of mitochondrial ATP production by oxidative phosphorylation decreased and that substrate-level phosphorylation increased due to depletion of TbTim50. These results were correlated with relative increases in the levels of trypanosome alternative oxidase and hexokinase and a reduced-growth phenotype in low-glucose medium. The levels and activity of the mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and glutaredoxin levels were increased due to TbTim50 knockdown. Furthermore, we show that TbTim50 downregulation increased the cellular AMP/ATP ratio, and as a consequence, phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was increased. Knocking down both TbTim50 and TbPIP39 reduced PIP39 levels as well as AMPK phosphorylation and reduced T. brucei tolerance to oxidative stress. These results suggest that TbTim50 and PIP39, two protein phosphatases in mitochondria and glycosomes, respectively, cross talk via the AMPK pathway to maintain cellular homeostasis in the procyclic form of T. brucei. IMPORTANCETrypanosoma brucei, the infectious agent of African trypanosomiasis, must adapt to strikingly different host environments during its digenetic life cycle. Developmental regulation of mitochondrial activities is an essential part of these processes. We have shown previously that mitochondrial inner membrane protein translocase 50 in T. brucei (TbTim50) possesses a dually specific phosphatase activity and plays a role in the cellular stress response pathway. Using proteomics analysis, here we have elucidated a novel connection between TbTim50 and a protein phosphatase of the same family, PIP39, which is also a differentiation-related protein localized in glycosomes. We found that these two protein phosphatases cross talk via the AMPK pathway and modulate cellular metabolic activities under stress. Together, our results indicate the importance of a TbTim50 and PIP39 cascade for communication between mitochondria and other cellular parts in regulation of cell homeostasis in T. brucei.
Narratives of Identity in Alban Berg's "Lulu"

Exploring the crossroads between autobiographical narrative and musical composition, this book examines Berg's transformation of Frank Wedekind's Erdgeist (1895) and Die Buchse der Pandora (1904) -- the plays used inthe formation of the libretto for Lulu -- according to notions of gender identity, social customs, and the aesthetics of modernity in Vienna of the 1920s and 1930s. While Berg modernized several aspects of the plays by Wedekind and incorporated serial techniques of composition from Arnold Schoenberg, he never let go of the idealistic Wagnerian perspectives of his youth. In fact, he went as far as reconfiguring aspects of Richard Wagner's life as anideal identity to be played out in the compositional process. In the process of composing the opera, Berg also reflected on the most important cultural figures in fin-de-siecle Vienna that affected his worldview, including Karl Kraus, Emil Lucka, Otto Weininger, and others. Adopting an approach that combines a systematic analysis of Berg's numerous sketches for Lulu, correspondence, and the finished work with interpretive models drawn from cultural studies and philosophy, this book elucidates the ways in which Berg grappled with his self-image as an "incorrigible romantic" (unverbesserliche Romantiker) at the end of his life, explaining aspects of his musical language that have been considered strange or anomalous in the scholarship. Silvio J. dos Santos is assistant professor of musicology at the University of Florida.
Measuring the NEPA Litigation Burden: A Review of 1,499 Federal Court Cases

We reviewed thirteen years of National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) litigation data summarizing 1,499 federal court opinions to assess: (1) How frequently NEPA compliance efforts result in litigation; (2) how agency NEPA decisions fare in court; and (3) how NEPA litigation outcomes compare to outcomes in other challenges to federal agency decisions. We found that only one in 450 NEPA decisions were litigated and that the rate of NEPA challenges declined during the thirteen-year study period. We noted an inverse relationship between the amount of time spent on Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) preparation and the likelihood that an EIS would be challenged in court. We also found that while federal agencies prevail in NEPA litigation at slightly higher rates than in other civil cases where the government is a defendant, environmental plaintiffs win at higher rates than any other class of NEPA challengers. Overall, we conclude that the NEPA litigation burden may be overstated because few decisions are challenged in court, the rate of challenge is declining, and environmental plaintiffs are likely to bring only cases where they have a high likelihood of success. We therefore recommend against imposing strict deadlines and page limits on EISs as these “reforms” may do little to reduce the NEPA compliance burden while limiting opportunities for public engagement.
Internet of Things (IoT) in Enterprise Systems for Process Improvement: A Case Study in Home Security

It has been anticipated that the Internet of Things (IoT) will play a significant role in the design of enterprise systems. In this paper the components associated with the design of IoT enabled enterprise systems is examined. Next, the development of a small scale home security system is presented as a case study.
Quantifying unmeasured confounding in three epidemiological studies associating myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

e19532Background: Confounding occurs when an investigator studies the effect of an exposure on the occurrence of an outcome, but in the process measures the effect of another factor (a confounding ...
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion That Matter.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion That Matter Academic medical institutions’ idea of addressing institutional and systemic racism often begins and ends with naming a diversity-equity-inclusion chief...