cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A finite-difference time-domain algorithm optimized for arbitrary propagation angles

We present a two-dimensional higher order FDTD algorithm to minimize the numerical dispersion error at arbitrary, preassigned angles. Filtering schemes are further employed to optimize the FDTD frequency response at a given frequency range. A stability analysis of the resulting FDTD algorithms is included. Numerical dispersion properties are compared against Yee's scheme and a higher order (2,4) FDTD scheme. Numerical results demonstrate that the dispersion error around a preassigned angle (and, with filtering, around a frequency band of choice) can be significantly reduced.
Virulence of enterococci.

Enterococci are commensal organisms well suited to survival in intestinal and vaginal tracts and the oral cavity. However, as for most bacteria described as causing human disease, enterococci also possess properties that can be ascribed roles in pathogenesis. The natural ability of enterococci to readily acquire, accumulate, and share extrachromosomal elements encoding virulence traits or antibiotic resistance genes lends advantages to their survival under unusual environmental stresses and in part explains their increasing importance as nosocomial pathogens. This review discusses the current understanding of enterococcal virulence relating to (i) adherence to host tissues, (ii) invasion and abscess formation, (iii) factors potentially relevant to modulation of host inflammatory responses, and (iv) potentially toxic secreted products. Aggregation substance, surface carbohydrates, or fibronectin-binding moieties may facilitate adherence to host tissues. Enterococcus faecalis appears to have the capacity to translocate across intact intestinal mucosa in models of antibiotic-induced superinfection. Extracellular toxins such as cytolysin can induce tissue damage as shown in an endophthalmitis model, increase mortality in combination with aggregation substance in an endocarditis model, and cause systemic toxicity in a murine peritonitis model. Finally, lipoteichoic acid, superoxide production, or pheromones and corresponding peptide inhibitors each may modulate local inflammatory reactions. Images
Nutrient and metal accumulation in a freshwater tidal marsh

Stratigraphic records from sediment cores collected in a freshwater tidal marsh and in the estuary upstream and downstream from the marsh were used to determine the accumulation of nutrients and trace metals over long time periods. Analysis of pollen and seeds show that the high marsh has formed only within the past 100 yr, following increased sedimentation rates in the area. Variations in nutrient and trace metal accumulations over several decades show that pollutants from agricultural runoff and wastewater discharge are stored to a greater extent in high-marsh than in low-marsh sediments. Greater accumulation rates in the high marsh are probably related to its greater sedimentary organic carbon concentration.
Can we justify historical control groups when using animal models

Abstract [Angelos MG. Can we justify historical control groups when using animal models? Ann Emerg Med. December 2000;36:622-624.]
Internal friction in polyoxymethylene

Mechanical relaxation was studied in bulk polyoxymethylene by means of a torsion pendulum. The magnitude of the large γ peak at 203°K. (for f = 1.1 cycles/sec.) decreases with increasing density. The magnitudes of the β peak at 260°K, and the α peak at 400°K. do not depend on density. The β peak is small unless the specimen contains water or has just been cooled from a temperature above ca. 370°K. The activation enthalpies of the α and γ relaxations are 24 and 27 keal./mole, respectively. The relaxation time distribution and activation enthalpy of the γ relaxation do not depend on density.
Loss of Id3 Increases VCAM-1 Expression, Macrophage Accumulation, and Atherogenesis in Ldlr−/− Mice

Objective—Inhibitor of differention-3 (Id3) promotes B cells homing to the aorta and atheroprotection in Apoe−/− mice. We sought to determine the impact of loss of Id3 in the Ldlr−/− mouse model of diet-induced atherosclerosis and identify novel Id3 targets in the vessel wall. Methods and Results—Ex vivo optical imaging confirmed that Id3−/− Ldlr−/− mice have significantly fewer aortic B cells than Id3+/+ Ldlr−/− mice. After 8 and 16 weeks of Western diet, Id3−/− Ldlr−/− mice developed significantly more atherosclerosis than Id3+/+ Ldlr−/− mice, with Id3+/− Ldlr−/− mice demonstrating an intermediate phenotype. There were no differences in serum lipid levels between genotypes. Immunostaining demonstrated that aortas from Id3−/− Ldlr−/− mice had greater intimal macrophage density and C-C chemokine ligand 20 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) expression compared with Id3+/+ Ldlr−/− mice. Real-time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated increased VCAM-1 mRNA levels in the aortas of Id3−/− Ldlr−/− ...
The protective effect of amifostine on ultraviolet B-exposed xeroderma pigmentosum mice

Background: Amifostine is a pharmaceutical agent that is used clinically to counteract the side-effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It acts as a free radical scavenger that protects against harmful DNA cross-linking. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of amifostine on the development of skin cancer in xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) mice exposed to ultraviolet B radiation (UVB).
NLRP3 activation and mitosis are mutually exclusive events coordinated by NEK7, a new inflammasome component

The NLRP3 inflammasome responds to microbes and danger signals by processing and activating proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and IL-18. We found here that activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome was restricted to interphase of the cell cycle by NEK7, a serine-threonine kinase previously linked to mitosis. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome required NEK7, which bound to the leucine-rich repeat domain of NLRP3 in a kinase-independent manner downstream of the induction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). This interaction was necessary for the formation of a complex containing NLRP3 and the adaptor ASC, oligomerization of ASC and activation of caspase-1. NEK7 promoted the NLRP3-dependent cellular inflammatory response to intraperitoneal challenge with monosodium urate and the development of experimental autoimmune encephalitis in mice. Our findings suggest that NEK7 serves as a cellular switch that enforces mutual exclusivity of the inflammasome response and cell division.
The Impact of Venture Capitalists on the Demand for the External Audit Function in Initial Public Offerings

This paper examines the interaction of a little-studied stakeholder - the venture capitalist (VC) - with the audit function in the initial public offering (IPO) market. While the monitoring role of the external auditor has been studied in the IPO accounting literature, a relatively recent stream of research has begun to provide insight regarding the impact on a firm's reporting and accounting decisions/quality of other potential monitors - e.g., boards of directors, actuaries, etc. Finance and accounting research have both provided evidence consistent with the notion that VCs play a value-added role in their investee firms. This paper contributes to this stream of study by providing first time evidence that in an IPO context a VC provides monitoring value incremental to that of the external auditor. Specifically, our evidence suggests that VCs not only mitigate the demand for information from the external auditor, but that they also weaken the demand for insurance from the external audit function. To our knowledge this result has not been previously documented.
How Young Adults Perceive Their Rural Ohio Communities

This study analyzes the trends and issues related to the retention of young adults in Northwest Ohio. Researchers sampled over 340 young adults (25-34 years of age) from 8 counties in Northwest Ohio. Results highlight rural community perceptions of young adults as well as those factors that impact the decision to remain in Rural Northwest Ohio. Sampled adults report generally favorable impressions of the area with emphasis on the quality of schools, community safety, and affordability of the area. Overall lower ratings were revealed on components related to cultural, entertainment, and employment opportunities in the area. Respondents with higher incomes and those with stronger Northwest Ohio roots, i.e., who were themselves raised in Northwest Ohio along with their parents, were more likely to feel positively about Northwest Ohio's economic outlook and the community's strength. In addition, the higher the respondent's education, the more likely they were to react positively regarding the community's strength/safety. Young adults reported that parents were a strong influence on their decision to return or remain in their rural communities. Keywords: youth, community, development, career, retention
A method for producing sustained high penicillin levels in the blood.

SummaryA method for obtaining high sustained blood levels of penicillin is described. This consists in repeated large intravenous doses of crystalline penicillin, injected rapidly, in patients receiving caronamide. Clinical applications are suggested.We wish to thank Miss Beatrice Toharsky for capable technical assistance.
The Role of Substrate Surface Reactions in Heteroepitaxy of PbSe on BaF2

A strong relationship between growth initiation temperature and resulting growth morphology has been observed in liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) of PbSe on BaF2. High quality epitaxial layers are consistently produced when growth is initiated between 600 and 660 degrees centigrade. This condition for epitaxy correlates with formation of a binary barium-selenide layer on the substrate surface resulting from a reaction between selenium and BaF2. This reaction, corraborated by visual observation and Auger electron spectroscopic (AES) analysis of the reaction product, occurs prior to PbSe layer growth when the substrate is exposed to selenium vapor as it is positioned under the growth solution. A barium-selenide reaction layer on a BaF2 substrate can catalyze nucleation by reducing deposit/substrate interface energy and or by increasing substrate surface energy. Such epitaxy-enabling substrate surface reactions can also occur during vapor deposition of IV-VI semiconductors on BaF2 substrates and may explain the widely observed epitaxial temperature phenomenon.
Manual tracking in two dimensions.

Manual tracking was studied by asking subjects to follow, with their finger, a target moving on a touch-sensitive video monitor. The target initially moved in a straight line at a constant speed an...
Human papillomavirus‐related oropharyngeal cancer in the HIV‐infected population

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted virus and an important etiologic factor in head and neck cancers. HIV-infected individuals are at increased risk of developing oropharyngeal cancers (OPC) compared with the general population. HPV-positive OPC are also increasingly a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for HIV-infected individuals in the era of effective combination antiretroviral therapy. The epidemiology and natural history of oral HPV infection have not been well established, but it appears that oral HPV infection is less common than anal infection, and more common among HIV-infected persons than the general population. Prevention of OPC is therefore increasingly important in HIV-infected individuals. Although not demonstrated in randomized controlled trials, HPV vaccination may prevent oral HPV infection as well. The focus of organized HPV cancer prevention programs should include prophylactic HPV vaccination to reduce the burden of high-risk HPV and low-risk HPV types who have not yet been exposed.
Classification and Mechanism of Action of the Cardiac Inotropic Agents: An Overview

The cardiac inotropic agents are substances that modify cardiac muscle contraction by acting directly on the myocardium (1). These agents could be categorized into two major classes; positive inotropic agents that stimulate cardiac muscle contraction such as the cardiac glycosides (2), the catecholamines (3) and the bipyridines (4), and negative inotropic agents that depress cardiac contraction such as the β-adrenergic blockers, the antiarrhythmics and the barbiturates (5).
David and Goliath? U.S. Nonproliferation Policy Towards Friendly Supplier States

Under what conditions is U.S. nonproliferation policy successful towards friendly states that supply controversial nuclear assistance to third party states? This paper, through focused comparison of exporting behavior of four supplier states in the 1970s and 1980s, investigates the challenges posed by supplier states' nuclear industry to U.S. nonproliferation policy. It examines how decisions to provide nuclear assistance or reverse such decisions are outcomes of bargaining between pro-controls and pro-industry elites within the supplier states. The empirical evidence indicates that supplier states (France, West Germany, Switzerland, and Italy) were less likely to overhaul their export policies in favor of nonproliferation unless there were domestic upheavals against the nuclear industry. U.S. leverage for nonproliferation succeeded more during these phases of upheavals that allowed pro-controls coalitions within the supplier government to expand influence on nuclear export policies.
Only women report increase in pain threshold following fatiguing contractions of the upper extremity.

The perception of pain in response to a noxious stimulus can be markedly reduced following an acute bout of exercise [exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH)]. Sex differences in EIH frequently occur after exercise but may be confounded by the sex differences in muscle fatigue. The purpose was to determine if sex differences in pain relief occur after an exercise protocol when muscle fatigue is similar for both young and older men and women. Pain perception of 33 men (15 young) and 31 women (19 young) was measured using a pressure pain stimulus on the left index finger before and after maximal velocity concentric contractions of knee extensors or elbow flexors (separate days). During the 2-min pressure pain test, participants verbally indicated the onset of pain (pain threshold) and reported pain intensity (0–10) every 20 s. Only women experienced an increase in pain threshold (30 ± 27 to 41 ± 32 s) following elbow flexor exercise (trial × sex: p = 0.03). Neither men nor women experienced an increase in pain threshold following knee extensor exercise, and pain ratings were unchanged after exercise with either limb (p > 0.05). The pain response to exercise was similar in young and older adults (trial × age: p > 0.05), despite older adults demonstrating greater fatigability than young adults for the elbow flexor and knee extensor exercise tasks. Under controlled conditions where muscle fatigue is similar, sex differences in EIH occur in young and older adults that is site specific (upper extremity). Only women experience EIH following acute single limb high-velocity contractions.
Preservation of cellular integrity as a protective mechanism of dexamethasone in hemorrhagic shock in the cat.

Anesthetized cats were hemorrhaged to a mean arterial blood pressure of 40 mm Hg for 120 minutes. Cats given dexamethasone (6 mg/kg, i.v.) at the time of hemorrhage and again (3 mg/kg, i.v.) at the time of reinfusion maintained post-reinfusion arterial blood pressure at a higher level than cats given the steroid vehicle. In addition, dexamethasone treated cats exhibited higher post-reinfusion liver blood flows than vehicle treated hemorrhaged cats. Dexamethasone significantly retarded the rise in plasma cathepsin D and amino-nitrogen activities during hemorrhage, and prevented the accumulation of a myocardial depressant factor (MDF) in the circulating blood. Dexamethasone had no significant effect on isolated cat papillary muscle or aortic strips. It appears that dexamethasone exerts its beneficial effect in hemorrhage shock primarily by stabilizing lysosomal membranes and the subsequent prevention of proteolysis and MDF formation rather than by a direct vasodilator or inotropic effect.
Task scheduling in Cloud computing

Wireless Cloud computing delivers the data and computing resources through the internet, on a pay for usage basis. By using this, we can automatically update our software. We can use only the space required for the server, which reduces the carbon footprint. Task scheduling is the main problem in cloud computing which reduces the system performance. To improve system performance, there is need of an efficient task-scheduling algorithm. Existing task-scheduling algorithms focus on task-resource requirements, CPU memory, execution time and execution cost. However, these do not consider network bandwidth. In this paper, we introduce an efficient task-scheduling algorithm, which presents divisible task scheduling by considering network bandwidth. By this, we can allocate the workflow based on the availability of network bandwidth. Our proposed task-scheduling algorithm uses a nonlinear programming model for divisible task scheduling, which assigns the correct number of tasks to each virtual machine. Based on the allocation, we design an algorithm for divisible load scheduling by considering the network bandwidth.
Researching the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

This article summarizes the legal resources currently available to research provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) — forever to be known as “Obamacare." Among the resources outlined are sources at the three agencies most closely involved in administrating the law, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the IRS. Legislative history guides, treatises, and legal blogs are also discussed.
Abstract 1116: Contribution of miR-199a to subtype switching of the SW13 adrenocortical carcinoma cell line

The human adrenocortical carcinoma SW13 cell line has two subtypes that are phenotypically distinct. The SW13- subtype is highly proliferative and epithelial-like, while the SW13+ subtype is slow growing, motile, and mesenchymal-like. These differences are mediated in part by the post-transcriptional regulation of BRM, which is expressed in SW13+ cells, and not detectable in SW13- cells. While treatment with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) can force cells to transition from SW13- to SW13+, the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the subtype switch are unknown. Recently, it was shown that miR-199a is a potent negative regulator of BRM expression in many epithelial tumor cell lines. Given this, we examined the expression of miR-199a in the two SW13 subtypes, and indeed found that miR-199a expression was significantly higher in the BRM-deficient SW13- cells than the BRM-expressing SW13+ cells. To begin to further assess the involvement of miR-199a in the SW13 subtype switch, SW13+ and SW13- cells were treated with either a miR-199a mimic or miR-199a inhibitor, respectively and assessed for differences in BRM mRNA and protein expression, as well changes in cell-type morphology. Our results indicate that although miR-199a can mediate differences in BRM expression, miR-199a alone is not sufficient to induce a full subtype conversion as evidenced by retention of subtype morphology following miR-199a inhibition and over-expression. We are currently investigating the role of miR-199a in HDACi mediated subtype conversion, as well as the expression of other miRNA and their targets that are differentially expressed between the two SW13 subtypes. Citation Format: Tracy Gerona, McKale Davis, Elizabeth Hull. Contribution of miR-199a to subtype switching of the SW13 adrenocortical carcinoma cell line. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1116.
Simulation study of Ge n-channel 7.5 nm DGFETs of arbitrary crystallographic alignment

Two-dimensional (2D) Ge n-channel DGFETs with L/sub G/ = 7.5 nm and t/sub Ge/ = 2 nm are simulated in the ballistic limit. The best intrinsic switching performance is found for [1 1 0]/[4 4 2 1] transport/quantization alignments, and is 13% better than Ge [1 1 0]/[1 1 0] and 23% better than Si [1 0 0]/[0 0 1] or [1 1 0]/[0 0 1].
Pathways from Maternal Effortful Control to Child Self-Regulation: The Role of Maternal Emotional Support

This study examined the direct and indirect pathways from maternal effortful control to 2 aspects of children's self-regulation-executive functioning and behavioral regulation-via maternal emotional support. Two hundred seventy-eight children and their primary caregivers (96% mothers) participated in laboratory visits when children were 4 and 5 years, and teachers reported on children's behavior at kindergarten. At the 4-year assessment, maternal effortful control was measured using the Adult Temperament Questionnaire (Evans & Rothbart, 2007) and maternal emotional support was observed during a semistructured mother-child problem-solving task. At the 5-year assessment, children's executive functioning was measured using laboratory tasks designed to assess updating/working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility, whereas behavioral regulation was assessed via teacher-report questionnaires on children's attention control, discipline and persistence, and work habits. Results from structural equation modeling indicated that, after controlling for child gender and minority status, and maternal education, maternal effortful control was indirectly associated with both child executive functioning and behavioral regulation through maternal emotional support. Maternal effortful control had a direct association with children's teacher-reported behavioral regulation but not observed executive functioning. These findings suggest that maternal effortful control may be a key contributing factor to the development of children's self-regulatory competencies through its impact on maternal emotional support. (PsycINFO Database Record
ICC Fugitives: The Need for Bespoke Solutions

It is axiomatic that the ICC depends on the cooperation of the international community, including state parties and non-party states alike, to carry out its mandate to prosecute the “most serious crimes of international concern.” Nowhere is this dependency more apparent than with respect to the imperative of gaining custody of the accused. Given the high degree of situational variation, strategies aimed at gaining custody of one fugitive will not necessarily be effective with others. As such, the international community — in coordination with the Court — needs to devise bespoke solutions. This paper discusses the particular circumstances of each of the current at-large accused and outlines a host of measures that could be employed for improving the prospects of bringing the remaining fugitives into custody. This article appeared as part of UCLA School of Law’s forum on the International Criminal Court established as part of the Sanela Diana Jenkins Human Rights Project in partnership with the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
Diagnosis of Hypersomnia in Children: Screening and Case Finding

Hypersomnia or excessive daytime sleepiness is defined as the inability to stay awake and alert during the day resulting in unintended lapses into sleep or drowsiness. Hypersomnia is a symptom with many causes, all of which are cumulative. It may be the manifestation of a primary sleep disorder such as narcolepsy; may be the result of insufficient or fragmented sleep from other sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea; or may be one of the symptoms of a circadian rhythm disorders such as advanced sleep phase or delayed sleep phase; a side effect of medication; or the consequence of central nervous system injury from traumatic brain injury, cranial radiation, tumor, infection, or stroke. Hypersomnia may result from the cumulative effects of several of these causes. The primary symptom of hypersomnia is falling asleep at inappropriate times, though in children it may present as inattention, distractibility, learning, and/or behavioral problems.
Fresh or Cryopreserved CD34+-Selected Mobilized Peripheral Blood Stem and Progenitor Cells for the Treatment of Poor Graft Function after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Abstract CD34+-selected stem cell boost (SCB) without conditioning has recently been utilized for poor graft function (PGF) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with promising results. Unfortunately, many patients have been unable to receive the boost infusion as their donors were unwilling or unable to undergo an additional stem cell collection. Therefore, we conducted this study utilizing either fresh or cryopreserved peripheral blood stem cell products to create CD34+-selected boost infusions for the treatment of PGF. Additionally, to explore relationship of CD34+ dose and response, we included a cohort of donors mobilized with plerixafor in addition to the standard granulocyte colony–stimulating factor (G-CSF). Twenty-six patients with PGF were included in this study. Seventeen donor-recipient pairs were enrolled onto the prospective study; an additional 9 patients treated off protocol were reviewed retrospectively. Three different donor products were used for CD34+ selection: (1) fresh mobilized product using G-CSF only, (2) fresh mobilized products using G-CSF and plerixafor, and (3) cryopreserved cells mobilized with G-CSF. CD34+ cell selection was performed using a CliniMACS. The infusion was not preceded by administration of any chemotherapy or conditioning regimen. The primary objective was hematologic response rate and secondary objectives included CD34+ yields, incidence and severity of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), overall survival (OS), and relapse-free survival (RFS). The median post-selection CD34+ counts per kilogram of recipient weight were 3.1 × 106, 10.9 × 106, and 1 × 106 for G-CSF only, G-CSF plus plerixafor, and cryopreserved products, respectively. The median CD34+ yields (defined as the number of CD34+ cells after selection/CD34+ cells before CD34+ selection) were 69%, 66%, and 28% for G-CSF only, G-CSF plus plerixafor, and cryopreserved products, respectively. After SCB, 16 of the 26 recipients (62%) had a complete response, including 5 of 8 (63%) who received cryopreserved products. Five had a partial response (19%), resulting in an overall response rate of 81%. One-year RFS and OS were 50% and 65%, respectively. There was no treatment-related toxicity reported other than GVHD: 6 (23%) developed acute GVHD (2 grade I and 4 grade II) and 8 (31%) developed chronic GVHD (2 limited and 6 extensive). Cryopreserved products are viable alternatives to create SCB for the treatment of PGF. When collecting fresh products is an option, the addition of plerixafor increases CD34+ yield over G-CSF alone; however, it is currently unclear if the CD34+ cell dose impacts the efficacy of the SCB.
Executive Control Mechanisms in Bilingualism: Beyond Speed of Processing

The question of interest in this study was whether bilingual individuals show superior executive control compared to monolingual participants. Findings are mixed, with studies showing advantage, disadvantage, or no difference between bilingual and monolingual speakers. In this study, we used different experimental conditions to examine implicit learning, resistance to interference, monitoring, and switching, independently. In addition, we matched our monolingual and bilingual participants on baseline response time. Bilingual participants demonstrated faster implicit learning, greater resistance to interference, more efficient switching compared to monolingual participants. The groups did not differ in monitoring. In conclusion, depending on task complexity and on the target executive control component, there are different patterns of bilingual advantage, beyond the global faster processing speed documented in previous studies. Bilingual young adults showed more efficient adjustments of the cognitive system in response to changes in task demands.
A benchmark study of BIM-based whole-building life-cycle assessment tools and processes

AbstractAs comprehensive sustainable design methods advance, whole-building life-cycle assessment (LCA) is becoming an important part of sustainable practices. The goal of this research is to evaluate the LCA tool Tally to establish a baseline process for LCA based on building information modelling (BIM). In order to generate benchmarks for whole-building LCA, the architecture, engineering, and construction industry must agree with the United States (US) government on a standard method of measuring embodied carbon in conjunction with a design tool. This paper involves a literature review and two case studies as a comparative software analysis between two whole-building LCA tools: the Autodesk-Revit-based Tally plugin and the Athena Impact Estimator (IE). The case studies include two different unit spaces – walls only in Case 1 and walls, windows, doors, floors, and roof in Case 2 – that were analysed in Tally and the Athena IE to compare the user input parameters, outputs, life-cycle inventory (LCI) datab...
Millimeter-Wave Imaging of Surface-Breaking Cracks in Steel With Severe Surface Corrosion

Robust detection of surface-breaking (fatigue) cracks in metals with severe surface corrosion (rust) and pitting is of great practical interest. Detection of surface-breaking cracks in the millimeter-wave frequency range (30–300 GHz) has received considerable attention in the past two decades. At these frequencies, corrosion byproducts (rust) are in the family of dielectric materials allowing millimeter-wave signals to penetrate through and interact with a visually masked crack. When using open-ended rectangular waveguides, no contact is required, and the crack signal characteristics are significantly different than those from corrosion and pitting, which renders a crack detectable even in the presence of severe corrosion. Moreover, synthetic aperture radar images of cracks masked by corrosion can be rapidly generated providing additional geometrical information. This paper presents the results of uniquely combining these two methods for detecting cracks in severely corroded steel plates and for other similar applications where a crack is visually masked by a dielectric layer.
Spotting Fake News: A Social Argumentation Framework for Scrutinizing Alternative Facts

The proliferation of fake news in today's digital world has moved beyond a specific election cycle and now commands headlines globally. In this paper, we propose countering the spread of fake news on social networks by leveraging these crowds to instead help verify alternative facts. We present a prototype social argumentation framework to verify the validity of proposed alternative facts to help curb the propagation of fake news. We utilize fundamental argumentation ideas in a graph-theoretic framework that also incorporates semantic web and linked data principles. The argumentation structure is crowdsourced and mediated by expert moderators in a virtual community.
Cloud security certifications: a comparison to improve cloud service provider security

The great diffusion of cloud computing applications and services in the last years has brought new threats to security of information. 1 IT Certification and authorization mechanisms try to provide assurance against those threats by leveraging high security standards and controls. Two examples of such certification based on IT security controls are ISO/IEC 27001 and FedRAMP. While these two certifications largely share their scope it is important to note that ISO is a standardization adopted worldwide since 2005 whereas FedRAMP was developed in 2012 specifically for US Government Cloud Service Providers. New frameworks, however, are not always more effective than earlier ones, especially in the fast-moving world of cloud computing where IT security standards need to be constantly updated. This study offers an overview of adequacy and completeness of ISO/IEC 27001 and FedRAMP, bringing to question the level of protection that they provide by comparing them to each other and evaluating both in terms of known threats to cloud computing. The study identifies weaknesses in the certification build process and highlights necessary improvements.
Their Children Might be Christians

This article examines the ritual specialists and initiates of the three Adzima shrines in the southeastern Volta Region of Ghana and their criticism of Christianity, particularly Neo-Pentecostalist discourse that encourages adherents to sever lineage-based ties to deities and ancestors. The influence of Christianity is an issue that the Adzima shrine ritual specialists deal with on a regular basis since different types of people are drawn into hierarchical relationships with the Adzima deities through the fiasidiwo initiates. The Adzima ritual specialists have to manage shifting perspectives on the appropriate relationship between persons embedded in lineage structures and with deities, which could undermine the meanings attributed to the fiasidiwo and potentially threaten the initiates’ livelihoods.
E-cigarette Advertising Exposure, Explicit and Implicit Harm Perceptions, and E-cigarette Use Susceptibility Among Nonsmoking Young Adults

Introduction This study tested whether exposure to e-cigarette advertising increases e-cigarette use susceptibility among nonsmoking young adults by promoting explicit and implicit attitudes toward e-cigarettes as a safer and healthier alternative to combustible cigarettes. Methods Young adult current nonsmokers who had never used an e-cigarette (n = 393; mean age = 22.1, standard deviation = 3.9; 66% women) were randomly assigned to one of the three conditions that involved viewing real-world, print e-cigarette ads. Two of the three conditions were experimental conditions where ads with different predominant themes (harm reduction ["Health"] versus social enhancement ["Social"] focused) were interspersed among ads of everyday objects. The third condition was the Control condition involving ads of everyday objects only. Participants provided data on explicit (ie, self-reported harm perceptions) and implicit (ie, Implicit Association Test) attitudes toward e-cigarette use and e-cigarette use intentions. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Results Relative to Control participants, participants in Health and Social conditions were more likely to show higher implicit attitudes toward e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to cigarettes. Only the Social condition, relative to Control, had a significant effect on lower explicit harm perceptions of e-cigarette versus cigarette use. The Social condition had a significant indirect effect on e-cigarette use susceptibility, mediated by explicit harm perceptions. Conclusions Social enhancement-themed ads may communicate the reduced harm messages more strongly among young adults so as to affect both explicit and implicit attitudes and, through these, e-cigarette use susceptibility. Regulatory bodies may need to scrutinize reduced harm claims communicated through social enhancement-themed ads. Implications The findings imply that implicit and explicit health benefit or reduced harm claims in e-cigarette marketing may be propagated via ads that use social enhancement gimmicks to attract youth and young adults. As the US Food and Drug Administration develops regulations on e-cigarette marketing, informed decisions need to be made that address harm reduction needs of current smokers as well as e-cigarette use onset among nonsmokers. In regard to the latter, e-cigarette marketing may need to be studied closely to monitor implicit and explicit health benefit claims that are coupled with the use of visual and textual gimmicks in ads that intend to make e-cigarettes more appealing to youth and young adults.
Large-Scale Experimental Study of Ring Shaped–Steel Plate Shear Walls

AbstractThe ring shaped–steel plate shear wall (RS-SPSW) is a new lateral load resisting system that offers improved seismic energy dissipation and stiffness over conventional steel plate shear wal...
Computer design of microfluidic mixers for protein/RNA folding studies

Kinetic studies of biological macromolecules increasingly use microfluidic mixers to initiate and monitor reaction progress. A motivation for using microfluidic mixers is to reduce sample consumption and decrease mixing time to microseconds. Some applications, such as small-angle x-ray scattering, also require large (>10 micron) sampling areas to ensure high signal-to-noise ratios and to minimize parasitic scattering. Chaotic to marginally turbulent mixers are well suited for these applications because this class of mixers provides a good middle ground between existing laminar and turbulent mixers. In this study, we model various chaotic to marginally turbulent mixing concepts such as flow turning, flow splitting, and vortex generation using computational fluid dynamics for optimization of mixing efficiency and observation volume. Design iterations show flow turning to be the best candidate for chaotic/marginally turbulent mixing. A qualitative experimental test is performed on the finalized design with mixing of 10 M urea and water to validate the flow turning unsteady mixing concept as a viable option for RNA and protein folding studies. A comparison of direct numerical simulations (DNS) and turbulence models suggests that the applicability of turbulence models to these flow regimes may be limited.
Dysfunctional microvascular conducted response in irradiated normal tissue.

Ionizing radiation is used widely to treat many conditions including cancer, arteriovenous malformations (AVM), macular degeneration, and intimai hyperplasia. Damage to the microvasculature constitutes one of the most important components of the late effects of radiation damage to many organs in clinical applications. While the effects of ionizing radiation on microvascular structure and function of normal tissue have been studied, the mechanisms by which ionizing radiation interferes with the normal microvascular control processes are not well understood. An important question is why normal microvasculature is not able to repair radiation damage as efficiently as it is able to repair other forms of damage (e.g. wounds). Understanding the mechanisms by which ionizing radiation damages the microvasculature has important clinical implications.
Life-History Patterns

Life-history theory attempts to explain intra- and interspecific variation in the survival, growth, and reproductive traits of organisms. Because these variables affect both individual fitness and population dynamics, life-history patterns naturally fall at the intersection of evolution and ecology. Life-history theory is based on the premise that organisms face trade-offs arising from energetic, physiological, developmental, or genetic constraints and that these trade-offs affect the patterns we observe in nature. Optimality theory has been used extensively to understand questions such as the timing and frequency of reproduction, the trade-off between offspring size and number, and allocation between current and future reproduction. Quantitative genetics is another powerful approach that has been used extensively to examine phenotypic plasticity and the relative effect of environmental and genetic variation on individual traits. In general, classic life-history theory makes many predictions that have been widely documented empirically and explores the effect of environmental conditions, ecological interactions, and evolutionary dynamics on intra- and interspecific variation in growth, survival, and reproduction. Recent developments in the field include the application of life-history theory to fisheries management, research on species’ responses to environmental change, and a greater understanding of the mechanisms that determine senescence and longevity.
A View from a Clinician’s Window

Most of the essays in this volume have been written by individuals who have made distinguished contributions to a further understanding of modern ethical and philosophical issues. Others are erudite in the fields of economics and public health. As one of the few clinicians who has been privileged to be invited to contribute, I will refer to certain of the opinions of my fellow authors, comment on current policy in the public and private sectors as it relates to the delivery of medical care in the United States and, finally, attempt to forecast future developments. In order for the reader to assess clearly the worth of my presentation since it may be biased by my past experiences, a brief biographical sketch follows.
Coarctation of the abdominal aorta. Etiologic considerations in surgical management.

Summary Three cases of segmental coarctation of the abdominal aorta with involvement of the renal arteries treated by prosthetic revascularization are presented. Two of the patients are normotensive one and seven years postoperatively. The third is asymptomatic although moderately hypertensive without antihypertensive therapy. Histologic examination of involved vessels in two of the cases show no indication of an inflammatory origin for the lesions. It is suggested that most abdominal coarctations seen in children and young adults in the United States are of a developmental origin and may be treated successfully by revascularization.
Analyzing aviation safety reports: From topic modeling to scalable multi-label classification

The Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) is used to collect voluntarily submitted aviation safety reports from pilots, controllers and others. As such it is particularly useful in researching aviation safety deficiencies. In this paper we address two challenges related to the analysis of ASRS data: (1) the unsupervised extraction of meaningful and interpretable topics from ASRS reports and (2) multi-label classification of ASRS data based on a set of predefined categories. For topic modeling we investigate the practical usefulness of Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) when it comes to modeling ASRS reports in terms of interpretable topics. We also utilize LDA to generate a more compact representation of ASRS reports to be used in multi-label classification. For multi-label classification we propose a novel and highly scalable multi-label classification algorithm based on multi-variate regression. Empirical results indicate that our approach is superior to several baseline and state-of-the-art approaches.
A Causality Setting for Elasticity Theory

We give a causality approach to nonlinear elasticity theory within a pure mechanics setting. Based on the notion of a fixed frame in and Euclidean invariance considerations, we show how a broadly general and novel evolutionary hypothesis concerning ‘cause’ and ‘effect’ must reduce to the classical statement of the balance of energy, and we obtain all of the classical balance laws of continuum mechanics. The concept of mass and its balance is derived within this theory. The mass density naturally emerges from the theory without preconception as an inertial scalar field for the body which is associated with the speed of its material particles and a measure of their kinetic behavior. Aside from the causality hypothesis and its invariance, the fundamental notions of body, motion, force and internal power are primitive.
A scalable model of community-based experiential learning through courses and international projects

Partnering students with community clients can have positive learning and community service outcomes. There are challenges, however, defining and assessing curricula learning goals, evaluating community impact, and achieving significant scale, while not overwhelming faculty schedules. We present a model of engaging students with community clients that we have developed over 20 years and have used in multiple modes. Our model defines the students’ roles in consulting terms, which allows us to broaden their perspective. Their goal is to help an organization solve a problem, expanding their responsibilities beyond just implementing a system. Ongoing instruction scaffolds the students’ experience. The faculty’s role is intentionally somewhat detached, serving as an advisor, but not involved as a team member. We use this model in three modes: a consulting course in which individual students work one-on-one with clients; a summer internship program in which students consult with partners in developing communities; and a large required course in which small student teams develop custom software solutions for community clients. Learning goals for all modes include: work with a client to broadly understand their context and to structure an authentic problem; recommend, design, and develop sustainable solutions; communicate and collaborate effectively; and demonstrate good project management.
Making cents of tick sizes: The effect of the 2016 U.S. SEC tick size pilot on limit order book liquidity

Abstract We use the 2016 U.S. SEC tick size pilot to examine the effects of an increase in the minimum price variation on limit order book liquidity in NASDAQ-listed stocks on the NASDAQ exchange. For treatment stocks with an average pre-pilot quoted spread less than $0.05, the tick size increase is binding and leads to a significant decrease in liquidity in the limit order book. Specifically, the implied cost to trade at and away from the best bid and offer prices increases and the limit order book becomes less resilient – the amount of time required for a deviation in liquidity to return to its long-run mean. For treatment stocks with an average pre-pilot quoted spread of at least $0.05, the tick size increase is non-binding and leads to either a slight decrease, or no change in limit order book liquidity.
Diffusion and Interaction of Adatoms

Compared to the wealth of information now available about atomic arrangements in overlayers and surfaces, rather little is known about the energetics governing the atomic interactions which underlie the structures formed. This imbalance has been redressed somewhat, as recently considerable information has been derived about atomic interactions from Monte Carlo simulations [60.1–3]. In these studies, interactions between atoms in a lattice gas are varied until the simulations match the experimentally observed phase diagram for the adsorbed layer. This macroscopic and rather indirect approach has also been complemented by insights concerning interactions at surfaces derived by direct examination on the atomic level.
Psyche, Santa Fe, and the Earth

Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a unique city with an indigenous and multicultural history that serves as a case study for earth-psyche relationships, but it is also an image that encompasses many of the problems and complexes of Western Civilization. This article explores the many underground aspects of the image of “Santa Fe,” including the attraction so many people feel for its mythos and the way it represents a new type of relationship to psyche and earth. At the same time, the paper reveals the projections and complexes that outsiders bring to Santa Fe with often toxic results.