cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiaxial constitutive behavior of an interstitial-free steel: Measurements through X-ray and digital image correlation.

Abstract Constitutive behaviors of an interstitial-free steel sample were measured using an augmented Marciniak experiment. In these tests, multiaxial strain field data of the flat specimens were measured by the digital image correlation technique. In addition, the flow stress was measured using an X-ray diffractometer. The flat specimens in three different geometries were tested in order to achieve 1) balanced biaxial strain, and plane strain tests with zero strain in either 2) rolling direction or 3) transverse direction. The multiaxial stress and strain data were processed to obtain plastic work contours with reference to a uniaxial tension test along the rolling direction. The experimental results show that the mechanical behavior of the subjected specimen deviates significantly from isotropic behavior predicted by the von Mises yield criterion. The initial yield loci measured by a Marciniak tester is in good agreement with what is predicted by Hill's yield criterion. However, as deformation increases beyond the von Mises strain of 0.05, the shape of the work contour significantly deviates from that of Hill's yield locus. A prediction made by a viscoplastic self-consistent model is in better agreement with the experimental observation than the Hill yield locus with the isotropic work-hardening rule. However, none of the studied models matched the initial or evolving anisotropic behaviors of the interstitial-free steel measured by the augmented Marciniak experiment.
NF1 Mutations Are Common in Desmoplastic Melanoma.

Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is a rare variant of melanoma with distinct clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features. Clinically, DM differs from conventional melanoma by a higher propensity for local recurrence and less frequent metastatic spread to regional lymph nodes. In its pure f
The price of surgery: markup of operative procedures in the United States

Abstract Background Despite cost containment efforts, the price for surgery is not subject to any regulations. We sought to characterize and compare variability in pricing for commonly performed major surgical procedures across the United States. Methods Medicare claims corresponding to eight major surgical procedures (aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valvuloplasty, carotid endartectomy, coronary artery bypass grafting, esophagectomy, pancreatectomy, liver resection, and colectomy) were identified using the Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data Physician and Other Supplier Public Use File for 2013. For each procedure, total charges, Medicare-allowable costs, and total payments were recorded. A procedure-specific markup ratio (MR; ratio of total charges to Medicare-allowable costs) was calculated and compared between procedures and across states. Variation in MR was compared using a coefficient of variation (CoV). Results Among all providers, the median MR was 3.5 (interquartile range: 3.1-4.0). MR was noted to vary by procedure; ranging from 3.0 following colectomy to 6.0 following carotid endartectomy (P Conclusions Significant variation was noted for the price of surgery by procedure as well as between and within different geographical regions. Greater scrutiny and transparency in the price of surgery is required to promote cost containment.
Assessment of GaN high-electron-mobility transistor reliability for RF amplifier applications

As an electronic material, GaN possesses several material advantages over conventional III-V semiconductors that lead to an order of magnitude improvement in transistor RF output power density. The maturity of GaN amplifier technology is currently a topic of significant interest in the DoD community as several system insertion opportunities are emerging. Serving as an objective validator of GaN amplifier technology delivered to the government, NRL plays a key role in assessing RF performance and reliability to provide feedback to both government entities and contractors. To complete this task, we use a suite of dc, RF, and pulsed I-V electrical testing to identify and monitor electrical degradation of monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) as a function of time. In our most basic testing, MMICs are biased under normal operating conditions (with peak channel temperatures between 150°C and 225 °C) and monitored for 1000–3000 hours. Nearly all GaN technology delivered by contractors today will experience no electrical degradation during this RF operational life-test, but the question still remains: Are these amplifiers reliable for the lifetime of a system? To address this question, we routinely use elevated temperature (channel temperatures between 300°C and 375°C) RF life-testing to accelerate failure mechanisms and determine lifetime at typical operating temperatures via Arrhenius extrapolation. Post-stressed, parametrically failed devices are subjected to failure analysis using a variety of materials characterization techniques, such as focused-ion-beam cross-sectioning, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy for elemental analysis, etc., in order to correlate changes in electrical behavior to physical degradation mechanisms. In this talk, an overview of our testing methodology will be presented, along with discussion about degradation mechanisms that are observed in GaN transistors.
No news, bad news? A deeper examination of the correlation between patient functional status and level of postoperative telephone communication with the surgical team.

102Background: In attempts to improve outcomes for and survival of geriatric oncology patients, studies have demonstrated the utility of phone communication as a tool for post-operative care. However, very little data is available to determine if this method of care is reaching the most vulnerable patients. The purpose of this study is to compare patient-surgical team phone communication for geriatric cancer patients of higher and lower preoperative functional status. Methods: This is a retrospective review of data from an internal geriatric assessment questionnaire and phone log data as recorded in the EHR at a single institution. Patients were stratified into two groups: those who had at least one recorded postoperative care phone call (PC) and those with no postoperative care phone call (NPC). Quantitative analysis of the data was performed, assessing the correlation between preoperative functional status and patient-surgical service communication in the first 30 postoperative days. Results: NPC group ...
On distance-adaptive routing and spectrum assignment in mesh elastic optical networks

The routing and spectrum assignment (RSA) problem has emerged as the key design and control problem in elastic optical networks. Distance-adaptive spectrum allocation exploits the tradeoff between spectrum width and reach to improve resource utilization by tailoring the modulation format to the level of impairments along the path. In this paper, we consider the distance-adaptive RSA (DA-RSA) problem with fixed alternate routing. We first show that the DA-RSA problem in networks of general topology is a special case of a well-studied multiprocessor scheduling problem. We then leverage insights from the scheduling theory to 1) present new results regarding the complexity of the DA-RSA problem and 2) build upon the list of scheduling concepts to develop a computationally efficient solution approach that is effective in utilizing the available spectrum resources.
Patterns and dynamics of vegetation recovery following grazing cessation in the California golden trout habitat

In 1978, the Golden Trout Wilderness area was established to protect the California golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita)—a vulnerable subspecies of the rainbow trout that is endemic to California—and its habitat, which is currently restricted to a few streams within high-elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Because of the deleterious effects of livestock grazing on riparian vegetation in the golden trout habitat (occurring since the 1800s), meadow restoration activities were initiated in 1991, including cattle exclusion. There has been renewed discussion about re-opening these public lands to livestock grazing, and impact assessment studies are needed to inform decision makers about the potential consequences. Thus, we estimated the recovery potential of the golden trout habitat by measuring the height of riparian vegetation within areas that have been grazed vs. closed to grazing (“rested”) since 1991. We found that cattle exclusion is effective at favoring riparian vegetation growth, but that vegetation recovery from grazing could take several decades in these sensitive habitats as some “rested” areas have yet to recover to full vegetation height, even after 25 yr of rest.
Transperineal Sonography of Anal Mass Status Post Total Colectomy: A Case Report:

Transperineal sonography is a diagnostic tool for imaging the pelvic floor and lower pelvis. Because of the higher spatial resolution of pelvic sonography compared with other cross-sectional imagin...
Varus posteromedial rotatory instability: a biomechanical analysis of posterior bundle of the medial ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction.

Background Recently, there has been growing interest in the involvement of the posterior bundle of the medial ulnar collateral ligament (pMUCL) in varus posteromedial rotatory instability (PMRI). Varus PMRI has been observed clinically, but the degree of involvement of the pMUCL remains unclear. This study assessed the degree to which the pMUCL is involved in stabilizing the elbow and the feasibility of a pMUCL reconstruction to restore stability. Methods Movements simulating PMRI were performed in 8 cadaveric elbows. Joint gapping values were obtained by 3-dimensional motion capture for the proximal and distal aspects of the ulnohumeral joint. Specimens were assessed at “intact,” “cut coronoid + pMUCL,” “reconstruction,” and “cut anterior aspect MUCL + reconstruction” conditions with mechanical testing at 30°, 60°, and 90° of elbow flexion. Results Proximal joint gapping significantly increased from intact to cut coronoid + pMUCL at 60° and 90°, and distal joint gapping significantly increased at 90°. In the reconstruction condition, joint gapping across the proximal joint at 60° and 90° significantly recovered, as did distal joint gapping at 90°. In the cut anterior aspect MUCL + reconstruction condition, no significant increase occurred in proximal or distal joint gapping. Conclusions Transection of the pMUCL with a coronoid fracture leads to increased joint gapping, suggesting the presence of PMRI. PMRI can still occur with an intact lateral ligamentous complex. A pMUCL tendon graft reconstruction confers some elbow stability in this injury mechanism.
Etiology of Aggressive Conduct Disorders: Neuropsychiatric and Family Contributions

Children and adolescents have a limited repertoire of behaviors with which to express their misery; therefore, almost every neuropsychiatric disorder is at some time expressed as a conduct disorder. Neither intrinsic neuropsychiatric vulnerabilities nor particular stressors separately generates recurrent antisocial, aggressive behavior.
Groundwater Management in Kansas: A Brief History and Assessment

The purpose of this symposium is to examine groundwater management laws, institutions, and practices and to inquire whether groundwater management is working. The primary focus is groundwater management in Kansas, and we do this with a number of papers prepared by knowledgeable professionals from Kansas and from locations outside Kansas, including groundwater experts from India and Texas, and a scholar of the law of groundwater on American Indian Reservations.
Techniques to Measure Testosterone in the Elderly

In today's clinical and research settings, there is an unfortunate lack of consistency for the term "measuring testosterone status." This term is often used to refer to a measure of biologic androgen activity rather than the specific measurement of the chemical concentration of the testosterone steroid molecule. Even the measurements of chemical concentrations show considerable methodologic differences. This is true for measurements in elderly men, as well as in other populations, including women. All of the current methods for measuring total testosterone have limitations, especially with regard to low concentrations. In addition, unresolved questions concerning the active form of the hormone preclude definitive determination of which form of testosterone and which other androgen hormones are best suited for measuring androgen activity. When measurement techniques are compared, the numbers correlate with each other but certainly do not represent the same value. There is a need for a consensus as to which forms of hormones should be measured to best assess androgen status, and there is a need to standardize the procedures used to measure these hormones.
Marxism and the Democratic Control of Technology

The question I raise here is a simple one. Assuming anything of a democratic nature can be done to control the future direction of technological development, which of two prominent approaches—progressive liberalism or Marxist revolution—offers more hope?
Methodological Requirements for Conceptually Valid Research Studies on the Behavioral Effects of Malnutrition

A number of papers and chapters have been addressed to methodological issues in research on the effects of malnutrition on human behavior (Tuddenham, 1974; Warren, 1973; Elias, 1976; R. E. Klein, Irwin, Townsend, and Engle, unpublished manuscript). Most have stressed the importance of designing studies that permit the investigator to infer with a high degree of confidence that statistical relationships between nutritional and behavioral variables reflect the influence on behavior of nutrition per se, and not the effects of one or more confounding (i.e., nonnutritional) variables. For example. Warren’s review criticized a number of studies that used nonexperimental designs on the grounds that the variables representing nutritional status may have been correlated with social and environmental factors that themselves could have accounted for the statistical relationships. Tuddenham reviewed five classes of research designs for studying the effects of malnutrition on behavior and described as adequate only those experimental designs that provided for random assignment to treatments and thus avoided the problem of selection bias. R. E. Klein and colleagues discussed several problems in the interpretation of retrospective studies of malnutrition and behavior, including possible confounding of onset and severity of malnutrition with duration of hospitalization, covariation of home environmental conditions with nutritional history, and difficulty in separating acute from chronic components of nutritional history. In short, the primary methodological concerns are summed up in the assertion by Elias (1976) that “the primary issue in the human studies is that of confounding of nutritional with non-nutritional factors” (p. 455).
Ethnic and Age Disparities in Outcomes Among Liver Transplant Waitlist Candidates.

BACKGROUND Despite the increasing prevalence of end-stage liver disease in older adults, there is no consensus to determine suitability for liver transplantation (LT) in the elderly. Disparities in LT access exist, with a disproportionately lower percentage of African Americans (AAs) receiving LT. Understanding waitlist outcomes in older adults, specifically AAs, will identify opportunities to improve LT access for this vulnerable population. METHODS All adult, liver-only white and AA LT waitlist candidates (January 1, 2003 to October 1, 2015) were identified in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Age and race categories were defined: younger white (age <60 years), younger AA, older white (age, ≥60 years), and older AA. Outcomes were delisting, transplantation, and mortality and were modeled using Fine and Gray competing risks. RESULTS Among 101 805 candidates, 58.4% underwent transplantation, 14.7% died while listed, and 21.4% were delisted. Among those delisted, 36.1% died, whereas 7.4% were subsequently relisted. Both older AAs and older whites were more likely than younger whites to be delisted and to die after delisting. Older whites had higher incidence of waitlist mortality than younger whites (subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.13). All AAs and older whites had decreased incidence of LT, compared with younger whites. CONCLUSIONS Both older age and AA race were associated with decreased cumulative incidence of transplantation. Independent of race, older candidates had increased incidences of delisting and mortality after delisting than younger whites. Our findings support the need for interventions to ensure medical suitability for LT among older adults and to address disparities in LT access for AAs.
A sign of the times? Weak and strong polarization in the U.S. Congress, 1973–2016

Abstract Claims that the United States Congress is (becoming more) polarized are widespread, but what is polarization? In this paper, I draw on notions of intergroup relations to distinguish two forms. Weak polarization occurs when relations between the polarized groups are merely absent, while strong polarization occurs when the relations between the polarized groups are negative. I apply the Stochastic Degree Sequence Model to data on bill co-sponsorship in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, from 1973 (93rd session) to 2016 (114th session) to infer a series of signed networks of political relationships among legislators, which I then use to answer two research questions. First, can the widely reported finding of increasing weak polarization in the U.S. Congress be replicated when using a statistical model to make inferences about when positive political relations exist? Second, is the (increasing) polarization observed in the U.S. Congress only weak polarization, or is it strong polarization? I find that both chambers exhibit both weak and strong polarization, that both forms are increasing, and that they are structured by political party affiliation. However, I also find these trends are unrelated to which party holds the majority in a chamber.
Acute Exercise Intensity and Memory Function: Evaluation of the Transient Hypofrontality Hypothesis

Background and Objective: The transient hypofrontality hypothesis predicts that memory function will be impaired during high-intensity exercise, as a result of a need for metabolic and cognitive resources to be allocated toward sustaining movement, as opposed to performing a cognitive task. The purpose of these experiments was to evaluate this transient hypofrontality hypothesis. Materials and Methods: Experiment 1 involved participants (n = 24; Mage = 21.9 years) completing four counterbalanced visits. Two visits evaluated working memory function, either at rest or during a high-intensity bout of acute exercise. The other two visits evaluated episodic memory function, either at rest or during a high-intensity bout of acute exercise. Experiment 2 (n = 24; Mage = 20.9 years) extended Experiment 1 by evaluating memory function (working memory) across 4 counterbalanced conditions, including at rest and during light (30% of heart rate reserve; HRR), moderate (50% HRR) and high-intensity (80% HRR) acute exercise. Results: Experiment 1 demonstrated that, when compared to rest, both working memory and episodic memory were impaired during high-intensity acute exercise. Experiment 2 replicated this effect, but then also showed that, unlike high-intensity acute exercise, memory function was not impaired during low- and moderate-intensity acute exercise. Conclusions: Our experiments provide support for the transient hypofrontality hypothesis. Both working memory and episodic memory are impaired during high-intensity acute exercise. Working memory does not appear to be impaired during lower exercise intensities.
Boomers, Millennials—Gen Xers!—and Post-nostalgic American Judaism: A Response to Arnold Eisen’s Sklare Address

In Rethinking Modern Judaism, Arnold Eisen applied five categories of analysis to account for patterns of Jewish observance and non-observance over two centuries. This response applies the same categories to address issues raised in Eisen’s Sklare Award address regarding the Jewish practices of American Jewish millennials. It evaluates the continued validity of Eisen’s categories of analysis, arguing that four of the five still hold. As for the fifth, nostalgia, it suggests that the power of nostalgia to compel American Jewish engagement in Jewish practice may be waning. This response introduces the notion of “post-nostalgic American Judaism,” identifies some of its sources, and frames questions about its possible consequences.
Non-canonical autophagy in dendritic cells restricts cross-presentation and anti-tumor immunity

Summary Major Histocompatibility Complex I (MHC-I) molecules classically present peptides derived from endogenous antigens, but exogenous antigens can also gain access to the MHC-I machinery in dendritic cells (DCs), which can activate antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. This process, termed cross-presentation, can be triggered by the uptake of dying autologous cells, including tumor cells, by DCs. The molecular mechanisms that underlie efficient cross-presentation remain largely uncharacterized, and an improved understanding of these mechanisms might reveal novel strategies for anti-tumor therapies. Rubicon (RUBCN) is a molecule required for LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP), but dispensable for canonical autophagy, and mice lacking this protein develop an autoimmune inflammatory pathology with age. Here, we demonstrate that Rubcn-deficient DCs have increased retention of engulfed cellular cargo in immature phagosomes resulting in increased phagosome-to-cytosol escape and antigen access to proteasome-mediated degradation. As a result, mice selectively lacking Rubcn in DCs mount stronger tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses and exhibit decreased tumor burden compared to wild type littermates. These findings identify LAP as a key regulator of cross-presentation and suggest that targeting RUBCN might represent a novel strategy for anti-tumor therapy.
Vision Parameters Most Important to Functionality in Glaucoma

Purpose To determine the importance of various vision parameters to functionality in glaucoma. Methods Vision was measured using seven parameters: visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity (CS), integrated visual field (IVF), area under the log CS function (AULCSF), color vision, stereoacuity, and VA with noise (ViN). Likelihood ratio testing (LRT) determined if the full set of visual parameters significantly explained variability in 10 functional outcomes. For outcomes where the visual contribution was significant, dominance analysis determined the relative importance of the various visual parameters. Results The analysis included 151 glaucoma patients. Mean age was 70 ± 6.8 years, and 47% were men. Significant visual contributions (LRT P 0.05). The most important parameter (and percent contribution) to vision-explained variability were AULCSF for daily steps (45%), IVF for base of support (35%), VA for reading speed (34%), CS for GQL-15 (30%), and VA for driving cessation (26%). Conclusions Measures of visual ability are important for several aspects of quality of life and functionality. The most important vision parameter for functionality differs depending on the domain studied. Reading and driving were explained by VA and IVF sensitivity. On the other hand, GQL-15 and daily steps were more heavily influenced by CS and AULCSF, which are rarely performed clinically.
Host T-Cells Contribute to Immune Reconstitution and Improved Outcome in Recipients of CD34 Selected T-Cell Depleted Allografts (TCD HCT) with Full Hematopoietic Cell but Persistent Mixed T-Cell Chimerism

Background Isolated mixed T-cell chimerism in otherwise fully engrafted recipients of TCDHCT has been associated, in some series, with risk of graft rejection or relapses and an indication for DLI. Thereto, we have analyzed the impact of donor chimerism on outcomes in a prospective clinical trial of conditioning regimens used with CD34+ selected TCDHCT. Methods The trial (NCT0119066) compares A) HFTBI, Thiotepa and cyclophosphamide with B) Busulfex, melphalan and fludarabine or C) Clofarabine, melphalan and thiotepa as conditioning for CD34+ TCDHCT used to treat high risk hematologic malignancies. As part of the trial, we sequentially assessed lineage-specific donor chimerism in the marrow and the myeloid cells and T-cells in blood by analysis of donor and host-specific STRs in cell fractions isolated by immunotype. In the landmark analysis, quartiles of donor chimerism were compared for T-cell levels, and clinical outcomes. Results 283 consecutive patients, transplanted between 5/13/2010 and 12/31/2016 (106 in Arm A, 144 in Arm B, 33 in Arm C). All engrafted by day 10-11. While 3 pts in Arm B and 1 in C had late graft failure, all others from 3 mos on had full donor chimerism in marrow and myeloid blood cells. However, at 3 mos median donor CD3+ T-cell chimerism (MDTC), was mixed in each arm but significantly lower in Arm B (10%) vs A (50%) and C (63%) (p To assess the impact of this sustained mixed chimerism, we did a landmark analysis at 3 months, comparing subsequent T-cell recovery and clinical outcomes for pts in the first (lowest) and fourth (highest) quartile of T-cell chimerism in Arms A and B. As shown in Table 1, CD3+ and CD8+ T-cells in both arms were significantly higher in Q1, as were CD3+CD4+ cells in Arm B. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) at 2 yrs was also significantly lower for Q1 pts in both arms but relapse risks were not. In Arm B, but not A, 2yr OS and DFS were also significantly better in Q1 vs Q4. Conclusions Conditioning with Bu/Mel/Flu (Arm B) secured durable engraftment and hematopoietic reconstitution but a high proportion of pts have isolated and persistent mixed T-cell chimerism. However, surviving host T-cells can expand, persist and contribute significantly to earlier T-cell recovery and long-term reduction of NRM without increasing risk of graft rejection, relapse or need for DLI.
Volatile element chemistry during accretion of the earth

Abstract We review some issues relevant to volatile element chemistry during accretion of the Earth with an emphasis on historical development of ideas during the past century and on issues we think are important. These ideas and issues include the following: (1) whether or not the Earth accreted hot and the geochemical evidence for high temperatures during its formation, (2) some chemical consequences of the Earth’s formation before dissipation of solar nebular gas, (3) the building blocks of the Earth, (4) the composition of the Earth and its lithophile volatility trend, (5) chemistry of silicate vapor and steam atmospheres during Earth’s formation, (6) vapor - melt partitioning and possible loss of volatile elements, (7) insights from hot rocky extrasolar planets. We include tabulated chemical kinetic data for high-temperature elementary reactions in silicate vapor and steam atmospheres. We finish with a summary of the known and unknown issues along with suggestions for future work.
Scene-Dependent Intention Recognition for Task Communication with Reduced Human-Robot Interaction

In order for assistive robots to collaborate effectively with humans, they must be endowed with the ability to perceive scenes and more importantly, recognize human intentions. These intentions are often inferred from observed physical actions and direct communication from fully-functional individuals. For individuals with reduced capabilities, it may be difficult or impossible to perform physical actions or easily communicate. Therefore, their intentions must be inferred differently. To this end, we propose an intention recognition framework that is appropriate for persons with limited physical capabilities. This framework determines and learns human intentions based on scene objects, the actions that can be performed on them, and past interaction history. It is based on a Markov model formulation entitled Object-Action Intention Networks, which constitute the crux of a computer vision-based human-robot collaborative system that reduces the necessary interactions for communicating tasks to a robot. Evaluations were conducted on multiple scenes comprised of multiple possible object categories and actions. We achieve approximately 81% reduction in interactions overall after learning, when compared to other intention recognition approaches.
Chapter 4 – Determinants

Publisher Summary This chapter explores determinants in algebraic mathematics. Every square matrix has associated with it a scalar called its determinant. The determinant of a 1 × 1 matrix [a] is the scalar a. Thus, the determinant of the matrix [5] is 5 and the determinant of the matrix [−3] is −3. The determinant of a 2 × 2 matrix is the scalar ad − bc. Given a matrix A, a minor is the determinant of any square sub matrix of A. That is, given a square matrix A, a minor is the determinant of any matrix formed from A by the removal of an equal number of rows and columns. The determinant of a diagonal matrix is the product of the elements on the main diagonal and the determinant of an upper or lower triangular matrix is the product of the elements on the main diagonal. The cofactor matrix associated with an n × n matrix A is an n × n matrix Ac obtained from A by replacing each element of A by its cofactor. The adjugate of an n × n matrix A is the transpose of the cofactor matrix of A. If each element of one row of a matrix is multiplied by the cofactor of the corresponding element of a different row, then the sum is zero.
Not your average joint: Towards precision medicine in psoriatic arthritis

Precision medicine, propelled by advances in multi-omics methods and analytics, aims to revolutionize patient care by using clinically-actionable molecular markers to guide diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. We describe the applications of precision medicine in risk stratification, drug selection, and treatment response prediction in psoriatic arthritis, for which targeted, personalized approaches are steadily emerging.
The role of early social motivation in explaining variability in functional language in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder.

This study examined an insufficiently studied predictor of functional language, social motivation, in a group of 87 young children with autism spectrum disorder. Participants (age 14–31 months at t...
Social Network Typology and Serious Psychological Distress: Findings from the National Survey of American Life.

This study examined the association between social network typology and serious psychological distress (SPD) across various adult developmental stages among African Americans. The sample for this s...
Electrochemical Kinetic Study of [Cp*Rh] Complexes Supported by Bis(2-pyridyl)methane Ligands

Redox-induced reactions of organometallic complexes are ubiquitous in molecular electrochemistry and electrocatalysis research. However, a detailed knowledge of the kinetic parameters associated wi...
Towards Web-based Environments for Prototyping Social Robot Applications

Interest in web-based human-robot interaction (HRI) has grown since it was initially introduced. Similarly, interest in social signals such as voice and facial expressions continues to expand. More recently, researchers have also gained interest in the feasibility of using neurophysiological information to enhance HRI. While both social signals and web-based HRI have seen growing interest, there is limited work exploring potential advances at the intersection of these two areas. This paper describes our efforts to investigate this intersection by integrating: 1) web-based social signal interpretation, 2) hybrid block/text scripting interfaces, and 3) ROS integration via rosbridge. We further discuss potential advantages and current challenges concerning web-based platforms for prototyping social robotic applications.
Adherence to inhaled corticosteroids in asthma (ARICA): A randomized controlled pilot study

Background: ARICA (AdheRence to Inhaled Corticosteroids in Asthma) is a comprehensive inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) adherence intervention designed to remediate each patient's unique reason for not taking their ICS as prescribed. Objective: The primary objective was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of implementing ARICA in a health system. Methods: 29 Black adults who self-reported ICS nonadherence, had uncontrolled persistent asthma, and a Duke Primary Care provider visit within the past 3 years were randomly assigned to intervention (N=15) or control (N=14) in a waitlist randomized controlled pilot trial. Participants were assigned to 1-3 ARICA components based on adherence barriers selected by participants;including, an asthma selfmanagement program, financial assistance referral program, and/or objective feedback on asthma control. All participants received weekly texts and emails dispelling asthma myths. Activities were delivered virtually due to COVID-19. Primary outcomes were feasibility (e.g., process outcomes) and acceptability (e.g., patient exit interviews) measured at 12 weeks. Secondary asthma (e.g., ACT) and adherence outcomes (e.g., DOSEnonadherence) were measured. Results: Most participants were female (N=27, 93%), nonsmokers (N=26, 70%), poorly controlled with ACT <15 (N=14, 48%), and mean age 49.8. Most (N=14, 93%) completed all assigned intervention components and reported mean 4.8 of 5 on Weiner feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of intervention. The intervention group had a greater and statistically significant improvement in ACT (Δ-3.5, CI 6.0,0.96) and Marks AQLQ (Δ 11.5, CI 5.5,17.4) when compared to changes in the control ACT (Δ-2.5, CI-5.2,0.05) and Marks AQLQ (Δ5.7, CI-1.3,12.8), respectively. The improvement in ACT in the intervention group was clinically significant. The intervention group also reported a greater and statistically significant decrease in degree of nonadherence (DOSE Δ 0.74, CI 0.2,1.3) than control (DOSE Δ 0.36, CI-0.04,0.75) and a greater decrease in the number of adherence barriers identified in the intervention group (Δ 2.1, CI 1.2,3.0) versus control group (Δ1.6, CI 0.3,3.0). The study was not powered to assess a statistically significant change between groups. Conclusion: The implementation of ARICA in a cohort of Black adults was feasibly deployed in a health system and acceptable to participants. There was a trend in improvement in asthma control and asthma quality of life and a decrease in nonadherence and barriers to adherence.
The canonization of Piccarda Donati

Starting from the early 14th century, Piccarda Donati and the story of her abduction from the Clarissan convent of Monticelli were subjected to a creative process of reconfiguration and retelling t...
Cost-effectiveness of Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery, Standard and Mini Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy, and Shock Wave Lithotripsy for the Management of 1-2cm Renal Stones.

ABSTRACT Objective To perform a cost-effectiveness evaluation comparing the management options for mid-size (1-2cm) renal stones including percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), and shockwave lithotripsy (SWL). Methods A Markov model was created to compare cost-effectiveness of PCNL, mini-PCNL, RIRS, and SWL for 1-2cm lower pole (index patient 1) and PCNL, RIRS, and SWL for 1-2 cm non–lower pole (index patient 2) renal stones. A literature review provided stone free, complication, retreatment, secondary procedure rates, and quality adjusted life years (QALYs). Medicare costs were used. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was compared with a willingness-to-pay(WTP) threshold of $100,000/QALY. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Results At 3 years, costs for index patient 1 were $10,290(PCNL), $10,109(mini-PCNL), $5,930(RIRS), and $10,916(SWL). Mini-PCNL resulted in the highest QALYs(2.953) followed by PCNL(2.951), RIRS(2.946), and SWL(2.943). This translated to RIRS being most cost-effective followed by mini-PCNL(ICER $624,075/QALY) and PCNL(ICER $946,464/QALY). SWL was dominated with higher costs and lower effectiveness. For index patient 2, RIRS dominated both PCNL and SWL. For index patient 1: mini-PCNL and PCNL became cost effective if cost ≤$5,940 and ≤$5,390, respectively. SWL became cost-effective with SFR ≥75% or cost ≤$1,236. On probabilistic sensitivity analysis, the most cost-effective strategy was RIRS in 97%, mini-PCNL in 2%, PCNL in 1%, and SWL in 0% of simulations. Conclusion For 1-2cm renal stones, RIRS is most cost-effective. However, mini and standard PCNL could become cost-effective at lower costs, particularly for lower pole stones.
The EU 6 or the EU 15

The countdown to form a “united Europe” continues. The first phase of the Economic and Monetary Union will form in early 1998. At this time, the European Council will name those countries that are eligible to form an EMU (due to their compliance with the five economic criteria). This decision of allowing the “in” countries to proceed in an EMU will affect the future decisions of the EMU. Three conditions are crucial to insure the existence of an Economic and Monetary Union in Europe: a single currency, the euro; a single exchange rate; and central bank authority. Several benefits and costs are associated with the formation of an EMU. The size of the EMU will also influence these costs and benefits of an EMU-6 of Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Italy, for example, versus an EMU of all 15 member nations. By using the theory of optimal currency areas, one can examine the costs and benefits of an EMU, especially in relation to Eastern European enlargement.
'Midnight within the Moral Order': Organizational Culture, Unethical Leaders, and Members' Deviance

Hazing has been a persistent issue within African American fraternities and sororities. What makes the topic interesting vis-a-vis the law is that American society has become increasingly litigious; as such, these organizations and their members have faced a growth in the number of hazing-related civil lawsuits since the 1980s. Even more, individual members have had to confront the increasing criminalization of hazing. Outside of the law, but equally important to the understanding of hazing’s legal implications with respect to these organizations are two factors: One is that hazing is particularly violent within African American fraternities and sororities, especially the former, thus serving as an impetus for litigation. The other is the nature and structure of these organizations - highly active and engaged alumni membership. That being said, it is not unusual to observe a vast majority of these organizations’ active (dues-paying, officers, convention attendees) members being alumni, even well into their 70s, 80s, and 90s. This article explores an aspect of African American fraternity and sorority culture that may help explain the nature of hazing within these organizations and why it persists, especially among undergraduate members. Specifically, the article contends that (1) intra-organizational secrecy, (2) poor checks and balances with respect to powerful members, and sanctioning of whistleblowers explain why unethical, and even illegal, behavior may persist within these organizations. This article largely explores how these factors are most evident in instances where the national heads of a number of these organizations engaged in financial malfeasance and either were not held accountable or were slow to being held accountable. Accordingly, as the article argues, if this is a problem amongst accomplished, older members it should not be surprising that such factors manifest themselves amongst teenagers and young-adults.
Detecting format string vulnerabilities with type qualifiers

We present a new system for automatically detecting format string security vulnerabilities in C programs using a constraint-based type-inference engine. We describe new techniques for presenting the results of such an analysis to the user in a form that makes bugs easier to find and to fix. The system has been implemented and tested on several real-world software packages. Our tests show that the system is very effective, detecting several bugs previously unknown to the authors and exhibiting a low rate of false positives in almost all cases. Many of our techniques are applicable to additional classes of security vulnerabilities, as well as other type- and constraint-based systems.
Low-light reflective correlation imaging

Numerical and experimental evaluation of a reflective microscopy technique based on sequential random pattern illumination and integrated detection is conducted to demonstrate imaging at the low-light levels of interest for live-cell imaging.
Cumulative Legitimation, Prudential Restraint, and the Maintenance of International Order: A Re-examination of the UN Charter System

Much of the existing literature has accorded the Security Council with collective authority to confer legitimacy on actions involving the use of armed force. However, because of the veto, scholars have been able to point to relatively few instances in which the Charter has functioned thusly to legitimate or to restrain the actions of powerful states. This article provides an alternative conceptualization, treating the Charter as the basis of a broader system of international order in which legitimacy is conferred cumulatively, by both states within the Security Council and those outside of it, based on the extent of actions’ congruence with Charter rules that serve states’ shared interests. States’ expressions of acceptance confer legitimacy, while their expressions (and acts) of resistance withhold legitimacy, evoking prudential restraint from major powers attempting to signal their continuing commitment to the existing, postwar international order. The article applies this conceptualization to a case study of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.
KITTY: keyboard independent touch typing in VR

A hand- and finger-mounted data input device is presented, using traditional touch-typing skills as method of alphanumeric data input to provide an ultraportable solution for "quiet" data input into portable computer systems. The presented keyboard independent touch-typing device {KITTY) offers high data input rates and minimal training requirements for new users.
The impact of adrenergic signaling in skin cancer progression: Possible repurposing of β-blockers for treatment of skin cancer

Studies suggest that psychosocial factors can impact cancer progression. Parallel work in the fields of psychoneuroimmunology and developmental neuroscience have led to the implication of catecholamine hormones (norepinephrine and epinephrine) and their receptors (the β-adrenergic receptors; β-ARs) in regulating cancer progression. In this review we discuss studies that describe the effects of psychological stress as mediated by factors including the catecholamines norepinephrine and epinephrine on various aspects of tumor progression including proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. We discuss the role of β-ARs in facilitating these effects and the potential use of β-blockers in adjuvant cancer therapy.
Iron-induced Local Complement Component 3 (C3) Up-regulation via Non-canonical Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β Signaling in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Abstract Dysregulation of iron homeostasis may be a pathogenic factor in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Meanwhile, the formation of complement-containing deposits under the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell layer is a pathognomonic feature of AMD. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which complement component 3 (C3), a central protein in the complement cascade, is up-regulated by iron in RPE cells. Modulation of TGF-β signaling, involving ERK1/2, SMAD3, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-δ, is responsible for iron-induced C3 expression. The differential effects of spatially distinct SMAD3 phosphorylation sites at the linker region and at the C terminus determined the up-regulation of C3. Pharmacologic inhibition of either ERK1/2 or SMAD3 phosphorylation decreased iron-induced C3 expression levels. Knockdown of SMAD3 blocked the iron-induced up-regulation and nuclear accumulation of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-δ, a transcription factor that has been shown previously to bind the basic leucine zipper 1 domain in the C3 promoter. We show herein that mutation of this domain reduced iron-induced C3 promoter activity. In vivo studies support our in vitro finding of iron-induced C3 up-regulation. Mice with a mosaic pattern of RPE-specific iron overload demonstrated co-localization of iron-induced ferritin and C3d deposits. Humans with aceruloplasminemia causing RPE iron overload had increased RPE C3d deposition. The molecular events in the iron-C3 pathway represent therapeutic targets for AMD or other diseases exacerbated by iron-induced local complement dysregulation.
Ensemble Learning from Imbalanced Data Set for Video Event Detection

Learning from imbalanced data sets is a hot and challenging research topic with many real world applications. Many studies have been conducted on integrating sampling-based techniques and ensemble learning for imbalanced data sets. However, most existing sampling methods suffer from the problems of information loss, over-fitting, and additional bias. Moreover, there is no single model that can be applied to all scenarios. Therefore, a positive enhanced ensemble learning (PEEL) framework is presented in this paper for effective video event detection. The proposed PEEL framework involves a novel sampling technique combined with an ensemble learning mechanism built upon the base learning algorithm (BLA). Exploratory experiments have been conducted to evaluate the related parameters and performance comparisons. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed PEEL framework for video event detection.
Occupational safety and response maintenance: An alternate view

Abstract I commend Boyce and Geller's concern for one of the most important and most ignored areas of application in behavior analysis -highway and occupational safety. And I commend their concern for one of the most important and most ignored areas of theory and technology -performance maintenance. My critical comments reflect my additional concerns -concerns about the unspoken values, attitudes, and theoretical biases I think underlie much of the applied work in behavior analysis, and may also underlie much of the empirical research and theoretical analysis presented in Boyce and Geller's excellent article. Here are those additional concerns: (a) (the cult of the natural contingency (b) the error of naive performance management (c) the myth of intermittent reinforcement (d) the obfuscation approach to performance maintenance (e) the mythical cause of poor self-management (f) the nature of effective performance-management contingencies (g) the limitations of say-do commitment the failure to distinguish b...