cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computerized Identification of Airway Wall in CT Examinations Using a 3D Active Surface Evolution Approach

Abstract Airway diseases (e.g., asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis) are extremely common worldwide. Any morphological variations (abnormalities) of airways may physically change airflow and ultimately affect the ability of the lungs in gas exchange. In this study, we describe a novel algorithm aimed to automatically identify airway walls depicted on CT images. The underlying idea is to place a three-dimensional (3D) surface model within airway regions and thereafter allow this model to evolve (deform) under predefined external and internal forces automatically to the location where these forces reach a state of balance. By taking advantage of the geometric and the density characteristics of airway walls, the evolution procedure is performed in a distance gradient field and ultimately stops at regions with the highest contrast. The performance of this scheme was quantitatively evaluated from several perspectives. First, we assessed the accuracy of the developed scheme using a dedicated lung phantom in airway wall estimation and compared it with the traditional full-width at half maximum (FWHM) method. The phantom study shows that the developed scheme has an error ranging from 0.04 mm to 0.36 mm, which is much smaller than the FWHM method with an error ranging from 0.16 mm to 0.84 mm. Second, we compared the results obtained by the developed scheme with those manually delineated by an experienced (>30 years) radiologist on clinical chest CT examinations, showing a mean difference of 0.084 mm. In particular, the sensitivity of the scheme to different reconstruction kernels was evaluated on real chest CT examinations. For the ‘lung’, ‘bone’ and ‘standard’ kernels, the average airway wall thicknesses computed by the developed scheme were 1.302 mm, 1.333 mm and 1.339 mm, respectively. Our preliminary experiments showed that the scheme had a reasonable accuracy in airway wall estimation. For a clinical chest CT examination, it took around 4 min for this scheme to identify the inner and outer airway walls on a modern PC.
Residual Proton Production in Deep-Inelastic Electron Scattering

We have measured residual proton yields from deep-inelastic electron scattering as a function of the fractional longitudinal momentum, ${z}_{p} (=\frac{{p}_{l}}{{p}_{lmax}})$, imparted to the proton. We find a peaked distribution in ${z}_{p}$ centered near ${z}_{p}=\ensuremath{-}0.25$.
Three-phonon processes in solid helium crystals

Abstract Poiseuille flow data and second sound data on solid helium crystals are analyzed to find the Normal process scattering rate.
The Construction of a Plane from Pictorial Information

Experiments are described which support the theory that the perception of a plane receding in depth is based on a process of construction. Displays were created which eliminated direct or higher-order stimulus information concerning the orientation of a plane, such as texture gradients or perspective. Instead, objects and the shadows they cast sufficed to suggest and support a depth interpretation. The perceived location of objects on this constructed plane affects size perception thereby providing evidence for a computational rather than a direct theory of constancy.
Determination of EDTA, NTA, and other amino carboxylic acids and their Co(II) and Co(III) complexes by capillary electrophoresis

EDTA and NTA were widely used in the processing of nuclear materials and in the production of nuclear energy. Their in-plant chemical transformations and post-disposal chemical and biological transformations generated many ad ditional amino carboxylic acid compounds. Toxic and radioactive metals are frequent co-contaminants of these chelating agents. Some of the resulting metal ion-chelating agent complexes, most notably 60CoIIIEDTA, resist decomposi tion and adsorb poorly onto subsurface minerals, thereby facilitating migration. This study sought to separate and detect free amino carboxylic acids and their Co(II) and Co(III) complexes in a single run without prior pretreatment using capillary electrophoresis (CE). The electrolyte filling the CE capillary contained 25 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7). Equilibrium calculations performed for this electrolyte identified predominant cobalt species and helped explain the CE findings. Co(III) complexes are thermodynamically (and kinetically) more stable than correspo...
Preferences for improving and declining sequences of health outcomes

Whereas choices among individual outcomes at different points in time generally show a positive time preference, choices between sequences of outcomes usually show a negative time preference, that is, a preference for improvement. The present studies explored how this preference for improving sequences is moderated by expectations about how sequences are usually experienced. Subjects in three experiments evaluated four types of health sequences with multiple sequence lengths. The length of the sequence and the particular health attribute described influenced both preferences and expectations such that preferences tracked expectations about how the sequences would realistically occur. Several mechanisms by which expectations could influence preferences are discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors associated with 3-year stability and change in parenting behavior of abusive parents

We sought to examine the stability of parenting behaviors among physically abusive parents in the 3-year period between their children’s preschool and first grade years. The second purpose of the study was to identify factors that predicted the levels and rates of change in parenting behaviors. 54 parent/child dyads were recruited following substantiated physical abuse of the child and were assessed in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. Parenting behaviors were measured by observations during Parent–Child Interactions, self-reports from parents, and child reports using a puppet interview. Potential predictors of stability and change examined were demographic factors (SES, child gender, and ethnicity) and parent characteristics (depressive symptomatology, perceptions of child behavior problems, and life stress). Multilevel modeling indicated significant fluctuations in parenting among abusive parents, and these fluctuations were generally attributable to within-person rather than between-person differences. Linear change over time was evidenced in observed positive regard, flat affect, sensitivity, and child-reported structure; changes generally were in the direction of deterioration of parenting over time. Parents’ perceptions of the severity of their children’s behavior problems predicted changes over time in parenting behaviors related to intrusiveness and structure in the home. Demographic factors and parental depression predicted change in select parenting behaviors. Overall, findings indicate instability in parenting during the developmental transition to kindergarten and wide individual differences in patterns of change in parenting. Further, parenting behavior tends to deteriorate rather than improve following substantiation of physical abuse by the child protection system.
Preparation of α,β-dehydro-β-amino acid derivatives by tin-promoted addition of malonates to simple nitriles

Abstract Simple aliphatic and aromatic nitriles undergo reaction with malonate esters in the presence of tin(IV) chloride to give derivatives of α,β-dehydro-β-amino acids. The same products are obtained through use of bromomalonate esters.
Child Anxiety Sensitivity and Family Environment as Mediators of the Relationship between Parent Psychopathology, Parent Anxiety Sensitivity, and Child Anxiety

This study examined child anxiety sensitivity and family environment as mediators of the relationship between (1) parent psychopathology and anxiety sensitivity and (2) child anxiety in a community sample of 157 youths aged 7–18 years. Parents completed measures of anxiety sensitivity, psychopathology, and family environment. Youths completed measures of anxiety sensitivity and anxiety. One structural equation model was tested with child anxiety sensitivity as a mediator of (1) parent psychopathology and parent anxiety sensitivity and (2) child anxiety. Mediation was found with respect to parent psychopathology but not anxiety sensitivity. A second structural equation model was tested with family environment (conflict and control) as a mediator of (1) parent psychopathology and parent anxiety sensitivity and (2) child anxiety. Mediation was found with respect to parent psychopathology and anxiety sensitivity. Possible explanations for these pathways are discussed, including information transmission from parents to children, modeling anxiety-based reactions, temperament, and isolation of children from anxiety-provoking situations.
A MULTINOMIAL LOGIT MODEL OF RACE AND URBAN STRUCTURE

This paper examines the influence of race on urban spatial structure in a multinomial logit model of residential and workplace location choice. A unique data set that provides the residence and workplace census tract of workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth CMSA, and their demographic characteristics, makes it possible to explore the joint choice of residence and workplace for workers of different race and ethnicity. The results support established hypotheses in urban economics and urban ecology regarding the disutility of commuting; residential and workplace suburbanization; spatial job search; housing-commuting tradeoff; residential clustering by race, stage of life cycle, and income; and housing tenure choice. With separate models for whites, blacks, and Hispanics, we find evidence of both residential and workplace avoidance of blacks by whites, with less white avoidance of Hispanics. Both Hispanics and blacks are found to seek integrated locations as their incomes rise.
Planar HTS device process using ion implantation

A planar inhibiting fabrication technique of HTS electronic devices has been developed in recent years and is summarized. A systematic study of the properties of ion inhibited HTS films is presented. The inhibition of superconductivity is carried out by the implantation of reactive ions such as Al, B, Ca, and Si into YBCO epitaxial films. The inhibited films are characterized using resistivity, susceptibility, SIMS, XRD, XPS, and SEM measurements. The results indicate that the implanted ions react strongly with oxygen, which turn the films resistive, and even insulative without altering the overall crystalline structure of the films. The effect of ion diffusion is also investigated. Ion gettering phenomenon is observed in Si implanted films. Those effects define the pattern resolution of the planar inhibiting fabrication process. The ion implantation process is applied to the fabrication of HTS single layer devices. These devices include Josephson junctions, DC SQUIDs, RF coils, and microwave waveguides. Operational step-edge junctions and DC SQUIDs with a minimum width of 2 /spl mu/m were formed and tested at 77 K. Passive devices such as low loss waveguides (1-25 GHz) and high Q resonators (33 MHz) were demonstrated. The performance of these devices, in general, is better than or at least equal to that of dry etched devices. However, the new process offers two major advantages. first, the patterned device is planar, which allows a multilayer device to be built, and second, there is little or no chemical contamination of the patterned devices. To demonstrate the viability of this technique for the fabrication of multilayer devices, simple YBCO/STO/YBCO tri-layer structures (such as crossover and a parallel-plate capacitor), with two implantations were fabricated.
Hearing and speaking: an analysis of language learning.

An abridgment of this article was presented at the annual meeting of the American Speech and Hearing Association, November, 1956, in Chicago. An unabridged version was later published in the Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 1958, 23, 143–152.
GPS-free terrain-based vehicle tracking on road networks

Prior experiments have confirmed that specific GPS-free terrain-based localization algorithms can perform vehicle tracking in real-time on a single road segment at a time. However, the ability of these algorithms to perform vehicle tracking on large road networks, i.e. across intersections and multiple road segments, has not been verified. In this study, it is shown that it is possible to build upon the existing terrain-based localization algorithms to maintain vehicle tracking in large road networks. A set of estimators based on the Unscented Kaiman Filter framework is used to track the vehicle in a section of a road network, i.e. across a few road segments and an intersection. A multiple model estimation scheme, based on comparing incoming attitude measurements with a terrain map, is used to identify the road segment that the vehicle is currently traveling over. Experiments indicate that it is possible to maintain vehicle tracking as a vehicle travels across an intersection in a road network.
A novel method for isolation of conditional-lethal mutants of mycoplasma and mycoplasmaviruses

Abstract A technique is presented that is useful for selecting conditional-lethal mutants of mycoplasma cells and viruses. The method is based on growing mycoplasma on Millipore filters. Mutants can be isolated directly from filters seeded with mycoplasma. The filters can be transferred from condition to condition, acting as its own “master” and “replica” template. Virus mutants from the non-lytic Mycoplasma Group L1 and L2 viruses can also be picked from filters seeded with infected cells. This method is analogous to classical “replica plating” which is not a practical technique for mycoplasmas.
Characteristics of a Reactively Sputtered Indium Tin Oxide Thin Film Strain Gage for Use at Elevated Temperatures

Strain sensors based on thin films of indium tin oxide (ITO) have been developed for a variety of applications, where the measurement of both static and dynamic strain are required at elevated temperatures. ITO thin films were prepared by rf reactive sputtering in Ar:02 mixtures from high density, electrically conductive targets having a nominal composition of 90% In203 and 10% Sn02. The resulting ITO films exhibited room temperature resistivities between 2x10−2 and 2x102 ω cm, an optical bandgap of 3.5 ev and tested “n” type by hot probe. These same films exhibited large negative gage factors (G=δρ/ ρδe) when tested at room temperature and a relatively low temperature coefficient of resistance when tested at elevated temperature in air. Specifically, gage factors approaching -100 with little hysteresis were observed for strains up to 700 μin/in and TCR's as low as 195 ppm/°C have been measured for the sputtered ITO films. In addition, these films were electrically stable and readily formed ohmic contacts with platinum at temperatures up to 1180°C. In this paper, we report on the electrical properties and piezoresistive properties of ITO based strain gages at temperatures up to 1180°C. Prospects of using ITO thin films as the active strain elements in high temperature strain gages and the characteristics of strain sensors based on ITO are discussed.
Economic sources and spatial distribution of airborne chromium risks in the U.S.

We present a model that integrates the economic input-output approach of life cycle assessment with environmental fate, exposure, and risk assessment to estimate the spatial distribution of air toxic health risks due to sector-specific economic activity in the U.S. The model is used to relate the economic activity and exposure potential (population density and meteorology) associated with point source emissions of the heavy metal and carcinogen, hexavalent chromium, or Cr(VI), on a county basis. Total direct annual airborne emissions of Cr(VI) in the U.S. were 44 tonnes in 2002, with 97% from facilities in four major sectors: power generation, wood, plastics, and chemicals, metals, and scientific services. These include 6 tonnes of Cr(VI) emitted in the supply chains of these sectors. A highly variable national distribution of lifetime cancer risk is predicted, with a population-weighted mean of 2.7 × 10−7, but with hot-spot counties with lifetime risks as high as 6 × 10−6. Furthermore, high exposures and...
Plasmon-enhanced terahertz near-field microscopy

Using terahertz apertureless near-field microscopy, we observe an electromagnetic field enhancement produced by a broadband plasmon resonance localized in the junction between a metal probe tip and a sub-micron-thick metallic substrate.
Liquid crystal clad metamaterial with a tunable negative-zero-positive index of refraction

A near-IR metamaterial having a tunable index of refraction from negative, through zero, to positive values has been proposed. Liquid crystal layers are incorporated both as a superstrate and a substrate onto a conventional NIM. Tuning the permittivity of the liquid crystal layers controls the value of the effective permittivity in an averaging manner. Combined with proper magnetic resonances provided by a pair of silver strips separated by a thin layer of alumina, the effective index of refraction can be reconfigured between negative, zero, and positive values. The ability to vary the permittivity of the liquid crystal layers also provides a method to control the bandwidth of the negative index behavior.
Dynamic modeling of the body inversion for automated transfer of live birds

Body rotation under free fall along a desired trajectory can be found in many applications such as sports, entertainment, and manufacturing. An appropriately designed body path could lower the forces at the joints during inversion and thus minimizing potential injury. This paper presents a method of developing dynamic models that characterize the interaction between the body of a live object undergoing inversion and the mechanical system driving the rotation. The method offers an effective means to analyze the sensitivity of the design and operational parameters on the body rotation. The models have been validated experimentally. The simulated and experimental results offer significant insights to the joint forces and a means to improve the body dynamics. While the results have immediate application in inverting live birds for poultry meat processing, we expect the model will provide a basis for analyzing body rotational dynamics in other applications such as gymnastics and roller coasters.
Habitat heterogeneity and life-history traits influence presettlement distributions of early-successional tree species in a late-successional, hemlock-hardwood landscape

In landscapes dominated by late-succes- sional plant communities, early-successional species may lead a tenuous existence, persisting only as fugitives or relying on refuges in marginal habitats to provide a persistent seed source. The objective of this study was to relate fine-scale distributions of early- successional tree species in hemlock-hardwood forests of northern Wisconsin, USA to potential landscape persistence strategies. A special emphasis was placed on eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), a restoration priority in the region. Witness tree data from nine- teenth century US Public Land Survey records (encompassing 40,610 km 2 and 106,790 trees) were used with modern environmental data to relate species distributions to habitat characteristics. Early-succes- sional tree species had strong positive associations with marginal habitats such as inclusions of sandy soil and margins of lakes, wetlands, and rivers. Marginal habitats occupied*44 % of the landscape, which may help account for the abundance of early-successional species in our study area relative to other hemlock- hardwood forests. Populations of early-successional species in marginal habitats could also have provided important seed sources for the upland mesic landscape matrix, as(70 % of the landscape was within 200 m of these habitats. The degree to which early-succes- sional species were limited to marginal habitats largely followed predictions based on species life- history characteristics, except that white pine was more common than expected in upland mesic habitats. These findings illustrate the potential importance of landscape heterogeneity for persistence of early- successional species in late-successional forest land- scapes and provide baseline information on habitat associations and landscape dynamics that will be useful in restoration efforts.
Late-onset autosomal dominant macular dystrophy with choroidal neovascularization and nonexudative maculopathy associated with mutation in the RDS gene.

Chorioretinal atrophy and choroidal neovascularization are sight-threatening complications that frequently result in permanent loss of central vision in patients with many macular disorders including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The molecular pathogenesis of these severely disabling and poorly treatable conditions is not well understood. Recent evidence suggests that chorioretinal atrophy in patients with various retinal dystrophies can be traced to a wide array of mutations in photoreceptor-specific genes.1-4 Evidence tying choroidal neovascular disease to these same or other mutations in photoreceptor-specific genes has been weaker, although rare patients with familial age-related macular degeneration manifest both nonexudative atrophic and neovascular exudative phenotypes in association with sequence variants in the photoreceptor-specific gene ABCA4.5 Most other macular degenerative disorders studied to date with prominent neovascular exudative complications, including Sorsby dystrophy, Doyne honeycomb dystrophy, and Best vitelliform dystrophy, are caused by genes that are predominantly expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium and not in photoreceptors.6-9 Among dystrophies with neovascular features, Sorsby macular dystrophy10,11 stands out as the only late-onset autosomal dominant dystrophy in which choroidal neovascularization and disciform maculopathy are key defining clinical features, although atrophic features are also encountered. Mutations in the gene for tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-3, which is expressed primarily in the retinal pigment epithelium, were reported to cause this exudative disease.6 Most families and patients described with late-onset exudative phenotype either have been linked to a TIMP3 locus or carry a mutation in the TIMP3 gene, except for a family that we described earlier.12-14 We recently identified another large family (SUNY901) whose members have an unusual late-onset maculopathy with exudative and atrophic features. After excluding most of the previously described macular disease loci including the loci for exudative fundus dystrophies and AMD,5,7,15-17 we mapped the disease locus to a 9-centimorgan (cM) interval on chromosome 6. Mutation analysis of the RDS/peripherin, GUCA1A, and GUCA1B genes contained within the interval revealed a missense mutation resulting in a Tyr141Cys substitution in the RDS/peripherin gene product. Comparison of haplotypes between SUNY901 and a separate family (BCM-AD033) with the identical Tyr141Cys mutation suggests a possible common ancestral origin.18 Identification of Tyr141Cys establishes an association between an unusual exudative and nonexudative autosomal dominant late-onset macular degeneration with mutation in the photoreceptor-specific RDS/peripherin gene. Mutations in this essential outer segment structural gene have been associated with a wide array of central and peripheral human retinal dystrophies, but not typically the exudative phenotypes.19,20
Rapid Detection of S‐Adenosyl Homocysteine Using Self‐Assembled Optical Diffraction Gratings

Quantitative characterization of biomolecules is critical for molecular diagnostics and drug development. Several assays based on spectrophotometry, fluorometry, chemiluminescence, and electrochemical immunoassays have been reported for biomolecular detection. These methods are often slow owing to multiple sample pretreatment steps that increase analysis time and cost. Immunoassays that combine high sensitivity with fast, robust, and inexpensive methods for biomolecular detection are of growing importance. Herein the development of a self-assembled optical diffraction biosensor is described which is devoid of microfabrication or enzymatic amplification for the rapid detection of S-adenosyl homocysteine (SAH), a potential diagnostic marker for cardiovascular disease, with a sensitivity limit of 24.5 pgmL . SAH is a low-molecular-mass analyte (384 Da) consisting of the nucleoside adenine joined to the amino acid homocysteine (Hcy) by a 5’ thioether linkage. Our method relies on a sandwich-binding approach, wherein SAH is bound by an antibody through the Hcy moiety while an adenine-specific RNA aptamer binds to the adenine moiety (Figure 1). We designed a strategy using antibody-coupled (Ab) beads to capture SAH from solution in addition to aptamerfunctionalized micropatterns specific for adenine which are stamped on a gold-coated glass slide (gold chip). Based on these specific interactions, SAH bound to the Ab beads produces a self-assembled optical diffraction grating upon exposure to the aptamer-functionalized micropatterns (Figure 2). The high-affinity adenosine-specific aptamer containing the 39-mer sequence CGG AUG AGA CGC UUG GCG UGU GCU GUG GAG AGU CAU CCG was chosen
Alterations in Pulmonary Microanatomy after Fat Embolism: In Vivo Observations via Thoracic Window of the Oleic Acid-embolized Canine Lung

This study was designed to view directly via a thoracic window implanted in living dogs the alterations in lung microanatomy induced by oleic acid in the pulmonary circulation. Time-lapse cinemicrography was employed to record the dynamic evolution of events. Observations in ten dogs indicate that contact of oleic acid with vascular endothelium produces a toxic vasculitis and consequent “leaky vessel syndrome.” The resultant hemorrhagic pulmonary edema forms the basis for many of the arterial blood gas, hemodynamic and pathoanatomical derangements noted in this animal model of pulmonary fat embolism.
Diels‐alder reactions of o‐nitronitrosobenzene and 3‐nitro‐4‐nitrosotoluene

o-Nitro-nitrosobenzene and 3-nitro-4-nitrosotoluene were reacted with 1,3-butadiene and 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene to form 3,6-dihydro-1,2-oxazines, in high yields. Infrared spectra, measured in KBr pellets, of starting materials and adducts indicate coplanarity of the nitrogroup and the benzene ring for the starting materials, and considerable steric inhibition of the mesomeric interaction between the nitro group and the benzene ring for the adducts.
Detection of Masquerade Attacks on Wireless Sensor Networks

We propose two lightweight techniques to detect masquerade attacks on wireless sensor networks (WSN). Our solutions take into consideration, important WSN properties like coverage, connectivity, data aggregation and specific communication patterns. The two proposed techniques complement each other when used concurrently. The mutual guarding (MG) technique does not work when nodes are not completely covered by their neighbors or when adversary has shorter transmission range than the sensor nodes. It also does not protect nodes near the boundary. The SRP technique does not have these drawbacks. In this paper, we present our proposed techniques and analyze their performance in terms of successful masquerade detection rate and traffic and computational overhead.
How should we write the history of twentieth-century economics?

The modern economist looks at a textbook history of nineteenth-century economics and wonders what, for the twentieth century, will correspond to the chapter titles of 'Malthus', 'Ricardo', 'The Mills', 'Marx', and 'The Rise of Marginalism'. Will monetarism survive editing? Will game theory rate its own section? Will Keynes be a hero or a goat? Economists look to the historian and wonders how the historian decides what is important, and how we go about deciding what will go into a future history book. Eschewing narratives of progress, this paper surveys alternative historiographies for constructing a history of twentieth-century economics, and suggests that the new discipline of science and technology studies provides a number of useful frameworks for telling the story.
Optical Routing for 3D System-On-Package

Optical interconnects enable faster signal propagation with virtually no crosstalk. In addition, wavelength division multiplexing allows a single waveguide to be shared among multiple interconnects. This paper proposes efficient algorithms for the construction of timing and congestion-driven waveguides considering the optical resource constraints. We develop the first optical router for System-on-Packages (SOPs), which reduce electrical wirelength by 11% and improve performance by 23%, when a single optical layer is introduced for every placement layer.
Phylogenomics of primates and their ancestral populations

Genome assemblies are now available for nine primate species, and large-scale sequencing projects are underway or approved for six others. An explicitly evolutionary and phylogenetic approach to comparative genomics, called phylogenomics, will be essential in unlocking the valuable information about evolutionary history and genomic function that is contained within these genomes. However, most phylogenomic analyses so far have ignored the effects of variation in ancestral populations on patterns of sequence divergence. These effects can be pronounced in the primates, owing to large ancestral effective population sizes relative to the intervals between speciation events. In particular, local genealogies can vary considerably across loci, which can produce biases and diminished power in many phylogenomic analyses of interest, including phylogeny reconstruction, the identification of functional elements, and the detection of natural selection. At the same time, this variation in genealogies can be exploited to gain insight into the nature of ancestral populations. In this Perspective, I explore this area of intersection between phylogenetics and population genetics, and its implications for primate phylogenomics. I begin by "lifting the hood" on the conventional tree-like representation of the phylogenetic relationships between species, to expose the population-genetic processes that operate along its branches. Next, I briefly review an emerging literature that makes use of the complex relationships among coalescence, recombination, and speciation to produce inferences about evolutionary histories, ancestral populations, and natural selection. Finally, I discuss remaining challenges and future prospects at this nexus of phylogenetics, population genetics, and genomics.
A probe effect in concurrent programs

This paper reports on an experimental study of the probe effect, defined as an alteration in the frequency of run-time computational errors observed when delays are introduced into concurrent programs. If the concurrent program being studied has no synchronization errors, then there is no probe effect. In the presence of synchronization errors, the frequency of observable output errors for a sample experimental program starts at a high value for small delays, oscillates rapidly as the delay is increased, and apparently settles at zero errors for larger values of delay. Thus, for sufficiently large delays, the probe effect can almost completely mask synchronization errors in concurrent programs. For sufficiently large concurrent process sets, even small values of embedded delay may mask synchronization errors, provided side effects in shared memory are not included in the observation.
Global behavior of solutions to the fast diffusion equation with boundary flux governed by memory

We study global existence and blow up in finite time for a one-dimensional fast diffusion equation with memory boundary condition. The problem arises out of a corresponding model formulated from tumor-induced angiogenesis. We obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for global existence of solutions to the problem. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anthony Walker, Mary Rich, and Seventeenth-Century Funeral Sermons of Women

AbstractThe publication of funeral sermons became increasingly common in seventeenth-century England, and the commemoration of women, especially those with some status, was not unusual; but Anthony Walker’s tribute to Mary Rich, Countess of Warwick, is noteworthy. Unlike the lives of so many other women commemorated at funerals, considerable autobiographical information about the countess exists in her memoir, extensive diary, and many meditations that have survived in manuscripts. Seen in this context as well as in relation to a number of other sermons on seventeenth-century women, this essay provides an unusual opportunity to appreciate the distinctiveness of his celebration and the extent to which it is determined by convention. While faithful to the memory of the countess, Walker’s published sermon gives significant dimension to her life and the idea of the virtuous woman.
Unconventional Wisdom

We are told that passwords are evil. We are told to change our passwords frequently, and never, never to write them down. We are even told that if you work for most U.S. corporations, frequent password changes are required by law. How much of this is true, and how much is simply mythology? Remarkably enough, the conventional wisdom can be wrong on all of these points, even the first.
Depth Estimation with Occlusion Modeling Using Light-Field Cameras

Light-field cameras have become widely available in both consumer and industrial applications. However, most previous approaches do not model occlusions explicitly, and therefore fail to capture sharp object boundaries. A common assumption is that for a Lambertian scene, a pixel will exhibit photo-consistency, which means all viewpoints converge to a single point when focused to its depth. However, in the presence of occlusions this assumption fails to hold, making most current approaches unreliable precisely where accurate depth information is most important – at depth discontinuities. In this paper, an occlusion-aware depth estimation algorithm is developed; the method also enables identification of occlusion edges, which may be useful in other applications. It can be shown that although photo-consistency is not preserved for pixels at occlusions, it still holds in approximately half the viewpoints. Moreover, the line separating the two view regions (occluded object versus occluder) has the same orientation as that of the occlusion edge in the spatial domain. By ensuring photo-consistency in only the occluded view region, depth estimation can be improved. Occlusion predictions can also be computed and used for regularization. Experimental results show that our method outperforms current state-of-the-art light-field depth estimation algorithms, especially near occlusion boundaries.
An Algorithm for Cancelling Residual Echoes Based on Gaussian Mixture Model

An efficient way based on the Gaussian mixture model(GMM) is proposed to improve the performance of echo suppression in telephone.The speech feature vector of near-end users is extracted using linear prediction coefficients,and the user speech template is obtained by training user speech samples under the GMM.Then a judgment for a non-user speech frame can be made by comparing the residual echo signals with the user speech template,and the non-user speech frame is cancelled.Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can distinguish user speech frame and non-user speech frame very well and has a better echo cancellation quantity.The echo cancellation quantity of the adaptive filter is improved by 7~10 dB,when the error rate is about 1%~2%.
A child with papillary thyroid cancer and locally advanced disease but no distant metastasis

Thyroid cancer is rare in the pediatric population, but the incidence appears to be increasing, especially in adolescents. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the most common type of thyroid cancer in the pediatric population, represents 90 % or more of cases in patients ≤18 years of age. Children with PTC are highly likely to present with extra-thyroidal extension and regional lymph node metastases. Despite often having advanced cervical disease at presentation, pediatric patients have very favorable outcomes with long-term survival decades after diagnosis, especially in the absence of distant metastases. Current data suggest that a comprehensive initial surgery performed by a high-volume thyroid surgeon is the most important factor in improving long-term disease-free survival. With the recognition that routine radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation may no longer be necessary in patients at low risk for mortality from PTC who have had surgery by a high-volume surgeon, and with the knowledge that patients naive to RAI can still be effectively followed with serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels and neck ultrasound (US), 131I is no longer being given to all children with PTC, even in the presence of lymph node metastases at diagnosis. The use of RAI in pediatric PTC is also evolving due to concerns about possible late effects such as secondary malignancies. Recently, the American Thyroid Association (ATA) developed guidelines specifically for the management of pediatric PTC, and these guidelines try to balance the risks and benefits of 131I therapy while also advocating that each child be treated at centers of excellence where there are multidisciplinary teams experienced in the management of pediatric thyroid cancer.
Geriatric distal femur fracture: Are we underestimating the rate of local and systemic complications?

BACKGROUND: Low energy distal femur fractures often occur in a fragile elderly population that is prone to local and systemic complications following operative treatment of extremity fractures. The nonunion rate and early complication rate following laterally based locked plating in this specific fracture are not well described. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study conducted at three affiliated tertiary care hospitals to evaluate nonunion, early post operative complications, discharge disposition, length of stay, and mortality in patients over 60 years old undergoing laterally based locked plating of a low energy distal femur fracture. RESULTS: Forty-four out of 176 patients were deceased at one year (25%). Predictors of one year mortality included older age, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and delay to surgery greater than 2days (pCONCLUSIONS: Laterally based locked plating of the low energy geriatric distal femur fracture is most often followed by a tumultuous post-operative course with a high rate of local and systemic complications including death, nonunion, and extended hospital stays. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III prognostic.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Language: en
Just for Students

This chapter addresses some of the challenges Archaeology students will face as they attempt to enter the profession. It is written from the point of view of someone who was not long ago a student himself and who hopes to advise students of the enormity of what faces them.
Building Material and Spiritual Civilization in Sicheng

I came to work as an apprentice in what was then called Yamei Silk Weaving Factory [now Yonghong] when I was sixteen. My hometown is a village near Tai Lake, in Jiangnan. After three years as an apprentice, I started to work as a weaver. Most weavers at that time were men. There were only a few women prep workers. Most women stayed home as housewives. We men earned higher wages than women. Weavers were skilled workers at that time. Our wage was based on the piece-rate. Because weavers also repaired and maintained machines at that time, we lost money if we had to stop to repair machines. Before Liberation, employers could lay you off as they wished. After Liberation, employers could not lay off workers so long as the workers did not make yuanzexing cuowu [any mistake of principles]. Before Liberation, we workers would always start to worry about whether we would be able to keep our jobs after Chinese New Year. We were not allowed to wear glasses at workshops. As a result, workers were laid off once they started to wear glasses, around their forties. Once workers were laid off, they would die one or two years later because they had to beg for a living.
Testing the moderating effect of the perceived importance of the coach on the relationship between perceived coaching feedback and athletes’ perceptions of competence:

The purpose of this study was to explore whether the importance athletes place on behaviors of their coach moderates the relationship between athletes’ perceptions of their coach’s feedback and the...
Simulator Sickness and the Oculus Rift: A First Look

The use of a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) head-mounted display (HMD) and its effects on simulator sickness (SS) was investigated in this preliminary study. Participants performed a navigation ta...
Clinical impact of loss of H3K36me3 expression in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

4563 Background: Mutations in chromatin modifying enzymes play a role in the pathogenesis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). However the clinical impact of histone methylation regulated by...
Computational training for the next generation of neuroscientists

Neuroscience research has become increasingly reliant upon quantitative and computational data analysis and modeling techniques. However, the vast majority of neuroscientists are still trained within the traditional biology curriculum, in which computational and quantitative approaches beyond elementary statistics may be given little emphasis. Here we provide the results of an informal poll of computational and other neuroscientists that sought to identify critical needs, areas for improvement, and educational resources for computational neuroscience training. Motivated by this survey, we suggest steps to facilitate quantitative and computational training for future neuroscientists.
Social Meaning and the Unintended Consequences of Inclusion.

We appreciate the call for an “open debate” to “challenge a long-held belief that [race] was never, since its very prejudicial inception, scientifically justified.” The title of the target article ...
Amicus Brief of Labor Relations and Research Center, U. Mass., Amherst in Browning-Ferris, NLRB RC-109684

Amicus brief submitted by the Labor Relations and Research Center, University of Massachusetts to the National Labor Relations Board in the representation case of Brown-Ferris Industries, Leadpoint Business Services and Local 350, Teamsters, RC-109684. The brief provides a socio-legal argument for the joint-employer status of the temporary staffing agency and its user clients under federal labor law and the duty of both employers to bargain with joint-employed temp workers who seek union representation and a collective bargaining agreement.
Effect of Moxidectin on Bed Bug Feeding, Development, Fecundity, and Survivorship.

The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), is a blood-feeding ectoparasite which experienced world-wide resurgence during recent decades. The control of bed bugs is often challenging, due to their cryptic nature and resistance to commonly used insecticides. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the antiparasitic drug moxidectin on bed bug survival, reproduction, and development. The LC50 (lethal concentration to kill half the members of a tested population) of moxidectin against bed bug male adults, female adults, and large nymphs were 52.7 (95% CI (confidence interval): 39.5–70.8), 29.3 (95% CI: 20.7–40.5), and 29.1 ng/mL (95% CI: 23.3–35.3), respectively. Moxidectin (≥ 25 ng/mL) reduced egg laying of bed bug females, but showed no significant effect on egg hatching. One time feeding on rabbit blood containing 20 and 40 ng/mL moxidectin showed no negative effects in bed bug feeding and blood meal ingestion, but significantly reduced digestion rates and nymph molting rates. Although moxidectin at concentrations of 20 and 40 ng/mL only caused moderate mortality in bed bugs, it significantly interrupted digestion, development, and oviposition of survived bed bugs for at least one week after feeding. Moxidectin is a promising supplement of the existing bed bug control materials if its use on humans can be approved in the future.
Standard and Behavioral Life-Cycle Theories and Public Policy

Behavioral life-cycle theory is centered on the hypothesis that even people who want smooth spending during their entire life cycle, as predicted by standard life-cycle theory, find it difficult to avoid cognitive and emotional errors and to balance wants for spending now and wants for saving for tomorrow. Behavioral life-cycle theory says that we reconcile the conflict between our wants via personal devices and public policies of nudges and shoves by government and employers. Personal devices include framing, mental accounting, and self-control rules that prohibit dips into other-than-designated mental accounts. Public policies include nudges, such as automatic enrollment into voluntary direct contribution (DC) plans, and shoves such as mandatory Social Security. Discussions about public policies to promote adequate life-cycle saving and spending should address issues such as the promotion of financial well-being, alleviation of retirement crises, features of good DC plans, and the benefits of financial literacy and its alternatives. The author presents these questions here, along with his own explorations and answers.
CD36 mediates lipid accumulation in pancreatic beta cells under the duress of glucolipotoxic conditions: Novel roles of lysine deacetylases.

Abstract The cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) is implicated in the intake of long-chain fatty acids and fat storage in various cell types including the pancreatic beta cell, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of metabolic stress and diabetes. Recent evidence indicates that CD36 undergoes post-translational modifications such as acetylation-deacetylation. However, putative roles of such modifications in its functional activation and onset of beta cell dysregulation under the duress of glucolipotoxicity (GLT) remain largely unknown. Using pharmacological approaches, we validated, herein, the hypothesis that acetylation-deacetylation signaling steps are involved in CD36-mediated lipid accumulation and downstream apoptotic signaling in pancreatic beta (INS-1832/13) cells under GLT. Exposure of these cells to GLT resulted in significant lipid accumulation without affecting the CD36 expression. Sulfo-n-succinimidyl oleate (SSO), an irreversible inhibitor of CD36, significantly attenuated lipid accumulation under GLT conditions, thus implicating CD36 in this metabolic step. Furthermore, trichostatin A (TSA) or valproic acid (VPA), known inhibitors of lysine deacetylases, markedly suppressed GLT-associated lipid accumulation with no discernible effects on CD36 expression. Lastly, SSO or TSA prevented caspase 3 activation in INS-1832/13 cells exposed to GLT conditions. Based on these findings, we conclude that an acetylation-deacetylation signaling step might regulate CD36 functional activity and subsequent lipid accumulation and caspase 3 activation in pancreatic beta cells exposed to GLT conditions. Identification of specific lysine deacetylases that control CD36 function should provide novel clues for the prevention of beta-cell dysfunction under GLT.