cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Probabilistic Model for Ranking Code-Based Static Analysis Alerts

Software engineers tend to repeat mistakes when developing software. Automated static analysis tools can detect some of these mistakes early in the software process. However, these tools tend to generate a significant number of false positive alerts. Due to the need for manual inspection of alerts, the high number of false positives may make an automated static analysis tool too costly to use. In this research, we propose to rank alerts generated from automated static analysis tools via an adaptive model that predicts the probability an alert is a true fault in a system. The model adapts based upon a history of the actions the software engineer has taken to either filter false positive alerts or fix true faults. We hypothesize that by providing this adaptive ranking, software engineers will be more likely to act upon highly ranked alerts until the probability that remaining alerts are true positives falls below a subjective threshold.
Are Vanguard’s ETFs Cannibalizing the Firm’s Index Funds?

Existing literature on ETFs and conventional index mutual funds suggests that the two fund types are substitutes for each other in terms of attracting investors’ money. Vanguard is an industry-leading index fund provider that offers both conventional index mutual funds and ETFs. The question is whether Vanguard experiences a substitution effect between its index funds and ETFs to the same degree as is observed in the industry in general. The examination of the substitutability of the two fund types can help explain Vanguard’s decision to offer ETFs that could cannibalize the firm’s existing products. Results of the article show that contrary to the initial expectations, Vanguard’s ETFs and corresponding index funds are not substitutes but rather complements. The flows of ETFs and index funds positively affect each other. Positive spillover effects, such as ETF tax efficiency, may help explain the synergy between Vanguard index products. The results can help fund families take advantage of similar efficiency spillover effects when structuring new products.
The role of systemic chemotherapy and multidisciplinary management in improving the overall survival of patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal

// Cathy Eng 1 , George J. Chang 2 , Y. Nancy You 2 , Prajnan Das 3 , Miguel Rodriguez-Bigas 2 , Yan Xing 2 , Jean-Nicolas Vauthey 2 , Jane E. Rogers 4 , Aki Ohinata 1 , Priyanka Pathak 1 , Salil Sethi 1 , Jonathan K. Phillips 1 , Christopher H. Crane 3 , Robert A. Wolff 1 1 Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030 2 Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030 3 Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030 4 Division of Pharmacy, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030 Correspondence to: Cathy Eng, e-mail: ceng@mdanderson.org Received: October 01, 2014 Accepted: October 02, 2014 Published: November 14, 2014 ABSTRACT Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) of the anal canal is a rare malignancy for which no standard treatment algorithm exists. To determine the best approach, all patients diagnosed with metastatic SCCA of the anal canal treated at a single institution were evaluated for choice of chemotherapy and treatment outcome. A retrospective study from January 2000 to May 2012 was conducted. Electronic medical records were reviewed for diagnosis of metastatic SCCA of the anal canal. All patients were treatment naive for metastatic disease and completed all radiographic imaging at our institution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes among patients who received systemic chemotherapy and if appropriate were referred for multidisciplinary intervention (e.g., surgery, radiofrequency ablation, etc.). Seventy-seven patients fulfilled eligibility criteria. Forty-two patients (55%) received 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) + cisplatin (PF); 24 patients (31%) received carboplatin + paclitaxel (CP); 11 patients (14%) received an alternative regimen. After a median follow-up of 42 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients was 7 months; the median overall survival (OS) was 22 months. Thirty-three patients (43%) underwent multidisciplinary management for metastatic disease resulting in a median PFS of 16 months (95% CI: 9·2 -22·8) and median OS of 53 months (95% CI: 28·3 – 77·6). Systemic chemotherapy provides durable survival for patients with surgically unresectable metastatic SCCA of the anal canal. Multidisciplinary management for select patients with metastatic disease effectively improves survival and should be considered whenever possible.
Entanglement of spin waves among four quantum memories

Quantum networks are composed of quantum nodes that interact coherently through quantum channels, and open a broad frontier of scientific opportunities. For example, a quantum network can serve as a ‘web’ for connecting quantum processors for computation and communication, or as a ‘simulator’ allowing investigations of quantum critical phenomena arising from interactions among the nodes mediated by the channels. The physical realization of quantum networks generically requires dynamical systems capable of generating and storing entangled states among multiple quantum memories, and efficiently transferring stored entanglement into quantum channels for distribution across the network. Although such capabilities have been demonstrated for diverse bipartite systems, entangled states have not been achieved for interconnects capable of ‘mapping’ multipartite entanglement stored in quantum memories to quantum channels. Here we demonstrate measurement-induced entanglement stored in four atomic memories; user-controlled, coherent transfer of the atomic entanglement to four photonic channels; and characterization of the full quadripartite entanglement using quantum uncertainty relations. Our work therefore constitutes an advance in the distribution of multipartite entanglement across quantum networks. We also show that our entanglement verification method is suitable for studying the entanglement order of condensed-matter systems in thermal equilibrium.
Discursive Struggles of Tradition and Nontradition in the Retrospective Accounts of Married Couples Who Cohabited Before Engagement

Couples who cohabit and then become engaged often participate in nontraditional living arrangements and traditional marriage proposals. Because understandings of tradition and nontradition are constituted in discourse, we employed relational dialectics theory to examine the interplay of competing discourses in the talk of married participants who cohabited before engagement. Through retrospective interviews, we investigated the discursive struggles in participants’ talk across three contexts: pre-engagement cohabitation, the marriage proposal ritual, and the (re)telling of the proposal story to friends and family. Analysis of participant interviews illustrated three discursive struggles: (a) pragmatism and risk in cohabitation, (b) romance and partnership in the proposal ritual, and (c) privacy and revealment in the proposal ritual and (re)telling. We discuss how tradition and nontradition interplayed to redefine the engagement tradition, create new discursive meaning, and constitute couples’ shared ident...
Do You See What I See?: Latino Adolescents' Perceptions of the Images on Television.

The pervasiveness of harmful stereotypes about Latinos has led to concern over the effects of these on individuals. The mass media play a central role in perpetuating these stereotypes, yet we know...
Novel computed tomographic chest metrics to detect pulmonary hypertension

Early diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) can potentially improve survival and quality of life. Detecting PH using echocardiography is often insensitive in subjects with lung fibrosis or hyperinflation. Right heart catheterization (RHC) for the diagnosis of PH adds risk and expense due to its invasive nature. Pre-defined measurements utilizing computed tomography (CT) of the chest may be an alternative non-invasive method of detecting PH. This study retrospectively reviewed 101 acutely hospitalized inpatients with heterogeneous diagnoses, who consecutively underwent CT chest and RHC during the same admission. Two separate teams, each consisting of a radiologist and pulmonologist, blinded to clinical and RHC data, individually reviewed the chest CT's. Multiple regression analyses controlling for age, sex, ascending aortic diameter, body surface area, thoracic diameter and pulmonary wedge pressure showed that a main pulmonary artery (PA) diameter ≥29 mm (odds ratio (OR) = 4.8), right descending PA diameter ≥19 mm (OR = 7.0), true right descending PA diameter ≥ 16 mm (OR = 4.1), true left descending PA diameter ≥ 21 mm (OR = 15.5), right ventricular (RV) free wall ≥ 6 mm (OR = 30.5), RV wall/left ventricular (LV) wall ratio ≥0.32 (OR = 8.8), RV/LV lumen ratio ≥1.28 (OR = 28.8), main PA/ascending aorta ratio ≥0.84 (OR = 6.0) and main PA/descending aorta ratio ≥ 1.29 (OR = 5.7) were significant predictors of PH in this population of hospitalized patients. This combination of easily measured CT-based metrics may, upon confirmatory studies, aid in the non-invasive detection of PH and hence in the determination of RHC candidacy in acutely hospitalized patients.
Protocols for sampling viral sequences to study epidemic dynamics

With more emphasis being put on global infectious disease monitoring, viral genetic data are being collected at an astounding rate, both within and without the context of a long-term disease surveillance plan. Concurrent with this increase have come improvements to the sophisticated and generalized statistical techniques used for extracting population-level information from genetic sequence data. However, little research has been done on how the collection of these viral sequence data can or does affect the efficacy of the phylogenetic algorithms used to analyse and interpret them. In this study, we use epidemic simulations to consider how the collection of viral sequence data clarifies or distorts the picture, provided by the phylogenetic algorithms, of the underlying population dynamics of the simulated viral infection over many epidemic cycles. We find that sampling protocols purposefully designed to capture sequences at specific points in the epidemic cycle, such as is done for seasonal influenza surveillance, lead to a significantly better view of the underlying population dynamics than do less-focused collection protocols. Our results suggest that the temporal distribution of samples can have a significant effect on what can be inferred from genetic data, and thus highlight the importance of considering this distribution when designing or evaluating protocols and analysing the data collected thereunder.
Dispersed Reed-Solomon codes for iterative decoding and construction of q-ary LDPC codes

This paper presents three algebraic methods for constructing q-ary LDPC codes. The first method gives a class of dispersed Reed-Solomon codes as LDPC codes. The second method gives a class of q-ary quasi-cyclic LDPC codes. The third method gives two classes of q-ary finite geometry LDPC codes. Codes constructed by these methods perform very well with iterative decoding, even for short codes.
Vapor and liquid equilibria in glassy polyblends of polystyrene and poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) Part I

The equilibrium sorption of n-hexane vapor and n-hexane liquid in solution cast films of polystyrene, poly(phenylene oxide), and blends of these homopolymers was studied over a significant range of penetrant activity and temperature. These equilibrium sorption measurements were supplemented by density determinations, refractive index measurements, differential scanning calorimetry and differential thermal analysis. A seemingly complicated pattern of results emerged when the equilibrium penetrant content was plotted as a function of blend composition. At relatively low activity and temperature the equilibrium concentration of n-hexane in these films monotonically increased with poly(phenylene oxide) content in the blend. Conversely, at high activities and in unit activity liquid, the equilibrium penetrant concentration exhibited a distinct minimum when plotted as a function of blend composition. At higher activities, solvent induced crazing accompanied the sorption of penetrant. These results were explained consistently by considering the nature of the sorption isotherm over an activity range sufficient to lower the glass transition temperature, of the equilibrated and swollen blend, below the temperature of the sorption experiment. Most importantly, the interpretation and explanation of these data are based upon phenomena common to all glassy polymer-organic penetrant systems and no special properties of this blend system were included in the analysis. The results, therefore, reflect the apparent homogeneity of polystyrene-poly (phenylene oxide) blends and are useful in considering the equilibrium of penetrant sorption in glassy polymers as a general class of materials.
Lipid surface charge does not influence conductance or calcium block of single sodium channels in planar bilayers

We have studied the effects of membrane surface charge on Na+ ion permeation and Ca2+ block in single, batrachotoxin-activated Na channels from rat brain, incorporated into planar lipid bilayers. In phospholipid membranes with no net charge (phosphatidylethanolamine, PE), at low divalent cation concentrations (approximately 100 microM Mg2+), the single channel current-voltage relation was linear and the single channel conductance saturated with increasing [Na+] and ionic strength, reaching a maximum (gamma max) of 31.8 pS, with an apparent dissociation constant (K0.5) of 40.5 mM. The data could be approximated by a rectangular hyperbola. In negatively charged bilayers (70% phosphatidylserine, PS; 30% PE) slightly larger conductances were observed at each concentration, but the hyperbolic form of the conductance-concentration relation was retained (gamma max = 32.9 pS and K0.5 = 31.5 mM) without any preferential increase in conductance at lower ionic strengths. Symmetrical application of Ca2+ caused a voltage-dependent block of the single channel current, with the block being greater at negative potentials. For any given voltage and [Na+] this block was identical in neutral and negatively charged membranes. These observations suggest that both the conduction pathway and the site(s) of Ca2+ block of the rat brain Na channel protein are electrostatically isolated from the negatively charged headgroups on the membrane lipids.
Effects of dark chocolate on blood pressure in patients with hypertension

Cocoa and chocolate are derived from the cacao bean ( Theobroma cacao ), and cocoa products have been considered delicacies for thousands of years.[1][1] Historically, cocoa products have been used as antidiarrheals, antiseptics, diuretics, and parasiticides. In recent years, dark chocolate has been
Soft Errors in VLSI: Present and Future

The sensitivity of very large scale integrated circuits to alphaparticle-induced soft errors is considered. It is shown that alpha flux levels in packages are unlikely to be reduced below 0.001-0.01 \alpha/cm2-h and that device design and technology changes will offer the most significant opportunities for soft error improvement. The use of error detection and correction (EDAC) will become more widespread in the next decade. Accelerated testing methods and additional sources of soft errors in VLSI are discussed.
Creating Capitalism: Using Growth Models to Assess Transition

Five generic reforms, price liberalization, property privatization, macroeconomic stabilization, microeconomic restructuring and trade liberalization, are integrated into both exogenous and endogenous growth models. This integration allows one to assess the implications of each reform for a representative consumer. If one assumes that in assessing a prospective reform each voter, given his unique characteristics and circumstances, acts as if he were the representative consumer, then this framework allows one to evaluate quantitatively the prospects of each reform for each distinct group. This model can be used to forecast how different voters, young-old, flexible-rigid, working-retired, taxpayer-transfer recipient, will respond to each proposal. This can in turn be used to determine the likelihood of success of a democratic polity in transition to capitalism.
Transgluteal CT-Guided Percutaneous Renal Access for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in a Pelvic Horseshoe Kidney.

Abstract CT-guided percutaneous renal access has been described as a safe and effective access technique in patients with complex anatomy, including ectopic kidney, retrorenal colon, spinal dysraphism, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly. In comparison to conventional intraoperative fluoroscopic-guided access, CT imaging allows for delineation of surrounding structures that are at risk for injury during percutaneous access. However, previous reports indicate that pelvic kidneys might be inaccessible percutaneously without laparoscopic assistance. Herein, we present a novel transgluteal route to renal access for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in a patient with a pelvic horseshoe kidney and severe spinal deformity.
Conservative Vote Probabilities: An Easier Method for the Analysis of Roll Call Data∗

We propose a new roll-call scaling method based on OLS which is easier to implement and understand than previous methods and also produces directly interpretable estimates. This measure, Conservative Vote Probability (CVP), indicates the probability that an individual legislator votes “conservatively” relative to the median legislator. CVP is a flexible non-parametric statistical technique that requires no complicated assumptions but still produces legislator scalings that correlate with previous roll call methods at extremely high levels. In this paper we introduce the methodology behind CVP and offer several substantive examples to demonstrate its efficacy as an easier, more accessible alternative to previous roll call methods.
The Emergence of Landscape Governance in Society-Environment Relationships

Landscapes are constructed physically and mentally by people and human society. Whilst ancient geological processes and ongoing biophysical processes have provided the underpinnings of landforms and natural resources, human society and its technologies, particularly since the industrial revolution, have shaped landscapes at multiple scales. Changing landscapes include the development of intensive human settlements, enhanced water catchments, mono-cultures, and reduced natural buffers which influence exposure and vulnerability to natural and other hazards. Human shaping and perceptions of landscapes have also created a sense of community, attachment and identity to those places and landscapes, a blend of human community and ecological interrelationships defining that place and attachment to it. Landscape governance refocuses multi-level policy and decision making on spatial contexts that reflect the greatest extent of internalisation of interdependencies of social-ecological relations; that is, between socially constructed spaces and the ecosystem function and conditions of places. The landscape context so defined gives rise to hazard vulnerabilities and opportunities for adaptation and responses to hazards and natural disasters. The concept of landscape governance augments understanding and practice towards participatory governance and will prove to be a useful tool to provide innovative direction to risk policy, planning and response.
Repair and Rework

Today’s computing systems, with their application of high-density packaging and VLSI devices, represent a marked change from the electronic printed circuit boards made only a few years ago. The development of microminiaturized components, multilayered wiring, very large scale integration, CMOS technology, hybrid components, and multilayered printed circuit boards has created new opportunities for microelectronic applications, but has also created a range of new issues in the area of repair, rework, and modification of microelectronic assemblies and devices.
Wave function discord

Linde's proposal of a Euclidean path integral with the ``wrong'' sign of Euclidean action is often identified with the tunneling proposal for the wave function of the universe. However, the two proposals are in fact quite different. I illustrate the difference and point out that the recent criticism by Hawking and Turok does not apply to the tunneling proposal.
Immunological basis for treatment of graft versus host disease after liver transplant

Graft versus host disease (GVHD) after liver transplant, although a rare disease, has a very high mortality rate. GVHD occurs due to immunoreactions caused by donor T lymphocytes and host cell surface antigens resulting in proliferation and clonal expansion of T lymphocyte. Migration of effector cells, including macrophages, NK cells and cytotoxic T lymphocyte, to the target organs such as skin, intestine and bone marrow results in skin rashes, diarrhea and bone marrow depression. GVHD is diagnosed by clinical symptoms, histopathological findings and by the presence of chimerism. The delayed diagnosis, opportunistic infections and lack of definitive treatment of post orthotopic liver transplant (OLT)-GVHD results in sepsis and multi-organ failure leading to very low survival rates. In this review, we have focused on early diagnosis and critically discuss novel treatment modalities to decrease the incidence of GVHD.
Role of Apparel Accessories & Other Apparel Manufacturing in the Economy of Lancaster County

The apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing industry is an important part of the history and economy of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania. The industry creates jobs and compensation for workers and influences tax revenues in the County.
CONTRASTING PROVERBS AS A MEASURE OF ATTITUDES TOWARD CURIOSITY-RELATED BEHAVIOR OF BLACK AND WHITE COLLEGE STUDENTS

-To gain information on a test composed of pairs of contrasting proverbs and designed to measure attitudes toward curiosity-related behavior, the test was administered to 72 black and 46 white college students. The instrument has a test-retest estimated reliability of .91. Its validity was established using high and low curiosity groups and by correlating scores with the Ontario Test of Intrinsic Motivation. Data showed the black college students more often chose the proverb indicating greater caution in exploring their environments.
Building Research Integrity and Capacity (BRIC): An Educational Initiative to Increase Research Literacy among Community Health Workers and Promotores.

While citizen science is gaining attention of late, for those of us involved in community-based public health research, community/citizen involvement in research has steadily increased over the past 50 years. Community Health Workers (CHWs), also known as Promotores de Salud in the Latino community, are critical to reaching underserved populations, where health disparities are more prevalent. CHWs/Promotores provide health education and services and may also assist with the development and implementation of community- and clinic-based research studies. Recognizing that CHWs typically have no formal academic training in research design or methods, and considering that rigor in research is critical to obtaining meaningful results, we designed instruction to fill this gap. We call this educational initiative “Building Research Integrity and Capacity” or BRIC. The BRIC training consists of eight modules that can be administered as a self-paced training or incorporated into in-person, professional development geared to a specific health intervention study. While we initially designed this culturally-grounded, applied ethics training for Latino/Hispanic community research facilitators, BRIC training modules have been adapted for and tested with non-Latino novice research facilitators. This paper describes the BRIC core content and instructional design process.
Effect of Thyroidectomy, Castration, and Replacement Therapy on Thymus, Lymph Nodes, Spleen in Male Rats.

Summary1. Evidence is presented that there is a relationship in the reactions of the thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes to the effects of castration, thyroidectomy, and treatment with thyroxin or testosterone propionate, or combinations of these in the male rat. 2. Castration and thyroxin cause comparable increases in the weights of thymus, lymph nodes and spleen. Thyroidectomy and treatment with testosterone propionate tend to decrease the weights of these tissues. Thyroidectomy and testosterone propionate prevent the increase in the weights of thymus, spleen and lymph nodes which follow castration. The order of decreasing sensitivity to the stimuli employed is as follows: thymus. cervical lymph nodes, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen. 3. A positive coefficient of correlation of 0.591 ± 0.080 was calculated from the data derived from the above experiments for the thymus and the cervical lymph nodes. This is further evidence of a similarity in reaction of these tissues.
Genetic Mutation Analysis on Influenza A(H1N1)Virus Neuraminidase During 2009-2013 in Chengdu

Objective To understand the variation of influenza A(H1N1)virus neuraminidase(NA)from 2009 to 2013in Chengdu.Methods The influenza A(H1N1)virus strains were obtained from the throat swabs of influenza like illness(ILI)by MDCK cell culture during 2009-2013 in Chengdu.Then the neuraminidase gene of the A(H1N1)viruses were amplified and sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed.Results Compared with the A/California/07/2009(H1N1)NA,the full mutation of the base sites and amino acid sites were 5-12 and 3-7,respectively.The average annual base mutation rate was 0.86% and the annual amino acid mutation rate was 1.23%.Phylogenetic analysis showed that the clades in 2012 and 2013were formed.Conclusion From 2009 to 2013,the neuraminidase gene of influenza A(H1N1)virus NA mutated constantly and the NA antigen had changed,resulted in enlarged genetic distance.
Epidemiological Analysis Of Newly Diagnosed Cases Of pneumoconiosis In Anhui Province From 2006 To 2009

Objective To investigate the current status and the development law of newly diagnosed cases of pneumoconiosis in Anhui province,and provide scientific basis for the government formulating the prevention and control program of occupational diseases.Method Case report data of newly diagnosed pneumoconiosis in Anhui province from 2006 to 200 9 which were selected from health hazard monitoring system based on China disease surveillance information report management system network platform were summarized and analyzed using excel.Results In Anhui,a total of 1766 cases were newly diagnosed as pneumoconiosis from 2006 to 2009,318 cases died.The newly diagnosed pneumoconiosis cases were silicosis and coalminer's pneumoconiosis primarily,which account for 53.30% and 43.59% respectively.Most of the newly diagnosed pneumoconiosis cases were man,and the average age at the time of diagnosis was 55.14 years old,their average dust-exposed time was 18.87 years.The newly cases were distributed mainly over Huaibei,Chaohu,Chuzhou,Tongling and Huainan cities which account for 80.01%.The numbers of newly diagnosed pneumoconiosis increased year by year.Most of cases were mainly concentrated in workers who were engaged in coal production,building material and nonferrous metal trades,which account for 80.01%,and their key occupations were mining excavation workers,coal cutting workers and drilling workers,which account for 75.25%.Conclusion In Anhui,the prevention and control situation remains very grim.The key of pneumoconiosis control was in small town's coal,building materials and nonferrous metal enterprise.
Parallelizing WFST speech decoders

The performance-intensive part of a large-vocabulary continuous speech-recognition system is the Viterbi computation that determines the sequence of words that are most likely to generate the acoustic-state scores extracted from an input utterance. This paper presents an efficient parallel algorithm for Viterbi. The key idea is to partition the per-frame computation among threads to minimize inter-thread communication despite traversing a large irregular acoustic and language model graphs. Together with a per-thread beam search, load balancing language-model lookups, and memory optimizations, we achieve a 6.67x speedup over an highly-optimized production-quality WFST-based speech decoder. On a 200,000 word vocabulary and a 59 million ngram model, our decoder runs at 0.27x real time while achieving a word-error rate of 14.81% on 6214 labeled utterances from Voice Search data.
Ein zerstörtes Pankreas und auch sonst noch so allerhand

Diabetes Typ 1? Typ 2? Nein, in diesem Fall handelt es sich um einen Diabetes Typ 3 nach rezidivierenden Pankreatitiden aufgrund eines chronischen Alkoholabusus. Und fur den Patienten wird die Situation immer kritischer, weil sein Blutzucker aufgrund multipler Faktoren praktisch unkontrollierbar ist — bis hin zu Notarzteinsatzen. Was kann hier noch helfen?
A theoretical study of the relaxation of a phenyl group chemisorbed to an RDX freestanding thin film

Energy relaxation from an excited phenyl group chemisorbed to the surface of a crystalline thin film of α-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (α-RDX) at 298 K and 1 atm is simulated using molecular dynamics. Two schemes are used to excite the phenyl group. In the first scheme, the excitation energy is added instantaneously as kinetic energy by rescaling momenta of the 11 atoms in the phenyl group. In the second scheme, the phenyl group is equilibrated at a higher temperature in the presence of static RDX geometries representative of the 298 K thin film. An analytical model based on ballistic phonon transport that requires only the harmonic part of the total Hamiltonian and includes no adjustable parameters is shown to predict, essentially quantitatively, the short-time dynamics of the kinetic energy relaxation (∼200 fs). The dynamics of the phenyl group for times longer than about 6 ps follows exponential decay and agrees qualitatively with the dynamics described by a master equation. Long-time heat propagation within the bulk of the crystal film is consistent with the heat equation.
Geographic Accessibility of Pulmonologists for Adults With COPD: United States, 2013.

Background Geographic clusters in prevalence and hospitalizations for COPD have been identified at national, state, and county levels. The study objective is to identify county-level geographic accessibility to pulmonologists for adults with COPD. Methods Service locations of 12,392 practicing pulmonologists and 248,160 primary care physicians were identified from the 2013 National Provider Identifier Registry and weighted by census block-level populations within a series of circular distance buffer zones. Model-based county-level population counts of US adults ≥ 18 years of age with COPD were estimated from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The percentages of all estimated adults with potential access to at least one provider type and the county-level ratio of adults with COPD per pulmonologist were estimated for selected distances. Results Most US adults (100% in urbanized areas, 99.5% in urban clusters, and 91.7% in rural areas) had geographic access to a primary care physician within a 10-mile buffer distance; almost all (≥ 99.9%) had access to a primary care physician within 50 miles. At least one pulmonologist within 10 miles was available for 97.5% of US adults living in urbanized areas, but only for 38.3% in urban clusters and 34.5% in rural areas. When distance increased to 50 miles, at least one pulmonologist was available for 100% in urbanized areas, 93.2% in urban clusters, and 95.2% in rural areas. County-level ratios of adults with COPD per pulmonologist varied greatly across the United States, with residents in many counties in the Midwest having no pulmonologist within 50 miles. Conclusions County-level geographic variations in pulmonologist access for adults with COPD suggest that those adults with limited access will have to depend on care from primary care physicians.
Combining a GSI and BCL-2 inhibitor to overcome melanoma’s resistance to current treatments

Major limitations of current melanoma treatments are for instances of relapse and the lack of therapeutic options for BRAF wild-type patients who do not respond to immunotherapy. Many studies therefore focus on killing resistant subpopulations, such as Melanoma Initiating Cells (MICs) to prevent relapse. Here we examined whether combining a GSI (γ-Secretase Inhibitor) with ABT-737 (a small molecule BCL-2/BCL-XL/BCL-W inhibitor) can kill both the non-MICs (bulk of melanoma) and MICs. To address the limitations of melanoma therapies, we included multiple tumor samples of patients relapsed from current treatments, with a diverse genetic background (with or without the common BRAF, NRAS or NF1 mutations) in these studies. Excitingly, the combination treatment reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis of the non-MICs; disrupted primary spheres, decreased the ALDH+ cells, and inhibited the self-renewability of the MICs in multiple melanoma cell lines and relapsed patient samples. Using a low-cell-number mouse xenograft model, we demonstrated that the combination significantly reduced the tumor initiating ability of MIC-enriched cultures from relapsed patient samples. Mechanistic studies also indicate that cell death is NOXA-dependent. In summary, this combination may be a promising strategy to address treatment relapse and for triple wild-type patients who do not respond to immunotherapy.
Adjacent Level Disease and Proximal Junctional Kyphosis

Adjacent segment disease following lumbar spinal fusion refers to any symptomatic pathology occurring rostral or caudal to a previous fusion. The exact etiology of adjacent segment disease is controversial with evidence implicating increased biomechanical forces on the neighboring functional segmental unit as well as an intrinsic degenerative predisposition in this patient population [1–13]. The popularity of posterior instrumented spinal fusions over the last two decades and an aging population has significantly increased the incidence of adjacent segment disease. These patients can present with debilitating symptoms from stenosis, instability, and spinal imbalance. Surgical intervention traditionally consists of a revision posterior approach with extension of the instrumentation and decompression [14–16]. These surgeries are typically higher risk secondary to longer anesthetic durations, increased blood loss, an older patient population, and higher rate of cerebrospinal fluid leak (CSF) from scar tissue [17]. When adjacent segment disease includes proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK), disability arises from sagittal imbalance. A posterior only approach to correct this imbalance usually requires multiple osteotomies, again increasing the operative risk. Also, an open posterior approach has the potential to further disrupt and destabilize the new spinal levels rostral to the construct. Miwa et al. reported on their experience with posterior lumbar interbody fusions (PLIFs) to treat adjacent segment disease after a single level lumbar fusion and discovered that 44 % of these patients deteriorated again because of recurrent adjacent segment disease [15].
Patient-Centered Tablet Application for Improving Medication Adherence after a Drug-Eluting Stent.

Background/Aims: This study’s objective was to evaluate a patient-centered educational electronic tablet application, “My Interventional Drug-Eluting Stent Educational App” (MyIDEA) to see if there was an increase in patient knowledge about dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and medication possession ratio (MPR) compared to treatment as usual. Methods: In a pilot project, 24 elderly (≥50 years-old) research participants were recruited after a Drug Eluting Stent. 11 were randomized to the control arm and 13 to the interventional arm. All participants completed psychological and knowledge questionnaires. Adherence was assessed through MPR, which was calculated at three months for all participants who were scheduled for a second and third follow-up visit. Results: Relative to control, the interventional group had a 10% average increase in MPR. As compared to the interventional group, more patients in the control group had poor adherence (<80% MPR). The psychological data revealed a single imbalance in anxiety between the control and interventional groups. On average interventional participants spent 21 minutes using MyIDEA. Discussion: Consumer health informatics has enabled us to engage patients with their health data using novel methods. Consumer health technology needs to focus more on patient knowledge and engagement to improve long term health. MyIDEA takes a unique approach in targeting DAPT from the onset. Conclusion: MyIDEA leverages patient centered information with clinical care and the electronic health record highlighting the patients’ role as a team member in their own healthcare. The patients think critically about adverse events and how to solve issues before leaving the hospital.
Photosynthetic antenna engineering to improve crop yields

Evidence shows that decreasing the light-harvesting antenna size of the photosystems in tobacco helps to increase the photosynthetic productivity and plant canopy biomass accumulation under high-density cultivation conditions. Decreasing, or truncating, the chlorophyll antenna size of the photosystems can theoretically improve photosynthetic solar energy conversion efficiency and productivity in mass cultures of algae or plants by up to threefold. A Truncated Light-harvesting chlorophyll Antenna size (TLA), in all classes of photosynthetic organisms, would help to alleviate excess absorption of sunlight and the ensuing wasteful non-photochemical dissipation of excitation energy. Thus, solar-to-biomass energy conversion efficiency and photosynthetic productivity in high-density cultures can be increased. Applicability of the TLA concept was previously shown in green microalgae and cyanobacteria, but it has not yet been demonstrated in crop plants. In this work, the TLA concept was applied in high-density tobacco canopies. The work showed a 25% improvement in stem and leaf biomass accumulation for the TLA tobacco canopies over that measured with their wild-type counterparts grown under the same ambient conditions. Distinct canopy appearance differences are described between the TLA and wild type tobacco plants. Findings are discussed in terms of concept application to crop plants, leading to significant improvements in agronomy, agricultural productivity, and application of photosynthesis for the generation of commodity products in crop leaves.
Determinants Of The Prime Interest Rate – LM Curve Method

This model, which involves testing interest rate fluctuations as a function of income and the money supply, proved results which were markedly inferior to the Taylor rule method for explaining variation in the prime interest rate.
Topics in Demand Analysis

In this chapter we present two additional topics in demand theory. The first topic deals with aggregate demand derived from individual demand. It introduces the reader to one of the topics on the current frontiers of economic research even though the problem itself is old. The idea is to explore the possibility of getting better behavior on the part of aggregate demand functions by exploiting the fact that if the number of consumers is very large, then exceptional behavior can be “insignificant” in some well defined sense.
Microstructure and mechanical behavior of nanotwinned AlTi alloys with 9R phase

Abstract Nanotwinned metals have shown high strength and ductility. However, metals with high stacking fault energy, such as Al, typically do not contain high-density growth twins or stacking faults. Here we show that by using a small amount of Ti solutes, 0.15–5.1 at.%, fine grains with a large population of extended incoherent twin boundaries bounding broad 9R phase form in sputtered AlTi films. These nanotwinned AlTi films have hardness as high as 2 GPa. This study provides an alternative approach to design high-strength Al alloys by grain refinement and introducing high-density twin boundaries and 9R phase.
Hybrid manufacturing – integrating traditional manufacturers with additive manufacturing (AM) supply chain

Abstract The ever-growing applications of Additive Manufacturing (AM) in the production of low volume- high value metal parts can be attributed to improving AM processing capabilities and complex design freedom. However, secondary post-processing using traditional processes such as machining, grinding, heat treatment and hot isostatic pressing, i.e., Hybrid Manufacturing, is required to achieve Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), surface finish and desired mechanical properties. It is often challenging for most traditional manufacturers to participate in the rapidly evolving supply chain of direct digital manufacturing (DDM) through in-house investments in cost prohibitive metal AM. This research investigates a system of strategically-located AM hubs which can integrate hybrid-AM with the capabilities and excess capacity in multiple traditional manufacturing facilities. Using North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) data for machine shops in the U.S., an uncapacitated facility location model is used to determine the optimal locations for AM hub centers based on: (1) geographical data, (2) demand and (3) cost of hybrid-AM processing. Results from this study have identified: (a) candidate US counties to build AM hubs, (b) total cost (fixed, operational and transportation) and (c) capacity utilization of the AM hubs. It was found that uncapacitated facility location models identified demand centroid as the optimal location and was affected only by AM utilization rate whereas a constrained p-median model identified 22 AM hub locations as the initial sites for AM hubs which grows to 44 AM hubs as demand increases. It was also found that transportation cost was not a significant factor in the hybrid-AM supply chain. Findings from this study will help both AM companies and traditional manufacturers to determine location in the U.S and key factors to advance the metal hybrid-AM supply chain.
FONTAN PHENOTYPES HAVE SIGNATURE BIOMARKER EXPRESSION PROFILES

The Fontan operation palliates single ventricle patients by providing reliable, but passive, pulmonary blood flow but leads to hemodynamic changes. We characterized clinical Fontan phenotypes based on Echo parameters as either cardiac, non-cardiac or mixed phenotype. We investigated differences in
Chimeric antigen receptor T cells, a savior with a high price

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells represent a medical and scientific breakthrough that may represent a paradigm for the future of personalized medicine in the age of cancer immunotherapy. As with many new cancer agents, such novel and incredible results come with a high price. At the time of the writing of this article, there are two CAR T cells available, Kymriah, produced by Novrtis with a price tag of US$475,000 and Yescarta produced by Gilead Pharmaceuticals with a price tag of US$373,000, neither price including the required hospital admission in order to administer the agent in addition to potential treatment of side effects. There are several issues that are imperative to recognize when understanding the high cost, however the two more pertinent issues are low availability of the agent and no billing code. While only approved for less than a year, there are thoughts about how to bring the price down with more approved CAR T cells and more center with the ability to administer this therapy, however results may be years away before they are realized. In the short term, insurance companies are grappling over how to pay for CAR T therapy, with one of the biggest voids concerning the absence of a billing code for CAR T cells. Regardless, its high price tag highlights moral issues underlying value-based payments and whether the treatment is worth the cost while evaluating the juxtaposition of life years and monetary values. As CAR T cells expand the boundaries of immunotherapy with extraordinary results, the need for a lower price in combination for more availability of CAR T cells will grow until some of these fundamental issues are addressed.
The contact potential difference or Volta potential

Sometime in 1801, Volta, who, together with Galvani, was responsible for the development of the galvanic cell, Voltaic pile, or, in short, the electrolytic cell, believed that there was an intrinsic potential difference between dry metals in no way related to the electrolytic phenomena occurring between metals in solutions. He even went so far as to arrange the dry metals in a potential series based on some simple electrostatic experiments. Volta’s belief also supported by Helmholtz 34 went largely unrecognized for many years through confusion of the phenomenon with the electrolytic actions also earlier discovered by Volta as well as with the Peltier effect potentials. Controversy was rife for many years until finally in 1898, Lord Kelvin 35 presented to the Royal Institution and published in the Philosophical Magazine his studies carried forward from 1859 to 1861 onward that definitely established the existence of an intrinsic contact difference of potential between different metals. The potentials bore no relation to electrochemical effects and were independent of the medium in which the metals were immersed as long as the metals were not altered by the medium. More clarification relating to the contact or Volta difference of potential came from the basic studies of R. A. Millikan 36 in 1915 on the Einstein photoelectric law in which he identified this quantity with the difference between the work functions of the two metals in question. Using light on various metal surfaces shaved in vacuum, he established the energy required to remove electrons from different metals and showed that this energy difference represented the differences in work function, for free electrons in the metal, without any additional work being required to remove the electrons from atoms in the metal. Actually, at an earlier date, the electron theory of metals set up by H. A. Lorentz after J. J. Thomson’s identification of the electron led those active in the field to accept a characteristic work function needed to remove electrons from metals. Thus as early as 1901, H. A. Wilson 37 and later, Wilson and O. W. Richardson, set up thermodynamic analyses of the thermionic current of electrons liberated by hot bodies following J. J. Thomson’s proof that these particles were electrons in 1899. Experimentally, O. W. Richardson 38 in 1901 began his measurements of thermionic emission as a function of temperature to test the theory of Wilson. In consequence, by 1916, there was enough data to indicate that in principle the contact potential differences between clean metals were closely related to the thermionically and photoelectrically measured differences in work functions.
Exploiting the Hydrogen-Bonding Capacity of Organoboronic Acids to Direct Covalent Bond Formation in the Solid State: Templation and Catalysis of the [2 + 2] Photodimerization

The ability of organoboronic acids to direct intermolecular [2 + 2] photodimerizations in the solid state is identified. The reactivity of 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe) within cocrystals of discrete hydrogen-bonded molecular assemblies generates rctt-tetrakis(4-pyridyl)cyclobutane (tpcb) stereoselectively and in up to quantitative yield. Dry grinding of the boronic acids and excess bpe reveal the acids to function as supramolecular catalysts.