cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detecting, tracking, and counteracting terrorist networks via hidden Markov models

In reaction to the tragic events of September 11th 2001, DARPA made plans to develop a terrorism information awareness system with an eye to the detection and interdiction of terrorist activities. Under this program and in conjunction with Aptima, Inc., the University of Connecticut is developing its adaptive safety analysis and monitoring (ASAM) tool for assisting US intelligence analysts with: 1) identifying terrorist threats; 2) predicting possible terrorist actions; and 3) elucidating ways to counteract terrorist activities. The focus of this paper, and an important part of the ASAM tool, is modeling and detecting terrorist networks using hidden Markov models (HMMs). The HMMs used in the ASAM tool model the time evolution of suspicious patterns within the information space gathered from sources such as financial institutions, intelligence reports, newspapers, emails, etc. Here we report our software's ability to detect multiple terrorist networks within the same observation space, distinguish transaction "signatures" of terrorist activity from the ambient background of transactions of benign origin, and incorporate information relating to terrorist activity, timing and sequence.
Academic achievement trajectories of adolescents from Mexican and East Asian immigrant families in the United States

Drawing on the National Educational Longitudinal Survey 1988 (NELS:88), this study identified (1) the growth pattern of academic achievement of adolescent children from Mexican and East Asian immigrant families; (2) investigated to what extent ethnicity and family capital influenced the trajectories in the academic achievement of children from Mexican and East Asian immigrant families in the United States. The growth curve model analysis showed that ethnicity had a significant main effect on academic trajectories. Taking into account various forms of family capital, however, there was no significant ethnicity effect on the rate of change. In addition, compared to parents with a lower level of family capital, those whose families had higher levels of capital generally did better at eighth grade and these students’ achievement accelerated over time. Implications and limitations are also discussed.
Effect of Increasing Radiation Doses on Local and Distant Failures in Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer

Purpose To study the effect of radiation dose on local failure (LF) and distant metastasis (DM) in prostate cancer patients treated with external beam radiotherapy. Methods and Materials The study sample consisted of 919 Stage T1-T3N0M0 patients treated with radiotherapy alone. Three separate dose groups were analyzed: n = 552, median dose, 68.4 Gy), ≥72 but n = 215, median dose, 78 Gy), and ≥82 Gy ( n = 152, median dose, 83 Gy). The median follow-up period for all patients and those receiving Results For all patients, the LF rate at 10 and 15 years was 6% and 13%, respectively. The 7-year LF rate stratified by dose group ( p = 0.012). For all patients, the DM rate at 10 and 15 years was 10% and 17%, respectively. The 7-year DM rate stratified by dose group ( p = 0.008). Multivariate analysis revealed T stage ( p p = 0.001), Gleason score ( p p = 0.018) to be independent predictors of DM. For all 919 patients, multivariate analysis revealed only Gleason score ( p = 0.009) and dose ( p = 0.004) to be independent predictors of LF. Conclusion Although the effect of increasing radiation doses has been documented mostly for biochemical failure rates, the results of our study have shown a clear association between greater radiation doses and lower LF and DM rates.
Taylor-series Technique for Source Localization using AoAs in the Presence of Sensor Location Errors

Source location accuracy can be dramatically degraded by the inaccuracy in the sensor positions. The sensor position errors need to be taken into account in order to improve the source location estimate. This paper presents an algorithm based on the Taylor-series technique to estimate the location of an emitting source in the presence of random sensor position errors, where the data measurements are angle-of-arrivals (AoAs). The proposed algorithm jointly estimates the source and sensor positions iteratively by using Taylor-series linearization. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method approaches the CRLB accuracy for both near-field and far-field sources
Generalized entropy: Its properties

Attempts to generalize the Boltzmann form of the entropy are reviewed. The recent generalized entropy of Prigogine and coworkers is outlined. Its comparison with the Boltzmann form is discussed and the argument is made that the Boltzmann form cannot be generalized to long-range correlations. Evidence is shown by the moderate density calculation of Allen. The convexity of the generalized entropy is discussed as well as the extension to open systems.
iPractice: a self-assessment tool for students learning computer programming in an urban campus

It is very common that students attending urban campuses do not live in university residence halls or dorms. In our case, many of our students spend around one hour and a half each way between home and school. We have developed an App for mobile devices that provides computer programming exercises and quizzes to help students practice and self-assess their knowledge during their commuting time. The most relevant part of this App is that it can be used off-line while the students travel in the subway without an Internet connection. In this paper, we discuss the features of this App and how it has been used to help increase the passing rate, from 65% to 76%, in an introductory computer programming course.
Oral contraceptive program synchronized with moon phase.

45 20-45 year old mostly illiterate Pakistani women participated in a study using either 4-mg norethisterone acetate with .05 mg ethinyl estradiol (Anovlar) or 5 mg norethynodrel with .075 mg ethinyl estradiol 3-methyl-ether (Conovid); the women could not use a calendar so pill administration was synchronized with the phases of the moon. 97.8% of the 45 women were synchronized for the phases of the moon. Numbness of the extremities chloasma spotting and breakthrough bleeding were the most frequent side effects. The average cycle length had been 25-27 days; with moon synchronization the cycle lengths were 29-30 days; flow duration was 3-4 days. The pregnancy rate was 9.5/100 woman-years and pregnancies only occurred in the women who omitted 2 or more pills in at least 1 cycle. 53% of the women took their pills regularly. Oral contraceptives are considered acceptable and workable in rural Pakistan if there is close supervision by a doctor having a favorable relationship with the participants in special situations e.g. short-term use by women who do not want or cannot use an IUD.
Laboratory Trials of Methoprene-impregnated Waxes for Preventing Survival of Adult Oriental Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Infested Papayas

The life cycle of the oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis Hendel, in papayas was completely interrupted by a coating of a standard commercial fruit wax containing the insect growth regulator, methoprene. Tests with the oriental fruit fly showed no survival of adult flies from treated fruits, although the dosages required were an order of magnitude greater than those needed for the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann).
Halogenation of Bisphenol-A, Triclosan, and Phenols in Chlorinated Waters Containing Iodide

Free chlorine reacts with the iodide (I(-)) present in disinfected waters to produce free iodine. Past research has indicated that this nonchlorinated oxidant exhibits greater reactivity and potentially produces more toxic byproducts than free chlorine alone. In this study, we examined the reactivity of the phenolic compounds 2,4-dichlorophenol, triclosan, and bisphenol A in chlorinated waters containing I(-). The free iodine mediated reactions were probed as a function of the initial I(-) concentration and the solution pH. Over the pH range of 5.5 to 10 for an initial I(-) concentration of 10 μM, the observed transformation kinetics of 2,4-dichlorophenol were generally 2-15× faster than reactions with free chlorine alone, while for triclosan and bisphenol A the free iodine mediated transformations were ≈3-20× and ≈230-660× faster, respectively. A comprehensive reaction model that simultaneously accounts for free chlorine and free iodine reactivity in these systems was developed to determine second-order rate constants for the chlorinated and iodinated oxidants. For all test compounds, iodinated daughter products are rapidly produced when free chlorine reacts in the presence of I(-).
Immunization Status in Migrant Children of Elementary Schools in Pudong District of Shanghai

objective To evaluate the immunization status and antibody protection level by vaccination in students in migrant children elementary schools in Pudong district of Shanghai,and identify the influencing factors for immunization coverage.Methods Questionaire survey and interviews were conducted to investigate the immunization status in migrant children,and laboratory tests were performed to measure the relative serum antibody levels.Results The immunization coverage rates for Hepatitis B vaccine(HepB),oral poliomyelitis vaccine(OPV),diphtheria,tetanus and pertussis combined vaccine(DTP) and measles-containing vaccine(MCV) in migrant children were significantly lower than those in resident children.The antibody levels for diphtheria and tetanus were also significantly lower in migrant children than those in resident children.However,the antibody level for measles was higher in migrant children.The results were consistent with the lower immunization coverage in migrant children.The awareness of the importance of vaccination and the rate of keeping immunization records by their parents were significantly lower.Conclusion Enhancing health education and community immunization service is required to improve the immunization coverage in migrant children in Pudong District of Shanghai.
A scaled experimental study of control blade insertion dynamics in Pebble-Bed Fluoride-Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactors

Abstract Direct control element insertion into a pebble-bed reactor core is proposed as a viable control system in molten-salt-cooled pebble-bed reactors. Unlike helium-cooled pebble-bed reactors, this reactor type uses spherical fuel elements with near-neutral buoyancy in the molten-salt coolant, thus reducing contact forces on the fuel elements. This study uses the X-ray Pebble Bed Recirculation Experiment facility to measure the force required to insert a control element directly into a scaled pebble-bed. The required control element insertion force, and therefore the contact force on fuel elements, is measured to be well below recommended limits. Additionally, X-ray tomography is used to observe how the direct insertion of a control element physically displaces spherical fuel elements. The tomography results further support the viability of direct control element insertion into molten-salt-cooled pebble-bed reactor cores.
Reconstruction of the urinary tract by cecal and ileocecal cystoplasty: review of a 15-year experience.

AbstractOf 45 consecutive patients 22 underwent urinary tract undiversion by ileocecal cystoplasty and 23 underwent bladder augmentation by either ileocecal or cecal cystoplasty. Followup ranged from 1 to 15 years. Our experience shows the functional limitations of the cecum as a bladder substitute and emphasizes the need for careful patient selection and long-term followup.
Regulation of ion transport across porcine distal bronchi

Distal airways comprise the vast majority of total human airway surface area, yet little is known about transepithelial ion transport in these tissues. Pathways that regulate ion transport in porci...
Estimating the Mean by Two-Stage Sampling with Replacement:

SummaryIn two-stage sampling when sampling is done with replacement at each stage, a better estimate of the population mean can be obtained by considering the distinct units only at each stage. The...
Accuracy of oncologists’ life-expectancy estimates provided to their advanced cancer patients: Correlates and outcomes.

10032Background: Oncologists are often reluctant to discuss life-expectancy estimates with their patients because of concerns about the inaccuracy of the estimates and limited evidence regarding be...
Nuclear Spin-Lattice Relaxation in Ca F 2 Crystals via Paramagnetic Centers

The results of nuclear spin-lattice relaxation-time measurements in the laboratory reference frame (${T}_{1}$) and the rotating reference frame (${{T}_{1}}^{r}$), made on ${\mathrm{F}}^{19}$ nuclei in Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ crystals doped either with ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}$, ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$, or ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ paramagnetic centers, are reported. From 0.25 to 0.36 of the Debye temperature, values of the correlation time ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{c}$ are found from ${{T}_{1}}^{r}$ minima for ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ ions. Over this range ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{c}\ensuremath{\propto}{T}^{\ensuremath{-}3.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1}$, compared to ${T}^{\ensuremath{-}3.2}$ computed from Leushin's theory. For ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}$ over 0.15 to 0.19 of the Debye temperature, measurements yield ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{c}\ensuremath{\propto}{T}^{\ensuremath{-}4.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1}$, compared to ${T}^{\ensuremath{-}4.7}$ computed from Leushin's theory. From the ${T}_{1}$ data for a ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ -doped Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ crystal, a value of 1.9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/sec for the spin-diffusion constant $D$ is computed. From the ${T}_{1}$ data for a ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}$-doped Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ crystal, $D$ is computed to be 1.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/sec. A NMR measurement of the effective number of paramagnetic centers per unit volume, ${N}_{p}$, increases the measured $D$ to 2.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/sec. The computed value of $D$ (Lowe and Gade) is 5.1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/sec. Indirect evidence leads to the conclusion that the spin-diffusion barrier radius is at least a factor of 2 smaller than predicted by Rorschach's formula. In the short-${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{c}$ region, ${T}_{1}$ and ${{T}_{1}}^{r}$, are found to be field-independent, with $\frac{{{T}_{1}}^{r}}{{T}_{1}}g1$. The experimental data are consistent with ${T}_{1}\ensuremath{\propto}{{B}_{0}}^{\frac{1}{2}}{{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{c}}^{\frac{1}{4}}{{N}_{p}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ (diffusion-limited region), ${T}_{1}\ensuremath{\propto}{{B}_{0}}^{1}{{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{c}}^{\frac{1}{2}}{{N}_{p}}^{\frac{\ensuremath{-}4}{3}}$ (diffusion-vanishing region). The initial decay of the magnetization in the measurements of ${{T}_{1}}^{r}$ is found to be proportional to ${t}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ in the long-correlation-time region. The coefficient of ${t}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ is used to obtain an experimental value for ${N}_{p}$ that is \textonehalf{} as large as the value supplied by the manufacturer of the crystal.
Interactions between Climate and Local Air Pollution Policies

Several studies have found that taxing vehicle purchase or ownership on the basis of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduces CO2 emissions. In this paper I show that CO2-based vehicle taxation can raise emissions of other pollutants that harm air quality and that the magnitude of this unintended effect depends on consumer substitution across and within gasoline and diesel fuel vehicles. Using data on European vehicle registrations, fuel prices, fuel taxes, and vehicle taxes from 2002 through 2010, I estimate the relevant substitution patterns and compare the performance of several empirical strategies based on the recent vehicle tax literature. According to the preferred specification, vehicle tax reforms have increased nitrogen oxide emissions, which harm local air quality. Moreover, fuel-based CO2 taxes introduce milder trade-offs between CO2 and nitrogen oxides emissions than do vehicle taxes.
Nonlinear Assessment of Motor Variability During Practice and Competition for Individuals with Different Motivational Orientations

Abstract The aim of the present study was to document how differing motivational orientation profiles, situated within environmental constraints (i.e., a competitive and practice environments) influence the nonlinear variability of performance and subsequent retention of a visual motor tracking skill. Myriad research associates atypical nonlinear aspects of motor variability with pathology; however, few empirical efforts have explored the influence of individual differences and environmental factors on nonlinear aspects of motor output and skill retention. Participants performed an isometric force-tracking task, matching the force indicated by a target line displayed across a computer screen. Dependent variables were performance outcome (root mean squared error) and the complexity of the produced signal (Sample Entropy) across practice, competition, and retention. Participants with high task orientation, regardless of high or low levels of ego orientation, exhibited the greatest visual motor tracking improvement as well as the greatest increases in irregularity of force variability from practice to competition and retention. We conclude that individual differences play a key role in the structure of continuous behavior, and that this structure influences the learning of continuous motor skills.
Nutraceuticals and Immune Restoration in the Elderly

Nutraceuticals, including dietary supplements and functional foods, are a $152 billion world market. The percentage of those aged 65 years and older using nutraceutical products is higher than for any other age group and has doubled in recent years. Aging is associated with decreased immunity, increased morbidity and mortality resulting from infectious agents, and poor nutritional status. Deficiencies in vitamin E, vitamin B6, folate, zinc, and selenium, for example, are particularly common, and deficits in these micronutrients have been reported to negatively influence immunity. Thus, if nutraceutical products can improve micronutrient status, the regular use of nutraceuticals by the elderly population may provide an opportunity to enhance immunity in this at-risk population. Results from human clinical trials evaluating the use of nutraceuticals to support immune restoration in the elderly, however, have been largely inconsistent. Additional clinical trials using consistent outcome measures are needed, which will require a cooperative commitment from the nutraceutical industry and academia.
What happened to civility? Understanding rude behavior through the lens of organizational justice

Abstract The ability to have polite conversation between individuals who disagree with one another seems to be a rare quality today. Organizational justice theory may help explain why rude behavior seems so prevalent and whether the rudeness in politics and society creates a polarized environment that could impact the workplace. Three recent legal decisions concerning healthcare, same-sex marriage, and the Michael Brown case, along with three workplace examples of deliberate rudeness, are examined to analyze the polarization of opposing viewpoints and the incivility that resulted from these situations. When a decision is viewed as a win-lose situation and people perceive the decision process as unfair, losers in the decision may feel threatened and react by engaging in deviant behavior that is uncivil. Winners may also engage in behavior that is uncivil and intolerant of opposing viewpoints. The result is a cycle of incivility that may include character assassination, protests, and a diminished willingness to compromise. Managers should be cognizant of the dangers of rude behavior and create a workplace environment that counters productivity interference caused by incivility and inability to compromise. I suggest specific steps to help stop workplace incivility before it starts.
Comparing Objective and Subjective Bayes Factors for the Two-Sample Comparison: The Classification Theorem in Action.

Many Bayes factors have been proposed for comparing population means in two-sample (independent samples) studies. Recently, Wang and Liu presented an “objective” Bayes factor (BF) as an alternative...
Utilization of Mechanistic Enzymology to Evaluate the Significance of ADP Binding to Human Lon Protease.

Lon, also known as Protease La, is one of the simplest ATP-dependent proteases. It is a homooligomeric enzyme comprised of an ATPase domain and a proteolytic domain in each enzyme subunit. Despite sharing about 40% sequence identity, human and Escherichia coli Lon proteases utilize a highly conserved ATPase domain found in the AAA+ family to catalyze ATP hydrolysis, which is needed to activate protein degradation. In this study, we utilized mechanistic enzymology techniques to show that despite comparable kcat and Km parameters found in the ATPase activity, human and E. coli Lon exhibit significantly different susceptibility to ADP inhibition. Due to the low affinity of human Lon for ADP, the conformational changes in human Lon generated from the ATPase cycle are also different. The relatively low affinity of human Lon for ADP cannot be accounted for by reversibility in ATP hydrolysis, as a positional isotope exchange experiment demonstrated both E. coli Lon and human Lon catalyzed ATP hydrolysis irreversibly. A limited tryptic digestion study however indicated that human and E. coli Lon bind to ADP differently. Taken together, the findings reported in this research article suggest that human Lon is not regulated by a substrate-promoted ADP/ATP exchange mechanism as found in the bacterial enzyme homolog. The drastic difference in structural changes associated with ADP interaction with the two protease homologs offer potential for selective inhibitor design and development through targeting the ATPase sites. In addition to revealing unique mechanistic differences that distinguish human versus bacterial Lon, this article underscores the benefit of mechanistic enzymology in deciphering the physiological mechanism of action of Lon proteases and perhaps other closely related ATP-dependent proteases in the future.
The mushroom body D1 dopamine receptor controls innate courtship drive

Mating is critical for species survival and is profoundly regulated by neuromodulators and neurohormones to accommodate internal states and external factors. To identify the underlying neuromodulatory mechanisms, we investigated the roles of dopamine receptors in various aspects of courtship behavior in Drosophila. Here, we report that the D1 dopamine receptor dDA1 regulates courtship drive in naive males. The wild-type naive males actively courted females regardless their appearance or mating status. On the contrary, the dDA1 mutant (dumb) males exhibited substantially reduced courtship toward less appealing females including decapitated, leg-less and mated females. The dumb male's reduced courtship activity was due to delay in courtship initiation and prolonged intervals between courtship bouts. The dampened courtship drive of dumb males was rescued by reinstated dDA1 expression in the mushroom body α/β and γ neurons but not α/β or γ neurons alone, which is distinct from the previously characterized dDA1 functions in experience-dependent courtship or other learning and memory processes. We also found that the dopamine receptors dDA1, DAMB and dD2R are dispensable for associative memory formation and short-term memory of conditioned courtship, thus courtship motivation and associative courtship learning and memory are regulated by distinct neuromodulatory mechanisms. Taken together, our study narrows the gap in the knowledge of the mechanism that dopamine regulates male courtship behavior.
55 – Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

This chapter presents an overview of the disease manifestations and treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that occurs predominantly in women during their childbearing years. The disease course is marked by exacerbations and remissions. This multisystem disease is characterized by the production of auto-antibodies and the occurrence of tissue damage from the deposition of the antibodies in immune complexes. Immune dysregulation probably occurs from environmental triggers in the genetically susceptible host. Diagnosis is generally not difficult when many typical symptoms and signs are present but may be more problematic when the disease manifests as only a few complaints or when problems occur over time. Therapeutic options for SLE offer increasing hope. For the first time since the 1970s, clinical trials in lupus are being conducted. Drugs that have been used in other diseases are finding new use in lupus. Results from clinical trials indicate that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment improves SLE disease activity and reduces corticosteroid requirements. The prolactin antagonist bromocriptine shows promise in suppressing active SLE. Clinical studies indicate that bromocriptine decreases serum prolactin levels, suppresses anti-dsDNA antibodies, significantly reduces lupus disease activity, and reduces SLE flares.
Pilon Fractures: Assessment and Treatment

The treatment of high-energy intra-articular fractures of the tibial plafond involves many potential complications. A protocol has been developed. This protocol recognizes the importance of the surrounding soft tissues and is based on sound principles and thorough clinical experience. This article discusses this protocol and its use and explains why it is now more widely accepted.
Decision Analytic Modeling

Decision analysis is a formalized approach to making optimal choices under conditions of uncertainty. It allows the user to enter costs, probabilities, and health-related quality of life values among other inputs of interest, and then calculates probabilistically weighted means of these outcome measures. In public health, these outcome measures usually include costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). One strength of decision analysis modeling is that it allows for the calculation of a range of possible values around a given mean. This approach, called sensitivity analysis, allows the user to better understand the risk that any given action will produce suboptimal results.
Learning filter widths of spectral decompositions with wavelets

Time series classification using deep neural networks, such as convolutional neural networks (CNN), operate on the spectral decomposition of the time series computed using a preprocessing step. This step can include a large number of hyperparameters, such as window length, filter widths, and filter shapes, each with a range of possible values that must be chosen using time and data intensive cross-validation procedures. We propose the wavelet deconvolution (WD) layer as an efficient alternative to this preprocessing step that eliminates a significant number of hyperparameters. The WD layer uses wavelet functions with adjustable scale parameters to learn the spectral decomposition directly from the signal. Using backpropagation, we show the scale parameters can be optimized with gradient descent. Furthermore, the WD layer adds interpretability to the learned time series classifier by exploiting the properties of the wavelet transform. In our experiments, we show that the WD layer can automatically extract the frequency content used to generate a dataset. The WD layer combined with a CNN applied to the phone recognition task on the TIMIT database achieves a phone error rate of 18.1\%, a relative improvement of 4\% over the baseline CNN. Experiments on a dataset where engineered features are not available showed WD+CNN is the best performing method. Our results show that the WD layer can improve neural network based time series classifiers both in accuracy and interpretability by learning directly from the input signal.
Exploring the potential of machine learning in reducing the computational time/expense and improving the reliability of engine optimization studies

Past research has shown that multidimensional computational fluid dynamics modeling in combination with a genetic algorithm method is an effective approach for optimizing internal combustion engine...
A fast, linear Boltzmann transport equation solver for computed tomography dose calculation (Acuros CTD)

PURPOSE To improve dose reporting of CT scans, patient-specific organ doses are highly desired. However, estimating the dose distribution in a fast and accurate manner remains challenging, despite advances in Monte Carlo methods. In this work, we present an alternative method that deterministically solves the linear Boltzmann transport equation (LBTE), which governs the behavior of x-ray photon transport through an object. METHODS Our deterministic solver for CT dose (Acuros CTD) is based on the same approach used to estimate scatter in projection images of a CT scan (Acuros CTS). A deterministic method is used to compute photon fluence within the object, which is then converted to deposited energy by multiplying by known, material-specific conversion factors. To benchmark Acuros CTD, we used the AAPM Task Group 195 test for CT dose, which models an axial, fan beam scan (10 mm thick beam) and calculates energy deposited in each organ of an anthropomorphic phantom. We also validated our own Monte Carlo implementation of Geant4 to use as a reference to compare Acuros against for other common geometries like an axial, cone beam scan (160 mm thick beam) and a helical scan (40 mm thick beam with table motion for a pitch of 1). RESULTS For the fan beam scan, Acuros CTD accurately estimated organ dose, with a maximum error of 2.7% and RMSE of 1.4% when excluding organs with <0.1% of the total energy deposited. The cone beam and helical scans yielded similar levels of accuracy compared to Geant4. Increasing the number of source positions beyond 18 or decreasing the voxel size below 5 × 5 × 5 mm3 provided marginal improvement to the accuracy for the cone beam scan but came at the expense of increased run time. Across the different scan geometries, run time of Acuros CTD ranged from 8 to 23 s. CONCLUSIONS In this digital phantom study, a deterministic LBTE solver was capable of fast and accurate organ dose estimates.
An Unpublished Interview with Walter Gropius, December 1960

Having recently retired from the University of Pennsylvania's Department of City and Regional Planning, I was going through the boxes of files I had accumulated over the years, when I came upon folders containing three unpublished interviews I had done in the early 1960s. These conversations were with Reyner Banham, Walter Gropius, and Jose Luis Sert. Reading them over, I thought the Gropius interview was still worth publishing as a historical artifact, and so I contacted JSAH (Figure 1). Figure 1 Walter Gropius, 1955 (photo, Hans G. Conrad/Rene Spitz Collection). This is how the Gropius interview came about. In the summer of 1960, before returning to the Yale School of Architecture that fall, I had a job in the editorial offices of the Architectural Record . Jonnie Davern, who was effectively the managing editor (although she was not confirmed in that title until later), sent me across town to interview Philip Johnson at his office in the Seagram Building.1 Johnson was in good form and enjoyed the idea of being interviewed by someone studying to be an architect. The Record was pleased with the interview and published it that December.2 Davern gave me some additional interview assignments when I went off to New Haven that fall, expecting me to fit them in during the academic year. She commissioned the Banham interview when she found out that he was visiting Yale; other assignments sometimes required me to travel. In 1961 and 1962, the Record published my interviews with Pietro Belluschi, Edward L. Barnes, Edward D. Stone, and Paul Rudolph.3 I also submitted my interviews with Banham, Sert, and Gropius, but Emerson Goble, the editor in chief, apparently decided that the ones the Record published were enough. Walter Gropius was actually one of the first of my interview assignments. I …
Spinal Cord Injury in Rats Disrupts the Circadian System

Spinal cord injury (SCI) perturbs many physiological systems. The circadian system helps maintain homeostasis throughout the body by synchronizing physiological and behavioral functions to predictable daily events. Whether disruption of these coordinated daily rhythms contributes to SCI-associated pathology remains understudied. Here, we hypothesized that SCI in rats would dysregulate several prominent circadian outputs including glucocorticoids, core temperature, activity, neuroinflammation, and circadian gene networks. Female and male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to clinically relevant thoracic 9 moderate contusion SCI (or laminectomy sham surgery). Diurnal measures—including rhythms of plasma corticosterone (CORT), body temperature, and activity (using small implanted transmitters), and intraspinal circadian and inflammatory gene expression—were studied prior to and after surgery. SCI caused overall increases and disrupted rhythms of the major rodent glucocorticoid, CORT. Presurgery and sham rats displayed expected rhythms in body temperature and activity, whereas rats with SCI had blunted daily rhythms in body temperature and activity. In parallel, SCI disrupted intraspinal rhythms of circadian clock gene expression. Circadian clock genes can act as transcriptional regulators of inflammatory pathways. Indeed, SCI rats also showed dysregulated rhythms in inflammatory gene expression in both the epicenter and distal spinal cord. Our data show that moderate SCI in rats causes wide-ranging diurnal rhythm dysfunction, which is severe at acute time points and gradually recovers over time. Normalizing post-SCI diurnal rhythms could enhance the recovery of homeostasis and quality of life.
Analysis of Popcorn (Zea mays L. var. everta) for Antioxidant Capacity and Total Phenolic Content.

Popcorn, one of the most popular snack foods in the world, is known for being a high fiber, healthy food. Our research has found that commercial popcorn also contains significant amounts of the class of antioxidants known as phenolic acids. The total antioxidant capacity of raw and popped popcorn extract has been quantified using the Folin–Ciocalteu and FRAP assays. The polyphenols were found exclusively in the pericarp of the kernel completely bound to the oligosaccharide fiber matrix. An in vitro digestion study was also performed to predict the phenolic acids’ bioavailability. On average, nine commercial popcorn samples contain 5.93 ± 0.92 mg/g of total polyphenols after alkaline hydrolysis and 2.66 ± 0.15 mg/g after in vitro digestion as measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay. Furthermore, the popping process was found not to significantly decrease the antioxidant capacity. These results indicate that a considerable amount of the bound polyphenols are bioaccessible. Due to the high levels of bioaccessible polyphenols, popcorn may be a significant source of dietary polyphenol antioxidants.
Evidence of Endotypes in Pediatric Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Caused by Sepsis.

Objectives Subclassification based on clinical or biologic commonalities (endotypes) is one approach to reduce heterogeneity in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. In adults, biomarker-defined endotypes of respiratory failure have been described, with differential outcome profiles and response to therapy. To date, no studies have tested whether endotypes exist in pediatric acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, although messenger RNA expression-based endotypes have been described in pediatric sepsis. The aim of the present study was to test whether endotypes identified in pediatric sepsis are applicable to pediatric acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Design Secondary analysis of a previously reported microarray-based study of pediatric sepsis. Setting Multiple PICUs in the United States. Patients Sixty-seven children with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure caused by sepsis. Interventions None. Measurements and main results Of the larger septic shock cohort, 67 met eligibility for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Twenty-three subjects were assigned to endotype A, and 44 to endotype B. Subjects assigned to endotype A had over four-fold greater unadjusted 28-day mortality, and nearly three-fold greater rates of complicated course. The association with mortality (odds ratio, 8.0; 95% CI, 1.6-41.0) and complicated course (odds ratio, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.2-14.9) persisted after adjustment for age, severity of illness, and PaO2/FIO2. Conclusions Applying a previously reported endotyping strategy in children with septic shock identified endotypes of pediatric acute hypoxemic respiratory failure secondary to sepsis, with differential risk for poor outcomes. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of endotypes in pediatric respiratory failure. Our results support an investigation into using transcriptomics to identify messenger RNA-based endotypes in a dedicated, well-defined acute hypoxemic respiratory failure cohort.
Organophosphorus Antagonism by Resealed Erythrocytes Containing Recombinant Paraoxonase

Parathion has the highest incidence of poisonings among the agricultural pesticides. An alternative conceptual approach was employed to prevent intoxication of paraoxon, the active metabolite of parathion, by using resealed carrier erythrocytes containing a highly purified recombinant paraoxonase (CRBC). The CRBC were found to be effective alone and synergistic with 2-PAM and atropine to protect over 1,000 lethal doses of paraoxon. This striking protection greatly exceeds any antidotal regimen ever reported against chemical toxicants. The present drug carrier model provides a general conceptual approach to develop specific antidotes against many other chemical toxicants for which no antidotes are presently available.
Angles between Haagerup–Schultz projections and spectrality of operators

Abstract We investigate angles between Haagerup–Schultz projections of operators belonging to finite von Neumann algebras, in connection with a property analogous to Dunford's notion of spectrality of operators. In particular, we show that an operator is similar to the sum of a normal and an s.o.t.-quasinilpotent operator that commute if and only if the angles between its Haagerup–Schultz projections are uniformly bounded away from zero (and we call this the uniformly non-zero angles property). Moreover, we show that spectrality is equivalent to this uniformly non-zero angles property plus decomposability. Finally, using this characterization, we construct an easy example of an operator which is decomposable but not spectral, and we show that Voiculescu's circular operator is not spectral (nor is any of the circular free Poisson operators).
Healthcare providers' and deaf patients' interpreting preferences for critical care and non-critical care: Video remote interpreting.

Abstract Background While Video Remote Interpreting services provides prompt services for emergency care and is cheaper than in-person interpreting services, there have been several issues, such as poor connection and limited flexibility to maneuver. Objectives This study proposes three research questions and four hypotheses to identify healthcare providers and deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) patients’ preferences for VRI and in-person interpreting on critical care and non-critical care. Methods The study utilizes a mixed methods design incorporating both an online survey and qualitative interviews. A total of 103 participants responded to the online survey. This included 36 healthcare providers who worked with limited English proficiency (LEP) patients, 26 healthcare providers who worked with DHH patients, and 41 DHH patients. Qualitative interviews were also conducted with eight healthcare providers and eight DHH patients to explore the online survey findings. Results In the Part I study, healthcare providers (n = 62) included 16 males and 45 females; most professions were dentists, nurse practitioners, and students. DHH patients (n = 41) included 17 males and 22 females; most education was graduate or professional degrees. There was no statistical difference in their preference uses for critical care (p = 1.000), but there was a statistical difference for non-critical care (p = .035). In the Part II study, both healthcare providers and DHH patients preferred in-person interpreting for critical care to obtain effective communication, translation accuracy, and better treatment. Conclusions Recommendation to improve VRI equipment and training with healthcare providers, hospital administrators, VRI companies, VRI interpreters, and DHH patients to improve healthcare communication.
The impact of scavenging: perspective from casework in forensic anthropology

Forensic anthropology casework frequently encounters evidence of animal scavenging associated with fragmentation and loss of skeletal material. Published research demonstrates that patterns of destruction in bone can suggest the size and type of animal involved. This study analyzes 107 cases reported on by the first author at the Smithsonian Institution to investigate patterns of scavenging in forensic anthropology casework. This investigation reveals that the extent of scavenger impact varies across the body, but primarily is concentrated in the central body area. Although extensive animal scavenging can limit analysis, some evidence of foul play can be preserved.
Eye Care Among US Adults at High Risk for Vision Loss in the United States in 2002 and 2017.

Importance Timely eye care can prevent unnecessary vision loss. Objectives To estimate the number of US adults 18 years or older at high risk for vision loss in 2017 and to evaluate use of eye care services in 2017 compared with 2002. Design, Setting, and Participants This survey study used data from the 2002 (n = 30 920) and 2017 (n = 32 886) National Health Interview Survey, an annual, cross-sectional, nationally representative sample of US noninstitutionalized civilians. Analysis excluded respondents younger than 18 years and those who were blind or unable to see. Covariates included age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, educational level, income-to-poverty ratio, health insurance status, diabetes diagnosis, vision or eye problems, and US region of residence. Main Outcomes and Measures Three self-reported measures were visiting an eye care professional in the past 12 months, receiving a dilated eye examination in the past 12 months, and needing but being unable to afford eyeglasses in the past 12 months. Adults at high risk for vision loss included those who were 65 years or older, self-reported a diabetes diagnosis, or had vision or eye problems. Multivariable logistic regression models incorporating sampling weights were used to investigate associations between measures and covariates. Temporal comparisons between 2002 and 2017 were derived from estimates standardized to the US 2010 census population. Results Among 30 920 individuals in 2002, 16.0% were 65 years or older, and 52.0% were female; among 32 886 individuals in 2017, 20.0% were 65 years or older, and 51.8% were female. In 2017, more than 93 million US adults (37.9%; 95% CI, 37.0%-38.7%) were at high risk for vision loss compared with almost 65 million (31.5%; 95% CI, 30.7%-32.3%) in 2002, a difference of 6.4 (95% CI, 5.2-7.6) percentage points. Use of eye care services improved (56.9% [95% CI, 55.7%-58.7%] reported visiting an eye care professional annually, and 59.8% [95% CI, 58.6%-61.0%] reported receiving a dilated eye examination), but 8.7% (95% CI, 8.0%-9.5%) said they could not afford eyeglasses (compared with 51.1% [95% CI, 49.9%-52.3%], 52.4% [95% CI, 51.2%-53.6%], and 8.3% [95% CI, 7.7%-8.9%], respectively, in 2002). In 2017, individuals with lower income compared with high income were more likely to report eyeglasses as unaffordable (13.6% [95% CI, 11.6%-15.9%] compared with 5.7% [95% CI, 4.9%-6.6%]). Conclusions and Relevance Compared with data from 2002, more US adults were at high risk for vision loss in 2017. Although more adults used eye care, a larger proportion reported eyeglasses as unaffordable. Focusing resources on populations at high risk for vision loss, increasing awareness of the importance of eye care, and making eyeglasses more affordable could promote eye health, preserve vision, and reduce disparities.
Ecosystem stability and Native American oyster harvesting along the Atlantic Coast of the United States

The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is an important proxy for examining historical trajectories of coastal ecosystems. Measurement of ~40,000 oyster shells from archaeological sites along the Atlantic Coast of the United States provides a long-term record of oyster abundance and size. The data demonstrate increases in oyster size across time and a nonrandom pattern in their distributions across sites. We attribute this variation to processes related to Native American fishing rights and environmental variability. Mean oyster length is correlated with total oyster bed length within foraging radii (5 and 10 km) as mapped in 1889 and 1890. These data demonstrate the stability of oyster reefs despite different population densities and environmental shifts and have implications for oyster reef restoration in an age of global climate change.
Treatment Patterns and Clinical Outcomes of Adenoid Cystic Breast Carcinoma: A Single-Institution Experience.

BackgroundAdenoid cystic breast carcinoma (ACC) is a rare subtype of triple-negative breast cancer. We aim to characterize the treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of women diagnosed with ACC a...
Spiral Structure in the Circumnuclear Disk at the Center of NGC 4258

Observations of line emission from water masers near the center of the galaxy NGC 4258 have recently provided compelling evidence for the presence of a rotating disk of gas, viewed nearly edge-on, surrounding a massive black hole. We show that this disk is very likely to be only marginally stable to radial perturbations—a stability regime where weak, nonaxisymmetric disturbances grow via the "swing amplification" effect, leading to the formation of a ragged, multiarmed spiral pattern similar to that observed in Sc galaxies. This suggests a natural explanation for the apparent clustering of the high-velocity emission sources into several distinct clumps and for the observed regularity in the distance intervals between them. The clumps of maser sources appear at the intersections of the spiral arms and the radial lines of longest coherent gain path (the diameter through the disk perpendicular to the line of sight) and are thus spaced apart at the characteristic crest-to-crest radial distance between the arms. This interpretation implies a disk thickness of ~0.003 (/1.6) pc at a radius of ~0.2 pc, where the local value of the stability parameter is 1.2 2. The H2 density is ~1.8 × 1010 (/1.6)−1 cm-3, assuming that H2 dominates the mass density in that region. The disk mass is 106 M☉, which is consistent with the accuracy of the Keplerian fit to the rotation curve of the maser emission sources. These results closely concur with previous estimates based on independent considerations.
Impact of a multimodal analgesic protocol modification on opioid consumption after cesarean delivery: a retrospective cohort study.

Adequate pain control is a mainstay in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols. ERAS protocols are widely accepted in colorectal and gynecologic surgeries and are increasingly implemented ...