cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Endogenous Cannabinoid System: A Cadre of Potential Therapeutic Targets

Cannabis and its extracts have been used for its medicinal and recreational properties since antiquity, yet the dependence liability of this drug has only recently gained general acceptance. The systematic study of the biological systems underlying the effects of these drugs has contributed to a tremendous wealth of knowledge in understanding not only the molecular basis of the pharmacological effects of cannabis but also led to the identification of the endogenous cannabinoid system. In this chapter, we introduce this system, including the key cannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids that bind and activate these receptors, and the biosynthetic and catabolic enzymes that regulate the endogenous ligands. We emphasize pharmacological strategies to target key components of the endogenous cannabinoid system that hold promise for treating cannabis use disorder.
Relatedness of Equivalence Class Members: Combined Effects of Nodality and Relational Type

In equivalence classes, stimulus relatedness is an inverse function of the nodal number for the same type of derived relation. Also, transitive relations are preferred to equivalence relations when the nodal number is held constant. The current study evaluated the combined effects of nodal number and relational type on relatedness of stimuli within equivalence classes. After eight college students formed two 7-node, 9-member equivalence classes, participants were presented with trials during within-class relational preference tests that pitted 1-node equivalence relations against 1- to 5-node transitive relations. Consistent with prior research, 1-node transitive relations were always preferred to 1-node equivalence relations. For the six participants who formed classes rapidly, preference for the 1-node equivalence relation increased as a direct function of increases in the number of nodes in the competing transitive relation. In addition, the 1-node equivalence relation was equally preferred to an approximately 2-node transitive relation. Because equivalence classes remained intact after preference testing, performances documented the coexistence of equal and differential relatedness of class members. Two participants formed the classes on a delayed basis and produced inverted U-shaped preference functions instead of monotonic preference functions. Because the preference functions differed in terms of speed of emergence, the same nominal equivalence classes were not functionally equivalent to each other with regard to stimulus relatedness.
Proceedings of the 19th international conference on Architectural support for programming languages and operating systems

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 2014 ACM International Conference on Architectural Support for Programming Languages and Operating Systems -- ASPLOS-XIX in Salt Lake City, UT on March 1-5, 2014. This year's ASPLOS finds a home in beautiful Salt Lake City, a thriving technology hub that is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and a handful of geologically diverse national parks. In fact, the large number of technology start-ups in the Salt Lake valley has inspired the moniker "Silicon Slopes". Visitors can choose among a wide array of activities while in town -- skiing or snowboarding in one of eight nearby world-class ski resorts, hiking on numerous local trails, visiting Historic Temple Square in downtown, or taking the five-hour drive to national parks in Utah and surrounding states. As the site of the 2002 Winter Olympic games, there are numerous Olympic class facilities nearby. The conference banquet will be held at the Olympic Oval, site of both the long and short track speed skating events. Apollo Anton Ohno appeared on the world stage as the gold medalist in the 1500 meter short-track event in the 2002 Olympics. We hope the banquet will not only provide the usual social opportunity to mingle with colleagues but also give you all the chance to feel some of the spirit that lies behind the Winter Olympic Games.
A data interpretation approach for deep learning-based prediction models

Deep learning models based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) are known as successful tools in many classification and segmentation studies. Although these kinds of tools can achieve impressive performance, we still lack effective means to interpret the models, features, and the associated input data on how a model can work well in a data-driven manner. In this paper, we propose a novel investigation to interpret a deep-learningbased model for breast cancer risk prediction using screening digital mammogram images. First, we build a CNN-based risk prediction model by using normal screening mammogram images. Then we developed two different/separate schemes to explore the interpretability. In Scheme 1, we apply a sliding window-based approach to modify the input images; that is, we only keep the sub-regional imaging data inside the sliding window but padding other regions with zeros, and we observe how such an effective sub-regional input may lead to changes in the model’s performance. We generated heatmaps of the AUCs with regards to all sliding windows and showed that the heatmaps can help interpret a potential correlation/response between given sliding windows and the model AUC variation. In Scheme 2, we followed the saliency map-based approach to create a Contribution Map (CM), where the CM value of each pixel reflects the strength of that pixels contributes to the prediction of the output label. Then over a CM, we identify a bounding box around the most informative sub-area of a CM to interpret the corresponding sub-area in the images as the region that is most predictive of the risk. This preliminary study demonstrates a proof of concept on developing an effective means to interpret deep learning CNN models.
A Cointegrated VAR Analysis of Stock Price Models: Fundamentals, Psychology and Structural Change

This paper provides an empirical investigation of leading models of stock price fluctuations, including those based on canonical present value and behavioral considerations. It uses the cointegrate...
UN Organizational and Financial Incentives to Employ Private Military and Security Companies in Peacekeeping Operations

The United Nations’ Department of Peacekeeping Operations increasingly employs private military and security companies (PMSCs) to provide a range of services in peacekeeping operations (PKOs). The ...
Dispatch Priming and the Police Decision to Use Deadly Force

Police shootings have become one of the most “visible and controversial” aspects of the criminal justice system . Yet, very little empirical effort has been devoted to understanding the underlying ...
Connecting veterans with smoking cessation services in less than 3 minutes.

ABSTRACT Veterans smoke disproportionately higher (nearly 1.3 times greater) than the general population and puts them at greater risk for tobacco-related illnesses. Annual screenings by the primary care providers are conducted at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) primary care clinics, but this practice may be inadequate to overcome the chronicity of smoking. The Ask, Advise, Refer strategy for smoking cessation was integrated in the workflow and implemented by the nursing staff at a VHA outpatient surgery clinic. Nurses established smoking status, advised smokers to quit, and for those interested, provided the smoker a list of resources Department of Veterans Affairs' approved smoking cessation options (telephone, text, and web-based interventions). All the smokers took a referral card containing a list of resources to help them quit smoking. During the follow-up phone calls after the clinic visit, 19% of patients reported using at least one of the resources listed on the card. Each clinical encounter should be viewed by health care providers as a window of opportunity to promote smoking cessation. The simplicity of the AAR strategy is effective in promoting smoking cessation especially in busy outpatient settings.
Targeting DNA Methylation Depletes Uterine Leiomyoma Stem Cell-enriched Population by Stimulating Their Differentiation

Uterine leiomyoma (LM) is the most common tumor in women and can cause severe morbidity. Leiomyoma growth requires the maintenance and proliferation of a stem cell population. Dysregulated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation has been reported in LM, but its role in LM stem cell regulation remains unclear. Here, we fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-sorted cells from human LM tissues into 3 populations: LM stem cell-like cells (LSC, 5%), LM intermediate cells (LIC, 7%), and differentiated LM cells (LDC, 88%), and we analyzed the transcriptome and epigenetic landscape of LM cells at different differentiation stages. Leiomyoma stem cell-like cells harbored a unique methylome, with 8862 differentially methylated regions compared to LIC and 9444 compared to LDC, most of which were hypermethylated. Consistent with global hypermethylation, transcript levels of TET1 and TET3 methylcytosine dioxygenases were lower in LSC. Integrative analyses revealed an inverse relationship between methylation and gene expression changes during LSC differentiation. In LSC, hypermethylation suppressed the genes important for myometrium- and LM-associated functions, including muscle contraction and hormone action, to maintain stemness. The hypomethylating drug, 5'-Aza, stimulated LSC differentiation, depleting the stem cell population and inhibiting tumor initiation. Our data suggest that DNA methylation maintains the pool of LSC, which is critical for the regeneration of LM tumors.
IR divergences and Regge limits of subleading-color contributions to the four-gluon amplitude in = 4 SYM theory

We derive a compact all-loop-order expression for the IR-divergent part of the = 4 SYM four-gluon amplitude, which includes both planar and all subleading-color contributions, based on the assumption that the higher-loop soft anomalous dimension matrices are proportional to the one-loop soft anomalous dimension matrix, as has been recently conjectured. We also consider the Regge limit of the four-gluon amplitude, and we present evidence that the leading logarithmic growth of the subleading-color amplitudes is less severe than that of the planar amplitudes. We examine possible 1/N2 corrections to the gluon Regge trajectory, previously obtained in the planar limit from the BDS ansatz. The double-trace amplitudes have Regge behavior as well, with a nonsense-choosing Regge trajectory and a Regge cut which first emerges at three loops.
Monolithic Microfluidic Cooling of a Heterogeneous 2.5-D FPGA With Low-Profile 3-D Printed Manifolds

Heterogeneous integration techniques such as 2.5-D system-in-packages (SiPs) present new challenges that include higher aggregate package power as well as increased thermal crosstalk between different chiplets due to their proximity. This creates the need for advanced cooling solutions uniquely catered to these issues. This work presents the first demonstration of monolithic microfluidic cooling of active 2.5-D ICs to mitigate high-power and thermal crosstalk between chiplets. A 2.5-D FPGA package is used for demonstration purposes. Micropin-fin heat sinks etched directly into the backside of five chiplets in the package are supplied with de-ionized water as coolant through 3-D printed manifolds. This approach helps create a low-form factor cooling solution. Design considerations for the polymer manifold as well as micropin-fin etching are discussed. FPGA core temperature was maintained at approximately 30 °C when dissipating nearly 107 W of power, corresponding to a thermal resistance of 0.074 °C/W, and thermal coupling values as low as 0.010 °C/W. We also demonstrate excellent thermal performance even with elevated inlet temperatures for energy-efficient cooling applications.
Plasma cell leukaemia with t(11;14) not responsive to venetoclax

A 70-year-old man with medical history of IgG kappa multiple myeloma, initially diagnosed in 2017, underwent induction therapy with carfilzomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone followed by autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Nine months following transplant, disease relapsed in the form of plasma cell leukaemia. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation of malignant plasma cells revealed t(11;14). A combination therapy including venetoclax was used based on efficacy data for Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax from available early-phase clinical trials in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma with t(11;14) and other published case studies. Unfortunately, the disease was primary refractory, and after further ineffective therapies, the patient did not have a successful outcome.
Sweet Sorghum Genotypes Tolerant and Sensitive to Nitrogen Stress Select Distinct Root Endosphere and Rhizosphere Bacterial Communities

The belowground microbiomes have many beneficial functions that assist plant growth, including nutrient cycling, acquisition and transport, as well as alleviation of stresses caused by nutrient limitations such as nitrogen (N). Here we analyzed the root endosphere, rhizosphere and soil bacterial communities of seven sweet sorghum genotypes differing in sensitivity to N-stress. Sorghum genotypes were grown in fields with no (low-N) or sufficient (high-N) N. The dry shoot weight ratio (low-N/high-N) was used to determine N-stress sensitivity. Our hypothesis was that genotypes tolerant and sensitive to N-stress select distinct bacterial communities. The endosphere and rhizosphere bacterial community structure were significantly different between the N-stress sensitive and tolerant genotypes in the high-N field, but not in the low-N field. However, significant changes in the relative abundance of specific bacterial taxa were observed in both fields. Streptomyces, a bacterial genus known to alleviate plant abiotic stresses, was enriched in the endosphere and rhizosphere of the tolerant genotypes in the low-N field. Our study indicates that sweet sorghum genotypes tolerant to N-stress select taxa that can potentially mitigate the N-stress, suggesting that the interactions between N-stress tolerant lines and the root-associated microbiome might be vital for coping with N-stress.
Measurement ofVub

The most recent experimental measurements of the weak mixing angleVub are summarized. Inclusive and exclusive analysis techniques are described, including a new exclusive analysis by the CLEO Collaboration measuring the B → πlν branching ratio. Future prospects are discussed.
Getting Clear About Rectal Douching Among Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Receptive anal sex is the primary means through which HIV is transmitted among men who have sex with men (MSM). Recently, researchers have begun investigating the role that rectal douching may play in amplifying risk for transmission. Yet, there is limited research on the frequency with which MSM douche, the products they use, and how this may vary across sociodemographic characteristics. A U.S. national sample of 4745 MSM completed an online survey that assessed their douching behavior, demographic characteristics, sexual behavior, and their anal sexual positioning (i.e., top, bottom, versatile). Nearly two-thirds (65.8%) had engaged in rectal douching in the last three months. Among those who douched, water was commonly reported (84.2%) and 20.1% reported using commercial enemas (e.g., Fleet), as well as water and soap (15.0%)-numbers exceed 100% as some participants reported more than one. Men who douched reported significantly more receptive and insertive condomless anal sex acts in the prior 3 months. One-in-ten men reported rectal bleeding after douching. Compared to HIV-negative participants who had not taken PrEP, participants had higher odds of reporting douching in the past 3 months if they were HIV-negative and currently on PrEP (AOR = 1.82), HIV-negative and previously used PrEP (AOR = 1.58), and HIV-positive (AOR = 1.83). Douching was common in this sample. Given that douching could amplify risk for HIV transmission, healthcare providers should discuss douching safety with their patients, with a focus on harm reduction (e.g., reduce risk of bleeding, as opposed to abstinence from douching).
Moral Distress in the ICU

“[Healthcare professionals] who see themselves as involved in morally significant relationships with sick, vulnerable humans, but have little or no power to respond when what is happening appears to be ‘wrong’ … is a serious problem … One of the most serious aspects of the problem is the tendency of those in power in the clinical setting … to refuse to treat it as a serious problem [1, 2].” Moral distress is the inability of a moral agent, a healthcare professional, to act according to his or her core values, professional roles, and perceived obligations due to internal or external constraints [3–5]. When an internal or external constraint prevents a clinician from acting in the way he or she feels is most appropriate, moral integrity and moral conscience are profoundly compromised [6, 7]. William Bartholome advocated developing a comprehensive research agenda on moral distress. As illustrated above, he recognized the importance of studying moral distress and in identifying successful strategies for intervention. He and several other researchers focused their energies on the critical care setting because “the intensive care units (ICUs) are places where the sickest of patients receive the most technologically sophisticated care … at the brink of death” [8, 9]. There are many opportunities for critical care clinicians to suffer grief from losing patients, but they can also experience moral distress from the complex decisions and disagreements associated with patient care.
Causality and Responsibility

Attribution of responsibility, whether as blame or praise, always rests on a claim about causation. In order to be responsible for an event, a person must take an action that causes the event. This creates a philosophical puzzle. As philosophers, we tend to be skeptical about claims of causal knowledge. No matter how thoroughly we have studied a phenomenon, we say, we may not have gotten to the bottom of it and really understood its causal structure. But as judges and juries, we are prepared to conclude that a certain action has caused a certain result. How can we reconcile our philosophical and scientific skepticism with our practical credulity?
Holonomy and contact geometry

On a Riemannian manifold, any parallel form is preserved by the flow of any Killing vector field with constant magnitude. As a consequence, on a 2n+1-dimensional K-contact manifold, there are no nontrivial parallel forms except of degrees 0 and 2n+1. Flat contact metrics on 3-manifolds are characterized by reducible holonomy.
Standards, Modularity, and Innovation: the Case of Medical Practice

Most economic analyses of path creation and dependence are stories about how standards create network externalities - and thus potential "lock-in" - in technological systems like personal computers or high-definition television. This paper examines similar questions of path creation and dependence in the context of behavioral rather than technological standards. (Standards, we note, are at base a kind of social institution; and social institutions are recurrent patterns of behavior that help to coordinate human activity.) The papers focuses on the setting of standards for medical education and medical practice in the United States in the early twentieth century. Drawing on the economic theory of the professions articulated by Savage (1994), we argue that those standards proved "enabling" in that they created a decentralized network that was open to ideas from outside and was able to collaborate easily in the interdisciplinary fashion that proved crucial for the development of new devices and techniques.
Dietary coenzyme Q10 and mitochondrial status.

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of dietary coenzyme Q 10 and its functions. Coenzyme Q (ubiquinone) is a lipid-soluble compound composed of a redox active quinoid moiety and a hydrophobic tail. The predominant form of coenzyme Q in humans is coenzyme Q 10 , which contains 10 isoprenoid units in the tail. All tissues seem to be capable of synthesizing coenzyme Q 10 in sufficient amounts under normal conditions. Decreased levels of coenzyme Q 10 are found in patients with cardiomyopathies, congestive heart failure, degenerative muscle diseases, and during aging. Coenzyme Q10 treatment has been shown to improve both clinical and biochemical lesions in patients with mitochondrial disorders. Concepts related to absorption, tissue distribution, and metabolism of coenzyme Q 10 are discussed in the chapter. The chapter describes the effect of dietary coenzyme Q 10 on levels of coenzyme Q 10 in tissue and mitochondria. The chapter also describes about dietary vitamin E and coenzyme Q 10 uptake and retention. The chapter gives a brief on measurement of mitochondrial levels of coenzyme Q 10 elaborates implications of the effect of dietary coenzyme Q 10 and vitamin E on mitochondrial coenzyme Q 10 .
FMware: middleware for efficient filtering and matching of XML messages with local data

XML message filtering systems are used for sifting through real-time messages to support business data mining and reporting. An XML message filtering system needs to (a) process registered filter predicates on multiple distributed real-time streams and (b) match and validate the filter results with local data to identify the relevant data that can be used for higher-level processing. Although efficient real-time filtering schemes exists, the matching phase of the operation where filter results have to be matched against local data to select those matches that are relevant to the particular task remains to be expensive as it requires expensive join operations. In this paper, we present an efficient middleware (FMware) for filtering and matching XML messages against locally available data. The proposed operator relies on a novel cluster-domain matching scheme to reduce the cost of the process. We analytically study the cost of the proposed middleware and experimentally show that it adaptively reduces the number of local data accesses and provides large savings in matching time with respect to cluster-unaware matching.
Epitope-Dependent Effect of Anti-Murine TIM-1 Monoclonal Antibodies on T Cell Activity and Lung Immune Responses

The TAPR locus containing the TIM gene family is implicated in the development of atopic inflammation in mouse, and TIM-1 allelic variation has been associated with the incidence of atopy in human patient populations. In this study, we show that manipulation of the TIM-1 pathway influences airway inflammation and pathology. Anti-TIM-1 mAbs recognizing distinct epitopes differentially modulated OVA-induced lung inflammation in the mouse. The epitopes recognized by these Abs were mapped, revealing that mAbs to both the IgV and stalk domains of TIM-1 have therapeutic activity. Unexpectedly, mAbs recognizing unique epitopes spanning exon 4 of the mucin/stalk domains exacerbated immune responses. Using Ag recall response studies, we demonstrate that the TIM-1 pathway acts primarily by modulating the production of T H 2 cytokines. Furthermore, ex vivo cellular experiments indicate that TIM-1 activity controls CD4 + T cell activity. These studies validate the genetic hypothesis that the TIM-1 locus is linked to the development of atopic disease and suggest novel therapeutic strategies for targeting asthma and other atopic disorders.
Influence of the Oxidation Process of Carbon Material on the Mechanical Properties of Cement Mortars

The present research investigates how the addition of processed carbon materials affects the mechanical properties of cement mortars. Five types of oxidation treatments (air at 250°C, air at 410°C, ozone, H2O2, and HNO3) were applied to graphite powder, powdered carbon fiber, and short carbon fiber to assess the influence of the modification of the carbon material surface in the interaction between cement paste and carbon material. The best oxidation treatment in terms of mechanical strength improvement was oxidation by air at 410°C because this procedure yielded the highest amount of oxygen surface functional groups, thus producing a better interaction with cement paste. Ozone treatment has also been shown to produce a high level of improvement in mechanical properties, but in this case the properties are improved because of the rough surface of the carbon materials.
Image Processing for Planetary Limb/Terminator Extraction

A novel image segmentation technique for extracting limbs and terminators of planetary bodies is proposed. Conventional edge-based histogramming approaches are employed to trace object boundaries. The limb and terminator bifurcation is achieved by locating the harmonized segment in the two equations representing the 2-D parametrized boundary curve. This technique is quite efficient and robust. Although only spherical (near-spherical) planetary bodies in full view are addressed in detail, the proposed methodology can be extended to accommodate partially viewed and/or arbitrary-shaped objects; formulations for these cases are also given. Real planetary images from Voyager 1 and 2 serve as representative test cases to verify the proposed methodology.
An analysis of Korsakoff patients recall following varying types of distractor activity.

Abstract Ten alcoholic Korsakoff patients and ten alcoholic control subjects were given several short-term memory, distractor type tasks in which consonant trigrams (verbal) and random shapes (nonverbal) were employed as the to-be-retained materials. The Korsakoff patients demonstrated a severe verbal memory deficit when the retention interval was filled with verbal distractor activity, but their retention of the same verbal material was intact when a nonverbal distractor task was used. In contrast, the Korsakoff patients' retention of nonverbal material was impaired regardless of the nature of the distractor activity. In fact, their retention of nonverbal material was impaired even when an unfilled retention interval was used.
The Missing Weak Lensing Mass in A781

Measuring cluster masses accurately is important for testing the cosmological paradigm. Weak lensing is one of the most promising methods for detecting, measuring, and calibrating cluster mass estimates made using other mass proxies (e.g., X-ray, Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect, spectroscopy). However, it is still essential to characterize and understand the causes of systematic error and bias in weak lensing measurements. A781D is a cluster of galaxies with a mass and redshift that places it well within the theoretical detection limits of weak lensing analyses from the ground yet has evaded detection in previous weak lensing studies. Previous weak lensing measurements in the region surrounding this cluster from the Deep Lens Survey were unable to detect it and placed a 1σ limit on the mass of <5 × 1013 M ☉. Given independent estimates of the cluster mass by X-ray and spectroscopic measurements and its spectroscopically confirmed redshift of 0.43, it is difficult to explain its absence from the weak lensing mass reconstructions. We re-analyzed this cluster using imaging from the Orthogonal Parallel Transfer Imaging Camera and archival Suprime-Cam data. We successfully detect A781A in both analyses, but A781D remains undetected. We use these two new independent analyses to rule out systematic effects from the telescope, instrument, and point-spread function correction as the cause of the null detection. We also demonstrate the first use of an orthogonal transfer camera for weak lensing analysis and demonstrate its suitability for weak lensing studies.
Diversity in Knoxville: An applied perspective

Abstract This study contributes to the literature on applied urban geography by examining spatial patterns and processes of changing racial/ethnic diversity within the intra-urban context of Knoxville metropolitan statistical area. Knoxville embraces a diverse economic set up with opportunities in high-tech research and development, manufacturing, tertiary/service-sectors, construction, as well as entertainment industry. This serves well for its continued population growth, including minorities during 1990–2009. This paper explores how the neighborhood-level socioeconomic, demographic, and built-environment characteristics relate to tract-level racial/ethnic diversity, measured by multi-group diversity score and its components. Tools such as isarithmic surface density maps, correlations, principal components and regression analyses are used to examine processes of change. Results indicate that diversity in 1990 associates with negative change whereas diversity in 2000 associates with positive change. Though overall diversity sprawls and increases during 1990–2009, diversity among non-White declines during 2000–2009 and shows spatial confinement. Regressions suggest complicated mosaics of changing neighborhoods, providing evidence of invasion-succession, filtering and resurgence of ethnic-enclaves in specific neighborhoods. Concerning the six counties of the MSA, Knox is the most diverse whereas Union the least, though the share of Hispanics tops in Loudon and Asians in Knox. In terms of strategic planning, findings from this research can be used in creating equitable and sustainable urban communities that can improve the overall well-being of people by reducing racial/ethnic and socio-economic disparities that might occur as undesirable consequences of fast increasing diversity.
Application of a Two-dimensional Reaction Chromatography System for Confirmatory Analysis of Chlordane Constituents in Environmental Samples

Abstract Confirmation of Chlordane components in fish tissue and sediment samples was performed with a two-dimensional reaction chromatographic system. A 30 cm length of nickel tubing was employed as an in-line hydrodehalogenation reactor.
Measuring the strength of partial encryption schemes

Partial encryption (PE) of compressed multimedia can greatly reduce the computational complexity by encrypting only a fraction of the data bits. It can also easily provide users with low-quality versions, while maintaining the high-quality version inaccessible to unauthorized users. However, it is necessary to realistically evaluate its security strength. Some of the cryptanalysis done for these techniques ignored important characteristics of the multimedia files, and used overly optimistic assumptions. We demonstrate potential weaknesses of such techniques studying attacks that exploit the information provided by non-encrypted bits, and the availability of side information (e.g., from analog signals). We show that a more useful measure of encryption strength is the complexity to reduce distortion, instead of recovering the encryption key. We consider attacks on PE that avoid error propagation (standard-compliant PE), and PE that try to exploit that property for security. In both cases we show that attacks that require complexity much lower than exhaustive enumeration of encrypted/key bits can successfully yield good quality content. Experimental results are shown for images, but the conclusions can be extended to partial encryption of video and other types of media.
Accuracy of FDG-PET to Diagnose Lung Cancer in Areas With Infectious Lung Disease: A Meta-analysis

Importance Positron emission tomography (PET) combined with fludeoxyglucose F 18 (FDG) is recommended for the noninvasive diagnosis of pulmonary nodules suspicious for lung cancer. In populations with endemic infectious lung disease, FDG-PET may not accurately identify malignant lesions. Objectives To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET for pulmonary nodules suspicious for lung cancer in regions where infectious lung disease is endemic and compare the test accuracy in regions where infectious lung disease is rare. Data Sources and Study Selection Databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Web of Science were searched from October 1, 2000, through April 28, 2014. Articles reporting information sufficient to calculate sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET to diagnose lung cancer were included. Only studies that enrolled more than 10 participants with benign and malignant lesions were included. Database searches yielded 1923 articles, of which 257 were assessed for eligibility. Seventy studies were included in the analysis. Studies reported on a total of 8511 nodules; 5105 (60%) were malignant. Data Extraction and Synthesis Abstracts meeting eligibility criteria were collected by a research librarian and reviewed by 2 independent reviewers. Hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed. A random-effects logistic regression model was used to summarize and assess the effect of endemic infectious lung disease on test performance. Main Outcome and Measures The sensitivity and specificity for FDG-PET test performance. Results Heterogeneity for sensitivity ( I2 = 87%) and specificity ( I2 = 82%) was observed across studies. The pooled (unadjusted) sensitivity was 89% (95% CI, 86%-91%) and specificity was 75% (95% CI, 71%-79%). There was a 16 percentage point–lower average adjusted specificity in regions with endemic infectious lung disease (61% [95% CI, 49%-72%]) compared with nonendemic regions (77% [95% CI, 73%-80%]). Lower specificity was observed when the analysis was limited to rigorously conducted and well-controlled studies. In general, sensitivity did not change appreciably by endemic infection status, even after adjusting for relevant factors. Conclusions and Relevance The accuracy of FDG-PET for diagnosing lung nodules was extremely heterogeneous. Use of FDG-PET combined with computed tomography was less specific in diagnosing malignancy in populations with endemic infectious lung disease compared with nonendemic regions. These data do not support the use of FDG-PET to diagnose lung cancer in endemic regions unless an institution achieves test performance accuracy similar to that found in nonendemic regions.
Politics and Secondary School Tracking in Socialist Czechoslovakia, 1948–1989

This paper analyses the impact of politics upon secondary school tracking in formerly socialist Czechoslovakia. Using multinomial logistic regression, the author focuses on the effects of family background on the likelihood of making the transition to vocational, professional, or academic secondary schools. He hypothesizes that socialist policies had a threefold influence on educational attainment at the secondary level. First, they may have reduced the extent of educational reproduction. Second, they may have trimmed down the educational gap between lower and higher status children. Third, they may have established a new inequality based on parental political status. Educational expansion, unlike 'communist affirmative action', noticeably reduced educational reproduction at the secondary level. Positive and negative discrimination on the basis of parental occupation considerably diminished the advantage of higher status children in the transition to vocational and professional secondary schools in the early 1950s and early 1970s, but never affected access to academic secondary schools. The political status of parents played a historically variable role in determining their children's educational chances, representing an advantage in the periods of orthodox communism and a disadvantage in the years of relative political liberalization.
Bacterial Flora of Saline Aquifersa

The bacterial flora of three unpolluted saline aquifers were examined. Aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative microorganisms were isolated and classified to genus. The organisms isolated were those commonly found in surface water and soil. Methanogenic bacteria were present in all aquifers.
Online Parameter Estimation Techniques Comparison Within a Fault Tolerant Flight Control System

The results of a study where two online parameter identie cation (PID) methods are compared for application within a fault tolerant e ight control system are described. One of the PID techniques is time-domain based, whereas the second is featured in the frequency domain. The time-domain method was directly suitable for the online estimates of the dimensionless aircraft stability derivatives. The frequency-domain method was modie ed fromitsoriginalformulationtoprovidedirectestimatesofthestabilityderivatives.Thiseffortwasconductedwithin the research activities of the NASA Intelligent Flight Control System F-15 program. The comparison is performed throughdynamicsimulationswithaspecie cproceduretomodeltheaircraftaerodynamicsfollowingtheoccurrence of a battle damage/failure on a primary control surface. The two PID methods show similar performance in terms of accuracy of the estimates, convergence time, and robustness to noise. However, the frequency-domain-based method outperforms the time-domain-based method in terms of computational requirements for online real-time applications. The study has also emphasized the advantages of using ad hoc short preprogrammed maneuvers to provideenoughexcitationfollowingtheoccurrenceoftheactuatorfailuretoallowtheparameterestimationprocess.
Bipolar tetraether archaeosomes exhibit unusual stability against autoclaving as studied by dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy.

Abstract The stability of liposomes made of the polar lipid fraction E (PLFE) isolated from the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius against autoclaving has been studied by using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. PLFE lipids have structures distinctly different from those derived from eukaryotes and prokaryotes. PLFE lipids are bipolar tetraether molecules and may contain up to four cyclopentane rings in each of the two dibiphytanyl chains. In the pH range 4–10, PLFE-based archaeosomes, with and without polyethyleneglycol- and maleimide-lipids, are able to retain vesicle size, size distribution, and morphology through at least six autoclaving cycles. The cell growth temperature (65 °C vs. 78 °C), hence the number of cyclopentane rings in the hydrocarbon chains, does not affect this general conclusion. By contrast, at the same pH range, most conventional liposomes made of monopolar diester lipids and cholesterol or pegylated lipids cannot withhold vesicle size and size distribution against just one cycle of autoclaving. At pH
Modeling Storm Water Mass Emissions to the Southern California Bight

Storm water runoff is perceived as a major source of pollutants that results in adverse environmental effects, but large-scale assessments are rarely conducted. The problem is particularly pronounced in southern California where 17 million people have rapidly developed coastal watersheds. The goal of this study was to make regionwide estimates of mass emissions, assess the relative contribution from urbanized watersheds, and compare pollutant flux from different land uses. A geographic information system-based storm water runoff model was used to estimate pollutant mass emissions based on land use, rainfall, runoff volume, and local water-quality information. Local monitoring data were used to derive runoff coefficients; over 1,700 storm water sampling events were used to calibrate and validate annual loadings. An average rainfall year produced 1,073×10\u9 L of runoff, 118,000 metric tons (MT) of suspended solids, 1,940 MT of nitrate-N, 108 MT of zinc, and 15 kg of diazinon. The majority of mass emissions were from urbanized watersheds except for suspended solids, total DDT, and chlorpyrifos. Agricultural areas had the greatest fluxes for pesticides, including total DDT and chlorpyrifos while open areas typically had the smallest.
The role of surgery in the treatment of tachyarrhythmias.

Tachyarrhythmias are common. They may occur secondary to a variety of etiologies and mechanisms. In most cases. drug therapy is effective but in some patients the arrhythmias remain symptomatic or life-threatening despite multiple drug trials. It is for these patients that electrophysiologically guided arrhythmia surgery should be considered. Effective operative therapy is available for most forms of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias.
Laacher See revisited: High-spatial-resolution zircon dating indicates rapid formation of a zoned magma chamber

High-spatial-resolution ( 230 Th)/( 238 U) disequilibrium dating reveals rapid zircon crystallization prior to the 12,900 yr B.P. Laacher See (Germany) phonolite eruption. Zircons from Lower Laacher See tephra (LLST) and syenitic subvolcanic nodules share REE and low U/Th characteristics and define an isochron age of 17.1 ± 1.3 ka (1σ). Zircons also show higher initial ( 230 Th)/( 232 Th) 0 and oxygen isotopic disequilibrium compared to their host phonolite. Thus, LLST zircons shortly predate the eruption and yet are not strictly part of the phonolite crystallization sequence. Based on their similarity to zircons in subvolcanic nodules, they are instead interpreted to be scavenged from a precursor syenite intrusion, which implies short (a few k.y.) filling and differentiation timescales for the Laacher See magma chamber. Thorium and oxygen isotopes in zircon as well as evidence for abundant crustal xenocrysts further indicate extensive crustal contamination, which allows for considerably faster basanite-phonolite differentiation than the ∼100 k.y. time span previously estimated from bulk U-series data.
A Measurement of the Contamination in [O III] λ5007 Surveys of Intracluster Stars and the Surface Density of z = 3.13 Lyα Galaxies

We present two pieces of evidence supporting the hypothesis that the bright [O III] λ5007 sources found in Virgo's intracluster space are intracluster planetary nebulae rather than [O II] λ3727 galaxies at z ~ 0.35 or Lyα sources at z ~ 3.13. First, we confirm the nature of five overluminous [O III] sources that are postulated to lie in front of M87: by examining the composite spectrum of these objects, we show that the weaker [O III] line at λ4959 is definitely present at a strength ~ that of [O III] λ5007. The ratio demonstrates that, at most, only one of the five objects is a background galaxy. We then estimate the surface density of background emission-line objects by conducting a wide-field (0.13 deg2) search at λ5019 for faint emission-line sources in a blank field located well away from any galaxy or cluster. We show that the density of blank-field emission-line sources is significantly lower than the density of sources detected between the galaxies of Virgo but in good agreement with the density of Lyα galaxies found by Hu, Cowie, & McMahon. The implication is that background galaxies account for only ~20% of the planetary nebula candidates in Virgo's intracluster fields.
Primary pulmonary α-fetoprotein-producing malignant germ cell tumor

We are reporting the clinical and pathologic features of a primary, pulmonary, malignant germ cell tumor associated with a marked elevation of serum alpha-fetoprotein (38,427 ng/mL) and lactate dehydrogenase activity (756 U/L), in a 26-year-old female. This controversial, rare neoplasm has not been extensively discussed in the pathology literature. We emphasize the clinical importance of establishing this diagnosis in view of the favorable response to chemotherapy shown by malignant germ cell tumors.
On the number of categories for classification

It is shown that under certain restrictions, n items should be classified into √n categories if the amount of information (in the Shannon sense) needed to retrieve them is to be a minimum.
Particle identification with very thin transmission detectors

Abstract A table-lookup particle identification scheme for ΔE - E counter telescopes which uses the semi-empirical range-energy data of Northcliffe and Schilling is presented. It is particularly suited for use with very thin ΔE detectors. Plots of some of the tables used are also given for use in the design of experiments.
Detection and Estimation with Fixed Lag for Abruptly Changing Systems

The problem of state estimation and system structure detection for discrete-time stochastic systems with parameters which may switch among a finite set of values is considered. The switchings are modeled by a semi-Markov, or Markov, chain with known transition statistics. A fixed time delay (lag) is allowed in estimation (smoothing) and detection. The optimal solutions require geometrically increasing computations and storage with time. Suboptimal solutions are proposed to alleviate this problem and simulation results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms and the advantages of introducing a delay in processing of the observations.
The thermodynamic and kinetic behavior of metal–vacancy–hydrogen systems

The thermodynamics of metal-hydrogen solid solutions have been studied using a Fermi-Dirac distribution function in order to describe the formation of H-vacancy clusters. The H-vacancy interaction energies for clusters (decorated vacancies) containing up to six H-atoms have been taken from effective medium calculations. The solute metals Pd, Ni, Fe, Mo and Nb have been considered. The calculations enable the relative fractions of clusters of a given order to be calculated as a function of H-concentration and temperature. A mathematical model for the simultaneous diffusion of H-atoms, vacancies and H-VAC clusters has been developed. The numerical evaluation of the basic kinetic equations is based upon finite difference methods. Kinetic calculations have been made based upon Ni-H solutions as a model system.
Incorporation of acetate-1-14C into neutral lipids and phospholipids during late developmental stages of Heliothis zea☆

Abstract 1. 1. Last instar larvae, prepupae, pupae and adults of the bollworm Heliothis zea (Boddie) incorporated acetate-1-14C into neutral and phospholipids. 2. 2. Largest incorporation into neutral lipids was in late fifth- and early sixth-instar larvae. Most of the radioactivity was in triglycerides. As metamorphosis proceeded, radioactivity in the neutral lipids decreased to a low during the pupal stage. 3. 3. Phospholipids incorporated acetate-1-14C during both the larval and pupal stages. Phosphatidylcholine appeared to be the most active component during the metamorphic transition, but radioactivity also was found in phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin.
Evidence of Coulomb Friction Damping in Graphene Nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposites reinforced by carbon nanotubes, fullerene and nanoparticles have been broadly studied within the last two decades. However, it was recently observed that polymer nanocomposites filled with graphene sheets showed exceptional mechanical and electrical properties. The advantage of graphene sheets over carbon nanotubes in nanocomposites may be related to their high specific surface area, enhanced nanofiller-matrix adhesion/interlocking arising from their wrinkled (rough) surface as well as the two-dimensional geometry of graphene sheets. We have compared the vibration damping properties of epoxy nanocomposite filled with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT), multi-walled nanotubes (MWNT), and graphene platelet (GPL) fillers. Our results show the evidence of Coulomb friction damping in nanocomposites comparing with the pure epoxy.© 2010 ASME