cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear registration of diffusion-weighted images improves clinical sensitivity of functional diffusion maps in recurrent glioblastoma treated with bevacizumab

Diffusion-weighted imaging estimates of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) have shown sensitivity to brain tumor cellularity as well as response to therapy. Functional diffusion maps (fDMs) exploit these principles by examining voxelwise changes in ADC within the same patient over time. Currently, the fDM technique involves linear image registration of ADC maps from subsequent follow-up times to pretreatment ADC maps; however, misregistration of ADC maps due to geometric distortions as well as mass effect from growing tumor can confound fDM measurements. In this study, we compare the use of a nonlinear registration scheme to the current linear fDM technique in 70 patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme treated with bevacizumab. Results suggest that nonlinear registration of pretreatment ADC maps to post-treatment ADC maps improves the clinical predictability, sensitivity, and specificity of fDMs for both progression-free and overall survival.
THz quantum semiconductor devices

We present our recent work on THz devices, including THz quantum cascade lasers and in particular focusing on THz quantum well photodetectors. Background limited performance has been achieved covering a wide range of THz spectrum.
Women and Men in the Class Structure

The stratification position of women is generally more complex than that of men. By the crucial class distinction of organizational power position, most women are either white-collar working class or blue-collar working class (order takers, not order givers). However, many women are involved in “Goffmanian labor” of presenting the frontstage image of an organization, with the result that they have a somewhat more “official” attitude than typical male working class, who are usually in a backstage position and hence are cynical of frontstage images. In the home, housewives do considerable surplus domestic labor, devoted to the production of symbolic status rather than material reproduction. Women's paid employment is often concentrated in the formal organizations producing and distributing cultural goods and status-laden objects; the leisure activities of wives of the higher social classes also concentrate in realms of symbolic status, including the arts and charity. The class cultures of women can be expla...
Approximability of Probability Distributions

We consider the question of how well a given distribution can be approximated with probabilistic graphical models. We introduce a new parameter, effective treewidth, that captures the degree of approximability as a tradeoff between the accuracy and the complexity of approximation. We present a simple approach to analyzing achievable tradeoffs that exploits the threshold behavior of monotone graph properties, and provide experimental results that support the approach.
A Note on Temperature and Relative Humidity Corrections for Humidity Sensors

Abstract A widely used relative humidity (RH) sensor in atmospheric science is based upon a capacitive device that outputs voltage as a linear function of RH and then is corrected by an empirically determined polynomial expression, which is only a function of temperature. Based upon results of a dry bias in these measurements and upon a recent physical–mathematical model of how these devices may work, a new correction formula is derived, which is a function of temperature and RH. The new formula reproduces the old one near 40% RH and corrects the dry bias for RH values less than 40%.
Waiving Childhood Goodbye: How Juvenile Courts Fail to Protect Children from Unknowing, Unintelligent, and Involuntary Waivers of Miranda Rights

This article explores how the states apply the totality of the circumstances test to evaluate whether a juvenile has knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived Miranda rights in light of recent advances in the scientific understanding of brain development and adolescent development more generally. The article notes that the Supreme Court's adoption of the totality test, which is a product of adult Miranda jurisprudence, as the measure of the legality of a juvenile's Miranda waiver, Fare v. Michael C., 412 U.S. 707 (1979), signaled a departure from due process concepts of fairness that animated Court's early decisions on a juvenile's rights in delinquency proceedings. The article reviews state law applying the totality test and argues that in light of the current understanding of adolescent reasoning capacity, the totality test does not protect juveniles from unknowing, unintelligent and involuntary waivers of Miranda rights. Accordingly, the article advocates for a rule requiring that all juveniles must consult with counsel prior to waiving Miranda rights and providing that an uncounseled waiver will be considered to be unknowing, unintelligent and involuntary.
A 6000 kb segment of chromosome 1 is conserved in human and mouse.

Abstract A murine linkage map generated from analyses of 428 meiotic events in an interspecific cross and pulsed field gel electrophoresis allowed examination of the genomic organization of a 6000 kb segment of mouse and human chromosome 1. Analysis of five genes within this syntenic segment of both species revealed striking conservation of gene order, intergenic distance and, to a lesser extent, CpG dinucleotides. In the mouse, meiotic crossover events were not evenly distributed; a hot spot for meiotic recombination was coincident with a CpG-island. These studies provide a practical approach to aid physical mapping of the human genome and a model for determining the molecular principles that govern meiotic recombination. In addition, these findings demonstrate profound conservation of genomic organization over mammalian evolution.
Device physics vis-à-vis fundamental physics in Cold War America: the case of quantum optics.

Abstract Historians have convincingly shown the close ties U.S. physicists had with the military during the Cold War and have raised the question of whether this alliance affected the content of physics. Some have asserted that it distorted physics, shifting attention from fundamental problems to devices. Yet the papers of physicists in quantum electronics and quantum optics, fields that have been exemplary for those who hold the distortion thesis, show that the same scientists who worked on military devices simultaneously pursued fundamental and foundational topics. This essay examines one such physicist, Marlan O. Scully, with attention to both his extensive foundational studies and the way in which his applied and basic researches played off each other.
Signatures of Multiphase Formation in the Active Layer of Organic Solar Cells from Resonant Soft X-ray Scattering

Resonant soft X-ray scattering (RSOXS) is a complementary tool to existing reciprocal space methods, such as grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering, for studying order formation in polymer thin films. In particular, RSOXS can exploit differences in absorption between multiple phases by tuning the X-ray energy to one or more resonance peaks of organic materials containing carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, or other atoms. Here, we have examined the structural evolution in poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl)/[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester mixtures by tuning X-rays to resonant absorption energies of carbon and oxygen. Our studies reveal that the energy dependence of RSOXS profiles marks the formation of multiple phases in the active layer of organic solar cells, which is consistent with elemental maps obtained through energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy.
Abstract 4425: Regulation of gamma-secretase in breast cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Gamma-secretase inhibitors are being actively pursued in preclinical and clinical studies for treatment of breast and other cancers. However, little is known on the regulation gamma-secretase in breast cancer cells. A better understanding of gamma-secretase and its involvement in breast cancer will be critical for the development of target-based therapies. A thorough investigation on gamma-secretase related research has been hampered due to the complexity of this protease and technical challenges. Gamma-secretase is a macromolecular complex composed of at least four proteins: presenilin (PS), Nicastrin (Nct), Pen2 and Aph1. Remarkably, only a small fraction of the four protein complex is catalytically active and total amount of PS protein is not always correlated with gamma-secretase activity. Therefore, detection of the level of individual subunits doesn't necessary reflect the activity of gamma-secretase. In addition, detection of gamma-secretase activity requires either large quantities of cells for membrane preparation or transitionally and stably expression of the substrates. These assays limit the ability to quickly characterize γ-secretase activity in multiple cancer cell lines and primary cells. To overcome these barriers, we have developed a variety of the activity-based probes and assays that allow us to investigate the active gamma-secretase complex and real-time inhibition of gamma-secretase in any cellular system. We have characterized gamma-secretase in basal A and B as well as luminal type of breast cancer cell lines and their sensitivity toward structurally distinct gamma-secretase inhibitors. We have found that different types of breast cancer cells exhibit distinctive gamma-secretase activity. Inhibition of gamma-secretase activity suppressed the migration, invasion and metastasis of aggressive breast cancer cell lines. An in depth examination of the function and regulation of gamma-secretase in breast cancer cells could lead to the development of more effective treatments of breast cancer and other malignancies. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4425. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4425
The Effects of Back Ordering on Performance: Marketing and Production Cooperation in Supply Chain Management

This paper examines the performance of back orders in a manufacturing operation which utilizes the management and scheduling techniques of material requirements planning (MRP) and just in time (JIT...
How Many Theories of Migration Do We Need? Interests and Institutions in the Construction of (Skilled) Migration Policy

The paper addresses the construction of immigration policy for skilled migration. Issues of policy disaggregation, theoretical complexity, and the comparison of theories are evaluated using case studies from the United States and Australia.
Abstinence Politics and the Christian Right

This project studies the agenda and goals of the abstinence movement at this critical juncture in its history, analyzing the movement's continuing efforts to redefine sexuality and promote abstinence in US culture. The abstinence movement is in a state of flux; as federal funding disappears under the Obama Administration and as the movement's elite allies from the Bush Administration lose power, abstinence advocates increasingly are forced to participate politically as a social movement. That is, almost overnight these organizations have lost many of their connections to institutionalized political power and have been weakened relative to their position from 1996 to 2008. This paper analyzes the movement's efforts to galvanize its constituency and to demand cultural change via extra-institutional channels. Particularly because many of the single-issue abstinence organizations are relatively new, however, it is unclear which direction the movement will take. Abstinence advocates could intensify ties to the Republican Party, becoming more institutionalized and willing to compromise, or likely to define abstinence in the context of wise public health policy rather than in terms of Christian purity. Or abstinence advocates may focus on extra-institutional politics, becoming stronger as a social movement and perhaps even following the trajectory of radical elements of the pro-life movement.
Key Technology for Smart Modernization of 500 kV Substation

Based on 500 kV Lanxi substation smart modernization project of Zhejiang power grid,a series key modernization technologies and implementation programs for extra high voltage(EHV) smart substation are described,such as EHV substation equipment intelligent component,information integration platform,intelligent work sheet,AIS equipment one-button sequence control,intelligent alarm and fault comprehensive analysis,source maintenance,etc.The construction and operation experience of 500 kV Lanxi substation smart modernization project proves the effectiveness of the above mentioned key technologies.
Characterization of hypoxia-responsive enhancer in the human erythropoietin gene shows presence of hypoxia-inducible 120-Kd nuclear DNA-binding protein in erythropoietin-producing and nonproducing cells

Erythropoietin (Epo) production in response to hypoxia or cobalt is primarily mediated by activation of transcription of the Epo gene. Recently an hypoxia responsive enhancer was identified in the 3′ flanking region of the mouse and human Epo genes. Using functional analysis in Hep 3B cells we define here the minimal enhancer element as a 29-bp segment starting at the Apa1 site in the 3′ flanking region of the human Epo gene. Mutagenesis studies of the minimal element identified three different areas that are necessary for full enhancer activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays show the presence of hypoxia- and/or cobalt-inducible nuclear DNA-binding proteins that bind to one of the active sites of the enhancer. Induction of hypoxia- binding activity was abolished by Anisomycin, a potent protein synthesis inhibitor, suggesting that de novo protein synthesis is necessary for the activation process. Further characterization of DNA- binding proteins by use of UV light crosslinking identified a protein of molecular weight of approximately 120-Kd that was present only in hypoxic extracts. This protein was found to be present in hypoxic nuclear extracts from both Epo-producing and non-Epo-producing cells, suggesting that it may be involved in a more generalized mechanism of cellular response to hypoxia.
Expert Systems Applications in Construction Management and Engineering

Expert System (ES) technology can improve construction quality and productivity. Although commercial interest began in 1980 and there has been a clearly felt need, the development of ES for construction has been rather slow. One of the reasons could be the non-realization of the promise of these systems by the industry which resulted in relatively poor funding of such developments. This paper summarizes the concepts of ES for construction management, hardware/software requirements, and lists potential areas for development of ES in the industry. The ES availability in the industry is summarized.
The hierachical structure of tracing strategy for universal personal communication systems

The universal personal communication system is a system that enables anyone to communicate instantly with anyone else anywhere in the world. One of the crucial problems of such a system is locating millions of moving customers in an efficient manner. The tracing strategy described is able to locate active customers in the system automatically with a small overhead in a distributed fashion. The system has the knowledge of the exact position of an active portable in its service areas. The connection is setup by the system directly to its destination using the shortest path. The system is customer friendly and realizable using existing techniques. >
Rediscovering Silicones: MQ Copolymers

Organic solvent-soluble trimethylsiloxysilicate polymers (MQ copolymers) were prepared with controlled molecular weight using kinetically controlled, sulfuric acid-catalyzed, hydrolysis/condensation reactions of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS, tetraethyl orthosilicate) and subsequent (end-capping) reactions with hexamethyldisiloxane. We have simplified what is a complex, variable-dependent, industrial preparative procedure that involves competitive sol growth and end-capping reactions to one that separates these reactions into discrete steps and can be carried out with control in a common academic lab. These MQ copolymers are model compounds of commercial MQ resins that are important commodity materials with unique impact in a range of applications. Although they are recognized for their broad utility, they are not widely appreciated as (or even considered) unusual molecules with special structures and properties. The number-average molecular weight of the copolymers reported here can be controlled from ∼2000 to...
Hybrid Physical Chemical Vapor Deposition of Magnesium Diboride Inside 3.9 GHz Mock Cavities

Magnesium diboride (MgB 2 ) is considered a candidate for the next generation superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities due to its higher critical temperature T c (40 K) and increased superheating field (H sh ) compared to other conventional superconductors. These properties can lead to reduced BCS surface resistance (R BCS S ) and residual resistance (R res ), according to theoretical studies, and enhanced accelerating field (E acc ) values. We have investigated the possibility of coating the inner surface of a 3.9 GHz SRF cavity with MgB 2 by using a hybrid physical-vapor deposition (HPCVD) system designed for this purpose. To simulate the actual 3.9 GHz SRF cavity, we employed a stainless steel mock cavity for the study. The film qualities were characterized on small substrates that were placed at the selected positions within the cavity. MgB 2 films on stainless steel foils, niobium pieces, and SiC substrates showed transition temperatures in the range of 30-38 K with a c-axis-oriented crystallinity observed for films grown on SiC substrates. Dielectric resonator measurements at 18 GHz resulted in a quality factor of over 30 000 for the MgB 2 film grown on a SiC substrate. By employing the HPCVD technique, a uniform film was achieved across the cavity interior, demonstrating the feasibility of HPCVD for MgB 2 coatings for SRF cavities.
HIV infection model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in mice

Cigarette smoke usage is prevalent in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, and, despite highly active antiretroviral therapy, these individuals develop an accelerated form of chron...
The elastic constants of rubrene determined by Brillouin scattering and density functional theory

The linear elastic stiffness tensor of the crystalline organic semiconductor, rubrene, is measured using Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy and computed from first-principles van der Waals density functional theory calculations. Results are compared with recent measurements of in-plane reduced elastic constants c¯22, c¯33, and c¯23 determined through anisotropic buckling experiments.
Modeling the Effect of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor on Transplant Immunity.

BACKGROUND Exposure to pollutants through inhalation is a risk factor for lung diseases including cancer, asthma, and lung transplant rejection, but knowledge of the effects of inhaled pollutants on pathologies outside of the lung is limited. METHODS Using the minor-mismatched model of male C57BL/6J (B6) to female B6 skin grafts, recipient mice were treated with an inhaled urban dust particle sample every 3 days before and after grafting. Graft survival time was determined, and analysis of the resulting immune response was performed at time before rejection. RESULTS Significant prolongation of male skin grafts occurred in recipient female mice treated with urban dust particles compared with controls and was found to be dependent on aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) expression in the recipient mouse. T cell responses to the male histocompatibility antigen (H-Y) Dby were not altered by exposure to pollutants. A reduction in the frequency of IFNγ-producing CD4 T cells infiltrating the graft on day 7 posttransplant was observed. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that AHR expression is upregulated in IFNγ-producing CD4 T cells during immune responses in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Surprisingly, inhalation of a pollutant standard was found to prolong graft survival in a minor-mismatched skin graft model in an AHR-dependent manner. One possible mechanism may be an effect on IFNγ-producing CD4 T cells responding to donor antigen. The increased expression of AHR in this CD4 T cell subset suggests that AHR ligands within the particulate matter may be directly affecting the type 1 T helper cell response in this model.
World heritage and the scientific consecration of ‘outstanding universal value’:

Since World War II, the world heritage movement generated widespread support for preserving various sites of natural and cultural significance deemed to have outstanding universal value (OUV) for h...
Abstract 3074: Acute Stroke Nurse Response Pilot Program

Background: Less than 10% of ischemic stroke patients receive tissue plasminogen activator. Low treatment rates have been associated with delay in hospital presentation and reluctance to treat. Studies have found that a combination of community and professional education increase thrombolytic therapy from 2.2% to 11.3% with the data suggesting that professional education made the most impact. An Acute Stroke Nurse Response educational program was piloted as a means of providing specialized treatment education for nurses in North Carolina. Project goals: A. Increase the number of nurses across the state experienced to provide acute stroke assessment and treatment. B. Determine the best educational approach: on-line vs. class room vs. both. C. Develop a mock code stroke training module. D. Provide guidance in developing individualized models of stroke care protocols. Measurable objectives: A. Gauge interest in the program. B. Assess pre and post-test knowledge measuring effectiveness of modules. C. Assess nurse preference for teaching method. D. Evaluate the methodology of the mock code stroke module. Methods: The educational program covered stroke topics through on-line modules and a one day lecture series to meet the needs of the working nurse. The program consisted of 10 specialized stroke training modules: Module 1: Introduction to Stroke Module 2: Emergency Management Module 3: Acute Stroke Treatment Module 4: Management of ICH Module 5: Stroke Prevention Module 6: Nursing Care of the Stroke Patient Lecture 7: Neurological Assessment Lecture 8: Stroke Imaging Lecture 9: Quality Improvement/Joint Commission Primary Certification Lecture 10: Mock Stroke Code 6 weeks were allowed to complete the on-line modules prior to the day lecture series. Pre and post-test exams were administered to assess baseline knowledge and knowledge gained. Results: 42 nurses showed interest in the program. 12 nurses completed the pilot program. 10 were from NC, originating throughout the state and 2 from SC. Two participants were NP’s, 2 ED nurses, 3 staff nurses and 5 stroke coordinators. Participants had a mean pre-test score of 53.2, which increased significantly (p<0.001) to a mean post-test score of 77.8 (absolute mean improvement of 24.6%). The improvement in the scores ranged from 11.1 to 44.5% with one participant experiencing a decrease in test scores by 5.6%. Program feedback was positive, with strengths identified as “convenient and informative”. All participants requested the program continue as originally developed with on-line modules and the one day lecture series. Conclusions: There was a significant educational benefit from this program, as demonstrated by participant responses to the pilot program.
EARRING: Efficient Authentication of Outsourced Record Matching

Cloud computing enables the outsourcing of big data analytics, where a third-party server is responsible for data management and processing. In this paper, we consider the outsourcing model in which a third-party server provides record matching as a service. In particular, given a target record, the service provider returns all records from the outsourced dataset that match the target according to specific distance metrics. Identifying matching records in databases plays an important role in information integration and entity resolution. A major security concern of this outsourcing paradigm is whether the service provider returns the correct record matching results. To solve the problem, we design EARRING, an Efficient Authentication of outsouRced Record matchING framework. EARRING requires the service provider to construct the verification object (VO) of the record matching results. From the VO, the client is able to catch any incorrect result with cheap computational cost. Experiment results on real-world datasets demonstrate the efficiency of EARRING.
THE EDGE OF THE EMPIRE: A JOURNEY TO BRITANNIA: FROM THE HEART OF ROME TO HADRIAN'S WALL. By BRONWEN RILEY. 335 pp.; maps, bibliog., index. New York & London: Pegasus Books. 2015. $28.95 (cloth), ISBN 9781681771298.

Bronwen Riley tells a good story. One does not usually expect to encounter an accessible, even breezy writing style upon signing up to do some academic review on the Roman Empire in Britain. Yet th...
Kepler 9: First Transiting System Confirmed by TTV

The planetary system of the star Kepler 9 is the first system confirmed by the Transit Timing Variation Method (TTV). The central star of this system, a solar-like star, hosts two Saturn-sized planets in 19.2and 38.9-day periods, in a near 2:1 ▶mean motion resonance (Holman et al. 2010). The analysis of the observational data indicated that the periods of these two planets are increasing and decreasing at average rates of 4 and 39 min per orbit, respectively. It was also shown that the transit times of the inner body display an alternating variation of smaller amplitude. Figure 1 shows these variations for both planets. The observed TTVs are characteristic of gravitational interaction of two planets near a 2:1 orbital resonance. Further analysis of the Kepler 9 data pointed to the existence of a third planet, Kepler 9d, in a 1.59-day orbit. Kepler 9d is a ▶ Super-Earth with a radius 1.64 times that of Earth’s (Torres et al. 2011).
Self Psychology: Implications for Social Work:

Clinical social work's tie with psychoanalytic theory has been a mixed blessing. Self-psychology theory, however, has potential to enhance person-in-environment treatment. The author explains self-...
Modeling of human welder behavior in gas tungsten arc welding of stainless steel tubes

While automated welding tends to be the mainstream in modern joining, manual welding still plays an irreplaceable role. Human welder’s experience and skills are critical for many applications where decisions need to be made based on interactions with the process. Understanding the mechanism of human welder intelligence may establish the foundation to develop new methods to better train welders and develop intelligent welding robots that combine intelligence with high physical strength and motion accuracy. As the first effort to study the welders’ behavior mechanism, this paper focuses on answering two fundamental questions: (1) What information that the welders acquire through their observation of the weld pool? 2) how human welders intelligently respond, i.e., adjust welding parameter(s), to the sensory information they obtain? In particular, the principle of welders’ behavior is analyzed from modeling’s point of view. To answer the first question, the weld pool surface is characterized to find the information which is able to indicate the weld quality/penetration. It is found that the length, width, and convexity of weld pool surface provide an optimal estimation of the weld penetration. They can be considered the characteristic parameters/information welders acquire. For the second question, the mechanism of a welder’s behavior/adjustment on welding current as a response to the characteristic parameters is mathematically formulated. The dynamic models of the welder’s behavior are obtained and analyzed. To demonstrate one of the applications of the obtained model, i.e., transferring the welder’s wisdom into automated welding, the dynamic model is implemented as a controller into the automated gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Experiments have been designed and conducted with different welding conditions (arc length, i.e., the length of arc by a conversion of the measured arc voltage and joint gap) and initial currents. It has been found that the model is capable of adjusting the current intelligently such that a consistent full penetration is achieved despite the variations in those conditions/parameters.
Groundwater Contamination by Chlorinated Solvents: History, Remediation Technologies and Strategies

Chlorinated solvents have seen broad usage for a wide variety of purposes, from cleaning of machinery, clothes and electronic parts to use in chemical manufacturing. However, through general dispersal, during normal usage and also as a result of indiscriminate disposal, chlorinated solvents have caused a variety of environmental problems. One such problem of great concern is the contamination of soil and groundwater. This problem became most evident following the passage in the United States of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), or Superfund legislation, in 1980 and the subsequent evaluation of chemical contamination of groundwater. It is now recognized that there are thousands of public and private sites with chlorinated solvent related groundwater contamination problems. Remediation of such sites has been found to be especially difficult and costly. Many potential technical solutions have been developed and applied, often with limited success. Time frames for remediation tend to be long, often measured in decades. It is incumbent upon those responsible for planning, designing and overseeing the remediation of soil and groundwater contamination with chlorinated solvents to fully understand the difficulties and high costs that are likely to be involved, and to have sufficient knowledge of the uses and limitations of the many available technologies that may be applied to a solution. It is highly likely that several technical approaches will be needed together to reach a satisfactory solution that will effectively reduce risks to human health and the environment.
Toward plasmonic control of light propagation in an optical fiber

The objective of this study was to control the transmission, dispersion and, eventually, the nonlinearity of an optical fiber by intercepting and manipulating the evanescent field extending from the core to the cladding with a variety of plasmonic and metamaterial nanostructures. The access to evanescent waves is enabled by placing the core close to the flat surface of the cladding in the so-called D-shaped fiber design. In the first phase of the project, reported here, the numerical simulations of D-shaped fibers with deposited metal (Au) have been performed. We, furthermore, demonstrated that the fiber transmission can be controlled by highly concentrated rhodamine 6G molecules deposited onto the fiber’s flat surface.
ODR: On-Line Delay Reduction Approach for Transferring Dynamically-Generated Big Flows Leveraging Software-Defined Networks

Data analytics techniques are changing the way businesses address core activities like planning, performance evaluation, and decision making. Recently, greater insights are reached as a result of applying such techniques to sets of data growing in diverse dimensions (big data). This attracted extensive research efforts to tackle big data transfer, processing, and storage challenges. Despite being similar in purpose to typical data transfer through the network, big data transfer poses significant changes. These changes warrant a new look at the techniques being used not limited to simple bandwidth increase. In this paper, we propose and implement an on-line algorithm to minimize the delay experienced by near real-time dynamically-generated big data flows when traveling through diverse networks leveraging Software Defined Networking (SDN). The algorithm exploits a comprehensive network view and statistics gathered by SDN controller to move big flows adaptively. The objective function is to minimize the network delay constrained to Service Level Agreement (SLA), in addition to network status. The proposed On-line Delay Reduction (ODR) approach outperforms the de facto Equal Cost Multi-Path (ECMP) algorithm with 19% to 24% reduction in delay.
Healing the Wounds

They worked under tremendous hardships, often under enemy fire, for lengthy periods, separated from family and friends.
Safe surgery for cystic tumors of the pancreas.

Cystic tumors of the pancreas are a common indication for pancreatic surgery, and many of them are incidentally-discovered. Some of these tumors are malignant, and many others are pre-malignant. Less than two generations ago, pancreatic surgery was risky business. Surgical mortality, even in some of the best institutions in the world, was about 25%. Complications were very common and not infrequently patients required reoperations and had to remain in the hospital for weeks or even months. They emerged from this highly debilitated, and often went on to have a very poor quality of life. Not surprisingly, for these reasons, pancreatic resection was used only as a “last resort”, and mostly for cancer.
The puzzle of populism in Iran’s electoral politics

The article examines the impact of an unsettled electoral market and evolving political predispositions on the rise and fall of populism in Iran. The article argues that the absence of a polarized ...
Policy Issues Regarding Employment for People with Serious Mental Illness

This chapter addresses three critical policy questions related to employment for the ten million working-age adults with severe mental illness (SMI): First, do disability policies influence the low rate of employment among people with SMI? Second, could policy changes improve employment of people with SMI? Third, could policy changes enhance access to supported employment? Current disability policies clearly influence employment of people with SMI. Most people in this population want to work and could work, but disincentives in the disability system and lack of access to effective supports limit their success. Given that disability policies limit employment, new policy could potentially improve employment outcomes. No consensus exists yet on what the changes should be. The field needs controlled research, especially involving early interventions. Although disability policy changes are uncertain, evidence-based supported employment is an effective strategy that could help people with SMI acquire and maintain employment. Yet the current funding process obstructs implementation and access. The United States needs a simple funding mechanism for evidence-based supported employment.
Policy processes and recommendations for unmanned aerial system operations near roadways based on visual attention of drivers

Abstract Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs), commonly known as drones, are a rapidly emerging technology with many applications across various commercial, government, and recreational users. Many of these applications have the potential to interact with roadway infrastructure, resulting in potentially risky conflicts between UAS operations and drivers on the roadway. In the United States, policy regulating UAS operations exists at the federal, state, and local levels, but there is little to no regulation specifically related to UAS operations near roadways. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if UAS operations near roadways pose a safety concern by determining if the operations visually distract drivers. In addition, this study sought to develop data-driven policy recommendations to improve the safety of drivers and UAS operators near roadways. To understand how UAS operations near roadways influence the visual attention of drivers, an experiment was designed and conducted in a high-fidelity driving simulator. Thirty participants completed the experiment in the driving simulator and their visual attention was recorded. Analysis of the visual attention results showed that UAS operations draw more visual attention from drivers when they are directly adjacent to the roadside or in a rural environment. Based on the results, a recommended policy to improve safety of UASs for operators and drivers would be to, at a minimum, restrict UAS operations within 7.6 m (25 ft) of the edge of a lane. A procedural overview for implementing legal and effective UAS policy in the United States was developed to navigate the complexities of the evolving UAS policy landscape.
How group and perceiver characteristics affect collective blame following counterproductive work behavior

Two experimental studies, based on a model using a novel integration of theories, provide evidence that collective blame, the assignment of blame to members of a group besides the member(s) who directly caused a misdeed, in the aftermath of counterproductive work behavior (CWB) is higher when a group of coworkers is perceived as a single entity. Further, the studies consistently show that this relationship is mediated by inferences about both indirect causality and common blameworthy traits among group members. These findings extend prior research, which has not considered mediation in this relationship by dual inferences. Additionally, perceivers’ implicit theories about people's character were found to moderate the inferences they favor, with inferences about indirect causality versus common traits favored by perceivers with implicit theories that people's character is malleable versus fixed, respectively. These findings extend prior research by empirically supporting the notion that the nature of perceivers’ implicit theories about people's character is related to why they perceive a group to be a single entity. The findings, future directions and implications of improved understanding of the assignment of collective blame following CWB are discussed.
Mechanisms of Nickel-Induced Cell Damage in Allergic Contact Dermatitis and Nutritional Intervention Strategies

Background Hypersensitivity to nickel is a very common cause of allergic contact dermatitis since this metal is largely present in industrial and consumer products as well as in some commonly consumed foods, air, soil, and water. In nickel-sensitized individuals, a cell-mediated delayed hypersensitivity response results in contact to dermatitis due to mucous membranes coming in long-term contact with nickel-containing objects. This process involves the generation of reactive oxidative species and lipid peroxidation-induced oxidative damage. Immunologically, the involvement of T helper (h)-1 and Th-2 cells, as well as the reduced function of T regulatory cells, are of importance. The toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity of nickel are attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species and induction of oxidative damage via lipid peroxidation, which results in DNA damage. Objective The aim of this research is to identify nutritionally actionable interventions that can intercept nickel-induced cell damage due to their antioxidant capacities. Conclusion Nutritional interventions may be used to modulate immune dysregulation, thereby intercepting nickel-induced cellular damage. Among these nutritional interventions are a low-nickel diet and an antioxidant-rich diet that is sufficient in iron needed to minimize nickel absorption. These dietary approaches not only reduce the likelihood of nickel toxicity by minimizing nickel exposure but also help prevent oxidative damage by supplying the body with antioxidants that neutralize free radicals.
Enthalpy and entropy of oxygen electroadsorption on RuO2(110) in alkaline media.

We report the temperature influence of the OHad and Oad electroadsorption on RuO2(110) films grown on TiO2(110) crystals in alkaline media. From the temperature effect, we evaluate the enthalpy and entropy of the OHad and Oad electroadsorption, including the adsorbate–adsorbate interactions that we analyze using the interaction parameters of the Frumkin-isotherm model. We found that the adsorbates repel each other enthalpically but attract each other entropically. Our result suggests that an entropy analysis is necessary to capture the electroadsorption behavior on RuO2 since the enthalpy–entropy competition strongly influences the electroadsorption behavior. Our observation of an entropic force is consistent with the view that water may be a mediator for adsorbate–adsorbate interactions.
Health PolicyA Nationwide Survey of Prostate Specific Antigen Based Screening and Counseling for Prostate Cancer

Introduction Controversy surrounds prostate specific antigen screening following the 2012 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force grade D recommendation. There is limited evidence evaluating patterns of prostate specific antigen counseling and patient perceptions of the prostate specific antigen test since 2012. We evaluated the association between prostate cancer screening counseling and patient sociodemographic factors in a nationally representative sample.
The “Cinderella Effect”: The Value of Unexpected March Madness Runs as Advertising for the Schools:

This study looks at the impact of a university making a surprise (“Cinderella”) run in the men’s NCAA basketball tournament. Our results suggest that surprise success in the tournament has little t...
Creating Exercise Habits Using Incentives: The Trade-off Between Flexibility and Routinization

Habits involve regular, cue-triggered routines. In a field experiment, we tested whether incentivizing exercise routines—paying participants each time they visit the gym within a planned, daily two...
Influence of Plant Community Composition on Biomass Production in Planted Grasslands

United States energy policy mandates increased use of renewable fuels. Restoring grasslands could contribute to a portion of this requirement through biomass harvest for bioenergy use. We investigated which plant community characteristics are associated with differences in biomass yield from a range of realistic native prairie plantings (n = 11; i.e., conservation planting, restoration, and wildlife cover). Our primary goal was to understand whether patterns in plant community composition and the Floristic Quality Index (FQI) were related to productivity as evidenced by dormant season biomass yield. FQI is an objective measure of how closely a plant community represents that of a pre-European settlement community. Our research was conducted in planted fields of native tallgrass prairie species, and provided a gradient in floristic quality index, species richness, species diversity, and species evenness in south-central Wisconsin during 2008 and 2009. We used a network of 15 randomly located 1 m2 plots within each field to characterize the plant community and estimate biomass yield by clipping the plots at the end of each growing season. While plant community composition and diversity varied significantly by planting type, biomass yield did not vary significantly among planting types (ANOVA; P >0.05). Biomass yield was positively correlated with plant community evenness, richness, C4 grass cover, and floristic quality index, but negatively correlated with plant species diversity in our multi-season multiple linear mixed effects models. Concordantly, plots with biomass yield in the lowest quartile (biomass yield 5800 kh/ha). Our results suggest that promoting the establishment of fields with high species evenness and floristic quality may increase biomass yield, while simultaneously supporting biodiversity.
Dermatoethics: The Ethics of Concierge Medicine

Concierge medicine constitutes a constitutes a care-delivery model in which patients pay a subscription service for enhanced care options. Patients generally pay an annual fee and have increased access to their physician, shorter wait times, house calls, and longer visits. Patients may also maintain traditional health insurance that could be used to cover specialist visits, lab costs, prescriptions, procedures, and other expenses. While practices have expanded in the field of primary care, their market share in dermatology is less well-described in the literature. What is clear, however, is that concierge and cash-only practices not covered by traditional insurance raise a multitude of ethical questions regarding access and quality of care. Moreover, the transition of many physicians from traditional practices to concierge and cash-only practices hightlights some of the difficulties dermatologists face under the current insurance-based model; these challenges include prior authorization hurdles and high patient volumes. Concierge medicine may limit access for all patients but increase access for particular patients. It may contribute to disparities in overall care while improving care for specific patient subpopulations. These and other ethical issues of concierge dermatology are described below.
A Case-Based Active Learning Session for Medical Genetics Resources.

Introduction As the clinical applications of medical genetics and genomics continue to expand, nongenetics professionals increasingly find themselves in the position of managing patients with genet...
Indirect atomic absorption spectrometric method for the determination of silicon

An indirect atomic absorption Spectrometric method for the determination of silicon is proposed which is based on the precipitation of an equivalent amount of lead molybdate from solutions treated with a known excess of lead ion and subsequent measurement of the lead ion remaining in solution. A typical calibration graph is linear for samples containing 0.5–7μg silicon.
An extended analysis of the persistence of persistent identifiers of the scholarly web

Scholarly resources, just like any other resources on the web, are subject to reference rot as they frequently disappear or significantly change over time. Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) are commonplace to persistently identify scholarly resources and have become the de facto standard for citing them. This paper is an extended version of work previously published in the proceedings of the 2020 International Conference on Theory and Practice of Digital Libraries (TPDL). We investigate the notion of persistence of DOIs by conducting a series of experiments to analyze a DOI’s resolution on the web, with this work presenting a set of novel investigations to expand on our previous work. We derive confidence in the persistence of these identifiers in part from the assumption that dereferencing a DOI will consistently return the same response, regardless of which HTTP request method we use or from which network environment we send the requests. Our experiments show, however, that persistence, according to our interpretation, is not warranted. We find that scholarly content providers respond differently to varying request methods and network environments, change their response to requests against the same DOI, and even return inconsistent results over a period of time. We present the results of our quantitative analysis that is aimed at informing the scholarly communication community about this disconcerting lack of consistency.