cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sparse grid discontinuous Galerkin methods for high-dimensional elliptic equations

This paper constitutes our initial effort in developing sparse grid discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods for high-dimensional partial differential equations (PDEs). Over the past few decades, DG methods have gained popularity in many applications due to their distinctive features. However, they are often deemed too costly because of the large degrees of freedom of the approximation space, which are the main bottleneck for simulations in high dimensions. In this paper, we develop sparse grid DG methods for elliptic equations with the aim of breaking the curse of dimensionality. Using a hierarchical basis representation, we construct a sparse finite element approximation space, reducing the degrees of freedom from the standard O ( h - d ) to O ( h - 1 | log 2 ? h | d - 1 ) for d-dimensional problems, where h is the uniform mesh size in each dimension. Our method, based on the interior penalty (IP) DG framework, can achieve accuracy of O ( h k | log 2 ? h | d - 1 ) in the energy norm, where k is the degree of polynomials used. Error estimates are provided and confirmed by numerical tests in multi-dimensions.
The Unrelated Business Income Tax and Payments from Controlled Entities

The unrelated business income tax now applies to deductible payments of interest, rent, or royalties received from controlled entities. The Tax Relief Act of 2005, as just passed by the Senate, would modify that rule to tax only those amounts that exceed the sum that would be paid if the transaction were at arm's length. Although, that is meant to achieve consistency with third-party arrangements, it creates an advantage for the use of subsidiaries as opposed to direct ownership. Thus, he says, fully consistent treatment of all alternatives is impossible. Moreover, he adds, the difficulty of enforcing an arm's-length standard is obvious and unquestionably the IRS will not be fully able to preclude the exclusion of payments in excess of arm's-length prices. Since it has not been shown that self-dealing between the parent and the subsidiary, as opposed to actually contracting with unrelated parties, is substantially more efficient, the report concludes that the proposed change would make the law considerably more complex and difficult to administer without any clear gain in efficiency.
Population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis of BIIB023, an anti-TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (anti-TWEAK) monoclonal antibody.

Aims Tumour necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is implicated in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis. This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics, using the population approach, and pharmacodynamics of BIIB023, an anti-TWEAK monoclonal antibody, in healthy Chinese, Japanese and Caucasian volunteers. Methods In this single-dose, randomized, double-blind, phase 1 study of BIIB023 in healthy volunteers, BIIB023 was administered by intravenous infusion (3 or 20 mg kg(-1) ) on Day 1; follow-up occurred through Day 71. BIIB023 serum concentration was measured using a validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; BIIB023 concentration-time data were subjected to noncompartmental analysis. Population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using data from this study and a prior phase 1 study of BIIB023 in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis. Soluble TWEAK and Tweak BIIB023 complex were evaluated. Results There were no differences in BIIB023 pharmacokinetics requiring dose adjustment among the three ethnic groups or between healthy volunteers and arthritis patients. BIIB023 central compartment volume (3050 ml) and clearance (7.42 ml h(-1) ) were comparable to those observed for other monoclonal antibody drugs. BIIB023 serum exposure increased in a dose-dependent manner in all groups, but not in direct proportion to dose level; at concentrations below ~10 μg ml(-1) , nonlinear clearance was observed. Soluble TWEAK levels decreased to below the level of quantitation after BIIB023 treatment, with concomitant changes in Tweak BIIB023 complex levels. Conclusions No clinically meaningful differences were observed in BIIB023 pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties in healthy Chinese, Japanese and Caucasian volunteers; pharmacodynamic measures suggested target engagement. TWEAK may be an attractive therapeutic target for lupus nephritis treatment.
PANDDE: Provenance-based ANomaly Detection of Data Exfiltration

Preventing data exfiltration by insiders is a challenging process since insiders are users that have access permissions to the data. Existing mechanisms focus on tracking users' activities while they are connected to the database, and are unable to detect anomalous actions that the users perform on the data once they gain access to it. Being able to detect anomalous actions on the data is critical as these actions are often sign of attempts to misuse data. In this paper, we propose an approach to detect anomalous actions executed on data returned to the users from a database. The approach has been implemented as part of the Provenance-based ANomaly Detection of Data Exfiltration (PANDDE) tool. PANDDE leverages data provenance information captured at the operating system level. Such information is then used to create profiles of users' actions on the data once retrieved from the database. The profiles indicate actions that are consistent with the tasks of the users. Actions recorded in the profiles include data printing, emailing, and storage. Profiles are then used at run-time to detect anomalous actions.
Do today's medical residents really have it better?

Despite changes designed to make medical education more humane, it is not easier to be an intern or resident today.
Effects of Wing Sweep on Stability of a 5 th -Generation Fighter Configuration

The Fifth Generation Target Study (5GTS) was a conceptual design task for a large target drone aircraft capable of representing key 5th generation fighter signature and performance attributes. The target drone’s intended uses are to test air-to-air and surfaceto-air missiles, and to ensure that modern tracking systems are capable of identifying and targeting 5 th generation fighters. Five candidate 5GTS configurations, each with a different wing leading-edge sweep angle, were tested in the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) subsonic wind tunnel. Three of these were tested with both four-post and butterfly tails. This testing revealed generally poor lateral-directional stability for configurations with 4-post tails and wings with sweep angles less than 42 degrees. On these configurations, butterfly tails gave superior lateral-directional stability but suffered from pitch-up. Delta-wing configurations exhibited the most linear stability characteristics. Models were also tested with and without sharp-edged inlet/strake structures attached to the fuselage ahead of the wings. The presence or absence of these inlet/strakes had a relatively minor effect on stability characteristics.
Management strategies for the hard-to-mobilize patient.

Delayed hematopoietic engraftment, particularly of platelets, is seen in 5–35% of patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation. Studies indicate that delayed engraftment is related to low CD34+ cell dose, and that risk factors for poor mobilization of CD34+ cells relate primarily to the type and extent of prior therapy. Data indicating an appropriate strategy to ensure that ‘hard-to-mobilize’ patients will achieve adequate CD34+ cell numbers are limited. It is clear, however, that marrow harvesting (performed frequently by a number of centers), is of limited value. Remobilization, best accomplished with a regimen of high-dose chemotherapy and cytokines, is of benefit in selected patients, but has substantial costs and morbidity. Instead of ad hoc treatment of patients who have a poor first mobilization, high-risk groups should be identified prospectively, and strategies should be developed to ensure adequate mobilization in all high-risk patients. The first randomized trial utilizing this approach has recently been reported. In this trial, stem cell mobilization with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) alone was compared to mobilization with G-CSF combined with stem cell factor (SCF) in heavily pretreated patients with Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The combination of G-CSF and SCF led to collection of a higher total CD34+ cell dose compared to G-CSF alone. Further, more patients in the combination group were able to mobilize an optimal CD34+ cell dose (ie 5 × 106/kg). Additional trials are needed to determine long-term outcomes and the economic impact of achieving optimal stem cell mobilization in these patients, who would otherwise not be candidates for high-dose chemotherapy.
Characteristics of long-term peritoneal dialysis survivors: 18 years experience in one center

Objectives Long-term experience of patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) in general, and in diabetic patients specifically, is limited. Few patients have been followed on PD for over 8 years. Our aim was to evaluate and characterize long-term survivors (LTS) on PD for more than 100 months. A retrospective analysis of 20 patients who survived on PD for more than 100 months was performed. Data on long-term survivors was compared to data of 103 patients who died or switched to hemodialysis (HD) in less than 100 months. Design The study included all patients starting PD prior to 1 January 1986. Demographic, biochemical, dialysis prescription, and morbidity data were obtained on these patients. Characteristics of long-term survivors on PD (more than 100 months), was compared with those who died or switched to HD in less than 100 months, using Student t-test. Setting An experienced single center, university-based dialysis program. Patients 165 patients started PD at the University of Wisconsin prior to 1 January 1986. Forty three had type I diabetes mellitus and 24 had type II diabetes mellitus as the cause of their renal failure. Results Twenty patients survived on PD more than 100 months (LTS). Long-term survival of type I diabetic patients was seen in 7 of 43 patients at risk. Seventeen type I diabetics received renal transplants and ten died. 103 patients either died or switched to HD in less than 100 months. Long-term survivors were significantly younger, weighed less, had fewer episodes of peritonitis, fewer hospital days, and were prescribed more dialysis per kg body weight, than those who died or switched to HD prior to 100 months. Conclusions Long-term survival on CAPD for longer than 100 months is possible with survival periods up to 18 years in both males and females and in nondiabetics as well as patients with type I diabetes mellitus. No patient with type II diabetes mellitus survived longer than 100 months on CAPD. In comparison to short-term survivors, long-term survivors were characterized by being younger, weighing less, having fewer episodes of peritonitis, fewer hospital days, and were prescribed more dialysis/kg body weight.
A Model of Inventory System Cost for Multi-Channels Distribution

Multi-echelon distribution system is considered with one manufacturer,multiple distribution centers and multiple retailers.According to multi-channels distribution problem and based on periodic review of inventory,an optimizing model of inventory system cost for multi-channels distribution is given,which contains both the situation of holding inventory and the situation without inventory when the demand of retailers are stochastic and correlated.Finally,from the perspective of minimizing the total cost of the system,the change of inventory cost along with demand correlation under these two situations is presented with a numerical example,which is proved to be useful for inventory decision.
A ΔJ approach for the evaluation of Fatigue Crack Growth in nozzle corners

Abstract This paper deals with the Fatigue Crack Growth evaluation of a crack located at a nozzle corner and submitted to thermal transients. In such situation, it is well known that it is important to consider the effect of plasticity. Thus, the background of an evaluation scheme relying on the ΔJ parameter is presented in the first part of the paper. In the second part, the Fatigue Crack Growth evaluation scheme relying on semi-circular defects is validated through a comparison to reference Finite Element modeling. It is then shown that the assumed semi-circular defect is justified and also that the complete analytical scheme based on a KI compendium and the simplified kth coefficient formulation allows to accurately evaluate the Fatigue Crack Growth Rate of this complex configuration.
AI-30 Gender differences in plasma levels of ANA, ANTI-CD4, and ANTI-DSDNA antibodies in healthy donors pre and post flu vaccination

Background The ratio of females to males is 9:1 in for the prevalence of SLE in premenopausal women. Double strand anti-DNA (anti-dsDNA) autoantibodies are a diagnostic criteria for lupus and are believed to play a key role in SLE pathogenesis. In the current study, we investigated the presence and mechanisms of gender bias in autoantibody production in normal controls after influenza (flu) vaccination. Materials and methods Plasma levels of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-dsDNA autoantibodies, and anti-CD4 antibodies were assessed in a cohort of 5 healthy men and 11 healthy women. They were received flu vaccines during the 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 seasons. Blood draws were taken at 0, 7, and 14 days after vaccination. Vaccine responses were defined by neutralisation activities in plasma. Flu-specific antibody avidity was tested by ELISA. The levels of autoantibodies were analysed in plasma by ELISA Results Women had higher levels of all 3 IgG autoantibodies compared to men at D0, but not flu-specific neutralising activities nor higher flu-specific antibody avidities. The median plasma levels of ANA antibodies (OD) at D0 were for men 0.2281 (IQR, 0.2058–0.2338), and for women 0.3697 (IQR, 0.2918–0.4261, p = 0.0005); the median plasma levels of anti-CD4 antibodies (OD) were 0.1678 (IQR, 0.1589–0.1932) and 0.2148 (IQR, 0.1986–0.2696p = 0.24); and the median plasma levels of anti-dsDNA antibody (IU/mL) were 122.3 (IQR, 91.86–175.8) and 197.3 (IQR, 131.2–389.8, p = 0.04), for men and women respectively. Influenza vaccination did not change the titer of autoantibodies at any time point. An autoantibody array also found significant differences in IgG autoantibodies at baseline between men and women. Anti-Ro, anti-Sm and anti-RNP antibodies increased at D14 post vaccination in women, but not men. The increases were not statistically significant. Conclusions Women have increased levels of autoantibodies at baseline compared to men. Most autoantibody specificities are not impacted by vaccination, though some antibody specificities are increased in individual women post vaccination. Acknowledgements This work was supported by grants AR062755 and VA CSRD MERIT CX001211
States of mind: Characterizing the neural bases of focus and mind-wandering through dynamic functional connectivity

During tasks that require continuous engagement, the mind alternates between mental states of focused attention and mind-wandering. Existing research has assessed the functional connectivity of intrinsic brain networks underlying the experience and training of these mental states using "static" approaches that assess connectivity across an entire task. To disentangle the different functional connectivity between brain regions that occur as the mind fluctuates between discrete brain states, we employed a dynamic functional connectivity approach that characterized brain activity using a sliding window. This approach identified distinct states of functional connectivity between regions of the executive control, salience, and default networks during a task requiring sustained attention to the sensations of breathing. The frequency of these distinct brain states demonstrated opposing correlations with dispositional mindfulness, suggesting a correspondence to the mental states of focused attention and mind-wandering. We then determined that an intervention emphasizing the cultivation of mindfulness increased the frequency of the state that had been associated with a greater propensity for focused attention, especially for those who improved most in dispositional mindfulness. These findings provide supporting evidence that mind-wandering involves the corecruitment of brain regions within the executive and default networks. More generally, this work illustrates how emerging neuroimaging methods may allow for the characterization of discrete brain states based on patterns of functional connectivity even when external indications of these states are difficult or impossible to measure.
Influenza: Still more important than Zika virus in 2016-2017.

Influenza kills and hospitalizes many people every year. Although the 2015–2016 influenza season was relatively mild, we should remain vigilant in our efforts to reduce the impact of future epidemics or pandemics by implementing universal influenza vaccination and early initiation of antiviral therapy for suspected cases. We don’t expect influenza vaccine to prevent all cases of influenza, since immune response varies depending on age, underlying diseases, and immunosuppression.
Spectral distribution and implications of feedback regulation beyond Nyquist frequency

A fundamental challenge in digital and sampled-data control arises when the continuous-time plant is subject to fast disturbances that possess significant frequency components beyond Nyquist frequency. Such intrinsic difficulties are more and more encountered in modern manufacturing applications, where the measurement speed of the sensor is physically limited compared to the plant dynamics. The paper analyzes the spectral properties of the closed-loop signals under such scenarios, and uncovers several fundamental limitations in the process.
East Asian Historical Traditions of Well-Being

Even though East Asian nations (China, Japan, and Korea) have undergone radical transformations during the past century and more, their ideals and practices concerning well-being are impossible to understand without taking into consideration their traditional cultures and societies. Despite radical modernization in all three nations, their foundational values, philosophical and medical systems, and religious ideals persist to the present day. The aim of this chapter is to describe the processes operative in the formation of, and throughout the lengthy historical use of, East Asian concepts of well-being and to show how we must take into account these fundamental social, cultural, medical, and religious ideas if we are to comprehend accurately the nature of well-being in the societies of this region.
Computational modeling of in vivo and in vitro protein-DNA interactions by multiple instance learning.

Motivation The study of transcriptional regulation is still difficult yet fundamental in molecular biology research. While the development of both in vivo and in vitro profiling techniques have significantly enhanced our knowledge of transcription factor (TF)-DNA interactions, computational models of TF-DNA interactions are relatively simple and may not reveal sufficient biological insight. In particular, supervised learning based models for TF-DNA interactions attempt to map sequence-level features ( k -mers) to binding event but usually ignore the location of k -mers, which can cause data fragmentation and consequently inferior model performance. Results Here, we propose a novel algorithm based on the so-called multiple-instance learning (MIL) paradigm. MIL breaks each DNA sequence into multiple overlapping subsequences and models each subsequence separately, therefore implicitly takes into consideration binding site locations, resulting in both higher accuracy and better interpretability of the models. The result from both in vivo and in vitro TF-DNA interaction data show that our approach significantly outperform conventional single-instance learning based algorithms. Importantly, the models learned from in vitro data using our approach can predict in vivo binding with very good accuracy. In addition, the location information obtained by our method provides additional insight for motif finding results from ChIP-Seq data. Finally, our approach can be easily combined with other state-of-the-art TF-DNA interaction modeling methods. Availability and implementation http://www.cs.utsa.edu/∼jruan/MIL/. Contact jianhua.ruan@utsa.edu. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 for the repair of extraction socket defects: a technical modification and case series report.

PURPOSE The purpose of this case series was to evaluate the use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) in an absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) carrier for the repair of significant bone defects following tooth removal. The surgical technique was modified because primary closure was not obtained over the grafted sockets. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present series included 10 consecutively treated patients with failed endodontically treated maxillary central incisors. Computed tomographic scans were obtained preoperatively. The extraction sockets all had > 50% buccal bone loss. The sockets were grafted with rhBMP-2/ACS and a small amount of bone substitute. Dental implants were inserted after 4 to 6 months of healing. RESULTS Healing of the grafted sockets was uneventful. Dental implants were placed in all grafted sites without the need for further bone augmentation. A comparison of preoperative and postgrafting computed tomographic scans found a slight loss in alveolar width at the crest of 1.07 mm. Connective tissue grafts were placed in five patients. All 10 implants integrated well and were restored with single crowns. CONCLUSIONS The use of rhBMP-2/ACS was effective in repairing osseous defects prior to implant placement. The lack of primary closure over the graft did not appear to complicate healing or compromise bone growth. This modification simplifies the technique and may reduce postoperative morbidity caused by flap manipulation.
Sinus procedures in the Medicare population from 2000 to 2014: A recent balloon sinuplasty explosion

OBJECTIVE To describe sinus procedure trends from 2000 to 2014, particularly following the introduction of balloon sinuplasty Common Procedural Technology (CPT) codes in 2011. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective review of Medicare billing data available to the public. METHODS Procedure and beneficiary data from 2000 to 2014 and provider data from 2012 to 2014 were obtained online from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Sinus CPT codes were classified as balloon sinus procedure (BSP) or nonballoon sinus procedure (nBSP). Providers billing for sinus procedures were categorized as BSP only, nBSP only, or both. For comparison, data on septoplasty procedures from 2000 to 2014 were obtained. RESULTS From 2000 to 2014, the total number of sinus procedures per 10 thousand beneficiaries (PP10K) nationwide increased by 3.7% annually. From 2011 to 2014, nBSP PP10K decreased by 3.1% annually, and BSP PP10K increased by 59% annually. Septoplasty PP10K changed by < 1% annually between 2000 and 2014. States with the highest BSP PP10K from 2012 to 2014 were Kansas, Texas, and Louisiana. Providers performing sinus procedures increased by 30.9% from 2012 to 2014. There was a 244% increase in BSP-only providers, a 0.7% increase in nBSP-only providers, and an 83.3% increase in providers using both. Septoplasty providers increased by 4.1%. CONCLUSION Although the total number of sinus procedures increased from 2000 to 2014, the number of BSP increased at a substantially greater rate since the introduction of CPT codes for these procedures in 2011. Nationwide increases in sinus providers were driven by new providers performing balloon-guided procedures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4. Laryngoscope, 127:1976-1982, 2017.
Comparison of 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT in a Case Series of 10 Patients with Prostate Cancer Recurrence

This was a head-to-head comparison between 68Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-11 and 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT in a series of 10 patients with prostate cancer (PCa) recurrence. Methods: In total, 288 patients with PCa recurrence were enrolled in a prospective study of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging for recurrent disease localization (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02940262). We retrospectively identified 10 patients who underwent clinically indicated 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT prior to enrollment. Results: The median time between the 2 scans was 2.2 mo (range, 0.2-4.2 mo). The median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value was 1.0 ng/mL (mean, 4.7 ng/mL; range, 0.13-18.1 ng/mL) and 1.1 ng/mL (mean, 6.2 ng/mL; range, 0.24-31.3 ng/mL) at the time of 18F-fluciclovine and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT, respectively. Five of 10 patients (50%) were negative with 18F-fluciclovine but positive with 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT. Two of 10 patients (20%) were positive with both 18F-fluciclovine and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT, but 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT showed additional lymph nodes metastasis. Three of 10 patients (30%) were negative with both 18F-fluciclovine and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT. Conclusion: This case series suggests improved detection rates for 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT when compared with 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT in patients with recurrent PCa. Prospective trials designed to directly compare the two should be initiated.
An Overview on Additive Manufacturing of Polymers

We present an overview on additive manufacturing (AM), also called three-dimensional printing, with a focus on polymers. First, we introduce the AM concept. Next, we outline several AM processes, including their advantages and limitations, and list common polymers that are used in commercial printers. Then, we state various AM applications and present two examples. We conclude with a global view of the AM field, its challenges, and future directions.
YIELD STRENGTH CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELECTING MATERIAL SUBJECTED TO SPECTRUM LOADS

In the aerospace industry, variable amplitude cycling, the socalled spectrum loading, is largely replacing the conventional constant amplitude cyclic loading for both the determination of fatigue crack propagation rates in critical structures and also for materials evaluation testing. This variable amplitude cycling is much more realistic in simulating the actual stresses experienced by hardware in service. It has been observed that the behavior of some materials under spectrum loading is significantly different from that anticipated from their behavior under constant amplitude cyclic loading. For example, it was recently observed that crack growth in the high strength, high toughness aluminum alloy 7475-T7651 under spectrum loading was more rapid than expected [i]. These tests were conducted using a flight-by-flight spectrum representing the wing root bending moment of a modern fighter aircraft [2].
Evaluating selective ARQ and slotted handshake based access in real world underwater networks

Medium Access Control (MAC) is an essential component of protocol stacks in Underwater Acoustic Networks (UANs). Numerous dedicated UAN MAC protocols have been proposed and studied via analysis and simulations. However, limited work has been done on evaluating these protocols in real ocean environments. To achieve a better understanding on how MAC protocols perform in real world UANs, we implemented Selective ARQ and Slotted Handshake based Access (SASHA) on UAN nodes. SASHA embraces some most essential and representative techniques in UAN MAC design, including selective ARQ, time slotting, handshake and collision avoidance. Moreover, a sea test was conducted at Atlantic Ocean to evaluate the performance of SASHA. With the experimental data, we are able to study how the aforementioned techniques affect the performance of SASHA. we also analyze the hop-by-hop and end-to-end behavior of SASHA. Specifically, we investigate the transmission delay and queuing delay of a data packet on one hop. From the findings, some issues are discovered and the corresponding design guidelines are emerged.
Tagatose Stability in Beverages as Impacted by Composition and Thermal Processing

Tagatose is a monosaccharide that contributes prebiotic characteristics to foods and beverages. Tagatose has the propensity to degrade depending upon product composition and storage environment. Intramolecular rearrangement and cleavage reactions are enhanced at higher pH levels. Citrate and phosphate buffers catalyze tagatose degradation, with the small dibasic phosphate anion being especially catalytic. Amino acids can react with tagatose via the Maillard reaction to cause browning. Degradation is accelerated by increases in temperature. The time/temperature requirements necessary for pasteurization result in tagatose losses of less than 1%. Refrigeration helps maintain at least 98% of the original tagatose concentration in beverages stored 6 mo. Stability concerns arise for shelf stable beverages containing phosphate buffer at high pH levels. Tagatose retention in beverages is improved by formulating with citrate buffer instead of phosphate buffer, reducing the buffer concentration, lowering the pH, and decreasing the storage temperature.
Vacuum Structure — An Essay

Introduction: In this essay I review in qualitative terms the present understanding of the vacuum structure and how it interplays with the general understanding of the physical laws. I discuss in turn: (The) Quantum Vacuum, The Electric Vacuum, The Confining Strong Interaction Vacuum, The Known and Unknown Higgs Vacuum, The Gravitating Vacuum and present at the end Historical Highlights
Corporate environmental violence and racism

Drawing upon a social justice framework, this analysis expands and integrates issues relating to corporate violence and environmental justice to investigate the spatial distribution of chemical accidents across census tracts in Hillsborough County, Florida. To test the hypothesis that corporate environmental violence (CEV) is more likely to impact blacks and Hispanics, data from the 1990 census was combined with chemical accident data obtained from the U.S. EPA under the Accidental Release Information Program (ARIP). The results of our bivariate analysis suggest that blacks and Hispanics reside closer to chemical facilities reporting accidents than their white counterparts. A multivariate analysis of the problem reveals that racial sub-populations are much more likely to be proximate to these accidents even when facility location and urbanization are controlled. We discuss the implications of our findings and point out that any solutions to the unequal distribution of CEV must lie outside the traditional criminal justice response.
The Intervertebral Disc: Overview of Disc Mechanics

The intervertebral disc is the soft tissue between the vertebral bodies. The disc function is to transmit multi-directional loads through the spine and to allow relative motion between the vertebral bodies. The intervertebral disc is composed of three distinct tissues: nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, and the cartilaginous endplates. Each of these tissues has a characteristic composition and structure which provide them with unique mechanical properties. The interaction between these tissues enables the intervertebral disc to perform its function. The objective of this chapter is to describe the mechanical behavior of the individual disc tissues and then discuss how they work together in physiological loading scenarios. In addition, the effects of degeneration on the mechanics at the tissue and disc level are described.
Weight Recidivism After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery: An 11-Year Experience in a Multiethnic Medical Center.

OBJECTIVE Weight recidivism following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is common and is associated with recurrence of comorbidities. Studies with long-term follow-up of recidivism quantified by weight regain (WR) are lacking. A retrospective review of all RYGB at our center from 2004 to 2015 was performed to examine the effects of race and type 2 diabetes on WR following RYGB. METHODS Multivariable linear mixed models were used for the effects of time and race on weight, WR relative to nadir weight (WR/nadir), and WR relative to maximal weight loss, and Cox regressions were used for low, moderate, and high WR/nadir. RESULTS A total of 1,395 participants were identified. The sample was limited to African American (AA), Caucasian American (CA), and Hispanic American (HA) participants. The effects of time (P < 0.0001), race (P < 0.0001), and race × time interaction (P = 0.0008) on weight trajectory were significant. AA had significantly more WR than CA (P < 0.01). AA and HA had a higher hazard ratio for having low, moderate, and rapid WR/nadir. CONCLUSIONS Racial disparities after RYGB include WR and particularly affect AA. Understanding the etiologic factors that contribute to these disparities is important to optimize the long-term clinical outcomes of bariatric surgery.
Associations between after-school arrangements and labour conditions of low-income working mothers in the United States

Over one-half of U.S. low-income working mothers utilize an array of after-school options, which impacts child development and their work conditions. However, many studies have focused exclusively ...
Considering Over-Dispersion in the Sample Size Calculation for Clinical Trials With Repeated Count Measurements

AbstractOver-dispersed count variables are frequently encountered in biomedical research. Despite extensive research in analytical methods, addressing over-dispersion in the design of clinical tria...
Should We Always Look Before We LEEP? A Discussion of the Pros and Cons of Colposcopic Biopsy Prior to Treatment.

Should We Always Look Before We LEEP? A Discussion of the Pros and Cons of Colposcopic Biopsy Prior to Treatment Richard Guido;Rebecca Perkins;Katie Smith; Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease
Positive Predictors of Life Satisfaction for Autistic College Students and Their Neurotypical Peers

Background: Positive psychological traits are associated with higher life satisfaction, academic success, and fewer mental health problems in neurotypical (NT) college students. However, it is uncl...
An Overview of Nonlinear Geometrical Methods for Process Control

Differential geometry offers a wide range of tools for analyzing nonlinear dynamical systems. Recent developments have included conditions for nonlinear controllability and reachability, stability, the development of exact finite dimensional nonlinear filters, and the feedback transformation of nonlinear systems to linear systems. Generally speaking, the practical application of these results are often limited to restricted classes of nonlinear systems. Nevertheless, many problems in chemical process control may be amenable to these approaches. This paper presents a overview of some areas of application in process control, particularly with regard to nonlinear controllability, linearizing feedback transformations, and the construction of stable inverses. The notion of a ‘distinguished process output’ is used to provide a unifying viewpoint. Some areas of opportunity as well as potential limitations are described.
A Novel Thermal Mapping Technique using Nano-confinement Assisted Quantum Dots for Transient Cooling Applications

During air or liquid cooling, thermal resistance of the devices is measured precisely from the thermal information at the junction. But existing thermal measurement technologies fall short because of highly transient events such as unstable vortex formation (air cooling) and bubble growth (two-phase liquid cooling). In solving this problem, this paper reports a novel and low-cost thermal mapping technique that can capture highly spatio-temporal temperature evolution at the solid-liquid interface. Essentially, a robust interface is fabricated with CuInS 2 /ZnS Quantum dots (λ peak = 550 nm and 750 nm) trapped inside nanopores (20 nm-30 nm) of a ceramic membrane (50 µm) and/or everyday use paper. It is observed that such nanoconfinement assisted Quantum dots provided sustained thermal photoluminescence coefficient (-0.1 nm/°C) at high number of heating-cooling cycle. This unique yet low cost thermal mapping technique is applied to capture thermal evolution during micro-droplet impingement cooling and hemiwicking flows through anisotropic wicks which showcase commendable spatio-temporal benefits.
Preceding syllables are necessary for the accent advantage effect

The accent advantage effect in phoneme monitoring—faster responses to a target phoneme at the beginning of an L + H*-accented word than to a target phoneme at the beginning of an unaccented word—is viewed as a product of listeners' predictive capabilities [Cutler (1976). Percept. Psychophys. 20(1), 55–60]. However, previous studies have not established what information listeners use to form these predictions [Cutler (1987). Proceedings of the International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, pp. 84–87; Cutler and Darwin (1981). Percept. Psychophys. 29(3), 217–224]. This article presents evidence that at least the information in the syllable immediately preceding a target phoneme is necessary to cue the predictive attention allocation that underlies the accent advantage effect.
Evaluative Criteria: An Integrated Model of Domains and Sources.

Evaluative criteria define a “high quality” or “successful” evaluand and provide the basis for judgment of merit and worth, yet they are often assumed and implicit in the evaluation process. This a...
Motor Skill Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Clinically Focused Review.

Purpose of review This review synthesizes recent, clinically relevant findings on the scope, significance, and centrality of motor skill differences in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recent findings Motor challenges in ASD are pervasive, clinically meaningful, and highly underrecognized, with up to 87% of the autistic population affected but only a small percentage receiving motor-focused clinical care. Across development, motor differences are associated with both core autism symptoms and broader functioning, though the precise nature of those associations and the specificity of motor profiles to ASD remain unestablished. Findings suggest that motor difficulties in ASD are quantifiable and treatable, and that detection and intervention efforts targeting motor function may also positively influence social communication. Recent evidence supports a need for explicit recognition of motor impairment within the diagnostic framework of ASD as a clinical specifier. Motor differences in ASD warrant greater clinical attention and routine incorporation into screening, evaluation, and treatment planning.
Creativity: Depth and Breadth

Creativity is an elusive concept. Indeed there are those who believe it cannot be studied as if the heat of the microscope would destroy the specimen. Nevertheless, it is accepted by many that at a minimum creativity entails the generation of ideas that are both original and appropriate. Creativity, then, entails both divergent and convergent thinking. Here we investigated divergent and convergent thinking in a task in which participants are asked to provide many interpretations of ambiguous suggestive sketches. Switching attention among the sketches encouraged divergent thinking whereas focused repeated attention to interpreting a single sketch encouraged convergent thinking.
Dominant mutations of cytoskeletal proteins in Xenopus embryos

Publisher Summary Cellular shape change and the motility of embryonic cells are brought about primarily by two filament systems, the microtubules and microfilaments. Intermediate filaments comprise a complex multigene family of more than 30 unique proteins, all of which have the capacity to assemble into 8-10 nm filaments. Individual proteins are expressed in a developmentally regulated and cell-type specific pattern, suggesting that each type of subunit fulfills a unique role in cellular differentiation. Vimentin exhibits the widest distribution of all cytoplasmic intermediate filaments, being the predominant subunit in many differentiated cells of mesenchymal origin, in most cultured cells, regardless of the origin, as well as in some differentiating cells prior to the appearance of the cell-type specific subunit. In the developing central nervous system (CNS), neurofilament expression is preceded, by that of vimentin, and both types of intermediate filaments coexist, within the same cell, for a short period of time. Vimentin is coexpressed, with the cell-type specific intermediate filament protein, in some fully differentiated cell types, such as with glial acid fibrillary protein in astrocytes. This chapter discusses the role of membrane skeleton protein 4.1 during embryogenesis and about dissecting the functions of vimentin during embryonic development. Protein 4.1, along with other membrane skeleton proteins, is believed to be involved in establishing and maintaining specialized membrane-cytoskeletal domains in nonerythroid cells. It plays a critical role in initiating and/or stabilizing the interaction of these cell types in the developing retina. Approaches that are currently being used to study the role of protein 4.1 during early amphibian development have also been discussed in the chapter.
POSSIBILIDADES DIDÁTICAS E SOCIAIS NO EXERCÍCIO DA PESQUISA

O artigo apresenta resultados preliminares e discuti procedimentos metodologicos e didaticos da pesquisa “Perfil do Visitante na Area do Cluster da Serra Gaucha”, em seu segmento aplicado nos municipios de Caxias do Sul/RS e Bento Goncalves/RS, que contou com a participacao de alunos de graduacao em Turismo, da Universidade de Caxias do Sul. A experiencia foi realizada no âmbito da disciplina de Estagio I em Turismo, em 2004, utilizando a metodologia desenvolvida pelo projeto de pesquisa, elaborado pelo Mestrado em Turismo da Universidade de Caxias do Sul e pelo Departamento de Turismo e Hotelaria, da mesma Universidade. A realizacao da pesquisa em Caxias do Sul/RS e Bento Goncalves/RS atendeu solicitacao das Prefeituras Municipais. Nesta condicao, resultados previos foram apresentados no final de 2004, alguns deles gerando celeuma. Palavras-chaves: Turismo; Pesquisa em Turismo; Ensino do Turismo; Estagio em Turismo; Perfil do turista.
Languages, compilers and run-time environments for distributed memory machines

SUPERB: Experiences and Future Research (M. Gerndt and H.P. Zima). Scientific Programming Languages for Distributed Memory Multiprocessors: Paradigms and Research Issues (M. Rosing, R.B. Schnabel and R.P. Weaver). Vienna Fortran - A Fortran Language Extension for Distributed Memory Multiprocessors (B.M. Chapman, P. Mehrotra and H.P. Zima). Compiler Parallelization of SIMPLE for a Distributed Memory Machine (K. Pingali and A. Rogers). Applications of the "Phase Abstractions" for Portable and Scalable Parallel Programming (L. Snyder). Nicke - C Extensions for Programming on Distributed Memory Machines (D. Malki and M. Snir). A Static Performance Estimator in the Fortran D Programming System (V. Balasundaram, G. Fox, K. Kennedy and U. Kremer). Compiler Support for Machine-Independent Parallel Programming in Fortran D (S. Hiranandani, K. Kennedy and Chau-Wen Tseng). PANDORE: A System to Manage Data Distribution (F. Andre, J.-L. Pazat and H. Thomas). Distributed Memory Compiler Methods for Irregular Problems - Data Copy Reuse and Runtime Partitioning (R. Das, R. Ponnusamy, J. Saltz and D. Mavriplis). Scheduling EPL Programs for Parallel Processing (B. Sinharoy, B. McKenney and B.K. Szymanski). Parallelizing Programs for Distributed-Memory Machines using the Crystal System (Marina Chen, Dong-Yuan Chen, Yu Hu, M. Jacquemin, Cheng-Yee Lin and Jan-Jan Wu). Iteration Space Tiling for Distributed Memory Machines (J. Ramanujam and P. Sadayappan). Systolic Loops (M. Wolfe). An Optimizing C Compiler for a Hypercube Multicomputer (L.H. Hamel, P.J. Hatcher and M.J. Quinn). The Paragon Programming Paradigm and Distributed Memory Multicomputers (A.P. Reeves and C.M. Chase).
Acute Pulmonary Edema Complicating Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy

In summary, we have presented two cases to illustrate the problem of postoperative pulmonary edema following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Furthermore, we have discussed the difficulty in predicting those patients who will develop this complication. Because of the potential seriousness and unpredictability of acute pulmonary edema following tonsillectomy for chronic obstruction, it is important that medical personnel, including pediatricians caring for patients after tonsillectomy, be able to readily recognize this phenomenon of acute onset of congestive heart failure and treat it rapidly with diuretics, continuous positive airway pressure, and respiratory support as needed.
Studies on Yeasts in Dairy Products: III. The Pink Yeasts Common in Milk and Cream

Summary Approximately 90 cultures of pink yeasts were isolated and studied in more or less detail. These came largely from milk, cream, soft cheese and butter obtained in the vicinity of Ames. It was found that most of the cultures belonged to a common type, which is considered to be Torula glutinis, although it is smaller than the dimensions given in most of the descriptions of this organism. Two other types were encountered in small numbers and named Torula rubicunda and Torula paraglutinis to make possible their distinction from the common type. A description of Torula glutinis is given together with a list of the variations from this type shown by Torula rubicunda and by Torula paraglutinis.
Approximating the Algebraic Relational Semantics of Imperative Programs

We present a novel static analysis for approximating the algebraic relational semantics of imperative programs. Our method is based on abstract interpretation in the lattice of polynomial pseudo ideals of bounded degree – finite-dimensional vector spaces of polynomials of bounded degree which are closed under bounded degree products. For a fixed bound, the space complexity of our approach and the iterations required to converge on fixed points are bounded by a polynomial in the number of program variables. Nevertheless, for several programs taken from the literature on non-linear polynomial invariant generation, our analysis produces results that are as precise as those produced by more heavy-weight Grobner basis methods.
The multidimensional multiple balance method for s(n) radiation transport

Deterministic radiation transport discretizations mimic, to various degrees, properties of the analytic transport equation. No deterministic scheme accurately mimics all of these properties, and one must generally choose a method that prioritizes, based on properties important to the problem at hand. When the problem contains optically-thick diffusive regions, for example, the importance of meeting the thick diffusion limit is well known. We demonstrate that linear-solution-preservation (in space and angle) is also vitally important to obtaining accurate solutions in diffusive regions. Though this quality is achieved by modern Corner Balance/Discontinuous Finite Element Methods on triangular/tetrahedral grids, the state-of-the-art Upstream Corner Balance method fails to preserve linear-solutions on quadrilateral grids. We develop a new Multidimensional Multiple Balance method, which is linear-solution-preserving on skewed quadrilateral grids. We demonstrate the new method's success in diffusive regions on non-orthogonal quadrilateral grids, and we compare it to Upstream Corner Balance on a variety of other problems. Finally, we develop two physics-based preconditioners for the new method on orthogonal grids.
Extensions of classical averaging techniques to delay differential equations

This paper extends the method of averaging due to Krylov and Bogoliubov (1947) and Bogoliubov and Mitropolskii (1961) to delay differential equations. Near identity change of variables are used to transform time varying delay differential equations into autonomous delay differential equations plus small perturbations. Then Lyapunov functionals are used to relate the autonomous averaged delay differential equation to the original time varying delay differential equation. >