cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High Latent TB Infection Rate and Associated Risk Factors in the Eastern China of Low TB Incidence

Objectives To disclose the associated risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and the current situation of LTBI in the eastern China. Methods A cross-sectional study was undertaken to evaluate the LTBI rate and risk factors. Results A total of 5305 subjects were finally included, with the IGRA positive rate of 19.98% (1060/5305). The LTBI rates were increasing with age (ORs were in significance from 6.60 to 20.92). Male gender significantly increased the risk of LTBI by 0.52 fold (OR = 1.52). Both smoking and drinking significantly increased the risk of LTBI (OR = 1.83 and OR = 1.67, respectively). Meanwhile, overweight and close contact with tuberculosis were risk factors for LTBI (OR = 1.36 and OR = 2.38, respectively). However, higher level of education and BCG vaccination lowered the risk of LTBI (OR = 0.16 and OR = 0.39, respectively). The multivariate logistic regression showed that age, male gender, smoking, overweight and close contacting with tuberculosis were risk factors for LTBI, but BCG vaccination was a protective factor for LTBI. Conclusions BCG vaccination exerted protective effect on tuberculosis. However, LTBI rate in the Chinese rural area was critical and subjects above 30 years, male, smoking, overweight and close contact with tuberculosis wound be the targets for LTBI screening and source of tuberculosis.
Evaluation of a Plasma Impedance Probe in a Time-varying Non-uniform Plasma

Numerical simulations and experimental measurements were combined to determine the ability of a PIP to measure plasma density and electron collision frequency in a plasma containing spatial gradients as well as time-varying oscillations in the plasma density. Collision frequency was to be measured by the width of the parallel resonance in the real part of plasma impedance-vs.-frequency, while plasma density was to be measured using the zero-crossing of the imaginary impedance-vs.-frequency at parallel resonance. Simulations of the probe characteristic in a plasma gradient indicated that the broadening the real part of plasma impedance due to the spatial gradient obscured the broadening due to electron collision frequency. Simulation results also showed that it may be possible to measure relative changes in electron collision frequencies in a spatial plasma gradient, but the broadening effect of the time-varying oscillations made collision frequency measurements impossible. The time-varying oscillations had the effect of causing multiple zero-crossings in the imaginary part of impedance at parallel resonance. Results of experiments and simulations indicated that the lowest-frequency zero-crossing represented the lowest plasma density in the oscillations and the highest-frequency zero-crossing represented the highest plasma density in the oscillations, thus the PIP probe was found to be an effective tool to measure both the average plasma density as well as the max and min densities due to temporal oscillations.
Research on forming geological conditions in the area of Tuha basin of Ledong

Through the Turpan-Hami Basin,ledung forming geological conditions of the region to study,proposed in the study area vertically below Jurassic Sangonghe,Middle Jurassic Xishanyao Department of Shanshan Group and the third group is the main purpose of the exploration-layer system,with a complex exploration of the potential of multi-layer system,transverse direction will be the central focus of the main fault zone for the exploration,is expected to be the trend of oil and gas reservoirs composite contiguous,in the study area and its regulation in two main fault fracture zone formed structural traps in the study area will be the next step in the deployment of a favorable exploration zone.
Picking Winners Using Integer Programming

We consider the problem of selecting a portfolio of entries of fixed cardinality for a winner take all contest such that the probability of at least one entry winning is maximized. This framework is very general and can be used to model a variety of problems, such as movie studios selecting movies to produce, drug companies choosing drugs to develop, or venture capital firms picking start-up companies in which to invest. We model this as a combinatorial optimization problem with a submodular objective function, which is the probability of winning. We then show that the objective function can be approximated using only pairwise marginal probabilities of the entries winning when there is a certain structure on their joint distribution. We consider a model where the entries are jointly Gaussian random variables and present a closed form approximation to the objective function. We then consider a model where the entries are given by sums of constrained resources and present a greedy integer programming formulation to construct the entries. Our formulation uses three principles to construct entries: maximize the expected score of an entry, lower bound its variance, and upper bound its correlation with previously constructed entries. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our greedy integer programming formulation, we apply it to daily fantasy sports contests that have top heavy payoff structures (i.e. most of the winnings go to the top ranked entries). We find that the entries produced by our approach perform well in practice and are even able to come in first place in contests with thousands of entries. Our approach can easily be extended to other problems with a winner take all type of payoff structure.
Nonlinear Response of a Moored Ship to Sea Oscillations

A possible mooring line suspension system for a large vessel is shown in Figure 13.1. Consider the longitudinal motion of this ship in a harbor basin under a simple harmonic disturbing force F(t) = F cos ωt. This disturbing force, which is caused by the harbor waves impinging on the ship’s hull, often has a frequency ω which is close to the natural frequency of oscillation of the water within the harbor basin. This problem is also discussed by Wilson (1951) and Abramson (1955). In reality, neither ω or the force amplitude F are constant; ω may cover a spectrum of frequencies; and both may vary with time. In the following analysis, however, the motion of the ship in the direction of F(t) only is considered, where ω and F are constant. In addition, it is assumed that the composite effect of all seven mooring lines on ship’s motion is essentially the same as that for just two equivalent horizontal lines, as shown in Figure 13.2. It will be shown that these assumptions lead to a nonlinear differential equation of motion which is a special form of the more general one derived by Wilson (1951).
Who Are to Be the Successors of European Jewry? The Restitution of German Jewish Communal and Cultural Property:

Who are to be the successors of European Jewry? This question faced Jewish leaders after the Holocaust, in terms both legal – inheriting heirless property – as well as spiritual – carrying forward ...
Comparison study for iterative reconstruction using a pinhole collimator and a rotating-slit collimator

A rotating-slit system is proposed for small animal imaging. The spatial resolution and noise propagation properties of the rotating-slit system are evaluated and compared with a pinhole system using iterative methods. Our results show that the two systems achieve comparable resolutions, and the rotating-slit system has better noise performance than the pinhole system when the same detector sizes are applied. In addition, the rotating-slit system can be used for ROI reconstruction from truncated projections. This local tomography property of iterative reconstructions is only found for the rotating-slit system, but not found for the pinhole system
Quantitative model of hematologic and plasma volume responses after ascent and acclimation to moderate to high altitudes.

Despite decades of research, the magnitude and time course of hematologic and plasma volume (PV) changes following rapid ascent and acclimation to various altitudes are not precisely described. To ...
Synaptic NMDA-Receptor Signaling Complex

Publisher Summary The NMDA receptor (NMDAR), a glutamate receptor, is the predominant molecular device for controlling synaptic plasticity and memory function. The NMDA receptor is specialized to initiate and control changes in synaptic strength, based on the firing patterns of the synapse. This chapter discusses the structure and function of the signaling complex assembled in the cytosol around the NMDA receptor. The NMDA receptor is assembled from four distinct subunits that fall into structural and functional classes. The signaling complex that assembles around this tail does not appear to be a rigid structure with a fixed stoichiometry. Instead, it is believed to be assembled stochastically by associations with a set of scaffold proteins, and, in some instances, by direct association of the tails of the NMDA receptor with signaling molecules. Two features of activity-dependent plasticity at excitatory synapses in the central nervous system are central to learning mechanisms in the brain and have been the focus of many recent studies. One is the tight dependence of synaptic plasticity on “spike-timing” of pre- and postsynaptic neurons. The second is “metaplasticity,” or the adjustment of the sensitivity and sign (LTP or LTD) of synaptic plasticity controlled by patterns of prior activity. These mechanisms depend on the amplitude, time course, and location of origin of Ca2+ influx. Thus, the spatial arrangement of calcium-dependent signaling enzymes such as CaMKII, calcineurin, and nitric oxide synthase are likely to be critical determinants of both.
Hydraulic hazard exposure of humans swept away in a whitewater river

Despite many deaths annually worldwide due to floods, no strategy exists to mechanistically map hydraulic hazards people face when entrained in a river. Previous work determined water depth–velocity product thresholds for human instability from standing or walking positions. Because whitewater rivers attract diverse recreation that risks entraining people into hazardous flow, this study takes the next step by predicting the hazard pattern facing people swept away. The study site was the 12.2-km bedrock–alluvial upper South Yuba River in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. A novel algorithm was developed and applied to two-dimensional hydrodynamic model outputs to delineate three hydraulic hazard categories associated with conditions for which people may be unable to save themselves: emergent unsavable and steep emergent surfaces, submerged unsavable surfaces, and hydraulic jumps. Model results were used to quantify exposure of both an upright and supine entrained person to collision and body entrapment hazards. Hazard exposure was expressed with two metrics: passage proximity (how closely a body approached a hazard) and reaction time (time available to respond to and avoid a hazard). Hazard exposure maps were produced for multiple discharges, and the areal distributions of exposure were synthesized for the river segment. Analyses revealed that the maximum hazard exposure occurred at an intermediate discharge. Additionally, longitudinal profiles of the results indicated both discharge-dependent and discharge-independent hazards. Relative to the upright body, the supine body was overall exposed to less dangerous channel regions in passage down the river, but experienced more abrupt encounters with the danger that did occur.
Comparative impact assessment of filter elements associated with PWM and hysteresis controlled PV on network harmonic resonance in distribution systems

PV based distributed generators are inverter based and employ a switching scheme to inject power into the grid. The most common and commercially used technique involves the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controlled technique. Although PWM based technique is widely used, it is not affirmative to conclude that hysteresis controlled technique could be dismissed completely. A comparative evaluation and situational needs makes the way for current controlled hysteresis based technique for switching operation associated with PV Inverters. Although literature suggests that a comparison of these techniques were done only from the perspective of general power electronics, none of the papers in the literature has projected the comparison of these techniques applied to grid connected PV Inverters and especially towards power quality. Although power quality phenomenon not necessarily describe about only about the harmonic injection, IEEE 519-1992 clearly states that the resonance phenomenon is also an important aspect of power quality towards harmonics injected by the PV Inverters into the system. Considering this fact, a comparative study of PV Inverters using PWM and Hysteresis controlled strategy are employed, to witness the impact of the associated filter element on the AC side of PV Inverters on the network harmonic resonance modes in the system. For the first time, this paper brings out a contribution by addressing a comparative study done for the two control schemes and the impact of its filter element on resonant modes associated with the system.
Kinematics of Origami Structures with Creased Folds

Having reviewed the existing and potential engineering applications of active origami structures in Chap. 1, it is evident that such structures have significant complexity in their geometry and motion. Therefore, mathematical models for origami are needed to enable the development of advanced active origami structures. The following assumptions generally apply to the development of mathematical models for origami: folds are straight creases (termed as creased folds ), and planar faces bounded by the folds and the sheet boundary are rigid (i.e., these faces do not stretch or bend). In this chapter, we present a kinematic model for origami based on such assumptions. We also address the implementation of the model in a computational environment.
Cross-Talk Between MSCs and Their Environments

The mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC) has garnered attention as a promising candidate cell type for cell-based therapeutics, partly, by virtue of its ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types. However, the true therapeutic potential of MSCs may lie in the regulatory influences they exert on their environments. Indeed, as a result of their natural homing response to wound sites, MSCs come into contact with a variety of environments and cell types as they leave their perivascular niches. This chapter describes the interactions between MSCs and four such environmental signals, specifically the vasculature, the extracellular matrix, the immune system, and cancer. In vivo and in vitro studies detailing the effects of MSCs on each are presented, with special attention paid to cases of cross-talk in which MSCs alter the very environmental signals acting upon them. Finally, MSC performance in clinical trials is discussed and compared to expectations based on basic science findings. This chapter also identifies gaps in knowledge and current understandings where future research will prove most effective.
Family Matters: Understanding Educational Choices and Gendered Science in India

This chapter explores how educational decisions, especially science-related choices, impact and are impacted by Indian cultural models of family and gender. I draw mainly upon ethnographic and questionnaire data from field research in India (1988–1991). I argue that Indian cultural models of family, gender, and schooling interact with macrostructural features of Indian society (educational, socioeconomic, occupational) to frame the academic decision process, contributing to a gender (and class) stratified scientific community. But I also note the complex interplay of cultural, family, and macrostructural pressures for girls’ schooling and describe some circumstances which lead increasing numbers of girls to pursue science.
Scrutinizing metal–ligand covalency and redox non-innocence via nitrogen K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Nitrogen K-edge X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) were obtained for 19 transition metal complexes bearing bipyridine, ethylenediamine, ammine, and nitride ligands. Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and DFT/restricted open configuration interaction singles (DFT/ROCIS) calculations were found to predict relative N K-edge XAS peak energies with good fidelity to experiment. The average difference (|ΔE|) between experimental and linear corrected calculated energies were found to be 0.55 ± 0.05 eV and 0.46 ± 0.04 eV, respectively, using the B3LYP hybrid density functional and scalar relativistically recontracted ZORA-def2-TZVP(-f) basis set. Deconvolution of these global correlations into individual N-donor ligand classes gave improved agreement between experiment and theory with |ΔE| less than 0.4 eV for all ligand classes in the case of DFT/ROCIS. In addition, calibration method-dependent values for the N 1s → 2p radial dipole integral of 25.4 ± 1.7 and 26.8 ± 1.9 are obtained, affording means to estimate the nitrogen 2p character in unfilled frontier molecular orbitals. For the complexes studied, nitrogen covalency values correlate well to those calculated by hybrid DFT with an R2 = 0.92 ± 0.01. Additionally, as a test case, a well-characterized PNP ligand framework (PNP = N[2-P(CHMe2)2-4-methylphenyl]21−) coordinated to NiII is investigated for its ability to act as a redox non-innocent ligand. Upon oxidation of (PNP)NiCl with [FeCp2](OTf) to its radical cation, [(PNP)NiCl](OTf) (OTf = triflate), a new low-energy feature emerges in the N K-edge XAS spectra. This feature is assigned as N 1s to a PNP-localized acceptor orbital exhibiting 27 ± 2% N 2p aminyl radical character, obtained using the aforementioned nitrogen covalency calibration. Combined, these data showcase a direct spectroscopic means of identifying redox-active N-donor ligands and also estimating nitrogen 2p covalency of frontier molecular orbitals in transition metal complexes.
Juvenile recurrent parotitis: Diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness of sialography. Retrospective study on 110 children.

Abstract Introduction Juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP) is characterized by recurrent episodes of painful parotid swelling, generally associated with non-obstructive sialectasia of the parotid gland. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness of sialography in children affected by JRP. Methods Clinical records of 110 outpatients with a diagnosis of JRP followed up from 2008 to 2017 at the Unit of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Surgery Department of the Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital of Rome, were retrospectively reviewed. Data on demographics, number of acute episodes/year, course of disease, site of symptoms and duration of follow up were collected. The inclusion criteria were: at least two or more episodes of intermittent swelling of the parotid glands on one side or both sides during the last 6 months, age Results Sialography has been shown in all cases to be a valid method in the diagnosis of JRP. Following the execution of the sialography, in 98 patients (89% of cases) there was a statistically significant improvement of disease with a mean reduction of 67.4% of episodes of parotid swelling (p 0.05). There was a statistically significant relationship between the number of attacks/year and the degree of glandular function, pre and post-sialography in 2-way ANOVA test (p Conclusion Sialography is effective method not only as a diagnostic procedure but also as a therapeutic procedure in treatment of JRP. It is a method that can be carried out in ambulatory setting, without anaesthesia, with a minimum cost and with a very low rate of complications. In a disease with tendency to spontaneous resolution like JRP, sialography represent a therapeutic option alternative to more invasive treatment.
Weight Control Practices in Children of Parents Participating in Weight Management Programs

Abstract Background: Family members influence the behaviors and weight loss of adults in weight management programs (WMPs). Less is known about the weight control practices of children who have a p...
Behavioral Weight Loss: A Promising Treatment for Obesity in Adults with HIV

Obesity and chronic disease are growing problems among people living with HIV (PLWH) across the globe. While a variety of treatments have been developed to address cardiovascular and metabolic disease among PLWH, few treatments have focused on helping PLWH and obesity lose weight. In the general population, behavioral weight loss interventions (i.e., diet, physical activity, and behavior therapy) are the first-line treatment for adults for whom weight loss is recommended. However, little research has tested whether the benefits of these programs translate to PLWH. This paper highlights the key components of behavioral weight loss programs, their outcomes in the general population and in the few studies of PLWH, and suggestions for tailoring these programs for PLWH. Behavioral weight loss programs are a strong potential treatment for reducing the burden of obesity among PLWH and merit future research attention.
Publishing the Three-Volume Novel: The Experience of Richard Bentley and Son

Using the publisher’s account ledgers, this chapter examines the production of three-volume novels by Richard Bentley, one of the leading publishers of fiction during the Victorian period. Looking at the accounts for over one hundred titles published in the 1860s and 1880s, the analysis finds Bentley made a consistent, though not guaranteed, profit with the format through shrewd author contracts, low print runs, high retail prices, and steady sales to circulating libraries. In general, Bentley’s most successful authors were women writers such as Rhoda Broughton and Ellen Wood, who commanded the highest payments. Overall, Bentley found economic success with the three-volume novel throughout the century.
Abstract TP145: Kinematics of Turning 360 O in Healthy Older Adults and Stroke Survivors

Introduction: The action of turning is used in everyday tasks around the home and in the community. Studies show that stroke affects sensorimotor functionality which can explain the difficulty in t...
Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods for Fluid Flow Forecasting in the Subsurface.

Accurate predictions in subsurface flows require the forecasting of quantities of interest by applying models of subsurface fluid flow with very little available data. In general a Bayesian statistical approach along with a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm can be used for quantifying the uncertainties associated with subsurface parameters. However, the complex nature of flow simulators presents considerable challenges to accessing inherent uncertainty in all flow simulator parameters of interest. In this work we focus on the transport of contaminants in a heterogeneous permeability field of a aquifer. In our problem the limited data comes in the form of contaminant fractional flow curves at monitoring wells of the aquifer. We then employ a Karhunen-Loeve expansion to truncate the stochastic dimension of the permeability field and thus the expansion helps reducing the computational burden. Aiming to reduce the computational burden further, we code our numerical simulator using parallel programming procedures on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). In this paper we mainly present a comparative study of two well-known MCMC methods, namely, two-stage and DiffeRential Evolution Adaptive Metropolis (DREAM), for the characterization of the two-dimensional aquifer. A thorough statistical analysis of ensembles of the contaminant fractional flow curves from both MCMC methods is presented. The analysis indicates that although the average fractional flow curves are quite similar, both time-dependent ensemble variances and posterior analysis are considerably distinct for both methods.
End Colostomy Takedown

When the pathology for which a Hartmann’s procedure was performed is resolved, one may consider reversing the colostomy and restoring continuity of the colon. When performing an anastomosis of the colon to the remaining stump (either sigmoid or rectum), one must ensure there is no tension in order to avoid anastomotic breakdown and leak of the anastomosis. The present chapter describes an end colostomy takedown and how to achieve a tension free anastomosis.
Integrating Disturbance, Seasonality, Multi-Year Temporal Dynamics, and Dormancy Into the Dynamics and Conservation of Metacommunities

The metacommunity framework has rapidly become a dominant concept used by ecologists to understand community assembly. By emphasizing extinction-colonization dynamics, dispersal, and species’ niche requirements in determining community structure, metacommunity theory unifies local and regional processes as integral to species distributions across landscapes. Metacommunity structure has traditionally been treated as static. However, habitat characteristics and community composition can shift through time because of factors like seasonal dynamics, ecosystem disturbance, multi-year climate variation (e.g., El Nino Southern Oscillation), and production and emergence of dormant propagules. In most systems, the relevance of such temporal variation for the structure and persistence of metacommunities is an open question that is of potential importance for conservation and management. We evaluate and synthesize the theory and concepts relevant to four major forms of temporal dynamics that are pertinent to metacommunities: disturbance, seasonality, multi-year climate variation, and dormancy. For each type of dynamic we review the theoretical underpinnings and empirical evidence to evaluate how the dynamic drives temporal variation in metacommunity structure. We also consider how major forms of anthropogenic change further influence these patterns. Our survey highlights that seasonal climatic differences can modify the distribution and availability of resources and connectivity, with consequences for species’ use of the landscape and species interactions. Disturbance and multi-year climate cycles can increase the importance of dispersal, but implications for environmental filtering and species interactions remain unresolved. Dormant life stages serve to anchor habitat patches and species pools in space and highlight the importance of dispersal-dormancy tradeoffs and environmental variation for metacommunity structure. Temporal variability in biotic and abiotic conditions associated with these drivers can modify the relative strengths of dispersal, environmental filtering, and species interactions, three biological processes that drive metacommunity structure. Inclusion of spatiotemporal drivers creates patterns of species diversity that differ from traditional metacommunity ideas. We use these insights to highlight research needs, suggest a reconceptualization of metacommunities as undergoing continuous change, and discuss the implications of temporal dynamism for the conservation and management of metacommunities.
The Role of Big Data in Antitrust

There is an astounding amount of data generated every moment. While the use of data has always been essential for a well-functioning market economy, the current scale, scope, and speed at which data is collected, organized, and analyzed is unprecedented—leading to the apt label of “big data.” Importantly, an entire infrastructure has been built around data including cloud computing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and the 5G wireless network. In this chapter, we discuss the role of big data in antitrust with a particular focus on the rise and success of large digital platforms—as the importance of data has caught the attention of various reports on the digital economy and also raises issues involving privacy. We begin with an economic overview of data and what sets it apart from other firm assets. In this discussion, we will also assess the question of whether big data represents a sizeable barrier to entry that hinders the ability of entrants to compete on equal footing. Next, we discuss data in the context of network effects. While network effects traditionally are associated with a network of people, some have hypothesized that the advantages that data confers to platforms can also be framed as type of network effect. The idea is that data creates a feedback loop of more data, which ultimately results in an impregnable bulwark against competition. We aim to demonstrate that, while there are commonalities between using data and network effects, there are important differences and distinctions worth highlighting. We also explore a number of relevant legal considerations involving big data and antitrust. Generally, should courts administer cases that involve big data differently? Should there be a stronger presumption of market power when a large platform possesses big data? On the other side of the coin, can combining big data assets result in merger-specific efficiencies? Finally, big data is increasingly discussed as a potential remedy for competition problems involving platforms. Proposals range from allowing users to more easily port their data across platforms to forced data sharing and interoperability. We examine the incentive effects from imposing such remedies and potential unintended consequences. Ultimately, these proposals are putting the cart before the horse, as remedies without an actual showing of an antitrust violation is not antitrust enforcement but sector regulation.
Performance of a novel protease-activated fluorescent imaging system for intraoperative detection of residual breast cancer during breast conserving surgery

Safe breast cancer lumpectomies require microscopically clear margins. Real-time margin assessment options are limited, and 20–40% of lumpectomies have positive margins requiring re-excision. The LUM Imaging System previously showed excellent sensitivity and specificity for tumor detection during lumpectomy surgery. We explored its impact on surgical workflow and performance across patient and tumor types. We performed IRB-approved, prospective, non-randomized studies in breast cancer lumpectomy procedures. The LUM Imaging System uses LUM015, a protease-activated fluorescent imaging agent that identifies residual tumor in the surgical cavity walls. Fluorescent cavity images were collected in real-time and analyzed using system software. Cavity and specimen images were obtained in 55 patients injected with LUM015 at 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg and in 5 patients who did not receive LUM015. All tumor types were distinguished from normal tissue, with mean tumor:normal (T:N) signal ratios of 3.81–5.69. T:N ratios were 4.45 in non-dense and 4.00 in dense breasts (p = 0.59) and 3.52 in premenopausal and 4.59 in postmenopausal women (p = 0.19). Histopathology and tumor receptor testing were not affected by LUM015. Falsely positive readings were more likely when tumor was present < 2 mm from the adjacent specimen margin. LUM015 signal was stable in vivo at least 6.5 h post injection, and ex vivo at least 4 h post excision. Intraoperative use of the LUM Imaging System detected all breast cancer subtypes with robust performance independent of menopausal status and breast density. There was no significant impact on histopathology or receptor evaluation.
Spectrum Hall of Shame: The Worst (and Best) Radio Policy Decisions

The Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship held the Spectrum Hall of Shame: The Worst (and Best) Radio Policy Decisions conference on September 6, 2018. In an era of rapid technological development and spectrum scarcity, successful spectrum policy is critical. There was unanimous agreement among the conference participants that in order to effectively construct successful policy, policymakers must first understand what successful spectrum policy is. Panelists reflected on decades of spectrum history in order to define what counts as a spectrum failure or success. For spectrum success, panelists found the following factors relevant: - Encouraging diverse opportunities for access to spectrum. - Allowing existing rightsholders and newcomers the flexibility to innovate and iterate. - Maximizing either “total welfare,” economic output, consumer satisfaction, deployment of telecommunications capabilities, or evolutions in wireless technology. - Seeking the “highest and best” use for a given spectrum allocation. Conference speakers saw the following as hallmarks of spectrum failure: - Letting spectrum “sit in a closet,” or otherwise allocating in a way that promotes spectrum squatting or that disincentivizes efficient use. - "Hardwiring" spectrum so that it is available only to a limited set of technologies or parties. - Allocating spectrum so that rational markets are unable to invest in it. - Repeating and not learning from previous spectrum mistakes. Having defined metrics for evaluating success and failure in spectrum policy, speakers described many examples. Among these, unlicensed spectrum and the adoption of spectrum auctions were seen as characteristic successes. Conversely, conference speakers frequently referenced the 700 MHz band plan and Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) at 5.9 GHz as case studies of spectrum failures. Finally, speakers looked to the future, discussing what tools policymakers should use for ensuring future successes in spectrum policy. These included: - Bringing skillful attitudes to spectrum regulation. These attitudes include the willingness to act, to take risks, to learn from prior mistakes, and to transform past failures into future successes. - Approaching spectrum decisions as interdisciplinary “systems engineering problems” at the nexus of economics, physical sciences, international studies, and law. - Building “flexibility” into the regulatory process. This entails avoiding rigidity in allocations (“hardwiring”), encouraging spectrum allocations to accommodate a number of different technologies and a robust secondary market, and creating a healthy mix of licensed and unlicensed spectrum. - Promoting sharing between federal and commercial spectrum, and establishing private-public partnerships for large-scale spectrum efforts.
Characterization of knee dysfunction and related risk factors during pregnancy.

Background: Knee pain can be a common complaint during pregnancy; however, the severity of symptoms and their associated risk factors have not been described. Questions/purposes: The aim of this st...
Music Intelligence: Granular Data and Prediction of Top Ten Hit Songs

In the music market, superstars significantly dominate the market share, while predicting the top hit songs is notoriously difficult. The music intelligence technology, retrieving and utilizing granular acoustic features of songs, provides opportunities to improve the prediction of top hit songs. Using data on 6,209 unique songs that appeared in the weekly Billboard Hot 100 charts from 1998 to 2016, especially acoustic features provided by Spotify, we investigate empirically how the top-10-hit-songs likelihood prediction is improved by acoustic features. We find that some acoustic features (e.g., danceability and happiness) significantly improve the prediction accuracy of the top-10-hit-songs probability. These results suggest that the granular data, provided by the music intelligence technology, carries a substantial predictive value in the era of online music streaming.
Vibrational Activation and Surface Reactivity ; SF6 Interaction with Silicon Induced by Infrared Laser Radiation

Infrared-laser-enhanced Si-SF6 interaction has been studied and the surface reaction yields have been determined as a function of the laser wavelength, the laser intensity and the gas pressure in both perpendicular and parallel beam incidences on the solid. The results clearly show that vibrationally excited SF6 molecules promoted by multiple CO2 laser photons are very reactive to silicon, particularly when the solid surface is simultaneously exposed to the it radiation. The laser-induced reaction occurs at both 20°C and −150°C substrate temperatures. The study, therefore, directly illustrates the close correlation between surface reactivity and vibrational activation for the heterogeneous chemical system.
Costly Migration and the Incidence of State and Local Taxes

This paper incorporates costly migration into the empirical literature on the incidence on wages of states and local taxes. The responsiveness of pre-tax wages to changes in state and local taxes (including income, sales and property taxes) is shown to vary by age and education. Using repeated cross-section and pseudo-panel regressions, the paper shows that the pre-tax wages of highly-educated and experienced workers are relatively unresponsive to tax changes. The wages of young and highly-educated workers – those facing the lowest costs of migration – are quite responsive. Results from migration regressions confirm that low migration cost households respond to state and local tax changes, while higher migration cost households do not. In addition, property taxes do not appear to be influencing shifts in pre-tax wages. Relatively small responses of both high and low-income workers suggest that redistributive effects of regressive or progressive state-level taxes are not undermined by labor supply shifts. In practice, however, states with relatively progressive tax structures also impose relatively high taxes on young and highly-educated workers, whose responsiveness is likely generating considerable deadweight losses and not contributing to redistribution in after-tax wages.
A Field Evaluation of Mandelic Acid in Urine as a Compliance Monitor for Styrene Exposure

Abstract The Special Studies Unit of Cal/OSHA monitored mandelic acid in urine and styrene exposure in a survey of 324 workers in the fiberglass-reinforced plastics industry. The urine was sampled at the end of the shift, and the mandelic acid was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. A stepwise regression analysis shows that the mandelic acid (MA) concentration is affected by the styrene concentration, the urine's specific gravity, effective respirator usage, work rate, and sampling on Friday; it is unaffected by skin exposure to styrene or exposure to other solvents. The regression model supports the Biological Exposure Index (BEI) of 1 g/L if the MA concentration is standardized for specific gravity. In a comparison of styrene and MA compliance decision, 7 percent of the subjects were false positives, i.e., violating the BEI while in compliance with the styrene threshold limit value. Since one of the false positives was using an organic vapor respirator, the MA monitoring did demonstrate ...
Inertial fusion target development

The next series of inertial fusion experiments will approach and then achieve the conditions for ignition. These planned experiments include those at the OMEGA Upgrade laser at the University of Rochester, and at the National Ignition Facility proposed to be built at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. To achieve sufficient density to approach ignition conditions with reasonable laser power, these experiments call for cryogenic targets. In this paper, we review the specifications for these ignition targets, describe the coordinated R and D program of the ICF Labs (Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos and University of Rochester) and General Atomics to develop this technology, and describe the next steps in target technology from ignition to fusion energy application.
The Radar Ocean-Wave Spectrometer

The scanning-beam Radar Ocean-Wave Spectrometer (ROWS) technique is described. The derivation of a spectrum for the reflectivity modulation as a function of range is examined. The usefulness of the ROWS technique was initially validated using aircraft data obtained in 1978 with the GSFC Ku-band pulse-compression radar; additional examples of aircraft data which verify the effectiveness of the ROWS technique are presented. The development of a ROWS mode for Spectrasat is discussed. Consideration is given to the incidence angle, twin beam option for cross-section roll-off and wind vector determination, rotation rate, antenna and footprint dimensions, integration time, sphericity effects, and a processor configuration. A design for the ROWS-mode time-domain processor on Spectrasat is proposed. The performance of the system is evaluated, and it is determined that the system performs well.
CTLA‐4 to overcome immunological tolerance to melanoma

There has been much recent attention on immunotherapy for cancer due to the promising results of several randomized phase-III trials. The management of metastatic melanoma in particular is a significant clinical challenge, and it has long been a desired target of immunotherapies due to evidence of the importance of host immune responses. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) serves as a negative regulator of immunity. Recent trials administering fully-human anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibodies to patients with melanoma have demonstrated survival benefits. However, treatment with anti-CTLA-4 antibodies is not without potential toxicities. Autoimmune side-effects, such as diarrhea, bowel inflammation and dermatitis, were the most commonly reported. To build upon the activity seen with anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, both in toxicity and efficacy profiles, there has been significant interest in investigating combinations with vaccination strategies. In recent trials, patients who were vaccinated with autologous tumor cells engineered to secrete granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and were then infused with anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, demonstrated clinically-significant antitumor immunity without grade-3 or -4 toxicity in most patients. These data demonstrate how manipulation of immune regulation has produced patient benefits, and this area is a rich avenue for future investigation.
Identification and Initial Characterization of Translational Initiation Factor 2 from Bovine Mitochondria

The bovine liver mitochondrial factor that promotes the binding of fMet-tRNA to mitochondrial ribosomes, initiation factor 2 (IF-2mt), has been identified in the postribosomal supernatant fraction of isolated liver mitochondria. This factor has been purified approximately 5,000-fold and present preparations are estimated to be about 10% pure. IF-2mt has an apparent molecular weight of about 140,000 as determined by gel filtration chromatography. IF-2mt is active in stimulating fMet-tRNA binding to Escherichia coli ribosomes but E. coli IF-2 is not active in promoting initiator tRNA binding to animal mitochondrial ribosomes. The IF-2mt-mediated binding of fMet-tRNAi(Met) to mitochondrial ribosomes is dependent on the presence of a message such as poly(A,U,G) and on GTP. Nonhydrolyzable analogs of GTP are 2-3-fold less effective in promoting initiation complex formation on mitochondrial ribosomes than is GTP suggesting that IF-2mt is capable of recycling to some extent under the current assay conditions.
Scalable parallel query server for decision support applications

Decision-support applications require the ability to query against large amounts of detailed historical data. We are exploiting parallel technology to improve query response time through query decomposition, CPU and I/O parallelism, and client/server approach. IBM System/390 Parallel Query Server is built on advanced and low-cost CMOS microprocessors for decision-support applications. We discuss our design, implementation and performance of a scalable parallel query server. >
Protective resources and long-term recovery from alcohol use disorders.

Abstract Aims This study examined indices of personal and social resources drawn from social learning, behavioral economics, and social control theories as predictors of medium- and long-term alcohol use disorder outcomes. Design and measures Individuals ( N = 461) who initiated help-seeking for alcohol-related problems were surveyed at baseline and 1, 3, 8, and 16 years later. At baseline and each follow-up, participants provided information about their personal and social resources and alcohol-related and psychosocial functioning. Findings In general, protective resources associated with social learning (self-efficacy and approach coping), behavioral economics (health and financial resources and resources associated with Alcoholics Anonymous), and social control theory (bonding with family members, friends, and coworkers) predicted better alcohol-related and psychosocial outcomes. A summary index of protective resources associated with all three theories significantly predicted remission. Protective resources strengthened the positive influence of treatment on short-term remission and partially mediated the association between treatment and remission. Conclusions Application of social learning, behavior economic, and social control theories may help to identify predictors of remission and thus to allocate treatment more efficiently.
Criteria for Vacuum Breakdown in RF Cavities

A new high-voltage scaling based on Kilpatrick's criterion is presented that suggests that voltages more than twice the Kilpatrick limit can be obtained with identical initial conditions of vacuum and surface cleanliness. The calculations are based on the experimentally observed decrease in secondary electron emission with increasing ion impact energy above 100 keV. A generalized secondary-emission package has been developed to simulate actual cavity dynamics in conjunction with our 2?-dimensional fully electromagnetic particle-in-cell code CEMIT. The results are discussed with application to the suppression of vacuum breakdown in rf accelerator devices.
Renal fascia of Gerota.

Abstract There are controversial cows regarding the configuration of the rerlal fascia of Gerota. Various arrangements described in the literature are presented. A consensus is derived and its clinical importance stressed.
Changes in thrombosane B2 and 6-keto-PGF1∝ after direct electrical stimulation of the denervated rat gastrocnemius1,2

Abstract Radio-immunoassay was used to measure the amounts of Thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2 )and 6-keto-PGF 1∝ produced in the gastrocneuius muscles of rats after denervation and direct electrical stimulation (2–4 mA intensity and 4 msec duration pulses given at 10 Hz continuously, 8 hours each day for 14 days). Compared to the normal control side, the normalstimulated, the denervated control and the denervated-stimulated muscles, all indicated increases in the content (ng/g muscle) of TXB 2 (120–155X, P 1∝ (90-10%).This study suggest that electrical stimulation as well as denervation may lead to an elevation of these prostanoids.
Differential plasticity in neocortical networks

Understanding the synaptic and molecular basis for learning and memory in the neocortex depends upon a clear understanding of the anatomical and connectional diversity within this structure. To the extent that different types of synapses within the neocortex have distinct electrophysiological and, thus, molecular properties, the types of plasticity that these synapses manifest may also be distinct. If thresholds for plasticity are different for excitatory synapses onto inhibitory neurons than for excitatory synapses onto excitatory neurons, the same pattern of excitatory presynaptic activity will have difference consequences on excitatory and inhibitory networks. Differential plasticity will thus affect the way in which experience can modify sensory maps in the neocortex. Experimental support for this hypothesis is presented, as well as some predictions about the function of different types of neocortical pathways and plasticity.