cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proactive obfuscation

Proactive obfuscation is a new method for creating server replicas that are likely to have fewer shared vulnerabilities. It uses semantics-preserving code transformations to generate diverse executables, periodically restarting servers with these fresh versions. The periodic restarts help bound the number of compromised replicas that a service ever concurrently runs, and therefore proactive obfuscation makes an adversary's job harder. Proactive obfuscation was used in implementing two prototypes: a distributed firewall based on state-machine replication and a distributed storage service based on quorum systems. Costs intrinsic to supporting proactive obfuscation in replicated systems were evaluated by measuring the performance of these prototypes. The results show that employing proactive obfuscation adds little to the cost of replica-management protocols.
True Security: Rethinking American Social Insurance

(2000). True Security: Rethinking American Social Insurance. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 992-995.
NMR and EPR Study of Sn0.98 Gd0. 02 Te at Low Temperatures.

Magnetic resonance behavior of Sn0.98 Gd0. 02 Te has been investigated from 2.5 K down to 0.015 K using a SQUID magnetometer and a 3He-4He dilution refrigerator. Detection of magnetic resonance with a SQUID allows the detection of NMRan d EPR of some of the constituents of the sample. This method is particularly useful for broad lines. We have investigated the NMRfor 125Te, 119 Sn, and 117Sn, and the EPR for the Gd ion in a field of 265 Oe. The contribution of Gd impurities is maily important in the Knight shift of the Sn isotopes; this shift is 7%. The EPR shows 2 broad lines with structure; one line we attribute to the paramagnetic ions and the second one we attribute to Gd ions which have formed clusters.
Comparison of Hymenopterous Parasites of House Fly, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), Pupae in Different Livestock and Poultry Production Systems

By monitoring weekly with house fly ( Musca domestica L.) pupae placed in mesh bags in the manure, 10 species of house fly parasites were found in confined poultry, dairy, beef, swine, and sheep housing: Muscidifurax raptor Girault and Sanders, Spalangia , sp. nov., near drosophilae Ashmead, S. cameroni Perkins, S. endius Walker, S. nigroaenea Curtis, S. drosophilae Ashmead, Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani), Nasonia vitripennis Walker, Dirhinus texanus (Ashmead) and Trichopria sp. By the same monitoring method five species were recovered from beef and dairy cattle pastures: M. raptor, S. cameroni, S. endius, P. vindemiae , and D. texanus . All sampling was conducted in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. M. raptor, P. vindemiae , and S. cameroni were the most prevalent parasites in both the confined systems and the pastures, accounting for 95 to 98% of all parasites recovered. House fly pupae exposed to parasites in the confined poultry, swine, and dairy systems exhibited higher rates of parasitism than in the pastures and the beef and sheep barns.
Effect of thyroxine on maturation of the testes and proxtate gland of the rat.

SummaryMaintenance of elevated levels of thyroxine in rats from birth to 36 days of age accelerates the maturation of the seminiferous epithelium of the testis of the rat but at the same time reduces the rate of increase in weight of the testes and the ventral prostate gland.
Simplified Cartesian basis model for intrapolyad emission intensities in the bent-to-linear electronic transition of acetylene.

The acetylene emission spectrum from the trans-bent electronically excited A state to the linear ground electronic X state has attracted considerable attention because it grants Franck–Condon access to local bending vibrational levels of the X state with large-amplitude motion along the acetylene ⇌ vinylidene isomerization coordinate. For emission from the ground vibrational level of the A state, there is a simplifying set of Franck–Condon propensity rules that gives rise to only one zero-order bright state per conserved vibrational polyad of the X state. Unfortunately, when the upper level involves excitation in the highly admixed ungerade bending modes, ν4′ and ν6′, the simplifying Franck–Condon propensity rule breaks down—as long as the usual polar basis (with v and l quantum numbers) is used to describe the degenerate bending vibrations of the X state—and the intrapolyad intensities result from complicated interference patterns between many zero-order bright states. In this article, we show that, ...
The conversion of the cardinal? Pride and penitence in some Tudor histories of Thomas Wolsey

The life of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, lord chancellor of England from 1515 to 1529, has inspired no small number of literary, historical, and dramatic retellings. A comprehensive study of these texts remains to be written, but this article seeks to make a start by examining how Tudor writers portrayed the cardinal’s response to his deposition and subsequent disgrace. For some authors, Wolsey’s fall only made him more proud, and he began to act erratically and disloyally, confirming the wisdom of the king’s decision to relieve him of office. For others, deposition moved Wolsey to become philosophical and penitent, and some such writers depict a cardinal who at the end of his life underwent nothing short of a conversion. This article traces both of these historiographical trajectories from their origins in writings of the late 1540s and 1550s through a range of late Tudor chronicle accounts. Elements of both narratives about the cardinal appear, prominently if not always congruously, in one of the best-known theatrical works about the events of the reign of Henry VIII, the play King Henry VIII ( All Is True ) by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher. Understanding the interrelationships between the Tudor texts presented here is essential to grasping later portrayals of Wolsey and his contemporaries. Keywords: Thomas Wolsey; Henry VIII; English Reformation; conversion; historiography
Developments in schizophrenia treatment.

Several years ago, a research group from the United Kingdom announced in the prestigious scientific journal Nature that a gene for schizophrenia had been located. This was greeted with widespread applause. Even the editors of Nature believed that a major piece of the puzzle for schizophrenia had at last been found.Sadly, the bubble soon burst. Despite many attempts, no one was able to replicate the initial finding, and it is now widely felt to have been a mistake. This is no longer surprising. Use of the restriction fragment length polymorphism approach to finding genes for complex disorders like schizophrenia has been notably unsuccessful. Currently, journal editors are alerted to the receipt of claims that a gene for some disorder has been found, only to be burnt by the next dozen failures to replicate the finding. The schizophrenia “finding” was a great disappointment.
Mastectomy Skin Flap Perfusion

Mastectomy skin flap necrosis is a frequent complication of breast reconstruction and has been reported to exceed 40 % in recent publications. Necrosis may lead to additional postoperative complications that include infection, incisional dehiscence, implant loss, and delayed oncologic treatment. Traditionally, clinical judgment has been the gold standard of diagnosing adequate intraoperative tissue perfusion. Due to the significant rate of necrosis, intraoperative technologies have become readily available to aid clinical judgment in reducing this feared complication. Fluorescein Dye Angiography and Laser-Assisted Indocyanine Green Dye Angiography are examples of intraoperative perfusion tools that have been studied extensively with promising results.
Step Simulation/Overapproximation-Based Verification of Nonlinear Deterministic Hybrid System with Inputs*

Abstract We present a simulation-based verification framework for hybrid systems modeled by a subclass of non-linear hybrid automata with inputs. The motivation for using simulation in verification is to obtain information of the system behavior without finding the (usually non-existing or costly-to-get) analytical solution of the system dynamics. The initial state set and input set are partitioned into classes, members of which possess similar behaviors, generating similar simulation traces. In this paper, we give the formula to compute the propagation of error as the simulation proceeds as a function of simulation step error, perturbation of initial state and input. Bounded tube segments are then constructed for each consecutive step based on the error bounds to overapproximate the reachable state set during a specified time interval. A feature of our work, that makes it distinct from prior simulation-based verification works, is that it does not rely on a pre-identified initial partition of initial states/inputs as that would only work under the assumption that the simulations could be done without introducing any perturbations in discrete dynamics. Since there is no way to guarantee this, in our approach, the partitioning is refined in time-steps as needed, yielding a correct approach for simulation-based verification. We developed a prototype tool implementing our algorithms and provided verification results from two benchmarks in this area to show its effectiveness.
Digital Literacy and the Emergence of Technology-Based Curriculum Theories

Click on the DOI link to access this book chapter at the publisher's website (may not be free)
Optimal Regression Analysis

Selection of variables for inclusion in a multiple regression equation is a familiar problem in empirical research. Desirably, theories or hypotheses provide guidance in specifying which variables to include. Often, however, several variables are available for measuring a particular attribute, and little basis exists for a clear-cut choice among them. Such situations arise frequently in the social sciences, and often also in engineering.
Prenatal Etiology of Cerebral Palsy

The incidence of minor malformations in a group of 137 adults with cerebral palsy, living in a New York State residential institution, is reported from the Division of Developmental Pediatrics, Robert Warner Rehabilitation Center, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY.
Effect of Trajectories of Friends' and Parents' School Involvement on Adolescents' Engagement and Achievement

In a sample of 527 academically at-risk youth, we investigated trajectories of friends' and parents' school involvement across ages 12-14 and the joint contributions of these trajectories to adolescents' age 15 school engagement and academic achievement. Girls reported higher levels of friends' and parents' school involvement than boys. Both parents' and friends' school involvement declined across ages 12-14. Combined latent growth models and structural equation models showed effects of the trajectories of friends' and parents' school involvement on adolescents' age 15 school engagement and academic achievement, over and above adolescents' prior performance. These effects were additive rather than interactive. Strategies for enhancing parent involvement in school and students' affiliation with peers who are positively engaged in school are discussed.
How many principles of urban ecology are there

The nature of urban ecology theory is controversial. Issues include whether urban theory is distinct, whether it has principles, and whether those principles differ from those for non-urban systems. Recently, Richard Forman enumerated urban ecology principles, while we have previously articulated different urban ecology principles. This raises the question of whether there are legitimately different sets of principles. Recognizing the legitimacy of Forman’s principles, we wish to determine whether different methodological assumptions can lead to different sets of urban ecology principles. We contrast Forman’s 90 urban ecology principles with our much smaller set to determine why they differ in detail, empirical motivation, and generality. We identify the approaches that generate each set of principles, and seek an inclusive framework to integrate them. The alternative sets represent contrasting approaches to identifying principles: Forman’s approach is more inductive, generating principles from a body of empirical cases, while our concise roster is more deductive, focusing on general ideas from which the details of specific cases can be derived. Both are legitimate. Principles of urban ecology can arise from inductive empirical generalization within specified ecological, cultural, and historical contexts, as shown by Forman. However, urban ecology principles can also emerge from a more general, synthetic impulse as we have shown. Neither approach is necessarily better. Both can contribute to a comprehensive theoretical hierarchy that can advance urban ecology.
Forms of Wealth Associated with Attaining Peer Group Net Worth Following Bankruptcy

Objectives This study examines the contribution of general human capital, social capital, and financial management practices to the individual's relative financial wellâ€ being following bankruptcy. Methods Multivariate logistic regression models were estimated using secondary data from the Survey of Consumer Finances 2004 and 2007. Results Individuals who possess higher general human capital and greater access to social capital are significantly more likely to achieve net worth parity with nonfilers following bankruptcy compared to similar individuals with lower levels of general human capital and social capital. Conclusion Human and social capital are relatively more important factors contributing to attaining net worth parity with peers following bankruptcy than financial management practices and attitudes when controlling for ownership of protected assets. Congressionally mandated financial management training and counseling would likely have substantially better outcomes on bankruptcy filersâ€™ financial wellâ€ being over the long term if additional humanâ€ capitalâ€ buildingâ€”and consequently incomeâ€ buildingâ€”programs are integrated into the mandated financial management training.
Resonant controller based power-angle synchronization control in low voltage grids

In this paper, power-angle synchronization based control of grid connected converter is studied for low voltage grids under grid unbalanced conditions. The active and reactive power controllers used for power-angle synchronization are augmented with resonant peaks to suppress the oscillations in power under grid unbalanced conditions. The controller structure and design are presented. Simulation and experimental results presented validate the proposed scheme.
Sybil-Proof Online Incentive Mechanisms for Crowdsensing

Crowdsensing leverages the rapid growth of sensor-embedded smartphones and human mobility for pervasive information collection. To incentivize smartphone users to participate in crowdsensing, many auction-based incentive mechanisms have been proposed for both offline and online scenarios. It has been demonstrated that the Sybil attack may undermine these mechanisms. In a Sybil attack, a user illegitimately pretends multiple identities to gain benefits. Sybil-proof incentive mechanisms have been proposed for the offline scenario. However, the problem of designing Sybil-proof online incentive mechanisms for crowdsensing is still open. Compared to the offline scenario, the online scenario provides users one more dimension of flexibility, i.e., active time, to conduct Sybil attacks, which makes this problem more challenging. In this paper, we design Sybil-proof online incentive mechanisms to deter the Sybil attack for crowdsensing. Depending on users' flexibility on performing their tasks, we investigate both single-minded and multi-minded cases and propose SOS and SOM, respectively. SOS achieves computational efficiency, individual rationality, truthfulness, and Sybil-proofness. SOM achieves individual rationality, truthfulness, and Sybil-proofness. Through extensive simulations, we evaluate the performance of SOS and SOM.
Natural history of myocardial deformation in children, adolescents, and young adults exposed to anthracyclines: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

Objective Anthracyclines are widely used to treat solid and hematologic malignancies, but are known to cause cardiotoxicity. As more childhood cancer survivors reach adulthood due to improvements in oncologic treatments, they become susceptible to late and progressive anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Nonetheless, diagnostic criteria for early detection of cardiac dysfunction are not well defined in children, adolescent, and young adults (CAYA, ages 1-40 years). We present a natural history of the changes in myocardial deformation in CAYA patients after anthracycline therapy. Methods We performed a literature review search between 2001 and 2016 using PubMed with the following search terms: strain (or deformation), torsion (or twist), children (or adolescent or young adult), cardiotoxicity (or dysfunction), and anthracyclines (or doxorubicin). A total of 23 articles were reviewed. Fourteen articles were incorporated in the meta-analysis. Results Strain abnormalities are observed at both short-term and long-term follow-up. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) abnormalities are common during or early after chemotherapy, whereas changes in global circumferential strain (GCS) are more significant and consistent on long-term follow-up. Although global radial strain and torsional parameters are also often abnormal late after chemotherapy, there are few studies evaluating these parameters. Conclusion There are significant abnormalities in GLS and GCS following anthracycline therapy acutely and late after treatment. The prognostic value of these strain abnormalities warrants further investigation.
Health Status Variation Across Practices in Outpatients With Heart Failure: Insights From the CHAMP-HF (Change the Management of Patients With Heart Failure) Registry.

Background: Although a key treatment goal for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is to optimize their health status (their symptoms, function, and quality of life), the variability across outpatient practices in achieving this goal is unknown. Methods and Results: In the CHAMP-HF (Change the Management of Patients With Heart Failure) registry, associations between baseline practice characteristics and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) Overall Summary (OS) and Symptom Frequency (SF) scores were assessed in 3494 patients across 140 US practices using hierarchical regression after accounting for 23 patient and 11 treatment characteristics. We then calculated an adjusted median odds ratio to quantify the average difference in likelihood that a patient would have excellent (KCCQ-OS, ≥75) health status or minimal (monthly or fewer) symptoms (KCCQ-SF, ≥75) when treated at one practice versus another, at random. The mean (±SD) KCCQ-OS and KCCQ-SF were 64.2±24 and 68.9±25.6, with 40% (n=1380) and 50% (n=1760) having KCCQ scores ≥75, respectively. The adjusted median odds ratio across practices, for KCCQ-OS ≥75, was 1.70 (95% confidence interval, 1.54–1.99; P P =0.001). Conclusions: In a large, contemporary registry of outpatients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, we observed significant practice-level variability in patients’ health status. Quantifying patients’ health status as a measure of quality should be explored as a foundation for improving care. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.centerwatch.com. Unique identifier: TX144901.
Reflections on race, personality, and crime

Abstract In this rejoinder we provide notes to consider when reviewing the research on the relationship between race, personality and crime. We concur with DeLisi (2017, this issue) that the equivocal nature of this research demands that there is a need for further inquiry. We also agree with Zuckerman (2002) that there is a distinction between personality disorders and crime but also that crime cannot be used as a proxy for personality disorders. We argue that the research suggests that there are no genetic components of personality disorder and also that this disorder has been found to be equally distributed across racial/ethnic groups. Understanding why there appears to be a racial/ethnic personality disorder disparity within the criminal justice system may be more a function of social class and historical circumstance than genetic composition.
A Confucian Reflection on Experimenting with Human Subjects

Experimenting with human subjects in medicine and biology encounters significant ethical challenges today. There are general questions regarding the justification of the importance of experiments of this kind. For example, is it justifiable for medical or biological experiments to use human persons as subjects in general? Are these experiments justifiable in certain specific circumstances (i.e., in a non-therapeutic context)? Is it justifiable in medical or biological experiments to use certain groups of persons (i.e., the infant, the fetus, the unborn, or the prisoner) as subjects? Does an experiment with human subjects impair the dignity and sacrosanctity of the individuals who are the subjects of the experiment in particular and insult humanity in general? Can there be any adequate justification for an experiment with human subjects? Is a justification of experiments of this kind only perspectival, historical, and practical? There are also other ethical issues concerning the conditions and procedures of experimenting with human subjects. For example, is informed, uncoerced consent from individuals to become subjects of an experiment necessary? Does a differentiated, controlled arrangement of subjects in a medical or biological experiment constitute a kind of discrimination that we normally fight against in real life? This essay attempts to reflect on these bioethical issues from a Confucian perspective. The term “reflection” is deliberately used here to emphasize that what I am going to present is not a systematic and comprehensive account of Confucian bioethics. Neither the views articulated below exhaust what Confucianism can and will say on the subject matter of experimentation with human subjects nor are these views themselves organized into a systematic theory. It should also be stated at the outset that the Confucianism referred to here is not restricted to views of great Confucianists such as Confucius himself, Mencius, Chu Shi, etc. Rather it includes also what Oskar Weggle calls metaConfucianism; namely, Confucianism held and practiced in ordinary life by farmers, workers, businessmen and women, scientists, physicians, doctors, etc. (Weggle, 407). In the context of the present study,
Performance of personal electrostatic bioaerosol sampler (PEBS) when collecting airborne microorganisms

Abstract We recently developed a new personal electrostatic bioaerosol sampler (PEBS) for determining exposures to airborne microorganisms. PEBS was shown to collect airborne non-biological particles with efficiencies approaching 80% while producing very low ozone concentrations. In this work, we analyzed the performance of this sampler when collecting airborne Bacillus atrophaeus bacterial cells and Penicillium chrysogenum fungal spores as a function of sampling flow rates (e.g., 10 and 20 L/min) and sampling time (e.g., 10, 60, and 240 min). The collected samples were analyzed using microscopy, adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-based bioluminescence, flow cytometry (Live/Dead test), and culture techniques. PEBS's physical and biological performance was compared against that of BioSampler (SKC Inc., Eighty Four, PA) when the samplers were operated at 10 and 12.5 L/min, respectively. PEBS achieved physical collection efficiency as high as 83%, and its physical performance in terms of measured bioaerosol concentration was better than that of BioSampler. In addition, a fraction of live microorganisms recovered by PEBS was not different from that of BioSampler. Compared to BioSampler, PEBS measured similar or higher concentrations of culturable bacteria, but lower concentrations of culturable spores. The airborne ATP concentration measured by PEBS was significantly higher than that measured by BioSampler. Overall, we show that PEBS is a viable and efficient technology to determine personal exposures to airborne microorganisms using multiple sample analysis techniques.
The Effect of Proximal Hamate Osteotomy on Carpal Kinematics for Reconstruction of Proximal Pole Scaphoid Nonunion With Avascular Necrosis

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of proximal hamate transfer for proximal pole scaphoid reconstruction upon carpal kinematics. Methods: Eight fresh-frozen cadaveric wrists underwent evaluation of their radiocarpal and midcarpal motion after proximal hamate osteotomy. A wrist simulator was used to apply cyclical tension to the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), flexor carpi radialis (FCR), extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU), and extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis stitched together (ECR). Kinematic motion was captured using Moire Phase Tracking 3-dimensional motion-tracking sensors (MPT, Metria Innovation, Inc, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) to evaluate the lunocapitate and scapholunate angles for each condition. Results: During wrist flexion-extension and radial-ulnar deviation, there were no statistically significant differences about the lunocapitate or scapholunate axis between the intact and post-hamate osteotomy conditions. Conclusions: The harvest of the proximal hamate for proximal pole scaphoid reconstruction does not appear to adversely affect wrist kinematics.
The Effect of Lateral Opening Wedge Distal Femoral Varus Osteotomy on Tibiofemoral Contact Mechanics Through Knee Flexion.

Background:Lateral opening wedge distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) unloads a diseased lateral compartment of the knee in patients with genu valgum. To the best of our knowledge, there are no biomechan...
Opportunities and Issues in Modeling Intensive Longitudinal Data: Learning from the COGITO Project.

Technological developments increasingly permit the collection of longitudinal data sets in which the data structure contains a large number of participants N and a large number of measureme...
The search for a PKR code-differential regulation of protein kinase R activity by diverse RNA and protein regulators

The interferon-inducible protein kinase R (PKR) is a key component of host innate immunity that restricts viral replication and propagation. As one of the four eIF2α kinases that sense diverse stresses and direct the integrated stress response (ISR) crucial for cell survival and proliferation, PKR's versatile roles extend well beyond antiviral defense. Targeted by numerous host and viral regulators made of RNA and proteins, PKR is subject to multiple layers of endogenous control and external manipulation, driving its rapid evolution. These versatile regulators include not only the canonical double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that activates the kinase activity of PKR, but also highly structured viral, host, and artificial RNAs that exert a full spectrum of effects. In this review, we discuss our deepening understanding of the allosteric mechanism that connects the regulatory and effector domains of PKR, with an emphasis on diverse structured RNA regulators in comparison to their protein counterparts. Through this analysis, we conclude that much of the mechanistic details that underlie this RNA-regulated kinase await structural and functional elucidation, upon which we can then describe a "PKR code," a set of structural and chemical features of RNA that are both descriptive and predictive for their effects on PKR.
Risk factors for sporadic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs): Updated results from a single-center case control study.

e14594 Background: PNETs are uncommon malignancies and little is known about risk their factors and association with other cancers. Our aim was to evaluate smoking, alcohol use, personal history of...
Characterization of oviduct ciliary beat frequency using real time phase resolved Doppler spectrally encoded interferometric microscopy

Ciliary activity, characterized by the coordinated beating of ciliary cells, generates the primary driving force for oviduct tubal transport, which is an essential physiological process for successful pregnancies. Malfunction of the cilium in the fallopian tube, or oviduct, may increase the risk of infertility and tubal pregnancy that can result in maternal death. While many ex-vivo studies have been carried out using bright field microscopy, this technique is not feasible for the in-vivo investigation of oviduct ciliary beating frequency (CBF). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been able to provide in-vivo CBF imaging in a mouse model, but its resolution may be insufficient to resolve the spatial and temporal features of the cilium. Our group has recently developed the phase resolved Doppler (PRD) OCT method to visualize ciliary strokes at ultra-high displacement sensitivity. However, the cross-sectional field of view (FOV) may not be ideal for visualizing the surface dynamics of ciliated tissue. In this study, we report on the development of phase resolved Doppler spectrally encoded interferometric microscopy (PRD-SEIM) to visualize the oviduct ciliary activity within an en face FOV. This novel real time imaging system offers micrometer spatial resolution, sub-nanometer displacement sensitivity, and the potential for in-vivo endoscopic adaptation. The feasibility of the approach has been validated through ex-vivo experiments where the porcine oviduct CBF has been measured across different temperature conditions and the application of a drug. CBF ranging from 8 to 12 Hz have been observed at different temperatures, while administration of lidocaine decreased the CBF and deactivated the motile cilia. This study will serve as a stepping stone to in-vivo oviduct ciliary endoscopy and future clinical translations.
When State Policy Makes National Politics: The Case of "Obamacare" Marketplace Implementation.

CONTEXT State governments have been powerful sites of Republican resistance to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Democratic Party's signature 2010 law. By influencing how citizens experience the ACA, state-level implementation can affect the national-level political implications of the law. METHODS I examine three largely unstudied areas of marketplace implementation: navigator laws, transitional plan termination, and rating area configurations. For each policy area, I use linear probability models to investigate the determinants of state lawmakers bolstering or eroding marketplaces. FINDINGS In each case, Democrat-controlled states were more likely to bolster marketplaces than Republican-controlled states were, with decisions more polarized in those policy areas-navigator laws and transitional plan termination-and with greater potential for national-level feedback. For navigator laws, where Republican state lawmakers were most cross-pressured by national party interests and local interests, marketplace eroding policy was highly associated with strength of conservative networks. CONCLUSION Crafters of federal legislation cannot expect state lawmakers to universally implement federal law to maximize the direct benefits to their constituents. Rather, we should expect state lawmakers to, in many instances, implement federal law in ways that benefit their parties.
Comparing lesion segmentation methods in multiple sclerosis: Input from one manually delineated subject is sufficient for accurate lesion segmentation.

Abstract Purpose Accurate lesion segmentation is important for measurements of lesion load and atrophy in subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS). International MS lesion challenges show a preference of convolutional neural networks (CNN) strategies, such as nicMSlesions. However, since the software is trained on fairly homogenous training data, we aimed to test the performance of nicMSlesions in an independent dataset with manual and other automatic lesion segmentations to determine whether this method is suitable for larger, multi-center studies. Methods Manual lesion segmentation was performed in fourteen subjects with MS on sagittal 3D FLAIR images from a 3T GE whole-body scanner with 8-channel head coil. We compared five different categories of automated lesion segmentation methods for their volumetric and spatial agreement with manual segmentation: (i) unsupervised, untrained (LesionTOADS); (ii) supervised, untrained (LST-LPA and nicMSlesions with default settings); (iii) supervised, untrained with threshold adjustment (LST-LPA optimized for current data); (iv) supervised, trained with leave-one-out cross-validation on fourteen subjects with MS (nicMSlesions and BIANCA); and (v) supervised, trained on a single subject with MS (nicMSlesions). Volumetric accuracy was determined by the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and spatial accuracy by Dice's similarity index (SI). Volumes and SI were compared between methods using repeated measures ANOVA or Friedman tests with post-hoc pairwise comparison. Results The best volumetric and spatial agreement with manual was obtained with the supervised and trained methods nicMSlesions and BIANCA (ICC absolute agreement > 0.968 and median SI > 0.643) and the worst with the unsupervised, untrained method LesionTOADS (ICC absolute agreement = 0.140 and median SI = 0.444). Agreement with manual in the single-subject network training of nicMSlesions was poor for input with low lesion volumes (i.e. two subjects with lesion volumes ≤ 3.0 ml). For the other twelve subjects, ICC varied from 0.593 to 0.973 and median SI varied from 0.535 to 0.606. In all cases, the single-subject trained nicMSlesions segmentations outperformed LesionTOADS, and in almost all cases it also outperformed LST-LPA. Conclusion Input from only one subject to re-train the deep learning CNN nicMSlesions is sufficient for adequate lesion segmentation, with on average higher volumetric and spatial agreement with manual than obtained with the untrained methods LesionTOADS and LST-LPA.
The use of a morphological acceleration factor in the simulation of large-scale fluvial morphodynamics

Abstract Numerical simulation of fluvial morphodynamic processes can identify important dynamics at time and space scales difficult to observe in the field. However, simulations involving large spatial scales and/or the long timescales characteristic of morphodynamic processes are often untenable because of long computation times. The morphological acceleration factor (morfac) applies a scalar multiplier to the sediment continuity equation, and is often applied in morphodynamic simulations to reduce computational time. Although the use of morfac in coastal simulations is relatively common, its applicability in field-scale fluvial models is generally confined to steady-flow simulations over reach-scale spatial domains. Here we explore the viability of using morfac to simulate large-scale, long-term morphodynamics in a gravel-bed river. We use Delft3D to simulate a 60-d period with a significant discharge event in the Nooksack River, Washington. We systematically adjust morfac values (ranging from 5 to 50) to compare with a baseline condition of no acceleration. Model results suggest that morfac-based modification of the inflow hydrograph time-series reduces peak flow magnitudes and flood wave celerities. Higher morfac values result in greater flood-wave attenuation and lower celerity, reducing the simulated morphological impact at locations farther downstream. In general, relative error compared to the model baseline increases farther downstream because of the altered flood-wave propagation. However, error analysis also shows a positive relationship with channel slope and a negative relationship with channel width; hence, errors increase in the steeper, confined reaches of the upper part of the domain. Even for the lowest morfac values absolute cumulative volume change errors are on the order of 10%, indicating that the use of morfac in fluvial simulations is best restricted to short-term and/or smaller-scale modeling efforts. Wider channel sections with lower gradients are shown to produce lower morfac-related errors. Therefore, morphological acceleration as examined here is potentially more appropriate for limited reaches rather than large-scale domains.
The Private Sector’s Contribution to Natural Disaster Response

The role of the private sector in bringing resources to bear in response to crises, particularly natural disasters, is often overlooked. However, the history of private sector response is a long one, dating back to at least to the Chicago fire and San Francisco earthquake. After Hurricane Katrina, the private sector, especially Walmart, played a significant role in both the immediate response and recovery process all across the Gulf Coast. The ability of the private sector to be nimble and flexible, along with its superior knowledge of what is needed and how to get goods to where they are wanted, enables private firms to respond more effectively than the public sector.
Economistes and the reinvention of empire: France in the Americas and Africa, c. 1750–1802: by Pernille Røge, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2019. xv + 296. $99.99. ISBN 978-1-108-48313-1

This original and satisfying study analyzes Physiocratic ideas about empire and slavery in the context of French imperial reform initiatives stretching from the era of the Seven Years War through t...
Clinicopathologic and molecular characterization of NTRK-rearranged thyroid carcinoma (NRTC)

Primary thyroid neoplasms with actionable NTRK rearrangements are rare, and their clinical behavior, histologic characteristics, and molecular landscape are not well understood. We report an institutional series of eleven NTRK-rearranged thyroid carcinomas (NRTC) by performing clinicopathologic review and next-generation sequencing for targeted mutations and gene rearrangements. The NRTC encompass a histomorphologic spectrum of ten papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC), including one with high-grade features, and one secretory carcinoma (SC), in ten adults and one adolescent. All NRTC were characterized by an unusual multinodular growth pattern, extensive lymphovascular invasion, and cervical lymph node metastases at initial presentation. Immunophenotypically, while most cases were positive for TTF1 and PAX8, the SC case was negative/weak for these markers and instead diffusely expressed GATA3, mammaglobin and S100. Observed gene rearrangements included ETV6-NTRK3 (n = 4, including the SC), TPR-NTRK1 (n = 2), RBPMS-NTRK3 (n = 2), SQSTM1-NTRK1 (n = 1), SQSTM1-NTRK3 (n = 1), and EML4-NTRK3 (n = 1). Mutation profiling revealed a concurrent TERT promotor mutation C228T in two (22%) patients and a novel frameshift MEN1 deletion in one. All patients received total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine. Despite frequent development of persistent/recurrent disease (9 cases, 82%) and distant metastases (6 cases; 55%), no tumor-related death occurred over a median (range) follow-up of 44 (11 to 471) months. Three patients received NTRK inhibitor therapy, with the SC case showing complete resolution and two other patients experiencing 33% and 69.7% decrease of disease burden. Although the range of features is variable, NRTC appear to be clinically aggressive tumors with high metastatic rate but relatively low mortality with NTRK inhibitor therapy. The histologic findings of multinodular growth and extensive lymphovascular spread, seen in all NRTC, including PTC and SC, may serve as useful histomorphologic clues to prompt NTRK status testing. We also present the first report of concurrent TERT promotor activating mutation which did not appear to confer entrectinib resistance to NRTC.
The dawn of the four-drug era? SGLT2 inhibition in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction:

Sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a relatively new class of antihyperglycemic drug with salutary effects on glucose control, body weight, and blood pressure. Emerging evidence now indicates that these drugs may have a beneficial effect on outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Post-approval cardiovascular outcomes data for three of these agents (canagliflozin, empagliflozin, and dapagliflozin) showed an unexpected improvement in cardiovascular endpoints, including heart failure hospitalization and mortality, among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and established cardiovascular disease or risk factors. These studies were followed by a placebo controlled trial of dapagliflozin in patients with HFrEF both with and without T2DM, showing a reduction in all-cause mortality comparable to current guideline-directed HFrEF medical therapies such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers. In this review, we discuss the current landscape of evidence, safety and adverse effects, and proposed mechanisms of action for use of these agents for patients with HFrEF. The United States (US) and European guidelines are reviewed, as are the current US federally approved indications for each SGLT2 inhibitor. Use of these agents in clinical practice may be limited by an uncertain insurance environment, especially in patients without T2DM. Finally, we discuss practical considerations for the cardiovascular clinician, including within-class differences of the SGLT2 inhibitors currently available on the US market (217/300).
Passive Acoustic Thermometry Using Low-Frequency Deep Water Noise

Abstract : The long-term goal is to develop a passive modality of acoustic thermometry using Cross-correlation processing of deep water ambient noise. Our previous research effort has demonstrated that coherent processing of shipping noise (100HzfkHz) in shallow water can provide a totally passive means for sensing the ocean environment; but optimizing this correlation process for this relatively high frequency band remains challenging in a fluctuating ocean environment with significant multipath. We hypothesize that using instead significantly lower frequency (f50Hz) ocean noise recorded in the SOFAR channel may enhance the performance of this correlation process due to the potential long-range spatial correlations (100kms) of this deep water noise field and the relative temporal stability of the SOFAR channel. The main objective of this year research was to assess the feasibility of passive (i.e. noise-based) acoustic thermometry using low-frequency deep water ambient noise recorded on the global IMSCTBTO network Results from this study are expected to help guide the design of future cabled or autonomous ocean observatory systems for passive ocean monitoring.
Studies on Crack Initiation and Stable Crack Growth

Experimental results are presented which suggest that parameters based on the J-integral and the crack opening tip displacement δ are viable characterizations of crack initiation and stable crack growth. Observations based on some theoretical studies and finite-element investigations of the extending crack revealed that J and δ when appropriately employed do indeed characterize the near-field deformation. In particular, the analytical and experimental studies show that crack initiation is characterizable by the critical value of J or 6, and stable crack growth is characterizable in terms of the J or δ resistance curves. The crack opening angle, d6/da, appears to be relatively constant over a significant range of crack growth. Thus, appropriate measures of the material toughness associated with initiation are J I c and δ I c , and measures of material toughness associated with stable crack growth are given by the dimensionless parameters T J [= (E/σ o 2 )(dJ/da)] and T δ [= (E/σ o )(dδ/da)]. The two-parameter characterization of fracture behavior by J I c and T J or δ I c and T δ is analogous to the characterization of deformation behavior by the yield stress and strain hardening exponent.
Characterization of unnotched SCS-6/Ti-15-3 metal matrix composites at 650 C

Ti-15-3 reinforced with SCS-6 silicon carbide fibers, in five different layups, was tested at 650 C to determine monotonic and fatigue strengths, basic mechanical properties, and damage initiation and progression. The elevated temperature results were compared to those obtained at room temperature. Analytical predictions were made of the monotonic stress-strain response as well as cyclic stress-strain hysteresis. The fiber reinforcement was found to significantly increase the static and fatigue strengths of the laminates over that of the matrix material at elevated temperature while the increase was insignificant at room temperature. Initial damage, in either the fibers or the matrix, was partitioned as a function of the life and applied strain range in the constituents. High strains and short lives resulted in multiple fiber failure with no signs of matrix fatigue cracking. Low strains and long lives resulted in extensive matrix cracking and no fiber breaks away from the fracture surface. At 650 C the matrix was too weak to cause fiber-matrix interface failure prior to matrix yielding. Laminate fatigue lives were hypothesized to be a function of the 0 deg fiber stress. More scatter was found in the 0 deg fiber stress vs. high temperature fatigue life data than for the room temperature data. An initial unloading modulus that was greater than the initial loading modulus was observed in the elevated temperature fatigue tests.
Unsteady and turbulent flow using adaptation methods

Concepts for adaptive procedures have been examined. Feature detection is made more accurate by the introduction of embedded patches which act as ‘noise filters’ in the embedding procedure. A method to implement the Baldwin-Lomar algebraic turbulence model when applied to unstructured meshes proves to be accurate. Spatially varying time steps based on embedding zones can be used for unsteady problems leading to accurate results with reduced CPU times. Lastly, a conservative interface treatment is important in regions where shocks exist, but not necessarily inside boundary layers where the stretching error in the evaluation of the viscous terms may be dominant.
Improper patient techniques with metered dose inhalers: Clinical consequences and solutions to misuse

The use of inhaled medications for the treatment of lung diseases has been part of the pharmaceutical armamentaria of health care providers for millennia. Two thousand years before the onset of the Christian Era, tribal Shaman of the Indus Valley used "smokes and fumes" from burning roots (datura, a congener of atropine) to treat cough and wheezing. 1,2 As contact between centers of civilization expanded, the use of inhaled vapors for medicinal and psychosocia! purposes became widespread in the ancient world, and the technology for aerosol delivery evolved from kettles and hot pots to the development of various types of pipes?, 3 However, with the rise of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, the ways of the past were suppressed. In their zeal to make a new beginning for mankind, the traditions and beliefs (both good and bad) of the "pagans" were repudiated by the early Christians, and the teachings and therapies of the ancients were held suspect. The Dark Ages sealed this position, and as intellectualism stagnate d in the West, former modes of therapy were lost. During this period the development of inhalational medicine continued mainly in the East. As the Renaissance brought current civilization into intellectual contact with the past, art, philosophy, and science flourished, and social and commercial pressures served as the impetus to repair the neglect of centuries. Progress, however, was slow and uneven, particularly in medicine. By the onset of the nineteenth century, Europeans ha d again recognized the value of inhalants and began to embrace their use enthusiastically,
An introduction to EPA's design for the environment program

The authors provide an introduction to efforts aimed at designing products, processes, systems, and technologies with environmental objectives as a priority. They describe the efforts of the EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency's) design for the environment program in informing people and reducing obstacles to private-sector environmental design initiatives. The analytical tools used in this program are described, along with the program's infrastructure projects. >