cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Essays on the Social Consumer: Peer Influence in the Adoption and Engagement of Digital Goods

In this dissertation, I study how consumers influence each other in the adoption and engagement of digital goods. In the first essay, I study peer influence in mobile game adoption. Although peer effects are expected to influence consumer decisions, they are difficult to identify in observational studies due selection bias: Friends share common characteristics and behave in similar ways even without peer effects. I use a novel approach to estimate unobserved characteristics which endogenously drive tie formation and use the estimates to control for selection, without need for instruments. This is the first paper to use latent space to reduce bias in peer influence estimates. I find that peers account for 27% of mobile game adoptions, and that ignoring latent homophily would bias the estimates by 40%, in line with previous studies. In some samples, ignoring latent homophily can result in overestimation of social effects by over 100%. In the second essay, I examine the effect of zero rating on consumer behavior in a social network. I use Facebook data on millions of users to quantify direct, peer, and long-term effects of zero rating, a campaign where consumers can access digital media over mobile networks for free, on social network activities. I find that zero rating does not have the same effect on all social network activities. While the direct impact of zero rating is positive on all activities, users with more friends on zero rating create less, consume more, and give more feedback on content. In addition, zero rating does not have a uniform effect across consumers. Some consumers benefit more from zero rating than others, and I show that network characteristics can help identify those consumers whose network benefits the most from zero rating.
Body size and joint posture in primates

Body mass has been shown in experimental and comparative morphological studies to have a significant effect on joint posture in major limb joints. The generalizability of experimental studies is limited by their use of small sample sizes and limited size ranges. In contrast, while comparative morphological studies often have increased sample sizes, the connection between joint posture and morphological variables is often indirect. The current study infers joint postures for a large sample of primates using an experimentally validated method, and tests whether larger primates use more extended joint postures than smaller species. Postures are inferred through the analysis of patterns of subchondral bone apparent density on the medial femoral condyle. Femora from 94 adult wild-shot individuals of 28 species were included. Apparent density measurements were obtained from CT scans using AMIRA software, and the angular position of the anterior-most extent of the region of maximum apparent density on the medial femoral condyle was recorded. In general, the hypothesis that larger-bodied primates use more extended knee posture was supported, but it should be noted that considerable variation exists, particularly at small body sizes. This indicates that smaller species are less constrained by their body size, and their patterns of apparent density are consistent with a wide range of knee postures. The size-related increase in inferred joint posture was observed in most major groups of primates, and this observation attests to the generalizability of Biewener's model that relates body size and joint posture.
Psychologists at the Gate: A Review of Daniel Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow

The publication of Daniel Kahneman's book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, is a major intellectual event. The book summarizes, but also integrates, the research that Kahneman has done over the past forty years, beginning with his path-breaking work with the late Amos Tversky. The broad theme of this research is that human beings are intuitive thinkers and that human intuition is imperfect, with the result that judgments and choices often deviate substantially from the predictions of normative statistical and economic models. In this review, I discuss some broad ideas and themes of the book, describe some economic applications, and suggest future directions for research that the book points to, especially in decision theory. (JEL A12, D03, D80, D87)
A language-based approach to indexing heterogeneous multimedia lifelog

Lifelog systems, inspired by Vannevar Bush's concept of "MEMory EXtenders" (MEMEX), are capable of storing a person's lifetime experience as a multimedia database. Despite such systems' huge potential for improving people's everyday life, there are major challenges that need to be addressed to make such systems practical. One of them is how to index the inherently large and heterogeneous lifelog data so that a person can efficiently retrieve the log segments that are of interest. In this paper, we present a novel approach to indexing lifelogs using activity language. By quantizing the heterogeneous high dimensional sensory data into text representation, we are able to apply statistical natural language processing techniques to index, recognize, segment, cluster, retrieve, and infer high-level semantic meanings of the collected lifelogs. Based on this indexing approach, our lifelog system supports easy retrieval of log segments representing past similar activities and generation of salient summaries serving as overviews of segments.
A New Formulation of Pocklington's Equation for Thin Wires Using the Exact Kernel

Pocklington's integro-differential equation for thin wires with the exact kernel is reformulated using a second derivative formula for improper integrals. This allows for analytical evaluation of the second derivatives, resulting in a pure integral equation, in a similar manner to what is done when using the approximate kernel. However, as opposed to using the approximate kernel, the resulting integral equation developed here is numerically stable even with a simple pulse function/point matching solution. Good convergence for the current is obtained using pulse functions, and the severe unphysical oscillations of the current that are encountered when using pulse functions with the approximate kernel are avoided.
Cytologic identification of reinke crystalloids in scrapings and imprints of fresh testicular tumors: a simple and rapid technique for intraoperative use

Although not required for the diagnosis, crystalloids of Reinke are pathognomonic for Leydig cell tumor. However, conventional frozen section rarely reveals their presence. A method of rapid identification of crystalloids of Reinke could improve the intraoperative diagnosis. We tested the efficacy of touch imprints and scrape smears for the identification of crystalloids in 2 cases of Leydig cell tumor of the testis. Intraoperative smears of the tumors yielded abundant crystals. Scrape cytologic testing was the better method. We speculate that the process of scraping, and to a lesser extent touch imprinting, disrupts the cytoplasm of the Leydig cells and releases the crystalloids. We conclude that cytologic testing is an effective method of identifying crystalloids of Reinke in Leydig cell tumors of the testis.
HLA-Associated Alterations in Replication Capacity of Chimeric NL4-3 Viruses Carrying gag-protease from Elite Controllers of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected persons who maintain plasma viral loads of <50 copies RNA/ml without treatment have been termed elite controllers (EC). Factors contributing to durable control of HIV in EC are unknown, but an HLA-dependent mechanism is suggested by overrepresentation of “protective” class I alleles, such as B*27, B*51, and B*57. Here we investigated the relative replication capacity of viruses (VRC) obtained from EC (n = 54) compared to those from chronic progressors (CP; n = 41) by constructing chimeric viruses using patient-derived gag-protease sequences amplified from plasma HIV RNA and inserted into an NL4-3 backbone. The chimeric viruses generated from EC displayed lower VRC than did viruses from CP (P < 0.0001). HLA-B*57 was associated with lower VRC (P = 0.0002) than were other alleles in both EC and CP groups. Chimeric viruses from B*57+ EC (n = 18) demonstrated lower VRC than did viruses from B*57+ CP (n = 8, P = 0.0245). Differences in VRC between EC and CP were also observed for viruses obtained from individuals expressing no described “protective” alleles (P = 0.0065). Intriguingly, two common HLA alleles, A*02 and B*07, were associated with higher VRC (P = 0.0140 and 0.0097, respectively), and there was no difference in VRC between EC and CP sharing these common HLA alleles. These findings indicate that cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) selection pressure on gag-protease alters VRC, and HIV-specific CTLs inducing escape mutations with fitness costs in this region may be important for strict viremia control in EC of HIV.
Reproductive development of blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius), as influenced by ozone

Summary • The effects of ozone on reproductive development of blackberry ( Rubus cuneifolius ) in situ are reported here and, in particular, changes over time of flower and fruit production, and the size and time to maturity of fruits produced. • Blackberry, a common associate in early successional communities in the southern USA, was exposed to subambient, ambient (both chambered and nonchambered plots) and elevated (2× ambient) ozone concentrations for two growing seasons (1994–95). Competition from other plant species was not excluded, and reproductive development was examined in April–May of the second year on the floricanes. • An initial acceleration in flowering resulted from exposure to elevated ozone with more flowers initiated and peak production occurring sooner than all other treatments. Total numbers of fruits were not significantly different among treatments. Numbers of large and ripe fruits were greatest in carbon-filtered and unfiltered chambers and least in the 2× and ambient air treatments. • Possible implications related to changes in community structure and function are discussed.
The proteasomal ATPase complex is required for stress-induced transcription in yeast

Sug1 and Sug2 are two of six ATPases in the 19S regulatory particle of the 26S proteasome. We have shown previously that these proteins play a non-proteolytic role in the transcription of the GAL genes in yeast. In this study, we probe the requirement for these factors in stress-induced transcription in yeast. It is known that proteasomal proteolysis is not required for these events. Indeed, proteasome inhibitors strongly stimulate expression of these stress response genes. However, shifting strains carrying temperature-sensitive alleles of SUG1 and SUG2 to the restrictive temperature strongly inhibited the expression of HSP26, HSP104 and GAD1 in response to heat shock or treatment with menadione bisulfate. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed the recruitment of Sug1, Sug2 and Cim5 (another of the ATPases), but not 20S proteasome core proteins, to the promoters of these genes. These data show that the non-proteolytic requirement for the proteasomal ATPases extends beyond the GAL genes in yeast and includes at least the heat and oxidative stress-responsive genes.
Understanding the wet season variations over Florida

The wet season of Florida is well defined and is invariably centered in the boreal summer season of June–July–August. In this observational study we objectively define the Length of the Wet Season (LOWS) for Florida and examine its variations with respect to El Nino and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Atlantic Warm Pool (AWP). Our study reveals that ENSO variability has a profound influence on the LOWS especially over south Florida and parts of panhandle Florida prior to 1976. In the post-1976 era the influence of ENSO has significantly diminished. Our results show that in this pre-1976 era, warm (cold) ENSO events in the boreal winter are followed by long (short) LOWS over the region. This variation is consistent with warm (cold) ENSO events influencing early (late) onset of the wet season in the region. There is significant relationship of the LOWS in south and northeast Florida with the variation of the AWP. Unlike the teleconnection with ENSO the relationship of the demise of the wet season with AWP is stronger in the post-1976 period compared to the pre-1976 period. Furthermore the variability of the LOWS has increased in the post-1976 period.
The lack of effect of low temperature and high turbidity on operational Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis activity against larval black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae).

Abstract Black fly suppression programs are conducted across a wide range of environmental conditions, targeting a variety of pest species with diverse life histories. Operational applications of Vectobac® 12AS (Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis) were conducted during times characterized by water temperature and turbidity extremes. Applications were conducted in the Yellow River in central Wisconsin targeting Simulium annulus and S. johannseni when water temperatures were 1–2°C. Applications were conducted in the Green River in western North Carolina targeting the S. jenningsi group after a rain event, when portions of the treatment zone experienced turbidities of 276 nephelometric turbidity units. Excellent larvicidal activity was observed in both programs, with 97% mortality or greater being observed at distances over 5 km downstream of a treatment site. Mortality data for larval black flies in 2 operational suppression programs conducted in 2011 demonstrated a negligible effect of near-freezing...
Outsourcing: Who Gains In The Short Run?

Over the last several years there has been an intense debate over the issue of outsourcing. The two main topic questions of dispute are: What are the effects of outsourcing on employment and wages? What can be done to alleviate the cost of outsourcing on the labor side? In this paper we try to answer these two main questions. In particular, the scope of this paper is to understand the degree of substitutability between the domestic and the foreign labor due to outsourcing and its implications for both employment and reemployment. For this purpose, we will provide a rigorous definition of outsourcing and then illustrate a theoretical framework to analyze its effects.
Modular Pivots: A Resource for Extending Turns at Talk

This article investigates a type of turn constructional pivot structurally different from and more common than those previously analyzed within the literature. Modular pivots are comprised of items of talk that (a) are linguistic adjuncts and hence syntactically optional, (b) routinely appear in both turn-initial and turn-final positions, and (c) are deployed to forge an overlapping or pivotal transition between otherwise discrete TCUs. In addition to identifying various linguistic candidates for use as modular pivots, this article reports the results of auditory and acoustic analysis of three such candidates (now, I guess, and you know) revealing the intonational and articulatory seamlessness of the pivot’s junctures with prior and subsequent talk. It also furnishes evidence that the pivot itself facilitates the speaker’s suppression of terminal intonation at both junctures and explains this outcome by reference to the pivot’s impact on the speaker’s experience of projected speech delivery. The conclusio...
FOREST COLONIZATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL GROWTH OF THE INVASIVE SHRUB LONICERA MAACKII

Abstract The invasive shrub Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder (Amur honeysuckle) dominates the understory of many deciduous forests in southwestern Ohio and other areas. Extensive sampling of an isolated population of L. maackii was used to elucidate its colonization of a forest woodlot and subsequent growth and development. The current population age structure indicated that colonization likely occurred by a series of small dispersal events. The population remained small for about ten years and then increased dramatically, presumably due to the seed reproduction of the early colonizers. Young prereproductive shrubs are characterized by rapid height growth and high stem recruitment. After shrubs become reproductive at age 5–8, height growth continues but basal stem recruitment is reduced and radial growth increases shrub basal area. Allocation of primary production apparently shifts from stem recruitment and height growth in young shrubs to a balance of height growth, radial expansion and reproduction in ol...
Developing an integrated multi-program computing department

While the vast majority of ABET-accredited computing-related departments offer one undergraduate program, the Department of Computing at East Tennessee State University has found it beneficial to house Computer Science, Information Systems, and Information Technology programs in a single department. This three-in-one structure allows for efficient curriculum structure, assessment processes, staffing, and course scheduling. Most importantly, this combination has shown to be an important driver in student retention.
Pan-American teletandem language exchange project

This paper describes a TeleTandem language exchange project between English speaking Spanish students at Georgia College, USA, and Spanish speaking English students at Universidad de Concepcion, Chile. The aim of the project was to promote linguistic skills and intercultural competence through a TeleTandem exchange. Students used Skype and Google Hangouts for monthly synchronous conversations where they interviewed each other, and exchanged information about their lives and cultures. The project also involved a monthly blog and a video report where students talked about their TeleTandem partner and reflected on their learning experience.
Optical Bistability with Two-State Atoms: Steady States and Dynamical Instabilities

A fundamental problem in optical physics is the interaction of two-level atoms with the electromagnetic field of a resonant cavity. Our experiments [1] with two-state sodium atoms are directed towards a quantitative investigation of the steady-state characteristics, dynamical behavior and the quantum statistical nature of the atom-field interaction in such a system. We report absolute comparisons between experiment and the single-mode theory of optical bistability with a Gaussian transverse profile.
Reversal of vasectomy without magnification of the site.

The author uses a simple technique for performance of vasovasotomy, or reversal of vasectomy. The operation can be performed as an ambulatory surgical procedure with the patient under local or general anesthesia. Anastomosis without an internal stent is preferred, as data suggest that the vas deferens repaired this way is more likely to remain patent.
Photoreactions on a Single Isolated TiO2 Nanocrystal on Au(111): Photodecomposition of TMAA

An atomically resolved study of an adsorbate photoreaction on the surface of an isolated TiO2 nanocrystal is reported. The crystal is grown in situ on Au(111) in an ultrahigh-vacuum chamber. The experiments use scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) backed by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) to determine the surface coverage of trimethylacetic acid (TMAA) on the nanocrystal surfaces before and after irradiation with monochromated 305 nm UV light. A detailed determination of the surface structure of the 1–3 nm thick and 10–30 nm wide nanocrystals is presented and the importance of moire effects in controlling the reaction sites shown. The normalized TMAA photodesorption quantum efficiency from Au-supported TiO2 nanocrystals was found to be ∼4 times lower compared to the same reaction on rutile TiO2(110) surface, a result consistent with the lower fraction of light adsorbed in the nanocrystals.
Comparative Advertising in the European Union and the United States: Legal and Managerial Issues

ABSTRACT Comparative advertising is a popular communications format in the United States. As the European Union continues to work toward commercial unification, Member States must develop a coherent approach to comparative advertising. In this paper we discuss the differences in approaches to comparative advertising between the US and EU countries. We identify points of agreement and difference and we suggest managerial actions that will allow advertisers to present their messages in multiple countries without violating the letter or the spirit of legal constraints on comparative communications.
Exploring the Meaning and Paths of Advocacy for Undocumented Students’ Access to Education

ABSTRACTThere is widespread national debate over how to address and advocate for undocumented immigrants in the United States. Education is key to the economic, occupational, and social mobility of young unauthorized immigrants, but policies and practices can hinder or open their access to education. Educators pursue a range of activities to support undocumented students in school. This article identifies the conceptualizations, strategies, and thought processes of educators who advocate for undocumented students. The results reveal that advocates’ backgrounds, resources, goals, identity, and the communities in which they advocate influence their perceptions and practices of advocacy.
The Natural History of Operable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the National Cancer Database

Background The survival of untreated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), or the natural history, is an important perspective for patients considering resection for NSCLC. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) allows untreated NSCLC patients who were recommended to undergo surgical resection (ie, "operable") to be identified. The survival of untreated NSCLC patients in the NCDB was studied to determine the natural history of operable NSCLC. Methods The NCDB was queried for untreated clinical stage I to IIIA NSCLC patients diagnosed between 2003 and 2009. The natural history cohort was defined as patients who were recommended to undergo resection but went untreated. Results We identified 1,693 untreated patients with operable NSCLC. The median survival for clinical stage I, II, and IIIA was 16.6, 9.4, and 8.4 months, respectively. The 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival for clinical stage I, II, and IIIA NSCLC were 10.1%, 7.3%, and 4.9%, respectively. At each stage (I to IIIA), the survival of untreated operable NSCLC patients was superior to that of untreated NSCLC patients not recommended to undergo resection (nonoperable, p Conclusions The natural history of operable NSCLC, although poor, varies with clinical stage and is superior to that of nonoperable NSCLC.
59 NUMERICAL SOLUTION FOR CORTISOL EQUILIBRIUM AND MAXIMAL CORTISOL SECRETION RATES IN HUMAN SEPTIC SHOCK AND HEALTHY CONTROL SUBJECTS.

Septic shock (SS) is associated with an increase in total and free cortisol along with a disproportionate increase in percent free cortisol, due in part to decreased serum concentrations of cortisol-binding globulin (CBG) and albumin. Relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) is often seen in septic shock and is biochemically defined by a cortisol increment Objective Keenan et al proposed a set of three differential equations describing a dynamic model for free cortisol secretion and clearance rates, which incorporates the reactions of free cortisol with CBG and albumin, under non-steady-state conditions. We sought to assess maximal cortisol secretion rates in SS and in control subjects using numerical techniques to solve for cortisol equilibrium in the serum compartment and for cortisol secretion and clearance rates. Methods Plasma total and free cortisol, serum CBG, and albumin were measured in subjects with SS (n = 45), subjects with sepsis (S, n = 19), and in healthy controls (HC, n = 10) at 0, 30, and 60 minutes after 250 μg cosyntropin. Numerical solution for cortisol secretion rates used group-specific KA determined by least squares solution and assumed a uniform, maximal cortisol secretion rate to provide a least squares solution for secretion and clearance to fit observed data points. Results The group-specific KA was significantly higher in SS versus S and HC (148, 99, and 78 μM, p Conclusions SS and RAI are associated with a reversible increase in KA, contributing to an increase in percent free cortisol. Maximal cortisol secretion rates are elevated in SS, including RAI subjects. The distribution of the normal range of maximal secretion rates (CV = 48%) suggests that application of numerical solution to non-steady-state conditions, such as the cosyntropin stimulation test, may be useful in distinguishing absolute and relative adrenal insufficiency.
Survey on the Prevalence and Economic Burden of Hypertension Among Residents over 30 Years Old,Guandu District,Kunming City

Objective To understand the prevalence and economic burden of hypertension in Guandu district,Kunming city,so as to provide the basis for its prevention and control,and reduce the economic burden of hypertension. Methods Three villages were chosen from each township(9townships).In each selected village,a name list of individuals aged≥30years were obtained from the village committee,and simple random sampling was used to select 140individuals from each village. Results Of 3 774surveyed,1 348were hypertension cases,the overall prevalence of hypertension was35.7%;The prevalence rate of male and female was 36.75% and 35.05%(P 0.05);13.88%in those at 30-44years old,37.64%in those at 45-59years old,50.12%at those over 60years old(P 0.01).The per capita economic burden of hypertension was 4 602Yuan;The per capita direct,indirect and intangible economic burden of hypertension was 868Yuan,2 762Yuan.and 972Yuan respectively.Estimated according to the prevalence of hypertension,in 340 705residents over the age of 30,121 700were hypertensive patients,the socio-economic burden was 560 063 400Yuan. ConclusionThe prevalence of hypertension is higher,socio-economic burden caused by hypertension is more serious in residents over the age of 30in Guandu district.
The Ranking-Theoretic Account of Causation

A notion of causation based on the ranking functions of degrees of belief is presented in this chapter. The notion of cause is identified with the notion of a reason, which is defined in terms of a conditional ranking function. On these grounds, an epistemic theory of causation can be developed. It will be shown that the epistemic aspect of this account permits clarifying overdetermination cases in a novel way. A comparison of the ranking-theoretic approach to causation with the counterfactual analysis of causation and with the causal modelling account is also conducted.
CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Cultural Resource Management is the theory and practice of managing, preserving, and interpreting cultural resources within a social and legal context. ‘Cultural resources’ refers to a wide variety of material and nonmaterial expressions of human social groups and cultures in the environment. Compliance or rescue archaeology is the most common practice of CRM but it also includes architectural and engineering documentation, public history, and landscape history. Compliance with the National Environmental Protection Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is the cornerstone of the practice of CRM in the United States but also includes practices associated with other laws and policies, historic buildings and structures, landscapes and places, and other cultural resources.
Promotion Strategy for a Service Firm with Delay Sensitive Customers

Online social advertising tools such as Groupon and Living Social generate new business for service providers and at the same time generate new challenges. By doing promotion, a firm may unavoidably attract customers who are deal hunters and are less likely to continue to purchase the service after promotion. Even worse, those discount-seeking customers may impose externalities on the system that could drive away regular customers. This paper considers a promotion strategy for a service firm faced with customers who are delay sensitive. We study the equilibrium behavior of such a system and analyze the trade-offs of promotion. We devise recommendations regarding when promotions would be beneficial: promotion is more likely to be profitable for a firm with a small market size and high prices under certain conditions. In order to characterize the optimal promotion strategy, we derive approximations of such a system that turn out to be extremely accurate to the optimal solution. The main insights from the approximation analysis are as follows: the optimal promotion strategy may arise in two different regimes depending on the future discounting factor. If the future discounting factor is large, the system is overloaded in the promotion period and critical loaded in the post-promotion period. If the future discounting factor is small, the system is critical loaded in the promotion period and under-loaded in the post-promotion period. We also consider the joint optimization of promotion and pricing decisions and conclude that the overloaded promotion strategy is more likely when price is chosen endogenously. In addition, promotion size and price are complements in the second order refinement problem.
A three dimensional thermodynamically based function for the progressive failure of unidirectional composites

Abstract A thermodynamically-based work potential theory for modeling progressive damage for laminated, unidirectional composites assuming plane stress (2D Schapery’s theory) is extended to three dimensional (3D). An internal state variable, S , is defined to account for the dissipated energy due to damage evolution in the form of microstructural changes in the matrix. With the stationary of the total work potential with respect to the internal state variable, a thermodynamically-consistent set of evolution equations is derived. The internal state variable is related to the transverse and shear moduli through microdamage functions. In the first part of this work, coupon specimens are prepared to conduct experiments to characterize the relations between the internal state variable and the transverse modulus as well as shear modulus. The information is subsequent used for the prediction of three point bending test. In the second part of this work, objectivity is studied. Three separate methods utilizing different definitions of a reduced internal state variable or of the order of the polynomials are used to represent the matrix microdamage functions are employed. The three methods are implemented in a user defined subroutine within a commercial finite element method software package. Results from numerical simulations of a center-notched composites panel are compared. The agreement in the maximum stress predictions among the three methods indicates that objectivity, with respect to the functional form of the microdamage functions, is satisfied.
Influence of dispersion methods on sulfate resistance of nanosilica-contained mortars

AbstractThis study evaluates the influence of various dispersion methods on the sulfate attack resistance of nanosilica (nS)-contained mortars. Multiple mechanical or ultrasonic dispersion methods,...
Ethical Issues in Conducting Research on Religion and Spirituality

The conduct of research with human participants that focuses on religion or spirituality raises significant ethical issues. These include identification of communities that may be vulnerable and the development of special protections; the maintenance of confidentiality and privacy in relatively close-knit communities; the avoidance of stigmatization; and appropriate mechanisms for the dissemination of research findings.
Cultural Nationalism, Orientalism, Imperial Ambivalence: The Colored American Magazine and Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins

Author(s): Cho, Yu-Fang | Abstract: This essay examines African American novelist Pauline Hopkins’s deployment of the trope of respectable domesticity to contest black disenfranchisement in the context of African Americans’ ambivalent relationship to late-nineteenth-century US imperial expansion in the Asia Pacific. This essay analyzes Contending Forces (1900) in relation to two crucial yet underexplored contexts: first, Hopkins’s commentaries on international race relations; second, African American intellectuals’ commentaries on US imperial ventures in the Asia Pacific and on Chinese immigration in the Colored American Magazine, where Hopkins’s fictional works were serialized. Situated within these contexts of comparative racialization, Hopkins’s works offer critical responses to the masculine nationalist representations of black–Asian relations, illuminating the divisive effects of nationalist identification on differentially racialized subjects, the uneven effects of marriage on the black community, and this institution’s structural ties to imperialism and to the color-based class hierarchy within the imagined black community—all of which call for radical reimagining of race relations beyond the nation form.
The Need for Risk Communication in Support of Risk Assessment

For the technically trained, risk equals consequences of an event times the probability of that particular event occurring. However rational this definition is, it often does not succeed in reducing public alarm even though calculated risk may be extremely low. An expert in risk communication, has expanded the definition of risk. He suggests that risk is the hazard (technical risk) plus an outrage factor. In other words, RISK = HAZARD + OUTRAGE. [Sandman, 1993] Hazard can be zero and yet the risk can be very high due to the outrage factor.
Development and prospective validation of a model estimating risk of readmission in cancer patients

Introduction Hospital readmissions among cancer patients are common. While several models estimating readmission risk exist, models specific for cancer patients are lacking. Methods A logistic regression model estimating risk of unplanned 30-day readmission was developed using inpatient admission data from a 2-year period (n = 18 782) at a tertiary cancer hospital. Readmission risk estimates derived from the model were then calculated prospectively over a 10-month period (n = 8616 admissions) and compared with actual incidence of readmission. Results There were 2478 (13.2%) unplanned readmissions. Model factors associated with readmission included: emergency department visit within 30 days, >1 admission within 60 days, non-surgical admission, solid malignancy, gastrointestinal cancer, emergency admission, length of stay >5 days, abnormal sodium, hemoglobin, or white blood cell count. The c-statistic for the model was 0.70. During the 10-month prospective evaluation, estimates of readmission from the model were associated with higher actual readmission incidence from 20.7% for the highest risk category to 9.6% for the lowest. Conclusions An unplanned readmission risk model developed specifically for cancer patients performs well when validated prospectively. The specificity of the model for cancer patients, EMR incorporation, and prospective validation justify use of the model in future studies designed to reduce and prevent readmissions.
Observation and discussion of avalanche electroluminescence in GaN p-n diodes offering a breakdown electric field of 3 MV cm−1

We report on the first observation of avalanche electroluminescence resulting from band-to-band recombination (BTBR) of electron hole pairs at the breakdown limit of Gallium Nitride p-n diodes grown homo-epitaxially on single crystalline GaN substrates. The diodes demonstrated a near ideal breakdown electric field of 3 MV cm−1 with electroluminescence (EL) demonstrating sharp peaks of emission energies near and at the band gap of GaN. The high critical electric field, near the material limit of GaN, was achieved by generating a smooth curved mesa edge with low plasma damage, using etch engineering without any use of field termination. The superior material quality was critical for such a near-ideal performance. An electric field of 3 MV cm−1 recorded at the breakdown resulted in impact ionization, confirmed by a positive temperature dependence of the breakdown voltage. The spectral data provided evidence of BTBR of electron hole pairs that were generated by avalanche carrier multiplication in the depletion region.
Infinite Algebras and Pro-p Groups

We discuss three areas where infinite dimensional algebras meet pro-p groups: (1) the linearity problem for free pro-p groups, (2) asymptotic properties of Golod-Shafarevich groups, (3) algebras with property (τ).
A reappraisal of the California Roach/Hitch (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae, Hesperoleucus / Lavinia ) species complex

The California Roach (Hesperoleucus symmetricus) and Hitch (Lavinia exilicauda) form a species complex largely endemic to California (CA), USA. Using previous studies of this complex along with a recent comprehensive genomic analysis, we developed a highly supported taxonomic hierarchy of two genera, five species, four subspecies and multiple distinct population segments within two presently recognized species. The genera Lavinia and Hesperoleucus are supported as representing distinct lineages, despite occasional hybridization between them. While hybridization is one pathway to some speciation in this complex, hierarchical levels correlate nicely between genomic results and earlier morphological work. Hesperoleucus symmetricus is newly divided into four species (H. parvipinnis—Gualala Roach, H. mitrulus—Northern Roach, H. venustus—Coastal Roach, and H. symmetricus—California Roach) and two subspecies (H. s. serpentinus—Red Hills Roach, H. s. symmetricus—California Roach). Within H. venustus, two subspecies are identified (H. v. navarroensis—Northern Coastal Roach, and H. v. subditus—Southern Coastal Roach), which are supported by previous morphological studies but resolve discrepancies between those studies. Finally, six distinct population segments are identified within different species/subspecies: Kaweah, Russian River, Navarro River, Monterey, and Tomales Bay. Clear Lake Roach are introgressed between California and Coastal Roach, making them distinct but difficult to formally name. Results should greatly improve management and conservation of each taxonomic entity and help resolve past ambiguities. Additional studies are needed to improve range-wide boundaries and to investigate population structure within all species and subspecies identified in both Lavinia and Hesperoleucus lineages.
Comparison of different functional prediction scores using a gene-based permutation model for identifying cancer driver genes

Identifying cancer driver genes (CDG) is a crucial step in cancer genomic toward the advancement of precision medicine. However, driver gene discovery is a very challenging task because we are not only dealing with huge amount of data; but we are also faced with the complexity of the disease including the heterogeneity of background somatic mutation rate in each cancer patient. It is generally accepted that CDG harbor variants conferring growth advantage in the malignant cell and they are positively selected, which are critical to cancer development; whereas, non-driver genes harbor random mutations with no functional consequence on cancer. Based on this fact, function prediction based approaches for identifying CDG have been proposed to interrogate the distribution of functional predictions among mutations in cancer genomes (eLS 1–16, 2016). Assuming most of the observed mutations are passenger mutations and given the quantitative predictions for the functional impact of the mutations, genes enriched of functional or deleterious mutations are more likely to be drivers. The promises of these methods have been continually refined and can therefore be applied to increase accuracy in detecting new candidate CDGs. However, current function prediction based approaches only focus on coding mutations and lack a systematic way to pick the best mutation deleteriousness prediction algorithms for usage. In this study, we propose a new function prediction based approach to discover CDGs through a gene-based permutation approach. Our method not only covers both coding and non-coding regions of the genes; but it also accounts for the heterogeneous mutational context in cohort of cancer patients. The permutation model was implemented independently using seven popular deleteriousness prediction scores covering splicing regions (SPIDEX), coding regions (MetaLR, and VEST3) and pan-genome (CADD, DANN, Fathmm-MKL coding and Fathmm-MKL noncoding). We applied this new approach to somatic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) from whole-genome sequences of 119 breast and 24 lung cancer patients and compared the seven deleteriousness prediction scores for their performance in this study. The new function prediction based approach not only predicted known cancer genes listed in the Cancer Gene Census (CGC), but also new candidate CDGs that are worth further investigation. The results showed the advantage of utilizing pan-genome deleteriousness prediction scores in function prediction based methods. Although VEST3 score, a deleteriousness prediction score for missense mutations, has the best performance in breast cancer, it was topped by CADD and Fathmm-MKL coding, two pan-genome deleteriousness prediction scores, in lung cancer.
30 GHz electro-optic frequency comb spanning 300 THz in the near infrared and visible

Beginning with a continuous wave laser at 1064 nm, we generate a 30 GHz electro-optic frequency comb which contains 100 lines spanning 3 THz. The initial comb is subsequently amplified, spectrally broadened in normal dispersion photonic crystal fiber, and then temporally compressed to provide 74 fs pulses with average power of up to 2.6 W. When launched into a second photonic crystal fiber with anomalous dispersion, a supercontinuum spanning 800–1350 nm is generated. Second harmonic generation allows for extension of the 30 GHz comb into the visible, yielding greater than 300 THz of total spectral bandwidth. Such a broad bandwidth, high repetition rate comb is a compelling source for astronomical spectrograph calibration.
Low-Bit Quantization and Quantization-Aware Training for Small-Footprint Keyword Spotting

In this paper, we investigate novel quantization approaches to reduce memory and computational footprint of deep neural network (DNN) based keyword spotters (KWS). We propose a new method for KWS offline and online quantization, which we call dynamic quantization, where we quantize DNN weight matrices column-wise, using each column's exact individual min-max range, and the DNN layers' inputs and outputs are quantized for every input audio frame individually, using the exact min-max range of each input and output vector. We further apply a new quantization-aware training approach that allows us to incorporate quantization errors into KWS model during training. Together, these approaches allow us to significantly improve the performance of KWS in 4-bit and 8-bit quantized precision, achieving the end-to-end accuracy close to that of full precision models while reducing the models' on-device memory footprint by up to 80%.
Viral Hepatitis in Children

Viral Hepatitis B and C are responsible for a significant burden of disease worldwide. Acute infection is rare in childhood but chronic asymptomatic infection carrying with it a significant risk of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma is of significant concern (Bellentani et al., 1999; Chu, 2000).
Circulating microRNA trafficking and regulation: computational principles and practice

Rapid advances in genomics discovery tools and a growing realization of microRNA’s implication in intercellular communication have led to a proliferation of studies of circulating microRNA sorting and regulation across cells and different species. Although sometimes, reaching controversial scientific discoveries and conclusions, these studies have yielded new insights in the functional roles of circulating microRNA and a plethora of analytical methods and tools. Here, we consider this body of work in light of key computational principles underpinning discovery of circulating microRNAs in terms of their sorting and targeting, with the goal of providing practical guidance for applications that is focused on the design and analysis of circulating microRNAs and their context-dependent regulation. We survey a broad range of informatics methods and tools that are available to the researcher, discuss their key features, applications and various unsolved problems and close this review with prospects and broader implication of this field.
An unusual combination of complications in a pediatric burn patient with successful outcome

Accidental burns is one of the most commonly encountered condition in our society. Women and children are often affected. The case being discussed is of a burn victim who had a series of unexpected and rare life-threatening complications. The child developed complications of actively bleeding duodenal stress ulcer, deep-vein thrombosis, and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis in addition to bacterial sepsis, during the hospital stay. All the complications that the child endured were unfortunate though not uncommon, and with the help of accurate diagnosis, treatment, and multidisciplinary team approach, we were able to save the child and enable him to lead a normal life.
From high-flying trapeze to highly infectiousdisease: The history of dermatology in the circus.

Abstract There is fascination with the bright lights and high-risk stunts of circus performances that originated in 18th-century Paris. The idea began as a way to display the impressive horsemanship skills of trick-riders. In London, England, former cavalry Sergeant-Major Philip Astley (1742-1814) created a grand performance of horseback riders by adding several unique acts to distinguish his show. Astley’s original riding school would later become his own circus, the Amphitheatre Anglais. By 1782, the Amphitheatre Anglais could boast of performances by acrobats, jugglers, gymnasts, and tight-rope walkers. Since then, the circus, as the concept became formally known, has grown worldwide. With its development, however, several unanticipated occurrences have followed, including various dermatologic pathologies. High physical demands on circus performers and close physical contact led to cellulitis, pyoderma, callosities, and various other soft tissue manifestations. However, some members of the circus family were, in fact, chosen due to their genetic and acquired aesthetic abnormalities: the more grotesque, the more sought after.
The challenge of diagnosing scabies in the elderly: A case and a novel therapeutic approach.

Abstract Scabies is a worldwide ectoparasitic infection that although common may be misdiagnosed in older adults with atypical presentations. In general, elderly patients tend to present with burrows absent in traditional locations and more widespread disease. Delayed diagnosis, increased severity of disease, and comorbidities unique to older populations may require more aggressive treatments. In this article we present a case of a 69 year old woman with widespread scabies infection who benefited from a novel therapeutic approach.