cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolated Gastrocnemius Tightness

Background: Contracture of the gastrocnemius-soleus complex has well-documented deleterious effects on lower-limb function in spastic or neurologically impaired individuals. There is scarce literature, however, on the existence of isolated gastrocnemius contracture or its impact in otherwise normal patients. We hypothesized that an inability to dorsiflex the ankle due to equinus contracture leads to increased pain in the forefoot and/or midfoot and therefore a population with such pain will have less maximum ankle dorsiflexion than controls. We further postulated that the difference would be present whether the knee was extended or flexed. Methods: This investigation was a prospective comparison of maximal ankle dorsiflexion, as a proxy for gastrocnemius tension, in response to a load applied to the undersurface of the foot in two healthy age, weight, and sex-matched groups. The patient group comprised thirty-four consecutive patients with a diagnosis of metatarsalgia or related midfoot and/or forefoot symptoms. The control group consisted of thirty-four individuals without foot or ankle symptoms. The participants were clinically examined for gastrocnemius and soleus contracture and were subsequently assessed for tightness with use of a specially designed electrogoniometer. Measurements were made both with the knee extended (the gastrocnemius under tension) and with the knee flexed (the gastrocnemius relaxed). Results: With the knee fully extended, the average maximal ankle dorsiflexion was 4.5° in the patient group and 13.1° in the control group (p < 0.001). With the knee flexed 90°, the average was 17.9° in the patient group and 22.3° in the control population (p = 0.09). When gastrocnemius contracture was defined as dorsiflexion of ≤5° during knee extension, it was identified in 65% of the patients compared with 24% of the control population. However, when gastrocnemius contracture was defined as dorsiflexion of ≤10°, it was present in 88% and 44%, respectively. When gastrocnemius-soleus contracture was defined as dorsiflexion of ≤10° with the knee in 90° of flexion, it was identified in 29% of the patient group and 15% of the control group. Conclusions: On the average, patients with forefoot and/or midfoot symptoms had less maximum ankle dorsiflexion with the knee extended than did a control population without foot or ankle symptoms. When the knee was flexed 90° to relax the gastrocnemius, this difference was no longer present. Clinical Relevance: These findings support the existence of isolated gastrocnemius contracture in the development of forefoot and/or midfoot pathology in otherwise healthy people. These data may have implications for preventative and therapeutic care of patients with chronic foot problems.
Motivation, Trust, Leadership, and Technology: Predictors of Knowledge Sharing Behavior in the Workplace

of the Dissertation Motivation, Trust, Leadership, and Technology: Predictors of Knowledge Sharing Behavior in the Workplace By Shabnam Ozlati Claremont Graduate University: 2012 Employees’ knowledge is a critical resource for the organization, and if it is not shared, it is lost to other employees and the organization. However, knowledge sharing does not happen easily; knowledge sharing is a personal choice that cannot be forced. This study employs Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a theoretical framework to study employees’ knowledge sharing behavior and motivations. Data were collected from full-time working professionals (N=208) using an online survey. The effects of autonomy, motivation, trust, authentic leadership style, knowledge self-efficacy, and technology were studied using moderated and mediated regression analyses. The results reveal (a) knowledge is shared more when individuals have more autonomy; (b) benevolence-based and institution-based trust had a moderating effect on autonomy and knowledge sharing behavior (when autonomy was low, if benevolencebased or institution-based trust was high more knowledge sharing occurred); (c) competence-based trust did not have a similar moderating effect, but had a significant main effect predicting knowledge sharing; and (d) a supervisor’s authentic leadership style contributed in explaining the total variance of knowledge sharing behavior and predicted knowledge sharing after controlling for autonomy. All three types of trust mediated the relationship between authentic leadership style and knowledge sharing. Moreover, knowledge self-efficacy is a strong predictor of knowledge sharing, while users’ perception of technology is a moderate predictor. Additionally, a factor analysis was conducted on 15 different types of knowledge sharing technologies used by participants. Technologies were clustered into three groups: a low-interactive group of technologies (e.g., databases), and two high-interactive groups of technologies (e.g., blogs, social networks and emails). The low-interactive group and one of the high-interactive groups of technologies were positively associated with different types of trust. However, the high-interactive groups of technologies which consisted of technologies such as blogs, and social networks was not correlated with different types of trust. Only the high-interactive group of technologies that was positively correlated with trust predicted knowledge sharing. This dissertation advances prior findings and contributes to knowledge sharing research and practice. The current study was the first to examine relationships between authentic leadership style and knowledge sharing, proved that SDT is a strong framework in predicting knowledge sharing behavior and motivations, and showed only highinteractive technologies that are positively linked with trust predict knowledge sharing. Organizations could use these findings to develop appropriate strategies and trainings to foster a knowledge-sharing environment.
Testicular cancer patterns in Asian-American males: An opportunity for public health education to impact outcomes

Abstract Objectives To examine the racial differences in testicular cancer incidence, pathologic grade, stage, and survival with specific reference to Asian and white Americans and to evaluate the impact of disparities in stage at presentation, if present, on survival. Methods Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we extracted all testicular cancer cases among white and Asian-American males for the years 1973 to 2000. Baseline demographic data included age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis, stage at diagnosis, and histologic features. Survival was examined using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results The incidence of testicular cancer is lower among Asian Americans than among whites. However, Asian-American males presented with higher stage disease at diagnosis. Significant differences were noted in the histologic features between the two groups, with Asian Americans presenting with greater rates of seminoma. Asians also demonstrated survival differences, with poorer unadjusted survival compared with whites. However, when the variables of stage at diagnosis and histologic features were included in the analysis, the survival curves became similar. Conclusions Asians appeared to present with higher stage disease than do whites. Observed differences in survival for the Asian group relative to whites appeared to be primarily a result of delayed presentation. Cultural perceptions of malignancy and the understanding of cancer screening may be important determinants of later presentation. Healthcare access and education issues, rather than inherent biologic differences, are more likely the primary underlying factors for the observed survival differences in Asian males.
The use of integrated Energy (EDX) and Wavelength (WDX) Dispersive X-ray system for defects root cause analysis in an advanced logic fab

Over the last decade, integrated EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray) systems on in-line SEM review tools have become the main method of providing the fab with a fast and efficient way to identify and reduce defects and yield limiting sources. As device sizes keep scaling down, the defects of interest size also becomes smaller, increasing the effective time needed for an accurate spectrum acquisition. In order to keep up with the demand for high defect analysis rates in the production fab, material analysis (MA) must also be done faster, even on very small (<50nm) particles. In this paper, the capabilities and limitations of each analysis technology will be discussed as well as the performance of the combination of advanced EDX and WDX systems. In addition we will describe a method to resolve challenging MA cases by using a Wavelength Dispersive X-ray (WDX) system integrated side by side with an advanced EDX system. The discussion will include four case studies demonstrating the use of these advanced MA technologies in an advanced logic fab.
SERUM PROTEINS OF WOMEN UTILIZING COMBINATION ORAL OR LONG-ACTING INJECTABLE PROGESTATIONAL CONTRACEPTIVES

Abstract Two-hundred and fifty women employing two basically different chemical contraceptive regimens (combination oral estrogen-progestin versus long-acting purely progestational injectable) were evaluated for changes in serum proteins while on therapy. The results indicate significant differences between the two groups when compared to each other and to one-hundred-sixty-nine controls. Orals treated patients demonstrated slightly elevated α 1 , α 2 and β globulins; whereas, progestin only treated patients showed increased total serum protein, albumin and γ globulin fractions. Additional results show no apparent change in serum proteins throughout the menstrual cycle of control or chemically contracepting women. Furthermore, there were no significant alterations in these components after two years of therapy except for hypoalbuminemia in the estrogen-progestin treated patients.
Physical activity and the risk of dementia in oldest old.

Objective: This study evaluated the protective role of physical activity (PA) against cognitive impairment (CI) in the oldest old (age ≥ 85). Method: Prospective data on 66 optimally healthy, oldest old adults (mean age 88.5) were analyzed using survival analysis. Results: In all, 12 men and 11 women reported exercising > 4 hours per week, and 38 participants developed CI (mean onset age 93; mean follow-up 4.7 years). The effect of exercise was modified by gender. In more active women (> 4 hours/week), the risk of CI was reduced by 88% (95% confidence interval 0.03, 0.41) compared to those less active. Less active women had 2 times the incidence rate of CI compared to less active men and almost 5 times the rate compared to active women. Discussion: This study demonstrates the beneficial effects of exercise on healthy brain aging even in the oldest old and emphasizes the importance of increasing PA in older women.
Estimating the unknown parameters of the natural history of metachronous colorectal cancer using discrete-event simulation.

Objectives. Some aspects of the natural history of metachronous colorectal cancer (MCRC), such as the rate of progression from adenomatous polyp to MCRC, are unknown. The objective of this study is to estimate a set of parameters revealing some of these unknown characteristics of MCRC. Methods. The authors developed a computer simulation model that mimics the progression of MCRC for a 5-year period following the treatment of primary colorectal cancer (CRC). They obtained the inputs of the simulation model using longitudinal data for 284 CRC patients from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Results. Five-year MCRC incidence and all-cause mortality were 7.4% and 12.7% in the patient cohort, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that 5-year MCRC incidence was associated with gender (P = 0.05), whereas both all-cause and CRC-related mortalities were associated with age (P < 0.001 and P = 0.01). Estimated annual probabilities of progression from adenomatous polyp to MCRC and from MCRC to metastatic MCRC were 0.14 ...
Baseline susceptibility of Bemisia tabaci B biotype (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) populations from California and Arizona to spiromesifen.

Susceptibility to spiromesifen, a tetronic acid derivative, was determined for three imidacloprid-resistant strains and 12 geographically discrete natural populations of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (=Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from California and Arizona by laboratory bioassays. Newly emerged first instars were sprayed with aqueous serial dilutions of spiromesifen and evaluated for toxicity to establish baseline susceptibility data. Interpopulation variability in susceptibility to spiromesifen was observed among the natural populations of whiteflies up to 29-fold; however, there was only 30-fold difference in susceptibility among natural and resistant populations tested. In general, spiromesifen was quite toxic to first instars across most of their geographic range, with LC50 values ranging from 0.210 to 6.08 μg (AI)/ml. The magnitude of variation was smaller among the three-resistant strains. These results suggest that the observed variability reflect natural variation in spiromesifen susceptibility among all the test populations, possibly due to previous exposure to insecticides at each location. The effectiveness of spiromesifen also was evaluated against all immature stages of whiteflies from three field and two resistant strains. Spiromesifen was significantly more active against early instars of whiteflies based on lower LC50 values recorded compared with the fourth instars. Spiromesifen was effective against the resistant strains including a Q-biotype of B. tabaci from Spain, which is highly resistant to neonicotinoids. Results of this study indicate absence of cross-resistance between spiromesifen and more commonly used neonicotinoids. Our findings suggest that spiromesifen should be considered an ideal candidate for whitefly resistance management programs in rotation with other effective chemistries.
Fever in children.

True fever occurs when there is an upward displacement of the thermostatic mechanism of the anterior hypothalamus in response to exogenous pyrogens. Fever may increase immune system activity, but it also induces an array of discomforts. In children under three months of age, fever is often an indication of serious illness, and aggressive evaluation is indicated. Febrile children aged three months to two years frequently do not manifest the classic signs and symptoms of specific diseases.
Counseling About Weight Gain Guidelines and Subsequent Gestational Weight Gain

Abstract Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate what percentage of postpartum women were informed about how much weight to gain during pregnancy, the accuracy of the weight gain recommendations based on the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) gestational weight gain (GWG) recommendations and whether being informed was associated with greater likelihood of meeting the recommendations. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of postpartum women interviewed in maternity recovery rooms at two large urban hospitals. Body mass index was obtained from medical records, and adherence to gestational weight gain guidelines was determined based on the 2009 IOM recommendations. Results: One hundred thirty four women with a mean pregravid body mass index of 28.0 kg/m2 were studied. Sixty-seven percent of participants reported receiving weight gain recommendations. A greater percentage of healthy weight women (78.6%) reported being informed of a GWG recommendation than overweight (53.8%) or obese women ...
The Rank of Recurrence Matrices

SummaryA recurrence matrix is defined as a matrix whose entries (read left-to-right, row-by-row) are sequential elements generated by a linear recurrence relation. The maximal rank of this matrix is determined by the order of the corresponding recurrence. In the case of an order-two recurrence, the associated matrix fails to have full rank whenever the ratio of the two initial values of the sequence is an eigenvalue of the relation.
Effects of Modeled Stator Wake on a Low Pressure Turbine Blade Dynamic Performance

A computational investigation was carried out for flow behavior and dynamic performance of a low pressure turbine blade (T106A) under the effect of a stator wake. Stator wake profile was mathematically modeled and porous jump method was utilized to develop it in the computational domain. Various wake profiles were studied to determine the shape of profile for the minimum total pressure loss coefficient (TPLC) as a measure of blade performance. The wake profiles were changed by varying the porous medium thickness (Δm) which alters the length and width of the wake at the inlet of the blade (T106A), simulating varying distance between the stator and rotor blade.
The Republic of Rock: Music and Citizenship in the Sixties Counterculture. By Michael J. Kramer.

In 1971, a year that saw a dramatic reduction in the number of US troops deployed in the Vietnam War, the Entertainment Division of the US Army booked its inaugural Original Magnificent Special Ser...
Medicare and Medicaid resources on the Internet

The Internet provides a wealth of resources for people seeking information about Medicaid and Medicare. Web sites are available for consumers and professionals alike. This article highlights major government sites, including medicare.gov, and other resources provided by non-profit organizations and consumer advocacy groups. Purposes of the sites range from those that provide information of a practical nature about Medicare and Medicaid to the policy issues and debate surrounding the two government programs.
Analysis of enterprise debt capacity using working capital requirement concept

The concept of working capital requirement is used for analyzing current ratio of assets and marching strategy, meanwhile comparative to the results with traditional current ratio in this paper. The results show that using working capital requirement to analyze enterprises'asset liquidity and debt capacity is more correct than that using traditional one.
Efficacy of decontamination foam on a non-polar hazardous chemical surrogate

Abstract The release of hazardous chemicals poses a threat to individuals in the area of a release and to responders who attempt to limit the damage of the release. For a liquid phase spill, the most common decontamination technology is a sodium hypochlorite and water solution. Although this solution has been proven effective against a variety of contaminants, it also has a host of drawbacks. Novel decontamination technologies have been developed for military applications, however, they have not been explored with the same depth in the industrial sector. Therefore, there is a need for an industrial decontamination technology that is noncorrosive, nontoxic, nonflammable, and environmentally safe. Decontamination solutions and foams have the potential to improve hazardous chemical spill cleanup, saving time, money, and lives. This work uses a derivative of cysteine, called N-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)-L-cysteine methyl ester (TCME), as a surrogate for non-polar hazardous industrial bio-chemicals. Previous work has been done to compare the effect of decontamination foam against other decontamination solutions, however in the work the contaminants were typically polar, thus easily able to dissolve in the foam and react rapidly. In this work, the effect of less polar contaminants is studied, introducing transport limitations as well as reaction limitations. Additionally, this work examines the effect of surfactant on decontamination reactions by using water based decontamination solution and decontamination foam as decon technologies. All experiments were conducted in the liquid phase and results were analyzed using GC-MS to determine the extent of reaction.
Variation in Economic Status in Village Households

This chapter reviews a few aspects of variation in wealth that have been treated in the ethnographic literature. It highlights the method used to rank Aliabad's households along economic lines and presents some of the relationships between contemporary economic variation and material correlates that seem likely to be preserved archeologically. In Aliabad, a wide range of portable objects and immovable features reflects variation in economic status, and many of them may be preserved archeologically. From the perspective of the larger system, the rural community of Aliabad is not characterized by marked socioeconomic complexity or great inequality. However, economic variation does exist even within this small, comparatively traditional village. The village cemetery reflects economic variation in the form of differentiated grave markers, but an egalitarian Muslim ideology is reflected in the standardized treatment of cadavers. No single feature of material culture is a definitive or invariably useful measure of variations in households' rank. The ethnographic data discussed in the chapter suggest that a number of classes of evidence might be used in combination to establish the existence, if not the precise scale, of economic variation in small rural settlements.
Pregnancy and the Plastic Surgery Resident.

Background:Combining pregnancy with plastic surgery residency has historically been difficult. Two decades ago, 36 percent of plastic surgery program directors surveyed actively discouraged pregnancy among residents, and 33 percent of women plastic surgeons suffered from infertility.1 Most alarmingl
Developing a Native Digital Voice: Technology and Inclusivity in Museums

The exclusion of Native Americans from their own cultural heritage is a persistent problem in twenty-first museums. Although in recent decades museums have greatly expanded their programs and institutional frameworks to be more inclusive, experimental projects remain vital to creating new bridges between American museums and Native Americans. In 2010 and 2011, an innovative pilot program titled the “Native American Museum and Technology Workshop” was hosted at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The two-week intensive workshop brought 10 Native American high school students to the museum to create a proposal and working model for an interactive web interface. Although the project did not fundamentally alter the museum's approach to Native culture, it provides one model for expanding how Native Americans can be included in museums through a digital voice.
Aqueous Reaction of Dicarbonyls with Ammonia as a Potential Source of Organic Nitrogen in Airborne Nanoparticles.

Nitrogen-containing organic species such as imines and imidazoles can be formed by aqueous reactions of carbonyl-containing compounds in the presence of ammonia. In the work described here, these reactions are studied in airborne aqueous nanodroplets containing ammonium sulfate and glyoxal, methylglyoxal, or glycolaldehyde using a combination of online and offline mass spectrometry. N/C ratios attributed to the organic fraction of the particles (N/Corg) produced from glyoxal and methylglyoxal were quantified across a wide relative humidity (RH) range. As the RH was lowered, glyoxal was found to increase N/Corg, attributed to “salting-in” with increasing solute concentration, while methylglyoxal led to a decrease in N/Corg, attributed to “salting-out”. Glycolaldehyde was found to evaporate from the droplets rather than react in the aqueous phase and did not form particulate-phase organic matter from aerosol drying under any of the conditions studied. The results are discussed in the context of ambient nano...
Treatment of type 2 diabetes. The addition of injection therapy.

In this second of two articles on treatment of type 2 diabetes, the authors discuss the addition of injection therapy to the failing existing oral regimen. A new option is exenatide, first in a new class of drugs called incretin mimetics. The use of once-daily and multiple injection insulin choices is also described.
Electro-Optic Sampling and Charge-Density Probe

Electro-optic sampling is among the fastest of the current optical techniques available. This technique is based on the “Pockels effect” where the optical properties of a crystal change according to an applied electric field applied across it. By sending the light through the crystal, measuring the polar polarization changed, unknown test-point voltages can be determined. There are two general techniques for electro-optic sampling, namely, the external and the internal electro-optic (e-o) sampling. The external electro-optic method uses a small electro-optic crystal as the electro-optic medium, while the internal electro-optic technique uses the circuit substrate itself as the electro-optic medium. In another optical technique named “charge-density” probing, the plasma-optical effect is utilized where charge-density modulations within devices and parasitic PN junctions cause local refractive index changes. By interferometrically sensing these refractive index variations from the backside of an IC, these measurements can be related to either a current or a voltage signal.
Atomistic Simulation and Modeling of Smectic Liquid Crystals

This chapter reviews recent progress in the atomistic simulation and modeling of smectic liquid crystals. Despite formidable technical challenges, atomistic simulation is coming into its own as a powerful tool for doing cutting-edge liquid crystal science, due to the convergence of unprecedented computer power, recent algorithmic developments, and the availability of high-accuracy ab initio methods for the creation of molecular models from first-principles. Particular emphasis is placed on the model-building process, as this is the foundation upon which ‘realistic’ modeling of organic materials stands or falls. Advanced methodologies for molecular simulation are also described, including the particle-mesh Ewald method for rapid evaluation of long-range interactions in periodic systems, the r-RESPA family of multiple-timestep molecular dynamics integrators, and a collective Monte Carlo method, hybrid Monte Carlo. We conclude with several illustrative examples from our recent work on smectic liquid crystals.
Asymptotic behavior of a reduced conjunctive Boolean network

A conjunctive Boolean network (CBN) is a discrete-time finite state dynamical system, whose variables take values from a binary set, and the value update rule for each variable is a Boolean function consisting only of logic AND operations. Since a CBN is a finite state dynamical system, every trajectory generated by the system will enter a periodic orbit. We characterize in this paper the asymptotic behavior of a special class of weakly connected CBNs where the strongly connected components of their dependency graphs are all cycles of positive lengths. Given an initial condition of such a CBN, we characterize a periodic orbit which the system enters with the given initial condition.
Comparing thixotropic and Herschel–Bulkley parameterizations for continuum models of avalanches and subaqueous debris flows

Abstract. Avalanches and subaqueous debris flows are two cases of a wide range of natural hazards that have been previously modeled with non-Newtonian fluid mechanics approximating the interplay of forces associated with gravity flows of granular and solid–liquid mixtures. The complex behaviors of such flows at unsteady flow initiation (i.e., destruction of structural jamming) and flow stalling (restructuralization) imply that the representative viscosity–stress relationships should include hysteresis: there is no reason to expect the timescale of microstructure destruction is the same as the timescale of restructuralization. The non-Newtonian Herschel–Bulkley relationship that has been previously used in such models implies complete reversibility of the stress–strain relationship and thus cannot correctly represent unsteady phases. In contrast, a thixotropic non-Newtonian model allows representation of initial structural jamming and aging effects that provide hysteresis in the stress–strain relationship. In this study, a thixotropic model and a Herschel–Bulkley model are compared to each other and to prior laboratory experiments that are representative of an avalanche and a subaqueous debris flow. A numerical solver using a multi-material level-set method is applied to track multiple interfaces simultaneously in the simulations. The numerical results are validated with analytical solutions and available experimental data using parameters selected based on the experimental setup and without post hoc calibration. The thixotropic (time-dependent) fluid model shows reasonable agreement with all the experimental data. For most of the experimental conditions, the Herschel–Bulkley (time-independent) model results were similar to the thixotropic model, a critical exception being conditions with a high yield stress where the Herschel–Bulkley model did not initiate flow. These results indicate that the thixotropic relationship is promising for modeling unsteady phases of debris flows and avalanches, but there is a need for better understanding of the correct material parameters and parameters for the initial structural jamming and characteristic time of aging, which requires more detailed experimental data than presently available.
Bias Impact Analysis and Calibration of Terrestrial Mobile LiDAR System With Several Spinning Multibeam Laser Scanners

This paper proposes a multiunit light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system calibration procedure to directly estimate the mounting parameters relating multiple spinning multibeam laser scanners to the global navigation satellite system/inertial navigation system (GNSS/INS) unit onboard a mobile terrestrial platform in order to derive point clouds with high-positional accuracy. This procedure is based on the use of conjugate planar/linear features in overlapping point clouds derived from different drive runs. In order to increase the efficiency of semiautomatic conjugate feature extraction from LiDAR data, specifically designed calibration boards covered by highly reflective surfaces that could be easily deployed and set up within outdoor environments are used in this paper. To ensure the accuracy of the estimated mounting parameters, an optimal configuration of target primitives and drive runs is determined by analyzing the potential impact of bias in mounting parameters of a LiDAR unit on the resultant point cloud for different orientations of target primitives and different drive run scenarios. This impact is also verified experimentally by simulating a bias in each mounting parameter separately. Finally, the optimal configuration is used within an experimental setup to evaluate the performance of the proposed calibration procedure through the a posteriori variance factor of least squares adjustment and the quality of fit of adjusted point cloud to linear/planar surfaces before and after the calibration process. The proposed calibration approach attained an accuracy of 1.42 cm, which is better than the accuracy expected based on the specifications of the involved hardware components, i.e., the LiDAR and GNSS/INS units.
Avoiding school suspension: Assessment of a trauma-informed intervention with court-involved, female students

Court-involved, female students often experience trauma and disproportionate school discipline, complicating their academic success. This mixed-method study examines students' use of and experience...
Combined Geometric Hydraulic Criteria Approach for Piping and Internal Erosion in Cohesionless Soils

Piping is an erosion mechanism that plays a significant role in river barrages, such as dikes and dams, that are founded on poorly graded cohesionless soils like, for instance, fine or medium sands. Likewise, in gap-graded or widely graded cohesionless soil, finer grains can pass through the pore matrix of coarse soil because of seepage. This phenomenon, which is called internal instability or suffusion, can occur in granular filter in or under dams, dikes, barrages, or any other water-retaining structure. For economic reasons, unstable soils are generally used in practice if the hydraulic force or the hydrodynamic energy is smaller than the critical hydraulic force or the critical hydrodynamic energy. Therefore, an approach of combined geometric-hydraulic criterion is expected to yield better results. Based on this premise, laboratory tests of piping and internal erosion are carried out using five cohesionless soils. An analysis of the results considering the instability index shows that the critical hydraulic gradient required to initiate the piping and internal erosion depends on the curve of the grain size distribution, the initial relative density of the soil, the seepage direction, and the initial stress condition in the soil. Based on these laboratory results and the results reported by several other authors, a combined geometric-hydraulic criterion with respect to piping and internal erosion in cohesionless soils is developed and proposed.
Experimental models of complete heart block.

Methods of creating experimental complete heart block developed since 1883 are reviewed in detail. The three most commonly used techniques at present are: (I) Thoracotomy, atriotomy and ligation of the A-V bundle. (II) Thoracotomy and injection of a chemical into the A-V node or bundle. (III) Injection of a chemical through a transvenous catheter into the node or bundle. The results in different species, complications, and variations in procedure are discussed. The bibliography provides a comprehensive index of work performed in animals with experimental complete heart block. We produced complete heart block in sixteen pigs but subsequently elven died duringStokes-Adams attacks. Pigs have not been used previously as models of heart block for experimental purposes and prophylactic pacing appears mandatory in this species.
Categorical Variables in Regression

In this chapter we will, for the most part, treat regression problems in which some of the variables, both independent and dependent, are categorical. We begin, though, in Section 1 with a brief treatment of two sample tests, including a description of nonparametric tests of differences in location. This section provides a classical background for the problem treated in Section 2, the analysis of variance. Our treatment is unusual in that we view the problem as a special case of multiple regression in which a set of independent variables, each taking on a value which is either 0 or 1, is constructed, so that the composite test of significance of at least one of the regression coefficients is equivalent to a test of equality of k population means.
Quality Assurance in the Blood Bank: Studies of Technologist Performance

A series of experiments was conducted to assess the performance of technologists in the blood bank, with particular reference to precision and accuracy in the technical and mechanical aspects of routine work, including preparation of erythrocyte suspensions, pipetting, interpretation of hemagglutination, detection of mixed-field agglutination, detection of weak alloantibodies, and antibody titration and scoring. The authors conclude that use of semiquantitative technics contributes significantly to imprecision in blood bank work. A plea is made for expenditure of increased effort in quality assurance programs directed toward the technical staff.
The Bipolar Transistor

The discussion in the preceding chapter revealed two properties of the pn junction that are basic to bipolar transistor action: a) When a small forward bias voltage (0 < V F < 1V) is applied to the junction, minority carriers are injected into both sides of the junction, giving rise to a relatively large forward current. b) When a low to moderate reverse bias voltage (V R < breakdown voltage) is applied to the junction, a very small leakage current is measured through the junction.
Modes of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

The ventilator mode refers to the way the ventilator interacts with the patient. Assist control (AC) is one of the most commonly used modes of ventilation, set to either target a desired pressure or volume. Pressure support ventilation is a partially supported, or spontaneous, pressure-controlled mode of ventilation with no set respiratory rate or tidal volume. The peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) represents pressures in the entire airway system and is a measure of both the resistance and compliance. The plateau pressure (Pplat), which is measured during an inspiratory hold, is the reflection of the pressure delivered to the alveoli and the compliance of the system. When air is trapped in the alveoli at the end of exhalation, it exerts a pressure above and beyond the set PEEP. This pressure can actually be quantified on the ventilator by pressing the expiratory pause button and is known as AutoPEEP or intrinsic PEEP (iPEEP).
Mechanics of a curved electrode actuator operating in viscous dielectric media: simulation and experiment

Curved electrode electrostatic actuators have been shown to have the potential to manipulate microparticles at high speeds in viscous dielectric media. However, there are no multiphysics models that fully describe the mechanics of these actuators in viscous dielectric media. This work is the first step in the direction of describing the actuator mechanics through Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations and validate it with the experiments. Simulations are performed using the commercial software Coventor MEMS+® and the results are found to be in good agreement with experiments. Two observations are reported in this study. One, for a given media and low actuator displacements, the cutoff frequency of the actuator is independent of the actuation voltage and/or actuator displacement. Two, an actuator immersed in a high viscous media will have higher squeeze film damping and a lower cutoff frequency. Through a simple lumped-parameter model of the actuator, we report that the viscous damping effect by the substrate on the actuator submerged in methanol or water media becomes significant for actuation frequencies >100 Hz.
Electrooptical Detection of Charged Particle Beams

We have made the first observation of a charged particle beam by means of its electro-optical effect on the propagation of laser light in a birefringent crystal at the Brookhaven National Laboratory Accelerator Test Facility. Polarized infrared light was coupled to a LiNbO3 crystal through a polarization maintaining fiber of 4 micron diameter. An electron beam in 10ps bunches of 1mm diameter was scanned across the crystal. The modulation of the laser light during passage of the electron beam was observed using a photodiode with 45GHz bandwidth. The fastest rise time measured, 120ps, was made in the single shot mode and was limited by the bandwidth of the oscilloscope and the associated electronics. Both polarization dependent and polarization independent effects were observed. This technology holds promise of greatly improved spatial and temporal resolution of charged particle beams.
13 – Engineering Economics

Publisher Summary Engineering economics can be divided into macro- and microeconomics. Macroeconomics involves problems associated with notions such as trade, trade deficits, monetary policy, national productivity, growth of the economy, inflation, budget deficits, national debt, unemployment, and tariffs. Microeconomics involves problems of firms and of individuals. Engineering economics is a special branch of microeconomics largely involved with the analysis of engineering alternatives and their performance. The cost of designing, producing, or using an engineering structure or device is an extremely important engineering variable and should be quantitatively treated just as carefully as strength, rigidity, output, or efficiency. Many engineering economics problems involve the choice, based upon cost, between two or more alternative solutions. It is important to recognize that economic considerations may lead to a design or structure that is less perfect than could be achieved if costs were not considered. Frequently, a design variable that affects unit cost can be changed continuously over a range of values. The main variable of engineering economics is cost measured in units of dollars. In dimensional analysis problems in economics, the dollar is a fundamental quantity.
High-speed magnetohydrodynamic jets: Contrasting turbulence suppression mechanisms due to compressibility and magnetic field

Abstract The goal of this study is to contrast the turbulence suppression mechanisms due to compressibility and imposed (streamwise) magnetic field in high-speed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) planar jets. Rapid distortion analysis of shear flows reveals that the local (point-wise) suppression effect of compressibility is directly proportional to mean shear, where as, the suppression due to streamwise magnetic field is inversely proportional to mean shear. The corresponding suppression parameters are the gradient Mach number ( M g ) and the ratio of Alfven-to-shear frequencies ( R A ). To examine these contrasting manners of suppression due to compressibility and magnetic field, we perform direct numerical simulations of planar jets in different parameter regimes. We investigate the evolution of turbulent kinetic energy in different regions of the jet: (i) inflection region of high M g , low R A ; (ii) outer ambient-fluid region of low M g and high R A and (iii) core region of low M g and high R A . It is demonstrated that compressibility has a dominant inhibiting effect in the inflection region, where as, magnetic field effects are highest in the outer region. All the three regions of the jet are suppressed, when both the suppression mechanisms act in combination. The effect of wavevector orientation on the individual suppression mechanisms is also examined. Both compressibility and magnetic field result in a predominant suppression of streamwise wavevectors, while spanwise wavevectors are unaffected.
Accounting for the U.S. Wealth Inequality with Heterogeneous Portfolio Performance

This paper accounts for the U.S. wealth inequality; we study ex ante identical households that face uninsured idiosyncratic shocks to their labor endowments and portfolio performances. The approach is motivated by numerous data sources indicating there is a great deal of inequality in households portfolio performance due to the under-diversification in portfolio equity. Thus, assuming all households face only aggregate risk in their portfolios (which is the common approach taken in the literature) may be too rough an approximation and lead to biased results about wealth accumulation. Our model results closely account for the U.S. wealth and earnings inequality, especially the top thin tails in the Lorenz curves. Collectively, incorporating the stock return inequality changes our inference about stochastic growth models, particularly those which account for the U.S. wealth distribution.
Coexisting systemic and organ-specific autoimmunity in MOG-IgG1-associated disorders versus AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD.

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) has been demonstrated to be associated with non-organ and organ-specific autoantibodies (antinuclear antibody, extractable nuclear antibody, double-stranded DNA, muscle acetylcholine receptor antibody) and systemic autoimmune diseases. In this study, we evaluated whether a similar association with non-organ and organ-specifc autoantibodies occurs in patients with MOG-IgG1-associated disorders. We determined that MOG-IgG1 was not strongly associated with these organ and non-organ-specific autoantibodies. Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) was significantly associated with AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD and not with MOGAD (p = 0.037). These findings suggest differences in co-existing systemic and organ-specific autoimmunity between MOGAD and AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD.
An initiative to evaluate the safety of maternal bonding in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Background In the last two decades, the world faced three epidemics caused by novel coronaviruses, namely, SARS CoV in 2002, MERS CoV in 2012, and the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 that started in late 2019. Despite a growing understanding of SARS-CoV-2 virology, epidemiology, and clinical management strategies, other aspects, such as mode of delivery, vertical transmission, and maternal bonding, remain controversial. The question we faced upon the decision to separate the neonates of SARS-CoV-2 positive mother is whether we follow the principle of "do no harm"? Methods This is a quality improvement project that analyzed all cases of SARS-CoV-2 positive pregnancies that delivered at a major health care system from 3 January 2020 to 6 January 2020. The article was prepared following Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE) 2.0 guidelines. Data were prospectively collected and entered into the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap). Maternal bonding was defined by events such as rooming-in, skin to skin contact (STSC), and breastfeeding. Descriptive analysis was performed using the same software platform. Intervention We compared neonatal transmission rates between those neonates who experienced bonding versus those who were separated. Results A total of 1989 women were screened for SARS-CoV-2, from which 86 tested positive. Out of 31 analyzed pregnancies, five women (16%) were admitted to ICU and required mechanical ventilation. From the remaining 26 (84%), 17 (65%) opted for rooming-in, 12 (46%) for STSC, and 16 (61%) fed the infants with breastmilk (11 direct breastfeedings and five pumped the breast milk). All neonatal tests for SARS-CoV-2 returned negative. Conclusion Our results have illustrated that maternal bonding appears safe in neonates born to mothers that are SARS-CoV-2 positive.
In Essentials, Unity: An Economic History of the Grange Movement

Review of: In Essentials, Unity: An Economic History of the Grange Movement, by Jenny Bourne.
Communication practices about HPV testing among providers in Federally Qualified Health Centers

article i nfo Available online 23 May 2015 Objective. Little is known about the information providers share with patients when ordering a co-test, or combined human papillomavirus (HPV) and Papanicolaou (Pap) test, for cervical cancer screening. We assessed provider perceptions of such communication practices with female patients aged 30-60 years. Methods. We analyzed data from 98 providers in 15 Federally Qualified Health Center clinics across Illinois (2009-2010). Results. About 70% of the providers reported that when ordering a co-test, they would usually or always com- municate information about the HPV test to their patients, explain the test detects a sexually transmitted infec- tion, and discuss how the test results may determine their next screening interval. Most (N85%) reported that they were comfortable discussing co-test results. Compared with concordant positive results (HPV positive/ Pap positive), providers were more likely to perceive that discordant results (HPV positive/Pap negative) would be too complex for patients to understand (25% vs. 15%, p = 0.006), and make patients feel less assured that they were getting the best standard of care (67% vs. 88%, p b 0.001). Conclusion. As HPV testing plays a more prominent role in cervical cancer screening, more attention should be given to communications between providers and patients about the benefits and harms of different screening options.
Optical properties of Cs Cu 2 X 3 ( X = Cl , Br , and I ) : A comparative study between hybrid time-dependent density-functional theory and the Bethe-Salpeter equation

CsCu${}_{2}$X${}_{3}$ (X= Cl, Br, I) are quasi-one-dimensional, all-inorganic perovskites which are promising for optoelectronic applications. In this work, optical absorption spectra of CsCu${}_{2}$X${}_{3}$, with particular emphasis on excitonic features, are calculated via the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) and time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT), in combination with the $G\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}W$ method. It is found that hybrid TDDFT, with a material-dependent admixture of nonlocal exchange determined by the dielectric constant, produces optical spectra in excellent agreement with the BSE. This suggests that hybrid functionals are very well suited for calculating the optical properties of perovskites and other materials, at a fractional cost of standard $G\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}W$+BSE.