cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MACROINVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY COMPOSITION IN RELATION TO ANTHROPOGENIC DISTURBANCE, VEGETATION, AND ORGANIC SEDIMENT DEPTH IN FOUR LAKE MICHIGAN DROWNED RIVER-MOUTH WETLANDS

Lake Michigan drowned river-mouth wetlands have a unique geomorphology and hydrology. Macroinvertebrate communities in these systems respond to multiple biotic and abiotic factors that are not well understood. In June and August 2003, we sampled macroinvertebrate communities at 22 sites in four Lake Michigan drowned river-mouth wetlands. Sites were distributed along gradients of anthropogenic disturbance, vegetation, and sediment types. The relative influences of anthropogenic disturbance, vegetation, and sediment type on macroinvertebrate community composition were determined using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and multi-response permutation procedures (MRPP). The depth of organic deposits best explained the gradients revealed with NMDS and MRPP for both sampling dates. The MRPP did not detect differences in community composition among vegetation types and wetlands with different levels of anthropogenic disturbance. These results suggest that 1) macroinvertebrate community structure in Great Lakes drowned river-mouth habitats is influenced substantially by sediment characteristics, and 2) anthropogenic practices that affect the deposition of organic sediment in coastal wetlands (e.g., eutrophication and hydrologic manipulation) will likely affect macroinvertebrate community structure.
Chemical and freeze–thaw resistance of fly ash-based inorganic mortars

Abstract Inorganic cements have many advantages over Portland cement including energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, rapid strength gain, and improved temperature resistance. Alkali activated cements made from waste materials such as fly ash, are particularly advantageous because of their environmental sustainability and low cost. However, their long term durability is yet to be confirmed. In this study, the chemical and freeze/thaw resistance of fly ash based inorganic mortars was investigated. Specimens of various compositions were tested to determine their chemical and freeze–thaw resistance. Chemical resistance of samples was evaluated by immersion in 5% sodium sulfate solutions, 3% sulfuric acid solutions, and 0.05% sulfuric acid solutions, respectively, for up to 24 weeks. The changes in mass, dynamic modulus, strength of the specimens, and the pH values of the solutions were monitored at regular time intervals. Test results are presented and discussed in conjunction with the companion results of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortars.
Modeling, Fabrication, and Reliability of Through Vias in Polycrystalline Silicon Panels

Silicon interposers with through-silicon vias (TSVs) have been developed in single-crystalline silicon wafer to address the high I/O density requirements between high performance logic, memory, graphic, and other devices. However, single-crystalline silicon interposers suffer from many shortcomings such as high cost, low electrical performance, and reliability. To overcome these shortcomings of traditional silicon interposers, an entirely different approach using polycrystalline silicon panels with polymer liners and through-package-vias (TPVs) is proposed by Georgia Tech Packaging Research Center. This paper, for the first time, focuses on the reliability of TPVs in polycrystalline silicon interposers fabricated from panels. Mechanical simulations were carried out that show lower stresses in TPVs in polycrystalline silicon lined with thick polymer liners, compared with TSVs in traditional single-crystalline silicon with thin SiO2 layers. TPVs were fabricated for thermal cycling tests, resistance monitoring, and scanning electron microscope imaging. The reliability characterization results showed good mechanical reliability of TPVs in polycrystalline silicon panels.
School achievement and absence in children with chronic health conditions

Families of 270 children with chronic health conditions observed in 11 subspecialty clinics at a tertiary care center were surveyed to assess the relation of demographic and health variables to school achievement and absenteeism. National achievement test scores and school days absent were compared with North Carolina state results. The mean days absent for children with chronic health conditions was 16 days, compared with the state average of less than 7 days, during the 1981-1982 academic year. The mean national achievement score for the chronically ill children was at the 51st percentile, compared with the 63rd percentile for the state's sixth graders. Log of school days absent was correlated with the number of clinic visits, physician rating of activity limitations, sex, and specific health conditions (R2 = 0.17, P = 0.001). National achievement scores were mainly related to socioeconomic factors and specific health conditions (R2 = 0.44, P = 0.001), but were unrelated to school absence. Children with spina bifida, sickle cell disease, or epilepsy, and children with the added burden of low socioeconomic status, were at particular risk for poor school achievement.
A Note on Approximate Minimum Volume Enclosing Ellipsoid of Ellipsoids

We study the problem of computing the minimum volume enclosing ellipsoid (MVEE) containing a given set of ellipsoids S = {E1, E2, hellip, En} sube Ropfd. We show how to efficiently compute a small set X sube S of size at most a = |X| = O(d2/epsi ) whose minimum volume ellipsoid is an (1 + epsi)-approximation to the minimum volume ellipsoid of S. We use an augmented real num ber model of computation to achieve a running time of O(alpha(ndomega + d3)) where omega < 2.376 is the exponent of square matrix multiplication. This is the best known complexity for solving the MVEE problem when n Gt d and e is large. The algorithm is built on the previous work by Kumar and Yrfdirim [17].
Investigating Mobility, Technology, And Space In Homes, Starting With “Great Rooms”

Certain American-style homes include large multifunctional spaces, often with vaulted or otherwise high ceilings, that incorporate living, dining, and kitchen areas. As an American cultural phenomenon, these “great rooms” symbolize and instantiate a particular vision of the good life or ideal home, including for example concepts such as openness and togetherness, or in less favorable interpretations, wastefulness and lack of privacy. As such, we see great rooms as complex and contradictory symptoms of unresolved tensions in the politics of everyday life. We describe our approach of starting with a provocative and problematic topic within a larger domain of interest and examining it from a number of perspectives. We argue that sites that are contentious are particularly interesting candidates for technological innovation, in which technology is not limited to assimilating to well-established and understood processes, but rather can participate in an ongoing process, responding to and challenging concerns.
Cobalt in periprosthetic soft tissue: Observations in 6 revision cases

Cobalt (Co) was analyzed in sera obtained before surgery and in biopsies of periarticular soft tissue from 7 control patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty and from 6 Co-exposed patients who developed aseptic loosening of the femoral component after hip arthroplasty (CoCrMo alloy, > 59 per-cent Co, metal-on-plastic type). Serum-Co concentrations were not elevated in the Co-exposed patients compared with control patients or healthy adults. in 5 of the 6 Co-exposed patients, Co concentrations were greatly increased in periprosthetic tissue sections 0-1 mm from the synovial surface (median 2.4 [2.1-27] μg Co/g) compared with corresponding sections from the control patients (median 0.4 [0.1-0.6] p.g Co/g). Co concentrations diminished in tissue sections at successive distances of 2-3 and 4-5 mm from the synovial surfaces. in the Co-exposed patients, Co concentrations in sera and periprosthetic soft tissues were not correlated, indicating that serum Co concentration is not a reliable index of the C...
Evaluating disease management programme effectiveness: an introduction to instrumental variables

This paper introduces the concept of instrumental variables (IVs) as a means of providing an unbiased estimate of treatment effects in evaluating disease management (DM) programme effectiveness. Model development is described using zip codes as the IV. Three diabetes DM outcomes were evaluated: annual diabetes costs, emergency department (ED) visits and hospital days. Both ordinary least squares (OLS) and IV estimates showed a significant treatment effect for diabetes costs (P = 0.011) but neither model produced a significant treatment effect for ED visits. However, the IV estimate showed a significant treatment effect for hospital days (P = 0.006) whereas the OLS model did not. These results illustrate the utility of IV estimation when the OLS model is sensitive to the confounding effect of hidden bias.
A Photon Collider Testbed at the SLC

The idea of producing a high-energy photon-photon collider1, based on Compton backscattering of laser photons from an electron beam, was proposed in the early 1980's. In this idea, a linear e+ e- collider must be upgraded with high power lasers and an interaction region including optics to focus the laser pulses onto the electron beam. Recently, a strawman design for such an interaction region has been produced. Given the existence of the mothballed Stanford Linear Collider it becomes reasonable to propose a photon collider test bed, which would allow that design to be tested in actual operational conditions.
Sociospatial Dynamics of White-Tailed Deer in the Central Adirondack Mountains, New York

We compared the sociospatial behavior among and within kin groups of white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) inhabiting a contiguous forest environment of the central Adirondack Mountains, New York. This population had not been hunted since 1932 and contained females >10 years old. We estimate that 60–75% of all females were individually marked. Although actual genetic relatedness among females was uncertain, previous research on this population included genetic analyses of kin groups and our data showed long-term fidelity of individuals to kin groups. We hypothesize that although sociospatial behavior at the group level is relatively rigid, the sociospatial patterns of individuals within groups are more flexible. Specifically, we predict that sociospatial patterns within groups vary with age and reproductive status. Data from radiotelemetry and visual observations were used to delineate kin groups. Kin groups were classified using two techniques; distance between activity centers based on harmonic means on summer range, and grouping individual deer based on location on summer and winter range. Females in our study population exhibited a high level of philopatry to summer ranges inhabited by their kin group ( 5 years old maintained home ranges in spring and summer that were more exclusive than those of younger females. Pregnant females used smaller areas during spring than barren females.
A Minicomputer System for the Synthesis of Animal Vocalizations

A software system is described for the synthesis and modification of animal vocalizations using the PDP 11/10 laboratory minicomputer. The modification of part of a natural song is described. Zusammenfassung Ein Satz von Computerprogrammen zur Veranderung naturlicher Lautauserungen wird beschrieben. Diese Programme laufen auf einem Kleincomputer und ersetzen teilweise die Funktionen eines Spektrographen, den sie an Prazision ubertreffen. Lautauserungen konnen in einer Vielzahl akustischer Parameter verandert werden, wahrend andere Kenngrosen des Komplex-signals unbeeinflust bleiben. Diese Moglichkeiten konnen genutzt werden bei der Untersuchung der akustischen Faktoren, die fur das Erlernen des Gesanges bei Vogeln wichtig sind.
Proteases and Signaling

This teaching resource provides lecture notes and slides for a class covering proteases and signaling and is part of the course "Cell signaling systems: a course for graduate students." The lecture begins with a discussion of protease-activated receptors and the ubiquitin-proteasome system and then proceeds to describe some of the ways that proteolysis can function in signal transduction.
Intergenerational Support to Aging Parents The Role of Norms and Needs

This investigation examines how norms of filial responsibility influence adult children to provide social support to their aging parents. Relying on intergenerational solidarity and social capital theories, the authors hypothesize that filial responsibility as a latent resource is more strongly converted into support when (a) the parent experiences increased need and (b) the child in question is a daughter. Using data from 488 adult children in the Longitudinal Study of Generations, the authors examine change in support provided between 1997 and 2000. Declining health of either parent increases the strength with which filial norms predisposed children to provide support. The conversion of filial norms into support is stronger among daughters than among sons but only toward mothers. Results are discussed in terms of the contingent linkage between latent and manifest functions and the persistence of gender role differentiation in the modern family.
The expression of the suicide-associated gene SKA2 is decreased in the prefrontal cortex of suicide victims but not of nonsuicidal patients

Background: Recent study of genome-wide DNA methylation profiling in the postmortem brain of suicidal and non-suicidal subjects found that gene expression of spindle and kinetochore associated complex subunit 2 (SKA2) is decreased in the postmortem brain of suicide victims compared with non-suicidal, non-psychiatric control subjects. Methods: In order to determine if decreased SKA2 is specific to suicide and independent of diagnosis, we determined gene and protein expression of SKA2 in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) obtained from suicide victims (n= 52), non-suicidal psychiatric subjects (n= 27), and normal controls (n= 24). We determined gene expression by qPCR technique and protein expression by Western blot. The postmortem brain samples were obtained from the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. Results: We found that protein and gene expression of SKA2 were significantly reduced in the PFC of suicide victims compared with normal control subjects and non-suicidal patients. We also found that SKA2 protein and gene expression in depressed suicide victims, schizophrenic suicide victims and suicide victims with substance abuse and/or conduct disorders were significantly decreased compared with normal control subjects and also with non-suicidal depressed or schizophrenic subjects. Conclusions: This study shows that decreased gene and protein expression of SKA2 observed in the PFC of suicide victims is specific to suicide, as not observed in the brain of non-suicidal patients. It also indicates reduced SKA2 expression in suicide is independent of psychiatric diagnosis since it is observed in all diagnostic groups studied. Therefore, SKA2 may be a potential biomarker for suicide.
Development, Implementation, and Outcomes of an Equitable Computer Science After-School Program: Findings From Middle-School Students

AbstractCurrent policy efforts that seek to improve learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) emphasize the importance of helping all students acquire concepts and tools from computer science that help them analyze and develop solutions to everyday problems. These goals have been generally described in the literature under the term computational thinking. In this article, we report on the design, implementation, and outcomes of an after-school program on computational thinking. The program was founded through a partnership between university faculty, undergraduates, teachers, and students. Specifically, we examine how equitable pedagogical practices can be applied in the design of computing programs and the ways in which participation in such programs influence middle school students' learning of computer science concepts, computational practices, and attitudes toward computing. Participants included 52 middle school students who voluntarily attended the 9-week after-school prog...
The effect of neonatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol, coumestrol, and beta-sitosterol on pituitary responsiveness and sexually dimorphic nucleus volume in the castrated adult rat.

The neonatal hormone environment influences the sexually differentiated patterns of development. Estrogens, derived from intracerebral aromatization, promote male pattern development of the central nervous system. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of neonatal exposure to environmental estrogens on luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and development of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the medial preoptic area (SDN-POA) in castrated adult rats. Neonatal rats of both sexes received injections of either corn oil, 0.1 microgram diethylstilbestrol (DES), 3 micrograms beta-sitosterol (B1), 30 micrograms beta-sitosterol (B2), 0.1 microgram coumestrol (C1), 1 microgram coumestrol (C2), or 10 micrograms coumestrol (C3) on Day 1-10 of life and were castrated on Day 21. Right heart catheters were placed on Day 42, and GnRH (50 ng/kg) was administered. Blood was sampled for LH at 0-, 5-, 10-, 15-, and 30-min intervals. All doses of beta-sitosterol and coumestrol elicited increased basal levels of LH in females. In males, B1, B2, C2, and C3 increased basal levels of LH. The GnRH-induced LH increase was prevented in females treated with diethylstilbestrol and 10 micrograms of coumestrol. Males in all treatment groups exhibited GnRH-induced LH surges. The animals were sacrificed by decapitation on Day 49. Volumes of the SDN-POA of the groups were compared. Treatment with the agents did not result in significantly increased SDN volume in females; nor was there a difference in SDN size among the male groups. These data show that exposure to environmental estrogens early in development alters both postpubertal pituitary response to GnRH and basal LH secretion in females and alters only basal LH secretion in males. No significant enlargement (i.e., masculinization) of the SDN-POA was exhibited.
A Contribution to the General Principles of the Pharmacodynamics of Salts and Drugs

The cause of the pharmacological action of salts upon protoplasm has been the subject of numerous investigations, but until the development of the ionic theory these investigations had led to no further result than to show that in groups of similar metals the heavier were frequently the more poisonous. The application of the ionic theory first brought some order into this part of pharmacology. The work of the American investigators Kahlenberg and True2 and Heald, confirmed as it has been by Kronig and Paul, Hober, True, and many others, has shown in the clearest manner that there is a close parallelism between toxicity and the state of ionization of many of the metals, so that these authors conclude that the pharmacological action of any salt solution is a function, in large measure at least, of the ions into which the salt dissociates.
Effect of Ethanol Upon Respiratory-Related Hypoglossal Nerve Output of Neonatal Rat Brain Stem Slices

The actions of ethanol (EtOH) on the respiratory output of the neonatal rat brain stem slice preparation in vitro are described. Ethanol inhibited respiratory-related hypoglossal nerve activity in ...
High-throughput screening in the C. elegans nervous system

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is widely used as a model organism in the field of neurobiology. The wiring of the C. elegans nervous system has been entirely mapped, and the animal's optical transparency allows for in vivo observation of neuronal activity. The nematode is also small in size, self-fertilizing, and inexpensive to cultivate and maintain, greatly lending to its utility as a whole-animal model for high-throughput screening (HTS) in the nervous system. However, the use of this organism in large-scale screens presents unique technical challenges, including reversible immobilization of the animal, parallel single-animal culture and containment, automation of laser surgery, and high-throughput image acquisition and phenotyping. These obstacles require significant modification of existing techniques and the creation of new C. elegans-based HTS platforms. In this review, we outline these challenges in detail and survey the novel technologies and methods that have been developed to address them.
An uncommon cause of oral ulcers.

A 25-year-old Hispanic woman presented with painful oral ulcers, a sore throat, and dysphagia of two weeks' duration. She was treated empirically with acyclovir for presumed herpes simplex stomatit...
Elementary Excitations in Solids

We present the formal procedure to quantize fields—the many-body problem—starting from the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of fields and performing the procedure of canonical quantization of systems with an infinite number of degrees of freedom. We apply this procedure to the significant examples of electrons (the Schrodinger field), plasmons, and phonons, emphasizing the analogy with systems of infinitely many quantum harmonic oscillators and also the difference between particles with integer spin and those with half-integer spin. The field associated with the former has to obey canonical commutation rules, leading to the symmetrized wavefunctions and to the Bose–Einstein statistics; on the contrary, the field associated with articles with half-integer spin must satisfy canonical anti-commutation rules, leading to antisymmetrized states and to Pauli’s exclusion principle. We also introduce the concept of Fock space. We also discuss briefly the quantization of the electromagnetic field (photons).
Stable glass-ceramic composites a compliant seals for SOFCs

I order to develop compliant seal systems for SOFCs operating in the temperature range of 800-950°C, this project has focused on iterations in materials systems. The materials consisting of composites of a base glass with appropriate ceramic components in order to identify a stable sealing system with adequate and acceptable thermal characteristics, such as, the viscosity and coefficient of thermal expansion. Appropriate viscosity was targeted to ensure good flow behavior of the glass at temperatures where fuel cells operate and sealing effects are required. Viscosity variation in the composites was brought about by the selection of ceramic additives; a large number of candidates ranging from phase pure alumina, magnesia, ceria and barium zirconate, to ceria doped with 10 mole % gadolinium oxide (GDC). SCN1 glass (trade name of sealing glass developed by SEM-COM) was used as the base component, whose composition was such as to provide a CTE match with the SOFC system (in the RT-Tg range), when composited with a second ceramic phase. Additives in both nanoand micro-scale dimensions (as fine powders or in the form of fibers) were introduced mainly to block the bubbles from moving but also to make the composite structure stronger. In addition, their role was also to inhibit the growth of air bubbles within the glass matrix and to or prevent their coalescence during long soak-time at 850°C, with the goal of eliminating or minimizing the CTE drift in the resultant glass composition. No reaction between SCN1 glass and the GDC additives was discerned. Moreover, the bubbles remained small and did not move or coalesce. The CTE of the GDC composites was very close to the targeted value and not change significantly when aged up to 232 h at 850°C in air.
A methodology for design and documentation of persistent object bases of information systems

An object model and a methodology for designing a persistent object base with it are presented. The modeling constructs of the object model are object classes, class relationships, functions that relate objects (instances of classes), operations on classes and objects, and the dependency of operations. The methodology is iterative and assumes the existence of a set of predefined object classes. An information system is designed as having two object classes: user interface and persistent object base. Before the design process starts, all the operations on the user interface objects must have been defined. The goal of the design is to iteratively refine the persistent object base into a set of object classes so that it can support the operations defined in the user interface and be implemented using the predefined classes. >
Nasal Unit Transplantation: A Cadaveric Anatomical Feasibility Study.

Background The science and technical acumen in the field of vascularized composite allotransplantation has progressed rapidly over the past 15 years, and transplantation of specialized units of the face, such as the nose, appears possible. No study to date has evaluated the technical feasibility of isolated nasal unit transplantation (NUT). In this study, we explore the anatomy and technical specifics of NUT. Methods In this study, four fresh cadaver heads were studied. Bilateral vascular pedicle dissections were performed in each cadaver. The facial artery was cannulated and injected with food dye under physiologic pressure in two cadavers, and with lead oxide mixture in two cadavers to evaluate perfusion territories supplied by each vascular pedicle. Results The facial artery and vein were found to be adequate pedicles for NUT. Divergent courses of the vein and artery were consistently identified, which made for a bulky pedicle with necessary inclusion of large amounts of subcutaneous tissue. In all cases, the artery remained superficial, while the vein coursed in a deeper plane, and demonstrated consistent anastomoses with the superior transverse orbital arcade. While zinc oxide injection of the facial artery demonstrated filling of the nasal vasculature across the midline, dye perfusion studies suggested that unilateral arterial inflow may be insufficient to perfuse contralateral NUT components. Discrepancies in these two studies underscore the limitations of nondynamic assessment of nutritive perfusion. Conclusion NUT based on the facial artery and facial vein is technically feasible. Angiosome evaluation suggests that bilateral pedicle anastomoses may be required to ensure optimal perfusion.
Abstract 4895: A one-tube assay for simultaneous detection of gene mutation, fusion, copy number alteration and expression

There are growing demands for tumor genotyping in the clinic, with an ever-growing number of mutation/fusion targets and expression profiles needed for tumor diagnostics. We sought to develop a comprehensive yet efficient tumor genetic approach using next-generation sequencing (NGS) that would target the genomic DNA and mRNA components of a sample simultaneously, to decrease costs and labor in the lab, and take advantage of small/limited quantity tumor specimens. We describe here a novel method termed one-tube anchored multiplex PCR (OneAMP) for combined DNA-and-RNA targeted sequencing, allowing simultaneous detection of gene expression, rearrangements, single nucleotide variations (SNVs), insertion and deletions (Indels) and copy number variation (CNV). In this approach, total nucleic acid is used as input for the assay, starting with cDNA synthesis, shearing, adenylation, and ligation with a half-functional molecule-indexed Y adaptor. The molecular index is a random oligomer and serves as a tag for tracing and counting sample templates from ligation through sequencing. Target enrichment is then achieved by two rounds of hemi-nested PCR using gene specific primers and adaptor primers. Gene specific primers for priming genomic DNA (intronic primer extension to exons for SNVs, Indels and CNV) and for priming cDNA (exonic primer extension for gene fusion and expression) have been optimized so they can be combined in one tube for PCR. A distinctive feature of OneAMP is that mRNA expression is normalized to genomic DNA copy number for the same gene, eliminating the need for normalization to housekeeping genes, which can eliminate significant bias across tissue types and individuals. We developed a 210 gene OneAMP cancer panel that consists of important cancer genes that are mutated, fused, or with altered expression or copy number. We validated CNV calls with aCGH/FISH of the same samples and validated mRNA expression by comparing to array and qPCR. Finally SNVs, Indels, and fusions were validated with a large panel of samples with known mutation status. We demonstrate the potential of OneAMP for the comprehensive detection of genetic abnormalities, preserving precious tumor samples, and reducing reagent usage and time. Citation Format: Zongli Zheng, Ranjit Shetty, Matthew Liebers, Jessica L. Cambry, Lindsay A. Bernardo, Darrell Borger, Long P. Le, John A. Iafrate. A one-tube assay for simultaneous detection of gene mutation, fusion, copy number alteration and expression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4895. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4895
Outcomes of pediatric cancer patients enrolled in phase 1 clinical trials designed for adults: Experience from a major cancer center.

e21024 Background: Phase I trials play a key role in the early evaluation of novel targeted therapies for patients with advanced cancer. Pharmaceutical industry sponsored trials exclude patients le...
Beyond Babel: Translations of Blackness in Colonial Peru and New Granada

In seventeenth-century Spanish America, black linguistic interpreters and spiritual intermediaries played key roles in the production of writings about black men and women. Focusing on the African diaspora in Peru and the southern continental Caribbean, Larissa Brewer-Garcia uncovers long-ignored or lost archival materials describing the experiences of black Christians in the transatlantic slave trade and the colonial societies where they arrived. Brewer-Garcia's analysis of these materials shows that black intermediaries bridged divisions among the populations implicated in the slave trade, exerting influence over colonial Spanish American writings and emerging racial hierarchies in the Atlantic world. The translated portrayals of blackness composed by these intermediaries stood in stark contrast to the pejorative stereotypes common in literary and legal texts of the period. Brewer-Garcia reconstructs the context of those translations and traces the contours and consequences of their notions of blackness, which were characterized by physical beauty and spiritual virtue.
Comparison between Wiener chaos methods and stochastic collocation methods

In the last two chapters, we incorporated the recursive strategy into both Wiener chaos expansion (WCE) methods and stochastic collocation methods (SCM). In this chapter, we will compare both methods for linear stochastic advection-reaction-diffusion equations with commutative and noncommutative noises. To make a fair comparison, we develop a recursive multistage SCM using a spectral truncation of Brownian motion as in the case of WCE.
WiFO: A Hybrid WiFi Free-Space Optical Communication Networks of Femtocells

The recent growth of markets for smart homes and the Internet of Things (IoT) create a significant demand in wireless access capacity. Consequently, much of current research has focused on efficient utilization of RF (Radio Frequency) spectrum. In this paper, an orthogonal approach using Free Space Optic (FSO) technology is proposed to increase capacities of indoor wireless networks. Specifically, we describe WiFO, a novel wireless indoor communication system based on the femtocell architecture that integrates both RF and FSO technologies. WiFO aims to increase the wireless capacities while retaining the mobility offered by the existing WiFi networks. Our preliminary prototype shows promising results to significantly boost up the capacity of the existing WiFi networks.
Developing the next generation of engaged youth: Inspire Aspire – Global Citizens in the Making

School-based character education (CE) programs provide an opportunity to increase the moral fortitude of adolescents. This study is a preliminary evaluation of Inspire Aspire, a CE program that was...
A splitting-based finite element method for the Biot poroelasticity system

Abstract In this work, we propose a finite element method for solving the linear poroelasticity equations. Both displacement and pressure are approximated by continuous piecewise polynomials. The proposed method is sequential, leading to decoupled smaller linear systems compared to the systems resulting from a fully implicit finite element approach. A priori error estimates are derived. Numerical results validate the theoretical convergence rates.
Comparison of Control Volume Analysis and Porous Media Averaging for Formulation of Porous Media Transport

Although the porous media averaging is frequently used it creates many difficulties in handling of the closure problems. The control volume analysis on the other hand can avoid such difficulties in a practical manner. Thus, the outstanding and complementary features of these two approaches used in the macroscopic formulation of transport through porous media are critically reviewed, compared, and evaluated. Several instructive examples are presented demonstrating their applications with various improvements.
Dry cask radiation shielding validation and estimation of cask surface dose rate with MAVRIC during long-term storage

Abstract The dry storage cask became a semi-permanent solution for spent nuclear fuel since no permanent solution has been finalized over the past three decades. Considering the difficulty of deep geological repository projects in many aspects, prolonging the service life of dry casks longer than a few decades has become an option for spent nuclear fuel storage. It must be ensured that dry cask safety objectives, including radiation shielding, criticality safety, structure health, decay heat removal, and containment be fulfilled during the prolonged service life. This paper presents numerical modeling results of the radiation dose rate distribution on a TN-32 cask surface aged up to 300 years. The numerical modeling method was validated with measurement data, and the difference between the calculated results and measurement data in the total dose rate is 7%. The detailed radiation distribution variations over cask surfaces along the axial and radial directions for 300 years of storage were obtained, and their azimuthal angular dependence was established. The maximum total dose rate over the cask surfaces is less than 10 mrem/hour (9.258 ± 0.212 mrem/hour) after 40 years, and this outcome fulfills all dose rate requirements from 10 CFR 71.47(b). After 300 years of storage, the average total dose rates on the side surface and top surface are 0.150 ± 0.007mremmrem/hour and 0.057 ± 0.003mremmrem/hour, respectively, while the maxima are 0.601 ± 0.014 mrem/hour and 0.112 ± 0.006 mrem/hour, respectively. The variations in the fuel gamma ray, structure gamma ray, neutron and secondary gamma-ray contributions to the total dose rate are presented and analyzed in this work. The neutron and gamma-ray dose rate contributions by energy group are presented and analyzed at the cask top, mid-plane, and bottom at the selected storage times.
Finding new sources of water for semi-arid cities in unlikely places.

Determining alternative water sources to meet municipal water demands is important when availability is limited. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a means for water planners to estimate the amount of combined sanitary wastewater and storm water that they might already be capturing through open air oxidation ponds. Increased understanding of the quantity of water that is already available could help water planners to better envision optimal water reuse scenarios. Using water and climate data on oxidation ponds in these three cities within the Texas Panhandle from 2010 to 2014, we evaluated water quantities which would be available for potential reuse. From the net monthly wastewater volumes values, the study also considered if per capita demand could have been met by reusing the wastewater. The study found wastewater volumes were lower in fall and winter months and much higher in spring and summer months. If a city considers reusing wastewater, blue water (groundwater) extraction could be reduced by as low as 45–50% in one city to as high as 100% in another. Water planners in similar environments and wastewater treatment systems may find this demonstration of potential reuse water quantity encouraging for better meeting their own water demands and enhancing water supply resiliency.
Toward Multi-Precision, Multi-Format Numerics

Recent research has provided new, domain-specific number systems that accelerate modern workloads. Using these number systems effectively requires analyzing subtle multiprecision, multi-format (MPMF) code. Ideally, recent programming tools that automate numerical analysis tasks could help make MPMF programs both accurate and fast. However, three key challenges must be addressed: existing automated tools are difficult to compose due to subtle incompatibilities; there is no “gold standard” for correct MPMF execution; and no methodology exists for generalizing existing, IEEE-754-specialized tools to support MPMF. In this paper we report on recent work towards mitigating these related challenges. First, we extend the FPBench standard to support multi-precision, multi-format (MPMF) applications. Second, we present Titanic, a tool which provides reference results for arbitrary MPMF computations. Third, we describe our experience adapting an existing numerical tool to support MPMF programs.
Cangrelor and Heparin for Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy in Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

Perioperative anticoagulation management for patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia requiring cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest presents a clinical challenge. Alternative anticoagulants have been used but can cause significant postoperative bleeding. We report the successful use of cangrelor and heparin in a 30-year-old patient with severe heparin-induced thrombocytopenia undergoing urgent pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.
Probing the mechanisms of infrared neural stimulation with stimulated Raman scattering microscopy (Conference Presentation)

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) offers a drastic speed advantage over conventional vibrational spectroscopic imaging techniques – making it ideal for studying fast biochemical dynamics. We developed an experimental paradigm that applies spectral stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) imaging to study the mechanisms of infrared (IR) photostimulation of neuronal cells. Infrared neural stimulation (INS) is a label-free optical neuromodulation technique with high spatial and temporal precision. Using SRS, changes in lipid and water vibrational signatures in live cells during INS were observed, suggesting that lipid membrane deformation accompanies IR exposure. The speeds afforded by SRS enables unprecedented observation of fast cellular biophysical dynamics.
Entrega del bastón de mando: simbología indígena y política en dos ceremonias

El baston de mando es un elemento importante en varias culturas indigenas de Mexico como la de los chichimecas-otomies representados por los danzantes Concheros del estado de Queretaro. En este trabajo analizo el performance hecho politicamente (Linchentfel y Rouse) en la entrega de este elemento simbolico a dos figuras politicas (presidente municipal y gobernador) dentro del marco de dos ceremonias conmemorativas, una de caracter politico y otra cultural y espiritual. Asimismo, indago como por una parte la identidad indigena se opone al estado (Friedman) pero es tambien un aliado que puede proteger derechos civiles y tal vez proporcionar nuevas oportunidades (Haley).
Corporate Mens Rea: A Legal Construct in Search of a Rationale

The imposition of liability, whether civil or criminal, on corporations evokes heated debate and continuing controversy. One of the more theoretically perplexing and practically challenging areas of corporate liability are the provisions in the law that require a corporation to possess a state of mind, such as intent, before it is made liable. The apparent incongruity of requiring a corporation to have a state of mind, when it has no mind per se, should encourage us to ask why we have laws that require corporations to possess mens rea -- why not simply make corporations liable on a strict liability or negligence standard. There appears to be no deterrence-based answer to this question to date. This Article undertakes to fill this gap. The Article compares the various corporate mens rea standards against strict liability and negligence to ascertain when, if ever, corporate mens rea is socially preferable to its alternatives. The analysis suggests that corporate mens rea is indeed problematic and that, unlike mens rea requirements for individuals, corporate mens rea rarely proves to be preferable to its alternatives. Furthermore, even in those rare instances where corporate mens rea is the preferred alternative it is better to make corporate mens rea a matter only relevant to increasing the sanction, not a matter determinative of a corporation's liability. Consequently, it is socially desirable to replace corporate mens rea standards with strict liability or negligence that allows for mens rea to be made a matter influencing the magnitude of the sanction when appropriate. Current developments in the law seem to be moving in this direction and the analysis in this paper adds further support for them.
The comparative endurance and efficiency of religion: a public choice perspective

All of the major religious confessions existing today have outlasted every single secular ruling regime known in human history. That observation poses an interesting puzzle for social scientists interested in institutional durability. If religions can be seen as governance institutions that organize and coordinate people’s lives, why have they outlasted secular states? Despite claims regarding the inevitability of secularization, religious institutions refuse to fade from the social landscape and in many places are thriving and expanding. I argue that the durability of religious institutions relative to secular governing regimes is related to the unique ability of religions to avoid the public choice “paradox of government” as laid out by James Buchanan. More precisely, religious institutions are more resilient because they effectively provide vital public goods, involve “citizens” in the process of governance at the local level, and provide a credible neutral arbitrator for violations of the governing covenant. A further argument is made for the efficiency of religious institutions relative to states based on the smaller deadweight losses associated with participatory governance. Finally, state-sponsored confessions expose themselves to the paradox of government and become less effective in pursuing their missions.
Reimagining innovation for “social” entrepreneurship: Nonhuman spaces for the SDGs

Reimagining innovation explores contemporary issues of animal geographies within terrestrial and aquatic landscapes in relation to entrepreneurial ecosystems. Wolves are used to narrate global chal...
Multiphase field modeling of grain boundary migration mediated by emergent disconnections

Abstract Knowledge about grain boundary migration is a prerequisite for understanding and ultimately modulating the properties of polycrystalline materials. Evidence from experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations suggests that the formation and motion of disconnections is a mechanism for grain boundary migration. Here, grain boundary migration is modeled using a multiphase field model based on the principle of minimum dissipation potential with nonconvex boundary energy, along with a stochastic model for thermal nucleation of disconnection pairs. In this model, disconnections arise spontaneously in the presence of an elastic driving force, and that their motion mediates boundary migration. The effect is due to the fact that the formation of the disconnections pairs results in a stress concentration, causing the elastic driving force to exceed the threshold value and driving the propagation of the disconnection along the interface. The model is applied to study the propagation/annihilation of single disconnection pairs, the relaxation of a perturbed interface, and shear coupling at various temperatures. The results are consistent with the current understanding of disconnections, and capture the effect of thermal softening.
Design of a Coplanar-Waveguide-Based Microwave-to-Spin-Wave Transducer

Spin waves are an emerging alternative to electrical signals for high-speed computing. One approach to realizing spin-wave computing devices is to make use of the diffraction and interference of spin waves in a magnetic thin film. This new class of device requires spin wave transducers that operate across a relatively wide bandwidth. Coplanar-waveguide-based transducers would typically be unsuitable for this application due to their comb-like frequency response. Our simulations show that if the coplanar waveguide is placed to the side of the edge of a magnetic film, the frequency response is greatly improved at the expense of peak transducer efficiency. We also found that the coplanar waveguide on top of the film with an etched gap in the film to the side of the waveguide can be a more efficient transducer for shorter decay lengths.
A History of Cerebrovascular Disease Is Independently Associated with Increased Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with COVID-19: A Cohort Study of 369,563 COVID-19 Cases in the USA.

Objectives We set out to evaluate the risk for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and subsequent cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in the population with a prior diagnosis of CVD within the past 10 years. Methods We utilized the TriNetX Analytics Network to query 369,563 CO-VID-19 cases up to December 30, 2020. We created 8 cohorts of patients with COVID-19 diagnosis based on a previous diagnosis of CVD. We measured the odds ratios, relative risks, risk differences for hospitalizations, ICU/critical care services, intubation, mortality, and CVD recurrence within 90 days of COVID-19 diagnosis, compared to a propensity-matched cohort with no prior history of CVD within 90 days of COVID-19 diagnosis. Results 369,563 patients had a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 with a subset of 22,497 (6.09%) patients with a prior diagnosis of CVD within 10 years. All cohorts with a CVD diagnosis had an increased risk of hospitalization, critical care services, and mortality within 90 days of COVID-19 diagnosis. Additionally, the data demonstrate that any history of CVD is associated with significantly increased odds of subsequent CVD post-COVID-19 compared to a matched control. Conclusions CVD, a known complication of CO-VID-19, is more frequent in patients with a prior history of CVD. Patients with any previous diagnosis of CVD are at higher risks of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 infection. In patients admitted to the ED due to COVID-19 symptoms, these risk factors should be promptly identified as delayed or missed risk stratification and could lead to an ineffective and untimely diagnosis of subsequent CVD, which would lead to protracted hospitalization and poor prognosis.