cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temporal Changes in Anthropometric Measurements of Idealized Females and Young Women in General

This study examined the temporal anthropometric changes in idealized female body images in the media (i.e., Playboy magazine Playmates of the Year, Miss America Pageant winners, and fashion models) and young women in general across eight decades. Overall, all anthropometric measures differed significantly over time. BMI for all women in the idealized groups tended to decline significantly over time, while the BMI for YoungWomen increased significantly. Models tended to have the smallest bust and hips, Playmates the largest bust, and young women in general the largest waist and hips. The general trend for all groups was to move from a less curvaceous body shape in the early part of the twentieth century to a more curvaceous shape at mid-century and returning to a less curvaceous shape at the end of the century. Idealized women have a body size unlike that of Young Women and the chasm between the media- defined ideal and reality is continuing to diverge.
High-pressure phase transformations and isothermal compression in CaTiO3 (perovskite)

Abstract A polycrystalline CaTiO3 (perovskite) was investigated under static pressures up to 38 GPa and temperatures up to 1000°C by using a diamond anvil pressure cell, a YAG laser, and the ruby fluorescence pressure calibration system. In situ x-ray diffraction data reveal that at room temperature, the orthorhombic CaTiO3(I) transforms into a hexagonal CaTiO3(II) at ∼ 10 GPa with a volume of change of 1.6%. At 1000°C, the orthorhombic CaTiO3(I) first transforms into a tetragonal CaTiO3(III) at 8.5 GPa and then transforms further into a hexagonal CaTiO3(II′) at ∼ 15 GPa with molar volume changes of 0% and 1.6%, respectively. All three high-pressure polymorphs found in this study are nonquenchable. Isothermal compressibility of the orthorhombic CaTiO3 was derived from measurements under truly hydrostatic environments (i.e., ⩽ 10.4 GPa). By assuming K′0 = 5.6 obtained ultrasonically on SrTiO3 perovskite, the value of the bulk modulus (K0) was calculated with the Birch-Murnaghan equation to be 210 ± 7 GPa.
Stabilization of a two pulse intracavity pumped OPO

Experiments and simulation demonstrate an instability of the intracavity pumped optical parametric oscillator against bidirectional operation. It is shown that nonlinear losses inside the signal cavity can stabilize the bidirectional operation.
Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation in Men Who Have Sex with Men

ABSTRACT Introduction Quantitative research into sexual function and dysfunction in men who have sex with men (MSM) has been sparse due in large part to a lack of validated, quantitative instruments for the assessment of sexuality in this population. Aim To assess prevalence and associations of erectile problems and premature ejaculation in MSM. Methods MSM were invited to complete an online survey of sexual function. Ethnodemographic, sexuality, and health‐related factors were assessed. Main Outcome Measure Participants completed a version of the International Index of Erectile Function modified for use in MSM (IIEF‐MSM) and the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT). Total score on the erectile function (EF) domain of the IIEF‐EF (IIEF‐MSM‐EF) was used to stratify erectile dysfunction (ED) severity (25–30 = no ED, 16–24 mild or mild moderate ED, 11–15 moderate ED, and ≤10 severe ED). PEDT scores were used to stratify risk of premature ejaculation (PE, diagnosed as PEDT score ≥9). Results Nearly 80% of the study cohort of 2,640 men resided in North America. The prevalence of ED was higher in older men whereas the prevalence of PE was relatively constant across age groups. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that increasing age, HIV seropositivity, prior use of erectogenic therapy, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and lack of a stable sexual partner were associated with greater odds of ED. A separate multivariate analysis revealed that younger age, LUTS, and lower number of lifetime sexual partners were associated with greater odds of PE. Conclusions. Risk factors for sexual problems in MSM are similar to what has been observed in quantitative studies of non‐MSM males. Urinary symptoms are associated with poorer sexual function in MSM. Shindel AW, Vittinghoff E, and Breyer BN. Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation in men who have sex with men. J Sex Med 2012;9:576–584.
Design of new-generation robotic capsules for therapeutic and diagnostic endoscopy

This paper presents the design of two (2) novel endoscopic capsules. Using current capsule endoscopy technologies approximately 70,000 images of the human gastric tract are obtained during the examination. Usually, these images are reviewed by a gastroenterologist in a form of a video at various speeds (5 – 40 frames/sec). A physician spends 55 to 180 minutes reading these results. This represents a major problem for the gastroenterologist because it consumes a lot of time. Usually, it takes several days for the examination results to become available since the physician has to find the time frame to study each video uninterrupted for up to 3 hours. Researchers and companies have developed software methodologies for speeding up the examination process by reducing the number of frames per video. In addition, several new designs have been proposed for more efficient and flexible capsules. These designs offer potential solutions for the endoscopy field. In this paper we present our novel designs for two flexible capsules, a diagnostic capsule and a therapeutic capsule. The diagnostic capsule enhances the imaging characteristics of the intestine and achieves more accurate diagnoses. The therapeutic capsule is fully controllable, moveable and is able to collect specimens from a suspicious area for a quick biopsy. The design of these capsules is based on features selected from in house software methodologies, as well as characteristics of the small intestine such as peristalsis.
A Hammerstein-based dynamic model for hysteresis phenomenon

The Hammerstein configuration, which includes a nonlinear static block followed by a linear dynamic block, is applied to model the rate-dependent and temperature-dependent hysteresis phenomenon. The nonlinear static block is realized by a modified Preisach model, which includes both the irreversible and reversible components of magnetization. The linear dynamic block is realized by a low-pass filter, which takes into account the rate-dependent effects of hysteresis. Temperature dependencies are incorporated into the model by fitting the model parameters as piecewise-linear functions of temperature. A procedure is described for the extraction of a single set of model parameters over the frequency, amplitude, and temperature ranges of interest. The theory is verified experimentally.
Literary Solutions to Legal Problems: The Contribution of Exodus 2.13–14 to Exodus 21.22–23

This article proposes that Moses' encounter with the fighting Hebrews in Exod. 2.13–14 sheds light on the hypothetical case of the pregnant woman who is struck by men also engaged in a fist fight (Exod. 21.22–23). Specifically, Exod. 2.13–14 explains why singular verbs are used to describe the punishment (‭שנצי‬, ‭ותנ‬) when two or more men were actually responsible for the battery (‭ובגנ‬). In the earlier episode, Moses rebukes the ‘guilty one’, presumably because he was the instigator of the fight. Likewise, if an integrative reading is called for, the penalty for the battery in 21.22 is placed on the shoulders of the instigator alone, which explains the use of the singular forms ‭שנצי‬ and ‭ותנ‬. Exod. 2.13–14 may indirectly resolve other tensions created by this law as well.
Trace element speciation in largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides) from a fly ash settling basin by liquid chromatography-ICP-MS.

Analytical techniques used to examine the chemical speciation of multiple trace elements are important for the investigation of biological systems. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled to ICP-MS was used to investigate the speciation of Se, As, Cu, Cd and Zn in tissue extracts from a largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) collected from a coal fly ash basin and results were compared to a largemouth bass collected at a reference site. Using a Biosil SEC column, with an effective separation range of 100–7 KDa, Cu, Zn and Cd were shown to be bound to metallothionein (MT) in the liver, gill and, to a lesser extent, gonad tissue extract. In liver, muscle and gill of the ash basin bass, Se was predominantly present as low molecular weight species. Only in the gonad extract was the major fraction of Se associated with high molecular weight species. For the liver and gill extracts, further SEC-ICP-MS on a column with an effective separation range of 7000–500 Da was performed, but Se species still eluted near the total volume of the column suggesting a low molecular weight organic or inorganic species. Ion chromatography (IC)-ICP-MS using an AS7 column and HNO3 gradient elution indicated that the Se and As species in the liver and gill extracts had similar retention times but these retention times did not correspond to retention times for As(III), As(V), dimethylarsenate, arsenobetaine, Se(IV), Se(VI), seleno-methionine, or seleno-cystine.
A Decade of Change in the Skidaway River Estuary. III. Plankton

The Skidaway River estuary, GA (USA), a tidally dominated subtropical system surrounded by extensive Spartina salt marshes, is experiencing steady increases in nutrients, chlorophyll, and particulate matter and decline in dissolved oxygen, associated with cultural eutrophication. A long-term study is documenting changes in these parameters: previous papers Verity (Estuaries 25:944–960, 2002a, Estuaries 25:961–975, b) reported on hydrography, nutrients, chlorophyll, and particulate matter during 1986–1996; plankton community responses are reported here. Phytoplankton, bacteria, heterotrophic nanoplankton and dinoflagellates, ciliates, and copepods exhibited strong seasonal cycles in abundance driven by temperature and resource availability, typically with summer maxima and winter minima. However, cultural eutrophication coincided with altered planktonic food webs as autotrophic and heterotrophic communities responded to increasing concentrations and changing ratios of inorganic and organic nutrients, potential prey, and predators. Small (<8 μm) photosynthetic nanoplankton increased in absolute concentration and also relative to larger cells. In contrast, diatoms did not show consistent increases in abundance, despite significant long-term increases in ambient silicate concentrations. Mean annual bacteria concentrations approximately doubled, and eukaryotic organisms in the microbial food web (heterotrophic and mixotrophic flagellates, dinoflagellates, ciliates, and metazoan zooplankton) also increased. All plankton groups except copepods showed trends of increasing annual amplitudes between seasonal high and low values, with higher peak concentrations each year. These observations suggest that the eutrophication signal was gradually becoming uncoupled from regulatory mechanisms. Theory and evidence from other more impacted waters suggest that, if these patterns continue, changes in the structure and function of higher trophic levels will ensue.
On the accuracy of PSF representation in image restoration

Point spread function (PSF) models derived from physical optics provide a more accurate representation of real blurs than simpler models based on geometrical optics. However, the physical PSF models do not always result in a significantly better restoration, due to the coarse sampling of the recording device and insufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) levels. Low recording resolutions result in aliasing errors in the PSF and suboptimal restorations. A high-resolution representation of the PSF where aliasing errors are minimized is used to obtain improved restorations. The SNR is the parameter which ultimately limits the restoration quality and determines the need for an accurate PSF model. As a rule of thumb, the geometrical PSF can be used in place of the physical PSF without significant loss in restoration quality when the SNR is less than 30 dB. >
Leakage aware energy minimization for real-time systems under the maximum temperature constraint

In this paper, we study the problem on how to reduce the overall energy consumption while at the same time ensuring the timing and maximum temperature constraints for a real-time system. We incorporate the interdependence of leakage, temperature and supply voltage into analysis and develop a novel method to quickly estimate the overall energy consumption. Based on this method, we then propose a scheduling technique to minimize the overall energy consumption under the maximum temperature constraint. Our experimental results show that the proposed energy estimation method can achieve up to four-order-of-magnitude speedup compared with existing approaches while keeping the maximum estimation error within 4.8%. In addition, simulation results also demonstrate that our proposed energy minimization method consistently outperforms previous related approaches significantly.
Social Rules and the State as a Social Actor

New interest in the domestic sources of foreign policy intersects the notion that arguments about a state's international role are, at one level, arguments about domestic meaning, prohibitions, and responsibility. Even claimed strategic imperatives are neither self-explanatory nor comprehensible only in view of the stringencies of the international arena. Instead, they project a domestic content, referring to (and often transparent in the light of) particular domestic ends, needs, images, or interests. A rule-guided conception of die relation between domestic society and foreign policy is developed, in an analogy widi language and forms of discourse, in which discernible social rules will constrain or constitute a state policy—delimiting conduct, or defining its domestic referents, usage, and social conformity or deviance. Looking beneath the rather disembodied plane of ends and means, explanation begins to resemble an excavation; the state is seen not through the lenses of national security and rational behavior, but in the model and role of a domestic social actor.
A Compact, ESD-Protected, SiGe BiCMOS LNA for Ultra-Wideband Applications

Two 3.65-mW, ESD-protected, BiCMOS ultra-wideband low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) for operation up to 10 GHz are presented. These common-base LNAs achieve significant savings in die area over more widely used cascoded common-emitter LNAs because they do not use an LC input matching network. A design with a shunt peaked load achieves a high S21 (17-19 dB) and low noise figure (NF) (4-5 dB) across the band. A resistively loaded design exhibits a lower S21 (15-16 dB) and higher NF (4.5-6 dB), but also utilizes 20% less silicon area. Both LNAs achieve a 1.5 kV ESD protection level and an acceptable S11 (<-10 dB) across the band. Current source noise reduction is critical in common base topologies. Therefore, detailed noise analyses of MOS- and HBT-based current sources are provided
Using blocks of skewers for faster computation of pixel purity index

The “pixel purity index” (PPI) algorithm proposed by Boardman, et al1 identifies potential endmember pixels in multispectral imagery. The algorithm generates a large number of “skewers” (unit vectors in random directions), and then computes the dot product of each skewer with each pixel. The PPI is incremented for those pixels associated with the extreme values of the dot products. A small number of pixels (a subset of those with the largest PPI values) are selected as “pure” and the rest of the pixels in the image are expressed as linear mixtures of these pure endmembers. This provides a convenient and physically-motivated decomposition of the image in terms of a relatively few components. We report on a variant of the PPI algorithm in which blocks of B skewers are considered at a time. Prom the computation of B dot products, one can produce a much larger set of “derived” dot products that are associated with skewers that are linear combinations of the original B skewers. Since the derived dot products involve only scalar operations, instead of full vector dot products, they can be very cheaply computed. We will also discuss a hardware implementation on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) processor both of the original PPI algorithm and of the block-skewer approach. We will furthermore discuss the use of fast PPI as a front-end to more sophisticated algorithms for selecting the actual endmembers.
Teaching Rimes With Shared Reading

Teaching rimes—spelling patterns such as -ate, -ile, and -ake—is a valuable approach to phonics instruction because they are more consistent than many of the phonics rules often taught. Furthermore, research shows that children figure out new words by thinking of similar words they already know. Lessons on common rimes during shared reading help readers learn the rime and use this knowledge to identify new words. Steps for shared reading lessons are included. This article is also the source for a Class Acts podcast. Download “Phonics through shared reading” from www.reading.orgresourcespodcastsindex.html
Measurements of the displacements of spherical caps during snap-through buckling

Measurements were made of the dynamic buckling displacements of the surfaces of spherical caps during buckling under uniform external pressure. Relationships between shell geometry and the magnitude of the surface displacements, velocities and accelarations during buckling were obtained. The use of a displacement transducer whose sensing element is a photovoltaic cell is described.
Information provenance and the knowledge rediscovery problem

Visualizations leverage innate human capabilities for recognizing interesting aspects of data. Even if users might agree on what is interesting about a visualization, the steps that they use in the knowledge discovery process may be significantly different. This results in an inability to effectively recreate the exact conditions of the discovery process, which we call the knowledge rediscovery problem. Because we cannot expect a user to fully document each of their interactions, there is a need for visualization systems to maintain user trace data in a way that enhances a user's ability to communicate what they found to be interesting, as well as how they found it. We present a model for representing user interactions that articulates with a corresponding set of annotations, or observations that are made during the exploration. Such ability is critical to addressing the knowledge rediscovery problem, and is a fundamental component for systems that must provide information provenance.
Optical device design with arbitrary output intensity as a function of input Voltage

We show that the designs for optical digital signal processing can be used to construct a device that gives an arbitrary function I(V), where I is the output signal intensity and V is the input voltage. This is done by applying the same voltage V to several electrodes in the system, and does not require changing the input optical frequency. This device will have applications to modulator linearization and correction for amplifier distortion. We present a numerical simulation of the device. We study the device as a function of wavelength and voltage.
Juvenile myasthenia gravis

Juvenile myasthenia gravis shares a similar pathophysiologic origin with adult myasthenia gravis, but there are important differences, mostly relating to epidemiology, presentation, and therapeutic decision making. Gender ratios and the proportion of seropositive patients differ in the pre- and postpubertal age groups. The diagnostic evaluation is similar to that in adults, although special techniques are sometimes necessary to perform single-fiber electromyography in younger patients. Therapeutic decisions in affected children and adolescents are complicated by the greater long-term consequences of using steroids, and thus other interventions, such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and plasmapheresis, may play a greater therapeutic role in this population than in adults. Steroid-sparing agents may contribute to the management of refractory cases, but they should be used with caution due to the risk of malignancy.
An analog-to-information converter for wideband signals using a time encoding machine

The compressive sensing theory enables the analog-to-information conversion of a wideband signal directly by sampling the signal below the Nyquist rate and reconstruct the sampled signal perfectly. We developed a unique implementation of compressive sensing that is based on converting the signal to a time-encoded representation. The time encoding process converts an analog signal that has a continuous voltage range to a binary amplitude signal. In a time encoded signal representation, the important information is captured in the time points - the points where zero-crossing occur. This implementation is shown to be effective for signals sparse in frequency domain.
Cranial Vault Plasmacytoma Presenting With Hemorrhagic Transient Ischemic Attacks

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is recognized as common cause of primary lobar intracerebral hemorrhage in elderly persons. It is caused by the deposition of b-amyloid protein in the media and adventitia of small arteries and capillaries of the meninges and cerebral cortex. This abnormal amyloid protein accumulation can occur in association with plasmacytoma, in which intratumor hemorrhage is extremely rare. Here we report a 71-year-old woman who presented with 2 brief episodes compatible with transient ischemic attack (TIA), manifested by sudden dysarthria and right hand clumsiness, each lasting for less than 1 minute. Her medical history was unremarkable except for coronary artery bypass surgery, and she was treated with daily aspirin (81 mg). She denied any history of head trauma or headache. Neurologic examination findings were normal. An initial computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a left subdural hematoma with contrast enhancement, suggesting an underlying mass (Fig 1A and B). A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study showed additional blood in the subarachnoid space along with dural enhancement (Fig 1C and D). CT angiography revealed no aneurys-
The effect of flatfoot deformity and tendon loading on the work of friction measured in the posterior tibial tendon.

Background. There is limited information regarding the mechanical factors contributing to the progression of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. Therefore, an investigation of the mechanical forces on the posterior tibial tendon may improve our understanding of this pathology. Methods. The gliding resistance and excursion of the posterior tibial tendon in the retromalleolar region was measured in seven cadaveric lower limbs in the coronal, transverse, and sagittal planes. These data were used to calculate the work of friction and to characterize the effect of different tendon loading levels (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 kg) in the intact and flatfoot conditions. Findings. Flatfoot deformity significantly increased the excursion of the posterior tibial tendon (P < 0.05), increased forefoot and hindfoot range of motion in the coronal and transverse planes (P < 0.05) and the work of friction in the coronal and transverse planes (P < 0.05), but not in the sagittal plane. There was a significant increase in the work of friction between 0.5 and 2 kg (P < 0.05) in all three planes of motion. Interpretation. The motions in the coronal and transverse planes have a greater effect on the work of friction of the posterior tibial tendon than sagittal plane motion in the flatfoot condition. This study suggests that aggressive treatment of early stage PTT dysfunction with bracing designed to limit coronal and transverse motions, while permitting sagittal motion should be investigated further. Such bracing may decrease the potential of progressive deformity while allowing for more normal ambulation. 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Defense Business Operating Fund: Description and Implementation Issues

The Defense Business Operating Fund initiative in the Department of Defense (DoD) consolidates existing industrial and stock funds. This initiative is intended to enhance the departmental management of an estimated $81 billion sale of goods and services in fiscal year 1993. Revolving funds have a long history in the department. This article examines the role of revolving funds and their performance in DoD. The potential benefits of consolidation of funds are discussed. Emphasis is given to budgetary, management, and accounting changes intended to enhance management of the funds. The effect of implementation issues on the realization of potential benefits is also explored.
Some observational consequences of brane world cosmologies

The presence of dark energy in the Universe is inferred directly and indirectly from a large body of observational evidence. The simplest and most theoretically appealing possibility is the vacuum energy density (cosmological constant). However, although in agreement with current observations, such a possibility exacerbates the well known cosmological constant problem, requiring a natural explanation for its small, but nonzero, value. In this paper we focus our attention on another dark energy candidate, one arising from gravitational leakage into extra dimensions. We investigate observational constraints from current measurements of the angular size of high-$z$ compact radio sources on accelerated models based on this large scale modification of gravity. The predicted age of the Universe in the context of these models is briefly discussed. We argue that future observations will enable a more accurate test of these cosmologies and, possibly, show that such models constitute a viable possibility for the dark energy problem.
Black southern signing

Recent research in American Sign Language (ASL) has concentrated on demonstrating that ASL, a language channelled through the manual-visual modality, has linguistic properties similar to those of oral languages, except for physical sound. The absence of sound, however, really presents no theoretical problem since ASL has a formational level of structure analogous to, but not dependent on, the phonological component of oral languages (Stokoe I960; Battison I974). This paper will discuss a relatively new area of research in Sign linguistics, ethnic-social variation. Because of attitudes and educational policy, Black signers in the South have developed different varieties of signing from Whites. Concentrating primarily on Black signs in Georgia, this paper will discuss some of the lexical and formational (phonological) variation observed in old and young Black signers. (Sociolinguistic variation; sign languages; linguistic change; minority group languages.)
It's Not What It Seems The Relationship Between Parents' Concerns and Children With Global Delays

Parents of children with significant behavioral or emotional problems have tended to be concerned about their behavior or emotional well-being, whereas parents of children with speech-language impairments were more concerned about speech-language development. The present study was designed to assess whether a parallel relationship between type of parental concern and type of developmental problem continues when children have global delays. Subjects were 95 parents and their children from birth to 6 years of age who attended day-care centers. Parents' concerns were categorized into developmental domains. Children were given a criterion battery of intelligence and adaptive behavior tests. Global delay was identified in 18 children (19%). Concerns about global development were raised by only 5% of all parents. Concerns about speech-language and/or behavior were sensitive in detecting global deficits (83%), while the absence of such concerns had modest specificity in detecting normal development (47%). Parent...
Modeling the Effects of Wind Redistribution on the Snow Mass Budget of Polar Sea Ice

Abstract A two-dimensional numerical model of blowing snow specifically designed for sea ice environments is presented. This new model is used to quantify the snow mass lost because of blowing snow into leads, blowing snow sublimation, and the effects of snow redistribution in the presence of surface irregularities (e.g., pressure ridges and snowdrifts) and on the conductive heat flux through the ice. Results show that the percentage of blowing snow lost into open waters (i.e., the lead trap efficiency) ranges between 60% and 100%. The lead trap efficiency increases with fetch over open waters, decreases as the upwind fetch over sea ice expands, and diminishes as wind speeds and friction velocities are enhanced. Its dependence on air temperature and relative humidity, however, is relatively small. Results from the time evolution of a snowdrift show that considerable snow cover heterogeneity arises because of interactions between winds and the surface; however, the corresponding increase in the conductive ...
Organization of Antigenic Structures on Cell Surfaces

Faced with the familiar problems of morphogenesis in all its aspects, including its breakdown in cancer, we are more and more forced to conclude that the cell surface must embody elaborate codes of recognition which regulate the orderly deployment of cells within multicellular organisms. The task of elucidating the organization of cell surface elements in terms that might help us to comprehend this can profitably be tackled as an exercise in immunogenetics. This is because serology provides the only general method for recognizing components of the cell surface as individual, discrete elements. Conventional immunogenetic techniques for studying cell surface antigens are somewhat inadequate in this context, dominated as they have been by the practicalities of delineating intraspecies antigen variation (allo-antigens) based on genetic polymorphism (allelism), for purposes of blood transfusion and tissue transplantation. Some progress is being made with new applications directed to the topography or regional distribution of antigens on the cell surface.
Five Things Chemists (and Other Science Faculty) Should Know about the Education Research Literature

Faculty are increasingly expected to provide a more student-centered learning experience in their classes, including in large introductory courses. To do this, they may choose from a colorful palette of active learning approaches and tools that have been piloted in a wide variety of settings. Success, however, depends on more than the knowledge of what works and a commitment to implementing it. It requires a deep understanding of the principles of learning that underlie the approach or tool, which in turn requires fluency with the education research literature. While the literature is replete with implications for practice, much of it is written for education researchers rather than for science instructors. This brief commentary aims to help chemists and other faculty efficiently sift through this enormous body of work and glean insights about teaching and learning to improve their practice.
Dielectric elastomer composites: small-deformation theory and applications

Abstract We provide estimates for the effective response of Electro-Active Polymer Composites (EAPCs) consisting of aligned ellipsoidal inclusions of a stiff dielectric material which are distributed randomly in an soft elastomeric matrix with “ellipsoidal” two-point statistics. The derivation of the results for the electro-mechanical response assumes linearized deformations, but includes non-linear (quadratic) terms in the electric fields. We investigate three different physical mechanisms contributing to the macroscopic electro-mechanical response of the composite: the intrinsic effect of the particles on the Maxwell stress, the inter-particle (dipole) interactions which are accounted for by evaluating the effect of changes in the “shape” of the two-point probability functions with the deformation, and the effect of particle rotations and torques when the geometric and/or anisotropy axis of the particles are not aligned with the applied electric field. Several illustrative examples are provided to empha...
Design and Implement of Distributed Network Behavior Monitoring System

The behavior of the network is controlled to the security threat brought to the system that users surf the Net, This text has proposed the design plan of a kind of distributed network behavior monitoring system, and Relevant technology, give a three level filtering project, and the method of hooking the operation of writing register table and remote thread injection , Practice has proved that the monitoring system has improved PC system's capability of anti Trojan and security.
Monitoring Results of Rabies Vaccination in Urban Qinyuan City in 2008

[Objective]To understand the immune effect of rabies vaccine,and provide evidence for prevention and control of rabies.[Methods]Rabies Virus IgG levels were detected by ELISA after immunization.[Results]Rabies virus IgG positive rate of people who accepted full immunization was 99.18%(973/981),the male positive rate was 98.62%(572/580),and female positive rate was 100%(401/401),The difference was significant between genders(χ2=4.0016,P0.05).The negative IgG antibody against rabies virus changed to positive after immunization of 3 doses.[Conclusion]The immunological effect can not reach 100% after a full immunization program of rabies vaccine.The population with rabies vaccine immunization should receive IgG antibody level monitoring for necessary renewed vaccination timely to achieve satisfactory immune effect.
Hospital Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place: Who Is Responsible for Decision-Making?

OBJECTIVE: During natural disasters, hospital evacuation may be necessary to ensure patient safety and care. We aimed to examine perceptions of stakeholders involved in these decisions throughout the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted from March 2014 to February 2015 to characterize stakeholders' perceptions about authority and responsibility for acute care hospital evacuation/shelter-in-place decision-making in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York during Hurricane Sandy. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using a framework approach. RESULTS: We interviewed 42 individuals from 32 organizations. Hospital executives from all states reported having authority and responsibility for evacuation/shelter-in-place decision-making. In New York and Maryland, government officials stated that they could order hospital evacuation, whereas officials in Delaware and New Jersey said the government lacked enforcement capacity and therefore could not mandate evacuation. CONCLUSIONS: Among government officials, perceived authority for hospital evacuation/shelter-in-place decision-making was viewed as a prerequisite to ordering evacuation. When both hospital executives and government officials perceive themselves to possess decision-making authority, there is the potential for inaction. Future work should examine whether a single entity bearing ultimate responsibility or regional emergency response coalitions would improve decision-making. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;page 1 of 5). Language: en
Analyses of HSV Proteins for Posttranslational Modifications and Enzyme Functions

In order to identify the nature of posttranslational modifications and enzyme functions of herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) proteins, it is necessary to apply both biochemical and genetic analyses. The experimental methods described in this chapter have been applied to cells cultured in vitro and infected with HSV-1 or to isolated nuclei of infected cells, to nuclear or cytoplasmic fractions, and, in some instances, to purified extracts of infected eukaryotic cells or of prokaryotic cells expressing a viral gene.
Tackling LHC anxieties

With the final preparations for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) now in full swing, the chance that particle accelerators might produce an abnormal, dangerous form of matter has once again returned to haunt planners. Some theorists have recently speculated that if the universe has extra dimensions, mini black holes could be created in collisions between protons in the LHC (Phys. Rev. D. 74 014007). These black holes could then evaporate, releasing Hawking radiation and particles, including – possibly – the elusive Higgs boson. Is this dangerous?
Schorr-Waite Graph Marking

The algorithm of Schorr and Waite [51] is a specialized method for computing the reflexive transitive closure of a relation. The special case is Lisp garbage collection; thus the relation is represented by a directed graph with a maximum outdegree of two. The basic idea of the method is to traverse the graph depth-first, but avoid the maintenance of a parameter stack. Instead of a stack, the algorithm maintains a record of the path from a vertex to the root by “turning around” the pointers that represent the graph to point to a vertex’s parent.
Recognizing Engaged Scholarship in Faculty Reward Structures: Challenges and Progress

It has been a quarter century since Ernest Boyer’s Scholarship Reconsidered: Priorities of the Professoriate (1990) challenged higher education institutions to redefine scholarship and better align the faculty reward system with institutional mission. In that seminal report, Boyer proposed broadening the definition of scholarship in order to better align faculty reward structures with the teaching and service mission of higher education. He proposed that faculty reward structures should recognize not just research (which he termed the “scholarship of discovery”) and publication, but also the scholarship of integration, application, and teaching. A few years later, he expanded this to include the “the scholarship of engagement,” meaning “connecting the rich resources of the university to our most pressing social, civic, and ethical problems....” (Boyer, 1996, p. 21).
BEAM Versus CEB Conditioning for Autologous Transplantation in Patients with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Hodgkin’s Disease: A Single Center Comparative Study of 219 Patients.

Abstract High-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with autologous stem-cell support (ASCS) is commonly used to treat patients with relapsed or high risk but chemosensitive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin's Disease (HD). However, the optimum HDC regimen for these patients has not been defined. CEB or BEAM are among the most commonly used regimens, but they have not been compared in a randomized prospective study. At our center, CEB was the preferred regimen until Dec 2002 and BEAM has been the preferred regimen since. We compared pre-treatment characteristics and post HDC outcomes in 219 consecutive patients undergoing single HDC+ASCS for NHL/HD at our center who received BEAM or CEB as the HDC regimen. BEAM (BCNU 300mg/m2, Etoposide 800 mg/m2, Cytarabine 1600 mg/m2, Melphalan 140 mg/m2) was used in 110 patients and 109 patients received CEB (Cyclophosphamide 6000mg/m2, Etoposide 2000mg/m2, BCNU 600mg/m2). The groups were comparable with respect to pre-treatment characteristics: median age (48 vs 52), gender (M 66% vs 64%), diagnosis (NHL 75% vs 81%), number of prior regimens (median=2 for both),stage at diagnosis, disease status pre-HDC, and median CD34+ cell dose/kg infused (5.6 x 10e6 vs 5.4x 10e6), KPS (≥90 vs Estimated Kaplan-Meier probabilities of progression-free survival (PFS) at 12 months and 24 months post HDC were 66.3%, 49.3% for BEAM and 60.2%, 55.1% for CEB (p=NS). The probability of overall survival (OS) at 12 and 24 months was 79.2%, 68.7% respectively for BEAM and 68.6%, 62.9% for CEB (p=NS). Transplant-related mortality (TRM) at 12m was 4.5% for BEAM versus 6.4% for CEB (p=NS). A Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to assess the effect on OS, PFS and TRM of the following variables: regimen (BEAM vs CEB), diagnosis (HD vs NHL), age, gender, KPS, number of prior Rx regimens,stage at diagnosis, stage at treatment, disease status at transplant, CD34+ cell dose. On multivariate analysis, the following statisically significant associations were observed for the three outcome variables. PFS: age, gender, number of prior regimens,disease status at transplant. OS: age, gender, diagnosis, disease status at transplant. TRM: none. Females and patients with HD had better OS and PFS than males and NHL patients respectively. Conditioning regimen did not correlate with outcome for PFS, OS or TRM.The rate of severe mucositis (as defined by use of infusional opiate therapy during the first 25 days following HDC+ASCS) was significantly higher with CEB than BEAM (53% vs 47%, p=0.040). The rate of BCNU induced pnemonitis syndrome (as measured by prednisone use during first 30–120 days following HDC+ASCS and/or hospital readmission before day +120) was not significantly different between the two regimen groups. In summary, analysis of this sequential series of well matched patients receiving BEAM or CEB for HDC+ASCS for NHL or HD indicates that survival outcomes are comparable and BEAM is associated with a significant lower incidence of mucositis
Back to the beginning: Rediscovering inexperience helps experts give advice

Although experts have more knowledge, skills, and experiences relative to novices, they still suffer from a myriad of biases that prevent them from being able to relate to novices. To date, we know little about the possible factors that help experts help others. Across four studies, this paper investigates how rediscovering the experience of inexperience influences experts’ ability to advise novices. Studies 1a and 1b found that relative to upperclassmen who merely recalled their past summer internship experiences, upperclassmen who read their past accounts of being a summer intern gave advice that younger internship seekers rated as better in quality. In Studies 2a and 2b, expert guitarists who rediscovered the feeling of being inexperienced--by playing their instrument with their non-dominant hand--gave advice that novices rated as more encouraging and helpful in content, relative to experts who played traditionally. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that rediscovering inexperience influences a...
The Law of Mediation in Texas

State law concerning mediation is continuing to develop in Texas. The Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Act (“the Act”), passed in 1987 and codified in the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, attempted to resolve Texas judicial opinions on mediation. Since the passage of the Act, a number of judicial opinions have sought to interpret and apply the Act. As such, it became public policy to encourage the peaceable resolution of disputes. Mediation is a method to accomplish that public policy. Both published and unpublished judicial opinions serve to illustrate the application of the Act and provide the only guidance that practitioners, judges, and scholars have in interpreting the Act. Following the passage of the Act, mediation has been more successful than anticipated despite early mis-steps on enforcement of settlement agreements and opinions on confidentiality. Furthermore, there have been few judicial interpretations, alternations, or challenges to the Act. Despite this judicial neglect, Texas courts have efficaciously interpreted and applied the Act regarding mediation. Texas needs to continue to develop mediation case law or risk being left behind as this area of law develops in other states.
Crossed Cerebellar Diaschisis

Crossed cerebellar diaschisis is characterized by depressed blood flow, decreased metabolism, and resulting atrophy of a cerebellar hemisphere caused by injury or lesion involving the contralateral supratentorial cerebral hemisphere. PET/MR imaging provides the anatomical detail to identify the cerebral insult and demonstrates depressed metabolism in the contralateral cerebellar hemisphere.
Borderline personality disorder features and drinking, cannabis, and prescription opioid motives: Differential associations across substance and sex.

Abstract Introduction Drinking motives have shown meaningful associations with borderline personality disorder (BPD) features. However, it is unknown whether other common substances of abuse (namely cannabis and prescription opioids) have the same associations with BPD features. In the present study, we tested associations between BPD features and motives across three substances: alcohol, cannabis, and prescription opioids. The purpose of the study was to determine whether BPD showed similar patterns of associations across drugs, or whether some substances serve particular functions for individuals with BPD features, and whether this also varies by sex in a college student sample. Method Five-hundred ninety-four college students completed online questionnaires measuring demographics, borderline personality disorder features, substance use, and substance specific motives for alcohol, cannabis, and prescription opioid use. Results BPD was most strongly associated with coping motives across all substances. For both alcohol and cannabis, this was true for both males and females, along with conformity motives. For prescription opioids, coping, social, enhancement, and pain motives were only significantly related to BPD features for females. When compared statistically, it was found that the associations with coping drinking motives and opioid pain motives were higher among females. Conclusions This pattern of results suggests that negatively reinforcing motives (coping and conformity) play a similar functional role in borderline personality and substance use disorder pathology for alcohol and cannabis, but for prescription opioids the negative reinforcement motives (coping and pain) were only evident in females.
Veteran Narratives and Suicide Prevention: A Missed Opportunity for Research?

“The veteran narrative” is a term which has sometimes been used to describe how values cultivated in the course of military service are articulated and used over the life course to interpret issues...
Chapter 7 – Polyurethanes

Polyurethanes (PURs) are versatile class of polymers with a great control over their physicochemical properties. They are constituted with hard and soft segments, and therefore, they are called segmented PURs, and based on the nature of segment composition, their properties can be greatly altered to meet the requirements for a particular biomedical applications. Segmented PURs are designed with well-defined degradation and mechanical properties combined with excellent biocompatibility that makes them attractive for the development of drug delivery, tissue engineering, and medical devices. This chapter highlights the synthetic aspects of the PURs and methods related to their characterization in terms of physicochemical properties using in vitro and in vivo techniques and examples of relevant biomedical applications. This chapter also includes details on poly(ether urethanes), poly(ester urethanes), poly(carbonate urethanes), poly(siloxane urethanes), surface-modified PURs, and composite PURs in various fields for biomedical applications are addressed.
Relational conundrums: A critique of Contemporary Psychoanalysis by Jon Mills

Relational Psychoanalysis is by now a large and influential international psychoanalytic school with its own association and publications. For the joy of some and the lament or indifference of othe...
Must Surprise Trump Information

In a recent essay on the role of modern information technologies in democratic processes, Zeynep Tufekci described the actions of Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak in cutting off Internet and cellular service during the 2011 Tahrir uprising as follows: "The move backfired: it restricted the flow of information coming out of Tahrir Square but caused international attention on Egypt to spike. He hadn't understood that in the 21st century it is the flow of attention, not information (which we already have too much of), that matters."