cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Race, Religion, and Resilience in the Neoliberal Age

Having experienced the varied afflictions of French colonialism, Frantz Fanon1 sought to understand the causes of Algerian citizens’ psychological suffering. His aim was to help my patient to ‘cons...
Children's use of decomposition strategies mediates the visuospatial memory and arithmetic accuracy relation.

This study examined the mediating role of children's use of decomposition strategies in the relation between visuospatial memory (VSM) and arithmetic accuracy. Children (N = 78; Age M = 9.36) completed assessments of VSM, arithmetic strategies, and arithmetic accuracy. Consistent with previous findings, VSM predicted arithmetic accuracy in children. Extending previous findings, the current study showed that the relation between VSM and arithmetic performance was mediated by the frequency of children's use of decomposition strategies. Identifying the role of arithmetic strategies in this relation has implications for increasing the math performance of children with lower VSM. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? The link between children's visuospatial working memory and arithmetic accuracy is well documented. Frequency of decomposition strategy use is positively related to children's arithmetic accuracy. Children's spatial skill positively predicts the frequency with which they use decomposition. What does this study add? Short-term visuospatial memory (VSM) positively relates to the frequency of children's decomposition use. Decomposition use mediates the relation between short-term VSM and arithmetic accuracy. Children with limited short-term VSM may struggle to use decomposition, decreasing accuracy.
Disenchantment of the world: Weber, Judaism, and Maimonides:

One of the central comparative-historical features of Max Weber’s sociology of religion is his theory of disenchantment, whereby magical forms of social action come to be eclipsed by religious forms. This article explicates Weber’s theory of disenchantment, underscoring his original distinction between magic and religion, while emphasizing the unique and often underappreciated position Judaism occupies in Weber’s theory. I accord special significance to the philosopher Maimonides as a medieval expositor of an ideal typically disenchanted form of Judaism. I apply Weber’s theory of disenchantment as a framework for understanding two central features of Maimonides’ intellectual legacy: (1) Maimonides’ codification of Jewish law; and (2) Maimonides’ philosophical and sociohistorical rationalizations of Biblical commandments. In so doing, I situate Maimonides within the broader discourse of sociology of religion and extend a Weberian analysis of Judaism into the medieval period, demonstrating that the role of ...
General unifying features of controlled quantum phenomena

Many proposals have been put forth for controlling quantum phenomena, including open-loop, adaptive feedback, and real-time feedback control. Each of these approaches has been viewed as operationally, and even physically, distinct from the others. This work shows that all such scenarios inherently share the same fundamental control features residing in the topology of the landscape relating the target physical observable to the applied controls. This unified foundation may provide a basis for development of hybrid control schemes that would combine the advantages of the existing approaches to achieve the best overall performance.
Central Neck Dissection for Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a malignancy that is characterized by a high proportion of hereditary cases and secretion of the tumor marker calcitonin [1]. MTCs are moderately invasive and have a high propensity for spread to cervical lymph nodes [2]. Central lymph nodes (level VI) are involved up to 81% of the time [3, 4]. Because MTC cells do not concentrate radioactive iodine, central neck dissection is a critical component of surgical management. Total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection (TT+CND) is recommended in the initial management of the patient with MTC [4]. Lateral neck dissection in these patients is described elsewhere in this volume (Chap. 9).
Make plans to eliminate cholera outbreaks

Governments must stop denying the occurrence of cholera and unite in long-term prevention strategies, says Anita Zaidi.
No. 2 fuel oil compounds in Mytilus edulis

Mytilus edulis contaminated by a brief 2-d exposure to a slick from a No. 2 fuel oil spill in the Cape Cod Canal, Massachusetts, USA were sampled six times during an 86-d post-spill period to study the rate of release of fuel oil compounds under field conditions. Detailed measurements of compounds by high resolution glass capillary gas chromatography and quantitative glass capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-computer systems analyses provided a more comprehensive examination of release rates of different types of compounds. Biological half-lives were calculated for selected compounds for the first 21 d during which the release rates were exponential. Typical half-lives were n-alkanes, 0.2–0.8 d; pristane, 1.5 d; C-2 (dimethyl or ethyl) napthalenes, 0.9 d; methyl phenanthrenes, 1.7 d. Changes in relative ratios of C-2 phenanthrenes during the release period were observed. The evidence available to date strongly supports the role of molecular weight and accompanying properties of water solubility as the main controlling factors in the rate of release of fuel oil compounds by M. edulis. However, the data for the rapid release of n-alkanes and C-2 phenanthrenes also indicate molecular type and molecular configuration as additional key factors. The data from this study are compared and contrasted to data from short term experimental studies in the laboratory, longer term studies from chronic exposure conditions, and data from two other oil spills with longer term exposure.
Extreme value prediction for zero-inflated data

Depending on the domain, there may be significant ramifications associated with the occurrence of an extreme event (for e.g., the occurrence of a flood from a climatological perspective). However, due to the relative low occurrence rate of extreme events, the accurate prediction of extreme values is a challenging endeavor. When it comes to zero-inflated time series, standard regression methods such as multiple linear regression and generalized linear models, which emphasize estimating the conditional expected value, are not best suited for inferring extreme values. And so is the case when the the conditional distribution of the data does not conform to the parametric distribution assumed by the regression model. This paper presents a coupled classification and regression framework that focuses on reliable prediction of extreme value events in a zero-inflated time series. The framework was evaluated by applying it on a real-world problem of statistical downscaling of precipitation for the purpose of climate impact assessment studies. The results suggest that the proposed framework is capable of detecting the timing and magnitude of extreme precipitation events effectively compared with several baseline methods.
Constitutions, Security, and the Rule of Law

1. How different constitutional structures deal with security concerns 2. What part of government controls security measures 3. What constraints supranational and international law place on individual nations when it comes to security 4. What the public has a right to know in times of heightened security 5. What rights the public can exercise in times of heightened securityand how citizens can hold government accountable for protecting these rights
Algebraic Riccati equations arising in boundary/point control: A review of theoretical and numerical results Part I: Continuous case

Consider the following optimal control problem: Given the dynamical system $$ {y_t} = Ay + Bu;\quad y\left( 0 \right) = {y_0} \in y $$ (1.1) minimize the quadratic functional $$ J\left( {u,y} \right) = \int\limits_0^\infty {\left[ {||RY\left( t \right)||\frac{2}{Z} + ||u\left( t \right)||\frac{2}{U}} \right]} dt $$ (1.2) over all u ∈ L2(0, ∞, U), with y solution of (1.1) due to u.
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION OF SILANES ON PLAIN AND MICROFABRICATED SILICON SURFACES

The application of micro-electromechanical or micromechanical systems to the biomedical arena (BioMEMS) has tremendous potential in terms of developing new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Micro- and Nano-fabrication techniques are currently being used to develop implants that can record from, sense, stimulate, and deliver to biological systems. Micromachined neural prostheses, drug delivery micropumps/needles, microfabricated immunoisolation biocapsules, and retinal implants have all been fabricated using precision-based silicon technologies1–6.
The “Right to the City” in the Landscapes of Servitude and Migration, from the Philippines to the Arabian Gulf, and Back

This chapter examines the relationship between migration and urbanization by exploring how female domestic workers (called Household Service Workers or HSWs), hailing from the Philippines, use and influence urban space in both their host country, the Arabian Gulf, and their home country, the Philippines. Since many HSWs work as nannies and are tied to exit visas, they are seen as employees of servitude and are kept separate from local citizens through social, spatial, and infrastructural segregations. Due to their precarious employment, HSWs are always second-class non-citizens with limited human, social, and spatial rights. The latter right, that of spatial access, or “right to the city,” is at the core of this chapter. By systemically examining the process of pre-migration training, the migrant’s limited mobility in the host country, and the impact of migration in the home country, this chapter focuses on the role of gender, identity, and citizenship on spatial mobility, migration, and urbanization in both the Gulf and the Philippines.
Gender Wage Gap Trends Among Information Science Workers

Objective We test whether increasing gender earning differences are associated with the surprising decline in the share of women working in information science (IS). Methods We use representative data to estimate the gender earnings differential from 1995 to 2015 for full‐time, private‐sector IS workers in the United States. We decompose the differential within and across years. Time trends isolate the pattern of the unexplained gender differential. Results None of our decompositions or projections reveal increased gender earnings differentials over the sample period. If anything, the unexplained differentials modestly decline. Conclusion Despite contentions that the financial treatment of women explains their departure from IS and engineering, we find no evidence of a trend toward larger earnings differentials. Thus, our data argue that the declining share of women in IS likely has its roots elsewhere.
Relaxation Techniques and Biofeedback for Cancer Pain Management

The biopsychosocial model of cancer management demonstrates the importance of a wide range of factors in shaping the experience of cancer-related pain symptoms, ranging from physiological to psychosocial aspects. Biofeedback and relaxation techniques are promising psychological interventions in cancer pain management although relatively little research attention has historically been devoted to these treatments. In this chapter, we review evidence of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)-based relaxation techniques as practical patient tools for managing multiple symptoms impacted by cancer and cancer treatment, such as mood, sleep disturbance, cognitive disruption, pain, and reduced quality of life. The potential benefits of such therapies, in the context of treating cancer patients, extend to minimizing adverse side effects of medications, possible cost reductions, and shortened hospital stays. Overall, these interventions are noninvasive and can be individually tailored to achieve beneficial effects on a variety of psychophysiological symptoms.
Spatial Aspects of Species Interactions: the Wedding of Models and Experiments

Ecological theory is in an obvious state of flux. Earlier attempts to model communities using equilibrium analyses of Lotka-Volterra equations have fallen into disfavor (see the volumes edited by Price et al. 1984, and by Diamond and Case 1986). Indeed, it seems that many experimental ecologists have given up on theory altogether — rather than testing models, field ecologists are now mostly concerned with proper experimental design and the detection of significant effects attributable to one manipulation or another. Theoreticians, of course, continue to develop models; but even among theoreticians there is no consensus about the sorts of models that most deserve our attention. While everyone may agree that we need to move beyond simple Lotka-Volterra equations, few can agree upon the ways in which models might be made more pertinent to the natural world. For example, in this volume alone, arguments are made for extending theory to include: age structure (Hastings), stochastic environments (Chesson), the effects of spatial scale (Levin), fluid dynamics (Okubo), and food web architecture (Cohen, Pimm, and Yodzis). Yet clearly no model can handle all of these complications at once. This leaves us with the problem of determining which theoretical elaborations are called for by different real-world systems, and how these theories might be applied to experimental studies.
Effects of ultra-low ethylene partial pressure on microstructure and composition of reactively sputter-deposited Ta–C thin films

Abstract We report on the effects of low ethylene (C2H4) partial pressures (6.7 × 10−5 ≤ Pc ≤ 6.7 × 10−2 Pa) on the composition and microstructure of Ta–C thin films grown on MgO(001) substrates via ultra-high vacuum dc magnetron sputtering of a TaC compound target using 2.7 Pa argon/ethylene gas discharges at 1123 K. The as-deposited layer crystallinity and composition are determined using a combination of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy coupled with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We find that the layers sputter-deposited in pure Ar (i.e., Pc = 0) and Ar/C2H4 gas mixtures with Pc = 6.7 × 10−5 Pa are polycrystalline trigonal-structured Ta2C (a = 0.310 nm and c = 0.492 nm). At Pc = 6.7 × 10−4 Pa, we obtain cubic, 002-textured TaC0.76 (a = 0.442 nm) porous thin film with facetted surface. Interestingly, we also observe 111-oriented twins due to four crystals rotated with respect to each other. Film grown at higher Pc = 6.7 × 10−2 Pa is relatively dense with smoother surface and composed of a two-phase mixture of nanocrystalline TaC and amorphous carbon. Our results demonstrate compositional and microstructural tunability during sputter-deposition of transition-metal carbide thin films using small amounts of the reactive gas.
Stroke and thromboembolism prevention in atrial fibrillation

Prevention of stroke and systemic thromboembolism remains the cornerstone for management of atrial fibrillation (AF) and flutter. Multiple risk assessment models for stroke and systemic thromboembolism are currently available. The score, with its known limitations, remains as the recommended risk stratification tool in most major guidelines. Once at-risk patients are identified, vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and, more recently, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are the primary medical therapy for stroke prevention. In those with contraindication for long-term anticoagulation, left atrial appendage occluding devices are developing as a possible alternative therapy. Some controversy exists regarding anticoagulation management for cardioversion of acute AF (<48 hours); however, systemic anticoagulation precardioversion and postcardioversion is recommended for those with longer duration of AF. Anticoagulation management peri-AF ablation is also evolving. Uninterrupted VKA and DOAC therapy has been shown to reduce perioperative thromboembolic risk with no significant escalation in major bleeding. Currently, under investigation is a minimally interrupted approach to anticoagulation with DOACs periablation. Questions remain, especially regarding the delivery of anticoagulation care and integration of wearable rhythm monitors in AF management.
Increased Same Day Discharge Rate After Laparoscopic Guided 4-Point Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Robotic Assisted Gynecologic Procedures

Study Objective To compare rates of same day discharge between four-point and two-point, laparoscopically guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks, for robotic-assisted gynecologic procedures. Design We performed a retrospective chart review from October 2017 to March 2019. All information from the surgical admission as well as postoperative follow up was reviewed. Data was compared to a similar cohort of patients who had received two-point TAP blocks. Setting All procedures were performed at one academic hospital. Patients or Participants 116 patients who underwent robotic-assisted gynecologic surgery, with administration of a four-point TAP block were included. Interventions A four-point TAP block was performed under laparoscopic visualization by the same surgeon after induction of anesthesia and immediately following placement of the laparoscope. 20 mL of Liposomal bupivacaine and 20 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine mixed with saline were used as the injectate for both groups. Measurements and Main Results 116 patients were included with a mean age of 40.6 (19-80) and a mean body mass index of 30.6 (17.2-53.3). 70.7 % of patients were discharged to home on the day of surgery. Of the 29.3% of patients who were admitted 20.6 % were due to pain control. Those who were admitted for pain control comprised 6.0% of all study participants. In the cohort who received the two-point TAP block, only 33.7% of patients were discharged home on the day of surgery which was significantly lower than the four-point cohort with a p value of Conclusion A surgeon performed TAP block, under laparoscopic visualization, is a safe and efficacious intervention to reduce postoperative pain thereby increasing same day discharge rate. In this study, patients who received a four-point TAP block had a higher rate of same-day discharge than those in the group who received the two-point TAP.
Miracles and home births: the importance of media representations of birth

Since most women do not experience birth firsthand before giving birth themselves, many U.S. American birthing women draw knowledge from media representations for understanding what to expect durin...
Abstract WP435: Post Procedural Monitoring Tool Improves the Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center Standard Compliance

Background: The Joint Commission (TJC) Comprehensive Stroke Center standard requires monitoring of patients after IV tPA administration, diagnostic angiography, aneurysm coiling, carotid angioplast...
COVID-19 Pandemic, Direct Cash Transfers, and the Federal Reserve

Over the past few years, some observers have been warning that the Fed needs to update its operating framework to include a level target and the ability to implement direct cash transfers in special situations like the current crisis. They make the case that it is better for the Fed to provide any direct cash transfers because it is nimbler and more likely to do so in a rules-based manner. That time has come, and this policy brief shows how to ensure that the overhaul of the Fed’s operating framework can provide powerful countercyclical policy in a manner that is both systematic and based on rules. The overhaul consists of three main steps: First, the Fed needs to adopt a two-rule approach to monetary policy so that it can handle both positive and negative interest rate environments. Second, the Fed needs to adopt a nominal GDP level target so that it can stabilize dollar incomes and make up for past misses in its target. Finally, the Fed needs to be given a standing fiscal facility so that it can do direct money transfers, or “helicopter drops,” to households once interest rates hit 0 percent. This feature cuts out the “middleman” of monetary policy during severe economic downturns. These three steps are outlined in greater detail in this policy brief.
Lingering Identity as Chronically Ill and the Unanticipated Effects of Life-Changing Precision Medicine in Cystic Fibrosis: A Case Report

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the leading genetic disease among Caucasians; however, advances in diagnosis and treatment have improved both quality and quantity of life for those affected. A remarkable recent discovery is the triple-drug combination, elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor, which has been touted as a "miracle drug" for CF because of its demonstrated efficacy and safety. This case study reports on an adult woman with CF who experienced positive life-changing results from elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor, and yet discovered that she lived in fear that its effectiveness would diminish, and her debilitating symptoms would return. Her lingering identity as chronically ill tainted her view of her new life with skepticism and pervasive anxiety. This case highlights a critical need to engage in early, regular and sensitive discussions with patients before initiating treatments that may affect their emotional and mental health and provide referrals or services to meet those emergent needs.
VizObj2Vec: Contextual Representation Learning for Visual Objects in Video-frames

While the use of the distributional hypothesis has become popular in creating embedding for text corpus, it is rarely used for generating the contextual (distributed) representation of visual objects in video data. In this paper, we present a distributed representation model, vizObj2Vec, that leverages the contexts of visual objects learned from spatiotemporal placements of the objects in the video-frames to construct object-embeddings. The model enables computation of contextual similarity – rather than solely relying on the visual resemblance in similarity computation – between a pair of visual objects. As a result, objects that are contextually connected – because they are in close proximity in a frame or are in nearby frames – appear in a neighborhood in the constructed embedding space. Through a series of extensive experiments, the paper demonstrates (1) the context selection process for visual objects in video data and (2) the potential of the proposed model in distinguishing neighborhoods of contextual objects in the video embedding space.
Impact of Communication Method and Timeliness on Student and Faculty Perception of Professionalism and Value.

Objective. This study sought to evaluate faculty/preceptor and student perceptions regarding preferences and timeliness of communication on professionalism and value.Methods. An anonymous questionnaire was sent to faculty/preceptors and students evaluating preferred method of communication, response time expectations, impact on professionalism, and perception of being valued. The University of Mississippi Institutional Review Board granted expedited approval.Results. A total of 253/924 responses were received (27% response rate). Responses came from 27 (11%) full-time faculty, 94 (37%) preceptors, and 132 (52%) students. Overall, email was the preferred communication method for non-time sensitive information (98%) with a majority of faculty/preceptors and students indicating 48hrs was a reasonable response time. Participants largely felt <24 hours to be a reasonable response time for text or phone call communication. Most students indicated response time to be somewhat or not impactful (58%) on their view of professionalism, while faculty and preceptors indicated response time to be neutral or somewhat impactful (60%). The majority of students (77%) felt that the response time from faculty/preceptors impacted their perceptions of feeling valued and important.Conclusion. Communication preferences among faculty/preceptors and students differ. Professionalism related to communication is important for all groups, and timeliness in communication between faculty, preceptors, and students impacts perception of value and self-worth.
Principles of sensor-effector organization in six-transmembrane ion channels

Receptor proteins sense stimuli and generate downstream signals via sensor and effector domains. Presently, the structural constraints on sensor-effector organization across receptor protein superfamilies are not clear. Here, we perform statistical coupling analysis (SCA) on the transient receptor potential (TRP) and voltage-gated potassium (Kv) ion channel superfamilies to characterize the networks of coevolving residues, or protein sectors, that mediate their receptor functions. Comparisons to structural and functional studies reveal a conserved "core" sector that extends from the pore and mediates effector functions, including pore gating and sensor-pore coupling, while sensors correspond to family-specific "accessory" sectors and localize according to three principles: Sensors (1) may emerge in any region with access to the core, (2) must maintain contact with the core, and (3) must preserve the integrity of the core. This sensor-core architecture may represent a conserved and generalizable paradigm for the structure-function relationships underlying the evolution of receptor proteins.
Emotion Musical Prosody for Robotic Groups and Entitativity

Research in human-robot interaction has focused on the relationship between a single robot and a single human participant. Only limited research has addressed the contrasting dynamic when humans interact with a group of robots. This dynamic adds additional human-robot interaction considerations, such as the level of entitativity, which is the identification of a group as a single entity as opposed to a collection of individuals. This paper proposes that emotional music prosody can play a key role in improving the interaction between humans and groups of robots by modifying the level of entitativity. Musical prosody refers to the use of pitch, rhythm and timbre features derived from language, but used without semantic meaning.We conducted a between-group experiment, presenting to subjects a group of industrial robotic arms performing a task either without sound, with the same emotional musical prosody voice for each robot, or with contrasting voices for different robots. We were able to show with significant results that the use of musical prosody improved likeability and trust over soundless gestures for groups of robots. We also demonstrate that, through subtle variations, prosody is able to alter the level of entitativity perceived by external observers. Finally, our results indicate a complex relationship between entitativity and common HRI metrics with higher levels of entitativity leading to improved performance, contradicting past literature.
A Probability-Based Pore Network Model of Particle Jamming in Porous Media

Geometric straining of particles in porous media is of critical importance in a broad range of natural and industrial settings, such as contaminant transport in aquifers and the permeability decline due to pore plugging in oil reservoirs. Pore network modeling is a computationally efficient approach to simulate transport problems in porous media that has been used to simulate particle deposition and size exclusion. However, existing network models are unable to simulate particle jamming due to the simplification of geometry and the lack of capability for simulating particle–particle interactions. Here, we develop a novel pore network model for particle jamming in porous media. The jamming in pore throats is predicted by the probability of jamming, which is a function of pore/particle size ratio, particle concentration, and coefficient of friction (COF). A unified probability model is developed based on Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations of particle jamming in porous media consisting of a single layer of spherical grains. The geometry is based on two packing extremes, those with grains arranged in a triangle and a square. The model is then implemented into the pore network model to predict jamming in porous media. This framework combines the efficiency of network modeling and the accuracy of direct simulations on particle jamming. We verify the model against CFD-DEM simulations. The results of network simulations show that the probability of jamming increases with COF. At low particle concentrations (C = 5%), the probability of jamming for large pore throats is small. There is a critical particle concentration (C = 9%) when the grain/particle size ratio is 10, above which jamming is self-reinforcing and the inlet face of the porous medium will be completely blocked (C = 11%). The effect of velocity on the probability of jamming is insignificant compared with the effects of particle concentration and pore/particle size ratio.
Using pharmacy technicians and electronic health record capabilities to improve outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare lipid and blood pressure (BP) control before and after implementing a certified pharmacy technician (CPhT) protocol that optimized electronic health record (EHR) capabilities and shifted work from clinical pharmacy specialists (CPSs) to CPhT. SETTING Kaiser Permanente Colorado's pharmacist-managed cardiac risk reduction service (which manages dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes for all patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease). PRACTICE DESCRIPTION In 2019, a protocol that optimized EHR capabilities and allowed work to be offloaded from CPS to CPhT was implemented. Filtered views within the EHR were created that bucketed patients with specific lipid results criteria. The CPhT protocol provided guidance to CPhT on determining whether patients were at low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) goals, on appropriate statin intensity, adherent to medications, and whether the most recent BP was controlled. The CPhT notified CPS of uncontrolled patients who would assess and manage these patients, as necessary. The CPhT notified controlled patients of their results. PRACTICE INNOVATION Data on the outcomes of incorporating pharmacy technicians to support CPS clinical activities in ambulatory clinical pharmacy are limited. EVALUATION METHODS This retrospective study compared a "Pharmacist-Driven" (index date: January 1, 2016) with a "Tech-Enhanced" (index date: January 1, 2019) group. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients at all goals defined as LDL-C < 70 mg/dL, non-HDL < 100 mg/dL, and BP < 140/90 mm Hg at 1 year after the index dates. RESULTS There were 6813 patients included (mean age: 70.2 ± 11.1 years, 71.4% male): 3130 and 3683 in the "Pharmacist-Driven" and "Tech-Enhanced" groups, respectively. The proportion of patients who attained LDL-C, non-HDL, and BP goals was higher in the "Tech-Enhanced" group (51.1% vs. 39.7%, P < 0.001) than the "Pharmacist-Driven" group. CONCLUSION A protocol integrating EHR decision support and CPhTs enabled work to shift to from CPS to CPhT and improved clinical outcomes.
Trends in Engineer Registration, Sunset Review: How to survive?

Thirty-one states have legislated periodic review of licensing and regulatory functions, including professional registration or licensure of engineers, land surveyors, and related professionals, to determine if these functions should be continued on the basis of serving the public interest. To date, 23 state boards of registration have been subjected to such review under Sunset Legislation. The reports and recommendations submitted by a number of the reviewing bodies, together with the response from these boards and supporting statements, were reviewed and are summarized. All registration boards reviewed so far have been continued, but numerous changes in composition, procedure and policy have been implemented as a result of the process. These changes are reported, and recommendations related to preparing for and responding to Sunset Law reviews are offered.
Analysis of a cylindrical antenna in a circular aperture in a screen

An analysis is presented of a finite-length cylindrical antenna which extends through the center of a circular aperture in a perfectly conducting screen separating two dissimilar half-spaces. The screen is planar and of infinite extent while the half-spaces are homogeneous, of semi-infinite extent, and possibly lossy. The screen and the cylinder are perpendicular. The cylinder is excited by the traditional slice generator. Coupled integral equations for the cylinder current and aperture electric field are derived and solved numerically. The effect of the PEC screen on the antenna current distribution is investigated as is the effect of the dissimilar properties of the two half-spaces. It is also pointed out that, for a sufficiently large aperture, the cylinder current is a good approximation of that on the ground stake antenna. Data are presented for cases of interest and are compared with special-case results available in the literature.
Can one determine the underlying fermi surface in the superconducting state of strongly correlated systems

The question of determining the underlying Fermi surface (FS) that is gapped by superconductivity (SC) is of central importance in strongly correlated systems, particularly in view of angle-resolved photoemission experiments. Here we explore various definitions of the FS in the superconducting state using the zero-energy Green's function, the excitation spectrum, and the momentum distribution. We examine (a) $d$-wave SC in high-${T}_{c}$ cuprates, and (b) the $s$-wave superfluid in the BCS--Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover. In each case we show that the various definitions agree, to a large extent, but all of them violate the Luttinger count and do not enclose the total electron density. We discuss the important role of chemical potential renormalization and incoherent spectral weight in this violation.
Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder, by H. Walker, G. Brozek, and C. Maxfield

Herschel Walker, Heisman Trophy winner and star running back of the National Football League, has written about his experience with dissociative identity disorder (DID). His book stirred great cont...
Characterization of RyR1-slow, a ryanodine receptor specific to slow-twitch skeletal muscle

Two distinct skeletal muscle ryanodine receptors (RyR1s) are expressed in a fiber type–specific manner in fish skeletal muscle (11). In this study, we compare [3H]ryanodine binding and single chann...
Techniques for measuring cascaded self-saturating magnetic-amplifier performance

THE rapid development of magnetic amplifiers in recent years has led to the spending of much effort on their analysis and design criteria. Despite the progress made, a major part of the design must still be carried out experimentally.
The Nowotny chimney ladder phases: Whence the 14 electron rule?

The late transition metal Nowotny chimney ladder phases (NCLs, TtEm; T, groups 7−9; E, groups 13 and 14) follow a 14 electron rule: the total number of valence electrons per T atom is 14. In this paper, we extract a chemical explanation for this rule from extended Huckel calculations; we focus on RuGa2, the parent NCL structure. A gap between filled and unfilled bands arises from the occupation of two Ga−Ga bonding/Ru−Ga nonbonding orbitals per RuGa2, independent of k-point. In addition, the five Ru d levels are filled. Together this makes for 7 filled bands at each k-point, or 14 electrons per Ru. We discuss the connections between this 14 electron rule and the 18 electron rule of organometallic complexes.
Geodesy 1979–1982

The growing interaction of geodesy with its kindred disciplines, oceanography and tectonophysics, may have been the most significant trend in geodetic activity during this past quadrennium. Geodetic observing systems are now capable of measuring so much more precisely (to the centimeter level) and over such a broader extent (like the oceans), that their results add materially to knowledge of crustal and mantle structure, of ocean bottom relief, and of oceanic circulation. Especially important is the application of precise, repetitive geodetic measurements to the detection and analysis of time-varying effects. Examples are the utilization of altimeter data to yield ocean boundary current changes, and of radio interferometry and laser ranging to systematically monitor polar motion, earth rotation, and crustal movements
A simple model of spike processing

We describe a simple model of spike processing build with a number of neural hardware primitives including integrate-and-fire neurons, dendritic trees, integrators, inhibition logic and one-to-many axonal/dendritic tree connectivity. Functionally, our model consists of neuro-modulators, communication channels, neuro-demodulators and filters. Integrate-and-fire neurons play the role of neuro-modulators. They represent dendritic currents in the spike domain through a process of reversible computation. Neuro-demodulation and irreversible computation takes place in dendritic trees as time domain linear and/or non-linear operations. Assuming that the stimulus at the input of an integrate-and-fire sensory neuron is bandlimited, we demonstrate how to construct a linear operator that maps an arbitrary stimulus into a desired neuronal signal.
Vascular Endothelial Function Is Not Related to Serum Uric Acid in Healthy Adults

Endothelial dysfunction predicts cardiovascular disease1 and is central to the development and progression of atherosclerosis.2 Similarly, oxidative stress and inflammation are believed to play a role in atherosclerosis and have been shown to modulate the nitric oxide (NO) system.3 Considering the growing health burden of cardiovascular disease, risk factors that could influence endothelial function, inflammation, and oxidative stress are of great interest, such as uric acid. Uric acid is generated by the liver and other peripheral tissues as a normal byproduct of purine metabolism. Recent studies have highlighted a potential role for elevated serum uric acid levels in cardiovascular disease.4 Although the association between serum uric acid levels and ischemic cardiovascular disease is well-established in several large epidemiological studies,5,6,7 controversy exists to whether this association is causal.8,9 On one hand, under physiological concentrations, urate (the soluble form of uric acid) is a powerful antioxidant that can scavenge superoxide, hydroxyl radicals, and singlet oxygen.10 In addition, xanthine oxidase, the enzyme that converts hypoxanthine to xanthine, and xanthine to uric acid, also generates reactive oxidative species and may play a role in vascular disease11 suggesting that uric acid is merely a marker for disease. Alternatively, uric acid can react with NO irreversibly in vitro leading NO depletion12 and may cause oxidative stress once internalized by the cells.13 In vascular smooth muscle cells, uric acid induces inflammatory mediators such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and activates nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB).14,15 In some animal models, even mild elevation in uric acid levels has been reported to induce endothelial dysfunction16 and inflammatory cytokines,17 while other animal studies have shown the opposite.18 Similarly, it remains unclear if circulating uric acid concentrations are related to endothelial function among healthy adults.19,20 Importantly, the relation between uric acid and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in endothelial cells (ECs) obtained in vivo from humans is unknown. Hence, we hypothesized that increased serum uric acid levels are associated with impaired endothelial function and with increased systemic and cellular inflammation and oxidative stress in healthy adults. We used a community based cohort in Boulder, Colorado to test our hypothesis. Endothelial-dependant dilation (EDD) was assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation and endothelial-independent dilation (EID) was assessed by change in diameter after nitroglycerin (NTG) administration. ECs were collected from the brachial arteries of the participants and immunofluorescence was performed for markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.
Teaching design patterns in CS1: a closed laboratory sequence based on the game of life

Design patterns are an important element of today's undergraduate curricula. However, their inherent complexities often make them difficult for entry-level students to even partially grasp. In this paper, we describe the latest in our continuing efforts to build educational materials appropriate for infusing design patterns in entry-level computer science courses.
Dense-phase feeding of pulverized coal in uniform plug flow

A series of high-pressure pneumatic dense-phase flow experiments were conducted using pulverized coal as the granular solids. This granular material was transported by nitrogen gas out of a conical feeder tank, through a length of stainless-steel tubing and into a pressurized receiver tank. Only the nitrogen gas trapped in the interstices of the coal particles inside the feeder tank was used to transport the coal. Six different transport stainless-steel tube geometries were used. A detailed analysis of the system is performed. This analysis reasonably predicts the expected solids flow rate for a given set of operating conditions and the minimum pressure drop required to maintain flow.
Modification of microsomally mediated oxygen uptake by alterations in dietary lipids

Abstract Rats were fed a basal diet with 5% or 20% soy oil that was either fresh, oxidized or partially hydrogenated, both with and without the cytochrome P-450 inducers, phenobaritone and β-naphthoflavone. Changes in the qualitative character of the oil altered the hepatic cytochrome P-450 mediated rate of oxygen uptake by the liver microsomes and linoleic hydroperoxide substrates; the quality and quantity of the oil affected the non-enzymatic uptake of oxygen mediated by ascorbate. These changes in oxygen transfer rates were attributed to both changes in lipid composition of the endoplasmic reticulum and changes in the constituent forms of P-450. The implications of these effects in oxidative cell injury are discussed in light of the recently reported reaction that describes a very rapid uptake of oxygen in a system which utilizes molecular oxygen, cytochrome P-450 and hydroperoxide as the only reactants.
Small excess and Ricci curvature

It is proved that a Riemanniann-manifold with Ricci curvature ≥ (n − 1) and a lower injectivity radius bound is a sphere provided the diameter is sufficiently close to π.
Incorporation Processes in MBE Growth of ZnSe

Abstract Absolute measurements of Zn and Se fluxes employed in MBE growth of ZnSe have been performed by using three different methods, the deposition of Zn or Se on cold substrates, the estimation by a crystal monitor, and the growth of ZnSe under the Zn or Se over-flux conditions. Based on the results of the flux measurements, the flux ratio was set at unity in the growth of (100) ZnSe at 320°C. Under this condition, the growth surface exhibits a (2 X 1) structure, and high sticking coefficients of Zn and Se were obtained. A model of incorporation processes of Zn and Se in MBE growth of (100) ZnSe is proposed.
A philosophical inquiry to include trance in epistemology

In a state of voluntary trance or meditation, the perception of reality appears to extend beyond the usual spatial and temporal boundaries that are normally perceived by the sense organs. It is argued that the problems of validity and reliability of trance experiences for scientific discourse are in principle no different than the problems associated with ordinary perception. The shift in early Greek philosophy from myth to an emphasis on logos (reason) has led to a neglect of those subtle qualities of reason that were considered to be gateways for divine revelation. Scientific methodologies cannot account for such revelation, and there are no criteria known to science that would enable people to utilize these phenomena. Shamanic experiences are intersubjectively accessible and provide data that is suitable for the construction of rational theories if appropriate methodologies are developed. However, for a scientist, shamanic experiences are considered at most to be psychological ones, and consequently without any value for empirical research. This article examines the possibility of reevaluating the terms "rational" and "consciousness," in order to expand scientific methodologies in such a way that volitionally altered perceptions of reality can be integrated into scientific research.
Gossypol: uncoupling of respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation.

Abstract Gossypol produced adverse effects in vitro on rat liver mitochondira. It stimulated mitochondrial respiration at low concentrations, inhibited it at high concentrations; abolished ADP/O and respiration control ratios; reversed inhibition caused by oligomycin; stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activity at low concentrations and inhibited it at high concentrations; and its effect on this enzyme was pH dependent. The possibility that gossypol may exert its toxic effect on poultry and animals by uncoupling respiratory chain-linked phosphorylation is discussed.
On rates of convergence in functional linear regression

This paper investigates the rate of convergence of estimating the regression weight function in a functional linear regression model. It is assumed that the predictor as well as the weight function are smooth and periodic in the sense that the derivatives are equal at the boundary points. Assuming that the functional data are observed at discrete points with measurement error, the complex Fourier basis is adopted in estimating the true data and the regression weight function based on the penalized least-squares criterion. The rate of convergence is then derived for both estimators. A simulation study is also provided to illustrate the numerical performance of our approach, and to make a comparison with the principal component regression approach.
Streamlined Modeling for Reaction Equilibrium

Traditionally, the determination of composition at chemical equilibrium has been carried out using the concept of the "equilibrium constant." Though awkward, the use of equilibrium "constant" is straightforward when the equilibrium temperature and pressure are known. However, even with modern software (such as Stanjan [1]), the usage becomes very burdensome in cases such as: (a) constant volume combustion, with T known, (b) adiabatic combustion, at constant pressure (or volume), when the final temperature and density (or pressure) are unknowns, (c) there are more than one independent reactions, (d) non-isothermal combustion with heat transfer, (e) when ideal-gas or ideal solution assumptions are not acceptable Furthermore, even in the more simple cases, becoming engrossed with the mechanics of applying the equilibrium constant (and other relevant principles), students and practitioners often lose sight of the fundamentals that are being applied. In this paper, via several examples, it is illustrated how to directly employ the fundamental principles - element, mass, volume, energy and entropy balances, along with the property relations - and avoid the use of equilibrium constants. Reaction equilibrium conditions - composition, temperature, pressure, density - are determined in a straightforward, easy manner. The key to this improved and easy approach is the accessibility of equation solving software that includes property relations for gases and liquids. In particular, in the present work, EES [2] is employed.© 2006 ASME