cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear instability of axial flow compression systems

The rotating stall inception point predicted by linear theories is at the peak of axisymmetric characteristic of the compressor. But this may not be true in practice. High speed compressors and some low speed compressors are observed experimentally to lose their stability at the region where the performance curves of the compressor has negative slope. In this paper, the Lyapunov direct method is used to prove that in a compression system an asymptotically stable operating point close to the peak of the axisymmetric characteristic of the compressor could be nonlinearly unstable. Moreover, it is proposed that the nonaxisymmetric disturbance is able to be eliminated by only detecting and controlling the mean axial velocity. The axial flow compression system is modeled by an one-mode truncated Moore-Greitzer model. The analysis is concentrated on the cases in which the system is predicted by the linear theory to be asymptotically stable. It is found that there are two cases which are asymptotically stable but nonlinearly unstable. First, when the steepness of the compressor characteristic, measured by parameter S, and the Greitzer's B parameter are small, rotating stall occurs if the amplitude of initial nonaxisymmetric disturbance is over a certain value. Second, when parameter S and the Greitzer's B parameter are large, the system surges over one cycle under the influence of a very small initial nonaxisymmetric disturbance whose amplitude is about ten times less than the limit value of the first case. These results are very important for the design of an active controller to improve the efficiency of the compression systems. 'Copyright @ 1995 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved. tAIAA member, Current position: Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Eng., Indiana Institute of Technology, Fort Wayne, IN46803 * Associate Professor NOMENCLATURE
Phantom Life on Mars: Microbes and “Super-bees”

Percival Lowell (1855–1916) founded the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Ariz., for the express purpose of studying Mars. He was convinced that 19th-century astronomical observations suggesting the existence of “canals” on Mars meant that Mars was inhabited by intelligent beings. Flying saucers became a craze in 1947, and a popular book published in 1951 by Gerald Heard [Is Another World Watching?] maintained that the saucers were piloted by Martian “super-bees,” about 2 inches long, that possessed an intelligence much higher than that of humans. The Viking missions to Mars of 1976 showed conclusively that there were no living organisms on Mars greater than 2 mm in diameter, and experimental tests for living microbes gave negative results. In 1996, NASA scientists reported observation of “wormlike microscopic fossils” in a Martian meteorite collected in Antarctica and interpreted them as fossils of past microbial life on Mars. Experimental tests of the meteorite in independent laboratories, however, made it clear that the “fossils” were bits of inorganic debris.
Use of a Pediatric Cardiovascular Nursing Consortium for Development and Evaluation of Quality Measures: The C4-MNP Experience

Background The evidence linking nursing care and patient outcomes has been globally demonstrated. Thus, it is time for translation and application of this evidence to robust measurement that uniquely demonstrates the value of nursing care and the characteristics of the nursing workforce that contribute to optimal patient outcomes. Objective The aim of this study was to identify and develop standardized measures representative of pediatric nursing care of the cardiovascular patient for benchmarking within freestanding children's hospitals. Methods Using a consensus-based approach, the Consortium of Congenital Cardiac Care- Measurement of Nursing Practice (C4-MNP) members developed quality measures within working groups and then individually critiqued all drafted measures. Final draft measures were then independently reviewed and critiqued by an external nursing quality measurement committee. The final quality measures were also made available to a national parent support group for feedback. Outcomes The development process used by C4-MNP resulted in 10 measures eligible for testing across freestanding children's hospitals. Employing a collaborative consensus-based method plus implementing the criteria of the National Quality Forum and external vetting period provided a strong framework for the development and evaluation of standardized measures. Next Steps The Consortium will continue with implementation and testing of each measure in 9 of our 28 collaborating centers. This activity will support initial development of benchmarks and evaluation of the association of the measures with patient outcomes.
In vitro osteocytic microdamage and viability quantification using a microloading platform

Bone remodeling is a process in which bone is resorbed by osteoclasts and formed by osteoblasts. This is normally a paired process, although it can be disrupted by changes in mechanical load. One theory is that osteocytes play a key role in the cellular regulation of this process. Mechanotransduction studies, which investigate how cells convert mechanical stimuli into biophysical effects and cellular activity, offer one way to investigate this theory. Mechanotransduction work is commonly done by applying an isolated mechanical load to cells grown in vitro, and quantifying the response. While in vitro work does not fully replicate the natural environment, it does allow the study of isolated factors. In this study, a mechanical loading platform was designed, fabricated, and characterized for bone mechanotransduction studies. This platform was designed to tent cell-seeded substrates from below, loading using out of plane distension. This introduced a nonuniform strain profile, enabling the study of cells cultured under identical conditions and variable strains as a function of substrate location. An alphanumerically gridded polydimethylsiloxane well substrate was designed and fabricated for cellular loading experiments. Following initial characterization, a study was run to quantify the cellular activity of osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cells as a function of strain field. The results indicated that regions with lower strains led to an increase in cellular activity while higher strains led to a reduction in cellular activity. This demonstrated that cells could be exposed to mechanically-induced microdamage using the microloading platform.
MONTANA SCHOOLS OF PROMISE: ADDRESSING EQUITY IN AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION

The American Indian presence in Montana enriches the state's culture. Educationally, however, there are gross disparities between academic performance of American Indian students when compared with the student population as a whole and with various ethnic/cultural subgroups. Montana's educational data mirror the Bureau of Indian Education national educational achievement reports. Montana, however, has begun to build an infrastructure to address this inequity.
The WTO dispute settlement system

This charter would deal with the subjects which the Preparatory Committee has assigned to its five working committees. It should deal with these subjects in precise detail so that the obligations of member governments would be clear and unambiguous. Most of these subjects readily lend themselves to such treatment. Provisions on such subjects, once agreed upon, would be self-executing and could be applied by the governments concerned without further elaboration or international action. Harry Hawkins, representing the US, speaking of the proposed ITO Charter, 1946. We must never forget, that it is a constitution we are expounding, Chief Justice John Marshall, 1819. The WTO dispute settlement system – unique, a great achievement, controversial Section 4.2 discussed the emphasis that eminent economists put on the essential role of institutions in ensuring that markets work satisfactorily. This principle can be expanded to apply to many contexts, such as keeping the peace, protecting human rights, and generally reforming “constitutional” structures. These thoughts inevitably lead to questions as to how (or whether) certain rules work. The WTO dispute settlement system then becomes a link in the chain of logic about these human affairs. This thought process clearly plays a central role in the policy foundations of the world economic system. At the 1946 beginning UN conference, assembled to draft an ITO charter (described in section 4.3), a remarkably and directly relevant statement was made by one of the conference leaders, a US representative named Harry Hawkins.
How to use… serum creatinine, cystatin C and GFR.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best overall measure of kidney function. The GFR is relatively low at birth but increases through infancy and early childhood to reach adult levels of approximately 120 mL/min/1.73 m2 by age 2. While GFR can be measured most accurately by the urinary clearance of an exogenous ideal filtration marker such as inulin, it is more clinically useful to estimate GFR using a single serum measurement of an endogenous biomarker such as creatinine or cystatin C. When in steady state, there is an inverse relationship between creatinine/cystatin C and GFR, allowing GFR to be estimated from either using simple equations. Because of the non-linear relationship between creatinine/cystatin C and GFR, relatively small initial increases in these markers represent significant decreases in GFR. While cystatin C is produced by all nucleated cells, creatinine is a waste product of muscle metabolism and is therefore influenced by diet and muscle mass/body habitus. Decreased GFR is used to diagnose and stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) using the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes system. A diagnosis of CKD requires GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for more than 3 months; higher GFR also represents CKD if evidence of kidney damage (such as albuminuria or abnormal imaging) is present. Changes in serum creatinine and urine output are used to diagnose acute kidney injury. It is possible to calculate a kinetic GFR when the creatinine is changing rapidly, though more complex calculations are required.
Diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism induce changes in myosin isoenzyme distribution in the rat heart--do alterations in fuel flux mediate these changes?

The different pathophysiological mechanisms which influence the formation of specific cardiac proteins are only incompletely understood. Changes in the level of specific cardiac proteins could result for example, from alterations in the hormonal milieu, changes in cardiac substrate consumption, alterations in the level of high energy phosphates and other mechanisms. Recent investigations have shown that the level of one specific group of proteins in the rat heart ventricle, the isozymes of myosin, are markedly influenced by insulin lack,1,2 and hypothyroidism. 3,4 The existence of three myosin isoenzymes in the rat ventricle (myosin V1, V2, V3) has recently been well documented.3-5 In normal rat hearts myosin V1, which has the highest Ca++-activated myosin ATPase activity, predominates, whereas in hypothyroid or diabetic rats myosin V3, which has the lowest myosin ATPase activity, becomes the predominant form.1-4 The hypothyroidism and diabetes-induced myosin V3 predominance results in a decrease in Ca++-activated myosin ATPase activity. A very close correlation between the activity of this enzyme and the maximal velocity of muscle contraction is well established.6’7 In addition a very close correlation exists between high levels of V1 isomyosin and the maximal speed of contraction of rat papillary muscle.8 Administration of physiological doses of thyroid hormone to hypothyroid rats and of insulin to diabetic rats reverts the myosin isoenzyme distribution to the normal pattern.1,2,4
Abstract WP199: Hemorrhagic and Ischemic Stroke Risk Among Persons With Pain

Introduction: Pain frequently occurs after ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Though conditions such as hypertension are associated with both pain and stroke, little is known about the relationship between pain and stroke risk. Hypothesis: Pain will be associated with increased hemorrhagic rather than ischemic stroke. Methods: We examined stroke among Veterans in the Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) Cohort, which contains 4.1 million Veterans diagnosed with at least one musculoskeletal disorder between 2001 and 2011. All conditions were identified via ICD-9 codes and all comorbidity defined as occurring one year prior to and six months after the date of first MSD diagnosis. Pain was measured by the pain intensity numeric rating scale score on the date of first MSD diagnosis. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between pain and stroke subtype. Results: Comorbid hemorrhagic (n=9,141; 0.22%) and ischemic (n=19,301; 0.47%) strokes were uncommon in the MSD cohort. The majority of hemorrhagic stroke patients (88%) had their stroke following their first MSD diagnosis, compared with 58% of ischemic stroke patients (p<.0001). After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, medical comorbidities (including hypertension), and BMI, persons with pain had a higher odds of having a hemorrhagic, rather than an ischemic stroke (odds ratio ∼ 1.35, confidence interval = 1.2, 1.6). When examining odds including persons without stroke (multinomial model), severe pain (versus ‘no pain’) was significantly associated with increased odds of hemorrhagic stroke (versus ‘no stroke’). When comparing ischemic stroke to no stroke, odds ratios at all pain levels revealed significantly higher pain in those patients without comorbid ischemic stroke. Conclusion: Pain was associated with increased odds of having a hemorrhagic stroke (compared to ischemic). Only severe pain increased the odds of hemorrhagic stroke (compared to ‘no stroke’). Pain was significantly decreased in the ischemic stroke group compared to the group without comorbid stroke. Further work is necessary to understand mediators and moderators between pain, increased hemorrhagic (e.g., NSAID use) and decreased ischemic (e.g., aphasia) stroke risk.
A planning tool to assess advanced vehicle sensor technologies on traffic flow, fuel economy, and emissions

Author(s): Van Wifvat, Van Thomas | Advisor(s): Samuelsen, Scott | Abstract: Light-duty vehicles are responsible for over 16% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States. Human driving behavior has a significant impact on vehicle efficiency, the emission of GHG and primary pollutants, and safety. With environmental health in mind, both academia and industry have the opportunity to develop advanced sensor and complementary control technologies to manage the human role. To explore this hypothesis, the research reported herein began with a comprehensive study of demonstration projects and academic publications which test and evaluate modern technologies to mitigate threats associated with safety and efficiency. The research identified the environmental signals to detect, the corresponding sensors to detect these signals, and the sensor technologies to study in greater depth. Of all the sensor technologies, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications technologies emerged as the most promising. A major requirement identified is a planning tool designed to assess advanced vehicle sensor technologies on traffic flow, fuel economy, and emissions.In response, a major focus of the research was then directed to (1) developing the Fuel Economy and Traffic of Connected Hybrids (FETCH) planning tool, and (2) evaluating the utility of FETCH for a simple V2V-enabled automatic re-routing control on a custom roadway. The major outcomes of the thesis are (1) the FETCH tool, (2) a research plan for utilizing FETCH to explore the variety of scenarios evolving for the advanced control of hybrid vehicles, and (3) an overall perspective for the evolution of advanced technologies to enable safer and cleaner light duty transportation.
Needs of a Silent Minority: Mexican Transgender Asylum Seekers.

Mexican male to female transgender asylum seekers in the United States suffer from serious health issues that can be attributed to stressors related to their transgender, ethnic minority, and socioeconomic status. This study explored these stressors, the resulting health issues, and the needs of this particularly vulnerable population. Asylum seekers’ (n = 45) sworn declarations and psychological evaluations were examined by a multidisciplinary research team using a systematic document review process. The review identified stressors that occurred both in Mexico and the United States: verbal, physical, and sexual assaults; unstable environments; fear for safety/security; hiding undocumented status; and economic insecurity. The health issues that resulted in part from these stressors include posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, sleep issues, isolation, avoidance, drug/alcohol use, and suicidal tendencies. Despite suffering from multiple health issues, asylum seekers rarely sought health or so...
Building relational possibilities: theoretical roots of infant mental health practice in the case of Alycia

The practice of infant mental health (IMH) has evolved from a combination of theoretical frameworks focused upon early relationships and the complex interplay between individuals and their internal...
Decreased expression of microRNA-26b in locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer.

Summary Advanced-stage breast cancer patients comprise a smaller proportion of breast cancer patients than do early-stage patients and are more likely to experience a poor outcome. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms and identifying new biomarkers for treatment in this subgroup of patients is paramount. With the aim of identifying microRNAs that are regulated in advanced-stage breast cancer, we found lower expression of miR-26b, a member of the miR-26 family, in inflammatory breast cancer and noninflammatory locally advanced breast cancer tissue than in normal breast tissue, by quantitative real-time PCR and in situ hybridization. Quantitative real-time PCR (but not in situ hybridization) also revealed lower miR-26b expression in inflammatory breast cancer than in noninflammatory locally advanced breast cancer. Furthermore, lower expression of miR-26b was correlated with shorter distant metastasis-free survival and overall survival in univariate analysis, and with shorter overall survival in multivariate analysis. The expression of miRNA-26b was inversely associated with EZH2 protein expression in several breast cancer cell lines, and overexpression and knockdown of miR-26b caused corresponding changes in EZH2 expression. Our study shows that miR-26b may regulate EZH2 expression in breast cancer and may be useful as a therapeutic target for inflammatory breast cancer and noninflammatory locally advanced breast cancer.
Two Pivotal Essays: “The Devil” (1916) and Ruskin’s Philosophy (1919–1922)

In the same year that saw the publication of Religion and Philosophy, Collingwood contributed an essay on the devil to a symposium entitled Concerning Prayer.1 This work was written at Oxford at a time when Collingwood was an active member of a group centered around Lily Dougall (1858–1923) and B. H. Streeter (1874–1937), Praelector of Queens College. B. H. Streeter was doing much to introduce the ideas of Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) to Oxford. Schweitzer’s Von Reimarus zu Wrede (1906) was attracting much attention, and its discussion of the relation between history and theology was not to be lost upon Collingwood.2 Unfortunately scarcely any material exists on Collingwood’s personal relations with Streeter’s group.3
Metal-Enhanced Growth of Silicon

A kinetic analysis is made of the growth velocities of a variety of phenomena involving the growth of silicon: solid phase epitaxy, melting and solidification, vapor-liquid-solid growth, solid-liquid-solid growth, thermomigration of liquid metal droplets, and metal-mediated crystallization in the solid state. In a few cases the maxi mum interface-limited growth rate could be determined; in most cases only lower limits could be established. In all cases the proximity of a metallic phase to the interface enhanced the maximum interface-limited growth rate by several orders of magnitude over the solid phase epitaxial growth rate at the same temperature.
Venous Duplex Ultrasound of the Upper Extremities

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) accounts for 10% of all DVT cases. Upper extremity DVT may be primary (30%) or secondary (70%). Upper extremity DVT has been inaccurately regarded as a rare and benign disease and is an understudied condition with severe consequences. Most primary cases have associated underlying anatomic anomalies; however 20% of episodes are idiopathic. Indwelling catheters are the most common risk factor for secondary UEDVT. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the most devastating complication reported in up to 36% of cases. Pulmonary embolism is twice as common with secondary UEDVT than with primary UEDVT. Venous anatomy, including zones of the upper extremity and a venous duplex scanning protocol for the upper extremity, is described. Indications for duplex imaging, thrombus characteristics and locations, and soft tissue abnormalities including abscesses, cysts, aneurysms, and pseudoaneurysms are all presented. Limitations and potential pitfalls are defined for duplex imaging of the upper extremity. Requirements for the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL) certification for upper extremity duplex imaging are presented. A comparison of upper extremity and lower extremity DVT is given. Duplex ultrasonography is the method of choice for the initial diagnosis of patients suspected with thrombosis of the upper extremities. However, in patients with isolated flow abnormalities, contrast venography should be performed. The use of CT scanning and MRV are also discussed. In children, more than 50% of the UEDVT events are due to the presence of central venous lines. Treatment options are briefly reviewed for UEDVT. The concept of venous patency restoration followed by relief of extrinsic compression is the accepted therapeutic approach for the treatment of primary UEDVT. Three different types of thrombi can occur in association with central venous catheters. The catheter adherent fibrin sleeve is the most common. The likelihood of developing catheter-related UEDVT is related to the number of punctures during catheter insertion, the number of catheters inserted, the location of the catheter tip, the duration of catheterization, the type of catheter used, the type of fluid administered, catheter-related infection, hypercoagulable states, and the presence of congestive heart failure. The incidence of UEDVT is increasing perhaps due to the increased use of central lines or due to increased awareness of the disease process. The first step in treatment is to evaluate the need for continued catheter use and to establish vessel patency.
Pill, patch or ring? A mixed methods analysis of provider counseling about combined hormonal contraception.

Abstract Objective In this study we aimed to investigate the content and process of contraceptive counseling surrounding combined hormonal contraceptive (CHC) methods (combined oral contraceptives, the ring, and the patch). Study design We performed a mixed methods analysis of data collected as part of the Patient-Provider Communication about Contraception study, in which reproductive age women and their providers were recruited at several San Francisco Bay Area clinics from 2009–2012. Participants completed pre- and post-visit surveys, and had their visits audio recorded and transcribed. We performed descriptive and bivariate analyses of the entire cohort to examine associations between demographic characteristics and pre-existing method preferences with method selection and counseling content, and coded transcripts of a subset of the sample for salient themes related to content and process of counseling about combined hormonal contraceptive methods using a directed content analysis approach. Results The overall sample included 342 women, with 152 women (44%) having a preference for a specific CHC prior to their visit, 127 women (37%) had a preference for a non-CHC method, and 63 (18%) having no existing method preference. Of the women who reported preferring a CHC in their pre-visit survey, the majority (72%) chose that method. We found that women were inconsistently counseled about the range of CHC methods. For example, women who had no pre-visit method preference (52%) or who preferred the ring (54%) or the patch (73%) were more likely to receive comprehensive counseling about the three CHC methods than were women who preferred combined oral contraceptives (35%) or non-CHC methods (33%). Providers mentioned the patch the least often, and in qualitative analysis indicated discomfort with prescribing this method. Side effects and benefits of methods, as well as strategies to enhance successful use of the chosen method, were inconsistently discussed. In only 73% of visits in which a woman chose a CHC did the provider assess the patient's ability to use the chosen method correctly, and in 66% of all visits in which women chose a CHC method, providers discussed what to do if she was dissatisfied with the method. Conclusions Counseling about combined hormonal contraceptive methods often does not include information about all available methods, or comprehensive information about side effects, benefits, or logistics of use. As this counseling can impact patient's satisfaction with and continuation of their chosen method of contraception, future work should focus on designing interventions to improve providers' ability to meet patients' needs. Implications Short acting hormonal contraception is widely used, but counseling for these methods often neglects key features. Comprehensive counseling about all methods and their individual features can improve contraceptive selection and use.
Stereoselective Synthesis of 3‐Oxabicyclo[3.3.1]Nonan‐2‐Ones via a Domino Reaction Catalyzed by Modularly Designed Organocatalysts

A highly stereoselective method for the synthesis of functionalized 3-oxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2-one derivatives with four contiguous stereogenic centers, including one tetrasubstituted stereogenic center, was realized through an organocatalytic domino Michael-hemiacetalization-Michael reaction of (E)-3-aryl-2-nitroprop-2-enols and (E)-7-aryl-7-oxohept-5-enals followed by a PCC oxidation. Using the modularly designed organocatalysts (MDOs) self-assembled from cinchona alkaloid derivatives and amino acids in the reaction media, the title products were obtained in good yields (up to 84%), excellent diastereoselectivities (> 99:1 dr), and high enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee).
Active near-surface growth faulting and late Holocene history of motion: Matagorda peninsula, Texas

Abstract The structural framework of the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal zone includes numerous growth fault systems. Neotectonic processes in coastal environments here have been shown to be important contributors to subsidence and relative sea-level rise, as well as having significant influences on sedimentary accretion processes. One active growth fault at East Matagorda Peninsula, Texas was subjected to detailed study to address the hypotheses that (1) this fault was present and active before the peak of regional hydrocarbon recovery in the mid-20th century, and that (2) slip along this fault has been episodic over the resolved period of record. To characterize the late Holocene behavior of this fault, three core transects were established normal to the surface fault trace, and stratigraphic analysis was conducted with the use of radiocarbon (14C) for chronological control. Correlation of time-equivalent stratigraphic boundaries reveals a maximum total late Holocene offset of 0.7 m. The Matagorda fault was in place long before the peak of regional oil and gas extraction, but experienced a late Holocene rejuvenation, initiated between 2500 and 1500 years BP. The kinematic behavior of the fault expressed as temporally and spatially variable measures of expanded stratigraphic thicknesses on the downthrown extent suggest that sediment loading from the transgressive Matagorda barrier complex may have contributed to this rejuvenation, and that slip along the fault persists to the present. Radiocarbon chronology also revealed clear differences in the magnitude of fault throw during the late Holocene, with maximum displacement (0.7 m) occurring at the southwestern-most transect and minimum throw at the northeastern-most transect (0.2 m).
Longitudinal optical coherence tomography angiography of hyaloid vessels in the developing mouse eye

The hyaloid vascular system (HVS) is a transient capillary network nourishing developing eye. Currently, there is a lack of noninvasive imaging techniques for functional investigation of the HVS with high spatial and temporal resolutions. In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility of longitudinal optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) observation of the HVS regression in C57BL/6J mice. Longitudinal 3D OCT/OCTA measurements were conducted at 2- week, 3-week, and 4-week age by using a custom-designed OCT system. Three-dimensional OCT volume was acquired over 1.2 mm x 1.2 mm x 1.05 mm, containing a part of the lens tip, vitreous chamber, and the retina. Both OCT and OCTA successfully detected the hyaloid vessels, but OCTA benefits visualizing functional preservation of the blood vessels. OCTA images at 4-week age revealed functional loss of hyaloid vessels; while the OCT images still showed vascular remnants. We anticipate that longitudinal OCT/OCTA observation will be helpful to unravel the complex mechanism of the involution of the HVS correlated with eye development.
2020 Is not that far away, which means it is time for the new guidelines.

I am writing this editorial for two purposes. First, the plan is to start sending out invitations to prospective authors this month. If you have not heard from me by October 1, you would like to be...
Women as Sustainability Leaders in Engineering: Evidence from Industry and Academia

Women are underrepresented in engineering education and practice, which limits the quality of the engineering workforce. One way toincrease the participation of women in engineering is to emphasize subjects that appeal to them and require skills at which they areespecially adept. A subject that may fit this description is sustainability. To examine whether the subject of sustainability may helpincrease the participation of women in engineering, the purpose of this research is to compare the percentage of women in selectedsustainable engineering leadership positions with the percentage of women in general engineering leadership positions. Gender data werecollected for the ‘sustainability leader’ at 79 of the largest design and construction companies in the U.S. Similar data were alsocompiled for engineering faculty attending workshops to share best practices for teaching sustainability. The percentage of women inthe sustainability leader industry positions is much higher (39%) than the percentage of women in general management positions (8%).The percentage of woman attending the workshops is much higher (32%) than the percentage of woman engineering faculty (12%).Analysis of these results shows a statistically significant positive correlation between the subject of sustainability and increasedpercentages of women in engineering leadership positions. Increased consideration of sustainability in engineering education and practicecould also help address the critical need to attract more women to the field.
Prognostication of Residual Mitral Regurgitation or Aortic Insufficiency after Invasive Hemodynamic Ramp Optimization

Purpose LVAD speed optimization via invasive ramp studies have been shown to reduce LVAD related morbidity. Many LVAD implanting centers use non-invasive echocardiographic (TTE) ramp studies for optimization and use mitral (MR) and aortic insufficiency (AI) severity as surrogates for unloading and optimization. We examined the prognostic value of residual MR and AI after invasive hemodynamic optimization. Methods Patients underwent simultaneous TTE and hemodynamic LVAD ramp study with hemodynamic and TTE measurements at each incremental speed increase. The device was set at a speed that demonstrated an optimized hemodynamic profile with target CVP 2.2L/min/m2. MR and AR severity at the optimized speed was quantified by TTE and the impact of residual regurgitant lesions on heart failure (HF) readmission-free survival and hemocompatibility related adverse events (HRAE) free survival and overall survival at 3 years was determined. Results After hemodynamic optmization, mean PCWP was 13.7mmHg, CI was 2.73L/min/m2 and RAP was 9.4mmHg for the entire cohort. 24 patients had residual mild/moderate or greater AI and 27 patients had mild or greater MR after optimization. Freedom from HRAE was higher in those without residual AI (45% vs 24%, p =0.05) at 3 years with no difference in overall survival or HF admission (Figure Top). Patients without residual MR had higher 3 year survival compared to those with residual MR (75% vs 51%, p =0.03). There was a trend toward higher HRAE and HF readmission rates in those with residual MR (Figure Bottom). Conclusion Residual AI and MR after LVAD hemodynamic speed optimization has negative consequences with regard to HRAE and HF readmission-free survival and overall mortality at 3 years. Additional speed optimization may be needed in this cohort to mitigate morbidity and mortality.
A statistical framework to assess cross-frequency coupling while accounting for modeled confounding effects

Abstract Cross frequency coupling (CFC) is emerging as a fundamental feature of brain activity, correlated with brain function and dysfunction. Many different types of CFC have been identified through application of numerous data analysis methods, each developed to characterize a specific CFC type. Choosing an inappropriate method weakens statistical power and introduces opportunities for confounding effects. To address this, we propose a statistical modeling framework to estimate high frequency amplitude as a function of both the low frequency amplitude and low frequency phase; the result is a measure of phase-amplitude coupling that accounts for changes in the low frequency amplitude. We show in simulations that the proposed method successfully detects CFC between the low frequency phase or amplitude and the high frequency amplitude, and outperforms an existing method in biologically-motivated examples. Applying the method to in vivo data, we illustrate how CFC evolves during a seizure and is affected by electrical stimuli.
Determining the Operating Temperature of Solar Panels on Vehicles

A technical basis for measurement of the operating temperatures of PV modules in vehicle-integrated applications is explored. Convective and radiative heat transfer are modeled to elucidate the methodology. Data reported for sister modules mounted in an experimental black box and in the sun roof of a car show very similar temperatures. The box provides a uniform environment in the closed configuration but can be adjusted to explore a wider range of operating environments by opening or closing the sides and by insulating the back.
Prednisone-induced sustained remission in a patient with familial fibronectin glomerulopathy (GFND).

Glomerulopathy with Fibronectin Deposits (GFND) is a rare, autosomal dominant disease characterized by proteinuria, hematuria and progressive renal failure associated with glomerular deposition of fibronectin, frequently resulting in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There is no established treatment for this condition beyond conservative measures such as blood pressure control and the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. We present a case of GFND associated with progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) and nephrotic range proteinuria showing a sustained response to prednisone treatment. A 27-year-old G2P2 Caucasian female presented with 3 g/day of proteinuria, serum creatinine (Cr) 0.7 mg/dL, inactive urinary sediment and normotension without medication. She was part of a large family with glomerular disease, including three members who died of cerebral hemorrhage or stroke in their thirties. The patient’s kidney biopsy showed mesangial deposition of fibronectin consistent with GFND. No interstitial fibrosis was seen. Genotyping revealed the Y973C FN1 gene mutation. Despite maximal tolerable ACE inhibition, proteinuria increased to 4–6 g/g Cr and serum Cr increased to 1.0 mg/dL. She was treated with prednisone 60 mg (~ 1 mg/Kg) daily for 2 mos and then tapered by ~ 0.2 mg/Kg every month for 6 mos of total therapy. Proteinuria decreased to ~ 1 g/g Cr for > 5 years and serum Cr stabilized in the 1.2 mg/dL range with treatment. No significant side effects were encountered. In conclusion, this protocol should be considered in GFND patients with nephrotic range proteinuria despite maximal angiotensin system inhibition who have relatively preserved renal function.
"This is not negotiable. You need to do this…": A directed content analysis of decision making in rehabilitation after knee arthroplasty.

Purpose To understand patients' and physical therapists' perspectives related to decision making during outpatient rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and to describe potential barriers and opportunities for shared decision making (SDM) in this setting. Methods A qualitative study examined the beliefs, thoughts, and experiences of patients and physical therapists regarding decision making in outpatient rehabilitation after TKA. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using directed content analysis. Results Thirty-five participants were interviewed (20 patients, 15 physical therapists). Three main themes emerged from the data: (1) there is variability among physical therapists in how patients are involved in care decisions, (2) several features of the outpatient care paradigm are not supportive of SDM, and (3) preoperative patient-clinician interactions may facilitate SDM in postoperative rehabilitation, but these interactions are not typically utilized. Conclusion Physical therapists described using decision-making strategies with varying levels of patient involvement. Both patients and physical therapists described barriers to routine use of SDM in the outpatient setting. Several actionable strategies for overcoming these barriers were identified for providers and organizations seeking to consistently use SDM in outpatient TKA rehabilitation.
Impact of a modified early warning score on nurses' recognition and response to clinical deterioration

AIMS (a) Improve nurse knowledge of and confidence in responding to clinical deterioration through implementation of the Modified Early Warning Score tool and (b) improve nurse ability to react to patient deterioration in a timely manner. BACKGROUND Recognition of clinical deterioration in hospitalized inpatients often occurs far after those signs initially present. The Modified Early Warning Score has been shown to assist with recognition earlier in the deterioration process. METHODS Eighty-five nurses participated in a simulation-based intervention to implement the Modified Early Warning Score into their rural hospital. Group classroom sessions and individual high-fidelity simulation experiences were provided for participants. Twenty-nine nurses also participated in self-confidence and knowledge assessment testing. RESULTS The simulation-based intervention significantly improved nurse knowledge (t = 4.029, p < .01) and self-confidence (t = 3.698, p = <.01). Chart reviews found a 34.1% increase in nurse action taken in response to signs of clinical deterioration. CONCLUSION Current study found that the Modified Early Warning Score tool as taught through a simulated patient experience is useful to prevent unrecognized deterioration. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Suggests that a simulation-based intervention is effective for teaching and evaluating post-licensure nurses on acute clinical deterioration in inpatients.
Subwavelength structured surfaces and their applications

Subwavelength structured surfaces have a multitude of applications. These include antireflection suppression, fabrication of polarization components, narrowband filters, and phase plates. All of these applications offer advantages over conventional components. With advances in manufacturing technologies, the fabrication of these surfaces for visible and infrared portions of the spectrum is increasingly feasible.
Comparison of Injected and Oral Polio Vaccine for Booster Immunization During the 1979 Polio Outbreak in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

During a 1979 outbreak of poliomyelitis in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, we investigated the neccessity for and the response to booster vaccination of hospital personnel. The immune response of hospital employees who received booster injections of Salk vaccine (n=38) was compared with that of residents in the surrounding community who received Sabin trivalent OPV boosters (n=43). Serum neutralizing antibody titers to the three polio serotypes were measured before and after booster immunization. Results indicated that 38% of the subjects in both groups had low initial antibody titers. Salk vaccine was in all circumstances as effective or better than Sabin vaccine in increasing neutralizing IgG antibody titers [Infect Control 1981; 2(5):377-379.]
Ownership, Control and Acquirers' Returns: Preliminary Evidence from East Asian Companies

This paper uses, for the first time, evidence from mergers and acquisitions in East Asian companies as a window to examine the complexity of corporate governance systems from a comparative perspective. Although evidence of firms making acquisitions bad for shareholders abounds, there has been relatively little attention in the legal literature to corporate governance problems that may arise in acquiring companies. Possible value destruction for investors can be huge if the inherent agency problems indeed prompt managers to make acquisitions not in the interests of shareholders. Furthermore, these problems are complicated by country or region specific corporate governance characteristics, making any type of generalization almost impossible. Capitalizing on previous studies of documenting expropriation risks imposed by large shareholder control in East Asian companies, I depart from static valuation analysis by adopting market-based event study methodology to examine whether such risks are perceived by investors in an acquisition context. My findings generally don't support the hypotheses theorizing a large negative effect of ownership and control separation. This piece of new evidence contributes to the strand of literature by cautioning against an overly sweeping conclusion that concentrated control by families is necessarily a bad signal to the market.
Automotive Hydrocarbon Emission Patterns in the Measurement of Nonmethane Hydrocarbon Emission Rates

The advent of emission control technology has resulted in significant changes in both the total mass and detailed patterns of hydrocarbons emitted from automobiles. Emission rates of 56 hydrocarbons from 22 motor vehicles, including catalyst and noncatalyst configurations, were determined for the Federal Urban Driving Cycle. An increased relative abundance of methane is indicated for vehicles equipped with oxidation catalysts. In view of the photochemically non-reactive nature of methane, simple and economic procedures for determination of vehicle nonmethane hydrocarbon emission rates are evaluated. In general the procedures evaluated require independent total hydrocarbon and methane analysis, with the nonmethane hydrocarbon level calculated by difference. The procedures are evaluated by comparison of indicated nonmethane hydrocarbon emission rates with rates obtained by summation of individual compound rates determined by advanced gas chromatographic procedures.
Tattoo-ID: automatic tattoo image retrieval for suspect and victim identification

Tattoos are used by law enforcement agencies for identification of a victim or a suspect using a false identity. Current method for matching tattoos is based on human-assigned class labels that is time consuming, subjective and has limited performance. It is desirable to build a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) system for automatic matching and retrieval of tattoos. We examine several key design issues related to building a prototype CBIR system for tattoo image database. Our system computes the similarity between the query and stored tattoos based on image content to retrieve the most similar tattoos. The performance of the system is evaluated on a database of 2,157 tattoos representing 20 different classes. Effects of segmentation errors, image transformations (e.g., blurring, illumination), influence of semantic labels and relevance feedback are also studied.
Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Asymmetric Jump-Diffusion Processes: Application to Security Prices

An asymmetric jump-diffusion model of stock price behavior is proposed. In an extension of Merton's (1976), we posit that returns dynamics are determined by a drift component, a Wiener process and two jump processes representing the arrival of "good" or "bad" news that lead to jumps in security prices. We assume that good and bad news may arrive with different intensities and the distribution of jump magnitudes representing each type is different. To admit and test these distinctions, we assume that news arrives according to two Poisson processes and jump magnitudes representing good and bad news are Pareto and Beta distributed. We develop cumulant and maximum likelihood estimators and use daily stock prices data to estimate the proposed model. Empirical results strongly support the posited model. Likelihood based test provides support to the hypothesis that stock prices respond differently to the arrival of good and bad news.
Electrostatic micromirror arrays fabricated with bulk and surface micromachining techniques

High-density micromirror arrays have been fabricated with a process that combines the benefits of both bulk and surface micromachining. Arrays fabricated with this technique are characterized by flat mirrors, high spring constant uniformity, and high yield. Each pixel consists of a mirror-in-gimbal structure that allows the mirror to rotate about two orthogonal axes when a bias is placed on electrodes residing beneath the mirror. A new dry release process is introduced as a simple, effective alternative to critical point drying for releasing the structures.
A double-balanced injection-locked frequency divider for tunable dual-phase signal generation

We present an injection-locked divider (ILFD) with a double-balanced structure to generate two signals with tunable phase difference. A circuit prototype was designed and fabricated using a standard 0.18/spl mu/m digital CMOS technology, and generates dual-phase signals at 4.8-6 GHz. The phase difference of the two output signals can be tuned independently by 55/spl deg/, and differentially by 100/spl deg/, both centered around quadrature (90/spl deg/). The phase noise degradation is negligible.
A Review of “Ruled by Race: Black/White Relations in Arkansas from Slavery to the Present”

Getting the right story is clearly the goal for Grif Stockley. This goal, combined with his lifelong passion for Arkansas history, has led him to produce his latest work, Ruled by Race: Black/White...