cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Nano-Aluminum and Fumed Silica Particles on Deflagration and Detonation of Nitromethane

The heterogeneous interaction between nitromethane (NM), particles of nanoscale aluminum (38 and 80 nm diameter), and fumed silica is examined in terms of the deflagration and detonation characteristics. Burning rates are quantified as func- tions of pressure using an optical pressure vessel up to 14.2 MPa, while detonation structure is characterized in terms of failure diameter. Nitromethane is gelled using fumed silica (CAB-O- SIL � ), as well as by the nanoaluminum particles themselves. Use of nanoaluminum particles with fumed silica slightly increases burning rates compared to the use of larger diameter Al particles; however distinct increases in burning rates are found when CAB- O-SIL is removed and replaced with more energetic aluminum nanoparticles, whose high surface area allows them to also act as the gellant. Mixtures including fumed silica yield a reduced burning rate pressure exponent compared to neat NM, while mixtures of aluminum particles alone show a significant increase. Failure diameters of mixture detonations are found to vary significantly as a function of 38 nm aluminum particle loading, reducing more than 50% from that of neat nitromethane with 12.5% (by mass) aluminum loading. Failure diameter results indicate a relative minimum with respect to particle separation (% loading) which is not observed in other heterogeneous mixtures.
Brain iron: persistent deficiency following short-term iron deprivation in the young rat.

This study was designed to determine the content of non-haem iron in the brain as iron deficiency develops in the rapidly growing rat. Rats were provided with either an iron-deficient diet or an identical control diet with added ferrous sulphate starting at 10 d of age and continuing after weaning at 21 d. At 28 d or 48 d of age the deficient animals received 5 mg of iron (iron dextran) i.m. and were placed on the control diet regimen. The deficient animals had a concentration of non-haem iron in the brain that was 27% below the control value at 28 d and 22% below at 48 d. After 14-45 d of iron treatment, the non-haem iron remained depressed, 19-29% below the control means (P less tha 0.05 to 0.001). Ferritin iron in brain also remained depressed, 33-42% below the control means (P less than 0.01). In contrast, haematocrit, liver non-haem iron, and liver ferritin iron, although they were more profoundly depressed in the iron-deficient animals, promptly returned to control values after treatment with iron. Thus, a brief period of severe iron deficiency in the young rat resulted in a deficit of brain iron that persisted in the adult animal despite an adequate intake of iron.
Advances in solid state nuclear track detectors

Abstract Several types of commercially available phosphate glasses with a wide range of sensitivities have recently been developed. Chief among these is BP-1, which has a high sensitivity and an unprecedented charge resolution. CR- 39 has been found to respond differently at velocities below ∼10−2 c, where nuclear stopping begins to dominate, than at high velocities, where electronic stopping dominates. Atomic force microscopy has been shown to be a powerful new tool for the study of the etching process, using recoil tracks in mica. CR-39 has been used to set limits on cold fusion rates in strong conflict with rates claimed by some electrochemists. CR-39 and BP-1 have been used to study a number of topics in atomic and nuclear physics including charge pickup in relativistic nucleus-nucleus reactions, nuclear and electromagnetic spallation of relativistic heavy nuclei, the determination of electron attachment and stripping cross sections for relativistic heavy nuclei, and cluster radioactivity. CR-39 is being used to search for strangelets in nature and in ultrarelativistic nucleus-nucleus interactions. Several studies of cosmic ray composition, including TREK, ANTIPODE, HIIS, and UHCRE, are obtaining new results using CR-39, polycarbonate, and BP-1 glass. An experiment to search for weakly interacting massive elementary particles called WIMPs will use mica to detect very short tracks of nuclei that recoil when struck elastically by the WIMPs.
Fault tolerant preconditioned conjugate gradient for sparse linear system solution

In scientific applications that involve dense matrices, checksum encodings have yielded "algorithm-based fault tolerance" (ABFT) in the event of data corruption from either hard or transient (soft) errors in the hardware. However, such checksum-based ABFT techniques have not been developed when sparse matrices are involved, for example, in sparse linear system solution through a method such as preconditioned conjugate gradients (PCG). In this paper, we develop a new sparse checksum encoded algorithm-based fault tolerant PCG, S-ABFT-PCG. Our checksum based approach can be applied to all the key operations in PCG, including sparse matrix-vector multiplication (SpMV), vector operations and the application of a preconditioner through sparse triangular solution. We prove that our approach detects a single error in the matrix and vector elements and in the metadata representing the sparse matrix row or column indices, when the linear system has a coefficient matrix that is symmetric positive definite and strictly diagonally dominant. The overhead of S-ABFT-PCG is proportional to the cost of a few O(n) vector operations, a value that is relatively low compared to the total cost of a PCG iteration with an SpMV and two triangular solutions. However, if an error is detected, then the underlying PCG iteration must be recomputed because our approach does not enable checksum encoded recovery from the error. We compare our S-ABFT-PCG with a classical ABFT-PCG (C-ABFT-PCG) that detects and recovers from a single error in the SpMV kernel, but does not provide fault tolerance for the sparse triangular solution kernel. Our experimental results indicate that in the event of no errors, compared to a PCG with no ABFT, the overheads of S-ABFT-PCG are 11.3% and lower than the 23.1% overheads of C-ABFT-PCG. Furthermore, in the event of a single error in the application of the preconditioner through triangular solution, C-ABFT-PCG suffers from significant increases in iteration counts, leading to performance degradations of 63.2% on average compared to 3.2% on average for S-ABFT-PCG.
Experimental Investigation of Cooling Performance of Metal-Based Microchannels

Metal-based microchannel heat exchangers (MHEs) are of current interest due to the combination of high heat transfer performance and improved mechanical integrity. Efficient methods for fabrication and assembly of functional metal-based MHEs are essential to ensure the economic viability of such devices. Al- and Cu-based high-aspect-ratio microscale structures (HARMS) have been fabricated through molding replication using metallic mold inserts. Such metallic HARMS were assembled through eutectic bonding to form Al- and Cu-based MHEs, on which heat transfer tests were conducted to determine the overall cooling rate and time constants. Electrically heated Cu blocks were placed outside the MHEs and provided a constant flux, and water flowing within the microchannels acted as the coolant. Experimental results show a great influence of the type of metal, flow rate, and the surrounding conditions on the overall cooling performance of the MHEs.
A subset of fibromyalgia patients have findings suggestive of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and appear to respond to IVIg

OBJECTIVES: The aetiopathogenesis of the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) remains unknown. Recent reports, however, suggest that a subgroup of FMS subjects has an immune-mediated disease. Therefore, our primary objective was to study FMS subjects for evidence of an immune-mediated demyelinating polyneuropathy. Our secondary objective was to determine the effects of treating these FMS subjects with the immune modulator, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). METHODS: Fifty-eight FMS subjects, 26 rheumatic non-FMS subjects and 52 non-rheumatic non-FMS subjects were studied. Subjective measures of paraesthesias, weakness, stocking hypaesthesia, pain, fatigue and stiffness were made. Objective measures of tenderness, proximal muscle strength and electrodiagnostic (EDX) evidence of polyneuropathy and demyelination were also made. Eleven other FMS subjects underwent sural nerve biopsy. RESULTS: Paraesthesias, subjective weakness and stocking hypaesthesia were more common in FMS than in rheumatic non-FMS (P < or = 0.0001). Proximal muscle strength was less in FMS than in rheumatic non-FMS (P < or = 0.0001). EDX demonstrated a distal demyelinating polyneuropathy, suggestive of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), in 33% of FMS subjects. No rheumatic non-FMS subject had polyneuropathy (P = 0.005), or demyelination (P = 0.05). Fifteen FMS/CIDP subjects were subsequently treated with IVIg (400 mg/kg each day for 5 days). Pain (P = 0.01), tenderness (P = 0.001) and strength (P = 0.04) improved significantly. Fatigue and stiffness trended towards improvement. CONCLUSIONS: A significant subset of FMS subjects have clinical and EDX findings suggestive of CIDP. IVIg treatment shows promise in treating this subset. These observations have implications for better understanding and treating some FMS patients.
Evaluation of impact-induced traumatic brain injury in the Göttingen Minipig using two input modes

Objectives: Two novel injury devices were used to characterize impact-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI). One imparts pure translation, and the other produces combined translation and rotation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the neuropathology associated with two injury devices using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to quantify metabolic changes and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to evaluate axonal damage in the corpus callosum.Methods: Young adult female Gottingen minipigs were exposed to impact-induced TBI with either the translation-input injury device or the combined-input injury device (n = 11/group). Sham animals were treated identically except for the injury event (n = 3). The minipigs underwent 1H-MRS scans prior to injury (baseline), approximately 1 h after injury, and 24 h post injury, at which point the brains were extracted for IHC. Metabolites of interest include glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG), and γ-aminob...
Fresh Garlic Extract Induces Growth Arrest and Morphological Differentiation of MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells

Consumption of diets rich in fruits and vegetables is often associated with a reduced risk of developing cancer, particularly breast cancer. Considering that 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer in the course of her lifetime, dietary manipulation could have a major impact on the incidence of breast cancer. We report here that fresh extracts of garlic (not boiled) arrested the growth and altered the morphology of MCF7 breast cancer cells. Deregulated levels of E-cadherin, cytokeratin8/18, and β-catenin correlated with the altered phenotype. We propose that early down-regulation of cyclin D1, reduced phosphorylation of ERK1, and increased phosphorylation of eIF2-α triggered the phenotypical changes. Reduced expression of hsp27 and sam68 and elevated levels of Rb and p21 further contributed to the sustained growth reduction. These findings provide a better understanding of the cellular responses to dietary supplements and provide potential options to treat breast cancer.
Barriers and facilitators to the consent process in a study of complex genetic factors.

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias have an enormous impact on patient, family, and the community. Studying and developing curative interventions will be of benefit to society as a whole. The p...
Relation of Aortic Valve Morphologic Characteristics to Aortic Valve Insufficiency and Residual Stenosis in Children With Congenital Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Balloon Valvuloplasty

Aortic valve morphology has been invoked as intrinsic to outcomes of balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) for congenital aortic valve stenosis. We sought to use aortic valve morphologic features to discriminate between valves that respond favorably or unfavorably to BAV, using aortic insufficiency (AI) as the primary outcome. All patients who underwent BAV at 2 large-volume pediatric centers from 2007 to 2014 were reviewed. Morphologic features assessed on pre-BAV echo included valve pattern (unicuspid, functional bicuspid, and true bicuspid), leaflet fusion length, leaflet excursion angle, and aortic valve opening area and on post-BAV echo included leaflet versus commissural tear. Primary end point was increase in AI (AI+) of ≥2°. Eighty-nine patients (median age 0.2 years) were included in the study (39 unicuspid, 41 functional bicuspid, and 9 true bicuspid valves). Unicuspid valves had a lower opening area (p <0.01) and greater fusion length (p = 0.01) compared with functional and true bicuspid valves. Valve gradient pre-BAV and post-BAV were not different among valve patterns. Of the 16 patients (18%) with AI+, 14 had leaflet tears (odds ratio 13.9, 3.8 to 50). True bicuspid valves had the highest rate (33%) of AI+. On multivariate analysis, leaflet tears were associated with AI+, with larger opening area pre-BAV and lower fusion length pre-BAV. AI+ was associated with larger pre-BAV opening area. Gradient relief was associated with reduced angle of excursion. Valve morphology influences outcomes after BAV. Valves with lesser fusion and larger valve openings have higher rates of leaflet tears which in turn are associated with AI.
The Effect of Anger on the Hostile Inferences of Aggressive and Nonaggressive People: Specific Emotions, Cognitive Processing, and Chronic Accessibility

The effects of anger, sadness, and happiness on the hostile inferences of aggressive and nonaggressive people were examined. In a cued recall paradigm, anger was associated with more hostile inferences than sadness, happiness, or neutrality in aggressive participants. Anger was not associated with hostile inferences in nonaggressive participants. Measures intended to capture depth of processing were also included. These results, as well as a mediational analysis, suggested that anger affects the hostile inferences of aggressive, but not nonaggressive participants, because people are not sufficiently reflective when angry and thus rely on their chronically accessible explanations. Implications about aggression and the effects of specific emotions on cognitive processing are discussed.
An improved sliding-mode observer for IPM drives with a new phase delay mitigation algorithm based on extended electromotive force model

This paper presents a new sliding-mode observer (SMO) for interior permanent-magnet motors (IPM) to be utilized in sensorless field-oriented control (FOC) algorithms. Due to IPM's rotor saliency, the traditional back electromotive force (back-emf) model for surface-mount permanent motors (SPM) cannot be used in IPM observers directly. In order to address this problem, the extended electromotive force (EEMF) model is adopted for observer design. Unlike many other EEMF model based SMOs, the phase delay mitigation algorithm (PDMA) integrated in the proposed observer significantly reduces steady-state estimation error while maintaining low-pass filter's dynamic performance. The simple structure makes the proposed observer an ideal candidate for cost-sensitive applications which guarantees satisfactory performance and efficiency. Theoretical analysis, simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the fidelity of the proposed SMO.
Cochlear Implantation in Children: The Problem of Head Growth:

Successful implantation in children requires that provision be made for later head growth. The timing and magnitude of this growth was determined by measurements made from high-resolution computerized tomographic images of developing temporal bones. The temporal bone scans of 103 children of varying ages were studied. The development of the petrous and squamous portion of the temporal bone was at its greatest in the first 2 years of life. The order of magnitude of growth varied with the different axes measured.
Bacteria detected from sputum and its antibiotic resistance in childhood pneumonia in Suzhou area

Objectives To investigate the bacterial pathogens and their antibiotic resistance in children with pneumonia in Suzhou area. Methods Sputum specimens of 8179 hospitalized children with pneumonia from October 2005 to September2011 were collected by sterile negative pressure aspirator and then cultured. The incidence of positive bacteria was tested by Kirby-Bauer method and broth dilution method, and their antibiotics resistances were analyzed. Results A total of 2391 of8179 children were infected with positive rate of 29.23%. A total of 2552 strains of bacteria were detected with Streptococcus pneumoniae(42.40%), Haemophilus influenzae(14.81%), Moraxelle catarrhalis(11.01%), Staphylococcus aureus(8.50%) and Escherichia coli(5.02%) as the most common strains. The infection rate of different bacterium was related to age, season and the type of pneumonia(all P0.001). The tendency of antibiotic resistances in 2 140 bacterial isolates was found increased by the susceptibility test. Conclusions Streptococcus pneumonia and Haemophilus influenzae are the most common bacterial pathogens in children with pneumonia in Suzhou area. The positive rate of different bacterium was related to age, season and the type of pneumonia. Attention must be paid to the rational use of antibiotics to reduce drug resistance.
Late results after mitral valve replacement with the Björk-Shiley and porcine prostheses.

The late results of isolated mitral valve replacement were retrospectively evaluated in 357 patients receiving a Bjork-Shiley (B-S) tilting disc prosthesis and 96 patients receiving a porcine bioprosthesis (PB) (Vascor or Carpentier-Edwards) between March, 1973, and July, 1978. The groups were comparable with regard to age, sex, New York Heart Association functional class, preoperative cardiac rhythm (sinus or atrial fibrillation), left atrial size (normal or enlarged), and presence of thrombus in the left atrium at operation. All of the B-S and 14 of the PB patients received long-term anticoagulant therapy. The median duration of follow-up was 46 months in the B-S group and 32 months in the PB group. At 5 years, survival was 70% for the B-S and 68% for the PB groups (NS). The percentage of patients free of thromboembolic episodes was 77% for the B-S and 78% for the PB groups (NS). Fifty-six percent of the B-S and 49% of the PB patients were alive and free of thromboembolism, complications related to anticoagulant therapy, or other valve-related complications (dehiscence, degeneration, or endocarditis) (NS). The presence of atrial fibrillation, enlarged left atrium, preoperative thromboembolic episodes, and left atrial thrombus had no effect on the incidence of thromboembolic complications with either prosthesis. From this analysis, it appears that the major advantage of the PB over the B-S prosthesis is its use in patients in whom long-term anticoagulation is contraindicated.
“The Lord Struck Him Down by the Hand of a Female!” Baroque Artists Depicting Judith in the Renaissance

Gender themed Research Project, using the biblical story of Judith and Holofernes to examine how Baroque artists tackled representing Judith as a female figure who openly subverts the Renaissance gender norms by defeating a male. Focusing on the artists, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Orazio Gentileschi and Artemisia Gentileschi, the paper explores through visual analysis how each artist approached representing the gender issue within the biblical narrative in their artwork. The biblical narrative is discussed and two well-disseminated published articles about gender roles are reviewed. Additionally, how the Counter-Reformation and the Catholic Church’s assertive stance for the purpose of art effects how images of Judith are painted.
Comparison of infra-dry and AOAC methods for moisture in food products.

The Infra-Dry (IR) method was accurate, precise and faster than conventional (AOAC) procedures for moisture determinations in ten selected food products. The average percentage moisture by the IR method for 10 common food products and those by AOAC in parentheses are as follows: oatmeal 9.88 (9.87), cornmeal 10.86 (10.91), wheat flour 10.80 (10.80), grape nuts 4.73 (4.78), rice 12.39 (12.41), potato flakes 8.40 (8.36), bread crumbs 9.93 (9.99), noodles 9.58 (9.54), NFD milk 4.23 (4.24), and fresh milk 88.60 (88.71). The temperatures used for the IR method (135 to 155°C) were higher than those for the AOAC procedures (130°C for all products except NFD and fresh milk [100°C]); however, the times were considerably less (10 to 30 min) than for AOAC procedures (1 to 5 h). Standard deviations were generally 97%. Upon removing the samples from the IR oven, results of good precision and accuracy were obtained by cooling the samples in a desiccator for 5 min or the built-in IR cooling chamber for 45 s. The recommended IR method uses a cooling chamber, is faster, and does not require a desiccator. Slightly lower precision and accuracy resulted when the entire IR oven was used. The best results were obtained using the back third of the oven. However, the slight difference in precision and accuracy is of little practical significance.
The Role of Alaska's Tribal Health Workers in Supporting Families

Alaska's Community Health Aides/Practitioners (CHA/Ps) are often the sole medical workers in their communities in rural Alaska, and are instrumental in providing healthcare services and education to otherwise underserved individuals. This qualitative study explored how CHA/Ps support healthy families. Six CHA/Ps from two rural communities in western Alaska were interviewed about their scope of practice, interactions with mothers, infants, families, and teens, relationship to other medical providers, and perceptions of their work. Using grounded theory, verbatim notes were analyzed in Dedoose software and coded by thematic and structural components. Interviewed CHA/Ps shared how the CHA/P program is a culturally relevant way to deliver healthcare, and talked about the challenges of the work, rewards, and suggestions for improvement. CHA/Ps described their unique role as the on-the-ground health and wellness resource in their communities, and talked about consulting with other medical professionals to provide better care for individuals in rural Alaska. CHA/Ps described that they provided prenatal care, patient education during pregnancy, emergency delivery services when necessary, well-child visits, and outreach to teens to give fluoride rinses, vaccinations, and education about issues such as sexual health and drugs/alcohol. CHA/Ps also talked about patient education as a primary responsibility, which also reduced patient load and prevented burn-out. The CHA/P program is a comprehensive and innovative approach to providing healthcare education and services that promotes healthy communities, including positive parent-infant interactions, child wellness, and teen decision-making. The program is a healthcare delivery model translatable to other tribal and limited-resource contexts.
An Erlang-Coxian-Based Method for Modeling Accelerated Life Testing Data

Accelerated life testing (ALT) can be used to expedite failures of a product for predicting the product’s reliability under the normal operating conditions. The resulting ALT data are often modeled by a probability distribution along with a life-stress relationship. However, if the selected probability distribution cannot adequately describe the underlying failure process, the resulting reliability prediction would be misleading. It would be quite valuable if the distribution providing an adequate fit to the ALT data can be determined automatically. This chapter provides a new analytical method to assist reliability engineers in this regard. Essentially, this method uses Erlang-Coxian (EC) distributions, which belong to a particular subset of phase-type distributions, to characterize ALT data. Such distributions are quite efficient for approximating many non-negative distributions, such as Weibull, lognormal and gamma. The advantage of this method is that the best fit to the ALT data can be obtained by gradually changing the model structure, i.e., the number of phases of the associated continuous-time Markov chain (CTMC). To facilitate the implementation of this method, two statistical inference approaches are provided. First, a mathematical programming approach is formulated to simultaneously match the moments of the EC-based ALT model to the empirical moments at the corresponding test stress levels. This approach resolves the feasibility issue of the method of moments. In addition, the maximum likelihood estimation approach is presented, which can easily handle different types of censoring in ALT. Both approaches are accompanied with a stopping criterion for determining the number of phases of the resulting CTMC. Moreover, nonparametric bootstrap method is used to construct the pointwise confidence interval for the resulting reliability estimates. Numerical examples for constant-stress ALT with Type-I and multiple censoring schemes are provided to illustrate the capability of the method in modeling ALT data.
Design of Adaptive End-Effector Controllers for Manipulators

Abstract A new adaptive control scheme for direct control of manipulator end-effector to achieve trajectory tracking in Cartesian space is developed in this paper. The control structure is obtained from linear multivariable theory and is composed of simple feedforward and feedback controllers and an auxiliary input. The direct adaptation laws are derived from model reference adaptive control theory using the Lyapunov method and are not based on parameter estimation of the robot model. The adaptive controller does not require the complex mathematical model of the robot dynamics or any knowledge of the robot parameters or the payload; and is computationally fast for on-line implementation
Relating quality of life to outcomes and predictors in adult cochlear implant users: Are we measuring the right things?

Objective Current clinical outcome measures for adults receiving cochlear implants (CIs) consist of word and sentence recognition, primarily under quiet conditions. However, these measures may not adequately reflect patients' CI-specific quality of life (QOL). This study first examined traditional auditory-only speech recognition measures and other potentially relevant auditory measures as correlates of QOL in CI users. Second, scores on nonauditory tasks of language and cognition were examined as potential predictors of QOL. Study design Twenty-five postlingually deafened adults with CIs were assessed. Methods Participants completed a validated CI-specific QOL measure (the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire) and were tested for word and sentence recognition in quiet, as well as sentence recognition in speech-shaped noise. Participants also completed assessments of audiovisual speech recognition, environmental sound identification, and a task of complex auditory verbal processing. Several nonauditory language and cognitive tasks were examined as potential predictors of QOL. Results Quality-of-life scores significantly correlated with scores for audiovisual speech recognition and recognition of complex sentences in quiet but not sentences in noise or isolated words. No significant correlations were obtained between QOL and environmental sound identification or complex auditory verbal processing. Quality-of-life subdomain scores were predicted by several nonauditory language and cognitive tasks as well as some patient characteristics. Conclusion Postoperative measures of recognition of sentences in quiet and audiovisual sentence recognition correlate with CI-related QOL. Findings suggest that sentence recognition tasks are QOL-relevant outcomes but only explain a small fraction of the variability in QOL outcomes for this patient population. Level of evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 128:959-966, 2018.
Power, gender, and money.

Money makes the world go round. There are many concrete reasons why people want and need to acquire money. In our society people have to earn money so as to make a living. Money is a vehicle necessary to provide for the means of existence—to support oneself and one’s family—to pay the rent or the mortgage on the apartment or house, to purchase food and clothing, to send one’s children to school, to invest and increase one’s wealth, to save for retirement and old age, to provide for a wide spectrum of recreational activities, hobbies and fun as one’s income allows, and, of course, to pay taxes.
Art and science of engineered design: what kind of discipline is PCG?

What kind of discipline is PCG? PCG research can be viewed as science, engineering, design, and art. PCG is thus a multidiscipline, drawing from a broad set of epistemic traditions.
What Lies Ahead of Rising Dollar

The market expectations of the fiscal and economic policies under the new administration of the U.S. have further driven up the dollar value apart from the signs of economic growth in the U.S. In my opinion, in the short term, a rising U.S. dollar would hurt volatile and vulnerable economies by suppressing their purchasing power, worsening their dollar debt and triggering capital flight from those countries. However, given the current heavy fiscal deficit and uncertainty of the specifics of the incoming stimulus and economic policies of the U.S. administration, the U.S. would not necessarily benefit from a rising dollar either. To create sustainable economic growth in the U.S. entails an economic balance among major international financial systems and economies where a fine relationship of mutual promotion exists.
Inferred rheological structure and mantle conditions from postseismic deformation following the 2010 Mw 7.2 El Mayor-Cucapah Earthquake

Author(s): Dickinson-Lovell, H; Huang, MH; Freed, AM; Fielding, E; Burgmann, R; Andronicos, C | Abstract: The 2010Mw7.2ElMayor-Cucapah earthquake provides a unique target of postseismic study as deformation extends across several distinct geological provinces, including the coldMesozoic arc crust of the Peninsular Ranges and newly formed, hot, extending lithosphere within the Salton Trough. We use five years of global positioning system measurements to invert for afterslip and constrain a 3-D finite-element model that simulates viscoelastic relaxation. We find that afterslip cannot readily explain far-field displacements (more than 50 km from the epicentre). These displacements are best explained by viscoelastic relaxation of a horizontally and vertically heterogeneous lower crust and upper mantle. Lower viscosities beneath the Salton Trough compared to the Peninsular Ranges and other surrounding regions are consistent with inferred differences in the respective geotherms. Our inferred viscosity structure suggests that the depth of the Lithosphere/Asthenosphere Boundary (LAB) is ~65 km below the Peninsular Ranges and ~32 km beneath the Salton Trough. These depths are shallower than the corresponding seismic LAB. This suggests that the onset of partial melting in peridotite may control the depth to the base of the mechanical lithosphere. In contrast, the seismic LAB may correspond to an increase in the partial melt percentage associated with the change from a conductive to an adiabatic geotherm.
Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Proctectomy for Rectal Adenocarcinoma

Long-term oncologic outcomes after minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for rectal adenocarcinoma compared to open surgery continue to be debated. We aimed to review our high-volume single-institution outcomes in MIS rectal cancer surgery. A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database was completed of all consecutive adult patients with rectal adenocarcinoma treated from January 2005 through December 2011. Stage IV or recurrent disease was excluded. Demographics and operative and pathologic details were reviewed and reported. Primary endpoints include survival and recurrence. A total of 324 patients were included and median follow-up was 54 months (IQR = 37.0, 78.8). The mean age was 58.2 ± 14.1 years. Tumors were in the upper rectum in 111 patients, mid-rectum in 113 patients, and lower rectum in 100 patients. Stage III disease was most common (49.4%). Overall conversion to open procedure rate was 13.9%. The circumferential radial margin was positive in only 1 patient (0.3%) and the mean lymph node yield was 24.7 ± 17.2. Cancer recurred in 42 patients (13%), 10 (2.5%) patients developed local recurrence, 32 (9.8%) developed distant metastasis, and 2 (0.6%) patients had both. The 5-year overall survival for stage 0, 1, 2, and 3 disease is 96, 91, 80, and 77%, respectively (p = 0.015). In carefully selected rectal cancer patients treated with MIS, long-term outcomes of survival and recurrence appear to compare favorably to previously published series.
EZW Algorithm Using Visual Weighting in the Decomposition and DPCM

Publisher Summary The aim of this chapter is to describe some modifications of the embedded zerotree wavelet (EZW) algorithm. First, the EZW algorithms using bi-orthogonal wavelet decomposition and quincunx wavelet decomposition are compared. After studying the statistics of wavelet coefficients, a differential pulse-code modulation (DPCM) quantization is used for coding the low pass component. In the EZW algorithm using biorthogonal wavelet transform, the coefficients are also weighted using a visual weighting function. The visual perception of the result seems to be a little better, but the peak-signalto-noise ratio (PSNR) is a little worse. As a conclusion, this modification adds some complexity to the algorithm without a very significant result. However, modifications in the standard Shapiro EZW algorithm shed light on the excellent performance of the recent Said and Pearlman EZW coder.
The Caching Broadcast Channel with a Wire and Cache Tapping Adversary of Type II: Multiple Library Files

A wiretap model with two receivers equipped with fixed-size cache memories, and a type II adversary is considered. The adversary in this model chooses a subset of symbols to tap into either from cache placement, delivery transmission, or both phases. The legitimate parties do not know the fractions or the positions of the tapped symbols in either phase. For a library of size three files or more, lower and upper bounds on the strong secrecy capacity, i.e., the maximum achievable file rate while keeping the overall library strongly secure, are derived. The strong secrecy capacity is identified for the instance of large tapped subsets. Achievability is established by wiretap coding, security embedding codes, one-time pad keys, and coded caching techniques. The upper bound is constructed by three successive channel transformations.
Christian Faith as an Important Element of Culture and Integral Education

The article, referring to the words of the Letter to Diognetus on Christians as the soul of the world, points to the importance of the Christian faith and its believers – Christians in Europe and in the world, especially in the field of culture and education, which are characterized by an integral approach. This problem is analysed in successive three stages: 1) first, integrity is indicated as an essential feature of the Christian faith and education that has been clearly marked from the very beginnings of Christianity; 2) shows faith as the basic expression of human identity, also consistent with the freedom that gives its identity; 3) critically analyses the secularity, indicating in this context the need to promote the integrity of the upbringing of the person and the cultural and social benefits that the Christian faith can bring. Especially during the present loss of the ability to distinguish between important and less important things, when apart from the need to rethink the idea of secularity, the possibility of a positive culmination is pointed out. Christian faith can be an important element of integral culture and integral education in action for humanization. In this action, reason and faith, as “two wings” can lead to true wisdom.
Ovarian Torsion in an Adolescent with Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome and Unilateral Tubo-ovarian Hyperplasia.

Abstract Background Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is the most common pediatric overgrowth syndrome. BWS has a broad phenotypic presentation along with an increased propensity to develop various embryonal tumors. There are very few reported cases of gonadal hyperplasia in BWS patients in the existing literature. Case We describe a 13-year-old girl with BWS who presented with an episode of abdominal pain and was found to have torsion and necrosis of a markedly hyperplastic right ovary and fallopian tube. We present a brief literature review on ovarian hyperplasia in BWS patients for which we used an online search of the databases PubMed, Embase, Ovid Medline, and Cochrane. Results and Conclusion Through an extensive literature search, we only found 3 previous reports of ovarian hyperplasia in BWS patients, all in postmortem specimens. Our case highlights a potentially important aspect of visceral organ hyperplasia in patients with BWS that could remain indolent until adolescence and might present as an abrupt-onset abdominopelvic catastrophe.
Calculation of Subsonic Normal Force and Centre of Pressure Position of Bodies of Revolution using a Slender Body Theory - Boundary Layer Method.

The aim of this paper is to present a method for predicting the aerodynamic characteristics of slender bodies of revolution at small incidence, under flow conditions such that the boundary layer is turbulent. Firstly a panel method based on slender body theory is developed and used to calculate the surface velocity distribution on the body at zero incidence. Secondly this velocity distribution is used in conjunction with an existing boundary layer estimation method to calculate the growth of boundary layer displacement thickness which is added to the body to produce the effective aerodynamic profile. Finally, recourse is again made to slender body theory to calculate the normal force curve slope and centre of pressure position of the effective aerodynamic profile. Comparisons made between predictions and experiment for a number of slender bodies extending from highly boattailed configurations to ogive-cylinders, and covering a large range of boundary layer growth rates, indicate that the method is useful for missile design purposes.
Ohio Community Pharmacist Interest and Participation in Community-Clinical Linkages.

Background: Community-clinical linkages have been promoted as a means to improve population health. The community pharmacy is an ideal location for these partnerships to occur due to the expertise of the community pharmacist. While the need for these partnerships exists, there are limited data regarding community pharmacists’ current participation in such programs. Objective: The purpose of this analysis was to assess Ohio community pharmacists’ involvement and interest in community-clinical linkages. Methods: An electronic survey tool containing 26 questions was developed to assess Ohio community pharmacists’ participation in community-clinical linkages and interest to develop such partnerships. The tool was sent via email to a random sample of 500 pharmacists registered in Ohio and practicing in a community setting. Chi-square or Fisher exact nonparametric statistical tests were used as appropriate to identify whether there were any significant differences in current partnership or interest to partner with a prescriber who refers patients to their community pharmacy based on education (Bachelor of Science or Doctor of Pharmacy degree) or pharmacy location (urban, suburban, or rural). Results: Nine emails were undeliverable, leaving a sample of 491 pharmacists. Ninety-three (19%) responded to the survey. Sixteen respondents (17%) indicated that they currently partner with a prescriber who refers patients to their pharmacy for assistance with medications or chronic disease state management; this practice was more often reported in urban settings (p=0.022). Of those not currently participating in such a partnership, 53 (57%) were interested in developing one. Thirty-two respondents (34%) reported providing referrals for at least 1 type of screening or counseling service. For some types of services, pharmacists reported that they provide the service in the pharmacy and/or were interested to develop the service in the pharmacy rather than provide a referral. However, for any given service there were a number of pharmacists who expressed interest in providing referrals although they were not currently doing so. Conclusion: This sample of Ohio community pharmacists reported limited participation in community-clinical linkages but interest to develop them. Further studies should explore the pharmacists’ role and impact in such programs. Article Type: Original Research
Artificial Neural Nets in MOS Silicon

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the implementable realizations of artificial neural network (ANN) circuits in MOS silicon VLSI/LSI. A building block is developed that comprised of an analog vector–vector multiplier that is viewed as a basic cell for ANN MOS silicon implementation. The chapter describes a learning rule for updating the weights particularly suitable for MOS silicon-circuit implementation. The new rule removes all derivatives of the sigmoidal function that are present in the usual form of the back-propagation update rule. Yet, the rule guarantees the convergence of the update law to minima. The implementation of the derivative of the sigmoidal function cannot be guaranteed to be the exact analytical derivative of the implemented sigmoidal function employed. No analytical support is available for such imperfection except unjustifiable hope that imperfections in the implementation are likely to retain stability and convergence of the dynamic weight update law. The chapter describes the radically different view of implementing the nonlinear MOS element to emulate the functionality of the synapse. No existing theory supports this type of nonlinear synapse for the conventional feedback ANN of the Hopfield type or the conventional feedforward multilayer ANN.
A Defined and Scalable Peptide-Based Platform for the Generation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Astrocytes

Astrocytes comprise the most abundant cell type in the central nervous system (CNS) and play critical roles in maintaining neural tissue homeostasis. In addition, astrocyte dysfunction and death has been implicated in numerous neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson's disease (PD). As such, there is much interest in using human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived astrocytes for drug screening, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine applications. However, current protocols for generation of astrocytes from hPSCs are limited by the use of undefined xenogeneic components and two-dimensional (2D) culture surfaces, which limits their downstream applications where large-quantities of cells generated under defined conditions are required. Here, we report the use of a completely synthetic, peptide-based substrate that allows for the differentiation of highly pure populations of astrocytes from several independent hPSC lines, including those derived from patients with neurodegenerative disease. This substrate, which we demonstrate is compatible with both conventional 2D culture formats and scalable microcarrier (MC)-based technologies, leads to the generation of cells that express high levels of canonical astrocytic markers as well as display properties characteristic of functionally mature cells including production of apolipoprotein E (ApoE), responsiveness to inflammatory stimuli, ability to take up amyloid-β (Aβ), and appearance of robust calcium transients. Finally, we show that these astrocytes can be cryopreserved without any loss of functionality. In the future, we anticipate that these methods will enable the development of bioprocesses for the production of hPSC-derived astrocytes needed for biomedical research and clinical applications.
Flow of power-law fluid through fractal discrete fracture network

In this study, a new approach to determine the flowrate of a power-law fluid through a fractal fracture network where fractures are parallel is developed. The aperture and trace length of fracture network can follow separate fractal distributions. The flowrate through the fractal network is determined through mean field approximation from the integration of flowrates in individual fractures over the aperture range of the fractal network. Three dimensionless parameters are defined to investigate the relative effects of a power-law fluid in an individual fracture and in a fractal fracture network. The analytical expression for the ratio of flowrate of power-law fluid over Newtonian fluid is developed. The effects of fractal dimension of aperture, power-law fluid index of fluid and pressure head gradient parameter on the flowrate are analyzed and discussed. The results demonstrate that for a shear-thinning fluid, increase in the fractal dimension of aperture reduces the flowrate ratio of power-law fluid over Newtonian fluid, while the reverse is true for a shear-thickening fluid. A large fractal dimension of aperture amplifies the effect of power-law fluid index of fluid when the pressure head gradient is low. The flowrate ratio of the power-law fluid over Newtonian fluid in the network increases quickly for the shear-thinning fluid and decreases for the shear-thickening fluid with the increase in the pressure head gradient parameter.
Economic Voting and Democratic Accountability in Campaign Advertising

At the root of democratic accountability is the idea that voters reward or punish politicians and parties for their record in office. Although there has been plenty of research on how voters use economic issues to hold legislators accountable, we know a lot less about how campaigns themselves encourage voters to engage in economic voting. Political science has developed two competing, although frequently confounded, theories of economic voting: the first, that politicians are held accountable for the economic policies they propose; and the second, that they are held accountable for the economic outcomes that those policies produce. But there is a lack of empirical research on which type of accountability is most prevalent in campaign communications and most likely to drive voter decision making. This project explores how, when, and why campaigns prompt voters to factor economic issues into their voting decisions by focusing on the types of messages that campaigns use in advertising appeals. Using data from the Wisconsin Advertising Project and CMAG that catalogue the content of congressional campaign advertising during the 2004 elections, I show that campaigns focus overwhelmingly on the economic policy positions that candidates have taken, not the outcomes that those policies have brought about. The mix of messages, however, varies systematically in interesting ways. At the level of the campaign appeal, voters are more likely to be asked to vote for someone on the basis of the policy outcomes they claim to have brought about, but to vote against someone on the basis of the economic policy positions they stand for. And at the level of the election constituency, both the demographic makeup of the electorate and the level of electoral competition influence the mix of economic messages that voters are exposed to.