cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Magnetic hysteresis in type II superconductors

Abstract The theories governing the magnetic behavior of Type II superconductors assume reversible magnetization curves. However, due to imperfections and inhomogeneities, many superconductors possess hysteretic curves. A theory is proposed which allows a ‘reversible’ curve to be found from the two irreversible curves. The ‘reversible’ curve is an approximation to the exact Abrikosov reversible curve for H c 1 ≤ H ≤ H c 2 . The theory agrees closely with experimental results.
A model for the bond-slip of a GFRP bar in concrete

Abstract Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars are emerging as desirable alternatives for traditional steel reinforcements in concrete industry. A proper bond between concrete and reinforcement is critical for the performance of reinforced concrete structures. Due to the complexity of modeling the bond action, a perfect bond has been usually considered with the slippage between concrete and reinforcement neglected. The purpose of the present study is to develop a parametric bond-slip model based on pull-out tests performed on sand coated GFRP bars. It included exponential rising, linear descending and residual constant bond stress stages. A sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the bond parameters. Different points along the embedded length of the bar were monitored to illustrate the difference between the average and nodal bond-slip relationships. The proposed bond model was used in a finite element analysis that modeled the cracking in concrete and explicitly simulated the bond action. The model was capable of presenting both concrete splitting and pull-through modes of failure. Simulations were performed on samples with different concrete covers to demonstrate both failure modes.
Interleukin-10 Inhibits Bone Marrow Fibroblast Progenitor Cell-Mediated Cardiac Fibrosis in Pressure-Overloaded Myocardium.

Background: Activated fibroblasts (myofibroblasts) play a critical role in cardiac fibrosis; however, their origin in the diseased heart remains unclear, warranting further investigation. Recent studies suggest the contribution of bone marrow fibroblast progenitor cells (BM-FPCs) in pressure overload–induced cardiac fibrosis. We have previously shown that interleukin-10 (IL10) suppresses pressure overload–induced cardiac fibrosis; however, the role of IL10 in inhibition of BM-FPC–mediated cardiac fibrosis is not known. We hypothesized that IL10 inhibits pressure overload–induced homing of BM-FPCs to the heart and their transdifferentiation to myofibroblasts and thus attenuates cardiac fibrosis. Methods: Pressure overload was induced in wild-type (WT) and IL10 knockout (IL10KO) mice by transverse aortic constriction. To determine the bone marrow origin, chimeric mice were created with enhanced green fluorescent protein WT mice marrow to the IL10KO mice. For mechanistic studies, FPCs were isolated from mouse bone marrow. Results: Pressure overload enhanced BM-FPC mobilization and homing in IL10KO mice compared with WT mice. Furthermore, WT bone marrow (from enhanced green fluorescent protein mice) transplantation in bone marrow–depleted IL10KO mice (IL10KO chimeric mice) reduced transverse aortic constriction–induced BM-FPC mobilization compared with IL10KO mice. Green fluorescent protein costaining with α-smooth muscle actin or collagen 1α in left ventricular tissue sections of IL10KO chimeric mice suggests that myofibroblasts were derived from bone marrow after transverse aortic constriction. Finally, WT bone marrow transplantation in IL10KO mice inhibited transverse aortic constriction–induced cardiac fibrosis and improved heart function. At the molecular level, IL10 treatment significantly inhibited transforming growth factor-β–induced transdifferentiation and fibrotic signaling in WT BM-FPCs in vitro. Furthermore, fibrosis-associated microRNA (miRNA) expression was highly upregulated in IL10KO-FPCs compared with WT-FPCs. Polymerase chain reaction–based selective miRNA analysis revealed that transforming growth factor-β–induced enhanced expression of fibrosis-associated miRNAs (miRNA-21, -145, and -208) was significantly inhibited by IL10. Restoration of miRNA-21 levels suppressed the IL10 effects on transforming growth factor-β–induced fibrotic signaling in BM-FPCs. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that IL10 inhibits BM-FPC homing and transdifferentiation to myofibroblasts in pressure-overloaded myocardium. Mechanistically, we show for the first time that IL10 suppresses Smad–miRNA-21–mediated activation of BM-FPCs and thus modulates cardiac fibrosis.
A 40nm split gate embedded flash macro with flexible 2-in-1 architecture, code memory with 140MHz read speed and data memory with 1M cycles endurance

This paper presents a 40nm 9.5Mb embedded flash (eflash) macro which can be partitioned as code storage and data storage in a single macro with enhanced read margin by using two design schemes: temperature adaptive reference scheme and flexible array partitioned scheme. By way of these design features, code storage memory achieves 140MHz read speed at the junction temperature of 160°C and data storage memory achieves 1M cycles endurance.
Understanding Faculty Use of the Learning Management System

The learning management system (LMS) has become a critical tool for nearly all institutions of higher education, and a driving force in online learning. According to a 2014 report by the Educause Center for Analysis and Research, 99% of higher education institutions have an LMS in place, and the LMS is used by 85% of faculty and 83% of students. This was not always the case, however. There was a time in the not-so-distant past when using an LMS was considered highly innovative. Understanding the growth and adoption of the LMS is a stepping stone to understanding how faculty may choose to adopt other technological and pedagogical innovations. This study was conducted at a large, research-intensive public university in the Midwest, which has used the same LMS for 15 years. From a small pilot, adoption has grown to nearly universal use. This study used system logs and database queries to examine how faculty used the LMS. The results identified the features that were used most frequently and how usage had changed over time. In addition, the study compared the usage data for face-to-face and online courses to determine if there are differences in LMS use due to course modality. Based on this, it is possible to better understand the role the LMS plays in higher education and online learning, to inform development of next generation learning systems or other innovative technologies.
Transient penetration of a viscoelastic fluid in a narrow capillary channel

This article describes an unexplored transport phenomenon where a mildly viscoelastic medium encroaches a narrow capillary channel under the action of surface-tension force. The ultimate goal of the study is to provide the penetration length and the intrusion rate of the liquid as functions of time. The resulting analysis would be instrumental in building an inexpensive and convenient rheometric device which can measure the temporal scale for viscoelastic relaxation from the stored data of the aforementioned quantities. The key step in the formulation is a transient eigenfunction expansion of the instantaneous velocity profile. The time-dependent amplitude of the expansion as well as the intruded length are governed by a system of integro-differential relations which are derived by exploiting the mass and momentum conservation principles. The obtained integro-differential equations are simultaneously solved by using a fourth-order Runge–Kutta method assuming a start-up problem from rest. The resulting numerical solution properly represents the predominantly one-dimensional flow which gradually slows down after an initial acceleration and subsequent oscillation. The computational findings are independently verified by two separate perturbation theories. The first of these is based on a Weissenberg number expansion revealing the departure in the unsteady imbibition due to small but finite viscoelasticity. In contrast, the second one explains the long-time behaviour of the system by analytically predicting the decay features of the dynamics. These asymptotic results unequivocally corroborate the simulation inferring the accuracy of the numerics as well as the utility of the simplified mathematical models.
Deletion of TGF-β1 Increases Bacterial Clearance by Cytotoxic T Cells in a Tuberculosis Granuloma Model

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the pathogenic bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), one of the most lethal infectious diseases in the world. The only vaccine against TB is minimally protective, and multi-drug resistant TB necessitates new therapeutics to treat infection. Developing new therapies requires a better understanding of the complex host immune response to infection, including dissecting the processes leading to formation of granulomas, the dense cellular lesions associated with TB. In this work, we pair experimental and computational modeling studies to explore cytokine regulation in the context of TB. We use our next-generation hybrid multi-scale model of granuloma formation (GranSim) to capture molecular, cellular, and tissue scale dynamics of granuloma formation. We identify TGF-β1 as a major inhibitor of cytotoxic T-cell effector function in granulomas. Deletion of TGF-β1 from the system results in improved bacterial clearance and lesion sterilization. We also identify a novel dichotomous regulation of cytotoxic T cells and macrophages by TGF-β1 and IL-10, respectively. These findings suggest that increasing cytotoxic T-cell effector functions may increase bacterial clearance in granulomas and highlight potential new therapeutic targets for treating TB.
Clinical implications of oncogenic mutations in pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Purpose of review Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a neoplasm of dendritic cells with a wide clinical spectrum. Localized pulmonary LCH occurs in young adults with a history of smoking and can either resolve spontaneously or lead to progressive decline in pulmonary function. Young children can also present with localized disease - frequently bone or skin - or with multifocal or multisystem disease. Clinical outcomes in these patients also vary widely, ranging from spontaneous resolution to multiorgan failure and death. This review describes recent developments in our understanding of the underlying pathogenesis of LCH and how these discoveries and other research are affecting how the disease is classified, treated and monitored. Recent findings Somatic mutations resulting in activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway were recently identified as a key pathogenetic mechanism in both pediatric and pulmonary LCH. Summary Knowledge of underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of LCH transforming how this disease and other histocytic/dendritic disorders are classified, treated and monitored.
Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Implications of Semaglutide: A New Glucagon-Like Peptide (GLP)-1 Receptor Agonist

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) came to market in the year 2005, as a new therapeutic classification, for clinical use in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Since 2005, there have been six approved products on the market, with the newest product being semaglutide (Novo Nordisk). Several studies have been conducted and completed evaluating its pharmacokinetics as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection. As a dose of 0.5 or 1 mg, semaglutide has a half-life of 7 days; therefore, it would reach steady state in 4–5 weeks. There are few drug interactions and dose adjustments are not necessary. However, similar to other GLP-1 RAs, semaglutide can delay gastric emptying and may impact the absorption of oral medications. Based on clinical trials, semaglutide has been compared with placebo, sitagliptin, exenatide extended release, and insulin glargine as monotherapy or add-on therapy. Semaglutide has resulted in a 1.5–1.9% glycosylated hemoglobin A1c reduction after 30–56 weeks. It also produced 5–10% weight reduction from baseline in clinical efficacy studies. Semaglutide can be another acceptable option for patients with T2DM, and it has a potential role among patients who require weight loss with a low risk of hypoglycemia. This article evaluates the pharmacokinetics of semaglutide and summarizes its application to clinical practice based on efficacy and safety data.
Intravitreal sustained-release dexamethasone device in the treatment of experimental uveitis.

PURPOSE: Uveitis often runs a chronic course requiring long-term therapy. Topical treatment results in poor intravitreal penetration, and systemic therapy is associated with significant side effects. The authors investigated whether an intravitreal sustained-release dexamethasone device was effective in the treatment of severe panuveitis in a rabbit model. METHODS: Twenty New Zealand white rabbits were immunized twice subcutaneously with 10 mg of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra antigen. Twelve days later, sustained-release dexamethasone devices were implanted into the vitreous of the right eye of 10 rabbits. Ten control rabbits received a sham device. One day later, rabbits were challenged with an intravitreal injection of 33 micrograms of antigen. Three animals in each group were sacrificed on post-challenge days 7 and 13 for aqueous white blood cell (WBC) count, protein determination, and histologic examination. To simulate chronic inflammation with exacerbations, the eight remaining eyes were rechallenged with intravitreal antigen on day 15 and were observed for 3 1/2 months. Inflammation was graded clinically by two masked observers. Retinal function was evaluated by electroretinography (ERG). Light microscopy was used to evaluate the eyes histopathologically. The amount of residual drug in the devices was measured on day 13 and at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: By all clinical criteria measured--anterior chamber cells, flare, and vitreous opacity--treated eyes had significantly less inflammation than untreated eyes (P < 0.05). Clinical examination correlated well with objective data. Both protein concentration (P < 0.05) and aqueous WBCs (P < 0.02) were approximately 10-fold higher, and ERGs were significantly depressed (P < 0.05) in untreated eyes compared to treated eyes. Histopathologic examination showed marked inflammation and tissue disorganization in the untreated compared to the treated eyes. After antigen rechallenge, inflammation in experimental eyes was still less than in control eyes. Late complications such as corneal neovascularization, cataract, and hypotony were also less in the treated eyes than in the untreated eyes. At the end of the experiment (99 days after device implantation), approximately 30% of drug remained in the devices. CONCLUSIONS: The intravitreal sustained-release dexamethasone device is highly effective in suppressing inflammation and preventing complications after two episodes of experimental uveitis in a rabbit model for at least 3 1/2 months. This device may be useful in the management of patients with severe chronic posterior uveitis who cannot tolerate systemic or periocular therapy.
Enhancing Scenario Quality Using Quasi-Events

A major challenge for processor-level stimuli generators is the need to generate stimuli that exercise deep micro-architectural mechanisms. Advanced generators address this challenge by applying expert testing knowledge that bias the stimuli toward interesting verification events. In this paper, we present a new approach whereby scenarios are not just enhanced, but are actually modified by testing knowledge. By allowing such mutations, scenarios are diverted toward quasi-events that are semantically related, though not identical, to the original intent of the scenario. We describe the importance of quasi-events and the usefulness of automated scenario mutations for improving the verification of speculative execution.
Remaking the Rural South: Interracialism, Christian Socialism, and Cooperative Farming in Jim Crow Mississippi. By Robert Hunt Ferguson. (Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 2018. Pp. xiv, 211. $56.95.)

In the wake of slavery another labor tragedy emerged in the American South. Firmly entrenched by the early twentieth century, the exploitive and racist system of sharecropping seemingly defied huma...
Comment: Enforcing Coasian Bribes for Non-Price Benefits: A New Role for Restitution

In Boomer v. Muir, a subcontractor on a hydroelectric project continued to provide goods and services even though the value of the performance far exceeded the contract price. The general contractor, who was receiving these goods and services, breached the contract even though he was paying less than market price for them. Please see the complete abstract in the article.
CHAPTER 10 – FEEDBACK STABILIZATION, EIGENVALUE ASSIGNMENT, AND OPTIMAL CONTROL

This chapter presents the problem of stabilizing a linear control system by appropriately choosing the control vector. Necessary and sufficient conditions are established for the existence of stabilizing feedback matrices, and Lyapunov-style methods for constructing such matrices are described in the chapter. A concept dual to stabilizability, called detectability, is then introduced and its connection with a Lyapunov matrix equation is established. In certain practical situations, stabilizing a system is not enough; a designer should be able to control the eigenvalues of matrix so that certain design constraints are met. This important result is established in the chapter. The proof of this result is constructive and leads to several well-known formulas, the most important of which is the Ackermann formula. Since there are no set guidelines as to where the poles (the eigenvalues) need to be placed, in practice, a compromise is very often made in which a feedback matrix is constructed in such a way that not only the system is stabilized but also a certain performance criterion is satisfied. This leads to the well-known Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) problem. Both continuous-time and discrete-time LQR problems are discussed in the chapter. The chapter also discusses the H ∞ -control problems. The H ∞ -control problems are concerned with stabilization of perturbed versions of a system, when certain bounds of perturbations are known. The solutions of the H ∞ -control problems also require solutions of certain algebraic Rieeati equations. Two algorithms are provided in the chapter for computing the H ∞ -norm.
Accounting education literature review (2018)

Abstract This review of the accounting education literature includes 101 articles published during 2018 in five journals: (1) Journal of Accounting Education, (2) Accounting Education, (3) Advances in Accounting Education: Teaching and Curriculum Innovations, (4) Issues in Accounting Education, and (5) The Accounting Educators’ Journal. We update 13 prior accounting education literature reviews by organizing and summarizing contributions to the accounting education literature made during 2018. Articles are categorized into five sections corresponding to traditional knowledge bases: (1) curriculum and instruction, (2) instruction by content area, (3) educational technology, (4) students, and (5) faculty. Research rigor of the empirical articles is discussed and critiqued. Suggestions for research in all areas are presented. Articles classified as instructional resources and cases published in the same five journals during 2018 are listed in appendices categorized by the relevant content area.
Sexual Misconduct and Securities Disclosure in the #MeToo World

This paper will examine the disclosure challenges facing public corporations that are grappling with sexual misconduct issues in the #MeToo world. Part I overviews the disclosure regime surrounding securities enforcement, including the relevant statutes, rules, concepts, and goals. Part II will discuss the #MeToo movement, its impact on disclosure liability, and trends in disclosure liability lawsuits. This part will argue that the risk of sexual misconduct disclosure liability and enforcement is real and growing, despite the fact that public companies do not give it sufficient attention. Part III will recommend when and what companies should disclose with regard to alleged and proven sexual misconduct. Essentially, a corporation must first determine if sexual misconduct is a material event, the determining factors being whether a key executive or a significant number of lower-level employees are implicated. Then, a company must determine whether an affirmative duty to disclose is triggered. Even if not, companies need to be mindful of Rule 10b-5 restrictions, as pre-detection statements can lead to a duty to correct or update and post-detection statements must be made completely and truthfully. The paper concludes by recommending that companies err on the side of disclosure, or at the very least incorporate sexual misconduct disclosure liability into their disclosure conversations, given the potent nature of sexual misconduct issues in the #MeToo world.
Alvimopan is associated with decreased length of stay for both open and laparoscopic segmental colectomy.

Abstract Background Alvimopan has been shown to reduce length of stay after bowel resection. Use remains variable among institutions due to cost and efficacy concerns in laparoscopic surgery. Additionally, alvimopan’s effects have not been isolated from other medications within enhanced recovery protocols. The aim of this study was to distinguish the relationship between alvimopan use, length of stay, and cost in both open and laparoscopic segmental colectomies. Methods The Vizient dataset was queried to identify patients undergoing open and laparoscopic colectomies from 2015 to 2017. Patient demographics and treatment details were collected. Primary outcomes of interest included duration of stay and total direct costs. Results In the study, 12,727 patients met inclusion criteria and 3,358 (26.4%) received alvimopan. For both open and laparoscopic groups, alvimopan was associated with decreased length of stay in unadjusted (4.0 vs 6.0 days, P Conclusion Alvimopan use is associated with decreased length of stay for both open and laparoscopic colon resections, decreased cost in open procedures, and no cost difference for laparoscopic procedures.
Extending Reliability of mmWave Radar Tracking and Detection via Fusion With Camera

In this paper, a new radar-camera fusion system is presented. The fusion system takes into consideration the error bounds of the two different coordinate systems from the heterogeneous sensors, and further a new fusion-extended Kalman filter is utilized to adapt to the heterogeneous sensors. Real-world application considerations such as asynchronous sensors, multi-target tracking and association are also studied and illustrated in this paper. Experimental results demonstrated that the proposed fusion system can realize a range accuracy of 0.29m with an angular accuracy of 0.013rad in real-time. Therefore, the proposed fusion system is effective, reliable and computationally efficient for real-time kinematic fusion applications.
Associated Morbidity After the Percutaneous Release of the Medial Collateral Ligament for Knee Arthroscopy.

Purpose To summarize available data on the morbidity associated with percutaneous release of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of the knee during arthroscopy via a “pie-crusting” technique. Methods A search of the literature was performed using the MEDLINE and Web of Science databases to identify studies examining the morbidity of percutaneous MCL release during arthroscopy. Only English-language articles were included; technical articles and studies not focused on the use of this technique were omitted. Two independent reviewers performed the literature search, data extraction, and quality assessment. The outcomes analyzed included resultant knee instability, functional outcome scores, visual analog scale pain scores, and saphenous nerve or greater saphenous vein injury. Results Six studies met the eligibility criteria. The studies included a total of 234 knees undergoing MCL release, with a mean patient age of 41.1 years. This MCL release typically generated grade I MCL laxity, which usually diminished or resolved over time and did not require brace application. The functional outcome scores of patients undergoing MCL release did not differ from those of patients undergoing the same procedure without MCL release. Postoperative pain was not significantly different between patients who underwent MCL release and those who did not. There was a 0% incidence of injury to the saphenous nerve or greater saphenous vein with MCL release in the included studies. Conclusions Percutaneous MCL release during knee arthroscopy is a method of increasing the medial tibiofemoral joint space without causing any significant short- or long-term complications including residual valgus instability, pain, loss of function, or damage to surrounding structures. Level of Evidence Level IV, systematic review of Level IV studies.
Chemical Adducts of Reactive Flavor Aldehydes Formed in E-Cigarette Liquids Are Cytotoxic and Inhibit Mitochondrial Function in Respiratory Epithelial Cells.

Introduction Flavor aldehydes in e-cigarettes, including vanillin, ethyl vanillin (vanilla), and benzaldehyde (berry/fruit), rapidly undergo chemical reactions with the e-liquid solvents, propylene glycol, and vegetable glycerol (PG/VG), to form chemical adducts named flavor aldehyde PG/VG acetals that can efficiently transfer to e-cigarette aerosol. The objective of this study was to compare the cytotoxic and metabolic toxic effects of acetals and their parent aldehydes in respiratory epithelial cells. Aims and methods Cell metabolic assays were carried out in bronchial (BEAS-2B) and alveolar (A549) epithelial cells assessing the effects of benzaldehyde, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, and their corresponding PG acetals on key bioenergetic parameters of mitochondrial function. The potential cytotoxic effects of benzaldehyde and vanillin and their corresponding PG acetals were analyzed using the LIVE/DEAD cell assay in BEAS-2B cells and primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpC). Cytostatic effects of vanillin and vanillin PG acetal were compared using Click-iT EDU cell proliferation assay in BEAS-2B cells. Results Compared with their parent aldehydes, PG acetals diminished key parameters of cellular energy metabolic functions, including basal respiration, adenosine triphosphate production, and spare respiratory capacity. Benzaldehyde PG acetal (1-10 mM) increased cell mortality in BEAS-2B and HNEpC, compared with benzaldehyde. Vanillin PG acetal was more cytotoxic than vanillin at the highest concentration tested while both diminished cellular proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusions Reaction products formed in e-liquids between flavor aldehydes and solvent chemicals have differential toxicological properties from their parent flavor aldehydes and may contribute to the health effects of e-cigarette aerosol in the respiratory system of e-cigarette users. Implications With no inhalation toxicity studies available for acetals, data from this study will provide a basis for further toxicological studies using in vitro and in vivo models. This study suggests that manufacturers' disclosure of e-liquid ingredients at time of production may be insufficient to inform a comprehensive risk assessment of e-liquids and electronic nicotine delivery systems use, due to the chemical instability of e-liquids over time and the formation of new compounds.
Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma in a 40-Year-Old Immunocompetent Patient

Epstein-Barr virus-positive (EBV+) primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a clinical entity rarely reported in young immunocompetent patients. Here, we present the case of a 40-year-old female with no history of immunosuppression or immunodeficiency, who presented with a ring-enhancing lesion in the right basal ganglia. The tumor generated significant vasogenic edema and mass effect, causing midline shift, symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, and rapidly progressive neurologic dysfunction. She underwent gross total resection of the tumor through a tubular retractor. Her tumor was of the diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) subtype of PCNSL and was positive for EBV. No immunodeficiency or extracranial disease was identified. After adjuvant therapy with high-dose methotrexate, rituximab, and temozolomide, she remains disease-free two years after initial presentation. EBV+ PCNSL, although rare in young immunocompetent adults, poses unique clinical challenges and may require surgical intervention in the acute setting in some cases.
Depression and Intolerance of Uncertainty: Association with Decisional Conflict in Otolaryngology Patients:

Objective:To determine if anxiety, stress, depression, worry, and intolerance of uncertainty were related to pre-operative decisional conflict (DC), shared decision making (SDM), or demographic var...
Influence of PDC bit cutter layout on stick–slip vibrations of deep drilling systems

Abstract This paper extends the class of two degrees-of-freedom (2 DOF) models that simulate the self-excited vibrations of a rotary drilling system, by considering PDC bits equipped with round cutters and a realistic cutter layout. The extension requires an elaborate bit/rock interaction model that involves bit characterization, cutter projection and correlating the bit/rock engagement with the bit motion history. The governing equations are state-dependent delay differential inclusions with two major sources of nonlinearities: the regenerative effect in both cutting and frictional components of the drilling force and the unilateral nature of the frictional force. To solve for the state variables, the technical challenges involve a search of many delays and a fast and accurate geometric computation, which are respectively resolved with a modified inverse algorithm and the polygon clipping technique. The linear stability analysis is formulated based on the geometric variations of the bit/rock engagement surfaces, which result in critical rotation speeds that separate various stability regions of the decoupled axial dynamics. Determined by the bit design, the resulting stability boundaries are defined in terms of the rotation speed and the nominal bit penetration per revolution. With the time simulation, it is verified that the stability map, in conjunction with the exact location of unstable axial poles, can be used to predict the occurrence of axial stick–slip oscillations in the coupled dynamics, which eventually lead to sustained torsional stick–slip oscillations.
Nonulcer dyspepsia

Dyspepsia is a heterogeneous symptom complex with differing symptom presentations, underlying pathophysiology and available treatments. Patients older than 50 years and those who have “alarm” symptoms or signs (eg, weight loss, dysphagia, vomiting, anemia, or heme-positive stool) should undergo an initial endoscopic evaluation. Empiric treatment without diagnostic testing may be used in the initial approach to young patients without alarm symptoms. For patients presenting with uncomplicated dyspepsia, initial testing for H. pylori is appropriate. If present, H. pylori infection is generally treated and symptoms are followed. In patients who do not have H. pylori infection or do not respond to H. pylori treatment, initial treatment with an H2 blocker or promotility agent is appropriate empiric therapy. In some patients, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) presents atypically with primarily dyspeptic symptoms. In these patients, a trial of gastric acid suppressant may help implicate GERD. For patients with nonulcer dyspepsia (ie, dyspeptic symptoms with negative endoscopy), prokinetic therapy may be the most effective empiric treatment.
Waterway transitions at US bridges

Stream and river management projects are implemented to improve water quality, stream function, aquatic habitat and aesthetics, and provide mitigation for road construction. In contrast, bridge maintenance activities are undertaken to convey water, sediment and debris beneath bridges at high flows. Road crossings can have a significant influence on local hydraulics and sediment transport, resulting in an altered flow pattern that can cause backwater, increased erosion, debris and sediment deposition and channel instability. Thus, managing rivers and streams that include one or more road crossings requires some knowledge of the flow hydraulics over a range of flows in order to create a smooth, stable transition through the bridge opening. In-stream structures, such as vanes and weirs, can help to transition flow, sediment and debris through a bridge opening. The use of these in-stream structures at road crossings, and scenarios for planning projects where road crossings intercept the project reach, are presented.
Kazakhstan’s changing geopolitics: the resource economy and popular attitudes about China’s growing regional influence

A US geographer examines prevailing geopolitical discourses in Kazakhstan, through a case study of attitudes toward China and its influence in contemporary affairs. As part of a broader research project, the study draws on data from participant observation, textual analysis, interviews, focus groups, and a country-wide survey administered in Kazakhstan between June 2009 and July 2011. The author investigates the divergent findings across these methods, reflecting a profound ambivalence in popular attitudes about China, and explores their implications for the political geographic literature on state-making.
Effects of Poly-Victimization on Adolescent Social Support, Self-Concept, and Psychological Distress

Past research has demonstrated the particularly damaging effects of exposure to multiple forms of victimization, or “poly-victimization,” on youth mental health. The primary objective of the present study is to begin to identify the mechanisms that help explain its powerful impact. Analyses are based on two waves of longitudinal data from the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV), conducted in 2008 and 2010, that comprised a telephone sample of 1,186 youth ages 10 to 17. Using structural equation modeling, we examine direct and indirect effects on distress symptoms of increased, decreased, and stable high poly-victimization between Waves 1 and 2 compared to no or low victimization in both waves. Specifically, we consider the extent to which reductions in core psychosocial resources, including family support, peer support, self-esteem, and mastery, mediate the relationship between these poly-victimization conditions and distress. Relative to stable low victimization, both increased p...
Building an Orthodox Empire: Archpriest Ioann Vostorgov and Russian Missionary Aspirations in Asia

Using the example of Archpriest Ioann Vostorgov, this article analyzes how during the final decade of the Russian empire, the colonization of Siberia, Central Asia, and the Far East, as well as the state’s engagement in East Asia, created new opportunities for Orthodox clergymen to participate in Russian imperial aspirations in the region. Asia had captured the imagination of Vostorgov, providing him with a backdrop for articulating the pivotal role that the Orthodox Church would perform in forging the future empire and a new world order. Facing an environment of porous borders, hostile neighbours, along with dizzying religious and ethnic diversity, Vostorgov supported the resettlement of Orthodox peasants and the intensification of missionary work, both inside and outside of Russia’s borders, which he believed would secure the future of the empire.
Book Information: Preventing the Sexual Victimization of Children, Psychological, Legal, and Public Policy Perspectives, by Charles Patrick Ewing

Although various aspects of child sexual abuse have been widely researched, it is rare to find in-depth research relating to the laws, policies, and preventative measures surrounding this topic. Nu...
THE BOLDT DECISION

In 1974 Federal District Judge H. Boldt mandated that 50% of the salmon resource of Washington State be allocated to Indian treaty tribes. His decision produced what has been characterized as “except for some desegregation cases … the most concerted official and private efforts to frustrate a decree of a federal court witnessed in this century.” This article argues that fishing rights litigation has played a significant role in defining and structuring the conflict over the salmon resource. An unanticipated or unavoidable “side effect” of the successful tribal litigation strategy is the restructuring of the conflict in a way that is likely ultimately to prove as detrimental as outright legal defeat. Focusing on the Indian fishing rights issue, the article also studies the use of litigation as a weapon for social change. The underlying assumption is that a legal order that denies impoverished and powerless constituents a meaningful avenue for social change is gravely flawed.
Improved systems reliability through improved battery monitoring techniques

The standards for reliability in critical backup power systems are increasing. To meet the standards, even better batteries, better system integration of batteries, and continuous monitoring of batteries should be employed. This paper focuses on continuous monitoring of batteries. Monitoring which can increase system reliability and further improve battery life, performance, and reduce overall systems costs. >
Continuum neural network based on aggregate field of local nonlinear coupling

Neural networks are usually considered as arrays of interconnected nonlinear gain elements with linear couplings. Some newer concepts indicate that biological neural networks may be considered to be linear gain units interconnected with nonlinear couplings. A neural network model proposed by B. Baird (1989) and having these characteristics is extended to a neural network behaving as a continuum or as a neural medium. This type of neural network has characteristics that make it ideal for implementation in a coherent optical system. The behavior of this neural network may be reproduced with an optical resonator containing a nonlinear optical crystal. Information can be made to correspond the resonator's modes. Depending on various parameters, it can exhibit winner-take-all dynamics or chaos. >
Microablation of collagen-based substrates for soft tissue engineering

Noting the abundance and importance of collagen as a biomaterial, we have developed a facile method for the production of a dense fibrillar extracellular matrix mimicking collagen–elastin hybrids with tunable mechanical properties. Through the use of excimer-laser technology, we have optimized conditions for the ablation of collagen lamellae without denaturation of protein, maintenance of fibrillar ultrastructure and preservation of native D-periodicity. Strengths of collagen–elastin hybrids ranged from 0.6 to 13 MPa, elongation at break from 9 to 70% and stiffness from 2.9 to 94 MPa, allowing for the design of a wide variety of tissue specific scaffolds. Further, large (centimeter scale) lamellae can be fabricated and embedded with recombinant elastin to generate collagen–elastin hybrids. Exposed collagen in hybrids act as cell adhesive sites for rat mesenchymal stem cells that conform to ablate waveforms. The ability to modulate these features allows for the generation of a class of biopolymers that can architecturally and physiologically replicate native tissue.
Exploring the Utility of Self-Modeling in Decreasing Disruptive Behavior in Students with Intellectual Disability.

Students with intellectual disabilities can exhibit a wide array of challenging behaviors in the classroom that pose disruptions to the learning milieu and management problems for those involved in their education. Self-modeling, a behavioral intervention that involves viewing edited videotapes of oneself depicting exemplary behavior, has had documented success in evoking positive behavior change. This investigation utilized a multiple baseline design to examine the effect of self-modeling in reducing disruptive classroom behavior among 3 high school students with intellectual deficits. Participants were shown five 2-minute treatment tapes over 10 school days. The results of this experiment were analyzed through visual inspection of the data and calculation of effect sizes. Self-modeling was found to have large decreases in the target behavior for all 3 participants, with treatment effects becoming more pronounced at follow-up. Implications and future research directions are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Violence in Low-Income Neighborhoods in the United States: Do We Care?

Abstract The focus of this paper is on the chronic violence in low-income neighborhoods to which children and adults are regularly exposed. Such neighborhoods have been called “urban war zones,” and those who witness the violence have been referred to as co-victims. This paper examines what we know about the prevalence of neighborhood violence, the consequences of continued exposure to it, the dominant responses to the problem within psychology, a critique of these responses, and possible next steps.
Behavior of Pilot-Scale Constructed Wetlands in Removing Nutrients and Sediments Under Varying Environmental Conditions

Water resources are threatened globally and declining water quality is primarily due to stormwater, agricultural, urban, and mining runoffs. Steamboat Creek in Nevada is the largest non point source (NPS) of pollution to the Truckee River. Treatment wetlands are a cost-effective and reliable technique to control NPS pollution, therefore, a large-scale wetland along Steamboat Creek has been proposed as a component of a regional watershed restoration plan. This study used ten parallel pilot-scale wetland mesocosms, and tested the effects of drying and rewetting, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and high nitrogen loading on the efficiency of nutrient and total suspended solids (TSS) removal. Drying and rewetting produced noticeable effects on nutrient retention, but the effect was short-lived. During longer HRT period nutrient removal in manipulated mesocosms with an 8 h HRT were higher than controls with a 4 h HRT. Reducing the HRT from 4 h to 30 min further decreased nutrient interception. During increased influent nitrogen loading (9.5 ± 2.4 mg l−1), manipulated mesocosms functioned as sinks for total nitrogen (TN) with removal efficiency increasing from 45 ± 13% to 87 ± 9%. The average change in TN concentration was 9.1 ± 2.2 mg l−1. Drying/rewetting and varying HRT influenced total phosphorus (TP) and TSS similarly, and TP removal was associated with TSS removal. Results can help make decisions regarding wetland construction, management, and operation more effective in order to reduce nutrient loads to the Truckee River.
Transition metal ion complexes of 2-ethyl-sulfinylpyridine n-oxide

Abstract Transition metal ion complexes involving 2-ethylsulfinylpyridine N-oxide acting as a bidentate ligand have been prepared and characterized by spectral measurements as well as conductivity data. Crystal field parameters based on approximate octahedral symmetry are calculated for the Cr(III), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes. Optical electronegativity calculations indicate that the change transfer bands are metal-ligand.
Interpreting cross-section and time-series tests of convergence: the case of labor productivity in manufacturing

Abstract This paper investigates whether a disaggregated measure, labor productivity in manufacturing, is converging across eight OECD countries during the period 1950–1998 using both cross-section and time series tests of convergence. The evidence indicates convergence using either test for the full sample, but tests over subperiods suggest that the dynamics of the underlying series change from economies in transition in the early years to economies in balanced, but parallel, growth paths in the later period. The results confirm that the appropriate test for convergence depends on the underlying structure of the data.
A new empirical cooling rate indicator for meteorites based on the size of the cloudy zone of the metallic phases

A new empirical cooling rate indicator for metal particles is proposed. The cooling rate indicator is based on the relationship between the size of the island phase in the cloudy zone, which abuts the outer taenite rim (clear taenite I), and the cooling rate of the host meteorite as obtained by conventional metal- lographic techniques. The size of the island phase was measured by high-resolution scanning electron micros- copy (SEM) in 26 meteorites and decreases fiom 470 nm to 17 nm, while the cooling rate of the host meteorite increases from 0.5 Ma to 325 Ma. This island phase size vs. cooling rate relationship is independent of whether the host is an iron, stony-iron, or stony meteorite and can be used to estimate the low-temperature cooling rate of the host meteorite. The measurement of the size of the island phase in the cloudy zone can also be applied to a large number of meteorites.
Unusual cell surface immunoglobulin on a plasma cell tumor.

Abstract The secreted and cell surface immunoglobulin of a Syrian hamster plasmacytoma (PLA-1) were studied. Secreted immunoglobulin was internally labeled by metabolic incorporation of 3H-amino acids. Cell surface immunoglobulin was labeled with 125I by the lactoperoxidase method. The major secreted product was shown to be IgA and to possess heavy chains of approximately 60,000–68,000 daltons and light chains of 23,000 daltons. Cell surface immunoglobulin reacted only weakly with anti-IgA reagents, had an apparent mol. wt of 250,000 daltons and possessed heavy chains of 90,000–98,000 daltons and light chains of 23,000 daltons. Therefore, the secreted product of PLA-1 appears to be very similar to normal secreted immunoglobulin while the cell surface immunoglobulin appears to be unusual, containing heavy chains that differ in size and relative antigenicity from normal serum immunoglobulin and in-vitro secretions.
Phase Behavior of Synaptosomal Membranes: The Effect of Lipid Composition and Temperature

The phase behavior of synaptosomal membranes isolated from mammalian rat and marine invertebrate squid intact nerve endings was compared. Homogeneous liquid disordered (Lα) phase was observed at their body temperatures of 37 and ∼20°C for the rat and squid, respectively, using fluorescence microscopy and 1H-MAS NMR. Temperature decrease resulted in co-existence of an ordered phase with onset temperatures of 24°C for rat and 8°C for squid. Comprehensive analyses of the lipid composition by LC/MS explained the significant difference in the onset temperature: >2x higher content of 18:0 and 18:1 lipid chains in rat, which contributes to a higher transition temperature. The amount of ω-3 chains was ∼3x higher in squid than in rat due to a difference in the amounts of 22:6 and 20:5: squid membranes contained 2x more total 22:6 in major phospholipids (PC, PE, and PS) and cardiolipin (17:0,22:6,22:6,22:6-species). While prominent in rat, 20:4 was not found in squid. It is known for Lα phase PC that 16:0,22:6 is more ordered and thicker with a smaller area/lipid than 16:0,20:4. The high content of 22:6 in squid may contribute to order in the Lα phase at the body temperature (∼20°C) in contrast to the high content of 20:4 in rat at a higher body temperature (37°C). Fluorescence microscopy data showing the temperature-dependent phase behavior using giant unilamellar vesicles prepared with lipid compositions based on the synaptosomal measurements above will be discussed. Synaptosomal preparations of squid with body temperatures differing by ∼9°C will be compared.