cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Concurrent Use of Metered-Dose and Dry Powder Inhalers by Children with Persistent Asthma Does Not Adversely Affect Spacer/Inhaler Technique

Background:Studies conducted in adults have suggested that patients who use a metered-dose inhaler/holding chamber spacer (MDI/S) and dry powder inhaler (DPI) concurrently will have poorer MDI/S technique than that of patients who use MDI/S exclusively. To our knowledge, as of August 31, 2006, no studies have been performed in pediatric patients.Objective:To compare MDI/S technique scores of children using only MDI/S with scores of those using both MDI/S and DPIs.Methods:The MDI/S technique of children aged 6–17 years, with persistent asthma, recruited from a general pediatric practice population for an asthma intervention study project was scored using a standardized checklist. MDI/S scores of children who were being treated with maintenance and rescue medication delivered only by MDI/S were compared with those treated with both MDI/S (rescue) and DPI (maintenance). Scores lower than 70% were considered to be inadequate.Results:A total of 117 patients (73 male, 44 female), aged 9.70 ± 3.1 years (mean ± S...
Temporal patterns in social media streams: Theme discovery and evolution using joint analysis of content and context

Online social networking sites such as Flickr and Facebook provide a diverse range of functionalities that foster online communities to create and share media content. In particular, Flickr groups are increasingly used to aggregate and share photos about a wide array of topics or themes. Unlike photo repositories where images are typically organized with respect to static topics, the photo sharing process as in Flickr often results in complex time-evolving social and visual patterns. Characterizing such time-evolving patterns can enrich media exploring experience in a social media repository. In this paper, we propose a novel framework that characterizes distinct timeevolving patterns of group photo streams. We use a nonnegative joint matrix factorization approach to incorporate image content features and contextual information, including associated tags, photo owners and post times. In our framework, we consider a group as a mixture of themes — each theme exhibits similar patterns of image content and context. The theme extraction is to best explain the observed image content features and associations with tags, users and times. Extensive experiments on a Flickr dataset suggest that our approach is able to extract meaningful evolutionary patterns from group photo streams. We evaluate our method through a tag prediction task. Our prediction results outperform baseline methods, which indicate the utility of our theme based joint analysis.
Virtual reality and robotics in medicine

Virtual reality and robotics are teaming to revolutionize the art of medicine, from student training, to diagnosis, anesthesia, surgery and rehabilitation. This paper surveys several key aspects of medical VR including organ modeling, tissue compliance and cutting, and the Teleos Toolkit. This is followed by a review of medical robotics from the kinematics and safety points of view, including special-purpose manipulators and force feedback masters. Finally, we present applications in the areas of tumor palpation, epidural anesthesia, laparoscopic surgery, as well as open and telesurgery.
EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUES

The results are presented of two studies done on the effects of nuclear power plants on residential property values. One study, which examined property values in the vicinity of four Northeastern power plants prior to the March, 1979 TMI accident, found no significant evidence positively or negatively. Using the same analytic approach, residences in the TMI area were surveyed after the accident and again no determining evidence was found upon consideration of all of 1979. The methodology of both studies is examined along with a discussion of the hedonic price model on which they were based. It is speculated, however, that the difficulties involved in the clean up and the resultant rise in utility prices may inadvertently create long-term capitalization effects. 18 references.
Parasitic vocabulary acquisition, cross-linguistic influence, and lexical retrieval in multilinguals ∗

The first part of this paper reviews research evidence for typological similarity and/or L2 status as determinants of cross-linguistic influence (CLI) in multilingual lexical production. The second part presents a model of vocabulary acquisition as a framework to explain CLI at the levels of form, (syntactic) frame, and meaning, as well as some of the developmental changes that have been reported for CLI patterns in relation to L3 learners’ proficiency. It is suggested that these patterns can be related to default processes and stages involved in the acquisition of individual word forms and their integration into networks of existing lexical triads, as described in the Parasitic Model of vocabulary acquisition. The third part of this paper points to research into the complexity and non-linearity of multilingual lexical development and the need to learn more about it.
TMMAC: An Energy Efficient Multi-Channel MAC Protocol for Ad Hoc Networks

This paper presents a TDMA based multi-channel MAC protocol called TMMAC for Ad Hoc Networks. TMMAC requires only a single half-duplex radio transceiver on each node. In addition to explicit frequency negotiation which is adopted by conventional multi-channel MAC protocols, TMMAC introduces lightweight explicit time negotiation. This two-dimensional negotiation enables TMMAC to exploit the advantage of both multiple channels and TDMA, and achieve aggressive power savings by allowing nodes that are not involved in communication to go into doze mode. Moreover, TMMAC dynamically adjusts its negotiation window size based on different traffic patterns, which further improves communication throughput and energy savings. In this paper, the performance of TMMAC is analyzed and evaluated. The evaluations show that TMMAC achieves up to 113% higher communication throughput while consuming 74% less per packet energy over the state-of-the-art multi-channel MAC protocols for single-transceiver wireless devices.
Statistics on manifolds and landmarks based image analysis: A nonparametric theory with applications

Abstract This paper provides an exposition of some recent developments in nonparametric inference on manifolds, along with a brief account of an emerging theory on data analysis on stratified spaces. Much of the theory is developed around the notion of Freceht means with applications, for the most part, to landmark based shape spaces. A number of applications are illustrated with real data in such areas as paleomagnetism, morphometrics and medical diagnostics. Connections to scene recognition and machine vision are also explored.
Handling Nonorthogonal Analysis of Variance: A Review of Techniques

Nonorthogonal analysis of variance has received considerable attention in recent years resulting in numerous articles advocating a number of nonequivalent approaches. These approaches are briefly summarized along with the arguments for and against each. It is suggested that each technique is appropriate for certain situations, but that the comprehensive strategy presented by Appelbaum and Cramer (1974) is perhaps best for the majority of nonorthogonal analyses.
Prion disease and the ‘protein-only hypothesis’

Prion disease is the only naturally occurring infectious protein misfolding disorder. The chemical nature of the infectious agent has been debated for more than half a century. Early studies on scrapie suggested that the unusual infectious agent might propagate in the absence of nucleic acid. The 'protein-only hypothesis' provides a theoretical model to explain how a protein self-replicates without nucleic acid, which predicts that a prion, the proteinaceous infectious agent, propagates by converting its normal counterpart into the likeness of itself. Decades of studies have provided overwhelming evidence to support this hypothesis. The latest advances in generating infectious prions with bacterially expressed recombinant prion protein in the presence of cofactors not only provide convincing evidence supporting the 'protein-only hypothesis', but also indicate a role of cofactors in forming prion infectivity and encoding prion strains. In the present chapter, we review the literature regarding the chemical nature of the infectious agent, describe recent achievements in proving the 'protein-only hypothesis', and discuss the remaining questions in this research area.
Peri-viable birth: Legal considerations

Peri-viable birth raises an array of complex moral and legal concerns. This article discusses the problem with defining viability, touches on its relationship to abortion jurisprudence, and analyzes a few interesting normative implications of current medical practice at the time of peri-viable birth.
Spatial Registration of Multispectral and Multitemporal Digital Imagery Using Fast Fourier Transform Techniques

A system for spatial registration of digitized multispectral and multitemporal imagery is described. Multispectral imagery can be obtained from sources such as multilens cameras, multichannel optical-mechanical line scanners, or multiple vidicon systems which employ filters or other spectral separation techniques to sense selected portions of the spectrum. Spatial registration is required so that multidimensional analysis can be performed on contextually similar image elements from different wavelength bands and at different times. The general registration problem is discussed first; then the fast Fourier transform (FFT) technique for cross correlation of misregistered imagery to determine spatial distances is discussed in detail. A method of achieving translational, rotational, and scaling corrections between images is described. Results of correlation analysis of multispectral scanner imagery and digitized satellite photography is presented. Use of the system for registration of multispectral airborne line-scanner imagery and space photography is described. Application of the techniques to preprocessing of earth resources satellite imagery from systems such as the earth-resources technology satellite (ERTS) scanner and vidicon system is discussed in conclusion.
Household Labor and the Routine Production of Gender

This paper explores how twenty dual-earner couples with school-aged children talk about sharing child care and housework. In about half of the families, fathers are described as performing many tasks traditionally performed by mothers, but remaining in a helper role. In the other families, fathers are described as assuming equal responsibility for domestic chores. With reference to the parents' accounts of the planning, allocation, and performance of household labor, I investigate the social conditions and interactional processes that facilitate equal sharing. I describe how the routine practice of sharing child care and an ongoing marital conversation socialize the parents and help them to construct an image of the father as a competent care giver. Drawing on West and Zimmerman's (1987) formulation of “doing gender,” I suggest that household labor provides the opportunity for expressing, confirming and sometimes transforming the meaning of gender.
Kinematics of an n-Degree- of-Freedom Multi-Link Robotic System

A kinematic model is developed for n-degree-of-freedom multi-link manipulator systems. An essential step in the de velopment is the formulation of modified Eulerian angles, to allow maximum flexibility in positioning each link. Using the modified Eulerian angle method the kinematics of a system can be solved by multiplying fewer transformation matrices than is required by existing methods, thus reducing the complexity of computation. By allowing for a maximum number of kinematic variables (three for position and three for orientation) for each link, the analysis can be pursued in a general form without preimposed constraints on the system. The resulting formulation can be used as a basis for off-line analysis and design of a multi-link system. The inverse kine matics problem is solved by minimizing an objectivefunction that quantifies the joint displacements. A 16-degree-of- freedom redundant system is presented as an illustrative problem. Our algorithm provides highly accurate numerical solutions. Also, ...
Aortic root reconstruction with a bioprosthetic valved conduit: a consecutive series of 275 procedures.

Objective The study objective was to assess the results of aortic root reconstruction using composite conduits with stented bioprosthetic valves. Methods A review was conducted of 275 patients (202 were male, mean age 69 ± 11 years, range 17–88 years) who underwent aortic root replacement using conduits constructed intraoperatively from pericardial valves and impregnated Dacron grafts between September 1993 and February 2005. There were 151 patients with degenerative aneurysms and 63 patients with atherosclerotic aneurysms; 43 patients had dissections (9 acute type A), 13 patients had endocarditis, and 5 patients had other pathologic conditions. The ascending aorta alone was replaced in 154 patients, a hemiarch reconstruction was performed in 105 patients, and extensive arch reconstruction was performed in 16 patients. Hypothermic circulatory arrest and an open distal anastomosis were used in 95% of patients. Results Hospital mortality was 17 of 275 patients (6.2%). Four additional patients (1.5%) sustained permanent strokes. Among surviving patients, the rate of stroke was estimated as 0.85 per 100 patient-years and the rate of significant hemorrhage was estimated as 0.3 per 100 patient-years. Reoperation for valve failure occurred in only 1 patient 12 years postoperatively. Long-term survival in men was similar to that of a normal matched control population, but was significantly lower in women ( P = .002). Conclusions Men who recover satisfactorily after reconstruction of the aortic root with a stented bioprosthetic valved conduit (6-month survivors) enjoy long-term outcomes equivalent to that of a normal matched population; the postoperative mortality rate in women is twice that of a normal population.
A PARALLEL DISTRIBUTED COGNITIVE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A HUMANOID ROBOT

During the last decade, Researchers at Vanderbilt have been developing a humanoid robot called the Intelligent Soft Arm Control (ISAC). This paper describes ISAC in terms of its software components and with respect to the design philosophy that has evolved over the course of its development. Central to the control system is a parallel, distributed software architecture, comprising a set of independent software objects or agents that execute as needed on standard PCs linked via Ethernet. Fundamental to the design philosophy is the direct physical interaction of the robot with people. Initially, this philosophy guided application development. Yet over time it became apparent that such interaction may be necessary for the acquisition of intelligent behaviors by an agent in a human-centered environment. Concurrent to that evolution was a shift from a programmer’s high-level specification of action toward the robot’s own motion acquisition of primitive behaviors through sensory-motor coordination (SMC) and task learning through cognitive control and working memory. . Described is the parallel distributed cognitive control architecture and the advantages and limitations that have guided its development. Primary structures for sensing, memory, and cognition are described. Motion learning through teleoperation and fault diagnosis through system health monitoring are described. The generality of the control system is discussed in terms of its applicability to physically heterogeneous robots and multi-robot systems.
From Concepts to Profits: Capitalizing on the New Paradigm Approach to Guide Business Plan Development

This paper explores how small business owners and their consultants can capitalize on a new business planning paradigm. The new paradigm draws on the thinking of the quality movement and is used increasingly by major corporations. Most business planning resources for small business have not yet recognized the new business planning paradigm. They still describe traditional business plan formats which reflect conventional approaches to strategic and operational planning. The new paradigm has strengths that cope well with the shortcomings of traditional small business planning. This paper describes the "New Paradigm" approach, summarizes the relative strengths of the new paradigm, and presents a business plan evaluation tool that helps consultants guide small business owners from concept to profits.
Charge and spin responses under pump-probe excitations in comparison with single pump excitations

Conventional pump-probe experiments are very powerful to time-resolve ultrafast spin dynamics in ferromagnetic metals. Recently, a question is raised how the spin and polarization changes differ from those induced by a single pump. Here, we show that the difference is not intrinsic and depends on the laser pulses themselves. If the laser pulse duration is as short as ten femtoseconds, the difference in polarization is very small, at least within the single-particle approximation. However, if the laser pulses are long, the difference becomes much more pronounced, and it also depends on the time delay between the pump and probe. This difference directly results from the fact that the same laser frequencies are used for both pump and probe pulses and the same portion of electronic states are excited. If pump and probe pulses are detuned slightly away from each other, the difference in the polarization disappears. Different from the polarization, the spin moment change is almost immune to different excitation conditions whether it is from one pump pulse or two pulses (pump and probe). This finding finally clarifies the effect of the number of laser pulses on polarization and spin moment changes in femtosecond magnetism.
US Defense Policy for the Western Hemisphere: New Wine in Old Bottles, Old Wine in New Bottles, or Something CompletelyDifferent?

THE modern US defense role in the Western Hemisphere is framed by the terms of the 1947 Rio Treaty, the 1948 Charter of the Organization of America States (OAS), and subsequent bilateral and multilateral protocols like that creating the 1982 Regional Security System (RSS) in the Eastern Caribbean. As components of a collective security system that was explicitly anti-communist in design and intention, the Rio Treaty and its successor documents were established to combat threats posed either by direct aggression on the part of the Soviet Union and/or of Soviet-sponsored, Marxist-Leninist infiltration in the region. These represented the mainstay of the US-Latin American strategic alliance for over 40 years. Most importantly, the orientation of the Inter-American Defense System (IADS) fostered the notion that, within the embrace of the US strategic nuclear and conventional umbrella, military threats to the Western Hemisphere would originate
360 THE EFFECTS OF THE D3 STEREOISOMER OF A CARBOXY DERIVATIVE OF BUCKMINSTERFULLERENE ON EXCITATORY JUNCTIONAL POTENTIALS AT A CRAYFISH NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION.

Purpose The D3 stereoisomer of the malonic acid (carboxy) derivative of buckminsterfullerene (D3) has been shown to inhibit excitotoxic death of cultured cortical neurons of mice exposed to NMDA and AMPA. The effects of D3 have never been tested in this model. The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of D3 on excitatory junctional potentials (EJPs) of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) of the dactylopodite opener muscle of the first and second walking limbs of Procambarus clarkii and simulans . Methods The limbs were dissected to expose the opener muscle and its excitatory axon in the meropodite. Van Harreveld9s solution (Van H, pH 7.3 ± 0.1) was used to bathe the preparation during dissection and initial elicitation of EJPs (pretreatment control) and following washout (post-treatment control) of the VanH/D3 test solution. Standard intracellular electrophysiological recording techniques were used to measure and record EJPs of the opener muscle. A 30 Hz stimulus was applied to the excitatory axon for 10 seconds prior to each data collection. VanH/D3 was applied directly over the opener muscle using a 30-gauge needle, using separate preparations for each concentration. D3 was then washed from the preparation using 3 complete bath changes. Result Following application of 100 μM D3, EJP amplitude was completely suppressed from control at the control stimulation. EJPs returned to 43% of control value post wash. 25 μM solution displayed complete suppression of EJP from control. EJP returned to 55% of control value post wash. The 12.5 μM solution caused immediate, 12.5% potentiation of EJPs compared to control, followed by complete suppression at 1-minute post application. EJPs returned to control levels post wash. Conclusions D3 appears to suppress EJPs at all concentrations tested. This suppression seems to be partially reversible at the two lower concentrations. Furthermore, at the lowest concentration, there may be an initial increase in EJP amplitude. Because of results seen in the mouse model, EJP suppression was expected as AMPA and NMDA receptors are both present in the crayfish NMJ. EJP potentiation was not expected and cannot be explained at this time. Supported by the Arnold C., Barbara M. and Georgianna Fossa Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund and the Indiana University School of Medicine Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Program. D3 was provided by Dr. L. Dugan, UCSD.
Alkylation of Epoxides of 1,6-Anhydropyranoses.

With a view to developing routes to useful chiral synthons in natural product synthesis, the regioselectivity of the reaction of the title compounds (I), (IV) and (VIII) with some organometallic reagents (e.g.
Subaortic membrane mimicking hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

A 34-year-old man was referred for progressive angina and exertional dyspnoea refractory to medical therapy, with a presumptive diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed asymmetric septal hypertrophy without systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve leaflet and with no dynamic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. However, the LVOT velocity was elevated at rest as well as with provocation, without the characteristic late peaking obstruction seen in HCM. Focused TTE to evaluate for suspected fixed obstruction demonstrated a subaortic membrane 2.2 cm below the aortic valve. Coronary CT angiography confirmed the presence of the subaortic membrane and was negative for concomitant coronary artery disease. Surgical resection of the subaortic membrane and septal myectomy resulted in significant symptomatic relief and lower LVOT velocities on postoperative TTE. This case reminds the clinician to carefully evaluate for alternative causes of LVOT obstruction, especially subaortic membrane, as a cause of symptoms mimicking HCM.
Monitoring Phosphatidic Acid Signaling in Breast Cancer Cells Using Genetically Encoded Biosensors.

Phospholipids are important signaling molecules that regulate cell proliferation, death, migration, and metabolism. Many phospholipid signaling cascades are altered in breast cancer. To understand the functions of phospholipid signaling molecules, genetically encoded phospholipid biosensors have been developed to monitor their spatiotemporal dynamics. Compared to other phospholipids, much less is known about the subcellular production and cellular functions of phosphatidic acid (PA), partially due to the lack of a specific and sensitive PA biosensor in the past. This chapter describes the use of a newly developed PA biosensor, PASS, in two applications: regular fluorescent microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy-Forster/fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FLIM-FRET). These protocols can be also used with other phospholipid biosensors.
Simultaneous absolute quantitation of rest/stress myocardial blood flow in single-session dynamic PET

472 Objectives Recent developments of 18F-based flow tracers have raised interest in simultaneous rest/stress studies within the same imaging session with the patient in the same position. We report on a novel approach that models and estimates rest/stress tracer kinetics in a single scan. Methods Rest and stress K1 and k2 values in normal and ischemic myocardium were measured in clinical studies and used to generate dynamic PET data using realistic Monte Carlo SIMSET simulations of the NCAT torso phantom. An ischemic region was modeled in the LAD territory. Two injection schemes were assessed: 1mCi rest (10 min) followed by 2mCi stress (10 min), and 1mCi rest (10 min) followed by 1mCi stress (10 min). Orthogonal grouping of voxels with similar kinetics was performed. A kinetic model was designed to model tracer kinetics, with left (LV) and right (RV) ventricle input functions associated with each of the rest and stress injections. K1 and k2 associated with rest input functions were set to be time-dependent as they changed during stress. Rest and stress K1 and k2 were simultaneously estimated using this kinetic model along with the LV and RV spillover fractions (6-parameter estimation) and parametric images were generated. Results Simultaneous 1mCi rest / 2mCi stress studies yielded K1 bias of 2.8±11% and -9.3±11.6% in normal and ischemic regions compared to sequential rest/stress studies. When compared with the true values used for simulation, K1 bias for normal and ischemic regions was -14.7±9.4% and -11.2±6.0% with simultaneous rest/stress. This bias was -12.4±9.9% and -6.2±7.6% for normal and ischemic regions with sequential rest/stress studies. Similar results were obtained for 1mCi rest / 1mCi stress (K1 bias of 5.9±14% and -9.0±15.2% in normal and ischemic regions with simultaneous compared to sequential studies). Conclusions We have developed a novel and accurate approach to estimate rest/stress MBF from a single-scan dynamic PET study using a simultaneous 6-parameter estimation kinetic modeling approach. Research Support R01-HL9507
White Teachers, Racial Privilege, and the Sociological Imagination:

The author draws from critical Whiteness studies and the sociological imagination to show how three White preservice teachers in an urban education program used personal experiences with racial pri...
To search or to browse: How users navigate a new interface for online library tutorials

ABSTRACTAs academic libraries create online learning objects, it is important to consider whether such resources actually reach and answer the questions of intended users. This study considers three points of inquiry for one academic library: How its users make their way to the library's tutorials; user preference for searching or browsing for resources, when given both modes of access; and the kinds of online learning objects or tutorials users are seeking. A close examination of Web analytics and users’ search terms within the tutorials interface helped to illustrate patterns of access and highlighted users’ needs for tutorials and online learning objects.
International Disequilibrium and The Adjustment Process

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868–1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.
Using tobacco mosaic virus to probe enhanced surface diffusion of molecular glasses

Recent studies have shown that diffusion on the surface of organic glasses can be many orders of magnitude faster than bulk diffusion. Developing new probes that can readily measure surface diffusion can help study the effect of parameters such as chemical structure, intermolecular interaction, molecules' shape and size on the enhanced surface diffusion. In this study, we develop a novel probe that significantly simplifies these types of studies. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is used as probe particle to measure surface diffusion coefficient of molecular glass N,N′-bis(3-methylphenyl)-N,N′-diphenylbenzidine (TPD). The evolution of the meniscus formed around TMV is probed as a function of time at various temperatures. TMV has a well-defined, mono-dispersed, cylindrical shape, with a large aspect-ratio (average diameter of 16.6 nm, length of 300 nm). As such, the shape of the meniscus around the center of TMV is semi-two dimensional, which compared to using a nanosphere as probe, increases the driving force for meniscus formation and simplifies the analysis of surface diffusion. We show that under these conditions, after a short transient time the shape of the meniscus is self-similar, allowing accurate determination of the surface diffusion coefficient. Measurements at various temperatures are then performed to investigate the temperature dependence of the surface diffusion coefficient. It is found that surface diffusion is greatly enhanced in TPD and has a lower activation barrier compared to the bulk counterpart. These observations are consistent with previous studies of surface diffusion on molecular glasses, demonstrating the accuracy of this method.
Within-chip variability analysis

Current, integrated circuits are large enough that device and interconnect parameter variations within it chip are as important as those same variations from chip to chip. Previously, digital designers were concerned only with chip-to-chip variability, for which analysis techniques exist; concern for within-chip variations has been in the domain of analog circuit design. In this paper, we lay the groundwork needed to analyze the impact of inter-chip variations on digital circuits and propose an extreme-case analysis algorithm to efficiently determine the worst case performance due to such variability.
On the decomposition of asynchronous systems

This paper reports of part of a contunuing investigation of parallel computation, in particular, efforts toward understanding the nature of different types of parallel control. The first section defines an asynchornous system to be a simple type of state machine. This was arrived at in an attempt to generalize from the types of control in parallel program schemata and networks of asynchronous modules without bounded delays. Asychronous systems with output are also defined in a familiar way. The deviation from standard work comes in the definition of a parallel decomposition of asynchronous systems. Some preliminary work on compositions of this type appears in. Such definitions provide a useful analytic tool for discussion of related therioes.
Ultraviolet Analysis of Gold Nanorod and Nanosphere Solutions

The localized surface plasmon resonances of gold nanoparticles have been widely studied at visible and near-infrared frequencies but less so in the ultraviolet. The spectral extinction measurements of gold nanospheres at UV wavelengths reported here closely match calculated spectra down to 200 nm using the measured dielectric function of gold. The nanosphere volume attenuation coefficient, αv, is size-dependent in the 200–300 nm wavelength range where the dielectric function follows the Drude free electron model (as it does for wavelengths larger than 500 nm). In the interband transition region, the extinction is more closely proportional to mass and therefore has a value of αv that is largely independent of size. Gold nanorod solutions exhibit very strong UV extinction below 220 nm due to charge transfer to solvent (c.t.t.s.) excitations of the bromide counterion to the cationic surfactant. The gold nanorod UV properties depend on the alignment between the optical polarization and nanorod structure. For ...
Technopoieses and the White Buffalo Calf Woman

Abstract: The article proposes that indigenous theory as it can be aligned with Western European theory and philosophy provides a new way to view post human theory and philosophy and the theory of emergent networks and systems that have come with post structuralism. Author situates his own practices in a hanbleceya in an analysis of the aforementioned theories and philosophies for a recursive system that loops back to the premises of the article. The circular structure of the article reinforces the position of the author regarding indigeneity and Western philosophy, which is that indigenous theory that is based on practice can excite western philosophy and theory with new conceptions of past, present and future.
Control-Oriented Coping Buffers Stress Responses in Evacuees from a Technological Accident

Little is known about how control-oriented coping affects the stress responses in victims of technological catastrophes. In this study, control-oriented coping and immediate stress responses were studied in 40 evacuees (during a nearly 3-week evacuation) from a technological accident and concurrently in 50 participants from a demographically similar comparison site. Control-oriented coping was significantly and negatively associated with psychological, behavioral, and physiological stress responses in evacuees, but not comparison-site participants. This is the first investigation we are aware of relating control-oriented coping to immediate stress responses in the acute phase of exposure to evacuation from a technological accident.
Experiences with obstetric fistula in rural Uganda.

She lost her baby 20 years ago. It was a long labor, lasting four merciless days, followed by a seemingly longer trip to the hospital on the back seat of an antique motorcycle, culminating in a desperate cesarean section, with only one life left to save. Two decades later, it is not the brooding absence of a long lost child that lingers on her features, but rather the accumulated sorrow of a life sullied by an unrelenting shame, wasted by pain and disability, and suffered in a complete and despairing isolation. Sitting obliquely on the hard-packed, red African soil in the shadow of a banana tree, she wore a faded green dress and gave off an odor of ash, charcoal, and urine. She described her experiences living with obstetric fistula and how she was certain she would bear that curse until her death.
Application of the Euler's gamma function to a problem related to F. Carlson's uniqueness theorem

In his work on F. Carlson's uniqueness theorem for entire functions of exponential type, Q. I. Rahman [5] was led to consider an infinite integral and needed to determine the rate at which the integrand had to go to zero for the integral to converge. He had an estimate for it which he was content with, although it was not the best that could be done. In the present paper we find a result about the behaviour of the integrand at infinity, which is essentially best possible. Stirling's formula for the Euler's Gamma function plays an important role in its proof.
Critique [of Women, Religion, and Peace in an American Indian Ritual by Kristin Herzog]

Herzog9s article is organized around three threads which she proposes as useful for strengthening the fabric of contemporary U.S. society. The three threads, teased from an exploration of a portion of the Dekanawida-Hayonwatha stories (narrative and ritual of the Haudenosaunee) are: the high status of women in Haudenosaunee society the understanding of statecraft as a sacred responsibility toward all creation peace as justice and wholeness in the social order. The threads found in stories dating back to about the 15th century provide a view of beliefs denominated by the Haudenosaunee society as being praiseworthy and of good report.
Anti-Müllerian hormone and its relationships with subclinical cardiovascular disease and renal disease in a longitudinal cohort study of women with type 1 diabetes.

Reproductive age may be a risk factor for vascular disease. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is produced by viable ovarian follicles and reflects reproductive age. We examined whether AMH concentrations were associated with markers of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) and kidney disease among women with type 1 diabetes. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications Study. Participants included women with type 1 diabetes and ≥1 AMH measurement (n = 390). In multivariable regression models which adjusted for repeated measures, we examined the associations between AMH with CVD risk factors, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and albumin excretion ratio. We also examined whether initial AMH concentrations were associated with the presence of any coronary artery calcification (CAC) or carotid intima media thickness (cIMT). After adjustment for age, AMH was not associated with waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profiles, or renal function. Higher initial AMH concentrations had borderline but non-significant associations with the presence of CAC after adjustment for age (odds ratio [OR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00, 1.16) which were minimally altered by addition of other CVD risk factors, although women in the 3rd quartile of AMH had lower odds of CAC than women in the lowest quartile (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.17, 0.94). After adjustment for age, higher AMH was associated with statistically significant but only slightly higher cIMT (0.005 mm, p = 0.0087) which was minimally altered by addition of other CVD risk factors. Among midlife women with type 1 diabetes, AMH has slight but significant associations with subclinical measures of atherosclerosis. Future studies should examine whether these associations are clinically significant. NCT00360815 and NCT00360893 Study Start Date April 1994.
Active Control of Charge Density Waves at Degenerate Semiconductor Interfaces.

We present an optoelectronic switch for functional plasmonic circuits based on active control of Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPPs) at degenerate PN+-junction interfaces. Self-consistent multi-physics simulations of the electromagnetic, thermal and IV characteristics of the device have been performed. The lattice matched Indium Gallium Arsenide (In0.53Ga0.47As) is identified as a better semiconductor material compared to Si for the practical implementation of the proposed optoelectronic switch providing higher optical confinement, reduced size and faster operation. The optimal device is shown to operate at signal modulation surpassing −100 dB, responsivity in excess of −600 dB·V−1 and switching rates up to 50 GHz, thus potentially providing a new pathway toward bridging the gap between electronic and photonic devices.
Application of variable weight fuzzy analytic hierarchy process in evaluation of electric energy meter

The operation error of the electric energy metering device directly affects the accuracy of the electricity trade calculation, so it's very important to ensure the device working accurately. With the popularity of electronic electric energy meter, traditional constant periodical test and replacement for electric energy meter is no longer suitable for current request. Considering the circumstance of present smart grid construction, this text have chosen indexes that reflect electric energy meter's condition in three aspects. Also, based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP), this text introduces adaptive varied weight method to build electric energy meter condition assessment model. This can solve the problem that the weight of indexes remain constant and reflect the influence on electric energy meter dynamically. Using this model, the electric energy meter's condition assessment result can be obtained by every index's condition, that can provide the basis for adjusting the period of test and replacement for electric energy meter.
Capacity and Non-Compliance: Mental Wellness Modules in a Community Health Worker Certification Course

Abstract Purpose To train Community Health Workers to see themselves as contesting the diagnostic imperatives to treat "mental illness," while recognizing and addressing structural barriers to community mental wellbeing. Method Drawing from an analysis of course material, auto-ethnographic observations of class dynamics, and social theory from Critical Public Health and Mad Studies, this paper describes three new mental wellness modules integrated into a semester-long Community Health Worker certification course in a public housing jobs program. The class met in a public housing community center in Houston, TX and consisted of a group of 15 students, both pre-health undergraduate students and local residents, who worked in teams to discuss local definitions of mental wellness and design site-specific community mental wellness programs. Results The modules reframe bio-psychiatric epistemology and hierarchical ideals of medical compliance in terms of political, social, and economic struggles familiar to the residents as local community health concerns. Project-based learning encouraged students to recognize personal capacity to navigate current public mental health services and to foster collective strategies promoting peer-based approaches to community wellness. Discussion We note limits of our own pedagogical approach and indicate neoliberal pressures that preclude local definitions of mental wellness in favor of standardized learning and employment outcomes.
A theory of focal points in 2 × 2 games

Abstract Since the classic work of Schelling, the notion of a focal point has been widely applied to explain coordinated behavior. However, focal points remain largely outside the formal apparatus of game theory. This paper develops a model of play in 2 × 2 games where payoff differences determine what strategy players will perceive as “salient” and choose to play. The model uniquely predicts which outcome will emerge for virtually the entire class of 2 × 2 normal form games. For the subset of such games involving coordination and asymmetric payoffs, payoff differences identify focal outcomes and strategies in the same way shared social knowledge produces coordination in Schelling’s symmetric games. The model characterizes situations when Nash equilibria are likely to be played, even in a one-shot interaction, and predicts which equilibrium will obtain in games containing more than one. It identifies other circumstances in which a non-equilibrium outcome will predominate. Finally, the theory specifies when a player is likely to select a strategy based solely on consideration of her own payoffs, and when and why the same player will be prompted to act strategically. Experimental results are presented that test the predictions of the model.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution from Transition-Metal Surface-Modified TiO2.

This study describes the UV solution photodeposition of several earth-abundant 3d transition metals (Co, Ni, and Cu) onto the surface of nanoparticulate TiO2. Irradiated methanolic metal dichloride solutions with suspended Degussa P25-TiO2 (1–2 wt % metal to TiO2) yield visibly colored titanias, whereas the bulk TiO2 structure is unchanged; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms that metals are present on the titania surface in either reduced metal (Cu/Cu+) or metal cation states (Co2+ and Ni2+), and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy shows new visible absorbance features. The analyzed bulk metal contents (∼0.04–0.6 at. %, highest for copper) are lower than the nominal metal solution content. Mixed-metal solution photodeposition reactions roughly parallel observations for single metals, with copper deposition being most favored. These 3d metal surface-modified titanias show significant (∼5–15×) improvement in UV photocatalytic H2 evolution versus unmodified TiO2. H2 evolution rates as high as 85 μ...
Bonaventure's Use of Jerusalem as Metaphor for Protological and Eschatological Human Nature

According to Bonaventure, the circle represents the perfect consummation of creation, in that creation comes from the Father and returns to him through the intermediary work of the Son. This circul...
Group Rings and Hopf-Galois Theory in Maple

As the title implies, the subject is known as Hopf-Galois theory which attempts to expand the notions of classical Galois theory to more general settings. While the particulars of the subject are not the main focus of this discussion, the principal objects under study, namely group rings and certain subrings of these group rings are of interest. The computational demands involved in describing them and performing computations in them, are what motivated the development, in Maple, of a collection of tools to accomplish this task. Before going further, some background would be appropriate and will help frame the discussion to follow.
Holocaust Collective Memory in the Context of the Palestinian–Israeli Conflict: A Multifaceted Symbol

Holocaust collective memory—particularly in Israel—has been described as traumatic on both an individual and collective level by various scholars. The focus on the trauma of Holocaust collective memory is problematic though: it portrays Jewish-Israelis as victims of the past, linking them to general issues of victimization such as a lack of agency to deal with the present, and it assumes that the collective to whom this memory belongs is homogenously affected by it. In the field of social psychology, however, where within-group differences have been studied, limited research suggests there are different ways in which Holocaust collective memory has been construed and utilized within the context of the Palestinian–Israeli conflict.
Gastric Function in Primary Anorexia Nervosa

Gastrointestinal function plays an important role in the pathophysiology of starvation as well as in that of primary anorexia nervosa (PAN). Acute gastric dilatation has been reported in PAN patients (Evans 1968; Jennings and Klidjian 1974; Russell 1966; Scobie 1973) as well as in emaciated prisoners of war during refeeding after prolonged starvation (Markowski 1947). In another study, dilatation of the proximal duodenal loop without delay in gastric emptying was demonstrated in 10 of 20 anorexia nervosa patients undergoing barium meal X-ray examination (Scobie 1973). Until recently, the only information available concerning gastric function in relation to nutritional status in man was that gastric emptying was slowed in normal volunteers during starvation (Keys et al. 1950).
Teaching the Creative Process: An Essential and Portable Skill

We can and should teach with several goals in our theatre classrooms. Yes, we should be teaching students our specific content (e.g., acting or design). We should also be teaching the creative process and its value in solving a myriad of problems. These are distinct and separate ends to our teaching. By being transparent about the creative process that underlies acting and design work, and encouraging students to use that creative process in a variety of different contexts, we are giving them the ability to invent solutions to any problem. This process, a habit of mind, is an important tool they can use for the rest of their lives to manage unexpected challenges. We are giving them a very important gift.