cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electroplating on crystalline polypropylene. I. Compression molding and adhesion

A direct relationship between polymer processing and metal adhesion is evident from studies of compression-molded isotactic polypropylene (PP). Cooling rate, nature of the mold surface, and after-plated annealing are shown to affect the peel adhesion of the plated components. This report described (1) the relation of compression molding variables to polymer surface morphology, (2) the oxidative cracking behavior of the surface due to pretreatment with chromic–sulfuric acid in terms of crystallite orientation and crystallinity, and (3) the effect of surface crack patterns on adhesion. The nature of the mold surface is the single most important variable for controlling the surface morphology of PP. Compression molding PP against oxidized aluminum or copper produces a spherulitic surface, whereas molding the polymer against Mylar or Teflon produces a transcrystalline surface. Surface etching of PP homopolymer produces sponge-like crack patterns characteristic of the morphology. Radial patterns are observed on spherulitic surfaces and random patterns, on transcrystalline ones. The various surface patterns are developed in the oxidative process by swelling of amorphous material followed by oxidative stress cracking and dissolution. Metal-to-polymer adhesion, as measured by the peel test, may involve failure at the interface or within the polymer. Three factors are shown to be important: (a) the geometry of the interface, (b) the diminished strength of the polymer surface arising from attack by the oxidizing acid, and (c) the crystallinity of the fissured polymer surface. The highest peel values are associated with conditions that lead to deep and frequent fissuring of the polymer surface and minimum oxidative damage.
A PARTIALLY ADAPTIVE ESTIMATOR FOR THE CENSORED REGRESSION MODEL BASED ON A MIXTURE OF NORMAL DISTRIBUTIONS

The goal of this paper is to introduce a partially adaptive estimator for the censored regression model based on an error structure described by a mixture of two normal distributions. The model we introduce is easily estimated by maximum likelihood using an EM algorithm adapted from the work of Bartolucci and Scaccia (Comput Stat Data Anal 48:821–834, 2005). A Monte Carlo study is conducted to compare the small sample properties of this estimator to the performance of some common alternative estimators of censored regression models including the usual tobit model, the CLAD estimator of Powell (J Econom 25:303–325, 1984), and the STLS estimator of Powell (Econometrica 54:1435–1460, 1986). In terms of RMSE, our partially adaptive estimator performed well. The partially adaptive estimator is applied to data on wife’s hours worked from Mroz (1987). In this application we find support for the partially adaptive estimator over the usual tobit model.
Design of large-scale symmetric multiprocessors (SMPs) using parallel optical interconnects

Summary form only given, as follows. We address the primary limitation of band-width demands for address transaction in future cache coherent symmetric multiprocessors (SMPs). As a solution, we propose a scalable optical address subnetwork called symmetric multiprocessor network (SYMNET). SYMNET, not only has the ability to pipeline address requests, but also multiple address requests from different processors can propagate through the address subnetwork simultaneously. This is in contrast to all electrical bus-based SMPs, where only a single request is broadcast on the physical address bus at any given point in time. The simultaneous propagation of multiple address requests in SYMNET increases the available address bandwidth and lowers the latency of the network, but the preservation of cache coherence can no longer be maintained with the usual fast snooping protocols. A modified snooping coherence protocol, coherence in SYMNET (COSYM) is introduced to solve the coherence problem. We evaluated COSYM with a subset of Splash-2 benchmarks and compared it with the electrical bus-based MOESI protocol. Our simulation studies have shown a 5-66% improvement in execution time for COSYM as compared to MOESI for various applications. Simulations have also shown that the average latency for a transaction to complete using COSYM protocol was 5-78% better than the MOESI protocol. SYM-NET improves system performance and scalability and that additional performance gains may be attained with further improvement in optical device technology.
Neutrophil activation by fMLP regulates FOXO (forkhead) transcription factors by multiple pathways, one of which includes the binding of FOXO to the survival factor Mcl-1

Activation signals from bacterial stim- uli set into motion a series of events that alter the abbreviated lifespan of neutrophils. These studies show that the bacterial chemoattractant, formyl- Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), promotes the phosphoryla- tion/inactivation of the FOXO subfamily of fork- head transcription factors (FKHR, FKHR-L1, and AFX) through the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/ Akt (protein kinase B) and the RAS mitogen-acti- vated protein kinase pathways. Furthermore, fMLP stimulation causes the inducible expression of the prosurvival Bcl-2 family member Mcl-1, which then binds to a complex containing FKHR. These studies show that fMLP-stimulated neutro- phils coordinate the regulation of FOXO transcrip- tion factors and the survival factor Mcl-1, a mech- anism that may allow neutrophils to alter their survival. J. Leukoc. Biol. 74: 583-592; 2003.
A bad day for quality control: sequential misplacement of left arm and left leg electrodes.

A 55-year-old man with recent onset of episodic atypical chest pain and no prior history of myocardial ischemia was admitted to an intensive care unit based primarily on significant new electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities. A prior ECG (Fig. 1) demonstrated left anterior fascicular block, a pattern that had been stable for the preceding year. An ECG recorded in the emergency room (Fig. 2) revealed new Q waves in leads III and aVF and right axis deviation, along with concomitant T-wave abnormalities. This ECG was interpreted as being consistent either with
New advances of nonlinear optical microscopy

Multimodal nonlinear optical microscopy that integrates coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, second harmonic generation, and two-photon excited fluorescence is becoming an essential tool for tissue biology. Applications to white matter, atherosclerosis, obesity, and cancer are demonstrated.
Baseline resistance cancellation circuit for high resolution thiolate-monolayer-protected gold nanoparticle vapor sensor arrays

Chemiresistive (CR) sensors and sensor arrays coated with thiolate-monolayer-protected gold nanoparticle (MPN) interfaces show great promise for high-sensitivity multi-vapor analysis but suffer from process variation and drift in baseline values. This paper describes a new readout circuit that cancels baseline resistance and compensates for baseline drift to achieve ppm resolution. Requiring only 5100 mum in a 0.5 mum CMOS process, the circuit is well suited for high density on-chip CR sensor arrays. The resulting CR array microsystem introduces a valuable tool for monitoring environmental hazards including explosive compounds.
An Intermediary Between Production and Consumption: The Producer of Popular Music:

Trying to reduce the divide between culture and science, this article follows the producer of popular records, as an interface between music and its market. Like the innovator when he does not obey scientific, technical, and commercial reasons in succession, but reshapes them all together through a double task of giving its form to the product and the interesting people within it, the producer represents the public to the artist and the music to the media. First in a local scale, then in larger and larger ones, alone with the singer, in the studio, and into the media, this sociology of the intermediary shows the producer experimentally organizing, as in a laboratory, a complete production-consumption cycle. Success is then not the mysterious leap to the public, but the last extension of an equation into which the public has been incorporated in many forms from the very beginning.
ROLE OF NUTRIENTS IN ALCOHOL-INDUCED IMMUNOMODULATION

Immunosuppression observed in chronic alcohol users is caused by multiple factors including the amount of alcohol consumed and alcohol-induced nutritional deficiencies. Investigators of the immunotoxic effects of ethanol (ETOH) frequently concentrate on the effects of ETOH and neglect nutrition as a confounding variable. This study investigated the immunotoxic effects of ETOH under variable dietary nutritional conditions. Mice were fed diets containing various levels of nutrients and ethanol for 7 weeks. Spleen cell number, and interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-secretion were independent of the diet consumed, but were affected by consumption of ETOH. Body and spleen weights, and interferon-gamma secretion were modulated by ETOH as well as by diet. The results indicate that the nutritional composition of the diet consumed during concurrent administration of ETOH modulates the immunotoxic effects of chronic ETOH ingestion. We conclude that the levels of various nutrients in animal diets have to be planned and controlled carefully in order to identify directly the immunotoxic effects of ETOH.
Chagas Heart Disease: An Update

Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, results from infection by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, and is a major cause of cardiac disease worldwide. Until recently, Chagas disease was confined to those areas of South and Central America where Trypanosoma cruzi is endemic. With the migration of infected individuals, however, the disease has spread, and it is estimated that 6-7 million people worldwide are infected. In the US alone, more than 7 million people from Trypanosoma cruzi-endemic countries became legal US residents by the turn of the century, resulting in a surge of Chagas disease in this country. According to preliminary estimates, the US now ranks seventh in the Western Hemisphere in number of individuals infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, and the disease has become a major public health concern due to limited awareness in the medical community.
Restoring forest structure and process stabilizes forest carbon in wildfire-prone southwestern ponderosa pine forests

Changing climate and a legacy of fire-exclusion have increased the probability of high-severity wildfire, leading to an increased risk of forest carbon loss in ponderosa pine forests in the southwestern USA. Efforts to reduce high-severity fire risk through forest thinning and prescribed burning require both the removal and emission of carbon from these forests, and any potential carbon benefits from treatment may depend on the occurrence of wildfire. We sought to determine how forest treatments alter the effects of stochastic wildfire events on the forest carbon balance. We modeled three treatments (control, thin-only, and thin and burn) with and without the occurrence of wildfire. We evaluated how two different probabilities of wildfire occurrence, 1% and 2% per year, might alter the carbon balance of treatments. In the absence of wildfire, we found that thinning and burning treatments initially reduced total ecosystem carbon (TEC) and increased net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB). In the presence of wildfire, the thin and burn treatment TEC surpassed that of the control in year 40 at 2%/yr wildfire probability, and in year 51 at 1%/yr wildfire probability. NECB in the presence of wildfire showed a similar response to the no-wildfire scenarios: both thin-only and thin and burn treatments increased the C sink. Treatments increased TEC by reducing both mean wildfire severity and its variability. While the carbon balance of treatments may differ in more productive forest types, the carbon balance benefits from restoring forest structure and fire in southwestern ponderosa pine forests are clear.
Dynamism in U.S. Pleading Standards: Rules, Interpretation, and Implementation

This chapter looks at the U.S. Supreme Court’s adoption of a radical new pleading standard as an example of dynamism in U.S. law. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide for notice pleading and were liberally construed for nearly 70 years after initial adoption. Even though a rule-making procedure supervised by the U.S. Supreme Court was available to make direct changes to the pleading rule, the U.S. Supreme Court took a common law approach and adopted a new standard judicially rather than administratively. This shows a substantial role for the U.S. Supreme Court in directly making procedural law for the Federal courts. The lower courts, however, have moderated the new standard through the exercise of their independence and judicial powers of interpretation. Thus, dynamism is reflected by the U.S. Supreme Court’s judicial adoption of a new standard and by the lower courts reaction to that standard.
High field enhancement factors in photonic nanostructures

The possibility to excite high Q-factor resonances connected to high field enhancement factors in loss-free media, such as photonic crystal slabs, here is reported. In particular we demonstrate and experimentally prove the existence of this special type of resonances in the visible transmission spectrum of a very thin two-dimensional photonic crystal slab. For this purpose, we design and fabricate a square lattice array of holes in silicon nitride. Numerical simulations show that an extremely large field enhancement factor large as 700 times the amplitude of the incident wave, connected with high Q-factor resonances. The connection with the bound states in continuum phenomenon is highlighted.
Global positioning system pseudolite-based relative navigation.

Though the Global Positioning System has revolutionized navigation in the modern age, it is limited in its capability for some applications because an unobstructed line of sight to a minimum of four satellites is required. One way of augmenting the system in small areas is by employing pseudolites to broadcast additional signals that can be used to improve the user's position solution. At the Navigation Systems Testing Laboratory (NSTL) at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, research has been underway on the use of pseudolites to perform precision relative navigation. Based on the findings of previous research done at the NSTL, the method used to process the pseudolite measurements is an extended Kalman filter of the double differenced carrier phase measurements. By employing simulations of the system, as well as processing previously collected data in a real time manner, sub-meter tracking of a moving receiver with carrier phase measurements in the extended Kalman filter appears to be possible.
Cooperative calcium phosphate nucleation within collagen fibrils.

Although “chaperone molecules” rich in negatively charged residues (i.e., glutamic and aspartic acid) are known to play important roles in the biomineralization process, the precise mechanism by wh...
Surgical Site Infections in Posterior Lumbar Surgery: A Controlled-Cohort Study of Epidural Steroid Paste.

Study design A retrospective, single-center cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing posterior lumbar decompression between 2007 and 2013 was conducted. Objective To compare rates of surgical site infection between matched cohorts of patients undergoing lumbar surgery with and without intraoperative application of epidural steroid pastes. Summary of background data Epidural steroid agents reduce postoperative pain and inflammation following lumbar surgery, reducing the use of postoperative narcotics and improving McGill pain scores. Preliminary studies have, however, suggested an increase in surgical site infections following the use of these steroid-containing pastes. Methods We reviewed 758 patients undergoing decompression performed at a single center by surgeons who either routinely used or never used an analgesic steroid paste. Patients undergoing instrumentation or revision surgery were excluded, and surgical and postoperative protocols were uniform. Two hundred eighty-three patients met specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Demographic, clinical, and surgical data were assessed and correlated to the incidence of postoperative infections. Multivariate logistic regression controlled for confounding characteristics and identified independent predictors of postoperative surgical-site infections. Results Patient demographics, comorbidities, and perioperative protocols were similar between groups. There were six acute infections among 103 patients receiving steroid paste (5.83%), and two infections among 180 patients not receiving paste (1.11%), a statistically significant difference which remained after controlling for confounding characteristics (odds ratio 6.74, P = 0.01). All but one infection occurred among patients with identifiable preoperative risk factors for infection. Conclusion The observed increase in infection among patients receiving pain paste is clinically significant, but infection was primarily observed among at-risk patients. The present study confirms suspicions raised in preliminary studies, and we recommend caution when treating patients with identifiable, comorbid risk factors. Level of evidence 3.
Hail Study on a 15 Year Old Sprayed Polyurethane Foam Roofing System

The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) has utilized Alpha sprayed polyurethane (SPF) roof systems since the 1980s. Alpha SPF roof systems are high performing roof systems if installed properly and are very resistant to hail damage (hail damage is significant in the Dallas area). However, DISD, due to their low bid award procurement system, have had some poor performing roof systems installed by contractors who did not utilize performing materials and processes. The Alpha SPF roof system is now being questioned by designers who are not aware of their high performance and wanted to tear-off one of the oldest SPF roofing systems after a hail storm. This case study is on one of DISD roofs which were studied to determine the actual and potential service period based on actual performance. It was concluded that the roof is capable of lasting another 15 more years with a simple recoat (resulting in 38 years of performance at a fraction of the cost of a traditional modified roof).
The Critical Airway

Management of the child with acute respiratory distress can be one of the most challenging scenarios in medicine. Children have smaller airways with greater metabolic demands and decreased pulmonary reserve compared to adults. Managing these problems efficiently is critical for a successful outcome. Initially, children may compensate well, even while on the verge of respiratory or circulatory collapse. Decompensation occurs quickly and can be challenging to reverse. Due to the small caliber of the pediatric airway, minor changes such as edema from trauma or an upper respiratory infection can have dramatic effects. The keys to managing the critical pediatric airway are to recognize the airway compromise early, identify the etiology and site of obstruction, and intervene expeditiously. Although most airway emergencies can be managed with conservative interventions, some necessitate familiarity with all possible emergent interventions.
Symptom Assessment in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Validation and Application of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory.

CLL is the most prevalent form of adult leukemia. The life expectancy of patients affected by CLL varies significantly, with a large fraction of patients with survival expectation of 10 years or longer. Furthermore a number of patients are observed without treatment intervention. These patients have been labeled as “asymptomatic” and very little attention has been placed to the symptom burden that accompanies CLL. In order to measure the quality of life of patients with CLL, we explored the reliability and validity of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI). We enrolled 99 consecutive patients followed at our outpatient center. To assess and construct validity, we performed principal axis factor analysis with oblimin rotation. To assess reliability, we calculated separate coefficient alphas for the severity and interference subscale items. Patients were 63% male with a mean age of 59 years (range 29–79), with 43% age 60 years or older. 94% were White Non-Hispanic patients. 61% were employed. 83% had higher than high school education. 75% had Rai staging 0–1, and 53% had received prior treatment. Factor analysis of the MDASI items resulted in a two-factor solution (symptom severity and interferences) that satisfied criteria for interpretability and model fit in a confirmatory setting. Cronbach coefficient alphas for the MDASI were 0.91 for severity and 0.96 for interference. We also examined the criterion validity of the two MDASI subscales by investigating their correlation to similar subscales of the SF-12. MDASI “worst pain” was highly correlated with the “body pain” subscale of the SF-12 (r=−.84, p=.000). MDASI “fatigue” was significantly correlated with the SF-12 “energy” item (r=.79, p=.000). The patient self reported most severe symptoms were fatigue, sleeping disturbance, drowsiness, distress, and shortness of breath. There were no significant differences of symptom severity by age group (more or less than 60 years old) and by staging (Rai 0–1, 2–3). However, fatigue severity was significantly higher in patients who had more than 2 therapies than patients without prior therapy (4.26 vs 2.07 on 0 to 10 fatigue scale on MDASI, P=.003). The most burdensome symptoms were interference of working, activity and enjoyment of life. Moderate to severe symptoms that would be the targeted area of symptom control in CLL patients were fatigue (25%), drowsness, (13%), shortness of breath (11%), and sleeping disturbance (12%). In conclusion this preliminary data analysis showed that the MDASI is a reliable and valid tool for assessing symptom severity and interference with daily functioning in CLL patients. This versatile assessment tool can be used to measure CLL-related symptom burden in the clinical practice of symptom management as well as to measure changes in symptom burden in patients enrolled in therapeutic clinical trials.
Aκρασία and desire

Although he does not use the phrase, in Book VII of the Nicomachean ethics, Aristotle contends with the philosophical problem of socratic intellectualism, attempting to unwind the apparent paradox of the ἀκρατής, the man who knows what he ought to do and who fails to do it. As part of this project, he examines the mechanism of the practical syllogism, knowledge in terms of potency and act, as well as ignorance and knowledge. In this essay, I will briefly review Aristotles’ endeavor, emphasizing the role of desire in the practical syllogism. By taking apart the example syllogism he uses, I will argue that desire plays a fundamental role in the deliberative process and functions as a kind of implicit universal premise. In doing so, I will show the interaction between reason and desire and the way in which the latter plays a pivotal part in the conclusion of the practical syllogism. Finally, insofar as desire can be understood as one of the premises of the syllogism and thus a kind of ‘knowledge,’ I will conclude by arguing that moral development consists in reason determining the proper mean for each of the virtues, and that it has an important role in cultivating the emotions, ordering them to the principles of practical wisdom.
The novel «tongue-bite apparatus» in the knifefish family Notopteridae (Teleostei: Osteoglossomorpha): are kinematic patterns conserved within a clade?

Osteoglossomorph fishes are unique in possessing a specialized feeding mechanism, the tongue-bite apparatus (TBA) involving the hyoid apparatus. The TBA is associated with two unique behaviour patterns – raking and open-mouth chewing – used to disable and macerate prey. The kinematics of these two behaviours was compared in two species of knifefishes (family Notopteridae) Xenomystus nigri (Gunther, 1868) and Chitala ornata (Gray, 1831) using high-speed video (250 frames s−1). Both univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that there were significant interspecific differences in both raking and open-mouth chewing. Raking can be divided into three stages; the preparatory phase, power stroke, and recovery phase. During the power stroke posterior motion of the pectoral girdle and neurocranial elevation both appear to play a major role in prey reduction. In Xenomystus the power stroke involves significantly greater levels of neurocranial elevation (35°) and pectoral girdle motion (38% of head length; 9.5°) than that found inChitala (neurocranial elevation 11°; pectoral girdle motion 11% of head length and 5°). Indeed,Xenomystus represents the most extreme raking behaviour of any osteoglossomorph thus far studied. Temporal displacement variables demonstrated that the power stroke in Xenomystus is significantly faster than in Chitala. Although some of the interspecific differences might be size related, these data suggest that a greater degree of difference exists in these highly specialized behaviours than previous work has demonstrated. These findings support the notion that biomechanical duplication (an additional ligament found in osteoglossomorphs) could be linked to increased functional versatility.
On the kinetics of the pearlite reaction

Existing kinetic data on the pearlite reaction are reevaluated in terms of recently derived rate laws. It is found that the nucleation rate varies more rapidly with temperature than previously supposed, and that for eutectoid steels below about 660°C the nucleation rate is high enough for the transformation rate to become independent of the nucleation rate. The time dependence of the nucleation rate obtained from kinetic data is consistent with that observed by metallographic methods. An analysis of the pearlite reaction in the presence of carbide particles supports the two-stage nucleation concept, as well as a transient in one of the stages of nucleation.
New Practices for a New Day: Principal Professional Development to Support Performance Cultures in Schools

This study focuses on principal professional development in one school system in the United States to support a performance culture. With the leadership of the superintendent and central office leaders, principal learning communities were established to foster shared learning and professional development that enhanced their roles as lead learners in their buildings. Three primary themes emerged from the research: Beliefs Matter Only if Growth Matters, Transformational Professional Development Builds a Performance Culture, and Effective Professional Development Provides Safe Landing Change. The themes support that leading is learning. The implications of the research lie primarily in the realm of practice.
A Technology-Based Application of the Schoolwide Enrichment Model and High-End Learning Theory

Remarkable advances in instructional communication technology (ICT) have now made it possible to provide high levels of enrichment services to students online. This chapter describes an Internet-based enrichment program based on a high-end learning theory that focuses on the development of creative productivity through the application of knowledge rather than the mere acquisition and storage of knowledge. The program, called Renzulli Learning System (RLS), extends the pedagogy of the SEM to various forms of enrichment as well as first-hand investigative and creative endeavors. In this chapter, a brief overview is provided about the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM), the organizational framework upon which the RLS is based. This section will be followed by summaries of the Three-Ring Conception of Giftedness and the Enrichment Triad Model, the two theories underlying SEM, and the final section presents a detailed description of the Renzulli Learning System.
A Novel Rubric to Evaluate Wearable Cameras for Assessment of Interrater Reliability

Research has reported on traditional methods of assessing interrater reliability but, currently, no such standard protocol exists for selection of alternative methods of assessing interrater reliability, such as wearable video cameras. The professions of occupational therapy and occupational science take a unique ecological perspective when evaluating individuals, which focuses on the naturalistic perspective of an individual, ideally resulting in optimal performance. Given current advancements in technology, wearable, low-cost, unobtrusive, first-person view digital video cameras are readily available for use in research. The researchers generated an original rubric for critiquing cameras, then trialed four cameras for use in a future interrater reliability study. This standardized protocol fills a gap in the field and can be used by future researchers searching for a standardized method of camera selection.
Do Greater Sanctions Deter Youth Crime? Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design

We exploit the discontinuous jump in criminal sanctions at the age of majority in conjunction with administrative data from California to generate regression discontinuity estimates of the deterrent effect. Estimates show that the greater severity imposed upon adolescents at age 18 deters violent crime by 10-12%. Results are robust to multiple techniques and specifications. Using these results, we estimate an elasticity of crime with respect to sanction intensity that ranges from -0.145 to -0.174. We extend our results to demographic sub-populations and find female offenders, as well as white and Asian offenders, are relatively more responsive to sanctions.
PolySA: polyhedral-based systolic array auto-compilation

Automatic systolic array generation has long been an interesting topic due to the need to reduce the lengthy development cycles of manual designs. Existing automatic systolic array generation approach builds dependency graphs from algorithms, and iteratively maps computation nodes in the graph into processing elements (PEs) with time stamps that specify the sequences of nodes that operate within the PE. There are a number of previous works that implemented the idea and generated designs for ASICs. However, all of these works relied on human intervention and usually generated inferior designs compared to manual designs. In this work, we present our ongoing compilation framework named PolySA which leverages the power of the polyhedral model to achieve the end-to-end compilation for systolic array architecture on FPGAs. PolySA is the first fully automated compilation framework for generating high-performance systolic array architectures on the FPGA leveraging recent advances in high-level synthesis. We demonstrate PolySA on two key applications---matrix multiplication and convolutional neural network. PolySA is able to generate optimal designs within one hour with performance comparable to state-of-the-art manual designs.
Abstract P301: Obesity and Mortality: the Jackson Heart Study

Background: Mortality has been reported to be lower among individuals classified as overweight/obese (based on body mass index (BMI, kg/m2)) when compared with their normal weight counterparts (“ob...
Wax Seals: Gendered Relations in Shakespeare

This chapter takes up woman and wax to show how wax was used to figure binary gender difference by implying that women were soft, malleable, and easily imprinted by the pressure of a hard, impervious, and masculine signet. The chapter begins with Swetnam the Woman-Hater to show how strongly women were associated with wax in the period. It then turns to Shakespeare’s Rape of Lucrece, Twelfth Night, and Love’s Labour’s Lost to argue that Shakespeare uses the signet–seal trope in ways that disrupt those gender binaries.
More than the sum of its parts: Combining parametrized tests of extreme gravity

We connect two formalisms that describe deformations away from general relativity, one valid in the strong-field regime of neutrons stars and another valid in the radiative regime of gravitational waves: the post-Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff and the parametrized-post-Einsteinian formalisms respectively. We find that post-Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff deformations of the exterior metric of an isolated neutron star induce deformations in the orbital binding energy of a neutron star binary. Such a modification to the binding energy then percolates into the gravitational waves emitted by such a binary, with the leading-order post-Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff modifications introducing a second post-Newtonian order correction to the gravitational wave phase. The lack of support in gravitational wave data for general relativity deformations at this post-Newtonian order can then be used to place constraints on the post-Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff parameters. As an application, we use the binary neutron star merger event GW170817 to place the constraint $\ensuremath{-}2.4\ensuremath{\le}\ensuremath{\chi}\ensuremath{\le}44$ (at 90% credibility) on a combination of post-Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff parameters. We also explore the implications of this result to the possible deformations of the mass-radius relation of neutron stars allowed within this formalism. This work opens the path towards theory-independent tests of gravity, combining astronomical observations of neutron stars and gravitational wave observations.
Effect of Administration of Normal Saline Bolus on Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Preterm Neonates

Purpose: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is one of the major causes of long-term neurological disability in preterm, very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. Circulatory management in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) often focuses on normalization of blood pressure. There is limited data to support that aggressive treatment of hypotension has a beneficial effect on mortality rates in preterm infants. There is little evidence that an acute elevation of blood …
Quantification of Visual Field Variability in Glaucoma: Implications for Visual Field Prediction and Modeling.

Author(s): Rabiolo, Alessandro; Morales, Esteban; Afifi, Abdelmonem A; Yu, Fei; Nouri-Mahdavi, Kouros; Caprioli, Joseph | Abstract: Purpose:To quantify visual field (VF) variability as a function of threshold sensitivity and location, and to compare weighted pointwise linear regression (PLR) with unweighted PLR and pointwise exponential regression (PER) for data fit and prediction ability. Methods:Two datasets were used for this retrospective study. The first was used to characterize and estimate VF variability, and included a total of 4,747 eyes of 3,095 glaucoma patients with six or more VFs and 3 years or more of follow-up. After performing PER for each series, standard deviation of residuals was quantified for each decibel of sensitivity as a measure of variability. A separate dataset was used to test and compare unweighted PLR, weighted PLR, and PER for data fit and prediction, and included 261 eyes of 176 primary open-angle glaucoma patients with 10 or more VFs and 6 years or more of follow-up. Results:The degree of variability changed as a function of threshold sensitivity with a zenith and a nadir at 33 and 11 dB, respectively. Variability decreased with eccentricity and was higher in the central 10° (P l 0.001). Differences among the methods for data fit were negligible. PER was the best model to predict future sensitivity values in the mid term and long term. Conclusions:VF variability increases with the severity of glaucoma damage and decreases with eccentricity. Weighted linear regression neither improves model fit nor prediction. PER exhibited the best prediction ability, which is likely related to the nonlinear nature of long-term glaucomatous perimetric decay. Translational Relevance:This study suggests that taking into account heteroscedasticity has no advantage in VF modeling.
Chemical Vapor Growth of Silicon Phosphide Nanostructures

In the search for chemically stable two-dimensional (2D) materials with high in-plane mobility, proper bandgap, and compatibility with vapor-based fabrication, van der Waals semiconductor SiP has become a potential candidate as a robust variation of black phosphorous. While bulk SiP crystals were synthesized in the 1970s, the vapor-based synthesis of SiP nanostructures or thin films is still absent. We here report the first chemical vapor growth of SiP nanostructures on SiO2/Si substrate. SiP islands with lateral size up to 20 µm and showing well-defined Raman signals were grown on SiO2/Si substrate or on SiP-containing concentric rings. The presence of SiP phase is confirmed by XRD. The formation of rings and islands is explained by a multiple coffee ring growth model where a dynamic fluctuation of droplet growth front induces the topography of concentric ring surfaces. This new growth method might shed light on the controlled growth of group IV-III high-mobility 2D semiconductors.
Predictors of Extended Length of Stay Following Treatment of Unruptured Adult Cerebral Aneurysms: A Study of The National Inpatient Sample.

Abstract Background In an unprecedented era of soaring healthcare costs, payers and providers alike have started to place increased importance on measuring the quality of surgical procedures as a surrogate for operative success. One metric used is the length of hospital stay (LOS) during index admission. For the treatment of unruptured cerebral aneurysms, the determinants of extended length of stay are relatively unknown. The aim of this study was to identify the patient- and hospital-level factors associated with extended LOS following treatment for unruptured cerebral aneurysms. Methods The National Inpatient Sample years 2010 – 2014 was queried. Adults (≥18 years) with unruptured aneurysms undergoing either clipping or coiling were selected using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification coding system. Extended LOS was defined as greater than 75th percentile for the entire cohort (>5 days). Weighted patient demographics, comorbidities, complications, LOS, disposition and total cost were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio for risk-adjusted extended LOS. The primary outcome was the degree which patient comorbidities or postoperative complications correlated with extended LOS. Results A total of 46,880 patients were identified for which 9,774 (20.8%) patients had extended LOS (Normal LOS: 37,106; Extended LOS: 9,774). Patients in the extended LOS cohort presented with a greater number of comorbidities compared to the normal LOS cohort. A greater proportion of the normal LOS cohort was coiled (Normal LOS: 63.0% vs. Extended LOS: 33.5%, P 1 complication. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that extended LOS after treatment of unruptured aneurysms is influenced by a number of patient-level factors including demographics, preadmission comorbidities, type of aneurysm treatment (open surgical versus endovascular), and, importantly, inpatient complications. A better understanding of these independent predictors of prolonged length of hospital stay may help to improve patient outcomes and decrease overall healthcare costs.
CEO International Background and Cross-Border M&As

We investigate whether having a CEO with international background affects U.S. firms’ cross-border merger and acquisition (M&A) activities. By defining international background as having: a non-U.S. nationality, overseas education, or overseas work-experience, we find that when a CEO has these characteristics, the firm is more likely to acquire international targets and these deals are more likely to be value-enhancing. Moreover, our results indicate that having multiple dimensions of international background (as opposed to one), for example, having both overseas education and work experience, increases the likelihood, and announcement returns of cross-border deals. The observed gains are largely from greater due diligence, lower acquisition premiums, and greater likelihood of financing the deal with stocks. We also find that firms typically undertake their first cross-border acquisition within five years of hiring a CEO with international background, suggesting that this may be a strategic decision of U.S. firms when they plan to expand their operations overseas.
Time for a change in how we teach public speaking across the world: Using culturally relevant pedagogy to teach public speaking in Chinese classrooms

Public Speaking, Rhetorical Criticism, Intercultural Communication.By utilizing a culturally competent Asiacentric approach to public speaking, students will be able to: (1) identify public-speakin...
A 50-year Retrospective on Academic Integrity and Computer Ethics in CS Education

In this project, we explore how academic integrity and teaching computer ethics have evolved within the SIGCSE community over the past 50 years. We apply Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques to identify the topics in the records in 50 years of SIGCSE Symposia. We extract records that include these two themes and apply a temporal model identifying periods with an increase in the number of records that include these themes and a significant increase in 2017-2018.
Selective Area Regrowth Produces Nonuniform Mg Doping Profiles in Nonplanar GaN p-n Junctions

Nonplanar GaN p–n junctions formed by selective area regrowth were analyzed using pulsed laser atom probe tomography. Dilute Al marker layers were used to map the evolution of the p-GaN growth inte...
Microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar friction stir welding of 6061-to-7050 aluminum alloys

Abstract In this work, the microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded dissimilar butt joints of 6061-to-7050 aluminum alloys were evaluated. Microstructure analysis of the cross-section of the joints revealed distinct lamellar bands and various degrees of intermixing that were correlated with tool rotational speed. Due to the distinct mechanical properties of the two alloys, microhardness measurements showed a consistent asymmetric hardness distribution profile across the weld nugget, regardless of tool rotational speed. Under monotonic tensile loading, an increase in the joint strength was observed with the increase in the tool rotational speed. Regarding fracture, the joints consistently failed on the 6061 aluminum alloy side. Furthermore, two modes of failure were observed, one through the stir zone and the other through the heat-affected zone. Inspection of the fracture surfaces suggested that inadequate material intermixing produced at low tool rotational speeds was the cause for the low mechanical strength and failure through the stir zone. On the other hand, the failure observed through the heat-affected zone at high rotational speeds was produced due to the material softening as confirmed by the microhardness measurements.
The Constructive Content of Nonstandard Measure Existence Proofs—Is There Any?

Some examples are given which cast some light on such questions as: What (if any) constructive sense can be made out of typical nonstandard measure existence results? Can NSA give any insight into constructive measure theory?
Associations between grades and physical activity and food choices: Results from YRBS from a large urban school district

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between television viewing time, physical activity level, food consumption patterns, and academic performance of adolescents in a large urban school district in the USA where health disparities are prevalent, particularly among minority residents. Design/methodology/approach – The 2010 Youth Risk Behavior Survey was used to analyze the relationship between academic grades and physical activity patterns and food consumption in a large urban school district serving over 77,000 students. Findings – Results indicated that students who self-reported grades of As and Bs had higher levels of physical activity and less screen time compared to students who reported grades of Ds and Fs. Further, as grades decreased the consumption of soda and fast food increased. Originality/value – Higher grades track significantly with improved physical activity and lower intake of soda and fast food. These findings provide additional support for the role of regul...
Angular Distributions of High-Order Harmonics

High-order harmonics have been observed during laser-atom interactions at a number of different laser wavelengths with short-pulse, high-intensity laser systems. Harmonics with frequencies in excess of 100 times the laser frequency have been reported.1–3
Optimal design methodology of bidirectional LLC resonant DC/DC converter for solid state transformer application

The isolated DC/DC stage in solid state transformer (SST) is a very critical stage in the whole system. It converts the high DC voltage to low DC voltage with the galvanic isolation after the high voltage AC/DC rectifier and before the low voltage DC/AC inverter. In previously developed solid state transformers, dual active bridge (DAB) and dual half bridge (DHB) are the most common topology for this part. In this paper, a bidirectional LLC resonant converter is presented to replace the traditional DAB or DHB in SST application. Compared with DAB, the bidirectional LLC converter can achieve higher efficiency with wider range of zero voltage switching (ZVS), zero current switching (ZCS) and simpler control strategy, which makes it highly attractive for solid state transformer applications. The converter operation modes are presented and analyzed in this paper. For achieving higher efficiency, a methodology of hardware design optimization is introduced to minimize the power losses. Analysis, simulation and experimental results based on a scaled down prototype are shown and discussed.
Principal, Teacher, and Counselor Views of Concurrent Enrollment

The purpose of this chapter is to describe teacher, counselor, and principal perceptions of a concurrent enrollment program collaboratively administered by a large, Midwestern community college and area high schools. Data come from surveys sent to these stakeholders as part of concurrent enrollment program accreditation through National Association of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.
Image data mining of fruitfly gene expression patterns

Understanding the spatio-temporal gene expression patterns is critical in studying genes roles and their complicated relationships. With the availability of high-resolution digital images of in situ mRNA hybridization expression pattern of Drosophila embryos collected through both the Berkeley Drosophila Transcriptional Network Project (BDTNP) and the Berkeley Drosophila Genome Project (BDGP), we will be able to answer a series of interesting questions, e.g., what are the variations of gene expression patterns, what are the patterning process of gene expression, etc. To achieve these goals at a large scale, it is extremely important to automate the image mining and informatics processes of embryogenesis expression patterns. We developed computer programs to register, compare and analyze these spatio-temporal pattern images. In this talk, I will review four projects on image mining of fruitfly embryo gene expression patterns: (a) Gaussian mixture model based embryonic expression pattern extraction and comparison, (b) Gene expression pattern clustering using novel MSTCUT and probabilistic ensemble clustering techniques, (c) Surface/volume models for 3D modeling and registration of early embryos, and (d) A manifold learning method for spatio-temporal registration of 3D gene expression patterns and reconstruction of the embryonic developmental time series.
Learning under uncertainty for interpreting the pattern of volcanic eruptions

The overall goal of the research presented in this paper is to design an intelligent system to aid geologists in processing complex rock characteristics for interpreting eruption patterns, and thereby to aid eruption forecasting for volcanic chains and fields. The objective of this paper is to introduce a belief-based partially supervised classification method designed to deal with high uncertainty of geological data. A case study developed to show the feasibility of the presented method for correlation of tephra layers based on geochemical characteristics is also described. This method is not specific to geological data and can be used in other applications.