cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diabatically Induced Secondary Flows in Tropical Cyclones. Part II: Periodic Forcing

Abstract The linearized equation for the time-varying, axially symmetric circumferential component of the vorticity in a hurricane-like vortex closely resembles the classical Sawyer–Eliassen equation for the quasi-steady, diabatically induced secondary-flow streamfunction. The salient difference lies in the coefficients of the second partial derivatives with respect to radius and height. In the Sawyer–Eliassen equation, they are the squares of the buoyancy and isobaric local inertia frequencies; in the circumferential vorticity equation they are the differences between these quantities and the square of the frequency with which the imposed forcing varies. The coefficient of the mixed partial derivative with respect to radius and height is the same in both equations. Thus, for low frequencies the response to periodic forcing is a slowly varying analog to steady Sawyer–Eliassen solutions. For high frequencies, the solutions are radially propagating inertia-buoyancy waves. Since the local inertia frequency, ...
Uteroglobin: A Steroid-Inducible Immunomodulatory Protein That Founded the Secretoglobin Superfamily

Blastokinin or uteroglobin (UG) is a steroid-inducible, evolutionarily conserved, secreted protein that has been extensively studied from the standpoint of its structure and molecular biology. However, the physiological function(s) of UG still remains elusive. Isolated from the uterus of rabbits during early pregnancy, UG is the founding member of a growing superfamily of proteins called Secretoglobin (Scgb). NumerousstudiesdemonstratedthatUGisamultifunctionalprotein with antiinflammatory/ immunomodulatory properties. It inhibits soluble phospholipase A2 activity and binds and perhaps sequesters hydrophobic ligands such as progesterone, retinols, polychlorinated biphenyls, phospholipids, and prostaglandins. In addition to its antiinflammatory activities, UG manifests antichemotactic, antiallergic, antitumorigenic, and embryonic growth-stimulatory activities. The tissue-specific expression of the UG gene is regulated by several steroid hormones, although a nonsteroid hormone, prolactin, further augments its expression in the uterus. The mucosal epithelia of virtually all organs that communicate with the external environment express UG, and it is present in the blood, urine, and other body fluids. Although the physiological functions of this protein are still under investigation, a single nucleotide polymorphism in the UG gene appears to be associated with several inflammatory/autoimmune diseases. Investigations with UG-knockout mice revealed that the absence of this protein leads to phenotypes that suggest its critical homeostatic role(s) against oxidative damage, inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer. Recent studies on UG-binding proteins (receptors) provide further insight into the multifunctional nature of this protein. Based on its antiinflammatory and antiallergic properties, UG is a potential drug target. (Endocrine Reviews 28: 707–725, 2007)
Transmission of electromagnetic radiation through an electron inversion layer of finite thickness in a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structure

Abstract We investigate the transmission coefficient for propagation of electromagnetic radiation, of frequency ω, through an electron inversion layer, of finite thickness d, in the metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structure. The corresponding result in the case where the inversion layer is treated as infinitely thin (two-dimensional electron gas) has been given by Chiu et al. Subject to the assumptions ωd/c ⪡ 1 and constant density, it is possible to establish a point of contact between the finite d result and the Chiu et al. result. This comparison demonstrates that it is a good approximation to treat the inversion layer as a two-dimensional system and also provides a recipe for the calculation of the surface conductivity σ(2), viz. σ(2) = σd, where σ is the three-dimensional conductivity.
Dual allocative efficiency parameters

Estimation of either price or quantity allocative efficiency parameters provides an empirical method for taking into account the presence of allocative inefficiency. We show that the researcher can either (a) estimate a system of input demand functions of the form, \(x=h(y,k{\circ} w),\) obtain estimated values of the price allocative efficiency parameters (the k′s), and then derive the quantity allocative efficiency parameters with a simple calculation or (b) estimate a system of shadow price functions of the form, \(w=g(y,\delta{\circ} x), \) obtain estimated values of the quantity allocative efficiency parameters (the δ′s), and then derive the price allocative efficiency parameters with a simple calculation. These input-specific efficiency measures are then related to the standard measures of efficiency that have appeared in the literature.
Air pollution combustion emissions: characterization of causative agents and mechanisms associated with cancer, reproductive, and cardiovascular effects.

Combustion emissions account for over half of the fine particle (PM2.5) air pollution and most of the primary particulate organic matter. Human exposure to combustion emissions including the associated airborne fine particles and mutagenic and carcinogenic constituents (e.g., polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC), nitro-PAC) have been studied in populations in Europe, America, Asia, and increasingly in third-world counties. Bioassay-directed fractionation studies of particulate organic air pollution have identified mutagenic and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), nitrated PAH, nitro-lactones, and lower molecular weight compounds from cooking. A number of these components are significant sources of human exposure to mutagenic and carcinogenic chemicals that may also cause oxidative and DNA damage that can lead to reproductive and cardiovascular effects. Chemical and physical tracers have been used to apportion outdoor and indoor and personal exposures to airborne particles between various combustion emissions and other sources. These sources include vehicles (e.g., diesel and gasoline vehicles), heating and power sources (e.g., including coal, oil, and biomass), indoor sources (e.g., cooking, heating, and tobacco smoke), as well as secondary organic aerosols and pollutants derived from long-range transport. Biomarkers of exposure, dose and susceptibility have been measured in populations exposed to air pollution combustion emissions. Biomarkers have included metabolic genotype, DNA adducts, PAH metabolites, and urinary mutagenic activity. A number of studies have shown a significant correlation of exposure to PM2.5 with these biomarkers. In addition, stratification by genotype increased this correlation. New multivariate receptor models, recently used to determine the sources of ambient particles, are now being explored in the analysis of human exposure and biomarker data. Human studies of both short- and long-term exposures to combustion emissions and ambient fine particulate air pollution have been associated with measures of genetic damage. Long-term epidemiologic studies have reported an increased risk of all causes of mortality, cardiopulmonary mortality, and lung cancer mortality associated with increasing exposures to air pollution. Adverse reproductive effects (e.g., risk for low birth weight) have also recently been reported in Eastern Europe and North America. Although there is substantial evidence that PAH or substituted PAH may be causative agents in cancer and reproductive effects, an
Dust Devils and Dust Fountains: The Measurement Challenges

The author provides an overview of the topic of electric field measurement. The author thinks this may be because field measurement is not required for the operation of a power system or even for the design of a power transmission line. Existing technology takes care of routine atmospheric measurements. In other words, a moveable or isolated field meter is pretty well only a research tool and is needed by only a small community. Nevertheless, the measurement provides some interesting challenges to the instrumentation engineer, particularly when it comes to the measurement of stationary fields, and particularly when those fields contain wind-borne charged dust. The author hopes to have communicated some of the sense of excitement and achievement that solving these challenges has engendered in him, and his predecessors and colleagues
Now It's Personal: Antecedents and Outcomes of Rapport Between Business Faculty and Their Students

Rapport refers to when two people “click.” Although business education researchers have begun to study rapport, past research has principally focused on students' perceptions of rapport, whereas fa...
Does Diversity Matter? The Need for Longitudinal Research on Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Use Trajectories

The existing research aimed at understanding alcohol and drug (AOD) use patterns from early to late adolescence typically does not examine samples with substantial racial and ethnic diversity. This is a critical research gap because studies have suggested that non-white adolescents often have worse health outcomes compared to white adolescents, even with less AOD use. In this paper, we discuss the need for future research on this topic, given demographic shifts in the racial and ethnic composition of the USA. We also outline how this research can provide information on what periods might be most relevant for each racial/ethnic group, and suggest measures that epidemiological studies on early substance use should assess to capture the underlying cultural, acculturation, psychosocial, and contextual factors that explain racial/ethnic differences in AOD trajectories.
Two-Mode Waveguide for Equal Mode Velocities

A rectangular waveguide, with a T-septum attached to one of its side walls, is capable of supporting two modes with equal-phase velocities. Stationary expressions are developed for the cutoff wavelengths of these two modes as functions of the cross-sectional dimensions. A Rayleigh-Ritz procedure is used to produce families of curves relating each cutoff wavelength to the septum dimensions; intersections of corresponding curves establish theoretically those combinations of dimensions that permit the two modes to propagate at a common velocity. Experimental corroboration of the theory is also presented.
Software switch for motion controllers

A software switch is realized to achieve motion control using DC motors. The controller, utilizing an interrupt driven software switch scheme, is capable of implementing several real-time control strategies such as the continuously variable or discrete switching frequency control, continuously variable or discrete pulse-width control and phase control of PWM converters. The control methodology is adaptable to diverse industrial application settings. The switching scheme is implemented using the C++ language environment, on the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus based platform. Implementation in software, provides the capability of executing complex control schemes and supervisory functions which are easy to implement, update and adapt to different applications without much overhead. >
The Break-Up of Laminar Liquid Jets

A number of experiments were performed with water jets discharging into air to determine the effect of the initial velocity profile on the contiguous length of the water stream. This investigation was the consequence of noting that the usual analyses of the stability of such jets assumes an initially constant axial velocity distribution. The results show that the disturbance growth rate for an initially parabolic axial velocity profile is considerably less than that for a nearly uniform profile. This result differs from some other work that concluded the parabolic profile to be the more unstable. The results of the experiments are supported, in part, by an asymptotic analysis of the flow.
Urine microscopy is associated with severity and worsening of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients.

Background and objectives: Serum creatinine concentration at the time of nephrology consultation is not necessarily indicative of the severity of acute kidney injury (AKI). Although urine microscopy is useful to differentiate AKI, its role in predicting adverse clinical outcomes has not been well described. Design, setting, participants, & measurements: The relationship between urine microscopy findings at the time of nephrology consultation for AKI and clinical outcomes was evaluated prospectively. A urinary sediment scoring system was created on the basis of the number of renal tubular epithelial cells and granular casts. The primary outcome was worsening of AKI (progressing to higher AKI Network stage, dialysis, or death) during hospitalization. Results: Of 249 patients consulted for AKI, 197 had acute tubular necrosis or prerenal AKI and were included in the analysis. At consultation, 80 (40%) had stage 1, 53 (27%) had stage 2, and 66 (33%) had stage 3 AKI. The urinary sediment combined scores were lowest in those with stage 1 and highest in stage 3 AKI. Seventy-nine patients (40%) experienced worsening of AKI from the time of consultation. The urinary scoring system was significantly associated with increased risk of worsening AKI (adjusted relative risk: 7.3; 95% confidence interval: 4.5 to 9.7 for worsening with score of >3 versus score of 0) and was more predictive than AKI Network stage at the time of consultation. Conclusions: The urinary sediment score may be a useful tool to predict worsening of AKI due to either acute tubular necrosis or prerenal AKI during hospitalization. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 5: 402–408, 2010. doi: 10.2215/CJN.06960909
A mind you can count on: validating breath counting as a behavioral measure of mindfulness

Mindfulness practice of present moment awareness promises many benefits, but has eluded rigorous behavioral measurement. To date, research has relied on self-reported mindfulness or heterogeneous mindfulness trainings to infer skillful mindfulness practice and its effects. In four independent studies with over 400 total participants, we present the first construct validation of a behavioral measure of mindfulness, breath counting. We found it was reliable, correlated with self-reported mindfulness, differentiated long-term meditators from age-matched controls, and was distinct from sustained attention and working memory measures. In addition, we employed breath counting to test the nomological network of mindfulness. As theorized, we found skill in breath counting associated with more meta-awareness, less mind wandering, better mood, and greater non-attachment (i.e., less attentional capture by distractors formerly paired with reward). We also found in a randomized online training study that 4 weeks of breath counting training improved mindfulness and decreased mind wandering relative to working memory training and no training controls. Together, these findings provide the first evidence for breath counting as a behavioral measure of mindfulness.
Temporal pattern of incorporation of 3H precursors into pituitary glycoproteins and their subsequent release.

The temporal pattern of incorporation of various /sup 3/H precursors into glycoproteins by rat anterior pituitaries incubated in vitro and the release of /sup 3/H-glycoproteins was examined. (/sup 3/H)Leucine incorporation was linear with respect to time and (/sup 3/H)leucine-containing macromolecules appeared in the media in about 1 hr. The temporal pattern of (/sup 3/H)mannose incorporation and release was similar. (/sup 3/H)Galactose and (/sup 3/H)fucose were incorporated after apparent time of delays of approximately 15 min and soon thereafter (20-25 min) appeared in the medium in /sup 3/H-glycoproteins. Thus, these precursors appear to be added as terminal residues. (/sup 3/H)Glucosamine exhibited a pattern intermediate between (/sup 3/H)leucine and (/sup 3/H)fucose whereas (/sup 3/H)GlcNAc appeared to be incorporated as a terminal residue.
The development of potent and selective bisarylmaleimide GSK3 inhibitors.

Abstract Many 3-aryl-4-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro[1,4]diazepino[6,7,1-hi]indol-7-yl)maleimides exhibit potent GSK3 inhibitory activity ( 100 ×) versus CDK2, CDK4, or PKCβII. However, combining 3-(imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl), 3-(pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-yl) or aza-analogs with a 4-(2-acyl-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro[1,4]diazepino[6,7,1-hi]indol-7-yl)) group on the maleimide resulted in very potent inhibitors of GSK3 (⩽5 nM) with >160 to >10,000-fold selectivity versus CDK2/4 and PKCβII. These compounds also inhibited tau phosphorylation in cells and were effective in lowering plasma glucose in a rat model of type 2 diabetes (ZDF rat).
Antibiotic sterilisation in the preparation of homovital homograft valves: Is it necessary?

Homograft aortic heart valves collected at autopsy and treated with antibiotic solution before implantation have been found to be clinically superior to those sterilised by other methods (7, 9, 12, 20). Antibiotic sterilised aortic valves were first used clinically in 1968 at Green Lane Hospital. Since then, many antibiotic formulae have been devised.
The Challenge of Development: A Lifetime Issue

We are the only animals that can become more complex and hence develop if we choose to do so. This case presents two individuals that midway through their lives chose significant developmental changes. Development is treated from a choice-ability perspective.
A Modifiec;l Fock Function for the Distribution of Currents in the Penumbra Region With Discontinuity in Curvature

A modified Fock function is obtained to describe the current distribution on a smooth convex boundary, composed of a flat plane smoothly joined to a parabolic cylinder with the join in the penumbra region. Both analytical and numerical methods are used to obtain the modified Fock function which now depends on the distance between the shadow boundary and the flat plane-parabolic cylinder join. The modified Fock function is applied to estimate the backscattering cross section of a cone-sphere.
Invisible Bodies: The Politics of Violence towards Black Masculine Lesbians

The Black Lives Matter Movement has called national attention to police brutality and the hyper-policing in Black communities, which has resulted in a heightened awareness of Black deaths, particularly the deaths of Black male bodies at the hands of White police officers. As a critique of the #BlackLivesMatterMovement, there was a demand for the recognition of state sponsored Black female deaths, for both cisgender and non-cis-gender, by using the #Say Her Name. Consequently, there has been an emblem of hashtags created under the umbrella of the #BlackLivesMatterMovement to unveil all of the ways in which violence, from both police officers and fellow citizens, is inflicted on marginalized identities at the intersection of “Blackness”. Yet, there are still Black bodies at the margins of Blackness that receives little attention. In my paper, I argue that Black masculine lesbians are susceptible to bodily violence particularly my Black heterosexual men. And like many other Black on Black crimes that are committed as a result of economic inequality has been traced back to White supremacy patriarchy, the violence and startling deaths of Black masculine lesbians are also linked to the same system of oppression. Bailey (2013) demonstrated the “realness” that gender non-conforming people perform when doing the heterosexual “other” in ballroom culture. However, Harper (1994) argues that the same “realness” is not transferable outside the ballroom. I argue that the realness of masculinity performed by Black masculine lesbians is transferable outside of ballroom culture and can be threatening to cis-gendered Black males. I propose doing a content analysis of Lane-Steele (2011) theory that Black masculine lesbians adopt their patterns of masculinity specifically from Black cis-gendered heterosexual males to access greater privilege on the gender hierarchy continuum, and I link this theory to the murders of Black masculine lesbians such as Sakia Gunn. Consequently, this particular connectedness I will argue is a specific uniqueness to Black masculine lesbians from their other queer counterparts. In doing so, I will demonstrate that by omitting masculinity from certain Black queer women’s identities erases all the ways that their bodies are vulnerable to violence that is different from cis-gendered, straight identified Black women and feminine Black lesbians alike (Isoke 2013). This is important because scholars have yet to fully recognize all the ways in which Black female bodies are vulnerable to violence by police and Black men.
Identification of compounds that contribute to trigeminal burn in aqueous ethanol solutions

The influence of carbonyl species on the trigeminal burn of distilled spirit model systems was investigated. Quantities of the intrinsic carbonyl compounds were significantly altered in 40% ethanol solutions using two methods; (1) increasing or decreasing the product pH, to induce hemiacetal formation and acetal stabilization or induce and stabilize carbonyl species such as aldehydes, respectively and (2) utilizing a sulfonyl hydrazine polymer treatment. Samples with reduced carbonyl concentrations had significantly lower perceived trigeminal burn intensity. Sensory recombination experiments revealed that addition of carbonyl compounds increased trigeminal burn perception in model systems; confirming the direct relationship between the concentration of carbonyl compounds and trigeminal burn. The strongest potentiators of the trigeminal response were carbonyl compounds octanal, nonanal, benzaldehyde and 2-heptanone suggesting the probability that carbonyl species such as saturated aldehydes and ketones act as agonists to activate nociceptors such as TRPV1 and TRPA1 and elicit trigeminal burn.
Confusional states and seizures. When are they related

Although less often due to seizures than to other conditions, confusional states may be associated with complex partial seizures in adults or absence (petit mal) seizures in younger persons and children. Absence of a metabolic disorder, intoxication, or risk factors for cerebral ischemia increases the probability that seizure caused the confusional state. A computed tomographic scan or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is essential when the patient is acutely ill or has had several recent confusional episodes. Once a seizure disorder is diagnosed, appropriate drug therapy can be started.
Technological Superiority and International Trade

After a discussion of the nature of “leadership in science” and related issues, the next subject on the agenda should logically be the alleged “technological gap” between the United States and the industrialised countries of Western Europe and, too, between the developed and the developing countries.
External Validity of a Risk Stratification Score Predicting Early Distant Brain Failure and Salvage Whole-Brain Radiation Therapy After Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases

Abstract Background A scoring system using pre-treatment factors was recently published ( Press et al., Cancer 2015) for predicting risk of early (≤6 months) distant brain failure (DBF) and salvage whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone. Four risk factors were identified: (1) lack of prior WBRT, (2) melanoma or breast histology, (3) multiple brain metastases, and (4) total volume of brain metastases 3 , with each factor assigned 1 point. The purpose of this study was to assess this scoring system's validity and appropriateness for clinical use in an independent external patient population. Methods We reviewed records of 247 patients with 388 brain metastases treated with SRS between 2010-2013 at XXXX. The Press (Emory) risk score was calculated and applied to the validation cohort population and subsequent risk groups were analyzed using cumulative incidence. Results The low risk (LR) group had a significantly lower risk of early DBF compared to high risk (HR) group (22.6% vs. 44%, p=0.004), but there was no difference between the HR and intermediate risk (IR) groups (41.2% vs. 44%, p=0.79). Total lesion volume 3 (p=0.004), malignant melanoma (p=0.007), and multiple metastases (p Conclusion The 3 level Emory risk score was shown to not be externally valid, but the model was able to stratify between 2 levels (LR and not-LR (combined IR and HR)] for early (≤6 months) DBF. These results reinforce the importance of validating predictive models in independent cohorts. Further refinement of this scoring system with molecular information and in additional contemporary patient populations is warranted.
The incidence of adjacent segment disease after lumbar discectomy: A study of 751 patients

Abstract Introduction The objective of this study is to determine the incidence and prognostic factors of adjacent segment disease (ASD) following first-time lumbar discectomy (LD). Methods We retrospectively reviewed all neurosurgical patients who underwent first-time LD for degenerative lumbar disease from 1990 to 2012. ASD was defined as a clinical and radiographic progression of degenerative spinal disease that required surgical decompression (with or without fusion) at the level above or below the index discectomy. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated from multivariable logistical regression controlling for sex and age, as well as postoperative sensory deficit, motor deficit, back pain, neurogenic claudication, and radiculopathy. Results Of the 751 patients who underwent single-level LD, the cumulative reoperation rate for degenerative spinal disease was 10.79%. The incidence of ASD requiring reoperation was 4% over 3.11 years. More specifically, the incidence of adjacent level discectomy was 1.86% over 3.45 years. The annualized reoperation rate for ASD was 1.35% (1.35 ASD reoperations per 100 person-years). The 63.33% incidence of cranial ASD requiring reoperation was statistically significantly higher than the 40.00% incidence of caudal ASD requiring reoperation. Following multivariable logistical regression, the strongest (and only) statistically significant predictor of ASD requiring reoperation was lower extremity radiculopathy after the index discectomy operation (OR = 14.23, p Conclusions In the first series on ASD following first-time LD without fusion, the rate of reoperation for ASD was 4% and the cumulative reoperation rate 10.79%. Rostral ASD is more common than caudal ASD and lower extremity radiculopathy is the strongest predictor of ASD.
Disrupted female estrous cyclicity in the intrahippocampal kainic acid mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

SummaryObjective Reproductive dysfunction is a co-morbidity that commonly occurs with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Characterization of this co-morbidity in various models of TLE in mice will greatly facilitate mechanistic investigations of the relationship between reproductive disorders and seizures initiated in the hippocampus. Here we investigate the impact on female reproductive estrous cyclicity in the intrahippocampal kainic acid mouse model of TLE and demonstrate the utility of using this model for future mechanistic studies. Methods Kainic acid (KA) or saline vehicle was stereotaxically injected in the right dorsal hippocampus of adult female C57BL/6J mice. Development of epilepsy was assessed by video monitoring for behavioral seizures. Reproductive function was assessed by daily estrous cycle monitoring and ovarian morphology. Estrous cycles were monitored for up to 2 months after injection. Ovarian morphology was examined by histological staining and assessment of follicular and luteal development. Results We observed spontaneous behavioral seizures in 82% of kainic acid-treated mice. Irregular estrous cycles developed within 2 months after kainic acid injection. 67% of KA-treated mice showed disrupted estrous cycles, typically characterized by increased estrous cycle length, increased time spent in diestrus (non-fertile stage), and decreased time spent in estrus by 42 days post-KA injection. The estrous cycle disruption, however, was not accompanied by major changes in ovarian morphology or follicular development. KA-treated mice also displayed increased weight gain compared to control mice. Significance These data indicate that co-morbid female irregular estrous cyclicity arises in the intrahippocampal kainic acid mouse model of TLE. This is the first demonstration of disrupted reproductive endocrine function in a mouse model of TLE initially produced by an insult specifically targeted to the hippocampus. This model should thus be useful for basic studies investigating the neural mechanisms driving co-morbid reproductive dysfunction in epilepsy in women. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Locating strong acoustic scattering on the seafloor using wedge diffraction theory

The challenge of rapidly and accurately assessing the potential acoustic scattering from bathymetric features requires a physics based solution to the rough surface scattering problem that captures the essential behavior of the scattering while still retaining a level of simplicity that allows for fast computation. A very common and simple geometric proxy (derived from the Kirchhoff approximation) associates the degree to which local tangent-plane surfaces are oriented to provide specular reflection in the direction of the receiver with the strength of the scattering. Such an approach is bound to fail for almost all natural rough surfaces simply because diffraction not reflection is the dominant scattering mechanism. In this paper, the capacity of rough surface scattering models based on wedge diffraction theory to accurately model the scattering from bathymetric shapes is reviewed. Easily computed geometric metrics, derived from the wedge diffraction modeling approach, that can act as proxies for the full scattering calculation are proposed and a demonstrated.
"Sharing One's Destiny": Effects of austerity on migrant health provisioning in the Mediterranean borderlands.

Abstract Italy has been on the frontlines of the European Union's “migration crisis,” intercepting hundreds of thousands of migrants and asylum-seekers at sea and on its shores. Yet it has lacked adequate resources to ensure humane reception, as other forms of welfare state provisioning have also been rolled back through recent and ongoing austerity measures enforced by the EU and the IMF. While Italians face fewer employment opportunities, lower pensions, and higher taxes, migrants of precarious legal status and asylum-seekers struggle to navigate the weakened bureaucratic apparatus of the Italian state, including the health system. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the Italian provinces of Lazio and Sicily in early 2014 and 2016, this article documents the imbricated economic and health struggles of Italian citizens and noncitizens, and alludes to lived experiences of and community responses to economic austerity characterizing much of the Mediterranean borderlands. I argue that marginalization by the state of both citizens and noncitizens in this setting undergirds some of the local and community responses to economic austerity. Moreover, I suggest that contemporary struggles in this geopolitical context intersect in important ways with the repercussions of austerity legacies that have contributed to widespread displacement in neighboring regions and subsequent migration into the EU.
Can We Still Talk Things Out?: A Case Study of Campus Hate Speech Regulations at the University of Texas

Hate in the United States is on the rise. Or at least, it persists without indication of subsiding. The Southern Poverty Law Center found that the “number of hate groups operating in the country in 2016 remained at near-historic highs”—nearly a thousand. Since 2015, the number of anti-Muslim hate groups has doubled. The meme “Pepe the Frog” became a common racist and anti-Semitic symbol in the last year, with captions like “kill Jews, man.” In February 2017, students at the University of Texas at Austin woke up to find hate-filled fliers on campus. These fliers expressed anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiments. Some fliers read: “Imagine a Muslim-Free America.” And others read: “A Notice to All Citizens of the United States of America[:] It is your civic duty to report any and all illegal aliens to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement[;] they have broken the law.” Soon after the discovery of the fliers, the University attributed the hate speech to a group called American Vanguard, which is unaffiliated with the University of Texas. In response, the University of Texas implemented two policies. In Part I of this article, I explain the recent hate speech incidents at the University of Texas and the University’s response. In Part II, I assess the constitutional issues in the University’s responses, and I identify a potential future difficulty that the University may have to face. Then, in Part III, I address what else might be done without stifling speech.
Low cost, high endurance, altitude-controlled latex balloon for near-space research (ValBal)

High-altitude balloons in near space offer the possibility of affordable scientific experimentation and hardware testing for outer space missions. In this paper we present a novel, low cost high-altitude balloon system that achieves multi-day flight using inexpensive latex balloons by automatically venting lifting gas and dispensing ballast to maintain altitude. Traditionally, superpressure balloons have been used for high-altitude scientific missions; however, despite their long endurance and payload capacity in the tens of kilograms, their cost is in excess of tens of thousands of dollars. Latex balloons are significantly less expensive, typically costing little more than a hundred dollars, but in normal use fly for only a couple hours, rising until reduced atmospheric pressure causes the balloon to stretch beyond its limits. Precision-weighted latex balloons have demonstrated multi-day flights, but such systems cannot change altitude while aloft and offer minimal payload capacity (measuring in tens of grams). Our system, known as ValBal, offers altitude control capabilities exceeding those of a superpressure balloon at a two order of magnitude reduction in cost. ValBal can stabilize anywhere in its operational range of 10–25 km altitude, and can execute scheduled or remotely commanded altitude transitions during flight. In its current iteration, ValBal can be configured to accommodate payloads on the order of 10000 cubic centimeters and 2 kilograms. In June 2016, a ValBal demonstration mission flew for over 70 hours continuously, surpassing the previous world record of 57 hours, for the longest duration of a latex balloon flight. ValBal has flown twice more since then, including a flight of almost 80 hours. Planned developments will seek to improve the endurance to a week and increase the payload interface capabilities for scientific missions.
Marsupialization of Pilonidal Sinus

Marsupialization of pilonidal sinus tract is performed for recurrent infected pilonidal cyst or pilonidal sinus with secondary tracts. This chapter describes indications, essential steps, variations, and complications of this procedure. It provides a detailed template operative note for the procedure.
Analysis of Saturation Recovery Amplitudes to Characterize Conformational Exchange in Spin-Labeled Proteins

Analysis of saturation recovery data from spin-labeled proteins is extended to include the amplitudes in addition to the recovery rates for two-site exchange. It is shown that the recovery amplitudes depend strongly on the exchange rate between states as well as their populations and this dependence provides a simple criterion to identify exchange rates in the 10–1000 kHz range. Analysis of experimental SR relaxation curves via the uniform penalty (UPEN) method allows for reliable identification of single, double, or other multiple-component traces, and global fitting of a set of relaxation curves using both relaxation rates and amplitudes determined from the UPEN fits allows for the estimation of exchange rate in the above domain. The theory is tested on simple model systems, and applied to the determination of conformational exchange rates in spin-labeled mutants of T4 Lysozyme and intestinal fatty acid binding protein. Finally, an example of T 1-weighted spectral editing is provided for systems in the slow exchange limit.
Combustion Physics: ASYMPTOTIC STRUCTURE OF FLAMES

In 1974 Linan published the first complete analysis of the asymptotic structure of nonpremixed flames based on the one-step second-order reaction. Although the analysis was conducted for the steady counterflow flame with unity Lewis number, it was subsequently recognized that the analysis is of such a canonical nature that the results are applicable to many laminar flame situations. Specifically, since one of the flame regimes identified has the characteristics of a premixed flame, the analysis is actually applicable to both nonpremixed and premixed flames. Furthermore, since the flame response is ultimately determined by that of the reaction zone, many subsequent analyses of other flame configurations invariably end up with the structure equations and, hence, solutions first derived by Linan. We shall study these structures in this chapter. We shall first present a separate analysis of the reaction zone structure of premixed flames, with the solution expressed in terms of some general boundary conditions that are to be supplied by the outer solutions for individual situations. From our study of the ignition of a combustible by a hot surface in Section 8.2, we anticipate that such a generalized formulation is possible for situations involving thin reaction zones embedded within flames. The concept of delta-function closure will also be introduced. For nonpremixed flames, we have studied their combustion characteristics in the reaction-sheet limit in Chapter 6. It was demonstrated that much can be learned about the bulk combustion and flame behavior without any specification of the nature of the chemical reaction, except for the implicit assumption that they occur infinitely fast relative to diffusion.
Production of trimethylaluminum (Me3Al) with counterfeit refrigerant chloromethane (R-40), reactivity of Me3Al with refrigerant oils and methods to deactivate Me3Al

Reactions between Al containing materials and counterfeit refrigerant chloromethane (R-40) were investigated under various conditions. The addition of Mg effected a reaction indicating that trimeth...
Validation of noninvasive photoacoustic measurements of sagittal sinus oxyhemoglobin saturation in hypoxic neonatal piglets.

We present data to validate the noninvasive photoacoustic measurement of sagittal sinus oxyhemoglobin saturation. In particular, this paper demonstrates the robustness of this methodology during a ...
Odor Perception through Network Self-organization: Large Scale Realistic Simulations of the Olfactory Bulb

Analysis of the neural basis for odor recognition may have significant impact not only for a better explanation of physiological and behavioral olfactory processes, but also for industrial applications in the development of odor-sensitive devices and applications to the fragrance industry. While the underlying mechanisms are still unknown, experimental findings have given important clues at the level of the activation patterns in the olfactory glomerular layer by comparing the responses to single odors and to mixtures. The processing rules supporting odor perception are controversial. A point of general importance in sensory physiology is whether sensory activity is analytic (or elemental) or synthetic (or configural). Analytic refers to the perception of individual components in a mixture, whereas synthetic refers to the creation of a unified percept. An example of analytic perception is taste in that sweet and sour can be combined in a dish and tasted individually. The mixture of blue and yellow to make green is an example of synthetic perception in vision. Which one of these properties applies to any given odor mixture is unclear and often confusing. In recent papers this problem has been intensely investigated experimentally but the underlying computational and functional processes are still poorly understood. The main reason is that the practical impossibility of recording simultaneously from a reasonable set of cells makes it nearly impossible to decipher and understand the emergent properties and behavior of the olfactory bulb network. We addressed this problem using a biological inspired cognitive architecture: a large-scale realistic model of the olfactory bulb. We directly used experimental imaging data on the activation of 74 glomeruli by 72 odors from 12 homologous series of chemically related molecules to drive a biophysical model of 500 mitral cells and 10,000 granule cells (1/100th of the real system), to analyze the operations of the olfactory bulb circuits. The model demonstrates how lateral inhibition modulates the evolving dynamics of the olfactory bulb network, generating mitral and granule cell responses that support/explain several experimental findings, and suggests how odor identity can be represented by a combination of temporal and spatial patterns, with both feedforward excitation and lateral inhibition via dendrodendric synapses as the underlying mechanisms facilitating network self-organization and the emergence of synchronized oscillations. More generally, our model provides the first physiologically plausible explanation of how lateral inhibition can act at the brain region level to form the neural basis of signal recognition. Through movies and real time simulations, it will be shown how and why the dynamical interactions between active mitral cells through the granule cell synaptic clusters can account for a variety of puzzling behavioral results on odor mixtures and on the emergence of synthetic or analytic perception.
Let the Diagram Speak: Compass Arcs and Visual Auxiliaries in Printed Diagrams of Euclid's Elements.

Abstract The printed Elements in the sixteenth century presented more practical and functional diagrams than those of previous manuscripts. Whereas conventional diagrams were limited to implementing the description of the text, the new diagrams introduced more concise constructions and visual auxiliaries. This change toward more practical and functional diagrams reflects the increased emphasis on the pedagogical value of the diagram. As is evident from the compass arcs upon the diagram, readers of the Elements were invited to draw their own diagrams, deviating from tradition and also from the text. Also, the increased visual auxiliaries such as correspondence markers, dotted lines, and stereoscopic presentations enabled the reader to read diagrams more easily. This backdrop of increased engagement with the diagram made it easier for mathematical novices (tyrones) to learn the Elements. These tool-based and auxiliaries-laden diagrams were more effective for teaching beginners than the earlier, less-functional diagrams. This paper explores the function of these new visual vocabularies and how they were circulated. This survey comprises a brief history of how diagrams began to have their say.
The WRIS System: A Framework for Designing and Implementing Simulations in an Online Course Environment

Global politics simulations are most often employed within a course via face-to-face student interactions, but they can also be integrated into a broader course model and implemented effectively fo...
Plasmacytoid variant urothelial carcinoma: Clinicopathologic outcomes and experience with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

483Background: Plasmacytoid variant histology is a rare variant that is often locally advanced at diagnosis. Data is limited to small series and the ideal treatment remains unknown. Here we report ...
Securitized banking and interest rate sensitivity

Gorton and Metrick (J Financ Econ 104:425–451, 2012) coin the term “securitized banking” to refer to the combination of asset securitization activity along with the use of collateral to raise funds in the repo market. To examine securitized banking activities, an augmented measure of Berger and Bouwman’s (Rev Financ Stud 22:3779–3837, 2009) bank liquidity creation is constructed and it is found to be incrementally associated with value implications. This paper explores whether monetary policy regimes have differential implications for its association with interest rate risk for a broad sample of US bank holding companies. The marginal effect of securitized banking on interest rate sensitivity is greater during the contractionary period from 2004Q2 through 2006Q2. However, a corresponding inverse effect during the expansionary period from 2007Q3 through 2008Q4 is not found to be significant. These results are attributed to an attenuation in asset quality due to lax lending standards from a feedback effect in the period preceding the crisis, while there was an overall flight-to-quality during the crisis.
Genomic Classifiers for Treatment Selection in Newly Diagnosed Prostate Cancer.

OBJECTIVE To systematically review the literature on genomic tests for prostate cancer (PCa) and evaluate the current state of the evidence on their use in patients with newly diagnosed PCa. METHODS We conducted a systematic review by searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, and conference abstracts from the American Urological Association published between 2010 and 2018. Studies evaluating Prolaris, Oncotype Dx, and Decipher assays were assessed for inclusion by two authors. Studies were excluded if the results were derived from surgical specimens rather than biopsy specimens. Meta-analysis was not performed owing to significant variations in methodologies, definitions and outcome measures. RESULTS A total of 729 articles were retrieved in our initial search. After removing duplicates (270) and excluding articles deemed not relevant (432), 21 full-text articles were deemed suitable for inclusion in our analysis. The full-text articles comprised 8 studies on Prolaris, 8 studies on Oncotype Dx, and 5 studies on Decipher. For each genomic test we extracted data regarding the risk of adverse pathology, biochemical recurrence, metastasis, and prostate cancer mortality. CONCLUSION The results of genomic tests that use biomarkers derived from prostate biopsy can be used in conjunction with clinicopathologic variables to improve our ability to risk stratify patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. Additional data are needed on the impact of using these tests on long-term patient outcomes and their cost-effectiveness. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Seismic effect assessment of the southern slope of Greater Caucasus (Azerbaijan) based on the earthquake scenarios: ground parameters and acceleration models

In this paper, earthquake scenarios parameters were assessed for deterministic seis-mic hazard of the southern slope of Greater Caucasus (Azerbaijan). Historically, there occurred strong earthquakes in the studied region. Series of soft and strong earthquakes occurred for the recent years on the southern slope of Greater Caucasus in Azerbaijan in Balakan (14.10.2012, M = 5,6; 29.06.2014, M = 5,3); Zagatala (07.05.2012, M = 5,7; 18.05.2012, M = 5,0; 05.06.2018, M = 5,5); Sheki (earthquake swarm 05.02.2004, M = 3,2 ¸ 4.6); Sheki-Oguz (04.09.2015, M = 5,9); Gabala 04.10.2014, M = 5,0); Ismailli (05.02.2019, M = 5,2) demonstrates the increase of seismic activity in the given region and proves once aga-in the necessity and actuality of continuation of the seismic hazard assessment resear-ches. For earthquake scenarios of various distances, average response spectrum (5 % attenuation) of surface ground fluctuation was plotted, peak ground acceleration were assessed at the maximum magnitude, series of peak ground acceleration models were simulated at respective MSK-64 intensity, and also amplification factor distribution map. The comparative analysis allows presuming that amplification occurs due to the resonance processes, that is, softer soils produce seismic wave amplitude amplification as a result of impedance differences of those layers and harder rocks. Seismic intensity increase is observed in the sites with soft-cemented sand-clayey soils, although with sands-tones, limestone and sandy marlstone of various thicknesses. It is demonstrated that ground displacements are various and not obviously oriented towards seismic source.