cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Observations of the vertical structure of the diffuse attenuation coefficient spectrum

Profiles of the diffuse attenuation coefficient spectrum for downwelling spectral irradiance (Kd(Z,)~)) were determined using data taken during the autumn of 1982 in the eastern North Pacific Ocean as part of the Optical Dynamics Experiment (ODEX). The near-surface Kd(5 re,k) was consistent with Jerlov water types IA or IB and did not show any significant variations with sun altitude angle or cloud amount, supporting the notion that Kd(Z,k) is a "quasi- inherent" optical property. Vertical profiles of Kd(Z,)Q showed significant structures with amplitudes that decrease with increasing wavelength. The observed depth-wavelength distribu- tion may be divided into a blue-green group (400-500 nm) with a vertical structure similar to the vertical distribution of chlorophyll pigments and a green-yellow group 4500-575 nm) with little vertical variation. For wavelengths >575 nm, the values of Ka(z,k) decreased with depth apparently because of limitations of the irradiance sensors, The mean vertical distribution of Ka(z,)~) for the blue-green group was well-correlated with the mean in situ fluorescence (correlation coefficient r - 0.94-0.99) and with the mean total pigment concentration (r - 0.90- 0.95). The correlation coefficients relating Kd(Z,k) with the phaeopigment concentration (r ,- 0.84-0.92) were higher than those relating the chlorophyll a concentration (r - 0.63-0.90), indicating the contributions of detrital materials. The mean beam attenuation coefficient at 660 nm was not significantly correlated with Ka(z,k). The total pigment specific diffuse attenua- tion coefficient spectrum was similar to spectra determined from previous studies, with depar- tures only in the blue region of the spectrum (L < 440 nm). The differences may be attributed to detrital effects.
Synthetic Rubbers: A Review of Their Compositions, Properties, and Uses

Abstract Synthetic rubber has been the dream of many during the century which has passed since Faraday first determined the carbon-hydrogen ratio in natural rubber, but it has completed only about a decade of commercial success. Every year of the past ten has seen an increase in the quantity produced, the number of varieties available, and the number of applications. The aims in various countries have been different, and the development has proceeded in different directions. The most active research has been carried on in Germany, Russia, and the United States. There has been relatively little collection and intercomparison of the rather limited data on the physical properties of the different varieties of synthetic rubber. Scientific articles have been largely devoted to descriptions of single varieties or to discussions of limited phases of the work with respect to one variety. The present paper represents an attempt to make a summary of the facts regarding the different varieties, an intercomparison of...
Armstrong and USADA Go to Battle

As a last ditch attempt to quash his ongoing battle against doping allegations, Lance Armstrong filed a four-count complaint against the USADA, alleging it violated his fifth amendment right to due process. Armstrong must now fight an uphill battle in convincing the Texas District Court that the USADA is a state actor and that it deprived him of a federally protected right.
Two Views on Defined Contribution Health Benefits

With the return of health care cost inflation in 1998, employers once again are examining options to control their cost increases. One emerging alternative that is starting to receive a great deal of attention is a way of designing and financing health benefits often referred to as defined contribution (DC) health benefits. Shifting from a defined benefit to a defined contribution approach would change the focus from a service to a subsidy provided by an employer, and could potentially result in major changes in the way employers provide and workers receive health coverage through the work place.
What the Fine-Tuning Argument Shows (and Doesn’t Show)

I argue that considerations about the nature of probability and explanation imply that some differences about how to understand the apparent fact that the universe is “fine-tuned” in various respects are unresolvable within the bounds of any discussion that is limited to the facts at issue and the nature of the proper way to reason from those facts.
AUTOSOMAL MODIFIERS OF THE BOBBED PHENOTYPE ARE A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE rDNA MAGNIFICATION PARADOX IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

rDNA magnification in Drosophila melanogaster is defined experimentally as the ability of bb/Ybb- males to produce exceptional progeny that are wild type with respect to rDNA associated phenotypes. Here, we show that some of these bobbed-plus progeny result not from genetic reversion at the bb locus but rather from variants at two or more autosomal loci that ameliorate the bobbed phenotype of rDNA deficient males in Drosophila. In doing so we resolve several aspects of a long-standing paradox concerning the phenomenon of rDNA magnification. This problem arose from the use of two genetic assays, which were presumed to be identical, but paradoxically, produced conflicting data on both the kinetics of reversion and the stability of magnified bb+ chromosomes. We resolve this problem by demonstrating that in one assay bobbed-plus progeny arise primarily by genetic reversion at the bobbed locus, whereas in the other assay bobbed-plus progeny arise both by reversion and by an epistatic effect of autosomal modifiers on the bobbed phenotype. We further show that such modifiers can facilitate the appearance of phenotypically bobbed-plus progeny even under conditions where genetic reversion is blocked by magnification defective mutants. Finally, we present a speculative model relating the action of these modifiers to the large increases in rDNA content observed in males undergoing magnification.
Integrated operations (Re-)scheduling from mine to ship

Mining companies have complex supply chains that start from the mining location and stretch thousands of kilometers to the end customer in a different country and continent. The logistics of moving the materials from mines to ship is composed of series of optimization problems like berth allocation, ship scheduling, stockyard scheduling, and rail scheduling, which are individually NP-hard. In this paper, we present a scheduling application, called as IBM Optimization: Mine to Ship, for end-to-end integrated operations scheduling. The application is built on IBM ILOG ODM Enterprise with advanced features like rescheduling under deviations and disturbances, and maintenance scheduling. The modeling and computational complexity of integrated scheduling optimization is tamed using hybrid optimization technique that leverages mathematical programming and constraint programming. The application will benefit the mining companies with increased resource usage, higher throughput, reduced cost of operations, and higher revenue.
Effects of Climate on the Circannual Rhythm of the Eastern Chipmunk, Tamias striatus

The eastern chipmunk ( Tamias striatus ), a temperate sciurid, has evolved precise timing of breeding in southeast Ohio similar to the strategy found in the Arctic ground squirrel ( Spermophilus undulatus ). Abnormally low ambient temperatures in late winter did not delay the timing of the spring breeding season, but the number of breeding females declined. However, atypically cold temperatures in early spring delayed the timing of post-torpor activity. The evolution and adaptive nature of precise breeding periods and a flexible schedule with regard to seasonal emergence are postulated and related to the ecology of chipmunks in southeast Ohio.
The subjective need and demand for orthodontic treatment.

The subjective need and demand for orthodontic treatment amongst 955 12-year-old Sheffield children has been assessed using the aesthetic component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and by...
Myasthenia gravis. I. Importance of potassium in inhibitory action of normal and myasthenic thymus extracts.

SummaryA method is described which permits recording of the isolated myogram of indirectly or directly stimulated isolated frog saritorius muscle. 2. Acetone extracts prepared from thymus glands obtained from 16 myasthenic patients, one normal child's thymus, 3 spleens and 2 samples of striated muscle were tested on the isolated frog sartorius preparation. 3. Both acetone soluble and acetone insoluble fractions markedly decrease the muscle tension curve in 2 to 20 minutes. When the muscle becomes inexcitable on indirect stimulation, it is also inexcitable on direct stimulation. 4. The active material is heat stable, dialysable and is antagonized by CaCl2 added to the extracts. 5. Concentrations of potassium 2 to 44 times the potassium concentration of frog Ringer were found in the extracts. These concentrations of potassium are sufficient to produce the muscle inhibition observed. 6. The significance of these results relevant to the search for a blocking agent in the thymus glands of myasthenic patients i...
A Spiritual Journey: Pages from an Oxford Diary

(1938). A Spiritual Journey: Pages from an Oxford Diary. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 9, No. 6, pp. 348-349.
Matching theory for cognitive spectrum allocation in wireless networks

In this paper, a novel spectrum allocation approach for cognitive radio networks (CRNs) is proposed. Based on a measure of inference performance as well as on a measure of quality-of-service, the association between secondary users (SUs) in the network and frequency bands licensed to primary users (PUs) is investigated. The problem is formulated as a matching game between SUs and PUs. In this game, SUs employ hypothesis testing to detect PUs' signals and, eventually, rank them based on the logarithm of the a posteriori probability ratio. A valuation that captures the ranking metric and rate over the PU-owned frequency bands is proposed to PUs in the form of credit or rewards by SUs. Using this proposal, a PU evaluates a utility function that it uses to build its association preferences. A distributed algorithm that allows both SUs and PUs to interact and self-organize into a stable and optimal matching is presented. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can improve: i) the sum of SUs' rates by up to 20% and 60% relative to the deferred acceptance algorithm and random channel allocation approach respectively, and ii) the sum of PUs' payoffs by up to 25% compared to the deferred acceptance algorithm. The results also show an improved convergence time.
A study on T-cell immunity in simple obese children and its related factors

Objectives To explore the impact of obesity on children's immunity,T-cell immune function was studied and the possible factors associated were analyzed. Methods 45 children who met the criterion of simple obesity and 20 age and sex matched healthy children were included in this study. Abdomen circumference,height,weight were measured,BMI were assessed,and T-lymphocyte sub-population(CD3+?CD4+?CD8+?CD4+/CD8+?CD19+?NK),triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol,fasting plasma glucose,fasting plasma insulin,microelements(Fe and Zn)were investigated. Results CD3+?CD4+?CD4+/CD8+ and NK were all significantly lower in obese group in comparison with those of healthy group(P 0.05),accounting for 64.56 ± 7.04 %,31.31 ± 5.33 %,1.16 ± 0.29,13.40 ± 4.01 % versus 68.35 ± 5.25 %,35.85 ± 3.41 %,1.44 ± 0.21,15.80 ± 1.64 %,respectively. The changes of CD4+/CD8+ in obese children were statistically correlated with abdomen circumference,BMI,TG,HOMA-IR and HBCI (P 0.05)by multiple linear step regression analysis. Conclusions Dysfunction of T-cell immunity was found in children with simple obesity with significant corelationship to the BMI,abdomen circumference,TG,HOMA-IR and HBCI .
A preclinical medical student curriculum to introduce health disparities and cultivate culturally responsive care.

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of a newly reformed curriculum for teaching culturally responsive care and to build awareness of health and health care disparities in first-year medical students. Secondary outcomes were to determine if a progressive approach to teaching this content would improve not only knowledge of vulnerable groups but also awareness of inherent personal biases and cultural assumptions, which contribute to inequitable care. Procedures Students enrolled in Social and Cultural Issues in Health Care from October 2009 through December 2009, who agreed to participate, completed pretests and posttests that assessed their awareness and knowledge of culturally responsive care and health disparities. Findings In 3 of the questions assessing cultural awareness, the participants improved significantly after the course compared to before the course. Participants also significantly improved in 6 of the 7 knowledge-based questions. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that this innovative curriculum was successful in improving students' knowledge of vulnerable populations and health disparities. Our progressive curricular approach also successfully increased participant awareness of health disparities by requiring students to assess the socioeconomic and environmental factors of inequitable care. Additionally, it emphasized a process of continuous self-appraisal in delivering culturally responsive care.
Comparison of apparent ileal and total tract digestibility of calcium in calcium sources for pigs

Two experiments were conducted to compare apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of calcium (Ca) in pigs. In experiment 1, three semipurified diets with soybean meal, canola meal, or sunflower meal as the sole source of Ca were formulated. Eighteen cannulated pigs (initial BW = 66 ± 5 kg) were assigned in a randomized complete block design to three treatments and six replicates per treatment. Results indicated that for either Ca or phosphorus (P), the ATTD was not different from the AID in the three diets (Psite = 0.16 and 0.81, respectively). In experiment 2, diets with four Ca concentrations were formulated with calcium carbonate as the Ca source. Sixteen cannulated pigs (initial BW = 73 ± 4 kg) were assigned in a randomized complete block design to four treatments in two experimental periods. The results indicated that the ATTD of Ca was not different from the AID for all diets. Furthermore, the Ca digestibility was not affected by dietary treatments, but the P...
It’s Hard to See through Our Stories

Narrative identity practices assume individuals have access to their experience. A critical question is the extent to which we can see through the filters of past conditioning and socio-cultural conventions, piercing the narrative veil, to access what is happening in immediate experience. Examples where narrative meanings subordinate practice are provided to illustrate the problem and this chapter highlights how Rollo May, the existentialhumanistic scholar, and the critical theorist, Walter Benjamin, have addressed the issue.
It is reasonable to treat patients with type 1 hepatorenal syndrome with midodrine and Octreotide

A critical appraisal and clinical application of Esrailian E, Pantangco ER, Kyulo NL, Hu KQ, Runyon BA. Octreotide/midodrine therapy significantly improves renal function and 30-day survival in patients with type 1 hepatorenal syndrome. Dig Dis Sci. 2007;52(3):742-748. doi: 10.1007/s10620-006-9312-0
Ruthenium-Catalyzed Direct Reductive Amination in HCOOH/NEt3 Mixture

A one-pot direct reductive amination of aldehydes with primary and secondary amines using Noyori’s catalyst (η 6-arene)Ru(H)TsDPEN in neat HCOOH/NEt3 mixture has been developed. The catalyst formed in situ allows full conversion of aldehydes with high selectivities towards the desired amine products within hours or even minutes at room temperature. For aromatic aldehydes, both 5:2 and 5:3 HCOOH/NEt3 mixtures prove to be suitable reaction media, with the former affording higher selectivities while the latter leading to much faster reaction rates. For aliphatic aldehydes, the 5:3 HCOOH/NEt3 mixture gives much higher selectivities due to the minimal loss from aldol condensation. This method has great application potential for the synthesis of amine products given the mild conditions.
Fatigue Prevalence and Correlates in a Cohort of Patients with Autonomic Dysfunction (P03.032)

OBJECTIVE: Establish the incidence and associated features of fatigue in a cohort of patients with autonomic dysfunction. BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a non specific symptom of many disorders. This is different form sleepiness and the more specific symptom of muscle fatigue. DESIGN/METHODS: 459 patients, 118 men (mean age 47.3 years) and 341 women (with mean age 44.4 years) were diagnosed with clinical autonomic dysfunction. Patients underwent autonomic testing. In addition, patients underwent laboratory workup for potential etiologies and confounding disorders. If muscle fatigue was the main symptom electrophysiological evaluation for a neuromuscular junction disorder, motor neuron disorder or myopathy was performed. If a sleep disorder was clinically suspected overnight polysomnography and if indicated next day multiple sleep latency testing was performed. For the purpose of the presence of fatigue common disorders were ruled out. RESULTS: Fatigue was the main complaint in 24 patients (5.23%). However 323 patients (70.3%) complained of fatigue in addition to other symptoms. Patients with a family history of autonomic dysfunction were more likely to have fatigue compared to those without a family history (78.85% vs. 59.3%, p CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis indicates that fatigue is a common complaint in patients with autonomic dysfunction. More commonly the fatigue is generalized and rarely may present as muscle fatigue, usually associated with muscle pain. Disclosure: Dr. Barboi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jaradeh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ouyang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yellick has nothing to disclose. Dr. Prieto has nothing to disclose.
Emotional Wellness of Current Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellows

Rationale and Objectives Burnout is a psychological syndrome composed of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and sense of lack of personal accomplishment, as a result of prolonged occupational stress. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of burnout among current musculoskeletal radiology fellows and to explore causes of emotional stress. Materials and Methods A 24-item survey was constructed on SurveyMonkey using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. We identified 82 musculoskeletal radiology fellowship programs. We recruited subjects indirectly through the program director or equivalent. Results Fifty-eight respondents (48 male, 10 female) identified themselves as current musculoskeletal radiology fellows and completed the survey. Comparison of the weighted subscale means in our data to the Maslach normative subscale thresholds for medical occupations indicates that musculoskeletal radiology fellows report relatively high levels of burnout with regard to lack of personal accomplishment and depersonalization, whereas emotional exhaustion levels in our sample are within the average range reported by Maslach. Although male musculoskeletal radiology fellows experience relatively high levels in two of the three dimensions of burnout (depersonalization and personal accomplishment), female musculoskeletal radiology fellows experience relatively high burnout across all three dimensions. Job market-related stress and the effort required providing care for dependents significantly affect personal accomplishment. Conversely, imbalances in the work-life relationship and feelings of powerlessness are significantly associated with depersonalization and emotional exhaustion. Conclusions Musculoskeletal radiology fellows report relatively high levels of burnout. Because the consequences of burnout can be severe, early identification and appropriate intervention should be a priority.
A Laminar Organization for Selective Cortico-Cortical Communication.

The neocortex is central to mammalian cognitive ability, playing critical roles in sensory perception, motor skills, and executive function. This thin, layered structure comprises distinct, functionally specialized areas that communicate with each other through the axons of pyramidal neurons. For the hundreds of such cortico-cortical pathways to underlie diverse functions, their cellular and synaptic architectures must differ so that they result in distinct computations at the target projection neurons. In what ways do these pathways differ? By originating and terminating in different laminae, and by selectively targeting specific populations of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, these ‘interareal’ pathways can differentially control the timing and strength of synaptic inputs onto individual neurons, resulting in layer-specific computations. Due to the rapid development in transgenic techniques, the mouse has emerged as a powerful mammalian model for understanding the rules by which cortical circuits organize and function. Here we review our understanding of how cortical lamination constrains long-range communication in the mammalian brain, with an emphasis on the mouse visual cortical network. We discuss the laminar architecture underlying interareal communication, the role of neocortical layers in organizing the balance of excitatory and inhibitory actions, and highlight the structure and function of layer 1 in mouse visual cortex.
Development of an intergroup anxiety toward Muslims scale

Abstract Understanding intergroup relations and the anxiety that can result has become increasingly relevant to interactions between Muslim and non-Muslim individuals due to current tensions between Islamic extremist groups and many Western nations. The anticipated increase in migration from countries with large Islamic populations to Western countries will undoubtedly lead to increased contact between these groups. Currently, there are no measures of intergroup anxiety elicited when interacting specifically with Muslims. Thus, the goal of the current studies was to fill this gap by developing a measure of intergroup anxiety toward Muslims. Across 3 studies, the reliability and validity of a new measure of intergroup anxiety toward Muslims was assessed. An exploratory factor analysis (Study 1) identified 11 reliable items that were supported by confirmatory factor analysis (Study 2). Across all 3 studies, the scale demonstrated good convergent validity, such that participants who reported higher levels of intergroup anxiety toward Muslims also reported more negative attitudes toward Muslims and greater general intergroup anxiety than individuals with lower intergroup anxiety toward Muslims. Assessment of discriminant validity showed that the scale differentiated between attitudes toward Muslims and other out-groups, as well as general anxiety and depression. The Intergroup Anxiety toward Muslims Scale was also reliable across different samples (i.e., college students and community members) and methods of data collection (i.e., online and in person).
Mycobacteria Bovis osteomyelitis following intravesical BCG for bladder cancer.

Abstract Mycobacteria Bovis osteomyelitis is a rare adverse effect after Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) intravesical therapy. A 62-year-old male presented with acute spinal cord compression three months after completing his second course of therapy for bladder cancer. The first course with intravesical BCG was complicated with an episode of hematuria. He reported intermittent subjective fever for 3 weeks thereafter which resolved with Tylenol. Interferon-α2 B was added to the second cycle of intravesical BCG with the indication here being residual tumor, and was tolerated well. His complete blood count and liver function tests were unremarkable on admission. MRI showed features of osteomyelitis with cord compression at T4/T5. Biopsy of the affected bone showed caseating granuloma which was positive for acid fact bacilli, later confirmed to be Mycobacterium Bovis by PCR and pyrazinamide resistance. He was started on intravenous steroids and underwent spinal cord decompression. Rifampin, Isoniazid, and Ethambutol were then commenced. His weakness improved and after two months of therapy he was asymptomatic and back to his baseline function. Osteomyelitis is a rare but serious complication. Early diagnosis and treatment is important as the outcomes are good.
Patterns of Varicose Vein Development/Principles of Treatment

This chapter examines the common developmental patterns of superficial varicose veins, and describes the general principles for treating them.
Neurofeedback training of auditory selective attention enhances speech-in-noise understanding

Speech-in-noise (SiN) understanding involves multiple cortical processes including feature extraction, grouping, and selective attention. Among those processes, we aimed to investigate the causal relationship between auditory selective attention and SiN performance. Selective attention enhances the strength of cortical neural responses to attended sounds while suppresses the neural responses to ignored sounds, which forms an evidence of sensory gain control theory. We hypothesized that the cortical response-guided neurofeedback could strengthen the sensory gain control, which in turn will improve selective attention performance and may result in better SiN understanding. With a single-blinded, between-subjects design including a placebo group, subjects were asked to attend to one of two simultaneous but asynchronous streams. For the participants assigned to the experimental group, a visual feedback was provided after each trial to demonstrate whether their attention was correctly decoded using their single-trial EEG response. The experimental group participants with four weeks of this neurofeedback training exhibited amplified cortical evoked responses to target speech as well as improved SiN understanding, while the placebo group participants did not show consistent improvement. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of selective-attention training enhancing SiN performance.
Cog in the wheel: Resource release and inter dependencies in adjustment routines

We characterize and test dynamic capabilities as a bundle of interdependent adjustment routines. Because each routine depends on others to realize its value, constraining one can create a bottleneck that traps other adjustment routines. We argue that such interdependencies are much more expansive in scope than suspected, linking multiple seemingly independent empirical phenomena. In testing our theory, we leverage the staggered adoptions of employment protection laws intended to affect one specific adjustment routine that acts on one type of resource: dismissing employees. The constraint, however, not only affects the contraction but also the expansion in labor and capital investments, acquisition, alliance, divestment, managerial turnover, and other adjustments taken by firms in responding to positive and negative performance feedback. Our findings raise caution in using instrumental variables and natural experiments that are presumed to affect only a specific variable of interest and trying to isolate a...
Fabry-Perot Spectroscopy of Extremely Faint Astronomical Sources

Our interests in the general field of astrophysics lie principally in two areas: 1) the study of extremely faint emission lines from the interstellar medium, galactic halo, and intergalactic clouds, and 2) the study of neutral and ionized components of the outer atmospheres of solar system objects, including the earth. These studies require instruments of the highest possible area-solid angle product, but typically do not require extremely high spatial resolution. This paper highlights our past work in these areas, and discusses new instrumental approaches we are developing.
Lagrangians of Strong, Weak and Electromagnetic Interactions

Hachons can be considered as consisting of quarks. Each quark is characterized by color—yellow, blue or red—and flavor. At present six flavors are known, and are commonly called up (u), down (d), strange (s), charmed (c), bottom (b) and top (t). Quarks are described by a multicomponent bispinor field ψ a i , where the superscript denotes the color (and therefore takes three values) and the subscript the flavor (six values).
Effects of gadolinium on cardiac mechanosensitivity in whole isolated swine hearts.

Mechanical stimulation can elicit electrical activation of the heart. This mechanosensitivity can start life-threatening arrhythmias (commotio cordis) or terminate them (precordial thump). Mechanosensitivity may also be involved in arrhythmogenesis in other settings. Stretch-activated ion channels (SACs) are thought to be important in mechanosensitivity and a number of agents that block them have been identified. Such agents could potentially be used as tools in experimental investigation of mechanosensitivity. However, studies using them in intact-heart preparations have yielded inconsistent results. In the present study, we used isolated, perfused hearts from 25–35 kg pigs and a computer-controlled device that repeatably delivered focal mechanical stimuli. The concentration-dependent ability of the SAC blocker gadolinium to suppress mechanical activation was assessed by the success rate of mechanical stimulation and by the delay between successful mechanical stimulation and electrical activation. In six hearts, perfusate was recirculated. In an additional six hearts, perfusate was not recirculated to prevent gadolinium from forming complexes with metabolic waste and possibly precipitating. Gadolinium did not suppress mechanically-induced activation. Although gadolinium has been shown to be an effective SAC blocker in isolated cells, using it to probe the role of mechanical stimulation in whole heart preparations should be done with great caution.
Researching Gameful L2TL

Building on previous chapters, this chapter is meant to serve as a research guide by providing some basic tools for evaluating, designing, and implementing research on gameful L2TL. The first section offers guiding questions for evaluating research and discussion of the various parameters of gameful L2TL research. The second section discusses how to design research taking a practice-focused approach. Finally, as an example of implementing research, the third section describes a pilot project that examined the relationships between English vocabulary learning and game involvement in an interactive fiction game.
Severe LVAD‐related infections requiring surgical treatment: Incidence, predictors, effect on survival, and impact of device selection

BACKGROUND Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are being used more frequently for treating refractory, advanced heart failure. However, infection remains a frequent complication. In this study, we analyzed the incidence of severe infections in LVAD recipients to determine its impact on survival. METHODS From May 2009 through March 2016, 437 patients with advanced heart failure underwent implantation of a continuous-flow LVAD (n = 314, HeartMate II LVAD [Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL]; n = 123 HeartWare HVAD [Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN]). We analyzed the rate of severe device infection requiring surgical intervention or involving sepsis and the impact of severe infection on outcomes in patients on long-term LVAD support. RESULTS Infection occurred in 244 patients (HeartMate II, n = 186; HVAD, n = 58); severe infections developed in 160 patients (HeartMate II, n = 119; HVAD, n = 41). HeartMate II recipients had 344 severe infection events (0.63 events per patient-year [EPPY]), whereas HeartWare recipients had 89 severe infection events (0.42 EPPY; P = 0.047). HeartMate II recipients had a higher incidence of pump infections (P < 0.001). Severe infections did not significantly affect survival (P = 0.42). CONCLUSIONS Although HeartMate II patients had a significantly higher incidence of pump infections requiring surgical treatment, survival was not adversely affected. The difference in postoperative infection rates may be an important factor in device type selection.
Galectin-3 Expression in the Left Ventricular Interstitium of Dogs with Chronic Heart Failure: Association with Interstitial Fibrosis

Purpose Accumulation of collagen in the cardiac interstitium termed “reactive interstitial fibrosis (RIF)” occurs in heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) as well as in HF with preserved EF (HFpEF). This maladaptation leads to increased myocardial stiffness that negatively impacts ventricular filling. RIF also results in poor oxygen diffusion between capillaries and cardiomyocytes leading to cardiomyocyte hypoxia that promotes cellular contractile dysfunction and triggers programmed cell death. The protein galectin-3 (GAL-3) is a member of the lectin family. Increased expression of GAL-3 is implicated in the development of fibrosis in multiple organs including the heart. Elevated levels of GAL-3 are significantly associated with higher risk of death in patients with HF. In this study, we examined whether increased expression of GAL-3 occurs in the LV interstitium of dogs with chronic HF that also manifest increased levels of RIF. Methods Studies were performed in LV tissue obtained from 7 normal (NL) dogs and 7 dogs with coronary microembolization-induced HF. Frozen LV sections, 6 µm in thickness, were used for fluorescence immunostaining with antibodies against myosin heavy chain and GAL-3. DAPI (4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) was used to stain nuclei. Confocal images of stained sections were obtained with an Olympus Fluoview FV1000 laser scanning biological microscope. From each section, 4-6 fields, each ∼10 mm2, were randomly selected for laser scanning and subsequently used to calculate the percent area occupied by GAL-3 (%aGAL-3) from each field. The percent area occupied by RIF (%aRIF) was also calculated using frozen sections stained with fluorescein-labeled peanut agglutinin. Results In NL dogs, the %aRIF was 3.70 ± 0.07 and %aGAL-3 was 2.40 ± 0.45. In dogs with HF, the %aRIF increased significantly to 13.5 ± 0.57 (p Conclusion The results indicate that in dogs with HF, increased levels of RIF is associated with increased interstitial levels of GAL-3. The findings support the use of this dog model of HF to evaluate the effects of GAL-3 inhibitors for preventing or attenuating RIF that develops during the evolution of HF.
Adiabatic population transfer of dressed spin states with quantum optimal control

We report theoretical studies of adiabatic population transfer using dressed spin states. Quantum optimal control using the algorithm of Chopped Random Basis (CRAB) has been implemented in a negatively charged diamond nitrogen vacancy center that is coupled to a strong and resonant microwave field. We show that the dressed spin states are highly effective in suppressing effects of spin dephasing on adiabatic population transfer. The numerical simulation also demonstrates that CRAB-based quantum optimal control can enable an efficient and robust adiabatic population transfer.
Women Micro Entrepreneurship And Social Capital in Bangladesh

On July 22, 2003, Dukhimon Begum, a 40-year old mother offour from Durgapur Upazila (an administrative unit of northern Bangladesh) of the Rajshahi district in the northern part of the country, quarrelled with her rickshaw-puller husband, about buying a cloth sareefor her niece for the latter s marriage. The family did not have any food at home to eat that night and the husband went to pull his rickshaw next morning with empty stomach. Faced with such abject poverty and starvation, Dukhimon fed her two small daughters pesticide-laced biscuits and ate some herself in order to be free of her misery and impoverishment.' Dukhimon Begum is a citizen of Bangladesh. The liberation struggle of 1971 was putatively for them — to free peoplefrom the exploitation of the Pakistanis, especially the ‘22 families’ who had exceptional political and economic power. Millions willingly gave their lives in that struggle. After independence, politicians made countless promises, and are still doing so, to improve their living conditions. The policy makers also formulated many economic plans based on the ‘trickle-down principle. But the living conditions of women such as Dukhimon Begum have not improved.
Behavioral Finance: The Second Generation

Finance Behavioral finance presented in this book is the second-generation of behavioral finance. The first generation, starting in the early 1980s, largely accepted standard finance’s notion of people’s wants as “rational” wants—restricted to the utilitarian benefits of high returns and low risk. That first generation commonly described people as “irrational”—succumbing to cognitive and emotional errors and misled on their way to their rational wants. The second generation describes people as normal. It begins by acknowledging the full range of people’s normal wants and their benefits—utilitarian, expressive, and emotional—distinguishes normal wants from errors, and offers guidance on using shortcuts and avoiding errors on the way to satisfying normal wants. People’s normal wants include financial security, nurturing children and families, gaining high social status, and staying true to values. People’s normal wants, even more than their cognitive and emotional shortcuts and errors, underlie answers to important questions of finance, including saving and spending, portfolio construction, asset pricing, and market efficiency. Second-generation behavioral finance offers an alternative foundation block for each of the five foundation blocks of standard finance, incorporating knowledge about people’s wants and their cognitive and emotional shortcuts and errors. According to second-generation behavioral finance: 1. People are normal. 2. People construct portfolios as described by behavioral portfolio theory, where people’s portfolio wants extend beyond high expected returns and low risk, such as wants for social responsibility and social status. 3. People save and spend as described by behavioral life-cycle theory, where impediments, such as weak self-control, make it difficult to save and spend in the right way. 4. Expected returns of investments are accounted for by behavioral asset pricing theory, where differences in expected returns are determined by more than just differences in risk—for example, by levels of social responsibility and social status. 5. Markets are not efficient in the sense that price always equals value in them, but they are efficient in the sense that they are hard to beat.
Digitization and Pre-Purchase Information: The Causal and Welfare Impacts of Reviews and Crowd Ratings

Digitization has led to product proliferation, straining traditional institutions for product discovery; but digitization has also spawned crowd-based rating systems. We compare the relative impacts of professional critics and crowd-based Amazon star ratings on consumer welfare in book publishing. We assemble data on daily Amazon sales ranks, star ratings, and prices for thousands of books in 2018, along with information on their professional reviews in several major outlets. Using various fixed effects and discontinuity-based empirical strategies, we estimate that a New York Times review raises estimated sales by 78 percent during the first five days following a review; and the elasticity of sales with respect to an Amazon star is about 0.75. We use these causal estimates to calibrate structural models of demand for measuring the welfare impact of pre-purchase information in a way that respects the distinction between ex ante and ex post utility. The aggregate effect of star ratings on consumer surplus is roughly 15 times the effect of traditional review outlets. Crowd-based information now accounts for the vast majority of pre-purchase information, but the absolute effects of professional reviews have not declined over time.
Is a Critical Pedagogy of Place Enough? Intersecting Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies with Environmental Education

As a result of global forms of education, schooling has a tendency to become more homogenized, and thus the particularities of the locality tend to be erased. Therefore, it is imperative for teachers to strive to sustain and revitalize the cultures of students, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, and move toward a more pluralistic outcome in education. How can such pedagogies be integrated within the classroom? With global environmental issues such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and urban pollution, a place-based form of environmental education would be a powerful alternative to integrate culturally sustaining pedagogies to protect local cultures and communities. This chapter examines three different versions of place-based pedagogies and analyzes what intersections occur with culturally sustaining pedagogies as described by Django Paris and H. Sami Alim. Specifically, it examines Greenwood’s Critical Pedagogy of Place, Bowers’s Eco-Justice Pedagogy, and Tuck’s Land Education in regard to how they bring about a pluralistic outcome to education, revere traditional culture with an eye to how culture evolves and focuses on the social justice aspects of environmental education.
Young Enough for the Maximum: Discretionary Release Decisions in the Post-Miller Era:

Based on U.S. Supreme Court decisions recognizing adolescence, we examined the likelihood of parole in one state for a population of candidates whose ages ranged from 14 to 21 at time of offense. L...
Exploring Reflective Engagement that Promotes Understanding in College Classrooms

This study investigated student engagement in class discussions in a university-level, literature-based writing class. The research questions were 1) Does multiple-source learning provide a new lens for the observation of reflective teaching and learning practices? 2) Is there evidence that shows that the practices adopted by one teacher actually relied on and fostered this kind of thinking among students, and if so, what were those practices? The participants were 22 university students and their instructor, chosen because of the instructor’s interest in improving class discussions. Data were collected over one semester through videotapes, formal and informal interviews, and class documents and were analyzed using constant comparison. Results showed the instructor facilitated student engagement through probing questions. The instructor’s use of symbolism, metaphors, and experiences within this class were teaching tools aimed not at fostering domain-specific, elaborative, one-right-answer interpretations but rather at recruiting multiple sources for creating multiple cross-domain perspectives.
The China We Hardly Know: Revealing the New China's Intellectual Property Regime

The long-held and virtually unquestioned view about China from the United States and other Western nations is that China has a total disregard for intellectual property rights. Recent empirical data and translated Chinese judicial decisions, however, offer a startling new picture of China that directly contradicts the dominant negative view of China’s approach to intellectual property rights. Specifically, quantitative studies of recent Chinese patent, copyright, and trademark infringements cases reveal that China has become a litigious society and that there are more intellectual property litigation cases in China than in the United States. Chinese intellectual property owners are not hesitant to enforce their rights against other Chinese infringers, as seen through the tens of thousands of cases filed and concluded annually in recent years. Yet these new trends in China and on intellectual property rights have not been recognized in academic literature or the popular press. This Article reveals a more accurate picture of China’s intellectual property enforcements — one that would assist policy makers and legal scholars in their approaches to the New China. Further, this Article observes that China and the United States are at a crossroads with respect to intellectual property. Quantitative and qualitative studies of Chinese and United States intellectual property cases indicate that the New China is quickly moving to embrace a strong intellectual property rights system, while the United States is slowly moving towards a weaker intellectual property rights regime.
Development of static random access memories using complementary heterostructure insulated gate field effect transistor technology

A complementary heterostructure insulated gate field effect transistor (c-HIGFET) technology has been developed which is capable of operating at high speeds with very low static power dissipation. Ring oscillator circuits fabricated using this 1 mu m gate length C-HIGFET technology exhibited very low power dissipation values of down to 67 mu W/gate while maintaining gate delays of approximately 200 ps. In addition, speed-power products of less than 6 fJ have been obtained using these C-HIGFET ring oscillators. The C-HIGFET technology has been used to fabricate 1 kb static random access memories (SRAMs) with yields of over 26% on a 3-inch wafer. Read access times as low as 1.8 ns were obtained for 1 K SRAMs at a power of 650 mW. The 1 K SRAM exhibited a significant reduction in power to 90 mW at a somewhat longer read access time of 4.4 ns. >
A discrete BCG-FFT algorithm for solving 3D inhomogeneous scatterer problems

In this paper, an algorithm for computation of the scattered fields from three dimensional inhomogeneous dielectric scatterers is presented. In this method, the Galerkin's testing formulation of an integral equation for 3D electromagnetic (EM) fields is represented by a multi-input and multi-output linear system with known kernels. On a regular grid with rooftop basis functions, the kernels are discretized and accurately evaluated. Furthermore they are represented by Toeplitz matrices which dramatically reduces the storage and computational complexity in solving for the scattered fields. Also, the kernels are independent of the scattering configuration and the incident waves. For a given frequency, they can be evaluated once and for all. The biconjugate gradient (BCG) algorithm combined with fast Fourier transform (FFT) is applied to solve the discrete linear system iteratively. The memory required for this algorithm is of order N, and the computational complexity of the BCG process costs order N log N op...
The Blood–Brain Barrier: Geriatric Relevance of a Critical Brain–Body Interface

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents the interface between the brain and other body tissues. Its ability to protect the brain from harmful compounds has attracted the attention of clinicians and investigators, but far from being a simple physical barrier, the BBB is a complex, heterogeneous, and dynamic tissue. The integrated function of the cerebral microvasculature, tight junction proteins, brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), cellular transport pathways, and enzymatic machinery jointly contribute to normal BBB integrity. Aging, systemic diseases, and ischemic injury can disrupt these processes, resulting in a decline in overall BBB function and integrity. Based on the published literature, this study proposes that age- and disease-related BBB alterations play a key role in diminishing the ability of older patients to recover from acute ischemic stroke. Evidence linking deficits in the cerebral microvasculature and BBB integrity to dementia, medication-related cognitive decline, white matter disease (WMD or leukoaraiosis), and related geriatric syndromes including delirium, gait disorders, and urinary incontinence is also reviewed. Priority areas for a future research agenda include strategies to improve clinicians' ability to diagnose, prevent, and manage BBB abnormalities. In future years, in vivo measures such as functional and contrast-enhanced neuroimaging will be used to evaluate BBB integrity in older adults while also assessing the effectiveness of interventions, some targeting inflammatory pathways known to disrupt the BBB, for their ability to prevent or slow the progression of these complex multifactorial geriatric syndromes.