cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modal confidence factor in vibration testing

The modal confidence factor (MCF) is a number calculated for every identified mode for a structure under test. The MCF varies from 0.00 for a distorted nonlinear, or noise mode to 100.0 for a pure structural mode. The theory of the MCF is based on the correlation that exists between the modal deflection at a certain station and the modal deflection at the same station delayed in time. The theory and application of the MCF are illustrated by two experiments. The first experiment deals with simulated responses from a two-degree-of-freedom system with 20%, 40%, and 100% noise added. The second experiment was run on a generalized payload model. The free decay response from the payload model contained 22% noise.
EEG Control of a Virtual Helicopter in 3-Dimensional Space Using Intelligent Control Strategies

Films like Firefox, Surrogates, and Avatar have explored the possibilities of using brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to control machines and replacement bodies with only thought. Real world BCIs have made great progress toward that end. Invasive BCIs have enabled monkeys to fully explore 3-D space using neuroprosthetics. However, noninvasive BCIs have not been able to demonstrate such mastery of 3-D space. Here, we report our work, which demonstrates that human subjects can use a noninvasive BCI to fly a virtual helicopter to any point in a 3-D world. Through use of intelligent control strategies, we have facilitated the realization of controlled flight in 3-D space. We accomplished this through a reductionist approach that assigns subject-specific control signals to the crucial components of 3-D flight. Subject control of the helicopter was comparable when using either the BCI or a keyboard. By using intelligent control strategies, the strengths of both the user and the BCI system were leveraged and accentuated. Intelligent control strategies in BCI systems such as those presented here may prove to be the foundation for complex BCIs capable of doing more than we ever imagined.
Detection of CPFSK signals using per survivor processing

The use of per survivor processing (PSP) is considered in the detection of a continuous phase frequency shift keying (CPFSK) signal. It is shown that PSP can enable the use of a trellis structure for the demodulation that is different from the trellis structure used to generate the CPFSK signal. This allows one to select a receive trellis structure with fewer phases, resulting in a reduced state sequence estimation algorithm. Results are presented using a receive trellis of 3 states to receive binary CPFSK signals with a modulation index, h, of 7/10. The complexity of the receiver is reduced by a factor of 3.3 with minimal performance degradation. An application of this PSP technique is also discussed which enables one to perform maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) of a digital FM signal, where the modulation index is only approximately known. Results presented for the binary case show this technique to provide a significant detection efficiency advantage over conventional techniques such as limiter-discriminator detection or non-coherent detection.
Influences of the Bermuda High and atmospheric moistening on changes in summer rainfall in the Atlanta, Georgia region, USA

This paper assesses the variability and trends in summer-season rainfall from 1948 to 2009 for the Atlanta, Georgia region. The rainfall variables are total rainfall, frequency of rainfall days, and frequency of heavy-rainfall days. The main methods involve classifying daily 500-hPa geopotential height fields into synoptic types, determining the rainfall characteristics of the synoptic types, testing for significant temporal trends in rainfall, middle-troposphere circulation, lower-troposphere circulation, and atmospheric humidity, and using multiple linear regression to determine the impact of circulation and humidity variables on inter-annual variations in the rainfall variables. There were a total of eight synoptic types: the wet types involved troughing across or to the immediate west of the Atlanta region, while the dry types involved either an anticyclone across or to the immediate west of the region. The rainfall variables and two lower-troposphere circulation indices, the Bermuda High Index (BHI) and the Western Bermuda High Index (WBHI), had significant positive trends in variance over time. Among the three rainfall variables, only the frequency of rainfall days had a significant trend: the periods 1976–2009 and 1977–2009 had significant positive trends in rainfall days. The BHI had a significant positive trend from the 1970s to 2009, and the western ridge of the Bermuda High moved significantly southeastward from approximately the mid-1970s to 2009. Atmospheric humidity (i.e. 850-hPa specific humidity, 500-hPa specific humidity, and precipitable water) over the region had significant positive trends during most periods, with all humidity variables having significant increases from the 1970s to 2009. Increased interannual variability in the WBHI appears to be the cause of the increased variance in rainfall variables. An increase in atmospheric humidity, which is actually a global phenomenon, appears to be the principal cause of the increase in rainfall days during the past three decades. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
THE EFFECT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES ON PROPERTY VALUES IN ZONES OF HIGH INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY: A HEDONIC APPROACH

Hedonic pricing methods typically employ a distance-to-site variable to measure variation in exposure to environmental disamenities. Some environmental disamenities, like hazardous waste sites, may be spatially correlated with another prominent feature of the urban plain - zones of industrial activity. In these cases, failure to account for industrial activity is hypothesized to bias coefficient estimates of the distance-to-site measure. The data set includes a distance-to-site measure as well as a distance-to-industrial measure. These measures allow for empirical estimations of the hedonic price function that distinguish the property value effect associated with exposure to hazard from the property value effect associated with industrial activity. The results suggest that failure to account for industrial activity will overstate the effect of hazardous waste sites on property values and inflate benefit estimates associated with hazardous waste clean-up.
Automatic detection of red-eye artifacts in digital color photos

Red-eye is a flash-induced artifact that frequently occurs in photographs. This paper presents a novel method for unsupervised discovery of red-eye pixels in a digital image. Detection of face and/or skin regions in the image is not required by the algorithm. Analysis is performed primarily in the hue-saturation-value (HSV) color space. A flash mask, which defines the regions where red-eye regions may be present, is first extracted from the brightness component. Subsequent processing on the other color components prunes the number of candidate regions that may correspond to red-eye. Algorithm performance is demonstrated on content from multiple digital cameras with different resolutions.
Zintl Phases as Thermoelectric Materials: Tuned Transport Properties of the Compounds CaxYb1–xZn2Sb2†

Zintl phases are ideal candidates for efficient thermoelectric materials, because they are typically small-bandgap semiconductors with complex structures. Furthermore, such phases allow fine adjustment of dopant concentration without disrupting electronic mobility, which is essential for optimizing thermoelectric material efficiency. The tunability of Zintl phases is demonstrated with the series Ca_xYb_(1-x)Zn_2Sb_2 (0 <= x <= 1). Measurements of the electrical conductivity, Hall mobility, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity (in the 300-800 K temperature range) show the compounds to behave as heavily doped semiconductors, with transport properties that can be systematically regulated by varying x. Within this series, x = 0 is the most metallic (lowest electrical resistivity, lowest Seebeck coefficient, and highest carrier concentration), and x = 1 is the most semiconducting (highest electrical resistivity, highest Seebeck coefficient, and lowest carrier concentration), while the mobility is largely independent of x. In addition, the structural disorder generated by the incorporation of multiple cations lowers the overall thermal conductivity significantly at intermediate compositions, increasing the thermoelectric figure of merit, zT Thus, both zT and the thermoelectric compatibility factor (like zT, a composite function of the transport properties) can be finely tuned to allow optimization of efficiency in a thermoelectric device.
Party Unity, Ideology, and Polarization in Primary Elections for the House of Representatives: 1956–2012

Increasing party polarization in Congress is a vexing phenomenon for political scientists, as it offers a theoretical conundrum. Members of Congress have become increasingly ideologically divided by party in recent years, which seems counterintuitive as the public electorally punishes representatives for excessive partisanship and ideological behavior. One explanation for this result is that members receive benefits for such behavior during primaries. This article examines the effect of ideological and partisan behavior on primary challenges and primary vote totals for incumbent House members. The results show that incumbents receive benefits in the primary from greater levels of partisanship but not greater levels of ideological extremity. This finding is substantively important as it provides further insight into the motivation of congressional incumbents and offers a partial explanation for the rise in congressional polarization.
On size effect of cleavage cracking in polycrystalline thin films

A crack trapping model is developed for the fracture resistance of high-angle grain boundaries in free-standing brittle thin films, based on which a new size effect is predicted. In addition to the crystallographic misorientations, the grain boundary toughness is also dependent on the film thickness, primarily due to the geometrically necessary crack front branching.
Integrating Computation into the Physics Curriculum

Some of the challenges of incorporating computational methods into the physics curriculum are discussed. These challenges include teaching the methods of computational physics in the same spirit as we presently teach mathematics, changing the curriculum to reflect the new ways of thinking that have arisen due to the use of computer technology, and making use of the Web to make the process of teaching more like that of research.
Focal Convulsions Associated with Subclinical Measles Infection

A patient with focal convulsions of sudden onset had cerebrospinal pleocytosis and electroencephalographic evidence of a focal lesion in the right hemisphere. Except for fever, there was no clinical evidence of a viral infection. Measles antibodies were detected in the serum and CSF. The CSF abnormalities resolved, and the patient has been well for 4 years. This case is unusual because of the focal CNS involvement and the lack of any other clinical features of measles infection.
Clinical Implementation of Gated RapidArc for SBRT

Purpose/Objective(s): The newly acquired Varian TrueBeamSTx linac is capable of delivering volumetric modulated arc therapy (RapidArc) under respiratory-gated conditions. When operating under flattening-filter free (FFF) mode, dose rate of up to 2400 MU/min. is achievable. This has made gated RapidArc a suitable choice for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) for sites with respiratory motion, such as lung and pancreas. This study describes the implementation process.
Spray Cooling Droplet Impingement Model

Spray Cooling is one of the leading techniques proposed for rejection of high heat flux levels necessary in future aircraft and spacecraft electronics and weapons packages. Experimental research and computational CFD require significant amounts of time to setup and execute to completion. Therefore, a faster Monte Carlo based simulation has been proposed, in order to aid in the development of differing spray cooling conditions and applications. MATLAB has been used to model the surface impingement behavior of several hundred thousand spray droplets exiting a Spraying Systems FullJet 1/8-G spray nozzle. Previously measured Phase Doppler Anemometry measurements were used to match the droplet diameter and radial flux distributions of the simulation to actual spray conditions. Typical spray characteristics for the Spraying Systems nozzle are: a flow rate of 1.05x10 -s m 3 /s, a normal droplet velocity of 12 m/s, a droplet Sauter mean diameter of 48 m, and heat flux values ranging from 50-100 W/cm 2 . These spray conditions result in the following nondimensional parameters: We, 300-1350, Re, 750-3500, and Oh, 0.01-0.025. The simulation produces a surface map depicting different heat transfer regions present on the heater surface; these include: undisturbed thin liquid film, fresh liquid craters, boiling craters and dried out craters. A combination of flow boiling and liquid convection was used to calculate heat transfer values based on the distribution of liquid on the heater surface. For one assumed heater power and spray flow rate, the simulation produced a Nusselt number of 22.3, while experimental efforts produced a Nusselt number of 55.5 for the same heater power level and one spray flow rate.
The alkali burned cornea I. Epithelial and stromal repair.

Abstract Early epithelial regrowth rates after 6 mm and 12 mm alkali burns were similar to that found after simple abrasions but twice that found after keratectomy. After a 12 mm alkali burn, cessation of epithelial regrowth at 84 hr is probably not caused by disappearance of the basal lamina, since corneas with simultaneous keratectomy and burn showed the same time of epithelial reversal. After 24 hr, basal epithelial cells contacting the stroma showed cytoplasmic processes, with contained 250 A dense bodies or vacuolations, projecting toward or into the underlying fibrillary collagen. These processes may be similar to pedunculated and sessile blebs seen at the advancing edge of epithelium migrating over burned stroma. Polymorphonuclear leucocytes abound in the 60% of corneas which ulcerate or perforate after 12 mm burns. The remaining 40% of animals vascularize rapidly with the stroma containing numerous active fibroblasts. Six-mm burns do not perforate and are thought to represent primarily corneal collagen burns, while 12 mm burns probably cause injury to the entire eye, particularly the ciliary body and its secretory epithelium.
Hydrogen Storage in Novel Carbon-Based Nanostructured Materials

Experimental wet chemical approaches to complex an iron atom with two C60 fullerenes, representing a new molecule, dubbed a 'bucky dumbbell', have been demonstrated. The structure of this molecule has been determined by 13C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Furthermore, this structure has been shown to have unique binding sites for dihydrogen molecules with the technique of temperature programmed desorption (TPD). The new adsorption sites have binding energies that are stronger than that observed for hydrogen physisorbed on planar graphite, but significantly weaker than a chemical C-H bond. Further development of these molecules could make them ideal candidates for onboard vehicular hydrogen storage.
A 2D nonlinear wave propagation solver written in open-source MATLAB code

We describe a MATLAB implementation of a 2D wave solver capable of simulating the linear and nonlinear propagation of ultrasonic waves through an attenuating medium modeled as a 2D spatial grid, the acoustic properties of which can be arbitrarily assigned at each node. The object of this work is to create a freely distributed nonlinear wave solver that is useful for both ultrasound research and the instruction of nonlinear and ultrasound acoustics, and that is written in a popular interpreted language so that the model can be quickly and easily modified to address a range of simulation tasks. The solver is based on a pseudospectral derivative, time-domain integration algorithm previously described by Wojcik, et al. (1997), and models frequency-dependent attenuation through the application of multiple relaxation mechanisms. Forcing functions can be applied over simulation time to nodes on the calculation surface to simulate arbitrary ultrasound array geometries. The time record of any parameters can also be stored in order to, for example, measure the magnitude of harmonics or determine an array's point spread function. We present results from the solver, discuss its theoretical basis and structure, describe its calculation requirements given a variety of grid geometries and acoustic conditions, and provide the contact information needed to obtain the code.
Smithsoniarhynches, a new genus of interstitial Gnathorhynchidae (Platyhelminthes: Kalyptorhynchia) from Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon, Florida

A new genus of marine, interstitial schizorhynch (Platyhelminthes: Kalyptorhynchia) is described from sediment collected in Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon, Florida, USA. Smithsoniarhynches is characterized by the presence of proboscis hooks constructed of ten individual spine-like teeth that emerge separately from a basal plate. Histology and confocal laser scanning microscopy are used to reveal additional details of the proboscis musculature and reproductive anatomy. The type species, Smithsoniarhynches sherryreedae sp. nov., is characterized by well-developed proboscis pads, four pairs of proboscis retractor muscles, and a pharynx in the midbody region. The male reproductive system consists of an anterior testis, muscular seminal vesicle, copulatory bulb lined with spiral and circular muscles, and a sclerotic stylet. The female system consists of an unpaired vitellarium, ovary, uterus and bursa. The bursa tissue surrounds a muscular bursa seminalis with distinct sphincter muscles. The new genus is compared with the known 11 genera within the Gnathorhynchidae to establish a tentative hypothesis of relationships.
Reexamining the “Minimal Effects” Model in Recent Presidential Campaigns

Although much recent work suggests that contemporary presidential campaigns have more powerful electoral effects than were seen in previous decades, there has been little research that examines the actual effect of recent campaigns on individual vote choice. Using the 1980 NES panel study, I show that the overwhelming majority of individual votes can be accounted for from attitudes such as party identification and presidential approval that are measured before the political conventions, and that changes in orientations during the campaign had limited effects on individual vote choice and negligible consequences for the electoral outcome. Moreover, models derived from the 1980 panel data can predict with a great deal of accuracy the aggregate outcomes of the 1984 and 1988 presidential contests. I argue that the results support an "activation" model of campaign effects in recent elections: rather than simply reinforcing individuals' preexisting vote intentions, the campaigns served mainly to activate existi...
Close relationships and placemaking: Do objects in a couple's home reflect couplehood?

The domain of couple closeness extends well beyond the individual couple members themselves. Current research suggests that there are also indicators of couple closeness, functioning, and commitment that reside in the couple’s physical environment. Two community samples of adults in marital or cohabitating romantic relationships (N! 110) completed a questionnaire that tapped several relationship qualities and that asked them to indicate (a) the objects in their home that they most wanted visitors to notice and (b) their favorite objects. We examined couple displays (the percentage of objects they wanted a visitor to notice that were jointly acquired, as opposed to individually acquired), and couple markers (the percentage of favorite objects that were jointly acquired). Consistent with hypotheses, relationship qualities (closeness, dyadic adjustment, and commitment) were positively associated with reporting a relatively high proportion of (a) jointly acquired objects among those they wanted visitors to notice and (b) jointly acquired favorite objects. We discuss these results in the context of couple placemaking—the physical and symbolic creation of a home as represented operationally in the acquisition and placement of relationship-relevant objects. The domain of couple closeness extends well beyond the individual couple members themselves. Although couple members’ cognitions and feelings about each other comprise important indicators of closeness, the current research suggests that there are also indicators that reside in the couple’s physical environment. Research in the area of environmental psychology describes the symbolic nature of objects, noting that objects in the home represent to others (such as guests) one’s values and characteristics (e.g., Werner, 1987). Moreover, recent theorizing on the situated nature of cognition suggests that the arrangement of spatial environment is a fundamental medium for bringing about behavioral goals (Kirsh, 1995). The current research applies these ideas in an interpersonal context to suggest that couple members place relationshiprelevant objects in their home environment to reflect and maintain their relationship goals. Indeed, we suggest that Lewin’s (1935) adage that behavior is a function of the person and environment could be extended to also state that the environment is a function of the person and interpersonal behavior.
Comparison of µ- and H-Synthesis Controllers 2 on an Experimental Typical Section

An experimental comparison of H2- and π-synthesized e utter suppression control systems was performed. A simpleparametric uncertainty can beused to track changesin system dynamics asa function of dynamicpressure. The control system was implemented experimentally on a NACA 0012 test model of a typical section mounted in a low-speed wind tunnel. The pitching angle, e ap angle, and plunge dee ection of the airfoil were measured with sensorsand fed back through the control compensator to generatea single control signal commanding the trailingedge e ap of the airfoil. The model of the aeroelastic system, including the dynamics of the sensors and actuators in the bandwidth of interest, was obtained using system identie cation techniques. For comparison purposes, an H2 control system with standard linear quadratic Gaussian weightings also was designed and implemented. When compared to the H2 control system, the π-synthesis controller provided better disturbance rejection in the bandwidth of the unsteady aeroelastic dynamics. In addition, the π controller required less control energy than the H2 control system. The e nal advantage of π-synthesis is the ability to design an aggressive π control system that is stabilizing across the range of operating dynamic pressures.
SHADE TOLERANCE IN TREE SEEDLINGS

Summary Seedlings of five tree species of different shade tolerance were raised in full daylight and in three degrees of shade. Leaf chlorophyll content, the rate of respiration in darkness at 30°C and photosynthesis rates at 30°C over a range of light intensities, were measured in each case. The initial slope of the curve, relating photosynthesis rate and light intensity, provides a measure of the capacity of the photochemical system of the leaves and was usually steeper in shade grown leaves than in sun leaves. Thus all species showed a degree of adaptation to shade conditions, but, surprisingly, leaves of the shade tolerant species had slightly less steep slopes than the intolerant species. This was offset by a considerably lower rate of leaf respiration and a lower light compensation point in the tolerant species, so that considered over a range of varying low light intensities, the net photosynthesis would probably be similar in both groups. Moreover, whilst leaves of the tolerant species tended to show reduced respiratory activity when grown in shade, this was less evident in the intolerant species. The differences in rates of respiration may he the most important determinants of success or failure in woodland shade, where the plant may spend many more hours below than above the light compensation point.
Committee Composition and Networking in Standard Setting: The Case of Wireless Telecommunications

We examine factors behind firms' decisions to contribute to open standard setting. Our study highlights a novel explanation: firms seek to improve their positions in an interfirm cooperation network. In the wireless telecommunications standard-setting organization we study, firms develop new technical specifications in small committees. Our panel data analyses demonstrate that interorganizational network connections influence firms' decisions to support committees. Additionally, firms are more likely to support committees when they are technologically distant from the firm that initiated the committee. We argue that standard setting presents opportunities for information exchange and for accessing complementary R&D assets through the cooperation network.
Sputtering of Ices

Data obtained from the exploration of the outer solar system has led to a new area of physics: electronically induced sputtering of low-temperature, condensed-gas solids, here referred to as ices. Icy bodies in the outer solar system are bombarded by relatively intense fluxes of ions and electrons, as well as the background solar UV flux, causing changes in their optical reflectance and ejection (sputtering/desorption) of molecules from their surfaces. The low cohesive energies of ices lead to relatively large sputtering rates by both momentum transfer (‘knock-on’ collisions) and the electronic excitations produced by the incident particles. Such sputtering produces an ambient gas about an icy body, often the source of the local plasma. This chapter focuses on the ejection of material by ionizing radiation from a surface that is predominantly a molecular condensed gas solid. The incident radiation types considered are photons, electrons and ions with the emphasis on the ejection processes. This radiation also produces the chemical effects described in the chapters of sections II and III. The induced-chemistry can produce both more refractory and more volatile products and so affect the molecular ejection rate. The emphasis in this chapter is on the production of gas-phase species from icy surfaces in space. We describe the physics and chemistry leading to the ejection of atoms and molecules, give semi-empirical expressions based on these processes, and describe some applications.
Nutritional Support in Gastrointestinal Disease

The role of nutritional support in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and fistulas of the gastrointestinal tract is reviewed.
The Effects of Focal Points and the Strategic Environment on Nominal Price Inertia

Prior laboratory experiments have suggested that prices and expectations are flexible when firms’ prices are strategic substitutes but sticky when they are strategic complements. I argue that the observed asymmetry is influenced by focal points in the participants’ payoff tables across treatments. I manipulate the focal points in a set of laboratory experiments and find that the asymmetry in initial price adjustment is reduced by 59%. The residual asymmetry appears to be due to the fact that strategic substitutability reduces the number of strategies that participants saw as viable.
INTERPLAY OF STERIC AND ELECTRONIC INFLUENCES IN THE CHEMISTRY OF MONOCYCLIC AND BICYCLIC PHOSPHORUS ESTERS

Abstract The importance of biologically active cyclic phosphorus systems has become increasingly apparent relatively recently; particularly, for example, with the discoveries of the cellular “second messenger” activities of cyclic 3′, 5′-adenosine and guanosine monophosphates and the powerful cancer therapeutic capabilities of cyclo-phosphamide and its cyclic metabolites. The earlier recognition that cyclic 2′, 3′-nucleotides formed as intermediates in the hydrolysis of polynucleotides, led to the classic researches of Westheimer and his coworkers on the hydrolysis rates of cyclic and acyclic phosphate esters.1 Within the few years the extreme toxicities of bicyclic phosphorus esters compared to their acyclic analogues have come to light2,3 along with the surprising observation that the cholinesterase inhibition of such cages is only negligible.3,4
Characterization of zirconium-diamond interfaces

Thin Zr films were deposited on natural single crystal diamond (100) substrates by e-beam evaporation in ultra-high vacuum (UHV). Before metal deposition the surfaces were cleaned by UHV anneals at either 500°C or 1150°C. Following either one of these treatments a positive electron affinity was determined by means of UV photoemission spectroscopy (UPS). Depositing 2A of Zr induced a NEA on both surfaces. Field emission current - voltage measurements resulted in a threshold field (for a current of 0.1 µA) of 79 V/µm for positive electron affinity diamond surfaces and values as low as 20 V/µm for Zr on diamond.
Bank Markazi and the Undervaluation of Legislative Generality

In its recent Bank Markazi opinion, the Supreme Court permitted Congress to direct judgment in favor of a particular party in a pending case. This Essay explains why the Court’s failure to invalidate targeted legislation is inconsistent with constitutional history, text, and widely held jurisprudential commitments.
Outcome of peripheral venous reconstructions during tumor resection.

Abstract Objective Peripheral venous reconstruction surgery may be necessary for appropriate oncologic resection; however, the operative approach and surgical outcomes are not well described. We report our experience with these complex reconstructions to identify best practice. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all adult patients who underwent peripheral vein reconstruction for tumor resection at Mayo Clinic, Rochester (2000-2015). Patients were classified into three subgroups by the location: iliac (IL), lower extremity (LE), and upper extremity (UE). Location, type of reconstruction, operative morbidity, as well as long-term patency, limb salvage, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival were recorded. Results We identified 27 patients (11 women and 16 men), with a mean age of 55 ± 15 years, who underwent 28 operations involving vein reconstruction during tumor resection. One patient underwent two vascular reconstructions for recurrent malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Concomitant artery reconstruction was required in 16 (57%). The most commonly treated tumors were rectal cancer (n = 4) and liposarcoma (n = 3). Reconstructions were IL in 19 (68%), LE in 6 (21%), and UE in 3 (11%). Venous reconstructions consisted of 7 vein grafts (25%), 17 polytetrafluoroethylene prosthetic grafts (61%), 1 cryograft (4%), and 3 isolated patch angioplasties (11%). Two additional patch angioplasty procedures were performed in conjunction with vein grafts (1 polytetrafluoroethylene, 1 vein graft). There were no 30-day deaths. The mean hospital length of stay was 13.5 ± 10.5 days. Medications prescribed at discharge were aspirin in 15 patients (54%) and warfarin in 16 (57%). Surgical complications included renal failure (n = 5), respiratory complication (n = 3), surgical site infection (n = 5), graft infection (n = 3), and lymph leak (n = 5). The median follow-up was 4.4 years (range, 17 days-14.1 years). At 2 and 5 years, overall primary patency was 61% (95% confidence interval [CI], 41%-87%) and 61% (95% CI, 36%-87%), respectively, and overall freedom from graft thrombosis was 87% (95% CI, 69%-100%) and 87% (95% CI, 64%-100%), respectively. Graft thrombosis occurred in five patients (18%; 4 IL, 1 LE), of which four were prosthetic and one was a patch site. These were managed by thrombolysis (n = 1), thrombectomy (n = 1), and medical management (n = 3). Two patients (7.1%) underwent ipsilateral amputation at 3 and 314 days for compartment syndrome and metastatic pain. The overall survival rate was 74% (95% CI, 50%-87%) at 2 years and 56% (95% CI, 32%-75%) at 5 years. Death was predominantly from cancer-associated morbidities. Overall recurrence-free survival was 75% (95% CI, 57%-97%) at 2 years and 56% (95% CI, 31%-92%) at 5 years. Conclusions In selected patients fit for advanced tumor resection, reconstruction of IL and extremity veins is a safe and durable, with excellent limb salvage. Vein and prosthetic reconstructions both appear effective; however, infectious complications and graft thrombosis remain important complications when selecting a prosthetic conduit.
Taking Advantage of Disadvantages: The Legislative Effectiveness of Minority Members of Congress

The recent rise in descriptive representation in Congress has led to a growing literature focused on how race and ethnicity influence congressional behavior. Still, an important question has yet to be addressed adequately within the congressional literature: are minority members of Congress (MCs) as effective at passing legislation as non-minority MCs? We analyze all non-minor bills introduced between the 101st and 105th Congresses and find that bills sponsored by minorities are at least as likely to pass as those sponsored by non-minorities. This finding runs against extant research that generally depicts minorities as disadvantaged members of the House of Representatives.
Resilience and Quality of Life: An Investigation of Kumpfer’s Resilience Model With Persons With Spinal Cord Injuries

The construct of resilience is key to understanding adaptation to disability from a strengths-based perspective. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of factors identified in Kumpf...
DEMONSTRATION OF A RECONFIGURABLE WAVELENGTH-MULTIPLEXED MULTIPLE-PLANE OPTICAL INTERCONNECTION

The ability to efficiently connect many high-speed ports is of critical importance for large-capacity data communications. For example, high-speed electronic data processors, 2-D sensors, or "smart" pixels may require interconnection between each other or with some central point. High bandwidth, 2-D optical planes can be employed to achieve such an interconnection and avoid eventual electronic bottlenecks.[1-3] However, this solution does not efficiently enable one plane to simultaneously and reconfigurably interconnect with many subsequent planes.
Enhanced Structural Organization in Covalent Organic Frameworks Through Fluorination

Here, we report a structure–function study of imine covalent organic frameworks (COFs) comparing a series of novel fluorine-containing monomers to their non-fluorinated analogues. We found that the fluorine-containing monomers produced 2D-COFs with not only greatly improved surface areas (over 2000 m2 g−1 compared to 760 m2 g−1 for the non-fluorinated analogue), but also with improved crystallinity and larger, more defined pore diameters. We then studied the formation of these COFs under varying reaction times and temperatures to obtain a greater insight into their mechanism of formation.
Degradation of the Ionic Pathway in a PEM Fuel Cell Cathode

The degradation of the ionic pathway throughout the catalyst layer in proton exchange membrane fuel cells was studied under an accelerated stress test of the catalyst support (potential hold at 1.2 V). Electrochemical behaviors of the cathode based on a graphitized mesoporous carbon-supported Pt catalyst were examined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Impedance data were plotted and expressed in the complex capacitance form to determine useful parameters in the transmission line model: the double-layer capacitance, peak frequency, and ionic resistance. Electrochemical surface area and hydrogen crossover current through the membrane were estimated from the cyclic voltammogram, while the cathode Faradaic resistance was compared with the ionic resistance as a function of test time. It was observed that, during an accelerated stress test of the catalyst support, graphitized mesoporous carbon becomes hydrophilic, which increases the interfacial area between the ionomer and th...
Meaning of Nonviolence and Pacifism

Nonviolence is a deceptively complex concept. It has been written about for well over two millennia and, as would be expected, it is very nuanced. If fully understood and routinely applied within human interaction, it has the potential to transform our communities and the greater society in profound and positive ways. The challenge of understanding nonviolence is the focus of this book.
Desert as a Limiting Condition

I examine two related ideas about the role of desert judgments which say, roughly, that, if a punishment is undeserved, it is impermissible to impose it. These can both be taken to claim that desert is a ‘limiting condition’ on the pursuit of consequentialist aims. I discuss what considerations are supposed to support an offender’s desert claim. I first examine the major divide between contemporary retributivist theories: those that take an offender’s desert to supervene only on culpability considerations, and those that take an offender’s desert to supervene on culpability considerations, and (roughly) the amount of harm her offense caused. I then look more closely at what sorts of facts fall into the categories of culpability and harm. We can see at the conceptual level that the conceptions of desert previously sketched give us reason to believe that an offender’s desert does not set a plausible upper limit on the severity of her punishment. If we ‘extend’, as I say, conceptions of an offender’s desert in order to get a clearer idea of the amount of punishment she deserves in certain cases, we see that the two types of retributivist theory have serious, and connected, difficulties in setting the limit. The conclusion I reach is this: it is unclear that desert is a limiting condition.
Anatomic Repair of Posteromedial Meniscocapsular Separation Using an All-Inside Technique

Separation of the posteromedial meniscocapsular junction (PMC) is a unique injury seen in patients with disruption of the anterior cruciate ligament. PMC tears may go unrecognized despite preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and diagnostic arthroscopy of the medial compartment. Unrepaired lesions may lead to persistent laxity of the knee after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Inside-out repair techniques risk iatrogenic injury to the articular cartilage during needle passage and require dissection of the posteromedial knee for suture retrieval. Previous all-inside techniques have required specialized implants and repaired PMC lesions with direct visualization of the tear. The presented all-inside technique is an easily reproducible, cost-effective means to anatomically repair separation of the PMC. The technique provides the surgeon direct visualization and full arthroscopic access to the lesion, making repair technically easy and efficient.
PP-46 Voriconazole dosing strategies in young children: challenges and recommendations

Background Voriconazole pharmacokinetics (PK) have been studied in paediatric studies and described by popu-lation pharmacokinetic modelling.1 Using the currently approved intravenous (IV) dosing regimen,2 ,3 paediatric patients provided 30 trough samples resulting in a ob-served median (range) of 1.2 (0.11–17.4) mg/L.1 This illustrates the highly variable pharmacokinetic (PK) pro-file of voriconazole in children. The aim of this case series is to evaluate the effectiveness of dosing guidelines in combination with routine therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to achieve therapeutic serum concentrations of voriconazole in young cancer patients (age 0–6 years old). Methods At the VUmc, paediatric patients are treated using TDM. Voriconazole plasma concentrations are monitored and dosing regimens are individualised, aiming at trough levels of 1–6 mg/L depending on the location of the Asper-gillus. A case series of 4 children (age 0–6 years) is presented. Results Highly variable voriconazole exposure (n=4) were observed. Case 1 Boy, 13 months, acute myeloid leukaemia: Loading dose 9 mg/kg tid (IV), maintenance 8 mg/kg tid (IV) [2] resulted in supratherapeutic levels, hepatic toxicity and circulatory insufficiency. Root cause: CYP2C inhibition by previous prophylactic Itraconazole treatment. Itraconazole has a half-life time up to two days. Therapeutic voriconazole levels achieved at 6 mg/kg tid (IV); Case 2 Boy, 5 years, acute lymphatic leukaemia: Doses varying between 7 mg/kg tid IV and 11 mg/kg tid IV during 4 months of IV therapy. Highly variable trough concentrations varying from 0.10–13.3 mg/L; 65% within the target range of 2–6 mg/L for cerebral Aspergillus: Case 3 Girl, 7 months, mixed phenotype acute leukaemia: Load-ing dose 6 mg/kgbid (IV), maintenance 9 mg/kgbid (PO) resulted in subtherapeutic trough levels (0.1–0.2 mg/L), possibly due to high first pass metabolism. Case 4 Girl, 5 years, acute lymphatic leukaemia: Loading dose 10 mg/kgbid (PO), high maintenance dose of 23 mg/kgbid (PO) re-sulted in therapeutic levels. Higher doses of 30 mg/kgbid resulted in a more than dose-proportional increase of ex-posure (trough level 22 mg/L), suggesting non-linear PK. Conclusion Voriconazole PK is highly variable in pedi-atric cancer patients, which can only partly be attributed to drug interactions and co-morbidities. A starting dose of 18 mg/kg (IV) is recommended and could be adminis-tered as 6 mg/kg tid (IV).2 Intensive TDM (at least twice weekly) and daily in-depth status reviews are recom-mended to achieve therapeutic drug levels.
Polymeric Antimicrobial N-Halamine-Surface Modification of Stainless Steel

The surfaces of materials fabricated from stainless steel are challenging to functionalize with antimicrobial moieties. This work demonstrates that stainless steel surfaces can be modified with an N-halamine-based copolymer in order to obtain antimicrobial activity. In this regard, a copolymer (HACM) of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-(5-methylhydantoinyl)propane and 3-cloro-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate was synthesized and grafted onto a stainless steel surface via covalent attachment. Synthesized monomers and copolymers were characterized by NMR, FTIR, and XPS spectral analyses. Upon treatment with dilute bleach, the stainless steel surfaces were rendered antimicrobial, possessing a sufficient amount of chlorine content and excellent stability and durability. The modified stainless steel samples inactivated 6 logs of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria within 15 min of contact time. Stabilities of the coatings toward washing and UVA exposure were also studied. The stainless steel samples ...
Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Single-Dose Intravenous Acetaminophen for Pain Associated With Adenotonsillectomy in Pediatric Patients With Sleep-Disordered Breathing.

OBJECTIVES Adequate pain control is an important component in the postoperative outcome for pediatric adenotonsillectomy patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Intravenous acetaminophen appears to be a favorable analgesic adjunct owing to its predictable pharmacokinetics and opioid-sparing effects; however, its role in pediatric adenotonsillectomy pain management remains unclear. METHODS In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled study, subjects with the diagnosis of SDB, aged 2 to 8 years, who required extended postoperative admission, received intravenous acetaminophen (15 mg/kg) or saline placebo intraoperatively in addition to morphine (0.1 mg/kg) for postoperative surgical analgesia. Pain scores in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) using the FLACC (Faces, Leg, Activity, Cry, Consolability) score were used to determine the need for supplemental analgesic agents in the PACU. The PACU time and time to the first request for pain medication on the inpatient ward were also measu...
Collaborative intelligence in optical/IR camera based wireless sensor nodes for HVAC control

Heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) consumes nearly 50% of electrical energy spent in homes and offices worldwide. To adapt an HVAC system to the dynamic environment and save energy without compromising the comfort level of the occupants, different techniques have been explored to sense the real-time occupancy in rooms, zones and buildings. Among all these approaches, wireless camera-based sensing is appealing for its intrinsic application potentials in surveillance and security besides energy management. However, limited life-time and detection accuracy, due to embedded energy storage and computation capability constraints, have prevented pervasiveness of wireless camera-based occupancy detection. This paper presents a novel wireless device platform and prototype development that incorporates IR camera with optical camera to provide collaborative intelligence at low-power and high-accuracy. Compared to an optical camera based baseline design, we demonstrate 65 χ improvement in miss rate, 5 χ reduction in detection false positive rate and 25% lifetime extension for battery usage; and a maximum of 40% HVAC energy savings compared to thermostat based control.
IRT in 5 Minutes: Easy Ways to Better Understand an Assessment (Abstract Only)

This lightning talk will give a very quick introduction to "Item Response Theory", or IRT. IRT evolved from psychometrics as one method for evaluating the Quality of survey questions. In the classroom, IRT is a fantastic way to gain better insights into the quality and efficacy of the assessments we offer. IRT has been used by testing companies to evaluate exams like the GRE, SAT, and AP, but the same ideas can be applied to our classrooms. By applying some ideas from IRT we can start to look at exam scores with just a few simple charts, and we can begin to assess whether assigned questions are effective. We'll start by looking at correlations between individual question scores and overall assessment scores. While this is a simplification of IRT, we'll look at how we can use it to diagnose potential exam errors. The goal is to better understand the exams we give our students, and we can use this as a jumping off point to continue to evaluate our assessments.
Improving Patient Outcomes with Tools for Asthma Self-Monitoring

Despite recent advances in the therapeutic management of asthma, the prevalence, morbidity and mortality of this chronic disease continue to increase in most countries. The financial burden associated with asthma has received increasing scrutiny in the medical literature over the past two decades. In 1990, a study in the US demonstrated that all chronic disease conditions accounted for $US425 billion in medical care costs. These chronic conditions accounted for 96% of home care visits, 80% of hospital days, 69% of hospital admissions, 66% of doctor and 55% of emergency department visits, and 55% of pharmacy prescriptions. This has led to an increased demand for improved outpatient management of asthma, and patients are now monitoring their asthma and gathering data in the ambulatory setting. Self-monitoring tools for patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension have grown in recent years, but technological advances for self-monitoring of patients with asthma have been slow over the past several decades. This article reviewed the literature on self-monitoring tools currently available for improving outcomes in the patient with asthma. These tools currently consist of written treatment plans, peak flow meters and metered-dose inhaler monitoring devices. Patient education and training in self-management involving self-monitoring of either symptoms or peak expiratory flow, in conjunction with education and a written treatment plan, appears to improve health outcomes for both children and adults with asthma. Education allowing patients with asthma or their caregivers to intervene and adjust medications under the guidance of a written treatment plan appears to be more effective than other forms of asthma self-management.