cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dimensional analysis and parametric studies for designing artificial nacre.

Abstract Nacre, the iridescent material found in Abalone shells, exhibits remarkable strength and toughness despite its composition of over 95% brittle ceramic. Its hierarchical structure over multiple length scales gives rise to its increase in toughness despite its material composition. In this work we develop a computational model of composites incorporating key morphological features of nacre’s microstructure. By conducting a parametric analysis we are able to determine an optimal geometry that increases energy dissipation over 70 times. We discuss the contribution of varying ceramic strengths and size effect to see how this affects the overall performance of the composite. We then compare our simulations to experiments performed on a material possessing the same microstructure investigated computationally. For both simulations and experiments we show that our optimal geometry corresponds to that of natural nacre indicating the importance of specifically incorporating nacre’s key morphological and constituent features. This combination of simulations and experiments gives great insight to the delicate interplay between material parameters and microstructure showing that if we optimally combine all aspects, we can develop novel synthetic materials with superior performance.
Secularism and the Supreme Court

Beginning with the Enlightenment in the 18th century religion was widely denounced by intellectuals. They sought to exclude religion from public life and predicted the demise of religion as freedom and education spread. This secularism triumphed in the Supreme Court in the 1960s and transformed the Court's construction of the religion clauses of the First Amendment. Defying the intellectuals' prediction, though, religion has remained vibrant. Instead, secularism has waned, and many intellectuals now appreciate the social significance of religion. In the Supreme Court, however, secularism remains strong. Scholars have long noted the Court's antipathy to religion but have neither examined it in the context of the rise of secularism nor discussed the persistence of secularism in the Court despite its demise elsewhere. This article reviews the intellectual rise and fall of secularism and its ascent and puzzling duration in the Court. I conclude with a discussion of how a decent respect for religion would influence constitutional jurisprudence and how this influence would benefit society.
Laboratory-based surveillance of paratyphoid fever in the United States: travel and antimicrobial resistance.

BACKGROUND The incidence of paratyphoid fever, including paratyphoid fever caused by antimicrobial-resistant strains, is increasing globally. However, the epidemiologic and laboratory characteristics of paratyphoid fever in the United States have never been studied. METHODS We attempted to interview all patients who had been infected with laboratory-confirmed Salmonella serotypes Paratyphi A, Paratyphi B, or Paratyphi C in the United States with specimens collected from 1 April 2005 through 31 March 2006. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), isolates underwent serotype confirmation, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing. RESULTS Of 149 patients infected with Salmonella Paratyphi A, we obtained epidemiologic information for 89 (60%); 55 (62%) of 86 were hospitalized. Eighty-five patients (96%) reported having travel internationally, and 80 (90%) had traveled to South Asia. Of the 146 isolates received at the CDC, 127 (87%) were nalidixic acid resistant; nalidixic acid resistance was associated with travel to South Asia (odds ratio, 17.0; 95% confidence interval, 3.8-75.9). All nalidixic acid-resistant isolates showed decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (minimum inhibitory concentration, > or = 0.12 microg/mL). Of 49 patients infected with Salmonella Paratyphi B, only 12 (24%) were confirmed to have Paratyphi B when tested at the CDC. Four (67%) of 6 patients were hospitalized, and 5 (83%) reported travel (4 to the Andean region of South America). One case of Salmonella Paratyphi C infection was reported in a traveler to West Africa with a urinary tract infection. CONCLUSIONS Physicians should be aware of the increasing incidence of infection due to Salmonella Paratyphi A and treatment options given its widespread antimicrobial resistance. A paratyphoid fever vaccine is urgently needed. Continued surveillance for paratyphoid fever will help guide future prevention and treatment recommendations.
Absence of Vasomotor Responses to Epinephrine and Arterenol in an Isolated Intracranial Circulation

Four experimental procedures were tried with the dog before one was found which enabled us to record vasomotor changes in an intracranial vascular bed, uncomplicated by alteration in vasomotor tone in the extracranial beds. This required extensive dissection and cannulation technics. In experiments in which this was accomplished by complete elimination, on one side, of the communications between the internal carotid artery and the various extracranial arteries, it was demonstrated that doses of epinephrine and arterenol, which have marked vasomotor activity on all other vascular beds, are without effect on the intracranial bed supplied by the internal carotid artery.
Axial orthogonal fiber reinforcement in the penis of the Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)

Examination of histological sections from flaccid and artifi- cially erected nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) penises con- firms that the mammalian corpus cavernosum is the first known biological hydrostat reinforced by collagen fibers arranged at 0° and 90° to its long axis. The morphology of this axial orthogonal fiber array affects the mechanical behavior of mammalian penises during erection and copulation. Specifically, the axial orthogonal array gives the erect penis a reproducible shape, maxi- mum size and resistance to tensile, compressive, and bending forces. These features are more appropriate for the mechanical regime associated with copulation than those found in structures reinforced by crossed-helical fibers, although the axial orthogonal array also gives the corpus cavernosum a tendency to fail by kinking. Crimped collagenfibers in theflaccid array as well as three-dimensional folding of the wall in the flaccid corpus cavernosum allow the structure to expand during erection. J. Morphol. 233:249-255, 1997. r1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Treatment adherence and competency ratings among therapists, supervisors, study-related raters and external raters in a clinical trial of a 12-step facilitation for stimulant users

This study investigated the correspondence among four groups of raters on adherence to STAGE-12, a manualized 12-step facilitation (TSF) group and individual treatment targeting stimulant abuse. The four rater groups included the study therapists, supervisors, study-related ("TSF expert") raters, and non-project related ("external") raters. Results indicated that external raters rated most critically mean adherence - the mean of all the adherence items - and global performance. External raters also demonstrated the highest degree of reliability with the designated expert. Therapists rated their own adherence lower, on average, than did supervisors and TSF expert raters, but therapist ratings also had the poorest reliability. Findings highlight the challenges in developing practical, but effective methods of fidelity monitoring for evidence based practice in clinical settings. Recommendations based on study findings are provided.
When HDL Gets Fat

See related article, pages 159–166 Because low levels of plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are a major independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,1 the mechanisms leading to low HDL-C are of substantial biological and clinical importance. Low HDL-C is most commonly seen in persons who have other components of the “metabolic syndrome,” particularly increased waist circumference, elevated triglycerides (TG), and elevated fasting glucose, which along with low HDL-C are indicators of insulin resistance.2 Kinetic studies in humans have indicated that the turnover of the major HDL protein apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) is increased in patients with the characteristics of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.3,4 The mechanisms of hypercatabolism of HDL in this setting have been the subject of substantial investigation. The insulin resistant state is associated with elevated plasma levels of TG-rich lipoproteins (TRL),5 derived from the liver and the intestine, as well as with elevated levels of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP),6,7 which transfers TG from TRL to HDL in exchange for cholesteryl esters. Accelerated CETP-mediated lipid exchange siphons cholesterol out of and transfers TG into HDL, resulting in a cholesterol-depleted and TG-enriched HDL. Enrichment of HDL with TG makes it a much better substrate for hepatic lipase (HL), which is also clearly elevated in insulin resistant states. …
TWEEMAAL EHLERS-DANLOS OP DEZELFDE DAG

Een tandarts mailt me: ‘Een patient vanmij heeft het syndroomvan Ehlers-Danlos, het vasculaire type. Dit betekent dat ze naast hypermobiliteit van de gewrichten een afwijkende vaatstructuur heeft, waardoor lokale anesthesie nauwelijks werkt. Ik ken haar nu 2 jaar. Ze heeft vroeger wel eens verdoving gekregen,maar dat werkte niet. Sinds die tijd is zij altijd zonder verdoving behandeld, waarbij haar vroegere tandarts de laatste jaren de caries deels liet zitten en overkaptemet een glasionomeervulling. Nu heb ik gisteren bitewings gemaakt, waarbij een heel diepe caviteit in de 26 zichtbaar is. Enige vormvan lokale anesthesie zou toch wel prettig zijn. Buccaal verdoven heeft geen zin, daar is de anesthesie binnen een paar tellen weg. Wellicht dat palatinaal iets langer zal blijven zitten,maar ook daar zal het snel wegvloeien. Nu vroeg ikmij af of het een optie zou zijn omintraligamentair anesthesie te geven.Mogelijk is algehele anesthesie de enige optie. Zou ik onder een roesje een endo kunnen doen? Ik verdoof normaal gesprokenmet Ultracaine DS.’
Graeme Abernethy, The Iconography of Malcolm X: Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2013; 304 pp. ISBN: 978-0-7006-1920-7, $34.95 (cloth)

As a figure of substantial academic interest, Malcolm X towers in the historiography of the civil rights movement as an enigmatic and confrontational figure. In his book on the emergence of Malcolm...
Nation branding in a transitional democracy: The role of corporate diplomacy in promoting national identity

This case study of the re-branding of ROM candy in Romania provides an understanding of the role of corporate communications in enhancing perceptions of a transitional country’s image and in promoting national identity. The case is examined through the conceptual lens of nation branding, national identity and public diplomacy, with particular interest in the role of private-sector organizations in the public diplomacy process (corporate diplomacy). It considers the role of social media in the co-creation of national identity in a case in which a commercial brand campaign became a nation branding campaign. The analysis suggests that positive national identity may be an antecedent of positive international image.
Parenting in the digital age: urban black youth's perceptions about technology-based communication with parents

ABSTRACTGiven the high rates of cell phone and Internet usage among youth, technology is a promising method for improved parent–youth communication. However, little is known about how parents can effectively engage in technology-based communication with youth, particularly low-income urban minority youth. Eight focus groups with 82 low-income urban black youth (aged 14 to 22 years) provided information about perceptions of technology-based communication with parents. Youth in the focus groups reported that they preferred to use text messaging with their parents, as it afforded them control over the frequency and type of communication. Youth shared concerns about excessive/intrusive parental use of technology and invasions of privacy, suggesting potential barriers to effective technology-based parent–youth communication. The findings from this qualitative study indicate that using text messages with youth and setting guidelines for technology-based communication may enhance parent–youth communication while...
Service Charge or Interest Charge

This article deals with the question of whether a service charge on revolving credit and installment transactions is to be considered an interest charge and thus subject to the usury laws. Question...
VARIATION IN LARVAL SIZE AFTER EYESTALK ABLATION IN LARVAE OF THE SNAPPING SHRIMP ALPHEUS HETEROCHAELIS

The effect of eyestalk ablation at various times on size (overall body length, carapace length, and body width) of fourth instar (postlarval instar during normal development) Alpheus heterochaelis was studied. Animals which underwent bilateral eyestalk ablation earlier in larval life grew to a significantly larger overall size compared to unablated controls and larvae ablated later. This growth was manifested as lengthening of the abdomen and was not expressed in the cephalothorax. The relationship between total body length attained and time of ablation was greatest among larvae ablated during Stage II, with overall size decreasing as time of ablation increased chronologically. The increase in overall size seen among larvae ablated progressively earlier may be a result of loss of hormonal control over hydromineral regulation and/or controlled manufacture and release of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) by the X-organ-sinus gland, but it may also simply reflect a redirection of metabolic resources.
Inulin clearance in mice as a standard for radiopharmaceutical bioassay.

Conclusion14C-inulin clearance was determined in mice and found to be remarkably reproducible from animal to animal.14C-inulin clearance observations are valid indicators of glomerular function when simultaneously administered with other radioactively labeled pharmaceuticals. The reproducibility of 14C-inulin clearances in mice and the opportunity for testing relatively large numbers of animals offers promise that the clearance of radiopharmaceuticals may be evaluated in sequence, making this technique a potentially valuable bioassay for radiopharmaceuticals.
Systemic L-Citrulline Prevents Cerebral Vasospasm in Haptoglobin 2-2 Transgenic Mice After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND Nitric oxide (NO) depletion and periadventitial inflammation contribute to the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm. L-Citrulline increases L-arginine levels, thereby raising NO synthesis. Transgenic C57Bl6 mice with a haptoglobin (Hp) 2-2 genotype develop more severe vasospasm than wild-type (Hp 1-1) mice after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). OBJECTIVE To evaluate the toxicity of systemic L-citrulline and its effect on basilar artery (BA) vasospasm, neurobehavioral scores, and inducible NO synthase (iNOS)/endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression after SAH in Hp 2-2 mice. METHODS The Hp 2-2 genotypes were confirmed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Toxicity was assessed with escalating L-citrulline doses. To test efficacy, Hp 1-1 and Hp 2-2 mice (n = 64) were divided into 4 groups (n = 32 per genotype): sham surgery (n = 8), SAH with no treatment (n = 8), SAH + vehicle (n = 8), and SAH + L-citrulline (200 mg/kg IP every 8 hours; n = 8). Post-SAH neurobehavioral scores were recorded at 24 hours; animals were perfused; and BAs were processed for analysis. Expression of iNOS and eNOS was determined by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The administration of L-citrulline resulted in higher BA lumen patencies in both genotypes (Hp 1-1: SAH + vehicle, 77.8 ± 3.2% vs SAH + L-citrulline, 91.8 ± 5.9% [mean ± SEM]; P < .05; Hp 2-2: SAH + vehicle, 67.1 ± 2.0% vs SAH + L-citrulline, 86.9 ± 2.2%; P < .001). Neurobehavioral scores were higher in Hp 2-2 mice treated with L-citrulline (SAH + vehicle, 1.2 ± 0.2 vs SAH + L-citrulline, 2.4 ± 0.2; P < .01). Expression of iNOS and eNOS increased in Hp 2-2 mice after L-citrulline treatment, but limited sample sizes prevented further statistical analysis. L-Citrulline was not toxic even at the highest dose. CONCLUSION L-Citrulline is safe; increases BA patency, neurobehavioral scores, and NOS expression in Hp 2-2 mice after SAH; and is a potential agent for treatment of vasospasm after SAH.
Time to re-assess the treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) have debilitating headaches and, in severe cases, life-altering papilledema and visual loss.1 The time-honored approach of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion for medically refractory IIH is often complicated by patient body habitus and a small ventricular system.2 ,3 The majority of patients with IIH have demonstrable venous sinus stenosis, potentially producing intracranial hypertension as a result of impaired CSF absorption.4 ,5 Preliminary evidence suggests that venous sinus stenting (VSS) may be beneficial.3 ,6 Our own experience shows symptomatic improvement in 70% of patients after stenting with a high rate of stent patency and a low incidence of neurological complications.7 In addition, a follow-up study, a mean of 3 years after treatment, found continued patency and normal drainage of the vein of Labbe in all cases in which it had been covered by a stent.8 Recently, Satti et al 3 performed a unique meta-analysis of interventional/surgical procedures performed for the treatment of medically refractory IIH. Results illustrated comparable or superior results for both headache and visual symptoms after VSS in comparison with optic nerve sheath fenestration and CSF diversion. The authors found 18 clinical studies with 712 …
Proton velocity ring-driven instabilities in the inner magnetosphere: Linear theory and particle-in-cell simulations

Linear dispersion theory and electromagnetic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations are used to investigate linear growth and nonlinear saturation of the proton velocity ring-driven instabilities, namely, ion Bernstein instability and Alfven-cyclotron instability, which lead to fast magnetosonic waves and electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves in the inner magnetosphere, respectively. The proton velocity distribution is assumed to consist of 10% of a ring distribution and 90% of a low-temperature Maxwellian background. Here two cases with ring speeds vr/vA=1 and 2 (vA is the Alfven speed) are examined in detail. For the two cases, linear theory predicts that the maximum growth rate γm of the Bernstein instability is 0.16Ωp and 0.19Ωp, respectively, and γm of the Alfven-cyclotron instability is 0.045Ωp and 0.15Ωp, respectively, where Ωp is the proton cyclotron frequency. Two-dimensional PIC simulations are carried out for the two cases to examine the instability development and the corresponding evolution of the particle distributions. Initially, Bernstein waves develop and saturate with strong electrostatic fluctuations. Subsequently, electromagnetic Alfven-cyclotron waves grow and saturate. Despite their smaller growth rate, the saturation levels of the Alfven-cyclotron waves for both cases are larger than those of the Bernstein waves. Resonant interactions with the Bernstein waves lead to scattering of ring protons predominantly along the perpendicular velocity component (toward both decreasing and, at a lesser extent, increasing speeds) without substantial change of either the parallel temperature or the temperature anisotropy. Consequently, the Alfven-cyclotron instability can still grow. Furthermore, the free energy resulting from the pitch angle scattering by the Alfven-cyclotron waves is larger than the free energy resulting from the perpendicular energy scattering, thereby leading to the larger saturation level of the Alfven-cyclotron waves.
Surfactant protein A stimulates phagocytosis of specific pulmonary pathogens by alveolar macrophages.

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) regulates alveolar macrophage function and has been implicated in the mediation of pulmonary host defense. Our goals were to characterize the interaction of SP-A with va...
Increasing the evidence base in adult congenital heart disease

Ventricular arrhythmias remain a challenge in the care of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). This Heart review1 outlines the current frameworks for arrhythmia management while drawing our attention to the knowledge gaps and opportunities to better inform ourselves about the development, presence and treatment of ventricular arrhythmias in ACHD. The development of evidence-based guidelines in ACHD is particularly difficult for several reasons. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) provide the foundation of data for most other cardiac guidelines; however, heterogeneity of diagnoses and physiological variations leads to relatively small populations in ACHD, which require long recruitment periods. Today, individuals also emerge from childhood surgery with a different footprint than those in prior decades, further complicating the interpretation, and relevance of past RCTs. Therefore, thorough observational studies have been crucial to the development of ACHD guidelines, and with consensus statements inform much of the ACHD literature. As highlighted in this review, some recommendations mirror those in general cardiology, such as the management of acute ventricular arrhythmias, while drawing attention to the physiological differences in certain congenital diagnoses (such as lower resting blood pressure or hypoxia, possible meso-position or dextro-position of the heart) and the haemodynamic reserve and stability of some young patients despite ventricular tachycardia (VT). Similar to general guidelines, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have …
Communication of emotions in friendships

Publisher Summary This chapter addresses the ways in which individuals communicate various emotions towards their friends. The emotional communication of friends within the circumplex model is reviewed. Four pairs of opposing emotions—joy versus sadness, acceptance versus disgust, fear versus anger, and surprise versus anticipation comprise the domain of primary emotions. An additional four pairs of opposing emotions—love versus remorse, submission versus contempt, awe versus aggressiveness, and optimism versus disappointment—comprise the domain of secondary emotions. The chapter discusses each of the pairs of opposing emotions. The expressions of joy and sadness in friendships are contingent upon individuals' age as well as gender. Although the propensity towards expressing joy and sadness remains constant, individuals' expression of joy and sadness may become more muted as they develop and presumably succumb to societal norms. In adolescent and adult friendships, individuals may feel aggressive and act accordingly when they expect to be made angry by their peers. Aggressive feelings often are communicated through accusatory “you” statements. Such statements, in turn, may create psychological distance within friendships to the extent that they evoke alienation as well as relationship-threatening, aggressive verbal and nonverbal responses from the recipients of those statements.
The Red State Blues: Exploring the Context of Competitive States in the 2012 Democratic Primary

The 2012 Democratic primary was expected to be uneventful. However, seven states saw Democratic primary voters in large numbers not vote for the incumbent, President Barack Obama, who had no well-known primary challenger. Although protest votes against the establishment are not uncommon, this primary vote went beyond simple protest, with four states voting over forty percent against an incumbent president. This research will explore the continued expansion of support for the Republican Party in several states using an unlikely source: the 2012 Democratic primary. Using quantitative analyses, this research will examine the broader context of this vote and assert that the primary was indicative of general movement of partisan change.
Activation of the mTOR Pathway by Oxaliplatin in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis.

Background Standard of care treatment for colorectal cancer liver metastasis consists of a cytotoxic chemotherapy in combination with a targeted agent. Clinical trials have guided the use of these combinatory therapies, but it remains unclear what the optimal combinations of cytotoxic chemotherapy with a targeted agent are. Methods Using a genomic based approach, gene expression profiling was obtained from tumor samples of patient with colorectal cancer liver metastasis who received an oxaliplatin based therapy. Early passaged colorectal cancer liver metastasis cell lines and patient derived xenografts of colorectal cancer liver metastasis were then treated with oxaliplatin and a mTOR inhibitor. Results Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that the mTOR pathway was activated in patients receiving oxaliplatin based therapy. Treatment of early passaged colorectal cancer lines and patient derived xenografts with oxaliplatin resulted in activation of the mTOR pathway. Combination therapy with oxaliplatin and a mTOR inhibitor resulted in a synergistic effect both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion Our findings suggest a genomic based approach can be used to identify optimal combinations of cytotoxic chemotherapy with a targeted agent and that these observations can be validated both in vitro and in vivo using patient derived colorectal cancer cell lines and patient derived xenografts prior to clinical use.
Thinning sea ice weakens buttressing force of iceberg mélange and promotes calving.

At many marine-terminating glaciers, the breakup of melange, a floating aggregation of sea ice and icebergs, has been accompanied by an increase in iceberg calving and ice mass loss. Previous studies have argued that melange may suppress calving by exerting a buttressing force directly on the glacier terminus. In this study, I adapt a discrete element model to explicitly simulate melange as a cohesive granular material. Simulations show that melange laden with thick landfast sea ice produces enough resistance to shut down calving at the terminus. When sea ice within melange thins, the buttressing force on the terminus is reduced and calving is more likely to occur. When a calving event does occur, it initiates a propagating jamming wave within melange, which causes local compression and then slow melange expansion. The jamming wave can also initiate widespread fracture of sea ice and further increase the likelihood of subsequent calving events.
Constructive Conflict Resolution and Sustainable Peace

Research conducted over the last 75 years has provided a bounty of evidence-based principles and practices of conflict resolution, from the micro-personal to the macro-structural. However, this represents an embarrassment of riches with so much new research and information coming out of the field that at times it can be somewhat overwhelming. This chapter is organized with the aim of bringing coherence to a complex and thriving field. It presents a set of basic principles and practices derived from empirical research, which are the essential building-blocks for fostering CCR at all levels and outlines some of the main procedures employed in CCR today across different settings. It then offers a nested model of CCR, which presents examples and illustrations of inter-lacing constructive initiatives at three levels – the micro, meso and macro. In closing, it offers a few guidelines for maintaining CCR in social systems and sustaining peace.
Cognitive Mechanisms and Training

Piaget’s main concern is to discover how knowledge is formed (= epistemological interest). He uses two methods: historicocritical (or the history of science) and developmental psychology (or the study of the formation of knowledge from birth to adolescence). For his epistemological purposes, the two methods are complementary: for the purposes of our discussion, we shall limit ourselves to the second method.
Total parenteral nutrition usage trends in the United States

Abstract Introduction This study examined how total parenteral nutrition (TPN) usage has changed in recent years, and whether a difference exists between teaching and non-teaching institutions. Materials and methods Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, total discharges of patients who received TPN (ICD-9 99.15) from 2001 to 2014 were determined. The cohort was dichotomized for teaching and non-teaching institutions, and analyzed using the Z-test statistic. Results Annual patients receiving TPN at all institutions increased significantly from 25,075 in 2001 to 33,435 in 2014 (P Discussion It is unclear why TPN usage trended upward in United States hospitals, and why TPN usage peaked and subsequently decreased in non-teaching institutions while continuing to uptrend in teaching institutions. Further inquiry is indicated to determine the etiology of this discrepancy. Conclusions Utilization of TPN increased in the United States between 2001 and 2014, eventually decreasing in non-teaching institutions but not in teaching institutions.
Judgments About Patient Competence: Cultural and Economic Antecedents

The medico-legal-ethical concept of patient competence occasions more controversy than concensus. There is discernible agreement on just two points: (1) the criteria to be used in evaluating competence are extraordinarily elusive, and (2) patient competence plays a key role in medical decision-making.
Machining of Hard Materials – Definitions and Industrial Applications

In its broad definition, hard machining is machining of parts with a hardness of above 45 HRC, although most frequently the process concerns hardnesses of 58 to 68 HRC. The workpiece materials involved include various hardened alloy steels, tool steels, case-hardened steels, superalloys, nitrided irons and hard-chromecoated steels, and heat-treated powder metallurgical parts. It is mainly a finishing or semi-finishing process where high dimensional, form, and surface finish accuracy have to be achieved [1].
Analysis of an Approach for Detecting Arc Positions During Vacuum Arc Remelting Based on Magnetic Flux Density Measurements

Vacuum arc remelting (VAR) is a melting process for the production of homogeneous ingots, achieved by applying a direct current to create electrical arcs between the input electrode and the resultant ingot. Arc behavior drives quality of the end product, but no methodology is currently used in VAR furnaces at large scale to track arcs in real time. An arc position sensing (APS) technology was recently developed as a methodology to predict arc locations using magnetic field values measured by sensors. This system couples finite element analysis of VAR furnace magnetostatics with direct magnetic field measurements to predict arc locations. However, the published APS approach did not consider the effect of various practical issues that could affect the magnetic field distribution and thus arc location predictions. In this paper, we studied how altering assumptions made in the finite element model affect arc location predictions. These include the vertical position of the sensor relative to the electrode-ingot gap, a varying electrode-ingot gap size, ingot shrinkage, and the use of multiple sensors rather than a single sensor. Among the parameters studied, only vertical distance between arc and sensor locations causes large sources of error, and should be considered further when applying an APS system. However, averaging the predicted locations from four evenly spaced sensors helps reduce this error to no more than 16 % for a sensor position varying from 0.508 m below and above the electrode-ingot gap height.
KRB-CCN : Lightweight Authentication and Access Control for Private Content-Centric Networks

Content-Centric Networking (CCN) is an internetworking paradigm that offers an alternative to today’s IP-based Internet Architecture. Instead of focusing on hosts and their locations, CCN emphasizes addressable named content. By decoupling content from its location, CCN allows opportunistic in-network content caching, thus enabling better network utilization, at least for scalable content distribution. However, in order to be considered seriously, CCN must support basic security services, including content authenticity, integrity, confidentiality, authorization and access control. Current approaches rely on content producers to perform authorization and access control, which is typically attained via public key encryption. This general approach has several disadvantages. First, consumer privacy vis-a-vis producers is not preserved. Second, identity management and access control impose high computational overhead on producers. Also, unnecessary repeated authentication and access control decisions must be made for each content request. (This burden is particularly relevant for resource-limited producers, e.g., anemic IoT devices.)
Accurate Q-value Measurements and Masses in the Iron region

At AMCO 3 I reported on a series of 15 nuclear reaction Q-values1 giving values for 9 masses below mass 16. These charged particle measurements were made with the Notre Dame 50 cm broadrange spectrograph and 4 MeV accelerator. The problem of differential hysteresis in the spectrograph magnetic field was recognized and a random error assigned to each measurement to cover the consequent uncertainty. We now have a much larger spectrograph designed especially for energy measurements of high absolute accuracy and an FN tandem accelerator. Today I shall review the features of this new spectrograph, describe an advance which allows us to make much of the differential hysteresis effect systematic and hence correct for it, give comparisons of results showing improved accuracy of energy measurements, and report on a series of 36 Q-values and an adjustment of masses from Cr to Zn.
COMBINED HEAT AND MASS TRANSPORT IN SUPERFLUID He II

We have measured the temperature difference across a tube containing liquid Helium II subjected to both mass and heat transport. We find that the effective thermal conductivity is described by the Gorter-Mellink formula only in a limited region. Two other regions are identified. One of these is described by a modified mutual friction, and the other represents a low level dissipation for which no simple description is apparent. The characteristics of these regions are discussed, and the boundaries in the (VnVs), plane are described.
Two-Sided Matching Markets: An Overview of Some Theory and Empirical Evidence

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a discrete model of two-sided matching. Such models show power to organize and explain certain empirical regularities observed in some kinds of labor markets, particularly entry level labor markets. The chapter describes the history and operation of the labor market for medical interns and residents. A set of stable outcomes are defined, closely related to the core of the market, and this kind of stability is an appropriate solution concept for this kind of market. The chapter presents the theoretical results most closely related to the various market phenomena and discusses some related phenomena in similar markets in the United Kingdom. It also provides further theoretical results concerning the structure of the set of stable outcomes. It is possible to extend the empirical investigation of the predictions of the kind of theory to two-sided matching markets that are operated in a completely decentralized manner.
Dialysis is an independent risk factor for perioperative adverse events, readmission, reoperation, and mortality for patients undergoing elective spine surgery.

Abstract Background Context The prevalence of dialysis-dependent patients in the United States is growing. Prior studies evaluating the risk of perioperative adverse events for dialysis-dependent patients are either institutional cohort studies limited by patient numbers or administrative database studies limited to inpatient data. Purpose The present study uses a large, national sample with 30-day follow-up to investigate dialysis as risk factor for perioperative complications independent of patient demographics or comorbidities. Study Design/Setting This is a retrospective cohort study. Patient Sample Patients undergoing elective spine surgery with or without dialysis from the 2005–2015 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database were included in the study. Outcome Measures Postoperative complications within 30 days and binomial reoperation, readmission, and mortality within 30 days were determined. Methods The 2005–2015 NSQIP databases were queried for adult dialysis-dependent and dialysis-independent patients undergoing elective spinal surgery. Differences in 30-day outcomes were compared using risk-adjusted multivariate regression and coarsened exact matching analysis for adverse events, unplanned readmission, reoperation, and mortality. The percentage of complications occurring before versus after hospital discharge was also assessed. The authors have no financial disclosures related to the present study. Results A total of 467 dialysis and 173,311 non-dialysis patients met the inclusion criteria. Controlling for age, gender, body mass index, functional status, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, dialysis patients were found to be at significantly greater odds of any adverse event (odds ratio [OR]=2.52 before, 2.17 after matching, p= Conclusions Dialysis patients undergoing elective spine surgery are at significantly higher risk of aggregated adverse outcomes, return to the operating room, readmission, and death than non-dialysis patients, even after controlling for patient demographics and overall health (as indicated by ASA class). These differences need to be considered when determining treatment options. Additionally, with bundled payments expected in spine surgery, physicians and hospitals need to account for increased costs and liabilities when working with dialysis patients.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Myocarditis Listed for Heart Transplantation.

Background—Myocarditis can cause dilated cardiomyopathy resulting in end-stage heart failure requiring advanced therapies. There is little contemporary information on the clinical progression, need...
Monitoring Land Surface Hydrology Using Cygnss

The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) is a constellation of eight small satellites, each of which carries specialized GNSS receivers to record surface-reflected GNSS signals. The L-band signals recorded by CYGNSS have been shown to be sensitive to land surface hydrologic variables, including near-surface soil moisture and inundation extent. However, given certain conditions-such as vegetation cover and surface roughness, CYGNSS observations may be more or less sensitive to these variables. The pseudo-random sampling strategy used by CYGNSS presents new opportunities but also new challenges to the monitoring of land surface hydrology. This work, using South America as a case study, quantifies the ability of CYGNSS to monitor soil moisture and inundation extent for different vegetation and roughness conditions and describes how these measurements could be used to sense changes in surface hydrology over time.
Strangeness production at RHIC energies as seen by the STAR detector

In search for the Quark Gluon Plasma, which is one of the most exciting tasks of the Nuclear Physics these days, experimentalists reach for higher and higher energies in hope to establish most favourable conditions for its creation. A new generation of experiments for the RHIC accelerator is under construction and will be ready to take data in 1999. The focus for the STAR detector, located in the Wide Angle Hall of the RHIC accelerator, are hadronic observables. This paper will present STAR capabilities in the area of strangeness measurements and its ability to correlate them with other event characteristics.
A hybrid lattice Boltzmann – random walk method for heat transfer in gas–solids systems

Abstract The development of accurate and robust heat transfer correlations for gas–solids flows is integral to the development of efficient multiphase unit operations. Direct numerical simulation (DNS) has been shown to be an effective method for developing such correlations. Specifically, the highly-resolved fields present in DNS may be averaged for use at the macroscopic level. Most commonly, particle-resolved immersed boundary or thermal lattice Boltzmann methods are employed. Here we develop a hybrid DNS framework where the hydrodynamics are resolved by the lattice Boltzmann method and the temperature field by random walk particle tracking (Brownian tracers). The random walk algorithm provides an efficient means for simulating scalar transport and can easily handle complex geometries. However, discontinuous fields pose a significant challenge to the random walk framework – e.g., a particle and fluid with different diffusivities. We derive a technique for handling discontinuities via the diffusivity, arising at a particle–fluid interface, and implement said method within the tracer algorithm. In addition, the heat transfer coefficient in the random walk method is defined and a technique for handling phases with different volumetric heat capacities is also developed. Moreover, the present algorithm is shown to correctly characterize intra-particle temperature gradients present in high Biot number systems. Verification of the code is completed against a host of cases: effective diffusivity of a static gas–solids mixture, hot sphere in unbounded diffusion, cooling sphere in unbounded diffusion, and uniform flow past a hot sphere. Predictions made by the new code are observed to agree with analytical solutions, numerical solutions, empirical correlations, and previous works.
Word Histories: Melding Mathematics and Meanings

Much of mathematics history is reflected in the words that we use every day ntegrating the history of mathematics into instruc tion sometimes seems to require taking advanced courses or studying lengthy texts. However, much of mathematics history is reflected in the very words that we use every day. The etymologies, or origins, of mathematics words make a rich resource for deepening students' understanding and appreci ation of mathematics, history, and language. They open a window onto the lively history of our science and its connections with other subjects. In this arti cle, we share some of these etymologies, as well as ideas for incorporating them into instruction. The words of mathematics, like all words, have concrete origins that can be quite intriguing. The fact that twelve comes from the Gothic phrase twa lif, meaning two left, reflects the deep historical roots of counting with ten (Menninger 1969). The fact that perpendicular and suspend share the root pend, meaning to hang, suggests the ancient Mediterranean practice of hanging a weight to con struct a right angle to the horizon. The fact that rational and irrational can refer either to numbers or to beliefs is an artifact of the important role played by ratios of commensurable quantities in Greek mathematics and philosophy. As these exam ples suggest, words are often preserved fossils from olden times, and digging them up can result in a fascinating discovery of how mathematics developed. Table 1 shares etymologies for common terms in algebra, geometry, functions, and discrete mathe matics. We include related English words because we find that these words are often the essential
Research on Routing Algorithm of/SDN Openflow Controller

The SDN based openFlow is a new network technology, which separates the control plane and the data plane, and reduces the difficulty of network management. First of all, this paper introduces the idea of SDN and the structure design of SDN controller, analyzes the routing algorithm of SDN controller, and puts forward the better algorithm scheme. Finally, it indicates the direction of future research.
Diet quality, change in diet quality and risk of incident CVD and diabetes.

Objective The objective of this study was to assess the prospective association between diet quality, as well as a 6-year change in diet quality, and risk of incident CVD and diabetes in a community-based population. Design We used Cox regression models to estimate the prospective association between diet quality, assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 and the Alternative HEI (AHEI)-2010 scores, as well as change in diet quality, and incident CVD and diabetes. Setting The ARIC Study recruited 15 792 black and white men and women (45-64 years) from four US communities. Participants We included 10 808 study participants who reported usual dietary intake via FFQ at visit 1 (1987-1989) and who had not developed CVD, diabetes, or cancer at baseline. Results Overall, 3070 participants developed CVD (median follow-up of 26 years) and 3452 developed diabetes (median follow-up of 22 years) after visit 1. Higher diet score at the initial visit was associated with a significantly lower risk of CVD (HR per 10 % higher HEI-2015 diet quality score: 0·90 (95 % CI: 0·86, 0·95) and HR per 10 % higher AHEI-2010 diet quality score: 0·96 (95 % CI: 0·93, 0·99)). We did not observe a significant association between initial diet score and incident diabetes. There were no significant associations between change in diet score and CVD or diabetes risk in the overall study population. Conclusions Higher diet quality assessed using HEI-2015 and AHEI-2010 was strongly associated with lower CVD risk but not diabetes risk within a middle-aged, community-based US population.
Waveform Optimization in Cloud Radar with Spectral Congestion Constraints

We investigate a cloud radar system consisting of a radar transmitter and distributed nodes linked to a remote processing center (PC) via multiple-access wireless backhaul channels. Each node serves both as a radar receiver and relay that forwards to the PC an amplified version of the received signal. To accommodate the ever-growing demand for spectrum, the cloud radar system is required to operate over a spectrum partially shared with communication devices and services. We formulate a problem of jointly optimizing the radar waveform as well as the relay power gains to maximize a mutual information criterion that serves as proxy for detection performance. The optimization requires knowledge of second-order statistics of clutter and interference, and is constrained by limitations imposed by the bandwidth shared with communication. Numerical results show that the joint optimization is advantageous over optimizing only the radar waveform or only the relay gains.