cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fatigue Behaviour of Fiber Reinforced Bone Cement

The use of poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) based bone cement as a grouting agent for the invivo fixation of orthopaedic implants has been in practice for nearly fifty years. Fatigue failure of the bone cement has been identified as the primary cause of cement failure. Implant loosening due to the failure of the cement is one of the major reasons necessitating revision surgery. The need for a more fatigue resistant bone cement is well documented in the literature [1, 2, 3, 4]. One method of producing a more fatigue resistant bone cement is to reinforce it with short fibers [2].
Chlorpromazine inhibition of the positive intermediary potential.

SummaryIt was found that intravenous injection of chlorpromazine produces an initial brief period of enhancement of the positive intermediary potential of the cat's spinal cord. This is followed by a prolonged period of depression of the positive intermediary potential. The period of enhancement is probably associated with alterations in blood pressure. The period of depression would appear to be due to a direct action of chlorpromazine on the spinal cord.
Seamless Fiber Metal Abradables: A New Concept in Engine Seals

Fiber metal abradable seals are used for clearance control in gas turbine engines. Abradable seals accommodate rubs between the rotating system and the engine housing. Abradable seals also block the passage of air around the rotating system. Conventional seals are fabricated in flat sheet and formed into ring shape, with a seam in the ring axis direction. Seamless seals are fabricated in ring form with no seam. For conventional fiber metal seals, the seal material properties are adjusted to best suit the requirements of particular applications. The seamless metal fiber seals offer improved knife edge abradability and air flow blockage performance compared to the conventional materials. The seamless seals respond to knife edge rub interaction in the same manner as conventional seals of 10 to 20% lower density. The seamless seal blocks air flow with approximately twice the effectiveness of conventional seals. Seamless seals are comparable in cost to conventional seals.Copyright © 1986 by ASME
Directly modeling voiced and unvoiced components in speech waveforms by neural networks

This paper proposes a novel acoustic model based on neural networks for statistical parametric speech synthesis. The neural network outputs parameters of a non-zero mean Gaussian process, which defines a probability density function of a speech waveform given linguistic features. The mean and covariance functions of the Gaussian process represent deterministic (voiced) and stochastic (unvoiced) components of a speech waveform, whereas the previous approach considered the unvoiced component only. Experimental results show that the proposed approach can generate speech waveforms approximating natural speech waveforms.
Survival analysis of cancer patients in Pudong new area of shanghai,2004

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the survival rates of cancer patients in 2004 in Pudong new area and provide data for cancer prevention project.METHODS: Subsets of 8 907 cancer patients diagnosed in 2004 in Pudong new area were selected by the Cancer Reporting System in Shanghai.The observed survival rates for different groups of gender,age,geographical distribution and TNM stages were calculated and tested by Life Table and log-rank test.Relative survival rate was calculated using Ederer Ⅱ method.RESULTS: The incidence rate of cancers in Pudong new area in 2004 was 35.75 per million.The observed survival rate of the cancer cases at one to five years was 45.30%,39.74%,36.62%,34.14% and 32.41%,and the relative survival rate(RSR) was 48.44%,44.08%,42.78%,42.51% and 41.64%,respectively.The cancers with a 5-year RSR of more than 40% were colorectal,breast,thyroid,brain and central nervous system and bladder cancers,and the cancers with a 5-year RSR of less than 10% were liver and pancreas cancers.The difference showed statistical significance(χ2 values were 352.298,1 472.077,33.913 and 1 052.113,P0.01) among the different groups' overall survival in gender,age,district and TNM stages respectively.The RSR of 1-,3-and 5-year were decreased with the increased age of incidence(t values were-51.450,-56.551 and-73.479,P0.01).CONCLUSIONS: The survival rate is low for some cancer patients in Pudong new area.The factors affecting the cancer survival are tumor types,gender,age,geographical location and TNM stages of the cancer patients.
The effect of protamine on thromboplastin generation.

Abstract 1.1. Protamine sulfate markedly inhibits the formation of plasma thromboplastic activity as measured in the thromboplastin generation test of Biggs and Douglas. 2.2. Protamine has less effect on "formed thromboplastin" after the point of optimum generation. 3.3. The inhibition of thromboplastin generation by protamine appears to be due to interference with PTC activity. 4.4. The inhibition of thromboplastic activity by protamine can be counteracted by heparin. 5.5. Twice as much heparin is required to neutralize the protamine effect before generation is started than is required to correct thromboplastic activity after generation is begun in the presence of protamine.
Dispute System Design and Organizational Culture

Both culture and Dispute System Design (DSD) affect how conflict is prevented or resolved within and between individuals and organizations. DSD is the intentional and methodical creation of an effective, efficient, and fair dispute resolution process. It is tailored to the unique needs of a particular system or organization. Culture includes essential systems of values and beliefs that affect individuals and organizations. In the context of organizations, we refer to ‘organizational culture’. Organizational culture affects the manner in which group members and organizations interact and, among other things, deal with conflict.This connection between organizational culture and DSD has not yet been the subject of much exploration. However, using insight from theories of organizational culture during the process of DSD can contribute to its success and fits the ‘organization cultural forum’. By adding insights on the effect of organizational culture we may reinvigorate DSD and further strengthen DSD theory and acceptance. Thus, it may benefit system design professionals and scholars. In this working paper I subdivide DSD in five phases. For each phase, I propose a list of considerations to include organizational culture as a variable in order to optimize DSD. This approach will provide general principles that designers may adapt to specific situations and organizations.
Treatment Outcomes in Infections Caused by “SPICE” (Serratia, Pseudomonas, Indole-positive Proteus, Citrobacter, and Enterobacter) Organisms: Carbapenem versus Noncarbapenem Regimens

Abstract Purpose Techniques used to identify AmpC β-lactamases in SPICE ( Serratia , Pseudomonas , indole-positive Proteus , Citrobacter , and Enterobacter ) organisms are not yet optimized for the clinical laboratory and are not routinely used. Clinicians are often left with an uncertainty on the choice of antibiotic when a SPICE organism is isolated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of carbapenem versus noncarbapenem regimens in treating bacteremia or urinary tract infection from a SPICE organism in clinical practice. Methods This single-center, retrospective, cohort study analyzed data from adult patients who had clinical infection with a SPICE organism isolated from blood or urine cultures. Patients were assigned to a carbapenem- or noncarbapenem-treated group. The primary end point was clinical response, defined as a resolution of signs and symptoms of infection at the end of therapy. Findings A total of 332 patients were assessed, and 145 patients met the inclusion criteria for the study. There were 20 patients who received a carbapenem, while 125 received a noncarbapenem regimen. The percentage of patients who were bacteremic was 46.2%. Clinical response overall was achieved in 80% of patients on a carbapenem versus 90.3% of patients on a noncarbapenem regimen ( P = 0.24). The rate of microbiologic cure was 90% in patients on a carbapenem versus 91.2% in patients on a noncarbapenem regimen ( P = 1). Implications In this study in patients treated for infection with a SPICE organism in clinical practice, the rates of clinical response did not differ significantly between the carbapenem and noncarbapenem groups. Current CLSI breakpoints set for SPICE organisms may still be reliable and may not require additional testing for AmpC β-lactamases.
Transcriptome analysis of IL-10-stimulated (M2c) macrophages by next-generation sequencing

Alternatively activated "M2" macrophages are believed to function during late stages of wound healing, behaving in an anti-inflammatory manner to mediate the resolution of the pro-inflammatory response caused by "M1" macrophages. However, the differences between two main subtypes of M2 macrophages, namely interleukin-4 (IL-4)-stimulated "M2a" macrophages and IL-10-stimulated "M2c" macrophages, are not well understood. M2a macrophages are characterized by their ability to inhibit inflammation and contribute to the stabilization of angiogenesis. However, the role and temporal profile of M2c macrophages in wound healing are not known. Therefore, we performed next generation sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify biological functions and gene expression signatures of macrophages polarized in vitro with IL-10 to the M2c phenotype in comparison to M1 and M2a macrophages and an unactivated control (M0). We then explored the expression of these gene signatures in a publicly available data set of human wound healing. RNA-seq analysis showed that hundreds of genes were upregulated in M2c macrophages compared to the M0 control, with thousands of alternative splicing events. Following validation by Nanostring, 39 genes were found to be upregulated by M2c macrophages compared to the M0 control, and 17 genes were significantly upregulated relative to the M0, M1, and M2a phenotypes (using an adjusted p-value cutoff of 0.05 and fold change cutoff of 1.5). Many of the identified M2c-specific genes are associated with angiogenesis, matrix remodeling, and phagocytosis, including CD163, MMP8, TIMP1, VCAN, SERPINA1, MARCO, PLOD2, PCOCLE2 and F5. Analysis of the macrophage-conditioned media for secretion of matrix-remodeling proteins showed that M2c macrophages secreted higher levels of MMP7, MMP8, and TIMP1 compared to the other phenotypes. Interestingly, temporal gene expression analysis of a publicly available microarray data set of human wound healing showed that M2c-related genes were upregulated at early times after injury, similar to M1-related genes, while M2a-related genes appeared at later stages or were downregulated after injury. While further studies are required to confirm the timing and role of M2c macrophages in vivo, these results suggest that M2c macrophages may function at early stages of wound healing. Identification of markers of the M2c phenotype will allow more detailed investigations into the role of M2c macrophages in vivo.
Focusing on High-Cost Patients — The Key to Addressing High Costs?

In reducing wasteful health care utilization, patient-focused strategies targeting high-cost patients may be less effective than systems-focused strategies intended to reduce low-value services for everyone. But current incentives favor a focus on high-cost patients.
Use of chemotherapy with IMRT reirradiation: MDACC experience.

6065 Background: The benefits of adding chemotherapy to radiation, combined with the ability to spare more normal tissue with conformal radiation techniques have led to an increased interest in rei...
Application of Self-Learning for Tool Failure Diagnosis in Robotic Drilling System

Abstract The effort in monitoring tool condition for fully automatic drilling processes has resulted in the development of an intelligent drilling machine to work with industrial robots. This computer-controlled drilling machine has five built-in sensors. Based on the pattern recognition of sensor outputs with sets of algorithms, an intelligent diagnostic system has been developed for on-line detection of and pin-pointing of anyone of the nine drill failures: chisel edge wear, margin wear, breakage, flank wear, crater wear, lip height difference, corner wear and chipping at lips. Many inherent factors affecting the criteria for the judgement of drill wear/breakage, such as drill size, drill material, drill geometry, workpiece material, cutting speed, feed rate, material microstructure, hardness distribution, etc. is avoided by implementing, a self-learning system.
Receptiveness to participation in genetic research: A pilot study comparing views of people with depression, diabetes, or no illness.

Abstract Background Genetic research in human health relies on the participation of individuals with or at-risk for different types of diseases, including health conditions that may be stigmatized, such as mental illnesses. This preliminary study examines the differences in attitudes toward participation in genetic research among individuals with a psychiatric disorder, individuals with a physical disorder, and individuals with no known illness. Methods Seventy-nine individuals with a history of diabetes or depression, or no known illness, underwent a simulated consent process for a hypothetical genetic research study. They were then surveyed about their willingness to participate in the hypothetical study and their attitudes about future and family participation in genetic research. Results Participants with and without a history of depression ranked participating in genetic and medical research as very important and indicated that they were likely to participate in the hypothetical genetics study. Expressed willingness to participate was generally stable and consistent with future willingness. Individuals less strongly endorsed willingness to ask family members to participate in genetic research. Conclusion Individuals with and without a history of mental illness viewed genetic and medical research favorably and expressed willingness to participate in real-time and in the future. Informed consent processes ideally include an exploration of influences upon volunteers' enrollment decisions. Additional empirical study of influences upon genetic research participation is important to ensure that volunteers’ rights are respected and that conditions that greatly affect the health of the public are not neglected scientifically.
The Creative Nature of Robotics Activity: Design and Problem Solving

Learning with robotics through open-ended design challenges enables the development of creativity in children. Such robotics learning environments encourage three creative activities that are closely identified with problem solving and design activity, including problem finding, idea generation, and invented strategies. In this chapter, I present the theoretical grounding for the relationship of creativity to robotics, with a special emphasis on the role of play in robotics learning. I provide examples, drawn from my research, to demonstrate how children engage in play and creativity with robotics, and I discuss how these activities relate to learning. In addition, I provide curricular and pedagogical recommendations to teachers interested in supporting student creativity through a robotics learning unit. Curricular recommendations focus on the types of open-ended challenges teachers may enact across the STEM disciplines. Pedagogical recommendations detail a progressive approach to teaching that emphasizes the facilitating role of students’ interest, students’ experience, and students’ collaborative interactions in learning.
Commodification of Health, Disease, and Body in Science Texts: Promoting Meanings of Consumerism in the Classroom

Every day teachers and their students are confronted with a world of manipulative strategies directed at consumers and political participants, particularly in the realm of health and disease. One such example is the Zika virus outbreak, which, early in 2016, became part of the media–propelled landscape of interest to the scientific community and lay public. In light of increased recognition of the importance of socio–scientific issues and reasoning in the education of prospective science teachers , we viewed case–based pedagogy as an ideal tool for engaging teachers in discussions of the complex issues surrounding the transmission of the Zika virus. We developed the case “I love Mother Nature. But I want my nephew to live: A debate over the Zika virus and the use of pesticides” as a centerpiece for prospective teachers’ deliberations around the use of strong pesticides to control mosquito populations contributing to the spread of the virus. This chapter tells two interwoven stories. The first is a story of our reflections on using the Zika virus case as an educational text, with prospective teachers enrolled in an elementary methods course. In the second story we explore the unintended meanings of this case narrative and our realization that we had created an artifact–the commodification of health, disease and body through an educational text. As we reflect on our practice of using disease to introduce socioscientific reasoning, we recognize that we may have inadvertently created an environment of consumer culture within our elementary science teaching methods course. In this chapter we explore the meanings of consumerism in the context of this course and reflect on how our use of the Zika virus case may be problematic in terms of promoting messages of consumerism in various ways.
It is Tough Being a Black Woman: Intergenerational Stress and Coping:

Research on stress has shown that race, gender, and class significantly affect coping. This article reports the findings of a qualitative study that examined how Black mothers and daughters (n = 16...
Ironic Catastrophes: One’s Food—Another’s Poison

Iron deficiency is an important nutritional problem in third world countries because it diminishes work performance. In meat-eating countries, iron excess may be more important than iron deficiency. Heme iron is more efficiently absorbed from the diet than inorganic iron, and iron excess can produce cellular oxidation in association with superoxide dismutase. Metal ion catalysis is linked to aging, coronary artery disease, stroke, carcinogenesis, neurodegenerative disorders, and inflammatory disorders. Prudence is advised in the excessive consumption of meat and iron supplementation of the diet until this process is more thoroughly investigated.
Combustion Synthesis of Advanced Materials: Principles and Applications

Combustion synthesis is an attractive technique to synthesize a wide variety of advanced materials including powders and near-net shape products of ceramics, intermetallics, composites, and functionally graded materials. This method was discovered in the former Soviet Union by Merzhanov et al. (1971). The development of this technique by Merzhanov and coworkers led to the appearance of a new scientijc direction that incorporates both aspects of combustion and materials science. At about the same time, some work concerning the combustion aspects of this method was also done in the United States (Booth, 1953; Walton and Poulos, 1959; Hardt and Phung, 1973). However, the full potential of combustion synthesis in the production of advanced materials was not utilized. The scientijc and technological activity in thejeld picked up in the United States during the 1980s. The signijcant results of combustion synthesis have been described in a number of review articles (e.g., Munir and Anselmi-Tamburini, 1989; Merzhanov, I990a; Holt and Dunmead, 1991; Rice, 1991; Varma and Lebrat, 1992; Merzhanov, 1993b; Moore and Feng, 1995). At the present time, scientists and engineers in many other countries are also involved in research and further development of combustion synthesis, and interesting theoretical, experimental, and technological results have been reported from various parts of the world (see SHS Bibliography, 1996). This review article summarizes the state of the art in combustion synthesis, from both the scientijc and technological points of view. In this context, we discuss wide-ranging topics including theory, phenomenology, and mechanisms of product structure formation, as well as types and properties of product synthesized, and methods for large-scale materials production by combustion synthesis technique.
Infrared Dichroism of Segmented Polyurethane Elastomers

The mechanical and optical properties of block polymers in uniaxial extension have been well-documented (l). Characteristic of these materials are high moduli, high extensibility, and high resilience relative to random copolymers of equivalent composition. Also common to block polymers is the phenomenon of stress-softening (2, 3), whereby the stress and modulus of the material are substantially lowered by the cyclic application of strain. It is generally agreed that these properties are the product of a heterophase micro-structure, which arises from the segregation of unlike blocks into separate domains (l). Higher modulus domains serve both as filler particles and as physical, multifunctional cross-link points to reinforce the elastomer. Stress-softening is postulated to result from the deformation, orientation, or partial destruction of the reinforcing domains.
Tooth regeneration: current status

Abstract: Recently, an anatomically correct tooth was regenerated with periodontal ligament integrated to native alveolar bone orthotopically in vivo in a rat model. Remarkably, tooth regeneration was accomplished by chemotactic homing of host endogenous cells, and without cell delivery. Cell homing is an under-recognized approach in tissue regeneration, and offers an alternative to cell-delivery-based tooth regeneration. Omission of cell isolation and ex vivo cell manipulation may accelerate regulatory, commercialization and clinical processes. The cost for tooth regeneration by cell homing is not anticipated to be a fraction of the cost for tooth regeneration by cell delivery. One of the pivotal issues in tooth regeneration is to devise economically viable approaches that are not cost-prohibitive and can translate into therapies that are competitive with dental implants. Cell-homing-based tooth regeneration appears to provide a tangible pathway towards clinical translation.
An iteration scheme for boundary value/alternative problems

A coupled iteration scheme for approximating the solution of nonlinear boundary value problems framed in the context of alternative problems (i.e. auxiliary equation and bifurcation equation) is discussed. Under suitable hypotheses, convergence of the scheme proves existence of a solution, and in some cases the convergence to the bifurcation point is accelerated.
Gazing Upon “The Daemons of Unplumbed Space” with H. P. Lovecraft and Stephen King: Theorizing Horror and Cosmic Terror

Supernatural Horror in Literature distinguishes between psychological and cosmic horror, with the former turned inward to the darkest recesses of the human mind and the latter focused on external horrors transcending human understanding and control. Lovecraft’s framework has proven indispensable in the critical consideration of horror in literature and popular culture and has been frequently negotiated by authors and critics alike, including by Stephen King’s 1981 critical consideration of the horror genre, Danse Macabre. King uses Lovecraft’s framework as a foundation for exploring contemporary horror. This chapter puts Lovecraft’s and King’s frameworks of horror in conversation with one another, demonstrating the connections between and departures of King’s work from Lovecraft’s theory and highlighting the ways in which supernatural horror is both classically defined and, simultaneously, in constant flux.
Quality Improvement at the Health System Level: Measurement, Risk Stratification, Disparity Populations, and Governance.

Value-based health systems encompass a range of care-delivery models from small independent practices to large integrated delivery systems and academic medical centers. In addition, public and priv...
In-Stream Hydrokinetic Turbine Fault Detection and Fault Tolerant Control - A Benchmark Model

Increased interest in renewable energy production has created demand for novel methods of electricity production. With a high potential for low cost power generation in locations otherwise isolated from the grid, in-stream hydrokinetic turbines could serve to help meet this growing demand. Hydrokinetic turbines possess higher operations and maintenance (O&M) costs due to their isolated nature and harsh operating environment when compared with other sources of renewable energy. As such, techniques must be developed to mitigate these costs through the application of fault-tolerant control (FTC) and machine condition monitoring (MCM) for increased reliability and maintenance forecasting. Hence, the primary objective of this paper is to address a key limitation in hydrokinetic turbine research: the lack of widely available data for use in developing models by which to conduct FTC and MCM. To this end, a 20 kW research hydrokinetic turbine implemented in Fatigue Aerodynamics Structures and Turbulence (FAST) is presented and housed within the Matlab/Simulink environment. This paper details the high-fidelity simulation platform development together with the characteristics of generated data with a focus on future FTC and MCM implementation.
Bacterial quality of groundwater downgradient of onsite wastewater disposal systems and the influence on eastern Long Island's embayments.

Abstract Onsite wastewater disposal systems (OWDS) can introduce bacterial and chemical contaminants, via groundwater, into aquifers and adjacent waterways. We evaluated the concentration of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) in the shallow groundwater of Eastern Long Island, New York, downgradient of OWDS using cultivation approaches and analysis of 16 S rRNA genes. While FIB and ARB were detected in 80% and 67% of groundwater samples, respectively, concentrations were low, suggesting that, at least at the time of sampling, groundwater was not a large-scale source of fecal bacterial contamination to adjacent embayments. ARB isolates did not include common fecal associated genera and the concentration of FIB and ARB did not correlate well with the concentration of pharmaceutical contaminants, suggesting that bacterial contaminants were poorly linked to OWDS discharge. Concentrations of FIB in the studied embayments were significantly greater in nearshore compared to mid-channel environments, suggesting that land-based sources are likely to be the major contributors of bacterial contamination.
Comparison of In-situ Response from Companion Asphalt Pavement Sections in Different Climates

Full-scale flexible pavement test sections were constructed as part of a national cracking group experiment on the NCAT Test Track (Auburn, Alabama) and at MnROAD (Monticello, Minnesota). These sections were intended to provide field performance data for comparison with various laboratory cracking performance tests to improve testing and cracking specifications. The sections were designed with various cracking potential and thus have differing stiffness and dynamic responses under loading. Embedded response instrumentation (i.e., strain gauges and pressure cells) were installed at both sites to evaluate in situ pavement response. The instruments, data collection and processing procedures were kept as uniform as possible to facilitate valid comparisons between sites. This paper compares dynamic pressure response measurements from similar pavement sections constructed in different climates at two accelerated pavement testing facilities. The measured pavement temperature was used to normalize the pavement response data to a reference temperature. As expected, the measured pressure response was affect by the asphalt stiffness and depth of the sensors. The coordination between testing facilities allowed for a more direct comparison of pavement response data and can be improved upon in future investigations to provide further direct comparisons between additional facilities.
Finite momentum Cooper pairing in three-dimensional topological insulator Josephson junctions

Unconventional superconductivity arising from the interplay between strong spin–orbit coupling and magnetism is an intensive area of research. One form of unconventional superconductivity arises when Cooper pairs subjected to a magnetic exchange coupling acquire a finite momentum. Here, we report on a signature of finite momentum Cooper pairing in the three-dimensional topological insulator Bi2Se3. We apply in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic fields to proximity-coupled Bi2Se3 and find that the in-plane field creates a spatially oscillating superconducting order parameter in the junction as evidenced by the emergence of an anomalous Fraunhofer pattern. We describe how the anomalous Fraunhofer patterns evolve for different device parameters, and we use this to understand the microscopic origin of the oscillating order parameter. The agreement between the experimental data and simulations shows that the finite momentum pairing originates from the coexistence of the Zeeman effect and Aharonov–Bohm flux. Unconventional superconductivity may emerge from the interplay between strong spin–orbit coupling and magnetism. Here, Chen et al. report an anomalous Fraunhofer pattern in three-dimensional topological insulator Bi2Se3 and attribute it as a signature of finite momentum Cooper pairing.
Theory-of-Mind Development in Young Deaf Children With Early Hearing Provisions:

Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children born to hearing parents have profound theory-of-mind (ToM) delays, yet little is known about how providing hearing assistance early in life, through cochlear implants and hearing aids, influences their ToM development. We thus addressed (a) whether young DHH children with early hearing provision developed ToM differently than older children did in previous research and (b) what ToM understandings characterize this understudied population. Findings from 84 three- to six-year-old DHH children primarily acquiring spoken language demonstrated that accumulated hearing experience influenced their ToM, as measured by a five-step ToM scale. Moreover, language abilities mediated this developmental relationship: Children with more advanced language abilities, because of more time using cochlear implants and hearing aids, had better ToM growth. These findings demonstrate the crucial relationships among hearing, language, and ToM for DHH children acquiring spoken language, thereby addressing theoretical and practical questions about ToM development.
Toward automated assessment of mole similarity on dermoscopic images.

Purpose: Current skin cancer detection relies on dermatologists’ visual assessments of moles directly or dermoscopically. Our goal is to show that our similarity assessment algorithm on dermoscopic images can perform as well as a dermatologist’s assessment. Approach: Given one target mole and two other moles from the same patient, our model determines which mole is more similar to the target mole. Similarity was quantified as the Euclidean distance in a feature space designed to capture mole properties such as size, shape, and color. We tested our model on 18 patients, each of whom had at least five moles, and compared the model assessments of mole similarity with that of three dermatologists. Fleiss’ Kappa agreement coefficients and iteration tests were used to evaluate the agreement in similarity assessment among dermatologists and our model. Results: With the selected features of size, entropy (color variation), and cluster prominence (asymmetry), our algorithm’s similarity assessments agreed moderately with the similarity assessments of dermatologists. The mean Kappa of 1000 iteration tests was 0.49 (confidence interval ( CI ) = [ 0.23 , 0.74 ] ) when comparing three dermatologists and our model, which is comparable to the agreement in similarity assessment among the dermatologists themselves (the mean Kappa of 1000 iteration tests for three dermatologists was 0.48, CI = [ 0.19 , 0.77 ] .) By contrast, the mean Kappa was 0.22 (CI = [ − 0.00 , 0.43 ] ) when comparing the similarity assessments of three dermatologists and random guesses. Conclusions: Our study showed that our image feature-engineering-based algorithm can effectively assess the similarity of moles as dermatologists do. Such a similarity assessment could serve as the foundation for computer-assisted intra-patient evaluation of moles.
The Breastfeeding Problematic: Negotiating Maternal Sexuality in Heterosexual Partnerships

Abstract This study brings attention to the breastfeeding problematic—an embodied dilemma that arises where maternity meets sexuality. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 17 breastfeeding women from middle-Tennessee, this study examines maternal sexuality through the negotiation of their gendered embodiment as mothers and lovers during lactation. Contributing to the growing literature that marks father support as central to breastfeeding outcomes, this study explores the dimension of maternal sexuality to clarify the role of father influence. Participants attest to the complexities of maternal performativity as they regulate their behavior in response to the presence of men when breastfeeding in public, coupled with the experience of interrupted intimacy with their partners. The participants' experiences highlight the dilemma of maternal sexuality as women struggle with the sexual fluidity of their breasts in social and intimate contexts.
A geomorphological case for multistage evolution of transverse aeolian ridges

Abstract Transverse aeolian ridges (TARs) are poorly understood bedforms unique to the surface of Mars. While a range of TAR morphologies have been documented and described in the literature, there is confusion about some aspects of TAR formation and evolution. It is an open question as to whether different TAR morphologies represent disparate formative processes, or represent different evolutionary stages. Further, the relationship between the currently unclassified “feathered” TAR morphological form and other well-described morphologies is currently undocumented. Here, we apply geomorphometric techniques to TARs in Nirgal Vallis to show that more complex TAR morphologies evolve in multiple stages, and that feathered TARs are actually an intermediate morphology related to networked TARs. We identify feathered TARs as networked TARs precursors and propose that TAR-field complexity is the result of a progressive evolution from simpler TAR morphologies, rather than of multiple formative mechanisms.
CARF (CDKN2AIP) Regulates Hepatic Lipid Metabolism and Protects Against Development of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases

Non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) is the most common form of liver diseases in the USA with 30–40% of American being affected and about 12% with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a leading cause of end-stage liver diseases. NAFLD has been linked with insulin resistance, type2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases but molecular mechanisms underlying the development of NAFLD and its association with metabolic syndromes are poorly understood. In this study, we explored the role of CARF (collaborator of ARF) also known as CDKN2AIP, a novel gene of ARF-MDM2-p53 pathway in the development of NAFLD. It has been shown that, p53, beyond its tumor suppressor functions, can regulate the cellular glucose and lipid metabolism and its activation has been reported to induce hepatic steatosis in mice. However, as a regulator of p53 pathway, the role of CARF in the lipid metabolism and associated metabolic diseases has not been studied yet. Using high-fat diet (HFD) fed obesity mouse model of NAFLD we found that the expression of CARF along with Sirt1, pAMPK, and pACC was significantly decreased in the HFD induced fatty livers compared to control. Similarly, CARF expression was also down-regulated in palmitate (PA)-treated HepG2 cells, an in vitro model of steatosis. We also observed that shRNA mediated knockdown or lentiviral vector mediated overexpression of CARF induced or reduced the endogenous fat accumulation, respectively, in HepG2 cells, suggesting that CARF expression is negatively regulated in NAFLD. Additionally, we performed RNA seq analysis after CARF silencing in HepG2 cells and demonstrated that silencing of CARF altered the expression of genes regulating hepatic de novo lipogenesis, beta-oxidation, and lipid secretion all of which favor the accumulation of fat in the hepatocytes. Furthermore, genes associated with mitochondrial functions such as the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation were also altered which could play a role in the development of NAFLD. Finally, we demonstrated that AAV mediated hepatic overexpression of CARF in HFD fed mouse model significantly reduced the fat accumulation in the liver as evident by H&E staining of liver sections and intrahepatic triglyceride level. Altogether we conclude that CARF plays a vital role in hepatic lipid metabolism and its downregulation perturbs lipid homeostasis leading to hepatic steatosis and the development of NAFLD.
Valuing Information & Instrumental Goods

This essay offers a framework for valuing information as process capital by combining ideas from economics and computer science. Drawing a distinction between data and procedures, it augments the traditional Bayesian model that treats information as a change in uncertainty with elements that permit information to be treated as reusable instructions. It then applies the standard hedonistic methods — used in marketing to value tangible goods — to information goods. This leads to a generalized method for ascribing value that can be applied both to procedural information such as software, blueprints, and production know-how as well as to arbitrary resources that have instrumental qualities, that is, they represent tools for effecting outcomes. This approach has the added advantage of supporting efficient information transfers since consumers need not always see the information they are about to buy.
Does Preoperative Opioid Consumption Increase the Risk of Chronic Postoperative Opioid Use After Total Joint Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Risk-factor identification related to chronic opioid use after surgery may facilitate interventions mitigating postoperative opioid consumption. We evaluated the relationship between opioid use preceding total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and chronic use postoperatively, and the risk of chronic opioid use after total joint arthroplasty. Methods All primary THAs and TKAs performed during a 6-month period were identified. Opioid prescription and utilization data (in oxycodone equivalents) were determined via survey and electronic records. Relationship between preoperative opioid use and continued use >90 days after surgery was assessed via Chi-square, with significance set at P Results A total of 415 patients met inclusion criteria (240 THAs and 175 TKAs). Of the 240 THAs, 199 (82.9%) patients and of the 175 TKAs, 144 (82.3%) patients agreed to participate. Forty-three of 199 (21.6%) THA patients and 22 of 144 (15.3%) TKA patients used opioids within 30 days preoperatively. Nine of 199 (4.5%) THA and 10 of 144 (6.9%) TKA patients had continued use of opioids for >90 days postoperatively. Preoperative opioid consumption was significantly associated with chronic use postoperatively for THA (P = .011) and TKA (P = .024). Five of 43 (11.6%) THA and 4 of 22 (18.2%) TKA patients with preoperative opioid use had continued use for >90 days postoperatively. For opioid naive patients, 2.6% (4/156) of THA and 4.9% (6/122) of TKA patients had chronic use postoperatively. Conclusions Preoperative opioid use was associated with nearly 5-fold and 4-fold increase in percentage of patients with chronic opioid use after THA and TKA, respectively. Surgeons should counsel patients regarding this risk and consider strategies to eliminate preoperative opioid use.
A Taxing Blog: The Uneasy Case for Blogging Taxation

This mercifully short article discusses the growing importance of web logs (called "blogs") and describes "A Taxing Blog," the tax policy blog recently created by Victor Fleischer and Jeffrey Kahn. Recent blog topics include corporate inversions, the Vice President's tax return, the Bush administration's dividend exclusion proposal, and other things that tax nerds might find interesting.
Mabel Carney and the Hartford Theological Seminary: RuralDevelopment, "Negro Education," and Missionary Training

Mabel Carney (1886-1969), was a well-known innovator in Rural, African- American, and Colonial Education at Teachers College, Columbia University (1919-42). Little attention has been given to her work at the Kennedy School of Missions, Hartford Theological Seminary (1928-42). This paper details Carney’s interests and accomplishments in missionary training as well as the conceptual difficulties she experienced in integrating her professional ideas with her African-American and African experiences regarding race, culture, and discrimination. Her friendship with Charles T. Loram, Franz Boas, and W.E.B. Dubois, and with the Editorial Board of the Journal of Negro Education, broadened her exposure to racial and cultural issues. Her travels in Africa and Canada also exposed her to new ideas and modes of living. She steadily expanded and vitalized Missionary Education at Hartford while also secularizing the curriculum. The paper concludes by contextualizing her accomplishments in the religious and social conflicts of her active career and retirement.
From Af Abet to Shire: The Defeat and Demise of Ethiopia's 'Red' Army, 1988-89

Within a period of just a year during the late 1980s, the Ethiopian Revolutionary or ‘Red’ Army suffered serious defeat in both Eritrea and Tigray. Although numerically and technically superior to its opponents, dissension in the army's ranks, political meddling from Addis Ababa, loss of will, and the remarkable skill and determination of its opponents prevented it from achieving victory. Two years after its humiliating defeat in Tigray, the army collapsed, and the military regime it had sustained disappeared. Eritrea succeeded in declaring its independence and the Tigrayan rebels seized power in Ethiopia. This article demonstrates that the Eritrean and Tigrayan forces ultimately won because they had grass-roots support and because they were able to back each other militarily and politically. In the meantime, the dictatorship in Addis Ababa was losing popular support as its ‘citizens’ were no longer willing to make the sacrifices that were necessary to continue the struggle. Only by considering these points can we appreciate why Africa's second-largest army was annihilated or, conversely, why the insurgents triumphed, for their success was not inevitable.
An efficient speckle removing algorithm based on new morphological operators

The present paper describes a morphology based technique to remove speckle noise. The commonly used technique of spatial averaging blurs the image. A morphology based technique used by some investigators tends to over smooth the images by removing significant amount of thin regions. The present technique preserves fine details of the image while reducing the speckle noise significantly. We have illustrated results on a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image.
Estimation of distribution laws, and physical laws, by a principle of extremized physical information

Abstract A new method of estimating physical probability laws is given. This arises from a new form of information, which in turn follows from four physically based axioms. Extremization of this “physical information” gives rise to the required probability laws. As verifications of the approach, the following statistical (and non-statistical) laws of physics are derived: the complex Schrodinger and Helmholtz wave equations, relativistic quantum mechanics in the Klein-Gordon, Dirac, and Weyl-Pauli formulations, the Boltzmann energy- and Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distributions, the Lorentz transformation group of special relativity, and Maxwell's equations. Also derived are inequalities defining a class of uncertainty principles (e.g., Heisenberg's). Finally, the Einstein equations of motion (but not the fields) of general relativity are derived, along with an equivalence dI / dτ ∞ mc2 between information flow rate and matter energy.
Ethanol fuel as an octane enhancer in the US fuel market

Abstract Ethanol from corn is an important US renewable energy source. In 1986, about 3·3 billion liters of ethanol were used, primarily as a gasoline extender. With lead phasedown, ethanol (octane rating of 113-16) is being considered as an alternative octane source. First, octane requirements following enactment of lead phasedown regulations are determined. Competing octane sources are then analyzed under various oil price, corn price and policy (subsidies, import tariffs) scenarios. At corn price levels of $59.05–68.90 Mg and oil prices of $16–26 per barrel, a subsidy of $0.07–0.105 per liter would be necessary for ethanol to compete with other octane enhancers. Potential demand for ethanol could approach 10.7 billion liters per year. A tariff of $0.035–0.071 per liter on imported ethanol (net of subsidy) would be necessary to protect this potential market for US corn-based ethanol.
Effects of Pre- and Postnatal Exposure to Chromium Picolinate or Picolinic Acid on Neurological Development in CD-1 Mice

Chromium picolinate, Cr(pic)3, a popular dietary supplement marketed as an aid in fat loss and lean muscle gain, has also been suggested as a therapy for women with gestational diabetes. The current study investigated the effects of maternal exposure to Cr(pic)3 and picolinic acid during gestation and lactation on neurological development of the offspring. Mated female CD-1 mice were fed diets from implantation through weaning that were either untreated or that contained Cr(pic)3 (200 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) or picolinic acid (174 mg kg(-1) day(-1)). A comprehensive battery of postnatal tests was administered, including a modified Fox battery, straight-channel swim, open-field activity, and odor-discrimination tests. Pups exposed to picolinic acid tended to weigh less than either control or Cr(pic)3-exposed pups, although the differences were not significant. Offspring of picolinic acid-treated dams also appeared to display impaired learning ability, diminished olfactory orientation ability, and decreased forelimb grip strength, although the differences among the treatment groups were not significant. The results indicate that there were no significant effects on the offspring with regard to neurological development from supplementation of the dams with either Cr(pic)3 or picolinic acid.
Letting “The System” Do the Work The Promise and Perils of Computerization

Review of a multiyear computerization project at a government agency reveals the ways in which technological changes both empower and vitiate the people and processes they are designed to improve. ...