cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mathematics Knowledge for Understanding and Problem Solving.

Abstract Two important aspects of transfer in mathematics learning are the application of mathematical knowledge to problem solving and the acquisition of more advanced concepts, both in mathematics and in other domains. This paper discusses general assumptions and themes of current cognitive research on mathematics learning, focusing on issues of the understanding thought to facilitate transfer of mathematical knowledge. Two studies illustrating these themes are presented, one concerning students' understanding of numerical relationships involved in basic addition and subtraction combinations, the other dealing with students' understanding of algebraic expressions and transformations. Implications of these cognitive perspectives for instruction are discussed.
A second-order high-resolution finite difference scheme for a size-structured model for the spread of Mycobacterium marinum

We present a second-order high-resolution finite difference scheme to approximate the solution of a mathematical model of the transmission dynamics of Mycobacterium marinum (Mm) in an aquatic environment. This work extends the numerical theory and continues the preliminary studies on the model first developed in Ackleh et al. [Structured models for the spread of Mycobacterium marinum: foundations for a numerical approximation scheme, Math. Biosci. Eng. 11 (2014), pp. 679–721]. Numerical simulations demonstrating the accuracy of the method are presented, and we compare this scheme to the first-order scheme developed in Ackleh et al. [Structured models for the spread of Mycobacterium marinum: foundations for a numerical approximation scheme, Math. Biosci. Eng. 11 (2014), pp. 679–721] to show that the first-order method requires significantly more computational time to provide solutions with a similar accuracy. We also demonstrated that the model can be a tool to understand surprising or nonintuitive phenome...
Crop Responses to Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Interaction with Temperature: Grain Legumes

SUMMARY Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) and other greenhouse gases have risen over the past few decades. If this continues, it could indirectly lead to increases in global temperature. Responses of grain legume crops (soybean, dry bean, peanut and cowpea) to elevated [CO2] and interactions with temperature are summarized. Our research shows that, in the absence of biotic (pests, diseases and weeds) or abiotic (temperature, water and nutrients) stresses, elevated [CO2] will increase yield due to increased photosynthesis and growth. However, at above optimum temperatures, the beneficial effects of elevated [CO2] are more than offset by negative effects of temperature on yield and yield-components, leading to lower seed yield and poor seed quality Future research should focus on developing genetic and agronomic crop management practices to improve crop productivity under changing climates.
Feed-forward active filter for output ripple cancellation

An active filter for DC-DC converter ripple cancellation is described and demonstrated. The feed-forward technique used applies to any converter with an output filter inductor. The technique is inherently stable, performs in both continuous and discontinuous conduction modes, and applies to both square-wave and resonant converters. A suitable linear amplifier, combined with a current transformer, implements it with low loss. An adaptive tuning scheme compensates for inductance variation and drift. Operation is demonstrated with buck, push-pull, and boost converter topologies. The result is output ripple below 10 mV RMS, effective on converters with outputs as low as 2 V and currents above 30 A.
Choosing the Right Balance of Health Economics Expertise: Internal Capabilities versus External Contract Research Organizations*

One of the most difficult decisions any pharmaceutical-based health economist faces is how to balance the use of external health economics-focused contract research organizations (CROs) with the internal resources and capabilities of a health economics research group. The decision is multifaceted with elements of credibility, capability, and lack of resources mixed together. This paper will discuss the important decision making elements in balancing internal health economics expertise and use of external CROs with the needs of the customer. Second, the paper will suggest some decision making criterion which may aid in the allocation of individual components of a global health economics research project between internal resources and external CROs. Lastly, the paper will examine the importance of achieving the right balance between internal health economics expertise and external CROs with implications for the future of health economics research in the pharmaceutical industry.
Effects of Phospholipases on Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity in Mammary Gland Explants from Midpregnant Mice

Phospholipases A2 (PLA2) and C (PLC) stimulate ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in mouse mammary gland explants preincubated with insulin and cortisol. PLC concentrations of 0.1 μg/ml produced responses that were close in magnitude to that of PRL, whereas PLA2 at concentrations of 5–50 μg/ml was 35–40% as efficacious as 1 μg/ml PRL in stimulating ODC activity. Thetime courses of PLC, PLA2, and PRL actions on ODC activity were not different from one another. When PRL and PLC were tested together, a response greater than the sum of the responses of each of these agents alone was observed; PLA2 (25 μg/ml) when tested with PRL produced a nonadditive response. The action of PRL on ODC activity was significantly attenuated by quinacrine, an inhibitor of PLC and PLA2 activities. These results suggest that PRL, PLA2, and PLC stimulate ODC activity via similar mechanisms in the mammary gland and make tenable the idea that the action of PRL on ODC activity may be carried out via an action of PRL on PL activit...
Distributed source coding in wireless sensor networks using LDPC codes: a non-uniform framework

Summary form only given. First, we consider a system of two statistically dependent signals, X/sub 1/ and X/sub 2/. The correlation between signals X/sub 1/ and X/sub 2/ is modeled as the input and output of a binary symmetric channel with crossover probability. We propose a non-uniform LDPC code that considers the fact that different bits are subject to different sources of noise. Simulation results show that our proposed method improves the source coding performance considerably. We further study an extension of our approach to three correlated nodes. For simplicity, we consider the case that assumes that the sources are pairwise correlated with the same correlation probability. We show that this assumption cannot be generalized to more than three sources. In this case, a fourth source is not be a random variable and it can be identified by the first three sources.
Mechanical and actuation behavior of electroactive nanostructured polymers

Electroactive polymers (EAPs) can exhibit relatively large actuation strain responses upon electrical stimulation. For this reason, in conjunction with their light weight, robust properties, low cost and facile processability, EAPs are of considerable interest in the development of next-generation organic actuators. Within this class of materials, dielectric electroactive polymers (D-EAPs) have repeatedly exhibited the most promising and versatile properties. A new family of D-EAPs derived from swollen poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene] triblock copolymers has been recently found to undergo ultrahigh displacement at relatively low electric fields compared to previously reported D-EAPs. The present work examines the mechanical and actuation response of these electroactive nanostructured polymer (ENP) systems under quasi-static, and electromechanical loading conditions. Careful measurement of the quasi-static properties under tensile and compressive loading yield similar results that are significantly influenced by the introduction of in-plane strain, as well as by copolymer concentration or molecular weight. Blocking stress measurements reveal that the actuation effectiveness achieved by some of the ENPs is comparable to that of the VHB 4910 acrylic D-EAP, thus providing a novel and efficient avenue to designer D-EAPs for advanced engineering, biomimetic and biomedical applications.
Role of Teos in Improved Quality Pteos and O3-TEOS CVD SiO2 Films

The effects of TEOS (Tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate) concentration on the physical, chemical and electrical characteristics of undoped SiO2 films deposited by plasma (PECVD) and thermal CVD (ThCVD) processes, are described. It is shown that the (TEOS/O3) or (TEOS/O) ratio strongly influences the various film properties. The uniformity of film thickness is better at higher (TEOS/O3) or (TEOS/O2) ratios in both processes. In ThCVD the SiO2 films are denser (low etch rate) when deposited at low (TEOS/O3 ) ratio. This study has shown that the TEOS concentration can be used to tailor film properties.
Focal adhesions: What's new inside

The cytoplasmic side of focal adhesions is comprised of large molecular complexes that link transmembrane receptors, such as integrins, to the actin cytoskeleton and mediate signals modulating cell attachment, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and gene expression. These complexes are heterogeneous and dynamic structures that are apparent targets of regulatory signals that control the function of focal adhesions. Recent studies using genetic approaches in invertebrate and vertebrate systems have begun to reveal the structure and function of these complexes in vivo.
Empiric Therapy for Gram-Negative Pathogens in Nosocomial and Health Care-Associated Pneumonia: Starting With the End in Mind:

Nosocomial pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality for hospitalized patients. Antimicrobial resistance is increasing, creating a strain between ensuring the provision of adequate empiric therapy and slowing the development of antimicrobial resistance. Excessive antimicrobial therapy places patients are at greater risk of drug interactions, adverse events, and superinfections. Ways to maximize adequate empiric therapy include (1) categorizing each patient’s risk of being infected with a multidrug-resistant pathogen and knowledge of local susceptibility patterns, (2) de-escalating antimicrobial therapy to decrease the rates of superinfections such as Clostridium difficile, and (3) limiting the duration of therapy to decrease the likelihood of adverse events, drug interactions, and antimicrobial resistance. Pharmacodynamically enhanced dosing regimens also have the potential to improve clinical outcomes and slow the development of antimicrobial resistance. Drugs whose killing is optimized by th...
State of Dental Care Among Medicaid-Enrolled Children in the United States

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of dental care visits (DCV) in 2007 in the United States among Medicaid-enrolled children from birth to age 18 and measure progress since 2002. METHODS: By using Medicaid research files and information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 416 Early Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment forms, we calculated the prevalence of DCV in 50 states and the District of Columbia, stratifying by age, race, type of health plan, and Children’s Health Insurance Program status. RESULTS: The prevalence of having DCV ranged from 12% depending on age, to 49% with a median value of 33% but did not exceed 50% in any state. The median percent change between 2002 and 2007 was 16%. DCV among toddlers and infants were low in all but 3 states and in most states peaked at age of school entry to >60% in some states. In most states, there were few racial differences in the prevalence of DCV. Children enrolled in Primary Care Case Management tended to have the highest DCV, the effect of Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollment on the number of DCV was generally positive. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the prevalence of dental care by using paid Medicaid claims. Consistent with other reports, levels of DCV were low; but when the number of DCV was stratified by age and type plan, striking patterns emerged suggesting that a combination of school programs and having a medical home may have a positive impact on dental care.
The Role of Chirality in Directing the Formation of Cup‐Shaped Porphyrins and the Coordination Characteristics of such Hosts

Cup-shaped porphyrin 1a has four norbornane rings for encircling space and this type of host could be of interest in supramolecular and catalytic chemistry. We used (1)H NMR spectroscopy to investigate the acid-catalyzed (pTsOH in CHCl(3) and TFA in CH(3)CN) condensation of racemic, enantioenriched (80-85 % enantiomeric excess (ee)), and enantiopure (99 % ee) pyrromethanecarbinol 7 into 1a. We found that the oligomerization of racemic 7(rac) would give 1a-d in the ratio different from the statistical one, though a minuscule quantity of 1a ( 95 % diastereomeric excess (de), 25 % overall yield) in CHCl(3) although prolonged reaction times or greater concentration of the catalytic acid gave rise to 1b-d at the expense of 1a. The metallation of 1 a with Zn(OAc)(2) led to the formation of Zn(II) -1 a and we used computational (DFT: RI-BP86/SV(P),TZVP) and experimental ((1)H NMR spectroscopy) methods to study the partitioning of smaller N-methylimidazole 13 (94 A(3) ) and bigger 1,5-dicyclohexylimidazole 14 (268 A(3)) between the inner and outer side of the host. We found that bigger 14 was mostly encapsulated (90 %) inside Zn(II) -1 a at 298.0 K, whereas smaller 13 would equally partition between the two sides of the host. Furthermore, the out/in equilibrium was, in the case of 14-Zn(II) -1a, favored by entropy (TΔS°(out/in) =3.5±0.1 kcal mol(-1)) indicating that perhaps differential solvation of the coordinated ligand assisted the encapsulation.
Charge Transfer in Photoacids Observed by Stark Spectroscopy

The charge redistribution upon photoexcitation is investigated for a series of pyrene photoacids to better understand the driving force behind excited-state proton-transfer processes. The changes in electric dipole for the lowest two electronic transitions ( (1)L b and (1)L a) are measured by Stark spectroscopy, and the magnitudes of charge transfer of the protonated and deprotonated states are compared. For neutral photoacids studied here, the results show that the amount of charge transfer depends more upon the electronic state that is excited than the protonation state. Transitions from the ground state to the (1)L b state result in a much smaller change in electric dipole than transitions to the (1)L a state. Conversely, for the cationic (ammonium) photoacid studied, photoexcitation of a particular electronic state results in much smaller charge transfer for the protonated state than for the deprotonated state.
Cytotoxicity of Hemolytic, Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1-Positive and -Negative Escherichia coli to Human T24 Bladder Cells

Approximately one-half of Escherichia coli isolates from patients with cystitis or pyelonephritis produce the pore-forming cytotoxin hemolysin, a molecule with the capacity to lyse erythrocytes and a range of nucleated cell types. A second toxin, cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1), is found in approximately 70% of hemolytic, but rarely in nonhemolytic, isolates. To evaluate the potential interplay of these two toxins, we used epidemiological and molecular biologic techniques to compare the cytotoxicity of hemolytic, CNF1+, and CNF1− cystitis strains toward human T24 bladder epithelial cells in vitro. A total of 29 isolates from two collections of cystitis-associated E. coli were evaluated by using methylene blue staining of bladder monolayers at 1-h intervals after inoculation with each strain. Most (20 of 29) isolates damaged or destroyed the T24 monolayer (less than 50% remaining) within 4 h after inoculation. As a group, CNF1+ isolates from one collection (11 strains) were less cytotoxic at 4 h than the CNF1− strains in that collection (P = 0.009), but this pattern was not observed among isolates from the second collection (18 strains). To directly evaluate the role of CNF1 in cytotoxicity of hemolytic E. coli without the variables present in multiple clinical isolates, we constructed mutants defective in production of CNF1. Compared to the CNF1+ parental isolates, no change in cytotoxicity was detected in these cnf1 mutants. Our results indicate that CNF1 does not have a detectable effect on the ability of hemolytic E. coli to damage human bladder cell monolayers in vitro.
IL-2–dependent tuning of NK cell sensitivity for target cells is controlled by regulatory T cells

The emergence of the adaptive immune system took a toll in the form of pathologies mediated by self-reactive cells. Regulatory T cells (T reg cells) exert a critical brake on responses of T and B lymphocytes to self- and foreign antigens. Here, we asked whether T reg cells are required to restrain NK cells, the third lymphocyte lineage, whose features combine innate and adaptive immune cell properties. Although depletion of T reg cells led to systemic fatal autoimmunity, NK cell tolerance and reactivity to strong activating self- and non-self–ligands remained largely intact. In contrast, missing-self responses were increased in the absence of T reg cells as the result of heightened IL-2 availability. We found that IL-2 rapidly boosted the capacity of NK cells to productively engage target cells and enabled NK cell responses to weak stimulation. Our results suggest that IL-2–dependent adaptive-innate lymphocyte cross talk tunes NK cell reactivity and that T reg cells restrain NK cell cytotoxicity by limiting the availability of IL-2.
Essential Fishery Information for Trap-Based Fisheries: Development of a Framework for Collaborative Data Collection

Abstract The availability of up-to-date information for managing marine resources is limited worldwide. In California, lack of data is hindering the execution and evaluation of two recent state laws, the Marine Life Management Act and the Marine Life Protection Act. The inability to meet the objectives of these laws is particularly acute for large cryptic benthic species (e.g., crabs, lobster, and prawns) that support valuable trap fisheries. Such species are not readily quantified by conventional methods and thus are not usually included in existing monitoring efforts. We explored the integration of data collection with ongoing commercial crab fishing activities to address this information gap and developed sampling regimes that provided accurate estimates of at-sea catches that could show the status of crab populations. Crab catches sampled in port represented only a subset of the catch at sea owing to selective harvesting of the catch (i.e., sorting) and thus would be a poor estimator of wild stocks. W...
Inflammatory changes in ruptured canine cranial and human anterior cruciate ligaments.

Objective—To compare expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and cathepsin K and histologic changes in canine cranial cruciate ligaments (CCLs) and human anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs). Study Population—Sections of cruciate ligaments from 15 dogs with ruptured CCLs, 8 aged dogs with intact CCLs, 14 human beings with ruptured ACLs, and 11 aged human beings with intact ACLs. Procedure—The CCLs and ACLs were evaluated histologically, and cells containing TRAP and cathepsin K were identified histochemically and immunohistochemically, respectively. Results—The proportion of ruptured CCLs that contained TRAP+ cells was significantly higher than the proportion of intact ACLs that did but similar to proportions of intact CCLs and ruptured ACLs that did. The proportion of ruptured CCLs that contained cathepsin K+ cells was significantly increased, compared with all other groups. Numbers of TRAP+ and cathepsin K+ cells were significantly increased in ruptured CCLs, compared with intact ACLs. Th...
Reducing RIP140 Expression in Macrophage Alters ATM Infiltration, Facilitates White Adipose Tissue Browning, and Prevents High-Fat Diet–Induced Insulin Resistance

Adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) recruitment and activation play a critical role in obesity-induced inflammation and insulin resistance (IR). The mechanism regulating ATM activation and infiltration remains unclear. In this study, we found receptor interacting protein 140 (RIP140) can regulate the dynamics of ATM that contribute to adipose tissue remodeling. A high-fat diet (HFD) elevates RIP140 expression in macrophages. We generated mice with RIP140 knockdown in macrophages using transgenic and bone marrow transplantation procedures to blunt HFD-induced elevation in RIP140. We detected significant white adipose tissue (WAT) browning and improved systemic insulin sensitivity in these mice, particularly under an HFD feeding. These mice have decreased circulating monocyte population and altered ATM profile in WAT (a dramatic reduction in inflammatory classically activated macrophages [M1] and expansion in alternatively activated macrophages [M2]), which could improve HFD-induced IR. These studies suggest that reducing RIP140 expression in monocytes/macrophages can be a new therapeutic strategy in treating HFD-induced and inflammation-related diseases.
α,α′‐Dibromodibenzyl Sulfone

α,α′-Dibromodibenzyl sulfone solvent: 250–300 ml. of ligroin intermediate: α-bromophenylacetic acid intermediate: 24.9 g. (0.0824 mole) of crude α,α′-diphenylthiodiglycolic acid product: α,α′-dibromodibenzyl sulfone intermediate: dibenzyl sulfide Keywords: decarboxylation; halogenation, bromination; oxidation, miscellaneous; replacement reactions, miscellaneous; bromine; carbon tetrachloride; condenser, bulb
Parallel tracking and mapping for controlling VTOL airframe

This work presents a vision based system for navigation on a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This is a monocular vision based, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) system, which measures the position and orientation of the camera and builds a map of the environment using a video stream from a single camera. This is different from past SLAM solutions on UAV which use sensors that measure depth, like LIDAR, stereoscopic cameras or depth cameras. Solution presented in this paper extends and significantly modifies a recent open-source algorithm that solves SLAM problem using approach fundamentally different from a traditional approach. Proposed modifications provide the position measurements necessary for the navigation solution on a UAV. The main contributions of this work include: (1) extension of the map building algorithm to enable it to be used realistically while controlling a UAV and simultaneously building the map; (2) improved performance of the SLAM algorithm for lower camera frame rates; and (3) the first known demonstration of a monocular SLAM algorithm successfully controlling a UAV while simultaneously building the map. This work demonstrates that a fully autonomous UAV that uses monocular vision for navigation is feasible.
Cardiac electrophysiologic and hemodynamic correlates of neurally mediated syncope.

Abstract This study assessed the temporal relation of RR interval, AH interval and systemic blood pressure changes during induced symptomatic bradycardiahypotension episodes in 14 patients with recurrent syncope suspected of being neurally mediated. Upright tilt with isoproterenol reproduced symptoms in 9 of 14 patients (positive response) and was negative in 5 of 14 (negative response). Isoproterenol alone shortened supine RR intervals in all patients. With tilt, however, isoproterenol prolonged RR intervals in those with positive results (supine 519 ± 124 ms vs tilt 845 ±212 ms, p
Regional specialization within the human striatum for diverse psychological functions

Decades of animal and human neuroimaging research have identified distinct, but overlapping, striatal zones, which are interconnected with separable corticostriatal circuits, and are crucial for the organization of functional systems. Despite continuous efforts to subdivide the human striatum based on anatomical and resting-state functional connectivity, characterizing the different psychological processes related to each zone remains a work in progress. Using an unbiased, data-driven approach, we analyzed large-scale coactivation data from 5,809 human imaging studies. We (i) identified five distinct striatal zones that exhibited discrete patterns of coactivation with cortical brain regions across distinct psychological processes and (ii) identified the different psychological processes associated with each zone. We found that the reported pattern of cortical activation reliably predicted which striatal zone was most strongly activated. Critically, activation in each functional zone could be associated with distinct psychological processes directly, rather than inferred indirectly from psychological functions attributed to associated cortices. Consistent with well-established findings, we found an association of the ventral striatum (VS) with reward processing. Confirming less well-established findings, the VS and adjacent anterior caudate were associated with evaluating the value of rewards and actions, respectively. Furthermore, our results confirmed a sometimes overlooked specialization of the posterior caudate nucleus for executive functions, often considered the exclusive domain of frontoparietal cortical circuits. Our findings provide a precise functional map of regional specialization within the human striatum, both in terms of the differential cortical regions and psychological functions associated with each striatal zone.
Analysis and quantitation of volatile organic compounds emitted from plastics used in museum construction by evolved gas analysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Construction materials used in museums for the display, storage, and transportation of artwork must be assessed for their tendency to emit harmful pollution that could potentially damage cultural treasures. Traditionally, a subjective metals corrosion test known as the Oddy test has been widely utilized in museums for this purpose. To augment the Oddy test, an instrumental sampling approach based on evolved gas analysis (EGA) coupled to gas chromatography (GC) with mass spectral (MS) detection has been implemented for the first time to qualitatively identify off-gassed pollutants under specific conditions. This approach is compared to other instrumental methods reported in the literature. This novel application of the EGA sampling technique yields several benefits over traditional testing, including rapidity, high sensitivity, and broad detectability of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Furthermore, unlike other reported instrumental approaches, the EGA method was used to determine quantitatively the amount of VOCs emitted by acetate resins and polyurethane foams under specific conditions using both an external calibration method as well as surrogate response factors. EGA was successfully employed to rapidly characterize emissions from 12 types of common plastics. This analysis is advocated as a rapid pre-screening method to rule out poorly performing materials prior to investing time and energy in Oddy testing. The approach is also useful for rapid, routine testing of construction materials previously vetted by traditional testing, but which may experience detrimental formulation changes over time. As an example, a case study on batch re-orders of rigid expanded poly(vinyl chloride) board stock is presented.
Small-Sample Adjustments for Tests of Moderators and Model Fit Using Robust Variance Estimation in Meta-Regression

Meta-analyses often include studies that report multiple effect sizes based on a common pool of subjects or that report effect sizes from several samples that were treated with very similar researc...
BOD and Oxygen Relationship in Streams

The equations of Streeter and Phelps for the BOD and dissolved-oxygen profiles along a natural stream are extended to take into account the effects of longitudinal dispersion, removal of BOD by sedimentation, addition of BOD along the path of flow, removal of oxygen by plant respiration and by the oxygen demand of benthal deposits, and the addition of oxygen by photosynthesis. Methods by which various coefficients in the equations might be evaluated from theory or from field measurements are examined. The effect of longitudinal dispersion on the BOD and dissolved-oxygen profiles is shown to be negligible in most fresh water streams. A theory of reaeration, based on the random replacement of the interfacial liquid-film, is presented. It is proposed that the micro-scale portion of the turbulent energy spectrum principally is responsible for the film replacement on which reaeration depends. Theoretical values of the reaeration coefficient are in good agreement with values reported in the literature.
Deconstructing Dietary Restriction: A Case for Systems Approaches in Aging

Dietary restriction is a robust and conserved intervention to slow aging and extend lifespan. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Hou et al. (2016) use a systems biology approach in C. elegans to uncover key molecular nodes underlying the transcriptomic response to dietary restriction and predict novel regulators of lifespan.
Counting on Coworkers Race, Social Support, and Emotional Experiences on the Job

Recent research suggests that supportive relationships between coworkers benefit worker well-being. Less is known about the distribution of social support among different groups of workers. In this article, we use data from a random sample of state employees to examine whether black and white workers differ in the number of ties they have to coworkers, the quality of these ties, and the effects of social support on workplace emotional experiences. Our findings suggest that compared to their white counterparts, African Americans are disadvantaged in terms of workplace social ties and perceived coworker support. Race differences in job characteristics do not explain these differences; however, there is some evidence that the racial composition of the workplace may influence the formation of workplace social ties. In addition, both black and white workers experience similar emotional benefits of social support.
Research on Numerical Simulation of Temperature and Flow Field around OPPC

Because the large load and the high heat of overhead cables,the temperature of cables can monitor the real-time state.The real-time monitoring based on temperature information is the important mean that realize the daily maintenance,fault earning warning and diagnosis of cables and the investigation of line accident.Meanwhile,it can calculate and analyze the maximum allowable transmission capacity through cable temperature,can provide a scientific basis for the rational allocation load.But when the cable works,it is hard to know the inside heat information.Based on the platform of FLUENT which a large-scale software for fluid mechanics and heat transfer,this issue establishes the analytical mode for temperature field of OPPC-240/40.It also makes the numerical simulation for temperature and flow field of OPPC in different conditions,verifies the accuracy by the experiments.This research can provide a reference for further study of the wire cross-section temperature distribution.
Evaluation Method for Stress Sensitivity of Reservoir Rock

Reservoir rock is affected simultaneously by external stress(external pressure) and internal stress(internal pressure and pore pressure).Sensitivity of reservoir rock to external stress is evaluated with sensitivity index of external stress,while sensitivity to internal stress is evaluated with internal sensitivity index.Sensitivity index of external stress is much higher than that of internal stress.In the process of production,external stress does not change,while internal stress changes.Therefore the sensitivity of reservoir rock should use the sensitivity index of internal stress.Sensitivity index of external stress is only affected by sensitivity constant,while index of internal stress is affected by both sensitivity constant and porosity.Because loading process has plastic deformation,unloading curve should be used for sensitivity evaluation.
Electrical Impedance Measurement of Urinary Bladder Fullness

A tetrapolar 75-kHz, 0.2-mA constant-current electrical impedance measuring system was used to monitor urinary volume change over 12 four-hour sessions in 20 male and 20 female noimal human subjects. Two spot voltage electrodes (E) and two spot current electrodes (I) were applied 5 cm above the symphysis pubis at 15 cm intereJectrode distances. 7.5 cm bilaterally from the midline. Five measurements of impedance and skin temperature were made at 15-minute intervals over 4 hours. Specific gravity, impedance change, and volume were recorded with each voided specimen. Suprailiac and infra scapular skinfolds, and circumference ai iiiac crests were measured. The subjects drank 175 ml of fluids per hour during the testing session. Subjects remained in the supine position during measurements. They walked to the lavatory to void. Bladder fullness is defined as the urge to void. Results include: s J) a poor negative correlation between specific gravity of urine and impedance (r2 = 0.1240, p ≤ 0.01); (2) baseline im...
A “Not-Romney” Explanation: The 2012 Republican Nomination Process

By all traditional measures, Mitt Romney should have sailed to the Republican nomination with little opposition. However, the race was not a smooth path, and it was evident that the network of preprimary donors was fragmented. While Romney won the nomination as predicted, he shared fewer donors than almost any major candidate in recent history. This shortcoming was not limited to Romney, as the entire party was divided. The Republicans were split into three groups: a mainstream wing populated by Romney, Perry and Huntsman; a Tea Party grouping of Bachman, Cain and Gingrich; and a libertarian cluster around Paul and Johnson. This fractured picture in 2012 closely mirrored the splits within the party four years earlier.
Data processing for a multi-slit LWIR HSI spectrometer

Preliminary testing of a three-slit prism-based spectrometer is presented to test means of exploiting data from a multi-slit spectrometer as well as some potential ways of dealing with complications that arise when using multiple slits. When using a multiple slit spectrometer to boost SNR there are two primary concerns: first, the spectral axis of each slit must be nearly identical to effective average and second, the image from each slit must be well-registered. Based on some of these complications it seems, given the current technology, the best operational mode is to use the sensor to increase area coverage.
Royalists at War in Scotland and Ireland, 1638-1650. By Barry Robertson. (Farnham, United Kingdom: Ashgate, 2014. Pp. 224. $124.95.)

The historiography of the British Civil Wars has emphasized the progressive, the well‐documented, and the national. This means that royalists, whose cause was judged to be archaic, whose presses we...
A Tectonic Evaluation of Pegmatite Parent Granites

Abstract Pegmatites containing rare elements can be grouped into families based on geochemical composition. The family classification includes pegmatites that are enriched in lithium, cesium, and tantalum (LCT pegmatites) and those that are enriched in niobium, yttrium + rare-earth-elements (REE), and fluorine (NYF pegmatites). A small number of pegmatites do not fall neatly into these categories and include (1) those that exhibit mineralogical and chemical characteristics of both groups (mixed LCT + NYF pegmatites) and (2) those that lack one of the chemical components suggested by the acronyms. The relationship between pegmatite family and granite tectonic type were re-examined using a large data set of published granite compositions as a proxy for initial pegmatite composition, with special regard to the orogenic settings of the source granite origin. Pearce trace-element discrimination diagrams for these granites suggest that LCT granite-pegmatite systems originate in orogenic and perhaps less frequently in post-collisional tectonic settings, whereas NYF pegmatites form in anorogenic and post-orogenic settings. Geochemical differences in the granite from each tectonic setting are reflected in the pegmatite mineralogy. Granite that is parental to LCT pegmatites has generally higher abundances of LILE and B, thus the pegmatites typically contain Li-bearing and Cs-bearing minerals as well as tourmaline group minerals. In contrast, granite that is parental to NYF pegmatites is typically enriched in the REE and HFSE ± F, thus typically have accessory Nb-Ta-Ti oxides, REE-bearing minerals, and in most cases fluorite. These petrogenetic differences hold for the quintessential LCT and NYF pegmatites as well as for those that have notable absences of one of the principle components. Mixed-signature pegmatites that can be attributed to a parental granite are rare. For the three locations included in this study, a post-orogenic to anorogenic origin suggests that these pegmatites may have been broadly NYF systems that were contaminated at the magmatic stage or hydrothermally altered by a fluid enriched in components representative of LCT pegmatites.
Switchable Long-Term Evolution/ Wireless Wide Area Network/ Wireless Local Area Network Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output Antenna System for Laptop Computers

This paper introduces a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system for deployment in the closed hinge slot region of notebook computers for long-term evolution (LTE)/wireless wide area network (WWAN)/wireless local area network (WLAN) applications. This antenna system was placed in the closed hinge slot region formed by the full metal cover, metal ground plate, and metal hinges. The MIMO antenna system, includes a main antenna (Ant 1), an auxiliary antenna (Ant 2), and an isolation element. The main and auxiliary antennas were integrated with the metal surrounding them and were used to excite several resonance modes of the closed hinge slot. Excellent antenna efficiency was achieved using the small antennas. Although Ant1 and Ant2 are only 25 mm $\times5$ mm in size, they could cover LTE/WWAN or WLAN operating bands by switching feed points in the same antenna pattern. The isolation element—a 10 mm $\times6$ mm metal sheet—was placed at the center of the closed hinge slot region, and enhanced isolation by more than 7 dB. The isolation levels exceeded 18 dB for LTE700/2300/2500 bands and 15 dB for 2.4/5.2/5.8 GHz WLAN bands.
Prototheca zopfii associated diverticulitis in an immunosuppressed host, a case presentation and literature review

Abstract Clinical infection with Prototheca species can present in many ways including cutaneous, bursal, or disseminated forms. Of these clinical forms, protothecal intestinal infections are a very rare occurrence, and there have only been a few documented cases within the medical literature. We present a case of a 67year old African American male who presented to our veterans hospital with bowel obstruction. The patient has a pertinent medical history of prolonged immunosuppressive therapy for cadaveric renal transplant, Clostridium difficile infection, herpetic perirectal ulcer, and diverticulosis. The patient presented with symptoms of weight loss, left lower quadrant pain, and pencil thin stool. Colonoscopic and barium studies confirmed a complete obstruction at the level of the distal descending colon. Carcinoembryonic levels were within normal limits. The patient underwent a left hemicolectomy, and gross examination of the specimen revealed a markedly thickened bowel wall with multiple diverticula. Histologic examination revealed diverticular disease with associated transmural inflammation and numerous associated dark round structures. The basophilic round structures appeared to contain cell walls and stained positively for fungal stains. Overall, the diagnosis of Prototheca zopfii was made based on the characteristic histopathologic features and the results of the fungal staining pattern. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a colonic diverticulitis with involvement by Prototheca zopfii . We present an overview of the biology, epidemiology, histopathologic features, clinical manifestations, and treatment options of Prototheca as it relates to our patient.
Chinese Administrative Reforms: A Replica or Derivative of the Western NPM Model?

At the theoretical level in the public administration community, there is an ongoing debate as to whether public administration principles can be universally applied to any country or whether they are bounded by political, economic, social, cultural, historical, environmental and traditional factors. While there is an increasing observation in the 21st century that convergence of administrative reforms between developing and developed countries has great momentum, this paper argues that national context plays a significant (if not vital) role in a specific country’s administrative reforms. To put this argument in context, the paper examines similar and dissimilar features of Chinese administrative reforms with that of USA, with a conclusion that Chinese administrative reform is not a replica, but rather a derivative, of the Western NPM Model. 행정학 공동체의 이론적 수준에서 행정학 원리들이 어느 국가에나 보편적으로 적용될 수 있을지 혹은 정치적, 경제적, 사회적, 문화적, 역사적, 환경적 그리고 전통적 요소들에 의하여 제한되는지에 관한 지속적 논의가 있다. 21세기 들어 선진국과 개도국 간에 행정개혁의 접합접에 관한 집합점이 전환기를 맞이함에 따라 본 연구는 국가적 맥락이 특정 국가의 행정 개혁에 있어 유의미한 (만약 ‘중요한’이 아니라면) 역학을 한다고 주장한다. 이 논의를 맥락에 맞추기 위하여, 본 연구는 중국과 미국 행정 개혁 간의 비슷한 점과 상이한 점을 논의하고, 중국 행정 개혁은 서양 신공공관리 모델의 반복이 아닌 파생물이라고 결론짓는다.
Automated damage detection in miter gates of navigation locks

Summary Navigation locks are critical infrastructure components, and their closure for maintenance and repair can have significant impacts on the global economy. The current state of inspection and monitoring of lock components is generally to close the lock and perform a visual inspection. Whereas structural health monitoring of navigation locks is gaining acceptance, automation of the structural health monitoring process is lacking. This paper reports on efforts to develop an automated damage detection system for miter gates of navigation locks. The study focuses on using strain gage measurements to identify the redistribution of load throughout lock gates in the presence of damage. To eliminate the environmental variability in the data, a new damage-sensitive feature is introduced, termed here as “slope” and defined as the derivative of the strain with respect to the water levels in the lock chamber. The slopes form a new, stationary time series effectively purged of environmental effects. A principal component analysis, a method of analyzing multivariate, stationary time series, is then used to detect significant changes in the statistics of slopes as an indication of damage. To validate the approach, damage is simulated in a finite element model, and the resulting changes in strain from the finite element model are superimposed on the measured data. The results demonstrate the potential of the proposed approach for detecting damage in navigational lock gates.
Ensuring Building Block Growth

In the previous chapter, we examined estimates of the population size required to ensure that building blocks of the required size are present in the initial population. This chapter develops the theory to permit us to design GAs and choose their parameters to ensure that the market share of the best building blocks grows. We start by reexamining the well-known schema theorem and consider its implications in GA design, both early and late during the life of a run. These considerations help us both qualitatively in choosing appropriate selection operators and quantitatively in setting an appropriate balance between selection pressure and recombination frequency.
EMI Noise Separation Method for Three-Phase WBG Inverters With Low Sensitivity to Parasitic Parameters

Accurate measurement of common mode (CM) and differential mode (DM) noise is crucial for electromagnetic interference filter design. With the application of wide bandgap devices, the measurement results require higher accuracy at high frequency. This letter proposes a novel CM and DM noise separation method where a 20 dB attenuator is integrated to allow the measured results less sensitive to the parasitic parameters in the 150 kHz–30 MHz frequency range. The proposed method improves the flatness of the noise separator in the 150 kHz–30 MHz frequency range, which is 0.3 dB for common mode transmission ratio and 0.6 dB for differential mode transmission ratio. Simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Agent-Based Modeling and Evacuation Planning

In evacuation planning, it is advantageous for community leaders to have a thorough understanding of the human and geophysical characteristics of a community, be able to anticipate possible outcomes of different response and evacuation strategies under different situations, inform the general public, and develop a set of evacuation plans accordingly. In order to achieve this goal, evacuation managers in a community can use computer modeling techniques to simulate different ‘what-if’ scenarios, use the results from these simulations to inform the public, and generate different evacuation plans under different circumstances. The complexity associated with evacuation planning in an urban environment requires a computer modeling framework that can incorporate a number of factors into the modeling process. These factors include the nature of the disaster in question, the anticipated human behavioral patterns in the evacuation process, the unique geography and transportation infrastructure in a given area, the population distribution in the area, the population dynamics over different time periods, and the special needs of different population groups, to name a few. Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) provides a general approach that can be used to account for these factors in the modeling and simulation process. In this chapter, the authors provide an overview of agent-based modeling and simulation, illustrate how agent-based modeling and simulation were used in estimating the evacuation time for the Florida Keys, and report some preliminary results in planning a hypothetical route for evacuating the elderly from a nursing home on Galveston Island, Texas, based on network dynamics during an evacuation.
Regional Chemotherapy of Primary and Metastatic Liver Tumors

The rationale for hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapy is based on the concept that most primary and metastatic liver tumors preferentially derive their blood supply from the hepatic artery, whereas normal hepatic tissue relies on the portal venous blood supply. In addition, the ability of the hepatic parenchyma to metabolize chemotherapy drugs to nontoxic metabolites offers a unique opportunity to administer highly toxic drug levels to tumor cells while minimizing systemic toxicity. Regional chemotherapy has been evaluated in both primary and metastatic hepatic malignancies with varying results. The area of most intensive research has been in the treatment of colorectal cancer because it represents the most frequent etiology of hepatic metastases. Although the response rate with newer agents used in systemic combination chemotherapy has improved, the 2-year survival is only 25 to 39%. Hepatic-arterial infusion of chemotherapy produces higher response rates, with a 2-yr survival of 50 to 60%. In patients who can undergo liver resection followed by hepatic-arterial infusion, the 2-yr survival is 85%. This chapter summarizes the pharmacological basis and technical aspects of hepatic arterial infusion, including catheter placement, infusion regimens, and the development and treatment of unique toxicities. In addition, it will review the current evidence and role of hepatic arterial infusion for all primary and secondary hepatic malignancies, with a focus on liver metastases from colorectal cancer, as this is the area of most experience and promise.