cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FREQUENCY OF SEEING FUNCTIONS FOR INTENSITY DISCRIMINATION AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF ADAPTING INTENSITY

1. The percentage of times a human subject detects an increment (ΔI) in intensity was determined as a function of the magnitude of the increment and the magnitude of the stimulus (I) to which the increment is added. 2. Foveal stimulation was used, and five frequency of seeing curves were obtained at each of nine values of adapting intensity covering the range from –1.45 to 4.45 log photons. Each frequency of seeing curve shows the percentage of times an increment in intensity is detected as a function of the logarithm of the increment. 3. The slope of the frequency of seeing curve increases slightly with an increase in I and finally becomes independent of I at medium to high intensities. 4. The implications of the results for quantum theories of visual excitation are considered.
SEMI-STATIC HEDGING OF BARRIER OPTIONS UNDER POISSON JUMPS

We show that the payoff to barrier options can be replicated when the underlying price process is driven by the difference of two independent Poisson processes. The replicating strategy employs simple semi-static positions in co-terminal standard options. We note that classical dynamic replication using just the underlying asset and a riskless asset is not possible in this context. When the underlying of the barrier option has no carrying cost, we show that the same semi-static trading strategy continues to replicate even when the two jump arrival rates are generalized into positive even functions of distance to the barrier and when the clock speed is randomized into a positive continuous independent process. Since the even function and the positive process need no further specification, our replicating strategies are also semi-robust. Finally, we show that previous results obtained for continuous processes arise as limits of our analysis.
Regression of low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions in young women

Summary Background The aim of this study was to assess the probability of low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion (LSIL) regression in young women, and to examine the factors associated with this regression. Methods In a longitudinal study of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, female adolescents aged 13–22 years were examined every 4 months by cytology, colposcopy, and HPV DNA status. Both prevalent and incident LSIL cases were included in the analysis, with regression defined as at least three consecutive normal Pap smears. Findings Median follow-up time from baseline (defined as the time of first LSIL diagnosis) for the 187 women with LSIL was 61 months (IQR 34–80). Median time they had been sexually active at diagnosis was 3·2 years (2·6–6·5). Probability of regression for the entire cohort was 61% (95% CI 53–70) at 12 months and 91% (84–99) at 36 months of follow-up. No associations were found between LSIL regression and HPV status at baseline, sexual behaviour, contraceptive use, substance or cigarette use, incident sexually transmitted infection, or biopsy. Multivariate analysis showed that only HPV status at the current visit was associated with rate of regression, whether infection was caused by one or more viral types (relative hazard=0·3 [95% CI 0·21–0·42], and 0·14 [0·08–0·25], respectively). Interpretation The high rate of regression recorded in this study lends support to observation by cytology in the management of LSIL in female adolescents. Negative HPV status was associated with regression, suggesting that HPV testing could be helpful in monitoring LSIL.
The propulsive-only flight control problem

Attitude control of aircraft using only the throttles is investigated. The long time constants of both the engines and the aircraft dynamics, together with the coupling between longitudinal and lateral aircraft modes, make piloted flight with failed control surfaces hazardous, especially when trying to land. The author documents the results of in-flight operation using simulated failed flight controls and ground simulations of piloted propulsive-only control to touchdown. Augmentation control laws to assist the pilot are described using both optimal control and classical feedback methods. Piloted simulation using augmentation shows that simple and effective augmented control can be achieved in a wide variety of failed configurations. >
Model for Individualized Prediction of Breast Cancer Risk After a Benign Breast Biopsy

Purpose Optimal early detection and prevention for breast cancer depend on accurate identification of women at increased risk. We present a risk prediction model that incorporates histologic features of biopsy tissues from women with benign breast disease (BBD) and compare its performance to the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT). Methods We estimated the age-specific incidence of breast cancer and death from the Mayo BBD cohort and then combined these estimates with a relative risk model derived from 377 patient cases with breast cancer and 734 matched controls sampled from the Mayo BBD cohort to develop the BBD–to–breast cancer (BBD-BC) risk assessment tool. We validated the model using an independent set of 378 patient cases with breast cancer and 728 matched controls from the Mayo BBD cohort and compared the risk predictions from our model with those from the BCRAT. Results The BBD-BC model predicts the probability of breast cancer in women with BBD using tissue-based and other risk factors. T...
Fine-grained proper noun ontologies for question answering

The WordNet lexical ontology, which is primarily composed of common nouns, has been widely used in retrieval tasks. Here, we explore the notion of a fine-grained proper noun ontology and argue for the utility of such an ontology in retrieval tasks. To support this claim, we build a fine-grained proper noun ontology from unrestricted news text and use this ontology to improve performance on a question answering task.
Measurement of cerebrovascular flow reserve in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease

Purpose To report a method for determining absolute percentage change in cerebral blood flow (measurement of cerebrovascular reserve) before and after acetylazolamide (Diamox) administration in children with sickle cell anemia. Materials and Methods Thirty-six symptomatic sickle cell disease patients (48 studies) were evaluated. After the injection of either Tc-99m bicisate ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) or hexamethyl propylene amine oxime (HMPAO), both whole body scans (with geometric mean correction) and single photon emission computed tomography (CT) were performed pre- and post-Diamox administration with calculation of percentage brain uptake on the whole body images for both examinations and determination of cerebrovascular reserve (percentage change in brain uptake post-Diamox). Evaluation for regional cerebral perfusion change was also performed. Results The cerebrovascular reserve measurement was 17.6% ± 43.5% (mean ± 1 SD). Thirty-three of 48 studies (69%) showed an abnormal cerebrovascular reserve, while only 6 of 48 studies (12.5%) showed Diamox-induced regional perfusion changes in the brain. No statistically significant relationship was found between the occurrence of a regional perfusion abnormality versus loss of cerebrovascular reserve (P = 0.75, Fisher exact test), suggesting that these are independent variables. The cerebrovascular reserve was reproducible, with an average standard deviation of ±0.54%. Conclusion A new, simple method for calculation of cerebrovascular reserve is presented; this method is reproducible and appears to be an independent variable in the evaluation of cerebrovascular status in sickle cell anemia patients. It should allow further characterization of this complex patient population, and possibly assist in detection of patients at risk for developing “silent” or overt stroke. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Generation of planar kinematic chains

Abstract This work presents a completely automated, mathematically rigorous procedure that generates all planar, non-fractionated, pin-jointed kinematic chains having 2–6 independent loops and 1, 2, or 3 degrees of freedom. It also addresses the isomorphism problem and the elimination of rigid subchains. The computer programs can be run on any personal computer (XT or higher); over 6 million kinematic chains and 100 million inversions have been generated.
Philonema agubernaculum sp.nov. (Dracunculidae), a Nematode from the Body Cavity of Fishes1

The nematode described here was collected by the Wyoming field party of the United States Bureau of Fisheries during the summer of 1934. The Rocky Mountain whitefish, the Eastern Brook trout, and the rainbow trout serve as hosts for the parasite. In several instances pathological changes, particularly of the gonads, were found to accompany its presence.
Deriving grain boundary character distributions and relative grain boundary energies from three-dimensional EBSD data

AbstractThree-dimensional electron backscatter diffraction data, obtained by serial sectioning a nickel–base superalloy, has been analysed to measure the geometric arrangement of grain boundary planes at triple junctions. This information has been used to calculate the grain boundary character distribution (GBCD) and the grain boundary energy distribution (GBED). The twin content from the three-dimensional GBCD calculation compares favourably with the twin content estimated by stereology. Important factors in the analysis are the alignment of the parallel layers, the ratio of the out-of-plane to in-plane spacing of the discrete orientation data and the discretisation of the domain of grain boundary types. The results show that grain boundaries comprised of (111) planes occur most frequently and that these grain boundaries have a relatively low energy. The GBCD and GBED are inversely correlated.
Shape-based image retrieval with relevance feedback

The paper proposes an adaptive framework for shape-based image retrieval with relevance feedback. The motivation is to find an adjustable shape representation scheme that can account for feedback information. Relevance feedback is modeled as a dynamic eigenspace decomposition, and is used to classify the database into relevant and irrelevant groups with respect to the query. Eigenvectors of the subspace are updated by optimizing a linear transform with respect to the J3 class separability criterion. Experimental results show that the proposed approach can effectively capture a user's perceptual subjectivity
Cannabinoid agonists inhibit the activation of 5-HT3 receptors in rat nodose ganglion neurons

1. Effects of cannabinoid agonists on the serotonin (5-HT)3 receptor-mediated current were investigated in rat nodose ganglion neurons. Anandamide, Win 55212-2, and CP55940 inhibited the 5-HT-induced current in a concentration dependent manner. IC50 values were 190, 310, and 94 nM for anandamide, Win 55212-2, and CP55940, respectively, and 1.6 microM for the nonpsychoactive enantiomer CP56667. This inhibition was slowly developing, noncompetitive, not dependent on membrane potential, and not affected by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) analogues, guanosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP-beta-S), and opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone. These data suggest that 5-HT3 receptor ion-channel is a site acted upon by cannabinoid agonists in the nervous system, and the action of cannabinoid agonists on 5-HT3 receptors may be a possible mechanism for some of the behavioral effects of cannabinoids, such as antiemesis and analgesia.
Knowledge, Wisdom, and the Philosopher

The overarching thesis of this essay is that despite the etymological relationship between the word ‘philosophy’ and wisdom—the word ‘philosophos’, in Greek, means ‘lover of wisdom’—and irrespective of the longstanding tradition of identifying philosophers with ‘wise men’—mainline philosophy, historically, has had little interest in wisdom and has been preoccupied primarily with knowledge. Philosophy, if we are speaking of the mainline tradition, has had and continues to have more in common with the natural and social sciences than it does with the humanities and liberal arts. In advancing this thesis, I divide the history of philosophy into three competing traditions: the mainline tradition of philosophy and two philosophical ‘countercultures,’ one conservative the other radical. At issue between these rival traditions is precisely the relative significance of knowledge and wisdom and their respective places in inquiry. I also provide an account of the distinction between knowledge and wisdom—which I argue is greater than has perhaps been appreciated—and between the natural and applied sciences, on the one hand, and the humanities and liberal arts on the other.
Mechanism of Large Magnetostriction of Galfenol

Galfenol (Fe100-xGax) and related alloys are very promising new magnetostrictive materials for broad applications. Using the density-functional full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method, we performed systematic theoretical investigations to explore the mechanism that governs the large enhancement of magnetostriction in Galfenol. Here, we review our main theoretical findings on factors that lead to 1) the increase of magnetoelastic coupling; 2) the decrease of the tetragonal shear modulus; and 3) the phase instability. Several ternary FeGaX alloys (X=Zn, Pt, Ir, Ge) were predicted to have large magnetostrictive coefficients, through manipulating electron population and strength of spin-orbit coupling.
Temperature-Sensitive Growth Inhibition by Valine in Salmonella typhimurium: Alteration of One Form of Acetohydroxy Acid Synthetase

Abstract A strain of Salmonella typhimurium, MF1680, was isolated that required isoleucine for normal growth at 37 C but not at 27 C. In minimal medium the growth of MF1680 was strongly blocked by valine. Growth inhibition was reversed by isoleucine. When this mutant was grown at 37 C, the form of acetohydroxy acid synthetase not inhibited by valine, (AHASR), could not be detected. The site of this mutation in AHASR, termed ilvG, was found to map in the ilv gene cluster between ilvD and ilvE.
Transient temperature behavior in pulsed double-drift IMPATT diodes

The temperatures in a pulsed double-drift IMPATT diode are calculated as a function of position and time by a finite difference calculation using the alternating direction algorithm. The results are given as a function of pulse length and duty factor for a typical double-drift diode designed to operate near X band. Techniques are described for choosing spatial meshes and time integrals which vary with position and time in a way that minimizes computation time. Numerical results are chosen to illustrate the distribution of temperature within the diode at different times during the pulse, the effect of a temperature-dependent breakdown voltage upon radial temperature distribution, and the interplay between the short thermal-diffusion times within the GaAs diode and the long times associated with the slow heating-up of the heat sink at great distances. An extended definition of thermal resistance for pulsed diodes is introduced and the implications upon reliability are discussed.
13 – Ohmic heating

Over the past two decades, there has been an increasing shift from batch thermal operation towards continuous High Temperature Short Time (HTST) processing of foods. In HTST processes, food is processed continuously through plate or scraped surface heat exchangers at temperatures as high as 140oC. At this temperature, only a few seconds are needed for sterilization, during which the products suffer only a slight quality deterioration. HTST processes rely on rapid convection heat transfer and are thus well suited to liquid foods. They are, however, limited in application to particulates since, for particles more than a couple of millimeters thick, the processing time is insufficient for heat to transfer to the center to give sterility. In ohmic heating processes, foods are made part of an electric circuit through which alternating current flows, causing heat to be generated within the foods due to the electrical resistance of the foods. Therefore, in a liquid-particulate food mixture, if the electrical conductivity of the two phases are comparable, heat could be generated at the same or comparable rate in both phases in ohmic heating. In other conditions, heat can also be generated faster in the particulate than in the liquid. Ohmic methods thus offer a way of processing particulate food at the rate of HTST processes, but without the limitation of conventional HTST on heat transfer to particulates.
Development of a new digital synchronous generator shaft-speed deviation transducer

The authors present an electrical synchronous machine shaft speed deviation transducer. The transducer uses the synchronous machine terminal voltage and current to calculate the machine internal voltage and its frequency, which is proportional to shaft speed. Unlike the more usual shaft-mounted transducers, this transducer has no mechanical interface with the machine. Therefore the errors introduced by machine shaft vibrations, temperature changes, and other factors are virtually eliminated. The transducer was implemented using an Intel 80C196 single-chip microcontroller together with the supporting analog and digital transducers. The results of various tests of the transducer accuracy, together with the transducer main hardware and software design features, are presented and discussed. >
Critical Appraisal of the Quality of Literature Evaluating Psychometric Properties of Arthritis Work Outcome Assessments: A Systematic Review.

Objective To systematically rate the evidence on the measurement properties of work functioning instruments for people with arthritis and other rheumatologic conditions. Methods A systematic review was conducted through a structured search to identify the quality of articles describing studies of assessment development and studies of their psychometric properties. The Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist was used to appraise the included studies. Finally, an evidence synthesis was performed to combine findings. Results Nine arthritis-specific work outcome assessments were identified; 17 articles examining the psychometric properties of these instruments were identified and their quality was reviewed. Quality of studies was highly variable. The evidence synthesis showed that the Work Limitations Questionnaire had the strongest quality evidence of internal consistency and content validity (including structural validity and hypothesis testing), followed by the Work Instability Scale. None of the instruments had strong quality evidence of criterion validity or responsiveness. Conclusion Considering the high variability and the low quality of the literature, we recommend that instrument developers integrate a full psychometric assessment of their instruments, including responsiveness and criterion validity, and consult guidelines (i.e., COSMIN) in reporting their findings.
The Growing U.S. Fiscal Gap

The United States has a huge long-term fiscal gap, perhaps with a present value of around $74 trillion. By contrast, the explicit national debt of the U.S. is only around $6 trillion. The U.S. may thus be unable to continue meeting its current spending commitments without eventually enacting huge tax increases. The tax cut enacted in 2001 may have increased the fiscal gap by about $13 trillion, but the main cause of the gap is increasing life expectancy, which raises the cost of Social Security and Medicare. While the fiscal gap can in theory be eliminated at the stroke of a pen by simply changing stated policy, in practice this could lead to serious disruption of people's expectations. In addition, the fiscal gap may impair future generations' opportunity to take full advantage of technological advances (such as in treating cancer) that have the potential to make their lives significantly better than ours.
Forced Response Analysis of a Piezoelectric Flag Modeled as a Membrane

A piezoelectric flag is modeled as a membrane for energy harvesting purposes. The tension, pressure, piezoelectric material, and external force are introduced and employed in the model. In this model, the tension is caused by gravity, the piezoelectric material, and the fluid flow. The pressure acting on the flag consists of a non-circulatory and a circulatory component. Additionally, an external force is modeled to ensure that the pressure acting on the system does not dissipate. To model the system, Hamilton’s principle is employed to find differential equation of motion. In this study, the flag is vertically oriented. This is to ensure the flag does not droop, which would greatly complicate the effect of gravity. In studying the free response, it is found that the Bessel function of the first kind describes the flag. Lastly, Galerkin’s method is applied to the system. This allows for the deflection and the voltage produced by the flag to be found. It is found that the presented model reasonably predicts both the deflection and voltage of the piezoelectric flag.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Phonon Prediction in Toroidal Carbon Nanotubes Using a Continuum Finite Element Approach

This work develops a tensor-based, reduced-order shell finite element formulation used to predict the phonon behavior of toroidal carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Displacements referencing two covariant basis vectors lying in the toroid’s tangent space, and one basis vector orthogonal to the tangent space, capture the kinematics of the toroidal CNT. These basis vectors compose a curvilinear coordinate system. Although specific attention is on toroidal CNTs, the formulation can be quickly adapted to cylindrical or other curvilinear CNTs by appropriate replacement of the metric tensor components and Christoffel symbols. The finite element procedure originates from a variational statement (Hamilton’s Principle) governing virtual work from internal, external (not considered), and inertial forces. Internal virtual work is related to changes in atomistic potential energy accounted for by an interatomic potential computed at reference area elements. Small virtual changes in the displacements allow a global mass and stiffness matrix to be computed, and these matrices then allow phonons to be predicted via the general eigenvalue problem. Results are generated for example toroidal CNTs documenting zero-energy behavior (rigid body motion) and the lowest phonons, which include the expected breathing-like and bending-like phonons.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Synthesis of Reovirus Structural Proteins

SummaryA study of the synthesis of structural viral proteins revealed that the majority of the major proteins were synthesized early during the infectious cycle. An exception was major component IIIb which was not made until 4 hr after infection. Analysis of the “soluble“ supernatants from the cytoplasm of infected cells revealed several new nonstructural viral components.This investigation was supported in part by Grant AI 07647 from Natl. Inst. of Allergy and Infect. Dis. and by the Brown-Hazen Fund of the Research Corporation.
Soteriology, Debt, and Faithful Witness: Four Theses for a Political Theology of Economic Democracy:

The essay seeks to understand what is theologically at stake when challenging the power of money in shaping our common life. To do so it sets out four theses, with commentary, that are suggestive o...
Mental Health Service Use in Adolescence: Findings From the National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Objective:This study examined mental health service use, by service type, of adolescents ages 12–17.Methods:Data were from approximately 113,000 adolescents who participated in the 2008–2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual nationally representative survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population. Polynomial contrasts tested for linear and quadratic changes across age in the use of three types of past-year mental health services: school-based services, outpatient therapist or clinic, and overnight hospital stay.Results:Although mental health service use increased from age 12 to age 14 across all service types, it decreased or stabilized from age 15 to 17. School-based services were the most commonly used service and showed the steepest decline in use from age 12 to 17.Conclusions:Although adolescence can be marked by an increasing prevalence of mental disorders, mental health service use declined or leveled off for many service types by age 14 or 15.
Timcodar (VX-853) Is a Non-FKBP12 Binding Macrolide Derivative That Inhibits PPARγ and Suppresses Adipogenesis

Nutrient overload and genetic factors have led to a worldwide epidemic of obesity that is the underlying cause of diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we used macrolide drugs such as FK506, rapamycin, and macrolide derived, timcodar (VX-853), to determine their effects on lipid accumulation during adipogenesis. Rapamycin and FK506 bind to FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs), such as FKBP12, which causes suppression of the immune system and inhibition of mTOR. Rapamycin has been previously reported to inhibit the adipogenic process and lipid accumulation. However, rapamycin treatment in rodents caused immune suppression and glucose resistance, even though the mice lost weight. Here we show that timcodar (1 μM), a non-FKBP12-binding drug, significantly () inhibited lipid accumulation during adipogenesis. A comparison of the same concentration of timcodar (1 μM) and rapamycin (1 μM) showed that both are inhibitors of lipid accumulation during adipogenesis. Importantly, timcodar potently () suppressed transcriptional regulators of adipogenesis, PPARγ and C/EBPα, resulting in the inhibition of genes involved in lipid accumulation. These studies set the stage for timcodar as a possible antiobesity therapy, which is rapidly emerging as a pandemic.
Determination for chromium in breast milk with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Objective To develop a method for the determination of chromium(Cr) in human breast milk by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry(GFAA). Methods Breast milk sample was treated with sealed digestion with high pressure,0.3% of magnesium nitrate solution as matrix modifier, determined by GFAA at 1 200 ℃ for ashing and 2 450 ℃ for atomization. Results The linear range was 0.5-10 μg/L(r=0.999 8) with detection limit of 0.35 μg/L and recovery rates of97.0%-103.2% and RSDs of less than 5%. Conclusions This method is sensitive,reliable and suitable for the determination of Cr in human breast milk.
Anatomic and Physiologic Aging : A Behavioral Neuroscience Perspective

Because hearing is accomplished by the brain (with neural input from the cochlea), presbyacusis can be ultimately accounted for by changes in brain activity that accompany aging. The anatomic and physiologic changes that accompany aging are of two basic types: the central effects of biological aging (CEBA) and the central effects of peripheral pathology (CEPP). Research using inbred mice and other animal models has provided insights into both CEPP and CEBA, and some implications of this research are reviewed, including the following. Age-related cochlear pathology results in changes in how frequency is "mapped" in the central auditory system (CAS), especially at higher anatomic levels, and this has potentially negative consequences for hearing. Aging and/or age-related hearing loss may impair neural inhibition in the CAS. CEPP may result in abnormalities in neural responses involved in binaural hearing and cause exaggerated "masking" of neural responses by noise. The extent of age-related anatomic change (CEBA and CEPP) varies among CAS subdivisions and accelerates during the terminal phase of life. Genes have been found to influence the time course and severity of presbyacusis as well as the role dietary restriction plays in ameliorating age-related hearing loss in mice.
Ancylostoma Larva in a muscle fiber of man Following Cutaneous Larva Migrans

Abstract This is a report of a case of massive cutaneous larva migrans in a 20-year-old man who also had pulmonary symptoms and larval invasion of the skeletal muscles. In sections of a muscle biopsy specimen taken 3 months after the initial cutaneous lesions, a third-stage Ancylostoma larva, probably A. caninum, was found within a muscle fiber.
Relationship between cytosolic free Ca2+ and Na+-Ca2+ exchange in aortic muscle cells

We examined the relationship between extracellular Na+ ([Na+]o) and cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in primary and passaged cultures of aortic muscle cells. Removing [Na+]o increased [Ca2+]i by approximately 10-fold in cells that were Na+ loaded. Decreasing [Na+]o from 140 to 32 mM caused the half-maximal increase in [Ca2+]i. [Ca2+]i exhibited a sigmoidal dependence on [Na+]o. Mg2+, a competitive inhibitor of Na2+-Ca2+ antiport in these cells, antagonized the increase in [Ca2+]i produced by lowering [Na+]o. High K+ decreased the potency of Mg2+ 6.5-fold as previously reported for Na+ gradient-dependent 45Ca2+ influx. In contrast to the Na+-loaded cells, removing [Na+]o caused no detectable change in [Ca2+]i in cells with normal Na+ even though the calculated electrochemical driving force for Na+-Ca2+ exchange was large enough to almost maximally increase [Ca2+]i in the Na+-loaded cells. We conclude that Na+-Ca2+ antiport activity is latent in the unstimulated cell at basal intracellular Na+ and Ca2+.
Changes in Income-Based Gaps in Parent Activities With Young Children From 1988 to 2012

Numerous studies show large differences between economically advantaged and disadvantaged parents in the quality and quantity of their engagement in young children’s development. This “parenting ga...
Simulating earthquake evacuation using human behavior models

Summary In classical earthquake risk assessment, the human behavior is actually not taken into account in risk assessment. Agent-based modeling is a simulation technique that has been applied recently in several fields, such as emergency evacuation. The paper is proposing a methodology that includes in agent-based models the human behavior, considering the anxiety effects generated by the crowd and their influence on the evacuation delays. The proposed model is able to take into account the interdependency between the earthquake evacuation process, and the corresponding damage of structural and non-structural components that is expressed in term of fragility curves. The software REPAST HPC has been used to implement the model, and as a case study, the earthquake evacuation by a mall located in Oakland has been used. The human behavior model has been calibrated through a survey using a miscellaneous sample from different countries. The model can be used to test future scenarios and help local authorities in situations where the human behavior plays a key role. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Critique [of Perception and Power Through Naming: Characters in Search of Self in the Fiction of Toni Morrison by Linda Buck Myers]

In “Stranger in the Village” (1953), James Baldwin asserted that “the root function of language is to control the universe by describing it.” In her article on naming in Toni Morrison9s novels, Linda Buck Myers asks us to consider Morrison9s insights regarding who does the controlling and how. In the end Myers offers us a number of useful and provocative observations regarding language and our uses of it as they inform ethnic experience.
Radiation Shielding and Protection, Part I: Measurement, Dosimetry, Shielding, and Protection

Shielding and protection are essential to the safe practice of radiation oncology, radiology, and other medical specialties that use radiation. Medical health physics is essentially the study and practice of radiation safety as it relates to the use of radiation in medicine. This encompasses two distinct areas: (1) physical methods of measuring and calculating radiation dose and (2) the regulatory environment. In this chapter the physics methods will be discussed. Areas discussed will include (1) radiation measurement and its associated devices; (2) radiation dosimetry, both external and internal; and (3) radiation shielding design.
Converging on a New Theoretical Foundation for Selling

AbstractThis article demonstrates that the sales literature is converging on a systemic and institutional perspective that recognizes that selling and value creation unfold over time and are embedded in broader social systems. This convergence illustrates that selling needs a more robust theoretical foundation. To contribute to this foundation, the authors draw on institutional theory and service-dominant logic to advance a service ecosystems perspective. This perspective leads them to redefine selling in terms of the interaction between actors aimed at creating and maintaining thin crossing points—the locations at which service can be efficiently exchanged for service—through the ongoing alignment of institutional arrangements and the optimization of relationships. This definition underscores how broad sets of human actors engage in selling processes, regardless of the roles that characterize them (e.g., firm, customer, stakeholder). A service ecosystems perspective reveals (1) that selling continues to ...
178 Differential Behavior of Porcine Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Bone Marrow and Adipose During Osteogenic Differentiation on a Glycosaminoglycan Hydrogel Scaffold for Bone and Cartilage Tissue Engineering

The pig is an ideal species for use in tissue engineering studies targeted towards repair of bone and cartilage defects. Novel collagen-glycosaminoglycan hydrogel (CG) scaffolds have shown promise for supporting bone and cartilage growth from mesenchymal stem cells. In order to determine the suitability of these scaffolds for use in porcine model systems for bone and cartilage tissue engineering, we have begun to investigate the behaviour of porcine mesenchymal stem cells on this material. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mesenchymal stem cells from adipose (ASC) and bone marrow (BMSC) form bone on a CG scaffold material. Primary BMSC and ASC from 6-month-old Yorkshire pigs were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) with 10% fetal bovine serum. The ASC and BMSC were then trypsinized at passage 4 or 5 and used to seed ~4-mm-diameter CG scaffolds with 2 million cells/scaffold. Scaffolds were seeded by suspending the cells in medium that had been equilibrated for 30 min, and then placing the CG scaffold into the medium. This method of seeding was determined to be most effective in previous experiments. Scaffolds were then cultured for 7 days in DMEM followed by 21 days in osteogenic media. At the conclusion of the incubation period, the diameter of the scaffolds was measured, and they were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and cryosectioned. Then, 10-µm sections were stained with Alizarin Red to assay for mineralization, a hallmark of osteogenic differentiation. Both ASC- and BMSC-loaded scaffolds showed Alizarin Red staining throughout the section after incubation, demonstrating that both undergo osteogenesis on the scaffold material (n = 4). During osteogenic differentiation, scaffolds seeded with both ASC and BMSC showed a decrease in diameter. Unseeded scaffolds showed no decrease in size when in media. The BMSC scaffolds demonstrated a more extensive decrease in size than ASC. The average diameter of ASC loaded scaffolds after differentiation was 2.49 ± 0.39 mm, and that of BMSC-loaded scaffolds was 1.47 ± 0 0.18 mm (n = 3, P < 0.05, Student’s t-test). This suggests a differential ability of ASC and BMSC to break down and metabolize the scaffold matrix, and may indicate that one cell type may be preferable to the other for repairing osteogenic defects using these scaffolds. Current experiments underway will analyse expression of matrix-degrading enzymes to determine the source of the difference between cell types in scaffold shrinkage during differentiation. We will also quantify mineralization in ASC- v. BMSC-loaded scaffolds and assay gene expression of osteogenic markers to determine if there is a difference in osteogenic potential between sources of mesenchymal stem cells on these scaffolds.
Perspectives in Primary Care: Knowing the Patient as a Person in the Precision Medicine Era.

The patient-physician interaction has changed. Physicians spend much of their time at the computer, examining radiographic images and laboratory test results and documenting in the electronic health record. While most patients express satisfaction with the use of computers in the clinical setting, a
Comparison of progress monitoring data from general outcome measures and specific subskill mastery measures for reading

Interventionists often monitor the progress of students receiving supplemental interventions with general outcome measures (GOMs) such as curriculum-based measurement of reading (CBM-R). However, some researchers have suggested that interventionists should collect data more closely related to instructional targets, specific subskill mastery measures (SSMMs) because outcomes from GOMs such as CBM-R may not be sufficiently sensitive to gauge intervention effects. In turn, interventionists may prematurely terminate an effective intervention or continue to deliver an ineffective intervention if they do not monitor student progress with the appropriate measure. However, such recommendations are based upon expert opinion or studies with serious methodological shortcomings. We used multi-variate multilevel modeling to compare pre-intervention intercepts and intervention slopes between GOM and SSMM data collected concurrently in a sample of 96 first, 44 second, and 53 third grade students receiving tier 2 phonics interventions. Statistically significant differences were observed between slopes from SSMM consonant-vowel-consonant words and CBM-R data. Statistically significant differences in slopes were not observed for consonant blend, digraph or consonant-vowel-consonant-silent e (CVCe) SSMMs. Results suggest that using word lists to monitor student response to instruction for early struggling readers is beneficial but as students are exposed to more complex phonetic patterns, the distinction between SSMMs and CBM-R become less meaningful.
Conversion of Glenohumeral Fusion to Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case Report.

Case: A 41-year-old woman presented 5 years after glenohumeral arthrodesis. She experienced symptomatic relief following conversion to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, regaining nearly full passive range of motion and >50% of normal active forward flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation. Conclusion: Conversion from glenohumeral arthrodesis to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in a patient with a functioning deltoid and adequate bone stock may provide symptomatic relief and improved function in the setting of symptomatic glenohumeral arthrodesis refractory to conservative measures.
Incidence of cardiac fibrosis in SUDEP and control cases

Objective Since cardic fibrosis was previously found more frequently in patients with sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) than control cases, we compared blinded and quantitative reviews of cardiac pathology in SUDEP to multiple control groups. Methods We adjudicated causes of death in epilepsy patients as part of consecutive out-of-hospital sudden cardiac deaths (SCDs) from the Postmortem Systematic Investigation of Sudden Cardiac Death (POSTSCD) study. Blinded cardiac gross and microscopic examinations were performed by forensic and cardiac pathologists. Results Of 541 SCDs over 37 months (mean age 62.8 years, 69% male), 525 (97%) were autopsied; 25/525 (4.8%) had epilepsy (mean age 56.4 years ± 15.4, range 27–92; 67% male). The 25 epilepsy patients died of definite SUDEP/definite SUDEP-plus (n = 8), possible SUDEP (n = 10), or other causes (n = 7). Comparison groups included autopsy-defined sudden arrhythmic death (SAD; n = 285) and trauma (n = 104) and we adjusted for age, sex, HIV, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and cardiomyopathy in the analyses. Compared to SAD cases, SUDEP cases had less gross and histologic evidence of cardiac pathology; significant for cardiac mass ( p p p = 0.022), and interstitial CF ( p = 0.013). Compared to trauma cases, SUDEP cases had similar cardiac pathology including CF. Conclusion Among SUDEP cases, cardiac pathology was less severe than in SAD cases but similar to trauma and epilepsy controls. Our data do not support prior studies finding elevated rates of CF among SUDEP cases compared to controls. Larger studies including molecular analyses would further our understanding of cardiac changes associated with SUDEP.
Endovascular Treatment of Vasospasm

Cerebral vasospasm of the major arterial vessels at the base of the brain can occur acutely and usually transiently at the time of subarachnoid hemorrhage or in a delayed manner peaking at 10–14 days later. As a clinical problem vasospasm is most commonly encountered following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, but can also be seen following other causes of bleeding including trauma, arteriovenous malformations, and tumors.1 The exact pathophysiology of vasospasm is uncertain but involves the products of clot degradation in the basal cisterns, especially oxyhemoglobin.2
Ordered structural matching

A structural description of an object is a representation of the object that lists its parts, their attributes, and their interrelationships. Structural descriptions can be used to represent object models or to represent information extracted from an image of an object. Structural matching is the process of comparing two structural descriptions to determine how similar they are. Matching a structural description extracted from an image to one representing an object model can tell us whether the object in the image is an instance of the object being modeled. Matching two structural descriptions, one from each of the images of a stereo pair can determine the correspondences between the images. Matching two structural descriptions of object models can determine the similarities between the models for purposes of organizing a database of models.
Using Gibbs Samplers to Compute Bayesian Posterior Distributions

In Chapter 8, we introduced the fundamental ideas of Bayesian inference, in which prior distributions on parameters are used together with data to obtain posterior distributions and thus interval estimates of parameters. However, in practice, Bayesian posterior distributions are often difficult to compute.
The Standard Business Deduction

This paper describes a proposal for a standard business deduction ("SBD") for small businesses. The SBD would work like the regular standard deduction. The latter is a fixed amount that is claimed in lieu of claiming itemized deductions below the line. The SBD would be a fixed amount that is claimed above the line in lieu of deducting actual business expenses. Taxpayers claiming the SBD would report their gross business earnings, subtract the SBD, and arrive at net business income. No Schedule C would be necessary. Like the regular standard deduction, claiming the SBD would be optional for the taxpayer. If a taxpayer’s actual business expenses exceeded the SBD, he could instead opt to claim those expenses. An SBD would greatly simplify the tax system for small business owners. Taxpayers who chose to claim it could be relieved of the burden of tracking business expenses during the year and could self-prepare their tax returns without the need for expensive tax preparation assistance. Not only would the SBD reduce socially wasteful taxpayer compliance costs, but it would also reduce IRS enforcement costs. Such simplification should be attractive to policymakers on both sides of the aisle and would benefit the government and taxpayers alike.
Demonstration of acoustic landmine detection using a clamped soil plate oscillator with airborne sound excitation

Landmine detection in gravel road beds, soil, or sand for some mines (constructed out of plastic) are difficult to detect using ground penetrating radar. In acoustic landmine detection, one would like to remotely detect a vibration profile across the surface of the soil (sand or gravel) due to the interaction between a large soil column and the localized elastic top plate. In an idealized laboratory experiment, the soil plate oscillator (SPO) apparatus models an idealization of an acoustic landmine detection experiment. The clamped circular acrylic plate (1/8 in. thick) models the top plate of a plastic buried mine while the soil column (350 g dry sifted masonry sand) supported by the plate models the burial depth. A constant current amplified sinusoidal chirp from a sweep spectrum analyzer drives two three inch diam speakers (placed above the column) generating airborne excitation. A laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) measured the rms particle velocity at 15 scan locations across the 4.5 inch diameter soil surface in sweeps between 50 Hz and 1250 Hz. The LDV-microphone frequency response vs. scan position is used to extract a response profile at any individual frequency. These mixed mode shapes are compared for both in-phase and out-of-phase excitation.Landmine detection in gravel road beds, soil, or sand for some mines (constructed out of plastic) are difficult to detect using ground penetrating radar. In acoustic landmine detection, one would like to remotely detect a vibration profile across the surface of the soil (sand or gravel) due to the interaction between a large soil column and the localized elastic top plate. In an idealized laboratory experiment, the soil plate oscillator (SPO) apparatus models an idealization of an acoustic landmine detection experiment. The clamped circular acrylic plate (1/8 in. thick) models the top plate of a plastic buried mine while the soil column (350 g dry sifted masonry sand) supported by the plate models the burial depth. A constant current amplified sinusoidal chirp from a sweep spectrum analyzer drives two three inch diam speakers (placed above the column) generating airborne excitation. A laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) measured the rms particle velocity at 15 scan locations across the 4.5 inch diameter soil s...
Molecular mechanics of mechanochemical TiCL4 reduction in ball mills

Despite their superior properties, titanium powders are underused because past production methods have made them too expensive. Near-continuous mechanochemical production in ball mills could allow high-grade titanium powders to approach stainless steel powder prices. Furthermore, mechanochemically produced titanium powders are nano grain sized, leading to beneficial nano-crystalline powder metallurgy products. One reason that near-continuous titanium production could be achieved is that liquid TiCl4 and magnesium powder slurry feeds easily into a ball mill. The objective was to develop models for near-continuous mechanochemical reduction strategies. The procedure was to make titanium powder in pilot-scale ball mills and to evaluate the observed kinetics using molecular-mechanics models. The results were strategies to optimize near-continuous production and lower cost. The authors concluded that molecular mechanics was a useful tool in developing such strategies.