cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlocalized Receptivity to Vortical Free-Stream Disturbances

Perturbation methods are used to analyze the nonlocalized receptivity of a Blasius boundary layer over a wavy surface. At first order two modes are calculated: a steady wall mode resulting from the surface waviness, and an unsteady vortical mode resulting from a free-stream disturbance. These modes interact at second order to produce a forced traveling-wave mode. Receptivity results from an energy transfer between the forced traveling-wave mode and the eigenmode when the forcing is near resonance. Total receptivity amplitudes are an order of magnitude larger than for localized vortical receptivity, but an order of magnitude smaller than for nonlocalized acoustic receptivity.
Dynamic Imperfect Market Models

A large portion of financial theory and modeling neglects the presence of imperfections in financial markets. This is something that one would expect since the inclusion of market imperfections significantly increases the complexity of any model, and qualitatively alters the problem under consideration. The sources for such imperfections are directly connected with the nature of financial trading, and they appear as transaction costs, taxes, and/or price policy interventions. The presence of practically any friction in the market can dramatically change the type of financial modeling that is needed. Nevertheless, practice suggests that imperfections are a source of concern for all participants in the market, and, consequently, realistic models that can incorporate them are needed.
Role of MUC16 (CA125) in the Pathogenesis of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer, known formidably as the “silent killer”, is the most deadly of gynecological cancers in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of cancer related death in women (Jemal et al. 2006). More than 25,000 new cases of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) are reported each year, responsible for 14,000 to 15,000 deaths annually in the United States. The deep anatomic location of the ovaries and vague symptoms of the disease make early diagnosis difficult, and there is no accurate diagnostic marker or screening test. Thus, most patients are diagnosed at a late stage, which accounts for the high mortality rate of this disease. Ninety percent of EOC cases could be cured with surgery and currently available chemotherapy if diagnosed at stage 1; however, only 19% of cases are diagnosed at this stage (Jemal et al. 2006). The current 5 year survival rate for all cases is only 45% (Jemal et al. 2006).
Epidemiology of Germ Cell Tumors

Pediatric malignant germ cell tumors (GCTs) represent approximately 3 % of childhood cancers. Incidence is increasing in certain subgroups, and the etiology remains poorly understood. Evidence suggests that GCTs, including those in adults, are initiated in utero. Thus, alterations in normal embryonic development are likely to be especially relevant to GCT etiology. Potential risk factors that have been evaluated for pediatric GCT include parental demographic characteristics; in utero exposure to hormones and pesticides; maternal reproductive history; parental smoking, occupation, and alcohol consumption; and congenital abnormalities (Chen et al., Int J Hyg Environ Health 209:31–40, 2006; Chen et al., Cancer 103:1064–1071, 2005a; Chen et al., Am J Epidemiol 162:858–867, 2005b; Fajardo-Gutierrez et al., Gac Med Mex 134:273–281, 1998; Johnston et al., Carcinogenesis 7:717–722, 1986; Shankar et al., Cancer 106:1169–1177, 2006; Shu et al., Cancer Causes Control 6:187–198, 1995; Swerdlow et al., Br J Cancer 55:571–577, 1987; Walker et al., Br J Cancer 57:418–422, 1988); however, none has emerged as a consistent risk factor. Family history of testicular cancer and cryptorchidism are two well-established risk factors for adult testicular GCT (Sarma et al., Testicular cancer. In: Schottenfeld D, Fraumeni Jr. JE (eds) Cancer epidemiology and prevention, 3rd edn. New York, Oxford University Press, pp 1159–1160, 2006). Genetic susceptibility is of particular interest for adult TGCTs given the strong evidence supporting a hereditary basis for this cancer (Forman et al., Br J Cancer 65:255–262, 1992), and recent genome-wide association studies have identified susceptibility alleles for TGCT in several genes with relevance to normal germ cell development (Kanetsky et al., Nat Genet 41:811–815, 2009; Kanetsky et al., Hum Mol Genet 20:3109–3117, 2011; Rapley, Int J Androl 30:242–250, 2007; Turnbull et al., Nat Genet 42:604–607, 2010). Malignant GCTs in adult females are extremely rare with incidence rates well below 1 per 100,000 women in most countries; therefore, little is known about the etiology of these tumors.
Acetabular Retroversion Is a Risk Factor for Less Optimal Outcome After Femoroacetabular Impingement Surgery.

Abstract Background Patients with acetabular retroversion are at risk of labral tear and hip pain. It is unknown whether femoroacetabular osteoplasty (FAO) without reverse periacetabular osteotomy can be used in these patients. This study evaluated the outcome of mini-open FAO in patients with acetabular retroversion and compared that to patients without acetabular retroversion. Methods Fifty-one patients (29 male, 22 female) with acetabular retroversion who had undergone FAO between 2007 and 2015 were identified. The minimum 2-year clinical and radiological outcome was compared with 550 patients without dysplasia or retroversion who underwent FAO by the same surgeon. The preoperative and postoperative alpha angle, center-edge angle, Tonnis grade, joint space, and presence of labral tear and chondral lesion were determined. Results The mean age in the retroversion cohort was 27.4 ± 9.5 years compared to 34.5 ± 11.2 years in the control. The mean follow-up was 4.8 ± 1.5 years for retroversion and 4.1 ± 1.2 years for the control. The mean preoperative Short-Form 36 Health Survey and modified Harris hip score were not different between the cohorts. At the latest follow-up, the mean modified Harris hip score and Short-Form 36 Health Survey were significantly lower in the retroversion group (75.4 and 76.5) compared to the control (83.4 and 85.6). There was a higher percentage of failure among retroversion patients (13.7%) compared to the control (2.5%). Conclusion Acetabular retroversion resulting in femoroacetabular impingent may be treated by FAO, but the outcome appears to be less optimal compared to patients with femoroacetabular impingent and no evidence of dysplasia and acetabular retroversion. Hip preservation surgeons should be aware of this anatomic variation and possible inferior treatment results after FAO in these patients.
A Neural Network Correction to the Scalar Approximation in Radiative Transfer

AbstractThe next generation of advanced high-resolution sensors in geostationary orbit will gather detailed information for studying the Earth system. There is an increasing desire to perform obser...
Machine Learning for Rapid Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting Tissue Property Quantification

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based method that can provide quantitative maps of multiple tissue properties simultaneously from a single rapid acquisition. Tissue property maps are generated by matching the complex signal evolutions collected at the scanner to a dictionary of signals derived using the Bloch equation simulations. However, in some circumstances, the process of dictionary generation and signal matching can be time-consuming, reducing the utility of this technique. Recently, several groups have proposed using machine learning to accelerate the extraction of quantitative maps from the MRF data. This article will provide an overview of current research that combines MRF and machine learning, as well as present original research demonstrating how machine learning can speed up dictionary generation for cardiac MRF (cMRF).
Tweenhood: femininity and celebrity in tween popular culture

Tweenhood: femininity and celebrity in tween popular culture by Melanie Kennedy discusses how the forces of (post)feminism and femininity align in the making of gendered tween identity. Through cha...
The many ways of speaking as ‘I’: Wuna Wu’s first-person documentaries from Taiwan

ABSTRACTTouted as a representative of the ‘Me’ generation of documentary makers in twenty-first-century Taiwan, Wuna Wu has appeared as both filmmaker and social actor in her documentaries. Even wh...
Current illicit drug use profile of orthopaedic trauma patients and its effect on hospital length of stay.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of illicit drug use among patients admitted with traumatic orthopaedic injuries and to determine its effect on hospital length of stay (LOS). We hypothesized that patients with pre-injury drug use would have a longer hospital LOS compared to those who do not use drugs. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study at our level 1 urban trauma center of patients admitted with traumatic orthopaedic injuries between 2013 and 2015 with urine toxicology screening. We collected demographic and hospital LOS data from chart review. Results Of 611 patients, over half (55%) had a positive drug screen: marijuana (41%), amphetamine (19%), cocaine (7%), and/or PCP (2%). The highest incidence of drug use was in males under 19 years of age (81%). Patients with any drug use had a longer hospital LOS compared to those who did not use drugs (8.3 vs. 6.3 days; p = 0.03). Patients who used amphetamines had a longer hospital LOS than those patients who did not (9.5 vs. 6.9 days; p = 0.01). Conclusion Compared to the orthopaedic trauma population two decades ago, the current population using illicit drugs is younger (
Increased Expression of Chondroitin Sulfotransferases following AngII may Contribute to Pathophysiology Underlying Covid-19 Respiratory Failure: Impact may be Exacerbated by Decline in Arylsulfatase B Activity

Abstract The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to respiratory epithelium through the ACE2 receptor, an endogenous receptor for Angiotensin II (AngII). The mechanisms by which this viral infection leads to hypoxia and respiratory failure have not yet been elucidated. Interactions between the sulfated glycosaminoglycans heparin and heparan sulfate and the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein have been identified as participating in viral adherence and infectivity. In this brief report, we present data indicating that stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cells by AngII leads to increased expression of two chondroitin sulfotransferases (CHST11 and CHST15), which are required for the synthesis of the sulfated glycosaminoglycans chondroitin 4-sulfate (C4S) and chondroitin 4,6-disulfate (CSE). We suggest that increased expression of these chondroitin sulfotransferases and the ensuing production of chondroitin sulfates may contribute to viral adherence to bronchioalveolar cells and to the progression of respiratory disease in Covid-19. The enzyme Arylsulfatase B (ARSB; N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase), which removes 4-sulfate groups from the non-reducing end of chondroitin 4-sulfate residues, is required for degradation of C4S and CSE. In hypoxic conditions or following treatment with chloroquine, ARSB activity is reduced. Decline in ARSB can contribute to ongoing accumulation and airway obstruction by C4S and CSE. Decline in ARSB leads to increased expression of Interleukin(IL)-6 in human bronchial epithelial cells, and IL-6 is associated with cytokine storm in Covid-19. These findings indicate how chondroitin sulfates, chondroitin sulfotransferases, and chondroitin sulfatases may participate in the progression of hypoxic respiratory insufficiency in Covid-19 disease and suggest new therapeutic targets.
Are You Really Happy to See Me? Asymmetric Perceptions of the Ethicality of Emotional Deception

Prior work has defined emotional deception as the inauthentic display of a felt emotion. We demonstrate that the directionality of an inauthentic emotional display profoundly influences perceptions...
Liver-lung axes in alcohol-related liver disease

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and alcohol-related susceptibility to acute lung injury are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality due to chronic alcohol abuse. Most commonly, alcohol-induced injury to both organs are evaluated independently, although they share many parallel mechanisms of injury. Moreover, recent studies indicate that there is a potential liver lung axis that may contribute to organ pathology. This mini-review explores established and potential mechanisms of organ-organ crosstalk in ALD and alcohol-related lung injury.
The effects of limb position and external load on offline myoelectric pattern recognition control

Limb position and load are factors that negatively affect myoelectric pattern recognition. While these effects have been studied separately, it remains unclear how limb position affects pattern recognition when limb load changes, and vice versa. Understanding this relationship will aid the development of algorithms and training protocols that allow prosthesis users to reliably grab and manipulate objects in various limb positions. We evaluated the effects of limb position and external load on offline pattern recognition accuracy in fourteen intact limb subjects and five below-elbow amputee subjects. Three clinically viable training methods were used to determine if training protocols can mitigate the negative effects of limb position and load. We found that limb position and load effects are independent in intact limb subjects, but are dependent in amputee subjects based on how the controller is trained. Although the advanced training protocols did not eliminate the limb position and load effects in most cases, they were able to reduce the effects and improve performance without increasing training time.
A Passionate Pursuit of Justice: Towards an Ethics of Islamic Feminist Research Practice

Feminist theorizations of care have been central to feminist research practices. Nevertheless, this article argues that feminist theorizations of care have not addressed how a feminist committed to breaking down hierarchies between research participants and herself can carefully study ambiguous activism. By illuminating the similarities, overlaps, and differences between feminist and Islamic theorizations and practices of care and justice, this article forges an ethic of Islamic feminist research practice that supports the author’s investigation of a precarious movement—Iran’s Hezbollah. The article places feminist thought in conversation with the study of gender and religion, which is an urgent interdisciplinary task.
Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) seasonally dominates NO3− reduction pathways in an anthropogenically impacted sub-tropical coastal lagoon

Sediments have an important role in nutrient dynamics by providing sites for denitrification, which, in conjunction with nitrogen (N) fixation and other processes such as dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), can regulate ecosystem N availability. Little Lagoon, Alabama, USA, is affected by anthropogenic perturbations and has N inputs from nitrate (NO3 −)-contaminated submarine groundwater discharge. N cycle pathways (N-fixation, denitrification, anammox, and DNRA) and benthic fluxes were measured at three sites over a year to investigate the hypothesis that DNRA, by producing ammonium (NH4 +) as a dissimilatory end product of NO3 − reduction, was a significant process retaining bioavailable fixed N in Little Lagoon. DNRA was found to be an important NO3 − reduction pathway, especially in the summer months (study average: 52.1 μmol N m−2 h−1) compared to denitrification (study average 7.7 μmol N m−2 h−1). Sulfidic sediments during the majority of the year interfere with denitrification and result in decreased N loss through denitrification. The conversion of NO3 − to the more biologically preferred form of N, NH4 + via DNRA, means that NO3 − reduction has considerable nourishing potential and likely will affect both ecosystem function and services. These results indicate that NO3 − reduction may contribute to, rather than counteract, eutrophication during warm summers in estuaries receiving high N inputs. As estuarine sediments provide a key ecosystem function of N removal, excess anthropogenic N input jeopardizes their ability to effectively remove reactive N in Little Lagoon and likely in other impacted ecosystems.
Calculation of exit gradients at drainage ditches

Seepage gradients play an important role in the detachment of soil particles from the side walls of stream channels and drainage ditches. Most seepage studies have focused on water losses. Relatively few have addressed the determination of these gradients as causes of soil loss and incipient gully development. This paper presents the methodology of calculating these gradients on any point of the soil-water interface of a subsurface flow system, for which a close-form analytical solution was obtained (Romkens 2009). Such a solution was derived using conformal transformations for a situation in which a ponded surface drains by subsurface flow into a ditch with a water table lower than that of the ponded surface. The derived relationships allow a close estimate of the soil detachment forces on the wetted drainage perimeter of the stream system.
Modeling of finite-size droplets and particles in multiphase flows

Abstract The conventional point-particle approach for treating the dispersed phase in a continuous flowfield is extended by taking into account the effect of finite particle size, using a Gaussian interpolation from Lagrangian points to the Eulerian field. The inter-phase exchange terms in the conservation equations are distributed over the volume encompassing the particle size, as opposed to the Dirac delta function generally used in the point-particle approach. The proposed approach is benchmarked against three different flow configurations in a numerical framework based on large eddy simulation (LES) turbulence closure. First, the flow over a circular cylinder is simulated for a Reynolds number of 3900 at 1 atm pressure. Results show good agreement with experimental data for the mean streamwise velocity and the vortex shedding frequency in the wake region. The calculated flowfield exhibits correct physics, which the conventional point-particle approach fails to capture. The second case deals with diesel jet injection in quiescent environment over a pressure range of 1.1–5.0 MPa. The calculated jet penetration depth closely matches measurements. It decreases with increasing chamber pressure, due to enhanced drag force in a denser fluid environment. Finally, water and acetone jet injection normal to air crossflow is studied at 1 atm. The calculated jet penetration and Sauter mean diameter of liquid droplets compare very well with measurements.
Response by Jeffrey D. Scargle

Dr. Speed makes a very good inquiry: “What astronomical questions... might be better or differently answered using models that can exhibit chaos?” I think there are two answers, depending on whether the astronomer is an observer or a theoretician.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH—ENDOCRINOLOGY: The Physiological Role of Androgens in Penile Erection: Regulation of Corpus Cavernosum Structure and Function

It is generally accepted that androgens are critical for development, growth, and maintenance of penile erectile tissue. However, their role in erectile function, especially in humans, remains controversial. Clinical and preclinical studies have suggested that venoocclusion is modulated by the tone of the vascular smooth muscle of the resistance arteries and the cavernosal tissue and a balance between trabecular smooth muscle content and connective tissue matrix. In men with erectile dysfunction, venous leakage is thought to be a common condition among nonresponders to medical management and is attributed to penile smooth muscle atrophy. In the animal model, androgen deprivation produces penile tissue atrophy concomitant with alterations in dorsal nerve structure, endothelial morphology, reduction in trabecular smooth muscle content, and increased deposition of extracellular matrix. Further, androgen deprivation results in accumulation of fat-containing cells (adipocytes) in the subtunical region of the corpus cavernosum. Androgen deficiency diminishes protein expression and enzymatic activity of nitric oxide synthases (eNOS and nNOS) and phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). The androgen-dependent loss of erectile response is restored by androgen administration but not by administration of PDE5 inhibitors alone. These data suggest that androgens regulate trabecular smooth muscle growth and connective tissue protein synthesis in the corpus cavernosum. Further, androgens may stimulate differentiation of progenitor cells into smooth muscle cells and inhibit their differentiation into adipocytes. Thus, we conclude that androgens exert a direct effect on penile tissue to maintain erectile function and that androgen-deficiency produces a metabolic and structural imbalance in the corpus cavernosum, resulting in venous leakage and erectile dysfunction. .
An Overview of HP-SL

The Software Engineering Department of HP Labs is developing and applying a small but powerful specification language, HP- SL. This project report provides an overview of the language, its supporting tools and the way in which it is being applied.
Special Education Teachers' Perceptions and Beliefs Regarding Homeschooling Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The increase in individuals and students being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been significant in recent years, and teachers are finding themselves needing to work with students for which they may be inadequately prepared. More and more parents of children with ASD are concerned with the education programming and preparedness for the future available through the public school system, and are turning to homeschooling as the option that works for their family. Because homeschooling options are many, and communication may be important in order to provide the best program for children with ASD, a need was identified to survey teachers regarding their perceptions and beliefs regarding homeschooling children with ASD. Fifty-two special education teachers from eight states participated in this study. Results indicated that there was no difference in perceptions and beliefs among teachers who have and have not had experience with homeschooling. Results also indicated that teachers were concerned that the children were missing out on academics and social opportunities, and did not seem to consider the flexibility and individual possibilities homeschooling provides.
Women in surgical residency training programs.

Background Increasing numbers of women are entering surgical fields. The purpose of this study was to assess whether orthopaedic surgery is significantly different from other surgical fields in the recruitment of women to training programs. Methods We analyzed data from the American Association of Medical Colleges as reported in annual issues on medical education in the Journal of the American Medical Association for the years 1970 to 2001, excluding 1975. Using linear regression models, we analyzed two factors: changes in the percentage of women within orthopaedic residencies (i.e., the ratio of men to women) and changes in the percentage of all female residents who choose to enter orthopaedics compared with other types of surgical residencies. Results The percentage of women in the entering classes of medical school has increased from 11.1% in 1970 to 47.8% in 2001, while the percentage of women in orthopaedics has increased from 0.6% in 1970 to 9.0% in 2001. Orthopaedic residencies have the lowest percentage of women compared with all other primary surgical specialties. Only thoracic surgery, a field entered secondarily after the completion of general surgical training, has a lower percentage. The increases in the percentage of women in orthopaedics over the past thirty years have been significantly lower than those in every other primary surgical field (including general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and urology), except neurosurgery, and are markedly different from the percentages of women in the entering classes of medical school. The percentage of all female residents who choose an orthopaedic residency is 0.6%, a number that has not changed over the past twenty years. Conclusions Orthopaedic surgery has not had the same success in recruiting female trainees that other surgical fields have had. Furthermore, there appears to be a leveling of the recruitment rate over the past two decades, indicating that the higher numbers of women entering medicine will not be sufficient to improve gender representation in orthopaedic surgery training.
Fundaciones contingentes: el feminismo y la cuestión del «post-modernismo»

Este articulo, titulado «Contingent Foundations: Feminism and the Question of Post-Modernism», fue traducido del libro Feminist Contentions. A Philosophical Exchange, de Seyla Benhabib, Judith Butler, Drucilla Cornell y Nancy Fraser. (New York: Routledge, 1995). (N. de la T.)Traduccion: Gabriela Castellanos LlanosCentro de Estudios de Genero, Mujer y SociedadUniversidad del Valle
A case study and comprehensive differential diagnosis and care plan for the three Ds of women's health: Primary dysmenorrhea, secondary dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia

Abstract Purpose: To provide a case study for the discussion, diagnosis, management, and comprehensive plan of care for primary dysmenorrhea, secondary dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia for the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) working in primary care. Data sources: Selected text, research, clinical articles, and personal communication with expert APRNs. Conclusions: Three of the most commonly presenting women's health related conditions include primary dysmenorrhea, secondary dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia. These conditions can present a challenge in developing an accurate differential diagnosis and appropriate plan of care. This article presents the reader with a detailed case study that provides an analysis of each potential differential diagnosis with rationale. A recommended diagnostic and therapeutic plan of care is included for the reader's review. Implications for practice: If left untreated, primary dysmenorrhea, secondary dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia can result in pain, suffering, and impaired fertility and sexual function. Patients frequently experience symptoms for months to years prior to accurate diagnosis.
MHC II on transfused murine blood is not required for alloimmunization against MHC I

Background and Objectives Transfusion of allogeneic platelet products can result in antibodies against donor major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I antigens, leading to a refractory state to subsequent platelet transfusions. However, there is disagreement in the field regarding the molecular mechanisms of humoral alloimmunization. One hypothesis states that donor MHC II is a requirement for alloimmunization. However, other studies have suggested that donor MHC I is alone sufficient and MHC II is not required. Materials and Methods We utilized a mouse model of anti-MHC I alloimmunization to transfused blood, which employed donors with a complete deletion of all MHC II genes. BALB/c (H-2d) recipients were transfused with blood from either C57BL/6 (H-2b) or MHC II null donors on a C57BL/6 background. Anti-MHC I alloimmunization was monitored by indirect immunofluorescence. Results Recipients of either wild type or MHC II null blood produced equivalent humoral responses against donor MHC I antigens. However, there was variation in the relative amounts of IgG subclasses. Conclusion These data reject the hypothesis that donor MHC II expression is required for alloimmunization to MHC I antigens.
Transition metal ions in glasses: Network modifiers or quasi-molecular complexes?

Abstract Transition metal ions dissolve in silicate, phosphate, and borate glasses as molecular units, quasi-molecular complexes, and occupants of large, framework structure-controlled sites depending on size and ionic charge. Raman spectra and optical absorption spectra support this hypothesis and offer a new interpretation for the assignment of certain transition metal ions to tetrahedral sites in the glass structure.
HIPAA and the military health system: organizing technological and organizational reform in large enterprises

The global scale, multiple units, diverse operating scenarios and complex authority structure of the Department of Defense Military Health System (MHS) create social boundaries that tend to reduce communication and collaboration about data security. Under auspices of the Defense Health Information Assurance Program (DHIAP), the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) is contributing to the MHS's efforts to prepare for and comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 through organizational and technological innovations that bridge such boundaries. Building interdisciplinary (clinical, administrative and information technology) medical information security readiness teams (MISRT) at each military treatment facility (MTF) constitutes the heart of this process. DHIAP is equipping and training MISRTs to use new tools including 'OCTAVE', a self-directed risk assessment instrument and 'RIMR', a web-enabled Risk Information Management Resource. DHIAP sponsors an interdisciplinary, triservice workgroup for review and revision of relevant DoD and service policies and participates in formal DoD health information assurance activities. These activities help promote a community of proponents across the MHS supportive of improved health information assurance. The MHS HIPAA-compliance effort teaches important general lessons about organizational reform in large civilian or military enterprises.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of electrode configurations in transcranial direct current stimulation after stroke

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation that can modulate neuroplasticity (the capacity for brain reorganization). Neuroplastic change correlates with upper extremity (UE) recovery after brain lesions. Different electrode configurations of tDCS paired with UE motor training can have different effects in distinct populations. We are conducting the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate which tDCS configuration may best enhance outcomes of UE motor training for stroke survivors with chronic, severe hemiparesis (i.e., little or no wrist or hand movement). We have assigned subjects to 1 of 4 groups: 1) “Anodal”: anodal tDCS to excite ipsilesional motor cortex; 2) “Cathodal”: cathodal tDCS to inhibit contralesional motor cortex; 3) “Dual”: a simultaneous combination of anodal and cathodal tDCS; or 4) “Sham” tDCS. Intervention (10 sessions) consists of tDCS followed by 3 hours of intensive, task-oriented UE training in each session. Our primary outcome measure is Fugl-Meyer Assessment. Our secondary outcome measures are Action Research Arm Test and Stroke Impact Scale. We have conducted evaluations at baseline and post-intervention. Preliminary results from 26 of (projected) 44 subjects indicate substantially greater improvement for the “Cathodal” group than other groups. These findings differ from evidence about tDCS in rehabilitation of mild-to-moderate hemiparesis. Completion of our study will include full analysis of neuroplastic change associated with intervention.
Correlation between the mechanical properties and the homogeneity of some photopolymerized acrylic/methacrylic networks1

Proton T 1ρ data obtained by CP/MAS solid-state 13 C NMR at 100.56 MHz for different polyacrylate networks were correlated with their mechanical properties in order to determine the best mixture in terms of stress-at-break (σ), Young's modulus of elasticity (Y), and homogeneity of the monomers that are forming the solid network. The mixtures were formed by the photopolymerization of 40% trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), 40% dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate (DPHPA), and 20% of a monomer from a series of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(ethylene) dimethacrylate. Proton T 1ρ 's in networks were not quite averaged to a single value by spin diffusion as in polymer blends, indicating extensive intermixing of TMPTA and DPHPA in forming the network, but with phase separation between the dimethacrylate homopolymer and the rest of the network that is dependent on the laser power. The stress-at-break and the Young's modulus of elasticity were determined for each of the mixtures at different values of the laser power used for the polymerization.
Anisotropy of Space and the Orientation of Planetary Orbits in the Milky Way Galaxy

Gravitational forces are calculated for a planet moving with the sun in the Milky Way galaxy, using the linearized Einstein theory. Two terms are found to be anisotropic: one may be called a “gravitomagnetic force”, and the other is expressed as an anisotropic effective mass of a planet experiencing the Newtonian gravitational force exerted by the sun. In the direction of constellation Cygnus the effective mass of a planet of intrinsic mass m is m (1+(1/2) P ), and it is m (1-(1/2) P ) in the other directions. The polarization P is the anisotropy of space and has magnitude of 1.0×10 -12 (M. Mizushima: J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 61 (1992) 1125). Because of this “anisotropic-mass effect” the equilibrium orientation of planetary orbits is in the plane perpendicular to the direction of Cygnus. The gravitomagnetic force shifts the equilibrium orientation of the planetary orbital plane to the direction perpendicular to constellation Lyra. Thus, the present orientation of the planetary orbital plane is understood as the...
Stakeholder Management Capability: A Discourse–Theoretical Approach

Since its inception, Stakeholder Management Capability (SMC) has constituted a powerful hermeneutic through which business organizations have understood and leveraged stakeholder relationships. On this model, achieving a high level of capability largely depends on managerial ability to effectively bargain with stakeholders and establish solidarity vis-a-vis the successful negotiation, implementation, and execution of "win–win" transactional exchanges. Against this account, it is rightly pointed out that a transactional explanation of stakeholder relationships, regarded by many as the bottom line for stakeholder management, fails to provide managerial direction regarding how to resolve a variety of normative stakeholder claims that resist commoditization. In response to this issue, this paper has two overlapping goals. It seeks to elaborate a discourse theoretical approach to the problem by first drawing out Jurgen Habermas’ theory of communicative action and delineating the various types of rational discourse. Second, the paper attempts to present concrete implications for SMC relative to reshaping the contours of rational, process, and transactional analysis in light of central discourse theoretical conclusions.
Distributed, multi-user, multi-application, and multi-sensor data fusion over named data networks

Named Data Networking (NDN) routes data based on their application-layer content names enabling location independence, in-network caching, and enhanced security. A proof-of-concept solution is presented that demonstrates the applicability of NDN for multi-user, multi-application, and multi-sensor data-fusion systems. The system consists of a collaborative network of weather radars name data based on their geographic location and weather feature (e.g., reflectivity of clouds and wind velocity). This enables end users to specify an area of interest for a particular weather feature while being oblivious to the placement of radars and associated computing facilities. Conversely, the data-fusion system can also use its knowledge about the underlying system to decide the best sensing and data processing strategies. Such sensor-independent names also enhance resilience, enable processing data close to the source, and benefit from NDN features such as in-network caching and duplicate query suppression, consequently reducing the bandwidth requirements of the entire data-fusion system. The solution is implemented as an overlaid NDN enabling the benefits of both the NDN and overlay networks. Simulation-based analysis using reflectivity data from an actual weather event showed 84% reduction in peak bandwidth consumption of radars and 95% reduction in peak query resolution latency.
The United States of the United Races: A Utopian History of Racial Mixing Greg Carter. New York: New York University Press, 2013.

The United States of the United Races: A Utopian History of Racial Mixing Greg Carter. New York: New York University Press, 2013.In this seven-chapter history, Greg Carter traces the trajectory of political and philosophical conversations about Americans of mixed race (the term Carter prefers to use rather than "multi-racial") since the post-revolutionary era of the United States. Taking inspiration for the book's title from Wendell Phillips's "The United States of United Races" essay (60), Carter aims to enumerate and examine the statesmen, writers, and other luminaries who "praised mixture as a means to bring equality to all, and to fulfill an American destiny" (3), a position that Carter suggests has been passed over by other historians (3).To a certain extent, the stakes that Carter outlines above are accurate. The fact that Carter's study cites centuries of data regarding race mixture in the United States makes it unique, yet currently, broad considerations of racial mixture are numerous in scholarship. There are many general texts about racial relations as well as those with a specific focus, such as Renee C. Romano's Race Mixing: Black-White Marriage in Postwar America (2003), Lauren L. Basson's White Enough To Be American: Race Mixing, Indigenous People, and the Boundaries of State and Nation (2008), and Christina A. Sue's Land of the Cosmic Race: Race Mixture, Racism, and Blackness in Mexico (2013).The recent proliferation of scholarly interest in racial mixture takes impetus, perhaps, as Carter did, from the election of President Barack Obama and Obama's status as a mixed-race American. It would be difficult not to think of the President's genetics in tandem with Carter's discussion, since artist Ron English's fusion portrait Abraham Obama comprises the cover art of the book. The work is well-chosen as a segue into the text, for it forces viewers into a visual double-take; mimicking a "signature moment" (192) that according to Carter, happens often in the lives of mixed race persons-the moment when asked "'What are you?'" occurs (192).Carter differentiates his project by stating the study "uncovers a narrative of positive notions just as important as the negative," and "puts both the positive and the negative in the historical context, recovering past advocates for or against racial mixture and amplifying the resonances over time" (5). Finally, Carter claims not to privilege "one kind of racial mixing (for example, black and white)" in the book but rather "interrogates mixture in any configuration as an engine for positive change" (5). …
Larval development of the caridean shrimp, hippolyte pleuracanthus (Stimpson), reared in the laboratory

Ovigerous Hippolyte pleuracanthus (Stimpson) were collected from eelgrass beds in Bogue Sound, near Morehead City, N. C. Eggs were hatched in the laboratory and development was followed through eight zoeal stages and one postlarval stage. The zoeae were described and figured. Average temperature and salinity during rearing were 25.2°C and 33.9%; the larvae were fed nauplii of Artemia salina.
REGULATION OF THE F PLASMID TRAY PROMOTER IN ESCHERICHIA COLI K12 AS A FUNCTION OF SEQUENCE CONTEXT

TraJ and SfrA are, respectively, plasmid and host (Escherichia coli)-encoded proteins normally required for F plasmid traY promoter function. Beginning with plasmids in which a traY-lacZ fusion gene, designated Φ(traY'-'lacZ)hyb, and lacY are expressed from the F plasmid traY promoter, we isolated mutants in which lac gene expression was SfrA or TraJ-independent. A total of 45 of 50 SfrA-independent isolates obtained after 2-aminopurine mutagenesis proved to have chromosomal mutations, whereas four out of four isolates obtained without mutagenesis had plasmid mutations. All of 17 isolates selected for TraJ-independent expression after mutagenesis had plasmid mutations. By restriction endonuclease digestions, 25 of 26 SfrA-independent and TraJ-independent plasmid mutations were insertions. Four of the former and three of the latter were examined further. By sequence analysis, all seven proved to be IS1 or IS2 insertions defining five insertion sites between base-pairs −49 and −82 with respect to the major traY transcription initiation site. In two cases, the same insertion allele was obtained from the two selection schemes. All three of the mutants selected for TraJ-independent gene expression manifested SfrA-independent expression as well, and levels of β-galactosidase in different plasmid mutant strains lacking TraJ and SfrA were indistinguishable. By primer extension analysis, transcription inititation sites for traY mRNA synthesis were unaltered by the mutations. Replacing the tra sequence upstream from base-pair — 78, without genetic selection, increased β-galactosidase activity in the absence of TraJ and SfrA greater than tenfold. Activity increased two- to threefold more in a traJ+ sfrA mutant strain, and fivefold more in a traJ+ sfrA+ strain. Activity was unaltered in an sfrA+ strain without TraJ. By primer extension analysis, the traY promoter was utilized under all conditions. The data indicate that regulation of traY promoter activity is strongly dependent on sequence context.
The Effects of Ozone Action Day Public Advisories on Train Ridership in Chicago

Ground level ozone is a criteria pollutant that is significantly affected by transportation patterns. Ozone action day advisories represent one type of voluntary ozone-abating program operating in urban areas where ozone pollution is concentrated. When forecasts predict that ground level ozone will exceed healthy levels, public advisories urge citizens to voluntarily choose public transportation as a means of eliminating automobile trips and reducing mobile emissions. To obtain credit for emission reductions spurred by voluntary programs, states must provide verifiable reduction estimates. This paper applies a fixed effects regression model to a panel of hourly Chicago Transit Authority train ridership data to evaluate the potential effects of Ozone Action Day advisories in Chicago from 2002 to 2003. Findings show that while the overall effect of ozone action days on ridership is not significant, there are statistically significant changes in hourly ridership patterns that indicate a more complex relationship between the public advisories and travel behavior.
A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials: Immediate Stent Placement vs. Surgical Bypass in the Palliative Management of Malignant Biliary Obstruction

Abstract Context Many patients with unresectable pancreatic and peripancreatic cancer require treatment for malignant biliary obstruction. Objectives To conduct a meta-analysis of the English language literature (1985–2011) comparing immediate biliary stent placement and immediate surgical biliary bypass in patients with unresectable pancreatic and peripancreatic cancer and analyze associated hospital utilization patterns. Methods After identifying five randomized controlled trials comparing immediate biliary stent placement and immediate surgical biliary bypass, we performed a meta-analysis for dichotomous outcomes, using a random effects model. We compared resource utilization in terms of the number of hospital days before death by reviewing high-quality literature. Results Three hundred seventy-nine patients were identified. We found no statistically significant differences in success rates between the two treatments (risk ratio [RR] 0.99; 95% CI 0.93–1.05; P = 0.67). Major complications and mortality were not significantly higher after surgical bypass (RR 1.54; 95% CI 0.87–2.71; P = 0.14). Recurrent biliary obstruction was significantly less frequent after surgical bypass than after stent placement (RR 0.14; 95% CI 0.03–0.63; P Conclusion Nearly all patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer benefit from some procedure to manage biliary obstruction. Patients with low surgical risk benefit more from surgery because the risk of recurrence and subsequent hospital utilization are lower than after stent placement.
The pH dependence of the reduced viscosity of modified serum albumins.

Abstract Viscosity measurements were carried out with bovine serum albumin (BSA), succinylated BSA, partially succinylated BSA, and methylated BSA, each being dissolved in aqueous solution containing 0.03 m KCl. The pH range covered was between 2.0 and 11.7. It was found that for BSA in aqueous solution, the reduced viscosity changes rapidly at pH below 4.3 and above 10.5, but remains constant at pH values between 4.3 and 10.5. For succinylated BSA and methylated BSA, the reduced viscosities show great changes in the pH region between 4.3 and 10.5. The changes of reduced viscosities for the two BSA derivatives, however, go in opposite directions. The reduced viscosity of partially succinylated BSA shows similarity to that of BSA in the pH region below 4.3 and above 10.5 and to succinylated BSA in the pH region between 4.3 and 10.5. The results demonstrate that the conformational change of the BSA molecule is a function of electrostatic charge. Models are discussed for BSA in neutral region and in acidic and basic regions respectively.
Comparative Gonadotropic Potency of Unfractioned Extracts of Poultry Pituitaries

Abstract ONLY a meager amount of research work has been done that was concerned with the gonadotropic potency of the pituitary glands obtained from the domestic fowl. Witschi, Stanley, and Riley (1937) have assayed turkey hypophyses, and Domm (1931), Leonard (1938), Jaap (1935), Stein (1934), and Meyer, Mellish, and Kupperman (1939) have made gonadotropic assays of various classes of chickens. Unfortunately there was a wide variation in the assay technics used by these workers so it is difficult to make a concise comparison of the experimental results. This study was undertaken to determine the gonadotropic potency of pituitary glands taken from all types of domestic poultry using the same standard assay technic and to determine the influence of sex, age, and different stages of reproduction on this potency. Since it is possible to remove the pituitary gland from a freshly killed bird without blemishing the external appearance of the carcass, there . . .
Dosimetry system characteristics which effect wafer uniformity

Abstract The purpose of the dosimetry system is to control the number of ions implanted into a wafer in a high vacuum environment. The Faraday system and its current integrating electronics must accurately measure the ion beam current, and, for electrostatically scanned implanters, must not change the beam profile. If the beam profile is interfered with, then degradation of the wafer dose uniformity can occur. Wafer sheet resistance maps will be examined to show the effects that changes in Faraday design have on wafer uniformity.