cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-term performance analysis of copper indium gallium selenide thin-film photovoltaic modules

Current accelerated qualification tests of photovoltaic (PV) modules mostly assist in avoiding premature failures but can neither duplicate changes occurring in the field nor predict useful product lifetime. Therefore, outdoor monitoring of field-deployed thin-film PV modules was undertaken at FSEC with the goal of assessing their performance in hot and humid climate under high system-voltage operation. Significant and comparable degradation rate of −5.13±1.53% and −4.5±1.46% per year was found using PVUSA type regression analysis for the positive and negative strings, respectively of 40W glass-to-glass Cu-In-Ga-Se (CIGS) thin-film PV modules in the hot and humid climate of Florida. Using the current-voltage measurements, it was found that the performance degradation within the PV array was mainly due to a few (8% to 12%) modules that had substantially higher degradation. The remaining modules within the array continued to show reasonable performance (>96% of the rated power after ∼ four years).
TRAVEL AS AN ANALYTIC OF EXCLUSION: BECOMING NONCITIZENS, AND THE POLITICS OF MOBILITY AFTER THE BERLIN WALL

This article examines the ways in which travel serves as an analytic to understand citizenship and the production of noncitizens after the Berlin Wall. This production is linked to a shift in the post-Wall German and European discourses and practices of asylum, which are significantly renegotiated and restricted shortly after the Wall falls. It is not only the law that changes, but also the mobility of the subjects perceived not to belong. The production of non-citizens is also related to official and unofficial articulations that attach Germanness to “Whiteness.” “Black” subjects must not only negotiate their citizenship via real histories of mobility and displacement but also because their skin itself signifies travel and adventure. In the end, I write about the space that this imagination of travel and adventure through “Black” bodies both opens up and closes off for a politics based on “Blackness.” I turn from normative accounts to the voices and bodies of “Black” subjects themselves.
Quasilinear parabolic and elliptic equations with nonlinear boundary conditions

Abstract This paper is concerned with a class of quasilinear parabolic and elliptic equations in a bounded domain with both Dirichlet and nonlinear Neumann boundary conditions. The equation under consideration may be degenerate or singular depending on the property of the diffusion coefficient. The consideration of the class of equations is motivated by some heat-transfer problems where the heat capacity and thermal conductivity are both temperature dependent. The aim of the paper is to show the existence and uniqueness of a global time-dependent solution of the parabolic problem, existence of maximal and minimal steady-state solutions of the elliptic problem, including conditions for the uniqueness of a solution, and the asymptotic behavior of the time-dependent solution in relation to the steady-state solutions. Applications are given to some heat-transfer problems and an extended logistic reaction–diffusion equation.
Managed care, hospice use, site of death, and medical expenditures in the last year of life

Background: We examined deaths of Medicare beneficiaries in Massachusetts and California to evaluate the effect of managed care on the use of hospice and site of death and to determine how hospice affects the expenditures for the last year of life. Methods: Medicare data for beneficiaries in Massachusetts (n=37 933) and California (n=27 685) who died in 1996 were merged with each state’s death certificate files to determine site and cause of death. Expenditure data were Health Care Financing Administration payments and were divided into 30-day periods from the date of death back 12 months. Results: In Massachusetts, only 7% of decedents were enrolled in managed care organizations (MCOs); in California, 28%. More than 60% of hospice users had cancer. Hospice use was much lower in Massachusetts than in California (12% vs 18%). In both states, decedents enrolled in MCOs used hospice care much more than those enrolled in fee-for-service plans (17% vs 11% in Massachusetts and 25% vs 15% in California). This pattern persisted for those with cancer and younger (aged 65-74 years) decedents. Decedents receiving hospice care were significantly (P.001 for both) less likely to die in the hospital (11% vs 43% in Massachusetts and 5% vs 43% in California). Enrollment in MCOs did not affect the proportion of in-hospital deaths (those enrolled in fee-forservice plans vs MCOs: 40% vs 39% in Massachusetts; and 37% vs 34% in California). Expenditures in the last year of life were $28 588 in Massachusetts and $27 814 in California; about one third of the expenditures occurred in the last month before death. Hospital services accounted for more than 50% of all expenditures in both states, despite 77% of decedents being hospitalized in Massachusetts and just 55% being hospitalized in California. Among patients with cancer, expenditures were 13% to 20% lower for those in hospice. Conclusions: Medicare-insured decedents in California were more than 4 times more likely to be enrolled in MCOs, were 50% more likely to use a hospice, and had a 30% lower hospitalization rate than decedents in Massachusetts, yet there are few differences in out-of-hospital deaths or expenditures in the last year of life. However, patients with cancer using hospice did have significant savings. Arch Intern Med. 2002;162:1722-1728
Effect of Different Substrates on the Wettability and Electrical Properties of Au Thin Films Deposited by Sputtering

The compatibility of gold with underlying substrate materials is important for device performance and reliability. Gold nanolayers of various thicknesses (4–14 nm) are deposited onto different substrates (glass and flexible substrate) by sputtering at room temperature. The flexible substrate used in the study was polyethylene napthalate (PEN). The structural and electrical properties of the Au thin films are compared between the two substrates. Contact angle measurements are done to understand the wettability of Au thin films on various substrates. The Au film on PEN showed hydrophobic behavior while the films on glass were distinctly hydrophilic with contact angle of around 50–68.5° against water. The poor wettability is associated with increased roughness of the PEN substrate.
THE ORBITAL PERIOD OF ALGOL: 1964 TO 1978.

A photoelectric observation of minimum light for Algol is reported: JD 2443565.5785 (visual) and JD 2443565.5802 (blue). The times of minima obtained between 1964 and 1978 indicate that a period decrease may have occurred about 1975. It is suggested that this period change, as well as the radio and X-ray activity and spectroscopic anomalies observed during 1975, may have been due to a mass-transfer event that occurred around that time.
Effects of the venom of the yellow scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) on the isolated work-performing guinea pig heart.

Abstract In the isolated work-performing guinea pig heart, infusion of venom solutions (0·1 mg/1) of the yellow scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) causes a 30–150 sec initial slowing of the heart followed by an irregular tachycardia with strong positive inotropic effects and an increase in heart rate and contractility of long duration. Alpha-adrenergic, 5-hydroxytryptamine and histamine H1 and H2 receptor stimulation are not involved in these cardiac effects. By the use of atropine and hexamethonium, the first phase of bradycardia can be shown to be caused predominantly by parasympathetic stimulation originating from ganglionic and postganglionic stimulation. The second phase of irregular tachycardia is caused by a mixed sympathetic-parasympathetic stimulation with sympathetic dominance, originating from postganglionic stimulation. The third phase of increased contractility and heart rate, which is little influenced by autonomic blockade, can be considered as a direct effect of the venom on the heart.
Vapor−Liquid Equilibrium of Two Aqueous Systems that Exhibit Liquid−Liquid Phase Separation

Accurate vapor−liquid equilibrium (VLE) data have been measured for the systems 2-butanol + water at 318.19 K, 338.37 K, and 353.45 K and for 2-butoxyethanol + water at 363.18 K and 371.19 K. The VLE measurements were done with a Stage−Muller dynamic still. The binary data reported satisfy thermodynamic consistency tests. In addition, the liquid−liquid equilibria for the system 2-butoxyethanol + water have also been measured at these temperatures.
A parametric study of the effect of inlet lip shape upon the radiated sound field

Far field sound radiation predictions for four different axisymmetric inlet lips excited by different tangential acoustic modes at several cut-off ratios are presented. These results were obtained by numerical integration of a special cylindrically symmetric integral representation of the external solutions of the Helmholtz equation which yields unique solutions at all wave numbers. The paper presents plots which detail the dependence of the relative SPL (dB) in the field upon the engine inlet lip shape, the modal input, and the cut-off ratio. Examination of these data indicate that: (1) as the inlet lip becomes larger the predominant acoustic radiation peak in the field becomes narrower and moves towards the centerline of the inlet; (2) as the order of the tangential acoustic mode of the driver increases the radiated sound peak again becomes narrower but moves away from the inlet centerline; and (3) as the cut-off ratio is increased for a specific tangential acoustic mode the predominant radiation peak becomes narrower and moves towards the centerline of the inlet.
Achievable Throughput under BER Constraints via Transmission Scheduling and Multiuser Detection

We evaluate the throughput that can be achieved under BER constraints by combined use of transmission scheduling and multiuser detection. A schedule is a rule that specifies which subset of users is allowed to simultaneously transmit in a time slot. These subsets of overlapping transmissions, which can vary in different time slots of the transmission frame, are decoded by receivers equipped with multiuser detection. The goal is to find the largest such subsets under the requirement that each transmission satisfies a BER constraint. The joint problem of scheduling and multiuser-detection is highly complex in general. However, for certain class of multiuser detectors, the problem has efficient and optimal solution. By constructing transmission schedules that directly reflect the performance and exploit the capability of the multiuser detection receivers, as expected, multiuser detection-based scheduling significantly outperforms other methods such as TDMA and the conventional single-user detection-based scheduling.
Extended linkography and distance graph in design evaluation: an empirical study of the dual effects of inspiration sources in creative design

All design is influenced by previous exposure to ideas in different formats and in different levels of abstraction. This paper introduces refined methods to represent and analyze the creativity and fixation effects of inspiration sources on designs. Based on a critical review of existing design research methods, we develop an extension of linkography and a distance graph to investigate design patterns among designers of different expertise levels and exposure to different inspiration sources prior to design. In our explorative experiment, novices and experts were given five types of external stimuli—keyword, diagram, plan, sketch rendering, and precedent photo—as inspiration sources for the same design task. Our extended linkography represents and measures the creativity and fixation propensities of different inspiration sources at the micro-level of design processes.
Palaeomagnetism, North China and South China Collision, and the Tan-Lu Fault

Refined Apparent Polar Wander (APW) paths for the North and South China Blocks (ncb and scb) are presented and the collision between the NCB and SCB discussed. We suggest that the amalgamation of the NCB and SCB was completed in the late Triassic-early Jurassic, during the Indosinian Orogeny. This proposed timing is based on an analysis of palaeomagnetic signatures relating to continental collisions, such as the convergence of palaeolatitude, deflections of declination, hairpin-like loops in and superposition of APW paths. Like the Cenozoic India—Eurasia collision, the Mesozoic NCB- SCB collision reactivated ancient faults in eastern China, converting some of them into transcurrent faults, of which the Tan-Lu fault is the most famous.
OTPM: Failure handling in data-intensive analytical processing

Parallel processing is the key to speedup performance and to achieve high throughput in processing large scale data analytical workloads. However, failures of nodes involved in the analytical query can interrupt the whole process, resulting in the complete restart of the query if the system does not have query fault-tolerance. Complete restart might be too costly for processing query on very large databases and might not be able to meet the time constraints in decision support systems. In this paper, we present an approach to resume query processing after failure by keeping track of the point at which data has been processed by an operator, called operator tracking. We also consider saving intermediate results using partial materialization. We look at several fundamental parallel database techniques which are widely used today and analyze the performance cost of query processing and recovery using those techniques with our OTPM fault-tolerance approach. We perform simulation-based experiments which show that our approach incurs only a small resume overhead compared to complete pipelining and complete materialization of intermediate results. Also, the combination of our approach with vertically partitioned database in a shared-nothing environment yields the best performance among different settings for parallel processing of data intensive analytical workloads.
Traumatic Epidural Hematoma

An 18-year-old intoxicated man was assaulted with a glass bottle on the left parietal region of his head and had a 5-minute loss of consciousness. The patient went home, but 2 hours after the injury, he presented to a local emergency department with severe headache, nausea, and vomiting. On physical examination, his score on the Glasgow Coma Scale was 15 (scores range from 3 to 15, with 15 indicating a normal level of consciousness), he had equal and bilaterally reactive pupils, and there was a small contusion on the scalp in the left temporoparietal region. Computed tomography of the head . . .
Relationship quality between multiracial adolescents and their biological parents

National survey data were used to compare single-race white and minority adolescents with multiracial adolescents in terms of relationships with their parents. Three relational dimensions were considered: association/interaction, communication, and emotional closeness. Comparable relationship quality was found between parents and adolescents in all three groups, except that multiracial boys and their fathers were found to be less emotionally close and communicative. Implications for research are discussed.
Three-nucleon equations with separable two-body potentials

Abstract Assuming separable two-body potentials, a general derivation is given of the three-nucleon equations. The derivation allows for the full complexity, in separable form, of the two-nucleon interaction including an arbitrary number of (possibly coupled) partial waves and an arbitrary number of separable terms in each partial wave. All three-body partial waves are considered. Using a convenient notation, the three-body equations and their angular momentum decomposition are easily derived.
Optimization of blood supply chain with shortened shelf lives and ABO compatibility

Abstract In clinical practice, red blood cells (RBCs) have a maximal shelf life (MSL) of 42 days. Recent studies suggest managing RBC inventory with a more restrictive MSL. To this end, a new simulation optimization (SO) framework is proposed for blood supply chain inventory management with ABO blood group compatibility. The inventory objective is to minimize the expected system outdate rate under a predetermined maximally allowable shortage level. The proposed SO framework is incorporated with a new metaheuristic optimization algorithm, TA–TS, to identify near-optimal inventory policies in reasonably acceptable computational time. The new SO framework is shown to offer a better tradeoff between solution accuracy and computational expense. The efficiency of the proposed framework is evaluated in detail for a single-hospital single-blood center supply chain system, in which the MSL of RBC units are shortened to 7, 14 and 21 days. A recently-developed replenishment policy based on old inventory ratio (the OIR policy developed by Duan and Liao (2013b) ) is used to control the freshness of the entire inventory. Three different scenarios are investigated: (1) no ABO compatible substitution; (2) ABO compatible substitution at hospital only; (3) ABO compatible substitution at both hospital and blood center. Using the proposed SO framework, we are able to identify a near-optimal solution for each of these scenarios and quantify the potential savings offered by ABO compatible substitution. In the ABO compatible substitution scenarios, there is a clear trend of the increased use of group O blood. As the MSL decreases, group O blood are needed more frequently to substitute for other ABO/Rh(D) compatible blood types. Allowing ABO/Rh(D)-compatible blood substitution helps reduce the system-wide outdate at least by 16% even under the most restrictive MSL. For more relax MSL of 14 days and 21 days, the proposed framework is capable of keeping the highest system-wide outdate rate at as little as 2%.
International institutions and the new economics of organization

The institutional and organizational questions that once defined political economy are now widely perceived as belonging to social sciences other than economics. But the centuries-long movement of economics away from institutional concerns has recently been interrupted. Most highly developed in its analysis of the firm, the "new economics of organization" (NEO) is notable for its range and scope, encompassing literature on the family, the state, and international relations.' The contributions, while diverse in per-
We Saw It All Along Visual Hindsight Bias in Children and Adults

We traced the developmental origins and trajectory of the hindsight bias. Three-, 4-, and 5-year-old children and adults identified gradually clarifying images of degraded common objects on a computer. Half the time, observers did not know in advance what the object would become. The rest of the time, observers knew the object's identity in advance and estimated when a naive same-age peer would identify the clarifying object. In two experiments, children and adults demonstrated hindsight bias by using advance knowledge to overestimate their same-age peers' ability to identify the objects. The magnitude of this bias declined across age in one experiment, but remained relatively stable over age in the other experiment. These findings link developmental psychology and adult cognitive science.
Electrical and Optical Measurements of Explosively Driven Plasma Jets

Summary form only given. Electrical and optical measurements were performed on explosively driven plasma jets. The explosive devices are in the form of a conical shaped charge. The electrical diagnostic consisted of measuring the current passed through a jet when it made a connection between two metal plates. An energy storage capacitor connected to the two plates was charged to between 350 V and 10 kV, and then discharged through the jet. Also, an ICCD camera was used to capture high-speed single frame pictures of the propagating jet. Several shots were fired with variations in the capacitor voltage, the plate geometry, and the jet material. Current waveforms and optical images are presented. All experiments were performed in the explosive and high power RF experimental facility at the Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics at Texas Tech University.
Thermal Expansion of Orthorhombic PbO

Thermal expansion of orthorhombic PbO was investigated by high-temperature X-ray diffraction. The coefficients in the a0, and c0 directions are equal and <½ the coefficient in the b0 direction. The structure is described in terms of Pb–O chains extended in the a0 direction and bonded into layers in the b0 direction; appreciable Pb–Pb bonding is indicated. Coordination and bond distances observed in PbSiO3 and lead silicate glasses, which are similar to those of massicot, and PbnOn polymeric units reported in PbO vapor are interpreted as additional evidence of the importance of PbO chains as structural entities.
Context-Based Educational Evaluation: A Participant Research Strategy

or "regular" school programs. These inputoutput models usually rely on standardized norm-referenced tests as measures of program "effectiveness" and fail to consider either other types of tests or other school-process variables which intervene between program input and academic outcome. Mehan (1978) has pointed out that there is a certain methodological irony in the work of researchers and evaluators who use such models to examine the influ-
A space facility for the production of NLO materials

New approaches to prepare thin organic NLO films using the microgravity environment of the Space Shuttle have been developed. The evolution of that work to perform similar experiments on the International Space Station is presented.
Hypothesis sampling in conjunctive concept identification

The experiment entailed two 2 by 2 Latin square designs, each of which involved two conjunctive concept attainment problems balanced with respect to presentation order over two groups. Three blank trials followed an initial instance for each problem, and each blank trial stimulus overlapped the instance by exactly two attribute values. Analysis of patterns of blank trial Rs indicated that Ss sampled hypotheses about combination rather than single attribute values independently of each other.
Spatial variations of microwave backscatter magnitude and angular distribution: response of the short waves to wind and surface changes

Comparisons among submesoscale sea surface Ku-band backscatter, wind speed, air and sea temperatures, friction velocity and laser altimeter wave height spectra were made to observe the dynamic responses in time and space of the centimeter waves within kilometer sized areas. Measurements were made in October 1993 off the Oregon coast from an airship carrying a dual polarized Ku-band radar with a suspended package of meteorological and physical instruments, and a laser altimeter.
Rings Compounds of Boron and Phosphorus

Abstract The synthesis and characterization of some ring systems of phosphorus and boron are described. Ring systems of boron such as boroxines, silylboranes, and diborabenzenes are considered. The structural and spectroscopic data for the ring derivatives support varying degrees of electron delocalization, depending on the size of the ring. Ring systems of phosphorus such as phosphenium ions and diphosphorus cations are outlined. The importance of P-C π-bonding interactions and the heterocyclic frameworks in the stabilization of these compounds are highlighted. Finally, new heterocyclic organoboranes are reported, which result from reductions of RBX2 and with alkalai metals. All the rings and their respective derivatives have been characterized spectroscopically and the solid-state structures of some representative members were determined by X-ray crystallography. The degree of delocalization in the pertinent ring complexes are compared with theoretical models.
Scholarly communications competencies: open access training for librarians

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe one example of an academic library using existing internal expertise and targeted events to provide training for liaison librarians in support of new scholarly communication initiatives. Design/methodology/approach – This article presents a case study of how a medium-size academic library without a designated scholarly communications librarian or office presented a series of open access (OA) training opportunities for the liaison librarians in preparation for the official launch of the institutional repository and the campus’ inaugural participation in OA week. Findings – The multiple opportunities to engage with the topics in diverse ways resulted in librarians being more comfortable with discussing OA with their departmental faculty. Opinions of OA were changed as a result of attending the events. Participants found the activities to be useful and were engaged enough with the topic to ask for specific areas where they would like more training opportunit...
Effect of chitinase complex on the antigenicity and chemistry of yeast-form cell walls and other fractions of Histoplasma capsulatum and Blastomyces dermatitidis

Cell walls isolated from the yeast forms of 2 strains each of Histoplasma capsulatum and Blastomyces dermatitidis were treated for up to 3 weeks with an enzyme complex containing chitinase and β-1:3-glucanase. The release of glucose, protein, and amino-sugars from the cell walls was monitored. Cell walls of H. capsulatum lost about 25% of their dry weight as glucose, about 19% as amino-sugar (mainly free N-acetyl glucosamine), and about 6% as protein. Cell walls of B. dermatitidis lost only about 1% of their dry weight as glucose, about 22% as amino-sugar (mainly chitobiose), and about 6% as protein. Electron microscopy of intact yeast-form cells showed them to be extensively degraded by the enzyme complex. Complement fixation (CF) tests indicated that the enzyme treatments caused no substantial change in the antigenic specificity or sensitivity of the cell walls. However, concentrated culture filtrates of B. dermatitidis and the soluble fraction of H. capsulatum cell walls after chitinase treatment, show...
Exact Interdiction Models and Algorithms for Disconnecting Networks via Node Deletions

Abstract This paper analyzes the problem of maximizing the disconnectivity of undirected graphs by deleting a subset of their nodes. We consider three metrics that measure the connectivity of a graph: the number of connected components (which we attempt to maximize), the largest component size (which we attempt to minimize), and the minimum cost required to reconnect the graph after the nodes are deleted (which we attempt to maximize). We formulate each problem as a mixed-integer program, and then study valid inequalities for the first two connectivity objectives by examining intermediate dynamic programming solutions to k -hole subgraphs. We randomly generate a set of test instances, on which we demonstrate the computational efficacy of our approaches.
Parenting Expectations: Younger and Older First-Time Parents

The transition to parenthood is a time of great interest to scholars. Because some parents prosper and others falter after the birth of their first child, understanding factors that influence this transition is of critical importance; one reason is the similarity (or lack thereof) between parents' prebirth parenting expectations. The present study examined (1) similarity between and typologies of first-time parents' parenting role expectations for one another, (2) whether older and younger parents differed in their degree of similarity, and (3) whether similarity related to changes in couple relationship quality. Analyses revealed that first-time parents generally were not similar in their views of what either mothers or fathers should be doing as parents. Where differences existed, both fathers and mothers tended to rate their own fulfillment of “nontraditional” roles more highly than did their partners. Younger and older first-time parents did not differ in their degree of (dis)similarity; regardless of...
Changes in Body Composition in Women over Six Years at Midlife: Ovarian and Chronological Aging

Context: Understanding the menopause association with body weight is important because excess weight increases risk for stroke, incident cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality among the middle-aged. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine chronological age and ovarian age and consider how these could influence body size and composition in midlife women. Design and Setting: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation is a longitudinal, community-based study. This report uses data from the Michigan Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation site. Participants: Participants were 543 premenopausal or early perimenopausal African-American and Caucasian women aged 42–52 yr at baseline examination. Main Outcome Measures: Waist circumference, fat mass and skeletal muscle mass, from bioelectrical impedance, were assessed in seven annual serial measures. Annual FSH values were assayed by ELISA. The final menstrual period was defined retrospectively after 12 months o...
Cheap food policy: Fact or rhetoric?

Abstract The term “cheap food policy” has frequently been used as a descriptor for US commodity programs by those who contend payments to farmers ultimately result in lower food costs for consumers. More recently, farm policy has been criticized for contributing to the obesity problem in the US by making large quantities of fattening foods widely available and relatively inexpensive. This paper econometrically evaluates the impact of direct government payments on the affordability of food in the US in the aggregate and across specific food groups. The models find direct payments do not significantly affect the affordability of food, either in the aggregate or across specific food groups.
Twinning stress in shape memory alloys: Theory and experiments

Abstract Utilizing first-principles atomistic simulations we present a twin nucleation model based on the Peierls–Nabarro formulation. We investigated twinning in several important shape memory alloys, starting with Ni2FeGa (14M modulated monoclinic and L10 crystals) to illustrate the methodology, and predicted the twin stress in Ni2MnGa, NiTi, Co2NiGa, and Co2NiAl martensites, all of which were in excellent agreement with the experimental results. Minimization of the total energy led to determination of the twinning stress accounting for the twinning energy landscape in the presence of interacting multiple twin dislocations and disregistry profiles at the dislocation core. The validity of the model was confirmed by determining the twinning stress from experiments on Ni2FeGa (14M and L10), NiTi, and Ni2MnGa and utilizing results from the literature for Co2NiGa and Co2NiAl martensites. This paper demonstrates that the predicted twinning stress can vary from 3.5 MPa in 10M Ni2MnGa to 129 MPa for the B19′ NiTi case, consistent with the experimental results.
Understanding Integration in Medical Education

Integration in medical education is often misunderstood. This is despite the fact that it is frequently seen as being a key idea to providing a medical education that will adequately prepare students for the world of modern medical practice. Integration is an idea with complex nuances and, unfortunately, those nuances often go unappreciated by many medical educators. If integration really is important then medical educators need to inform themselves of the nuances and the different levels of complexity involved. In this commentary, I provide an overview of some of that complexity. The main message is that we need an interdisciplinary approach to understanding integration. To fully understand what integration involves then we ourselves, as educators, need to integrate insights from a range of theoretical lenses. First, we consider integration at the curriculum level and then move on to integration at the level of the individual student and practitioner. One discipline that helps us understand integration is history. Integration at Curriculum Level
A Comparison of American Red Cross- and YMCA-Preferred Approach Methods Used to Rescue Near-Drowning Victims

The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in time that it will take a rescuer to swim different distances to a near-drowning victim with a rescue tube, using preferred YMCA and American Red Cross approach methods. The skills that were timed included YMCA and Red Cross approach skills with a rescue tube using the modified breaststroke and front-crawl stroke. Three different events were timed using the two different approach strokes, for a total of 10 trials. It was assumed that the victim in this study was a passive victim facing away from the rescuer. This positioning was adopted to equalize the approach distance for both the YMCA and Red Cross in order to eliminate the requirement of swimming behind the victim in all Red Cross approaches. Because the victim’s back was toward the rescuer, the approach method was directly from the rear. A comparison of mean times was also made between the lifeguard and nonlifeguard groups. In four out of five comparisons between Red Cross and YMCA methods, the YMCA method was faster (p < .05). It was concluded that the rescue tube resulted in increased water resistance when it was positioned across the rescuer’s chest.
A quality control system for the optimized sperm penetration assay

Objective To develop a quality control system for the optimized sperm penetration assay (SPA) and to use this system to monitor interassay variability and stability over time. Design Four semen donors were tested consecutively for a period of weeks (7 to 139weeks) with the SPA. Their average semen analyses and SPA scores were evaluated to monitor natural biologic variation. Intra-assay variation was obtained by dividing 11 semen samples into three aliquots and testing each separately in the SPA. A single ejaculate from seven individuals was aliquoted and frozen to be used as a control. They were tested on different assay days in 1986 and subsequently in 1991 to evaluate the assay stability over time. Main Outcome Measures Results were expressed as a sperm capacitation index (mean number of sperm penetrations per ovum). Results Consecutive weekly semen analyses and SPAs on donors exhibited coefficients of variation ranging from 20% to >40%. In contrast, these variations were much greater than intra-assay variability. Analysis of frozen semen specimens tested in several SPAs also displayed a low coefficient of variation. When aliquots of these frozen samples were tested in the SPA 5years later, there were no differences in the observed values, showing the remarkable stability of this assay over time. The lower limit of the normal fertile range did not change over a period of 2years. Conclusions Results show that using fresh semen samples as a positive control in the SPA is inadequate. This deficiency has been overcome with the use of frozen semen controls. With frozen semen for quality control, the optimized SPA developed in this laboratory is a highly reproducible assay that meets the strict criteria required for clinical laboratory certification.
Droplet-temperature determination using thermochromic additives

The temperature of individual droplets is an important parameter for the study of heat and mass transfer in combustion sprays. The size of the droplets in spray range from a few to hundreds of micrometers in diameter. We describe a new technique to measure the temperature of a single microdroplet that contains a thermochromic absorber and a lasing dye.
Intermetropolitan Wage Disparities and Industrial Change

This paper examines the changing regional geography of wages within the United States during the recent period of economic and employment restructuring. Economic restructuring has been accompanied by widespread attempts to reduce direct wage costs and, more generally, by a realignment of labor relations away from union negotiated wage agreements. We investigate the geography of wage change, using hourly wage data drawn from Bureau of Labor Statistics' Area Wage Surveys. Our analysis provides little evidence of an erosion of real wage differentials at the scale of census regions. Rather, the tendency is towards increasing intraregional variance in wages, especially within the north central United States, reflecting the geographically uneven effects of restructuring within regions.
OC-02 - Risk of arterial thromboembolism in patients with breast cancer.

Introduction Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and clearly increases the risk of venous thromboembolism. However, its association with arterial thromboembolism is less well defined. Aim To determine the short-term cumulative incidence and relative hazard of arterial thromboembolism in elderly patients with incident breast cancer. Materials and Methods Using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare linked database, which includes approximately 28% of all patients diagnosed with cancer in the United States, we identified patients with a new primary diagnosis of breast cancer from 2002 through 2011. These patients were individually matched by age, sex, race, registry, and medical comorbidities to a group of Medicare enrollees without cancer, and each pair was followed through 2012. Validated diagnosis codes were used to identify a primary composite outcome of arterial thromboembolism defined as any ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction. Secondary outcomes included ischemic stroke alone and myocardial infarction alone. Cumulative incidence rates were calculated using competing risk survival statistics. The Gray test was used to compare rates between groups. The proportional hazard assumption was violated for the entirety of patient follow-up; therefore, Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed at discrete time points when the assumption was generally met. Results We identified 96,666 pairs of breast cancer patients and matched controls. Median age was 75 years and few cancers were advanced at diagnosis (12% stages 3/4). The 3-month cumulative incidence of arterial thromboembolism was 2.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0-2.2%) in cancer patients compared to 1.4% (95% CI 1.3-1.5%) in controls (hazard ratio [HR] 1.5, 95% CI 1.4-1.6, p Conclusions Patients with incident breast cancer face an increased short-term risk of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction.
Lateral decompression for malunited os calcis fractures.

Nineteen heels in 19 patients underwent a lateral decompression for hindfoot pain secondary to a malunited os calcis fracture with subtalar intra-articular involvement. The operative procedure consisted of a lateral calcaneal bony prominence removal (ostectomy) and sural nerve release or transection. In addition, the peroneal tendons were released, relocated, and lengthened as necessary, with repair or reconstuction of their retinaculum. Eight patients (group I) had previously undergone a late subtalar fusion without relief of lateral symptoms. Eleven patients (group II) underwent a lateral decompression as an alternative to late subtalar fusion. In both groups combined, there were 14 males and 5 females with an average age of 40 years. The average follow-up was 28 months in group I and 17 months in group II. A satisfactory result was obtained in 75% (6 of 8) of the patients in group I and in 82% (9 of 11) of the patients in group II. This compares to a published success rate of approximately 50% in selec...
Mast cells and their degranulation in the Tsk mouse model of scleroderma

AbstractThe Tsk mouse is a genetically transmitted example of cutaneous fibrosis which has been compared with human scleroderma. During a systematic histopathological study of the Tsk mouse, both an increased number and an increased proportion of degranulated mast cells were observed. The consistent association of mast cells and fibrosis in scleroderma, graft-vs-host reactions (GVHR), and now the Tsk mouse raises the question of a pathogenetic role for mast cells in fibrotic disorders in general.
Methylation of CpG Region in Promoter Region of RASSF1A in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Objective To examine the methylation status of the RASSF1A promoter region and its mRNA expression levels in renal cell carcinoma.Method DNA obtained from 19 cases of renal cell carcinoma with adjacent tumor kidney tissue were treated by bisulfite.The methylation status of RASSF1A was evaluated by Methylation specific PCR(MSP) and the expression level of RASSF1A mRNA was evaluated by QPCR.Result 10 cases were found to have a decreased in the expression of RASSF1A mRNA and an increased in methylation in the promoter region.The reduced in mRNA expression is negatively correlated with the increased in methylation(r =-0.8734,P0.01).Conclusion Hypermethylation was detected in the RASSF1A promoter region in renal cell carcinoma.
Determination of the rate of cerebral oxygen consumption and regional cerebral blood flow by non-invasive 17O in vivo NMR spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging: Part 2. Determination of CMRO2, for the rat by 17O NMR, and CMRO2, rCBF and the partition coefficient for the cat by 17O MRI*

AbstractThe rate of oxygen consumption (CMRO2) in intact rat and cat brains was calculated by novel data analysis methods from data obtained in in vivo 17O NMR spectroscopy and imaging inhalation studies. Data analysis methods of 17O inhalation measurements are applied to the calculation of CMRO2, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), the reflow (R), the arterial venous difference (AVD) and the partition coefficient (λ). Several of the applied methods for the determination of CMRO2 do not require measurements of regional cerebral blood flow and H2 17O arterial concentration. The proposed methods have been tested, and the results obtained by the different methods are in very good agreement. It is shown that 17O NMR is unique in providing the rate of blood water flow, where the natural abundance 17O NMR signal consists of an internal reference and that » is essentially 1. The average values of CMRO2 for rats and cats were found to be 2.09 ± 0.35 and 1.18 ± 0.58 (μmol/O2/g tissue)/min, respectively. The avera...
Geometrically modified multimode interference waveguides using high refractive index SiON material, for application in wavelength multiplexing/demultiplexing

Wavelength multiplexing/demultiplexing devices are considered to be one of the key elements in optical networks. Here we propose a new class of wavelength MUX/DEMUX devices which are based on change in the geometry of the multimode interference (MMI) waveguide region. This modification enables us to optimize device performances for a given set of refractive indices of core and cladding. The material of choice is SiON since it has an excellent surface morphology for the optical device application and its index of refraction can be varied from as low as 1.45 to as high as 2.5. A few designs for compact wavelength MUX/DEMUX based on off-center-fed excitement in geometrically modified MMI (GMM) are presented. Results show that modification in geometry of MMI device will lead to the better performances relative to simple MMI devices.
Can Anyone Be Prepared Enough for Life With an LVAD-DT?

Barg and colleagues (2017) thoroughly describe the experiences of patients living with left ventricular assist devices as destination therapy (LVAD-DT), highlighting how the lure of being saved by ...
Psychological Distress and the Use of Clinical Preventive Services by Community-Dwelling Older Adults:

In this study, we explored whether psychological distress plays a role in the use of recommended clinical preventive services among community-dwelling older adults. The sample is drawn from respondents 65 years and older who participated in the 2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Logistic regressions with selected covariates were entered in the model to estimate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the independent effect of psychological distress on the utilization of each of five preventive services. With the exception of breast cancer screening where the uptake of preventive services was significantly lower for older adults with psychological distress (OR = 0.57, p < .001), uptake of other key preventive measures revealed no significant utilization differences between older adults with and without psychological distress. The results suggest that adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines may be increased by improving recognition and treatment of emotional health problems...
Prediction (early recognition) of emerging flu strain clusters

Abstract Early detection of incipient dominant influenza strains is one of the key steps in the design and manufacture of an effective annual influenza vaccine. Here we report the most current results for pandemic H3N2 flu vaccine design. A 2006 model of dimensional reduction (compaction) of viral mutational complexity derives two-dimensional Cartesian mutational maps (2DMM) that exhibit an emergent dominant strain as a small and distinct cluster of as few as 10 strains. We show that recent extensions of this model can detect incipient strains one year or more in advance of their dominance in the human population. Our structural interpretation of our unexpectedly rich 2DMM involves sialic acid, and is based on nearly 6000 strains in a series of recent 3-year time windows. Vaccine effectiveness is predicted best by analyzing dominant mutational epitopes.
Nano-enabling of strong-base ion-exchange media via a room-temperature aluminum (hydr)oxide synthesis method to simultaneously remove nitrate and fluoride

This study demonstrated a new room-temperature method for synthesizing aluminum (hydr)oxide material inside the pores of strong-base ion-exchange resin to fabricate a novel class of hybrid media capable of simultaneously removing nitrate and fluoride as model groundwater contaminants. The aluminum (hydr)oxide hybrid media was fabricated by reducing aluminum ion precursors with borohydride within ion-exchange resin at room temperature, followed by exposure to environmental oxygen. The hybrid media was characterized, and its performance to simultaneously remove nitrate and fluoride was determined in simple and complex water matrices using short-bed column tests operated under conditions realistic for point-of-use systems. Results revealed that, although not optimized, aluminum (hydr)oxide hybrid media was able to simultaneously remove nitrate and fluoride, which was not possible with neither unmodified strong-base ion-exchange resin nor conventional granular activated alumina alone. Future modifications and optimizations of this relatively simple and inexpensive fabrication process have the potential to yield an entire class of hybrid media suitable for point-of-use/point-of-entry water treatment systems.
Estimated permittivity functions for NIR and SWIR absorbing dyes by inverse analysis of transmission spectra

AbstractAn inverse analysis of transmission spectra for near-infrared (NIR, 0.7–0.9 μm) and shortwave infrared (SWIR, 0.9–1.7 μm) absorbing dyes in solution is presented. This analysis employs a parametric model of transmission through a sample of finite thickness, where the permittivity function is represented parametrically by a linear combination of Lorentz oscillator models. The results of this analysis provide estimates of permittivity functions, which can be adopted as input data to other types of models, such as those for prediction of transmission and reflectivity spectra for composites containing mixtures of dyes and other materials. In addition, the results of this analysis should contribute to a database of estimated permittivity functions for practical analysis of spectra.