cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vector structures and solutions of linear matrix equations

Abstract A variety of systems problems give rise to special cases of the linear matrix equation ∑ i A i p×s X s×t B i t×q + ∑ j C j p×t X T t×s D j s×q = F p×q (Z) . F(Z) may be a matrix-valued function of a matrix argument Z. It is the purpose here to summarize and extend some of the applicable solution procedures through a systematic use of operators which convert the matrix equation to vector and dimension-reduced vector forms. The format and details of the results are convenient for machine computation.
Delayed Hypersensitivity to Hepatitis-associated Antigen in Guinea Pigs

A model for the study of delayed hypersensitivity to hepatitis-associated antigen (HAA) in guinea pigs was designed. Guinea pigs immunized with purified HAA plus Freund's complete adjuvant developed a positive skin reaction when they were inoculated intradermally with HAA 17 to 35 days later. This reaction is characterized by erythema and induration that reaches a maximum at 24 to 36 hr and then subsides over the next 48 hr. Histologic examination of the skin lesions shows an infiltrate of predominantly mononuclear cells. Heating HAA for 1 min at 37 C, 57 C, 75 C, or 98 C does not modify its activity as an immunizing or skin-reactive agent.
Propagation of high-frequency surface plasmons on gold

Propagation of surface plasmons on gold in the range 2.8-3.5 eV over 0.1-1.6 μm distances was characterized by cathodoluminescence spectroscopy. Surface plasmons were excited by an electron beam near a grating milled in the gold. The spectra of outcoupled radiation reveal increasingly strong propagation losses as surface plasmon energy increases above 2.8 eV, but little effect in the range 1.6-2.8 eV. These results are in partial agreement with theoretical expectations.
On the Accuracy of Averaging Radar Backscattering Coefficients for Bare Soils Using the Finite-Element Method

Radar backscattering coefficients for heterogeneous pixels are traditionally assumed to be the average of the coefficients for the constitutive homogeneous pixels. We investigate the validity of this assumption for bare rough surfaces by using the 2-D finite-element method to compute the ensemble averaged “true” coefficients for heterogeneous pixels and compare these values with the computed averages for a variety of surfaces. We quantify the impact of heterogeneity in both soil moisture and surface roughness on the averaging assumption. We find that the validity of the assumption rests crucially on the surface correlation type (exponential or Gaussian) and length. In particular, when considering pixels with either heterogeneous soil moisture or roughness, we find that for high-contrast pixels, the backscatter averaging assumption breaks down by as much as 11 dB for Gaussian correlated surfaces for the longest correlation lengths considered (regardless of the source of heterogeneity), whereas for exponentially correlated surfaces, it breaks down by 6 dB for pixels with heterogeneous roughness and 2 dB for pixels with heterogeneous moisture. We attribute this behavior to Gaussian correlated surfaces possessing higher cross-pixel coherent interactions. Furthermore, conditions of validity for the backscatter averaging assumption are identified.
Aeration-controlled formation of acetic acid in heterolactic fermentations

Controlled aeration ofLeuconostoc mesenteroides was studied as a possible mechanism for control of the formation of acetic acid a metabolite of major influence on the taste of lactic fermented foods. Fermentations were carried out in small scale in a medium in which growth was limited by the buffer capacity only. Ethanol and acetic acid formed during the fermentation were analyzed by rapid head space gas chromatography, and the ratio of the molar concentrations of these two volatiles quantitatively predicted the balance between the formation of acetic acid and lactic acid. The oxygen concentration during the fermentations decreased rapidly to zero, meaning that oxygen transfer was limited by the volumetric oxygen transfer rate,k1aC*. A linear correlation between k1aC* and the quantity of acetic acid produced was established, and it is suggested that such oxygenated heterolactic fermentation processes should be analyzed as fed-batch fermentations with oxygen as the limiting substrate. Addition of fructose in limited amounts leads to the formation of one half mole of acetic acid for each mole fructose, thus offering an alternative mechanism for controlling acetic acid formation.
Is Interactive/Active Learning Superior to Traditional Lecturing in Economics Courses?

The main purpose of this paper is to show how by using very simple concepts and techniques, which I have learned during my training at the Program for Excellence in Teaching (PET) at the University of Missouri‐Columbia and teaching experience at the same university for six years, the classroom atmosphere can be improved and become more interesting and through which students can learn more. It is not to say that there is no need for new teaching theories and concepts, but I believe we are more in need of knowing how to apply what we already know. The lack of sufficient empirical test is another reason for writing this paper. In this paper I conduct five different statistical tests to show how interactive learning, in which students have active role in developing new/unknown concepts, is more effective than traditional teaching (lecturing), in which students have passive role in learning new materials.
Geographical Study of American Blues Culture

Abstract Music is not often utilized in teaching geography, despite the fact that many scholars orient their research around analyzing both the historical and spatial dimensions of musical expression. This article reports on the use of a teaching module that utilizes blues culture as a lens to understand the geographical history of the United States. The relevance of this geographical history to the U.S. South is emphasized. The content of this module incorporates several themes and concepts critical to developing and facilitating a geographical perspective. Educators are encouraged to use this module as a model to develop creative ways in which the geography of music can be effectively incorporated within any educational curriculum.
Energy levels of 42Ti from the 40Ca(3He, n) reaction

Abstract Using a time-of-flight spectrometer, neutron groups from the 40 Ca( 3 He, n) 42 Ti reaction have been measured at 8.5, 9.0, 9.5 and 10.0 MeV bombarding energy. Groups were measured corresponding to 21 excited states in 42 Ti. Close correspondence in excitation energy was observed between the low-lying states of 42 Ti reported here and analogous states in 42 Ca. Angular distributions and relative cross sections have been measured for the well resolved neutron groups. The data are adequately described by simple distorted wave double stripping calculations which include spin-orbit coupling in the exit channel.
Transport of cholesterol across a BeWo cell monolayer implications for net transport of sterol from maternal to fetal circulation

The placental transport of various compounds, such as glucose and fatty acids, has been well studied. However, the transport of cholesterol, a sterol essential for proper fetal development, remains undefined in the placenta. Therefore, the purpose of these studies was to examine the transport of cholesterol across a placental monolayer and its uptake by various cholesterol acceptors. BeWo cells, which originated from a human choriocarcinoma, were grown on transwells for 3 days to form a confluent monolayer. The apical side of the cells was radiolabeled with either free cholesterol or LDL cholesteryl ester. After 24 h, the radiolabel was removed and cholesterol acceptors were added to the basolateral chamber. Cholesterol was found to be taken up by the apical surface of the placental monolayer, transported to the basolateral surface of the cell, and effluxed to fetal human serum, fetal HDL, or phospholipid vesicles, but not to apolipoprotein A-I. In addition, increasing the cellular cholesterol concentration further increased the amount of cholesterol transported to the basolateral acceptors. These are the first studies to demonstrate the movement of cholesterol across a placental cell from the maternal circulation (apical side) to the fetal circulation (basolateral side).
Prevention Methods of Violence against Women and Girls as Shared Efforts by Governments and NGOs

Violence against women and girl is a widespread problem of human rights and we need to revisit the current prevention programs to ensure proper resolution. Even though, we live in an advance society, violence continues to be an on-goinginternational problem. In this paper, we analyse violence against women and girls in today’s society and its effects. We show that violence varies from physical altercation to mental abuse. In addition, we analyse established definitions for violence against women and their international recognition. To supplement this discussion, we would present various political movements by the international community to prevent violence against women. However, as a thesis, we believe that additional political actions are necessary to further prevent and/or reduce these violent acts from occurring in the first place. We think that minimizing or reducing violence against women is a complex process that requires shared undertakings by various parties such as governments, private NGOs, and the individual participation. These devotions would ensure that a proper solution is reached to the undergoing problem. That is, our paper analyses ways to reduce violence against women and girls. We would add recommendations to the existing prevention programs and we would try to make them more effective,via our theoretical proposals,in dealing with the violence against women and girls.
Social preferences and moral biases

A consensus seems to be emerging in economics that at least three motives are at work in many strategic decisions: distributive preferences, reciprocal preferences and self-interest. An important obstacle to this research, however, has been moral biases, i.e., the distortions created by self-interest that can obscure our measures of social preferences. Among other things, this has led to disagreement about the relative importance of self-interest, distributive and reciprocal preferences. This paper describes a simple experiment that decomposes behavior into these three forces. We compare the decisions of implicated “stakeholders” with those of impartial “spectators,” who have no stake. Several surprising and interesting results emerge. For example, stakeholders are less inclined to respond to the generosity of others than are spectators acting on their behalf. This experiment also helps clarify a result in previous research (e.g., Offerman, 2002) that stakeholders tend to punish unkindness more than they reward kindness. We find that this asymmetry in reciprocity has two sources: there is an asymmetry in the underlying preference that even impartial spectators display, but, in addition, stakeholders exhibit a moral bias, i.e., they punish more and reward less than spectators. In sum, we find that all three motives have important and significant effects on final allocations.
Patients who stay.

Abstract For Freud, the ideal goal of a successful analysis is to resolve unconscious conflicts, gain insight, strengthen the ego, modify pathological defenses, contain irrational superego demands, and work through transferential distortions. Termination is based on a satisfactory approximation of these goals. However, there are certain patients who are unable to achieve these therapeutic goals. They include those with severe personality, psychotic, mood, eating, chronic posttraumatic stress, and gender identity disorders. For many of them, perseverance of symptoms, impaired functioning, and maintenance medication preclude termination, necessitating ongoing or intermittent treatment. On the other hand, there are those patients who make significant therapeutic progress, but remain in treatment indefinitely. Many of them approximate the criteria for termination, but maintain a therapeutic relationship for a variety of reasons. These include: unresolved transference-countertransference issues, avoidance of s...
Tadalafil for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia

This article reviews the pharmacological properties of tadalafil and the current evidence supporting its use for treating symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The rationale for using tadalafil for BPH stems from the following three observations: first, the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), BPH and erectile dysfunction (ED) increases with age; second, phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibition mediates smooth muscle relaxation in the lower urinary tract; and third, early clinical evidence demonstrates that PDE5 inhibitors such as tadalafil are successful in treating LUTS and ED. A shared pathophysiology makes PDE5 a promising target to treat both LUTS and ED. A recent randomised, controlled Phase II trial of tadalafil versus placebo for the treatment of symptomatic BPH revealed that tadalafil dosed once daily was well tolerated and demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful efficacy in the treatment of LUTS secondary to BPH and improved erectile function in men with both LUTS and ED. The ability to treat both BPH and ED with one medication is noteworthy given the significant negative impact in quality-of-life measures these disorders have in ageing men. Careful patient selection and further trials are warranted.
Developmental and physiological aspects of Ca2+ signaling in agonist-stimulated pituitary gonadotrophs.

GnRH-induced Ca2+ signaling was analyzed in gonadotrophs from pituitary glands of neonatal, prepubertal, peripubertal, cycling, and ovariectomized female and adult male rats. In all cases, single cell studies showed three types of Ca2+ responses to increasing GnRH concentrations: subthreshold, baseline oscillatory, and biphasic (an early transient followed by sustained oscillations or a plateau). An increase in the frequency, but not the amplitude, of spiking, and the presence of both baseline oscillatory and biphasic Ca2+ responses were observed in single cells from all groups exposed to low and subsequently to higher GnRH concentrations. Thus, modulation of the frequency of Ca2+ spiking at low to medium GnRH concentrations and suppression of the oscillatory response at high agonist concentrations are characteristics of the gonadotroph that are not affected by age, sex, stage of the estrous cycle, or gonadectomy. Ca2+ influx through plasma membrane channels contributed to both baseline oscillatory and bi...
The Rise of a Refugee God: Hong Kong's Wong Tai Sin

In this case study, Lang describes how plagues, war, revolutions and industrialization affected the worhip of the Chinese god Wong Tai Sin, and why, after his cult was extinguished within China in the 1960s, Wong Tai Sin became hugely successful in Hong Kong. Originally a healing god, he has now become a generalist, and is consulted by anxious urbanites about love, careers, and emigration.
Stereoisomerism in polyoxometalates: structural and spectroscopic studies of bis(malate)-functionalized cluster systems.

Pure enantiomers of a polytungstate cluster [(α-P2W16O59)Zr2(μ3-O)(mal)]218− (mal = malate) have been obtained and their conversion to meso diastereomers was observed by 31P NMR.
Deafness in Claudin 11-null mice reveals the critical contribution of basal cell tight junctions to stria vascularis function

Generation of a strong electrical potential in the cochlea is uniquely mammalian and may reflect recent evolutionary advances in cellular voltage-dependent amplifiers. This endocochlear potential is hypothesized to dramatically improve hearing sensitivity, a concept that is difficult to explore experimentally, because manipulating cochlear function frequently causes rapid degenerative changes early in development. Here, we examine the deafness phenotype in adult Claudin 11-null mice, which lack the basal cell tight junctions that give rise to the intrastrial compartment and find little evidence of cochlear pathology. Potassium ion recycling is normal in these mutants, but endocochlear potentials were below 30 mV and hearing thresholds were elevated 50 dB sound pressure level across the frequency spectrum. Together, these data demonstrate the central importance of basal cell tight junctions in the stria vascularis and directly verify the two-cell hypothesis for generation of endocochlear potential. Furthermore, these data indicate that endocochlear potential is an essential component of the power source for the mammalian cochlear amplifier.
Clock skew tolerant communication scheme for SoC IP blocks

System-on-chip (SoC) designs have different intellectual property (IP) blocks that operate on independent clocks and signals crossing the clock domains could experience errors. This paper details the effects of clock skew on data and clock signals at the interface logic of communicating SoC modules. The clocks under consideration have the same frequency but with phase angles that range from 0 - 360deg. A single buffer between communicating modules shows data transfer rates of 10.25 times 109 data samples per second serially when the sender and receiver clocks have no skew. Increasing the phase shift (skew) between the sender and receiver clocks degrades this transfer rate to 6.75 times 109 samples per second per channel. Adjusting the phase shift between the sender and receiver clocks to always be between 0deg and 135deg improves the performance, keeping the data transfer rates in the range of 9.50 times 109 to 10.25 times 109 samples per second per channel. It is also shown that the interface logic tolerates skew significantly better if multiple stages of the interface logic and data path FIFO buffers are used.
An Analysis of How the Gender and Race of School Principals Influences Their Perceptions of Multicultural Education.

The purpose of this study was to investigate secondary school principals’ perceptions of multicultural education in a rural southeastern state. The researchers wanted to ascertain whether or not the race or gender of school principals have a role in how those principals view multicultural education in theory (its theoretical value). For the purpose of this study, multicultural education in theory was defined as the belief that multicultural education is for all students, elevates students’ self-esteem, is embedded in cultural pluralism, and recognizes the social, political, and economic community and societal constructs on students of color (Fernandez, 1996). Three hundred and two secondary school principals were surveyed in a designated southeastern state. A significant difference was discovered with regard to the gender of the school principals and their perceptions of the theoretical value of multicultural education.
Becoming a bartender: the role of external memory cues in a work-directed educational activity

Two kinds of external mnemonic cues are distinguished within the activity of becoming a bartender. Verbal mnemonic symbols (VMS) are materially arbitrary with respect to their referents. Material mnemonic symbols (MMS) bear a direct material relation to their referents. Both sets of cues are socially constituted. Combined ethnographic and experimental analyses indicate that external mnemonic cue use shifts from VMS, to MMS, to the use of neither with increasing experience. These shifts are interpreted within an activity theory framework as they occur in relation to the changing goals of becoming a bartender.
On diffusive source localization using dumb sensors

The problem of estimating the location and time of origin of an instantaneous source of a particular gas using a simple sensor network is investigated in this paper. Here, the gas spreads by diffusion and the sensors make a binary decision on the existence of the gas by measuring its concentration in their immediate vicinity. The inability of the sensors to go beyond a binary resolution of the concentration justifies their classification as dumb. In this paper, it is restricted to the one-dimensional case where the sensors form a linear array. The analysis of the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) to study the limits of estimation performance is numerically calculated. Based on the number of gas molecules the Poisson distribution by a Gaussian distribution with mean and variance is approximated.
Simulated disclosure of a medical error by residents: development of a course in specific communication skills.

OBJECTIVES: Surgery residents are expected to demonstrate the ability to communicate with patients, families, and the public in a wide array of settings on a wide variety of issues. One important setting in which residents may be required to communicate with patients is in the disclosure of medical error. This article details one approach to developing a course in the disclosure of medical errors by residents. DESIGN: Before the development of this course, residents had no education in the skills necessary to disclose medical errors to patients. Residents viewed a Web-based video didactic session and associated slide deck and then were filmed disclosing a wrong-site surgery to a standardized patient (SP). The filmed encounter was reviewed by faculty, who then along with the SP scored each encounter (5-point Likert scale) over 10 domains of physician-patient communication. The residents received individualized written critique, the numerical analysis of their individual scenario,
Control of Melt Convection Using Traveling Magnetic Fields

An axisymmetric traveling magnetic wave induces a meridional base flow in a cylindrical zone of an electrically conducting liquid. This remotely induced flow can be conveniently controlled, in magnitude and direction, and can have benefits for crystal growth applications. In particular, it can be used to offset natural convection. Theoretical basics of this new technological method are presented.
Contrasting growth response of an N2-fixing and non-fixing forb to elevated CO2: dependence on soil N supply

With the ability to symbiotically fix atmospheric N2, legumes may lack the N-limitations thought to constrain plant response to elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO2. The growth and photosynthetic responses of two perennial grassland species were compared to test the hypotheses that (1) the CO2 response of wild species is limited at low N availability, (2) legumes respond to a greater extent than non-fixing forbs to elevated CO2 ,a nd (3) elevated CO2 stimulates symbiotic N2 fixation, resulting in an increased amount of N derived from the atmosphere. This study investigated the effects of atmospheric CO2 concentration (365 and 700 µmol mol −1 ) and N addition on whole plant growth and C and N acquisition in an N2-fixing legume (Lupinus perennis) and a non-fixing forb (Achillea millefolium) in controlled-chamber environments. To evaluate the effects of a wide range of N availability on the CO2 response, we incorporated six levels of soil N addition starting with native field soil inherently low in N (field soil + 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, or 20 g N m −2 yr −1 ). Whole plant growth, leaf net photosynthetic rates (A), and the proportion of N derived from N2 fixation were determined in plants grown from seed over one growing season. Both species increased growth with CO2enrichment, but this response was mediated by N supply only for the non-fixer, Achillea. Its response depended on mineral N supply as growth enhancements under elevated CO2 increased from 0% in low N soil to +25% at the higher levels of N addition. In contrast, Lupinus plants had 80% greater biomass under elevated CO2 regardless of N treatment. Although partial photosynthetic acclimation to CO2 enrichment occurred, both species maintained comparably higher A in elevated compared to ambient CO2 (+38%). N addition facilitated increased A in Achillea, however, in neither species did additional N availability affect the acclimation response of A to CO2. Elevated CO2 increased plant total N yield by 57% in Lupinus but had no effect onAchillea. The increased N in Lupinus came from symbiotic N2 fixation, which resulted in a 47% greater proportion of N derived from fixation relative to other sources of N. These results suggest that compared to non-fixing forbs, N2-fixers exhibit positive photosynthetic and growth responses to increased atmospheric CO2 that are independent of soil N supply. The enhanced amount of N derived from N2 fixation under elevated CO2 presumably helps meet the increased N demand in N2-fixing species. This response may lead to modified roles of N2-fixers and N2-fixer/non-fixer species interactions in grassland communities, especially those that are inherently N-poor, under projected rising atmospheric CO2.
The Linear Complexity of a Graph

The linear complexity of a matrix is a measure of the number of additions, subtractions, and scalar multiplications required to multiply that matrix and an arbitrary vector. In this paper, we define the linear complexity of a graph to be the linear complexity of any one of its associated adjacency matrices. We then compute or give upper bounds for the linear complexity of several classes of graphs.
Distributed sleep transistors network for power reduction

Sleep transistors are effective to reduce dynamic and leakage power. The cluster-based design was proposed to reduce the sleep transistor area by clustering gates to minimize the simultaneous switching current per cluster and then inserting a sleep transistor per cluster. In the paper, we propose a novel distributed sleep transistor network (DSTN), and show that DSTN is intrinsically better than the cluster-based design in terms of the sleep transistor area and circuit performance. We reveal properties of optimal DSTN designs, and then develop an efficient algorithm for gate level DSTN synthesis. The algorithm obtains DSTN designs with up to 70.7% sleep transistor area reduction compared to cluster-based designs. Furthermore, we present custom layout designs to verify the area reduction by DSTN.
Changing colors in mice: an inducible system that delivers

Expression of exogenous genes in mammalian systems can be extremely informative for deciphering the function of an encoded protein or determining the role of a putative regulatory region. In many instances it is desirable or even essential to employ a system that has the ability to be controlled by the experimenter. For example, embryonic lethality that results from expression of an exogenous transgene or disruption of an endogenous gene can be problematic as it precludes examination of the phenotypic consequence in the organism under study. In these cases the use of an inducible gene expression system would be advantageous so that gene expression could be turned on or off at will. Inducible systems would not only be useful for analyzing the function of exogenous genes, but may also be implemented in gene disruption experiments or in gene therapy protocols in which a therapeutic gene is delivered. Many laboratories have designed systems that aim to achieve inducible gene expression. However, even the best laid plans often yield disappointing results in vivo. This is attributable to an incomplete understanding of regulatory mechanisms that orchestrate mammalian gene expression. Exacerbating this problem is the fact that bacterial or viral genes and regulatory elements that are often implemented in the scheme may be rendered nonfunctional in mammalian systems, further decreasing the chance of success and increasing the chance of frustration.
Kidney 11β-HSD2 Is Inhibited by Glycyrrhetinic Acid-Like Factors in Human Urine

We have previously shown that human urine contains substances that, like glycyrrhetinic acid, inhibit 11β-HSD1. We have named these substances “glycyrrhetinic acid-like factors” or GALFs. We now have found that human urine contains measurable quantities of both 11β(HSD1)- and 11β(HSD2)-GALF inhibitory substances. Both are markedly elevated in pregnancy. Their chemical and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) characteristics suggest that several of the GALFs are steroidal. Large quantities of neutral 11β(HSD1)- and 11β(HSD2)-GALFs can be extracted directly from urine into ethyl acetate, yielding fraction EA1. Hydrolysis of the GALFs remaining in the aqueous phase by β-glucuronidase markedly increases the total amounts of GALFs, with the majority now being ethyl acetate extractable (fraction EA2). These EA2 posthydrolysis GALFs can be separated by HPLC resulting in at least six components with inhibitory activity against each isoenzyme. Only two GALF peaks are active against both 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2. The others are peaks with specific 11β(HSD 1)- and 11β(HSD2)-GALF inhibitory activity. The GALFs in the same posthydrolysis EA2 extract are also inhibitory toward the 11β-HSD1 that is present in vascular smooth muscle where they may play a role in the mechanisms controlling blood pressure. We have also found that 11β-HSD2 is selectively inhibited by 5α-(but not by 5β-) reduced steroids. GC-MS analysis of the 11β(HSD2)-GALFs in EA2 is now being performed to determine whether this group includes 3α,5α-ring A-tetrahydro-reduced derivatives of steroids.
Formal Change Impact Analyses of Extended Finite State Machines Using a Theorem Prover

This paper describes a formal change impact analysis approach for systematic evolution of communicating systems. Systems are modeled using a network of communicating extended finite state machines (CEFSMs) with variables ranging over commonly used data types including numbers, Booleans, arrays, and object fields. Parameterized messages exchanged over queues and shared variables are used for communication. Changes to the system are performed at the transition level by adding/deleting transitions. Given a changed transition, the impacted system transitions are automatically computed using a bounded, selective, state exploration based on the inductive assertion approach. A theorem prover extended with queue axioms is used to discharge the verification conditions. Multiple symbolic values for each variable present in a system state are represented as a set of rewrite rules to minimize state space overheads. Rewrite-rule based procedures are described for reducing the number of symbolic values in system states. We also describe heuristics to identify simultaneously enabled and disabling transitions and describe a procedure to reduce the number of verification conditions generated during the impact analysis. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is illustrated on several applications including Web services and cache coherence protocols.
Perceptions of students working as library reference assistants at a University Library

Purpose – This paper aims to develop a better understanding of student worker perceptions of academic libraries in an effort to improve student worker training, position structure and, ultimately, their perceptions of the library. The value of student reference assistants extends well beyond the completion of assigned library tasks. Specifically, student reference assistants can be important community voices and advocates for academic libraries, spreading, by word-of-mouth, the kinds of library services available to students and their relevance to the academic community. Consequently, it is essential to gain an understanding of how student workers perceive the academic library as a result of their employment. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses an informal, anonymous online survey of student reference assistants to gather information on student worker perceptions of the library. Questions focus on student workers’ understanding of library services and resources as well as on the library’s missio...
Questions about implant-bone interface with pyrolytic carbon: commentary on an article by Thomas M. Sweets, MBA, MD, and Peter J. Stern, MD: "Pyrolytic carbon resurfacing arthroplasty for osteoarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the finger".

Pyrolytic carbon (pyrocarbon) was hailed at the time of its introduction for use in small joint arthroplasty as an ideal material because of its excellent wear characteristics and biological compatibility with joint tissues. In this article, Sweets and Stern present the longest-term follow-up to date of pyrolytic carbon implants for proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty in patients with osteoarthritis. At an average of fifty-five months, with over half the patient cohort followed for more than five years, the authors noted a high rate of failure after proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty with pyrolytic carbon implants, including dislocation, subsidence and loosening, implant fracture, and joint contracture, with a reoperation rate of 19%. The literature on the use of pyrolytic carbon implants for the proximal interphalangeal joint has shown mixed results, including a previous study by one of the authors (P.J.S.) that noted …
Partially de-epithelialized postauricular flap for ear reconstruction

SURGICAL CHALLENGE The ear presents unique challenges in reconstruction, including the need to recreate distinct subunits of a complex 3-dimensional structure and cartilaginous framework. The postauricular flap is a workhorse flap for reconstruction of the scapha with exposed cartilage. A modification of the postauricular flap with distal de-epithelization can be used to reconstruct large defects of the scapha and augment helical rim volume.
Care for Those Who Wore the Uniform

Considerations were granted to American war veterans as far back as 1636, when the pilgrims, in the midst of an Indian insurrection, devised a special law providing rights and assistance to those who fought. Various of the early American colonies passed similar laws for disabled veterans, and by the time of the Revolution the benefits concept had been firmly established.Said Calvin Coolidge in 1920: "The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten." But such platitudes did little to solve the fragmented administration of veterans' affairs, which inevitably was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of cases. Thus was established, in 1930, the Veterans Administration. Even at its creation the new agency had a budget of $641 million and a staff of 31,500 people, serving roughly 4.7 million living veterans.Today the annual budget of the VA is more than $20 billion, processed by some 250,000 public servants. There are about 25 million veterans, whose dependents may be three times that number. The VA runs 171 medical centers, 132 nursing-home units and more than 30 clinics. It is a world leader in the treatment of spinal-cord injuries and post-traumatic stress disorders, rehabilitation of the blind and care of the elderly.
Identity Design in Virtual Worlds

Designers in HCI and end user development require a good understanding of actors in virtual interaction spaces. Persistent virtual worlds represent a rather new but growing class of complex design and interaction platforms. Online identities form the basis for interaction of individuals in virtual environments. We present results from an ethnographic study of a popular online game, and develop a socio-technical model of identity formation that illuminates the processes of identity design in online environments. This framework demonstrates how virtual worlds provide social and technological structures that shape self-presentation and interaction. This allows us to explore the relationship between the real-world identity of the game player and the virtual-world identity of their avatar.
Cause analysis and countermeasures of dust blocking in power plant boiler tubular air-preheaters

Aiming at the serious dust blocking in tubular air-preheaters of No. 1— 4 boilers since the commissioning,expounds the design and operation of the tubular air-preheaters,analyzes the relationship between dust blocking and radiation,ration of convective heat transfer,mixed coal contamination,flue gas dew-point,and performance of flue-gas regulating baffle at the entrance of air-preheater,and proposes the operation measure and transformation plan to prevent dust blocking and mismatching flue gas flow at the primary,and secondary air side. The result verifies the feasibility of the transformation plan for tubular air-preheater.
Urban Impacts on Oxidative Balance and Animal Signals

Though many animal ornaments and signals are sensitive to and encode information about the oxidative balance (OB) of individuals (e.g. antioxidant supplies/activity, reactive oxygen species, cellular oxidative damage/repair), often the environmental and/or physiological sources of such OB are unknown. Here we review the mechanistic underpinnings and functional consequences of how human urbanization drives antioxidant/oxidative status in animals and how this affects signal expression and use. Urban development is among the most recent, pervasive, and persistent human stressors on the planet and impacts many environmental and physiological parameters of animals. Here, we review literature on the potential effects of urbanization on OB and its linkage to signal expression and honesty in animals. Although we find that urbanization has strong negative effects on signal quality (e.g., visual, auditory, chemical) and OB across a range of taxa, few urban ecophysiological studies address signals and oxidative stress in unison, and even fewer in a fitness context. We also highlight particular signal types, taxa, life-histories, and anthropogenic environmental modifications on which future work integrating OB, signals, and urbanization could be centered. Last, we examine the conceptual and empirical framework behind the idea that urban conditions may disentangle signal expression from honesty and affect plasticity and adaptedness of sexually selected traits and preferences in the city.
Statistical processing and convergence of finite-record-length time-series measurements from turbulent flows

In this manuscript, we investigate the statistical convergence of turbulent flow statistics from finite-record-length time-series measurements. Analytical solutions of the convergence rate of the mean, variance, and autocorrelation function as a function of record length are presented based on using mean-squared error analysis and the consideration of turbulent flows as random processes. Experimental assessment of the statistical convergence theory is presented using 20-kHz laser Rayleigh scattering measurements of a conserved scalar (ξ) in a turbulent free jet. Excellent agreement between experiments and theory is noted, providing validation of the statistical convergence analysis. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported assessment and verification of statistical convergence theory as applied to turbulent flows. The verified theory provides a practitioner a method for a priori determining the necessary temporal record length for a desired statistical accuracy or conversely, accurately estimating the uncertainty of a measurement for a given temporal record length. Furthermore, we propose a new hybrid “multi-burst” data processing scheme based on combined independent ensemble and time-series statistics targeted for shorter-duration time-series measurements. The new methodology is based on taking the ensemble mean of derived statistical moments from many individual finite-duration time-series measurements. This approach is used to systematically converge toward the “expected” value of any statistical moment at a rate of $$\sqrt M$$ , where M is the number of individual time-series measurements. The proposed multi-burst methodology is assessed experimentally, and excellent agreement between measurements and theory is observed. A key outcome of the implementation of the multi-burst processing method is noted in the estimation of the autocorrelation function. Specifically, an unbiased estimator of the autocorrelation function can be used with much less uncertainty as compared to the biased estimator, which is not the case for single time-series measurements irrespective of record length. The primary outcome of the multi-burst processing scheme is a methodology for achieving high statistical convergence for turbulent flow time-series measurements characterized by limited acquisition time, whether facility or instrument dependent.
IL-6 Contributes to Corneal Nerve Degeneration after Herpes Simplex Virus Type I Infection.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a leading cause of neurotrophic keratitis characterized by decreased corneal sensation because of damage to the corneal sensory fibers. We and others have reported regression of corneal nerves during acute HSV-1 infection. To determine whether denervation is caused directly by the virus or indirectly by the elicited immune response, mice were infected with HSV-1 and topically treated with dexamethasone (DEX) or control eye drops. Corneal sensitivity was measured using a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer and nerve network structure via immunohistochemistry. Corneas were assessed for viral content by plaque assay, leukocyte influx by flow cytometry, and content of chemokines and inflammatory cytokines by suspension array. DEX significantly preserved corneal nerve structure and sensitivity on infection. DEX reduced myeloid and T-cell populations in the cornea and did not affect viral contents at 4 and 8 days post infection. The elevated protein contents of chemokines and inflammatory cytokines on infection were greatly suppressed by DEX. Subconjunctival delivery of neutralizing antibody against IL-6 to infected mice resulted in partial preservation of corneal nerve structure and sensitivity. Our study supports a role for the immune response, but not local virus replication in the development of HSV-1–induced neurotrophic keratitis. IL-6 is one of the factors produced by the elicited inflammatory response to HSV-1 infection contributing to nerve regression.
One outcome, many trends: understanding national data sources for road traffic fatalities in China

Objectives. To better understand national data sources and evaluate time trends in road traffic fatalities (RTF) in China.Methods. We reviewed national sources on RTF data. These included population-based report from the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), sample-based estimates from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Disease Surveillance Points System (DSP), as well as model-based estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD).Results. All data sources have limitations in coverage, representativeness or overreliance on model specifications. Despite the discrepancies in methodologies and estimates, all sources indicated an increase in RTF before 2005. Since then, MPS and GBD indicated a decrease, DSP showed plateauing, and MOH and WHO suggested increasing fatalities. However, despite any recent decline, RTF remain high.Conclusions. The divergent trends in RTF across data sets in China implies a challenge to understanding China's experience with addressing...
The functional effects of physical interactions involving cytochromes P450: putative mechanisms of action and the extent of these effects in biological membranes

AbstractCytochromes P450 represent a family of enzymes, which are responsible for the oxidative metabolism of a wide variety of xenobiotics. Although the mammalian P450s require interactions with their redox partners in order to function, more recently, P450 system proteins have been shown to exist as multi-protein complexes that include the formation of P450•P450 complexes. Evidence has shown that the metabolism of some substrates by a given P450 can be influenced by the specific interaction of the enzyme with other forms of P450. Detailed kinetic analysis of these reactions in vitro has shown that the P450–P450 interactions can alter metabolism by changing the ability of a P450 to bind to its cognate redox partner, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase; by altering substrate binding to the affected P450; and/or by changing the rate of a catalytic step of the reaction cycle. This review summarizes the known examples of P450–P450 interactions that have been shown in vitro to influence metabolism and categorizes...
Nasal septal perforation in children: Presentation, etiology, and management

Abstract Objective The presentation, etiology, and treatment of nasal septal perforation have been described in the adult literature; however, reports in the pediatric population are limited. In this study, we review our experience with pediatric nasal septal perforations with a focus on presentation, pathogenesis, management, and outcomes of surgical repair. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on pediatric patients diagnosed with nasal septal perforations from 1998 to 2015. Data regarding patient demographics, perforation characteristics, and treatment were extracted and analyzed. Results Twenty-seven patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 10.8 years (range 2 months–17 years). Nasal crusting (n = 19, 73%) and epistaxis (n = 15, 58%) were the most common complaints at presentation. The most common etiologies were trauma (n = 9, 33%), iatrogenic sources (n = 5, 19%), and neoplasm (n = 3, 11%). Septal perforations were primarily located in the anterior septum (n = 17, 81%) and the average size was 0.9 cm (±0.37) in diameter. Four patients were managed with a nasal septal button. Successful closure was achieved in four out of six patients (66.7%) who underwent surgical repair. Conclusions In our series, septal perforations in children occurred most frequently due to digital nasal trauma, and crusting was the most common symptom. Factors to consider prior to repair include symptomatology, the etiology of the perforation, co-morbidities, ability to comply with post-operative care/restrictions, availability of adjacent tissue/grafts, and potential effects on nasal growth. Even with careful consideration of these factors, successful closure was limited to two-thirds of patients who were offered repair.
Sample-to-answer mobile malaria molecular diagnositstic system for resource-limiting areas

This work reports a field-deployable “sample-to-answer” molecular diagnostic system (AnyMDx) for species-specific malaria detection at the point of need. The portable nucleic acid diagnostic system uses a disposable microfluidic disc, which incorporates integrated sample preparation steps of DNA extraction, purification, elution, and amplification. Built on our previous success with highly sensitive singleplex P. falciparum detection (low detection limit of ∼0.6 parasites/μl) [1], here we report the specificity performances of AnyMDx for distinguishing two of the most common endemic malaria species (P. falciparum and P. vivax). The AnyMDx system is fully automated and delivers real-time multiplexed species-specific molecular answers directly from the raw blood samples within 40 minutes without any requirement of laboratory infrastructures.
Trust Building Privacy Preferences for Young Adults Visiting Political Campaign Websites

Websites have been used by political campaigns for nearly a decade and a half and the literature has adequately covered human factors aspects of political campaign websites with the help of usability, task analysis, and content analysis studies. However, there is a gap in the literature concerning the relationship between campaign website visitor privacy preferences and trust in the candidate or campaign. This paper presents the idea that user preferences regarding political websites and privacy policies can inform the design process of such websites and impact user trust. The paper provides explicit recommendations for improving campaign website design with the ultimate goal of facilitating trust between young adults and those using a campaign website as a part of their bid for public office. It uses mixed methods to ascertain the privacy preferences among young adult political campaign website users and identifies several factors that have an impact on trust.