cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Israel Cook Russell—explorer, geomorphologist, geographer, educator

Profiles of Rocky Mountain Geologists – a continuing series Israel Cook Russell (1852–1906) is best known for his geomorphic studies of the Great Basin region and Cascade Arc during the latter half of the 19th Century. As a long–time U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) geologist and close associate of John Wesley Powell (1834–1902) and Grove Karl Gilbert (1843–1918), Russell was one of the foremost contributors to the science of Quaternary geology in the American West. Rabbitt (1980, p. 163) notes that Russell “endured rather than enjoyed the comforts of civilization” and was enthusiastic about fieldwork, especially in the American West. My purpose is to provide a review of his professional career with a focus on his contributions to geology. Russell (Fig. 1) was born in upstate New York in 1852. He graduated with degrees in Bachelor of Science and Civil Engineering from the University of the City of New York in 1872, and Master of Science in 1875 (Lombard and D'Ooge, 1906). He also undertook graduate studies at the Columbia University School of Mines. He visited New Zealand in 1874 as a member of the U. S. Transit of Venus Expedition , and returned to Columbia University as an assistant professor of geology in 1875. As no provision was made for work in natural history on this expedition, Russell obtained an appointment as ‘photographer' (Gilbert, 1906) and acquired the necessary skills in a hurried course under physicist Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937). These skills were put to extensive use for the remainder of his life and account for the majority of photographs in his publications. Figure 1. Portrait of Israel Cook Russell (USGS photo archives). In 1878 Russell was hired as an assistant geologist on George Montague Wheeler's (1842–1905) U. S. Geographical Survey West of the 100th Meridian working in Colorado and …
Biomimetic sensor suite for flight control of a micromechanical flying insect: design and experimental results

Four prototypes of biomimetic sensors have been designed and implemented for flight control of a robotic flying insect. The ocelli use four photodiodes to detect changes in light intensity in the surrounding. The halteres use piezo-actuated vibrating structures to sense body rotational velocities via the Coriolis forces. The optic flow sensors consist of linear arrays of elementary motion detectors (EMDs) to register optic flows. The magnetic field sensor uses three metal loops to detect changes in the magnetic field. Despite simplicity and novelty, the preliminary tests on these devices showed promising performance for using such biomimetic sensors on a robotic flying insect.
Photonic synthesis of spread spectrum radio frequency waveforms over arbitrarily long time apertures

A photonic radio frequency generation setup is designed to generate arbitrary waveforms with ∼10 GHz bandwidth and arbitrarily long time apertures. Experiments are conducted through implementing pseudorandom sequence modulation and differential optical-to-electrical conversion.
The inactivation and removal of airborne Bacillus atrophaeus endospores from air circulation systems using UVC and HEPA filters.

Aims: To (i) evaluate the UV radiation in the ‘C’ band ⁄high efficient particulate air (UVC ⁄HEPA) instrument’s potential to inactivate spores of Bacillus atrophaeus and selected Bacillus species and (ii) test whether a titanium dioxide coating inside the cylindrical HEPA filter improves the system’s efficacy. Methods and Results: Known amounts of dried spore preparations of B. atrophaeus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus thuringiensis were exposed to the UVC lamp within a cylindrical HEPA filter for different time lengths (30 min to 48 h) and with different air flow speeds (0‐235 l s )1 ). The log10 reduction (range 5‐16 logs) of colony forming units for spores exposed to the UVC compared with the unexposed spores was significant (P <0 AE0001). The addition of a titanium dioxide (TiO2) veneer to the interior surface of the HEPA filter significantly increased the inactivation of spores (P <0 AE0001). Conclusions: The UVC ⁄HEPA unit could inactivate spores of B. atrophaeus, B. cereus, B. megaterium, B. stearothermophilus and B. thuringiensis. Significance and Impact of the Study: The UVC ⁄HEPA unit represents an effective method of decontaminating circulating air within an air-duct system as found in a building.
Tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone promotes functional cooperation of Bcl2 and c-Myc through phosphorylation in regulating cell survival and proliferation.

Nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is formed by nitrosation of nicotine and has been identified as the most potent carcinogen contained in cigarette smoke. NNK significantly contributes to smoking-related lung cancer, but the molecular mechanism remains enigmatic. Bcl2 and c-Myc are two major oncogenic proteins that cooperatively promote tumor development. We report here that NNK simultaneously stimulates Bcl2 phosphorylation exclusively at Ser70 and c-Myc at Thr58 and Ser62 through activation of both ERK1/2 and PKCα, which is required for NNK-induced survival and proliferation of human lung cancer cells. Treatment of cells with staurosporine or PD98059 blocks both Bcl2 and c-Myc phosphorylation and results in suppression of NNK-induced proliferation. Specific depletion of c-Myc expression by RNA interference retards G1/S cell cycle transition and blocks NNK-induced cell proliferation. Phosphorylation of Bcl2 at Ser70 promotes a direct interaction between Bcl2 and c-Myc in the nucleus and on the outer mitochondrial membrane that significantly enhances the half-life of the c-Myc protein. Thus, NNK-induced functional cooperation of Bcl2 and c-Myc in promoting cell survival and proliferation may occur in a novel mechanism involving their phosphorylation, which may lead to development of human lung cancer and/or chemoresistance.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the Clostridium thermocellum cellulosome xylanase Z feruloyl esterase domain.

Feruloyl esterases cleave ferulic acid from arabinoxylan and pectin. Feruloyl groups are believed to crosslink the polysaccharide chain within the polymer and to link hemicellulose to lignin, which may play a role in controlling the growth of plants. The Clostridium thermocellum cellulosome xylanase Z feruloyl esterase was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and crystallized. The crystals diffract to 2.4 A resolution and belong to the orthorhombic space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 43.14, b = 63.77, c = 79.57 A. Assuming one molecule per asymmetric unit, the Matthews coefficient is calculated to be 1.87 A3 Da−1, which corresponds to a solvent content of 34%.
Genetics and Biology of Microcephaly and Lissencephaly

Genetic microcephaly and lissencephaly are 2 of the most common brain malformations. Each of them is a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by mutations of many different genes. They are a significant cause of neurological morbidity in children worldwide, responsible for many cases of mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. Recent advances in molecular genetics have led to the identification of several genes causing these disorders, and thus accurate molecular diagnosis and improved genetic counseling has become available for many patients and their families. More recently identified genes include STIL, causing primary autosomal recessive microcephaly (microcephaly vera), and TUBA1A, causing lissencephaly. Numerous other disease genes are likely still to be identified. Functional studies of genes that cause microcephaly and lissencephaly have provided valuable insight into the molecular mechanisms of human brain development.
Electroretinographic findings in the mucopolysaccharidoses.

Abstract The degree of retinal involvement of 20 patients (ages 3-21) with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) types I, II, and III was assessed using electroretinography (ERG) under standardized conditions. ERG evidence of retinal dysfunction ranged from none to severe in MPS I and II, and from moderate to severe in MPS III. The ERG abnormalities were common to all three types of MPS, and showed the pattern seen in rod-cone degenerations, where the rodmediated responses are more severely affected than the cone-mediated responses. The ophthalmoscopic signs were less striking than the electrophysiologic findings, and were usually restricted to mild changes of the retinal pigment epithelium.
Perceptions of HIV transmission risk in commercial and public sex venues

Background Sexual behaviors of men who have sex with men (MSM) that occur in sexually charged venues (e.g., bathhouse, sex club, public park) are a target for research and intervention due to concerns about the role these venues may have in the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, these efforts often exclude how individuals perceive HIV risk in terms of sex venue use. This paper analyzes how venue-specific perceptions of HIV transmission risk differ across venues and by onsite sexual behavior.
Dielectric and Absorbate Effects on the Optical Properties of Phosphazenes

The optical response of polyphosphazenes can be directly related to the {pi} (out-of-plane) and {pi}{prime} (in-plane) bonding interactions intrinsic to the electronic structure of these materials. Altering this structure either by hydrogen bonding or absorbate effects, affects both the linear and nonlinear optical susceptibilities. In this paper, we have performed electronic structure calculations on the cyclic molecules, P{sub 3}N{sub 3}(NHCH{sub 3}){sub 6}, P{sub 3}N{sub 3}(SCH{sub 3}){sub 6}, P{sub 3}N{sub 3}(OCH{sub 3}){sub 6} and P{sub 4}N{sub 4}(NHCH{sub 3}){sub 8} as model systems for the polymer. Charge distribution arguments are discussed to explain the influence of a polarizing electric field on the {pi} bonding systems, and are used to suggest methods to enhance their nonlinearities.
Projection micro-stereolithography using digital micro-mirror dynamic mask

Abstract We present in this paper the development of a high-resolution projection micro-stereolithography (PμSL) process by using the Digital Micromirror Device (DMD™, Texas Instruments) as a dynamic mask. This unique technology provides a parallel fabrication of complex three-dimensional (3D) microstructures used for micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Based on the understanding of underlying mechanisms, a process model has been developed with all critical parameters obtained from the experimental measurement. By coupling the experimental measurement and the process model, the photon-induced curing behavior of the resin has been quantitatively studied. The role of UV doping has been thereafter justified, as it can effectively reduce the curing depth without compromising the chemical property of the resin. The fabrication of complex 3D microstructures, such as matrix, and micro-spring array, with the smallest feature of 0.6 μm, has been demonstrated.
Analysis of Elevated Neutral-to-Earth Voltage in Distribution Systems With Harmonic Distortion

The proliferation of power-electronic loads in the distribution system has raised concerns about their impact on the neutral-to-earth voltage [(NEV) or stray voltage]. It is desirable to analyze the effect of topology unbalance and harmonic distortion acting simultaneously to assess their influence on elevated NEV. A multiphase harmonic load-flow algorithm for radial distribution systems is presented for NEV analysis. A transmission-line model is developed that includes the neutral branch such that the NEV is available directly. Harmonic interaction is introduced by using a model for a single-phase rectifier. A well-documented IEEE radial feeder is used to demonstrate the algorithm. Results from several tests on different combinations of linear and nonlinear loads are presented and discussed. These tests show that triplen harmonics can have more effect on elevated NEV than unbalance acting alone.
Criteria for selecting a family of software indicators

A family of maintainability metrics is defined by a hierarchical structure, with the top level, the family, being the most abstract. The lowest level in the hierarchy consists of the members of the family, the software metrics and the middle level consists of the property branches. A family allows for a hierarchy of measurements. The vectors of metrics and the hybrid metrics only represent one level of assessment. As with the hybrid metrics, several properties of the software are assessed through the family. Criteria for selecting a family of metrics is given, and the concept is demonstrated on an example program. >
Investigation of transfer rates of albumin tagged with I 131 in ascites and edema. II. Studies in control subjects and patients with cirrhosis.

Abstract The concentration of radioactivity in the plasma and ascitic fluid following intravenous or intraperitoneal injection of albumin I 131 was studied in both control subjects and in patients with Laennec's cirrhosis. Graphic representation of the data and mathematical analysis of the curves made it possible to calculate the transfer rate of albumin in the plasma and ascitic fluid. Repetitive studies in patients with cirrhosis during treatment disclosed a significant decrease in exchange rate in 1 case. In 3 control subjects and in 1 cirrhotic patient, 2 rates of distribution of injected radioactive albumin from the plasma into the extravascular compartment were observed. The data suggested that extravascular albumin exists in several pools, each with a characteristic size and exchange rate.
Spinal angiotensin II influences reflex cardiovascular responses to muscle contraction

We tested the hypothesis that inhibition of angiotensin II (ANG II) AT1 receptors in the thoracic spinal cord attenuates the reflex cardiovascular response to electrically induced hindlimb static contraction (exercise pressor reflex). Consequently, in alpha-chloralose-anesthetized cats, contraction-induced increases in mean arterial blood pressure, maximal rate of rise in left ventricular pressure (dP/dt), and heart rate were compared before and after intrathecal injection of the AT1 receptor antagonist losartan (100 or 1,000 micrograms; n = 7). Losartan significantly diminished increases in blood pressure and maximal dP/dt provoked by static contraction by 33 +/- 5 and 31 +/- 6%, respectively. Conversely, these contraction-induced responses were unaffected by similar injection of ANG II into the lumbosacral spinal cord (n = 5). Moreover, intravenous injection of 100 micrograms losartan did not affect the cardiovascular response to contraction. Our data suggest that ANG II has a excitatory effect on the efferent arm of the exercise pressor reflex, which may be due to a facilitatory action on sympathetic nerve activity.
Inadvertent bird captures in Sherman small mammal traps in an old field mosaic

The small mammal community at the Kansas Fragmentation Study, University of Kansas Field Station and Ecological Reserves, located in southern Jefferson County in eastern Kansas, USA, has been studied continuously since 1984 with the use of non-folding Sherman live traps (Foster and Gaines 1991 ; Cook, Anderson and Schweiger 2004). Vegetation at the site is a mosaic of old-field herbs and grasses, early successional shrubs and vines, and small trees. The landscape is experimentally divided into patches of three sizes: 50x 100 m, 12x24 m, and 4x8 m (Robinson et al. 1992). Between September 1997 and February 2001, 328 3x3.5x9-inch traps were used approximately monthly to census small mammals, after which they were replaced by 3x3.5x12-inch traps used quarterly from June 2001-June 2003. During each census effort traps were generally set in the afternoon of Day 1 using chicken-scratch grain as bait, and left open continuously (except when occupied) until late morning on Day 4, totaling three days per trap per census.
The Global Financial Crisis and ‘Responsive Regulation’: Some Avenues for Historical Inquiry

This article explores how the theory of, “responsive regulation,” might guide historical inquiry into the American origins of the global financial crisis. Part I of the article briefly lays out some key ideas of the, “responsive regulation,” literature, and sketches how advocates of this viewpoint would likely make sense of the shortcomings in American financial regulation over the past two generations. Part II addresses the conflicting aims of financial regulation since the 1970s, suggesting how a focus on regulatory purpose, and especially the increasing weight that regulators placed on fostering financial innovation, might redirect historical analysis of the recent financial crisis. Part III offers specific suggestions for historical research, especially about the organizational culture of financial firms and key regulatory agencies, regulatory responses to significant novel financial instruments like credit default swaps, and the more diffuse cultural ramifications of libertarian economic thinking.
Heat-related fatalities in Wisconsin during the summer of 2012.

BACKGROUND: The hottest year on record for the contiguous United States was 2012. July 2012 ranked as Wisconsin's fourth warmest July, which has profound implications for heat-related mortality. METHODS: We conducted a case series of 27 heat-related fatalities in Wisconsin during summer 2012. Data from death certificates supplemented by coroner reports were analyzed to characterize factors that increase vulnerability to heat-related fatality. RESULTS: The 2012 heat-related fatalities occurred in both urban and rural counties. All cases had 1 or more known risk factors: 100% lacked functioning residential air conditioning; 70% were over age 65; 75% had a cardiovascular disease; and 52% had a mental health condition. Of the 14 cases with a mental health condition, half were known to be taking psychotropic medication. None of the decedents had been in air conditioning immediately prior to death, and 8 (36%) had been using fans. CONCLUSIONS: Air conditioning is known to be a strong protective factor in preventing heat-related deaths whereas fans have not been shown to be significantly protective across all exposure situations. Prevention efforts should stress reducing social isolation by encouraging checks by friends, neighbors, or police. Prevention messages should also warn patients on psychotropic medications that the medication could increase their risk of heat-related illness or fatality. Language: en
All about that fat: Lipid modification of proteins in Cryptococcus neoformans

Lipid modification of proteins is a widespread, essential process whereby fatty acids, cholesterol, isoprenoids, phospholipids, or glycosylphospholipids are attached to polypeptides. These hydrophobic groups may affect protein structure, function, localization, and/or stability; as a consequence such modifications play critical regulatory roles in cellular systems. Recent advances in chemical biology and proteomics have allowed the profiling of modified proteins, enabling dissection of the functional consequences of lipid addition. The enzymes that mediate lipid modification are specific for both the lipid and protein substrates, and are conserved from fungi to humans. In this article we review these enzymes, their substrates, and the processes involved in eukaryotic lipid modification of proteins. We further focus on its occurrence in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, highlighting unique features that are both relevant for the biology of the organism and potentially important in the search for new therapies.
Local Governments in Multilevel Systems: Emergent Public Administration Challenges

In this article, the local government (LG) administrative implications of the movement from government to governance, involving multiple ties and externalized services operations, are examined from a cross-national perspective. Derived from a series of studies of LGs in multilevel systems, this article examines key patterns of cross-agency administration. First, administrative intergovernmental relations (IGR) are defined. Then common trends in local governments in their IGR arenas are identified. Next, changing managerial paradigms in outward as well as inward directions are introduced. Then a series of managerial challenges, including system development, IGR politics, collaborative knowledge development, network management, and interoperability are introduced. A research agenda for multilevel system local governments in IGR in the governance era concludes the article.
A Simplified Alternative to the AOAC Official Method for Cholesterol in Multicomponent Foods

An AOAC official method for quantitating cholesterol in multicomponent foods, which was first published in the 13th edition of the Official Methods of Analysis, is rarely used. The method includes so many operations and manipulations--all described in excruciating detail--that most laboratories shun it altogether. Intent on finding an alternative, laboratories have developed their own methods for specific foods. As a result, new methods have proliferated, but still no practical method has been developed for the broader categories of multicomponent foods. The aim of AOAC, which is to promote greater accuracy and uniformity of analytical results primarily through collaborative testing, has not been well served under these circumstances. A different approach guided the work reported in the present paper. This approach was directed toward updating and dramatically simplifying the existing AOAC official method. The method's chloroform-methanol-water mixed-solvent extraction is preserved; however, all the remaining steps have been streamlined, updated, or eliminated by using newer technology. Cholesterol is quantitated with highly specific capillary gas-liquid chromatography using the internal standardization technique. The lipid extract is prepared for the chromatography step by a brief saponification carried out in a culture tube. The resulting method has been validated by using Standard Reference Materials and the standard addition method. Because a simplified method is now available for quantitating cholesterol in the lipid extracts, the expectation is that more attention can be given to the development of improved and efficient extraction methods. This step remains as the central difficulty in any number of methods of analysis for lipid analytes.
The Challenges for Us Psychologized Moderns

In a reparative history Dana Simmons boldly faces self feelings of imposture and guilt and engages them to consider how science studies can move beyond critical appraisals to undertake the greater, more important task of reassembling the self and studies of the self. For readers who are aware of their psychologized self-conceptions, her history promises opportunities for re-appraisal and re-assemblage. This commentary appreciates Simmons’ illumination of the race, class, and gender constituents of the psychologies of achievement which, among their products, have yielded the very idea of Impostor Syndrome. Further development of the kind of reparative histories advocated by Simmons demands attention to the enormity of our psychologized modernity and the complexities of reflexive psychology.
Nut Country: Right-Wing Dallas and the Birth of the Southern Strategy. By Edward H. Miller

Nut Country: Right-Wing Dallas and the Birth of the Southern Strategy . By Edward H. Miller. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2015. v + 230 pp. Illustrations, notes, bibliography, index. $22.00.) In this well-written and well-researched monograph, Edward H. Miller argues that the “Southern Strategy” employed in the 1960s and 1970s by Republican politicians was actually created and practiced during the 1950s throughout the Southwest. Moreover, he asserts, the strategy was “explicitly racist in motivation and application” (p. 5). Focusing on Dallas, Texas, Miller details the backgrounds of the individuals who turned this solidly Democratic county into a Republican stronghold. He begins with the demographics that provided the perfect climate for the GOP to expand in Dallas: the influx of Midwesterners, … mb18{at}txstate.edu
Transmitted-Reference UWB: A Digital Approach

Ultra-wideband (UWB) transmission utilizing transmitted-reference (TR) reception suffers from excess noise due to noisy correlation. In this paper, a digital approach is adopted to perform TR reception, circumventing technical difficulties in analog bandpass filtering. A tradeoff between signal integrity and noise suppression is identified, and based upon it, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) optimization problem is formulated to characterize the performance of digital TR reception. Numerical simulation results for multipath UWB channels are presented. It is illustrated that with appropriate design of digital TR receivers, acceptable channel output SNR is achievable even without any repetition diversity as typically resorted to in previous results of analog TR receivers.
Corporate Reputation on Mass Media, Public Opinion, and YouTube: Examining the Factors Influencing Reputation of Fortune 500 Companies

This study investigated the relationships of the mass media, public opinion, and social media strategies regarding corporate reputation. We collected data from content analyses of television news reports and official corporate YouTube videos, and then compared the data with a public opinion survey about corporate reputation. By doing so, this study hopes to confirm the influence of mass media and recognize the role of social media in shaping and influencing corporate reputation. Results indicated that YouTube salience promotes corporate reputation. The correlation between a corporation’s mass media agenda and YouTube agenda supports the concept of intermedia agenda setting, meaning one media’s agenda setting influences another media’s agenda. Further, we found that the salience of substantive attributes in media coverage and in YouTube channels is significantly related with the corporations’ reputation scores. This study extends the factors influencing corporate reputation and recognized the role of social media strategies. These findings are promising in helping examine the complex relationship among the mass media, social media, and corporate reputation.
Współ-pisanie, współ-poznawanie. Transformujące epistemologie

Our article offers a vision of how collaborative processes of knowledge-making in an interdisciplinary faculty writing group can transform professional lives of isolation into ones that flourish. Central to our co-creation of knowledge are the practice of storytelling in a critical self-reflective manner and the elements of commitment, connection and relationship. Together we have found that these elements provide basic strategies for managing the isolation that would otherwise be a significant force in our working lives. Our commitment is epistemological and moral, as we commit to knowledge-making, but also to each other as individuals and as moral agents, to our values, and to bringing our values into our work. Learning about ourselves together can enhance our sense of identity and our ability to navigate limits and boundaries. Through supportive, intentional and reflective collaboration, we re-vision knowledge-making as fundamentally social and relational, and theorizing as grounded in the specificity of narratives of shared, lived experience.
The context of on-demand work

Two years of ethnographic fieldwork, in the U.S. and India, together with rich quantitative data, shine light on the world of on-demand work invisible to many of us, yet core to the functioning of the Internet and the future of automation.
Overtraining Syndrome, Mitochondrial DNA and ATP Production

Overtraining syndrome is characterized by declining performance and inflammation following intense training, leading to health implications. Diagnostic measures determining overtraining syndrome are limited. Overtraining induces a response from oxidative stress biomarkers proportional to load. Circulating free plasma DNA is associated with tissue injury and exercise-induced inflammation. Research indicates that with chronic, excessive training, aerobic or resistance in nature, plasma DNA concentrations increase with load, suggesting a diagnostic use for overtraining-induced exercise inflammation. Reduction in mitochondrial ATP production contributes to reduced endurance and muscle weakness. Increased mitochondrial DNA oxidative damage, along with cumulative DNA damage may explain overall reduction in mitochondrial DNA copy numbers in skeletal muscle. Reduced mitochondrial DNA copy number may contribute to reduced mRNA abundance, resulting in reduced mitochondrial protein synthesis and oxidative enzyme activity, reducing oxidative phosphorylation. Reduction in availability of ATP may contribute to reduction in remodeling, including energy-requiring reactions in muscle. Although regular aerobic exercise may enhance healthy life expectance, overtraining may produce adverse effects, such as reduction in mitochondrial ATP production, causing the hypothalamic center to reduce unplanned physical activities to conserve energy. With ATP production rates expressed per unit of mitochondrial protein, there are persisting overtraining effects, compounded by reduced mitochondrial content and impaired intrinsic activity of mitochondria. An overall decrease in protein expression associated with differing rates of protein synthesis and breakdown, and protein turnover leads to accumulation of oxidatively damaged dysfunctional proteins. Further research is needed to examine effects of overtraining on mt DNA deletion, content, and oxidative DNA damage biomarkers.
Past as Prolog(ue): Humans, Machines, and 20 Years of Internet Computing

To celebrate IEEE Internet Computing's 20th anniversary, William Regli reflects on writing the lead technical article of the inaugural issue in 1997. Some of the observations he made two decades ago, as this discipline arose, were temporal in nature, and indicative of the times. Others, however, carried a certain prescience while distilling enduring themes.
EXEP: Mountaintop starshade concept study

Starshades are external occulters which would be used in conjunction with a space telescope. The starshade has a particular apodizing profile that effects strong suppression of starlight within the starshade's shadow. Since starshades that would be used in space are large, typically 30 m diameter or more, performance is difficult to test on the ground at realistic scales. This paper examines the practical limits for testing starshades at smaller scales in the atmosphere and goes on to describe concepts for testing starshades using ground based telescopes and using starshades for astronomical observations.
Variation in the evaluation of testicular conditions across United States pediatric emergency departments.

Abstract Objectives To explore the variation in diagnostic testing and management for males diagnosed with three testicular conditions (testicular torsion, appendix testis torsion, epididymitis/orchitis) using a large pediatric health care database. Diagnostic testing is frequently used in evaluation of the acute scrotum; however, there is likely variability in the use of these tests in the emergency department setting. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of males with the diagnoses of testicular torsion, appendix testis torsion, and epididymitis/orchitis. We identified emergency department patients in the Pediatric Health Information Systems (PHIS) database from 2010 to 2015 using diagnostic and procedure codes from the International Classification of Diseases Codes 9 and 10. Frequencies of diagnoses by demographic characteristics and of procedures and diagnostic testing (ultrasound, urinalysis, urine culture and sexually transmitted infection testing) by age group were calculated. We analyzed testing trends over time. Results We identified 17,000 males with the diagnoses of testicular torsion (21.7%), appendix testis torsion (17.9%), and epididymitis/orchitis (60.3%) from 2010 to 2015. There was substantial variation among hospitals in all categories of testing for each of the diagnoses. Overall, ultrasound utilization ranged from 33.1–100% and urinalysis testing ranged from 17.0–84.9% for all conditions. Only urine culture testing decreased over time for all three diagnoses (40.6% in 2010 to 31.5 in 2015). Conclusions There was wide variation in the use of diagnostic testing across pediatric hospitals for males with common testicular conditions. Development of evaluation guidelines for the acute scrotum could decrease variation in testing.
Patients with systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension express a genomic signature distinct from patients with interstitial lung disease:

Objective:Pulmonary arterial hypertension and interstitial lung disease are major causes of mortality in systemic sclerosis. We used a previously identified microarray biomarker to determine whethe...
Molecular Genetic Testing in the Genomic Era

Technological advancements have allowed molecular-based testing that was once done on a research-only basis to be adopted for routine use in clinical laboratories. Initially, these types of techniques were labor intensive and highly complex. The introduction of automated processes combined with an improved understanding of human genetic variation has allowed molecular testing to expand into clinical diagnostics, where it is now considered an essential aspect of patient care.
Normal Histology and Cytology of the Endocervix and Endometrium

Knowledge of the histology and cytology of the mucosa of the endocervix and endometrium will vastly aid in the interpretation of cervical cytology samples. In this chapter the normal histology and cytology of the endocervix, lower uterine segment, and endometrium are described and illustrated along with nonneoplastic alterations of the normal under various conditions.
Housing and Financial Policy

guiding spirit behind a program for world economic development sponsored by the Club of Rome. His committee of twenty experts from both industrialized and developing countries will issue a report in 1976, which is expected to cover not only development problems, but questions of food, trade, and world peace. Jan Tinbergen is an unassuming man, who does not trumpet his achievements to the world. He almost never criticizes colleagues. He could earn substantial personal income with his talents, but instead he has chosen to devote himself to the service of others. He does not drive a car, but takes a bus or tram to work. He has been known to thank his undergraduate students for selecting his courses. He has studied many languages, mainly in order to communicate better with those he has worked with in many parts of the world. (He learned Norwegian, for example, in order to have full access to the work of Ragnar Frisch.) He is fond of drawing. He believes in human dignity. And he lives by that belief.
When TV Became a Target: Ritual and Burlesque in Television Creature Features

Abstract:This historical study highlights the social impact of locally hosted creature features during the first generation of television in the United States. The analysis explains why ritual and performed critique were so central to this historical television genre, and the findings also depict the ambivalence implicit in early television viewership.
Near-Earth Objects and the United Nations

This chapter presents the past, current and future efforts of the United Nations (UN) through its Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in the field of near-Earth objects and planetary defense. The focus is on the progress made in implementing recommendations for an international response to the NEO impact threat, as agreed under the auspices of COPUOS and welcomed by the UN General Assembly in its resolution 68/75. The chapter also outlines the ongoing work by the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG), which were established as a result of the abovementioned recommendations and report annually to COPUOS and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee. The aim is to ensure a coordinated international response to the NEO impact threat, including information sharing in discovering, monitoring and physically characterizing potentially hazardous NEOs so that all countries, in particular developing countries with limited capacity in predicting and mitigating a NEO impact, are aware of potential threats.
Localization of Classified Objects in SLAM using Nonparametric Statistics and Clustering

Traditional Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) approaches build maps based on points, lines or planes. These maps visually resemble the environment but without any semantic or information about the objects in the environment. Recent advancements in machine learning have made object detection highly accurate and reliable with large set of objects. Object detection can effectively help SLAM to incorporate semantics in the mapping process. One of the main obstacles is data association between detected objects over time. We demonstrate a nonparametric statistical approach to solve the data association between detected objects over consecutive frames. Then we use an unsupervised clustering method to identify the existence of objects in the map. The complete process can be run in parallel with SLAM. The performance of our algorithm is demonstrated on several public datasets, which shows promising results in locating objects in SLAM.
Multidisciplinary rounds in prevention of 30-day readmissions and decreasing length of stay in heart failure patients: A community hospital based retrospective study

To assess the impact of multidisciplinary rounds (MDR) on 30-day readmissions and length of stay in hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure in a community teaching hospital.Patients with primary admission diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) were included. A before and after retrospective study was conducted once the intervention was implemented in 2014. The before and after study periods were each of 1-year duration and included 181 and 151 patients, respectively. Our multidisciplinary heart failure rounding team consisted of a staff cardiologist, case manager, pharmacist, social worker, and a nutritionist.The mean length of stay decreased from 5.7 days to 5 days, and 30-day readmissions decreased from 27.6% to 17.22% (P-value .026) after implementation of the multidisciplinary rounding. We observed a significant decrease of readmissions in ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) (from 33.61% to 14.01%; P-value .007) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (from 31.34% to 16.05%; P-value .028) patients. There was an increase in the percentage of patients hospitalized with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and, in particular, women patients with heart failure.Implementation of MDR program on CHF patients resulted in significant decrease in both readmission rate and length of stay in our hospital.
Auxiliary bearing squeeze film dampers for magnetic bearing supported rotors

Abstract Auxiliary bearings (AB) support the rotor and protect the magnetic bearing (AMB) system when the AMB is disabled due to power loss or excessive loads. The paper demonstrates that installing a damping device along with the AB can yield extended AB fatigue life, protect the AMB, and reduce vibration, contact force and AB heating. A squeeze film damper (SFD) is an energy dissipation device that has been widely used in the turbo-machinery industry, and as demonstrated in the paper can also work effectively in combination with an AB. Usually, the SFD implements a supply groove to ensure adequate lubricant flow into the film lands. The supply groove can provide significant added mass coefficients and significantly influence the overall impedance of the SFD. Past literature has analyzed the transient response of the rotor dropping onto AB's with squeeze film dampers, none though have considered the influence of the SFD's center groove and its added mass effect on rotor's drop behavior. This paper develops a high fidelity finite element grooved SFD model considering the fluid inertia, and an effective groove clearance is used following the practice appearing in the literature. SFD force coefficients are benchmarked with results of a linear fluid inertia, bulk-flow model developed in the literature, before including them in the rotor – AB system model. The SFD model is integrated into a high fidelity nonlinear auxiliary bearing (angular contact ball bearing) model, which considers the movements, contact force, stress, and temperature of bearing balls, the inner race and outer race. The instantaneous reaction forces from the SFD are calculated with a finite element based solution of Reynold equation at each time step due to the intermittent and large sudden loads. The flexibility of the rotor is included utilizing a Timoshenko beam, finite element model. The fatigue life of the auxiliary bearing when integrated into the SFD is also calculated based on the rain flow counting method. The influence of the added mass of the SFD on the rotor's drop behavior is demonstrated showing that the added mass increases the contact force and peak temperature and reduces the fatigue life of the AB. Therefore, the added mass effect of the SFD should be considered to avoid over predicting the AB fatigue life. The influence of the SFD clearance on the rotor's drop behavior is also studied showing that an optimal clearance exists for increasing the AB fatigue life. Too small of a clearance will yield excessive damping making the effective stiffness too large, and causing high contact forces. Too large of a clearance lowers damping which may lead to a destructive backward whirl. This paper provides key guidelines for auxiliary bearing damper system design.
Bilingualism in measurement: the coming of the metric system

-/Vt such time as the metric system is adopted as the measurement system in the United States, every American will develop some degree of bilingualism in the English and metric languages of measurement. The burden of encouraging this development will fall to a large extent on elementary school teachers, for they will have to confront the confusion of young children. But there are advantages that will accrue for those who learn to use the metric system. As teachers recognize these advantages and begin to exploit them, acceptance of the metric system will increase. The metric unit of length is the meter (or metre), which is slightly longer than the yard. This unit is too big to measure accurately small objects objects the size of the width of a finger, for example so a variety of subunits is needed. The cleverness of the designers of the metric system is evident in that these subunits were chosen to minimize the problems of converting; that is, the ratio between any two units is a power of ten. For example, the subunits of the meter are the decimeter (one-tenth of a meter), the centimeter (one-tenth of a decimeter), and the millimeter (one-tenth of a centimeter). The centimeter, then, is one-tenth of one-tenth (or one-hundredth) of a meter; and the millimeter is one-tenth of one-tenth of one-tenth (or one-thousandth) of a meter. One meter is the same length as ten decimeters, one hundred centimeters, or one thousand millimeters.
8 The Role of Behavioral Health in Bariatric Surgery

The current chapter aims to review the literature on behavioral health and psychosocial correlates within bariatric surgery. Psychosocial evaluation is an established component of the presurgical clearance process for bariatric surgery patients, and behavioral health providers play an essential role in screening and preparing patients for surgery. This chapter reviews the role of behavioral health practitioners in presurgical assessment, the psychiatric vulnerability of bariatric surgery candidates, and the current practices and components of a behavioral health evaluation. Postsurgical involvement of behavioral health providers is not as well defined; however, a growing body of research that describes associations between psychiatric and behavioral risk factors and postoperative outcomes is reviewed. The chapter also summarizes perioperative and postoperative issues that should be considered by the behavioral health specialist, including behavioral and psychosocial adjustments that occur after surgery, and important psychiatric issues that can emerge, including postsurgical suicide and alcohol abuse risk, changes in pharmacokinetic properties of psychiatric medications, and the development of postoperative eating pathology and body image concerns. This research supports the importance of ongoing involvement of qualified and specialized behavioral health providers across the surgical process.
Observation Effect in Ecological Momentary Assessments: A Study of Sun Protection Practices

Daily diaries and ecological momentary assessments are plagued by the assessment itself becoming an intervention, known as the observation effect. Bayesian hierarchical level modeling is a technique to analyze repeated measures or multiple outcomes. In a study of twice-daily self-reporting of sun protection behavior among high-risk individuals, we investigate observation effects, agreement between retrospectively self-reported reminder effect and observation effect, differential observation effects, and consistency of behaviors. Participants who retrospectively reported no reminder effect showed a decrease in protective behaviors over time, whereas those who reported they were reminded showed sustained use. Advantages of the Bayesian methodology are demonstrated for assessing consistency of behaviors. Although we cannot observe prior behavior, we theorize that individuals experience an initial elevation at the onset of observation, though this unobserved increase is only sustained for a subset who later attribute this sustained behavior to a reminder effect. Implications for study designs with repeated observations are discussed.
Impending Exit and Employee Effort: Do Quitters Phone It In?

Turnover research has extensively documented negative effects of turnover on organizations. However, this focus on the critical post- turnover disruption has limited our attention to potentially im...
Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease: a new tool to guide genetic testing

Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial disease (ADTKD) is a dominantly inherited progressive nonglomerular disease. Several factors, such as a nonspecific clinical presentation and relative rarity, impede the phenotyping of ADTKD into clinically relevant subtypes and impair the appropriate implementation of genetic testing. The study by Olinger et al. describes the largest multicenter ADTKD cohort, which is likely to become a key resource. The authors also provide a new clinical tool that could guide diagnosis and genetic testing.
Retrospective Review on the Safety and Efficacy of Nitrofurantoin for the Treatment of Cystitis in the Veteran Population With or Without Renal Insufficiency.

Background The emergence of antimicrobial resistance in uropathogens has generated interest in the use of nitrofurantoin in controversial populations, such as in males and those with renal dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of nitrofurantoin for the treatment of cystitis in males and females with variable degrees of renal dysfunction. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted in adult patients who received nitrofurantoin for acute cystitis in the outpatient setting. The primary outcome was clinical cure compared between males and females and across various renal function groups (creatinine clearances [CrCl] >60 mL/min, 30-60 mL/min, and 60 mL/min compared with those with CrCl 30-60 mL/min (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.40-2.44; P = 1). The 1 patient with a CrCl <30 mL/min was not included in the analysis. A history of benign prostatic hyperplasia (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.26-0.99; P = .045) or cirrhosis (OR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.06-0.82; P = .025) was associated with decreased odds of clinical cure. Adverse events occurred in 2% (n = 9) of patients. Conclusions There was no statistically significant difference in clinical cure with nitrofurantoin between genders or various renal functions.