cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Work in progress — Higher-level-learning enhancements to online assignments in an electrical engineering linear systems course

Online assignments with mathematical analyses often replicate the handwritten problem-solving process. This paper addresses work-in-progress enhancements to online linear-systems modules that move past procedural solutions toward visualizations and exercises that promote deeper thinking. Enhancements address (1) plotting additions to zero-input response and unit-impulse response help files and (2) a new Fourier series module that targets coefficient comparisons rather than calculations. The time-domain enhancements focus on the visualization of signals that are solutions to the system equations, whereas the Fourier series additions focus on the roles that the coefficients play in determining signal shape. Upon completion of this enhanced module set, data from in-class examinations and out-of-class teaching/learning interviews will be compared to similar data from prior course offerings in an attempt to quantify the effect of these higher-level, conceptual additions on learning.
Multi-color miniature dual-axis confocal microscope for point-of-care pathology.

We present a miniature microelectromechanical systems–based dual-axis confocal microscope capable of spatially coregistered fluorescence and reflectance imaging at multiple wavelengths. This device has a 10 mm diameter scan head with a 2 mm diameter tip for convenient use during surgery to guide tumor resection. The microscope has an adjustable focal depth of 20–200 micrometers and is capable of imaging with an axial resolution of 9 micrometers and in-plane resolution of 4 micrometers over a field of view of 450×450 micrometers. Simultaneous two-color imaging of individual optical sections is achieved by using a pair of grating–prism assemblies to compensate for chromatic dispersion in the 2 mm diameter gradient index relay lens at the distal tip of the device. Experimental measurements of the axial response of the microscope, as well as two-color images of a reflective bar target and fresh mouse brain tissues, demonstrate the performance of our device and its potential for multicolor in vivo optical sectioning microscopy.
Electron Production in Proton Collisions: Total Cross Sections

Existing data on the ionization of neutral atoms and molecules by proton impact are reviewed, and electron production cross-section data are collected. The three major experimental methods are discussed and possible sources of error identified. Some theoretical cross sections are discussed, and well-established methods of relating them to measured cross sections are reviewed. A mathematical equation is fitted to the weighted experimental data for each target, and these fits are adjusted to be consistent with appropriate theoretical calculations and with electron impact and photoionization data. Recommended values of total cross sections for proton-impact ionization are given.
Olfactory and non‐olfactory epithelia in the nasal cavity of the mouse, Peromyscus

The nasal cavities of 14 deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, were examined histologically to determine the variability in surface area of the olfactory epithelium and its correlation with nasal cavity volume, area of non-olfactory epithelial surface, and body size. Forty-four per cent of the nasal cavity surface of P. maniculatus is covered by a non-olfactory epithelium with an area of 129.8 mm2; the epithelial surface consists of gradations in type from keratinized stratified squamous rostrally to ciliated pseudostratified columnar caudally. An extensive portion of this epithelium is non-ciliated and devoid of goblet cells. Situated dorsocaudal to the non-olfactory epithelium is the olfactory epithelial surface measuring 166.8 mm2 in area. The areas of total, non-olfactory and olfactory epithelial surfaces are highly variable in a sample of mice containing two subspecies, both sexes and various ages. Surface area measurements of non-olfactory and olfactory epithelia are correlated significantly with body length, body weight and volume of the nasal cavity. A relatively constant epithelial area to volume ratio is present in the nasal cavity of P. maniculatus. It is surmised that a stable ratio of molecules in the air to epithelial area may occur within a species.
SE(N) invariance in networked systems

In this paper, we study the translational and rotational (SE(N)) invariance properties of locally interacting multi-agent systems. We focus on a class of networked systems, in which the agents have local pairwise interactions, and the overall effect of the interaction on each agent is the sum of the interactions with other agents. We show that such systems are SE(N)-invariant if and only if they have a special, quasi-linear form. The SE(N)-invariance property, sometimes referred to as “left invariance”, is central to a large class of kinematic and robotic systems. When satisfied, it ensures independence to global reference frames. In an alternate interpretation, it allows for integration of dynamics and computation of control laws in the agents' own reference frames. Such a property is essential in a large spectrum of applications, e.g., navigation in GPS-denied environments. Because of the simplicity of the quasi-linear form, this result can impact ongoing research on design of local interaction laws. It also gives a quick test to check if a given networked system is SE(N)-invariant.
The impact of voice characteristics on user response in an interactive voice response system

System voice within interactive voice response systems (IVRs) was investigated in order to determine if voice impacts a user's input responses. In a medical setting, it is possible that a particular voice personality and/or gender may induce more or less disclosure, thus driving a patient to relay more or less sensitive information. In the IVR setting, one could determine this via examination of a user's button-press responses. In this study, a male and female voice personality expressing an upbeat, professional, and sympathetic personality recorded a script for a medical IVR. Users were randomly assigned to one of these voice personalities when completing a health survey over that IVR. It was found that disclosure rates were not affected by the type of voice heard, nor did they differ by user gender. Additionally, disclosure was higher on the IVR version of the health survey than on a web-based version, further recognizing the privacy offered by IVRs. These findings indicate that designers of IVRs may not have to put additional effort into the selection of voice talent and can instead focus on the design of the IVR, itself.
Impact of a countywide smoke-free workplace law on emergency department visits for respiratory diseases: a retrospective cohort study

With the goal of reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, the state of Minnesota (MN), enacted a smoke-free law (i.e., Freedom to Breathe Act) in all workplaces, restaurants, and bars in 2007. This retrospective cohort study analyzes emergency department (ED) visits in Olmsted County, MN, for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma over a five-year period to assess changes after enactment of the smoke-free law. We calculated the rates of ED visits in Olmsted County, MN, with a primary diagnosis of COPD and asthma in the five-year period from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2009. Analyses were performed using segmented Poisson regression to assess whether ED visit rates declined following enactment of the smoke free law after adjusting for potential underlying temporal trends in ED visit rates during this time period. Using segmented Poisson regression analyses, a significant reduction was detected in asthma-related ED visits (RR 0.814, p < 0.001) but not for COPD-related ED visits following the enactment of the smoke-free law. The reduction in asthma related ED visits was observed in both adults (RR 0.840, p = 0.015) and children (RR 0.751, p = 0.015). In Olmsted County, MN, asthma-related ED visits declined significantly after enactment of a smoke-free law. These results add to the body of literature supporting community health benefits of smoke-free policies in public environments and their potential to reduce health care costs.
Self-help Housing: an Evaluation of Outcomes

A survey of participants in a self-help housing project serves as the basis for this exploration of attitudinal change. The self-help project, a model of its type, was acclaimed by its residents who expressed satisfaction with the housing and neighbourhoods, and their generally heightened satisfaction with life in general. Respondents' sense of powerlessness diminished with the gain of personal identity. Popular participation increased the power of neighbourhood organizations. The importance of fatalism as an external control declined. Self-help with related supportive services is seen as an effective means for upgrading the supply of low-cost housing and improving resident welfare.
The roles of endogenous membrane properties and synaptic interaction in generating the heartbeat rhythm of the leech, Hirudo medicinalis.

SUMMARY 1. Inhibitory synapses among the central neurones involved in the generation of the heartbeat rhythm of the leech were blocked by either low Cl~ physiological saline or presynaptic hyperpolarizing current. 2. Low Cl~ saline reversibly blocked inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) from the HN cells onto both other HN cells and HE cells but did not block electrical coupling among HN cells. 3. The rhythmic bursts of impulses in HE cells were abolished when IPSPs were blocked by either low Cl~ saline or hyperpolarization of HN cells. 4. The rhythmic bursts of impulses in HN cells were not abolished (except in cell HN(5)) when IPSPs were blocked by low Cl~ saline, but phase relations became unfixed (unless the cells were electrically coupled). 5. Both brief depolarizing and hyperpolarizing current pulses reset the rhythm of HN cells whose IPSPs were blocked by low Cl~ saline. 6. The results indicate that the motor neurones to the heart (HE cells) produce rhythmic impulse bursts because their steady discharge is periodically inhibited by the HN interneurones. The pattern generated by the HN cells originates from an endogenous rhythm co-ordinated by the inhibitory interactions and electrical coupling between these cells.
Assessments of Health Impacts of Transportation Projects in an Urban Indian Context

The rapid motorization of Indian cities has led to a public health crisis with increased traffic injuries and fatalities, increased air pollution, and decreased physical activity. There is an urgent need to assess the health impacts of transportation to inform decision makers better about how to maximize the benefits and to minimize the negative impacts on health. Health impact assessment (HIA) methodologies and tools are used extensively in the developed world primarily to support broader environmental impact assessments of projects, programs, and policies, but only recently in the transportation sector. The concept of HIAs is gaining traction in the developing world. However, much of the methodology and many of the indicators are specific to the context of the developed world. Through a review of the literature and expert input from transportation planners and public health professionals in India, this study aims to develop the appropriate methodology for assessing the myriad health impacts from urban t...
Genome Instability Mediates the Loss of Key Traits by Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 during Laboratory Evolution

Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 has the potential to be a versatile bacterial host for synthetic biology because it is naturally transformable. To examine the genetic reliability of this desirable trait and to understand the potential stability of other engineered capabilities, we propagated ADP1 for 1,000 generations of growth in rich nutrient broth and analyzed the genetic changes that evolved by whole-genome sequencing. Substantially reduced transformability and increased cellular aggregation evolved during the experiment. New insertions of IS1236 transposable elements and IS1236-mediated deletions led to these phenotypes in most cases and were common overall among the selected mutations. We also observed a 49-kb deletion of a prophage region that removed an integration site, which has been used for genome engineering, from every evolved genome. The comparatively low rates of these three classes of mutations in lineages that were propagated with reduced selection for 7,500 generations indicate that they increase ADP1 fitness under common laboratory growth conditions. Our results suggest that eliminating transposable elements and other genetic failure modes that affect key organismal traits is essential for improving the reliability of metabolic engineering and genome editing in undomesticated microbial hosts, such as Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1.
Bone Marrow-Derived Cells Contribute to Epithelial Engraftment during Wound Healing

Recent findings suggest that bone marrow-derived cells (BMDC) may contribute to tissue maintenance throughout the body. However, it is not yet known whether marrow-derived epithelial cells are capable of undergoing proliferation. Our laboratory has shown that BMDC engraft as keratinocytes in the skin at low levels (≤ 1%) in the absence of injury. Here we show that skin damage affects the degree of engraftment of BMDC as keratinocytes and that the keratinocytes are actively cycling. Female mice reconstituted with sex-mismatched BM were wounded by punch biopsy and incision. At the wound site, engraftment of BMDC as epidermal cells increased within 1 day, and continued to increase to approximately 4% by 3 weeks after injury. Using a Cre-lox system, fusion of BMDC with epithelial cells was ruled out. BMDC-derived epithelial cells at the wound edges expressed Ki67, a marker for actively cycling cells, and this proliferation correlated with an increase in the number of donor-derived cells within the wound. Donor-derived cytokeratin 5-expressing cells were rare, suggesting that BMDC do not engraft as epidermal stem cells, and the level of engraftment peaked and then decreased over time, further suggesting that BMDC may assist in early wound healing by engrafting as transit-amplifying cells, which then differentiate into keratinocytes.
Matching the disadvantaged to job opportunities: structural explanations for the past successes of the Center for Employment Training

The Center for Employment Training is generally acknowledged as an effective program for skills training and placing economically disadvantaged populations into entry-level jobs. Program success is explained by the ability to develop skills demanded by industry while becoming part of employers' own, trusted recruiting networks. These findings suggest the importance of social networks (connecting job seekers to employers) to the design of training programs.
Tissue expansion prior to revision total knee arthroplasty

The first case of the use of a tissue expander in revision total knee surgery is reported. A 76-year-old woman presented with extremely adherent scare tissue on the anterior proximal tibia that was the result of multiple debridements and skin grafting for an infected primary total knee arthroplasty. The tissue expander was placed prior to subsequent revision total knee arthroplasty to permit complete excision of the scar and to provide tension-free closure with normal skin at the time of revision. Three years after the surgery, the patient is doing well.
Experimental Investigation of Capacity Control Scheme on System Performance for a Machine Tool Cooler

Highly accurate manufacture in machining industry can only be obtained with precise temperature control of the coolant (oil or water).Machine tool with more accurate,stable and advanced the precision of the working component cannot be developed without appropriate cooling.However,the machine tool coolers are facing the control hunting of cooling temperature and the dramatic variation of heat load in high-accuracy machining.The main objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of the hot-gas by-pass scheme and suction regulation for capacity control of a machine tool cooler system.In this study,experimental investigation on both hot-gas by-pass scheme and suction valve regulation for capacity control has been proposed.Effects of using capillary tube and thermostatic expansion valve along with different capacity control scheme have been investigated extensively in an environmental testing room.Cooling performance and power consumption of the cooler system have been measured and analyzed as well by comparing with different opening percentage of throttling valve under specific coolant temperature.The experimental results reveal that the power consumption will reduce slightly by capacity control using the hot-gas by-pass scheme but the coefficient of performance (COP) of the overall system will decrease.Lower coolant temperature will result in higher compressor power consumption as well.While conducting suction valve regulating for capacity control,energy-saving at 10%-12% can be obtained by using thermostatic expansion valve under different evaporator load.It also reveals that suction valve regulation along with adequate choice of thermostatic expansion valve can provide alternative choice for steady capacity control and substantial energy-saving.The proposed cooler systems with different capacity control schemes are not only more cost-effective than inverter driven system,but also can perform energy-saving and precise temperature control specific for high-accuracy machine tool cooling.
Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition by anti-CD147 therapy in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Background Advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an uncommon and aggressive malignancy. As a result, there is limited understanding of its biology and pathogenesis. CD147 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been identified as oncologically important targets, but their relationship remains undefined in cutaneous SCC. Methods Multiple cutaneous SCC cell lines (Colo-16, SRB-1, and SRB-12), were treated in vitro with a range of chimeric anti-CD147 monoclonal antibody (mAb) (0, 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL) or transfected with a small interfering RNA against CD147 (SiCD147). Cell proliferation, migration (scratch wound healing assay), and protein expression was then assessed. In vivo, Colo-16 flank xenografts were treated anti-CD147 mAb (150 µg i.p. triweekly). Results After treatment with anti-CD147 (200 µg/mL), there was a significant decrease in proliferation for all cell lines relative to controls (p < .005). In addition, treatment with anti-CD147 (200 µg/mL) resulted in decreased cell migration for all cell lines, with an average of 43% reduction in closure compared to controls (p < .001). Colo-16 SiCD147 expression demonstrated similar reduction in proliferation and wound closure. Anti-CD147 antibody therapy and siRNA mediated reduction in CD147 expression were both found to decrease protein expression of EGFR, which correlated with a reduction in downstream total and phosphorylated protein kinase B (pAKT). Tumor growth in vivo was reduced for both the anti-CD147 treatment group and the SiCD147 group relative to controls. Conclusion Inhibition and downregulation of CD147 in cutaneous SCC resulted in suppression of the malignant phenotype in vitro and in vivo, which may be mediated in part by an alteration in EGFR expression. As a result, CD147 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for advanced cutaneous SCC. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2015
ZEB, a vertebrate homolog of Drosophila Zfh-1, is a negative regulator of muscle differentiation

A number of genes, spanning the evolutionary scale from yeast to mammals, that are involved in spatial and temporal patterning during development contain zinc finger and homeodomain motifs. One such zinc finger/homeodomain protein is Drosophila Zfh-1, a member of the zfh family of Drosophila genes, which is expressed in muscle precursors and is critical for the proper development of muscle. Here we demonstrate that a vertebrate homolog of Zfh-1 (ZEB) is a negative regulator of muscle differentiation. We show that ZEB binds to a subset of E boxes in muscle genes and functions by actively repressing transcription. One target of this repression is the members of the MEF-2 family, which synergize with proteins of the myogenic basic helix-loop-helix family (bHLH) (myoD, myf-5, myogenin and MRF-4) to induce myogenic differentiation. As muscle differentiation proceeds, myogenic bHLH proteins accumulate to levels sufficient to displace ZEB from the E boxes, releasing the repression and allowing bHLH proteins to further activate transcription. This mechanism of active transcriptional repression distinguishes ZEB from other negative regulators of myogenesis (Id, Twist and I-mfa) that inhibit muscle differentiation by simply binding and inactivating myogenic factors. The relative affinity of ZEB versus myogenic bHLH proteins varies for E boxes in different genes such that ZEB would be displaced from different genes at distinct times as myogenic bHLH proteins accumulate during myogenesis, thus providing a mechanism to regulate temporal order of gene expression.
Getting beyond Anaemic Love: From the Pedagogy of Cordial Relations to a Pedagogy for Difference.

The curricula teachers teach are intimately bound with who they are. The literature on multicultural and anti‐oppressive education does not adequately examine teachers’ emotions in this type of teaching and learning. What are the emotional subtexts that accompany classroom celebrations of diversity? What may help teachers engage in more courageous teaching that confronts resistance, is not afraid of conflict, and leads to genuine communication and learning across difference? The first question refers to what is termed here a pedagogy of cordial relations that is akin to anaemic love, whereas the second question alludes to a pedagogy for difference, which involves Self–Other transformation. The goal is to help educators recognize where they stand in terms of these two pedagogies and move towards the latter. This study uses inquiry methods and a socio‐psychological theory of emotions in organizations to explore purposely selected narratives by white teachers of classroom critical incidents that bring hidden...
A novel retinoic acid-responsive element regulates retinoic acid-induced BLR1 expression

The mechanism of action of retinoic acid (RA) is of broad relevance to cell and developmental biology, nutrition, and cancer chemotherapy. RA is known to induce expression of the Burkitt's lymphoma receptor 1 (BLR1) gene which propels RA-induced cell cycle arrest and differentiation of HL-60 human myeloblastic leukemia cells, motivating the present analysis of transcriptional regulation of blr1 expression by RA. The RA-treated HL-60 cells used here expressed all RA receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) subtypes (as detected by Northern analysis) except RXRγ. Treatment with RAR- and RXR-selective ligands showed that RARα synergized with RXRα to transcriptionally activate blr1 expression. A 5′-flanking region capable of supporting RA-induced blr1 activation in HL-60 cells was found to contain a 205-bp sequence in the distal portion that was necessary for transcriptional activation by RA. Within this sequence DNase I footprinting revealed that RA induced binding of a nuclear protein complex to an element containing two GT boxes. Electromobility shift assays (EMSAs) and supershift assays showed that this element bound recombinant RARα and RXRα. Without RA there was neither complex binding nor transcriptional activation. Both GT boxes were needed for binding the complex, and mutation of either GT box caused the loss of transcriptional activation by RA. The ability of this cis-acting RAR-RXR binding element to activate transcription in response to RA also depended on downstream sequences where an octamer transcription factor 1 (Oct1) site and a nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFATc) site between this element and the transcriptional start, as well as a cyclic AMP response element binding factor (CREB) site between the transcriptional start and first exon of the blr1 gene, were necessary. Each of these sites bound its corresponding transcription factor. A transcription factor-transcription factor binding array analysis of nuclear lysate from RA-treated cells indicated several prominent RARα binding partners; among these, Oct1, NFATc3, and CREB2 were identified by competition EMSA and supershift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays as components of the complex. RA upregulated expression of these three factors. In sum the results of the present study indicate that RA-induced expression of blr1 expression depends on a novel RA response element. This cis-acting element approximately 1 kb upstream of the transcriptional start consists of two GT boxes that bind RAR and RXR in a nuclear protein complex that also contains Oct1, NFATc3, and CREB2 bound to their cognate downstream consensus binding sites.
Surgery of the Cervical Spine

Sanford E. Emery and Scott D. Boden, editors. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders; 2003. 320 pages. $125.00 In the Preface to this book, the editors state that their goal was to achieve a blend of "gold-standard" and cutting-edge operative treatments of cervical spine disorders. After reading …
Numerical Simulation on 3D Cold Flow Field and Wear of a 50 MW Biomass CFB Boiler

Three-dimensional flow field in a 50MW biomass circulating fluidized bed(CFB)boiler was simulated using Eulerian model,so as to study the gas-solid two-phase flow and to analyze the wear condition in the boiler.Results show that the simulated distribution of bed pressure agrees well with that of actual measurement.On both the front and back wall of CFB boiler,the solid phase is sparsely distributed in the upper part but densely distributed in the lower part,in the"S"shape.The most serious wear appears at the position of y=0.95m,and the wear on front wall is more serious than on back wall.
Immunodetection of Plasmodium falciparum zygotes and ookinetes in Anopheles blood meals

Abstract An indirect fluorescent antibody assay (IFA) using monoclonal antibodies to the 25-kDa Plasmodium falciparum ookinete surface antigen was developed to detect and quantify preoocyst stages of P. falciparum in mosquito blood meals. This IFA is suitable for the detection and quantitation of zygotes/macrogametes, retorts (immature ookinetes), and ookinetes. Time-course evaluations showed that zygotes represented > 52% of the parasites detected between 6 and 24 h. From 24 to 36 h similar densities of all 3 stages were observed. By 42 h. 56% of the detectable parasites were ookinetes. Compared to the hemocytometer the IFA provided a better estimate of stage-specific infection rates and densities. The assay is a useful new tool for evaluating preoocyst stages in laboratory-infected mosquitoes and has the potential for detecting natural infections in vector populations.
A new turbulence-induced theoretical breakage kernel in the context of the population balance equation

Abstract The current paper develops a new breakage kernel for use in the population balance equation. The study properly accounts for the direction of the relative velocity of the eddy and determines the size of the daughter bubble from the angle at which the eddy hits the parent bubble and its orientation at the point of impact. The breakup kernel considers both the capillary pressure of the parent bubble and the surface energy increase of the daughter bubbles in its formulation. The model predictions agree very well with the experimental data available in the literature. A parametric study of the breakage kernel further analyzes its behavior over a range of flow conditions. The parameterization also leads to a simplified breakage kernel.
Surgical margin status does not affect overall survival following radical prostatectomy: a single institution experience with expectant management.

INTRODUCTION The objective of this report is to describe the oncologic outcomes of men with margin-positive prostate cancer who were managed expectantly following radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between January 1992 and January 2011, 2166 men underwent an open radical prostatectomy by a single surgeon. Of these patients, 1592 (74%) had complete data and met the inclusion criteria of negative lymph nodes and no history of neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. This cohort was dichotomized by the presence or absence of at least one positive surgical margin. Groups were compared for differences in recurrence-free and overall survival. RESULTS In total, 507 (32%) of 1592 patients had at least one positive surgical margin. Clinical and pathological characteristics of these patients indicated more aggressive disease. The median follow up for biochemical recurrence and overall survival was 3.4 years and 7.7 years, respectively. Of those patients with a positive margin, 147 (29%) recurred, with estimated 5 and 10 year biochemical recurrence rates of 31% and 47%, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of a positive margin was associated with a 2.45-fold increased hazard of recurrence (p < 0.001). Despite initial observation, surgical margin status was not associated with a decrease in overall survival on both uni- (p = 0.684) and multivariate analyses (p = 0.177). CONCLUSION Although a positive surgical margin is associated with an increased risk of biochemical recurrence, patients in our series were not at an increased risk of all-cause mortality.
Choosing among alternative technologies: conditions for assuring the feasibility of an input–output database or scenario

ABSTRACTThe conceptual reach of the basic input–output modeling framework is substantially extended by new models that incorporate the economic logic of comparative advantage as the basis for the endogenous choice among alternative production technologies. This paper establishes procedures that define the conditions under which the database used for scenario analysis in this extended framework assures the existence of an economically feasible solution. We provide a criterion for structural feasibility, the property established by the Hawkins–Simon condition for the basic input–output model, and introduce a criterion for scale feasibility. The logic underlying the tests is illustrated by numerical examples based on the Rectangular Choice-of-Technology model and database. These procedures can be particularly useful for incorporating engineering and other technical sources of information into multi-regional input–output databases; they can also provide substantial underlying detail about individual technolog...
An Exploration of the Intersectional Manifestations of Demographic and Occupational Stereotypes

Stereotypes of individuals have been an important area of inquiry for nearly a century (e.g., Katz & Braly, 1933), and have significant impact on work outcomes such as hiring (Hall et al., 2015; Ho...
Standoff detection of isotopes in a NH3 chemical plume

We perform standoff detection of 14NH 3 and 15NH 3 at a 10 Hz rate in a chemical plume with varying concentration using an external cavity quantum cascade laser swept over the range 930–1065 cm−1.
Four-fold increase in epoxide polymerization rate with change of alkyl-substitution on mono-μ-oxo-dialuminum initiators

We present an improvement in the rate, utility, and mechanistic understanding of mono-μ-oxo-dialuminum initiators for epoxide ring-opening polymerization based on investigation of a homologous series of trialkylaluminum adducts of (2-dibenzylamino)ethoxy-dialkylaluminum (TAxEDA) [(AlR3)·(O(AlR2)CH2CH2N(Bn)2), with R = Me, Et, iBu]. Using in situ FTIR spectroscopy of neat AGE polymerizations, we determined that the isobutyl-substituted TAxEDA (iBu-TAxEDA) exhibited a propagation rate constant (kp) of 1.100 ± 0.022 × 10−3 M−1 s−1, which was twice that of the methyl-functional TAxEDA (Me-TAxEDA) (kp = 0.500 ± 0.011 × 10−3 M−1 s−1) and four times that of ethyl-functional TAxEDA (Et-TAxEDA) (kp = 0.270 ± 0.003 × 10−3 M−1 s−1). The dative R3Al–O bond length in the mono-μ-oxo-dialuminum was longest for the iBu-TAxEDA (1.93 A) and shortest for the Et-TAxEDA (1.88 A). Consistent with a previously proposed mechanism for TAxEDA-initiated polymerization, the increased Al–O bond length may accommodate more-facile coordination and enchainment of the monomer by separation of the Al–O interaction leading to an increased polymerization rate. The generality of the improved iBu-TAxEDA was supported by polymerization of a range of monomer substrates such as propylene oxide (PO), butylene oxide (BO), epichlorohydrin (ECH), allyl glycidyl ether (AGE), propargyl glycidyl ether (PGE), and adamantylmethyl glycidyl ether (AMGE). In all cases investigated, the triisobutyl-functional TAxEDA (iBu-TAxEDA) represented an improved initiator for epoxide polymerization.
Abstract P128: Successful Facilitation of the Save 5 Million Lives Campaign at VA VISNs (Regions): CHF QUERI

Objective: Reducing readmission rates for heart failure (HF) patients has been a high priority nationally, for the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) and its' Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) QUERI. I...
The effect of furan molecular units on the glass transition and thermal degradation temperatures of polyamides

Interfacial polymerization is used to prepare biobased furan polyamides from the carbohydrate-derived monomer, 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid, aromatic diamines, and varying chain length aliphatic diamines. The molecular weights of the furan polyamides variations range 10,000–70,000 g/mol. These biobased polyamides have improved solubility relative to petroleum-derived polyamides affording enhanced processability options. The glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the biobased furan polyamides are higher than that of aliphatic analogs, but lower than phenyl-aromatic analogs. The Tg for these furan polyamides are as high as 280 °C. Also, the furan polyamide glass transition temperatures increase with decreasing aliphatic diamine chain length similar to results exemplified in petroleum-based nylons. Group contribution parameters are determined for furans to enable simple prediction of the glass transition temperature and decomposition temperature of furan polyamides. The molar glass transition function for the furan is calculated to be 27.6 ± 1.5 K kg/mol. Thermal analysis measurements of the biobased furan polyamides have maximum thermal degradation temperatures at 350 °C or higher, similar to that of aliphatic polyamides when scaled with the number average molecular weight. The molar decomposition temperature functions are determined to be 37 K kg/mol for furans bonded to aliphatic units and 42 K kg/mol for furans bonded to phenyl units. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45514.
Implementing Total Lifecycle Product Sustainability Through True Lean Thinking

Recent expansion of the manufacturing industry’s customer requirements include product lifecycle considerations covering environmental, economic and societal concerns. Awareness for the need to implement sustainable manufacturing (SM) practice continues to grow but the implementation rate appears to be relatively slow. In cases where successful SM implementation depends on the ability to compete in the marketplace in terms of quality and cost, lean manufacturing concepts have been applied to help manage the product lifecycle. Unfortunately, most lean manufacturing applications in SM focus on the use of basic lean tools such as 5S, visual management and kanbans, etc., implemented as a series of management-directed projects or Kaizen activities without full engagement of the people doing the work. Consequently, improvements made under these conditions are often short-lived and relatively limited. True Lean benchmarks the Toyota Production System (TPS) and includes often overlooked critical operational elements aimed at developing and sustaining team member engagement for continuous improvement (CI). This paper discusses important concepts of sustainable PLM and True Lean and introduces an integrated model called the ‘Benevolent Production System’ as a guide to continuously improve total lifecycle product sustainability.
Automated Process Planning for Hybrid Manufacturing

Abstract Hybrid manufacturing (HM) technologies combine additive and subtractive manufacturing (AM/SM) capabilities, leveraging AM’s strengths in fabricating complex geometries and SM’s precision and quality to produce finished parts. We present a systematic approach to automated computer-aided process planning (CAPP) for HM that can identify non-trivial, qualitatively distinct, and cost-optimal combinations of AM/SM modalities. A multimodal HM process plan is represented by a finite Boolean expression of AM and SM manufacturing primitives, such that the expression evaluates to an ‘as-manufactured’ artifact. We show that primitives that respect spatial constraints such as accessibility and collision avoidance may be constructed by solving inverse configuration space problems on the ‘as-designed’ artifact and manufacturing instruments. The primitives generate a finite Boolean algebra (FBA) that enumerates the entire search space for planning. The FBA’s canonical intersection terms (i.e., ‘atoms’) provide the complete domain decomposition to reframe manufacturability analysis and process planning into purely symbolic reasoning, once a subcollection of atoms is found to be interchangeable with the design target. We therefore show that geometric and spatial reasoning can be decoupled from logic and combinatorial search required to find process plans. The approach subsumes unimodal (all-AM or all-SM) process planning as special cases. We demonstrate the practical potency of our framework and its computational efficiency when applied to process planning of complex 3D parts with dramatically different AM and SM instruments.
Resilience, Distress, and Dependence Influence Injection Related Risk among People Who Inject Drugs

Substance use behavior, particularly injecting illicit substances, can lead to a variety of negative health outcomes. Psychological distress and substance dependence can contribute to injection-related risk behaviors, behaviors that can lead to transmission of bloodborne pathogens. This study examines how resilience (measured by the Conner Davidson Resilience Scale) might contribute to reducing risk, specifically in relation to psychological distress (measured by the Kessler 6 scale) and substance dependence (measured by the severity of dependence scale). The aim of this study was to examine the intersection between resilience, psychological distress, and severity of dependence, and how these psychosocial mechanisms might influence injection-related risk behaviors including sharing syringes and other injection equipment. A total of 622 people who inject drugs who live in New Orleans were recruited using respondent-driven sampling as part of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance. In multiple binary logistic regression analyses, psychological distress was a significant predictor of syringe sharing behavior after controlling for resilience and dependence. Resilience and dependence are independent significant predictors of syringe sharing behavior, which warrants further investigation of how resilience, psychological distress, dependence, and injection-related risk are interrelated. These findings provide a foundation for further research that may inform prevention programs focused on reducing negative health outcomes associated with high-risk injection behaviors.
Preliminary Foundation Design Using EDESYN

Foundation design requires experience and engineering judgment due to the unpredictable properties of soil and the empirical methods used in selecting a foundation type. A knowledge-based approach is used to facilitate the representation of design knowledge. The knowledge-based system generates a small number of foundation designs which are feasible for the given site conditions and building configuration. The building is considered as a whole to identify economical alternatives. The potential designs are selected from the full set of major foundation types. These preliminary designs can then be rigorously investigated by standard methods in order to produce a final design.
On the Philosophical Significance of the Correspondence Argument

The efforts to clarify the philosophical aspects of the so-called Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics have taken two main directions. The first of these, pursued intensely by Niels Bohr1, is the study of the concept of complementarity. The second, to which especially Werner Heisenberg2 has contributed, is the study of quantum physics’ relation to the philosophical tradition. So far there has been little interaction between the two lines of investigation, and both are still in a formative stage.
Resilience and Coping: An Example in African American Adolescents

The study addresses how African American adolescents are resilient when exposed to discrimination. We examine racial identity as a buffer between cumulative stressful events and aggression attitude...
Characterization of spalled AZ31B processed by ECAE

Abstract Spall recovery experiments were performed on ECAE processed AZ31B 4BC sample plates at approximately 200 and 400 m/s impact velocities corresponding to approximately 0.8 and 1.7 GPa shock stresses respectively, with plate normals parallel to the Extrusion and Transverse directions. The primary failure mechanisms were investigated through a combination of fractography and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). It was found that the existence of clusters of large, elongated Mn-Al particles in the alloy played a critical role in the onset and early development of spall failure. The elongated particles that were fractured during processing were the nucleation sites for voids, which then grew by crack propagation through the precipitates during shock. Void growth was found to transition to a more ductile mode in later stages of growth, and differences in later void growth between the two orientations were observed in the fracture surfaces. In the Extrusion direction sample, well-developed voids display fracture surfaces with a large number of nanovoids containing no nanoprecipitates. In contrast, voids in the Transverse direction sample displayed larger, sub-micrometer voids that intermittently contained precipitates. Extension twinning was also observed to play a role in void growth at the later stages, with the twin area fraction increasing significantly near developed voids. In the Extrusion sample shock compressed to 1.73 GPa, a series of twins and elongated grains were observed, and it is hypothesized that they aid in the formation of cracks between the voids.
Developing a Team-Based Learning Module for Large Classes in Medical School

In addition to early exposure to clinically relevant topics and integration of various disciplines, teaching team skills has become a priority in medical education. Many forms of small-group teachi...
Thirty‐Day Hospital Readmissions in a Care Transitions Program for High‐Risk Older Adults

Objectives To describe the causes of 30-day hospital readmissions among high-risk older adults during implementation of a multicomponent care transitions program. Design Secondary analysis of data from the evaluation of a multicomponent care transitions program for hospitalized high-risk older adults. Setting A 400-bed community teaching hospital. Participants Patients aged 75 and older admitted to non-intensive care unit beds who met specific criteria for high risk of complications and hospital readmissions. The intervention group included 202 patients, of whom 37 were readmitted to the hospital as an inpatient or on observation status within 30 days of discharge. Measurements Root-cause analyses on each readmission were conducted by hospital physicians and post-acute care (PAC) organization staff. Additional data were collected by trained project staff using the medical record and postdischarge telephone or in-person follow-up visits. These data were reviewed and adjudicated among the authors, and each readmission was rated with unanimous agreement as "preventable," "possibly preventable," or "not preventable." Results No significant differences were found in demographic and clinical characteristics of intervention patients readmitted versus those not readmitted. A higher proportion of the 37 patients who were readmitted did not have a postdischarge visit than the 165 patients who were not readmitted (15 [41%] vs 45 [27%]; P = .11). Among the 37 readmissions, 14 (38%) were rated as not preventable, 14 (38%) as possibly preventable, and 9 (24%) as preventable. Readmissions were rated as preventable or possibly preventable for a variety of reasons that provide insight into how care transitions programs for high-risk older adults might be made more effective. Conclusion Root-cause analyses of hospital readmissions among high-risk older adults by hospital physicians and PAC providers can identify strategies that might enhance the effectiveness of care transitions interventions in this complex population. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1307-1312, 2020.
How to enhance collaboration in Latin America to be more competitive worldwide?: a multimodal learning analytics approach

We propose the creation of an interdisciplinary research group related to Multimodal Learning Analytics and Social Network Analysis for the study of collaborative work groups in Latin America. We believe that the advanced work so far justifies the viability of the proposal.
La Política Económica del gobierno Zapatero

As we did in the final years of previous governments, our board proposes with this text an assessment of the economic policy of the present socialist government. The first section will analyse the growing model of the preceding period (the Aznar–Rato era). But Spanish economy has an underlying problem (section 2); it is noteworthy the persistent differential inflation, due to excess demand and lack of offer adaptation that is translated into a strong adverse balance on current account, in other words, lack of sufficient competition and competitiveness loss from low productivity. Section 3 analyses the economic policy of Zapatero’s government, going over some of its most significant fields of performance; a field, by the way, relatively reduced due to the Euro zone membership. The National Reform Programme, that we qualified as “frustrated” is summarised in section 4; we also assess briefly the performance level of objectives. The title of the next epigraph, “The policy of the economic policy” reflects how some action lines of the current government determine significantly the future economic policy. Our editorial concludes with a summary of what we call the “chiaroscuros” of managing continuity and change at the same time.