cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Grey Turner's sign suggesting retroperitoneal haemorrhage

A 57-year-old man presented with dyspnoea and haemoptysis. He had a history of amyloid light-chain systemic amyloidosis with renal involvement and a remote history of pulmonary emboli. He was also currently taking lenalidomide. A ventilation-perfusion lung scan was in determinate for an acute pulmonary embolus (fi gure). Therefore, he was empirically anticoagulated with warfarin. Shortly after, he developed signifi cant epistaxis, gingival bleeding, and large bilateral fl ank ecchymoses (fi gure). His international normalised ratio was slightly high (4·5). The clinical presentation was most consistent with warfarin toxicity superimposed on the multifactorial haemostatic abnormalities of systemic amyloidosis. However, the Grey Turner sign suggested a large retroperitoneal haematoma. Warfarin was discontinued, an inferior vena cava fi lter was placed, and he was transfused several units of blood before eventually being discharged. Originally described by Grey Turner in 1920 as a sign of haemorrhagic pancreatitis, fl ank ecchymoses are caused by blood tracking subcutaneously from a retroperitoneal or intraperitoneal source. Lancet 2014; 383: 1920
Environmental Responses of a Tropical Coastal Lagoon System to Hydrological Variability: Mundaú-Manguaba, Brazil

The Mundau-Manguaba complex in north-eastern Brazil is a 79 km2 shallow tropical coastal lagoon system, consisting of two interconnected waterbodies and a channel system linked to the ocean. Mundau-Manguaba is similar to many tropical lagoon systems in Latin America. The system is characterized by semidiurnal tides, which are reduced in amplitude by more than 88% as compared to the coastal ocean. The lagoons experience a distinct rainy (winter) and dry (summer) season. Anthropogenic inputs from sugar-cane processing and urban growth pose environmental management problems. During the dry season, urban and industrial pollution frequently produce eutrophic conditions in both lagoons. During flood discharge, sudden salinity drops occur in Lagoa Mundau, causing mass mortality of the abundant estuarine mussel (Mytella falcata) every few years. River discharge controls the oceanward transport of salts and pollutants and produces low salinity in Lagoa Manguaba during the entire year. This is true in Lagoa Mundau during the rainy season, while currents and salt dispersion in Lagoa Mundau are tidally driven during the dry season. The tide advects ocean water into the system, mixes the water column, and produces strong currents in the channels. Winds modify the magnitude of currents in Lagoa Manguaba.
Pressure‐volume‐temperature behavior of carbon tetrafluoride using a variable‐volume cell of bellows design

This paper presents data observed for the pressure-volume-temperature (P-V-T) behavior of carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) below room temperature, and uses these data in conjunction with higher temperature data from the literature to evaluate an equation of state. The P-V-T measurements were made via a variable-volume technique without using a confining liquid. The variable-volume design makes it possible to cover a range of specific volumes with a single charge, resulting in an efficient operating procedure. A unique bellows design with a 14-fold volume variation was developed. The bellows contained the compound under study (CF4) and was surrounded by a hydraulic liquid whose pressure could be varied causing the bellows to expand or contract. The volume of the bellows was determined by measuring the volume of the hydraulic liquid. Calibrations were made using a gas (CO2) of known thermodynamic properties. Pressure measurements were made via a differential pressure transducer on three Heise gauges calibrated in place against a Ruska dead-weight tester. The bellows cell was maintained in a well-agitated bath whose temperature was measured by a platinum resistance thermometer. The data were taken by charging a known amount of the compound into the bellows and observing the pressure-volume relationship at a fixed bath temperature. At the end of a run, the charge was recovered, the amount recovered agreeing within 0.01% with the amount charged. The observed data were analyzed graphically on pressure-volume, pressure-temperature, and compressibility diagrams. Very good consistency was observed with the higher temperature data from literature. The data were correlated analytically with the Martin equation of state. This equation represents all the data with an average deviation of 0.25%.
Flexible 3-D shape measurement using projector defocusing

We present a 3-D shape-measurement technique using a defocused projector. The ideal sinusoidal fringe patterns are generated by defocusing binary structured patterns, and the phase shift is realized by shifting the binary patterns spatially. Because this technique does not require calibration of the gamma of the projector, it is easy to implement and thus is promising for developing flexible 3-D shape measurement systems using digital video projectors.
Molecular Orientation and Intracellular Photometric Analysis

In reference to the article "Chromatographic Analysis of a Mixture of Proteins from Egg White" (Science, 1949, 110, 564), the cation exchange resin Dowex 50 employed in the experiment cited was obtained in February, 1949, from the Microchemical Specialties Company, Berkeley 3, California, under the name of Ion-X, and not from the Dow Chemical Company as reported in the footnote. We have thus far not obtained satisfactory results with a sample of Dowex 50, (24427), obtained from the Dow Chemical Company on August 8, 1949.
Familial laryngomalacia in two siblings with syndromic features

We present two siblings with severe laryngomalacia requiring surgical intervention during the newborn period, microcephaly, developmental delay, cleft palate, preaxial polydactyly, dysplastic nails and conductive hearing loss (persistent after tympanostomy tube placement). In addition the girl has microopthalmia and the boy was born with a patent ductus arteriosus, mild pelviectasis, and hypospadias. This combination of multiple congenital anomalies has not been described previously and may represent a previously undescribed syndrome with autosomal inheritance.
Irreducible representations of Lie algebras of reductive groups and the Kac-Weisfeiler conjecture.

Letg be the Lie algebra of a connected reductive groupG over an algebraically closed field of characteristicp>0. Suppose thatG (1) is simply connected andp is good for the root system ofG. Ifp=2, suppose in addition thatg admits a nondegenerateG-invariant trace form. LetV be an irreducible and faithfulg-module withp-character χ∈g *. It is proved in the paper that dimV is divisible byp 1/2dimΩ(χ) where Ω(χ) stands for the orbit of χ under the coadjoint action ofG.
Speaker locations from inter-speaker range measurements: closed-form estimator and performance relative to the Cramer-Rao lower bound

The problem of determining the relative positions of speakers in an array given noisy measurements of inter-speaker ranges is considered. A closed-form position estimator which minimizes a weighted equation error norm is presented. The information inequality is used to bound the position estimate mean square error and to gauge the accuracy of the closed-form estimator, which is shown to be nearly efficient.
Self-Adaptive Selective Sensor Network Querying

The reduction of power consumption during the deployment and operation of sensor networks has commonly been recognized as a key challenge. Many proposals have been put forth to save power by taking advantage of the inherent redundancies in sensor network's operation by minimizing the number of agents active in answering a query at any point in time. The highest level of power saving can be obtained when approximate query results are acceptable and the selection of active agents takes into consideration the intensity and speed of the event being monitored. A larger number of agents can cooperate during high intensity periods to ensure accuracy, while a lower number of agents is sufficient during quiet periods. In this paper, we propose an approach for self-adaptive selective querying. We introduce a set of metrics that allow each data sink to gauge the level of activity in its environment and adjust its querying strategy and intensity accordingly. We show experimental results and discuss future plans.
Mechanisms of enhanced angiotensin II–stimulated signal transduction in vascular smooth muscle by aldosterone

We tested the hypothesis that mineralocorticoids potentiate angiotensin II-stimulated phospholipase C activation through an increased number of angiotensin II receptors in cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. Exposure of cells to aldosterone for 24 h resulted in concentration-dependent increases in angiotensin II receptor binding. Via studies of angiotensin II displacement by non-peptide receptor antagonists, both basal and upregulated angiotensin II receptors were found to be of the AT1 subtype. Incubation with 1 microM aldosterone resulted in 50-100% enhancement of angiotensin II (100 nM)-stimulated diacylglycerol formation and intracellular calcium mobilization. Exposure to 100 nM 1,25-(OH)2VitD3, which did not upregulate angiotensin II receptors, did not potentiate stimulated inositol phosphate formation. Incubation with aldosterone resulted in potentiation of inositol phosphate formation upon receptor occupation (100 nM angiotensin II) but not upon post-receptor stimulation (25 mM NaF/10 microM AlCl3). Aldosterone did not increase basal phospholipase C activity or content of the inositol trisphosphate precursor phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that aldosterone potentiates angiotensin II-stimulated, phospholipase C-dependent intracellular signals solely by coupling to an increased number of angiotensin II receptors. This mechanism may contribute to the sensitized vascular responses to angiotensin II observed in states of mineralocorticoid excess.
A View of Current Evaluative Practices in Instrumental Music Teacher Education

The purpose of this study was to examine how instrumental music educator skills are being evaluated in current undergraduate programs. While accrediting organizations mandate certain elements of these programs, they provide limited guidance on what evaluative approaches should be used. Instrumental music teacher educators in the College Music Society (n = 303) supplied data about their respective programs through an online survey. Participants reported using written and verbal feedback, self-evaluation, and rubrics most frequently. Similar evaluation processes used across program courses or experiences, such as rubrics and ePortfolios, were described by 35 percent of the music teacher educators. Most programs culminated in a semester-long student teaching period, during which preservice teachers were observed and evaluated by university supervisors three to four times. Weak correlations were indicated between some evaluative practices and music teacher educators’ expectations for program graduates’ music ...
Experimental studies of front propagation and mode-locking in an advection-reaction-diffusion system

Experiments are presented on reaction processes in a cellular, time-periodic fluid flow composed of a chain of oscillating vortices. Previous studies have shown that mixing of passive impurities in this flow is chaotic. Chemical fronts are studied in this flow using the excitable regime of the ruthenium-catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. The velocities of the fronts are measured as a function of both the frequency and the amplitude of the external forcing. Arnol'd tongues are observed, where the propagating front mode-locks to the forcing, resulting in regimes where the front propagates an integer number of vortices in an integer number of drive periods. Overlapping of the tongues results in dual-locked behavior where the propagation velocity switches between two locked values.
MIMO wireless multipath ray parameter estimation from channel transfer matrix measurements

In MIMO wireless communication using space-time coding techniques, it is important to understand channel characteristics so that optimum coding schemes, array configurations, and performance analysis can be developed. Increasingly, understanding of MIMO channels is being aided by direct channel probing experiments to measure transfer matrix, H. An alternate channel representation based on propagating ray parameters has many advantages. We propose an algorithm to compute high precision estimates of channel ray parameters directly from H measurements. Examples are presented where rays are identified, and departure angles, arrival angles, and complex path gains are estimated.
Strength analysis of 6 resorbable implant systems: does heating affect the stress-strain curve?

Purpose The objective was to directly compare the strength of 6 different resorbable implant plating systems using an in vitro model before and after heating. Materials and Methods Red oak wood was cut and fixated using various resorbable plates and screws. Vertical load was applied and the specimens fractured, while a test machine gathered data. This was repeated after heating of the specimens. Results Several parameters were analyzed, and force versus displacement curves were plotted for each specimen. Conclusions There were no statistically significant differences for total maximum loads between heat-treated and non heat-treated specimens. There were differences in strengths amongst the various systems.
High-fat Diet-induced Ultradian Leptin and Insulin Hypersecretion are Absent in Obesity-resistant Rats

Objective: Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) are either obesity prone (OP) or obesity resistant (OR). We tested the hypothesis that differences in the ultradian rhythmic patterns of insulin and ghrelin in OP vs. OR rats promote obesity in OP rats. Research Methods and Procedures: Rats were fed regular chow or an HFD, and ultradian fluctuations in leptin, insulin, and ghrelin were analyzed in blood samples collected at 5-minute intervals from intrajugular cannulae of freely moving rats. Results: Regular chow feeding resulted in a slow weight gain accompanied by small increases in insulin and leptin and a decrease in ghrelin discharge, with only the pulse amplitude significantly altered. Similar changes were observed in OR rats, despite HFD consumption. In contrast, OP rats exhibited a high rate of weight gain and marked hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, and hypoghrelinemia; amplitude was altered, but frequency was stable. In a short-term experiment, HFD elicited similar secretory patterns of smaller magnitude even in the absence of weight gain. Discussion: We showed that three hormonal signals of disparate origin involved in energy homeostasis were secreted in discrete episodes, and only the pulse amplitude component was vulnerable to age and HFD consumption. Increases in insulin and leptin and decreases in ghrelin pulse amplitude caused by HFD were exaggerated in OP rats relative to OR rats and preceded the weight increase. These findings show that a distinct genetic predisposition in the endocrine organs of OR rats confers protection against high-fat intake-induced ultradian hypersecretion of obesity-promoting hormonal signals.
Quality Improvement Implementation: Improving Reproducibility in the Echocardiography Laboratory.

Background Interpretative variability can adversely affect echocardiographic reliability, but there is no widely accepted method to minimize variability and improve reproducibility. Methods A continuous quality improvement process was devised that involves testing reproducibility by assessment of measurement differences followed by robust review, retraining, and retesting. Reproducibility was deemed acceptable if ≥80% of all interreader comparisons were within a prespecified acceptable difference. Readers not meeting this standard underwent retraining and retesting until acceptable reproducibility was achieved for the following parameters: left ventricular end-diastolic volume, biplane ejection fraction, mitral and aortic regurgitation, left ventricular outflow tract diameter, peak and mean aortic valve gradients, and aortic valve area. Eight hundred interreader comparisons for evaluation of reproducibility were generated from five readers interpreting 10 echocardiograms per testing cycle. The applicability and efficacy of this method were then evaluated by testing a second larger group of 10 readers and reevaluating reproducibility 1 year later. Results All readers demonstrated acceptable reproducibility for biplane ejection fraction, mitral regurgitation, and peak and mean aortic valve gradients. Acceptable reproducibility for left ventricular end-diastolic volume, aortic regurgitation, and aortic valve area was achieved by four of five readers. No readers attained acceptable reproducibility on initial evaluation of left ventricular outflow tract diameter. After review and retraining, all readers demonstrated acceptable reproducibility, which was maintained on subsequent testing 1 year later. A second larger group of 10 readers was also evaluated and yielded similar results. Conclusions A continuous quality improvement process was devised that successfully reduced interpretative variability in echocardiography and improved reproducibility that was sustained over time.
On finite strategy sets for finitely repeated zero-sum games

Abstract We study finitely repeated two-person zero-sum games in which Player 1 is restricted to mixing over a fixed number of pure strategies while Player 2 is unrestricted. We describe an optimal set of pure strategies for Player 1 along with an optimal mixed strategy. We show that the entropy of this mixed strategy appears as a factor in an exact formula for the value of the game and thus is seen to have a direct numerical effect on the game's value. We develop upper and lower bounds on the value of these games that are within an additive constant and discuss how our results are related to the work of Neyman and Okada on strategic entropy (Neyman and Okada, 1999, Games Econ. Behav. 29, 191–223). Finally, we use these results to bound the value of repeated games in which one of the players uses a computer with a bounded memory and is further restricted to using a constant amount of time at each stage.
Hematogones as an internal control in flow cytometric analysis of suspected acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Hematogones are benign immature B cells that commonly populate the bone marrow of children. Their presence has been noted to interfere with the flow-cytometric analysis of cases of suspected acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) because their immunophenotype (positive for CD19, CD10, CD34, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase) is similar to that of pre–B cell lymphoblasts. Here we report a case in which the presence of a discrete population of hematogones, characterized by low-intensity CD10 cell-surface staining compared with pre–B cell lymphoblasts, actually aided in the recognition of early relapsed ALL and disease progression over a 4-day period. We also review our experience with flow-cytometric immunophenotyping in pediatric cases of suspected leukemia to evaluate the frequency of this occurrence.
Learning from the Experts: A Study of Free-Improvisation Pedagogues in University Settings.

There is a growing interest in alternative forms of pedagogy for students in K–12 settings. Free improvisation, a relatively new and unfamiliar genre, offers potential as an ensemble for teachers to provide in order to offer more egalitarian and creative music experiences for their students. The purpose of this multiple case study was to determine common elements of instruction among four university free-improvisation instructors in order to inform K–12 music education. Pauline Oliveros, Fred Frith, Ed Sarath, and David Ballou were interviewed and observed in order to find common elements among their teaching. Data collection included transcripts from interviews and field notes, recordings, course materials, and other documents, such as course syllabi, university catalogues, texts, and press material about the pedagogues. The common themes that emerged among the four pedagogues included an array of unique teaching exercises, facility with nontraditional vocabulary, the establishment of a safe and egalitar...
A reduced sufficient statistics-based algorithm for joint timing/channel estimation in blind equalization

In blind equalization, both the symbol timing and channel coefficients are unknown a priori. Previous algorithms for joint estimation of these parameters have used the extended Kalman filter, which is subject to divergence at low SNRs. Here, we present a new joint estimation algorithm which is based on the reduced sufficient statistics (RSS) method of Kulhavy (1990). The resulting channel and timing estimator is shown to use a modified recursive least-squares algorithm for the channel coefficients, and a joint nonlinear multiple-model type estimation for the timing. The application of the RSS estimator to blind symbol-by-symbol detection (SBSD) is illustrated.
Using Medications Appropriately in Older Adults

Older Americans comprise 13 percent of the population, but they consume an average of 30 percent of all prescription drugs. Every day, physicians are faced with issues surrounding appropriate prescribing to older patients. Polypharmacy, use of supplements, adherence issues, and the potential for adverse drug events all pose challenges to effective prescribing. Knowledge of the interplay between aging physiology, chronic diseases, and drugs will help the physician avoid potential adverse drug events as well as drug-drug and drug-disease interactions. Evidence is now available showing that older patients may be underprescribed useful drugs, including aspirin for secondary prevention in high-risk patients, beta blockers following myocardial infarction, and warfarin for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. There is also evidence that many older adults receive medications that could potentially cause more harm than good. Finding the right balance between too few and too many drugs will help ensure increased longevity, improved overall health, and enhanced functioning and quality of life for the aging population.
Do stress hormones suppress helper reproduction in the cooperatively breeding red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis)?

In the cooperatively breeding red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), male helpers are subordinate to male breeders and do not mate with females, even when unrelated to the breeding female within their group or through extra-group matings, yet exhibit reproductive hormone profiles similar to those of breeders. We investigated whether reproduction might be suppressed in helper males via high levels of the stress hormone corticosterone. We also examined effects of group size and season on corticosterone levels by comparing baseline and maximal plasma levels of corticosterone between helper males and breeding males, and among helper males and breeders of both sexes living in groups of different sizes throughout the reproductive cycle. We also measured plasma levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone to examine other potential hormonal differences between helpers and breeders. Male status did not explain variation in any hormones; therefore, our data do not support the hypothesis that helper males are reproductively suppressed via corticosterone or the other hormones investigated. However, the presence of two or more helper males in a group tended to reduce baseline corticosterone in breeding and helper males, but not breeding females, suggesting that helper males reduce parental effort of other male group members. Seasonally, maximal corticosterone peaked during the nestling provisioning phase for breeding and helper males, but not breeder females, suggesting that males show an increased response to stressors posing a potential threat to survival of offspring.
Chemical and Microscopic Nature of Pancreata from Chicks Fed Unhealed Soybean Meal

SummaryWhen chicks were fed diets containing 25% protein, those which had been fed unheated soybean meal developed pancreata which were much larger than pancreata from chicks which had been fed heated soybean meal. Histological examination did not indicate any variance between pancreata from either of the two treatments. The DNA, RNA, and protein levels, per unit weight, were not different whether unheated or autoclaved soybean meal was the source of protein in the diets. In addition, the moisture level in pancreata from both treatments was identical. These data indicate that the pancreas enlargement caused by feeding raw soybean meal is a result of hyperplastic rather than hypertrophic changes.
Linear programming design of digital data transmission filters with arbitrary magnitude specifications

A technique based on linear programming is presented for the design of baseband pulse-shaping FIR digital filters for data transmission applications. The filters are matched, and thus the overall Nyquist filter response is split equally between the transmit and receive filters. The filters can be specified to have arbitrary stopband attenuation characteristics, and they satisfy a zero intersymbol interference constraint when cascaded, i.e., the impulse response of the cascade of the two filters has uniformly spaced zero crossings. Design examples are given of matched filters with an equiripple stopband characteristics, and matched filters with a stopband characteristic satisfying FCC mask specifications. >
Design and evaluation of korean text entry methods for mobile phones

This paper presents a new keypad layout for Korean mobile phones and provides a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility of the design. At present the keypad layout for Korean mobile phones has not been standardized and different manufacturers produce phones with different layouts. The proposed layout is inspired by the structure of the Korean script and is designed to promote faster learning curve and ease of use.
Wavelength dependent specific plasmon resonance coupling of single silver nanoparticles with EGFP

Noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) possess unique plasmonic properties, enabling them to serve as sub-diffraction light sources and nano- antennae for a wide range of applications. Here we report the specific interaction of single Ag NPs with single EGFP molecules and a high dependence of their interaction upon localized-surface-plasmon-resonance (LSPR) spectra of single Ag NPs and EGFP. The LSPR spectra of single red Ag NPs show a stunning 60 nm blue-shift during their incubation with EGFP, whereas they remain unchanged during their incubation with bovine serum albumin (BSA). Interestingly, the peak wavelengths of the LSPR spectra of green and blue Ag NPs remain essentially unchanged during their incubation with either EGFP or BSA. These interesting findings suggest that plasmon-resonance-energy-transfer (PRET) from single Ag NPs to EGFP might follow a two-photon excitation mechanism to excite EGFP and the fluorescence of the excited EGFP might couple with the plasmon of single NPs leading to a blue-shift of the red NPs. These distinctive phenomena are only observed by real-time single NP spectroscopic measurements. This study offers exciting new opportunities to design new sensing and imaging tools with high specificity and sensitivity to study long-range molecular interactions and dynamic events in single live cells, and to probe the underlying molecular mechanisms of PRET.
Augmentation of the push-pull effect by terminal aortic occlusion during head-down tilt.

Tolerance to positive vertical acceleration (Gz) gravitational stress is reduced when positive Gz stress is preceded by exposure to hypogravity, which is called the “push-pull effect.” The purpose ...
Rift-Basin Structure and Its Influence on Sedimentary Systems

Knowledge of continental rifting has increased steadily during the past several decades. Field geologists have more precisely defined the timing and style of deformation in many exposed rift basins (e.g., the Newark basin of eastern North America, the Upper Rhine rift basin of central Europe, and Kenya basin of East Africa). Simultaneously, seismic interpreters, using 2D and 3D data acquired during hydrocarbon exploration and production activities, have identified and mapped many of the world’s subsurface rift basins (e.g., the Viking and Central rift basins of the North Sea, the Jeanne d’Arc rift basin of the Canadian Grand Banks, and the Dampier rift basin on the Northwest Shelf of Australia). Additionally, experimentalists have used scaled laboratory models to simulate rift-basin development under a variety of geologic conditions. Together, these field, seismic, and experimental approaches have yielded valuable information about the structural styles and depositional patterns of rift basins. Most previous reviews of rift-basin structures have focused on one particular rift system using one, or possibly two, of the above approaches (e.g., Rosendahl, 1987; Schlische, 1993; Morley, 1995, 1999b). In this paper, we examine rift systems from around the world, using information provided by field, seismic, and experimental approaches. This broad perspective allows us to describe the variety of structures associated with continental rifting and to infer the influence of these structural styles on the depositional patterns within them. Because of space limitations, we have left out or abbreviated many important topics related to continental rifting. Readers interested in tectonic-scale aspects of rifting and continental extension should consult the review papers by Roberts and Yielding (1994), Leeder (1995), and Ruppel (1995). Also, Peacock et al. (2000) presented a useful compilation of the voluminous nomenclature related to normal faults, rift basins, and extensional tectonics.
Nomad Oil Corporation

Oliver Slophe, the manager of Nomad Oil's European Aviation Logistics, must evaluate his European distribution system for cost savings by rationalizing the inventory system and the distribution network. He must also evaluate a proposal for consolidating stock into one central warehouse. This case can be used to show the effects of inventory pooling.
Girls, Ghouls and Girlhoods: Horror and Fashion at Monster High

How does a zombie doll in a popular horror franchise for tween girls serve as a productive site of contestation among overlapping visions of girlhood? In this chapter, I examine Ghoulia Yelps, a zombie character in the popular Monster High fashion doll franchise, not only as a toy in a global flow of licensed consumer goods but also as a site of identity construction and digital media production where facile notions of girlhoods are both enacted and reimagined. Monster High is reconceptualized here as the site of converging cultural imaginaries in which children play in and out of gendered futures around fashion, adolescence, diversity, and schooling. Critical analysis of tween girls’ digital play with a zombie doll on social media reveals the resonances, slippages, and paradoxes among identity texts produced about, for, and by girls. After describing the scope of the Monster High franchise and how it materializes expectations for characters, consumers, and players, I next examine how these dolls and identity texts circulate three dominant imaginaries of girlhood. Finally, I analyze YouTube videos of girls’ play with the Ghoulia Yelps character to see how tween’s foregrounding of horror and wielding of zombie tropes opens opportunities to rupture and reimagine girlhoods.
Mechanical Relaxation in Polyethylene Crystallized With Various Degrees of Lamellar Orientation.

The mechanical relaxation behavior of a set of well-characterized samples of polyethylene crystallized with different degrees of lamellar orientation is reported. The various samples ranged in morphology from unoriented isotropic samples to ones which showed a high degree of orientation of the b-axis along the sample growth direction. The mechanical measurements were made using a torsion pendulum apparatus of standard design, the direction of shear being normal to the b-axis for the oriented samples. The temperature range covered was from 100 to 400 °K. No definite effects attributable to orientation were observed for either the γ or β relaxation process, whereas for the α relaxation results for G″ indicate that a slight decrease in peak height resulted from the presence of lamellar orientation, particularly on the high temperature side of this peak. Data for the real and imaginary parts of the complex shear compliance are also discussed.
An Attempt to Induce Nephrotoxins and Experimental Glomerulonephritis by Injections of Homologous Renal Tissue

ConclusionAn attempt to induce in rabbits complement-fixing antibodies and an experimental glomerulonephritis by injections of autolyzed homologous kidney was essentially negative in its results.
Familism and Latino adolescent depressive symptoms: The role of maternal warmth and support and school support

Objectives: This study examined the relationship between familism and depressive symptoms across relational contexts in adolescence, and whether maternal warmth and support, and school support moderated the relationship between familism and depressive symptoms. Method: A total of 180 Latino adolescents (53% female) in 7th through 10th grades (average age = 14 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. The adolescents lived in an emerging Latino community in a rural area in the U.S. South. Most of the adolescents were Mexican-origin (78%) and born in the United States (60%), while the vast majority of their parents were foreign born (95%). Results: Overall, familism was associated with fewer adolescent depressive symptoms. School support moderated the relationship between familism and adolescent depressive symptoms such that familism’s protective effect was only evident when adolescents reported low levels of school support. In the context of average to high school support, adolescents reported low depressive symptoms regardless of familism. However, maternal warmth and support failed to moderate the relationship. Conclusions: Familism may be most protective for adolescents not feeling supported at school, suggesting that these values may offset the risk of a risky school environment.
Feminism for girls: an adventure story

Feminism for Girls: An Adventure Story is a reprint of a collection of qualitative research and essays conducted and written in the 1970s on varied aspects of feminism including education, careers,...
Application of Autoantibody determination in Children

[Objective]to investigate the distribution of autoantibody positive in specific population,and provide evidence for clinical diagnosis of autoimmune disease.[Methods]Indirect immunofluorescence and dot immunobinding assay were adopted for determination of anti-nuclear antibodies(ANA),anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies(dsDNA) and ENA(Sm,RNP,SSA,SSB,Jo-1,Scl-70).The ANA positive distribution trends in different age,gender,diseases and the clinical value were analyzed with clinical data.[Results]The major autoimmune disease was systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),the main positive autoantibody was ANA.ANA titer was higher in children with SLE,it in 9 of 11 patients was 1∶1000,ANA titer was lower in group of Henoch Schonlein Purpura(HSP),thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP),no clinical symptom;ANA positive rate increased in SLE patients group with age.ANA positive rate did not change significantly in group of HSP,ITP and no clinical symptom.Female SLE patients was significantly older than male,which gender difference was not significant in group of HSP,ITP and no clinical symptom.[Conclusion]Age and titer can be used for differential diagnosis of SLE and other rheumatic diseases of children.
Factors influencing the success of the surgical repair of peripheral nerves.

The generally poor results obtained in the surgical repair of injured peripheral nerves suggest the need for greater understanding of the physiology and pathology of neural tissue and for more sophistication in the surgical handling of that tissue. The success ratio in managing these injuries is influenced by the understanding of the seven factors, described here, which influence healing of a nerve. Those factors which may be influenced by surgical managment are emphasized.
Load Dependent Soft Switching Method of Half Bridge Current Doubler for High Voltage Point of Load Converter in Data Center Power Supplies

With the increased cloud computing and digital information storage, the energy requirement of data centers keeps increasing. A high-voltage point of load (HV POL) with an input series output parallel structure is proposed to convert 400 to 1 VDC within a single stage to increase the power conversion efficiency. The symmetrical controlled half-bridge current doubler is selected as the converter topology in the HV POL. A load-dependent soft-switching method has been proposed with an auxiliary circuit that includes inductor, diode, and MOSFETs so that the hard-switching issue of typical symmetrical controlled half-bridge converters is resolved. The operation principles of the proposed soft-switching half-bridge current doubler have been analyzed in detail. Then, the necessity of adjusting the timing with the loading in the proposed method is analyzed based on losses, and a controller is designed to realize the load-dependent operation. A lossless RCD current sensing method is used to sense the output inductor current value in the proposed load-dependent operation. Experimental efficiency of a hardware prototype is provided to show that the proposed method can increase the converter's efficiency in both heavy- and light-load conditions.
A new particle swarm optimization algorithm for noisy optimization problems

We propose a new particle swarm optimization algorithm for problems where objective functions are subject to zero-mean, independent, and identically distributed stochastic noise. While particle swarm optimization has been successfully applied to solve many complex deterministic nonlinear optimization problems, straightforward applications of particle swarm optimization to noisy optimization problems are subject to failure because the noise in objective function values can lead the algorithm to incorrectly identify positions as the global/personal best positions. Instead of having the entire swarm follow a global best position based on the sample average of objective function values, the proposed new algorithm works with a set of statistically global best positions that include one or more positions with objective function values that are statistically equivalent, which is achieved using a combination of statistical subset selection and clustering analysis. The new PSO algorithm can be seamlessly integrated with adaptive resampling procedures to enhance the capability of PSO to cope with noisy objective functions. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the new algorithm is able to consistently find better solutions than the canonical particle swarm optimization algorithm in the presence of stochastic noise in objective function values with different resampling procedures.
Singing voice outcomes following singing voice therapy.

Objectives/Hypothesis The objectives of this study were to describe singing voice therapy (SVT), describe referred patient characteristics, and document the outcomes of SVT. Study Design Retrospective. Methods Records of patients receiving SVT between June 2008 and June 2013 were reviewed (n = 51). All diagnoses were included. Demographic information, number of SVT sessions, and symptom severity were retrieved from the medical record. Symptom severity was measured via the 10-item Singing Voice Handicap Index (SVHI-10). Treatment outcome was analyzed by diagnosis, history of previous training, and SVHI-10. Results SVHI-10 scores decreased following SVT (mean change = 11, 40% decrease) (P < .001). Approximately 18% (n = 9) of patient SVHI-10 scores decreased to normal range. The average number of sessions attended was three (± 2); patients who concurrently attended singing lessons (n = 10) also completed an average of three SVT sessions. Primary muscle tension dysphonia (MTD1) and benign vocal fold lesion (lesion) were the most common diagnoses. Most patients (60%) had previous vocal training. SVHI-10 decrease was not significantly different between MTD and lesion. Conclusions This is the first outcome-based study of SVT in a disordered population. Diagnosis of MTD or lesion did not influence treatment outcomes. Duration of SVT was short (approximately three sessions). Voice care providers are encouraged to partner with a singing voice therapist to provide optimal care for the singing voice. This study supports the use of SVT as a tool for the treatment of singing voice disorders. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2016
Half-Hearted Coercive Diplomacy: China's 1979 Attack on Vietnam

THE ferocious artillery barrage and subsequent massed infantry assault on Vietnam by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on February 17, 1979, should not have come as a complete surprise to anyone. While the precise timing of the attack might have been unexpected, the military assault itself had been anticipated for months. After a month of fighting, China unilaterally announced it would withdraw and the PLA pulled back across the border into China, leaving scenes of total devastation behind it. The Vietnamese proved themselves tough adversaries, and the PLA performed worse than Beijing had anticipated. Why did Beijing initiate the war? What did Chinese leaders hope to accomplish from the conflict? This, the largest military operation conducted outside China's borders since the Korean War, has been carefully studied by a handful of scholars, with the primary focus being its international causes and consequences. Monographs have studied China's foreign policy goals, emphasizing that Beijing's decision was triggered by the strengthening of ties between Vietnam and the Soviet Union – China's major adversary at the time. In addition, Vietnam allegedly committed numerous incursions into Chinese territory and adopted a policy of forcing hundreds of thousands of ethnic Chinese residents to flee Vietnam. The final straw was Vietnam's all-out invasion of Cambodia – officially the Democratic Republic of Kampuchea – launched on December 25, 1978. However, little attention has been given to the domestic political dimensions of the conflict.
The Ageing Kidney: Practical Considerations in the Management of the Elderly Patient with Renal Disease

The changes in renal function that may accompany aging have been the subject of numerous studies over the past several decades (1, 2). These changes include decreases in glomerular filtration rate (3), and alterations in tubular function (4). The qualitative and quantitative aspects of these changes must be appreciated prior to developing strategies for treating elderly patients with renal disease. The alterations in renal function in elderly patients that affect therapeutic choices will be specifically referred to later in this chapter. The functional characteristics of the aging kidney will be summarized now, however, so that a proper orientation to the problem will be developed.
Investigating the dosimetric impact of seed location uncertainties in Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study–based eye plaques

Abstract Purpose To quantify the dosimetric effects of random and systematic seed position uncertainties in Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study–based eye plaques. Methods and Materials An eye plaque dose calculation routine was created using Task Group 43 formalism. A variety of clinical configurations were simulated, including two seed models: 125 I and 103 Pd, three eye plaque sizes, and eight plaque/eye orientations. Dose was calculated at four ocular anatomic sites and three central axis plaque depths. Random seed positional uncertainty was modeled by adding Gaussian random displacements, in one of three seed-motion degrees of freedom, to each seed's nominal coordinate. Distributions of dosimetric outcomes were obtained and fitted after 10 6 randomizations. Similar analysis was performed for deterministic, systematic shifts of the plaque along the eye surface and radially from the globe center. Results Random seed placement uncertainties of 0.2-mm root mean square (RMS) (amplitude) produce dose changes that are typically 103 Pd). Conclusions Dosimetric uncertainties due to the random seed positional displacements anticipated in the clinic are expected to be
Polyaniline-Coated Carbon Nanotube Ultrafiltration Membranes: Enhanced Anodic Stability for In Situ Cleaning and Electro-Oxidation Processes

Electrically conducting membranes (ECMs) have been reported to be efficient in fouling prevention and destruction of aqueous chemical compounds. In the current study, highly conductive and anodically stable composite polyaniline-carbon nanotube (PANI-CNT) ultrafiltration (UF) ECMs were fabricated through a process of electropolymerization of aniline on a CNT substrate under acidic conditions. The resulting PANI-CNT UF ECMs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, a four-point conductivity probe, cyclic voltammetry, and contact angle goniometry. The utilization of the PANI-CNT material led to significant advantages, including: (1) increased electrical conductivity by nearly an order of magnitude; (2) increased surface hydrophilicity while not impacting membrane selectivity or permeability; and (3) greatly improved stability under anodic conditions. The membrane’s anodic stability was evaluated in a pH-controlled aqueous environment under a wide range of anodic potentials...
Studies of Genetic and Environmental Factors in the Occurrence of Myopia Based on Epidemiologic Data

The present study investigated the role of genetic and environmental factors in the occurrence of myopia based on epidemiologic studies performed in Shanghai, China. The prevalence of myopia in high school students in one district of Shanghai in 1965 was 56%. During the “Cultural Revolution” (1966–1976), students lost their diligent study habits, and the need for the use of near vision was decreased. By 1977, the prevalence of myopia was reduced to 27%. After the Cultural Revolution ceased, the prevalence of myopia increased to 62% by 1983 and to 70% by 1985. In a retrospective study, the prevalence of myopia in 515 students (average age, 14 years) was 55% with 4–5 h near work per day, 39% with 3 h per day, and 28% with 1–2 h per day. The prevalence of myopia was 59% when both parents were myopic, 41% when one parent was myopic, and 31% when both parents were not myopic. In the prospective study, after 2 years of follow-up, the incidence of myopia in the previously nonmyopic eyes was 26% in the 4- to 5-h group, 17% in the 3-h group, and 8% in the 1- to 2-h group. In a study of 82 pairs of twins with simple myopia, the concordance rate of myopia was 82% in monozygotic twins and 58% in dizygotic twins. The heritability index of myopia was 61%. Our studies indicate that both genetic and environmental factors play an important role in the occurrence of myopia.