cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theoretical and experimental studies of electrical conductivity for functionally graded, heterogeneous surfaces

A theoretical approach for estimating solutions to Maxwell’s equations for structures with spatially-varying electromagnetic properties is presented for conductive media containing surfaces modified with functionally graded, heterogeneous electrical conductivity. The basis of the approach is an equivalent depth technique that replaces a graded conductivity region consisting of a phase mixture with a series of thin layers with uniform, multi-phase properties locally matching the effective mixture properties of the graded region. Radio frequency field propagation within each layer is determined as if it had existed within a constant conductivity medium but its depth is electromagnetically equivalent to the replaced graded region existing prior to the layer. The equivalent depth approach was applied to planar, thin foil, and cylindrical media to enable comparison with experimental results. Model predictions were compared with total transmission results for Pt-doped titanium thin foils and steady-state temperature rise in closed wire loops made from Sn-modified copper wire. For the thin foil case, the model-predicted total transmissivity shows good agreement with trends in the experimental results due to property changes in the modified surface layers. In the cylindrical wire case, similar agreement between the predicted effective conductivity values for the modified layers and experimental results was observed. Thus, the equivalent depth approach is an effective method for estimating solutions to Maxwell’s equations in complex media and a useful tool for predicting the performance of tailored surface conductivity modifications.A theoretical approach for estimating solutions to Maxwell’s equations for structures with spatially-varying electromagnetic properties is presented for conductive media containing surfaces modified with functionally graded, heterogeneous electrical conductivity. The basis of the approach is an equivalent depth technique that replaces a graded conductivity region consisting of a phase mixture with a series of thin layers with uniform, multi-phase properties locally matching the effective mixture properties of the graded region. Radio frequency field propagation within each layer is determined as if it had existed within a constant conductivity medium but its depth is electromagnetically equivalent to the replaced graded region existing prior to the layer. The equivalent depth approach was applied to planar, thin foil, and cylindrical media to enable comparison with experimental results. Model predictions were compared with total transmission results for Pt-doped titanium thin foils and steady-state temper...
Multiparametric CT for Noninvasive Staging of Hepatitis C Virus-Related Liver Fibrosis: Correlation With the Histopathologic Fibrosis Score.

OBJECTIVE. The objective was to develop a multiparametric CT algorithm to stage liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Abdominal CT and la...
Hybridized Threshold Clustering for Massive Data.

As the size $n$ of datasets become massive, many commonly-used clustering algorithms (for example, $k$-means or hierarchical agglomerative clustering (HAC) require prohibitive computational cost and memory. In this paper, we propose a solution to these clustering problems by extending threshold clustering (TC) to problems of instance selection. TC is a recently developed clustering algorithm designed to partition data into many small clusters in linearithmic time (on average). Our proposed clustering method is as follows. First, TC is performed and clusters are reduced into single "prototype" points. Then, TC is applied repeatedly on these prototype points until sufficient data reduction has been obtained. Finally, a more sophisticated clustering algorithm is applied to the reduced prototype points, thereby obtaining a clustering on all $n$ data points. This entire procedure for clustering is called iterative hybridized threshold clustering (IHTC). Through simulation results and by applying our methodology on several real datasets, we show that IHTC combined with $k$-means or HAC substantially reduces the run time and memory usage of the original clustering algorithms while still preserving their performance. Additionally, IHTC helps prevent singular data points from being overfit by clustering algorithms.
Predictors of Left Ventricular Function Improvement in Patients Prescribed Sacubitril/Valsartan in a Tertiary-Care Community-Based Heart Failure Cohort

Introduction Sacubitril/valsartan (ARNI) effects on outcome and quality of life in patients with HFrEF are well established. Limited data exist regarding which patient characteristics predict ARNI-mediated improvements in left ventricular function (EF). Methods Our cohort included 131 patients prescribed ARNI who had serial assessments of EF derived from 2D echocardiography at a community-based practice, Franciscan Health Indianapolis, from July 2016 to April 2018. Baseline patient characteristics predicting improvements in EF were assessed using univariate analysis. For continuous variables, logistic regression was used to determine predictors of EF improvement. Results Mean absolute EF improvement for the cohort was 6.7%. Presence of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) vs ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and absence of coronary artery disease (CAD) vs CAD were predictors of significant improvements in EF (3.5% vs 9.2%, p=0.003; and 4.6% vs 9.8%, p=0.009, respectively), while initiation of intermediate-dose vs low-dose ARNI and black vs caucasian trended toward significance (p=0.059 and 0.113, respectively) (see Table). No significant differences between NICM and ICM patients were observed with respect to baseline diastolic blood pressure (DBP), baseline EF, ARNI/beta-blocker dosing, duration of ARNI exposure, or presence of biventricular implantable defibrillator. Furthermore, higher baseline DBP (p=0.036) and lower baseline EF (p=0.0006) correlated with greater improvements in EF on ARNI. Conclusions In this retrospective cohort of HFrEF patients treated with ARNI, we observed greater improvements in EF in patients with a non-ischemic etiology as well as lower baseline EF and higher DBP. Interestingly, despite very low numbers of black patients, the largest absolute mean EF increase occurred in this group. Future studies exploring the mechanistic underpinnings for these findings and validation in a larger cohort are warranted.
Impact of Multidecadal Variability in Atlantic SST on Winter Atmospheric Blocking

AbstractRecent studies have suggested that coherent multidecadal variability exists between North Atlantic atmospheric blocking frequency and the Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV). However, t...
Flexion Space Balancing Through Component Positioning and Its Relationship to Traditional Anatomic Rotational Landmarks in Robotic Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background The use of the femoral component position to balance the flexion space and its relationship to the transepicondylar axis (TEA) and posterior condylar angle (PCA) has not been thoroughly evaluated. Methods A total of 233 patients undergoing robotic arm–assisted total knee arthroplasty were evaluated. Native TEA and PCA were established on preoperative computed tomography scans. Femoral component rotation was set in the axial plane to match the native trochlea and native medial femoral condyle to set the flexion gap. Knee flexion space gaps and component position were recorded. The relationship of the femoral component to the native TEA, PCA, and preoperative radiographic landmarks was evaluated. Results The intraoperative measured medial flexion space gap did not significantly correlate with the relationship of the femoral component to the PCA or TEA in varus or valgus knees. In varus knees, the preoperative mechanical axis alignment had a positive relationship to femoral component position when compared to the PCA (P = .04) and TEA (P = .002). In valgus knees, there was a positive correlation between the preoperative lateral distal femoral angle and component position when compared to the PCA (P = .04) only. Conclusion Intraoperative measured flexion space balance through femoral component positioning did not correlate with its relationship to the native TEA or PCA. In varus knees, the preoperative mechanical axis alignment correlated with an increase in femoral component external rotation to the TEA and PCA. In valgus knees, the severity of preoperative lateral distal femoral angle correlated with the rotational relationship of the femoral component to the PCA only.
Developing Medical Surveillance Examination Guidance for New Occupational Hazards: The IMX-101 Experience

New materials are constantly being created to address the operational needs of the US Army. These materials provide challenges to occupational health practitioners by presenting unknown health risks and possible effects to workers they evaluate. The responsibility for developing a medical surveillance exam, as part of a comprehensive workplace surveillance program, may become the responsibility of the provider working in a clinic on a military installation where manufacturing, testing, and/or use of the material is being conducted. Insensitive munitions explosive (IMX) has presented such an opportunity for Army occupational medicine providers within the last few years. This article describes the course of action taken by the occupational health clinics, personnel of Army ammunition plants producing IMX-101, and the US Army Public Health Center-Army Institute of Public Health to address the situation of developing a medical surveillance examination during a time when little to no information existed about the components of this new explosive compound.
Adult lumbar spondylolisthesis: Interspinous devices

Mini abstract As minimally invasive surgery has become increasingly popular, interspinous process devices (IPDs) have evolved beyond cases of simple focal spinal stenosis. Despite design differences, all IPDs aim to achieve indirect decompression of the nerve roots by enlarging the caliber of the neural foramina via distraction of the adjacent spinous processes. Whether IPDs reduce the risk of adjacent level stenosis compared to decompression and fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis remains unclear. Ultimately, the paucity of high-quality, long-term, comparative, clinical studies precludes any strong recommendation for the use of IPDs for the treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis.
Palliative Care During Public Health Emergencies: Examples from the COVID-19 Pandemic

In public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, some patients—especially older patients or those who have chronic health conditions—are confronted with treatment choices as they face life-threatening illness.
Safety of EUS-guided gallbladder drainage using a lumen-apposing metal stent in patients requiring anticoagulation.

Background and Aims EUS-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) can be used to treat acute cholecystitis in patients with medical comorbidities that prevent definitive operative management. Historically, nonsurgical management of cholecystitis was achieved by way of percutaneous gallbladder drainage. Methods We examined the periprocedural bleeding rate of EUS-GBD for acute cholecystitis using lumen-apposing metal stents in 5 high-surgical-risk patients requiring anticoagulation. Data on 5 nonoperative candidates with acute cholecystitis who underwent EUS-GBD were studied retrospectively. Results There were no immediate or delayed postprocedure adverse events, including bleeding. Conclusions Although further study is needed, EUS-GBD appears safe in patients who require periprocedural anticoagulation.
The Divine Processions and the Divine Energies

The concept of the divine energies (energeiai) is commonly associated with the late Byzantine theologian Gregory Palamas. In fact, however, it has biblical origins and figures prominently in Greek patristic theology from at least the fourth century. Here I briefly trace its history beginning with the Pauline usage of energeia and continuing through the Cappadocian Fathers, Dionysius the Areopagite, Maximus the Confessor, and Gregory Palamas. I argue that the divine processions in Dionysius function much as do the divine energies in the Cappadocians, although Dionysius enriches the concept by setting it within the context of a Neoplatonic pattern of procession and return. Dionysius’s own work was in need of a further synthesis in that he does not explain the relationship between the divine processions and the divine logoi, the “divine and good acts of will” by which God creates. Maximus the Confessor then introduced a further element into this complex tradition through his argument that certain “natural energies” must necessarily accompany any nature. I argue that the real importance of Palamas from the standpoint of the history of philosophy lies not in originating the concept of the divine energies, but in using it to synthesize these disparate elements from the Cappadocians, Dionysius, and Maximus.
Marijuana use and intentions among American Indian adolescents: Perceived risks, benefits, and peer use.

OBJECTIVE The present study examines how perceptions of peer use, risks of use, and benefits to oneself and others from marijuana use are associated with past-month marijuana use and intentions to use marijuana socially among American Indian (AI) youth. METHOD The American Drug and Alcohol Survey (ADAS), a measure of substance use and related factors, was administered to AI youth living on or near reservations across six geographic regions (n = 3,498, 49.5% female, M age = 14.8). RESULTS Greater perceived peer use was significantly associated with more frequent past-month marijuana use (b = .05, p = .038) and intentions to use marijuana socially (b = .74, p < .001). Greater benefits to oneself were associated with greater marijuana use intentions (b = .35, p < .001). Greater perceived risks and benefits to others were significantly associated with less frequent past-month use (b = -.02, p = .002; b = -.01, p = .007, respectively) and intentions to use marijuana socially (b = -.05, p = .001; b = -.03, p = .002, respectively). Multilevel moderation analyses revealed that the effects of perceived peer use and benefits to oneself were related to intentions to use although stronger for those who had used; however, the effects of perceived risks and benefits to others were only significantly related to intentions to use marijuana for those who had used marijuana. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that perceived benefits to others and risks are malleable factors that may be effective components of treatment programs for youth who report lifetime marijuana use, but that perceived peer use and benefits to oneself may be useful in both treatment and prevention efforts for youth who have or have not used marijuana. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Influence of particle size of Enogen Feed corn and conventional yellow dent corn on lactating sow performance

Enogen Feed corn is a variety developed by Syngenta Seeds (Downers Grove, IL) that has been genetically modified to contain an -amylase enzyme trait (SYT-EFC). Originally, Enogen feed corn was developed for the ethanol industry due to its properties for reducing the viscosity of its corn mash. There is potential application for Enogen Feed corn to be used in livestock diets due to the potential for the increase in - amylase enzyme to increase the starch digestibility. Because of this, it may be possible to increase the particle size of ground Enogen Feed corn and maintain the same starch digestibility as finely ground conventional yellow dent corn. Therefore, our hypothesis was that an interaction between corn source and particle size would exist such that the performance of sows fed fine ground conventional yellow dent corn would be similar to sows fed coarse ground Enogen Feed corn. A total of 107 sows (Line 241; DNA, Columbus, NE) across four batch farrowing groups were used to evaluate sow and litter performance. Treatments were arranged in a 2 2 factorial with main effects of corn source (Enogen Feed corn or conventional yellow dent corn) and ground corn particle size (600 or 900 m). From farrowing to weaning, there was a tendency for a corn source particle size interaction (P = 0.065) in sow body weight (BW) change. Sows fed 900 m Enogen Feed corn had decreased BW loss compared to sows fed other treatments, which were similar in weight loss. For sow average daily feed intake from farrowing to weaning, there was a corn source particle size interaction (P = 0.048) with sows fed 900 m conventional yellow dent corn having lower feed intake than the sows fed 600 m conventional yellow dent corn, whereas sows fed 900 m Enogen Feed corn had greater feed intake compared to the sows fed 600 m Enogen Feed corn. There was a tendency for a particle size main effect (P < 0.10) for litter average daily gain (ADG) and total litter gain, with sows fed corn ground to 600 m having increased litter ADG and total litter gain compared to sows fed corn ground to 900 m. In summary, there were few differences in sow or litter characteristics among those fed Enogen Feed corn or conventional yellow dent corn. Reducing particle size of both corn sources tended to increase litter ADG and weaning weights.
Marine reserve more sustainable than gear restriction in maintaining long-term coral reef fisheries yields

Abstract The long-term consequences of managing overfished fisheries through either gear restrictions or closures are among the many dilemmas facing small-scale fisheries managers. To evaluate long-term outcomes, fishing effort and catch were measured from 1995 to 2019 in two districts in Kenya, one that established a marine reserve in 1991 and another that eliminated destructive small-meshed drag nets beginning in 2001. Stock biomass in the 12 studied landing sites were below multispecies maximum sustainable yield (MMSY) and effort declined in all sites, indicating overfishing. Both interventions showed positive responses in catch per unit effort (CPUE) trends that indicated successful management but the changes were more sustained in the closure-adjacent than the gear-restricted landing sites. For example, total per-area yields in the gear-restricted sites declined steadily to an equilibrium that was 30% below the predicted MMSY. In contrast, and despite the low stock levels, closure-adjacent landing sites maintained yields near MMSY over the full time series. This is likely due to an increase in fish recovery rates by ~42% from an r of 0.23 to an r of 0.34 in the presence of a closure. The study suggests that closures that occupy ~30% of the nearshore fishing grounds could prevent suboptimal yields and fisheries collapse in nearshore East African reefs.
Putting a Check on Police Violence: The Legal Services Market, Section 1983, Torture, Abusive Detention Practices, and the Chicago Police Department from 1954 to 1967

This article explores the conception, rise, and initial implementation of a legal strategy which sought to fashion civil liability into a tool for reforming the Chicago Police Department (CPD) from the mid-1950s to 1967. A group of lawyers, working in close concert with the Illinois Division (their preferred name of choice at the time) of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sought to weaponize civil suits into a means of forcing CPD leadership to crack down on abusive and harmful police behavior. Drawing from a strand of contemporary scholarship on how private civil actions could shape municipal policy, the lawyers theorized that, with the correct imposition of civil liability, they could spur the legal industry to cause the number of successful civil suits to become more commensurate with the prevalence of abusive police practices. The lawyers thought the total cost, or fear of future costs, of the resulting civil suits would compel CPD leadership to enact reforms to crack down on a culture of impunity and widespread police misconduct within the CPD. This article examines the attempt to carry out this legal strategy in the federal civil court system from the early 1950s to the end of Superintendent O.W. Wilson’s tenure in 1967, with a specific focus on police torture and abusive detention practices. This article argues that while this may have been a novel strategy, it was ultimately unsuccessful in forcing CPD leadership to make the changes in departmental policy and discipline which might have stopped police torture and abusive detention practices. A close examination of this legal strategy and the flawed underlying assumptions it made about the interplay between the market dynamics of the legal industry, federal civil court, and police violence offers insight into the utility of private civil suits to rectify and prevent civil rights abuses by the police.
Superior Laryngeal Nerve Block for Treatment of Neurogenic Cough.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to add to the body of evidence for efficacy of Superior Laryngeal Nerve (SLN) blocks for treatment of neurogenic cough. Efficacy at short- and long-term intervals are presented as well as relationships with laryngoscopic findings. METHODS A retrospective chart review of patients treated with SLN block between 2018 and 2020 was conducted. Patient demographics, videostroboscopic findings, and patient-subjective perception of outcomes were recorded and analyzed. Cough Severity Index (CSI) scores from pre-injection, short-term follow-up, and long-term follow-up were compared. RESULTS Twenty patients underwent SLN block in the clinic setting. Four patients were excluded for incomplete records. The indication was neurogenic cough refractory to medical management and/or cough suppression therapy. Patients with short-term follow-up (n = 13) had statistically significant decrease in CSI scores, with a mean baseline CSI of 24.3 decreasing to 16.15 (P = .006). Patients with evidence of Vocal Fold Motion/Vibratory Abnormalities (VFA) (n = 8) showed improvement in short-term CSI scores, with a mean baseline CSI of 24.13 decreasing to 14.5 (P = .004). Those without evidence of VFA did not have statistically significant improvement in short-term CSI scores. At long-term follow-up, patients with VFA had improvements that approached statistical significance with a mean baseline CSI of 22.56 decreasing to 14.56 (P = .057), while patients without VFA showed no improvement. CONCLUSIONS Our results are consistent with previous literature indicating efficacy of SLN block. The presence of VFA may be an indicator of patients who experience increased therapeutic effect. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2676-E2680, 2021.
Quantifying the Cache: The Premium for Solar Homes is Not Explained by Reduced Energy Costs

South Carolina has a tax policy that is very favorable to those wishing to install photovoltaic (PV) panels on their homes. A local resident contacted Clemson University for guidance on investing in PV. This paper uses the homeowner’s situation as a framework to investigate the value of solar from a financial perspective. By modeling multiple PV arrays, this paper demonstrates that solar panels are a good investment overall, largely due to favorable tax policies and rebates. Further, this study shows that the size of the system and the timing of the sale of the home (after installing solar panels) significantly influences the investment choice. Building on prior research which shows that homebuyers depreciate solar faster than straight-line depreciation, this study finds that a 9kW array will add a $28,000 premium to a home sold 1 year after installing solar panels but only $14,000 to a home sold 8 years after installing panels. Finally, this paper shows that the premium paid for solar-homes is only partial explained by reduced energy costs. While homebuyers will pay a $28,000 premium for a 9kW array, only $11,000, or 39%, can be attributed to future energy savings. The remaining 61% is driven by non-financial benefits to solar.
Ultra-high performance concrete building wall panels engineered to resist windborne debris impact

Abstract Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is proven to provide superior performance, in terms of both strength and durability, compared to conventional concrete. While the response characteristics of UHPC have been extensively explored under conventional loads, there is a gap in the literature concerning how UHPC can be employed as a protective system against windborne debris impact. This is of particular interest because windborne debris has been the primary source of damage to building envelopes during extreme wind events. To investigate the performance of UHPC wall panels subjected to windborne debris impact, a set of high-fidelity finite-element models were developed in the current study. Upon validating the models using the experimental test data, numerical simulations were conducted to assess the performance of a variety of UHPC wall panels under windborne debris impact. The UHPC wall panels under consideration had a wide range of thicknesses, i.e., from 76.2 mm to 203.2 mm, and were modeled both without and with embedded steel rebars . As for impact scenarios, both lumber and pipe projectiles were considered with a range of velocities, spanning from 10.0 m/s to 70.0 m/s. This holistic matrix of simulations helped characterize various response measures, including the type and extent of damage to the UHPC wall panels individually and in comparison to their normal-strength concrete (NSC) counterparts. The investigations were then extended to evaluate the UHPC and NSC wall panels under a set of pass/fail criteria prescribed by the relevant codes and standards for basic and enhanced protection wall systems. The wealth of data generated through this study was finally employed to develop a set of closed-form equations for predicting the mean impact force that the UHPC wall panels are expected to experience, given the mass and velocity of the debris object. This is expected to facilitate the design of this emerging category of wall panels, especially in the regions that witness a high risk of windborne debris impact.
Machine Learning to Predict 10-year Cardiovascular Mortality from the Electrocardiogram: Analysis of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III)

ABSTRACT Background The value of the electrocardiogram (ECG) for predicting long-term cardiovascular outcomes is not well defined. Machine learning methods are well suited for analysis of highly correlated data such as that from the ECG. Methods Using demographic, clinical, and 12-lead ECG data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), machine learning models were trained to predict 10-year cardiovascular mortality in ambulatory U.S. adults. Predictive performance of each model was assessed using area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), area under precision-recall curve (AUPRC), sensitivity, and specificity. These were compared to the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE). Results 7,067 study participants (mean age: 59.2 ± 13.4 years, female: 52.5%, white: 73.9%, black: 23.3%) were included. At 10 years of follow up, 338 (4.8%) had died from cardiac causes. Compared to the PCE (AUROC: 0.668, AUPRC: 0.125, sensitivity: 0.492, specificity: 0.859), machine learning models only required demographic and ECG data to achieve comparable performance: logistic regression (AUROC: 0.754, AUPRC: 0.141, sensitivity: 0.747, specificity: 0.759), neural network (AUROC: 0.764, AUPRC: 0.149, sensitivity: 0.722, specificity: 0.787), and ensemble model (AUROC: 0.695, AUPRC: 0.166, sensitivity: 0.468, specificity: 0.912). Additional clinical data did not improve the predictive performance of machine learning models. In variable importance analysis, important ECG features clustered in inferior and lateral leads. Conclusions Machine learning can be applied to demographic and ECG data to predict 10-year cardiovascular mortality in ambulatory adults, with potentially important implications for primary prevention.
Closed-loop enhancement and neural decoding of cognitive control in humans

Deficits in cognitive control-that is, in the ability to withhold a default pre-potent response in favour of a more adaptive choice-are common in depression, anxiety, addiction and other mental disorders. Here we report proof-of-concept evidence that, in participants undergoing intracranial epilepsy monitoring, closed-loop direct stimulation of the internal capsule or striatum, especially the dorsal sites, enhances the participants' cognitive control during a conflict task. We also show that closed-loop stimulation upon the detection of lapses in cognitive control produced larger behavioural changes than open-loop stimulation, and that task performance for single trials can be directly decoded from the activity of a small number of electrodes via neural features that are compatible with existing closed-loop brain implants. Closed-loop enhancement of cognitive control might remediate underlying cognitive deficits and aid the treatment of severe mental disorders.
Extraction of timeER model from a relational database

Related to the problem of temporal database design, we can design the relational target model from the TimeER model. Extraction of the TimeER model from a relational model is called reverse engineering of the relational model. Solving this problem will facilitate an upgraded temporal information system. That means we will investigate a conceptual model which is used to design the temporal relational model. This approach of the extraction is based on the characteristics of the set of attributes, the primary key, and the set of foreign keys of the relational schema in the temporal relational model. Thereby, we propose conversion algorithms relating to the identification of the components existing within the TimeER model respectively.
Structural violence and productivity: The role of business and the United Nations Global Compact

Purpose – This paper seeks to provide information about the concept of “structural violence”; to explain this as a barrier to the development of productivity; and to inform about the Global Compact, a United Nations initiative designed to reduce structural violence.Design/methodology/approach – The concept of structural violence is explained and then the history and development of the Global Compact are outlined. From this lessons are drawn for policy‐makers and industry leaders.Findings – Structural violence is often unintended; a consequence of political structures and cultural norms, part of the “dominant logic”. It must be addressed specifically and is best addressed on a partnership basis by all key stakeholders. The Global Compact is an enabling framework, which allows discussion, promotes research, and encourages action towards ending structural violence.Practical implications – At the policy level, the challenge is to probe the relationship between structural violence, dominant logic and business ...
Ask Me Now: Conversations in Jazz and Literature

In 1996, Sascha Feinstein founded Brilliant Corners: A Journal of Jazz and Literature, “a journal of jazz-related literature,” with the issues anchored by “lengthy discussions with people passionat...
Weakening and strengthening structures in the Hadley Circulation change under global warming and implications for cloud response and climate sensitivity

It has long been recognized that differences in climate model-simulated cloud feedbacks are a primary source of uncertainties for the model-predicted surface temperature change induced by increasing greenhouse gases such as CO_2. Large-scale circulation broadly determines when and where clouds form and how they evolve. However, the linkage between large-scale circulation change and cloud radiative effect (CRE) change under global warming has not been thoroughly studied. By analyzing 15 climate models, we show that the change of the Hadley Circulation exhibits meridionally varying weakening and strengthening structures, physically consistent with the cloud changes in distinct cloud regimes. The regions that experience a weakening (strengthening) of the zonal-mean circulation account for 54% (46%) of the multimodel-mean top-of-atmosphere (TOA) CRE change integrated over 45°S–40°N. The simulated Hadley Circulation structure changes per degree of surface warming differ greatly between the models, and the intermodel spread in the Hadley Circulation change is well correlated with the intermodel spread in the TOA CRE change. This correlation underscores the close interactions between large-scale circulation and clouds and suggests that the uncertainties of cloud feedbacks and climate sensitivity reside in the intimate coupling between large-scale circulation and clouds. New model performance metrics proposed in this work, which emphasize how models reproduce satellite-observed spatial variations of zonal-mean cloud fraction and relative humidity associated with the Hadley Circulation, indicate that the models closer to the satellite observations tend to have equilibrium climate sensitivity higher than the multimodel mean.
Genetic deletion of the HIF-1α isoform I.1 in T cells enhances antibacterial immunity and improves survival in a murine peritonitis model

Hypoxia-adenosinergic suppression and redirection of the immune response has been implicated in the regulation of antipathogen and antitumor immunity, with hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) playing a major role. In this study, we investigated the role of isoform I.1, a quantitatively minor alternative isoform of HIF-1α, in antibacterial immunity and sepsis survival. By using the cecal ligation and puncture model of bacterial peritonitis, we studied the function of I.1 isoform in T cells using mice with total I.1 isoform deficiency and mice with T-cell-targeted I.1 knockdown. We found that genetic deletion of the I.1 isoform resulted in enhanced resistance to septic lethality, significantly reduced bacterial load in peripheral blood, increased M1 macrophage polarization, augmented levels of proinflammatory cytokines in serum, and significantly decreased levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Our data suggest a previously unrecognized immunosuppressive role for the I.1 isoform in T cells during bacterial sepsis. We interpret these data as indicative that the activation-inducible isoform I.1 hinders the contribution of T cells to the antibacterial response by affecting M1/M2 macrophage polarization and microbicidal function.
NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HYDROGENOMONAS EUTROPHA

Repaske, Roy (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Md.). Nutritional requirements for Hydrogenomonas eutropha. J. Bacteriol. 83: 418–422. 1962.—A simple apparatus for the autotrophic cultivation of Hydrogenomonas eutropha in 100-ml shake cultures is described. Nitrogen, in the form of ammonium, nitrate, or urea, was used for growth; nitrite could not be utilized. Optimal growth occurred at pH 6.4 to 6.8 at 30 C. H. eutropha grew best in an atmosphere containing 15 to 25% oxygen and 10% carbon dioxide. Below these concentrations each of the gases was limiting. Growth was shown to be dependent on iron, and the rate of growth was a function of iron concentration and its state of oxidation.
Novel technique of NDE in ceramic bearing balls

A new technique for the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of ceramic bearing balls is presented. The technique is based on measuring the quality factor (Q) of various surface waves. Thus, the existence of surface cracks will lower the surface wave resonance Q's. A simple experimental set-up capable of exciting and detecting the various resonances on the bearing balls and their Q's was constructed. Low-frequency resonances of torsional and spheroidal modes are used to measure the shear wave velocity V/sub s/ and Poisson's ratio nu . High-frequency resonances of the surface waves are used to determine the presence of surface defects. >
Comparative Administrative Law

This chapter provides an overview of comparative administrative law, with particular attention to European jurisdictions and the United States. The underlying conceptual similarity that serves to organize the comparative analysis is the purpose, common to these systems, of rendering public administration both capable and expert, on the one hand, and accountable to a variety of liberal democratic actors, on the other hand. The chapter first discusses what historically was the principal legal tool for achieving neutrality and expertise — the legal guarantees of civil service employment — together with national variations in the professionalization of administration. It then turns to three important types of accountability and the different institutions, rules, and procedures used to achieve these forms of accountability in the legal systems under consideration: the contestation of administrative action before the courts; the involvement of organized interests in administrative policymaking; and informal accountability to the general public through parliamentary ombudsmen and transparency guarantees.
Fate of preformed immune complexes in rabbits and rhesus monkeys.

Preformed soluble immune complexes injected into rabbits or rhesus monkeys showed similar characteristics of disappearance from circulation. Complexes made with intact γG-antibodies and exceeding the Ag2Ab2 lattice formation were rapidly removed by the hepatic RES. These complexes fixed complement effectively in vitro. Their hepatic uptake was not dependent upon circulating complement components, since their accumulation in the liver was unchanged in complement depleted rabbits. Similar antigen-antibody complexes made with reduced and alkylated γG-antibodies fixed complement ineffectively in vitro. These complexes possessed different disappearance characteristics and were not rapidly taken up by the liver, regardless of their degree of lattice formation. Both in vitro and in vivo studies failed to suggest any role for the immune adherence receptor on primate erythrocytes in the handling of circulating soluble immune complexes composed of BSA and γG-antibodies to this antigen.
The Other Side of Middletown: Exploring Muncie's African American Community

The Other Side of Middletown: Exploring Muncie's African American Community. Luke Eric Lassiter, Hurley Goodall, Elizabeth Campbell, and Michelle Natasya Johnson, eds. Marburg an der Lahn: Basilisken Press, 2004. 307 pp.
Some further observations on heterogeneous catalytic reactor models: pattern formation in catalytic reactors

Abstract It is shown that the linear operator, representing the heterogeneous model of a packed-bed reactor in which convective mixing occurs in the fluid phase, and diffusive transport occurs in every catalyst particle, has, among other eigenvalues found by Ramkrishna and Arce (1989), also as eigenvalues those of the particle operator if allowance is made for multiple particles in a given fluid environment. The physical consequence of this is that the reactor can display spatial patterns when single particles posses multiple steady states leading to very diverse variations in reactor performance. Other spatial patterns are also envisaged in which the catalyst phase concentration profile may possess a fractal character. A discussion is also included of how heterogeneous reactor models may be analyzed for the appearance of such patterns.
On the inversion of matrix Routh array

Abstract A new matrix which is the product of a chain of factored matrices is constructed in this paper to find the matrix Routh array and the matrix continued fraction inversion for multivariate systems if the partial matrix coefficients are known. A linear transformation matrix ia established from tho matrix Routh array developed to transform the second Cauer matrix form in state-space coordinates to tho phase variable matrix form.
Behavioral impulsivity predicts treatment outcome in a smoking cessation program for adolescent smokers.

Objective To examine the relationship between impulsivity and smoking cessation treatment response among adolescents.
Green icebergs and remote sensing

The curious phenomenon of green icebergs has fascinated polar travelers for centuries. Although translucent green icebergs might be caused by colorants, a recently obtained sample of a green iceberg contained little inherently green material. This fact, combined with the blue-green absorption minimum of pure, homogeneous ice, suggests that a sufficient (rather than necessary) condition for green icebergs may be reddened sunlight illuminating intrinsically blue-green ice. Lacking in situ spectral reflectances of green icebergs, we develop two remote-sensing techniques to analyze their optical properties. Estimates of a green iceberg’s reflectance spectra are derived from spectrodensitometry and from video digitizing of original color slides. Proxies for polar daylight spectra yield the iceberg’s chromaticities, which agree closely with those predicted by two multiple-scattering theories.
Adrenal Choline Acetyltransferase Activity: Sustained Effects of Chronic Intermittent Psychological and Psychosocial Stimulation

A brief period of fighting daily can cause the preganglionic splanchnic innervation of the adrenal medulla to undergo sustained, probably reversible, changes in the ability to synthesize acetylcholine. When mice that had been made aggressive by long-term individual caging were placed together and allowed to fight for 10 to 15 min daily for 10 consecutive days, choline acetyltransferase in the adrenal gland was increased. It increased to 8.4% and 37.1 % above undisturbed controls by 1 day and 3 days, respectively, after termination of fighting, and to a maximum of 45.4% above controls after 5 days; it had decreased to 20.3% above controls by 7 days after last fighting. A decrease in enzyme activity appears to precede this adaptive increase. Choline acetyltransferase activity was lowered 17.9% 18 to 20 hours after the last of 4 consecutive days of fighting. Merely transferring mice to an empty strange cage for 10 to 15 min and then returning them to their home cage, once daily for 5 days, decreased adrenal ...
Multifinger Embedded T-Shaped Gate Graphene RF Transistors With High $f_{\rm MAX}/f_{T}$ Ratio

Gate resistance plays a key role in determining the maximum oscillation frequency (fMAX) of all radio frequency transistors. This letter presents a new graphene device structure having multiple-finger T-shaped gates embedded in the substrate. The structure possesses several advantages over conventional top gate structures, including low gate resistance, low parasitic capacitance, scalable gate dielectric, and simple interconnect wiring. With 1 V drain bias, fMAX up to 20 GHz, and ~25%-43% higher than the current gain cutoff frequency (fT), is achieved from devices with a channel length down to 250 nm.
Superconducting transport properties of grain boundaries in YBa2Cu3O7 bicrystals.

Previous work on the superconducting transport properties of individual grain boundaries in thin-film bicrystals of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} has been extended to provide a more comprehensive picture of their weak-link characteristics. Grain boundaries with three different geometries have been studied; the transport properties of all three types of boundaries are essentially identical, which implies that the poor superconducting coupling between grains is a result of the intrinsic structural disorder at the boundary. The grain-boundary critical current densities in bicrystal films prepared by evaporation and postannealing and by laser ablation are also in good agreement; this result demonstrates that the transport properties are insensitive to preparation technique and, thus, are not dominated by the diffusion of substrate impurities into the boundary region. High grain-boundary resistivities and low {ital I}{sub {ital c}R{ital n}} products imply that the boundaries act as strong barriers to current flow with locally depressed order parameters. Strong magnetic hysteresis, associated with trapped intragranular flux, is observed; this hysteretic behavior is also responsible for an increase in the grain boundary {ital J}{sub {ital c}} for {ital H}{sub {ital a}{ital p}{ital p}}{gt}300--500 Oe.
Decentralized event-triggered control for leader-follower consensus

A decentralized event-triggered control scheme for leader-follower consensus is developed. The approach aims to reduce inter-agent communication while ensuring asymptotic leader-follower consensus. The objective is achieved by designing a control algorithm that uses the estimates of neighbors' states for feedback and only updates the estimates through communication when events are triggered. The update events are determined by a decentralized trigger condition, designed from the stability analysis, such that the control ensures asymptotic leader-follower consensus with only intermittent communication. The effectiveness of reducing inter-agent communication is shown by developing a positive constant lower bound of the minimum inter-event interval. Since switched dynamics are considered, Zeno execution is proven to be avoided, and Lyapunov-based convergence analysis is provided to ensure the asymptotic leader-follower consensus. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed control strategy.
Chimeric p53 as an alternative therapy for hypoxic tumors.

Commentary to: Introduction of hypoxia-targeting p53 fusion protein for the selective therapy of non-small cell lung cancer Yu Zhao, Shaoping Wu, Junhua Wu, Peiyuan Jia, Shan Gao, Xiangdong Yan and Yuxia Wang
C. Wright Mills, Pessimistic Radical*

C. Wright Mills was a radical, critical of United States society and of sociology as practiced in this country. His criticisms were especially provocative given the ideological atmosphere of the 1950s and 1960s. His writings on stratification were very influential, with several of them having a mass readership. Mills viewed the United States as a society dominated by irresponsible elites and alienated masses. Sociology, he felt, had abdicated its responsibility for showing how larger social forces shape individual lives. While pessimistic about the possibility of fundamental social changes, Mills nevertheless urged intellectuals to use their skills to bring about a society where reason and democracy would prevail. Though marginalized within the profession during his life, he helped inspire the development of a critical perspective within sociology.
Reversibly erasable nanoporous anti-reflection coatings from polyelectrolyte multilayers

For nearly two centuries, researchers have sought novel methods to increase light transmission in optical systems, as well as to eliminate unwanted reflections and glare. Anti-reflection coatings and surfaces have enabled the increasing performance demands of optical components fabricated from glass-based optical materials. With the current trend of technology moving towards optically transparent polymeric media and coatings, the need for anti-reflection technology and environmentally benign processing methods for polymeric materials independent of shape or size has become quite apparent. We describe an economical, aqueous-based process controlled at the molecular level that simultaneously coats all surfaces of almost any material. Systematically designed nanoporous polymer films are used, which are suitable for optical applications operating at both visible and near-infrared wavelengths. These high-efficiency anti-reflection coatings are created from phase-separated polyelectrolyte multilayer films that undergo a reversible pH-induced swelling transition. Furthermore, such films, easily patterned by an inkjet printing technique, possess potential for pH-responsive biomaterial and membrane applications.