cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel 3D bismuth-based coordination polymers: Synthesis, structure, and second harmonic generation properties

Abstract Two new 3D bismuth containing coordination polymers are reported along with their single crystal structures and SHG properties. Compound 1: Bi2O2(pydc) (pydc=pyridine-2, 5-dicarboxylate), crystallizes in the monoclinic, polar space group, P21 (a=9.6479(9) A, b=4.2349(4) A, c=11.9615(11) A, β=109.587(1)°), which contains Bi2O2 chains that are connected into a 3D structure via the pydc ligands. Compound 2: Bi4Na4(1R3S-cam)8(EtOH)3.1(H2O)3.4 (1R3S cam=1R3S-camphoric acid) crystallizes in the monoclinic, polar space group, P21 (a=19.0855(7) A, b=13.7706(5) A, c=19.2429(7) A, β=90.701(1)°) and is a true 3D coordination polymer. These are two example of SHG compounds prepared using unsymmetric ligands (compound 1) or chiral ligands (compound 2), together with metals that often exhibit stereochemically-active lone pairs, such as Bi3+, a synthetic approach that resulted in polar, non-centrosymmetric, 3D metal-organic coordination polymer.
A robust variable length nonlinear filter for edge enhancement and noise smoothing

Most of the recent work in nonlinear order statistic filters has focused on smoothing and preserving the details in digital images. However, in many image analysis and computer vision applications, where edges are being used as primary features, edge enhancement becomes an essential attribute of preprocessing filters. Moreover, the human visual system is also very sensitive to this feature. Majority of the most frequently used filters, such as median and its extensions do not posses this property; median filters tend to preserve any monotonic degradation of the edge and therefore, are not capable of enhancing blurred or ramp edges. In this paper we present a variable length robust nonlinear filter which has the capability to both sharpen the edges and smoothing out the noise. Experimental results on real images are also provided.
MECHANISM OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFECT OF DIETARY POTASSIUM IN EXPERIMENTAL VOLUME EXPANDED HYPERTENSION IN RATS

Dietary potassium supplementation lowers blood pressure (BP) and attenuates complications in hypertensive subjects, particularly those with the low renin volume expanded (LRVE) variety. We and others have shown that the plasma level of a digitalis like substance (DLS) is elevated in this type of hypertension. We therefore, examined the effect of increases in dietary potassium on the plasma level of endogenous DLS, myocardial and renal Na+, K+-ATPase (NKA) activities, BP, and renal excretory function in reduced renal mass (RRM)-salt hypertension in the rat, a classical model of LRVE hypertension. 70% RRM rats were divided in 4 groups, namely those consuming: 1) a sodium free and normal potassium (1.3% as KCl) diet (RRM-0 Na), 2) a normal sodium and normal potassium diet (RRM-NaK), 3) a normal sodium and high potassium (2 X normal) diet (RRM-Na2K), and 4) a normal sodium and 4 times normal potassium diet (RRM-Na4K). At the end of 4 weeks of dietary treatment, direct BP was recorded, plasma level of DLS determined by bioassay and with a radioimmunoassay for digoxin (DIF) and myocardial and renal NKA activities were measured. As expected, compared to RRM-0Na rats, RRM-NaK rats developed hypertension. BP increased significantly less in RRM-Na2K, whereas BP did not increase in RRM-Na4K rats. Hypertension in RRM-NaK rats was associated with an increase in plasma DLS and DIF and decrease in renal and myocardial NKA activities. DLS was increased (DIF was not changed) and myocardial NKA also decreased in rats consuming double potassium. However, quadrupling potassium in the diet (RRM-Na4K) normalized DLS and DIF and increased myocardial and renal NKA activities, compared to RRM-0Na rats. Also compared to RRM-0Na, water consumption, urinary volume excretion, sodium, and potassium increased in the other 3 groups, more so in RRM-Na4K rats. These data show that quadrupling the potassium in the diet prevents the BP increase in RRM rats and this is associated with diuresis/natriuresis and normalization of DLS, perhaps because the diuresis/natriuresis normalizes blood volume.
Socio-technical developer networks: should we trust our measurements?

Software development teams must be properly structured to provide effectiv collaboration to produce quality software. Over the last several years, social network analysis (SNA) has emerged as a popular method for studying the collaboration and organization of people working in large software development teams. Researchers have been modeling networks of developers based on socio-technical connections found in software development artifacts. Using these developer networks, researchers have proposed several SNA metrics that can predict software quality factors and describe the team structure. But do SNA metrics measure what they purport to measure? The objective of this research is to investigate if SNA metrics represent socio-technical relationships by examining if developer networks can be corroborated with developer perceptions. To measure developer perceptions, we developed an online survey that is personalized to each developer of a development team based on that developer's SNA metrics. Developers answered questions about other members of the team, such as identifying their collaborators and the project experts. A total of 124 developers responded to our survey from three popular open source projects: the Linux kernel, the PHP programming language, and the Wireshark network protocol analyzer. Our results indicate that connections in the developer network are statistically associated with the collaborators whom the developers named. Our results substantiate that SNA metrics represent socio-technical relationships in open source development projects, while also clarifying how the developer network can be interpreted by researchers and practitioners.
Sliding mode observer for real time diagnosis of an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor

The commercial acceptance of hybrid electric vehicles relies upon the development of reliable motor drive systems that are comparable to existing internal combustion engine platforms. This paper presents an improved motor diagnostic for detecting degraded behavior in permanent magnet AC motors. Results for a sliding mode observer implementation are given.
Relative quantities of suspension versus bed-load transport on beaches

ABSTRACT Uncertainty and debate have existed as to whether suspension or bed-load transport is most important in the longshore movement of sands on beaches. The evidence pertaining to this fundamental question is examined. A model based on measured concentrations of suspended sediments in the surf zone indicates that the suspended load comprises some 25 percent or less of the total drift, the bed-load forming the remaining 75 percent. Such estimates are obtained even when all approximations and assumptions made in developing the model are made in favor of the estimate of the suspension load. An examination of the relative rates of longshore movements of sand tracer grains as compared to the longshore currents indicates that the sand grains lag far behind the water flow. This indicates not only that suspension transport must be small, but also that our 25 percent upper estimate of suspension transport in the model must be revised downward, possibly to less than 10 percent. Other evidence is also presented that indicates the suspension load is much less significant than the bed-load transport on beaches.
Application of 1-D machine vision in the textile industry

A 1D linear array vision system for use in the textile industry is described, with attention given to setup and maintenance, programmability, distributed processing, and input/output configurations. A number of applications of the linear array sensor are presented. It is noted that although the 1D linear array vision system described here does not have the capability of the matrix vision system or the intelligence of a human being performing an inspection, there are many applications where it can provide low-cost, simplified maintenance and distributed processing. >
Analysis of hybrid, coherent FDMA/CDMA systems in Ricean multipath fading

This paper extends the analysis presented by Eng and Milstein (see IEEE J. Select. Areas Commun., vol.12, no.5, p.938-951, 1994) of a hybrid frequency division multiple access/code-division multiple-access [FDMA/CDMA (F/CDMA)] system in a Rayleigh fading environment to include the presence of a direct-path component (i.e., Ricean fading). The results show that a "wideband" CDMA system out performs a hybrid system, although the combination of a specular component and an exponentially decaying multipath intensity profile (MIP) with a large decay factor may result in only a minimal degradation of system performance for a hybrid system.
Graph-Based Detector for BLAST Architecture

We propose belief propagation (BP) based detection algorithms for the Bell labs layered space-time (BLAST) architectures. We first develop a full complexity BP algorithm, and show that the detector achieves a near optimal performance even when the number of receive antennas is smaller than the number of transmit antennas. We also consider three different extensions that provide a good complexity/performance trade-off. Being soft-input-soft-output in nature, we also argue that the proposed detectors are suitable for use in turbo processing which can further enhance the system performance when there is an outer code. In addition to the simulation results, we also study the convergence behavior of the proposed detectors by exploiting the measure of average mutual information.
Stick-Slip Transitions in Chemical Mechanical Planarization

On closer analysis, the apparently simple act of sliding two contacting substrates relative to one another reveals a myriad of fundamental physical questions that have a broad technical application. Present semiconductor manufacturing imperatives require that planarization uniformity be maintained over length scales spanning 8 orders of magnitude, 1 from gate lengths of 32 nm to wafer diameters of 300 mm. Economic realities continue to drive yield targets ever higher. In this environment, process engineers seek to improve all manufacturing techniques, including chemical mechanical planarization CMP. Stick-slip behavior, and the large lateral forces associated with it, is an indication of reduced polish quality. 2,3 Stick-Slip As two surfaces slide past one another, their relative motion can be categorized into two regimes. The smooth polishing regime exhibits a stable, unchanging relative velocity, whereas stick-slip is identified by a relative velocity that alternates between near zero and some nonzero value at a high frequency. Hence, the stick-slip name, the surface alternates between sticking to the substrate and sliding past the substrate. 4 In many applications, to avoid stick-slip, a thin layer of fluid is introduced between the two surfaces, eliminating contact. This relative motion in which one surface is supported by a thin fluid layer is often characterized as hydrodynamic lubrication. 5 However, material removal during CMP requires some degree of contact; thus, process engineers must walk a fine line between acceptable contact and removal rates vs unacceptably high contact and the resultant stick-slip. 6,7 Intuitively, it is easy to postulate an increase in defectivity and reduction in polish quality resulting from stick-slip. Nevertheless, literature is sparse in this regard, indicating a possible avenue for investigation. CoF
Effect of Sporophytic Heterozygosity on the Male Gametophyte of the Tetraploid Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Abstract Quantitative variation for pollen stainability was examined in both tetraploid × diploid and tetraploid × tetraploid families of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.). The diploid parents, which were highly heterozygous, produced first division restitution (FDR) 2 n pollen. The families used were not affected by cytoplasmic-genetic male sterility. Significant differences between families were found. FDR 2 n pollen producing diploid clones had progenies with a significantly higher pollen stainability than those derived from crosses between tetraploid parents. This was related to the level of heterozygosity in the sporophyte. In FDR 2 n pollen, 80% of the heterozygosity and a large fraction of epistasis present in the diploid parent was transmitted to its tetraploid progeny. This is important for the production of open pollinated, true potato seed, because pollen stainability is significantly correlated with fruit set ( r = 0·85).
Averaging of Infrared Cloud Opacities for Climate Modeling.

Abstract Cloud amount, as a climate feedback mechanism, encompasses separate and competing albedo and infrared feedbacks. In the present note we illustrate that the relative role of the infrared feedback mechanism cannot be determined from a model calculation, unless the model has the capability of predicting how the amounts of individual cloud layers change in relation to a change in total cloud cover.
Corrigendum to “Modeling of asphalt roof shingle-sealant structures for prediction of local delamination under high wind loads” [Eng. Struct. 96 (2015) 100–110]

Abstract The authors regret that they have identified a miscalculation in the original article that required the authors to provide corrective additions that are listed below. Specifically the authors determined that the shingle uplift pressure, p 1 = 12.5 Pa, used in the original article (Croom et al., 2015) is associated with a 40 km/h (25 mph) wind velocity instead of 145 km/h (90 mph). A miscalculation of pressure values due to inaccurate unit conversion was the source of the misstatement. The corrected interior uplift pressure is p 1 = 183 Pa for a 145 km/h (90 mph) wind velocity and p 1 = 507 Pa for a 241 km/h (150 mph) wind velocity. Additional simulation results have been performed for the corrected pressures and the results are reported in this Corrigendum.
BRONCHOBILIARY FISTULA DUE TO BACTEROIDES.

Summary We have described a patient with a 4-year history of recurrent pneumonitis and subcutaneous abscesses, who developed a bronchobiliary fistula with expectoration of bile, and a progressive chemical pneumonia. Surgery was done to divert the fistulous tract and the infection was eventually found to be due to a Bacteroides species, Spherophorous necrophorus . This is the first reported case of bronchobiliary fistula due to this organism.
Haptic perception in the human foetus

Recent years have seen increased exploration of the sensory development of the foetus [1]. All five senses, auditory, visual, cutaneous, olfactory and gustatory and been demonstrated to begin functioning in the prenatal period. It is the aim of this chapter to review the evidence of haptic perception in the human foetus. The development and function of other senses is briefly presented. However before reviewing this evidence it is necessary to pause to consider some general issues which must be borne in mind when evaluating the evidence presented by these studies.
Torture and Social Modernization

Torture is (almost) universally condemned as barbaric and ineffective, yet it persists in the modern world. What factors influence levels of support for torture? One cluster of explanations focuses on social modernization as influencing public opinion. Public opinion data on the acceptability of torture from 31 countries in 2006 and 2008 (a total of 44 country-years) are used to test three modernization hypotheses. The findings, first, show that outright majorities in 31 county-years reject the use of torture. Supporting the social modernization explanation for value change, a multiple regression shows states with high per capita income, consolidated democracy and low levels of domestic repression have larger majorities opposed to torture. The implications of this study are discussed in the conclusion.
An Investigation of the Effects of Grouping and Lighting on the Accuracy of Paced Visual Inspection

The purpose of this project was to determine what effects, if any, lighting and density of product had upon the inspection process. Therefore, there were three levels of lighting and three different groupings, i.e., one, two, or three resistors. Four different subjects were used, each completing the test twice. The inspection procedure consisted of identifying bad resistors on a moving belt conveyor. Subjects were required only to call out the number of bad resistors out of each group. It was not necessary for the subject to sort out the good from the bad. The color coding of the resistors provided for the discrimination. The subjects' performances were scored three ways: Type I errors in which a subject accepted a bad resistor; Type II errors in which a good resistor was accepted; and the combination or sum of the two. The results of the experiment showed a definite difference in the effect of the lowest light level as compared to the higher two. The number of resistors in a group displayed consistent st...
E-024 Meta-analysis of randomized intra-arterial thrombolytic trials in the treatment of acute stroke

Background Intra-arterial (IA) administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is an important therapeutic modality in the treatment of acute stroke. Three randomized, multicenter, placebo controlled trials have been performed evaluating IA thrombolytics within 6 h of onset of acute ischemic stroke; two of the trials were positive on some but not all functional end points and a third trial showed non-significant trends on all outcomes. We performed a meta-analysis to estimate with more precision the effect of IA tPA on several key clinical end points. Methods We evaluated the PROACT, PROACT II and MELT trial methodologies to assess for compatibility in study protocols and statistical analysis. Data were then abstracted from these three trials and statistical analysis was performed using RevMan (RevMan V.5.0, The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Cochrane Collaboration, 2008). The following end points were evaluated: modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≤1; mRS≤2; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score 0 or 1; 90 day mortality; and spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) within 24 h. Results Despite minor differences in protocols, the three trials appeared suitable for combined analysis. Functional outcomes were significantly improved by IA thrombolytic administration: IA thrombolytic treated patients were significantly more likely to have a mRS ≤1 (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.6); mRS ≤2 (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.9); and NIHSS score 0 or 1 (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3 to 4.4) at 90 day follow-up. There was no effect on mortality at 90 day (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.5). The risk of SICH was significantly increased in the active treatment arms (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 16). Conclusions Meta-analysis of the randomized trials assessing IA administration of thrombolytics demonstrates that all standard functional end points for stroke trials were substantially improved in the active treatment arms. Despite a significantly increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage, there was no net effect on mortality. These results support endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke patients with intra-arterial lytics.
Differential Bile Acid Analysis in Various Pathological Conditions

By means of a method previously described,1 bile from normal and diseased gall bladders and from biliary tract fistulae was analyzed for bile acids conjugated with taurine and with glycine, cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, total bile acids, and free bile acids. Duodenal drainage material was analyzed for cholic acid, deoxycholic acid and total bile acids. Some of the results are summarized in Table I.A perusal of Table I shows that in a series of 24 cases of chronic cholecystitis (No. 2, Table), the average figure for the percentage of cholic acid in relation to the total bile acids was 28% as compared to the normal of about 50%. The average figure for the ratio of free bile acids rose from a normal of about 10% to 25%. This deviation in the ratio of the different bile acids is more marked in the gall bladder bile in acute cholecystitis. In 14 of these cases (No. 3, Table) the cholic acid averaged only 13% of the total bile acids. It was found difficult to estimate the free bile acids in a number of cases, ...
Rapid GPU-based simulation of x-ray transmission, scatter, and phase measurements for threat detection systems

To support the statistical analysis of x-ray threat detection, we developed a very high-throughput x-ray modeling framework based upon GPU technologies and have created three different versions focusing on transmission, scatter, and phase. The simulation of transmission imaging is based on a deterministic photo-absorption approach. This initial transmission approach is then extended to include scatter effects that are computed via the Born approximation. For phase, we modify the transmission framework to propagate complex ray amplitudes rather than radiometric quantities. The highly-optimized NVIDIA OptiX API is used to implement the required ray-tracing in all frameworks, greatly speeding up code execution. In addition, we address volumetric modeling of objects via a hierarchical representation structure of triangle-mesh-based surface descriptions. We show that the x-ray transmission and phase images of complex 3D models can be simulated within seconds on a desktop computer, while scatter images take approximately 30-60 minutes as a result of the significantly greater computational complexity.
'Crimmigration' Post-Conviction Claims in Nebraska: What's Old, What's New, What's Up, and What's Next

The Nebraska Supreme Court decided a number of immigration-related ("crimmigration") post-conviction cases in the decade of 2002 to 2012. This article reviews those cases, distills the legal principles they establish, and forecasts what new issues the Court might encounter in the near future.
Properties of Prostaglandin-Biosynthesizing Enzymes

The biosynthetic conversion of the esterified arachidonate in membrane lipids to the various eicosanoids can be divided into three stages. First, arachidonate must be released from tissue esters as the free acid. It can then react with one of the fatty acid oxygenases (the various lipoxygenases and cyclooxygenase are in this category) to form a hydroperoxy acid. In the third stage, the intermediate hydro-peroxy acid is chemically modified to furnish the leukotrienes, classical prosta-glandins, thromboxanes, and prostacyclin.
The Function of Scentmarking in Spectral Tarsiers

One of the primary trends characterizing primates as distinct from other mammals is their increasing dependence on vision and the concomitant reduced dependence on their sense of olfaction (Fleagle 1998; Martin 1990). Although most primates rely heavily on their sense of vision, their olfactory sense still plays an important role in their day to day activities (Charles-Dominique 1977; Harcourt 1981; Clark 1982; Epple et al. 1988; Dugmore and Evans 1990; Fornasieri and Roeder 1992; Harrington 1977). This is especially true of prosimian primates that have undergone the least reduction in their olfactory apparatus relative to the other primates (Martin 1990; Fleagle 1998).
Electrically Conductive Hierarchical Carbon Nanotube Networks with Tunable Mechanical Response.

Small diameter carbon nanotube (CNTs) are synthesized directly from a parent CNT forest using a floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. To support a new CNT generation from an existing forest, an alumina coating was applied to the CNT forest using atomic layer deposition (ALD). The new generation of small diameter CNTs (8 nm average) surround the first generation, filling the interstitial regions. The hierarchical forests exhibit a 5–10-fold increase in stiffness, and the two generations are electrically addressable in spite of the interfacial alumina layer between them. This work enables the design of complex CNT architectures with hierarchical features that bring tailored properties such as high specific surface area and robust mechanical properties that can benefit a range of applications.
Chapter Eleven: Damnatio Memoriae

At this point, I need to resume my thinking through the active transmutation of body politics and the formation of the posthuman body together as the site of corporeal contestation and examine the manner in which the trauma of torture is encountered as evidence of this bodily transmutation into fragments and ruins. On the site of that broken body, the tortured body of a state violence, the site of a bodily transmutation of political resistance, I propose the Reconstruction of an emancipatory conception of the nation and its politics. The evidence of torture in the dungeons of the Islamic Republic dismantles the ruling regime from within with the broken and abused body as evidence. The tortured body of one here becomes the tortured body of all, and if we are to think through the decupling of the nation from the state, on the site of these tortured bodies we are witness to the unhinging of any claim to political legitimacy.
Braving Bitcoin: A technology acceptance model (TAM) analysis

ABSTRACTThe technology acceptance model (TAM) is an important analytical tool in the study of the social mechanisms of technology adoption, and this model has received considerable attention in the literature. Although empirical support for the model has varied depending on situation specifics, it remains a popular and useful conceptual framework for analysis of factors contributing to technology acceptance or rejection by the relevant constituencies. Bitcoin is an entirely digital distributed currency, the disruptive and disintermediating nature of which has fueled the tremendous growth of the financial technology space over the past few years. Bitcoin’s distributed, verifiable, and immutable public transaction ledger, known as the blockchain, holds out the promise of fast, cheap, peer-to-peer financial transactions, as well as significant efficiencies in the transfer of other assets via overlay networks. Through an extensive review of the existing academic and practitioner literature about both TAM and ...
Availability of Training in Visual Inspection for the AIR Transport Industry

Traditionally nondestructive testing (NDT) has focused on the NDT areas of penetrants, magnetic particle, eddy current, ultrasound, radiographic, and other related areas of NDT. These areas are all well developed with much training available and also full levels of inspector certification(1).
Dictadura militar y sociedad civil. Clase media y responsabilidad colectiva en novelas argentinas de las últimas dos décadas

Este trabajo analiza tres novelas argentinas: El secreto y las voces de Carlos Gamerro (2002), El colectivo de Eugenia Almeida (2009) y Lo que nosotras sabiamos de Maria Ines Krimer (2009), que reconstruyen asesinatos cometidos por el Estado durante la dictadura militar que goberno en los setenta. Estos crimenes aparecen configurados como ritos de sacrificio en los cuales un chivo expiatorio es depositario de una violencia que evita otra mayor y cohesiona a la comunidad. Los textos tambien constituyen una condena a las clases medias que habrian facilitado o apoyado el terrorismo de Estado
Droplet Sliding on an Inclined Substrate with a Topographical Defect.

Pinning and depinning of droplets on heterogeneous substrates are widely seen in nature and need to be carefully controlled in industrial processes such as substrate cleaning and spray coating. In this work, a two-dimensional droplet sliding on an inclined substrate with a topographical defect is studied with a thin-film evolution equation. Using results from time-dependent finite-difference calculations, we focus our discussion on the dynamic interactions between the sliding droplet and the topographical defect. For a Gaussian defect shape, we find that droplet pinning is primarily determined by the advancing contact line pinning at the defect surface where the topography slope is minimum. We demonstrate that with certain combinations of defect heights and widths, residual droplets can form on the defect as a result of geometric constraints involving the receding droplet meniscus and the defect shape. We show that the delay in sliding caused by the defect is mainly due to the pinning and depinning of the...
Sensor motion for optimal estimation in distributed dynamic environments

We propose a methodology of optimal path design for sensors through a distributed environment represented by a two or three-dimensional field quantity. We consider time-limited scenarios where the sensors can only make a small number of measurements, but where some portion of a physics-based model is available for the field of interest such as fluid flows, temperatures or concentrations. Thus the highly underdetermined inverse problem can be augmented with dynamical models. We consider stochastic settings where the fields are subject to partially unknown disturbances and boundary conditions. The main idea is to recast the sensor path planning problem as a deterministic optimal control problem to minimize metrics related to the optimal estimation error covariance, thus converting the stochastic estimation problem to a deterministic operator-valued problem. In the specific case of linear field dynamics, the signal to be designed is the sensors' paths which are inputs to the optimal error covariance Riccati equation, resulting in a deterministic, nonlinear, optimal control problem where the trace of the error covariance operator is to be minimized. For sensing modalities, we consider point-wise sampling as well as the more unusual case of line-integral measurements. The latter is motivated by tomographic reconstruction scenarios with a small number of sensors.
Examination of Human Fingernail Ridges by Means of Polarized Light

A method has been developed for the preparation of thin human nail specimens suitable for examination by transmitted light microscopy. The nails to be examined are embedded in an acrylic resin and the upper surface of the nail is sanded and polished until the desired thickness is reached. The resulting thin nail specimens display sharp bands of interference colors when placed between crossed polarizing filters. The widths of the bands are of the same order of magnitude as the widths of the ridges and valleys on the nail surface, indicating that each band of color represents a single ridge or valley on the nail surface. The optimum viewing conditions are obtained when the specimens are oriented so that the direction of the nail ridges is 45 deg from the directions of the polarizing or analyzing filters. Fingernail specimens from the same finger may be matched by using a transmitted light comparison microscope equipped for polarized light observations.
Thermal profile shaping and loss impacts of strain annealing on magnetic ribbon cores

The use of the advanced manufacturing technique of strain annealing for nanocomposite magnetic ribbons enables control of relative permeabilities and spatially dependent permeability profiles. Tuned permeability profiles enable enhanced control of the magnetic flux throughout magnetic cores, including the concentration or dispersion of the magnetic flux over specific regions. Due to the correlation between local core losses and temperature rises with the local magnetic flux, these profiles can be tuned at the component level for improved losses and reduced steady-state temperatures. We present analytical models for a number of assumed permeability profiles. This work shows significant reductions in the peak temperature rise with overall core losses impacted to a lesser extent. Controlled strain annealing profiles can also adjust the location of hotspots within a component for optimal cooling schemes. As a result, magnetic designs can have improved performance for a range of potential operating conditions.
Embodying Blackness in Latin American Religion

This essay reviews the following works: Electric Santeria: Racial and Sexual Assemblages of Transnational Religion. By Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesus. New York: Columbia University Press, 2015. Pp. ix + 271. $30.00 paperback. ISBN: 9780231173179. Embracing Protestantism: Black Identities in the Atlantic World. By John W. Catron. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2016. Pp. ix + 299. $74.95 hardcover. ISBN: 9780813061634. Black Saint of the Americas: The Life and Afterlife of Martin de Porres. By Celia Cussen. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014. Pp. xi + 285. $90.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9781107034372. Afro-Cuban Religious Arts: Popular Expressions of Cultural Inheritance in Espiritismo and Santeria. By Kristine Juncker. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2014. Pp. xi + 169. $74.95 hardcover. ISBN: 9780813049700. The Black Christ of Esquipulas: Religion and Identity in Guatemala. By Douglass Sullivan-Gonzalez. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2016. Pp. viii + 199. $55.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780803268432.
Characterization of HTV silicone rubber with different content of ATH filler by mechanical measurements, FTIR and XPS analyzes

In the present paper, five filled HTV silicone rubber with different ATH filler content were characterized by mechanical measurement, FTIR analysis and XPS analysis. It has been found that the ATH filler had a bad combination effect with silicone rubber matrix, for the ATH filler without surface medication, the interaction between ATH filler and silicone rubber was physical interaction, the poor interaction leads to low mechanical performance of silicone rubber with ATH filler being added in the matrix. The addition of ATH filler leads to an increase of hydroxyl (-OH) and a decrease of Si (CH 3 ) 2 . The decrease of Si (CH 3 ) 2 with adding ATH filler into silicone rubber matrix indicated that the ATH filler has a spacing effect which can limit the crosslink of silicone rubber. Due to the migration of LMW, the surface of ATH filler will be covered by LWM, while the analysis depth of XPS is nm, so no Al element can be detected on the surface of silicone rubber. Thus, the XPS analysis is not suitable for detecting the ATH filler in silicone rubber. Based on this research, an in-depth understanding of the mechanical properties of silicone rubber with different ATH content as well as the related FTIR and XPS results have been obtained.
Transcription by T7 RNA Polymerase

Although the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) encoded by bacteriophage T7 consists of a single subunit, it is able to carry out all of the steps in the transcription cycle that are carried out by the more complex multisubunit RNAPs found in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. It therefore provides an attractive model system to study fundamental aspects of transcription. In this chapter, the process of transcription as carried out by the phage enzyme will be examined and, where possible, compared to that of the more complex multimeric RNAPs (in particular the bacterial RNAPs).
How Effective Are Property Tax Abatements? The Case of Michigan

In this paper we examine the effects of industrial property tax abatements on industrial property value growth using data from a panel of 152 communities in the five counties surrounding Detroit in southeast Michigan over the period 1983 to 2002. We use a spatially lagged X model to account for potential fiscal spillover effects of competitor policy changes on one’s own industrial property value growth. We account for local government competition in the region by using migration patterns as a basis for determining competitor communities opposed to the traditional approaches that use distance or population size. We find that localities that offer tax abatements yield statistically significant positive impacts on industrial property value growth and the impacts are larger in high tax than in low tax communities. However, the benefits of tax abatements are quite small as compared to the cost of offering tax abatements. Also, tax abatements offered in competitor communities do not appear to influence own industrial property value growth. Finally, we find that changes in property tax rates are important for industrial property value growth.
A Cohort Study of Hearing Outcomes Between Middle Fossa Craniotomy and Transmastoid Approach for Surgical Repair of Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence Syndrome.

Objective:To compare postoperative hearing outcomes between transmastoid and middle fossa craniotomy (MFC) approaches for surgical repair of superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS) in a tertiary referral center.Study Design:Historical cohort study.Setting:Tertiary referral center.Pati
Federated Identity Management

The more real business and interaction with public authorities is performed in digital form, the more important the handling of identities over open networks becomes. The rise in identity theft as a result of the misuse of global but unprotected identifiers like credit card numbers is one strong indicator of this. Setting up individual passwords between a person and every organization he or she interacts with also offers very limited security in practice. Federated identity management addresses this critical issue. Classic proposals like Kerberos and PKIs never gained wide acceptance because of two problems: actual deployment to end users and privacy. We describe modern approaches that solve these problems. The first approach is browser-based protocols, where the user only needs a standard browser without special settings. We discuss the specific protocol types and security challenges of this protocol class, as well as what level of privacy can and cannot be achieved within this class. The second approach, private credentials, solves the problems that none of the prior solutions could solve, but requires the user to install some local software. Private credentials allow the user to reveal only the minimum information necessary to conduct transactions. In particular, it enables unlinkable transactions even for certified attributes. We sketch the cryptographic solutions and describe how optional properties such as revocability can be achieved, in particular in the idemix system.
Variable osteogenic performance of MC3T3-E1 subclones impacts their utility as models of osteoblast biology

The spontaneously immortalized murine calvarial cell line MC3T3-E1 and its derivative subclones are widely used models of osteoblast biology. Many investigators have reported conflicting data under seemingly similar experimental conditions, though the specific subclone studied is often not specified. The purpose of this study was to directly compare the commercially available MC3T3-E1 subclones 4, 14, and 24 in terms of responsiveness to osteogenic induction media and/or stimulation with rhPTH[1–34]. We assayed osteogenic gene expression, capacity to deposit and mineralize a collagenous matrix, and the expression and signaling function of PTH1R. Our data demonstrate that each subclone bears little functional resemblance to the others, or to primary calvarial osteoblasts. Specifically, whereas subclone 4 is responsive to PTH stimulation and capable of matrix mineralization, subclones 14 and 24 do not faithfully replicate these key aspects of osteoblast biology. Furthermore, little overlap was observed between the gene expression profile of subclone 4 and primary calvarial osteoblasts. Our experience working with these cell lines demonstrates that the MC3T3-E1 derived cell lines are imperfect models of osteoblast biology, and reinforce the importance of clearly articulating selection and reporting of research materials.
Designerly Ways of Learning: FabLearn 2019 Eighth Annual Conference, March 9-10, 2019

Some specific values are required to create a standard layout by This design-based research (DBR) study redesigned, implemented, and refined a multimedia development course for post-secondary students in a teacher preparation program. The original course was created to enhance future teachers' skills in curricular design using various digital tools. Redevelopment embodied and emphasized the process of design, and ways to create designs for learning that put digital tools in the hands of learners. A theoretical framework connecting constructionist principles, designerly ways of knowing, situated learning, and identity exploration concepts informed curricular redesign and iterative development. This work synthesizes iterations one and two of a larger design-based research project focused on the development of online and hybrid courses grounded in the principles of constructionist learning and the design thinking process.
Implementation of the FIFA 11+ Injury Prevention Program by High School Athletic Teams Did Not Reduce Lower Extremity Injuries: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background:Lower extremity injuries are common in high school sports and are costly, and some have poor outcomes. The FIFA 11+ injury prevention program has been shown to decrease injuries in elite...
Implantable wireless device for study of entrapment neuropathy.

Abstract Background Disease processes causing increased neural compartment pressure may induce transient or permanent neural dysfunction. Surgical decompression can prevent and reverse such nerve damage. Owing to insufficient evidence from controlled studies, the efficacy and optimal timing of decompression surgery remains poorly characterized for several entrapment syndromes. New method We describe the design, manufacture, and validation of a device for study of entrapment neuropathy in a small animal model. This device applies graded extrinsic pressure to a peripheral nerve and wirelessly transmits applied pressure levels in real-time. We implanted the device in rats applying low (under 100 mmHg), intermediate (200–300 mmHg) and high (above 300 mmHg) pressures to induce entrapment neuropathy of the facial nerve to mimic Bell’s palsy. Facial nerve function was quantitatively assessed by tracking whisker displacements before, during, and after compression. Results At low pressure, no functional loss was observed. At intermediate pressure, partial functional loss developed with return of normal function several days after decompression. High pressure demonstrated complete functional loss with incomplete recovery following decompression. Histology demonstrated uninjured, Sunderland grade III, and Sunderland grade V injury in nerves exposed to low, medium, and high pressure, respectively. Comparison with existing methods Existing animal models of entrapment neuropathy are limited by inability to measure and titrate applied pressure over time. Conclusions Described is a miniaturized, wireless, fully implantable device for study of entrapment neuropathy in a murine model, which may be broadly employed to induce various degrees of neural dysfunction and functional recovery in live animal models.
Detection ability and direction effect of photothermal-radiometry and modulated-luminescence for non-cavitated approximal caries.

Abstract Objective The objective was to evaluate the ability of photothermal-radiometry and modulated-luminescence (PTR/LUM) to detect non-cavitated approximal caries lesions, including the effect of scanning direction. Methods Thirty human extracted premolars were selected based on micro-computed tomography [μ-CT: μ-CT = 0: sound (n = 12), μ-CT = 1: lesions into outer-half of enamel (n = 6), μ-CT = 2: lesions into inner-half of enamel (n = 6), and μ-CT = 3: lesions into outer one-third of dentine (n = 6)]. Teeth were mounted in a custom-made device to simulate approximal contact. Each tooth was scanned from three directions: buccal, lingual, and occlusal, then repeated 48 h later. Statistical analyses were performed by bootstrap analyses using average and maximum values across all directions. Sensitivity, specificity, area under ROC-curve (AUC), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and correlation with μ-CT were calculated. Sensitivity was further evaluated based on lesion extension. Results Using the manufacturer-suggested lesion cut-off, overall sensitivity ranged from 3%–61%, where the maximum value of all measurements (All-max) showed higher sensitivity (61 %) than other measurements except the buccal direction, which was also higher than the lingual and occlusal directions. As μ-CT score increased from μ-CT = 1–3, the sensitivity of All-max also increased from 50 % to 74 %. Specificity was 100 % regardless of direction, and AUC ranged from 0.65 to 0.88. All-max had the highest ICC (0.74). PTR/LUM values showed weak to moderate correlations with μ-CT. Conclusion Within the limitations of this in vitro study, PTR/LUM non-cavitated approximal caries lesion detection achieved best individual results from the buccal direction, while using the maximum value from all directions might improve performance. Clinical significance Non-cavitated approximal caries detection is a challenging procedure. PTR/LUM is a nondestructive, no ionized-radiation caries detection method that can scan from buccal, lingual, and occlusal directions of an approximal surface. PTR/LUM seems suitable to detect deeper non-cavitated approximal caries. The maximum PTR/LUM value from three directions may be optimal.
Social media and social wellbeing in later life

Social wellbeing is important to health, but maintaining social relations often becomes difficult in later life due to retirement, chronic disease, and the death of spouses and friends. Social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, present accessible and low-cost communication technologies that have been demonstrated to enhance feelings of social connection and reduce loneliness in younger age groups. This exploratory study uses a four-week social media training workshop as an intervention in a randomised controlled study to examine whether similar social benefits might be realised for those at older ages, aged 65+ years. Social wellbeing measures of social capital, loneliness, social connectedness and social provisions were examined, revealing only small differences in social integration. As these findings seemingly contradict studies conducted with younger persons, the contexts of social media use in older adulthood are discussed, along with proposals for future research directions.
CASE SERIES: A SINGLE-CENTER EXPERIENCE IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING FOR PRE-OPERATIVE PLANNING: APPLICATIONS IN THE REPAIR OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE, AIRWAY STENOSIS, VASCULAR ANOMALIES, AND THE RESECTION OF SOLID ORGAN TUMOR

Precise anatomical and spatial orientation is necessary for proper surgical planning and optimal outcomes. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have proven to be effective in routine surgical cases; however, because these modalities are viewed as a series of two-dimensional
Investigating Alcohol Behavior and Physiology Using Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly, is one of the most versatile models for biomedical studies due to the economical husbandry, rapid generation time, and the array of tools for spatial and temporal gene manipulation. The relatively short lifespan of Drosophila (60-80 days) and the high degree of molecular conservation across species make Drosophila ideal to study the complexities of aging. Alcohol is the most abused drug worldwide and alcohol use disorders represent a significant public health problem and economic burden to individuals and society. Stereotypical alcohol-induced behaviors and the underlying molecular mechanisms are conserved from flies to humans making Drosophila a practical model for investigating the development of alcohol-induced behaviors and alcohol pathologies. Here, we outline how to assemble an efficient and controlled alcohol vapor delivery system, the FlyBar, and review paradigms and protocols for the assessment of alcohol-induced behaviors and physiology in Drosophila including the loss-of-righting reflex, sedation, tolerance, alcohol metabolism, and gut permeability.