cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nanostructured Graphenes and Metal Oxides for Fuel Cell and Battery Applications

Graphene/spacer nanoparticle composites were prepared by reducing graphene oxide with hydrazine in the presence of different contents of polyaniline nanoparticles. In-situ cryo-TEM image of GO-spacer solution shows that spacer nanoparticles are anchored on GO sheets. During the reduction, as-adsorbed spacer nanoparticles were sandwiched between layers of graphene. These spacer nanoparticles act as spacers to create gaps between neighboring graphene sheets, resulting in higher surface area. Graphene/spacer nanocomposites exhibited highest specific surface area of 1500 m2/g. Utilizing this composite material, a supercapacitor with specific capacitance of 267 F/g at a current density of 0.1 A/g was achieved.
Measures of stimulus control and stimulus dominance

Six rats learned a discrimination in which they were reinforced for pressing Bar A during a light, no-tone stimulus and for pressing Bar B during a tone, no-light stimulus. Five of the Ss responded at a higher mean rate on Bar B when neither light nor tone was present. All six Ss responded at a higher mean rate on Bar A when both light and tone were present. The results were interpreted as demonstrating stimulus dominance in spite of the fact that both light and tone had gained control over behavior.
Investigation and improvement of corneal topographical analysis

Accurate methods for the analysis of corneal topography are essential for the evaluation and management of corneal refractive errors. Photokeratoscopy is the most common clinical qualitative method to estimate corneal shape. The two-dimensional information on the keratoscope image is insufficient for reconstructing a three-dimensional corneal surface uniquely. The assumptions necessary for calculation lead to errors. The algorithm used in current practice was investigated for these errors. An improved one is proposed that avoids some invalid assumptions. Tested on nonspherical models of known shape, the new algorithm shows four times better accuracy. >
FOSSILS, DIET, AND CONSERVATION OF BLACK-FOOTED FERRETS (MUSTELA NIGRIPES)

Abstract A new middle Pleistocene record of Mustela nigripes is reported from Cathedral Cave, White Pine County, Nevada. The specimen dates to 750,000–850,000 years ago and represents one of the oldest remains recovered of the black-footed ferret. Forty-two percent of fossil faunas known to contain M. nigripes do not contain Cynomys, the common prey of black-footed ferrets in historic times. Consideration of dietary information and habitat requirements of M. nigripes and its sister taxon, M. eversmanni (steppe ferret), reveals ancestral behavioral repertoires for ferrets. We suggest that the historically documented “obligate” predator–prey relationship between M. nigripes and Cynomys was a secondary effect of colonization by black-footed ferrets of Cynomys-dominated habitats sometime in the past 800,000 years. A phylogenetic perspective on the behavior of ferrets combined with paleontological data indicates a broader range of possibilities for conservation of the black-footed ferret.
Postoperative impact of intraoperative biochemical changes at the completion of parenchymal division in living-donor liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVES Biochemical abnormalities after living-donor hepatectomy are attributed to the loss of liver volume and steatosis or fibrosis. In this study, we evaluated the intraoperative biochemical changes caused by the separation of the hepatic lobes before removal and the impact of those changes on postoperative biochemical abnormalities in patients who underwent adult-to-adult living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). MATERIALS AND METHODS The extent and postoperative impact of the biochemical changes that occur during hepatic parenchymal transection in adult-to- adult LDLT were studied in 38 patients who underwent that procedure (14 men and 24 women; mean age, 39.6 years; age range, 19.5-58.9 years). Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative biochemical values for the first 8 postoperative days were compared. RESULTS The mean total hepatic volume was 1703.0 mL, the mean weight of the resected mass was 887.0 g (52.6%), and the mean weight of the residual mass was 816.0 g (47.4%). The mean total bilirubin, aspartate amino transferase (AST), and amino alanine transferase (ALT) values were 8.6 U/L, 21.4 U/L, and 27.6 U/L, respectively, before surgery, compared with 27.4 U/L (an increase of 3.2 times), 257.9.2 U/L (an increase of 12.0 times), and 224.64 U/L (an increase of 8.1 times), respectively, after separation of the hepatic lobes. Patients (n = 21) with an intraoperative ALT value of >or= 200 had a significantly higher peak postoperative ALT (P = .001) than did those (n = 17) with an ALT value of < 200. CONCLUSIONS A significant increase in hepatic biochemical parameters occurs at the completion of hepatic parenchymal transection and before the removal of the right hepatic lobe from the donor. This has an impact on postoperative peak enzyme levels in the donor.
Diagnosis and Rehabilitation of the Shoulder Impingement Syndrome in the Overhand and Throwing Athlete

The shoulder apparatus is of elegant structural design, affording great ROM with substantial power in many planes of movement. It is the underlying anatomic relationships that allow great mobility that also render the shoulder susceptible to injury. Injury in repetitive overhand activities is usually in the form of impingement, which may result from many factors, including multidirectional instability, anterior subluxation, and imbalanced force couple mechanisms, among others. Diagnosis requires a thorough history and physical examination. The impingement sign and test are among the most useful diagnostic maneuvers available. Rehabilitation is individualized, depending upon the cause of impingement, severity of injury, and response to therapy. Overuse syndromes mandate rest and control of inflammation through the use of ice, NSAIDs, and local injections of steroids followed by passive, active-assist, and active ROM; stretching; and mobilization exercises. As pain and inflammation subside, isometric or isotonic exercises are prescribed initially to strengthen the rotator cuff musculature and, therefore, the caudal glide mechanism. Subsequent strengthening exercises then are performed in other planes of movement to strengthen the remaining shoulder-complex muscles. The patient is then advanced to isokinetic training. Stretching is emphasized as an essential preparatory activity for all types of exercise. Maintaining contralateral and lower-limb strength, and cardiovascular conditioning is necessary if athletic activities are to be resumed at the previous level of performance. Following return to athletic performance, an analysis of training habits should be made and a prescription for exercise issued based on the avoidance of aggravating factors and cultivation of activities that enhance existing static and dynamic shoulder stabilizers. Any return of symptoms should prompt an immediate reappraisal with the proper intervention, including adjustment of activity level and exercises as deemed appropriate. With proper conservative therapy, relatively few athletes should require surgical treatment.
Temperature regulation in mice during withdrawal from ethanol dependence

Temperature regulation during withdrawal from ethanol dependence was studied in mice. Dependence was induced utilizing ethanol vapor inhalation combined with injections of pyrazole, an alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor. One control group received vehicle (0.9% NaCl); another received pyrazole (68.1 mg/kg) in vehicle. During withdrawal, mice were placed in a thermal gradient, with core temperature (Tc) and preferred temperature (Tpref) continuously recorded for 26 h. During the period of maximal withdrawal severity (4-10 h after removal from ethanol vapor), the withdrawal group was more active than controls. Withdrawal group Tc [36.4 +/- 0.1 (SE) degrees C] was similar to that of NaCl (36.2 +/- 0.1 degrees C) and pyrazole (36.3 +/- 0.2 degrees C) controls. Withdrawal group Tpref (30.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C) was significantly lower than either NaCl (33.5 +/- 0.3 degrees C) or pyrazole (32.9 +/- 0.5 degrees C) controls. Analysis of covariance with activity as covariate indicated that the difference between Tc and Tpref was greater for the withdrawal group and was due to more than increased activity. Mice withdrawing at constant temperature (29.5 degrees C) did not show Tc different from that of controls. These results support the conclusion that regulated body temperature is not altered during withdrawal. We propose that the lower Tpref of withdrawing mice represents a means of dissipating excess heat that is partly generated by the hypermetabolic state accompanying withdrawal from ethanol dependence.
Highly Reliable Stacked Thermal/LPCVD Oxides for Ultrathin Gate Dielectric Applications

One of the major problems associated with thin dielectrics is defects in the form of micropores or voids in ultrathin SiO2 when oxides are thermally grown from the silicon substrate. This study describes the synthesis of thin multilayer stacked oxides by the sequential growth of thermal oxide layer and the deposition of a layer of LPCVD oxide followed by a densification/reoxidation step (3-step process) to reduce the density of these micropores. The electrical characteristics of these stacked oxides were compared with those of conventional thermal oxide and reoxidized-deposited oxide (2-step process). The stacked oxides formed by the 3-step process exhibit a drastic reduction of the defect density. This improvement is believed to be due to the misalignment and filling up of the micropores in the thermal oxide layer by the deposited oxide layer. Variation of the thickness of the deposited oxide shows that LPCVD oxide of about 30A in the 3-step process is sufficient in reducing defect density and improving the breakdown characteristics of the stacked oxide. Using this simple stacked oxide process, the yield of ultrathin oxides can be improved significantly.
Testosterone treatment and MMPI-2 improvement in transgender men: a prospective controlled study.

OBJECTIVE Most transgender men desire to receive testosterone treatment in order to masculinize their bodies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the short-term effects of testosterone treatment on psychological functioning in transgender men. This is the 1st controlled prospective follow-up study to examine such effects. METHOD We examined a sample of transgender men (n = 48) and nontransgender male (n = 53) and female (n = 62) matched controls (mean age = 26.6 years; 74% White). We asked participants to complete the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (2nd ed., or MMPI-2; Butcher, Graham, Tellegen, Dahlstrom, & Kaemmer, 2001) to assess psychological functioning at baseline and at the acute posttreatment follow-up (3 months after testosterone initiation). Regression models tested (a) Gender × Time interaction effects comparing divergent mean response profiles across measurements by gender identity; (b) changes in psychological functioning scores for acute postintervention measurements, adjusting for baseline measures, comparing transgender men with their matched nontransgender male and female controls and adjusting for baseline scores; and (c) changes in meeting clinical psychopathological thresholds. RESULTS Statistically significant changes in MMPI-2 scale scores were found at 3-month follow-up after initiating testosterone treatment relative to baseline for transgender men compared with female controls (female template): reductions in Hypochondria (p < .05), Depression (p < .05), Hysteria (p < .05), and Paranoia (p < .01); and increases in Masculinity-Femininity scores (p < .01). Gender × Time interaction effects were found for Hysteria (p < .05) and Paranoia (p < .01) relative to female controls (female template) and for Hypochondria (p < .05), Depression (p < .01), Hysteria (p < .01), Psychopathic Deviate (p < .05), Paranoia (p < .01), Psychasthenia (p < .01), and Schizophrenia (p < .01) compared with male controls (male template). In addition, the proportion of transgender men presenting with co-occurring psychopathology significantly decreased from baseline compared with 3-month follow-up relative to controls (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that testosterone treatment resulted in increased levels of psychological functioning on multiple domains in transgender men relative to nontransgender controls. These findings differed in comparisons of transgender men with female controls using the female template and with male controls using the male template. No iatrogenic effects of testosterone were found. These findings suggest a direct positive effect of 3 months of testosterone treatment on psychological functioning in transgender men.
Supplement I: Mathematical Framework

We developed a dynamical systems approach to spatio-temporal neurodynamics. The corresponding mathematical objects are called Freeman K sets, which are mesoscopic models representing an intermediate-level between microscopic neurons and macroscopic brain structures. K sets are multi-scale models, describing increasing complexity of structure and dynamical behaviors.
Septal-lateral annular cinching ('SLAC) reduces mitral annular size without perturbing normal annular dynamics.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY Septal-lateral (S-L) mitral annular diameter reduction is thought to be central to the efficacy of ring annuloplasty in correcting functional mitral regurgitation (MR), but rings perturb mitral annulus (MA) dynamic motion and limit posterior leaflet excursion. The effects of S-L annular cinching ('SLAC'), a novel method for mitral annular reduction, were investigated. METHODS Eight adult sheep had multiple radioopaque markers placed on the left ventricle, leaflet edges, and around the MA. The S-L trans-annular suture was anchored to the mid-septal MA and externalized through the mid-lateral MA and left ventricular wall. Animals were studied immediately postoperatively with biplane videofluoroscopy before and after suture cinching to reduce annular size. MA area (MAA) and S-L dimension were calculated throughout the cardiac cycle from the annular marker coordinates. MAA contraction (AMAA) was expressed as percentage decrease from maximum to minimum MAA. Anterior (AML) and posterior (PML) leaflet angular excursion were calculated as the change in angle between each leaflet edge marker and the S-L annular dimension during the cardiac cycle. MA folding was calculated as the change in distance during systole of the mid-septal annular marker from a plane fitted to the lateral MA markers. RESULTS SLAC reduced end-diastolic (ED) S-L diameter (21.6+/-2.8 versus 17.1+/-2.6 mm; p = 0.0005) and ED MAA (618+/-126 versus 525+/-114 mm2; p = 0.0004), but did not perturb normal AMAA (15.8+/-4.1 versus 15.1+/-4.8%; p = 0.4), annular flexion (2.0+/-0.7 versus 1.8+/-0.7 mm; p = 0.3) or AML excursion (55+/-7 versus 53+/-7 degrees; p = 0.1). PML excursion was decreased only slightly (52+/-11 versus 44+/-12 degrees; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION SLAC substantially reduced S-L annular size, but without perturbing normal MA contraction dynamics, MA flexion, or anterior leaflet excursion. This novel surgical method might represent an alternative to mitral annuloplasty for patients with certain types of mitral pathology.
Vulvodynia: The Role of Inflammation in the Etiology of Localized Provoked Pain of the Vulvar Vestibule (Vestibulodynia)

Vulvar pain affecting the vestibule (vestibulodynia) is an enigmatic pain disorder that greatly affects quality of life and sexual functioning. The most common form of the disorder (localized provoked vulvodynia) is initiated by genital contact but is otherwise asymptomatic. Findings on examination are limited to excessive tenderness of the vestibule with light touch with cotton swab but may also include localized erythema and pelvic floor muscle tightness and tenderness. This review will summarize the literature regarding the role of inflammation in the genesis of the disorder. Some evidence exists for altered histology consisting of increased numbers of mast cells and nerve endings. Immunological abnormalities that have been reported include altered cytokines and neurokines. Abnormal inflammatory response and heightened sensitivity of the vaginal opening has been documented in a murine model of vaginal infection with Candida albicans. In vitro studies of fibroblasts from the vestibule of affected women with vestibulodynia demonstrate a proinflammatory response to C albicans that may be important in the initiation of pain. However, thus far none of the findings have led to adequate treatments.
Empirical Relationships Between Birth Order and Two Types of Parental Feedback

This study adapted the process feedback and outcome feedback scales of Jaworski and Maclnnis (1989) to investigate relationships between perceived parental feedback and birth order. A sample of 72 female and 80 male undergraduate business students was used. Firstborn/only children were hypothesized to report receiving more process feedback from parents, whereas last-borns were hypothesized to report receiving more outcome feedback. Results indicated that last-borns reported receiving significantly less of both types of feedback (process: p <.0029; outcome: p <.0009) than firstborns or middle children. No gender effects were found. Results thus suggest differential receipt of parental feedback as one possible basis for apparent birth order effects in societally recognized achievement.
The Voyager King (1873)

Naser ed-Din Shah’s visit in 1866 to the Russian ships at Farahabad may well be considered his first state visit, that is, a visit to a foreign jurisdiction. In 1870, he visited the shrine cities of Karbala and Najaf in the Ottoman Empire,1 presently situated in Iraq. In July 1872, he returned to the shores of the Caspian and briefly vacationed in Nur and Kojur, two districts east of Amol.2
Opportunities for governors to align electricity markets with state energy goals

Abstract Electric utilities are facing a fundamental challenge to their long-term viability. New categories of business models are emerging to address challenges to utility profitability from rate-of-return regulation, adjustments to rate-of-return that reduce revenue loss, added profit opportunities, and transformative models. Governors can play an important role by convening stakeholders and encouraging thoughtful conversations and pilot programs to assess the options for managing the transitions underway in the electricity sector.
Aortic Arch Artherosclerotic Disease

Aortic arch disease appears to be a major risk factor for ischemic stroke. The presence of ulcerations or mobile components seems to further increase this risk. Large plaques (≥4 mm) are strong predictors of recurrent stroke and other vascular events and remain associated with a higher risk of recurrent stroke and death despite medical therapy. Extension of the atheroma to the arch branches also seems to be an independent risk factor for stroke recurrence. The optimal strategy of stroke prevention in patients with aortic arch atherosclerosis remains unclear, and more studies are warranted. The majority of stroke centers utilize aspirin, a statin, and risk factor modifications strategies as appropriate.
New treatment options and challenges for patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive non-small cell lung cancer with brain metastases.

Up to a third of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may develop brain metastases, typically portending a poor prognosis (1). Data suggest that median overall survival (OS) for patients who develop brain metastases after diagnosis is 10 months, and even shorter for patients who present with brain metastases at time of diagnosis (as low as 5 months) (2).
Trading Accuracy for Energy in Stochastic Circuit Design

As we approach the limits of traditional Moore’s-Law scaling, alternative computing techniques that consume energy more efficiently become attractive. Stochastic computing (SC), as a re-emerging computing technique, is a low-cost and error-tolerant alternative to conventional binary circuits in several important applications such as image processing and communications. SC allows a natural accuracy-energy tradeoff that has been exploited in the past. This article presents an accuracy-energy tradeoff technique for SC circuits that reduces their energy consumption with virtually no accuracy loss. To this end, we employ voltage or frequency scaling, which normally reduce energy consumption at the cost of timing errors. Then we show that due to their inherent error tolerance, SC circuits operate satisfactorily without significant accuracy loss even with aggressive scaling. This significantly improves their energy efficiency. In contrast, conventional binary circuits quickly fail as the supply voltage decreases. To find the most energy-efficient operating point of an SC circuit, we propose an error estimation method that allows us to quickly explore the circuit’s design space. The error estimation method is based on Markov chain and least-squares regression. Furthermore, we investigate opportunities to optimize SC circuits under such aggressive scaling. We find that logical and physical design techniques can be combined to significantly expand the already-powerful accuracy-energy tradeoff possibilities of SC. In particular, we demonstrate that careful adjustment of path delays can lead to significant error reduction under voltage and frequency scaling. We perform buffer insertion and route detouring to achieve more balanced path delays. These techniques differ from conventional path-balancing techniques whose goal is to minimize power consumption by resizing the non-critical paths. The goal of our path-balancing approach is to increase error cancellation chances in voltage-/frequency-scaled SC circuits. Our circuit optimization comprehends the tradeoff between power overheads due to inserted buffers and wires versus the energy reduction from supply voltage downscaling enabled by more balanced path delays. Simulation results show that our optimized SC circuits can tolerate aggressive voltage scaling with no significant signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) degradation. In one example, a 40% supply voltage reduction (1V to 0.6V) on the SC circuit leads to 66% energy saving (20.7pJ to 6.9pJ) and makes it more efficient than its conventional binary counterpart. In the same example, a 100% frequency boosting (400ps to 200ps) of the optimized circuits leads to no significant SNR degradation. We also show that process variation and temperature variation have limited impact on optimized SC circuits. The error change is less than 5% when temperature changes by 100°C or process condition changes from worst case to best case.
Oral paricalcitol: expanding therapeutic options for pediatric chronic kidney disease patients

The complex pathophysiology of progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the development of mineral and bone disorder, abbreviated as CKD-MBD, is of vital importance to a pediatric patient. Paricalcitol, the 19 nor-1,25(OH)2D2 analogue was shown to be effective and safe in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in adults almost two decades ago. It also significantly improved survival in dialysis patients compared to the standard calcitriol. The successful treatment of CKD-MBD in children is essential if they are to grow and survive into adulthood. It can be argued that it is more important for children with CKD than adults since they have early and prolonged disease risk exposure. In this issue of Pediatric Nephrology, Webb et.al. report a dual trial of the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of paricalcitol in children aged 10-16 years with moderate but significant efficacy in meeting the endpoint of >30% decrease in parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels from baseline with minimal adverse events. Much more research needs to be done to expand and develop clinical pharmaceutical trials in the use of paricalcitol in children, especially in the younger age categories. This current study has done much to open the doors for future studies, with the caveat that it has been long coming and much more needs to be done to compensate for this delay in the treatment of children with CKD-MBD and cardiovascular and renal disease progression.
James Bessen, Learning by Doing: the Real Connection between Innovation, Wages, and Wealth

Abstract. Across most industries, workers feel the effects of automation. Does innovation permanently replace workers or are they temporarily displaced within firms and labor markers? James Bessen’s book Learning by Doing combines theory and economic history to illustrate and inform readers and managers alike concerning modern labor markets. Keywords. Wages, Wealth, Innovation. JEL. E21, E24, J30, O10, O30.
Efficient implementation of the hybrid method for stochastic simulation of biochemical systems

Stochastic effect in cellular systems has been an important topic in systems biology. Stochastic modeling and simulation methods are important tools to study stochastic effect. Given the low efficiency of stochastic simulation algorithms, the hybrid method, which combines an ordinary differential equation (ODE) system with a stochastic chemically reacting system, shows its unique advantages in the modeling and simulation of biochemical systems. The efficiency of the hybrid method is usually limited by reactions in the stochastic subsystem, which are modeled and simulated using Gillespie’s framework and frequently interrupt the integration of the ODE subsystem. In this paper, we develop an efficient implementation approach for the hybrid method coupled with traditional ODE solvers. We also compare the efficiency of the hybrid methods with three widely used ODE solvers RADAU5, DASSL, and DLSODAR. Numerical experiments with three biochemical models are presented. A detailed discussion is presented for the performances of three ODE solvers.
Review: Earth Perfect? Nature, Utopia and the Garden by Annette Giesecke and Naomi Jacobs, editors

Annette Giesecke and Naomi Jacobs, editors Earth Perfect? Nature, Utopia and the Garden London: Black Dog Publishing, 2012, 288 pp., 230 color and b/w illus., $39.95, ISBN 9781907317750 As the two editor-contributors and fifteen other authors of Earth Perfect? Nature, Utopia and the Garden make clear, gardens are perfectly capable of rivaling more tectonic forms of architecture in their ability to convey meaning about human ideas and events, particularly when it comes to some of humanity’s most ancient and fundamental longings. The core argument for why this is the case is woven through the book’s essays and also tidily packaged in the title. To begin with, humans have a long history of working to achieve a facility with nature, to “carve out an ideal place” from an environment that can often be “unpredictable and harsh” (9). Dreams of a lost Golden Age, in which nature’s power to sustain was decoupled from its power to destroy, are in one form or another common in human societies, and are themselves linked to our enduring hopes of finding a “heavenly paradise of the hereafter” or of being restored to a state of perfection on earth (8). Gardens are ideal sites for the expression of these longings, not only because they offer a facility with the divine grammar and vocabulary of nature, but also because the unending struggle against nature entailed by making and sustaining a garden can itself reveal the utopian impulse (9). This last point is reinforced by the great sorrow that has always burdened historians of garden design: almost all gardens are lost shortly after they are born, leaving nary a trace. The relatively small (but healthily expanding) historiography of garden design is filled with lamentations on this fact, of which Earth Perfect? also contains a few. But Giesecke and Jacobs and the contributors to Earth Perfect? display the skill that all garden scholars must develop in order to overcome the transience of the garden: creative, resourceful, indirect research. …
Overparenting and Narcissism in Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Psychological Control

Overparenting, or “helicopter parenting,” can be generally characterized as parenting that is well-intentioned, but over-involved and intrusive. This style of parenting has been especially highlighted in the lives of young adults, who may be inhibited by this form of parenting in the appropriate development of autonomy and independence. Overparenting shares conceptual similarities with parents’ psychological control practices, which involve emotional and psychological manipulation of children (e.g., inducing guilt, withholding love as a form of control). Although these constructs contain key differences, both have been linked to narcissism in young adults, by way of parental over-involvement in children’s lives. Thus, we sought to explore parental psychological control as a mediator between overparenting and narcissism, including in regard to both grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic phenotypes. Participants included 380 young adult college students (age range: 18–26 years) who completed the Pathological Narcissism Inventory, as well as reports of their parents’ behaviors related to overparenting and psychological control. Mediation analyses through Process in SPSS supported the hypothesized role of parental psychological control as a mediator between overparenting and narcissistic traits, including traits related to both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. Effect sizes for each analysis were modest. This study further clarifies the nature of overparenting, and speaks to the need for further research in establishing the mechanisms by which overparenting may lead to narcissistic traits among young adults.
Marine boundary layer aerosol in the eastern North Atlantic: seasonal variations and key controlling processes

Abstract. The response of marine low cloud systems to changes in aerosol concentration represents one of the largest uncertainties in climate simulations. Major contributions to this uncertainty are derived from poor understanding of aerosol under natural conditions and the perturbation by anthropogenic emissions. The eastern North Atlantic (ENA) is a region of persistent but diverse marine boundary layer (MBL) clouds, whose albedo and precipitation are highly susceptible to perturbations in aerosol properties. In this study, we examine MBL aerosol properties, trace gas mixing ratios, and meteorological parameters measured at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility's ENA site on Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal, during a 3-year period from 2015 to 2017. Measurements impacted by local pollution on Graciosa Island and during occasional intense biomass burning and dust events are excluded from this study. Submicron aerosol size distribution typically consists of three modes: Aitken (At, diameter D p ∼ 100 nm), accumulation (Ac, Dp within ∼100 to ∼300 nm), and larger accumulation (LA, D p > ∼ 300 nm) modes, with average number concentrations (denoted as NAt , NAc , and NLA below) of 330, 114, and 14 cm −3 , respectively. NAt , NAc , and NLA show contrasting seasonal variations, suggesting different sources and removal processes. NLA is dominated by sea spray aerosol (SSA) and is higher in winter and lower in summer. This is due to the seasonal variations of SSA production, in-cloud coalescence scavenging, and dilution by entrained free troposphere (FT) air. In comparison, SSA typically contributes a relatively minor fraction to NAt (10 %) and NAc (21 %) on an annual basis. In addition to SSA, sources of Ac-mode particles include entrainment of FT aerosols and condensation growth of Aitken-mode particles inside the MBL, while in-cloud coalescence scavenging is the major sink of NAc . The observed seasonal variation of NAc , being higher in summer and lower in winter, generally agrees with the steady-state concentration estimated from major sources and sinks. NAt is mainly controlled by entrainment of FT aerosol, coagulation loss, and growth of Aitken-mode particles into the Ac-mode size range. Our calculation suggests that besides the direct contribution from entrained FT Ac-mode particles, growth of entrained FT Aitken-mode particles in the MBL also represent a substantial source of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), with the highest contribution potentially reaching 60 % during summer. The growth of Aitken-mode particles to CCN size is an expected result of the condensation of sulfuric acid, a product from dimethyl sulfide oxidation, suggesting that ocean ecosystems may have a substantial influence on MBL CCN populations in the ENA.
Regieren unter den Bedingungen des institutionellen Pluralismus: ein deutsch-amerikanischer Vergleich

In der vergleichenden Politikforschung wurden westliche Demokratien nach der Anzahl von Vetoakteuren oder „Mitregenten“ unterschieden, denen sich Regierungen bei der Verfolgung ihrer politischen Programme gegenubersehen. Dabei wurden die unterschiedlichen Akteure, wie unabhangige Zentralbanken oder „zweite Kammern“, zumeist als statische Grosen verstanden bzw. nach deren maximalem Vetopotenzial klassifiziert. In diesem Beitrag, welcher der Analyse der Bedingungen des Regierens in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und den USA gewidmet ist, werden die Vetospieler hingegen als dynamische Akteure begriffen und in das Zentrum der vergleichenden Betrachtung geruckt. Eine solche Perspektive gestattet deutlich realistischere Einblicke in die Bedingungen des Regierens in hochgradig gewaltenteilend angelegten Systemen. So konnen einzelne Vetospieler unter bestimmten Bedingungen das Regieren sogar eher erleichtern als erschweren. Daneben wird vor allem der Systemunterschied zwischen Parlamentarismus (Deutschland) und Prasidentialismus (USA) als zentrale Variable erkennbar, welche die Funktionsweise scheinbar ahnlicher institutioneller Arrangements in hohem Mase pragt.
Visualization of the relative contributions of conductances in neuronal models with similar behavior and different conductance densities

Conductance based models of neural activity can produce large amounts of data that can be hard to visualize and interpret. Here we introduce two novel visualization methods to display the dynamics of the ionic currents, and to investigate how the contribution of each current changes in response to perturbation. We explored the solutions of a single compartment, conductance based model of neural activity with seven voltage-gated ionic currents and a leak channel. We employed landscape optimization to find sets of maximal conductances that produce similar target activity and displayed the dynamics of the currents. We examined in detail six examples of a bursting model neuron that differ as much as 3-fold in the conductance densities of each of the 8 currents in the model. The maximal conductance of each current does not simply predict the importance of the current for neuronal dynamics. We then compared the effects of systematically reducing the conductances of each current for neuronal dynamics, and demonstrate that models that appear similar under starting conditions behave dramatically differently to the decreases in conductance densities. These examples provide heuristic insight into why individuals with similar behavior can nonetheless respond widely differently to perturbations.
Abstract WP338: Effect of Thalamic Hemorrhage Localization on Level of Consciousness and Functional Outcomes in the CLEAR III Trial

Introduction: Thalamic hemorrhages account for 10-15% of intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH) and have a variety of clinical manifestations. We investigated the relationship between injury to thalamus a...
Music as math waves: exploring trigonometry through sound

Students studying transformations of trigonometric functions may learn formulas associated with period and frequency without developing an understanding of the concepts themselves. In this article,...
The recovery of products and materials for reuse: The global context of resource management

Abstract We propose a framework for evaluating alternative approaches for recovering products and materials from capital goods that are no longer in use. It calls for deepening the existing collaborations between input-output economists and industrial ecologists to develop scenarios for the future and databases to support the analysis of global strategies for resource management. Our formulation offers the endogenous choice among technologies subject to resource constraints to minimize economy-wide use of factors of production in satisfying final demand. The determination is made on the basis of comparative advantage for a single economy and for the global setting. We develop an illustrative database for three regions characterized by different resource profiles for natural resource endowments and for the accumulation of built capital; they are roughly modeled on Japan, Guinea, and India. The material and economic consequences for each region, and for the world as a whole, are then calculated under alternative recovery scenarios. Sharp contrasts in region-specific outcomes are evident, and clear impacts of actions in one region on outcomes in other regions demonstrate the need for a global context. Next steps include making dynamics explicit by incorporating lifetimes of durable goods and infrastructure, varying production duration periods, and resource stock-flow relationships. The final section addresses the corresponding development challenges, in particular those surrounding jobs and livelihoods. These concerns need to inform design priorities for the scale and degree of decentralization of future technological systems, which are readily represented as technological alternatives.
Gas Phase Carbon Dioxide as an Optimum Substrate for Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Reaction

As biocatalytic carbon capture has attracted wide attraction due to its high energy efficiency, the preference of carbon species of the reaction is concerned. The self-evolution between carbon species makes the determination of preference a changeling issue. In this study, by comparing the isocitrate dehydrogenase reaction rate profiles with pre-equilibrated and un-equilibrated HCO3--CO2 solutions, gas phase carbon dioxide was believed as the optimum substrate, as it can provide higher reaction rate. During the carbon capture process, the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide affected both the reaction equilibrium and kinetics, while the interfacial area can only determine the reaction rate.
An Investigation into the Performance of a Venturi in Two-Phase Helium Flow

The present paper discusses the use of venturi flow meters for measurement of vapor quality of helium two-phase flow. Tests were performed by connecting two identical venturis with 2.29 mm throat and 4.57 mm inlet diameters in series with a vertical two-phase helium flow loop. With one venturi operating in liquid and the second one operating in two-phase regime as controlled by an inline heater, the ratio of the pressure drop across the two venturis is found to be well correlated to the vapor quality of the two-phase flow. Data presented are for vertical upflow of two-phase helium at 4.2 K with vapor quality between zero and 100% under both forced flow and natural circulating flow conditions. The forced flow rates, controlled by a flexible bellows acting as a positive displacement pump, range from 1.0 g/s up to 2.5 g/s. Within the parameter range covered in this test, the result can be well described by the homogeneous model.
Automated Breast Density Measurements From Chest Computed Tomography Scans

To develop an automated method for quantifying percent breast density from chest computed tomography (CT) scans. A naive Bayesian classifier based on gray-level intensities and spatial relationships was developed on CT scans from 10 patients diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and imaged as part of routine clinical care. The algorithm was validated on CT scans from 75 additional HL patients. The classifier was developed and validated using a reference dataset with consensus manual segmentation of fibroglandular tissue. Accuracy was evaluated at the pixel-level to examine how well the algorithm identified pixels with fibroglandular tissue using true and false positive fractions (TPF and FPF, respectively). Quantitative estimates of the patient-level CT percent density were contrasted to each other using the concordance correlation coefficient, ρc, and to subjective ACR BI-RADS density assessments using Kendall’s τb. The pixel-level TPF for identifying pixels with fibroglandular tissue was 82.7% (interquartile range of patient-specific TPFs 65.5%-89.6%). The pixel-level FPF was 9.2% (interquartile range of patient-specific FPFs 2.5%-45.3%). Patient-level agreement of the algorithm’s automated density estimate with that obtained from the reference dataset was high, ρc = 0.93 (95% CI 0.90-0.96) as was agreement with a radiologist’s subjective ACR-BI-RADS assessments, τb = 0.77. It is possible to obtain automated measurements of percent density from clinical CT scans.
Computing in the USSR: Recent Progress and Policies

The paper evaluates a broad spectrum of Soviet computing capabilities ranging from the development, production and service sectors to applications in enterprise management, national security, education, and consumer products. Comparisons between Western and Soviet information technologies, summarized in tabular form, reveal gaps in Soviet computing and communications resulting from both technical limitations and administrative/political constraints in the economy. Programs designed to narrow these gaps are described in a final section. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: 052, 124, 635.
IT Signal Generation and Management Capabilities’ Effect on Corporate Reputation: A Typological Approach to Strategic Positioning in a Digital World

In this paper, we explore how signal generation capabilities (SGCs) and signal management capabilities (SMCs) affect corporate reputation management strategies, with respect to modern technologies of the digital world. Expanding upon signaling theory, and the notion of informational asymmetries, we draw attention to the complementary roles of current IT in creating and managing signals of productive and qualitative efficiency that may be converted into corporate reputation. We introduce a new typological classification for firms’ strategic positioning that highlights how technologies lead firms to be signal amplifiers, signal squanderers, signal mollifiers, and signal diminishers with respect to reputation management. We discuss the theoretical contributions and practical implications of our research, alongside ethical and methodological considerations that could spawn interesting avenues of future research.
Espionage and Exile: Fascism and Anti-Fascism in British Spy Fiction and Film

The first narrative analysis of mid-twentieth century British spy thrillers demonstrating their critiques of political responses to the dangers of Fascism, Nazism, and Communism.
Incidence, Predictors, and Impact of Clostridium difficile Infection on Cardiac Surgery Outcomes.

Background Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has been associated with morbidity and mortality after cardiac operations. The present study examined incidence, predictors, and impact of CDI on inpatient mortality and resource utilization. Methods An analysis of adult patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting or valvular operations from 2005 to 2016 was performed using the National Inpatient Sample. Trends in CDI were assessed using a modified Cochran-Armitage analysis. Multivariable multilevel regressions were used to identify predictors of CDI, and propensity-matched pairs were generated using Mahalanobis 1-to-1 matching to compare mortality, length of stay, and costs of CDI patients with the non-CDI cohort. Results The overall rate of CDI for an estimated 2,026,267 patients who underwent elective major cardiac surgery was 0.5% with no change in incidence (P for trend = .99). Predictors of CDI included advanced age (≥65 y; adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58-2.24), female gender (AOR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.15-1.44), heart failure (AOR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.40-1.76), and combined coronary artery bypass grafting/valve operations (AOR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.24-2.08). Neither region nor bed size was associated with CDI. In contrast CDI mortality was lower at teaching hospitals compared with rural hospitals. Among matched pairs CDI was independently associated with higher mortality, length of stay, and Gross Domestic Product-adjusted costs. Conclusions CDI occurs in less than 1% of all elective, major cardiac operations. Patient predictors included advanced age, female gender, and several chronic comorbidities. Teaching institutions had the highest odds of CDI but lowest odds of case fatality. Further investigation of factors contributing to CDI is warranted to disseminate institutional best practices.
Perspectives on Childrearing Competence

Abstract Some families cannot rely on children's intellectual achievement as a prime indicator of parenting success. This study juxtaposes how well 130 parents of mildly mentally handicapped children are doing in their own estimate and the opinion of 21 key school personnel. A surprisingly high level of home‐school disagreement is identified along with implications for more effective collaboration.
Perceptual Dimensions Underlying Tinnitus-Like Sounds

Purpose The goal of this study was to establish the perceptual underpinnings of the terms that are commonly used by patients when describing the quality of their tinnitus. Method Using a free-classification method, 15 subjects with normal hearing placed 60 different tinnitus-like sounds into similarity clusters on a grid. Multidimensional scaling, hierarchical clustering, and acoustic analyses were used to determine the acoustic underpinnings of the perceptual dimensions and perceptual similarity. Results Multidimensional scaling revealed three different perceptual dimensions (pitch, modulation depth + spectral elements, and envelope rate). Hierarchical clustering revealed five explicit similarity clusters: tonal, steady noise, pulsatile, low-frequency fluctuating noise, and high-frequency fluctuating. Conclusions Results are consistent with tinnitus perceptions falling into a small set of categories that can be characterized by their acoustics. As a result, there is the potential to develop different tools to assess tinnitus using a variety of different sounds.
A comprehensive review of factors affecting fatigue life of dental implants

Abstract Materials used currently in dental implantology include pure titanium and titanium alloy namely- along with polymers and ceramics. Owing to their excellent mechanical properties such as lower modulus of elasticity, better fatigue strength, and higher corrosion resistance, they are more preferred for replacing a missing tooth in patients. The surface of dental implant plays a crucial role in determining the success for osseointegration with the human cells. Broadly classified, a successful implantation is the outcome of correlation between three factors, namely: osseointegration, fatigue endurance, and longevity of the implants subjected to masticatory forces offered by humans. The main objective of this review is to comprehensively understand the causes of fatigue and analyse through a mechanical aspect. The central theme of this article is the surface properties of a dental implant. A sequential breakdown of parameters such as dimensions of the implant, surface roughness, and surface coating thickness along with the advantages and disadvantages of surface treatment and surface coating methods on the fatigue life performance of implants have been presented. The experimental validity of all attributes mentioned in most of the literature have confirmed that fatigue failure is the most common mode of failure occurring in dental implants. Hence it becomes imperative to research the causes in depth and aim at controlling the factors to enhance the fatigue life of dental implants. This review gave an outline of the different attributes which affect fatigue failure in dental implants when subjected to masticatory forces.