cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Institutionalism and the State: Founding Views Reexamined

Economists in the institutional tradition have spent a great deal of time dealing with the notions of governance and the state. Yet that school of thought has yet to develop a complete unified theory of either governance or the state. In the work Commons and Veblen we see very different levels of analysis and commentary on these issues. Both authors are recognized as founding thinkers in the Institutional school yet they differ on how they use their methods and they have differing ideas about the usefulness of the state. Still, considered together they present a fairly complete and useable set of ideas about how governance and the state work. This essay summarizes, clarifies, and somewhat expands on the views held by Commons and Veblen with the view of moving towards a clear and concise institutional theory of the state.
A01 Pieter van Keep memorial lecture: Menopause—A modern perspective from a controversial history

The major milestones in the history of menopause provide a fascinating background to understanding current attitudes and prognosticating future trends in the perception and management of this event through which all women will inevitably pass. 'Menopause' is a word of multiple meanings. Once the subject of taboo; now almost in danger of overexposure. Once neglected, now recognized by multiple groups as the entry to a 'market'. The result is a new level of confusion and even exploitation in the minds of the health profession and the public alike. A historical survey of issues relating to the menopause is therefore an ideal vehicle for providing information and perspective into this fascinating and extremely important component of women's health care. One milestone on my personal historical journey is labeled 'Pieter van Keep', a time and a place where we met, forged an instant and remarkable friendship and during the course of an extraordinary day conceptualized a menopause club, ultimately the International Menopause Society (I.M.S.), a journal to become Maturitas, and an idea for enhanced quality years for women by primary preventative health care, utilizing menopause as a positive entry point. Achievement of the dream of wide scale introduction of preventive health care services to a properly informed public is certain to be as successful in reducing morbidity to older women as was the introduction years ago of proper prenatal care in reducing death and disability related to childbirth. Where we were, where we are generally and the I.M.S. specifically, and where the I.M.S. should position itself in the future is the focus of this lecture, my personal 'swan song' to the I.M.S.
Time-domain classification of humans using seismic sensors

Methods of human classification and direction of travel are developed for the purpose of being embedded in low-power, low-cost microprocessors. Techniques are explored for classifying an impulsive set of events in a seismic field as being either human or non-human based on information extrapolated from time-domain data of geophones. Additionally, a method of time domain direction of travel determination is explored. As a target is traversing the field of detection, simple impulse detection techniques determine seismic activities that are of interest. By recreating the time-domain signal as an average energy over time, the frequency of footstep of the target can be determined after a human has left the field by using post processing techniques, even when multiple targets are present. An autocorrelation of the energy averaged signal will yield an output that can be used to easily determine the most dominant frequency of the observed series of impulsive events. This method is capable of classifying humans under certain conditions at a rate of up to 98% with a varying rate of rejection for different types of animals and environmental factors. The technique can be easily integrated to work in conjunction with other modalities for an increase in classifier confidence.
Image relighting and matching with illumination information

In recent years, interest point based feature such as SIFT and SURF are widely used for image matchings. While these features are robust to changes in scales, rotations, and local geometric deformations, they are usually less able to simultaneously handle viewpoint changes and large illumination changes. In this paper, we will cope with this challenging problem. The basic idea is to relight one of the two images so that the image has similar illumination conditions as the other one. After relighting process, the point based features become effective again in the matching process. Our experiments show that the proposed method has good performance for matching two images with very different illuminations.
REDISTRIBUTION OF FETAL CARDIAC OUTPUT IN CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA(CDH): † 1001

Introduction: Cross-sectional area of arterial vessels is proportional to the flow through them. To assess the relative distributions of cardiac output (CO) between the left and right ventricles in fetuses with CDH, neonates with diaphragmatic defects were evaluated for quantitative morphometric analysis of the size of the great arteries.
Recent Aeronautic Investigations and the Aeroplane Industry

The industries offer better illustrations than the manufacture of aeroplanes of the intimate relation between purely scientific investigations and the practical application of their results. As an example of this fact, attention may be directed to three experimental researches in progress at the laboratories and flying-station of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics at Langley Field, Virginia. These researches were begun and are being conducted in order to add to our knowledge of the science of aeronautics, but their results are of the utmost importance to the industry and also to the art of aviation. Other illustrations might well have been selected, but these are, in many respects, of “actual” importance. The first research deals with the pressure distribu-wind-tunnel experiments a number of liquid manometers are used.)
Improving a plan library for real-time systems using nearly orthogonal Latin hypercube sampling

Computing solutions to intractable planning problems is particularly problematic within real-time domains. One approach to this challenge includes off-line computation, such as precomputing a plan library. However, because complex domains preclude creating a comprehensive library, a system must choose a subset of all possible plans to include in the library. Strategic selections will reduce the probability that a system encounters a situation for which it does not have an appropriate plan in the library to either apply directly or adapt. Choosing variable values using Latin hypercubes is a technique used to reduce the number of test cases required in orderto validate complex systems. Here we discuss the application of a variation of this technique, nearly orthogonal Latin hypercubes, to planning spaces in order reduce the number of plans a system must cache in its library.
Studies of the reactivity of the ferrihydrite surface by iron isotopic exchange and Mossbauer spectroscopy

Two-line ferrihydrite is an important adsorbent of many toxics in natural and anthropogenic systems; however, the specific structural sites responsible for the high adsorption capacity are not well understood. A combination of chemical and spectroscopic techniques have been employed in this study to gain further insight into the structural nature of sites at the ferrihydrite surface. The kinetics of iron isotopic exchange demonstrated that there are at least two types of iron sites in ferrihydrite. One population of sites, referred to as labile sites, approached iron isotopic equilibrium within 24 hr in 59Fe-NTA solutions, while the second population of sites, referred to as non-labile, exhibited a much slower rate of isotopic exchange. Adsorbed arsenate reduced the degree of exchange by labile sites, indicating that the anion blocked or greatly inhibited the rate of exchange of these sites. Mtssbauer spectra were collected from a variety of samples including 56Fe-ferrihydrite samples with 57Fe in labile sites, samples containing STFe throughout the structure, and samples with 5VFe in non-labile sites. The spectra showed characteristic broad doublets signifying poor structural order. Refined fits of the spectra indicated that labile sites have larger quadrupole splitting, hence more local distortion, than non-labile sites. In all cases, the spectra demonstrated some degree of asymmetry, indicating a distribution of Fe environments in ferrihydrite. Overall spectral findings, combined with recent EXAFS results (Waychunas et al., 1993), indicate that labile sites likely are more reactive (with respect to iron isotopic exchange) because they have fewer neighboring Fe octahedra and are therefore bound less strongly to the ferrihydrite structure. The labile population of sites probably is composed of end sites of the dioctahedral chain structure of 2-line ferrihy- drite, which is a subset of the entire population of surface sites. Mtssbauer spectra of samples containing adsorbed arsenate indicated that the anion may slightly decrease the distortion of labile sites and stabilized the structure as a whole by bidentate bonding.
Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase III-β Is Required for Golgi Maintenance and Cytokinesis in Trypanosoma brucei

The parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei contains two type III phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases (α and β). We have cloned the gene encoding the T. brucei type III phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase β (TbPI4KIII-β), expressed the protein in COS-7 cells, and confirmed that the protein catalyzes the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol. Depletion of TbPI4KIII-β in procyclic T. brucei by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in inhibition of cell growth and a distorted cellular morphology. RNAi cells had a distorted Golgi apparatus, and lysosomal and flagellar pocket proteins were mislocalized. Ultrastructural analysis revealed the internal accumulation of a heterogeneous population of vesicles, abnormal positioning of organelles, and a loss of cell polarity. Scanning electron microcopy revealed a twisted phenotype, and dividing cells often exhibited a detached daughter flagellum and lacked a cleavage furrow. Cell cycle analysis confirmed that cells depleted of TbPI4KIII-β have a postmitotic cytokinesis block that occurs after a single round of mitosis, suggestive of a specific cell cycle block. In summary, TbPI4KIII-β is an essential protein in procyclic T. brucei, required for maintenance of Golgi structure, protein trafficking, normal cellular shape, and cytokinesis.
Wandering Beyond Tragedy with Zhuangzi

AbstractOne could define a "tragic" viewpoint in many ways, but its core is the claim that things in this world do not always work out for the best. Probably the greatest tragic figure in the Zhuangzi is the defiant praying mantis, who waves her arms to fend off the oncoming chariot. This praying mantis is surely a symbol of Confucius, who was said in the Lun Yu to know that what he does is impossible but to do it anyway. In the Zhuangzi, such characters are fools, not heroes. While the view of life in the Zhuangzi is certainly not an optimistic trust that virtue is rewarded, it is just as surely not a tragic text. It tends rather toward comedy or play. This paper will examine the Zhuangzi in relationship to the tragic. The underlying claim is that the Zhuangzi's rejection of the optimism of an anthropocentric universe is more radical than tragedy and helps reveal how a tragic viewpoint remains under the sway of an anthropocentric European tradition. Ultimately, pessimism and optimism both assume the vali...
The Space Community Policing Makes and the Body That Makes It

This paper examines the ways that community policing organizes urban space in order to increase the police's ability to observe and to enforce. The logic of that organization, I argue, rests in the particular way that police are integrating civilians into police practice as part of community policing's police-community partnership, a partnership that is characterized by the concrete metaphor of a policing body. This paper presents the results of twenty months of field research with the Boston Police Department whose community policing program, Neighborhood Policing, is being hailed as a national model.
Impaired cortico-striatal functional connectivity in prodromal Huntington's Disease

Huntington's Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG triplet-repeat expansion-mutation in the Huntingtin gene. Subjects at risk for HD can be identified by genetic testing in the prodromal phase. Structural changes of basal-ganglia nuclei such as the caudate nucleus are well-replicated findings observable early in prodromal-HD subjects and may be preceded by distinct functional alterations of cortico-striatal circuits. This study aims to assess functional integrity of the motor system as a cortico-striatal circuit with particular clinical relevance in HD. Ten subjects in the prodromal phase of HD and ten matched controls were administered blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at rest (3T). Functional connectivity was measured as synchrony of BOLD activity between the caudate nucleus and thirteen cortical brain regions (seeds). Basal-ganglia volumes were assessed as established markers of disease progression in prodromal-HD. Linear regression analysis was performed to test for a relationship between structural changes and group differences in functional connectivity. Prodromal-HD subjects showed reduced BOLD synchrony between two seeds in the premotor cortex (BA6) and the caudate nucleus. While similar effect sizes could be observed for reduced basal-ganglia volumes and differences in functional connectivity, coefficients of determination indicate a moderate relationship between functional connectivity and striatal atrophy. Our data show reduced cortico-striatal functional connectivity at rest in prodromal-HD and suggest a relation to early structural brain changes. Additional longitudinal studies are necessary to elucidate the temporal relationship between functional alterations and earliest structural brain changes in prodromal-HD.
Limit to general relativity in f(R) theories of gravity

We discuss two aspects of $f(R)$ theories of gravity in metric formalism. We first study the reasons to introduce a scalar-tensor representation for these theories and the behavior of this representation in the limit to General Relativity, $f(R)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}R$. We find that the scalar-tensor representation is well behaved even in this limit. Then we work out the exact equations for spherically symmetric sources using the original $f(R)$ representation, solve the linearized equations, and compare our results with recent calculations of the literature. We observe that the linearized solutions are strongly affected by the cosmic evolution, which makes very unlikely that the cosmic speedup be due to $f(R)$ models with correcting terms relevant at low curvatures.
Effect of Chromate on Open-Circuit Pit Growth in Aluminum Thin Films

Abstract The pitting behavior of Al thin films at open circuit and the influence of the nature of the oxide film on this phenomenon were studied. At open circuit, small additions of dichromate or c...
MONOPOLISTIC RENT DETERMINATION IN UNDERDEVELOPED RURAL AREAS

SUMMARY Economists are often puzzled by the fact that impoverished tenants in poor countries are frequently crowded on to inadequate holdings, while much immediately available land remains unused. This paper sets out to explain this phenomenon in terms of the monopoly or oligopoly power of the landlord class. Individual landowners with this power will find it in their interest to rent out land only up to the point at which its annual marginal value product equals the annual outlay involved in bringing it into use. The latter can be expressed as the yearly interest payments on the original investment (clearing, levelling, and draining charges etc.) plus some annual maintenance costs. More terrain may be cultivated if the monopoly power of landlord can be broken. This would mean that land would be employed up to a level at which the value of its marginal product, as opposed to its marginal value product, equalled the annual cost of bringing it into use. In addition, the VMP and MVP curves on a particular landlord's holdings would be rendered more rent-elastic if their produce could be sold in wider national and international markets. This too would bring more land under the plough. Sharp price declines associated with increased production in isolated areas may be an important reason why monopolistic landowners keep much of their land unused. The author admits that this is but one among a number of alternative explanations, but he asks that it be given equal consideration with the others. Statistical data pertaining to the South American republic of Ecuador are used in support of the argument.
Self-homodyne RF-optical microdisk receiver

Nonlinear optical modulation in a LiNbO/sub 3/ microdisk RF-optical receiver is used in a self-homodyne configuration to demodulate 50 Mb/s data on an 8.7 GHz RF carrier.
A self-sensing AM frequency electromagnetic energy scavenger

This paper presents an energy scavenger aimed at capturing EM radiation from AM broadcasting stations. Theoretical analysis and experimental results of a small size scavenging circuit are provided. The design of the power processing circuit including boost converter and self-sensing control unit are shown. Test results show that the scavenger can operate within 6 miles from a 50 kW AM broadcasting station where ambient power density is 0.13 μW/cm2, while generating a dc output of about 2.5 V.
On the robustness of space-time coding

Space-time (ST) coding has emerged as one of the most promising technologies for meeting the challenges imposed by the wireless channel. This technology is primarily concerned with two-dimensional (2-D) signal design for multitransmit antenna wireless systems. Despite the progress in ST coding, several important questions remain unanswered. In a practical multiuser setting, one would expect different users to experience different channel conditions. This motivates the design of robust ST codes that exhibit satisfactory performance in various environments. In this paper, we investigate the robustness of ST codes in line-of-sight and correlated Rayleigh fading channels. We develop the design criteria that govern the performance of ST codes in these environments. Our analysis demonstrates that full-diversity ST codes are essential to achieving satisfactory performance in line-of-sight channels. We further show that a simple phase randomization approach achieves significant performance gains in the line-of-sight case without affecting the performance in Rayleigh fading channels. In the correlated fading environments, we characterize the achievable diversity order based on the number of diversity degrees of freedom in the channel. This characterization supports experimental observations that suggest that the quasistatic model is not a worst-case scenario and establishes the necessary tradeoff between the transmission rate and performance robustness. Finally, we consider the design of ST codes using some prior knowledge about the channel spatio-temporal correlation function.
Literature is lacking in discussion of non-adherence in dermatology

Sirs,Across all fields, it is estimated that 30–40% of medications taken for chronic conditions are not taken as prescribed (1). The severity of chronic skin disease can be greatly impacted by adhe...
It's not just the patient.

As I returned, instead of finding my patient, I found only his mother, sitting there alone. She shared her story with me as we sat together amidst the chaos. “I can't do it anymore, Doctor,” she sa...
Biophysical Comparability of the Same Protein From Different Manufacturers: A Case Study Using Epoetin Alfa From Epogen® and Eprex®

This study focuses on the development and application of biophysical methodology to characterize conformations of Epogen and Eprex, the injectable formulations of recombinant human Epoetin alfa produced by different manufacturers and commonly used for the treatment of renal anemia. In these studies Eprex, from prefilled syringes, and Epogen bulk product formulated in a buffer similar to the Eprex formulation, were purified by anion-exchange chromatography. Analytical ultracentrifugation studies of the purified main peak from each sample demonstrated that Epogen contains a single component with an s value of 2.51 while Eprex contains a single component with the same molecular weight but with an s value of 2.44 suggesting a slight difference in hydrodynamic structure. The degree of alpha-helicity was compared by far-UV circular dichroism and shown to contain slight differences. Intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence and near-UV circular dichroism were assessed and demonstrated additional differences between the proteins. Finally, the global stability of the proteins was monitored using thermal unfolding monitored by far-UV circular dichroism. The Epoetin alfa of Epogen demonstrated complete reversibility while the Epoetin alfa purified from Eprex demonstrated only 80%-85% thermal reversibility when heated to 100 degrees C. Together the data indicate that the proteins are not structurally identical.
The modern treatment of osteomyelitis

T HE use of chemotherapy in cases of osteomyehtis has Ied to revohrtionary changes in the management of treatment for the disease. Pyogenic organisms that cause osteomyeIitis pass through the bIood stream to become IocaIized, thus producing abscesses and destruction of bone with disabIing resuIts. The prevention and sometimes the cure of earIy osteomyeIitis may resuIt if chemotherapy is administered thoroughIy during the stages when the infection of the bIood stream or septicemia is recognized and if the treatment is instituted before abscess formation has taken pIace. OsteomyeIitis may be extensive, invoIving the meduIIa, cortex, periosteum, metaphysis and epiphysis or it may be Iimited to any one of these parts. The most frequent predisposing causes are Iow resistance accompanying disease, trauma, foci of infection and inff ammatory Iesions about the skin or naiIs where bacteria can enter the bIood stream and extend into bone. Bacteria occasionaIIy reach bone by direct extension. Septicemia may first be present and bacteria IocaIizing in the end arteries of bone may produce OsteomyeIitis. It is accepted generaIIy that staphyIococci, especiahy StaphyIococcus aureus and StaphyIococcus aIbus, are the exciting micro-organisms in 80 to go per cent of a11 cases of OsteomyeIitis and that streptococci are responsibIe for most of the remainder. Except for the more extensive course of infection caused by StaphyIococcus aureus, there is comparativeIy IittIe variation in the pathoIogic changes in infections caused by pyogenic organisms. The viruIence of the organism varies and, in some instances, FelIow in Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Foundation
Implementation of QoS-Provisioning system for voice over IP

In this paper, we address issues related to implementing Voice-over-IP (VoIP) services in packet switching networks. VoIP has been identified as a critical real-time application in the network QoS research community and has been implemented in commercial products. To provide competent quality of service for VoIP, the call admission control (CAC) mechanism has to be introduced to prevent packet losing and over-queuing. Several well-designed CAC mechanisms, such as the Site- Utilization-Based CAC and the link-utilization-based CAC mechanisms, are in place. However, the existing commercial VoIP systems have not been able to adequately apply and support these CAC mechanisms, and hence unable to provide QoS guarantees to VoIP. We have designed and implemented a QoS-Provisioning system that can be seamlessly integrated to the existing VoIP system to overcome its weakness in offering QoS guarantees. As a result, our system has been realized at Internet2 Voice Over IP Testbed in Texas A&M University.
Construction Project Administration and Management for Mitigating Work Zone Crashes and Fatalities: An Integrated Risk Management Model

The goal of this research is to mitigate the risk of highway accidents (crashes) and fatalities in work zones. The approach of this research has been to address the mitigation of work zone crashes through the creation of a formal risk management model to be utilized during the construction management and administration of highway projects for all stages of the project life-cycle. The result of these efforts is realized through the design of an integrated risk management model. A standard risk management model has three components: risk identification, risk analysis, and risk response. The risks are identified by the factors that contribute to work zone crashes. The risk analysis involves understanding the tendency of a hazard to influence the frequency or severity of a loss, and the risk response relates to the appropriate countermeasures to the factors that contribute to work zone crashes. The number of hazards and mitigation strategies corresponding to work zone crashes can be substantial. The intent of this research is to develop a formalized risk management plan to identify potential hazards on plans, designs, or jobsites and to cue a risk response to the hazards. Mitigation strategies may take the form of a mitigation “method” (alert motorist, assist worker/motorist, control motorist, inform motorist, and protect worker/motorist). The results of this research will be a formal step-by-step methodology to be utilized by managers and decision makers. Each stage of the project life-cycle (or Project Development Process) will provide a checklist of hazards and mitigation strategies. This research will also provide a qualitative method to assess the likelihood and severity of a hazard or multiple hazards on a roadway work zone. This research is intended to provide a holistic approach to risk management that is to be integrated into the existing corporate structure and not to be considered a standalone program. This integrated approach will allow a formalized procedure to be utilized by any member of an organization during all phases of the construction project life-cycle.
Online kinematic GNSS data processing for small hydrographic surveys

Abstract Free access online GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) data processing services are becoming popular since only a single GNSS receiver can do the job. These services are user friendly and easy to use. Thus, no training and a GNSS software package purchase are needed. This means less cost to users. Currently, three online GNSS data processing services provide kinematic data processing option. In this study, GNSS data collected for hydrographic surveying is processed using these online services and positioning precision of these services are compared. The results indicate that with 1 s data, decimeter to meter precision can be achieved for both horizontal and vertical coordinates.
Surgical video recording with a modified GoPro Hero 4 camera.

Background Surgical videography can provide analytical self-examination for the surgeon, teaching opportunities for trainees, and allow for surgical case presentations. This study examined if a modified GoPro Hero 4 camera with a 25 mm lens could prove to be a cost-effective method of surgical videography with enough detail for oculoplastic and strabismus surgery. Method The stock lens mount and lens were removed from a GoPro Hero 4 camera, and was refitted with a Peau Productions SuperMount and 25 mm lens. The modified GoPro Hero 4 camera was then fixed to an overhead surgical light. Results Camera settings were set to 1080p video resolution. The 25 mm lens allowed for nine times the magnification as the GoPro stock lens. There was no noticeable video distortion. The entire cost was less than 600 USD. Conclusion The adapted GoPro Hero 4 with a 25 mm lens allows for high-definition, cost-effective, portable video capture of oculoplastic and strabismus surgery. The 25 mm lens allows for detailed videography that can enhance surgical teaching and self-examination.
Particle Acceleration in Relativistic Electron-Ion Outlfows

We use the Los Alamos VPIC code to investigate particle acceleration in relativistic, unmagnetized, collisionless electron-ion plasmas. We run our simulations both with a realistic proton-to-electron mass ratio m_p/m_e = 1836, as well as commonly employed mass ratios of m_p/m_e =100 and 25, and show that results differ among the different cases. In particular, for the physically accurate mass ratio, electron acceleration occurs efficiently in a narrow region of a few hundred inertial lengths near the flow front, producing a power law dN/dgamma ~ gamma^(-p) with p ~ -2 developing over a few decades in energy, while acceleration is weak in the region far downstream. We find 20%, 10%, and 0.2% of the total energy given to the electrons for mass ratios of 25, 100, and 1836 respectively at a time of 2500 (w_p)^-1. Our simulations also show significant magnetic field generation just ahead of and behind the the flow front, with about 1% of the total energy going into the magnetic field for a mass ratio of 25 and 100, and 0.1% for a mass ratio of and 1836. In addition, lower mass ratios show significant fields much further downstream than in the realistic mass ratio case. Our results suggest the region and energetic extent of particle acceleration is directly related to the presence of magnetic field generation. Our work sheds light on the understanding of particle acceleration and emission in gamma-ray bursts, among other relativistic astrophysical outflows, but also underscores the necessity of optimizing numerical and physical parameters, as well as comparing among PIC codes before firm conclusions are drawn from these types of simulations.
3D microwave tomography of the breast using prior anatomical information.

Purpose: The authors have developed a new 3D breast image reconstruction technique that utilizes the soft tissue spatial resolution of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and integrates the dielectric property differentiation from microwaveimaging to produce a dual modality approach with the goal of augmenting the specificity of MR imaging, possibly without the need for nonspecific contrast agents. The integration is performed through the application of a soft prior regularization which imports segmented geometric meshes generated from MR exams and uses it to constrain the microwave tomography algorithm to recover nearly uniform property distributions within segmented regions with sharp delineation between these internal subzones. Methods: Previous investigations have demonstrated that this approach is effective in 2D simulation and phantom experiments and also in clinical exams. The current study extends the algorithm to 3D and provides a thorough analysis of the sensitivity and robustness to misalignment errors in size and location between the spatial prior information and the actual data. Results: Image results in 3D were not strongly dependent on reconstruction mesh density, and the changes of less than 30% in recovered property values arose from variations of more than 125% in target region size—an outcome which was more robust than in 2D. Similarly, changes of less than 13% occurred in the 3Dimage results from variations in target location of nearly 90% of the inclusion size. Permittivity and conductivity errors were about 5 times and 2 times smaller, respectively, with the 3D spatial prior algorithm in actual phantom experiments than those which occurred without priors. Conclusions: The presented study confirms that the incorporation of structural information in the form of a soft constraint can considerably improve the accuracy of the property estimates in predefined regions of interest. These findings are encouraging and establish a strong foundation for using the soft prior technique in clinical studies, where their microwaveimaging system and MRI can simultaneously collect breast exam data in patients.
Revisiting the welfare state paradox: A firm-level analysis from Japan

Abstract Many cross-national studies of welfare states and gender inequality report adverse effects of work-family policies on women’s labor market outcomes. Countries with generous work-family policies tend to have a lower proportion of women in positions of authority and greater occupational sex segregation than countries without such policies. In order to explain this paradox, scholars have argued that work-family policies may create incentives for employers to exclude women from well-paying jobs. This argument, however, has been left untested due to the absence of firm-level data on promotions. This paper seeks to make both a theoretical and an empirical contribution to this literature. At the theoretical level, we argue that the effect of work-family policies is contingent upon labor market context and organizational practices, which shape employers’ incentives or disincentives to implement work-family policies to more fully utilize female workers. Empirically, we use over-time firm-level data to test how government policy interventions in Japan to increase work-family benefits have affected female promotion rates in private companies. Analyzing changes in women’s promotion rates across 1000 large companies from 1987 to 2009, we find evidence that employers have tended to promote more, not fewer, women subsequent to policy interventions. Additionally, employers who provided more generous work-family benefits promoted more women. Our findings point to the importance of labor market context in structuring employers’ incentives to leverage work-family policy reforms to utilize skilled female labor.
Synthesis and Characterization of Tungsten Alkylidene and Alkylidyne Complexes Supported by a New Pyrrolide-Centered Trianionic ONO3– Pincer-Type Ligand

Synthetic protocols for a pyrrolide-centered ONO3– trianionic pincer-type ligand are presented. Treating (tBuO)3W≡CtBu with the proligand [pyr-ONO]H3 (2) results in the formation of the trianionic pincer alkylidene complex [pyr-ONO]W═CHtBu(OtBu) (3). Addition of a mild base to complex 3 provides the trianionic pincer alkylidyne complex {MePPh3}{[pyr-ONO]W≡CtBu(OtBu)} (4). All new compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, combustion analysis, and, in the case of complex 4, single-crystal X-ray crystallography. DFT calculations performed on 4 provide insight into its electronic structure and indicate that the HOMO is ligand-based and localized on the pyrrolide π orbitals.
Discussion on “Sequential Estimation for Time Series Models” by T. N. Sriram and Ross Iaci

Abstract This discussion focuses on sequential fixed-width confidence intervals for linear time series, which Sriram and Iaci (2014) have reviewed masterfully in Section 2.1.1 of their paper. After describing the background of my 1983 paper with Siegmund, I explain how this work stimulated subsequent developments in econometric time series modeling. In this connection, I also point out certain subtle issues with autoregressive and more general stochastic regression models and discuss how they have been addressed.
Product Recirculation and Mixing Studies in a Stagnation Point Reverse Flow Combustor

Gas turbine combustor design is being driven towards leaner operation to conform to increasingly stringent emissions regulations. The low temperatures reduce NOx emissions but adversely impact the stability of the combustor. A novel combustor design, referred to as a Stagnation-Point Reverse-Flow (SPRF) combustor, was recently developed that is able to operate stably at very lean fuel-air mixtures, over a range of loadings, and with low NOx emissions making it an exciting option for ground power and aircraft gas turbines. Various optical diagnostic techniques are employed to investigate the flame and mixing characteristics of the SPRF combustor operating at atmospheric pressure. These measurements include chemiluminescence imaging, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) for velocity fields and Spontaneous Raman Scattering (SRS) for species concentrations. This unique reverse flow design allows hot product gases to mix with and preheat the incoming reactants. The flow reversal also gives rise to a low velocity stagnation zone in the combustor with a high turbulence level facilitating robust flame stabilization over a variety of flow conditions. Product entrainment has been quantified in terms of the recirculation ratio (Kv), defined as the ratio of recirculated mass of product gas to the mass of fuel and air entering the flame zone. Although reactants are found to burn in a highly preheated (1300 K) and turbulent environment due to mixing with hot product gases, the residence times are sufficiently long compared to the ignition timescales such that the reactants do not autoignite. Turbulent flame structure analysis indicates that the flame is primarily in the thin reaction zones regime throughout the combustor. The flame tends to become more flamelet like, however, for increasing distance from the injector. Fuel-air mixing measurements indicate that the fuel is shielded from hot products until it is fully mixed with air, providing almost premixed performance without its associated safety issues. The effect of changing the air injector dimensions on the mixing of fuel and air is also investigated.
Honey Bee Foraging Behavior: Responses to Queens, Larvae, and Extracts of Larvae

Workers of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from small colonies collected more syrup in cages and more nectar in the open when a caged queen was present in the hive than when no queen was present. Free-flying colonies containing larvae but no queens collected more nectar than similar colonies provided with an alcoholic extract of larvae and their food. When nectar was available, free-flying colonies with queens had more incoming bees per 4 minutes and more pollen carriers per 4 minutes than colonies without queens but with larvae or brood extracts. When nectar was not available, queenless colonies with larvae had the greatest number and percent of pollen foragers of all treatments. Extracts of larvae and their food appeared to increase both nectar and pollen foraging in the presence of a queen. However, the response was not always clearly evident, and the pheromone responsible was not identified. When nectar was freely available, foraging bees apparently collected pollen incident to nectar collection, thereby creating the appearance of a direct influence by the queen on pollen collection. However, in the absence of available nectar, when pollen also was less readily available, larvae exerted more influence on pollen collection than did the queen.
Countermeasures analysis for developing coal preparation equipment manufacture industry in Tangshan city

Equipment manufacture is a strategic industry of national economy development.Coal preparation equipment manufactures is one of important industry relate to economies transformation and realize leapfrog development of Tangshan city.In respect of developing coal preparation equipment manufacture industry in Tangshan city,the paper analyzed the current situation,problems existed and development opportunities,and presents the development countermeasures and suggestions to promote coal preparation equipment manufacture industry in Tangshan city.
Expression of nerve growth factor and its receptors in the somatosensory-motor cortex of Macaca nemestrina

The present study was designed to examine the nerve growth factor (NGF) system (ligand and receptor-expressing neurons) in the somatosensory (areas 1, 3a, and 3b) and motor (area 4) cortices of the mature macaque. Light and electron microscope immunohistochemistry was used to assess the distribution and identity of NGF-, p75-, and trk-expressing elements. In each cortical area examined, NGF-positive neuronal somata were distributed through all laminae; most immunolabeled neurons were in layers II, III, and V. Based upon light microscope criteria (e.g., the morphology of proximal dendrites), both pyramidal and stellate neurons expressed NGF. Of the identifiable NGF- immunoreactive cells, 92% were pyramidal neurons and the remainder was stellate neurons. The electron microscope study showed that most (88%) NGF-positive somata formed symmetric synapses, whereas the others formed both symmetric and asymmetric synapses. As the somata of pyramidal neurons form only symmetric synapses and those of inhibitory stellate neurons form both symmetric and asymmetric somatic synapses, the ultrastructural data support the light microscopic analyses. In contrast, neurotrophin receptors, p75 and trk, were expressed chiefly by the cell bodies of layer V pyramidal neurons and the supragranular neuropil. At the ultrastructural level, receptor-positive profiles were post-synaptic elements (e.g., dendritic shafts and spines) and the concentration of immunoreactivity was greatest in the vicinity of post-synaptic densities. Thus, NGF regulatory systems parallel excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter systems. Cortex contains the morphological framework by which pyramidal and/or inhibitory stellate neurons can affect the activity of post-synaptic pyramidal neurons via anterograde and autocrine/paracrine NGF systems.
Sinogram restoration in computed tomography with a non-quadratic, edge-preserving penalty

With the goal of producing a less computationally intensive alternative to fully-iterative penalized-likelihood image reconstruction, our group has been exploring the use of penalized-likelihood sinogram restoration for transmission tomography. Sinogram restoration allows for the correction of anode angle effects, off-focal radiation, detector afterglow, crosstalk, beam hardening, and noise effects without the backprojections and reprojections used in fully-iterative reconstruction methods. After sinogram restoration, reconstruction is performed using traditional filtered backprojection methods. Previously, we have exclusively used a quadratic penalty in our restoration objective function. Here, we derive a restoration update equation using separable parabolic surrogates (SPS) for non-quadratic penalties. Using the edge-preserving Huber penalty in our sinogram restoration, we show improvements in resolution-variance tradeoffs compared to using a quadratic penalty in the sinogram restoration. However, this simple approach to edge preservation in the sinogram domain is affected by the physical size of the edge and not just the increase in contrast across the edge. This is a disadvantage relative to image-domain edge-preserving methods.
Microstructure and hydrothermal corrosion behavior of NITE-SiC with various sintering additives in LWR coolant environments

Abstract Nano-infiltration and transient eutectic phase (NITE) sintering was developed for fabrication of nuclear grade SiC composites. We produced monolithic SiC ceramics using NITE sintering, as candidates for accident-tolerant fuels in light-water reactors (LWRs). In this work, we exposed three different NITE chemistries (yttria-alumina [YA], ceria-zirconia-alumina [CZA], and yttria-zirconia-alumina [YZA]) to autoclave conditions simulating LWR coolant loops. The YZA was most corrosion resistant, followed by CZA, with YA being worst. High-resolution elemental analysis using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) X-ray mapping combined with multivariate statistical analysis (MVSA) datamining helped explain the differences in corrosion. YA-NITE lost all Al from the corroded region and the ytttria reformed into blocky precipitates. The CZA material lost all Al from the corroded area, and the YZA − which suffered the least corrosion −retained some Al in the corroded region. The results indicate that the YZA-NITE SiC is most resistant to hydrothermal corrosion in the LWR environment.
Effect of needle diameter on the viability of equine bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Objectives Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are frequently delivered via needle injection for treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of needle diameter on the viability of MSCs. Methods Equine bone marrow-derived MSCs from 5 horses were suspended in PBS, and held at room temperature for 7 hours to mimic shipping conditions. Two replicate samples for each needle size (20, 22, 23, or 25-gauge [ga]) were aspirated into a 3 mL syringe and re-injected into the holding vial 3 times, to reproduce the resuspension of cells prior to injection in clinical cases. Cells were stained with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide to measure viability. Flow cytometry (FC) was performed to compare cell debris and intact cells between groups. Results MSC viability was higher when cells were passed through a 20-ga rather than a 25-ga needle. Cell suspensions passed through a 20-ga needle contained a larger percentage of intact cells, compared to 25-ga samples. The percentage of debris present in cell suspensions tended to increase with decreasing needle diameter. Neither horse nor passage had a significant effect on viability. Conclusions Cell damage is more likely when MSCs are passed through 25-ga rather than 20-ga needles. Clinical relevance Use of needles larger than 25-ga is recommended to maintain the viability of MSCs injected in horses.
Microbiome perturbation by oral vancomycin reduces plasma concentration of two gut-derived uremic solutes, indoxyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate, in end-stage renal disease.

Background Observational studies have suggested a relationship between the plasma concentration of indoxyl sulfate (IS) and p-cresyl sulfate (PCS), small gut-derived 'uremic solutes', and the high incidence of uremic cardiomyopathy in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). IS and PCS are derived from the metabolism of dietary components (tryptophan and tyrosine) by gut bacteria. This pilot study was designed to examine the effects of a poorly absorbable antibiotic (vancomycin) on the plasma concentration of two gut-derived 'uremic solutes', IS and PCS, and on the composition of the gut microbiome. Methods Plasma concentrations of IS and PCS were measured by MS-HPLC. The gut microbiome was assessed in stool specimens sequenced for the 16S rRNA gene targeting the V4 region. Results The pre-dialysis mean plasma concentrations of both IS and PCS were markedly elevated. Following the administration of vancomycin (Day 0), the IS and PCS concentrations decreased at Day 2 or Day 5 and returned to baseline by Day 28. Following vancomycin administration, several changes in the gut microbiome were observed. Most striking was the decrease in diversity, a finding that was evident on Day 7 and was still evident at Day 28. There was little change at the phylum level but at the genus level, broad population changes were noted. Changes in the abundance of several genera appeared to parallel the concentration of IS and PCS. Conclusions These findings suggest that alteration of the gut microbiome, by an antibiotic, might provide an important strategy in reducing the levels of IS and PCS in ESRD.