cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Use of Dual C-Arms During Fixation of Calcaneal Fractures: A Technique Tip

We describe a simple technique using dual C-arms (large and mini C-arm together) for open reduction internal fixation of calcaneal fractures in the lateral decubitus position that (1) decreases the...
Photochemistry of pyrene on unactivated and activated silica surfaces

Photolysis of pyrene at the solid/air interface of unactivated and activated silica gel proceeds slowly to give mainly oxidized pyrene products. We have identified 1-hydroxypyrene, 1,6-pyrenedione, and 1,8-pyrenedione among the main reaction products. The remaining minor products show molecular weights and spectral properties consistent with oxygenated pyrenes. Furthermore, small amounts of 1,1‘-bipyrene dimer are also formed at higher surface coverages (2 × 10-5 mol/g). When photolysis is carried out at 5 × 10-5 mol/g pyrene, photodegradation rate drops sharply and pyrene loss becomes insignificant. No significant change in the product distribution is observed when the photolysis is carried out on unactivated or activated silica. Photodegradation rate is slightly faster on activated silica compared to unactivated silica. Mechanistic studies indicate that the precursor to photoproduct formation is pyrene cation radical which is postulated to be formed by electron transfer from pyrene excited state to oxyg...
Ignition and transition to flame spread over a thermally thin cellulosic sheet in a microgravity environment

Abstract An axisymmetric, time-dependent model is developed describing auto-ignition and subsequent transition to flame spread over a thermally-thin cellulosic sheet heated by external radiation in a quiescent microgravity environment. Due to the unique combination of a microgravity environment and low Reynolds number associated with the slow, thermally induced flow, the resulting velocity is taken as a potential flow. A one-step global gas phase oxidation reaction and three global degradation reactions for the condensed phase are used in the model. A maximum external radiant flux of 5 W/cm 2 (Gaussian distribution) with 21%, 30%, and 50% oxygen concentrations is used in the calculations. The results indicate that autoignition is observed for 30% oxygen concentrations but the transition to the flame spread does not occur. For 50% oxygen the transition is achieved. A detailed discussion of the transition from ignition to flame spread is given as an aid to understanding this process. Also, a comparison is made between the axisymmetric configuration and a two-dimensional (line source) configuration.
Operationalizing situated cognition and learning

Vera and Simon [Cognitive Science, 17 (1993) 117] complain that the situational approach to cognition is insufficiently operationalized. This paper presents an interpreted system of diagrams that permit descriptions of tasks in both symbolic and situative terms, allowing differences to be operationally defined. It is argued that the basic language for describing psychological phenomena, shared by both behavioral and cognitive approaches, that of stimulus and response, is not adequate for the situational approach. Two examples, one drawn from published research in animal learning and one illustrating a re-analysis of standard tasks used in studies of problem solving, demonstrate differences between characterizing tasks in traditional stimulus-response terms as opposed to characterizing tasks in terms of situations, deeds, and observations. Connections are made to Reinforcement Learning and the study of Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes (POMDPs).
RNase III Participates in GadY-Dependent Cleavage of the gadX-gadW mRNA

The adjacent gadX and gadW genes encode transcription regulators that are part of a complex regulatory circuit controlling the Escherichia coli response to acid stress. We previously showed that the small RNA GadY positively regulates gadX mRNA levels. The gadY gene is located directly downstream of the gadX coding sequence on the opposite strand of the chromosome. We now report that gadX is transcribed in an operon with gadW, although this full-length mRNA does not accumulate. Base pairing of the GadY small RNA with the intergenic region of the gadX-gadW mRNA results in directed processing events within the region of complementarity. The resulting two halves of the cleaved mRNA accumulate to much higher levels than the unprocessed mRNA. We examined the ribonucleases required for this processing, and found that multiple enzymes are involved in the GadY-directed cleavage including the double-strand RNA-specific endoribonuclease RNase III.
Hemodynamic effects of the converting enzyme inhibitor teprotide in normal‐ and high‐renin hypertension

The hemodynamic effects of the converting enzyme inhibitor teprotide (SQ 20881) were investigated in five patients with normal plasma renin activity who were normotensive during the study (group I), in five patients with hypertension and normal plasma renin activity (group II), and in five patients with hypertension and high plasma renin activity (group III). No significant hemodynamic changes were observed during teprotide administration in group I. In group II there was a decrease in mean arterial pressure by 10 +/- 2% (p < 0.005) that was associated with a decrease by 16 +/- 7% (p < 0.05) in stroke volume and cardiac output, possibly due to venodilatation and without a concurrent change in total peripheral resistance. In group III the larger decrease of 19 +/- 4% (p < 0.005) in mean arterial pressure was due to a decrease by 30 +/- 3% (p < 0.005) in peripheral resistance. In this group stroke volume and cardiac output increased by 13 +/- 2% (p < 0.025). There were no compensatory changes in heart rate despite the decrease in mean arterial pressure and vasodilatation. These results indicate that teprotide decreases arterial pressure by a dual hemodynamic mechanism. Cardiac output is increased by teprotide in patients with high-renin hypertension who exhibit the greatest decrements in peripheral resistance.
Colorimetry of Bronze Paints

In order to be able to compare bronze paints with ordinary standards such as Munsell papers, it is necessary to establish conditions of illumination and viewing which will render the metallic reflection inconspicuous. It has been found that completely diffuse illumination and normal viewing are highly satisfactory, and a small integrating sphere has been constructed which enables the comparison to be carried out with relative ease. The colors of 23 samples, measured in this way, correlate closely with those calculated from measurements on a recording spectrophotometer with the specular component included.
Optical pulse propagation in V-type media

We describe two-color solitonlike pulses in resonant $\mathsf{V}$-type three-level media with Doppler broadening. We discuss the similarities and differences among our solitons of $\mathsf{V}$-type media and the known solitons of two-level media.
Discussion of "Axial compression of footings in cohesionless soils. I: Load-settlement behavior" by Sami O. Akbas and Fred H. Kulhawy

The discussers would like to commend the authors for their investigation of the characterization and parameterization of the load-settlement behavior of axially loaded footings on cohesionless soils because of its importance in geotechnical practice. In this discussion, the discussers would like to: 1 provide the results of a comparative assessment of the performance of loaddisplacement models in approximating the results of a set of fullscale load tests on large footings; 2 stress the importance of investigating load-displacement uncertainty by addressing quantitatively not only second-moment statistics of model parameters but also the correlation between the parameters themselves; and 3 examine the adequateness of load-displacement models for the generation of multivariate distributions for simulation purposes. A database of 30 footings on 12 different sands that were subjected to vertical loading in the field was used for these purposes. The origins of these sands included natural marine deposits, alluvial sediments, aeolian dune sands, and compacted sand fills. The footings included 18 square, 7 rectangular, and 5 circular shallow foundations, with the equivalent footing width B varying from 0.5 to 6 m. Only full-scale foundations were considered to avert difficulties associated with 1-g model tests and scaling problems e.g., Cerato and Lutenegger 2007 . A summary of the sand sites, test locations, sand origin, index number in the database, footing sizes, embedment depth, groundwater depth, median grain size, and CPTU net cone tip resistance qnet representative of capacity is given in Uzielli and Mayne 2010 . The applied stress was normalized by qnet; settlement s was normalized by foundation width B. Three load-displacement model types were considered:
Successful treatment of severe aplastic anemia in children using standardized immunosuppressive therapy with antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporine A.

Background Given the heterogeneity of published data in US children, we sought to evaluate outcomes of a standardized immunosuppressive therapy (IST) regimen for severe aplastic anemia (SAA) at The Children's Hospital (Denver, CO). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the records of 16 children diagnosed from 1990 to 2003 and treated by IST, among whom 14 received the standardized regimen of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine A (CsA). Serial hematologic parameters, complications, transfusion requirements, and time to response were assessed. Results One child who died from a pre-existing Aspergillus infection prior to expected IST response was excluded from the analysis. Overall (transfusion-independent) response to IST was 100% (13/13), without any relapses or clinically evident leukemic/myelodysplastic transformations after a median follow-up time of 4.4 years (range: 10 months–13.3 years). Conlusions This report documents excellent outcome using combination ATG and CsA IST for pediatric SAA. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Combined constrained code and LDPC code for long-haul fiber-optic communication systems

In long-haul fiber-optic communication systems, the system performance is affected adversely by both severe physical impairments and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise. Constrained coding, which avoids waveforms in the transmitted signal that are more likely to be detected incorrectly, has been proved to be an effective approach to suppress some physical impairments. However, the constrained coding schemes proposed in the literature are limited to the suppression of only some “resonant” sequences and their performance is evaluated in the absence of ASE noise. Various error correction codes also have been developed to reduce errors due to ASE noise but their performance is very vulnerable to the strong nonlinear impairments. This paper develops a novel concatenation scheme with the inner code being a constrained code based on Total Impairment Extent Rank (TIER) and the outer code being a low-density parity-check (LDPC) code. The TIER code ranks the bit patterns by order of all physical impairments imposed on them and constrains the bit patterns with large physical impairments. It is based on a discrete-time analytical model of physical impairments in long-haul fiber-optic communication systems. Compared with the current constrained codes, the TIER code offers more flexibility and better effectiveness. The TIER-LDPC concatenation scheme combines the strength of the TIER code in correcting errors due to physical impairments and that of the LDPC code in correcting memoryless errors due to ASE noise. Simulation results in the presence of ASE noise show that the TIER-LDPC concatenation scheme performs significantly better than the LDPC code alone in the case of severe impairments.
New energy replacement method for resonant power supplies

The authors analyze different energy-replacement methods for the resonant power supply and present a new method. This method uses a 24-pulse converter to regulate the magnet current during flat-top and injection periods and replaces the energy loss by charging the accelerator capacitor bank during the flat-top, reset, and injection periods; charge is injected in the circuit during the acceleration period, when it replaces the energy loss. The new method is compared with other methods, and the feasibility of the proposed method is demonstrated. The operation of the proposed method was verified by a model experiment, which showed that the new circuit can be controlled accurately and operates with smaller disturbances to the power line than the existing systems. >
In patients undergoing neuromodulation for intractable urge incontinence a reduction in 24-hr pad weight after the initial test stimulation best predicts long-term patient satisfaction.

Aims: To evaluate long-term patient satisfaction of sacral neuromodulation and to correlate satisfaction with incontinence parameters. Methods: Patients at least 1-year remote from sacral neuromodulation were mailed a questionnaire to evaluate satisfaction and assess incontinence symptoms. Results: Fifty-two patients were consecutively enrolled in the study. Forty-nine questionnaires (94.2%) were returned. The average interval between implantation and questionnaire completion was 27.2 (range 12 ^52) months. 83.7% of respondents were satis¢ed and 79.6% of patients would ‘‘do it all over again.’’ Compared to dissatis¢ed subjects during test stimulation, the satis¢ed patients had a signi¢cant decrease in 24-hr pad weight (84.5% vs. 60.6%, P ¼ 0.002) but did not diier in daily pad usage (4.5 fewer pads per day vs. 3.4, P ¼ 0.190). At long-term follow-up, satis¢ed patients noted signi¢cantly greater improvement in their Incontinence Impact Questionnaire score versus dissatis¢ed patients (mean improvement 53 vs. 10 points, P ¼ 0.0003). Using multiple logistic regression, change in 24-hr pad weight, but not change in average daily pad usage, was correlated with longterm satisfaction. Conclusions: Eighty-four percent of patients were satis¢ed with sacral neuromodulation at a mean of 27 months. An 84.5% reduction in 24-hr pad weight correlated with long-term patient satisfaction. In addition to lack of e⁄cacy, device pain was a contributing factor to dissatisfaction. Neurourol. Urodynam. 26:213 ^217, 2007. 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Synthetic TLR3 Ligand Mitigates Profibrotic Fibroblast Responses by Inducing Autocrine IFN Signaling

Activation of TLR3 by exogenous microbial ligands or endogenous injury-associated ligands leads to production of type I IFN. Scleroderma patients with progressive skin fibrosis display an IFN-regulated gene signature, implicating TLR3 signaling in the disease. In this study, we show that TLR3 expression was detected on foreskin, adult skin, and lung fibroblasts, and TLR3 levels were significantly elevated in a subset of scleroderma skin biopsies. In explanted skin and lung fibroblasts, the synthetic TLR3 ligand polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), a dsRNA analog, caused dose- and time-dependent stimulation of IFN-β production and generation of an IFN-response gene signature that was accompanied by substantial downregulation of collagen and α-smooth muscle actin gene expression. Furthermore, poly(I:C) abrogated TGF-β–induced fibrotic responses and blocked canonical Smad signaling via upregulation of inhibitory Smad7. Surprisingly, the inhibitory effects of poly(I:C) in fibroblasts were independent of TLR3 and were mediated by the cytosolic receptors retinoic acid–inducible gene 1 and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5, and involved signaling via the IFN receptor. Taken together, these results demonstrate that induction of a fibroblast IFN response gene signature triggered by dsRNA is associated with potent TLR3-independent anti-fibrotic effects. The characteristic IFN response gene signature seen in scleroderma lesions might therefore signify a tissue-autonomous protective attempt to restrict fibroblast activation during injury.
Implementation of supportive care and best supportive care interventions in clinical trials enrolling patients with cancer

ABSTRACT Background With the growing and evolving role of palliative care in oncology, we examined how supportive care (SC) and best supportive care (BSC) are implemented in clinical trials when used as a comparison treatment arm. Methods We conducted a systematic review of the literature for clinical trials published between 1980 and 2012 in which systemic anticancer therapy was compared with an SC-only arm and compared SC implementation with World Health Organization (WHO) published guidelines. Results Our search identified 189 articles, 73 of which met our inclusion criteria with the following cancer types: 29 lung, 7 colorectal, 6 pancreatic, 5 gastric and 26 others. Fifty-five studies (75%) provided some definition of SC, and 48 studies (66%) used the term BSC. Twenty-one of the 55 studies that provided a definition described the use of palliative therapies as being ‘at the discretion of the treating physician’ without standardization. Only two studies provided SC that incorporated routine physical, psychological and social assessments including rapid referral to SC specialists. SC interventions most commonly included analgesics (47%) and radiotherapy (44%). Trials using the term BSC versus SC were more likely to include blood transfusions (P = 0.002) and antibiotics (P = 0.033), but less likely to include steroids (P = 0.05) and palliative specialists (P = 0.047). Conclusions The implementation of SC in clinical trials in this systematic review is highly variable. The vast majority of the studies did not meet the WHO guidelines on SC because palliative care therapies were not recommended or integrated into care. Future clinical trials utilizing a SC intervention arm should define these interventions in a standardized approach that meets current guidelines such as the WHO recommendations.
Design and analysis of a systolic sorting architecture

We present a new parallel sorting algorithm that uses a fixed-size sorter iteratively to sort inputs of arbitrary size. A parallel sorting architecture based on this algorithm is proposed. This architecture consists of three components, linear arrays that support constant-time operations, a multilevel sorting network, and a termination detection tree, cell operating concurrently in systolic processing fashion. The structure of this sorting architecture is simple and regular, highly suitable for VLSI realization. Theoretical analysis and experimental data indicate that the performance of this architecture is likely to be excellent in practice.
Design of optimal pilot-tones for channel estimation in MIMO-OFDM systems

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems empowered by multiple-antenna technology, known as MIMO-OFDM, have gained wide applications in high-rate wireless data communications. We focus on optimal channel estimation of MIMO-OFDM systems in this paper. A new method for pilot-tone design is presented that differs from existing work not only in its unique capability of estimating fast time-varying and frequency-selective fading channels, but also in the simplicity of its least square (LS) algorithm, free of matrix inversion. It is shown that the proposed new pilot-tones are actually orthogonal codes in the space-frequency domain, which achieve optimal channel estimation in the sense of obtaining the minimum mean square error (MSE) of channel estimation and thus inherit the same computational advantages as in the previous works. The design of the space-frequency codes (SFC) for a MIMO-OFDM system with any number of transmit antennas is studied and its effectiveness is demonstrated by computer simulations of a 2/spl times/2 MIMO system.
A modified sampling method to capture arboreal arthropods.

Abstract. Arthropods were sampled from branches of saltcedar, Tamarix spp., and willow trees, Salix spp. using a new funnel bucket technique. This is a modification of the beat-bucket design. The funnel bucket was compared to results found by using a traditional 5-gallon bucket, sweep net, and beat sheet. Each method was assessed for effectiveness of arthropod capture. Sixteen saltcedar trees and 16 willow trees were sampled with each method for 10 seconds per compass side of the tree. The means, standard errors, and n needed for a 90% confidence interval are provided for each technique. The funnel bucket method collected numbers of arthropods comparable to the other sampling techniques tested. This technique may be another option for sampling in trees and shrubs, especially for arthropod predators.
Localization of cytokinesis factors to the future cell division site by microtubule-dependent transport

The mechanism by which spindle microtubules (MTs) determine the site of cell division in animal cells is still highly controversial. Putative cytokinesis “signals” have been proposed to be positioned by spindle MTs at equatorial cortical regions to increase cortical contractility and/or at polar regions to decrease contractility [Rappaport, 1986; von Dassow, 2009]. Given the relative paucity of MTs at the future division site, it has not been clear how MTs localize cytokinesis factors there. Here, we test cytokinesis models using computational and experimental approaches. We present a simple lattice-based model in which signal-kinesin complexes move by transient plus-end directed movements on MTs interspersed with occasions of uniform diffusion in the cytoplasm. In simulations, complexes distribute themselves initially at the spindle midzone and then move on astral MTs to accumulate with time at the equatorial cortex. Simulations accurately predict cleavage patterns of cells with different geometries and MT arrangements and elucidate several experimental observations that have defied easy explanation by previous models. We verify this model with experiments on indented sea urchin zygotes showing that cells often divide perpendicular to the spindle at sites distinct from the indentations. These studies support an equatorial stimulation model and provide a simple mechanism explaining how cytokinesis factors localize to the future division site. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Predictors of hoarding severity in older adults with hoarding disorder.

Background: The recent addition of hoarding disorder (HD) to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, 5th edition, has highlighted the dearth of information about the demographic, sociologic, and medical predictors of HD severity, particularly in older adults. Although there have been several previous studies examining the characteristics of older adults with HD, and one investigation of psychiatric correlates of hoarding symptom severity in non-clinical older adults, there has been little investigation about which characteristics predict hoarding symptom severity in older adults with HD. Methods: Participants were 71 older adults who were enrolled for one of the two studies of HD at the VA San Diego Healthcare System between January 2010 and January 2014. Results: There were multiple differences in the predictive ability of patient characteristics between the more cognition-related symptoms of HD and the more concrete measure of clutter, including gender-based differences and anxiety severity. Further, married participants were more likely to report lower hoarding severity, and there was no significant relationship between hoarding severity and intervention attempts or hoarding and reported falls in the past three years. Conclusions: Multiple predictive factors have been presented, which may result in further studies to investigate possible predictive differences in cognition and clutter symptoms of HD. Future studies should examine the possibility of the predictive factors also identified to be moderators of treatment outcomes.
Not only in trauma patients: hospital-wide implementation of a massive transfusion protocol†

Objectives To review outcomes of massive transfusion protocol (MTP) activation and determine the impact of MTP implementation on blood bank use.
In situ electron microscopy studies of the inhibition of graphite oxidation by phosphorus

A combination of in situ transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric techniques has been used to follow the manner by which phosphorus addition to graphite influences its interaction with oxygen. Direct observation of the process shows that the additive completely inhibits the reaction at temperatures below 830 °C. At higher temperatures phosphorus species are found to bond preferentially to the graphite “armchair”{1120} faces leaving the “zigzag” {100} faces vulnerable to attack by oxygen. In situ electron diffraction analysis indicates the formation of a chemical bond between the phosphorus and graphite edge atoms at high temperatures, which involves the formation of a complex believed to become an integral part of the structure. This unique type of chemical bonding is believed to be responsible for the observed thermal stability of P–O species on the graphite atoms at temperatures up to 1050 °C. In a further series of experiments, phosphorus was found to poison the catalytic activity of cobalt, which in its unadulterated state is a very effective promoter of the graphite-oxygen reaction.
Size Alters Susceptibility of Vectors to Dengue Virus Infection and Dissemination

The size of arthropod vectors may affect their ability to transmit pathogens. Here we test the hypothesis that body size alters the susceptibility of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes to dengue virus (DENV) infection and subsequent dissemination throughout the body of the mosquito. After feeding on blood containing known quantities of virus, smaller-sized females were significantly more likely to become infected and to disseminate virus than larger individuals. The effects of size were stronger for Ae. aegypti and independent of rearing conditions. Ae. albopictus was more susceptible to DENV infection and had higher virus titer in the body than Ae. aegypti, yet infected Ae. aegypti disseminated DENV more readily than infected Ae. albopictus. These results are consistent with the concept that Ae. aegypti is a more competent vector of DENV and emphasize the importance of body size in determining adult infection parameters.
Propositional Reasoning that Tracks Probabilistic Reasoning

This paper concerns the extent to which uncertain propositional reasoning can track probabilistic reasoning, and addresses kinematic problems that extend the familiar Lottery paradox. An acceptance rule assigns to each Bayesian credal state p a propositional belief revision method \({\sf B}_{p}\), which specifies an initial belief state \({\sf B}_{p}(\top)\) that is revised to the new propositional belief state \({\sf B}(E)\) upon receipt of information E. An acceptance rule tracks Bayesian conditioning when \({\sf B}_{p}(E) = {\sf B}_{p|_{E}}(\top)\), for every E such that p(E) > 0; namely, when acceptance by propositional belief revision equals Bayesian conditioning followed by acceptance. Standard proposals for uncertain acceptance and belief revision do not track Bayesian conditioning. The “Lockean” rule that accepts propositions above a probability threshold is subject to the familiar lottery paradox (Kyburg 1961), and we show that it is also subject to new and more stubborn paradoxes when the tracking property is taken into account. Moreover, we show that the familiar AGM approach to belief revision (Harper, Synthese 30(1–2):221–262, 1975; Alchourron et al., J Symb Log 50:510–530, 1985) cannot be realized in a sensible way by any uncertain acceptance rule that tracks Bayesian conditioning. Finally, we present a plausible, alternative approach that tracks Bayesian conditioning and avoids all of the paradoxes. It combines an odds-based acceptance rule proposed originally by Levi (1996) with a non-AGM belief revision method proposed originally by Shoham (1987).
Tissue Kallikrein Elicits Cardioprotection by Direct Kinin B2 Receptor Activation Independent of Kinin Formation

Tissue kallikrein exerts various biological functions through kinin formation with subsequent kinin B2 receptor activation. Recent studies showed that tissue kallikrein directly activates kinin B2 receptor in cultured cells expressing human kinin B2 receptor. In the present study, we investigated the role of tissue kallikrein in protection against cardiac injury through direct kinin B2 receptor activation using kininogen-deficient Brown Norway Katholiek rats after acute myocardial infarction. Tissue kallikrein was injected locally into the myocardium of Brown Norway Katholiek rats after coronary artery ligation with and without coinjection of icatibant (a kinin B2 receptor antagonist) and N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methylester (an NO synthase inhibitor). One day after myocardial infarction, tissue kallikrein treatment significantly improved cardiac contractility and reduced myocardial infarct size and left ventricle end diastolic pressure in Brown Norway Katholiek rats. Kallikrein attenuated ischemia-induced apoptosis and monocyte/macrophage accumulation in the ischemic myocardium in conjunction with increased NO levels and reduced myeloperoxidase activity. Icatibant and N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methylester abolished kallikrein's effects, indicating a kinin B2 receptor NO-mediated event. Moreover, inactive kallikrein had no beneficial effects in cardiac function, myocardial infarction, apoptosis, or inflammatory cell infiltration after myocardial infarction. In primary cardiomyocytes derived from Brown Norway Katholiek rats under serum-free conditions, active, but not inactive, kallikrein reduced hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis and caspase-3 activity, and the effects were mediated by kinin B2 receptor/nitric oxide formation. This is the first study to demonstrate that tissue kallikrein directly activates kinin B2 receptor in the absence of kininogen to reduce infarct size, apoptosis, and inflammation and improve cardiac performance of infarcted hearts.
LOCAL REGIMES: Does Globalization Challenge the “Growth Machine”?

This article explores the possible impacts that globalization might have upon the nature of local governments and the economic development policies that they adopt. We begin by outlining the theory of how “corporate regimes” dominate most urban centers, why they implement skewed economic development policies, and why globalization appears to be exacerbating these problems. Research on state-and-local economic development outside urban centers indicates that several types of business development exist and that they differ significantly in their implications for improving conditions in a community. This suggests that other types of corporate regimes are possible. The logic of globalization points toward the need to establish more progressive corporate regimes willing to implement some of the reforms advocated by critics of the “growth machine.”
The state of water on hydrated collagen as studied by pulsed NMR.

The spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) of water adsorbed on collagen fibers was determined at six frequencies and temperatures varying from 25° to −80°C. Care was taken to eliminate the contributions to the signal of protons other than those in the adsorbed water. Quantitative calculations were made on T1 and the results were compared with the experimental data. It is suggested that a maximum of about 0.50–0.55 g water per g collagen forms a hydration layer, which cannot be frozen down to −90°C and exhibits a distribution of motional correlation times. For collagen samples containing a larger quantity of adsorbed water, the additional water molecules behave like ordinary isotropic water, having a single correlation time and a freezing temperature of about −10°C.
Emergency Thrombolysis in Acute Myocardial Infarction

The goal of thrombolytic treatment in acute myocardial infarction is to reestablish permanent blood flow, salvage ischemic myocardium, and reduce mortality. If patency is achieved sufficiently early and is maintained, left ventricular function is preserved and mortality decreases. The recent experience with tissue plasminogen activator and streptokinase in the TIMI I trial is reviewed with specific attention to reperfusion, reocclusion, and bleeding. Other studies concerning left ventricular preservation and mortality are also discussed. Current guidelines for antithrombotic therapy and thrombolysis are discussed. It is extremely important to adequately select patients to avoid side effects. Thorough lysis of the thrombus must be achieved to reduce the risk of rethrombosis. Simultaneous heparin should be administered to treat ongoing thrombosis. Additional antithrombotic therapy with aspirin and acute vasodilation to reduce vasoconstriction probably also decrease the likelihood of reocclusion. Because this treatment predisposes to bleeding, extreme care should be taken to avoid vascular punctures and invasive procedures in these patients. The association of immediate percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty has not been beneficial in preventing further events; on the contrary, adverse effects have been associated with this acute intervention.
Influence of Spatial Velocity Distribution on Seismic Imaging of Mixed Carbonate-Siliciclastic Clinoforms Based on Outcrop-Based Synthetic Model of the Permian San Andres Formation, Last Chance Canyon, NM, USA

Facies-averaged acoustic impedance is the most common in forward stratigraphic and seismic modeling workflow. He et al. (2015) highlights challenges to accurately interpreting geologic time lines from seismic models characterized by impedance models with high lateral heterogeneity. Herein, we extend this study to a strongly prograding mixed siliciclastic-carbonate system from the Permian upper San Andres Formation. We illustrate the impact of faciesspecific velocity assignments to the resultant seismic models, and the associated challenges in interpreting both time-significant high frequency cycle boundaries and diachronous lithofacies boundaries separating these zones of contrasting petrophysical properties.
A CAD/CAM Database Management System and Its Query Language

In general, functions performed during a design/manufacturing cycle include sales and marketing, product design and analysis, production planning and control, manufacturing, quality control, as well as shipping and inventory control.“) These functions apparently have to share a large amount of data that are collected from many different sources. As a consequence, a centralized database is needed in order to prevent data from being repeatedly or inconsistently stored. However, a database composed of nothing but data files with different formats can never be adequate in supporting all these design/manufacturing functions owing to the expensive efforts required by data preparation and the programming of the interfaces between file formats. Therefore, the prevailing database management techniques, which have been successfully used in business, are possibly of essential importance for such a database to be accurate, useful, and convenient.
An Internet-based survey evaluating attitudes of cancer patients towards pain intervention

18540 Background: Pain is a common symptom among cancer patients (pts), but many pts experience inadequate medical management for pain. There are little data quantifying reasons that cancer pts fai...
Strain-induced growth of the immature lung

Zhang, Shaoping, Vicki Garbutt, and John T. McBride.Strain-induced growth of the immature lung. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(4): 1471–1476, 1996.—To investigate the relationship between strain and postnata...
Gastrin-releasing peptide immunoreactivity in intestinal carcinoids.

Human neuroendocrine tumors are known to demonstrate immunoreactivity to the amphibian peptide bombesin. The recent observation that gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), a 27 amino acid peptide first isolated from porcine intestine, may be the mammalian analog of bombesin led us to look for this peptide in intestinal carcinoid tumors. Formalin-fixed tissues from 20 of these tumors were examined by the immunoperoxidase technic, using specific antisera to the GRP molecule (1-27) and the GRP fragment (1–16). Intense diffuse cytoplasmic immunoreactivity was observed in carcinoids from the small intestine (7/10), appendix (4/5), and colon (1/5), In each positive case, the pattern of staining for GRP (1–16) and GRP (1–27) was identical. These findings indicate that bombesin-like immunoreactivity in human intestinal carcinoid tumors is attributable to GRP-like molecules and that GRP is a useful marker for neuroendocrine differentiation.
Vaporizing Foil Actuator Welding of AA6061 With Cu110: Effect of Heat Treatment Cycles on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure

This work aims to study the effect of microstructure of the weld between aluminum alloy AA6061 and commercially pure copper, Cu 110, on its mechanical properties. AA6061-T6 and T4 aluminum sheets of 1 mm thickness were launched towards copper targets using the Vaporizing Foil Actuator (VFA) tool operating at 8 kJ input energy level. Flyer plate velocities, measured via photonic Doppler velocimetry (PDV), were observed to be approximately 800 m/s. All the welded samples were subjected to instrumented peel testing, microhardness testing, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and SEM. The welded joints had cracks which ran through the continuous intermetallic layers and stopped upon encountering a ductile metallic wave. The welds created with T6 temper flyer sheets were found to have smaller regions with wavy interfaces free of intermetallics as compared to those created with T4 temper flyer sheets. Peel strength tests of the two types of welds resulted in failure along the interface in case of the T6 flyer welds, while the failure generally occurred in the parent aluminum in the case of the T4 flyer welds. Half of the T4 flyer welds were subjected to aging for 18 hours at 160 °C to convert the aluminum sheet back to T6 condition. Although the flyer material did not attain the hardness of the original T6 material, it was found to be significantly stronger than the T4 material. These welds retained their strengths after the aging process and diffusion across the interface was insignificant.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
The American Marketing Association in 1973

The purpose of the following brief analysis of the 1973 directory is to provide better understanding of current AMA membership: its geographic location, industrial groupings, functional activities, educational levels, and the role women play. Table 1 shows that slightly more than half of AMA membership is located in seven states: New York, Illinois, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan. Canada has the largest representation of any country outside the U.S. (7.7%), and other countries account for an additional 4.8%. The fact that one out of eight AMA members lives and works in a country outside of the U.S. adds substantial international accent to
The Politics of Oligarchy: Taxation, Financial Regulation, Power Resources, and the Super-Rich in the United States, 1918- 2012

The rise of the super-rich in the United States during the last thirty years has rekindled concerns about oligarchic political influences. Following recent theoretical work by Winters (2011), we conceptualize oligarchy as a defense against threats to income accumulation by the super-rich. We focus on two threats: taxes and financial regulations. In addition, we consider the potential role of countervailing power resources: Democratic Congressional power and unions. Using annual multiple time-series data covering 1918 through 2012 and Vector Autoregression (VAR) analysis, we find that the pre-tax income of the top 0.1% decreases in response to shocks in capital gains tax rates and marginal income tax rates, but not estate tax rates. Financial deregulation, the loss of Democratic seat share in Congress, and declines in labor union membership have likewise enhanced the income share of the top 0.1%. While tax rates on regular incomes and capital gains do not respond to the power of oligarchs, estate tax cuts, financial deregulation, and declines in Democratic seats in Congress accelerate following a windfall for the top 0.1%. Overall, the results imply that as oligarchs get richer, they minimize income and wealth loss due to the estate tax while enhancing their ability to extract rents in financial markets. But at the same time, the power resources of labor and society have important impacts on oligarchic incomes and top tax rates.
Expanded Stepparent and Grandparent Third-Party Childcare in Illinois

Recognizing the need for reforms involving, inter alia, parental and third-party childcare interests, the Illinois General Assembly created a study committee, resulting in several proposed amendments to the Illinois Parentage Act and to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. After several years of debate and amendment, parentage and marriage dissolution law reforms were enacted in 2015. Unfortunately, the recent changes, and the earlier proposals arising from the study, insufficiently address the inadequacies of the current regimes on third-party childcare, especially childcare opportunities for stepparents and grandparents. This is especially problematic since there are few, if any, opportunities for Illinois stepparents and grandparents to become parents in the absence of formal adoption. General Assembly action is warranted. Suggested approaches follow.
Category Development Index as a Predictor of International Marketing Success

The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual framework and a measurement technique for the international marketer to assess the odds of success in the exportation of products to new foreign markets. The discussion will focus on European marketers attempting to enter the U.S. market.
Body MR angiography with gadolinium contrast agents.

SUMMARY Gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography provides contrast arteriograms without the risks of arterial catheterization or iodinated contrast. Although this technique is in the early stages of development, already it has yielded promising images of large vascular structures without degradation from flow artifacts. As the technique is developed and further optimized, higher resolution and greater arterial detail will become possible.
Imaging of Vertebral Trauma: Radiologic “footprints” of vertebral injury: the ABCS

The initial assessment of any patient with suspected vertebral trauma should be by CT or by radiography if CT is unavailable [1]. It is from these studies that the diagnosis is made. Special studies such as MR imaging should be used to delineate the full extent of injury by revealing additional findings not shown on CT or radiographs [1]. Chapter 7 discussed the mechanisms of injury and the radiographic or CT “fingerprints” they produced. This chapter considers the radiologic “footprints” of the injury. Footprints lead you to the injury; fingerprints tell you what kind of injury has occurred and alert you to the possible extent of that injury. The interpretation of any imaging examination demands that a logical system be followed. I prefer to use the ABCS for evaluating vertebral trauma: A: alignment and anatomy abnormalities B: bony integrity abnormalities C: cartilage (joint) space abnormalities S: soft tissue abnormalities This chapter presents a detailed discussion of the various radiographic and CT findings given in the previous chapters and shows how they are integrated in the overall diagnosis of traumatic lesions of the vertebral column. Although many of the comments that follow pertain to the cervical column, the principles apply to all areas. Furthermore, the principles apply to radiographs as well as to CT studies.
Analytical modeling for prediction of chip package-level thermal performance

Performance growth in high power electronics has hit a thermal barrier. High total power dissipation requirements and the presence of localized hot spots are causing chips to exceed safe junction temperature limits, and thermally aware chip package design is crucial for ensuring reliable device operation. In this paper, an analytical model is developed as an early stage design tool to predict the thermal performance of various chip package configurations. The analytical model is based on existing multi-layered conduction models in literature and accurately predicts the maximum chip junction temperature for packages with spatially non-uniform power maps to within 1% of numerical results. The reduction in computational time per case and scripting capability for large batch simulations makes the analytical model a convenient tool for parametric studies. The model is used to predict the thermal performances of bare die and lidded packages for a wide range of thermal interface material properties, power map distributions, and system cooling technologies. Results show that bare die packages are more sensitive to changes in thermal interface material properties and power map spatial non-uniformities. For certain combinations of thermal interface materials, lidded packages may have equal or improved thermal performance over bare die packages.
Omniscience, Omnipresence, Immutability and Timelessness

Recently, there has been a considerable amount of discussion about the relationship between the doctrine of omniscience and other doctrines of classical theism. Kretzmann has argued that omniscience, in particular knowing what time it is, is incompatible with immutability; for if a being knows what time it is at one moment and knows what time it is at another moment, then that being has changed in some respect.1 Another central area of concern has been the doctrine of timelessness and its relation to the doctrine of omniscience. Several philosophers have argued that if God is outside time, He cannot know that it is now Friday, 1 June, for example.2
Shape Synthesis from Sketches via Procedural Models and Convolutional Networks

Procedural modeling techniques can produce high quality visual content through complex rule sets. However, controlling the outputs of these techniques for design purposes is often notoriously difficult for users due to the large number of parameters involved in these rule sets and also their non-linear relationship to the resulting content. To circumvent this problem, we present a sketch-based approach to procedural modeling. Given an approximate and abstract hand-drawn 2D sketch provided by a user, our algorithm automatically computes a set of procedural model parameters, which in turn yield multiple, detailed output shapes that resemble the user's input sketch. The user can then select an output shape, or further modify the sketch to explore alternative ones. At the heart of our approach is a deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) that is trained to map sketches to procedural model parameters. The network is trained by large amounts of automatically generated synthetic line drawings. By using an intuitive medium, i.e., freehand sketching as input, users are set free from manually adjusting procedural model parameters, yet they are still able to create high quality content. We demonstrate the accuracy and efficacy of our method in a variety of procedural modeling scenarios including design of man-made and organic shapes.
On Suicide Bombing- By Talal Asad, Columbia University Press 2007, Pp. 128. ISBN:0-231-14152-1

Many people seem to presume that the motivation for the current surge in brutal terrorism is associated with a religious factor—Islamic fundamentalism. This perceived connection has unleashed a wave of Islamophobia, particularly in Western societies [1]. However, Talal Asad’s concise but thought-provoking book challenges that widespread assumption. Asad asks in his introduction: “Is there a religiously motivated terrorism? If so, how does it differ from other cruelties? What makes its motivation—as opposed to the simple intent to kill— religious? Where does it stand in relation to other forms of collective violence? How is the image of the suicide bomber, bringing death to himself and others, addressed by Christians and post-Christians?” (p. 1). Asad then proceeds to address these questions, while protecting against possible misinterpretation by indicating that he does not intend to provide moral justification for terrorist atrocities.