cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Context, Equality, and Aboriginal Compensation Claims

ABSTRACT: Jeremy Waldron argues that the historical ownership rights of Aboriginal peoples can be superseded, yet acknowledges that programs of historically grounded compensation are justifiable in the absence of widespread redistribution. This article argues that existing states lack social justice programs of the requisite kind, and that they will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Moreover, even the best-designed programs will be far more ambiguous than Waldron encourages us to recognize, given the unavoidability of inheritance-based inequalities. The article argues that philosophers should pay special attention to political context when evaluating the claims of socially vulnerable populations such as Aboriginal peoples.
IMPROVING LEARNING IN LATER LIFE By Alexandra Withnall

Improving learning in later life is a substantive book in the field of adult education and lifelong learning, which was simultaneously published in the United Kingdom, its source, and America. It d...
P-selectin Plasma Levels and Genetic Variant Associated With Diabetic Retinopathy in African Americans.

Purpose To report the prevalence and risk factors for retinopathy in African Americans with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and type 2 diabetes in the Jackson Heart Study and to determine if P-selectin plasma levels are independently associated with retinopathy in this population. Design Prospective, cross-sectional observational study. Methods setting: Community-based epidemiologic study. study population: Total of 629 patients with type 2 diabetes and 266 participants with impaired fasting glucose. observation procedures: Bilateral, 7-field fundus photographs were scored by masked readers for diabetic retinopathy (DR) level. Covariate data including P-selectin plasma levels and genotypes were collected in a standardized fashion. main outcome measures: Association between risk factors, including P-selectin plasma levels and genotypes, and retinopathy. Results The prevalences of any retinopathy among participants with IFG and type 2 diabetes were 9.4% and 32.4%, respectively. Among those with type 2 diabetes, in multivariate models adjusted for age, sex, and other traditional risk factors, higher P-selectin levels were associated with any DR (odds ratio = 1.11, 95% confidence interval = 1.02–1.21, P = .02) and proliferative DR (odds ratio = 1.23, 95% confidence interval = 1.03–1.46, P = .02). To further investigate the relationship between P-selectin and DR, we examined the association between P-selectin genotype and DR. Minor allele homozygotes for the variant rs6128 were less likely to develop DR ( P after Bonferroni correction = 0.03). Conclusions Both serologic and genetic data show an association between P-selectin and DR in the Jackson Heart Study. If confirmed in other studies, this association may provide insight into the pathogenesis of retinopathy.
Combinatorial Interaction Regression Testing: A Study of Test Case Generation and Prioritization

Regression testing is an expensive part of the software maintenance process. Effective regression testing techniques select and order (or prioritize) test cases between successive releases of a program. However, selection and prioritization are dependent on the quality of the initial test suite. An effective and cost efficient test generation technique is combinatorial interaction testing, CIT, which systematically samples all t-way combinations of input parameters. Research on CIT, to date, has focused on single version software systems. There has been little work that empirically assesses the use of CIT test generation as the basis for selection or prioritization. In this paper we examine the effectiveness of CIT across multiple versions of two software subjects. Our results show that CIT performs well in finding seeded faults when compared with an exhaustive test set. We examine several CIT prioritization techniques and compare them with a re-generation/prioritization technique. We find that prioritized and re-generated/prioritized CIT test suites may find faults earlier than unordered CIT test suites, although the re-generated/prioritized test suites sometimes exhibit decreased fault detection.
Head Start and Follow Through: Influences On Intellectual Development

Three national evaluation efforts — Head Start, Follow Through Planned Variation, and Head Start Planned Variation — are reviewed to examine their effectiveness concerning the trainability of intelligence. The development of the 3 projects are placed in historical context, and the results of pre-Head Start intervention studies are summarized. The authors provide specific accounts of the conception of Head Start and the evolution of the concept of planned variation that grew out of Follow Through and continued into Head Start Planned Variation. The evidence on the effectiveness of these projects is highly controversial, but it is concluded that the literature suggests short-term effectiveness. There is also evidence regarding the long-term effects of early intervention, and in this regard two major follow-up studies are reported.
The cardiorenal syndrome: lessons from the ADHERE database and treatment options.

Significant renal dysfunction is common in patients hospitalized for heart failure and carries a grim prognosis. Patients with heart failure who have or develop renal dysfunction while being treated for heart failure are said to have the cardiorenal syndrome. The Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry (ADHERE®) database, which enrolled nonselected patients admitted to the hospital for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), was used to determine the causes for this renal dysfunction and whether treatment can optimize outcomes. Results show that the average patient admitted for ADHF is older than those typically enrolled in clinical trials and has at least moderate kidney damage, with significantly impaired glomerular filtration rates. Renal dysfunction in patients with heart failure is complex and often multifactorial in origin, but the syndrome may be reversible in some patients. Reduction of angiotensin II levels with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may prevent glomerular hyperfiltration and ultimately preserve renal function; however, patients who are volume-depleted may be especially sensitive to ACE inhibitor–induced efferent arteriolar dilation, so ACE inhibitor therapy in patients with renal dysfunction should be initiated when the patient is volume replete. In conclusion, impaired renal function is common in heart failure patients and may be a key cause of the cascade involving fluid retention, decompensation, and eventual hospital admission. Future pharmacologic research should focus on therapies aimed at maintaining or improving renal function in heart failure patients to reduce the high mortality associated with the cardiorenal syndrome.
Content analysis of language-promoting teaching strategies used in infant-directed media

The number of videos produced specifically for infants and toddlers has grown exponentially in the last decade. Many of these products make educational claims regarding young children's language development. This study explores infant media producer claims regarding language development, and the extent to which these claims reflect different distributions of strategies known to promote young children's language development in live contexts. A content analysis of 58 DVDs for children under the age of three years was conducted. Claims related to language development and general knowledge information were identified from packaging and promotional materials. Video content was examined scene-by-scene for language-promoting strategies. Finally, scene-level content matching the specific language or general knowledge claims was ‘tagged’. Videos with more explicit language claims had a significantly higher percentage of scenes with language content and language-promoting strategies than those without such claims. Verbal labels of onscreen referents were common across videos. Onscreen print significantly co-occurred with language claims, which was surprising given that infants were the target audience and they cannot read. Production techniques that are likely to increase orientation to important language content, such as sound effects, and audience elicitation, significantly co-occurred with language content, but point/give objects or follow gaze teaching strategies and vocabulary definitions were only infrequently used. Implications for the creation of developmentally appropriate videos for infants and toddlers are discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanistic studies of pyridinium electrochemistry: alternative chemical pathways in the presence of CO2

Protonated heterocyclic amines, such as pyridinium, have been utilized as catalysts in the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide. While these represent a new and exciting class of electrocatalysts, the details of the mechanism and faradaic processes occurring in solution are unclear. We report a series of cyclic voltammetry experiments involving Pt, Ag, Au, and Cu electrodes, under both aqueous and nonaqueous conditions, directed towards gaining an improved mechanistic understanding of pyridinium electrochemistry. Surface-enhanced Raman (SER) spectroelectrochemistry was also performed on Cu film-over-nanosphere electrodes in order to identify adsorbed species. It was found that the reduction potential of pyridinium (-0.58 V vs. SCE) and its electrochemical reversibility are unique features of platinum electrodes. In contrast, the reduction potentials on Ag, Au, and Cu electrodes are ∼400 mV more negative than Pt in both the presence and the absence of CO2. SER spectroelectrochemistry of pyridinium solutions shows no evidence for a pyridinium radical or a pyridinium ion. Increased cathodic current in the presence of CO2 is only detected at scan rates less than 10 mV s(-1) in aqueous solutions. The addition of CO2 resulted in a shift in the potential for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Pyridinium electrochemistry was observed under nonaqueous conditions; however no increase in cathodic current was observed when CO2 was added to the solution. Based on this set of results it is concluded that the reduction potential of pyridinium is surface dependent, CO2 acts as a pseudo-reserve of H(+), and pyridinium and CO2 create an alternative mechanism for hydrogen evolution.
Toxicological Aspects of the Pathogenesis of Fiber-Induced Pulmonary Effects

The potential for inhaled asbestos fibers to induce adverse pulmonary effects depends on numerous and diverse factors: their deposition characteristics in the respiratory tract, their retention kinetics and clearance pathways, their interaction with airway and alveolar free cells, their interactions with specific target cells, and their ability to stimulate the release of cellular mediators and thereby influence intercellular communications. Figure 1 depicts a scheme of the hypothetical pathogenic sequence for the effects of fibers in the respiratory tract. It illustrates the movement of fibers within the respiratory tract, specific responses to mediators and several recognized biological responses to fibers, in particular asbestos fibers, i.e.,bronchial carcinoma, pleural mesothelioma and lung fibrosis. It should be noted that while many of the steps outlined in figure 1 have received considerable experimental support, several others remain controversial and continue to be in need of further experimental examination. In this report, we address some of the more prominent questions about fiber-lung responses that need to be investigated in future studies. One important aspect in fiber toxicology relates to the use and interpretation of animal data for extrapolation of effects in humans. Species specific differences in respiratory tract dosimetry and in basic cellular responses have to be considered for risk assessment, as will be pointed out in the following overview.
Linking Quality Management to Organizational Governance

Quality of product or service is not to be managed in isolation but to be managed through the entire set of processes that create the product and subsequently through the entire organization. This paper illustrates the link between quality and governance and narrates the issues through corporate examples. Six sigma projects have been used to illustrate the importance of extending the quality concepts to the entire organization leading to better governance.
Adequacy of Cigarette Package Warnings

The recent rise of interest in health warnings has coincided with federal legislation mandating new, rotating warnings on cigarette packages (Comprehensive Smoking Education Act of 1984); the warning requirement has also been extended to smokeless tobacco products, including snuff and chewing tobacco (Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986). The new warning requirements stem from the increased awareness on the part of the public health advocates of possible health risks (Blasi & Monaghan, 1986) and also from increased efforts by lobbying groups to further restrict both cigarette advertising (Abramson, 1986:1) and permissible smoking in public areas.
Open Loop Transient Forcing of an Axisymmetric Bluff Body Wake

=1,500 are analyzed to explore the effect of forcing. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is used to acquire flow data in slices of the wake with the goal of establishing observability of the flow structures. In the unforced wake, because of the axial symmetry, structures do not maintain a constant azimuthal phase over time. Forcing with a fixed phase is therefore introduced to study the wake structures in detail. The results of a parameter study of forcing frequency and amplitude are used to establish a “lock-in” region where the flow responds to forcing, similar to prior investigations of the wake behind a circular cylinder. We are able to experimentally verify the extent of frequencies and forcing amplitudes for which the flow locks into the forcing input. The data obtained from these experiments provide the baseline dynamic model in order to develop controllers for feedback controlled simulations and experiments of the axisymmetric bluff body wake.
Impacts of Flipped Classroom in High School Health Education.

As advanced technology increasingly infiltrated into classroom, the flipped classroom has come to light in secondary educational settings. The flipped classroom is a new instructional approach that...
AMMI Analysis of Resistance Stability of Rice Varieties to Different Rice Brown Planthopper(BPH) Biotypes

Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction(AMMI) model was used to evaluate the stability of rice varieties resistance to different rice brown planthopper(BPH) Nilaparvata lugens(Stl) biotypes.The results indicated that the environment and the genotype posed most significant effects on the resistance and susceptibility of rice varieties to different BPH biotypes.However the stability levels of resistance and susceptibility of different rice varieties to different BPH biotypes and the that of same rice variety to different BPH biotypes were different.Among rice varieties resistant and susceptible to BPH biotypeⅡ,the variety with the most stable resistance was IR56,and that with the most unstable resistance was ASD7,the variety with the most stable susceptibility was Guojing No.4,and that with the most unstable susceptibility was TN1.Among rice varieties resistant and susceptible to BPH Bangladesh,the variety with the most stable resistance was RHT,and that with the most unstable resistance was RP1976-18-6-4-2,while the variety with the most stable susceptibility was IR36,and that with the most unstable susceptibility was Guojing No.4.
The endoscopic modified Lothrop: long-term follow-up on 44 patients.

Background The gold standard for surgical treatment of chronic frontal sinusitis has been the osteoplastic flap with obliteration. In an attempt to preserve the frontal sinus, we have been performing the endoscopic modified Lothrop orfrontal drill-out. Methods Retrospective chart review. Results We performed the modified Lothrop on 54 patients between 1993 and 1998. The modified Lothrop was successful (no revision surgeries and only an occasional need for antibiotics) after one procedure in 68% (30/44) of patients followed up for > or =1 year. Six patients underwent successful revision, bringing the overall success rate to 82% (36/44). Eight patients (18%) eventually underwent osteoplastic flap with obliteration, three of those after attempted revision. Mean follow-up was 40 months with failures occurring a mean of 12 months after initial Lothrop. Overall complication rate was 11%. Conclusions The modified Lothrop is a technically challenging operation that provides an acceptable alternative to the osteoplastic flap with obliteration.
Electron bunch diagnostics for laser-plasma accelerators, from THz to X-rays

This thesis presents a series of single-shot non-intrusive diagnostics of key attributes of electron bunches produced by a laser-plasma accelerator (LPA). Three injection mechanisms of the LPA are characterized: channeled and self-guided self-injection, plasma down-ramp injection, and two-beam colliding pulse injection. New diagnostic techniques are successfully demonstrated: up to 8 times higher sensitivity wavefront sensor-based plasma density measurements, strong spatiotemporal coupling of the focused THz pulse is demonstrated using the temporal electric-field cross-correlation (TEX) of a long chirped probe with a short probe and confirms the two-component structure of the bunch observed by electron spectrometry, and normalized transverse emittances as low as 0.1 mm mrad are demonstrated for 0.5 GeV-class beams produced in a capillary-guided LPA by characterizing the betatron radiation emitted by the electrons inside the plasma using a new single-shot X-ray spectroscopy technique.
Current Proteomic Methods to Investigate the Dynamics of Histone Turnover in the Central Nervous System.

Characterizing the dynamic behavior of nucleosomes in the central nervous system is vital to our understanding of brain-specific chromatin-templated processes and their roles in transcriptional plasticity. Histone turnover—the complete loss of old, and replacement by new, nucleosomal histones—is one such phenomenon that has recently been shown to be critical for cell-type-specific transcription in brain, synaptic plasticity, and cognition. Such revelations that histones, long believed to static proteins in postmitotic cells, are highly dynamic in neurons were only possible owing to significant advances in analytical chemistry-based techniques, which now provide a platform for investigations of histone dynamics in both healthy and diseased tissues. Here, we discuss both past and present proteomic methods (eg, mass spectrometry, human “bomb pulse labeling”) for investigating histone turnover in brain with the hope that such information may stimulate future investigations of both adaptive and aberrant forms of “neuroepigenetic” plasticity.
Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Sigmoid Colon Masquerading as an Adnexal Neoplasm

Solitary fibrous tumor is a rare, benign spindle cell neoplasm that was first described in the thoracic pleura. This tumor is now known to occur at many extrapleural sites. There are established criteria for the diagnosis of malignant solitary fibrous tumor including ≥4 mitotic figures per 10 high-power fields, increased cellularity, cytologic atypia, infiltrative margins, and/or necrosis. Although all solitary fibrous tumors have the potential to recur or metastasize, those with malignant histologic features tend to behave more aggressively. We report a case of solitary fibrous tumor, with malignant histologic features, in a 21-year-old woman which arose from the serosal surface of the sigmoid colon.
Pharmacokinetic applications of cutaneous microdialysis: Continuous+intermittent vs continuous-only sampling.

Abstract Introduction Microdialysis is a technique that allows interstitial-fluid sampling with minimal tissue-damage. In a microdialysis study, samples are collected serially (continuous microdialysis, CMD) and participant's movements are reduced for the entire study. Intermittent Cutaneous Microdialysis (IMD) is a modified version of CMD, which allows for unrestrained periods in between samples. However, in separate experiments, pharmacokinetic parameters estimated with IMD showed higher variability than with CMD. The purpose of this study is to simultaneously assess and compare the skin pharmacokinetic profiles obtained with a combination of CMD and IMD with those obtained with traditional CMD sampling only, in the same experiment. Methods Two linear microdialysis (MD) probes were inserted into the shaved dorsal skin of three rabbits. Following the oral administration of three different doses (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg) of ciprofloxacin (CPLX), for the first 2 h, samples were collected from both probes according to traditional CMD in order to assess intrinsic differences between the two sites. After 2 h, one of the probes was switched to IMD schedule. Skin-exposure parameters were estimated with non-compartmental analysis. Results Two of the nine experiments showed a difference larger than 30% between the concentrations measured from the two probes when both were on the CMD schedule. Otherwise, the skin concentration profiles were almost superimposable. Pharmacokinetic parameters were not statistically different. Conclusion The results of this study show that skin pharmacokinetic parameters measured via a combination of CMD and IMD were not statistically different from those estimated via traditional CMD sampling alone.
Esmolol infusion versus propranolol infusion: effects on heart rate and blood pressure in healthy volunteers

We used cycle ergometry exercise and infusions of isoproterenol and epinephrine to test the heart rate-lowering effect of esmolol compared with propranolol and saline in healthy humans. Collectivel...
What's New in Primary Bone Tumors.

This Update provides a review of work published in the area of primary musculoskeletal tumors between May 2015 and June 2016. The studies are largely Level III and IV, in part due to the rarity and varied nature of such tumors. The articles were identified by searching PubMed and reviewing prominent journals. Margins and local recurrence were the focus of several osteosarcoma studies. Bertrand et al. reviewed 51 high-grade extremity sarcomas with localized disease at presentation and found that a positive margin compared with a negative margin of >1 mm was the only factor that independently predicted local recurrence1. They confirmed that patients with a positive surgical margin had an increased risk of death from disease compared with those with negative margins. In another study, no local recurrences were noted among 11 patients followed for a minimum of 37 months who had undergone joint-sparing surgery for proximal tibial osteosarcoma that invaded the physis2. The proximal edge of the tumors was treated with intraoperative microwave ablation prior to tumor resection. The proximal osteotomies were planned at the edge of the tumor, but there were no positive margins. As Ewing sarcoma survival has improved, the factors influencing long-term outcomes have become more important. Stish et al. analyzed scores of the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS) and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) for 74 patients at an average duration of follow-up of 17.8 years3. They found that TESS results were better for those diagnosed at <18 years of age and that PedsQL scores were better for male patients than for female patients. Pelvic tumors were associated with decreased functional outcomes but not lower quality-of-life scores compared with tumors from other sites. The authors were not able to measure an effect of local therapy modality. Survival among …
High-resolution spectroscopy of laser ablation plumes using laser-induced fluorescence

We report laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIF) of laser-produced plasmas under varying nitrogen pressure levels up to atmospheric pressure. The plasmas were generated on a glass target containing minor amounts of U and Al using 1064 nm, 6 ns pulses from a Nd:YAG laser. A frequency-doubled continuous-wave Ti:Sapphire laser was used as an ultra-narrowband tunable LIF excitation source to increase the magnitude and persistence of emission from selected U and Al atomic transitions in a laser-produced plasma. 2D-fluorescence spectroscopy (2D-FS) absorption/emission images were recorded at various nitrogen pressure levels, showing both excitation and emission spectral features. At lower pressure levels (⪝100 Torr), fluorescence emission was found to be well separated in time from thermally-excited emission. However, as the ambient pressure increased, the thermally-excited emission persisted for longer times along with a reduction of LIF emission persistence and intensity. The excitation spectral features showed the inherent linewidths of various transitions in the plasma, which have significantly narrower spectral linewidths than observed in emission spectra. We evaluated two nearby transitions separated by only 18 pm to demonstrate the effectiveness of fluorescence spectra over thermally-excited spectra for high-resolution studies. The present results highlight the importance of LIF as a diagnostic tool employing continuous-wave laser re-excitation, addressing some of the limitations of traditional emission and absorption spectroscopic methods.
Small size class AB amplifier for energy harvesting with ultra low power, high gain, and high CMRR

A low cost, high gain, and ultra low power rail-to-rail input-output amplifier based in 0.18 micron CMOS is presented, whose size is ∼ 77 um per side. This work's incremental contributions are: First, a small and simple regulated cascode current mirror (RGC) is presented that is composed of a common source amplifier coupled with a diode connected self-cascode (SC). This RGC is incorporated in a standard folded cascode amplifier to boost its gain and modestly increase its high impedance output's operating head room, which is beneficial in the sub 1V power supply (VDD) environments. Second, amplifier's inputs can span to the rails via using two pairs of differential PMOSFETs in parallel, where the secondary pair is DC level shifted by NMOSFETs. As the amplifier's inputs span the rails, a single FET steers the same tail current between the amplifier's primary and secondary input PMOSFET pairs, thereby keeping its transconductance almost constant, considering that the amplifier operates in subthreshold. Montecarlo (MC) and worst case (WC) simulations indicate the following specifications are achievable: V DD minimum ∼ 0.8v; I DD ∼ 260nA; input range rail to rail; offset voltage ∼ 5mV; output range ∼ 25mV from the rails; open loop gain (Av) ∼ 138dB with unity gain bandwidth (fu) ∼ 2MHz and phase margin (PM) ∼ 30 degrees; power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) ∼ −120dB; common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) ∼ −140dB; slew rate (SR) ∼ 1V/ uS; settling time (ts) ∼ 3uS.
Procalcitonin Accurately Identifies Hospitalized Children With Low Risk of Bacterial Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

Background Lower procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations are associated with reduced risk of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults, but data in children are limited. Methods We analyzed serum PCT concentrations from children hospitalized with radiographically confirmed CAP enrolled in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Etiology of Pneumonia in the Community (EPIC) Study. Blood and respiratory specimens were tested using multiple pathogen detection methods for typical bacteria (eg, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus), atypical bacteria (Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae), and respiratory viruses. Multivariable regression was used to assess associations between PCT concentrations and etiology and severity. Results Among 532 children (median age, 2.4 years; interquartile range [IQR], 1.0-6.3), patients with typical bacteria had higher PCT concentrations (±viruses; n = 54; median, 6.10; IQR, 0.84-22.79 ng/mL) than those with atypical bacteria (±viruses; n = 82; median, 0.10; IQR, 0.06-0.39 ng/mL), viral pathogens only (n = 349; median, 0.33; IQR, 0.12-1.35 ng/mL), or no pathogen detected (n = 47; median, 0.44; IQR, 0.10-1.83 ng/mL) (P < .001 for all). No child with PCT <0.1 ng/mL had typical bacteria detected. Procalcitonin <0.25 ng/mL featured a 96% negative predictive value (95% confidence interval [CI], 93-99), 85% sensitivity (95% CI, 76-95), and 45% specificity (95% CI, 40-50) in identifying children without typical bacterial CAP. Conclusions Lower PCT concentrations in children hospitalized with CAP were associated with a reduced risk of typical bacterial detection and may help identify children who would not benefit from antibiotic treatment.
Ethnic Cleansing and the Politics of Restraint: Violence and Coexistence in the Lebanese Civil War:

What happens when an armed group has military incentives to engage in ethnic cleansing, but political incentives to abstain? I argue that militants can solve this dilemma by collecting intelligence...
Topology and Duality of Sound and Elastic Waves

When sound waves propagate in media under symmetry breaking conditions, they may exhibit amplitudes A(k) = A0e iη(k) that acquire a geometric phase η leading to non-conventional topology. In the previous chapter, we considered the consequences of breaking inversion symmetry in discrete superlattices. Here, we present examples of phononic structures that break four types of symmetry, namely time-reversal symmetry, parity symmetry, chiral symmetry and particle-hole symmetry. The implications of symmetry breaking on the topology of the acoustic wave function in the space of its Eigen values are discussed. Particular attention is focused on the torsional topology of acoustic waves in periodic media in wave vector space. Two types of approach to achieve symmetry breaking are considered: (a) intrinsic topological phononic structures whereby symmetry breaking occurs from the internal structural characteristics, and (b) extrinsic topological phononic structures where external stimuli such as spatio-temporal modulations of the physical properties of the medium are used to break symmetry. Broken symmetry phenomena lead to the concept of symmetry protected topological order. Broken symmetry also underpins the concepts of non-reciprocal wave propagation. Topological acoustic waves promise designs and new device functionalities for acoustic systems that are unique, robust and avoid the loss of coherence. Furthermore, the self-interaction of an elastic wave in topological phononic structures creates states determined by self-interference phenomena, revealing a quantum mechanical analogy with the concept of particle–wave duality. In the phonon representation of sound and elastic waves, these self-interference phenomena uncover the notion of duality in the quantum statistics (i.e., boson vs. fermion characterized by the symmetry of multiple particle states). Furthermore, we also consider the partitioning the phononic structures presented in this chapter into subsystems and the separability and non-separability of their wave functions into tensor products. Separability is shown to be relative to the choice of the subsystems in which one partitions the system of interest. The choice of the subsystems in turn may be dictated by the possible observables and measurements. The non-separability of these phononic structures is analogous to the quantum phenomenon of entanglement. Analogies with quantum phenomena interrogate mechanical waves in ways thought to be reserved for the microscopic realm.
Mitigation Strategies to Combat Staphylococcus aureus in the Food Chain: International Food Standards, Guidelines, and Codes of Practice

Abstract Mitigation strategies that help control the risks associated with staphylococcal food poisoning are sorely needed. Microbial risk analysis is intended to provide a context that combines policy and science-based knowledge with aims to identify and protect consumers from potential risk and ultimately not only reduce foodborne disease but also economic impact and costs to industry. Numerous countries have initiated microbial risk analysis aiming to determine both the presence of the pathogen as well as the level of a pathogen to assess the potential for an undesirable outcome. To this end, each nation has developed policies and standards regarding acceptable levels of pathogens in a variety of food products. The standards established by government agencies to safeguard the food supply from staphylococcal contamination are varied with respect to target of interest, permissible levels of acceptance, and commodity. This chapter summarizes the food standards for the majority of the countries around the globe and serves as a reminder that good manufacturing processes are necessary to protect the food supply from adverse events linked to staphylococcal foodborne illness.
Keeping it in “the family”: How Gender Norms Shape U.S. Marriage Migration Politics

Foreign nationals who marry U.S. citizens have an expedited track to naturalization. U.S. immigration officials require that “green card” petitioning couples demonstrate that their relationships ar...
Studies of the Distribution of Biologically Active Peptides in the Brain

A number of biologically active peptides have been isolated in recent years. Among these, the “hypothalamic hormones”-luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) (1,2), thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) (3,4), and growth hormone release inhibiting hormone (somatostatin) (5,6,7)-play very specific roles in regulating the anterior pituitary. In addition, these hormones may act as neurotransmitters or neuromodulators at sites distant from the median eminence. The functions of other peptides, such as substance P (8) and neurotensin (9), remain to be determined.
New Material and Device Design Considerations for High-Power Electronics

Based on a new analysis which uses the peak electric field strength at avalanche breakdown as the critical material parameter it is shown that wide bandgap semiconductors are by far the most desirable materials for high-power electronic applications. The specific materials investigated include the elemental semiconductors such as silicon and germanium, compound semiconductors such as GaAs and GaP, and the emerging wide bandgap semiconductors such as SiC and diamond. The fundamental material parameters are related to important device parameters for high-temperature, high-frequency, and high-power electronic applications. New figures of merit for power-handling capabilities that emphasize electrical and thermal conductivities of the materials are derived and applied to various semiconductors. It is shown that improvement in power-handling capabilities of semiconductor devices by three orders of magnitude is feasible by replacing silicon with silicon carbide; improvement in power-handling capability by six orders of magnitude is projected for diamond-based devices.
Properties of a sinusoidally driven thermostat.

This analytical and numerical study explores, from a deterministic perspective, the response of a particle in contact with a heat bath to an external force that varies sinusoidally in time. The heat bath is represented as a deterministic Nose-Hoover thermostat. Such an idealized model encompasses features found in a variety of physical problems in which the coherent influence of an external agent competes against the thermalization tendencies of the surrounding medium, e.g., a charged particle in a thermal plasma that is acted on by a powerful electromagnetic wave. It is found that, independently of the coupling strength to the thermostat, average power can only be extracted from the sinusoidal force when the oscillatory velocity exceeds the thermal velocity. It follows from this property that a candidate heat bath whose temperature is raised solely through the application of a sinusoidal force (e.g., radio-frequency heating), reaches, in a finite time, a unique final temperature determined by the force parameters. The transition boundary separating the two domains of power transfer is shown to be dominated by chaotic behavior. The combined response to a sinusoidal force and a dc force are also considered and the relevant regions of power transfer are delineated.
Valve-Sparing Root Replacement Provides Excellent Midterm Outcomes for Bicuspid Valve Aortopathy.

Background Standard therapy for aortic root dilation in the setting of bicuspid aortic valves remains use of a composite valve conduit. The long-term durability of valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR) in bicuspid aortopathy is presently unclear. In this study, the midterm results of performing VSRR in the setting of a bicuspid valve was analyzed. Methods A single institutional database identified 280 patients who underwent VSRR from 2005 to 2016. Outcomes were analyzed in 60 consecutive patients undergoing a VSRR in the setting of a bicuspid aortic valve with aortic insufficiency (AI). Patients were followed prospectively and had annual echocardiograms. Results The average age in this series was 42 ± 11 years. Eighty percent were men and 33% had New York Heart Association class III to IV symptoms. More than 2+ AI was present in 42% of patients preoperatively. The incidence of operative death, stroke, and renal failure was 0%. Mean follow-up was 39 ± 30 months. At latest follow-up, 62% of patients had zero AI and 87% of patients had 2+ AI was 97% and freedom from AVR was 96%. Preoperative AI was not found to be a significant risk factor for postoperative >2+ AI (p = 0.61) or AVR (p = 0.61). Conclusions VSRR can be safely and effectively performed in young patients with bicuspid valve anatomy regardless of degree of preoperative AI. Valve function is durable and the incidence of valve-related complications is low. VSRR is an attractive and potentially superior option to conventional root replacement in appropriately selected patients with bicuspid aortopathy.
Intellectual disability and stigma: stepping out from the margins

Katrina Scior and Shirli Werner’s edited volume Intellectual Disability and Stigma: Stepping Out From the Margins argues persuasively that researchers need to reframe the academic discussion away f...
Performance of the International Index of Erectile Function tool in men with epilepsy.

Abstract Background Approximately 18 million men suffer from some type of erectile dysfunction (ED), which is primarily attributed to age, comorbid health conditions, or medications. Men with epilepsy encounter all of these issues, yet ED literature and research in men with epilepsy is not yet robust. The purpose of this study was to test the utility of a validated ED screening tool in a population of men with epilepsy, as well as to assess additional parameters that may contribute to ED in this specific patient population. The secondary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of noncompliance of epilepsy medication which may be due to a perceived relationship with ED. Methods This was a prospective pilot study to validate the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) in men with epilepsy. Enrolled men, between the ages of 18–45 years, were given an anonymous online survey that included the IIEF, as well as additional elements pertinent to their seizures and related treatment, including medication compliance. Results A total of 164 men completed the IIEF survey. Of these, 28% of respondents indicated the presence of ED, for which specific treatment might be warranted. The IIEF has 5 subscales; mean scores for each subscale are the following: ED 17.48/30, orgasmic function 6.2/10, sexual desire 6.72/10, intercourse satisfaction 8.98/15, and overall satisfaction 5.18/10. Four additional variables were added to specify the needs of men with epilepsy. Conclusion The IIEF can be administered to men with epilepsy. The addition of specific targeted questions in this patient population may also provide better understanding and facilitate an open dialog about how male sexual function relates to epilepsy and/or treatment thereof.
Perpetrator Trauma and Collective Guilt: The My Lai Massacre

In this chapter I explore the relationships between collective guilt, collective responsibility, and the trauma of the perpetrator, particularly as they relate to the My Lai Massacre that occurred during the Vietnam War. Perpetrator trauma occurs when collectives feel they have acted in ways that are contrary to their most fundamental moral beliefs. These beliefs are so foundational that their violation shatters the collectivity’s sense of identity and gives rise to strong emotional responses including feelings of guilt and remorse. However, these feelings do not arise as a natural result of action; rather, they are a result of the way that the collectivity narrates its action and identity. In light of this analysis it is my contention that the concepts of collective guilt, collective responsibility, and the trauma of the perpetrator have important ramifications for the study of collective violence and its aftermath.
Faster Braille Reading: Preparation at the Reading Readiness Level:

Research on braille readers has shown that they lag increasingly farther behind print readers in terms of reading rate as they progress through school. Since the younger a reader is, the more he be...
Simple Laminated PCB Artificial Dielectrics for mm-Wave Quasioptical Lenses

Quasioptical lenses designed using dielectrically-loaded parallel-plate waveguide metamaterial structures are presented. These are easily fabricated from common microwave laminates (PCBs). Furthermore, they allow for lens structures with a frequency-dependent variable refractive index, operating in the 0 1 mode cutoff frequency corresponds to the predicted value.
Type 2 diabetes prevention in adults

More than 80 million Americans are living today with a high risk for developing type 2 diabetes in the near future. This poses a considerable threat to population health, sparing no segment of our society and disproportionately affecting the poor, the aged, and racial and ethnic minorities. Though unhealthy diets and physical inactivity have been linked to increases in obesity and type 2 diabetes, these behaviors are driven less by individual decisions than by an existing social and physical environment where unhealthy behaviors have become more normative, enjoyable to most people, and easier to perform than healthier alternatives. Policy solutions designed to shift this environment have been slow to take hold, creating a missed opportunity for many people who will develop diabetes in the short term. Strong research has demonstrated the effectiveness of resource-intensive lifestyle support interventions to prevent or delay diabetes for people who participate. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of people at high risk for diabetes are currently taking part in such a program, despite their increasing availability in the community or via the Internet. A “complete” solution for type 2 diabetes prevention on a population scale will require multipronged approaches that combine efforts to increase the adoption of resource-intensive lifestyle support programs, along with longer-range, “macro-level” strategies such as policy, systems, and environmental changes. This chapter will review what is currently known about the prevention of type 2 diabetes, including the role of behavioral intervention programs combined with more “macro-level” solutions to achieve this goal.
Adaptive Leader-Follower Formation Control and Obstacle Avoidance via Deep Reinforcement Learning

We propose a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) methodology for the tracking, obstacle avoidance, and formation control of nonholonomic robots. By separating vision-based control into a perception module and a controller module, we can train a DRL agent without sophisticated physics or 3D modeling. In addition, the modular framework averts daunting retrains of an image-to-action end-to-end neural network, and provides flexibility in transferring the controller to different robots. First, we train a convolutional neural network (CNN) to accurately localize in an indoor setting with dynamic foreground/background. Then, we design a new DRL algorithm named Momentum Policy Gradient (MPG) for continuous control tasks and prove its convergence. We also show that MPG is robust at tracking varying leader movements and can naturally be extended to problems of formation control. Leveraging reward shaping, features such as collision and obstacle avoidance can be easily integrated into a DRL controller.
Three-dimensional microstructure-explicit and void-explicit mesoscale simulations of detonation of HMX at millimeter sample size scale

Fully three-dimensional (3D) microstructure-explicit and void-explicit mesoscale simulations of the shock-to-detonation (SDT) process of pressed granular HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine) are performed. The overall size scale of the models is up to 3 × 3 × 15 mm3, with ∼30 000 grains and 206 265 voids. The models account for the heterogeneous material microstructure, constituent distribution, constituent morphology, and voids. Loading conditions considered involve piston velocities in the range of 600–1200 m/s or pressures in the range of 4–8 GPa. The focus is on analyzing the SDT process and the effects of microstructure and voids on the run-to-detonation distance (RDD). Companion two-dimensional (2D) simulations are also carried out to assess the differences between 2D and 3D. Statistically equivalent microstructure sample sets (SEMSSs) are generated and used for both 2D and 3D, allowing the prediction of the statistical and probabilistic Pop plots (PPs). The predictions are in general agreement with trends in available experimental data in the literature. It is found that both the microstructure (heterogeneous grain size, morphology, and size distribution) and voids significantly affect the RDD and the PPs. These effects are systematically delineated and quantified via the use of SEMSSs with different combinations of attributes. A recently developed probabilistic formulation for the PPs is used to characterize the results, allowing uncertainties in the relations between the shock pressure and RDD arising from material heterogeneities to be quantified. The probabilistic formulation is further used to quantify the confidence levels in the ranked order of influences of different combinations of microstructure and voids on the PPs.
Insights in Public Health: Ke A'o Mau: Strengthening Cultural Competency in Interdisciplinary Education

In order to successfully address social determinants of health and to achieve social justice for kanaka and all the people of Hawai'i, we must broaden our understanding of and approach to healing/health through interdisciplinary, culturally-informed education. Strengthening cultural competence within an Interprofessional Education framework, has potential in meeting important challenges in patient and population health, including meeting the increased demand for culturally trained professionals, increasing access to providers, and reducing health inequities in kanaka (Native Hawaiians). We present a model of course design and delivery, Ke A'o Mau (Learning Preserved), intended to provide haumana (students) with a unique body of culturally-anchored and community-based knowledge, skills and values that facilitate work with kanaka. Ke A'o Mau was implemented in the 2017-2018 academic year at University of Hawai'i (UH) at Manoa and optimized the authenticity of cultural learning through the engagement of kumu loea (expert teachers) to instruct in their area of expertise. Design and delivery of the course began with the understanding and honoring of kanaka worldviews, knowledge, and practices. Appraisal of haumana learning showed strong evaluative scores, of knowledge development, skills training, and instructional materials. This course not only seeks to resolve critical challenges in patient and population health but also provides a model to support the UH Manoa strategic priority of "striving to be a foremost indigenous-serving institution."