cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reliable design of medical devices

The Basics of Reliability Reliability The Concept of Failure The Product Design and Development Process The Concept Phase Defining the Device Safety and Risk Management Documents and Deliverables The Feasibility Phase The FDA The Medical Devices Directives Important Medical Device Standards Human Factors Requirements Engineering Liability Intellectual Property The Project Team The Reliability Goal and Plan Documents and Deliverables The Design Phase Hardware Design Hardware Risk Analysis Design and Project Metrics Design for Six Sigma Software Design Software Coding Software Risk Analysis Software Metrics Documents and Deliverables Verification and Validation The Basis and Types of Testing Hardware Verification and Validation Hardware Data Analysis Software Verification and Validation Software Data Analysis Documents and Deliverables Design Transfer and Manufacturing Transfer to Manufacturing Hardware Manufacturing Software Manufacturing Configuration Management Documents and Deliverables Field Activity Analysis of Field Data Monitored Activity Appendices Index
Cation binding at the node of Ranvier: I. Localization of binding sites during development.

Abstract Cations are known to bind to the node of Ranvier and the paranodal regions of myelinated fibers. The integrity of these specialized structures is essential for normal conduction. Sites of cation binding can be microscopically identified by the electrondense histochemical reaction product formed by the precipitate of copper sulfate/potassium ferrocyanide. This technique was used to study the distribution of cation binding during normal development of myelinating fibers. Sciatic nerves of C57Bl mice, at 1,3,5, 6,7,8,9,13,16,18, 24 and 30 days of age, were prepared for electron microscopy following fixation in phosphate-buffered 2.5% glutaraldehyde and 1% osmic acid, microdissection and incubation in phosphate-buffered 0.1 M cupric sulfate followed by 0.1 M potassium ferrocyanide. Localization of reaction product was studied by light and electron microscopy. By light microscopy, no reaction product was observed prior to 9 days of age. At 13 days, a few nodes and paranodes exhibited reaction product. This increased in frequency and intensity up to 30 days when almost all nodes or paranodes exhibited reaction product. Ultrastructurally, diffuse reaction product was first observed at 3 days of age in the axoplasm of the node, in the paranodal extracellular space of the terminal loops, in the Schwann cell proper and in the terminal loops of Schwann cell cytoplasm. When myelinated axons fulfilled the criteria for mature nodes, reaction product was no longer observed in the Schwann cell cytoplasm, while the intensity of reaction product in the nodal axoplasm and paranodal extracellular space of the terminal loops increased. Reaction product in the latter site appeared to be interrupted by the transverse bands. These results suggest that cation binding accompanies nodal maturity and that the Schwann cell may play a role in production or storage of the cation binding substance during myelinogenesis and development.
Controlling for constructional dysfunction with the visual reproduction subtest of the wechsler memory scale-revised in alzheimer's disease

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to investigate a method for quantifying the contribution of constructional skills on the Visual Reproduction subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). To correct for constructional problems, a proportion score was created by dividing the subtest raw scores from standard administration by the total score obtained for copying the designs. Seventeen patients with probable AD were compared to 17 controls. Using the proportion score, one-way analysis of variance demonstrated that control subjects reproduced significantly more information at both immediate and delayed conditions and retained a greater percentage of information over the delay. The results of this study indicated that patients with AD showed greater visual memory impairment on the Visual Reproduction subtest as compared to control subjects independent of constructional skills.
Finding the efficient solutions to a multiobjective linear program with fuzzy constraints

This paper presents a method for obtaining the efficient solutions of a multiobjective linear programming problem over fuzzy linear constraints. The method is based on finding the set of maximally efficient solutions to a multiobjective linear program. This is accomplished by converting the fuzzy constraints into crisp constraints by adding a variable representing the degree of membership in the fuzzy feasible set. In addition, an objective function representing the maximization of this variable is augmented to the objectives of the original problem. An example is provided to illustrate the method. >
Dynamically Changing Workflows of Web Services

Workflow reconfiguration traditionally modifies only workflow definitions. Incorporating dynamism in web service workflows should also adapt instance execution as services change availability. Commercial workflow engines lack mechanisms to adapt instances except where instances deploy with all possible workflow paths, to achieve pseudo-dynamism. This error prone method has the potential for unsound specifications and still does not allow runtime modifications. We perform workflow reconfiguration through an inspection-feedback loop that decouples services specifications and priorities that can change BPEL workflows from their actual execution. When a change occurs, such as service unavailability, immediate adaptation of the workflow instance takes place. To guarantee proper reconfiguration, we formally specify the architecture, interactions, and change directives, according to a natural separation of reconfiguration concerns. We prove the workflow instance will correctly adapt to an alternative service when certain conditions are met.
Optimal Location of Feedback Handler under Receiver Contention Schemes for Routing in Wireless Networks

Due to the broadcast and error prone nature of wireless medium, novel routing mechanisms based on receiver contention have been proposed recently. The intuition of this strategy is, transmitters make routing decisions based on contentions of nodes that have successful reception. A remarkable advantage of receiver contention is the long average advancement of transmissions. To the best our knowledge, existing works utilizing receiver contention schemes are all based on a common assumption. That is, feedback packets sent by contending nodes are all destined to the transmitters. However, probability of reception is a function of distance. The longer the distance is, the lower the reception probability will be 5 . According to this relation, we argue that transmitters may not be the best nodes to taking care of contention packets. In this paper, we consider uniformly distributed sensor networks, and propose the optimal locations, in terms of maximizing the expected advancement of each transmission, to place nodes which are responsible for handling feedback packets. We call these nodes feedback handlers. Based on the simulation results, placing the feedback handlers on the optimal locations can raise expected advancement up to about 30 percent, comparing to existing works.
Effect of Feeding Urea on Reproductive Efficiency in Michigan Dairy Herd Improvement Association Herds

Abstract Information on feeding practices in Michigan Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) herds to determine if feeding urea affected reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle was obtained through a survey form distributed by county extension personnel. Calving interval (days) was from DHIA records. Adjusted calving interval (ACI) was calculated by subtracting from the calving interval the number of days the dairy man waited from calving to first breeding as a herd policy. Percent of cows sold for sterility was also from DHIA records. A total of 3,157 herd-year observations representing 85,281 calving intervals was from the 5 years 1965 to 1969. Of the 3,157 herd-year observations, 1,709 were in herds fed urea. In herds which used urea, daily urea intake averaged 80.6 g (range 9 to 370 g). Approximately 50% of this came from urea-treated corn silage and the remainder from concentrate. The mean ACI for herds fed no urea was 314.4 days compared to 315.7 days for herds fed urea. The ACI for herds fed 1 to 60 g urea was 313.4; 61 to 120 g, 317.8; 121 to 180 g, 316.5; and over 181 g, 313.7 days. These differences were not significant. Cows sold for sterility in nonurea herds was 2.15% versus 2.40% for all urea. This small difference is of no practical significance.
Rapid growth of some major segments of continental crust

Some major segments of continental crust display a narrow range of Sm-Nd crustal formation ages. The sizes of the Canadian shield, the Svecokarelian province of northern Europe, the west-central United States, and the Arabian-Nubian shield suggest rapid crustal growth. Island-arc accretion models rank among the most favored tectonic models for the formation of these areas. A quantitative comparison of the growth rates of these crustal segments to Mesozoic-Cenozoic arc-addition rates shows, however, that island-arc accretion alone seems insufficient to account for the amount of crust that was produced in each of these terrains. Other additional mechanisms, such as hot-spot volcanism and underplating, may have been active in addition to arc accretion. Alternatively, large amounts of preexisting basement have gone so far undetected.
Nonlinear control of active magnetic bearings: a backstepping approach

In this paper, the authors utilize a nonlinear model of a planar rotor disk, active magnetic bearing system to develop a nonlinear controller for a full-order electromechanical system. The controller requires measurement of the rotor position, rotor velocity, and stator current and achieves global exponential rotor position tracking. Simulations are provided to illustrate the performance of the controller.
A Comparison of Penny Stock Initial Public Offerings and Reverse Mergers as Alternative Mechanisms to Going Public

We compare firms that go public using penny stock initial public offerings (PSIPOs) to those using reverse mergers (RMs). Firms using RMs tend to be highly information asymmetric in contrast with the existing going public theory. Firms tend to opt for the RM path with the intent to acquire a greater market share using stock as a medium of payment. When compared to PSIPOs, RMs are small, have low profitability, are in the development stage with limited operating history, and plan high research and development expenditures. RM firms hoard cash, which they get through Private Investments in Public Equity (PIPEs) that are consummated concurrently with the RM. PIPE investors and insiders maintain a high ownership stake following a RM. Managers of firms engaging in PSIPOs are more likely to cash out.
Some unique properties of eigenvector centrality

Abstract Eigenvectors, and the related centrality measure Bonacich's c(β), have advantages over graph-theoretic measures like degree, betweenness, and closeness centrality: they can be used in signed and valued graphs and the beta parameter in c(β) permits the calculation of power measures for a wider variety of types of exchange. Degree, betweenness, and closeness centralities are defined only for classically simple graphs—those with strictly binary relations between vertices. Looking only at these classical graphs, where eigenvectors and graph–theoretic measures are competitors, eigenvector centrality is designed to be distinctively different from mere degree centrality when there are some high degree positions connected to many low degree others or some low degree positions are connected to a few high degree others. Therefore, it will not be distinctively different from degree when positions are all equal in degree (regular graphs) or in core-periphery structures in which high degree positions tend to be connected to each other.
Warming Trend of the Indian Ocean SST and Indian Ocean Dipole from 1880 to 2004

The state of the Indian Ocean dipole representing the SST anomaly difference between the western and southeastern regions of the ocean is investigated using historical SST reconstructions from 1880 to 2004. First, the western and eastern poles of the SST-based dipole mode index are analyzed separately. Both the western and eastern poles display warming trends over this period, particularly after the 1950s. The western pole tends to be anomalously colder than the eastern pole from 1880 to 1919, whereas in the interval 1950–2004 the SST anomalies over the western pole are comparable to those over the eastern pole though there are occasional outliers where the eastern pole is anomalously colder than the western pole. The tendencies of the occurrences of positive and negative dipole events in September–November show three distinct regimes during the period analyzed. In 1880–1919, negative dipole events associated with La Nina events occur more frequently than positive events. In 1920–49, some weak positive events occur relatively independently of El Nino events over the Pacific. The period of 1960–2004 is characterized by strong and frequent occurrences of positive events associated with El Nino events.
An ultrahigh-speed GaAs MESFET operational amplifier

A wide-bandwidth GaAs MESFET operational amplifier is reported, with a 65-dB DC gain and a 20-GHz gain-bandwidth product at 500 MHz. The circuit uses a variety of local feedback techniques to enhance the overall gain. The use of an undoped GaAs buffer, grown at a relatively low temperature ( approximately=300 degrees C), eliminates backgating and light sensitivity. The circuit was fabricated in an 80-GHz f/sub T/ MESFET process, with 0.2- mu m electron-beam defined gates. The high levels of 1/f noise, MESFET frequency-dependent output conductance, and large offset voltage standard deviation limit the application of the circuit to moderate precision applications. >
Prospects for Observing $t\bar tH$ at Run II: A discovery mode for the Higgs boson?

The production of a Standard Model Higgs boson in association with a top quark pair at the upcoming high luminosity run (15 fb-1 integreted luminosity) of the Fermilab Tevatron is revisited. For Higgs masses below 140 GeV we demonstrate that the production cross section times branching ratio for decays yields a significant number of events and that this mode is competitive with and complementary to the searches using , ZH associated production. For higher mass Higgs bosons the H → W+ W- decays are more difficult but have the potential to provide a few spectacular events.
Application of design compatibility analysis to simultaneous engineering

This paper develops a general framework for knowledge-based computer tools that promote simultaneous engineering in mechanical design. Design compatibility analysis (DCA) serves as the underlying concept for these knowledge-based systems. DCA focuses on the compatibility between the design requirements (specification) and the proposed design, evaluates the design based on the compatibility knowledge of experts, gives justifications for the evaluation, and suggest improvements. DCA accommodates a product's various life-cycle issues (e.g. functionality, manufacturability, reliability) with a unified focus, i.e. compatibility, and thus helps designers to incorporate these issues at the early stages of design (simultaneous engineering). The resulting framework not only serve as the basis for various design expert systems but will also enhance our understanding of the life-cycle design issues. We illustrate the proposed method with two examples: system design of power generation plants and design for assembly (DFA) of mechanical products.
The adipocyte lipid binding protein (ALBP/aP2) gene facilitates foam cell formation in human THP-1 macrophages.

The critical initiating event in atherogenesis involves the invasion of monocytes through the endothelial wall of arteries, and their transformation from macrophages into foam cells. Human THP-1 monocytic cells can be induced to differentiate into macrophages by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) treatment, and can then be converted into foam cells by exposure to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). To define genes that are specifically expressed during the transformation of macrophages into foam cells, we have performed a subtractive library screening utilizing mRNA isolated from THP-1 macrophages and foam cells. From this analysis, we have identified adipocyte lipid binding protein (ALBP/aP2) as a gene that is highly upregulated in foam cells in response to oxLDL. Furthermore, overexpression the ALBP gene using an adenovirus construct enhanced the accumulation of cholesterol ester in macrophage foam cells, probably due to an increase in transcription since oxLDL enhanced ALBP promoter activity in experiments using a promoter-luciferase reporter gene construct. The induction of ALBP by oxLDL probably involved activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) transcription factors, since four different endogenous PPARgamma ligands, including 9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (9-HODE) and 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE), two oxidized lipid components of oxLDL, as well as 15-deoxy-delta12,14 prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) and retinoic acid (RA), all induced ALBP expression in macrophage/foam cells. Finally, ALBP was found to be highly expressed in vivo in macrophage/foam cells of human atherosclerotic plaques. These observations suggest that oxLDL-mediated increase in ALBP gene expression accelerate cholesterol ester accumulation, and that this is an important component of the genetic program regulating conversion of macrophages to foam cells. The observation that ALBP is readily detected in foam cells in active atherosclerotic lesions implicates a role for ALBP in human vascular disease. The induction of ALPB expression by oxLDL likely involves activation of PPARgamma by components of oxLDL (9-HODE and 13-HODE) that also function as PPARgamma ligands. Our results add to the concern that the clinical use of insulin-sensitizing PPARgamma agonists (i.e. thiazolidinediones) to treat Type 2 Diabetes could exacerbate atherosclerosis, and highlight the need for clinical trials that address this issue.
Using the Community of Inquiry Framework to Introduce Wiki Environments in Blended-Learning Pedagogies: Evidence From a Business Capstone Course

In an increasingly digital society, educators are encouraged to use on-line technologies. However, much is left to be learned about how on-line tools influence student learning. In this manuscript,...
Longterm Follow-Up Study of Patients with Bronchial Anastomosis or Tracheal Replacement

Twenty-one patients with bronchial anastomoses or tracheal resection graft procedures have been studied seventeen to seven years following reconstructive operations. No patients have succumbed to obstructive airway complications. Bronchial reattachments have shown excellent restoration of all distal lung functions. Tracheal grafts of pericardium have been effective in maintaining airway stability and pulmonary function. Although the uptake of oxygen may be delayed following these procedures, it has eventually returned to normal. The probability that ciliated epithelium may cover these anastomoses and grafts has been engendered by the studies reported.
EXPERIMENTALLY-BASED ARGUMENTS SUPPORTING LARGE CRUSTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF NON-BIOGENIC PETROLEUM

The evolution of the Earths atmosphere has been explained by a diffusion model that obeys first order kinetics. By assuming that the same rate law governs the diffusion of petroleum compounds that are known to exist in the upper mantle, we find that 1.5 x 1015 tons have diffused out during the past 3.1 billion years. If 0.1% of this primordial petroleum has undergone crustal migration and entrapment, deposits totalling 1.5 x 1014 tons are now present in the Earths crust. Assigning, a 0.3 recovery factor, this is equivalent to about 3 trillion barrels.
Scattering matrix simulation of electron transport in model bipolar devices

The scattering matrix approach is a new technique for solving the Boltzmann transport equation in semiconductor devices. The authors extend the technique so that it can treat the very low electric fields and energy barriers often found in devices. Applications of the new technique to advanced device simulation are demonstrated by simulating a model silicon p-n junction and bipolar transistor. The results demonstrate that the scattering matrix approach can resolve the position-dependent distribution function in advanced devices. >
Unstructured Grid Generation for Aerospace Applications

Unstructured grid technology has the potential to significantly reduce the overall user and CPU time required for CFD analysis of realistic configurations. To realize this potential, improvements in automation, anisotropic generation, adaptation, and integration within the solution process are needed. Unstructured grid generation has advanced to the point where generation of a grid for most any configuration requires only a couple of hours of user time. However, prior to grid generation, the CAD geometry must be prepared. This process can take anywhere from hours to weeks. It is the single most labor-intensive task in the overall simulation process. Adherence to standards and alternative procedures for surface grid generation which account for small gaps and overlaps and generate across multiple surfaces can minimize and potentially eliminate much of the geometry preparation. With improvements in the geometry preparation process the overall grid generation task can be more fully automated. Anisotropic grid generation is another area in need of improvement. Current techniques have not advanced to the level of robustness and generality as for isotropic grid generation. Methodologies such as use of multiple normals or truly unstructured placement of anisotropic points need to be developed into more robust procedures. Also, solution-adaptation is a potential advantage of an unstructured grid approach that has not been developed into a feasible technology for high-resolution three-dimensional simulations.
Post-prostatectomy Incontinence (Evaluation and Practical Urodynamics)

Post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) may be caused by intrinsic sphincteric deficiency (ISD) resulting in stress urinary incontinence (SUI), or bladder dysfunction (e.g., detrusor overactivity resulting in urgency incontinence, loss of detrusor compliance, or detrusor underactivity resulting in retention and overflow incontinence). Many PPI patients have concomitant sphincteric and bladder dysfunction. Most PPI patients have ISD secondary to sphincteric damage thought to arise from nerve or vascular damage to the distal urethral sphincteric complex. Detrusor factors contributing to incontinence are common, though rarely the sole cause. Conservative management such as pelvic floor exercises or anticholinergic medications may commence early after surgery with minimal workup. However, if bothersome PPI persists 6–12 months after prostatectomy, additional evaluation such as urodynamic testing should be considered, so a rational management plan can be formulated. This is particularly important if surgical treatment is contemplated. This chapter will examine the evaluation and urodynamic testing for post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence.
A Flat Capillary Tube System for Assessment of Sperm Movement in Cervical Mucus

A new flat capillary tube system has been developed for studies of sperm movement in cervical mucus. The system is easy to use, employs readily obtainable components, and is amenable to small sample sizes characteristic of human cervical mucus. The system possesses good optical resolution and is suitable for visual assessment of sperm migration as well as more detailed studies of the movement characteristics of individual spermatozoa. The system subjects the mucus to a well-defined and controllable rate of shear deformation. Preliminary experiments have suggested that the swimming speed of human sperm does not differ in flat capillary tubes of 200-μm and 400-μm depth.
Understanding Consumer Perceptions and Awareness of Hospital-Based Maternity Care Quality Measures.

Objective To explore factors that may influence use of comparative public reports for hospital maternity care. Data sources Four focus groups conducted in 2013 with 41 women and preintervention survey data collected in 2014 to 2015 from 245 pregnant women in North Carolina. Study design As part of a larger randomized controlled trial, we conducted qualitative formative research to develop an intervention that will be evaluated through pre- and postintervention surveys. Data extraction methods Analysis of focus group transcripts examined participants' perceptions of high-quality maternity care and the importance of different quality measures. Quantitative analysis included descriptive results of the preintervention survey and subgroup analyses to examine the impact of race, education, and being a first-time mom on outcomes. Principal findings When describing high-quality maternity care, participants focused on interactions with providers, including respect for preferences and communication. The importance of quality measures was influenced by the extent to which they focused on babies' health, were perceived as the hospital's responsibility, and were perceived as representing “standard care.” At baseline, 28 percent of survey respondents had used quality information to choose a hospital. Survey respondents were more aware of some quality measures (e.g., breastfeeding support) than others (e.g., episiotomy rates). Conclusions Public reporting efforts could help increase relevance of maternity care quality measures by creating measures that reflect women's concerns, clearly explaining the hospital's role in supporting quality care, and showing how available quality measures can inform decisions about childbirth.
Enhancement of Heterogeneous Assays Using Fluorescent Magnetic Liposomes

Interactions between solution phase analytes and surface immobilized biorecognition elements in heterogeneous binding assay formats, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), are often hindered by mass transfer limitations. In order to improve detection limits and decrease assay times, an applied magnetic field can be used to promote target binding events if the species used for signal generation is rendered magnetic. Here, a ferromagnetic metal oxide-oleic acid complex was incorporated into the lipid bilayer of fluorescent dye-encapsulating liposomes, allowing for their influence under a magnetic field while maintaining their high interior encapsulation volume for signaling molecules. In a high-throughput sandwich-hybridization assay, these DNA-tagged liposomes yielded enhanced sensitivity, in addition to reduced assay times and reagent concentrations, when used with an underlying magnet. These magnetic signaling reagents offer superior performance and adaptability to standard assay formats.
Fate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground apples used in cider production.

Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Rome, and Winesap apples stored at 4, 10, and 25°C was determined. E. coli O157:H7 populations were monitored for up to 18 days (4°C), 12 days (10°C), and 5 days (25°C), when mold contamination became visible. At 25°C, Red Delicious apples supported survival of E. coli O157:H7 better (P 0.05). Winesap apples were the least favorable (P 0.05), but pathogen populations increased in both cultivars (P 0.05)....
MRI Abnormalities and First Febrile Seizures

The frequency of MRI-detected brain abnormalities with first febrile seizures (FS) and their association with FS type and with specific features of complex FS were determined in a prospective study at the Pediatric Emergency Department of New York-Presbyterian Children’s Hospital, Columbia University, New York.
Molecular and cellular effects of antisickling concentrations of alkylureas

Alkylureas are capable of inhibiting sickling in vitro and the gelation of solutions of hemoglobin S at concentrations between 0.05 and 0.1 M with increasing effectiveness that is directly proportional to the length of the alkyl chain (butyl greater than propyl greater than ethyl greater than methyl). 6The inhibitory effect is independent of pH between 6.5 and 7.5 and is a process driven by entropy. The alkylureas at concentrations of 0.1 M have minimal effects on several erythrocyte functions. Oxygen equilibria, osmotic fragility, reduced glutathione content, and glutathione reductase activity are totally unaffected, while pyruvic kinase activity is decreased only by butylurea by about 20%, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity is decreased progressively to a maximum of 30% in direct proportion to the length of the alkyl chain. Alkylureas not only inhibit sickling but are also capable of desickling erythrocytes that have been maintained in the deoxygenated state. They have little effect on several erythrocyte functions at antisickling concentrations, but their toxicity must be evaluated before they can be examined as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment or prevention of acute episodes in sickle cell anemia.
Introduction: Shades of Brown: Black Freedom, White Supremacy, and the Law

Arguably the most important Supreme Court ruling in United States history, the Brown decision in 1954 not only overturned the doctrine of separate but equal schools as unconstitutional, but it also put other forms of antiblack discrimination on the road to extinction. The unanimous decision reversed the Court’s 1896 decision in Plessy v. Ferguson, which had upheld the concept and practice of state-endorsed racial discrimination— Jim Crow—the chimera of separate but equal public accommodations and institutions for blacks and whites. The Brown decision was the culmination of countless interrelated collective and personal battles waged by blacks and of a series of legal efforts by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from the early days of its existence in the 1910s and 1920s.
Congenital Optic Nerve Anomalies

Congenital anomalies of the optic disc underlie many cases of decreased vision, strabismus, and nystagmus in childhood [54, 151]. A comprehensive evaluation necessitates an understanding of the ophthalmoscopic features, associated neuro-ophthalmologic findings, pathogenesis, and appropriate ancillary studies for each anomaly [46]. The subclassification of different forms of colobomatous defects on the basis of their ocular and systemic associations has further refined our ability to predict the likelihood of associated central nervous system (CNS) anomalies solely on the basis of the appearance of the optic disc [46]. The widespread availability of modern neuroimaging has refined the ability to identify subtle associated CNS anomalies and to prognosticate neurodevelopmental and endocrinological problems [46]. Genetic analysis has now advanced the understanding of some anomalies. It has been recognized [194, 218, 333] that many of these disorders are accompanied by some degree of peripheral retinal nonperfusion.
Worksite Food and Physical Activity Environments and Wellness Supports Reported by Employed Adults in the United States, 2013.

Purpose:To examine the workplace food and physical activity (PA) environments and wellness culture reported by employed United States adults, overall and by employer size.Design:Cross-sectional stu...
France: PhD students prefer life without science

More and more PhD students in France are abandoning scientific research after they receive their doctorates, according to a report from the Paris-based Science and Technology Observatory (OST). The study reveals that just 20% of PhD students went on to obtain a permanent job in higher education or public research in 1998 – compared with 26% in 1994. The number taking up short-term posts has also risen from 17% to 21% over the same period, while the number of jobless has doubled to 7%. French universities and national research labs together award some 11000 science doctorates a year, including about 1500 in physics.
A 3-bit digitally operated MEMS rotational accelerometer

This work presents an electrostatically tunable MEMS rotational acceleration switch and its operation as a 3-bit digital rotational accelerometer. The concept of operating electrostatically tunable acceleration switches as digital MEMS accelerometers, as previously demonstrated, has been applied to rotational acceleration switches in this work leading to an ultra-low power potential alternative to MEMS gyroscopes for lower resolution applications like gaming. The sensor consists of a circular proof mass surrounded by a number of electrostatic actuators. Following a simple algorithm to sequentially turn different actuators ON or OFF, a binary search can be performed by a digital controller to find the rotational acceleration. A 3-bit prototype was successfully fabricated and operated with a resolution of 49 rad/s2 (limited by the available test setup) and full scale acceleration of 392 rad/s2.
The Role of EXCO, Modified EXCO, and MASTMAASIS Environmental Exposures on Predicting Exfoliation Corrosion of the 2060-T8E30 Alloy

In this study, corrosion response of the 2060-T8E30 alloy was analyzed in the following environments: EXCO (an immersion test in accordance with ASTM G34), modified EXCO, and modified ASTM acetic a...
Introducing the Historical Thinking Practice of Contextualizing to Middle School Students

ABSTRACTThis article describes the design of a social studies unit about the Johnstown Flood of 1889 with a particular emphasis on how specific unit resources engaged middle school students in learning about the geographical and historical context of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. We also report on how the resources supported the teaching and learning of the historical thinking practice of contextualizing.
Low Loss Splicing Between Coupled Multi-Core Fibers with Thermally Expanded Cores

We demonstrate that the tolerance to core offsets for a low splice loss between coupled multi-core fibers can be increased to 1.6 times using thermally expanded core technique without suffering impairment by increased crosstalk.
Evaluation of Bladder Washings and Urine Cytology in the Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer and Its Correlation with Selected Biopsies of the Bladder Mucosa

AbstractWe report a prospective study of 136 patients with biopsy proved bladder tumor who underwent 311 evaluations with cystoscopy, urinary cytology, bladder washing and, when indicated, bladder biopsies. Cytology results from bladder washings were superior to routine urinary cytology studies in detecting abnormal cells. Also, there was a significant increase in the number of positive cytology studies in bladder washings from patients with no evidence of tumor by cystoscopy but who had biopsy proved dysplasia. Multiple selective bladder biopsies showed a higher incidence of mucosal abnormalities if the primary tumor was of a higher grade.
ECTOPIC PREGNANCY AND THE DECISION TO UNDERGO IVF/ET

The formulation of a treatment plan for the patient with a history of one or more ectopic pregnancies is often a difficult one. Many times the decision for treatment must be made at the operating table, when the diagnosis is confirmed at laparoscopy or laparotomy. With the acceptance of conservative treatment of ectopic pregnancy, however, comes the opportunity for the physician to counsel the patient as to whether the patient’s best chances of fertility are with expectant management or with the assisted reproductive technologies. A knowledge of the various treatment options and the potential of each for future fertility is necessary for an enlightened decision.
Moral objectivism and a punishing God

Abstract Many moral philosophers have assumed that ordinary folk embrace moral objectivism. But, if so, why do folk embrace objectivism? One possibility is the pervasive connection between religion and morality in ordinary life. Some theorists contend that God is viewed as a divine guarantor of right and wrong, rendering morality universal and absolute. But is belief in God per se sufficient for moral objectivism? In this paper, we present original research exploring the connections between metaethics and particular conceptions of God among religious participants. Study 1 shows that, when controlling for religiosity, age, and belief in God's loving characteristics, it is belief in God's punishing characteristics (specifically, the existence of Hell) that uniquely predicts rejection of moral relativism. Study 2 shows that followers of Abrahamic faiths are more likely to endorse moral objectivism when thinking of the Divine, regardless of loving or punishing characteristics. And Study 3 shows that priming for moral objectivism makes theists more likely to endorse God's punishing characteristics. A general picture is suggested by these data. For Abrahamic theists, God's particular characteristics are not germane to the question of whether his moral commandments are real and objective. And while theists strongly endorse God's loving characteristics, focusing on the objective nature of morality can highlight God's punishing nature, reminding theists that objective morality requires a divine guarantor of justice to enforce it.
Significant Contribution to Strength Enhancement from Deformation Twins in Thermomechanically Processed Al 0.1 CoCrFeNi Microstructures

Strengthening mechanisms from thermomechanical processing treatments were explored in single-phase FCC high-entropy alloy Al0.1CoCrFeNi. Cold work offers substantial strengthening in this low stacking fault energy material owing to the resultant high work hardening rates. An enormous increase in yield strength of ~ 275% was obtained in 40% rolled material, but was accompanied by a steep drop in ductility. Recovery and recrystallization annealing treatments were investigated for improving elongation and obtaining better balance of strength–ductility combinations. Formation of novel microstructures from the different processing routes was examined. X-ray diffraction peak broadening and mechanical test results were coupled to estimate micro-strain in the different conditions and understand micro-strain’s correlation to strength. Retention of large-scale deformation twins formed during cold rolling is shown to play a key role in elevation of yield strength after heat treatments.
Subchronic toxicity of silica nanoparticles as a function of size and porosity.

Abstract Despite increasing reports of using silica nanoparticles (SNPs) for controlled drug delivery applications, their long-term toxicity profile following intravenous administration remains unexplored. Herein, we investigated the acute (10-day) and subchronic (60-day and 180-day) toxicity of nonporous SNPs of approximately 50 nm (Stober SNPs50) and approximately 500 nm in diameter (Stober SNPs500), and mesoporous SNPs of approximately 500 nm in diameter (MSNPs500) upon single-dose intravenous injection into male and female immune-competent inbred BALB/c mice. The Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of the particles was determined 10 days post-injection. The MTD of SNPs was administered and toxicity evaluated over 60 and 180 days. Results demonstrate that Stober SNPs50 exhibit systemic toxicity with MTD of 103 ± 11 mg.kg−1 for female and 100 ± 6 mg.kg−1 for male mice, respectively. Toxicity was alleviated by increasing the size of the particles (Stober SNPs500). MTD values of 303 ± 4 mg.kg−1 for female and 300 ± 13 mg.kg−1 for male were observed for Stober SNPs500. Mesoporous SNPs500 showed considerable systemic sex-related toxicity, with MTDs ranging from 40 ± 2 mg.kg−1 to 95 ± 2 mg.kg−1 for male and female mice, respectively. Studies of SNPs showed blood toxicity as a function of physiochemical properties such as significant differences in the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCHC) and platelet number at day 10 and white blood cell count at day 60. Histological examination also showed size-, porosity- and time-dependent tissue toxicity. Stober SNPs500 caused major toxic effects such as lung thrombosis, cardiac wall fibrosis and calcifications, brain infarctions with necrotizing inflammatory response, infiltrate, retinal injuries with calcification and focal gliosis, renal parenchymal damage and liver lobular inflammation dependent on the dose and time of exposure. However, tissue toxicity and accumulation of SNPs in liver observed at day 10 was greater than at day 60 and much greater than at day 180. In contrast, a dramatic increase in cytokine levels was observed at day 60. Despite the relatively high doses, SNPs did not cause subchronic toxicity at day 180 after single-dose intravenous injection. However, they showed distinct differences in the 60 day in vivo subchronic toxicity and inflammation profile as a function of surface area and size.
The power-law distribution of cumulative coal production

Abstract The coal industry is dominated by the largest mines, with 1% of coal mines in the U.S. being responsible for 65% of the coal cumulatively produced. We show that this ”heavy tail” can be well approximated by a power law, where mine-level cumulative production is inversely proportionate to distributional rank. Maximum likelihood and regression-based procedures estimate the counter-cumulative power-law parameter to be less than one, indicating there is no well-defined mean or variance for cumulative production. Goodness of fit tests indicate the power-law is a better fit to the data than other competing distributions, including the lognormal.
Plant distribution, stature, rarity, and diversity in a patterned calcareous fen: tests of geochemical and leaf-height models.

Premise In patterned fens, patches of short, sparse, species-rich vegetation often occur on substrates rich in precipitated carbonates near calcareous springheads, with taller, denser vegetation farther away. Boyer and Wheeler (1989) hypothesized that phosphorus co-precipitation near springheads limits plant productivity and coverage, and Givnish (1982) proposed that aggregations of rare, short-statured plant species might reflect their competitive restriction to sparsely covered microsites. Methods We tested these hypotheses by quantifying species distributions, leaf heights, plant coverage, community composition, and substrate and leaf chemistry of Eupatorium perfoliatum along a gradient of hydrology and geochemistry in a wetland complex in southeastern Wisconsin, USA, ranging from marl flats and fens on peat mounds near springheads to surrounding sedge meadows. Results Community composition was strongly correlated with a one-dimensional environmental gradient along which coverage and height increased moving downslope from marl flats, while soil carbonate, phosphorus immobilization capacity, and local species richness decreased, consistent with theory. Regionally rare species were short and restricted to sparsely covered microsites; within and among species, leaf height increased with local coverage. NPK tissue stoichiometry did not entirely support the Boyer-Wheeler hypothesis, although nitrogen limitation appeared strongest in sedge meadows. Shifts in stature and tissue chemistry of E. perfoliatum along the marl flat-sedge meadow gradient suggested that zinc toxicity may help limit coverage near springheads despite no significant change in soil zinc content. Conclusions We propose a modified Boyer-Wheeler hypothesis to account for cascading effects of phosphorus co-precipitation near springheads on nitrogen fixation, nitrogen+phosphorus co-limitation, and zinc mobility.
Compromising Speech Privacy under Continuous Masking in Personal Spaces

This paper explores the effectiveness of common sound masking solutions deployed for preserving speech privacy in workplace environment such as hospitals, financial institutions, lawyers offices, nursing homes and government buildings. With the increased awareness about personal privacy among the general population, we set out to examine the effectiveness of current speech privacy preserving tools. We seek to determine if the general approach used by the current masking mechanisms is adequate to provide the level of privacy desired from these solutions. In addition, we also seek to investigate preservation of speech privacy in the face of ubiquitous and less conspicuous devices like smartphones that possess the capability of sound recording with inbuilt noise cancellation technology. Our approach in this paper is to expose the vulnerability in sound masking technology in scenarios that require preserving privacy in personal spaces. We use human listeners to attack speech privacy under sound masking where we aim to identify spoken words eavesdropped under different scenarios. We also test currently available speech recognition tools to assess their performance at decoding speech in noisy environment. Our results indicate that pink noise, the commonly used technology to provide speech privacy for use in personal space, is ineffective against a dedicated eavesdropping adversary that uses commonplace devices such as smartphones to record the speech and noise reduction tools to counteract sound masking.
Novel Use of Superficial Cervical Plexus Nerve Block and PECS I Block in Paediatric Patients for Vagal Nerve Stimulator Implant Surgery – A Case Series

Pectoralis Nerve (PECS) block was first described as an alternative to thoracic epidural and paravertebral blocks in managing pain after breast surgery
Recent advances in linear and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy. Part V

The purpose of the review is to provide a concise overview of recent advances in the broadly defined field of Raman spectroscopy as reflected in part by the many articles published each year in JRS as well as in trends across all related journals publishing in this research area. Context for this review is derived from statistical data on article counts obtained from Thomson Reuters ISI Web of Knowledge by year and by subfield of Raman spectroscopy. Additional information is gleaned from presentations featuring Raman spectroscopy presented at the meetings of the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies 2011 and the Sixth International Conference on Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy 2011. Papers published in JRS in 2010, as reviewed here, reflect trends at the cutting edge of Raman spectroscopy, which is expanding rapidly as a sensitive photonic probe of matter at the molecular level with an ever-widening sphere of novel applications. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Are Housing Prices Associated with Food Consumption

Objective: Since January 2010, the U.S. has experienced economic recovery, including a 39% increase in home prices nationally. While higher home prices represent a wealth increase for some homeowners, it may decrease real purchasing power for others. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between local area housing values and consumption of four food categories. Design: Observational study using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System between 2011 and 2015. Outcomes included number of times per week food was consumed and binary measures denoting consumption ≥2 times per day for four categories: vegetables, fruit, legumes and fruit juice. The primary explanatory variables were metropolitan/micropolitan statistical area home and rental price indices from Zillow. Differential associations by home ownership, age, race/ethnicity and education were examined. Results: Overall, housing values were not associated with intake of vegetables or fruit juice. Among homeowners, a $10,000 increase in home price was associated with small, but statistically significant reductions in fruit and legume consumption. These inverse associations were pronounced among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black adults. Conclusions: Lower fruit and legume consumption associated with greater housing values may represent one of several explanations including a decrease in purchasing power, given increases in home prices and limited wage growth since 2010.