cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anaesthetic consequences for a child with complex multilevel airway obstruction – recommendations for avoiding life‐threatening sequelae

A boy with a suspected lymphoid malignancy presented with gross head and neck lymphadenopathy, a middle mediastinal mass, and rapidly worsening airway obstruction. General anaesthesia was required for definitive histopathological diagnosis. The combination of nasopharyngeal obstruction, malignant infiltration of the tonsils and pharynx, laryngeal displacement, and potential tracheal compression put this patient at extreme risk for perioperative airway complications. Risk assessment, and the impact of anaesthesia on pharyngeal neuromechanical function and mediastinal masses are discussed. Caution with volatile anaesthetic agents is recommended in the patient with an inherently unstable pharynx and/or trachea, in whom airway patency relies on a spontaneously breathing technique and intact airway reflexes.
Influences of Patient Sociodemographics on Cancer Information Received Through the First 9 Months of Treatment

This study evaluates the amount and change of information cancer patients report receiving related to disease, diagnostic tests, treatments, physical care, and psychosocial resources over 9 months of treatment. Information received by newly diagnosed, stages II–IV cancer patients receiving treatment (N = 139) at baseline, 4, and 9 months is examined through a two-stage latent growth model. Each information-received category was modeled with latent variables of intercept and slope. Random intercept and slope factors are then regressed on multiple sociodemographic covariates. The mean amount of information received does not change over time, but significant inter-individual variability was observed. Age (younger) and marital status (married) are significantly associated with a higher total amount of information received while education (less) and race (African-American) are significantly associated with slower declines of information received over time. While the mean amount of information cancer patients receive is relatively constant over the course of treatment for the first 9 months, the level and rate of information received is somewhat varied based on patient characteristics. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the varying amounts of information received by patients and ensure that the amount is consistent with the patient’s individual needs.
Cyber/physical security vulnerability assessment integration

Securing high value and critical assets is one of the biggest challenges facing this nation and others around the world. In modern integrated systems, there are four potential modes of attack available to an adversary: 1 physical only attack, 2 cyber only attack, 3 physical-enabled cyber attack, 4 cyber-enabled physical attack. Blended attacks involve an adversary working in one domain to reduce system effectiveness in another domain. This enables the attacker to penetrate further into the overall layered defenses. Existing vulnerability assessment (VA) processes and software tools which predict facility vulnerabilities typically evaluate the physical and cyber domains separately. Vulnerabilities which result from the integration of cyber-physical control systems are not well characterized and are often overlooked by existing assessment approaches. In this paper, we modified modification of the timely detection methodology, used for decades in physical security VAs, to include cyber components. The Physical and Cyber Risk Analysis Tool (PACRAT) prototype illustrates an integrated vulnerability assessment that includes cyber-physical interdependencies. Information about facility layout, network topology, and emplaced safeguards is used to evaluate how well suited a facility is to detect, delay, and respond to attacks, to identify the pathways most vulnerable to attack, and to evaluate how often safeguards are compromised for a given threat or adversary type. We have tested the PACRAT prototype on critical infrastructure facilities and the results are promising. Future work includes extending the model to prescribe the recommended security improvements via an automated cost-benefit analysis.
Closing the gap: Transit control for hazardous material flow

Abstract Hazardous material transportation has thus far been addressed only in the context of pre-event and post-event actions, such as regulations, training, vehicle design, route assignment, and risk assessment for the first, and emergency response and recovery for the latter. Little attention has been paid to safety considerations during the period when the cargo is en route, the transit phase. However, the potential for catastrophic loss inherent in hazardous material transports calls for closing the gap between pre-event and post-event actions by controlling the hazardous material flow. Technological advances have demonstrated the feasibility for this new approach and economical considerations its realism. A control and dispatch center with a tracking system, supported by expert system technology including voice generation and flat panel display, is no longer the vivid imagination of audacious decision analysts.
Odd-order correlations in disordered alloys: A quasi-binary approximation

Abstract The vanishing of odd-order correlations in equi-composition disordered binary alloys is generalized to include disordered quasi-binary alloys of the form A x B 1− x C. Extension of this technique to p-component alloys is indicated.
Perceptual-motor performance related to impulsiveness and anxiety.

Four groups of Ss were selected on the basis of varying levels of anxiety and impulsiveness and were tested on four perceptual-motor tasks. The high-impulsiveness, low-anxiety Ss consistently perfo...
Electrolytic plasma processing for cleaning and metal-coating of steel surfaces

Abstract Electrolytic plasma processing (EPP) involves electrolysis and electrical discharge phenomena and it is an emerging, environmentally friendly surface engineering technology. Electrolytic-plasma/material surface interactions during processing can be used for cleaning of metal surfaces, formation of diffusion layers and/or deposition of metal, ceramic and composite coatings. The present work was concerned with cleaning and deposition of metal coatings on steel surfaces for corrosion protection. The effects of processing parameters on (i) cleaning steel surfaces (oxides and contamination); and (ii) Zn and Zn–Al coating deposition were investigated. Surface roughness and oxygen content prior to and after cleaning were evaluated by profilometry and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), respectively. The structure of the EPP cleaned outer surface layer as it evolves after the electrolytic–plasma interaction was studied by high resolution TEM. Morphology, microstructure, composition, adhesion and density of EPP-deposited Zn and Zn–Al coatings on cleaned surfaces were studied as a function of processing parameters. Corrosion properties of the cleaned and coated steels were evaluated by corrosion potential and potentiodynamic polarization measurements. The results show that EPP can effectively produce clean surfaces and also metal and alloy coatings at high deposition rates, and it has a great potential as a new plasma surface engineering technique.
A Density-dependent Function for Fishing Mortality Rate and a Method for Determining Elements of a Leslie Matrix with Density-dependent Parameters

Abstract A density-dependent function for the instantaneous fishing mortality rate is presented. It is shown that this function may be readily incorporated into the age-specific probability of survival in a Leslie-matrix population model. A method is presented for indirectly determining the probability of survival for age-class 0 of a fish population using a density-dependent Leslie matrix. The method involves the two constraints that the population be at equilibrium and that the index of absolute population size in the density-dependent function be assigned a value. In addition, given the probability of survival for age-class 0, it is shown that the probability of survival through a selected life stage within age-class 0 can be indirectly determined. Three problems in modeling a fish population using a Leslie model are discussed in light of the difficulties involved in modeling density dependence due to insufficient information and lack of understanding concerning density-dependent phenomena.
Origins of the Endogenous and Infectious Laboratory Mouse Gammaretroviruses

The mouse gammaretroviruses associated with leukemogenesis are found in the classical inbred mouse strains and in house mouse subspecies as infectious exogenous viruses (XRVs) and as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) inserted into their host genomes. There are three major mouse leukemia virus (MuLV) subgroups in laboratory mice: ecotropic, xenotropic, and polytropic. These MuLV subgroups differ in host range, pathogenicity, receptor usage and subspecies of origin. The MuLV ERVs are recent acquisitions in the mouse genome as demonstrated by the presence of many full-length nondefective MuLV ERVs that produce XRVs, the segregation of these MuLV subgroups into different house mouse subspecies, and by the positional polymorphism of these loci among inbred strains and individual wild mice. While some ecotropic and xenotropic ERVs can produce XRVs directly, others, especially the pathogenic polytropic ERVs, do so only after recombinations that can involve all three ERV subgroups. Here, I describe individual MuLV ERVs found in the laboratory mice, their origins and geographic distribution in wild mouse subspecies, their varying ability to produce infectious virus and the biological consequences of this expression.
Costs and benefits of more learner freedom: meta-analyses of exploratory and learner control training methods.

Objective: Individual meta-analyses were conducted for six training methods as part of a U.S. Army basic research project. The objective was to identify evidence-based guidelines for the effectiveness of each training method, under different moderating conditions, for cognitive skill transfer in adult learning. Results and implications for two of these training methods, learner control (LC) and exploratory learning (EL), are discussed. LC provides learners with active control over training variables. EL requires learners to discover relationships and interactions between variables. Background: There is mixed evidence on the effectiveness of both LC and EL learning methods on transfer relative to more guided training methods. Cognitive load theory (CLT) provides a basis for predicting that training strategies that manage intrinsic load of a task during training and minimize extraneous load will avail more resources that can be devoted to learning. Method: Meta-analyses were conducted using a Hedges’s g analysis of effect sizes. Control conditions with little to no learner freedom were contrasted with treatment conditions manipulating more learner freedom. Results: Overall more LC was no different from training with limited or no learner control, and more EL was less effective than limited or no exploration; however, each can be effective under certain conditions. Both strategies have been more effective for cognitive skill learning than for knowledge recall tasks. LC exhibited more benefit to very near transfer, whereas EL’s benefit was to far transfer. Conclusion: Task type, transfer test, and transfer distance moderate the overall transfer cost of more learner freedom. Application: The findings are applicable to the development of instructional design guidelines for the use of LC and EL in adult skill training.
Origin of Nonmarine Dolomite in Eocene Lake Gosiute, Green River Basin, Wyoming

The distribution of dolomite in the Laney Shale Member of the Green River Formation in the western Green River Basin provides further documentation regarding the suitability of the playa-lake model for the Green River Formation in Wyoming. Four alternate mechanisms were considered in evaluating the origin of the dolomite: (1) detrital, (2) late diagenetic, (3) primary, and (4) penecontemporaneous. It is concluded that dolomite in the Laney Shale Member is the product of penecontemporaneous dolomite formation that results from the evaporative concentration of subsurface Mg-rich brines in the mud flats. Qualitative thermodynamic diagrams are constructed that depict carbonate equilibrium relations in the mud flats and adjacent environments.
Expected Option Returns

This paper examines expected option returns in the context of mainstream asset pricing theory. Under mild assumptions, call options have expected returns which exceed those of their underlying security and which are increasing in their strike prices. Likewise, put options have expected returns which are below the risk-free rate and which are also increasing in their strike prices. Across a variety of time periods and return frequencies, S&P 500 and 100 index option returns strongly exhibit these characteristics. Under stronger assumptions, expected option returns are a linear function of option betas. Fama-MacBeth-style option return regressions produce risk premia close to the expected market return. However, the regression intercepts are significantly below zero. As a result, zero-beta, at-the-money straddle positions produce average losses of approximately three percent per week. Zero-beta straddles in other markets also lose money consistently. These findings suggest that some additional factor, such as systematic stochastic volatility, is priced in option returns.
On sampling self-similar internet traffic

Techniques for sampling Internet traffic are very important to understand the traffic characteristics of the Internet [A. Feldmann, A. Greenberg, C. Lund, N. Reingold, J. Rexford, F. True, Deriving traffic demands for operational ip networks: methodology and experience, in: Proc. ACM SIGCOMM'00, August 2000, pp. 257-270; N.G. Duffield, M. Grossglauser, Trajectory sampling for direct traffic observation, in: Proc. ACM SIGCOMM'00, August 2000, pp. 271-282]. In spite of all the research efforts on packet sampling, none has taken into account of self-similarity of Internet traffic in devising sampling strategies. In this paper, we perform an in-depth, analytical study of three sampling techniques for self-similar Internet traffic, namely static systematic sampling, stratified random sampling and simple random sampling. We show that while all three sampling techniques can accurately capture the Hurst parameter (second order statistics) of Internet traffic, they fail to capture the mean (first order statistics) faithfully. We also show that static systematic sampling renders the smallest variation of sampling results in different instances of sampling (i.e., it gives sampling results of high fidelity). Based on an important observation, we then devise a new variation of static systematic sampling, called biased systematic sampling (BSS), that gives much more accurate estimates of the mean, while keeping the sampling overhead low. Both the analysis on the three sampling techniques and the evaluation of BSS are performed on synthetic and real Internet traffic traces. Our performance study shows that BSS gives a performance improvement of 40% and 20% (in terms of efficiency) as compared to static systematic and simple random sampling.
Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and neutropenia associated with maternal human leukocyte antigen antibodies

Neonatal thrombocytopenia or neutropenia may result from passive transfusion of maternally derived antibodies. Antibodies against platelet antigens are commonly associated with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT), and anti-neutrophil antibodies are frequently identified in alloimmune neonatal neutropenia (ANN). Combined alloimmune cytopenias in the newborn are rarely reported; even fewer reports document human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies as a potential cause of neonatal thrombocytopenia or neutropenia. We describe neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in a newborn associated with markedly elevated maternal HLA antibodies in the absence of anti-neutrophil or anti-platelet antibodies to highlight consideration of HLA antibodies in the pathogenesis of ANN and NAIT.
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Acquisition of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the Setting of Endemicity

Objective. To describe the epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) carriage and acquisition among hospitalized patients in an area of CRE endemicity.Design. Cohort study with a nested case-control study.Setting. Two acute care, academic hospitals in New York City.Participants. All patients admitted to 7 study units, including intensive care, medical-surgical, and acute rehabilitation units.Method. Perianal samples were collected from patients at admission and weekly thereafter to detect asymptomatic gastrointestinal carriage of CRE. A nested case-control study was performed to identify factors associated with CRE acquisition. Case patients were those who acquired CRE during a single hospitalization. Control subjects had no microbiologic evidence of CRE and at least 1 negative surveillance sample. Clinical data were abstracted from the medical record.Results. The prevalence of CRE in the study population was 5.4% (306 of 5,676 patients), and 104 patients met the case definition of acq...
How fast is the focused assessment with sonography for trauma examination learning curve

Objective: Although accuracy for focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) examination interpretation has been widely reported, the learning curve for FAST interpretation by emergency medicine (EM) residents who are novice to ultrasound has not been well described. The present study’s objective was to analyse EM resident FAST interpretation accuracy over 18 months. Methods: Prospective comparison of EM resident FAST interpretation accuracy for a class of nine EM residents at baseline after initial training, and then every 6 months over 18 months. Accuracy was scored after viewing the same 20 video clip images of the four anatomic views for five FAST examination cases. Three video clips had large anechoic stripe (AS) (>6 mm), four had moderate AS (6 mm ! AS ! 3 mm), two had small AS (<3 mm), and eleven had no AS (AS = 0 mm). A surgeon with 20 years of ultrasound experience confirmed the video clip interpretations. Data analysis used descriptive statistics with 95% confidence intervals. Results: For no AS views, EM resident accuracy was 79.8% (70.3‐86.9%) baseline, 91.9% (84.2‐ 96.2%) at 12 months, and 92.9% (85.5‐96.9%) at 18 months. For small AS views, resident accuracy was 27.8% (10.7‐53.6%) baseline, 66.7% (41.2‐85.7%) at 12 months, and 72.2% (46.4‐89.3%) at 18 months. For large AS views, resident accuracy was 77.8% (57.3‐90.6%) baseline, 86.1% (69.7‐94.8%) at 12 months, and 100.0% (84.5‐100%) at 18 months. Conclusion: Over 18 months, EM resident FAST interpretation accuracy steadily increased. By 12 months (or 35 examinations), the accuracy of EM residents novice to ultrasound approximated previously reported accuracy rates.
QTc behavior during treadmill exercise as a function of the underlying QT-heart rate relationship.

A mathematic description of the behavior of the Bazett-corrected QTc interval during exercise was developed from the underlying relationship between the unadjusted QT interval and heart rate in 94 normal men. Measurements were made from digitized precordial lead V5 complexes that were averaged by computer over 20-second periods at upright control (mean rate, 78 beats/min), during moderate exercise (mean rate, 125 beats/min), and at peak effort (mean rate, 162 beats/min), using a gently graded treadmill protocol that produces small heart rate increments between 2-minute stages. Although the group mean QTc interval increased during early exercise and decreased during higher exercise workloads, the mean unadjusted QT interval decreased throughout exercise in a strongly linear relationship with increasing heart rate: QT[ms] = 481 - 1.32HR, R2 = .99, where HR stands for heart rate. As a consequence of this linearity, the behavior of the QTc interval over a range of heart rates generally found during exercise could be modeled as a function of the slope (m) and intercept (b) of the observed relationship, since the Bazett relationship QTc = QT[ms]/R-R0.5 can, in this context, be rewritten simply as QTc = (481 - 1.32HR)/(60/HR)0.5, which reproduces the observed biphasic QTc interval behavior. Plots of the generalized equation QTc = (b - mHR)/(60/HR)0.5 allow theoretical exploration of QTc interval behavior that might result from varied disorders with different slopes (m) and intercepts (b), and these regression-based descriptors of the QT-heart rate relationship may provide useful, additional definitions of normal and abnormal QT interval behavior during exercise.
Prevalance of Functional Blindness, Visual Impairment, and Related Functional Deficits Among Elderly Mexican Americans

BACKGROUND: This report describes the prevalence and correlates of functional blindness and visual impairment among older Mexican Americans, using data on 2800 respondents from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly. METHODS: Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between corrected bilateral distant vision and sociodemographic characteristics, selected health conditions, self-reported health status, health care utilization, and functional dependence on the basis of assistance needed for basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs). RESULTS: Using a modified Snellen test for distance visual acuity, 5% of older Mexican Americans were found to be functionally blind, and 13.5% were found to be visually impaired. Vision loss was significantly associated with older age, lower education, hypertension, diabetes, poor self-rated health, and hospitalization during the year prior to the interview. Over 50% of functionally blind subjects required assistance with at least one basic ADL, compared with 15% of those who were visually impaired and 8% of those who were not visually impaired. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of functional blindness in this sample of elderly Mexican Americans was higher than reported for the general elderly population, yet they also have higher rates of adequate vision because of the low prevalence of visual impairment. The results suggest a need for more research on the prevalence and impact of functional blindness and visual impairment on the health of older Mexican Americans.
Cranial Morphology and Systematics of an Extraordinary Sample of the Late Neogene Dwarf Tapir, Tapirus polkensis (Olsen)

The previously poorly known “Tapiravus” polkensis Olsen, 1960 (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Tapiridae) is now known from abundant, well preserved specimens from both the type area in central Florida and from the Gray Fossil Site (GFS) in eastern Tennessee. The latter has produced over 75 individuals, the greatest number of tapirids from a single fossil site, including many articulated skeletons. Almost all linear measurements taken on skulls, mandibles, and cheek teeth from GFS have coefficients of variation less than 10 (most between 3 and 7), indicating the presence of a single species. However, the sample reveals considerable intraspecific variation for a few key morphologic features, including development of the sagittal crest, outline shape of the nasals, and number and relative strength of lingual cusps on the P1. The Florida sample of T. polkensis is more limited, but has the same state as the GFS sample for all preserved characters of systematic significance, and while the Florida teeth are on average smaller (especially narrower lower cheek teeth), they fall either within or just below the observed range of the Gray Fossil Site population. The new material supports a reassignment of “Tapiravus” polkensis to the genus Tapirus, and demonstrates that the geologic age of the species is significantly younger than previously thought, Hemphillian rather than Barstovian. Tapirus polkensis is the smallest known North American Tapirus, and smaller than any of the extant species in the genus, with an estimated average mass of 125 kg.
Climbing the Tower of Babel: Unsupervised Multilingual Learning

For centuries, scholars have explored the deep links among human languages. In this paper, we present a class of probabilistic models that use these links as a form of naturally occurring supervision. These models allow us to substantially improve performance for core text processing tasks, such as morphological segmentation, part-of-speech tagging, and syntactic parsing. Besides these traditional NLP tasks, we also present a multilingual model for the computational decipherment of lost languages.
Electronic medical record and glaucoma medications: connecting the medication reconciliation with adherence.

PURPOSE To evaluate consistency in documentation of glaucoma medications in the electronic medical record and identify which regimen patients adhere to when inconsistencies exist. Factors contributing to medication nonadherence are also explored. METHODS Retrospective chart review of medication adherence encompassing 200 patients from three glaucoma physicians at a tertiary referral center over a 1-month period. Adherence was determined by the consistency between a patients stated medication regimen and either the active medication list in the electronic medical record, or the physicians planned medication regimen in the preceding clinic visit. Patient charts were also reviewed for patient sex, age, primary language, race, and total number of medications. RESULTS A total of 160 charts showed consistency in documentation between the physician note and electronic medication reconciliation. Of those patients, 83.1% reported adherence with their glaucoma medication schedule. When there was a discrepancy in documentation (40 charts), 72.5% patients followed the physician-stated regimen vs 20% who followed neither vs 7.5% who followed the medical record (P<0.01). No difference in adherence was observed based on sex (P=0.912) or total number of medications taken (P=0.242). Language, both English- (P=0.075) and Haitian (P=0.10) -speaking populations, as well as race, Caucasian (P=0.31), African-American (P=0.54), and Hispanic (P=0.58), had no impact on medication adherence. Patients over 80 years of age were more nonadherent as compared to other decades (P=0.04). CONCLUSION Inconsistent documentation between the electronic medical record physician note and medication regimen may contribute to patient medication nonadherence. Patients over 80 years of age were associated with higher rates of nonadherence, while sex, total number of medications, race, and language had no interaction with medication adherence.
Justice Kennedy and the Fisher Revisit: Will the Irrelevant Prove Decisive?

This brief commentary, forthcoming in See Also an on-line adjunct to the Texas Law review, speculates about Justice Kennedy’s likely vote in the soon to be revealed decision in Fisher v. Texas. It specifically explores four factors that legally speaking are largely if not wholly irrelevant but may nonetheless influence Justice Kennedy’s position: These are (1) anger at the Fifth Circuit for how it handled the remand in Fisher 1; (2) Racially charged police killings and the rise of the Black Lives Matter Movement; (3) arguments in amicus briefs regarding mismatch theory and science mismatch and (4) the death of Justice Scalia. The piece is highly speculative but until we know how Justice Kennedy decided it may be of interest.
Impact of Underlying Surface Roughness On Water Mass Transport

A condensed layer model is used to numerically investigate the flow of thin liquid films over surface roughness. Two different regimes are considered, that for which the film thickness is greater than the roughness height and that for which the film thickness is much less than the roughness height. For the thicker films, previous results (see Matheis & Rothmayer3) showed that surface waves tend to increase the mass flux within the film. Present results for these thicker films show that roughness tends to reduce this increase in mass flux, with the mass flux correction tending towards one as the roughness height is increased. For the thinner films it is shown that the liquid is driven primarily by the air shear for shallow roughness. For larger roughness with separated airflow, the air and film interact in such a way as to set up a constant mass flux through the film and to increase the amount of water in the vicinity of the roughness.
"Ping-pong gaze" secondary to monoamine oxidase inhibitor overdose.

An infrequent manifestation of monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) toxicity is “ping-pong gaze” (PPG). We describe the case of a 26-year-old female who was found unresponsive after taking 40 tablets of phenelzine. On presentation to the hospital, her eyes were moving in characteristic “ping pong” fashion. After 6 hours her gaze terminated. The following day her neurologic exam was benign and she had no long-term sequelae. While the etiology of PPG is unknown, it is most often seen with irreversible structural brain damage. However, a detailed literature review revealed that previous cases of MAOI toxicity where the patient survived have all had complete neurologic recovery.
U.S. Telecommunications Privacy Policy and Caller ID

Caller ID and its use of Calling Party Identification (CPI) has raised a public outcry about possible invasions of privacy. Is calling party identification an invasion of the calling party's "right" to privacy? This article examines the debate and two states' court decisions which have reached different conclusions. The article examines the current regulatory status of Caller ID. Then it critically examines and details the existing legal framework of privacy protection. U.S. Constitutional rights are examined, with a focus on the "State Action" doctrine, Informational Privacy and the Fourth Amendment. State constitutions are also examined. Federal statutory laws, particularly the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, as well as state wiretap laws are detailed. Then, common law privacy and privacy associated with a right of property are discussed, followed by policy considerations dealing with the issues of blocking and the protection of unlisted numbers. The study concludes that Caller ID is, for the most part, a legal service under the current regulatory framework. * Ph.D Mass Media (Telecommunications), Michigan State University 1993; M.A., University of Iowa 1983; B.S., Kearney State College 1982. Dr. Lee is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 1 Thomas Lee: U.S. Telecommunications Privacy Policy and Caller ID Published by CWSL Scholarly Commons, 1993 2 CALIFORNIA WESTERN LAW REVIEW [Vol. 30
Mythopoiesis and the Constitution of the Mytho-State in Plato and Heidegger

Is the state, by that we may loosely take as the ensemble of social practices that pertain to the management and authority of the polity, ever solely a rational construction? Liberal social contract theory, roughly speaking, posits the possibility that rational self-interested beings develop a consensus as to the need and constitution of the state. The state through its various forms and modalities as it evolved from its original constitution-making event is thus taken as inherently legitimate because of its intrinsic reflection of the original consent of the people. In this essay I seek to problematize this notion of the rational state by returning to the ways in which Plato, and more implicitly, Heidegger justifies, legitimizes and operationalizes the state as such. To do so is to first recognize the importance of the role of mythical thought in both Plato and Heidegger. Following the work of Leo Strauss, Ernst Cassirer and Hans Blumenberg, I argue that the theorization of the state also involves myth. In particular, following some of Strauss’ insights, rather than reading Plato’s Republic as a repudiation of myth as such, the Platonic “state” may be seen as an instance of, what may be called, mythopoiesis as reflected, for example, in the discussion of noble lie or the myth of Er. While Plato’s Republic provides the ground for the elaboration of the concept of mythopoiesis, Heidegger’s arguments against modern society, technology, and in fact art as aesthetics may perhaps be read as an attack against the very liberal idea of the state as a mechanical entity (as in Hobbes). In which case, the turn towards poetic language implicitly prompts the need for (re)establishing what I would call the mytho-state.
Pushing the Limits of Bonded Multi-Wafer Stack Heights While Maintaining High Precision Alignment

The last decade in advanced microelectronics has shown great interest in 3-D architectures, which was paved by multi-wafer alignment technologies. However, many limitations remain in the fabrication of ultratall stacks as the alignment becomes more challenging and very costly. In this paper, a new cost-effective alignment technique was employed using a set of sapphire rods in through-wafer holes. Cross-sectional analysis, edge profilometry, and electron transmission tests showed $\sim 2~\mu \text{m}$ alignment tolerances over 1 cm and $\sim 4~\mu \text{m}$ over 10-cm tall stacks. An off-angle gold sputtering method was developed to fully coat vias of 5:1 aspect ratio before bonding. Also, a new “Stamping” technique is introduced to coat the vias to a desired height where necessary. In this paper, parallel microtubes with the aspect ratios of 1000:1 were formed by aligning $\sim 200$ wafers, each including 20 000 gold-coated vias for storing charged particles. [2016-0049]
Identifying challenges and opportunities in computer-based vocational training for low-income communities of people with intellectual disabilities

Vocational training of people with disabilities (PwD) can potentially improve social and economic prospects, but at the same time, it can be significantly challenging due to the need for specialized training and technology. Unfortunately, in developing countries this problem is magnified because, in general, low-income groups have limited access to appropriate content and assistive technologies. In this paper, we present initial findings from a qualitative field study of computer-mediated vocational training for low-income students with intellectual disability (ID) in Brazil's largest urban area. The observations took place during 3 computer-based training sessions, which involved 23 students with ID. Based on data gathered from observations and semi-structured interviews with 2 instructors, we describe and discuss strategies they employ to teach heterogeneous groups of students with ID. We also examine some obstacles that our participants usually face during the classes at the computer lab and present suggestions for future initiatives that could better support instructors and students with ID in the learning process.
Trends in mortality from four major cancers by education, United States, 1993-2001

B66 Background: Cancer death rates from the four most common cancer sites have declined continuously in the U.S. since the early 1990’s, except for lung cancer in women. The extent to which this trend varies by individual-level socioeconomic status has not been examined. Methods: We calculated annual age-standardized death rates by level of education for cancer of the lung, breast, prostate, and colon and rectum among 25-64 year old non-Hispanic white and black men and women from 1993 through 2001 using mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics, education level recorded on the death certificate, and population data from the United States Bureau of Census Current Population Survey. We estimated the annual percent change in the age-standardized death rates over this time interval using a log-linear regression model. All tests were two sided (P, 0.05). Results: In the highest educated persons (16 or more years of education), death rates from 1993 through 2001 decreased for each of the four major cancers except for lung cancer in black women. In contrast, in least educated persons (
Team Teaching an Interdisciplinary First-Year Seminar on Magic, Religion, and the Origins of Science: A ‘Pieces-to-Picture’ Approach

Interdisciplinary teaching has been advocated as a means to foster cooperation between traditionally separate fields and broaden students’ perspectives in the classroom. We explored the pedagogical difficulties of interdisciplinary team teaching through a first-year seminar in magic, religion, and the origins of science. Although many accounts in the literature suggest a more cohesive approach to interdisciplinary teaching, we first introduced the separate fields, their methodologies, and limitations before combining the insights from all three fields to analyze case studies relating to the main themes of the course. In this case study, we reflect on how this ‘pieces-to-picture’ method reduced student confusion when confronted with several disciplines in our classroom.
The Role of Self-Identity in Predicting College Students' Intention to Consume Fruits and Vegetables.

Abstract Objective To identify factors influencing intention to consume fruits and vegetables (FV degrees of freedom = 104, root mean square error of approximation = 0.08; comparative fit index =0.95; Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.94). Self-identity was the most significant predictor of intention to consume fruits and vegetables, followed by attitude, past behavior, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norm among college students. Conclusions and Implications Nutrition education advocating the role of increased F&V consumption in positive self-identity, such as handouts incorporating images relatable to college students, may increase college students’ intention to consume F&V.
Meanvalues and Functional Equations

1. In this paper I shall discuss the functional equation of meanvalue theory. For more details 1 refer to Chapter 15 of a forth coming treatise “Methods of Classical and Functional Analysis”, Ad dison-Wesley, 1971.
Infrapopliteal peripheral arterial disease and critical limb ischemia: The time has come for collaborative, streamlined diagnostic, and treatment paradigms

Key Points The diagnosis, surveillance, and management of infrapopliteal critical limb ischemia remain inconsistent among clinicians. This study demonstrates that using an absolute ankle pressure of >73 mm Hg or an absolute toe pressure increase of 1 mm Hg or greater post endovascular intervention in patients with infrapopliteal critical limb ischemia may be predictive of a reduction in target limb revascularization, amputation, and death. This study highlights the need for vascular societies to come together to promote standardized screening, surveillance, and treatment paradigms for this complex population.
Sex differences in heart failure

Heart failure (HF) numbers continue to grow in the United States and approximately 50% of patients living with HF are women. For the provider, it is critical to understand the role that gender plays in recognition, diagnosis, and management. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight the prevalence of heart failure in women and discuss gender variations in epidemiology, symptoms, pharmacology, and treatment as well as examine the representation of women in clinical trials.
Transformation in Immunosuppression: Are We Ready for it?

Over the past 25 years there has been a dramatic reduction in biopsy-proven acute kidney allograft rejection rates, from 35%–50% to 10%–15% at 1-year post transplant.[1][1] This is remarkable, given the increasing complexity of both donor and recipients with an increase in average donor age to
Inmate Adjustment to Prison

Since the publication of The Prison Community (Clemmer, 1940) virtually thousands of books and articles have been published on prison life and the adjustment of prisoners to their confinement. Most authors depict prison life as destructive to inmates who reenter community life with increased knowledge concerning the mechanics of crime and a reserve of bitterness toward “the system.” In recent years, researchers have recognized that whereas incarceration impacts adversely on some prisoners, others cope relatively well with the stresses of confinement. Researchers have begun to identify factors, both external to the prison environment and internal to the inmate, as well as combinations of these factors that may influence the type of adjustment an inmate makes.
Simple Renal Cyst and High Renin Hypertension Cured by Cyst Decompression

A case of renin elevated hypertension cured by cyst decompression is presented. The proposed mechanism is segmental renal ischemia produced by the cyst. Renal cyst evaluation should include renin studies if hypertension is present.
Erratum to stem nourished by branches: glioblastomas co-opt classic neurotrophic factor signaling to maintain stem-like cell pool

Stem nourished by branches: glioblastomas co-opt classic neurotrophic factor signaling to maintain stem-like cell pool
Improve the Quality of Life of Elderly Through Family Role

Every human is getting old and we must attempt to be happy in the old time. The problem is 17.5% of elderly people have poor quality of life and 62.5% are sufficient. Elderly at this level needs immediate intervention because it will be a burden for families. communities and governments. This study aims to analyze the family participation on improving the quality of life. An observational study with cross sectional approach with population study at Posyandu Lansia Mekar Sari Surabaya. We used purposive sampling method. We took 54 samples elderly aged â‰¥ 60 years out of 96 elderly who enrolled in Posyandu year 2016. Data were obtained from WHOQoL-BREF and family role questionnaire. We analyzed the data with Rank Spearmanâ€™s Correlation. There was a positive correlation between the family role and the quality of life (p=0.000.. r=0.568). mainly by environmental domain (p=0.000. r=0.561). psychological domain (p=0.008. r=0.358). and social relations domain (p=0.011. r=0.345). but not for physical domain (p=0.154. r=0.917). The family participation such as adaptation. partnership. growth. affection. and resolve could be one method to improve the quality of life of elderly. Every increasing family value would add up to 26.3-43.2% assessment the quality of life.
A molecular dynamics study on stress generation during thin film growth

Abstract Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations have been employed to model the growth stresses of body-centered cubic (BCC) metal thin films, with tungsten being the primary case study, as a function of various embryonic island textures, grain sizes, grain morphologies, deposition rates, and deposition energies. Depending on the shape and size of the islands, the tensile stress varied as a function of the available contact area. If the adatoms were sufficiently confined to the surface, the tops of these islands initiated the elastic strain for coalescence. This was particularly relevant for island morphologies that had varied curvature gradients near the contact points. Depending on the texture of the film, the roughness changed, with the 〈1 1 1〉 orientation being the roughest and 〈0 0 1〉 orientation being the smoothest. These topologies are explained by differences in surface diffusivities. The injection energy of adatoms was found to have a dramatic effect on film stress. Species with injection energies in excess of 50 eV resulted in a notable increase in the structural disorder at the grain boundary-free surface intersection which corresponded to a reduction of the tensile stress. Upon ceasing deposition, these disordered regions experienced a recovery to the BCC structure with an increase in the tensile stress. Upon resuming deposition, at the same energies, the disordered structure re-developed and the stress became less tensile and matched the prior deposited stress evolution. Finally, reducing the grain size resulted in an increase in tensile stress up to a critical size, whereupon it decreased. This reversion is explained in terms of grain growth and grain boundary structure during deposition. Through these series of systemically controlled MD simulations, the paper addresses the significance of different microstructures on the evolution of thin film stress.
‘Haciendas and Plantations’: History and limitations of a 60-year-old taxonomy:

In 1957, Eric R Wolf and Sidney W Mintz published ‘Haciendas and Plantations in Middle America and the Antilles’ in the Jamaican journal Social and Economic Studies. This article discusses the prod...
Integrating Engineering Leadership Throughout an Undergraduate Engineering Degree

This innovative practice full paper describes an effort to create a thread of engineering leadership development throughout an undergraduate engineering degree at The University of Texas at El Paso. The first bachelor’s degree of its kind in the nation, this new degree is housed in the Department of Engineering Education and Leadership and has a heavy emphasis on integrating fundamental engineering theory and skills with business acumen and leadership development (e-lead.utep.edu). In developing the leadership component of the degree, the faculty understood that one of the most effective methods by which people learn to develop as leaders is through practice. Therefore, rather than place all leadership development in a single course in the Engineering Leadership Program (E-Lead), the degree was designed to have a coordinated thread of leadership development throughout the degree plan, encompassing both curricular and extracurricular opportunities. Focused heavily on practice and application, a framework for leadership development was designed to take a tiered approach. For all students, in-class activities introduce fundamental concepts of engineering leadership in the context of teamwork and engineering project management in the E-Lead courses. For those students interested in more in-depth experience and training, additional extracurricular leadership development opportunities were made available in the form of coaching or attending leadership conferences and workshops. In all of these activities, the focus is on helping students to develop their character, capacity, and competence. Having recently graduated the first cohort of students using this leadership development approach, this paper describes the framework used for leadership development and the key activities dispersed throughout the engineering leadership thread. Further, this paper includes qualitative results from assessing the impact of these activities on our graduating cohort.
Bi-Level Sparse Coding: A Hyperspectral Image Classification Example

Abstract We present a semisupervised method for single pixel classification of hyperspectral images. The proposed method is designed to address the special problematic characteristics of hyperspectral images, namely, high dimensionality of hyperspectral pixels, lack of labeled samples, and spatial variability of spectral signatures. To alleviate these problems, the proposed method features the following components. First, being a semisupervised approach, it exploits the wealth of unlabeled samples in the image by evaluating the confidence probability of the predicted labels, for each unlabeled sample. Second, we propose to jointly optimize the classifier parameters and the dictionary atoms by a task-driven formulation, in order to ensure that the learned features (sparse codes) are optimal for the trained classifier. Finally, it incorporates spatial information through adding a Laplacian smoothness regularization to the output of the classifier, rather than the sparse codes, making the spatial constraint more flexible. The proposed method is compared to a few comparable methods for classification of several popular datasets, and it produces significantly better classification results.