cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
D-Cube: Dense-Block Detection in Terabyte-Scale Tensors

How can we detect fraudulent lockstep behavior in large-scale multi-aspect data (i.e., tensors)? Can we detect it when data are too large to fit in memory or even on a disk? Past studies have shown that dense blocks in real-world tensors (e.g., social media, Wikipedia, TCP dumps, etc.) signal anomalous or fraudulent behavior such as retweet boosting, bot activities, and network attacks. Thus, various approaches, including tensor decomposition and search, have been used for rapid and accurate dense-block detection in tensors. However, all such methods have low accuracy, or assume that tensors are small enough to fit in main memory, which is not true in many real-world applications such as social media and web. To overcome these limitations, we propose D-Cube, a disk-based dense-block detection method, which also can be run in a distributed manner across multiple machines. Compared with state-of-the-art methods, D-Cube is (1) Memory Efficient: requires up to 1,600 times less memory and handles 1,000 times larger data (2.6TB), (2) Fast: up to 5 times faster due to its near-linear scalability with all aspects of data, (3) Provably Accurate: gives a guarantee on the densities of the blocks it finds, and (4) Effective: successfully spotted network attacks from TCP dumps and synchronized behavior in rating data with the highest accuracy.
Pulsed Laser Evaporation of Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O Films

Pulsed Laser Evaporation (PLE) has been shown to produce superconducting films of excellent quality. We will be discussing the results obtained from the PLE of Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O using a frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser operating at 532 mn. Films were deposited on SrTiO3, MgO, yttrium stabilized ZrO2, and polycrystalline Al2O3. Nearly single phase films of Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10 on MgO were routinely obtained. The best films exhibited a superconducting transition onset temperature of about 125K and zero resistance at 110K. The films had a c-axis orientation perpendicular to the substrates. X-ray microprobe fluorescence measurements indicate that a typical composition of the films is Tl0.66Ba1.77Ca1.46Cu3Ox, which is low in Ti compared to that expected for the 2:2:2:3 phase. The typical grain size is greater than 10 μm as revealed by scanning electron microscopy.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Anesthetic Implications

Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has earned a prominent and revolutionary role in diagnostic imaging by allowing high-resolution image acquisition without harmful ionizing radiations. MRI has also gained recognition as an indispensible therapeutic adjunct in minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures by allowing precise targeting of lesions in patients with tumors or movement disorders. Newer applications such as functional MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy allow visualization and mapping of activity of task-specific neuronal networks, which has significant implications across a number of specialties including functional neurosurgery and psychiatry. The unique hazards of strong magnetic and radiofrequency fields, the confined space and prolonged imaging times of MRI pose unique challenges and significant limitations to patients and caregivers alike. Strict regulations serve to enhance the safe delivery of MRI. The provision of MRI for patients with implantable electronic devices such as pacemakers remains a particular area of concern and focus of research and guideline development. Anesthesiologists must have a thorough understanding of the unique aspects of anesthetic management in the MRI environment.
3-Dimensional Printing of Medical Devices and Supplies

Applications 3-dimensional printing technology, specifically that of the RepRap FDM printing apparatus, can vastly enhance the surgical capacity of health facilities in developing countries. In defining the problem of disparities and lack of adequate surgical care, once again the fundamental problem of medical
A Correlation Network Model Utilizing Gait Parameters for Evaluating Health Levels

Healthcare is moving rapidly from the long-standing reactive treatment approach to the early detection and preventative era. However, to fully embrace this trend, new approaches need to be developed. A step in this direction is to explore how to leverage data collected from wearables sensors to help in assessing health levels. This would pave the way for continuously monitoring individuals, which, in turn, lead to helping physicians diagnose diseases in the early stages. However, a major missing piece in moving forward with this concept is the lack of a sophisticated data analytics model. In this study, we propose a new correlation network model in which several aspects associated with health levels can be identified using population analysis. The proposed model is based on identifying various mobility parameters associated with groups under study, then a correlation network is developed based on the specified parameters. In such network, each node corresponds to a person and two nodes are connected by an edge if the corresponding individuals share similar mobility profiles. We show that various network properties reflect health information of the groups under study. To test the proposed model, we use gait parameters collected from three various groups, healthy younger people, geriatrics and Parkinson's disease patients. Obtained results show that the proposed model is very promising and can be a starting point towards a robust population analysis technique for utilizing mobility data in assessing health levels and predicting potential health hazards.
UNE APPROCHE PRAGMATIQUE DE L’ANALYSE DU DISCOURS ET SON APPLICATION À LA DIDACTIQUE DU FRANÇAIS SUR OBJECTIF SPECIFIQUE

Aujourd’hui, la communication est devenue une composante essentielle du travail et les competences communicatives sont recherchees pour la majorite des postes de travail. La qualite des interactions est d’une grande importance pour ameliorer la performance des entreprises. Etant donne que les competences pragmatiques representent l’un des elements indispensables des competences communicatives generales, notre interet est de reveler la manifestation de certaines caracteristiques pragmatiques du discours. Comment une approche pragmatique de l’analyse du discours peut contribuer a la didactique du francais sur objectif specifique (FOS)? La pragmatique vise a comprendre dans quelle mesure les echanges verbaux depassent un simple echange d’information et influencent l’interlocuteur vers une action ou vers un changement de comportement, d’attitude, de la croyance, de la valeur, etc. Alors, une approche pragmatique de l’analyse du discours devrait decrire les elements discursifs dans le discours, tels que l’organisation et la structuration des phrases, l’articulation des propositions dans le texte, l’organisation thematique et logique, la coherence et la cohesion, la construction de l’argumentation etc. A cet effet, nous analyserons un corpus constitue des phrases issues du discours economique et commercial.
Discrete element analysis is a valid method for computing joint contact stress in the hip before and after acetabular fracture.

Evaluation of abnormalities in joint contact stress that develop after inaccurate reduction of an acetabular fracture may provide a potential means for predicting the risk of developing post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Discrete element analysis (DEA) is a computational technique for calculating intra-articular contact stress distributions in a fraction of the time required to obtain the same information using the more commonly employed finite element analysis technique. The goal of this work was to validate the accuracy of DEA-computed contact stress against physical measurements of contact stress made in cadaveric hips using Tekscan sensors. Four static loading tests in a variety of poses from heel-strike to toe-off were performed in two different cadaveric hip specimens with the acetabulum intact and again with an intentionally malreduced posterior wall acetabular fracture. DEA-computed contact stress was compared on a point-by-point basis to stress measured from the physical experiments. There was good agreement between computed and measured contact stress over the entire contact area (correlation coefficients ranged from 0.88 to 0.99). DEA-computed peak contact stress was within an average of 0.5 MPa (range 0.2-0.8 MPa) of the Tekscan peak stress for intact hips, and within an average of 0.6 MPa (range 0-1.6 MPa) for fractured cases. DEA-computed contact areas were within an average of 33% of the Tekscan-measured areas (range: 1.4-60%). These results indicate that the DEA methodology is a valid method for accurately estimating contact stress in both intact and fractured hips.
It's input that matters most, not age

The splendid review provided by Mayberry and Kluender (2017) confirms Lenneberg's 1967 hypothesis that a Critical Period (CP) exists for the establishment of a native language. However, Lenneberg's extension of the CP hypothesis to the later learning of an L2, based on his observation that most individuals who learn an L2 after about the age of 13 speak it with a foreign accent (FA), is doubtful.
What If Neighbors’ Neighborhoods Differ? The Influence of Neighborhood Definitions of Health Outcomes in Accra

Neighborhood context is recognized as an important predictor of individual-level behaviors and health outcomes (Pickett and Pearl 2001; Lee and Cubbin 2002; Sampson 2003). Neighborhoods, however, are difficult to define both in theory and in practice, and are often drawn to follow existing administrative boundaries or sampling schemes, or must be set arbitrarily due to a lack of sufficient data. Given the role of neighborhood context in influencing health outcomes, it is crucial that the area of influence surrounding the unit of analysis (be it a person, household, etc.) be properly defined. As already discussed in previous chapters, if we do not identify neighborhoods correctly, we cannot properly evaluate neighborhood effects. Defining neighborhoods is a challenge across the social sciences; investigations of the role of neighborhood context in decision making and shaping of individual-level outcomes are seen in public health, geography, demography, and sociology with no consistent approach to identifying and evaluating neighborhood effects. In this chapter, we outline several types of neighborhood definitions from the literature, and then, using data from the Women’s Health Study of Accra, implement a spatial model together with a simulation approach to examine how two alternative neighborhood definitions affect modeling of individual-level health outcomes.
The Name of the Ruse and the Round Table: Occitan Romance and the Case for Cultural Resistance

Occitania defined its political identity in cultural terms, and as distinct from the rest of France. In the literary battle for poetic mastery Southern lyricism made its conquest of the Northern courts, but the all-pervasive pan-European spirit of Northern French courtly romance made few in-roads into the South, as the scarcity of examples attests. Using Jaufre, this article argues that its narrative mechanism suggests a comic encoding of resistance to the conventions of the roman courtois. Jaufre lampoons knightly heroism through the construction of the hero and his adversaries, chief among them Taulat de Rogimon, whose very name means “table” in Occitan. He is an anti-Round Table, a personification of moral and social disorder. Jaufre's other opponents are fragmentary aspects of the principle he represents. Having analysed his and other names in the romance, the other meanings of taulat are considered – namely “writing table” and “gaming table” – in order to suggest that this is a romance about subtle and playful literary composition. The conceptual integrity of the courtly romance seems impossible to maintain in the different social fabric of Southern France, and resistance to it is supported by other texts, such as the vida of Elias Fonsalada.
Is forensic science in danger of extinction

Abstract Observations of modern day forensic science has prompted asking the question of whether this field is in danger of extinction. Although there have undoubtedly been meaningful advancements in analytical capabilities, we have overlooked several unintended practical and philosophical consequences. This article addresses three main areas of concern: the declining role of the generalist in an era of increased specialization, the role of education in preparing the next generation of forensic scientists, and the implementation of advanced instrumentation with a focus on statistical significance and field deployable instrumentation.
Progress Note Quality Improvement Study: Results From a Resident and Faculty Survey (P3.168)

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the perceived quality of progress notes on the inpatient neurology service at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). Background: URMC utilizes an electronic medical record for submission of notes. Use of an electronic medical record has several advantages including increased availability and legibility of records. However it also has unintended negative consequences including frequent use of copy forward functions and templated data. This has led to concerns about the quality of notes in electronic medical records. Design/Methods: Physicians from the department of Neurology were asked to rate the average quality of inpatient progress notes, estimate the amount of copied forward material in the notes, and report whether they had encountered errors in the notes using a 10 item survey. Results: Responses from 19 attending physicians and 13 residents/fellows were recorded from September to October 2016. Approximately 16% of respondents rated the quality of the notes on the neurology inpatient service as poor or very poor and 50% rated the quality as neutral with only approximately 34% rating the quality as good or very good. Most respondents reported that they believed over 50% of progress notes to contain material copied from prior notes and 87.5% indicated that they believed the copy forward function creates error. There were 15 people who reported encountering a significant error in a progress note. Conclusions: Progress notes were largely rated as neutral in quality, likely due to the high proportion of copied-forward material and the identification of errors in notes. The goal is for the majority of notes written on the neurology service to be rated as good or very good and for Disclosure: Dr. Zyloney has nothing to disclose. Dr. Thompson-Stone has nothing to disclose.
Reduction in postoperative ileus rates utilizing lower pressure pneumoperitoneum in robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is the most commonly performed surgery for prostate cancer. This is a study comparing differences in postoperative outcomes between pneumoperitoneum pressures of 15 mmHg and 12 mmHg. Retrospective chart review was performed on 400 patients undergoing RARP over a 5 year period. A combination of Fisher’s exact test and ANOVA were utilized for statistical analysis. Age, BMI, Gleason score, positive margin rate, complication rates, blood loss, and operative times were similar in both groups. Length of stay and postoperative ileus rates were significantly less in the 12 mmHg group (p < 0.05). RARP can be safely performed utilizing a lower pressure pneumoperitoneum. Decreasing insufflation pressures from 15 to 12 mmHg can further lead to decreased rates of postoperative ileus.
Comparison of costs and short-term clinical outcomes of per-oral endoscopic myotomy and laparoscopic Heller myotomy.

Abstract Objective Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) has seen increasing application and comparisons to laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM). The aim of the present study was to compare perioperative and short-term outcomes, and costs between the two procedures at a single institution. Methods Fifty-one consecutive patients documented in a prospective IRB approved database from January 2014 to December 2017 were included. Perioperative data, pre-operative and 3-month postoperative Eckardt Scores, and cost data were compared. Results Median hospital stay was comparable between POEM and LHM (1 day each). Complications were minor (Clavien-Dindo 1, 2) and rare in both groups. Median Eckardt scores improved significantly after POEM (5 to 0) and LHM (5 to 0). Normalized median costs were comparable: 14 201 USD (POEM) vs. 13 328 USD (LHM) p = 0.45. Conclusions POEM demonstrates comparable clinical outcomes and costs to LHM. Long-term issues related to GERD require ongoing assessment in POEM patients. Summary In patients with achalasia, extended myotomy of the lower esophageal sphincter offers excellent palliation of symptoms. In the last decades, laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) has been the gold standard. Over the past decade, per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has seen wide application in specialized centers worldwide. In our patient cohort, we demonstrate, that POEM can be introduced with similar outcomes and costs compared to LHM.
Acute carpal tunnel syndrome secondary to radiation treatment: A case report

Carpal tunnel syndrome has a prevalence of 1% to 10%, and while acute carpal tunnel syndrome makes up the minority of cases of this compression neuropathy, it is important to recognize as a distinct entity because prompt surgical treatment can decrease long-term morbidity. The most common causes of acute carpal tunnel syndrome are trauma to the hand or wrist, infection, and disorders of rheumatological, hemorrhagic and vascular origin. The present case report demonstrates the role of radiation therapy as a cause for acute carpal tunnel syndrome, a cause that has not been reported previously.
Ommaya Reservoir Insertion: A Technical Note

Ommaya reservoir insertion is an elective neurosurgical procedure to deliver repeated intraventricular therapy, but placement can be complicated by malposition of the catheter, clogging, infection or poor postoperative cosmesis. Here, we describe the technique used by the senior author for accurate placement including preassembly of the reservoir and catheter, and recessing of the reservoir so that others may consider the technique for their practice. Results in a consecutive series of 27 Ommaya placements were reviewed. Catheter tip placement accuracy, complications and surgical times were reported. Indications were leptomeningeal cancer or infection. Postoperative imaging showed the catheter tip was located in the frontal horn (96%) or body (4%) of the ipsilateral lateral ventricle. The median surgical time was 36 minutes (range 17-63 minutes). There were no parenchymal or subarachnoid hemorrhages. Infections occurred in 7% (n=2) of cases, and both infections presented greater than 60 days postoperative. In conclusion, we have found that image guidance can optimize accuracy in placement, that preassembly of the reservoir and catheter may be used with a 25-gauge spinal needle stylet to minimize risk of clogging during placement, and that recessing of the reservoir produces the best aesthetic result.
Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Control Signaling in a Factory Environment

The recently released 3GPP Fifth Generation New Radio (5G NR), does not always meet ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) requirements that are becoming more necessary as massive machine-type communications (mMTC) evolve. Sixth Generation communications (6G) will implement URLLC solutions capable of satisfying a large spectrum of latency and reliability requirements. Currently, control channels implemented in 5G NR suffer from low spectral efficiency, hence, in a high traffic network may fail to satisfy the URLLC requirements. Cyclic prefixed direct sequence spread spectrum (CP-DSSS) is an LTE compatible waveform that has recently been proposed as a more efficient signaling that better satisfies the needs of URLLC. In this article, CP-DSSS is further developed and its usefulness to a 3GPP-proposed factory floor is presented through a system-level simulation.
Romania: the Eternal Candidate?

Romania has achieved considerable economic progress lately, but is still entangled in its own recent past and risks becoming a chronically unsuccessful EU applicant. While Europe endorsed a big bang enlargement to ten countries, with Romania and Bulgaria to follow in 2007, evidence both historical and contemporary is scarce to prove that economic catch up is possible. More often than not, development tends to group countries in regional clusters, and Romania has belonged so far with the rest of South-Eastern Europa, in the most economically backward group. Comparative analysis shows that the different results achieved by post-communist countries in their turn towards democracy and capitalism depend on the conditions at the onset of the transformation, rather than to the transition management.1 Nevertheless, the extent to which the heritage of communist times was tackled is a crucial factor in explaining successful or failed transitions.
Coagulation Profile as a Significant Risk Factor for Short-Term Complications and Mortality after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Background Cervical degenerative disc disease is the most common indication for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Given the possible complications, patients are stratified before anterior cervical discectomy and fusion by preoperative risk factors to optimize treatment. One preoperative factor is a patient's coagulation profile. Methods The American College of Surgeons–National Surgical Quality Improvement Database was used to identify patient preoperative coagulation profile and postoperative complications. By generating binary logistic regression models, each of the 4 abnormal coagulation categories (bleeding disorder, low platelet count, high partial thromboplastin time, and high international normalized ratio [INR]) were analyzed for their independent impact on increased risk for complications compared with the control cohort. Results A total of 61,977 patients were assessed. The most common abnormal coagulation was abnormal platelet count (n = 2149). The most common postoperative outcome was an extended length of hospital stay among patients with an abnormal coagulation profile relative to the control cohort. After multivariate analysis, patients with an abnormal INR (odds ratio, 2.2 [1.3–3.8]; P = 0.003) or abnormal platelet count (odds ratio, 1.5 [1.2–2.1]; P = 0.003) had a higher chance of having an extended length of hospital stay relative to patients having a normal coagulation profile. Having an abnormal INR was found to be associated with an increased risk for having “Any complication.” Conclusions Our results show significant differences in the incidence rates of a multitude of complications among the 5 groups based on univariate analysis. Patients with any abnormal coagulation disorder had increased rates of developing any complication or having an extended length of hospital stay.
Advanced Multi-Dimensional Cellular Models as Emerging Reality to Reproduce In Vitro the Human Body Complexity

A hot topic in biomedical science is the implementation of more predictive in vitro models of human tissues to significantly improve the knowledge of physiological or pathological process, drugs discovery and screening. Bidimensional (2D) culture systems still represent good high-throughput options for basic research. Unfortunately, these systems are not able to recapitulate the in vivo three-dimensional (3D) environment of native tissues, resulting in a poor in vitro–in vivo translation. In addition, intra-species differences limited the use of animal data for predicting human responses, increasing in vivo preclinical failures and ethical concerns. Dealing with these challenges, in vitro 3D technological approaches were recently bioengineered as promising platforms able to closely capture the complexity of in vivo normal/pathological tissues. Potentially, such systems could resemble tissue-specific extracellular matrix (ECM), cell–cell and cell–ECM interactions and specific cell biological responses to mechanical and physical/chemical properties of the matrix. In this context, this review presents the state of the art of the most advanced progresses of the last years. A special attention to the emerging technologies for the development of human 3D disease-relevant and physiological models, varying from cell self-assembly (i.e., multicellular spheroids and organoids) to the use of biomaterials and microfluidic devices has been given.
System Geometries and Transit/Eclipse Probabilities

Transiting exoplanets provide access to data to study the mass-radius relation and internal structure of extrasolar planets. Long-period transiting planets allow insight into planetary environments similar to the Solar System where, in contrast to hot Jupiters, planets are not constantly exposed to the intense radiation of their parent stars. Observations of secondary eclipses additionally permit studies of exoplanet temperatures and large-scale exo-atmospheric properties. We show how transit and eclipse probabilities are related to planet-star system geometries, particularly for long-period, eccentric orbits. The resulting target selection and observational strategies represent the principal ingredients of our photometric survey of known radial-velocity planets with the aim of detecting transit signatures (TERMS).
Statistical analysis of one thousand abortions

Abstract 1. 1. One thousand cases of abortion are reported. 2. 2. There is evidence of increasing number of abortions, principally in the self-induced group. 3. 3. Religion does not seem to be a deterrent to induction of abortion. 4. 4. As Taussig states, “abortion is a problem concerned with the married woman,” both induced and criminal, and it is in this group that the high death rate is contained. 5. 5. Most spontaneous and induced abortions occur under three months and most often under 30 years of age, increasing again in incidence after 35. The criminal abortions occur in greatest percentage in single women and early married life. 6. 6. The total abortion incidence is 1 abortion to 2.7 pregnancies and 1 abortion to 1.6 confinements. This is according to the histories of our abortion cases. The relation of hospital abortion to hospital confinements is as 1:5.3 and stillbirths to abortions as 1:5.2. 7. 7. Hemorrhage is a factor in lowering the resistance of the patient but not in the mortality. 8. 8. Missed abortions were of 0.3 per cent incidence; therapeutic abortions 0.5 per cent. 9. 9. The mortality rate was 1.9 per cent with the most frequent complications septicemia, peritonitis, pneumonia, phlebitis, and distant infarcts. 10. 10. Operative incidence 51 per cent. 11. 11. We have followed the conservative treatment established, here by Adair and Litzenberg, that is, in septic cases, we use expectant treatment unless complicated by hemorrhage; incision of abscesses if properly located, later evacuation if necessary when there is approximately normal leucocyte count and temperature for a period of at least five days. The sedimentation time does not seem to be of much value here. Nonseptic cases are evacuated, almost routinely, to conserve blood and shorten hospitalization. Repeated transfusions are of particular value in infected cases, and of course those with hemorrhage. Nearly all cases with a hemoglobin of 60 per cent or less received one or more transfusions. Sulfanilamide seems to give promise of potent therapy. 12. 12. Invalidism, more or less permanent, and the high maternal mortality of abortion may hopefully be combated through improvement in moral and economic standards, education in family limitation, and early prenatal care. Endocrine and vitamin therapy may eliminate many of the spontaneous abortions.
Force measurements between particles and the air-water interface: implications for particle mobilization in unsaturated porous media.

[1] Capillary forces acting at the air-water interface play an important role in colloid fate and transport in subsurface porous media. We quantified capillary forces between different particles (sphere, cylinder, cube, disk, sheet, and natural mineral particles) and a moving air-water interface. The particles had different sizes and contact angles (ranging from 14° to 121°). Theoretical calculations using the Young-Laplace equation were used to support and generalize the experimental data. When the air-water interface moved over the particles, there were strong capillary forces acting on the particles in the direction of the moving interface. The measured maximum capillary forces were similar to those calculated by the Young-Laplace equation. The larger the contact angles and the larger the particle size, the stronger were the capillary forces. Particles with irregular shape and sharp edges experienced greater forces than smooth particles. Generalization of the results indicates that capillary forces exerted by a moving air-water interface can readily exceed attractive Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) and gravity forces for typical subsurface particles, and a moving air-water interface is therefore an effective mechanism for mobilization of particles in porous media. Particles in the colloidal size range are particularly susceptible for mobilization by a moving air-water interface.
Applying Utilitarian Ethics and Rights Theory to the Regulation of Insider Trading in Transition Economies

The press has given the public the impression that insider trading is evil, unethical and illegal, when in fact such is not always the case. In some cases, insider trading is beneficial to the economy and to shareholders. Whether insider trading is harmful, unethical or illegal depends on many factors. Policymakers in transition economies are trying to reform their legal and economic systems to more closely reflect those of the developed market economies. However, those policies are often flawed because they tend to outlaw some forms of insider trading that are beneficial to the economy and not unethical in nature. This paper examines recent trends in the regulation of insider trading in transition economies, then applies utilitarian ethics and rights theory to determine which policies are appropriate. More than 35 links to other insider trading articles and World Bank studies are also provided.
PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS WITHIN NONSORTED STONY EARTH CIRCLES, COLORADO

While stony earth circles, like many forms of patterned ground, result from a variety of processes, a common a priori assumption seems to be that a single process dominates circle formation in a particular region. This study evaluates two models (frost heave and deflation) for the formation of nonsorted stony earth circles in two populations of circles on Niwot Ridge, Colorado, by examination of the coarse particle and silt distributions within the circles using Principal Components, Cluster, and Discriminant Analyses. Samples were collected at 2.5 cm depth increments from two populations (Sites A and B). Circles from the two sites differ in particle size distributions and possibly in dominant mechanism of formation. At Site A, circles form in materials with higher silt content (i.e., greater frost susceptibility) than adjoining vegetated surfaces, and with moderate amounts of coarse material. Although frost heave may be active within the circles, the coarse particle distribution suggests deflation create...
Personalized Faculty Support from Central IT Geo-Teams

Great professors focus on the core competencies of their discipline, not on Information Technology support. Meanwhile, information technology has become an integral part of their instruction and research. Professors cannot depend solely on generic, campus-wide IT service offerings. Each professor has unique information technology needs. As technology has become more complex and security risks have grown, each professor requires personalized information technology support.
Mirror Meningioma at Foramen Magnum: A Management Challenge.

Background Meningiomas of the foramen magnum are among the most challenging of all skull base lesions. Controversies continue regarding the most appropriate approach to this critical anatomic region. The authors report a first case in English literature about twin meningiomas arising from both sides of the ventrolateral dura at the foramen magnum. Case Description Preoperative imaging showed a solitary mass engulfing the lower medulla. However, intraoperatively a twin mass was discovered. It encased the right side vertebral artery (VA) and abutted the left side. The unilateral far lateral transcondylar approach is not enough to resect both tumors at the same time. However, the far lateral transcondylar approach in both sides may compromise the stability and increase the risk of injury to either side of the neurovascular structures. Conclusions We suggest that resection can be safely achieved via the unilateral far lateral transcondylar approach followed by Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) or a staged bilateral approach.
Female infertility in mice lacking connexin 37

The signals regulating ovarian follicle development and the mechanisms by which they are communicated are largely undefined. At birth, the ovary contains primordial follicles consisting of meiotically arrested oocytes surrounded by a single layer of supporting (granulosa) cells. Periodically, subsets of primordial follicles undergo further development during which the oocyte increases in size and the granulosa cells proliferate, stratify and develop a fluid-filled antrum. After ovulation, oocytes resume meiosis and granulosa cells retained in the follicle differentiate into steroidogenic cells, forming the corpus luteum. It has been proposed that intercellular signalling through gap junction channels may influence aspects of follicular development. Gap junctions are aggregations of intercellular channels composed of connexins, a family of at least 13 related proteins that directly connect adjacent cells allowing the diffusional movement of ions, metabolites, and other potential signalling molecules. Here we show that connexin 37 is present in gap junctions between oocyte and granulosa cells and that connexin 37-deficient mice lack mature (Graafian) follicles, fail to ovulate and develop numerous inappropriate corpora lutea. In addition, oocyte development arrests before meiotic competence is achieved. Thus, cell-cell signalling through intercellular channels critically regulates the highly coordinated set of cellular interactions required for successful oogenesis and ovulation.
Reconfigurable microstrip Yagi-Uda antenna with a scannable circularly polarized beam

This paper proposes a novel reconfigurable microstrip antenna with circularly polarized beam scanning feature. It is based on a microstrip Yagi-Uda antenna of two square patches. One patch is driven with two orthogonal feeds and the other is a parasitic. The parasitic patch is loaded with four lumped varactors and a DC biasing network, to effectively change its electrical size. Because the main beam direction is determined by the electrical size of the parasitic patch, electronic beam scanning is allowed by changing the capacitance value through the applied DC voltage. Operating at 2.45 GHz, the antenna shows a beam scanning range from −36° to 32° with 2.3 dB gain variation across the entire scanning range and gain peak value of 8.1dBi.
Design and performance of a thermosiphon heat recovery system

The design and performance of a thermosiphon heat recovery system that recovers heat rejected from an air conditioner is described by presenting some experimental test data. This paper presents an experimental setup that was designed, developed, and constructed to help the undergraduate mechanical engineering students in understanding the basic heat transfer processes by utilizing real life applications such as using waste heat from a window type air conditioner to heat water for residential and commercial use. Heat recovery from an air conditioner by thermosiphon is attractive because it eliminates the need for a circulating pump. Results indicate that the design of the thermosiphon heat recovery system was a success.
Antioxidant and NF-κB inhibitory constituents isolated from Morchella esculenta

Morchella esculenta Pers. (Morchellaceae) was investigated for its antioxidant activity by measuring the intracellular reactive oxygen species in HT-29 colon cancer cells. The methylene chloride extract, which showed the highest antioxidant activity, led to the isolation of four fungal sterols, 1–4, and trilinolein (5), in addition to methyl myristate (6), 1-linoleoylglycerol (7), and ceramide (8). The isolated compounds were identified through the analysis of various spectroscopic methods. In the hydroxyl radical assay, 5-dihydroergosterol exhibited significant antioxidant activity. All compounds isolated were also tested using an enzyme-based Elisa NF-κB assay. Fungal sterols and trilinolein showed significant inhibition of NF-κB activation in the NF-κB assay.
Litter-Dwelling Arthropod Abundance Peaks Near Coarse Woody Debris in Loblolly Pine Forests of the Southeastern United States

Several recent studies have shown that many litter-dwelling arthropod and other invertebrate taxa (e.g., Isopoda, Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Araneae, Pseudo scorpionida, Coleoptera, and Gastropoda) are more numerous near dead wood than away from it in the broad-leaved forests of Europe (Jabin et al. 2004; Topp et al. 2006a, 2006b; Kappes et al. 2006; Kappes 2006; Jabin et al. 2007) and New Zealand (Evans et al. 2003). Whether these trends hold true in pine-dominated forests, such as those in the southeastern United States, remains unknown. To address this question, we sampled litter dwelling arthropods adjacent (,,;;15 cm) to, and away (>2 m) from, logs at 3 stages of decay in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) forests in South Carolina, USA.
Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3−δ – A new bi-functional catalyst for rechargeable metal-air battery applications

Abstract Sm 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3− δ (SSC) was evaluated as a bi-functional catalyst for rechargeable metal-air battery cathodes. The catalyst was homogenously dispersed on corrosion-resistant graphitized Vulcan XC-72R carbon powder for the cathode fabrication. For comparison, the air cathode catalyzed with the widely studied perovskite La 0.6 Ca 0.4 CoO 3 (LCC) was included in the evaluation. Based on the polarization curves, SSC exhibited similar catalytic activities as LCC for both oxygen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction. Furthermore, the air cathode prepared with SSC exhibited an improved cyclic life. These results suggest that SSC is a promising alternative to LCC as a bi-functional catalyst for metal-air battery cathode applications.
Traumatic hemipelvectomy: case report and literature review

Traumatic hemipelvectomy is a rare but devastating injury involving complete disruption of the hemipelvis from the pubic symphysis to the sacroiliac joints and often results in death. We present an interesting case of traumatic hemipelvectomy caused by a previously undescribed mechanism of injury in which judicious angiography and aggressive surgical treatment contributed to patient survival.
On the condition number of Gaussian sample-covariance matrices

The authors examine the reasons behind the fact that the Gaussian autocorrelation-function model, widely used in remote sensing, yields a particularly ill-conditioned sample-covariance matrix in the case of many strongly correlated samples. The authors explore the question numerically and relate the magnitude of the matrix-condition number to the nonnegativity requirement satisfied by all correlation functions. They show that the condition number exhibits explosive growth near the boundary of the allowed-parameter space, simple numerical recipes are suggested in order to avoid this instability.
The Demography of the Kingdom of Ends

In the Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals' Kant is explicit, sometimes to the point of peevishness, in denying anthropology and psychology any part or place in his moral science. Recognizing that this will strike many as counterintuitive he is unrepentant: 'We require no skill to make ourselves intelligible to the multitude once we renounce all profundity of thought'.2 That the doctrine to be defended is not exemplified in daily experience or even in imaginable encounters is necessitated by the very nature of morality which cannot be served worse '. . . than by seeking to derive it from examples'.3 Thus, the project of the moral philosopher begins with the recognition that the moral realm is not mapped by anthropological data and does not get its content therefrom. Rather, moral philosophy must be 'completely cleansed' of everything that is appropriate to anthropology:
Selective and Quantitative Catalytic Hydrogenation: A Safe, Inexpensive Experiment for Large Classes

Students measure the rate of hydrogenation of 4-vinylcyclohexene in the presence of an inexpensive, non-pyrophoric nickel boride (PI) catalyst prepared from nickel(II) acetate and sodium borohydride. The vinyl group hydrogenates rapidly followed by the distinctly slower hydrogenation of the cyclohexene. An atmospheric hydrogenation apparatus for the experiment is easily constructed from a 50-mL buret, a rubber thermometer adapter, a small pear-shaped flask, two short Pasteur pipets, two small syringe caps, a leveling bulb or separatory funnel, a small rubber stopper, and some Tygon tubing.
Kinetics and Structural Constraints of Chromate Reduction by Green Rusts

Green rusts, ferrous-ferric iron oxides, occur in many anaerobic soils and sediments and are highly reactive, making them important phases impacting the fate and transport of environmental contaminants. Despite their potential importance in environmental settings, reactions involving green rusts remain rather poorly described. Chromate is a widespread contaminant having deleterious impacts on plant and animal health; its fate may in part be controlled by green rust. Here we examine chromate reduction by a series of green rust phases and resolve the reaction kinetics at pH 7. The overall kinetics of the reactions are well described by the expression d[Cr(VI)]/dt = −k[Cr(VI)]{GR}, and this model was successfully used to predict rates of reaction at varying chromium concentrations. The rates of reduction are controlled by the concentration of ferrous iron, surface area, and chemical structure of the green rust including layer spacing. On a mass basis, green rust (GR) chloride is the most rapid reductant of C...
Electrostatic ion cyclotron instability near threshold

By drawing an electron current through a plasma to a variably biased conducting button, the electrostatic ion cyclotron instability is excited, consistent with predictions of Drummond and Rosenbluth [Phys. Fluids 5, 1507 (1962)]. Recent results show that a nonuniform steady‐state electric field reaches axially into the plasma. Our results indicate that electrons are accelerated along magnetic field lines and decelerated by collisions. The point in space where the electron drift speed exceeds a critical speed (vc∼0.2vte) determines the instability amplitude and frequency. This initiation point moved further into the plasma as the externally controlled electric field was raised. This experiment demonstrates the importance of applying biases so that eφ/T≲1, near threshold, to observe the linear electrostatic ion cyclotron instability.
139 IMPAIRED GLUCAGON COUNTERREGULATION IN CHILDREN WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES (IDD)

Intravenous insulin (0.3-0.5 u/kg) was given over 2 mins to 36 pts with IDD, duration 1.7-16.7 yrs (x 8.2±4.2) aged 10.9-18.4 yrs (x 15.8±1.8). Plasma glucagon (IRG) responses were compared to those of 6 endocrinologically normal children with short stature (C) aged 13.2±3.2 yrs. Antibodies to IRG were found in 3 IDD pts who had relatively poor recovery from hypoglycemia. Increments from baseline (Δ) & peak IRG in the other 33 IDD pts were markedly lower than in C (80±67 vs 354±79 pg/ml, p=<.001, 211±97 vs 407±87, p < .001, resp). IRG response did not correlate with age, duration of IDD, free insulin (FI) levels (n=25), or % insulin antibody binding (IAb) (n=10). Also Δ IRG did not correlate with plasma glucose (G), nadir, % drop, or G recovery from nadir. This G recovery was impaired compared to C (P < .001) & did not correlate with FI levels or % IAb. 10 pts were studied after both insulin withdrawal & 3 days of intensive insulin Rx with no significant difference in IRG response. During intensive Rx there was a +ve correlation between IRG Δ, & G recovery from hypoglycemia (P < .001). Adequate IRG reserve was demonstrated during insulin withdrawal by a greater IRG response to a mixed meal than insulin (Δ 156±80 vs 55±57 pg/ml; P < .001); however, there was a +ve correlation between the IRG peaks after these 2 stimuli (r=.93, P < .001) suggesting some impairment of α cell function. The significance of this must be related to multiple other counterregulatory abnormalities, but IRG deficit appears to be a primary factor during intensive Rx.
An Improved Distortion Solution for the Hubble Space Telescope’s WFPC21

Having an accurate distortion correction is critical to doing accurate astrometry with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2. Currently available solutions have serious systematic errors (∼0.2 pixel) of a skewing nature in their linear terms. We use the inner calibration field of q Centauri to find an improved cubic solution that is accurate to 0.01 pixel in the WF chips and to 0.02 pixel in the PC chip. Improvements beyond this will be difficult, as there are many factors that perturb the solution at the ∼0.01 pixel level: breathing, variations with filter, and the physical movement of the chips. There are probably not enough data available to constrain the solution to better than ∼0.01 pixel. Nevertheless, our solution is a major improvement and will allow many astrometric projects to obtain near-optimal results.
Coalition dynamics, social norms, and the persistence of inflation

Abstract This study provides a formal model of the way in which economic institutions lead to chronic or persistent inflation. Of special interest is our focus on the coalition dynamics of inflation-the model is an alternative to dynamic noncooperative models. The results shed new light on the reasons why inflation follows different patterns in seemingly equivalent economies, and provides a new rationale for implementing heterodox policies to stabilize chronic inflation.
Investigations on the relationship between sperm fertilizing ability and androgen-binding protein in the restricted rat

The hypothesized relationship between androgen-binding protein (ABP) and sperm maturation was investigated using a mutant rodent: the restricted rat. The seminiferous epithelium of these animals undergoes a spontaneous degeneration, but changes are progressive. Restricted rats in the transition to infertility were used to determine if changes in ABP were related to the decreased fertility found in these animals. Fertilizing ability was determined by insemination of cauda epididymal spermatozoa into hormonally primed female rats and examination of ova for evidence of fertilization 48 h later. Epididymal and testicular tissues were analyzed for ABP using a charcoal assay. Androgen levels were determined by RIA. Testicular weights were significantly reduced compared to those of normal littermates in restricted rats at all ages; epididymal weights were significantly reduced in rats 140 days and older. Among restricted rats, sperm fertilizing ability was variable, but was significantly lower than that in norma...
Helping Behavior as Affected by Type of Request and Identity of Caller

Summary Using the “wrong number” technique, a confederate (C) telephoned 120 Ss, whose numbers were randomly selected from the telephone directory, and presented himself either as a victim in need of help or as a bystander doing a good deed. The C used either a victim-oriented, a target-oriented, or a control request. The results showed that significantly more Ss helped when the caller was a bystander rather than the victim. Significantly more help was also obtained when a victim-oriented request was employed than when a target-oriented or control request was used.