cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CEO succession: best practices in a changing environment

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to look at CEO succession in light of regulations and post‐Sarbanes‐Oxley (post‐SOX) dynamics.Design/methodology/approach – Describes best‐in‐class practices for boards of directors responsible for CEO succession.Findings – Finds that the post‐SOX dynamics promise to even further confound boards of directors' responsibilities for succession planning and execution.Originality/value – Provides some practical guidelines that may facilitate CEO succession in the challenging post‐SOX business environment.
The Effects of Corruption on Growth, Investment, and Government Expenditure

This paper discusses the possible causes and consequences of corruption. It provides a synthetic review of recent studies that analyze this phenomenon empirically. In addition, it presents further results on the effects of corruption on growth and investment, and new cross-country evidence on the link between corruption and the composition of government expenditure.
Increased impulsive choice for saccharin during PCP withdrawal in female monkeys: influence of menstrual cycle phase

Background In previous studies with male and female rhesus monkeys, withdrawal of access to oral phencyclidine (PCP) self-administration reduced responding for food under a high fixed-ratio (FR) schedule more in males than females, and with a delay discounting (DD) task with saccharin (SACC) as the reinforcer impulsive choice for SACC increased during PCP withdrawal more in males than females.
Information busters: communicating with your campus community

Marketing strategies are continually being evaluated against the influence and flexibilities of technology. Clearly, the old methods of advertising or making announcements are still influential, but everyone wants to add a twist. Baylor University is moving beyond standard paper ad media, such as flyers and posters. By using a variety of media formats (dynamic screen savers, trouble-free "messages of the day," scrolling marquees, Windows Messenger, web pages and email notifications), Baylor has created more energetic and effective campus communication tools. Using basic theories of marketing, beginning with a proactive strategy each year to developing creative slogans, the most effective communication occurs when the advertising or marketing is consistently utilizing every touch point system appealing to the client. Obviously, these imaginative tactics must incorporate the old rules: #1 Know Your Audience, #2 Value of Content Must Be Beneficial and #3 Ad Placement (rule of repetition and location, location, location). With the ever changing world of technology, it becomes difficult to ensure that information for the campus community maintains the basic marketing theories, and more importantly that it provides current news. Many college communities face this issue with changes in print monitoring systems, virus protection, and wireless services.
Determination of silver speciation in natural waters. 1. Laboratory tests of Chelex-100 chelating resin as a competing ligand.

Batch and column experiments were performed to investigate the suitability and chemical characteristics of Chelex-100 for use as a competing ligand in ionic silver (Ag(I)) speciation determinations in natural waters. A conditional stability constant (Kcond) for Ag+ chelation by iminodiacetate groups on the surface of Chelex resin was determined by fitting results of batch and column experiments with an equilibrium speciation model. Results of experiments in which Chelex competed with cyanide ion and thiosulfate ion for aqueous Ag+ were fitted well by a model in which log Kcond(Ag−Chelex) was set to 7.2. This value is similar to literature equilibrium constants for a 1:1 Ag+−EDTA chelate. In batch experiments with Chelex, equilibration times of 24 h were found to be sufficient to bring samples close to equilibrium. Effects of resin counterion and total Ag(I) concentration on extent of Ag(I) chelation were found to be minor. Effect of pH on Ag(I) chelation was minor over a range of 6−10. Column experiments ...
Storage and interaction of compositionally heterogeneous magmas from the 1986 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska

Compositional heterogeneity (56–64 wt% SiO2 whole-rock) in samples of tephra and lava from the 1986 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska, raises questions about the physical nature of magma storage and interaction beneath this young and frequently active volcano. To determine conditions of magma storage and evolutionary histories of compositionally distinct magmas, we investigate physical and chemical characteristics of andesitic and dacitic magmas feeding the 1986 eruption. We calculate equilibrium temperatures and oxygen fugacities from Fe-Ti oxide compositions and find a continuous range in temperature from 877 to 947°C and high oxygen fugacities (ΔNNO=1–2) for all magmas. Melt inclusions in pyroxene phenocrysts analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and electron probe microanalysis are dacitic to rhyolitic and have water contents ranging from <1 to ∼7 wt%. Matrix glass compositions are rhyolitic and remarkably similar (∼75.9–76.6 wt% SiO2) in all samples. All samples have ∼25% phenocrysts, but lower-silica samples have much higher microlite contents than higher-silica samples. Continuous ranges in temperature and whole-rock composition, as well as linear trends in Harker diagrams and disequilibrium mineral textures, indicate that the 1986 magmas are the product of mixing between dacitic magma and a hotter, more mafic magma. The dacitic endmember is probably residual magma from the previous (1976) eruption of Augustine, and we interpret the mafic endmember to have been intruded from depth. Mixing appears to have continued as magmas ascended towards the vent. We suggest that the physical structure of the magma storage system beneath Augustine contributed to the sustained compositional heterogeneity of this eruption, which is best explained by magma storage and interaction in a vertically extensive system of interconnected dikes rather than a single coherent magma chamber and/or conduit. The typically short repose period (∼10 years) between Augustine's recent eruptive pulses may also inhibit homogenization, as short repose periods and chemically heterogeneous magmas are observed at several volcanoes in the Cook Inlet region of Alaska.
Infantile cortical hyperostosis.

Abstract Swelling of the face and mandibular bone changes are of concern to the dental profession. These changes are the most frequent findings in infantile cortical hyperostosis. Although there are more than eighty cases reported in the pediatric and radiologic literature, there are no known previous reports in the dental literature. A case of infantile cortical hyperostosis is reported. The case is of unusual interest inasmuch as the mandible was the only bone involved. A brief review and discussion of the literature is presented.
A new member of the family? The continuum of being, artificial intelligence, and the image of God

Abstract Are the scientific and religious definitions of life irreconcilable or do they overlap in significant areas? What is life? Religion seems to imply that there is a qualitative distinction between human beings and the rest of creation; however, there is a strong tradition in Christianity and in Eastern thought that suggests that the natural world also has a relationship with God. Human dominion over other parts of creation exists, but does not obviate this connection, nor give humans a circle unto themselves. The concept of humans being created in the image of God can be used to explain why we might believe humans are in a circle unto themselves, yet we can expand this concept to include artificially intelligent computers, a new potential member of the cognitive family. Our quest for artificial intelligence tells us both what we value in our humanity, and how we might extend that valuation to the rest of creation.
Reversible fluorescence quenching in carbon nanotubes for biomolecular sensing.

Biosensing applications of single-walled carbon nanotubes have been demonstrated in solid-state device structures1,2,3. Bioanalyte sensing schemes based on coupling of reversible nanotube fluorescence quenching to redox reactions paired to enzymatic peroxide generation have also been pursued4,5. Here we show a new approach to highly sensitive nanotube-based optical sensing. Single-walled carbon nanotubes interacting with dye–ligand conjugates—a redox-active dye molecule that is covalently bound to a biological receptor ligand (such as biotin in this case)—showed fluorescence quenching. Further interaction between the receptor ligand on the conjugates and target analytes (avidin in this case) induced the recovery of the quenched fluorescence, forming the basis of the sensing scheme. Nanomolar sensitivity was attained with high specificity for the target analyte. This is a versatile approach because a wide range of conjugation possibilities exists between the potential receptors and redox quenchers.
Patients readmitted to ICUs* : a systematic review of risk factors and outcomes.

Study objective To evaluate the causes, risk factors, and mortality rates associated with unexpected readmission to medical and surgical ICUs. Data sources MEDLINE citation review of primary articles focusing on ICU readmission or ICU outcomes from January 1966 to June 1999, and contact with authors of primary studies. Study selection Eight primary studies of ICU readmission and eight multi-institutional ICU outcome studies that reported ICU readmission rates were included. Data extraction We abstracted data on the methodology and design of the primary studies, overall rates, causes, predictors, outcomes, and measures of quality of care associated with ICU readmission. Data synthesis The average ICU readmission rate of 7% (range, 4 to 14%) has remained relatively unchanged in both North America and Europe. Respiratory and cardiac conditions were the most common (30 to 70%) precipitating cause of ICU readmission. Patients readmitted to ICUs had average hospital stays at least twice as long as nonreadmitted patients. Hospital death rates were 2- to 10-times higher for readmitted patients than for those who survived an ICU admission and were never readmitted. Predictors of ICU readmission have been neither well studied nor reproducible. Unstable vital signs, especially respiratory and heart rate abnormalities, and the presence of poor pulmonary function at time of ICU discharge appear to be the most consistent predictors of ICU readmission. There were no consistent data supporting the use of readmission rates as a measure of quality of care. Conclusions ICU readmission is associated with dramatically higher hospital mortality. Unstable vital signs at the time of ICU discharge are the most consistent predictor of ICU readmission. Further studies focusing on processes of ICU and hospital care are needed to determine if ICU readmission rates are a measure of quality of care.
Tradition and Modernity Reconsidered

Modernization is a term which became fashionable after World War II. It is useful despite its vagueness because it tends to evoke similar associations in contemporary readers. Their first impulse may be to think of “the modern” in terms of present-day technology with its jet-travel, space exploration, and nuclear power. But the common sense of the word “modern” encompasses the whole era since the eighteenth century when inventions like the steam engine and the spinning jenny provided the initial, technical basis for the industrialization of societies. The economic transformation of England coincided with the movement of independence in the American colonies and the creation of the nation-state in the French revolution. Accordingly, the word “modern” also evokes associations with the democratization of societies, especially the destruction of inherited privilege and the declaration of equal rights of citizenship.
Intervening effects of knowledge, morality, trust, and benefits on support for animal and plant biotechnology applications.

Data from a regional Southwest telephone survey in the United States (N = 432) were used to examine the intervening effects of knowledge, morality, trust, and benefits on support for animal and plant biotechnology applications. Results showed that perceptions of agricultural biotechnologies varied by the two applications-animals and plants. Respondents reported higher opposition to the genetic modification of animals, which is consistent with prior research. Results also indicated that morality and perceived benefits directly affected support for both animal and plant applications, but trust and knowledge only had indirect effects. Morality and perceived benefits accounted for most of the variance explained among the intervening variables. The effects of trust were mediated through perceived benefits. The effects of knowledge on support were mediated primarily through trust. The influence of sociodemographic and consumer behavior variables varied by application. Results lend support to several theoretical notions. First, the significance of perceived benefits supports that there is an inverse relationship between benefits and risks. Second, moral objections may outweigh perceived benefits for specific applications, and the genetic modification of animals is deemed to be more morally unacceptable than the genetic modification of plants. These findings demonstrate the need to understand more thoroughly the moral and ethical issues surrounding novel technologies. Third, this research supports the claim that trust is not a powerful predictor of perceptions of technological products, which is contrary to most risk perception research.
Development and Application of In Vitro Models of Hematopoiesis to Drug Development

In vitro models of hematopoiesis are used increasingly in investigative hematopathology. Such models complement in vivo animal testing and have been shown to be predictive for hematotoxicity associated with anticancer and antiviral agents in humans. In vitro models of hematopoiesis consist of short-term cloning assays for various hematopoietic progenitor cells and long-term functional assays for the marrow hematopoietic microenvironment. In our laboratories, the cloning assays have been used as investigative tools to study the pathogenetic mechanisms of drug-induced blood disorders and as screening systems to investigate the possible hematotoxic potential of candidate drugs in various animal species. Data in support of these applications are presented in this paper.
Postnatal histogenesis and endocrine function of abnormal testes in the AxC rat.

SummaryThe male AxC rat exhibits a genetically-determined anomalous development of the genitourinary apparatus including absence of one kidney, ureter, vas deferens, and seminal vesicle associated with testicular hypoplasia on the same side. Detailed histochemical and histological analysis of the postnatal development of the defective testis reveals that this testis can not be differentiated from the normal testis until puberty, at which time it exhibits a total failure of tubular maturation and spermatogenic function. Interstitial cells, however, continue to develop normally and exhibit normal endocrine function and removal of the normal testis does not lead to atrophy of the prostate or seminal vesicle. Surgical extirpation of the vas deferens during the prepuberal period does not lead to any alteration in subsequent development of the normal testis. It may be concluded that this instance of testicular hypoplasia represents a genetically determined defect with delayed somatic manifestation.
Automatic registration of microarray images. I. Rectangular grid.

Motivation: The analysis of high-throughput experiment data provided by microarrays becomes increasingly more and more important part of modern biological science. Microarrays allow to conduct genotyping or gene expression experiments on hundreds of thousands of test genes in parallel. Because of the large and constantly growing amount of experimental data the necessity of efficiency, robustness and complete automation of microarray image analysis algorithms is gaining significant attention in the field of microarray processing. Results: The author presents here an efficient and completely automatic image registration algorithm (that is an algorithm for spots and blocks indexing) that allows to process a wide variety of microarray slides with different parameters of grid and block spacing as well as spot sizes. The algorithm scales linearly with the grid size, the time complexity is O(M), where M is number of rows x number of columns. It can successfully cope with local and global distortions of the grid, such as focal distortions and non-orthogonal transformations. The algorithm has been tested both on CCD and scanned images and showed very good performance-the processing time of a single slide with 44 blocks of 200 x 200 grid points (or 1 760 000 grid points total) was about 10 s.
Corruption and Empire: Notes on Wisconsin

We seek to elaborate the concept of corruption as formulated by Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri. By providing a brief history of the concept, we show that it reveals how the compositional and autonomous politics of class struggle and becoming are threatened by decompositional techniques of capture and exploitation. In order to thicken the historical-material specificity of this distinction, we provide a research note about organized labor’s effort to communicate an alternative to Governor Walker’s union busting legislation in Wisconsin. We are particularly critical of the effort to re-direct the class struggle into an electoral campaign of recall and referendum.
Competencies required for successful acquisition of the Next Generation Air Transportation System

The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) is facing the challenge of significant increases in workload for the air traffic control system. The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) efforts are aimed at providing the changes to the system needed to meet that challenge. In order to be prepared, the FAA is looking at the competencies needed to develop and deploy the improvements in an effective and efficient manner. As part of this work, Stevens Institute of Technology has been tasked to review the competencies needed for systems engineering, systems integration, and software engineering. This paper reviews the initial efforts and approach to define a competency model that best fits the needs of the NextGen program.
Class cover catch digraphs for latent class discovery in gene expression monitoring by DNA microarrays

The purpose of this article is to introduce a data visualization technique for class cover catch digraphs which allows for the discovery of latent subclasses. We illustrate the technique via a pedagogical example and an application to data sets from artificial nose chemical sensing and gene expression monitoring by DNA microarrays. Of particular interest is the discovery of latent subclasses representing chemical concentration in the artificial nose data and two subtypes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the gene expression data and the associated conjectures pertaining to the geometry of these subclasses in their respective high-dimensional observation spaces.
Table lens as a tool for making sense of data

The Table Lens is a visualization for searching for patterns and outliers in multivariate datasets. It supports a lightweight form of exploratory data analysis (EDA) by integrating a familiar organization, the table, with graphical representations and a small set of direct manipulation operators. We examine the EDA process as a special case of a generic process, which we call sensemaking. Using a GOMS methodology, we characterize a few central EDA tasks and compare performance of the Table Lens and one of the best of the more traditional graphical tools for EDA i.e. Splus. This analysis reveals that Table Lens is more or less on par with the power of Splus, while requiring the use of fewer specialized graphical representations. It essentially combines the graphical power of Splus with the direct manipulation and generic properties of spreadsheets and relational database front ends. We also propose a number of design refinements that are suggested by our task characterizations and analyses.
Twisted optical metamaterials for planarized ultrathin broadband circular polarizers

Optical metamaterials are usually based on planarized, complex-shaped, resonant nano-inclusions. Three-dimensional geometries may provide a wider set of functionalities, including broadband chirality to manipulate circular polarization at the nanoscale, but their fabrication becomes challenging as their dimensions get smaller. Here we introduce a new paradigm for the realization of optical metamaterials, showing that three-dimensional effects may be obtained without complicated inclusions, but instead by tailoring the relative orientation within the lattice. We apply this concept to realize planarized, broadband bianisotropic metamaterials as stacked nanorod arrays with a tailored rotational twist. Because of the coupling among closely spaced twisted plasmonic metasurfaces, metamaterials realized with conventional lithography may effectively operate as three-dimensional helical structures with broadband bianisotropic optical response. The proposed concept is also shown to relax alignment requirements common in three-dimensional metamaterial designs. The realized sample constitutes an ultrathin, broadband circular polarizer that may be directly integrated within nanophotonic systems.
Cascade source coding with erased side information

A cascade lossy source coding problem with one encoder and two decoders is considered. All variations of this problem are studied by varying the availability of correlated side information at the encoder/decoder(s). The set of achievable rate-distortion triples is characterized for three instances of this problem when the encoder is interested in transmission of a memoryless equiprobable binary source X subject to Hamming distortion and the side information Y is an erased version of X.
Low Complexity Resource Allocation Algorithm for IEEE 802.16 OFDMA System

Adaptive resource allocation including the allocation of subcarrier, bit and power in orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system, can significantly improve spectral efficiency, increase capacity, and reduce power consumption. The resource allocation in an OFDMA system is normally modeled as a combinatorial optimization problem involving a nonlinear objective with nonlinear constraints. This leads to high computation complexity that is only solvable online. In this paper we first develop a nonlinear optimization model of OFDMA resource allocation that incorporates not only the throughput constraint but also the delay constraint. We then find an equivalent linear formulation to this optimization problem to facilitate analysis. Moreover, we develop a heuristic approximation algorithm to provide a close solution to the equivalent linear programming problem. The heuristic algorithm is efficient enough for on-line adaptive resource allocation. Simulation results show that the heuristic solution can achieve almost same capacity but with less computation complexity.
Special considerations for preemphasis design in FM/FM systems

A preemphasis technique is presented for an FM/FM system when the S band receiver discriminator is operating in the vicinity of threshold. The resultant transmitter deviations are quite different from those obtained with a standard 3/2 power taper and they conform more closely to minimum deviation requirements.
The impact of future demographic change on overweight and obesity, and the economic cost associated with this phenomenon, in Georgia (USA), 2000-2040

This paper examines the impact of future demographic changes on overweight and obesity, and the cost associated with overweight and obesity in Georgia, a rapidly growing and diversifying U.S. state. The number of overweight and obese adults is projected to increase from 3.7 million in 2000 to 10.2 million in 2040, an increase of 178.6 per cent. The annual costs associated with overweight and obesity is projected to increase from $6.8 billion to $21.1 billion, an increase of 209.8 per cent. The changes in overweight and obesity are predominantly driven by population growth, aging, and diversification of population.
Diagnosability of stochastic discrete-event systems under unreliable observations

We investigate diagnosability of stochastic discrete-event systems where the observation of certain events is unreliable, that is, there are non-zero probabilities of the misdetection and misclassification of events based on faulty sensor readings. Such sensor unreliability is unavoidable in applications such as nuclear energy generation. We propose the notions of uA- and uAA-diagnosability for stochastic automata and demonstrate their relationship with the concepts of A- and AA-diagnosabilty defined previously. We extend the concept of the stochastic diagnoser to the unreliable observation paradigm and find conditions for uA- and uAA-diagnosability.
A Review of Existing Treatments for Substance Abuse Among the Elderly and Recommendations for Future Directions

Background: With population aging, there is widespread recognition that the healthcare system must be prepared to serve the unique needs of substance using older adults (OA) in the decades ahead. As such, there is an increasingly urgent need to identify efficient and effective substance abuse treatments (SAT) for OA. Despite this need, there remains a surprising dearth of research on treatment for OA. Aims of review: This review describes and evaluates studies on SAT applied to and specifically designed for OA over the last 30 years with an emphasis on methodologies used and the knowledge gained. Methods: Using three research databases, 25 studies published in the last 30 years which investigated the impact of SAT on OA and met specific selection criteria were reviewed. Results: A majority of the studies were methodologically limited in that they were pre-to-post or post-test only studies. Of the randomized controlled trials, many were limited by sample sizes of 15 individuals or less per group, making main effects difficult to detect. Thus, with caution, the literature suggests that among treatment seeking OA, treatment, whether age-specific or mixed-age, generally works yielding rates of abstinence comparable to general populations and younger cohorts. It also appears that with greater treatment exposure (higher dosage), regardless of level of care, OA do better. Finally, based on only two studies, age-specific treatment appears to potentiate treatment effects for OA. Like younger adults, OA appear to have a heterogeneous response to treatments, and preliminary evidence suggests a possibility of treatment matching for OA. Conclusions: Expansion of research on SAT for OA is urgently needed for maximum effectiveness and efficiency of the healthcare system serving these individuals. Future research needs to include laboratory and community based randomized controlled trials with high internal validity of previously vetted evidenced-based practices, including Motivational Interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medications such as naltrexone, to determine the best fit for OA.
Estimate of diffraction from Gaussian Beam in Li-Baker HFGW detector

Abstract Recent experimentation and speculation about the design of a sensitive detector for high-frequency gravitational waves (HFGW) has centered around a number of principles. Those detectors that have been built so far have not yet realized sensitivity sufficient to investigate the cosmic high-frequency relic gravitational wave background, analogous to the cosmic microwave background. A proposal for a more sensitive HFGW detector due to Baker and based upon a principle first enunciated by Li and co-workers has become known as the Li-Baker detector. Its possible design details are currently the subject of scientific debate. One significant aspect concerns the diffraction of microwave power from the intrinsic transmitter producing a microwave beam. This beam is required for interaction with the gravitational waves to be detected and diffraction will not be distinguishable from photons produced by interaction with the HFGW. This means that diffraction is potentially a source of shot noise at the microwave receivers and, if extreme, may also swamp the receivers. In this paper some estimates of this diffraction are obtained. These estimates show that the Li-Baker detector must be designed in such a way that the diffraction reaching the microwave receivers is reduced as far as possible by employing a suitable geometry and highly absorbent walls for the interaction volume.
Jacob's limp.

This study describes in modern medical terms a traumatic hip injury suffered by the Biblical patriarch Jacob approximately 3,500 years ago. The case history is based on the original Hebrew text found in the Bible book of Genesis (Chapter 32:25-33) as interpreted by traditional Jewish commentaries on the Bible. Jacob sustained a hip injury in hand-to-hand combat with an adversary or through an intense physiological reaction to a prophetic vision of such a battle. He appears to have sustained neurological injury to his sciatic nerve as well as musculoskeletal damage to his hip. These injuries caused a temporary limping gait. Jacob probably sustained a neurapraxia of the sciatic nerve. The differential diagnosis of his musculoskeletal hip injury includes hip dislocation, fracture, soft tissue trauma, and articular pathology.
Pathogenesis of the Vertical Root Fracture

When a vertical root fracture reaches the outer surface of the root, it communicates with the periodontal ligament, and an inflammatory process begins in this area. On communication with the oral cavity through the gingival sulcus, foreign material and bacteria obtain access to the fracture area. The inflammatory process increases with a slow separation of the fractured parts of the root and a breakdown in the periodontal ligament and the alveolar bone. Consequently, granulomatous tissue is formed, and bone subsequently resorbs with typical features such that most are clinically manifested. This chapter will describe the histopathological features of the hard and soft tissues associated with vertical root fractured teeth, including the various tissues and elements involved.
An Experimental Search for Gaseous Reactivity Between AlF3 and HF Near 1200 K.

Using an accurate transpiration method, AlF3 was sublimed near 1200 K into argon containing 0, 0.02, and 0.76 atm of HF, but no reaction between AlF3 and the HF was detected within the precision (about 1%). Two alternative structures of HAlF4 are postulated. An upper bound for extent of reaction corresponds to ΔH298∘ > - 33 kcal (- 138 kJ) for AlF3 (g) + HF (g) = HAlF4 (g); this indicates a far lower stability of HAlF4 (g) than that of LiAlF4 (g) or NaAlF4 (g) when formed similarly.
Mechanical motion conversion from reciprocating translation to one-directional rotation for effective energy harvesting

This paper proposes a new efficient motion conversion system which can be used in an energy harvesting system that converts wasted kinematic energy into electrical energy. In the proposed system, a reciprocating translational motion will be converted into one-directional rotational motion that spins a generator. The system will be devised with a two overlapping chambers (chamber 1 and 2) which move relatively through the sliding joint, and a pair of flexible strings (belt, steel wire, or chain) run around the rotor of the generator. Each end of the string fixed to chamber 1 is designed not to interfere with chamber 2 where the generator is mounted. When the two chambers move relatively, either top or bottom string is tensioned to spin the rotor while the other string is being rewound. One-directional clutch with a coil spring is engaged in a rewinding system – as found in a rowing machine, for example – so each string actuates the rotor only when it is in tension. This device can be applied to any mechanism where reciprocating translational motion exists, such as linear suspension system in a vehicle, a bicycle, and an energy generating marine buoy. The experimental study result will be reported as well as its battery-charging capacity will be demonstrated.
The temporoparietal fascia flap for coverage of cochlear reimplantation following extrusion

The management of cochlear implant extrusion (CIE) can be challenging, particularly in the pediatric population in whom reconstructive options are limited. We describe the use of the temporoparietal fascia flap (TPFF) for this purpose due to its ease of use and limited morbidity. We present a case series of two pediatric patients who underwent explantation of their devices, followed by reimplantation with TPFF coverage. Our experience provides evidence that the TPFF can be used to prevent further CIE through a postauricular incision following cochlear reimplantation with successful long-term results.
OAM modulation induced in millimeter waves using impedance matched flat phase plate

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) based communication has been investigated as it provides an additional degree of freedom to the electromagnetic waves which enables to transmit and receive data in various OAM modes at a given operation frequency, thus increasing the data rate. A method for designing very low reflective flat spiral phase plate that generates OAM modes is proposed in this paper. Such phase plates could provide one or more OAM modes at a signal frequency irrespective of the polarization. The design incorporates variable sizes of perforated unit cells along with matched layers to provide good impedance matching, and the flat disc shape of the phase plate provides the advantage of being compact and easy to install. The OAM phase plate is designed for operation around 30 GHz frequency.
Hydric environmental effects on turtle development and sex ratio

Experimental and field studies of different turtle species suggest that moisture influences embryonic development and sex ratios, wetter substrates tend to produce more males, and drier substrates produce more females. In this study, we used Trachemys scripta elegans to test the effect of moisture on embryonic development and sex ratios. T. s. elegans eggs were incubated under different temperature and moisture regimes. We monitored embryonic development until stage 22 (after sex determination) and, for the first time, we estimated sex ratios using a male-specific transcriptional molecular marker, Sox9. Among treatments, we found differences in developmental rates, egg mass, and sex ratio. Embryos developed slowly in cooler and wetter sand substrate while water uptake by the eggs was significantly greater on wetter substrates. Developmental differences were due to moisture interacting with temperature where increased water content of the sand resulted in temperatures that were 2-3°C lower than air temperatures. The coolest and the wettest substrates produced 100% males compared to 42% males from the warmest and driest treatment. Further, we found that embryonic growth appears to be more sensitive to temperature at earlier stages of development and to moisture at later stages. This study shows how moisture may change the incubation conditions inside nests by changing the temperature experienced by eggs, which affects development, growth and sex ratios. The results of this study highlight the importance of including moisture conditions when predicting embryo growth and sex ratios and in developing proxies of embryonic development.
LGBT Homeless Youth and Policing

LGBT homeless youth are a particularly vulnerable population, accounting for 20–40% of all homeless youth. Literature demonstrates that these youth are disproportionately involved in the criminal j...
The Middle Path: Using Dual-Investor Theory in Teaching Business Ethics

Graduates of business ethics courses often fail to apply what they have learned to decisions in business life because, this study finds, neither stakeholder theory nor shareholder-oriented theories seem satisfactory – less than 7% of respondents felt either view achieved the best balance between social responsibility and making a profit. Dual-Investor theory offers students a framework within which to articulate and think through the ethical dimensions of business decisions, a framework 77.8% of respondents overall and 82.1% of business students claimed they were most likely to use in making their own decisions. The paper provides three sample cases illustrating the instructional advantages of Dual-Investor theory and points out several ways instructors might use Dual-Investor theory in business ethics courses.
SuFEx Postpolymerization Modification Kinetics and Reactivity in Polymer Brushes

Since its introduction in 2014, the sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange (SuFEx) reaction has emerged as a promising new reaction in the field of polymer chemistry, in both polymerization of diverse polymer backbones and postpolymerization modification (PPM). Previously, we successfully reported the use of SuFEx chemistry as a method for surface derivatization through the PPM of sulfonyl fluoride containing polymer brushes. However, with the diversity of conditions, substrate scope, and catalyst selection afforded by this reaction, it is advantageous to expand the use of SuFEx for PPM on polymer brushes to discern the advantages and limitations of this reaction in surface conjugation. In this work, we used three different polymer brush systems—alkyl sulfonyl fluorides, aromatic sulfonyl fluorides, and aromatic fluorosulfonates—and each was reacted with three different silyl ether derivatives (aryl, alkyl, and benzyl). Each of these reactions was subjected to different catalysts, and herein, we present rates, cond...
Large-Scale CRISPR-Mediated Somatic Mutagenesis Identifies a Signaling Pathway that Guides Retinal Development.

As the mammalian outer retina develops, rod and cone photoreceptors synapse with their respective bipolar cells. Sarin et al. (2018) develop a somatic CRISPR technique to determine how genes differentially expressed among the four cell types mediate outer retina development.
Arthroscopically Repaired Bucket-Handle Meniscus Tears: Patient Demographics, Postoperative Outcomes, and a Comparison of Success and Failure Cases:

ObjectiveTo define patient demographics, preoperative, and intraoperative surgical variables associated with successful or failed repair of bucket-handle meniscal tears.DesignAll patients who under...
Cholecystokinin octapeptide releases growth hormone from the pituitary in vitro.

Abstract Cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8)(10−6 to 10−8M) produced a marked increase in growth hormone (GH) release from incubated rat anterior pituitary quarters and from cultured GH3 pituitary tumor cells. Although several CCK-8 analogues also caused GH release, bombesin, secretin and pancreatic polypeptide had no effect on GH secretion in vitro . In the GH3 cell line, CCK-8 (10−7M) reversed the inhibitory effect of somatostatin (10−5M) on GH release. As CCK immunoreactivity has been demonstrated to be present in the hypothalamus, these results suggest that CCK-8 may be a physiologically important growth hormone releasing factor.
Improved Action Recognition Using an Efficient Boosting Method

Creating an intelligent environment relies heavily on the automated recognition of different actions. Addressing this issue can advance many applications such as smart homes, automatic crime detection, controversial judgment in sports, etc. However, Action Recognition (AR) has yet to receive satisfactory performance. The massive amount of video data and the problems associated with traditional ensemble methods introduce a big challenge to the improvement in this field. We introduce a Diversity-Based ensemble learning method that efficiently learns from the AR data by selecting a representative subset at each iteration. The algorithm avoids boosting problems and introduces a weight control function that guarantees a diverse set of instances to be trained and eliminates outliers and noise. This provides better capability of successfully differentiating between different actions. Based on our experimental results, it is evident that our method achieves superior performance compared to traditional methods.
Chinese Herbal Medicines for Neuroprotection in Ischemic Stroke: Promise and Reality

Worldwide, stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of long-term disability. To date, intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA, Alteplase®) is the only effective treatment for ischemic stroke. Unfortunately, rt-PA only benefits patients when it is administered within 4.5 h, whereas most stroke victims (between 70 % and 98 % depending on location) do not reach the hospital within this very narrow time frame. In 1999, we proposed that traditional Chinese herbal medicines might provide a source of structurally diverse compounds that could serve as leads for the development of novel stroke drugs. The basic hypothesis underlying the research was that Chinese herbal stroke medicines might contain natural products that exhibited neuroprotective properties and could be used as effective and safe neuroprotective drugs or serve as leads for the development of such drugs. China’s efforts in promoting traditional Chinese medicine in Western countries on the background of the lack of promising drug candidates in the pipeline of the pharmaceutical industry have contributed to an explosive growth in the last decade of the scientific literature devoted to both studies aimed at identifying lead compounds from herbal extracts as well as the characterization of neuroprotective effects of single herbs and complex formulations. In this chapter, we review published work in the field on the background of a critical reevaluation of the neuroprotection hypothesis. Although the literature provides clear experimental evidence for neuroprotective effects of single compounds that have been isolated from Chinese herbal medicines in animal studies, there is no definitive evidence to date for beneficial therapeutic effects of any Chinese herbal medicine in stroke patients. In the face of the apparent failure to translate the basic research into successful stroke therapies, we propose to establish a Web-based social network of basic scientists, clinicians, industry partners, and governmental regulators for community-driven drug development. Participants could develop guidelines for preclinical research involving complex mixtures of compounds (multicomponent drugs and herbal extracts) complementing the criteria previously developed by the Stroke Therapy Academic Industry Roundtable (STAIR).
Regulation of signal transduction by integrins

The integrin family of cell membrane receptors plays an important role in signal transduction cascades. Ligation of integrins by extracellular matrix proteins can lead to direct activation of Rho-family GTPases and MAP kinase pathways. However, perhaps the most significant signaling function of integrins is to modulate signal transduction events initiated by receptor tyrosine kinases and G protein-coupled receptors. This probably plays a role in coordinating information about cell shape and position with information about the availability of soluble growth factors.
Multi-Scale Aspects in Linear and Nonlinear Estimation and Control

Multi-scale models of processing systems offer an attractive alternative to models defined in the time- or frequency-domain. They are the outgrowth of a series of developments which came about with the advent of the wavelet decomposition for the analysis of discrete signals. Multi-scale models are defined on dyadic or higher-order trees. The nodes of such trees are used to index the values states, inputs and outputs, modeling errors, and measurement errors. These values are localized in both time and scale (range of frequencies), and thus they offer a hybrid domain that is particularly conducive for estimation and control problems. In this paper we introduce a formal framework for the formulation of multi-scale models on trees, which are consistent with their time-domain counterparts. Such models lead to a multi-scale control theory and the definition of the corresponding transfer functions, stability, controllability, and observability concepts for systems on trees. Fusion of control actions and measurements at different rates as well as their implications on the controllability and observability of dynamic systems are also examined. Of particular significance is the issue of closure between the models in the time- and the time-scale domains, which constrains the type of physico-chemical processes that can be modeled on a tree.
Examples in Biomechanics

Abstract Biomechanics for forensic methods can be defined as the study of how the human body fails structurally when challenged by a fall, a motor vehicle collision, an aircraft crash, a malfunction of a machine, or one of a myriad of events such as a drowning or a criminal act. For humans, biomechanics can also refer to the study of how the skeletal and musculature systems work under different conditions. Scientists and engineers often try to apply physics, mechanics, and thermodynamics methods to the analysis of the human body during these events to determine, first, what happens and, second, the effects of the event on the human body.
Towards Independent Stress Detection: A Dependent Model Using Facial Action Units

Our society is increasingly more susceptible to chronic stress. Reasons are daily worries, workload, and the wish to fulfil a myriad of expectations. Unfortunately, long-exposure to stress leads to physical and mental health problems. To avoid the described consequences, mobile applications have been studied to track stress in combination with wearables. However, wearables need to be worn all day long and can be costly. Given that most laptops have inbuilt cameras, using video data for personal tracking of stress levels could be a more affordable alternative. In previous work, videos have been used to detect cognitive stress during driving by measuring the presence of anger or fear through a limited number of facial expressions. In contrast, we propose the use of 17 facial action units (AUs) not solely restricted to those emotions. We used five one-hour long videos from the dataset collected by Lau [1]. The videos show subjects while typing, resting, and exposed to a stressor, being a multitasking exercise combined with social evaluation. We performed binary classification using several simple classifiers on AUs extracted in each video frame and were able to achieve an accuracy of up to 74% in subject independent classification and 91% in subject dependent classification. These preliminary results indicate that the AUs most relevant for stress detection are not consistently the same for all 5 subjects. Also in previous work, using facial cues, a strong person-specific component was found during classification.
Tag-Free and Isotopomer-Selective Vibrational Spectroscopy of the Cryogenically Cooled H9O4+ Cation with Two-Color, IR-IR Double-Resonance Photoexcitation: Isolating the Spectral Signature of a Single OH Group in the Hydronium Ion Core.

We report vibrational spectra of the cryogenically cooled H9O4+ cation along with those of the D2 tagged HD8O4+ isotopomers using two variations on a two-color, IR–IR double-resonance photoexcitation scheme. The spectrum of the isolated H9O4+ ion consists of two sharp features in the OH stretching region that indicate exclusive formation of the “Eigen” cation, the H3O+·(H2O)3 isomer that corresponds to the filled hydration shell around the hydronium ion. Consistent with this structural assignment, the spectrum of the HD8O4+ isotopologue is resolved into contributions from two isotopomers: one with the single OH group on one of the three solvent water molecules and another in which it resides on the hydronium core ion. The latter spectrum is dominated by a broad feature assigned to the isolated hydronium OH stretching fundamental with an envelope that is similar to that displayed by the H3O+·(H2O)3 isotopologue. The feature appears with a diffuse band ∼380 cm–1 above it, which is assigned to a combination ...