cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE TO THE HOLOCAUST

In her recent book, The Holocaust and the Historians, Lucy Dawidowicz draws attention to historians' neglect of the Holocaust.' She points out that textbooks on modern history as well as specialized works by respected scholars give scant attention to it. To a sociologist Dawidowicz' book strikes a timely note. Sociologists, too, have been reluctant to study the Holocaust. Not long ago it was noted in a sociology journal that "there is no sociology of the Holocaust."2 This may be doing an injustice to recent work by Helen Fein, who compared the persecution of Jews in different countries that had been occupied by the Nazis3 and to Irving Horowitz' analysis of genocide in relation to national political systems.4 But by and large sociologists have concentrated far more on anti-Semitism, ethnic issues and extremism bearing on Jewish life in the English-speaking countries5 than on the Nazi Holocaust itself. Given the large number of Jewish sociologists, this remains somewhat of a riddle. Perhaps Hannah Arendt's quasi-sociological work on the banality of Eichmann's evil left a bad aftertaste-particularly its claim, met by much outrage, that the victims heavily contributed to their own demise. Perhaps, too, the trauma of the Holocaust that affects all Jews, including Jewish sociologists, has substituted grief for intellectual inquiry, where dispassionate analysis is the last thing on anyone's mind. A prominent Jewish sociologist recently told me: "The most profound thing anyone can do about the Holocaust is to be silent; but I wish you luck in not being silent." The upshot of sociologists' silence is that distinctive sociological contributions to knowledge of the Holocaust remain relatively untapped. Such contributions would not be duplications of historians' explanations of why and how the Holocaust happened. They would, instead, clarify wherein the Holocaust was unique and wherein it was generalizable, utilizing existing widespread propensities for evil; and, wherein lie human routines that might again be tapped for massive extremes and wherein lie countervailing forces to extremism. In this paper I want to take a step in this sociological direction by discussing the Holocaust as a way of routinizing monstrous behavior.
Optimal prepaging and font caching

An efficient algorithm for communicating letter-shape information from a high-speed computer with a large memory to a typesetting device that has a limited memory is presented. The encoding is optimum, in the sense that the total time for typesetting is minimized, using a model that generalizes well-known “demand paging” strategies to the case where changes to the cache are allowed before the associated information is actually needed. Extensive empirical data show that good results are obtained even when difficult technical material is being typeset on a machine that can store information concerning only 100 characters. The methods of this paper are also applicable to other hardware and software caching applications with restricted lookahead.
Thin-layer chromatography of thiosulfonate anions

Organic thiosulfonates of the form RS(O2)S− can be separated from the characteristic contaminants in synthetic preparations by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel. Thiosulfonates and sulfinates can both be visualized, and differentiated, by treatment of plates with a FeCl3 reagent in acetone. Data are presented for seven aromatic and six aliphatic thiosulfonate anions and the corresponding sulfonates and sulfinates. With exception of the series related to cysteic acid, Rf values are always in the order RS(O)2S− > RSO3− > RSO2−.
Further purification and characterization of a placental protein with immunological similarity to human growth hormone.

Josimovich and MacLaren1 purified a substance from human placentas which cross-reacted immunologically with antiserum to human growth hormone in Ouchter-lony's double-diffusion system. Moreover, they detected this substance in the blood and urine of pregnant women, thereby raising the possibility that it might be a new placental hormone. Investigation of the physiological role of this substance has been hampered by the limited supply of material. The relatively easy method outlined here yields substantially greater quantities of this substance than could be obtained by the previously described purification from fresh-frozen placentas2.
Autocrine Transforming Growth Factor β Stimulation of Extracellular Matrix Production by Fibroblasts From Fibrotic Human Gingiva

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a fibrotic enlargement of the gingiva. HGF gingiva contains large amounts of collagen and other extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules. In vitro, HGF fibroblasts produce greater amounts of the ECM components fibronectin (FN) and type 1 collagen than normal human gingival (GN) fibroblasts. Transforming growth factor β (TGF β) is a cytokine important in regulating tissue repair and regeneration after injury, and stimulating fibroblast proliferation and the production of FN and collagens. The objective of this study was to determine whether HGF fibroblasts produce TGF β and, with the use of neutralizing antibodies to TGF β isoforms, if their increased expression of FN and type 1 collagen is under autocrine TGF β control. The HGF strains produced greater amounts of TGF β1 and TGF β2 (P ≤ 0.003) as well as FN (P ≤ 0.04) and type I collagen (P ≤ 0.03) (measured by specific ELISA) than the GN strains. Treatment of HGF fibroblasts with anti-TGF β1, β2, or β3, as well as a c...
To Customize or Not to Customize? The Use of a Customization Tool to Augment Information Indexing in a Computer Desktop Environment

We studied when and how people will use a customization tool that helps users offload information indexing to the external environment to augment finding and re-finding of information in a computer desktop environment. An experiment was conducted to study how the cost and benefit of customization may influence when and how participants customize, and how the customization may help them find and re-find information. Results showed that participants were sensitive to the cost and benefit of customization. In general, participants performed more customization when the cost was low and when the benefit was high. Customization was also found to influence their information indexing strategy. Implications to design of customization tools for information indexing were discussed.
Validation of Probabilistic Predictions

Current advances in high-speed computing and increased availability of statistical software have led to widespread use of statistical methods for the development of computerized protocols predictive of binary health outcomes. If these predictive algorithms are to be used in settings other than those for which they were developed, e.g., applied in a different geographic setting or extrapolated for use in a slightly different population, then they should be carefully validated to ensure appropriate application. Miller et al. (Stat Med. 1991) provided a comprehensive methodology for external validation of logistic prediction models, and applied these methods in a temporal validation setting. In this article, the authors emphasize how these methods can be applied to general forms of probabilistic predictions and provide several SAS macros for computation of the desired statistics.
The Exclusionary Clause and the Disadvantaged: Do We Try to Comply with the Law?:

Among school psychologists serving a national, systematic sample of public schools, 47% reported compliance with Section 4 of the learning disabilities exclusionary clause, 38% reported purposeful noncompliance, and 10% reported inconsistent compliance. Those who attempt compliance consider a variety of factors in their decisions, but few pupils are actually excluded.
Pima Swallow Songs

Much anthropological ethnopoetics (roughly speaking, the study of other peoples' literatures) has been concerned with how to find valid linguistic reasons for dividing previously unwritten texts into lines. As Bright summed up the situation in 1979, the strophes and lines that Tedlock discerned in a study of Zuni narrators' pauses (long pause terminates strophe, short pause terminates line) may correspond to the verses and lines discovered by Hymes in a study of Chinookan sentence initial particles. Bright made this judgement after studying a Karok text with both pauses and particles in mind (1979, republished in 1984). Tedlock, Hymes, and Bright supplied Zunis, Chinookans, and Karoks with terms and definitions for the internal segmentation of texts. It is not known whether the natives had their own terms and definitions for this purpose and, if so, whether their named and defined units correspond with those proposed by the anthropologists. To judge from my experience with yet a fourth American Indian people, the Pima-Papagos, the natives probably did not have such units. Or, if they did, they did not divulge them. (I am familiar enough with the Pima-Papago to state that this was not the case.) I hope those writers would agree, however, that ethnopoetics should be more than the study of technique, and that it should include meaning and use. They have made many contributions in that direction. I wish to join them now and to seek my own resolution of a question that affects us all, namely the problematic relation between what anthropologists and natives, specifically American Indians, say about the natives' traditional, unwritten literary cultures. In general, we would expect natives to have more to say about the meaning and use of their oral literatures than about technique. If this is the case, as it is with the songs studied in this paper, the relation between what we say and what natives say approximates a discussion between scholars. Instead of saying nothing (as may be the case with techniques such as the definition of lines), they say something and, treating them as scholars, we must take this something into account. The present paper presents two theses about the meaning and use of a small part of Pima-Papago oral literature. The first thesis is that these people say that a certain category of songs, which I call social dancing songs, lends itself to a bad use: people attending these dances may lose themselves in momentary self-centered pleasures that they will regret when the dance is over and they must return to ordinary life. Because this thesis recapitulates Pima-Papago opinion, it is not
New Compounds: Synthesis of Alkyl Esters of D,L-Dopa

In the search for possible prodrugs of levodopa, seven alkyl esters of D,L-dopa were prepared using thionyl chloride as the catalyst. The hydrochloride salts were quite stable to hydrolysis in acidic aqueous solutions.
Ugly Duckling to Swan: Labeling Theory and the Stigmatization of Red Hair

Interviews were conducted with redheads, and labeling theory is used to analyze their stigmatization in society as well as their perceptions of having red hair. First, using the relativistic stance of labeling theory, red hair is described as a type of deviance. Second, the processes involved in the labeling of redheads are examined, especially in regard to how redheads have personally experienced stereotyping. The stereotypes that redheads perceive to be socially constructed are as follows: hot temper, clownish, weirdness, Irishness, not capable of being in the sun, wild women, wimpy men, and intellectual superiority. Finally, the impact of being negatively labeled and treated in society is considered. Redheads typically receive negative treatment as children, and, as a consequence, redheads experience a lowered self-esteem, feelings of differentness, and a sense of being the center of attention. Nevertheless, redheads typically transform a negative experience into a positive one by learning to appreciate their hair color and how it has shaped their sense of self. In essence, they become an example of tertiary deviants.
Three Rings, Three Enrichment Activities, Three Decades Earlier

Three decades ago, Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli reflected on the state of the art in gifted and talented programs. His work in schools and his evaluation of existing programs made it patently clear it wa...
Measurement of Nonsteady Forces in Three Turbine Stage Geometries Using the Hydraulic Analogy

Experimental results for the nonsteady forces and nonsteady torques acting at the e.g. of an instrumented moving turbine blade have been obtained. Three different turbine stage geometries have been tested in this manner. The data described was obtained using a rotating model turbine stage consisting of a row of stationary inlet nozzles and a rotating blade row. The hydraulic analogy was used to stimulate the two-dimensional gasdynamic flow through the three stage geometries in turn. The free-surface horizontal flow of water across the rotating water table then represents the gas flow through the stage. Results for the nonsteady forces and torques in the tangential, axial, and torsional directions are presented as dimensionless force ratios or dimensionless torque ratios in each instance. Charts of results are presented for various stage pressure ratios, for practical ranges of stage velocity ratios. Typical results and observed trends are discussed in detail, and a summary table of observed nonsteady excitation values is presented.
Neuroleptanaesthesia with diazepam-morphine in poor-risk surgical patients.

Experience with 50 poor-risk surgical patients has been presented, in whom neuroleptanaesthesia was used. The drugs employed were diazepam and morphine supplemented with nitrous oxide, d-tubocurare, and hyperventilation. The induction period was prolonged up to 3–5 minutes, with remarkably stable cardiovascular function. There was a progressive decrease in respiration, so that assisted and controlled ventilation was utilized. The blood gas values showed adequate arterial oxygenation, and a mild respiratory alkalosis. Routine curare-reversal was carried out at the termination of anaesthesia, with rapid return of consciousness and orientation, tranquility, amnesia, and analgesia persisted well into the recovery period, making this pleasant for the patient. It is recommended that in the poor-risk surgical patient, neuroleptanaesthesia with diazepam-morphine be administered with hyperventilation, but that provision be made to maintain normocarbia and normal acid-base balance.
The Anthropic principle and the mass scale of the standard model

In theories in which different regions of the universe can have different values of certain physical parameters, we would naturally find ourselves in a region where they take values favorable for life. We explore the range of such viable values of the mass parameter in the Higgs potential, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}$. For ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}l0$, the requirement that complex elements be formed suggests that the Higgs vacuum expectation value $v$ must have a magnitude less than 5 times its observed value. For ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}g0$, baryon stability requires that $|\ensuremath{\mu}|\ensuremath{\ll}{M}_{P}$, the Planck mass. Smaller values of $|{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}|$ may or may not be allowed depending on issues of element synthesis and stellar evolution. We conclude that the observed value of ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}$ appears reasonably typical of the viable range, and a multiple-domain scenario may provide a plausible explanation for the closeness of the QCD scale and the weak scale.
Divine Direction: How Providential Religious Beliefs Shape Foreign Policy Attitudes

Despite recent scholarly and popular work regarding the role of religion in US foreign policy, we still know little about how religious factors affect the public's foreign policy views. This paper proposes one potential mechanism for influence—the connection of providential beliefs to foreign policy issues through a compelling religious frame—and tests the explanatory power of this approach through a nationally administered survey experiment. The “providential” orientation of respondents—the extent to which they believe in a divinely authored plan—is measured through questions that tap the nondenomination specific nature of religious beliefs. A multi-methods approach of means comparisons, logit analyses, and exact logistical regression indicates that when a foreign policy is framed in religious terms, providentiality is a significant predictor of support, even in the face of countervailing political beliefs. These findings highlight one mechanism through which religion can influence foreign policy attitudes, thereby demonstrating the value of further investigating the role of religious beliefs in politics.
Complement is dispensable for neurodegeneration in Niemann-Pick disease type C

Background The immune system has been implicated in neurodegeneration during development and disease. In various studies, the absence of complement (that is, C1q deficiency) impeded the elimination of apoptotic neurons, allowing survival. In the genetic lysosomal storage disease Niemann-Pick C (NPC), caused by loss of NPC1 function, the expression of complement system components, C1q especially, is elevated in degenerating brain regions of Npc1-/- mice. Here we test whether complement is mediating neurodegeneration in NPC disease.
STABILITY OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL ENTEROTOXIN A TO SELECTED CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED IN FOODS

Changes in serological activity of enterotoxin A were measured by an immuno-diffusion method. The reducing sugars xylose, lactose, glucose, maltose and fructose did not react with enterotoxin so as to reduce titer under various conditions of concentration, pH, temperature and time but all of these sugars exhibited an enterotoxin protective effect when systems were heated at 60°C. Sodium propionate, sodium benzoate and sodium nitrite at various concentrations did not alter enterotoxin titer when systems were incubated up to 9 days at 21 or 37°C. Sodium sulfite at a solution concentration of 1000 ppm decreased titers under specific conditions that suggest weak complex formation with the enterotoxin. Luxuriant growth of bacteria belonging to the genera Bacillus, Micrococcus, Brevibacterium, Aeudomonas, Proteus, Escherichia, Enterobacter, and yeasts of the genera Candida and Saccharomyces, in several media containing enterotoxin A did not significantly alter exterotoxin titer. Titer was substantially reduced by several species of lactic acid bacteria including L. acidophilus, L. helveticus, L. plantatum, L. mesenteroides, Strep. thermophilus, Strep. faecalis var. liquefaciens, Strep. lactis and P: pentosaceus in MRS broth and by five of the above species in APT broth. Reductions in titer were not simply due to decreases in pH by these organisms. Studies on heat inactivated enterotoxm revealed partial reactivation in phosphate-buffered saline incubated at 30 and 37°C for 72 hr but not at several other conditions of lower temperature and shorter time.
Corrections to &#8220;Microscopic Theory of Gain, Absorption, and Refractive Index in Semiconductor Laser Materials&#8212;Influence of Conduction-Band Nonparabolicity and Coulomb-Induced Intersubband Coupling&#8221;

The influence of the conduction-band nonparabolicity and Coulomb coupling between different electronic subbands and different hole subbands on gain, absorption, and refractive index in semiconductor heterostructures is investigated. We implement these features into a fully microscopic approach. At low carrier densities, the nonparabolicity leads to a steeper increase of the absorption for increasing transition energy. In this regime, the Coulomb subband coupling allows for a shift of oscillator strength to energetically lower transitions. In the gain regime, the conduction-band nonparabolicity is shown to reduce the gain width for a given carrier density and to strongly modify the corresponding refractive index. The Coulomb coupling is especially important to determine the correct energetic position and density dependence of the gain maximum. In addition, it leads to a steeper transition from the gain to the absorptive region.
Perceptions of Chronicity and Recovery among Youth in Treatment for Substance Use Problems

Purpose To explore how youth contextualize substance use problems and recovery, in general and for themselves, in relation to the commonly accepted chronicity framework.
The effect of sodium bisulfate on Salmonella viability in broiler litter

Controlling Salmonella populations on commercial broiler grow out farms is a crucial step in reducing Salmonella contamination in processing plants. Broiler litter harbors many species of pathogenic bacteria including Salmonella. Sodium bisulfate has been shown to reduce concentration of bacteria in broiler litter. In experiments 1 and 2, sodium bisulfate was applied to broiler litter at rates that are comparable to what is commonly used by the poultry industry: 22.7, 45.4, and 68.0 kg/92.9 m(2). After application, sodium bisulfate was mixed into the litter. In experiments 3 and 4, sodium bisulfate was applied at 45.4 kg/92.9 m(2) to the surface of the litter. For all experiments, a cocktail of 5 Salmonella serovars was applied to the litter. Ammonia, pH, moisture, and water activity measurements were taken; additionally, total aerobic, anaerobic, enteric, and Salmonella concentrations were determined at 0, 24, and 96 h. In experiments 1 and 2, Salmonella concentrations were higher for treated litter than the control at 24 and 96 h (P < 0.001). In experiments 1 and 2, litter pH was lower for treated litter at 24 and 96 h; lowest pH was observed with the 68.0 kg/92.9 m(2), with a pH of 5.95 (P < 0.001). In experiments 3 and 4, litter pH was lowered for treated litter to 2.1 (P < 0.001). Even this lower pH did not reduce Salmonella concentrations compared with the control (P = 0.05). The decreased litter pH appeared to be responsible for increased viability of Salmonella. This research shows that the lowering of litter pH, which decreases litter ammonia production, could actually lead to an increased survivability of certain bacteria, such as Salmonella.
Toward a neuroscope: a real-time imaging system for evaluation of brain function

Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy techniques are now being used to detect changes in blood flow, volume and oxygenation level associated with brain function. The authors describe a prototype system, called a neuroscope, that provides a real-time acquisition, control and processing environment for functional brain studies. Preliminary experiments have shown that oxygenation sensitive changes in the rat can be captured in real-time. When fully developed, this system should prove very useful for mapping the spatial and temporal patterns of functional brain activity of humans. >
To surrender drugs: A grief process in its own right

The basic thesis of this article is that addictive substances, because of their need-grafifying and self-medication value, become so central to the life of the addicted person that their absence is associated with a grief reaction. Painful feelings of loss and helplessness accompany drug surrender. This view contrasts with formulations that indicate that mourning experiences observed in recovering persons are specific to and determined by unresolved past losses of loved ones. The author discusses the theoretical underpinnings of the drug-loss grief reaction. Also presented are case vignettes that demonstrate the grief aspects of drug surrender. Finally, the role of brief psychotherapy as a vehicle for helping clients cope with their grief reactions is discussed.
Dairy Intake, Obesity, and Metabolic Health in Children and Adolescents: Knowledge and Gaps

There is an urgent need to identify nutrition-related risk factors for obesity and the metabolic syndrome, because the prevalence of these conditions continues to rise among children and adolescents. While some studies suggest that dairy and calcium intake may attenuate obesity and the metabolic syndrome, others do not support these findings. In addition, very little research has been done in children and adolescents, especially in minority youth, who are at the greatest risk for obesity and metabolic dysfunctions. Longitudinal studies examining the role of dairy intake in relation to changes in body composition and metabolic profiles during growth are also critically needed. Of the studies conducted thus far, part of the discrepancy in findings may be due to the uncertainty over whether the effect of dairy intake is independent of energy intake or other eating pattern variables. Further, there is no consensus on how to qualify (i.e., which foods) or quantify (i.e., which cutoffs and/or units) dairy consumption. The widespread problem of implausible dietary reporting in observational studies and the lack of compliance monitoring in intervention trials may also contribute to inconsistent findings. Given the lack of consensus on the effect of dairy, particularly in children and adolescents, more research is warranted before any recommendations can be made on dietary guidelines, policies, and interventions.
Breast MRI as an adjunct in the diagnosis of a carcinoma partially obscured on mammography

The role of unenhanced breast MRI as an adjunct to mammography in the diagnosis of a breast carcinoma presenting as architectural distortion partially obscured by dense tissue on film-screen mammography is illustrated.
Molecular Mechanisms for Heterologous Sensitization of Adenylate Cyclase

The nine membrane-bound isoforms of the enzyme adenylate cyclase (EC [4.6.1.1][1]) are highly regulated by neurotransmitters and drugs acting through G protein-coupled receptors to modulate intracellular cAMP levels. In general, acute activation of Gαs-coupled receptors stimulates cAMP accumulation, whereas acute activation of Gαi/o-coupled receptors typically inhibits cAMP accumulation. It is also well established that persistent activation of G-protein coupled receptors will alter subsequent drug-modulated cAMP accumulation. These alterations are thought to represent cellular adaptive responses following prolonged receptor activation. One phenomenon commonly observed, heterologous sensitization of adenylate cyclase, is characterized by an enhanced responsiveness to drug-stimulated cAMP accumulation following persistent activation of Gαi/o-coupled receptors. Heterologous sensitization of adenylate cyclase was originally proposed to explain tolerance and withdrawal following chronic opiate administration and may be a mechanism by which cells adapt to prolonged activation of inhibitory receptors. Such an adaptive mechanism has been suggested to play a role in the processes of addiction to and withdrawal from many drugs of abuse and in psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and depression. Although the precise mechanisms remain unknown, research over the last decade has led to advances toward understanding the molecular events associated with heterologous sensitization of recombinant and endogenous adenylate cyclases in cellular models. These events include the pertussis toxin-sensitive events that are associated with the development of heterologous sensitization and the more recently identified Gαs-dependent events that are involved in the expression of heterologous sensitization. [1]: pending:yes
A new ubiquitous interface agent for cloud computing — Example on Bluetooth, GPS, and Zigbee techniques

This paper focused on designing of a new ubiquitous interface agent based on the ontology technology and interaction diagram with the backend information agent system, i.e., OntoIAS, in cloud computing environments. Through the techniques of packet decoding and recognizing, the agent employs the CURRL to transform user commands into internal canonical format to conveniently process those commands by OntoIAS, which can avoid numerous, jumbled, and incorrect information torrents that results in misunderstanding of the information intention of users. In this paper, we preliminarily proposed a ubiquitous interface agent with the Bluetooth, GPS, and Zigbee techniques and related interaction diagrams in cloud computing environments. The system prototype and experiment outcomes can also reveal the feasibility of the system architecture.
STEM-Based Professional Development and Policy: Key Factors Worth Considering

This chapter focuses on STEM-based professional development and policy and related implications for the science curriculum and cultural pedagogy, as factors worth considering for improving science education for all 6–12 public school students. It discusses STEM-based professional development in the context of research across different domains and uses evidence from research to highlight effective STEM-based professional development that now includes both teachers and principals. It shows how policy must become more supportive of STEM-based approaches in order to fully embrace evidence from research. This chapter discusses how going forward will require real-world changes in science learning driven by a curriculum that embeds cultural pedagogy more pervasively. Hence, this chapter encourages science teachers and science educators, education stakeholders, and policymakers to view STEM-based professional development, policy, curriculum, and cultural pedagogy as critical factors aimed at improving the performance of teachers and leaders, who, in turn, will be better positioned for improving the achievement of all students.
Cancer risk among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a population-based prospective study in China

Evidence indicates an increased cancer risk among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, yet studies in mainland China are scarce. Based on Diabetes Surveillance System linking to Cancer Surveillance System of Zhejiang Province in China, we explored the cancer risk among T2DM patients. Totally, 327,268 T2DM patients were identified and followed from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2013. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Overall cancer risk was found significantly increased with an SIR of 1.15 (95% CI 1.12-1.19) and 1.25 (95% CI 1.21-1.30) in males and females, respectively. Regarding specific cancer sites, risks of liver, colon, rectum, pancreas, and kidney were significantly increased with SIRs of 1.26 (95% CI 1.16-1.36), 1.47 (95% CI 1.29-1.67), 1.25 (95% CI 1.09-1.43), 2.81 (95% CI 2.50-3.16) and 1.61 (95% CI 1.28-2.03) in males, 1.53 (95% CI 1.35-1.73), 1.33 (95% CI 1.15-1.54), 1.29 (95% CI 1.10-1.51), 3.62 (95% CI 3.20-4.09) and 1.71 (95% CI 1.28-2.29) in females, respectively. A significant increased SIR was noted for prostate (1.80, 95% CI 1.58-2.06). Significant increased SIRs for lung (1.32, 95% CI 1.20-1.44) and stomach (1.16, 95% CI 1.03-1.30) were observed in females. We suggested an increased cancer risk among T2DM patients.
Electrochemical Effects in Thermoelectric Polymers

Conductive polymers such as PEDOT:PSS hold great promise as flexible thermoelectric devices. The thermoelectric power factor of PEDOT:PSS is small relative to inorganic materials because the Seebeck coefficient is small. Ion conducting materials have previously been demonstrated to have very large Seebeck coefficients, and a major advantage of polymers over inorganics is the high room temperature ionic conductivity. Notably, PEDOT:PSS demonstrates a significant but short-term increase in Seebeck coefficient which is attributed to a large ionic Seebeck contribution. By controlling whether electrochemistry occurs at the PEDOT:PSS/electrode interface, the duration of the ionic Seebeck enhancement can be controlled, and a material can be designed with long-lived ionic Seebeck enhancements.
Mechanical Properties of SiC Whisker-Reinforced TiB2 Composites Fabricated by Hot-Pressing

SiC whisker reinforced TiB2 matrix composites containing 10 to 30vol% whisker were prepared by hotpressing at 1600 to 1900°C. The flexural strength of 867±77MPa and KIC of 5.8±0.12MPa√m were obtained for the 1800°C hot-pressed samples containing 10vol% whisker. No significant increase in KIC was observed by the whisker reinforcement because of the chemical reaction between matrix and whisker, which enhanced strong interfacial bonding and whisker agglomeration.
Contamination resulting from aerosolized fluid during laparoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Aerosolized droplets of blood can travel considerable distances on release of intra-abdominal pressure during laparoscopic surgery. This creates an environmental hazard for members of the surgical team. This study describes and provides a method of measurement of aerosolized blood contamination during evacuation of the pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic surgery. METHODS Samples were measured by removing a trocar from the abdomen while a pneumoperitoneum of 15 mm Hg was present. A white poster board was placed 24 inches above the incision to catch the released blood spatter. By use of machine vision, luminol fluorescence, and computerized spatial analysis, data from the boards were recorded, analyzed, and scored based on the distance, size, and quantity of particulate contamination. RESULTS We analyzed 27 boards. Spatter was present on every board. The addition of luminol to the boards increased the amount of visible spatter. Most tests created <1000 blood spatters. Fluids are typically ejected as a fine mist. Every test included at least 1 blood spatter. The range of the average blood spatter size was 0.53×10(-3) to 7.11×10(-3) sq in. The amount of spatter detected did not show any apparent correlation with the patient's body mass index, the estimated blood loss, or the type of operation performed. CONCLUSIONS Evacuation of the pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery results in consistent contamination. Most blood spatter is not visible to the naked eye. Our results suggest that all surgical participants should wear appropriate protective barriers and conscious measures should be undertaken to prevent environmental contamination during pneumoperitoneal evacuation.
Evolution of Stratified Boundary-Free Shear Flows Under Stokes-Ekman Forcing

Three boundary-free shear flows: a net-zero-momentum shear layer, drag shear layer, and jet are simulated in ocean environments using a 2-dimensions-plus-time approximation of the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. Stokes and Ekman forcing are considered over an array of cases in three different stratification environments to consider the effects of waves, wind, and buoyancy. Constant temperature, linearly-varying temperature, and linearly-varying temperature with a pycnocline are considered. Furthermore, wind conditions are varied from calm to increasing intensities. The results reinforce the thought that the wave-induced Stokes force plays a major role in the development of Langmuir-type circulations. Under “calm” to “smooth” conditions, Stokes-Ekman forcing induces minor changes on shear-layer width and height evolution. For “moderate” conditions and higher, simulations indicate significant changes to shear-layer width and height evolution as well as changes in free-surface transverse current features. The manner of change is mostly dependent on the chosen stratification environment, but results also suggest that Ekman forcing accelerates shear layer spreading.
Open-flame application of refractory coatings

An analysis was carried out of the heating of particles in the flame cone of a gas and oxygen burner.
Design of Ethernet-based Automatic Temperature Remote Detection System for Hospital Patients

The temperature automatic detection of hospital patients is very important in digital construction of hospitals.The main content of this design is to complete a new multi-point distributed temperature measuring system based on Ethernet.This system has the functions of site temperature acquisition,display and communication with monitoring center.MCU for control is adopted.The digital temperature sensor DS18B20 made by DALLAS Company in recent years is taken as a temperature detecting element,and the network communication module ZNE-100T developed by ZLG Company is employed as a network communication unit.The new temperature detecting system structured by the single bus technology and network technology has the advantages of low cost,stable performance,strong anti-interference ability and flexible operation,and is easy to realize the multi-point,real-time temperature detection.
Digital sex: Causes and consequences.

Many theories have sought to explain the evolution of sex, but the question remains unanswered owing to the scarcity of compelling empirical tests. Here we summarize the results of two of our published studies investigating the evolution of sex using digital organisms. We used these evolving programs to test the hypothesis that sexual reproduction is advantageous in changing environments. We found that sex evolved to be the dominant mode of reproduction only when the environment was changing rapidly and substantially. Additionally, we measured the effects of sexual reproduction on genetic architecture, specifically modularity and epistasis. We found that sex profoundly influences genome organization, increasing modularity and decreasing the effects of interactions between mutations. Our studies have contributed to understanding both the causes and consequences of sexual reproduction, while also demonstrating the efficacy and power of in silico approaches to these issues.
Elimination of Tungsten-voids in middle-of-line contacts for advanced planar CMOS and FinFET technology

As dimension of middle-of-line contacts scale down, the Tungsten (W) gap-fill capability is critical, and we started to see function failure in SRAM and logic circuit caused by W-voids. We had observed that formation of W-voids is related to the contact profile, nucleation/barrier on sidewall, and deposition methods. Furthermore, even those initially “good” W-plugs are formed, the subsequent process steps may damage the W-plug and cause voids. These W voids lead to high resistance and failures in logic and SRAM circuit (see Fig.1). We analyzed mechanisms and illustrated solutions systematically with in-line detection method. We also discussed these solutions for technology development as well as manufacturing in this paper.
Thomas Piketty’s relevance for the study of education: reflections on the political economy of education

Beginning in the summer of 2008, the global financial crisis destroyed wealth across the world. Emanating from the world’s financial capital in New York City, as the financial institutions Bear Ste...
Characterizing and understanding systematic biases in the vertical structure of clouds in CMIP5/CFMIP2 models

From a traditional low-, mid- and high-cloud “layered” perspective as well as a more detailed “level” perspective (40 levels), we compare the vertical distribution of clouds in twelve general circulation models (GCMs) against the GCM-Oriented Cloud-Aerosols Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations Cloud Product (CALIPSO-GOCCP) using a satellite simulator approach. The “layered” perspective shows that models exhibit the similar regional biases: an overestimate (underestimate) of high-clouds over oceans (continents) in the tropics and a strong underestimate of low-clouds over stratocumulus regions. Although high-clouds are too infrequent on average, the “level” perspective reveals that high-level clouds fill too many upper levels of the column when present (geometrically too thick), suggesting an overestimation of the cloud overlap. Compositing by dynamical regimes and large-scale relative humidity shows that the models tend to have too many high-level clouds in moist environments, and too few boundary-layer clouds in dry environments regardless of dynamical regimes
Project Wrap-Up, Delivery, and Maintenance

“Project management” is a composite of managing many other project elements: people, communication, commitments, resources, requirements, changes, risks, opportunities, expectations, technology, suppliers and conflicts. Nearly every project includes aspects of all previously listed activities and the successful project manager must keep an eye on them all.
Baseball and Markov chains: Power hitting and power series

A s children, my friends and I often played a game called All-Star Baseball. Each of us would manage a team of major league players. The players were circular cards. Each card was divided into labeled sectors of various sizes, corresponding to possible outcomes such as strikeout, walk, single, home run, and so on. The sizes varied considerably from player to player. To have a player bat, we placed the card on a spinner, filliped the spinner, and read the result. We all had a clear intuitive understanding of how the situation reflected baseball and how it didn’t. We kept intricate stats. We experimented with ways to make pitching matter. We introduced random fielding errors using a buzzer. Later I invented a version using dice instead of a spinner. Throwing four dice at a time was required to accurately model the statistical profiles of actual players. I created new players. One (call him Kingman) had only two possible outcomes, a strikeout and a home run. Another (call him Bowa) had only two outcomes, a single and a strikeout. I made the single on Bowa four times as likely as the home run on Kingman. I would play full games in which one team had nine players like Bowa and the other had nine players like Kingman. Years later I realized that we had been regarding the game of baseball as a Markov chain. Before discussing Markov chains and how to use them to model baseball, I pose three exercises for the reader. I put the first two of them in the book [DW] (page 335), and I have assigned them on several occasions, in order to give an amusing application of summing power series. The following simple
Mechanically Robust SiAlON Ceramics with Engineered Porosity via Two-step Sintering for Applications in Extreme Environments

Porous ceramics have been widely used under extreme environments due to their high strength, good thermal shock resistance, and excellent corrosion resistance. Recently, silicon aluminum oxynitride (SiAlON) ceramic, a solid solution of Si3N4 with AlN, SiO2, and Al2O3, attracted our interest because of its superior mechanical and physical properties for applications under extreme environments (i.e., high temperature, high pressure, excellent mechanical wear, and low PH). However, in spite of its many unique properties, porous SiAlON production has not been scaled up sufficiently to meet industrially relevant quantities due to its high synthesis cost and the difficulty of manufacturing articles. Here, we report on a scalable two-step carbothermal reduction and nitridation (CRN) method to synthesize mechanically robust SiAlON ceramic materials with controlled porosity levels. The morphologies and chemical composition of the synthesized porous SiAlON ceramics were characterized using SEM, XRD, EDAX, and microprobe analysis. In addition, the flexural strength of the engineered porous SiAlON ceramics is also reported in this paper.
Final Frontier vs. Fruitful Frontier: The Case for Increasing Ocean Exploration

Possible solutions to the world’s energy, food, environmental, and other problems are far more likely to be found in nearby oceans than in distant space.
Current Treatment Options: Vestibular Migraine.

Vestibular migraine (VM) is a disorder with a spectrum of clinical presentations and among the most common causes of chronic vestibular symptoms. Some present with attacks before or during typical migraine, but many others have fluctuating or daily symptoms. While the symptoms and pathogenesis of vestibular migraine may have elements of both central and peripheral disorders, hearing loss should be absent. VM typically worsens with activity and head movements in general, and encompasses symptoms of vertigo, disequilibrium, or imbalance. While it is possible to confuse other disorders such as Meniere’s disease with migraine, it is worth making the diagnosis of vestibular migraine on clinical grounds after ruling out other possible causes. For acute attack treatment, migraine-specific medications such as triptans may be effective. In patients with frequent or disabling attacks, preventive treatment is essential. Vestibular rehabilitation may be helpful as well as medications used for migraine prevention such as including propranolol, venlafaxine, topiramate, and amitriptyline. For refractory patients, use of acetazolamide or lamotrigine may be reasonable.
The economic consequences of the contemporary European migration crisis on the Czech Republic

Abstract It is possible to state that every complicated question about dealing with the contemporary migration crisis has a simple but a wrong answer. From the constructivist perspective, the level of an objective grip of reality by the human mind is debatable, so, in this article, we can at least try to offer a certain (even simplified) view, particularly from the perspective of economics. Most economic analyses of the contemporary state of the Czech Republic appear very positive. In 2016, there was a record over profit margin in the state budget and unemployment in the Czech Republic was the lowest in the EU. Are such economic conditions a relevant factor for the integration of immigrants according to the system of the migration quotas of the EU, or is it possible that we cannot count on the long-term positive economic condition of the Czech Republic, because the economic condition of the state is not as positive as it seems? The low average income in the Czech Republic and large investments abroad do not add up to the positive economic picture painted in the Czech Republic. From an economic perspective, the Czech Republic is able to integrate the number of immigrants according to the EU quotas. If the quotas grow because it is not possible to determine the exact number of refugees, it can be assumed that the economic stability of the Czech Republic will be critical.
Mapping microglial reactivity in the brain after sciatic nerve injury

Injury to peripheral nerves induces neuroinflammation that causally contributes to neuropathic pain. Investigation of neuroinflammatory pain mechanisms has focused on the peripheral and spinal cord nociceptive pathways, whereas the brain has been largely unexplored. However, the brain is ultimately where the sensory and affective components of pain are encoded by a network of brain nuclei known as the “pain matrix”. The purpose of our study was to identify the extent to which peripheral nerve injury induces microglia activation in brain regions encoding the sensory and affective components of pain. Chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve was performed in male rats, and the spinal cords and brains were collected either prior to surgery, 7 or 28 days post surgery. The fixed tissues were stained for CD11b. We found that CD11b expression was transient in structures encoding the sensory aspects of pain (e.g. somatosensory cortex, insular cortex). In contrast, CD11b expression was persistent in the nuclei that mediate affective pain components (e.g. central amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex). Based on the known function of microglia, these data suggest that microglia may persistently dysregulate networks encoding negative affect after peripheral nerve injury, which will be tested in future studies.
Best Practices for Creating Survey Weights

Survey weights are critical for accurate generalizations from survey data to a population. Unfortunately, weights are commonly developed in ad hoc ways by researchers, leading to a serious risk of inappropriate or inconsistent methods being applied. Furthermore, the weight development methods used by researchers and organizations are rarely disclosed in ways that allow critical inspection by the end users. Using the rigorous and transparent survey weight development process undertaken by the investigators of the American National Election Studies (ANES) as a case study, this chapter highlights best practices for the development and publication of weights for survey data. Best practices emphasize transparent, replicable, and consistent methods.
SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF VENO-ARTERIAL EXTRA-CORPOREAL MEMBRANE OXYGENATION (VA ECMO) AS RESCUE FOR REFRACTORY VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA (VT) IN FULMINANT MYOCARDITIS

Fulminant myocarditis (FM), a rare clinical entity, can have a drastically reduced mortality if supported through its clinical course. However, electrical instability may be incessant despite maximal therapy. A previously healthy 41-year-old female presented with three days of non-exertional chest