cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seasonal and solar cycle dynamics of the auroral kilometric radiation source region

[1] Several year's worth of observations from the plasma wave instruments on both Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) and Polar spacecraft are used to study the seasonal and solar cycle variations in the spectrum of auroral kilometric radiation (AKR). Only AKR observations when the spacecraft were in the Northern Hemisphere emission cones were used. The results from the seasonal analysis show significant changes in the AKR spectrum as a function of dipole tilt. The average AKR spectral peak for positive dipole tilt is ∼150 kHz but is ∼300 kHz during times of negative dipole tilt. In addition, the average emission spectrum for positive tilt is up to two orders of magnitude weaker over the 200–500 kHz frequency range when compared with the average emission spectrum for negative tilt. Assuming the cyclotron maser mechanism for AKR, these results imply that the AKR source region (the auroral density cavity) moves to higher altitudes during the summer and to lower altitudes during the winter. Using data from the DE-1 plasma wave instrument, the magnetic local time of average AKR source region is also investigated with dipole tilt. From these observations it is found that for negative dipole tilt a broad AKR source region exists, ranging from ∼18 to ∼24 MLT, with peak emission coming from ∼20 MLT. In comparison, under positive dipole tilt the source region narrows (∼20 to ∼24 MLT) with peak emission at ∼22 MLT. Taking into account the above seasonal effect, a comparison of the average spectra from IMAGE and Polar plasma wave data also demonstrates a solar cycle effect. The average AKR spectrum at solar maximum has the same structure with dipole tilt as at solar minimum but is typically lower (by as much as 1–2 orders of magnitude). The observations presented support the concept that the expected increases in ionospheric densities (with positive dipole tilt for the Northern Hemisphere and solar EUV flux increases during solar maximum) play a significant role in magnetospheric-ionospheric coupling by: (1) shortening the altitude range of the auroral plasma cavity, (2) confining the cavity to a smaller range of MLT and closer to midnight, and (3) decreasing the overall intensity of AKR by lessening the density depth of the auroral density cavity. The results of this study should be taken into account in future studies of using AKR as a substorm index and other statistical emission cone studies at both low and high frequencies.
Opportunities to Explore for Gifted STEM Students in Korea: From Admissions Criteria to Curriculum

The admission process and curriculum for gifted students are crucial because they provide opportunities to explore (OTE) for gifted science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students. Korean specialized STEM schools, science academies (SAs) and science high schools (SHSs), claim that their screening process and curricula are based on their educational philosophy and goals. This article examines how SAs and SHSs make efforts to offer OTE in STEM disciplines by controlling the admission process and curriculum. It is found that SAs have enough flexibility in providing OTE that emphasize creativity. SHSs, however, are limited in providing such OTE and instead value high achievement more.
Carbon monoxide oxidation under transient conditions: A fourier-transform infrared transmission spectroscopy study

Abstract In contrast to the apparent simplicity of the overall reaction, oxidation of CO over Pt A 2 O 3 is known to present complex behavior. Self-sustained oscillations, hysteresis loops in conversion, and enormous rate enhancements under forced feed concentration cycling have been observed. In this study the dynamic behavior of the IR-active surface CO species was followed with a fast-scan Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) during transient response and periodic operation. Depending on the conditions, up to four linearly adsorbed CO bands at 2123, 2092, 2073, and 2061 cm −1 , and a bridge-bonded CO band at 1850 cm − were observed. The time-averaged and transient intensities of the bands were found to be significantly different during periodic operation as compared to steady state. Linearly adsorbed CO on metallic platinum (2073 cm − ) was found to have the fastest response to changes in the gas-phase concentration. It was also observed that CO adsorbed on platinum oxide is very stable and does not take part in the reaction to any appreciable extent. CO 2 production rates during periodic operation were found to correlate extremely well with the integrated total absorbance of the 2092-cm − band, assigned to CO linearly adsorbed on a platinum atom sharing an oxygen with a neighbor. Based on the experimental observations a detailed mechanism of CO oxidation on platinum is proposed. The model can successfully explain the enormous rate enhancements observed during periodic operation.
ON SIMULTANEOUS ANALYSIS

Abstract Arguments for and against combined analysis of multiple data sets in phylogenetic inference are reviewed. Simultaneous analysis of combined data better maximizes cladistic parsimony than separate analyses, hence is to be preferred. Simultaneous analysis can allow “secondary signals” to emerge because it measures strength of evidence supporting disparate results. Separate analyses are useful and of interest to understanding the differences among data sets, but simultaneous analysis provides the greatest possible explanatory power, and should always be evaluated when possible. The mechanics of simultaneous analysis are discussed.
Videoendoscopic Swallowing Study for Diagnosis of Zenker's Diverticuli

The videoendoscopic swallowing study (VESS) provides an efficient, cost-effective method for swallowing evaluation in the clinic. Previously thought to be of little value for disorders of the proximal esophagus, this retrospective study (n = 33) demonstrates a high level of sensitivity (85%) and specificity (86%) of VESS for detecting Zenker's diverticuli in patients with symptoms of swallowing dysfunction. Furthermore, the key finding of postswallow reflux into the hypopharynx reliably distinguishes cricopharyngeus dysfunction from diverticuli in this population. This study shows that VESS can provide useful information about the proximal esophagus.
Distinct frequencies mark the direction of cortical communication.

The capacity of the nervous system to perceive sensory information, form new memories, navigate through space, and make decisions relies on complex communication within and between brain areas. Anatomical studies have identified the routes by which information flows within the six layers of the neocortex and between hierarchically organized cortical regions. However, the details of how cortical communication is accomplished are still unclear. Several have suggested that rhythmic neuronal activity may play a key role in interareal communication (1⇓⇓–4). In particular, coherence between spiking activity and the local network in the γ-frequency band (30–90 Hz) has been proposed to be a signature of feedforward communication, signaling directed from an area earlier in the cortical hierarchy to a higher-order area (5⇓–7). By contrast, lower-frequency rhythms in both α (8–12 Hz) (7) and β (13–30 Hz) (8, 9) have been proposed to play a role in top-down or feedback communication. However, causal evidence for these rhythmic distinctions in the routing of information has been lacking. In PNAS, van Kerkoerle et al. (10) present an important advance in this research direction by directly testing the hypothesis that rhythmic activity in the α band signifies feedback processing and rhythmic activity in the γ band signifies feedforward processing.
Homologies in eukaryotic 5.8S ribosomal RNA

Abstract The primary nucleotide sequence of Novikoff hepatoma ascites cell 5.8S rRNA (also known as 5.5 or 7S RNA) has been determined to be: This sequence is 75% homologous with the primary nucleotide sequence of yeast 5.8S rRNA and 100% homologous with oligonucleotide marker fragments from HeLa cell RNA. In constrast, only limited homology is evident with oligonucleotides from 5.8S RNA of several flowering plants and many of the characteristic fragments differ.
Resonant tunneling in coupled quantum dots.

We have applied a scaled version of the Kohn-Sham equations of density-functional theory to study the charge distribution at the condition of resonant tunneling in coupled quantum dots. We find that the tunneling process is governed by the symmetry properties of the resonantly coupled quantum-dot states. At resonance, the coupled atomiclike quantum-dot states form bonding and antibonding molecular resonant-tunneling states. The charge distribution of the bonding-type state is given. In addition, we find asymmetries of the charge in the barrier vs voltage (analogous to {ital I}-{ital V} curves) as a result of electron-electron interactions between electrons in the excited tunneling and ground states.
Increasing the dynamic range of a transient recorder by using two analog-to-digital converters

This article describes an algorithm for recording transient voltages with enhanced dynamic range by using two 8-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The method requires each transient to be recorded in both ADCs, with different input voltage gains. The transients then are compared and combined to produce a single signal that has less digitization noise and greater dynamic range than signals recorded by either ADC alone and with no decrease in the sampling rate of the ADCs. The selection of operating parameters is considered and guidelines are established for the performance of this type of transient recorder. The system described here was built as a data acquisition device for a time-of-flight mass spectrometer; however, the algorithm could be applied to other types of ADC-based applications to extend their dynamic range.
Fast square root architecture based on prediction of result bits

A new architecture for the fast evaluation of the square-root of normalized binary numbers is presented. It exploits the fact that depending upon the relative magnitudes of the partial result and the partial remainder at any stage of a non-restoring square-root algorithm, a large number of result bits can be predicted. This allows one to convert approximately two thirds of the additions in the square-root procedure to shifts at the cost of a marginal increase in the hardware.
Effect of Dopants on the Defect Structure of Single-Crystal Aluminum Oxide

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Metallurgy and Materials Science. Thesis. 1969. Ph.D.
Dillon's Rule is From Mars, Home Rule is From Venus: Local Government Autonomy and the Rules of Statutory Construction

“Dillon’s Rule” and “home rule” are terms often used to denote limited and expansive local government autonomy, respectively. In particular, much literature attributes Dillon’s Rule with enormous influence over many and varied local government functions. This article explores the questions surrounding the true nature of Dillon’s Rule and its influence, or lack thereof, on local government autonomy. The author explains that Dillon’s Rule is a rule of statutory construction, while home rule lacks easy or uniform explanation. The article finds that home rule and Dillon’s Rule are neither inapposite nor exclusive. The terms denote different concepts, each of which relates to local government autonomy, but in more subtle ways than often thought. Dillon’s Rule exerts limited influence on local government autonomy.
Selection with a regulated cell growth switch increases the likelihood of expression for a linked gamma-globin gene.

Abstract Several lines of evidence indicate that in vivo drug selection can be used to overcome the low rates of gene transfer and engraftment encountered in many hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy settings. However, whether selection imposed on one transcription cassette effects the likelihood of expression from a second, independent transcription cassette within the same vector has been less well studied. In order to address this issue, we engineered an oncoretrovirus vector to express two separate transcription units: (i) a bicistronic cassette encoding both GFP and a pharmacologically regulated cell growth switch based on the thrombopoietin receptor Mpl; and (ii) a highly position-dependent second cassette encoding human γ-globin. Studies in cell cultures and in mice transplanted with transduced marrow indicated that selective expansion increased by more than 9-fold the fraction of erythroid cells expressing the linked but separate expression cassette for γ-globin. This increase was far greater then that observed for the bicistronic GFP gene, and cannot be explained by a simple increase in the fraction of cells containing provirus. These results suggest that selective expansion favors erythroid stem/progenitor cells with provirus integrated at chromosomal sites which are relatively resistant to silencing position effects.
Design Optimization of Size and Geometry of Vortex Promoter in a Two-Dimensional Channel

Thermal management of electronic equipment is one of the major technical problems in the development of electronic systems that would meet increasing future demands for speed and reliability. It is necessary to design cooling systems for removing the heat dissipated by the electronic components efficiently and with minimal cost. Vortex promoters have important implications in cooling systems for electronic devices, since these are used to enhance heat transfer from the heating elements. In this paper, an application of dynamic data driven optimization methodology, which employs concurrent use of simulation and experiment, is presented for the design of the vortex promoter to maximize the heat removal rate from multiple protruding heat sources located in a channel, while keeping the pressure drop within reasonable limits. Concurrent use of computer simulation and experiment in real time is shown to be an effective tool for efficient engineering design and optimization. Numerical simulation can effectively be used for low flow rates and low heat inputs. However, with transition to oscillatory and turbulent flows at large values of these quantities, the problem becomes more involved and computational cost increases dramatically. Under these circumstances, experimental systems are used to determine the component temperatures for varying heat input and flow conditions. The design variables are taken as the Reynolds number and the shape and size of the vortex promoter. The problem is a multiobjective design optimization problem, where the objectives are maximizing the total heat transfer rate Q and minimizing the pressure drop AP. This multiobjective problem is converted to a single-objective problem by combining the two objective functions in the form of weighted sums.
Therapy evaluation, patient distribution, and cost-outcomes ratios

The purpose of this paper is to argue that the emphasis in the pharmacoeconomic literature on cost-outcomes ratios as key decision variables in determining drug choice is misplaced. Unless strict assumptions are made (and believed) as to the relationship between numbers of patients treated and the marginal costs and outcomes of therapy, the only basis on which an evaluation of alternative therapy options can be made is an equilibrium-to-equilibrium modeling framework. This specifically refers to the assumption that costs and outcomes functions exhibit constant returns to scale. In this framework, given the expected changes of distribution of patients between therapy options, estimates can be made of net changes in overall treatment costs and outcomes.
The Effect of Human Capital on the Economic Status of Women Following Marital Disruption

Women who fail to invest in human capital such as education and work experi ence risk future poverty in the event of marital disruption. This study used data from the National Longitudinal Surveys' Young Women Cohort to determine the effect of human capital on the per capita household income of women immedi ately following divorce or separation. Results indicated that higher levels of ed ucational attainment and work experience increase post-disruption per capita income by significant amounts. However, fairly large increments of human capital are needed to offset the income-reducing effect of children under age six in the household.
Predictive Validity of the Test of English as a Foreign Language for Asian Graduate Students in Engineering, Chemistry, or Mathematics:

The validity of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) was examined in relation to prediction of success of 50 Asian students who had completed master's programs in engineering, chemistr...
Modeling the Cost of Management Options for Stage I Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumors: A Decision Tree Analysis

Purpose Patients with clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs) have been managed with surveillance, chemotherapy, or retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (RPLND) with similar survival outcomes. Cost factors influencing the choice of therapy were evaluated using computer-based decision analysis. Methods A detailed model was developed that integrates projected costs for more than 60 possible treatment outcomes. It incorporates primary, adjuvant, and salvage chemotherapy, primary and postchemotherapy RPLND, and both laparoscopic and open surgical approaches. Starting values and probabilities were derived from a comprehensive meta-analysis of the last 25 years of testes cancer literature. Hypothesis testing was performed using sensitivity analysis. Results The model predicts a cost premium for both primary chemotherapy (18.7%) and RPLND (51.7%) compared with surveillance. If laparoscopic RPLND was practiced, the cost premium for primary surgery (29.1%) approached that of chemotherapy (26.4%). Ope...
STOCHASTIC PERTURBATION APPROACH TO ENGINEERING STRUCTURE VIBRATIONS BY THE FINITE DIFFERENCE METHOD

Abstract The main idea of the paper is to introduce the second order perturbation second probabilistic moment analysis in the context of the finite difference method (FDM) modelling of vibrations. The approach can be successfully applied in all those engineering analyses where FDM modelling of engineering structures vibrations is still useful and, at the same time, some structural parameters are random variables or fields. The general advantage of the stochastic finite difference method (SFDM) proposed is the relatively easy extension of the existing deterministic results of the classical elastodynamics on the random or stochastic case. However, similarly to stochastic boundary or finite element methods, the approach proposed has its limitations on the second order random uncertainties measures of input random variables.
Citizen Perceptions of Government Service Quality: Evidence from Public Schools

Conventional models of democratic accountability hinge on citizens’ ability to evaluate government performance accurately. In recent years, public reporting of governmental performance has expanded in many policy domains, potentially enhancing citizen capacities to make accurate evaluations. Yet there is little evidence on the degree to which citizen perceptions correspond to actual service quality. Using survey data, we find that citizens’ perceptions of the quality of specific public schools reflect available information about the level of student achievement in those schools. The relationship between perceived and actual school quality is two to three times stronger for parents of school-age children, who have the most contact with schools and arguably the strongest incentive to be informed. A regression discontinuity analysis of an oversample of Florida residents confirms that public accountability systems can have a causal effect on citizen perceptions of service quality, particularly for those with fewer alternative sources of relevant information.
Purinergic regulation of high-glucose-induced caspase-1 activation in the rat retinal Müller cell line rMC-1.

Chronic activation of proinflammatory caspase-1 in the retinas of diabetic animals and patients in vivo and retinal Muller cells in vitro is well documented. In this study we characterized how elev...
Airtightness Testing of Two- and Three-Unit Buildings with a Single Fan

This paper presents a method for the field measurement of airtightness for two- and three-unit buildings using only one fan pressurization system, commonly referred to as a blower door. The main advantage of this single-fan method is its lower equipment and labor cost as compared with multiple-fan methods. Results from consecutive tests in the individual units are used to prepare a set of simultaneous equations for airflow, allowing for the calculation of the air leakage characteristics of both the interior partitions and the exterior envelope on a unit-per-unit basis. Tests were performed on four buildings using the single-fan method and were compared with those obtained with a two-fan method. Test results indicate that the single-fan method may be of value as an inexpensive method of estimating the airtightness of two- and three-unit residential buildings.
New strategies for treating GIST when imatinib fails.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are soft tissue sarcomas arising in the GI tract. Most GISTs have an activating mutation in KIT or PDGFR-α and respond to treatment with imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, Novartis), a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks downstream signaling of the mutated kinase. Imatinib has dramatically improved survival in patients with unresectable or metastatic GIST; however, approximately 15 percent of patients do not respond to imatinib, and many others progress after an initial period of response or disease stabilization. New agents that target multiple kinases in GIST as well as downstream effector molecules are being developed and tested in clinical trials.
Frequency stabilized ammonia laser system for probing the 24 THz clock transition of a trapped barium ion

The design, performance and frequency stability of an optically pumped ammonia laser operating on the sP(8,6) transition of /sup 15/NH/sub 3/ at 12.48 /spl mu/m wavelength are discussed. The short term frequency stability was tested by heterodyning two similar lasers. An Allan deviation of 2/spl middot/10/sup -11/ for averaging times from 10/sup -4/ s to 1 s was achieved for the free running laser. Absolute values of the laser frequency were obtained by measuring against the NRC H4 hydrogen maser standard with the help of the NRC frequency chain. A scan across a narrow fine-structure transition in a single trapped barium ion provided a final test for the overall stability. >
The Electrochemistry of Electronically Conducting Polymers

The new field of the electrochemistry of electronically conducting polymers is reviewed. A brief historical account traces the beginning of organic electrodes to Kallmann and Pope, who, in 1960, observed charge injection and conductance in anthracene electrodes.The progress in the discovery and use of new polymer electrodes is briefly discussed. Some of the possible applications of these new electrodes are suggested. As important background information for studying organic polymer electrochemistry, knowledge of the conduction mechanism is needed. The theory of bipolaron formation, as proposed by Bredas, et al., is presented. It is important to study the electrode-solution interface. Double layer models for metal, semiconductor, and insulator electrodes are probed. Recent work and applications of these electrodes are then briefly reviewed. This includes initiatives in the fields of electrode generated reactions, photoelectrochemistry, batteries, and molecular electronics. Finally, the needed areas of research, from an electrochemical point of view, are presented.
The Contractual Theory of the Corporation

The modem corporation is one of the most successful inventions in history, as evidenced by its widespread adoption and survival as a primary vehicle of capitalism over the past century. Economists, however, have only recently begun to understand the economic nature of the corporation. In the last fifteen years, the economic theory of the firm has advanced from a struggle with the identification of the economic conditions that lead to the formation of firms to a discourse on sophisticated issues concerning intrafirm relationships. As a consequence of these developments, economists have come to view the firm as a "nexus of contracts" among participants in the organization. When applied to the corporate form of organization, the theory of the firm is often referred to as the contractual theory of the corporation.This paper offers a summary of the contractual theory of the corporation and considers some of its general implications for corporate law. Section I sets the stage for the discussion by presenting a summary of the traditional legal view of the modem corporation. Section II presents a summary of the theory of the firm as it relates to corporate organization. Section III describes the market and contractual constraints that force managers of large, dispersed-owner corporations to act in their shareholders' best interests. Section IV considers the implications of the contractual theory of the corporation for private ordering of corporate governance issues. Section V offers some concluding comments.
Subjects and objects: linguistic performances of sexuality in the lyrics of black female hip-hop artists

An ongoing debate is the extent to which women’s explicit sexuality transgresses or reinforces the patriarchal status quo that serves to objectify and marginalize women. In this article, I consider this issue through the lens of hip hop. Specifically, I examine the sexually-explicit lyrics of two female rappers, Lil’ Kim and Missy Elliot, in an attempt to explore questions about sexual objectivity and subjectivity, language and agency, and linguistic productions of sexuality in female-produced hip hop. Through a feminist stylistic analysis of the transitivity choices and anatomical fragmentation exhibited in these lyrics, I link the overt sexuality in this music to larger discussions about women’s sexuality and post-feminist discourses.
Mao, Solomon and the Problem of Social Science: Two Views On Chinese Political Culture

Richard A. Solomon's book, Mao's Revolution and the Chinese Political Culture (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1971), suffers especially from a faulty approach to the political culture of traditional China. Neglecting documentary sources, Solomon fails to understand the role of legitimated protest in traditional China, and this failure in turn limits his understanding of how values have changed in China under Mao. His book, however, contains much interesting factual material about Chinese attitudes toward authority and about politics in the CPR.
Gradient Computation for Elastic Full-Waveform Inversion in 2D VTI Media

Full-waveform inversion (FWI) has proved effective in significantly improving the spatial resolution of seismic models. However, it is implemented mostly for isotropic media and the applications to anisotropic models are often limited to acoustic approximations. In a previous publication, we introduced a methodology for performing FWI of multicomponent (PP and PS) reflection data from a stack of horizontal, homogeneous VTI (transversely isotropic with a vertical symmetry axis) layers. Taking into account both anisotropy and elasticity in the description of the reflected wavefield makes it possible to resolve the interval Thomsen parameters and constrain the depth scale of the model. Here, we develop a foundation for extending elastic FWI to laterally heterogeneous VTI media using the adjoint state method. The main focus is on deriving the gradients of the objective function with respect to the model parameters. To test the algorithm, we introduce Gaussian anomalies in the Thomsen parameters of a homogeneous VTI medium and study the influence of the size of the anomaly, the sourcereceiver configuration, and the source polarization on the gradients. The model update for FWI can be produced by an appropriate scaling of the gradient using the steepest descent or similar methods.
3D Bioprinting of Spatially Heterogeneous Collagen Constructs for Cartilage Tissue Engineering.

3D printing of biological tissues has been of increasing interest to the biomaterials community in part because of its potential to produce spatially heterogeneous constructs. Such technology is particularly promising for orthopedic applications, which require the generation of complex geometries to match patient anatomy and complex microstructures to produce spatial heterogeneity and anisotropy. Prior research has demonstrated the capacity to create precisely shaped 3D printed constructs using biocompatible alginate hydrogels. However, alginate is extremely compliant and brittle, and high-density collagen hydrogels could be a preferable option for load-bearing applications. This research focused on developing and evaluating a method of printing soft tissue implants with high-density collagen hydrogels using a commercially available 3D printer, modified for tissue-engineering purposes. The tissue constructs, seeded with primary meniscal fibrochondrocytes, were evaluated using measures of geometric fidelit...
Downlink coverage probability in a finite network of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) base stations

In this paper, we model a finite network of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) base stations as a uniform binomial point process (BPP) and derive exact expression for the coverage probability of a target receiver located on the ground. For cell selection, the target receiver is assumed to connect to the closest UAV. Since Rayleigh fading assumption is not quite reasonable in this case, the convenient exponential form of the resulting channel power gain cannot be used to reduce coverage probability expression into an easy-to-use form. Therefore, we also derive a simple yet accurate approximation for coverage probability by capturing the effect of dominant interferer exactly while carefully approximating the aggregate interference from the rest of the UAVs. Our analysis exposes several interesting system performance trends, such as the fact that the coverage probability decreases with the increase in the height of the UAVs.
A full E-beam 0.25 mu m bipolar technology with sub-25 ps ECL gate delay

Summary form only given. The full leverage offered by E-beam lithography has been exploited in a 0.25- mu m bipolar process. The tight overlay capability was shown to provide a significant advantage in shrinking the overall transistor size. In conjunction with a device technology optimized to provide a 33-GHz 0.25- mu m-emitter device, this culminated in the achievement of an ECL (emitter coupled logic) delay of 24 ps at a switching current of only 1.1 mA. >
Leadership to Encourage and Sustain Performance

The healthcare industry is a complex domain that is currently in the midst of considerable transformation. In order to successfully navigate this changing environment, healthcare leaders require a specific set of competencies. Leaders must first align their organizations behind a vision statement that acts as the foundation of and inspiration for the organization. The subsequent determination of the gap between the current state of the organization and the organizational vision allows for the establishment of specific organizational goals. To achieve these goals, transformational leadership techniques, including systems thinking and “tests of change,” have the greatest chances of success. Additionally, employees must be empowered and motivated to achieve excellence. In this regard, although incentives are necessary, their efficacy is limited. Leaders must understand the importance of maximizing employee satisfaction. Coaching and leadership development are crucial to maintaining organizational excellence for years to come.
Methodisches Vorgehen in der quantitativen Untersuchung

Um die Hypothesen uberprufen zu konnen, werden zu den Konstrukten Resilienz und Personlichkeit validierte und weit verbreitete Fragebogen ausgewahlt. Die Grunde fur die Auswahl der Erhebungsinstrumente sowie deren Beschreibung, wird in den folgenden Absatzen dargestellt.
Prolegomena to a Dossier: Inscriptions from the Asklepieion at Lissos (Crete)

This study assembles an island-wide context for the dossier of inscriptions revealed by excavations at the temple of Asklepios at Lissos in southwestern Crete, by examining the nature of the dossiers attested at and for sites sacred to Asklepios across the island. Such groups of inscriptions should be called “dossiers” rather than “archives,” given their subjective and selective nature; they were chosen to project the way a city and region represented itself rather than to preserve a complete epigraphic record (Cooley 2012b, 222). The ultimate goal is to determine just how characteristic or distinctive the dossier of Lissos is – geographically, chronologically, and by epigraphic genre – within Crete, where Lebena has long dominated the record.
Context-Dependent Drivers of Discretionary Debt Decisions: Explaining Willingness to Borrow for Experiential Purchases

Mental accounting research suggests that consumers prefer borrowing for longer-lasting purchases in order to receive benefits from the purchases as they pay for them. In contrast, two sets of archival data and five lab studies show that consumers are more willing to borrow for experiential versus material purchases, even though experiential purchases tend to have a shorter physical duration. Further, framing the same purchase as more experiential than material increases willingness to borrow. This effect occurs because purchase timing is more important for experiential purchases—a function of consumers’ aversion to missing out on planned consumption. Thus, we moderate the proposed effect by varying whether the borrowing decision impacts planned consumption. Other differences between material and experiential purchases, such as scarcity or expected happiness, cannot similarly explain our results. Moreover, our conceptualization allows us to reconcile the apparent contradiction between the previous and current research by examining the relative impact of purchase-timing importance and payment-benefit duration matching in different contexts (i.e., “purchasing” and “source-of-funding” decisions).
The influence of lignocellulose and hemicellulose biochar on photosynthesis and water use efficiency in seedlings from a Northeastern U.S. pine-oak ecosystem

Improving plant water use efficiency (WUE) has the potential to lower plant susceptibility to drought. Amending soils with biochar has been suggested as a way to improve WUE, as it has been shown t...
Bloeming-Typhoidtein: Epidemic Jingoism and the Typhoid Corpse in South Africa

Steere-Williams examines the largest recorded outbreak of typhoid fever in modern British history, during the South African War (1899–1902). Analyzing contemporary works in military medicine and bacteriology, as well as texts in imperial gothic literature and parliamentary debates, the chapter explores the way that the sick typhoid body and the typhoid corpse were at the center of the lived experience of the military conflict, but also served as proxies for a critique of the British Empire. Steere-Williams argues that the typhoid epidemic and the fear of the typhoid corpse both threatened cultural notions of British masculinity and led to nascently ecological fears of the spread of infectious disease in the environment.
Head trauma and olfactory function

Abstract Olfactory impairment is a well-established sequela of head injury. The presence and degree of olfactory dysfunction is dependent on severity of head trauma, duration of posttraumatic amnesia, injuries obtained, and as more recently established, age. Deficits in smell can be conductive or neurosensory, contingent on location of injury. The former may be amenable to medical or surgical treatment, whereas the majority of patients with neurosensory deficits will not recover. Many patients will not seek treatment for such deficits until days, weeks, or even months after the traumatic event due to focus on more pressing injuries. Evaluation should start with a comprehensive history and physical exam. Determination of the site of injury can be aided by CT and MRI scanning. Verification of the presence of olfactory deficit, and assessment of its severity requires objective olfactory testing, which can be accomplished with a number of methods. The prognosis of posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction is unfortunate, with approximately only one third improving. Emphasis must be placed on identification of reversible causes, such as nasal bone fractures, septal deviation, or mucosal edema/hematoma. Olfactory loss is often discounted as an annoyance, rather than a major health concern by both patients and many healthcare providers. Patients with olfactory impairment have diminished quality of life, decreased satisfaction with life, and increased risk for personal injury. Paramount to the management of these patients is counseling with regard to adoption of compensatory strategies to avoid safety risks and maximize quality of life. Practicing otolaryngologists should have a thorough understanding of the mechanisms of traumatic olfactory dysfunction in order to effectively diagnose, manage, and counsel affected patients.
Exposure to organophosphate flame retardants in spray polyurethane foam applicators: Role of dermal exposure

BACKGROUND Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is a highly effective thermal insulation material that has seen considerable market growth in the past decade. Organophosphate flame retardants (PFRs) are added to SPF formulations to meet fire code requirements. A common flame retardant used in SPF formulations is tris 1-chloro 2-propyl phosphate (TCIPP), a suspected endocrine disruptor. Exposure monitoring efforts during SPF applications have focused primarily on the isocyanate component, a potent respiratory and dermal sensitizer. However, to our knowledge, there is no monitoring data for TCIPP. OBJECTIVE To characterize occupational exposures to TCIPP and other flame retardants during SPF insulation. METHODS Workers at four SPF insulation sites and one foam removal site (total n = 14) were recruited as part of this pilot study. Personal inhalation exposure to TCIPP was monitored with a CIP-10MI inhalable sampler and potential dermal exposure was assessed through the use of a glove dosimeter. Biomarkers of TCIPP and three other PFRs were measured in urine collected from workers pre-and post-shift. Linear mixed effect models were used to analyze associations of urinary biomarkers with inhalation and dermal exposures and paired t-tests were used to examine the difference on the means of urinary biomarkers pre-and post-shift. Chemical analysis of all species was performed with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS Geometric mean (GM) concentrations of TCIPP in personal air monitors and glove dosimeters collected from SPF applicators, 294.7 μg/m3 and 18.8 mg/pair respectively. Overall, GM concentrations of the two TCIPP urinary biomarkers BCIPP and BCIPHIPP and (6.2 and 88.8 μg/mL) were 26-35 times higher than reported in the general population. Post-shift levels of TCIPP biomarkers were higher than pre-shift even though workers at insulation sites wore supplied air respirators, gloves and coveralls. The urinary biomarkers for the other PFRs were not elevated post shift. Concentrations of TCIPP on glove dosimeters were positively associated with post-shift urinary TCIPP biomarkers (p < 0.05) whereas concentrations in personal air samples were not. CONCLUSIONS High levels of urinary biomarkers for TCIPP among SPF applicators, including post-shift, points to absorption of TCIPP during the work shift, in spite of the use of best industry exposure control practices. Dermal exposure appears to be an important, if not the primary exposure pathway for TCIPP, although inhalation or incidental ingestion of foam particles post-SPF application cannot be ruled out in this pilot study.
Seized dogs: questions remain.

I thank Richard Chamings for his reply regarding the care of dogs in police-contracted kennels ( VR , 26 May 2018, vol 182, pp 608-609), and for his assurance that those in his care are well looked after. I also wholeheartedly agree with his concern regarding the length of time the legal wheels take to turn to decide on a dog’s future. However, certain questions still remain. How does Chamings know that a dog needs vaccinating or worming if previous history …
On the Stability of the Tatonnement Approach to Competitive Equilibrium

The notion of tatonnement goes back to Walras who studied its stability properties in the case of two goods ([14], Lesson 7). It is patterned after an auction where goods do not change hands hands until the final price has been agreed upon.
Ignorance, Harm, and the Regulation of Performance-Enhancing Substances

There is a disconnect between how legal and sporting authorities, on the one hand, and many elite athletes, on the other, view the use of performance-enhancing substances. While official and popular narratives portray the use of these substances as isolated examples of deviant behavior, to the elite athletes who daily push their bodies beyond societally normal limits of pain and risk, enhancement is oftentimes an accepted part of the job. As a result, efforts to regulate and detect athletes’ use of these substances have consistently captured only a small fraction of the use that exists. This Article describes the ways in which this disconnect is produced (at least in part) by the regulatory regimes surrounding performance-enhancing substances: Substances are prohibited for athletic use in the absence of solid evidence concerning how they act on healthy bodies, and whether, in many instances, they even enhance performance. This ignorance is perpetuated by prohibition, increasing the use — and the potential for harm from the use — of the very substances that are prohibited. The Article identifies specific information needed to align the interests of athletes and governing bodies in an effort to reduce the harm from use of these substances. Additionally, it identifies sources from which this needed information may be gathered effectively and ethically. In conclusion, it emphasizes an approach to regulating the use of performance-enhancing substances that is consistent with the values and practices of elite sport, while reducing the risk of unnecessary harm.
Photoluminescence Properties of Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes, upon surface modification through defects-targeted functionalization, exhibit strongphotoluminescence in the visible and into the near-IR region. In this chapter, the general features andpolarization characteristics of the photoluminescence are highlighted, mechanistic issues addressed, andpotential applications explored. The similarities and differences between the defect-derived emission andthe bandgap fluorescence (emission from individualized single-walled carbon nanotubes) are also discussed.
Bounds on translational and angular velocity components from flrst order derivatives of image flow

A moving rigid object produces a moving image on the retina of an observer. It is shown that only the first order spatial derivatives of image motion are sufficient to determine (i) the maximum and minimum velocities of the object towards the observer, and (ii) the maximum and minimum angular velocities of the object along the direction of view. The second or higher order derivatives whose estimation is expensive and unreliable are not necessary. (The second order derivatives are necessary to determine the actual motion of the objectj many researchers have worked on this problem.) These results are interpreted in the image domain in terms of three differential invariants of the image flow field: divergence, curl, and shear magnitude. In the world domain, the above results are interpreted in terms of the motion and local sllrface orientation of the object. In particular, the result that the maximum velocity of approach of an object can be determined from only the first order derivatives has a fundamental significance to both biological and machine vision systems. It implies that an organism (or a robot) can quickly respond to avoid collision with a moving object from only coarse information. This capability exists irrespective of the shape or motion of the object. The only restriction is that motion should be rigid.
Optimization of Carbon Dioxide Capture Using Sorbent-Loaded Hollow-Fiber Modules

Abstract The performance of sorbent-loaded hollow-fiber modules to capture carbon dioxide from the exhaust stream of a thermal power plant is analyzed. The hollow-fiber modules undergo a Rapid Temperature Swing Adsorption (RTSA) process to capture carbon dioxide. A detailed heat and mass transfer model is developed to simulate the performance of the fiber module. The thermal wave technique for heat recovery is incorporated to reduce the thermal energy consumption and reduce operating costs. A parametric study of six key operating parameters is presented, and tradeoffs in performance metrics with variations in operating parameters are discussed. The proposed process compares favorably with other adsorption-based carbon capture technologies.
Does daughter deficit promote paternal substance use? Evidence from China

Background: China and various other countries have experienced unbalanced sex ratios in the marriage market, which triggers intense competition and pressure to get married. Meanwhile, China has more smokers and drinkers than any other countries in the world. This paper provides evidence on smoking and alcohol use as a stress coping strategy for the competitive marriage market. Methods: This paper utilizes two household longitudinal datasets from rural China—a national survey and a regional survey—to examine paternal substance use in response to skewed sex ratios of their children’s generation. The longitudinal feature of the two datasets enables us to explore within household variation in smoking and alcohol use. Sex ratios are matched using a 1% sample of the 2000 China Population Census. Results: Strikingly, paternal smoking and alcohol use are more intense for families with a son living in communities with higher sex ratios. In contrast, those with a daughter do not demonstrate this pattern. Coping with the marriage market pressure is a plausible pathway linking the observed skewed sex ratios and intense substance use. Conclusions: High male-to-female sex ratios promote smoking and alcohol drinking among fathers with sons. Considering the highly competitive marriage market in the coming decade and the prevalent substance use that generates lasting health impacts and large negative externalities to society, policies that address the skewed sex ratios could lead to substantial welfare gains.
A Topology-Based Path Similarity Metric and its Application to Sampling-Based Motion Planning

Many applications of robotic motion planning benefit from considering multiple homotopically distinct paths rather than a single path from start to goal. However, determining whether paths represent different homotopy classes can be difficult to compute. We propose metrics for efficiently approximating the homotopic similarity of two paths are, instead of verifying homotopy equivalence directly. We propose two metrics: (1) a naive application of local planning, a common subroutine of sampling-based motion planning, and (2) a novel approach that reasons about the topologically distinct portions of the workspace that a path visits. We present three applications of our metric to demonstrate its use and effectiveness: extracting topologically distinct paths from an existing roadmap, comparing paths for robot manipulators, and improving the computational efficiency of an existing sampling-based method, Path Deformation Roadmaps (PDRs), by over two orders of magnitude. We explore the trade-off between quality and computational efficiency in the proposed metrics.
Improving human β-cell maturation in vitro

Patients with diabetes could benefit from cell-based insulin therapy, but the supply of human islet tissue is limited. A study now reports an approach in which human-pluripotent-stem-cell-derived islet β-cells are purified and re-aggregated to generate cells that more closely resemble mature human β-cells.