cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Working musicians: Exploring the rhetorical ties between musical labour and leisure

This essay explores the implications of a common but rarely examined trope about music, leisure and labour. The idea that music should appear effortless – that its execution should not require work – has shaped critical and consumer interpretation in a wide variety of historical settings. The trope of effortless music suggests that music is an outgrowth of one’s individual genius, heritage or social identity rather than a product of one’s labour. Close attention to the work involved in learning and performing music can expand our understanding of the multiple ways in which music creates value, and the historical ways in which the dialectic between conception and execution in modern capitalism have paralleled the distinctions between composition and performance in the Western music scholarship. Two historical case studies from the late nineteenth and early twentieth‐century US provide the evidence for my argument. I examine the overlapping discourses of musical effort and work in the world of female parlou...
Where are family theories in family-based obesity treatment?: conceptualizing the study of families in pediatric weight management.

Family-based approaches to pediatric obesity treatment are considered the ‘gold-standard,’ and are recommended for facilitating behavior change to improve child weight status and health. If family-based approaches are to be truly rooted in the family, clinicians and researchers must consider family process and function in designing effective interventions. To bring a better understanding of family complexities to family-based treatment, two relevant reviews were conducted and are presented: (1) a review of prominent and established theories of the family that may provide a more comprehensive and in-depth approach for addressing pediatric obesity; and (2) a systematic review of the literature to identify the use of prominent family theories in pediatric obesity research, which found little use of theories in intervention studies. Overlapping concepts across theories include: families are a system, with interdependence of units; the idea that families are goal-directed and seek balance; and the physical and social environment imposes demands on families. Family-focused theories provide valuable insight into the complexities of families. Increased use of these theories in both research and practice may identify key leverage points in family process and function to prevent the development of or more effectively treat obesity. The field of family studies provides an innovative approach to the difficult problem of pediatric obesity, building on the long-established approach of family-based treatment.
3D Euler flow solutions using unstructured Cartesian and prismatic grids

A hyperbolic prismatic grid generation technique is combined with a background Cartesian grid for the study of inviscid three-dimensional flows. The mathematics of the hyperbolic prismatic grid generation algorithm are described, and some simple inviscid demonstration cases are presented. By combining the simplicity of the Cartesian background grid with the geometric flexibility and computational efficiencies inherent to prismatic grids, this approach shows promise for improving computational aerodynamic simulations.
Adsorption and thermal reactions of 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on fly ash from a municipal incinerator

Abstract Adsorption and thermal reactions of 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on fly ash from a municipal incinerator were determined for temperatures between 100 to 300°C in air and in helium atmospheres. Results show 1,2,3,4-TCDD undergoes partial irreversable adsorption or decomposition in air at these temperatures. However, no decomposition products in air atmosphere were detected using gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of fly ash extracts and effluent.
THE POPULATION SYNDROMES ON THE COLORADO PIEDMONT

The changing population geography of the Colorado Piedmont is the geography of the water resource generated in the proximal southern Rocky Mountains. River water was channeled into irrigation canals from the early miners’ sluice boxes; combining water and land signaled victory over a near-empty land, and an immense machine-labor-intensive agricultural sprawl emerged on the Piedmont landscape. New opportunities have been recognized since 1950, and new resources have been activated. Electronics, research programs, and missile industries requiring a sophisticated scientific environment have been added to the agricultural environment. Large agglomerated populations are thrust onto the landscape, creating a vast urban sprawl and an ever-increasing demand for water. But since there is no additional water available, Piedmont residents must soon decide the differential value of water to agriculture as opposed to water for urban use, and they must decide how soon to sanitize the drainage basins to enable the reuse of water in both usages to permit future growth. I do not wish to engage your attention to all things which bear watching, but there is one more shibboleth on which I wish to comment, and that is the doctrine that education should proceed from that which is immediate to that which is remote. In geography we should begin with our own backyard, then study the backyards of our neighbors, and so on until we comprehend the backyards of the whole world.1
Acting out hostility in normal volunteers: negative correlation with levels of 5HIAA in cerebrospinal fluid.

Abstract We examined relationships in normal volunteers between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) and scores on the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire. There was a significant negative correlation between CSF 5HIAA levels and scores on the “urge to act out hostility” subscale, as well as a similar nonsignificant trend with CSF levels of homovanillic acid. These results suggest that among normal individuals reduced central serotonergic tone may be associated with impaired impulse control.
Transcriptional effects on double-strand break-induced gene conversion tracts.

Abstract Transcription stimulates spontaneous homologous recombination, but prior studies have not investigated the effects of transcription on double-strand break (DSB)-induced recombination in yeast. We examined products of five ura3 direct repeat substrates in yeast using alleles that were transcribed at low or high levels. In each strain, recombination was stimulated by DSBs created in vivo at an HO site in one copy of ura3. Increasing transcription levels in donor or recipient alleles did not further stimulate DSB-induced recombination, nor did it alter the relative frequencies of conversion and deletion (pop-out) events. This result is consistent with the idea that transcription enhances spontaneous recombination by increasing initiation. Gene conversion tracts were measured using silent restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) at approximately 100 bp intervals. Transcription did not alter average tract lengths, but increased transcription in donor alleles increased both the frequency of promoter-proximal (5′) unidirectional tracts and conversion of 5′ markers. Increased transcription in recipient alleles increased the frequency of bidirectional tracts. We demonstrate that these effects are due to transcription per se, and not just transcription factor binding. These results suggest that transcription influences aspects of gene conversion after initiation, such as strand invasion and/or mismatch repair (MMR).
Uncertainty, Energy, and Multiple-Valued Logics

The multiple-valued logics obtained by introducing uncertainty and energy considerations into classical switching theory are studied in this paper. First, the nature of uncertain or unknown signals is examined, and two general uncertainty types called U-values and P-values are identified. It is shown that multiple-valued logics composed of U/P-values can be systematically derived from 2-valued Boolean algebra. These are useful for timing and hazard analysis, and provide a rigorous framework for designing gate-level logic simulation programs. Next, signals of the form (v, s) are considered where v and s denote logic level and strength, respectively, and the product vs corresponds to energy flow or power. It is shown that these signals form a type of lattice called a pseudo-Boolean algebra. Such algebras characterize the behavior of digital circuits at a level (the switch level) intermediate between the conventional analog and logical levels. They provide the mathematical basis for an efficient new class of switch-level simulation programs used in MOS VLSI design.
Development of Accessible Kiosk User Interface Solutions for the Public Sector: A Panel Summary

This panel discussed the challenges of developing an accessible kiosk through a multi-disciplinary and organization team. Speakers from each organization presented the challenges and solutions achieved from their viewpoints, industry, academic researchers, and the museum. During the development of the kiosk content and navigation design, the collaborative efforts of the kiosk development team resulted in adopting a new User Centered Design (UCD) process that is somewhat unique to the museum industry. Findings from the usability study conducted on the kiosks and applications for the EZ Access navigation technique were also presented. A demonstration of the prototype Smithsonian kiosk and other kiosks with accessible interfaces was included during this session.
Development and validation of an automated method of the selvester QRS scoring system for myocardial infarct size

Abstract The Selvester QRS score for estimation of myocardial infarct (MI) size from the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has not yet achieved wide recognition as a valuable tool in the routine assessment of the MI patient, primarily because of the practical limitations inherent to manual application. This study examined the ECGs of 438 patients (105 normal subjects, 161 with “possible” MI and 172 with “definite” MI based on data from cardiac catheterization) to develop software for an automated method of the Selvester system in attempts to overcome the manual constraints. After a comprehensive validation process involving extensive interactions between the manual scorer and the software developer, an automated method of the Selvester system was generated that had a high correlation with manual application (r = 0.94) and was superior regarding time, training, reader bias, reproducibility and precision of measurement. These results indicate that an automated version of the Selvester QRS scoring system would resolve many of the limitations of manual application and would provide a reliable, technically accurate estimate of MI size that could be incorporated into ECG diagnostic programs and used in standard digital ECG machines.
Experiments and Simulations: Enhanced Mechanical Properties of End-Linked Bimodal Elastomers

We report on stress−strain and swelling results for polydimethylsiloxane bimodal networks, studied both experimentally and via Monte Carlo simulations. These end-linked networks were formed with negligible extent of soluble fractions, and reasonable agreement is found between experimental results and simulation data. We examine the variation in microstructure for networks with different concentrations of short chains. When the concentration of short chains is low, these chains aggregate during the end-linking process and lead to a heterogeneous network structure, while networks formed with higher short chain concentrations are more homogeneous. Short chains that are long enough to initially have a Gaussian conformation also produce the characteristic stress upturn and enhanced toughness previously reported in bimodal networks with non-Gaussian short chains. We find that it is the limited extensibility of the short chains at high concentrations and not the cluster formation of short chains at low concentra...
MAKING CULTURE VISIBLE: AN EXAMINATION OF BIRTHPLACE AND HEALTH STATUS

Culture shapes beliefs about health and illness. It provides the context by which an individual evaluates his or her symptoms to decide whether he or she is healthy or ill. We have largely ignored the impact of culture on the health status of U.S.- and foreign-born Black women. We have operationalized the term Black or African American in a way that obscures cultural differences among women of African descent living in the United States. While we know that people of African descent living in the United States are composed of many different ethnic backgrounds (e.g., persons from the Caribbean and African countries), we have not systematically examined these differences using national data. In this study I examine the relationship between culture and health status using the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 1991 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Significant differences were found between U.S.- and foreign-born Black women. Foreign-born Black women reported more favorable health status than...
An S = 6 Cyanide-Bridged Octanuclear FeIII4NiII4 Complex that Exhibits Slow Relaxation of the Magnetization

The synthesis and structural and magnetic characterization of an S = 6 cyanide-bridged octanuclear FeIII4NiII4 (1) complex is described. Ac susceptibility and μ-SQUID measurements suggest that fast magnetization relaxation is present in zero-field due to quantum tunneling of the ground spin state (QTM) while application of small magnetic fields induces slow relaxation of the magnetization.
Passive fMRI mapping of language function for pediatric epilepsy surgical planning: validation using Wada, ECS, and FMAER

Summary In this study we validate passive language fMRI protocols designed for clinical application in pediatric epilepsy surgical planning as they do not require overt participation from patients. We introduced a set of quality checks that assess reliability of noninvasive fMRI mappings utilized for clinical purposes. We initially compared two fMRI language mapping paradigms, one active in nature (requiring participation from the patient) and the other passive in nature (requiring no participation from the patient). Group-level analysis in a healthy control cohort demonstrated similar activation of the putative language centers of the brain in the inferior frontal (IFG) and temporoparietal (TPG) regions. Additionally, we showed that passive language fMRI produced more left-lateralized activation in TPG (LI = +0.45) compared to the active task; with similarly robust left-lateralized IFG (LI = +0.24) activations using the passive task. We validated our recommended fMRI mapping protocols in a cohort of 15 pediatric epilepsy patients by direct comparison against the invasive clinical gold-standards. We found that language-specific TPG activation by fMRI agreed to within 9.2 mm to subdural localizations by invasive functional mapping in the same patients, and language dominance by fMRI agreed with Wada test results at 80% congruency in TPG and 73% congruency in IFG. Lastly, we tested the recommended passive language fMRI protocols in a cohort of very young patients and confirmed reliable language-specific activation patterns in that challenging cohort. We concluded that language activation maps can be reliably achieved using the passive language fMRI protocols we proposed even in very young (average 7.5 years old) or sedated pediatric epilepsy patients.
An evolutionary interpretation of the “motivation to oviposit”

The ovipositional behavior of parasitoids and other insects is often described by phrases such as “motivation to oviposit” or “ovipositional drive”. This paper shows how an evolutionary (i.e. functional) interpretation can be given to such phrases. A detailed model for the parasitisation of Sycamore aphids by M. pseudoplatani is developed, using experiments by Collins and Dixon (1986). Two models are developed: i) one in which egg complement is the only state variable and ii) one in which egg complement and information concerning host densities are state variables. Comparisons of the behaviour of simulated parasitoids, using the decisions associated with the models, and the experiments suggest that both egg complement and information are important for the parasitoid's decision making. Accepting previously parasitized hosts may be optimal, and not simply an error in parasitoid perception. A number of other detailed predictions are made, such as the relative fitness of first and second eggs in superparasitized hosts and the nature of the memory of the parasitoid.
Hiring, evaluation, promotion and tenure decisions in a US geography department

Abstract The practices and procedures relating to faculty hiring, promotion and tenure are among the most important decisions made by a department and faculty. For a head of department, merit evaluations and salary increases are additional major decisions. This paper examines these issues from the perspective of a former chair of a US doctoral geography programme. Variations and problems occur across departments in spite of major underlying similarities.
Microfinance institution activities in Central Asia: a case study of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

This article compares key issues concerning the structure of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and the nature of competition in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Employing both qualitative and quantitative measures, the field research indicates that MFIs in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan do not have the traditional characteristics of microfinance business. Although both countries are at the pre-competitive stage, the qualitative research indicates that urban areas in Tajikistan are approaching a competitive edge. The research demonstrates that MFIs in these countries do not require their clients to give up membership of other MFIs, thus increasing the probability of cross-indebtedness. Moreover, if a client fails to repay a loan from one MFI, there is a high probability that this person will join another MFI. Consequently, both countries may face cross-indebtedness even in the absence of intensive competition.
Dynamics and Thermodynamics of the Regional Response to the Indian Monsoon Onset

AbstractThe regional influence of the Indian monsoon onset is examined though observational analysis focusing on the Rodwell–Hoskins “monsoon-desert” hypothesis, which proposes that the strong diabatic heating associated with the monsoon produces a Gill-like Rossby wave response that thermodynamically interacts with the midlatitude westerly jet to produce subsidence and reduced rainfall to the west of the monsoon. Here, the authors analyze this proposed mechanism in terms of changes to the thermodynamic energy equation, regional circulation, and precipitation between the 10-day periods before and after the monsoon onset, for all onset dates in the 1958–2000 period. A Rossby-like response to the monsoon onset is clear in the observational data and is associated with horizontal temperature advection at midlevels as the westerlies intersect the warm temperature anomalies of the Rossby wave. Analysis of the thermodynamic equation verifies that the horizontal temperature advection is indeed balanced by subside...
On the relationship between combinatorial and LP-based lower bounds for NP-hard scheduling problems

Enumerative approaches to solving optimization problems, such as branch and bound, require a subroutine that produces a lower bound on the value of the optimal solution. In the domain of scheduling problems the requisite lower bound has typically been derived from either the solution to a linear-programming (LP) relaxation of the problem or the solution to a combinatorial relaxation. In this paper we investigate, from a theoretical perspective, the relationship between several LP-based lower bounds and combinatorial lower bounds for three scheduling problems in which the goal is to minimize the average weighted completion time of the jobs scheduled.We establish a number of facts about the relationship between these different sorts of lower bounds, including the equivalence of certain LP-based lower bounds for these problems to combinatorial lower bounds used in successful branch-and-bound algorithms. As a result, we obtain the first worst-case analysis of the quality of the lower bounds delivered by these combinatorial relaxations.
Time evolution studies of the H2O/quartz interface using sum frequency generation, atomic force microscopy, and molecular dynamics.

Many interfacial studies on solid surfaces, for example, quartz/water, assume that a standard cleaning procedure regenerates the surface reproducibly. In the reported work, the results of two surface specific techniques, sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, show that the effects of prolonged exposure to Nanopure water and to pH 10 NaOH are distinctly different. In conjunction with the experimental data, molecular mechanics is used to correlate the SFG spectral frequencies to the hydrogen stretching vibrations of the surface-bound water molecules. It is found that after 17 days of soaking in water, water molecules penetrate into the SiO2 matrix to produce a swollen and amorphous layer; it is likely that broken Si−O bonds from the polishing process serve as nucleation sites for hydration and swelling. Disorder introduced in the interfacial water layer is detected by the rising intensity of the weakly hydrogen-bonded SFG peak at 3450 cm-1. Dominance of the 3450 cm-1 is abs...
The Effect of Angiocardiographic Contrast Medium on Circulatory Dynamics in Man Cardiac Output during Angiocardiography

The cardiovascular response to angiographic contrast medium was studied in 28 patients undergoing diagnostic angiocardiography under anesthesia. A transient phase of hypotension and tachycardia similar to that described by other authors was noted. Cardiac output was increased initially by 50 per cent and returned to the base line in 20 minutes. Peripheral blood flow increased by 100 per cent, apparently due to the direct effect of the hyperosmotic solution on the vascular smooth muscle. Hemodilution, maximal 2 to 4 minutes after injection of contrast medium, suggested a transient increase in circulating blood volume. Increased ventricular filling pressures, which were thought to be due to hypervolemia, were associated with increased left ventricular stroke work.
Acute renal failure after whole body ischemia is characterized by inflammation and T cell-mediated injury

Acute renal failure (ARF) commonly occurs after whole body ischemia. Most experimental models of ARF have relied on the isolated renal artery clamping model; however, there is a pressing need to de...
Warming Intravenous Fluids Reduces Perioperative Hypothermia in Women Undergoing Ambulatory Gynecological Surgery

We evaluated whether warming IV fluids resulted in less hypothermia (core temperature 30 min were randomized to two groups: fluid warming at 42°C or control (room temperature fluids at approximately 21°C). All patients received general anesthesia with isoflurane, tracheal intubation, standard operating room blankets and surgical drapes, and passive humidification of inspired gases. Tympanic membrane (core) temperatures were measured at baseline and at 15-min intervals after induction. The incidence of shivering and postoperative requirement for meperidine and/or radiant heat were evaluated. Core temperatures were lower in the control compared with the warm fluid group at the end of surgery (35.6± 0.1°C vs 36.2± 0.1°C; P < 0.05). More patients had final core temperature <35.5°C in the control compared with the warm fluid group (35% vs 0%; P < 0.05). There were no differences in time to discharge from the postanesthesia care unit or the incidence of shivering between the groups. We conclude that fluid warming, in conjunction with standard heat conservation measures, was effective in maintaining normothermia during outpatient gynecological surgery; however, there was no improvement in patient outcome. Implications: Women who received IV fluid at body temperature had significantly higher core temperatures during and after outpatient gynecological surgery compared with women who received IV fluids at the temperature of the operating room.
Fan‐out intensity optimization of bidirectional photopolymer hologram‐based optical backplane bus

Fabrication of the bidirectional optical backplane bus, employing arrays of multiplexed polymer-based waveguide holograms on a waveguiding plate, is reviewed. An analysis of its functionality is presented for the first time. After an objective function for the system is established, the fan-out intensity fluctuations among all the different channels are minimized by solving a set of nonlinear equations numerically. To further ensure the validity of our calculation, a different objective function is considered and the same optimized result is obtained. Particularly, we optimized the fan-out distribution for the case in which nine boards on one side of the optical bus are presented. It was found that a globally optimized diffraction efficiency distribution exists and the minimum fan-out intensity after optimization is about 1.5% of the incident power, which means a minimum laser diode power for this bidirectional optical bus has to be above 7.0 mW for a system speed of 1.2 Gbit/s and a bit error rate of 10-15. Finally, the surface normal fanout beams come out of both directions of the backplane. Therefore, the best hardware implementation scheme integrates the processor/memory boards on both sides of the backplane bus. As a result, the optimal member of processor/memory boards is 16, i.e., 9 ± (922), rather than 9.
Oil and Autocratic Regime Survival

This article uncovers a new mechanism linking oil wealth to autocratic regime survival: the investigation tests whether increases in oil wealth improve the survival of autocracies by lowering the chances of democratization, reducing the risk of transition to subsequent dictatorship, or both. Using a new measure of autocratic durability shows that, once models allow for unit effects, oil wealth promotes autocratic survival by lowering the risk of ouster by rival autocratic groups. Evidence also indicates that oil income increases military spending in dictatorships, which suggests that increasing oil wealth may deter coups that could have caused a regime collapse.
Structural correlates of electrical remodeling in ventricular hypertrophy.

Time for primary review 26 days. See article by Peschar et al. [2] (pages 510–517) in this issue. Ventricular remodeling is an adaptive change in cardiac chamber structure and function in response to volume and/or pressure overload. In the last few years, it became clear that this process also involves the electrical system of the ventricular chambers. Electrical remodeling associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure causes an increased frequency of ventricular ectopy and a high risk of cardiac arrest. The degree of electrical remodeling and arrhythmic risk is not directly proportional to the severity of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. For example, in the VHeFT study (Veterans Administration Heart Failure Trial), the risk of sudden cardiac death was greater in patients with modest LV dysfunction [1]. It has been shown that there is a temporal relationship between the progression of structural and electrical remodeling of the left ventricle in response to various pressure and volume overload states. Concurrent regression of structural and electrical remodeling in pressure overload hypertrophy is seen, but there seems to be a dissociation in these processes in certain types of volume overload hypertrophy (Fig. 1). Such an interesting dissociation is shown in this issue of Cardiovascular Research by Peschar et al. [2]. The findings of this paper underscore the independent nature of electrical remodeling in volume overload hypertrophy in contrast to pressure overload hypertrophy. … *Corresponding author. 318 McHaney Hall, University of Missouri Hospital, 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, USA. Fax: +1-573-884-7743.
Understanding Decisions About Sunk Costs From Older and Younger Adults’ Perspectives

Methods. Using hypothetical decision-making scenarios, we examined older (N = 21) and younger (N = 20) adults’ decisions about sunk costs. Participants responded to open-ended interview questions about their decision-making goals. A coding scheme was developed using qualitative methods and was used to reliably categorize the issues and concerns people expressed when describing their decision-making goals. Results. Compared with younger adults, older adults were less likely to commit the sunk-cost fallacy and were more likely to make normatively correct decisions. When describing their goals, older adults were less likely to focus on the presence or absence of the prior investment (the sunk cost). The salience of investment-related information to individuals when describing their goals mediated age-related differences in the sunk-cost fallacy and normatively correct decisions. Discussion. The results illustrate how consideration of people’s own perspectives of decision-making situations may inform understanding of age-related differences in decision-making fallacies.
X-ray focusing scheme with continuously variable lens

A novel hybrid X-ray focusing scheme was developed for operation of the X-ray streak camera at the Advanced Photon Source: an X-ray lens focuses vertically from a long distance of 16 m and produces an extended focus that has a small footprint on an inexpensive sagittal mirror. A patented method is used to continuously adjust the focal length of the lens and compensate for chromatic dispersion in energy scans.
Enhanced damage in linear bipolar integrated circuits at low dose rate

Enhanced damage at low dose rates was investigated for several different types of linear integrated circuits that were fabricated with conventional junction isolation. Although both npn and pnp transistors exhibit increased damage at low dose rate, the effect is far greater for substrate and lateral pnp transistors from these technologies. The saturation level of damage at high doses was also found to be far greater under low dose rate conditions than at high dose rates. A model for this behavior was developed that is consistent with earlier studies of MOS field oxides under low-field conditions, and accounts for the increased enhanced damage in pnp transistors.
Automatic ranked output from boolean searches in SIRE

This study examined the effectiveness and efficiency of employing a fully automatic algorithm for ranking the results of Boolean searches of an inverted file design document retrieval system. The study indicated that with minor modification of file designs, such as those implemented in the Syracuse Information Retrieval Experiment (SIRE), document retrieval systems could efficiently provide users with output lists on which the rank order of a document is a good indicator of its probable relevance to the user's information need. The study found that relevant documents were ranked significantly higher than nonrelevant documents in the set of documents retrieved in response to a Boolean query. By utilizing an augmented inverted file design the variable incremental cost for ranked output was only ten cents per query. There was no increased user effort.
The Greening of Social Capital: An Examination of Land-Based Groups in Two Vermont Counties.

By undertaking a census of all agricultural, outdoor recreational, and environmental groups (land-based groups) in two adjacent counties in Vermont, we demonstrate the dramatic increase of local environmental groups in the last 15 years. Building on the methodologies of Kempton et al. (2001), we first show that official lists of nonprofit groups-from the Vermont Secretary of State, the Internal Revenue Service, and local grassroots directories-significantly undercount local environmental groups. Second, we show that since the mid-1980s, the number and membership roles of local autonomous environmental groups have grown rapidly relative to all other types of local and non-local land-based groups in these counties. This article provides preliminary evidence of the recent "greening of social capital."
Rate dependence of electrical and mechanical properties of conductive polymer nanocomposites

Conductive polymer nanocomposites with enhanced electrical and thermal properties show promise as an alternative solution for electronic materials. For example, electronic interconnect materials will have comparable electrical and thermal conductivity to solder with an increased operating range of strain and temperature. This paper documents the fabrication and experimental evaluation of a prototype conductive polymer nanocomposite. Material selection, fabrication processes, and initial characterization of a low Tg polymer with a high fill ratio of carbon nanotubes is presented. The electrical and thermal properties of the composite are measured and compared with predictions. The mechanical properties are measured using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) over a wide temperature range. The mechanical and electrical responses of the conductive polymer composite are simultaneously measured at higher strain rates using a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus. The dynamic stress-strain response is obtained using traditional analytic methods (e.g., two- and three-wave analysis). The electrical response is observed using constant current excitation with high bandwidth (>500 kHz) instrumentation. The dynamic compression data implies the change in electrical resistance is solely a function of the material deformation, i.e., the material exhibits constant electrical conductivity and is insensitive to the applied loads. DMA and SHPB dynamic data are used to estimate the parameters in a Mulliken-Boyce constitutive model, and the resulting behavior is critically evaluated. Finally, progress towards improving the polymer composite's mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties are discussed.
Do Defects in Ion Channel Glycosylation Set the Stage for Lethal Cardiac Arrhythmias

Many ion channels are modified by the addition of carbohydrate residues. Fozzard and Kyle discuss evidence that sialic acid residues on glycosylated cardiac sodium and potassim channels may be important for preventing early after-depolarizations that can result in cardiac arrhythmias.
Rhesus macaque embryos derived from MI oocytes maturing after retrieval display high rates of chromosomal anomalies

BACKGROUND: Rhesus macaque and human preimplantation embryos display similar rates of chromosomal abnormalities. The aim of this study was to determine whether embryos developing from Ml oocytes that mature post-retrieval display more chromosomal anomalies than those embryos that are generated from oocytes that are at Mll at the time of retrieval. METHODS: Rhesus macaque oocytes were obtained after hormonal ovarian stimulation. Immediately after retrieval, the oocytes were classified according to their maturational status. Following in vitro fertilization, Day 3 embryos with good morphology and development derived from oocytes maturing post-retrieval and those from oocytes that were mature at the time of retrieval were cytogenetically assessed using a five-color fluorescent in situ fluorescent hybridization assay developed for rhesus macaque chromosomes homologous to human chromosomes 13, 16, 18, X and Y. RESULTS: Blastomeres from 53 embryos were analyzed. Of the 27 embryos that developed from oocytes that were mature at collection, 18 embryos were chromosomally normal (66.7%), while from the 26 embryos that developed from oocytes that matured post-retrieval, only 9 embryos were chromosomally normal (34.6%). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that embryos developing from oocytes maturing post-retrieval display high rates of chromosomal abnormalities and have therefore a reduced developmental competence. As a result, the clinical relevance of using immature oocytes that are retrieved after stimulated cycles in human IVF warrants further investigation.
On Gravitational Theories of Whitehead's Type

An infinity of gravitational theories are obtained which, like Whitehead’s theory, are action-at-a-distance theories. The motions of mass particles and of light rays in the gravi­tational field of a single heavy particle at rest are the same as in Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
Prospective, randomized evaluation of midline fascial closure in gastric bariatric operations

Background Severe obesity is cited as a major risk factor for fascial wound dehisence and late incisional hernia after major abdominal surgery. The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare two methods of closure of the linea alba after gastric restrictive operations performed for treatment of morbid obesity. Methods During a 6-year period 229 patients were randomized to have closure of the midline fascia using either a double-stranded #1 PDS suture placed in a continuous fashion or #1 Ethibond suture placed using an interrupted figure-eight technique. Results Two of 109 patients who had closure with Ethibond suffered an acute dehiscence of the midline fascia vs no cases of fascial dehiscence in the PDS group. There were no wound infections in either group. There were 20 late incisional hernias (18%) in the Ethibond group vs 11 late hernias (10%) in the PDS group (P ≤0.04). Mean postoperative follow-up time for all patients was 29.4 months. The cost of suture material and the time required to completely close the linea alba were also calculated for each group. The mean closure time in the Ethibond group was 13.3 vs 9.1 minutes in the PDS group (P Conclusions We conclude that #1 PDS placed in a continuous fashion provides a more secure and cost-effective closure of the midline fascia in morbidly obese patients than #1 Ethibond placed using an interrupted figure-eight technique.
An exploration of large vocabulary tools for small vocabulary phonetic recognition

While research in large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) has sparked the development of many state of the art research ideas, research in this domain suffers from two main drawbacks. First, because of the large number of parameters and poorly labeled transcriptions, gaining insight into further improvements based on error analysis is very difficult. Second, LVCSR systems often take a significantly longer time to train and test new research ideas compared to small vocabulary tasks. A small vocabulary task like TIMIT provides a phonetically rich and hand-labeled corpus and offers a good test bed to study algorithmic improvements. However, oftentimes research ideas explored for small vocabulary tasks do not always provide gains on LVCSR systems. In this paper, we address these issues by taking the standard Ȝrecipeȝ used in typical LVCSR systems and applying it to the TIMIT phonetic recognition corpus, which provides a standard benchmark to compare methods. We find that at the speaker-independent (SI) level, our results offer comparable performance to other SI HMM systems. By taking advantage of speaker adaptation and discriminative training techniques commonly used in LVCSR systems, we achieve an error rate of 20%, the best results reported on the TIMIT task to date, moving us closer to the human reported phonetic recognition error rate of 15%. We propose the use of this system as the baseline for future research and believe that it will serve as a good framework to explore ideas that will carry over to LVCSR systems.
Iterative finite-difference solution analysis of acoustic wave equation in the Laplace-Fourier domain

We have investigated numerical characteristics of iterative solutions to the acoustic wave equation in the LaplaceFourier (LF) domain. We transformed the time-domain acoustic wave equation into the LF domain; the transformed equation was discretized with finite differences and was solved with iterative methods. Finite-difference modeling experiments demonstrate that iterative methods require an infinitesimal stopping tolerance to accurately compute the pressure field especially at long offsets. To understand the requirement for such infinitesimal tolerance values, we analyzed the evolution of intermediate solution vectors, residual vectors, and search direction vectors during the iteration. The analysis showed that the requirement arises from the fact that in the solution space, the amplitude of the pressure field varies more than sixty orders of magnitude on the common log scale. Accordingly, we propose a rule of thumb for choosing a proper stopping tolerance value. We also examined numerical dispersion errors in terms of the grid sampling resolutions per skin depth and wavelength. We found that despite the similarity of the form of the acoustic wave and electromagnetic diffusion equations, the former is different from the latter due to the fact that in the LF domain, the skin depth of the acoustic wave equation is decoupled from its wavelength. This aspect requires that in the LF domain, its grid size be determined by considering the minimum grid sampling resolutions based not only the wavelength but also the skin depth.
Surgical Procedure for Reversal of Nipple Piercing

Body piercing of the nipples for adornment with jewelry has increased worldwide. Many patients later regret their decision and request reversal along with a desire to maintain their ability to breast feed. The surgeon must remove the epithelial tunnel with minimum damage to adjacent ducts. The simple technique described uses the patient's jewelry post as a guide and a common disposable biopsy punch. Slid over the post, the punch excises the epithelial tunnel core with minimal harm to surrounding structures.
Trends in overweight among school children and adolescents in seven Chinese Provinces, from 1991–2004

Objective. To examine trends in body mass index (BMI) in relation to energy intake and expenditure among Chinese school children and adolescents from seven Provinces during 1991–2004, a time of rap...
Selenium and Male Reproduction

Selenium (Se) has long been known to be important for male reproduction as severe Se deficiency causes impaired male fertility in livestock, laboratory animals, and humans. In the last decade, the role of Se in male reproduction was elucidated at the molecular level, establishing the roles of specific selenoproteins in this process. Using protein- and isoform-specific knockout mice, it was found that at least two selenoproteins are responsible for the effect of Se: Selenoprotein P, a protein secreted from the liver and serving as the main source of Se for testes, and a mitochondrial form of glutathione peroxidase 4 that has two functions: a peroxidase specific for phospholipid hydroperoxides and a structural component in the midpiece of sperm. Clinical studies further showed that the compromised glutathione peroxidase 4 function in testes is associated with male infertility. In addition, application of X-ray fluorescent microscopy allowed direct visualization of Se distribution in testis and sperm, defining the roles of individual selenoproteins during spermatogenesis. Finally, recent identification of individuals with SBP2 mutations characterized by impaired fertility and azoospermia provided further evidence for importance of Se and selenoproteins in male reproduction.
Total Synthesis of (-)-Mandelalide A Exploiting Anion Relay Chemistry (ARC): Identification of a Type II ARC/CuCN Cross-Coupling Protocol.

Anion relay chemistry (ARC), an effective, multicomponent union tactic, was successfully employed for the total synthesis of the highly cytotoxic marine macrolide (−)-mandelalide A (1). The northern hemisphere was constructed via a new type II ARC/CuCN cross-coupling tactic, while the southern hemisphere was secured via a highly efficient four-component type I ARC union. Importantly, the synthesis of 1 showcases ARC as a rapid, scalable coupling strategy for the union of simple readily available building blocks to access diverse complex molecular fragments with excellent stereochemical control.
Fluoroscopic investigation of Riata ® transvenous defibrillator leads

Background: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads from Riata ® family (St. Jude Medical Inc., Sylmar, CA, USA) have been recently recalled by Food and Drug Administration for concerns of a unique type of “inside-out” insulation failure leading to conductor externalization. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of conductor externalization in patients implanted with Riata 8 French (Fr) and 7 Fr leads. Methods: Patients implanted with Riata ® and Riata ST ® who were actively followed up in our institution were scheduled for high resolution 3 view fluoroscopy and device interrogation including high voltage (HV) lead impedance testing. Fluoroscopic images were graded as presence of externalization or no externalization. Results: Of the 90 patients who underwent screening fluoroscopy, majority had dual coil leads (62.5%) and median duration from the implant time to screening was 79.5 months. Twenty four (26.7%) patients exhibited evidence of lead externalization with 10 (41.6%) of these showing electrical abnormalities at the time of screening. No externalization was seen in the 7 Fr leads. Pacing thresholds were significantly elevated in the externalized cohort compared to non-externalized group (1.42 ± 1.23 vs. 0.93 ± 0.53; p = 0.01). Time since lead implant and lead diameter emerged as significant predictors of lead externalization on univariate analysis with only lead diameter being significant on multivariate analysis (odds ratio 30.68; 4.95–∞, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Prevalence of insulation failure exhibiting as conductor externalization is high (26.7%) among the large diameter 8 Fr Riata ® leads with a significant proportion of patients manifesting electrical failure. High resolution 3 view fluoroscopy is a reasonable approach to screen for this unique type of insulation failure.
Prostate Artery Embolization as a New Treatment for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: Contemporary Status in 2016

The gold standard treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or open prostatectomy (OP). Recently, there has been increased interest and research in less invasive alternative treatments with less morbidity including prostate artery embolization (PAE). Several studies have shown PAE to be an effective alternative to TURP to treat lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with BPH with decreased morbidity. Specifically, PAE has been advantageous in selected patient populations such as those with prostates too large for TURP or unsuitable surgical candidates, showing a promising potential for the future care of patients with BPH. Further studies are being done to demonstrate the clinical applications and advantages of this therapy in reduction of LUTS.
Distribution and drug resistance of aerobic bacteria isolated from 2 164 neonates with pneumonia

Objective To evaluate the distribution and drug resistance of bacteria causing neonatal pneumonia, and to provide evidences for clinic to select antimicrobial agents rationally. Methods Sputum samples from 2 164 neonates with suspected respiratory tract infection in a hospital from January, 1999 to December, 2003 were cultured by general and high-osmosis methods, bacteria were identified by API system. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed by Kirby-Bauer method, ESBLs in the isolated Gram negative bacilli were detected by double-disk test. Result 1 189 (54.94%) strains of aerobic bacteria were isolated from the 2 164 specimens. 428 (36.00%) were gram negative bacilli, 648 (54.50%) were gram positive cocci, 113 (9.50%) were other bacteria. 78 (25.49%) ESBLs positive strains were trains of Enterobacteriaceal. Gram negative bacilli were susceptible to imipenem, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime and amikacin, Gram positive cocci were susceptible to vancomycin, imipenem, cefotaxine, rifampicin and cefoperazone. Conclusion Gram positive cocci are the main bacteria in neonatal pneumonia. gram positive cocci, especially Staphylococcus are more and more prevalent in neonatal respiratory tract infection. Strains of Enterobacteriaceae are usually have drug resistance, imipenem is the best drug to treat the patients infected with ESBLs-producing strains.