cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zen and Western Thought

‘Zen and Western Thought’ is one of the intellectual areas which must by all means be studied and elucidated in today’s world. And yet it is an extremely difficult subject. To deal, in all its ramifications, with this theme which is so vast and difficult to grasp in its core, is quite beyond the powers of the present writer. I shall attempt here only a preliminary sketch with the hope that I can revise it in the future after I have obtained the criticisms of my learned readers.
Visual simulation of digital atmospheric data

Sources of remotely sensed atmospheric data have expanded rapidly within the last several years, including ground-based Doppler weather radars and several satellite-based, earth- observing systems that sense and record large-scale weather conditions. Although these systems are capable of producing voluminous amounts of data, tools for visualizing, analyzing, and applying the data for operational uses requiring 4D display have not kept up. This paper presents a discussion of a software system known as WEST (Weather Environment Simulation Technology). WEST was developed through internal funding at Southwest Research Institute, for the visualization and simulator integration of very large atmospheric data sets containing fine-grained weather features. The approach implemented within WEST allows the user to visually observe, 'fly through', and interact with recorded atmospheric data at real-time speeds using commercial off-the-shelf hardware. This new capability is designed to benefit such diverse applications as flight training, weather analysis, systems design, and mission planning.
Sums over positive integers with few prime factors

Abstract The author has presented estimates for sums of multiplicative functions, satisfying certain conditions, extended over positive integers n such that n is less than or equal to xt, the greatest prime factor of n is at most equal to x, and n is relatively prime to a natural number k. These estimates are uniform in t, x, and k.
An Entrance Region Friction Factor Model Applied to Annular Seal Analysis: Theory Versus Experiment for Smooth and Honeycomb Seals

A friction factor model is developed for the entrance-region of a duct. The model is used in an annular gas seal analysis similar to Nelson's (1984). Predictions of the analysis are compared to experimental results for a smooth-stator/smooth-rotor seal and three honeycomb-stator/smooth-rotor seals. The model predicts a leakage and direct damping well. The model overpredicts the dependence of cross-coupled stiffness on fluid prerotation. The model predicts direct stiffness poorly.
VORTICES INCIDENT UPON AN OSCILLATING CYLINDER: FLOW STRUCTURE AND LOADING

Abstract Interaction of an incident vortex street with an oscillating cylinder is addressed using high-image-density particle image velocimetry and simultaneous force measurements. This approach reveals that the timing of the incident vortices relative to the cylinder motion controls the large-scale vortex formation in the near-wake, and thereby the phase shift between the loading on the cylinder and its motion. As a consequence, it is possible to change the sign of the fluid-dynamic work done by the fluid on the cylinder. The incident vortices dramatically shorten the formation length of vortices in the near-wake and yield values of lift coefficient up to a factor of five larger than that for an isolated cylinder subjected to controlled oscillations in the absence of incident vortices. These alterations of the wake structure and loading occur in conjunction with globally locked-on patterns of incident and shed vortices with respect to the cylinder oscillation. Different states of global lock-on are attainable for different values of timing of the incident vortices.
Oscillations of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the genesis of easterly waves Part II: numerical verification

A companion paper (Part I: Toma and Webster 2008), argued that the characteristics of the mean Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) arise from instabilities associated with the strong cross-equatorial pressure gradient (CEPG) that exists in the eastern Pacific Ocean as a result of the latitudinal sea-surface temperature (SST) gradient. Furthermore, it was argued that instabilities of the mean ITCZ resulted in the in situ development of easterly waves. Thus, in Part I, it was hypothesized that the mean and transient state of eastern Pacific convection was due to local processes and less so to the advection of waves from the North Atlantic Ocean. To test this hypothesis and, at the same time, consider others such as a possible role of the equatorial and subtropical orography in generating local instabilities, a series of controlled numerical experiments are designed using the WRF regional model. The domain of the model was configured to include the western Atlantic Ocean, the Isthmus of Panama and the eastern Pacific Ocean to 155°W. Lateral boundaries were set at 40°N and 40°S, thus containing the mountains of Central America, the Andes and the Sierra Madre of Mexico. In a series of experiments, analysis products were used as boundary conditions that were successively updated four times per day, set as 10-day running average fields or as running mean monthly fields. Finally, the model was run with topography essentially eliminated over the land areas. Although there are differences between the details of the resultant fields, the location of mean convection and the form of the transients remain the same. It is concluded, in support of the theoretical and diagnostic studies of Part I that orographic forcing or waves generated in the North Atlantic Ocean are not the major causes of the mean and transient nature of disturbances in the eastern Pacific.
Undercoverage of Wavelet-Based Resampling Confidence Intervals

The decorrelating property of the discrete wavelet transformation (DWT) appears valuable because one can avoid estimating the correlation structure in the original data space by bootstrap resampling of the DWT. Several authors have shown that the wavestrap approximately retains the correlation structure of observations. However, simply retaining the same correlation structure of original observations does not guarantee enough variation for regression parameter estimators. Our simulation studies show that these wavestraps yield undercoverage of parameters for a simple linear regression for time series data of the type that arise in functional MRI experiments. It is disappointing that the wavestrap does not even provide valid resamples for both white noise sequences and fractional Brownian noise sequences. Thus, the wavestrap method is not completely valid in obtaining resamples related to linear regression analysis and should be used with caution for hypothesis testing as well. The reasons for these undercoverages are also discussed. A parametric bootstrap resampling in the wavelet domain is introduced to offer insight into these previously undiscovered defects in wavestrapping.
The Avco continuous moving bed ion exchange process and large scale desalting

Abstract A truly continuous countercurrent moving bed ion exchange system is described. Test data for a 15,000 gpd laboratory unit is presented which verifies the basic feasibility of the system. The system is shown to be particularly suitable for large scale membrane softening pretreatment and brackish water desalting because of its inherently smaller plant size and almost stoichiometric chemical usage. The considerations involved in scaling the system to optimum large size units are discussed.
Fluid dynamics of a tubular polymerizer

Abstract The flow field of a non-Newtonian fluid in a conduit undergoing exothermal chemical reactions is strongly determined by heat and mass transfer processes predominatly via the molecular weight dependence of the fluid properties. The specific example in this study is polymerization of styrene in a steady, laminar flow tubular reactor. Avoiding the region of thermal instability, nonlinear transport and conversion mechanisms leading to characteristically elongated, jet-like velocity profiles are discussed. Specifically, the newly developed distributed parameter model has been used to investigate the coupled effects of strong temperatures, gradients and local polymerization processes on the tubular fluid dynamics. For extreme operational conditions either the highly viscous polymer almost plugs the reactor or most of the incoming monomer solution leaves the tube unreacted.
THE OPERANT CONDITIONING OF RESPONSE VARIABILITY: FREE-OPERANT VERSUS DISCRETE-RESPONSE PROCEDURES

The operant conditioning of response variability under free-operant and discrete-response procedures was investigated. Two pigeons received food only if their pattern of four pecks on two response keys differed from the patterns emitted on the two immediately preceding trials. Under the free-operant procedure, the keys remained illuminated and operative throughout each trial. There was little variability in the response patterns that resulted, and the pigeons received fewer than one third of the available reinforcers. Under the discrete-response procedure, a brief timeout period followed each response. Variability increased under this procedure, and the pigeons obtained three fourths of the available reinforcers. Previous successes and failures to produce response variability may have been due to the use or failure to use, respectively, a discrete-response procedure. Respondent effects inherent in the free-operant procedure may encourage the development of response stereotypy and, in turn, prevent the development of response variability.
Sanctioned and non-sanctioned narratives in institutional discourse

This article describes the conventions of sanctioned and non-sanctioned narratives in two institutional discourses, medical encounters and support groups. In the well-established institutional discourse of medicine, sanctioned narratives are specifically invited and non-sanctioned narratives are effectively deflected through standard conventions. In the less well-established institutional discourse of support groups, the line between sanctioned and non-sanctioned narratives is considerably blurred and the conventions for deflecting a non-sanctioned narrative are not necessarily effective. (Medical communication, Institutional Discourse, Conversation Analysis, Narrative Analysis)
Process optimization diagrams for membrane microfiltration

Abstract Increased titers from 2 to 10 mg/ml represents a major future challenge for recovery of desirable proteins during downstream processing. Pressure-driven microfiltration using synthetic membranes, due to its advantages such as speed, no phase change, no additives, selectivity and competitive economics, will be among several unit processes that will be considered to help attain this goal. Microfiltration in the biotechnology industry currently involves either removing soluble host cell protein while retaining larger insoluble particles like insoluble bodies or separating soluble recombinant protein from cells which are larger than the membrane pore-size. Such a step usually falls at the interface of upstream cell-culture/fermentation and downstream polishing steps. Hence, there is a need to rapidly optimize this step to meet time-lines for drug development and for new challenges such as those listed above. Using basic mass balance equations for batch concentration and diafiltration, we offer a simple and useful methodology to optimize a membrane filtration process. The process is similar to that used earlier for ultrafiltration. The main goals in any microfiltration application are high yield and low processing time, as enhancement in purity is implicit in the choice of membrane pore-size and chemical composition. An optimization diagram for predicting yield of the desired protein and processing time for microfiltration applications is developed by incorporating experimental parameters like observed sieving coefficient of protein, concentration factor and number of diavolumes. As a demonstration of the methodology, an optimization diagram was developed for the filtration of E. coli cell lysate containing inclusion bodies of a recombinant protein which enabled rapid determination of the two parameters (concentration factor and number of diavolumes) and optimization of membrane microfiltration processes for a given combination of sieving coefficient, membrane pore-size, and solute.
Detecting temporal patterns using Reconstructed Phase Space and Support Vector Machine in the dynamic data system

In this paper we present a method for detecting dynamic temporal patterns that are characteristic and predictive of significant events in a dynamic data system. We employ the Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) to cluster the data sequence into three categories of signals, e.g. normal, patterns and events. The data sequence is then embedded into a Reconstructed Phase Space (RPS) which is topologically equivalent to the dynamics of the original system. We apply a hybrid method using Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Maximum a Posterior (MAP) to classify temporal pattern signals based on the event function. We performed two experimental applications using chaotic time series and Sludge Volume Index (SVI) series related to the Sludge Bulking problem. The proposed hybrid GMM-SVM phase space approach effectively detects temporal patterns and achieves higher predictive accuracy compared with the original RPS framework.
Inducing Employees to Leave: A Comparison of Four Severance Options

This study examines the demographic, economic, and psychographic characteristics of 324 blue-collar workers who were offered four options for either retirement or severance from the organization. Consistent with previous research, individuals who accepted retirement options have more organizational tenure and believed that the packages would provide stable financial futures. A key finding for those who accepted the nonretirement options is that comparable employment would be available. The study concludes with research limitations and suggestions for future research.
The optimal control of a flexible hull robotic undersea vehicle propelled by an oscillating foil

Determining the optimal swimming motion for a flexible hull robotic undersea vehicle propelled by an oscillating foil is an acutely complex problem involving the vehicle's body kinematics and the hydrodynamics of the surrounding water. The overall intractability of the hydrodynamics of a flexible body precludes a purely analytical solution. The immense size of the experimental variable space prevents a purely empirical one. In order to overcome both difficulties, we have developed a self-optimizing motion controller based on a genetic algorithm. This controller effectively uses evolutionary principles to exponentially optimize swimming performance.
Empowerment in the Hospitality Industry: an Exploration of Antecedents and Outcomes:

Does empowerment lead to positive employee outcomes? If so, to which antecedents should management turn in order to foster greater employee empow erment ? This study explored a number of potential ...
Assignment of Freight Shipment Demand in Congested Rail Networks

Railroads have long been serving the largest portion of freight ton-miles in the U.S. freight shipment market. The rising demand for rail transportation is expected to continue in the foreseeable future, and considerable network congestion and inefficiency will result. Thus, a systematic methodology is needed to predict freight flow concentrations and congestion patterns in the rail network. A customized network assignment model for rail freight shipment demand is proposed; in this model, single- and double-track lines are represented by an equivalent directed graph. A railroad-specific link cost function adjusted for single and double tracks is developed to capture traffic delay, and an adapted convex combination algorithm is developed to find the shipment routing equilibrium. This model is applied to an empirical case study for the U.S. rail network with national freight shipment demand in 2007. The resulting freight flow pattern is visualized graphically and validated with empirical data. The proposed ...
The use of bone cement in difficult distal radius fractures.

Background The lack of structural support remains a challenge in the treatment of comminuted distal radius fractures. Calcium phosphate and calcium sulfate bone cement has been used in other fracture locations in addition to fixation and has been shown to allow for retention of reduction in difficult cases.
Lateral hypothalamic melanocortin receptor signaling modulates binge-like ethanol drinking in C57BL/6J mice

Binge ethanol drinking is a highly pervasive and destructive behavior yet the underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Recent work suggests that overlapping neurobiological mechanisms modulate feeding disorders and excessive ethanol intake, and converging evidence indicates that the melanocortin (MC) system may be a promising candidate. The aims of the present work were to examine how repeated binge-like ethanol drinking, using the 'drinking in the dark' (DID) protocol, impacts key peptides within the MC system and if site-specific manipulation of MC receptor (MCR) signaling modulates binge-like ethanol drinking. Male C57BL/6J mice were exposed to one, three or six cycles of binge-like ethanol, sucrose or water drinking, after which brain tissue was processed via immunohistochemistry (IHC) for analysis of key MC peptides, including alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and agouti-related protein (AgRP). Results indicated that α-MSH expression was selectively decreased, while AgRP expression was selectively increased, within specific hypothalamic subregions following repeated binge-like ethanol drinking. To further explore this relationship, we used site-directed drug delivery techniques to agonize or antagonize MCRs within the lateral hypothalamus (LH). We found that the nonselective MCR agonist melanotan-II (MTII) blunted, while the nonselective MCR antagonist AgRP augmented, binge-like ethanol consumption when delivered into the LH. As these effects were region-specific, the present results suggest that a more thorough understanding of the MC neurocircuitry within the hypothalamus will help provide novel insight into the mechanisms that modulate excessive binge-like ethanol intake and may help uncover new therapeutic targets aimed at treating alcohol abuse disorders.
Negative cognitive response to a sad mood induction: Associations with polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) gene

Increased negative thinking in response to sad mood states has been identified as a marker of depression risk. The present study examined whether polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) gene were associated with the tendency to endorse negative cognition after sad or neutral mood inductions in a healthy college student sample. Non-depressed participants were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR and then viewed films designed to elicit a sad mood (n=30) or a neutral mood (n=23). Analyses indicated that individuals homozygous for the short 5-HTTLPR allele endorsed more negative cognition following a sad mood induction than individuals homozygous for the long 5-HTTLPR allele. Negative cognition did not vary as a function of 5-HTTLPR genetic status in the neutral mood condition. These preliminary results suggest that genetic variation of the serotonin transporter may contribute to depression vulnerability via a tendency to think more negatively in response to events that elicit sad mood.
Phineas Gage revisited: Modern management of large-calibre penetrating brain injury

We present the case of a 19-year-old man who suffered a penetrating injury to the brain with a large-calibre steel industrial prybar approximately 1 m long and 2.5 cm wide that was retained in his cranium. The management of this type of injury is discussed, based on our experience with penetrating brain injuries with large-calibre retained objects, from initial presentation to surgical removal of the object to post-operative care. Additionally, given the similarities of the injuries suffered by our patient with those of Phineas Gage, we discuss the extensive lessons learned in treating this type of large-calibre injury.
Time-Varying Networks, I

This paper presents an analysis of some of the significant developments in time-varying network theory which have taken place during the past decade, with the emphasis placed on three topics: 1) characterization of time-varying networks, and in particular, transition from the impulsive response to the differential equation; 2) the problem of factorization, with emphasis on the contributions of Darlington, Batkov and Paul Levy; and 3) randomly-varying systems and, in particular, the question of stability of discrete-time systems of this type. The identification problem, the analysis of periodically-varying systems, the synthesis problem, and the filtering and prediction of nonstationary processes will be treated in Part II, to be published later.
Stereotype Embodiment A Psychosocial Approach to Aging

Researchers have increasingly turned their attention from younger individuals who hold age stereotypes to older individuals who are targeted by these stereotypes. The refocused research has shown that positive and negative age stereotypes held by older individuals can have beneficial and detrimental effects, respectively, on a variety of cognitive and physical outcomes. Drawing on these experimental and longitudinal studies, a theory of stereotype embodiment is presented here. It proposes that stereotypes are embodied when their assimilation from the surrounding culture leads to self-definitions that, in turn, influence functioning and health. The theory has four components: The stereotypes (a) become internalized across the life span, (b) can operate unconsciously, (c) gain salience from self-relevance, and (d) utilize multiple pathways. The central message of the theory, and the research supporting it, is that the aging process is, in part, a social construct.
Viscous Flow Solvers for Aero/Hydrodynamic Analysis and Design

This paper reviews the principles underlying the development of numerical techniques for the solution of both steady and time dependent viscous flow problems. The combination of efficient high resolution schemes and parallel computing enables the effective use of viscous analyses in the preliminary stages of a design. Representative results, drawn by the authors work in several application areas, are presented.
Negotiating the service system: Professionals and patients talk about healthcare for the homeless in a Midwestern City in the U.S.

This article presents and discusses themes generated from in-depth interviews with 10 key informants and four homeless adults in a medium-sized city in the Midwest, United States. The purpose of the interviews was to gain an understanding of the healthcare system that was in place for the homeless, both from the perspective of professionals and consumers alike. Key informants represented the major medical and social service agencies involved in the provision of healthcare services for the homeless in this city. Based on these interviews, the following themes were generated and are presented here for analysis and discussion: Lack of Services, Need for Medicaid, Coordination of Care, Lack of End-of-Life Care, and Suggestions for Change. Practice implications are presented.
Public and Tribal Community College Institutional Review Boards: A National Descriptive Analysis.

ABSTRACTIt is currently unknown how many Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) exist at community colleges. This study investigates the percentage of public and Tribal community colleges that have active IRBs. It also examines the potential relationships between states that allow community colleges to confer baccalaureate degrees, or that have articulation agreements, and community college IRBs. Data were drawn from the United States Department of Health and Human Services in conjunction with the American Association of Community Colleges and state department of education websites in order to create a national snapshot of active and deactivated IRBs at these institutions. It was most common for a state to have at least one IRB at public community colleges. Conversely, the majority of states with Tribal community colleges did not have IRBs. Further, while no association was found between states that allow community colleges to confer baccalaureate degrees, states with an articulation agreement were more likel...
The Nineteenth Century Rhetorical Presidency Reconsidered

My paper uses over 3000 instances of popular presidential communication by nineteenth century and early twentieth century presidents to re-evaluate many of the arguments of "The Rhetorical Presidency." This original data allows me to draw a number of conclusions about the nature of presidential rhetoric before Herbert Hoover. My evaluation of spoken popular presidential communication includes a systematic evaluation of the four dimensions of presidential communication and the effect of changes in political parties, technological advances and the professionalization and commercialization of journalism on these dimensions.
Television viewing as vicarious resistance: The X‐Files and conspiracy discourse

In this critical analysis, I explore the meaning‐making processes related to the conspiracy discourse of the television series The X‐Files. The program's narrative structure, reading positions, ideological/historical contexts, and viewers’ postings on the World Wide Web suggest that the television series serves as a form of “vicarious resistance.” Stated simply, The X‐Files’ conspiracy discourse provides a pleasurable television viewing experience rather than revolutionary action or tangible resistance. In general, this analysis explores how superficially “resistive” popular cultural texts actually maintain dominant ideology through the implicit hegemonic processes within the text and the conditions of the prevailing ideological and historical contexts.
Activation of the CPP32 protease in apoptosis induced by 1-beta-D- arabinofuranosylcytosine and other DNA-damaging agents

The response of human myeloid leukemia cells to treatment with 1-beta- arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) includes the induction of apoptosis. Ara-C induced apoptosis is associated with proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and protein kinase C (PKC) delta. However, the signals involved in this response are unknown. The present studies show that ara-C treatment of U-937 cells is associated with induction of a protease activity that cleaves the tetrapeptides Ac-DEVD- pNA and Ac-DMOD-pNA found at the cleavage sites of PARP and PKC delta, respectively. The ara-C-induced protease activity was sensitive to overexpression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL and the baculovirus protein p35. By contrast, overexpression of the cowpox virus protein CrmA blocked apoptosis induced by engagement of the Fas receptor but not that induced by ara-C. CrmA overexpression also had no detectable effect on ara-C-induced cleavage of PKC delta. The results further show that ara-C induces activation of the CPP32 protease by a CrmA- insensitive and p35-sensitive mechanism. Similar results were obtained with cisplatinum, etoposide, and camptothecin. These findings indicate that ara-C and other DNA-damaging agents activate a CrmA-insensitive apoptotic pathway involving CPP32 and that these signals differ from those associated with apoptosis induced by the Fas receptor.
Design of polymerase chain reaction primers for amplifying nuclear ribosomal DNA from slime molds.

Nuclear small subunit ribosomal DNA comparative sequence data analysis is a useful tool for assessing phylogenetic relationships. To date, the small subunit ribosomal DNA genes for only two eumycet...
Specificity of antibodies from patients with pinta for antigens of Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum.

Inhabitants of a remote Panamanian village were examined for clinical and serological evidence of pinta infection. Of 104 persons examined, 21 (20^o) had clinical evidence of active or inactive pinta, and 54 (52^0) were seropositive. Sera were evaluated for antibody to individual Treponema pallidum antigens. Sera from all four patients with active pinta contained antibody to the 47-48-kilodalton major antigen; the intensity of reactivity and the number of antigens recognized increased with age and, presumably, duration of infection. Sera from six children with inactive pinta reacted strongly with multiple T. pallidum antigens, whereas adults with inactive pinta had less intense reactivity against fewer molecules. Seronegative controls demonstrated only weak reactivity to fewer than five molecules. The development of antibody reactivity to the full spectrum of T. pallidum antigens during the course of infection demonstrates the high degree of antigenic relatedness of T. pallidum and Treponema carateum and is similar to the development of humoral responsiveness during syphilis infection.
Effects of taurine on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in hamsters.

Four groups of hamsters were assigned as saline + saline, taurine + saline (TS), saline + bleomycin (SB), and taurine + bleomycin (TB). The animals were treated with either saline or taurine (500 mg/kg ip) for 1 week and just prior to intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (7.5 units/kg) or saline on the eighth day. Thereafter, taurine administration was continued ip (250 mg/kg) and in drinking water (1%) for another 14 days. Bleomycin-induced increases in lung collagen were significantly inhibited in TB hamsters. Plasma taurine concentration in the TS group was significantly higher than that of the other groups. Lung lavage (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) taurine in the SB group was significantly higher than the saline + saline and TS groups. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid supernatant protein and acid phosphatase levels in the SB and TB groups were significantly increased over the saline + saline and TS groups. Although the total numbers of cells recovered in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was not different among the four groups, there were significantly fewer neutrophils in the TB as compared with SB hamsters. Morphometric analysis revealed less than half as much lesion (diffuse mono- nuclear alveolitis and multifocal fibroplasia) in TB as compared with SB hamsters. Also, consolidated foci were less frequent and smaller in TB as compared with SB hamsters. Taurine may attenuate bleomycin-induced inflammation and fibrosis by scavenging reactive oxygen metabolites.
Collaborative glaucoma survey.

A number of institutions, including The Johns Hopkins University, are participating in a collaborative study of chronic simple glaucoma. It has been estimated that there are 800,000 persons in the United States who are unaware that they have glaucoma. The disease produces blindness in about 3400 persons each year. Preliminary findings of the survey are presented. When tonometry, tonography and the water-drinking test have been well evaluated in the early diagnosis of chronic simple glaucoma, an efficient screening program can be designed and much visual disability prevented.
Analysis on Identification Education of Professional Value of Social Work under Professionalization

The professional value of social work is the soul social work;social workers finish their works under the guidance of their own professional value of social work.It is the professional value of social work that determines the aim and significance of social work,the methods and skills of social work,and the attitudes and deeds of the social workers and institutes.If the professionalization of social work is the base of Chinese social work development,the identification education should be the essence of the whole education system,which is also a tough work to finish.We have to agree totally with the professional value,just in order to get rid of the ethnic dilemmas and improve the social workers,to achieve the goal of the whole development of social work system in China.
Understanding the Influence of Model Minority Stereotypes on Asian American Community College Students.

ABSTRACTContrary to the model minority myth that portrays Asian Americans as academic all-stars overrepresented in elite 4-year institutions, nearly half of all Asian American college students do, in fact, attend community colleges, and many experience myriad challenges. This exploratory study utilized a qualitative analysis and investigated how model minority stereotypes influenced the educational experiences and perceptions of Asian American community college students. Purposeful sampling was used to gather a sample of 28 students who self-identified as Asian American and attended one of the three largest community college districts located in North Texas. Data collection involved a demographic questionnaire and semistructured individual interviews. Qualitative data provided description-rich information that shed light on the experiences and views of Asian American community college students, a virtually unstudied population. The participants in this study shared unique experiences and different views o...
Barndorff-Nielsen diffusions model neurons in primary sensory cortex

Neural information is Shannon information! We believe neurons in primary sensory cortex maximize the information transmitted per energy expended. Let “j” be such a neuron. Neuron j receives spike trains from circa 10,000 other neurons. In response, j produces a voltage called the post-synaptic potential (PSP). When the PSP reaches a threshold, j sends an action potential (AP) to all its target neurons, which also number circa 10,000. PSP's are modeled as time and amplitude-continuous random processes of the sort usually called diffusions. Barndorff-Nielsen (B-N) diffusions are time-homogeneous, amplitude-inhomogeneous Markov processes, certain of which exhibit attraction to the threshold as the diffusion approaches it. That is the very behavior that PSP buildup exhibits. The threshold hitting times of B-N diffusions have generalized inverse Gaussian (GIG) distributions. Much research favors GIG hitting times for fixed threshold neurons. We have optimized the information-energy tradeoff of such neurons. Bits per Joule (bpJ) is also bps per Jps, i.e., capacity per watt. By finding capacity v. power curves for primary cortical neuron channels, we have linked Shannon theory and neuroscience more closely.
Cross-Sex Hormones and Metabolic Parameters in Adolescents With Gender Dysphoria

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Endocrine Society states that adolescents with gender dysphoria may start cross-sex hormones. The goal of this study was to identify patterns in metabolic parameters in transgender adolescents receiving cross-sex hormones. METHODS: Data from adolescents aged 14 to 25 years seen in 1 of 4 clinical sites between 2008 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Subjects were divided into affirmed male (female-to-male) patients taking testosterone and affirmed female (male-to-female) patients taking estrogen. Previously recorded measurements of blood pressure, BMI, testosterone, estradiol, prolactin, lipids, electrolytes, liver function tests, hemoglobin/hematocrit, and hemoglobin A1c were reviewed. These values were obtained from before the start of therapy, at 1 to 3 months after initiation, at 4 to 6 months, and at 6 months and beyond. Repeated measures analysis of variance models were used to evaluate changes over time. RESULTS: One hunderd and sixteen adolescents were included (72 female-to-male subjects and 44 male-to-female subjects). Of the 72 subjects taking testosterone, a significant increase in hemoglobin/hematocrit levels and BMI, as well as a decrease in high-density lipoprotein level, was recorded at each visit. No significant changes in any other parameter tested were found. Of the 44 subjects taking estrogen, no statistically significant changes were noted in the measured metabolic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Testosterone use was associated with increased hemoglobin and hematocrit, increased BMI, and lowered high-density lipoprotein levels; estrogen was associated with lower testosterone and alanine aminotransferase levels. Otherwise, cross-sex hormone administration in adolescents was not associated with significant differences in the selected metabolic parameters over time.
The exploration of Michael-addition reaction chemistry to create high performance, ambient cure thermoset coatings based on soybean oil

Abstract Using Michael addition crosslinking technology, thermoset coatings were prepared from acrylated epoxidized sucrose soyate (AESS) and amine crosslinkers. AESS was synthesized from sucrose soyate, which is the sucrose ester of soybean oil fatty acids and has an average of about 12 functionalities per molecule. Due to the high functionality of AESS and fast reactivity of the amine crosslinkers, the coatings can be cured at ambient temperature (21 °C) in a relatively short period of time yielding good coatings properties. When AESS was reacted with 4′4′-methylene bis(cyclohexylamine), the acrylate group conversion was determined by FTIR to be up to 90%. It was also found that the type of solvent used in the coatings formulation affected the film formation and thus the coatings properties. The addition of 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate diluent in the formulations resulted in softer and lower T g coatings. Using a trifunctional amine such as diethylene triamine, coatings could be prepared without the addition of any catalyst. Overall, thermosets made from AESS Michael crosslinking technology provide a highly bio-based coating system with good hardness and chemical resistance.
Determination of the life cycle climate change impacts of land use and albedo change in algal biofuel production

Abstract Life cycle assessments (LCAs) of algal biofuels have typically ignore direct land use change impacts (DLUC), although a few papers have recently shown that the carbon lost from removing the original biomass and disrupting soil organic carbon (SOC) during pond construction can significantly contribute to the climate change impacts. In this study, LCA methods were developed to integrate climate change impacts of DLUC associated with cultivation of microalgae in open ponds and the effects of temporal and geographic variables on algal growth. In addition to direct land use change impacts due to loss of original biomass and the disruption of SOC, this study presents DLUC impacts caused by changing the surface albedo of an area and changing the carbon flux on the land. The methodology is presented with two LCA cases for the production of renewable gasoline from microalgae in climatically similar regions: the Everglades ecoregion and the Tamaulipas-Texas Semi-Arid Plain ecoregion. These were chosen to isolate the differences in DLUC impacts that are created by different land cover types, equalizing the life cycle impacts caused by temperature and solar radiation on algal growth. The DLUC impacts arising from albedo change and carbon flux change contributed significantly to the life cycle climate change impacts and differed between the two climatically similar regions. The baseline life cycle climate change impacts with DLUC impacts in the Everglades are 46.7% higher than those of conventional gasoline, while production in the Tamaulipas-Texas Semi-Arid Plain leads to a 3.0% reduction. The inclusion of albedo change impacts into the DLUC impacts contributed 10.2% of the life cycle climate change impacts in the Everglades and 36.4% in the Tamaulipas. This methodology can help assess the geographically specific sustainability of algal biofuels on a life cycle basis and can guide siting decisions for algal biofuel feedstock production.
Interpretation and Generalization of Youden's Two-Sample Diagram

Youden's two sample diagram is a useful method for certain types of interlaboratory comparisons of test results. Generally, points in the plot fall within an elongated ellipse, the major axis of which makes a 45 degree angle, approximately, with the x, ..
ATP and the Source of Energy for Biological Work Performance

A living cell moves, conducts electric impulses, transports solutes against concentration gradients, and synthesizes chemicals. In these and other activities, the cell behaves like a reversible cyclic machine and performs work. Energy is transformed from one form to another in the process.
Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Dynamic Nerve Compression Syndromes of the Elbow Among High-Level Pitchers: A Review of 7 Cases.

Background:Dynamic compressive neuropathies around the elbow are a rare entity described by a relatively small body of literature, mostly consisting of single-case reports. No standardized diagnost...
History of Grass Breeding for Grazing Lands in the Northern Great Plains of the USA and Canada

In the early 1930s there were millions of acres of extensively degraded grazing lands and abandoned and eroded cropland in the Northern Plains of the United States and Canada.Grass breeding and plant materials programs were established by both the US and Canadian governments and cooperating universities to develop revegetation materials.Efforts of a small number of research locations and people resulted in grass cultivars or varieties that were used to revegetate and preserve the soil on millions of acres of land.This is a brief history of the people, agencies, and universities that developed these cultivars that restored and increased the productivity of grasslands in the Northern Plains.
From “First in Family” to “First to Finish”: Does College Graduation Vary by How First-Generation College Status Is Defined?:

The purpose of our study was to examine the relationship between alternative definitions of first-generation college students (FGCSs) and graduation from 2- and 4-year colleges. Using Education Lon...
PREDICTORS OF INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (ICU) UTILIZATION AMONG PATIENTS WITH ST-SEGMENT MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: INSIGHTS FROM THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN CARDIOVASCULAR CONSORTIUM (BMC2)

While guidelines advocate for the routine admission of patients presenting with STEMI to the ICU, there is substantial variation in this practice. We investigated the effect of patient and procedural characteristics as well as hospital level variability on ICU utilization. Registry data from
Pediatric Feeding Disorders: Feeding Children Who Can't or Won't Eat

Though seemingly a simple act, feeding children is a complex process involving a combination of caregiver interactions with the child, appropriate oral–motor skills, and an intact, functioning gastrointestinal tract. Feeding disorders are not uncommon in children and often require a team of dedicated health-care professionals to overcome disorders that may severely impact short-term health and long-term well-being. Evaluation and treatment of these disorders require a thorough understanding of the potential pathophysiology and behavioral issues that lead to disruption of effective oral eating.
Coupled Sodium-Chloride Transport by Small Intestine and Gallbladder

It is now well established that the active transepithelial transport and intracellular accumulation of sugars and amino acids by small intestine requires the presence of Na+ in the luminal (or mucosal) solution1,2. In addition, actively transported sugars and amino acids stimulate Na+ absorption by the small intestine from a variety of species. Results obtained using intestinal preparations in vitroare consistent with the notion that coupled entry mechanisms for Na+ and sugars or amino acids are localised at the brush border of the transporting cells and that the energy required for cellular accumulation and absorption is derived, at least in part, from the electrochemical potential difference of Na+ across the mucosal membrane3.
Monolingual Language Ideologies and the Massachusetts Sheltered English Immersion Endorsement Initiative: A Critical Policy Analysis:

With U.S. classrooms increasingly characterized by linguistic diversity, policies mandating teacher training around English learning have proliferated. Recent federal oversight prompted Massachuset...
Meta-Analysis of Device Related Thrombosis After Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Women Versus Men.

Brief summary Women have increased incidence of device related thrombosis (DRT) after percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (PLAAO), which is associated with higher risk of stroke. However, there is paucity of female subjects in the pivotal trials leading to approval of PLAAO devices. There is lack of comparative studies investigating the impact of gender on DRT after PLAAO. We therefore performed meta-analysis to reconcile the actual risk in a large real world population which showed no difference in DRT in women versus men (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.62–1.79, p = 0.8). The underrepresentation of women in these trials may create a bias and should be considered carefully when interpreting the results.
Demographic data is more predictive of component size than digital radiographic templating in total knee arthroplasty

Preoperative radiographic templating for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been shown to be inaccurate. Patient demographic data, such as gender, height, weight, age, and race, may be more predictive of implanted component size in TKA. A multivariate linear regression model was designed to predict implanted femoral and tibial component size using demographic data along a consecutive series of 201 patients undergoing index TKA. Traditional, two-dimensional, radiographic templating was compared to demographic-based regression predictions on a prospective 181 consecutive patients undergoing index TKA in their ability to accurately predict intraoperative implanted sizes. Surgeons were blinded of any predictions. Patient gender, height, weight, age, and ethnicity/race were predictive of implanted TKA component size. The regression model more accurately predicted implanted component size compared to radiographically templated sizes for both the femoral (P = 0.04) and tibial (P < 0.01) components. The regression model exactly predicted femoral and tibial component sizes in 43.7 and 43.7% of cases, was within one size 90.1 and 95.6% of the time, and was within two sizes in every case. Radiographic templating exactly predicted 35.4 and 36.5% of cases, was within one size 86.2 and 85.1% of the time, and varied up to four sizes for both the femoral and tibial components. The regression model averaged within 0.66 and 0.61 sizes, versus 0.81 and 0.81 sizes for radiographic templating for femoral and tibial components. A demographic-based regression model was created based on patient-specific demographic data to predict femoral and tibial TKA component sizes. In a prospective patient series, the regression model more accurately and precisely predicted implanted component sizes compared to radiographic templating. Prospective cohort, level II.
Hierarchical Distribution System Adaptive Restoration With Diverse Distributed Energy Resources

Distributed energy resources (DERs) can be utilized as alternative power sources for fast service recovery in cases of distribution system outages. However, the diverse characteristics and stochastic nature of DERs impose challenges on the optimal operation of diverse resources during the restoration phase. In this article, we introduce a hierarchical structure to coordinate distribution system entities and propose an adaptive restoration strategy to sustain a reliable power supply to outage loads in an unbalanced distribution system utilizing DERs. An efficient system reconfiguration model is developed to guarantee the radiality of restoration islands. The flexibility of DERs is evaluated by a novel method that focuses on the cumulative energy consumption, the superiority of which is also proven. Model predictive control (MPC) is adopted to enable the adjustment of system topology and DER operation strategies based on up-to-date data. The performance of the proposed restoration model is validated on a modified IEEE 123-bus test system. Moreover, the effectiveness of the proposed novel flexibility assessment and the MPC-based adaptive restoration strategy are verified through comparative studies.