cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Algorithms and bounds for estimating location, directionality, and environmental parameters of primary spectrum users

Most existing work on dynamic spectrum access deals with creating a spectral and temporal map of spectrum white space, and then filling it. The spectrum can be better utilized by increasing the spatial awareness of secondary users to include knowledge of the locations of all primary and secondary users, as well as the orientations and parameters of their directional or omni-directional antennas. This paper derives a maximum likelihood (ML) algorithm, an approximate ML algorithm, and associated performance bounds for jointly estimating a transmitter's position, orientation, beam width, and transmit power, as well as the environment's path loss exponent, using received signal strength measurements. The methods can be used for either a primary or secondary user. Simulations are used to determine what types of sensor geometries lead to good estimates of each parameter, to evaluate the performance of the estimators, and to determine spectrum availability as a function of spatial coordinates.
Two novel classes of band-reject filters realizing broad upper pass bandwidth

Two novel classes of band-reject filters capable of realizing broad upper pass bandwidth are presented in this paper. The filters comprise band-reject network sections that are each made of a fully coupled pair of asymmetrical stepped-impedance resonators. Several filter prototypes were designed and fabricated for a fundamental stopband centered at 0.5 GHz demonstrating extended upper pass bandwidth.
What Causes Sudden Death in Heart Failure

Patients with heart failure experience a number of changes in the electrical function of the heart that predispose to potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmias. Action potential prolongation, the result of functional downregulation of K currents, and aberrant Ca2+ handling is a recurrent theme. Significant alterations in conduction and activation of a number of initially adaptive but ultimately maladaptive signaling cascades contribute to the generation of a highly arrhythmogenic substrate. We review the changes in active and passive membrane properties, neurohumoral signaling, and genetic determinants that predispose to sudden arrhythmic death in patients with heart failure and highlight the critical unanswered questions that are ripe for future investigation.
Buckled graphene-like materials in ultrashort and strong optical fields

This paper investigates the interaction of buckled Dirac materials (silicene and germanene) with ultrashort and ultrastrong optical pulses. Highly intensive few-cycle pulses strongly modify the electronic and optical properties of these two dimensional materials. Electron dynamics in such a short optical pulse is coherent and can be robustly controlled by altering the propagation direction, as well as the polarization angle of the pulse. The strong nonlinearity of the system for fields applied (~ V/A) causes the violation of the charge (C) and parity (P) symmetries, effectively reducing the system’s symmetry from hexagonal to triangular. Such symmetry violations are related to the electron transfer between the sublattices caused by the normal field component and result in nonreciprocity, optical rectification and the appearance of a cross current.
A modification of the hemagglutination test for rheumatoid arthritis.

Summary1. The hemaggutination test for rheumatoid arthritis is modified by the selective absorption of non-specific factors. The details of this modification are described.2. Of 39 cases with activ...
Enhancement of Ionic Diffusion by Microwave-Field-Induced Ponderomotive Forces at Physical Interfaces

Numerous observations have been reported in the literature of enhanced mass transport and solid-state reaction rates during microwave heating or processing of a variety of ceramic, glass, and polymer materials. Recent research reveals that these phenomena are probably the result of a previously-unknown driving force for ionic mass transport. The driving force--termed a “ponderomotive” (mass-moving) force--results from the application of intense, high-frequency electric fields near physical interfaces (e.g., free surfaces, grain boundaries). Experiments, theory, and numerical simulations all demonstrate that this driving force can influence solid state reaction kinetics by enhancing mass transport rates.
Technique Tip: The Use of Cannulated Drill as a Tamp to Remove Loose Cannulated Screws

Subtalar arthrodesis is considered to be the gold standard surgical solution for end-stage subtalar joint arthrosis. Although subtalar joint fusion rates are high, nonunion has been reported to ran...
Role of Cytochrome P450 Hydroxylase in the Decreased Accumulation of Vitamin E in Muscle from Turkeys Compared to that from Chickens

Turkeys and chickens reared to 5 weeks of age and fed diets with feedstuffs low in endogenous tocopherols were examined. Treatments included feed supplemented with RRR (natural source vitamin E) alpha tocopheryl acetate (AcT, 35 mg/kg feed) and all-racemic (synthetic vitamin E) AcT (10 and 58 mg/kg feed). Alpha tocopherol hydroxylase activity was greater in liver microsomes prepared from turkeys compared to that from chickens (p < 0.01). Alpha and gamma tocopherol metabolites were higher in turkey bile than in chicken when assessing the RRR AcT diet and the all-racemic AcT diet at 58 mg/kg feed (p < 0.01). Turkey cytochrome P450 2C29 was increased relative to its chicken ortholog on the basis of RNA-Seq transcript abundance (p < 0.001) and activity-based protein profiling (p < 0.01) of liver tissue. Alpha tocopherol concentrations in plasma, liver, and muscle from turkey were lower than the respective tissues from chicken (p < 0.05). Lipid oxidation was greater in turkey thigh than in chicken (p < 0.05). These results suggest that elevated tocopherol metabolism by cytochrome P450 hydroxylase(s) in turkeys contributes to the decreased accumulation of alpha tocopherol in turkey tissues compared to that of chickens.
SPE-IC Determination of the seven effective anions in soil

The method for determination of F-,Cl-,NO2-,Br-,SO42-,NO3-,PO43-in soil by the SPE(solid phase extraction)-IC(ion chromatography) was researched on the basis of experiment.The sample was dissolved and ultrasonic extracted for 30 min.After centrifugation,the supernatant obtained was filtrated with the 0.22 μm filter membranes.The sample was purified by passing through the DIONEX OnGuardⅡP and RP solid phase extraction column purification.The separation was performed with 15~50 mmol/L KOH as gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and accomplished with a Dionex Ionpac AS11-HC column.Under this condition,seven kinds of anion detection limit(3 s/k)were 0.20,0.40,0.60,0.80,0.80,1.60,0.10 μg/g,the relative standard deviation(n=7) is 1.3%~4.3%.The recovery was 90.0%~106.0%,the method is simple,rapid and reliable results.
"Time Is a Flat Circle": True Detective and the Specter of Moral Panic in American Pop Culture

This article uses the television series True Detective as a case study to examine an ongoing media cycle in which moral panics are inspired by popular culture and vice versa. In an interview about True Detective, writer Nic Pizzolatto hinted that a murderous cult portrayed in the show was based on media reports of an actual satanic cult. This detail resulted in a wave of sensationalistic online articles that sought to channel True Detective's popularity by speculating on the reality of criminal satanic cults. Not only do fictional media act as a plausibility structure that supports belief in criminal cults, but the reciprocal relationship between fictional stories and actual claims creates a hegemonic discourse in which claims about evil conspiracies and the religious other can be promoted surreptitiously. This arrangement serves to mask the power behind claims of evil conspiracies and raises ethical questions about depicting such conspiracies in fictional media.
Preparation and study of Amoxicillin dispersible-tablet

Objective To investigate the preparation and nature of Amoxicillin dispersed-tablet.Method Orthogonal design was used in the optimization of the effecting factors of the ingredients in the formulation of Amoxicillin dispersed-tablet,and compared with the Amoxicillin capsule and normal tablet in the in-vitro dissolution.Results The experiments of dispersion homogeneity showed that Amoxicillin dispersed-tablet could disintegrate in 30 seconds,and the suspension could pass through the 2# sieve.The in-vitro dissolution test showed that dissolubility of Amoxicillin dispersed-tablet was better than that of the capsule and the normal tablet in the 0.1% hydrochloric acid.Conclusion Amoxicillin dispersible-tablet can rapidly disintegrate with a high dissolution rate.The technique is simple and practical.
Riboflavin requirement of lactating swine.

Twenty-five crossbred gilts and 25 crossbred sows were used in an experiment to estimate the riboflavin requirement of lactating swine. During gestation the females were fed a 12% crude protein, corn-soybean meal diet that was marginal in riboflavin content, i.e., 2.3 mg/kg. After farrowing, litter size was equalized across lactation diets within each parity category. The basal, 14% crude-protein corn-soybean meal lactation diet was supplemented to provide five levels of dietary riboflavin: 1.25, 2.25, 3.25, 4.25 and 5.25 mg/kg. Five gilts and five sows were fed each dietary treatment. Each dam was provided her assigned diet ad libitum during the 24-d lactation; piglets were not provided supplemental feed. The erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGRAC), an indicator of riboflavin status, was measured on blood samples obtained from the dams and their piglets on d 1 and d 24 postpartum. On d 1, the mean EGRAC of gilts was slightly higher than that of sows, while piglet EGRAC was similar regardless of maternal age. On d 24 gilts and their piglets had higher average EGRAC (P less than .01) than did sows and their piglets. Thus, there was a treatment x dam age interaction (P less than .05). Lactation performance criteria gave further evidence of similar treatment x age group interactions. Gilts fed the diet containing 1.25 ppm riboflavin had higher piglet mortality, consumed less feed and lost more weight (P less than .05) for each criterion than did sows fed the same diet. Despite these observations, the broken-line estimates of the riboflavin requirement, based on EGRAC, for gilts and sows were 16.3 and 16.2 mg/d, respectively. The EGRAC values for piglets closely paralleled those of their dams regardless of treatment, suggesting that there is no mechanism to protect the nursing piglets from a maternal dietary deficiency of riboflavin.
Scholarly Communication and the Dilemma of Collective Action: Why Academic Journals Cost Too Much

Why has the rise of the Internet—which drastically reduces the cost of distributing information—coincided with drastic increases in the prices that academic libraries pay for access to scholarly journals? This study argues that libraries are trapped in a collective action dilemma as defined by economist Mancur Olson in The Logic of Collective Action: Public Goods and the Theory of Groups. To truly reduce their costs, librarians would have to build a shared online collection of scholarly resources jointly managed by the academic community as a whole, but individual academic institutions lack the private incentives necessary to invest in a shared collection. Thus, the management of online scholarly journals has been largely outsourced to publishers who have developed monopoly powers that allow them to increase subscription prices faster than the rate of inflation. Many librarians consider the open access movement the best response to increased subscription costs, but the current strategies employed to achieve open access also are undermined by collective action dilemmas. In conclusion, some alternative strategies are proposed.
Euro defence giant born

Europe's biggest defence electronics and telecommunications group was born last month when Alcatel Alsthom and Dassault became strategic partners of the French state-owned defence electronics group Thomson CSE The move – which creates a powerful R&D base worth more than FFr 25bn (about £2.6bn) – is the first step in a reorganization of France's defence electronics industry.
Menu Mandates and Obesity: A Futile Effort

One provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) that has been delayed until 2017 is a federal mandate for standard menu items in restaurants and some other venues to contain nutrition labeling. The motivation for so-called "menu mandates" is a concern about rising obesity levels driven largely by Americans' eating habits. Menu mandates have been implemented at the state and local level within the past decade, allowing for a direct examination of the short-run and long-run effects on outcomes such as body mass index (BMI) and obesity. Drawing on nearly 300,000 respondents from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from 30 large cities between 2003 and 2012, we explore the effects of menu mandates. We find that the impact of such labeling requirements on BMI, obesity, and other health-related outcomes is trivial, and, to the extent it exists, it fades out rapidly. For example, menu mandates would reduce the weight of a 5'10" male adult from 190 pounds to 189.5 pounds. For virtually all groups explored, the long-run impact on body weight is essentially zero. Analysis of subgroups suggests that to the extent that menu mandates affect short-run outcomes, they do so through a "novelty effect" that wears off quickly. Subgroups that were thought likely to experience the largest gains in knowledge from such mandates exhibit no short-run or long-run changes in weight.
Reflection of Elastic Waves by an Array of Interface Cracks

An imperfect diffusion bond between two dissimilar materials may be modeled by an interface with an array of interface cracks. The analytical treatment of the reflection and transmission of elastic waves by an array of interface cracks provides the prerequisite for nondestructive characterization of the diffusion bond by ultrasonic techniques. This paper is to develop approximate solutions for the reflection and transmission coefficients from an array of interface cracks.
A fetal diagnostic center's referral rate for perinatal palliative care.

Background: Fetal specialists support standardizing the practice of offering women palliative care for life limiting fetal diagnoses. However, there is little data available regarding what fetal specialists do in practice. Since 2003, our center has kept a database of all women referred for fetal complications. Methods: Retrospective electronic chart review of pregnant women between 2006 and 2012 using UCSD’s Fetal Care and Genetics Center referral database. Objectives were to de-termine: (I) how many high risk pregnancies referred to the University of California San Diego Medical Center (UCSD) over a 6-year period have potentially life limiting fetal diagnoses; (II) pregnancy outcome; and (III) referral rate to perinatal palliative care. Results: Between July 2006 and July 2012, 1,144 women were referred to UCSD’s Fetal Care and Genetics Center, a tertiary care center. Of that cohort, 332 women (29%) were diagnosed prenatally with a potentially life limiting fetal diagnosis. Most women were Hispanic or Latino, married, and had previous children. The median gestation at confirmed diagnosis was 19 weeks. Trisomy 13, Trisomy 18, and anencephaly comprised 21% of cases. The pregnancy outcome was determined in 95% cases: 56% therapeutic abortion, 16% intrauterine fetal demise, and 23% live birth. Only 11% of cases were referred to perinatal palliative care. Conclusions: The vast majority of women with potentially life limiting fetal diagnoses are not referred to perinatal palliative care. Evaluation of how to integrate palliative care into high-risk obstetrics is needed.
Prevalence of pulmonary embolism in patients presenting to the emergency department with syncope

Objectives A recent study reported a high prevalence of pulmonary embolism (PE) among patients admitted with syncope. We sought to determine whether these findings were validated in our patient population. Methods We performed a retrospective, secondary analysis of prospectively gathered data from patients presenting with syncope to an academic emergency department (ED) from July 2010 to December 2015. We analyzed baseline information from the time of the ED visit, recorded outcomes during the hospital stay, and contacted patients by phone at least 30days after the ED visit. The primary study outcome was the diagnosis of acute PE in the ED, during inpatient admission or ED observation unit stay, or by patient report over a 30-day follow-up period. Results Over the 5.5-year study period, 348 patients with syncope agreed to participate in the study. 52% of patients were female [95% confidence interval (CI): 46.6-57.4] and the average age was 48.4years. Of the enrolled patients, 50.1% (CI: 44.8-55.2) underwent further evaluation for syncope beyond the ED stay: 27% (CI: 22.6-31.9) of patients were admitted to an inpatient unit for further work-up and 23.9% (CI: 19.7-28.6) of patients were placed in the ED observation unit. The overall rate of PE among patients presenting to the ED with syncope was 1.4% (CI: 0.6-3.3%). 2 patients (0.6%, CI: 0.2-2.1) were diagnosed with a PE while in the ED. None of the patients were diagnosed with a PE during hospital admission or the observation stay associated with the index ED visit. 3 patients (0.9%, CI: 0.3-2.5) reported they had been diagnosed with a PE during the 30days following their ED visit, two of whom had been admitted to the hospital at the index ED visit but were not diagnosed with a PE at that time. All patients diagnosed with a PE at the time of the ED visit or during the follow-up period were Pulmonary Embolism Rule Out Criteria (PERC) positive and reported shortness of breath in the ED. Conclusion In contrast to a previous study, our findings do not support a high rate of PE among ED patients presenting with syncope.
An Optimization Approach for Adaptive Monitoring in IoT Environments

In Internet of Things (IoT) environments, there are multiple sensors and devices monitoring different metrics and producing massive amounts of data. Monitoring of metrics can be done at different frequencies. Systems and applications that consume monitoring data typically use constrained IT resources, e.g., constrained network facilities, storage, display, processing/computing power, and energy. Given the limited quantity of resources used by these monitoring systems and applications, it is impossible to be able to collect data of all metrics in the application’s context with a very high monitoring frequency. Additionally, changes in the IoT environmental context may affect the choice of metrics that should be monitored and their monitoring frequencies. To address these issues, we propose in this paper a novel approach based on optimization model to optimally determine the metrics that should be monitored and the frequencies at which these metrics are to be monitored. Our approach is an adaptive iterative approach in which the metric frequencies are re-optimized whenever an environmental event or a monitored metric value triggers the need for such re-optimization. We also present a proof-of-concept implementation of our approach that shows the efficiency of adopting it.
Assessing the Impact of Location on Hotel Development: An Analysis of Manhattan Hotels, 1822–2012

This study aims to (1) analyze spatial-temporal variations of hotel development in Manhattan, New York from 1822 to 2012; (2) assess appropriate and explicit measures of agglomeration and competiti...
Dynamic Orderings for AND/OR Branch-and-Bound Search in Graphical Models

AND/OR search spaces have recently been introduced as a unifying paradigm for advanced algorithmic schemes for graphical models. The main virtue of this representation is its sensitivity to the structure of the model, which can translate into exponential time savings for search algorithms. Since the variable selection can have a dramatic impact on search performance when solving optimization tasks, we introduce in this paper a new dynamic AND/OR Branch-and-Bound algorithmic framework which accommodates variable ordering heuristics. The efficiency of the dynamic AND/OR approach is demonstrated empirically in a variety of domains.
Application and evaluation of the HEC-RAS – riparian vegetation simulation module to the Sacramento River

Abstract Life cycles of riparian vegetation are substantially impacted by river flow regime, groundwater and morphodynamics. The polygon-based riparian vegetation simulation module (RVSM) was developed and integrated into HEC-RAS one-dimensional flow model to predict spatially-explicit seed germination, seedling establishment, plant growth and mortality in response to fluvial processes. The HEC-RAS – RVSM system was applied to the Sacramento River reach to evaluate its capability in modeling temporal and spatial changes of riparian vegetation and the interactions between flow and riparian vegetation dynamics. River hydraulics, groundwater level and five vegetation types of the study reach were simulated for the eight-year (1999–2007) period. Model results demonstrate that the HEC-RAS – RVSM system reproduced the coverage increase of cottonwood, riparian shrub, invasive species and grass as well as the coverage decrease in mixed forest over the eight-year. The RVSM was able to capture sites for cottonwood establishment observed on certain point bars. The modeled variations of cottonwood coverage in response to dynamic flow regime facilitated determining and managing environmental flow for riparian vegetation restoration. The height of capillary fringe and root growth rate were two key parameters influencing riparian vegetation distribution.
Resolving the identity of Platylithophycus, an enigmatic fossil from the Niobrara Chalk (Upper Cretaceous, Coniacian–Campanian)

Misidentified fossils are common in paleontology, but Platylithophycus has undergone a particularly problematic series of descriptions. The holotype of P. cretaceus comes from the Upper Cretaceous Niobrara Chalk of Kansas, and was first described as a calcareous green alga, based on the surface texture of the specimen. Later, Platylithophycus was re-identified as a sepiid cephalopod, based partly on a comparison of microstructure between P. cretaceus and the pen of modern squids. Platylithophycus then became part of the University of Nebraska teaching collection, where, according to paleontological legend, an undergraduate student suggested that the fossil's tessellated surface looked a lot like shark cartilage. However, that interpretation has not been formally proposed until now. This work re-describes the holotype of Platylithophycus cretaceus as part of the branchial endoskeleton of an elasmobranch, based on both gross morphology and ultrastructure, including recognizable tessellated cartilage with intertesseral pores and joints.
Surgical Reconstruction and Passive Prostheses

This chapter summarizes the surgical techniques used to reconstruct the diseased middle ear, as well as some of the basic science behind such reconstructions. The techniques include the reconstruction of the tympanic membrane and ossicular chain, as well as surgery to replace the stapes after otosclerotic stapes fixation. The importance of aeration of the middle ear is raised, and recommendations for the amount of air needed for adequate middle ear function are made. Types of passive ossicular replacement prostheses are also discussed.
Working with Dual Diagnoses: A Survey of Teachers Serving Deaf or Hard of Hearing Children Who Have Autism Spectrum Disorder

Although a sizable minority of students who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) are also diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is little research examining teachers' feelings of aptitude for working with these students, nor the instructional strategies used with this population. This study reports results from a researcher-designed survey of teachers working with children who are both DHH and have ASD. Our results suggest that teachers working with this population felt under-resourced, under-prepared, and under-supported in their work with dually diagnosed students. Perhaps as a result, participants tended to use instructional strategies common to their certification area. We identify a need for cross-training teachers across disability areas. In addition, we call for research that tests the applicability of practices in either Deaf Education or ASD Education for dually diagnosed children who may have needs that are unique from children either group.
Abstract TP38: Re-Occlusion During Endovascular Therapy for Acute Stroke Patients With Large Vessel Occlusion

Introduction: Endovascular Therapy (EVT) has demonstrated significant benefits for selected acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with emergent large vessels occlusion (ELVO). Early recanalization is one of ...
Framing Social Inclusion Policies - Draft Background Paper for the World Bank Social Development Department's Flagship Study on Social Inclusion

Social inclusion discourse is nearly ubiquitous, but its meaning remains ambiguous. It refers to different things in different national, cultural, and political contexts. It is the objective of a plethora of policies in a wide range of institutional spheres. This paper seeks to clarify the variable understandings of social inclusion as a policy goal and to develop a broad framework for organizing, classifying, and analyzing social inclusion policies. Rather than an inventory of social inclusion policies and programs per se, the discussion presents broad kinds of policies, tools, and mechanisms that promote social inclusion. After clarifying the meanings of social inclusion, the first part of the paper discusses why it might be considered a worthy, if unattainable goal. There are in fact many values underlying the objective of social inclusion. Because the meaning and worth of social membership is so variable, the very ambiguity of the term may ironically facilitate reaching a reasonable international consensus to pursue it, despite significant cultural and contextual differences. The second part of the paper discusses policies aimed at realizing four notions of social inclusion. Social inclusion furthers the ideals, values, or goals of freedom, equality, democracy, and recognition. There are four corresponding conceptions or end points of social inclusion: capability, distributive justice, participation, and human rights. Different policies emphasize these to a greater or lesser extent. Inclusion as capability is the main objective of social investment, human capital, activation, and mobility policies. Inclusion as equality rests upon redistribution policies like minimum incomes and social assistance. Social inclusion as active participation is promoted procedurally by consultation and active involvement in decision making, such as participatory budgeting, and enabled by desegregation and mainstreaming. Finally, recognition is symbolic and legal. Cultural policies include memorials, apologies, ceremonies, holidays, and the like, as well as recognition of multiple languages, beliefs, and customs. Human rights also recognize people as members of the human community, thus protecting them from violence against their persons and other dehumanizing treatment. The third part of the paper breaks out one type of social inclusion policy that is controversial partly because it furthers some of these four ideals but may be considered contrary to others, namely, affirmative action policies.
Negativer Interbankenzins, Regulierung und Bankverhalten

Im Jahr 2016 wurde der Interbankenzins EURIBOR zum ersten Mal in seiner Geschichte fur samtliche Laufzeiten negativ. Interbankgeschafte spielen eine entscheidende Rolle fur Bankverhalten und auch fur die Wirkung der neuen Regulierungsinstrumente des Regelwerks von Basel III. Kapitel 4 untersucht daher anhand eines Zwei-Perioden-Modells, das auf Pausch (2012) basiert, inwiefern sich das optimale Bankverhalten und auch die Wirkungsweise von Regulierungsinstrumenten durch die Einfuhrung eines Negativzinses auf dem Interbankenmarkt verandert.
The First International Conference on Smart Tourism, Smart Cities, and Enabling Technologies (the Smart Conference)

The First International Conference on Smart Tourism, Smart Cities, and Enabling Technologies (hereafter the Smart Conference) was held at Orlando, Florida, USA, from 1 to 4 May 2019. The Smart Conf...
Inertial impedance of coalescence during collision of liquid drops

The fluid dynamics of the collision and coalescence of liquid drops has intrigued scientists and engineers for more than a century owing to its ubiquitousness in nature, e.g. raindrop coalescence, and industrial applications, e.g. breaking of emulsions in the oil and gas industry. The complexity of the underlying dynamics, which includes occurrence of hydrodynamic singularities, has required study of the problem at different scales – macroscopic, mesoscopic and molecular – using stochastic and deterministic methods. In this work, a multi-scale, deterministic method is adopted to simulate the approach, collision, and eventual coalescence of two drops where the drops as well as the ambient fluid are incompressible, Newtonian fluids. The free boundary problem governing the dynamics consists of the Navier–Stokes system and associated initial and boundary conditions that have been augmented to account for the effects of disjoining pressure as the separation between the drops becomes of the order of a few hundred nanometres. This free boundary problem is solved by a Galerkin finite element-based algorithm. The interplay of inertial, viscous, capillary and van der Waals forces on the coalescence dynamics is investigated. It is shown that, in certain situations, because of inertia two drops that are driven together can first bounce before ultimately coalescing. This bounce delays coalescence and can result in the computed value of the film drainage time departing significantly from that predicted from existing scaling theories.
Acoustic source localization in a highly anisotropic plate with unknown orientation of its axes of symmetry and material properties with numerical verification

Abstract Development of acoustic source localization techniques in anisotropic plates has gained attention in the recent past and still has scope of improvement. Most of such techniques existing in the literature either require known material properties or assume a straight line propagation of wave energy from the acoustic source to a sensor. These limitations have been overcome in recent years by employing wave front shape-based techniques. However, the existing wave front shape-based techniques are applicable in situations where the orientation of the axes of symmetry of the anisotropic plate is known beforehand. In the present study, a modified version of these techniques, namely, elliptical and parametric curve-based techniques, is proposed. This new version is useful when the angle between the axes of symmetry and the reference Cartesian coordinate system is unknown. In the new definition of the objective function, the orientation of the axes of symmetry of the anisotropic plate is treated as an input in the objective function in addition to the other unknowns like the source coordinates and the curve parameters. A numerical study illustrates how the modified new techniques can localize the acoustic source with sufficient accuracy in an anisotropic plate with unknown orientation of the axes of symmetry and its material properties.
A single early-life seizure results in long-term behavioral changes in the adult Fmr1 knockout mouse

Abstract Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading cause of inherited intellectual disability and a significant genetic contributor to Autism spectrum disorder. In addition to autistic-like phenotypes, individuals with FXS are subject to developing numerous comorbidities, one of the most prevalent being seizures. In the present study, we investigated how a single early-life seizure superimposed on a genetic condition impacts the autistic-like behavioral phenotype of the mouse. We induced status epilepticus (SE) on postnatal day (PD) 10 in Fmr1 wild type (WT) and knockout (KO) mice. We then tested the mice in a battery of behavioral tests during adulthood (PD90) to examine the long-term impact of an early-life seizure. Our findings replicated prior work that reported a single instance of SE results in behavioral deficits, including increases in repetitive behavior, enhanced hippocampal-dependent learning, and reduced sociability and prepulse inhibition (p 0.05). Overall, these findings help to elucidate how seizures in a critical period of development can impact long-term behavioral manifestations caused by underlying gene mutations in Fmr1. Utilizing double-hit models, such as superimposing seizures on the Fmr1 mutation, can help to enhance our understanding of comorbidities in disease models.
Does teaching methodology affect medication dosage calculation skills of undergraduate nursing students

One of the most critical functions of a nurse is the safe administration of medications. To ensure patient safety, nurses must be competent in medication dosage calculation (MDC) skills. It is imperative that nursing educators discover the most effective teaching methodology to ensure the greatest level of competency in MDC skills. The purpose of this causal-comparative quantitative study was to compare the effects of two teaching methodologies on senior-level nursing students’ completion of program MDC requirements, mathematics self-efficacy, and MDC competency at program end. The sample consisted of 94 senior-level bachelor’s degree nursing students from a southeastern United States university in the spring of 2015. Each participant completed a demographic questionnaire, Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale (MSES), and MDC competency exam. Participants were assigned to one of two groups based on whether the participants completed MDC education in a stand-alone course or throughout the curriculum through self-learning modules. Chi-square and independent t -test results indicated that there were no statistical differences between the two groups (stand-alone course vs. self-learning modules) and ability to complete program MDC requirements, MSES scores, and MDC competency exam scores at program end. Data analysis using Chi-square and Fisher’s Exact tests indicated a statistically significant, but weak, correlation between MSES scores and MDC competency exam scores. Findings from this study indicate teaching MDC to nursing students using a stand-alone course versus self-learning modules produces the same results in the students’ ability to complete program MDC requirements, mathematics self-efficacy, and MDC competency at program end.
Stationary Waiting Time in Parallel Queues with Synchronization

Motivated by database locking problems in today’s massive computing systems, we analyze a queueing network with many servers in parallel (files) to which jobs (writing access requests) arrive accor...
Unblocking Progress in Austrian Economics: Response to Skousen

Skousen is to be congratulated for creating an entirely new con- cept in economics, GO. There are not many social scientists of whom such a claim can be made, so this constitutes a gigantic accomplishment on his part. There are other instances of this phenomenon: Menger, Aus- trian Economics; Rothbard, libertarianism; Buchanan and Tullock, Public Choice; Coase and Posner, Law and Economics; Milton Friedman, monetarism, the negative income tax, school vouchers; Wenzel, Private Property Society. Of course, we all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. None of these people invented anything entirely out of the whole cloth. There are always predecessors for all scholars. For example, the School of Salamanca in many ways foreshadowed Austrian economics. But the fact that Skousen can even be mentioned in such august company is an indication of his creativity. Of course, there are many and serious reservations that can be launched at some of these,1 and Skousen is no exception to this rule, as I show in this present response. The present paper is a rejoinder to Skousen (2017) which was, in turn, a critique of Barnett and Block (2016), hence “BnB”. It is organ- ized as follows, and I pattern my response to Skousen accordingly: A. Skousen reiterates his position. B. He takes to task BnB on the following grounds. 1. BnB maintain that GO has taken the profes- sion by “storm”, and these authors err in this assertion; 2. Skousen attributes to BnB the claim that Austrian economists must reject aggregate data and upbraids BnB for this; 3. he reiterates his posi- tion on the “consumer spending” myth; 4. Skousen thinks the BnB critique of the Hayek triangle is misplaced; 5. BnB maintained that Skousenʼs GO amounts to no more than measuring vertical inte- gration; Skousen demurs; 6. BnB charged him with double count- ing; Skousen attempts to rebut this charge. I follow this organization of Skousenʼs interspersed with my commentary. In section III, I reiterate several criticisms of BnBʼs, on which Skousen has failed to comment. I conclude in section IV.
Bypass of complex co-directional replication-transcription collisions by replisome skipping.

Collisions between the replisome and RNA polymerases [RNAP(s)] are the main obstacle to DNA replication. These collisions can occur either head-on or co-directionally with respect to the direction of translocation of both complexes. Whereas head-on collisions require additional factors to be resolved, co-directional collisions are thought to be overcome by the replisome itself using the mRNA transcript as a primer. We show that mRNA takeover is utilized primarily after collisions with single RNAP complexes with short transcripts. Bypass of more complex transcription complexes requires the synthesis of a new primer downstream of the RNAP for the replisome to resume leading-strand synthesis. In both cases, bypass proceeds with displacement of the RNAP. Rep, Mfd, UvrD and RNase H can process the RNAP block and facilitate replisome bypass by promoting the formation of continuous leading strands. Bypass of co-directional RNAP(s) and/or R-loops is determined largely by the length of the obstacle that the replisome needs to traverse: R-loops are about equally as potent obstacles as RNAP arrays if they occupy the same length of the DNA template.
Copper-catalyzed sp3-sp3 cross-coupling of turbo grignards with benzyl halides

Abstract The aromatic ring in benzyl halides and sulfonates imparts unique reactivity at the benzylic carbon atom. Photoredox sp3-sp3 cross-coupling proved ineffective for coupling p-methoxybenzyl chloride (PMBCl), leading to a new strategy for the sp3-sp3 cross-coupling of benzyl halides and sulfonates. This strategy involved LiCl-accelerated synthesis of a Grignard reagent followed by a copper-catalyzed cross-coupling. The conditions worked well for PMBCl due to its exceptional reactivity but other benzyl bromides or sulfonates reacted poorly.
Correlation of Fluorescein Angiography and Histopathology

This report concerns the correlation of biomicroscopic, fluorescein angiographie, and histopathologic findings in four patients who had diseases affecting the retinal pigment epithelium.
Measurement of Singlet Lifetimes by Upper State Fluorescence Excitation

Increasingly sophisticated analysis of chemical and related phenomena in the subnanosecond time-range has imposed increasingly stringent requirements on the accuracy and reproducibility of experimental results obtained through fast laser experiments. Foremost among the problems being studied in this fashion are relaxation processes involving excited singlet states of small and medium-sized aromatic molecules, particularly in liquid environments. Much current attention is being turned towards weakly or effectively non-fluorescent states since their relaxation is dominated by strong, non-radiative interactions. Where the lowest states are fluorescent, there are several ways to time-resolve the transient populations. However, where the fluorescence is weak, two-photon gating techniques including transient absorption and fluorescence excitation spectroscopy have much to offer.
Calculating the Cost Savings From Reducing Military Force Structure: How to Formulate the Cost Problem

World events, such as the Gulf War and the breakup of the Soviet Union and changes in NATO, have led to dramatic changes in the defense environment and in the associated requirements for an adequate defense. These changes have motivated a far reaching reconsideration of U.S. military force structure that will lead to a major restructuring of military forces within the next few years. Proposed changes include: a major reduction in force size (i.e., a reduction in the number of military units, such as infantry battalions, aircraft squadrons, or ships of various types) along with a corresponding reorganization of force-wide support organizations and resource management systems; a realignment of the remaining units on existing bases, closing those bases that are no longer required; a reorganization of units to smaller, more mobile and flexible entities; and a change in the mix of active and reserve units. Plans to reduce the defense budget rely heavily on such changes in force structure.
Polymer encapsulated dopaminergic cell lines as "alternative neural grafts"

Our preliminary findings (Jaeger et al., 1988; Aebischer et al., 1989; Tresco et al., 1989) and the studies in progress show that encapsulated dopaminergic cell lines survive enclosure within a semi-permeable membrane. The encapsulated cells remained viable for extended time periods when maintained in vitro. Moreover, encapsulated PC12 and T28 cells have the potential to survive following their implantation into the forebrain of rats. Cell lines are essentially "immortal" because they continue to divide indefinitely. This property allows perpetual "self-renewal" of a given cell population. However, the capacity of continuous uncontrolled cell division may also lead to tumor formation. This in fact is the case for unencapsulated PC12 cell implants placed into the brain of young Sprague Dawley rats (Jaeger, 1985). Cell line encapsulation has the potential to prevent tumor growth (Jaeger et al., 1988). Survival for 6 months in vitro suggests that encapsulation does not preclude long-term maintenance of an homogeneous cell line like PC12 cells. The presence of mitotic figures in the capsules further supports the likelihood of propagation and self renewal of the encapsulated population. Another significant property of cell lines is that they consist of a single, genetically homogeneous cell type. They do not require specific synaptic interactions for their survival. In the case of PC12 and T28 lines, the cells synthesize and release neurotransmitters. Our data show that PC12 and T28 cells continue to release dopamine spontaneously and to express specific transmitters and enzymes following encapsulation. Thus, cell lines such as these may constitute relatively simple "neural implants" exerting their function via humoral release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Place of Chiropractic Care in the Treatment of Low Back Pain

Indeed, the societal burden of musculoskeletal disorders transcends countries and cultures [17] and has paved the way for cooperative multidisciplinary efforts in the utilization of healthcare resources in search of the best management. To this extent, low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions in western society [80]. In the United States, $25 billion is spent annually on medical care services for back problems and another $50 billion is spent on lost productivity and disability payments [1]. Despite the high prevalence of LBP and the numerous conventional medical treatments used for this condition, few treatments are supported by strong scientific evidence [79]. The limited effectiveness and high costs of conventional medical treatments have contributed to a high level of utilization of complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies both in the United States and around the world [3, 33]. In fact, studies suggest that between 30 and 50% of the adult population in industrialized nations use some form of CAM to prevent or treat a variety of health-related problems [3].
Rational Choice Attitudinalism? A Review of Epstein, Landes and Posner's The Behavior of Federal Judges: A Theoretical and Empirical Study of Rational Choice

This essay reviews Epstein, Landes, and Posner’s The Behavior of Federal Judges: A Theoretical and Empirical Study of Rational Choice. Their book systematically asks how the role of ideology varies across the tiers of the federal judicial hierarchy. A major finding is that the impact of ideology increases from the bottom to the top of the judicial hierarchy. Their typical methodology formulates an ex ante measure of judicial ideology such as the political party of the appointing president, and demonstrates that this measure correlates with later judicial behavior, often voting on case dispositions. Along the way, they investigate a multitude of topics, including some quite under‐explored ones. We argue that ELP’s theory is only weakly connected to their empirical practice, for the latter focuses on the role of ideology in judging while the former says almost nothing about that relationship. In fact, though, their empirical practice does embed a theory of law and ideology, but one quite different from that suggested by the book’s rhetoric. In the penultimate section of the essay, we explore this disconnection between ELP’s theory, practice, and interpretation. Its origin (we argue) lies in an extremely thin conceptualization of law. We conclude with the issue posed in ELP’s final chapter, “The Way Forward,” but suggest a rather different path.
Pharmacological Antagonism of Ethanol by dl-α-Tocopherol

There is an evergrowing data base which links ETOH with perturbations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), lipids, prostaglandins, and serum α-tocopherol levels (cf. Gordis, Tabakoff, Linnoila, & Stimmell, 1989). However, there is a paucity of information regarding the reverse relationship. Our laboratories have collaborated on an investigation of ETOH’s deleterious effects on a composite of physiological and behavioral indices in intact conscious animals. As an experimental precursor of future protocol designs, we investigated the interaction between dl-α-tocopherol (VIT E) preloads and blood ETOH (alcohol) concentrations (BACs) in rats. VIT E has been linked to the conjugation of arachidonic acid with PUFAs, and the production of prostaglandins within lipid cell membranes in vivo. Using an isothermal gas chromatograph head-space sampling procedure to quantify BACs, we measured blood ETOH from different groups of rats treated chronically (3–5 days) with either VIT E or soybean oil (control), during inhalation chamber, intragastric, and intraperitoneal ETOH administration. Significant reductions in group BACs (p<.01) were found in all VIT E treated groups when compared to control cohorts. Behavioral indices of intoxication were used to assess ETOH levels. ETOH’s effects on locomotor activity, drug discriminative performance, and response rates (FR10) were antagonized by prior treatment of VIT E.