cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aproximate Method for Estimating the Strength of Cohesive Materials from Penetrator Decelerations

Using the approximate relationship between shear strength, S, and penetrator deceleration, D, S \sim KD the shear strength of cohesive soils may be closely estimated (an explicit form of K is given in the paper). The calculated values of S lie between the peak undisturbed and the remolded values, and closely approximate the values obtained in conventional boring/sampling/ testing procedures. For gassy soils at depth offshore, penetrator-calculated values of shear strength may be more representative of in-situ strengths than conventionally measured strengths. The use of penetrators to augment offshore geophysical surveys greatly increases the value of those surveys.
Physiological release of striatal acetylcholine in vivo: modulation by D1 and D2 dopamine receptor subtypes.

Our experiments assessed the modulation of striatal acetylcholine (ACh) output by dopamine (DA) receptor subtypes under physiological conditions using in vivo microdialysis in awake rats. The degree to which the dopaminergic modulation of striatal cholinergic neurons might vary as a function of local extracellular ACh level also was examined by application of varying concentrations of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE), inhibitor neostigmine (NEO) in the microdialysis perfusate. Under physiological conditions (O NEO), the amount of ACh in the dialysates was 25.1 +/- 2.2 fmol/20-microliters sample (n = 20) whereas values of 67.9 +/- 3.5 (n = 35) and 527.7 +/- 56.1 (n = 13) fmol/20-microliters sample were obtained when the applied NEO concentration was 10 and 100 nM, respectively. In the absence of NEO, a low dose of the indirect DA agonist amphetamine (AMPH; 2 mg/kg i.p.) failed to affect striatal ACh output; a higher AMPH dose (10 mg/kg i.p.) significantly decreased the amount of ACh in dialysates. Under physiological conditions, the direct D2-selective agonist quinpirole (3 mg/kg i.p.) decreased extracellular ACh in striatum to nondetectable levels and the direct D1-selective agonist SKF-38393 (10 mg/kg i.p.) produced a significant increase in this measure. Analysis of the changes in striatal ACh output produced by administration of these DA compounds in the absence vs. presence of local NEO revealed that 10 nM NEO did not qualitatively alter the pharmacological responsivity of this system as compared to the physiological condition. However, in the presence of 100 nM NEO, 2 mg/kg AMPH elicited a significant increase in striatal ACh output. At the 100 nM NEO concentration it also was observed that the amplitude of the quinpirole-induced inhibition of ACh efflux did not increase further in proportion to basal ACh levels whereas the amplitude of the increase in ACh output produced by SKF-38393 was linearly related to basal ACh levels across all NEO concentrations. Under conditions where cholinergic pharmacological responsivity was minimally affected (10 nM NEO), the D2 receptor antagonist haloperidol (1 mg/kg i.p.) increased striatal ACh output by 50% and the D1 receptor antagonist SCH-23390 (0.5 mg/kg i.p.) decreased this variable by 41%. Under these conditions, the inhibitory action of quinpirole on ACh output could be reversed by subsequent administration of AMPH (5 mg/kg i.p.) and this effect of AMPH could then be blocked by administration of SCH-23390. Thus, under physiological or low NEO (10 nM) conditions a prevalent D2-mediated inhibition as well as an opposing D1-mediated excitation of striatal ACh output can be demonstrated. At a higher NEO concentration (100 nM), regulation of the striatal ACh system by DA receptor subtypes is differentially affected such that the D2-mediated inhibitory influence no longer predominates over the D1-mediated excitatory drive. Caution should be exercised when interpreting ACh efflux data obtained using microdialysis under conditions of AChE inhibition.
An Efficient All-Digital Phase-Locked Loop with Input Fault Detection

An all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) having a fault detection of the input reference signal was modeled in Verilog hardware descriptive language (HDL) and is presented in this paper. The design can track an input signal with frequency ranging from 61kHz to 43MHz in a maximum locked-in time of five reference cycles. In the case of loss of input reference, it can continue to generate an output signal with the previously stored parameters and report the anomaly as status. The functional and timing requirements of the design were verified using Synopsys electronic design automation (EDA) tools. The ADPLL can be utilized as an intellectual property (IP) core to reduce the development time of an application-specified integrated circuit (ASIC) product. The input fault monitoring capability can provide operational feedback that improves the overall system reliability.
The Pathophysiology of Pleural Effusions

Two features of human parietal pleura explain its role in the formation and removal of pleural liquid and protein in the normal state: the proximity of the microvessels to the pleural surface and the presence of stomata situated between mesothelial cells. For pleural fluid to accumulate in disease, there must be increased production from increased hydrostatic pressure, decreased oncotic or pleural pressure, increased microvascular permeability, or peritoneal-pleural movement. The rate of formation must overwhelm lymphatic clearance, which may be decreased by hydrostatic forces or blocked by malignant infiltration.
Circulating xanthine oxidase mediates lung neutrophil sequestration after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion

Injury to nonpulmonary organ systems often initiates systemic processes that cause recruitment of neutrophils to the lung. We found that rats subjected to intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) had increased transvascular leak of 125I-labeled albumin into lungs and decreased lung ATP levels (P less than 0.05). In addition, rats subjected to intestinal I/R had increased plasma xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, plasma leukotactic activity for neutrophils, and lung neutrophil retention (assessed by morphometry and myeloperoxidase activity) compared with sham-treated rats (P less than 0.05). By comparison, after intestinal I/R, rats fed an allopurinol- or tungsten-enriched diet had decreased plasma and intestinal XO activities, decreased plasma leukotacic and lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities, decreased lung leak, and increased lung ATP levels compared with rats fed control diets (P less than 0.05). Further studies suggested a more specific role for circulating rather than tissue XO in mediating lung neutrophil accumulation but not lung leak. Plasma XO, plasma leukotactic, and lung MPO activities, but not lung leak, increased in rats administered purified XO intravenously. In addition, plasma XO, plasma leukotactic, and lung MPO activities, but not lung leak, decreased in rats administered antisera against XO and then subjected to intestinal I/R. We conclude that circulating XO increases acutely and may contribute to pulmonary retention of neutrophils after an ischemic intestinal insult.
Service and Construction Vessels

Marine vessels used to support oil and gas exploration and development are classified into three categories: offshore supply vessels; production, maintenance, and construction support vessels; and construction vessels. Offshore supply vessels include crewboats, platform supply vessels, and anchor-handling towing supply vessels. Construction vessels include liftboats, derrick barges, and pipelay barges. Production maintenance and construction support vessels provide well intervention and light construction capability. We begin with a general description of vessel specifications, describe vessel construction and operating costs in general terms, and highlight the primary characteristics of each vessel class.
Functionalization of multilayer carbon shell-encapsulated gold nanoparticles for surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensing and DNA immobilization

In this paper, we reported the surface modification of multilayer carbon shell-encapsulated gold nanoparticles (Carbon Nanoparticles, or CNPs) via an oxygen plasma treatment approach and their subsequent functionalization with extraneous gold (Au) nanoparticles for Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) sensing and DNA immobilization. The oxygen plasma treatment process led to purification of the multilayer carbon shell, reduction of the shell thickness, and derivatization of carbon shell with functional carboxylic groups. This further opens potential opportunities for surface functionalization of CNPs with extraneous Au nanoparticles or λ-DNA fragments, which were both achieved through a well-defined carbodiimide based covalent linking chemistry without removing the CNPs from the substrate. The resulting CNP–Au nanoparticle hybrids as well as the CNP-DNA architectures were characterized using various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The CNP–Au nanoparticle hybrids were further used as highly-sensitive SERS substrate for the detection of trace amount water-containing organic molecule. Meanwhile, they were also fundamentally simulated for their plasmonic behavior using discrete dipole approximation (DDA) method to understand the basic Raman enhancement principle. On the other hand, highly-ordered assembly of CNP-DNA architectures were also demonstrated in detail for their great potential in future DNA detection/recognition and bio-device applications.
A Survey of Switch-Reference in North America

This paper introduces a new survey of switch-reference in the languages of North America. The survey’s purposes are to provide a broad basis for future analysis of switch-reference (SR), spur further research on the languages included, and help revitalization efforts with a better understanding of what SR looks like and how it works.The survey catalogs 33 facts about SR morphology, semantics, and syntax, organized around central questions in SR research. The paper discusses the major findings based on the survey, some of which have major implications for theories of switch-reference: SR is found in nearly 70 American language varieties, mostly in the western United States and Mexico, often spreading by areal diffusion. Cross-linguistically, SR usually indicates subject co-reference across clauses. It is associated with every type of clause juncture except disjunction and is found throughout the verbal morphology. Morphological homophony with case is not due to a common semantic core.
Increased Pituitary Sensitivity to Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone at Puberty: An Event of Proestrus

AbstractGroups of rats were studied between the ages of 36 and 43 days. Phenobarbital was injected at noon in order to remove the source of endogenous LH-RH. Beginning at 1400 hr, blood samples were obtained at 1/2-hr intervals during the 3-hr period when LH-RH was infused at 50 ng/hr through a double-lumen jugular cannula implanted 1-4 days earlier. Vaginal opening occurred at proestrus or estrus on Days 41-43. The peak level of circulating LH following LH-RH was significantly greater at age 42 than at 36, 38, 40, or 43, Responses at other ages were not statistically different from one another. However, five of the seven animals studied at 42 days were in proestrus, and the peak LH response was most significantly correlated with the stage of the estrous cycle: that observed at proestrus was significantly greater than those of diestrous, estrous, or anestrous (prepubertal) animals. These results fail to suggest an essential role of altered pituitary responsiveness in the onset of puberty. Rather, in agree...
Hydrogen catalyzed adsorption of alkenes on the diamond (001) surface

We present first-principles density-functional calculations for the $[2+2]$ cycloaddition reaction of ethylene on the (001) surface of diamond. For comparison we also study the same reaction of ethylene on the Si(001) surface as well as that of two ethylene molecules. Similar to the latter case, a concerted reaction on top of the C dimer is symmetry forbidden due to the symmetric dimer configuration of C(001). However, in both cases the symmetry-forbidden reaction can be avoided by allowing a rotation of the $\mathrm{C}---\mathrm{C}$ bond of ethylene. This asymmetric reaction path yields an energy barrier of 2.29 and 0.90 eV for the cases of two ethylene molecules and ${\mathrm{C}}_{2}{\mathrm{H}}_{4}/\mathrm{C}(001),$ respectively. In contrast, the reaction of ethylene on Si(001) takes place via an intermediate state, caused by the asymmetric Si dimer structure. The reaction energy barrier of ${\mathrm{C}}_{2}{\mathrm{H}}_{4}$ on C(001) is too high to attain direct adsorption. Here we propose that the $[2+2]$ reaction path is catalyzed by a few hydrogen impurities.
Cerebral neurons underlying prey capture movements in the pteropod mollusc, Clione limacina. II. Afterdischarges.

The pteropod mollusc Clione limacina is a highly specialized carnivore which feeds on shelled pteropods and uses, for their capture, three pairs of oral appendages, called buccal cones. Contact with the prey induces rapid eversion of buccal cones, which then become tentacle-like and grasp the shell of the prey. In the previous paper, a large group of electrically coupled, normally silent cells (A motoneurons) has been described in the cerebral ganglia of Clione. Activation of A neurons induces opening of oral skin folds and extrusion of the buccal cones. The present study continues the analysis of the electrical properties of A motoneurons.
The middle ear of the skull of the Kiwi

The middle ear region, base of the skull and the quadrate are described for the kiwis, Apteryx australis and A. oweni. Kiwis share with flamingos (Phoenicopteridae) and storks (Ciconiidae) a vertical bar of bone which divides the middle ear region into fore and aft compartments. Kiwis share the presence of a large anterior tympanic recess with the Ciconiiformes and a number of Pelicaniformes including pelicans and frigate birds. Apteryx has pneumatic foramina at the anterior portion of the anterior tympanic recess; these are lacking in Pelicaniformes, Ciconiiformes and Ostriches. Kiwis and Ostriches share several characters including the site where the stapedial artery distributes from the carotid, and the presence of a jugular vein - carotid artery complex in the upper region of the neck. These two forms differ in the location of the stapedial artery as it travels through the middle ear and the position of the entrance to the upper tympanic recess with respect to the quadrate - squamosal articulation.
Flame dynamics in oscillating flows under autoignitive conditions

Abstract The structure and dynamics of laminar nonpremixed dimethyl ether (DME)/air coflow flames were investigated at elevated temperatures and pressures. Computations with detailed chemistry were performed for DME and heated coflow air at 30 atm with uniform but sinusoidally oscillating inlet velocities. These unsteady cases were compared with the steady results from Deng et al. (2015)[14] to elucidate the effect of oscillation frequency on the flame dynamics. To benchmark the unsteady cases, a normalized displacement velocity was defined to differentiate flame propagation from autoignition, and this definition was validated against the steady cases. In the oscillating reacting flow, transition between a multibrachial autoignition front and a tribrachial flame occurs periodically. However, unlike the harmonic velocity oscillation, the combustion mode transition is hysteretic. The oscillation cycle starts with the largest inlet velocity, with the multibrachial thermal structure, located downstream, being governed by autoignition chemistry. As flow velocity decreases, the autoignition front moves upstream and transitions to a tribrachial flame near the lower velocity limit, similar to the steady flow, as autoignition chemistry becomes weaker with decreasing upstream residence time. As the flow velocity increases again, the tribrachial flame is convected downstream, and, ultimately, due to the radical and heat accumulation in time, autoignition eventually occurs and becomes the dominant pathway. The finite induction time for autoignition results in the hysteretic behavior during the decreasing- and increasing-velocity cycles, which diminishes at lower oscillation frequency as there is more time for chemistry to respond to the hydrodynamic changes and consequently approach steady state. At the relatively low oscillation frequencies investigated in the current study, first-stage NTC chemistry is less affected by flow dynamics with only second-stage autoignition and flame chemistry, which accounts for the majority heat release, coupled with the flow oscillation.
Indications and Techniques for Double-Row Fixation

The treatment of rotator cuff tears is of increasing importance because of the aging of our population (Tempelhof et al., J Shoulder Elbow Surg 8(4):296–9, 1999; Sher et al., J Bone Joint Surg Am 77(1):10–5, 1995). Advances in technique and technology have allowed for the adoption of arthroscopic repair with good to excellent results reported in 85 % of patients (Baker and Liu, Am J Sports Med 23(1):99–104, 1995; Blevins et al., Am J Sports Med 24(3):263–7, 1996; Paulos and Kody, Am J Sports Med 22(1):19–25, 1994; Posada et al., Arthroscopy 16(2):137–41, 2000; Tauro, Arthroscopy 14(1):45–51, 1998). It has been hypothesized that outcomes could be further improved by better restoration of the rotator cuff footprint, increased mechanical strength, and contact pressure as well as decreased gap formation after applied stress across the repair. As such, double-row fixation has been introduced as a technique to achieve these goals through the incorporation of a medial and lateral row of suture anchors in the repair configuration. Biomechanical studies have confirmed improved load to failure, contact areas and pressures, and decreased gap formation at the healing enthesis; however, clinical studies have not yet shown clear superiority over single-row repair. Current studies have not adequately delineated preoperative tear size and chronicity of tear with enough scientific rigor to establish clear indications and contraindications to double-row rotator cuff repair. At present, it is reasonable to consider tear size, chronicity, and patient age when assessing the merit of a single- or double-row repair.
Flow-Induced Trading Pressure and Corporate Investment

The impact of liquidity-motivated institutional trading on firms’ real decisions is not confined to periods of financial crises. Firms subject to mutual fund flow-driven selling pressure reduce share issuance and investment, whereas firms experiencing buying pressure do not increase investment, although they issue more equity. Firms under extreme selling pressure cut quarterly investment by 0.075 percentage points of total assets, which is 4.3% of the average quarterly investment in our sample. We also find evidence that the effect is not attributed to managerial learning or catering incentives. Rather, flow-driven trading affects investment mainly through its impact on the financing cost.
Transfemoral extraction of an intracardiac bullet embolus

Missiles may reach the heart via direct penetration of the thoracic cavity or indirectly by means of the venous circulation. Often the hemodynamic stability of the patient dictates the approach that is used not only to retrieve the projectile but also to repair associated life-threatening injuries. The case of a 40-year-old man with an intracardiac missile after a gunshot wound to the right gluteal area is presented along with the transfemoral technique used to recover an intracardiac projectile. This approach may be used instead of thoracotomy for missile extraction in stable patients.
Mechanistic insights into selective autophagy pathways: lessons from yeast

Autophagy has burgeoned rapidly as a field of study because of its evolutionary conservation, the diversity of intracellular cargoes degraded and recycled by this machinery, the mechanisms involved, as well as its physiological relevance to human health and disease. This self-eating process was initially viewed as a non-selective mechanism used by eukaryotic cells to degrade and recycle macromolecules in response to stress; we now know that various cellular constituents, as well as pathogens, can also undergo selective autophagy. In contrast to non-selective autophagy, selective autophagy pathways rely on a plethora of selective autophagy receptors (SARs) that recognize and direct intracellular protein aggregates, organelles and pathogens for specific degradation. Although SARs themselves are not highly conserved, their modes of action and the signalling cascades that activate and regulate them are. Recent yeast studies have provided novel mechanistic insights into selective autophagy pathways, revealing principles of how various cargoes can be marked and targeted for selective degradation.
Arab Responses to Western Hegemony: Experimental Evidence from Egypt

Scholars have long held that Islamism—defined as a political ideology that demands the application of Islamic holy law and the deepening of religious identity—is in part a response to Western domin...
The Structure and Mechanisms of Hailstorms

The increasing availability of new observational techniques over the last decade has led to a great deal of descriptive material on the structure of hailstorms, much of it fragmentary. In this article we review the current state of knowledge concerning the dynamical and microphysical structure of hailstorms and we attempt to fit it into a coherent framework which recognizes the existence of different types of hailstorms. A storm classification system is presented and conceptual models are described which account for the growth of hail in terms of the known characteristics of hailstorms. The models, which lean heavily on circumstantial evidence and physical reasoning, will need to be refined or revised in the light of fresh evidence; nevertheless they are considered to provide a useful basis for focussing on mechanisms of natural hail growth and concepts for suppressing hail.
The diffusion and conduction of lithium in poly(ethylene oxide)-based sulfonate ionomers

Pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy have been utilized to investigate lithium dynamics within poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based lithium sulfonate ionomers of varying ion content. The ion content is set by the fraction of sulfonated phthalates and the molecular weight of the PEO spacer, both of which can be varied independently. The molecular level dynamics of the ionomers are dominated by either Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann or Arrhenius behavior depending on ion content, spacer length, temperature, and degree of ionic aggregation. In these ionomers the main determinants of the self-diffusion of lithium and the observed conductivities are the ion content and ionic states of the lithium ion, which are profoundly affected by the interactions of the lithium ions with the ether oxygens of the polymer. Since many lithium ions move by segmental polymer motion in the ion pair state, their diffusion is significantly larger than that estimated from conductivity using the Nernst-Einstein equation.
CHAPTER 6 – Current Theoretical Bases for Nutrition Intervention and Their Uses

This chapter discusses contemporary theoretical bases for nutrition intervention for disease prevention and management and their applications in practice. The chapter introduces key concepts related to the application of theory in understanding and improving dietary behavior, reviews behavioral issues related to healthful diets, describes several current theoretical models that can be helpful in planning and conducting nutrition intervention, It also highlights important issues and constructs that cut across theories, and provides a summary of current thinking about the determinants of dietary behavior and change processes. Theory and research suggest that the most effective nutrition interventions are those that use multiple strategies and aim to achieve multiple goals of awareness, information transmission, skill development, and supportive environments and policies. The communication of nutrition information, no matter how important it is to good health, is secondary to attracting and retaining the interest and enthusiasm of the audience. Theories and models can be, and are useful because they enrich, inform, and complement the practical technologies of health promotion and education.
Factors influencing direct clinical costs of outpatient arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery.

Background Very limited information exists about factors affecting direct clinical costs of rotator cuff repair surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the direct cost of outpatient arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery using a unique value-driven outcomes tool and to identify patient- and treatment-related variables affecting cost. Methods Cost data were derived for arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs performed by 3 surgeons from March 2014 to June 2015 using the value-driven outcomes tool. Costs included overall total direct cost, which included facility utilization costs, medication costs, supply costs, and other ancillary costs. Univariate and multivariate regressions were performed to determine the effect of various patient-related and surgical-related factors on costs. Results There were 170 arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs performed during the study period. Multivariate analysis showed significant correlations between higher total direct cost and the presence of a subscapularis repair being performed (P = .015) and total number of anchors used (P Conclusions From a direct cost perspective, implementation of strategies to reduce overall costs should focus on reducing overall anchor quantity or price.
Robust adaptive event-triggered consensus control for multiagent systems in presence of uncertain system dynamics

The model-based event-triggered strategies have been developed as an alternate for Zero-Order-Hold (ZOH)- based event triggered scheme in continuous-time for multi-agent systems (MAS). However, traditional event-triggered schemes need the knowledge of system dynamics whereas model-based schemes are sensitive to model uncertainties. Therefore, in this paper, a novel distributed robust event-triggered consensus control schemes are proposed for MAS with uncertain system dynamics. In the proposed approach, the system is considered completely unknown and the MAS model or state estimator is updated online. The update law for tuning the unknown parameters of the MAS model, and distributed event triggering condition are derived. Lyapunov theory is used to demonstrate that all the closed-loop signals and estimated MAS model parameters are asymptotically stable and consensus. Simulation results are included to show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Design and analysis of a novel variable stiffness actuator based on parallel-assembled-folded serial leaf springs

Variable stiffness actuator (VSA) can significantly improve the dynamic performance of robots and ensure safety in human robot interaction. In this paper, a novel structure-controlled VSA which ach...
Reductions in Complexity of Mitochondrial Genomes in Lichen-Forming Fungi Shed Light on Genome Architecture of Obligate Symbioses

Symbioses among co-evolving taxa are often marked by genome reductions such as a loss of protein-coding genes in at least one of the partners as a means of reducing redundancy or intergenomic conflict. To explore this phenomenon in an iconic yet under-studied group of obligate symbiotic organisms, mitochondrial genomes of 22 newly sequenced and annotated species of lichenized fungi were compared to 167 mitochondrial genomes of nonlichenized fungi. Our results demonstrate the first broad-scale loss of atp9 from mitochondria of lichenized fungi. Despite key functions in mitochondrial energy production, we show that atp9 has been independently lost in three different lineages spanning 10 of the 22 studied species. A search for predicted, functional copies of atp9 among genomes of other symbionts involved in each lichen revealed the full-length, presumably functional copies of atp9 in either the photosynthetic algal partner or in other symbiotic fungi in all 10 instances. Together, these data yield evidence of an obligate symbiotic relationship in which core genomic processes have been streamlined, likely due to co-evolution.
Using Lesson Study to Develop an Appreciation of and Competence in Task Design

This chapter focuses on how lesson study can be used to assist teachers in the design of meaningful mathematical tasks for their students. It describes strategies in designing the lesson study process of “outline, teach, analyze, critically design” that support teachers’ development of task design. The chapter explains how specifically using critical design after observing the original lesson and having teachers’ focus on making student thinking visible can impact teachers approach to designing tasks. Participating in lesson study enables mathematics teachers to return to their original service ethic, and provides them with structures to focus on their students and students’ thinking. Examples of specific tasks that were developed using this method are discussed, and how the method and prompts enabled teachers to challenge their students to think on their own, rather than simply following their teacher’s thinking. The chapter is based on data collected from lesson study work with hundreds of teachers over a 6-year period. Lesson study, a form of teacher professional development that is widely used in Japan, has been cited as a crucial element in the improvement of mathematics and science education in that country (Stigler & Hiebert, 1999). In recent years, lesson study has become increasingly popular in the United States with the hope that it can drastically improve the US educational system (Fernandez, 2002; Wang-Iverson & Yoshida, 2005). During the lesson study process teachers work in groups to develop a lesson plan that one of the teachers will teach and have others observe. After the teaching and observations, the group meets and analyzes the lesson’s success in reaching its goals, and then makes revisions accordingly. Thus, a central element of lesson study is task design. The lesson study process can enable teachers to share and learn from each other ways to modify curriculum to engage students in meaningful mathematics. Lesson study by its very nature has teachers actively making decisions about the curriculum and redesigning it. In the process, teachers first develop and adapt
Structural Alloys for High Field Superconducting Magnets

Research toward structural alloys for use in high field superconducting magnets is international in scope, and has three principal objectives: the selection or development of suitable structural alloys for the magnet support structure, the identification of mechanical phenomena and failure modes that may influence service behavior, and the design of suitable testing procedures to provide engineering design data. This paper reviews recent progress toward the first two of these objectives. The structural alloy needs depend on the magnet design and superconductor type and differ between magnets that use monolithic and those that employ force-cooled or ICCS conductors. In the former case the central requirement is for high strength, high toughness, weldable alloys that are used in thick sections for the magnet case. In the latter case the need is for high strength, high toughness alloys that are used in thin welded sections for the conductor conduit. There is productive current research on both alloy types. The service behavior of these alloys is influenced by mechanical phenomena that are peculiar to the magnet environment, including cryogenic fatigue, magnetic effects, and cryogenic creep. The design of appropriate mechanical tests is complicated by the need for testing at 4 K and by rate effects associated with adiabatic heating during the tests.
Good to the Last Drop: Interfacial Droplet Chemistry, from Crystals to Biological Membranes

ConspectusThe study of the liquid–liquid interface has a long and storied history yet still holds important implications for science and technology. Although deep examination of this buried interface poses challenges, recent progress in experimental and theoretical methodology has allowed for advanced understanding of the molecular bases of such interfaces. This Account will focus on the behavior of surfaces of aqueous microdroplets immersed in an immiscible phase, exhibiting physicochemical behavior dependent on the presence of interfacial self-assembled structures. Amphiphiles spontaneously form self-assembled nanostructures at the liquid interface, creating a soft liquid surface for the aqueous microdroplet that can modulate its behavior. A prominent characteristic of a micron-sized droplet is its elevated surface area/volume ratio, a feature that presents opportunities for investigating the role of the interface in aspects of droplet chemistry. In two notable examples, a surfactant self-assembly can a...
Apneic Oxygenation During Prolonged Laryngoscopy in Obese Patients: a Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Trial of Nasal Cannula Oxygen Administration

Obese patients have a propensity to desaturate during induction of general anesthesia secondary to their reduced functional residual capacity and increased oxygen consumption. Apneic oxygenation can provide supplemental oxygen to the alveoli, even in the absence of ventilation, during attempts to secure the airway. In this study, we hypothesized that oxygen administration through a nasopharyngeal airway and standard nasal cannula during a simulated prolonged laryngoscopy would significantly prolong the safe apneic duration in obese patients. One hundred thirty-five obese patients undergoing non-emergent surgery requiring general anesthesia were randomized to either the control group or to receive apneic oxygenation with air versus oxygen. All patients underwent a standard intravenous induction. For patients randomized to receive apneic oxygenation, a nasopharyngeal airway and standard nasal cannula were inserted. A simulated prolonged laryngoscopy was performed to determine the duration of the safe apneic period, defined as the beginning of laryngoscopy until the peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) reached 95%. The oxygen group had a median safe apneic duration that was 103 s longer than the control group. The lowest mean SpO2 value during the induction period was 3.8% higher in the oxygen group compared to the control group. Following intubation, patients in the oxygen group had a mean end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) level that was 3.0 mmHg higher than patients in the control group. In obese patients, oxygen insufflation at 15 L/min through a nasopharyngeal airway and standard nasal cannula can significantly increase the safe apneic duration during induction of anesthesia.
Constructing Measures : An Item Response Modeling Approach

Constructing Measures introduces a way to understand the advantages and disadvantages of measurement instruments, how to use such instruments, and how to apply these methods to develop new instruments or adapt old ones. The book is organized around the steps taken while constructing an instrument. It opens with a summary of the constructive steps involved. Each step is then expanded on in the next four chapters. These chapters develop the "building blocks" that make up an instrument--the construct map, the design plan for the items, the outcome space, and the statistical measurement model. The next three chapters focus on quality control. They rely heavily on the calibrated construct map and review how to check if scores are operating consistently and how to evaluate the reliability and validity evidence. The book introduces a variety of item formats, including multiple-choice, open-ended, and performance items; projects; portfolios; Likert and Guttman items; behavioral observations; and interview protocols.Each chapter includes an overview of the key concepts, related resources for further investigation and exercises and activities. Some chapters feature appendices that describe parts of the instrument development process in more detail, numerical manipulations used in the text, and/or data results. A variety of examples from the behavioral and social sciences and education including achievement and performance testing; attitude measures; health measures, and general sociological scales, demonstrate the application of the material. An accompanying downloadable resources feature control files, output, and a data set to allow readers to compute the text's exercises and create new analyses and case archives based on the book's examples so the reader can work through the entire development of an instrument.Constructing Measures is an ideal text or supplement in courses on item, test, or instrument development, measurement, item response theory, or rasch analysis taught in a variety of departments including education and psychology. The book also appeals to those who develop instruments, including industrial/organizational, educational, and school psychologists, health outcomes researchers, program evaluators, and sociological measurers. Knowledge of basic descriptive statistics and elementary regression is recommended.
2824 Laparoscopic Tips and Tricks for Temporary Oophoropexy During Pelvic Surgery

Video Objective To demonstrate minimally invasive surgical techniques that can be employed for temporary suspension of pelvic anatomy, specifically the ovaries, for improved visualization during complex laparoscopic pelvic surgery. Setting Operating room. Interventions Suboptimal visualization of the pelvis during laparoscopic surgery can arise from normal anatomic structures blocking clear line of sight of the laparoscope or due to comorbid conditions that limit trendelenburg each of which can negatively impact surgical efficiency. This instructional video demonstrates techniques of oophoropexy to facilitate better visualization of pelvic anatomy, and aid in retroperitoneal dissection. These techniques can replace the need for additional ports and allow surgical assistants to perform other more active tasks than retracting. Conclusion The techniques demonstrated already exist within the skill set of most laparoscopically trained gynecological surgeons. Employing these simple techniques can increase efficiency, replace need for additional laparoscopic ports, and allow surgical assistants to perform alternative tasks besides anatomical retraction to improve the safety of and operator comfort completing complex pelvic surgery, and well as provide physical space following a dissection to avoid adhesion formation.
A Real-Time Vital-Sign Monitoring in the Physical Domain on a Mixed-Signal Reconfigurable Platform

This work presents a mixed-signal physical-compu-tation-electronics for monitoring three vital signs; namely heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen saturation; from electrocardiography, arterial blood pressure, and photoplethysmography signals in real-time. The computational circuits are implemented on a reconfigurable and programmable signal-processing platform, namely field-programmable analog array (FPAA). The design leverages the core enabling technology of FPAA, namely floating-gate CMOS devices, and an on-chip low-power microcontroller to achieve energy-efficiency while not compromising accuracy. The custom physical-computation-electronics operating in CMOS subthreshold region, performs low-level (i.e., physiologically-relevant feature extraction) and high-level (i.e., detecting arrhythmia) signal processing in an energy-efficient manner. The on-chip microcontroller is used (1) in the programming mode for controlling the charge storage at the analog-memory elements to introduce patient-dependency into the system and (2) in the run mode to quantify the vital signs. The system has been validated against digital computation results from MATLAB using datasets collected from three healthy subjects and datasets from the MIT/BIH open source database. Based on all recordings in the MIT/BIH database, ECG R-peak detection sensitivity is 94.2%. The processor detects arrhythmia in three MIT/BIH recordings with an average sensitivity of 96.2%. The cardiac processor achieves an average percentage mean error bounded by 3.75%, 6.27%, and 7.3% for R-R duration, systolic blood pressure, and oxygen saturation level calculations; respectively. The power consumption of the ECG, blood-pressure and photo-plethysmography processing circuitry are 126 nW, 251 nW and 1.44 μW respectively in a 350 nm process. Overall, the cardiac processor consumes 1.82 μW.
The agrarian question revisited: smallholders and corporate food in Egypt

In the decades prior to the 2011 popular uprising in Egypt, a corporate agri-food system grew through the incorporation into supply chains of peasants and smallholders – rather than through their e...
Excision of Lipoma

This chapter discusses technical aspects of excision of lipoma, including instrumentation and equipment, patient positioning, and surgical steps. The authors also offer pearls and pitfalls.
Extension of the in Vitro Lifespan of Human WI-38 Cells in Culture by Vitamin E

Normal human cells in culture exhibit a finite capacity for cell proliferation. It has been proposed that this may be an expression of aging at the cellular level. We are investigating the possibility that accumulated oxidative damage may be a major cause of cell senescence and death in vitro. WI-38 cells grown in the presence of 10 or 100 µg dl-α-tocopherol (the major natural membrane antioxidant) per ml medium (added without organic solvents) have a lifespan increased from 50 ± 10 to > 100 population doublings. In tocopherol-treated cells at the 97th passage level, about 95% of the cells are capable of synthesizing DNA, which suggests that these cells are capable of many more population doublings. Tocopherol-treated cells do not accumulate fluorescence damage products, and have morphology and karyotype characteristic of young cells. In acute experiments where cells were subjected to environmental stress by visible light and high oxygen toxicity, tocopherol also protected against the increased rate of cell death. These results suggest that vitamin E may slow the occurrence and accumulation of oxidative damage such that the growth potential and survival of human fibroblasts in vitro is enhanced. These findings have broad implications for the use of human cells in somatic cell genetics and transformation studies, cell culture in general, and may be relevant to mechanisms of cell aging.
Understanding the Correlation Between Regime Repressiveness and Health Expenditure: A Quantitative Cross-National Analysis Using Data from 24 Countries

This study investigates the correlation between the repressive nature of a regime and its impact on social spending over time, especially healthcare spending. Freedom House scores are used to measure regime repressiveness, which is a measure of the overall rights and freedoms experienced by a country’s citizens.1 This study systematically categorizes countries into nonrepressive, semirepressive or repressive regimes. Three independent variables were used in this study to measure health expenditure: total health expenditure as a percentage of the GDP (CHE), public health expenditure as a percentage of the total health expenditure (PHE) and out-of-pocket health expenditure as a percentage of the current health expenditure (OHE). Both dependent and independent variables were measured at 2000 and 2015 in order to evaluate changes over time. The findings suggest that the relationship between regime repressiveness and health expenditure is not as linear as previous studies report. In all three variables, the semirepressive regimes are the most mobile and dynamic group of countries in terms of social spending, leading to the conclusion that the relationship between regime repressiveness and health expenditure is not necessarily linear. More research needs to be devoted to exploring the complex nature of semirepressive regimes.
Évaluation de l’efficacité d’un émollient contenant de l’urée chez des adultes souffrant de kératose pilaire légère à modérée

Introduction La keratose pilaire (KP) est une affection cutanee courante mais sous-evaluee, qui provoque des bouchons keratiniques dans l’orifice folliculaire, principalement sur les bras et les jambes, associes a de la secheresse et de la rugosite cutanees. L’objectif principal de l’etude etait d’evaluer l’efficacite d’un produit dermocosmetique (emollient) sur l’amelioration de l’etat cutane des patients presentant une keratose pilaire. Materiel et methodes Les patients âges d’au moins 18 ans presentant une keratose pilaire legere a moderee ont ete inclus. L’emollient a ete applique une fois par jour pendant 2 mois sur un bras ou une jambe (droite ou gauche) selon la randomisation. Le dermatologue a evalue le grade clinique de severite l’etendue (cm2), le nombre de lesions, la secheresse et la rugosite a l’aide d’une echelle visuelle analogique (EVA). L’auto-evaluation du patient a ete enregistree a l’aide du DLQI, (indice de qualite de vie), d’une evaluation globale via une EVA, de l’acceptabilite du produit et d’un questionnaire de cosmeticite. De plus, le C-cube® a ete utilise pour illustrer l’erytheme et la rugosite via des acquisitions 2D/3D. Les evaluations ont ete realisees a l’inclusion et 14, 28 et 56 jours apres le debut du traitement. Resultats Au total, 24 patients presentant une KP de grade leger (62,5 %) et modere (37,5 %) ont ete inclus. L’evaluation par le dermatologue a montre une amelioration du grade de la KP chez 42 % des patients (p = 0,0209), de son etendue chez 29 % (p = 0,0122) et du nombre de lesions chez 49,9 % (p = 0,0001), ainsi qu’une diminution de la secheresse (89,5 %) (p = 0,0001) et de la rugosite cutanees (56,3 %) (p Discussion Cette etude montre l’efficacite d’un emollient contre les symptomes de la KP. A partir de J14, la secheresse et la rugosite ont ete ameliorees. La qualite de vie des patients s’est amelioree, notamment en ce qui concerne leurs symptomes et leurs sentiments. De plus, l’acceptabilite cutanee etait jugee excellente par 100 % des sujets.
Patterns of variation of mutation rates of mitochondrial and nuclear genes of gastropods.

Although mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of many animals tends to mutate at higher rates than nuclear DNA (nuDNA), a recent survey of mutation rates of various animal groups found that the gastropod family Bradybaenidae (suborder Helicina) shows a nearly 40-fold difference in mutation rates of mtDNA ( $$\mu$$ m) and nuDNA ( $$\mu$$ n), while other gastropod taxa exhibit only two to five-fold differences. To determine if Bradybaenidae represents an outlier within Gastropoda, I compared estimated values of $$\mu$$ m/ $$\mu$$ n of additional gastropod groups. In particular, I reconstructed mtDNA and nuDNA gene trees of 121 datasets that include members of various clades contained within the gastropod subclasses Caenogastropoda, Heterobranchia, Patellogastropoda, and Vetigastropoda and then used total branch length estimates of these gene trees to infer $$\mu$$ m/ $$\mu$$ n. Estimated values of $$\mu$$ m/ $$\mu$$ n range from 1.4 to 91.9. Datasets that exhibit relatively large values of $$\mu$$ m/ $$\mu$$ n (i.e., > 20), however, show relatively lower estimates of $$\mu$$ n (and not elevated $$\mu$$ m) in comparison to groups with lower values. These datasets also tend to contain sequences of recently diverged species. In addition, datasets with low levels of phylogenetic breadth (i.e., contain members of single genera or families) exhibit higher values of $$\mu$$ m/ $$\mu$$ n than those with high levels (i.e., those that contain representatives of single superfamilies or higher taxonomic ranks). Gastropods exhibit considerable variation in estimates of $$\mu$$ m/ $$\mu$$ n. Large values of $$\mu$$ m/ $$\mu$$ n that have been calculated for Bradybaenidae and other gastropod taxa may be overestimated due to possible sampling artifacts or processes that depress estimates of total molecular divergence of nuDNA in groups that recently diversified.
The Numbers Game: The NBA v. Motorola, Real-Time Statistics, and the Rise of Online Fantasy Sport

The online availability of sports statistics has helped fuel the massive rise of fantasy sport during the past 25 years. But this possibility was almost stopped in its infancy. By the mid-1990s, as...