cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Numerical Fatigue Damage Model for Life Scatter of MEMS Devices

This paper presents a fatigue damage model to estimate fatigue lives of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices and account for the effects of topological randomness of material microstructure. For this purpose, the damage mechanics modeling approach is incorporated into a new Voronoi finite-element model (VFEM). The VFEM developed for this investigation is able to consider both intergranular crack initiation (debonding) and propagation stages. The model relates the fatigue life to a damage parameter "D" which is a measure of the gradual material degradation under cyclic loading. The fatigue damage model is then used to investigate the effects of microstructure randomness on the fatigue of MEMS. In this paper, three different types of randomness are considered: (1) randomness in the microstructure due to random shapes and sizes of the material grains; (2) the randomness in the material properties considering a normally (Gaussian) distributed elastic modulus; and (3) the randomness in the material properties considering a normally distributed resistance stress, which is the experimentally determined material property controlling the ability of a material to resist the damage accumulation. Thirty-one numerical models of MEMS specimens are considered under cyclic axial and bending loading conditions. It is observed that the stress-life results obtained are in good agreement with the experimental study. The effects of material inhomogeneity and internal voids are numerically investigated.
Labor Inputs and Productivity in American Dairy Agriculture, 1850–1910

Throughout the second half of the nineteenth century and into the early part of the twentieth, American agriculture was expanding and improving under the influence of growing demand, the westward movement, mechanization of farm operations, and scientific farming developments. Under these influences, yields and labor productivity in field crops generally increased. Until recently, however, little has been known about the course of productivity change in specific agricultural activities during the nineteenth century. Dairy production was an important component of the American farm economy, accounting for about 16 percent of U.S. farm output at the beginning of the twentieth century and approximately 14 percent of gross income from farm production in 1910. Changes in dairy yields during the period 1850–1910 have been analyzed previously. The purpose of this article is to estimate labor input time, to measure the change in average labor productivity in U.S. dairy farming, and to examine the economic implications of this change, thus extending the analysis to another component of the dairy production function. The necessary data were estimated with techniques that utilized available fragmentary data in conjunction with information in literary material.
Latex-Agglutination Test for Rubella Antibody: Validity of Positive Results Assessed by Response to Immunization and Comparison with Other Tests

A commercial-latex agglutination (LA) assay ( Rubascan , Hynson , Westcott and Dunning, Baltimore, Md) performed on undiluted serum may be more sensitive than is the standard hemagglutination-inhibition assay for the detection of rubella antibody. To investigate whether a positive result of an LA test on undiluted serum was correlated with rubella immunity, we identified 29 persons whose sera produced negative results when initially tested by LA at a 1:10 dilution; 15 of these sera produced positive results and 14 produced negative results when retested undiluted. The immune status of each person for rubella was determined with a test for IgM rubella antibody on serum samples obtained three to five weeks after rubella immunization. None of the 15 persons whose preimmunization sera produced positive results by LA when tested undiluted developed IgM rubella antibody, as compared with 10 of the 14 persons whose preimmunization sera produced negative results (P less than 0.001). Data from this study support the specificity of a positive result of an LA test performed on undiluted serum, but a 1:5 dilution may be optimal for determination of rubella immune status.
Multilineage mesenchymal differentiation potential of human trabecular bone-derived cells.

Abstract Explant cultures of adult human trabecular bone fragments give rise to osteoblastic cells, that are known to express osteoblast-related genes and mineralize extracellular matrix. These osteoblastic cells have also been shown to undergo adipogenesis in vitro and chondrogenesis in vivo. Here we report the in vitro developmental potential of adult human osteoblastic cells (hOB) derived from explant cultures of collagenase-pretreated trabecular bone fragments. In addition to osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation, these cells are capable of chondrogenic differentiation in vitro in a manner similar to adult human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells. High-density pellet cultures of hOB maintained in chemically defined serum-free medium, supplemented with transforming growth factor-β1, were composed of morphologically distinct, chondrocyte-like cells expressing mRNA transcripts of collagen types II, IX and X, and aggrecan. The cells within the high-density pellet cultures were surrounded by a sulfated proteoglycan-rich extracellular matrix that immunostained for collagen type II and proteoglycan link protein. Osteogenic differentiation of hOB was verified by an increased number of alkaline phosphatase-positive cells, that expressed osteoblast-related transcripts such as alkaline phosphatase, collagen type I, osteopontin and osteocalcin, and formed mineralized matrix in monolayer cultures treated with ascorbate, β-glycerophosphate, and bone morphogenetic protein-2. Adipogenic differentiation of hOB was determined by the appearance of intracellular lipid droplets, and expression of adipocyte-specific genes, such as lipoprotein lipase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2, in monolayer cultures treated with dexamethasone, indomethacin, insulin and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. Taken together, these results show that cells derived from collagenase-treated adult human trabecular bone fragments have the potential to differentiate into multiple mesenchymal lineages in vitro, indicating their developmental plasticity and suggesting their mesenchymal progenitor nature.
Ethical concerns of nursing reviewers: An international survey:

Editors of scientific literature rely heavily on peer reviewers to evaluate the integrity of research conduct and validity of findings in manuscript submissions. The purpose of this study was to describe the ethical concerns of reviewers of nursing journals. This descriptive cross-sectional study was an anonymous online survey. The findings reported here were part of a larger investigation of experiences of reviewers. Fifty-two editors of nursing journals (six outside the USA) agreed to invite their review panels to participate. A 69-item forced-choice and open-ended survey developed by the authors based on the literature was pilot tested with 18 reviewers before being entered into SurveyMonkeyTM. A total of 1675 reviewers responded with useable surveys. Six questions elicited responses about ethical issues, such as conflict of interest, protection of human research participants, plagiarism, duplicate publication, misrepresentation of data and ‘other’. The reviewers indicated whether they had experienced ...
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHMODISCUS REX (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE): EVIDENCE FOR VERTICAL MIGRATION1

Ethmodiscus rex (Rattray) Wiseman and Hendey cells from near surface net tows in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea were examined for chemical composition, internal nutrient pool concentrations, and oxygen evolution characteristics. Elemental ratios indicated nitrogen limitation with C:N:P ratios of 125:9:1 (atoms), and carbon: chlorophyll (chl) ratios of 129:1 (weight). However, internal nitrate pools (1.4–27.1 mM) suggested that cells were not N-limited. Intracellular NO3− accounted for up to 54% (range = 3–54%) of the total N quota in some samples. Photosynthetic parameters were consistent with a high-light-adapted population and suggested an instantaneous maximum chl-specific photosynthetic rate (PBmax) of 4.8–12.4 nmol O2·μg chl−1· h−1. Respiration rates varied ten-fold and were inversely related to PBmax Ethmodiscus chemical composition and buoyancy characteristics are similar to vertically migrating Rhizosolenia mats and the non-motile dinoflagellate Pyrocystis noctiluca Murray (Schuett). The presence of internal NO3− pools in Ethmodiscus suggests that this genus is also vertically migrating to exploit sub-surface nitrogen pools. Such behavior may be widespread in large, non-motile oceanic phytoplankton. Based on ascent rate data, chemical composition, and photosynthetic rates, we estimate that the entire division–migration cycle for Ethmodiscus requires at least 7–12 days.
Prevalence of Traumatic Events and Peritraumatic Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in a Nonclinical Sample of College Students

This study investigated lifetime prevalence of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among 937 college students. Participants rated their lifetime experiences of traumatic events and, in response to their “most stressful” event, completed measures of objective stressor dimensions, PTSD, and peritraumatic reactions. Approximately 67% of respondents reported at least one traumatic event. An estimated 4% of the full sample (12% of traumatized individuals) met PTSD criteria within the past week. After controlling for vulnerability factors and objective characteristics, peritraumatic reactions remained strongly predictive of PTSD symptoms. Results are discussed with respect to immediate reactions to traumatic events as potential precursors of PTSD symptomatology.
An Expression for Effective Buoyancy in Surroundings with Horizontal Density Gradients

Abstract An expression is obtained for effective buoyancy per unit volume in inviscid anelastic flow with surrounding horizontal density variations. Effective buoyancy is defined here as the statically forced part of the locally nonhydrostatic, upward pressure-gradient force because this is the part of the net vertical force that is both absolute (i.e., independent of an arbitrary base state) and dependent solely on variations in the specific weight of the air–hydrometeor mixture. For the case where the domain is the half space z > 0 above flat ground, effective buoyancy β(x) at a given field point x is given by β(x) = ∫∞−∞ ∫∞−∞ ∫∞−∞ [g2HρT(x)]/(4π|x − x|) dx dŷ dẑ, where gρT is the total weight of air and hydrometeors per unit volume, the x ≡ (x, ŷ, ẑ) are source points, 2H is the horizontal Laplacian with respect to x, and 2HρT(x, ŷ, −ẑ) ≡ −2HρT(x, ŷ, ẑ).
Current Meter Performance in the Surf Zone

Statistics of the nearshore velocity field in the wind‐wave frequency band estimated from acoustic Doppler, acoustic travel time, and electromagnetic current meters are similar. Specifically, current meters deployed 25‐ 100 cm above the seafloor in 75‐275-cm water depth in conditions that ranged from small-amplitude unbroken waves to bores in the inner surf zone produced similar estimates of cross-shore velocity spectra, total horizontal and vertical velocity variance, mean currents, mean wave direction, directional spread, and cross-shore velocity skewness and asymmetry. Estimates of seafloor location made with the acoustic Doppler sensors and collocated sonar altimeters differed by less than 5 cm. Deviations from linear theory in the observed relationship between pressure and velocity fluctuations increased with increasing ratio of wave height to water depth. The observed covariance between horizontal and vertical orbital velocities also increased with increasing height to depth ratio, consistent with a vertical flux of cross-shore momentum associated with wave dissipation in the surf zone.
Objective Single-Case Probabilities and the Foundations of Statistics

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses single-case probabilities and the foundations of statistics. The shortcomings of frequency interpretations are summarized, thus providing a basis for judging the advantages of a propensity interpretation. The single-case propensity interpretation is introduced, paying particular attention to the indeterministic nature of propensities. Next it is shown that the relation between propensities and frequencies makes the existence of propensities incompatible with a Humean metaphysics and epistemology. The chapter explains how a single-case propensity interpretation may illuminate typical examples of statistical practice. A single-case propensity interpretation provides an extremely natural understanding of the standard formalism for dealing with series of trials. Indeed, it provides a natural interpretation for the whole mathematical theory of probability and statistics.
Hydrogels for Controlled Drug Release

Hydrogels have been investigated for use in controlled-release drug delivery systems. Hydrogels show superior biocompatibility and permeation of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs depending on the combination of copolymers. Drug diffusion through hydrogels depends on the hydrogel nature, mainly the percentage of cross-linking agents and hydrogel water content. Various devices designed with hydrogels are discussed in this chapter: reservoir systems, drug-dissolved monoliths, drug-dispersed monoliths, monolith devices with barrier layers, and novel delivery systems.
Transforming a Traditional Inquiry-Based Science Unit into a STEM Unit for Elementary Pre-service Teachers: A View from the Trenches

The need to prepare students with twenty-first-century skills through STEM-related teaching is strong, especially at the elementary level. However, most teacher education preparation programs do not focus on STEM education. In an attempt to provide an exemplary model of a STEM unit, we used a rapid prototyping approach to transform an inquiry-based unit on moon phases into one that integrated technology in a meaningful manner to develop technological literacy and scientific concepts for pre-service teachers (PSTs). Using qualitative case study methodology, we describe lessons learned related to the development and implementation of a STEM unit in an undergraduate elementary methods course, focusing on the impact the inquiry model had on PSTs’ perceptions of inquiry-based science instruction and how the integration of technology impacted their learning experience. Using field notes and survey data, we uncovered three overarching themes. First, we found that PSTs held absolutist beliefs and had a need for instruction on inquiry-based learning and teaching. Second, we determined that explicit examples of effective and ineffective technology use are needed to help PSTs develop an understanding of meaningful technology integration. Finally, the rapid prototyping approach resulted in a successful modification of the unit, but caused the usability of our digital instructional materials to suffer. Our findings suggest that while inquiry-based STEM units can be implemented in existing programs, creating and testing these prototypes requires significant effort to meet PSTs’ learning needs, and that iterating designs is essential to successful implementation.
The Reliance Defense: Advisor Conflicts and Taxpayer Knowledge

Steve Johnson explains the conflicts exception to the reliance defense and analyzes whether, in normal Code Sec. 6662 situations, the taxpayer’s actual or constructive knowledge of the advisor’s conflict is an essential part of the conflicts exception.
Promoting early exposure monitoring for respirable crystalline silica: Taking the laboratory to the mine site

ABSTRACTThe exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in the mining industry is a recognized occupational hazard. The assessment and monitoring of the exposure to RCS is limited by two main factors: (1) variability of the silica percent in the mining dust and (2) lengthy off-site laboratory analysis of collected samples. The monitoring of respirable dust via traditional or real-time techniques is not adequate. A solution for on-site quantification of RCS in dust samples is being investigated by the Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, a division of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The use of portable Fourier transform infrared analyzers in conjunction with a direct-on-filter analysis approach is proposed. The progress made so far, the necessary steps in progress, and the application of the monitoring solution to a small data set is presented. When developed, the solution will allow operators to estimate RCS immediately after sampling, resulting in timelier monitoring ...
ST Segment Changes in Right Bundle Branch Block

Scenario: The top ECG strip (lead V1) was a routine ECG strip in a 75-year-old man 2 days after a stent was placed in the left anterior descending coronary artery for acute anterioseptal myocardial infarction. Currently, the patient is intubated and nonresponsive. The bottom ECG strip was obtained at 2 PM when the nurse noted the ST segment in V1 “seemed different.” ECG PUZZLER A regular feature of the American Journal of Critical Care, the ECG Puzzler addresses ECG interpretation for clinical practice. We welcome letters to the Editors regarding this feature.
Gendering the President Male: Executive AuthorityBeyond Rule-of-Law Constitutionalism in the AmericanContext

Law, like other methods of disciplining behavior, has a gender dimension. Consciously or not, male elites in the United States, like those in other nations, continue to protect the male gender borderlands of behavior norms in ways that affirm for those behaviors a privileged role of the standard by which male and female conduct is judged. And there is no more powerful set of behavior norms than law, and especially constitutional law, in the United States. This essay considers the gender hierarchy and behavior presumptions just under the surface of Harvey Mansfield’s recent suggestion that rule of law constitutionalism ought to be limited to the legislative an judicial branches, which are meant to be cooperative and nurturing institutions, but that the President’s Constitutional powers extend beyond the mere execution of the laws, and can include extra-legal acts. “Thus it is wrong to accuse President Bush of acting illegally in the surveillance of possible enemies, as if that were a crime and legality is all that matters.” After a short introduction, Part II starts with a discussion of the relation between gender hierarchy and law. It sets out the parameters within which gender analysis of institutional action and facially genderless arguments can be understood as embracing gender assumptions of three kinds—first a gender hierarchy in which the male is privileged over the female, second a set of assumptions about those behaviors that are inherently female and those inherently male, and third, a behavior legitimating reflex avoiding the legitimacy of males or male institutions assuming female behavior roles. This analysis provides the context for Part III, which analyses Harvey Mansfield’s argument that the assertion of a power in the 1 Visiting Professor of Law, Tulane Law School, New Orleans, LA; Director, Coalition for Peace and Ethics, Washington, D.C.; Professor of Law, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA. An earlier version of this essay was presented as part of a panel entitled “Masculinity, Maleness and the Constitution,” at the 12 Annual LatCrit Conference, October 6, 2007. My thanks to Professor John Kang for organizing the panel, to the participants at the presentation, whose questions and comments were extremely insightful, and to my research assistant, Augusto Molna (Penn State ’09) for his excellent work on this project. 342 FIU Law Review [3:341 president to act extra-legally is legitimate as a robust application of basic principles of American constitutional law.
Some considerations on the current debate about typing resolution in solid organ transplantation

The shortage of suitable organs and achieved tolerance are uncontested main concerns in transplantation. Long waiting lists for deceased donors and limited numbers of living donors are the current scenarios. Kidney grafts from living donors have better overall survival compared to cadaveric and require less aggressive immunosuppressive regimens. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) labs have the key role to test the recipient and donors compatibility based on typing and antibody profile. The current standard molecular procedure in solid organ transplantation is low-resolution typing, at the antigen level. In this commentary, the merits of high versus low degree of typing resolution in solid organ transplantation are discussed. Critical questions and reasons to bring high-resolution typing as a routine test in health system are considered. Specifically, with the introduction of the next-generation sequencing (NGS) in HLA, the pros and cons in living donation and benefits after deceased donation are critically evaluated. NGS has the potential to improve the transplant rates and the overall graft survival. Alternative strategies to increase in demanding the number of transplants are briefly highlighted.
The pharmacology of chloralose. A review.

Apres revue des papiers publies en anglais, francais et allemand sur les chloraloses depuis 1893, les auteurs ont trouve que la recherche a ete concentree sur les monoglucochloraloses alpha et beta (principalement alpha), et a ete limitee en general a l'etude de leur action sur le systeme nerveux central et peripherique. Les resultats sont contradictoires, particulierement en ce qui concerne leur activite pharmacologique. Les explications possibles de ces resultats contradictoires semblent indiquer que le concept couramment accepte des monoglucochloraloses comme des «convulsivants anesthesiques» est une hypothese qui peut preter a confusion. Comme alternative, les auteurs proposent une autre hypothese qui explique la plupart des effets du chloralose alpha sur le systeme nerveux central comme resultant de son action sedative qui interrompt le «negative feedback» du circuit reticulo-cortical-reticulaire. Cette rupture proviendrait tout d'abord de l'effet sedatif du chloralose sur le cortex, supprimant son influence inhibitrice sur le thalamus et la formation reticulee mesencephalique. A ce point, la depression corticale, mise en evidence par de la tranquillite, un ralentissement du processus mental et l'augmentation du seuil convulsif, n'est pas accompagnee d'une depression des zones subcorticales comme en anesthesie barbiturique mais d'une excitation de ces memes zones soit directement soit indirectement par liberation de l'influence inhibitrice du cortex. Donc, en depit de cette depression, il a ete observe de l'hyperexcitabilite motrice, une augmentation des reactions d'association evoquees, un maintien de l'effet accru de la stimulation reticulaire sur les potentiels evoques et une reaction d'eveil a la stimulation sensorielle. De plus, il semble qu'a doses plus elevees, cette specific facilitation ou hyperexcitation a tendance a disparaitre.
Evaluation on implementation and effect of I-PPM model for TB control in the demonstration districts in Shanghai

Objective:To study the construction and implementation of the tuberculosis(TB)I-PPM control model in different demonstration districts in Shanghai and to evaluate the primary TB control effect by this model.Methods:The 7 demonstration districts in Shanghai were selected as the study fields.Qualitative research methods including existing data collecting and questionnaire investigation and quantitative research methods including in-depth interview and group discussion were adopted.Results:Seven districts improved their TB cases finding,treatment compliance and control quality by applying the I-PPM model to the whole process of case-finding,referral and tracing,diagnosis and treatment,chemotherapy management,as well as health education.In 2009,the cure rate of new smearpositive pulmonary TB cases reached 88.3%.The proportion of out-of-pocket payment for TB treatment to family income per year was about 5%.The satisfaction rate in patients surpassed 90% and the satisfaction score in TB control staff was 3.55.Conclusion:TB I-PPM control model contributed to effectively integrate health resources,strengthen the regulatory functions of the CDC,realize decentralization of cases finding in different medical institutions,improve the capability on TB diagnosis and treatment,and bring out the advantage of convenience and accessibility for TB management in CHSs.However,more effective mechanisms were needed to improve human resource sustainability and controlling medical fees in TB treatment,which would be expected to advance the effect of the I-PPM model.
In-Symbol Correlation Spectrum Sensing Method for OFDM Systems in Cognitive Radio

Based on characteristic of periodic sequence,a novel spectrum sensing method that takes the correlation calculation was proposed in OFDM systems.Firstly,divided the received sequence into two part,and took average calculation respective to reduce the noise variance in an OFDM symbol,then used the two sub-sequences to take the correlation calculation,the influence brought by time-vary channel could be reduced.And the expectation and variance of correlation value were analyzed,verifying the new method was of validity.The experiments showed that the new method outperforms the traditional method in time-vary channel,reduces the number of symbols involved in the calculation,and has the low calculation complexity.
Hygiene status of drinking water in rural areas of Weifang city

Objective To find out the hygiene status of drinking water in rural areas of Weifang city and make a safety engineering plan for drinking water.Methods In April and May of 2010,the safety engineering project in rural areas was investigated for its general situation and water quality was also tested by sampling.Results Drinking water in rural areas mainly came from underground water,which deep ground water occupied 94.17%,engineering water treated completely only occupied 5.00%,no sterilized equipments accounted for 95.00%.Among 240 water samples tested,the total proportion of qualified water were 44.17%.The qualified rate for outgoing water and terminal water was 50.83% and 37.50%;exceeding rates of the total number of colonies,total coliform and nitrates were 19.58%,20.00% and 12.08%.The contents of micro-organisms and nitrates exceeded the norms severely.Conclusion The rate of qualified water in rural area is low with hidden safety trouble.
Theoretical Studies on the Reactions of Free Radicals

Free radicals are important intermediates in organic chemistry. As they are usually only transient species, they are difficult to study by classical experimental methods. Their study presents a useful application for molecular modelling, using molecular orbital theory. In this article we present results on the modelling of homolytic thermolyses of azoalkanes and bimolecular radical reactions: combination and disproportionation.
High‐throughput SNP genotyping of historical and modern samples of five bird species via sequence capture of ultraconserved elements

Sample availability limits population genetics research on many species, especially taxa from regions with high diversity. However, many such species are well represented in museum collections assembled before the molecular era. Development of techniques to recover genetic data from these invaluable specimens will benefit biodiversity science. Using a mixture of freshly preserved and historical tissue samples, and a sequence capture probe set targeting >5000 loci, we produced high-confidence genotype calls on thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in each of five South-East Asian bird species and their close relatives (N = 27-43). On average, 66.2% of the reads mapped to the pseudo-reference genome of each species. Of these mapped reads, an average of 52.7% was identified as PCR or optical duplicates. We achieved deeper effective sequencing for historical samples (122.7×) compared to modern samples (23.5×). The number of nucleotide sites with at least 8× sequencing depth was high, with averages ranging from 0.89 × 10(6) bp (Arachnothera, modern samples) to 1.98 × 10(6) bp (Stachyris, modern samples). Linear regression revealed that the amount of sequence data obtained from each historical sample (represented by per cent of the pseudo-reference genome recovered with ≥8× sequencing depth) was positively and significantly (P ≤ 0.013) related to how recently the sample was collected. We observed characteristic post-mortem damage in the DNA of historical samples. However, we were able to reduce the error rate significantly by truncating ends of reads during read mapping (local alignment) and conducting stringent SNP and genotype filtering.
Embolization for Management of Acute Non-variceal Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

This section provides a comprehensive procedural report for embolization for management of acute non-variceal gastrointestinal hemorrhage procedure with up-to-date explanatory notes, synopsis of the indications and contraindications, and potential complications in an organized and practical format.
Failure characteristics of two porous sandstones subjected to true triaxial stresses: Applied through a novel loading path

We performed an extensive suite of true triaxial experiments in two porous sandstones, Bentheim (porosity ≈ 24%) and Coconino (17%). The experiments were conducted using a novel loading path, which maintains constant Lode angle (Θ) throughout the test. This path enabled the examination of the effects of Lode angle and mean stress on failure (σoct,f). Our tests covered σ3 magnitudes between 0 and 150 MPa and of Θ at −30° (axisymmetric extension), −16°, 0°, +11°, +21°, and +30° (axisymmetric compression). Test results revealed the respective contribution of each of the two stress invariants to failure stress, failure plane angle, and failure mode. In both sandstones, the shear stress required for failure increases with mean stress but decreases with Θ when shear failure mode dominates. However, the dependence of failure stress on mean stress and Θ is reversed when the compactive failure mode is in control. The compactive failure mode was evident in Bentheim sandstone when compaction bands were observed under high mean stress. The Coconino sandstone did not reach the compactive failure regime within the maximum confinement applied. The failure plane angle monotonically decreases with increasing mean stress and Θ. For Coconino sandstone, failure plane angle varies between 80° and 50° for σoct,f between 50 and 450 MPa whereas it drops to 0° as σoct,f, approaches 250 MPa in Bentheim sandstone. We employed the bifurcation theory to relate the stress conditions at failure to the development of failure planes. The theory is in qualitative agreement with the experimental data.
Physiological and proteomic characterization of light adaptations in marine Synechococcus

Summary Marine Synechococcus thrive over a range of light regimes in the ocean. We examined the proteomic, genomic and physiological responses of seven Synechococcus isolates to moderate irradiances (5–80 μE m−2 s−1), and show that Synechococcus spans a continuum of light responses ranging from low light optimized (LLO) to high light optimized (HLO). These light responses are linked to phylogeny and pigmentation. Marine sub-cluster 5.1A isolates with higher phycouribilin: phycoerythrobilin ratios fell toward the LLO end of the continuum, while sub-cluster 5.1B, 5.2 and estuarine Synechococcus with less phycouribilin fell toward the HLO end of the continuum. Global proteomes were highly responsive to light, with > 50% of abundant proteins varying more than twofold between the lowest and highest irradiance. All strains downregulated phycobilisome proteins with increasing irradiance. Regulation of proteins involved in photosynthetic electron transport, carbon fixation, oxidative stress protection (superoxide dismutases) and iron and nitrogen metabolism varied among strains, as did the number of high light inducible protein (Hlip) and DNA photolyase genes in their genomes. All but one LLO strain possessed the photoprotective orange carotenoid protein (OCP). The unique combinations of light responses in each strain gives rise to distinct photophysiological phenotypes that may affect Synechococcus distributions in the ocean.
Mapping functional connectivity of bursting neuronal networks

Using single-cell laser scanning photostimulation (LSPS) combined with broad-field calcium imaging, we measured the functional connectivity of neuronal cultures before and after the developmental appearance of network bursting. From these data, network properties were determined for these relatively large neuronal networks. Based on these properties, we found that although ‘small-world’ network behavior existed throughout this time period, only average node degree and global efficiency correlate with the development of network bursting while clustering and local efficiency remained relatively constant.
CREST - Risk Prediction for Clostridium Difficile Infection Using Multimodal Data Mining

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a common hospital acquired infection with a $1B annual price tag that resulted in \(\sim \)30,000 deaths in 2011. Studies have shown that early detection of CDI significantly improves the prognosis for the individual patient and reduces the overall mortality rates and associated medical costs. In this paper, we present CREST: CDI Risk Estimation, a data-driven framework for early and continuous detection of CDI in hospitalized patients. CREST uses a three-pronged approach for high accuracy risk prediction. First, CREST builds a rich set of highly predictive features from Electronic Health Records. These features include clinical and non-clinical phenotypes, key biomarkers from the patient’s laboratory tests, synopsis features processed from time series vital signs, and medical history mined from clinical notes. Given the inherent multimodality of clinical data, CREST bins these features into three sets: time-invariant, time-variant, and temporal synopsis features. CREST then learns classifiers for each set of features, evaluating their relative effectiveness. Lastly, CREST employs a second-order meta learning process to ensemble these classifiers for optimized estimation of the risk scores. We evaluate the CREST framework using publicly available critical care data collected for over 12 years from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston. Our results demonstrate that CREST predicts the probability of a patient acquiring CDI with an AUC of 0.76 five days prior to diagnosis. This value increases to 0.80 and even 0.82 for prediction two days and one day prior to diagnosis, respectively.
Bernard Lamy, Empiricism, and Cartesianism

Bernard Lamy (1640–1715) is frequently included among the Cartesian Empiricists of the second half of the seventeenth century. He has also been described as an Augustinian who dabbled in Cartesiani...
Evaluation of a Novel Disaster Nursing Education Method.

ObjectiveA common method of disaster training is needed to improve disaster nursing education and facilitate better communication among interprofessional disaster responders. To inform the development of disaster nursing curricula, a novel disaster nursing education method consistent with Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) framework was developed to improve disaster nursing competencies in a baccalaureate nursing program.MethodsIn total, 89 undergraduate nursing students participated. Perceived disaster nursing knowledge, confidence, and training/response were assessed with 14 items before and after the education.ResultsExploratory factor analysis showed 3 factors, knowledge, confidence, and training/response, explained 71% of variation in items. Nursing students showed large improvements in perceived disaster nursing knowledge (t=11.95, P<0.001, Cohen’s d=1.76), moderate increases in perceived confidence (t=4.54, P<0.001, d=0.67), and no change in disaster training and response (t=0.94, P=0.351, d=0.13).ConclusionsResults show preliminary evidence supporting the effectiveness of disaster nursing education informed by HSEEP. This training has the potential to fill current practice gaps in disaster nursing knowledge and build confidence to use those skills in practice. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:703-710)
User-defined local stimulation of live tissue through a movable microfluidic port

Many in vivo tissue responses begin locally, yet most in vitro stimuli are delivered globally. Microfluidics has a unique ability to provide focal stimulation to tissue samples with precise control over fluid location, flow rate, and composition. However, previous devices utilizing fixed ports beneath the tissue required manual alignment of the tissue over the ports, increasing the risk of mechanical damage. Here we present a novel microfluidic device that allows the user to define the location of fluid delivery to a living tissue slice without manipulating the tissue itself. The device utilized a two-component SlipChip design to create a mobile port beneath the tissue slice. A culture chamber perforated by an array of ports housed a tissue slice and was separated by a layer of fluorocarbon oil from a single delivery port, fed by a microfluidic channel in the movable layer below. We derived and validated a physical model, based on interfacial tension and flow resistance, to predict the conditions under which fluid delivery occurred without leakage into the gap between layers. Aqueous solution was delivered reproducibly to samples of tissue and gel, and the width of the delivery region was controlled primarily by convection. Tissue slice viability was not affected by stimulation on the device. As a proof-of-principle, we showed that live slices of lymph node tissue could be sequentially targeted for precise stimulation. In the future this device may serve as a platform to study the effects of fluid flow in tissues and to perform local drug screening.
Minimal Discrete Energy Problems and Numerical Integration on Compact Sets in Euclidean Spaces

The problem of uniformly distributing points on spheres (more generally, on compact sets in R) is an interesting and difficult problem. It is folklore, that such problems were discussed already by Carl Friedrich Gauss in his famous Disqvistiones arithmaticae, although it is most likely that similar problems appeared in mathematical writings even before that time. For d ≥ 1, let S denote the d-dimensional unit sphere in R, given by
Model-based supervisory control in telerobotics

Model-based approaches can be used to confront several of the challenging performance issues in teleoperation. This paper describes a model-based supervisory control technique for telerobotics. A human-machine interface HMI was developed for online, interactive task segmentation and planning utilizing a world model of the telerobotic working environment TRWE. The task model is transferred intermittently over a low bandwidth communication channel for interpretation, planning, and execution of the task segments through the autonomous control capabilities of a telerobot. For the purposes of outlining tasks, a human operator controls a simulation model to generate a “task sequence script” as a sequential list of desired sub-goals for a telerobot. A graphic user interface GUI facilitates the development of the task sequence script with viewing perspectives of the graphic display automatically selected as a function of the operational state and model parameters. Also, because the human operator is specifying discrete model set-points of the TRWE, and allowing the autonomous control capabilities of the telerobot to coordinate the actual trajectory between set-points, a provision is made to preview the proposed trajectory for approval or modification before execution. Preliminary results with a manipulator arm remotely controlled via the Internet demonstrate the utility of the model-based supervisory control technique.
Lymphoma imaging: nuclear medicine.

Careful staging and treatment planning using a multidisciplinary approach is required to determine optimal treatment of patients with Hodgkin’s disease (HD) and aggressive subtypes of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). The advent of more sensitive imaging modalities have increased staging and restaging accuracy and provided more effective means to evaluate response to therapy. In the post-therapy setting, the unnecessary use of aggressive chemotherapy and external beam radiation could lead to development of secondary malignancies and various organ toxicity. Poor prognosis associated with some second malignancies warrants better and less harmful screening strategies (1). Hence, the early identification of high-risk and low-risk patients can effectively select subpopulations that would benefit from more intensive chemotherapy protocols and can avoid unwarranted further therapy.
Hurricane disturbances, tree diversity, and succession in North Carolina Piedmont forests, USA

Windthrow plays a critical role in maintaining species diversity in temperate forests. Do large-scale strong wind events (i.e., tropical cyclones, including hurricanes, typhoons and severe cyclonic storms) increase tree diversity in severely damaged forest areas? Do hurricanes (tropical cyclones that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and northeastern Pacific Ocean) lead to altered relative abundance of shade-tolerant and shade-intolerant species? Did historic hurricanes alter the succession trajectory of the damaged forests? We used nearly 70-year tree demographic data to assess the effects of two major hurricanes on woody species diversity in Piedmont forests, North Carolina, USA. Species richness (S) and Shannon–Wiener’s diversity index (H′) were used to evaluate the changes in tree diversity. The changes in composition were assessed with Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling. The pre-hurricane successional phase can strongly influence both the damage severity and subsequent responses. Although there is often an immediate drop in diversity following a hurricane, understory tree diversity quickly increases to levels that exceed those prior to the disturbance. This leads to an increase in diversity in stands that were substantially damaged. Hurricanes significantly decrease the dominance of shade-intolerant canopy species while increasing pre-established, more shade-tolerant species. We conclude that large, and infrequent hurricanes help to maintain local tree diversity, but also accelerate the increase in dominance of understory species such as red maple and beech.
Impact of National Cancer Institute (NCI)-mandated scientific review on protocol development and content.

6586 Background: The National Cancer Institute (NCI) requirement that all clinical trials involving cancer patients at NCI-designated cancer centers undergo a scientific review in addition to Insti...
The Twilight’s Last Gleaming: Dialogues and Debts in Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom”

ABSTRACTBob Dylan’s song “Chimes of Freedom” marks a creative turning point in the evolution of his art. Dylan displays his debts to influential artists from Woody Guthrie to Allen Ginsberg, and he...
Conclusion: Democratising Singapore’s Developmental State

In this concluding chapter, Dan Slater illuminates a critical point—that in Singapore as in other Asian developmental states, stable authoritarianism is not the same thing as static authoritarianism. Authoritarianism after development has to be especially flexible and adaptable because the challenges development poses for authoritarian stability are effectively irreversible. He argues that Singapore is perfectly poised to follow the example of countries like Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea in pursuing democratic reforms, and that the People’s Action Party (PAP) would surely remain dominant under fully democratic conditions. The alternative for the PAP is to allow their relations with the most productive forces in society to deteriorate further, with troubling long-term implications for both economic development and political order. Superficial authoritarian reforms will not be good enough to return the PAP to its hegemonic glory days. Paradoxically, democratisation is the best way for the party to stay true to its most important founding principles.
Boronate-Based Fluorescent Probes: Imaging Hydrogen Peroxide in Living Systems

Hydrogen peroxide, a reactive oxygen species with unique chemical properties, is produced endogenously in living systems as a destructive oxidant to ward off pathogens or as a finely tuned second messenger in dynamic cellular signaling pathways. In order to understand the complex roles that hydrogen peroxide can play in biological systems, new tools to monitor hydrogen peroxide in its native settings, with high selectivity and sensitivity, are needed. Knowledge of organic synthetic reactivity provides the foundation for the molecular design of selective, functional hydrogen peroxide probes. A palette of fluorescent and luminescent probes that react chemoselectively with hydrogen peroxide has been developed, utilizing a boronate oxidation trigger. These indicators offer a variety of colors and in cellulo characteristics and have been used to examine hydrogen peroxide in a number of experimental setups, including in vitro fluorometry, confocal fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the chemical features of these probes and information on their behavior to help researchers select the optimal probe and application.
Spirituality and mental health: Implications for ethics, medicine, and public health

Summary The past few decades have witnessed major changes at the interface between spirituality and mental health. For example, research into religion and health outcomes has proliferated, spirituality is viewed as a risk or protective factor, and therapeutic approaches such as Twelve Step groups and mindfulness have become mainstream. However, no consensus exists on core competencies for clinicians in this area, and religiously reinforced mental health stigma persists. This paper examines the reasons for progress made to date as a basis for hope, and the implications for the place of spirituality in psychiatric ethics, medicine, and public health.
Enforcing Radiality Constraints for DER-Aided Power Distribution Grid Reconfiguration

Operators can now remotely control switches and update the control settings for voltage regulators and distributed energy resources (DERs), thus unleashing the network reconfiguration opportunities to improve efficiency. Aligned to this direction, this work puts forth a comprehensive toolbox of optimization models leveraging the control capabilities of smart grid assets. We put forth detailed yet practical models to capture the operation of locally and remotely controlled regulators, and customize the watt-var DER control curves complying with the IEEE 1547.8 mandates. Maintaining radiality is a key requirement germane to various feeder optimization tasks. This requirement is accomplished here through an intuitive and provably correct formulation. The developed toolbox is put into action to reconfigure a grid for minimizing losses using real-world data on a benchmark feeder. The results corroborate that optimal topologies vary across the day and coordinating DERs and regulators is critical during periods of steep net load changes.
Two Classes of Intransitive Predicates

There are two large classes of intransitive predicates in Choctaw, distinguished by their agreement patterns. With one class of predicates the subject determines nominative agreement, as in (1), while with the other class it determines accusative agreement, as in (2).