cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consumer Subjectivity and U.S. Health Care Reform

Health care consumerism is an important frame in U.S. health care policy, especially in recent media and policy discourse about federal health care reform. This article reports on qualitative fieldwork with health care users to find out how people interpret and make sense of the identity of “health care consumer.” It proposes that while the term consumer is normally understood as a descriptive label for users who purchase health care and insurance services, it should actually be understood as a metaphor, carrying with it a host of associations that shape U.S. health care policy debates in particular ways. Based on interviews with 36 people, patient was the dominant term people used to describe themselves, but consumer was the second most popular. Informants interpreted the health care consumer as being informed, proactive, and having choices, but there were also “semiotic traps,” or difficult-to-resolve tensions for this identity. The discourse of consumerism functions in part as code for individual respo...
Distribution of a certain partition function modulo powers of primes

In this paper, we study a certain partition function a(n) defined by Σn≥0 a(n)q n := Πn=1(1 − q n )−1(1 − q 2n )−1. We prove that given a positive integer j ≥ 1 and a prime m ≥ 5, there are infinitely many congruences of the type a(An + B) ≡ 0 (mod m j ). This work is inspired by Ono’s ground breaking result in the study of the distribution of the partition function p(n).
Magnetically bistable actuator Part 1. Ultra-low switching energy and modeling

Abstract The optimal design space for a bistable magnetic actuator with ultra-low actuation energy and large actuation distance (100 μm) has been modeled. Attention was paid to minimizing the energy expended to minimize heat dissipation and power consumption so that the device could be used over a wide temperature range, including cryogenic environments. A more desirable switching regime existing for low magnetic fields (10 mT) was found that requires shorter pulses (microsecond versus millisecond) and lower actuation energy (
NANOSCALE IONIC AGGREGATION OF PHOSPHONIUM IONOMERS

. Synthesis of water-soluble polyelectrolytes by quaternizing copolymers containing chloromethyl styrene with a phosphine was reported. 10 However, direct polymerization of phosphonium-containing monomers was not well demonstrated. 1, 7 Here we synthesized a novel elastomeric ionomer containing quaternary phosphonium salts—poly(n-butyl acrylate-r-trioctyl-4-vinylbenzyl phosphonium chloride) through direct polymerization of ionic monomers and studied the morphology of ionic aggregates and dynamic mechanical properties in the hope of correlating the morphology of the ionomer with its macroscopic properties. Experimental Materials. Trioctylphosphine (90%), adenine (99%) and 2,6-di-tert- butyl-4-methylphenol (99%) were purchased from Aldrich and used without further purification. n-Butyl acrylate (99%) was purchased from Aldrich and was distilled from calcium hydride. 4-Vinylbenzylchloride (90%) was purchased from Aldrich and purified from alumina column. Instrumentation. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) was performed using a Waters size exclusion chromatograph. The instrument was equipped with an autosampler, three 5 µm PLgel Mixed-C columns, a Waters 2410 refractive index (RI) detector operating at 880 nm, a Wyatt Technologies miniDAWN multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS) detector operating at 690 nm, and a Viscotek 270 viscosity detector at 50 °C at a flow rate of 1 mL/min in DMF/ 0.1 M LiBr. 1
Continuous epithelial cell lines from ADPKD liver cysts exhibit characteristics of intrahepatic biliary epithelium

We have produced continuous cell lines using retroviral transduction of SV40 large T antigen into epithelial cells removed from the lumen of liver cysts from four female patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Liver cyst-derived epithelial (LCDE) cell lines are grown in a hormonally supplemented medium in the presence of lethally irradiated NIH/3T3 fibroblast coculture. LCDE cells maintain their epithelial appearance and are positive for the biliary-specific markers cytokeratin 7 and 19 and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase while being negative for hepatocyte markers. SV40 large T antigen is localized to the cell nucleus. LCDE cells have been grown continuously for periods exceeding 12 mo and 25 passages (170 population doublings). LCDE cells exhibit intracellular pH regulatory pathways that, with one exception, are similar to those found in normal intrahepatic biliary epithelium. These LCDE cell lines exhibit impaired alkalinization in response to Cl- substitution. This finding is suggestive of decreased function or abundance of a Cl-/HCO3- anion exchanger and could account for the failure of ADPKD hepatic cysts to secrete HCO3- in response to secretin.
ABCC3 genetic variants are associated with postoperative morphine-induced respiratory depression and morphine pharmacokinetics in children.

Respiratory depression (RD) is a serious side effect of morphine and detrimental to effective analgesia. We reported that variants of the ATP binding cassette gene ABCC3 (facilitates hepatic morphine metabolite efflux) affect morphine metabolite clearance. In this study of 316 children undergoing tonsillectomy, we found significant association between ABCC3 variants and RD leading to prolonged postoperative care unit stay (prolonged RD). Allele A at rs4148412 and allele G at rs729923 caused a 2.36 (95% CI=1.28–4.37, P=0.0061) and 3.7 (95% CI 1.47–9.09, P=0.0050) times increase in odds of prolonged RD, respectively. These clinical associations were supported by increased formation clearance of morphine glucuronides in children with rs4148412 AA and rs4973665 CC genotypes in this cohort, as well as an independent spine surgical cohort of 67 adolescents. This is the first study to report association of ABCC3 variants with opioid-related RD, and morphine metabolite formation (in two independent surgical cohorts).
Axillary web syndrome: an underappreciated complication of sentinel node biopsy in melanoma.

Abstract Objective Axillary web syndrome (AWS) is known to occur after axillary dissection and has been reported after axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy (ASLNB) for breast cancer. However, the incidence and outcomes of AWS after ASLNB for melanoma are unknown. Methods A retrospective review of prospectively collected, clinically node-negative patients undergoing ASLNB for melanoma at a single institution during a 14-year period was conducted to determine the incidence of AWS. Features pertaining to patients (age and gender), primary tumor (location, Breslow's depth), and nodes (number removed, positive node rate) were correlated with the occurrence of AWS. Results Of the 465 patients undergoing ASLNB, 21 (4.5%) developed AWS postoperatively. In comparison, the incidence of other complications in this population were infection 3%, bleeding 1.5%, wound dehiscence .8%, lymphocele 5%, and lymphedema .4%. There was no statistical difference between patients with or without AWS in terms of tumor thickness, location of primary (upper extremity vs trunk), average number of sentinel nodes removed, positive SLNB rates (10% vs 12%), patient age, or gender. All cases of AWS resolved with expectant management; none required surgical intervention. Conclusions AWS is a notable complication of ASLNB for melanoma, with an incidence as high or higher than "standard" complications. AWS should, therefore, be included in the preoperative discussion of possible complications of ASLNB. Traditional patient, tumor, and nodal factors are not predictive of AWS. Patients should be counseled that AWS usually responds to symptomatic treatment and resolves with time.
Tetratricopeptide repeat protein protects photosystem I from oxidative disruption during assembly

A Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutant lacking CGL71, a thylakoid membrane protein previously shown to be involved in photosystem I (PSI) accumulation, exhibited photosensitivity and highly reduced abundance of PSI under photoheterotrophic conditions. Remarkably, the PSI content of this mutant declined to nearly undetectable levels under dark, oxic conditions, demonstrating that reduced PSI accumulation in the mutant is not strictly the result of photodamage. Furthermore, PSI returns to nearly wild-type levels when the O2 concentration in the medium is lowered. Overall, our results suggest that the accumulation of PSI in the mutant correlates with the redox state of the stroma rather than photodamage and that CGL71 functions under atmospheric O2 conditions to allow stable assembly of PSI. These findings may reflect the history of the Earth's atmosphere as it transitioned from anoxic to highly oxic (1-2 billion years ago), a change that required organisms to evolve mechanisms to assist in the assembly and stability of proteins or complexes with O2-sensitive cofactors.
Foundations of Fuzzy Set Theory

In classical set theory, referred to as crisp set theory to distinguish it from its generalization to fuzzy set theory, an object is either completely in or completely outside of a set. In the former case, the degree of membership of the object is designated as 1 and as 0 in the latter case. Equivalently, the range of the characteristic function of a crisp set consists of the two values 0 and 1. A fuzzy set is a generalization of a crisp set that allows objects to be partially in a set. The membership function of a fuzzy set provides a degree of membership that can range from 0 to 1. The more the object belongs to the fuzzy set, the higher the degree of membership. This chapter briefly presents the notation and terminology of fuzzy set theory that will be used throughout this book. A thorough introduction to fuzzy set theory may be found in a number of books including [61, 123, 263, 246, 183].
An experimental phantom study on the effect of calcifications on ultrasound shear wave elastography

In this study, we investigated the effects of single macrocalcifications and groups of microcalcifications on shear wave elastography. Supersonic shear imaging (SSI) and comb-push ultrasound shear elastography (CUSE) were performed on three sets of phantoms to investigate how calcifications of different sizes and distributions influence measured elasticity. Our results demonstrate that the presence of large isolated macrocalcifications and highly concentrated clusters of microcalcifications can introduce areas with apparent high elasticity when they are evaluated by shear wave elastography.
The Seminole Bat, Lasiurus seminolus, in North Carolina

On September 28, 1916, the late C. S. Brimley captured an adult female Seminole bat, Lasiurus seminolus ( Rhoads), as it hung among the branches of a small tree in a woods near Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina. In his annotated list, “The Mammals of North Carolina” (Carolina Tips, Installment No. 5, August, 1944, Elon College, N. C.) Brimley identified the specimen as a hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus Beauvois. A second North Carolina specimen, also an adult female, was shot by the junior author at Camp Steere, which is located near the city of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, on August 31, 1949. This …
Testing species’ deviation from allometric predictions using the phylogenetic regression

Phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) has become one of the most commonly used phylogenetic comparative methods. Despite its common use, descriptions, and applications of methods to test for species' deviations from allometric predictions using phylogenetic regression have been piecemeal. We simplify previous computational descriptions of PGLS standard errors in a manner that can be easily generalized toward more complex general linear models. We focus on the implementation of phylogenetic analysis of covariance, which provides a direct test for the equality of intercepts and slopes. Our computational descriptions allow testing whether individual species, or a group of species, deviate significantly from allometric predictions. The use of PGLS confidence and prediction intervals and phylogenetic analysis of covariance is exemplified in an analysis of brain structure volumes in primates.
Transcriptional Regulation of Human Transforming Growth Factor-α in Astrocytes

Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) is known to play multifunctional roles in the central nervous system (CNS), including the provision of neurotropic properties that protect neurons against various neurotoxic insults. Previously, we reported that TGF-α mediates estrogen-induced enhancement of glutamate transporter GLT-1 function in astrocytes. However, the regulatory mechanism of TGF-α at the transcriptional level remains to be established. Our findings revealed that the human TGF-α promoter contains consensus sites for several transcription factors, such as NF-κB and yin yang 1 (YY1). NF-κB served as a positive regulator of TGF-α promoter activity, corroborated by observations that overexpression of NF-κB p65 increased, while mutation in the NF-κB binding sites in the TGF-α promoter reduced the promoter activity in rat primary astrocytes. Pharmacological inhibition of NF-κB with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC; 50 μM) or quinazoline (QNZ; 10 μM) also abolished TGF-α promoter activity, and NF-κB directly bound to its consensus site in the TGF-α promoter as evidenced by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Dexamethasone (DX) increased TGF-α promoter activity by activation of NF-κB. Treatment of astrocytes with 100 nM of DX for 24 h activated its glucocorticoid receptor and signaling proteins, including MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and PKA, via non-genomic pathways, to enhance TGF-α promoter activity and expression. YY1 served as a critical negative regulator of the TGF-α promoter as overexpression of YY1 decreased, while mutation of YY1 binding site in the promoter increased TGF-α promoter activity. Treatment for 3 h with 250 μM of manganese (Mn), an environmental neurotoxin, decreased astrocytic TGF-α expression by activation of YY1. Taken together, our results suggest that NF-κB is a critical positive regulator, whereas YY1 is a negative regulator of the TGF-α promoter. These findings identify potential molecular targets for neurotherapeutics that may modulate TGF-α regulation and afford neuroprotection.
"Where obesity goes, so goes diabetes"--dual epidemics of alarming proportions.

Diabetes and obesity are increasing in alarming, epidemic proportions not only in West Virginia, but also in the United States and in the world. Their combined toll encompasses not only an increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease and death, but multiple other associated co-morbidities. Recognition of their impact on healthcare systems is crucial and involves awareness and action on the part of providers at every level. Education is of paramount importance in combating these growing trends with preservation of the health and well-being of the populace as an ultimate goal.
Use of Improved Orbitals for CCSD(T) Calculations for Predicting Heats of Formation of Group IV and Group VI Metal Oxide Monomers and Dimers and UCl6

The prediction of the heats of formation of group IV and group VI metal oxide monomers and dimers with the coupled cluster CCSD(T) method has been improved by using Kohn–Sham density functional theory (DFT) and Brueckner orbitals for the initial wave function. The valence and core–valence contributions to the total atomization energies for the CrO3 monomer and dimer are predicted to be significantly larger than when using the Hartree–Fock (HF) orbitals. The predicted heat of formation of CrO3 with CCSD(T)/PW91 is consistent with previous calculations including high-order corrections beyond CCSD(T) and agrees well with the experiment. The improved heats of formation with the DFT and Brueckner orbitals are due to these orbitals being closer to the actual orbitals. Pure DFT functionals perform slightly better than the hybrid B3LYP functional due to the presence of exact exchange in the hybrid functional. Comparable heats of formation for TiO2 and the second- and the third-row group IV and group VI metal oxid...
A Comprehensive Stylus Evaluation Methodology and Design Guidelines

The stylus is a flexible input device that enables traditional computer interactions and personalization of input. It extends natural and intuitive ways of interacting with computing devices by bringing in the familiar feel of pen on paper. There are two kinds of Styli, Active and Passive. A passive stylus is one that emulates finger touch interactions with no added functionality, while an active stylus is one with added capabilities that could enhance productivity, creativity, and common consumer functions, allowing for a seamless and easy to use computing experience on the go. This paper presents an evaluation methodology for an active stylus. Various factors were considered to provide a set of guidelines and recommendations to enable an optimal stylus experience. Factors identified were based on biomechanics, ergonomics, user preference, human comfort, usability/ease of use, motor control, and performance, all of which collectively impact the experience. The parameters evaluated include overall physical design, adequate palm rejection, productivity usages, efficiency, and convenience. The automated evaluation involves a specific laboratory setup to assess the creative usages of the stylus including accuracy, latency, and pressure sensitivity.
Low-lying states in 20 Ne populated by the 19 F( 7 Li, 6 He) 20 Ne reaction at 34 MeV

Angular distributions have been measured for transitions to $^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$ states up to 7.43 MeV in excitation populated in the $^{19}\mathrm{F}$($^{7}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{6}\mathrm{He}$)$^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$ reaction at ${E}_{^{7}\mathrm{Li}}=34$ MeV. Elastic scattering of $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ and $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ at 34 MeV from $^{19}\mathrm{F}$ was also performed and optical model parameters were determined from fits to the measured angular distributions. These optical model parameters were used in finite-range distorted-width Born-approximation analyses of the single nucleon transfer data to extract spectroscopic factors for states at 0.0, 1.634, 4.247, 5.785, 6.722, and 7.424 MeV excitation in $^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$. Spectroscopic factors obtained from this reaction agree well with those from light-ion transfer reactions. However, the $2{s}_{\frac{1}{2}}$ calculation for the $^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$ ground state is out of phase with the data by 7\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The "$j$-forbidden" ${4}^{+}$ state at 4.247 MeV excitation is found to be weakly excited in the $^{19}\mathrm{F}$($^{7}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{6}\mathrm{He}$)$^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$ reaction.
Solid Propellant Rocket Motors

Solid rocket motors and various solid propellant grain configurations are described. Burning rate and grain design effects on thrust-time tailoring are discussed as well as the sensitivity of the solid propellant to temperature. Analysis of the transient behavior and equilibration of the combustion chamber pressure, the stability of the combustion chamber pressure, and the effects of erosive burning is presented. Solid rocket performance characteristics, dual thrust solid rockets, rocket motor casings, and transient operation are discussed. Rocket motor nozzle heat transfer and ablative and film cooling techniques are described. Methods for optimally sizing a rocket motor are presented. Hybrid rocket motors are introduced and their characteristics and operation are covered.
Design of a step-tunable THz kilowatt gyrotron oscillator

We present the design for a kilowatt step-tunable terahertz gyrotron oscillator. Using a high field magnet, several kilowatts of power are expected to be generated up to 500 GHz and hundreds of watts from 500 to 1,000 GHz, through operation in several fundamental and second harmonic modes. Application areas include materials processing, biochemistry, imaging, plasma diagnostics, and remote sensing.
Sample size for clinical trials.

The gold standard of study design in clinical investigation is the randomized controlled trial (RCT). Over the past 50 years, RCTs have come to be considered the primary source of evidence for the efficacy of newer therapeutic interventions (Matthews, 2006). The design of the trial varies with the phase of the clinical trial (I-IV) and is dependent on several statistical exercises. Typically, sample size calculation and statistical power are critical components of study design. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Ecological Factors That Affect the Survival, Establishment, Growth and Genetic Recombination of Microbes in Natural Habitats

Despite the remarkable advances in the isolation, analysis, reconstruction,and methods of introducing new genes into organisms, the ultimate fate of natural and manipulated genetic material is dependent on the survival, establishment, and growth of the organismal vectors (usually microbes) that house the genetic material in the natural habitats into which the vectors are introduced. Survival, establishment, and growth are, in turn, dependent on the genetic constitution of the microbes and on the physical (temperature, pressure, electromagnetic radiation, surfaces, spatial relations), chemical (carbonaceous substrates, ironganic nutrients, growth factors, ionic composition, available water, pH, oxidation-reduction potential, gaseous composition, toxicants), and biological (characteristics of and positive and negative interactions between microbes) factors of the various habitats (Fig. 1). Limitations of space preclude a detailed discussion of and an extensive bibliography to these ecological factors and to the genetical aspects of this report. Consequently, reference is made to reviews wherever possible.
Yttrium-90 Radioembolization for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Outcomes by Number of Lines of Therapy

Metastatic colorectal cancer represents the most common liver malignancy, and imparts a very poor prognosis for those who develop this disease. Unlike primary liver tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma, which largely develops in patients with underlying cirrhosis, most metastatic liver tumor patients have normal underlying liver function. Owing to this, most will succumb to tumoral replacement of the liver rather than from underlying liver dysfunction. Radioembolization represents a treatment modality that can be used in multiple fashions to treat one or both lobes of the liver. Techniques depend on whether the procedure is used as first-line, second/third-line, or as salvage therapy. Outcomes and complications of radioembolization are presented in this article, as well as background information on colorectal cancer and systemic therapies.
Conceptual design of a 15-TW pulsed-power accelerator for high-energy-density–physics experiments

We have developed a conceptual design of a 15-TW pulsed-power accelerator based on the linear-transformer-driver (LTD) architecture described by Stygar [W. A. Stygar et al., Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 18, 110401 (2015)]. The driver will allow multiple, high-energy-density experiments per day in a university environment and, at the same time, will enable both fundamental and integrated experiments that are scalable to larger facilities. In this design, many individual energy storage units (bricks), each composed of two capacitors and one switch, directly drive the target load without additional pulse compression. Ten LTD modules in parallel drive the load. Each module consists of 16 LTD cavities connected in series, where each cavity is powered by 22 bricks connected in parallel. This design stores up to 2.75 MJ and delivers up to 15 TW in 100 ns to the constant-impedance, water-insulated radial transmission lines. The transmission lines in turn deliver a peak current as high as 12.5 MA to the physics load. To maximize its experimental value and flexibility, the accelerator is coupled to a modern, multibeam laser facility (four beams with up to 5 kJ in 10 ns and one beam with up to 2.6 kJ in 100 ps or less) that can provide auxiliary heating of the physics load. The lasers also enable advanced diagnostic techniques such as X-ray Thomson scattering and multiframe and three-dimensional radiography. The coupled accelerator-laser facility will be the first of its kind and be capable of conducting unprecedented high-energy-density–physics experiments.
The Effects of Naloxone on Flavor-Calorie Preference Learning Indicate Involvement of Opioid Reward Systems

Four experiments investigated the effects of the opioid antagonist naloxone hydrochloride on learning and expression of preferences for flavors paired with calories from dextrose or ethanol. Experiments 1 through 3 showed that naloxone eliminated a dextrose-paired flavor preference in two-bottle and one-bottle tests. When naloxone was paired with flavored dextrose in conditioning trials, no preference for the naloxone-paired flavor over the saccharin-paired flavor emerged. Naloxone also eliminated the preference for an ethanol-paired flavor over a saccharin-paired flavor in postconditioning tests. In Experiment 4 shock-induced freezing was used as a probe for conditioned opioidergic activity brought on by tasting a flavor that had been paired with dextrose. Rats froze less after tasting the dextrose-paired flavor than after tasting a saccharin-paired flavor. These results are discussed as evidence for involvement of central opioid reward systems in flavor-calorie learning.
Development of high-sensitivity fiber loop ringdown micro air-gap strain sensor

We present a new method of developing a fiber loop ringdown strain sensor using a micro air-gap in the sensor head and evaluate theoretically the static strain detection limit to be a few nanometers.
Hierarchies of belonging: intersecting race, ethnicity, and territoriality in the construction of US citizenship

AbstractWhat is the essence of American citizenship and nationhood? Traditionally scholars have divided into three camps: civic, ethnic, or a civic-ethnic hybrid. Each approach presumes there is but one kind of citizenship. This paper challenges that unitary assumption. A century ago American intellectuals and policy-makers wrangled over naturalizing their new colonial subjects in Puerto Rico. These deliberations in the Academy and Congress did not envision granting Puerto Ricans the same kind of citizenship found in the states, but a lower ordered citizenship that took into account race, ethnicity, and territorial status. The Puerto Rican case added another layer of complexity to the debate over, and the nature of, US citizenship. Contrary to assumptions of a unitary citizenship we argue that the American polity has developed, de facto, multi-tiered subtypes of citizenship signifying varying shades of national belonging.
Communication-Efficient Distributed Block Minimization for Nonlinear Kernel Machines

Nonlinear kernel machines often yield superior predictive performance on various tasks; however, they suffer from severe computational challenges. In this paper, we show how to overcome the important challenge of speeding up kernel machines using multiple computers. In particular, we develop a parallel block minimization framework, and demonstrate its good scalability in solving nonlinear kernel SVM and logistic regression. Our framework proceeds by dividing the problem into smaller subproblems by forming a block-diagonal approximation of the Hessian matrix. The subproblems are then solved approximately in parallel. After that, a communication efficient line search procedure is developed to ensure sufficient reduction of the objective function value by exploiting the problem structure of kernel machines. We prove global linear convergence rate of the proposed method with a wide class of subproblem solvers, and our analysis covers strongly convex and some non-strongly convex functions. We apply our algorithm to solve large-scale kernel SVM problems on distributed systems, and show a significant improvement over existing parallel solvers. As an example, on the covtype dataset with half-a-million samples, our algorithm can obtain an approximate solution with 96% accuracy in 20 seconds using 32 machines, while all the other parallel kernel SVM solvers require more than 2000 seconds to achieve a solution with 95% accuracy. Moreover, our algorithm is the first distributed kernel SVM solver that can scale to massive data sets. On the KDDB dataset (20 million samples and 30 million features), our parallel solver can compute the kernel SVM solution within half an hour using 32 machines with 640 cores in total, while existing solvers can not scale to this dataset.
Instrumentation and data acquisition for dynamic testing of ground support

The Spokane Mining Research Division (SMRD) of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has recently developed a dynamic testing machine that imparts a controlled shock to a ground support test panel in order to investigate the effects of seismic loading on the material. Dynamic testing is critical for understanding the mechanical response of ground support used in seismically active locations of a mine. In the past, dynamic testing of ground support has generally been somewhat qualitative, but currently more quantitative testing is being employed. This paper describes the sensors and data acquisition system used to record the dynamic measurements of the shock tests performed by SMRD. It includes a discussion of sensor selection and installation to serve as an initial guide for future research. Testing of ground support and its response to dynamic loading can lead to developments that improve mine worker safety in seismically active underground mines.
Preparing Social Workers for Practice with LGBT Populations Affected by Substance Use: Perceptions from Students, Alumni, and Service Providers

Trends in the field of service among those with alcohol and other drug addictions highlight the urgent need for schools of social work to effectively train students to serve clients with substance ...
“My aunt unfriended me:” Narratives of GLBTQ Family Relationships Post 2016 Presidential Election

ABSTRACTThis study focuses on the impact of the 2016 US presidential election on gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer (GLBTQ) peoples' relationships with their family-of-origin. Although family relationships play an important role for all people, GLBTQ individuals' relationships with their families are particularly important during times of sociopolitical change, and when GLBTQ rights are being threatened. Specifically, the election of Donald J. Trump mandates a direct need to more thoroughly explore how the 2016 US presidential election has impacted GLBTQ individuals' relationships with their families. Participants included 274 individuals who identified as a part of the GLBTQ community, and completed an online survey in which they discussed the impact that the 2016 US presidential election had on their family-of-origin. Thematic analysis revealed three relationship-salient themes: (a) family divisions, (b) family cohesions, and (c) no change. Discussion of the results focuses on the critical r...
The Timing and Frequency of Infectious Complications after Radical Cystectomy: An Opportunity for Rescue Antibiotic Treatment

AbstractIntroduction:We evaluated the timing, frequency and antibiotic sensitivity of post-radical cystectomy urinary tract infections to guide an infection reduction initiative.Methods:A combined ...
GRAPHITE FIBER REINFORCED POLYMETHYLMATHACRYLATE AS A BIOMATERIAL

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the use of graphite fiber reinforced polymethylmathacrylate (PMMA) as a biomaterial. It describes a study conducted to investigate the compressive and shear properties of graphite fiber reinforced PMMA. In the study, compression tests and shear tests were performed on an Instron testing machine at crosshead speeds 1.27 mm/min and 2.54 mm/min, respectively. Both compression and shear tests were conducted on three sample groups: 1) unreinforced controls; 2) specimens reinforced with 1.5% by weight of graphite fibers; and 3) specimens reinforced with 6.6% by weight of graphite fibers. It is evident that both ultimate shear and compressive stresses could be increased significantly by the addition of graphite fibers. Large decrease in the ultimate compressive strength of graphite fiber reinforced PMMA would have made it impractical to use it in most clinical situations; however, this study shows that graphite fiber reinforced PMMA could potentially be used as an improved biomaterial. This study is being continued to investigate the other mechanical and fracture properties of graphite fiber reinforced PMMA.
Beer, Hot Dogs and Politics: The Vocative Function of Medellín’s voseo

Voseo is widely used in speech in Medellin, Colombia, but it is non-standard for writing. Weyers (2016) finds that written voseo has a growing presence. This study examines the vocative use of vos in public domains. The objective of the written vos goes beyond friendly address. In Medellin, vos is a familiarizing vocative that speaks to the reader’s sense of local identity. We analyse three domains in which vocative vos is prominent in Medellin: the locally brewed Pilsen beer; a hot dog restaurant that heralds its local roots; and the Alcaldia de Medellin which, with its new mayor (2016), uses vos officially to connect with citizens. In each domain, vos is not the exclusive form of address, but it is the most conspicuous. We conclude that vocative vos reflects Medellin’s augmented prestige. Following Weyers (2016), it might represent the beginning of a shift towards the increased prestige of vos.
Noise Spectral Density of Hysteretic Systems

This chapter presents the analysis of output spectral density for hysteretic systems driven by noisy inputs. Closed form analytical solutions for output spectra are derived for bistable hysteretic systems, as well as for complex hysteretic systems that can be described through Preisach model as weighted superposition of symmetric rectangular operators. The mathematical machinery of diffusion processes on graphs is used to circumvent the difficulties related to the non-Markovian property of the output of hysteretic systems. The calculations are appreciably simplified by the introduction of the “effective” distribution function. The implementation of the method for the case of Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process is presented in details and general qualitative features of these spectral densities are examined. Due to the universality of the Preisach model, this approach can be used to describe hysteresis nonlinearities of various physical origins. In the last part of this chapter, the spectral density analysis is extended to other models of hysteresis, such as the energetic model, the Jiles-Atherton model, the Coleman-Hodgdon model, the Bouc-Wen and model, and the Preisach model. The statistical technique to compute the output spectra is based on Monte-Carlo simulations and Fast Fourier Transforms. The intrinsic differences between the algebraic, differential, and integral modeling of hysteresis are well exposed when the systems are driven by noisy inputs and their stochastic behaviors are compared against each other.
Victims, Agents, and Outrage

The concept of outrage has been popularized by Peter Sandman as a way to explain public reactions to risk. The concept has captured the imagination of policy makers as an explanation for why there is public pressure to remedy relatively low risks while greater risks go ignored. But the concept remains, for many, synonymous with irrationality. This paper lays out a framework for better understanding outrage. Holding the level of risk constant, I concentrate on three other variables: (1) the rights of the victims — i. e., those on whom the risk is imposed; (2) the responsibilities of the agents — i. e., the individuals or groups who cause, contribute to, or assume a role of responsibility relative to the risk; and (3) the level of risk management — i. e., the extent to which these responsibilities are fulfilled. The resulting framework helps to explain why outrage in the face of low risk cannot be automatically dismissed as mere irrationality.
Pan paniscus and Pan troglodytes

Previous ape language studies have been undertaken with common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus), and gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) (Gardner and Gardner, 1969; Rumbaugh, 1977, Savage-Rumbaugh, 1979; Miles, 1982; Patterson and Linden, 1981). Additionally, a brief attempt was made with a pygmy chimpanzee housed in the Stuttgart Zoo by Jordan and Jordan (1977), who employed a Premackian problem-solving paradigm. However, no one has previously attempted to place pygmy chimpanzees in a full-time communicative environment that entails close and constant interaction with human beings for the purpose of attempting to teach them complex symbolic tasks. In fact, apart from the brief work mentioned above by Jordan and Jordan (1977), no serious attempts have been made to investigate the cognitive capacities of these apes, nor to contrast them with other apes. This paucity of information is not due to lack of interest, but simply to lack of availability of these animals for research purposes. They were not reorganized as a distinct species until 1929 (Schwarz, 1929) and it was not until 1956 (Tratz and Heck, 1954) that the wide range of behavioral differences between common chimpanzees and pygmy chimpanzees began to be recognized.
Vocal tract inversion by cepstral analysis-by-synthesis using chain matrices.

Acoustic-to-articulatory inversion for vowels is performed by cepstral analysis-by-synthesis, using chain-matrix calculation of vocal tract (VT) acoustics and the Maeda articulatory model. The derivative of the VT chain matrix with respect to the area function was calculated in a novel efficient manner, and used in the BFGS quasi-Newton method for optimizing a distance measure between input and synthesized cepstral features over the entire articulatory trajectory. The optimization is initialized by a fast search of an articulatory codebook with a bin structure in formant space and the cost function also includes regularization and continuity terms to obtain realistic inverted VT shapes and smooth articulatory trajectories. Inversion is evaluated on the three diphthongs /ai/, /oi/ and /au/ of two speakers, one male and one female, from the University of Wisconsin X-ray microbeam (XRMB) database, and good agreement was achieved between inverted midsagittal vocal tract outlines and measured XRMB tongue and lip pellet positions, with an average relative error of less than 3% in the first three formants.
Considerations in Representing Human Individuals in Social-Ecological Models

In this chapter we focus on how to integrate the human individual into social-ecological systems analysis, and how to improve research on individual thought and action regarding the environment by locating it within the broader social-ecological context. We discuss three key questions as considerations for future research: (1) is human thought conceptualized as a dynamic and adaptive process, (2) is the individual placed in a multi-level context (including within-person levels, person-group interactions, and institutional and structural factors), and (3) is human thought seen as mutually constructed with the social and natural environment. Increased emphasis on the individual will be essential if we are to understand agency, innovation, and adaptation in social-ecological systems.
Adult-Male/Juvenile Association as a Species-Characteristic Human Trait: A Comparative Field Approach

The adult-male/juvenile1 relationship reflects patterns of behavior that have been found in all human societies that have been studied. The systematic availability of a stable adult male to the offspring of mothers appears to be a universal event (Barry and Paxson, 1971; Levinson and Malone, 1980; Mackey, 1985; Murdock, 1957; Murdock, 1967; Murdock and Provost, 1973; Stephens, 1963). The biological father is usually the adult male who is readily available to his offspring, but occasionally the mother’s brother fulfills this role (Alexander and Noonan, 1979; Schlegel, 1972; Van den Berghe, 1979). The purpose of this chapter is to explore, in a systematic manner, the character, trends, and variations of the association between adult males and juveniles across a wide array of societies.
Outcomes from a whole-systems ayurvedic medicine and yoga therapy treatment for obesity pilot study.

Abstract Objectives: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of an Ayurveda/Yoga intervention for weight loss, using dual-diagnosis inclusion criteria, dual-paradigm outcomes, and a semistan...
Convergence, context, crossvergence: contending perspectives on strategic management in Asia vs. the West

In what ways are the strategic management practices within Asia and the West similar and in what ways different? In search of an answer to this question, researchers have given shape to three perspectives: 1) universal convergence suggests that, for varied reasons, there is general practice among Asian and Western firms; 2) contextualism focuses upon cross-national firm difference; 3) crossvergence studies the synergistic effects of convergence and divergence among Asian and Western firms. Research findings to date depict complex, countervailing forces operating both within and outside firms, nations, and across the globe. It is argued that rejection of any one perspective is not appropriate at this time, and could deter progress toward a clearer understanding of difference, similarity, and cross-influence between and among Asian and Western firms. Recommendations for future research are offered, including alternative frameworks for reconciling the three perspectives.
Communication Apprehension Across the Career Span

Working adults engage in a variety of communication activities for their entire careers. Yet relatively, little has been established regarding whether or how average communication anxiety levels ch...
Membranes with Thin Hydrogel Selective Layers Containing Viral-Templated Palladium Nanoparticles for the Catalytic Reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III)

Membranes that simultaneously remove large organic molecules and catalytically treat smaller contaminants can provide a simple, compact, single-step water treatment solution. Incorporating nanopart...
Barriers to organizational learning in a multi-institutional initiative

As colleges and universities strive to change and improve, organizational learning has emerged as an important tool to facilitate change. At the same time, foundations and funders are increasingly promoting scaled change through projects that bring multiple institutions together to learn from one another. However, to date, there is little research on organizational learning in multi-institutional change initiatives or the unique challenges of promoting learning in cross-institutional settings. This paper focuses on one such effort, the AAU STEM Initiative, and outlines barriers to organizational learning that can result when national organizations attempt to facilitate learning among sets of college campuses.
Life-cycle of Oxyspirura petrowi (Spirurida: Thelaziidae), an eyeworm of the northern bobwhite quail ( Colinus virginianus )

Oxyspirura petrowi (Spirurida: Thelaziidae), a heteroxenous nematode of birds across the USA, may play a role in the decline of the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) in the Rolling Plains Ecoregion of West Texas. Previous molecular studies suggest that crickets, grasshoppers and cockroaches serve as potential intermediate hosts of O. petrowi, although a complete study on the life-cycle of this nematode has not been conducted thus far. Consequently, this study aims to improve our understanding of the O. petrowi life-cycle by experimentally infecting house crickets (Acheta domesticus) with O. petrowi eggs, feeding infected crickets to bobwhite and assessing the life-cycle of this nematode in both the definitive and intermediate hosts. Oxyspirura petrowi eggs were collected from gravid worms recovered from wild bobwhite and fed to house crickets. The development of O. petrowi within crickets was monitored by dissection of crickets at specified intervals. When infective larvae were found inside crickets, parasite-free pen-raised bobwhite were fed four infected crickets each. The maturation of O. petrowi in bobwhite was monitored through fecal floats and bobwhite necropsies at specified intervals. In this study, we were able to infect both crickets (n = 45) and bobwhite (n = 25) with O. petrowi at a rate of 96%. We successfully replicated and monitored the complete O. petrowi life-cycle in vivo, recovering embryonated O. petrowi eggs from the feces of bobwhite 51 days after consumption of infected crickets. All life-cycle stages of O. petrowi were confirmed in both the house cricket and the bobwhite using morphological and molecular techniques. This study provides a better understanding of the infection mechanism and life-cycle of O. petrowi by tracking the developmental progress within both the intermediate and definitive host. To our knowledge, this study is the first to fully monitor the complete life-cycle of O. petrowi and may allow for better estimates into the potential for future epizootics of O. petrowi in bobwhite. Finally, this study provides a model for experimental infection that may be used in research examining the effects of O. petrowi infection in bobwhite.
Left Atrial Tumor Thrombus in a Patient With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Lung.

Tumor thrombus in left atrium (LA) is very rare but a serious complication in patients with malignancy. It has a significant impact on clinical decision making, staging and prognosis in oncological patients. Tumor thrombus is seen in a wide variety of malignancies. While rare, lung cancer tumor thrombus may occur. Rarely, it can even extend into LA. Usually, it is managed by surgical resection with chemotherapy. We describe a rare case of tumor thrombus in a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of lung that was managed with chemo- and radiation therapy. Cardiol Res. 2019;10(6):382-387 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/cr943
Comparison of traditional anesthesia method and jet injector anesthesia method (MadaJet XL®) for Nexplanon® insertion and removal.

This study compared a needle-free anesthesia method with traditional local anesthesia for insertion and removal of Nexplanon® long-acting removable contraceptive device. In our clinic, patients often avoid this highly effective form of contraception due to fear of needles. We sought to determine if patients perceived a difference in pain with the injection, anxiety level or pain with the procedure when local anesthesia was given with a needle v/s a needle-free jet injector device. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: jet injector or needle lidocaine delivery. Outcomes were ease of use, patient anxiety level, painfulness, and efficacy of anesthesia method. Patient pain perception with administration of jet injector lidocaine was statistically lower than traditional needle with no difference in anxiety or ease of use, or efficacy of the anesthesia. The jet injector device is a reasonable alternative to needle injection delivery of anesthesia prior to insertion/removal of Nexplanon® device. Further studies may determine whether this needle-free alternative for administration of local anesthetic would result in more women choosing Nexplanon® as a contraceptive method.
Chapter 3 – INFINITE SERIES

Publisher Summary This chapter discuses the Taylor's theorem and the converse of Taylor's theorem, namely, that convergent power series are in fact analytic functions in their domain of convergence. The chapter also describes the isolated singularities. A function f(z) is analytic on a domain 0 < |z – z0 | < R, but not analytic or even necessarily defined at z0. Isolated singularities are classified in three categories: removable singularities, poles, and essential singularities. In addition, the chapter also describes a procedure for obtaining analytic continuations and interpretation of the Riemann surface of a function. A procedure for obtaining analytic continuations begins by expanding the given expression into a Taylor series.
Strengthening global health content in health professions curricula

Background:Health professionals should be prepared to lead and contribute to initiatives that mitigate emerging global health risks to target communities. Health professions education, however, has...