cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reducing the life cycle cost of software through concurrent engineering

It is noted that the largest contributor to software life cycle cost (LCC) is the maintenance costs associated with the fielded code. Concurrent engineering techniques can optimize the code maintainability through (1) developing and validating design requirements; (2) assuring a robust design that can tolerate more variation in its operating environment; (3) creating a design that more easily accommodates changes; and (4) building code and its associated documentation that assure greater understandability to ease the relearning required during maintenance. The design initiatives used to make a more robust design with lower LCC are described. >
The Modular Genetic Algorithm: Exploiting Regularities in the Problem Space

We introduce the modular genetic algorithm (MGA). The modular genetic algorithm is a search algorithm designed for a class of problems pervasive throughout nature and engineering: problems with modularity and regularity in their solutions. We hypothesize that genetic search algorithms with explicit mechanisms to exploit regularity and modularity on the problem space would not only outperform conventional genetic search, but also scale better for this problem class. In this paper we present experimental evidence in support of our hypothesis. In our experiments, we compare a limited version of the modular genetic algorithm with a canonical genetic algorithm (GA) applied to the checkerboard-pattern discovery problem for search spaces of sizes 232, 2128, and 2512. We observe that the MGA significantly outperforms the GA for high complexities. More importantly, while the performance of the GA drops 22.50% when the complexity of the problem increases, the MGA performance drops only 11.38%. These results indicate that the MGA has a strong scalability property for problems with regularity and modularity in their solutions.
Elastoplastic Inverse Opals as Power‐Free Mechanochromic Sensors for Force Recording

Light-weight, power-free mechanochromic sensors that can change and record the reflective color depending on the magnitude and rate of the applied force are fabricated from inverse opals by infiltrating the colloidal crystals of silica particles with uncrosslinked SU-8, followed by removal of the colloidal templates. The mechanical sensing range of the materials is high, 17.6–20.4 MPa. Due to elastoplastic deformation of the SU-8 films, the deformed structures and thus colors can be locked after the removal of the load, therefore establishing a quantitative relationship between the mechanical force and optical responses. In comparison, mechanochromic photonic gels reported in the literature typically detect force in the range of 10–100 kPa; once the load is removed, the structure and color return back to the original ones. The mechanochromic sensors are highly sensitive: the ratio of shift in the stopband wavelength to the change in applied strain is up to 5.7 nm per percent, the highest among literature. Comparison of finite element simulations with experiments confirms the elastoplastic deformation of the films and highlights that reconfiguration of pore shape under compression plays a key role in the mechanochromic response.
Dynamic simulation for grasping and whole arm manipulation

We propose a novel approach to dynamic simulation of grasps that overcomes difficulties due to inconsistencies in the forward dynamics problem. The key idea in the paper is a minimalist model of the contact compliance and the use of this model in situations when the performance of the rigid body model is not satisfactory. Our general framework allows for online diagnostics that enable the automatic switching between models to maximize efficiency while avoiding ambiguous situations. We illustrate the basic ideas by simulating the dynamics of several whole arm grasps.
Telemammography across an ad hoc network

One of the goals of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) cancer control program to reach more than 80% of the eligible women in mammography screening by the year 2000 yet remains as a challenge. That is primarily due to 1) the fact that examination process is a complex and lengthy one and 2) it is not available to the majority of women who live in remote and urban sites. This problem can be solved using ad hoc networking technologies and signal processing algorithms. Software modules can help detect true negatives (TN), while marking true positives (TP) for further investigation. This reduces the load on network and radiologists by a tremendous amount. Ad hoc networking equipment makes clinic-lab connection more accessible and image enhancement algorithms readily available to the radiologists. In this research automatic robust computer assisted diagnostic (CAD) methods for mass detection in breast cancer have been associated with region of interest (ROI) compression for efficient transmission over ad hoc networks. This telemammography system for remote computer-aided breast cancer detection and diagnosis has the advantage of better reach of women for cancer screening and at the same time provides the diagnosis with higher efficiency, better accuracy, and lower cost.
So Close Yet So Far Away: The Moderating Effect of Regulatory Focus Orientation on Health Behavioral Intentions

The purpose of this study is to further understand ideal self-goals and regulatory focus orientation within the context of consumer health decisions. To do so, the present research examines the intersection of ideal weight goal progress and regulatory orientation on consumer health-related decisions. Across two experimental studies, findings suggest that those far away from their ideal weight goals are more inclined to participate in adaptive health behaviors. The first study shows that individuals are calibrated in terms of their health goals. Specifically, when they are far away from their ideal weight, they want to eat healthier and exercise. However, their health goals are not calibrated appropriately in the presence of regulatory incongruence of individual regulatory orientation and promotion type. Specifically, prevention-oriented individuals do not report the appropriate outcome expectation of the goal pursuit; instead, the present study finds that they do not want to increase exercise even when they are far from their health goal. Implications are provided for consumers and promotional marketing managers.
Short and smooth sampling trajectories for compressed sensing

This paper explores a novel setting for compressed sensing (CS) in which the sampling trajectory length is a critical bottleneck and must be minimized subject to constraints on the desired reconstruction accuracy. In contrast to the existing CS literature, where the focus is on reducing the number of measurements, this contribution describes a short and smooth sampling trajectory guaranteed to satisfy the Restricted Isometry Property if the underlying signal is sparse in an appropriate basis. A naive path based on randomly choosing a collection of sample locations and using a Traveling Salesman Problem solver to choose a “short” trajectory is shown to be dramatically longer than the nearly straight and very smooth path proposed in this paper. Theoretical justification for the proposed path is presented, and applications to MRI, electro-magnetics, and ecosystem monitoring are discussed.
Second-order Consensus Algorithm with Extensions to Switching Topologies and Reference Models

In this paper, we extend the consensus algorithm for double integrator dynamics to the case that the information exchange topologies switch randomly with time and to the case that the final consensus value evolves according to a given nonlinear reference model. We show sufficient conditions under which consensus is reached under switching directed information exchange topologies. Unlike the consensus algorithm for single integrator dynamics, more stringent conditions are required to guarantee consensus under switching directed topologies in the case of the consensus algorithm for double integrator dynamics. In addition, we propose consensus algorithms so that the information variables of each vehicle approach the solution of a nonlinear reference model when only a portion of the vehicles in the team have access to the model.
Association analysis with interval valued fuzzy sets and body of evidence

Association analysis is proven to be one of the most useful techniques in data mining to analyze large datasets. We apply association analysis to fuzzy datasets and show how it works in decision making processes. We define three fundamental concepts: belief, compatibility, and plausibility for association analysis in terms of fuzzy logic. We further extend our study on association analysis with interval valued fuzzy sets and body of evidence. Applications with sample data are discussed.
A type-II near-infrared detector with very high stable gain and low noise at room temperature

For decades, humankind has tried to harness the power of invisible light to image or communicate beyond what our eyes can see. Significant attention has been focused on near infrared (NIR) spectrum, and different types of infrared detection methods have been proposed and developed. Here, we report a new NIR detector based on a type-II band alignment and nano-scale sensing volumes.
Effect of Nozzle Geometry on Hydroentangling Water Jets: Experimental Observations

This paper reports on the role of nozzle geometry on the characteristics of hydroen tangling water jets, specifically the behavior of three different conventional nozzle geometries under pressures below 3500 psi. Profiles of the water jets are digitized with a Nikon Dlx digital camera from which we extract the water-jet breakup lengths and spray angles under different operating conditions. Our preliminary data indicate that the cone-up nozzle produces water jets with considerably shorter intact lengths and slightly larger spray angles and a higher coefficient of discharge compared to the two other geometries considered. We attribute this distinct behavior to friction-induced and cavitation-induced turbulence inside the cone-up nozzles; a constricted water jet is formed by cone-down or cylindrical nozzles. Our results are in excellent agreement with previous experimental and computational data.
Spatially resolved temperature mapping of electrothermal actuators by surface Raman scattering

In this paper, we report spatially resolved temperature profiles along the legs of working V-shaped electrothermal (ET) actuators using a surface Raman scattering technique. The Raman probe provides nonperturbing optical data with a spatial resolution of 1.2 /spl mu/m, which is required to observe the 3-/spl mu/m-wide actuator beams. A detailed uncertainty analysis reveals that our Raman thermometry of polycrystalline silicon is performed with fidelity of /spl plusmn/10 to 11 K when the peak location of the Stokes-shifted optical phonon signature is used as an indicator of temperature. This level of uncertainty is sufficient for temperature mapping of many working thermal MEMS devices which exhibit characteristic temperature differences of several hundred Kelvins. To our knowledge, these are the first quantitative and spatially resolved temperature data available for thermal actuator structures. This new temperature data set can be used for validation of actuator thermal design models and these new results are compared with finite-difference simulations of actuator thermal performance.
Forward Genetic Analysis of TLR Pathways

The mammalian Toll-like receptors (TLRs) were first recognized as innate immune sensors when it was discovered that TLR4 is the key component of the mammalian endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS) receptor. This determination was made when a spontaneous mouse mutation, Lps, was positionally cloned and found to reside with the Tlr4 locus. In all, we now know of the existence of eleven mouse TLRs and ten human TLRs, which collectively serve as the principal sensors of the innate immune system. Without them, small inocula of microorganisms would pose a major threat to the host, growing unchecked for a long period of time before they are recognized. These TLRs are served by a collection of at least five adapter proteins, each with homology to the TLRs themselves, permitting homotypic interaction to occur. Since a pure forward genetic approach led to the identification of the LPS receptor, ENU mutagenesis has been applied to the identification of other critical components of TLR signaling pathways. This approach has revealed that one of the adapter proteins, Lps2 (also known as Trif or Ticam-1) is required for normal responses to double-stranded RNA and LPS. It now appears that two and only two branches of the LPS sensing pathway exist downstream of TLR4 in macrophages: one dependent upon the joint function of the adapter proteins MyD88 and MAL/Tirap; the other dependent upon Lps2. Poly I:C sensing, on the other hand, has but one recognizable branch, leading to type I interferon induction. Lps2 is an indispensable component of this branch. Destructive mutations affecting Lps2 cause resistance to LPS toxicity, but also, heightened susceptibility to infection by mouse cytomegalovirus (mCMV). Lps2 is therefore the most proximal component of a signal integration system required for innate immune responses to both viral and bacterial infections.
Query-relevant document representation for text clustering

In text categorization, one well-known document representation is bag-of-words. Although it is simple and popular, it ignores semantics, underlying linguistic information, and word correlations. In this paper, a new representation for text data is proposed which is called Bag-Of-Queries (BOQ). First, a taxonomy of the terms in the local vocabulary is extracted. Extracting a taxonomy is performed by learning term dependencies using an information theoretic inclusion index. Next, the taxonomy is partitioned to generate a set of correlated terms or bag of queries. Since every two partitions belong to different concepts, they are considered seman-tically orthogonal queries. This provides a new space of orthogonal features, which is necessary for an efficient categorization. Finally, instead of using terms as features, we use them to build a set of queries. Documents are ranked in response to the queries using a similarity measure. The similarity indices are considered as new features in a vector space model representation. The proposed approach outperforms bag of word based clustering. It also extracts new non-redundant features and at the same time reduces dimensionality.
Adjuvant chemotherapy in stage IB neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the cervix

Background. Neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the cervix is a very rare and aggressive tumor which tends to metastasize early. This tumor is similar histologically to small cell carcinoma of the lung. Conventional treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy has not been successful and has prompted the use of adjuvant chemotherapy regimens similar to those used for small cell carcinoma of the lung.Methods. Three patients with Stage IB neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the cervix treated with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of cisplatinum and VP-16, were identified. Analysis of the outcome of these three patients and a review of the current literature were performed.Results. Median survival was 28 months. Two patients received pelvic radiation therapy, one due to positive surgical margins and the other due to recurrent disease. Currently two patients are alive and free of disease at 17 and 61 months. The third patient developed hepatic and pelvic recurrence and died 30 months af...
Ridge estimated confidence intervals:a monte carlo evaluaion

In the presence of multicollinearity, interval estimation employing the method of least squares is handicapped by the extremely wide, noninformative intervals which result. Vinod (1988) has proposed an alternative method of interval estimation based on ridge regression estimation concepts. In this paper, Vinod's alternative is presented and then evaluated on ten sets of artificial, computer generated data. By comparing the results produced by the ridge based method with those produced using least squares, it is concluded that Vinod's method is to be preferred whenever there is substantial multicollinearity. It is further demonstrated that, whenever this condition is satisfied, the preference accorded Vinod's method increases as the severity of the multicollinearity increases and as the goodness-of-fit of the regression equation decreases.
The incidence of hepatitis E virus infection in the general population of the USA

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is as an emerging disease of global importance because it is one of the major causes of acute hepatitis worldwide. There are few reports on the incidence of HEV in the USA. For better assessing the burden of primary HEV infection as well as understanding the epidemiology of HEV in the US population this analysis was conducted to estimate the force of infection of HEV in the USA. HEV force of infection in the general US population was calculated using catalytic models as cumulative markers of past infection from HEV seroprevalence data from the NHANES Survey. In the US population the force of infection was seven infections per 1000 susceptible persons per year. This study shows that in the USA HEV can be acquired locally and from developing countries. HEV is circulating more frequently in the non-Hispanic White racial/ethnic group and those who consume fish more frequently.
Human frequency-following responses: representation of steady-state synthetic vowels.

Auditory nerve single-unit population studies have demonstrated that phase-locking plays a dominant role in the neural encoding of the spectrum of speech sounds. Given this, it was reasoned that the phase-locked neural activity underlying the scalp-recorded human frequency-following response (FFR) might preserve information about certain acoustic features of speech sounds. It was recently reported (Ananthanarayan, A.K., 1999. J. Audiol. Neurootol. 4, 95-103) that the FFR spectrum to simple two-tone approximations of several English back vowels does indeed contain peaks corresponding to the first and second formant frequencies. In this investigation FFRs to the more complex steady-state synthetic English back vowels (/u/, /)/, and /a/) were evaluated. FFRs were obtained from 10 normal-hearing human adults at 85, 75, 65, and 55 dB normal-hearing level (nHL). Spectrum analyses of the FFRs revealed distinct peaks at harmonics adjacent to the first and the second formants across all levels suggesting that phase-locked activity among two distinct populations of neurons is indeed preserved in the FFR. For each vowel the spectral peaks at first formant harmonics dominated the spectrum at high stimulus levels suggesting formant capture. The observation of less robust peaks for harmonics between the formants may very well suggest selective suppression to enhance spectral peaks at the formant frequencies. These results suggest that the scalp-recorded FFR may provide for a non-invasive analytic window to evaluate neural encoding of speech sounds in the brainstem of normal-hearing individuals and how this encoding may be degraded subsequent to cochlear hearing impairment.
The RFI (request for information) as a tool to identify an optimal departmental and institutional PACS

This paper presents a philosophy of institution-wide PACS implementation that provides a framework for deciding, "What is the optimal time to install PACS?". The analogy is made to the purchase of a personal computer, the key determination being whether the technology can appropriately satisfy the application's need without compromise. This requires a clear knowledge of one's institutional needs, coupled with knowledge about the state of the industry. Both these can be satisfied by putting out an RFI (Request for Information). The components of the RFI are discussed and the shortfalls in technological advancements that it uncovers are highlighted.
RESPONSES OF AMERICAN CROW POPULATIONS TO CAMPGROUNDS IN REMOTE NATIVE FOREST LANDSCAPES

Abstract We assessed the effect of campgrounds on American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) populations on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, USA, because crows are potential nest predators for marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus). We measured resource use, home range, relative abundance, and reproduction for 39 crows in 13 campgrounds that varied in size and proximity to other sources of anthropogenic food. Campgrounds concentrated crow populations and individual resource use. However, campgrounds did not provide optimal conditions for reproduction. Instead, reproduction was highest for crows that accessed exurban areas surrounding campgrounds. Concentration of use in exurban lands by 6 crows that nested >5 km from camprounds or human settlements confirmed the far-reaching effects of human activity in this area on crows. We concluded that human settlements fueled crow population growth on the Olympic Peninsula, and remote campgrounds absorbed this growth through colonization. As exurban crow popula...
Reflections on the History of Computers in Mass Spectrometry

As with other analytical instruments, the development of computers and coupling them with mass spectrometers literally revolutionized the field and opened up many new applications from the 1960s to present day. The oil companies were the first to utilize computers in the late 1950s to facilitate complex calculations involved in determining crude-oil mixes. High resolution mass spectrometry measurements at academic institutions began to utilize computers to assist with accurate reading of photographic plates and calculation of accurate masses. The development of GC/MS and its application in such areas as the environmental industry led to increased demand for greater productivity and the need for automatic collection, storage, and interpretation of mass spectral data. As computers increased processing speed and storage capacity, real time applications became viable, and in the mid 1970s, many MS systems were completely digitally controlled while some were ‘autotuned’. Since the 70s, MALDI, LC/MS, and Tandem MS have experienced huge growth and acceptance owing to the ability to perform real-time, complex control, acquisition and reduction of MS systems and data.
"That Demonic Game": The Campaign to Stop Indian Pelota Playing in Spanish Florida, 1675–1684

In the last quarter of the seventeenth century the Spanish officials of Florida, both religious and civil, became convinced that a certain game of ball played by the Christian Indians was detrimental to their bodies, their souls, and the peace of the provinces of Apalache and Ustaqua. During a ten-year campaign this time-honored custom was investigated, argued over and finally outlawed. The story of this crusade against a ballgame is valuable for both the ethnologist and the Spanish colonial historian. For the ethnologist it is important because among the documents is a lengthy description of the game and its associated myths and magic: “Origin and beginnings of the game of pelota which the Apalache and Ustaqua Indians have played since pagan times up to the year 1676, brought to light by the Reverend Father Fray Juan de Paiva, Father of the mission of San Luis de Talimali. September 23, 1676.” For the colonial historian, the campaign demonstrates the identification of conversion with sovereignty long past contact and conquest, as well as the interwoven relationships among civil and religious authorities, unofficial Spanish residents, and native nobility.
Central serous chorioretinopathy in a 91-year-old woman

A 91-year-old Caucasian woman presented at the New England Eye Center at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts in February 2012, with decreased vision in her left eye. She had a history of high blood pressure, thyroid disease and polymyalgia rheumatica. She was pseudophakic and had primary open angle glaucoma. On presentation, she was taking 2 mg of prednisone daily for polymyalgia rheumatica. On ophthalmic examination, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/25 in the right eye and 20/60 in the left eye. Dilated fundus examination showed mild retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) changes in the macula in her right eye and subretinal fluid involving the macula in her left eye (figure 1). Fluorescein angiography (FA) showed a well-demarcated area of hyperfluorescence in her left eye with leakage in the late phase (figure 1). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the left eye revealed a thickened choroid that could not be accurately measured because the choroidoscleral interface was not visualised. By estimates, it was more than two-times thicker than the age-adjusted normal of 225 μm.1 OCT also showed an exudative retinal detachment consistent with the diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) (figure 1). The right eye also had a thicker than normal choroid measuring 459 μm from the outer border of the hyper-reflective RPE to the inner aspect of the choroidoscleral interface beneath the fovea, but without exudative retinal detachment, RPE detachment or evidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (figure 1). Figure 1 (A) Colour fundus photograph of the left eye showing subretinal fluid in the macula (black arrow). (B and C) FA (early and late frames respectively) of the left eye showing a …
Electrooptic Materials Requirements for Optical Information Processing and Computing

Photorefractive materials comprise an important category of electrooptic materials, and are important constituent elements in a wide range of devices designed specifically for use in optical information processing and computing systems. Critical issues affecting the development and applicability of photorefractive materials are examined from the perspective of photonic neural network implementations that incorporate photorefractive volume holographic interconnections.
Clinical Deterioration and Early Imaging Changes after Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator Administration in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Background and Purpose Clinical worsening is a known complication following acute ischemic stroke. This study attempted to determine the mechanism of deterioration by correlating clinical findings with changes on computed tomography or magnetic resonance. Methods From a single university medical center, 30 consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients who received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator within 3 hours of symptom onset during a 3-year period were identified from a quality database that included all hospitalized patients either admitted with strokes or with in-hospital strokes. Images were reviewed by a single neuroradiologist for changes including edema, extension of infarct, hemorrhage, herniation, and midline shift and were correlated to National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores obtained from data in the medical chart. Results Ten patients had documented clinical deterioration with a corresponding increase in the NIHSS score. Of these, 4 patients had follow-up scans that showed worsening changes concurrent with deterioration. In the 20 patients who remained clinically stable, 3 patients had worsening changes on follow-up scans. Patients who deteriorated were no more likely to have imaging changes than those who had a stable clinical course. Appearance of herniation, both subfalcine and uncal, was the only specific imaging change associated with clinical deterioration. Conclusions This study demonstrates that processes besides hemorrhage, including edema, midline shift, herniation, extension of infarct, and new infarct, are neither frequent nor specific for predicting clinical course. Other factors associated with these processes that may or may not be quantifiable on imaging are likely involved. Furthermore, in over half of the cases of worsening, deterioration occurs without associated imaging, metabolic, or infectious etiologies.
Linear Inverse Problems and Non-Gaussian Statistics

This chapter explores the consequence of data having non-Gaussian statistics. In these cases, the method of least squares is inappropriate, and different solution techniques must be applied. The exponential p.d.f. is especially useful, because it corresponds to the frequently encountered case where data outliers are common. A method of transforming the linear problem with exponential statistics into a linear programming problem is developed. It leads to a class of inverse problem solutions that minimizes some combination of prediction error and model error, as quantified under the L 1 norm. A similar transformation method for the L ∞ norm is also developed.
Cast Out and Punished: The Experiences of Care Leavers in Jordan

Jordanian care leavers ageing out of care describe experiences similar to those reported in other countries, including struggles to continue education, finding accommodation and coping financially. A specific finding is that cultural values of patriarchy, family life and collectivism characteristic across Arab countries pervasively impact many post-care experiences. Reasons bringing young people into care, and lack of family most experience upon leaving care, increase risks of stigmatization. For many, managing their post-care identity in a patriarchal, family-based culture proved difficult. Some care leavers received exceptional support; however, challenges were exacerbated by cultural values explicit in a society that is patriarchal, family-based and honour-bound. Drawing on findings of a qualitative study with 42 care leavers, the chapter elucidates how stigma increases vulnerability, and how this social disadvantage exacerbates challenges inherent in transitional journeys. Implications for policy and practice are addressed; however, structures producing discrimination and perpetuating cycles of vulnerability must be tackled for change to occur. The consequences of such stigmatization warrant including cultural perspectives in frameworks addressing leaving care.
An Introduction to Armenian Periodicals of the Eastern Mediterranean: A Bibliographic Study

ABSTRACTThe periodical press of the Armenian communities of the Eastern Mediterranean represents an archive of social, literary, political, and economic expressions of these historical Armenian communities. Despite their large numbers, they remain relatively unknown in North America. This article fills in this gap by addressing what these periodicals were and how the fate of the majority of them was tied to the histories of the communities in which they arose, functioned, and ceased to exist over the 19th and 20th centuries. More importantly, the author provides a cohesive picture about possible access to the digital surrogates of these periodicals.
Exchange Rate Models

This technical note describes parity conditions (PPP, UIP, and CIP) and develops a model of exchange rate determination. Excerpt UVA-BP-0496 Rev. Feb. 22, 2017 Exchange Rate Models This note presents a comprehensive model of exchange rate determination. Where possible, it leverages knowledge about international macroeconomics that many MBA students have. Different factors affect exchange rates in the short, medium, and long term, and at any point in time, it is difficult to ascertain which factor is currently the overriding determinant. Our framework will carefully present the short-, medium-, and long-run determinants; by doing so, it should leave the student with a rich understanding of the drivers of exchange rates. Terms and Conventions . . .
Applied Benjamin: Educational Thought, Research and Pedagogy

Our interest in this essay is how Walter Benjamin might be of use in efforts to shift the imaginary of educational thought, research and pedagogy in the contemporary moment, what might be called “applied Benjamin” (Menninghaus, 1999, p. 200). Within poststructural work in education, Benjamin will be situated as a precursor where he has much to say about a variety of topics: language production and translation; interpretation, allegory and storytelling; image, representations and the “aura”; memory, remembrance and narrative; urban modernization and commodification; historical knowledge (truth) and discontinuity; praxis and progress (historical); and “dialectical” images. After a brief introduction to Benjamin, the essay will survey the ways he has been, and might still and yet be put to use in education. We will then unpack the central themes of such application in terms of how his work can be used to articulate a different sort of thought, research and pedagogy in education.
Atherosusceptible Shear Stress Activates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress to Promote Endothelial Inflammation

Atherosclerosis impacts arteries where disturbed blood flow renders the endothelium susceptible to inflammation. Cytokine activation of endothelial cells (EC) upregulates VCAM-1 receptors that target monocyte recruitment to atherosusceptible regions. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress elicits EC dysregulation in metabolic syndrome. We hypothesized that ER plays a central role in mechanosensing of atherosusceptible shear stress (SS) by signaling enhanced inflammation. Aortic EC were stimulated with low-dose TNFα (0.3 ng/ml) in a microfluidic channel that produced a linear SS gradient over a 20mm field ranging from 0-16 dynes/cm2. High-resolution imaging of immunofluorescence along the monolayer provided a continuous spatial metric of EC orientation, markers of ER stress, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression, and monocyte recruitment. VCAM-1 peaked at 2 dynes/cm2 and decreased to below static TNFα-stimulated levels at atheroprotective-SS of 12 dynes/cm2, whereas ICAM-1 rose to a maximum in parallel with SS. ER expansion and activation of the unfolded protein response also peaked at 2 dynes/cm2, where IRF-1-regulated VCAM-1 expression and monocyte recruitment also rose to a maximum. Silencing of PECAM-1 or key ER stress genes abrogated SS regulation of VCAM-1 transcription and monocyte recruitment. We report a novel role for ER stress in mechanoregulation at arterial regions of atherosusceptible-SS inflamed by low-dose TNFα.
Analysis of the Hermite spectrum in plasma turbulence

The properties of the Hermite spectrum associated with the linear drift-kinetic equation—as used in studies of gyrokinetic turbulence—are examined. A rigorous uniform asymptotic expression is derived for the steady-state spectrum with a Lenard-Bernstein collision operator. It is found that the spectrum is partitioned into three regions whose boundaries are determined by the ratio of the collision frequency ν to the parallel transit frequency kvth. In the regime of small Hermite index, n, with n ≲ (ν/kvth)2/3, collisions play no role, and the free energy decays like n−1/2 due to phase mixing. In the previously unexplored large-n regime, n≥(ν/kvth)2, collisions are dominant, and the decay of the free energy spectrum is extremely steep, falling off like (n/e)−n. Most of the free energy is dissipated in the intermediate regime, (ν/kvth)2/3 ≲ n≪(ν/kvth)2, where the asymptotic spectrum is in close agreement with the exponentially decaying “continuization” estimate. Our analysis shows that collisions act as a si...
Preperitoneal pelvic packing is effective for hemorrhage control in open pelvic fractures.

Abstract Background Open pelvic fractures are life-threatening injuries. Preperitoneal pelvic packing (PPP) has been suggested to be ineffective for hemorrhage control in open pelvic fractures. We hypothesize that PPP is effective at hemorrhage control in patients with open pelvic fractures and reduces mortality. Methods Patients undergoing PPP from 2005 to 2015 were analyzed. Patients with open pelvic fractures were defined as direct communication of the bony injury with overlying soft tissue, vagina, or rectum. Results During the 10-year study, 126 patients underwent PPP; 14 (11%) sustained an open pelvic fracture. After PPP, 1 patient (7%) underwent angioembolization with a documented arterial blush. PPP controlled pelvic hemorrhage in all patients. Overall mortality rate was 7% with one death due to traumatic brain injury. Conclusions PPP is effective for hemorrhage control in patients with open pelvic fractures. PPP should be used in a standard protocol for hemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic fractures regardless of associated perineal injuries.
SHAPES OF 3HE CLUSTERS

It has been established that a dominant factor controllingthe ground-state properties and shapes of disparate ﬁnitefermion systems ~such as nuclei and simple-metal clusters,whose nature of bonding and cohesion are of very differentorigins with widely differing characteristic energetic andspatial scales! are the shell effects resulting from level de-generacies in conjunction with the Pauli principle ~e.g.,for nuclei see Ref. 1; for simple metal clusters see Refs. 2and 3!.In contrast to heavier noble-gas clusters,
Active Flow Control by Micro Systems

Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) technology provides miniature sensors and actuators. These MEMS transducers enable the ability to control flows in a new domain. In this paper, flow control issues in length scales differing in over six orders of magnitude will be discussed. Within a hand-held device, we will detect biological agents through DNA/RNA identification using MEMS fabricated filters, pumps, and sensors. Methods for handling minute amount of fluid in an accurate and efficient manner are challenging problems. On the other extremity, micro-sensors and micro-actuators can be used to control macro aerodynamic devices. With the use of flexible MEMS shear stress sensors and “bubble” actuators, leading edge vortices can now be altered with near real-time response. This leads to full control of a delta wing aircraft and provides the possibility of a future agile, tailless, and stealthy aircraft.
The FCPA, Foreign Agents, and Lessons from the Halliburton Enforcement Action

The recent Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement action against Halliburton Company and its affiliated entities sends a "proceed with caution" message to any company seeking to engage a foreign agent to assist in obtaining or retaining business. The action and its resolution also reinforce the importance of the minimum due diligence metrics the FCPA enforcement agencies expect a company to undertake before engaging a foreign agent. Parent companies should pay particular attention to the Halliburton action because the due diligence expectations will apply not only to agents it engages, but also agents engaged by all subsidiaries and affiliates over which the parent company exercises control and supervision. This article first addresses how foreign agents can greatly expand a company's overseas business opportunities and how engagement of foreign agents has become the norm when seeking business opportunities abroad. Next, a limited FCPA background is provided to properly understand the FCPA risks of engaging foreign agents. Thereafter, this article provides an in-depth discussion of topically relevant facts from the Halliburton enforcement action. Finally, this article ends with a discussion of FCPA due diligence strategies that a company should employ when engaging foreign agents in order to minimize FCPA risks.
Gender Differences in Self-Reported Response to Troubles Talk

Tannen [(1990) You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation, New York: William Morrow] and others have argued that women and men differ in communication style, and particularly in the way they respond to “troubles talk.” However, her research on gender differences in communication style has primarily made use of qualitative analysis of naturally occurring discourse. A Communication Styles Survey was developed to assess self-reported behavioral and emotional responses in “troubles talk” situations. This survey was administered to a total of 384 participants, the majority of whom were Caucasian college students. Statistically significant gender differences consistent with Tannen's predictions were found but the effect sizes tended to be small. Self-reported responses to troubles talk (such as giving advice) showed consistent individual differences among persons; for example, some persons tend to report themselves as “advice givers” or “jokers” across a wide range of troubles talk situations.
Desialylation in physiological and pathological processes: New target for diagnostic and therapeutic development.

Abstract Desialylation is a pivotal part of sialic acid metabolism, which initiates the catabolism of glycans by removing the terminal sialic acid residues on glycans, thereby modulating the structure and functions of glycans, glycoproteins, or glycolipids. The functions of sialic acids have been well recognized, whereas the function of desialylation process is underappreciated or largely ignored. However, accumulating evidence demonstrates that desialylation plays an important role in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. This chapter summarizes the current knowledge pertaining to desialylation in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, with a focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms. The potential of targeting desialylation process for diagnostic and therapeutic development is also discussed.
Light element discontinuities suggest an early termination of star formation in the globular cluster NGC 6402 (M14)

NGC 6402 is among the most massive globular clusters in the Galaxy, but little is known about its detailed chemical composition. Therefore, we obtained radial velocities and/or chemical abundances of 11 elements for 41 red giant branch cluster members using high resolution spectra obtained with the Magellan-M2FS instrument. We find NGC 6402 to be only moderately metal-poor with $\langle$[Fe/H]$\rangle$ = $-$1.13 dex ($\sigma$ = 0.05 dex) and to have a mean heliocentric radial velocity of $-$61.1 km s$^{\rm -1}$ ($\sigma$ = 8.5 km s$^{\rm -1}$). In general, NGC 6402 exhibits mean composition properties that are similar to other inner Galaxy clusters, such as [$\alpha$/Fe] $\sim$ $+$0.3 dex, [Cr,Ni/Fe] $\sim$ 0.0 dex, and $\langle$[La/Eu]$\rangle$ = $-$0.08 dex. Similarly, we find large star-to-star abundance variations for O, Na, Mg, Al, and Si that are indicative of gas that experienced high temperature proton-capture burning. Interestingly, we detect three distinct populations, but also find large gaps in the [O/Fe], [Na/Fe], and [Al/Fe] distributions that may provide the first direct evidence of delayed formation for intermediate composition stars. A qualitative enrichment model is discussed where clusters form stars through an early ($ $ 40 Myr), which results in the dilution of processed and pristine gas and the formation of intermediate composition stars. For NGC 6402, the missing intermediate composition stars suggest the delayed phase terminated prematurely, and as a result the cluster may uniquely preserve details of the chemical enrichment process.
Comparison of Anderson-Green Growth-Remaining Graphs and White-Menelaus Predictions of Growth Remaining in the Distal Femoral and Proximal Tibial Physes.

Background Epiphysiodesis of the distal femoral and/or proximal tibial physes is commonly performed in children and adolescents to treat lower-limb length discrepancy. It is important to determine the amount of growth remaining in the physes of these patients. Two main methods are used to make this determination: the White-Menelaus arithmetic method, which assumes a consistent amount of growth per year until skeletal maturity, and the Anderson-Green growth-remaining charts, which diagram average growth per year ± 2 standard deviations. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate these apparently disparate predictions of growth remaining in a cohort of patients managed with epiphysiodesis. Methods From a database of patients managed with epiphysiodesis for lower-limb length discrepancy, we identified all healthy, unoperated leg segments with follow-up to skeletal maturity. We compared the amount of observed growth with the growth predicted by the White-Menelaus method and the Anderson-Green growth-remaining graphs, for both skeletal and chronological ages. Results A total of 441 healthy segments (201 femora and 240 tibiae) in 221 patients (105 boys and 116 girls) with an age range of 9.0 to 16.5 years at the time of epiphysiodesis were analyzed. We observed no relationship between the length percentile of the leg segments at the time of epiphysiodesis and the amount of growth that actually occurred. Growth in the distal femoral and proximal tibial physes was relatively constant (9 and 6 mm per year of skeletal growth, respectively). Skeletal age was a better predictor of growth remaining than chronological age for both methods of estimation. Although the distribution of growth remaining in the present study resembled the Anderson-Green growth-remaining charts, that distribution was not associated with the initial length of leg segments. Conclusions The White-Menelaus method predicted the amount of growth remaining more accurately than the Anderson-Green growth-remaining charts. The distribution of growth remaining observed in the present study resembled that of the Anderson-Green growth-remaining graphs but was not predicted by the initial bone segment length. Clinical relevance The present study found no positive association between the length percentile of leg segments and the amount of growth that occurred in an epiphysiodesis-age group. This finding can explain the comparative accuracy of the White-Menelaus method and the possible source of prediction errors in the straight-line graph and multiplier methods.
How Do Older Adults Consider Age, Life Expectancy, Quality of Life, and Physician Recommendations When Making Cancer Screening Decisions? Results from a National Survey Using a Discrete Choice Experiment.

Background. Older adults with limited life expectancy frequently receive cancer screening, although on average, harms outweigh benefits. We examined the influence of life expectancy on older adults...
Framatome Antistratification Device for Steam Generator Feedwater Nozzle: Effectiveness, Qualification Test, and On-Site Measurements

Thermal stratification may be responsible for the development of severe cracks in the feedwater line of steam generators in pressurized water reactors, leading Framatome to carry out an experimenta...
Results of the automated power systems management /APSM/ program and future technology implementation

The APSM program was initiated in 1975. The purpose of this program was to develop and demonstrate the technology and benefits of autonomous operation of planetary spacecraft power systems to meet the projected requirements of future missions. Development of the APSM program was based on implementing a selected set of autonomous functions in a state-of-the-art breadboard power system. A distributed microcomputer system was developed to implement the functions. Several critical programmatic elements were identified as necessary to implement autonomous functions. These elements, including proper skill combination, well defined autonomous functions, and management of the software design and development task, were found to be more significant than hardware management. The incorporation of APSM technology in future space programs is also discussed.
Vacuum Tube Amplifiers

The invention of the transistor has made vacuum tubes obsolete in virtually all applications, except for one major exception. Musical instrument amplifiers in general and guitar amps in particular have proven to be one of the last refuges for tube-based designs. No one can argue that modern solid-state amplifiers are efficient, inexpensive, and capable of sounding great too. However, vacuum tube amplifiers, which we will simply call “tube amps” from now on, have a certain sonic quality that really can’t be duplicated with transistors or op amps. This chapter introduces some basic vacuum tube design and analysis methods, as well as several practical guitar amplifier circuits, construction techniques, and parts suppliers.