cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Initial Experience with High Frequency Ultrasound for the Newborn C57BL Mouse

The mouse has become a powerful genetic tool for studying genes involved in cardiac development and congenital heart disease. Many of the most severe congenital heart defects are ductal-dependent, resulting in neonatal lethality. Recent advances in ultrasound technology provide an opportunity for the use of high-frequency transducers to characterize the cardiac anatomy and physiology of the newborn mouse. In this study, we define limited normative values for cardiac structure and function in the C57BL newborn mouse. Specifically, we define normal values for 19 indices derived from standard echocardiographic views. This study demonstrates that transthoracic echocardiography using a 40-MHz high-frequency transducer is a safe and reliable noninvasive modality for the delineation of cardiac anatomy and physiology in the newborn mouse.
MORE ABOUT JUDGMENT AND REASON

This paper is a response to Siegel 2004. I take Siegel's remarks as a basis for clarifying, defending, and further developing my account of the role of judgment in a theory of rationality. An article in the October 2004 issue of Metaphilosophy by Harvey Siegel discusses the judgment-based model of reason advocated by Trudy Grovier and myself. While Siegel has some criticisms of that model, they are offered in a constructive spirit. Siegel attempts to advance discussion by proposing a hybrid account of reason that integrates judgment with the rules and principles central to the classical model of rationality that Grovier and I seek to replace. In this response, speaking only for myself, I will proceed in the same spirit as Siegel and attempt to advance discussion, rather than just defend my own earlier position
Eating Disorders in the Adolescent Population: An Overview

Although eating disorders often begin during adolescence, characteristics of this population can complicate early detection by clinicians. The purpose of this article is to selectively review the literature on the diagnostic criteria for eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder) as described in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) and International Classification of Diseases (10th ed.). The prevalence and course of eating disorders, theories regarding their etiology, and issues of comorbidity and differential diagnosis are also discussed.
Building robust and decentralized tactical name services with JXTA: Performance issues and solutions

Discovering tactical resources (a.k.a. name service or service discovery) in a robust, decentralized, and scalable fashion is critical for the success of tactical communications, particularly in dismounted segments consisting of dismounted soldiers/sensors and mounted segments formed by combat and support vehicles, combat Headquarters (HQ) and Command Post (CP). JXTA—the de facto standard of P2P programming frameworks—offers a promising open-source technology for building such a tactical name service. However, since JXTA is primarily built for Internet based P2P applications, we face several challenging issues in adapting this open-source technology to tactical networks for the tactical name service. In this paper, we identify algorithmic deficiencies in the JXTA 2.0 reference implementation and propose novel algorithms to overcome the deficiencies in tactical networks. We show through simulation that the proposed algorithms achieve much better lookup performance and consume lower bandwidth than the ones implemented in the JXTA 2.0 reference implementation under tactical networking scenarios.
Synchronization of interconnected systems with an input-output approach. Part I: Main results

This paper provides synchronization conditions for networks of nonlinear systems, where each component of the network itself consists of subsystems represented as operators in the extended L 2 space. The synchronization conditions are provided by combining the input-output properties of the subsystems with information about the structure of network. The work is motivated by cellular networks where signaling occurs both internally, through interactions of species, and externally, through intercellular signaling. The companion paper [1] explores results for state-space models as well as biochemical applications.
Iterative-Constructive Standard Cell Placer for High Speed and Low Power

Timing and low power emerge as the most important goals in contemporary design. Meanwhile, the majority of placement algorithms developed by industry and academia still compete on the bases of the shorter combined interconnection length. In this paper, we present a standard cell placer that has timing and power minimization as main goals and is substantially superior in this respect to the popular commercial timing-driven placer. Simultaneously, the new placer is at least as good as the commercial placer w/r to the combined interconnection length. The improvement in timing and power is achieved by careful balancing between iterative and constructive parts of the placement procedure implemented by dynamic reevaluation of constraints for the constructive part of the algorithm. The new placer improves timing by 23% on the average, or for the same timing, reduces power by 14% on the average. It runs more than 2 times faster than the commercial tool.
Performance analysis of multilevel congestion controls in BISDN

The paper presents a model of a network with multiple controls that are hierarchically arranged in time, based on the time constants of events they control. The authors model the network with such hierarchical controls as a closed multi-chain queueing network and use a quasi static approximation based on a hierarchical decomposition technique to solve the model. They determine the blocking probability at the call level and burst level, as well as the waiting time distribution for bursts that are blocked. They investigate the trade off in performance that can be achieved at different levels in the hierarchical control model. >
Finding 3D parametric representations of the deep cortical folds

Parametric representations of anatomical structures provide useful mathematical descriptions for many medical imaging applications, including morphological analysis of the brain. Here, the authors develop a methodology for obtaining a parametric representation of the deep cortical folds of the brain utilizing characteristics of the cortical shape. They first find a mathematical representation of the outer cortical surface using a deformable surface algorithm. Using the principal curvatures of the resulting surface, the authors then identify the edges on the sulci on it, and they initialize active contours along them. An external force field guides an active contour to the deep edge of a sulcus, along the medial surface of a cortical fold. A parametric description of a sulcal surface is obtained as the active contour traverses the sulcus, sweeping a surface resembling a convoluted ribbon embedded in 3D. Here, the authors present results using magnetic resonance images.
A two-component system in Ralstonia (Pseudomonas) solanacearum modulates production of PhcA-regulated virulence factors in response to 3- hydroxypalmitic acid methyl ester

Expression of virulence factors in Ralstonia solanacearum is controlled by a complex regulatory network, at the center of which is PhcA, a LysR family transcriptional regulator. We report here that expression of phcA and production of PhcA-regulated virulence factors are affected by products of the putative operon phcBSR(Q). phcB is required for production of an extracellular factor (EF), tentatively identified as the fatty acid derivative 3-hydroxypalmitic acid methyl ester (3-OH PAME), but a biochemical function for PhcB could not be deduced from DNA sequence analysis. The other genes in the putative operon are predicted to encode proteins homologous to members of two-component signal transduction systems: PhcS has amino acid similarity to histidine kinase sensors, whereas PhcR and OrfQ are similar to response regulators. PhcR is quite unusual because its putative output domain strongly resembles the histidine kinase domain of a sensor protein. Production of the PhcA-regulated factors exopolysaccharide I, endoglucanase, and pectin methyl esterase was reduced 10- to 100-fold only in mutants with a nonpolar insertion in phcB [which express phcSR(Q) in the absence of the EF]; simultaneously, expression of phcA was reduced fivefold. Both a wild-type phenotype and phcA expression were restored by addition of 3-OH PAME to growing cultures. Mutants with polar insertions in phcB or lacking the entire phcBSR(Q) region produced wild-type levels of PhcA-regulated virulence factors. The genetic data suggest that PhcS and PhcR function together to regulate expression of phcA, but the biochemical mechanism for this is unclear. At low levels of the EF, it is likely that PhcS phosphorylates PhcR, and then PhcR interacts either with PhcA (which is required for full expression of phcA) or an unknown component of the signal cascade to inhibit expression of phcA. When the EF reaches a threshold concentration, we suggest that it reduces the ability of PhcS to phosphorylate PhcR, resulting in increased expression of phcA and production of PhcA-regulated factors.
Hot-electron-induced instability in 0.5- mu m p-channel MOSFETs patterned using synchrotron X-ray lithography

Radiation damage caused by X-ray includes positive oxide charge, neutral traps, and interface states. Although several annealing steps are performed throughout the entire fabrication process, the radiation damage, particularly neutral traps, is not completely annealed out. The hot-electron-induced instability in p-channel MOSFETs is significantly increased due to the enhanced electron trapping in the oxide by residual traps. However, the degradation in n-channel MOSFETs due to channel-hot carriers is not significantly increased by X-ray lithography since n-channel MOSFETs are susceptible to interface state generation by hot carriers but are relatively insensitive to the degradation due to electron trapping. The results suggest that p-channel MOSFETs in addition to n-channel MOSFETs need to be carefully examined for hot carrier-induced instability in CMOS VLSI circuits patterned using X-ray lithography and/or when the radiation damage is incurred in the back-end-of-the-line processing. >
Active Capacitor Voltage Balancing in Single-Phase Flying-Capacitor Multilevel Power Converters

Two active capacitor voltage balancing schemes are proposed for single-phase (H-bridge) flying-capacitor multilevel converters. They are based on the circuit equations of flying-capacitor converters. Consequently, they can be implemented using straightforward control rules. In particular, the first technique is based on an algorithm which follows the standard multilevel modulation. Then, it utilizes a redundant state selection table for capacitor voltage balancing. In the second method, multiple duty cycles are defined and modulated in direct response to the capacitor voltages. The most important advantage of these two proposed methods is that they can be utilized to converters with any desired number of levels in their output voltage. Moreover, the analysis and implementation of both methods are straightforward. Through simulation and experimental implementation, these methods are shown to be effective on capacitor voltage regulation in flying-capacitor multilevel converters.
Sensory Detection and Recovery by Acid Degree Value of Fatty Acids Added to Milk

Abstract To evaluate the relationship between acid degree value and rancid off-flavor, milk samples were supplemented with varying concentrations of selected fatty acids. Recovery of added fatty acids into fat phase was influenced by level of supplementation and chain length. Short-chain fatty acids (C 4 to C 8 ) when added to milk at concentrations ≤.55 μmol/ml did not enter the fat phase recovered by acid degree value procedure in quantities comparable with those of similarly added medium- (C 10 to C 16 ) or long-chain (C 18:0 to C 18:1 ) fatty acids (.56 vs. 2.14 or 3.68 μmol FFA/g of fat). Except for C 4 , percentage recovery into the fatty phase tended to increase with increased rate of supplementation. Gas chromatographic procedures documented that chain length affected partitioning of fatty acids into the recovered fat phase. Long- and medium-chain fatty acids contributed more to the acid degree value than short-chain fatty acids because their hydrophobic nature resulted in their greater presence in the recovered fat. Flavor detection threshold for C 4 was low relative to that for C 18:1 (.20 vs. .55 μmol/ml). Capric acid (C 10 ) could not be detected at ≤.55 μmol/ml. Results indicate that acid degree value does not measure the short-chain fatty acids, which contribute to the threshold sensory detection of rancid off-flavor.
Primary aortoesophageal fistula: a rare but fatal cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

A68-year-old woman was admitted to our EmergencyDepartment for hematemesis several times within oneday. She had a history of poorly controlled hyperten-sion and suffered from left intracranial saccular aneu-rysm rupture twice with sequelae of right hemiplegia.The patient denied chest pain. On physical examina-tion, her heart rate was 120 beats/min with bloodpressure of 121/76 mmHg. Other physical examina-tions were unremarkable. Laboratory data showedhemoglobin [Hb] 100 g/L (normal range 120–160 g/L) without coagulopathy (platelet 315 × 10
Antisense inhibition of sorbitol synthesis leads to up-regulation of starch synthesis without altering CO2 assimilation in apple leaves

Sorbitol is a primary end-product of photosynthesis in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) and many other tree fruit species of the Rosaceae family. Sorbitol synthesis shares a common hexose phosphate pool with sucrose synthesis in the cytosol. In this study, ‘Greensleeves’ apple was transformed with a cDNA encoding aldose 6-phosphate reductase (A6PR, EC 1.1.1.200) in the antisense orientation. Antisense expression of A6PR decreased A6PR activity in mature leaves to approximately 15–30% of the untransformed control. The antisense plants had lower concentrations of sorbitol but higher concentrations of sucrose and starch in mature leaves at both dusk and predawn. 14CO2 pulse-chase labeling at ambient CO2 demonstrated that partitioning of the newly fixed carbon to starch was significantly increased, whereas that to sucrose remained unchanged in the antisense lines with decreased sorbitol synthesis. Total activities of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (EC 4.1.1.39), sucrose-phosphate synthase (EC 2.4.1.14), and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.27) were not significantly altered in the antisense lines, whereas both stromal and cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (EC 3.1.3.11) activities were higher in the antisense lines with 15% of the control A6PR activity. Concentrations of glucose 6-phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate (F6P) were higher in the antisense plants than in the control, but the 3-phosphoglycerate concentration was lower in the antisense plants with 15% of the control A6PR activity. Fructose 2, 6-bisphosphate concentration increased in the antisense plants, but not to the extent expected from the increase in F6P, comparing sucrose-synthesizing species. There was no significant difference in CO2 assimilation in response to photon flux density or intercellular CO2 concentration. We concluded that cytosolic FBPase activity in vivo was down-regulated and starch synthesis was up-regulated in response to decreased sorbitol synthesis. As a result, CO2 assimilation in source leaves was sustained at both ambient CO2 and saturating CO2.
Countering the Posteradication Threat of Smallpox and Polio

After eradication, there is a small but finite risk that smallpox and/or poliomyelitis viruses could accidentally escape from a laboratory or be released intentionally. The reintroduction of either virus into a highly susceptible population could develop into a serious catastrophe. To counter such an occurrence will require the use of vaccine, perhaps in substantial quantities. In the United States, new stocks of smallpox vaccine are being procured and arrangements are being made for a standby production facility. Similar provisions need to be considered for polio. To counter an epidemic of polio will require the use of the oral vaccine, which is presently the World Health Organization-recommended vaccine of choice for countries throughout the developing world. In these countries, its continued use is advised because of its ability to induce intestinal immunity, its ability to spread to other susceptible household members and to protect them, its ease of administration, and its low cost.
Family Man in the Other America: New Opportunities, Motivations, and Supports for Paternal Caregiving

This analysis draws on longitudinal, qualitative interviews with disadvantaged mothers and fathers who participated in the Fragile Families Study (a U.S. birth cohort study) to examine how issues related to men's employment, social support, skills, and motivation facilitated their care of young children in different relationship contexts. Interviews with parents indicate that while some motivated and skilled men actively chose to become caregivers with the support of mothers, others developed new motivations, skills, and parenting supports in response to situations in which they were out of work or the mother was experiencing challenges. These findings suggest that disadvantaged men who assume caregiving responsibilities take different paths to involvement in the early years after their child's birth. Policies that overlook paternal caregivers may not only miss the opportunity to support relationships that benefit at-risk children but also unintentionally undermine this involvement.
Capacitation and acrosomal exocytosis are enhanced by incubation of stallion spermatozoa in a commercial semen extender

Preserved stallion semen often has decreased spermatozoal motility and fertility that can vary significantly between individual stallions. It is not known whether the medium used for extending equine sperm contributes to these decreases by inducing premature capacitation during storage. If spermatozoa undergo capacitation or acrosome reaction prior to insemination, this could result in a diminished capacity to penetrate the cumulus mass and fertilize the egg. We hypothesized that skim milk-based semen extenders, similar to those used in cooled storage, stabilize sperm membranes and prolong sperm motility and longevity. However, this could decrease the efficiency of sperm to undergo subsequent capacitation in vivo. This study was designed to evaluate the effects from two media on sperm function. Spermatozoal motility was analyzed, intracellular calcium was measured, and the ability of sperm to undergo acrosome reaction was compared after incubation in a skim milk extender (SME) and Tyrode's medium containing albumin, lactate, and pyruvate (TALP) at 37 degrees C. Results suggest that the SME facilitated capacitation as detected by an increase in both intracellular calcium and acrosome reactions, and a decrease in motility, as compared to TALP. Our data support a shortened functional lifespan for equine sperm in skim milk extender, which indicates that further refinements in cooled semen preservation are required to improve fertility of transported equine semen.
A high gain rectifying antenna combined with reflectarray for 8 GHz wireless power transmission

This paper presents a novel high gain rectifying antenna for 8 GHz wireless power transmission. A reflectarray is combined with the rectifying antenna to achieve high gain. An 8×1 rectenna array is also designed as a feed antenna of the reflectarray. The rectenna array has a return loss of 29 dB at 8 GHz. The rectenna array and the reflectarray have a gain of 15.07 dBi and 18.6 dBi, respectively. Due to the high gain property of the reflectarray, the combined rectenna array can be expected to achieve higher output power with a smaller area.
Sequence-Dependent Base-Stacking Stabilities Guide tRNA Folding Energy Landscapes

The folding of bacterial tRNAs with disparate sequences has been observed to proceed in distinct folding mechanisms despite their structural similarity. To explore the folding landscapes of tRNA, we performed ion concentration-dependent coarse-grained TIS model MD simulations of several E. coli tRNAs to compare their thermodynamic melting profiles to the classical absorbance spectra of Crothers and co-workers. To independently validate our findings, we also performed atomistic empirical force field MD simulations of tRNAs, and we compared the base-to-base distances from coarse-grained and atomistic MD simulations to empirical base-stacking free energies. We then projected the free energies to the secondary structural elements of tRNA, and we observe distinct, parallel folding mechanisms whose differences can be inferred on the basis of their sequence-dependent base-stacking stabilities. In some cases, a premature, nonproductive folding intermediate corresponding to the Ψ hairpin loop must backtrack to the unfolded state before proceeding to the folded state. This observation suggests a possible explanation for the fast and slow phases observed in tRNA folding kinetics.
Ureteroscopy in 2012: The Scope of the Scope

Ureteroscopy (URS) is an increasingly utilized treatment modality for a variety of upper urinary tract pathologies, including renal and ureteral calculi, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, ureteral strictures, and upper tract tumors. Although utilization patterns for the various treatment modalities can be extracted from billing records, case logs, and a variety of national datasets, the factors responsible for these practice patterns are not readily apparent from these data. The choice of treatment modality for upper tract pathology is complex, taking into account not only clinical outcomes but also patient and physician preferences, demographics of the community, and practice and economic factors. Although evidence-based clinical indications for URS should remain the focus for the practitioner, an awareness of these competing pressures may help the urologist avoid bias but also be cognizant of economic considerations in his/her choice of treatment modality.
Condicionantes da aprendizagem da matemática: uma revisão sistêmica da literatura

Para alem da linguagem natural, o ser humano nasce com o sentido inato de numero. Temos a capacidade de determinar o numero de objetos de uma pequena colecao, de contar e de fazer adicoes e subtracoes simples sem necessidade de instrucao direta. Por volta dos dez anos, uma crianca compreende cerca de 10.000 palavras e fala a sua lingua materna com 95% de precisao. Contudo, por volta dos onze anos, algumas criancas ja afirmam nao conseguir compreender matematica. Por que essa diferenca? Uma razao e que a linguagem falada e o sentido de numero sao capacidades de sobrevivencia, mas a matematica abstrata nao o e. Ao discutir os condicionantes do ensino dessa area do conhecimento, este artigo consiste em uma revisao bibliografica acerca dos problemas do ensino da matematica. Que teia de interacoes se estabelece no processo ensino-aprendizagem dessa disciplina? Quanto do que se tem dito e escrito a respeito desse processo nao passa de preconceito ou mito? Com este artigo, pretende-se contribuir, de algum modo, para a desmistificacao e a melhoria no sucesso da disciplina de matematica. Para tanto, e fundamental compreender o enquadramento estruturante da investigacao teorica acerca de diferentes abordagens do conceito de aprendizagem e do que podera estar em causa, especificamente, nas dificuldades da aprendizagem da matematica. Isso significa rever um conjunto de condicionantes internos (funcionamento do cerebro, lingua falada e estilo de aprendizagem) e condicionantes externos (fatores socioculturais e estilos de ensino).
Preheparinization improves organ function after hemorrhage and resuscitation.

Recent studies indicate that heparinization before hemorrhage maintains microvascular patency in the liver and kidney during and after severe hemorrhagic shock. However, it is not known whether preheparinization has any protective effects on organ function after hemorrhage and resuscitation. To study this, unanesthetized rats (with or without preheparinization) were bled to and maintained at a mean arterial pressure of 40 mmHg until 40% of the maximum shed blood volume was returned in the form of Ringer lactate (RL). They were then resuscitated with four times the volume of the shed blood with RL. Cardiac output (CO), [3H]inulin clearance (CIn; renal function), hepatic microvascular blood flow (HMBF), and hepatocellular function (HF), i.e., maximal velocity of indocyanine green clearance (Vmax), were determined 1.5 h after resuscitation. Although CO decreased in both groups, the values in preheparinized rats were significantly higher than in the nonheparinized rats. The improvement in CIn as well as HMBF followed the same trends. HF (Vmax) was significantly depressed in the nonheparinized rats but was maintained in preheparinized rats. Thus administration of heparin before the onset of hemorrhage improves CO and renal function and restores HF to control after hemorrhage and resuscitation. These protective effects of preheparinization could be due to the maintenance of microvascular patency and prevention of blood sludging during and after hemorrhage.
Grid and Cloud Computing

How does cloud computing differ from grid computing? Grid computing usually involves scheduled scientific or engineering computing done on a distributed network of computers and/or supercomputers. The applications for clouds are often a bit more mundane but also are more encompassing than grids. The basic idea is that organizations can rent time on an outside provider’s data center(s) to host applications, software and services that are more traditionally provided by in-house computing facilities. Both grids and cloud computing are accessed through the Internet.
Behavioral Nutrition Interventions Using e- and m-Health Communication Technologies: A Narrative Review

e- and m-Health communication technologies are now common approaches to improving population health. The efficacy of behavioral nutrition interventions using e-health technologies to decrease fat intake and increase fruit and vegetable intake was demonstrated in studies conducted from 2005 to 2009, with approximately 75% of trials showing positive effects. By 2010, an increasing number of behavioral nutrition interventions were focusing on body weight. The early emphasis on interventions that were highly computer tailored shifted to personalized electronic interventions that included weight and behavioral self-monitoring as key features. More diverse target audiences began to participate, and mobile components were added to interventions. Little progress has been made on using objective measures rather than self-reported measures of dietary behavior. A challenge for nutritionists is to link with the private sector in the design, use, and evaluation of the many electronic devices that are now available in the marketplace for nutrition monitoring and behavioral change.
Zooplankton community changes confound the biodilution theory of methylmercury accumulation in a recovering mercury-contaminated lake.

In this study, the biodilution hypothesis of methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation was examined in a Hg-contaminated ecosystem that has undergone concurrent changes in nutrient loading and zooplankton community composition. Using a long-term record of 17 years (between 1980 and 2009), we demonstrate that zooplankton MeHg concentrations in Onondaga Lake, NY, are strongly driven by changes in the zooplankton community and body size. MeHg concentrations in zooplankton increased with an increase in body size and biomass. The highest concentrations of MeHg were observed under eutrophic and hypereutrophic conditions when large-bodied Daphnia species, Daphnia pulicaria and Daphnia galeata mendotae, were present. Bioconcentration rather than biodilution was governing the accumulation of MeHg in zooplankton without apparent growth dilution or zooplankton biomass dilution. Algal-bloom dilution controlled the variability in the MeHg concentration only under hypereutrophic conditions when Ceriodaphnia predominated the cl...
Plantar Pressure Measurements During Ambulation in Weightbearing Conventional Short Leg Casts and Total Contact Casts

Total contact casts have been shown to be effective in healing plantar neuropathic ulcerations. The proposed mechanism of action is reduction of pressure over the ulcer during ambulation. However, there is little information to support this contention. Plantar pressure distribution was studied using standard short leg casts and total contact casts in normal feet. Both types of casts reduced forefoot pressure in study subjects. This occurred because of an increase in plantar surface area exposed to weightbearing forces. While increased force was shifted to the midfoot, there was no increase in pressure due to a corresponding increase in midfoot surface area exposed to this force. No significant difference was noted between standard short leg casts and total contact casts.
Neurologic diseases associated with viral infections.

Meningitis and encephalitis are uncommon but important complications of many acute systemic viral infections. In addition, the recent association of viruses with several subacute and chronic diseases has widened the potential spectrum of virus-related neurologic diseases.
PTU-238 Is colonoscopy following an episode of uncomplicated diverticulitis necessary?

Introduction Colonoscopy following an episode of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis is routinely practiced in many colorectal units. Internationally recognised guidelines advocate colonoscopy to confirm the diagnosis and exclude neoplasia. The evidence to suppot this is minimal. The aim here was to determine the incidence of colonic neoplasia identified at colonoscopy following an episode of uncomplicated diverticulitis in our unit. Method A retrospective study was conducted on patients admitted with CT confirmed uncomplicated diverticulitis over a period of 4 years within one trust. All patients included underwent a colonoscopy within 1 year of presentation. The main outcome measure was the incidence of invasive malignancy/advanced adenoma on colonoscopy performed within 1 year of admission Results Two hundred and seventy-three patients were admitted with uncomplicated diverticulitis over a period of 4 years. Two hundred and thirty-seven of these underwent colonoscopy within 1 year of admission. Seventy one (30%) patients had colonic polyps, nine (4.1%) patients had advanced adenomas and two patients were found to have an invasive malignancy. Eleven patients (4.9%) were therefore found to have neoplasia. According to age category (under the age of 50 versus over the age of 50), all cases of neoplasia were found to be present in the older age group. This was statistically significant (p Conclusion Patients found to have neoplasia at colonoscopy following an episode of uncomplicated diverticulitis here was 4.9%. This is no higher than the incidence of colonic neoplasia amongst the average population. Routinely performing colonoscopy after acute uncomplicated diverticulitis may therefore not be necessary. Disclosure of interest None Declared.
A Comparative Study on the Marcuse's and Giddens' Third Ways

From the view of content,Marcuse's third way,which was a middle way between socialism and capitalism,was based on the solution to capitalist society's problems while Giddens's third way was one way situated between the conservative party's new liberalism and the old Labor Party's democratic socialism.He chose this way in order that the left wing political party could come into power again.From the view of realization method,Marcuse's third mainly depended on "the initiative provocation" and "the big rejection";what's more,he opposed the parliament struggle,but Giddens's third way intended,mainly through the parliament struggle,to realize ruling party status.From the view of social basis,Marcuse paid more attention to the lowest social stratum,but Giddens paid great attention to the middle and low social stratum.Compared with Marcuse's third way,Giddens third way was much mature,perfect and practical.Finally,he realized the goal of coming into power.
Shifting Rhetorical Norms and Electronic Eloquence TED Talks as Formal Presentations

Advances in digital media have made an impact on traditional rhetorical culture, thus shifting expectations and norms associated with orality and public presentation. Technology, entertainment, and...
Experimental and numerical evaluation of the potential of improving oil recovery from shale plugs by nitrogen gas flooding

Abstract Production from tight formation resources leads to the growth in U.S. crude oil production. Compared with chemical flooding and water flooding, gas injection is a promising enhanced oil recovery (EOR) approach in shale reservoirs. A limited number of experimental studies concerning gas flooding in the literature have focused on unconventional plays. This paper presents experimental work for applying an immiscible N 2 flooding process in oil-saturated shale plugs. To investigate the effect of injection pressure on recovery performance, multiple core-flood tests were performed at the injection pressures of 1000 psi, 3000 psi, and 5000 psi, respectively. A lab-scale numerical simulation model was built to match the experimental data. Based on this model, we conducted sensitive studies and analyzed the recovery process. The potential of N 2 flooding for improving oil recovery from shale core plugs has been demonstrated by the experimental observations and simulation results. Under a certain injection pressure, the results show that the oil was produced with a high and stable production rate at the initial period of the recovery process, before gas breakthrough. After that, the incremental RF decreased with the increase of a flooding period, and a much longer time had less effect on extracting more oil. We also examined the effect of injection pressure on gas breakthrough time, ultimate RF, and oil recovery history. This study illustrates that gas flooding could be considered as an improved oil recover (IOR) approach in shale oil reservoirs.
Buyer’s Price Perceptions: An Experimental Methodology

In this exploratory study, a factorial experimental design was utilized to determine buyers’ willingness to purchase the same product at price levels adjusted above the regular retail reference price. The other factors considered in the design were the buyers’ sex, education, and income levels.
Mixture Theory for Modeling Biological Tissues: Illustrations from Articular Cartilage

Mixture theory has been used for modeling hydrated biological tissues for several decades. This chapter reviews the basic foundation of mixture theory as applied to biphasic mixtures consisting of a porous-permeable deformable solid matrix and an interstitial fluid. Canonical problems of permeation, confined compression, and unconfined compression are analyzed from theory and compared to prior experimental measurements on articular cartilage, with an emphasis on studies that provide validations of theoretical predictions. A brief overview is also provided of the application of mixture theory to solute transport, reactive kinetics, and growth and remodeling.
Hydraulic fracturing: Assessing self-reported familiarity and the contributions of selected sources to self-reported knowledge

Abstract Data collected from a random sample of individuals in two counties in the Eagle Ford Shale region of South Texas to examine (a) respondents’ self-reported familiarity with the process of hydraulic fracturing and (b) the associations between the contributions of information sources to self-reported knowledge about hydraulic fracturing and self-reported levels of familiarity with the process of hydraulic fracturing. The results of this study revealed that survey respondents in the Eagle Ford Shale region of Texas are more familiar with the process of hydraulic fracturing than has been reported in other studies. Moreover, the findings indicated that self-reported levels of familiarity with the process of hydraulic fracturing were positively associated with certain sources of information. Among those sources that reached statistical significance, the strongest contributor to respondents’ self-reported familiarity with hydraulic fracturing was information from the oil/natural gas industry.
Public Art in Municipal Administration

ABSTRACTMany arts administrators in municipal government lack formal training in arts and cultural management or any specific coursework dealing with public art. Many Masters of Administration programs do not offer arts and cultural administration as an emphasis. This article reports the results of a survey of human resources managers in cities with populations of more than 50,000 to determine their interest in employees who have an arts and cultural management background and their understanding of the meaning of public art.
Why Unions in the United States will Die: American Labor Organizations in the Age of Trump

This essay analyzes the effects of Donald Trump’s election as President on organized labor in the United States and, more specifically, on the demographic of workers responsible for his electoral college victory. The argument is that culture rather than economics explains Trump’s success in capturing key industrial states. His support depended on white middle-aged male voters without college degrees, the same cohort that makes up the backbone of unions in the United States. The likelihood is that Trump’s policies will further immiserate the American working class rather than reinvigorate it. In three key areas, Trump’s presidency will result in lower union membership density and higher inequality of wealth. The cultural orientation of Trump’s supporters outweighed politics, policy, and competence in selecting a national leader.
Densification of Semi-Dense Reconstructions for Novel View Generation of Live Scenes

In this paper, we consider the problem of rendering novel views of a live unprepared scene from video input, important to many application scenarios (such as telepresence and remote collaboration). We present an optimization approach to improving incomplete scene reconstructions captured in real time with a single moving monocular camera. We take semi-dense depth maps and convert them into a dense scene model, suitable for rendering plausible novel views of the scene using conventional image-based rendering. Our implementation densifies depth maps at the rate they are generated, and enables us to generate novel views of live scenes with no pre-capture or preprocessing. In evaluations comparing with other approaches, our method performs well even on difficult scenes, and results in higherquality novel views.
Chapter 3 Geodesics

A geodesic on a Riemannian manifold is the analogue of a line in Euclidean space. One can characterize a line in Euclidean space in several equivalent ways, among which are the following: (1) A line is “straight” in the sense that it has a parametrization with a constant velocity vector field. (2) A line connecting two points gives the shortest distance between the two points.
Human-Guided Flood Mapping: From Experts to the Crowd

Hurricane-induced flooding can lead to substantial loss of life and huge damage to infrastructure. Mapping flood extent from satellite or aerial imagery is essential for prioritizing relief efforts and for assessing future flood risk. Identification of water extent in such images can be challenging considering the heterogeneity in water body size and shape, cloud cover, and natural variations in land cover. In this effort, we introduce a novel cognitive framework based on a semi-supervised learning algorithm, called HUman-Guided Flood Mapping (HUG-FM), specifically designed to tackle the flood mapping problem. Our framework first divides the satellite or aerial image into patches leveraging a graph-based clustering approach. A domain expert is then asked to provide labels for a few patches (as opposed to pixels which are harder to discern). Subsequently, we learn a classifier based on the provided labels to map flood extent. We test the efficacy and efficiency of our framework on imagery from several recent flood-induced emergencies and results show that our algorithm can robustly and correctly detect water areas compared to the state-of-the-art. We then evaluate whether expert guidance can be replaced by the wisdom of a crowd (e.g., crisis volunteers). We design an online crowdsourcing platform based on HUG-FM and propose a novel ensemble method to leverage crowdsourcing efforts. We conduct an experiment with over $50$ participants and show that crowdsourced HUG-FM (CHUG-FM) can approach or even exceed the performance of a single expert providing guidance (HUG-FM).
Sound Production: Vertebrates

This article compares the mechanisms of sound production in frogs, toads, birds, and mammals. The production of sounds for acoustic communication generally involves two steps. Sound is first generated in the vocal organ and then modified as it passes through the vocal tract. In terrestrial mammals and anura, sound is generated by the oscillation of vocal folds in the larynx. The acoustic variety of vertebrate vocalizations reflects in part the morphological diversity of their vocal organ, particularly the vocal cords. Birds have a unique vocal organ, the syrinx, which is located at or near the caudal end of the trachea. Oscine songbirds have increased the spectral and temporal diversity of their songs by exploiting their ability to independently control the sound produced on each side of their syrinx. Resonance filters in the vocal tracts of all these animals can produce formants that may be important information-bearing elements in a vocalization. Sac-like out-pouchings of the vocal tract or vocal organ may act as Helmholtz resonators or may provide a low-impedance pathway for sound to pass from the vocal tract into the external environment. In response to the special demands of a marine environment, toothed whales have evolved a sound source in their nasal passages. The sound from this source is channeled through acoustic fats that focus it into a forward directed beam.
Automata that Construct as well as Compute

In Section 7.1, we introduce the notion of a cellular (or tessellation) automaton, and show how to embed CT-machines within the cellular array. These have the computational power of Turing machines (thus the T) as well as the ability to Construct other CT-machines (thus the C). We then prove results about universal constructors and self-reproducing machines. In Section 7.2, we further formalize the notion of cellular automata, and prove that there exist Garden-of-Eden configurations that cannot arise in the cellular array without intervention of an external agency. Finally, Section 7.3 discusses differences between the type of self-reproduction formalized here and the growth processes of embryology.
Patient Functional Status at Transplant and Its Impact on Posttransplant Survival of Adult Deceased-donor Kidney Recipients.

Background Recorded at the time of transplant and reported to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, patient's functional status is measured using the Karnofsky performance score (KPS), ranging 0 to 100. Functional status analysis may provide insights on candidate listing and posttransplant survival outcomes for deceased-donor kidney transplants. Methods The cohort consisted of adult deceased-donor kidney transplant recipients transplanted beginning January 2007. One-year and 3-year Cox models for posttransplant survival were fitted with current Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) variables and KPS. Comparative analyses were performed between the SRTR model without KPS and augmented model with it. Using the augmented model, we examined the impact of Kidney Donor Profile Index on posttransplant survivals for 5 different KPS strata: 10 to 30, 40 to 50, 60 to 70, 80 to 90, and 100. Results Comparative analyses showed that KPS was a statistically significant predictor for posttransplant survival: it improved model calibration, discrimination, and predictive accuracy. From the augmented model, the survival curves illustrated that recipients with KPS 40 to 50 and kidneys with Kidney Donor Profile Index as high as 99 have expected survival probabilities of above 90% in 1 year and above 80% in 3 years. The expected survival probabilities improve as KPS increases. Recipients with KPS 10 to 30 have the worst survival probability, even if they received high-quality kidneys. Conclusions Insights from the survival analyses recommend possible inclusion of functional status into SRTR's risk-adjusted models. Moreover, they invite further examination of its use to improve current listing and transplantation strategies at transplant centers and potentially reduce deceased-donor kidney discard rate.
MRI Stereotactic Placement of Intracranial Electrodes

Intracranial electrode evaluations in patients with medically intractable epilepsy are meant to define regions of epileptogenesis when this is not possible by non-invasive methods.
Deceased Donor Kidneys Are Harder to Place on the Weekend

Weekends and holidays have been shown to negatively affect patient outcomes across a variety of health care settings ([1][1]). Although transplant outcomes are a possible exception, we have previously reported a significant increase in the discard of deceased donor kidneys during the weekend in the
Polymer Elution and Hydraulic Conductivity of Bentonite–Polymer Composite Geosynthetic Clay Liners

AbstractHydraulic conductivity tests were conducted on two commercially available bentonite–polymer composite (BPC) geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) containing the same dry blend of sodium bentonite...
Breakdown in Seawater and Applications

As opposed to pure water, electrical breakdown in seawater has not been studied broadly. In seawater, the ions are provided via the salt content, leading to a conductivity of about 53mS/cm. In contrast purified water has a theoretical conductivity of 55nS/cm. The hypothesis presented here is that when short pulses are applied to seawater the contribution of the ions to current conduction is weakened due to the low drift velocity of the ions, consequently exhibiting an insulator-like behavior. UNM is testing the properties of seawater breakdown to identify opportunities to exploit different applications of this phenomenon. Tests have been performed with a variety of Na 2 S 2 O 3 aqueous solutions applying ~6ns pulses in a custom designed chamber. Breakdown events are observed at low concentrations and high voltage, FWHM, rise time, and inter electrode distance are also correlated and different electrode geometries explored. Analysis of the obtained results show that breakdown in seawater is achievable with more energy and will be implemented in future experiments.
Development of rutting specifications and possible replacement of tensile strength ratio by Hamburg wheel tracking device test

Currently, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) does not have a specification for rutting that can be used for mix screening during the mix design stage. Though NMDOT uses Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) to evaluate the moisture susceptibility of asphalt concrete mixes, TSR cannot be used to identify and differentiate the stripping and no stripping potential mixes. As such, this study attempts to develop a rutting specification using the Hamburg Wheel Tracking Device (HWTD) test and evaluate whether the HWTD test can replace the existing TSR test. A total of 33 asphalt mixes were collected from field pavement construction sites. Mixes were then compacted in the laboratory using a Superpave gyratory compactor and tested in an HWTD. Based on the test results, a maximum rut specification based on binder grade is established. Test data are also analyzed for parameters such as stripping slope and stripping inflection point, and their correlations with TSR value. A poor correlation is found between the HWTD parameters and TSR, which suggests the TSR test is not replaceable by the HWTD test.