cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Will my student evaluations decrease if I adopt an active learning instructional strategy

College instructors are often afraid to use active learning instructional strategies because they fear that students may complain and/or give them lower evaluations of teaching. In this paper, we present data from a survey of 431 physics instructors who had attended the Physics and Astronomy New Faculty Workshop and who attempted to incorporate active learning into their introductory course. Nearly half of respondents (48%) felt that their student evaluations increased, one-third (32%) felt that their student evaluations had not been impacted, and one-fifth (20%) felt that their student evaluations decreased. Thus, contrary to common fears, for these instructors the most likely result from the incorporation of active learning was an increase in student evaluations.
The Transcendental Reduction and Language

Let us turn now to Husserl’s second, or “transcendental,” reduction, and begin by clarifying the meaning of the transcendental ego which the reduction uncovers. We shall then be in a better position to turn to the key function of that ego, meaning-constitution, and to examine the constitution both of meaningful objects and of language. It will become apparent, I think, that a more careful account of the genetic constitution of language leads one directly to a context of intersubjectivity.
Desirable difficulties while learning collocations in a second language: Conditions that induce L1 interference improve learning

Learning conventional verb-noun combinations in a second language is known to be highly problematic when word choices differ from those in the native language. Grounded on recent proposals of desirable difficulties in vocabulary learning (Bjork & Kroll, 2015), we tested Spanish learners of English on a new paradigm that aimed to induce interference from the native language during lexical selection in a second language, as a way to train regulation of the dominant language. Results showed that recall rates were significantly higher in the group of learners that practiced in conditions of L1-interference. Faster RTs showed more efficient lexical selection in those same learners. Additionally, RTs revealed that the more successful learners in both groups incurred a cost in accessing verb choices congruent with the native language, a finding that is consistent with an inhibitory account.
Model-Based Design of a Soft 3-D Haptic Shape Display

Haptic shape displays provide compelling touch interactions by allowing users to freely explore a rendered surface. However, these displays are currently limited to 2.5-D surfaces due to the space requirements of their actuation. Building on previous work in haptic jamming, we developed a novel, soft 3-D shape display. A fully 3-D display that a user can grasp and hold allows for improved interactions for applications such as medical palpation training and virtual reality experiences. The shape display is implemented as an inflatable silicone membrane with embedded particle jamming cells that change stiffness and soft pneumatic actuators that control the distance between points on the surface. The device was modeled as a mass-spring system, and this model is used to develop a control sequence for a device to match a target shape. Due to constraints in actuation imposed by the 3-D geometry of the device, we developed an automatic design algorithm for the display, so that a display can be custom-designed to reach a set of target shapes using a relatively small number of actuators.
Role of interaction between hydraulic and natural fractures on production

Abstract One of the main purposes of hydraulic fracturing in unconventional resources such as shale is to improve the connectivity between existing natural fractures and the production well. Since the inherent permeability of shale is extremely low, this newly formed fracture connectivity provides faster paths for the hydrocarbon stored in preexisting natural fractures. We performed numerical simulations of the free gas production at large scale fractured reservoir with different pre-existing natural fracture network intensities and with variable hydraulic fracture sizes and staging. We explored production characteristics as a function of the properties of both, natural fractures (intensity) and hydraulic fractures (size and staging). Our hypothesis is that once maximum fracture connectivity is achieved, additional stimulation does not increase production significantly. In this numerical study we use an advanced modeling tool to study fractures connectivity, Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) approach, which can represent fracture networks similar to those observed on individual reservoir sites. In our model the horizontal production well and vertical hydraulic fractures were deterministically defined and surrounded by stochastically generated natural fracture networks. The performed numerical experiments show how fracture connectivity depends on hydraulic fracture settings in fractured reservoir with different preexisting fracture densities. We numerically showed that cumulative free gas production is not affected significantly by hydraulic fractures size (25 m–150 m) or spacing (15 m–45 m) for dense natural fracture networks. However, the hydraulic fracture size is important in reservoirs with sparse natural fractures, although spacing (number of stages) does not play a significant role.
Understanding Trumpism: Politics and Culture in an Age of Globalization

In this essay, I consider Donald Trump’s electoral victory – how did it happen? – and Trumpism as a movement – what does it mean? My concerns are philosophical and non-partisan, but they are driven by a commitment to liberal constitutionalism as a form of government and liberalism as a political creed. I first describe in neutral, rhetorically cool terms how Donald Trump won the 2016 American presidential election. This description is granular. Then, in the second half of the essay, I meditate more abstractly on Trumpism as both a political movement and a movement of ideas. I first describe how populism in general, and Trumpism in particular, is a political response to a crisis of democratic representation driven by globalization. Next, turning to philosophy, I present arguments about the nature of political community made by the German anti-liberal legal theorist Carl Schmitt, with whose work aspects of President Trump’s domestic and foreign policy strongly resonate. I conclude with some reflections on the meaning of Trumpism for the future of liberalism.
On the Timing and Execution of Open Market Repurchases

Little is known about the timing and execution of open market repurchases. U.S. firms are under no obligation to disclose when they are trading, and generally report only quarterly changes in shares outstanding. We use 64 firms' supplementally disclosed repurchase trading data to provide the first examination of repurchase timing and execution. Across the days reported in our sample, firms adopted a variety of execution styles ranging from immediate intense repurchasing to delayed and smoothed repurchasing. We find no clear evidence that repurchases are timed to coincide with, precede, or follow, days on which information is released. We benchmark the costs and value of a given repurchase program against naive accumulation strategies achieving the same terminal portfolio. While there is considerable variation across the firms, NYSE firms on average beat their benchmarks, whereas NASDAQ firms do not. Finally, we document the liquidity impact of open market repurchases. We find that repurchasing contributes to market liquidity by narrowing bid-ask spreads and attenuating the price impact of order imbalances on days when repurchase trades are completed.
7-ketocholesterol induces endothelial-mesenchymal transition and promotes fibrosis: implications in neovascular age-related macular degeneration and treatment

Oxidized cholesterols and lipids accumulate in Bruch's membrane in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It remains unknown what causal relationship exists between these substances and AMD pathophysiology. We addressed the hypothesis that a prevalent form, 7-ketocholesterol (7KC), promotes choroidal endothelial cell (CEC) migration and macular neovascularization in AMD. Compared to control, 7KC injection caused 40% larger lectin-stained lesions, but 70% larger lesions measured by optical coherence tomography one week after laser-injury. At two weeks, 7KC-injected eyes had 86% larger alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA)-labeled lesions and more collagen-labeling than control. There was no difference in cell death. 7KC-treated RPE/choroids had increased αSMA but decreased VE-cadherin. Compared to control-treated CECs, 7KC unexpectedly reduced endothelial VE-cadherin, CD31 and VEGFR2 and increased αSMA, fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ). Inhibition of TGFβ receptor-mediated signaling by SB431542 abrogated 7KC-induced loss of endothelial and increase in mesenchymal proteins in association with decreased transcription factor, SMAD3. Knockdown of SMAD3 partially inhibited 7KC-mediated loss of endothelial proteins and increase in αSMA and FAP. Compared to control, 7KC-treatment of CECs increased Rac1GTP and migration, and both were inhibited by the Rac1 inhibitor; however, CECs treated with 7KC had reduced tube formation. These findings suggest that 7KC, which increases in AMD and with age, induces mesenchymal transition in CECs making them invasive and migratory, and causing fibrosis in macular neovascularization. Further studies to interfere with this process may reduce fibrosis and improve responsiveness to anti-VEGF treatment in non-responsive macular neovascularization in AMD.
Crushed Cartilage and Autologous Fat for Dorsal Nasal Refinement

Dorsal contour irregularities remain a potential undesirable sequela of rhinoplasty. Use of dorsal onlay grafts can camouflage such irregularities. In this article, a novel technique for dorsal onlay grafting utilizing crushed cartilage mixed with autologous fat is described. This study aims to assess long-term graft retention and aesthetic outcomes with this technique. Patients with >18-month follow-up who underwent primary open rhinoplasty with the described technique were reviewed. Three-dimensional photographs taken at multiple timepoints were overlaid with volumetric subtraction used to quantify graft retention. The Rhinoplasty module of the FACE-Q was completed by each patient, and the Rhinoplasty Assessment Scale Photographic (RASP) was completed by surgeon reviewers. Pre- and postoperative changes in dorsal height as well as RASP scores were compared with paired t-tests. Changes in BMI, dorsal volume, and dorsal height were compared with linear regression. P values <0.05 were considered significant. Fourteen patients were included, mean age 32. Mean intermediate and final follow-up was 17.8 months and 28.9 months, respectively. There were no statistically significant dorsal height change (mean = 0.0 mm, p = 0.91) and minimal dorsal volume change (mean = 0.02 cm3, range: 0.08 to 0.13). Patients reported a high degree of satisfaction with facial/nasal appearance and psychological/social functioning. There was a statistically significant improvement in RASP scores (p < 0.001) postoperatively. Crushed septal cartilage mixed with autologous fat is an effective option for dorsal nasal onlay in rhinoplasty and is associated with excellent graft retention, patient satisfaction, and nasal aesthetics. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266
Perceptions of the barriers, facilitators, outcomes, and helpfulness of strategies to implement screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment in acute care.

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is a clinical intervention used to address alcohol and illicit drug use. SBIRT use has resulted in positive health and social outcomes; however, SBIRT implementation remains low. Research on implementing interventions, such as SBIRT, lacks information about challenges and successes related to implementation. The Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) provides a framework to guide comprehension, clarity, and relevance of strategies available for implementation research. This framework was applied to qualitative feedback gathered from site coordinators (SCs) leading SBIRT implementation. The purpose of this study was to describe the SCs’ experiences pertaining to SBIRT implementation across a health system. Within the context of a larger parent study, a semi-structured interview guide was used to capture 14 SCs’ perceptions of the barriers, facilitators, and outcomes pertaining to SBIRT implementation. Qualitative data were analyzed using standard content analytic procedures. A follow-up survey was developed based on 14 strategies identified from qualitative data and was administered electronically to determine the SC’s perceptions of the most helpful implementation strategies on a scale of 1 (least helpful) to 5 (most helpful). All 14 invited SCs participated in the SBIRT implementation interview, and 11 of 14 (79%) responded to the follow-up survey. Within the categories of barriers, facilitators, and outcomes, 25 subthemes emerged. The most helpful implementation strategies were reexamining the implementation (M = 4.38; n = 8), providing ongoing consultation (M = 4.13; n = 8), auditing and providing feedback (M = 4.1; n = 10), developing education materials (M = 4.1; n = 10), identifying and preparing champions (M = 4; n = 7), and tailoring strategies (M = 4; n = 7). SCs who led implementation efforts within a large healthcare system identified several barriers and facilitators to the implementation of SBIRT. Additionally, they identified clinician-related outcomes associated with SBIRT implementation into practice as well as strategies that were helpful in the implementation process. This information can inform the implementation of SBIRT and other interventions in acute care settings.
Roles of CEO Pay Deviation and Firm Performance on the Expansion and Contraction of Firm Boundaries

Building on theories of equity and social comparisons, we examine how CEOs paid below the going labor market rate influences new business entry and divestiture. Unlike prior studies which focused o...
Medical Scribe Impact on Provider Efficiency in Outpatient Radiation Oncology Clinics Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose/Objective(s) Medical documentation has become increasingly challenging for providers, particularly with time constraints and changes to office visit formats during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Medical scribes may help mitigate this burden. Our objective was to determine how scribes affect provider workflow efficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic controls. Materials/Methods Providers completed a survey in February 2020 (S1, pre-pandemic) and one year into the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2021 (S2, during-pandemic). Standardized surveys administered during S1 evaluated perceived impact of scribes on clerical work, medical documentation, and efficiency during office visits using the Likert Scale. Surveys administered during S2 also addressed scribe use during telemedicine visits, in addition to office visits. Provider perception of time spent on documentation with or without a scribe was evaluated using a 5-level ordinal scale. Provider response was assessed using descriptive frequency statistics. Fisher's exact test was used to compare categorical variables. Analysis was performed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC). All tests were two-sided with an alpha level of 0.05. Results Fifty-eight providers responded to the surveys: 36 (62%) for S1, 22 (38%) for S2. Scribe use decreased perceived clerical work, facilitated chart review, recording of physical exam findings, note documentation and improved efficiency, both before and during the pandemic (P = 0.5, P = 0.7, P = 0.8, P = 0.8, P = 0.9 respectively). Scribe use significantly decreased perceived time to complete documentation pre-pandemic (P = 0.002) and during the pandemic for both in person (P = Conclusion Scribe use decreases provider time spent on medical documentation and improves overall efficiency. This improvement in clinical efficiency was similar before and during the COVID-19 pandemic for both in person and telemedicine clinic visits. Integration of scribes into radiation oncology clinics may improve provider satisfaction by reducing burden of documentation and may improve provider well-being.
The results of research of professional prospects graduates of agricultural faculty of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice from the years 1998-2002

Presentation results the analyze of professional prospects the graduates of Agricultural Faculty - The University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budějovice from the years 1998 - 2002 on the labour market according their graduated programme. The results inform us about finding and characteristic of their job, satisfaction with study interest in future studies.
A More General System of Axioms for Cardinal Utility

As has been stated in Section 5 of Chapter 2, it is a fact of experience that the decision-maker will have to face, in general, choice situations that cannot be considered, even in an approximate way, identical repetitions of a single choice situation. From one choice situation to another the decision-maker’s preference ordering may change, or if his preference ordering remains the same the strength of his preferences may change, or the set of available actions may not be the same,1 etc. Therefore, we need to extend the system of axioms presented in Chapter 4, to deal with the case of a single choice situation, to cover the more general case where different choice situations are considered.
An investigation of noise-tolerant relational concept learning algorithms

We discuss the types of noise that may occur in relational learning systems and describe two approaches to addressing noise in a relational concept learning algorithm. We then evaluate each approach experimentally.
Handbook of Public Sector Economics

Introduction to Public Economics and Fiscal Doctrine The Evolution of Economics: The Search for a Theory of Value, Lynn C. Burbridge Basic Economics of Fiscal Decentralization, William Voorhees Voting and Representative Democracy, Jane Beckett-Camarata Bureaucracy and Bureaucrats, Patricia Moore Theory of Public Goods Public Goods, Paul C. Trogen Provision and Production of Public Goods, Robert J. Eger III Collection, Allocation, and Distribution of Resources Tax Systems and Structures, Carol Ebdon Fiscal Characteristics of Public Expenditures, Suzanne Leland Intergovernmental Grants, Shama Gamkhar Public Debt and Stability, Gary R. Rassel Transportation Infrastructure, John R. Bartle E-Government Expenditures, Donijo Robbins and Gerald J. Miller Market Reactions Collection, Allocation, and Distribution Government Fiscal Policy Impacts, Gerald J. Miller Taxation and Consumer Behavior, Helisse Levine-Schayowitz Federal Taxes and Decision Making: Individual Income, Corporate Income, and Social Security Taxes, John D. Wong Wealth, Property, and Asset-Building Policy in the U.S., Renee A. Irvin International Trade and Public Policy: The Big Picture, Rafael Reuveny
Studies on canine distemper infection by means of fluorescein-labeled antibody: I. The pathogenesis, pathology, and diagnosis of the disease in experimentally infected ferrets☆☆☆

Abstract A study of the pathogenesis of canine distemper infection in ferrets by means of fluorescein-labeled antibody revealed that viral antigen was first detectable in the cervical lymph nodes 2 days after intranasal inoculation. Subsequently, the virus spread to the mediastinal nodes, the mesenteric nodes, the spleen, the Kupffer cells of the liver and the blood. About one week after infection, viral antigen began to appear in the epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract, the respiratory tract, the urinary tract, and the cutaneous tissues. Infected animals usually became moribund and died. The viral antigen usually appeared as fine intracytoplasmic fluorescent granules during the early stage of infection. As the infection progressed, the antigen aggregated to form large, oval objects in the cytoplasm or in the nucleus corresponding to the size and shape of eosinophilic inclusion bodies. Viremia was present before fever and other obvious signs of distemper infection appeared and persisted until the death of the animals. By the examination of peripheral blood smears for the presence of fluorescent leucocytes containing specific viral antigen, a rapid method is available for the diagnosis of distemper in ferrets.
Fear and Loathing in the French Enlightenment: Despotism and Republican Citizenship in Montesquieu's 'Lettres Persanes'

In this paper, I argue that the passions play an important and as yet underappreciated role in republican political thought. I introduce a theory of affective practices in order to read Montesquieu’s 'Lettres Persanes', which has been interpreted as an exercise in, or commentary on, Enlightenment Europe’s encounters with “the other”. By employing the language of the passions in fictional genres, Montesquieu explores the ethical and political potential for the development of a republican form of citizenship. Specifically, the text envisions a republican politics that challenge and unsettle a despotic regime. By invoking two negative passions, namely fear and disgust, Montesquieu imaginatively engages the (fictional) self and the other in the production of new configurations of republican citizenship, via the character of Roxane, and contrasts it with despotic subjection. I argue that Montesquieu’s 'Lettres' constitutes part of a critical program directed against despotism in pre-revolutionary France and, more broadly, that republican political thought would be enriched by attending to the passions.
Waste Extraction Procedures

Waste extraction procedures (EPs) were developed to identify wastes which have a potential for groundwater or surface water contamination. Procedures are used for both organic and inorganic substances to comply with specific regulatory requirements, for example, to identify wastes which are subject to regulation as hazardous wastes. In the United States, the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) is the most widely used procedure. Volatile organics are extracted using a zero-headspace extractor, while semivolatile organics and inorganic substances are extracted using a bottle extractor. Because the typical batch EP does not measure a fundamental property of a waste, the result is highly dependent on steps in the protocol, particularly the choice of extraction solution. Although batch extraction tests like the TCLP are the most common procedures, other procedures using multiple pHs and multiple liquid : solid ratios have been developed to overcome the limitations of batch tests.
Ultrastructure of differentiating oocytes in the trematode Gorgoderina attenuata. I. The "nucleolus-like" cytoplasmic body and some lamellar membrane systems.

Abstract Gorgoderina attenuata, digenetic trematodes, were removed from the urinary bladder of Rana pipiens and fixed in either acetic acidalcohol, 1:3, for light microscopy or in 2% osmium tetroxide, phosphate buffered to pH 7.4, for electron microscopy. Extraction with RNase and staining with Azure B at pH 4.0 were used to identify RNA. A large, dense, RNA-containing, “nucleolus-like” body was found in the cytoplasm of oocytes in the diffuse diplotene stage of the first meiotic prophase. This body increased in size and density as the oocyte differentiated. It began to break down after the oocyte had left the ovary and at the time when fertilization occurred. Electron microscopic observations showed this body to be primarily composed of densely packed 150–200 A “ribosome-like” particles similar to those seen in the nucleolus, and like the nucleolus this structure was not bounded by a membrane. The number and complexity of membrane structures in the cytoplasm increased during differentiation of the oocyte. Some ideas concerning the origin of the “nucleolus-like” body, how it is formed, and its function are discussed.
Matrix element factorization in the unitary group approach for configuration interaction calculations

Techniques of diagrammatic spin algebra are employed to derive segment factorization formulas for spin-adapted matrix elements of one- and two-electron excitation operators. The spin-adapted basis is formed by the Yamanouchi–;Kotani geneological coupling method, and therefore constitutes an irreducible basis of the unitary group U(N), as prescribed by Gel'fand and Tsetlin. Several features distinguish this paper from similar work that has recently been published. First, intermediate steps in the derivation of each segment factor are fully documented. Comprehensive tables list the spin diagrams and phases that contribute to the possible segment factors. Second, a special effort has been made to distinguish between those parts of a segment factor that can be ascribed to a spin diagram and those parts which arise from the orbitals. The results of this paper should thus be useful for those who wish to extend diagrammatic spin algebra to evaluation of matrix elements for states built from nonorthogonal orbitals. Third, a novel graphical method has been introduced to keep track of phase changes that are induced by line up permutations of creation and annihilation operators. This technique may be useful for extension of our analysis to higher excitations. The necessary concepts of second quantization and diagrammatic spin algebra are developed in situ, so the present derivation should be accessible to those who have little prior knowledge of such methods.
Automatic language identification

Automatic language identification of speech is the process by which the language of a digitized speech utterance is recognized by a computer. In this paper, we will describe the set of available cues for language identification of speech and discuss the different approaches to building working systems. This overview includes a range of historical approaches, contemporary systems that have been evaluated on standard databases, and promising future approaches. Comparative results are also reported.
The effect of ibuprofen on endotoxin-induced injury in sheep

The reversible cyclooxygenase inhibitor, ibuprofen, has been found to have beneficial effects on the hemodynamic alterations of endotoxemia in several animal species. We investigated the effect of ibuprofen posttreatment on the hemodynamic and histologic alterations of endotoxin induced injury in awake sheep. Three groups of sheep were treated with either an infusion of Escherichia coli endotoxin followed five minutes later by saline, an infusion of E. coli endotoxin followed five minutes later by the administration of 10 mg/kg of ibuprofen, or saline infusions in controls. Hemodynamic parameters were monitored for six hours, and the sheep were then observed for an additional 18 hours. Ibuprofen treatment reversed the early pulmonary hypertensive changes and early hemodynamic alterations associated with endotoxemia. Associated with the hemodynamic improvement was significant inhibition of thromboxane synthesis as measured by the stable metabolite, thromboxane B 2 . All endotoxintreated animals had histologic evidence of acute lung injury at 24 hours as manifested by pulmonary endothelial and alveolar epithelial injury. Ibuprofen treatment decreased the mononuclear and interstitial macrophage cellular infiltrate compared to endotoxin alone. These results suggest that thromboxane may be involved in the pathogenesis of the early hemodynamic derangements of endotoxemia. Endotoxemia was associated with histologic and ultrastructural evidence of lung injury. A single dose of ibuprofen did not alter the degree of histologic lung injury observed.
Involvement of pallidothalamic circuitry in working memory.

This study evaluated the capacity of mu-opioid and glutamate receptor agonists to differentially regulate the involvement of the GABAergic projection from the ventral pallidum to the mediodorsal thalamus in working memory and locomotor activity. Microinjection of either the ionotropic glutamate receptor agonist α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) or the mu agonist [d-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin into the ventral pallidum of male Sprague–Dawley rats produced a dose-dependent impairment in working memory, estimated using a forced delayed alternation task in a T-maze. Performance in a spatial discrimination task without delay was also impaired by glutamate, but not by mu receptor, stimulation. Involvement of the GABAergic projection from the ventral pallidum to the mediodorsal thalamus in mu-opioid-induced impairment of working memory was verified by showing that inhibiting GABAB receptors in the mediodorsal thalamus blocked the effect of [d-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin in the ventral pallidum. Similarly, either glutamate or mu-opioid receptor stimulation in the ventral pallidum elicited motor activity, and the motor stimulant effect of the mu agonist was blocked, while that of AMPA is not affected by GABAB receptor blockade in the mediodorsal thalamus. Distinction between mu and glutamate receptor stimulation was further revealed by the fact that stimulating mu receptors in the ventral pallidum caused a dose-dependent reduction in extracellular GABA levels, while AMPA was without effect on GABA in the ventral pallidum. These data indicate that stimulating mu-opioid receptors reduces GABAergic tone in the ventral pallidum, which increases activity in the GABAergic projection to the mediodorsal thalamus, thereby impairing working memory. Moreover, it is hypothesized that mu receptors in the ventral pallidum gate the recruitment of working memory into ongoing behavioral activity.
Nanowire-graphene hybrids for lithium-ion-battery

ABSTRACT Lithium ion batteries (LIB) have been receiving extensive attention due to the high specific energy density for wide applications such as electronic vehicles, commercial mobile electronics, and military applications. In LIB, graphite is the most commonly used anode material; however, lithium ion intercalation in graphite is limited, hindering the battery charge rate and capacity. To overcome this obstacle, nanostructured anode assembly has been extensively studied to increase the lithium ion diffusion rate. Among these approaches, high specific surface area metal oxide nanowires co nnecting nanostructured carbon materials accumulation have shown propitious results for enhanced lithium intercalation. Recently, nanowire/graphene hybrids were developed for the enhancement of LIB performance; however, almost all previous efforts employe d nanowires on graphene in a random fashion, which limited lithium ion diffusion rate. Therefore, we demonstrate a new approach by hydrothermally growing uniform nanowire s on graphene aerogel to further improve the performance. This nanowire/graphene aer ogel hybrid not only uses the high surface area of the graphene aerogel but also increases the specific surface area for electrode -electrolyte interaction. Therefore, this new nanowire/graphene aerogel hybrid anode material could enhance the specific capa city and charge -discharge rate. Sca nning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X -Ray Diffraction (XRD ) are used for materials characterization. Battery Analyzer and Potentio -galvanostat are used for measuring the electrical performance of the battery. Th e testin g results show that nanowire graphene hybrid anode gives significantly improved performance compared to graphene anode. Keywords: Graphene, lithium ion battery, aerogel, nanowire
Additive Decomposition of Real Matrices

The orthogonal orbit ${\cal O}(A)$ of an n × n real matrix A is the set of real matrices of the form $P^t \ AP$ where $P^t P = I_n$ . We show that $A/ \| A\|$ is an affine sum of four orthogonal matrices, and note that $A^t$ can always be written as an affine combination of no more than 2 n m 1 matrices in ${\cal O}(A)$ . This improves some recent results of Zhan, and answers some of his questions. Other related results are also discussed.
Harmonic style-based song retrieval using N-gram

N-gram models have been successfully applied to harmonic analysis for differentiating a composer's style based on all the pieces in a large corpus of the composer. In this paper, we focus on each individual song and explore the effectiveness of the n-gram model when it is applied to a different but equally important musical task: harmonic style-based song retrieval. A chord profile is generated for a song by using the n-gram model as the descriptor of the song's harmonic features. The system retrieves songs based on the similarity between the chord profile in the query and that of the songs in the database. The retrieval result is evaluated in terms of a style-based retrieval score as well as traditional information retrieval metrics such as precision and recall. Finally, we list the most common pop-rock chord patterns from the most frequently retrieved songs, and compare the patterns with those described in previous works.
Thermal expansion, Debye temperature and Gruneisen constant of carbides and nitrides

Abstract The experimental data on the thermal expansion of the carbides and nitrides of the early transition metals (with B 1 structure) have been collected and evaluated, and average curves of α against temperature and composition have been determined. Some of the difficulties encountered in making good thermal expansion measurements peculiar to this class of compounds are briefly discussed. The resultant values of α, together with the experimental specific heat and elastic constants, are used to determine the temperature dependence on the Debye temperature and the Gruneisen constant.
Effect of Rotation on Flow and Temperature Distributions in a Two-Pass Channel Connected by Two Rows of Holes

This paper presents a computational study of the effect of rotation on the velocity and thermal field for a two-pass channel connected by two rows of holes on the divider wall. Detailed velocity and temperature distributions are presented inside a rotating two-pass coolant channel connected by two rows of holes on the divider walls. The enhanced cooling in this passage design is achieved by a combination of impingement and crossflow-induced swirl. The cross flow is generated from one coolant passage to the adjoining coolant passage through a series of straight or angled holes placed along the dividing wall. The holes deliver the flow from one passage to another typically achieved in a conventional design by an 180° U-bend. In this study, the configuration has two rows of 12 straight holes placed axially. The two hole rows are placed at 1.27-cm distance from the sidewalls and are angled orthogonally. There are 12 holes in each rows of 1.27-cm diameter each. The holes direct flow perpendicular to the axial direction. Commercial software, FLUENT, is used for predicting the flow using the standard k-e turbulence model. The results are presented at a channel flow Reynolds number of 25000. The effect of rotation number from 0, 0.1, and 0.2 is studied along with inlet coolant-to-wall density ratio of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15. Results show that the impingement and swirl flow are affected by rotation induced Coriolis and centrifugal forces. There appears to be little effect of centrifugal buoyancy for this geometry as velocity profiles are unaffected by the wall temperature changes.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Mechanical Circulatory Device Thrombosis: A New Paradigm Linking Hypercoagulation and Hypofibrinolysis

This review considers the perhaps unappreciated role of contact pathway proteins in the pathogenesis of thrombotic/thromboembolic morbidity associated with mechanical circulatory support. Placement of ventricular assist devices (VADs) has been associated with consumption of circulating contact proteins and persistent generation of activated contact proteins such as Factor XII and high molecular weight kininogen. Importantly, activated contact proteins are absorbed to the surface of VADs via the Vroman effect. Further, hyperfibrinogenemia and persistent platelet activation exist in patients with VADs, likely contributing to speed of clot growth. Using thrombelastographic-based analyses, it has been determined that contact pathway protein activated coagulation results in a thrombus that develops strength at a significantly faster rate that tissue factor initiated coagulation. Further, thrombelastographic analyses that include the addition of tissue-type plasminogen activator have demonstrated that contact protein pathway activation results in thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activation to a far greater extent than that observed with tissue factor initiated coagulation, resulting in a thrombus that takes significantly longer to lyse. These observations serve as the rational basis for clinical investigation to determine if regional suppression of thrombin generation with FXII/high molecular weight kininogen inhibition in concert with thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor inhibition may decrease mechanical circulatory support-associated thrombotic morbidity.
On Estimating the Economic Value of Schooling and Experience Some Issues in Conceptualization and Measurement

This paper attempts to demonstrate two things. First, sociologists interested in the processes governing income attainment and inequality should consider incorporating into socioeconomic achievement models indicators of work experience that correspond to the following life-cycle events: schooling, initialfull- time entry into the labor market, and assumption of current job. The findings presented here suggest that two types of postschooling market experience substantially enhance earnings. Experience acquired during the formal schooling process, however, is of little economic value, a hypothesis underlying both a segment of Mincer's formulation of human capital theory and the conventional techniques employed to estimate postschooling work experience from other variables (e.g., age and schooling). Second, extreme caution must be taken in the conceptualization and measurement of work experience and its specification in earnings models. Conceptual and measurement strategies deemed theoretically incorrect yie...
Cognitive foundations for model-based sensor fusion

Target detection, tracking, and sensor fusion are complicated problems, which usually are performed sequentially. First detecting targets, then tracking, then fusing multiple sensors reduces computations. This procedure however is inapplicable to difficult targets which cannot be reliably detected using individual sensors, on individual scans or frames. In such more complicated cases one has to perform functions of fusing, tracking, and detecting concurrently. This often has led to prohibitive combinatorial complexity and, as a consequence, to sub-optimal performance as compared to the information-theoretic content of all the available data. It is well appreciated that in this task the human mind is by far superior qualitatively to existing mathematical methods of sensor fusion, however, the human mind is limited in the amount of information and speed of computation it can cope with. Therefore, research efforts have been devoted toward incorporating “biological lessons” into smart algorithms, yet success has been limited. Why is this so, and how to overcome existing limitations? The fundamental reasons for current limitations are analyzed and a potentially breakthrough research and development effort is outlined. We utilize the way our mind combines emotions and concepts in the thinking process and present the mathematical approach to accomplishing this in the current technology computers. The presentation will summarize the difficulties encountered by intelligent systems over the last 50 years related to combinatorial complexity, analyze the fundamental limitations of existing algorithms and neural networks, and relate it to the type of logic underlying the computational structure: formal, multivalued, and fuzzy logic. A new concept of dynamic logic will be introduced along with algorithms capable of pulling together all the available information from multiple sources. This new mathematical technique, like our brain, combines conceptual understanding with emotional evaluation and overcomes the combinatorial complexity of concurrent fusion, tracking, and detection. The presentation will discuss examples of performance, where computational speedups of many orders of magnitude were attained leading to performance improvements of up to 10 dB (and better).
Mass determination of lipids with automated thermogravimetric analytical procedure

An automated thermogravimetric system for the microdetermination of lipids is described. A study of the analytical variability experienced with this method revealed that samples can be assayed with considerable accuracy (±3%) down to 100–200 μg, while samples less than this range exhibit variations of ±7–10%. In the absence of other more sensitive methods, even this experimental error is acceptable. In addition, multiple applications of very dilute samples to achieve a lipid mass with an acceptable coefficient of variation is possible. No significant variations were observed with samples assayed on the same day and on different days, indicating a high degree of control of nonoperator errors. A careful application of the method to different lipid classes revealed no significant weighing losses under the experimental conditions of this study, except for cholesterol; however, application of the method to mixtures of lipids containing significant amounts of cholesterol did not reveal abnormal errors.
A clinically applicable porcine model of septic and ischemia/reperfusion-induced shock and multiple organ injury.

Background Although many sepsis treatments have shown efficacy in acute animal models, at present only activated protein C is effective in humans. The likely reason for this discrepancy is that most of the animal models used for preclinical testing do not accurately replicate the complex pathogenesis of human sepsis. Our objective in this study was to develop a clinically applicable model of severe sepsis and gut ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) that would cause multiple organ injury over a period of 48 h. Materials and Methods Anesthetized, instrumented, and ventilated pigs were subjected to a “two-hit” injury by placement of a fecal clot through a laparotomy and by clamping the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for 30 min. The animals were monitored for 48 h. Wide spectrum antibiotics and intravenous fluids were given to maintain hemodynamic status. FiO 2 was increased in response to oxygen desaturation. Twelve hours following injury, a drain was placed in the laparotomy wound. Extensive hemodynamic, lung, kidney, liver, and renal function measurements and serial measurements of arterial and mixed venous blood gases were made. Bladder pressure was measured as a surrogate for intra-peritoneal pressure to identify the development of the abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). Plasma and peritoneal ascites cytokine concentration were measured at regular intervals. Tissues were harvested and fixed at necropsy for detailed morphometric analysis. Results Polymicrobial sepsis developed in all animals. There was a progressive deterioration of organ function over the 48 h. The lung, kidney, liver, and intestine all demonstrated clinical and histopathologic injury. Acute lung injury (ALI) and ACS developed by consensus definitions. Increases in multiple cytokines in serum and peritoneal fluid paralleled the dysfunction found in major organs. Conclusion This animal model of Sepsis+I/R replicates the systemic inflammation and dysfunction of the major organ systems that is typically seen in human sepsis and trauma patients. The model should be useful in deciphering the complex pathophysiology of septic shock as it transitions to end-organ injury thus allowing sophisticated preclinical studies on potential treatments.
Evaluation of onboard hyperspectral-image compression techniques for a parallel push-broom sensor

A single hyperspectral imaging sensor can produce frames with spatially-continuous rows of differing, but adjacent, spectral wavelength. If the frame sample-rate of the sensor is such that subsequent hyperspectral frames are spatially shifted by one row, then the sensor can be thought of as a parallel (in wavelength) push-broom sensor. An examination of data compression techniques for such a sensor is presented. The compression techniques are intended to be implemented onboard a space-based platform and to have implementation speeds that match the date rate of the sensor. Data partitions examined extend from individually operating on a single hyperspectral frame to operating on a data cube comprising the two spatial axes and the spectral axis. Compression algorithms investigated utilize JPEG-based image compression, wavelet-based compression and differential pulse code modulation. Algorithm performance is quantitatively presented in terms of root-mean-squared error and root-mean-squared correlation coefficient error. Implementation issues are considered in algorithm development.
The effect of cupric ion on the reaction inactivation of ascorbic acid oxidase.

Abstract 1. 1. The reaction inactivation of functioning ascorbic acid oxidase has been found to be greatly increased in the presence of free cupric ion, whereas the incubation of nonfunctioning enzyme with Cu++ results in no apparent inactivation. 2. 2. Other bivalent metal ions (Fe++, Co++, Ni++, Zn++) have been found to produce no significant retardation of the enzyme's action. 3. 3. It has been demonstrated that the increased enzyme inactivation in the presence of Cu++ cannot be attributed to the formation of H2O2 resulting from cupric ion catalysis of the aerobic oxidation of ascorbic acid. 4. 4. The significance of the Cu++ effect in respect to the possible role of —SH group participation in the enzyme's function is briefly discussed.