cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Row-column directed block designs

Abstract A balanced incomplete block design (BIBD) is called a row-column directed BIBD (RCDBIBD) if: 1. (i) it is directed in the usual sense, i.e., each ordered pair of points occurs an equal number of times in the blocks (directed column wise), and 2. (ii) the blocks are arranged in such a way that (a) each point occurs an equal number of times in each row, and (b) each ordered pair of distinct points occurs an almost equal number of times in the rows. The present paper gives construction techniques for RCDBIBDs and proves that the necessary conditions are sufficient for the existence of RCDBIBDs with block size 2. Existence of RCDBIBDs with block size 3 and v ≡ 1 mod 6 is shown and it is proved that an RCDBIBD(7,7,4,4,1 ∗ ) does not exist.
Research Studies on Higher Education; A Content Analysis.

This paper reports the results of a content analysis of a comprehensive set of abstracts of ongoing research projects in the United States and Canada in 1972. The questions asked were: What kind of research is being done on higher education? Who does this research? Secondary questions were: How are the research projects financially supported? How are the research results to be disseminated? The results are presented and interpreted in relation to some of the less data-based literature on the field of higher education as an emerging area of systematic study.
Risk factors for mortality in patients with multifocal and diffuse hepatic hemangiomas.

Abstract Purpose Multifocal and diffuse hepatic hemangiomas are true infantile hemangiomas, which likely exist in a continuum. We reviewed our hepatic hemangioma registry to identify prognostic indicators for mortality. Methods Registry records entered between 1995 and 2012 were reviewed. Clinical characteristics were evaluated for prognostic significance using the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. Survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier product–limit method. Results We identified 123 patients with multifocal (n=91) and diffuse (n=32) hepatic hemangiomas. Mortality was 16% (n=20); 40% (n=8) had multifocal and 60% (n=12) had diffuse lesions. A diagnosis of diffuse disease (hazard ratio: 9.9, 95% CI: 2.0–50.8, P =.002) and congestive heart failure (CHF) (hazard ratio: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.3–14.2, P =.031) were significant risk factors for mortality across the continuum; age at presentation, cardiomegaly, presence of shunts, and hypothyroidism were not statistically significant independent risk factors. Among patients with diffuse lesions, eight (67%) who died had abdominal compartment syndrome, which was also associated with mortality ( P =.002). Conclusions Hepatic hemangioma patients with CHF or diffuse disease are at higher risk for mortality. Patients with multifocal lesions without CHF may go undetected until lesions become diffuse. Aggressive treatment of symptomatic patients and close follow-up of asymptomatic patients may improve mortality.
Infrared active optical vibrations of graphite

The infrared refectivity of graphite has been measured for E⊥c and E□c and the frequencies of the “out-of-plane” A2u symmetry mode and the “in-plane” E1u symmetry mode have been determined to be 868 cm−1, respectively. Macroscopic effective charges for each mode have also been calculated, 0.08e for A2u and 0.41e for E1u. The assignment of the A2u frequency has enabled us to evaluate the magnitude of a four-body force that has been used to characterize the graphite lattice modes involving out-of-plane displacements.
The Hated Wife in Deuteronomic Law

In Deut 21:15-17, a father is required to grant the birthright to his biologically oldest son, when he has both a loved wife and a hated wife, and when the oldest son is the son of the hated wife. A common interpretation of this text is that it seeks to prevent fathers in general from demoting an eldest son and granting the birthright to a younger son. By contrast, this article argues that the text assumes that fathers had the right to demote their eldest and that they would continue to have this right. It suggests that the hated wife is one who has been arbitrarily demoted by her husband to a lower status within the household. Because of this action on the part of the husband, the text requires him to forfeit his right also to demote this woman’s son arbitrarily, a right he would otherwise have retained.
Elliptic genera of level N and jacobi polynomials

In this work, we study Hirzebruch's level N elliptic genera and show that the image of the complex projective spaces under the level 3 genus can be realized very compactly in terms of Jacobi polynomials. To obtain these results we examine a differential equation which the level 3 logarithm satisfies.
N16 Power Control System of the Livermore Pool-Type Reactor

A power level indicating and control system that is independent of rod position and gamma background was developed for the Livermore Pool-Type Reactor (LPTR). This system, based on the N16 decay in the primary coolant water, avoids the errors in ion-chamber measurements caused by changes in leakage flux, related to fuel loading, fuel burnup, xenon buildup, and rod position. A scintillation detector was placed near the coolant outlet. A dual differential discriminator monitors the output and drives a counter in the control room. The numerical readout is directly in watts. The counter output provides a control signal that can override the ion-chamber control when an error exists. The system operates from 2 MW down to 2 kW under automatic control.
A digital data link for aircraft communication

The main features of a digital data link system for communication with a number of aircraft over a single radio frequency by time division multiplex are described. Part 1 describes a ground-to-ground link for conveying the coded messages from the originating centre to the radio transmitter site. Six telephone lines are used, each line carrying 19 parallel 50-baud voice frequency telegraph channels. The equipment is engineered with transistors and printed circuit boards and some figures of fault incidence and reliability are given. Part 2 describes the airborne decoder. Message recognition and means to extract the digit synchronization are described and the design considerations for filtering and coupling the message from the receiver to the decoder are given. Two digital-toanalogue conversion circuits are outlined, one to provide a 400-c/s voltage proportional to the digital quantity, the second a means to generate an angular quantity as a shaft position within the decoder. Brief mention is made of the engineering methods adopted to give the necessary reliability.
Radical: A Portrait of Saul Alinsky. By Nicholas von Hoffman. (New York, NY: Nation Books, 2010. Pp. xiii, 237. $26.95.)

Too little remembered, Saul Alinsky presently serves, ironically enough, as something of both a mentor and a foil for right‐wing political activists, as he did during the 2008 presidential campaign...
The Properties of Groundwater

Scientists and engineers concerned with the environmental aspects of groundwater frequently require a comprehensive reference text that provides an overview of the pertinent problem, appropriate decision making criteria and a guide to relevant references. The Properties of Groundwater, translated from the German by John C. Harvey, is a welcome addition to the select books currently available in this field. The book occupies the niche that lies between Hem's classic Study and Interpretation of the Chemical Characteristics of Natural Water (U.S.G.S., Water Supply Pap. 1473, 363, pp., 1970), Stumm and Morgan's Aquatic Chemistry (John Wiley, New York, 780 pp., 1970), and Freeze and Cherry's Groundwater (Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 604 pp., 1979). The level of presentation, coupled with the cost, may limit the use of the book to advanced seminar courses and, more appropriately, as a solid reference text for scientists and researchers concerned with water and water quality. The table of contents is well indexed and is structured to allow the reader to review effectively the subject matter.
Venous uptake despite negative aspiration during fluoroscopically guided interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injections.

Dear Editor, Cervical epidural injections are one of the more commonly used modalities to treat chronic neck and upper extremity pain after patients have failed medication therapies and physical therapy. Complications related to this intervention are uncommon, but can be caused by direct injury to the spinal cord or by unrecognized intravascular injection of toxic agents. We would like to report our finding of venous uptake despite negative aspiration during an interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection, which would not have been recognized without fluoroscopy and the use of contrast dye. A 61-year-old female presented to our …
Negative mood effects on craving to smoke in women versus men

Abstract Negative mood situations increase craving to smoke, even in the absence of any tobacco deprivation (e.g. “stressors”). Individual differences in effects of negative mood situations on craving have received relatively little attention but may include variability between men and women. Across two separate within-subjects studies, we examined sex differences in craving (via the QSU-brief) as functions of brief smoking abstinence (versus satiation; Study 1) and acute induction of negative mood (versus neutral mood; Study 2). Subjective ratings of negative affect (via the Mood Form) were also assessed. In Study 1, we compared the effects of overnight (> 12 h) abstinence versus non-abstinence on craving and affect in adult male (n = 63) and female (n = 42) smokers. In Study 2, these responses to negative versus neutral mood induction (via pictorial slides and music) were examined in male (n = 85) and female (n = 78) satiated smokers. Results from each study were similar in showing that craving during the abstinence and negative mood induction conditions was greater in women than men, as hypothesized, although the sex difference in craving due to abstinence was only marginal after controlling for dependence. Craving was strongly associated with negative affect in both studies. These results suggest that very acute negative mood situations (e.g. just a few minutes in Study 2), and perhaps overnight abstinence, may increase craving to smoke to a greater extent in women relative to men.
The Great Crossing: Nostalgia and Manifest Destiny in Aaron Copland’s The Red Pony

This essay explores how music underscores the twinning of nostalgia and the West at key moments, helping to refine the film’s characterization of family relationships and to deepen its message about manifest destiny
Urogenital trauma: imaging upper GU trauma

Objectives: This article will define the current controversies and concepts in the classification, clinical presentation, imaging approaches and management of upper urinary tract trauma. Materials and methods, results: This review will include the experience of the authors in the field of renal trauma over a 32-year period. Current thinking accepts the view that significant renal trauma is generally present when there is gross hematuria, signs of shock, or other clinical signs of severe injury. In most patients, suspected renal injury will be evaluated as a part of the overall assassment of the patient for suspected intraperitoneal injury. The authors will stress some exceptions to the rule. Conclusions: Most trauma experts now advocate conservative management, unless the patient is unstable or a renal vascular thrombosis or avulsion is suspected. Similarly, penetrating trauma to the kidney in and of itself no longer requires mandatory surgery. In the United States, computed tomography (CT), especially spiral CT, is considered the best diagnostic study, if available. Intravenous pyelography (IVP) is adequate if this is the only imaging modality available and if no concomitant injuries to the abdominal structure are suspected. Ultrasound, although strongly advocated in some countries, can lead to some significant false negatives. The diagnosis and management of unusual problems such as the traumatic AV fistula, the patient with an absent kidney or injury to the congenitally abnormal kidney, the serendipitous renal tumor in a patient with trauma, or serious bleeding after an apparent minor injury (i.e., spontaneous hemorrhage) are also reviewed in this article.
The impact of bilateral subthalamic stimulation on non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the impact of bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) on the prevalence of non-motor symptoms reported by Parkinson's disease (PD) patients one year following surgery and to examine whether there was an association between number of non-motor symptoms reported and quality of life (QoL). Methods Twenty-four patients who received bilateral STN DBS and had follow-up evaluations one year after surgery were included in this study. Patients’ motor function was evaluated with the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, non-motor symptoms were assessed with the Non-Motor Symptom questionnaire (NMSQuest) and quality of life was assessed with the PDQ-39. Results There was a mean of 12 non-motor symptoms reported prior to surgery which was significantly reduced to a mean of 7 symptoms one year after surgery. Autonomic symptoms were the most frequently reported and demonstrated the greatest reductions following surgery. Twenty-seven of the 30 items represented in the NMSQuest were reported less frequently one year after surgery compared to before surgery. The reduction in non-motor symptoms was significantly correlated with total QoL scores and the subscales of mobility, activities of daily living, cognition and bodily discomfort. Conclusions Non-motor symptoms are common in patients with advanced PD. The number of non-motor symptoms was significantly decreased one year following bilateral STN DBS which was associated with a significant improvement in QoL. Further studies focused on specific non-motor symptoms are warranted in order to fully understand the impact and mechanisms of STN DBS on these symptoms.
The Work-to-College Transition: Postsecondary Expectations and Enrolment for Young Men and Women in the US Labour Force.

This paper investigates early employment influences on postsecondary expectations and enrolment for working men and women who have recently completed high school in the United States. We find that young workers still have very high expectations for postsecondary education, but that women are more likely to enrol. However, this difference is primarily due to high rates of female enrolment in less-than-four-year institutions. Job training from one’s employer predicts higher odds of future postsecondary enrolment, but this relationship appears only for men. Recommendations are given for assisting young workers in realising postsecondary expectations and advancing social mobility, as well as how gender must be considered in these efforts.
A Unified Damage Approach for Predicting Forming Limit Diagrams

Plastic deformation in sheet metal consists of four distinct phases, namely, uniform deformation, diffuse necking, localized necking, and final rupture. The last three phases are commonly known as nonuniform deformation. A proper forming limit diagram (FLD) should include all three phases of the nonuniform deformation. This paper presents the development of a unified approach to the prediction of FLD to include all three phases of nonuniform deformation. The conventional method for predicting FLD is based on localized necking and adopts two fundamentally different approaches. Under biaxial loading, the Hill's plasticity method is often chosen when α (= ∈ 2 /∈ 1 ) 0 or when the biaxial stretching of sheet metal is significant. The M-K method, however, suffers from the arbitrary selection of the imperfection size, thus resulting in inconsistent predictions. The unified approach takes into account the effects of micro-cracks/voids on the FLD. All real-life materials contain varying sizes and degrees of micro-cracks/voids which can be characterized by the theory of damage mechanics. The theory is extended to include orthotropic damage, which is often observed in extensive plastic deformation during sheet metal forming. The orthotropic FLD model is based on an anisotropic damage model proposed recently by Chow and Wang (1993). Coupling the incremental theory of plasticity with damage, the new model can be used to predict not only the forming limit diagram but also the fracture limit diagram under proportional or nonpropor-tional loading. In view of the two distinct physical phenomena governing the cases when α (=∈ 2 /∈ 1 ) 0, a set of instability criteria is proposed to characterize all three phases of nonuniform deformation. The orthotropic damage model has been employed to predict the FLD of VDIF steel (Chow et at., 1996) and excellent agreement between the predicted and measured results has been achieved as shown in Fig. 1. The damage model is extended in this paper to examine its applicability and validity for another important engineering material, namely aluminum alloy 6111-T4.
United States – Certain Measures Affecting Imports of Poultry from China: the fascinating case that wasn't

US–Poultry (China) was the first Panel decision dealing with an origin-specific SPS measure, or with what the United States referred to as an ‘equivalence regime’. More specifically, it was the first instance in which the basis for the challenged measure was the claimed inability of the complainant country to enforce its own food-safety rules. Unfortunately, as the litigation developed, the very interesting novel issues raised by such a measure were not discussed. This essay discusses those novel issues – in particular, what sort of scientific justification or risk assessment should be required for a measure like this, and what SPS Article 4 says about equivalence regimes. The essay also criticizes the Panel's analysis of some of the issues the Panel does discuss, such as the meaning of the ‘appropriate level of protection’ in SPS 5.5 and 5.6, and the relationship between the SPS and GATT XX(b).
Midlife Marital Status Differences in Social Support Relationships With Adult Children and Psychological Well-Being

This research examined marital status differences in attitudes about parental obligation, social support relationships with adult children, and psychological well-being using data from 3,002 midlife parents (age 35-64) of nonresident adult children interviewed by the National Survey of Families and Households 1987-1988. Remarried and single parents generally professed less belief in parental financial obligation to adult children than first marriage parents. Overall, parents in first marriages were the most likely to be giving support. Separated/divorced and widowed mothers were more likely to only receive support; remarried and single fathers were more likely to be uninvolved in support. Single and remarried mothers reported less happiness and more distress than first marriage mothers. Single fathers generally reported poorer psychological well-being than first marriage fathers, but there was a trend for remarried fathers to report somewhat more happiness. Support relationships affected the well-being of...
Longer T2 relaxation time is a marker of hypothalamic gliosis in mice with diet-induced obesity

A hallmark of brain injury from infection, vascular, neurodegenerative, and other disorders is the development of gliosis, which can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In rodent models of diet-induced obesity (DIO), high-fat diet (HFD) consumption rapidly induces inflammation and gliosis in energy-regulating regions of the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH), and recently we reported MRI findings suggestive of MBH gliosis in obese humans. Thus, noninvasive imaging may obviate the need to assess MBH gliosis using histopathological end points, an obvious limitation to human studies. To investigate whether quantitative MRI is a valid tool with which to measure MBH gliosis, we performed analyses, including measurement of T2 relaxation time from high-field MR brain imaging of mice fed HFD and chow-fed controls. Mean bilateral T2 relaxation time was prolonged significantly in the MBH, but not in the thalamus or cortex, of HFD-fed mice compared with chow-fed controls. Histological analysis confirmed evidence of increased astrocytosis and microglial accumulation in the MBH of HFD-fed mice compared with controls, and T2 relaxation times in the right MBH correlated positively with mean intensity of glial fibrillary acidic protein staining (a marker of astrocytes) in HFD-fed animals. Our findings indicate that T2 relaxation time obtained from high-field MRI is a useful noninvasive measurement of HFD-induced gliosis in the mouse hypothalamus with potential for translation to human studies.
The Value Of Benefit Data In Direct-To-Consumer Drug Ads

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical ads typically describe drug benefits in qualitative terms; they rarely provide data on how well the drug works. We describe an evaluation of a "prescription drug benefit box"—data from the main randomized trials on the chances of various outcomes with and without the drug. Most participants rated the in- formation as "very important" or "important"; almost all found the data easy to understand. Perceptions of drug effectiveness were much lower for ads that incorporated the benefit box than for ads that did not. Most people we interviewed want benefit data in drug ads, can understand these data, and are influenced by them.
The Sequential Combination Paradigm in Epigenetic Therapy

Copyright: © 2012 Fandy TE. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Epigenetic therapy is a novel therapeutic approach that targets DNA methylation, histone modifications or microRNAs (miRNAs). Drugs targeting DNA methylation (azacitidine and decitabine) and histone acetylation (vorinostat) are currently FDA-approved for the treatment of Myelo Dysplastic Syndromes (MDS) and cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL), respectively. Drugs targeting miRNAs and other histone modifications are currently in preclinical and clinical trials. A central hypothesis in epigenetic therapy is the combination of epigenetic modifiers in a specific sequential order to achieve optimal expression of epigenetically silenced tumor suppressor genes. This paradigm was established based on the observation that inhibitors of class I & II Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes cannot re-express genes silenced by promoter hypermethylation [1]. The use of a DNA Methyl Transferase (DNMT) inhibitor followed by an HDAC inhibitor is required for the re-expression of genes silenced by promoter hypermethylation. Consequently, the sequential or overlapping combination of DNA hypomethylating agents and HDAC inhibitors has been utilized in several clinical trials based on this hypothesis [2,3].
Memory subsystem performance of programs using copying garbage collection

Heap allocation with copying garbage collection is believed to have poor memory subsystem performance. We conducted a study of the memory subsystem performance of heap allocation for memory subsystems found on many machines. We found that many machines support heap allocation poorly. However, with the appropriate memory subsystem organization, heap allocation can have good memory subsystem performance.
Whole Mouse Brain Image Reconstruction from Serial Coronal Sections Using FIJI (ImageJ)

Whole-brain reconstruction of the mouse enables comprehensive analysis of the distribution of neurochemical markers, the distribution of anterogradely labeled axonal projections or retrogradely labeled neurons projecting to a specific brain site, or the distribution of neurons displaying activity-related markers in behavioral paradigms. This unit describes a method to produce whole-brain reconstruction image sets from coronal brain sections with up to four fluorescent markers using the freely available image-processing program FIJI (ImageJ).
Flexibility Theory as a Corporate Governance Mechanism

The basis of the modern corporation, as we know it, is the result of a naive process. Shareholders purchase stock, becoming principals and residual claimants. Professional managers (agents) are contracted to provide decision making with the hope of maximizing shareholder wealth. Furthermore, principals reduce the risk of losing money by holding a diversified portfolio of stocks. This process inherently leads to an inefficient specialization of tasks, i.e., risk bearing by shareholders and risk taking by professional managers. Unfortunately, as the principal-agent problem postulates, there is a possibility of managerial opportunism, which can be defined as the seeking of self-interest by professional managers. As expected, managerial opportunism prevents maximizing shareholder wealth. In response, principals have established governance and control mechanisms to minimize the impact of managers acting opportunistically in their own interest. This naive process fails to address the fact that professional managers actually are hired to take on risks, deal with uncertainties, and find solutions among various possibilities. Hence, shareholders take the implicit and ever-dangerous view that because they are holding diversified portfolios, intelligent risk taking on the part of professional managers is unnecessary. Furthermore, empirical research on corporate governance mechanisms reveals that shareholders do not include risk-taking capabilities of professional managers as part of effective corporate governance. This paper reiterates the importance of changing the corporate organizational structure by following Ogunc (2010), which introduces a new C-level executive — the chief flexibility officer or CFLO — that endogenously accomplishes the task of increased governance and provides a path for sustainable growth.
Molecular Order of Arterial Collagen Using Circular Polarization Second-Harmonic Generation Imaging

Second-harmonic generation (SHG) originates from the interaction between upconverted fields from individual scatterers. This renders SHG microscopy highly sensitive to molecular distribution. Here, we aim to take advantage of the difference in SHG between aligned and partially aligned molecules to probe the degree of molecular order during biomechanical testing, independently of the absolute orientation of the scattering molecules. Toward this goal, we implemented a circular polarization SHG imaging approach and used it to quantify the intensity change associated with collagen fibers straightening in the arterial wall during mechanical stretching. We were able to observe the delayed alignment of collagen fibers during mechanical loading, thus demonstrating a simple method to characterize molecular distribution using intensity information alone.
Modeling Noncompensatory Choices With a Compensatory Model for a Product Design Search

Market-based product design has typically used compensatory models that assume a simple additive part-worth rule. However, marketing literature has demonstrated that consumers use various heuristics called noncompensatory choices to simplify their choice decisions. This study aims to explore the suitability of compensatory modeling of these noncompensatory choices for the product design search. This is motivated by the limitations of the existing Bayesian-based noncompensatory mode, such as the screening rule assumptions, probabilistic representation of noncompensatory choices, and discontinuous choice probability functions in the Bayesian-based noncompensatory model. Results from using compensatory models show that noncompensatory choices can lead to distinct segments with extreme part-worths. In addition, the product design search problem suggests that the compensatory model would be preferred due to small design errors and inexpensive computational burden.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Origin of the positive spin- 1 2 photoluminescence-detected magnetic resonance in π-conjugated materials and devices

The spin-$1/2$ single-modulation (SM) and double-modulation (DM) photoluminescence (PL) detected magnetic resonance (PLDMR) in poly(2-methoxy-5-(2\ensuremath{'}-ethyl)--hexoxy-1,4- phenylene vinylene) (MEH-PPV) films and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) films is described, analyzed, and discussed. In particular, the models based on spin-dependent recombination of charge pairs (SDR) and triplet-polaron quenching (TPQ) are evaluated. By analyzing the dependence of the resonance amplitude on the microwave chopping (modulation) frequency using rate equations, it is demonstrated that the TPQ model can well explain the observed resonance behavior, while SDR model cannot reproduce the results of the observed DM-PLDMR. Thus the observed spin-$1/2$ PLDMR is assigned to TPQ rather than SDR, even though the latter may also be present.
Some Notes on Oromo Cultural Nationalism

The underlying assumption in this article is that the root of Oromo Nationalism is Oromo Cultural Nationalism. Thus the paper aims to relocate the arrested Oromo Nationalism back to its social base by casting light on the narratives of “long-distance nationalism”. To challenge some misconceptions about Oromo Nationalism, I follow an eclectic eticemic approach and integrate various folkloric, socio-cultural, and historical data into interdisciplinary approaches. Based on the available data, I argue that to fight against the political exclusion, economic exploitation, and cultural domination imposed by the neo-Abyssinian force on the Oromo, the bedrock for Oromo Nationalism has been Cultural Resistance. Here I claim that in spite of the longstanding Oromo history, the emergent Oromo Nationalism has been distanced from its social base of Oromummaa (Oromoness) — its guiding principle — and distracted by the protracted long-distance nationalism as by the divisions among Oromo political elites. The two concepts, namely, “long-distance nationalism” and “Oromummaa,” will make the conceptual framework used in this analysis of Oromo Cultural Nationalism.
Application Research on Base of Computer Teaching Based on CDIO Model

Aiming at the universal problem that engineering education couldn't meet the demand of enterprises,it's presented a new teaching system of base of computer according to CDIO model.It involves how to integrate the computer course refer to different specialties,use methods of learning by doing,enhance experimental process.It's presented that cultivate students the ability to innovate,cooperate and use computer,and the other professional ability in the overall process of Conceive,Design,Implement and Operate.
An observational study of the safety benefits of electronic logging devices using carrier-collected data

ABSTRACTObjective: Fatigue has been shown to be a contributing factor in many large truck crashes. Long duty periods, irregular work schedules, and poor sleeping environments make fatigue a noteworthy concern in trucking operations. One way to limit fatigued driving is through prescriptive hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. This duty status information is typically recorded in written logs; however, more trucking companies are moving toward electronic HOS recorders. These devices were first marketed as productivity tools; however, more recently they have been touted for their safety benefits in reducing fatigued truck drivers (because falsifying electronic logs is difficult).Methods: The purpose of the current study was to assess the benefits of electronic logging devices (ELDs) on safety and HOS violations in trucks as they operated during normal revenue service. Data on crashes, HOS violations, mileage, and onboard safety systems were obtained from participating motor carriers. Although the final data ...
The Heart as a Pump

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the functions of the heart as a pump. The heart acts as a relatively simple flow pump transferring blood from the veins to the arteries and adding enough mechanical energy to the blood to overcome the vascular resistance. As a pump, it is extremely sensitive to preloading conditions at the venous terminal, whereas it is characterized by a high internal resistance as seen from the arterial end. In ordinary circumstances, it operates under nervous and humoral controls. However, the heart is able to adjust flow to bodily demands within limits even when nervous control is eliminated. The important criterion of the overall performance of the cardiac pump is whether or not it can provide necessary and adequate amounts of flow under various conditions. Qualitative experiments using heart bypass suggest that a completely depulsated perfusion of the vascular bed tends to have a harmful effect on certain organs. The major characteristics of the heart as a pump are summarized in chapter. The chapter also focuses on the mechanics of ventricular contraction and discusses the static performance of the heart as a flow generator under various combinations of venous and arterial pressure loads.
New Distinguished Lecturers for 2017-2019 [Distinguished Lecturers]

The Distinguished Lecturer Program of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) has selected three researchers as new Distinguished Lecturers for 2017?2019.
Case Study 5. Checking the Time: Geological Dating at Olduvai Gorge

The geological ages had been mapped extensively in the 1800s and early 1900s, so that paleontologists around the world could attempt to place their fossils in an increasingly global context. However, relative dating by stratigraphy only goes so far. Any attempt to assign absolute dates before the 1950s was mere guesswork and was commonly underestimated by an order of magnitude. The development of an absolute time scale required a collaboration of geologists, physicists, and paleontologists and came about in part by the inspiration of Louis S. B. Leakey. By applying radiometric dating to the volcanic layers at Olduvai Gorge and then correlating those with paleomagnetic sequences, his team established a framework that made precise dating possible for Pleistocene deposits across East Africa and beyond. Leakey’s example of bringing experts of many types together on a single project has become the model for modern expeditions.
MIMO SAR based ground moving target indication

We investigate a framework for the detection of ground moving targets using a Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) radar system. We look at how phase histories collected from a MIMO Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system can be used for target detection in a Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) mode while SAR images are being formed. We propose the usage of the recently developed Iterative Adaptive Approach to detect movers and estimate their velocities in the post-Doppler domain. We show how the waveform diversity afforded by a MIMO radar system enables its superiority over its Single-Input-Multiple-Output (SIMO) counterpart.
New modularity indices for modularity assessment and clustering of product architecture

ABSTRACTModularity indices based on Design Structure Matrices (DSMs) have been utilised to help measure modularity and cluster a product’s architecture into independent or coordinated modules, but many metrics have difficulty (a) measuring the modularity of different types of architectures in real-world products such as bus-type architectures and (b) optimising module boundaries in architectures. After reviewing existing modularity indices and clustering algorithms, we introduce new modularity indices that can capture the degrees of (1) connection strengths within each independent module and between different modules, (2) density of connections within each module and between modules, (3) proximity of interactions to the diagonal of the DSM, and (4) density of connections between buses and other components. Moreover, the proposed metrics can serve as objective functions to obtain optimal DSMs to maximise modularity. A comparative analysis of the proposed modularity index shows that the proposed metric can ...
Defence planning and uncertainty: Planning for the next Asia–Pacific war

Defense planning is an inherently frustrating enterprise. Presented with an infinite array of possible future contingencies, the planner must make trade-offs, preparing for challenges ranging from ...
Causal meets Submodular: Subset Selection with Directed Information

We study causal subset selection with Directed Information as the measure of prediction causality. Two typical tasks, causal sensor placement and covariate selection, are correspondingly formulated into cardinality constrained directed information maximizations. To attack the NP-hard problems, we show that the first problem is submodular while not necessarily monotonic. And the second one is ``nearly'' submodular. To substantiate the idea of approximate submodularity, we introduce a novel quantity, namely submodularity index (SmI), for general set functions. Moreover, we show that based on SmI, greedy algorithm has performance guarantee for the maximization of possibly non-monotonic and non-submodular functions, justifying its usage for a much broader class of problems. We evaluate the theoretical results with several case studies, and also illustrate the application of the subset selection to causal structure learning.
Mixed Methods: Interviews, Surveys, and Cross-Cultural Comparisons

Attention to cultural variation has become an important source of insight in the social, behavioural, and health sciences. Mixed methods research provides an especially sensitive and powerful way to make systematic cross-cultural comparisons, in which qualitative approaches give a window onto cultural meaning and the phenomenological 'feel' of social life, and quantitative methods facilitate hypothesis testing and sophisticated modelling of social and behavioural phenomena. For researchers engaged in cross-cultural projects, this book offers a theory-based approach to integrating 'numbers' and 'text' based on discourse as the originary form of data collection, the method and framework of analysis, and the medium of publication. The book provides concise explanations, targeted examples, step-by-step instructions, and actual analyses of cross-cultural, quantitative survey data and qualitative interview data, with special attention to language(s) and translation as clues to the study of cultural variation.
Toxic Disorders and Encephalopathy

The purpose of this chapter is to selectively review the literature on the neuroanatomical, neuropsychological, and emotional/behavioral effects of exposure to three different substances: organic solvents, lead, and carbon monoxide. Recent research regarding each of these substances has provided a window into the mechanisms for changes in behavior and cognition. There are far too many substances known to affect the central nervous system to review them all here. In addition, the volume of literature on each of the substances we discuss is too large for comprehensive review. Rather, our goal is to provide clinicians with a theoretical background of the changes in behavior/emotions and cognition commonly observed with exposure to these substances and to provide guidance for assessing exposed individuals. For each substance, we will review the particulars of exposure and symptom expression, the neurobehavioral symptoms, the neuroimaging changes, and the relationship between these. Based upon these findings, where possible, we will recommend areas to focus on and hypotheses to explore when evaluating patients with such exposures. We will finish up by addressing general themes for the assessment of patients with a history of toxic exposure, including measurement of exposure, determination of effort in medical–legal cases, and collaboration with occupational medicine specialists.
Advance demand information and early fulfilment in inventory management with two demand classes

This paper investigates the use of advance demand information in three inventory models, each serving two demand classes. The first model is a periodic-review pure inventory system with advance demand information from both classes. The second model considers continuous-review production-inventory system, where only one class provides advance demand information. In the third model, both demand classes provide advance demand information, but one also accepts early fulfilment. An optimal inventory replenishment policy is characterised in the first model under certain conditions. In the remaining two models, simulation-optimisation methods determine optimal kanban-based early fulfilment policies. The presence of a small fraction of customers, who agree to provide advance demand information and accept early fulfilment, is shown to be more advantageous than having all customers provide the same amount of advance demand information but no early fulfilment. Managerial insights are drawn in certain scenarios.
Role of Petroleum Industry

The expertise and experience of petroleum industry around the world is playing a key role in developing and commercializing the geologic CO2 storage, a necessity technology for achieving a balance in anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions by sources and removals by sinks of GHG. However, for realizing the full potential of geologic CO2 storage as a future service industry, petroleum industry needs to overcome various obstacles and barriers including the recognition of geologic CO2 storage as part of their core business, training of both the existing and the future workforce of the petroleum industry to prepare them for meeting the engineering challenges of designing, operating, and managing future geologic CO2 storage projects, and an improved understanding of various engineering aspects of the simultaneous CO2 enhanced oil recovery and storage strategy.
The effects of dehumanizing depictions of race in TV news stories

The daily parade of shackled Black prisoners on TV news paints a picture of Blacks as violent and threatening toward Whites, self-interested and demanding toward the body politic-continually causing problems for the law-abiding, tax-paying majority. A number of studies support the notion that TV crime news often includes racial images (Campbell, 1995; Entman, 1990, 1992; Entman et al., 1998; Gilliam & Iyengar, 2000; Hurwitz & Peffley, 1997; Peffley, Shields, & Williams, 1996; Romer, Jamieson, & de Coteau, 1998). By their professional judgments, the gatekeepers of news project how consequential minorities are to American society and determine the ways in which minorities are portrayed to the majority audience (Wilson & Gutierrez, 1985).
Differences in symptom clusters identified using symptom occurrence rates versus severity ratings in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Abstract Purpose One of the unanswered questions in symptom clusters research is whether the number and types of symptom clusters vary based on the dimension of the symptom experience used to create the clusters. Given that patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy (CTX), report between 10 and 32 concurrent symptoms and studies of symptom clusters in these patients are limited, the purpose of this study, in breast cancer patients undergoing CTX (n = 515), was to identify whether the number and types of symptom clusters differed based on whether symptom occurrence rates or symptom severity ratings were used to create the clusters. Methods A modified version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale was used to assess for the occurrence and severity of 38 symptoms, one week after the administration of CTX. Exploratory factor analysis was used to extract the symptom clusters. Results Both the number and types of symptom clusters were similar using symptom occurrence rates or symptom severity ratings. Five symptom clusters were identified using symptom occurrence rates (i.e., psychological, hormonal, nutritional, gastrointestinal, epithelial ). Six symptom clusters (i.e., psychological, hormonal, nutritional, gastrointestinal, epithelial, chemotherapy neuropathy ) were identified using symptom severity ratings. Across the two dimensions, the specific symptoms within each of the symptom clusters were similar. Conclusions Identification of symptom clusters in patients with breast cancer may be useful in guiding symptom management interventions. Future studies are warranted to determine if symptom clusters remain stable over a cycle of CTX in patients with breast cancer.
Theology and Psychology in Conversation

It would appear that Christian theology and modern psychology, particularly positive psychology, would not be friends. Modern psychology instinctively recoils from theology because the latter hails from a pre-modern mindset in which God looms large. While some theological quarters have drunk deeply from modern psychology’s wells, theology’s first language objects to psychology’s resistance to a spiritual dimension of human life on the grounds that it considerably handicaps its grasp of human experience. For its part, western Christian theology (WCT) has a distinctive theory of personality that brands all people as self-absorbed. That characteristic has been interpreted as selfishness and considered to be socially deleterious. On this view, everyone is assumed to be narcissistic to some degree; vanity is a genetic character disorder that afflicts everyone. Indeed, modern psychology may appreciate the idea that character traits may be heritable that originated with Augustine of Hippo, the first psychologist. Recognizing that such an inclination seriously impedes well-functioning societies, WCT is at pains to analyze the problem and suggest ways to control it or at least mitigate its negative social consequences.
Laparoscopic Total and Supracervical Hysterectomy

Although described as a medical procedure since the second century, the concept of removing the uterus, or hysterectomy, for medical indications has undergone a profound journey from a shunned operation with almost 100 % mortality to one of the most common, nonobstetric operations performed today. Advances in instrumentation and minimally invasive techniques, described in this chapter, have made this a virtually outpatient procedure, with many indications and minimal complication rates. This chapter describes step-by-step techniques to achieve a minimally invasive approach to hysterectomy as well as indications and caveats to minimize medical mishaps. Mastery of the technique is transferable to other minimally invasive pelvic procedures.
Manifold optimization for k-means clustering

We introduce a manifold optimization relaxation for k-means clustering that generalizes spectral clustering. We show how to implement it as gradient descent in a compact manifold. We also present numerical simulations of the algorithm using Manopt [5]. An extended version of this article, with further theory and numerical simulations will be available as [8].
The International Competitiveness and Connections of African Cities: Profiling South Africa’s Gauteng City-Region

Rapid urbanization will define Africa’s demographic future. How, then, can policymakers create urban environments that support economic growth and raise living standards for local households? We examine this question from the perspective of the Gauteng City-Region—the South African mega-metropolis anchored by Johannesburg. The Gauteng City-Region has made significant progress over the past two decades. GDP per capita is nearly one-quarter higher today than in 2000. Educational attainment is up. However, productivity and GDP per capita growth have both slowed since 2010. High levels of unemployment, income inequality, and social exclusion reflect the region’s apartheid legacy. The region can bolster its position as the “Gateway to Africa” by embracing trade and investment, enhancing technology commercialization, and boosting employability through improved connections between school and work.