cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental Investigation of a Perturbation Model for the Nonlinear Response of a Fatigue Cracked Beam

Fatigue damage is a central concern for turbomachinery blisk safety, and inspection methods used to identify such damage are both too slow and too expensive. The high costs of implementation and higher costs for failure to detect fatigue damage demonstrate the need for an automated, offline structural health monitoring system capable of reducing costs and improving results. For such a system to be possible, an efficient framework must be developed that is capable of producing the necessary data libraries within reasonable a timeframe. Toward this purpose, fatigue cracks in beams have been modeled by modifying the inputs to the structure rather than the structure model itself to produce the total response. To provide a more robust justification for the assumed self-excitation model, a different approach with a perturbed area moment of inertia was also investigated. A summary of previous and current work outlines these methods, highlights successful cases, and identifies some of the remaining challenges tackled in this research. The perturbation method is further explored with a numerical solution. Experimentation is continued to produce more results to provide more data for validation of simulation results. The experimental techniques used are found to introduce harmonics in addition to those induced by fatigue damage, and methods are investigated to remove them in future testing. The numerical solution to the perturbation model discussed behaves unexpectedly, so more investigation will be necessary if it is to serve as a suitable model for fatigue damaged structures.
Day-Ahead Generation Scheduling Security Checking Based on Multi-Process Parallel Computation

The multi-process parallel computation technique based on computer clusters proposed in this paper works effectively on the 96-period generation scheduling contingency analysis of day-ahead generation scheduling.By coordination between management and computation processes in computer clusters,the computation process can realize the optimized parallel computation of 96-period cases.The test result of cases on the real power grid shows that the contingency analysis technique of day-ahead generation scheduling,based on multi-process parallel computation,can improve the computation speed and is of great importance in the practical engineer application.
STUDY ON GERMICIDAL EFFICACY OF VOLATILE OILS FROM CHINESE HERBS

Objective To observe germicidal efficacy of volatile oils from Chinese herbs such as Schizonepeta,Ramulus Cinnamemi,etc.Methods Suspension quantitative germicidal test was used to observe germicidal efficacy of compound volatile oils from Chinese herbs.Results The killing rates of Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli and Candida albicans exposed to solution containing 2.08%(v/v) Schizonepeta and Ramulus Cinnamemi oils and solution containing 1.04%(v/v) Mosla oil for 3 minutes were 99.9%.The killing rate of S.aureus exposed to solution containing 16.67%(v/v) Forsythia oil for 3 minutes were 99.9%.The killing rate of E.coli and C.albicans exposed to solution containing 8.33%(v/v) Forsythia oil for 3 minutes were 99.9%.The killing rate of S.aureus exposed to solution containing 8.33%(v/v) Agastache Rugosus for 3 minutes were 99.9%.Conclusion Volatile oils from 4 chinese herbs such as Schizonepeta,Ramulus Cinnamemi,etc.have good germicidal efficacy against vegetative bacteria and fungi,but there are differences in germicidal efficacy for the same volatile oil.
Coombs Positive Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in a Male Pediatric Patient: An Urgent Diagnostic Challenge

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy often caused by deficiency of von Willebrand (vW) factor cleaving protease, ADAMTS-13, leading to large vW multimers and intravascular platelet aggregation. Hemolysis in TTP is mechanical and nonimmune mediated, thus Coombs testing is usually negative. We report a case of an adolescent with thrombocytopenia and Coombs positive anemia, diagnosed with Evans syndrome, but ultimately found to have TTP. TTP should be considered in children with thrombocytopenia and Coombs positive anemia who are refractory to steroids or develop signs of microangiopathy. Recognition of this presentation can lead to life-saving treatment with plasma exchange.
Evaluation of Sunflower Oil as a Rejuvenator and Its Microencapsulation as a Healing Agent

AbstractSelf-healing microencapsulation in asphalt concrete is an emerging technology that would allow this particular material to resist cracking damage caused by vehicular and environmental loading. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of asphalt rejuvenators on asphalt binder, to select a suitable healing agent for asphaltic materials, and to develop a synthesis procedure for the production of microencapsulation of asphalt rejuvenators. Produced microcapsules were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess the effects of preparation parameters on the size and morphology of the microcapsules. Based on the results of the experimental program, it was concluded that the use of sunflower oil as a rejuvenator was effective in reversing the aging of asphalt binder and to positively affect both the high-temperature and low-temperature grades of the binder. In contrast, the use of PennzSuppress as a rejuvenator was not effective in reversing the aging of asphalt binder...
Outcomes of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in adults

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an alternative to ventriculoperitoneal shunting for treatment of hydrocephalus. Studies have reported favorable outcomes for up to three-quarters of adult patients. We performed the first ETV outcomes study using an administrative claims database, examining current practice for adult patients in the United States. We interrogated the Truven Health MarketScan® database for Current Procedural Terminology codes corresponding to ETV and ventriculoperitoneal shunt from 2003- to 2011, including patients over 18years and data from initial and subsequent hospitalizations. ETV failure was defined as any subsequent ETV or shunt procedure. Five hundred twenty-five patients underwent ETV with 6months minimum follow-up. Mean age was 45.9years (range: 18-86years). Mean follow-up was 2.2years (SD: 1.6years, range: 0.5-8.4years). Etiology of hydrocephalus was 21.3% tumor, 9.0% congenital/aqueductal stenosis, 15.8% hemorrhage, and 53.9% others. ETV was successful in 74.7% of patients. Of 133 who failed, 25 had repeat ETV; 108 had shunt placement. Longer length of stay for index surgery was associated with higher risk of failure (hazard ratio (HR): 1.03, p<0.001), as was history of previous shunt (HR: 2.45, p<0.001). Among patients with repeat surgeries, median time to failure was 25days. This study represents a longitudinal analysis of nationwide ETV practice over 9years. Success rate in this large cohort is similar to that published by other single-center retrospective studies. Age and geographic variation may be associated with surgeon choice of ETV or shunt placement after failure of the initial ETV.
The aerospace launch probability simulation

Launch timeliness is an important consideration for mission modeling and optimization. This is especially true for planetary missions and may well be of critical importance for future crew rescue missions. The Aerospace Launch Probability Simulation (ALPS) is a discrete event simulation based tool that produces a cumulative probability distribution estimate for when a space launch is likely to occur relative to the planned launch date at the start of the launch countdown. ALPS considers all factors that have the potential to scrub a launch attempt including problems with the launch vehicle, the payload, which could be a crewed space capsule, and supporting launch range infrastructure as well as the weather constraints. The model can be run with all scrub factors active or with any combination of factors enabled or disabled. Historical data from all Space Shuttle, Atlas V, Delta IV and Falcon 9 launch attempts was analyzed to develop estimates for the scrub factors in terms of their probability of occurrence and the duration of the associated scrub. ALPS can analyze Atlas V, Delta IV, and Falcon 9 launch probabilities in its current state of development. This paper describes all of the scrub risk factors, their basis of estimate, and presents comparative cumulative probability distributions for Atlas V, Delta IV, and Falcon 9. ALPS can be used to ensure mission success when launch timeliness is critical.
A Proof of the Existence of God

2.1 In Meditation Five, Descartes argues that ‘there is not any less repugnance to our conceiving a God (that is, a Being supremely perfect) to whom existence is lacking (that is to say, to whom a certain perfection is lacking) than to conceive of a mountain which has no valley’. And he draws the conclusion that ‘existence is inseparable from Him, and hence He really exists’.1
Pollen Analysis of Human Coprolites from Antelope House

ABSTRACTForty-six prehistoric human fecal samples (coprolites) were submitted to the Texas A&M University Anthropological Research Laboratories for pollen analysis. Fourteen types of non-economic or background pollen were recognized, as were 12 types of economic or ceremonial pollen. Based on pollen percentages and ethnographic analogies, determinations of probable dietary habits and seasonality of fecal deposition were attempted on 39 coprolite samples, with the majority of samples apparently representing the spring/summer season.
Walking the walk and the impact of space and place on new media art

This paper looks at the implications of the loss of site illustrated by three diverse, site-specific new media art case studies: Taking Pictures by Janet Cardiff, Rio Videowall by Dara Birnbaum, an...
AASLD guidelines for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Author(s): Heimbach, Julie K; Kulik, Laura M; Finn, Richard S; Sirlin, Claude B; Abecassis, Michael M; Roberts, Lewis R; Zhu, Andrew X; Murad, M Hassan; Marrero, Jorge A
Asymmetry in the Farley-Buneman dispersion relation caused by parallel electric fields

An implicit assumption utilized in studies of E-region plasma waves generated by the Farley-Buneman instability (FBI) is that the FBI dispersion relation and its solutions for the growth rate and phase velocity are perfectly symmetric with respect to the reversal of the wave propagation component parallel to the magnetic field. In the present study, a recently-derived general dispersion relation that describes fundamental plasma instabilities in the lower ionosphere including FBI is considered and it is demonstrated that the dispersion relation is symmetric only for background electric fields that are perfectly perpendicular to the magnetic field. It is shown that parallel electric fields result in significant differences between the growth rates and phase velocities for propagation parallel components of opposite signs. These differences are evaluated using numerical solutions of the general dispersion relation and shown to exhibit an approximately linear relationship with the parallel electric field near the E region peak altitude of 110 km. An analytic expression for the differences is also derived from an approximate version of the dispersion relation, with comparisons between numerical and analytic results agreeing near 110 km. It is further demonstrated that parallel electric fields do not change the overall symmetry when the full 3D wave propagation vector is reversed, with no symmetry seen when either the perpendicular or parallel component is reversed. The present results indicate that moderate-to-strong parallel electric fields of 0.1–1.0 mV/m can result in experimentally measurable differences between the characteristics of plasma waves with parallel propagation components of opposite polarity.
Far field measurements of small angle carbon fiber misalignments

Manufacturing of advanced composites for aircraft structures requires precise layups of carbon fiber tape. Currently visual inspection is the method used to determine if tape angle deviations are acceptable. Automated inspection during fabrication would decrease inspection times and therefore reduce costs. NASA's Advanced Composites Project is investigating technologies that increase automated remote inspection of aircraft composite structures. Therefore, microwave radiation is being investigated as a method of enabling rapid remote inspection of angular orientation of carbon fiber tow material. This work investigates the use of microwaves to measure the angle of carbon fiber tape misalignment using a far field technique.
The role of natural killer cells in murine cytomegalovirus eye infection.

PURPOSE: To study the role of natural killer cells in the dissemination of virus to the eye and virus growth as well as the production of lesions in the eye during primary infection of murine cytomegalovirus. METHODS: Virus activity and lesion production by murine cytomegalovirus in various organs of natural killer cell-depleted BALB/c strain of inbred mice were compared with those of immunocompetent normal BALB/c mice. RESULTS: In mice injected intraperitoneally with murine cytomegalovirus, virus could be isolated from 50% of eyes in the natural killer cell-depleted group whereas no virus was detected from any eye in the control group. In natural killer cell-depleted mice with positive virus isolation from eyes, no murine cytomegalovirus was isolated from either optic nerves or trigeminal ganglia whereas virus was detected from blood lymphocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, and plasma. After intravitreal injection of murine cytomegalovirus, virus titers in eyes of natural killer cell-depleted mice were significantly higher than those in the control group. Derangement of retinal cell layer and inflammatory cells as well as cytomegalic cells in iris and ciliary body were noted in natural killer cell-depleted group, whereas no such changes were observed in the eyes of the control mice. CONCLUSION: Natural killer cell depletion enhances the dissemination of murine cytomegalovirus to the eye through the hematogenous route, and increases virus multiplication as well as lesion production in the eye.
How Do Newly Appointed CEOs Use Influence Tactics to Manage the Leadership Transition Process

This study examines the effect of newly appointed CEOs using social influence tactics, specifically ingratiation and self-promotion, to manage challenges in the leadership transition process. I ide...
Teaching for Thinking

Teaching for thinking refers to instruction intended to improve the effectiveness of people's thinking. A rationale for teaching for thinking is that students are expected to be effective thinkers but rarely are taught how to think. Teaching for thinking is intended to promote the ability to use what one has learned to solve new problems, which Wertheimer refers to as productive thinking. Teaching for thinking requires the consideration of four issues—what, how, where, and when to teach. Concerning what to teach, successful teaching for thinking focuses on helping students develop a collection of component skills for a particular cognitive task rather than on improving the mind in general. Concerning how to teach, successful teaching for thinking focuses on modeling the process of problem solving rather than solely drill and practice on getting the right answer. Concerning where to teach, successful teaching for thinking focuses on teaching within specific subject areas rather than in a content-independent course. Concerning when to teach, successful teaching for thinking includes teaching while students are novices rather than waiting until they have mastered all prerequisite basic skills.
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF METHIONINE ENKEPHALIN IN OLD WORLD PRIMATES: PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS

The distribution of met-enkephalin immunoreactivity was studied in the central nervous system (CNS) of old world primates using antiserum directed against met-enkephalin. Cross reactivity of that antiserum was less than 1% against both leu-enkephalin and β-endorphin. Immunofluorescence histochemistry showed a general distribution similar to that seen in the rat. These preliminary observations revealed a high density of fibers in the area of the globus pallidus, nucleus (n.) accumbens, and the substantia innominata. Moderate fiber density was seen in the n. interstitialis stria terminalis and the corpus amydalae. The fluorescence pattern in the globus pallidus differed between the monkey and rat. In the rat enkephalin immunoreactivity appears uniform while in the monkey the densely innervated area is limited to the external portion of the nucleus while the internal portion shows light to moderate fluorescence.
Infected urachal cysts: a review of 10 cases

AbstractDisorders of urachal remnants are uncommon. While a urachal cyst usually is asymptomatic, infection may mimic a variety of acute intra-abdominal or pelvic processes. We describe 10 patients in 2 distinct age groups (the young child and the young adult) with an infected urachal cyst. The presenting symptoms and signs in most patients included dysuria, severe lower abdominal pain and fever. In 7 patients the correct preoperative diagnosis was made. Diagnoses at referral included Crohn’s disease, bladder carcinoma and pelvic inflammatory disease. A single procedure was performed in 7 cases and a staged technique was used in 3. The differential diagnosis of acute abdominal and pelvic pain or a midline lower abdominal mass in the pediatric or young adult age group should include infection of a urachal remnant.
The Status of Professional Caregiving in America

To care for others is as old as human existence. To provide care, or caregiving, is about the needs of those who are dependent on others for some aspect of their life and well-being and their relationships to those who are fit and able to provide assistance. It is about accepting responsibility to care for those in need and about being willing to accept care that is offered.
Grounds of Acquaintance

As an intentional relation, acquaintance depends on content, viz., an indexical content: A person is acquainted with an object in having an experience if and only if the experience has a certain indexical content and that content in that experience prescribes, or is satisfied by, that object. Furthermore, by the conditions of satisfaction for that content, the acquaintance depends on the context of the experience: The indexical content in an acquainting experience prescribes, or is satisfied by, a given object if and only if that object stands in an appropriate contextual relation to the experience. But acquaintance also depends on context in another way, for: An acquainting experience normally cannot occur unless the relevant contextual relation holds. Visual experience, for instance, normally cannot occur unless the object of vision is before the subject and causing the experience. That contextual relationship is thus a normal precondition of the experience. Similarly, inner awareness of one’s current experience, and of oneself, cannot occur unless the awareness is an appropriate part of the experience one is having.
The preparation and properties of I131-labeled iodobenzoic acids

Methods are described for the preparation of I131-labeled ortho, meta and para iodobenzoic acids by exchange. These are suitable for biological and other uses. Their toxicity and chromatographic behavior are reported. A possible explanation is offered for the difference in the exchange of I131 for I127 in the formation of these isomers.
The human ion channel TRPM2 modulates neuroblastoma cell survival and mitochondrial function through Pyk2, CREB, and MCU activation.

Transient receptor potential melastatin channel subfamily member 2 (TRPM2) has an essential function in cell survival and is highly expressed in many cancers. Inhibition of TRPM2 in neuroblastoma b...
Mechanisms Regulating Compulsive Drug Behaviors

Abstract Substance abuse disorder is a chronically relapsing disease that is characterized in part by compulsion to seek and take drug in the presence of adverse consequences and in inappropriate situations. Compulsivity develops progressively, and is hypothesized to derive from dysfunction in motivational and reward processing. Preclinical models have been developed that recapitulate endophenotypes of compulsive drug behaviors to study the pathophysiology and etiology of compulsivity. These models have been used to identify adaptations in brain circuitry, neurotransmission, and epigenetics that underlie compulsive drug use, and have provided a framework for theories that describe the development and expression of compulsivity.
Reconstructing ancient architecture at Tiwanaku, Bolivia: the potential and promise of 3D printing

The ruins of Tiwanaku (A.D. 500–950), in the modern republic of Bolivia, present an archaeological challenge owing to intense looting during the colonial period that effectively demolished the site. One building in particular, known as the Pumapunku, was described by Spanish conquistadors and travelers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as a wondrous, though unfinished, building with gateways and windows carved from single blocks. Unparalleled in the pre-Colombian New World, the craftsmanship of this masonry has long been considered the architectural apogee of Andean pre-Colombian lithic technology. Unfortunately, during the last 500 years, treasure hunters have ransacked this building to the point that none of approximately shattered remains of 150 blocks of the standing architecture are to be found in their original place. Over the last century and a half, several different scholars have carefully measured the shattered architecture and even managed to join several fragments to form complete pieces. This research revisited these historic field notes with a view to transforming this century and a half of documentation into solid 3D form. These measurements were entered by hand into an architectural modeling program; the virtual form was subsequently printed in 3D form at 4% reduced scale. Unlike large architectural pieces — or notes or models on a computer screen — 3D-printed pieces can be manipulated quickly and intuitively, allowing researchers to try combinations and seek connections rapidly, turning over pieces and testing possible fits. This tactile engagement, along with the ability to quickly try out combinations of the 3D-printed pieces, led to fresh and often unexpected insights. Once refined and simplified, this methodology, was demonstrated to the indigenous site managers who were provided with a full copy of the printed architectural fragments with a view to continuing research and to present the work to visitors, stakeholders and other scholars.
Heterologous regulation of CXCR4 lysosomal trafficking

G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling is regulated by members of the protein kinase C (PKC) and GPCR kinase (GRK) families, although the relative contribution of each to GPCR function varies among specific GPCRs. The CXC motif receptor 4 (CXCR4) is a member of the GPCR superfamily that binds the CXC motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), initiating signaling that is subsequently terminated in part by internalization and lysosomal degradation of CXCR4. The purpose of this study is to define the relative contribution of PKC and GRK to CXCR4 signaling attenuation by studying their effects on CXCR4 lysosomal trafficking and degradation. Our results demonstrate that direct activation of PKC via the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) mimics CXCL12-mediated desensitization, internalization, ubiquitination, and lysosomal trafficking of CXCR4. In agreement, heterologous activation of PKC by stimulating the chemokine receptor CXCR5 with its ligand, CXCL13, also mimics CXCL12-mediated desensitization, internalization, ubiquitination, and lysosomal degradation of CXCR4. Similar to CXCL12, PMA promotes PKC-dependent phosphorylation of serine residues within CXCR4 C-tail that are required for binding and ubiquitination by the E3 ubiquitin ligase AIP4 (atrophin-interacting protein 4). However, inhibition of PKC activity does not alter CXCL12-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of CXCR4, suggesting that other kinases are also required. Accordingly, siRNA-mediated depletion of GRK6 results in decreased degradation and ubiquitination of CXCR4. Overall, these results suggest that PKC and GRK6 contribute to unique aspects of CXCR4 phosphorylation and lysosomal degradation to ensure proper signal propagation and termination.
Effect of Historical Trends, Equipment Age, and Maintenance on Circuit Breaker Failure Rates

Circuit breakers are among the more ubiquitous devices found in all types of facilities. Even small buildings can have hundreds of them, quietly and vigilantly protecting personnel, equipment, and critical functions. But circuit breakers fail - and how they fail matters. This paper shows that failure rates have varied historically, that failure rates change as a function of equipment age, and that failure rates respond to preventative maintenance activity, often counterintuitively. These results are much more transient than previously understood, often varying by an order of magnitude or more. Our current assumptions about maintenance and failure may very well do harm to our facility electrical systems. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers collected and analyzed a database of equipment records over several decades. This paper includes several thousand unit-years of circuit breaker information, giving specific performance detail under more clearly defined circumstances. Point estimates provide mean device performance statistics, while figures show unpublished details of circuit breaker failure that provide more information to facility managers and design engineers.
On the Multisensory Nature of Objects and Language: A Robotics Perspective

Infants use exploratory behaviors to learn about the objects around them. Psychologists have theorized that behaviors such as grasping touching, pressing, and lifting, coupled with the visual, tactile, haptic and auditory sensory modalities, enable infants to form grounded object representations. For example, scratching an object can provide information about its roughness, while lifting it can provide information about its weight. In a sense, the exploratory behavior acts as a "question'' to the object, which is subsequently "answered" by the sensory stimuli produced during the execution of the behavior. In contrast, most object representations used by robots today rely solely on computer vision or laser scan data, gathered through passive observation. Such disembodied approaches to robotic perception may be useful for recognizing an object using a 3D model database, but nevertheless, will fail to infer object properties that cannot be detected using vision alone. To bridge this gap, our research has pursued a developmental framework for object perception and exploration in which the robot's representation of objects is grounded in its own sensorimotor experience with them \citesinapov2014grounding. In this framework, an object is represented by sensorimotor contingencies that span a diverse set of exploratory behaviors and sensory modalities. In this talk, I will highlight results from several large-scale experimental studies which show that the behavior-grounded object representation enables a robot to solve a wide variety of perceptual and cognitive tasks relevant to object learning \citesinapov2014learning,sinapov2011interactive. I will discuss recent work on how robots can ground language in multisensory experience with objects \citethomason2016learning and will conclude with a discussion on open problems in multisensory symbol grounding, which, if solved, could result in the large-scale deployment of robotic systems in real-world domains.
Fake Meets Soul: Division Among Hawai‘i’s Japanese Surfers:

This article examines the Japanese surf community in and around Honolulu, Hawai‘i. I argue that a variety of factors, notably socioeconomic status and access to wealth, interpretation of popular me...
Development of small-molecule inhibitors of fatty acyl-AMP and fatty acyl-CoA ligases in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract Lipid metabolism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) relies on 34 fatty acid adenylating enzymes (FadDs) that can be grouped into two classes: fatty acyl-CoA ligases (FACLs) involved in lipid and cholesterol catabolism and long chain fatty acyl-AMP ligases (FAALs) involved in biosynthesis of the numerous essential and virulence-conferring lipids found in Mtb. The precise biochemical roles of many FACLs remain poorly characterized while the functionally non-redundant FAALs are much better understood. Here we describe the systematic investigation of 5′-O-[N-(alkanoyl)sulfamoyl]adenosine (alkanoyl a denosine m ono s ulfamate, alkanoyl-AMS) analogs as potential multitarget FadD inhibitors for their antitubercular activity and biochemical selectivity towards representative FAAL and FACL enzymes. We identified several potent compounds including 12-azidododecanoyl-AMS 28, 11-phenoxyundecanoyl-AMS 32, and nonyloxyacetyl-AMS 36 with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against M. tuberculosis ranging from 0.098 to 3.13 μM. Compound 32 was notable for its impressive biochemical selectivity against FAAL28 (apparent Ki = 0.7 μM) versus FACL19 (Ki > 100 μM), and uniform activity against a panel of multidrug and extensively drug-resistant TB strains with MICs ranging from 3.13 to 12.5 μM in minimal (GAST) and rich (7H9) media. The SAR analysis provided valuable insights for further optimization of 32 and also identified limitations to overcome.
Pulmonary Artery Catheter Monitoring

Summary Since its introduction in 1970, the application for PA catheter monitoring has dramatically broadened. PA catheters provide the ability to obtain hemodynamic data for the assessment, monitoring, and therapeutic management of critically ill, high-risk surgical patients. Because of the potential complications associated with PA catheter monitoring, numerous editorials and articles have questioned the procedure’s risk-to-benefit ratio.36,66,67 These articles address the insufficient availability of adequate outcome data or suggest no demonstrated benefit from PA monitoring. Subgroups of patients have been identified in whom the data obtained from PA monitoring altered the clinicians’ assessment and management.20,28,41,82 In spite of the study of Rao et al,63 which implies that PA catheters can improve the mortality rate in critically ill patients, no scientific study of outcome has been able to confirm this impression. If an adequate understanding of the limitations of PA monitoring does not exist, appropriate selection and implementation of therapy cannot occur. The problem is not as much the technology as it is the knowledge and expectations of the clinician. “Human” complications from inadequate understanding of the physiologic data is quite common. Reliance on the measured pressure is often misleading. The use of “absolute numbers” rather than trends or relative changes in the values monitored can compromise clinical assessment. Overzealous utilization and acceptance of any quantitative measurement without coordination with clinical judgment is fraught with failure.
Autoethnographic poetic inquiry: writing poems as dialogic healing responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the whole world, every aspect of people’s daily life has been turned topsy-turvy. In an effort to stem the spread of the virus, most people in the U.S. are living u...
Evaluation of post-ERCP pancreatitis after biliary stenting with self-expandable metal stents vs. plastic stents in benign and malignant obstructions.

Background and study aims There are conflicting data regarding the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) with self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) compared to polyethylene stents (PS) in malignant biliary obstructions and limited data related to benign obstructions. Patients and methods A retrospective cohort study was performed of 1136 patients who underwent ERCP for biliary obstruction and received SEMS or PS at a tertiary-care medical center between January 2011 and October 2016. We evaluated the association between stent type (SEMS vs PS) and PEP in malignant and benign biliary obstructions. Results Among the 1136 patients included in our study, 399 had SEMS placed and 737 had PS placed. Patients with PS were more likely to have pancreatic duct cannulation, pancreatic duct stent placement, double guidewire technique, sphincterotomy and sphincteroplasty as compared to the SEMS group. On multivariate analysis, PEP rates were higher in the SEMS group (8.0 %) versus the PS group (4.8 %) (OR 2.27 [CI, 1.22, 4.24]) for all obstructions. For malignant obstructions, PEP rates were 7.8 % and 6.6 % for SEMS and plastic stents, respectively (OR 1.54 [CI, 0.72, 3.30]). For benign obstructions the PEP rate was higher in the SEMS group (8.8 %) compared to the PS group (4.2 %) (OR 3.67 [CI, 1.50, 8.97]). No significant differences between PEP severity were identified based on stent type when stratified based on benign and malignant. Conclusions PEP rates were higher when SEMS were used for benign obstruction as compared to PS. For malignant obstruction, no difference was identified in PEP rates with use of SEMS vs PS.
CFD and ANN approach to predict the flow pattern around the square and rectangular bluff body for high Reynolds number

Abstract The present numerical investigation consists of a detailed evaluation of flow over the bluff body to determine its behavior of boundary layer flow separation around the surfaces. In the present study, square and rectangle shape bluff body is investigated for higher Reynolds number ranging from 63,651 to 636,505 with three different cases of the angle of inclination 0°,10°, and 20°. Optimize k– ∊ standard turbulent model with fine mesh grid is used to perform numerical investigation, and the results are validated from the literature in capturing flow separation from the surfaces. It is found that the flow separation regime behind the square and rectangular bluff body changes with Reynolds number and angle of inclination. It is also observed that the flow separation increases from the top side of the bluff body with an increase in the angle of inclination. The size and frequency of vortex generation increase with an increase in Reynolds number. A correlation is proposed for the vortex generation as a function of Reynolds number and angle of inclination. The prediction of vortices generation behind the square and rectangular bluff body is determined using the artificial neural network driven by CFD Data. A verification study is proposed in ANN approach based on neuron independent study to validate output field parameter of CFD.
Corporate Tax Policy and the Right to Know: Improving State Tax Policymaking by Enhancing the Legislative and Public Access

This report examines the need for disclosure of state corporate income tax data in order to facilitate more thoughtful tax policymaking as well as accountability and openness in government. While disclosure of federal income tax data has been resolved by the SEC’s required disclosures of public corporations, the only states that have laws mandating disclosure of information relating to their state’s income tax are Arkansas, West Virginia, and Massachusetts. Firm-specific disclosure of corporate tax information at the state level is necessary for informed tax policy, essential to public understanding of corporate tax reform issues, and will complement SEC mandated disclosures. Because of the large sums of money involved in corporate taxation, disclosure is necessary to analyze how the costs of government are distributed and which companies and industries bear the burden of the tax within each state. Public understanding is essential in order to affect economic reform in a democratic setting regardless of whether the policy is founded on sound theoretical reasoning and the public must know which corporations are receiving incentives in order to judge whether the benefits justify the foregone revenue. Firm-specific data, in particular, is necessary in order to get the benefits of disclosure. Compared with aggregate data, firm-specific information will allow tax policy judgements to be made that could not be made in the abstract, and will also facilitate inter and intra-industry comparisons. Arguments against disclosure at the state level that firm-specific disclosure might reveal proprietary information, violate a corporation’s right to privacy, discourage filing of accurate tax returns, or even undercut a state’s business climate all fall short of rebutting the benefits that come from disclosure and are largely unremarkable arguments when viewed in comparison with the type of disclosure mandated by the SEC.
Cystofilobasidium Oberwinkler & Bandoni

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on Cystofilobasidium genus and its member species. The species of this genus except C. lari-marini produce bright orange, pinkish-salmon to cinnamon-colored colonies due to the presence of carotenoid pigments. Asexual reproduction occurs by polar budding of haploid or diploid, ovoidal to elongated cells. Ballistoconidia are not formed and rudimentary pseudohyphae may be produced in some species. True mycelium with or without clamp connection is produced during sexual reproduction and mycelial septa have dolipores without parenthesomes. In the teleomorphic state, intercalary, globose, thick-walled dark pigmented probasidia (teliospores) are produced on the mycelium. Probasidia germinate to form slender, tubular or short, pyriform holometabasidia with non-deciduous terminal, and sessile basidiospores. The member species of this genus include Cystofilobasidium bisporidii , Cystofilobasidium capitatum , Cystofilobasidium infirmominiatum , and Cystofilobasidium lari-marini . The haploid cells of Cystofilobasidium bisporidii grown in 2% malt extract broth for 3 days at 12° C are subglobose to elongate, and appear usually in single or in pairs. Reproduction is by polar budding, and there is light sediment. The cells of Cystofilobasidium capitatum , after undergoing growth in 2% malt extract broth for 3 days at 12° C appear as subglobose to ovoidal or elongate, with or without polar buds.
Implications of Social Deficits in Autism for Neurological Dysfunction

In this chapter, we will consider some of the implications of the social deficits in autism for neurological dysfunction. In the first section, we will consider the nature of the social deficit, and the arguments for considering it a primary and not a secondary manifestation of neurological disorder. In the second section, we will review some of the evidence for specific neurological systems involved in social and attachment behavior, and in the third section, we will consider whether any clinical evidence supports the involvement of these systems in autism. Finally, we will suggest some implications for future research.
Managerial Decisions to Discontinue Operations and Future Firm Performance

Discontinued operations should reflect a strategic shift of resources that will help to improve future firm performance. A shift of fixed cost allocation from discontinuing or disposing of a line of business is discussed in management text books, and such decisions are complex and affect the performance of other existing operations because overhead costs are now allocated among a smaller number of operations. Thus, there are long-term implications involved in a change in marketing strategy or business operations. However, perceptions about the transitory nature of discontinued operations can potentially fool market-participants and lead them to ignore an important aspect of strategic decisions. My results suggest that while discontinued operations may be transitory, they contain the type of quality information that accounting standard setters wish to provide, and that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of managerial decisions. Based on data from 1970 to 2008, I find that managers are more likely to report discontinued operations when per capita GDP declines, and they are less likely to report in recession years, suggesting general economic factors affect managerial decisions. Using data from 1993 to 2008, I find that CEO bonuses are positively associated with positive reports of discontinued operations but not with negative reports, which support the notion that compensation committees encourage objective managerial actions while attempting to mitigate disincentives to report negative discontinued operations. I also find compelling evidence that past negative discontinued operations are associated with future performance, measured by earnings, gross margin and operating cash flows, and market participants perceive positive implications of discontinued operations whether they are positive or negative. The usefulness of information contained in discontinued operations became much more pronounced after 1998, subsequent to SFAS 131 and SFAS 144, which changed the scope of the definition of discontinued operations.
Making Low Probabilities Useful

This paper explores how people process information on low probability-high consequence negative events and what it will take to get individuals to be sensitive to the likelihood of these types of accidents or disasters. In a set of experiments, information is presented to individuals on the likelihood of serious accidents from a chemical facility. Comparisons are made with other risks, such as fatalities from automobile accidents, to see whether laypersons can determine the relative safety of different plants. We conclude that fairly rich context information must be available for people to be able to judge differences between low probabilities. In particular, it appears that one needs to present comparison scenarios that are located on the probability scale to evoke people's own feelings of risk. The concept of evaluability recently introduced by Hsee and his colleagues provides a useful explanation of these findings.
Pain relief and functional status after vaginal hysterectomy: intrathecal versus general anesthesia.

Purpose We tested the hypothesis that the use of subarachnoid block (SAB) for vaginal hysterectomy produces superior postoperative analgesia and improves functional status at 12 weeks postoperatively.
A BOOTSTRAP EXPERIMENT ON THE STATISTICAL PROPERTIES OF STUDENTS' RATINGS OF TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS

This paper examines the effects of two background variables in students' ratings of teaching effectiveness (SETs): class size and students' motivation (as surrogated by students' likelihood to respond randomly). Resampling simulation methodology has been employed to test the sensitivity of the SET scale for three hypothetical instructors (excellent, average, and poor). In an ideal scenario without confounding factors, SET statistics unmistakably distinguish the instructors. However, at different class sizes and levels of random responses, SET class averages are significantly biased. Results suggest that evaluations based on SET statistics should look at more than class averages. Resampling methodology (bootstrap simulation) is useful for SET research for scale sensitivity study, research results validation, and actual SET score analyses. Examples will be given on how bootstrap simulation can be applied to real-life SET data comparison.
Ferredoxins from Bacillus polymyxa LOW POTENTIAL IRON-SULFUR PROTEINS WHICH APPEAR TO CONTAIN SINGLE FOUR IRON, FOUR SULFUR CENTERS ACCEPTING A SINGLE ELECTRON ON REDUCTION

Abstract Two iron-sulfur proteins from Bacillus polymyxa (ferredoxins I and II) have been shown to transfer 1 electron per 4 iron atoms at a potential of -380 and -420 mv, respectively, at pH 7. The proteins contain 4 iron and 4 labile sulfur atoms and 4 cysteine residues in molecules of about 9,000 daltons; electron paramagnetic resonance and optical properties suggest that each contains an iron-sulfur cluster similar to one of those present in bacterial-type ferredoxins which contain 8 iron atoms distributed between two clusters. These proteins therefore represent an example of a subclass of the bacterial-type ferredoxins, in which 4 iron atoms appear to occur in a cluster which transfers 1 electron at a potential near that of the hydrogen couple. These potential, electron paramagnetic resonance, and absorbance properties distinguish this subclass of proteins from the "high potential iron-sulfur proteins" of Chromatium sp. and Rhodopseudomonas sp.
Ribonucleic Acid Chain Elongation by Escherichia coli Ribonucleic Acid Polymerase I. ISOLATION OF TERNARY COMPLEXES AND THE KINETICS OF ELONGATION

Abstract The chain elongation portion of enzymatic RNA synthesis has been studied by employing a ternary complex containing RNA polymerase, a DNA template, and product RNA. Ternary complexes were isolated by passage through a gel exclusion column and were shown to carry out RNA chain elongation under conditions that preclude RNA chain initiation or termination. The properties of the elongation reaction have been studied by employing ternary complexes formed with synthetic DNA templates. A simple ping-pong kinetic model was derived and was shown to fit the data obtained with alternating copolymer templates. The model is also able to account for the inhibition observed at high concentrations of nucleoside triphosphates. A general rate equation can be devised for RNA chain elongation with DNA templates of complex sequence if one assumes that the Michaelis constants for the substrates are independent of the DNA sequence. This assumption appears to hold for the various synthetic DNA templates that we have examined but has not been adequately tested for more complex templates.
Introduction to Probability and Statistics

This chapter provides a brief but comprehensive study of the basics of probability and statistics. The kind of knowledge derived from experiments is necessarily probabilistic in nature. After the words “probability” and “statistics” are defined separately, the nature of their mutual relation is indicated. The need and reasons for assigning numerical values of probability to several a priori situations based on relative frequency are shown in the chapter. Methods for calculating, with variations, the statistical values for the central tendency and dispersion of numerical data are illustrated along with the different ways of presenting statistical data tabular and graphical in detail. The final part of the chapter points to the importance of the normal distribution curve, ending with some typical distributions that are not normal. Many such concrete situations can be presented to justify the need to study probability and statistics as part of the preparation for experimental research. Thus, the study of probability and statistics is not an addendum to scientific research; besides being an essential tool, these fields are inextricably mixed in with the stuff of science.