cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using wafer-scale epitaxial graphene for producing twisted bilayers with controlled twist angle for electronics applications (Presentation Recording)

Graphene’s exceptional properties make it attractive for technological applications in many areas, including high-speed electronics. The establishment of processes for producing high quality, large-scale graphene is necessary for such applications. Large area growth of epitaxial graphene on the Si-face of hexagonal SiC (0001) wafers exhibits manageable growth kinetics, and most importantly, its azimuthal orientation is fixed, as it is determined by the structure of the single crystal substrate. Therefore, this is a viable method for producing graphene with uniform coverage and structural coherence at wafer-scale.[1],[2] Semi-insulating SiC is a good substrate for graphene RF transistors, however, its cost is so high that potentially only niche applications of graphene on SiC (e.g. defense or space related) can be viable. Furthermore, to enable hybrid electronics, where standard circuits built on Si perform digital logic functions while graphene that does not exhibit a band gap is used for ultrafast analog devices, we would need to transfer epitaxial graphene onto Si wafers. To address these issues, we have developed a method in which a graphene film grown on a 4” SiC wafer is exfoliated via the stress induced by an overgrown Ni film and transferred to other substrates, resulting in a wafer-scale monolayer of graphene that is continuous and has a single azimuthal orientation.[3] This growth and transfer process can be repeated on the same SiC wafer hundreds to thousands of times, dramatically reducing the cost per wafer-sized graphene layer. The characterization of the transferred films shows that they are of quality similar to the pristine films on SiC. Capitalizing on this new method for single crystal epitaxial graphene transfer, we have initiated a project to produce bilayers of graphene with deterministically controlled twist angles. The inspiration for this experimental work is recent theoretical work by Maroudas and coworkers4 that predicts the opening of substantial band gaps at specific twist angles in bilayer graphene. We will report our methods for producing twisted bilayers with controlled twist angle, their characterization and device results. [1] C. Dimitrakopoulos, Y.-M. Lin, A. Grill, D. B. Farmer, M. Freitag, Y. Sun, S.-J. Han, Z. Chen, K. A. Jenkins, Y. Zhu, Z. Liu, T. J. McArdle, J. A. Ott, R. Wisnieff, Ph. Avouris J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 28, 985-992, (2010). [2] Y.-M. Lin, C. Dimitrakopoulos, K. A. Jenkins, D. B. Farmer, H.-Y. Chiu, Ph. Avouris Science 327, 662 (2010). [3] J. Kim, H. Park, J. B. Hannon, S. W. Bedell, K. Fogel, D. K. Sadana, C. Dimitrakopoulos Science 342, 833-836 (2013). [4] A. R. Muniz, D. Maroudas Phys. Rev. B 86, 075404 (2012)
Study on hydroisomerization of n-octane over Ni-WO_x catalyst

Hydroisomerization of n-octane over Ni-WOx catalyst was investigated in a continuous flow fixed-bed reactor under atmospheric pressure.The catalyst was prepared by impregnation.Effects of catalyst calcinations tempreture,Ni content in the catalyst,reduction and reaction conditions on conversion of n-octane and isomerization selectivity to i-octane were studied.The Ni-WOx catalysts were characterized by means of XRD and BET.When calcinations temperature is at 800 ℃,mass fraction of Ni 2% and reduction temperature at 525 ℃,the conversion of n-octane and isomerization selectivity to i-octane can reach 58.17% and 87.33%,correspondingly.Through XRD characterization we expected that the active component of the catalysts is mAinly WO2.Catalytic behavior of Ni-WOx in hydroisomerization of n-octane can be explained by bifunctional mechanism.
Low-Overhead Fault-Tolerance Support Using DISC Programming Model

DISC is a newly proposed parallel programming paradigm that models many classes of iterative scientific applications through specification of a domain and interactions among domain elements. Accompanied with an associated runtime, it hides the details of inter-process communication and work partitioning including partitioning in the presence of heterogeneous processing elements from the programmers. In this paper, we show how these abstractions, particularly the concepts of compute-function and computation-space objects, can be also used to leverage low-overhead fault-tolerance support. While computation-space objects enable automated application level checkpointing, replicated execution of compute-functions helps detect soft errors with low overheads. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed solutions.
Political Philosophy and the Problems of International Order: Machiavelli, Kant, and Aristotle

ABSTRACTAlthough international order is a consistent concern for both statesmen and citizens, it has received only rare attention from political theorists. In this essay I evaluate the contemporary international order in light of political thought, specifically with reference to Machiavelli, Kant, and Aristotle. Contemporary international order and its historical roots in the Peace of Augsburg find theoretical expression in the writings of Machiavelli, especially insofar as he advocates for overturning classical political thought. By rejecting classical political thought and the notion of natural right, along with Christian doctrine, Machiavelli set the stage for the political absolutism that underlies the concept of state sovereignty, as it was expressed at Augsburg. Kant, in rejecting Machiavelli's political absolutism, prepared the ground for international human rights. In doing so he provided theoretic ground for the authors of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But while human rights may prov...
Oil granuloma of the ureter.

AbstractSeveral years ago we began to inject mineral oil through a ureteral catheter to facilitate stone extraction. Some success was achieved, particularly with impacted calculi. However, we report 2 cases of mineral oil granuloma of the ureter. We now urge that only water soluble lubricants be used in the ureter to avoid this problem.
Who is Whistling Vivaldi? How Black football players engage with stereotype threats in college

In light of the impact of negative stereotypes on student-athlete academic performance, the purpose of this paper was to conduct a qualitative study that examined how Black American male football p...
Gracilis Wrap for Anal Incontinence

Anal incontinence is distressing for many affected patients. Various etiologies including trauma, neurologic disorders, and iatrogenic events lead to poor function of the anal sphincter. The gracilis muscle is ideally located and provides an option for treatment of incontinence due to anal sphincter defect, pudendal neuropathy, or after other standard treatment options have failed.
Trends in vertebral augmentation for spinal fractures in myeloma patients: a 2002-2012 population-based study using a large national cancer registry

Purpose To evaluate temporal trends and factors associated with vertebral augmentation use in myeloma patients with spinal fractures from 2002 to 2012. Methods This retrospective cohort study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare claims database for 2002 through 2012. We included patients age ≥66 years with myeloma and spinal fractures. First, we evaluated receipt of vertebral augmentation. Second, multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the impact of sociodemographic factors, treatment facility type, and underlying comorbidities on the odds of undergoing vertebral augmentation. Results Of 4725 myeloma patients with spinal fractures, 653 underwent vertebral augmentation. Procedures increased initially from Conclusions Vertebral augmentation for myeloma patients with spinal fractures peaked between 2007 and 2009 and then declined. Providers may have adopted vertebral augmentation in myeloma patients since its introduction, and potentially modified practice patterns following the publication of trials of vertebral augmentation in patients with osteoporotic spinal fractures.
How Much Autonomy? IPS Control System - A Case Study

Abstract The Integrated Power System (IPS) Program of the U.S. Navy has been conducting technology demonstrations of electric drive and dc zonal ship service power equipment. Integrated power system provides electric power to all electric loads; propulsion and ship service. Six fundamental functions were identified from the examination of the required functions of such an electric power system. These six functions comprise the basis of the IPS modules: power generation, power distribution, power conversion, energy storage, power loads (of which propulsion motor modules are a subset), and power management. Power management module is the core of the IPS control system and is entirely embedded in software. Of the many benefits sought by the IPS, reduced manning is a major one. In addition, all concepts of the IPS control system will have to accommodate the trend toward all electric re-configurable ship. This paper outlines the philosophy to fully integrate the IPS control system hardware and the power management software into the ship wide control network. The topic of the paper addresses how autonomy is investigated to achieve the top-level goals of reduced manning, all electric re-configurable ship and the fundamental performance of the IPS. The paper ends with some provocative issues along with the most current approach for power management under consideration.
Analyzing Lattice Point Feasibility in UTVPI Constraints

This paper is concerned with the design and analysis of a time-optimal and space-optimal, certifying algorithm for checking the lattice point feasibility of a class of constraints called Unit Two Variable Per Inequality (UTVPI) constraints. A UTVPI constraint has at most two non-zero variables and the coefficients of the non-zero variables belong to the set \(\{+1, -1\}\). These constraints occur in a number of application domains, including but not limited to program verification, abstract interpretation, and operations research. As per the literature, the fastest known model-generating algorithm for checking lattice point feasibility in UTVPI constraint systems runs in \(O(m \cdot n+n^{2} \cdot \log n)\) time and \(O(n^{2})\) space, where m represents the number of constraints and n represents the number of variables in the constraint system. In this paper, we design and analyze a new algorithm for checking the lattice point feasibility of UTVPI constraints. The presented algorithm runs in \(O(m \cdot n)\) time and \(O(m+n)\) space. Additionally, it is certifying in that it produces a satisfying assignment in the event that it is presented with feasible instances and a refutation in the event that it is presented with infeasible instance. Our approach for the lattice point feasibility problem in UTVPI constraint systems is fundamentally different from existing approaches for this problem.
Abstract P6-12-12: Improvement in sexual function over time in premenopausal women with breast cancer

Background: There is evidence that many cancer survivors live with sexual dysfunction that impacts their quality of life. It is essential to identify factors that influence the development of sexual symptoms and understand their trajectory over time in order to guide potential interventions to treat sexual dysfunction. Most studies to date have been cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are needed to understand the change of sexual function over time. This study aims to investigate and describe the factors that impact sexual health and dysfunction in breast cancer patients during and after their cancer treatment. Methods: A longitudinal prospective trial is being conducted in premenopausal women 18-50 years of age with breast cancer being treated at MSKCC. Validated questionnaires on sexual health and function were administered to patients after they were diagnosed with breast cancer, but before they initiated cancer treatment and at one-year follow-up after initiation of primary breast cancer therapy. Demographic and treatment information was also collected. The female sexual function index (FSFI) total and individual domain scores were calculated. Baseline and 12-month scores were compared using paired t-tests. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess individual variable associations with 12-month FSFI total scores controlling for baseline scores. Results: 127 women were eligible for analysis at the time of this abstract and had a median age of 41. Eighty-nine percent of tumors were estrogen receptor positive and 24.4% were HER-2 overexpressing. Eighty-nine percent of patients received chemotherapy, 61.4% received Tamoxifen and 23% received a LHRH agonist in combination with an aromatase inhibitor. Mean FSFI total score was 20.4 at baseline and 21.2 at 12-months post diagnosis. More than half of women met FSFI criteria for sexual dysfunction (FSFI score Conclusions: Mean FSFI scores in our patients with breast cancer before and after treatment are consistent with scores from other studies looking at cancer patients and are lower than those of healthy women. In the peri-diagnosis period patients had worse sexual function that showed signs of small improvements 12 months after initiation of treatment, especially in the desire domain. Patients are being followed to see if sexual function continues to improve over time, to better understand the factors causing sexual dysfunction in these patients and to determine the best time to intervene in order to improve symptoms. Citation Format: Goldfarb SB, Kamer S, Baser R, Quistorff J, Gemignani ML, Dickler M. Improvement in sexual function over time in premenopausal women with breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-12-12.
The Question of Science: Physics vs. Social

The major ranges of behavior, the algorithmic rules of reciprocal behavior, the social equation—all describe central behavior tendencies of our social brain. That is, they don’t explain all the detail about our behavior but only the general dynamic. They also operate rather imperfectly. I suspect that this will be true of any behavioral algorithms or principles we try to describe at this level of generalization (cf. Maynard Smith, 2002: 193). These behavioral algorithms, then, can only approximate, but not fully match, the precision of the laws of classical physics or even quantum mechanics.
The Sympatho-Adrenal System in the Metabolic Syndrome

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the adrenal medulla are intimately involved in the pathogenesis and clinical expression of the metabolic syndrome. This chapter will address that involvement. Obesity and insulin resistance are the primary components of the syndrome (1, 2, 3); the sympatho-adrenal contributions may be viewed as physiologic responses to these primary components and as significant causal factors in the pathogenesis of the major clinical manifestations (4,5).
Pharmacologic Enhancement of the Human Condition: Possibilities and Perils

This chapter is concerned with the technical, safety and bioethical issues associated with human pharmacologic enhancement. Although neuroscientific advances are now providing valuable treatments for patients with neurological diseases, many of these treatments may also be applied to “normal” individuals free of disease as a means of achieving “quality of life” improvements, an enterprise sometimes called “cosmetic neurology”. Although such enhancements might variously make one happier, more serene, more intelligent, better at mental arithmetic, more personable, and so on, they also raise an important philosophical question—could such interventions lead to a mind-blunting effect that would diminish one’s capacity to appreciate life in all its dimensions, making us “unauthentic” humans living a banal, anesthetized existence as uncritical participants in the affairs of the world?
The influence of deposition parameters on the stress evolution of sputter deposited copper

Abstract The growth rate and pressure dependence on the intrinsic stress in sputter deposited Cu thin films has been investigated and compared to a kinetic growth model, which contains both growth and energetic contributions to stress in its description. Since microstructure also has a strong effect on intrinsic growth stress, we have been able to systematically control a fixed grain size over multiple growth conditions spanning 0.012 nm/s to 2.4 nm/s deposition rates and 0.267 Pa to 2.667 Pa pressures using a seed layer prior to film deposition. At high deposition pressures, the stress became more tensile as the growth rate increased. In the low deposition pressure regime, the stress became more tensile with increases in deposition rate until a critical cross-over point where upon further increases in deposition rate resulted in the stress becoming more compressive. This cross-over has been explained in terms of the energetic contributions to the stress and the intrinsic high mobility of Cu to reveal this behavior. The fitting parameters and corresponding stress contributions from the kinetic model were extracted and compared to other films and deposition techniques. Though caution should be used in comparing absolute values, the kinetic model revealed the correct trends in predicting energetic trapping of defects between low and high mobility films as well as similar growth stress values, which are independent of energetic contributions, between sputtering and electrodeposition. These results suggest that the kinetic model shows promise in fitting different materials and deposition techniques intrinsic stress behavior.
Egyptologists and the Israelite Exodus from Egypt

Early Egyptologists were steeped in interest in biblical history and in particular the Hebrew exodus story. Edouard Naville and W.M.F. Petrie were among the early pioneers. Of interest to early Egyptologists was the geography of the exodus and the route of the Hebrew departure from Egypt. By the mid-twentieth century, Egyptology’s love affair with Old Testament matters had soured, but this allowed the discipline to develop as its own science.
The Stories We Tell: How Merit Narratives Undermine Success for Urban Youth:

This article looks at the American Dream as a merit narrative to understand how it supports barriers to educational success for educators working to improve the lives of students in urban schools. ...
Annual survey of organometallic metal cluster chemistry for the year 2003

The synthetic, mechanistic, and structural chemistry of organometallic metal cluster compounds is reviewed for the year 2003.
Benign Bigotry: “Those people all look alike”: The myth of the other

I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran. Alan Jackson's “ Where Were You? ” Immediately after the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, Sikh Americans became targets of hate crimes. Sikhism, a religion that originated in India, is not related to Islam, the religion of the hijackers who committed the attacks. Sikh men wear their hair long and in a turban or tied back. For some Americans, turbans worn by Sikh men resembled the head covering of Osama bin Laden, the Saudi who took responsibility for the attacks. Suddenly, Sikhs were the victims of crimes ranging from a woman trying to pull a man's turban off to beatings, bombings, and killings. To the perpetrators of these attacks against Sikh Americans, Sikhs may as well have been Osama bin Laden himself – even though they did not share his religion, ethnicity, or nation of origin. To many Americans, people over there (i.e. the Middle East and Asia) are, indeed, all alike. To many Americans Sikhs look more like Middle Easterners, Arabs, or Muslims than they do Americans, and therefore they must be the enemy . “They all look alike” is a fairly ordinary expression, and a phenomenon most people have encountered in one situation or another. In essence, it reflects our general inability to distinguish individuating features of members of groups to which we do not belong. This idea is applied to nearly any sort of group or category, from race to nationality to religious affiliation.
Isolation and characterization of a Rickettsia from the ovary of a Western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus.

Abstract A rickettsial isolate was obtained from a partially engorged Ixodes pacificus female, which was collected from Humboldt County, California. The isolate was provisionally named Rickettsia endosymbiont Ixodes pacificus (REIP). The REIP isolate displayed the highest nucleotide sequence identity to Rickettsia species phylotype G021 in I. pacificus (99%, 99%, and 100% for ompA, 16S rRNA, and gltA, respectively), a bacterium that was previously identified in I. pacifiucs by PCR. Analysis of sequences from complete opening frames of five genes, 16S rRNA, gltA, ompA, ompB, and sca4, provided inference to the bacteria’s classification among other Rickettsia species. The REIP isolate displayed 99.8%, 99.4%, 99.2%, 99.5%, and 99.6% nucleotide sequence identity for 16S rRNA, gltA, ompA, ompB, and sca4 gene, respectively, with genes of ‘R. monacensis’ str. IrR/Munich, indicating the REIP isolate is closely related to ‘R. monacensis’. Our suggestion was further supported by phylogenetic analysis using concatenated sequences of 16S rRNA, gltA, ompA, ompB, and sca4 genes, concatenated sequences of dksA-xerC, mppA-purC, and rpmE-tRNAfMet intergenic spacer regions. Both phylogenetic trees implied that the REIP isolate is most closely related to ‘R. monacensis’ str. IrR/Munich. We propose the bacterium be considered as ‘Rickettsia monacensis’ str. Humboldt for its closest phylogenetic relative (=DSM 103975 T = ATCC TSD-94 T).
Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate to Ficus hahliana attracts predators of insects along an altitudinal gradient in Papua New Guinea

In many plants, the defence systems against herbivores are induced, and may be involved in recruiting the natural enemies of herbivores. We used methyl jasmonate, a well-known inducer of plant defence responses, to manipulate the chemistry of Ficus hahliana along a tropical altitudinal gradient in order to test its ability to attract the enemies of herbivores. We examined whether chemical signals from MeJA-treated trees (simulating leaf damage by herbivores) attracted insect enemies in the complex settings of a tropical forest; and how this ability changes with altitude, where the communities of predators differ naturally. We conducted the research at four study sites (200, 700, 1700 and 2700 m asl) of Mt Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea. Using dummy plasticine caterpillars to assess predation on herbivorous insect, we showed that, on average, inducing plant defences with jasmonic acid in this tropical forest increases predation twofold (i.e. caterpillars exposed on MeJA-sprayed trees were attacked twice as often as caterpillars exposed on control trees). The predation rate on control trees decreased with increasing altitude from 20.2% d−1 at 200 m asl to 4.7% d−1 at 2700 m asl. Predation on MeJA-treated trees peaked at 700 m (52.3% d−1) and decreased to 20.8% d−1 at 2700 m asl. Arthropod predators (i.e. ants and wasps) caused relatively more attacks in the lowlands (200–700 m asl), while birds became the dominant predators above 1700 m asl. The predation pressure from birds and arthropods corresponded with their relative abundances, but not with their species richness. Our study found a connection between chemically induced defence in plants and their attractivity to predators of herbivorous insect in the tropics.
Solving Poisson equations by the MN-curve approach

In this paper we apply the newly born choice theory of the shape parameters contained in the smooth radial basis functions to solve Poisson equations. Some people complain that Luh's choice theory, based on harmonic analysis, is mathematically complicated and applies only to function interpolations. Here we aim at presenting an easily accessible approach to solving differential equations with the choice theory which proves to be successful, not only by its easy accessibility, but also by its striking accuracy and efficiency.
Experience of Indian emergency physicians in management of acute poisonings

Indian Emergency Departments (EDs) encounter a significant number of toxicologic cases each year, approximately half of which are attempts at deliberate self-harm. The objective of this study was t...
Durability of Spontaneous and Treatment-Related Loss of Hepatitis B s Antigen

Background & Aims Clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from serum is the most desirable end point and a proposed definition of functional cure for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, little is known about the long-term durability of HBsAg loss, and there is controversy over whether the development of antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs) is required for maintenance. We aimed to assess the durability of spontaneous or treatment-related (interferon or nucleos(t)ide analogue [NA]) loss of HBsAg. Methods We performed a retrospective study of patients with chronic HBV infection followed up at the National Institutes of Health from February 1980 through November 2017. We identified those with HBsAg loss, confirmed on 2 visits at least 24 weeks apart. Patients with hepatitis C virus, hepatitis D virus, human immunodeficiency virus, or human T lymphocyte virus co-infection or HBsAg loss after liver transplantation were excluded. Patients were assigned to the following groups: spontaneous clearance (cleared HBsAg without ever receiving treatment or those who received treatment with a NA or interferon and discontinued therapy >5 years before HBsAg loss), interferon-treated (cleared HBsAg either during treatment or ≤5 years after stopping interferon), and NA-treated (cleared HBsAg either during treatment or ≤5 years after stopping NA). Results Among the 787 HBsAg-positive patients, 89 achieved HBsAg loss; 65 of 89 had confirmed HBsAg loss, which was spontaneous in 19 of the patients (29%), after interferon in 22 (34%), and after NA in 24 (37%). Of the 65 patients with confirmed loss of HBsAg, 62 patients (95%) remained HBsAg negative after a mean time of 9.6 years from the first negative HBsAg test result. HBsAg seroreversion occurred in 3 of the 46 treated patients (7%) (1 interferon and 2 NA), 1 of whom was positive for anti-HBs. At the time of HBsAg loss, 33 of 65 (51%) were anti-HBs positive. At the last follow-up evaluation, anti-HBs was detectable in 50 of the 62 patients (81%) assessed. The rate of development of anti-HBs was proportionally higher among interferon-treated patients (19 of 21; 90%) than NA-treated patients (17 of 22; 77%) or patients with spontaneous loss of HBsAg (14 of 19; 74%). Conclusions In a retrospective study of 787 HBsAg-positive patients, loss of HBsAg (either spontaneous or after treatment) was confirmed in 8% and was durable. Seroconversion to anti-HBs increased over time and appeared to be more frequent after interferon treatment. HBsAg loss is therefore a robust end point for functional cure.
Simplification of Indoor Space Footprints.

Simplification is one of the fundamental operations used in geoinformation science (GIS) to reduce size or representation complexity of geometric objects. Although different simplification methods can be applied depending on one's purpose, a simplification that many applications employ is designed to preserve their spatial properties after simplification. This article addresses one of the 2D simplification methods, especially working well on human-made structures such as 2D footprints of buildings and indoor spaces. The method simplifies polygons in an iterative manner. The simplification is segment-wise and takes account of intrusion, extrusion, offset, and corner portions of 2D structures preserving its dominant frame.
Cigarette and cigar sales in Hawaii before and after implementation of a Tobacco 21 Law

Introduction On 1 January 2016, Hawaii raised the minimum legal age for tobacco access from 18 to 21 years (‘Tobacco 21 (T21)’) statewide, with no special population exemptions. We assessed the impact of Hawaii’s T21 policy on sales of cigarettes and large cigars/cigarillos in civilian food stores, including menthol/flavoured product sales share. Methods Cigarette and large cigar/cigarillo sales and menthol/flavoured sales share were assessed in Hawaii, California (implemented T21 in June 2016 with a military exemption), and the US mainland using the only Nielsen data consistently available for each geographical area. Approximate monthly sales data from large-scale food stores with sales greater than US$2 million/year covered June 2012 to February 2017. Segmented regression analyses estimated changes in sales from prepolicy to postpolicy implementation periods. Results Following T21 in Hawaii, average monthly cigarette unit sales dropped significantly (−4.4%, p Conclusions As part of a comprehensive approach to prevent or delay tobacco use initiation, T21 laws may help to reduce sales of cigarette and large cigar products most preferred by US youth and young adults.
Enhanced efficacy in refractive corrections of rabbit corneas with low repetition rate blue femtosecond laser pulses

Laser induced refractive index change (LIRIC) technique has been demonstrated as a non-invasive way to alter optical refractive powers of ophthalmic materials including hydrogel-based contact lenses, exercised corneal tissues and even corneas in vivo, via modifying the refractive index through multiphoton absorption process. In our previous work, blue femtosecond laser pulses at 405 nm with a repetition rate of 80 MHz were focused tightly into the stromal region to achieve refractive corrections in live cats via inscribing phase wrapped structures. In order to improve the efficacy of LIRIC, we here demonstrate that blue femtosecond laser pulses at a lower repetition rate range induce larger amounts of phase change with lower laser powers and higher scan speeds owing to a higher pulse energy density deposition. In comparison to a high repetition rate writing at 80 MHz, higher phase change can be attained at 8.3 MHz at the same average power. Furthermore, one wave of phase change measured at 543 nm was attained in rabbit corneas ex vivo for the first time by inscribing single LIRIC layer at 8.3 MHz with a power of 200 mW and a scan speed of 100 mm/s, corresponding to a refractive index change of 0.025 after the layer thickness was estimated to be 20 μm. Accordingly, the optimum laser repetition rate used in femtosecond micromachining corneas can be determined to be around 8.3 MHz, as arbitrary phase structures can be manufactured by wrapping the phase between 0 and 1 wave.
Latinos with Dementia and Depression: Contemporary Issues and Assessment Challenges

Latino older adults may be at greater risk for dementia and depression. The barriers to adequate healthcare clearly affect early diagnosis, treatment, and management of depression and dementia, a situation which becomes even more complicated when there is a presence of other comorbid health conditions. The relationship between depression and dementia, including the challenges associated with assessment and diagnosis for the Latino aging population, is highlighted in this chapter. Along with the focus on the Latino with dementia, a discussion is also provided regarding the role of the caregiver of the person with dementia and the challenges that Latino caregivers face. This chapter concludes with recommendations for further research such as conducting longitudinal studies that examine the impact of age, education, language, acculturation, and daily functioning on the progression of cognitive decline and dementia. The authors also comment on the need for greater attention to Latino older adults’ emotional functioning, in general, and that of Latinos with dementia, in particular, as well as the needs of their caregivers.
Language-Based Cost Functions for Fully Adaptive Radar Under Imprecise Performance Standards

There is a push to create radar systems that optimize their own performance in real-time. In order to accomplish this, the performance standards of the radar system must be known. Often, this is given in imprecise, natural language statements describing the goals and requirements of the radar system by individuals in charge of the “big picture.” In this paper, we use a previously developed method called language-based cost functions (LBCFs) to optimize the performance of a fully adaptive radar target tracker when performance standards are given by vague statements in natural language. This is followed by a catch-all stochastic algorithm to find relaxed, time efficient solutions. The full method is then tested on a basic simulation of a human running. Results show that the combination of LBCFs and the optimization algorithm allow the radar to far outperform a classical non-adaptive radar. Results also show that the specific optimization algorithm used impacts the radar's ability to find satisfactory solutions which in turn dramatically alters the tracker's performance.
Post-FDA Approval Results of Epithelium-Off, Full-Fluence, Dresden Protocol Corneal Collagen Crosslinking in the USA.

The purpose of this non-comparative, prospective, observational study was to evaluate the post-US Food and Drug Administration approval outcomes of epithelium-off, full-fluence, Dresden protocol corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) for the treatment of progressive keratoconus (KCN) and post-refractive corneal ectasia at a US academic tertiary medical center. This study involved 125 eyes of 97 patients with KCN and 13 eyes of 12 patients with post-refractive ectasia which underwent CXL between November 2016 and September 2019. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) and corneal topographic parameters were measured preoperatively, at postoperative month 1 (POM-1), and between postoperative months 3 and 24 (POM 3–24). Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, flat keratometry, steep keratometry, and mean corneal power worsened at POM-1 (p < 0.01) with a return to preoperative values at POM 3–24. Maximum keratometry (Kmax) steepened at POM-1 and then improved beyond preoperative levels at POM 3–24 (p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). Pachymetry at the apex and pupil decreased at POM-1 and POM 3–24 (p = 0.03). Pachymetry at the thinnest point decreased at POM-1 and trended toward reduction at POM 3–24 (p < 0.001 and p = 0.06, respectively). Visual and tomographic outcomes were similar between pediatric and adult populations, and between KCN and post-refractive ectasia patients. Real-world results of CXL in the USA are similar to those reported in prior studies, demonstrating an initial worsening of BSCVA, pachymetry, and keratometry followed by corneal flattening and preservation of visual acuity. Improvements in Kmax and stability in visual acuity were observed over 24 months in children and adults with progressive KCN or post-refractive ectasia.
Nuclear Image-Guided Methods for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a standard treatment for patients with heart failure (HF). However, 30–40% of the recipients do not have improvements in cardiac functions and/or quality of life. Myocardial viability and mechanical dyssynchrony measured by nuclear imaging have been demonstrated great clinical values in guiding CRT patient selection, recommending the pacing site of left ventricular (LV) lead, and navigating the LV lead to the target pacing site. Nevertheless, there are still many barriers caused by the technical limitations of nuclear imaging, existing data analysis techniques, and the complexity of heart failure and CRT pacing mechanism. Continuous effort is being made to advance nuclear image-guided approaches for recipients into clinical practice.
Addressing Barriers to Telemedicine Use in Rural Emergency Medicine: Leveraging In Situ Simulation.

Background: Acute care telemedicine is a critical resource for rural and community Emergency Medicine (EM) providers. To address potential barriers and promote use of these services throughout our health system Emergency Departments (EDs), we embed telemedicine consultations within in situ simulations. Methods: Care teams in health system EDs participated in multidisciplinary in situ simulations that focused on Difficult Airway management or Obstetric Emergencies. Physicians in EM and Neonatology at the referral center were available for assistance via telemedicine consultation. Participants were then surveyed regarding their experience with the telemedicine consultation during the simulations. Results: Participants reported increased likelihood to use telemedicine as well as increased understanding of the technology, awareness of available consultation services, and comfort interacting with the consultant. Conclusions: Embedding telemedicine consultations into in situ EM simulations is an effective approach to address implementation barriers and may promote increased use of telemedicine services among rural and community EM providers.
Testimonial Injustice and Mutual Recognition

Much of the recent work on the nature of testimonial injustice holds that a hearer who fails to accord sufficient credibility to a speaker’s testimony, owing to identity prejudice, can thereby wrong that speaker. What is it to wrong someone in this way? This paper offers an account of the wrong at the heart of testimonial injustice that locates it in a failure of interpersonal justifiability. On the account I develop, one that draws directly from T. M. Scanlon’s moral contractualist framework, a hearer who fails to accord sufficient credibility to a speaker, owing to identity prejudice, cannot justify his response to that speaker, insofar as the speaker can reasonably reject principles that would permit the hearer to prejudicially discount the speaker’s testimony. I argue that my account can better illuminate the idea, shared among many philosophers, that testimonial injustice centrally involves some kind of failure, on the hearer’s part, to appropriately recognize the speaker. In contractualist terms, this consists in a failure of mutual recognition—a failure to acknowledge the speaker as having standing to co-determine the terms on which the hearer and speaker, as epistemic agents, are to engage with each other in testimonial exchanges.
No way around cross-cultural and cross-linguistic epistemology.

Phillips and colleagues claim that the capacity to ascribe knowledge is a “basic” capacity, but most studies reporting linguistic data reviewed by Phillips et al. were conducted in English with American participants – one of more than 6,500 languages currently spoken. We highlight the importance of cross-cultural and cross-linguistic research when one is theorizing about fundamental human representational capacities.
Murder with Radioactive Polonium Metal.

The physical and biological aspects of polonium-210, one of the most hazardous radioisotopes, are summarized. Although this radioisotope is naturally occurring and rare, it received quite a bit of attention after it was used in the 2006 assassination of former Russian Intelligence member Alexander Litvinenko in London. Recent reports on the suspected murder of Yasser Arafat with polonium-210 are also discussed. Language: en
In-Situ Measurement of Cathodic Disbonding of Polybutadiene Coating on Steel

Corrosion of organic polymer-coated steel involves the formation of a corrosion cell consisting of the metal substrate, water, oxygen, and a layer of conducting electrolyte in contact with both reaction sites.1,2 initially the anodic and cathodic reactions occur at proximate sites (Fig. 1A). The principal reactions are the anodic oxidation of the iron and the cathodic reduction of oxygen. As the corrosion product forms and oxygen and electrolyte concentration gradients are established, the reaction sites separate and localize (Fig. IB). Finally, as the volume of corrosion product increases, the site of the cathodic reaction shifts to the periphery, leading to an increase in the local pH, and through several possible mechanisms, to a loss of adhesion of the polymer coating, thereby propagating coating failure (Fig. 1C). The proposed mechanisms for this cathodic disbonding invoke chemical attack of the coating3 or metal oxide,4 attack of a metal/polymer interphase,5 or alteration of the surface energy of the metal.6 Two extensive reviews of the mechanism are available.7, 8
Rhetorics of the Americas: 3114 BCE to 2012 CE, Damián Baca and Victor Villanueva, eds.

As the plurals in the title, Rhetorics of the Americas, and dates drawn from the Epi-Olmec/Mayan calendar suggest, the scope of this anthology has been broadly conceived. By focusing on rhetorical ...
Ionospheric and dayglow responses to the radiative phase of the Bastille Day flare

[1] The Sun's Bastille Day flare on July 14, 2000 produced a variety of geoeffective events. This solar eruption consisted of an X-class flare followed by a coronal mass ejection that produced a major geomagnetic storm. We have undertaken a study of this event beginning with an analysis of the effects of the radiative phase of the flare on the dayglow and the ionosphere. The key new enabling work is a novel method of evaluating the X-ray and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) solar spectral irradiance changes associated with the flare. We find that the solar radiative output enhancements modeled during the flare are consistent with measurements of both solar EUV irradiance and far UV Earth thermospheric dayglow. We use the SAMI2 model to predict global ionospheric changes along a magnetic meridian that show significantly different northern and southern effects, suggesting that flares can be used to study ionospheric dynamics.
Postnatal development of the serotonin signaling system in the mucosa of the guinea pig ileum.

Background—Serotonin is an important neurohumoral molecule in the gut but its signaling system is not fully developed in the neonatal gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This study was aimed to evaluate the postnatal maturation of the serotonin signaling in the small intestine. Methods—In vitro amperometry for real time measurement of serotonin at the mucosal surface, immunoblot, immunohistochemistry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to examine serotonin handling in ileal segments from guinea pigs of different ages. Key Results—Extracellular serotonin levels significantly declined over the first 3 postnatal weeks, after which levels increased and reached its maximum at 9 weeks postnatally. Serotonin levels were insensitive to the inhibition of the serotonin transporter (SERT) until the animals reached 3 weeks old. Measurement of serotonin and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5HIAA) in the mucosa revealed that the serotonin turnover was significantly lower in neonates. Immunoblot and immunohistochemistry showed that SERT expression was extremely low in the neonatal period. Serotonin staining in cross section showed that enterochromaffin (EC) cells were preferentially localized in the crypt region in neonates and the number of EC cells was significantly higher in 9 week old animals. Conclusions—SERT expression is low in the neonatal intestine and serotonin signaling matures postnatally. Extracellular serotonin levels decrease during the first 3 neonatal weeks as SERT expression increases. Extracellular serotonin levels increase after 3 weeks (weaning) possibly due to an increase in EC cell numbers. Postnatal maturation of serotonin signaling coincides with dietary changes in the developing guinea pig.
Precise digit use increases the expression of handedness in Colombian spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps rufiventris).

Decades of research on the hand use patterns of nonhuman primates can be aptly summarized by the following phrase: measurement matters. There is a general consensus that simple reaching is a poor indicator of handedness in most species, while tasks that constrain how the hands are used elicit individual, and in some cases, population-level biases. The TUBE task has become a popular measure of handedness, although there is variability in its administration across studies. The goal of this study was to investigate whether TUBE performance is affected by tube diameter, with the hypothesis that decreasing tube diameter would increase task complexity, and therefore the expression of handedness. We predicted that hand preference strength, but not direction, would be affected by tube diameter. We administered the TUBE task using a 1.3 cm tube to Colombian spider monkeys, and compared their performance to a previous study using a larger 2.5 cm diameter tube. Hand preference strength increased significantly on the smaller diameter tube. Hand preference direction was not affected. Notably, spider monkeys performed the TUBE task using a single digit, despite the longstanding view that this species has poor dexterity. We encourage investigators who use the TUBE task to carefully consider the diameter of the tube used in testing, and to report digit use consistently across studies. In addition, we recommend that researchers who cannot use the TUBE task try to incorporate the key features from this task into their own species appropriate measures: bimanual coordination and precise digit use.
Families Across Borders: The Emotional Impacts of Migration on Origin Families*

Migration is experienced not only by individuals who migrate, but also by their family members that remain at home. While previous research on origin communities has focused primarily on the economic impacts of remittances, this study emphasizes the emotional repercussions of family member migration. I use the Mexican Family Life Survey, a nationally representative data set, to empirically assess the effects of migration on the emotional well-being of migrants’ family members in Mexican communities of origin. Results indicate that migration of close family members to the United States, especially spouses and children, significantly increases depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness reported by family members remaining in Mexico. Women, particularly mothers and wives, are more adversely affected by family member migration than men. On a practical level, findings from this study illustrate a need for support programmes in origin communities to help families cope with the migration of their family members. The results of the study also highlight the adverse and unintended consequences of border restriction policy that severely restrains migrants from visiting their families and origin communities. From a research perspective, the results indicate the importance of non-economic measures in analyses of migration. There are significant psychological and emotional repercussions of family member migration and these should not be downplayed or overlooked in migration research.
Neonatal euthanasia: moral considerations and criminal liability

Despite tremendous advances in medical care for critically ill newborn infants, caregivers in neonatal intensive care units still struggle with how to approach those patients whose prognoses appear to be the most grim, and whose treatments appear to be the most futile. Although the practice of passive neonatal euthanasia, from a moral perspective, has been widely (albeit quietly) condoned, those clinicians and families involved in such cases may still be found legally guilty of child abuse or even manslaughter. Passive neonatal euthanasia remains both a moral dilemma and a legal ambiguity. Even the definition of passive euthanasia remains unclear. This manuscript reviews the basic moral and legal considerations raised by the current practice of neonatal euthanasia, and examines the formal position statements of the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The paper concludes by emphasising the need, at least in the United States, to clarify the legal status of this relatively common medical practice.
Tissue ingrowth and bowel adhesion formation in an animal comparative study: polypropylene versus Proceed versus Parietex Composite

Background The optimal prosthesis for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair would combine excellent parietal surface tissue ingrowth with minimal visceral surface adhesiveness. Currently, few data are available from randomized trials comparing the commercially available prostheses.