cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Augmented Reality Display Settings on Human Wayfinding Performance

Augmented reality (AR) entails overlaying the real world with information from computer-generated displays. Current AR technologies support limited mobility, although this is expected to change in the future. This paper presents experimental results of effects of various AR display strategies on human performance in a simulation-based analog of a ldquosearch and rescuerdquo navigation task. The augmentation scheme was a spatially and temporally registered map that was overlaid onto a corresponding real-world maze. The experiment required the participants to traverse the maze, periodically answer orientation questions, obtain a target object, and exit the maze as quickly as possible. One hundred twenty participants were evaluated in six different conditions. There were two control conditions (paper map or compass prior to entering the maze), and four experimental conditions (combinations of egocentric and exocentric maps, and continuously on or on-demand map display). Performance measures consisted of duration of time to traverse the maze and percentage of maze covered. AR resulted in better performance than the control conditions in terms of accuracy by facilitating the participants' coverage of the maze. Results show that the better performance with respect to time was in the map control condition. This result may be due to the small size of the maze, which could be memorized. However, AR is expected to exhibit better performance compared to a paper map, when more complex environments are employed. These results demonstrate promising benefits in mobile AR usage in specific navigation tasks. Design guidelines were extracted to guide future AR systems continued progress in enhancing performance.
Altering the level and regulation of the major sigma subunit of RNA polymerase affects gene expression and development in Bacillus subtilis

Summary In Bacillus subtilis, the major sigma factor, sigma-A (rpoD), and the minor sigma factor, sigma-H (spo0H), are present during growth and are required for the initiation of sporulation. Our experiments indicate that sigma-A and sigma-H compete for binding to core RNA polymerase. We used a fusion of rpoD to the Lacl-repressible IPTG-inducible promoter, Pspac, to vary the levels of sigma-A in the cell. Increasing the amount of sigma-A caused a decrease in expression of genes controlled by sigma-H, and a delay in the production of heat-resistant spores. Decreasing the amount of sigma-A, in a strain deleted for the chromosomal rpoD, caused an increase in expression of genes controlled by sigma-H. As rpoD itself is controlled by at least two promoters recognized by RNA polymerase that contains sigma-H, the effect of sigma-A levels on expression of sigma-H-controlled promoters represents a feedback mechanism that might contribute to maintaining appropriate levels of sigma-A. While the level of sigma-A was important for efficient sporulation, our results indicate that the normal transcriptional control of rpoD, in the context of the rpoD operon and the numerous promoters in that operon, is not required for efficient sporulation or germination, provided that the sigma-A level from a heterologous promoter is comparable to that in wild-type cells.
Angular distribution of diffuse reflectance in biological tissue

We measured angular-resolved diffuse reflectance in tissue samples of different anisotropic characteristics. Experimental measurements were compared with theoretical results based on the diffusion approximation. The results indicated that the angular distribution in isotropic tissue was the same as in isotropic phantoms. Under normal incidence, the measured angular profiles of diffuse reflectance approached the Lambertian distribution when the evaluation location was far away from the incident point. The skewed angular profiles observed under oblique incidence could be explained using the diffuse model. The anisotropic tissue structures in muscle showed clear effects on the measurements especially at locations close to the light incidence. However, when measuring across the muscle fiber orientations, the results were in good agreement with those obtained in isotropic samples.
Structural characterization of the bovine tracheal chondroitin sulfate chains and binding of Plasmodium falciparum–infected erythrocytes

Sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (IRBCs) in the human placenta is mediated by chondroitin 4-sulfate (C4S). A cytoadherence assay using chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) is widely used for studying C4S-IRBC interactions. Bovine tracheal chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) preparation lacking a major portion of core protein has been frequently used for the assay. Here the CSPG purified from bovine trachea and CSA were assessed for IRBC binding and the CS chains studied in detail for structure-activity relationship. The IRBCs bound at significantly higher density to the CSPG than CSA. The CS chains of CSPG/CSA are heterogeneous with varying levels of 4- and 6-sulfates, which are distributed such that approximately 80% of the 4-sulfated disaccharides are present as single and blocks of two or three separated by one to three 6-sulfated disaccharides. The remainder of the 4-sulfated disaccharides is present in blocks composed of 4-12 units, separated by 6-sulfated disaccharides. In the IRBC adherence inhibition analysis, CSA fragments with 88%-92% 4-sulfate were significantly less inhibitory than the intact CSA, indicating that the regions consisting of shorter 4-sulfated blocks efficiently bind IRBCs despite the presence of relatively high levels of 6-sulfate. This is because the 6-sulfated disaccharides have unsubstituted C-4 hydroxyls that are crucial for IRBC binding. The presence of high levels of 6-sulfate, however, significantly interfere with the IRBC binding activity of CSA, which otherwise would more efficiently bind IRBCs. Thus our study revealed the distribution pattern of 4- and 6-sulfate in bovine tracheal CSA and structural basis for IRBC binding.
Views of Jihad Throughout History

The Arabic term jihad has primarily come to mean “armed struggle/combat” and is frequently translated into English as “holy war.” But a close scrutiny of the occurrence of this term in the Qur’an and in early hadith literature demonstrates that this exclusive understanding of the term cannot be supported for the earliest period of Islam (roughly mid-seventh through the late eighth centuries). The essay traces the transformations in the meanings of jihad– and the related concepts of martyr and martyrdom – from the earliest period of Islam through the late medieval period and down to our present time.
Prototyping a fault-tolerant multiprocessor SoC with run-time fault recovery

Modern integrated circuits (ICs) are becoming increasingly complex. The complexity makes it difficult to design, manufacture and integrate these high-performance ICs. The advent of multiprocessor systems-on-chips (SoCs) makes it even more challenging for programmers to utilize the full potential of the computation resources on the chips. In the mean time, the complexity of the chip design creates new reliability challenges. As a result, chip designers and users cannot fully exploit the tremendous silicon resources on the chip. This research proposes a prototype which is composed of a fault-tolerant multiprocessor SoC and a coupled single program, multiple data (SPMD) programming framework. We use a SystemC based modeling and simulation environment to design and analyze this prototype. Our analysis shows that this prototype as a reliable computing platform constructed from the potentially unreliable chip resources, thus protecting the previous investment of hardware and software designs. Moreover, the promising application-driven simulation results shed light on the potential of a scalable and reliable multiprocessing computing platform for a wide range of mission-critical applications.
Transition from pure laparoscopic to robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy: a single surgeon institutional evolution.

Abstract Purpose To review a single surgeon experience of transitioning to a robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy program (RALP) with prior pure laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) experience. Materials and methods A retrospective review of surgical results from a single surgeon performing LRP transitioning to RALP was performed. Two hundred five patients undergoing RALP by a single, fellowship-trained, urologic oncologist were analyzed and compared with 45 patients undergoing LRP by the same surgeon. Operative, pathologic, and functional outcomes were evaluated. Validated questionnaires, including the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), were utilized for assessing urinary and sexual parameters. Results Preoperative parameters (age, PSA, Gleason score) were similar in both RALP and LRP groups. Operative time (190 vs. 299 minutes), estimated blood loss (253 vs. 299 ml), and length of stay (1.6 vs. 2.6 days) were reduced in RALP vs. LRP. Although not statistically significant, there was a trend toward fewer transfusions with RALP (2.0% vs. 4.4%) as well as a lower positive margin rate in organ-confined (pT2) disease (9.8%, RALP vs. 20%, LRP). Continence at 12 months was 94% following RALP as opposed to 82% after LRP. In preoperatively potent men undergoing bilateral nerve sparing procedures, RALP conferred 81% potency at 12 months as opposed to only 62% following LRP. Conclusions The transition from LRP to RALP, in concert with an institutional commitment to a successful robotic surgery program, has yielded superior operative, oncologic, and functional results.
Determinants Responsible for Assembly of the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

The assembly of the four homologous, but distinct, α, β, γ, and δ subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) into the pentamer α2βγδ presents a unique opportunity to delineate the individual amino acid side chains that contribute to the assembly process, and to examine the
Query evaluation techniques for large databases

Database management systems will continue to manage large data volumes. Thus, efficient algorithms for accessing and manipulating large sets and sequences will be required to provide acceptable performance. The advent of object-oriented and extensible database systems will not solve this problem. On the contrary, modern data models exacerbate the problem: In order to manipulate large sets of complex objects as efficiently as today's database systems manipulate simple records, query-processing algorithms and software will become more complex, and a solid understanding of algorithm and architectural issues is essential for the designer of database management software. This survey provides a foundation for the design and implementation of query execution facilities in new database management systems. It describes a wide array of practical query evaluation techniques for both relational and postrelational database systems, including iterative execution of complex query evaluation plans, the duality of sort- and hash-based set-matching algorithms, types of parallel query execution and their implementation, and special operators for emerging database application domains.
Energy Generation Using Thermopower Waves: Experimental and Analytical Progress

Thermopower waves convert chemical energy into electrical power using nanostructured thermal conduits like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by taking advantage of their high thermal conductivity to propagate the heat released by an exothermic reaction of a fuel layer coated around the conduit. Electron–phonon coupling in the CNTs then leads to an electrical output. Previous work using cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine coated around multiwalled CNTs has shown electrical output as high as 7 kW kg−1. This phenomenon has potential to aid the manufacture of nanoscale power sources capable of releasing large power pulses for specific applications. Researchers have studied the effects of other system properties, including the conduit thermal conductivity, the chemical properties of the fuel, and the coupling of the reactions to inorganic thermoelectric materials. An analytical solution for the governing heat and mass balance equations has also been derived. Here, we review the progress made in the field of thermopower waves. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3333–3341, 2013
A diffusive sampler of gaseous pollutants by collection in liquid media

Description d'un echantillonneur a diffusion pour collecter des polluants dans les lieux de travail. Il est construit en polytetrafluoroethylene et la diffusion est controlee par plusieurs petits canaux. Il a ete teste en laboratoire avec l'ammoniac et le dioxyde de soufre
The Influence of Sociodemographics and Gender on the Disproportionate Identification of Minority Students as Having Learning Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent of gender and race/ethnicity disproportionality among students identified as having learning disabilities (LD) and to investigate relationships between disproportionality and sociodemographic factors. Using nationally representative data collected by the U.S. Office for Civil Rights, this study examined the effects of gender, ethnicity, and sociodemographic factors on the proportion of students who are identified as having LD. Results indicated a clear association between ethnicity and gender and the odds of being identified as a student with LD. Sociodemographic factors for a school district were also found to be strongly associated with the proportion of students identified as having LD. A logistic regression model that included the nine sociodemographic variables, gender, and race, was significantly better at predicting LD identification than a model that included sociodemographic predictors alone. Adjusted odds ratios illustrated how the likeliho...
Mouse oocytes injected with testicular spermatozoa or round spermatids can develop into normal offspring

Genomic imprinting occurs in both male and female gametes during gametogenesis, but the exact time when imprinting begins and ends is unknown. In the present study we injected nuclei of testicular spermatozoa and round spermatids into mature mouse oocytes to see whether these nuclei are able to participate in syngamy and normal embryonic development. If the injected oocytes develop into normal fertile offspring, imprinting in the male germ cells used must have been completed by the time of injection. Ninety-two percent of mouse oocytes injected with testicular spermatozoa survived and 94% of these were fertilized normally (extrusion of the second polar body and formation of male and female pronuclei). When 44 two-cell embryos so created were transferred to 5 foster mothers, 24 (54.5%) developed into normal offspring. Unlike testicular spermatozoa, round spermatids could not activate the oocytes, and therefore the oocytes had to be activated artificially either before or after spermatid injection. The highest rate (77%) of normal fertilization was obtained when the oocytes were first activated by electric current, then injected individually with a single spermatid nucleus. When 131 two-cell embryos were transferred to 15 foster mothers, 37 (28.2%) reached full term. All but two grew into healthy adults. Thus, it would appear that gametic imprinting in mouse spermatogenic cells is completed before spermiogenesis begins. Under the experimental conditions employed, spermatid nuclei were less efficient than testicular sperm nuclei in producing normal offspring, but perhaps this was due to technical rather than inherent problems.
Health System Loyalty Programs: An Innovation in Customer Care and Service

Many people belong to loyalty programs for coffee shops, hotel chains, or airlines. Despite a highly consumer-oriented approach in some health systems, similar types of loyalty programs have not been developed. Why this disconnect for customer loyalty between health care and other industries?
Media designs with scratch: what urban youth can learn about programming in a computer Clubhouse

We report on the programming learning experiences of urban youth ages 8-18 at a Computer Clubhouse located in South Central Los Angeles. Our analyses of the 536 Scratch projects, collected during a two-year period, documents the learning of key programming concepts in the absence of instructional interventions or experienced mentors. We discuss the motivations of urban youth who choose to program in Scratch and the implications for introducing programming at after school settings in underserved communities.
Ask and Ye Shall Receive: A Model of Ex-Ante and Ex-Post Idiosyncratic Deal-Making and Outcomes

Prior research in idiosyncratic deals (i-deals) has focused primarily on deals that are negotiated after an employee has been hired, and examined only instances where employees successfully receive...
Using a Carbide Lantern To Illustrate General Chemistry Concepts and Introduce Students to Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

Carbide lanterns were once the preferred lighting source for mining operations and are still utilized today in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM). These lanterns can be used to demonstrate a wide variety of chemical principles. To this end, an activity was developed to highlight the chemistry of a traditional carbide lamp used by miners. After a brief introduction to the lantern, students were challenged to complete problems that integrate multiple concepts such as balancing equations, unit conversions, limiting reactants, and thermochemistry. Although the activity as written serves as a review of General Chemistry I, the use of these lanterns in ASGM provides an additional opportunity to introduce students to a topic that encourages global engagement and cultural consideration. To make the activity accessible to a wide variety of audiences, a video is provided demonstrating the operation of a carbide lantern and a brief introduction to ASGM.
Improved synthesis of 3-aralkylidine-5-arylthiophen-2-(3H)ones

3-Aralkylidene-5-arylthiophen-2-(3H)ones can be prepared in two steps from 4-aryl-4-oxobutanoic acids through the intermediacy of butenolides and thiophenones generated by the sequential action of acetic anhydride, sodium hydrosulfide and aromatic aldehydes.
Synthesis of Aluminum Citrate Crosslinker under Non-aqueous

A new technology of synthesis of aluminum citrate crosslinker under the non-aqueous was studied.The factors of temperature,the reaction materials and solid aluminum chloride anhydrous citric acid powder ratio,the amount of solvents and others on the response and the nature of the product of crosslinking were investigated so as to get the best synthesis process conditions.The optimum reaction condition was temperature 80 ℃,and citric acid and aluminum chloride molar ratio of 1:1,and obtained higher purity aluminum citrate crosslinker.
Lessons learned from family history in ocular genetics.

Purpose of review Given the vast genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity seen in ocular genetic disorders, considering a patient's clinical phenotype in the context of the family history is essential. Recent findings Clinicians can improve patient care by appropriately incorporating a patient's family history into their evaluation. Obtaining, reviewing, and accurately interpreting the pedigree are skills geneticists and genetic counselors possess. However, with the field of ophthalmic genetics vastly growing, it is becoming essential for ophthalmologists to understand the utility of the pedigree and develop their abilities in eliciting this information. By not considering a patient's clinical history in the context of the family history, diagnoses can be missed or inaccurate. Summary The purpose of this review is to inform ophthalmologists on the importance of the family history and highlight how the pedigree can aid in establishing an accurate genetic diagnosis. This review also provides to ophthalmologists helpful tips on eliciting and interpreting a patient's family history.
Effects of 6-Phosphogluconate and Rubp on Rubisco Activation State and Activity

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) catalyzes the first step in photosynthetic carbon fixation and appears to have a regulatory role in light activated photosynthesis (1). For purified rubisco to be catalytically competent, it must form a complex with CO2 and magnesium (2). A number of chloroplast metabolites have been shown to stimulate rubisco activity when preincubated with the enzyme before assaying for activity (3,4,5,6,7). These positive effectors are thought to stimulate rubisco activation by stabilizing the catalytically competent enzyme-CO2-Mg2+ complex, not by increasing binding of CO2 and magnesium to the enzyme (3,6,7). This stabilization apparently occurs when the phosphorylated effectors bind to the active site of the enzyme so that the effectors act as competitive inhibitors in the presence of substrate RuBP (3,5,7). RuBP itself is known to inhibit activation of rubisco by binding to the inactive form of the enzyme, preventing the addition of CO2 and magnesium (8,9).
Peer critique as a signature pedagogy in writing studies

In this essay, the author connects research on student learning in writing studies with the theory of signature pedagogies first presented by Shulman in 2005. In particular, the author unpacks how ...
The effects of maternal alcohol use disorders on childhood relationships and mental health

Despite millions of children living in the turmoil of their parents’ active alcoholism or the aftermath of past abuse, research to date has not (1) provided a comprehensive examination of the effects of maternal alcohol use disorders (AUDs) on children’s social ties outside of their relationships with parents, or (2) considered whether the number and quality of childhood social ties alter the effects of maternal AUDs on children’s mental health. Using data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth 1979 Children and Young Adults, analysis examined the influence of maternal AUDs on the number and quality of children’s ties with siblings, extended family and family friends, peers, and neighborhood members. The analysis also considered how children’s social ties influenced the association between maternal AUDs and children’s internalizing and externalizing problems. Children of alcoholic mothers had similarly sized networks but more distant relationships with siblings and friends, negative interactions with classmates, and isolating neighborhoods. Controlling for these aspects of children’s social ties substantially reduced mental health disparities between children of alcoholic mothers and other children. Findings support the view that maternal alcohol use disorders have the potential to damage children’s mental health while also setting into motion long-term relationship problems. Future research should examine the networks of children who experience parental AUDs to further clarify the social processes that link parental AUDs to children’s mental health.
Optimal strategies for the progressive Monty Hall problem

In the classical Monty Hall problem you are a contestant on a game show confronted with three identical doors. One of them conceals a car while the other two conceal goats. You choose a door, but do not open it. The host, Monty Hall, now opens one of the other two doors, careful always to choose one he knows to conceal a goat. You are then given the options either of sticking with your original door, or switching to the other unopened door. What should you do to maximise your chances of winning the car?
De-magnifying hyperlens: experimental demonstration and potential applications(Conference Presentation)

Hyperlens was already shown to facilitate the sub-diffraction imaging in the far-field by converting the sub-wavelength information carried by evanescent wave components into the propagating waves and magnifying those sub-wavelength details to the scales that can be resolved by conventional optical components. In this talk, we will discuss the case when the hyperlens is used in a reverse way, such that the incident light enters on the outer surface of the hyperlens and collected on the inner surface, the device may function as a de-magnifier. In particular, if a pattern of a large size (above the diffraction limit) is recorded on the outer surface serving as a mask, the sub-wavelength image can be achieved on the inner side of the hyperlens. While this idea was validated using numerical simulations, no experimental demonstration was reported to date. In this talk, we demonstrate de-magnifying hyperlens in laboratory experiments and discuss its potential applications. For example, one of such potential applications is sub-wavelength photolithography. Photolithography is the most widely used fabrication technique in integrated circuit industry. However, further decreasing the feature size becomes challenging, in particular, due to the diffraction limit. We experimentally show de-magnifying property of a spherical hyperlens composed of metal-dielectric multilayer structure with a Cr mask on its outer surface. A photoresist was spin-coated on the inner surface of the hyperlens to record the image. After exposure with 405nm light, the pattern on the mask was recorded in the photoresist on the inner surface of the hyperlens, demonstrating 1.6x de-magnification.
Gender differences in long-term survival post-transplant: A single-institution analysis in the lung allocation score era.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the significance of recipient gender status on lung transplant outcomes in a large single-institution experience spanning three decades, we analyzed data from all lung transplants performed in our institution since 1986. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the effect of recipient characteristics on survival and BOS score ≥1-free survival. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association of gender with short-term graft function. About 876 lung transplants were performed between 1986 and 2016. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates at 5 years post-transplant for females vs males in the LAS era were 71% vs 58%. In the LAS era, females showed greater unadjusted BOS≥1-free survival than males (35% vs 25%, P=.02) over 5 years. Female gender was the only factor in the LAS era significantly associated with improved adjusted 5-year survival [HR 0.56 (95% CI 0.33, 0.95) P=.03]. Conversely, in the pre-LAS era female gender was not associated with improved survival. Female recipients showed significantly improved survival over 5 years compared to males in the LAS era. A prospective analysis of biologic and immunologic differences is warranted.
The function of myeloid dendritic cells in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that causes joint pain, inflammation, and loss of function. Disease pathogenesis involves activation and proliferation of autoreactive pro-inflammatory effector T cells. While the details of RA onset and progression remain controversial, dendritic cell (DC) numbers dramatically increase in the synovial joint tissues of RA patients. Based on their key functions as antigen-presenting cells and inducers of T cell differentiation, DCs may play an important role in the initiation of joint inflammation. Myeloid DC contributions are likely central to the development of RA, as they are more efficient at antigen presentation in comparison with their closely related cousins, plasmacytoid DCs. Synovial fluid in the joints of RA patients is enriched with pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which may stimulate or result from DC activation. Epidemiological evidence indicates that smoking and periodontal infection are major environmental risk factors for RA development. In this review, factors in the synovial environment that contribute to altered myeloid DC functions in RA and the effects of environmental risk factors on myeloid DCs are described.
Environmental Pollution and the Fish Heart

As a nonstop pump driven by physiologically complex excitable cells, the heart is especially susceptible to a variety of insults, in particular exogenous chemicals. In humans, for example, heart-related toxicities are the most common adverse drug reaction. Fish living in polluted environments may or may not be able to avoid exposure to cardiotoxic chemicals. Nevertheless, juvenile and adult fish have a variety of robust mechanisms for protecting the heart from toxic chemicals, such as hepatic metabolism. The situation is very different for fish early life history stages, in particular very small embryos and larvae. The developing heart is the first organ to become functional in embryos, at a point very early in its morphogenesis. Owing to the intimate and interacting links between form and function in the developing heart, very subtle cardiotoxicity during embryogenesis can cause serious and long-lasting outcomes. Fish embryos have minimal capacity for metabolic detoxification, and therefore, developmental cardiotoxicity is a real-world environmental health concern for wild populations. This chapter focuses on the exquisite sensitivity of the developing fish heart to chemical contaminants, as demonstrated through aquatic pollution case studies focused on legacy organochlorine compounds and recent oil spills. These studies have revealed a diversity of mechanisms linking cardiomyocyte physiology to heart development, and abnormal development in turn to latent impacts on physiology at later life stages.
The determinants of the benchmark interest rates in China

Abstract This paper empirically investigates the determinants of the two key benchmark interest rates in China using an array of constrained ordered probit models for quarterly frequency data from 1987 to 2013. Specifically, we estimate the behavioral equation of the People's Bank of China that models its decision-making process for revisions of the benchmark deposit rate and the lending rate. Our findings imply that the PBC's policy decisions are better understood as responses to changes in inflation and money growth, while output gaps and the exchange rate play negligible roles. We also implement in-sample fit analyses and out-of-sample forecast exercises. Our empirical findings show robust and reasonably good performances of our models in understanding dynamics of these benchmark interest rates.
CAN A BIOMARKER BASED APPROACH PREDICT STRESS TESTING RESULTS IN PATIENTS WITH CHEST PAIN

Functional coronary ischemia testing is frequently utilized to stratify unstable angina (UA) in emergency department, which is time and resource consuming. We propose that an efficient biomarker based approach including N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) could supplement
Is elevated body mass index protective against cervical spine injury in adults

Correlate body mass index (BMI) with incidence and type of cervical spine injury seen on CT in adult patients presenting with blunt trauma. Retrospective chart review of all adult blunt trauma patients who had a cervical spine CT performed at our level 1 trauma center during an approximately 3-year period. A statistically significant (p = 0.01) difference in cervical spine injury incidence was present between different BMI groups. Cervical spine injury incidence was 7.7% for underweight (BMI ≤ 18) patients, 7.1% for normal weight (BMI 18–25) patients, 6.2% for overweight/obese (BMI 25–35) patients, and 4.7% for morbidly obese (BMI > 35) patients. Using BMI > 18–25 as a reference group, females with BMI > 25–35 had an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.56 (CI 0.41–0.75) and females with BMI > 35 had an aOR of 0.42 (CI 0.26–0.70). Males with a BMI ≤ 18 had an aOR of 2.20 (CI 1.12–4.32) and males with BMI > 35 had an aOR of 0.66 (CI 0.46–0.95). A particularly low incidence of cervical spine injury was observed in patients older than 65 in the obese group with a cervical spine injury rate of only 1.4% in this patient population. No statistical significant difference was seen in injury morphology across the BMI groups. An inverse relationship exists between BMI and the overall incidence of cervical spine injury. This protective effect appears to be influenced by gender with elevated BMI having lower relative odds of cervical spine injury in women than in men. A particularly low rate of cervical spine injury was identified in obese patients over the age of 65. Routine imaging of all elderly, obese trauma patients with low energy mechanism of injury may not be warranted.
Neighborhood social cohesion and sleep outcomes in the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey

Study Objective Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) have the lowest attainment of healthy sleep duration among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States. We examined associations of neighborhood social cohesion with sleep duration and quality. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of 2464 adults in the NHPI National Health Interview Survey (2014). Neighborhood social cohesion was categorized as a continuous and categorical variable into low ( 15) according to tertiles of the distribution of responses. We used multinomial logistic regression to examine the adjusted odds ratio of short and long sleep duration relative to intermediate sleep duration. We used binary logistic regression for dichotomous sleep quality outcomes. Sleep outcomes were modeled as categorical variables. Results Forty percent of the cohort reported short ( 9 hours) duration. Mean (SE, range) social cohesion score was 12.4 units (0.11, 4-16) and 23% reported low social cohesion. In multivariable models, each 1 SD decrease in neighborhood social cohesion score was associated with higher odds of short sleep duration (odds ratio [OR]: 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02, 1.29). Additionally, low social cohesion was associated with increased odds of short sleep duration (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.13). No associations between neighborhood social cohesion and having trouble falling or staying asleep and feeling well rested were found. Conclusion Low neighborhood social cohesion is associated with short sleep duration in NHPIs.
Optically inactive defects in monolayer and bilayer phosphorene: A first-principles study

Many-body excitonic effect is crucial in two-dimensional (2D) materials and can significantly impact their optoelectronic properties. Because defects are inevitable in 2D materials, understanding how they influence the optical and excitonic properties of the 2D materials is of significant scientific and technological importance. Here we focus on intrinsic point defects in monolayer and bilayer phosphorene and examine whether and how their optoelectronic properties may be modified by the defects. Based on large-scale first-principles calculations, we have systematically explored the optical and excitonic properties of phosphorene in the presence and absence of the point defects. We find that the optical properties of bilayer phosphorene depend on the stacking order of the layers. More importantly, we reveal that the dominant point defects in few-layer phosphorene are optically inactive, which renders phosphorene particularly attractive in optoelectronic applications.
TOWARD A MICROFLUIDIC IMPLEMENTATION OF A DIGITAL POTENTIOMETER.

Herein, we report on the motivation for, design of, and progress toward a microfluidic implementation of a digital potentiometer for various physical and life science applications.Copyright © 2018 by ASME
Management of knee ankylosis using ilizarov device

Knee ankylosis is a common complication of knee trauma and infection that poses a serious challenge to orthopaedic surgeons regularly in their practice. This study highlights the success of the use of Ilizarov device in the management of fibrous ankylosis of the knee. A 37-year-old nurse with a fibrous ankylosed knee that had a range of movement (ROM) of 0°–40° was successfully treated with Ilizarov device, indomethacin (analgesics) and physiotherapy. Her ROM of the affected right knee improved to 0°–140° and after a follow-up period became 0°–90°. She was very happy with the outcome. There was no associated knee pains afterwards. Ilizarov device, together with adequate analgesia and physiotherapy, can successfully treat knee ankylosis.
Method and the speculative sentence in Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit

While Hegel's discussion of the ‘speculative sentence’ occurs in the ‘Preface’ to the Phenomenology of Spirit, commentators rarely link it to the larger program of this text. Instead, this discussi...
Weight Status and Sedentary Behavior of Alzheimer's Disease Caregivers

Objectives: In this study, we sought to characterize the weight status, sedentary behavior, and physical activity of caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Methods: In 2014, we surveyed caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease from the South Carolina Alzheimer's Disease Registry (N = 47) about their personal health behaviors. Additionally, a subset of individuals (N = 14) wore an accelerometer for 7 days. Results: Caregivers (N = 47) were mostly overweight or obese (85%) and self-reported a daily average sedentary time of 246.5 ± 203.0 minutes and 455.8 ± 291.4 minutes, as measured by 2 questionnaires. Objective measures indicated that persons spent an average of 769.4 ± 167.6 minutes per day (77.8% of their waking day) engaged in sedentary behavior. Conclusion: Given the negative health outcomes associated with both obesity and sedentary behavior, this is a vulnerable population that likely would benefit from interventions focused on weight management and reducing sedentary behavior.
Combination Antihypertensive Therapy Prescribing and Blood Pressure Control in a Real-World Setting.

BACKGROUND Specific combinations of two drug classes are recommended in a variety of clinical situations in the management of hypertension. These preferred combinations are based on complimentary blood pressure (BP) lowering mechanisms or benefit for a concomitant disease. METHODS Using electronic health records (EHRs) data from 27,579 ambulatory hypertensive patients, we investigated antihypertensive therapy prescribing patterns and associations of preferred two drug classes with BP control. RESULTS Overall, BP control, defined as BP <140/90 mm Hg, was 65% among treated patients. Preferred dual antihypertensive therapy was prescribed in 55% of patients with uncomplicated hypertension, 49% of patients with diabetes, and 47% of patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI); these prescribing frequencies of preferred combinations were not explained by worse BP control on those combinations. In fact, we found suggestive evidence of association between prescribing of preferred two drug classes and improved BP control among post-MI (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 0.99-1.48, P = 0.061) and uncomplicated hypertensive (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.98-1.26, P = 0.089) patients. CONCLUSIONS Prescribing of guideline-recommended antihypertensive drug classes for concomitant diseases is suboptimal and prescribing of preferred/optimized drug class combinations was moderate. We did not find a clear association between the use of optimized drug class combinations and greater BP control. Overall, using EHR data, we identified potential opportunities for re-examining prescribing practices with implications for clinical decision support and healthcare improvement at the community and health system-wide levels.
Not Putting Their Money Where Their Mouth Is: Retired Flag Officers and Presidential Endorsements:

Endorsements by retired flag and general officers are now a fixture of the presidential election cycle. However, their motivations are unclear. Retired flag officers might endorse with material, pu...
Characterizing urban last-mile distribution strategies in mature and emerging e-commerce markets

Abstract E-retailers and other companies participating in the e-commerce supply chain are developing a variety of strategies for last-mile e-commerce distribution in urban areas. These strategies must account for a number of elements of local context which can be particularly challenging in emerging markets. Urban last-mile distribution strategies that are specifically tailored to these markets are rarely discussed in the extant literature. This study uses a combination of literature review and case study analysis to establish an integrated conceptual framework that allows to characterize urban last-mile e-commerce distribution strategies in both mature and emerging markets. We then use this structured framework to perform a review and comparison of different last-mile distribution strategies and highlight variables impacting the choice of network design decisions.
Optimization Framework to Assess the Demand Response Capacity of a Water Distribution System

AbstractAs large electricity consumers, water distribution system (WDS) pumping stations have the potential to become meaningful participants in demand response (DR) programs. The authors propose a...
Sex differences in the association between tumor growth and T cell response in a melanoma mouse model

Epidemiological evidence suggests that females have an advantage over males in cases of melanoma incidence, progression, and survival. However, the biological mechanisms underlying these sex differences remain unclear. With the knowledge that females generally have a more robust immune system than males, we investigated sex differences in melanoma progression in a B16-F10/BL6 syngeneic mouse model. We observed significantly less tumor volume and growth rate over 14 days in female mice compared to male mice. Furthermore, higher populations of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, which indicate adaptive immune responses, were found in the circulating blood and tumors of females and corresponded with less tumor growth, and vice versa in males. Our results highlight a mouse model that represents melanoma progression in the human population and displays a higher immune response to melanoma in females compared to males. These findings suggest that the immune system may be one of the mechanisms responsible for sex differences in melanoma.
Infusion System Designs

This chapter contains a description of the basic container design for each of three fluid infusion systems in general use today. There are at least two reasons why it is important to know how these systems work. When the design theory is understood, it is possible to devise proper methods for use, methods that emphasize system advantages and minimize system risks. When a malfunction occurs, it is very helpful to understand system design features in order to recognize and correct the difficulty quickly.
Risk perception in small island developing states: a case study in the Commonwealth of Dominica

Small island developing states (SIDS) face high vulnerability to natural hazards; thus, understanding risk perception in SIDS is an essential step toward reducing vulnerability. A case study in the eastern Caribbean’s Commonwealth of Dominica, which has a notable volcanic risk, was selected to explore local risk perception, using a mixed-methods approach. Focus groups were conducted in 18 villages throughout Dominica. During the focus groups, participants produced hand-colored maps to show where they believed volcanic risk existed on the island and shared their reasoning behind their maps. Additionally, all focus group participants completed surveys collecting sociodemographic information. Participant’s hand-drawn maps were scanned into a geographic information system, converted to raster images, and aggregated into various configurations based on demographic variables. The verbal explanations of their maps were transcribed, coded, and analyzed qualitatively using a grounded theory approach to identify key trends in perceived risk. Although gender was the only significant variable when analyzing the entire island, other demographic variables had differences in perception that were significant regionally. Understanding how demographic variables influence risk perception facilitates the development of better-tailored public outreach campaigns that could save lives when the next hazard threatens Dominica.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors Reduce Uterine Fibroid Incidence in Hypertensive Women

CONTEXT In vitro and in vivo evidence has supported the role of angiotensin II blockade in reducing leiomyoma cell proliferation and growth. However, no population-based study to date has investigated this potential association. OBJECTIVE This work aims to determine whether prior angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) use is associated with a reduced odds of leiomyoma development. DESIGN A nested case-control study was conducted. SETTING The population was assembled from the Truven Health MarketScan Research Database, which includes private health insurance claims from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2017. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS We included (n = 353 917) women age 18 to 65 with hypertension. Cases (n = 13 108) with a leiomyoma diagnosis were matched to controls (n = 340 808) with no such diagnosis at a 1:26 ratio by age and region of origin within the United States. INTERVENTION Prior ACEi use was determined from outpatient drug claims. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Leiomyoma development was indicated by a first-time diagnosis code. RESULTS Women on an ACEi experienced a 31.8% reduced odds of developing clinically recognized leiomyoma compared to nonusers (odds ratio [OR] 0.68; 95% CI, 0.65-0.72). This association was significant for each age group: 30 to 39 years (OR 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-0.99), 40 to 49 years (OR 0.71; 95% CI, 0.66-0.76), 50 to 59 years (OR 0.63; 95% CI, 0.58-0.69), and 60 to 65 years (OR 0.58; 95% CI, 0.50-0.69). Of the ACEis, lisinopril (OR 0.67; 95% CI, 0.64-0.71), quinapril (OR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41-0.92), and ramipril (OR 0.35; 95% CI, 0.23-0.50) demonstrated a significant association with reduced leiomyoma incidence. CONCLUSIONS ACEi use was associated with a reduced odds of developing clinically recognized leiomyoma in adult hypertensive women.
Liquid Metal Embrittlement of Steel by Lead and Lead Alloys

The loss of ductility of leaded steel when tested in tension at elevated temperatures is an example of embrittlement by a liquid metal in a system of major technological significance. Although leaded steels have been produced and employed for over thirty years because of their excellent machining characteristics, this lead-embrittlement was only recently documented and studied in any detail (1).
Clinical utility of sperm DNA fragmentation testing: practice recommendations based on clinical scenarios.

We are fortunate to live in a time when large strides have been made in the field of reproductive health and its testing, including sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing. The goal of such tests should allow better evaluation, treatment and counseling in the majority of men with male factor infertility including varicoceles in selected situations.
Oil does more than light the lamp: The multifaceted role of lipids in thermogenic fat

Brown and beige adipocytes, or thermogenic fat, were initially thought to be merely a thermogenic organ. However, emerging evidence suggests its multifaceted roles in the regulation of systemic glucose and lipid homeostasis that go beyond enhancing thermogenesis. One of the important functions of thermogenic fat is as a "metabolic sink" for glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids, which profoundly impacts metabolite clearance and oxidation. Importantly, lipids are not only the predominant fuel source used for thermogenesis but are also essential molecules for development, cellular signaling, and structural components. Here, we review the multifaceted role of lipids in thermogenic adipocytes.