cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of correction methods for coil-induced intensity inhomogeneities and their influence on trabecular bone structure parameters from MR images

Magnetic resonance(MR)imaging-based quantitative trabecular bone structure analysis has gained increasing interest in osteoporotic fracture risk assessment and treatment evaluation related to osteoporosis. In vivoMRimages of anatomic regions such as the proximal femur and distal tibia are generally acquired with a surface coil in order to obtain sufficient sensitivity and resolution for quantification of the trabeculae. However, these coils introduce intensity inhomogeneities which affect the trabecular bone structure analysis. This work evaluates the applicability of a fully automatic coil correction by nonparametric nonuniform intensity normalization (N3) in the analysis of trabecular bone parameters. The ability to correct for coil-induced intensity inhomogeneity was evaluated ex vivo on proximal femur specimens scanned with both a surface coil and a volume coil, which allowed for a direct evaluation of the performance of the coil correction methods without any major confounding factors. In addition, trabecular bone parameter values were correlated with values from high-resolution peripheral computed tomography (HR-pQCT) scans, and the reproducibility of trabecular bone parameters was evaluated in an in vivo study of repeat hip MR scans. The trabecular bone parameters determined from MRsurface coil scans processed with the N3 coil correction method showed significant correlation ( p 0.05 ) with corresponding values from homogeneous intensity data in the ex vivo study. This can be compared to the correlation without coil correction ( p 0.5 ) , and coil correction using low-pass filtering (LPF) ( p 0.53 ) . The in vivo interscan variability was reduced from 8.9% to 12.8% using LPF-based to 3.6%–8.4% (CV) using N3 coil correction; hence the results showed that N3 is advantageous to LPF-based coil correction. No significant differences in correlation to HR-pQCT data were found for the coil correction methods. The significant correlations with volume coil data and high reproducibility of the N3 processed data imply that N3 coil correction preserve image information while accurately correcting for coil-induced intensity inhomogeneities, which makes it suitable for quantitative analysis of trabecular bone structure from MRimages acquired with surface coils.
Parent-school involvement and school performance: Mediated pathways among socioeconomically comparable African American and Euro-American families.

Children's academic and social competencies were examined as mediators to explain the often positive relation between parent-school involvement and achievement. Ethnic variations in the relation between parent-school involvement and early achievement and the mediated pathways were examined. Because much of the comparative research confounds ethnicity with socioeconomic status, the relations were examined among socioeconomically comparable samples of African American and Euro-American kindergarten children and their mothers. For reading achievement, academic skills mediated the relation between involvement and achievement for African Americans and Euro-Americans. For math achievement, the underlying process differed across ethnic groups. For African Americans, academic skills mediated the relation between school involvement and math performance. For Euro-Americans, social competence mediated the impact of home involvement on school achievement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bioaccumulation by meiobenthic copepods inhabiting a superfund site: techniques for micromass body burden and total lipid analysis.

†University of South Carolina, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia,South Carolina, USA 29208‡State University of New York–Stony Brook, Marine Sciences Research Center, Stony Brook, New York, USA 11794(Received 10 September 2001; Accepted 11 April 2002)Abstract—Microtechniques for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) body burden and total lipid analysis were developed andapplied to determine the ﬁrst lipid-normalized bioaccumulation factors for a hydrophobic organic toxicant in a meiobenthicorganism(0.063–0.500 mm) living in ﬁeld-contaminated sediments. The total lipid microtechnique combines the standard Bligh–Dyer ex-traction method with a colorimetric quantiﬁcation method for analysis of samples containing 1 to 50mg lipid. The microtechniquefor body burden analysis quantiﬁes PAHs from tissue samples containing as little as 10 pg PAH. Fluoranthene, benz[a]anthracene,and benzo[a]pyrene biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) were determined for the meiobenthic copepodMicroarthridionlittorale living in an estuarine U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site. Gravid female, nongravid female, and maleBSAFs were 0.82, 0.54, and 0.36, respectively, for ﬂuoranthene; 0.50, 0.44, and 0.40, respectively, for benz[a]anthracene; and0.09, 0.12, and 0.15, respectively, for benzo[a]pyrene. Comparison of nonlipid-normalized bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) toBSAFs indicates that M. littorale bioaccumulated PAHs on a gram lipid basis. The BSAFs declined consistently with increasingPAH log K
Induction of cyclooxygenase‐2 by human monocytes exposed to group B streptococci

Group B streptococcal (GBS) infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The molecular pathways mediating the pathophysi- ological events in GBS infection are not fully delineated. Cyclooxygenases (COX) are the en- zymes that convert arachidonate to active eicosa- noids. To identify the effects of GBS on eicosanoid metabolism and regulatory mechanisms, we ex- posed human monocytes to GBS and found that they secreted prostaglandin E2, prostacyclin, and thromboxane A2. Exposure to GBS caused mono- cytes to express COX-2 mRNA and protein in both a time- and concentration-dependent manner that correlated with eicosanoid production. COX-1 pro- tein was unchanged. Addition of the anti-inflamma- tory cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 or IL-10 markedly attenuated GBS-induced COX-2 protein accumula- tion after GBS exposure, as did inhibition of p38 MAPK. Our experiments are the first to show that exposure of monocytes to a gram-positive bacte- rium (GBS) results in induction of functional COX-2, suggesting that eicosanoids may play important roles in the pathogenesis of GBS infections. J. Leukoc. Biol. 67: 615-621; 2000.
The location decision of the firm: An overview of theory and evidence

In the past decade regional economists have begun to utilize two approaches to study location decisions of firms. The familiar approach of the classical Weber [46] and Pred6hl [30] problem has been couched in differential calculus, and most of the slight technical errors made by Isard [17], Moses [26], and Alonso [1] have been identified and solved. While partial and restrictive in nature, this "standard economic theory" view of the firm location decision can potentially provide many rich testable hypotheses, especially in regard to behavior. The second approach to location decisions derives from the classic work of Koopmans and Beckmann [21]. In general, this approach allows location to occur in a multifirm, multiproduct, multilocation setting, using the tools of mathematical programming and/or simulation. While this broader view allows more realism in some sense, there are costs. One generally has to know the number and size of individual facilities and regions before they can be (al)located in, say, a transport cost-minimizing way. It is important for regional scientists to recognize that these two approaches are not substitutes. Instead, they are complements in our tool kit used to understand the location decision of firms. Knowledge from one approach can be utilized to alter the assumptions or structure of the other. In this paper we review some of the recent contributions made to the WeberPred6hl literature. In addition, we point out some testable hypotheses from this lflerature. We also review some recent economics literature on empirical tests of firm location decisions, especially at the intrametropolitan level, and find that most of" these studies have little formal relationship to the theory. We close by offering alternatives for testing the theory (in a slightly altered state) so that policy issues may be made with more information. We do not cover in this paper the vast literature on market areas, with one exception. Melvin Greenhut [14] has produced a stock of knowledge that would be too lengthy and involved to include; thus, for the most part, we will assume the market demand for the firm's product is given. The only exception we make here is a brief review of some recent contributions to the Hotelling problem. This exception is made because the results of these few works have implications for altering
Surface Cross-Hatched Morphology on Strained III-V Semiconductor Heterostructures

The correlation between surface cross-hatched morphology and interfacial misfit dislocations in strained III-V semiconductor heteroepitaxy has been studied. The surface pattern is clearly seen on samples grown at high temperature (520°C) and with lattice mismatch f 2%, a rough textured surface morphology is observed in place of cross hatching. Few threading dislocations are observed in the strained layer when cross hatch develops. Cross hatch occurs after most interfacial misfit dislocations are generated. The results suggest that surface cross hatch is directly related to the generation and glide of interfacial misfit dislocations.
Case Study on Hurricane Sandy Survivors Experience

The goal of this qualitative single-case study was to investigate the problem with more than 50% of Americans admitting they are not prepared for natural disasters before they occur. The sample for this study was 24 purposively selected Hurricane Sandy survivors in New York and New Jersey who were 25 years of age or older. Data was collected through ten open-ended interview questions presented during telephone interviews. This study was guided by the theoretical framework of normative risk management decision making. Thematic analysis was used to code and analyze the data collected. This study was focused on answering two broad research questions related to why more than 50% of Americans are not prepared for natural disasters before they occur and the factors that prevent them from preparing. The major recommendations for future research and practice were related to the lack of a distinction between individuals who perceive they are prepared (who are deemed unprepared according to regulatory guidelines) and the possibility they are included with the more than 50% of Americans who are not prepared although they require modification of preparedness behavior while individuals who are not prepared require adoption of preparedness behavior. The other recommendations describe the factors that prevent individuals from preparing as lack of notification and signaling communications that indicate a natural disaster is imminent and expected to be severe; and individual disbelief in the validity of the communications. This study contributes to filling the gap in the literature related to the lived experience with natural disasters.
Ab Initio Study of Boron- and Nitrogen-Doped Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes Functionalized with Carboxyl Groups

We study the mechanism of covalent functionalization of boron (B)- and nitrogen (N)-doped graphene and carbon nanotubes by carboxyl (COOH) groups. Our calculations are carried out using an ab initio density functional pseudopotential computational method combined with the generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation functional. The binding energies and equilibrium structures of carboxylated B/N-doped graphene sheets and carbon nanotubes are examined in cases of graphene and nanotubes containing no surface defects, containing Stone–Wales defects, and containing vacancies. We find that B doping increases and N doping decreases the binding energy of COOH groups to defect-free and defective graphene and carbon nanotubes. This result suggests that substitutional doping may significantly alter the surface reactivity of carbon nanomaterials.
Family behaviors and type 2 diabetes: What to target and how to address in interventions for adults with low socioeconomic status.

ObjectivesDiabetes-specific family behaviors are associated with self-care and glycemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes. Formative research is needed to inform assessment of these behaviors and interventions to address obstructive family behaviors (sabotaging and nagging/arguing), particularly among racial/ethnic minorities and low-income adults who struggle most with self-care adherence.MethodsWe conducted a mixed-methods study with adults with type 2 diabetes at a Federally Qualified Health Center to better understand experiences with diabetes-specific family behaviors and willingness to engage family members in diabetes interventions. Participants completed a phone survey (N = 53) and/or attended a focus group (n = 15).ResultsParticipants were 70% African American and had low socioeconomic status (96% annual income <US$20K, 51% uninsured). Although 62% lived with family members, only 48% lived with the person providing the most diabetes-specific support. Participants’ family living situations...
290 BABY SAFETY SHOWER: A UNIQUE FORMAT FOR PROVIDING PEDIATRIC INJURY PREVENTION EDUCATION.

Objective The purpose of this project is to provide injury prevention education to first-time parents of infants less than 6 months of age in a baby safety shower format and to evaluate the effectiveness of this format in knowledge retention. Methods Participants included first-time parents either in pregnancy or with a child less than 6 months of age. Participants completed an information form that included questions about potential risk factors for injuries. Each participant was given a pretest to determine the basic knowledge of childhood safety information and received a bath thermometer, toilet lock, outlet covers, cabinet locks, door knob covers, and a car seat. Medical health care professionals presented brief lectures on cardiopulmonary resuscitation, crib safety and sudden infant death syndrome, toy safety, choking hazards, water safety, smoke detectors, poisonings, stress management and shaken baby syndrome, firearm safety, and car seats. A follow-up (post-test) telephone call was made 1 month after the shower. Analysis of the most frequent questions missed on the pretest was compared with the percent correct increase of the same questions on the post-test, using the z-test of proportions. Results A total of 24 caregivers participated in two separate baby safety showers. Of the 24 pretests, the most common question missed was the temperature that a water heater should be set to prevent scalding. Only 50% answered this question correctly. However, 83% correctly responded on the post-test (z = 1.50, p = .12). The second most incorrectly answered question was about the safe positioning of infants during sleep. Seventy-one percent answered this question correctly on the pretest. This same question on the post-test was answered 100% correctly (z = 1.63, p = .10). Seventy-one percent of participants believed that it is safe for an infant to sleep in the bed with an adult on the pretest compared with the post-test, in which all of the participants answered this statement to be false. All of the participants believed that smoking around infants is harmful on the pretest and post-test. There was a 50% response rate for the post-test. Conclusion Caregivers can learn important safety information about childhood injury prevention in a baby safety shower format. Individual questions demonstrated 33% and 29% improvements in the knowledge of safety water temperature and sleeping positions, respectively (although attrition during post-testing reduced statistical power below our planned detection limits). We believe that the baby shower format is an effective educational intervention.
Educación Ambiental:Saber Interdisciplinar y Trasversal

La educacion ambiental es un proceso que propende por involucrar a los seres humanos dentro de la reflexion del cuidado ambiental, garantizando la armonia entre los individuos y su esfera natural, como engranajes de la biosfera, en el que se desarrollan interacciones de cooperativismo en pro de una sustentabilidad de los recursos.Para garantizar que la educacion alcance ese proposito esencial, se requiere de la introduccion formativa de la dimension ambiental en su integralidad socio-cultural. Esta realidad implica un tratamiento de la problematica ambiental de manera coherente y significativa, que propicie que la actividad cognoscitiva de los alumnos se encuentre en constante desarrollo para integrar conocimientos. (Covas Alvarez, 2004, p. 1).La naturaleza, gran tesoro de la humanidad que aunque colosal e invaluable, no es ilimitada. Para lo anterior hemos de tener como referente, tanto el desarrollo de habilidades del pensamiento innovador y transformador en el ser social, como el desarrollo de un comportamiento ambiental. El hecho es que no hemos sido capaces de provocar un cambio hacia una actitud positiva-critica-ambiental frente a este tipo de problema. Se nos convierte entonces como un objetivo primordial ensenar a aprender con la intencionalidad de conocer, comprender, actuar y provocar cambios efectivos en nuestro deteriorado entorno natural. En este sentido, lo que ensenamos y como lo ensenamos es parte del problema. Para esto, pensamos que es necesario propender por un conocimiento significativosi lo tomamos claro esta, comoaquel aprendizaje que tiene sentido; integrando los nuevos elementos con los que anteriormente habiamos asimilado y sabiendo utilizarlo de forma creadora, transformadora, util y practica para el bienestar principalmente, de la naturalezay, por ende, para nuestra vida y permanencia en el mundo
Effect of monensin and a protonophore on protein degradation, peptide accumulation, and deamination by mixed ruminal microorganisms in vitro

Mixed ruminal bacteria (80 mg N/liter) degraded casein and soluble soy protein rapidly (.68 and .72 mg N/[liter.min], respectively), but ammonia was produced at a slower rate (.08 and .10 mg N/[liter.min], respectively). Because there was little increase in cell protein, ammonia production could not account for all the degraded protein. Large quantities of non-ammonia, non-protein nitrogen (NAN-NPN) accumulated, and this NAN-NPN reacted more strongly (2- to 14-fold) with ninhydrin after it was treated with 6 N HCl (110 degrees C, 24 h) or pronase E. Even after 96 h of incubation, 10% of the protein N was still found in the NAN-NPN pool. Monensin had little effect on protein degradation, but it caused a large decrease in ammonia production (P less than .05) and an increase in NAN-NPN (P less than .05). These results indicated that significant quantities of peptide N could not be degraded by ruminal microorganisms and that monensin could increase peptide flow from the rumen. Because 3,3',4',5-tetrachlorosalicylanide, a protonophore that inhibits both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, did not cause a greater decrease (P greater than .05) in ammonia than monensin, an ionophore that is primarily effective against Gram-positive bacteria, it seemed that the "protein sparing" of monensin could largely be explained by its inhibition of Gram-positive bacteria.
Trends in Emergency Department Resource Utilization for Poisoning-Related Visits, 2003–2011

In recent years, there has been an increase in poisoning-related emergency department (ED) visits. This study examines trends in ED resource utilization for poisoning-related visits over time. A retrospective review of data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 2003–2011, was conducted. All ED visits with a reason for visit or ICD-9 code related to poisoning were included. We examined the number of ED visits and resources used including diagnostic studies and procedures performed, medications provided, admission rates, and length of stay. The proportion of visits involving resource use was tabulated and trends analyzed using survey-weighted logistic regression, grouping into 2-year periods to ensure adequate sample size. Of an estimated 843 million ED visits between 2003 and 2011, 8 million (0.9 %) were related to poisoning. Visits increased from 1.8 million (0.8 %) visits in 2003–2004 to 2.9 million (1.1 %) visits in 2010–2011, p = 0.001. Use of laboratory studies, EKGs, plain radiographs, and procedures remained stable across the study period. CT use was more than doubled, increasing from 5.2 to 13.7 % of visits, p = 0.001. ED length of stay increased by 35.5 % from 254 to 344 min, p = 0.001. Admission rates increased by 45.3 %, from 15.0 to 21.8 %, p = 0.046. Over the entire study period, 52.0 % of poisoned patients arrived via ambulance, and 3.0 % of patients had been discharged from the hospital within the previous 7 days. Poisoning-related ED visits increased over the 8-year study period; poisonings are resource-intensive visits and require increasingly longer lengths of ED stay or hospital admission.
Unusual complication of the Hancock porcine heterograft: strut compression in the aortic root.

A 65-year-old man underwent aortic valve replacement and triple coronary artery bypass grafting which were followed by gradual late postoperative thrombosis of his 25 mm. Hancock porcine aortic heterograft. At reoperation, the valve struts were noted to be angled centrally into the aortic lumen and dense thrombus completely filled all three sinuses. After valve removal and extensive debridement of the aortic anulus, including relaxing incisions, a diameter of only 23 mm. was obtained. A 23 mm. Bjork-Shiley aortic prosthesis was inserted and the patient's recovery was uneventful. This previously unreported complication resulted from the insertion of a too-large Hancock porcine heterograft into a relatively small aortic root, resulting in circumferential strut compression, impedance of central flow, and subsequent valve thrombosis.
Electromagnetic Form Factors

More than a decade before the partonic substructure of the proton was revealed through DIS (see Chap. 6), elastic electron-proton scattering experiments at Stanford University High Energy Physics Laboratory [1] were used to probe the spatial distribution of the charge and magnetisation density in the nucleon.
Unilateral absence of a left pulmonary artery: successful therapeutic response to a combination of bosentan and warfarin.

Unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery is a rare anomaly, with only 108 case reports since the first observation by Frantzel in 1868.1 Absence of a left pulmonary artery occurs at an even more infrequent rate, accounting for one third of all unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery.2 A late presentation in life, as with the patient described below, is uncommon, and delayed diagnosis may be the result of atypical symptoms earlier in life that went unrecognized. Such an anomaly can present with a wide array of symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath, hemoptysis, fatigue, and decreased functional capacity for physical exertion. Therapeutic options are many and include surgical resection of lung lobe/tissue and medical therapy with endothelin receptor antagonists, prostacyclin, and nitric oxide. Despite evidence surrounding the vast array of therapeutic options, there has been no published data describing combination therapy using bosentan and warfarin. A 58-year-old white woman presented for an outpatient evaluation of dyspnea on exertion. The patient initially described progressive increase …
The Skin as a Route of Allergen Exposure: Part I. Immune Components and Mechanisms

Purpose of Review To highlight recent contributions in the literature that enhance our understanding of the cutaneous immune response to allergen.
Nanoscale integration of a phase-changing oxide into modulators for ultrafast silicon photonics (Conference Presentation)

On-chip signal modulation, processing and routing are now largely carried out in hard-wired circuits occupying most of the area of CPU chips, creating speed bottlenecks and increasing thermal loading. We have demonstrated on-chip, all-optical modulation in hybrid silicon-vanadium dioxide (VO 2 ) ring resonators, in which a nanoscale patch of VO 2 acts as the switch, driven by the enormous change in index of refraction in the IMT (Δn~1.3). In principle, the femtosecond IMT transition time of VO 2 enables modulation speeds up to 500 GHz. However, the IMT is accompanied by a structural phase transition (SPT) from a monoclinic (M) to a rutile (R) phase, and nanosecond return to the M phase would reduce modulation frequencies below 1 GHz. Moreover, VO 2 is lossy, so that optimizing switching contrast and power consumption simultaneously requires that the VO 2 modulator should have lateral dimensions of order 100 nm, about the size of a single grain. This talk highlights advances in fabrication and performance of ultrafast switching of the nanoscale VO 2 thin-film modulator. Studies of ultrafast excitation and relaxation of VO 2 confirm the existence of an excited monoclinic phase (mM) with a fast recovery time compatible with Tbps switching. We show how nanoscale modulator design, and particularly optimizing the resonant ring, can achieve power requirements compatible with systems specifications for all-optical modulators, and elaborate on the effects of dopants. Finally, we show how optical switching in the hybrid ring resonator can be achieved using near band-edge pumping of the VO 2 nanopatch at wavelengths in the telecommunications band.
Sperm Depletion in Singly Mated Females of the Mexican Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)1

Abstract Female Mexican fruit flies, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), have the capacity to produce more than 1,000 eggs over their lifetime, but fertility of the eggs will depend on the female's capacity to store semen or to replenish semen through remating or both. The two parameters are interrelated in that sexual receptivity depends to a large degree on insemination status. In this controlled study, we measured sperm depletion in singly mated females with continuous access to oviposition substrates by using a squash technique. The spermathecae were sequentially emptied of sperm over the 3 weeks following copulation. Under laboratory conditions, sperm was always found in the ventral receptacle up to 4 weeks following copulation, but was empty in almost all females by the fifth week. These results mirrored previous measurements of egg fertility in singly mated females, which declines at 26–40 d postcopulation.
My most challenging case

Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are extremely challenging lesions that have, until recently, been very difficult to treat and almost impossible to cure. This article describes a case of a Yakes type IIIB AVM of the forearm in a patient who had been seen years earlier and was felt to be untreatable because of the risks of tissue necrosis. In the intervening years, the Yakes classification of AVMs, which marries classification to specific treatments, was devised and published. The new insights afforded by this classification scheme permitted safe and relatively straightforward ethanol embolization of the venous side of the lesion with rapid healing of the large forearm ulceration. This case illustrates one of the central insights which Yakes has made: the fact that many AVMs can be attacked and treated on the venous side with much lower complication rates and high rates of permanent obliteration and cure. The Yakes classification is a major advance in the management of AVMs
Synchronous Rectifier Design Considerations for Solid-State Transformer Light-Load Stability

Increasing usage of high output voltage, low output current resonant-based DC-DC converter systems can face a stability issue when cycle-by-cycle drain-source synchronous rectification (SR) controllers are paired with low RDS, on rectifier switches. A current resonance phenomenon can be observed at low power conditions within the LLC resonant converter. This instability can lead to inconsistent SR operation, excessive conduction loss, output ripple, and poor light-load efficiency. In this paper, the issue is root caused, simulated, and an FPGAbased duty cycle rate limiter is built and tested to verify a possible method of alleviating the issue.
White Matter Lesions Detected by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Neonates and Children With Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy.

Abstract Background Congenital myotonic dystrophy (CDM1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by abnormal cytosine-thymine-guanine trinucleotide repeat expansion that results in weakness and cognitive deficits. Studies detailing brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in neonates and children with this condition are limited. Objective We evaluated the brain MRI findings in children, including neonates with CDM1, to assess the nature of central nervous system involvement and progression of MRI lesions over time. Methods The Cincinnati Children's Hospital neuromuscular disease database was used to identify 16 patients with CDM1 with genetically proven CDM1 who had undergone brain MRI. Hospital charts were reviewed to collect clinical information. Results Ninety-four percent of patients had an abnormal MRI showing injury to the white matter. Nine patients underwent imaging before eight days of life, and eight of these patients showed signs of injury to the white matter. Three neonates had follow-up MRI scans, and all showed progression of injury. Seven patients had the first MRI between age 29 days and 22 years, and all had abnormalities involving the white matter. Two patients had additional congenital brain malformations, and one patient also harbored a mutation in CDKL5 with resultant epilepsy. Conclusions White matter abnormalities are found in patients with CDM1, even in the neonatal period. Many patients present with hypoxia and receive a diagnosis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and may even undergo therapeutic hypothermia. If MRI findings of white matter injury do not correlate with hypotonia and weakness, further evaluation for CDM1 should be considered.
Instrumentation and Technology in Frontal Sinus Surgery

Frontal sinus surgery represents a considerable surgical challenge, given the narrow anatomic confines and need for technical skill with angled scopes and instruments. The advent of rigid endoscopes, refinement of frontal hand and powered instrumentation, and introduction of image guidance has facilitated the development of frontal sinus surgery. Indeed, majority of primary and revision frontal sinus disease can now be managed via the endoscopic route. The requisite availability of the complete set of frontal sinus instrumentation, angled microdebriders and drills, and surgical navigation are key to successful execution of the surgical steps. This chapter outlines the salient instrumentation and technology employed in the contemporary surgical paradigm for frontal sinus surgery.
Meta-materials: Threat to the Global Status Quo?

This chapter investigates the disruptive potential of metamaterials, synthetic nano-structured materials, which possess special physical properties that enable the user to be invisible and to evade detection. The security applications of metamaterials are to camouflage personnel, vehicles, ships, or planes from some portion of the infrared spectrum. Metamaterials have a high refractive index meaning that light ‘flows around’ the material rather than reflecting off. Successful implementation of metamaterial adaptive camouflage (MMAC) would be a paradigm shift in camouflage and anti-detection technology that could cause significant disruptions to conflict dynamics. This chapter investigates the role of metamaterials by placing it in the broader historical context of detection and anti-detection technology. By tracing the co-development of both sides of the detection arms race, a theoretical framework can be constructed. This analysis pays special attention to radar and stealth aircraft in the post WWII era. It explores concepts like deterrence, the offense defense balance, and the security dilemma. The conclusion is that anti-detection, or camouflage, technologies are generally detrimental to the international peace and detection technologies are beneficial. Metamaterials are a threat to the global status quo and are therefore a threat to the power of global and regional hegemons. Revisionist actors, primarily non-state actors, likely will benefit disproportionately from acquiring a MMAC capability but will struggle to do so due to the technical challenge of advanced R&D, particularly in the near and mid-term. The implication is that status quo powers—whom are likely to be the first to develop a viable capability—must emphasize parallel development of countermeasures and limit the negative potential of the technology’s proliferation.
Correction of presbyopia: old problems with old (and new) solutions

We live in a three-dimensional world and the human eye can focus images from a wide range of distances by adjusting the power of the eye's lens (accommodation). Progressive senescent changes in the lens ultimately lead to a complete loss of this ability by about age 50, which then requires alternative strategies to generate high-quality retinal images for far and close viewing distances. This review paper highlights the biomimetic properties and underlying optical mechanisms of induced anisometropia, small apertures, dynamic lenses, and multi-optic lenses in ameliorating the visual consequences of presbyopia. Specifically, the advantages and consequences of non-liner neural summation leveraged in monovision treatments are reviewed. Additionally, the value of a small pupil is quantified, and the impact of pinhole pupil location and their effects on neural sensitivity are examined. Different strategies of generating multifocal optics are also examined, and specifically the interaction between ocular and contact or intraocular lens aberrations and their effect on resulting image quality are simulated. Interestingly, most of the novel strategies for aiding presbyopic and pseudophakic eyes (for example, monovision, multifocality, pinhole pupils) have emerged naturally via evolution in a range of species.
Summative Game-Based Assessment

The interplay between games, assessment, and learning has so far been considered primarily within a formative setting and with particular focus on how design frameworks from these fields are connected and disconnected. The purpose of this chapter is to extend what has been developed and learned about formative game-based assessments (GBAs) into summative assessment practices. The objective is to answer questions about design principles, good or best practices, and application opportunities for summative game-based assessments, including a critical analysis of how they can or cannot improve summative assessment practices more generally. After introducing some foundations, we will discuss motivations for GBA, provide design trade-offs for various use cases, and develop considerations for designing summative GBAs. Careful review shows that this is a very challenging space with some limited, though worthwhile opportunities.
Modelling of an electro-hydraulic variable valve actuator for camless engines aimed at controlling valve lift parameters

This paper presents the mathematical modelling of an Electro-Hydraulic Valve Actuator (EHVA) prototype and its application to the design of cycle-by-cycle Valve Lift Control(VLC). EHVA is rated in ...
WELFARE MEASURES FOR GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSIS OF ECONOMIC POLICIES

Policy recommendations in economics result from implicit or explicit comparisons of levels of social welfare. The most desirable economic policy is the policy associated with the highest level of welfare. An important objective of welfare economics is to translate welfare comparisons among alternative economic policies into money measures of social welfare. Existing approaches to welfare economics are based on index numbers compiled from price and quantity data. Using an econometric representation of preferences of individual consumers, we can eliminate the stringent restrictions on preferences required for validity of the index number approach. We illustrate our new approach by evaluating alternative policies for petroleum price regulation and taxation in the United States.
To investigate the effects of CO2 pneumoperitoneum pressure in neonates and younger infants undergoing laparoscopy

Objective To investigate the effects of CO2 pneumoperitoneum pressure with primary physiological indexes in neonates and younger infants undergoing laparoscopy.Methods Twenty patients(group A)undergoing laparoscopic surgery were monitored using abdominal circumference,heart rate (HR),Mean aterial pressure (MAP),oxygen saturation (SiO2),end tidal CO2 (PETCO2),before pneumoperitoneum.during pneumoperitoneum with pressure at 5 mmHg and 10 mmHg.In thirty other patients (group B) undergoing laparoscopic surgery,pneumoperitoneum pressurewas increased from 6 mmHg upwards until PETCO2 achieved or surpassed 50 mmHg,and this pressure was the patient's feasible pneumoperitoneum pressure.Results PETCO2 was usually lower than 50 mmHg when CO2 pneumoperitoneum pressure was 5 mmHg in group A.Abdominal cavity volume would be increased by 35％ when pneumoperitoneum pressure was 5 mmHg,while an extra 11％ abdominal cavity volume was achieved at 10 mmHg.Individual pneumoperitoneum pressurewascorrelated with height,weight,age and kaup indexin group B,the regression function was:pneumoperitoneum pressure =3.926 + 1.468 × weight,using multiple regression method.Conclusions The function was suitable for patients younger than three-month with normal cardiopulmonary function,and the pneumoperitoneum pressure should be adjusted accordingto PETCO2. Key words: Neonate; Laparoscopes; Respiration; CO2 ; Pressure
Active sport event participants’ behavioural intentions: Leveraging outcomes for future attendance and visitation:

A key concern for event organisers and community leaders is how events can be leveraged for repeat visitation to the destination and event. This study investigated how sport event and destination a...
Viral-Immune Cell Interactions at the Maternal-Fetal Interface in Human Pregnancy

The human decidua and placenta form a distinct environment distinguished for its promotion of immunotolerance to infiltrating semiallogeneic trophoblast cells to enable successful pregnancy. The maternal-fetal interface also successfully precludes transmission of most pathogens. This barrier function occurs in conjunction with a diverse influx of decidual immune cells including natural killer cells, macrophages and T cells. However, several viruses, among other microorganisms, manage to escape destruction by the host adaptive and innate immune system, leading to congenital infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this review, we describe mechanisms of pathogenicity of two such viral pathogens, Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) at the maternal-fetal interface. Host decidual immune cell responses to these specific pathogens will be considered, along with their interactions with other cell types and the ways in which these immune cells may both facilitate and limit infection at different stages of pregnancy. Neither HCMV nor ZIKV naturally infect commonly used animal models [e.g., mice] which makes it challenging to understand disease pathogenesis. Here, we will highlight new approaches using placenta-on-a-chip and organoids models that are providing functional and physiologically relevant ways to study viral-host interaction at the maternal-fetal interface.
A self-contained element for modeling crack propagation in beams

Abstract The Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) has been used to model the propagation of cracks through beams and slabs, which is of practical application in a variety of fields. CZMs have been successfully incorporated into Finite Element (FE) models however, this involves significant pre-processing effort to develop a sufficiently fine mesh around cohesive elements, which also increases the required computational effort. To overcome this limitation, a self-contained’crack element,’ consisting of cohesive elements surrounded by pre-meshed bilinear bulk elements, was developed. A linear interpolation scheme to connect this crack element to adjoining beam elements, as well as a solution procedure using static condensation to solve crack propagation in beams was developed and implemented. Bilinear and non-linear CZMs were implemented to model the behavior of the cohesive elements. Under simple Mode I tension and flexure problems, the results were in-line with the expected behavior. It was found that the crack element was convergent with increasing mesh resolution, and needed to be only as long as its thickness, with the remainder of the beam being modeled by beam elements with just a handful of DOFs, reducing the size of the problem substantially. The element was also used to verify a theoretical model for the variation of modulus of rupture of a beam with its thickness, as well as a mixed-mode problem. In both those cases, the crack element showed good results.
Controlling Epidemic Bovine Diseases

In short, the goal of this laboratory is to provide APHIS with the tools needed to do the job of curtailing any incursion of FAD's into the U.S. The purpose of this article is to describe the tools we have available to control any outbreak that might occur in the U.S. today, the constraints on their use and new technologies that are being developed to enhance early detection, control and eradication. In describing these tools and technologies, it must be made absolutely clear that research can only provide options and that it is APHIS's mission to establish control policies. Nothing in this paper, therefore, should be taken to imply any change or alteration in any U.S. policy for FAD control now or in the future.
Distributional Consequences and Regulatory Analysis

Distributional analysis has been a formal part of the regulatory state since 1993, when President Clinton directed agencies to consider the distributional consequences of significant regulations alongside the cost-benefit analysis of these regulations. President Obama reaffirmed and somewhat expanded this commitment. And both Presidents Clinton and Obama expressed particular concerns with distributional consequences in the environmental area, underscoring their respective commitments to environmental justice. Despite the undoubtedly good intentions embodied in these pronouncements, the analysis of the distributional consequences of regulation has never gotten off the ground. Unlike cost-benefit analysis, it has not become a meaningful part of the analysis of regulatory consequences. In his first day in office, President Biden issued a Presidential Memorandum on Modernizing Regulatory Review, which calls on the Office of Management and Budget to propose procedures for analyzing the distributional consequences of regulations. This Article focuses on what it would take for the Biden effort to succeed where the Clinton and Obama efforts failed. In particular, agencies will need to be provided with clear guidance on the methodologies used to conduct distributional analysis. The lack of a standardized approach is part of the reason that the prior efforts were doomed. Moreover, agencies will need to take seriously the already existing requirement, so far honored only in the breach, of analyzing the distributional consequences of different regulatory alternatives. Otherwise, they will never be in a position to answer the key question in this area: when are the better distributional consequences of one alternative sufficient to overcome another alternative’s higher net benefits?
Topology optimization of imperfect frame structures with improved manufacturability

Abstract We present a framework for robust topology optimization of frame structures under uncertainty in member geometry. Imperfect geometry is defined as a general out-of-straightness. The uncertainty in response is quantified using a second-order stochastic perturbation that allows for accurate estimation of first and second-order response statistics in the presence of geometric random imperfections. The adjoint method is employed to compute the sensitivities, allowing for the use of gradient-based optimizers. A novel approach based on the augmentation of the set of physical design variables with an “indicator set” and a SIMP-like strategy is utilized to control the complexity of the final design and arrive at optimized topologies with improved manufacturability. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed framework where comparison is made with the deterministic designs to highlight the improvements and differences both in terms of overall topology, e.g., load path diversification, and volume re-distribution and the impact of the manufacturability considerations on the topology of the final design.
Assessing the role of β-ocimene in regulating foraging behavior of the honey bee, Apis mellifera

The larval pheromone (E)-β-ocimene (EBO) inhibits worker ovary development and accelerates the behavioral transition from nursing to foraging in the honey bee, Apis mellifera. Because EBO diffuses throughout the hive, it has been hypothesized that honey bee workers can use it to indirectly assess brood abundance. Here, we evaluate this hypothesis by testing whether EBO plays a role in the regulation of worker foraging activity. We exposed paired colonies to a pulse of either synthetic β-ocimene or paraffin oil control and recorded the subsequent number of pollen and non-pollen foragers returning to the colony. Exposure to synthetic β-ocimene moderately but significantly increased overall foraging activity, but not pollen foraging. For pollen foraging, the effect of pheromone treatment was the greatest directly after pheromone exposure.
Root Locus Analysis of Piecewise Linearized Models with Multiple Feedback Loops and Unilateral or Bilateral Saturation

The lumped negative feedback model of cortical dynamics provided three main predictions about the relationship between the occurrence of action potentials (“units”) of single neurons and the amplitude of EEG waves and averaged evoked potentials (mainly due to dendritic current). First, the probability of impulse firing of the inhibitory neurons would oscillate at the same frequency and decay rate as the oscillations in the firing probability of the excitatory neurons in the same neighborhood, whether their oscillations were measured from the EEG, the background unit activity, the averaged evoked potentials, or the post-stimulus time histograms. This prediction was verified by simultaneously constructing and measuring averaged evoked potentials and post-stimulus time histograms from both excitatory and inhibitory neurons (Freeman 1968b, 1972c, 1974b), and by calculating over long stretches of spontaneous activity the probability of unit firing conditional on the amplitude of the EEG (Freeman 1967b, 1975; Eeckman and Freeman 1990).
Maternal-fetal electrocardiogram conduction with intrapartum fetal death

Abstract All parturient patients with fetuses at risk should be simultaneously monitored for relationships of amplitude, duration, and frequency of uterine contractions, and changes in fetal heart rate patterns. Inability to auscultate the fetal heart sounds during labor, in addition to the subjective complaint of the mother of absent fetal movement, should alert the physician to a fetal death despite the display of an electrocardiogram on the oscilloscope and a fetal heart rate record on the paper print-out. Two cases where the maternal electrocardiogram (ECG) was transmitted through a dead fetus to the fetal ECG electrode are presented and discussed.