cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In Search of Justice: Political Commitment, Trauma, and Memory in Post-World War II French Literature

In post-World War II France, literature was the medium that could aid in an emergence from the terror of the world surrounding them. For some, the task of literature was to serve as the vehicle to reflect to the reader his own complicity in the legitimization of violence and terror and prompt him to make a choice: to change his behavior or to become an accomplice of the executioner. However, for others, a literature committed to such a task might only serve to continue to make both reader and writer complicit with terror. For others still, literature would serve as the way to give a voice to those who had lost theirs in the violence of the war and, possibly provide them with sort of justice.In the first part of this project, I explore the concept of 'committed literature', literature with politics as its subject and its task. I examine three of the main figures in the debate on committed literature, Jean-Paul Sartre, Maurice Blanchot, and Albert Camus and discuss their reasons for advocating for and against such a notion. Jean-Paul Sartre claims that it is the writer’s responsibility to situate his work in the political. An ‘uncommitted writer’, for Sartre, is irresponsible and guilty of not only ignorance but also complicity.In the second part of this project, I then turn to literature which takes the Holocaust as its subject. Is the same responsibility appointed to Sartre’s committed author present in Holocaust literature? Or is it irresponsible to use an event that is so exception, violent, and painful as the subject of fiction? Furthermore, is it irresponsible for somebody who is not himself a victim of the concentration camps to use the Holocaust as his subject? I first consider some of the theoretical debates surrounding Holocaust literature and then examine the way that two strikingly different novels, Michel Tournier’s The Ogre and Georges Perec’s Wou Le Souvenir d’Enfance, approach the subject of the Holocaust.
Compressive neuropathies in the upper extremity of athletes.

SUMMARY The physician responsible for the evaluation and treatment of athletes must include nerve compression injury in the differential diagnosis of upper extremity pain and dysfunction. Careful history and physical examination, along with selective objective testing, should be diagnostic. Treatment and prevention methods implemented under the supervision of knowledgeable trainers and coaches may allow for complete resolution of symptoms and, more importantly, prevent recurrence.31, 66, 83 Adolescents and novice athletes in many sports may be at the highest risk for this type of overuse injury.32, 35, 68
Infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance in long-term care facilities

Infectious diseases in the institutionalized elderly are emerging as 1 of the major issues challenging physicians treating adult patients. The most common syndromes encountered are nursing home-acquired pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin and soft tissue infections. As a complicating factor, immunocompromised elderly patients are often infected with bacteria highly resistant to antibiotics. The use of broad-spectrum agents in the nursing home may be accelerating this process. Developing algorithms for appropriate treatment of nursing home-acquired infections, assessing the factors that encourage the development of resistance, and finding interventions that can stem these processes are urgent priorities. Important clinical research questions include determining how frequently elderly patients are colonized with multiresistant pathogens and how these pathogens disseminate in this population. The future possibility of altering the aging immune system still remains an elusive goal.
The cryptic origins of evolutionary novelty: 1,000-fold-faster trophic diversification rates without increased ecological opportunity or hybrid swarm

Ecological opportunity is frequently proposed as the sole ingredient for adaptive radiation into novel niches. Alternatively, genome-wide hybridization resulting from hybrid swarm may be the trigger. However, these hypotheses have been difficult to test due to the rarity of comparable control environments lacking adaptive radiations. Here I exploit such a pattern in microendemic radiations of Caribbean pupfishes. I show that a sympatric three-species radiation on San Salvador Island, Bahamas diversified 1,445 times faster than neighboring islands in jaw length due to evolution of a novel scale-eating adaptive zone from a generalist ancestral niche. I then sampled 22 generalist populations on seven neighboring islands and measured morphological diversity, stomach content diversity, dietary isotopic diversity, genetic diversity, lake/island areas, macroalgae richness, and Caribbean-wide patterns of gene flow. None of these standard metrics of ecological opportunity or gene flow were associated with adaptive radiation, except for slight increases in macroalgae richness. Thus, exceptional trophic diversification is highly localized despite myriad generalist populations in comparable environmental and genetic backgrounds. This study provides a strong counterexample to the ecological/hybrid-swarm theories of adaptive radiation and suggests that diversification of novel specialists on a sparse fitness landscape is constrained by more than ecological opportunity and gene flow.
Cataract Formation and Progression in Patients Less Than 50 Years of Age after Vitrectomy

Purpose To measure the rate of cataract development and progression of nuclear sclerotic cataracts (NSC), posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSC), and cortical spoking cataracts in nondiabetic patients Design Retrospective cohort study. Subjects Twenty-six eyes of 26 patients Methods Clinical records were reviewed retrospectively. Main Outcome Measures The NSC, PSC, and cortical spoking scores were recorded preoperatively and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after surgery until discharged from care, lost to follow-up, or last visit before cataract surgery. Eyes were graded on a scale of 0 to 4.0 using the lens opacities classification system LOCS II before and after pars plana vitrectomy for macular hole, epiretinal membranes, and vitreous hemorrhage. Linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the rate of change in cataract score with elapsed time since surgery. Results The mean age at surgery was 30.6±14.3 years in 26 eyes with a median follow-up of 12 months. Eleven of 26 surgical eyes (42.3%) that had a baseline NSC and PSC score of zero in their surgical eye developed NSC, PSC, or both after vitrectomy. The mean progression for NSC, PSC, and cortical spoking were 0.327±0.14 (P = 0.032), 0.414±0.14 (P = 0.008), and 0.00±0.00 over a mean follow-up of 1.43 years, respectively. Linear regression analysis shows minimal increase in NSC (+0.09/year; P Conclusions Our findings suggest there is a minimal but significant increase in NSC and PSC scores for patients
Temporal self-regulation of transposition through host-independent transposase rodlet formation

Transposons are highly abundant in eukaryotic genomes, but their mobilization must be finely tuned to maintain host organism fitness and allow for transposon propagation. Forty percent of the human genome is comprised of transposable element sequences, and the most abundant cut-and-paste transposons are from the hAT superfamily. We found that the hAT transposase TcBuster from Tribolium castaneum formed filamentous structures, or rodlets, in human tissue culture cells, after gene transfer to adult mice, and ex vivo in cell-free conditions, indicating that host co-factors or cellular structures were not required for rodlet formation. Time-lapsed imaging of GFP-laced rodlets in human cells revealed that they formed quickly in a dynamic process involving fusion and fission. We delayed the availability of the transposon DNA and found that transposition declined after transposase concentrations became high enough for visible transposase rodlets to appear. In combination with earlier findings for maize Ac elements, these results give insight into transposase overproduction inhibition by demonstrating that the appearance of transposase protein structures and the end of active transposition are simultaneous, an effect with implications for genetic engineering and horizontal gene transfer.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

The utilization of sentinel lymph node biopsies in children is tumor specific and patient dependent. The technique is straightforward with little morbidity, and the means to perform this technique are neither expensive, nor labor intensive. Furthermore, the information gleaned can define the extent of disease, the scope of treatment, and its utilization will only increase in the decades to come.
Grounding of tanks, pipelines, and tank cars

Potential differences between two objects are eliminated by bonding them together; by grounding one of them so that the static charges can drain away as fast as they are produced, or by increasing the relative humidity. A resistance to ground up to 1,000,000 ohms is sufficient to prevent the electric charges from building up to a sparking potential. A film of moisture provides a suitable path to the ground and increases the conductivity. For instance, the shell of tanks intended to contain products that can produce a dangerous atmosphere— should be permanently grounded. When a tank is being filled, friction between the liquid and the pipe could cause the pipe to become charged, especially when the liquid is agitated in the tank. However, bonding and grounding may not be sufficient for a tank if it is being filled with a low conductivity liquid. The low conductivity liquid becomes charged during the tanks that do not contain flammable products but are located in a hazardous area, should also be permanently and effectively grounded with ground anodes . The resistance of these anodes in the earth can be reduced by surrounding them by a backfill— such as, graphite, coke, or carbon. With a thin epoxy coating, the static potential difference between the tank wall and the liquid is negligible and, therefore, is not considered hazardous. Normally, storage tanks with metal bottom are self protecting and require no additional grounding because of the direct contact with the conductivity of the earth. The chapter concludes with the bonding and grounding of tank cars and unloading platforms.
Activities Are Manifestations of Causal Powers

I reduce activities to properties, where properties include causal powers. Activities are manifestations of causal powers. Activities occur when an entity’s causal powers encounter partners for their manifestation. Given this reduction of activities to (manifestations of) properties, entities and properties (and their organization) are all we need for an ontology of mechanisms.
[le renversement du gradient du co2 artériel/télé-expiratoire pendant la résection laparoscopique ďun phéochromocytome]

Objectif Presenter le developpement ďune hypercapnie peroperatoire severe et ďun renversement prononce du gradient arteriel/tele-expiratoire pendant la resection laparoscopique ďun pheochromocytome. Bien que des mecanismes physiologiques complexes puissent etre responsables de cette situation, des modifications anatomiques comme une communication directe entre un capnoperitoine et/ou un capnothorax et les voies aeriennes, resultant ďune pathologie anterieure et du type ďoperation, doivent etre egalement considerees.
Noninvasive Monitoring of Oxygen and Ventilation

Noninvasive monitoring of oxygenation and ventilation is an essential part of pediatric respiratory care. Carbon dioxide, gas exchange monitoring, transcutaneous monitoring, near-infrared spectroscopy, pulse oximetry, and electrical impedance tomography are examined. Although some of these technologies have been utilized for decades, incorporation into mechanical ventilators and recently developed methods may provide important clinical insights in a broader patient range. Less mature technologies (electrical impedance tomography and near-infrared spectroscopy) have been of particular interest, since they offer easy bedside application and potential for improved care of children with respiratory failure and other disorders. This article provides an overview of the principles of operation, a survey of recent and relevant literature, and important technological limitations and future research directions.
Utility Functions and Resource Allocation for Spectrum Sharing

The user satisfaction with the provided service can be expressed using utility functions that represent the degree of satisfaction of the user function of the rate allocated by the cellular network [1–9]. We assume that the applications utility functions U(r) are strictly concave or sigmoidal-like functions [10–16].
The Relationship Between Teachers’ Implementation of Classroom Management Practices and Student Behavior in Elementary School:

Teachers’ classroom management practices have a direct impact on their students’ probability of success. Evidence-based classroom management practices include (a) active instruction and supervision...
Data Compression of Time-lapse Optical Coherence Tomography Images Based On Low-rank Plus Sparse Reconstruction

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a promising candidate for observing dynamic processes via time-lapse imaging. We suggested that a faithful recovery of the dynamic signals could be achieved based on a low-rank plus sparse (L+S) reconstruction of under-sampled data.
Risk of Diabetes Hospitalization or Diabetes Drug Intensification in Patients With Depression and Diabetes Using Second-Generation Antipsychotics Compared to Other Depression Therapies

Objective Use of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) for treatment of depression has increased, and patients with depression and comorbid diabetes or cardiovascular disease are more likely to use SGAs than those without these conditions. We compared SGA and non-SGA depression pharmacotherapies on the risk of diabetes hospitalization or treatment intensification in adults with depression and preexisting diabetes. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of US commercially insured adults (2009-2015 Truven MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database) aged 18-64 years old with type 2 diabetes mellitus and unipolar depression previously treated with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. New users of SGAs versus non-SGAs, as well as specific treatments (aripiprazole, quetiapine, bupropion, mirtazapine, and tricyclic antidepressants [TCAs]) were matched on class/medication-specific high-dimensional propensity score. Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare the risk of diabetes-related hospitalization or treatment intensification. Results We identified 6,625 SGA (aripiprazole = 3,461; quetiapine = 1,977; other = 1,187) and 23,921 non-SGA patients for inclusion (bupropion = 15,511; mirtazapine = 1,837; TCAs = 5,989; other = 584) with a mean age of 51 years. In the matched cohort, the rate of diabetes-related hospitalization or drug intensification was 47.9 per 100 person-years in the SGA group and 43.5 per 100 person-years in the non-SGA group (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.96-1.11). When comparing treatment subgroups, the risk of events was lower for bupropion versus TCAs (aHR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76-0.98), quetiapine versus mirtazapine (aHR = 0.82; 95% CI, 0.67-0.99), and quetiapine versus TCAs (aHR = 0.84; 95% CI, 0.72-0.98). For other comparisons, differences were small and not statistically significant. Conclusions While drug-specific effects on risk of diabetes hospitalization or treatment intensification most likely guide clinical decision making, we observed only modest differences in risk. The overall impact of SGAs on diabetes control depends not only on direct effects on glucose metabolism but also on effectiveness of depression symptom relief. Future studies evaluating other diabetes outcomes (glycosylated hemoglobin, diabetes complications) are needed.
Demand-Side Management Expenditures and the Market Value of U.S. Electric Utilities: Strategic Investment or Disinvestment?

For over eighty years the vertically integrated suppliers of electricity in the United States have been assigned exclusive territorial (consumer) franchises and closely regulated. Both the legal monopolies and the rigid rate-base regulation of utilities seem about to end. Three states in 1996 enacted laws to deregulate electricity, permitting retail consumers to choose among power suppliers, and most were closely studying deregulation. From 1992–1995, the period of this study, expectations about the structure of the future electricity marketplace were in flux. This paper examines the proposition: Did investors during this period act as if a substantial deregulation was imminent and damaging to the future profitability of utilities? It also explores the relationships between key explanatory variables and market value of investor-owned utilities. The paper then tests how utilities’ spending in one highly regulated area — conservation programs known as demand-side management (DSM) — were influenced by changes in market structure and regulation.
Some Composite Structures Experiences at NASA Langley Research Center

The results of an analytical and experimental study of the effect of impactor mass and plate radius of curvature on the low-speed impact response of laminated composite plates is presented. Dropped-weight and airgun impact responses, damage characteristics, and residual strengths of quasi-isotropic and orthotropic plates are presented for a range of impact energy levels determined by systematically varying the mass of the impactor. The flat plate responses are compared with the responses of curved plates with three different radii of curvature. Measured contact forces and damage areas are also presented. The results indicate that contact force and damage area are nonlinear functions of the impactor mass and vary considerably over the entire range of impact energy levels considered. The different damage levels caused by impactors with a given impact-energy level and with different masses significantly influence the compressive residual strength of impact damaged plates. The trends in the results for contact force, damage area, and compression-after-impact strength are clear and consistent when the data are expressed as a function of the impactor momentum. The contact force, damage initiation, and residual strength results for curved plates suggest that the low-speed impact response of plates is also a function of the radius of curvature.
A Mesh Free Method to Simulate Earthmoving Operations in Fine-Grained Cohesive Soils

Gross distortion and eventual fragmentation of soil, which generally occur during earthmoving operations such as dozing and excavation, pose significant computational challenges to simulation by conventional Finite Element Methods (FEM). This deformation behavior in cohesive soils poses even greater challenges for simulation by the Discrete Element Method (DEM), since without the firm mathematical basis offered by continuum mechanics, DEM is heavily reliant on a mixed semi-analytical and empirical formulation. This paper focuses on the development of a 3D Mesh Free Method (MFM), specifically to extend the predictive capability of existing soil-machine interaction simulation tools to a variety of earthen materials important to earthmoving machines. This discretization method is seen as ideally suited for the prediction of implement forces and overall soil motion resulting from earthmoving operations in a fragmenting medium such as fine-grained cohesive soil. It is here, for simulations involving gross deformation and eventual fragmentation, that the absence of fixed connectivity (or “mesh” as the name implies) gives MFM great flexibility, while still retaining the highly desirable characteristics of a continuum mechanics based formulation. This work documents the theoretical aspects of the formulation, beginning with the MFM discretization of the governing partial differential equations. In addition, it covers the description of the coupled damage mechanics and plasticity constitutive model used to represent the soil, as well as, the details of the treatment of discrete fracture. The work also contains example results from 3D simulations of a blade cutting and a bucket excavating clay-type soil. These results depict a first attempt at capturing soil plasticity coupled with damage evolution, soil fragmentation at the end-state of damage and sustained contact of soil fragments with the earthmoving implementation and amongst the fragments themselves.
Anterior and posterior diaphragm kinesio taping for intractable hiccups after ischemic stroke: A case report.

Rationale Pathophysiologic mechanisms of the central nervous system, such as stroke, can be associated with intractable hiccups. Intractable hiccups can be associated with potentially fatal consequences, thus requiring safe management in an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) setting with a multidisciplinary team approach to optimize mobility and feeding. Patient concerns A 49-year-old male presented to the emergency department with complaints of vomiting and dizziness. Diagnoses Head computed tomography revealed moderate acute inferior cerebellar infarct in the territory of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. He required a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube for feeding and developed severe intractable hiccups which he rated 7/10 on the hiccup assessment instrument (HAI) on IRF admission. Functional independence measure (FIM) score for transfers was 2 (maximum assist), walking was 1 (total assist), stairs were not attempted on IRF admit due to safety concerns, and feeding (eating) was 1 (total assist). Interventions Anterior and posterior diaphragm kinesio taping was applied on day 6 of IRF physical therapy in an attempt to inhibit diaphragm spasm and intractable hiccups given that pharmacologic interventions had not been effective up to that point (Table 3). Outcomes The HAI decreased from 7/10 on day 6 of IRF physical therapy to 0/10 on day 8. The taping was reapplied every 3 to 5 days. On IRF day 9, his diet was advanced to a regular consistency with extra moisture and thin liquids. On day 21, hiccup severity remained 0/10 on the HAI, while FIM score for transfers was 4 (minimal assist), walking was 4 (minimal assist), stairs was 4 (minimal assist), and feeding (eating) was 7 (independent). Lessons Diaphragm kinesio taping is a very effective treatment at reducing hiccup severity in a patient after ischemic stroke, while at the same time reducing burden of care for caregivers per FIM score improvement and improving diet to that of regular consistency with extra moisture and thin liquids.
Do People Know What They’re Like in the Moment?

Knowing yourself requires knowing not only what you are like in general (trait self-knowledge) but also how your personality fluctuates from moment to moment (state self-knowledge). We examined this latter form of self-knowledge. Participants (248 people; 2,938 observations) wore the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR), an unobtrusive audio recorder, and completed experience-sampling self-reports of their personality states four times each day for 1 week. We estimated state self-knowledge by comparing self-reported personality states with consensual observer ratings of personality states coded from the EAR files, which formed the criterion for what participants were "actually" like in the moment. People had self-insight into their momentary extraversion, conscientiousness, and likely neuroticism, suggesting that people can accurately detect fluctuations in some aspects of their personality. However, the evidence for self-insight was weaker for agreeableness. This apparent self-ignorance may be partly responsible for interpersonal problems and for blind spots in trait self-knowledge.
Polysulfone surface nano-structured with tethered polyacrylic acid

Abstract Tethered poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) chains, synthesized onto polysulfone (PSf) surfaces, were characterized with respect to surface topography and chain characteristics via AFM force spectroscopy. The tethered PAA chains were synthesized by surface activation with an impinging atmospheric pressure plasma stream (He, He/O2 and He/H2), followed by free-radical acrylic acid graft polymerization. The number average molecular weight of the tethered PAA chains was estimated to be of in the range of ∼13,000–35,000 with chain-chain separation of 1.5–2.4 nm. Deionized and high salinity water contact angles for the PAA-PSf surfaces were in the range of ∼ 29–38°, indicating hydrophilic surfaces, relative to 80° contact angle for the native hydrophobic PSf surface. In DI water the tethered PAA chains had significantly greater chain extension than in a high salinity aqueous environment. Ultrafiltration fouling stress tests with alginic acid in a high salinity water and post cleaning with non-saline water demonstrated permeability restoration of up to 90–100% for a PAA-PSf membrane relative to 50–70% for the native PSf membrane. The present study suggests the merit of exploring and optimizing surface modification of membranes for saline water filtration to reduce irreversible fouling and improve cleaning effectiveness using non-saline water.
Technical Aspects of Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry and Quantitative Computed Tomography for Assessment of Bone Mineral Density and Body Composition

Osteoporosis is a systemic disorder of the skeleton which is characterized by low bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue (Fig. 45.1) with a resulting increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture [2, 3]. Osteoporosis is a major national health problem which affects an estimated 25 million men and women. Osteoporotic fractures cause significant morbidity and mortality for the individual and incur a significant economic cost. Vertebral fractures cause loss of height, pain, and deformity. Hip fractures pose an even more significant risk of death and disability compared to vertebral fractures: of the 300,000 hip fractures which occur every year in the United States, more than 30,000 will die within the first year after the fracture. Most who suffer a hip fracture never fully recover, and many never walk again unassisted. Nearly half will require nursing home care after the fracture. The cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, and long-term care of individuals who have suffered a hip fracture totals more than $10 billion annually.
A Measure of Judgments – Wilhelm Röpke’s Methodological Heresy

As early as 1932, Wilhelm Ropke’s social diagnosis of historical liberalism was coupled with a methodological critique of his own discipline, one in which he sought to revisit what seemed to have become settled business: the role of value judgments in social science. His interpretation of the collapse of cultural liberalism included a sense of culpability on the part of social scientists who had not been, in his view, strong enough in their defense of a moral framework within which cultural liberalism could survive. Yet the positivist movement in social science, because of its interpretation of Max Weber’s proscription, had consciously treated value statements as unscientific. Ropke’s arguments regarding the need to “re-orient” the social sciences were anti-positivist, and his correspondence with colleagues reflects that. They were views that he held to the end of his career and are an important part of our understanding of what came to be known as Ropke’s economic humanism.
Sulfonylureas and metformin were not associated with an increased rate of serious bleeding in warfarin users: a self‐controlled case series study

Drug interactions between warfarin and sulfonylureas are suggested by pharmacokinetic information and prior studies. However, clinical evidence on the association of such interactions and the risk of bleeding is lacking. Using healthcare claims data from 5 US Medicaid programs from 1999-2011 and a self-controlled case series design with warfarin as an object drug, we calculated confounder-adjusted rate ratios (RRs) for concomitant use of sulfonylureas and metformin for 3 outcomes separately: (i) serious bleeding as a composite outcome of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) and nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH); (ii) GIB; and (iii) ICH. In 6,463 warfarin users experiencing serious bleeding, an increased rate of serious bleeding was not associated with concomitant use of glimepiride (RR: 0.93; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75-1.15), glipizide (RR: 0.97; 95% CI 0.84-1.13), glyburide (RR: 0.89; 95% CI 0.76-1.06), or metformin (RR: 0.85; 95% CI 0.76-0.96), nor was the occurrence of the component outcomes of GIB or ICH. These results suggest that use of sulfonylureas or metformin was not associated with an increased rate of serious bleeding in warfarin users.
Chapter 6 – Multinary Inversion

Traditional inverse methods characterize the model parameters of an examined medium by a function of the physical properties which varies continuously within known bounds. In geophysical applications, or in medical imaging, the physical properties may be best described by a finite number of possible values. One of the most popular techniques of solving the inverse problem with discrete values of the model parameters is so-called binary inversion. In this chapter, we extend the binary inversion to any number of discrete values of the model parameters by introducing a novel method based on multinary functions. By analogy with binary functions, multinary functions are defined as those functions accepting a finite number of discrete values. We demonstrate that multinary inversion can be solved using the deterministic optimization methods discussed in Chapter 5. Thus, multinary inversion can be applied to solve the inverse problem for models with physical properties characterized by a finite number of discrete values.
Vegetation Changes Associated with the Younger Dryas from the Sediments of Silver Lake, Summit County, Ohio, USA

As the climate was warming during the last deglaciation, a millennium-long return to near-glacial conditions—called the Younger Dryas (YD) stadial—occurred about 12.9 to 11.7 ka ago. Prior studies have characterized the vegetation and climatic impacts of the YD stadial in the US upper Midwest from a network of fossil pollen records. The goal of this study was to locate the pronounced rise in organic matter and Pinus (pine) pollen—associated with the latter part of the YD event—in a sediment core from Silver Lake, a kettle lake in Summit County, Ohio. Based upon radiocarbon dating of the Silver Lake sediment core, an increase in sediment organic matter at 1,070 cm (35.1 ft) core depth dates to 12,130 calibrated years (cal yr) BP within the latter part of the YD stadial. A pollen study spanning the change in organic matter displays a gradual decline in Picea (spruce) pollen as well as a pronounced increase in Pinus pollen, similar to published records of the latter part of the YD event. Thus, the Silver Lake pollen record adds a new site to the network of fossil pollen sites, and further refines the vegetation changes within the Allegheny Plateau of Ohio that occurred during the latter part of the YD event. Furthermore, identifying the pronounced rise in Pinus pollen allows for biostratigraphic correlation between the Silver Lake record and another local dated pollen record. This biocorrelation adds further support to the Silver Lake radiometric age model.
SUSY anomalies break Script N = 2 to Script N = 1: the supersphere and the fuzzy supersphere

The = 1 SUSY on S2 and its fuzzy finite-dimensional matrix version (see [1],[2] and references therein) are known. The latter regulates quantum field theories, and seems suitable for numerical work and capable of higher dimensional generalizations. In this paper, we study their instanton sectors. They are SUSY generalizations of U(1) bundles on S2 and their fuzzy versions, and can be characterized by k, the SUSY Chern numbers. In the no-instanton sector (k = 0), = 2 SUSY can be chirally realized, the 3 new = 2 generators anticommuting with the ``Dirac'' operator defining the free action. If k ≠ 0, the Dirac operator has zero modes which form an = 1 supermultiplet and an atypical representation of = 2 SUSY. They break the chiral SUSY generators by the Fujikawa mechanism [3]–[5]. We have not found this mechanism for SUSY breakdown in the literature. All these phenomena occur also on the supersphere SUSY, the graded commutative limit of the fuzzy model. We plan to discuss that as well in a later work.
Confronting Conflict: Addressing Institutional Conflicts of Interest in Academic Medical Centers

Individual conflicts of interest are rife in healthcare, and substantial attention and policies have been proposed and implemented to address them. Yet a more substantive and key concern - institutional conflicts of interest (“ICOIs”) in the academic medical centers that engage in research and clinical care - have had virtually no attention, despite their higher stakes for patient safety and welfare. Upon examination, ICOIs are standard in academic medical centers, are virtually unregulated externally or internally, and have led to patient deaths. We review these ICOIs, and find that there is a clear absence of substantive efforts to confront these conflicts of interest by academic centers themselves. We also assess the Jesse Gelsinger case, which resulted in the death of an innocent study participant. Upon examination, the case shows a deep-seated culture of institutional indifference and potential complicity in unmanaged financial conflicts that contributed to Gelsinger’s death. Unfortunately, federal policy, particularly the Bayh-Dole Act, creates and, indeed, promotes ICOIs. Limited efforts to address ICOIs are narrow or abstract, and do not provide for a systemic infrastructure with effective enforcement mechanisms to be effective. Hence, in this paper, we provide a comprehensive proposal to address ICOIs. We focus on a “Centralized System” model that is free from industry influence and supported by audits performed by federal authorities to ensure compliance. The Centralized System would serve to proactively review, manage, approve, and conduct assessments of potential conflicts, and would have independent power to evaluate and enforce, with sanctions, any violations. It would also manage any industry funds and pharmaceutical samples provided to the academic medical center to limit industry influence. Creation of the Centralized System would be a condition of participation in public healthcare reimbursement programs as well as for federal grant funding. The ICOI policy itself, beyond industry funds and samples, would also address other key ICOIs, including gifts and entertainment, industry site access, and medical education support and funding. It would also provide for disclosure requirements, separate management of commercial enterprise units from academic units, voluntary remediation of conflicts, and education on ICOIs. Finally, we propose substituting a new model of medical education, academic detailing, in place of current biased and marketing-focused “education” currently relied upon for the lion’s share of continuing medical education. Using such a system, weaning of academic medical centers from industry reliance can be promoted as can a culture of accountability and independence from industry influence. By doing so, clinical research and treatment can return to a focus on patient care, not profits.
No association between chronic use of ranitidine, compared with omeprazole or famotidine, and gastrointestinal malignancies

BACKGROUND In 2019, the United States Food and Drug Administration detected above-regulation levels of the human carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in ranitidine, resulting in a complete removal of the medication from the market. NDMA is known to cause gastrointestinal malignancies in animal models. AIM To determine if patients who were receiving ranitidine have a higher risk of developing cancers of the digestive tract compared to patients taking other anti-reflux medications. METHODS Using the nationwide database IBM Explorys, patients taking ranitidine were compared to patients on either famotidine or omeprazole. Incidence data of new malignancies of the oesophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, and colon/rectum were obtained in 1-year intervals for up to 10 years. Two multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs), one adjusting for common risk factors for each cancer studied, and the other for demographic factors. RESULTS Patients on ranitidine who were compared to patients on famotidine had ORs of 0.51(95% CI 0.43-0.60), 0.43(95% CI 0.36-0.51), 0.39(95% CI 0.36-0.41), 0.54(95% CI 0.49-0.62), and 0.46(95% CI 0.43-0.49) of developing oesophageal, gastric, hepatocellular, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers, respectively (P < 0.001). Patients on ranitidine compared to omeprazole had ORs of 0.62(95% CI 0.52-0.72), 0.58(95% CI 0.49-0.68), 0.81 (95% CI 0.76-0.86), 0.68(95% CI 0.60-0.76), and 0.66(95% CI 0.62-0.70) of developing oesophageal, gastric, hepatocellular, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Use of ranitidine was not associated with an increased odds of developing gastrointestinal malignancies compared to omeprazole or famotidine use.
Acute Liver Failure on the Transplant Waiting List: Acetaminophen Both Better and Worse?

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a critical illness whose study and treatment is complicated by its rarity, severity and phenotypic heterogeneity. For many years the cause of ALF has been recognised as a key determinant of its principal clinical manifestations and the course that a patient will follow. Different etiologies are recognised as prognostically 'favourable' or 'unfavourable' and integrated into systems used to predict outcome with medical supportive care alone, and to identify candidates for liver transplantation (LT) 1 2 . These differences are illustrated by the variation of different forms of drug-induced ALF. Patients with illness from 'unfavorable' idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) often have slow onset of illness and evolution of encephalopathy, only moderate coagulopathy but marked jaundice and often a very poor survival with medical supportive care alone. By contrast, those with 'favourable' acetaminophen (APAP) induced ALF, usually occurring after overdose, have illness typically characterised by very rapid onset of disease, minimal jaundice but major coagulopathy, severe multi-organ failure and encephalopathy with - at least historically - the development of cerebral edema (CE) and intra-cranial hypertension (ICH). Despite this severity of illness, recovery with medical care alone is much more likely than in unfavourable etiologies.
Online Dispute Resolution: The Future of ODR in the Digitally Transforming World.

This article explores the current status and future growth of Online Dispute Resolution in the digitally transforming world. As we all know COVID-19 has been a catalyst of digital transformation, since the initial lockdown in March 2020, the entire working infrastructure had to shift online to adhere to the social distancing norms implemented by the majority of countries. Various public health measures provide some kind of hope that the pandemic can be contained, if not eliminated. The COVID-19 continues to pose enormous health and socio-economic challenges for the world especially to the Judicial framework. The disrupted court operations across the world have prompted judges to postpone nonessential proceedings and conduct others through video or phone which has to lead to further collection of backlog cases in the court. On the other hand, the transition of ADR in the online ecosystem boosts its reach and made it more economical and easily accessible and it can be clearly seen the ADR mechanism is on a right track and to become the preferred way to solve disputes for future parties involved in the conflict.
Recto-perineal Fistula

This chapter describes the diagnosis and management of the simplest of all anorectal malformations called recto-perineal fistula. In an attempt to simplify the complex terminology used in the current literature concerning this particular subject, the authors try to eliminate multiple misnomers such as “anterior anus,” “covered anus,” “anal membrane,” and “anal stenosis.” Detailed illustrations are presented concerning the surgical technique employed to repair this malformation. Special emphasis is placed on the fact that children born with this defect have an excellent functional prognosis, and therefore the operations must be performed in a meticulous way, aiming to perfection.
Simultaneous electrical and optical measurements of individual membrane fusion events during exocytosis.

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the steps in fusion are measured by optical, and then by electrical, measurements. Membrane fusion is characterized by two criteria: (1) the melding of two phospholipid bilayer membranes and (2) the mixing of the two aqueous compartments previously separated by the two membranes. To understand the mechanism of membrane fusion, it is essential to understand that the two phenomena are usually evaluated separately, by distinct techniques. This chapter also describes the methods that have used to combine these two types of assays. This chapter discusses the techniques required to measure both electrical and optical signals in a coordinated fashion. Simultaneous measurements can reveal the relative timing of different events in fusion, so that we can test sequential hypotheses of cause and effect. Electrical measurements are the first to change, followed by lipid diffusion, and then swelling of secretory granule contents. The more techniques one is using at one time, the greater the opportunity for an aborted experiment because of equipment failure or other technical difficulties.
Filtration in Particle Size Analysis

Filtration is defined as the separation of solid particles from a liquid or gas by passing the suspension through a porous, fibrous or granular substance. In science and industry, filtration is commonly used for the concentrating and/or removal of particulate matter or for the separation of particles into size classes for subsequent physical, chemical or biological analysis. Separation of particles into multiple size classes is often required for the assessment of particle size. There are many different types of filters available (e.g. fibrous, membrane, polycarbonate) for particle characterization through filtration. The type of filter to be used for particle size characterization is dependent on a number of considerations such as sample (particle) characteristics, collection efficiency, pore size and structure and analytical compatibility. Filtration has the advantage of being one of the few techniques which allow for the physical separation of particles into different size classes for distribution or chemical–biological analysis. If appropriate precautions are taken to minimize sample perturbations (e.g. select appropriate filter for the application, filter in the field, avoid overloading a filter, ensure a low flow rate and stir if possible), a reasonably accurate estimate of particle size can be obtained. Generally, errors associated with filtration arise from filter clogging and when attempting to characterize flocculated/aggregated particles. The basic nature of a suspended aggregate (i.e. fragile, plastic, high water content) means that it is likely to be broken up or created owing to the often tortuous nature of filtration, or be deformed on the surface or within the filter owing to pressure effects. This has implications if optical image analysis of the filter is to be used for particle size analysis as the true particle morphology and size will have been altered. In such an instance, if only a grain size distribution is required, it is suggested that optical image analysis be employed in conjunction with a plankton chamber settling technique rather than with filtration.
Dysfunction and Death of Neurons in Human Degenerative Neurological Diseases and in Animal Models

The human neurological disorders--amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD)--share certain features: they occur in later stages of adult life; are slowly progressive; and involve specific groups of nerve cells. Different clinical syndromes result from dysfunction and death of these specific groups of neurons. In ALS, patients are weak due to disease of motor neurons in the spinal cord. The clinical features of PD, e.g. slow movements, tremor and rigidity, are attributed, in part, to degeneration of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. Impairments of cognition and memory in AD result from disease of neurons in a number of regions, including brainstem, basal forebrain, amygdala, hippocampus, and neocortex. In each of these diseases, affected neurons exhibit abnormalities of the neuronal cytoskeleton: in ALS, neurofilaments accumulate and distend proximal motor axons; in PD, nigral perikarya show Lewy bodies-intracytoplasmic inclusions containing neurofilament antigens; in AD, neurons develop neurofibrillary tangles, Hirano bodies, granulovacuolar degeneration and filament-filled neurites in plaques. Certain features of ALS, PD and AD are recapitulated in animal models, three of which are described in this review. Hereditary canine spinal muscular atrophy (HCSMA), a dominantly inherited motor neuron disease, shows many clinical and pathological features in common with ALS, including weakness, muscle atrophy, neurofilamentous swellings of proximal axons, impaired transport of neurofilament proteins, and degeneration of motor neurons. In primates, intoxication with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) produces a parkinsonian syndrome due to injury of nigral dopaminergic neurons and associated denervation of the striatum. Finally, aged macaques exhibit memory deficits, and their cerebral cortices show senile plaques and filament-filled neurites derived from a variety of transmitter-specific populations of nerve cells. In human diseases, the causes and mechanisms leading to dysfunction and death of nerve cells are unknown. Investigators have begun using a variety of techniques derived from neurobiology to study animal models in an effort to clarify the mechanisms, evolutions, and consequences of structural-chemical abnormalities occurring in different neuronal systems implicated in human disease. Understanding such processes in these models should provide important new insights into the pathogeneses of similar processes occurring in ALS, PD and AD.
Partially Observed Analytic Systems with Fully Unbounded Actuators and Sensors-FEM Algorithms

Partially observed control systems described by analytic semigroup are considered. Finite-dimensional feedback control based on FEM approximations and accounting for incomplete observations is constructed. It is shown that this feedback control provides uniform stability (in time) of the originally unstable system. The main novel feature of the problem is that both—control and observation operators—are modeled by fully unbounded operators as they frequently arise in modeling of “smart” sensors and actuators. This contributes to technical difficulties at the level of perturbation theory for analytic semigroups. It is shown that a careful and rather special approximation in the area of support of the unbounded control/observation operators allows to obtain the “right” stability estimates. Theoretical results are illustrated with several examples of control problems governed by heat and plate equations.