cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring Simple Preferences: An Approach to Blind, Forced-Choice Product Testing

When comparing alternate product formulations, or evaluating competitors' formulations, researchers often conduct blind, forced choice product tests. In this study, the authors present an approach to designing these tests and evaluating their results. Two types of tests are considered: repeat paired comparisons formats, and formats consisting of several triangle tests and a single paired comparison. The approach consists of psychophysical assumptions, discrimination and preference constructs, and a set of analytical techniques. Using this approach, a researcher can compare product test formats to see which one most efficiently estimates a given construct of interest. The approach can also be used to gauge sample size requirements for a particular product test format and to estimate confidence intervals for an observed product test result. To illustrate the approach the authors compare two popular product test formats---the Four Paired Comparisons, and the Double Triangle Single Preference.
Signals and oil Satellite footprints and post-communist territories in Central Asia

This article examines the strategies of two satellite operators working across post-communist territories of Central Asia: Eutelsat and Kazsat. To do so it develops a critical approach called footprint analysis, which involves investigating the variety of practices that occur within range of a given satellite's service. Satellites have been used in post-communist territories to circulate broadcast and telecommunication signals, facilitate flows of capital and reshape geographic imaginaries. In addition, satellites have become orbital platforms for the Caspian's booming oil industry. Satellites are used to support everything from surveying oil fields to monitoring drilling operations, from construction of oil rigs to the maintenance of pipelines. The article sets out to develop a model of analysis which can account for the more 'cultural' uses of satellites (i.e. for broadcasting) in relation to their more 'extractive' uses (i.e. for natural resource development).
Long-term activity in upper- and lower-limb muscles of humans.

Despite limited data on humans, previous studies suggest that there is an association between the duration of daily muscle activity and the proportion of type I muscle fibers. We quantified the act...
Modeling, identification and servo control of magnetic medical manipulator

We describe modeling, system identification and control design for a magnet manipulator. Two of these manipulators, placed on either side of a patient, will articulate their large permanent magnets to generate a magnetic field in an anatomical region (e.g. the heart) as part of a medical navigation system under the remote control of a medical professional. We derive the equations of motion using the Lagrangian formulation; identify motor, amplifier and gear friction characteristics using data from a single manipulator prototype; design the servo control algorithm based on feedback linearization and decoupling followed by H ∞ control and test it on the prototype. Developing a mathematical model of the mechanism and using advanced controls algorithms initially take more time than tuning a PID controller. But the resulting design yields much smoother motor torques compared to high-gain controllers, does not excite high frequency dynamics and potentially improves reliability.
Measurement and analysis of TCP throughput collapse in cluster-based storage systems

Cluster-based and iSCSI-based storage systems rely on standard TCP/IP-over-Ethernet for client access to data. Unfortunately, when data is striped over multiple networked storage nodes, a client can experience a TCP throughput collapse that results in much lower read bandwidth than should be provided by the available network links. Conceptually, this problem arises because the client simultaneously reads fragments of a data block from multiple sources that together send enough data to overload the switch buffers on the client's link. This paper analyzes this Incast problem, explores its sensitivity to various system parameters, and examines the effectiveness of alternative TCP- and Ethernet-level strategies in mitigating the TCP throughput collapse.
Technical Note-Linearization in 0-1 Variables: A Clarification

We show that a published method for linearizing nonlinear 0-1 programs admits an invalid interpretation, but that a simple modification restores its validity and retains most of its computational advantage.
Crossbreeding dairy cattle. I. Some effects of crossbreeding on the birth weight and gestation period of dairy cattle.

Abstract Data for this study consist of the birth weights and gestation periods of 1,004 live, single-born calves in the Illinois crossbreeding project. First-generation crossbreds were 1.90 kg heavier than their purebred contemporaries, three-fourths-bred calves averaged 0.28 kg heavier, and the five-eighth-calves averaged 2.44 kg heavier than the purebreds. For all generations, crossbreds averaged 37.56 kg, whereas purebreds averaged 36.02 kg; thus, crossbreeding increased birth weight by 4.3%. The general lack of significant interactions for sires within breeds by breed of dam does not support the idea of nicking for specific sires in crossbreeding. Male calves were 2.48 kg heavier than females, calves by Holstein sires were 2.54 kg heavier than those by Guernsey sires, and for each increase of one-eighth-Holstein in the genotype of the dam, the birth weight of the calf increased 0.78 kg; thus, calves out of Holstein dams were 6.22 kg heavier than those out of Guernsey dams. The 6.22 kg difference associated with breed of dam compared with the 2.54-kg difference associated with breed of sire is evidence for a breed, maternal effect on birth weight. The gestation period of crossbreds was only 0.5 day shorter than that for purebreds. Male calves were carried 1.2 days longer than females, calves by Holstein sires were carried 4.5 days less than those by Guernsey sires, and for each increase of one-eighth-Holstein in the genotype of the dam the gestation period of the calf decreased 0.33 day; thus, Holstein dams carried their calves 2.6 days less than Guernsey dams. A comparison of the 4.5 days’ difference associated with breed of sire with the 2.6 difference associated with breed of dam suggests a breed, paternal effect on gestation period. Crossbreeding has resulted in a small, 1.54-kg, but significant increase in birth weight, but has had little or no effect on gestation period.
Pathologic Quiz Case A 14-Year-Old Boy With Splenomegaly

A white boy presented with a 1-month history suggestive of viral respiratory tract infection with fatigue, cough, and urticaria. The results of physical examination were remarkable for a low-grade fever and otitis. The results of examination of other systems were within normal limits. A diagnosis of a viral illness was made, and antibiotics were prescribed for the otitis. His medical history was remarkable for Staphylococcus osteomyelitis of the right hip at the age of 2 years, for which he received a prolonged course of antibiotics. Complete blood cell count included the following val-
A Minimum Principle for Decentralized Stochastic Control Problems

The notion of the “state” of a dynamical system has turned out, in retrospect, to be the single most important concept in system theory, and the representation of systems in state space form is now almost universally accepted as the correct framework for posing questions of control and for formulating and analyzing proposed solutions. The power of the state concept derives from two properties. First, the current value of the state is a sufficient (and “minimal”) statistic of all the past history of the system that is relevant for predicting future behavior. Second, the system’s optimal future behavior depends only on the current state, so it is a sufficient statistic for controlling future behavior in an optimal manner. As is well known, however, these properties can be exploited only when the state is directly observed—the so-called complete observation case—and so the utility of the state concept is reduced considerably when it can be observed only indirectly—the partial observation case.
Neonatal Stimulation of the Uterus by Clomiphene, Tamoxifen and Nafoxidine: Relationship to the Development of Reproductive Tract Abnormalities

Triphenylethylene derivatives, such as Clomid and Tamoxifen, are drugs that are in common use for the induction of ovulation and treatment of breast cancer, respectively. They are generally considered to be estrogen antagonists; however, it is well known that they may also act as agonists (15). While most investigators have been primarily interested in their antagonistic properties, we have concentrated on their estrogenic capacities. Triphenylethylene drugs cause long-term retention of the estrogen receptor in the nuclei of uterine cells and this is accompanied by a sustained stimulation of uterotropic activity (6–8, 10, 12, 17, 20, 29). This stimulation is primarily due to the ability of these drugs to stimulate the epithelium of the uterine lumen, whereas estradiol, a physiological estrogen, causes all tissues of the uterus to grow (9, 10, 17, 34). Therefore, even though these drugs are decidedly anti-estrogenic in some tissues, they are long acting estrogens in others. Since chronic exposure to estrogens is known to result in preneoplastic and neoplastic changes in the reproductive tract (22), we considered the possibility that triphenylethylene derivatives might cause such changes in the fetal and neonatal rat (5,30).
Monogenic Disorders Within the Energy Balance Pathway

The hypothalamus plays a major role in the long-term regulation of body weight in humans. Within the hypothalamus, the leptin–melanocortin system is critical for energy balance, as animal and human studies have shown that disruption of this pathway, which senses peripheral energy stores and signals satiety, leads to the most severe forms of human obesity. The monogenic causes of obesity identified so far in this pathway are very heterogeneous and account for less than 5% of severe obesity. The genetic basis of the remaining 95% of obesity is likely to be even more heterogeneous and polygenic. The melanocortin 4-receptor (MC4R) is the most specialized molecule for body weight maintenance within this system as the clinical phenotype of MC4R deficiency is limited to obesity. Indeed, heterozygous MC4R mutations are the most common cause of monogenic obesity. In addition, novel mechanisms are emerging as important for pathogenicity of obesity, such as abnormal hypothalamic development, alterations in neuronal plasticity, and dysfunction of the primary cilium. This chapter focuses on obesity caused by mutations in genes that have a physiologic role in the hypothalamic leptin–melanocortin system of energy balance.
Synteny of SIS and IGLC in owl monkeys Evidence for karyotype evolution

Two cloned human DNA sequences specific for the SIS and IGLC genes were hybridized with DNAs from panels of rodent-owl monkey somatic cell hybrids. Independent segregation analysis of the related owl monkey DNA sequences for these two genes demonstrated that both the SIS locus and the IGLC locus are localized on owl monkey chromosome 3 of karyotype VI, chromosome 3 of karyotype V, and chromosome 6 of karyotype IV. These syntenic assignments provide genetic evidence for the homology of, at least, a portion of these chromosomes from three owl monkey karyotypes. The findings also help to redetermine the possible chromosome rearrangement that characterized the chromosome complement of owl monkey from Panama and northwestern Colombia with karyotypes II, III, IV, VIII, and IX from other owl monkey populations with karyotypes I, V, VI, VII, X, and XI.
Development of Glucose Regulated Protein 94-Selective Inhibitors Based on the BnIm and Radamide Scaffold

Glucose regulated protein 94 (Grp94) is the endoplasmic reticulum resident of the heat shock protein 90 kDa (Hsp90) family of molecular chaperones. Grp94 associates with many proteins involved in cell adhesion and signaling, including integrins, Toll-like receptors, immunoglobulins, and mutant myocilin. Grp94 has been implicated as a target for several therapeutic areas including glaucoma, cancer metastasis, and multiple myeloma. While 85% identical to other Hsp90 isoforms, the N-terminal ATP-binding site of Grp94 possesses a unique hydrophobic pocket that was used to design isoform-selective inhibitors. Incorporation of a cis-amide bioisostere into the radamide scaffold led to development of the original Grp94-selective inhibitor, BnIm. Structure-activity relationship studies have now been performed on the aryl side chain of BnIm, which resulted in improved analogues that exhibit better potency and selectivity for Grp94. These analogues also manifest superior antimigratory activity in a metastasis model as well as enhanced mutant myocilin degradation in a glaucoma model compared to BnIm.
The Female Image: A ‘Time-factored’ Symbol. A Study in Style and Aspects of Image Use in the Upper Palaeolithic

The ‘art’ of the early Upper Palaeolithic refers to the images and symbols of the hunters of horse, bison and mammoth during the last European Ice Age that began more than 32,000 years ago. It is therefore interesting that it is not the image of the animal that develops in complexity and variability across Ice Age Europe for the next 20,000 or so years, but the image of the female. The image and the concept of the Ice Age female has perhaps been the subject of more intense emotional debate in the last century than the image of the animal (Ucko 1962; 1969; Clottes and Cerou 1970; LeroiGourhan 1965; Ucko and Rosenfeld 1972; Stoliar 1977–78). The debate continues, both with new finds and new ideas (Rosenfeld 1977; Delporte 1979; Rice 1981; Gamble 1982; Cerda 1983; Guthrie 1984; Praslov 1985; Sonneville-Bordes 1986; Lorblanchet and Welte 1987; Gvozdover 1989; Duhard 1989).
Fumigation of Dates with Phosphine

Dates in wooden crates were fumigated with phosphine under a 6-mil polyethylene tarpaulin. Insects exposed in various positions within crates of dates were killed except for some eggs of Ephestia cautella (Walker) from which three adults emerged after fumigation. Gas concentrations during the 5-day fumigation, measured with an IR analyzer and phosphine detection tubes. were in close agreement. Concentrations increased to 649 ppm during the first 40 h of the fumigation, then decreased to ca. 50 ppm after 120 h. Residues of phosphine on dates after fumigation ranged from <0.0007 to 0.0013 ppm as measured by two different methods. The phosphine fumigation of dates under a polyethylene tarpaulin appears practical.
Surface hopping investigation of the relaxation dynamics in radical cations

Ionization processes can lead to the formation of radical cations with population in several ionic states. In this study, we examine the dynamics of three radical cations starting from an excited ionic state using trajectory surface hopping dynamics in combination with multiconfigurational electronic structure methods. The efficiency of relaxation to the ground state is examined in an effort to understand better whether fragmentation of cations is likely to occur directly on excited states or after relaxation to the ground state. The results on cyclohexadiene, hexatriene, and uracil indicate that relaxation to the ground ionic state is very fast in these systems, while fragmentation before relaxation is rare. Ultrafast relaxation is facilitated by the close proximity of electronic states and the presence of two- and three-state conical intersections. Examining the properties of the systems in the Franck-Condon region can give some insight into the subsequent dynamics.
Bureaucratic Patterns in the Navy Officer Corps

pretation. This is the high percentage of unknown citizenship status in the Southeast. It can be noted in Table 7 that this figure in the region is about twice as large as in the Nation. The consistency in the size of this discrepancy from 1920 through 1940 would suggest the presence of some constant factor which inhibits as complete reporting on citizenship status in the Southeast as in the Nation. It might seem fair to presume that more .successful reporting would enlarge the percentage naturalized in the Southeast to a greater extent than it would in the Nation. If so, the naturalization record of the region would actually be better than that of the Nation.
Coping-motivated marijuana use correlates with DSM-5 cannabis use disorder and psychological distress among emerging adults.

Compared to other age cohorts, emerging adults, ages 18–25 years old, have the highest rates of marijuana (MJ) use. We examined the relationship of using MJ to cope with negative emotions, relative to using MJ for enhancement or social purposes, to MJ-associated problems and psychological distress among emerging adults. Participants were 288 community-dwelling emerging adults who reported current MJ use as part of a ‘Health Behaviors’ study. Linear and logistic regressions were used to evaluate the adjusted association of coping-motivated MJ use with DSM-5 Cannabis Use Disorder, MJ-related problem severity, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress. After adjusting for other variables in the regression model, using MJ to cope was positively associated with having DSM-5 cannabis use disorder (OR = 1.85, 95%CI 1.31; 2.62, p < .01), MJ problem severity (b = .41, 95% CI .24; .57, p < .01), depression (b = .36, 95% CI .23; .49, p < .01), and perceived stress (b = .37, 95% CI .22; .51, p < .01). Using MJ for enhancement purposes or for social reasons was not associated significantly with any of the dependent variables. Using MJ to cope with negative emotions in emerging adults is associated with MJ-related problems and psychological distress. Assessment of MJ use motivation may be clinically important among emerging adults.
Effect of BMI and fat mass on HIV disease progression in HIV-infected, antiretroviral treatment-naïve adults in Botswana.

An obesity paradox has been proposed in many conditions including HIV. Studies conducted to investigate obesity and its effect on HIV disease progression have been inconclusive and are lacking for African settings. This study investigated the relationship between overweight/obesity (BMI≥25 kg/m2) and HIV disease progression in HIV+ asymptomatic adults not on antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Botswana over 18 months. A cohort study in asymptomatic, ART-naive, HIV+ adults included 217 participants, 139 with BMI of 18·0-24·9 kg/m2 and seventy-eight participants with BMI≥25 kg/m2. The primary outcome was time to event (≥25 % decrease in cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell count) during 18 months of follow-up; secondary outcomes were time to event of CD4 cell count<250 cells/µl and AIDS-defining conditions. Proportional survival hazard models were used to compare hazard ratios (HR) on time to events of HIV disease progression over 18 months. Higher baseline BMI was associated with significantly lower risk of an AIDS-defining condition during the follow-up (HR 0·218; 95 % CI 0·068, 0·701; P=0·011). Higher fat mass at baseline was also significantly associated with decreased risk of AIDS-defining conditions during the follow-up (HR 0·855; 95 % CI 0·741, 0·987; P=0·033) and the combined outcome of having CD4 cell count≤250/µl and AIDS-defining conditions, whichever occurred earlier (HR 0·918; 95 % CI 0·847, 0·994; P=0·036). All models were adjusted for covariates. Higher BMI and fat mass among the HIV-infected, ART-naive participants were associated with slower disease progression. Mechanistic research is needed to evaluate the association between BMI, fat mass and HIV disease progression.
Asymptotic impact behavior of Goupillaud-type layered elastic media

Abstract In this paper, we use the method of Riemann invariants to develop a system of recurrence relations for the one-dimensional elastic impact problem in which a semi-infinite flyer collides with (and adheres to) a stationary Goupillaud-type layered elastic target plate of finite thickness that is bonded to a semi-infinite half-space. We derive explicit expressions for the long-time asymptotes of stress and particle velocity that are independent of the layered target’s elastic properties. This result is verified by numerical simulations of impact into layered targets with periodic or randomly distributed elastic properties, and holds when the half-space backing the target is replaced by either free or fixed boundary conditions. Our discrete recurrence relation solutions for impact into layered media, generalize our recent analytical results concerning impact into homogeneous, single-layer targets, as well as prior discrete recurrence relation solutions for stress wave propagation in Goupillaud-type layered elastic media.
Party Pursuits and The Presidential-House Election Connection, 1900–2008: Party Pursuits and American Democracy

Over the last several decades an interpretation of American elections has dominated that suggests they do not result in a coherent expression of the differing views of voters in both presidential and House elections. To briefly repeat matters reviewed earlier, a series of changes were seen as altering elections. Voters were less attached to parties. House candidates were presumed to be able to present themselves separately from their party, allowing them to boost their vote percentages and buffer their vote swings from presidential fluctuations. The result of greater incumbent autonomy from partisan swings was that voters could reject the policies of one party, but that swing may well not produce changes in who holds seats and which party controls government. There would be less likelihood of unified control of government, resulting in more stalemates and less responsiveness to shifts in public opinion. These conclusions are all derived from the candidate-centered interpretation of American elections that emerged in the 1970s. That framework has become an assertion without any specific predictions that might allow us to refute it. Without any specific expectations to compare to actual events it becomes asserted again and again, and there is little consideration of alternative interpretations.
Reply to "Triclocarban and Health: the Jury Is Still Out".

We agree with Kennedy et al. ([1][1]) that “TCS” was used as an acronym that encompassed both triclosan and triclocarban. Since we provided subjects with health care products containing both substances, ideally we would have measured both as well. However, triclocarban was provided only in hand
Early tumor detection afforded by in vivo imaging of near-infrared II fluorescence

Cell-intrinsic reporters such as luciferase (LUC) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) have been commonly utilized in preclinical studies to image tumor growth and to monitor therapeutic responses. While extrinsic reporters that emit near infrared I (NIR-I: 650–950 nm) or near-infrared II (NIR-II: 1000–1700 nm) optical signals have enabled minimization of tissue autofluorescence and light scattering, it has remained unclear as to whether their use has afforded more accurate tumor imaging in small animals. Here, we developed a novel optical imaging construct comprised of rare earth lanthanide nanoparticles coated with biodegradable diblock copolymers and doped with organic fluorophores, generating NIR-I and NIR-II emissive bands upon optical excitation. Simultaneous injection of multiple spectrally-unique nanoparticles into mice bearing tumor implants established via intraperitoneal dissemination of LUC+/RFP+ OVCAR-8 ovarian cancer cells enabled direct comparisons of imaging with extrinsic vs. intrinsic reporters, NIR-II vs. NIR-I signals, as well as targeted vs. untargeted exogenous contrast agents in the same animal and over time. We discovered that in vivo optical imaging at NIR-II wavelengths facilitates more accurate detection of smaller and earlier tumor deposits, offering enhanced sensitivity, improved spatial contrast, and increased depths of tissue penetration as compared to imaging with visible or NIR-I fluorescent agents. Our work further highlights the hitherto underappreciated enhancements in tumor accumulation that may be achieved with intraperitoneal as opposed to intravenous administration of nanoparticles. Lastly, we found discrepancies in the fidelity of tumor uptake that could be obtained by utilizing small molecules for in vivo as opposed to in vitro targeting of nanoparticles to disseminated tumors.
O crescimento econômico e as consequências das externalidades ambientais negativas decorrentes do processo produtivo

A humanidade nao mais convive em harmonia com os recursos naturais que, assim como a economia, sao importantes para a sociedade. Considerando a preocupacao com a qualidade de vida, verifica-se que o desenvolvimento economico deve ocorrer de forma concomitante com preservacao ambiental. Hoje, nao se tolera degradacao ambiental apenas sob os propositos de geracao de emprego ou de crescimento economico. Ocorre que o processo industrial, que alavanca a economia, despeja no ambiente os seus residuos indesejaveis, provoca contaminacao dos ecossistemas e, consequentemente, desequilibrio ecologico. Economia e ecologia tem, pois, intima relacao, motivo pelo qual se impoe valorar as externalidades ambientais negativas, que sao os efeitos prejudiciais advindos do sistema produtivo, para que as externalidades possam ser reparadas, o que se faz por meio da internalizacao e do principio do poluidor-pagador. Dessa forma, e possivel compatibilizar desenvolvimento economico com meio ambiente ecologicamente equilibrado e saudavel para as presentes e as futuras geracoes.
A Novel Model-Based Estimation Scheme for Battery-Double-Layer Capacitor Hybrid Energy Storage Systems

Battery-double-layer capacitor (DLC) units are becoming popular hybrid energy storage systems (HESS) for vehicle propulsion, auxiliary power units, and renewable energy applications. Safe and optimal operation of the HESS requires real-time monitoring of its constituent subsystems. In this paper, we use a model-based approach to monitor HESS behavior and propose an online combined state and parameter estimation scheme using coupled electrical–thermal dynamical models for each subsystem. In particular, we focus on an HESS composed of a lead–acid (PbA) battery and a DLC for which experiments have been designed to identify the initial model parameters. The estimation scheme uses a novel cascaded observer-based structure which: 1) is designed based on sliding mode methodology and 2) exploits the coupling of the electrical and thermal dynamics. Using Lyapunov’s arguments, theoretical conditions are derived which characterize the convergence of the state and parameter estimates in the presence of uncertainties. The effectiveness of the estimation scheme is evaluated via simulation and experimental studies on the PbA battery, the DLC, and the HESS system.
Impact of synthetic cannabinoid use on hospital stay in patients with bipolar disorder versus schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorders

Synthetic cannabinoid products have become popular and have led to an increased number of patients presenting to emergency departments and psychiatric hospitals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of synthetic cannabinoid use at admission on length of stay and doses of antipsychotics at discharge in individuals with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. We retrospectively examined medical records of 324 inpatients admitted from January 2014 to July 2015. We found that synthetic cannabinoid use predicted length of stay and antipsychotic dose using structural equation modeling. Further, the association of synthetic cannabinoid use with length of stay was partly mediated by antipsychotic dose. These associations were independent of specific diagnosis. In conclusion, patients with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorders who reported synthetic cannabinoid use at admission had shorter length of stay and received lower doses of antipsychotics, irrespective of clinical diagnoses.
Increasing Physical Activity Amongst Overweight and Obese Cancer Survivors Using an Alexa-Based Intelligent Agent for Patient Coaching: Protocol for the Physical Activity by Technology Help (PATH) Trial

Background: Physical activity has established health benefits, but motivation and adherence remain challenging. Objective: We designed and launched a three-arm randomized trial to test artificial intelligence technology solutions to increase daily physical activity in cancer survivors. Methods: A single-center, three-arm randomized clinical trial with an allocation ration of 1:1:1: (A) control, in which participants are provided written materials about the benefits of physical activity; (B) text intervention, where participants receive daily motivation from a fully automated, data-driven algorithmic text message via mobile phone (Coachtext); and (C) Voice Assist intervention, where participants are provided with an in-home on demand autonomous Intelligent Agent using data driven Interactive Digital Voice Assist on the Amazon Alexa/Echo (MyCoach). Results: The study runs for 5 weeks: a one-week run-in to establish baseline, followed by 4 weeks of intervention. Data for study outcomes is collected automatically through a wearable sensor, and data are transferred in real-time to the study server. The recruitment goal is 42 participants, 14 in each arm. Electronic health records are used to prescreen candidates, with 39 participants recruited to date. Discussion: This study aims to investigate the effects of different types of intelligent technology solutions on promoting physical activity in cancer survivors. This innovative approach can easily be expanded and customized to other interventions. Early lessons from our initial participants are helping us develop additional advanced solutions to improve health outcomes. Trial Registration: Retrospectively registered on July 10, 2017 at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03212079; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03212079 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6wgvqjTji) [JMIR Res Protoc 2018;7(2):e27]
Telehealth at the US Department of Veterans Affairs after Hurricane Sandy

BackgroundLike other integrated health systems, the US Department of Veterans Affairs has widely implemented telehealth during the past decade to improve access to care for its patient population. ...
The Role of Plastic Deformation in Sintering

The role of plastic deformation in sintering is a controversial subject. Many investigators have held that the material transport observed in sintering, when no external stress is applied, can be explained by diffusional flow processes and that plastic flow is not involved. Plastic flow in this sense is the process in which a stress causes dislocation generation from dislocation sources and movement.
Arrow Exit Sign Placement on Highway Using Fuzzy Table Look-Up Scheme

In order to provide sufficient signing information to effectively guide drivers on highway, the advance guide sign should be wisely placed. This research employs a state-of-the-art/practice driving simulator to conduct experiment for evaluating the placement of arrow exit sign on highway taken various factors into consideration. The experimental design focuses on investigating traffic flow rate, highway geometric condition, and human behavior effect on sign placement. A fuzzy table look-up scheme is applied to build up the rule base of input-output pairs. A fuzzy logic system is constructed based on the outcome from the driving test and survey. Based on the analytical results, the optimal advance placement of arrow exit sign is recommended under different combinations of input variables.
Acquisition of Novel and Complex Motor Skills: Stable Solutions Where Intrinsic Noise Matters Less

Most experimental paradigms in motor neuroscience have used relatively focal and experimentally constrained tasks to allow precise measurement and experimental control. Therefore, practice-induced improvements and learning have been confined to relatively simple changes or adaptations to external perturbations. Here, we propose an approach to study more complex skills that are novel and require more extensive practice, leading to quantitative and qualitative changes in overt performance. Central to these skills is that they have extrinsic redundancy that allows exploration and exploitation of dynamic properties of the task. We hypothesize that in such skills, humans seek stable solutions that are robust to perturbations that make their intrinsic noise matter less. Three experimental paradigms exemplify our model-based and hypothesis-driven approach to skill acquisition: discrete throwing, rhythmic ball bouncing, and complex object manipulation. In skittles, a throwing skill, results show that actors are sensitive to the error tolerance afforded by the task. In ball bouncing, we show that subjects exploit the dynamic stability of the task, where small errors and noise self-stabilize without explicit corrections. In manipulating a “cup of coffee,” subjects learn to optimize the safety or energy margins and scale it to their intrinsic variability. This research presents new experimental paradigms that characterize the behavioral correlates of neuroplasticity in more complex skill acquisition. This fundamental work is a platform for future work to develop behavioral interventions for clinical applications.
Placental-derived regulators and the complex control of luteal cell function.

Publisher Summary The corpus luteum is a transient ovarian endocrine gland that results from a rapid growth and differentiation of follicular theca and granulosa cells. Several types of corpora lutea are formed during the reproductive life of the female rat. They differ in size, life span, and steroidogenic output. While corpora lutea of the cycle and pseudopregnancy do not have a clearly defined role, the corpus luteum of pregnancy is absolutely crucial for normal fetal development and survival in every mammalian species. In the rat, this gland is initially the same size as that of pseudopregnancy; however, instead of involuting, it increases in size and in steroidogenic capacity and remains functional for approximately 20 days. The capacity of this corpus luteum to secrete progesterone and to sustain a normal pregnancy is tightly regulated by hormones generated by the pituitary, the placenta, and by itself. This chapter reviews the hormonal interrelationships that regulate the corpus luteum of pregnancy in the rat, focusing primarily on placental secretion of androgen and the role of placental steroids in luteal steroidogenesis and growth.
Understanding Organizational Adaptation to Change: The Case of Work-Family Issues

The last 10–15 years have seen dramatic changes in the nature of the U.S. workforce and in the structure of family life in the United States. Organizational managers face the difficult task of interpreting these changes and of deciding how to adapt the organization’s human resource policies to these changes. In this paper, we examine the processes that underlie organizational adaptation to environmental changes, focusing particular attention on describing the processes by which changes are noticed, interpreted, and elicit action. We argue that the same demographic facts are likely to get different amounts of organizational attention and may be interpreted quite differently, depending on the characteristics of the organizational context and on how work-family issues are framed. Human resource professionals have an extremely important role to play in determining both the likelihood and nature of an organization’s actions with respect to work-family changes by shaping the interpretation process.
Depression in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders: a Systematic Review of Studies Published Between 2012 and 2016

Depression has long been a clinical concern in youth with autism, yet systematic research examining its prevalence, presentation, and treatment has only begun to emerge more recently. Using the search terms autism, asd, or autistic and depression, depressive, dysthymia, or dysthymic, this systematic review identified 43 articles focused on symptoms of depression in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders published between 2012 and 2016. The results of the review indicate that depression is more common in youth with autism spectrum disorders than in typically developing youth and is associated with a multitude of other medical and psychiatric conditions. Unfortunately, few intervention studies have been conducted despite evidence of need and preliminary efficacy for some psychosocial and pharmacological treatments.
The Myths of Tet: The Most Misunderstood Event of the Vietnam War. By Edwin E. Moise. (Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 2017. Pp. x, 276. $29.95.)

No event occurring during the Vietnam War has received more analysis, more attention, or more criticism than the Tet Offensive. Books such as Bill Allison's The Tet Offensive: A Brief History with ...
Realizing the Truly Postmodern: Valuing Multiple Feminisms

For the last fifteen to twenty years, the ongoing conflict among the various feminisms, which make up feminist studies, has been much discussed. Some feminisms are repudiated and distorted by others, with the discord seemingly becoming more bitter and more intransigent. This article posits that it is the dominance of postmodern feminist thought and the way its features have been misapplied to those of other feminisms that has led to their mischaracterization and to the creative near-stagnation of today. To end the warfare, we must end postmodern feminist hegemony and embrace instead a multi-modal approach in which a plurality of feminisms are considered fairly on their own terms and within their own contexts.
Effect of Shoulder Protraction Exercise on the Supine position for Selective Activation of the Serratus Anterior according to Weight in Winging Scapula

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of shoulder protraction exercise according to weight by examining the surface electromyog raphy (EMG) amplitude in the serratus anterior (SA), upper trapezius (UT), and pectoralis major (PM) as well as the activity ratio of each muscle. Methods: Twenty three winging scapula subjects participated in the study. The subjects performed scapula protraction at shoulder 90˚ flexion and 60˚ horizontal abduction with up to four (none, 1kg, 1.5kg, and 2kg) dumbbells in the supine position. The EMG data were collected from the dominant side muscles during a shoulder protraction exercise according to weight in the supine position. One way re peated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the normalized activities of the SA, UT, and PM and the ratios of PM/SA and UT/SA. Results: The results showed that the activities of both the SA and UT were highest for the shoulder protraction exercise at 2kg in the su pine position. The UT/SA ratio also was the lowest for exercise at 2kg. On the other hand, the activities of both the UT and PM/SA ratio were similar under all conditions. Conclusion: These results show that there is a need to selectively strengthen the SA muscle in the case of patients with the shoulder dysfunction. In particular, it is necessary to weigh 2kg when performing shoulder protraction exercises in the supine position to activate the SA muscle in patients with a winging scapula.
High-throughput assessment of hemoglobin polymer in single red blood cells from sickle cell patients under controlled oxygen tension

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is caused by a variant hemoglobin molecule that polymerizes inside red blood cells (RBCs) in reduced oxygen tension. Treatment development has been slow for this typically severe disease, but there is current optimism for curative gene transfer strategies to induce expression of fetal hemoglobin or other nonsickling hemoglobin isoforms. All SCD morbidity and mortality arise directly or indirectly from polymer formation in individual RBCs. Identifying patients at highest risk of complications and treatment candidates with the greatest curative potential therefore requires determining the amount of polymer in individual RBCs under controlled oxygen. Here, we report a semiquantitative measurement of hemoglobin polymer in single RBCs as a function of oxygen. The method takes advantage of the reduced oxygen affinity of hemoglobin polymer to infer polymer content for thousands of RBCs from their overall oxygen saturation. The method enables approaches for SCD treatment development and precision medicine.
Non-Financial Reporting & Corporate Governance: Explaining American Divergence & Its Implications for Disclosure Reform

Non-financial reporting reforms have moved ahead around the world as governments work to advance sustainable development and improve environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) risk management by firms and investors In the United States, however, non-financial reporting reforms face resistance and have lagged behind. This article offers an overview of the state of non-financial reporting in the U.S. and explains why the U.S. approach still diverges so visibly from the reform path adopted by other governments around the world. It then suggests potential directions for non-financial disclosure reform that take account of the U.S. institutional context. The article concludes by considering the implications of the United States’ market-driven approach for non-financial reporting reform and for the future of sustainable finance more broadly.
Patient-specific dose quality assurance of single-isocenter multiple brain metastasis stereotactic radiosurgery using PTW Octavius 4D.

Purpose Single-isocenter multiple brain metastasis stereotactic radiosurgery is an efficient treatment modality increasing in clinical practice. The need to provide accurate, patient-specific quality assurance (QA) for these plans is met by several options. This study reviews some of these options and explores the use of the Octavius 4D as a solution for patient-specific plan quality assurance. Methods The Octavius 4D Modular Phantom (O4D) with the 1000 SRS array was evaluated in this study. The array consists of 977 liquid-filled ion chambers. The center 5.5 cm × 5.5 cm area has a detector spacing of 2.5 mm. The ability of the O4D to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) dose was validated against a 3D gel dosimeter, ion chamber, and film measurements. After validation, 15 patients with 2-11 targets had their plans delivered to the phantom. The criteria used for the gamma calculation was 3%/1 mm. The portion of targets which were measurable by the phantom was countable. The accompanying software compiled the measured doses allowing each target to be counted from the measured dose distribution. Results Spatial resolution was sufficient to verify the high dose distributions characteristic of SRS. Amongst the 15 patients there were 74 targets. Of the 74 targets, 61 (82%) of them were visible on the measured dose distribution. The average gamma passing rate was 99.3% (with sample standard deviation of 0.68%). Conclusions The high resolution provided by the O4D with 1000 SRS board insert allows for very high-resolution measurement. This high resolution in turn can allow for high gamma passing rates. The O4D with the 1000 SRS array is an acceptable method of performing quality assurance for single-isocenter multiple brain metastasis SRS.
Microscale strain mapping demonstrates the importance of interface slope in the mechanics of cartilage repair

Abstract Achieving lateral integration of articular cartilage repair tissue with surrounding native cartilage remains a clinical challenge. Histological and bulk mechanical studies have identified extracellular matrix components that correlate with superior failure strength, but it is unclear how local changes in geometry and composition at the repair interface affect tissue strains under physiologic loading. Here, we investigated the effects of local compositional and interface geometry on lateral cartilage repair integration by coupling microscale Raman spectroscopy and confocal elastography to measure tissue strains under compressive and shear loading. Histological integration assessments did not have significant relationships with interface strains under compressive loading (p > 0.083) and only the perimeter attachment score was trending towards statistical significance with the |Exy| strain tensor under shear loading (p = 0.050). Interface slope had a stronger correlation with local tissue strains under compressive and shear loading compared to compositional measures of GAG, collagen, or proteins (compressive loading |Eyy| tensor: R2 = 0.400 (interface slope), 0.005 (GAG), 0.024 (collagen), and 0.012 (protein); shear loading |Exy| tensor: R2 = 0.457 (interface slope), 0.003 (GAG), 0.006 (collagen), and 0.000 (total protein)). These data support surgical publications detailing the need for vertical walls when debriding chondral defects. Current histological integration assessments and local compositional measures were insufficient for identifying the variation in interface strains under compressive and shear loading. Thus, our data points to the importance of controlling interface geometry at the time of surgery, which has implications for cartilage repair integration and long-term healing.
Patent Nash equilibria in symmetric strictly competitive games

Abstract This work refines the notion of Nash equilibrium in the case of symmetric strictly competitive games. We define a (complete and typically intransitive) binary relation allowing to identify the so-called latent actions, for which there exists a maximal tree whose nodes are all preferred to the considered action. We prove the existence of patent Nash equilibria (obtained after iterated elimination of latent actions) and then describe the configurations that may arise when the two players have four (or less) actions available.
Positive Airway Pressure for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy is the first-line and most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in adults. This chapter reviews indications for PAP use and the differences between CPAP, APAP, and BPAP. The chapter explores common questions and problems that patients are likely to present with during PAP use.
Effect of a Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Curriculum on Emergency Department Soft Tissue Management

Introduction: Pediatric emergency department (ED) visits for superficial skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) have steadily been increasing. It is now known that point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is highly sensitive and specific for diagnosing SSTI, differentiating abscess from cellulitis, and is associated with shorter ED length of stays (LOS). As POCUS is an integral part of SSTI management, we sought to determine the impact on ED management after implementation of a soft tissue …