cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Frank Easterbrook and Daniel Fischel

This chapter in the book PIONEERS OF LAW AND ECONOMICS summarizes the role of Frank Easterbrook and Daniel Fischel in the development of modern law and economics. I first summarize their conceptual, methodological, and substantive innovations. I then discuss details of their work on hostile takeovers, disclosure regulation, and limited liability, and place their contribution in a broader context of prior and contemporaneous work. Finally, I discuss what we've learned about those subjects in more than 20 years since the publication of Easterbrook and Fischel's pioneering work; the areas where they turned out to be right or wrong; and the areas on which we still know very little.
Part II: PAR Flow Control Based on the Framework for Modeling and Tracing of Bilateral Transactions and Corresponding Loop Flows

This paper defines flow control algorithms for loop flow cancellation based on the allocation and tracing of bilateral transactions and loop flows. In Part I of this paper, we have shown that the main difference between transportation and electrical networks is caused by the existence of loop flows. We have introduced a distributed framework for the modeling and tracing of bilateral transactions and the corresponding loop flows. Its zooming-out capability provides a valuable mechanism for representing external (inter-area) loop flows based on simplified topologies of individual areas. The tracing information accurately allocates bilateral transactions with associated contract paths to line flows and loop flows. Furthermore, this information can be used for determining the set points of control equipment so that loop flows are minimized. In this framework, phase angle regulators (PARs), commonly used for line flow control, are represented through their effects on loop flows. We define sufficient conditions for achieving complete loop flow cancellation. A new distributed algorithm for determining PAR set points in a coordinated way without revealing operating conditions of individual areas is introduced in this part. Finally, complete loop flow cancellation and the distributed algorithm for finding PAR set points are demonstrated in the Reliability Test System (RTS) 96-bus system with wheeling loop flows.
Simulation Platform for Rapid Testing of Methods to Control Exothermic Chemical Reactions

In many applications involving chemical reactions, the efficiency of the process is dependent on the ability to control the temperature of the system. In case of an exothermic chemical reaction, maintaining the desired temperature of the system becomes difficult when the reaction heat is released rapidly once an activation temperature is reached. In this study, a multi-platform coupled simulation using ANSYS-FLUENT and MATLAB/Simulink was established to simulate the chemically reacting flows coupled with different control algorithms. To demonstrate this system, a simple test case was created. A fixed-bed reactor was modelled in ANSYS-FLUENT and was coupled with two different control algorithms including Proportional-Integral-Derivative Control (PID) and Model Predictive Control (MPC) compiled in Simulink. The two software packages exchanged data via a shared file system, thus allowing each package to run on a separate computing platform. This multi-platform coupled simulation framework enabled this study to investigate the ability of different control techniques to maintain the temperature of the system as a function of reaction rate. The results verify the feasibility of using such platform to test different control algorithms for a temperature control problem.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Inferences about visual mechanisms from monocular depth effects

Two depth “cues,” radial patterning and relative length, were presented in sufficiently pure form to permit inferences about underlying data-processing operations. Over 18 O’s, the former property yielded a strong depth impression, the latter a weaker one. Depth effects from dot patterns were dependent on perceptual grouping of dots into radial lines.
Clinical Perspective: Phenotypic Expression in Muscular Dystrophy

My assignment is to introduce molecular biologists and developmental biologists to the clinical concept of muscular dystrophy, and to provide a brief summary of previous studies of possibly significant primary gene expression in these inherited diseases of muscle.
Towards New Designed Proteins: Oxime Ligation of Core Modules

A 25-residue disulfide-cross-linked peptide, termed “oxidized core module” (OxCM), that includes essentially all of the secondary structural elements of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) most refractory to hydrogen exchange, was shown previously to favor native-like s-sheet structure [1]. The present work prepares to explore the hypothesis that the energies of native-like conformations, relative to other possible conformations, could be decreased further by covalent linkage of two OxCMs. Such a design strategy is particularly suited for this system since the full-length protein, i.e., BPTI, undergoes rapid association-dissociation to dimeric forms in solution [2,3]. Further, molecular modeling studies on dimeric BPTI indicate that the residues at the hydrophobic monomer-monomer interface are primarily in the OxCM [4].
CSF Obstruction and Malabsorption in Congenital Hydrocephalus

The relative contribution of CSF malabsorption and obstruction in three different etiological groups of neonatal high-pressure hydrocephalus (HC) was assessed in a study at University of Bonn, Germany, and University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Receptivity and Preferences for Lifestyle Programs to Reduce Cancer Risk among Lung Cancer Family Members.

Background: Lifestyle factors and genetic information has been found to contribute to the occurrence of lung cancer. This study assessed receptivity to participating in lifestyle programs to reduce cancer risk among unaffected lung cancer family members. We also explored demographic, medical, and psychosocial correlates of willingness to participate in lifestyle programs.Methods: Family members who are part of a lung Cancer Family Registry were asked to fill out a survey assessing their receptivity to cancer risk reduction programs including preferences for an individual or family-based program.Results: Of the 583 respondents, 85% were “Somewhat” or “Definitely” willing to participate in a lifestyle program. Among those receptive, about half (56%) preferred a family-based approach. Preferred programs included weight management (36%) and nutritional information (30%). Preferred delivery channels were Internet (45%) and mail-based (29%) programs. On multivariate analysis, those definitely/somewhat receptive reported greater exercise self-efficacy scores (p=0.025).Conclusion: The majority of the sample was receptive to lifestyle programs that might decrease cancer risk. There was a large preference for family-based weight management and nutritional programs. Further research is indicated to determine how to best incorporate a family-based approach to lifestyle programs for cancer family members.
Structural, photoluminescence, and theoretical DFT studies of gold(I) and silver(I) metallacycle dinuclear complexes of 1-methylbenzimidazolediphenyl phosphine (MBDP) ligand

Abstract The synthesis and structural characterization of the bridging ligand, 1-methyl benzimidazole diphenylphosphine (MBDP) and its coordination with Au(I) and Ag(I) metal ions is reported. Two ligands coordinate to the metal ions in head to tail fashion forming a metallacycle coordination consisting of strong M-M bonding interaction with Au Au = 2.808 and Ag Ag = 3.017 A. Linear coordination is observed for the gold, while the silver shows distorted tetrahedral arrangement. X-ray crystal data of [(MBDP) 2 Au 2 ](CH 3 CN)(BF 4 ) 2 ( 2 ) crystallizes in the monoclinic system with the space group of P 2 1 / n with cell constants of a = 8.9993 (8) A, b = 19.6166 (18) A, c = 13.4484 (12) A, β = 100.966 (2)°, R = 0.026, and R w = 0.064. The structure of [(MBDP) 2 (CH 3 CN) 4 Ag 2 ](BF 4 ) 2 , ( 3 ) crystallizes in the P (−)1 space group and the unit cell is a = 10.5423 (10) A, b = 10.7638 (10) A, c = 12.3530 (12) A; α = 88.592 (3)°, β = 73.097 (3)°, γ = 84.422 (3)°, V = 1334.8 (2) A 3 with Z = 1, R = 0.034 and R w = 0.093. The coordinating ligand as well as both dinuclear compounds reported here are luminescent in the near UV region. As supported by the DFT theoretical work, the emission is suggested to be primarily ligand based π- π* transition.
Anti-glycation and anti-oxidative effects of a phenolic-enriched maple syrup extract and its protective effects on normal human colon cells

Oxidative stress and free radical generation accelerate the formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) which are linked to several chronic diseases. Published data suggest that phenolic-rich plant foods, show promise as natural anti-AGEs agents due to their anti-oxidation capacities. A phenolic-enriched maple syrup extract (MSX) has previously been reported to show anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects but its anti-AGE effects remain unknown. Therefore, herein, we investigated the anti-glycation and anti-oxidation effects of MSX using biochemical and biophysical methods. MSX (500 μg mL−1) reduced the formation of AGEs by 40% in the bovine serum albumin (BSA)–fructose assay and by 30% in the BSA–methylglyoxal (MGO) assay. MSX also inhibited the formation of crosslinks typically seen in the late stage of glycation. Circular dichroism and differential scanning calorimeter analyses demonstrated that MSX maintained the structure of BSA during glycation. In the anti-oxidant assays, MSX (61.7 μg mL−1) scavenged 50% of free radicals (DPPH assay) and reduced free radical generation by 20% during the glycation process (electron paramagnetic resonance time scan). In addition, the intracellular levels of hydrogen peroxide induced reactive oxygen species were reduced by 27–58% with MSX (50–200 μg mL−1) in normal/non-tumorigenic human colon CCD-18Co cells. Moreover, in AGEs and MGO challenged CCD-18Co cells, higher cellular viabilities and rapid extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation were observed in MSX treated cells, indicating its protective effects against AGEs-induced cytotoxicity. Overall, this study supports the biological effects of MSX, and warrants further investigation of its potential as a dietary agent against diseases mediated by oxidative stress and inflammation.
Recognizing and regulating cannabis as a temptation good.

Abstract The U.S. appears to be on a path toward legalizing cannabis on the alcohol model, which is to say allowing for-profit corporations to produce, sell, and promote its use. Even after national legalization, it will take decades to observe the full effects on industry structure and behavior, or on use and misuse. However, we should not be surprised if after markets have matured and consumption patterns stabilized, legalization increases acute cannabis intoxication in the U.S. by 40 billion hours per year. This increase in use will be the most important cannabis-specific effect of legalization. The bulk of it will be consumption by daily and near-daily users, and it is possible that roughly half will be by people who meet the medical criteria for substance use disorder. Much resulting harms will be borne by the users, and their families, and the harms are not primarily "medical", at least not in the narrow sense. Hence, legalization replaces the current problems of crime and black markets not so much with a medical or public health problem, but rather with a problem of potentially excessive consumption of a "temptation good" whose acute effects are performance degrading, not performance-enhancing. As legalization removes formal social controls, it might be prudent for society to develop stronger informal social norms – akin to "friends don't let friends drive drunk" – to protect the public and more importantly the users themselves from the performance degradation of bouts of nearly perpetual intoxication.
Local and Regional Anesthesia in the Obese Patients

Obesity is the major epidemic of our generation, and anesthesiologists are confronted to manage obese patients and their associated comorbidities at an increasing rate. Regional anesthesia is an attractive option for obese individuals because it avoids the need for airway manipulation with general anesthesia and may reduce or eliminate the need for opioids and their associated side effects. However, obesity presents unique challenges to performing regional blocks and raises the risk of certain complications. Respiratory complications are a major consideration when anesthetizing an obese patient; sedation should be avoided if possible, and breathing function may be impaired by certain nerve blocks (e.g., local anesthetic spread to phrenic nerve following interscalene brachial plexus block). The pathophysiology associated with obesity such as obstructive sleep apnea and the metabolic syndrome places these patients at increased risk for perioperative complications. Central neuraxial blocks tend to be more complicated in obese individuals due to positioning difficulties, smaller target area (i.e., epidural space), dosing adjustments, intravascular puncture, and hemodynamic changes. The aim of this chapter is to provide the anesthesiologist with a practical approach to the problems associated with regional anesthesia in obese patients.
How were long and short commuting distances defined

I thank Celis-Moralis and colleagues for the important and interesting study on active commuting.1 I find the all cause mortality to be the most meaningful finding. I had …
Considerations in the vapor analysis of traditional vs. homemade explosives

Vapor detection of explosives is important for non-contact detection, vaporization of collected particles, and canine detection efforts. Much research has been carried out to aid in the vapor detection of traditional explosives, such as the nitro-based explosives like trinitrotoluene (TNT) and black and smokeless powders. Many of these explosives have extremely low vapor pressures, thus related vaporous components of the vapor signature are used for detection by proxy. As most of these explosives are extremely stable, their vapor signatures do not change significantly with time or environment. In contrast, comparatively little research has been done on the vapor detection of homemade explosives (HMEs), whose unique chemistries make vapor signature analysis a more complex problem. In this work, the vapor signatures of two types of HMEs were explored across time and environmental conditions, including ammonium nitrate-based binary explosives and organic peroxide explosive.
Ultrasound evaluation of the airway in the ED: a feasibility study.

Recognition of the difficult airway is a critical element of emergency practice. Mallampati score and body mass index (BMI) are not always predictive and they may be unavailable in critically ill patients. Ultrasonography provides high-resolution images that are rapidly obtainable, mobile, and non-invasive. Studies have shown correlation of ultrasound measurements with difficult laryngoscopy; however, none have been performed in the Emergency Department (ED) using a consistent scanning protocol. This study seeks to determine the feasibility of ultrasound measurements of the upper airway performed in the ED by emergency physicians, the inter-rater reliability of such measurements, and their relationship with Mallampati score and BMI. A convenience sample of volunteer ED patients and healthy volunteers with no known airway issues, aged > 18 years, had images taken of their airway using a standardized ultrasound scanning protocol by two EM ultrasound fellowship trained physicians. Measurements consisted of tongue base, tongue base-to-skin, epiglottic width and thickness, and pre-epiglottic space. Mean and standard deviation (SD) were used to summarize measurements. Inter-rater reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Analysis of variance with linear contrasts was used to compare measurements with Mallampati scores and linear regression with BMI. Of 39 participants, 50% were female, 50% white, 42% black, with median age 32.5 years (range 19–90), and BMI 26.0 (range 19–47). Mean ± SD for each measurement (mm) was as follows: tongue base (44.6 ± 5.1), tongue base-to-skin (60.9 ± 5.3), epiglottic width (15.0 ± 2.8) and thickness (2.0 ± 0.37), and pre-epiglottic space (11.4 ± 2.4). ICCs ranged from 0.76 to 0.88 for all measurements except epiglottis thickness (ICC = 0.57). Tongue base and tongue base-to-skin thickness were found to increase with increasing Mallampati score (p = .04, .01), whereas only tongue-to-skin thickness was loosely correlated with BMI (r = .38). A standardized ultrasound scanning protocol demonstrates that the airway can be measured by emergency sonologists with good inter-operator reliability in all but epiglottic thickness. The measurements correlate with Mallampati score but not with BMI. Future investigation might focus on ultrasound evaluation of the airway in patients receiving airway management to determine whether ultrasound can predict challenging or abnormal airway anatomy prior to laryngoscopy.
Plant-induced Changes to Rhizosphere pH Impact Leaf Accumulation of Lamotrigine but not Carbamazepine

Many ionizable organic contaminants (IOCs) are present in treated wastewater used to irrigate edible crops and accumulate in plants under field conditions. Phytoavailability of IOCs with pKa values between 4 and 9 may be affected by the pH of the rhizosphere (the water and soil within 2–3 mm of the root surface). Plants can alter rhizosphere pH by 2–3 units in either direction in response to nutrient availability. The effects of plant modulation of rhizosphere pH on IOC accumulation have not been previously reported. Here we provide direct evidence that plant-driven changes in rhizosphere pH impact accumulation of an IOC in plant leaves. Using a modified hydroponic system, we found that rhizosphere pH was higher by 1.5–2.4 units when plants received only nitrate rather than a combination of nitrate and ammonium. Plant-driven changes to rhizosphere pH altered accumulation of lamotrigine (pKa = 5.7) but not carbamazepine, a non-ionizable contaminant. Lamotrigine accumulation in leaves correlated strongly wi...
Rheological Evolution of Ti-Bearing Slag with Different Volume Fractions of TiN

The effect of the volume fraction of TiN (0 to 4.27 vol pct) on the rheological behaviors of Ti-bearing slag, including the viscosity and the constitutive equation, was investigated using a Brookfield rheometer at 1773 K. With the increasing TiN, the viscosity and the shear stress increased substantially, and the slag is converted from Newtonian to non-Newtonian. When the slag samples were dispersed with TiN (1.00 to 4.27 vol pct), the measured viscosities were greater than those estimated by the Einstein–Roscoe equation, and the complex internal structure was suggested to be responsible for the extra enhancement of the viscosity beyond that caused by TiN itself. The viscosity curves of the slag samples containing TiN (1.00 to 4.27 vol pct) were divided into three regions depending on the critical shear rate and the initial shear rate. In the Newtonian region, the apparent volume fraction of TiN was defined and used to develop a semiempirical model based on the Einstein–Roscoe equation to describe the viscosity. In the two non-Newtonian regions, the shear rate, the yield stress, and the viscosity differences between the non-Newtonians regions and the Newtonian regions were applied in developing the viscosity models.
Oophorectomy status and bone density in older, hysterectomized women.

Introduction This study examined the long-term effects of hysterectomy, with and without bilateral oophorectomy, and treatment with estrogen replacement on bone mineral density in older hysterectomized women. Methods Subjects were 346 women 60-89 years of age, who were participants in the Rancho Bernardo Study and attended a follow-up clinic visit in 1988-1991. Bone density was measured at the ultradistal wrist, midshaft radius, lumbar spine and hip. Results: Of these women, 182 had a hysterectomy with conservation of one or both ovaries and 164 had a hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy. Current estrogen users had the highest bone densities; those who never used estrogen replacement had the lowest. Only 9.1% of oophorectomized women, compared to 19.2% of those with ovarian conservation had never used estrogen (P
Pākehā Sampler wherein the Crafter Seams Research: An Ekphrastic Review of Christine Rogers's “The Needle as Medium: Using Embroidery to Speak to Ghosts”

This poem is an ekphrastic response to Rogers’s sampler. The author began by studying a photo of the sampler, and then wrote the first and last line of the poem using the following prompt: “Start by noting the emotional state of the artwork and conclude by looking back at the artwork and describing the pervading color.” The author considered their own use of knitting as a way to feel connected to kin, and how knitting as a form of crafting is a way to tell family stories (Faulkner, 2014). The author studied the photo more and wrote more lines that spoke to crafting as research method, imagining the artist as researcher as family story teller. The poem is an embodied presentation of the author’s response to Rogers, as poetry is the author’s art medium, words and language their paintbrush.
Simulating the Mechanics of Sea Ice Using the Discrete Element Method

Abstract We developed a technique using the discrete element method (DEM) to simulate the fracture mechanics of ice under flexural, compressive, and tensile loading. In the simulations, virtual blocks of ice are created through a multistep process. First, identical spheres are settled into a random packing. Then, a force network is established at the contact points between spherical elements, which are subsequently replaced by their representative Voronoi volumes. The results of three different sets of tests suggest that the strength of the simulated ice was well characterized using a linear function of the free parameters for the critical bond normal and shear stresses. Additionally, in the flexural strength tests the ratio of the ice thickness to the diameter of the spheres was shown to be sensitive for values less than 4.5, suggesting that a minimum number of bonds was necessary to produce robust estimates for the flexural strength. Overall, the results indicate that the simulations may be calibrated to match the strength properties of various types of ice found in the marginal ice zone (MIZ). The DEM simulations developed here may be used in larger scale models to directly incorporate the effects of ice break up on water waves in the MIZ.
House Price Growth Interdependencies and Comovement

This paper examines house price comovement across U.S. metropolitan areas (MSAs). We develop a Markov-switching framework that includes a spatial similarity element based on distances between MSAs. Our approach allows for house price comovements that occur due to similar timing of downturns across groups or clusters of MSAs. The inclusion of the spatial element improves the model fit compared to a standard endogenous clustering model. We find seven clusters of MSAs, where each cluster experiences idiosyncratic house price downturns, plus one distinct national house price cycle. Notably, only the housing downturn associated with the Great Recession spread across all the MSAs in our sample; all other house price downturns remained contained to a single cluster. We also identify MSA economic and geographic characteristics that correlate with cluster membership. In addition, while prior research has found housing and business cycles to be related closely at the national level, we find very different house price comovement and employment comovement across clusters and across MSAs.
Physiological Responses to Multiple Low-Doses of Bacillus anthracis Spores in the Rabbit Model of Inhalation Anthrax

Bacillus anthracis spores that are re-aerosolized from surface deposits after initial contamination present significant health risks for personnel involved in decontamination. To model repeated exposure to low dose B. anthracis spores, three groups of seven rabbits were challenged with multiple low-doses of B. anthracis spores 5 days a week for 3 weeks. Mortality, body temperature, heart and respiration rates, hematology, C-reactive protein, bacteremia, and serum protective antigen were monitored for 21 days post-exposure after the last of multiple doses. All rabbits exposed to a mean daily dose of 2.91 × 102 colony forming units (CFU) survived and showed minimal physiological changes attributable to exposure. One of seven rabbits receiving a mean daily dose of 1.22 × 103 CFU died and four of seven receiving a mean daily dose of 1.17 × 104 CFU died. The LD50 was calculated to be 8.1 × 103 CFU of accumulated dose. Rabbits that succumbed to the higher dose exhibited bacteremia and increases above baseline in heart rate, respiration rate, and body temperature. Two rabbits in the mean daily dose group of 1.17 × 104 CFU exhibited clinical signs of inhalation anthrax yet survived. This study provides a description of lethality, pathophysiology, and pathology in a controlled multiple low-dose inhalation exposure study of B. anthracis in the rabbit model. The data suggest that the accumulated dose is important in survival outcome and that a subset of rabbits may show clinical signs of disease but fully recover without therapeutic intervention.
Immigration policy mismatches and counterproductive outcomes: unauthorized migration to the U.S. in two eras

The world appears to be moving into a new era of international migration during which gaps between policies needed to manage migratory flows and those enacted in practice will widen. Whereas immigrants in the late 20th century were motivated by a desire to improve their wellbeing by accessing opportunities in richer countries, in the early 21st century they are increasingly motivated by a desire to escape threats at places of origin, yielding very different patterns of migration and selectivity. Using the United States as an example, this paper reviews how mismatches between the underlying realities of international migration and the policies adopted to manage them, in both eras have produced and continue to produce dysfunctional outcomes. Although deleterious policy outcomes might be avoided in the future by combining a well-grounded conceptual understanding of the forces producing immigration with a clear statement of the goals to be achieved through specific policy interventions, the avoidance of further dysfunctional outcomes is unlikely to be achieved in an age of rising populism, disinformation, and xenophobia.
Urinary stone disease prevalence and associations in cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) may predispose patients to urinary stone disease (USD), but reported prevalence of USD in patients with CF in previous small studies is variable. To date, analysis of risk factors for USD within the CF population has been limited. We studied 29,396 patients in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry to calculate age and sex-stratified prevalence of USD. For adult patients, we examined age and multivariable-adjusted cross-sectional associations between demographic and clinical factors, CFTR mutation class, and prevalent USD. Prevalence of USD was 0.4% (95% CI 0.3–0.5%) under age 18 years, 3.1% (2.7–3.6%) at 18–24 years, 6.4% (5.8–7.1%) at 25–34 years, 7.5% (6.5–8.5%) at 35–44 years, and 6.7% (5.8–7.8%) at 45 years and older. Prevalence for women was higher than men at younger (< 45 years) but not older ages (P value for interaction < 0.0005). Multivariable odds of prevalent USD were significantly increased for severe CFTR mutations, OR 1.53 (1.14–2.06), diabetes, OR 1.24 (1.03–1.50), hypertension, OR 1.58 (1.29–1.93), and chronic macrolide therapy, OR 1.27 (1.07–1.52). BMI was not associated with USD. USD prevalence in CF is similar to that in the general population. With the exception of BMI, known risk factors for USD in the general population also appear to be important for patients with CF. We identified several novel associations in CF patients, including greater prevalence of USD in individuals with severe CFTR mutations and among young women.
Outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty are similar in rotator cuff-intact and rotator cuff-deficient shoulders

Abstract Background Controversy exists regarding the biomechanical and clinical effects of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) in shoulders with an intact versus a torn rotator cuff (RC). We compared clinical and radiographic outcomes at a minimum of 2 years after RTSA for cuff-intact or cuff-deficient conditions. Methods Retrospective review identified 182 patients with at least 2 years of follow-up: 32 with an intact rotator cuff but advanced glenoid bone loss and 150 with a torn rotator cuff. Revision arthroplasties and those for osteonecrosis or trauma were excluded, and a matched cohort was created to compare 32 cuff-intact to 32 cuff-deficient shoulders. Assessments included preoperative and postoperative visual analog pain scores (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores, narcotic use, strength, range of motion (ROM), complications, and revisions. Radiographs were analyzed for signs of loosening or mechanical failure. Results Mean age for all patients was 71.7 (61-82) years, and the mean follow-up was 2.7 (2.0-5.5) years. Preoperatively, the groups were similar in almost every functional preoperative category, with no differences in gender, laterality, age, preoperative narcotic use, body mass index, or other co-morbidities. Postoperatively, no significant differences were found regarding VAS pain, ASES, ROM, strength, complication rate, revision rate, narcotic use, implant loosening, or mechanical failure; both groups showed significant improvements in all categories measured. Conclusions RTSA provides reliably good functional and radiographic outcomes with low complication rates in indicated patients, regardless of the preoperative status of the rotator cuff. Level of evidence Level III; Retrospective Comparative Study
Performance of OpenBCI EEG Binary Intent Classification with Laryngeal Imagery

One of the greatest goals of neuroscience in recent decades has been to rehabilitate individuals who no longer have a functional relationship between their mind and their body. Although neuroscience has produced technologies which allow the brains of paralyzed patients to accomplish tasks such as spell words or control a motorized wheelchair, these technologies utilize parts of the brain which may not be optimal for simultaneous use. For example, if you needed to look at flashing lights to spell words for communication, it would be difficult to simultaneously look at where you are moving. To improve upon this issue, this study developed and tested the foundation for a speech prosthesis paradigm which would utilize the innate neurophysiology of the human brain's speech system. In this experiment, two participants were asked to respond to a yes or no question via an EEG-based BCI of three different types; SSVEP-based, motor imagery-based, and laryngeal-imagery-based. By comparing the accuracy of the two established BCI paradigms to the novel laryngeal-imagery paradigm, we can establish the relative effectiveness of the novel paradigm. Machine learning algorithms were used to classify the EEG signals which had been transformed into frequency space (spectrograms) and common spatial pattern (CSP) dimensions. The SSVEP control task was able to be classified with better accuracy (62.5\%) than the no information rate of 50\% on the test set, but motor activity/imagery and laryngeal activity/imagery control tasks were not. Although the laryngeal methods did not produce accuracies above the no information rate, it is possible that with a larger amount of higher-quality data, this could prove otherwise. In the future, similar research should focus on reproducing the methods used here with better quality and more data.
A brief introduction to geospatial big data analytics with apache AsterixDB

There is immense potential with spatial data, which is even more significant when combined with temporal or textual features, or both. However, it is expensive to store and analyze spatial data, and it is even more challenging with the combined features due to the additional optimization requirements. There are numerous successful solutions for big spatial data management, but they do not well support non-spatial operations. The options for the systems are even smaller for the open sources systems, and there are not a handful of options that provide good coverage of care about the spatial and non-spatial operations. This tutorial introduces Apache AsterixDB, a scalable open-source Big Data Management System, which supports standard vector spatial data types as well as non-spatial attributes, e.g., numerical, temporal, and textual. The participants will get hands-on experience on how Apache AsterixDB can efficiently process complex SQL++ queries that require multiple special handling by a team from its kitchen.
Evolving Mechanosensory Hair Cells to Hearing Organs by Altering Genes and Their Expression: The Molecular and Cellular Basis of Inner Ear and Auditory Organ Evolution and Development

This chapter presents the history of discoveries in hair cell evolution, mechanosensory organ evolution (vestibular ears, lateral line, and paratympanic organ) and evolution of the auditory system and relates them to the molecular basis of their development and evolution. The mechanosensory hair cell, once recognized as a unique vertebrate cell peculiar to the mechanosensory organs of the inner ear and lateral line, can now be developmentally and molecularly linked to nonmechanosensory cells in vertebrates (the electroreceptive “hair cells” of many aquatic vertebrates) and other outgroups (various ciliated cells of diploblasts and triploblasts that share gene expression similarities. This progress in understanding the evolution of the vertebrate mechanosensory cell is put into the context of understanding the evolution of mechanosensory organs. Progress in this area hinges on molecular comparisons of eye and ear development and indicates that both organ types may share a “deep molecular homology” of a super regulator, the Pax genes. Evolutionary transformation of gravistatic sensors into sound pressure receivers happened multiple times in aquatic vertebrates but the transformation of the tetrapod system differs in many structural and molecular aspects from that in bony fish. The current state of our understanding of the molecular basis of this transition is reviewed and put into the historical context of ideas around this subject and their changes over time.
Practice and perceptions of obstetrics and gynecology providers and the treatment of overweight and obese women.

OBJECTIVE To verify how frequently obstetrics-gynecology providers documented the diagnosis and treatment of overweight/obese patients during routine examinations. These results were compared to a survey administered to this group of providers that measured their perceived practice patterns regarding weight management. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective chart review was performed of well woman and routine postpartum exams of patients with a body mass index (BMI) > 25. Patient encounters were reviewed for a diagnosis of overweight or obese and weight management interventions offered. In addition, a survey was administered to obstetrics-gynecology providers who performed these exams in order to measure their perceived obesity diagnosis and treatment patterns. RESULTS A total of 1,145 patient encounters were reviewed of patients with a BMI > 25. Providers documented 77 of the 1,145 (6.7%) as overweight or obese. Only 70 of 1,145 (6.1%) had documented interventions (i.e., recommending weight loss or exercise). In contrast, a majority of providers surveyed reported they appropriately diagnosed and counseled patients with obesity. CONCLUSION The majority of obstetrics and gynecology providers surveyed perceived that weight management was an important part of their clinical practice; however documentation of patient encounters did not match their perceived clinical
Feistel Type Authentication Codes

In this paper we generalise Luby-Rackoff construction of pseudorandom permutation generators to generalised invertible function generators and prove that if there exits a generalised pseudorandom function generator then there exist a generalised pseudorandom invertible generator. This construction is then used for a pseudorandom authentication code which offers provable security against T-fold chosen plaintext/ciphertext attack and provable perfect protection against strong spoofing of order T. The performance of the code is compared with that of a code obtained from a Feistel type permutation generator. The code, called Feistel type A-code, provides a new approach to the design of practically good A-codes and hence is of high practical significance.
All-optical tunable multilevel amplitude regeneration based on coherent polarization mixing

We propose an all-optical phase-preserving scheme for multilevel amplitude regeneration based on coherent polarization mixing for optical star-8QAM/star-16QAM signals with a power ratio of 1:5. A regeneration factor of 4.9 for star 8-QAM is achieved.
Chapter 81 – Melodic Intonation Therapy

Over the past 100 years, the literature has become full of case reports indicating that patients with severe nonfluent aphasia are better at singing lyrics than they are at speaking the same words. This observation has been the basis for developing intonation-based speech therapy, which is commonly referred to as Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT). Although numerous case reports and case series have been published, the efficacy of MIT on untrained items and propositional speech has yet to be substantiated in a randomized controlled trial. It is believed that the following two unique components of MIT are responsible for its therapeutic effects: (i) the intonation of words and simple phrases using a melodic contour that follows the prosody of speech and (ii) the rhythmic tapping that accompanies the production of each syllable with the unimpaired left hand. Research has shown that both of these unique components are capable of engaging frontotemporal regions in the right hemisphere, thereby making MIT particularly well-suited for patients with large left hemisphere lesions whose only chance of recovery is through the undamaged right hemisphere. Treatment-associated neural changes in patients undergoing MIT indicate that the engagement of right hemispheric structures (e.g., the superior temporal lobe, primary sensorimotor, premotor, and inferior frontal gyrus regions) and changes in the connections between these brain regions are related to the therapeutic effect.
Phylogenetics: Bats United, Microbats Divided

Phylogenetic analyses on four new bat genomes provide convincing support for the placement of bats relative to other placental mammals, suggest that microbats are an unnatural group, and have important implications for understanding the evolution of echolocation.
An Analysis of the Simplified Two-Mass System of the Connecting Rod in Spark Ignition Engines

Replacing the connecting rod with a lumped two-mass system causes an error, which influences the inertia rolling moment, the thrust force between the piston and the cylinder liner, and the loading on the main bearings. Dimensionless relationships have been found that relate the inertia error due to the connecting rod simplification (the inertia error) to the errors of the forces and moments that are created by it. Additionally, the results of a statistical study of 19 SI connecting rods indicate that the mass moment of inertia of the two mass system is −2.65% to 22% higher than that the experimentally measured moment of inertia of the connecting rod, with an average error value of 9.65%.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Mitigating inter- and intra-group ethnocentrism: Comparing the effects of culture knowledge, exposure, and uncertainty intolerance

Abstract Although there are indeed many hindrances to intercultural communication, the most frequently discussed (and perhaps most potent) is ethnocentrism. Very recently, views of ethnocentrism have refocused and the present study was consequently designed to investigate these changes in relation to both traditional and potential new pedagogical interventions. Specifically, we sought to observe how, among a sample of intercultural communication student respondents, cultural knowledge, cultural exposure, uncertainty intolerance, stress, intergroup ethnocentrism, and intragroup ethnocentrism all interrelate. Overall, these findings suggest that a staple pedagogical approach is perhaps less effective than a potential new one: reduced levels of both forms of ethnocentrism were engendered by uncertainty tolerance but not cultural knowledge.
A Clinical Multiwire Proportional Chamber for Low Energy Radionuclides

A sealed, single-atmosphere xenon-methane imaging proportional chamber has been constructed specifically for clinical use with 125I-fibrinogen in the legs. The detector weighs approximately 7Kg, has a window of 10cm×30cm and yields an intrinsic spatial resolution of 2.85 mm FWHM at 27keV. It has a detection efficiency of 20%, and, when collimated with orthogonally-aligned pair of x-ray antiscatter grids, yields a system resolution of 6mm FWHM at the collimator face and an overall sensitivity of 1.3×10-4. A recirculating purification system using molecular sieve and a gettering furance serve to remove gas contaminants. The system was evaluated using 125I, in phantoms and animals and has seen preliminary clinical use.
Leukaemia in a cat with concurrent Cladosporium infection.

A case of lymphocytic leukaemia with metastatic brain lesions and a concurrent Cladosporium trichoides infection is described in a cat. The lesions in the brain consisted of haemorrhage, foci of neoplastic cells in the parenchyma and perivascular cuffing with neoplastic cells. Lesions due to Cladosporium were found only in the kidney and were circumscribed necrotic areas surrounded by neutrophils and macrophages with hyphae in the centre. Identification of the fungus was made by growth characteristics, morphology, biochemical tests and experimental animal inoculation. Resume. On decrit, chez un chat, un cas de leucetmie lymphocytique avec des lesions cerebrales metastatiques et une infection concourante Cladosporium trichoides. Les lesions cerebrales consistaient en une hemorragie, des foyers de cullules neoplastiques dans le parenchyme et un cuffing perivasculaire avec cellules neoplastiques. On a trouve des lesions dues au Cladosporium dans le rein seulement et elles etaient des regions necrotiques circonscrites entourees de neutrophils et de macrophages avec des hyphes au centre. On a identifie le fongus grâce aux caracteristiques de croissance, a la morphologie, a des tests biochimiques et a une infection chez des animaux experimentaux. Zusammenfassung. Lymphozythamische Leukamiemit metastatischer Gehirnverletzung und begleitender Cladosporium trichoides Infiszierung, ist im Fall einer Katze beschrieben. Die Gehirnverletzung bestand aus Blutung, Foci der neoplastischen Parenchyma Zellen und perivaskularer Cuffing der neoplastichen Zellen. Cladosporium entstammende Verletzungsspuren wurden nur in der Niere entdeckt, und zwar, als abgestorbene Zonen, die von Hyphen-kernigen Neutrophil und Makrophage umrahmt waren. Die Fungus Identifikation wurde an Merkmale des Wachstums, Morphologie, biochemischen Proben und Infektion der Versuchstiere, vorgenommen.
Selective targeting of the stress chaperome as a therapeutic strategy.

Normal cellular function is maintained by coordinated proteome machinery that performs a vast array of activities. Helping the proteome in such roles is the chaperome, a network of molecular chaperones and folding enzymes. The stressed cell contains, at any time, a complex mixture of chaperome complexes; a majority performs ‘housekeeping functions' similarly to non-stressed, normal cells, but a finely-tuned fraction buffers the proteome altered by chronic stress. The stress chaperome is epigenetically distinct from its normal, housekeeping counterpart, providing a basis for its selective targeting by small molecules. We discuss here the development of chaperome inhibitors, and how agents targeting chaperome members in stressed cells are in fact being directed towards chaperome complexes, and their effect is therefore determined by their ability to sample and engage such complexes. A new approach is needed to target and implement chaperome modulators in the investigation of diseases, and we propose that the classical thinking in drug discovery needs adjustment when developing chaperome-targeting drugs.
COMPUTATION OF AGE-DEPENDENT RELAXATION SPECTRA

Abstract A computer algorithm for the computation of discrete age-dependent relaxation spectra of concrete from creep or relaxation test data is presented and a full FORTRAN IV listing is given. The algorithm is base on a previously outlined method, consisting in the expansion of relaxation curves in series of real exponentials on the basis of a least square criterion. This method is refined herein by imposing suitable smoothing conditions upon the spectra in order to reduce spurious sensitivity of results to small changes in given creep data. Two variants are given; in one the spectrum is approximated as a cubic polynomial in the logarithm of age and the logarithm of the relaxation time, while in the other one a cubic polynomial in the logarithm of age alone is used. Numerical examples show that given smooth creep data can be recovered from the spectra with a negligible error, which demonstrates that the spectra fully characterize creep properties. Apart from being a fundamental characteristic of creep, the relaxation spectra convert a hereditary creep law into a history independent rate-type form, which is requisite for creep analysis of large structural systems.
Interdigitation of contralateral and ipsilateral columnar projections to frontal association cortex in primates

The combined use of two anterograde axonal transport methods reveals that in the prefrontal association cortex of macaque monkeys, associational projections from the parietal lobe of one hemisphere interdigitate with callosal projections from the opposite frontal lobe, forming adjacent columns 300 to 750 micrometers wide. The finding of separate and alternating ipsilateral and contralateral inputs in the frontal association cortex opens up new possibilities for the functional analysis of this large but unexplored area of the primate brain.
Application of the Generalized Phase-Plane δ Method to Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Vibrating Systems

Abstract : The phase-plane-delta method of Jacobsen is extended to multi-degree-of-freedom systems governed by differential equations of second order. Applications to initial value problems of two-degree-of-freedom systems are presented as demonstrations of the practical utility of the method. Agreement with exact solutions for linear systems (free and forced oscillations)AND WITH APPROXIMATE SOLUTIONS FOR NONLINEAR SYSTEMS (free and forced oscillations) is excellent. A practical truncation error analysis is included as an appendix, which shows that the method is a second order process. (Author)