cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flapping dynamics of an inverted flag

The dynamics of an inverted flag are investigated experimentally in order to find the conditions under which self-excited flapping can occur. In contrast to a typical flag with a fixed leading edge and a free trailing edge, the inverted flag of our study has a free leading edge and a fixed trailing edge. The behaviour of the inverted flag can be classified into three regimes based on its non-dimensional bending stiffness scaled by flow velocity and flag length. Two quasi-steady regimes, straight mode and fully deflected mode, are observed, and a limit-cycle flapping mode with large amplitude appears between the two quasi-steady regimes. Bistable states are found in both straight to flapping mode transition and flapping to deflected mode transition. The effect of mass ratio, relative magnitude of flag inertia and fluid inertia, on the non-dimensional bending stiffness range for flapping is negligible, unlike the instability of the typical flag. Because of the unsteady fluid force, a flapping sheet can produce elastic strain energy several times larger than a sheet of the deformed mode, improving the conversion of fluid kinetic energy to elastic strain energy. According to the analysis of the leading-edge vortex formation process, the time scale of optimal vortex formation correlates with efficient conversion to elastic strain energy during bending.
ISSCR 2013: back to Bean Town.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research 11th Annual Meeting was held in Boston in June 2013, bringing together just over 4000 attendees. An emphasis on therapeutic applications in many talks reflected the maturation of the stem cell field from its origins in basic science to one that is beginning to show therapeutic promise.
AzureBlast: a case study of developing science applications on the cloud

Cloud computing has emerged as a new approach to large scale computing and is attracting a lot of attention from the scientific and research computing communities. Despite its growing popularity, it is still unclear just how well the cloud model of computation will serve scientific applications. In this paper we analyze the applicability of cloud to the sciences by investigating an implementation of a well known and computationally intensive algorithm called BLAST. BLAST is a very popular life sciences algorithm used commonly in bioinformatics research. The BLAST algorithm makes an excellent case study because it is both crucial to many life science applications and its characteristics are representative of many applications important to data intensive scientific research. In our paper we introduce a methodology that we use to study the applicability of cloud platforms to scientific computing and analyze the results from our study. In particular we examine the best practices of handling the large scale parallelism and large volumes of data. While we carry out our performance evaluation on Microsoft's Windows Azure the results readily generalize to other cloud platforms.
The development of an isostatic gravitational model to degree 360 and its use in global gravity modelling

Consideration is given to the possibility of combining low-degree satellite-derived geopotential models with the harmonic coefficients of the topographic-isostatic potential implied by the Airy/Heiskanen isostatic hypothesis. The compilation of a topographic database providing information pertaining to terrain type classification is discussed. The formulation for the determination of harmonic coefficients of the topographic-isostatic potential is extended beyond to cases discussed by Lachapelle (1976) to include various terrain types. This formulation and the series expansion approach of Rummel et al. (1988) are implemented for potential coefficient determinations complete to degree and order 360. The topographic-isostatic coefficients are used with satellite-derived geopotential models to estimate mean gravity anomalies. The results are compared with observations to evaluate the quality of different estimation procedures.
Historical underpinnings of access to American higher education

This chapter explores how access became central to the missions of American colleges and universities.
Joint Lithologic Inversion

Ambiguous dependence of observed data related to lithologic parameters suggests that both deterministic mechanism and statistical behaviour characterize practical lithologic inversion problems. The Caianiello neural network method is presented in this paper, including neural wavelet estimation, input signal reconstruction, and nonlinear factor optimization. A joint inversion scheme for porosity and clay-content estimations is established based on the combination of the Caianiello neural network with some deterministic petrophysical models. First, inverse neural wavelets are extracted using known solutions, and then the inverse-operator-based inversion is used to estimate an initial parameter model. Second, forward neural wavelets are estimated likewise, and then the forward-operator-based reconstruction can improve the initial parameter model. The scheme has been applied in a complex continental deposit in western China and significantly improves the spatial description of reservoirs.
Response surface models for effects of temperature and previous temperature on lag time and specific growth rate of Salmonella Typhimurium on cooked ground chicken breast.

Response surface models were developed for effects of temperature (16 to 348C) and previous temperature (pretemperature; 16 to 348C) on lag time (l) and specific growth rate (m )o fSalmonella Typhimurium on cooked ground chicken breast. The primary objective was to determine whether pretemperature is a major factor affecting growth of Salmonella Typhimurium. Growth curves for model development (n 5 32) and model testing (n 5 18) were fit to a two-phase linear equation that directly estimated l and m. Response surface models for ln l and ln m as a function of temperature and pretemperature were obtained by regression analysis. Lag time and m of Salmonella Typhimurium were affected by temperature but not pretemperature. Models were tested against data not used in their development. Prediction error (model accuracy) was 13.4% for l and 11.3% for m, whereas the median relative error of predictions (model bias) was 23.0% for l and 6.8% for m. Results indicated that the models provide reliable predictions of l and m of Salmonella Typhimurium on cooked ground chicken breast within the matrix of conditions modeled. In addition, pretemperature (16 to 348C) is not a major factor affecting growth of Salmonella Typhimurium.
An Introductory Exposure to Theories of the Policy Process for Undergraduates and Environmental Policy Students

There is currently a movement underway to encourage scholars to develop and refine theories of the policymaking process with precision so that we can improve the accuracy of our knowledge surrounding the making of public policies (see Sabatier and Weible 2014). The purpose of this manuscript is to lay out these theories for undergraduate students interested in the topic of theory and/or environmental policymaking and does so by drawing on Sabatier and Weible’s (2014) Theories of the Policy Process and the 2013 special issue of Policy Studies Journal on the topic of New Theories of the Policy Process. The manuscript begins by defining epistemology and theory-building and then examines Rational Choice Theory, the Institutional Analysis and Design Framework, Multiple Streams Framework, Punctuated Equilibrium Framework, Advocacy Coalition Framework, the Ecology of Games Framework, and Policy Feedback Theory. An illustrative example is used for each of the theories to bring it into clearer focus. Discussion questions are included at the end of the manuscript.
A Model of Strategy Mix Choice for Planned Social Change

The universal strategy approach practiced by change agents is argued to be relatively inefficient and may result in boomerang effects when attempting to motivate planned social change. Based on the...
Design History Research in the Digital Age

(2014). Design History Research in the Digital Age. Design and Culture: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 243-249.
Building America Residential System Research Results: Achieving 30% Whole House Energy Savings Level in Marine Climates; January 2006 - December 2006

This report summarizes research results for the 30% energy savings level and demonstrates that lead builders can successfully provide 30% homes in the Marine Climate Region on a cost-neutral basis.
Hearing Test Results of Noise Exposed Workers in A Diamond Factory of Qingyuan City

[Objective]To understand the hearing loss status among workers with noise exposure in a diamond factory of Qingyuan City,and provide evidence for implementation of noise hazard control in the enterprise.[Methods]Pure tone audiometry was conducted on 636 workers exposed to noise according to GBZ188-2007 physical specification.[Results]The detection rate of hearing loss was 22.64%,the difference between age groups was significant(χ2=14.31,P005),the difference between workers with different service lengths was also significant(χ2=10.75,P0.05).The hearing loss was not directly related with gender(χ2=1.89,P005).[Conclusion]The hearing loss of workers in this factory is serious,which should attract great attention and deserve positive and effective control measures.
Herb-drug interactions: St. John's wort and prescription medications

The use of herbal medications has been steadily increasing. From 1990 to 1997, use of self-prescribed herbal medications increased from 2.5% to 12%, and people consulting herbal medicine practitioners increased from 10.2% to 15.1%.1-4
Explaining women’s participation in fitness boot camp

This study seeks to advance the understanding of how women become psychologically connected to intense physically active leisure in order to develop strategies that promote engagement in physical activity. In this study 62 women were surveyed to determine their psychological connection to fitness boot camp. When women participate in fitness boot camp, they participate for the enjoyment and interesting program elements. Also participants enjoy discussing fitness boot camp, but their life is not organized around participation. Participants do not use fitness boot camp as a means of self-identification; however, they are committed to participation. Nearly one half of participants participate with a friend. This indicates the importance of a shared experience.
Hyporheic Zone Flow Disruption from Channel Linings: Implications for the Hydrology and Geochemistry of an Urban Stream, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Cement channel linings in an urban stream in St. Louis, Missouri increase event water contributions during flooding, shorten transport times, and magnify geochemical variability on both short and seasonal timescales due to disruption of hyporheic flowpaths. Detailed analyses of water isotopes, major and trace elements, and in situ water quality data for an individual flood event reveal that baseflow contributions rise by 8% only 320 m downstream of the point where this particular channel changes from cement-lined to unlined. However, additional hydrograph separations indicate baseflow contributions are variable and can be much higher (average baseflow increase is 16%). Stream electrical conductivity (EC) and solute concentrations in the lined reach were up to 25% lower during peak flow than in the unlined channel, indicating a greater event flow fraction. In contrast, during low flow, stream EC and solute concentrations in the lined reach were up to 30% higher due to the restricted inflow of more dilute groundwater. Over longer timescales, EC, solute concentrations, turbidity, and bacterial loads decrease downstream signifying increasing contributions of dilute baseflow. The decreased connectivity of surface waters and groundwaters along the hyporheic zone in lined channels increases the hydrologic and geochemical variability of urban streams.
The Embodiment of Responsibility: "Confession" and "Compensation" in Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea

We discuss two contexts of responsibility for action in Mount Hagen, confession and compensation. Verbal confessions of either wrongdoing or resentment against wrongdoing are important signs of the exercise of agency, but if they are not made, it is expected that sickness will result. "Substance" thus takes over where "agency" fails, and the two are intimately linked. Compensation payments can be seen as nonverbal equivalents of confession or the logical result of it, and if they are not paid, sickness or a failure of wounds to heal is thought to be likely as a result. In contemporary times both confession and compensation have been deflected toward more individuated and commodified forms through the influence of Christianity and monetization of the economy.
Preventing Death from Exertional Heat Stroke—The Long Road from Evidence to Policy

Exertional heat stroke (EHS) is among the leading causes of sudden death during sport and physical activity. However, previous research has shown that EHS is 100% survivable when rapidly recognized and appropriate treatment is provided. Establishing policies to address issues related to the prevention and treatment of EHS, including heat acclimatization, environment-based activity modification, body temperature assessment using rectal thermometry, and immediate, onsite treatment using cold-water immersion attenuates the risk of EHS mortality and morbidity. This article provides an overview of the current evidence regarding EHS prevention and management. The transfer of scientific knowledge to clinical practice has shown great success for saving EHS patients. Further efforts are needed to implement evidence-based policies to not only mitigate EHS fatality but also to reduce the overall incidence of EHS.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) paired with massed practice training to promote adaptive plasticity and motor recovery in chronic incomplete tetraplegia: A pilot study

Objective: Our goal was to determine if pairing transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with rehabilitation for two weeks could augment adaptive plasticity offered by these residual pathways...
Racial variations in response to intralesional collagenase clostridium histolyticum in men with Peyronie's disease.

Background: An examination of potential racial variations between Caucasian American (CA) and African American (AA) men in the efficacy and safety of collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) in the treatment of Peyronie’s disease (PD). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records for all patients treated with CCH for PD between 04/2014 and 05/2017. Patients were divided into two groups based on their self-reported race. The primary outcomes of interest were final change in curvature after CCH treatment regardless of number of CCH cycles received, and frequency of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). Results: A total of 159 patients were included in the study, of which 146 (91.8%) were CA while 13 (8.2%) were AA. Mean duration of PD was 28.3 months for CA patients and 16.8 months for CA patients (P=0.436). There was no significant difference in final change in curvature CA and AA patients (15.9° vs . 13.1° respectively, P=0.445). There was no statistically significant difference in frequency of TRAEs between CA patients (17, 12%) and AA patients (0, 0%) (P=0.208). Conclusions: Although racial variations in efficacy and safety of CCH in patients with PD have not been addressed in the literature, preliminary results from our study suggest that CCH therapy may be equally efficacious and safe in both CA and AA men. There was no statistically significant difference in final change in curvature, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores, penile length, or TRAEs after CCH treatment between CA and AA patients.
Adolescent cannabinoid exposure effects on natural reward seeking and learning in rats

Adolescence is characterized by endocannabinoid (ECB)-dependent refinement of neural circuits underlying emotion, learning, and motivation. As a result, adolescent cannabinoid receptor stimulation (ACRS) with phytocannabinoids or synthetic agonists like “Spice” cause robust and persistent changes in both behavior and circuit architecture in rodents, including in reward-related regions like medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Here, we examine persistent effects of ACRS with the cannabinoid receptor 1/2 specific agonist WIN55-212,2 (WIN; 1.2 mg/kg/day, postnatal day (PD) 30–43), on natural reward-seeking behaviors and ECB system function in adult male Long Evans rats (PD 60+). WIN ACRS increased palatable food intake, and altered attribution of incentive salience to food cues in a sign-/goal-tracking paradigm. ACRS also blunted hunger-induced sucrose intake, and resulted in increased anandamide and oleoylethanolamide levels in NAc after acute food restriction not seen in controls. ACRS did not affect food neophobia or locomotor response to a novel environment, but did increase preference for exploring a novel environment. These results demonstrate that ACRS causes long-term increases in natural reward-seeking behaviors and ECB system function that persist into adulthood, potentially increasing liability to excessive natural reward seeking later in life.
Correlated disasters and need-based transfers: The limits of risk pooling systems in simulated ecologies

Throughout their evolutionary history, humans have faced risks including drought, disease, natural disasters and other unexpected negative events. To deal with these risks, humans use a variety of risk management strategies, some of which involve relying on others in times of need in order to pool risk. However, the effectiveness of risk pooling strategies can be limited when there is high synchronicity of need. Here we investigate the limits of two resource transfer systems for pooling risk (need-based transfers, NBT, and debt-based transfers, DBT) in simulated ecologies with different degrees of correlated disasters using an agent-based model of the need-based transfer system of the Maasai. Overall, we find that survival is higher when shocks are less correlated among partners, when groups are larger, and when network structure is characterized by preferential attachment networks, which have a more modular structure than regular or small world networks. We also find that NBT strategies consistently outperform DBT strategies across a wide variety of parameter values and that the advantage of NBT over DBT is greatest when shocks are less correlated and group size is small. Our results also suggest that systems of sharing that are based on recipient need are less vulnerable than systems that are based on debt and credit, especially in small world and regular networks.
Factors Governing MgO(111) Faceting in the Thermal Decomposition of Oxide Precursors

The preparation of metal oxide particles, such as MgO, NiO, and ZnO, exposing polar facets via the decomposition of suitable precursors in air, molten salts, ionic liquids, or other media has been reported; however, the main driving force(s) and factors that determine their morphology have largely remained elusive. For instance, the adsorption of ions within a molten medium on a growing oxide surface has been proposed to stabilize MgO{111} facets by the so-called molten salt route (MSR). In this article, we examine the thermal decomposition of MgO precursors to assess the influence of precursor decomposition pathways, including the physical state of the reaction intermediates and the possibility of dissolution–recrystallization processes in the formation of octahedral MgO particles. We found that solid-to-solid conversions and recrystallizations in molten nitrates or chlorides are usually incapable of producing well-defined MgO{111} facets, indicating that ion adsorption on MgO may not be the main morphol...
POSTOPERATIVE CONTIGUOUS CATHETER TRANSABDOMINAL DECOMPRESSION IN COLONIC ANASTOMOSES: REPORT OF 17 CASES.

A series of 17 patients is presented in which various segments of large bowel were anastomosed, and wherein decompression was accomplished, utilizing a method of contiguous transabdominal catheter decompression. The method, indications and related factors are discussed.
The Logic of History as a Semiotic Process of Question and Answer in the Thought of R. G. Collingwood

John Locke (1690), in naming and chartering the then as yet non-existent science of Semiotic, which would treat of words and ideas in their own right, foretold that it would provide us with a logic and critic unlike anything hitherto known.
Split-feed counterflow reverse osmosis for brine concentration

Abstract Brine concentration allows for increased recovery ratios in water treatment systems, reduction of waste volumes, and the production of minerals from saline brines. Existing methods of brine concentration, while robust, are often very energy intensive. Better efficiency may be possible using Counterflow Reverse Osmosis (CFRO), a membrane-based, pressure-driven brine concentration technology. The present work develops a model for CFRO. Using this model, a single CFRO module is simulated and its performance characterized. Exergy destruction within a single-stage system is analyzed, which provides insights for configuring and optimizing multistaged systems. Additionally, a parametric analysis of membrane parameters provides direction for the development of CFRO-specific membranes. Two existing configurations of CFRO are discussed, and compared with a new third configuration, split-feed CFRO, which is presented here for the first time. Split-feed CFRO systems are simulated and optimized to provide guidance for system design. A variety of multistage systems operating at a range of recovery ratios are simulated, and the results compared are with existing desalination and brine concentration technologies, showing the potential for improved recovery ratios and reduced energy consumption.
Attenuated Oral Typhoid Vaccine Ty21a Elicits Lamina Propria and Intra-Epithelial Lymphocyte Tissue-Resident Effector Memory CD8 T Responses in the Human Terminal Ileum.

Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) are newly defined memory T cells (TM) distinct from circulating TM subsets which have the potential to mount rapid protective immune responses at the site of infection. However, very limited information is available regarding the role and contribution of TRM in vaccine-mediated immune responses in humans at the site of infection. Here, we studied the role and contribution of tissue resident memory T cells (TRM) located in the terminal ileum (TI) (favored site of infection for S. Typhi) following oral Ty21a immunization in humans. We examined TI-lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) and intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IEL) CD8+ TRM subsets obtained from healthy volunteers undergoing medically-indicated colonoscopies that were either immunized with Ty21a or unvaccinated. No significant differences in the frequencies of LPMC CD8+ TRM and CD8+CD69+CD103- T cells subsets were observed following Ty21a-immunization. However, LPMC CD8+ TRM exhibited significantly higher levels of cytokines (IFN, IL-17A, and TNF) ex-vivo in Ty21a-vaccinated than in unvaccinated volunteers. LPMC CD8+ TRM S. Typhi-specific responses were evaluated using S. Typhi-infected targets and found to produce significantly higher levels of S. Typhi-specific IL-17A. In contrast, LPMC CD8+CD69+CD103- T cells produced significantly increased S. Typhi-specific levels of IFN, IL-2 and IL-17A. Finally, we assessed CD8+ TRM in IEL and observed that the frequency of IEL- CD8+ TRM is significantly lower following Ty21a immunization. However, ex-vivo IEL- CD8+ TRM elicited by Ty21a immunization spontaneously produced significantly higher levels of cytokines (IFN, IL-17A, IL-2 and TNF). This study provides the first demonstration of the effect of oral Ty21a vaccination on CD8+ TRM subsets (non-specific and S. Typhi-specific) responses in the LPMC and IEL compartment of the human terminal ileum mucosa, contributing novel information to our understanding of the generation of mucosal immune responses following oral Ty21a-immunization.
Accounting for a wide variety of binaural detection data by combining cross-correlation and signal-detection theory approaches

We will discuss several experimental contexts in which a Theory of Signal Detection (TSD) approach to modeling has yielded successful, straightforward, and intuitively appealing accounts of data concerning binaural auditory processing. The primary focus will be on recently published empirical data and quantitative modeling from our laboratory. Those reports demonstrate that data obtained in binaural detection experiments conducted across the last five decades can be accounted for by combining a signal-detection-based decision variable with a cross-correlation-based model of binaural processing that incorporates stages of peripheral auditory processing. Notably, some of the data obtained in those experiments had, therefore, been “problematic” in that they had remained either theoretically unaccounted for or, at best, had been only accounted for via ad hoc approaches. Key to developing the unified account of those experimental results was the calculation and inclusion of the variability of the interaural co...
A Simple End-to-End Question Answering Model for Product Information

When evaluating a potential product purchase, customers may have many questions in mind. They want to get adequate information to determine whether the product of interest is worth their money. In this paper we present a simple deep learning model for answering questions regarding product facts and specifications. Given a question and a product specification, the model outputs a score indicating their relevance. To train and evaluate our proposed model, we collected a dataset of 7,119 questions that are related to 153 different products. Experimental results demonstrate that –despite its simplicity– the performance of our model is shown to be comparable to a more complex state-of-the-art baseline.
Realizing Behavior Level Associative Memory Learning Through Three-Dimensional Memristor-Based Neuromorphic Circuits

Associative memory is a widespread self-learning method in biological livings, which enables the nervous system to remember the relationship between two concurrent events. The significance of rebuilding associative memory at a behavior level is not only to reveal a way of designing a brain-like self-learning neuromorphic system but also to explore a method of comprehending the learning mechanism of a nervous system. In this paper, an associative memory learning at a behavior level is realized that successfully associates concurrent visual and auditory information together (pronunciation and image of digits). The task is achieved by associating the large-scale artificial neural networks (ANNs) together instead of relating multiple analog signals. In this way, the information carried and preprocessed by these ANNs can be associated. A neuron has been designed, named signal intensity encoding neurons (SIENs), to encode the output data of the ANNs into the magnitude and frequency of the analog spiking signals. Then, the spiking signals are correlated together with an associative neural network, implemented with a three-dimensional (3-D) memristor array. Furthermore, the selector devices in the traditional memristor cells limiting the design area have been avoided by our novel memristor weight updating scheme. With the novel SIENs, the 3-D memristive synapse, and the proposed memristor weight updating scheme, the simulation results demonstrate that our proposed associative memory learning method and the corresponding circuit implementations successfully associate the pronunciation and image of digits together, which mimics a human-like associative memory learning behavior.
Antibiotic irrigation during pancreatoduodenectomy to prevent infection and pancreatic fistula: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract Background Surgical site infection affects 25% of patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy. This double-blind, randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of intraperitoneal antibiotic irrigation in decreasing infection and pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy. Methods Patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy were randomized (1:1 ratio) to intraperitoneal antibiotic (polymyxin B, 500,000 units/L) irrigation or 0.9% NaCl irrigation. All patients received 1 dose of standard parenteral antibiotics within 1 hour of incision. The trial was powered to detect a 15% difference in any surgical site infection (primary endpoint) within 30 days after pancreatoduodenectomy. Results One hundred ninety patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy were randomized: 95 to antibiotic irrigation and 95 to saline irrigation. Groups were well matched regarding demographics, diagnosis, preoperative biliary stenting, bactibilia, texture of the pancreatic parenchyma, pancreatic and bile duct size, portal vein resection, and anastomotic technique. Overall, 30-day surgical site infection was observed in 24 (13%) patients: antibiotic irrigation in 10 (11%) versus saline in 14 (15%) (P = .62). Superficial (n = 9, 5%) and organ-space (n = 15, 8%) surgical site infection rates were 3% and 7% (antibiotic) and 6% and 8% (saline), respectively (P > .31). Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula occurred in 11 (12%) patients in the antibiotic arm and 10 (11%) in saline controls (P > .95). Conclusion The addition of antibiotic solution to intraperitoneal irrigation does not decrease the incidence of postoperative infectious complications or pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy.
Odontogenic sinusitis is a common cause of unilateral sinus disease with maxillary sinus opacification

Background Unilateral sinus disease (USD) carries a broader differential diagnosis than bilateral sinus disease, including various inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. Odontogenic sinusitis (ODS) is a common cause of unilateral maxillary sinusitis, but few studies have examined its incidence among all USD etiologies. The main purposes of this prospective study were to determine the incidences of ODS and other etiologies causing USD with complete maxillary sinus opacification on computed tomography (CT), and to compare CT features of ODS and non-odontogenic USD patients. In addition, clinical features of the ODS cohort are described. Methods A prospective case series of 134 patients with USD with complete maxillary sinus opacification on CT was conducted from August 2015 to November 2018. Based on nasal endoscopy, sinus CT, and dental examination and imaging, patients were categorized as having unilateral ODS or non-odontogenic USD. Patients with non-odontogenic USD were categorized as inflammatory or neoplastic. Demographic and clinical data were reported for ODS patients. Results Of the 134 patients, 45% had ODS, 36% had non-odontogenic inflammatory conditions, 17% had inverted papilloma, and 2% had malignancies. Of the 60 ODS cases, 86.7% were associated with middle meatal purulence on nasal endoscopy. On CT, 88.3% had extramaxillary sinus disease extension, and 65.5% of CT reports made no mention of dental pathology. Conclusion ODS caused nearly 50% of all USD cases with maxillary sinus opacification on CT, and was the most common individual etiology. ODS was frequently associated with anterior ethmoid and frontal sinus disease on CT, and middle meatal purulence on nasal endoscopy.
Medicare coverage is an independent predictor of prolonged hospitalization after primary total joint arthroplasty

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between insurance type and length of stay (LOS) in primary total joint arthroplasty. A retrospective review of 848 patients was performed. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on their insurance type: Medicare, Medicaid, or commercial coverage. Medicare patients had a significantly higher rate of LOS > 2 days than the Medicaid and commercial groups (P .05). Arthroplasty surgeons not experienced with outpatient surgery should not be pressured to default to outpatient admission in Medicare patients.
Time-of-flight resolved light field fluctuations reveal deep human tissue physiology

Red blood cells (RBCs) transport oxygen to tissues and remove carbon dioxide. Diffuse optical flowmetry (DOF) assesses deep tissue RBC dynamics by measuring coherent fluctuations of multiply scattered near-infrared light intensity. While classical DOF measurements empirically correlate with blood flow, they remain far-removed from light scattering physics and difficult to interpret in layered media. To advance DOF measurements closer to the physics, here we introduce an interferometric technique, surmounting challenges of bulk motion to apply it in awake humans. We reveal two measurement dimensions: optical phase, and time-of-flight (TOF), the latter with 22 picosecond resolution. With this multidimensional data, we directly confirm the unordered, or Brownian, nature of optically probed RBC dynamics typically assumed in classical DOF. We illustrate how incorrect absorption assumptions, anisotropic RBC scattering, and layered tissues may confound classical DOF. By comparison, our direct method enables accurate and comprehensive assessment of blood flow dynamics in humans. Diffuse optical flowmetry is widely used to assess blood flow dynamics, but has remained difficult to interpret. Here, the authors use interferometric near-infrared spectroscopy, revealing additional information about optical phase and time-of-flight, and observe the Brownian nature of blood flow dynamics in humans.
Insights into the Gas Adsorption Mechanisms in Metal–Organic Frameworks from Classical Molecular Simulations

Classical molecular simulations can provide significant insights into the gas adsorption mechanisms and binding sites in various metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These simulations involve assessing the interactions between the MOF and an adsorbate molecule by calculating the potential energy of the MOF-adsorbate system using a functional form that generally includes nonbonded interaction terms, such as the repulsion/dispersion and permanent electrostatic energies. Grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) is the most widely used classical method that is carried out to simulate gas adsorption and separation in MOFs and identify the favorable adsorbate binding sites. In this review, we provide an overview of the GCMC methods that are normally utilized to perform these simulations. We also describe how a typical force field is developed for the MOF, which is required to compute the classical potential energy of the system. Furthermore, we highlight some of the common analysis techniques that have been used to determine the locations of the preferential binding sites in these materials. We also review some of the early classical molecular simulation studies that have contributed to our working understanding of the gas adsorption mechanisms in MOFs. Finally, we show that the implementation of classical polarization for simulations in MOFs can be necessary for the accurate modeling of an adsorbate in these materials, particularly those that contain open-metal sites. In general, molecular simulations can provide a great complement to experimental studies by helping to rationalize the favorable MOF-adsorbate interactions and the mechanism of gas adsorption.
An Optimization Framework for Secure Delivery in Heterogeneous Coded Caching Systems

This paper investigates the performance of cache-aided systems with heterogeneous caches and secure delivery. In particular, we consider users with unequal caches and assume the signals transmitted during the delivery phase to be overheard by an external eavesdropper which must not gain any information about the system’s files. We study server-based delivery and device-to-device-based delivery where the server does not participate in the delivery phase. For each scenario, assuming uncoded placement and linear delivery schemes, we provide an optimization framework to minimize the secure delivery load. We show that the secure delivery requirement can be satisfied by modifying the memory capacity constraints in the non-secure framework to take into account the cost of caching keys. In addition, we show that the cost of secure delivery is negligible for caching systems with large number of files.
Salivary Biomarkers and Neurodegenerative Conditions

A major drawback for biomarker research on neurodegenerative diseases is that the pathologically affected tissue, i.e., the brain, cannot easily be accessed for sampling or biopsy. Hence, researchers have turned to peripheral tissues as biospecimens for such studies. The most commonly used biofluid is blood (serum or plasma), although urine and sweat have also been studied. This chapter will focus on the use of saliva as a biofluid for biomarker research studies on neurodegenerative diseases. Saliva is known to contain an abundance of hormones, proteins, and nucleic acid components that reflect physiological function, including several neurodegenerative disease-related proteins such as tau, amyloid beta, alpha-synuclein, and the huntingtin protein. Levels of these proteins in saliva have been proposed to represent useful biomarkers for their indicated diseases. This chapter will review studies demonstrating the presence of central nervous system proteins in saliva and the potential for salivary proteins to serve as biomarkers for neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, with a focus on three of the most common neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease.
Enriching Statistical Inferences on Brain Connectivity for Alzheimer's Disease Analysis via Latent Space Graph Embedding

We develop a graph node embedding Deep Neural Network that leverages statistical outcome measure and graph structure given in the data. The objective is to identify regions of interests (ROIs) in the brain that are affected by topological changes of brain connectivity due to specific neurodegenerative diseases by enriching statistical group analysis. We tackle this problem by learning a latent space where statistical inference can be made more effectively. Our experiments on a large-scale Alzheimer's Disease dataset show promising result identifying ROIs that show statistically significant group differences separating even early and late Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) groups whose effect sizes are very subtle.
Drug use disorder following early life exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-contaminated drinking water: a retrospective cohort study

Many studies of adults with occupational exposure to solvents such as tetrachloroethylene (PCE) have shown adverse effects on cognition, mood and behavioral problems. Much less is known about neurotoxic effects in early life at lower exposure levels seen in community settings. We recently reported that illicit drug use was more frequent among adults from Cape Cod, Massachusetts who were exposed to PCE-contaminated drinking water during gestation and early childhood than their unexposed counterparts. Using newly collected data from this population-based retrospective cohort study, the current analysis examines whether early life PCE exposure is also associated with drug use disorder over the life course. Three-hundred and sixty-three subjects with prenatal and early childhood PCE exposure and 255 unexposed subjects were studied. These individuals (median age: 40–41 years) completed self-administered questionnaires on the eleven established diagnostic criteria for drug use disorder and confounding variables. A validated leaching and transport model was used to estimate exposure to PCE-contaminated water. Overall, 23.3% of subjects reported having at least one criterion for drug use disorder over their lifetime. Early life PCE exposure was associated with a modest increase in the lifetime presence of one or more diagnostic criteria for drug use disorder (adjusted RR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0–1.8). Compared to unexposed subjects, PCE-exposed subjects were more likely to report having most diagnostic criteria of drug use disorder, including neglecting major roles due to drug use, physical and psychological problems related to drug use, and giving up activities due to drug use. No dose-response relationships were observed with increasing levels of PCE exposure. These results suggest that exposure to PCE-contaminated drinking water during early life modestly increases the risk of developing diagnostic criteria for drug use disorder later in life. Because this study has several limitations, these findings should be confirmed in follow-up investigations of other exposed populations with more diverse racial and socioeconomic characteristics.
Zero-Brane Matrix Mechanics, Monopoles and Membrane Approach in QCD

We conjecture that a T-dual form of pure QCD describes dynamics of point-like monopoles. T-duality transforms the QCD Lagrangian into a matrix quantum mechanics of zero-branes which we identify with monopoles. At generic points of the monopole moduli space, the SU(N) gauge group is broken down to U(1)N-1 reproducing the key feature of 't Hooft's Abelian projection. There are certain points in the moduli space where monopole positions coincide, gauge symmetry is enhanced and gluons emerge as massless excitations. We show that there is a linearly rising potential between zero-branes. This indicates the presence of a stretched flux tube between monopoles. The lowest energy state is achieved when monopoles are sitting on top of each other and gauge symmetry is enhanced. In this case they behave as free massive particles and can be condensed. In fact, we find a constant eigenfunction of the corresponding Hamiltonian which describes condensation of monopoles. Using the monopole quantum mechanics, we argue that large-N QCD in this T-dual picture is a theory of a closed bosonic membrane propagating in five-dimensional space–time. QCD point-like monopoles can be regarded in this approach as constituents of the membrane.
Pediatric orthopaedic surgeon time utilization in clinic: a time-motion study

Introduction Time on the electronic medical record (EMR) has been correlated with lower career satisfaction and burnout. However, to our knowledge, no pediatric orthopaedic study has quantified how much time a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon devotes to the EMR while seeing patients in clinic. The purpose of this study is to quantify how pediatric orthopaedic surgeons spend time in clinic and to determine how many computer mouse clicks are needed to complete a patient encounter. Methods 2 pediatric orthopaedic surgeons were individually observed and activities were timed during 3 clinic …
Wind Farm Predictive Coordination Control Strategy

As the penetration of wind power increases, the operation risks of power system become serious and it is of vital importance to improve the control performance of wind power. Based on the predictive coordination control theory, a predictive coordination control framework is proposed. Three control modules, which contain wind power forecast module, online optimization module and feedback module are presented. In the wind power forecast module, the feasibility of wind turbine power forecast is analyzed and a wind turbine neural network forecast method considering the time delay of wind speed is proposed. In the online optimization module, the targets of maximizing the self-reserve and minimizing the control error considering the constraints of wind speed, wind turbine power and wind turbine model are established. In the feedback module, control errors are distributed based on the actual power shortage and regulation space of wind turbine. The simulation verifies the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Within-firm Labor Heterogeneity and Firm Performance: Evidence from Employee Political Ideology Conflicts

This paper explores the implication of within-firm labor heterogeneity for firm performance through the lens of employee political ideology. Using individual campaign donation information to capture political ideology, I find that political ideology conflicts, both those within employees and those between CEOs and employees, are negatively associated with firms’ future operating performance. This effect is stronger for firms whose employees are more geographically concentrated and more sophisticated. The reduced labor productivity and abnormal employee turnover are two plausible mechanisms through which employee political ideology conflicts hurt firm performance. To establish causality, I use an instrumental variable approach which relies on the exogenous variation in political ideology caused by local television station ownership changes.
The Effects of At-Birth Adoption on Atypical Behavior and Anxiety: A Nonhuman Primate Model.

Objective Adopted children tend to show an increased risk for a variety of psychopathological outcomes, even when adoption occurs at birth, which some suggest is a result of nonrandom assignment of adoptees and parents. This study uses a nonhuman primate model, in which adoptions were randomly assigned, to investigate the behavioral and physiological outcomes associated with at-birth adoption. Method Immediately following birth, rhesus monkey infants were randomly assigned to be reared by either their biological mother (n = 113) or by an unrelated, lactating, adoptive mother (n = 34). At 6 months of age, infant behavior and physiology were assessed during a stressful series of mother−infant separations. Four years later, stress-related behaviors were measured following confrontation by an unfamiliar intruder, an ecologically meaningful stressor. Results When compared to infants reared by their biological mothers, adopted infants exhibited more behavioral withdrawal and higher plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations in response to separation. These behavioral differences persisted 4 years later during a stressful intruder challenge, with adoptees exhibiting more behavioral withdrawal, stereotypies, and impulsive approaches of the potentially aggressive intruder. Conclusion Compared to infants reared by their biological mothers, adopted infants exhibited more behavioral inhibition, impulsivity, and higher ACTH concentrations, even when subjects were randomly assigned to be adopted or to remain with their biological mother. To the extent that these findings generalize to humans, they suggest that the overall risk for psychopathology in adopted individuals persists even after random assignment to adoption conditions.
The Z-Box illusion: dominance of motion perception among multiple 3D objects

In the present article, we examine a novel illusion of motion—the Z-Box illusion—in which the presence of a bounding object influences the perception of motion of an ambiguous stimulus that appears within. Specifically, the stimuli are a structure-from-motion (SFM) particle orb and a wireframe cube. The orb could be perceived as rotating clockwise or counterclockwise while the cube could only be perceived as moving in one direction. Both stimuli were presented on a two-dimensional (2D) display with inferred three-dimensional (3D) properties. In a single experiment, we examine motion perception of a particle orb, both in isolation and when it appears within a rotating cube. Participants indicated the orb’s direction of motion and whether the direction changed at any point during the trial. Accuracy was the critical measure while motion direction, the number of particles in the orb and presence of the wireframe cube were all manipulated. The results suggest that participants could perceive the orb’s true rotation in the absence of the cube so long as it was made up of at least ten particles. The presence of the cube dominated perception as participants consistently perceived congruent motion of the orb and cube, even when they moved in objectively different directions. These findings are considered as they relate to prior research on motion perception, computational modelling of motion perception, structure from motion and 3D object perception.