cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In-situ real time monitoring of the polymerization in gel-cast ceramic processes

Gelcasting requires making a mixture of a slurry of ceramic powder in a solution of organic monomers and casting it in a mold. Gelcasting is different from injection molding in that it separates mold filling from setting during conversion of the ceramic slurry to a formed green part. In this work, NMR spectroscopy and imaging were used for in-situ monitoring of the gelation process and gelcasting of alumina. {sup 1}H NMR spectra and images are obtained during polymerization of a mixture of soluble reactive acrylamide monomers. Polymerization was initiated by adding an initiator and an accelerator to form long- chain, crosslinked polymers. Multidimensional NMR imaging was used for in-situ monitoring of the process and for verification of homogeneous polymerization. Comparison of the modeled intensities with acquired images shows a direction extraction of T{sub 1} data from the images.
Nerve Sparing Post-Chemotherapy Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection for Advanced Testicular Cancer

AbstractPurpose: Nerve sparing techniques are used routinely during retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in patients with low stage testis cancer in an attempt to preserve postoperative ejaculation. Preservation of ejaculation without an increased retroperitoneal recurrence rate in such patients prompted us to reevaluate the role of nerve sparing techniques in select patients undergoing post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.Materials and Methods: Of 472 patients who underwent post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection between March 1988 and January 1995, 93 (19.7 percent) underwent a nerve sparing procedure. Two patients died of disseminated cancer within 6 months after post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. In 10 patients the ejaculatory status could not be established from the clinical notes and the patient was lost to followup. The remaining 81 patients form the basis of this report. Disease status, complications and ejaculatory status were evaluated. M...
Status of Gas-Stimulation Technology Employing Nuclear Explosions: ABSTRACT

Recent studies conclude that the tight gas sands in the Rocky Mountain region contain a resource potential of nearly 600 Tcf of natural gas. Of this amount, approximately 300 Tcf may be recovered through the use of nuclear explosives, assuming that nuclearly stimulated wells will produce for 50 years. This volume is equivalent to the present proved national gas reserves of 290 Tcf. Significant results have been obtained from full-scale tests conducted to date, namely Gasbuggy and Rulison. Additional progress has been made in further developing this technology, including (1) the successful testing of a small-diameter (less than 8-in.), low-tritium producing explosive designed specifically for gas-stimulation applications; (2) the completion of technical plans for the Rio B anco test which will stimulate a 1,200-ft gas-bearing section; (3) progress on computer-modeling studies comparing simultaneous versus sequential detonations in the same hole; (4) the formulation of the first experiment needed to develop a sequential explosion system. Extensive studies also have been made on the safety of this technique. Detailed investigations show that users of the gas will be exposed to an increment of radioactivity equal to about 1% of the natural radioactivity in our background. Ground motion due to the nuclear detonation is unavoidable. However, by proper choice of yield, and location, and by sequential detonation, it can be controlled to limit inconvenience and damage such as plaster cracking. Public acceptance will depend largely on a clear understanding of the value of the benefits of the program as compared to the inconveniences involved. The benefits include additional local revenues to those near to stimulated fields, royalties to landowners, and, to the nation, an additional supply of natural gas, which is very much in demand. End_of_Article - Last_Page 809------------
Oscillating hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism - a case-based review.

Objective/Background : To discuss a unique clinical entity where inappropriate activity of inhibitory and stimulatory thyroid antibodies resulted in alternating hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Methods : We report the clinical history, laboratory data, and results of imaging studies, along with the pathophysiological mechanism and the subsequent treatment in a patient with fluctuating thyroid functional status. Results : A 52-year-old female was treated for hypothyroidism for more than two decades. She started having symptoms of hyperthyroidism along with a suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). She continued to have persistent symptoms despite stopping her levothyroxine. Her free T3 and T4 were elevated along with an increased radioactive uptake scan. She was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and started on methimazole, which relieved her symptoms for a few months. Subsequently, her TSH began to rise beyond expected level, her hypothyroid symptoms reappeared, and methimazole was discontinued. Following this, she again developed symptoms of hyperthyroidism and thyroid values revealed an undetectable TSH. She had at least two such documented cycles of hyperthyroidism alternating with hypothyroidism. She was eventually treated with radioactive iodine ablation followed by levothyroxine replacement. Swinging dominance of TSH-blocking autoantibodies (TBAb) and thyroid-stimulating autoantibodies (TSAb) triggered by methimazole and levothyroxine, respectively, is likely the underlying mechanism. Conclusions : Physicians should be vigilant to the phenomenon of spontaneous conversion of hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism, or vice versa, in a subset of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. Repeated assessment of thyroid function along with measurement of TBAb and TSAb are invaluable in identifying this rare clinical entity. Keywords: hypothyroidism; hyperthyroidism; TBAb; TSAb; oscillating (Published: 25 November 2014) Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2014, 4 : 25734 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v4.25734
Children's Beliefs about Reactions to Parental Divorce

Children's beliefs about reactions to parental divorce were explored by using nonclinical subjects' responses to a 25-item structured questionnaire. The 166 subjects were equally divided between boys and girls, 3rd and 5th graders, and presence-absence of marital disruption in their history. A factor analysis developed three scales which demonstrated good test-retest reliability. Fifth graders and boys believed children would be more likely to respond to divorce through Active Coping. Intact Home subjects more so than Disrupted Home subjects believed there would be less Active Coping and more experience of Abandonment in response to divorce. Implications for conceptualizing children's coping with divorce and possible interventions are discussed.
Nutritive Value of Selected Proteins and Protein Combinations II. Biological Value Predictability

E STIMATION of the biological value of proteins, on the basis of amino acid composition, has become useful in attempting to prediet biological values of proteins and in eliminating the labor and time required to determine the biological value experimentally. Mitchell and Block’ proposed the “chemical score” method which defines the calculated biological value as the per cent deficit of the most limiting essential amino acid in a protein as cornpared with the content of this amino acid in egg protein. A more complete estimate of protein quality can be obtained by the “essential amino acid index” which was developed by Kuehnau2 and Oser3 and later modified by
Electrode microchamber for noninvasive perturbation of mammalian cells with nanosecond pulsed electric fields

Nanosecond pulsed electric fields can pass through the external membrane of biological cells and disturb fast-responding intracellular structures and processes. To enable real-time imaging and investigation of these phenomena, a microchamber with integral electrodes and optical path for observing individual cells exposed to ultrashort electric pulses was designed and fabricated utilizing photolithographic and microelectronic methods. SU-8 photoresist was patterned to form straight sidewalls from 10 to 30 /spl mu/m in height, with gold film deposited on the top and sidewalls for conductive, nonreactive electrodes and a uniform electric field. Channel dimensions (10-30 /spl mu/m/spl times/100 /spl mu/m/spl times/12000 /spl mu/m) are suitable for observations of mammalian cells during nanosecond, megavolt-per-meter pulsed electric field exposure. Experimental studies utilizing the electrode microchamber include live-cell imaging of nanoelectropulse-induced intracellular calcium bursts and membrane phospholipid translocation.
IN VITRO EFFECTS OF MELATONIN ON MITOGEN-INDUCED LYMPHOCYTE PROLIFERATION AND CYTOKINE EXPRESSION IN YOUNG AND OLD RATS

AbstractMelatonin (MLT) treatment in vivo has been shown to have immunomodulatory and anti-immunosenescent effects in the mouse model. In the present report, the in vitro effect of MLT on mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine expression was evaluated in a rat model. Splenic lymphocytes were isolated from young (6 months) and old (24 months) F344 rats and were incubated with MLT in the presence or absence of mitogens. The proliferative response to concanavalin A (ConA) or PMA plus ionomycin was measured in splenocytes or T cells isolated from young and old rats. In addition, the induction of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production was measured in MLT-treated and untreated lymphocytes isolated from young and old rats. The ConA-induced lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 expression were significantly lower and induction of IFN-γ production was significantly higher in splenocytes and purified T cells isolated from old rats compared to splenocytes and T cells isolated from yo...
Two-Parameter Deformation of the Oscillator Algebra and (p, q)­Analog of Two-Dimensional Conformal Field Theory

The two-parameter deformation of canonical commutation relations is discussed. The self-adjointness property of the (p, q)-deformed position Q and momentum P operators is investigated. The (p, q)-a...
Association between anxiety, health-related quality of life and functional impairment in primary care patients with chronic pain

article i nfo Objective: Anxiety and chronic pain are prevalent and frequently co-occur. Our purpose was to examine the association between anxiety, health-related quality of life (HRQL) and functional impairment in primary care patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Methods: Data were drawn from baseline interviews of the 250 primary care patients enrolled in the Stepped Care to Optimize Pain care Effectiveness trial. Validated measures were used to determine the proportion of patients screening positive for five common anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety, posttraumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Bivariate analyses examined associations between the type and number of anxiety disorders for which patients screened positive and representative pain, psychological and other HRQL outcomes. Multivariable models controlling for major depression and other covariates examined the association between the number of screen-positive anxiety conditions and functional impairment in psychological (SF-12 mental component summary (MCS) score), pain (Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) interference score) and work (disability days) domains. Results: One hundred fourteen (45%) patients screened positive for at least one anxiety disorder and, compared to the 136 screen-negative patients, had significantly worse scores across multiple pain, psychological and other HRQL domains. Substantial impairment was seen for each of the five screen-positive anxiety conditions and progressively worsened as the number of conditions increased from one (n=54) to two (n=26) to ≥ 3( n=34). The number of screen-positive anxiety conditions was strongly associated (Pb.0001) with worse BPI interference and MCS scores and more disability days in models adjusting for age, sex and medical comorbidity. After further adjusting for major depression, associations were attenuated but remained significant for BPI interference (Pb.0001) and MCS (P=.018) and marginally significant for disability days (P=.062). Conclusion: Nearly half of primary care patients with chronic pain screen positive for one or more anxiety disorders, which in turn are adversely associated with impairment across multiple domains of HRQL. Detecting and treating anxiety may be an important component of pain management.
THE ERROR ZETA FUNCTION

This paper investigates a new special function referred to as the error zeta function. Derived as a fractional generalization of hypergeometric zeta functions, the error zeta function is shown to exhibit many properties analogous to its hypergeometric counterpart, including its intimate connection to Bernoulli numbers. These new properties are treated in detail and used to demonstrate a pre-functional equation satisfied by this special function.
Growth and Morphology of Pentacene Films on Oxide Surfaces

Pentacene thin films were grown in ultra high vacuum on amorphous SiO2 and on a high dielectric constant material, crystalline BaTiO3. During pentacene deposition, substrates were held at three different temperatures (-650, 250 and 750 C). In general, three different morphologies were identified: a first closed interfacial layer, a thin film mode composed of faceted grains with single molecule step height, and a volume mode with features substantially higher than those of the thin film mode. Analysis was carried out by atomic force microscopy and in some cases by synchrotron X-ray diffraction.
A framework to localize international business to business web sites

The main purpose of this study is to propose and apply an analytical framework to help B2B marketers assess and develop web sites that are localized not only for the B2B marketplace but also for international markets. This study deals with an area that has not received much attention in academic research as previous studies have mainly focused on B2C web sites. The study focuses on B2B web sites and provides a framework to assess web site localization. A content analysis of American and Korean web sites was conducted to analyze the proposed framework. The overall results show that U.S. companies have not accomplished a high degree of localization for B2B markets. The study results indicate that most U.S. companies focus primarily on the translation of web content from English to Korean to create web sites.While it is true that globalization has brought us closer than ever to Mcluhan's (1964) idea of a global village, major differences across countries and regions exist and play a significant role in how consumers react to web site designs and content. Therefore, this framework is vital to business seeking consumers globally. Using this framework should allow businesses to localize their B2B web sites and included key areas that appeal to local consumers.The study concludes by providing marketers insights into factors that can help them better localize their international B2B web sites.
Gender and trade within the household: Observations from rural guatemala

Abstract A household model proposed by Carter and Katz (1992) assumes that resource exchanges and the division of expenditure responsibilities among household members are directly observable, and important to their individual and collective responses to new opportunities and constraints. This paper illustrates that it is possible to observe the complex processes that characterize the domestic economy by examining several examples of intrahousehold resource transfers and expenditure flows among a sample of rural households in the Central Highlands of Guatemala. It is found that women transfer significant labor time to a new male income-generating activity, with the greatest single source of variation in the value of this intrahousehold resource transfer being the availability of older daughters to perform the domestic labor that is normally the responsibility of the female head. It is also shown that the transfer of female land to her husband is in some cases compensated for, or reciprocated, by the transfer of tradeable goods at the end of the agricultural season. With regard to women's remunerated labor activities, older daughters enable their mothers to pursue these either by relieving them of some of their domestic responsibilities and/or by directly contributing their labor to their mother's income-generating endeavors. Nonfood expenditures are analyzed in light of the relative responsibilities of men and women in decision making, finance and purchase. It is found that increased male agricultural income is largely spent on male goods, affecting women 's ability to purchase food and domestic technology. The paper concludes by arguing that the results obtained from direct observation of intrahousehold transfers are useful for the prediction and interpretation of microlevel policy impacts not obtainable from aggregate household information.
Chlorinated ethanes in aqueous solution: parameterization based on thermodynamics of hydration

Abstract Lennard-Jones parameters for short chain alkanes and chloroethanes were optimized in order to reproduce experimental absolute hydration free energy data. Absolute solvation free energies were calculated using the recently developed separation-shifted scaling method in conjunction with thermodynamic integration calculations. Coefficients for the repulsive interaction of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine with SPC/E water were optimized in order to simultaneously improve the agreement between calculated and experimental absolute hydration free energies for both unsubstituted short chain alkanes and chloroethanes. However, the optimized parameters resulted in substantially poorer agreement for pure liquid densities of chloroethanes.
VISION: VHDL Induced Schematic Imaging on Net-Lists

This paper describes a system capable of generating schematic diagrams for gate-level digital logic circuits given only their net-list descriptions in the VHSIC (Very High Speed Integrated Circuit) Hardware Description Language (VHDL). A combination of algorithmic and heuristic methods are employed to synthesize a schematic drawing which is as aesthetically pleasing and functionally readable to human designers as possible. A methodology for generating schematics which contain feedback loops is presented.
Estimation of the Reliability of Skill Tests

Abstract This article seeks to clarify the concept of test reliability and to differentiate between the theoretical definition and the methods of estimation. In the first part, the split-halves and test-retest methods are critically examined in the context of a typical skills test. The broader and more comprehensive definition of error under the test-retest method is noted. In the second part, the use of analysis of variance techniques in reliability studies is illustrated by application to a badminton wall volley test. The advantages of this approach over traditional approaches is discussed and possible applications cited.
New Orleans Rises Anew: Community Health After Katrina

A decade after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the author reflects on lessons learned—the largest one being that although health care is necessary, it is not sufficient to create a health...
Analysis of NMR spectra using digital signal processing techniques.

Since its development, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has become one of the primary methods of chemists for structure elucidation, which is the determination of a compound’s molecular structure. Current software packages enable scientists to visualize the raw data produced by the spectrometer so that they can manually determine a compound’s component parts. This is accomplished by manually comparing the spectrum of the mixture with various reference materials believed to be present. But these software packages can be expanded to do even more. It is the purpose of this thesis to provide an automated analysis package capable of analyzing a mixture spectrum for the components contained within it and at what concentration. Future enhancements include the development of a centralized database can can archive spectral information for known reference materials and expansion of the proposed method from one dimension to multiple dimensions. The reference materials used tend to be pure compounds.
Redefining and Contextualizing the Hospital Volume-Outcome Relationship for Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Implications for Centralization of Care

Purpose: Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy has undergone rapid dissemination driven in part by market forces to become the most frequently used surgical approach in the management of prostate cancer. Accordingly, a critical analysis of its volume-outcome relationship has important health policy implications. Therefore, we evaluated the association of hospital robot-assisted radical prostatectomy volume with perioperative outcomes, and examined the distribution of hospital procedure volume to contextualize the volume-outcome relationship.Materials and Methods: We identified 140,671 men who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy from 2009 to 2011 in NIS (Nationwide Inpatient Sample). The associations of hospital volume with perioperative outcomes and total hospital costs were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression and generalized linear models.Results: In 2011, 70% of hospitals averaged 1 robot-assisted radical prostatectomy per week or less, accounting for 28% of surgeries. Compared t...
Analysis and countermeasure of uncertainty of transmission routes of HIV/AIDS in Fujian province

Objective To explore the influencing factors of uncertainty of transmission routes of HIV/AIDS in Fujian for improving the quality of HIV/AIDS data.Methods To download the data of the infectious disease reporting card,subsidiary card and follow-up from HIV/AIDS integrated prevention information system,and analyze by SPSS package.Results The proportion of the uncertainty of transmission route was 21.0%(91/432) in 2008.Among them,81.3%(74/91)were reported by hospitals and majority of cases were married and living with spouse.The proportion of uncertainty of transmission route decreased significantly in 2009 and 2010(15.2% and 8.9% respectively).Conclusion Implementation of comprehensive intervention measure could decrease the proportion of the uncertainty of transmission route effectively and improve the quality of HIV/AIDS data.
Heterogeneity in role of endothelium-derived NO in pulmonary arteries and veins of full-term fetal lambs.

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO) modulates fetal pulmonary vasoactivity. The role of EDNO in regulation of vasomotor tone in fetal pulmonary arteries vs. that in veins is not known. We have investigated the role of EDNO in the responses of pulmonary arteries and veins of full-term fetal lambs. Fourth-generation pulmonary arterial and venous rings were suspended in organ chambers filled with modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution (95% O 2 -5% CO 2 at 37°C), and their isometric force was measured. N ω -nitro-L-arginine had no effect on the resting tension of pulmonary arteries with endothelium but caused contraction of pulmonary veins with endothelium. The basal level of intracellular guanosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) of pulmonary veins with endothelium was higher than that of arteries with endothelium. In pulmonary arteries, bradykinin, but not acetylcholine, induced endothelium-dependent relaxation and an increase in cGMP content. In pulmonary veins, acetylcholine, but not bradykinin, induced endothelium-dependent relaxation and an increase in cGMP content. Agonist-induced maximal relaxation and increases in cGMP content were smaller in pulmonary arteries than in veins. All these endothelium-dependent responses were abolished by N ω -nitro-L-arginine. In tissues without endothelium, nitric oxide induced significantly less relaxation and less increase in cGMP content in pulmonary arteries than in pulmonary veins. All vessels relaxed similarly to 8-bromoguanosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate. Our data suggest that the role of EDNO in modulating tone differs between pulmonary arteries and veins in full-term fetal lambs. This difference is in part dependent on the type of agonist used and on differences in the activity of soluble guanylate cyclase in vascular smooth muscle
Measuring Clinical Efficacy of Azathioprine in Myasthenia Gravis with Mean Corpuscular Volume (P5.036)

Objective: To determine if clinical response to azathioprine is correlated with change in MCV values. Background: Treatment of myasthenia gravis often requires the use of various immunosuppressive medications. Azathioprine is one of the commonly used steroid-sparing immunosuppressive agents. Previous studies have looked at trending mean corpuscular volume (MCV) to measure therapeutic response to azathioprine which have suggested greater increase in MCV in patients with a good clinical response. Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed to collect data on azathioprine dosing, prednisone dose, MG ADL scale score, manual muscle testing (MMT) score, and MCV values. Nineteen patients were included in this study. Subjects were stratified into groups by their median azathioprine dose (mg/kg) (n): &lt 1.5 (6), 1.5-1.75 (4), 1.75-2.0 (2), 2.0-2.25 (3), &gt 2.25 (4). Pearson correlation coefficient and p-values were calculated for each patient and group. Results: Mean age was 47.5 years. Average duration on azathioprine was 4.2 years. The correlation coefficient between change in prednisone dose and change in MCV was 0.28 (p=0.02), 0.28 (p=0.08), -0.74 (p<0.01), -0.57 (p<0.01), -0.74 (p<0.01), for each group respectively. The correlation coefficient between MG ADL and change in MCV was -0.44 (p<0.01), -0.09 (p=0.57), -0.77 (p<0.01), 0.16 (p=0.38), and -0.49 (p<0.01), respectively. The correlation coefficient between MMT and change in MCV was 0.47 (p<0.01), 0.37 (p=0.02), -0.83 (p<0.01), 0.14 (p=0.45), -0.45 (p<0.01) respectively. Conclusions: Our data shows that at an azathioprine dose of greater than 1.75 mg/kg, there is a significant correlation between increase in MCV value and reduction in prednisone dose and suggestive of improvement in clinical status. Our findings are consistent with the recommended azathiorprine dose of 2-3 mg/kg/day. Disclosure: Dr. Yang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jiang has nothing to disclose.
Monolithic silicon photonics in a sub-100nm SOI CMOS microprocessor foundry: progress from devices to systems

United States. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Photonically Optimized Embedded Microprocessors Program (Award HR0011-11-C-0100)
Decreasing Adverse Drug Events Associated with Lepirudin and Argatroban for the Treatment of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia.

Purpose: Case reports, as well as our anecdotal experience, revealed frequently elevated activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) levels in some patients on the direct thrombin inhibitors (DTI) lepirudin and argatroban when dosed according to the FDA-approved guidelines in the Product Inserts. We analyzed our institution’s experience with these agents to determine if dosing guidelines need reconsideration. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted under the auspices of the pharmacy quality management team, with IRB approval. Cases were from the pharmacy database of all patients that received lepirudin or argatroban from September 2002 through March 2004. Sixty-six cases were identified and reviewed. Results: Patients were treated with the DTI for Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia, with or without thrombosis (HIT, HITT), based on a decline of platelet count on heparin by 50% or to Conclusion: The DTI, Lepirudin and argatroban, used for HIT/HITT lack specific dosing titration guidelines, yet they require careful dosing and close monitoring for safe use. As with any acute anticoagulant, they carry a significant risk of life-threatening hemorrhage. Results of this study suggest that current dosing recommendations for both agents are too high, and that for safer use with lower risk of hemorrhage, the dosing guidelines need to be lowered. And while it is not likely that the prescribing errors for argatroban will be administered by pharmacy departments and nurses, the appropriateness of dosing the agent as mcg/kg/min as opposed to the more typical mg/kg/hr should be addressed, at least by greater physician education and possibly by altering the product insert. This study also supports that both lepirudin and argatroban should be considered high-alert medications requiring special attention by experienced clinicians.
Sexuality and informal authority in the Church of England

This represents a five-year ethnographic study of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clergy in the Church of England. Using participant observation and interviews, this research examines the so...
Volar Capsular Release After Distal Radius Fractures.

Purpose Loss of full wrist range of motion is common after treatment of distal radius fractures. Loss of wrist extension limiting functional activities, although uncommon, can occur after volar plating of distal radius fractures. Unlike other joints in which capsular release is a common form of treatment for stiffness, this has been approached with caution in the wrist owing to concerns for carpal instability. We tested the null hypothesis that hardware removal and open volar capsular release would not lead to improved upper extremity-specific patient-reported outcome (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand [DASH] questionnaire). Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent a tenolysis of the flexor carpi radialis tendon, removal of hardware, and subperiosteal release of the volar capsule (extrinsic ligaments). The primary outcome measure was patient-reported outcome on the DASH. Secondary outcomes included wrist flexion, extension, pronation, and supination, visual analog scale for pain, and radiographs/fluoroscopy for ulnocarpal translocation. Results Eleven patients were treated with a mean follow-up of 4.5 years. Mean DASH scores improved after surgery. Mean wrist flexion, wrist extension, pronation, and supination improved after surgery. Mean visual analog scale scores did not change. The radiocarpal relationship on radiographs/fluoroscopy was normal. Conclusions Open volar capsular release to regain wrist extension after treatment of distal radius fractures with volar locking plates is safe and effective. Patients regain wrist extension in addition to improved DASH scores. There were no radiographic/fluoroscopic or clinical signs of ulnocarpal translocation after release of the volar extrinsic ligaments. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
Spatially varying density dependence drives a shifting mosaic of survival in a recovering apex predator (Canis lupus)

Understanding landscape patterns in mortality risk is crucial for promoting recovery of threatened and endangered species. Humans affect mortality risk in large carnivores such as wolves (Canis lupus), but spatiotemporally varying density dependence can significantly influence the landscape of survival. This potentially occurs when density varies spatially and risk is unevenly distributed. We quantified spatiotemporal sources of variation in survival rates of gray wolves (C. lupus) during a 21-year period of population recovery in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA. We focused on mapping risk across time using Cox Proportional Hazards (CPH) models with time-dependent covariates, thus exploring a shifting mosaic of survival. Extended CPH models and time-dependent covariates revealed influences of seasonality, density dependence and experience, as well as individual-level factors and landscape predictors of risk. We used results to predict the shifting landscape of risk at the beginning, middle, and end of the wolf recovery time series. Survival rates varied spatially and declined over time. Long-term change was density-dependent, with landscape predictors such as agricultural land cover and edge densities contributing negatively to survival. Survival also varied seasonally and depended on individual experience, sex, and resident versus transient status. The shifting landscape of survival suggested that increasing density contributed to greater potential for human conflict and wolf mortality risk. Long-term spatial variation in key population vital rates is largely unquantified in many threatened, endangered, and recovering species. Variation in risk may indicate potential for source-sink population dynamics, especially where individuals preemptively occupy suitable territories, which forces new individuals into riskier habitat types as density increases. We encourage managers to explore relationships between adult survival and localized changes in population density. Density-dependent risk maps can identify increasing conflict areas or potential habitat sinks which may persist due to high recruitment in adjacent habitats.
Identifying Sarcopenia in Female Long-Term Care Residents: A Comparison of Current Guidelines.

Objectives To establish the prevalence of sarcopenia in a long-term care population, assess agreement among different consensus sarcopenia diagnostic criteria, and examine agreement of a self-reported questionnaire with consensus guidelines. Design Cross-sectional secondary analysis. Setting Long-term care communities in the greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area. Participants Women aged 65 and older (mean 83.6) undergoing eligibility screening for a fracture reduction trial (N = 141). Measurements We measured appendicular lean muscle mass using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Hand grip strength and usual gait speed were also evaluated. Sarcopenia status was determined according to European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Sarcopenia Project criteria and the SARC-F questionnaire. Results Eleven participants were sarcopenic (7.8%) according to the EWGSOP criteria, six (4.3%) according to FNIH conservative cut-point guidelines, and 32.6% (n = 46) according to FNIH intermediate cut-points. Only 2 of 141 participants met criteria for sarcopenia according to all three guidelines. Sarcopenia was identified in 30 (21.3%) participants according to the SARC-F questionnaire. Sensitivity of the SARC-F with consensus panel definitions ranged from 18.2% to 33.3%. Specificity ranged from 78.7% to 81.1%. Conclusion Current consensus criteria from the EWGSOP and FNIH Sarcopenia Project do not agree and have little overlap in older female long-term care residents. The SARC-F questionnaire is a simple tool that could be implemented in long-term care, but it has low sensitivity compared with current consensus guidelines in the identification of sarcopenic individuals.
A Gift from the Gods? Components of Information Technology Fatalism, Determinism in Several Cultures

Introduction When you think of information systems, do you think of them as “natural”, “god-given” or the work of the devil? Do you think of them as a source of good things for society and the world or as a source of trouble? Do you think that information systems’ growth and seeming pervasiveness is spurred by our inherent human talents or by specific economic and social forces? For those of us teaching and doing research in information systems/technology these are salient questions not merely because students come to us from a variety of backgrounds and arrive with fresh prejudices at the start of each academic term. In fact, we play a strong role in creating and maintaining these beliefs through our teaching and research. No doubt an overwhelming majority of us see information technology as a natural extension of human creativity, a (n eventual) source of good things for society, heavily spiced with a range of problems, and at least in the case of E-commerce a potent social and economic force. It’s important that we understand in a critical sense where our beliefs are coming from so that we don’t run the risk of alienating many in our primary constituencies (students and colleagues). It’s no joke that many in business believe this primary tenet, a corollary of Systemantics (Gall, 1986): “If you see someone coming at you with the obvious intention of doing good, run away as quickly as possible”. This paper explores a complex of beliefs held about the causal relationships among information technology and aspects of society. It begins with an analysis of these relationships as special cases of those with technology in general. It then details research performed in Thailand and South Africa and plans to extend the research to other countries such as the USA among undergraduate business students. The implications that the findings would have for instruction, cross-cultural application of information technology and marketing are then discussed. The paper ends with additional research questions to be explored.
Ionization instability induced striations in low frequency and pulsed He/H2O atmospheric pressure plasmas

In previous work [Kawamura et al., Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 25, 054009 (2016)] and [Kawamura et al., J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 50, 145204 (2017)], 1D kinetic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of narrow gap (1 to 4 mm), high frequency (27 MHz) or dc-driven, He/2%H2O atmospheric pressure plasmas (APPs) showed an ionization instability resulting in standing striations (spatial oscillations) in the bulk plasma. We developed a steady-state striation theory which showed that the striations are due to non-local electron kinetics. In both the high frequency and dc-driven cases, the equilibrium electron density n0 in the plasma bulk was stationary. In this work, we first conduct 1D PIC simulations of a 1 mm gap He/2%H2O APP, driven by a sinusoidal current at a low frequency of f = 50 kHz such that ω = 2πf is well below the ionization frequency νiz. In this case, n0 varies with time, and we observe a time-varying instability which quasistatically depends on n0(t). At each phase of the rf cycle, the discharge res...
Potential effectiveness of long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention in men who have sex with men: a modelling study.

Summary Background Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prevents HIV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM); however, adherence is an ongoing concern. Long-acting injectable PrEP is being tested in phase 3 trials and could address challenges associated with adherence. We examined the potential effectiveness of long-acting injectable PrEP compared with oral PrEP in MSM. Methods We used an agent-based model to simulate HIV transmission in a dynamic network of 11 245 MSM in Atlanta, GA, USA. We used raw data from studies in macaque models and pharmacokinetic data from safety trials to estimate the time-varying efficacy of long-acting injectable PrEP. The effect of long-acting injectable PrEP on the cumulative number of new HIV infections over 10 years (2015–24) was compared with no PrEP and daily oral PrEP across a range of coverage levels. Sensitivity analyses were done with varying maximum efficacy and drug half-life values. Findings In the absence of PrEP, the model predicted 2374 new HIV infections (95% simulation interval [SI] 2345–2412) between 2015 and 2024. The cumulative number of new HIV infections was reduced in all scenarios in which MSM received long-acting injectable PrEP compared with oral PrEP. At a coverage level of 35%, compared with no PrEP, long-acting injectable PrEP led to a 44% reduction in new HIV infections (1044 new infections averted [95% SI 1018–1077]) versus 33% (792 infections averted [763–821]) for oral PrEP. The relative benefit of long-acting injectable PrEP was sensitive to the assumed efficacy of injections received every 8 weeks, discontinuation rates, and terminal drug half-life. Interpretation Long-acting injectable PrEP has the potential to produce larger reductions in HIV transmission in MSM than oral PrEP. However, the real-world, population-level impact of this approach will depend on uptake of this prevention method and its effectiveness, as well as retention of patients in clinical care. Funding National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute of Mental Health.
Desperately Seeking Non-Gaussianity

“Non-Gaussian” is the casual explanation often given for anything unexpected in an astronomical time series. What better place to look for non-Gaussianity, therefore, than in the light curve of 0957+561, the gravitational lens that, until recently, had yielded frustratingly inconsistent determinations of its lag. We discuss the difficulties in measuring deviations from Gaussianity in weakly nonstationary processes (such as 1/f noise or random walk) and define a restricted set of “well-behaved” three-point statistics. An important special case of such a well-behaved statistic is the skew of a linear combination of the data, with coefficients summing to zero. Analytic and Monte Carlo calculations evaluate the performance of such a statistic in the case of a non-Gaussian “wedge model” (shot noise, with each shot having a rapid rise and slow decay). We find that even for as well studied an object as 0957+561, the detectability of any deviation from Gaussian is problematical at best. At present, one can rule out a wedge model only if the individual shots are as infrequent as one in 10–20 days.
Community care networks: cornerstone of health care reform.

Calls to reform the American health care delivery system include proposals to expand access to insurance and to impose expenditure controls. That approach is flawed and could only lead to an increase in costs. To truly reform the system, the U.S. must fundamentally alter its health care delivery system. One proposal is to create community care networks to coordinate the care of patients. Such a system could operate under a capitated payment system that is publicly accountable.
Carnot–Carathéodory metrics in unbounded subdomains of {{\mathbb{C}}^2}

We introduce a new class of unbounded model subdomains of \({\mathbb{C}^2}\) for the \({\Box_b}\) problem. Unlike previous finite type models, these domains need not be bounded by algebraic varieties. In this paper we obtain precise global estimates for the Carnot–Caratheodory metric induced on the boundary of such domains by the real and imaginary parts of the CR vector field.
Real-Time Cardiac Arrhythmia Classification Using Memristor Neuromorphic Computing System

Cardiac arrhythmia is known to be one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Therefore, development of efficient arrhythmia detection techniques is essential to save patients' lives. In this paper, we introduce a new real-time cardiac arrhythmia classification using memristor neuromorphic computing system for classification of 5 different beat types. Neuromorphic computing systems utilize new emerging devices, such as memristors, as a basic building block. Hence, these systems provide excellent trade-off between real-time processing, power consumption, and overall accuracy. Experimental results showed that the proposed system outperforms most of the methods in comparison in terms of accuracy and testing time, since it achieved 96.17% average accuracy and 34 ms average testing time per beat.
Wine Grape Cultivar Trial Performance in 2008

To assess the regional adaptation of wine grape cultivars in Iowa, a trial was established in 2003 through an Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) specialty crops grant awarded to the Iowa Wine Growers Association (IWGA). The trial was designed to evaluate up to 20 cultivars or advanced selections at four Iowa State University (ISU) farms representing different geographic, climatic, and soil conditions: Horticulture Research Station (HRS), Ames; the Armstrong Research Farm (ARF), Lewis; the Southeast Research Farm (SERF), Crawfordsville; and the Northeast Research Farm (NERF), Nashua. The SERF and NERF plantings also included the 15 cultivars being evaluated in the 2002 grape cultivar by management system trial. This report summarizes the results for the 2008 growing season.
Data Visualization: A Guide to Visual Storytelling for Libraries

By now, most librarians have at least heard of data visualization. With the recent attention given to library assessment efforts, it is no surprise that articles on data visualization have prolifer...
Association of Renal Scarring With Number of Febrile Urinary Tract Infections in Children.

Importance Although prior studies have suggested that the risk of renal scarring gradually increases with each febrile urinary tract infection (UTI), recent and detailed data are lacking. Objective To evaluate how the risk of renal scarring is associated with the number of febrile UTIs. Design, Setting, and Participants A post hoc analysis was performed from June 2018 to April 2019 of data collected in the context of 2 multicenter prospective studies (RIVUR [Randomized Intervention for Children With Vesicoureteral Reflux], conducted from June 2007 to June 2013, and CUTIE [Careful Urinary Tract Infection Evaluation], conducted from May 2008 to October 2013), of children with a first UTI without baseline renal abnormalities who were followed up for 2 years for febrile recurrences. Exposure Number of known febrile UTIs. Main Outcomes and Measures Renal scarring was defined as decreased uptake of tracer associated with the loss of contours or cortical thinning on a technetium 99m dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan obtained at study exit or approximately 4 months after the last febrile UTI. Results A total of 345 children were included (307 girls and 38 boys; mean [SD] age, 19.4 [18.2] months; 221 with vesicoureteral reflux and 124 without vesicoureteral reflux). The incidence of renal scarring was 2.8% (95% CI, 1.2%-5.8%) after 1 febrile UTI, 25.7% (95% CI, 12.5%-43.3%) after 2 febrile UTIs, and 28.6% (95% CI, 8.4%-58.1%) after 3 or more febrile UTIs. The odds of renal scarring after a second febrile infection were 11.8 (95% CI, 4.1-34.4) times greater than after a single febrile infection, and the odds of renal scarring after 3 or more febrile infections were 13.7 (95% CI, 3.4-54.4) times greater than after a single febrile infection. Conclusions and Relevance Although relatively few children have 2 febrile UTIs, those who do have a substantially higher risk of renal scarring compared with children with a single febrile UTI. This finding suggests that research should focus on the identification of biomarkers that could noninvasively identify children at risk for subsequent febrile infections. More research is also needed to understand the molecular basis of the increased risk of renal scarring among children with recurrent febrile UTIs.
Computing edge version of metric and double metric dimensions of Kayak paddle graphs

Locating the source of diffusion in complex networks is an exciting but challenging task. It is critical for preventing and controlling the epidemic risks. Source localization has been studied unde...
Rawls, law-making and liberal democratic toleration: from Theory to Political Liberalism to The Law of Peoples

In this essay I situate Rawls’s conception of liberal democratic toleration within the account of political and law-making activity undertaken by free equals that he develops across his three main ...