cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some Completeness Results for Modal Predicate Calculi

Two systems of first-order predicate calculus with identity, one of them with definite descriptions, will be formulated in this paper along with semantic interpretations, and then shown strongly complete by methods similar to those of Henkin [3]. These systems, Q1 and Q3,1 are generalizations of the systems presented in Kripke [6] and [8], respectively.2 An informal and philosophical account of Q1 and Q3 can be found in [11], together with a historical note concerning the development of the systems and their interpretation.
4×1 Space-time MIMO-OFDM parallel cancellation schemes for mitigating ICI

Based on the orthogonality of space-time (ST) code, this paper concentrates on ST code transmission combined with intercarrier interference (ICI) parallel cancellation (PC) scheme to form STPC systems. With known channel state information (CSI) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), we further develop this STPC-OFDM system with code rates 1 and 0.5 without increasing in power, bandwidth, and computational load for OFDM access (OFDMA) downlink from base station (BS) to mobile unit (MU) terminals. Simulation results show that this 4 × 1 STPC-OFDM system with code rate 1 provides outstanding bit error rate (BER) performance than that of the conventional 4 ×1 ST block coded OFDM systems with code rate 0.5 in COST 207 slow (typical urban) and fast (bad urban) frequency selective fading channels. Moreover, this STPC-OFDM can be employed as the fundamental building block for ST-MIMO-OFDM systems.
Conflict, Hierarchy, Social Order, and Status

The frequency of domination, violence, and war among humans can count against the idea that humans are ethical beings. In this chapter, I discuss aggression and hierarchy in the context of social animals’ relationships and groups rather than as topics separate from or antithetical to those relationships. In this opening section, I summarize seven key ways that aggression and hierarchy must be contextualized, and then I provide arguments and evidence for this viewpoint in the remainder of the chapter.
Mapping the Foot of the Continental Slope with Spline-Smoothed Data Using the Second Derivative in the Gradient Direction

The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) ET0P05 worldwide digital bathymetric dataset has been in the public domain for some years. Because it is noisy, it has not found much use in oceanography. A bi-cubic spline approach is used to smooth out the noise and represent the data as an explicit mathematical function, thus making it useful in many areas of oceanography. This method requires the data to have a rectangular grid. This report 2 gives an effective approach for ET0P05 data’s bi-cubic spline representation and smoothing. It presents a new procedure designed to determine the Foot of the Continental Slope (FCS). This procedure is in accord with The United Nations Law of the Sea (LOS) article 76, section 4.b legal definition of the FCS, which is "the rate of maximum change of the gradient at its base". This explicit mathematical function can also be used to refine the grid. This function can also be differentiated exactly. One may compute from this function, at any point, the second derivative in the normalized gradient direction. The resulting surface is called for brevity "Surface of Directed Gradient" (SDG). The location of the crest of its highest ridge is a good approximation of the FCS. This approach gives an accurate mathematical representation of the LOS Convention’s legal description of the FCS as stated above. The'SDG technique is used to compute the FCS for the U.S. Atlantic coast. The FCS computed by the SDG method is compared to the FCS' computed by the surface of maximum curvature approach that is in general use.
United States Enterprise in the Less Developed Countries: Evaluation of Cost and Benefit

A striking phenomenon of the last decade has been the growth in the less developed countries of the subsidiaries of U.S. parent companies. Despite constant political excursions and alarums, despite repeated incidents of inflation and devaluation, the commitments proliferate and grow.
Optimal Industrial Load Control in Smart Grid

In this paper, we investigate optimal load control in industrial sector, which involves several new and distinct research problems. For example, while most residential appliances operate independently, industrial units are highly interdependent and must follow certain operational sequences. Also, unlike residential appliances, the operation of industrial units may span across multiple days and involve multiple batch cycles. Furthermore, in industries with process control, energy management is often coupled with material flow management. The design in this paper is comprehensive and addresses industrial load control under various smart electricity pricing scenarios, including day-ahead pricing, time-of-use pricing, peak pricing (PP), inclining block rates, and critical PP. The use of behind-the-meter renewable generator and energy storage is also considered. The formulated optimization problem is a tractable mixed-integer linear program. Different case studies are presented based on a practical energy-extensive steel mill industry model.
Communicating Intentions for Coordination with Unknown Teammates: (Extended Abstract)

Ad hoc multiagent teamwork introduces the challenge of coordinating with a variety of potential teammates, including teammates with unknown behavior. We examine the communication of policy information for enhanced coordination between such agents. The proposed decision-theoretic approach examines the uncertainty within a model of an unfamiliar teammate, identifying and acquiring policy information valuable to the collaborative effort.
Electrochemical reductive amination of furfural-based biomass intermediates

Electrochemical reductive amination uses water as the hydrogen source without requiring other chemicals as the reducing agent, providing reaction conditions that are more environmentally benign. The catalytic abilities and efficiencies of various metal electrodes (Ag, Cu, Pt, Sn, Zn) were investigated for the electrochemical reductive amination of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a key intermediate for biomass conversion, with methylamine (CH3NH2). For each metal electrode, the potentials necessary to initiate reductive amination as well as potential dependent Faradaic efficiency (FE) and selectivity were investigated systematically. Based on the results, reduction conditions and a high surface area Ag electrode that can achieve a FE and a selectivity nearing 100% were reported. Furthermore, reductive amination of HMF derivatives such as 5-methylfurfural (5-MF), 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF), and 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (FFCA) using methylamine as well as reductive amination of HMF using ethanolamine (NH2CH2CH2OH) were conducted to establish electrochemical reductive amination as a general route for the reductive amination of furfural-based biomass intermediates.
Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation for the treatment of glaucoma

Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation is laser treatment of the ciliary processes with direct visualization using a small video camera for the purpose of lowering intraocular pressure. It was traditionally reserved for management of refractory glaucoma, but is now increasingly used as an adjunct to cataract surgery in less-advanced glaucoma. Here we present a review of the literature evaluating endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation's safety and efficacy in different forms of glaucoma with different degrees of progression.
Stochastic queuing models for distributed PV energy

In the past few years there have been a tremendous growth in distributed PV generation on commercial and residential buildings. Increasing distributed PV generation has raised concerns about the stability of the distribution grid due to the intermittency of solar PV energy. Before smart grid optimization and control algorithms can be formulated we must obtain a better understanding of the behavior of the distributed PV energy contributions to the electrical grid. This paper develops stochastic models to model each distributed energy source using both spatial and temporal processing. A goal is to develop simple stochastic models that accurately model the distributed energy produced from the PV sources with possible storage so that key events (e.g. ramp downs due to cloud cover can be characterized). The production of energy from PV panels is modeled as a queue with inputs being the nonstationary solar irradiation, the energy produced modeled by a deterministic function, and a queue modeled by storage which can be sold to the grid or used by local loads. A second queue models solar irradiation with inputs being weather conditions (sunny, partly cloudy, cloudy).
Genesis: a behavioral synthesis system for hierarchical testability

Previous research in the area of behavioral synthesis of digital circuits has mostly concentrated on optimizing area and performance. We present a behavioral data path synthesis system, called Genesis, which is geared towards hierarchical testability. A test environment for each module in the data path is guaranteed during allocation such that it becomes possible to justify any desired test set at module inputs from system inputs, and propagate fault effects from module outputs to system outputs. Genesis provided 100% system-level testability for all the synthesized benchmarks with a three-to-four orders of magnitude improvement in test generation time as compared to an efficient gate-level sequential test generator. The area overhead of circuits synthesized by Genesis is usually zero over circuits synthesized by other behavioral synthesis systems which disregard testability. Genesis can also easily handle loop constructs in the behavioral specification. >
New species of Hammerschmidtiella Chitwood, 1932, and Blattophila Cobb, 1920, and new geographical records for Severianoia annamensis Van Luc & Spiridonov, 1993 (Nematoda: Oxyurida: Thelastomatoidea) from Cockroaches (Insecta: Blattaria) in Ohio and Florida, U.S.A.

Two new species of thelastomatid nematodes parasitic in the hindgut of cockroaches are described. Hammerschmidtiella keeneyi n. sp. is described from a laboratory colony of Diploptera punctata (Eschscholtz, 1822) from a facility in Ohio, U. S. A. This species is characterized by having females with a short tail and males smaller than those described from other species. The new species also differs from others in the genus by a number of differing measurements that indicate a distinct identity, including esophageal, tail, and egg lengths as well as the relative position of the excretory pore. Blattophila peregrinata n. sp. is described from Periplaneta australasiae (Fabricius, 1775) and Pycnoscelus surinamensis (Linnaeus, 1758) in a greenhouse from Ohio, U.S.A. and from wild P. surinamensis in southern Florida, U.S.A. This species differs from others in the genus by having a posteriorly directed vagina, vulva in the anterior third of the body, no lateral alae in females, and eggs with an operculum. In P. surinamensis from southern Florida, an additional species, Severianoia annamensis Van Luc & Spiridonov, 1993 was found and did not co-parasitize the host with B. peregrinata n. sp. Blattophila peregrinata n. sp. and S. annamensis also occur in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, indicating that these have a widespread global range.
APPROPRIATE USE CRITERIA AND HEALTH STATUS OUTCOMES AFTER CTO PCI: RESULTS FROM THE OPEN CTO REGISTRY

Background: The ACC/AHA Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) were designed to aid clinical decision-making, yet their association with health status outcomes after CTO PCI is unknown. Methods: We enrolled 1,000 patients undergoing CTO PCI in the 12-center OPEN CTO registry. 52 patients were excluded due
Accelerated aging in adults with knee osteoarthritis pain: consideration for frequency, intensity, time, and total pain sites.

Introduction Individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) show increased morbidity and mortality. Telomere length, a measure of cellular aging, predicts increased morbidity and mortality. Telomeres shorten with persisting biological and psychosocial stress. Living with chronic OA pain is stressful. Previous research exploring telomere length in people with OA has produced inconsistent results. Considering pain severity may clarify the relationship between OA and telomeres. Objectives We hypothesized that individuals with high OA chronic pain severity would have shorter telomeres than those with no or low chronic pain severity. Methods One hundred thirty-six adults, ages 45 to 85 years old, with and without symptomatic knee OA were included in the analysis. Peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length was measured, and demographic, clinical, and functional data were collected. Participants were categorized into 5 pain severity groups based on an additive index of frequency, intensity, time or duration, and total number of pain sites (FITT). Covariates included age, sex, race or ethnicity, study site, and knee pain status. Results The no or low chronic pain severity group had significantly longer telomeres compared with the high pain severity group, P = 0.025. A significant chronic pain severity dose response emerged for telomere length, P = 0.034. The FITT chronic pain severity index was highly correlated with the clinical and functional OA pain measures. However, individual clinical and functional measures were not associated with telomere length. Conclusion Results demonstrate accelerated cellular aging with high knee OA chronic pain severity and provide evidence for the potential utility of the FITT chronic pain severity index in capturing the biological burden of chronic pain.
Improved axenic hydroponic whole plant propagation for rapid production of roots as transformation target tissue.

Plant roots are used as an efficient target tissue for plant transformation assays. In root propagable species transformed roots are able to regenerate into whole plants without the addition of exogenous hormones, thus avoiding somaclonal variation associated with many plant transformation protocols. Plants grown in soil or soilless solid medium have roots that tend to be extremely delicate and are difficult to sterilize in advance of plant transformation experiments. Axenic tissue culture plants grown on semi-solid media are slow to produce large amounts of biomass compared to plants grown in solution-based media. Seeds were germinated and grown for 14 days on half-strength semi-solid Murashige and Skoog medium containing 1% sucrose. Seedlings were then transferred to Magenta™ GA7 vessels containing either liquid or semi-solid ½ MS medium with 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 or 3% sucrose. In the hydroponics (liquid medium) treatments, expanded clay balls were used to anchor seedlings. Hydroponic vessels were fitted with a sterile air aeration hose and filled ¾ full (100 mL) with liquid ½ MS media. Liquid media were replaced after 7 days. All plants were grown under fluorescent lights for 14 days. We have developed an improved axenic hydroponic propagation system for producing large quantities of plant roots for use in transformation assays using Taraxacum kok-saghyz as a model for root propagable species. Plants grew significantly faster in liquid media than on solid media. Addition of sucrose from 0.25 to 2% was correlated with an increase in biomass accumulation in plants grown in liquid media. Our improved axenic hydroponic method yields sufficient quantities of roots for extensive plant transformation/molecular studies.
Model-free control of wind farms: A comparative study between individual and coordinated extremum seeking

Abstract Large Eddy Simulations of the turbulent flow over an array of wind turbines have been performed to evaluate a model-free approach to power optimization. Two different implementations have been tested: (i) individual extremum-seeking control (IESC), which optimizes the power of the single turbines individually; (ii) nested ESC (NESC), which coordinates the single controllers to seek a farm-level optimum. Both schemes provide a gain over the baseline, which operates all the turbines with ideal design set-points. These settings are found to be sub-optimal for waked turbines. The NESC provides a slightly larger power production than the independent ESC, albeit it has a slower convergence to the optimum. Therefore, depending on wind variability, both strategies may be employed. IESC is more appropriate for sites with wind conditions changing on a short time scale, while NESC should be preferred when the wind conditions are quite stable. Since the extremum-seeking algorithm is model-free, uncertainties in atmospheric conditions, aging of the turbine or numerical dissipation due to the sub-grid model should not change the general conclusions reached in this paper. This methodology can provide reliable results and permits to gain, through the analysis, a useful knowledge on the mechanisms leading to the performance enhancement.
New Evidence to Guide Ectopic Pregnancy Diagnosis and Management.

ImportanceEctopic pregnancy is a leading source of morbidity and mortality in pregnancy, accounting for 1% to 2% of all pregnancies. Timely diagnosis and management of these abnormal gestations are vital to patient safety.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to describe recent evidence in the ri
A New Method for Estimating Effects of Visual Field Loss in a Panoramic Driving Environment

Glaucoma is a key cause of peripheral visual field loss and increases risk of a vehicle crash. Patients may be unaware of their visual loss and of hazards in the driving panorama. Standard clinical automated perimetry, the “gold standard” for monitoring glaucoma progression, lacks external validity to evaluate functional effect of visual field loss in driving environments. We developed and piloted a new technique to study the effects of glaucoma in a panoramic (290 forward FOV) simulated driving environment. Preliminary results in 11 drivers (7 with glaucoma and 4 with suspected glaucoma): (1) demonstrate the relationship between standard clinical perimetry and driving simulator visual fields, (2) replicate clinical evidence of glaucoma-related peripheral visual field loss, and (3) show added visual field loss due to visual occlusion by in-cab geometry.
MoSi2- and WSi2-based embedded ceramic composite thermocouples for high-temperature and harsh-environment sensing

Abstract MoSi2- and WSi2-based ceramic composite thick-film thermocouples were deposited on alumina substrates by a screen printing technique, and subsequently thermally processed and embedded within an alumina preform. The one leg of the thermocouple was formed with a MoSi2-Al2O3 composite, while the other leg was composed of a WSi2-Al2O3 composite. Four compositions were prepared by adjusting the volume percentages of MoSi2 and WSi2 from 50 to 90 vol%. The phase formation and microstructure of the sintered thermocouples were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermoelectric response of the thermocouples was measured by a typical hot-cold junction temperature measurements using secondary thermocouples. The thermoelectric voltage and Seebeck coefficients of thermocouples generally increased with increasing metal silicide content, as well as, temperature difference. The highest thermoelectric performance was achieved with [90–10] vol% MoSi2-Al2O3//[90–10] vol% WSi2-Al2O3 composite thermocouples, which may be related to the increased amount of the 5–3 metal silicide phases (Mo5Si3, W5Si3) that were present in the composite systems after sintering. The 5–3 metal silicide content was shown to increase with metal silicide content after sintering. The measured effective Seebeck coefficients of the MoSi2-Al2O3//WSi2-Al2O3 composite thermocouples were higher than their estimated Seebeck coefficients. A long thermocouple (22.9 cm length, 0.6 cm width) with the legs composed of [90–10] vol% MoSi2-Al2O3 and [90–10] vol% WSi2-Al2O3 displayed stable thermoelectric performance at 1350 °C with a peak thermoelectric voltage of 19.3 mV.
Toward Secure and Trustworthy Cyberphysical Microfluidic Biochips

Technological shifts in the fields of microfluidics and security are now converging. New techniques in microfluidics increasingly rely on cyberphysical integration and concepts from computer-aided design automation to provide ease-of-use, reliability, and higher throughput. Meanwhile, security concerns are extending beyond traditional information technologies as low-cost computing and sensing proliferates into an ever-increasing number of devices. This keynote paper highlights recent findings and trends in these field to motivate research in the nascent field of cyberphysical microfluidic biochip security and trust.
Integrating Advertising and Promotion with the Organization’s “Nonmarketing” Activities: Dynamic Concepts and a Computer-Assisted Profit/Cost Planning Approach

Decisions on the volume, type, and content of advertising and promotion usually result in certain increased costs/investments/operating-inefficiencies for other departments/functions of the organization. Therefore, marketing planning must take these effects into account (as well as the related resistances of the managements of these departments to these advertising and promotion plans). Trends in management teamwork, decentralization, re-engineering, information technology, and channel-relations strategy make conflict-anticipating/reducing planning methods particularly desirable.
Lactate, with oxygen, incites angiogenesis.

Lactate has been reconsidered! As we now know, most is produced aerobically We report that lactate accumulation commonly occurs in the presence of oxygen and is sufficient to instigate signals for angiogenesis and connective tissue deposition. These include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and hypoxia-inducible factor (hif-1alpha). This paper, a mini-review, is occasioned by new data showing increased presence of VEGF and angiogenesis in an oxygenated site by adding a slow-release source of lactate into Matrigel® and implanting the Matrigel subcutaneously in mice.
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in children and young adults with haemophilia

INTRODUCTION The origins of cardiovascular disease (CVD) begin in childhood. The primary objective of this cross-sectional cohort study was to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with congenital haemophilia A or B followed at Rady Children's Hospital San Diego Hemophilia and Thrombosis Treatment Center (HTC). We hypothesized that cardiovascular risk factors could be identified as part of a comprehensive clinic visit. MATERIALS AND METHODS Standardized measurement of weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure plus non-fasting glucose and lipid panel were performed. Participants and/or caregivers completed questionnaires about family history, medical history and lifestyle. Clinical data were abstracted from the medical record. Descriptive statistics, Student's t test, correlation, Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test were performed to analyse the data. RESULTS Forty-three males (mean 12 years, range 5-20 years) enrolled. High rates of overweight and obesity, (pre)hypertension and abnormal lipids were identified. Subjects with normal weight had more days of >60 minutes of physical activity compared with those with overweight or obesity (5.2 ± 2.4 vs. 3.8 ± 2.5 day; P = 0.07). Higher weight was correlated with higher factor consumption (cor = 0.88; P < 0.001). There was no difference in target joints based on weight category (30% in normal weight vs. 25% in overweight or obese, χ2 = 0.11, P = 0.74), which may be attributed to high rates of prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS Modifiable risk factors for CVD were identified as part of the study during comprehensive clinic visits. The HTC team may develop behavioural interventions to target cardiovascular risk reduction as part of the comprehensive care model.
A pedagogic cybersecurity framework

A proposal for teaching the organizational, legal, and international aspects of cybersecurity.
Nonresonant leptoquark with multigeneration couplings for μ μ j j and μ ν j j at the LHC

CMS has recently reported [A. M. Sirunyan et al. (CMS Collaboration), Search for pair production of second-generation leptoquarks at $\sqrt{s}=13\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$, Phys. Rev. D 99, 032014 (2019).] a moderate excess in the $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}jj$ final state in a second-generation leptoquark search, but they have disregarded it because the excess is not present in the $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\mu}jj$ final state and because they do not observe the expected resonant peak in the distributions. As a proof of concept, we show that a simple leptoquark model including second- and third-generation couplings with non-negligible single- and nonresonant production in addition to usual pair production could explain the data---excess ($\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}jj$), lack of excess ($\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\mu}jj$), and missing peak in the distributions---while being in agreement with collider constraints. We take this result and analysis as a starting point of a reconsideration of the ATLAS and CMS second-generation leptoquark searches. We also discuss which consequences and modifications should be performed in the searches to test if this deviation would correspond to a new physics signal. We observe that low-energy flavor constraints can be avoided by adding heavier particles to the model.
Dissemination of the CAPABLE Model of Care in a Medicaid Waiver Program to Improve Physical Function.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Of older adults, 42% report problems with daily function, and physical function is the most important consideration for aging individuals. Thus, we implemented a model of care focused on improving physical function and examined health and use outcomes and satisfaction. DESIGN A 3‐year participatory, single‐group pretrial/posttrial benchmarked to a usual care cohort that was evaluated prior to the study. SETTING Four Medicaid home and community‐based waiver sites in Michigan. PARTICIPANTS The participants included 34 clinicians and 270 Medicaid beneficiaries 50 years and older. INTERVENTION Community Aging in Place, Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE), an evidence‐based model of care that improved physical function in older adults, was implemented using evidence‐based strategies. MEASUREMENT Characteristics (age, race, and sex), health outcomes (comorbidities, instrumental/activities of daily living [I/ADLs], pain, depression, and falls), and emergency department and hospitalization visits preintervention/postintervention and in the usual care cohort were examined. We also measured Medicaid beneficiary's satisfaction with care for those who received CAPABLE. RESULTS Improved mean ± SD ADLs (preintervention, 8.51 ± 3.08; postintervention, 7.80 ± 2.86; P = .01) and IADLs (preintervention, 6.43 ± 1.31; postintervention, 5.62 ± 1.09; P < .01), a decrease in falls by 14% (from 34.8% preintervention to 20.8% postintervention; P < .01), and fewer hospitalizations (from 0.43 ± 1.51 preintervention to 0.23 ± 0.60 postintervention; P = .03) were found. Post‐CAPABLE means were significantly better compared with a usual care cohort for IADLs (6.73 ± 1.27; P < .01) and hospitalizations (0.47 ± 2.66; P < .01). Satisfaction with care was high, and 98.1% recommended CAPABLE as a way to help remain living in the community. CONCLUSION Improved ADLs and IADLs, a reduction in fall rates, fewer hospitalizations, and high satisfaction with care occurred in this population as a result of the use of CAPABLE. CAPABLE may be one solution to helping vulnerable, low‐income older adults with poor physical function to remain living in the community. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:363–370, 2019.
Gender and Politics in Buenos Aires

This paper examines the persistent gender gap in electoral politics at the local level in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I argue that the combination of the division of political work and existing social norms regarding the separation of domestic chores contributes to women’s political underrepresentation at the local level. Studying everyday politics in Buenos Aires, a clear division of political work between men and women was found. Only women were in charge of finding solutions to issues of domestic abuse and violence, and of taking care of children, the pregnant, and senior citizens. Using information from Buenos Aires municipalities, I document the gender gap in elected legislative and executive offices at the local level – as well as in non-elected offices within municipal cabinets. It was also found that the types of political work assigned to female activists and candidates reinforce existing stereotypes of women as mothers of the poor.
Adoption of New Medical Technologies: The Case of Customized Individually Made Knee Implants

Abstract Objectives To investigate the impact of insurance coverage on the adoption of customized individually made (CIM) knee implants and to compare patient outcomes and cost effectiveness of off-the-shelf and CIM implants. Methods A system dynamics simulation model was developed to study adoption dynamics of CIM and meet the research objectives. The model reproduced the historical data on primary and revision knee replacement implants obtained from the literature and the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Then the dynamics of adoption of CIM implants were simulated from 2018 to 2026. The rate of 90-day readmission, 3-year revision surgery, recovery period, time savings in operating rooms, and the associated cost within 3 years of primary knee replacement implants were used as performance metrics. Results The simulation results indicate that by 2026, an adoption rate of 90% for CIM implants can reduce the number of readmissions and revision surgeries by 62% and 39%, respectively, and can save hospitals and surgeons 6% on procedure time and cut down cumulative healthcare costs by approximately $38 billion. Conclusions CIM implants have the potential to deliver high-quality care while decreasing overall healthcare costs, but their adoption requires the expansion of current insurance coverage. This work presents the first systematic study to understand the dynamics of adoption of CIM knee implants and instrumentation. More broadly, the current modeling approach and systems thinking perspective could be used to consider the adoption of any emerging customized therapies for personalized medicine.
Christianity, Industrial Education and The Black Atlantic

A history professor at Arizona State University in the USA, Andrew Barnes has written a compelling book about Anglophone African Christians in late 19th- and early 20th-century South Africa and wes...
Reconsidering sex and gender in relation to health and disease in bioarchaeology

Abstract As an interdisciplinary field that integrates historical, ethnographic, archaeological, and biological data, bioarchaeology is well positioned to contribute to understandings of the health of past peoples in their socio-cultural contexts. Recently, following a longstanding trend in archaeology, many bioarchaeologists have begun to productively engage with concepts of sex, gender, and to a lesser extent, sexuality, particularly in relation to issues of health and disease. In response, this review interrogatively and synthetically surveys recent bioarchaeological work on this nexus, querying how bioarchaeologists theorize sex and gender, how they operationalize these concepts relative to health and disease, and the relative merits of these approaches. Within this, the review focuses on studies addressing metabolic disease, trauma and violence, infectious disease, and overall health (e.g., frailty). Throughout, the review highlights how theoretically informed bioarchaeological data can be used to further elucidate the biosocial factors that shape past patterns of health. It also highlights the distinct insights generated from this scholarship, as well as the unresolved questions, methodological difficulties, and theoretical tensions facing it. The aim throughout is to give future scholars novel, social theory-informed, and operationalized theoretical frameworks and interpretive devices that can be used to answer these questions and resolve these conflicts within bioarchaeology.
Identifying Core Content for Electrocardiogram Instruction in Doctor of Pharmacy Curricula

Minimum competencies for diagnostic tools, such as the electrocardiogram, are not well-defined in current standards or publications. The electrocardiogram has significant pharmacotherapeutic implications that pharmacists should have an adequate understanding of. This commentary highlights the importance of pharmacists' understanding of key elements of the electrocardiogram and drafts a set of recommended minimum competencies for graduating pharmacy students.
Morally Injurious Events, Moral Injury, and Suicidality among Recent-Era Veterans: The Moderating Effects of Rumination and Mindfulness

AbstractThe present study used mediation analysis to examine the associations among morally injurious events (MIEs), moral injury, and suicidality in a sample of 285 Operation Enduring Freedom and ...
Views of Rural US Adults About Health and Economic Concerns.

Importance The 2016 US presidential election brought national visibility to prominent economic issues affecting rural America, yet little has been done to examine serious health or economic problems in rural communities from the perspectives of rural US adults themselves. Objective To examine views on the most serious health and economic concerns and potential solutions in rural communities. Design, Setting, and Participants This survey study used 2 cross-sectional probability-based telephone (cellular and landline) surveys of adults living in the rural United States. The first survey was conducted June 6 to August 4, 2018, and the second survey was conducted January 31 to March 2, 2019. All results were weighted to be nationally representative of rural US adults. Data analysis was conducted in April 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary study outcomes were the prevalence of rural adults reporting their biggest community problems, problems with health care access and costs, ratings of the local economy, views on opioid addiction, and views on solving major community issues. Results The 2018 survey included 1300 respondents (response rate, 12%; completion rate, 70%), and the 2019 survey included 1405 respondents (response rate, 8%; completion rate, 76%). Rural adults primarily identified as non-Hispanic white (78%), and more than half of respondents were 50 years or older (survey 1: 55%, survey 2: 53%). Rural adults identified opioid or other drug addiction or abuse (25%; 95% CI, 22%-28%) and economic concerns (21%; 95% CI, 19%-24%) as the most serious problems facing their local communities. Opioid or other drug addiction or abuse was reported as a serious problem in their local community by 57% (95% CI, 53%-60%) of rural adults, while 49% (95% CI, 46%-53%) of rural adults said they personally know someone who has had opioid addiction. Problems paying medical bills were reported by 32% (95% CI, 29%-36%) of rural adults, and recent issues with accessing health care were reported by 26% (95% CI, 23%-30%) of rural adults. Regarding financial and economic issues, 55% (95% CI, 52%-59%) of rural adults rated their local economy as only fair or poor, and 49% (95% CI, 44%-54%) of rural adults said they would have difficulty paying off an unexpected $1000 expense. On solving major community problems, 58% (95% CI, 54%-62%) of rural adults saw a need for outside help to solve major community problems, and among those who reported needing outside help, 61% (95% CI, 57%-66%) identified a major role for government. Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that in today’s economically stretched rural United States, opioid or other drug addiction or abuse has emerged as an equal problem with economic concerns. One in 3 rural adults still have problems paying their medical bills even after the passage and implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Although rural communities have traditionally been self-reliant, more than half of rural adults are open to outside help to solve serious problems facing their communities, including major help from government.
Neuroendocrine effects of naltrexone versus nalmefene in humans.

Objective Naltrexone and nalmefene are approved for the treatment of alcohol use disorders, in different countries. Naltrexone is also approved for the treatment for opioid use disorders, most recently in a depot formulation. These compounds target primarily μ(mu)- and κ(kappa)-opioid receptor systems, which are involved in the downstream neurobiological effects of alcohol and in the modulation of neuroendocrine stress systems. The study objective was to compare the neuroendocrine effects of naltrexone and nalmefene on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and prolactin, in normal volunteers. Method Adult normal volunteers (n = 11 male and n = 9 female) were studied in a stress-minimized inpatient setting on three consecutive days, after intravenous saline, naltrexone HCl (10 mg), or nalmefene HCl (10 mg), in fixed order. ACTH, cortisol, and prolactin were analyzed pre-injection and up to 180 min post-injection. Results Naltrexone and nalmefene caused elevations in ACTH and cortisol compared with saline. Nalmefene had a greater effect on ACTH and cortisol, compared with naltrexone. Both compounds also caused elevations in prolactin in males (females were not examined, due to the influence of menstrual cycle on prolactin). Conclusions This study suggests that both nalmefene and naltrexone have effects potentially due to κ-partial agonism in humans, as well as antagonist effects at μ-receptors.
Clinical Characteristics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Requiring Long-Term Parenteral Support in the Present Era of Highly Effective Biologic Therapy.

Background Despite advances in the medical management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a subset of patients may require extensive surgery, leading to short-bowel syndrome/intestinal failure requiring long-term home parenteral nutrition (PN) or customized intravenous fluid (IVF) support. Our aim was to further define the characteristics of IBD patients requiring home PN/IVF. Methods This is an observational study from a prospective IBD research registry. Patients receiving long-term home PN/IVF support during 2009-2015 were identified and compared with remaining IBD patients. Demographics, surgical history, smoking, narcotic use, IBD treatment, healthcare charges, and presence of biomarkers were reviewed. The IBD-PN group was stratified into 3 groups based on median healthcare charges. Results Of 2359 IBD patients, there were 25 (1%, 24 with Crohn's disease) who required home PN/IVF, and 250 randomly selected IBD patients matched for disease type formed the control population. Median duration of PN use was 27 months (interquartile range, 11-66). PN use was significantly associated with smoking, narcotic use, IBD-related operations, and lower quality-of-life scores. Among IBD-PN patients, 7 of 25 (28%, 3 after use of teduglutide) were able to successfully discontinue this modality. Median healthcare charges in the IBD-PN group were $51,456 annually. Median charges in the controls were $3427. Period prevalence mortality was 11.5% in IBD-PN and 3.8% in controls. Conclusions IBD patients requiring long-term home PN/IVF support are a small minority in the present era of immunomodulator/biologic therapy. These refractory patients have a 15-fold increase in annual median healthcare charges compared with control IBD patients.
Outcomes of Botulinum Toxin Injection for Internal Rotation Contractures of the Shoulder in Brachial Plexus Birth Injury

Purpose: Shoulder internal rotation contractures are a common sequela of brachial plexus birth injuries (BPBI). The off-label use of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) into targeted muscles of infants and children with BPBPI-related shoulder internal rotation contractures has been described to facilitate functional improvement at the shoulder joint (2, 3) and prevent the resultant glenohumeral dysplasia (1). The purpose of this study was to assess the outcomes of BTX-A injections on shoulder internal rotation contractures in children with BPBI. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of 38 children (16 …
Proprioceptively displayed interfaces: aiding non-visual on-body input through active and passive touch

On-body input interfaces that can be used accurately without visual attention could have a wide range of applications where vision is needed for a primary task: emergency responders, pilots, astronauts, and people with vision impairments could benefit by making interfaces accessible. This paper describes a between-participant study (104 participants) to determine how well users can locate e-textile interface discrete target touch points on the forearm without visual attention. We examine whether the addition of active touch embroidery and passive touch nubs (metal snaps with vibro-tactile stimulation) helps in locating input touch points accurately. We found that touch points towards the middle of the interface on the forearm were more difficult to touch accurately than at the ends. We also found that the addition of vibro-tactile stimulation aids in the accuracy of touch interactions by over 9% on average, and by almost 17% in the middle of the interface.
Price Jump Risk in the US Housing Market

Housing prices, like the prices of other speculative assets, contain a mix of both small and large changes (i.e., jumps). We apply a jump-GARCH model to monthly Case-Shiller housing price indexes of twenty cities in the U.S. during the period January 1991 through December 2011. We document the evidence of large housing price jumps in many cities, during both the financial crisis and non-crisis periods. The housing price jump intensity observed during the whole sample is largely explained by city, state and national-level fundamentals. However, consistent with the development of an asset bubble, there is further evidence of a decoupling between housing price jump intensity and fundamentals during the active or turbulent phase of the U.S. housing market that immediately preceded the onset of the Global Financial Crisis. No evidence of a decoupling from fundamentals is observed during the normal or tranquil phase of the U.S. housing market.
Reviews in environmental health: How systematic are they?

Abstract Background Synthesizing environmental health science is crucial to taking action to protect public health. Procedures for evidence evaluation and integration are transitioning from “expert-based narrative” to “systematic” review methods. However, little is known about the methodology being utilized for either type of review. Objectives To appraise the methodological strengths and weaknesses of a sample of “expert-based narrative” and “systematic” reviews in environmental health. Methods We conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases and identified relevant reviews using pre-specified eligibility criteria. We applied a modified version of the Literature Review Appraisal Toolkit (LRAT) to three environmental health topics that assessed the utility, validity and transparency of reviews. Results We identified 29 reviews published between 2003 and 2019, of which 13 (45%) were self-identified as systematic reviews. Across every LRAT domain, systematic reviews received a higher percentage of “satisfactory” ratings compared to non-systematic reviews. In eight of these domains, there was a statistically significant difference observed between the two types of reviews and “satisfactory” ratings. Non-systematic reviews performed poorly with the majority receiving an “unsatisfactory” or “unclear” rating in 11 of the 12 domains. Systematic reviews performed poorly in six of the 12 domains; 10 (77%) did not state the reviews objectives or develop a protocol; eight (62%) did not state the roles and contribution of the authors, or evaluate the internal validity of the included evidence consistently using a valid method; and only seven (54%) stated a pre-defined definition of the evidence bar on which their conclusions were based, or had an author disclosure of interest statement. Discussion Systematic reviews produced more useful, valid, and transparent conclusions compared to non-systematic reviews, but poorly conducted systematic reviews were prevalent. Ongoing development and implementation of empirically based systematic review methods are required in environmental health to ensure transparent and timely decision making to protect the public’s health.
Calculating the divergence time by direct comparison between individuals and the out-group

Abstract Investigating the divergence time between different populations has been of fundamental interest in evolution biology. In this study, we reanalysed the mitochondrial and Y chromosome DNA of the 1000 Genomes Project, and revealed that most single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are specific to minority and would be classified as low-frequency mutations. Using these polymorphisms, we recalculated the divergence time of different populations by direct comparison between individuals and the out-group.
Polymer-water interactions and damage detection in polymer matrix composites

Abstract Polymer matrix composites have a tendency to absorb measurable moisture in nearly all operating environments. This absorbed moisture either becomes bound to the polymer network via secondary bonding interactions or exists as free water with negligible interactions. Damage creates new internal free volume where water molecules can exist in the latter state. This study introduces a novel basis for non-destructive examination in polymer matrix composites which leverages locally-higher concentration of free water in damaged areas. Experiments involved impact-induced sub-surface damage in a laminate prior to moisture exposure. Polymer-water interaction—determining the free or bound state of water—was characterized by near-infrared spectroscopy and microwave-range relative permittivity. Results show a direct correlation between the extent of local damage and higher relative levels of free water at damage sites.
Mutations in the Amyloid-β Protein Precursor Reduce Mitochondrial Function and Alter Gene Expression Independent of 42-Residue Amyloid-β Peptide

Background Dominant missense mutations in the amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) cause early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) and are associated with changes in the production or properties of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), particularly of the 42-residue variant (Aβ 42) that deposits in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. Recent findings, however, show that FAD mutations in AβPP also lead to increased production of longer Aβ variants of 45-49 residues in length. Objective We aimed to test neurotoxicity of Aβ 42 vis-a-vis longer variants, focusing specifically on mitochondrial function, as dysfunctional mitochondria are implicated in the pathogenesis of AD. Methods We generated SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells stably expressing AβPP mutations that lead to increased production of long Aβ peptides with or without Aβ 42. These AβPP-expressing cells were tested for oxygen consumption rates (OCR) under different conditions designed to interrogate mitochondrial function. These cell lines were also examined for expression of genes important for mitochondrial or neuronal structure and function. Results The mutant AβPP-expressing cells showed decreased basal OCRs as well as decreased OCRs associated with mitochondrial ATP production, even more so in the absence of Aβ 42 production. Moreover, mutant AβPP-expressing cells producing longer forms of Aβ displayed altered expression of certain mitochondrial- and neuronal-associated genes, whether or not Aβ 42 was produced. Conclusion These findings suggest that mutant AβPP can cause mitochondrial dysfunction that is associated with long Aβ but not with Aβ 42.
The Wig: A Hairbrained History: Luigi Amara, trans. Christina MacSweeney London: Reaktion Books, 2020

In his “Otherworldly Prologue,” the Mexican essayist, poet, and writer Luigi Amara tells us that his collection of short essays, The Wig: A Hairbrained History, might well be considered “nothing mo...