cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An impairment and disability assessment and treatment protocol for community-living elderly persons.

Background and Purpose. Falls and immobility are common among community-living elderly persons and result from the accumulated effect of multiple impairments and disabilities as well as enviornmental hazards. We developed and tested a simple assesment and intervention protocol for use in prevention and treatment programs among community-living elderly persons. This article presents the components of the assessment; the criteria for intervening on diagnosed impairments contributing to falls and immobility; and the recommended treatments, environmental adaptations, training, and exercise programs targeting the diagnosed problems. Subjects. A convenience sample of 11 residents of a senior housing complex who were cognitively intact and ambulatory were chosen for reliability testing of the assessment protocol. A random sample of 20 of the 153 elderly subjects involved in a multiple risk factor trial for fall prevention then were chosen to test the reliability of the intervention recommendations. Methods. The assessment and intervention protocol was developed by a consensus approach among a group consisting of a geriatric physician, two nurses, and three physical therapists. The interrater reliability of both the assessment and the intervention components of the protocol was determined by comparing the results of two of the study physical therapists. Results. There was excellent agreement in assessment and intervention results by the two physical therapists. The assessment required approximately 45 minutes to complete, suggesting it is feasible for use in clinical practice. Conclusion and Discussion. A simple, standardized assessment and intervention protocol, such as the one described, could aid physical therapists in evaluating and treating community-living elderly persons by improving communication among care providers, providing better documentation for reimbursers, and ensuring a direct linkage between assessment and intervention, thus simplifying the development of a treatment plan for elderly persons with complicated or multiple impairments. The ultimate test of this assessment and intervention protocol will be ascertainment of the goal of the protocol, namely a reduction in falls and improvement in mobility among multiply and chronically ill elderly persons.
Monolithic 4H-SiC Darlington transistors with a peak current gain of 2000

In this paper, we report an epi-base, implanted-emitter, monolithic Darlington transistor with high peak current gain of 2000.
Unilateral Eyelid Ptosis and a Red Eye

Abstract A 56-year-old woman presented with a unilateral ptosis induced by a nonembedded soft contact lens of approximately 2 years’ duration. The unilateral ptosis most likely resulted form localized inflammation and the physical presence of the soft contact lens. The patient’s symptoms resolved completely after double lid eversion and lens removal
Immediate circumcision of the newborn male.

Abstract Circumcision is the oldest surgical operation known to man, 1 dating some 6,000 years back into antiquity to the time of Abraham. During these centuries there developed a rough division of peoples in regard to this procedure, between those who followed the custom of the Hebrew and circumcised on the eighth day, and those who circumcised in the thirteenth year after the practice of the Egyptians. It is the purpose of this paper to endorse a possibly more suitable time to perform this operation, namely, immediately after the birth of the newborn. Our experience with this program dates back to 1941 when, due to the exigencies of World War II, the crowding and bed shortage, and particularly the reduced number of physicians, the first few immediate circumcisions were performed without mishap. Since that time approximately 14,000 newborn males have been circumcised at birth in this hospital, not to include an estimated 10,000 circumcisions performed in the other two Akron hospitals, with no known serious complication. This constitutes a vast number of procedures and the results have been most gratifying.
Two- and three-dimensional radar imaging at close range to a synthetic aperture

Summary form only given. Lincoln Laboratory is developing an ultra-wideband imaging radar that will be capable of two- and three-dimensional imaging at very close range to a synthetic aperture. The radar is fully coherent over two bandwidths (0.1 to 2 GHz and 2 to 18 GHz) and will be used for target imaging at X and Ku band, and for foliage penetration measurements over the VHF, UHF, and L bands. The radar is a portable scatterometer based on a Hewlett-Packard HP 8510C network analyzer combined with an HP 8360 frequency synthesizer and a Digital MicroVAX III computer. The characteristics of the radar are described, and technical issues arising in the analysis of the close-range imaging techniques are discussed. >
Development of a Q2MM Force Field for the Silver(I)-Catalyzed Hydroamination of Alkynes

The intramolecular hydroamination of carbon-carbon π-bonds is an effective method for the rapid construction of nitrogen heterocycles. The rapid evaluation of suitable ligands using virtual screening will aid in the development of a stereoselective analogue of the reaction by predicting effective substrate/ligand combinations. Electronic structure calculations of the relevant transition structures for different nucleophiles and alkynes at the B3LYP/ LACVP* level of theory are presented. They provide the basis for the development of a transition state force field by the Q2MM method, which is discussed in detail. The parameter development and performance for the transition state force field is presented.
Effects of aminooxyacetate on glutamate compartmentation and TCA cycle kinetics in rat hearts

The nonspecific transaminase inhibitor aminooxyacetate (AOA) has multiple influences on the dynamics of13C appearance in glutamate in rat hearts as measured by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) ...
Plasmonic nanostructures for organic photovoltaic devices

Due to the increasing demand on high-efficiency organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices, light management technique has become an active research subject. Especially, plasmonic approach was proven to be suitable for application in OPV and has shown lots of successful results. In this review, we summarize recent studies on plasmonic nanostructures for OPV with their underlying enhancement mechanisms. Optical absorption enhancement by the resonant scattering and the strong plasmonic near field will be discussed for various implementation geometries including metal nanoparticles, patterned electrodes, and plasmonic metamaterials. In addition, we will also look into the electrical effects originating from plasmonic nanostructures, which inevitably affect the device's efficiency. Future research directions will be also discussed.
712 Safety and Efficacy of Omegaven in Preterm Neonates with Parenteral Nutrition Associated Liver Disease

Background Omegaven, a fish oil derived parenteral lipid emulsion rich in omega-3 fatty acids, has been used in the United States under Investigational New Drug applications to treat parenteral nutrition associated liver disease (PNALD) in neonates. Aims To evaluate the safety profile and changes in serum direct bilirubin levels in preterm neonates with moderate to severe PNALD treated with Omegaven. Methods A prospective observational study of parenteral nutrition (PN) dependant neonates with consecutive serum direct bilirubin levels above 3 mg/dL, separated by a minimum of 7 days, who were expected to require PN for at least 3 more weeks were considered for Omegaven therapy. Eligible neonates were treated with Omegaven, as the only lipid infusion, at a maximum rate of 1 g/kg/day. Omegaven therapy was stopped once the serum direct bilirubin level was less than 1 mg/dL on consecutive weeks, or the patient tolerated adequate enteral nutrition to stop PN. The change in serum direct bilirubin was compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results 17 neonates were eligible for the analysis with a mean gestational age at birth of 26.6 weeks and mean birth weight of 911 g. Omegaven was administered for a median of 57 days. The neonates tolerated Omegaven well, without significant changes noted in the safety indicators (coagulation profile, platelet count, serum triglyceride, glucose, albumine). Serum direct bilirubin levels decreased significantly during the treatment course (p = 0.035). Conclusions Significant decrease in serum direct bilirubin levels was observed in neonates with PNALD; omegaven was well tolerated.
Recent Progress in Atomic Layer Epitaxy of III–V Compounds

The potential applications of Atomic Layer Epitaxy of III–V compounds will be outlined. These include the growth of special structures and devices such as ordered alloys, ultra-thin quantum wells, non-alloyed contacts, planar doped FET’s and HBT’s. Also, the main challenges facing ALE will be outlined along with possible solutions. These include reactor design, control of carbon doping and the growth of ternary alloys. A general assessment of the ALE technology will be provided.
Ultra-high-resolution optical coherence tomography gets adaptive-optic 'glasses'

Laser Focus World Previous Page | Contents | Zoom in | Zoom out | Front Cover | Search Issue | Next Page A B E M a G S F MEDICAL OCT Ultra-high-resolution optical coherence tomography gets adaptive-optic ‘glasses’ ROBERT J. ZAWADZKI, BARRY CENSE, STEVEN M. JONES, SCOT S. OLIVIER, DONALD T. MILLER, AND JOHN S. WERNER AO control Deformable mirror control A Deformable mirror Scanner Wavefront reconstruction Eye Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor Beamsplitter Scanner Achromatizing daptive-optics techniques, which lens are well known for correcting OCT light Earth-based atmospheric eff ects source/laser in astronomical images, are fi nd- beacon Beamsplitter Mirrors ing new practical application on a smaller scale for retinal imaging. Mirror In only 15 years, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has revolutionized treatment and monitor- OCT ing of retinal diseases. 1 Its superb axial resolution, detector FIGURE 1. Adaptive optics placed independent from lateral resolu- in the sample arm of an ultra-high- tion, allows precise in vivo visu- resolution OCT instrument corrects Ultra-high-resolution OCT alization and characterization ocular aberration in real time. of all the main cellular layers in imaging that uses adaptive the human retina. Unfortunately, wavefront correctors in various as in other imaging techniques, retinal imaging systems, includ- optics is improved with a new ing OCT, can improve lateral lateral resolution and therefore source and optics for clinical in resolution. 2 the quality of OCT imaging is While adaptive optics (AO) reduced by imperfections in the vivo visibility of the human retina. reduces the degrading impact eye’s optics. Incorporation of of ocular aberrations, full com- pensation of both low- and high-order aberrations of the ROBERT J. ZAWADZKI is an assistant researcher and JOHN S. WER- eye has not been achieved. Th is is a limiting factor for AO- NER is professor of vision science at the Advanced Retinal Imaging Laboratory (VSRI), University of California Davis, 4860 Y Str. Suite OCT systems in clinical settings. Standard methods of re- 2400, Sacramento, CA 95817; BARRY CENSE is a research associ- fractive vision correction, such as placement of trial lenses ate and DONALD T. MILLER is associate professor of the School of in front of the eye, adversely aff ect the implementation of Optometry, Indiana University, 800 E. Atwater Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405; and STEVEN M. JONES is research engineer and SCOT S. OCT imaging. As a possible solution to this problem, we OLIVIER is associate division leader of applied physics at Lawrence recently reported a novel “trial-lens-free” AO design that Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave., L-210, Livermore, CA; cascades two deformable mirrors 3 for the purpose of ex- e-mail: rjzawadzki@ucdavis.edu; vsri.ucdavis.edu. Laser Focus World Laser Focus World www.laserfocusworld.com December 2008 Previous Page | Contents | Zoom in | Zoom out | Front Cover | Search Issue | Next Page A B E M a G S F
The monitoring and analysis of drug resistance of common bacteria in recent 5 years in maternal and child health hospital of Tongling city

Objective By bacterial monitoring data on maternal and child health hospital in Tongling city 2008—2012statistical analysis to understand the distribution and drug resistance of common bacteria,provide reference for the clinical rational use of antibacterial drugs in our hospital. Methods Investigation of Tongling city hospital bacteria in recent 5years monitoring data was performed through EXCEL software by statistical analysis. Results 409 isolations of the pathogen were concucted from 2008 to 2012,the positive rate was 10. 02%,with 60 strains of fungi,and 349 strains of bacteria.Among the 204 Gram-positive bacteria in bacterial strains,accounting for 58. 45%; 145 strains of gram-negative bacteria,accounting for 41. 55%. There were 2 cases of teicoplanin-resistant Staphylococcus,1 case of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus,1 case of imipenem-resistant Escherichia coli and 2 cases of meropenem-resistant wheat narrow food caused by teeth. Conclusion In Tongling municipal health center,it should be taken measures to strengthen the management of antibiotics,regulate the use of antibiotics,do the work of disinfection and sterilization in hospitals and reduce the occurrence of bacterial resistance.
Interplay between cytosolic disulfide reductase systems and the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway.

NADPH transfers reducing power from bioenergetic pathways to thioredoxin reductase-1 (TrxR1) and glutathione reductase (GR) to support essential reductive systems. Surprisingly, it was recently shown that mouse livers lacking both TrxR1 and GR (‘TR/GR-null’) can sustain redox (reduction-oxidation) homoeostasis using a previously unrecognized NADPH-independent source of reducing power fuelled by dietary methionine. The NADPH-dependent systems are robustly redundant in liver, such that disruption of either TrxR1 or GR alone does not cause oxidative stress. However, disruption of TrxR1 induces transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like-2) whereas disruption of GR does not. This suggests the Nrf2 pathway responds directly to the status of the thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) system. The proximal regulator of Nrf2 is Keap1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1), a cysteine (Cys)-rich protein that normally interacts transiently with Nrf2, targeting it for degradation. During oxidative stress, this interaction is stabilized, preventing degradation of newly synthesized Nrf2, thereby allowing Nrf2 accumulation. Within the Trx1 system, TrxR1 and peroxiredoxins (Prxs) contain some of the most reactive nucleophilic residues in the cell, making them likely targets for oxidants or electrophiles. We propose that Keap1 activity and therefore Nrf2 is regulated by interactions of Trx1 system enzymes with oxidants. In TR/GR-null livers, Nrf2 activity is further induced, revealing that TrxR-independent systems also repress Nrf2 and these might be induced by more extreme challenges.
Texas A&M University in the JET Collaboration - Final Report

This final report summarizes the work done by PIs at Texas A&M University within the JET Topical Collaboration. The main focus of the group at Texas A&M has been the development and implementation of a hadronization model suitable to calculate hadronization of jet showers in heavy ion collisions event by event. The group successfully developed a hybrid model of parton recombination and remnant string fragmentation including recombination with thermal partons. A code realizing this model was developed and shared with other JET members. In addition, the group at Texas A&M worked on both open and hidden heavy flavor probes. In particular, they developed a description of heavy flavor hadronization based on recombination, and consistent with in-medium scattering rates of heavy quarks, and suggested the Ds meson as a precise probe of the hadronization mechanism. Another noteworthy focus of their work was electromagnetic probes, in particular, dileptons and photons from interactions of jets with the medium. In the soft sector the group has made several contributions to modern topics, e.g. the splitting of elliptic flow between isospin partners and the role of the initial strong gluon fields.
Grassland productivity in response to nutrient additions and herbivory is scale-dependent

Vegetation response to nutrient addition can vary across space, yet studies that explicitly incorporate spatial pattern into experimental approaches are rare. To explore whether there are unique spatial scales (grains) at which grass response to nutrients and herbivory is best expressed, we imposed a large (∼3.75 ha) experiment in a South African coastal grassland ecosystem. In two of six 60 × 60 m grassland plots, we imposed a scaled sampling design in which fertilizer was added in replicated sub-plots (1 × 1 m, 2 × 2 m, and 4 × 4 m). The remaining plots either received no additions or were fertilized evenly across the entire area. Three of the six plots were fenced to exclude herbivory. We calculated empirical semivariograms for all plots one year following nutrient additions to determine whether the scale of grass response (biomass and nutrient concentrations) corresponded to the scale of the sub-plot additions and compared these results to reference plots (unfertilized or unscaled) and to plots with and without herbivory. We compared empirical semivariogram parameters to parameters from semivariograms derived from a set of simulated landscapes (neutral models). Empirical semivariograms showed spatial structure in plots that received multi-scaled nutrient additions, particularly at the 2 × 2 m grain. The level of biomass response was predicted by foliar P concentration and, to a lesser extent, N, with the treatment effect of herbivory having a minimal influence. Neutral models confirmed the length scale of the biomass response and indicated few differences due to herbivory. Overall, we conclude that interpretation of nutrient limitation in grasslands is dependent on the grain used to measure grass response and that herbivory had a secondary effect.
Utility and pitfalls of GATA3 immunocytochemistry for diagnosis of metastatic breast carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma on cytology specimens.

Introduction Although GATA3 expression has been studied extensively on histology specimens and has demonstrated a high level of accuracy in detecting carcinomas from breast or urothelial origin, its utility on cytology samples, especially the influence of different sample (fine-needle aspiration [FNA] versus effusion fluid) and preparation (cell block versus smear) on the staining, is understudied. Materials and methods We retrospectively searched our institution's pathology database for cytologic cases where GATA3 immunostaining was performed during diagnostic workup and identified a total of 178 cases, consisting of 89 metastatic breast carcinomas, 22 metastatic urothelial carcinomas, and 67 malignant neoplasms of other origin. Frequency of GATA3 expression was evaluated in each group. Results For metastatic breast carcinomas, 75% expressed GATA3; 74% on FNA samples and 77% on fluid samples; 71% on cell block and 89% on smear. GATA3 was positive in 44% triple-negative breast carcinomas. Of the 22 metastatic urothelial carcinomas (21 FNA samples and 1 fluid; 21 cell blocks and 1 smear), all were positive for GATA3. Of the 67 malignancies of other origin, 4 (6%) were positive for GATA3 (ie, a metastatic ovarian serous carcinoma, a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, a recurrent poorly differentiated skin adnexal carcinoma, and a metastatic thymic carcinoma). Conclusions GATA3 is a useful biomarker for detecting carcinomas of breast or urothelial origin on cytologic specimens. It may detect breast cancers with the triple-negative phenotype. Both cell block and smear preparations can be reliably used for the staining. GATA3-positive immunostaining is occasionally seen in other tumors, which may cause diagnostic confusion.
Endocytosis and Erythroblast Enucleation Are Linked by the Action of a Survivin-EPS15-Clathrin Complex

The mechanisms that drive the final step in the development of reticulocytes from nucleated erythroblasts remain largely undefined. We recently reported that the chromosome passenger complex (CPC) protein survivin is required for the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells and for the proliferation and survival of erythroid progenitors. Several lines of evidence suggest that survivin also plays an additional role late in erythropoiesis. First, 20% of survivin heterozygous mice showed a decrease in the proportion of enucleated cells relative to nucleated erythroblasts. Second, survivin is highly expressed in orthochromatic erythroblasts undergoing enucleation, where it partially co-localizes with actin at the junction between the extruding nucleus and cytoplasm. Third, overexpression of survivin promoted enucleation during DMSO-induced murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cell differentiation. Since survivin plays an essential role during normal mitosis and because enucleation has been postulated to occur by asymmetric cytokinesis, we investigated the link between cytokinesis and enucleation. Using primary erythroblast cultures, we found that chemical inhibitors of cytokinesis failed to prevent enucleation. Furthermore, we could not detect co-localization of survivin with aurora-B or INCENP, two other members of the CPC, in enucleating primary human erythroblasts. To determine the mechanism by which survivin contributes to enucleation, we utilized an in vivo biotinylation strategy to isolate survivin protein complexes from extracts of MEL cells. Using mass spectrometry, we discovered that survivin complexes include clathrin and its partner EPS15 (EGFR pathway substrate clone 15). We confirmed the endogenous interaction between these three proteins by co-immunoprecipitation. Treatment of primary erythroblast cultures with an inhibitor of endocytosis led to a decrease in enucleation efficiency. In addition, siRNAs targeting survivin, EPS15, or clathrin each reduced the degree of enucleation of primary human erythroblasts, confirming a requirement for this protein complex in enucleation. Together, our data demonstrate that survivin promotes enucleation by a novel clathrin-mediated process. Furthermore, our data help explain electron microscopy (EM) observations that enucleation is accompanied by an accumulation of vesicles that coalesce to form U-shaped channels at the junction between the nucleus and plasmalemma of the erythroblast (Simpson and Kling, JCB 35:237, 1967). These EM studies along with our new data suggest that vesicular trafficking may be one of the major driving forces in enucleating erythroblasts.
Volumetric Properties and Solubility Parameters of Cyclohexane + CO2 Mixtures at High Pressures and their Modeling with the Sanchez-Lacombe Equation of State

Densities of mixtures of cyclohexane and carbon dioxide containing 0 to 50 wt % CO2 were determined using a variable-volume view cell at pressures ranging from 5 to 35 MPa and temperatures ranging from 313 to 393 K covering a density range from 0.55 to 0.83 g/cm3. The data were modeled with the Sanchez–Lacombe (S-L) equation of state (EOS). Modeling was conducted both by treating each mixture as a pseudopure compound and by using the S-L parameters for the pure components with a composition- and temperature-dependent interaction parameter. Various thermodynamic properties for the mixtures such as the isothermal compressibility, isobaric expansivity, internal pressure, excess volumes, and solubility parameters were then evaluated. Mixture excess volumes were also determined, and they were modeled with Redlich–Kister type equations. The mixture density data were also modeled using the S-L parameters for pure components and a composition- and temperature-dependent interaction parameter. Isothermal compressib...
Association of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Bone Mineral Density in Elderly Women

Depression and osteoporosis are 2 common comorbidities in geriatric patients. There are concerns about the deleterious effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant use on bone mineral density (BMD). We examined the association between SSRI use and BMD in elderly women (≥65 yr) referred to a geriatric osteoporosis clinic for bone health evaluation. Cross-sectional analyses using the general linear model were performed on data collected retrospectively from August 2010 to April 2015. A total of 250 women were seen during the study period. Of these, 140 women had complete data on BMD measurements: 22 (15.7%) used an SSRI and 118 (84.3%) did not. The 2 groups, SSRI users and SSRI nonusers, did not differ significantly across any of the covariates tested (age, ethnicity, body mass index, and past and present osteoporosis treatment medications). After adjusting for covariates, there was no difference in the BMDs at the femoral neck (p = 0.887) or the spine (p = 0.275) between the 2 groups. Similarly, no difference was seen in the T-scores between SSRI users and nonusers at the femoral neck (p = 0.924) or at the spine level (p = 0.393). Our study did not show an association between SSRI use and BMD among elderly women referred for bone health evaluation. Other studies in the literature have been inconclusive, and therefore, robust longitudinal studies are needed to further assess the interaction between SSRI use and predictors of fracture such as BMD, bone turnover markers, and genes involved in bone turnover. Until then, clinicians should closely monitor the bone health of long-term SSRI users.
Identifying sleep spindles with multichannel EEG and classification optimization.

Abstract Researchers classify critical neural events during sleep called spindles that are related to memory consolidation using the method of scalp electroencephalography (EEG). Manual classification is time consuming and is susceptible to low inter-rater agreement. This could be improved using an automated approach. This study presents an optimized filter based and thresholding (FBT) model to set up a baseline for comparison to evaluate machine learning models using naive features, such as raw signals, peak frequency, and dominant power. The FBT model allows us to formally define sleep spindles using signal processing but may miss examples most human scorers would agree are spindles. Machine learning methods in theory should be able to approach performance of human raters but they require a large quantity of scored data, proper feature representation, intensive feature engineering, and model selection. We evaluate both the FBT model and machine learning models with naive features. We show that the machine learning models derived from the FBT model improve classification performance. An automated approach designed for the current data was applied to the DREAMS dataset [1]. With one of the expert's annotation as a gold standard, our pipeline yields an excellent sensitivity that is close to a second expert's scores and with the advantage that it can classify spindles based on multiple channels if more channels are available. More importantly, our pipeline could be modified as a guide to aid manual annotation of sleep spindles based on multiple channels quickly (6–10 s for processing a 40-min EEG recording), making spindle detection faster and more objective.
Pelvic floor disorders in women with gynecologic malignancies: a systematic review.

Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) negatively affect quality of life in the general population, and their prevalence in gynecologic cancer survivors has not been systematically described. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PFDs in cancer survivors. We hypothesized that the prevalence of PFDs in the gynecologic cancer population would be higher than in the general female population. We searched PubMed (1809 to present), EMBASE (1974 to present), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) through May 2017. The search combined subject headings, title, and abstract words for gynecologic cancer, PFDs, and prevalence. Any studies evaluating the prevalence of PFDs in gynecologic malignancies were included. A total of 550 articles met the designated search criteria and 31 articles were included in this review. In cervical cancer survivors, before treatment the prevalences of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) and fecal incontinence (FI) were 24–29%, 8–18% and 6%, respectively, and after treatment the prevalences of SUI, UUI, urinary retention, FI, fecal urge, dyspareunia and vaginal dryness were 4–76%, 4–59%, 0.4–39%, 2–34%, 3–49%, 12–58% and 15–47%, respectively. In uterine cancer survivors, before treatment the prevalences of SUI, UUI and FI were 29–36%, 15–25% and 3%, respectively, and after treatment the prevalences of urinary incontinence (UI) and dyspareunia were 2–44% and 7–39%, respectively. In vulvar cancer survivors, after treatment the prevalences of UI, SUI and FI were 4–32%, 6–20% and 1–20%, respectively. In ovarian cancer survivors, the prevalences of SUI, UUI, prolapse and sexual dysfunction were 32–42%, 15–39%, 17% and 62–75%, respectively. PFDs are prevalent in gynecologic cancer survivors and this is an important area of clinical concern and future research.
Private Investment in a Reverse Merger Firm as a Bet on Future Value: A Real Options Perspective

Due to lenient disclosure requirements for reverse mergers (RM), investments in RM firms are exposed to significant lemon problems and uncertainty concerning those firms’ future prospects. However,...
Trust and environmental activism across regions and countries

In recent decades, research reveals that environmental activism has declined globally and identifies distinctive regional patterns and possible national trends. Improving our understanding of what shapes environmental activism is important for comparative social science scholarship. This study addresses this challenge through investigation of a model of environmental activism that includes environmental trust along with a core set of predictors from previous scholarly work. Comparisons are conducted both across regions and countries using structural equation modeling with latent variables and a unique set of items only available in the 2000 International Social Survey Program data. Although important similarities are revealed across regions, results also show unanticipated effects. In addition, findings for 22 countries individually reveal intriguing patterning. Analyses both by region and by country advance our collective understanding of the predictors shaping environmental activism and provide fruitful avenues for future study.
Surgery for pelvic floor disorders.

The various forms of genital prolapse in the female patient can be recognized by careful physical examination. A surgical reconstruction can then be recommended that not only will correct those forms that are producing symptoms but that will recognize and repair weaknesses that are not yet symptomatic. The author describes the anatomic basis for these symptom-producing elements and provides recommendations for specific steps in the surgical remedy that will relieve the patient’s symptoms and lessen the chance for postoperative recurrence
Do Corporations Have to Consider Sustainability

Many energy sector companies operating in Alberta purport to adopt sustainable practices in the course of doing business. The central question of this paper is whether a corporate environmental covenant such as a sustainability policy carries any legal liability. If not, and if a company reneges on such a commitment, it would appear these corporate pledges may be, as cowboys say in Alberta, “all hat, no cattle.” This debate raises timely concerns in corporate law and its future challenges.
Overview of Real-World Emission Characterization Methods

Abstract Real-world emissions do not necessarily correspond with those derived from certification tests, owing to changes in equipment, fuels, and operating cycles. Therefore, emission rates from sources that affect ambient air quality are needed to drive air quality models and to provide accountability for air quality management strategies. Since the early 1960s, source characterization methods have been established that quantify emission rates to certify sources and determine their compliance over time. However, these certification and compliance methods have not been adapted to changes in emission processes and controls nor have they incorporated advances in measurement technology. This results in source tests that are incompatible with each other and with ambient measurement methods. Source characterization methods need to be improved to better represent real-world hardware, operating conditions, and feedstocks and to obtain more information at lower costs. Hot-ducted exhaust can be cooled to ambient temperatures prior to measurement to better approximate emissions as they appear in the atmosphere. Engine exhaust can be characterized in situ with portable monitoring systems. A portable wind tunnel can characterize fugitive dust threshold suspension velocities, reservoir sizes, particle size distributions, and chemical profiles.
Zoogeography of the Shallow-Water Cirriped Fauna of the Galápagos Islands and Adjacent Regions in the Tropical Eastern Pacific

The association of the Galapagos Islands with the birth of Darwinian evolutionary theory has inspired many detailed studies of their fauna and flora. Yet the cirripeds, the only invertebrates to receive Darwin’s personal attention as a systematist, are virtually unknown for the region. His monographs on the Cirripedia (Darwin, 1851,1854) contain references to three species collected during the voyage of the Beagle: Balanus tintinnabulum (Linnaeus) and Tetraclita porosa (Gmelin) from rocky intertidal areas, and Platylepas decorata Darwin from marine turtles.
YouTube utopianism: Social media profanation and the clicktivism of capitalist critique

Abstract Utopia is a complex and resilient concept. This article extends theory relating utopia to consumer culture and social media. After identifying two main schools of utopian consumer research, termed metopianism and wetopianism, the article inquires how social media discourses of utopianism challenge capitalism and what these challenges suggest about contemporary consumer activism. Sites of utopian discourse on YouTube concerning Walt Disney's original EPCOT plans, Jacque Fresco's Venus Project, and Elon Musk's Silicon Valley vision of the future are sources of netnographic data. The findings first focus on various discourses comparing political and economic systems, environmental effects, technology, and the reflexive, playful, imaginative, emotional, and engaged aspects of utopianist messages. Next, findings reveal worshipful attitudes towards the three charismatic utopian entrepreneurs and their visions. Utopian discourse on social media is clicktivism, but it is also an important and relevant social phenomenon that reveals the spectrum of forms of online political participation.
Psychosocial Impacts of Immigration on Nigerian Immigrants in the United States: A Phenomenological Study:

Introduction. Nigerian immigrants constitute a major proportion of the increasing immigration trend from sub-Saharan Africa to the United States. However, limited studies exist on the psychosocial ...
The relationship between single-limb squat and jump-cut kinematics

No objective criteria exist for progressing athletes into cutting manoeuvres following ACL reconstruction (ACLR). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between a jump-cut task (JC) and the single-limb squat (SLS) in both ACLR and healthy controls. Case-control, laboratory based. Twenty-three participants with a history of ACLR (Age = 21 ± 3 years; Height = 174.5 ± 7.2 cm; Mass = 76.2 ± 9.9 kg) and 23 healthy controls participants (Age = 21 ± 3 years; Height = 173.8 ± 9.2 cm; Mass = 75.0 ± 10.5 kg) were included. Kinematics were collected bilaterally. Correlations between tasks were evaluated for kinematics. Independent sample t-tests were used to evaluate differences between groups for each dependent variable. Peak trunk rotation and medial knee displacement were strongly correlated (p < 0.001, r2 = 0.63), between tasks. ACLR group performed SLS and JC tasks with less sagittal plane motion compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). Lack of frontal and transverse plane control during SLS resulted in positions of increased lateral trunk flexion, hip adduction, and medial knee displacement during JC. The SLS may be considered for use as a clinical predictor of JC during rehabilitation following ACLR.
Deep Learning for Selecting Precoder Ranks

We study distributed rank selection in a multi- cell wideband cellular network with multiple antennas per node. The rank for a particular mobile is the number of independent data streams across all sub-carriers and antennas. Rank selection then involves both spatial multiplexing and sub-carrier allocations. We propose assigning frequency-space signatures across the data streams to unify the rank assignment over those two dimensions. A sum rate maximization problem is formulated for allocating the signatures and is solved using distributed bi-directional training. Starting with full-rank transmission, the precoders are iteratively updated, and the optimized rank for a mobile is the number of signatures assigned significant power after convergence. For systems with a large number of antennas and sub-carriers, it may take many iterations to converge. To reduce the training period, we propose using deep learning for estimating the ranks across mobiles before the precoder optimization phase. With a trained Deep Neural Network (DNN), each mobile estimates its own transmission rank directly from its local channel information and locations of neighboring mobiles. Simulation results show that the DNNs can significantly reduce the training period for precoder adaptation while achieving performance close to that with jointly optimized precoders and ranks. This is illustrated with different system parameters and mobile distributions.
Denoising and Multiple Tissue Compartment Visualization of Multi-b-Valued Breast Diffusion MRI.

BACKGROUND Multi-b-valued/multi-shell diffusion provides potentially valuable metrics in breast MRI but suffers from low signal-to-noise ratio and has potentially long scan times. PURPOSE To investigate the effects of model-based denoising with no loss of spatial resolution on multi-shell breast diffusion MRI; to determine the effects of downsampling on multi-shell diffusion; and to quantify these effects in multi-b-valued (three directions per b-value) acquisitions. STUDY TYPE Prospective ("fully-sampled" multi-shell) and retrospective longitudinal (multi-b). SUBJECTS One normal subject (multi-shell) and 10 breast cancer subjects imaging at four timepoints (multi-b). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE 3T multi-shell acquisition and 1.5T multi-b acquisition. ASSESSMENT The "fully-sampled" multi-shell acquisition was retrospectively downsampled to determine the bias and error from downsampling. Mean, axial/parallel, radial diffusivity, and fractional anisotropy (FA) were analyzed. Denoising was applied retrospectively to the multi-b-valued breast cancer subject dataset and assessed subjectively for image noise level and tumor conspicuity. STATISTICAL TESTS Parametric paired t-test (P < 0.05 considered statistically significant) on mean and coefficient of variation of each metric-the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from all b-values, fast ADC, slow ADC, and perfusion fraction. Paired and two-sample t-tests for each metric comparing normal and tumor tissue. RESULTS In the multi-shell data, denoising effectively suppressed FA (-45% to -78%), with small biases in mean diffusivity (-5% in normal, +23% in tumor, and -4% in vascular compartments). In the multi-b data, denoising resulted in small biases to the ADC metrics in tumor and normal contralateral tissue (by -3% to +11%), but greatly reduced the coefficient of variation for every metric (by -1% to -24%). Denoising improved differentiation of tumor and normal tissue regions in most metrics and timepoints; subjectively, image noise level and tumor conspicuity were improved in the fast ADC maps. DATA CONCLUSION Model-based denoising effectively suppressed erroneously high FA and improved the accuracy of diffusivity metrics. EVIDENCE LEVEL 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 1.
Syringomyelia Resolution Following Chiari Surgery: A Novel Scale for Communication and Research.

Background The pathophysiological connection between Chiari malformation and syringomyelia is accepted. Debate remains, however, how can we best define changes in syringomyelia following surgery. Objective To introduce a grading system focusing on syrinx reduction based on routinely and reproducible radiological information, and provide a suggestion of the application of this scale for prediction of patient's prognoses. Methods Data from 48 patients with Chiari malformation and syringomyelia were compiled. We calculated syrinx cross-sectional area by approximating an ellipse in the largest axial plane. We compared the percentage of reduction or enlargement following surgery. The percentage change was grouped into four grades: Grade 0 = Increasing size, grade I ≤ 50% reduction, grade II = 50% to 90% reduction, grade III ≥ 90% reduction. Results A total of 89.6% of patients had syrinx improvement after surgery. A total of 5 patients were grade 0, 14 were grade I, 20 patients were grade II, and 9 patients met criteria for grade III. The mean postoperative syrinx area was 24.1 mm2 (0-169 mm2) with a mean syrinx reduction of 62.7%. Conclusion Radiological improvement of syringomyelia can be mathematically defined and standardized to assist in communication in outcome-based trials. Radiological resolution is expected most patients.
Strain-induced surface modalities in pnictogen chalcogenide topological insulators

We study the role of equi-biaxial strains on the electronic structure in pnictogen chalcogenides Bi2Se3, Bi2Te3, and As2Te3. Bi2Se3 and Bi2Te3 are topological insulators, and As2Te3 is an insulator with a relatively small bandgap. Based on the results of density functional theory calculations including van der Waals corrections, we demonstrate that a topological insulator (TI) state in As2Te3 can be induced by an epitaxial (in-plane) tensile misfit strain of 1%. Furthermore, we find overall that the effect of the misfit on the bandgap is larger for As2Te3 than for Bi2Se3 and Bi2Te3. We attribute this to a complex interplay between the misfit strain, spin–orbit coupling, and the relaxation of surface atomic layers. Our findings indicate that As2Te3 is more suitable than Bi2Se3 and Bi2Te3 for potential applications of strain-induced switching of TIs.
Synthesis and coordination of a tert-butyl functionalized facially coordinating 2-histidine-1-carboxylate model ligand

Herein, we report a bulky variant of a bis-benzimidazole carboxylate ligand. The five-position of the benzimidazole groups were substituted with tertiary butyl groups with the intention of preventi...
Oxide thin films for high mobility n-channel and p-channel transistors

This talk is on the growth of semiconducting oxides for transistors. The films are grown by oxide MBE and the materials focus is La-doped BaSnO3 for the channel of n-type transistors and Sn2+-based oxides for the channel of p-type transistors. In addition to producing the highest mobility BaSnO3 films, we have achieved a fully transparent thin-film transistor utilizing them that provides a drain current exceeding 0.45 mA/μm and an on-off ratio of 1.5 × 10^8. A growth variant of MBE--“suboxide MBE”--will also be described that makes it possible to deposit Sn2+-based compounds at BEOL-compatible growth temperatures.
Novel Web-Based Music Re-Engineering Software for Enhancement of Music Enjoyment Among Cochlear Implantees.

OBJECTIVES Cochlear implant (CI) listeners experience diminished music perception and enjoyment from a variety of patient-related and implant-related factors. We investigate the hypothesis that patient-directed music re-engineering may enhance music enjoyment with CI. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Academic cochlear implant center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A multidisciplinary team of neurotologists, audiologists, and a sound/audio engineer collaborated with a web developer to create a music re-engineering application. Experienced adult CI listeners rated original excerpts from five major genres of music on enjoyment using a visual analog scale (VAS). Subjects were then allowed to re-engineer the original by adjusting treble frequencies, bass frequencies, percussion emphasis, and reverberation and again rated on enjoyment. RESULTS Total of 46 subjects, with a mean age of 57.6 years (SD = 16; range, 18-90) participated in the study. User-mixed audio was rated higher across all measures of enjoyment than original recordings (mean difference +0.92; p < 0.05, CI [0.22, 1.62]), an effect that was seen across all genres except for country music. Subjects preferred louder bass frequencies (mean difference +7.1 dB; p < 0.01, CI [2.15, 24.3]) and more reverberation (mean difference +6.6 ms; p < 0.01, CI [2.85, 10.7]). Re-engineered music increased enjoyment in 57%, and 79% reported an interest in being able to mix music of their own choosing. CONCLUSION User-directed music re-engineering increases music enjoyment for CI listeners. The cochlear implantee preferred heightened bass, reverberation, and treble across musical genres. These findings support the implementation of patient-directed music re-engineering to enhance music enjoyment with technology that is readily available today.
Spread and defend infection in graphs

The spread of an infection, a contagion, meme, emotion, message and various other spreadable objects have been discussed in several works. Burning and firefighting have been discussed in particular on static graphs. Graph burning simulates the notion of the spread of "fire" throughout a graph (plus, one unburned node burned at each time-step); graph firefighting simulates the defending of nodes by placing firefighters on the nodes which have not been already burned while the fire is being spread (started by only a single fire source). This article studies a combination of firefighting and burning on a graph class which is a variation (generalization) of temporal graphs. Nodes can be infected from "outside" a network. We present a notion of both upgrading (of unburned nodes, similar to firefighting) and repairing (of infected nodes). The nodes which are burned, firefighted, or repaired are chosen probabilistically. So a variable amount of nodes are allowed to be infected, upgraded and repaired in each time step. In the model presented in this article, both burning and firefighting proceed concurrently, we introduce such a system to enable the community to study the notion of spread of an infection and the notion of upgrade/repair against each other. The graph class that we study (on which, these processes are simulated) is a variation of temporal graph class in which at each time-step, probabilistically, a communication takes place (iff an edge exists in that time step). In addition, a node can be "worn out" and thus can be removed from the network, and a new healthy node can be added to the network as well. This class of graphs enables systems with high complexity to be able to be simulated and studied.
2015 Update: Can I Bring My Gun? A Fifty State Survey of Firearm Laws Impacting Policies Prohibiting Handguns in Public Libraries

In Capital Area District Library v. Michigan Open Carry, 826 N.W. 2d 736 (2012), the Michigan Court of Appeals concluded that state law preempted the library’s weapons policy prohibiting firearms in the library. While the library community awaits the appeal the question is, how would other states treat a similar issue? The purpose of this paper is to determine how preemption, open and concealed carry laws in each state impact policies prohibiting handguns in public libraries.