cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fiber optic ultrasound transmitters and their applications

Abstract Ultrasound transmitters are widely used in various applications such as medical imaging and structural health monitoring. Most recently, traditional ultrasound transmitters are challenged by modern applications which require transmitters featuring a broad bandwidth and a compact size. In order to fill the gap, novel ultrasound transmitters, which are built around photoacoustic principle and optical fibers, are developed by various researchers. Photoacoustic principle is an optical ultrasound generation mechanism which involves optical energy absorption and conversion. In this paper, the history of optical ultrasound transmitters based on photoacoustic principle is reviewed and the efficiency of the photoacoustic conversion is discussed. This paper focuses on fiber optic ultrasound transmitters which utilize photoacoustic principle on optical fibers to generate ultrasound. In addition, various applications are discussed in this paper and the unique advantages of fiber optic ultrasound transmitters are covered.
An exploration of defensive pessimism, explanatory style, and expectations in relation to the academic performance of college and university students.

Researchers have studied the concepts of optimism and pessimism as traits, expectations, strategies, and styles of explaining outcomes. Explanatory style and the strategy of defensive pessimism are two of these areas. In general, optimistic explanatory style has been associated with better outcomes including academic performance. Some studies have found that pessimistic explanatory style has been associated with better academic outcomes. One suggestion in the literature was that defensive pessimism might explain the cases where pessimistic explanatory style is associated with better academic outcomes. To evaluate this explanation, the Academic Attributional Style Questionnaire (AASQ, Revised Defensive Pessimism Questionnaire (DPQ), and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) were administered to 188 undergraduate and graduate students from five colleges and universities. Measures of academic achievement included official course and exam grade as reported by the instructor as well as self-reported GPA. There were no differences in academic performance between groups that made more pessimistic explanations and those who made more optimistic explanations. There were no differences within the group of those with more pessimistic explanatory styles regardless of level of use of defensive pessimism. Explanatory style was associated with expectations for course grade. There were no differences on outcome expectations or efficacy between defensive pessimists and low exam scorers. Defensive pessimism was associated with multiple psychological symptoms as measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Further investigation to determine if encouraging a strategy defensive pessimism in those with more pessimistic explanatory styles would lead to improved performance. More research needs to be devoted to the study of the relationships among explanatory style, defensive pessimism, and expectations.
Nonspherical Bodies with Constant Ha-Measurements Exist

(1971). Nonspherical Bodies with Constant Ha-Measurements Exist. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 78, No. 5, pp. 513-516.
Investigation of a case of H1N1 influenza outbreak

Objective Investigation was conducted to analyze the risk factors of an outbreak of H1N1 influenza and analyze the epidemiological characteristics of the outbreak.Method The data from questionnaires were statistically analyzed.Results An outbreak of H1N1 influenza between 22nd and 29th was noted.A total of 69 cases,with the overall attack rate of 10.5%,were analyzed.The infected patients were aged 18～30 years and the average was 21-years-olds.The male to female ratio was 1:1.02.The outbreak was scattered.The attack rate of the day-shift crowd was 15.6% and the night-shift crowd was 4.7%,and the difference was significant.Cases concentrated in the white board stamping class,the attack rate was 26.2%,while the attack rate of day shift washing was only 7.6%.There was statistical significance between the differences,and with no statistical significance between the attack rate of night shift stamping class and washing class.The incidence in the line one of stamping was higher than that in the line five of stamping,were 27.6% and 26.3%,day shift stamping has obvious spatial clustering.Four samples were found positive for H1N1 influenza.Conclusion The mode of transmission was through the contact with infectious droplets and the infection was acquired in the production lines.Isolation of the source of infection is an effective measure to control the outbreak.
Enteral Access is not Required for Esophageal Cancer Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Therapy.

Background The nutritional status of esophageal cancer patients during neoadjuvant therapy remains a challenging problem. The objective of this study was to determine whether routine enteral feeding tube placement improved nutritional status and perioperative outcomes for patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer. Methods The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database was used to identify patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy and esophagectomy at our institution between 2010 and 2014. Nutritional status before and after neoadjuvant therapy was determined through standardized nutrition consultations. Predictors of change in nutrition and adverse events were evaluated with multivariable and univariate logistic regressions. Results Two hundred thirty-four esophagectomy patients were identified, and 127 (54%) received neoadjuvant therapy. Of those receiving neoadjuvant therapy, 80% (102/127) presented with dysphagia, and 48% (61/127) received enteral feeding access (EA). Multivariable regression revealed that high initial albumin level, high initial body mass index, and presence of EA were associated with nutritional stability during neoadjuvant therapy. However, 27.9% (17/61) of patients who received EA did not use their access at all or did not use it consistently during the course of preoperative treatment. The preoperative grades of malnutrition and esophagectomy outcomes were similar between groups (EA vs no EA). Conclusions EA is associated with improved nutritional status for patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer. However, adverse events and suboptimal use are common. Esophagectomy outcomes were similar for patients with and without EA. These results support judicious patient selection for EA, expedited neoadjuvant therapy, and close collaboration with nutritionists.
Computational and Experimental Study of Neuroglobin and Carbon Monoxide

Neuroglobin is a hexacoordinated protein normally found in the brain and nervous system that is closely related to myoglobin and hemoglobin. We have previously shown that neuroglobin (Ngb) reduces nitrite to nitric oxide 50x faster than myoglobin, 500x faster than hemoglobin, and tightly binds to carbon monoxide (CO) with an association rate that is 500x faster than hemoglobin. In the beginning phase of my research, I will be computationally analyzing structures of Ngb and mutants which improve these qualities. The computational simulation will be used to help predict the following questions:1) Why are these Ngb mutants so much better at reducing nitrite than myoglobin and hemoglobin?2) Why do they have a higher binding affinity to CO than hemoglobin?3) What are the optimal mutants one can make to maximize nitrite reduction and CO binding?To analyze the structure of neuroglobin and the characteristics causing these phenomena, focusing on CO binding in this work, I am running 3 sets of molecular dynamic simulations of wild-type human Ngb (4mpm), reduced human Ngb (10j6), 4mpm mutants (C46A, C55A, H64L, H64Q), and 1OJ6 mutants (G46A, S55A, H64L, H64Q). I will also confirm my predictions with time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. These studies will help identify treatments for diseases involving low nitric oxide and carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Normal EEG

Since the late 1920s when Hans Berger first recorded the EEG in humans, an enormous amount of knowledge concerning the normal EEG has been accumulated. During these years, the EEGs of normal persons have been recorded in numerous situations and under a wide variety of conditions. Tracings have been taken during performance of a virtually endless list of different tasks and activities, as well as during different states of consciousness, from persons over the entire life span. Much of the data concerning the normal EEG need not concern us here. Thus, the clinical application of EEG is concerned mainly with the features of the tracing as they are seen in wakefulness under resting conditions1 and in sleep. The EEG during specific, clinically significant activation procedures is discussed in Chapter 16.
Adenoviruses and herpes simplex virus,with particular reference to intracellular crystals

The initial observation of crystals associated with a viral infection was made by Bunting (1), in 1953, during electron microscopic studies of human skin papillomata. Inspection of the published micrographs leads one to agree with the author that the intranuclear arrays of particles probably represent viral crystals. Unfortunately, the thickness of the sections precluded sufficient resolution to determine whether the particles posses internal structure. Although further investigation should be carried out with techniques currently available, the acquisition of material suitable for examination of developmental stages, which contribute important information to our understanding of any virus, is rendered difficult by virtue of the fact that no experimental animal or tissue culture system has been found which is capable of supporting growth of the papilloma virus.
The genetics of fish behavior

This is an exciting time to study the genetics of behavior (Boake et al., 2002; Fitzpatrick et al., 2005; Robinson et al., 2005). Until recently, the powerful tools necessary to unders tand genetic influences on behavior were available for only a few model organisms which were not widely studied by behavioral ecologists (Fitzpatrick et al., 2005; Robinson et al., 2005). Moreover, the behaviors that could be studied were often simple and measured in laboratory environments rather than in the field. From a genetic perspective, behavior was considered to be too subjective to measure, too susceptible to envi ronmenta l influences, too plastic and not repeatable. Fear of accusations of genetic determinism and carryovers from the troubling political implications of eugenics and socio-biology might also have cont r ibuted to the under - representa t ion of behavior among traits studied from a genetic perspective (Lewontin et al., 1984).
Philadelphia not Philanthropolis: The Limits of Pennsylvanian Antislavery in the Era of the Haitian Revolution

IN THE WINTER OF 1796, Benjamin Giroud visited Philadelphia. Giroud was a Frenchman who had become an owner through marriage of a coffee plantation in Saint-Domingue, the embattled French West Indian colony that within a few years would declare its independence as the republic of Haiti. At the time of Giroud's trip, however, such a development seemed unlikely. Having been the scene of violence and disruption for the previous seven years, in late 1796 the colony was entering a period of relative stability. The white royalists who had leagued with the Spanish and British to separate the colony from France had fled or were in retreat. The free colored population, who had long struggled for civic equality, had been transformed into a reliable source of support by decrees recognizing them as French citizens. Most significantly, the insurgent slaves, who beginning in August 1791 had collectively rejected and dismantled the system of chattel slavery that sustained the colony's plantation economy, had been largely brought into the French fold by the 1794 policy of general emancipation. The decree of February 4, 1794, which ended slavery in all French possessions, had its origins in Saint- Domingue and was a ratification of the series of harried efforts to co-opt the insurgents by the French commissioners, Leger-Felicite Sonthonax and Etienne Polverel, as they struggled against various planter, royalist, and British factions. It offered liberty in exchange for armed service in defense of the revolution. Expanded by the National Convention in Paris, French emancipation was immediate, uncompensated, and universal in its application. By the time of Giroud's trip, black and colored troops, fighting for France and led by Toussaint Louverture, had defeated the Spaniards and stymied the British. Giroud was an officer in the new commission of metropolitan officials headed by Sonthonax and was sent to take advantage of this success.Benjamin Giroud was also a member of Les Amis des Noirs, a society of antislavery activists that had sprung up in Paris in 1788, achieved somenoisy eminence during the early days of the republic, and then largely disappeared when its membership was purged during the Terror. Though Les AMis never advoated immediate emancipation, now that French policy had turned in that direction, the group revived. Giroud came to Philadelphia as a French republican and as an abolitionist, identities that overlapped if they were not precisely coterminous. He came to America looking for allies.
Weather Modification Incorporated - Inside Front Cover

Weather Modification Incorporated 3802 20th St N Fargo, ND 58102 USA Tel: 1.701.235.5500 www.weathermodification.com info@weathermodification.com
Legibility and Friction: Operating in Post-colonial Africa

This chapter outlines a novel theoretical approach to the study of military interventions into African civil wars; it presents the concept of legibility both as it has been used by previous scholars such as Foucault and extended into international relations, combined with Clausewitz’s concept of friction. The framework developed focuses on relationships as a way for states to increase their visibility into other states, and thereby increase the likelihood of intervention success. Throughout, the theoretical discussion is grounded in the historical context of post-colonial African states and politics.
Inpatient versus Outpatient Management of TIA or Minor Stroke: Clinical Outcome (P6.035)

Background Management of patients with acute transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke is highly variable. Purpose Assess short-term clinical outcome associated with inpatient versus outpatient management of such patients Methods We evaluated a consecutive series of patients with acute TIA or minor ischemic stroke. We randomized all eligible patients to be hospitalized or managed via our "stroke bridge clinic". All patients were re-evaluated 7-10 days following the index event. Results The study group included 100 patients, 41 with TIA and 59 with minor stroke. Nineteen (46[percnt]) of the TIA patients and 29 (49[percnt]) of the minor stroke patients randomized to hospital management, and the remaining 22 TIA patients and 30 minor stroke patients randomized to outpatient management. Randomization did not yield any significant imbalance in the demographic or clinical characteristics of the patients involved. Average length of stay for the hospitalized patients was 2.2 days. Clinical outcome: hospitalized subgroup Six (21[percnt]) of the 29 patients admitted for minor stroke experienced neurologic worsening while hospitalized. In no case was acute interventional treatment considered to be medically appropriate. None of the 19 patients admitted for TIA experienced stroke while hospitalized; 2 (11[percnt]) experienced recurrent TIA. Clinical outcome: subgroup managed via "stroke bridge clinic Three (10[percnt]) of the 30 patients with minor stroke experienced neurologic worsening within the first week following randomization, but in all 3 cases the deficit remained minor, and in no case was hospitalization required. One (5[percnt]) of the TIA patients suffered a stroke 2 days following randomization; the stroke was minor, and hospitalization was not required. Two (9[percnt]) TIA patients experienced recurrent TIAs during the first week following randomization. Conclusion These findings suggest that routine hospitalization of patients with TIA or minor ischemic stroke does not positively affect short-term clinical outcome. Disclosure: Dr. Rothrock has received personal compensation for activities with Allergan and Boehringer-Ingleheim. Dr. Majidi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Burger has nothing to disclose. Dr. Leon-Guererro has nothing to disclose.
Expanding Educational Technology Applications for Formative Assessment in Legal Education

Since the first forays of technology into legal research in the late 1970s, online legal research technologies have flourished and now dominate legal research practice. At the same time, adoption of technology in teaching law and lawyering skills has moved much more slowly. The ABA’s requirement of formative assessment in legal education in 2014, Standard 314, now provides stimulus for broader integration of technology in law teaching. At the same time, multiple studies exploring the effectiveness of frequent testing have shown students learn better and faster using tests in comparison to increased study. This article describes and explains how the Legal Research Program at the University of the District of Columbia School of Law adapted educational technology in the form of multiple choice testing to provide both weekly formative assessment and more efficient learning of legal research method and resources for students in a first year course in Legal Research.
A New Approach Towards Life Prediction of Case Hardened Bearing Steels Subjected to Rolling Contact Fatigue

The failure of a bearing-raceway assembly is governed by the spatial distribution of subsurface stresses at the vicinity of a bearing-raceway contact and the evolution of these stresses during rolling contact fatigue (RCF) loading. In this paper, we propose an experimental methodology that allows one to accurately measure the location and magnitude of the cyclically evolving elastoplastic von Mises stresses in terms of microhardness numbers. An M50NiL steel rod is subjected to RCF by three silicon nitride (Si3N4) balls for over several hundred million cycles at 5.5 GPa contact stress level. Microindentation hardness measurements within the subsurface RCF-affected regions of the rod revealed significant material hardening. A mechanistic methodology to construct a stress-life (S-N) diagram for RCF loading is proposed. S-N diagrams are constructed based on maximum von Mises stress amplitude and volume average von Mises stress amplitude. The effects of elastic modulus and yield strength gradient on stress fields are also considered in this analysis. Comparison of S-N diagrams based on both stress amplitudes indicates that the maximum von Mises stress amplitude overpredicts the fatigue strength of material in S-N diagrams. The experimental results obtained by following this methodology can help construct material hardening models for RCF, which may lead to an improved estimate of bearing fatigue life.
Driving Visible Light Communications Towards the Tipping Point for Broad Scale Adoption

Over the last decade, Visible Light Communications (VLC) has been the focus of considerable optimistic discussion as a potential candidate for high data rate communications in next generation wireless networks. Much of the discussion has focused on the strengths, benefits, and unique characteristics in order to motivate research and commercial adoption. In this paper we describe some of the misconceptions about the technology and overview what we believe to be critical research barriers that must be addressed in order to drive the technology beyond the tipping point for broad-based adoption.
Additively-manufactured lightweight Metamaterials for energy absorption

Abstract Recent developments in architectural design and additive manufacturing (AM) techniques have led to advances in the design and fabrication of metamaterials. We demonstrate that by precisely designing the architecture of a lattice structure and implementing the accurate and cost-effective capabilities of polymer-based AM, it is possible to create lightweight and strong structures that are highly energy absorbing, able to recover their shape after extreme deformation, and have a high strength-over-weight ratio. Largescale AM lattices with various densities of unit cells were fabricated from two different polymers. The densities of the structures ranged from 66 kg/m3 to 192 kg/m3. Compression experiments established the scaling of their strength and stiffness with their relative density and revealed that the structures were able to recover their original shape after a compression up to 70% strain. The energy absorption efficiency of the structures was 11% higher than Duocel® aluminum foam and comparable to that of aluminum honeycomb, expanded polystyrene (EPS) foams, and Skydex twin hemispheres. These unconventional mechanical properties substantiate the potential of architectural design along with additive manufacturing in various applications, not only at laboratory scale, but also at industrial level.
Computational thermomechanics of crystalline rock, Part I: A combined multi-phase-field/crystal plasticity approach for single crystal simulations

Abstract Rock salt is one of the major materials used for nuclear waste geological disposal. The desired characteristics of rock salt, i.e., high thermal conductivity, low permeability, and self-healing are highly related to its crystalline microstructure. Conventionally, this microstructural effect is often incorporated phenomenologically in macroscopic damage models. Nevertheless, the thermo-mechanical behavior of a crystalline material is dictated by the nature of crystal lattice and micromechanics (i.e., the slip-system). This paper presents a model proposed to examine these fundamental mechanisms at the grain scale level. We employ a crystal plasticity framework in which single-crystal halite is modeled as a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure with the secondary atoms in its octahedral holes, where a pair of Na + and Cl − ions forms the bond basis. Utilizing the crystal plasticity framework, we capture the existence of an elastic region in the stress space and the sequence of slip system activation of single-crystal halite under different temperature ranges. To capture the anisotropic nature of the intragranular fracture, we couple a crystal plasticity model with a multi-phase-field formulation that does not require high-order terms for the phase field. Numerical examples demonstrate that the proposed model is able to capture the anisotropy of inelastic and damage behavior under various loading rates and temperature conditions.
Application of Receptor Theory to the Design and Use of Fixed-Proportion Mu-Opioid Agonist and Antagonist Mixtures in Rhesus Monkeys.

Receptor theory predicts that fixed-proportion mixtures of a competitive, reversible agonist (e.g., fentanyl) and antagonist (e.g., naltrexone) at a common receptor [e.g., mu-opioid receptors (MORs)] will result in antagonist proportion-dependent decreases in apparent efficacy of the agonist/antagonist mixtures and downward shifts in mixture dose-effect functions. The present study tested this hypothesis by evaluating behavioral effects of fixed-proportion fentanyl/naltrexone mixtures in a warm-water tail-withdrawal procedure in rhesus monkeys (n = 4). Fentanyl (0.001–0.056 mg/kg) alone, naltrexone (0.032–1.0 mg/kg, i.m.) alone, and fixed-proportion mixtures of fentanyl/naltrexone (1:0.025, 1:0.074, and 1:0.22) were administered in a cumulative-dosing procedure, and the proportions were based on published fentanyl and naltrexone Kd values at MOR in monkey brain. Fentanyl alone produced dose-dependent antinociception at both 50 and 54°C thermal intensities. Up to the largest dose tested, naltrexone alone did not alter nociception. Consistent with receptor theory predictions, naltrexone produced a proportion-dependent decrease in the effectiveness of fentanyl/naltrexone mixtures to produce antinociception. The maximum effects of fentanyl, naltrexone, and each mixture were also used to generate an efficacy-effect scale for antinociception at each temperature, and this scale was evaluated for its utility in quantifying 1) efficacy requirements for antinociception at 50 and 54°C and 2) relative efficacy of six MOR agonists that vary in their efficacies to produce agonist-stimuated GTPγS binding in vitro (from lowest to highest efficacy: 17-cyclopropylmethyl-3,14β-dihyroxy-4,5α-epoxy-6α-[(3′-isoquinolyl)acetamindo]morphine, nalbuphine, buprenorphine, oxycodone, morphine, and methadone). These results suggest that fixed-proportion agonist/antagonist mixtures may offer a useful strategy to manipulate apparent drug efficacy for basic research or therapeutic purposes.
Finding Ages for Old Stellar Populations

We are far from being able to populate a histogram of star formation versus time for an elliptical galaxy based solely on observations of its spectrum, but the path toward such a dream is becoming more clear. Still, we are denied the easiest paths, and most of what I have been thinking about in the last six months are the obstacles rather than the opportunities in age determinations for old stellar populations, and Es in particular. The following list should illustrate what I mean.
Conclusion Chapter 12 Conclusion

Biomaterials science is a multidisciplinary success story, having benefitted from advances in biomedical knowledge, as well as engineering and the physical sciences. Innovative biomaterials can allow individuals to live longer and healthier lives, as demonstrated by the technologies and case studies contained within this book. Biomaterials have sufficient versatility to tackle infectious diseases, chronic degenerative diseases, developmental disorders, and traumatic injuries. While this volume focused on 10 specific disease pathologies, the biomaterial devices described will have therapeutic potential for a multitude of disease processes. For instance, biomaterials for targeted delivery of chemotherapy will allow effective treatment of lung cancer along with several other cancers. Polymer-based vaccine adjuvants may help in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and numerous other infectious diseases. Biomaterials for nerve regeneration will have clinical applications that extend well beyond stroke , to various additional neurodegenerative diseases. When biomaterials are designed with an eye toward clinical needs, the resulting innovations will address the world’s most prevalent diseases, yet will also find utility for related disease processes. It has been predicted that “ultimately, almost every human in technologically advanced societies will host a biomaterial” (Gristina 1981). Biomaterials scientists have the responsibility to create technologies that will reach both the developed world and the developing world. Modern discoveries in biomaterials and medical devices will rely on continual progress in molecular biology, polymer science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and clinical practice.
CONSTITUTION OF DELTA-PHASE ALLOYS OF THE SYSTEM U-Zr-Ti

The ternary section between the intermediate δ-phase alloys of the U-Zr and U-Ti systems has been investigated. A constitutional diagram for the section, ranging from U-74 atomic pct Zr to U-35 atomic pct Ti, is proposed. Thermal, metallographic, and X-ray data were obtained for alloys in this composition range. The section exhibits features of a quasibinary system in that only one and two-phase regions were found at the temperatures investigated. No evidence for a three-phase region or a new phase, not found in the binary systems, was indicated. At elevated temperatures the three components exhibited complete solubility, to form the body-centered-cubic γ phase, decomposing at about 560°C to the U-Zr and U-Ti δ phases in an apparent eutectoid reaction.
Hypofunction of the Adrenals

Adrenal hypofunction exists in three forms: Addison’s disease, a term used to describe primary adrenal failure, secondary hypoadrenalism, a consequence of pituitary ACTH deficiency, and selective hypoaldosteronism, which, as the term implies, reflects a breakdown in the mechanisms that mediate the synthesis and release of that mineralocorticoid. The hypoadrenalism caused by pituitary disease is discussed in Chapter 5. This chapter focuses on Addison’s disease (usually resulting in “panhypoadrenalism”) and selective hypoaldosteronism, in which the zona fasciculata and reticularis are structurally and functionally intact.
Major Books on North American Jewish Communities

A. Dashefsky and I. Sheskin (eds.), American Jewish Year Book 2013: The Annual Record of the North American Jewish Communities, American Jewish Year Book 113, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-01658-0_18, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014 The following list was derived from WorldCat, a global catalogue of library collections. The list was limited to books about Jews and Judaism in the US and Canada, excluding self-published works and those cited in the 2012 volume of the Year Book .
Inexact descent methods for elastic parameter optimization

Elastic parameter optimization has revealed its importance in 3D modeling, virtual reality, and additive manufacturing in recent years. Unfortunately, it is known to be computationally expensive, especially if there are many parameters and data samples. To address this challenge, we propose to introduce the inexactness into descent methods, by iteratively solving a forward simulation step and a parameter update step in an inexact manner. The development of such inexact descent methods is centered at two questions: 1) how accurate/inaccurate can the two steps be; and 2) what is the optimal way to implement an inexact descent method. The answers to these questions are in our convergence analysis, which proves the existence of relative error thresholds for the two inexact steps to ensure the convergence. This means we can simply solve each step by a fixed number of iterations, if the iterative solver is at least linearly convergent. While the use of the inexact idea speeds up many descent methods, we specifically favor a GPU-based one powered by state-of-the-art simulation techniques. Based on this method, we study a variety of implementation issues, including backtracking line search, initialization, regularization, and multiple data samples. We demonstrate the use of our inexact method in elasticity measurement and design applications. Our experiment shows the method is fast, reliable, memory-efficient, GPU-friendly, flexible with different elastic models, scalable to a large parameter space, and parallelizable for multiple data samples.
Augmenting Quadriplegic Hand Function Using a Sensorimotor Demultiplexing Neural Interface

Background: The sense of touch is a key component of motor function. Severe spinal cord injury (SCI) should essentially eliminate sensory information transmission to the brain, that originates from skin innervated from below the lesion. We assessed the hypothesis that, following SCI, residual hand sensory information is transmitted to the brain, can be decoded amongst competing sensorimotor signals, and used to enhance the sense of touch via an intracortically controlled closed-loop brain-computer interface (BCI) system. Methods: Experiments were performed with a participant who has an AIS-A C5 SCI and an intracortical recording array implanted in left primary motor cortex (M1). Sensory stimulation and standard clinical sensorimotor functional assessments were used throughout a series of several mechanistic experiments. Findings: Our results demonstrate that residual afferent hand sensory signals surprisingly reach human primary motor cortex and can be simultaneously demultiplexed from ongoing efferent motor intention, enabling closed-loop sensory feedback during brain-computer interface (BCI) operation. The closed-loop sensory feedback system was able to detect residual sensory signals from up to the C8 spinal level. Using the closed-loop sensory feedback system enabled significantly enhanced object touch detection, sense of agency, movement speed, and other sensorimotor functions. Interpretation: To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of simultaneously decoding multiplexed afferent and efferent activity from human cortex to control multiple assistive devices, constituting a sensorimotor demultiplexing BCI. Overall, our results support the hypothesis that sub-perceptual neural signals can be decoded reliably and transformed to conscious perception, significantly augmenting function. Funding: Internal funding was provided for this study from Battelle Memorial Institute and The Ohio State University Center for Neuromodulation.
Fully-depleted silicon on oxide transistor and compact model

Abstract This chapter explains why the limits of scaling faced by the bulk planar MOS transistors can be overcome with the ultra-thin-body transistor structures, of which the fully-depleted silicon-on oxide (FDSOI) is one and the FinFET is another. It also explains what constitutes a good compact model and the role that the BSIM models play in the semiconductor industry.
Humanitarian Access Obstruction in Somalia: Externally Imposed and Self-Inflicted Dimensions

Access obstruction in conflict settings has emerged as a critical operational and policy concern across the humanitarian sector, but there remains a dearth of analysis regarding the ways in which humanitarian organizations perpetuate self-inflicted access obstacles. Drawing on qualitative interviews conducted with local and international actors negotiating frontline humanitarian access in Somalia, this paper will examine the ways in which this context elucidates this phenomenon. Toward this end, this paper examines two dimensions of humanitarian access obstruction in this context. The first set of dynamics consists of externally imposed obstacles that stem from governmental actors, Al-Shabaab, access "gatekeepers" motivated by financial gain, and the insecure nature of the environment. The second set of dynamics consists of self-inflicted dimensions of access obstruction that emanate from decisions that international humanitarian organizations (IHOs) have made at the strategic or policy level. These issues include the physical "bunkerization" of IHOs, programmatic shortcomings, the discounting of local humanitarian actors' agency, and the ways that IHOs exhibit programmatic partiality in response to donors' interests and counterterrorism legislation. Through examining these issues, this paper highlights fact that, although the discourse on humanitarian access obstruction tends to emphasize difficulties arising from externally imposed obstacles, it is also important to interrogate the value and methods of humanitarian programming itself.
Chapter Seven Nature and Divine Wisdom: How (Not) to Speak of Sophia

In Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov, the discourses of Elder Zosima lyrically depict a deep beauty and an enchanting mystery that can be apprehended in nature by the pure in heart. Dostoevsky suggests here that for modern humanity, the beauty and goodness and wisdom that in here in the order of creation constitute an especially important path to God. This insight has been eloquently articulated in the tradition of Russian sophiology by figures such as Soloviev, Florensky, and Bulgakov. But despite the appeal of Sophia as the immanence of Divine Wisdom in creation, there are serious philosophical and theological problems with the concept. However, the decline of natural law theory has left a normative vacuum that needs to be filled. It is argued, then, that a series of patristic concepts (such as the notions of divine energies and divine logoi inherent in creation) as they have been developed in the Christian East, can serve both to offer a better lexicon that is offered in sophiology as well as comprehend the divine wisdom in creation better than natural law had done.
Sustainable Bioleaching of Rare Earth Elements from Industrial Waste Materials Using Agricultural Wastes

Agricultural waste was used as substrate for fermentation by Gluconobacter oxydans to produce lixiviant for rare earth element (REE) recovery from industrial waste materials, i.e., spent fluid cata...
SPECTRUM OF NEONATAL ADMISSIONS AND THEIR OUTCOME IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: To study the spectrum of neonatal admissions and their outcome in a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: A descriptive observational study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Neonatal Unit of The Children’s Hospital & Institute of Child Health, Lahore for a period of one year from 1st Jan 2015 to 31st Dec 2015. Material and Methods: Data of all admitted patients during the study period were reviewed and analysed in terms of gender, gestational age, age at presentation, weight, cause of admission and their outcome. Neonates with incomplete data were excluded subsequently. Diagnosis were made on clinical examination, radiological findings and laboratory investigations. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: Out of 11427 neonates admitted during the study period, 397 were excluded because of deficient record. Of the 11030 neonates males were 7673 (69.6%) and females were 3353 (30.4%). Full-term neonates were 8123 (73.64%) while preterm were 2907 (26.35%). Low birth weight (LBW) babies were 5636 (51.1%). Newborns presented within first 24 hours of life were 1478 (13.4%). Birth asphyxia 3518 (31.89%) was the most common cause of hospital admissions followed by prematurity 2907 (26.36%) and neonatal sepsis 1865 (16.91%). Out of 11030 babies, 7055 (64%) were discharged, 2805 (25.4%) left against medical advice and 1170 (10.6%) neonates expired. Highest number of deaths was because of prematurity 469 (39.32%) followed by asphyxia neonatorum 359 (30.68%) and neonatal sepsis 180 (15.38%). Conclusion: Birth asphyxia, prematurity and sepsis constitute three fourths of hospital admissions in our neonatal unit. Most common cause of mortality was prematurity followed by birth asphyxia and neonatal sepsis.
SHORT OR LONG: POLYMORPHIC VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA ORIGINATING FROM THE PURKINJE SYSTEM

Short coupled variant of Torsades de pointes(TdP) may be responsible for sudden cardiac death in the absence of structural heart disease. Differentiation of this entity from Long QT associated TdP has important therapeutic implications. A 30 year old obese female who presented to hospital after a
Dietary supplement use by older adults with chronic venous leg ulcers – A retrospective, descriptive study

Nearly 70% of older adults in the U.S. report using ≥1 dietary supplements (DSs) daily. While DSs may have health benefits, there is risk for toxicity or harmful drug-supplement interactions if not taken correctly. Older adults with chronic wounds who use DSs are at increased risk of adverse drug-supplement interactions because they usually have comorbidities requiring polypharmacy management. However, no studies have evaluated DS use in this population. The aim of this retrospective pilot study was to describe DS use by a sample of older adults (n = 40) with chronic venous leg ulcers (CVLUs) who participated in a clinical trial testing the effects of fish oil supplementation on wound healing. At baseline, study personnel assisted all participants in completing an electronic questionnaire about DS use. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the data. Twenty-five of the 40 participants (62.5%) reported taking ≥1 DS daily. On average, DS users were 65.16 years (SD = 8.51) and the majority were men (64.0%), white (68.0%), and had at least some college education (72.0%). Fifteen (60.0%) reported taking 1-2 DSs/day, and 10 (40.0%) reported taking ≥3/day. The most frequently reported DSs used were multivitamin/mineral complex (60.0%), vitamin D (36.0%), vitamin B complex (28.0%) and calcium (28.0%). Reasons for using DSs were to maintain or improve health (44.0%), improve bone density (12%), and boost the immune system (12%). Supplement users reported consuming an average of 9.12 (SD = 6.46) prescription drugs daily and 21 (84.0%) reported ≥3 chronic health conditions. In summary, DS use in this sample of chronic wound patients was high. Moreover, DS users reported using multiple prescription drugs (2-23/day) concomitantly with DSs. While older adults with CVLUs may benefit from targeted DS therapy, monitoring their DS use to reduce risk for adverse drug-supplement interactions is best practice.
Abstract P308: Pilot Study: 24 Hour and Daytime Blood Pressure Lowering Effect of Melatonin in Younger and Older Non-hypertensive Adults

The study objective was to study the effect of melatonin on blood pressure (BP) in both younger and older normotensive and prehypertensive individuals. Preliminary data available at the time of abs...
Importance of Sub-Nanosecond Fluctuations on the Toughness of Polycarbonate Glasses

This article explores the relationship between the nano- to picosecond dynamics, as quantified by elastic incoherent neutron scattering, in polycarbonate (PC) glasses with their mechanical toughnes...
Standardized Identifiers and Electronic Data Interchange Rules for Music

The music industry uses several categories of information standards, which involve policies, governance rules, and technical specifications. This chapter explains the standardized ways of identifying music-related parties, intellectual property, publications, products, and releases, of formatting music metadata, and of exchanging data electronically. It describes how: parties such as songwriters/composers, music publishers, recording artists, performers on sound recordings, and record companies, are identified through use of the IPI, IPN, and ISNI; intellectual property such as musical compositions and sound recordings and music videos are identified through use of the ISWC, ISRC, acoustic fingerprints and watermarks; and publications, products, and releases are identified through the use of the ISMN, GTIN, and GRiD. It explores the way that Music Data Style Guides are used to set rules regarding the presentation of information to consumers and the structure of data which accompanies digital music files. It explains the electronic data interchange standards, including the CIS and DDEX message suites, which are used to efficiently communicate information between parties in the supply and value chains. Lastly, the chapter looks to the future, considering the information management segment of the music industry as a form of IT Service Management and explores ways that people, process, and technology may come together to maximize business value.
Real time monitoring of the evolution of an epidemic regarded as a physical relaxation process

The emergence of an epidemic evokes the need to monitor its spread and assess and validate any mitigation measures enacted by governments and administrative bodies in real time. We present here a method based on previous models of relaxation in fractal structures to observe and quantify this spread and the response of affected populations and governing bodies, and apply it to COVID-19 as a case study. This method provides means to simultaneously track in real time quantities such as the mortality and the recovery rates as well as the number of new infections caused by an infected person. With sufficient data, this method enables thorough monitoring and assessment of an epidemic without ad-hoc assumptions regarding the evolution of the pandemic in the future.
Failure Rates in Engineering Service Courses

In this paper, we interpret our findings on the failure rates of engineering students enrolled at UNIVERSITY. A staggering 40% of students in engineering do not make it through the first year, and of those who make it, 30% fail in many of the fundamental engineering courses. Engineering is not, nor meant to be, an easy program. Many researchers have argued that the primary reason for students failing in these courses is a lack of preparedness for the high level of academic rigors required in engineering. While the average college course requires only 2 hours of extra study for every one hour in the classroom, engineering courses require an estimated 4 hours. Although the engineering education systems work well for the traditional engineering student, the teenagers who spend four years at UNIVERSITY, do not fit this profile. These students tend to balance classes with a job or family or both. The education system is not built to cater to the needs of such students, and the results are usually negative.This paper presents initial results of a research project that was based on the failure rates of engineering students at UNIVERSITY, where 40% of engineering students work more than 10 hours per week while going to school full time. The author focused on 3 fundamental engineering courses: mechanics (of materials), dynamics, and introduction to circuit. This pilot research project addresses the question "What do failure rates in these courses really measure?â€
Combination of HRLC-MS with MPP and GNPS data analysis to identify major constituents of MtSK inhibitory Alpinia galanga extract.

Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. (Zingiberaceae), or galangal, has been previously reported as active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) in vitro. The present study assessed a novel antitubercular mechanism of of galangal through M. tuberculosis shikimate kinase (MtSK) inhibitory assays. Sequential extractions of nonpolar solvents hexane and dichloromethane (DCM) were performed on galangal and screened in MtSK inhibitory assays to identify potential activity. Samples were then subjected to high resolution (HR) LC-MS chemical fingerprinting and analysis. Additionally, a novel approach was undertaken for galangal using methods such as mass professional profiler (MPP) and global natural products social (GNPS) molecular networking for structure elucidation.
Povidone-iodine irrigation combined with Vancomycin powder lowers infection rates in pediatric deformity surgery

Surgical site infection is a morbid, devastating complication after spinal procedures. Studies have investigated the effect of wound lavage with 3.5% Povidone-iodine solution or the use of intrawound Vancomycin powder. We examined the effect of Povidone-iodine irrigation, intrawound Vancomycin powder, or a combination of both agents in a tertiary care Pediatric Hospital. We queried our health system database for patients undergoing spinal surgery over an eight-year span between January 2008 and June 2016 and identified patient cohorts who received no intervention, intrawound Vancomycin alone, Povidone-iodine irrigation alone, or a combination of both agents. Infection rates were determined. The effect of treatment on outcome was analyzed using a logistic regression model. 475 patients were identified who met study inclusion criteria. 88 non-neuromuscular patients received no intra-operative agent. The surgical site infection (SSI) rate in this group of patients was 10%. For the 194 non-neuromuscular scoliosis patients who received Povidone-iodine and Vancomycin powder, the infection rate was reduced to 0.7%. The SSI rate in the 180 non-neuromuscular patients who were treated with Vancomycin powder alone was 1.4%. 13 patients were treated with Povidone-iodine lavage only, with a small sample size precluding statistical comparison. Infection rate in the 132 neuromuscular disease patients decreased from 14 to 7% overall during this time span: while the odds ratio of infection was reduced in all neuromuscular treatment groups receiving intra-operative measures, statistical significance was not reached in any neuromuscular group studied. A protocol using combined 3.5% weight/volume Povidone-iodine and Vancomycin powder was associated with the lowest infection rate in our non-neuromuscular patient population and should be considered as a low cost intervention in pediatric patients undergoing spinal deformity procedures. Level II.