cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early Warning Research and Simulation of Risk Modelof Coal and Gas Outburst

This study proposed a risk prediction model of coal and gas outburst based on information gain decision tree algorithm. First,effective segmentation process was applied in distribution area of coal and gas to obtain a wide range of coal and gas sub-region. Then,the area was used to construct a gain decision tree for risk warning of coal and gas outburst in the sub-region. Experimental results show that the improved model of coal and gas risk warning can greatly improve the accuracy of risk warning of coal and gas and provide protection for mining safety.
Review of Deactivation Mechanism for SCR Flue Gas Denitration Catalyst

This paper elaborates the deactivation mechanism for SCR flue gas denitration catalyst in terms of catalyst sintering,catalyst poisoning,catalyst plugging and catalyst erosion.Based on the research on various deactivation mechanisms,the optimal design of SCR denitration system and measures of preventing catalyst deactivation can be performed according to the boiler characteristics,fuel characteristics,and fly ash components and are of great significance for expanding catalyst lifetime and reducing the operation and maintenance cost of the system.
Microperfusion of sheep bronchioles

We isolated segments of sheep bronchioles (length 406 +/- 46 microns, diameter 227 +/- 53 microns, n = 27). These segments were placed in a 37 degree C bath and cannulated at both ends with glass micropipettes. The proximal end was cannulated and held by three concentrically arranged micropipettes that delivered perfusion solution by gravity. The distal end was cannulated and held by two concentrically arranged micropipettes for fluid collection. When both the lumen and the bath contained oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit buffer (pH 7.40), spontaneous potential difference (PD) was 2.46 +/- 0.39 mV, lumen negative. KCN in the bath diminished PD by 1.48 +/- 0.29 mV (P = 0.00003, n = 25). The isolated bronchiole was depolarized when the luminal solution was Na free (delta PD -1.78 +/- 0.11 mV, P = 0.00007, n = 5) or when the submucosal bath was Cl free (delta PD -2.63 +/- 0.81, P = 0.018, n = 7). In preparations pretreated with 10 microM indomethacin, 1 microM isoproterenol raised PD by 0.75 +/- 0.29 mV (P = 0.03, n = 8), whereas 0.1 mM submucosal bumetanide reduced PD by 0.21 +/- 0.04 mV (P = 0.0005, n = 8). The data show that microperfusion technique is applicable for investigating ion transport by distal bronchioles and that the bronchiolar epithelium probably has both Na and Cl conductive pathways.
Addressing chronic operational issues at the W. M. Keck Observatory

The W. M. Keck Observatory (WMKO) has a good track record at addressing large critical faults which impact observing. Our performance tracking and correcting chronic minor faults has been mixed, yet this class of problems has a significant negative impact on scientific productivity and staff effectiveness. We have taken steps to address this shortcoming. This paper outlines the creation of a program to identify, categorize and rank these chronic operational issues, track them over time, and develop management options for their resolution. The success of the program at identifying these chronic operational issues and the advantages of dedicating observatory resources to this endeavor are presented.
Starvation (The Late Phase)

Abstract: There is a definite sequence in which body proteins are lost during starvation in order to preserve the blood glucose concentration. The late phase of starvation is characterized by increased muscle loss, an increased BUN, and an increase in hepatic and renal gluconeogenesis. Muscle tissues prefer to oxidize the BCAAs during the late phases of starvation. The brain oxidizes both glucose and branched-chain amino acids during the late phase of starvation. Intestinal mucosal cells prefer to oxidize Gln during periods of repair, and during starvation. Catabolic processes (e.g., proteolysis, lipolysis, and glycogenolysis) are generally exacerbated in cachexic animals. Death from starvation can result from azotemia, pneumonia, or hypovolemic shock. The hibernating black bear appears to remain in near perfect water and nitrogen balance, with only a modest fall in body temperature.
Murine Cytomegalovirus Disrupts Splenic Dendritic Cell Subsets via Type I Interferon-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms.

Dendritic cells (DC) are well known modulators of immunity. This heterogeneous population is comprised of defined subsets that exhibit functional specialization and are critical in initiating responses to pathogens. As such, many infectious agents employ strategies to disrupt DC functioning in attempts to evade the immune system. In some instances, this manifests as an outright loss of these cells. Previous work has suggested that, in the absence of an efficient NK cell response, murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) induces large amounts of IFN-I. This heightened IFN-I response is thought to contribute to conventional DC (cDC) loss and delayed development of T cell immunity. However, the precise role of IFN-I in such cDC loss remains unclear. We investigated the effects of licensed NK cells and IFN-I signaling on splenic cDC subsets during MCMV infection and found that a licensed NK cell response partially protects cDC numbers, but does not prevent increases in serum IFN-I. This suggested that high residual IFN-I could contribute to cDC loss. Therefore, we used multiple strategies to modulate IFN-I signaling during MCMV infection including: plasmacytoid DC depletion, IFN-I receptor (IFNAR) blockade, and genetic ablation of IFNAR expression. Interestingly, restriction of IFN-I signals did not substantially preserve either CD8+ or CD4+ DC total numbers, but resulted in significant retention and/or accumulation of the splenic CD8- CD4- (double negative; DN) subset. However, the DN DC effect manifested in a DC-extrinsic manner since IFNAR-deficient cells were not preferentially retained over their IFNAR-wild type counterparts in a mixed-chimera setting. Our results show that IFN-I signaling is not responsible for overt cDC toxicity in the setting of acute MCMV infection and emphasize that additional mechanisms contribute to DC loss and require exploration.
Resveratrol liposomes and lipid nanocarriers: Comparison of characteristics and inducing browning of white adipocytes

Abstract Trans-resveratrol (R) has a potential to increase energy expenditure via inducing browning in white adipose tissue. However, its low levels of aqueous solubility, stability, and poor bioavailability limit its application. We have successfully synthesized biocompatible, and biodegradable R encapsulated lipid nanocarriers (R-nano), and R encapsulated liposomes (R-lipo). The mean particle size of R-nano and R-lipo were 140 nm and 110 nm, respectively, and their polydispersity index values were less than 0.2. Nanoencapsulation significantly increased aqueous solubility and enhanced chemical stability of R, especially at 37 °C. R-lipo had higher physical and chemical stability than R-nano while R-nano had more prolonged release than R-lipo. Both R-nano and R-lipo increased cellular R content in 3T3-L1 cells. Both R-nano and R-lipo dose-dependently induced uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) mRNA expression and decreased white specific marker insulin growth factor binding protein 3 expression under isoproterenol (ISO)-stimulated conditions. At the low dose (5 μM), nanoencapsulated compared to native R enhanced UCP1 and beige marker CD137 expression under ISO-stimulated conditions. Compared to R-nano, R-lipo had better biological activity, possibly due to its higher physical and chemical stability at the room and body temperature. Taken together, our study demonstrates that nanoencapsulation increased R’s aqueous solubility and stability, which led to enhanced browning of white adipocytes. Even though both R-lipo and R-nano increased R’s browning activities, their differential characteristics need to be considered in obesity treatment.
Systematic Doping of Cobalt into Layered Manganese Oxide Sheets Substantially Enhances Water Oxidation Catalysis

The effect on the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) of cobalt incorporation into the metal oxide sheets of the layered manganese oxide birnessite was investigated. Birnessite and cobalt-doped birnessite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and conductivity measurements. A cobalt:manganese ratio of 1:2 resulted in the most active catalyst for the OER. In particular, the overpotential (η) for the OER was 420 mV, significantly lower than the η = 780 mV associated with birnessite in the absence of Co. Furthermore, the Tafel slope for Co/birnessite was 81 mV/dec, in comparison to a Tafel slope of greater than 200 mV/dec for birnessite. For chemical water oxidation catalysis, an 8-fold turnover number (TON) was achieved (h = 70 mmol of O2/mol of metal). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations predict that cobalt modification of birnessite resulted in a raising of the valence band edge and occupation of that edge by holes w...
Easy Words: Reference Resolution in a Malevolent Referent World

This article describes early stages in the acquisition of a first vocabulary by infants and young children. It distinguishes two major stages, the first of which operates by a stand-alone word-to-world pairing procedure and the second of which, using the evidence so acquired, builds a domain-specific syntax-sensitive structure-to-world pairing procedure. As we show, the first stage of learning is slow, restricted in character, and to some extent errorful, whereas the second procedure is determinative, rapid, and essentially errorless. Our central claim here is that the early, referentially based learning procedure succeeds at all because it is reined in by attention-focusing properties of word-to-world timing and related indicants of referential intent.
A statistical method for handling unknown words

Robust Natural Language Processing systems must be able to handle words that are not in their lexicon. We created a classifier that was trained on tagged text to find the most likely parts of speech for unknown words. The classifier uses a contingency table to count the observed features, and a loglinear model to smooth the cell counts. After smoothing, the contingency table is used to obtain the conditional probability distribution for classification. A number of features, determined by exploration (Tukey 1977), are used. For example, is the word capitalized? Does the word carry one of a number of known suffixes? We maximize the conditional probability of the proposed classification given the features to achieve minimum error rate classification (Duda & Hart 1973). The baseline results are provided by using only the prior probabilities P(c) (column Prior). (Weischedel et al. 1993) describe a probabilistic model with four features that are treated as independent, which we reimplemented (column 4 Indep). For comparison, we created a statistical classifier with the same four features (column 4 Class). Our best model was a classifier with nine features (column 9 Class).
Pharmacists' opinions and practices related to the sale of cigarettes and alcohol--a follow-up study.

Opinions that pharmacists hold arid their practices concerning sale of cigarettes and alcohol are of interest to health experts. As a follow-up to a 1990 statewide survey of pharmacists opinions and practices related to the sale of cigarettes and alcohol, this study was designed (1) to determine current opinions and practices of pharmacists' related to the sale of cigarettes and alcohol; (2) compare these findings with results from the 1990 study; and (3) to gather new information on pharmacists' practice of health promotion activities. A structured survey questionnaire was designed and reviewed by a jury of experts and subsequently administered to half of the 1340 pharmacies in Indiana. Collected data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Findings reveal that 64 percent of responding pharmacists sell cigarettes in their stores even though 82 percent think that their stores should not sell cigarettes. Approximately 42 percent of the pharmacies sell alcoholic beverages while more than two-thirds of the pharmacists (68%) think pharmacies should not sell alcoholic beverages. These findings represent a decline of 7.2 percent in pharmacies that sell cigarettes and a 6.8 percent increase in pharmacies selling alcoholic beverages compared to the 1990 study. Study results also revealed that most pharmacists agree the use of cigarettes and alcohol were important causes of morbidity and mortality and that pharmacists should play a role in health promotion and disease prevention to the public. However, the majority do not ask their patients about their smoking and alcohol habits and do not participate in health education/promotion programs for the general community.
In Situ Generated Catalyst-Coated Colloidal Semiconductor CdS Particles in Surfactant Vesicles and Polymerized Surfactant Vesicles

A variety of surfactant vesicles dispersions (anionic, cationic, polymerized or not) were used to in situ generate colloidal semiconductor CdS particles. Catalyst-coating of the CdS colloids produced active systems for visible-light induced electron-transfers and hydrogen generation. The photochemical efficiency was found to depend on both the type of vesicle and sacrificial electron donor. 10% formal quantum yield at 400 ni was achieved with cationic — vesicle- stabilized, Rh-coated CdS in the presence of 1% benzylalcohol. Pronounced quantum size effects were observed by varying concentration and degree of reaction of the Cd2+ precursors.
Effects of different mulch types on soil moisture content in potted shrubs

South Africa is classified as a semi-arid environment with limited natural water resources and variable rainfall. It is also described as water scarce, with many of its water resources already fully exploited. Gardening is one of the principal methods that people use to experience nature, and gardens can also be a public demonstration of personal value, a source of satisfaction, and part of a connection to the community. However, gardens are also one of the top users of water, accounting for approximately 31–50% of potable water supplied for domestic and urban use. In order to reduce the amount of water used in gardens, water conservation strategies such as mulching need to be employed. In view of South Africa’s water situation, it is Rand Water’s aim to promote the wise use of water, in all aspects of water consumption. It is anticipated that this study will provide information useful to water saving in urban gardens and landscapes, and will promote the use of mulch amongst gardeners, landscapers and the general public. Mulching potted plants with various organic and inorganic mulch was found to conserve an average of 35% more soil water content over approximately 6 weeks of no irrigation than plants with no mulch. Mulch was shown to increase plant health and vitality, as indicated by stomatal conductance, by an average of 44% than plants with no mulch. The recommended mulch type for use in gardens is bark chips in both summer and winter seasons. Keywords : mulch, soil moisture content, urban gardens, water, water conservation
The Connection Between Constructs and Augmentation Technologies: Measurement Principles Linked to Training and Performance

Forward leaning concepts regarding training and military operations are targeting augmentation technologies to change the interaction landscape. Advancements in virtual reality and augmented reality are providing new means for immersing individuals in realistic experiences and providing access points to data and information previously not easily accessible. While these new interaction modes evolve, measurement techniques are critical in understanding how best to apply these technologies. It is also important to investigate ways measurement techniques can influence the application of these technologies. In this paper, we present a high level overview of augmentation related research focused on human performance dimensions with a discussion on the role of construct measurement to inform and influence their utility. This is followed by a review of a three use cases that are applying the state of the art to advance the practice of training and on the job support tools.
Review: From the Grounds Up: Thomas Jefferson's Architecture and Design

From the Grounds Up: Thomas Jefferson's Architecture and Design Fralin Museum of Art, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 26 January–29 April 2018 Recalling the many accomplishments of his long public life, the polymath Thomas Jefferson instructed that his gravestone be inscribed with what he considered the three most important: “Author of the Declaration of American Independence of the Statute of Virginia Religious Freedom and Father of the University of Virginia.” To mark the bicentennial of the last of those achievements—the founding of the university on the edge of the courthouse town that stood in the shadow of Monticello—Jefferson scholar Richard Guy Wilson organized From the Grounds Up , an exhibition of drawings, books, letters, paintings, prints, models, tools, and architectural fragments that exemplified Jefferson's passion for architectural design and building. Just how absorbing those passions could be was revealed to a visitor to Monticello who stumbled around scaffolding in unplastered rooms. Rather than apologizing for the unfinished appearance of the house so many years after it was built, Jefferson stated that he fervently hoped that it would “remain so during my life, as architecture is my delight, and putting up, and pulling down, one of my favorite amusements.”1 Although staged to commemorate the laying of the foundations for the first pavilion on the grounds of Jefferson's “academical village,” the exhibition did not focus solely on the design and construction of the university; rather, it served as an informed introduction to those sources that inspired his abiding interest in architecture (Figure 1). Jefferson was just as fascinated with the practical aspects of building as he was with the theoretical nature of design. Wilson emphasized this point by displaying utilitarian objects such as nails made by slaves in the nailery on Monticello's Mulberry Row, period tools, a brick fragment from Poplar Forest, and a door from the same place fabricated by the enslaved carpenter John Hemings. Like many of his contemporaries in the …
A Case Study Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process for IT Outsourcing Decision Making

Decisions related to managing IT resources - which resources to keep in-house and which resources to outsource - are critical to business success. The goal of this paper is to show the usefulness of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a decision-making tool for IT sourcing decisions, based on an analysis of factors that recent literature found to be associated with IT sourcing risk. Although the AHP previously has been suggested for IT outsourcing decision making, this study is the first to consider evaluating the risks of offshore outsourcing, rural outsourcing, and in-sourcing IT processes by using the AHP. From the perspective of the expert decision maker, three IT sourcing strategies were evaluated with respect to 58 criteria. The case study example presented in this paper shows the effectiveness of the AHP to support management for this business decision. The authors' results show that a systematic approach to analyzing outsourcing can reduce the uncertainty and risk that is common in such decisions.
The limitations of accommodation: the changing legal context of religion at work in the United States

ABSTRACTOther authors have warned that the legal standard of accommodation is insufficient as a strategy for practicing managers leading religiously and spiritually diverse workforces. Recent chang...
Automated Vehicles and Schools: An Analysis of Deployment Issues

School zones are dynamic environments with regulations for motor vehicles and pedestrians that vary by locality. It is critical that drivers follow local rules to ensure the safety of children entering and leaving the school zone. This combination of a dynamic environment and critical safety requirements will be a challenge for fully automated vehicles (FAV), which often do not perform reliably when faced with uncertainty. However, to date there has been little research addressing the operation of FAVs in school zones. In response, this work identifies key research needs surrounding FAV deployments near schools and on school routes, with an emphasis on K-8 student safety. The research needs were informed by interviews with traffic safety researchers and school transportation professionals who identified common transportation issues related to school zones and FAV deployment. The results can be used by developers and community stakeholders to plan for future FAV deployments.
Traumatic Brain Injury and Risk of Long-Term Brain Changes, Accumulation of Pathological Markers, and Developing Dementia: A Review

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have received widespread media attention in recent years as being a risk factor for the development of dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This has sparked fears about the potential long-term effects of TBI of any severity on cognitive aging, leading to a public health concern. This article reviews the evidence surrounding TBI as a risk factor for the later development of changes in brain structure and function, and an increased risk of neurodegenerative disorders. A number of studies have shown evidence of long-term brain changes and accumulation of pathological biomarkers (e.g., amyloid and tau proteins) related to a history of moderate-to-severe TBI, and research has also demonstrated that individuals with moderate-to-severe injuries have an increased risk of dementia. While milder injuries have been found to be associated with an increased risk for dementia in some recent studies, reports on long-term brain changes have been mixed and often are complicated by factors related to injury exposure (i.e., number of injuries) and severity/complications, psychiatric conditions, and opioid use disorder. CTE, although often described as a neurodegenerative disorder, remains a neuropathological condition that is poorly understood. Future research is needed to clarify the significance of CTE pathology and determine whether that can explain any clinical symptoms. Overall, it is clear that most individuals who sustain a TBI (particularly milder injuries) do not experience worse outcomes with aging, as the incidence for dementia is found to be less than 7% across the literature.
Decreased Binding of 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate to Deoxy Hemoglobin S: A Polymerization-Independent Functional Abnormality

ABSTRACT Binding of the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate to Hb A and Hb S was studied using proton uptake measurements. As expected from oxygen affinity and CO2, competition experiments,18 the binding constant of deoxy Hb S for 2,3-diphosphoglycerate was lower than that for deoxy Hb A. This result represents a functional abnormality of the deoxy Hb S molecule that is independent of a polymerization properties and suggests a small alteration of the conformation of the N termini of the βs chain.
Biopolymers for microneedle synthesis: from then to now

Biopolymeric microneedles have emerged as an efficient tool for transdermal drug delivery system. Being operational alternative to hypodermic needles and non-biopolymeric microneedles, they offer plethora of advantages and ease in drug administration over conventional tools. Needles/microneedles used in medical practise can be disposable devices but may not necessarily be biodegradable, whereas biopolymeric microneedles completely serves for the green technology approach at medical/pharmaceutical outlet. Over a decade, investigation has been engrossed on leveraging biopolymers for microneedle synthesis, however, it seems to be growing more towards synthetic biopolymers than those of non-synthetic/natural biopolymers, may be due to their inherent physico-chemical properties. Nonetheless the outcomes bestowed from the investigations on natural biopolymeric microneedles are surely pertinent to the future practical applications. Henceforth, with the purpose of having insight, illuminating their potential and encouraging their utilisation for developing drug delivery devices, this review summarizes them from then to now with their implicational advancement and clinical potential.
CT Image Quality Characterization

This chapter presents mathematical and physics foundations of quantitative CT image quality assessment. The linear systems theory was applied to derive quantitative relations between noise, spatial resolution, and CT number of an idealized linear CT system and the associated hardware specifications, acquisition, and reconstruction parameters. The derivations not only highlighted the physical and mathematical foundations of several widely recognized image quality “laws” (e.g., the inverse scaling law between CT noise variance and radiation exposure level) but also the underlying assumptions behind these laws. Next, the chapter showed how these assumptions can be violated in realistic modern CT systems, even for those employing the linear filtered backprojection (FBP) algorithm. It demonstrated how the classical image quality models can be revised for modern systems. One revision is the introduction of a virtual image object with negative attenuation to compensate for the spatially and directionally varying impacts of the bowtie filter to CT noise power spectrum (NPS). After its revision, linear systems theory can still be used to model CT image quality of FBP-based realistic CT systems. Finally, the chapter demonstrated severe violations of the classical linear systems theory in CT systems with nonlinear model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) algorithms and the new challenges in estimating image quality properties for these systems. The chapter presented strategies toward addressing these challenges, including ensemble statistics- and task-based image quality assessment methods as well as empirical modeling of the relationship between image quality performance and system parameters. It also clarified the concept of NPS and justified the applicability of this objective image quality metric in nonlinear MBIR-based systems with nonstationary noise. Throughout this chapter, discussion on the topic of CT image quality was accompanied by illustrations and plots of experimental data, some of which are published for the first time.
Reductions in peak knee abduction moment in three previously studied gait modification strategies

Abstract Background First peak internal knee abduction moment (KAM) has been associated with knee osteoarthritis. Gait modification including trunk lean, medial knee thrust, and toe-in gait have shown to reduce KAM. Due to heterogeneity between study designs, it remains unclear which strategy is most effective. We compared the effects of these modifications in healthy individuals to determine their effectiveness to reduce KAM, internal knee extension moment (KEM), and medial contact force (MCF). Methods Twenty healthy individuals volunteered for this study (26.7 ± 4.7 years, 1.75 ± 0.1 m, 73.4 ± 12.4 kg). Using real-time biofeedback, we collected 10 trials for each modification using individualized gait parameters based on participants' baseline mean and standard deviation (SD). Two sizes of each modification were tested: 1–3 SD greater (toe-in and trunk lean) or lesser (knee adduction) than baseline for the first five trials and 3–5 SD greater or lesser than baseline for the last five trials. Results A significant main effect was found for KAM and KEM (p
Cyclescapes of the unequal city: bicycle infrastructure and uneven development: by John G. Stehlin, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2019, 328 pp., $27, Paperback, ISBN 978-1-5179-0381-7

As cities across the United States expand their bicycle facilities – from as diverse places as San Francisco, Indianapolis, and New York – there grows competing dialogues as to the connection betwe...
Preventing venous thromboembolism in oncology practice: Use of risk assessment and anticoagulation prophylaxis.

Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. Expert consensus recommends a risk-based approach to guide prophylactic anticoagulation to prevent VTE in ambulatory patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy. However, oncology practice patterns for VTE prevention remain unclear. Patients/methods We conducted (i) a retrospective, single-center cohort study of patients with pancreatic and gastric cancers to examine rates of prophylactic anticoagulation prescription for eligible patients at high risk of VTE based on the validated Khorana score, and (ii) a 15-question survey of oncology clinicians at the same institution to assess current practice patterns and knowledge regarding VTE risk assessment and primary thromboprophylaxis in February 2020. Results Of 437 patients who met study criteria, 181 (41%) had a score of ≥ 3 (high-risk), and none had an anticoagulation prescription for prophylaxis without an alternate treatment indication. In a survey sent to 98 oncology clinicians, of which 34 participated, 67% were unfamiliar with the Khorana score or guideline recommendations regarding risk-based VTE prophylaxis, and 90% "never" or "rarely" used VTE risk assessment. Conclusions Despite available evidence and existing guideline recommendations for VTE risk assessment for ambulatory patients with cancer, and primary prophylaxis for high-risk patients, this study demonstrates that there is limited uptake in clinical practice.
Common Practices in Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Injection for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Survey of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Membership.

Abstract Background Knee osteoarthritis nonoperative management options remain limited. Our aim is to define the current American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) members’ practices and perceptions in terms of the frequency, formulation, use of concomitant aspiration, maximum lifetime number of injections, efficacy, interval between injection and surgery and complication rates. Methods A 22-question survey based on Likert scale response anchors was approved and distributed by the AAHKS Research Committee to its membership by email during the Spring 2019 meeting. Data were managed with REDCap software. Results Membership response totaled 537 of 2365 (22.7%) members. Highlights include every respondent using intra-articular corticosteroid injections (ICIs) in their practice, and most use a three-month minimum interval, although the preferred interval is longer. Near consensus was found waiting three months before surgery. There was a great variability in the number of injections allowed, and injections before surgery were very common. Nearly all responders use a local anesthetic mixture with the cortisone injection, but there was great variation in corticosteroid type: methylprednisolone (42%), triamcinolone (41%), betamethasone (13.3%), and dexamethasone (3.7%). Conclusion The results of our survey indicate the majority of the AAHKS members who completed the survey use ICIs routinely for treatment of knee osteoarthritis. There was near consensus in ICIs, which is effective with decreasing efficacy over serial injections, and an absolute minimum interval between injections was believed by most to be three months with no clearly defined lifetime limit and strong consensus for a three-month preoperative interval. The formulation of steroid, local anesthetic, and skin preparation technique varied greatly.
Hybrid silicon MOS optoelectronic memristor with non-volatile memory

We present a heterogeneously integrated III-V on silicon ring modulator integrated with a memristor for nonvolatile memory of optical signals. Demonstrated are hysteresis-loop I-V curves commonly characterizing memristors. The rings also exhibit a change in resonance between the ON and OFF state of the memristor.
Esophageal Cancer: Tumor-Node-Metastasis Staging

Esophageal cancer is an uncommon malignancy that ranks sixth in terms of mortality worldwide. Squamous cell carcinoma is the predominant histologic subtype worldwide whereas adenocarcinoma represents the majority of cases in North America, Australia, and Europe. Esophageal cancer is staged using the American Joint Committee on Cancer and the International Union for Cancer Control TNM system and has separate classifications for the clinical, pathologic, and postneoadjuvant pathologic stage groups. The determination of clinical TNM is based on complementary imaging modalities, including esophagogastroduodenoscopy/endoscopic ultrasound; endoscopic ultrasound-fine-needle aspiration; computed tomography of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis; and fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography.
Common and distinct muscle synergies during level and slope locomotion in the cat.

We demonstrated that the atypical EMG activities during cat downslope walking, silent one-joint hip extensors and stance-related EMG bursts in flexors, have many features shared with activities of ...
Winter Climate and Lake Morphology Control Ice Phenology and Under-Ice Temperature and Oxygen Regimes in Mountain Lakes

Author(s): Smits, AP; Gomez, NW; Dozier, J; Sadro, S | Abstract: Warming winters will reduce ice cover and change under-ice conditions in temperate mountain lakes, where snow contributes most of winter cover on lakes. Snow-dominated mountain lakes are abundant and highly susceptible to climate warming, yet we lack an understanding of how climate variation and local attributes influence winter processes. We investigated climatic and intrinsic controls on ice phenology, water temperature, and bottom-water dissolved oxygen (DO) in 15 morphologically diverse lakes in the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains of California, USA, using high-frequency measurements from multiple (2–5) winters. We found that ice phenology was determined by winter climate variables (snowfall and air temperature) that influence ice-off timing, whereas ice-on timing was relatively invariant among years. Lake size and morphology mediated the effect of climate on lake temperature and DO dynamics in early and late winter. Rates of hypolimnetic DO decline were highest in small, shallow lakes, and were unrelated to water temperature. Temperature and oxygen dynamics were more variable in small lakes because heavy snowfall caused ice submergence, mixing, and DO replenishment that affected the entire water column. As the persistence of snow declines in temperate mountain regions, autumn, and spring climatic conditions are expected to gain importance in regulating lake ice phenology. Water temperature and DO will likely increase in most lakes during winter as snowpack declines, but morphological attributes such as lake size will determine the sensitivity of ice phenology and under-ice processes to climate change.
Identification of Some Chemical Analogues and Positional Isomers of Methaqualone

The drug 2-methyl-3-ortho-tolyl-4-quinazolinone (methaqualone) and 15 chemical analogues and positional isomers were synthesized and identified by spectroscopic techniques. The series of analogues studied includes the compounds formed through substitution of hydrogen or halogen atoms in place of the methyl group of the 3-tolyl substituent in methaqualone. Additionally, the substituent's positional orientation of ortho, meta, or para is considered. Infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectra of the compounds are distinctive, and reference spectra are provided. Gas-liquid and thin-layer chromatographic systems for analysis of the compounds as well as melting point and ultraviolet data are discussed.
Common Mesophilic Anaerobes, Including Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium tetani, in 21 Soil Specimens

A relatively rich medium was markedly superior to a dilute medium for the isolation of anaerobic bacteria from soil. The obligate anaerobes isolated from 21 soil samples were all clostridia and the counts ranged from 2.7 × 102 to 3.3 × 106 per g. The organisms most frequently isolated were Clostridium subterminale, C. sordellii, C. sporogenes, C. indolis, C. bifermentans, C. mangenoti, and C. perfringens. Seventeen other species were also recognized but almost one-third of the isolates could not be identified with any known species of Clostridum. C. botulinum type A was demonstrated in six soil samples, and type B in one. These soils were neutral to alkaline in reaction (average pH 7.9) and low in organic matter content (1.4%). The association of C. botulinum types A and B with neutral to alkaline soils was statistically significant (P = 0.001) as was their association with soils low in organic matter (P = 0.005). C. botulinum types E and F were found in one soil sample, pH 4.5, with organic matter 13.7%. C. tetani was isolated from two soil samples, both of intermediate pH value and higher than average organic matter content.
Mixed Acid–Base Disorders

A 55-year-old man presents with a 3-day history of severe nausea and vomiting following an alcohol binge. He says that he has not been able to take anything by mouth for the past 3 days, and he complains about diffuse abdominal pain. On admission his blood pressure is 129/77 mmHg with a heart rate of 77 bpm supine and 105/62 mmHg with a heart rate of 92 bpm standing up. He is a febrile. He looks emaciated, has poor skin turgor, and dry mucous membranes. His bowel sounds appear diminished, and an abdominal X-ray shows small bowel ileus. On admission to the emergency room the laboratory data shown in Table 16.1 are obtained. What, if any, acid–base disturbance is present?
Cerebrovascular ultrasound in stroke prevention and treatment

Contributors.Foreword: Ultrasound: What's in the Waveforms?.J. Grotta.Preface.Acknowlegements..Contributors.Part I. How To Perform Ultrasound Tests?.1. Cerebrovascular Anatomy and Principles of Extracranial Ultrasound and Examination Techniques.M. Neumyer, A. Alexandrov.2. Intracranial Cerebrovascular Ultrasound Examination Techniques.A. Alexandrov, M. Neumyer.3. Color Flow Anatomy of the Circle of Willis.E. Bartels, A. Alexandrov.Part II. Hemodynamic Principles.4. Integrated Assessment of Systemic and Intracranial Hemodynamics.A. Wojner.5. Practical Models of Cerebral Hemodynamics and Waveform Recognition.A. Alexandrov.Part III. Criteria for Interpretation.6. Diagnostic Criteria for Neurovascular Studies.A. Alexandrov, M. Neumyer.Part IV. Ultrasound in Stroke Prevention and Treatment.7. TCD and Sickle Cell Disease.F. Nichols, A. Jones, R. Adams.8. Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Carotid Ultrasound.J. Polak.9. Carotid Vertebral Duplex Scanning in Secondary Stroke Prevention and Stenting.C. Tegeler, D. Ratanakorn.10. Acute Ischemic Stroke.A. Demchuk, A. Alexandrov.11. Vasospasm after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.D. Newell, A. Alexandrov...Part V. Select Clinical Applications and Clinical Vignettes.A. Alexandrov.Typical Vasospasm After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.with M. MalkofF.Bilateral ACA Vasospasm.with J. Nates.Multiple Vessel Vasospasm.with I. Christou.Cerebral Circulatory Arrest.with S. Calleja.Anatomical Variation or a Hemodynamically Significant Lesion?.with E. Bartels.Subclavian Steal.with F. Al-Senani.Carotid Dissection.with M. Malkoff.Carotid Thromboembolism.with K. Uchino.Monitoring Carotid Endarterectomy.with A. Estrera.Brain Retroperfusion.with Z. Garami and H. Safi.MCA Stenosis.with R. Felberg.Acute Tandem ICA and MCA Occlusion.with A. El-Mitwalli, and J. Song.Arterial Recanalization and Dramatic Recovery from Stroke.with R. Felberg.Arterial Re-Occlusion and Deterioration Following Improvement.with S. Burgin.Extended Window for Thrombolysis.with the Stroke Team.Index
Interneurons and the ghost of the sea

Kainate receptor activation excites hippocampal pyramidal neurons in a model of epilepsy. Two new studies indicate that kainate acts on GABAergic interneurons to produce this effect.
Transonic-flow computation using an explicit-implicit method

The explicit-implicit predictor corrector method of MacCormack (1981) is applied to the analysis of flows past airfoils. By comparing results obtained with different methods and meshes, it is shown that the above method provides, after certain modifications, reasonably good predictions of inviscid and viscous flows about an airfoil. Good results are also obtained for the transonic regime if the free-stream conditions are correct and if a suitable mesh is used.
Aortic annulus and root characteristics in severe aortic stenosis due to bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valves: Implications for transcatheter aortic valve therapies

Background Patients with severe aortic stenosis due to BAV are excluded from transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) due to concern for asymmetric expansion and valve dysfunction. We sought to characterize the aortic root and annulus in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and tricuspid aortic valves (TAV). Methods and Results We identified patients with severe AS who underwent multi-detector computed tomographic (MDCT) imaging prior to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR, n = 200) for BAV and TAVR (n = 200) for TAV from 2010 to 2013. The presence of a BAV was confirmed on surgical and pathological review. Annulus measurements of the basal ring (short- and long-axis, area-derived diameter), coronary ostia height, sinus area (SA), sino-tubular junction area (STJ), calcification and eccentricity index (EI, 1-short axis/long axis) were made. Patients with TAV were older (78.8 years vs. 57.8 years, P = 0.04) than those with BAV. The aortic annulus area (5.21 ± 2.1 cm2 vs. 4.63 ± 2.0 cm2, P = 0.0001), sinus of Valsalva diameter (3.7 ± 0.9 cm vs. 3.1 ± 0.1 cm, P = 0.001) and ascending aorta diameter (3.5 ± 0.7 cm vs. 2.97 ± 0.6 cm, P = 0.001) were significantly larger with BAV. Bicuspid aortic annuli were significantly less elliptical (EI, 1.24 ± 0.1 vs. 1.29 ± 0.1, P = 0.006) and more circular (39% vs. 4%, P < 0.001) compared to the TAV annulus. There was more eccentric annular calcification in BAV vs. TAV (68% vs. 32%, P < 0.001). The mean distance from the aortic annulus to the left main coronary ostium was less than the right coronary ostium. Less than 10% of the BAV annuli would not fit a currently available valved stents. Conclusion Bicuspid aortic valves have a larger annulus size, sinus of Valsalva and ascending aorta dimensions. In addition, the BAV aortic annuli appear circular and most will fit currently available commercial valved stents. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Line sketch extraction using the Hough transform

ABSTRACT Reliable schemes for line sketch extraction from gray scale images are investigated. It is often possibleto recognize polyhedral objects in an image by capturing the linear features in the image and analyzing corner points. A line sketch is extracted from a gray scale image using the Hough transform (liT). Thepixel points with their gradient directions and magnitudes are properly used for deciding the value ofaccumulation in Hough space. This leads to significant computational savings and robust results. The research presented in this report is concerned with utilizing HT and its derivatives to detect linear features in images and constructing line sketches for higher level processing such as image representation, description and coding.Keywords: computer vision, robot vision, scene understanding, Hough transform, line sketch 1 . iNTRODUCTION Since many objects in the world have linear boundaries and flat faces, locating and identifying thepolyhedral objects in an image is an important phase in object recognition, which is a major goal incomputer vision. The extraction of a line sketch and its description from perspective views of a three-dimensional polyhedral object is a critical process in this context.3'15'16 There have been variousapproaches to solving computer vision problems, but the line sketch of the target object in an image
On the worst case of three algorithms for computing the Jacobi symbol

We study the worst-case behavior of three iterative algorithms for computing the Jacobi symbol (vu). Each algorithm is similar in format to the Euclidean algorithm for computing gcd(u, v). Eisenstein's algorithm chooses an even quotient at each step. It is shown that the worst case occurs when u = 2n + 1, v = 2n - 1. Lebesgue's algorithm is essentially the least-remainder Euclidean algorithm with powers of 2 removed at each step. Its worst case occurs when u = 2L"n - L"n" "-" "1, v = L"n, where L"0 = 1, L"1 = 1, and L"n = 2L"n" "-" "1 + L"n" "-" "2 for n >= 2. The ''ordinary'' Jacobi symbol algorithm is essentially the ordinary Euclidean algorithm with powers of 2 removed at each step. It is the most interesting mathematically of the three. We prove that if the ordinary algorithm on input (u, v) performs n division steps, with u>v>0 and u + v as small as possible, then u = A"n and v = A"n" "-" "1, where A"0 = 1, A"1 = 3, A"2"n = A"2"n" "-" "1 + 2A"2"n" "-" "2 for n >= 1, and A"2"n"+"1 = 2A"2"n + A"2"n" "-" "1 for n >= 1. We also discuss the worst-case inputs to the ordinary algorithm under the lexicographic and reverse lexicographic orderings.
Microbial contamination of musical wind instruments

Retrospective and prospective studies were used to assess the numbers, types and persistence of microbes that contaminate wind instruments. All previously played instruments (n = 20) harbored viable bacteria as well as mold and/or yeast. Reedinstruments consistently carried higher microbial loads than did flutes or trumpets. Instruments played within the previous three days bore typical mouth flora, while bacteria recovered after 72 h following play consisted of normal environmental flora. Prospective studies tested survival of potentially pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Moraxella, Escherichia coli and attenuated Mycobacterium tuberculosis) when applied to reeds or following simulated 'play' of a clarinet. All species survived for a maximum of 24-48 h on reeds, except Mycobacterium, which persisted through 13 days. In simulated play experiments, test bacteria could persist for up to five days. These findings support the establishment of guidelines for decontamination of wind instruments and for sharing or transfer of these instruments among players.
Delayed amnesic syndrome after riluzole use in major depressive disorder: a case report.

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a common problem, with 29%– 46% of depressed patients failing to respond sufficiently to adequate trials of antidepressant medications. 1 Recently, several open-label clinical trials of riluzole, an antiglutamatergic drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), have revealed antidepressant effects in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. 2–5 The most common side effects of riluzole (at doses of 100 mg/d) include asthenia (19.2%), nausea (16.3%), and decreased lung function (10.2%); other common but less frequent (10%) side effects include dizziness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, vertigo, oral paraesthesia, anorexia, insomnia, somnolence, and psychiatric symptoms such as depression. 6 A more serious and rare adverse effect, amnesic syndrome, has been previously reported twice, in the context of overdose. In the first case, a woman with Huntington’s disease developed delayed amnesia that persisted for over a year, 4 days after ingestin g3go friluzole. 7 In the second case, a woman with Huntington’s disease developed severe amnesic syndrome with anterograde and retrograde amnesia as well as attention and short-term memory deficits, 4 days after ingesting 2.8 g of riluzole. 8 In the latter case, the patient’s cognitive functions improved gradually and returned to baseline within a year of the intoxication. 8 We report a case of global amnesia related to as-directed use of riluzole in the setting of a randomized clinical trial (RCT).