cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Embodiment and Self-realisation: The Interface between Śaṅkara’s Transcendentalism and Shamanic and Tantric Experiences

The Advaita of Sanukara portrays consciousness as a single reality, with the material world and the body as the product of ignorance. In contrast, the shamanic worldview centres on the body, with various methods to induce altered states of consciousness. A cursory examination reveals a polarity be- tween Sanukara's non-dualism and the shamanic practices that use body as the means of experience and cultivate embodied states for transforming subjective experience. This article aims to dismantle this misconstrued polarity, arguing that embodied experience is at the core of both shamanic and non-dual prac- tices. I will examine the status of the body in Sanukara's philosophy in order to make this argument.
Optimizing octree motion representation for 3D animation

Geometry compression is the coding of 3D geometric data in a form that requires less space to store and less bandwidth to transmit. Animated geometry compression is the compression of temporal sequences of geometric data. An octree-based motion representation method in which a small set of motion vectors are generated for each frame by analyzing the motion between consecutive frames was proposed in a previous research. The goal of this paper is to optimize the octree-based animated geometry compression algorithm by storing the motion vectors at non-leaf nodes in contrast to the original method where motion vectors are stored only in leaf nodes. Some leaf nodes do not need to store the motion vectors by inheriting their parents' motion vectors. This method especially benefits the animation where most regions have simple movement and small area has complicated movements. The proposed technique will always perform better than the original method. In some cases, it may have much better compression ratio than the original method. This new approach is easy to implement on top of original octree-based algorithm and has faster encoding and decoding speed.
Peroneal Tendon Bupivacaine Injection: Utility of Concomitant Injection of Contrast Material

Twenty patients received the installation of contrast material into the peroneal tendons while local anesthetic was injected as a diagnostic test. In three patients (15%), communication with the ankle joint and subtalar joint was noted, as well as failure of the contrast to fill the distal tendon. Injection of local anesthetic into the peroneal tendons as a diagnostic measure, therefore, may not have 100% sensitivity of specificity. Simultaneous injection of contrast material can be used to alert the clinician to a lack of specificity of the anesthetic test injection.
Ion Implantation for Silicon Carbide Electronic Devices

As the demands on electronic systems intended for high temperature, high power or high frequency operation increase, silicon-based electronics are being pushed to its fundamental material limits. Consequently, continued improvement in system level performance for these applications requires new semiconductor materials. Silicon carbide (SiC) is a candidate material for the applications listed above, but considerable materials, processing, and device research are still needed before SiC devices are brought to market. This paper concentrates on ion implantation processing of SiC, and attempts to illustrate specific problems associated with ion implantation. Data from a series of experiments relevant to SiC MOSFETs are presented for this purpose. Ion implants into SiC are discussed first to show how a strategy for improving the acceptor activation ratio from less than 1% to nearly 100% is developed. The annealing temperatures (>1600°C) needed to attain high activation ratios lead to severely roughened surfaces. Results from experiments designed to preserve high-quality surfaces have been encouraging from a purely materials perspective. However, these solutions do not translate into improved transport characteristics for SiC MOSFETs. An investigation of inversion layer mobility in 4H-SiC MOSFETs is presented to illustrate this point.
Controls on the D/H ratios of plant leaf waxes in an arid ecosystem

The extent to which leaf water D-enrichment (transpiration) and soil water D-enrichment (evaporation) affect the D/H ratio of plant leaf waxes remains a contentious issue, with important implications for paleohydrologic reconstructions. In this study we measure δD values of precipitation (δD_p), groundwater (δD_(gw)), plant xylem water (δD_(xw)) and leaf water (δD_(lw)) to understand their impact on the δD values of plant leaf wax n-alkanes (δD_(wax)) in an arid ecosystem. Our survey includes multiple species at four sites across an aridity gradient (80–30% relative humidity) in southern California. We find that many species take up groundwater or precipitation without significant fractionation. D-enriched soil water is a minor source even in species known to perform and utilize waters from hydraulic lift, such as Larrea tridentata (+10‰). Measurements of leaf water isotopic composition demonstrate that transpiration is an important mechanism for D-enrichment of leaf waters (+74 ± 20‰, 1σ), resulting in the smallest net fractionation yet reported between source water and leaf waxes (L. tridentata −41‰; multi-species mean value is −94 ± 21‰, 1σ). We find little change in leaf water D-enrichment or net fractionation across the climatic gradient sampled by our study, suggesting that a net fractionation of ca. −90‰ may be appropriate for paleohydrologic reconstructions in semi-arid to arid environments. Large interspecies offsets in net fractionations (1σ = 21‰) are potentially troublesome, given the observed floristic diversity and the likelihood of species assemblage changes with climate shifts.
Thin-stratified medium fast-multipole algorithm for solving microstrip structures

An accurate and efficient technique called the thin-stratified medium fast-multipole algorithm (TSM-FMA) is presented for solving integral equations pertinent to electromagnetic analysis of microstrip structures, which consists of the full-wave analysis method and the application of the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) to thin stratified structures. In this approach, a new form of the electric-field spatial-domain Green's function is developed in a symmetrical form which simplifies the discretization of the integral equation using the method of moments (MoM). The patch may be of arbitrary shape since their equivalent electric currents are modeled with subdomain triangular patch basis functions. TSM-FMA is introduced to speed up the matrix-vector multiplication which constitutes the major computational cost in the application of the conjugate gradient (CG) method. TSM-FMA reduces the central processing unit (CPU) time per iteration to O(N log N) for sparse structures and to O(N) for dense structures, from O(N/sup 3/) for the Gaussian elimination method and O(N/sup 2/) per iteration for the CG method. The memory requirement for TSM-FMA also scales as O(N log N) for sparse structures and as O(N) for dense structures. Therefore, this approach is suitable for solving large-scale problems on a small computer.
The response of an expert panel to Nutritional armor for the warfighter: can omega-3 fatty acids enhance stress resilience, wellness, and military performance?

ABSTRACT Background: Recommendations of an Expert Panel on 5 central questions addressed during the workshop. Methods: The Panel reviewed available scientific literature, workshop presentations, and comments from workshop guests. Results: The Panel unanimously agreed that a military Daily Recommended Intake for long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) should be established within the context of lowering current intakes of omega-6 FAs. The Panelists also felt that there was sufficient evidence to support increasing omega-3 intake to receive cardiovascular, immunological, and surgical benefits. In addition, research indicates that preloading with omega-3 FAs before combat exposure may be beneficial. Evidence for reduction of depressive symptoms and suicide prevention was felt to be strong. Insufficient data were available to evaluate post-traumatic stress disorder and impulsive aggression. Benefits for traumatic brain injury were promising. Adverse side effects were deemed negligible. Conclusion: The Panel conc...
LDL-apheresis therapy: current therapeutic practice and potential future use

Low density lipoprotein (LDL)-apheresis is an approved chronic maintenance therapy for the lowering of plasma cholesterol (LDL reduction >60%) in patients with uncontrolled hypercholesterolemia caused by familial hypercholesterolemia and resistance to pharmacotherapy. Clinical studies have demonstrated its benefit in the reduction of cardiovascular disease. LDL-apheresis can lower other pathological mediators of vascular disease, such as inflammation, hemorrheology, thrombosis and fibrinolysis. The acute and chronic pleiotropic effects of LDL-apheresis on these vascular markers might warrant its use in more diverse settings of vascular disease. This review discusses currently approved LDL-apheresis procedures, the guidelines for their use and current and future therapeutic applications of the technique.
THEORETICAL ISSUES IN THE STUDY OF CHILDREN'S ATTENTION TO TELEVISION

This article is a critical analysis of three issues that are central to the study of children's attention patterns to television. These issues are: (1) the meaning of the term “attention”; (2) the various types of stimulus attributes subsumed under the term “television”; and (3) the implications the child's level of intellectual development may have for the way he or she attends to the screen. Analysis of these issues yielded some of the following implications for TV attention research: (1) Differences in children's information processing abilities may not necessarily predict differences in children's attention patterns, because only certain conditions appear to be optimal for attention patterns to differ as a function of the child's level of intellectual development. (2) The term “television” subsumes a wide array of program variables, both with respect to form and content. Form variables are typically used to predict changes in children's attention behavior, whereas content variables are typically used ...
Iron(IV)hydroxide pKa and the Role of Thiolate Ligation in C–H Bond Activation by Cytochrome P450

Cytochrome P450 enzymes activate oxygen at heme iron centers to oxidize relatively inert substrate carbon-hydrogen bonds. Cysteine thiolate coordination to iron is posited to increase the pK(a) (where K(a) is the acid dissociation constant) of compound II, an iron(IV)hydroxide complex, correspondingly lowering the one-electron reduction potential of compound I, the active catalytic intermediate, and decreasing the driving force for deleterious auto-oxidation of tyrosine and tryptophan residues in the enzyme's framework. Here, we report on the preparation of an iron(IV)hydroxide complex in a P450 enzyme (CYP158) in ≥90% yield. Using rapid mixing technologies in conjunction with Mossbauer, ultraviolet/visible, and x-ray absorption spectroscopies, we determine a pK(a) value for this compound of 11.9. Marcus theory analysis indicates that this elevated pK(a) results in a >10,000-fold reduction in the rate constant for oxidations of the protein framework, making these processes noncompetitive with substrate oxidation.
The formation and evolution of vortices in an expanding universe

The formation and evolution of vortices in an expanding 2+1 dimensional space-time is analyzed numerically. We test the Kibble mechanism and show that, starting with thermal initial conditions with random phases, vortices form with a mean separation smaller than the Hubble radius. Due to the long range forces, vortices and anti-vortices move together and annihilate. We show that the phase waves which are produced during the annihilation are emitted predominantly at 90° from the axis through the incident topological defects.
Angiosarcoma after breast-conserving therapy: Long-term disease control and late effects with hyperfractionated accelerated re-irradiation (HART)

AbstractBackground. Secondary angiosarcoma is a malignant cancer that develops in approximately 1% of patients treated with breast-conserving therapy (BCT) for primary breast cancer. Most treatments for secondary angiosarcoma have been unsuccessful and no consensus has been reached on what is the best therapeutic strategy. We report long-term outcomes of patients with secondary angiosarcoma treated with hyperfractionated and accelerated re-irradiation (HART). Material and methods. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of, and established direct contact with, 14 consecutive patients with secondary angiosarcoma after BCT with axillary lymph node dissection who were treated at our institution with HART with or without surgery from November 1997 to March 2006. With HART, patients received three radiation therapy treatments each day, with a minimum interfraction interval of four hours, five days a week, at 1 Gy per fraction, to total doses of 45 Gy, 60 Gy, and 75 Gy for areas with a moderate risk for...
Health-related quality of life in veterans with prevalent total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty

Objective. To study the HRQOL in veterans with prevalent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA) and compare them with age- and gender-matched US population and control veteran population without these procedures. Methods. A cohort study and cross-sectional survey on veterans obtained demographics and HRQOL with Short-Form 36 for veterans (SF-36V). Veterans were categorized into: primary TKA; primary THA; combination group (≥1 primary and/or any revision TKA/THA); and control population (no THA/TKA). Multivariable regression compared the physical and mental component summary scores (PCS and MCS scores, respectively) in each group. Results. Response rate was 58% (40 508/70 334): 531 with TKA, 254 with THA, 461 constituted the combination and 39 262, the control group. Mean PCS scores in veterans with THA, TKA, and combination group were 2 s.d. lower than the US mean (29.5 ± 0.8; 30.1 ± 1.1 and 27.1 ± 0.8). MCS scores were similar to the US mean (47.3 ± 0.9; 49.1 ± 1.2 and 45.6 ± 0.9). Compared with controls, significantly more veterans in TKA, THA or combination groups had multivariable-adjusted PCS ≤ 30 (55, 64, 71 and 76%; P < 0.0001); similar proportion had MCS ≤ 30 (15, 12, 8 and 16%; P = 0.29); and mean scores on SF-36 physical domains (P ≤ 0.0011), but not mental/emotional domains (P ≥ 0.01) were statistically and clinically lower. Conclusions. Profound physical HRQOL deficits exist in veterans with TKA/THA and in combination group compared with age- and gender-matched general US population and with veteran controls. In these groups, these deficits are not attributable to differences in sociodemographics, comorbidity and healthcare access/utilization. Arthroplasty status may be a surrogate for poorer HRQOL and worse outcomes. Future studies are indicated to determine HRQOL deficit causes and interventions to improve HRQOL in patients with arthroplasty.
Challenging the Monolithic Asian American Identity on Campus: A Context for Working With South Asian American Students

As one of the fastest growing Asian American populations, South Asian Americans have a noted presence on college campuses. Coming from a variety of backgrounds, students’ ethnic identity development is constructed and challenged through participation in both historically White institutions, such as the Greek system, as well as ethnic student organizations. This article explores immigration histories and racial constructions of South Asian Americans, the relationship between South Asian American ethnic identity and Asian American racial identity, the impact of the Model Minority Myth, and notions of ethnic authenticity in South Asian American student organizations. The article also includes three models of identity development to consider when working with South Asian American students and concludes with recommendations for future research.
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT, TRADE OPENNESS AND GDP IN CHINA, INDIA AND MEXICO

This paper examines the short and long-run relationships between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Trade Openness and GDP in China, India and Mexico from 1980 to 2011. Based on the properties of individual time series data, the paper estimates the VAR or VECM of the three variables to determine short and long-run causal relationships. The results confirm the existence of long-run causal relationships between the three variables for China and Mexico. The results also point to sharp differences in short-run causal relationships in the three countries and several plausible explanations consistent with the findings are offered.
Alar in Fruit: Limited Regulatory Action in the Face of Uncertain Risks

1, 1-Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) is a breakdown product of daminozide (tradename “Alar”), a plant growth regulator which was used on fruit, most notably apples. The carcinogenic activity of UDMH was first reported in 1967 when lung tumors were noted in UDMH-exposed mice, and then was confirmed in the early 1970s when both lung tumors and hemangiosarcomas were observed in mice. These early findings were again confirmed; hemangiosarcomas in hamsters and lung adenomas in rats were also observed. Because the early studies did not follow good laboratory practice procedures instituted in 1979, the early results were discounted, particularly for quantitative risk estimation, and regulation of daminozide as a carcinogen delayed. In 1987, the EPA published a cancer potency value for UDMH derived from the early mouse study. Using this potency estimate, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) predicted that average risks to preschoolers from daminozide use approached 1/1000, and widely publicized this finding as unacceptable. As a consequence, apples were soon removed from the luncheon menus of elementary schools and the public voiced general skepticism about the safety of the food supply. In response, EPA, various state agencies and other groups developed their own risk estimates. We discuss the EPA and NRDC assessments and the basis for the differences in their risk estimates, including assumptions concerning risks from early-in-life exposure, the fraction of UDMH derived from daminozide, appropriate subpopulations, representative parameters of the potency distribution, and corrections for bioassay length. It is demonstrated that some plausible estimates of risk, derived from conservative, reasonable assumptions, exceed those developed by EPA and NRDC.
Pesticides Residuces in Vegetables in Ningxia

Objective To investigate the pesticides residuces in vegetables and to provide the basis for surveillance and control of vegetables safety. Methods 282 vegetable samples were collected from markets in 2011. The contents of residues of organophosphorous pesticide,carbamate,organochlorine and pyrethroid were detected according to the methods of food hygienic analysis- Physical and chemical section( GB / T 5009-2003). Results The detection rate and the disqualification rate of 282 vegetables was 93. 97% and 21. 99%. over- standard were founded in different region. The over- standard rates of leafy vegetable group was 32. 35%. The over- standard rates of organophosphorous pesticide was 10. 28%. All sorts of pesticides were found and relevance ratio of Pyrethroid pesticides was highest. Detection of pesticide residues in vegetables showed season changes. Conclusion The monitoring and safe- management in planting and sale process of vegetables should be strengthened to reduce the harm of pesticide residues.
DACH1 inhibited androgen receptor transactivation and prostate cancer cellular proliferation

1215 The Drosophila dachshund ( dac ) gene is the founding member of the DACH subfamily of nuclear proteins which conduct an essential role in promoting differentiation of the Drosophila eye and limb. The dac gene functions with eyeless (eya/Pax6) , sine oculis (So, Six) , and eyes absent (eya/Eya) in retinal determination (RD) signaling pathway in Drosophila . Although the RD gene network is best known for its role in eye specification, these genes contribute to the diverse developmental process in many cell types. Our recent studies of human breast cancer demonstrated that the loss in expression of a cell-fate determination factor, DACH1, was associated with particularly poor prognosis. Induced expression of DACH1 inhibited breast tumor cell proliferation, DNA synthesis and tumor growth in vivo. In Drosophila, dachshund (dac) is differently expressed in the male and female genital discs and is required for the appropriate differentiation of both male and female genital structure. DACH1 is expressed in normal prostate epithelium and decreased expression was found in prostate cancer. In the human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP, DACH1 expression is regulated by DHT and BMP signals. To further study the function of DACH1 in hormone signaling and prostate oncogenesis, we established an LNCaP cell line in which expression of DACH1 is regulated by deoxycycline. DACH1 inhibited DNA synthesis, S phase progression and colony formation, as determined by H 3 -thymidine incorporation, FACS and soft agar analyses. In CV-1 and 293T cells, DACH1 inhibited DHT-dependent AR transactivation using either PSA Luc or MMTV-Luc reporter assay. The repression by DACH1 was abolished upon deletion of a DS-domain mutant. DACH1 also inhibited activation of mutated androgen receptors identified in patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer. DACH1 inhibited the AR-coactivation by ARA70, SRC-1 and Tip60. DACH1 and the AR interaction was demonstrated in mammalian two-hybrid analysis. Immunoprecipitation-western blot assay demonstrated that DACH1 complexed with AR associated with HDAC1, HDAC3, NCoR, p300 and pCAF. Confocal microscopy demonstrated the co-localization of DACH1 with AR upon stimulation by DHT. Immunohistochemical stain of 36 paried prostate cancer tissues with corresponding normal tissues demonstrated the significantly decreased expression of DACH1 in cancer. Our data support a model in which DACH1 binds to the AR and inhibits AR signaling through co-repressor binding. This study is the first to demonstrate a role for a cell fate determination factor DACH1 in regulating hormone signaling and prostate cancer cellular proliferation.
Evolving Orthogonal Suppressor tRNAs To Incorporate Modified Amino Acids.

There have been considerable advancements in the incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAA) into proteins over the last two decades. The most widely used method for site-specific incorporation of noncanonical amino acids, amber stop codon suppression, typically employs an orthogonal translation system (OTS) consisting of a heterologous aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase:tRNA pair that can potentially expand an organism’s genetic code. However, the orthogonal machinery sometimes imposes fitness costs on an organism, in part due to mischarging and a lack of specificity. Using compartmentalized partnered replication (CPR) and a newly developed pheS negative selection, we evolved several new orthogonal Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (Mj) tRNA variants tRNAs with increased amber suppression activity, but that also showed up to 3-fold reduction in promiscuous aminoacylation by endogenous aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs). The increased orthogonality of these variants greatly reduced organismal fitness costs associ...
Autonomous Fall Detection With Wearable Cameras by Using Relative Entropy Distance Measure

Timely, precise, and reliable detection of fall events is very important for systems monitoring activities of elderly people, especially the ones living independently. In this paper, we propose an autonomous fall detection system by taking a completely different view compared with existing vision-based activity monitoring systems and applying a reverse approach. In our system, in contrast with static sensors installed at fixed locations, the camera is worn by the subject, and thus, monitoring is not limited only to areas where the sensors are located and extends to wherever the subject may travel. Moreover, the camera provides a richer set of data and helps lower the false positive rates compared with accelerometer-only systems. We employ a modified version of the histograms of oriented gradients (HOG) approach together with the gradient local binary patterns (GLBP). It is shown that, with the same training set, the GLBP feature is more descriptive and discriminative than HOG, histograms of template, and semantic local binary patterns. Moreover, we autonomously compute a threshold, for the detection of fall events, from the training data based on relative entropy, which is a member of Ali–Silvey distance measures. Experiments are performed with ten different people and a total of around 300 associated fall events indoors and outdoors. Experimental results show that, with the autonomously computed threshold, the proposed method provides 93.78% and 89.8% accuracy for detecting falls with indoor and outdoor experiments, respectively.
Materials Requirements of Hypersonic Fught Vehicles

A survey of factors that determine the materials requirements for airframe and propulsion components of hypersonic flight vehicles.
Super-resolution Microscopy Made Simple

We describe new, simple methods for linking fluorophores to swellable polymers that enable expansion microscopy with conventional fluorescently labeled antibodies and fluorescent proteins. The methods improve the procedure and expand the palette of compatible labels.
The effects of physical activity on the on-task behavior of young children with autism spectrum disorders

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of adult-directed physical activities conducted during circle time on the on-task behavior of students during a journal-writing activity held immediately after circle. The participants of the study were three male students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who attended a full day inclusive kindergarten program. During the last five minutes of morning circle the entire class, including the target participants, engaged in one of three activities that required different amounts of physical exertion (yoga, dance party, or book reading) that were selected randomly by the teacher. On-task behavior data was collected for each participant during the first five minutes of the subsequent journal writing activity. Results found that, in general, movement (yoga and dance party) prior to journal led to higher levels of on-task behavior during journal writing, with different activities yielding different outcomes for individual participants. Implications are that students with ASD would benefit from participating in multiple bouts of planned physical activity across the instructional day.
Stress wave mitigation at suture interfaces

This study investigated the stress wave dissipation in sinusoidal patterned suture interfaces that were inspired by sutures in biological materials. Finite element results showed that a sutured interface decreased the pressure 37% more than that at an unsutured interface, which arose from wave scattering and greater energy dissipation at sinusoidal boundaries. Stress wave scattering resulted in converting compressive waves (S11) into orthogonal flexural (S22) and shear waves (S12), which decreased both the peak pressure (attenuation) and wave speed (dispersion). Higher strain energy occurring at sutured interfaces brought energy loss within viscoelastic gap, too. In addition, we parameterized several variables related to the suture interfaces for their influence in stress wave mitigation. The following seven parameters were examined: (1) waviness of suture (ratio of suture height to suture period), (2) ratio of the suture height over the entire bar thickness, (3) gap thickness, (4) elastic modulus, (5) type of the boundary, (6) impact amplitude, and (7) impact duration. The final result of the parametric study revealed that the high ratio of the suture over the entire bar thickness had the greatest influence, followed by the short impact duration, and then by the low elastic modulus. Additionally, a high ratio of the suture over the entire bar thickness and low elastic modulus decreased the stress wave velocity as well. These findings can be applied for designing various synthetic damping systems so that manmade engineering designs can implement the optimized sutures for impact scenarios.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS: WIND - CHARACTERISTICS AND DESCRIPTION

One should note that the papers in this session cover a wide spectrum of wind characteristics, ranging from tornadoes and tatsumakis, to boundary layer modeling and measurements in different regimes, and finally to terrain/roughness effects on atmospheric turbulence. In the brief space allotted to this review, therefore, the following important topics will be discussed: hurricanes, downslope mountain windstorms, tornadoes, and thunderstorm downbursts.
Mecasermin in Insulin Receptor-Related Severe Insulin Resistance Syndromes: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Mutations in the insulin receptor (INSR) gene underlie rare severe INSR-related insulin resistance syndromes (SIR), including insulin resistance type A, Rabson–Mendenhall syndrome and Donohue syndrome (DS), with DS representing the most severe form of insulin resistance. Treatment of these cases is challenging, with the majority of DS patients dying within the first two years of life. rhIGF-I (mecasermin) has been reported to improve metabolic control and increase lifespan in DS patients. A case report and literature review were completed. We present a case involving a male patient with DS, harbouring a homozygous mutation in the INSR gene (c.591delC). Initial rhIGF-I application via BID (twice daily) injection was unsatisfactory, but continuous subcutaneous rhIGF-I infusion via an insulin pump improved weight development and diabetes control (HbA1c decreased from 10 to 7.6%). However, our patient died at 22 months of age during the course of a respiratory infection in in Libya. Currently available data in the literature comprising more than 30 treated patients worldwide seem to support a trial of rhIGF-I in SIR. rhIGF-I represents a treatment option for challenging SIR cases, but careful consideration of the therapeutic benefits and the burden of the disease is warranted. Continuous application via pump might be advantageous compared to single injections.
Laser Effects on Internal Organs

Laser impacts may destroy tissue in any organ of the body. Because of the special interests, developments and importance, laser neurosurgery is considered in a separate chapter. In Chapter 15, the laser effects on organs other than the eye, the skin and the nervous system will be reviewed briefly.
Gastrointestinal Complications Associated with Intramuscular Ketorolac Tromethamine Therapy in the Elderly

Objective:To report 3 cases of gastrointestinal (GI) complications associated with the use of intramuscular ketorolac tromethamine therapy in elderly patients.Case Summaries:In case 1, an 88-year-old woman was taken to surgery for the management of an acute abdomen and repair of a 2+ cm perforated prepyloric gastric ulcer. The patient had received a total 16 doses of ketorolac 30 mg im. The patient died after surgery from complications associated with bacterial and candidal sepsis, as well as acute renal failure. In case 2, an 80-year-old woman with no known history of GI problems developed a prepyloric gastric ulcer, which perforated and penetrated into the pancreas after the patient received 13 doses of ketorolac 30 mg im. The patient died from complications associated with candidal sepsis, peritonitis, and cardiopulmonary collapse. In case 3, an 85-year-old man with a history of a gastric ulcer developed GI bleeding after receiving a total of 9 doses of ketorolac 30 mg im. The bleeding was stabilized a...
Fermat and Ramanujan: A Comparison

The famous French mathematician Pierre Fermat, like Ramanujan, made notes of his observations without proofs and communicated his findings in letters to contemporaries. In this article a comparison is made of certain mathematical contributions of Fermat and Ramanujan, and of their mathematical tastes. The famous Ramanujan taxi-cab equation is discussed as a Diophantine equation in four variables having solutions, but this equation becomes the cubic version of Fermat’s Last Theorem when one of the variables is set equal to zero, in which case there are no non-trivial solutions.
Monte Carlo Analysis of Aqueous 235U Critical Assemblies with ENDF/B-V Data

Ten aqueous homogeneous critical assemblies were analyzed with ENDF/B-V data by means of the SAM-CE continuous energy Monte Carlo code. Calculated keff values are consistent with experiment for lar...
Vasopressin-induced hyponatremia in a patient with pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure treated for septic shock

We report a case of a 55-year-old woman who developed hyponatremia after the initiation of exogenous vasopressin to treat vasodilatory shock. Discontinuation of exogenous vasopressin therapy, without any other changes in medical therapy or the patient’s condition, led to a rapid correction in the serum sodium level along with a marked increase in urine output. Increased free water retention due to exogenous vasopressin administration may have contributed to hyponatremia in this patient. This case illustrates the potential for vasopressin to have potent and unintended renal and electrolyte effects in patients treated for vasodilatory shock.
Practical Spirituality and Journey with Sacred Mountains

The industrialized western civilization has been trained to look at mountains merely in connection to the resources that they offer to the humans: the various minerals, the glaciers as reservoirs of water, the forested slopes as providers of timber, and the enriched agricultural lands at their feet. Occasionally, beyond their role as providers of material resources, mountains become objects of esthetic contemplation, sources of artistic inspiration, winter playgrounds or places of relaxation where urban dwellers can find some peace of mind. However, these are not the only ways in which mountain landscapes have been perceived historically and geographically. If we transcend the modern western perspective we will notice that in most parts of our world, and virtually throughout the history of mankind, mountains have been seen in a much deeper light. As a matter of fact, mountains have been looked upon as sacred. The universal sacredness of mountains has been acknowledged in a diversity of ways, according to the different cultural frames and religious systems involved. In the first part of this paper I will summarize nearly twenty years of personal research in the fields of high altitude archaeology and anthropology of sacred mountains, in an attempt to provide an overview of the multiplicity of ways in which mountain cultures in the Americas, Oceania, Europe, Africa and Asia have interacted with the landscapes that they perceive to be sacred. In the second part of the paper I will explore some of the connections between modern mountaineering and spirituality. In the discussion, I will seek to identify values shared by native communities and mountaineers in different parts of the world, by analyzing the transformative potential in the experience of mountains and their sacredness. Traditional societies have long been aware of this, but the industrialized world is only starting to explore and acknowledge the role of mountains in modern practical spirituality.
Plant community recovery after herbicide management to remove Phragmites australis in Great Lakes coastal wetlands

Invasive plants, such as Phragmites australis, are a global threat to plant diversity and are commonly controlled using herbicide management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the plant community response 6–10 years after large‐scale herbicide management to remove Phragmites from Great Lakes coastal wetlands along the shores of western Lake Erie. Vegetation surveys were conducted in nine wetlands undergoing herbicide management and four unmanaged Phragmites‐dominated wetlands. The relative percent cover of Phragmites was dramatically lower in the managed (1.3%) compared to unmanaged wetlands (93.0%; p < 0.001), although relative percent cover of other non‐natives following herbicide management averaged 39.2% (ranging from 6.4 to 67.6%). The cover‐weighted floristic quality index was significantly higher in managed wetlands (p < 0.01), with the highest indices (12.4–17.0) at sites that received prescribed fire after herbicide treatment (p < 0.05). Species richness and diversity were significantly higher in managed wetlands (p < 0.001); however, there was no significant difference between wetlands treated only with herbicide and those treated with herbicide and prescribed fire. Our results indicate that herbicide management is effective in reducing Phragmites and improving floristic quality over timescales of 6–10 years. However, continued spot‐treatment and management of new invasive species may be required, and the return of high‐quality plant communities may be unrealistic in the study region.
Does Orally-Administered Radiocontrast Impair Ultrasound Image Quality in Pediatric Patients?

Introduction: It is commonly assumed that orally-administered radiocontrast material (ORC) preceding abdominal ultrasound (US) performance can obscure image quality and potentially impair diagnostic accuracy when assessing patients with abdominal pain. Due to this concern, ORC administration per protocol for computed tomography (CT) is often delayed until after US performance, potentially contributing to prolonged length of stay in the emergency department (ED) in patients with concern for abdominal pathology. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether early administration of ORC in children with abdominal pain receiving abdominal CT for possible appendicitis obscures subsequent abdominal US image quality.Methods: We designed a prospective observational study of children <18 years of age presenting to a pediatric ED with abdominal pain who were set to receive ORC prior to obtaining an abdominal CT. These patients received a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) of the abdomen to assess the abdominal aorta and right lower quadrant (RLQ) structures (psoas muscle and iliac vessels) pre- and post- ORC administration. Images were compared independently by two blinded emergency US-certified physician-assessors for quality, specifically to determine whether ORC obscured the anatomical structures in question.Results: A total of 17 subjects were enrolled, and each subject had two POCUS studies of the abdomen, one pre- and one post-ORC administration looking to visualize the anatomy of the RLQ and abdominal aorta in both studies. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in mean values of POCUS image quality scoring by two blinded US-trained physician-assessors for either RLQ structures or abdominal aorta when performed pre- and post-administration of ORC.Conclusion: Early ORC administration in children with abdominal pain does not adversely affect image quality of a subsequently performed abdominal US. Patients who may require abdominal CT to determine the etiology of abdominal pain can receive early administration of ORC prior to US performance to help minimize ED length of stay without impairing US diagnostic accuracy.
Cardiovascular health and mitochondrial function: Testing an association

BACKGROUND Although mitochondrial dysfunction appears to be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, empirical data on this association are still lacking. This study evaluated whether mitochondrial oxidative capacity, as assessed by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy, was associated with cardiovascular risk, as estimated by the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), and with a clinical history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), in community-dwelling adults. METHOD A total of 616 subjects from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (mean age 66 years) underwent a comprehensive clinical evaluation. Mitochondrial oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle was assessed as post-exercise phosphocreatine recovery time constant by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Multivariate regression models were employed to determine the cross-sectional association of mitochondrial oxidative capacity with FRS and history of CVD. RESULTS Decreased mitochondrial oxidative capacity was strongly associated with higher FRS independent of age, body composition, and physical activity. Lower oxidative capacity was also associated with a history of positive of CVD and higher number of CVD events. CONCLUSIONS We speculate that the observed association could reflect the effect of an excessive production of oxidative species by dysfunctional mitochondria. Furthermore, decreased energy production could hamper the functionality of heart and vessels. In turn, a malfunctioning cardiovascular apparatus could fail to deliver the oxygen necessary for optimal mitochondrial energy production, therefore creating a vicious cycle. Longitudinal studies are necessary to ascertain the directionality of the association and the eventual presence of common pathogenetic roots. In conclusion, mitochondria could represent an important target for intervention in cardiovascular health.
Catechin-Rich Green Tea Extract and the Loss-of-TLR4 Signaling Differentially Alter the Hepatic Metabolome in Mice with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Scope Catechin-rich green tea extract (GTE) limits inflammation in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) consistent with a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-dependent mechanism. Our hypothesis was that GTE supplementation during NASH would shift the hepatic metabolome similar to that attributed to the loss-of-TLR4 signaling. Methods and results Wild-type (WT) and loss-of-function TLR4-mutant (TLR4mut ) mice were fed a high-fat diet containing 0% or 2% GTE for 8 weeks prior to performing untargeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomics on liver tissue. The loss-of-TLR4 signaling and GTE shifted the hepatic metabolome away from that of WT mice. However, relatively few metabolites were altered by GTE in WT mice to the same extent as the loss-of-TLR4 signaling in TLR4mut mice. GTE increased acetyl-CoA precursors and spermidine to a greater extent than the loss-of-TLR4 signaling. Select metabolites associated with thiol metabolism were similarly affected by GTE and the loss-of-TLR4 signaling. Glycerophospholipid catabolites were decreased by GTE, but were unaffected in TLR4mut mice. Conversely, the loss-of-TLR4 signaling but not GTE increased several bile acid metabolites. Conclusion GTE limitedly alters the hepatic metabolome consistent with a TLR4-dependent mechanism. This suggests that the anti-inflammatory activities of GTE and loss-of-TLR4 signaling that regulate hepatic metabolism to abrogate NASH are likely due to distinct mechanisms. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Ageism in COVID-19-Related Media Coverage: Examining Publications During the First Month of the Pandemic

The media has consistently described older adults as the population most vulnerable to COVID-19. Anti-ageism critics have taken issue with the oft-repeated statement that “only” older adults are at risk, a construction that dismisses and devalues the nuances within this population. The purpose of this study was to analyze instances of ageism in national media sources during the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic search returned 287 articles concerning older adults and COVID-19 published in four major newspapers in the United States—USA Today, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post—between March 11 and April 10, 2020. Combining the strengths of content analysis and critical discourse analysis, we deductively and inductively reviewed the articles for patterns related to implicit and explicit forms of ageism. While ageism was rarely discussed explicitly, ageist bias was evident in implicit reporting patterns, such as frequent use of the phrase the elderly, which was often paired with statements describing older adults as vulnerable. Infection and death rates among older adults, as well as institutionalized care practices, were among the most commonly reported topics, providing a limited portrait of aging during the pandemic. While some authors utilized a survivor narrative by portraying older adults as having survived hardships, this construction implicitly places blame on those unable to do so. Older adults, when quoted directly, produced more complex and nuanced narratives of aging during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such narratives can combat societal ageism and promote self-determination and -definition.
Enhancing Food Security for Families Vulnerable to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed some of the underlying inequities in our society. Vulnerable and low-income communities who have typically struggled with food insecurity have been further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To make matters worse, transit dependent households in the City of Detroit that rely on SNAP benefits from the government have a 54% probability of not having internet access, reducing the possibility of online food delivery. Thus, the motivation for the Detroit Food Delivery Pilot Program, a prepared meal delivery service for food insecure households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this program, the City had aided 350 households; over 1,000 unique individuals and has served over 90,000 meals. This had all been made possible through the engagement of 575 volunteers, volunteering over 6,850 delivery miles. Our team helped to identify the magnitude and the needs of the Citys food insecure population; then partnered with the City of Detroit to modify existing food programs to address the crisis, and finally, assessed the impact of the program on the target population. Our analysis revealed that approximately 20,800 households will be classified as food insecure in Detroit and only a fraction of this population is benefitting from the food delivery pilot program. However, on average, the concerns about food sufficiency have abated appreciably from the surveys analyzed. Responses from the beneficiaries of the food delivery pilot program were positive though concerns about the travel behavior of individuals, particularly those from COVID-19 positive households remain.
Correlation of Warm Season Crowdsourced Temperature with Satellite-Derived Temperature within the City of Atlanta and Its Application to Localized Prediction

This study was an attempt to correlate crowdsourced temperature with satellite-derived temperature during the warm season within the City of Atlanta of the Atlanta, Georgia (GA) metropolitan region...
Justice Cardozo's Supreme Court Confirmation

In this era of hyper-partisan Supreme Court confirmation fights, Benjamin Cardozo’s swift and harmonious elevation from the New York Court of Appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court presents a striking contrast. The times were different, and the nominee was in a league apart. Yet it is instructive to recall how the process can function, free of partisan contention, when the stars are aligned just right.
Research approaches to alleviation of airport community noise

Abstract The material of this paper relates to the problem of noise in communities near commercial airports due to landing and take-off operations and contains a description of some of the related NASA sponsored research toward its alleviation. The objectives of the paper are to identify some of the significant factors involved, and to present pertinent research information from NASA in-house and contract studies. Data are included to illustrate the significance of such factors as aircraft engine type, compressor configuration, nacelle location and design, power reductions during climbout, steep angle landing approach profiles, and compatible land usage, with regard to noise alleviation and human response implications.