cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inherent Directionality Determines Spatial Release from Masking at the Tympanum in a Vertebrate with Internally Coupled Ears

In contrast to humans and other mammals, many animals have internally coupled ears that function as inherently directional pressure-gradient receivers. Two important but unanswered questions are to what extent and how do animals with such ears exploit spatial cues in the perceptual analysis of noisy and complex acoustic scenes? This study of Cope's gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) investigated how the inherent directionality of internally coupled ears contributes to spatial release from masking. We used laser vibrometry and signal detection theory to determine the threshold signal-to-noise ratio at which the tympanum's response to vocalizations could be reliably detected in noise. Thresholds were determined as a function of signal location, noise location, and signal-noise separation. Vocalizations were broadcast from one of three azimuthal locations: frontal (0 °), to the right (+90 °), and to the left (-90 °). Masking noise was broadcast from each of 12 azimuthal angles around the frog (0 to 330 °, 30 ° separation). Variation in the position of the noise source resulted in, on average, 4 dB of spatial release from masking relative to co-located conditions. However, detection thresholds could be up to 9 dB lower in the "best ear for listening" compared to the other ear. The pattern and magnitude of spatial release from masking were well predicted by the tympanum's inherent directionality. We discuss how the magnitude of masking release observed in the tympanum's response to spatially separated signals and noise relates to that observed in previous behavioral and neurophysiological studies of frog hearing and communication.
Study of optimum solution about transportation problem based on the genetic algorithm

The table method's work cost is very expensive for solving the transportation problem,and the convergence rate is more slowly.The genetic algorithm is adopted to solve transportation problem for optimum solution by choosing appropriate coding scheme and genetic operator.It illuminates the solving process about the balance of production and marketing transportation problem based on genetic algorithm.
Clinical Anatomy of the Lumbosacral Spine

A chapter on clinical anatomy of the lumbosacral spine in a book like this can be challenging. On the one hand, if you don’t already know that there are five lumbar vertebrae in the lumbar spine, then you are reading the wrong book. On the other hand, if you do know that the L5 dorsal ramus is much longer than the other dorsal rami in the lumbar spine and that it runs along the groove between the sacral ala and the root of the S1 superior articular process [1], then this information will help you with a radiofrequency rhizotomy procedure (which is important if this is a procedure you perform) but not much else. In this chapter, we will attempt to thread that needle, to provide pertinent, high-yield clinical anatomy needed to diagnose and treat pathologies of the lumbar spine without delving into the surgical anatomy needed to perform complex procedures.
Genetics of Amino Acid Taste and Appetite

The consumption of amino acids by animals is controlled by both oral and postoral mechanisms. We used a genetic approach to investigate these mechanisms. Our studies have shown that inbred mouse strains differ in voluntary amino acid consumption, and these differences depend on sensory and nutritive properties of amino acids. Like humans, mice perceive some amino acids as having a sweet (sucrose-like) taste and others as having an umami (glutamate-like) taste. Mouse strain differences in the consumption of some sweet-tasting amino acids (d-phenylalanine, d-tryptophan, and l-proline) are associated with polymorphisms of a taste receptor, type 1, member 3 gene (Tas1r3), and involve differential peripheral taste responsiveness. Strain differences in the consumption of some other sweet-tasting amino acids (glycine, l-alanine, l-glutamine, and l-threonine) do not depend on Tas1r3 polymorphisms and so must be due to allelic variation in other, as yet unknown, genes involved in sweet taste. Strain differences in the consumption of l-glutamate may depend on postingestive rather than taste mechanisms. Thus, genes and physiologic mechanisms responsible for strain differences in the consumption of each amino acid depend on the nature of its taste and postingestive properties. Overall, mouse strain differences in amino acid taste and appetite have a complex genetic architecture. In addition to the Tas1r3 gene, these differences depend on other genes likely involved in determining the taste and postingestive effects of amino acids. The identification of these genes may lead to the discovery of novel mechanisms that regulate amino acid taste and appetite.
Scientific Principles for Conditioning Race and Performance Horses

ABSTRACT The equine athlete undergoes significant musculo-skeletal changes during conditioning and competition. Unfortunately, lameness and losses are higher than desirable and the industry is challenged to use field- and laboratory-based principles for improving the well-being of race and performance horses. Body condition can be adjusted to delay fatigue and influence thermal regulation. Body weight estimates can aid in feeding horses more effectively. Preride checks and adequate warm-up are vital to the initial conditioning and specificity of training phases horses must undergo to be competitive. Heart rate provides a good monitor of how horses respond to exercise and can be used to minimize injury through effectively regulated overloading techniques. Diet plays a major role in conditioning and energy can be provided in a fashion to increase time to fatigue and improve heat dissipation. Cardiovascular fitness remains with horses longer than skeletal strength during off-periods and both ground surfaces and exercise schedules impact the length of time needed to prepare for the rigors of competition.
Alaskan Palaeogene Climates as Inferred from the Clamp Database

CLAMP (Climate-Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program) uses Correspondence Analysis of 29 rigorously defined character states of foliar physiognomy to order leaf samples. The database of modern vegetation comprises 106 samples, each composed of >19 species of woody dicotyledons collected proximal to a meteorological station. The two principal axes in Correspondence Analysis account for ~70 % of physiognomic variation. Ordination of the samples on Axis I reflects various temperature parameters and on Axis II various water-stress parameters. Regression analysis of relative placement of the samples indicates that mean annual temperature (MAT) and cold-month mean temperature (CMMT) can be estimated with a standard error of <1° and <2 °C, respectively. Analyses of water-stress factors tend to produce only general estimates of, for example, seasonal drought and growing season precipitation; certain critical levels are emphasized by these analyses. Any fossil leaf sample of woody dicotyledons can be analysed in the CLAMP database and various palaeoclimatic parameters estimated.
The Process of Socioeconomic Attainment

Educational credentials are known to influence socioeconomic status. In the United States, sociologists have been concerned with the relative impact of education on occupational status since the original formulation of the status attainment model (Duncan and Hodge, 1963; Blau and Duncan, 1967). Probably one of the major contributions in the American study of stratification and mobility in the 1960s was the quantitative documentation of the relative impact of education and of the father’s occupation on occupational status attainment. The ‘effect of education’ referred to the achieved and universalistic criteria and the ‘effect of the father’s occupation’ to the ascribed and particularistic criteria for allocation of occupational positions. The supremacy of the former over the latter led to the general conclusion that ‘the American occupational structure is largely governed by universalistic criteria of performance and achievement’ (Blau and Duncan, 1967, p. 241).
New twist for magnetic monopoles

There is a surprising lack of symmetry in Maxwell's equations of electromagnetism. Electric fields are created by electric charges, while magnetic fields are produced by the movement of electric charges. Magnetic charges are completely absent from the theory, not because Maxwell forgot to put them in, but because isolated magnetic charges do not seem to exist in the real world.
Do deer and raccoons defecate in the right place? Fitness consequences of vertebrate seed dispersal for a deciduous forest herb

Precision of seed placement in a heterogeneous environment is often assumed to select for the evolution of animal-mediated dispersal systems, but this hypothesis has rarely been tested in a multivariate sense. We quantify the microsite fitness benefits of dispersal by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) for mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), a shade-tolerant perennial herb, in deciduous forests of southeastern Ohio, USA. Micro-environmental variables were recorded at dung-deposition microsites, at rooting points of mayapple shoots, and at random (control) points in the forest. Fitness was assessed as the degree of overlap in ordinations of microsites by environmental variables. Mayapple occupied a broad sector (56%) of environment space corresponding to low and mid-slope positions, ravines, and proximity to trees. Deer and raccoon defecation placed dung in 71–74 and 86–95% of environment space, respectively, reaching mayapple microsites in 57–60 and 53–54% of cases. Deer placed dung in mayapple environment space 7–9% more often than predicted by random distribution, and raccoons placed dung in mayapple space 0–5% more often, consistent with only a modest degree of directed dispersal. Thus, the precision hypothesis is only weakly supported. The greatest fitness benefit of vertebrate dispersal appears to be the broad distribution of seeds, thereby increasing the probability of randomly reaching a suitable microsite. Imprecise dispersal suggests that secondary mechanisms of seed movement need to be explored in deciduous forest communities.
Effective three-dimensional microwave tomography based on metamaterial leaky wave antennas using linear sampling method

The linear sampling method (LSM) is a highly effective method to detect the shape of complex geometry. In this paper, we propose a novel kind of LSM using metamaterial (MTM) leaky wave antennas (LWAs) to reconstruct a multi-layered shape with modal forward scattering. By surrounding the target with the MTM LWAs, we demonstrate that the LSM is capable of reconstructing shapes efficiently in three dimensions (3D). The frequency-space mapping characteristics of MTM LWAs can lead to a comprehensive 3D microwave tomography, which provides a more efficient approach compared with traditional LSM methods. This unique combination of LSM and frequency scanning MTM antennas results in a highly effective and systematic method to reconstruct the 3D shape for unknown objects.
Free Speech and the Limits of Legislative Discretion: The Example of Specialty License Plates

This Article addresses the current specialty license plate controversy. It describes the legislative approval process used in most states, and more specifically details the legal challenges to states' issuance of “Choose Life” plates and refusal to issue plates with the Confederate flag. It sets out the constitutional background against which the specialty plate controversies take place, noting that government officials both among and within states differ as to whether, according to the existing categories in constitutional doctrine, their programs constitute a type of “government speech” or rather constitute private speech “forums.” It examines the structure of the current specialty plate programs in light of free speech values and the restrictions on the government's ability to be “selective” among private speakers. It demonstrates that specialty plate programs are private speech forums rather than nonforum government/private speech interactions, for which a greater degree of governmental discretion to be selective is allowed. As private speech forums, it argues that most of the current specialty plate programs violate the Constitution. Specifically, the range of legislative discretion to enact or reject legislation is fundamentally inconsistent with the limits on discretion that apply to an administrator of a speech forum. This Article explains how states can structure and administer a constitutional specialty plate program by moving it away from the legislature to an entity that can apply clear, non-discriminatory access standards in a consistent way that can be subjected to meaningful judicial review.
Social Work Doctoral Education: Past, Present and Future, by Paul A. Kurzman (Ed.): (2016). New York, NY: Routledge (236 pp., $49.95 paperback, ISBN# 978-1138295049)

Social work has a long-standing identity problem. Is it a profession of art or a profession of science? Clarity on the matter of its identity has profound implications for the nature and form that ...
The Case for Dual Training in Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care: The Time is Now:

The majority of older adults die from chronic illnesses which are preceded by years of progressive decline and increasing symptom burden. Delivery of high-quality care cannot take place without sufficient numbers of health professionals with appropriate training and skills in both geriatric and palliative care medicine. Despite the surge in aging population and the majority of deaths being attributed to patients with multiple comorbidities, very few health-care providers undergo dual training in these areas. Thus, the nation is facing a health-care crisis as the number of geriatric patients with chronic disease increasingly outpaces the number of physicians with adequate skills to manage them. Joint training in palliative care and geriatric medicine could prepare physicians to better manage our aging population by addressing all their health-care needs irrespective of their stage of disease emphasizing patient-directed care.
Distinct Cytokine and Chemokine Expression in Plasma and Calpeptin-Treated PBMCs of a Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patient: A Case Report

The cytokine/chemokine expression signature of a 60-year-old African American male with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) was analyzed using patient blood samples obtained from two separate visits to the clinic. Thirty-six different cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors were detected in the plasma of the RRMS patient using a multiplexed bead-based immunoassay. Results indicated that at least ten of these factors with a concentration of > 100 pg/mL are identified as pro-inflammatory. Calpain inhibition led to an anti-inflammatory effect, as indicated by a decrease in expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines such as GM-CSF, IFNγ, and IL-17A, and a relative increase in two of the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-13 and IL-4) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells activated with anti-CD3/CD28. Overall, these results suggest that the unique cytokine/chemokine pattern observed in the plasma of the RRMS patient can be used as a prognostic marker and calpain inhibition may be used as a novel therapeutic strategy for treating excessive inflammatory response specific to RRMS patients.
Big Data Analytics with Spark

Born from a Berkeley graduate project, the Apache Spark library has grown to be the most broadly used big data analytics platform. While Spark integrates with the older Hadoop ecosystem, it provides much more intuitive, faster, and powerful abstractions for manipulating distributed data than MapReduce. In this workshop, we will cover the basics of the Spark library with the goal of getting participants up to speed so that they can use the library or teach it in courses that involve big data or distributed processing. Participants will work with examples that range from calculating basic summary statistics to using the Spark Machine Learning library for performing sophisticated machine learning analyses on large datasets. Tasks during the session will be performed on smaller samples using the Spark local standalone implementation on participant's laptops. We will also discuss how Spark can be run on a local or cloud-based cluster and point participants toward resources for setting up those environments for their students.
AI and photonics (Conference Presentation) (Withdrawal Notice)

Publisher’s Note: This conference presentation, originally published on 9 September 2019, was withdrawn on 29 October 2019 per author request.
Variations in recalled familial messages about gender in relation to emerging adults’ gender, ethnic background, and current gender attitudes

The present study examined heterosexual emerging adults’ retrospective accounts of gender-stereotypical messages about women and men from their families while growing up. We tested the reported fre...
Real-World Evidence and Hepatitis C

Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) are the treatment of choice for patients with chronic hepatitis C. Their efficacy across diverse patient populations and safety among those with all stages of liver disease, including cirrhosis, have been repeatedly demonstrated in studies encompassing all classes of DAAs. Real-world evidence has confirmed that DAA therapies used in usual clinical practice achieved similar rates of sustained virological response when compared to those reported in rigorously controlled clinical trials. These data, developed from large cohort studies performed around the world, have instilled greater confidence in the management of patients with chronic hepatitis C using DAAs. Furthermore, real-world evidence contributed to better understanding the strengths and limitations of DAA treatment among unique populations of patients with chronic hepatitis C who were underrepresented in the original registration trials of these agents.
Sleep Disturbances in the Acute Stage of Concussion are Associated With Poorer Long-Term Recovery: A Systematic Review.

Objective To examine the association between sleep during the acute stage of concussion and long-term outcomes. Literature survey Literature searches were performed 1 July 2018 to 1 August 2018 in Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science, along with hand searching for gray literature and cited references. Of the 610 search results, 359 unique references were reviewed after duplicates were removed. Methodology Two reviewers independently reviewed and came to consensus on which titles/abstracts met inclusion/exclusion criteria (n = 23). The 23 full-text articles were assessed independently by the same two reviewers for eligibility. Consensus was achieved, leaving four articles for quality assessment and data extraction. One person extracted relevant data from each study using a standard data-extraction table. The data extraction table was reviewed by two reviewers and consensus was achieved for completeness and accuracy. Quality appraisal was conducted to assess the risk for potential bias and quality of included articles. Synthesis Two of the articles included children younger than 16 years old and two included a wide age range. In general, poorer sleep was associated with poorer outcomes following concussion at reassessments across any age population. In addition, poorer sleep in the acute stage of concussion was associated with poorer long-term outcomes and recovery. Conclusions The variability in sleep assessments used, symptoms assessed, length of time to reassessments, and comparator group included made data synthesis challenging. The use of standard valid and reliable sleep assessments is recommended. Future studies may consider if addressing sleep disturbances early following concussion will improve longer-term outcomes.
Activated carbons of pistachio and acorn shells for supercapacitor electrodes with TEABF4/PC solutions as electrolytes

The energy demands of the world have been accelerating drastically because of the technological development, population growth and changing in living conditions for a couple of decades. A number of different techniques, such as batteries and capacitors, were developed in the past to meet the demands, but the gap, especially in energy storage, has been increasing substantially. Among the other energy storage devices, supercapacitors have been advancing rapidly to fill the gap between conventional capacitors and rechargeable batteries. In this study, natural resources such as pistachio and acorn shells were used to produce the activated carbons for electrode applications in a supercapacitor (or an electrical double-layer capacitor—EDLC). The activated carbon was synthesized at two different temperatures of 700 °C and 900 °C to study its effect on porosity and performance in the supercapacitor. The morphology of the activated carbon was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A solution of tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TEABF4)/propylene carbonate (PC) was prepared to utilize in supercapacitor manufacturing. The performance of the EDLC was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Activated carbons from both the pistachio and acorn shells synthesized at 700 °C in argon gas for two hours exhibited better surface textures and porosity. There activated carbons also exhibited more capacitor-like behavior and lower real impedances, indicating that they would have superior performance compared to the activated carbons obtained at 900 °C. This study may be used to integrate some of natural resources into high-tech energy storage applications for sustainable developments.
Mass Spectral Library of Acylcarnitines Derived from Human Urine.

We describe the creation of a mass spectral library of acylcarnitines and conjugated acylcarnitines from the LC-MS/MS analysis of six NIST urine reference materials. To recognize acylcarnitines, we conducted in-depth analyses of fragmentation patterns of acylcarnitines and developed a set of rules, derived from spectra in the NIST17 Tandem MS Library and those identified in urine, using the newly developed hybrid search method. Acylcarnitine tandem spectra were annotated with fragments from carnitine and acyl moieties as well as neutral loss peaks from precursors. Consensus spectra were derived from spectra having similar retention time, fragmentation pattern, and the same precursor m/z and collision energy. The library contains 157 different precursor masses, 586 unique acylcarnitines, and 4 332 acylcarnitine consensus spectra. Furthermore, from spectra that partially satisfied the fragmentation rules of acylcarnitines, we identified 125 conjugated acylcarnitines represented by 987 consensus spectra, which appear to originate from Phase II biotransformation reactions. To our knowledge, this is the first report of conjugated acylcarnitines. The mass spectra provided by this work may be useful for clinical screening of acylcarnitines as well as for studying relationships among fragmentation patterns, collision energies, structures, and retention times of acylcarnitines. Further, these methods are extensible to other classes of metabolites.
Inhibit of Lithium Dendrite Growth in Solid Composite Electrolyte by Phase-Field Modeling

Lithium (Li) dendrite growth poses serious challenges for the development of Li metal batteries. Replacing liquid electrolyte with solid composite electrolyte embedded with nanofiller additives can...
Enrollment Decision-Making by Students in Forestry and Related Natural Resource Degree Programmes Globally

HIGHLIGHTSForestry and Related Natural Resources (FRNR) students from 51 countries report that enjoyment of nature was the most important factor driving their decision to enroll.Decision factors that caused hesitation included earning potential, availability of funding, and political issues.Importance factors differed significantly between genders, race/ethnicity, academic standing, world region, and social background (i.e. urban vs rural).Women and people of color from multiple world regions had a greater hesitancy to enroll in an FRNR programme than their white male counterparts.Implications for recruitment and retention include the need for continual diversity and inclusion efforts and a balance between personal preferences and employability.SUMMARYA survey of 396 undergraduate and graduate students from 51 countries on 5 continents currently enrolled in Forestry or Related Natural Resource (FRNR) degree programmes was conducted of attendees to the International Union of Forest Research Organizations' (IUFRO) conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, 2014. These perspectives come from some of the most active students in their respective fields. We explored the motivating reasons for enrolling in their current FRNR programme, and conversely why they may have been hesitant to do so. Results indicate that enjoyment of nature was the most important factor on average driving the decision to enroll, closely followed by job satisfaction, concern for the environment, enjoyment of outdoor recreation, being outdoors, and an interest in subject material. Hesitancy factors included earning potential, availability of funding/scholarships, and politically contentious issues. A number of significant differences were found across demographic categories. Of particular note was the greater hesitancy on the part of women and people of color to enroll in FRNR degree programmes compared to their white male counterparts. We discuss the limitations of our study arising from its international scope and imbalance of responses among countries and regions.
Measuring Meditation Progress with a Consumer-Grade EEG Device: Caution from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Consumer-grade electroencephalogram (EEG) devices designed to assist people with meditation are gaining popularity. This study investigates EEG-based outcome measures provided by the Muse device and their relation to mindfulness scores and mental health in a meditation intervention. Fifty-three novice meditators (university students taking part in the registered clinical trial NCT03402009) were asked to meditate 10 min per day for 1 month, randomly assigned to use (1) meditation app (“app group”) or (2) meditation app, plus Muse neurofeedback device (“Muse group”). Pre- and post-intervention measures include Muse EEG scores assessed in a 5-min meditation and self-report scales of mindfulness and distress. A satisfaction survey and brief interview were conducted post-intervention. Baseline levels of mindfulness on MINDSENS were not correlated with “calm” scores on Muse. Following the 1-month meditation intervention, neither meditation group demonstrated improvements in EEG outcome measures according to the Muse app; in fact, the app group performed significantly worse at follow-up compared to baseline according to Muse’s user scores. Conversely, both groups showed significantly reduced distress and increased mindfulness scores following the intervention. Seventy-six percent of participants meditated at least three to four times per week, and both groups reported high levels of satisfaction with their meditation device (84% app group; 74% Muse group). Users, researchers, and clinicians should use caution in interpreting EEG outcomes on consumer-grade neurofeedback devices. Results suggest EEG outcome scores are not a proxy for mindfulness score, meditation practice, mental health status, or improvement over time in young adult novice meditators. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03402009
Consensus Decision Making: A Comparative Analysis of Judging and Judicial Deliberations

This article seeks to shed new light on how judicial consensus is formed. Through a multi-country series of 17 interviews with judges and clerks in six different courts – both ordinary and constitu...
Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss after Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery in the Beach-Chair Position: A Case Report

Abstract Case A 57-year old female with multiple comorbidities including arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, prior patent foramen ovale closure, and history of transient ischemic attack developed acute unilateral sensorineural hearing loss following arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the beach-chair position. The hearing loss persisted despite acute management by an otolaryngologist with a tapered oral steroid regimen. We review the literature for sensorineural hearing loss following orthopedic surgery and discuss potential etiologies as well as management options. Conclusion Sensorineural hearing loss is a very rare complication following arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the beach-chair position.
Dynamics and processes in personality change interventions

Abstract Personality traits predict a wide array of critically important life outcomes. Moreover, a large body of research suggests that personality traits can and do change in response to psychological maturation and life experiences. However, psychologists have only recently taken interest in whether personality traits might also be able to be changed via intervention—and whether intervention-driven trait changes can translate into improvements in relevant life outcomes. Although this is a fledgling area of research, initial empirical evidence provides a promising prognosis for active attempts to change personality traits. This chapter overviews modern theories and empirical data on (1) how and why personality is thought to naturalistically change across time, and (2) whether interventions might be able to successfully change people's traits. Future research directions are discussed.
Reproducibility of a novel, vacuum-assisted immobilization for breast stereotactic radiotherapy.

A novel, breast-specific stereotactic radiotherapy device has been developed for delivery of highly conformal, accelerated partial breast irradiation. This device employs a unique, vacuum-assisted, breast cup immobilization system that applies a gentle, negative pressure to the target breast with the patient in the prone position. A device-specific patient loader is utilized for simulation scanning and device docking. Prior to clinical activation, a prospective protocol enrolled 25 patients who had been or were to be treated with breast conservation surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy for localized breast cancer. The patients underwent breast cup placement and two separate CT simulation scans. Surgical clips within the breast were mapped and positions measured against the device's integrated stereotactic fiducial/coordinate system to confirm reproducible and durable immobilization during the simulation, treatment planning, and delivery process for the device. Of the enrolled 25 patients, 16 were deemed eligible for analysis. Seventy-three clips (median, 4; mean, 4.6; range, 1-8 per patient) were mapped in these selected patients on both the first and second CT scans. X, Y, and Z coordinates were determined for the center point of each clip. Length of vector change in position was determined for each clip between the two scans. The mean displacement of implanted clips was 1.90 mm (median, 1.47 mm; range, 0.44-6.52 mm) (95% CI, 1.6-2.20 mm). Additional analyses stratified clips by position within the breast and depth into the immobilization cup. Overall, this effort validated the clinically utilized 3-mm planning target volume margin for accurate, reliable, and precise employment of the device.
Steklov Eigenvalues of Nearly Spherical Domains

We consider Steklov eigenvalues of three-dimensional, nearly-spherical domains. In previous work, we have shown that the Steklov eigenvalues are analytic functions of the domain perturbation parameter. Here, we compute the first-order term of the asymptotic expansion, which can explicitly be written in terms of the Wigner 3-jsymbols. We analyze the asymptotic expansion and prove the isoperimetric result that, if l is a square integer, the volume-normalized l-th Steklov eigenvalue is stationary for a ball.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection Risk Factors among Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients and Health Care Personnel In Outpatient Hemodialysis Centers

Key Points Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with community prevalence. Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with exposure to infected family members and personal infection prevention measures
Unhealthy Diet Is Associated With Poor Sleep in Preschool-Aged Children.

Unhealthy dietary choices are associated with poor sleep in children through adults. Yet, how diet and sleep are related in early childhood, when diet is reliant on parent choices around food availability, is unknown. The authors aimed to explore how frequency of fruit, vegetable, fast food, and soda consumption are associated with preschool children's sleep quality. They also considered how parenting factors may impact the relationship between children's sleep and diet. Actigraphy data were collected from 383 children 33-70 months old. Caregivers reported on child food and beverage frequency, demographics, and health items. Parenting strategies were assessed using the Parenting Scale. Multiple linear regression was used to examine associations between sleep and dietary measures with socioeconomic status, race-ethnicity, physical activity, and body mass index as covariates. Shorter nap duration was associated with more frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables (B = -3.6, p = .03). Shorter nighttime and 24-hr sleep durations were associated with more frequent consumption of fast food (B = -6.5, p = .01; B = -5.8, p = .01). Shorter nighttime sleep and later sleep onset were associated with more frequent soda consumption (B = -9.2, p = .01; B = 0.23, p = .001). Use of ineffective parenting strategies was negatively associated with fruit and vegetable consumption (r = -.29, p = .01) and positively associated with soda consumption (r = .25, p = .02) but was unrelated to sleep measures. Thus, ineffective parenting strategies may underlie child access to unhealthy foods, which, in turn, contributes to poor sleep. Encouraging healthier dietary habits and educating caregivers on how to reinforce such practices may lead to better sleep outcomes in early childhood.
«El esclavo de su esclavo» de Mariana de Carvajal: fuentes literarias y reconfiguración de la lealtad en una novela corta del siglo XVII

Este trabajo se propone explorar el manejo de las probables fuentes literarias de El esclavo de su esclavo y sus implicancias en la construccion del significado del texto. Yendo mas alla de la identificacion del Abencerraje , me interesa contextualizar su influencia y a la vez analizar otros elementos compositivos de la novela, siempre alrededor de la tematica morisca y su rol para brindar un ejemplo sobre la masculinidad y sus virtudes (especialmente la lealtad) en el contexto de la novela corta barroca.
Study of unmanned aerial vehicle flight capabilities in the aspect of civil and military aviation safety

The article discusses the issues related to adaptation to the civil aviation requirements of flights performed by military unmanned aerial vehicles in Poland (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle – UAV). The basic flight parameters of the flying objects, built at the Air Force Institute of Technology. The unmanned aerial vehicles’ flight capabilities were discussed in the aspect of using the automatic flight control system to minimise a threat to civil and military aviation. Owing to the growing interest of the European Union (EU) in unmanned systems, there are many threats related to the broadly understood traffic safety in the European airspace. A key challenge resulting from the lack of consistent traffic standards in the airspace may be the violation of the sovereignty of areas with limited or legally prohibited airspace in a given altitude range and a real hazard of close contact with other aircraft. The above issue concerns the safety analysis in the airspace of the European Union based on the performance of work in the international project “ERA” (Enhanced RPAS Automation). The programme includes the development of harmonised rules and standards, such as interoperability, modularity and the interchangeable use of RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) models, i.e. remotely controlled aircraft. The results of this programme completion will be used as part of the aviation law regulations in Poland (civil and military aircraft). The need to use both autonomous controls (among others, attenuation of oscillations, angular position stabilisation, flight altitude stabilisation) and ranges of operation that requires the navigational and satellite support (including taxiing, flight along the route, low altitude flight, return and descent to the programmed airport) was indicated.
Autonomic dysfunction characterized by Heart Rate Variability among patients with Sepsis-related Acute Respiratory Failure

Abstract Rationale: To explore the association and implications of using Heart rate variability (HRV) derived from continuous bedside monitoring as a surrogate for detection of Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) in critically ill sepsis patients. Objective: To analyze HRV measures derived from continuous physiological data captured before ARF-onset to determine whether statistically significant markers can be characterized when compared to sepsis controls. Methods: Retrospective HRV analysis of sepsis patients admitted to Emory Healthcare ICUs was performed between ARF and age and gender-matched controls. HRV measures such as time domain, frequency domain, nonlinear, and complexity measures were analyzed up to 1 hour before the onset of ARF, and a random event time in the sepsis-controls. Statistical significance was computed by the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. Results: A total of 89 intensive care unit (ICU) patients with sepsis were included in this retrospective cohort study. Time-domain HRV measures including pNN50 (the fraction of consecutive NN intervals that differ by more than 50 ms), RMSSD (root-mean-square differences of successive NN intervals), standard deviation, interquartile range, variance, and approximate entropy for Beat-to-Beat intervals strongly distinguished ARF patients from the controls group. HRV measures for nonlinear and frequency domains were significantly altered (p<0.05) among sepsis patients with ARF compared to controls. Frequency measures such as low frequency (LF), very low frequency (VLF), high frequency (HF), and SD1/SD2 ratio nonlinear measure (SD1:SD2) also showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in the ARF group patients. Multiscale entropy complexity was lower for ARF patients compared to the control counterparts. Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) showed a decreasing trend in ARF patients. Conclusions: HRV was significantly impaired across sepsis patients who developed ARF when compared to sepsis controls, indicating a potential prognostic utility for earlier identification of the need for mechanical ventilation and management of patients suspected with sepsis.
Expression and purification of phage T7 ejection proteins for cryo-EM analysis

Summary Bacteriophages of the Podoviridae family densely package their genomes into precursor capsids alongside internal virion proteins called ejection proteins. In phage T7 these proteins (gp14, gp15, and gp16) are ejected into the host envelope forming a DNA-ejectosome for genome delivery. Here, we describe the purification and characterization of recombinant gp14, gp15, and gp16. This protocol was used for high-resolution cryo-EM structure analysis of the T7 periplasmic tunnel and can be adapted to study ejection proteins from other phages. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Swanson et al. (2021) .
SU-F-BRA-04: Prostate HDR Brachytherapy with Multichannel Robotic System

Purpose: High-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy is gradually becoming popular in treating patients with prostate cancers. However, placement of the HDR needles at desired locations into the patient is challenging. Application of robotic system may improve the accuracy of the clinical procedure. This experimental study is to evaluate the feasibility of using a multichannel robotic system for prostate HDR brachytherapy. Methods: In this experimental study, the robotic system employed was a 6-DOF Multichannel Image-guided Robotic Assistant for Brachytherapy (MIRAB), which was designed and fabricated for prostate seed implantation. The MIRAB has the provision of rotating 16 needles while inserting them. Ten prostate HDR brachytherapy needles were simultaneously inserted using MIRAB into a commercially available prostate phantom. After inserting the needles into the prostate phantom at desired locations, 2mm thick CT slices were obtained for dosimetric planning. HDR plan was generated using Oncetra planning system with a total prescription dose of 34Gy in 4 fractions. Plan quality was evaluated considering dose coverage to prostate and planning target volume (PTV), with 3mm margin around prostate, as well as the dose limit to the organs at risk (OARs) following the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) guidelines. Results: From the CT scan, it is observed that the needles were inserted straight into the desired locations and they were adequately spaced and distributed for a clinically acceptable HDR plan. Coverage to PTV and prostate were about 91% (V100= 91%) and 96% (V100=96%), respectively. Dose to 1cc of urethra, rectum, and bladder were within the ABS specified limits. Conclusion: The MIRAB was able to insert multiple needles simultaneously into the prostate precisely. By controlling the MIRAB to insert all the ten utilized needles into the prostate phantom, we could achieve the robotic HDR brachytherapy successfully. Further study for assessing the system’s performance and reliability is in progress.
Nurses’ Role in Preventing Prescription Opioid Diversion

Prescription opioid abuse is at epidemic levels. Opioids diverted from friends and family members who have legitimate prescriptions are a major source of abused prescription opioids. Nurses are vital to any effort to combat this public health crisis because they have the opportunity to provide essential anticipatory guidance every time a patient receives prescription medication. The purpose of this article is to inform nurses of the magnitude of opioid diversion, the nonmedical use of opioids, and opioids' inappropriate disposal. The authors propose three potential interventions in which nurses can play a critical role: teaching patients about the risks of opioid diversion, providing patients with information on the safekeeping and proper disposal of opioids, and tracking patients' analgesic use to improve our knowledge of prescription analgesic requirements for pain management. Nurses are in an ideal position to help reverse the occurrence and potentially fatal consequences of prescription opioid diversion.
Defending the Rule of Law: Reconceptualizing Guantánamo Habeas Attorneys

An explosive video released in spring 2010, by Elizabeth Cheney, accused the Obama Administration of hiring “terrorist” lawyers to guide national security. The so-called “al Qaeda Seven” had represented or advocated for the rights of Guantanamo detainees before joining the Administration. The ensuing debate raised important questions about the relation of lawyers to politics in times of threats to national security. Do and should lawyers share the values of their clients? Should lawyers be guided by a normative vision for the legal profession? In other words, what consideration, if any, should lawyers pay to the larger social values implicated in their work? This article explores these questions by examining two dominant conceptions of lawyers deployed by critics and supporters of Guantanamo lawyers: cause lawyers and neutral partisan lawyers. This article argues that neither model adequately explains the motivations and behaviors of Guantanamo habeas lawyers during the period between the Supreme Court decisions in Rasul and Boumediene. This article advances a third conception of lawyers as “rule of law lawyers” to explain the emergence of a “Guantanamo bar” to represent detainees in habeas proceedings. This model identifies that, under certain conditions, lawyers will work to defend basic freedoms and other procedural and structural guarantees of political liberalism. The article analyzes Guantanamo habeas attorneys as an example of rule of law lawyering. It examines the self-described motivations of these lawyers to take up this work. It also looks to several objective factors — the recruitment and composition of the Guantanamo bar; the legal goals pursued by these lawyers; their relationship to civil society; and the relationship of Guantanamo habeas attorneys to the organized bar — that support the argument that Guantanamo habeas attorneys fit the paradigm of rule of law lawyers. Finally, this article explores some important implications for legal practice and theory presented by this new conception of Guantanamo habeas attorneys.
No sampling technique was superior for the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

1 Clinical Fellow, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 3 Associate Professor, Departments of Surgery and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Waveguide-coupled detector in zero-change complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor

We report a waveguide-coupled photodetector realized in a standard CMOS foundry without requiring changes to the process flow (zero-change CMOS). The photodetector exploits carrier generation in the silicon-germanium normally utilized as stressor in pFETs. The measured responsivity and 3 dB bandwidth are of 0.023 A/W at a wavelength of 1180 nm and 32 GHz at −1 V bias (18 GHz at 0 V bias). The dark current is less than 10 pA and the dynamic range is larger than 60 dB.
Food and beverage advertising on children's web sites

Summary What is already known about this subject Food and beverage advertising contributes to childhood obesity. Display advertising on children's web sites is a prominent technique used to promote food to children. Industry self-regulation has not substantially improved food marketing to children in other media, such as television and food company web sites. What this study adds More than 3 billion display advertisements for food and beverages were viewed on popular children's web sites from July 2009 to June 2010. Three-quarters of these advertisements promoted brands that food companies identified as healthier dietary choices to be included in child-directed food advertising. However, 84% of these ads promoted products high in fat, sugar and/or sodium. Background Food marketing contributes to childhood obesity. Food companies commonly place display advertising on children's web sites, but few studies have investigated this form of advertising. Objectives Document the number of food and beverage display advertisements viewed on popular children's web sites, nutritional quality of advertised brands and proportion of advertising approved by food companies as healthier dietary choices for child-directed advertising. Methods Syndicated Internet exposure data identified popular children's web sites and food advertisements viewed on these web sites from July 2009 through June 2010. Advertisements were classified according to food category and companies' participation in food industry self-regulation. The percent of advertisements meeting government-proposed nutrition standards was calculated. Results 3.4 billion food advertisements appeared on popular children's web sites; 83% on just four web sites. Breakfast cereals and fast food were advertised most often (64% of ads). Most ads (74%) promoted brands approved by companies for child-directed advertising, but 84% advertised products that were high in fat, sugar and/or sodium. Ads for foods designated by companies as healthier dietary choices appropriate for child-directed advertising were least likely to meet independent nutrition standards. Conclusions Most foods advertised on popular children's web sites do not meet independent nutrition standards. Further improvements to industry self-regulation are required.