cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heartland: Forgiveness in Columbus, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and Lady Bird

Recent movies have used the familiar conventions of classic revenge movies, but the former have avoided the latter's grim resolutions in favor of a wiser, more forgiving attitude toward those who h...
Beamforming algorithms for endocardial border detection.

BACKGROUND Software-based beamforming which utilizes delay and standard beamforming is a signal processing technique that temporarily stores data from each probe element to improve specular reflections to improve the image resolution. We compared a software algorithm which uses delay and standard beamforming with delay and sum beamforming in standard, hardware to evaluate endocardial borders and need for echo contrast. METHODS In this prospective study, eligible participants were ≥18 years of age referred clinically for transthoracic echocardiograms. A limited study consisting of three views (apical 4, apical 3, and apical 2 chamber) was performed with the software-based beamforming and standard platform. Number and quality of segments visualized were evaluated using a 17-segment model. Quality of segments was graded as 0 = not visualized, 1 = incompletely visualized, or 2 = completely visualized. Overall quality score for each study (0 = poor, 1 = adequate, 2 = good) was reported. The need for contrast was determined by ASE guidelines. RESULTS A total of 101 patients (mean age 61 ± 16 years, males 52%) were enrolled. Mean number of segments visualized in apical 4- (6.28 vs 5.65, P < .001), apical 3- (6.27 vs 5.54, P < .001), and apical 2-chamber views (6.26 vs 5.72 P < .001) was higher with the software vs standard platform. The average overall score for image quality was significantly better for the software platform vs standard (1.4 vs 0.9, P =< .001). With the software platform, 23% were judged as requiring contrast as compared with 45% for the standard platform (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Delay and standard beamforming in software platform identified more segments with better image quality when compared to the standard high-end platform, decreasing the need for contrast usage.
A Conceptual Analysis of Exploratory Behavior

Better go back now and start about my business. The trouble is that down the hill to the right I’ve caught sight of accented green roofs and curved gables painted jade green and vermilion. That must be Chinatown. Of course the thing to do is to take a turn through Chinatown on the way down toward the business district. I find myself walking along a narrow street in a jungle of Chinese lettering, interpreted here and there by signs announcing Chop Suey, Noodles, Genuine Chinese Store. There are ranks of curio stores, and I find myself studying windows full of Oriental goods with as much sober care as a small boy studying the window of a candy store. The street tempts you along. Beyond the curio shops there are drug stores, groceries giving out an old drenched smell like tea and camphor and lychee nuts, vegetable stores, shops of herb merchants that contain very much the same stock of goods as those Marco Polo saw with such wonder on his travels. In another window there are modern posters: raspberry-and-spinach-tinted plum-cheeked pin-up girls and stern lithographs of the Generalissimo; a few yellowing enlargements of photographs of eager-looking young broad-faced men in cadets’ uniforms. The gilt lettering amuses the eye. The decorative scroll-work of dragons and lotus flowers leads you along. You forget the time wondering how to size up the smooth Chinese faces. At the end of the street I discover that an hour has passed and that I have been walking the wrong way all the time. (Dos Passos, 1944, p. 330)
Explainable variation in renal transplant outcomes: a comparison of standard and expanded criteria donors

In 2002, OPTN/UNOS altered kidney allocation rules to allow patients to be listed separately to receive kidneys from expanded criteria donors (ECD). Our aim was to quantify the short- and long-term impacts of 21 prognostic factors on recipients of ECD as well as recipients of living (LD) and deceased standard criteria (SCD) donors. A factor's impact depends on both the risk and diversity of its effects. Using OPTN/UNOS Registry data from 1996-2003, we have analyzed kidney-only, adult-recipient grafts for factor effects among 35,878 LD, 47,941 SCD and 10,399 ECD transplants. During an early risk period, all 94,218 recipients were followed through one year, and, in the late risk period, 85,270 recipients whose grafts survived beyond one year were followed for 5 years post-transplant. Impact was measured by determining a factor's percentage of assignable variation in one- and 5-year graft failure rates. Scores for 21 factors were estimated via generalized logistic models, which contained a random component for transplant center. The assignable variation associated with a given factor was computed as the factor score variance multiplied by the square of the corresponding regression coefficient. Impacts were heterogeneous with regard to posttransplant period and donor type. The top 5 factors influencing one-year graft survival rates were as follows: * For LD grafts - pretransplant dialysis time (14% of the variation in short-term outcomes), recipient age (13%), body mass (12%), PRA (10%) and induction therapy (10%). * For SCD grafts - donor age (24%), recipient age (12%), pretransplant dialysis time (12%), HLA-DR matching (6%) and pretransplant medical condition (6%). * For ECD grafts - donor age (18%), pre-transplant dialysis time (10%), recipient age (10%), pretransplant medical condition (10%) and recipient body mass (6%). Ranking long-term outcomes demonstrated the following top 5 influential factors: * For LD grafts - donor age (28% of the variation in long-term outcomes), recipient race (15%), age (15%), transplant year (13%) and recipient sex (11%). * For SCD grafts - donor age (35%), recipient race (23%), transplant year(15%), recipient sex (8%)and age (5%). * For ECD grafts - donor age (33%), recipient sex (20%), race (15%), transplant year (8%) and recipient's original disease (5%). Donor age was the dominant factor governing the survival rates among deceased donor kidney transplants. Advancing donor age was still the major risk factor for SCD transplant failure despite setting aside all donors 60 and up, and a large fraction of 50-59 year-old donors, from this group. Current ECD/SCD definitions warrant review and possible revision.
Gambling Behaviors and Problem Gambling: A Population-Based Comparison of Transgender/Gender Diverse and Cisgender Adolescents.

Most gambling research utilizes general youth samples and focuses on binary gender categories; few studies examine and compare gambling behaviors between transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth and their cisgender peers. The current study used population-based data from the 2016 Minnesota Student Survey to compare the prevalence of gambling behaviors and problem gambling among TGD versus cisgender adolescents, in addition to examining differences by birth-assigned sex. The analytic sample consisted of 80,929 students (including, n = 2168 [2.7%] TGD) in 9th and 11th grades. Chi-square tests and Cohen’s d effect sizes were used for all comparisons. TGD youth reported greater involvement in most gambling behaviors and problem gambling compared to cisgender youth. In comparisons by birth-assigned sex, TGD youth assigned male at birth were particularly at risk for gambling involvement and problem gambling. TGD youth assigned female at birth also reported higher rates of problem gambling than both cisgender youth assigned male and female at birth. Results suggest that examining rates of gambling behavior and problem gambling as well as identifying disparities in vulnerable youth populations is crucial in order to develop culturally responsive and gender inclusive prevention, intervention, and outreach programs.
Consolidations in higher education: a business program case study

Consolidations and mergers in higher education have increased in frequency over the past decade in response to growing pressures to reduce costs while maintaining a quality-focused student experience. While mandated academic consolidations are typically finalised, the lack of a transfer of knowledge and experience from one merger action to another within a larger state or country university system has resulted in wasted resources, participant stress and unintended effects on the student population. In 2011, the University System of Georgia initiated a consolidation program with a major goal of achieving a lower and more effective cost basis. This case study examines the undergraduate and graduate level business administration program consolidation that occurred between Kennesaw State University and Southern Polytechnic State University during 2013-2015 as experienced by the authors of the study. The conduct of this program consolidation as well as lessons learned and recommendations for future higher education consolidation efforts, particularly knowledge transfer for both academic researchers as well as higher education administrators, are offered as part of this case study.
The relationship between parks and recreation per capita spending and mortality from 1980 to 2010: A fixed effects model

Evidence concerning the link between park access, use, programming and health has continued to grow. However, government funding for parks and recreation is highly susceptible to the ebbs and flows of the national economy. Given this, the purpose of this study was to test the relationship between county area spending on parks and recreation operations and all-cause mortality in the United States from the years 1980-2010. Using data from 1980 to 2010 collected from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, we analyzed the relationship between per capita county area spending on parks and recreation and county-level all-cause age-standardized female, male, and overall mortality using county and year fixed effects as well as relevant time-variant controls. The study was conducted during 2017 and 2018. County area spending on parks and recreation was negatively associated with overall and female-specific mortality from 1980 to 2010. According to our models for female and overall all-cause age-standardized mortality, when holding all else equal, a hundred-dollar increase in 2010 dollars in per capita parks and recreation operational expenditures was associated with an average decrease in morality of 3.9 and 3.4 deaths per 100,000, respectively. Although not commonly viewed as a form of healthcare spending, increased government funding for parks and recreation services had a significant association with decreased county level mortality. Our results suggest higher levels of per capita spending on parks and recreation may lead to lower levels of mortality.
An improved whole life satisfaction theory of happiness

Philosophers and others have been captivated by the idea that happiness may be understood to be “satisfaction with life as a whole.” For a person to be happy, according to this idea, is for that person to be satisfied with his or her life as a whole. The view has been developed in a variety of forms, but has been subjected to serious objection in every form. In a paper published in volume 1, number 1 of the International Journal of Wellbeing, Jussi Suikkanen presented what he took to be a new and improved form of Whole Life Satisfactionism. He tried to show that in his formulation, the theory overcomes objections that I have presented elsewhere. In the present paper, after describing the context in which Suikkanen’s proposal appears, I present what I take to be the central point of Suikkanen’s work. I mention some obscurities. I try to show no matter how these obscurities are resolved, the proposed view is still open to objections similar to ones already in the literature.
Military Due Process: Less Military & More Process

Long recognized as forestalling arbitrary and capricious government action, Fifth Amendment due process requires different procedures in different contexts, given the shape- shifting nature of caprice. It stands to reason that the process due in the U.S. military’s criminal justice system is different than that in analogous civilian jurisdictions—it must protect against the military’s essentially coercive nature. Military due process demands safeguards against the armed forces’ command-driven hierarchy, one that gives specific individuals vast power over others’ lives. Such command power, coupled with inculcated obedience, helps win wars. It also exposes the military justice system to unique obstruction of justice dynamics when such power is tied to attempts to achieve particular results in military prosecutions. The military criminal law doctrine of “unlawful command influence” is the leading protection against this military version of structural, justice-perverting corruption, and is a fascinating example of modern due process in U.S. criminal law. The highest military appellate court, congressionally charged with shielding the military justice system from its external coercive environment, has expanded the statutory prohibition against command influence to protect against pressure that has a clearly discernable impact on a particular military criminal proceeding. The unlawful command influence doctrine also protects against command pressure that lends an appearance of unfairness to a court-martial proceeding, despite no showing of classic prejudice. This robust doctrine therefore helps ensure courts- martial results are based, and appear to be based, on facts and law instead of on arbitrary desires imbued with command coerciveness, which helps to preserve systemic legitimacy. While the military unlawful command influence doctrine has fascinated scholars and frustrated commanders for decades, it remains under-theorized. This Article steps into that void, grounding the doctrine firmly on constitutional due process. Regardless of whether or not commanders maintain their current (and controversial) prosecutorial discretion, as long as the military operates its own criminal justice system to dispose of service member misconduct, the unlawful influence doctrine must be better understood, explained, and implemented. It is the legal guardian of a fair military justice system that is key to overall U.S. military effectiveness. The stakes could not be higher.
Prospero’s Books: A Distributed Architecture for AI

This preliminary note and its sequels present a distributed architecture for AI (Artificial Intelligence) based on a novel market microstructure. The underlying game theory is based on Information-Asymmetric (Signaling) games, where deception is tamed by costly signaling. The signaling, in order to remain honest (e.g., separating), may involve crypto-tokens and distributed ledgers. Here, we will present a rough sketch of the architecture and the protocols it involves. Mathematical and computational analyses will appear in the subsequent sequels.
Important Correlates of Purpose in Life Identified Through a Machine Learning Approach

ABSTRACT Objective A wealth of evidence has linked purpose in life (PiL) to better mental and physical health and healthy aging. Here, the authors aimed to determine important correlates of PiL using a machine learning approach. Methods Participants were recruited from retirement communities by the Rush Memory and Aging Project and assessed for childhood experience, adulthood sociodemographic factors (e.g., education, income, marital status), lifestyle and health behavior (e.g., cognitively stimulating activities, exercise, social activities, social network size), psychological factors (e.g., depression, loneliness, perceived discrimination, perceived social support), personality traits (e.g., PiL, harm avoidance), and medical conditions. Elastic Net was implemented to identify important correlates of PiL. Results A total of 1,839 participants were included in our analysis. Among the 23 variables provided to Elastic Net, 10 were identified as important correlates of PiL. In order of decreasing effect size, factors associated with lower PiL were loneliness, harm avoidance, older age, and depressive symptoms, while those associated with greater PiL were perceived social support, more social activities, more years of education, higher income, intact late-life cognitive performance, and more middle-age cognitive activities. Conclusion Our findings identify potentially important modifiable factors as targets for intervention strategies to enhance PiL.
The Kindergarten Hotspot: Literacy Skill Convergence Between Boston Prekindergarten Enrollees and Nonenrollees

Preschool improves children's kindergarten readiness, but the cognitive outcomes of preschool enrollees and nonenrollees tend to converge partially or fully in elementary school. In older programs, most of this convergence occurs in kindergarten (Li et al., 2016), but evidence from today's programs is sparse. Using data on 4,971 children who applied to the Boston Public School Prekindergarten program and a quasi-experimental approach, we examine convergence in kindergarten through third grade (K-3) literacy outcomes of prekindergarten enrollees and nonenrollees. Consistent with previous literature, most of the convergence in K-3 literacy outcomes occurred in kindergarten. Our findings suggest that detailed investigations into the kindergarten teaching and learning context may be particularly important for solving the widely noted preschool convergence pattern.
Repair of Bronchial Anastomosis Following Lung Transplantation

Background Bronchial anastomotic complications are reported in 2 to 18% of patients after lung transplantation. The majority of complications can be managed with bronchoscopic intervention. When extensive dehiscence is present, surgical intervention can be entertained. Materials and methods Between March 1, 2006, and December 31, 2019, our program performed 244 lung transplantations. We conducted a retrospective review of our patient cohort and identified patients who suffered from significant anastomotic complications that required surgical interventions. Results Twenty-eight and 216 patients underwent single and bilateral lung transplantations, respectively. Eighteen patients developed airway complications (7.4%). The incidence of anastomotic complications was 5.2% (24 complications for a total of 460 bronchial anastomoses). Four patients were managed conservatively. The majority of the bronchial anastomotic complications were managed endoscopically (eight patients). Four patients with associated massive air leak underwent repair of the bronchial anastomosis and two patients were retransplanted because they developed severe distal airway stenosis. Conclusion Bronchial anastomotic complications are a major cause of morbidity in lung transplantation. The majority of cases can be managed bronchoscopically. In more severe cases associated with massive air leak or imminent massive hemoptysis from bronchopulmonary arterial fistula, surgical intervention is necessary. Aortic homograft interposition along with vascularized pedicle wrapping may be a viable option to re-establish airway continuity when tension-free bronchial anastomotic revision is not possible. In cases with smaller bronchial defects, primary repair with utilization of a vascularized flap can be effective as treatment option.
Prioritizing the past: assessing the implications of collaborative archaeological research on heritage in Xaltocan, Mexico

This article outlines the ways that community-engaged archaeology has and has not affected local interpretations of heritage in the small central Mexican town of Xaltocan. Drawing on observations m...
Root Zone Soil Moisture Comparisons: AirMOSS, SMERGE, and SMAP

A long-standing goal in the terrestrial remote sensing community has been the development of a root-zone soil moisture (RZSM) product based on microwave radar or radiometry observations. For example, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Airborne Microwave Observatory of Subcanopy and Surface (AirMOSS) mission between 2012 and 2015 served as an airborne testbed for the development of RZSM estimates acquired from a 420-440 MHz (P-band) radar. Results from the AirMOSS mission suggest that P-band backscatter can be inverted to provide a direct measurement of 0- to 40-cm RZSM. However, whether AirMOSS RZSM is inherently more robust than indirect RZSM estimates including soil MERGE (SMERGE) and Soil Moisture Active Passive Level 4 (SMAP L4) is not clear. SMERGE and SMAP L4 leverage surface (2-5 cm depth), higher-frequency microwave observations (C- and L-bands) via data fusion (DFus) and data assimilation (DA) techniques, respectively. Therefore, the comparisons of these products are warranted and were based on bias, root mean square error (RMSE), and unbiased root mean standard deviation (ubRMSD) metrics. Comparisons also were made against in situ observations providing additional context. The seven AirMOSS sites within the contiguous United States (CONUS) were examined. Overall, direct AirMOSS RZSM measurements, based on the original retrieval algorithms, did not outperform indirect SMERGE and SMAP L4 RZSM estimates. These results provide insight into the viability of achieving enhanced RZSM accuracy via deployment of a spaceborne P-band radar.
Current status of insecticide resistance in the horn fly, Haematobia irritans (L.)

The distribution, present status and management of resistance in H. irritans to insecticides (especially to pyrethroids) is reviewed and discussed for the USA.
Using a sociotechnical systems analysis to evaluate an intervention to improve opioid prescribing in emergency medicine.

The United States is facing an unprecedented epidemic of opioid addiction and death due to opioid overdose. In an effort to improve patient knowledge and safe use about opioids, an Electronic Medication Complete Communication (EMC2) opioid strategy was developed targeting opioid naive patients in the Emergency Department (ED). We conducted pre and post sociotechnical systems analyses to evaluate the variance between the process before the intervention and whether or not the process changed as expected with the new intervention. Results were analyzed using thematic qualitative analysis. Sociotechnical systems modeling illustrates the complexity of designing interventions for emergency medicine that affect multiple patients, providers, work systems, technologies, and processes. The post work systems model illustrates that several elements in the external ED environment can affect the effectiveness of the intervention. Sociotechnical systems analysis is an effective tool to illustrate the opportunities for designing health system interventions and evaluating the fidelity of such interventions.
Unintended Order and Self-Organization in the Evolutionary Social Theory of Friedrich Hayek

Hayek thought that the origins of composite social structures, including the economy is among the great unanswered questions of social science. These structures are the result of the beliefs and actions of the multitude and do not follow a single purposeful design. Their non-designed structures, that is, their reliance on the unintendedness of the overall outcome of countless individual actions, makes the Hayekian approach to the origins of social order akin to the complex adaptive systems of the natural world.
Impact of HKMG and FDSOI FeFET drain current variation in processing-in-memory architectures

In this study, we analyze the impact of drain current ( $$ I_{{{\text{DS}}}} $$ ) variation in 28 nm high-K metal-gate and 22 nm fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator Ferroelectric FET devices on processing-in-memory (PIM) deep neural network (DNN) accelerators. When performing repeated read operations on several devices at various read frequencies and under various biasing and programming conditions, non-Normal variation in $$ I_{{{\text{DS}}}} $$ is observed. Device-circuit co-analysis is used to emulate PIM performance subject to noise when classifying images. Marginal degradation is observed in Fashion-MNIST classification accuracy using LeNet-5, and more significant degradation is observed in CIFAR-10 classification accuracy using MobileNetV2. Variation-aware training is shown to fully recover minor drops in LeNet-5 accuracy but becomes difficult for large workloads like MobileNetV2. We demonstrate that $$ I_{{{\text{DS}}}} $$ variation in individual FeFETs over many read cycles is not prohibitive to designing DNN accelerators with small workloads, but advanced design techniques are required to mitigate error for larger workloads.
Optical transmission and dimensional stability of single-crystal sapphire after high-dose neutron irradiation at various temperatures up to 688°C

Abstract The use of single-crystal sapphire optical fibers has been considered to extend fiber-optic sensing to the extreme temperature (>1000°C) environments encountered in nuclear applications. However, before these sapphire fiber–based sensors can be deployed, their optical transmission and dimensional stability (which impacts drift of some sensors) must be characterized under representative testing conditions. Data regarding the optical transmission of sapphire following high-dose neutron irradiation at temperatures >100°C is extremely limited. This work provides measurements of optical density (i.e., attenuation) and directional dimensional changes in bulk single-crystal sapphire materials irradiated to a fast neutron fluence of 2.4 × 1021 n/cm2 (3.5 displacements per atom) at temperatures ranging from 95 to 688°C. Optical density measured after irradiation at 95 and 298°C showed ultraviolet and visible absorption bands corresponding to known defect centers and temperature trends that were generally consistent with previous ex situ and in situ measurements made at much lower neutron fluence. However, optical density measured after irradiation at 688°C was as much as two orders of magnitude higher, indicating that the fundamental mechanism for radiation-induced attenuation changes at this irradiation temperature. Additional analysis and comparison with previous works suggest that the attenuation may result from void formation, leading to increased Rayleigh scattering losses in the material and increased swelling that would also result in drift of Bragg grating-based sensors in sapphire fibers. These results pose serious questions regarding the feasibility of sapphire fiber–based sensors for high-temperature nuclear applications.
The Streets of Europe: The Sights, Sounds & Smells That Shaped Great Cities: Brian Ladd (2020). University of Chicago Press, 320 pages, $30 (cloth), $17.99 (epub)

Streets have recently become popular with planners. During the pandemic, they have been repurposed with temporary outdoor eating structures or closed off for walking while keeping at a distance. Pr...
Implementation and analysis of high-performance cloud computing for underwater acoustic modeling applications

In the last few years advances in compute speeds have plateaued and multi/parallel processing (MPP) has been the way forward. With the advent of multiple processor cores packaged within a single microchip the architectures that were restricted to large servers has crossed over into consumer workstations. Now, more than ever, an understanding of how to maximize computational work is needed. The design and implementation of a Cloud based parallel-compute cluster for very large-scale processing of underwater acoustic models is presented. Ray-based, parabolic equation and wave number integration models were evaluated. This type of system allows for the creation of real-world sized solution sets which were previously prohibitive for most researchers. This is mainly due to their excessively long runtimes or being restricted to gated hardware, such as super-computer systems. Amazon Web Services is used as the underlying technologies for the creation of the Cloud based parallel-computer cluster, but the principles discussed are universal and may be applied to any MPP system. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research.]
An improved thermodynamic model for the complexation of trivalent actinides and lanthanide with oxalic acid valid to high ionic strength

Abstract The dissociation constants of oxalic acid (Ox), and the stability constants of Am3 +, Cm3 + and Eu3 + with Ox2 − have been determined at 25 °C, over a range of concentration varying from 0.1 to 6.60 m NaClO4 using potentiometric titration and extraction techniques, respectively. The experimental data support the formation of complexes, M(Ox)n3 − 2n, where (M = Am3 +, Cm3 + and Eu3 + and n = 1 and 2). The dissociation constant and the stability constant values measured as a function of NaClO4 concentration were used to estimate the Pitzer parameters for the respective interactions of Am3 +, Cm3 + and Eu3 + with Ox. Furthermore, the stability constants data of Am3 +–Ox measured in NaClO4 and in NaCl solutions from the literature were simultaneously fitted in order to refine the existing actinide–oxalate complexation model that can be used universally in the safety assessment of radioactive waste disposal. The thermodynamic stability constant: log β0101 = 6.30 ± 0.06 and log β0102 = 10.84 ± 0.06 for Am3 + was obtained by simultaneously fitting data in NaCl and NaClO4 media. Additionally, log β0101 = 6.72 ± 0.08 and log β0102 = 11.05 ± 0.09 for the Cm3 + and log β0101 = 6.67 ± 0.08 and log β0102 = 11.15 ± 0.09 for the Eu3 + were calculated by extrapolation of data to zero ionic strength in NaClO4 medium only. For all stability constants, the Pitzer model gives an excellent representation of the data using interaction parameters β(0), β(1), and Cϕ determined in this work. The thermodynamic model developed in this work will be useful in accurately modeling the potential solubility of trivalent actinides and early lanthanides to ionic strength of 6.60 m in low temperature environments in the presence of Ox. The work is also applicable to the accurate modeling transport of rare earth elements in various environments under the surface conditions.
Abstract P002: Gender Differences in Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalizations

Background: While there are recognized gender differences in cardiovascular disease, little is known regarding the role of gender in atrial fibrillation (AF). We therefore sought to determine differences in characteristics of AF hospitalization between men and women. Methods: Data from the 2009-2010 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project were used to model AF hospitalizations as a function of patient age and gender. Results: Of 192,846 AF hospitalizations, 50% of patients were female. Mean age was 74 years versus 66 years for men. Figure I shows AF hospitalizations stratified by age and gender. Women were less likely than men to have diabetes (24 vs 25%, p<0.001), chronic kidney disease (11.2 vs 12.2%, p<0.001), and obesity (12.2 vs 12.9%, p<0.001). They were more likely to have a history of stroke (2.0 vs 1.7%, p<0.001), hypertension (68.7 vs 62.5%, p<0.001), and depression (9.6 vs 5.4%, p<0.001). Females were more likely to be admitted from the emergency room (72.9 vs 66.6%, p<0.001), were hospitalized...
Concealed explosive detection on personnel using a wideband holographic millimeter-wave imaging system

A novel wideband millimeter-wave imaging system is presently being developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) that will allow rapid inspection of personnel for concealed explosives, handguns, or other threats. Millimeter-wavelength electromagnetic waves are effective for this application since they readily penetrate common clothing materials, while being partially reflected from the person under surveillance as well as any concealed items. To form an image rapidly, a linear array of 128 antennas is used to electronically scan over a horizontal aperture of 0.75 meters, while the linear array is mechanically swept over a vertical aperture of 2 meters. At each point over this 2-D aperture, coherent wideband data reflected from the target is gathered using wide-beamwidth antennas. The data is recorded coherently, and reconstructed (focused) using an efficient image reconstruction algorithm developed at PNNL. This algorithm works in the near-field of both the target and the scanned aperture and preserves the diffraction limited resolution of less than one-wavelength. The wide frequency bandwidth is used to provide depth resolution, which allows the image to be fully focused over a wide range of depths, resulting in a full 3-D image. This is not possible in a normal optical (or quasi-optical) imaging system. This system has been extensively tested using concealed metal and plastic weapons, and has recently been tested using real plastic explosives (C-4 and RDX) and simulated liquid explosives concealed on personnel. Millimeter-waves do not penetrate the human body, so it is necessary to view the subject from several angles in order to fully inspect for concealed weapons. Full animations containing 36 - 72 frames recorded from subjects rotated by 5 - 10 degrees, have been found to be extremely useful for rapid, effective inspection of personnel.
Differential cochlear implant outcomes in older adults

Objectives/Hypothesis The goals of this study were to analyze whether cochlear implant (CI) users over 65 years of age have different surgical and audiological outcomes when compared to younger adult CI users and to identify reasons for these possible differences. Study Design Retrospective single-institution study. Methods Records of 113 postlingually deafened adults with unilateral cochlear implants were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative speech perception scores, and medical and epidemiological data were recorded and analyzed. Results Speech perception ability was significantly poorer in CI users over 65 years of age compared to younger adult patients (P = .012). Patients over the age of 80 years accounted for these findings (P = .017). Older patients were less likely to have a family history of hearing deficits. A history of noise exposure and idiopathic cause of hearing loss did not correlate with audiological outcomes. A family history of hearing loss was associated with a trend toward better speech recognition (P = .062). Older patients did not experience more vestibular symptoms or other complications compared to younger patients. Conclusions Patients over the age of 80 years had lower speech perception scores than other adult CI recipients but did not have higher rates of dizziness or vertigo after surgery. A family history of hearing loss was associated with a trend toward better speech recognition, possibly representing a new prognostic variable. These findings provide important information that will aid clinicians in counseling older CI candidates. Level of Evidence 2b. Laryngoscope, 123:1952–1956, 2013
Component/Connection/Signal Modeling of Accelerator Systems

This paper presents a pragmatic global approach to data modeling a complex facility such as a particle accelerator. By successively partitioning the facility into collaborating subsystems, one eventually arrives at the component level--the point at which the subsystem is replaceable as a single unit. The fundamental goal of the model is to capture the dynamical relationships (i. e., the connections) that exist among the accelerator-components. Components participate in one or more of three connection types: control, housing, and power. These connections are captured in a multi-hierarchical model capable of handling any component of the accelerator, from the macro scale (magnets, power supplies, racks, etc.) to the embedded scale (circuit board components), if desired. The connection approach has been used to model the signal flows between the components via their port connections. The result is a schema for a cable database that provides end-to-end signal tracing throughout the facility. The paper will discuss the multi-hierarchy nature of the model and its success in replacing the “Revision Controlled Drawing” approach to system documentation.
Small Proline-Rich Repeat Protein 1A Is Expressed by Axotomized Neurons and Promotes Axonal Outgrowth

The ability of neurons to regenerate an axon after injury is determined by both the surrounding environment and factors intrinsic to the damaged neuron. We have used cDNA microarrays to survey those genes induced during successful sciatic nerve regeneration. The small proline-rich repeat protein 1A (SPRR1A) is not detectable in uninjured neurons but is induced by >60-fold after peripheral axonal damage. The protein is localized to injured neurons and axons. sprr1a is one of a group of epithelial differentiation genes, including s100c and p21/waf , that are coinduced in neurons by axotomy. Overexpressed SPRR1A colocalizes with F-actin in membrane ruffles and augments axonal outgrowth on a range of substrates. In axotomized sensory neurons, reduction of SPRR1A function restricts axonal outgrowth. Neuronal SPRR1A may be a significant contributor to successful nerve regeneration.
Interactive Electronic Technical Specification (IETS)

The Interactive Electronic Technical Specification (IET) research project provides a paperless environment for system development documentation including requirements, specifications, and design documents, with interactive hypermedia access to needed information. IETS can also provide automated requirements and system behavior. Elements and features of IETS are presented. A description is presented of the General Dynamics IETS approach, and its future role in advanced maintenance and diagnostic systems development. >
Incidence and Electrophysiologic Properties of Dissociated Pulmonary Vein Activity Following Pulmonary Vein Isolation During Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

Dissociated PV Activity During AF Ablation. Introduction: Pulmonary veins (PV) play an important role in the arrhythmogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Catheter-based PV isolation is one of the primary treatments for symptomatic drug refractory AF. Following electrical isolation, isolated rhythms in the PV are encountered. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of postisolation PV activity and classify the different rhythms observed. Methods and Results: This single center prospective study sought to assess the dissociated activity in the PVs following their isolation during AF ablation. In 100 consecutive patients (60 paroxysmal, 40 persistent) undergoing AF ablation, dissociated PV activity was recorded using a multielectrode mapping catheter following antral PV isolation. The dissociated PV activity was classified as (1) silent, (2) isolated ectopic beats, (3) ectopic rhythm, and (4) PV fibrillation. All the PVs were successfully isolated in all the patients. In 91 of 100 patients, there was dissociated activity in at least 1 isolated ipsilateral PV group. There was no significant difference in spontaneous PV activity between patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF (91.7% vs 90%, P = 1.0). Among the 200 isolated ipsilateral PV groups, 64 of 200 (32%) were silent, 86 of 200 (43%) demonstrated isolated ectopic beats, 41 of 200 (20.5%) had ectopic rhythms and 9 of 200 (4.5%) had PV fibrillation. The average cycle length of the PV ectopic rhythm was 2594 ± 966 ms (range 1193–4750 ms). Conclusions: Following PV isolation, a majority of patients demonstrate dissociated activity in at least 1 PV. This finding was evident in patients with both paroxysmal and persistent AF. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 21, pp. 1338-1343, December 2010)
Trapezoidal or sinusoidal commutation control of brushless dc motors with pulse width modulation amplifiers

This paper addresses the use of pulse width modulation (PWM) amplifiers to drive brushless direct current (D.C.) motors in either a trapezoidal or sinusoidal commutation control scheme. A review of amplifier classifications and a comparison of the linear amplifier performance with that of the PWM amplifier is presented. Illustrations show the operational flow of two common power stages (T-bridge and H-bridge) when used with PWM and the resulting electrical equations of current flow are shown. A summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the classes of amplifiers is given. The amplifier discussion is then directed to the comparison of trapezoidal and sinusoidal commutation of the brushless D.C. motor with PWM. The electrical equations and waveforms associated with each method are developed to stress the differences between the two methods. Two servo control loop block diagrams illustrate the differences in electronics required by the two methods.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
On Modeling Random Topology Power Grids for Testing Decentralized Network Control Strategies

An electrical power grid is a critical infrastructure. Its reliable, robust, and efficient operation inevitably depends on underlying telecommunication networks. In order to design an efficient communication scheme and examine the efficiency of any networked control architecture, we need to characterize statistically its information source, namely the power grid itself. In this paper we studied both the topological and electrical characteristics of power grid networks based on a number of synthetic and real-world power systems. We made several interesting discoveries: the power grids are sparsely connected and the average nodal degree is very stable regardless of network size; the nodal degrees distribution has exponential tails, which can be approximated with a shifted Geometric distribution; the algebraic connectivity scales as a power function of network size with the power index lying between that of one-dimensional and two-dimensional lattice; the line impedance has a heavy-tailed distribution, which can be captured quite accurately by a Double Pareto LogNormal distribution. Based on the discoveries mentioned above, we propose an algorithm that generates random power grids featuring the same topology and electrical characteristics we found from the real data.
Balance and exposure to an elevated sloped surface.

Abstract Fall injuries and fatalities exceed 50 billion dollars annually. One half of fatal falls are from pitched roof settings. Falls from elevation in an occupational setting have been documented to be a significant issue in today's workforce. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of exposure to inclined surfaces on flat surface balance at varying heights above the ground. Thirty participants, 10 male college students (inexperienced), 10 female college students (inexperienced) and 10 male roofers (experienced) between age 19 and 50 years participated in this study. Participants walked for 20 min on an elevated roof segment (9–14 feet above ground level) and a ground level roof segment (0–5 feet above ground level) on separate days. Results indicated a significant difference for all groups in sway velocity over time at both levels (elevated and ground) and from eyes open to eyes closed conditions at both levels ( p p
Estimation of probabilities in the class of modified power series distributions

In this paper we consider the class of modified power series distribution introduced by GUPTA (1974) and derive a minimum variance unbiased estimator (MVUE) of the probability function for this class. these results are then applied to obtain MVUE of the probability function for the generalized negative binomial distributions, the generalized poisson distribution, the generalized logarithmic series distribution and the lost game distribution. A large number of results in the literature follow trivially from out results as special cases.
Farbelimination in kommunalen Kläranlagen

On etudie 3 methodes de traitement: la floculation-filtration, la floculation-filtration, suivie d'ozonation et enfin l'alcalinisation par de l'hydroxyde de calcium suivie de floculation-sedimentation
TRIAGE IN THE TRAUMA BAY WITH THE FOCUSED ABDOMINAL SONOGRAPHY FOR TRAUMA (FAST) EXAMINATION

Bedside ultrasonography has been applied to the evaluation of blunt trauma patients for over a decade. The Focused Abdominal Sonography for Trauma (FAST) examination has been used to successfully triage blunt trauma patients. Although not traditionally thought to be as useful in penetrating trauma patients, ultrasound can help determine the extent of injury especially of the heart. We present two cases of multiple-stabbing victims who arrived at our Level I trauma center at the same time, when our trauma system was particularly overburdened by multiple consecutive traumas. The FAST examination helped us to accurately determine which of the two patients required operative intervention first, despite that patient's appearance of relative hemodynamic stability in comparison to the other stabbing victim.
Failure to reactivate the septal syndrome in rats

Abstract Electrolytic lesions in the septal region of albino rats produced the expected septal hyper-reactivity syndrome. Following abatement of the syndrome with daily handling, attempts were made to restore the hyper-reactivity with three techniques: abrupt reward decrement in an instrumental responding situation (frustration); exposure to both moderate and intense electric foot shock; and exposure to intense startle-eliciting tonal bursts. The treatments failed to elevate reactivity of the rats with septal lesions above control levels. Data from the instrumental responding situation provided support for the hypothesis of enhanced incentive properties of rewarding stimuli by septal lesions.
Extracapsular spread of carcinoma in cervical lymph nodes impact upon survival in patients with carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx

The treatment results and histologic findings in the cervical lymphatics of 96 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx were studied retrospectively. The clinical assessment of the extent of disease in the cervical lymphatics correlated poorly with histologic findings. Forty-one percent of patients judged to have no evidence of cervical metastases were found to have carcinoma in the cervical lymphatics. Twenty percent of patients judged clinically NO were found to have extracapsular spread of tumor. Patients were subdivided according to the histologic findings in the cervical lymphatics. Three-year no-evidence-of-disease (NED) follow-up was available on all patients. Patients with no tumor in cervical lymphatics had a 71% 3-year NED. By comparison, patients with cervical metastases confined to the lymph node were 79% NED. Patients with histologic evidence of extracapsular spread of tumor were 45% NED (P less than 0.05). The use of histologic findings in predicting prognosis and treatment planning is discussed.
An unusual reduction of ethylene occurring during the thermal decomposition of alkalides and electrides.

Abstract Alkalides and electrides thermally decompose by a reductive elimination process leading to the formation of ethylene and a ring opened complexant which has lost an ethylenic unit. Surprisingly, gas phase nmr also shows the formation of ethane and butane. We postulate that these compounds arise from a reduction of the first-formed ethylene by the alkalide or electride.
A new nonparametric test for the ordered alternative problem

This paper proposes a new nonparametric test for detecting nondecreasing ordered alternatives. The exact mean and variance of the null distribution are derived and it is shown that this distribution is asymptotically normal. The test is designed to help alleviate some of the problems that existing tests have with high powers when the assumed a priori ordering among the parameters is incorrect. For example, a simulation study indicates that the proposed test has higher powers than the general alternative Kruskal-Wallis test when the assumed ordering is correct, and much lower powers than existing nonparametric tests for ordered alternatives when the location parameters differ, but do not follow a nondecreasing pattern. Some actual data examples are also discussed.