cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
J ileal pouch–anal anastomosis for chronic ulcerative colitis: complications and long‐term outcome in 1310 patients

Aim The purpose of the study was to determine the risk of postoperative complications and the functional outcome after a hand-sewn ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis using a single J-shaped pouch design. Methods Preoperative function, operative morbidity and long-term functional outcome were assessed prospectively in 1310 patients who underwent IPAA between 1981 and 1994 for ulcerative colitis. Results Three patients died after operation. Postoperative pelvic sepsis rates decreased from 7 per cent in 1981–1985 to 3 per cent in 1991–1994 (P=0·02). After mean follow-up of 6·5 (range 2–15) years, the mean number of stools was 5 per day and 1 per night. Frequent daytime and night-time incontinence occurred in 7 and 12 per cent of patients respectively, and did not change over a 10-year period. The cumulative probability of suffering at least one episode of ‘clinical’ pouchitis was 18 and 48 per cent at 1 and 10 years and the cumulative probability of pouch failure at 1 and 10 years was 2 and 9 per cent respectively. Conclusion These results indicate that increased experience decreases the risk of pouch-related complications and that with time the functional results remain stable, but the failure rate increases. © 1998 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd
The Multiple Mechanisms by Which Infection May Contribute to Atherosclerosis Development and Course

Among the initial studies suggesting that infection contributes causally to atherogenesis were investigations of human atherosclerotic tissue demonstrating the presence of pathogen in the diseased vessel wall and classical seroepidemiological studies in which associations were demonstrated between atherosclerosis and prior pathogen infection (evidenced by anti–pathogen antibodies). Appropriately, however, questions were raised relating to the biological meaning of such associations. A pathogen resident in an atherosclerotic vessel, for example, may be just an “innocent bystander,” rather than a causally relevant agent; alternatively, atherosclerotic vessels might just be more vulnerable to infection. And although multiple seroepidemiological studies demonstrated associations between atherosclerosis and antibodies targeted to individual pathogens, other studies did not.1 In addition to these studies providing associative evidence linking infection to atherosclerosis, mechanistic investigations demonstrated important links (reviewed in Epstein et al2). For example, in vitro infection of cells of the vascular wall caused changes that could predispose to atherosclerosis: infection stimulates smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation; inhibits apoptosis; increases SMC migration; increases lipid accumulation; produces procoagulant effects; and increases expression of cytokines, chemokines, and cellular adhesion molecules. Infection also increases lesion development in animal models of atherosclerosis and of restenosis. The nagging question persisted, however: Why, if infection were an important contributor to the development of atherosclerosis, was there such disparity among different epidemiological studies, and why were some individuals who had been infected with a candidate pathogen free of atherosclerosis, while others had extensive disease? Several tentative answers have been forthcoming, all pointing to the conclusion that if a causal relationship exists between infection and atherosclerosis, it is complex. One factor contributing to this complex relationship is that the atherosclerotic risk posed by prior infection appears to depend partly on the host’s ability to suppress pathogen-induced inflammatory activity, an attribute for which there is considerable interindividual variability. …
Recovery groups: A guide to creating, leading, and working with groups for addictions and mental health conditions by Farris-Kurtz, L.

All new social workers need to be equipped with a basic understanding of the various types of support groups available to assist their clients. They need a tool that gives them easy access to a bas...
Is Hedysarum mackenzei (Wild Sweet Pea) Actually Toxic

Hedysarum mackenzii (wild sweet pea, bear root) is widely regarded as toxic and warnings about confusing it with its edible cousin H. alpinum (Eskimo potato) abound. To find the chemical basis for this claim, we performed an exhaustive comparison of the secondary chemistry between the two plants as well as a search for nitrogen containing metabolites (alkaloids) in both species. No chemical basis for toxicity could be found. These results were consistent with a subsequent cytotoxic assay performed on an extract of H. mackenzii. Finally, a critical examination of the literature could find no credible evidence that H. mackenzii is toxic in spite of these widespread rumors.
Prognostic Factors in Thyroid Carcinoma

Thyroid carcinomas range from the most indolent to the most aggressive human malignancies. A variety of clinical and pathologic factors can be used to help predict behavior and determine appropriate therapy. New molecular biologic techniques show promise in further refining the assessment of prognosis in thyroid cancer patients.
Effects of rearing temperature on body weight and abdominal fat in male and female rats.

Thermoregulatory mechanisms are influenced by the temperature of the postnatal environment. Animals reared in cool environments are more tolerant of cold as adults, whereas those reared in warm conditions are more tolerant of heat. Because diet-induced and thermoregulatory thermogenesis share common features, studies examined the impact of rearing temperature on weight gain and fat accumulation. Rats reared at 18°C gained more weight and accumulated more fat in abdominal depots than animals reared at 30°C when both were housed at a common temperature, responses that were exacerbated by ad libitum access to sucrose. Male rats reared at 30°C were less affected by sucrose than 18°C-reared males, whereas female rats reared at 18 or 30°C were similarly susceptible. During exposure to 18°C, fat accumulation in abdominal depots increased in males but decreased in females. These data suggest that early temperature exposure influences weight gain and fat accumulation in later life, a difference that is most apparent when animals are housed at a common temperature.
Revision Rates and Risk Factors of 175 842 Patients Undergoing Septorhinoplasty

ImportanceEstimates of the rate of revision septorhinoplasty and the risk factors associated with revision are unknown because the current published literature is limited to small, retrospective, s...
Thalamus parcellation using multi-modal feature classification and thalamic nuclei priors

Segmentation of the thalamus and thalamic nuclei is useful to quantify volumetric changes from neurodegenerative diseases. Most thalamus segmentation algorithms only use T1-weighted magnetic resonance images and current thalamic parcellation methods require manual interaction. Smaller nuclei, such as the lateral and medial geniculates, are challenging to locate due to their small size. We propose an automated segmentation algorithm using a set of features derived from diffusion tensor image (DTI) and thalamic nuclei location priors. After extracting features, a hierarchical random forest classifier is trained to locate the thalamus. A second random forest classifies thalamus voxels as belonging to one of six thalamic nuclei classes. The proposed algorithm was tested using a leave-one-out cross validation scheme and compared with state-of-the-art algorithms. The proposed algorithm has a higher Dice score compared to other methods for the whole thalamus and several nuclei.
Unscented Kalman Filter for Thermal Parameter Identification

Autonomous thermal soaring promises to improve the loitering time and range of unmanned aerial vehicles. By making efficient use of the net vertical movement of air in a thermal, an intelligent aircraft controller can increase the total energy of the system without expending significant propulsive effort. Soaring techniques rely on accurate estimates of the properties of the thermal. In a novel application of the Julier-Uhlmann Unscented Kalman Filter, total energy measurements (from a variometer or autopilot) are fused with GPS position and velocity measurements to estimate the position, strength, and size of thermals using a four-state thermal model. The proposed method was exercised using a nonlinear thermal model, showing excellent convergence, steady state error, and phase lag performance for several typical flight paths. The derivativeless nature of the Unscented Kalman Filter simplifies refinement of the thermal model, and the reduction in computational complexity may enable its use in low cost or lightweight embedded systems.
Evolution of Early Ventures

The panel addresses several open questions and unsettled issues in the early stages of new venture organization and strategy development. The broader focus is Innovation Management in the context of Entrepreneurial initiatives. In addition, all three presentations are related in significant ways within the context of evolutionary theory. They ultimately advance our thinking about the survival of some new ventures while other do not, to explain diverse organizational features of ventures that reach stable market positions, and to put intuitively appealing but have remained imprecise and subject to possible error. Entrepreneurial Opportunities and Firms Presenter: Sharon Alvarez; U. of Denver "Nature, Nurture and Learning in New Venture Evolution" Presenter: Steven Walter Bradley; Baylor U. Early-stage Evolution of Technology Ventures Presenter: Michael W. Lawless; U. of San Diego Presenter: Philip Anderson; INSEAD
Influence of “Effective Temperature” Upon Bactericidal Action of Gastro-Intestinal Tract.

We have previously shown the effects of acid and alkaline buffered substances fed by mouth upon the bactericidal action of the gastro-intestinal tract.1 We explained these differences upon the variations in the H-ion concentration of the material in the upper half of the small intestine. When there was a predominance of acid or acid buffered substances in the lumen of this part of the tract, there was an auto-disinfection of the exogenous bacterial flora. When there was a predominance of alkaline buffered substances in the upper part of the small intestine, there was a loss of this power to kill bacteria.We wished to use certain methods of changing in external environment to influence gastro-intestinal function and study the same bactericidal mechanism under these conditions. Bread was soaked in cooked meat broth and fed to dogs kept in rooms at ordinary and warmer temperatures. Prodigiosus was added to the food before feeding. Temperature in the cool room was 50° F., the relative humidity was 40 per cent...
Urea: New questions about an ancient solute

Urea recycling and counter-current exchange within the renal tubular, vascular and interstitial compartments help maintain high levels of this solute in the renal medulla, that are crucial for the production of concentrated urine. The role of urea in physiological and pathological conditions is still unclear, although new information is becoming available. Several urea transporters have been identified that mediate facilitated transport of urea across biological membranes in the mammalian kidney, in amphibians, and in elasmobranchs. Evidence that urea transporters may be expressed in other mammalian organs is also beginning to emerge. The mechanisms involved in the regulation of urea transport are incompletely understood. In this respect, the structural and functional characterization of individual transporters is providing the basis to identify specific regulatory factors. Urea can be viewed as a perturbing osmolyte in the renal inner medulla, and the mechanisms of adaptation of renal cells to high concentration of this destabilizing solute are being investigated. Urea-specific signaling pathways have been identified, that could contribute to clarify how cells handle urea.
In the Public but Not the Electorate: The “Civic Status Gap” in the United States

“You're going to have a deportation force, and you're going to do it humanely.”—Donald Trump, candidate for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, discussing the deportation of the eleven million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States (BBC [2015][1]). The 2016
Proposed Rules for the incorporation of nomina of higher-ranked zoological taxa in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 2. The proposed Rules and their rationale

Apres l'examen critique d'un certain nombre de concepts et problemes de la nomenclature zoologique et la proposition de nouveaux termes, 24 Regles formelles pour la nomenclature zoologique des taxons de rangs superieurs (c'est-a-dire au-dessus du rang de superfamille) sont formulees. Celles-ci sont compatibles avec le Code actuel et pourraient etre incorporees dans celui-ci. Ces regles concernent : 1) la disponibilite des nomina; 2) leur attribution aux taxons, au moyen d'un ensemble de nomina generiques qui constituent ensemble l'onomatophore du nomen, et dans certains cas d'un ensemble de nomina generiques expressement exclus du taxon designe par le nomen ; et 3) leur validite, qui repose en regle generale sur la priorite, mais qui dans certains cas prend en compte l'usage repandu d'un nomen en dehors du domaine de la systematique.
Astrocytic Aromatization and Injury

Estrogens affect the vertebrate brain throughout life and modulate a diverse set of physiological endpoints, including neuroprotection and repair. Here we narrate our journey through the discovery and continued interest in one particular form of estradiol provision during neurotrauma—the induced expression of aromatase (estrogen synthase) in astrocytes, and its effects on the protection and repair of neural circuits. We discuss what we have learned about brain injury and astrocytic aromatization in the songbird, a time-tested animal model in neuroendocrinology. We first discuss the discovery of aromatase expression in astroglia, and the molecular and physiological pathways potentially responsible for this induction. Finally, we focus attention on the effects of astrocytic estradiol provision on cell turnover. It is our intent to tell the reader a story about this relatively novel form of spatial and temporally discrete estrogen provision in a resilient vertebrate brain.
What Is New in Infectious Diseases

The practice of infectious diseases is an ever-changing discipline. Diseases such as syphilis and tuberculosis have been with mankind for millennia, whereas conditions such as AIDS and Zika virus are relatively new maladies. A working knowledge of clinical presentations associated with Zika virus infection, syphilis, and common parasitic infections will help the primary care provider determine whom to treat and whom to refer to a specialist. Increasing the use of vaccination for influenza and pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection should reduce the burden of these common diseases.
Balancing selection shapes density-dependent foraging behaviour

The optimal foraging strategy in a given environment depends on the number of competing individuals and their behavioural strategies. Little is known about the genes and neural circuits that integrate social information into foraging decisions. Here we show that ascaroside pheromones, small glycolipids that signal population density, suppress exploratory foraging in Caenorhabditis elegans, and that heritable variation in this behaviour generates alternative foraging strategies. We find that natural C. elegans isolates differ in their sensitivity to the potent ascaroside icas#9 (IC-asc-C5). A quantitative trait locus (QTL) regulating icas#9 sensitivity includes srx-43, a G-protein-coupled icas#9 receptor that acts in the ASI class of sensory neurons to suppress exploration. Two ancient haplotypes associated with this QTL confer competitive growth advantages that depend on ascaroside secretion, its detection by srx-43 and the distribution of food. These results suggest that balancing selection at the srx-43 locus generates alternative density-dependent behaviours, fulfilling a prediction of foraging game theory.
Keratoprosthesis in Pemphigoid and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

In pemphigoid and Stevens-Johnson syndrome, inflammation of the ocular surface epithelium can lead to conjunctival shrinkage and symblepharon formation, as well as corneal vascularization, opacity, and reduction of vision. In the end stages, tear access to the fornices is blocked, resulting in complete dryness and keratinization of the entire ocular surface. In these severe cases with only hand movements or light perception vision, standard corneal transplantation is almost always unsuccessful.1 Keratoprosthesis has been tried in the past, but the complication rate has been formidable (for review, see ref. 2). More recently, a number of modifications have improved the prognosis, and the outcome in a small number of cases has been published.3 This series, now substantially expanded, is described here more fully.
Solvation behavior of carbonate-based electrolytes in sodium ion batteries

Sodium ion batteries are on the cusp of being a commercially available technology. Compared to lithium ion batteries, sodium ion batteries can potentially offer an attractive dollar-per-kilowatt-hour value, though at the penalty of reduced energy density. As a materials system, sodium ion batteries present a unique opportunity to apply lessons learned in the study of electrolytes for lithium ion batteries; specifically, the behavior of the sodium ion in an organic carbonate solution and the relationship of ion solvation with electrode surface passivation. In this work the Li+ and Na+-based solvates were characterized using electrospray mass spectrometry, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, 17O, 23Na and pulse field gradient double-stimulated-echo pulse sequence nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and conductivity measurements. Spectroscopic evidence demonstrate that the Li+ and Na+ cations share a number of similar ion–solvent interaction trends, such as a preference in the gas and liquid phase for a solvation shell rich in cyclic carbonates over linear carbonates and fluorinated carbonates. However, quite different IR spectra due to the PF6− anion interactions with the Na+ and Li+ cations were observed and were rationalized with the help of density functional theory (DFT) calculations that were also used to examine the relative free energies of solvates using cluster – continuum models. Ion–solvent distances for Na+ were longer than Li+, and Na+ had a greater tendency towards forming contact pairs compared to Li+ in linear carbonate solvents. In tests of hard carbon Na-ion batteries, performance was not well correlated to Na+ solvent preference, leading to the possibility that Na+ solvent preference may play a reduced role in the passivation of anode surfaces and overall Na-ion battery performance.
Multi-port high bandwidth interconnect equivalent circuit model for 3.2 Gbps channel simulation

S-parameter is commonly used for channel modeling and crosstalk modeling between channels in high speed digital design. However, for I/O buffer circuit designer, S-parameter models are not well received owing to all general frequency domain data is difficult to incorporate into a transient circuit simulation. S-parameter is a frequency domain data and is difficult to deal in a transient circuit simulation especially when S-parameter is broadband with multi-port as well as causality and passivity issues exist. Hence, Spice model or Spice-equivalent model is needed for transient circuit simulation. A lumped-elements Spice model only allows circuit designers to perform accurate simulation at lower data rate. In high speed design, lumped-elements Spice model does not provide sufficient bandwidth for accurate transient simulation analysis. Therefore, there is a need to create high bandwidth Spice model with sufficient bandwidth to support accurate channel transient circuit simulation. This paper discusses the creation of high channel count package equivalent circuit models for channel timing analysis in 3.2Gbps range. It highlights the challenges in developing the methodology to accurately deliver a high channel count and high bandwidth Spice-equivalent sub-circuit models which is compatible with Spice-based circuit simulator. The modeling methodology improves simulation run time and preserving passivity as well as the causality of the compact circuit model while maintaining the original S-parameter behavioral model. The proposed high bandwidth model offers dramatically faster simulation time without sacrificing accuracy. The resultant of this study will allow more aggressive and accurate signal integrity analysis.
A Lagrangian Relaxation for Golomb Rulers

The Golomb Ruler Problem asks to position n integer marks on a ruler such that all pairwise distances between the marks are distinct and the ruler has minimum total length. It is a very challenging combinatorial problem, and provably optimal rulers are only known for n up to 26. Lower bounds can be obtained using Linear Programming formulations, but these are computationally expensive for large n. In this paper, we propose a new method for finding lower bounds based on a Lagrangian relaxation. We present a combinatorial algorithm that finds good bounds quickly without the use of a Linear Programming solver. This allows us to embed our algorithm into a constraint programming search procedure. We compare our relaxation with other lower bounds from the literature, both formally and experimentally. We also show that our relaxation can reduce the constraint programming search tree considerably.
Cigarette smoking significantly alters sperm DNA methylation patterns

Numerous health consequences of tobacco smoke exposure have been characterized, and the effects of smoking on traditional measures of male fertility are well described. However, a growing body of data indicates that pre-conception paternal smoking also confers increased risk for a number of morbidities on offspring. The mechanism for this increased risk has not been elucidated, but it is likely mediated, at least in part, through epigenetic modifications transmitted through spermatozoa. In this study, we investigated the impact of cigarette smoke exposure on sperm DNA methylation patterns in 78 men who smoke and 78 never-smokers using the Infinium Human Methylation 450 beadchip. We investigated two models of DNA methylation alterations: (i) consistently altered methylation at specific CpGs or within specific genomic regions and (ii) stochastic DNA methylation alterations manifest as increased variability in genome-wide methylation patterns in men who smoke. We identified 141 significantly differentially methylated CpGs associated with smoking. In addition, we identified a trend toward increased variance in methylation patterns genome-wide in sperm DNA from men who smoke compared with never-smokers. These findings of widespread DNA methylation alterations are consistent with the broad range of offspring heath disparities associated with pre-conception paternal smoke exposure and warrant further investigation to identify the specific mechanism by which sperm DNA methylation perturbation confers risk to offspring health and whether these changes can be transmitted to offspring and transgenerationally.
Simple and Efficient Synthesis of Explosive Cocrystals containing 3,5-Dimethylpyrazol-1-yl-substituted-1,2,4,5-tetrazines.

The reaction of 3,4-dinitropyrazole, 5-nitrotetrazole, or 4-nitro-1,2,3-triazole with 1,2,4,5-tetrazines substituted with 3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl (dmp) groups results in energetic cocrystals after 1 minute of reflux and cooling to room temperature in yields of 89-92 %. Hydrogen-bonding between the dmp group to the N-H of the energetic heterocycles are the predominant interaction that stabilizes the new cocrystals. Each cocrystal packs in a different lattice structure and the cocrystals with sheet-like and herring-bone crystal packing orientations are less sensitive than the cocrystal with the interlocked structure. Electrostatic potential mapping helps rationalize why dmp-substituted tetrazines readily form cocrystals, whereas more electron-deficient pyrazolyl tetrazines do not. The calculated energetic performance of the new cocrystals approaches that of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and importantly, these materials will aid in the rational design of new cocrystalline energetic materials.
Does Age Structure Influence Golden-Cheeked Warbler Responses Across Areas of High and Low Density?

Abstract. Age-based differentiation in the timing of avian migration can influence subsequent habitat use and, therefore, reproductive success. Over 2 breeding seasons, we compared arrival dates, pairing success, and fledging success for second-year (SY) and after-second-year (ASY) federally endangered Golden-cheeked Warblers (Setophaga chrysoparia) occupying areas of low (n = 9 sites) and high (n = 10 sites) warbler density. Male warblers arrived on low-density sites on average 6 days later (11 March) than high-density sites (5 March). Male warblers that established territories on low-density sites tended to be younger than male warblers that established territories on high-density sites. Overall pairing and fledging success were similar across low- and high-density sites, but overall pairing and fledging success were lower for SY males compared to ASY males; no SY birds fledged young on low-density sites. We found no difference in pairing or fledging success for ASY males at low- and high-density sites....
Prolonged stopover and consequences of migratory strategy on local-scale movements within a regional songbird staging area

ABSTRACT Geolocator technology has recently demonstrated that many songbird species exhibit prolonged stopovers during migration that may be analogous to the staging behavior typically attributed to shorebirds. Although staging areas can act as ecological bottlenecks, there is little information on how or why songbirds engage in prolonged stopover and whether this behavior differs among individuals. We used automated radio telemetry along the eastern coastline of North America to compare stopover and migration behavior of Blackpoll Warblers (Setophaga striata) and Red-eyed Vireos (Vireo olivaceus), species that differ markedly in migratory strategy during fall migration. We also tested whether migratory behaviors differed within each species by capture date or breeding origin. Prolonged stopover was more common and longer for Blackpoll Warblers, which suggests that it may be a particularly adaptive behavior for supporting the transatlantic endurance flights they make from the region. Both species made pro...
Non-invasive Gaze Direction Estimation from Head Orientation for Human-Machine Interaction

Gaze direction is one of the most important interaction cues that is widely used in human-machine interactions. In scenarios where participants’ head movement is involved and/or participants are sensitive to body-attached sensors, traditional gaze tracking methods, such as using commercial eye trackers are not appropriate. This is because the participants need to hold head pose during tracking or wear invasive sensors that are distractive and uncomfortable. Thus, head orientation has been used to approximate gaze directions in these cases. However, the difference between head orientation and gaze direction has not been thoroughly and numerically evaluated, and thus how to derive gaze direction accurately from head orientation is still an open question. In this article, we have two contributions in solving these problems. First, we evaluated the difference between people’s frontal head orientation and their gaze direction when looking at an object in different directions. Second, we developed functions that can map people’s gaze direction using their frontal head orientation. The accuracy of the proposed gaze tracking method is around 7°, and the method can be easily embedded on top of any existing remote head orientation method to perform non-invasive gaze direction estimation.
What the Advocate’s Playbook Reveals About FCC Institutional Tendencies in an Innovation Age

Politicians and regulators emphasize that policy which facilitates innovation in information communications technology (“ICT”) is an imperative for national competitiveness and economic health in the 21st Century. The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has primary jurisdiction over telecommunications in the United States and its policy-making has important consequences for ICT. This paper explains why the FCC’s formal processes, informal norms, and resource capacity – collectively described in this paper as the FCC’sprocedural architecture – are in tension with oft-stated innovation oriented objectives. Despite its substantive goal to promote innovation, FCC processes pose particular problems for new entrants and emerging companies which impedes innovation. Advocacy strategies engendered by the FCC’s procedural architecture reveal important institutional tendencies. Notably, architecture is not value agnostic: it invites certain developmental paths in policy-making while frustrating others. Examination reveals institutional values which favor fairness over economically efficient change, even where process imposes costs which disproportionately affect parties with limited resources. In view of this, despite laudable intentions as a regulatory policy objective, the elevation of innovation as a policy goal alone – absent attendant changes to procedural architecture – is unlikely to regularly facilitate timely policy-making amenable to telecommunications innovation.
Animal Subjects: Literature, Zoology, and British Modernism

Animal Subjects identifies a new understanding of animals in modernist literature and science. Drawing on Darwin's evolutionary theory, British writers and scientists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries began to think of animals as subjects dwelling in their own animal worlds. Both science and literature aimed to capture the complexity of animal life, and their shared attention to animals pulled the two disciplines closer together. It led scientists to borrow the literary techniques of fiction and poetry, and writers to borrow the observational methods of zoology. Animal Subjects tracks the coevolution of literature and zoology in works by H. G. Wells, Aldous Huxley, D. H. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf, and modern scientists including Julian Huxley, Charles Elton, and J. B. S. Haldane. Examining the rise of ecology, ethology, and animal psychology, this book shows how new, subject-centered approaches to the study of animals transformed literature and science in the modernist period.
Fatigue Life Prediction of a Coaxial Multi-Stage Magnetic Gear

Magnetic gearing is an emerging approach to avoid contact failures from the gear teeth interface of mechanical gearboxes through a non-contact torque transmission concept. In this concept, magnetic flux between the inner and outer rotors is modulated through an array of magnetic pieces called the cage rotor. Despite the non-contact nature of magnetic gears in torque transmission, a minimal air-gap between the three rotors is required to achieve the best performance, which leads to more prerequisites in the design process, including bending analysis, thermal stress analysis, dynamic analysis, etc. Due to the fact that there are segmented magnets in a circumferential direction in the inner and outer rotors, as well as segmented pole pieces in the cage rotor, rotation of the gears causes oscillating forces in the active region. On the other hand, in order to increase the performance of the magnetic gearing system, steel bars in the active region are substituted with laminated stacks to gain stronger flow of magnetic flux throughout the system. The presence of the laminated parts is a potential candidate for failure under static and dynamic loads in the system, especially in long term system operation. Due to the lack of contact failure modes in magnetic gears, they are originally designed to be utilized in remote access applications, e.g. offshore, marine hydro-kinetic, and wind turbines, which require the longest operational life time. This demands fatigue analysis in all the critical parts under dynamic loads, specifically the laminated parts and rods holding magnetic components still. In this study, dynamic and fatigue analysis of a flux focusing multi stage magnetic gearbox is investigated through a multi-body dynamics and Finite Element Method, respectively.
A roadmap for promoting endogenous in situ tissue restoration using inductive bioscaffolds after acute brain injury

The regeneration of brain tissue remains one of the greatest unsolved challenges in medicine and by many is considered unfeasible. Indeed, the adult mammalian brain does not regenerate tissue, but there is ongoing endogenous neurogenesis, which is upregulated after injury and contributes to tissue repair. This endogenous repair response is a conditio sine que non for tissue regeneration. However, scarring around the lesion core and cavitation provide unfavorable conditions for tissue regeneration in the brain. Based on the success of using extracellular matrix (ECM)-based bioscaffolds in peripheral soft tissue regeneration, it is plausible that the provision of an inductive ECM-based hydrogel inside the volumetric tissue loss can attract neural cells and create a de novo viable tissue. Following perturbation theory of these successes in peripheral tissues, we here propose 9 perturbation parts (i.e. requirements) that can be solved independently to create an integrated series to build a functional and integrated de novo neural tissue. Necessities for tissue formation, anatomical and functional connectivity are further discussed to provide a new substrate to support the improvement of behavioral impairments after acute brain injury. We also consider potential parallel developments of this tissue engineering effort that can support therapeutic benefits in the absence of de novo tissue formation (e.g. structural support to veterate brain tissue). It is envisaged that eventually top-down inductive "natural" bioscaffolds composed of decellularized tissues (i.e. ECM) will be replaced by bottom-up synthetic designer hydrogels that will provide very defined structural and signaling properties, potentially even opening up opportunities we currently do not envisage using natural materials.
Chiral perturbation theory for K+ → π+π0 decay in the continuum and on the lattice

Abstract We use one-loop chiral perturbation theory (ChPT) to compare lattice results for the K + → π + π 0 decay amplitude with the experimental value. Three systematic effects: quenching, finite-volume effects, and the use of unphysical values of quark masses and pion external momenta can be investigated. We find that the corrections help in explaining the discrepancy between lattice and experimental results. We also discuss the relation to B K .
Boundary Integral Equations for Inextensible Materials

Various theories of materials composed of inextensible fibers are reviewed. Two-dimensional pure traction boundary-value problems are discussed. In each theory, equations relating the kinematic variables to the prescribed boundary tractions are derived, and the approximate solution of these equations by iteration is discussed.
Sexual assault, campus resource use, and psychological distress in undergraduate women

Undergraduate women are at high risk of experiencing sexual assault during their college years. Research has established a strong link between sexual victimization and psychological distress. Although the relationship between sexual victimization and distress has been established, little is known about how the use of university-affiliated sexual assault resources influences mental health outcomes for survivors. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to describe the characteristics of women who used campus survivor resources following a sexual assault during college, examine correlates of campus resource use, and examine correlates and predictors of mental health of women who have been sexually assaulted during college. An online anonymous survey was sent to undergraduate women at two public universities in a mid-Atlantic state. Participants were female, undergraduate students (N = 362) who had been sexually assaulted during their time at college. Few women (n = 98, 27.1%) used campus resources following a sexual assault. We found significant relationships between participants' use of campus survivor resources and experiencing a sexual assault prior to entering college, experiencing more severe sexual assaults, acknowledging the assault as a rape, feeling more self-blame, and experiencing more psychological distress. Campus resource use was significantly associated with poorer mental health outcomes. The cross-sectional nature of this study limited our ability to explore the reason for this. Further research is needed to explore the role campus resources play in supporting survivors during the recovery process. Given the high rate of sexual assaults on college campuses and the known negative psychological impact of sexual assault, it is imperative that campuses offer resources that are effective in meeting the needs of survivors.
Free choice disjunction as a rational speech act

The so-called free choice inference (from You may take an apple or a pear to You may take an apple ) is mysterious because it does not follow from ordinary modal logic. We show that this inference arises in the Rational Speech Act framework ( Frank & Goodman 2012 ). Our basic idea is inspired by exhaustification-based models of free choice ( Fox 2007 ) and by game-theoretic accounts based on iterated best response ( Franke 2011 ). We assume that when the speaker utters You may take an apple or a pear , the hearer reasons about why the speaker did not choose alternative utterances such as You may take an apple . A crucial ingredient in our explanation is the idea of semantic uncertainty ( Bergen, Levy & Goodman 2016 ). Specifically, we assume that the speaker is uncertain whether or not the hearer will interpret You may take an apple as forbidding them from taking a pear. This uncertainty can be thought of as resulting from Fox â€™s ( 2007 ) optional covert exhaustification. Uttering the disjunction is a way for the speaker to prevent the hearer from concluding that any fruit is forbidden to take. Knowing this, the hearer concludes that they may choose either fruit.
Predictors of Discharge Settings After Total Knee Arthroplasty in Medicare Patients

Abstract Objectives To determine the factors associated with acute hospital discharge to the 3 most common postacute settings following total knee arthroplasty (TKA): inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and directly back to the community. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Acute care hospitals submitting claims to Medicare. Participants National cohort (N=1,189,286) of 100% Medicare Part A data files from 2009-2011. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Observed rates and adjusted odds of discharge to the 3 main postacute settings based on the clinical and facility level variables: amount of comorbidity, bilateral procedures, and facility TKA volume. Results Using IRF discharge as the reference, patients who received a bilateral procedure had lower odds of both SNF and community discharge, patients with more comorbidity had lower odds for community discharge and higher odds for SNF discharge, and patients who received their TKA from hospitals with lower TKA volumes had lower odds of SNF and community discharge. Conclusions Clinical populations within Medicare beneficiaries may systematically vary across the 3 most common discharge settings following TKA. This information may be helpful for a better understanding on which patient or clinical factors influence postacute care settings following TKA. Additional research including functional status, living situation, and social support systems would be beneficial.
Drone On: Reconsidering Art2Drone

Access and habituation are socio-cultural forces that have acted to domesticate the drone in contemporary society. Initially a military tool for surveillance, drones took on the role of munitions platforms providing a means to conduct military operations without physical risk to their operators. As the critiques and visibility of drones in our military and foreign policy grew, we began to witness artists engaging critically with the policies and impact these technologies have on redefining and controlling geographies and human bodies alike. Drone On revisits the 2015 Art2Drone catalog by v1b3:video in the built environemnt. This online exhibition and catalog features twenty art works and three critical essays.
Dynamic Changes in Serum Inhibin B Levels in 6- to 24-Month-Old Children Receiving Cryptorchidism Surgery.

Objective Cryptorchidism is the most common congenital disability and is defined as the absence of one or both testicles in the scrotum during fetal development. In patients with cryptorchidism, lowered serum inhibin B levels suggest testicular dysfunction. The practical application of serum inhibin B levels in childhood remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to observe the post-operational changes of serum inhibin B levels in patients with cryptorchidism and provide evidence that serum inhibin B is a potential marker for the efficacy of testicular surgery. Methods A total of 83 male children with cryptorchidism were enrolled in this study. All the children had blood samples taken by venipuncture on the day of surgery. The serum inhibin B levels in the blood samples were measured using an ELISA kit. Paired t-tests were used to assess differences between the groups. Results The results show that, compared with the preoperative values, there was a statistically significant increase in serum inhibin B values one month after the operation in each group (P 0.05). However, serum inhibin B values decreased significantly in all groups at 12 months post-operation (P < 0.05), suggesting that serum inhibin B values are significantly correlated with age. Correlation analysis showed that serum inhibin B was negatively correlated with age from 6 to 36 months, and the correlation coefficient was -0.488. Conclusion Serum inhibin B can be used as a short-term evaluation index of cryptorchidism surgery rather than as a long-term indicator.
Original contributionEndoscopic ultrasound is highly accurate and directs management in patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas

OBJECTIVE: Preoperative localization of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with traditional imaging fails in 40–60% of patients. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is highly sensitive in the detection of these tumors. Previous reports included relatively few patients or required the collaboration of multiple centers. We report the results of EUS evaluation of 82 patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. METHODS: We prospectively used EUS early in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with biochemical or clinical evidence of neuroendocrine tumors. Patients had surgical confirmation of tumor localization or clinical follow-up of >1 yr. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients underwent 91 examinations (cases). Thirty patients had multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type I. One hundred pancreatic tumors were visualized by EUS in 54 different patients. The remaining 28 patients had no pancreatic tumor or an extrapancreatic tumor. Surgical/pathological confirmation was obtained in 75 patients. The mean tumor diameter was 1.51 cm and 71% of the tumors were ≤2.0 cm in diameter. Of the 54 explorations with surgical confirmation of a pancreatic tumor, EUS correctly localized the tumor in 50 patients (93%). Twenty-nine insulinomas, 18 gastrinomas, as well as one glucagonoma, one carcinoid tumor, and one somatostatinoma were localized. The most common site for tumor localization was the pancreatic head (46 patients). Most tumors were hypoechoic, homogenous, and had distinct margins. EUS of the pancreas was correctly negative in 20 of 21 patients (specificity, 95%). EUS was more accurate than angiography with or without stimulation testing (secretin for gastrinoma, calcium for insulinoma), transcutaneous ultrasound, and CT in those patients undergoing further imaging procedures. EUS was not reliable in localizing extrapancreatic tumors. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, the largest single center experience reported to date, EUS had an overall sensitivity and accuracy of 93% for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Our results support the use of EUS as a primary diagnostic modality in the evaluation and management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas.
Simplified Rules of Federal Procedure

Writing in 1924, seventy-eight volumes ago, Professor Edson R. Sunderland began The Machinery of Procedural Reform with this sentence: "Much has been said and written about the imperfections of legal procedure."' Much of his article describes circumstances in which procedural reform occurred only in response to conditions that had become "intolerable." A decade later, Congress enacted the Rules Enabling Act that still provides the framework for reforming federal procedure.2 The Enabling Act establishes a deliberate and open process for amending the rules initially adopted under its authority. It may take longer today to consider and adopt a single rule amendment than the original rulesmakers took to create the original body of Civil Rules.3 The process surely provides the "close and pains-taking study
APRIL and BAFF Promote Increased Viability of Replicating Human B2 Cells via Mechanism Involving Cyclooxygenase 2

Of relevance to both protective and pathogenic responses to Ag is the recent finding that soluble molecules of the innate immune system, i.e., IL-4, B cell-activation factor of the TNF family (BAFF), and C3, exhibit significant synergy in promoting the clonal expansion of human B2 cells following low-level BCR ligation. Although IL-4, BAFF, and C3dg each contribute to early cell cycle entry and progression to S phase, only BAFF promotes later sustained viability of progeny needed for continued cycling. The present study sought to further clarify the mechanisms for BAFF's multiple functions. By comparing BAFF and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) efficacy at different stages in the response (only BAFF binds BR3; both bind transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) and B cell maturation Ag, the early role was attributed to BR3, while the later role was attributed to TACI/B cell maturation Ag. Importantly, BAFF- and APRIL-promoted viability of cycling lymphoblasts was associated with sustained expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), the rate-limiting enzyme for PGE2 synthesis, within replicating cells. Supernatants of cultures with BAFF and APRIL contained elevated PGE2. Although COX-2 inhibitors diminished daughter cell viability, exogenous PGE2 (1-1000 nM) increased the viability and recovery of lymphoblasts. Increased yield of viable progeny was associated with elevated Mcl-1, suggesting that a BAFF/APRIL --> TACI --> COX-2 --> PGE2--> Mcl-1 pathway reduces activation-related, mitochondrial apoptosis in replicating human B2 cell clones.
Bone and Joint Dysplasias

■Chondrodysplasias are inherited disorders of cartilage that affect its function as a template for bone growth. ■Problems common to many chondrodysplasias are respiratory distress, osteoarthritis of the weightbearing joints, dental crowding, obesity, obstetrical difficulties, and psychological issues due to short stature. ■The osteochondroses are a heterogeneous group of disorders in which localized non-inflammatory arthropathies result from regional disturbances of skeletal growth.
Why Johnny can't build [portable scientific software]

The title of this article refers to Rudolph Flesch's famous 1955 book, "Why Johnny Can't Read", which called attention to a nationwide decline in reading ability. Here, the author wants to talk about another situation in which an important ability is lacking: the ability to create significant, portable scientific software. The author discusses some of the reasons this problem exists and suggests some approaches to solving it that seem promising.