cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improvisation principles and techniques for design

Existing research addresses how designers create tools to support improvisation, yet little research explores how improvisation offers tools to support design work. This paper explores the potential relationship between improvisation and design, examining how design can benefit from improvisation. The paper argues that improvisation can build perspectives and skills that are critical for designers, such as creative collaboration, fostering innovation, supporting spontaneity, learning through error, and presenting ideas. The paper reviews the use of improvisation activities by designers in a multi-case study. The applications are analyzed to demonstrate individual and group level outcomes in design work.
Glass transition temperatures in bismaleimide‐based resin systems

The glass transition temperatures in bismaleimide-based resins were investigated using different stoichiometric ratios of 1, 1′-(methylenedi-4, 1-phenylene)bismaleimide (BMI) and 4, 4′-methylenedianiline (MDA). The resin cure involves a low temperature primary amine addition to the maleimide double bonds and a high temperature homopolymerization of the maleimide double bonds. The network topology and the glass transition temperature changes with resin composition and curing conditions were determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). An empirical model was used to relate the glass transition temperature to the extents of the amine addition and the homopolymerization reactions in 1:1 and 2:1 BMI:MDA resins. The changes in thermal properties with resin post-cure were also examined.
Exploring family relationships through associations of comfort, relatedness states, and life closure in hospice patients: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE Research at the end of life tends to focus on the dying patient's symptoms, often overlooking issues associated with family interactions. However, many families struggle just to maintain or initiate these valuable connections. The purpose of our pilot study was to explore family relationships at the end of life and investigate associations among perceived comfort, relatedness states, and life closure. METHOD This descriptive study used a cross-sectional design, and a convenience sample (n = 30; 18 women; mean age = 71 years) was recruited from patients admitted to a large not-for-profit hospice in northeastern Ohio. In-person interviews using the Hospice Comfort Questionnaire, Relatedness States Visual Analog Scales, and the Life-Closure Scale provided data for analyses. RESULTS Family interactions that were not associated with the physical tasks of caregiving were related to life closure (r = 0.36, p = 0.001), and life closure and comfort were highly correlated (r = 0.69, p < 0.001). Participants residing in an inpatient setting had higher levels of involvement (t[18] = -2.07, p = 0.05) and comfort in relationships (t[28] = -2.06, p = 0.05) than those in the home setting. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS This is the first known study investigating the associations among comfort, relatedness, and life closure at the end of life. The majority of participants had high levels of involvement and comfort in their relationships, and they preferred interactions that required minimal effort. Studies that focus on both patients' and family members' perceptions of relationships are needed as well as outcome studies that test simple interventions.
Are Increased Tumor Aneuploidy and Heightened Cell Proliferation Along With Heterogeneity Associated With Patient Outcome for Carcinomas of the Uterine Cervix? A Combined Analysis of Subjects Treated in RTOG 9001 and a Single-Institution Trial

Purpose To look for possible associations between measurements of DNA index (DI), S-phase fraction (SPF), and tumor heterogeneity (TH) using flow cytometry and overall survival for patients with invasive cervical carcinoma treated with definitive irradiation. Methods and Materials A total of 57 patients with International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology Stages IB2 through IVB cervical carcinomas treated with definitive radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy were enrolled into this registry study that involved flow cytometric analysis of fresh tissue from each cervical cancer obtained by pretreatment biopsy. These specimens were evaluated for DNA aneuploidy (DI ≤1.5 vs. >1.5), SPF (≤15% vs. >15%), and TH (uniploid vs. multiploid). Results In these analyses 27 of the patients were treated in Radiation Therapy Oncology Group protocol 9001, and an additional 30 were offered chemoradiation at a single institution. Forty-one patients had DI ≤1.5 and 16 DI >1.5. Twenty-nine patients had SPF ≤15%, 26 >15%, and 2 had no determinable SPF. Forty-three patients had uniploid and 14 multiploid tumors. The 4-year estimated overall survival rate for the entire study cohort was 62% (95% confidence interval 48%–74%). With a median follow-up of 3.7 years, there were no observable associations by univariate analysis for DI, SPF, or TH concerning patient survival. Conclusions There were no statistically significant associations among DI, SPF, or TH and patient outcome. Additional studies are indicated to identify tumor biomarkers that could predict patients at risk for disseminated disease.
Bronchogenic cyst: An uncommon cause of congenital lobar emphysema

We report a case of a 1-month-old boy who has developed respiratory distress. Chest X-ray and CT scan showed over distension of the left upper lobe and a mediastinal shift in favour of congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) of the left upper lobe. One month after uneventful lobectomy, he was readmitted at hospital for another episode of respiratory distress. Chest radiography revealed relapse of compressive emphysema in the remaining left lobe. Gastro oesophageal transit and MRI were performed, which have shown a mediastinal cystic mass. Accordingly, the patient underwent thoracotomy. Surgical examination found a subcarinal bronchogenic cyst which compressed the main left bronchus, causing the CLE of both upper and lower left lobes. Histological examination of removed cyst confirmed these data. Authors discuss causes of diagnostic delay.
Temperature and the Development of Egg and Nymphal Stages of Lygus desertus

Lygus bugs, which are among the most destructive insect pests in the western United States where they attack a wide variey of crops, are important in Arizona because they attack cotton, alfalfa grown for seed, and safflower. The most abundant of the 3 species of Lygus present in southern Arizona and Californa is L. hesperus Knight (Stitt 1940). Therefore, the effect of temperature on the development of L. hesperus was studied (Champlain and Butler 1967; Butler and Wardecker, unpublished data). Also, the effect of temperature on the development of the 2nd species, the tarnished plant bug, L. lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), was studied by Ridgway and Gyrisco (1960) and by Bariola. The 3rd species, L. desertus Knight, described in 1944 from specimens collected at Ajo but present throughout Arizona, is the least abundant of the 3 in the principal agricultural areas. Its development in relation to temperature has not been previously reported, though some references in the literature to L. elisus Van Duzee (such as Stitt 1940) undoubtedly refer to this species.
On the Microfoundations of Macrosociology: A Critique of Macrosociological Reductionism:

Recent microsociological reductionisms claim that societal and organizational macrostructures can be “reduced to,” “explained in terms of” or “translated into” the dynamics of elementary interaction systems. Two critical lines of argumentation challenge this claim. First, neofunctionalist systems theory is drawn on to show that reductionist strategies fail to acknowledge the emergent differences between types of social systems and thus run into difficulties in the analysis of macrostructures. A model of boundary maintenance operations in interaction systems illustrates this point. Second, a more internal critique of the logic of reductionism suggests that microsociology does not provide the “foundations” for macrosociology but that micro- and macrosociology should peacefully coexist as equally legitimate ways to make sense of different aspects of social reality.
Hair cells, hearing and hopping: a field guide to hair cell physiology in the frog

For more than four decades, hearing in frogs has been an important source of information for those interested in auditory neuroscience, neuroethology and the evolution of hearing. Individual features of the frog auditory system can be found represented in one or many of the other vertebrate classes, but collectively the frog inner ear represents a cornucopia of evolutionary experiments in acoustic signal processing. The mechano-sensitive hair cell, as the focal point of transduction, figures critically in the encoding of acoustic information in the afferent auditory nerve. In this review, we provide a short description of how auditory signals are encoded by the specialized anatomy and physiology of the frog inner ear and examine the role of hair cell physiology and its influence on the encoding of sound in the frog auditory nerve. We hope to demonstrate that acoustic signal processing in frogs may offer insights into the evolution and biology of hearing not only in amphibians but also in reptiles, birds and mammals, including man.
Assessing Advising Outcomes

Assessing advising is critical to its improvement and to demonstrating that advising contributes to student success. Through assessment, advisors can ensure that departmental goals are continuously evaluated, that instruments are updated as needed to meet the goals of assessment, that communication is facilitated among stakeholders, and that action is taken as necessary to improve programs that affect student learning. We offer specific guidance for planning, implementing, and improving advising assessment initiatives.
“What Is This Love That Loves Us?”: Terrence Malick’s To the Wonder as a Phenomenology of Love

Terrence Malick’s To the Wonder (2013) considers the relationship of Divine Love with the individual soul, and its corresponding relationships to the other as neighbor. In this article, I analyze the congruency of Malick’s form and content by correlating the relationship of his dynamic, existential filmmaking style with the film’s phenomenologically constructed plotline. Jean-Luc Marion’s phenomenology of givenness and Soren Kierkegaard’s Works of Love contribute to my analysis, aiding our understanding of love’s sheer gratuity and sacrificial labor, amid inevitable idolatry and despondency, in To the Wonder’s intersecting narratives. While Marion helps us comprehend the affective qualities of “saturated phenomena” in the film’s formal dimensions, Kierkegaard elucidates the film’s many iterations of love. Malick aesthetically demonstrates the reciprocity of love and the experience of wonder as contingent operations, making To the Wonder a cinematic phenomenology of the fractured yet indissoluble dimensions of love.
Sensing solutions for assessing and monitoring underwater systems

Abstract: Infrastructures containing or surrounded by water are an important aspect of modern civilization. Most of them operate under harsh environmental conditions. The periodic inspection or permanent monitoring of wet structures is therefore necessary. This chapter reviews the most common nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) methods for underwater structures. First, the structures and the challenges associated with their inspection are introduced. Then, the NDE techniques of visual inspection, magnetic particles, ultrasonic testing, sonars, radiography, and electromagnetism are illustrated. Finally, the SHM approach to acoustic emission, fiber optics, vibration, and flooded member detection are discussed. The general principles, advantages, and limitations of each are described.
On the Development of a Stochastic Model to Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Building and Transportation Sectors

Energy-related activities are a major contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A growing body of knowledge clearly depicts the links between human activities and climate change. Over the last century the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil and other human activities has released carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and other heat-trapping GHG emissions into the atmosphere and thus increased the concentration of atmospheric CO2 emissions. The main human activities that emit CO2 emissions are (1) the combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity, accounting for about 37% of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 31% of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2013, (2) the combustion of fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel to transport people and goods, accounting for about 31% of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 26% of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2013, and (3) industrial processes such as the production and consumption of minerals and chemicals, accounting for about 15% of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 12% of total ...
A New Fiberoptic Monitoring Device: Development of the Ventricular Bolt

The use of a new FOD (Fiberoptic device) pressure transducer, for recording of intracranial pressure, was evaluated initially in 22 comatose patients over 94 days of recording time and has been in routine use since that time. Fiberoptic technology has allowed the development of a 4 French fiberoptic transducer tipped catheter that can be placed at any location inside the dura for accurate ICP monitoring (Hollingsworth et al. 1988).The FOD was tested in subdural, intraparenchymal and intraventricular locations.
Translational use of event-related potentials to assess circuit integrity in ASD

Deficits in social cognition are the defining characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Social cognition requires the integration of several neural circuits in a time-sensitive fashion, so impairments in social interactions could arise as a result of alterations in network connectivity. Electroencephalography (EEG) has revealed abnormalities in event related potentials (ERPs) evoked by auditory and visual sensory stimuli in humans with ASD, indicating disruption of neural connectivity. Similar abnormalities in sensory-evoked ERPs have been observed in animal models of ASD, suggesting that ERPs have the potential to provide a translational biomarker of the disorder. People with ASD also have abnormal ERPs in response to auditory and visual social stimuli, demonstrating functional disruption of the social circuit. To assess the integrity of the social circuit and characterize biomarkers of circuit dysfunction, novel EEG paradigms that use social stimuli to induce ERPs should be developed for use in animal models. The identification of a socially-relevant ERP that is consistent in animal models and humans would facilitate the development of pharmacological treatment strategies for the social impairments in ASD and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
Evidentially Compelling Religious Experiences and the Moral Status of Naturalism

Religious experiences come in a variety of types, leading to multiple taxonomies. One sort that has not received much attention as a distinct topic is what I will call ‘evidentially compelling religious experience’ (ECRE). The nature of an ECRE is such that if it actually occurs, its occurrence plausibly entails the falsity of metaphysical naturalism. Examples of ECREs might include visions / auditions / near-death experiences conveying information the hearer could not have known through natural means, later verified; unambiguously miraculous healings; fulfilled prophecy; supernatural rescues; inter-subjective religious experiences (e.g., multiple people simultaneously having the same vision of the Virgin Mary), etc. After presenting a representative set of published case studies of ECREs, I argue that for most settled metaphysical naturalists (though not all), the combination of a settled metaphysical naturalism with an awareness of the relative commonality of testimony to ECREs is either irrational or immoral. This is because that conjunction entails either an unjust and uncharitable judgement on a great many of those testifying to ECREs (namely that they are liars), or an irrational refusal to acknowledge this entailment.
Between nationalism and civilizationism: the European populist moment in comparative perspective

This paper argues that the national populisms of Northern and Western Europe form a distinctive cluster within the wider north Atlantic and pan-European populist conjuncture. They are distinctive i...
Quadratic programs with hollows

Let $$\mathcal {F}$$ be a quadratically constrained, possibly nonconvex, bounded set, and let $$\mathcal {E}_1, \ldots , \mathcal {E}_l$$ denote ellipsoids contained in $$\mathcal {F}$$ with non-intersecting interiors. We prove that minimizing an arbitrary quadratic $$q(\cdot )$$ over $$\mathcal {G}:= \mathcal {F}{\setminus } \cup _{k=1}^\ell {{\mathrm{int}}}(\mathcal {E}_k)$$ is no more difficult than minimizing $$q(\cdot )$$ over $$\mathcal {F}$$ in the following sense: if a given semidefinite-programming (SDP) relaxation for $$\min \{ q(x) : x \in \mathcal {F}\}$$ is tight, then the addition of l linear constraints derived from $$\mathcal {E}_1, \ldots , \mathcal {E}_l$$ yields a tight SDP relaxation for $$\min \{ q(x) : x \in \mathcal {G}\}$$ . We also prove that the convex hull of $$\{ (x,xx^T) : x \in \mathcal {G}\}$$ equals the intersection of the convex hull of $$\{ (x,xx^T) : x \in \mathcal {F}\}$$ with the same l linear constraints. Inspired by these results, we resolve a related question in a seemingly unrelated area, mixed-integer nonconvex quadratic programming.
Types of Learning Activities and Life Satisfaction among Older Adults in Urban Community-Based Lifelong Learning Programs

Education, lifelong learning activities, and well-being are positively associated. However, significantly less is known about types of learning activities such as participation in organized adult e...
The heights of biopharmaceutical complexity and the current reach of analytical instrumentation.

No abstract available Keywords: CE-MS; LC-ESI-MS; antibody; antibody–drug conjugate; intact protein; sensitivity.
Comparison of 2D and 3D ultrasound methods to measure serial bladder volumes during filling: Steps toward development of non-invasive ultrasound urodynamics

Objectives: Non-invasive methods to objectively characterize overactive bladder (OAB) and other forms of voiding dysfunction using real-time ultrasound are currently under development but require accurate and precise serial measurements of bladder volumes during filling. This study’s objective was to determine the most accurate and precise ultrasound-based method of quantifying serial bladder volumes during urodynamics (UD). Methods: Twelve female participants with OAB completed an extended UD procedure with the addition of serial bladder ultrasound images captured once per minute. Bladder volume was measured using three ultrasound methods: (1) Vspheroid: two-dimensional (2D) method calculated assuming spheroid geometry; (2) Vbih: 2D correction method obtained by multiplying Vspheroid by a previously derived correction factor of 1.375; and (3) V3D: three-dimensional (3D) method obtained by manually tracing the bladder outline in six planes automatically reconstructed into a solid rendered volume. These volumes were compared to a control (Vcontrol) obtained by adding UD infused volume and the volume of estimated urine production. Results: Based on linear regression analysis, both Vbih and V3D were fairly accurate estimators of Vcontrol, but V3D was more precise. Vspheroid significantly underestimated Vcontrol. Conclusions: Although the Vbih and V3D methods were more accurate than the more-commonly used Vspheroid method for measuring bladder volumes during UD, the V3D method was the most precise and could best account for non-uniform bladder geometries. Therefore, the V3D method may represent the best tool required for the continued development of non-invasive methods to diagnose OAB and other forms of voiding dysfunction.
Distal Scaphoid Excision in Treatment of Symptomatic Scaphoid Nonunion: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis:

Background: Current treatment options for persistent scaphoid nonunion are limited to salvage procedures such as proximal row carpectomy (PRC) or 4-corner fusion (4CF). Several small studies have demonstrated that distal scaphoid excision may provide a simpler alternative with faster recovery. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of distal scaphoid excision as a treatment option for symptomatic scaphoid nonunion. Methods: The MEDLINE and PubMed databases were searched for the use of distal scaphoid excision in scaphoid nonunions. Studies included reported on either the functional or patient-centered outcomes following distal scaphoid excision for symptomatic scaphoid nonunion. Results: Six articles described the outcomes of 70 patients with an average of 11.7 patients per study. Functional outcomes including flexion-extension arc, radial-ulnar deviation, and grip strength improved by an average of 98.95%, 58.96%, and 131.08%, respectively. Patient-derived outcomes included the Modified Mayo Wrist Score, which improved by 92.6%, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, which improved by 137.17%. An average of 68.75% of patients experience complete relief of pain with 20.83% of patients experiencing pain with strenuous activity. The average postoperative visual analog scale (0-10) was 0.71. On average, 93.33% of patients returned to work with an average time of return being 6.89 weeks. Complete satisfaction was reported by 87.80% of patients. Complications included progression into 4CF or PRC and newly developed midcarpal arthritis. Conclusions: Given favorable outcomes, our analysis suggests that distal scaphoid excision may be a favorable, low-risk treatment for scaphoid nonunion without eliminating more extensive options such as 4CF and wrist arthrodesis.
Aplicaciones clínicas de células madres derivadas de tejido adiposo y aspectos relacionados con buenas prácticas de manufactura

En la actualidad la terapia celular, a traves de las aplicaciones clinicas de las celulas madres (stem cell, SC), ha adquirido importancia como tratamiento frente a enfermedades que involucran la reparacion de tejidos u organos, frente a las cuales el organismo no es capaz de responder adecuadamente. Un campo de reciente interes se centra en el uso de celulas madres derivadas de adipocitos (adipose-derived stem cells, ASCs), que presentan ventajas en comparacion a las celulas madres mesenquimales derivadas de medula osea (mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow, MSC-BM), las que han sido ampliamente investigadas. Los multiples estudios enfocados en las aplicaciones clinicas de este tipo celular han sido muy prometedores y satisfactorios, lo que ha permitido que recientemente hayan sido aprobadas por la Agencia Europea del Medicamento (EMA) para el tratamiento de fistulas complejas en enfermedad de Crohn. Como consecuencia de lo anterior, al igual que cualquier medicamento de uso humano, requieren de un sistema de normas que regule su produccion, como son las Buenas Practicas de Manufactura (BPM), cuyo objetivo es asegurar la eficacia y seguridad para los pacientes. En esta revision se abordan aspectos relevantes en relacion a las ventajas, aplicaciones clinicas y normas que rigen la produccion de ASCs.
Social inequities in health: Rochester, New York.

This paper reports an investigation of social inequities in the distribution of low birth weight risks and mortality rates for Rochester, N.Y., a community reported to have relatively good access to medical care. The prevalence of low birth weight and no prenatal care were lower for each race/education group than those observed in comparable national data. Mortality rates were higher in the poorer areas for each sex, race, age group, and disease category. The excess mortality in the poorer areas declined significantly over the period studied for conditions amenable to medical care but not for conditions not amenable. In minorities, however, the excess mortality increased significantly for amenable conditions with no change for nonamenable conditions. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the socially disadvantaged suffer an excess burden of morbidity and mortality. Access to medical care may make a significant contribution to reducing these inequities, but major barriers to equitable health and health care remain, particularly for minorities. This is an important but neglected area of concern for family medicine, and the implications are discussed.
Rethinking Selfobject and Self: Implications for Understanding and Studying Religious Matters

Research having to do with psychoanalysis and religion customarily explains a religious experience, expression, or event in terms of psychoanalytic methods and concepts. In marked contrast, this essay pursues a different objective by way of an alternative route, revealing how a theory and model of self opens up to and implies a way of understanding and studying religious matters. It accomplishes this objective through a series of steps: reflecting on how theories and models function and change; illustrating a particular instance of theory change—examining the emergence of Heinz Kohut's self-selfobject model in relation to the subject-object model embedded in classical psychoanalytic theorizing; discussing the warrant for and outlining the contours of a revised way of reading the self-selfobject model; identifying implications of this model, now re-read, for understanding and studying religious matters.
The Parenting Model of Developmental Intervention

Abstract The parenting model of developmental intervention asserts that parents have a substantial influence on the developmental outcomes attained by children with disabilities during the early childhood period, and continue to do so even when their children participate in early intervention. The parenting model also asserts that one approach to promoting children's development in early intervention is to encourage parents to enhance or accentuate those elements of parenting that, research indicates, are associated with child development. This chapter reviews research related to the parenting model that has been reported over the past 20 years. This includes research related to the parenting qualities that are associated with variability in children's development, a discussion of how these parenting qualities affect the outcomes children attain in early childhood intervention, as well as evidence related to parenting model interventions that have attempted to enhance children's development and social emotional functioning. This chapter also discusses the compatibilities and inconsistencies of this research with the educational model that currently dominates early intervention practice.
Endocrine system in supernumerary molting of the flour beetle, Tribolium freemani, under crowded conditions

In the flour beetle, Tribolium freemani, a crowded environment in the last larval instar delays the development into a pupa, but the beetle continues to engage in larval-larval molting, which is an adaptive response to avoid being the victim of cannibalism as an immobile pupa. To understand the endocrine mechanism involved in this developmental process, we investigated the components of the juvenile hormone and ecdysone signaling systems. We examined whether elevated juvenile hormone levels in the crowded condition is the sole causal factor for the supernumerary molting. RNA interference (RNAi) of the JH acid methyltransferase (TfMT3) for lowering juvenile hormone titer in the crowded condition could not rescue pupation and instead resulted in lethality with developmental arrest at the prepupal stage. Kruppel-homolog 1 (TfKr-h1), the immediate downstream JH signal, was highly upregulated even in the RNAi of TfMT3 in a crowded condition. RNAi of TfKr-h1 resulted in a phenocopy of the lethal TfMT3 RNAi in a crowded condition. In addition, RNAi of TfMT3 in a crowded condition resulted in lack of the major ecdysone peak in the prepupal stage. We conclude that while a crowded condition induces supernumerary molts by elevating juvenile hormone levels, it can also inhibit metamorphosis by disrupting additional endocrine processes. The current study suggests that crowded conditions affect multiple independent factors in the endocrine and the downstream signaling systems.
Dhalion in action: automatic management of streaming applications

In a world where organizations are being inundated with data from various sources, analyzing data and gaining actionable insights in real-time has become a key service differentiator. Over the last few years, several stream processing frameworks have been developed to address the need for large-scale, real-time analytics. A crucial challenge in these environments is the complexity of configuring, managing and deploying long-running streaming applications. Operators must carefully tune these systems to balance competing objectives such as resource utilization and performance. At the same time, they must also account for external shocks such as unexpected load variations and service degradations.In this demonstration, we show how operators can maintain healthy streaming applications without manual intervention while still meeting their performance objectives. We use Dhalion, an open-source library that sits on top of the streaming application, observes its behavior and automatically takes actions to keep the application in a healthy state. In particular, through various Dhalion policies that are configured by the attendees, we demonstrate how a streaming application can meet its performance objective by automatically configuring the amount of resources needed at the various application stages. We also demonstrate Dhalion's modularity and extensibility that greatly simplifies the process of developing new policies which address different application requirements.
A Taste of Capitalism? Competing Notions of Cuban Entrepreneurship in Havana’s Paladares

This essay examines the meaning, function, and possible future(s) of entrepreneurship in Cuba. Within the larger process of Raul Castro's unprecedented economic reforms and in the midst of an ongoi...
Readmission in the First Year Following Pediatric Heart Transplantation: Incidence, Indications, and Risk Factors

Purpose Readmission is common following pediatric heart transplantation (HT), based on existing single center data. The nationwide incidence of rehospitalization after HT has not been reported. We aimed to assess the incidence, risk factors, and indications for rehospitalization in pediatric HT recipients using a nationwide multicenter linked database. Methods The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients and Pediatric Health Information System databases were linked at the patient level using indirect identifiers (2002-2016). All pediatric HT recipients who survived to discharge were included. The frequency, timing of, and indication for all-cause readmissions in the first year following initial discharge were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression examined risk factors for readmission with standard error estimates adjusted for clustering within centers. Results A total of 2870 HT recipients from 29 centers were included. Of these, 1835 (63.9%) were readmitted within the first post-HT year (total of 5428 admissions). Readmission rates varied across transplant centers from 46% (1 center) to 100% (3 centers). For patients who were rehospitalized, the median number of readmissions was 2 (IQR 1-4) and the median time to first readmission was 29 days (IQR 9-99 days). Risk factors independently associated with readmission included age 30 days (AOR 1.4, 95%CI 1.1-1.9). Cardiac diagnoses, including rejection and/or concern for rejection, were the most common indications for readmission (N=2213, 40.8%), followed by infection/fever (N=1222, 22.5%), and respiratory diagnoses (N=393, 7.2%). Conclusion Rehospitalization is common in the first year following pediatric HT, with considerable variation in readmission rates across centers. Younger age, congenital heart disease, and a more complicated post-HT course increase the risk for subsequent readmission. Risk stratification based on these factors may serve to guide decision-making in determining discharge readiness and planning.
FCLNN: A Flexible Framework for Fast CNN Prototyping on FPGA with OpenCL and Caffe

The CNN algorithms are still in rapid evolution, while the traditional RTL level programming on FPGA is relatively slow and requires great efforts and expertise. In this paper, we propose a flexible HW/SW co-design framework for both fast and high-throughput CNN prototyping with commercial high-level OpenCL language and the standard open-source deep learning framework Caffe. We build up a parameterizable stream-architected convolution engine and extend it to support any input size and filter depth. For iterative development process, we provide both layer-based and subgraph-based execution schedule. While for competitive performance, both on-chip and off-chip communication are optimized. Using our framework with Intel Arria 10 GX1150 FPGA, we achieve 69.2 fps and 18.6 fps on official YOLOv2-tiny-voc and YOLOv2-voc respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to accelerate the state-of-the-art YOLOv2 with both real-time performance and < 1% accuracy drop on FPGA.
Chemokines expressed in melanoma metastases associated with T cell infiltration

8501 Background: Despite frequent induction of tumor antigen-specific T cells in melanoma patients following vaccination, tumor regressions remain rare. This observation prompted systematic analysi...
Seminal Vesicle Adherent to Rectal Wall Following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A Potential False-Positive Diagnostic Pitfall:

The standard of care for stage T3 and stage T4 rectal adenocarcinomas involves neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by either low anterior resection or abdominopelvic resection. The presence of residual adenocarcinoma or positive surgical margins provides useful prognostic information and can influence ongoing adjuvant therapy. Although uncommon, mimics of treated adenocarcinoma may be present in the surgical specimen. A high index of suspicion is critical in avoiding potential false-positive pitfalls, and the exclusion of mimics of treated adenocarcinoma is paramount to accurate diagnosis and treatment. Seminal vesicle epithelium has long been a challenge in differentiating prostatic adenocarcinoma from benign epithelium. However, the role of incidental seminal vesiculectomy in rectal resections due to fibrous adhesion to the rectal wall secondary to chemoradiation has not been studied. As the seminal vesicle epithelium can show markedly atypical nuclei with radiation-type effect at baseline, the potential risk of misinterpretation as residual adenocarcinoma is high. In this article, we present 2 case reports of rectal adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by transabdominal resection (low anterior resection or abdominopelvic resection) with incidental seminal vesiculectomies mimicking either residual adenocarcinoma or residual adenocarcinoma at a margin of resection.
Critical Race Theory (CRT) and colourism: a manifestation of whitewashing in marketing communications?

Utilising the lens of Critical Race Theory (CRT), this study explores connections between colourism and the alleged practice of whitewashing the skin tones of Black women in print media marketing c...
A 15 month experience with a primary care-based telemedicine screening program for diabetic retinopathy.

Using telemedicine for diabetic retinal screening is becoming popular especially amongst at-risk urban communities with poor access to care. The goal of the diabetic telemedicine project at Temple University Hospital is to improve cost-effective access to appropriate retinal care to those in need of close monitoring and/or treatment. This will be a retrospective review of 15 months of data from March 2016 to May 2017. We will investigate how many patients were screened, how interpretable the photographs were, how often the photographs generated a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) based on the screening photo, and how many patients followed-up for an exam in the office, if indicated. Six-hundred eighty-nine (689) digital retinal screening exams on 1377 eyes of diabetic patients were conducted in Temple’s primary care clinic. The majority of the photographs were read to have no retinopathy (755, 54.8%). Among all of the screening exams, 357 (51.8%) triggered a request for a referral to ophthalmology. Four-hundred forty-nine (449, 32.6%) of the photos were felt to be uninterpretable by the clinician. Referrals were meant to be requested for DR found in one or both eyes, inability to assess presence of retinopathy in one or both eyes, or for suspicion of a different ophthalmic diagnosis. Sixty-seven patients (9.7%) were suspected to have another ophthalmic condition based on other findings in the retinal photographs. Among the 34 patients that were successfully completed a referral visit to Temple ophthalmology, there was good concordance between the level of DR detected by their screening fundus photographs and visit diagnosis. Although a little more than half of the patients did not have diabetic eye disease, about half needed a referral to ophthalmology. However, only 9.5% of the referral-warranted exams actually received an eye exam. Mere identification of referral-warranted diabetic retinopathy and other ophthalmic conditions is not enough. A successful telemedicine screening program must close the communication gap between screening and diagnosis by reviewer to provide timely follow-up by eye care specialists.
Distinguishing interfacial double layer and oxide-based capacitance on gold and pre-oxidized Fe-Cr in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate room temperature ionic liquid aqueous mixture

Abstract The frequency-dependent impedance of a metal/oxide/room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) interface was separated into oxide layer (Cox) and double layer (Cdl) capacitances using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). A pre-formed oxide of known initial thickness on Fe-20 at.% Cr was investigated in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate ([Emim][MeSO3]) RTIL + aqueous mixtures. The oxide thickness was calculated from Cox using the complex capacitance representation and the power-law model. The result was additionally verified by cross-sectional analysis using transmission electron microscopy. The Cdl calculated from the constant-phase element (CPE) was distinguishable from Cox for Fe-20Cr, which enables monitoring of the interfaces of structural metals with oxide layers in RTILs containing water.
Quantitative Analysis of the Lifting Effect of Facial Soft-Tissue Filler Injections

Background Although injectable soft-tissue fillers are frequently used for facial rejuvenation, there is a dearth of objective data evaluating the tissue-lifting effects. Current practices for efficacy evaluation include some subjectivity. This study seeks to evaluate the lifting effects of facial soft-tissue fillers in a quantifiable, objective setting. Methods Twenty fresh hemifaces obtained from 10 Caucasian body donors (seven women and three men) with a mean age of 83.5 ± 6.8 years and a mean body mass index of 25.3 ± 4.3 kg/m2 were injected with soft-tissue fillers following a predefined treatment algorithm. Three-dimensional surface scanning procedures were performed to assess postinjection effects. Results Injections in the medial face [i.e., forehead, medial midface, and perioral (chin and labiomandibular sulcus)] increased the local surface volume by 0.67, 0.56, and 0.87 cc and created local (but not regional) lifting effects of 1.11, 0.11, and 0.74 mm. Injections in the lateral face (temple, lateral midface, and jawline) changed the local surface volume by 0.45, 0.02, and -0.38 cc, and created local lifting effects of 0.57, 0.81, and 0.29 mm, respectively. Lateral face injections, however, created additional regional lifting effects by co-influencing neighboring lateral facial regions, which was not observed for medial face injections. Conclusions This cadaveric study provides evidence that soft-tissue fillers, although typically classified as volumizers, can induce lifting effects of the face. Whereas temporal deep supraperiosteal injections have limited lifting effects, the combined effects of subdermal injections of the temple, lateral midface, and mandibular angle can induce lifting effects of the total lateral face. Clinical question/level of evidence Therapeutic, V.
Modeling, simulation, and equilibrium analysis of tethered coaxial dual-rotor ocean current turbines

Abstract Tethered multirotor axial flow turbines have been proposed to overcome the many challenges associated with extracting ocean current energy where deep waters render seabed mounting strategies infeasible. However, flexible systems are inherently more susceptible to perturbation than fixed systems. The effects of flow misalignment on the hydrokinetic energy conversion of multirotor coaxial turbines have been investigated recently; however, the spatial dynamics and equilibrium behaviors of tethered coaxial turbines have not been well characterized, limiting the ability of designers to explicitly tailor the device behavior. In this work, a computational model of a dual-rotor coaxial turbine is presented, and the model is employed to explore the equilibrium behavior of the turbine with variations in parameters. A complete characterization of the hydrostatic state of the system and a comparative study of representative tethered turbine simulation cases is also presented. Two important findings are presented. First, that a positively buoyant dual-rotor turbine that is anchored to a surface-dwelling platform can operate where the turbine is located at some desired depth below the surface. Second, that more than one turbine system may be anchored to a single point while maintaining the desired orientation and position of each turbine to avoid collision and maximize energy production. The results and methods presented in this paper may be used to inform application-specific coaxial turbine design and to develop additional targeted empirical and simulation studies.
Faith Communities as a Social Immune System: Recommendations for COVID-19 Response and Recovery

This article describes how faith communities often function like an organic social immune system during times of crisis, particularly our current COVID-19 pandemic. We share the strengths of faith ...
Three-Dimensional Flowfield in a Fin-Generated Shock Wave/Boundary-Layer Interaction Using Tomographic PIV

Three-dimensional flowfield measurements within a separated swept shock wave/boundary-layer interaction are acquired using a four-camera tomographic particle image velocimetry system in the present...
An Analysis of Readmission Trends by Urgency and Race/Ethnicity in the MBSAQIP Registry, 2015-2018

Background Large-scale analyses stratifying bariatric surgery readmissions by urgency are lacking. Objectives Identify predictors of urgent/nonurgent readmission among "ideal" bariatric candidates, using a national registry. Setting Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) national database. Methods We extracted an "ideal" patient cohort from the 2015-2018 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) registry, characterized by only typical weight-related comorbidities (hypertension [HTN], obstructive sleep apnea [OSA], gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD], and diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM] and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM]) undergoing primary bariatric surgery with an uneventful postoperative course. Readmissions were classified as "urgent" (UR; e.g., leak, obstruction, bleeding) or "nonurgent" (NUR; e.g., dehydration, nonspecific abdominal pain). χ2 or t test analyses were used for bivariate significance testing. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to assess independent predictors of readmission. Results The cohort (N = 292,547) comprised 38.5% of all MBSAQIP patients (mean age [standard deviation] = 43.2 [11.7]; body mass index [BMI] = 44.9 [6.6]; 81% female; 62% White, 17% Black, 14% Hispanic). Total readmission rates were 2.75% (n = 8046) and decreased from 2015-2018 (3.00%-2.63%; P Conclusion Readmission rates for "ideal" bariatric patients improved over time, driven by reductions in non-urgent etiologies. Racial disparities persist for both urgent and non-urgent causes of readmission.
Environmental and economic impacts associated with the use of boilers of a steam generator system at a tobacco manufacturing industry

Abstract To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first attempt to apply Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to determinate the environmental impacts associated with the use of a steam generator system (boilers) at a tobacco manufacturing unit and to evaluate the possible costs associated with the operation of these boilers using diesel and two alternative energy sources. The LCA methodology was applied using the SimaPro 8.04 software, database of the Ecoinvent 3.1 and the Impact 2002+ method. The inventory considered the inputs of the process (water and electric energy consumption and consumption of diesel and of chemicals bought from the NALCO Water Company) as well as outputs of effluents, waste, and emissions of CO2 and particulate matter. The obtained results point global warming, non-renewable energies and carcinogens among the most impacting categories. The corresponding values of the categories appear in the Characterization step with 74.4 tons of CO2 eq., 10.9 GJ of non-renewable energy and 158.12 kg of inhalable inorganic. The highest environmental and economic impacts were associated to the consumption of diesel and electricity. Results of prognosis scenarios using eucalyptus wood and biodiesel showed to considerably lower environmental burdens in comparison to diesel. Nevertheless, as demonstrated in our study biodiesel produced with soybean still lacks economic competitiveness while the costs associated with eucalyptus wood, were almost 29 and 24 times lower, respectively. Future studies should consider the use of other raw materials to produce biodiesel.
Approaches to Adverse Patient- Ventilator Interactions

Most mechanical ventilators in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units provide continuous monitoring of respiratory variables as well as a graphical display of gas flow, tidal volume, and airway pressure. Routine analysis of these waveforms is an important aspect of the assessment of patient-ventilator interactions and should be used to optimize mechanical ventilatory support. The ventilator can be titrated using airway graphics and waveforms to improve patient-ventilator synchrony, reduce patient work of breathing, and calculate physiologic parameters related to respiratory mechanics.
Using “Relationship Reporting” to Increase Current Investors’ Response to a Company’s Long-Term Focused Behavior

Recent studies show that Real Earnings Management represents a growing trend whereby companies manage reported earnings by making operational choices that trade off long-term prospects for short-term appearances. In such environments companies who wish to avoid real earnings management benefit from having investors value long-term focused behaviors. We propose that management can enhance investor appreciation for long-term oriented decisions by implementing communication strategies that seek to promote stronger investor identity with the company, called ‘relationship reporting.’ Relationship reporting is characterized by more frequent and personalized communication with current investors that need not reveal additional private information beyond what the company typically reports. Our experimental findings indicate that when a firm utilizes relationship reporting, current investors increase their holdings in that firm more when R&D expenditures demonstrate a long-term focus than when it demonstrates a short-term-focus. Consistent with stronger identity with the company, the effect of relationship reporting on investment is mediated by both perceptions of management credibility and shared values. Our findings contribute to literature on investor turnover and management credibility.