cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A synchronization and compensation protocol for multimedia communication systems

Media synchronization and freedom from starvation at destination devices are the two most important problems in a multimedia communication system. In order to solve these problems at the same time, this paper presents a protocol combining the scheduling scheme and the buffering scheme with underflow threshold (SBUF). In this protocol, by controlling the buffer sizes and modifying transmission schedule of the synchronizer synchronization can be achieved without synchronizing clocks during a connection. In this paper the algorithm of the protocol is described. The setting of the system parameters and network QOS to support the proposed protocol are also given in this paper. A simulation is performed for comparison of four synchronization schemes: scheduling schemes (with and without clock synchronization), marker scheme, and the proposed SBUF protocol. The results confirm that the proposed protocol guarantees satisfaction of QOS requirements and also performs better than the other schemes in terms of media synchronization and freedom from starvation at destination devices.
Apoptosis precedes necrosis of dystrophin-deficient muscle

The current view that death of dystrophin-deficient muscle fibers is a necrotic process relies primarily upon the histological appearance of the tissue after the degenerative process is well advanced. Here, we tested this view by examining the possibility that apoptosis is a component of dystrophin-deficient muscle cell death. Three assays for apoptosis were employed in analyzing prenecrotic, peak necrotic and regenerated hindlimb muscle of mdx mice: (1) terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) mediated end-labeling of DNA in nuclei in tissue sections; (2) assays for DNA ladders; and (3) electron microscopic assays for the presence of organelles undergoing structural changes characteristic of apoptosis. At all ages sampled, mdx muscle contained apoptotic nuclei, according to TdT-mediated dUTP labeling of tissue sections. Nuclei in regenerated mdx muscle fibers did not display apoptosis. dUTP-labeled nuclei in control C57 muscles were rare or absent at all ages sampled. DNA from 4-week-old mdx mice was found to be cleaved into fragments indicative of preferential cleavage at internucleosomal sites. Electron microscopic analysis showed that organelle structural changes indicating apoptosis appear before pathological changes diagnostic of necrosis. For example, condensed mitochondria, fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum and nuclei with chromatin condensations resembling apoptosis appear in fibers that otherwise possess normal morphology. Together, the findings show that apoptosis precedes any detectable necrotic change in mdx muscle, and that apoptotic events continue into the stage of dystrophic pathology that is currently viewed as necrosis. Thus, apoptosis characterizes the onset of pathology in dystrophin-deficient muscle which is followed secondarily by necrotic processes.
Photodynamics of a constrained parachute-shaped fullerene-porphyrin dyad

The pronounced ability of fullerene C60 to act as an electron and energy acceptor has led to the synthesis of a large number of compounds in which C60 is covalently linked to photoactivatable groups which can serve as potential donors. Such compounds are of interest as model systems for photosynthetic reaction centers and also have potential applications in photodynamic therapy because of the highly efficient photosensitization of singlet molecular oxygen formation by C60 and C60 derivatives. By far the largest number of such systems studied to date utilize porphyrins as antennas for efficient light capture in the visible region of the spectrum, and a variety of linkers. Photophysical studies as well as molecular modeling indicate that in conformationally flexible dyads the porphyrin (P) and C60 moieties are in close proximity, due to -stacking interactions, thus facilitating through-space interactions, as demonstrated by quenching of 1P* fluorescence and generation of fullerene-excited states (by energy transfer) or P+-C60- ion-pair states (by electron transfer).2,4a,b,f-h These ion-pair states can be relatively long-lived, due to the small reorganization energy and strong thermodynamic driving force for back-electron transfer, which places this process within the Marcus inverted region.4g, Recently attention has focused on rigidly linked systems in which the porphyrin (P) and (C60) moieties are in enforced close proximity or are forced apart by a saturated norbornylogous or steroid linker. As part of a program to understand the nature of the dialogue between P and C60 chromophores as the topology of P-C60 dyads is systematically varied, we now report photophysical data for the parachute-shaped dyad 1 and the corresponding zinc complex 1-Zn. We have reported previously the synthesis of 1 by Bingel-Hirsch addition of a strapped porphyrin malonate to C60.
Implicit Nativist Attitudes, Social Desirability, and Immigration Policy Preferences†

While previous research on immigration attitudes among the American public has focused on factors such as economic threat, social context, and racial prejudice, fewer studies have examined the psyc...
Subthreshold design considerations for insulated gate field-effect transistors

A knowledge of subthreshold behavior in an insulated gate field-effect transistor is important for circuits with low leakage specifications. This paper discusses the effect of drain voltage on the subthreshold region as the channel length becomes shorter, the effect of substrate bias on both the shift in and the slope of the subthreshold curves, and the effect of temperature on the subthreshold current characteristics. It is shown that all these effects can be incorporated into a simple one-dimensional model.
PALEOECOLOGY OF SUBMERGED MACROPHYTES IN THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY

Fossil seed distributions of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) from dated sediment cores in tributaries of the upper Chesapeake Bay show prehistoric changes in species composition and abundance and reflect the response of SAV species to human disturbance since European settlement. The interval of time spanned by the cores includes several centuries prior to, and three centuries following, European settlement. Species diversity is greatest in the low-salinity northern and upper tributaries, while areas of higher salinity and extensive salt marshes are characterized by low diversity or absence of SAV. Mapped distributions of seed abundances show the migration from upstream to downstream in some tributaries of the brackish species Potamogeton perfoliatus, Zannichellia palustris, and Ruppia maritima following deforestation. The largest increase in SAV, represented by the highest abundance of fossilized seeds, occurred during the 1700s after Europeans first cleared the land for farms, and the largest and most widespread decline took place in the 1960s and 1970s after most of the watershed had been at one time or another cleared and heavily fertilized for agriculture. Distributions of SAV are highly variable both temporally and spatially, reflecting the dynamic nature of estuarine habitats. Despite high environmental variability, local and regional extinctions occurred only in the most recent decades, indicating a threshold response to land use changes and nutrient loading which had begun at least two centuries earlier and intensified in the mid- to late 19th century.
Random-field experiments in dilute antiferromagnets

Abstract Experiments in d = 2 and d = 3 random-field Ising systems are reviewed. Random fields destroy the phase transition for the d = 2 system Rb2Co x Mg1-xF4. The d = 3 Fe x Zn1-xF4 system shows a new phase transition with unusual dynamics. Extreme critical slowing down plays an essential role in the d = 3 measurements. Experiments on the related d = 3 systems Mn x Zn1-xF2 and Fe x Mg1-xC12 are also discussed.
Unexpected Increased Mortality After Implementation of a Commercially Sold Computerized Physician Order Entry System

Objective. In response to the landmark 1999 report by the Institute of Medicine and safety initiatives promoted by the Leapfrog Group, our institution implemented a commercially sold computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system in an effort to reduce medical errors and mortality. We sought to test the hypothesis that CPOE implementation results in reduced mortality among children who are transported for specialized care. Methods. Demographic, clinical, and mortality data were collected of all children who were admitted via interfacility transport to our regional, academic, tertiary-care level children’s hospital during an 18-month period. A commercially sold CPOE program that operated within the framework of a general, medical-surgical clinical application platform was rapidly implemented hospital-wide over 6 days during this period. Retrospective analyses of pre-CPOE and post-CPOE implementation time periods (13 months before and 5 months after CPOE implementation) were subsequently performed. Results. Among 1942 children who were referred and admitted for specialized care during the study period, 75 died, accounting for an overall mortality rate of 3.86%. Univariate analysis revealed that mortality rate significantly increased from 2.80% (39 of 1394) before CPOE implementation to 6.57% (36 of 548) after CPOE implementation. Multivariate analysis revealed that CPOE remained independently associated with increased odds of mortality (odds ratio: 3.28; 95% confidence interval: 1.94–5.55) after adjustment for other mortality covariables. Conclusions. We have observed an unexpected increase in mortality coincident with CPOE implementation. Although CPOE technology holds great promise as a tool to reduce human error during health care delivery, our unanticipated finding suggests that when implementing CPOE systems, institutions should continue to evaluate mortality effects, in addition to medication error rates, for children who are dependent on time-sensitive therapies.
Divided We Fall: Opposition Fragmentation and the Electoral Fortunes of Governing Parties

This article introduces the concept of opposition fragmentation into the study of the determinants of election results. Empirical studies have demonstrated that anti-government economic voting is likely to take place where the clarity of responsibility (the degree to which voters can attribute policy responsibility to the government) is high. This argument is extended by focusing on the effects of the degree of opposition fragmentation in influencing the extent to which poor economic performance decreases the government’s vote share. With data from seventeen parliamentary democracies, it is shown that when there are fewer opposition parties, the relationship between economic performance and governing parties’ electoral fortune is stronger. Opposition fragmentation appears to be as strong a factor as the clarity of responsibility.
In-Situ Synthesis of Particle Dispersed Nanocrystalline NiAl By Cryomilling

The present research was carried out to study the cryogenic synthesis NiAl from elemental powders with the view of forming particle dispersed NiAl. It was found that nanocrystalline NiAl with a crystallite size in the range 5nm to 10nm is produced during cryomilling. Additionally, the nanocrystalline NiAl maintains the fine crystallite size when annealed at high temperatures. It is thought that the resistance of the microstructure to coarsening is due to the presence of nano-scale particles of AIN formed by reaction between milling medium, liquid nitrogen, and aluminum. The transformation of Ni and Al to ordered NiAl was studied using x-ray diffraction. This showed that cryomilling not only produces a solid solution but also can induce in-situ ordering of stoichiometric NiAl. The B2 NiAl structure forms during milling after the elemental powder blend is cryomilled for about 40 hours. It also forms when the “mechanical” solid solution is annealed at room temperature for about twelve hours.
Does Ethnicity Matter for Access to Childhoodand Adolescent Health Capital in China? Evidence from the Wage-Height Relationship in the 2006 China Health and Nutrition Survey

This paper considers whether ethnicity conditions the return and access to health capital in China. Given that the wage-height relationship reflects the labor market earnings returns to childhood and adolescent health capital, differences in the labor market returns to height by ethnicity reflect ethnic differences in access to health capital during childhood and adolescence. We theoretically motivate the role of height in earnings by providing a Bioeconomic rationale for stature and height determining individual wages, and estimate height-augmented Mincerian earnings functions with data from the 2006 China Health and Nutrition Survey. Our results show that when the effects of unobserved genetic influences on adult height are accounted for, the labor market return on height is higher for Chinese ethnics. This suggests that in China there are ethnic disparities in access to the inputs that produce childhood and adolescent health capital.
Ruptured flexor tendon tenorrhaphies in zone II: repair and rehabilitation.

Seven patients with ruptured flexor tenorrhaphies in zone II had surgical repair of the rupture and completed a second rehabilitation program of active flexion and extension exercises identical to 14 to 72 days with an average of 38 days. The period between the rupture and the secondary repair ranged between 1 and 14 days, with an average of 6 days. Four patients (57%) achieved good to excellent active motion at follow-up. These results are comparable to those obtained by patients with uncomplicated primary repairs that were treated early with passive motion exercises. We conclude that prompt repair of ruptured flexor tenorrhaphies and rehabilitation with active motion exercises is effective and that it should be considered before one chooses flexor tendon grafting.
Comparison of Tick Feeding Success and Vector Competence for Borrelia burgdorferi Among Immature Ixodes scapularis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) of Both Southern and Northern Clades

Northern and southern Ixodes scapularis Say populations differ greatly in density, host utilization, and especially questing behavior of the immatures. Haplotypes of I. scapularis in North America can be divided into two major clades-the All American Clade (haplotypes A through J) and the Southern Clade (M through O). This genetic variation may affect feeding success and vector competence. This study compared feeding success of larval I. scapularis measured by time-to-drop-off and subsequent transmissibility success of Borrelia burgdorferi to mice using ticks from Mississippi, Connecticut (both F haplotype), and Louisiana (haplotype O). Northern ticks (CT) fed to repletion much faster than MS and LA ticks: overall, 73.6% of CT ticks had dropped off mice at Day 3 compared to only 1.7% and 6.6% of ticks dropped off for MS and LA ticks at that same time point. As for vector competence, 4 of the 4 mice in each case (MS or CT) that had been fed on by infected nymphs tested positive for B. burgdorferi. In a second experiment, 5 of the 6 mice tested positive for B. burgdorferi after exposure to infected LA ticks as compared with 3 of the 4 mice exposed to infected CT ticks. These data demonstrate that there is no difference in northern and southern populations of I. scapularis in their ability to transmit B. burgdorferi, but the ability of the northern populations to feed rapidly on rodents exceeds that of southern populations.
Trapped surfaces in the Schwarzschild geometry and cosmic censorship.

We prove that in extended Schwarzschild spacetime there exists a family of Cauchy surfaces which come arbitrarily close to the black-hole singularity at r=0 but are such that there do not exist any outer trapped surfaces lying within the past of any of these Cauchy surfaces. We argue that, in any spherically symmetric spacetime describing gravitational collapse to a Schwarzschild black hole, it should be possible to choose a spacelike slicing by Cauchy surfaces which terminates when a singularity (outside the matter) is reached, such that the region of the spacetime covered by the slicing contains no outer trapped surfaces. Thus, an important feature of the numerical collapse examples of Shapiro and Teukolsky, cited by them as evidence against cosmic censorship, does not appear to be qualitatively different from features which occur (for an appropriate choice of slicing) in the standard examples of collapse to a black hole.
Tension-sensitive kinetochore phosphorylation and the chromosome distribution checkpoint in praying mantid spermatocytes

Improper chromosome attachment to the spindle can lead to daughter cells with missing or extra chromosomes. Such mishaps are avoided in many cells by a checkpoint that detects even a single improperly attached chromosome. What is detected? A misattached chromosome is not under tension from opposed mitotic forces, and in praying mantid spermatocytes, direct experiments show that the absence of tension is what the checkpoint detects. How is the absence of tension detected? Tension-sensitive kinetochore protein phosphorylation is the most likely possibility. We combined micromanipulation with immunostaining for phosphoproteins in order to study the effect of tension on kinetochore phosphorylation in mantid spermatocytes. We confirm earlier observations on mammalian cells and grasshopper spermatocytes that misattached chromosomes have phosphorylated kinetochore proteins. We also confirm experiments in grasshopper spermatocytes showing that tension alters kinetochore chemistry: tension from a micromanipulation needle causes kinetochore protein dephosphorylation, and relaxation of tension causes kinetochore protein rephosphorylation. Beyond confirmation, our results provide fresh evidence for phosphorylation as the signal to the checkpoint. First, mantid cells are the only ones in which an effect of tension on the checkpoint has been directly demonstrated; by equally direct experiments, we now show that tension affects kinetochore phosphorylation in these same cells. Second, sex chromosome behavior in mantids provides a natural experiment to test the relationship between phosphorylation and the checkpoint. In grasshoppers, an unpaired sex chromosome is normal, its kinetochore is under-phosphorylated, and the checkpoint is not activated. In mantids, exactly the opposite is true: an unpaired sex chromosome is abnormal, its kinetochore is phosphorylated and, as predicted, the checkpoint is activated. We conclude that tension-sensitive kinetochore protein phosphorylation very likely is the essential link between proper chromosome attachment and the check-point, the link that permits potential errors in chromosome distribution to be detected and avoided.
Professional Development—An Educator’s Viewpoint

Proposals for continuing professional development as a requirement for renewal of registration are appearing in many places, notably in California where the Senate passed SR 218 in October, 1971, calling for all registration boards to submit plans in 1972 for possible mandated programs. While California engineers and engineering societies have strongly supported continuing education — or, more broadly, professional development — as desirable, they have generally resisted a mandatory program. The Los Angeles Section of ASCE, however, has endorsed a mandated program of professional development, involving developing proficiencies by the practice of engineering, formal schooling, attendance at meetings and seminars, and active membership in professional organizations. The Section agrees to monitor such a program on a trial basis. A simpler plan, proposed by the writer, would require each applicant for license renewal to demonstrate 30 contact hours of continuing education in each 2-yr period, and in any 4-yr period he would have 30 hr minimum in technical updating, the remainder in management or related fields.
Staying away from the optic nerve: a formula for modifying glaucoma drainage device surgery in pediatric and other small eyes.

Purpose To provide guidelines for safe implantation of glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs) in small and pediatric eyes to avoid contact between the optic nerve (ON) and the posterior edge of the GDD plate. Methods We developed a formula for calculating limbus-to-ON distance to estimate the available "real estate" for GDD placement in small eyes. The formula was validated using eyes of pediatric decedents undergoing clinical autopsy, with axial lengths (AL) of 15−24 mm. For each autopsy eye, we measured AL, anterior chamber depth, corneal diameter, and limbus-to-ON distances for the four eye quadrants. The main outcome measure was the degree of agreement between measured and calculated limbus-to-ON distances. Results A total of 15 autopsy eyes were divided into derivation (n = 10) and validation (n = 5) groups. A formula was derived to estimate superotemporal limbus-to-ON distance (D ST ) using AL and corneal diameter data. Linear regression showed excellent correlation between the measured D ST and AL ( R 2 = 0.98). There was excellent agreement between measured and calculated limbus-to-ON values for all four eye quadrants ( R 2 range, 0.92-0.98). Conclusions Our formula accurately predicts limbus-to-ON distances across a wide range of clinically relevant ALs. Based on this information, GDD surgery in small eyes can be adjusted by positioning the GDD closer to the limbus or by trimming the posterior edge of the GDD plate. To our knowledge, this is the first set of guidelines developed to promote safe implantation of GDDs in small eyes.
Postmortem recovery of proliferative fibroblasts up to three days in livestock ear skin stored at 35°C

Effect of elevated temperature (35°C) on postmortem survival of cells in goat, sheep and bovine tissues was studied. Skin explants (n = 30; 2-3 mm 2 ) were cultured in petri dishes after 2, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours of postmortem interval in DMEM media supplemented with 10% FBS, 50 units/mL of penicillin, 50 µg/mL of streptomycin and 2.5 µg/mL of fungizone. Outgrowth of cells around the explants was observed up to 72 h in sheep, 48 h in bovine and 24 h in goats. In general, the number of explants exhibiting outgrowth as well as the level of confluence decreased with increasing postmortem time interval. Secondary cultures established from primary cells for 72 h postmortem interval show cytogenetically stable chromosomes with 54XX[17] normal female sheep karyotype, comparable cell morphology, and growth curve to that of fresh tissue derived cells. Till date these cells have been passaged 21 times and show normal growth. These results suggest that normal, proliferative cells can be recovered from skin tissues stored at an elevated temperature of 35°C in livestock from 24-72 h of postmortem interval. Reprogramming of these cells to clone the dead animals or their use for cell therapies remain to be seen in future.
Hidden Risk: Detecting Fraud in Chinese Banks’ Non-performing Loan Data

Using self-reported data from banks in mainland China, I apply a technique used in forensic accounting based on Benford’s Law to detect fraudulent manipulation of non-performing loan (NPL) figures. I find large data anomalies consistent with false reporting in mainland banks that do not appear in an identically structured survey of Hong Kong banks. A comparison of different types of data from mainland banks shows no statistically significant anomalies in data for total deposits from customers, operating expenses, net interest income, or non-interest income.
State of the Art VII: The Demography of the Middle East

On May 22, 1966, the eve of the first Tunisian census since independence, President Habib Bourguiba expressed as follows the objectives and uses of this census: The methodical efforts we are making, within the framework of the Plan, to raise the standard of living of citizens are of necessity based on statistical data concerning the size and distribution of the population, its activities and its manner of life.…The census does not consist solely in just counting our population. Its purpose is to collect all sorts of information likely to help us draw our plans for economic and social development judiciously. The need for population data has undoubtedly provided an impetus for the collection of such data as well as for demographic research not only in Tunisia but also in other Middle Eastern countries. In recent years, an added impetus for demographic research has been the realization that, in some of these countries, population growth may be threatening social and economic development.
Single-Cell Nanosurgery

This chapter explains the steps necessary to perform laser surgery upon single adherent mammalian cells, where individual organelles are extracted from the cells by optical tweezers and the cells are monitored post-surgery to check their viability. Single-cell laser nanosurgery is used in an increasing range of methodologies because it offers great flexibility. Its main advantages are (a) there is not any physical contact with the cells so they remain in a sterile environment, (b) high spatial selectivity so that single organelles can be extracted from specific areas of individual cells, (c) the method can be conducted in the cell's native media, and (d) in comparison to other techniques that target single cells, such as micromanipulators, laser nanosurgery has a comparatively high throughput.
Leaf endophytic fungus interacts with precipitation to alter belowground microbial communities in primary successional dunes.

Understanding interactions between above- and belowground components of ecosystems is an important next step in community ecology. These interactions may be fundamental to predicting ecological responses to global change because indirect effects occurring through altered species interactions can outweigh or interact with the direct effects of environmental drivers. In a multiyear field experiment (2010-2015), we tested how experimental addition of a mutualistic leaf endophyte (Epichloe amarillans) associated with American beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) interacted with an altered precipitation regime (±30%) to affect the belowground microbial community. Epichloe addition increased host root biomass at the plot scale, but reduced the length of extraradical arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal hyphae in the soil. Under ambient precipitation alone, the addition of Epichloe increased root biomass per aboveground tiller and reduced the diversity of AM fungi in A. breviligulata roots. Furthermore, with Epichloe added, the diversity of root-associated bacteria declined with higher soil moisture, whereas in its absence, bacterial diversity increased with higher soil moisture. Thus, the aboveground fungal mutualist not only altered the abundance and composition of belowground microbial communities but also affected how belowground communities responded to climate, suggesting that aboveground microbes have potential for cascading influences on community dynamics and ecosystem processes that occur belowground.
Programmable assembly of pressure sensors using pattern-forming bacteria.

Engineered bacteria self-assemble to generate structures that act as pressure sensors. Biological systems can generate microstructured materials that combine organic and inorganic components and possess diverse physical and chemical properties. However, these natural processes in materials fabrication are not readily programmable. Here, we use a synthetic-biology approach to assemble patterned materials. We demonstrate programmable fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) materials by printing engineered self-patterning bacteria on permeable membranes that serve as a structural scaffold. Application of gold nanoparticles to the colonies creates hybrid organic-inorganic dome structures. The dynamics of the dome structures' response to pressure is determined by their geometry (colony size, dome height, and pattern), which is easily modified by varying the properties of the membrane (e.g., pore size and hydrophobicity). We generate resettable pressure sensors that process signals in response to varying pressure intensity and duration.
Structures of Qβ virions, virus-like particles, and the Qβ–MurA complex reveal internal coat proteins and the mechanism of host lysis

In single-stranded RNA bacteriophages (ssRNA phages) a single copy of the maturation protein binds the genomic RNA (gRNA) and is required for attachment of the phage to the host pilus. For the canonical Allolevivirus Qβ the maturation protein, A 2 , has an additional role as the lysis protein, by its ability to bind and inhibit MurA, which is involved in peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Here, we determined structures of Qβ virions, virus-like particles, and the Qβ–MurA complex using single-particle cryoelectron microscopy, at 4.7-A, 3.3-A, and 6.1-A resolutions, respectively. We identified the outer surface of the β-region in A 2 as the MurA-binding interface. Moreover, the pattern of MurA mutations that block Qβ lysis and the conformational changes of MurA that facilitate A 2 binding were found to be due to the intimate fit between A 2 and the region encompassing the closed catalytic cleft of substrate-liganded MurA. Additionally, by comparing the Qβ virion with Qβ virus-like particles that lack a maturation protein, we observed a structural rearrangement in the capsid coat proteins that is required to package the viral gRNA in its dominant conformation. Unexpectedly, we found a coat protein dimer sequestered in the interior of the virion. This coat protein dimer binds to the gRNA and interacts with the buried α-region of A 2 , suggesting that it is sequestered during the early stage of capsid formation to promote the gRNA condensation required for genome packaging. These internalized coat proteins are the most asymmetrically arranged major capsid proteins yet observed in virus structures.
ACUTE CHANGE IN MYOCARDIAL DEFORMATION DOES NOT PREDICT HEART FAILURE READMISSION AFTER TAVR AMONG PATIENTS WITH A LOW FLOW LOW GRADIENT PHYSIOLOGY

Patients with low flow low gradient (LFLG) physiology have worse outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). TAVR results in afterload reduction and change in myocardial contractility. We aimed to determine whether acute change in myocardial contractility predicted heart failure (
Neurosurgical Randomized Controlled Trials-Distance Travelled.

BACKGROUND The evidence base for many neurosurgical procedures has been limited. We performed a comprehensive and systematic analysis of study design, quality of reporting, and trial results of neurosurgical randomized controlled trials (RCTs). OBJECTIVE To systematically assess the design and quality characteristics of neurosurgical RCTs. METHODS From January 1961 to June 2016, RCTs with >5 patients assessing any 1 neurosurgical procedure against another procedure, nonsurgical treatment, or no treatment were retrieved from MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. RESULTS The median sample size in the 401 eligible RCTs was 73 patients with a mean patient age of 49.6. Only 111 trials (27.1%) described allocation concealment, 140 (34.6%) provided power calculations, and 117 (28.9%) were adequately powered. Significant efficacy or trend for efficacy was claimed in 226 reports (56.4%), no difference between the procedures was found in 166 trials (41.4%), and significant harm was reported in 9 trials (2.2%). Trials with a larger sample size were more likely to report randomization mode, specify allocation concealment, and power calculations (all P < .001). Government funding was associated with better specification of power calculations (P = .008) and of allocation concealment (P = .026), while industry funding was associated with reporting significant efficacy (P = .02). Reporting of funding, specification of randomization mode and primary outcomes, and mention of power calculations improved significantly (all, P < .05) over time. CONCLUSION Several aspects of the design and reporting of RCTs on neurosurgical procedures have improved over time. Better powered and accurately reported trials are needed in neurosurgery to deliver evidence-based care and achieve optimal outcomes.
Acupuncture for Improving Chronic Back Pain, Osteoarthritis and Headache.

Objective—To conduct a critical review of the literature on acupuncture for chronic back pain, osteoarthritis and headache. Methods—Review of meta-analyses, systematic reviews and some well-conducted, recent studies. Results—Overall, acupuncture appears superior to no treatment or usual care for persons with chronic back pain, osteoarthritis, or headache. However, these findings vary depending on the specific outcome and the follow-up period. The magnitude of the effect varies, but is consistent with a small to moderate effect size in most cases. Moreover, acupuncture is not clearly superior to sham acupuncture, although the latter is a controversial control group. Acupuncture has a favorable safety profile, with relatively few side effects and serious ones quite rare. Limited evidence suggests that acupuncture is a cost effective treatment. Conclusions—The evidence suggests that acupuncture is a reasonable therapeutic option, but not the clear therapy of choice for any of these conditions. Acupuncture may be especially valuable for patients who prefer it to other options or are concerned about using analgesic medications.
Parental responsibility of African-American unwed adolescent fathers.

This study investigated factors relating to adolescent fathers willingness to take parental responsibility for their children. Data were collected on a convenience sample of 43 African-American unwed adolescent fathers (ages 15-21 years with a mean last completed grade o 10.35). The fathers were recruited from a decentralized community health center. Demographic information was collected and self-image was measured using the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire (OSIQ). OSIQ measures aspects of self: Social familial sexual coping and psychological. An author-developed questionnaire measured fathers parental responsibility his own role expectations and the role expectations of his partner and parents. The findings indicated that fathers parental responsibility was influenced by his own role expectations and self-image. The perceived role expectations of his partner and parents were not related to his willingness to take parental responsibility. This study helps adolescent care providers in various settings to become familiar with some of the issues related to teenage fathers and assists then in determining appropriate interventions.
WEC Array Electro-Mechanical Drivetrain Networked Microgrid Control Design and Energy Storage System Analysis

The purpose of this paper is to investigate Wave Energy Converter (WEC) technologies that are required to transform power from the waves to the electrical grid. WEC system components are reviewed that reveal the performance, stability, and efficiency. These WEC system individual components consists of; control methods, electro-mechanical drive-train, generator machines, power electronic converters, energy storage systems, and electrical grid integration. Initially, the transformation of energy from the wave to the electric grid is explored in detail for an individual WEC system. A control design methodology is then presented that addresses high penetration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and loads for networked AC/DC microgrid islanded subsystems. Both static and dynamic stability conditions are identified for the networked AC/DC microgrid system. Detailed numerical simulations were conducted for the electro-mechanical drivetrain system which includes; the dynamic responses, power generation for multiple wave conditions, and total efficiency of the energy/power conversion process. As a renewable energy scenario, the AC/DC microgrid islanded subsystem is employed to integrate an array of WECs. Preliminary Energy Storage System (ESS) power requirements are determined for the renewable energy scenario.
1998 mask industry quality assessment

The sixth annual mask industry assessment will survey numerous photomask companies for key performance measurements in the areas of safety, quality, delivery, and throughput time. The data compiled includes shipment volume, customer return rate, customer return reason, mask survival yield, delivery performance to schedule, throughput time, and safety incident rate from 1988 through Q2, 1998. New to the assessment is the addition of pellicle-related returns and pellicle failure reasons. The 1998 assessment contains data from eleven of the twelve 1997 participants and includes data from 3 new participants. Company identity remains protected by utilizing Arthur Anderson & Company to ensure confidentiality.
Bearing Deviation in HF Transionospheric Propagation. I. Exact Computations for Some Ionospheric Models With No Magnetic Field

Expressions are derived for the exact computation of bearing deviation and other high frequency radio ray-path parameters in a model ionosphere with no magnetic field, but with electron density varying in three dimensions. The three-dimensional variation is simulated by assuming a spherically symmetric ionospheric model, but with its center of curvature displaced from the center of the earth and by launching the ray out of the plane containing the transmitter and the two centers of curvature. Some numerical results for the ray-path parameters are presented for tile quasi-parabolic and quasi-linear models. Applications of the exact solutions are considered in a companion paper.
On symmetries of Hamiltonians describing systems with arbitrary spins

We consider systems where dynamical variables are the generators of the SU(2) group. A subset of these Hamiltonians is exactly solvable using the Bethe ansatz techniques. We show that Bethe ansatz equations are equivalent to polynomial relationships between the operator invariants, or equivalently, between eigenvalues of those invariants.
Hole burning and pump probe spectroscopy of photosynthetic particles

Time-dependent linear dichroism was observed for several wavelengths in the Qy band of the Bchl a-protein antenna complex from Prosthecochloris aestuarii, and photobleaching spectra were obtained for evidence of exciton localization. The results indicate that excitation transport in this antenna proceeds largely through incoherent hopping between localozed states at times longer than 2 ps.
Strongly Correlated Quantum Gas Prepared by Direct Laser Cooling.

We create a one-dimensional strongly correlated quantum gas of $^{133}\mathrm{Cs}$ atoms with attractive interactions by direct laser cooling in 300 ms. After compressing and cooling the optically trapped atoms to the vibrational ground state along two tightly confined directions, the emergence of a non-Gaussian time-of-flight distribution along the third, weakly confined direction reveals that the system enters a quantum degenerate regime. We observe a reduction of two- and three-body spatial correlations and infer that the atoms are directly cooled into a highly correlated excited metastable state, known as a super-Tonks-Girardeau gas.
Review: The Fragile Monument: On Conservation and Modernity, Materan Contradictions: Architecture, Preservation and Politics by Thordis Arrhenius

Thordis Arrhenius The Fragile Monument: On Conservation and Modernity London: Artifice Books and Black Dog Publishing, 2012, 160 pp., 50 color and b/w illus. Paper £19.95/ €23.95 / $29.95, ISBN 9781907317477 Anne Parmly Toxey Materan Contradictions: Architecture, Preservation and Politics Farnham, UK, and Burlington, Vt.: Ashgate, 2011, 380 pp., 150 b/w illus. Cloth £65 / $119.95, ISBN 9781409412076; e-book 9781409412083 Academic interest is growing in legally protected “heritage” that helps define the world in which we live. These two important books add significantly to our understanding of both the politics and the sensibilities of preservation, while also opening the way for further research. In considering how architectural remains become what Pierre Bourdieu has referred to as “cultural capital,” both authors see preserving the past as a concept and a process. Both associate it with modernity and with European (perhaps more accurately, “culturally Western”) political and societal life. Both are concerned with preservation and exhibitionary cultures. Thordis Arrhenius is an architect and professor of architectural history and conservation at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design; Anne Parmly Toxey is an exhibition designer and archaeologist. Both deal with processes of history, myth, and memory, with concepts of place and space in the making of usable monuments, and with sociopolitical national and “world” identities. Each makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the theories and practices of architectural heritage preservation and conservation, and the ways in which the preserved past infiltrates our lives. These books will be of interest to scholars and practitioners alike. Taken together, the books complement and compound each other and richly add to current debates. Each deals with specific material resources, acknowledging to varying degrees the sociopolitical circumstances associated with their preservation. Both appreciate relationships between legislation and preservation and that local concerns attract national and international intervention, a process made increasingly complex by the World Heritage program of UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization). Arrhenius’s interest is in the invention of individual monuments and how they have been viewed, restored, conserved, and integrated into various Western European cityscapes from the French Revolution to the mid-twentieth century. She considers the relationship between architecture’s exhibitionary …
Vector Splines on the Sphere, with Application to the Estimation of Vorticity and Divergence from Discrete, Noisy Data

Vector smoothing splines on the sphere are defined. Theoretical properties are briefly alluded to. An approach to choosing the appropriate Hilbert space norms to use in a specific meteorological application is described and justified via a duality theorem. Numerical procedures for computing the splines as well as the cross validation estimate of two smoothing parameters are given. A Monte Carlo study is described which suggests the accuracy with which upper air vorticity and divergence can be estimated using measured wind vectors from the North American radiosonde network.
Partial medial meniscectomy leads to altered walking mechanics two years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Meniscal repair does not.

Abstract Background Partial meniscectomy dramatically increases the risk for post-traumatic, tibiofemoral osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Concomitant medial meniscus surgery influences walking biomechanics (e.g., medial tibiofemoral joint loading) early after ACLR; whether medial meniscus surgery continues to influence walking biomechanics two years after ACLR is unknown. Research question Does medial meniscus treatment at the time of ACLR influence walking biomechanics two years after surgery? Methods This is a secondary analysis of prospectively collected data from a clinical trial (NCT01773317). Fifty-six athletes (age 24 ± 8 years) with operative reports, two-year biomechanical analyses, and no second injury prior to two-year testing participated after primary ACLR. Participants were classified by concomitant medial meniscal status: no medial meniscus involvement (n = 36), partial medial meniscectomy (n = 9), and medial meniscus repair (n = 11). Participants underwent biomechanical analyses during over-ground walking including surface electromyography; a validated musculoskeletal model estimated medial compartment tibiofemoral contact forces. Gait variables were analyzed using 3 × 2 ANOVAs with group (medial meniscus treatment) and limb (involved versus uninvolved) comparisons. Results There was a main effect of group (p = .039) for peak knee flexion angle (PKFA). Participants after partial medial meniscectomy walked with clinically meaningfully smaller PKFAs in both the involved and uninvolved limbs compared to the no medial meniscus involvement group (group mean difference [95%CI]; involved: −4.9°[−8.7°, −1.0°], p = .015; uninvolved: −3.9°[−7.6°, −0.3°], p = .035) and medial meniscus repair group (involved: −5.2°[−9.9°, −0.6°], p = .029; uninvolved: −4.7°[−9.0°, −0.3°], p = .038). The partial medial meniscectomy group walked with higher involved versus uninvolved limb medial tibiofemoral contact forces (0.45 body weights, 95% CI: −0.01, 0.91 BW, p = 0.053) and truncated sagittal plane knee excursions, which were not present in the other two groups. Significance Aberrant gait biomechanics may concentrate high forces in the antero-medial tibiofemoral cartilage among patients two years after ACLR plus partial medial meniscectomy, perhaps explaining the higher osteoarthritis rates and offering an opportunity for targeted interventions. Level of Evidence Level III.
Procedure-Associated Costs and Mid-Term Outcomes of Endovascular Zone 0 and Zone 1 Aortic Arch Repair

ABSTRACT Introduction Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) of proximal aortic arch pathology provides a less-invasive treatment option for high-risk patients ineligible for open arch reconstruction. However, the fiscal impact of these techniques remains unclear. Therefore, our objective was to characterize the mid-term outcomes after Zone 0 and Zone 1 TEVAR and describe the associated technical costs, revenues, and net margins at a single tertiary medical center. Methods We examined all patients who underwent TEVAR between April 2011 and August 2019 via retrospective chart review. Patients were categorized by proximal endograft extent to identify Zone 0 or Zone 1 repairs. Procedural characteristics and outcomes were described. Technical costs, revenues, and margins were obtained from the hospital finance department. Results We identified 10 patients (6 Zone 0, 4 Zone 1) who were denied open arch reconstruction. Patients were predominantly female (n=8; 80%) and the mean age was 72.8±5.5 years. TEVAR was performed in 5 asymptomatic patients, urgently in 3 symptomatic patients, and emergently in 2 ruptured patients. TEVAR plus extra-anatomic bypass was performed in 4 patients. Another 4 patients also received parallel stent-grafting while one patient received a branched thoracic endograft and yet another an in-situ laser fenestration followed by branch stent grafting. Within the 30-day postoperative period, 1 patient experienced stroke and 1 patient died. Bypass and branch vessel patency were 100% through the duration of follow-up (mean 19.3 months). Mean total technical cost associated with all procedures or repair stages was $105,164±$59,338 while mean net technical margin was -$25,055±$18,746. The net technical margin was negative for 9 patients. Conclusions Endovascular repair of the proximal aortic arch is associated with good mid-term outcomes in patients considered too high-risk for open repair. However, reimbursement does not adequately cover treatment cost, with net technical margins being negative in nearly all cases. To remain financially sustainable, efforts should be made to both optimize aortic arch TEVAR delivery as well as advocate for reimbursement commensurate with associated costs.