cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Re-positioning library technology support on Campus-Wilson Library’s journey

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the changing role of the academic library, in relation to technology support services. It proposes that library technology services should expand to take a central role in developing student academic technology skills, and shows how moving into non-traditional areas of technology support can expand a library’s operation capabilities to include entrepreneurship and innovation for faculty, staff and students. Design/methodology/approach – The paper outlines how our library expanded its technology services to include course management support, technical literacy training and three-dimensional (3D) printing, and details future developments into robotics and software development. It details the authors initial objectives, the issues encountered, the improvements made in response and what the authors hope to do in the future. Findings – We are at a time when technology has made innovation and creation available to many. Academic libraries should take on this opp...
Effects of Pallidotomy and Stn Stimulation on Reaching and Walking in Parkinson Disease

Parkinson Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the four cardinal features of tremor at rest, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability. The symptoms of PD are caused by degeneration of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The mainstay of treatment is dopamine replacement by administering the dopamine precursor levodopa. However, in advanced PD levodopa therapy is associated with increasing side effects including dyskinesia and the response to levodopa becomes shorter in duration and less predictable. As a result, neurosurgical treatment has been used with increasing frequency for advanced PD. Pallidotomy (ablation of globus pallidus pars interna), has been shown to improve many symptoms of PD, and is most effective in reducing dyskinesia caused by levodopa (Langet al.1997; Baronet al.2000; Palet al.2000). More recently, deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus or subthalamic nucleus (STN) has been used with promising results (Kumaret al.1998; Burchielet al.1999; Krauseet al.2001). DBS of the STN is the only procedure that has been shown consistently to reduce the required dose of levodopa.
Stockholders’ Capital Gains Position and the Cross-Section of Option Returns and Volatility

I investigate the relationship between the cross-section of option returns, and stockholders’ unrealized capital gains position on the underlying stocks, called capital gains overhang (CGO). I find a U-shaped relationship between CGO and volatility forecast, in that large unrealized gains as well as large unrealized losses lead to high future volatility. I find that a zero-cost strategy which has a long position in an option portfolio of stocks with either high CGO or low CGO, and a short position in an option portfolio with CGO close to zero, can generate economically substantial and statistically significant monthly return and salient Sharpe ratio even after controlling for transaction costs. The same is true for a delta-hedged strategy. The results are robust to firm risk-characteristics including momentum, market conditions, the choice of CGO measures, and are not explained by the usual linear factor models.
Associations of chronic stress burden, perceived stress, and traumatic stress with cardiovascular disease prevalence and risk factors in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study.

Objective The current study examined multiple stress indicators (chronic, perceived, traumatic) in relation to prevalent coronary heart disease, stroke, and major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (i.e., diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and current smoking) in the multisite Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study (2010-2011). Methods Participants were 5313 men and women 18 to 74 years old, representing diverse Hispanic/Latino ethnic backgrounds, who underwent a comprehensive baseline clinical examination and sociocultural examination with measures of stress. Results Chronic stress burden was related to a higher prevalence of coronary heart disease after adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral, and biological risk factors (odds ratio [OR; 95% confidence interval], 1.22 [1.10-1.36]) and related to stroke prevalence in the model adjusted for demographic and behavioral factors (OR [95% confidence interval], 1.26 [1.03-1.55]). Chronic stress was also related to a higher prevalence of diabetes (OR = 1.20 [1.11-1.31]) and hypertension (OR = 1.10 [1.02-1.19]) in individuals free from CVD (n = 4926). Perceived stress (OR = 1.03 [1.01-1.05]) and traumatic stress (OR = 1.15 [1.05-1.26]) were associated with a higher prevalence of smoking. Participants who reported a greater number of lifetime traumatic events also unexpectedly showed a lower prevalence of diabetes (OR = 0.89 [0.83-0.97]) and hypertension (OR = 0.88 [0.82-0.93]). Effects were largely consistent across age and sex groups. Conclusions The study underscores the advantages of examining multiple indicators of stress in relation to health because the direction and consistency of associations may vary across distinct stress conceptualizations. In addition, the study suggests that chronic stress is related to higher CVD risk and prevalence in Hispanics/Latinos, the largest US ethnic minority group.
Re-examination of Monopterous and “Micropterous” House Crickets (Acheta domesticus)

Monopterous and “micropterous” house crickets, Acheta domesticus (Linnaeus), are macropterous crickets that have shed one or both metathoracic wings. No truly micropterous house crickets are known.
End Block Design Modulates the Assembly and Mechanics of Thermoresponsive, Dual-Associative Protein Hydrogels

Polymers exhibiting lower critical solution behavior in water have found broad use as thermoresponsive moieties in soft materials, particularly in biomedical applications for triggered actuation, gelation, accumulation, or release. In this work, changing the thermoresponsive block in a self-assembling hydrogel is shown to be a useful approach to control the viscoelastic behavior and mechanical reinforcement of the gel above its transition temperature. Triblock copolymers were prepared with artificial associative protein midblocks from either site-specific bioconjugation of narrowly disperse poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) or as biosynthetic genetic fusions to monodisperse elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) sequences. Both synthetic approaches yield responsively reinforceable hydrogels that can be stiffened by up to an order of magnitude to approximately 105 Pa at 30% (w/w). However, end block chemical composition and linear block copolymer architecture could be manipulated to yield high-temperature plate...
Comparison of diffusion-weighted imaging and T2-weighted single shot fast spin-echo: Implications for LI-RADS characterization of hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the performance of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and T2-weighted single shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE) imaging of the liver in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in reference to the LI-RADS classification system. Methods MR images of 40 patients with 68 LI-RADS grade 3–5 lesions were analyzed. Two readers independently reviewed sequences and characterized lesion signal intensity, followed by consensus evaluation. CE-MRI served as reference standard. Sensitivities were compared across sequences. Lesion-to-liver contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were measured and compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test across sequences and the Mann–Whitney U or Kruskal–Wallis test between LI-RADS categories. Inter-reader variability was assessed using Cohen's kappa statistic. Results Consensus sensitivities of LI-RADS 3–5 lesions using SSFSE images versus DWI were similar (0.53–0.63, p = 0.089), however, the sensitivity with DWI b = 700 was higher (0.63) than DWI b = 0 (0.53, p = 0.039). Lesion-to-liver CNRs were larger for all DWI sequences compared to SSFSE images (p 2 cm) LIRADS 3–5 lesions were lower than those of small lesions (1.09 ± 0.33 vs. 1.31 ± 0.26, p = 0.02), however lesion ADCs were not different from those of adjacent hepatic parenchyma for any LI-RADS lesion. Conclusions DWI has a similar sensitivity compared to SSFSE, but intensity on DWI likely represents intrinsic T2 signal hyper-intensity rather than restricted diffusion as the ADC values were not lower than adjacent parenchyma. Therefore it may not be appropriate to consider hyper-intensity on high b-value as a separate ancillary criteria to T2 hyper-intensity in LI-RADS.
An Integrated Inertial Double-Star/Celestial Navigation System for Ballistic Missile

This paper introduces an INS/double-star/CNS integrated navigation mode for ballistic missile to estimate and correct the error of parameters and enhance the accuracy.The angle differences of INS and CNS,the position differences of INS and double-star navigation are used as measurements to establish math model and observation equation for the navigation system of ballistic missile.The error of the integrated navigation parameters for ballistic missile can be online estimated by non-feedback federal filtering.The results of computer simulation shows that compared with SINS navigation,this integrated system can enhance the accuracy of navigation system and is suitable for the navigation of ballistic missile.
Vascular responses to Angiotensin-(1-7) during the estrous cycle.

Mesenteric arteries (230–290 µm) were isolated from virgin female rats at diestrous and proestrous phases of the estrous cycle and from ovariectomized (OVX) rats with or without estrogen (E2) replacement (17β-estradiol, 7.5 + 5 mg pellets, 21 d release). Arteries were mounted in a pressurized myograph system. Angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang-(1–7)] concentration-dependent responses (10−10–10−5 M) were determined in arteries preconstricted with endothelin-1 (10−7 M). Mesenteric arteries were pretreated with the specific Ang-(1–7) antagonist, d-[Ala7]-Ang-(1–7) (10−7 M) to assess the Ang-(1–7) receptor-mediated dilator effect. Ang-(1–7) did not dilate mesenteric arteries from virgin rats at diestrus and placebo-treated OVX female rats as compared to the time control; however, Ang-(1–7) elicited a modest dilation at proestrus as compared to diestrus, which reached statistical significance at 10−8 M concentrations. Ang-(1–7) caused a concentration-dependent vasodilation in mesenteric arteries of females with E2 replacement, with an EC50 of 21 nM. d-[Ala7]-Ang-(1–7) blocked the vasodilator effect of Ang-(1–7). Our results demonstrate that during proestrus Ang-(1–7) elicits modest vasodilation as compared to diestrus, but lacks vasodilatory properties in vessels from diestrous and ovariectomized rats. Estrogen replacement restores a significant dilator response to Ang-(1–7) in OVX rats that is mediated by a d-[Ala7]-Ang-(1–7) sensitive site.
Investigation and Prevention of Crimes Committed by Critically Ill Patients

Critically ill Patients suffer not only severe physical torture caused by disease,but also the psychological pain and economic difficulties caused hence.In facing with such problems,the patients are likely to run the risk committing crimes.Due to the unusual situation the patients are in,cautious should be taken against the detection and prevention of crimes committed by them.
Anesthetic Vaporizer Mount Malfunction Resulting in Oxygenation Failure after Initiating Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Specific Recommendations for the Pre-Bypass Checklist

Modern technologic advances in medicine have allowed commonly used machines to perform safely with very low risk and a high degree of success. To detect or prevent poten-tial malfunctions, professionals routinely perform pre-use checks for equipment such as anesthesia machines and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machines. These machine checklists are not only critical for a safe operation but also have large impacts on outcomes. For example, when malfunctions are encountered that could have potential negative ramifications or adverse outcomes, multi-approach strategies should be used to identify rectifiable causes and find solutions that are practical. This information can be used to promulgate safe practice guidelines. This case report identifies a machine-based contributing factor to precipitous hypoxia on initiation of bypass in one of our patients. After a detailed approach to identify preventable root causes, we made simple additions to our pre-bypass checklist and recom mend these changes to other institutions.
Medical Honey and Silver Dressings Do Not Interfere with Each Other's Key Functional Attributes.

OBJECTIVE This study sought to determine whether silver-containing dressings and medical-grade honey gel interfere with one another in measurable ways. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dressings applied together in clinical use were tested using in vitro and ex vivo methods to determine whether the combined modalities maintain their individual properties. In order to determine if the presence of silver dressings interfere with honey's osmotic strength, which is a key physical property of medical honey, changes in honey's 2 primary sugars were measured, as well as changes in its overall osmotic strength. Finally, the antibacterial barrier activity of the dressings were tested individually and in honey/silver pairs in 2 in vitro models with 2 clinical strains of bacteria. RESULTS The data demonstrate that honey with silver dressings resulted in an increased osmolarity, since both the concentration of the 2 primary sugars in honey as well as its overall osmolarity increased. The data also demonstrate that the in vitro antibacterial barrier activity seen with silver-containing dressings does not decrease with the addition of medical honey and in some instances increased. CONCLUSION Altogether, these data suggest that these 2 classes of dressings do not interfere with each other. Clinical evidence is still required to fully validate these findings.
Cases of the Reincarnation Type

A third line of ostensible evidence for life after death derives from data apparently suggestive of reincarnation, the re-embodiment on earth of some formerly living person. The data consist of living persons claiming alleged past-life memories as a particular formerly living person (hereinafter “previous personality”), describing with varying levels of detail alleged facts about the public and personal life of the previous personality, exhibiting behavioral patterns characteristic of the previous personality, and in some cases exhibiting birthmarks associated with the previous personality. Although there has been considerable anecdotal evidence of these phenomena across cultures and time, the systematic empirical investigation and analysis of these phenomena may be traced principally to the work of the late Ian Stevenson beginning in 1960, whose research program continues to this day among an increasing number of researchers dedicated to the exploration of what Stevenson designated “cases of the reincarnation type” (hereinafter CORTs).
Analysis of Aerobic Respiration in Intact Skeletal Muscle Tissue by Microplate-Based Respirometry

Mitochondrial function is a key component of skeletal muscle health, and its dysfunction has been associated with a wide variety of diseases. Microplate-based respirometry measures aerobic respiration of live cells through extracellular changes in oxygen concentration. Here, we describe a methodology to measure aerobic respiration of intact murine skeletal muscle tissue. The tissues are not cultured, permeabilized, or enzymatically dissociated to single fibers, so there is minimal experimental manipulation affecting the samples prior to acquiring measurements.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Related Diseases: Clinical Features

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), epidemiology, immunopathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, autoantibodies, differential diagnosis, disease course, and treatment. SLE is the classic multisystem autoimmune disease. It occurs more frequently in women, with a 9:1 ratio. Multiple environmental factors contribute to the pathogenesis of SLE. Ultraviolet radiation is the best understood, leading to the exposure of Ro on the surface of keratinocytes. Other environmental triggers of SLE include certain drugs. The hallmark of SLE is the production of autoantibodies by B cells. Furthermore, The American College of Rheumatology has devised classification criteria that require the presence of four of the following eleven to “classify” SLE: malar rash, discoid rash, photosensitivity, oral ulcers, arthritis, serositis, renal disorder, neurologic disorder, hematologic disorder, immunologic disorder, and positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Treatment is determined by organ involvement. Photosensitive rashes are treated by sun avoidance, sun block, and by hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug with an immunomodulating effect. This chapter also discusses related disease of chronic cutaneous lupus, mixed connective tissue disease, and undifferentiated connective tissue diseases
Dynamic Behaviour of the Water–Food–Energy Nexus: Focus on Crop Production and Consumption

Water, energy, and food are interrelated and critical resources for human well-being and environmental goals. Single-sector national strategies that focus on individual sectors of the nexus without considering their interconnections may lead to acute unanticipated consequences. In the present study, the system dynamic model platform was used to create a new approach to analysis of dynamic behaviour, focusing on joint water–energy–food interactions stemming from crop production and consumption at the national level under different scenarios and alternatives. The developed system determines: (i) water and energy footprints of crop production and consumption; (ii) virtual water and energy import and export; (iii) the national water and energy saving balance due to trade of agricultural commodities; and (iv) a water–food–energy nexus index. A case study from Egypt was used to test the system and illustrate some of its significance. The research illustrates the importance of considering the water–food–energy nexus when developing national strategies. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The immunological approach to the study of preimplantation mammalian development.

For the developmental biologist interested in the mammalian system, the pre-implantation embryo offers the unique opportunity of studying the mechanisms and cellular interactions involved in the transition of a single cell, the zygote, into a complex multicellular organism. The mouse has proved the most useful model for such studies because development of the preimplantation embryo in vitro appears to parallel development in vivo. During this period the embryo undergoes three cleavages from a zygote to an 8-cell embryo. The 8-cell embryo then undergoes a process of compaction, during which the cells become closely adherent and individual cell boundaries become indistinct. Two to three further cell divisions, junction formation, and the first cellular differentiation result in formation of the blastocyst, a fluid-filled sphere of cells bounded by an epithelial trophectoderm with the inner cell mass (destined to become the embryo proper) at one pole. It is the late blastocyst that begins to implant in the uterine wall.
Changes in Size of Casein Micelles Caused by Growth of Psychrotrophic Bacteria in Raw Skim Milk.

Raw skim milk was inoculated (1%, v/v) with a proteolytic psychrotrophic bacterium that previously was isolated from milk. The inoculated skim milk was incubated at 7°C for 0, 3, 5 and 7 d. The pH values for the milk were 6.6, 6.5, 6.45 and 5.95, and the numbers of psychrotrophs/ml were 1.0 × 104 8.9 × 107, 9.0 × 108 and 2.5 × 108 for days 0, 3, 5 and 7, respectively. Samples of milk were negatively stained, examined with transmission electron microscopy and distribution of sizes of casein micelles was determined. The average and (mode) sizes of micelles were 849 (789), 1030 (634), 761 (634) and 405 (316) Angstroms for milks after days 0, 3, 5 and 7, respectively. Another set of samples was prepared from skim milk immediately after it was acidified to pH values of 6.6, 6.5, 6.45 and 5.95. The average and (mode) sizes of micelles were 891 (766), 875 (615), 913 (766) and 840 (615) Angstroms for milks having pH values of 6.6, 6.5, 6.45 and 5.95, respectively. Changes in size of micelles in the incubated samples resulted from bacterial activity other than small changes in pH.
Convergence results and asymptotic error estimates for Galerkin-type spectral synthesis

The problem considered in this paper is the continuous-energy, continuous-space time-independent neutron-diffusion equation, with given source and zero flux at the boundary. The basic result is tha...
A high throughput mutagenic analysis of yeast sumo structure and function

Sumoylation regulates a wide range of essential cellular functions through diverse mechanisms that remain to be fully understood. Using S. cerevisiae, a model organism with a single essential SUMO gene (SMT3), we developed a library of >250 mutant strains with single or multiple amino acid substitutions of surface or core residues in the Smt3 protein. By screening this library using plate-based assays, we have generated a comprehensive structure-function based map of Smt3, revealing essential amino acid residues and residues critical for function under a variety of genotoxic and proteotoxic stress conditions. Functionally important residues mapped to surfaces affecting Smt3 precursor processing and deconjugation from protein substrates, covalent conjugation to protein substrates, and non-covalent interactions with E3 ligases and downstream effector proteins containing SUMO-interacting motifs. Lysine residues potentially involved in formation of polymeric chains were also investigated, revealing critical roles for polymeric chains, but redundancy in specific chain linkages. Collectively, our findings provide important insights into the molecular basis of signaling through sumoylation. Moreover, the library of Smt3 mutants represents a valuable resource for further exploring the functions of sumoylation in cellular stress response and other SUMO-dependent pathways.
Introduction: Peripheral nerve surgery

Several mechanisms are involved in peripheral nerve injury including trauma, entrapment syndromes, and tumors. The clinical history and the physical examination are fundamental for the correct diagnosis and for the choice of the best therapy. The indication for surgery will depend on the mechanism of injury and the degree of neurological impairment. For entrapment syndromes, surgery is indicated in the failure of conservative treatment or when there is functional impairment (sensory or motor) related to the affected nerve. Surgery is also indicated for open traumatic injuries of peripheral nerves, and it is generally recommended for patients with intrinsic tumors such as schwannomas. In this chapter we present a review of the main surgical conditions affecting the peripheral nerves.
IBPRO - A Novel Short-Duration Teaching Course in Advanced Physics and Biology Underlying Cancer Radiotherapy.

This article provides a summary and status report of the ongoing advanced education program IBPRO – Integrated course in Biology and Physics of Radiation Oncology. IBPRO is a five-year program funded by NCI. It addresses the recognized deficiency in the number of mentors available who have the required knowledge and skill to provide the teaching and training that is required for future radiation oncologists and researchers in radiation sciences. Each year, IBPRO brings together 50 attendees typically at assistant professor level and upwards, who are already qualified/certified radiation oncologists, medical physicists or biologists. These attendees receive keynote lectures and activities based on active learning strategies, merging together the clinical, biological and physics underpinnings of radiation oncology, at the forefront of the field. This experience is aimed at increasing collaborations, raising the level and amount of basic and applied research undertaken in radiation oncology, and enabling att...
Estimating traffic volumes for signalized intersections using connected vehicle data

Abstract Recently connected vehicle (CV) technology has received significant attention thanks to active pilot deployments supported by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) . At signalized intersections, CVs may serve as mobile sensors, providing opportunities of reducing dependencies on conventional vehicle detectors for signal operation. However, most of the existing studies mainly focus on scenarios that penetration rates of CVs reach certain level, e.g., 25%, which may not be feasible in the near future. How to utilize data from a small number of CVs to improve traffic signal operation remains an open question. In this work, we develop an approach to estimate traffic volume, a key input to many signal optimization algorithms, using GPS trajectory data from CV or navigation devices under low market penetration rates. To estimate traffic volumes, we model vehicle arrivals at signalized intersections as a time-dependent Poisson process, which can account for signal coordination. The estimation problem is formulated as a maximum likelihood problem given multiple observed trajectories from CVs approaching to the intersection. An expectation maximization (EM) procedure is derived to solve the estimation problem. Two case studies were conducted to validate our estimation algorithm. One uses the CV data from the Safety Pilot Model Deployment (SPMD) project, in which around 2800 CVs were deployed in the City of Ann Arbor, MI. The other uses vehicle trajectory data from users of a commercial navigation service in China. Mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of the estimation is found to be 9–12%, based on benchmark data manually collected and data from loop detectors. Considering the existing scale of CV deployments, the proposed approach could be of significant help to traffic management agencies for evaluating and operating traffic signals, paving the way of using CVs for detector-free signal operation in the future.
Microelectromechanical detector of infrared spectral signatures with near-zero standby power consumption

This paper reports the first experimental demonstration of a near-zero power (<1 pW standby power consumption) detector of infrared (IR) spectral signatures. The proposed passive digitizer of IR spectral signatures is composed of 2 Plasmonically-enhanced MEMS Relays (PMRs) implementing a logic circuit. Unlike solid-state photodetectors, the PMRs exploit a plasmonically-enhanced thermomechanical coupling to selectively harvest the energy contained in an IR spectral band of interest itself and use it to mechanically create a conducting channel between the battery and the load without consuming any power in standby (i.e. while in the OFF state). In this work, we demonstrate for the first time, that by connecting in series 2 PMRs, tuned to different spectral bands (i.e. 4.1 μm and 5.6 μm), it is possible to implement a passive logic circuit capable of producing an output voltage (i.e. a quantized output bit that wakes up the active wireless sensor) only when exposed to the IR spectral signature associated to a target of interest (i.e. the exhaust plume of a vehicle). The event-driven sensing capability enabled by such a micro-scale IR digitizer can dramatically extend the battery life of wireless sensor nodes remotely deployed to detect infrequent but time critical events.
Big data opens a window onto wellness.

Longitudinal multi-omics data, clinical tests and biomarker analyses across a large cohort lay the groundwork for understanding the transition from wellness to disease.
Modeling the metabolic costs of swimming in polar bears ( Ursus maritimus )

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and duration of long-distance swims by polar bears (Ursus maritimus). The energetic costs of such swims are assumed to be large, however, no estimates of metabolic costs of swimming for polar bears are available. Here, I use data on internal body temperature and external ambient temperature for two swimming polar bears, combined with mathematical modeling of heat production and of heat conduction to the surrounding water, to estimate the metabolic rate of swimming. Using this metabolic rate, I then examine the relative heat production and heat loss for bears of a range of sizes and body conditions. I calculated overall mean metabolic rate for a swimming bear to be 2.75 ml O2 g−1 h−1, which is generally higher than metabolic rates previously reported for walking polar bears. When compared at the same movement rate, the cost of transport for swimming was estimated to be approximately 5× that of walking. I further show that for small bears (less than approx. 145 cm body length or 90 kg) and bears in poor body condition, heat loss while swimming in cold Arctic waters should exceed heat production, and long swims should therefore not be thermodynamically sustainable. These results support previous claims that increasing frequency and duration of long-distance swims in polar bears is energetically stressful. Energetic and thermodynamic costs of long swims may be further exacerbated by recent declines in body condition that have been documented due to climate warming.
Abstract WP410: Short-Term Outcomes in Pediatric Ischemic Stroke: An Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2002-2011

Introduction: Pediatric stroke occurs in up to 13 out of every 100,000 children and often results in lifelong disability or mortality. The purpose of our study was to identify factors that affect h...
PolyMorphine provides extended analgesic-like effects in mice with spared nerve injury.

Morphine is a well-characterized and effective analgesic commonly used to provide pain relief to patients suffering from both acute and chronic pain conditions. Despite its widespread use and effec...
Laser damage of optical windows with random antireflective surface structures on both interfaces

High average-power, nanosecond-duration, laser pulses induce damage on uncoated optics, due in part to an enhanced localized field at the exit surface of the components. Similarly, anti-reflection (AR) thin-film coated optics have similar field enhancement regions, due to multiple boundaries, and experience laser induced damage on both entry and exit interfaces. Sub-wavelength anti-reflection randomly structured surfaces (rARSS) have been shown to have a higher laser-induced damage threshold than traditional AR coatings. Previously published work detailed laser-induced damage on rARSS on a single surface of optical quality, planar, fused silica substrates; optimized for maximum transmission (99.5%) at 1064 nm. The present study explores the introduction of rARSS to both sides of the substrate. Laser-induced damage was systematically created and measured at contiguous locations along the substrate, using 1064 nm wavelength, 6-10 ns duration pulses. Laser output was focused to increase incident irradiance at the initial interface. Incident fluence was directly controlled by Q-switching the laser to create fluence values at, and above, damage thresholds for both entry and exit sides. It was determined that double-sided rARSS substrates have a higher damage threshold than thin-film AR coatings, while they have a lower damage threshold than entrance-only and exit-only sided rARSS (previous study), as well as, lower damage threshold than plain, optical quality, uncoated, fused silica. Damage on the exit-side of the substrate was ballistic in nature, showing surface cracks and outward-oriented debris craters. Contrastingly, damage on the entry-side of the substrate was thermally-induced local-densification of random structures with a latent footprint.
The Effect of Mergers and Acquisitions on Industrial Research: Research Management's Response to Corporate Change: An Outside View

(1968). The Effect of Mergers and Acquisitions on Industrial Research: Research Management's Response to Corporate Change: An Outside View. Research Management: Vol. 11, No. 6, pp. 355-360.
Accountability for the Quality of Care Provided to People with Serious Illness.

Abstract Background: Care for patients with serious illness is an emerging practice area that has gained attention as value-based purchasing has increased. While the number of programs is growing, their impact on care quality and outcomes is unknown. Objective: With support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is assessing the feasibility of creating an accountability program focused on serious illness care. Methods: This article describes the process of developing an accountability program, findings from our initial work, and our plans to develop measures for a serious illness care accountability program. We focused on three questions: 1. What patient populations should be targeted for measurement? 2. What entities have accountability for ensuring high-quality care for serious illness? 3. What structures, processes, and outcomes should be evaluated in an accountability program for serious illness care? Results: Our environmental scan showed that ...
The signs of silence. Communicating with deaf and hearing-impaired patients.

Nearly 7 percent of the U.S. population is deaf or hearing-impaired. Yet few EMS providers know how to identify or communicate with these special-need patients. Find out how to bridge the gap to deal effectively with this patient population.
Perfluoroalkyl substances are inversely associated with coronary heart disease in adults with diabetes.

Abstract Aims Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally and biologically persistent synthetic environmental contaminants linked to adverse health outcomes. Though null to modest inverse relationships between PFAS and coronary heart disease (CHD) have been reported, studies regarding relationships in high risk populations such as those with diabetes are sparse. We investigated the relationship of PFAS with CHD in persons with diabetes. Methods Data on 5270 adults, aged ≥20 years, with diabetes were obtained from the C8 Health Project. Four PFAS were investigated separately: perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). Results In logistic regression analyses adjusting for age, sex, diabetes duration, BMI, smoking, lipids, WBC, CRP, eGFR, uric acid, hemoglobin and iron, all PFAS were inversely associated with CHD, ORs (95% CIs): PFHxS; 0.72 (0.65–0.79), PFOA; 0.90 (0.81–0.96), PFOS; 0.90 (0.81–0.99), PFNA; 0.88 (0.76–1.02). Stratification by chronic kidney disease status revealed similar inverse relationships for those with and without chronic kidney disease. Conclusions In this cross-sectional study of over 5000 adults with diabetes, PFAS showed inverse associations with CHD. These findings may, if confirmed in future studies, provide new physiologic understanding of CHD prevention strategies.
Non-destructive optical second harmonic generation imaging of 3D printed aluminum nitride ceramics

Abstract Aluminum nitride (AlN) ceramics have attracted broad interest due to their potential applications in electronics. Additive manufacturing of ceramic components are rapidly advancing, could provide a new way of manufacturing over conventional methods. Non-destructive testing of 3D printed ceramic samples is an important step for quality control in manufacturing. Here we show that AlN ceramics show strong optical second harmonic generation (SHG) signals due to its wurtzite crystal structure. Microscopic SHG imaging can also examine the microscopy domains in AlN ceramics with submicron spatial resolution. This technique has the potential to be applied as a non-destructive testing method for examining 3D printed AlN ceramic components.
An analytical study on leader and follower switching in V-shaped Canada Goose flocks for energy management purposes

Migrating birds may take advantage of V-shaped flocking to reduce the required energy for their flight. Studies have shown that the birds in different positions in V-shaped flight contend with different drag forces. Lead and follower birds may have to overcome more drag forces than the other birds in a V-shaped flock. Some observations of different kinds of flocking birds repositioning within a flock have been reported. This observation is here interpreted in an energetic context as well as its aerodynamic aspects. This paper presents the repositioning aerodynamics analysis of birds that fly in V-shaped flocks and their energy-saving consequences. This analysis demonstrates how Canada Geese can fly very far in a single day through repositioning. Extensive analysis shows that leader and tail position switching of 14 Canada Geese can improve the flight range and endurance of these migrating birds more than 44.6%. This study gives the guidelines for energy saving and optimization of flocking migrating birds through evolution.
ASSOCIATION OF CHRONIC DISEASE DIAGNOSES AND SUBJECTIVE AGE IN LATER LIFE: MODERATING ROLE OF CHRONOLOGICAL AGE

It is well established that health, measured in various ways including chronic health conditions, is an important determinant of subjective age. This study investigates if new diagnoses of chronic health conditions are associated with subjective age and if the magnitude of such an association varies across chronological age. The study uses 2010 and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Residualized change regression analysis was performed to examine the association between number of chronic health conditions newly diagnosed between 2010 - 2014 and change in subjective age in 2014 compared to 2010, using 2010 chronological age as a moderator. Results showed that every new diagnosis of chronic health condition was associated with a 0.68 year increase in subjective age in 2014, compared to their subjective age in 2010. However, this increase was attenuated by 0.06 for every 1-year increase in participants’ chronological age in 2010. These results can be understood with Social Comparison and Temporal Comparison theories, according to which individuals compare themselves to their peers and also to their earlier years of life. Compared to older adults, middle aged individuals are more likely to have healthier peers and also more likely to be healthy in their immediate prior years. Since multi morbidity is stereotypically associated with old age, chronic disease diagnoses may be seen as normative in older adults. However, new diagnosis of chronic health conditions may have a greater influence on subjective age in middle aged individuals.
Optimization of a Suite of Microsatellite Markers for Nocomis leptocephalus (Bluehead Chub) and Genetic Characterization of Two Populations in South Carolina

Nocomis leptocephalus (Bluehead Chub) is a minnow native to the southeastern United States that constructs nests used by many freshwater fishes. No microsatellite markers have been published for Bluehead Chub, and information on genetic structure and diversity is sparse. We evaluated microsatellites from other leuciscid species for use with Bluehead Chub and created a panel of markers that has sufficient power for investigations of population structure and can differentiate between Bluehead Chub and Notropis lutipinnis (Yellowfin Shiner) eggs. We applied the panel to Bluehead Chub samples from 2 locations in South Carolina, finding these populations are genetically differentiated with high levels of genetic diversity. Our marker panel can improve our understanding of population dynamics of Bluehead Chub and allow for informed conservation recommendations.
Clutter suppression in ultrasound: performance evaluation and review of low-rank and sparse matrix decomposition methods

Vessel diseases are often accompanied by abnormalities related to vascular shape and size. Therefore, a clear visualization of vasculature is of high clinical significance. Ultrasound color flow imaging (CFI) is one of the prominent techniques for flow visualization. However, clutter signals originating from slow-moving tissue are one of the main obstacles to obtain a clear view of the vascular network. Enhancement of the vasculature by suppressing the clutters is a significant and irreplaceable step for many applications of ultrasound CFI. Currently, this task is often performed by singular value decomposition (SVD) of the data matrix. This approach exhibits two well-known limitations. First, the performance of SVD is sensitive to the proper manual selection of the ranks corresponding to clutter and blood subspaces. Second, SVD is prone to failure in the presence of large random noise in the dataset. A potential solution to these issues is using decomposition into low-rank and sparse matrices (DLSM) framework. SVD is one of the algorithms for solving the minimization problem under the DLSM framework. Many other algorithms under DLSM avoid full SVD and use approximated SVD or SVD-free ideas which may have better performance with higher robustness and less computing time. In practice, these models separate blood from clutter based on the assumption that steady clutter represents a low-rank structure and that the moving blood component is sparse. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of ultrasound clutter suppression techniques and exploit the feasibility of low-rank and sparse decomposition schemes in ultrasound clutter suppression. We conduct this review study by adapting 106 DLSM algorithms and validating them against simulation, phantom, and in vivo rat datasets. Two conventional quality metrics, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), are used for performance evaluation. In addition, computation times required by different algorithms for generating clutter suppressed images are reported. Our extensive analysis shows that the DLSM framework can be successfully applied to ultrasound clutter suppression.
Survey of the Health of Urban Residents: a Community-Driven Assessment of Conditions Salient to the Health of Historically Excluded Populations in the USA.

Data from the Survey of the Health of Urban Residents (SHUR) identified connections between police brutality and medical mistrust, generating significant media, policy, and research attention. Amidst intersecting crises of COVID-19, racism, and police brutality, this report describes survey development and data collection procedures for the SHUR. We conducted focus groups with Black men, Latinxs, and immigrants in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Findings were used to develop and refine measures of conditions salient to the health of urban residents across the country. Quota sampling was employed; oversampling people of color and persons whose usual source of care was not a doctor’s office. Non-Hispanic Whites made up just under two thirds of the sample (63.65%, n = 2793). Black/African American respondents accounted for 14.2% of the sample (n = 623), while 11.62% (n = 510) were Latinx. Only 43.46% of respondents reported a doctor’s office as their usual source of care. Novel measures of population-specific stressors include a range of negative encounters with the police, frequency of these encounters, and respondents’ assessments of whether the encounters were necessary. SHUR assessed the likelihood of calling the police if there is a problem, worries about incarceration, and cause-specific stressors such as race-related impression management. SHUR (n = 4389) is a useful resource for researchers seeking to address the health implications of experiences not frequently measured by national health surveillance surveys. It includes respondents’ zip codes, presenting the opportunity to connect these data with zip code-level health system, social and economic characteristics that shape health beyond individual factors.
Imitative Entry and Product Loyalty

An imitator—or a copycat—often enters a market to compete against an innovator. This article proposes a modeling approach that incorporates imitative entry in which an imitator produces a low end product that imitates a high-end product produced by the innovator. If no imitator enters the market, the innovator can operate as a monopolist, producing and selling both a high- and a low-end version of the product to consumers. We find that imitative entry changes the nature of strategic dynamics in various ways and, thus, has counterintuitive implications for strategic decision-making.
Abstract 16346: Soluble P-Selectin Predicts Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease Incidence and Change in the Ankle Brachial Index: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Background: Given the global burden of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and the associated morbidity, continuing investigation of potential biomarkers as therapeutic targets for preventing PAD is warranted. The association of P-selectin, an endothelial cell adhesion molecule, with the ankle brachial index (ABI) and PAD is not well established. Thus, we examined the association of circulating P-selectin with prevalent and incident PAD, the ABI, and change in the ABI. Methods: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) is a prospective population-based cohort including 6814 non-Hispanic white, African American, Hispanic and Chinese men and women aged 45-84 at baseline (2000-02). For this analysis, 5700 participants with both P-selectin at Exam 2 (2002-04) and the ABI at Exam 3 (2004-05) were available, with change in ABI from Exam 3 to Exam 5 (2010-12) available on 4276 participants. P-selectin was modeled per standard deviation (SD), while prevalent and incident PAD were defined as ABI ≤ 0.90 after excluding those with ABI>1.4. Linear regression was used for ABI, growth curve models for change in ABI, and logistic regression for prevalent and incident PAD. Results: In models adjusted for demographics, lifestyle factors, comorbidities, blood pressure, lipids, fasting glucose, c-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), D-dimer, and fibrinogen, each SD (13 ng/mL) higher P-selectin was significantly associated with 0.007 lower ABI (95% CI ((-0.011, -0.004)), p Conclusions: P-selectin appears to be strongly associated with the development of PAD. However, further research is needed in population-based studies to confirm prospective associations of p-selectin with incident PAD and change in the ABI.
Experimental Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos of Post-buckled Plates

Panels and plates are an important structural element in many engineering applications, such as aircraft skin panels, ship hulls, and civil shell structures. These structures, particularly when their boundaries are in some way constrained, exhibit highly nonlinear behavior (e.g. spring hardening) even for relatively small deformations due to induced axial loading. An extreme, but highly important, example is dynamic snap-through buckling of curved or post-buckled thin panels. This phenomena is well represented in the literature, both for plates and for the simplified case of curved beams. The majority of the experimental studies, especially for panels, have been carried out using either wind tunnels or acoustic drivers to generate transverse loading. While this is directly applicable to real-world scenarios, say aircraft panel loading, it does not permit direct control of the loads that are applied. In this work, we instead apply loads to a thermally buckled panel using an electrodynamic shaker. This, along with the use of digital image correlation to capture the full field dynamic response allows for a complete picture of the complex characteristics of dynamic snap-through.