cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A performance and energy evaluation of many-light rendering algorithms

Recently, the performance of many-light algorithms, where thousands of light sources are used to compute the lighting in a scene, has improved so much that they have reached the realm of real-time rendering. In general, the algorithm that is considered "best" is the one that is the fastest in terms of time per frame. Given that power efficiency may become or already is one of the most important optimization factors for both hardware and software vendors for graphics, we take a different route and instead measure both energy usage per frame and frame time for a number of popular many-light rendering algorithms on an Intel Iris Pro. We use Pareto frontiers for each configuration to examine the possibilities for trade-offs between rendering time and energy consumption. Furthermore, we examine the optimal algorithms at each configuration, and are able to draw generalized conclusions on when each algorithm is most efficient. We also record several other statistics on the algorithms, e.g., bandwidth, and are able to draw further conclusions with regard to energy consumption.
EMPEROR PENGUIN PLUMAGE CHILLS BELOW AIR TEMPERATURES

![][1] The iconic emperor penguin is renowned for braving the Antarctic winter to incubate its young, facing temperatures as low as −40°C. Despite their frosty surroundings, emperor penguins maintain core body temperature near 37°C, in large part due to their impressive,
Sildenafil citrate alleviates pulmonary hypertension after hypoxia and reoxygenation with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background Sudden reoxygenation of hypoxic neonates undergoing cardiac operation exacerbates the systemic inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass secondary to reoxygenation injury, worsening cardiopulmonary dysfunction. Reports suggest sildenafil decreases pulmonary hypertension and may affect myocardial function. Sildenafil’s efficacy for treating postbypass cardiopulmonary dysfunction remains unknown. Study design Fourteen neonatal piglets (5 to 7 kg) underwent 90 minutes of hypoxia, 60 minutes of reoxygenation with cardiopulmonary bypass, and 120 minutes of recovery. Six animals received 50 mg oral sildenafil and eight received saline at hypoxia. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Results Sildenafil prevented the high pulmonary vascular resistance observed in controls (controls baseline 81 ± 37 dynes · s/cm5 versus recovery 230 ± 93 dynes · s/cm5, p = 0.004; sildenafil baseline 38 ± 17 dynes · s/cm5 versus recovery 101 ± 60 dynes · s/cm5, p = 0.003). Despite lower pulmonary vascular resistance after sildenafil, arterial endothelin-1 (ET-1) was increased in both groups (control baseline 1.3 ± 0.5 pg/mL versus recovery 4.5 ± 3.7 pg/mL, p = 0.01; sildenafil baseline 1.3 ± 0.3 pg/mL versus recovery 9.8 ± 4.9 pg/mL, p = 0.003). Intravenous nitric oxide (NO) levels were preserved after sildenafil treatment (sildenafil baseline 340 ± 77 nM versus recovery 394 ± 85 nM). IV NO levels in controls were decreased when compared with baseline (control baseline 364 ± 83 nM versus recovery 257 ± 97 nM, p = 0.028). Although levels of exhaled NO decreased in both groups, the sildenafil-treated animals had higher levels of exhaled NO when compared with controls at the end of recovery (0.6 ± 0.4 parts per billion versus 1.8 ± 0.9 parts per billion, respectively, p = 0.029). Conclusions Sildenafil alleviated pulmonary hypertension after reoxygenation with cardiopulmonary bypass. Despite increased ET-1 levels, pulmonary vascular resistance was lower with sildenafil treatment, suggesting sildenafil’s effect on the pulmonary vasculature is capable of countering vasoconstriction by ET-1. Further study into the role of sildenafil in perioperative therapy and its interactions with ET-1 are warranted.
Predictors and consequences of food neophobia and pickiness in young girls

Abstract Objective Vegetable intake among children is well below recommended levels. We assessed whether food neophobia and pickiness contribute to low vegetable intake in school-aged girls and if there are distinct predictors for neophobia and pickiness. Children with food neophobia are reluctant to eat new foods whereas picky children resist eating many familiar foods. Design/subjects Participants were 192 7-year-old girls and their parents, recruited for a study of girls' nutrition and development. We examined relationships between food neophobia and pickiness and assessed whether these variables predicted girls' vegetable consumption and predictors of food neophobia and pickiness. Analyses The data were analyzed using a two-step process. First, we used a two-way analysis of variance to assess whether girls who scored high or low on food neophobia and pickiness measures had different levels of vegetable consumption. We used multiple regression analysis to determine predictors of food neophobia and pickiness in the girls. Results Girls with both food neophobia and pickiness consumed fewer vegetables (1.1±0.1) than girls with neither neophobia nor pickiness (1.6±0.1). Neophobia and pickiness were modestly related in this sample, but had different predictors. Girls with food neophobia were more anxious and had mothers with food neophobia. Picky girls had mothers with less variety in their vegetable intake (r=−0.22) and mothers who perceived their family to have little time to eat healthful foods (r=0.36). In addition, picky eaters were breastfed for fewer than 6 months (r=−0.25). Pickiness was predicted primarily by environmental or experiential factors subject to changes; neophobia was predicted by more enduring and dispositional factors. Applications Because food neophobia and pickiness negatively influence vegetable intake, intervention strategies to increase vegetable intake should focus on predictors of neophobia and pickiness, especially those subject to change. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003;103:692-698.
Lateral mode stabilization of diode lasers by means of apertured facet reflectors

We report the design, fabrication, and testing of an apertured facet reflector for a GaAs/GaAlAs room temperature CW diode laser. The reflector, composed of Al 2 O 3 , Si, Te, and Al 2 O 3 layers with the Te ablated by the laser beam itself at the mode center, has a higher reflectivity at its center compared to the unablated surrounding region. This nonuniform reflectivity acts to stabilize laterally the fundamental mode and substantially increase the "kink" level. Specifically, the "kink" level of a large optical cavity (LOC) heterostructure laser with an 8 μm wide stripe was increased from ≈ 10 mW before coating to above 30 mW by the addition of the apertured reflector.
Underfill selection strategy for Pb-free, low-K and fine pitch organic flip chip applications

The role of underfills is expanding from preserving solder joint reliability to also protecting fragile low-k chip dielectric layers. Traditionally, solder joints required stiff and rigid underfills. Today, low-k layers require more compliant underfill properties. Further complexity comes from the migration to Pb-free solders and changes in chip carrier materials. The myriad of candidates prohibits long term reliability testing of module hardware for every available underfill. A sequential three phase selection strategy is used to characterize and systematically eliminate undesirable candidates and to identify the few favorable underfills that have a high probability of successfully meeting module reliability requirements. The process includes use of industry practices as well as internally developed characterization methods. From an initial list of 20, the selection process identified five underfills for package qualification testing.
HCV, but not HIV, is a risk factor for cerebral small vessel disease.

Objectives: With the aging of HIV populations, vascular contributions to neuropathogenesis are increasingly important. Indirect analyses of cerebral small vessel disease have been performed, but there have been no direct studies of human brain to elucidate risk factors for arteriolar sclerosis. Methods: Mean arteriolar wall thickness (sclerotic index, SI) was measured in the deep cerebral white matter of 126 brains (96 HIV+, 30 HIV−). Correlations with SI were performed for age, sex, race, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity, cirrhosis, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, herpes infection, HIV infection, HIV risk, cocaine use, CD4 count, plasma HIV load, and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) at the time of death. Results: Age, hypertension, race, HCV, and cirrhosis were associated with SI; of the HIV variables, only cART at death was associated with SI. To address colinearity, partial correlations were run with HCV and cirrhosis, hypertension and race, and hypertension and age. With HCV controlled, cirrhosis lost significance; with hypertension controlled, age lost significance. For the entire sample, HCV, African American race, and hypertension accounted for 15% of SI variance in multivariate analysis. Each was independently associated with SI, and HCV had the largest effect. For the HIV sample, inclusion of cART in the model increased R 2 to 0.205, with only HCV, hypertension, and cART remaining significant or trend level. Conclusions: This tissue-based analysis of cerebral arteriolar disease demonstrates that HCV constitutes an independent risk, in addition to African American race, hypertension, and cART. Further study is needed to understand what aspects of HCV and cART contribute to cerebrovascular neuropathogenesis.
DNA Repair Pathways and Mechanisms

Our cells are constantly exposed to insults from endogenous and exogenous agents that can introduce damage into our DNA and generate genomic instability. Many of these lesions cause structural damage to DNA and can alter or eliminate fundamental cellular processes, such as DNA replication or transcription. DNA lesions commonly include base and sugar modifications, single- and double-strand breaks, DNA-protein cross-links, and base-free sites. To counteract the harmful effects of DNA damage, cells have developed a specialized DNA repair system, which can be subdivided into several distinct mechanisms based on the type of DNA lesion. These processes include base excision repair, mismatch repair, nucleotide excision repair, and double-strand break repair, which comprise both homologous recombination and non-homologous end-joining. Although a complex set of cellular responses are elicited following DNA damage, this chapter provides an introduction to the specific molecular mechanisms of recognition, removal, and repair of DNA damage.
Review of Economic Legislation

In December, the following amendments were introduced in the legislation: the minimum amount of wages and salaries was increased; from the New Year a new composition and volumes of the consumer goods basket in the Russian Federation in general were formed, and the subsistence level in the Russian Federation will be set on the basis of the new procedure for determination of the consumer goods basket.
Computational Analysis of Bone Fracture

Age-related non-traumatic fractures are a major public health problem with fracture of the proximal femur resulting in significant patient mortality. Currently, the clinical gold standard for assessing an individual’s fracture risk is dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Although DXA-based bone mineral density (BMD) measurements have been shown to correlate with fracture risk, BMD distributions describing normal individuals and those who have suffered a hip fracture contain significant overlap, thereby reducing the specificity of BMD based fracture risk categorization. Since bone strength results from a combination of bone mass, bone micro-architecture and material properties, and overall bone geometry, two-dimensional imaging based diagnostic approaches such as DEXA are limited in their ability to specifically predict bone strength. Engineering models of skeletal structures that combine descriptions of three dimensional bone geometry, bone mass distribution, and bone material behavior into a high fidelity simulation have been shown to predict bone strength with an improved accuracy compared to DEXA alone, albeit with some limitations. Specifically, voxel based finite element models derived from QCT image data are based on correlations between predicted structural stiffness and structural failure and therefore are generally only valid for simple uniaxial loading; it is unlikely this approach would be valid for more complex applied loads. Furthermore, these models generally use simplified bone material descriptions that do not capture the demonstrated non-linear damaging behavior of bone and do not model bone material failure. Another major limitation is that these models require three dimensional QCT image data, which can be expensive and limited in its availability, and they are not parametric – they are specific to an individual. Finally, all models used to date are deterministic and do not account for uncertainty and/or variability in bone structure and/or material properties, and cannot be used to predict the probability of bone failure. Each of these limitations can be addressed using advanced computational methods such as statistical shape and bone density modeling, non-linear continuum damage mechanics modeling, and probabilistic analysis methods with the goal of improving the identification of individuals who are at a greater risk of fracture and focusing resources on those areas where treatment can be directed to significantly improve an individual’s fracture risk. Ultimately, this approach will significantly improve the ability to clinically quantify the risk of fracture in an individual and allow treatment to be administered in a timely manner.
Prospective Long-term Patient-Reported Quality of Life Outcomes Following Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer

Materials/Methods: Twenty-three patients without prior head and neck cancers or metastatic disease who were treated with PT to 70.0 Gy (RBE) (range, 61.2-74.4 Gy [RBE]) for major and minor salivary gland cancers were enrolled on an IRB-approved outcomes tracking protocol between 2006 and 2014. Twenty-one patients received postoperative PT and 2 received primary PT for unresectable disease. Gross residual disease was present in 7 patients at the time of PT. Five patients also received intensity modulated radiation therapy (median dose, 18 Gy; range, 16.2-50.4 Gy). Median follow-up was 2.5 years (range, 0.6-7.6 years). Grade 3 or higher toxicity was reported using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4. Results: The 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 81% and 73%, respectively. The 3-year local control, regional/neck control, and freedom from metastasis rates were 87%, 91%, and 81%, respectively. Gross residual disease was a major prognostic factor. The 3year local control, overall survival, and disease-free survival rates were 57%, 57%, and 29% for the 7 patients with gross disease, while for the remaining 16 patients who did not have gross disease at the time of PT, the 3-year local control, overall survival, and disease-free survival rates were 100% (PZ.0045), 92% (PZ.0136), and 94% (PZ.0003), respectively. Grade 3 toxicities occurred in 4 (17%) patients and included hearing loss, otitis externa with mastoiditis, double vision limiting activities of daily living, and a seizure secondary to radionecrosis. Median time after PT to grade 3 toxicity was 23 months. There were no grade 4 or 5 events. Conclusion: Proton therapy is an effective primary and postoperative therapy for salivary gland cancers. Nearly all patients who undergo gross total resection and proton therapy were cured. Unexpected serious toxicities were rare. The presence of gross disease at the time of proton therapy was the major negative prognostic factor. These patients are in need of innovative treatment strategies. Author Disclosure: T.L. Smith: None. C.M. Bryant: None. J.A. Bradley: None. D.J. Indelicato: None. C.G. Morris: None. R. Dagan: None.
Wall-Modeled Large-Eddy Simulations of a Supersonic Turbulent Flow in a Square Duct

Wall-modeled large-eddy simulation (WMLES) is used to investigate the corner vortices generated by a supersonic, turbulent flow through a square duct. Confidence in the solver is established through several channel flow validation cases which cover a range of Reynolds numbers and flow regimes. These studies show the ability of the wall-model to approximate wall-resolved LES at reduced computational cost. The WMLES is then applied to an incompressible, turbulent duct flow. Comparisons with the DNS calculations of Huser & Biringen are used to analyze the effects that the wall-model has on the secondary structures created by this fully-confined flow. Particular attention is paid to how variations in the wallmodel parameters influence the mean and turbulence quantities of interest. Finally, the “shock-free” wind tunnel tests conducted by Davis & Gessner are the subject of WMLES investigations. The inlet conditions for this supersonic, square duct flow are a Mach number of 3.91 and a unit Reynolds number of 2.0 x 10 7 1/m. Simulation results for the fully turbulent, downstream portion of the duct are compared with experimental measurements at two streamwise locations. The WMLES is shown to sustain secondary flow structures in this highly turbulent, compressible environment.
Ethnic differences in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by physical activity levels among older adults in the US.

ABSTRACTAims: This study sought to determine whether the association between varying levels of physical activity (PA) and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality differ by race/ethnicity in older adults.Methods: The sample comprised 2520 women and 2398 men drawn from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (1988–1994) aged ≥ 60 years. We used the metabolic equivalent (MET) of self-reported PA levels to define activity groups (inactive: those who did not report any PA; active: those who reported 3–6 METs for ≥5 times/week or >6 METs, ≥3 times/week; insufficiently active: those meeting neither criteria). Racial/Ethnic differences were modeled using proportional hazard regression (HR) adjusting for age, education, smoking, diabetes, and hypertension.Results: Among those classified as inactive, Non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB) (HR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.58–0.90) and Mexican Americans (HR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.45–0.78) had a lower risk of all-cause mortality when compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). Among those cla...
Coherently stimulated parametric down-conversion, phase effects, and quantum-optical interferometry

We re-examine the properties of the states produced by nondegenerate coherently stimulated parametric down-conversion wherein the signal and idler modes are seeded with coherent states of light and where the nonlinear crystal is driven by a strong classical field as described by the parametric approximation. The states produced are the two-mode squeezed coherent states defined with a specific ordering of operators, namely, the displacement operators of the two modes acting on the double vacuum state followed by the action of the two-mode squeeze operator representing the down-conversion process. Though mathematically equivalent to the reverse ordering of operators, but with different displacement parameters, the ordering we consider is closely related to what could most easily be implemented in the laboratory. The statistical properties of the state are studied with an emphasis on how they, and its average photon number, are affected by the various controllable phases, namely, those of the classical pump field of the two input coherent states. We then consider the multiphoton interference effects that arise if the two beams are overlapped on a 50:50 beam splitter, investigating the role of the phases in controlling the statistical properties of the output states. Finally, we study the prospects for the application of the states to quantum-optical interferometry to obtain sensitivities in phase-shift measurements beyond the standard quantum limit.
Primary graft dysfunction: pathophysiology to guide new preventive therapies

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a common complication of lung transplantation characterized by acute pulmonary edema associated with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and hypoxemia in the first 3 post-operative days. Development of PGD is a predictor of poor short- and long-term outcomes after lung transplantation, but there are currently limited tools to prevent its occurrence.Areas covered: Several potentially modifiable donor, recipient, and operative risk factors for PGD have been identified. In addition, basic and translational studies in animals and ex vivo lung perfusion systems have identified several biomarkers and mechanisms of injury in PGD. In this review, we outline the clinical and genetic risk factors for PGD and summarize experimental data exploring PGD mechanisms, with a focus on strategies to reduce PGD risk and on potential novel molecular targets for PGD prevention.Expert commentary: Because of the clinical importance of PGD, development of new therapies for prev...
Genetic variation during range expansion: Effects of habitat novelty and hybridization

How species' ranges evolve remains an enduring problem in ecology and evolutionary biology. Species’ range limits are potentially set by the inability of peripheral populations to adapt to range-ed...
Comments on Henry J. Richardson III, the Origins of African-American Interests in International Law

This short review evaluates Professor Richardson's book both as a contribution to the history of the Atlantic slave trade and as contribution to critical race theory. Professor Richardson has read innumerable historical monographs, works of legal and sociological theory, international law and critical race theory. Armed with this store of knowledge, he is able to recount a detailed narrative of African-American claims to, interests in and appeals to international law over approximately two centuries spanning, with occasional peeks both forward and backward in time, from the landing of the first African slaves at Jamestown in 1619 to the 1815 Treaty of Ghent.The work partakes of some of the narrative and methodological strategies of the critical race theory tradition, including the fictive reconstruction of historical events, with new African-American voices added to the mix. But Professor Richardson is equally at ease with the approach to international law of the New Haven School, and he is thus able to write with great authority of how African-American history can be understood to have comprised a tradition of appeals to international law or international legal norms as a source of remediation for the injustices that African-heritage people suffered in the Americas.
Book Review: Philosophical Foundations of Fiduciary Law

This book review examines Philosophical Foundations of Fiduciary Law, edited by Professors Andrew S. Gold and Paul B. Miller, a 2015 addition to Oxford’s Philosophical Foundations of Law series. In recent years, fiduciary law has received increasing attention from courts and legal scholars as a field of private law; fiduciary principles have been applied to public institutions and public officials as well. In this context, Professors Gold and Miller assembled an impressive collection of twenty papers from a variety of scholars with differing areas of expertise. The contributors also vary geographically, which leads to diversity in approach. This review discusses some of the key chapters and then offers a critique, namely that nearly all of the contributors adopt a theoretical frame for the fiduciary obligation that is open to doubt. The frame is that fiduciary relationships arise when one party has discretionary authority over the assets or affairs of another. The review discusses the discretionary authority approach, explores its defects, and explains why the defects call into question what has become an important theory of fiduciary duties. Notwithstanding this critique, anyone interested in fiduciary relationships and fiduciary law will benefit greatly from this body of work.
Segmental perfusion differences (SPD) on paired Tc-99m MAA hepatic perfusion imaging (HPI) and Yttrium-90 microsphere (Y-90) imaging: Associations with angiography

88 Objectives Tracer perfusion on paired HPI and Y-90 studies does not always match, which may cause inaccuracy in tumor dosimetry. The cause is mostly unknown. This study identified angiographic related factors associated with SPD. Methods 81 paired HPI and Y-90 SPECT-CT images and corresponding angiographies were reviewed. SPD were defined as differences in perfused areas that involve liver segment on SPECT-CT. The infusion site, including right (RHA), left (LHA) or proper hepatic arteries (PHA); catheter tip position (different if distance >5mm); presence of arterial bifurcation or branch near catheter tip (positive if distance to tip Results 31 studies showed SPD. SPD were less frequently observed with infusion into LHA as compared to PHA and RHA (P Conclusions SPD is associated with angiographic related factors including differences in catheter tip position, arterial bifurcation or branch near catheter tip. Combination of these factors is strongly associated with SPD than each factor alone
Reliability and validity of adapted gravitational goniometer and hand-held inclinometer in measuring shoulder mobility

Background: Goniometer is a physical therapy tool for evaluation of the range of motion. Standard goniometer is commonly used in clinical practice. However, simple and inexpensive tools are necessary for community based practice.Objective: To study reliability and validity between adapted gravitational goniometer (AGG) and hand-held inclinometer (HHI) in measuring shoulder range of motion.Materials and methods: One hundred and eight female subjects aged between 18-22 years old (19.25±0.99 years old) without shoulder operation or injuries of shoulder, clavicle, scapular, and shoulder muscle recruited for this study. All subjects were evaluated for the ranges of motion of shoulder flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction by AGG and HHI.Results: Mean average of shoulder flexion measured by AGG (167.69±6.3 degrees) and by HHI (167.78±7.23 degrees) was significant correlated at r=0.84 (p 0.05) measured by two devices.Conclusions: Adapted gravitational goniometer is reliable and valid in comparison to hand-held inclinometer for evaluation of shoulder flexion, shoulder extension, shoulder adduction, and shoulder abduction.
Use of the Pelvic C-Clamp to Mitigate Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in a Patient with an Unstable Sacral Fracture

Case. We present the case of a 21-year-old man who fell from a roof, sustaining a displaced sacral fracture with pelvic instability. He developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) within 24 hours of injury. Placement of the pelvic C-clamp resulted in rapid resolution of pulmonary dysfunction, allowing for definitive internal fixation. Conclusion. The C-clamp is most commonly used to control hemorrhage in unstable posterior pelvic ring injuries. Our case demonstrates a rare use of the C-clamp to stabilize the posterior pelvis in a patient with an unstable sacral fracture and ARDS, to rapidly improve pulmonary function prior to definitive surgery.
A History of Colonial Inscription: ‘The Wedding’ and ‘The Buddy Narrative’ in Oklahoma Statehood Commemorations

This essay examines archival materials about the mock wedding staged to commemorate the creation of the State of Oklahoma in November 1907 in the town of Guthrie. It suggests that ‘The Wedding’ per...
Dinamicidad de los clásicos. Ecos de El Paraíso perdido de John Milton en Sombra del Paraíso de Vicente Aleixandre: tras la estela del ángel caído

Que duda cabe que Sombra del Paraiso (1944) de Vicente Aleixandre constituye uno de los puntos cimeros de la poesia espanola del siglo XX, no solo por lo que represento en el panorama de posguerra –el tono nostalgico, el versiculo, el planteamiento existencial (con su experiencia personal), el posicionamiento social del poeta y la poesia, etc.–, sino tambien dentro de su propia obra, tan coherentemente construida en su vision de mundo. El presente articulo, ademas, trata de mostrar una de las fuentes literarias menos estudiadas, pero no por ello menos relevantes: El Paraiso perdido (1674) de John Milton, como referente incuestionable y tangible de la construccion simbolica del descenso del angel caido, tema central del poemario aleixandrino. Las diferencias son cuantificables y cualificables; sin embargo, existen algunas similitudes ciertamente reveladoras, aunque, desde luego, no es un factor que reste originalidad a la obra de Aleixandre: muy al contrario, arraiga su poesia a las mas alta tradicion poetica europea, ensanchando, en consecuencia, su imagen de clasico literario.
Autonomic addressing and internetworking on unlimited scale

Following host software evolution and experience, it is pointed out that the namespace is the only appropriate application-system boundary even for networking, and that in analogy to host operating systems, the namespace is in fact necessary and sufficient for automatic, efficient management of the Internet addresses and routes. A simple, elegant namespace construction is described which does not need a global address infrastructure, provides addressing, routing and flow setup signalling over an unconstrained number of independent IP address spaces or realms, reducing to IP and DNS within a single realm and degrading softly on the multirealm scale.
Stress Echocardiography: the Role in Assessing Valvular Heart Diseases

Stress echocardiography (SE) has clinical utility beyond its conventional use for the evaluation of myocardial ischemia. More specifically, SE has been shown to have significant clinical value in patients with valvular heart disease (VHD), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and congenital heart disease (CHD). Echocardiography laboratories providing services to such patient should be familiar with the principals of SE beyond coronary artery disease to ensure its optimum application and performance. The increased demand for SE standardization specifically in patients with VHD instigated recent recommendations by relevant cardiology societies. This manuscript reviews the key concepts in performance and interpretation of hemodynamic SE in patients with VHD and HCM, including patient selection, stress modality of choice, and integration of all diagnostic and prognostic information.
Outcomes of distal humerus fractures: What are we measuring?

Abstract Introduction We evaluate the most common outcome measures used in distal humerus fracture studies in order to suggest standardization for future research. Materials and methods A systematic review identified articles assessing the outcomes of acute distal humerus fractures from 2006 to 2016 from PubMed and Web of Science databases. The inclusion criterion was studies reporting on the outcomes of treatment of acute distal humerus fractures. Review articles, meta-analyses, studies with Results One-hundred-nine of 2158 articles met inclusion criteria. The median number of fractures per study was 35. Mean patient age was 55.0 years. Average follow-up was 35 months. Range-of-motion and strength measurements were reported in 90% and 17% of studies, respectively. Twenty patient-reported outcome instruments were used. The most commonly reported measures were MEPS, DASH, VAS pain, and Quick DASH scores. An average of 1.9 outcome measures were reported per study. A journal impact factor of ≥ 1.5 was associated with more reported outcome measures. Articles including elbow arthroplasty were associated with higher impact factor journals, more outcome measures, and longer follow-up. Level of evidence was not associated with the number of reported outcome measures. Discussion The current distal humerus fracture literature inconsistently reports outcome measures. More outcome measures were reported in higher impact journals. Future distal humerus fracture studies should include MEPS, DASH or Quick DASH, and VAS Pain scores to allow for appropriate cross-study comparison. Level of evidence IV, Systematic review.
CT-06 Missing outcomes in SLE clinical trials: impact on estimating treatment effects

Background Missing data due to drop-out and loss to follow-up is a common problem in SLE trials. The usual approaches for handling this issue include analyzing only subjects with complete data (complete case analysis; CC), last observation carried forward (LOCF), or imputing non-responses for missing outcomes (non-responder imputation; NRI). However, the validity of these methods depends on strong assumptions about the missing data mechanism. Multiple imputation (MI) is a flexible model-based technique that accounts for uncertainty in the imputation process by generating several possible values for the missing data, resulting in multiple complete data sets. These are analyzed separately and results are combined. MI is being used more widely in different disease settings but has not been applied to analyze the primary outcome in a SLE trial. We explored the use of MI to address missing data in the composite outcome, SLE Responder Index (SRI)−5, using data from patients assigned to standard of care (SoC) in a 52 week trial. Methods Data on 279 SLE patients randomized to SoC for 52 weeks who were receiving mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), azathioprine, or methotrexate at entry were obtained from the Lupus Foundation of America-Collective Data Analysis Initiative database. Multiple imputation using chained equations was applied to handle missing data in an analysis to evaluate differences in SRI-5 response rates at 52 weeks between patients on MMF and the other immunosuppressants (non-MMF). Three different imputation models were considered that included various combinations of longitudinal measures of disease activity (both composite and individual measures) and patient characteristics. Results were compared to estimates using the CC, LOCF, and NRI. Results Missing data rates were 32% in the MMF and 23% in the non-MMF groups. As expected, the NRI missing data approach yielded the lowest response rates; the smallest and least significant estimates of between group differences were observed with LOCF (table 1). Group differences were magnified with all three MI models compared to results of other methods. Imputing SRI-5 directly (MI-1) versus the individual components (MI-2) yielded nearly identical results. Conclusions Given the limitations of conventional approaches for handling missing data, the MI method should also be considered in SLE trials. However, results can vary depending on the imputation model that is used, and the assumptions required for validity of this and other missing data methods must be justified. Sensitivity analysis using different approaches is important to demonstrate robustness of results especially when missing data rates are non-negligible. Acknowledgements Lupus Foundation of America Collective Data Analysis Initiative Group.
Structural health monitoring using embedded magnetic shape memory alloys for magnetic sensing

In the field of structural health monitoring (SHM), innovative methods of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) are currently being investigated with the purpose of safer, longer lasting structures. While current SHM is dominated by acoustic emission and vibration-based methods, it is desirable to integrate NDE techniques with existing structural reinforcement techniques which increase structural service life. Multifunctional materials that can detect internal structural damage while also increasing structural service life offer an inherent advantage as construction materials to be integrated into new and existing structures. Embedding shape memory alloy (SMA) wires in concrete components offers the potential to monitor their structural health via external magnetic field sensing. SMAs have been used to close internal cracks, reinforce concrete structures, and reduce fatigue under cyclic loading, so the addition of such a multi-functional material for the purpose of structural evaluation is very desirable. Thus an evaluation of SMAs for magnetic sensing is required for both the structural and magnetic domains. A concrete beam containing iron-based magnetic SMA (MSMA) wire is subjected to a three point bend test where structural damage is induced, resulting in a localized phase change of the MSMA wire. Magnetic field lines passing through the embedded MSMA domain are altered by this phase change and can thus be used to detect damage within the structure. A good correlation is observed between the computational and experimental results, and the magnetic sensing sensitivity is explored via a robust computational model to evaluate the effectiveness of external magnetic sensing.
Jean Paton and the struggle to reform American adoption

Jean Paton and the Struggle to Reform American Adoption (E. Wayne Carp, The University of Michigan Press, 312 pages) is a detailed and exhaustive biography of the life and works of Jean Paton and h...
Reengineering the Audit with Blockchain and Smart Contracts

ABSTRACT Blockchain and smart contracts are evolving business practices by enhancing efficiencies and transparency in the value chain. The fusion of these innovations is also likely to transform au...
Revolutionary Saint: The Theological Legacy of Óscar Romero by Michael E. Lee

Lee, Michael E. Revolutionary Saint: The Theological Legacy of Oscar Romero . Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2018.
Endovascular Therapy for Vasculogenic Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Arterial and Venous Therapies

Abstract Purpose To systematically review and perform a meta-analysis on the safety and efficacy of endovascular therapy in the treatment of the two most common etiologies of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED): veno-occlusive dysfunction (VOD) and arterial insufficiency (AI). Materials and Methods PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases were searched for published English literature regarding endovascular ED treatments. Case series (n ≥ 3) were included. Multiple data points were obtained, including demographic data, etiology, diagnosis method, imaging studies, treatment approach, technical success, clinical success, complications, and follow-up. Results Sixteen relevant articles were obtained and a total of 212 patients with VOD and 162 with AI were identified. The VOD cohort were treated either percutaneously (60.4%; n = 128) or after surgical exposure of the deep dorsal vein (33.5%, n = 71), or it was unspecified (6.1%; n = 13). The most common embolic used was n-butyl cyanoacrylate (51.9%; n = 109). Meta-analysis found an overall clinical success rate of 59.8% in VOD patients. Complications occurred in 5.2% of patients (n = 11), with 9 considered to be mild and 2 considered to be severe. The AI cohort contained 162 patients most commonly treated via stenting of the internal pudendal artery (40.1%; n = 65). Meta-analysis found an overall clinical success rate of 63.2% in AI patients. Complications occurred in 4.9% of patients (n = 8), with 4 considered to be mild and 4 considered to be severe. Conclusions Endovascular therapy for medically refractory ED is safe and may provide a treatment alternative to more invasive surgical management; however, conclusions are limited by the heterogeneity of clinical success definitions among the included studies.
Exploratory Analysis of Energy Use Across Building Types and Geographic Regions in the United States

Collecting energy use data is becoming common practice in the buildings sector. Current applications include understanding regional energy flows in the building stock, and tracking energy performance of individual buildings. Beyond these, research and commercial applications of building energy data are as yet unexplored. Research is needed to provide insight into the data being collected, to identify appropriate applications of these data, and opportunities to improve data collection efforts. To that end, we present an exploratory analysis of the existing public large-scale building energy datasets, focusing on the two largest datasets: the Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey and the Building Performance Database. We provide backgound information on both datasets, present an overview of the detail and sparsity of information in each, and report on the relationships we observe between data fields included in the two datasets, and compare our findings with results from the literature. We discuss how these results could be applied to support energy efficiency investments, and opportunities to improve data collection efforts to ensure that the data collected are adequate to provide insight into building energy consumption and support novel applications of building energy data.
Using MyDispense to simulate validation of controlled substance prescriptions in a pharmacy law course.

Abstract Background and purpose MyDispense is an innovative, web-based program which simulates a community pharmacy. Use of this software may assist students' comprehension of validating controlled substance prescriptions by determining if prescriptions contain errors or omissions. Educational activity and setting Fourteen MyDispense practice exercises were created and implemented into a required second-year pharmacy law course. Completion of the MyDispense exercises and performance on the pharmacy law midterm exam were recorded. A questionnaire was administered to students to receive feedback on the exercises. Findings There were complete data on all 94 student pharmacists enrolled in the didactic course. Thirty-five students (37%) completed all MyDispense exercises, 15 students (16%) completed some of the exercises, and 44 (47%) did not complete any of the exercises. Linear regression results indicate that students who completed more MyDispense exercises were significantly more likely to score higher on the midterm than those who completed fewer exercises (β = 0.28, p = 0.02). Students reported moderate to high exercise value and a willingness to use the software in preparation for future pharmacy law examinations. Summary MyDispense provided a platform for students to apply controlled substance laws to the prescription validation process in the community pharmacy setting. Completion of practice exercises in MyDispense was shown to positively impact student performance on a pharmacy law midterm. Students valued the innovative simulation tool and were willing to access the tool again to prepare for future examinations.
Looking Within: An Investigation of Music Education Majors and Mental Health:

The primary purpose of this article was to establish the current state of mental health among music education majors. Music education majors across the United States (N = 1137) self-reported indica...
Optimal Control of a Wide Range Resonant DC-DC Converter

This paper presents an optimal control strategy for an immitance-network based resonant dc-dc converter capable of operating efficiently over wide input and output voltage ranges. The resonant network results in current-source property on the output side, together with zero-voltage switching of all the switching devices. On the inverter side, a pair of phase-shifted half bridge enables output current regulation using a combination of control signal phase-shifts designed to minimize losses. These features are well suited for automotive LED drivers supplied from a battery with wide input voltage range, and regulating output current through a string of LEDs, where the number of LEDs may vary, resulting in wide output voltage variation. Experimental results demonstrating operation with the optimal control strategy are shown for a 2 MHz converter prototype operating from an input voltage ranging from 8 V to 18 V, and delivering 0.5 A output current to a string of 1-15 LEDs, which corresponds to an output voltage range of 3-to-50 V. Using silicon MOSFETs, the prototype achieves a peak efficiency of 93.3%, and maintains greater than 87% efficiency across the wide output voltage range and for wide variations in input voltage.
Vacancy Healing as a Desorption Tool: Oxygen Triggered Removal of Stored Ammonia from NiO1–x/MOR Validated by Experiments and Simulations

Gas storage via adsorption in microporous crystals, such as zeolites, has the potential to transform both the energy and transportation sectors. This potential results from the highly tunable pore ...
Driving Safety Among Surgical Residents in the Era of Duty Hour Restrictions.

Objective Fatigued driving is a known contributor to adverse motor vehicle events (AMVEs), defined as crashes and near misses. Surgical trainees work long and irregular hours; the safety of work-related driving since the introduction of work hour regulations has not yet been studied in this population. We aimed to assess the impact of fatigue on driving safety and explore perceptions of a funded rideshare program. Design An electronic survey was delivered and inquired in retrospective fashion about fatigue and sleepiness while driving, occurrences of AMVEs, and projected use of a funded rideshare program as a potential solution to unsafe driving. Chi-square testing determined categorical differences between response choices. Setting Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, New Haven, CT—a general surgery program with 4 urban clinical sites positioned along a roughly twenty mile stretch of interstate highway in Southeastern Connecticut. Participants General Surgery residents at the Yale University School of Medicine. Results Of 58 respondents (81% response rate), 97% reported that fatigue compromised their safety while driving to or from work. Eighty-three percent reported falling nearly or completely asleep, and 22% reported AMVEs during work-related driving. Junior residents were more likely than Seniors to drive fatigued on a daily-to-weekly basis (69% vs 47%, p = 0.02) and twice as likely to fall asleep on a weekly-to-monthly basis (67% vs 33%, p = 0.02). Despite this, only 7% of residents had ever hired a ride service when fatigued, though 88%, would use a free rideshare service if provided. Conclusions Work-related fatigue impairs the driving safety of nearly all residents, contributing to frequent AMVEs. Currently, few residents hire rideshare services. Eliminating the cost barrier by funding a rideshare and encouraging its routine use may protect surgical trainees and other drivers.
A system for continuous and automated measurement of mouse home-cage drinking with automated control of liquid access

Measurement of drinking behavior in laboratory animals is an often utilized method in many areas of scientific research, including the study of ingestive behaviors and addictions. We have designed a system that measures drinking by continuously tracking fluid-filled bottle weights with load cells and calculating change in fluid weight per drinking bout. The load cells serve both as a contact sensor that detects mouse-spout contact, as well as a monitor of fluid weight change per contact bout. The design described here fulfills several key criteria, including automated and continuous recording of drinking in the home-cage, automated control of liquid access, and inexpensive/reproducible fabrication. These features may allow researchers to generate high-resolution, detailed information on drinking behavior in high-throughput experimental designs. Here, we provide an overview of the design and present results from tests to validate the system. C57BL/6J mice were offered water and ethanol concurrently, using this system. Consumption weights were determined by the system and independently by conventional approaches. The results indicated a near-perfect correlation between the two methods, indicating the system returned valid consumption weights. This system functions as a valid drinking monitor that provides temporally precise data with a low cost design.