cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Superresolution TIE phase imaging by structured illumination

We demonstrate superresolution TIE phase imaging using structured illumination. The modulation shifts the phase spectrum so that previously missing high frequency components of the phase are detected with a low resolution camera.
Why Is Stark Wrong on His Criticism of the Secularization Theory

Rodney Stark is an American author and researcher in the area of sociology of religion. Stark's article 'Secularization R.I.P.' is a well-constructed elaboration on the lack of soundness in the secular argument and a defence of the revival of religion in the public space through the privatization of belief and the renovation of religious, but piety. But Stark is wrong in his assessment as secularisation theory continues to be the central paradigm to address the divide between the secular and the religious worlds in modern era.
Shape registration and analysis framework for computer vision and graphics

As 3D digital photographic and scanning devices produce higher resolution images, acquired geometric data sets grow more complex in terms of the modeled objects’ size, geometry, texture, and topology. To use and analyze such data, developing new algorithms and techniques for shape registration and analysis has become a common and long-term mission in the computer vision and graphics field. In this dissertation, we propose a novel framework for shape matching, registration, and scientific analysis especially for 3D facial data and biomedical data. In particular, we address the challenges of 3D shape registration and analysis with noise, occlusion, resolution variation and non-rigid deformation. Firstly, we analyze a family of quasi-conformal maps including harmonic maps, conformal maps, and least squares conformal maps with regards to 3D shape matching. As a result, we propose a novel and computationally efficient shape matching framework by using least squares conformal maps. The robustness of least squares conformal maps is evaluated and analyzed comprehensively in 3D shape matching with occlusion, noise, and resolution variation. In addition to the above conformal geometry approaches, we also propose a framework of shape registration and analysis using Ricci flow. Previous methods based on conformal geometries, such as harmonic maps and least squares conformal maps, which can only handle 3D shapes with simple topology are subsumed by our Ricci flow based method which can handle surfaces with complex topology. Furthermore, we introduce a method that constrains Ricci flow computation using feature points and feature curves. We also demonstrate the applicability of this intrinsic shape representation through standard shape analysis problems, such as 3D shape matching and registration. As 3D scanning technologies continue to improve, dynamic densely-sampled 3D data is becoming more and more prevalent for analysis and synthesis. To study and analyze such huge data, an efficient non-rigid registration algorithm is necessary to establish one-to-one inter-frame correspondences automatically. Toward this goal, we present a new framework for automatic non-rigid registration of 3D dynamic facial data. Based on this registration framework, we also develop a new system of facial expression synthesis and transfer. We have implemented our framework in a wide range of applications which represent the identified challenges in shape registration and analysis. This includes dynamic noise, occluded data, resolution variation, non-rigid deformation, etc. Furthermore, we describe these applications in detail and outline a few new applications which include surface matching, alignment and stitching, dynamic non-rigid deformable shape registration, facial expression synthesis and transfer.
Momentum Trading and Limits to Arbitrage

An extensive body of research supports the momentum strategy’s persistence but disagrees on the underlying source of its profitability. This paper studies the endogenous relationship between momentum trading and mispricing. The basic idea is that momentum trades can impede arbitrage when they are in the opposite direction of arbitrage trades and reinforce arbitrage when trades are in the same direction. We show that an arbitrage-reinforcing momentum strategy has significantly higher average returns that are largely related to risk and do not reverse in subsequent periods, while an arbitrage-impeding momentum strategy exhibits significant long-term reversal consistent with more mispricing. An important implication of our findings is that, like noise traders, trading strategies that do not condition on relative value can impede arbitrage.
Antagonism of intravenous digitoxigenin lethality by reserpine pretreatment in the mouse.

Dick M et at (1) reported increased arrhythmias from digitalis in patients receiving reserpine therapy. Roberts et al(2) reported that reserpine treatment increased the amount of acetylstrophanthin required to produce ventricular arrhythmias in the dog. On the other hand, Nash et al(3) reported that ouabain lethality was decreased with reserpine pre treatment in rats. Takagi et al(4) also reported decreased lethality of digoxin with reserpine pretreatment in dogs. From these various reports, it would appear that although reserpine may increase the possibility of arrhythmias induced by digitalis glycosides it also decreases lethal potential of the glycosides.Considering the known central and peripheral effects of reserpine, the current study was therefore undertaken to investigate possible effects of reserpine on the lethality of digitoxigenin. The latter compound was selected since it is a potent convulsant and was the most toxic of various structurally-related compounds when intravenously administered to...
In Vivo Magnetic Stimulation of Rat Sciatic Nerve With Centimeter- and Millimeter-Scale Solenoid Coils

Previous reports of magnetic stimulation of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) used various coil geometries, all with outer diameters larger than 35 mm, and stimulation energies in the 50 J range to evoke neural excitation. Recent reports of central nervous system (CNS) activation used sub-mm-scale solenoid coils with mJ energy levels. The goal of this study was to translate the lower energy levels from the CNS to the PNS via using smaller coils placed in closer proximity to the neural tissue. Such a performance improvement would advance the state of the art of magnetic stimulation and provide a path towards new neuroprosthetic devices. Primarily, we investigated the range of coil outer diameters from 25 mm down to 5 mm to better understand the dependence of coil diameter on energy required for PNS activation. Nine cm- and mm-scale copper solenoid coils, with various resistances, inductances, inner and outer diameters, and heights were compared by quantizing neuromuscular responses to magnetic stimulation via capacitive discharge excitation of rat sciatic nerves in vivo. Additionally, the effects of stimulus duration and coil position were investigated. As opposed to prior work, this study compares a subset of stimulation parameters in an intact nerve preparation, and shows that magnetic stimulation with coils that abut the nerve is a reliable, effective method of neuromuscular stimulation. Although we observed different energies required for neuromuscular activation depending on the coil and excitation parameters used, for the experimental configuration, devices, and stimulus waveform shapes presented in this manuscript, no systematic dependence of PNS activation on coil diameter was found, even for the mm-scale coils investigated herein. However, there was a clear relationship between discharge circuit capacitance and energy required to evoke a neuromuscular response. Coils approximately 12 mm in outer diameter and larger consistently evoked responses, whereas coils 5 mm in outer diameter did not. Furthermore, we observed meaningful neuromuscular excitation when stimulating with energies as low as 20 J. Although this is an improvement over prior work, it is still orders of magnitude greater than the energy required for conventional electrical stimulation, suggesting that these devices are presently not suitable for use in an application requiring continued pulsed stimulation. Nevertheless, these devices are suitable for basic research and as clinical tools that infrequently stimulate, such as in diagnostic applications.
Photodetachment Imaging Studies of the Electron Affinity of CF3

The photoelectron spectra of the trifluoromethyl anion, CF3-, at 355 and 258 nm are reported. Simulation of the partially resolved vibrational structure is used to extract the adiabatic electron affinity, AEA[CF3] = 1.82 ± 0.05 eV. The heat of formation for the trifluoromethyl anion derived from the adiabatic electron affinity (Δ [CF3-] = −153.4 ± 1.5 kcal/mol) is compared to the high-accuracy “isodesmic bond additivity corrected” (BAC) complete basis set (CBS-Q) theory prediction (Δ [CF3-] = −152.6 kcal/mol). We find the CBS-Q prediction of Δ [CF3] = −112.1 kcal/mol, after BAC, to be in excellent agreement with the most recent experimental determination of the radical heat of formation. The photoelectron angular distribution at 355 nm was also extracted from the photoelectron image, revealing p wave photodetachment with an energy-averaged anisotropy parameter of β = 1.5 ± 0.1.
The Most Dangerous Man in America: The Making of Douglas MacArthur. By Mark Perry. (New York, NY: Basic Books, 2014. Pp. xviii, 365. $29.99.)

This new, partial biography of Douglas MacArthur has a couple of interesting points, but it generally leaves much to be desired. Given the miserliness of its commercial publisher, there are no note...
Use of Telephone Calls to Increase Motivation for Treatment in Alcoholics

When acutely intoxicated chronic alcoholics must be sent to another institution for drying-out before beginning outpatient treatment, a single phone call, during the interim, from the referring agency, significantly increases their likelihood of returning.
Paths of Heritable Mitochondrial DNA Mutation and Heteroplasmy in Reference and gas-1 Strains of Caenorhabditis elegans.

Heteroplasmy—the presence of more than one mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence type in a cell, tissue, or individual—impacts human mitochondrial disease and numerous aging-related syndromes. Understanding the trans-generational dynamics of mtDNA is critical to understanding the underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial disease and evolution. We investigated mtDNA mutation and heteroplasmy using a set of wild-type (N2 strain) and mitochondrial electron transport chain mutant (gas-1) mutant Caenohabditis elegans mutation-accumulation (MA) lines. The N2 MA lines, derived from a previous experiment, were bottlenecked for 250 generations. The gas-1 MA lines were created for this study, and bottlenecked in the laboratory for up to 50 generations. We applied Illumina-MiSeq DNA sequencing to L1 larvae from five gas-1 MA lines and five N2 MA lines to detect and characterize mtDNA mutation and heteroplasmic inheritance patterns evolving under extreme drift. mtDNA copy number increased in both sets of MA lines: 3-fold on average among the gas-1 MA lines and 5-fold on average among N2 MA lines. Eight heteroplasmic single base substitution polymorphisms were detected in the gas-1 MA lines; only one was observed in the N2 MA lines. Heteroplasmy frequencies ranged broadly in the gas-1 MA lines, from as low as 2.3% to complete fixation (homoplasmy). An initially low-frequency (<5%) heteroplasmy discovered in the gas-1 progenitor was observed to fix in one gas-1 MA line, achieve higher frequency (37.4%) in another, and be lost in the other three lines. A similar low-frequency heteroplasmy was detected in the N2 progenitor, but was lost in all five N2 MA lines. We identified three insertion-deletion (indel) heteroplasmies in gas-1 MA lines and six indel variants in the N2 MA lines, most occurring at homopolymeric nucleotide runs. The observed bias toward accumulation of single nucleotide polymorphisms in gas-1 MA lines is consistent with the idea that impaired mitochondrial activity renders mtDNA more vulnerable to this type of mutation. The consistent increases in mtDNA copy number implies that extreme genetic drift provides a permissive environment for elevated organelle genome copy number in C. elegans reference and gas-1 strains. This study broadens our understanding of the heteroplasmic mitochondrial mutation process in a multicellular
A Wireless Sensor Interface for the Quantification of Tremor Using Off the Shelf Components

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery involves placing an electrode in the subthalamic nucleus to suppress the motor symptoms, such as tremor, of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Currently physicians use the standard Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) to describe the tremor intraoperatively and post operatively. This scale involves subjective anchor-based observations by the clinical expert. In this study, a wireless accelerometer system is presented that was built from off the shelf components to objectively quantify tremor scores. The system consists of a Teensy 3.1 microcontroller and two 3-axis accelerometers. It wirelessly transmits the readings through a Bluetooth module. The data is received by a custom C++ program that parses and transmits the data. The system is used to record data from patients with PD during and after DBS surgery. We show example data recorded from several PD patients and study the correlation of sensor readings with the DBS ON and OFF states. We provide initial data showing that such a system can be effectively used in the clinic for the objective quantification of motor symptoms of PD patients.
Wastewater Disposal from Unconventional Oil and Gas Development Degrades Stream Quality at a West Virginia Injection Facility

The development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) resources has rapidly increased in recent years; however, the environmental impacts and risks are poorly understood. A single well can generate millions of liters of wastewater, representing a mixture of formation brine and injected hydraulic fracturing fluids. One of the most common methods for wastewater disposal is underground injection; we are assessing potential risks of this method through an intensive, interdisciplinary study at an injection disposal facility in West Virginia. In June 2014, waters collected downstream from the site had elevated specific conductance (416 μS/cm) and Na, Cl, Ba, Br, Sr, and Li concentrations, compared to upstream, background waters (conductivity, 74 μS/cm). Elevated TDS, a marker of UOG wastewater, provided an early indication of impacts in the stream. Wastewater inputs are also evident by changes in 87Sr/86Sr in streamwater adjacent to the disposal facility. Sediments downstream from the facility were enriched in Ra...
Dielectric Loss Test and Analysis of 750 kV CVT Intermediate Transformer

Field dielectric loss test of 750 kV CVT intermediate transformer is introduced;the reason why the test data exceed criterion is analyzed;the difficulty in evaluation of equipment insulation status in accordance with the dielectric loss values from the related regulations and standards is discussed,and an suggestion for insulation judgment of CVT electromagnetic unit through field handover test is offered.
Safety Management of Chemistry Laboratory in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Objective] To analyze the factors of safety of chemistry laboratory in centers for disease control and prevention for better safety management and accident prevention.[Methods] Potential safety hazards in chemistry laboratories were identified.Besides,developing good experimental practices,improving safety management system,designing emergency response plan,focusing on environmental protection,and enhancing training on experimental safety were also included in this article.[Results] The security construction chemistry laboratory must follow the principle of"safety first,prevention foremost".Improved safety management systems,continual training,good experimental behaviors,and perfect emergency plans are essential to a safe working environment for both experiment and research.[Conclusion] The integration of laboratory safety into the culture construction of disease control and prevention system will effectively control safety hazards and unsafe practices and prevent accidents.
Assessment on Accuracy of Case Reporting of Syphilis and Gonorrhea in Fujian in 2010

Objective To investigate the accuracy of case reporting of syphilis and gonorrhea among medical institutions in Fujian,and to provide information for managing STD case reporting and evaluating STD epidemic. Methods The syphilis and gonorrhea case reporting data from surveillance areas were downloaded and compared to clinical records and STD laboratory testing.The accuracy was applied to the assessment of case reporting. Results A total of 1,158 syphilis cases and 425 gonorrhea cases were reviewed. Of this number,there were 1,067 acquired syphilis cases and 425 congenital syphilis cases.The accuracy rate of gonorrhea case reporting was higher than syphilis case reporting,which showed 84.71% and 54.89%,respectively.Among variety stage of syphilis,the accuracy rate for the primary,secondary,tertiary syphilis and latent syphilis showed 63.37%,78.05%,54.55% and 52.27%,respectively,while the accuracy rate for congenital syphilis was the lowest(27.4%). Conclusions The accuracy rate for latent syphilis and congenital syphilis in Fujian Province is relatively low,which directly compromises of the accuracy of STD case reporting data.It is suggested that management of STD case reporting and training of STD diagnosis knowledge should be strengthened to improve the quality of STD case reporting.
Decision sharing in preventive cardiology.

The importance of prescription drugs for prevention of cardiovascular disease is a crucial component of preventive cardiology. Physicians, and other providers, recommend this treatment, routinely, based on a large evidence base and reinforced by guidelines from public health agencies and professional societies. It has recently been suggested that providers not recommend these choices, in the interest of increased shared decision making, shifting the dialogue to a much greater emphasis on patient choice, based only on the evidence without a recommendation. This option fails to recognize the equal importance of the provider recommendation as a necessary part of the overall strategy to attempt to convince, albeit respectfully, patients of the correct option as the basis for their own future health and its importance to others. Convincing, without compelling is an ethical requirement for preventive cardiology.
Histological features associated with diagnostic agreement in atypical ductal hyperplasia of the breast: illustrative cases from the B-Path study.

Aims This study examined the case-specific characteristics associated with interobserver diagnostic agreement in atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) of the breast. Methods and results Seventy-two test set cases with a consensus diagnosis of ADH from the B-Path study were evaluated. Cases were scored for 17 histological features, which were then correlated with the participant agreement with the consensus ADH diagnosis. Participating pathologists’ perceptions of case difficulty, borderline features or whether they would obtain a second opinion were also examined for associations with agreement. Of the 2070 participant interpretations of the 72 consensus ADH cases, 48% were scored by participants as difficult and 45% as borderline between two diagnoses; the presence of both of these features was significantly associated with increased agreement (P < 0.001). A second opinion would have been obtained in 80% of interpretations, and this was associated with increased agreement (P < 0.001). Diagnostic agreement ranged from 10% to 89% on a case-by-case basis. Cases with papillary lesions, cribriform architecture and obvious cytological monotony were associated with higher agreement. Lower agreement rates were associated with solid or micropapillary architecture, borderline cytological monotony, or cases without a diagnostic area that was obvious on low power. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that pathologists frequently recognize the challenge of ADH cases, with some cases being more prone to diagnostic variability. In addition, there are specific histological features associated with diagnostic agreement on ADH cases. Multiple example images from cases in this test set are provided to serve as educational illustrations of these challenges.
Between the Crusade and the Mongol invasion (1200–1250)

The passage of the first three crusades through the Balkans produced both destruction and opportunities for the local leaders to assert their independence, especially in Bulgarian and Serbian territories under direct Byzantine control. In 1096, the pilgrims led by Walter the Penniless plundered the countryside around Belgrade, and they were in turn attacked by the locals. The pilgrims sacked a little town near Semlin, while bands of “infidel” Pechenegs, perhaps auxiliaries in Byzantine service, harassed the pilgrims and forced them to hide in the “Bulgarian forest.” The pilgrims of Peter the Hermit followed the same route from the Hungarian–Byzantine border at Semlin to Nis, with a number of bloody skirmishes with the locals on their way. Skirmishes with the locals are also mentioned in relation to the crusaders who in 1098 followed a land route from Aquileia through northern Istria into Croatia under the leadership of Raymond of St. Gilles, Count of Toulouse. Under permanent attack by bands of locals emerging from the mountains of “Sclavonia,” Raymond stayed with his rearguard and ordered the mutilation of prisoners in order to deter further attacks. Raymond of Aguilers, the chronicler of the count of Toulouse, describes the local population as “aggressive and primitive,” a “wild people” with no knowledge of God. He further distinguished between the inhabitants of the local towns, who apparently spoke a Latin idiom recognized as such by the crusaders, and natives living inland who “employ the Slavonic tongue and have the habits of barbarians.
Molecular basis of pyroelectricity in PVDF

The piezofilm possessed a slight curl, indicating how it had once been wound on a roll: the convex side was previously the outer side. Invariably the outer side was found to be polarized positively, as determined by the sign of the thermally stimulated currents.
Changing Faces of Clinical Tuberculosis

Throughout recorded and archeologic history, tuberculosis has affected humans in every part of the world. Even today, tuberculosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in many countries, despite extensive understanding of its cause, epidemiology, prevention, and therapy.1 There has been considerable change in the face of the disease, with a shift from the young and female to the old and male.2 In densely populated developing countries, it remains a major killer of the young.
A Systematic Review Evaluating the Addition of Radiation Therapy to Chemotherapy for Localized Aggressive Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: What Is the Role for Radiotherapy?.

Abstract Purpose/Objective: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of chemotherapy alone compared to chemotherapy plus radiation in the management of adult early stage aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) at 5 years were evaluated. Materials/Methods: Randomized trials published after 1990 comparing chemotherapy alone to chemotherapy plus radiation therapy in the management of adult aggressive NHL were identified through searches of MEDLINE and CANCERLIT databases. In addition, a search of ASTRO, ASCO, and ASH Proceedings from 1999 to the present was performed to identify updates of published articles and abstracts. Studies that were limited to GI sites only were excluded. Only studies employing CHOP or CHOP-like regimens and radiation therapy to a minimum dose of 30 Gy were deemed acceptable. Chemotherapy alone regimens had to consist of a minimum of 4 cycles of therapy. All trials reported OS and DFS at 5 years. A meta-analysis was performed using STATA statistical software, including tests for homogeneity and publication bias. Trials were analyzed by risk ratio (RR) method. Results: Five randomized trials (n = 1933, range for individual studies 215 to 647) were identified that met all inclusion criteria. The 5-yr OS and DFS RRs for the addition of radiation therapy to chemotherapy are presented in Figures 1 and 2, respectively. Three studies suggested an OS and DFS benefit with the addition of radiation to chemotherapy and two suggested an improved OS and DFS among patients treated with chemotherapy alone. Only two of the studies reported patterns of relapse (Aviles et al and Horning et al). These studies showed improved local control with combined modality therapy (16 – 23% vs. 4 – 5%). Risk ratios for OS ranged from 0.90 to 1.56. DFS estimates range from 0.89 to 1.82. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the overall treatment effects for this group of studies for both OS and DFS. Due to the high degree of heterogeneity among these trials (p-value for heterogeneity Conclusions: It remains unclear whether early stage aggressive NHL patients benefit from the addition of radiation to CHOP-based chemotherapy. However, at this time we are not able to delineate those patients who will benefit from radiotherapy from those who will not. Currently CHOP-based chemotherapy plus radiation remains a standard of care in the US for early stage aggressive NHL. However, controversy remains regarding the role of radiation in light of conflicting results. Our ability to draw firm conclusions based on this review is limited due to the study heterogeneity. Differences among study populations may largely account for this heterogeneity. Download : Download high-res image (231KB) Download : Download full-size image
Introduction: Balancing Connectedness and Autonomy in Diverse Families

This chapter introduces the Handbook of Marriage and Family, 3rd Edition and proposes that an underlying theme in many of the chapters is that families, in their various forms, may be the primary means to address two fundamental interpersonal relationship needs: connection and autonomy. Reduced to their essence, family members, following the human inclination for social bonding, seek to address the elemental relationship question: “How to balance one’s needs for connections with others while, at the same time, affirming one’s individuality within their interpersonal relationships?” After addressing ideas related to connection and autonomy in family relationships, the historical legacy of several previous editions of the Handbook is described and the goals, objectives, and structure of the current Handbook of Marriage and Family project are specified.
Neuroethics and Disorders of Consciousness: Discerning Brain States in Clinical Practice and Research.

Because patients in a minimally conscious state can perceive pain, they should receive palliative care and prosthetics to restore functional communication.
Incorporating patient-specific CT-based ophthalmic anatomy in modeling iodine-125 eye plaque brachytherapy dose distributions

Abstract Purpose To quantify the dosimetric impact of incorporating patient-specific CT-based models rather than the conventional stylized-standard model for eye plaque brachytherapy planning. Methods and materials Plaque Simulator was used to plan 16 patients using both CT-based patient-specific eye model and stylized-standard (SS) eye models. Plaque position was initially based on the SS model and compared against their patient-specific model without changing the plaque loading pattern and seed strength. Dosimetric parameters were compared for tumor and healthy ocular structures. Results Patient-specific ocular parameters ranged from 0.40 to 1.38 of SS model values. If plaques were placed based on SS model eyelet positions, target volume receiving prescription dose (V100%) is overpredicted by 5.9% on average (max: 27%), and D95% is overpredicted by 17.2 Gy on average (max: 58.1 Gy). If the plaques were recentered, 13 of 16 patients had changes in V100% of less than 2%, whereas half of the patients still had optic disc dose difference greater than 5 Gy (max: 36.2 Gy). The largest differences were observed with a target-to-optic disk distance less than 6 mm. No substantial dose differences were observed for the tumor apex, fovea, lens, and opposing retina. Conclusions Patient-specific modeling is recommended for clinical planning, especially with target-to-optic disk distances less than 6 mm, due to significant differences compared with SS model.
Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis and Risk for Postoperative Antibiotic-Resistant Infections.

Background Antibiotic-resistant infections have high rates of morbidity and mortality, and exposure to antibiotics is the crucial risk factor for development of antibiotic resistance. If surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) increases risk for antibiotic-resistant infections, prophylaxis may cause net harm, even if it decreases overall infection rates. Study Design This retrospective cohort study included adults who underwent elective surgical procedures and developed infections within 30 postoperative days. Procedures from multiple disciplines were included if SAP was considered discretionary by current guidelines. Postoperative antibiotic-resistant infections were defined as positive culture results from any site within 30 postoperative days, showing intermediate or nonsusceptibility across 1 or more antibiotic classes. Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis included use of antibiotics within any class and at any dose from 1 hour before first incision until the end of the operation. Results Among 689 adults with postoperative infections, 338 (49%) had postoperative resistant infections. Use of SAP was not associated with postoperative antibiotic-resistant infections (odds ratio [OR] 0.99; 95% CI 0.67 to 1.46). This result remained robust when the SAP definition was extended to antibiotics given within 4 hours before first incision (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.63 to 1.40) and when the follow-up window was narrowed to 14 days (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.50 to 1.34). Previous antibiotic-resistant infections were associated with risk for postoperative antibiotic-resistant infections (OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.16 to 2.83). Conclusions Use of SAP was not associated with risk for postoperative antibiotic-resistant infections in a large cohort of patients with postoperative infections. This provides important reassurance regarding use of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis.
Trusted Platform Architecture

All trusted platforms have some aspects in common. They require some form of excution isolation because that’s the only way to prevent a rogue application subverting another application. They need built-in trusted functions and credentials, because otherwise one can’t distinguish a rogue computing environment from a desired computing environment. All trusted platforms rely upon Roots of Trust that record platform integrity metrics in Platform Configuration Registers. This creates a chain of trust, which is a sophisticated form of auditing that allows verification that a platform’s state is the anticipated state. PCRs are built into Trusted Platform Modules, which are perhaps the most well-known component of Trusted Computing.
Management of Unexpected N2 Disease Discovered at Thoracotomy

The appropriate therapy for stage IIIa (N2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not clearly established. Recent randomized trials demonstrate that preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed b y resection improves long-term and disease-free survival compared with surgery alone. These results have bolstered the interest in multimodality treatment for patients with resectable N2 disease. Furthermore, the literature suggests that neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery is superior to resection and subsequent adjuvant treatment, although such a comparison has not been definitively studied. Based on these results, patients who a re found to have N2 nodal metastasis prior to thoracotomy, using methods such as mediastinoscopy, thoracoscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography, transbronchial needle aspiration, or possibly positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, should receive neoadjuvant treatment prior to resection.
Learning concepts in software agents

2 Second author supported in part by NSF grant SBR-9720314 and by ONR grant N00014-98-1-0332 Abstract This concept-paper explores issues related to learning new concepts in software agents which inhabit dynamic domains. We argue that agents learn based on what they already know and agents solve new problems which they encounter by making analogies to previously solved problems of similar type. We explore these issues within the scope of the Cognitive Agent Architecture and Theory (CAAT) [Franklin, 1997]. The architecture of a multi-agent system, CMattie which is based on the CAAT strategy and inhabits an email-based dynamic domain, is described. CMattie gathers information from humans, composes announcements of next week's seminars, maintains a mailing list, mails the weekly seminar announcement to members of that mailing list, and learns new variations to seminars and other such events which have to be announced to the members of the mailing list as her domain changes with new types of seminar-like events. Learning mechanisms being implemented in this system which enable CMattie to adapt to her changing domain are described. Through her learning, CMattie acquires new domain-specific concepts, thus adapting to her dynamic domain.
Node Partitioning Schemes

In this chapter, we concentrate on branching strategies for mixed-integer nonlinear programs. We introduce the notion of an ideal violation and use it to develop a partitioning technique for factorable programs. Not only does this partitioning scheme lead to a convergent branch-and-bound algorithm but it is found to be practically efficient as well. In the second part of this chapter, we study finiteness issues for branch-and-bound. In particular, we develop a finite branching scheme for stochastic two-stage integer programs with pure-integer recourse.
Injectable Macroporous Hydrogel Formed by Enzymatic Cross-Linking of Gelatin Microgels

Injectable hydrogels can be useful tools for facilitating wound healing since they conform to the irregular shapes of wounds, serving as a temporary matrix during the healing process. However, the lack of inherent pore structures of most injectable hydrogels prohibits desired interactions with the cells of the surrounding tissues limiting their clinical efficacy. Here, we introduce a simple, cost-effective, and highly biofunctional injectable macroporous hydrogel made of gelatin microgels cross-linked by microbial transglutaminase (mTG). Pores are created by the interstitial space among the microgels. A water-in-oil emulsion technique was used to create gelatin microgels of an average size of 250 μm in diameter. When cross-linked with mTG, the microgels adhered to each other to form a bulk hydrogel with inherent pores large enough for cell migration. The viscoelastic properties of the porous hydrogel were similar to those of a nonporous gelatin hydrogel made by adding mTG to a homogeneous gelatin solution...
An Analytical Approach to Posture-Dependent Muscle Force and Muscle Activation Patterns

Personalized training by taking into account individual anatomy to improve performance is a research frontier. In this paper, we first introduce an analytical method to study the pattern of changes in muscle forces as a function of posture. Our method is also able to analyze variation of maximal muscle force and muscle activation values (in various postures) as a result of posture-dependent changes in moment arms. This method also helps us evaluate the utility of person specific training. It also provides us with model based approximations for activation and muscle force patterns during different motions without a need for subject recordings, which enables athletes to have a better understanding of how each muscle contributes during each posture, in a fast and efficient way. Second, we analyze the results of this method for a simple squat move. Our results show that both maximal muscle force and muscle activation values have variable sensitivity to the moment arm values for different postures and muscles. It suggests that individually modified training plans could likely improve performance for some sets of movements.
Extended State Machines for Robust Robot Performance in Complex Tasks

Most field robots today work under partial or complete guidance of an operator. The operator monitors, or at times augments, the control inputs of the robot to achieve better results or desired behavior. Robots that are operated remotely and over low bandwidth channels limit the involvement of the operator, leaving them vulnerable to unanticipated scenarios. The NASA Space Robotics Challenge (SRC), held in 2016–17, posed a challenge to operate a simulated Valkyrie R5 humanoid robot over a minimum bandwidth of 64-4k bits/second uplink, 50k-380k bits/second downlink, and a maximum latency of 20 seconds. To achieve this, we designed and implemented extended state machines that allow a robot to perform known tasks autonomously in a partially known environment along with the flexibility to perform system critical interventions manually, if required. The main intuition behind our approach is to combine (a) sensor data redundancy for object detection and (b) 2-stage motion planning approach using state machines to successfully accomplish complex tasks. The complex tasks demonstrated are aligning a communication dish, picking up a solar panel, and deploying solar panels autonomously. The overall system design allowed successful completion of tasks even after subtask failures and/or complete communication loss.
Recurrent intrathoracic dedifferentiated liposarcoma: A case report and literature review.

Abstract Background Liposarcoma (LPS) is the second most common type of soft tissue sarcoma, accounting for approximately 15–20% of all the sarcomas. Primary intrathoracic LPS, however, is quite rare. LPS is a malignant mesenchymal tumor, comprised of lipogenic tissue with varying degrees of atypia. It can be subclassified into well-differentiated LPS (WDLPS), myxoid LPS (MLPS)/round cell LPS, pleomorphic LPS (PLPs), and dedifferentiated LPS (DDLPS), based on the histology. Case presentation A 76-year-old male patient initially presented to the emergency room with a complaint of precordial chest pain for one month. Computed tomography (CT) of his chest showed a large, 8 cm × 8 cm x 10 cm, supradiaphragmatic, complex solid mass in the lower left hemithorax, along the anterior chest wall. Chest wall mass excision revealed dedifferentiated LPS, with excision of margins. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan did not show metastatic disease. Seven months later, he presented with shortness of breath, and CT of the chest showed large, left pleural-based masses, causing compression of surrounding structures. He was not a candidate for surgical resection. This patient subsequently failed chemotherapy and opted for hospice. Conclusion Intrathoracic LPS is a rare tumor. Recurrence is higher with dedifferentiated histology forms. Radical surgery with excision of margins is the primary recommended treatment.
Class III Myosins

The class III myosins are distinguished from other myosin classes by the kinase at their N- terminus, but resemble other myosins in that ahey possess a typical conserved motor domain, a neck domain with IQ motifs and variable tails. Myosin III is expressed predominantly in sensory cells in both invertebrates and vertebrates where it localizes to elaborate actin filament-rich structures: rhabdomeres of incertebrate photoreceptors, calycal processes of vertebrate retinal photoreceptors and stereocilia of inner ear hair cells. Phosphorylation is likely an important factor in the regulation of this myosin and its signaling interactions with other proteins. Myosin III can both sutophosphorylate as well as serve as a substrate for other kinases. Molecular characterization of vertebrate myosin IIIA has provided evidence that this motor has a high affinity for actin, which could serve to promote cellular transport or actin structural organization. Experimental results from different species suggest that myosin III can play multiple roles as transporter, signaling molecule, and structural organizer. Myosin III has critical functions in sensory cells, since null mutations of myosin III cause abnormal phototransduction and photoreceptor degeneration in flies and progressive hearing loss in humans.
Model-Based Ultrasonic NDE System Qualification Methodology

The use of computer models of ultrasonic NDE inspections is a convenient and cost-effective alternative and/or companion to experimental reliability trials used for qualifying the detection reliability of a given inspection system applied to a given inspection task. In addition, the use of such models permits qualification of ultrasonic inspection of new component designs even before such components exist. This paper presents the current status of the implementation of a model-based software package for these system qualification applications. A brief overview of the model elements and assumptions will be followed by a discussion of the detection system qualification methodology and, finally, by model-predicted qualification results with associated experimental data.
The Singularity and the Familiarity of Solitary Confinement

More than 60,000 people are held in solitary confinement in U.S. prisons. This essay explores the ways in which solitary confinement is distinctive and yet also is a familiar feature of U.S. prisons. To do so, I track the expansion of solitary confinement, analyze the debate in federal courts about its lawfulness, and provide recent data on its widespread use. In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court condoned the use of solitary confinement, even as it also licensed courts to inquire about whether a particular version imposed an “atypical and significant hardship” on an individual. If a prisoner can make such a showing, prison officials must provide some procedural buffers against arbitrary placements. Empirical understandings of the use of solitary confinement comes through nation-wide surveys undertaken by the Association of State Correctional Administrators and the Liman Center at Yale Law School. Data from 2018 identified more than 60,000 individuals who were placed in cells for 15 days or more for 22 hours or more. Almost 4,000 people have been so confined for three years or more. Solitary confinement is thus all too “typical” a facet of prison life. Yet its commonplace occurrence ought not insulate solitary confinement from the conclusion that it is an illicitly cruel practice that debilitates individuals. The complexity of doing so stems not only from the widespread use of solitary confinement, but also from the ways in which U.S. prisons are committed to many practices that are isolating and disabling of individuals.
Chapter Seven – Conflicts of Interest

The Institute of Medicine has defined conflict of interest as a “set of circumstances that creates a risk that professional judgment or actions regarding a primary interest [usually taking care of patients] will be unduly influenced by a secondary influence [personal or competing interests such as research or financial gain].” Because health-care professionals often have many different responsibilities and roles in their work life, loyalties can be split and come into conflict. Potential and real conflicts of interest generally need to be disclosed publicly, and can be resolved in a variety of other ways. As with other professionalism concepts, conflict of interest is not a new issue that has arisen because of digital technology; rather, it is a historic ethical concern that has taken on new dimensions due to the particular characteristics of online and digital media.
The utility of emergency department physical therapy and case management consultation in reducing hospital admissions.

Background A significant number of patients who present to the emergency department (ED) following a fall or with other injuries require evaluation by a physical therapist. Traditionally, once emergent conditions are excluded in the ED, these patients are admitted to the hospital for evaluation by a physical therapist to determine whether they should be transferred to a sub-acute rehabilitation facility, discharged, require services at home, or require further inpatient care. Case management is typically used in conjunction with a physical therapist to determine eligibility for recommended services and to aid in placement. Objective To evaluate the benefit of using ED-based physical therapist and case management services in lieu of routine hospital admission. Methods Retrospective, observational study of consecutive patients presenting to an urban, tertiary care academic medical center ED between December 1, 2017, and November 30, 2018, who had a physical therapist consult placed in the ED. We additionally evaluated which of these patients were placed into ED observation for physical therapist consultation, how many required case management, and ED disposition: discharged home from the ED or ED observation with or without services, placed in a rehabilitation facility, or admitted to the hospital. Results During the 12-month study period, 1296 patients (2.4% of the total seen in the ED) were assessed by a physical therapist. The mean age was 75.5 ± 15.2 and 832 (64.2%) were female. Case management was involved in 91.8% of these cases. The final patient disposition was as follows: admission 24.3% (95% CI = 22.1-26.7%), home discharge with or without services 47.8% (95% CI = 45.1-50.5%), rehabilitation (rehab) setting 27.9% (95% CI = 25.6%-30.4). The median (interquartile range) time in observation was 13.1 (6.0-20.3), 9.9 (1.8-15.8), and 18.4 (14.1-24.8) hours for patients admitted, discharged home, or sent to rehabilitation (P < 0.001). Among the 979 patients discharged home or sent to rehabilitation, 17 (1.7%) returned to the ED within 72 hours and were ultimately admitted. Conclusion Given that the standard of care would otherwise be an admission to the hospital for 1 day or more for all patients requiring physical therapist consultation, an ED-based physical therapy and case management system serves as a viable method to substantially decrease hospital admissions and potentially reduce resource use, length of hospital stay, and cost both to patients and the health care system.
Workplace romance across different industries with a focus on hospitality and leisure

Abstract Workplace romance is not a new phenomenon; yet, not many studies have investigated this matter in organizational behavior research. Leisure and hospitality industry holds the highest rate of workplace romance (57%) among different industries. In this study, following the theory of love, we have defined workplace romance as a romantic relationship among organization employees that is hypothesized to be determined by interpersonal solidarity, interpersonal attraction, physical attraction, motivation, perceived value, and attitude towards workplace romance. Using a sample of 603 employees from 13 industry categories, the proposed hypotheses were tested by employing both variance- and covariance-based structural equation modeling. Furthermore, the moderation impacts of organizational factors of injustice perception, culture and policies, organization size, and autonomy, as well as individual factors of previous experience, gender, and marital status along with the industry factor were tested. The results supported all the hypotheses except the hypothesis concerning the impact of attitude towards workplace romance. Findings also provide some interesting differences among moderating variables.