cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hepatobiliary manifestations of ulcerative colitis: an example of gut–liver crosstalk

The interaction between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and hepatobiliary manifestations represents a classic example of liver–gut crosstalk. The importance of liver–gut crosstalk in IBD is demonstrated in the pathogenesis and outcome of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in IBD patients. Immunoglobulin G4-associated cholangitis (IAC), which has recently been described in UC patients, may also illustrate the significance of gut–liver interaction in these patients. Presence of these hepatobiliary manifestations influences the outcome of associated IBD, in particular ulcerative colitis (UC), and vice versa. The pathogenesis of PSC is postulated to be related to gut inflammation in IBD that results in inflammation in the portal tracts (the ‘leaky gut’). Enterohepatic circulation of lymphocytes from the gut to the liver is also of potential relevance to PSC pathogenesis and outcomes. The presence of PSC and gut inflammation in IBD influences the course and outcomes of both diseases. Further research is required, to understand the mutual effect of liver–gut crosstalk in the outcomes of UC patients, and highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary approach—involving gastroenterologists, hepatologists, advanced endoscopists and liver transplant surgeons—in the management of these patients.
Quality-of-life scores in laparoscopic preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair

Published support exists for using lightweight polypropylene mesh (PPM) to repair inguinal hernias with increased biocompatibility and decreased foreign body reaction and pain. However, quality of life (QOL) has not been assessed. We assess QOL in patients undergoing laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernia repair (TEP) with lightweight PPM. We performed an IRB-approved study of patients undergoing TEP hernia repair. Demographic information and hernia characteristics were collected perioperatively. Baseline Short Form-36 (SF-36), Carolinas Comfort Scale (CCS), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain were performed preoperatively, and then after 1, 26, and 52 weeks. Forty-eight patients undergoing TEP with mesh were selected. Average age was 43.2 years (SD = 13.2), and average BMI was 26.1 kg/m2 (SD = 4.3). Procedures include bilateral hernia, right inguinal hernia, and left inguinal hernia repairs. Mean scores on the CCS® and VAS were low during the immediate post-op period and 1 year. SF-36 mean scores for body pain, physical function, and role physical showed decreases at the postoperative survey and then subsequent increases. Pain-associated scores increased during the immediate post-op period. CCS and SF-36 scores demonstrated improvement after 1 year. There was no significant difference in VAS. Bilateral repair patients reported more pain and reduced physical function versus unilateral repairs. Patients with larger mesh reported greater pain scores and reduced physical function scores. Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is associated with initial declines in QOL in the postoperative period. Improvements appear in the long term. General health does not appear to be impacted by laparoscopic TEP. Smaller mesh and unilateral repairs are associated with improved QOL following laparoscopic TEP with PPM. Multiple metrics for QOL are required to reflect patient recovery.
Levetiracetam for the treatment of hot flashes: A pilot study

9116 Background: Hot flashes affect 75 % to 90 % of women transitioning to menopause and are a major cause of morbidity among breast cancer survivors. Levetiracetam, a popular anticonvulsant, is a ...
Abstract WMP72: Effects of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning on the Coagulation Profile of Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background: Several animal studies have suggested that ischemic preconditioning (IP) may prolong the coagulation times of the subjects treated. This presents a potential challenge for the translation of the technique into clinical settings as abnormal coagulation profiles may negatively affect the outcomes of IP in patients with ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage. This study evaluates the immediate and late effects of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on coagulation in patients enrolled in two trials of RIPC after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods: 21 patients with SAH (mean age 56, range 38-81) underwent 137 RIPC sessions, 2-12 days following SAH. RIPC was induced by 3-4 cycles of 5-10 minutes of lower limb ischemia followed by reperfusion using a blood pressure cuff inflated to a pressure of 200 mmHg or 30 mm Hg above the systolic blood pressure. Vascular occlusion was confirmed with Doppler. Blood samples for partial thromboplastin time (PTT), prothrombin time (PT), and INR were collected before and after each session. Patients were followed for potential hemorrhagic complications. Results: The coagulation profile was analyzed in 47 samples. No significant immediate effect was identified on PTT (mean pre RIPC 27.6 sec vs. post RIPC 27.5 sec, p=0.8), PT (mean pre RIPC 10.8 sec vs. post RIPC 10.8 sec, p=0.6) or INR (mean pre RIPC 1.03 vs. post RIPC 1.034, p=0.6) after each session. However, a significant increase of PT and INR but not PTT was identified after exposure to the complete series of at least 4 sessions (mean PT pre RIPC 11.3 sec vs. post RIPC 12.1, p=0.01; mean INR pre RIPC 1.02 vs. post RIPC 1.09, p=0.014, mean PTT pre RIPC 27.4 sec vs. post 27.85, p=0.092). There was also a significant direct correlation between the number of sessions and the increase in PT (Pearson=0.59, p=0.007) and INR (Pearson=0.57, p=0.01). Average follow up of 26 days demonstrated no hemorrhagic complications associated with RIPC. Conclusions: RIPC by limb ischemia appears to prolong the PT and affect INR in human subjects with subarachnoid hemorrhage after at least 4 sessions, a change that correlates with the number of sessions. However, PT and INR values remained within normal range and there were no hemorrhagic complications.
Terminal accuracy of unexpectedly loaded rapid movements: evidence for a mass-spring mechanism in programming.

Experiments using rapid-positioning movements in humans, where the subject is suddenly and unexpectedly provided with a change in the load characteristics of the limb, are described. Taken together, the pattern of results supports a mass-spring model of unidirectional limb action, where the limb moves to a position defined by the relative tensions in the agonist and antagonist. As well, various results provide evidence contrary to predictions from an impulse-timing viewpoint, where the motor program times the onset of impulses to the musculature, and against a feedback-processing viewpoint, where limb position is defined by minimizing positioning error indicated by feedback. The evidence suggests that the role of phasing in motor programs may be different for unidirectional actions on the one hand and multi-directional and/or multi-component actions on the other.
Dynamics and Control of a Minimally Actuated Biomimetic Vehicle: Part II - Control

A control strategy is proposed for a minimally-actuated flapping-wing micro air-vehicle (FWMAV). The proposed vehicle is similar to the Harvard RoboFly that accomplished the first takeoff of an insect scale flapping wing aircraft, except that it is equipped with independently actuated wings and the vehicle center-of-gravity can be manipulated for control purposes. Using the results from the derivation of the aerodynamic forces and moments from Part I, a control allocation strategy and a feedback control law are designed that enables the vehicle to achieve untethered, stabilized flight about a hover condition. The control laws are designed to make use of three actuators, two of which control the angular position of the wing in the stroke plane, and one that moves a bob-weight that manipulates the vehicle center-of-gravity. The Split-Cycle Constant-Period Frequency Modulation technique, introduced in Part I, is used to allow each wing to generate nonzero cycle-averaged rolling and yawing moments. The technique achieves this objective by varying the frequency of the oscillators, that drive each wing throughout the wing-beat cycles, such that the dynamic pressure acting on each wing during the upstroke is different from that which acts on the
Virtual Motion Camouflage and Suboptimal Trajectory Design

Optimal trajectory design usually involves solving either a multidimensional two point boundary value problem or a high dimensional nonlinear programming problem. In general, these methods are either sensitive to the initial costate or the computational cost is relatively high. On the other hand, some insects, such as male hoverflies, can quickly approach female ones or their preys while minimizing the chance of being aware from their nature background using a motion camouflage technique. The difference in computational cost between optimal trajectory design and insect motion camouflage might be explained by the curse of dimensionality. Instead of studying the motion camouflage type stealth strategy, this paper introduces the concepts of virtual motion camouflage and path control parameter and lays the foundation for an alternate method to trajectory design. In this approach, the trajectory over the full space (optimal over the selected subspace) is found by varying the speed and curvature of a calculated virtual prey trajectory. Here, the subspace is formed by an optimized reference point and the virtual prey trajectory. Regardless of the dimension of the original problem, only one vector, the path control parameter, needs to be optimized. Thus, in principle, constrained optimization problems can be greatly simplified in this formulation and the rapidly achieved trajectory (optimal over the selected subspace) could then be used as an initial guess for further optimization. To show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, four examples are demonstrated.
Role of Heat Transfer on Performance of 3-D Supersonic MicroNozzles

A numerical model for the characterization of heat transfer effects on performance and operation of a MEMS-based supersonic nozzle is reported. Owing to the large surface area to volume ratio and inherently low Reynolds numbers (Re < 1000) of a MEMS device, wall phenomena such as heat transfer and viscous forces play critical roles in shaping performance characteristics of the micronozzle. Substantial viscous subsonic layers can grow sufficiently large on the expander walls, inhibit flow through the nozzle, and potentially merge together causing the flow to be subsonic at the nozzle exit; this causes a reduction in thruster efficiency and performance. Heat transfer from the flow into the surrounding substrate can significantly alter this subsonic layer and impact overall thrust production. In this study the flow of decomposed hydrogen peroxide monopropellant is simulated in a converging-diverging supersonic microscale nozzle. The flow field is analyzed to determine subsonic layer growth on the micronozzle walls with varying degrees of heat transfer to the surrounding substrate in order to characterize the impact on nozzle performance. 3D simulations are performed for several micrnozzle depths (25μm, 50μm, and 200μm) at Reynolds number between 30−800 while varying the amount of heat transfer. Simulation results and efficiencies are compared to inviscid theory and existing data. It is shown that heat loss from the flow can reduce subsonic layer growth and thus improve nozzle performance. Similarly, thrust production is shown to be enhanced with heat transfer via Rayleigh flow and an increased gas density at the nozzle exit.
Structures of Time in Medieval Historiography

Medieval historical texts typically deploy a variety of temporal structures that underlie their literary narratives and generate both modes of emplotment and ideological messages. There are three dominant regimes of temporality that appear in these texts, often present in conjunction with one another: a strict series of events, paratactically presented without causal connection between the events that make up the series temporum; a cyclical view of history, originating ultimately in Greek and Roman historiography; and a far-reaching typological, or as Auerbach called it figural, construction of events in which antecedent events become prophecies of later ones, which represent their fulfillment. In addition, later medieval texts tend to be modeled on genealogical patterns.This article investigates the ways in which these temporal schemes are utilized, where, despite the inherent contradictions among such temporal structures, they nonetheless appear together and collaborate in promoting a particular vision ...
SEISMIC performance of bridges in california during the january 17,1994, northridge earthquake

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the seismic performance of different types of bridges during the January 17, 1994, Northridge earthquake. The Northridge earthquake was recorded extensively over the Los Angeles area on strong motion instruments. The Northridge earthquake caused the most damage to the highway bridges in California in recent history. The chapter presents the statistics on the number of State Bridges and County Bridges along with their year of construction in Los Angeles County. Most bridges damaged by this earthquake were designed by old design codes. The damages from collapsed bridges and other bridge structures have been discussed in the chapter. The damages sustained by concrete bridges, such as Gavin Canyon Undercrossing, Route 14/5 Separation, Bull Creek Canyon Channel Bridge, Mission-Gothic Undercrossing , and Le Cienega-Venice Undercrossing have been elaborated and classified into a number of reasons, namely loss support seats, large hinge or abutment skew angles, non-ductile columns, change of effective column length, and site condition effect. The damages sustained by the steel bridges such as Steel BrSteel, Pico Lyon Overcrossing, Valencia Boulevard Overcrossing, and Santa Clara River Bridge have also been categorized into reasons, namely, insufficient anchor bolt detail, incompatible movements, staggered intermediate diaphragm, and buckling of end diaphragm member. The retrofitted bridges exhibited no structural damage. The most significant example is the Cadillac Ramp Separation and Bollona Creek; the most damage observed at these two bridges were cracks on slope paving and approach settlement. It also demonstrated that the retrofit design for bridges is the most effective one till date.
A Replication and Extension of the PEERS® for Young Adults Social Skills Intervention: Examining Effects on Social Skills and Social Anxiety in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Young adults with ASD experience difficulties with social skills, empathy, loneliness, and social anxiety. One intervention, PEERS® for Young Adults, shows promise in addressing these challenges. The present study replicated and extended the original study by recruiting a larger sample (N = 56), employing a gold standard ASD assessment tool, and examining changes in social anxiety utilizing a randomized controlled trial design. Results indicated improvements in social responsiveness (SSIS-RS SS, p = .006 and CPB, p = .005; SRS, p = .004), PEERS® knowledge (TYASSK, p = .001), empathy (EQ, p = .044), direct interactions (QSQ-YA, p = .059), and social anxiety (LSAS-SR, p = .019). Findings demonstrate further empirical support for the intervention for individuals with ASD.
An evaluation of sampling and full enumeration strategies for Fisher Jenks classification in big data settings

Large data contexts present a number of challenges to optimal choropleth map classifiers. Application of optimal classifiers to a sample of the attribute space is one proposed solution. The properties of alternative sampling-based classification methods are examined through a series of Monte Carlo simulations. The impacts of spatial autocorrelation, number of desired classes, and form of sampling are shown to have significant impacts on the accuracy of map classifications. Tradeoffs between improved speed of the sampling approaches and loss of accuracy are also considered. The results suggest the possibility of guiding the choice of classification scheme as a function of the properties of large data sets.
Planning Energy-Efficient Trajectories in Strong Disturbances

We present a framework for planning energy-efficient trajectories through strong and uncertain disturbances, such as ocean currents and wind fields. First, we develop an iterative optimization algorithm for path planning. The algorithm samples smoothly deformed paths around the current best path estimate. Using these samples the best path guess is updated based upon a user-defined cost function. Second, we present a number of different trajectory comparison metrics that allow a vehicle to intelligently choose when to switch to newly planned paths based on new information gathered about uncertain environmental disturbances. Results are shown for a simulated environment, for a regional ocean modeling system ocean current dataset, and for field trials conducted on a windy lake with a Platypus Lutra autonomous boat. These results show that 1) our path planning algorithm is able to plan more energy-efficient paths than STOMP and A*-based methods, 2) our replanning method plans paths that are more energy-efficient in the presence of uncertainty than planning only on the ocean current forecast, and 3) our algorithm is robust enough to deal with environments where limited amounts of data are available.
Dying to Work: African Migration to Italy: Borders V. Humanity

Kebrat, a 24 year-old Eritrean woman was laid out with the bodies of some of the 350 would-be immigrants who died when their boat caught fire and capsized October 2013, just off the Italian Island of Lampedusa. Suddenly she started to vomit water and fuel. "I am escaping from the devastation caused by the war," she told a reporter. "I am seeking a better life in Italy. I am searching for work. I have lived for years in fear." Over the past 20 years, more than 25,000 would-be immigrants to Europe, mostly Italy, Spain and Greece, have drowned in the Mediterranean. This continuing violence is causing Italian and other European leaders to rethink their policies and look for a more humane way to respond to the desperate attempts of African migrants to find work and freedom. But this seemingly endless flow of migrants to Europe from Africa has also ignited a backlash against the invasion. The issue pits theories of humanity and human rights against arguments of borders and sovereignty. In Italy, conservative politicians such as former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sought curbs on illegal migration but ran into business support for hiring them as Italy faces an aging and declining native population. Right wing calls for returning illegal migrants to their port of origin ran into public opposition in Italy. Pope Francis made his first trip to the Island of Lampedusa where he called for humane treatment of immigrants. The paper examines both the theoretical debates as well as the humanitarian issues involved. It argues that a political and humane response are not contradictory and involves a more orderly and intentional recruitment of migrant laborers, as well as stronger international controls along the North African coast to prevent undocumented voyagers from risking their lives. The study is based on interviews in Italy, archival materials, and a review of relevant literature.
Myogenic progenitor specification from pluripotent stem cells

Pluripotent stem cells represent important tools for both basic and translational science as they enable to study mechanisms of development, model diseases in vitro and provide a potential source of tissue-specific progenitors for cell therapy. Concomitantly with the increasing knowledge of the molecular mechanisms behind activation of the skeletal myogenic program during embryonic development, novel findings in the stem cell field provided the opportunity to begin recapitulating in vitro the events occurring during specification of the myogenic lineage. In this review, we will provide a perspective of the molecular mechanisms responsible for skeletal myogenic commitment in the embryo and how this knowledge was instrumental for specifying this lineage from pluripotent stem cells. In addition, we will discuss the current limitations for properly recapitulating skeletal myogenesis in the petri dish, and we will provide insights about future applications of pluripotent stem cell-derived myogenic cells.
Characterization of magnetoresistors for contactless current sensing in power electronic applications

With the introduction of high frequency semiconductor devices and converters, wideband, lossless and accurate current measurement is the key to achieving highly efficient power conversion. Magnetoresistors (MR) provide an alternative solution to isolated and contactless current monitoring in power converters. However, there is few literature on their application for power electronics converters. In this work, detailed characterizations of two different Magnetoresistive (MR) elements, the Anisotropic Magnetoresistor (AMR) and the Giant Magnetoresistor (GMR) are performed for contactless current sensing. The AMR and GMR sensor test circuits are designed and implemented in Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) and their performances are evaluated under different spatial and input current conditions including implementation of different sides of the board and DC, AC and step currents up to 10A. Detailed analysis is performed to analyze the sensitivity and sensing range of the sensors. Finally, a frequency analysis is performed on the step current response to evaluate the detection bandwidth of the AMR and GMR current sensors.
IRI the International Standard for the Ionosphere

Abstract. This paper gives a brief overview over the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) project and model. IRI is recognized as the official standard for the ionosphere by the International Standardization Organization (ISO), the International Union of Radio Science (URSI), the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), and the European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECCS). Of great importance are the external drivers of the model that help IRI to represent ionospheric conditions as realistically as possible. The paper discusses the drivers currently used presents recent improvements and changes. Besides the standard solar, magnetic, and ionospheric indices the paper also reports on the adjustment of the model with data and equivalent indices and on the progress towards a Real-Time IRI using data assimilation. IRI has been widely validated with many different data sources and has fared very well in community wide assessment studies. We present some of these studies and document the wide usages of the model in the scientific literature. Finally, we present an outlook on things to come in IRI-2018 and thereafter.
The “1st Septal Unit” in Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: A Newly Recognized Anatomo-Functional Entity, Identified during Recent Alcohol Septal Ablation Experience

In hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, selective and asymmetric hypertrophy results in a stenotic subaortic channel, which is further narrowed by a Venturi effect (suctioning of the anterior leaflet, manifested by systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve). Better understanding of these essential pathophysiologic mechanisms has led to the definition of a new anatomo-functional entity, the 1st septal unit, which consists of the basal interventricular septal hypertrophy and its related septal arterial branches. As an alternative to surgical myomectomy, alcohol septal ablation is an effective method of reducing subaortic stenosis and improving mitral valve function. After alcohol ablation, global negative remodeling of the hypertrophied left ventricle eventually ensues. This review presents specific anatomic and functional features of a newly identified pathophysiologic entity (the 1st septal unit) in relation to the clinical manifestations and natural history of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. This relationship is also relevant during the performance of alcohol septal ablation interventions: related operative suggestions are provided for optimizing subaortic stenosis relief during septal ablation and for preventing complications.
Supplemental instruction: leading to success

This paper addresses the role of Supplemental Instruction (SI) in our Computer Science courses. SI is a free, voluntary academic development program aimed at increasing students' retention and success in their academic careers. The program is offered to all students in various historically-difficult subjects. SI is led by upper-level students ("SI Leaders") who have successfully taken these courses during previous semesters. The SI leaders are embedded in the classroom in order to help the students along with the instructors. They facilitate regularly-scheduled out-of-class sessions, which are structured group study sessions to support students so they can master the course's content and learn effective study skills. We discuss the advantages and positive results we have seen in our Computer Science courses as a result of incorporating SI.
Supporting Augmented Reality: Looking Beyond Performance

Recent years have witnessed a surge in augmented reality (AR) applications in various markets and verticals, together with emerging toolkits and platforms to support new developments. However, the vision of a pervasive augmented reality held by many still seems a distance away. Notwithstanding the many ongoing efforts to tackle AR performance challenges, we argue that much attention is needed to other research areas including network architecture, security, privacy, and the development of business cases. Similar to the Web, existing AR applications are built upon TCP/IP protocol stack and rely on cloud computation. To enable pervasive AR applications, we believe that new computing paradigms, new approaches to network communications, and new business models need to be explored. Edge computing paradigms, which utilize performance advantage of server class hardware within physical vicinity, could achieve the required low latency while protecting user privacy. We further argue that Named Data Networking (NDN), a proposed new internet architecture, can be an enabler for pervasive AR by supporting local resource discovery, offering built-in communication security, and enabling experimentation with new business models. We hope that this position paper spurs greater thinking beyond performance improvements to push AR forward.
High-Performance Triangle Counting on GPUs

Counting triangles in a network is a primary step toward making sense of social networks. For instance, a graph with a large number of triangles is regarded as a “tightly knit community” with high degree of trust, because in this case all the friends (neighbors) of one vertex are also friends (connected) to each other. This work focuses on using Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to accelerate triangle counting. To accommodate large graphs, the stat-of-the-art GPU-based triangle counting project-TriCore-simply stores the entire graph in the secondary storage to achieve communication free multi-GPU triangle counting. Our key observation is that each modern GPU server (Table I) often installs multiple GPUs which can easily overwhelm the disk bandwidth. Therefore, this paper introduces a new design for workload balancing to partition the graph and the workload in order to buffer each partitioned data in the CPU memory for faster data provisioning. Taken together, this work is the first, to the best of our knowledge, to advance the rate of triangle counting beyond 109 traversed edges per second (TEPS), as well as the first project that achieves > 108TEPS for graphs with more than ten billion edges.
Comprehensive comparison of two tracking codes for single-particle dynamics evaluation of a next-generation storage ring light source

Next-generation light sources based on the multibend achromat concept place great reliance on the accuracy of beam dynamics modeling. To ensure the success of such light sources, confirmation of design performance with at least two independent codes is prudent. The APS Upgrade (APS-U) lattice has been designed using the code elegant, which has existing and new features that are needed by the design. Corresponding, independent improvements have recently been made to the accelerator toolbox (at), in order to permit an independent check of nonlinear dynamics predictions. The new developments include the modeling of combined-function bending magnets with straight geometry and improved fringe field effects of quadrupole magnets. Calculations of linear and nonlinear lattice parameters and particle tracking results were compared, showing remarkable agreement was found between the two independently developed codes. This provides significant confirmation of the feasibility of the APS-U design.
Urinary tract infections following radical cystectomy with enhanced recovery protocol: A prospective study.

Abstract Objectives Urinary tract infection (UTI) following radical cystectomy (RC) is a common complication associated with significant morbidity and risk of readmission. Recent literature has assessed the effect of perioperative antibiotic regimens on the rate of postoperative infections but not yet yielded with significant changes in UTI rates. Our study focused on the effect of postoperative suppressive regimens on the rate of UTI following radical cystectomy with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 427 patients who underwent RC with ERAS protocol between May 2012 and January 2017 at our institution. The ERAS protocol infection prevention measures included 24-hr perioperative antibiotic followed by suppressive antibiotic until removal of catheter/stents. A patient was found to have a UTI if they had a positive urine culture and documented symptoms, positive urine culture with treatment per practitioner discretion, or negative or unavailable urine culture but the clinical presumption of UTI that got treatment. Urosepsis was defined if any of UTI episodes were associated with positive blood culture. Patients’ characteristics, UTI events, and urine culture sensitivities were reviewed for analysis. Results The incidence of UTI and urosepsis was 36.1% and 7.13% within 90-days following RC, respectively. The median time to the first UTI was 13 days (IQR 8–35). Candida (25.57%) and Escherichia coli (22.16%) were the most commonly identified pathogens. UTI and urosepsis were significantly lower in patients who received suppressive fluoroquinolones compared to other antibiotic regimens (32.72% vs. 45.24%, P = 0.04 for UTI and 5.25% vs. 11.90%, P = 0.04 for urosepsis). In multivariable analysis, orthotopic neobladder and perioperative transfusion were significantly associated with increased UTI rate (OR = 2.3 and 1.71, p Conclusions UTI is common following RC and urinary diversion with ERAS protocol. The most common isolated pathogens are candida and Escherichia coli. Orthotopic neobladder and perioperative transfusion are independent risk factors for postoperative UTI. The use of suppressive fluoroquinolones is associated with a significant decrease in UTI rate.
Exploring instructors’ perspectives, practices, and perceived support needs and barriers related to the gamification of MOOCs

This study explored instructors’ perceptions, interest, self-efficacy, perceived barriers, and support needs regarding gamification in MOOCs. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from an online survey and follow-up interviews. Most participants showed interest in gamification and indicated that they would consider utilizing gaming elements in their future MOOCs. Interestingly, they wanted to gamify their MOOCs mostly to increase social interactions and student retention. Significant differences in self-efficacy and perceptions of gamification were found between younger participants and older participants. The results also revealed significant differences in interest and self-efficacy between participants with prior experience with gamification and those without prior experience. The major barriers to gamifying MOOCs included lack of time, limited knowledge, lack of funding, lack of fit between gamification and the course content, concerns about students’ perceptions of gamification, and concerns regarding the negative effects of gamification. Participants reported that they would need time and funding, guidance from gamification experts, examples of gamified MOOCs, more flexible MOOC platforms in order to successfully gamify their MOOCs.
In₀.₅₃Ga₀.₄₇As/InAs Composite Channel MOS-HEMT Exhibiting 511 GHz f τ and 256 GHz f max

An In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As/InAs composite channel MOS-HEMT exhibiting peak $f_{\tau } = 511$ GHz and peak ${f} _{\max }= 285$ GHz is demonstrated. Additionally, another device exhibiting peak $f_{\tau } = 286$ GHz and peak ${f} _{\max }= 460$ GHz is reported. The devices have a 1 nm / 3 nm Al x O y N z interfacial layer and ZrO 2 gate dielectric on a 2 nm / 4 nm In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As / InAs composite channel with a modulation doped In 0.52 Al 0.48 As back barrier. To reduce parasitic gate-source and gate-drain capacitances, a modulation doped In 0.52 Al 0.48 As / In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As / InAs composite quantum well is included between the gate edges and the N+ source and drain. Compared to the work of Wu et al. , addition of an In 0.52 Al 0.48 As back-barrier, scaling of S/D metal spacing, and scaling of channel thickness has enabled improved transconductance and increased ${f} _{\tau }$ . Short gate length devices ${f} _{\max }$ are limit by high $R_{G}$ due to poor metal filling of the T-Gate stem and large $C_{DS}$ due to a conductive etch stop layer. Long gate length devices exhibit better metal filling, reduced $R_{G}$ , and balanced ${f} _{\tau }$ , ${f} _{\max }$ . Devices exhibit 10–15% DC-1 GHz $g_{m,e}$ suggesting that the high-k / semiconductor interface has low $D_{it}$ .
Lymphadenectomy and Survival After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: Is More Better?

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of number of lymph nodes examined on survival in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation. The National Cancer Database was queried for patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery for esophageal adenocarcinoma. Propensity scores were created predicting the odds of undergoing resection of ≥ 25 nodes. Patients were matched on propensity score. Overall survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Sensitivity analyses were performed using various nodal cutoffs. In total, 3953 patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation were identified. The median number of resected nodes was 14 nodes (IQR, 8–20 nodes). Resection of ≥ 15 (vs. < 15 nodes: 32 vs. 26 months; p < 0.001), ≥ 20 (vs. < 20 nodes: 36 vs. 28 months; p = 0.001), and ≥ 25 (vs. < 25 nodes: 37 vs. 29 months; p = 0.015) nodes was associated with higher median survival, but resection of ≥ 30 nodes was not (vs. < 30 nodes: 41 vs. 33 months; p = 0.367). Resection of ≥ 25 lymph nodes remained predictive for improved survival on subset analysis in patients with negative nodes and who underwent treatment at high-volume centers. After neoadjuvant chemoradiation, resection of 25 or more lymph nodes was associated with longer median survival. Prospective trials are warranted to determine the optimal nodal yield after neoadjuvant chemoradiation.
Social anxiety moderates the relationship between body mass index and motivation to avoid exercise.

Abstract Higher weight individuals experience frequent weight-related discrimination, which is associated with exercise avoidance. Exercise is a health behavior with multiple physical and mental health benefits and should be accessible to all. The current study examined another factor that might influence exercise in addition to weight stigma: social anxiety (SA). Given the often public nature of exercise, individuals with SA may feel scrutinized when exercising, which may lead to avoidance. This study examined whether SA moderates the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and exercise and whether SA and its interaction with BMI predict exercise behavior after accounting for weight stigma. We administered an online survey to 603 undergraduates (72 % female, 60 % White). SA was not significantly associated with BMI, but it was positively associated with weight stigma and exercise-avoidance motivation and negatively associated with self-reported exercise. SA moderated the relationship between BMI and exercise-avoidance motivation; individuals with higher BMIs were motivated to avoid exercise, but only if they reported higher SA. This interaction predicted exercise-avoidance motivation after accounting for weight stigma and its interaction with BMI. However, SA did not moderate the relationship between BMI and self-reported exercise. SA may be associated with exercise avoidance among higher weight individuals.
Pterygopalatine Fossa Blockade as Novel, Narcotic-Sparing Treatment for Headache in Patients with Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Severe headache is a hallmark clinical feature of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), affecting nearly 90% of patients during index hospitalization, regardless of the SAH severity or presence of a culprit aneurysm. Up to 1 in 4 survivors of SAH experience chronic headaches, which may be severe and last for years. Data guiding the optimal management of post-SAH headache are lacking. Opioids, often in escalating doses, remain the guideline-recommended mainstay of acute therapy, but pain relief remains suboptimal. This study is a case series of adult patients who received bilateral pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) blockade for the management of refractory headaches after spontaneous SAH (aneurysmal and non-aneurysmal) at a single tertiary care center. We examined pain scores and analgesic requirements before and after block placement. Seven patients (median age 54 years, 3 men, four aneurysmal and three non-aneurysmal) received a PPF-block between post-bleed day 6–11 during index hospitalization in the neurointensive care unit. The worst pain recorded in the 24-h period before the block was significantly higher than in the period 4 h after the block (9.1 vs. 3.1; p = 0.0156), and in the period 8 h after the block (9.1 vs. 2.8; p = 0.0313). The only complication was minor oozing from the needle insertion sites, which subsided completely with gauze pressure within 1 min. PPF blockade might constitute a promising opioid-sparing therapeutic strategy for the management of post-SAH headache that merits further prospective controlled randomized studies.
Elucidation of specific binding sites and extraction of toxic Gen X from HSA employing cyclodextrin.

ABSTRACT The presence of per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as forever chemicals, in aquatic systems is a serious global health problem. While the remediation of PFAS from aqueous media has been extensively investigated, their interactions with and removal from biological systems have received far less attention. We report herein structural alterations to human serum albumin (HSA) upon addition of perfluoro(2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic) acid (Gen X) monitored by changes to the fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectra of HSA. The equilibrium association constant for Gen X binding to HSA is 7(±1) × 103 M-1 determined from changes in HSA fluorescence emission data during titration. Site-specific HSA binding fluorophores, 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (1,8-ANS), warfarin and dansyl-L-proline were used to investigate the specific binding sites of Gen X on HSA. A competitive displacement study yields association constants for Gen X to HSA at the 1,8-ANS, warfarin, and dansyl-L-proline binding sites to be 6.25 (±0.5) × 104 M-1, 1.1 × 106 M-1, and 2.5(±0.2) × 109 M-1 respectively. Addition of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and heptakis(6-deoxy-6-amino)-β-cyclodextrin heptahydrochloride to the HSA:Gen X complex leads to the effective extraction of Gen X from the complex with the return of HSA in its native form. Gen X also leads to displacement of site-specific binding fluorophores bound to HSA, while subsequent addition of β-CD extracts Gen X from HSA with the return of the characteristic fluorescence of the HSA bound site-specific agent. These results illustrate the strong and specific binding sites of Gen X on HSA and demonstrate the principles for the potential application of β-CD for the remediation of PFAS from biological systems.
Chapter 7 Seasonal Dynamics of Suspended Particulate Matter

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the seasonal dynamics of suspended particulate matter (SPM). Seasonal changes in prevailing wind directions and speeds over the continental shelf result in complex seasonal shelf circulation patterns that in turn yield changing seasonal distributions of SPM. The three-layered structure of the shelf SPM that persists through spring and summer gives way to a deeper mixed layer and more uniform SPM distribution as the prevailing northwesterly winds yield to winter southerlies. The chapter presents data drawn from 15 short-term cruises carried out over the central Oregon continental shelf, approximately each month from June 1980 to October 1981. These cruises allowed the examination of the connections between the SPM fields over the continental shelf and slope in winter and summer. The chapter also examines data from long cruises over the shelf and slope off Washington in October 1978 and August–September 1981 and utilizes historical cruise data back to 1960 for trends and anomalies in certain hydrographic, optical, and chlorophyll distributions.
Changes in conformation upon agonist binding, and nonequivalent labeling, of the membrane-spanning regions of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits.

Abstract All four subunits of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) are labeled by the lipid-soluble photolabel 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-[125I]iodophenyl)diazirine [( 125I]TID) with different stoichiometries and levels of saturable modification sites, dependent on the conformational state of the AChR. This probe is specific for hydrophobic targets such as the membrane-spanning regions of intrinsic proteins. In the resting state, the gamma subunit is labeled 4.5 times greater and the beta and delta subunits 1.65-1.69 greater than the alpha subunit. Carbamylcholine-induced desensitization of the AChR lowers the level and alters the stoichiometry of [125I]TID incorporation into each subunit. This effect is shown to be specific in two ways. First, it is eliminated by prior equilibration with excess alpha-bungarotoxin, which does not change the [125I]TID-labeling pattern of the AChR from that of the resting state. Second, bacteriorhodopsin is labeled by [125I]TID to the same extent both in the presence and absence of carbamylcholine. The noncompetitive blocker phencyclidine does not alter [125I]TID labeling of the AChR relative to the resting state. The 43-kDa protein, which is believed to cross-link the AChR to the cytoskeleton at the synapse, is not modified by [125I]TID, in agreement with earlier conclusions that the 43-kDa protein is not an intrinsic membrane protein.
Fisher Light-Fields for Face Recognition across Pose and Illumination

In many face recognition tasks the pose and illumination conditions of the probe and gallery images are different. In other cases multiple gallery or probe images may be available, each captured from a different pose and under a different illumination. We propose a face recognition algorithm which can use any number of gallery images per subject captured at arbitrary poses and under arbitrary illumination, and any number of probe images, again captured at arbitrary poses and under arbitrary illumination. The algorithm operates by estimating the Fisher light-field of the subject's head from the input gallery or probe images. Matching between the probe and gallery is then performed using the Fisher light-fields.
Proxy caching and video segmentation based on request frequencies and access costs

Partial caching of large media objects such as video files has been proposed in recent proxy caching schemes, as the caching of entire videos can exhaust proxy storage resources within few requests. In this work, the idea of segmenting videos into a number of chunks and replacement decisions can be taken at the chunk level rather than based on the entire objects adopted. In particular, a video segmentation scheme called variable chunk size is presented. This scheme uses the request frequencies to dynamically adjust the size of the chunk and it is shown to be capable of combining a high BHR (byte hit ratio) with small response time to demand changes. Video segmentation is also considered as a mechanism to provide for caching differentiation based on access costs. By employing access cost dependent chunk sizes, an overall access cost reduction is demonstrated.
NOTES ON THEORY AND RESEARCH IN EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION: THE EXECUTIVE ROLE OF WOMEN IN NEW ZEALAND EDUCATION

INTRODUCTION In 1893 New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the vote. The recognition was here implicit that women had the ability to discern, assess, evaluate and, if necessary administer in the same way as had men. In nearby Australia which followed New Zealand very closely in this pattern of universal suffrage, “The Champion” of May, 1890, stated:
Rubidium diffusion in microscale spectroscopy and slow light platforms

This paper presents an approach to quantifying the diffusion rate of rubidium in glass microchannels. These types of microchannels are often used in integrated systems (chip and fiber based) which utilize light and rubidium vapor interactions to produce quantum interference phenomena such as slow light. The test platforms reported here were made using glass capillaries connected to larger glass chambers through glassblowing. Rubidium diffusion was monitored in two different ways. First, fluorescence measurements were taken over time at different points down the length of the capillary. Second, optical absorption measurements were taken through the large glass chambers on either side of the capillaries. Results indicate that reaching measurable atomic densities in microscale geometries can take many days or even weeks.
Introduction to Hypersonic Flow

This chapter introduces the main aerodynamic physical phenomena encountered in hypersonic flow. The vehicle environment is first set into context by examining flight paths of typical vehicles, for missions from ballistic to access-to-space. The principal engineering problems arising in the harsh environment are outlined together with preliminary considerations on the manner in which these impact the mission-dependent shape of the vehicle. The physics of high-speed flow are introduced by first discussing strong inviscid and viscous interactions encountered at higher Mach numbers. This is followed by a brief description of some of the most striking features distinguishing hypersonic from supersonic flow. These include high-altitude low-density effects that need recourse to molecular dynamics, thermo-chemistry effects that are triggered at high temperatures and enthalpies, the effects of ablation for thermal protection, the potential impact of thermal radiation, and the newly energized field of flow control with natural or artificially enhanced ionization. Keywords: hypervelocity; reentry; hypersonics; thermo-chemical non-equilibrium; non-continuum dynamics; space access