cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Analysis of Transfusion Practice and the Role of Intraoperative Red Blood Cell Salvage During Cesarean Delivery

BACKGROUND: We sought to determine to what extent intraoperative salvaged red blood cells (RBC) might theoretically reduce exposure to appropriately transfused allogenic erythrocytes in Cesarean delivery patients. METHODS: Medical records of Cesarean delivery patients requiring blood transfusions from January 1, 1992 to June 30, 1996 and June 1, 1998 to June 30, 2003 were reviewed. For each patient, we calculated the number of allogenic RBC units that could have theoretically been avoided had intraoperative autotransfusion been performed, based upon estimated blood loss, preoperative hematocrit, and the amount of retrieved blood needed to yield a single RBC unit. RBC transfusion appropriateness was determined using the recommended guideline of transfusing RBCs if the hemoglobin is <7 gm/dL in a patient with continuing bleeding. RESULTS: A small percentage of Cesarean delivery patients (1.8%) received blood product transfusions. Of 207 patients receiving blood transfusions, salvaged erythrocytes could have theoretically decreased exposure to allogenic RBCs in 115 (55.6%) patients. Only 75.7% of these 115 patients were appropriately transfused with erythrocytes. CONCLUSION: Theoretically, based on best, average, and worst RBC salvage recovery calculations, 25.1%, 21.2%, or 14.5% of the appropriately transfused patients, respectively, could have completely avoided allogenic RBC transfusion.
Mother Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) Alter Their Antipredator Behavior in the Presence of Neonates

Neonate-directed care is rare in non-avian reptiles, but female pitvipers attend their young for a period of time after birth. One of the primary functions of parental care is the protection of offspring from predators, and parents of diverse taxa are able to modulate their antipredator behavior in the presence of offspring. To test the hypothesis that the antipredator behavior of post-parturient pitvipers is altered during neonate attendance, we conducted behavioral trials on female cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) in which we measured female response to a simulated predator encounter. Cottonmouths were divided into three treatment groups: (1) post-parturient, attending neonates; (2) post-parturient, not attending neonates; and (3) non-reproductive. All females were subjected to a second trial approximately 3 wk later, when females in Group 1 were no longer attending neonates. When mothers were attending offspring, they were more hesitant to engage the predator and exhibited more warning than aggressive behaviors once they did, relative to non-attending and non-reproductive females. When these same mothers were no longer attending offspring, they significantly increased their antipredator behavior by engaging the predator quickly and displaying more aggressive than warning behaviors. This change in behavior was not observed in post-parturient females who did not have neonates present during either trial, nor was it observed in non-reproductive females, indicating that the presence of neonates directly affected the antipredator behavior of attending females. We discuss hypotheses concerning the possible adaptive value of reduced antipredator behavior in female pitvipers attending neonates.
Zinc Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide

[168106-25-0] C4F12ZnN2O8S4 (MW 625.70) InChI = 1S/2C2F6NO4S2.Zn/c2*3-1(4,5)14(10,11)9-15(12,13)2(6,7)8;/q2*-1;+2 InChIKey = QEORIOGPVTWFMH-UHFFFAOYSA-N (strong Lewis acid; catalyst for a variety of reactions) Alternate Name: zinc bis(triflimide); zinc di[bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide]; zinc triflimide. Physical Data: sublimes (260 °C at 1 mmHg).1 Solubility: sol in CH2Cl2 and H2O. Form Supplied in: white powder, commercially available. Preparative Method: it may be prepared from addition of zinc metal to bis-triflimide in distilled water, filtration, and drying in vacuo. It may also be prepared by using an electrochemical method. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: moderately hygroscopic; store well sealed.
Fractional anisotropy of the optic radiations is associated with visual acuity loss in optic pathway gliomas of neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a mutation on chromosome 17q11.2 that affects ∼1 in 3000 children.1 Affected individuals have an error in the tumor suppressor gene encoding neurofibromin and are at increased risk for both benign and malignant tumors. Optic pathway gliomas (OPGs), involving optic nerves, chiasm, or tracts and rarely the optic radiations, develop in 15%–20% of children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)2,3 and cause vision loss in up to 50%.4 Determining when to treat young children with an NF1-associated OPG is a challenging clinical problem. One of the largest epidemiologic studies to date showed that no specific presenting factor was associated with OPGs that will require treatment.5 OPGs in patients with NF1 are generally indolent, and the most commonly cited indications for treatment are declining vision or radiographic progression.6 However, radiographic progression has never been shown to predict vision loss accurately,6,7 and visual acuity testing is highly dependent on patient cooperation.8 Because the median age of vision loss in patients with NF1-associated OPG is 4.9 years2 and many children with NF1 are affected by attentional disorders,9,10 accurate visual acuity is often difficult to obtain reliably. The ability to diagnose and predict vision loss accurately in children with NF1-associated OPGs would lead to more efficient and effective use of chemotherapy and early interventions. Vision loss in OPGs is presumably attributable to direct infiltration of or pressure on the visual pathways by tumor. Although tumor extent by conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) does not correlate with vision loss,6,7,11,12 direct measurements of the integrity of optic pathway white matter tracts may better identify vision loss. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) allows identification and quantitation of white matter pathways, including optic nerves, tracts, and radiations. DTI uses the Brownian motion of water to probe tissue microstructure. By sensitizing diffusion-weighted imaging in 6 (or more) noncollinear axes, it is possible to detect anisotropic patterns of diffusion and, thus, characterize both the degree and direction of preferred diffusion to assess white matter structure and integrity. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study to evaluate the association between visual acuity and DTI measurements of white matter tract integrity in the visual pathways among individuals with an NF1-associated OPG. We hypothesized that DTI parameters would provide a useful in vivo imaging biomarker to help assess visual acuity and may help predict future vision loss in children with NF1 and an OPG.
Typical histologic features of Tunga penetrans in skin biopsies.

Abstract Context.—Tunga penetrans is a flea that burrows into human skin, causing the disease tungiasis. Although the parasite is not endemic in the United States, patients may present with this di...
A LOW FIRE PORCELAIN1

Pieces of the following composition were cast and then fired at about cone 02, or lower, and then glazed and fired at cone 4. The result was a pleasing porcelain. Frit Batch: Whiting, 0.32 × 100 = 32; Niter, 0.28 × 202 = 56.5: Borax, 0.12 × 328 = 45.8; Soda Ash, 0.18 × 106 = 19; Magnesite, 0.10 × 84 = 8.4; Calcined Clay, 0.24 × 222 = 53.3; Flint, 1.8 × 60 = 108; Total = 322. Georgia Clay 0.07 or 18 parts was added to the fritted batch
The Tennessee Constitution and the Dynamics of American Federalism

This article was written as part of a symposium honoring the Bicentennial of the University of Tennessee and looking forward to the Bicentennial of the Tennessee Constitution. The purpose of this article is to appraise the contribution of Tennessee constitutional interpretation to the development of judicial federalism. The analysis is necessarily selective, focusing chiefly on Tennessee Supreme Court decisions construing certain provisions of the Declaration of Rights of the Tennessee Constitution. Specific attention is given to those Tennessee decisions that extend state constitutional protections beyond their federal counterparts, as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court. The discussion emphasizes decisions in the following areas: (1) criminal procedure (including police interrogation, search and seizure, cruel and unusual punishment, and confrontation); (2) privacy; and (3) public school financing. The decisions are examined against the broad background of Tennessee constitutional development and the changing contours of American Federalism. This article was published originally at 61 Tenn. L. Rev. 707 (1994) and is used here by permission of the Tennessee Law Review Association, Inc.
Injury fatalities among young children.

Injuries and violence are the primary causes of death among young children in the United States. In particular, in 1982-84 motor vehicle injuries, fires, drowning, and homicide were the leading external causes of death at ages 1-4 years and 5-9 years, accounting for nearly 80 percent of all deaths from external causes. The purpose of this article is to analyze race and sex differentials in injury fatalities among young children. Race and sex differentials in injury mortality were measured in terms of relative risks, that is, race (black to white) and sex (male to female) mortality ratios. Race ratios for external causes ranged from 1.7 to 1.9 for children 1-4 and 5-9, while sex ratios were somewhat lower, 1.4 to 1.8. Although race and sex ratios were relatively small for passenger-related motor vehicle fatalities (0.8 to 1.2) the ratios for pedestrian-related injuries were considerably greater (1.5 to 2.0). Race ratios for deaths caused by fires and homicide were particularly large (3.4 to 4.3). Mortality differences were also measured in terms of excess mortality. For each age-race group more than 65 percent of the overall excess deaths among males were due to external causes of death. Pedestrian-related motor vehicle injuries and drownings accounted for the largest proportion of excess deaths among males. At ages 1-4, 53 percent of the overall excess deaths among blacks were due to external causes. Deaths caused by fires and homicide accounted for more than two-fifths of the excess in this age group. At ages 5-9, 81 percent of excess mortality among black males and 69 percent among black females were accounted for by external causes. Fires, pedestrian-related motor vehicle fatalities, and homicides accounted for nearly 65 percent of excess mortality among black children.There has been a 30 percent decline in death rates from all external causes between 1972-74 and 1982-84. Pedestrian-related motor vehicle death rates declined the most in both age groups.Mortality also declined in each age-race-sex group for passenger-related motor vehicle injuries, for drownings, and for fires except among black males ages 5-9. Homicide, in contrast, increased in both age groups. There has been little change, however,in the incidence of injuries among children. Thus,it appears that declines in fatalities accounted for a major portion of the mortality reduction.
Trends in Primary and Revision Hip Arthroplasty Among Orthopedic Surgeons Who Take the American Board of Orthopedics Part II Examination.

Abstract Background A certified list of all operative cases performed within a 6-month period is a required prerequisite for surgeons taking the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Part II oral examination. Using the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery secure Internet database database containing these cases, this study (1) assessed changing trends for primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) and (2) compared practices and early postoperative complications between 2 groups of examinees, those with and without adult reconstruction fellowship training. Methods Secure Internet database was searched for all 2003-2013 procedures with a Current Procedural Terminology code for THA, hip resurfacing, hemiarthroplasty, revision hip arthroplasty, conversion to THA, or removal of hip implant (Girdlestone, static, or dynamic spacer). Results Adult reconstruction fellowship-trained surgeons performed 60% of the more than 33,000 surgeries identified (average 28.1) and nonfellowship-trained surgeons performed 40% (average 5.2) ( P P P Conclusion In early practice, primary and revision hip arthroplasties are often performed by surgeons without adult reconstruction fellowship training. Complications are less frequently reported by surgeons with larger volumes of joint replacement surgery who perform either primary or more complex cases. Primary hip arthroplasty is increasingly performed by surgeons early in practice who have completed an adult reconstructive fellowship after residency training. This trend is even more pronounced for more complex cases such as revision or management of infection.
EXPLORING AN EMERGING FIELD: THE IMPLICATIONS OF GLOBAL SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

This paper aims to advance the empirical understanding of global social entrepreneurship. Specifically, this paper aims to provide a new social entrepreneurship model, particularly on a global scale, introducing and examining two distinctive cases: Ashoka and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC). The ‘hybrid value chain’ suggested by Ashoka demonstrates that how business organizations and citizen-sector organizations can help each other in developing partnerships for various markets and communities in the world, addressing a variety of social needs. Presenting the ‘holistic approach to development,’ BRAC has been transferring its sustainable model, based on insights from Bangladesh but adapted to the local contexts of the countries, to several countries by creating prospects for the most disadvantaged people to overcome extreme poverty. This paper contributes to the current literature by highlighting how entrepreneurial efforts can create opportunities and launch ventures to satisfy social needs, balancing economic and social imperatives, on a global scale.
Bulk Mn-Al-C permanent magnets prepared by various techniques

Bulk Mn-Al-C magnets have been prepared by hot-compaction, microwave sintering and hot-deformation. Powders of Mn53.5Al44.5C2 alloy in the e-phase produced by high energy ball milling have been used as precursor for the hot-compacted and microwave sintered magnets. Hot-deformed magnets were produced from alloy pieces in the τ-phase. The hot-compacted magnet exhibits magnetization, remanence and coercivity of 50 emu/g, 28 emu/g and 3.3 kOe, respectively. Microwave sintered magnet shows a maximum magnetization of 94 emu/g, remanence of 30 emu/g and coercivity of 1.1 kOe. The best magnetic properties are obtained in hot-deformed magnets with magnetization, remanence, coercivity and energy product of 82 emu/g, 50 emu/g, 2.2 kOe and 1.8 MGOe, respectively. Hot-deformed magnets exhibit texture with the highest degree of texture obtained 0.26. It is found that the pressure applied during compaction/deformation favors coercivity.
Development Rates and a Temperature-dependent Model of Pales Weevil, Hylobius pales (Herbst), Development

Development rates for immature stages of the pales weevil, Hylobius pales (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), were estimated over constant temperatures ranging from 9 to 34°C. Development occurred between 9 and 30°C for eggs and 9 and 32°C for larvae; however, the range of successful development for both prepupae and pupae (21–28°C) was much more narrow. Parameters determined for the biophysical model of Sharpe & DeMichele (1977) could be used to predict development of eggs and larvae, but prepupal and pupal development data were insufficient to permit use of this model. Standard cumulative frequency distributions were determined for each life stage and Weibull functions fitted to these data.
Physical aging, the local dynamics of glass-forming polymers under nanoscale confinement.

The glass transition temperature marks a point below which a material’s properties change significantly, and it is well-established that confinement to the nanoscale modifies the properties of glass-forming materials. We use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the dynamics and aging behavior of model glass-forming polymers near and below the glass transition temperature of bulk and confined films. We show that both relaxation times and physical age rates vary similarly throughout a free-standing polymer film at temperatures close to the bulk glass transition temperature, where the surfaces have both lower relaxation times and physical age rates. Moreover, we provide evidence suggesting that string lengths in the bulk control dynamic length scales in the film. This realization, combined with the similarity between aging behavior and dynamic profiles, has implications for design rationale in the microelectronics industry.
Regional blood flow responses to acute ANG II infusion: effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibition.

We hypothesized that nitric oxide (NO) opposes regional vasoconstriction caused by acute angiotensin II (ANG II) infusion in conscious rats. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), blood flow, and vascular conductance (regional blood flow/ MAP; ml/min/100 g/mm Hg) were measured and/or calculated before and at 2 min of ANG II infusion (0.05 or 1 microg/kg/min, i.a.) in the absence and presence of NO synthase (NOS) inhibition [N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), 0.25 or 1 mg/kg, i.a.]. ANG II reduced stomach and hindlimb conductance only after NOS inhibition. For example, whereas 0.05 microg/kg/min ANG II did not attenuate conductance in the stomach (i.e., 1.04+/-0.08 to 0.93+/-0.12 ml/min/100 g/mm Hg), this variable was reduced (i.e., 0.57+/-0.14 to 0.34-/+0.05 ml/min/100 g/mm Hg; p < 0.05) when ANG II was infused after 0.25 mg/kg L-NAME. In addition, whereas hindlimb conductance was similar before and after administering 1 microg/kg/min ANG II (i.e., 0.13+/-0.01 and 0.09+/-0.02, respectively), this variable was reduced (i.e., 0.07+/-0.01 and 0.02+/-0.00, respectively; p < 0.05) when ANG II was infused after 1 mg/kg L-NAME. These findings indicate that NO opposes ANG II-induced vasoconstriction in the stomach and hindlimb. In contrast, whereas both doses of ANG II decreased (p < 0.05) vascular conductance in the kidneys and small and large intestine regardless of whether NOS inhibition was present, absolute vascular conductance was lower (p < 0.05) after L-NAME. For example, 1 microg/kg ANG II reduced renal conductance from 3.34+/-0.31 to 1.22+/-0.14 (p < 0.05). After 1 mg/kg L-NAME, renal conductance decreased from 1.39+/-0.18 to 0.72+/-0.16 (p < 0.05) during ANG II administration. Therefore the constrictor effects of NOS inhibition and ANG II are additive in these circulations. Taken together, our results indicate that the ability of NO to oppose ANG II-induced constriction is not homogeneous among regional circulations.
A NEW CHROOGOMPHUS WITH A LOCULATE HYMENIUM AND A REVISED KEY TO SECTION FLOCCIGOMPHUS

SUMMARY A new species of Chroogomphus is described from western North America and the relationship of this fungus to Brauniellula is discussed. A revised key to Chroogomphus sect. Floccigomphus is also presented. Smith and Singer (1958) described a new genus in the Gastromycetes which is closely related to Gomphidius and Chroogomphus in the Agaricales. In FIG. 9 they showed the unexpanded sporocarps of Brauniellula with the contorted and folded gleba which "varies from truly lamellate to truly lacunose." The authors further reported that all attempts to obtain spore prints were unsuccessful. During field collecting with A. H. Smith in 1962 and again in 1964, the senior author placed sections of the gleba of Brauniellula nancyae Smith over agar but no spore deposits resulted. It was concluded that this gastroid fungus had lost the ability to discharge spores forcibly. During the fall of 1968 Jerry Franklin and James Trappe collected an unusual agaric in the Willamette National Forest in Oregon. The sporocarps were contorted and often did not fully expand. Their appearance and microscopic characters suggested a gastroid fungus, but spore deposits were obtained from expanded specimens. This remarkable species appears to be a new taxon which bridges the gap between the truly gastroid genus Brauniellula and the agaric genus Chroogomphus. 831
Does phosphodiesterase 11A (PDE11A) hold promise as a future therapeutic target

Phosphodiesterase 11A (PDE11A) is the most recently discovered 3', 5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. By breaking down both cAMP and cGMP, PDE11A is a critical regulator of intracellular signaling. To date, PDE11A has been implicated to play a role in tumorigenesis, brain function, and inflammation. Here, we consolidate and, where necessary, reconcile the PDE11A literature to evaluate this enzyme as a potential therapeutic target. We compare the results and methodologies of numerous studies that report conflicting tissue expression profiles for PDE11A. We conclude that PDE11A expression is relatively restricted in the body, with reliable expression reported in tissues such as the brain (particularly the hippocampus), the prostate, and the adrenal gland. Each of the four PDE11A splice variants (PDE11A1-4) appears to exhibit a distinct tissue expression profile and has a unique N-terminal regulatory region, suggesting that each isoform could be individually targeted with a small molecule or biologic. Progress has been made in identifying a tool PDE11A inhibitor as well as an activator; however, the functional effects of these pharmacological tools remain to be determined. Importantly, PDE11A knockout mice do exist and appear healthy into late age, suggesting a potential safety window for targeting this enzyme. Considering the implication of PDE11A in disease-relevant biology, the potential to selectively target specific PDE11A variants, and the possibility of either activating or inhibiting the enzyme, we believe PDE11A holds promise as a potential future therapeutic target.
A multivariate study of competition in a free-operant situation

Hooded rats were tested in a competitive free operant situation under three levels of food deprivation: 24, 48, and 72 h. Pearson product moment correlations, performed on the six measures analyzed at each level, showed significant intercorrelations among all but one of the measures. Level of deprivation did not significantly affect the degree of intercorrelation among the measures. Possible explanations for the high degree of relationship among the scores at each level of deprivation were discussed.
242 ARE PERMISSIVE STRATEGIES NOW STANDARD OF CARE FOR NEONATES WITH CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA

Background Management of neonatal congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) with permissive hypercapnia (PHC) and postductal hypoxemia (PHO) was first described by Wung et al in 1985. In 1997, Wilson et al reported that PHC, unlike HFOV or ECMO, increased survival in newborns with CDH. This was followed by other reports of success using permissive strategies in nenates with high-risk CDH. Although the strength of the evidence is grade B, no other rescue strategy has been shown to be beneficial in CDH. Objective To describe trends in management of neonatal CDH and to determine if permissive strategies are associated with improved outcome in this population. Design/Methods 1,210 cases from 53 centers entered into the CDH Study Group Registry as of 10/1/05 were analyzed. Variables included sex, race, gestation, birth weight, Apgar scores, defect size and side, worst PaCO2, best postductal PaO2, and ventilatory management style. End points were survival, ECMO use, and chronic lung disease (CLD, O2 at 30 days). Chi-square was used for categorical and ANOVA for continuous variables. Results After 1998, the use of PHC and/or PHO in CDH infants rose with a committant fall in the use of hyperventilation/hyperoxia. Mortality did not change, but infants entered into the Registry after 1998 were more severely affected based on blood gas values and defect size. Fifty-two percent of infants reported by participating institutions had been managed using PHC and/or PHO. Eighty-one percent of participating centers reported use of one or both permissive strategies. In 60% of centers, this was the predominant management style. Demographic and clinical characteristics of CDH infants treated with and without PHC and/or PHO were similar. Use of PHC and/or PHO decreased mortality (28 vs 35%, p = .03) and ECMO use (29 vs 36%, p Conclusions Use of PHC and/or PHO appears to be the new standard of care for CDH infants. Its use increases survival and decreases ECMO use. The improvement in survival is paralleled by an increase in CLD, suggesting that the strategy is most effective in neonates with severe CDH.
Effect Evaluation of AIDS High- risk Behavior Intervention Among Female Sex Workers in Entertainment Places

Objective To investigate the effect of AIDS behavior intervention among female sex workers in the high places of entertainment,reduce the risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in high- risk groups,prevention of STD and AIDS from high- risk groups to the general population. Methods Using the "unified"health survey questionnaire among female sex workers to all places of entertainment in 2008to 2012 five years business registered and see in the scene all engaged in CSW all intervention survey,field mainly take propaganda folding and condoms,peer education,individual counseling,lectures,on-site play CD and other forms of intervention,intervention frequency is monthly cover all places of entertainment. Results Rate increased from 29. 16% to 85. 19% from 2008 to 2012 among target population AIDS knowledge,each time the service is full of condom use increased from 69. 13% to91. 56%,on AIDS knowledge,attitude,behavior changes. Conclusion AIDS high- risk behavior intervention among female sex workers,improve the knowledge of AIDS prevention and control level of target population,change the high risk behavior,laid the foundation for the containment of AIDS epidemic.
Pediatric and adult vision restoration after optic nerve sheath decompression for idiopathic intracranial hypertension

To compare presentations of idiopathic intracranial hypertension and efficacy of optic nerve sheath decompression between adult and pediatric patients, a retrospective cohort study was completed All idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients undergoing optic nerve sheath decompression by one surgeon between 1991 and 2012 were included. Pre-operative and post-operative visual fields, visual acuity, color vision, and optic nerve appearance were compared between adult and pediatric (<18 years) populations. Outcome measures included percentage of patients with complications or requiring subsequent interventions. Thirty-one adults (46 eyes) and eleven pediatric patients (18 eyes) underwent optic nerve sheath decompression for vision loss from idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Mean deviation on visual field, visual acuity, color vision, and optic nerve appearance significantly improved across all subjects. Pre-operative mean deviation was significantly worse in children compared to adults (p=0.043); there was no difference in mean deviation post-operatively (p=0.838). Significantly more pediatric eyes (6) presented with light perception only or no light perception than adult eyes (0) (p=0.001). Pre-operative color vision performance in children (19%) was significantly worse than in adults (46%) (p=0.026). Percentage of patients with complications or requiring subsequent interventions did not differ between groups. The consistent improvement after surgery and low rate of complications suggest optic nerve sheath decompression is safe and effective in managing vision loss due to adult and pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Given the advanced pre-operative visual deficits seen in children, one might consider a higher index of suspicion in diagnosing, and earlier surgical intervention in treating pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
Fractures of the Femoral Neck in Children

Femoral neck fractures are uncommon injuries in children often associated with high-energy mechanisms. An increased risk for osteonecrosis and long-term morbidity associated with these injuries requires heightened suspicion in any high-energy lower extremity trauma scenario. Children are at an increased risk for osteonecrosis after femoral neck fractures due to injury of the medial femoral circumflex and/or retinacular vessels. The Delbet classification system is reliable and prognostic for the risk of osteonecrosis after femoral neck fractures, where Delbet Type I or II fractures are associated with the highest incidence of osteonecrosis. The majority of femoral neck fractures require operative management and treatment is tailored according to age and fracture pattern. Fracture displacement, urgent treatment within 24 h, and fracture type are all significant predictors for the development of osteonecrosis.
Neural Network Models for Estimation of Balance Control, Detection of Imbalance, and Estimation of Falls Risk

Gait patterns of the elderly are often adjusted to accommodate for reduced function in the balance control system. Recent work has demonstrated the effectiveness of artificial neural network (ANN) modeling in mapping gait measurements onto descriptions of whole body motion during locomotion. Accurate risk assessment is necessary for reducing incidence of falls. Further development of the balance estimation model has been used to test the feasibility of detecting balance impairment using tasks of sample categorization and falls risk estimation. Model design included an ANN and a statistical discrimination method. Sample categorization results reached accuracy of 0.89. Relative risk was frequently assessed at high or very high risk for experiencing falls in a sample of balance impaired older adults. The current model shows potential for detecting balance impairment and estimating falls risk, thereby indicating the need for referral for falls prevention intervention.
The Slice Topology for Convex Functions

Consistent with the presentation of Chapter 7, slice convergence of a net of lower semicontinuous proper convex functions defined on a normed linear space X means the convergence of their epigraphs with respect to the slice topology on C(X × R) as determined by the box norm on X × R. Similarly, we may speak of dual slice convergence of functions in Γ*(X*). A major result of this chapter shows that slice convergence in Γ(X) implies and is implied by dual slice convergence in Γ*(X*). From this result, and our presentation of the slice and dual slice topologies as weak topologies in Chapter 2, Wijsman convergence of a net of closed convex sets with respect to all norms equivalent to a given initial norm implies Wijsman convergence of the polars with respect to the dual norms. But most importantly, slice convergence is intrinsic to convex duality, and we present a number of characterizations of the topology in terms of the lower semicontinuity of natural geometrically defined multifunctions on Γ(X) and on C(X).
Toward Accurate Modeling of the Effect of Ion-Pair Formation on Solute Redox Potential

A scheme to model the dependence of a solute redox potential on the supporting electrolyte is proposed, and the results are compared to experimental observations and other reported theoretical models. An improved agreement with experiment is exhibited if the effect of the supporting electrolyte on the redox potential is modeled through a concentration change induced via ion pair formation with the salt, rather than by only considering the direct impact on the redox potential of the solute itself. To exemplify the approach, the scheme is applied to the concentration-dependent redox potential of select molecules proposed for nonaqueous flow batteries. However, the methodology is general and enables rational computational electrolyte design through tuning of the operating window of electrochemical systems by shifting the redox potential of its solutes; including potentially both salts as well as redox active molecules.
Ship-wide transient specifications and criteria for Medium-Voltage DC Shipboard Power System

It is necessary to consider different design specifications and requirements for the design of Shipboard Power System (SPS) to enhance the overall system performance under various operating conditions. This paper provides a detailed list of important design criteria and performance specifications to accommodate the transient analysis for Medium-Voltage DC (MVDC) Shipboard Power Systems. It also presents the required constraints and operating regions in order to ensure the normal and safe operation of the SPS. The proposed design specifications and criteria formulations aim to provide a guideline for the SPS community from industry, academia and Navy and facilitate various aspects of design and development of the MVDC SPS applications.
Agora: Reflections on RJR Nabisco v. European Community - Private Litigation as a Foreign Relations Problem

In RJR Nabisco v. European Community, the Court added an exclamation point to a long term trend in its jurisprudence. It believes, this trend indicates, that private civil suits pose specific foreign relations issues, at least when the targets are foreign transactions and actors, to which the Court will respond by erecting barriers. To this general point the case adds an unsurprising, but still important codicil: These problems don’t go away when foreign states take advantage of the U.S. civil litigation system by acting as plaintiffs.
Sexual Arousal Patterns of Autogynephilic Male Cross-Dressers

Men's sexual arousal patterns have been an important window into the nature of their erotic interests. Autogynephilia is a natal male's paraphilic tendency to be sexually aroused by the thought or image of being a woman. Autogynephilic arousal per se is difficult to assess objectively, because it is inwardly focused. However, assessing sexual arousal patterns of autogynephilic males in response to external stimuli is also potentially useful. For example, there is substantial association between autogynephilia and gynandromorphophilia (GAMP), or sexual attraction to gynandromorphs (GAMs), colloquially "she-males." GAMP men's sexual arousal patterns in response to GAM, female, and male stimuli have recently been characterized. In the present study, we extended this understanding by comparing the sexual arousal patterns of autogynephilic male cross-dressers, GAMP men, heterosexual men, and homosexual men. Erotic stimuli included sexually explicit videos of men, women, and GAMs. Autogynephilic men were much more similar in their arousal patterns to heterosexual and GAMP men than to homosexual men. However, similar to GAMP men, autogynephilic men showed increased arousal by GAM stimuli relative to female stimuli compared with heterosexual men.
Challenges in Deciphering New Mechanisms in Cellular Biology.

A few decades ago scientific progress in biology was slow. The identification of new mechanisms on the cellular level was restricted to observations in embedded or fixed samples isolated and processed using complicated protocols. This pattern changed with the development of new imaging techniques that allowed the observation of cellular dynamics at fast time ranges from the nanosecond to millisecond. The development of kits allowed for rapid sample processing. New probes for labelling and high resolution microscopy completely changed the way of scientific exploration. Things that were thought of as unfeasible were all of a sudden possible. These advances combined with the growth in areas of genomics and proteomics research allowed for the rapid production of mass data and articles that describe observations at fast and slow timescales. Additionally, data are available on various length scales, from nano-meters to cm. These observations are published on a daily basis. The new open access rules and regulations for researchers funded by federal research institutions such as the National Institute of Health allows the dissemination of the new data over the internet conveniently.
The Perilous Nature of Food Supplies: Natural Hazards, Social Vulnerability, and Disaster Resilience

Food security is a complex and intertwined problem of reliability, quantity, and affordability of nutritious food, including the costs of production. It is a problem in developing and developed nat...
Subsurface damage in milling of lightweight open-cell aluminium foams

Abstract The present study examined the surface integrity of open cell aluminium foams at full volume using X-ray micro-computed tomography. The structural network was reconstructed in voxel models, for which watershed segmentation and medial axis extraction was utilized to identify interconnected pore (air) and strut (solid) phases. From these models, post-mortem surface integrity characteristics, including pore size, strut bending angle and preferential strut orientation were characterized as a function of controllable parameters of cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut. Post-mortem characterization of the damage enabled mapping of fundamental failure mechanisms in the mechanics of the subsurface deformation.
Confidence crisis of results in biomechanics research

Many biomechanics studies have small sample sizes and incorrect statistical analyses, so reporting of inaccurate inferences and inflated magnitude of effects are common in the field. This review examines these issues in biomechanics research and summarises potential solutions from research in other fields to increase the confidence in the experimental effects reported in biomechanics. Authors, reviewers and editors of biomechanics research reports are encouraged to improve sample sizes and the resulting statistical power, improve reporting transparency, improve the rigour of statistical analyses used, and increase the acceptance of replication studies to improve the validity of inferences from data in biomechanics research. The application of sports biomechanics research results would also improve if a larger percentage of unbiased effects and their uncertainty were reported in the literature.
Effect of Antiretroviral Therapy on Bone and Renal Health in Young Adults Infected With HIV in Early Life.

Context HIV antiretroviral (ARV) therapy is associated with renal and bone toxicity, but little is known about the potential cumulative effects in adults exposed to ARVs from birth. Objective To prospectively evaluate renal and bone health in young adults with lifelong HIV and extensive ARV exposure. Design Cross-sectional comparison of bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, bone turnover, and renal function in young adults infected with HIV in early life (n = 65) to matched healthy controls (n = 23) and longitudinal evaluation (mean follow-up = 4.4 years) within a subset of the HIV cohort (n = 33). Setting Government outpatient research clinic. Results Albumin/creatinine ratio, protein/creatinine ratio, anion gap, N-terminal telopeptides, and osteocalcin were significantly increased in persons with HIV compared with controls, whereas whole-body BMD and BMD z scores were lower. Within the HIV group, duration of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) correlated with higher anion gap but did not correlate with bone parameters. Longer duration of didanosine and stavudine use correlated with lower BMD and BMD z scores. Longitudinal analyses revealed that BMD and bone metabolism significantly improved over time. No subject had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60, but decline in eGFR correlated with increasing years of TDF exposure. Conclusions Subclinical markers of renal dysfunction were increased in HIV-infected young adults and associated with TDF exposure, whereas lower bone density was associated with didanosine and stavudine exposure. The tendency for improvement in markers of bone health over time and the availability of less toxic ARV alternatives may herald improvements in renal and bone health for perinatally infected patients in adulthood.
Synthesis of Dichloropalladium II Polyamines

The previous paper describes the synthesis of platinum II polyureas and polythioureas. Here we report the synthesis of palladium (II) polyamines (1) which may be considered analogs of cis-dichlorodiamineplatinum(II) cis-DDP (2), and the related platinum II polyamines (3).
Dimensionality reduction impedes the extraction of dynamic functional connectivity states from fMRI recordings of resting wakefulness

Abstract Background Resting wakefulness is not a unitary state, with evidence accumulating that spontaneous reorganization of brain activity can be assayed through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The dynamics of correlated fMRI signals among functionally-related brain regions, termed dynamic functional connectivity (dFC), may represent nonstationarity arising from underlying neural processes. However, given the dimensionality and noise inherent in such recordings, seeming fluctuations in dFC could be due to sampling variability or artifacts. New method Here, we highlight key methodological considerations when evaluating dFC in resting-state fMRI data. Comparison with existing method In particular, we demonstrate how dimensionality reduction of fMRI data, a common practice often involving principal component analysis, may give rise to spurious dFC phenomenology due to its effect of decorrelating the underlying time-series. Conclusion We formalize a dFC assessment that avoids dimensionality reduction and use it to show the existence of at least two FC states in the resting-state.
Compilation of non-contemporaneous constraints

Hierarchical execution of domain knowledge is a useful approach for intelligent, real-time systems in complex domains. In addition, well-known techniques for knowledge compilation allow the reorganization of knowledge hierarchies into more efficient forms. However, these techniques have been developed in the context of systems that work in static domains. Our investigations indicate that it is not straightforward to apply knowledge compilation methods for hierarchical knowledge to systems that generate behavior in dynamic environments. One particular problem involves the compilation of non-contemporaneous constraints. This problem arises when a training instance dynamically changes during execution. After defining the problem, we analyze several theoretical approaches that address non-contemporaneous constraints. We have implemented the most promising of these alternatives within Soar, a software architecture for performance and learning. Our results demonstrate that the proposed solutions eliminate the problem in some situations and suggest that knowledge compilation methods are appropriate for interactive environments.
Self-inflicted gunshot wounds: readmission patterns.

Abstract Background Self-inflicted gunshot wounds (SI-GSWs) are often fatal, but roughly 20% of individuals survive. What happens to survivors after the initial hospitalization is unknown. We hypothesized that the SI-GSW survivors are frequently readmitted and that the pattern of readmission is different from that of the survivors of non-GSW self-harm (SH). Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using the 2013 and 2014 Nationwide Readmission Database. Patients with any diagnosis indicating deliberate SH in the first 6 months of the year were included. This group was divided into those who had SI-GSW as their mechanism and those who did not. Weighted numbers are reported. Results A total of 1987 patients were admitted for SI-GSW in the study period. Many (n = 506, 26%) experienced at least one readmission in 6 months. When compared with non-GSW SH patients, readmission rates were not statistically different (26% versus 26%, P = 0.60). However, readmissions for repeat SH were lower for the SI-GSW cohort (3% versus 7%, P = 0.004). Readmission for the SI-GSW cohort less frequently had a primary diagnosis of psychiatric illness (28% versus 57%, P Conclusions Readmissions after an SI-GSW are frequent, highlighting the burden of this injury beyond the index hospitalization. There are differences in readmission patterns for SI-GSW patients versus non-GSW SH patients, and this suggests that prevention and follow-up strategies may differ between the two groups.
A Reconfigurable Vernier Time-to-Digital Converter With 2-D Spiral Comparator Array and Second-Order $\Delta \Sigma$ Linearization

This paper presents an 8-bit 1.25-ps resolution reconfigurable Vernier time-to-digital converter (TDC) with a 2-D spiral comparator array and $\Delta \Sigma $ modulators for linearization. The proposed spiral 2-D comparator array improves both linearity and detection range of the TDC. The quantization errors introduced by digitally tuning delay cells are minimized by using a 2nd-order $\Delta \Sigma $ modulator. The folding point errors commonly seen in 2-D comparator arrays are randomized by using a reconfigurable comparator array controlled by the output of a 2nd-order $\Delta \Sigma $ modulator. The prototype TDC fabricated in a 45-nm silicon on insulator technology consumes 70- to 690- $\mu \text{W}$ power under a 1-V supply at 80-MHz conversion rate. The measured maximum differential nonlinearity/integral nonlinearity across its detectable range are 1.35/1.03 ps without the linearization techniques and 0.31/0.4 ps with the proposed linearization techniques, respectively.
AMELIA: An application of the Internet of Things for aviation safety

This paper presents AMELIA: Aircraft Monitoring and Electronically Linked Instantaneous Analytics as an application of the Internet of Things (IoT) for aviation safety — a safety-critical use-case — from an edge computing perspective. AMELIA is a multi-layered edge computing system that automatically detects aircraft emergencies, and only transmits relevant data and information to enable quicker and more efficient response to emergencies. We describe a prototype of AMELIA to illustrate, explore, and motivate the potentials of the IoT for aviation safety, and lay a foundation for the design of diverse high-impact edge computing systems on the IoT.
Fast Bi-dimensional empirical mode decomposition as an image enhancement technique for fruit defect detection

Abstract Image enhancement is critical to detection of fruit defects by imaging techniques. Vignetting and noise are major image artifacts, which can seriously affect image segmentation results, especially in inspecting the curved-surface objects like fruit. It is common to use a calibration object or a mathematic model to reduce the vignetting effect in defect detection, but the approach is often cumbersome, inflexible, and difficult to achieve desired results. In this study, a new image enhancement method based on bi-dimensional empirical mode decomposition (BEMD) of images was proposed to isolate and subsequently remove the effects of vignetting and noise by means of selective image reconstruction. The new BEMD method, along with three other BEMD methods, was first tested on decomposing a synthetic image with artificially added vignetting and noise. The BEMD was found to be the most efficient for image decomposition in terms of computation time, and also give high-quality reconstructed images. Experiments were further conducted by applying the BEMD to the direct and amplitude component images of apple samples with subsurface bruising and surface defects, which were acquired by using a structured-illumination reflectance imaging (SIRI) system. BEMD effectively reduced the image vignetting and greatly enhanced the defect features of the apples, based on both visual inspection and quantitative evaluation. BEMD offers an effective tool for enhancing SIRI images, and it is also promising for image enhancement with other imaging modalities for fruit defect detection.