cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast and low-storage vector quantizer of line spectral frequency coefficients

A fast and low-storage vector quantizer was developed to quantize line spectral frequency(LSF) coefficients.It reduces the storage and searching complexity of codebooks by better use of the inter and intra frame correlations of LSF coefficients.After the average value was removed,LSF coefficients were predicted by a first order moving average predictor.Then the residual LSF coefficients were quantized by a three-stage vector quantizer.In the second stage,each high-dimensional LSF coefficient vector was slit into low-dimensional parts,which were quantized by different codebooks to reduce the storage and searching complexity of the codebooks.Simulation by C programming language demonstrates that the average spectral distortion is 0.91 dB,the percentage of outlier between 2 dB and 4 dB is 0.13% under the condition of low bit rate speech coding.Both storage and searching complexity of codebooks are reduced more than 31%.
Long-Term Urinary Continence and Renal Function in Neonates with Posterior Urethral Valves

AbstractPosterior urethral valves are known to be associated with considerable morbidity and mortality especially in the neonate. Recently the role of bladder dysfunction in the pathophysiology of renal function impairment and urinary incontinence after valve ablation has been questioned.From 1976 to 1986 we treated 50 male newborns with posterior urethral valves at our institution. Initial treatment in all cases consisted of bladder drainage by a urethral catheter, and correction of existing fluid and electrolyte abnormalities. Subsequent treatment was dictated by the degree of upper tract abnormalities and it included valve ablation alone in 24 patients, vesicostomy and later valve ablation in 8, valve ablation and later upper tract reconstruction in 14 and cutaneous ureterostomy in 4. Followup ranges from 2 to 12 years (mean 6.8).Long-term renal functional impairment was related to the serum creatinine at age 1 year. If the serum creatinine was below 1.0mg.% all patients (31) had normal values at long-...
Influence of disease management strategies on the production of white spruce in a forest tree nursery

L'efficacite relative de differentes strategies de lutte contre les maladies fongiques de Picea glauca (fumigation du sol, pratiques culturales, traitement forcigide) sur la croissance et la survie des semis pendant la premiere saison de vegetation a ete etudiee des pepinieres forestieres du Wusconsin
PELVIC ABSCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE PURULENT INFECTION OF THE HIP JOINT

1. A secondary iliac abscess, arising from extension through the lymphatics to the external iliac glands, may be a relatively frequent complication of acute purulent infection of the hip joint. 2. This association of lesions presents a most difficult diagnostic problem in the acutely ill child. 3. Otitis media and mastoiditis are frequently associated with pyarthrosis of the hip joint. 4. The primary therapy of acute purulent infection of the hip joint should be general and supportive in type with immobilization of the extremity by traction. 5. Drainage of the iliac abscess accompanying hip-joint infection may best be accomplished in most cases by an adductor incision. 6. If immobilization is adequately applied and the patient is under close observation, surgical drainage of the hip joint may not be necessary. 7. The degree of function following acute purulent infection of the hip joint is variable, ranging from excellent motion to complete ankylosis. 8. The question is offered: Are pelvic abscesses frequent but previously unrecognized complications of acute purulent infection of the hip joint?
Molecular Tools for the Identification of Foodborne Parasites

Introduction DNA Extraction Procedures Protozoal Infections Cryptosporidium parvum Parasite Description and Identification Molecular Detection Cyclospora cayetanensis Parasite Description and Identification Molecular Detection Giardia intestinalis Parasite Description and Identification Molecular Detection Toxoplasma gondii Parasite Description and Identification Molecular Detection Microsporidia Parasite Description and Identification Molecular Detection Helminth Infections Viability Assays Conclusions References
Power Generation From Mastication Forces Using a Smart Tooth

The batteries of the current pacing devices are relatively large and occupy over 60 percent of the size of pulse generators. Therefore, they cannot be placed in the subtle areas of human body. In this paper, the mastication force and the resulting tooth pressure are converted to electricity. The pressure energy can be converted to electricity by using the piezoelectric effect. The tooth crown is used as a power autonomous pulse generator. We refer to this envisioned pulse generator as the smart tooth. The smart tooth is in the form of a dental implant. A piezoelectric vibration energy harvester is designed and modeled for this purpose. The Piezoelectric based energy harvesters investigated and analyzed in this paper initially includes a single degree of freedom piezoelectric based stack energy harvester which utilizes a harvesting circuit employing the case of a purely resistive circuit. The next step is utilizing and investigating a bimorph piezoelectric beam which is integrated/embedded in the smart tooth implant. Mastication process causes the bimorph beam to buckle or return to unbuckled condition. The transitions result in vibration of the piezoelectric beam and thus generate energy. The power estimated by the two mechanisms is in the order of hundreds of microwatts. Both scenarios of the energy harvesters are analytically modeled. The exact analytical solution of the piezoelectric beam energy harvester with Euler-Bernoulli beam assumptions is presented. The electro-mechanical coupling and the geometric nonlinearities have been included in the model for the piezoelectric beam.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Narrating the Past, Enhancing the Present: The Associations Among Genealogical Communication, Family Communication Patterns, and Family Satisfaction

ABSTRACTUsing the theories of communicated narrative sense-making and family communication patterns as a basis, this study examined (a) the characteristics of family genealogists, (b) dimensions of genealogical communication, and (c) the extent to which such communication predicts both immediate and extended family satisfaction. Data were collected from 423 participants (recruited in classrooms and online) who completed an online survey. Results revealed four genealogical communication behaviors: (a) frequent engagement, (b) coherent perspectives (i.e., regarding family history), (c) personal research, and (d) dark side. Family communication patterns predicted these genealogical communication behaviors, which in turn predicted family satisfaction, with genealogical communication dimensions serving as significant mediators. Among the identified dimensions of genealogical communication, coherent perspectives served as a particularly consistent predictor and mediator regarding extended and immediate family s...
Calibration of a Radiation Detector: Chromosome Dosimetry for Neutrons

Calibrative densities for the unknown neutron dose Df of an individual accidentally exposed to high doses (>20 rad) of neutrons are derived. These densities incorporate prior dose information (e.g., from a dosimeter reading, or from dose reconstruction efforts), information from an in vitro calibration experiment with neutrons of the same energy, and information from the number of dicentric chromosome aberrations yf observed shortly (< 4 weeks) after exposure in a sample of nf lymphocytes from the exposed individual. If Y, the number of dicentric aberrations induced by a known neutron dose d in n lymphocytes is assumed to be Poisson distributed (Y ~ Po(nαd)) and if Df and the parameter α are assumed to have gamma priors it is possible to give an analytic solution for the calibrative density f(df|D). D consists of the calibration data and the observed aberrations in a sample of lymphocytes from the exposed individual. This density characterizes the remaining uncertainty about Df after consideration of the prior information about Df and α and of the data D.
Social setting, social rank and HPA axis response in cynomolgus monkeys.

Rationale Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity under different social settings in non-human primates is understudied.
A Model for Release of Fission Gases and Volatile Fission Products from Irradiated UO2 in Steam Environment

(1981). A Model for Release of Fission Gases and Volatile Fission Products from Irradiated UO2 in Steam Environment. Nuclear Technology: Vol. 53, No. 1, pp. 5-7.
Review of Do Facts Matter? Information and Misinformation in American Politics

When “alternative facts,” go mainstream, the need grows for works that levy the vast literature on political knowledge in an accessible format. While political knowledge is not a new subject in the...
Wave optics simulation of statistically rough surface scatter

The bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) describes optical scatter from surfaces by relating the incident irradiance to the exiting radiance over the entire hemisphere. Laboratory verification of BRDF models and experimentally populated BRDF databases are hampered by sparsity of monochromatic sources and ability to statistically control the surface features. Numerical methods are able to control surface features, have wavelength agility, and via Fourier methods of wave propagation, may be used to fill the knowledge gap. Monte-Carlo techniques, adapted from turbulence simulations, generate Gaussian distributed and correlated surfaces with an area of 1 cm2 , RMS surface height of 2.5 μm, and correlation length of 100 μm. The surface is centered inside a Kirchhoff absorbing boundary with an area of 16 cm2 to prevent wrap around aliasing in the far field. These surfaces are uniformly illuminated at normal incidence with a unit amplitude plane-wave varying in wavelength from 3 μm to 5 μm. The resultant scatter is propagated to a detector in the far field utilizing multi-step Fresnel Convolution and observed at angles from −2 μrad to 2 μrad. The far field scatter is compared to both a physical wave optics BRDF model (Modified Beckmann Kirchhoff) and two microfacet BRDF Models (Priest, and Cook-Torrance). Modified Beckmann Kirchhoff, which accounts for diffraction, is consistent with simulated scatter for multiple wavelengths for RMS surface heights greater than λ/2. The microfacet models, which assume geometric optics, are less consistent across wavelengths. Both model types over predict far field scatter width for RMS surface heights less than λ/2.
Managing Asthma in Low-Income, Underrepresented Minority, and Other Disadvantaged Pediatric Populations: Closing the Gap.

Purpose of Review In this article, we review current understanding of the epidemiology and etiology of disparities in asthma. We also highlight current and emerging literature on solutions to tackle disparities while underscoring gaps and pressing future directions.
Comparison of Methods for Estimating Prevalence of Chronic Diseases and Health Behaviors for Small Geographic Areas: Boston Validation Study, 2013.

INTRODUCTION Local health authorities need small-area estimates for prevalence of chronic diseases and health behaviors for multiple purposes. We generated city-level and census-tract-level prevalence estimates of 27 measures for the 500 largest US cities. METHODS To validate the methodology, we constructed multilevel logistic regressions to predict 10 selected health indicators among adults aged 18 years or older by using 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data; we applied their predicted probabilities to census population data to generate city-level, neighborhood-level, and zip-code-level estimates for the city of Boston, Massachusetts. RESULTS By comparing the predicted estimates with their corresponding direct estimates from a locally administered survey (Boston BRFSS 2010 and 2013), we found that our model-based estimates for most of the selected health indicators at the city level were close to the direct estimates from the local survey. We also found strong correlation between the model-based estimates and direct survey estimates at neighborhood and zip code levels for most indicators. CONCLUSION Findings suggest that our model-based estimates are reliable and valid at the city level for certain health outcomes. Local health authorities can use the neighborhood-level estimates if high quality local health survey data are not otherwise available.
Issues in Running a Student-Managed Investment Fund with Part-Time Students

Managing a student-managed investment fund course populated with part-time students that have full-time jobs presents some unique challenges. This article discusses these challenges and makes suggestions related to course structure and the role of the faculty advisor. Combating the problem of overly distracted (or overly burdened) students requires a course structure that provides periodic deadlines to hold students accountable for learning in an active learning environment. Faculty advisors should be cognizant of potential distractions that might exist for students who have worked all day and create an environment that helps students stay engaged in the student fund activities.
Global prevalence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in childhood: A meta-analysis.

Aim This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the global prevalence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in children and adolescents. Method We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Virtual Health Library-BIREME from inception to December 23, 2017. We selected observational studies that reported the prevalence of EIB (diagnosed by exercise challenge test) in children and adolescents aged 5-18 years. We conducted random-effects meta-analyses to estimate the pooled prevalence of EIB and 95% CI. Results We included 66 studies (55 696 participants, 5670 cases of EIB) in the review, of which 33 in general population of children and adolescents, 10 in child and adolescent athletes and 23 in children and adolescents with asthma. The global mean prevalence of EIB in the general population of children and adolescents was 9% (IC95%: 8-10%), with a higher rate (12%) in Asia-Pacific and America. The mean prevalence of EIB was 15% (95% CI: 9-21%) in child and adolescent athletes, and 46% (95% CI: 39-53%) in children and adolescents with asthma. We estimated that, globally, around 16.5 million (95% CI: 15-18 million) children and adolescents up to 18 years of age may have EIB. Conclusion EIB in childhood should be considered as a global public health problem that needs more attention. The substantial heterogeneity between studies highlights the need for evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis of EIB in this age group.
The stimulatory G protein of adenylyl cyclase, Gs, also stimulates dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels. Evidence for direct regulation independent of phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase or stimulation by a dihydropyridine agonist.

We demonstrated recently that purified preparations of Gs, the stimulatory G protein of adenylyl cyclase, can stabilize Ca2+ channels in inside-out cardiac ventricle membrane patches stimulated prior to excision by the beta-adrenergic agonist isoprenaline or by the dihydropyridine agonist Bay K 8644 and that such preparations of Gs can restore activity to spontaneously inactivated cardiac Ca2+ channels incorporated into planar lipid bilayers (Yatani, A., Codina, J., Reeves, J.P., Birnbaumer, L., and Brown, A.M. (1987) Science 238, 1288-1292). To test whether these effects represented true stimulation and to further identify the G protein responsible, we incorporated skeletal muscle T-tubule membranes into lipid bilayers and studied the response of their Ca2+ channels to G proteins, specifically Gs, and manipulations known to be specific for Gs. In contrast to cardiac channels, incorporated T-tubule Ca2+ channels exhibit stable average activities over prolonged periods of time (up to 20 min at room temperature), allowing assessment of possible effects of G proteins under steady-state assay conditions. We report that exogenously added human erythrocyte GTP gamma S (guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate]-activated Gs (Gs) or its resolved GTP gamma S-activated alpha subunit (alpha s) stimulate T-tubule Ca2+ channels by factors of 2-3 in the presence of Bay K 8644, and of 10-20 in the absence of Bay K 8644 and that they do so in a manner that is independent of concurrent or previous phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Activation of purified Gs by cholera toxin increases both its adenylyl cyclase stimulatory and its Ca2+ channel stimulatory effects. Ca2+ channels previously stimulated by the combined actions of Bay K 8644 and cAMP-dependent protein kinase still respond to Gs. We conclude that the responses seen are due to Gs rather than a contaminant, that the effect on Ca2+ channel activity is that of a true stimulation, akin to that on adenylyl cyclase, and show that a given G protein may regulate more than one effector system.
Differential Spatial Gradients of Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus into Winter Wheat from a Central Mite-Virus Source.

The wheat curl mite (WCM), Aceria tosichella Keifer, transmits three potentially devastating viruses to winter wheat. An increased understanding of mite movement and subsequent virus spread through...
An Integrated Design and Control Optimization Framework for Hybrid Military Vehicle Using Lithium-Ion Battery and Supercapacitor as Energy Storage Devices

One of the existing challenges toward the electrification of military vehicles is the selection of the most suitable energy storage device. Moreover, a single energy storage technology might not provide the most benefit out of powertrain electrification. In this paper, a generalized framework for the simultaneous selection of the optimal energy storage device, in the form of a standalone or hybrid solution, and online energy management is presented. This paper investigates the cooperation of energy-dense Li-ion batteries and power-dense supercapacitors to assist engine operation in a series hybrid electric military truck. Pontryagin’s minimum principle is adopted as the energy management strategy in a forward-looking vehicle simulator, in which the optimal design and control parameters are found using particle swarm optimization. Simulation results show that adopting a hybrid energy storage system reduces fuel consumption by 13% compared to the case of battery-only hybridized powertrain.
Second Thoughts on 'One Last Chance'?

The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Janus resolved a major First Amendment question, but the Court’s treatment of precedent is arguably even more important, as Justice Elena Kagan’s forceful dissent indicates. In short, the Court held that its own recently expressed misgivings about a precedent contributed to the justifiability of overruling the precedent. This essay explores Janus’s implications in light of the Court’s apparent adherence to “the doctrine of one last chance,” which requires the Court to give advance notice of its willingness to issue disruptive decisions. Aptly enough, the doctrine is Janus-faced in that it is both restraining and empowering. And there are plausible reasons for adhering to at least some version of the doctrine, despite the serious concerns that Kagan has raised.
The Icon and the Text: American Book History and the Construction of the World's Largest-Grossing Illustrated Book, Madonna's Sex (1992)

Madonna's book Sex (1992) is the world's largest-grossing illustrated book, selling 1.4 million copies worldwide and earning US$70 million in sales at retail. This essay is the first to use methods from the discipline of bibliography to analyze the book's production, distribution, and reception. This article extends scholarship on Madonna, including about her iconicity and visuality, from her songs and videos to her print culture. I demonstrate how Sex – both as a printed book and as an expression of national culture – is part of a dynamic American book history that constructs notions of America, including freedom of speech, thought, and religion.
A phenology-based approach to the analysis of conifers intra-annual xylem anatomy in water-limited environments

Abstract Xylem structure and cambial phenology (i.e. onset and cessation of cambial cell division) of conifers growing under severe water-limitations can change dramatically in relation to moisture availability. In hyperarid environments, analytical tools commonly used to investigate intra-annual variability of xylem anatomy (i.e. tracheidograms), may fail to capture the complexity of tree phenological responses to environmental conditions. This greatly limits our ability to accurately date the onset of intra-annual density variations, including the transition between earlywood and latewood. I present a new approach for developing phenological tracheidograms (“pheno-tracheidograms”) calibrated to account for the seasonal variations in cell division rates. Pheno-tracheidograms were developed for a population of Pinus ponderosa in the Mojave Desert (Nevada, USA) during the period 2015–2016 in order 1) to determine the onset date of latewood formation and 2) to investigate relationships between environmental conditions, lumen diameter, and cell wall thickness targeting specific climatic windows for each tracheid. Pheno-tracheidograms were standardized at the tree-level, showing more flexibility compared to tracheidograms standardized according to a pre-determined number of cells. By displaying cellular parameters with respect to the date of formation of the tracheid to which each measurement is associated, pheno-tracheidograms allowed to determine the beginning of latewood formation with daily resolution. Lumen diameter was significantly correlated with the onset date of cellular enlargement, while cell wall thickness showed a weaker relationship with the beginning of secondary wall deposition. Soil moisture positively affected the duration of cell enlargement and tracheid lumen diameter, particularly in the earlywood, while cell wall thickness was not significantly influenced by environmental conditions. Pheno-tracheidograms represent an empirical, yet effective way to date intra-annual xylem structures and to investigate high-resolution climate-anatomy relationships in conifer species from arid environments characterized by high phenological plasticity.
The WSR-88D Inanimate Hydrometeor Class

AbstractThe dual-polarization upgrade to the WSR-88D network of weather radars included the addition of a hydrometeor classification algorithm (HCA) to the Open Radar Product Generator (ORPG). The ...
Time-of-Day Differences in Treatment-Related Habit Strength and Adherence

BACKGROUND Many of our daily behaviors are habitual, occurring automatically in response to learned contextual cues, and with minimal need for cognitive and self-regulatory resources. Behavioral habit strength predicts adherence to actions, including to medications. The time of day (morning vs. evening) may influence adherence and habit strength to the degree that stability of contexts/routines varies throughout the day. PURPOSE The current study evaluates whether patients are more adherent to morning versus evening doses of medication and if morning doses show evidence of greater habit strength than evening doses. METHODS Objective adherence data (exact timing of pill dosing) were collected in an observational study by electronic monitoring pill bottles in a sample of patients on twice-daily pills for Type 2 diabetes (N = 51) over the course of 1 month. RESULTS Data supported the hypothesis that patients would miss fewer morning than evening pills. However, counter to the hypothesis, variability in dose timing (an indicator of habit strength) was not significantly different for morning versus evening pills. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that medication adherence may be greater in the morning than in the evening. However, more research is needed to evaluate the role of habitual action in this greater adherence. Furthermore, future research should evaluate the validity of behavioral timing consistency as an indicator of habit strength.
Perioperative and midterm outcomes of emergent robotic repair of incarcerated ventral and incisional hernia.

The literature surrounding emergent robotic ventral hernia repair (RVHR) is scarce. We aimed to present the results of 6 years of experience of RVHR in the emergency setting. Data were retrospectively analyzed from patients who underwent RVHR in an emergent setting between 2013 and 2019. Complications were assessed with the Clavien-Dindo (CD) and Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI®) scoring systems. Kaplan–Meier’s time-to-event analysis was performed to calculate freedom-of-recurrence. Out of 589 patients who underwent RVHR, 34 patients were included. Median APACHE-II scores were 6.5. The average skin-to-skin time was 139 min. 7/34(20.5%) patients experienced minor complications (CD-grades I–II) and 4/34 (11.7%) patients experienced major complications (CD-grades III–IV). CCI® scores ranged from 0–42.4. Only one (2.9%) patient experienced hernia recurrence. The mean postoperative follow-up was 20.5 (range 1.6–56.3) months. Emergent RVHR showed promising results in terms of midterm outcomes and overall feasibility. RVHR appears to be effective in emergency settings, however, further multicenter studies with long-term follow-up are needed.
Law and macroeconomics as mainstream

In spite of its name, economic analysis of law is mostly unconcerned with money and markets. In a recently published book, Law and Macroeconomics: Legal Remedies to Recessions, Yair Listokin challe...
SCENARIOS FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE IN THE POWER SECTOR IN A PORTFOLIO OF MITIGATION OPTIONS

Using the MIT Economic Projection and Policy Analysis (EPPA) model, we explore factors influencing carbon capture and storage (CCS) deployment in power generation and its role in mitigating carbon ...
Cosmic Evolution of Black Holes and Spheroids. I: The M_BH-sigma Relation at z=0.36

We test the evolution of the correlation between black hole mass and bulge velocity dispersion (M$_{\rm BH}-\sigma$), using a carefully selected sample of 14 Seyfert 1 galaxies at $z=0.36\pm0.01$. We measure velocity dispersion from stellar absorption lines around Mgb (5175A) and Fe (5270A) using high S/N Keck spectra, and estimate black hole mass from the H$\beta$ line width and the optical luminosity at 5100A, based on the empirically calibrated photo-ionization method. We find a significant offset from the local relation, in the sense that velocity dispersions were smaller for given black hole masses at $z=0.36$ than locally. We investigate various sources of systematic uncertainties and find that those cannot account for the observed offset. The measured offset is $\Delta \log M_{\rm BH}=0.62 \pm 0.10 \pm 0.25$, i.e. $\Delta \log \sigma=0.15 \pm 0.03 \pm 0.06$, where the error bars include a random component and an upper limit to the systematics. At face value, this result implies a substantial growth of bulges in the last 4 Gyr, assuming that the local M$_{\rm BH}-\sigma$ relation is the universal evolutionary end-point. Along with two samples of active galaxies with consistently determined black hole mass and stellar velocity dispersion taken from the literature, we quantify the observed evolution with the best fit linear relation, $\Delta \log M_{\rm BH} = (1.66\pm0.43)z + (0.04\pm0.09)$ with respect to the local relationship of Tremaine et al. (2002), and $\Delta \log M_{\rm BH} = (1.55\pm0.46)z + (0.01\pm0.12)$ with respect to that of Ferrarese (2002). This result is consistent with the growth of black holes predating the final growth of bulges at these mass scales ($ $=170 km s$^{-1}$).
Using Point-of-Care Patient Photographs with Musculoskeletal Radiography to Identify Errors of Laterality in Emergency Department Imaging

Purpose To evaluate the utility of point-of-care patient photographs accompanying musculoskeletal (MSK) radiography to identify errors in laterality. Materials and Methods In this Institutional Review Board-approved study, 347 consecutive MSK radiograph-photograph combinations and corresponding radiography provider orders between October 1, 2018 and January 31, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. Photographs were obtained simultaneously with the radiographs using the PatCam System (Camerad Technologies, Decatur, GA). In each case, laterality was recorded for all photographs, radiograph side markers, and radiography orders, and any laterality discrepancy among these variables was recorded. The side indicated on the provider order was taken as the gold standard. Results Three hundred and forty-seven consecutive MSK radiograph-photograph combinations from 253 unique patients consisted of 129 upper extremity and 218 lower extremity radiographs. Two discrepancies (0.58%) in laterality were identified. The first discrepant case consisted of a left foot radiograph, which was labeled as “R” on the radiograph and left on the order. In this case, the patient photograph confirmed with certainty that the incorrect side marker was placed. The second discrepant case was a hip radiograph, in which 1 of 3 images had discrepant L/R labeling; the patient was covered with a sheet, both hips were included in the photograph, but a monitoring device on the patient's left side in the photograph also included on the radiographs determined which film was incorrectly labeled. Conclusions Patient photographs obtained concurrently with MSK radiographs can provide a valuable quality tool in identifying errors of laterality. In our study, over 1 in 200 patients was identified as having such an error.
Use of Resampling Method to Construct Variance Index and Repeatability Limit of Damage Characteristic Curve

The simplified viscoelastic continuum damage model has been widely accepted as a tool to predict fatigue performance of asphalt concrete. One key component in the model is the damage characteristic...
Hyper‐metabolic B cells in the spleens of old mice make antibodies with autoimmune specificities

Aging is associated with increased intrinsic B cell inflammation, decreased protective antibody responses and increased autoimmune antibody responses. The effects of aging on the metabolic phenotype of B cells and on the metabolic programs that lead to the secretion of protective versus autoimmune antibodies are not known. Splenic B cells and the major splenic B cell subsets, Follicular (FO) and Age-associated B cells (ABCs), were isolated from the spleens of young and old mice and left unstimulated. The RNA was collected to measure the expression of markers associated with intrinsic inflammation and autoimmune antibody production by qPCR. B cells and B cell subsets were also stimulated with CpG and supernatants collected after 7 days to measure autoimmune IgG secretion by ELISA. Metabolic measures (oxygen consumption rate, extracellular acidification rate and glucose uptake) were performed using a Seahorse XFp extracellular flux analyzer. Results have identified the subset of ABCs, whose frequencies and numbers increase with age and represent the most pro-inflammatory B cell subset, as the cell type mainly if not exclusively responsible for the expression of inflammatory markers and for the secretion of autoimmune antibodies in the spleen of old mice. Hyper-inflammatory ABCs from old mice are also hyper-metabolic, as compared to those from young mice and to the subset of FO B cells, a feature needed not only to support their higher expression of RNA for inflammatory markers but also their higher autoimmune antibody secretion. These results identify a relationship between intrinsic inflammation, metabolism and autoimmune B cells and suggest possible ways to understand cellular mechanisms that lead to the generation of pathogenic B cells, that are hyper-inflammatory and hyper-metabolic, and secrete IgG antibodies with autoimmune specificities.
Early Tracheostomy in Morbidly Obese COVID-19 Patients: A Case Series and Discussion of Institutional Practices

Tracheostomies are often utilized in critically ill patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation, to enhance respiratory function and facilitate ventilator weaning. Many coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients develop serious respiratory illness requiring ventilator management. In the early phase of this pandemic, the risk of disease spread lead to the development of conservative guidelines which advocated delaying tracheostomy at least two to three weeks from intubation and, preferably, with negative COVID-19 testing. The morbidly obese patient population, however, presents a unique scenario in which early tracheostomy may be beneficial. In this article, we discuss our institution's current practices along with clinical outcomes with reference to intensive care literature and propose that early tracheotomy in COVID-19 patients should be considered on a case by case basis.
Promoting outcome-oriented research in mental health.

Mental health disorders are ubiquitous, and all nations strive to reduce the prevalence, severity, cost, and early mortality associated with these conditions. An international network of mental hea...
Variability in quasar broad absorption line outflows – II. Multi-epoch monitoring of Si iv and C iv broad absorption line variability

Broad absorption lines (BALs) in quasar spectra indicate high-velocity outflows that may be present in all quasars and could be an important contributor to feedback to their host galaxies. Variability studies of BALs help illuminate the structure, evolution and basic physical properties of the outflows. Here we present further results from an ongoing BAL monitoring campaign of a sample of 24 luminous quasars at redshifts 1.2 −20 000 km s^(−1), 47 per cent of quasars exhibited Si iv variability while 31 per cent exhibited C iv variability. Furthermore, ∼50 per cent of the variable Si iv regions did not have corresponding C iv variability at the same velocities, while nearly all occurrences of C iv variability had corresponding changes in Si iv. We do not find any correlation between the absolute change in strength in C iv and in Si iv, but the fractional change in strength tends to be greater in Si iv than in C iv. When both C iv and Si iv varied, those changes always occurred in the same sense (either getting weaker or stronger). We also include our full data set so far in this paper, which includes up to 10 epochs of data per quasar. The multi-epoch data show that the BAL changes were not generally monotonic across the full ∼5–8 yr time span of our observations, suggesting that the characteristic time-scale for significant line variations, and (perhaps) for structural changes in the outflows, is less than a few years. Coordinated variabilities between absorption regions at different velocities in individual quasars seem to favour changing ionization of the outflowing gas as the cause of the observed BAL variability. However, variability in limited portions of broad troughs fits naturally in a scenario where movements of individual clouds, or substructures in the flow, across our lines of sight cause the absorption to vary. The actual situation may be a complex mixture of changing ionization and cloud movements. Further discussion of the implications of variability, e.g. in terms of the size and location of the outflowing gas, will be presented in a forthcoming paper.
Involvement of Toll-Like Receptor 4 in Decreased Vasopressor Response Following Trauma/Hemorrhagic Shock.

Author(s): Mazor, Rafi; Dos Santos, Fernando; Li, Joyce B; Aletti, Federico; Schmid-Schonbein, Geert; Kistler, Erik B | Abstract: Refractory vascular failure due to the inability of vascular smooth muscle to respond to vasoconstrictors such as phenylephrine is a final common pathway for severe circulatory shock of any cause, including trauma/hemorrhagic shock. Increased inflammation, Toll-like receptor 4 activation, and decreased response of the alpha-1 adrenergic receptors which control vascular tone have been reported in trauma/hemorrhagic shock.HypothesisIn trauma/hemorrhagic shock, Toll-like receptor 4 activation contributes to vascular failure via decreased bioavailability of adrenergic receptors.Design and measurementsTrauma/hemorrhagic shock was induced in Wistar rats (laparotomy combined with mean arterial pressure at 40 mm Hg for 90 min followed by 2 hr resuscitation with Lactated Ringers solution). To inhibit Toll-like receptor 4, resatorvid (TAK-242) and resveratrol were used, and plasma was collected. Smooth muscle cells were incubated with lipopolysaccharide (10 ng/mL) or plasma. Inflammatory cytokines were screened using dot-blot. Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor κB activation and cellular localization of the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor were measured by immunofluorescence imaging and Western blot analysis. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 was used to knock out Toll-like receptor 4, and calcium influx following stimulation with phenylephrine was recorded.Main resultsTrauma/hemorrhagic shock caused a decreased response to phenylephrine, whereas Toll-like receptor 4 inhibition improved blood pressure. Trauma/hemorrhagic shock plasma activated the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor κB pathway in smooth muscle cells. Double labeling of Toll-like receptor 4 and the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor showed that these receptors are colocalized on the cell membrane. Activation of Toll-like receptor 4 caused cointernalization of both receptors. Calcium influx was impaired in cells incubated with trauma/hemorrhagic shock plasma but restored when Toll-like receptor 4 was knocked out or inhibited.ConclusionsActivation of the Toll-like receptor 4 desensitizes vascular smooth muscle cells to vasopressors in experimental trauma/hemorrhagic shock by reducing the levels of membrane alpha-1 adrenergic receptor.
Numerical performance analysis of acoustic Doppler velocity profilers in the wake of an axial-flow marine hydrokinetic turbine

Abstract The use of acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) for the characterization of flow conditions in the vicinity of both experimental and full scale marine hydrokinetic (MHK) turbines is becoming increasingly prevalent. The computation of a three dimensional velocity measurement from divergent acoustic beams requires the assumption that the flow conditions are homogeneous among all beams at a particular axial distance from the instrument. In the near wake of MHK devices, the mean fluid motion is observed to be highly spatially variable as a result of torque generation and energy extraction. We examine the performance of ADCP measurements through modeling of a virtual ADCP (VADCP) instrument in the wake of an MHK turbine resolved using unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This is achieved by sampling the CFD velocity field at equivalent locations to the sample bins of an ADCP, and performing the coordinate transformation from beam coordinates to instrument coordinates, and finally to global coordinates. The stream-wise velocity deficit and tangential swirl velocity caused by the moving rotor lead to significant misrepresentation of the true flow velocity profiles by the VADCP. The most significant errors were observed in the transverse (cross-flow) velocity direction, with a relative error of 17% of the incident velocity. The relative RMS error over the rotor plane was calculate to be less than 2% of the incident velocity by a distance of x / D ⩾ 2 , x / D ⩾ 1 and x / D ⩾ 6 for the stream-wise, transverse and vertical directions, respectively. For the default instrument orientation, A maximum error in the V-velocity occurs when the instrument is located directly behind the turbine, and a maximum W-velocity error is found at a lateral offset y / D = 0.20 . For an instrument directly behind the MHK device, the maximum error in the U-velocity and V-velocity occurs at a yaw angle of ϕ ≈ 30 ° and ϕ ≈ 60 ° .
Transfer of Obesity via the Gut Microbiome is Mediated Specifically through Suppression of Non-Aerobic Resting Metabolism

Risperidone (RISP) is an antipsychotic drug that causes robust weight gain, and we previously found that it alters the gut microbiome in humans and mice. We hypothesize that the gut microbiome medi...
An ontology-based technique for validation of MRI brain segmentation methods

We propose an ontology and rules based approach as innovative instrument to improve and validate brain segmentation in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which is a very difficult and time consuming problem. Different techniques are realized to automate segmentation and their development requires a careful evaluation of precision and accuracy. At present segmentation procedures are generally validated by comparison with brain atlas or by use of phantoms. We combine ontology and rules to formalize knowledge about normal and anomalous distribution of brain tissues. Automatic reasoning points out possible "anomalies", imputable to segmentation procedure: in this way the detection and the subsequent solution of bugs become viable.
A New Algorithm to Search for a Limit Cycle in Nonlinear Control Systems

One normally solves for a limit cycle by solving a set of coupled nonlinear algebraic equations with the aid of a suitable optimization technique. In this paper a new approach is presented to search for a limit cycle locally in nonlinear control systems with multiple nonlinearities. Describing functions are used to derive a quasilinear model for the control system. Eigenvalue and eigenvector sensitivities are then employed to drive the least damped eigenvalue of the quasilinear model to the imaginary axis. It is shown that with the aid of the minimum norm solution one can vary the state variable amplitudes and the system parameters simultaneously. This results in an algorithm with accelerated convergence and improved numerical stability. A simple case study is included and the development of a simple criterion to test the stability of the limit cycle is also reported.
Ameloblastin-rich enamel matrix favors short and randomly oriented apatite crystals

Molecular evolution studies suggest that amelogenin (AMELX), the principal component of the mammalian enamel matrix, emerged considerably later than ameloblastin (AMBN), and enamelin. Here, we created a transgenic mouse model to ask the question how a conceivable basal enamel lacking AMELX and enriched in the more basal AMBN might compare with recent mouse enamel. To answer this question we overexpressed AMBN using a keratin 14 (K14) promoter and removed AMELX from the genetic background by crossbreeding with amelx(-/-) mice. Enamel coverings of amelx(-/-) mice and of the squamate Iguana iguana were used for comparison. Scanning electron microscopic analysis documented that AMBN transgenic (TG) × amelx(-/-) mouse molars were covered by a 5 μm thin 'enameloid' layer resembling the thin enamel of the Iguana squamate. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the enamel of developing AMBN TG × amelx(-/-) mouse molars contained short (approximately 70 nm) and randomly oriented crystals, while WT controls, AMBN overexpressors, and AMELX(-/-) mice all featured elongated and parallel oriented crystals measuring between 300 and 600 nm in average length. Together, these studies illustrate that AMBN promotes the growth of a crystalline enamel layer with short and randomly oriented crystals, but lacks the ability to facilitate the formation of long and parallel oriented apatite crystals.
Religious Faith and Transformational Processes in Marriage

Leading scholars of marital processes strongly recommend supplementing the current focus on marital conflict to include research on transformative processes. This qualitative study examines the connection between religion and the transformative processes of commitment and coping in marriage. The sample for this study includes 184 married couples (N = 368 individuals), making it far larger than most in-depth, qualitative interview-based studies. Participants included Christians, Jews, and Muslims with an over sampling of minorities and immigrant families living in all eight regions of the United States. For several decades studies have shown a largely positive correlation between (a) religiosity and marital commitment and (b) religiosity and (generally) positive coping, but with little explanation regarding how and why. Findings of this study indicate that there are specific religious beliefs and practices related to how these couples approach their marriages—including several that relate to the two transformative processes of commitment and coping.
Kinetics of virus spread and changes in levels of several cytokine mRNAs in the brain after intranasal infection of rats with Borna disease virus.

Abstract We have used the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique to gain insight into the pathogenesis of encephalitis caused by Borna disease virus (BDV). RNA specific for BDV was first detected in the olfactory bulb of intranasally infected rats at 6 days postinfection (p.i.). At 14 days p.i., high levels of BDV RNA were found in all brain regions, and at 26 days p.i., BDV-specific RNA was also present in the eye, nasal mucosa, and facial skin. In the chronic phase of the disease, BDV RNA was identified in many peripheral organs but not in blood. Analysis of brain tissue for the presence of cytokine mRNAs revealed that the mRNA levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-1 alpha had increased sharply at 14 and 26 days p.i. These cytokine mRNAs reached maximum levels at the peak of inflammatory reactions and decreased drastically in the chronic phase of the disease. Although IL-2 mRNA was also found in normal brain, it was markedly increased in BDV-infected brain at 14 days p.i. Expression of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) mRNA, which was not observed in normal rat brain, was detected at 14 days p.i. and reached a maximum level at 38 days p.i. IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression correlated with expression of CD4 and CD8 mRNAs, indicating that both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes are induced in the early stages of BDV infection. Since IFN-gamma and CD8 mRNA levels were still highly elevated in the chronic phase of Borna disease, it is likely that CD8+ T lymphocytes act to reduce inflammation and to ameliorate neurological signs during the chronic phase of infection.
Effects of simplifying fracture network representation on inert chemical migration in fracture‐controlled aquifers

[1] While it is widely recognized that highly permeable ‘large-scale' fractures dominate chemical migration in many fractured aquifers, recent studies suggest that the pervasive ‘small-scale’ fracturing once considered of less significance can be equally important for characterizing the spatial extent and residence time associated with transport processes. A detailed examination of chemical migration through fracture-controlled aquifers is used to advance this conceptual understanding. The influence of fracture structure is evaluated by quantifying the effects to transport caused by a systematic removal of fractures from three-dimensional discrete fracture models whose attributes are derived from geologic and hydrologic conditions at multiple field sites. Results indicate that the effects to transport caused by network simplification are sensitive to the fracture network characteristics, degree of network simplification, and plume travel distance, but primarily in an indirect sense since correlation to individual attributes is limited. Transport processes can be ‘enhanced’ or ‘restricted’ from network simplification meaning that the elimination of fractures may increase or decrease mass migration, mean travel time, dispersion, and tailing of the concentration plume. The results demonstrate why, for instance, chemical migration may not follow the classic advection-dispersion equation where dispersion approximates the effect of the ignored geologic structure as a strictly additive process to the mean flow. The analyses further reveal that the prediction error caused by fracture network simplification is reduced by at least 50% using the median estimate from an ensemble of simplified fracture network models, and that the error from network simplification is at least 70% less than the stochastic variability from multiple realizations.