cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reliable Phase Stability Analysis for Excess Gibbs Energy Models

Because models used to represent the Gibbs energy of mixing are typically highly nonlinear, the reliable prediction of phase stability from such models is a challenging computational problem. The phase stability problem can be formulated either as a minimization problem or as an equivalent nonlinear equation solving problem. However, conventional solution methods are initialization dependent, and may fail by converging to trivial or nonphysical solutions or to a point that is a local but not global minimum. Since the correct prediction of phase stability is critical in the design and analysis of separation processes, there has been considerable recent interest in developing more reliable techniques for stability analysis. Recently we have demonstrated a technique that can solve the phase stability problem with complete reliability. The technique, which is based on interval analysis, is initialization independent, and if properly implemented provides a mathematical guarantee that the correct solution to the phase stability problem has been found. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of this technique in connection with excess Gibbs energy models. The NRTL and UNIQUAC models are used in examples, and larger problems than previously considered are solved. We also consider two means of enhancing the efficiency of the method, both based on sharpening the range of interval function evaluations. Results indicate that by using the enhanced method, computation times can be substantially reduced, especially for the larger problems.
CORRELATIONAL SELECTION LEADS TO GENETIC INTEGRATION OF BODY SIZE AND AN ATTRACTIVE PLUMAGE TRAIT IN DARK-EYED JUNCOS

When a trait's effect on fitness depends on its interaction with other traits, the resultant selection is correlational and may lead to the integration of functionally related traits. In relation to sexual selection, when an ornamental trait interacts with phenotypic quality to determine mating success, correlational sexual selection should generate genetic correlations between the ornament and quality, leading to the evolution of honest signals. Despite its potential importance in the evolution of signal honesty, correlational sexual selection has rarely been measured in natural populations. In the dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis), males with experimentally elevated values of a plumage trait (whiteness in the tail or "tail white") are more attractive to females and dominant in aggressive encounters over resources. We used restricted maximum-likelihood analysis of a long-term dataset to measure the heritability of tail white and two components of body size (wing length and tail length), as well as genetic correlations between pairs of these traits. We then used multiple regression to assess directional, quadratic, and correlational selection as they acted on tail white and body size via four components of lifetime fitness (juvenile and adult survival, mating success, and fecundity). We found a positive genetic correlation between tail white and body size (as measured by wing length), which indicates past correlational selection. Correlational selection, which was largely due to sexual selection on males, was also found to be currently acting on the same pair of traits. Larger males with whiter tails sired young with more females, most likely due to a combination of female choice, which favors males with whiter tails, and male-male competition, which favors both tail white and larger body size. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show both genetic correlations between sexually selected traits and currently acting correlational sexual selection, and we suggest that correlational sexual selection frequently may be an important mechanism for maintaining the honesty of sexual signals.
Self-reported adherence to oral cancer therapy: relationships with symptom distress, depression, and personal characteristics

BACKGROUND Therapeutic cancer chemotherapy is most successful when complete dosing is achieved. Because many newer therapeutic agents are oral and self-administered by the patient, adherence is a concern. The purpose of our analysis was to explore relationships between adherence, patient characteristics, and barriers to adherence. METHODS This secondary analysis utilized self-reported data from a randomized trial of self-care management conducted at two cancer centers in the US. Symptom distress was measured using the 15-item Symptom Distress Scale (SDS-15) and depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Adherence to oral medication was self-reported using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Measures were collected via Web-based, study-specific software ~8 weeks after treatment start date. Odds of low/medium adherence (score <8) were explored using univariate logistic regression. Given the number of factors and possible relationships among factors, a classification tree was built in lieu of a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS Of the eligible participants enrolled, 77 were on oral therapy and 70 had an MMAS score. Forty-nine (70%) reported a high adherence score (=8). Higher odds of low/medium adherence were associated with greater symptom distress (P=0.09), more depression (P=0.05), chemotherapy vs hormonal oral medication (P=0.03), being female (P=0.02), and being randomized to the control group in the parent trial (P=0.09). Conversely, high adherence was associated with working (P=0.08), being married/partnered (P=0.004), and being older (P=0.02). Factors identified as significantly related to low/medium adherence from the univariate logistic regression analyses were supported by the classification tree results. CONCLUSION Nonadherence to therapeutic oral medications in patients with cancer was associated with being unmarried/unpartnered, symptom distress, younger age, not working, and female sex. These findings may help to identify patients at risk for nonadherence and for whom supportive interventions to enhance adherence may be needed.
Probability of Future Climatically Significant Volcanic Eruptions

Abstract A number of climate model predictions indicate that the global average temperature should rise another 0.1°–0.3°C in the next 10–15 yr, thereby rising above the noise level of natural variability. However, volcanic eruptions could mask the CO2 effect and complicate discussions on a greenhouse gas protocol. The authors quantify this possibility by creating a volcano eruption probability density function from a 600-yr-long record of Northern Hemisphere eruptions. Results indicate that there is a substantial probability of one or two eruptions with a radiative impact greater than −1 W m−2 (≈37% and 15%, respectively) in the next decade, and a 15%–25% chance of a single large eruption (−3 W m−2 or greater).
Limits on the Hardness of Lattice Problems in lp Norms

Several recent papers have established limits on the computational difficulty of lattice problems, focusing primarily on the l 2 (Euclidean) norm. We demonstrate close analogues of these results in l p norms, for every 2 < p ≤ ∞. In particular, for lattices of dimension n: Our results improve prior approximation factors for l p norms by up to $$\sqrt{n}$$ factors. Taken all together, they complement recent reductions from the l 2 norm to l p norms (Regev & Rosen 2006), and provide some evidence that lattice problems in l p norms (for p > 2) may not be substantially harder than they are in the l 2 norm. One of our main technical contributions is a very general analysis of Gaussian distributions over lattices, which may be of independent interest. Our proofs employ analytical techniques of Banaszczyk that, to our knowledge, have yet to be exploited in computer science.
A comparison of models for the sea level muon intensity

A comparison is made between the measured muon energy spectrum at sea level and that predicted by four theoretical models (namely, Maeda-Cantrell (MC), constant energy, (CE), Cocconi-Koester-Perkins (CKP) and scaling models). It is concluded that the scaling model agrees with the experimental data at energies less than 100 GeV, and the CKP model provides the best description of the spectrum at energies above 100 GeV.
Corpus and Method for Identifying Citations in Non-Academic Text

We attempt to identify citations in non-academic text such as patents. Unlike academic articles which often provide bibliographies and follow consistent citation styles, non-academic text cites scientific research in a more ad-hoc manner. We manually annotate citations in 50 patents, train a CRF classifier to find new citations, and apply a reranker to incorporate non-local information. Our best system achieves 0.83 F-score on 5-fold cross validation.
Essay: International Tax as International Law

The purpose of this essay is to introduce to the international lawyer the somewhat different set of categories employed by international tax lawyers, and explain the reasons for some of the differences. At the same time, I hope to persuade practicing international tax lawyers and international tax academics that their field is indeed part of international law, and that it would help them to think of it this way. The essay is divided into five parts. Part 1 asks the question whether international tax law is part of international law, and answers in the affirmative. Part 2 discusses international jurisdiction to tax and how it differs from traditional international law concepts of jurisdiction. Part 3 discusses tax treaties and how they differ from regular treaties in both interpretation and modification. Part 4 discusses the difficult and much debated question whether there exists an international customary tax law. Part 5 concludes by summarizing the ways international tax lawyers and international lawyers can learn from each other.
Abstract TP66: Quantitative Proteomic Profile of Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) Responders

Background: The utilization of IV tPA continues to be low after more than a decade of FDA approval. We aim to widen the therapeutic window for tPA by understanding clinical thrombolysis response. B...
Trogocytosis-associated cell to cell spread of intracellular bacterial pathogens

Macrophages are myeloid-derived phagocytic cells and one of the first immune cell types to respond to microbial infections. However, a number of bacterial pathogens are resistant to the antimicrobial activities of macrophages and can grow within these cells. Macrophages have other immune surveillance roles including the acquisition of cytosolic components from multiple types of cells. We hypothesized that intracellular pathogens that can replicate within macrophages could also exploit cytosolic transfer to facilitate bacterial spread. We found that viable Francisella tularensis, as well as Salmonella enterica bacteria transferred from infected cells to uninfected macrophages along with other cytosolic material through a transient, contact dependent mechanism. Bacterial transfer occurred when the host cells exchanged plasma membrane proteins and cytosol via a trogocytosis related process leaving both donor and recipient cells intact and viable. Trogocytosis was strongly associated with infection in mice, suggesting that direct bacterial transfer occurs by this process in vivo.
Humidity and Tactile Responses of Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

In laboratory choice tests, maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, initially preferred lower humidities when given a choice of two humidities. The absolute difference in humidities and position on the RH scale had little influence on the response. After 24 h, weevils generally were hygropositive, which suggests that starvation or desiccation or both moderated humidity preference. The same temporal response pattern was observed when weevils were given a choice of five humidities ranging from 0 to 100%. Weevils showed a pronounced preference for contact with tactile stimuli (glass beads) and apparently preferred contact with smaller beads (4 mm diameter) over larger beads (6 mm diameter). Superimposing humidity and tactile stimulus choices revealed that tactile preferences took-precedence over humidity preferences. The nature of the humidity response suggests that poor feedback exists between humidity perception and atmospheric water needs.
Pedagogical Urbanism: Creating Citizen Space in Bogota, Colombia:

In this article I examine the rise of public space as a planning ideal in Bogota, Colombia, where public space was viewed as a totalizing solution uniquely suited to Bogota’s complex set of problems. Bogota’s public space represents a crucible of hopes and desires for transforming the city and citizenship. I call this process pedagogical urbanism, a mode of planning focused on education and reform. Pedagogical urbanism merges social and spatial planning traditions to produce new social and cultural norms leading, in Bogota’s case, to the (re)formation of civil society through an expansion of the right to the city while creating the conditions for the reproduction of citizens. Citizen monitoring and behavior modification in public space, however, constrain this expansion. This article explores the paradox of expanding the right to the city while creating programs to scrutinize and direct citizens’ actions in public space.
Fourier ptychography for multimodal imaging

We will discuss the recent progresses of the Fourier ptychographic imaging approach. We will demonstrate its applications in gigapixel microscopy, quantitative phase imaging, spectrum multiplexing, 3D holographic imaging, super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, and photographic imaging.
STABILITY AND COMPATIBILITY OF MINOCYCLINE HYDROCHLORIDE AND RIFAMPIN IN INTRAVENOUS SOLUTIONS AT VARIOUS TEMPERATURES

The stability and compatibility of minocycline hydrochloride and rifampin in intravenous solutions at several temperatures were studied. Triplicate test solutions of (1) minocycline hydrochloride 0.1 mg/mL or rifampin 0.1 mg/mL in 5% dextrose injection or 0.9% sodium chloride injection and (2) minocycline hydrochloride 0.1 mg/mL admixed with rifampin 0.1 mg/mL in 0.9% sodium chloride injection were prepared and stored at various temperatures. Samples were removed at intervals for up to seven days and stored at -70 degrees C until analyzed. Drug concentration was measured by stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography. Compatibility was assessed by visual and turbidimetric examination. For the solutions containing the drugs separately, minocycline hydrochloride was stable in both diluents, with the initial concentration declining by 8% at 24 degrees C and 2% at 4 degrees C over seven days. Rifampin was less stable, losing 6-8% of the initial concentration in three days at 4 degrees C and 5-7% in 8 hours and 13-17% in 24 hours at 24 degrees C. There was no change in turbidity in the solutions containing either minocycline hydrochloride or rifampin. The admixture, however, was turbid after 72 hours at 37 degrees C. Minocycline hydrochloride in the admixture was stable for seven days at 24 and 4 degrees C but not for three days at 37 degrees C. The concentration of rifampin decreased 20% in one day at 24 degrees C, 8-10% in three days at 4 degrees C, and 14% in 4 hours and 40% and in 24 hours at 37 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Molecular orbital studies on the conformation of γ-aminobutyric acid and muscimol

Mit Hilfe der Molecular Orbital Theorie werden die bevorzugten Konformationen fur dieγ-Aminobuttersaure und das strukturell verwandte Muscimol, die neurologisch bedeutsam sind, berechnet.
Acetylated low density lipoprotein and the delivery of immunomodulators to macrophages.

Explores endogenous lipoprotein particles and their interaction with pharmacological agents. Among the topics are receptor-dependent interactions of lipoproteins with tissues and cell types, their uptake and transport with the vascular endothelium, therapeutic and chemical agents that associate in v
Ultrasound diagnosis of pregnancy in cattle

One of the major tasks of every practitioner who deals with reproduction is the diagnosis of pregnancy. The aim of this paper is to present the basics of ultrasound diagnosis. The emphasis is given to some elements which are essential for the diagnosis of early pregnancy, whose diagnosis is most important. Also, in the paper are pointed out main indicators that are to be monitored in the diagnosis and possible errors. At the end, the possibilities of using an ultrasound for some new procedures in the reproduction of cows are given.
Zero, pronouns and clause-chaining: Toward a diachronic understanding

Abstract Morphological switch-reference systems have been described as complex structural phenomena with specific marking for chain-medial cataphoric referential continuity (SS) and discontinuity (DS). This paper attempt to place these synchronic structural systems in two explanatory contexts: First, the functional context of discourse structure and the management of nominal reference, with special attention given to the universal functions of zero, independent pronouns, anaphoric pronouns, pronominal agreement, conjunctions and non-finite verbal structures. And second, the diachronic processes via which complex synchronic switch-reference systems arise gradually from their simple building blocks.
High content analysis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons. Neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglial cells all undergo pathological modifications in the onset and progression of ALS. A number of genes involved in the etiopathology of the disease have been identified, but a complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms of ALS has yet to be determined. Currently, people affected by ALS have a life expectancy of only two to five years from diagnosis. The search for a treatment has been slow and mostly unsuccessful, leaving patients in desperate need of better therapies. Until recently, most pre-clinical studies utilized the available ALS animal models. In the past years, the development of new protocols for isolation of patient cells and differentiation into relevant cell types has provided new tools to model ALS, potentially more relevant to the disease itself as they directly come from patients. The use of stem cells is showing promise to facilitate ALS research by expanding our understanding of the disease and help to identify potential new therapeutic targets and therapies to help patients. Advancements in high content analysis (HCA) have the power to contribute to move ALS research forward by combining automated image acquisition along with digital image analysis. With modern HCA machines it is possible, in a period of just a few hours, to observe changes in morphology and survival of cells, under the stimulation of hundreds, if not thousands of drugs and compounds. In this article, we will summarize the major molecular and cellular hallmarks of ALS, describe the advancements provided by the in vitro models developed in the last few years, and review the studies that have applied HCA to the ALS field to date.
The Role of Protection in Adolescent Health Behavior

The role of psychosocial protective factors in adolescent health-enhancing behaviors—healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, good dental hygiene, and seatbelt use—was investigated among 1,493 Hispanic, White, and Black high school students in a large, urban school district. Both proximal (health-related) and distal (conventionality-related) protective factors have significant positive relations with health-enhancing behavior and with the development of health-enhancing behavior. In addition, in cross-sectional analyses, protection was shown to moderate risk. Key proximal protective factors are value on health, perceived effects of health-compromising behavior, and parents who model health behavior. Key distal protective factors are positive orientation to school, friends who model conventional behavior, involvement in prosocial activities, and church attendance. The findings suggest the importance of individual differences on a dimension of conventionality-unconventionality.
The Influence of Branded Stores Within a Store: An Abstract

Branded store-within-stores is an innovative approach aimed at improving customer engagement, retail store design and layout, and ultimately, value creation for customers, brands, and retailers (Jerath and Zhang 2010; Sorescu et al. 2011). Typically in a branded store-within-store format, specific brands agree with a retailer to have a standalone existence within a retail store’s layout with the brand’s vendor partly or wholly managing activities such as pricing, merchandising, staffing, and stocking in an autonomous manner (Jerath and Zhang 2010). There are different manifestations of the store-within-store format, but the focus of this study is on formats where third-party owned product or retailer brands are presented in an independent arrangement within a retail store, such as the Sephora store inside JCPenney, Armani and Gucci stores inside Neiman Marcus, and the DKNY store inside Bloomingdale’s. This study tests a framework of (1) consumers’ evaluations of brands and retailers involved in branded store-within-store formats, (2) their subsequent behavioral intentions toward the brand alliance and constituent partners (i.e., the brands and retailers), and ultimately, (3) differences in the abovementioned issues across store-within-stores featuring a “star” brand (i.e., a standalone store-within-store for a brand that is perceived as significantly superior to the other brands in the retail store) versus a “supporting cast” brand (i.e., a standalone store-within-store for a brand that is perceived as comparable to the other brands in the retail store). Furthermore, as a follow-up study, we examine the influence of brand’s image, price, and their interaction on perceptions of branded store-within-store and on intentions to purchase. Based on data collected from a large Southwestern university in the USA, the findings indicate that the type of branded store-within-a-store affect intentions toward a retailer, with a Star Brand exerting greater influence on intentions toward the retailer and the featured brand than the retailer’s prototypical brands. Results show greater intentions toward the retailer and the featured brand in the case of a Star Brand store-within-store for male shoppers rather than female shoppers. In addition, follow-up study results indicate that Star Brand must be congruent with store’s image but its price does not have to. Overall, results indicate that stores looking to increase sales by adding a branded store-within-store should consider brands that their shoppers consider superior to the store’s prototypical brands but congruent in image to store. This study is exploratory in nature, and future research, using different product and/or store types and samples, could help validate the results.
Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: impact of consistent contrast agent selection on radiologists’ confidence in hepatic lesion assessment on restaging MRIs

To evaluate the impact of contrast agent selection on radiologists’ confidence in assessing liver lesions on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in patients with neuroendocrine tumors. This Institutional Review Board-approved, retrospective study performed at a tertiary cancer center and a quaternary care urban academic hospital included all 694 follow-up abdominal MRI studies from 179 patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor performed from 01/01/2010 to 05/31/2015. Primary outcome measure was radiologists’ confidence in assessing liver lesions on follow-up MRI. MRI reports were reviewed to abstract radiologists’ confidence, classified as “equivocal” if any equivocal connotation (mention of limitation due to differences in contrast agent or follow-up recommendation with specific contrast agent) was present; or “unequivocal” if a precise, confident comparison to prior was documented without the use of ambiguous terms. A fellowship-trained radiologist separately evaluated 100 randomly selected reports and images to calculate interobserver agreement with the report classification (equivocal vs. unequivocal) and with the original MRI report, respectively. Chi-square test was used to compare the proportion of equivocal reports when “same” or “different” contrast agent was used for successive examinations. Rates of equivocal reports were higher when different contrast agents were used for successive examinations compared to examinations with same contrast agent (13.2% [21/159] vs. 1.8% [10/535]; p < 0.0001). There was very good interobserver agreement for assessment of radiologist confidence (κ = 0.92 for report review, κ = 0.82 for image review). Consistent use of contrast agent for follow-up MRIs allows more confident assessment of liver lesions in patients with neuroendocrine tumors.
Influence of user generated content in online shopping: impact of gender on purchase behaviour, trust, and intention to purchase

To investigate differences in gender in the influence of user generated content (UGC) on purchase behaviour, trust, and intention to purchase. UGC refers to online comments/opinions which can influence other users' purchase decisions. Quantitative data gathered through a survey of 232 undergraduates at an American university. UGCs have a greater influence on purchase intentions and trust for females. No gender differences were found in terms of UGC's influence for a gender-neutral product, propensity to read UGCs, frequency of purchase and authoring reviews. Insights are provided for managers interested in consumers' use of UGC. It is not only important to monitor what is being written, but also who is writing it. A better understanding of the target audience can serve only to enhance an organisation's marketing efficiency. This research attempts to address a relatively unmet need for research specifically addressing gender differences relating to UGC.
Current Standards of Care and Long Term Outcomes for Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease

Thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD) are disorders of hemoglobin that affect millions of people worldwide. The carrier states for these diseases arose as common, balanced polymorphisms during human history because they afforded protection against severe forms of malaria. These complex, multisystem diseases are reviewed here with a focus on current standards of clinical management and recent research findings. The importance of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and lifelong system of care is also emphasized.
Transmitter and Electrical Stimulation of [3H]Taurine Release from Rat Sympathetic Ganglia

Astroglial cells release taurine in response to stimulation with neurotransmitters. This process has been studied most extensively with primary cultures of astrocytes and LRM55 glial cells. These studies have demonstrated that several transmitters can elicit release. The second messenger systems involved in activating release have been characterized (10, 15, 19). An important issue concerning all studies of this type is the applicability of results obtained with glia in culture to glia in vivo. We have chosen the rat superior cervical ganglion as a nervous tissue having the potential for exploring taurine release from glial cells in situ. The major neuronal composition of the ganglion consists of preganglionic nerve terminals providing cholinergic input and principal neurons providing noradrenergic output. The superior cervical ganglion also contains a very small population of dopamine-containing intrinsic neurons known as SIF cells (3). The glial population of the superior cervical ganglion is composed of Schwann cells responsible for myelination and satellite glia, immunoreactive to glial fibrillary acidic protein, that surround the cell bodies of the principal neurons (1, 7). Currently available data suggest that taurine is selectively taken up by the satellite glia. Autoradiographic studies have demonstrated that the ω-amino acids GABA and β-alanine are selectively accumulated by satellite glial cells in the superior cervical ganglion (5, 20), while transport studies have shown that taurine inhibits [3H]GABA uptake and that GABA inhibits [14C]taurine uptake by the superior cervical ganglion (5). The demonstration that potassium-stimulated efflux of [3H]GABA from the superior cervical ganglion is not reduced by preganglionic denervation also supports the glial localization of ω-amino acid transporters in this tissue (4).
The Art & Illusion of Media History

Were one seeking to identify characteristic objects of late seventeenth-century European culture, the letter rack as depicted in lush, realistic oil paintings from the era might well deserve a nomi...
Stabilization and registration of full-motion video data using deep convolutional neural networks

Stabilization and registration are common techniques applied to overhead imagery and full-motion video (FMV) during production to facilitate further exploitation by the end user. Algorithms designed to accom- plish these tasks must accommodate changes in capture geometry, atmospheric effects, and sensor charac- teristics. Moreover, algorithms that rely on a controlled image base (CIB) reference typically require some degree of robustness with respect to differences in imaging modality. While many factors contributing to gross misalignment can be mitigated using available sensor telemetry and rigorous photogrammetric modeling, the subsequent image-based registration task often relies on loose model assumptions and poor generalizations. This work presents a modality-agnostic deep learning approach to automatically stabilize and register overhead FMV data to a reference image such as a CIB. The field of deep learning has received significant attention in recent years with advances in high-performance computing and the availability of widely adopted open source tools for numerical computation using data flow graphs. We leverage recent developments in the use of fully differentiable spatial transformer networks to simultaneously remove coarse geometric differences and fine local misalignments in the registration process. Most importantly, no model is required. A convolutional neural network (ConvNet), complete with a spatial transformer, is trained using pairs of frames of FMV data as the input and corresponding label. Once the mechanism by which the deformable warp is learned, the trained network ingests new data and returns a version of the input image sequence that has been warped to a user-specified reference. The performance of our approach is evaluated using several real FMV data sets.
Vibro-acoustic method for detection of osteopenia and osteoporosis

Early detection of osteopenia and osteoporosis is critical in identifying at-risk groups and manage necessary therapy. In this paper, a new noninvasive and quantitative vibro-acoustic method is proposed for detection of osteoporosis and osteopenia. In this method, we excite the bone by an ultrasound radiation force (URF) pulse. The URF pulse induces a vibration in the bone, resulting an acoustic wave that is received by a hydrophone placed on the skin. This prospective study included n = 23 volunteers. The number of volunteers with osteopenia and osteoporosis were 7, 6, respectively, and the number of volunteers with normal bone was 10. URF excitations were applied at four equi-distance points on the bone. The resulting acoustic signals were used for wave velocity estimation based on cross-correlation technique. In general, the hydrophone signal may be modeled as a superposition of different modes of bone vibration. Based on this model, we used variational mode decomposition (VMD) as an efficient technique to decompose the received signal into an ensemble of band-limited intrinsic mode functions. Statistical analysis demonstrates that osteopenia and osteoporosis bones can be differentiated from normal bone with p< 0.001 using Wilcoxon rank-sum test on estimated velocity of the modes with maximum power.Early detection of osteopenia and osteoporosis is critical in identifying at-risk groups and manage necessary therapy. In this paper, a new noninvasive and quantitative vibro-acoustic method is proposed for detection of osteoporosis and osteopenia. In this method, we excite the bone by an ultrasound radiation force (URF) pulse. The URF pulse induces a vibration in the bone, resulting an acoustic wave that is received by a hydrophone placed on the skin. This prospective study included n = 23 volunteers. The number of volunteers with osteopenia and osteoporosis were 7, 6, respectively, and the number of volunteers with normal bone was 10. URF excitations were applied at four equi-distance points on the bone. The resulting acoustic signals were used for wave velocity estimation based on cross-correlation technique. In general, the hydrophone signal may be modeled as a superposition of different modes of bone vibration. Based on this model, we used variational mode decomposition (VMD) as an efficient techniqu...
3He in Aerogel – an Inhomogeneously Disordered Unconventional Superfluid

We have examined the superfluidity of3He in 98.2% porous silica aerogel with up to 34% 4He at 21.6 bar. The mixture is phase-separated for4He fractions between ∼ 11% and 34%. The4He-rich, phase preferentially occupies the regions of highest silica density in the aerogel, thus modifying the distribution of the correlated disorder seen by superftuid3He. The3He Tcincreases slightly with4He content while the superfluid fraction decreases rapidly. This behavior is inconsistent with that of3He in a homogeneously scattering medium and is analogous to that of a granular superconductor.
The Postoperative Meniscus: Anatomical, Operative, and Imaging Considerations

Meniscal surgery is commonplace. Patients who have had prior surgery may return for additional imaging for continued or new pain, limited range of motion, or interval injury. Accurate interpretation of postoperative imaging requires a clear understanding of the normal meniscal anatomy and biomechanics. Surgical goals and current surgical techniques impact the imaging appearance. These techniques are reviewed in the context of the various meniscal tear patterns. Multiple imaging modalities may be used in patient assessment with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging providing key information regarding the integrity of the meniscal repair. Imagers need to be aware of the key findings for a normal versus pathologic appearance to the postoperative meniscus as well as other potential MR findings that may account for patient presentation.
Embodying the erotic: cultivating sensory awareness through dance/movement therapy

This paper examines the intersection between the erotic, embodiment, and empowerment. It explores how the erotic and oppression live in the body by reviewing the literature and research from the fi...
Crack growth in bi-material laminates

Growth rates of fatigue cracks have been measured in laminates fabricated by adhesively bonding layers of 2024-T351 and 7075-T6 aluminum alloys. The laminates had either two or four layers, with equal thicknesses and numbers of layers of each alloy. Fatigue-crack-propagation tests were performed with through-cracks, giving a crack-divider geometry, the results being compared to those for the two alloys tested in monolithic form. Crack-propagation rates in the bi-material laminates were intermediate between those of the monolithic alloys, with the slower growth in 2024-T351 tending to dominate over a portion of the growth-rate range. Fracture toughnesses of the laminates are also discussed.
How to Solve Ethical Conflicts in Everyday Surgical Practice: A Toolbox

In the practice of medicine and surgery, ethically challenging issues frequently arise. Surgeons practice within a medical realm that is deeply dependent upon a meaningful physician-patient relationship, with an ethos dually emphasizing patient self-determination and physician guidance. Surgeons are likely familiar with the navigation of ethical conundrums, however frequently do so without formal training. While historically the purview of theologians and philosophers, the field of clinical medical ethics has evolved significantly since its inception in the 1970s, helping clinicians to practically address commonly encountered issues. With this chapter, we aim to provide the practicing surgeon with a toolkit to assist in formulating ethical questions and addressing them in a systematic fashion. First, we present a fictional patient scenario with several ethical issues commonly encountered by surgical providers. We then introduce three well-known, published methods for the evaluation of the ethical problem – the Beauchamp and Childress model, the “Four-Topic (or Four-Box)” approach, and the Pellegrino approach – and apply each method to the theoretical case.
Infrared navigation system for light dosimetry during pleural photodynamic therapy

Pleural photodynamic therapy (PDT) is performed intraoperatively for the treatment of microscopic disease in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Accurate delivery of light dose is critical to PDT efficiency. As a standard of care, light fluence is delivered to the prescribed fluence using eight isotropic detectors in pre-determined discrete locations inside the pleural cavity that is filled with a dilute Intralipid solution. An optical infrared (IR) navigation system was used to monitor reflective passive markers on a modified and improved treatment delivery wand to track the position of the light source within the treatment cavity during light delivery. This information was used to calculate the light dose, incorporating a constant scattered light dose and using a dual correction method. Calculation methods were extensively compared for eight detector locations and seven patient case studies. The light fluence uniformity was also quantified by representing the unraveled three-dimensional geometry on a two-dimensional plane. Calculated light fluence at the end of treatment delivery was compared to measured values from isotropic detectors. Using a constant scattered dose for all detector locations along with a dual correction method, the difference between calculated and measured values for each detector was within 15%. Primary light dose alone does not fully account for the light delivered inside the cavity. This is useful in determining the light dose delivered to areas of the pleural cavity between detector locations, and can serve to improve treatment delivery with implementation in real-time in the surgical setting. We concluded that the standard deviation of light fluence uniformity for this method of pleural PDT is 10%.
Le département d’anesthésie, médecine périopératoire et de réanimation de l’université de Californie — San Francisco

Resume Le departement d’anesthesie et de medecine perioperatoire de l’UCSF est un des plus grands departements d’anesthesie de la cote Ouest des Etats-Unis. Durant les 30 dernieres annees, ce departement a constamment excelle dans divers classements tels que ceux evaluant la qualite des soins, les financements de recherche par le NIH ou la productivite academique. Situe dans une universite ayant fait grandir et accueilli plusieurs prix Nobel, le departement d’anesthesie et de medecine perioperatoire de l’UCSF a produit des innovations majeures pour la specialite, parmi lesquelles figurent la description des chemorecepteurs centraux ou la description de la concentration minimale alveolaire.
Protamine Reduces Serious Bleeding Complications Associated with Carotid Endarterectomy in Asymptomatic Patients without Increasing the Risk of Stroke, Myocardial Infarction, or Death in a Large National Analysis

Objective Controversy persists regarding the use of protamine during carotid endarterectomy (CEA), despite real world evidence to support its use. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of protamine reversal of heparin anticoagulation on the outcome of CEA in the USA. Methods A prospective national registry (Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative) of 72 787 patients undergoing elective asymptomatic CEA by 1879 surgeons from 316 centres in the USA and Canada from 2012 to 2018 was reviewed. Protamine use varied by both surgeon (20% rare use [ 80% cases]) and geographical region (44% vs. 96%). Temporal trends in protamine use were also determined. End points included post-operative re-operation for bleeding, as well as potential protamine related thrombotic complications, including stroke, death, and myocardial infarction (MI). Predictors of end points were determined by multivariable logistic regression. Propensity matching was additionally used to control for differences between groups. Results Of the 72 787 patients who underwent CEA, 69% received protamine, while 31% did not. Protamine use increased over time from 60% (2012) to 73% (2018). In total, 378 patients (0.7%) in the protamine treated group underwent re-operation for bleeding vs. 342 patients (1.4%) in the untreated cohort (p Conclusion Protamine reduces serious bleeding complications at the time of CEA without increasing the risk of MI, stroke, or death, in this large North American analysis. Based on this and previous regional work regarding protamine use in CEA, it is believed that there is now sufficient evidence to support its routine use, and it should be considered as a benchmark for quality during CEA.
Comparison of Cognitive Workload Assessment Techniques in EMG-based Prosthetic Device Studies

Previous studies have found that electromyography (EMG)-based prosthetic devices provide higher grasping force, increase functional performance, and have greater range of motion over conventional prostheses. However, cognitive workload (CW) is still one of the issues that can negatively affect device usability and satisfaction. In order to evaluate CW of prosthetic devices early in the design cycle, it is first necessary to select the most appropriate measures. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to: (1) review the CW measurement techniques used in prior EMG-based prosthetic device evaluations; and (2) provide guidelines to select the most appropriate measurement techniques. The findings suggested that cognitive performance models (CPM), subjective measures, task performance measures, and some physiological measures were sensitive in detecting CW differences among prosthetic device configurations and therefore could be useful tools in usability evaluation of these technologies. However, in order to reduce intrusiveness and cost, methods such as subjective workload measures, task performance, and CPM are more beneficial as compared to physiological measurements. Guidelines proposed in this study can be beneficial to select the most appropriate CW measurement techniques in order to improve sensitivity and accuracy and reduce intrusiveness and cost.
Closing the Gap or Widening the Chasm: Impact of Mobile Channel Adoption in Goal-directed Platforms

With the increasing trend of extending real-world activities into the virtual, goal-directed platforms have experienced rising popularity as they provide individuals with enhanced capabilities for goal pursuit. Prior literature has demonstrated the importance of diverse approaches to individuals’ goal pursuit activities. However, few studies have investigated how technology-mediated goal pursuits affect individuals’ behaviors. In this research, we perform a series of empirical analyses to examine the impacts of multi-channel adoption on goal pursuit activity and persistence. Our results indicate that mobile adoption improves overall goal pursuit effort by 140.1%. A positive effect on goal pursuit persistence is also observed. Most notably, the enlarging gap between different types of students has been found when a new technological channel is introduced. Particularly, users with high-level goal specificity and high learning competency achieve more considerable improvement from adopting mobile channel.
Burden of preoperative opioid use and its impact on healthcare utilization after primary single level lumbar discectomy

Abstract Background Context The complication profile and higher cost of care associated with preoperative opioid use and spinal fusion is well described. However, the burden of opioid use and its impact in patients undergoing lumbar discectomy is not known. Knowledge of this, especially for a relatively benign and predictable procedure will be important in bundled and value-based payment models. Purpose To study the burden of pre-operative opioid use and its effect on postoperative healthcare utilization, cost, and opioid use in patients undergoing primary single level lumbar discectomy. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Patient Sample A 29,745 patients undergoing primary single level lumbar discectomy from the IBM MarketScan (2000-2018) database. Outcome Measures Ninety-day and 1-year utilization of lumbar epidural steroid injections, emergency department (ED) services, lumbar magnetic resonance imaging, hospital readmission, and revision lumbar surgery. Continued opioid use beyond 3-months postoperatively until 1-year was also studied. We have reported costs associated with healthcare utilization among opioid groups. Methods Patients were categorized in opioid use groups based on the duration and number of oral prescriptions before discectomy (opioid naive, Results A total of 29,745 patients with mean age of 45.3±9.6 years were studied. Pre-operatively, 29.0% were opioid naive, 35.0% had Conclusion Chronic preoperative opioid use was present in 12% of a national cohort of lumbar discectomy patients. Such opioid use was associated with significantly higher post-operative healthcare utilization, risk of revision surgery, and costs at 90-days and 1-year postoperatively. Two-third of chronic preoperative opioid users had continued long-term postoperative opioid use. However, a 3-month prescription free period before surgery in chronic opioid users reduces the risk of long-term postoperative use. This data will be useful for patient education, pre-operative opioid use optimization, and risk-adjustment in value-based payment models.
Emerging and Ongoing Survivorship Challenges Among Childhood Cancer Survivors and Providing Risk-Based Focused Follow-Up Care.

Abstract Objectives To provide a summary of the emerging and ongoing survivorship challenges facing childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors and their families. Data Sources Research and review articles, websites, and clinical guidelines specific to childhood cancer survivorship were used. Conclusion Many challenges exist in assuring quality long-term follow-up and risk-based screening for childhood cancer survivors. Although many childhood cancer survivors survive well into adulthood, they are at risk for a vast number of later complications of their cancer treatment necessitating annual cancer surveillance. In addition, many childhood cancer survivors are not engaging in long-term follow-up recommendations for clinic attendance, risk-based surveillance, and screening for potentially life-ending events. Pediatric oncology nurses and advanced practice nurses have played an enormous role in the design of childhood cancer survivorship programs and are an integral member of the multidisciplinary health care team who care for this population. Nurses have an obligation to continue to advance the survivorship care of childhood cancer survivors and lead interventional opportunities to improve the lifelong health-related quality of life and overall physical health. Implications for Nursing Practice Pediatric oncology nurses and advanced practice registered nurses must have a working knowledge of the many late effects that childhood cancer treatment has on the long-term health of childhood cancer survivors. Nurses are well-placed in positions to continue the efforts begun more than 2 decades prior by pediatric oncology nurses who saw the value and necessity of designated survivorship programs.