cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Artificial sensory communications via the tactile sense: space and frequency optimal displays.

The electrotactile two point discrimination threshold (TPDT) was considered as a design concept for multichannel artifical sensory communication displays. Data relating two point discrimination threshold with frequency for three stimulation codes were used for the analysis and specifications of three classes of optimal displays: space optimal, frequency optimal, and space-frequency optimal. A table was constructed showing alternative display configurations for various applications, and a design procedure for optimizing each class of display was developed. Possible applications of each display class for various sensory augmentation requirements in rehabilitation of handicapped persons for tactile, kinesthetic, visual, and auditory categories have been identified.
Effects of sex hormones on serum lipoproteins in rabbits.

SummaryThe serum lipoprotein patterns of immature rabbits were determined by ultra-centrifugation at a density of 1.21. Two main peaks were resolved: one at -S 35 (20-40) and another at -S 7 (1-10). After castration, these animals were treated with diethylstilbestrol and with testosterone. Only testosterone altered significantly and regularly the lipoprotein pattern by the appearance of two abnormal components; one, -S > 70 and the second, -S (40-70); both disappeared on cessation of treatment.
Metabolism and Food Utilization of Riboflavin-Deficient Chicks

SummaryRespiration trials with groups of flavin-deficient and flavin-supplied chicks as well as pair trials with carcass analysis indicated that flavin deficiency decreased the utilization of protein but did not affect the utilization of food energy beyond the effect of greatly decreased appetite.
A Theory of Demand Based on Essential and Inessential Goods

Needs and wants offer a simple, consistent and intuitive foundation for demand. Indifference curves for essential goods bend sharply as use approaches zero because no amount of any other good may substitute for the essential. The sharp curvature implies inelastic demand and gross complementarity with most other goods. Indifference curves for inessentials bend less implying elastic demand and gross substitutability with most other goods. Monopoly theories that depend on elastic demand rule out essential goods. Given the importance of monopolies of life saving drugs, we believe a new monopoly theory, based on the dictator game, will prove valuable.
Epiphyseal Growth Plate Fracture-Separations

Epiphyseal growth plate fracture-separations describe the relationship of these injuries to possible growth deformities. These represent the main subset of childhood fractures contributing a major way to limb deformity. Cell biology, and histopathology of growth plate injuries are reviewed, commonly used pathoanatomic classifications are explained, and the presence or absence of growth sequelae is outlined. Each major physis is reviewed regarding clinical management and results. A pathophysiologic approach is outlined providing a more dynamic and biologic understanding and classification of these injuries at the cell and tissue level. Imaging modalities beyond plain radiographs, such as magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomographic scanning, and ultrasound, provide information on blood supply and tissue injury planes which are the main determinants of negative growth sequelae. Management is detailed to eliminate, minimize, or when necessary treat transphyseal bone bridges.
Colon Carcinoma, Total (Both Upper and Sigmoid)

A small proportion of colon cancers are clearly genetic in origin, either based on membership in one of the rare families who develop the colonic polyps that develop into carcinomas, or based on common genetically determined nonpolyposis colon cancer. Diet has long been suspected to be an important element in causation, based on international comparisons and the recognition that adult immigrants from developing countries tend to be at lower risk. Although careful investigators have linked more animal fat and fewer dietary vegetables to colon carcinoma in some studies, the relationships have not been fully verified. Some inconsistent dietary evidence suggests that consumption of calcium or dietary fiber offers protection, and that consumption of well-done or barbecued red meat is associated with higher risk. Lower risk has been consistently linked to physical exercise, regular use of aspirin, and use of hormones at menopause. Ionizing radiation and alcohol consumption have both been found associated with subsequent colon carcinoma, but play a very small role. Because polyps and adenomas can be detected by screening before they develop into carcinomas, some persons may go on to develop colon cancers only because of inadequate access to preventive medical services. Incidence of colon cancer is somewhat higher among men than among women, and is about as common in Los Angeles County as in other places. The reason for the cluster of high-risk neighborhoods in South Central Los Angeles is unknown, although it is consistent with a local maldistribution of dietary factors hypothesized to be either causal or protective for colon cancer.
Remedial Education and Neurological Development: Mallers of Ethical Concern

Ever since mass education became the norm, with children being required to attend group-teaching in literacy and numeracy, some children have experienced difficulty in coping with this type of instruction. Their reaction frequently manifests as a bored, unruly child who exertsa disruptiveclassroom influence. The issue of what to do with such children has been a persistent problem for their teachers.
Classification Tree Analysis of Race-Specific Subgroups at Risk for a Central Venous Catheter–Related Bloodstream Infection

Article-at-a-Glance Background Studies of racial disparities in patient safety events often do not use race-specific risk adjustment and do not account for reciprocal covariate interactions. These limitations were addressed by using classification tree analysis separately for black patients and white patients to identify characteristics that segment patients who have increased risks for a venous catheter-related bloodstream infection. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of 5,236,045 discharges from 103 Florida acute hospitals in 2005–2009 was conducted. Hospitals were rank ordered on the basis of the black/white Patient Safety Indicator (PSI) 7 rate ratio as follows: Group 1 (white rate higher), Group 2, (equivalent rates), Group 3, (black rate higher), and Group 4, (black rate highest). Predictor variables included 26 comorbidities (Elixhauser Comorbidity Index) and demographic characteristics. Four separate classification tree analyses were completed for each race/hospital group. Results Individual characteristics and groups of characteristics associated with increased PSI 7 risk differed for black and white patients. The average age for both races was different across the hospital groups (p Discussion Identifying subgroups of patients at risk for a rare safety event such as PSI 7 should aid effective clinical decisions and efficient use of resources and help to guide patient safety interventions.
A Novel Role for Endocardium in Perinatal Valve Development: Lessons Learned from Tissue-Specific Gene Deletion of the Tie1 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase

The mechanisms regulating late-gestational and early postnatal semilunar valve remodeling and maturation are poorly understood. Tie1 is a receptor tyrosine kinase with broad expression in embryonic endothelium. During semilunar valve development, Tie1 expression becomes restricted to the turbulent, arterial surfaces of the valves in the perinatal period. Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that Tie1 can regulate cellular responses to blood flow and shear stress. We hypothesized that Tie1 signaling would regulate the flow-dependent remodeling of the semilunar valves associated with the conversion from maternal/placental to independent neonatal circulation. To circumvent the embryonic lethality of the Tie1 null mutation, we developed a floxed Tie1 allele and crossed it with an Nfactc1 en Cre line that mediates gene excision exclusively in the endocardial cushion endothelium. Excision of Tie1 resulted in aortic valve leaflets displaying hypertrophy with perturbed matrix deposition. The valves demonstrated insufficiency and stenosis by ultrasound, and atomic force microscopy documented decreased stiffness in the mutant aortic valve consistent with an increased glycosaminoglycan to collagen ratio. These data suggest that active endocardial to mesenchymal signaling, at least partially mediated by Tie1, is uniquely required for normal remodeling of the aortic but not pulmonary valve in the late gestation and postnatal animal.
Habitation Concepts for Human Missions Beyond Low-Earth-Orbit

The Advanced Concepts Office at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center has been engaged for several years in a variety of study activities to help define various options for deep space habitation. This work includes study activities supporting asteroid, lunar and Mars mission activities for the Human spaceflight Architecture Team (HAT), the Deep Space Habitat (DSH) project, and the Exploration Augmentation Module (EAM) project through the NASA Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Program. The missions under consideration required human habitation beyond low-Earth-orbit (LEO) including deep space habitation in the lunar vicinity to support asteroid retrieval missions, human and robotic lunar surface missions, deep space research facilities, Mars vehicle servicing, and Mars transit missions. Additional considerations included international interest and near term capabilities through the International Space Station (ISS) and Space Launch System (SLS) programs. A variety of habitat layouts have been considered, including those derived from the existing ISS systems, those that could be fabricated from SLS components, and other approaches. This paper presents an overview of several leading designs explored in late fiscal year (FY) 2015 for asteroid, lunar, and Mars mission habitats and identifies some of the known advantages and disadvantages inherent in each. Key findings indicate that module diameters larger than those used for ISS can offer lighter structures per unit volume, and sufficient volume to accommodate consumables for long-duration missions in deep space. The information provided with the findings includes mass and volume data that should be helpful to future exploration mission planning and deep space habitat design efforts.
Regional frontal lobe response magnitudes during affective shifting covary with resting heart rate variability in healthy volunteers: A preliminary report

Abstract. We hypothesized that in healthy subjects differences in resting heart rate variability (rHRV) would be associated with differences in emotional reactivity within the medial visceromotor network (MVN). We also probed whether this MVN-rHRV relationship was diminished in depression. Eleven healthy adults and nine depressed subjects performed the emotional counting stroop task in alternating blocks of emotion and neutral words during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The correlation between rHRV outside the scanner and BOLD signal reactivity (absolute value of change between adjacent blocks in the BOLD signal) was examined in specific MVN regions. Significant negative correlations were observed between rHRV and average BOLD shift magnitude (BSM) in several MVN regions in healthy subjects but not depressed subjects. This preliminary report provides novel evidence relating emotional reactivity in MVN regions to rHRV. It also provides preliminary suggestive evidence that depression may invo...
War by Legislation: The Constitutionality of Legislative Restrictions on Detentions in Armed Conflicts

This paper addresses legislative attempts to limit the executive's authority to conduct detention operations during the course of an armed conflict. I wrote this article in response to the President's recent veto of the National Defense Authorization Act because of - in part - separation of powers issues.
Achieving 1 Gbps Over Step-Index Plastic Optical Fiber Using Spatial Mode Air-Gap Filter

This letter presents a technique to mitigate the effect of modal dispersion of a standard, 1 mm step-index plastic optical fiber (SI-POF). The modal dispersion is mitigated by reducing the effective numerical aperture of the fiber link. The technique employs a simple spatial mode filter constructed from a polycarbonate capillary tube. We experimentally demonstrated an error-free 1 Gb/s non-return-to-zero transmission over 30 m of SI-POF.
Fifteen-Year Visit

Vishnu Bajwa is brought for his school checkup to the pediatric clinic by his mother. Vishnu weighs 56.71 kg (125 lb), and stands 169 cm tall (66.5 in.), placing him in the 50th percentile for height and weight. His BMI is 19.1, which is also in the 50 percentile. His blood pressure is 113/64. His tanner stage is 3. He lives with his parents and siblings in a three-family house, with his aunt and uncle upstairs and grandmother in the basement. Vishnu has a group of friends in school but recently had a breakup with a girlfriend and feels he will not meet another girl that he will like. Mrs. Bajwa is proud of her son’s ambitions but is concerned about how to help him be resilient and self-confident and deal with stress. Vishnu is also worried about a recent outbreak of acne on his face.
An analysis of rhetorical devices in policy narratives on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology: Implications for European higher education:

This article examines the evolution of the policy narrative created by the European Commission around the establishment of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) in order to reth...
SAVING ENERGY IN OLD BUILDINGS

ABSTRACT This paper illustrates design strategies for saving energy in specific historic and vernacular buildings and makes a plea for the development of a sensitive approach to the renovation of older structures. The design for the Waugh Residence won a Passive Solar Design Award at the Fifth National Passive Solar Conference. The Coates House Hotel is a private commercial building listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The design shown here proposes renovation of the buildings to house a multi-use commercial facility. This project was designed by four architecture students under my direction and was a finalist in the National Building Museunf s “Saving Energy in Historic Buildings” competition. Also included are examples of abandoned rural buildings which are proposed for renovation into community resource centers.
Visually Impaired Students’ Perceptions of Their Social Integration in College:

This study identified the perceptions of six college students with visual impairments on what influenced their social activity on campus. It found that the influences were different for these stude...
Atrial fibrillation after ondansetron for the prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting: a case report

Even though clinical safety has been established in large studies, ondansetron has been reported to cause adverse cardiovascular events. We present a case of atrial fibrillation in association with ondansetron in the postoperative period. A 47-yr-old, 81 kg female presented with a benign lump in her left breast for lumpectomy. Her past medical history was unremarkable. Physically she was very active, non-smoker and had no allergies. She underwent the procedure under general anesthesia. She received 4 mg of ondansetron intravenously for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis at the end of the procedure and an additional 4 mg in the recovery room for nausea. Within 15 min after the second dose she was noted to be in atrial fibrillation that required admission to the hospital and procainamide infusion for conversion to normal sinus rhythm. She did not have any evidence of myocardial ischemia, valvular abnormality or pulmonary embolism. The 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor (5-HT3) antagonist ondansetron has been reported to cause myocardial ischemia, supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia. Postulated mechanism includes inhibition of Bezold-Zarisch cardiac reflex and coronary vasoconstriction. Inhibition of S-HT3 receptors in the heart could lead to unopposed action of other serotonin receptors leading to atrial fibrillation or other tachyarrhythmias described in the literature.
The Painlevé Transcendents as Nonlinear Special Functions

The scheme of the asymptotic analysis of the Painleve transcendents via the isomon-odromic deformations method (IDM) is presented. Also, it is shown that the classical Laplace’s method, which is the analytical basis of the wide use of the usual “linear” special functions in problems of mathematical physics, can be treated as the degenerational case of IDM.
Taphonomic Interpretation of Gnat-Out-of-Hell, an Early Uintan Small Mammal Locality in the Uinta Formation, Utah

Fossil mammals from the Uinta Formation of northeastern Utah play a central role in our understanding of the Uintan “North American Land Mammal Age” (Scott and Osborn, 1890; Black and Dawson, 1966; Walsh, 1996; Rasmussen et al., 1999). However, the mammal collections from the Uinta Formation are notably short on small mammals. Historically, most of the work on the Uinta Formation mammals, and consequently our understanding of mammalian evolution in the Rocky Mountain region during the Uintan, has been based on mammals from about the size of Leptotomus (a large ischyromyid rodent), Leptotragulus (a selenodont artiodactyl), and Epihippus (a horse), on up to brontotheres and amynodontid rhinos. Smaller taxa, such as marsupials, insectivores, apatemyids, primates, and the smaller rodents, have rarely been recovered from the Uinta Formation.
Inability to detect RNase V in Escherichia coli and comparison of other ribonucleases before and after infection with coliphage T7.

Abstract No marked changes in the activities of polynucleotide phosphorylase of RNases I, II, and III were observed in Escherichia coli after infection with phage T7. We were unable to detect activity with the reported properties of RNase V in extracts of E. coli .
A look back: The drilling campaign of the Curiosity rover during the Mars Science Laboratory's Prime Mission

Abstract The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, Curiosity, completed its first Martian year, 669 sols (687 Earth days), of operation on June 24, 2014. During that time the rover successfully drilled three full depth drill holes into the Martian surface and analyzed the recovered material using onboard instruments, giving us new insights into the potential habitability of ancient Mars. These drill targets are known as 'John Klein' (Sol 182) and 'Cumberland' (Sol 279), which lie in the mudstones of the Yellowknife Bay formation, and 'Windjana' (Sol 621), which lies in the sandstones of the Kimberley formation. In this paper we will discuss what was necessary to procure these samples, including: 1) an overview of the sampling hardware; 2) the steps taken to ensure sampling hardware is safe when drilling into a target (i.e., evaluation of rock type, rover stability, prior testbed experience, etc.); and 3) the drilling parameters used to acquire these samples. We will also describe each target individually and discuss why each sample was desired, the triage steps taken to ensure it could be safely acquired, and the telemetry obtained for each. Finally, we will present scientific highlights obtained from each site utilizing MSL's onboard instrumentation (SAM & CheMin), results enabled by the drills ability to excavate sample at depth and transfer it to these instruments.
Prehospital amputation: An experimental comparison of techniques.

Abstract Objective Prehospital limb amputation is a rare but potentially life-saving intervention. When patients cannot be extricated due to limb entrapment or have hemodynamic compromise that precludes a prolonged extrication, they may benefit from an emergent prehospital amputation. The objective was to experimentally compare three prehospital amputation techniques on porcine legs. Methods The three techniques studied were a scalpel with a Gigli saw, a hacksaw, and a reciprocating saw. For the first technique, a scalpel was used to make a circumferential incision in the soft tissue and a Gigli wire saw to cut through the bone. The second and third techniques only used a saw and did not require soft tissue incision with a scalpel. Three providers including an emergency medicine physician, a paramedic, and a medical student performed three amputations of each technique, resulting in twenty-seven total amputations. The primary outcome was amputation time. Secondary outcomes were rate of instrument malfunction and cleanliness of cut. Results The primary outcome of amputation time was different between techniques. The Gigli saw technique took 32.86 ± 16.53 s (mean ± SD), hacksaw technique 6.28 ± 0.76 s, and reciprocating saw technique 2.84 ± 0.40 s. There were no differences in amputation time between participants for a given amputation technique. The Gigli saw technique had an instrument malfunction on 3/9 trials which was distinct from the other techniques. Differences in cleanliness of cut were nonsignificant. Conclusions Prehospital limb amputation with a hacksaw or reciprocating saw may result in faster completion of the time-sensitive procedure with fewer instrument malfunctions.
Fiber-hinge modeling of engineered cementitious composite flexural members under large deformations

Abstract Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) and other ductile cement-based materials have emerged as alternative materials to traditional concrete to improve the damage resistance, deformation capacity, and energy absorption capacity of structures in seismic applications. Developing computationally efficient numerical models and simulation techniques to predict the nonlinear response of ductile concrete materials can improve the engineering community’s understanding of the performance of structures using these emerging materials. In this study, a numerical modeling strategy was developed, calibrated, and evaluated that can capture the cyclic response of reinforced ECC components under lateral load reversals at high deformations including component failure due to reinforcement fracture. A fiber-based lumped-plasticity model was adopted to simulate the non-linear response of reinforced ECC components. A simple expression for plastic-hinge length was developed to predict the force-deformation response and deformation associated with reinforcement fracture. Inaccuracies in the initial stiffness and cyclic response were mitigated by calibrating the rotational stiffness of an elastic spring and cyclic degradation parameters of a steel material model. The proposed modeling strategy was evaluated on 18 specimens using different cyclic deformation histories and reinforcement ratios. The modeling approach was compared to experimentally determined lateral strength, energy dissipation, deformation capacity, and longitudinal reinforcement strains to assess the accuracy of the strategy. This research provides a method to simulate the performance of ductile cement-based materials under large deformations, including collapse, and will improve the performance-based earthquake engineering analysis techniques for structures using ductile cementitious materials.
Studies in Clinical Shock and Hypotension: V. Hemodynamic Effects of Dextran

Thirty-one patients with nonhemorrhagic shock or hypotension of diverse etiologies accompanied by low cardiac output and normal or low right atrial pressure were given a rapid infusion of dextran. Cardiac output returned to normal in 20 patients and shock or hypotension was corrected in 16. In 10 patients with evidence of vasoconstriction and normal cardiac function, dextran reversed the circulatory abnormality, returning blood pressure, cardiac output, and peripheral vascular resistance to normal. Twelve patients with hypotension without evidence of reflex vasoconstriction were improved by dextran but the hypotension persisted occasionally. In nine patients, dextran revealed heart failure as manifested by a precipitous rise in right atrial pressure without much increase in cardiac output. Control hemodynamic observations and the response to dextran could not necessarily be predicted from the nature of the disease which precipitated the shock. The efficacy of a rapid infusion of low molecular weight or clinical dextran associated with its freedom from significant toxicity should make it the treatment of choice in non-hemorrhagic shock of any cause associated with normal central venous pressure.
Relating Muscle Fiber Morphometrics and Protein Degradation to Meat Quality in a Multibreed Herd

ObjectivesBrahman and Brahman-influenced cattle provide integral adaptations that benefit the cattle herd in the sub-tropical United States. Their heat tolerance and parasite resistance make them ideal for warmer climates; however, they tend to exhibit less desirable carcass and palatability traits. When compared to Angus, Brahman are lower marbling, less tender, and have more connective tissue. The objective of this study is to determine influence of Brahman genetics on muscle metabolic phenotype and postmortem proteolysis.Materials and MethodsCattle used in this study were part of a long-term genetic study involving Angus, Brahman, and Angus-Brahman crossbreeding. Although these cattle represent a continuous spectrum of Angus-Brahman genetic variation, they were divided into 6 breed groups for analysis: Angus; 3/4 Angus, 1/4 Brahman; Brangus; 1/2 Angus, 1/2 Brahman; 1/4 Angus, 3/4 Brahman; and Brahman. Steers (n = 6 per breed group) were harvested and samples from longissimus lumborum muscles were collected at 0 h, 24 h, and 14 d post-mortem. Western blotting was used to assess proteolysis during the 14 d aging period, including degree of autolysis of the proteolytic enzyme, µ-calpain; content of the calpain inhibitor, calpastatin; and the extent of degradation of desmin. Tenderness was determined objectively by Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF). The data was analyzed using multivariate methods in JMP. Nonparametric correlations were used to calculate the relationships between 24 h µ-calpain autolysis, WBSF, citrate synthase activity, and breed group.ResultsAs the percentage of Brahman genetics increases, WBSF increase as expected (R = 0.45, P < 0.01). The degree of µ-calpain autolysis at 24 h decreases as WBSF values increase (R = -0.49, P < 0.01), and autolysis decreases as the percentage of Brahman increases (R = -0.43, P < 0.01). Brahman genetics tended to influence oxidative capacity (P = 0.06), as citrate synthase activity increased with greater percentage of Brahman genetics.ConclusionAs expected, Brahman influenced cattle produced tougher steaks, evidenced by higher WBSF and decreased protein degradation. Postmortem proteolysis and muscle fiber type will be utilized to establish predictors for the optimum breed group that provides desirable meat quality and palatability traits, while having enough Brahman influence to thrive in sub-tropical climates.
Simulated laughter, perceived stress, and discourse in adults with aphasia

Several studies have revealed an association between stress and language in nonclinical and aphasia groups. Laughter is considered to be an important contributor to physical and mental health inclu...
Explorer Mini: Infants' Initial Experience with a Novel Pediatric Powered Mobility Device.

The purpose of this study is to describe the driving experience and emotional responses of young children who experience mobility limitations during initial use of the Explorer Mini, a new pediatri...
Media Literacy for Elementary Education Students: Inquiry into Fake News

This work focuses on facilitating upper elementary students’ media literacy skills development. Students engage in authentic techniques to recognize and verify media content and sources. Relevant b...
Data Work in Education: Enacting and Negotiating Care and Control in Teachers' Use of Data-Driven Classroom Surveillance Technology

Today, teachers have been increasingly relying on data-driven technologies to track and monitor student behavior data for classroom management. Drawing insights from interviews with 20 K--8 teachers, in this paper we unpack how teachers enacted both care and control through their data work in collecting, interpreting, and using student behavior data. In this process, teachers found themselves subject to surveilling gazes from parents, school administrators, and students. As a result, teachers had to manipulate the student behavior data to navigate the balance between presenting a professional image to surveillants and enacting care/control that they deemed appropriate. In this paper we locate two nuanced forms of teachers' data work that have been under-studied in CSCW: (1) data work as recontextualizing meanings and (2) data work as resisting surveillance. We discuss teachers' struggle over (in)visibility and their negotiation of autonomy and subjectivity in these two forms of data work. We highlight the importance of foregrounding and making space for informal data workers' (in our case, teachers') resistance and negotiation of autonomy in light of datafication.
Current practices in complex abdominal wall reconstruction in the Americas: need for national guidelines?

Component separation (CS) procedures have become an important part of surgeons’ armamentarium. However, the exact criteria for training, procedure/mesh choice, as well as patient selection for CS remains undefined. Herein we aimed to identify trends in CS utilization between various cohorts of practicing surgeons. Members of the Americas Hernia Society were queried using an online survey. Responders were stratified according to their experience, practice profile (private vs academic, general vs hernia surgery), and volume (low (< 10/year) vs high) of CS procedures. We used Chi-squared tests to evaluate significant associations between surgeon characteristics and outcomes. 275 responses with overwhelming male preponderance (88%) were collected. The two most common self-identifiers were “general” (66%) and “hernia” (28%) surgeon. PCS was the most commonly (67%) used type of CS; endoscopic ACS was least common (3%). Low-volume surgeons were more likely to utilize the ACS (p < 0.05). Only 7% of respondents learned PCS during their residency, as compared to 36% that use ACS. 65% felt 0–10 cases was sufficient to become proficient in their preferred technique. 10 cm-wide defect was the most common indication for CS; 23% used it for 5–8 cm defects. Self-identified “hernia” and high-volume surgeons were more likely to use synthetic mesh in the setting of previous wound infections and/or contaminated field (p < 0.05). More general/low-volume surgeons use biologic mesh. Contraindications to elective CS varied widely in the cohort, and 9.5% would repair poorly optimized patients electively. Severe morbid obesity was the most feared comorbidity to preclude CS. The use of CS varies widely between surgeons. In this cohort, we discovered that PCS was the most commonly used technique, especially by hernia/high-volume surgeons. There are differences in mesh utilization between high-volume and low-volume surgeons, specifically in contaminated fields. Despite its prevalence, CS training, indications/contraindications, and patient selection must be better defined.
Automatic Reasoning, Algebraic Intelligence

What is really happening when a machine does something that seems to be intelligent? If it recognizes a spoken word, proves a theorem, plays a good chess game, or solves a problem in calculus, then does it have some idea of what is going on? Of course not. Machine intelligence is fundamentally different from human intelligence. It is an illusion based on algebraic links between syntax and semantics. The semantics of a language represents meaning in terms of an object world. When a machine’s behavior seems intelligent, it is because it is semantically appropriate. However, the machine is simply a symbol shuffler—its abilities are limited to syntactic processing. Algebraic systems which provide strong formal connections between their semantics and their syntax make it possible for a symbol shuffling machine to appear to understand what it is doing.
Bridging Mental Health and Education in Urban Elementary Schools: Participatory Research to Inform Intervention Development.

Guided by participatory research and implementation science, we conducted a two-phase study to contextualize a school mental health intervention for its implementation settings. Drawing from resear...
Work-Sharing During the Great Depression: Did the ‘President’s Reemployment Agreement’ Promote Reemployment?

The President's Reemployment Agreement (PRA) of 1933 directed firms to reduce workweeks during the Great Depression so existing jobs could be spread into additional employment opportunities. Similar ‘work-sharing’ policies have recently been implemented across Europe in hopes of reducing unemployment. I find that, ceteris paribus, the work-sharing aspects of the PRA created nearly 2.5 million new employment opportunities in around four months. However, the programme also required firms to raise hourly wage rates, offsetting close to half of these gains. Furthermore, most of the remaining employment gains were wiped out after cartel-oriented industry-specific codes of fair competition supplanted the PRA.
Diet and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: The Need for a Paradigm Shift

The traditional diet-heart hypothesis (that high intake of saturated fats and cholesterol leads to atheromatous plaque, narrowing of coronary arteries, and, eventually, myocardial infarction) dates back to evidence from the beginning of the 20th century ([1][1]). Early animal studies showed a
Survey of Interferon Production and Sensitivity in Human Cell Lines

Seven presumed diploid and 11 established cell lines were studied for their ability to produce free interferon in response to a standardized Newcastle disease virus challenge. Interferon production was evaluated in both serum-containing and serum-free medium. The ability of these cell lines to respond to the application of a standard interferon preparation by becoming resistant to virus was also examined. The diploid lines were distinctly more efficient producers of interferon than were the established lines. They also evidenced a greater requirement for serum to produce their maximum titers, but some were able to produce good titers in serum-free medium. The diploid lines were uniformly more sensitive to the application of exogenous interferon than were the established cell lines and attained greater degrees of virus resistance, but all lines tested displayed measurable sensitivity to interferon.
The calcium-activated chloride conductance in olfactory receptor neurons

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the calcium-activated chloride conductance in olfactory receptor neurons. In vertebrates, a Ca2+-activated Cl– channel plays a central role in the transduction of odorous stimuli. When an olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) detects an odorous stimulus, a receptor current results in neuronal depolarization. This current is conducted by two types of channel: a cyclic-nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel that conducts cations and a Ca2+-activated Cl– channel. Odorants are detected at the surface of the olfactory epithelium, which lines parts of the nasal cavity. The epithelium contains three cell types. The basal progenitor cells may differentiate into supporting (sustentacular) cells or into ORNs. The supporting cells secrete a mucus layer that coats the luminal surface of the epithelium. The receptor neurons are bipolar. Each neuron projects into the mucus a dendrite, which terminates in an olfactory knob or vesicle. From each knob, fine olfactory cilia emanate into the mucus. In the plasma membrane of these cilia, odorous stimuli are transduced into an electrical signal that most often depolarizes the neuron. The ORNs of lower vertebrates typically have about six motile cilia that can be as long as 200μm.
Central Autonomic Control

Publisher Summary The central autonomic control areas are distributed throughout the neuroaxis, including the areas such as the insular cortex, the anterior cingulate gyrus, and the amygdala. These areas are reciprocally interconnected, receive converging visceral and nociceptive information, contain neurons that are affected by visceral inputs, and generate patterns of autonomic responses through direct or indirect inputs to preganglionic sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons. The insular cortex is the primary visceral sensory cortex. It contains an organotropic visceral sensory map; the anterior insula is the primary area for taste, whereas the posterior insula is the general visceral afferent area. The anterior cingulate cortex is critically involved in initiation, motivation, and execution of emotional and goal-directed behaviors; through its widespread interconnections with central autonomic regions, it participates in the high-level regulation of autonomic and endocrine function. The amygdala plays a critical role in emotional responses, including conditioned fear; it has reciprocal interactions with the cerebral cortex, the basal forebrain, and the limbic striatum. The central nucleus of the amygdala projects to the hypothalamus periaqueductal gray and autonomic areas of the brainstem and integrates autonomic, endocrine, and motor responses associated with emotion.
Genetic variation in the cytochrome P450 2C9 enzyme and dose of Celecoxib in the prevention of colorectal adenoma

B32 Background: In a randomized trial, the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib reduced, in a dose-dependent manner, the occurrence of newly detected colorectal adenomas but was associated with an increase in cardiovascular events. Genetic variants in the cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) enzyme, particularly the I359L allele, are associated with impaired metabolism of celecoxib and may influence dose-related response or toxicity. Methods: In the Adenoma Prevention with Celecoxib trial, 2,035 participants with a history of prior adenoma were randomized to placebo, 200 mg, or 400 mg of celecoxib twice daily. We genotyped 1660 participants for the I359L as well as R144C variant alleles of CYP2C9; 1497 patients underwent evaluation with at least one follow-up colonoscopy at 1 and 3 years for the occurrence of newly detected adenomas. Results: Compared with placebo, celecoxib treatment at either the twice-daily 200 mg and 400 mg dose was associated with an overall lower three-year cumulative incidence of adenoma among participants with either wild-type or variant genotypes (≥ one R144C or I359L allele). However, the additional benefit of the higher dose was observed primarily among those with I359 genotypes. Among 183 participants with I359L genotypes, treatment with the 400 mg dose was significantly associated with reduced adenoma incidence compared with the 200 mg dose (RR 0.54; 95% CI, 0.31-0.92; p=0.02). In contrast, treatment with the 400 mg dose was not associated with a significantly greater reduction in adenoma incidence compared with the 200 mg dose among the 318 participants with R144C genotypes (RR 0.93; 95% CI, 0.64-1.36; p=0.72) or the 996 participants with wild-type genotypes (RR 0.88; 95% CI, 0.71-1.11; p=0.28). Among participants with I359L genotypes, the three-year cumulative incidence of investigator-reported, treatment-emergent, cardiovascular events was 4.4% for placebo, 3.4% for 200 mg, and 13.3% for 400 mg. The cumulative incidence of cardiovascular events was 3.9% for placebo, 2.8% for 200 mg, and 9.4% for 400 mg among participants with R144C genotypes and 5.7% for placebo, 9.6% for 200 mg, and 8.1% for 400 mg among participants with wild-type genotypes. Conclusions: Chemoprevention with celecoxib appears to be modified by genetic variation in its metabolism. Individuals with CYP2C9 variant I359L genotypes may benefit differentially according to celecoxib dose.
Japanese education as number one

Merry White's The Japanese Educational Challenge is just one more contribution in a series of publications proclaiming “Japan as number one.” The scenario is by now depressingly familiar: delineate...
Prognostic Pathologic Markers in IgA Nephropathy

Previous studies have shown that the overall severity of the histologic grade and the extent of glomerular sclerosis are important pathologic markers of prognosis in IgA nephropathy. A previous analysis of the clinical and pathologic parameters in 74 patients at New York University Medical Center revealed that the renal survival (serum creatinine concentration of 2 mg/dL or less) was 100% in patients with mild proteinuria, 87% in those with moderate proteinuria, and 69% in those with heavy proteinuria. The incidence of segmental and global proliferation, glomerular sclerosis, tubulointerstitial damage, and vessel sclerosis increased with levels of proteinuria ( P r = 0.5192; P
Detection of an IgM antiidiotype directed against anti‐HBs in hepatitis B patients

An IgM-specific anti-[anti-HBs] antibody was detected by radioimmunoassay using anti-IgM-coated beads and 125I-labeled anti-HBs. This antiidiotype was found only in the sera of hepatitis B virus-infected patients, both acute and chronic. However, not all HBsAg-positive patients exhibited this reaction, and activity was correlated with the presence of HBeAg. Approximately 93% of sera that contained antiidiotype activity also contained HBeAg. Conversely, 70% of the sera positive for HBeAg reacted in the IgM assay. No correlation was observed between the presence of antiidiotype and rheumatoid factor or elevated SGPT levels. Two approaches were used to determine whether the reactive moiety was an IgM anti-[anti-HBs] as postulated or an IgM anti-HBs/HBsAg complex. It was shown that chicken anti-HBs sera, which does not share the common idiotype of human and other mammalian anti-HBs, did not block a positive reaction in this radioimmunoassay even though it specifically bound HBsAg. It was also demonstrated that treatment with polyethylene gylcol, which will precipitate IgM anti-HBs/HBsAg activity, did not precipitate the reactive moiety in 6 of 7 sera tested, lending further evidence to the existence of an IgM antiidiotype in these patients. It is suggested that this antiidiotype directed against anti-HBs may be involved in a defective feedback mechanism resulting in the suppression of production of anti-HBs and maintenance of the carrier state.
Gas Jet Effects On Laser Cutting

In laser cutting, kerfs are made through the removal of molten material. For effective material removal, an off-axial gas jet is used. Clearing molten material with a jet makes the molten layer thin and reduces the amount of the laser beam energy diverted to heat the molten layer to its evaporation temperature. The use of an off-axial jet introduces additional parameters such as reservoir pressure, nozzle-workpiece distance, jet targeting point, and jet attack angle. The effects of these jet parameters on the cutting depth are investigated theoretically and experimentally. An optimal Set of conditions in order for the jet parameters to achieve maximum cutting depth is found.
Who Returns and Why: Return Migration Behavior in Two North Atlantic Societies

This study examines two vital issues in return migration behavior in two populations: (1) the characteristics of return migrants, and (2) their reasons for returning to their homelands. Comparisons between Irish and Newfoundland returnees are made possible by the use of an identical interview schedule. Sex, age and occupational selectivity, years spent abroad, population of foreign and home residence, and emigration intentions are examined and a strong similarity between the two migrant populations is found. The conceptual framework in the second part is a decision model in which a range of factors in the decision to return are examined. Determinants of the decision to migrate are divided into three broad classes—patriotic-social, familial-personal, and economic-occupational—and then subclassified according to "push" and "pull" factors. The push-pull model of migration motives is then put into operational terms using an accounting scheme in which the influence of each factor is measured. Again a strong si...
Developing Simulation Scenarios for Perioperative Nursing Core Competencies and Patient Safety

The perioperative environment is highly complex and technologically dense, makes use of interdisciplinary teams, and relies on human factors. These characteristics make the perioperative environment rich in opportunities to practice, test, investigate, and validate patient-care processes. Every process and procedure of this environment pose risks for patients and present chances of errors. For perioperative nurses preparing for this workplace, active learning exercises in a clinically realistic setting can improve psychomotor performance, critical-thinking decision making, clinician confidence, professional satisfaction, and interpersonal team skills. Simulation scenario training for the perioperative setting is a valuable educational tool for educating clinicians, for meeting regulatory expectations, and for promoting patient and staff safety.
RF sputtered piezoelectric zinc oxide thin film for transducer applications

This paper demonstrates the substrate dependency of the c-axis zinc oxide growth in radio-frequency sputtering system. Different deposition conditions were designed to study the influences of Si, SiO2/Si, Au/Ti/Si, and Au/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates on the piezoelectric and crystalline qualities of the ZnO thin films. Experimental results showed that the multilayer of Au/Ti/SiO2/Si-coated silicon substrate provided a surface that facilitated the growth of ZnO thin film with the most preferred crystalline orientation. The 1.5 μm-thick thermally grown amorphous silicon dioxide layer effectively masked the crystalline surface of the silicon substrate, thus allowing the depositions of high-quality 20 nm-thick titanium adhesion layer followed by 150 nm-thick of gold thin film. The gold-coated surface allowed deposition of highly columnar ZnO polycrystalline structures. It was also demonstrated that by lowering the deposition rate at the start of sputtering by lowering RF power to less than one-third of the targeted RF power, a fine ZnO seed layer could be created for subsequent higher-rate deposition. This two-step deposition method resulted in substantially enhanced ZnO film quality compared to single-step approach. The influence of stress relaxation by annealing was also investigated and was found to be effective in releasing most of the residual stress in this layered structure.
Pilot-Scale TRUEX Flowsheet Testing for Separation of Actinides and Lanthanides from used Nuclear Fuel

Testing of a TRUEX flowsheet has been performed using a thirty-stage, 5-cm centrifugal contactor pilot plant. This testing was performed using a non-radioactive feed surrogate and data were collected and analyzed to evaluate removal efficiencies of the lanthanides, mass transfer efficiency of the lanthanides in the extraction and strip sections of the flowsheet, and the temperature profile of the process solutions throughout the centrifugal contactor pilot plant. Results indicate >99.9% separation for all lanthanides and mass transfer efficiencies typically ranging from 85% to 100%. Energy input into the process under flowsheet conditions resulted in only a moderate temperature rise and did not appear to have a large effect on separations performance. The general process performance is also described.