cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biomechanical evaluation of subpectoral biceps tenodesis: dual suture anchor versus interference screw fixation

Background: Subpectoral biceps tenodesis has been reliably used to treat a variety of biceps tendon pathologies. Interference screws have been shown to have superior biomechanical properties compared to suture anchors; although, only single anchor constructs have been evaluated in the subpectoral region. The purpose of this study was to compare interference screw fixation with a suture anchor construct, using 2 anchors for a subpectoral tenodesis. Methods: A subpectoral biceps tenodesis was performed using either an interference screw (8 � 12 mm; Arthrex) or 2 suture anchors (Mitek G4) with #2 FiberWire (Arthrex) in a Krackow and Bunnell configuration in seven pairs of human cadavers. The humerus was inverted in an Instron and the biceps tendon was loaded vertically. Displacement driven cyclic loading was performed followed by failure loading. Results: Suture anchor constructs had lower stiffness upon initial loading (P ¼.013). After 100 cycles, the stiffness of the suture anchor construct ‘‘softened’’ (decreased 9%, P <.001), whereas the screw construct was unchanged (0.4%, P ¼ .078). Suture anchors had significantly higher ultimate failure strain than the screws (P ¼ .003), but ultimate failure loads were similar between constructs: 280 � 95 N (screw) vs 310 � 91 N (anchors) (P ¼ .438). Conclusion: The interference screw was significantly stiffer than the suture anchor construct. Ultimate failure loads were similar between constructs, unlike previous reports indicating interference screws had higher ultimate failure loads compared to suture anchors. Neither construct was superior with regards to stress; although, suture anchors could withstand greater elongation prior to failure. Level of evidence: Basic Science, Biomechanics, Cadaver Model. 2013 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees.
Transvaginal sonography of postabortal (redo) syndrome

Acute hematometra, also termed the postabortal syndrome or redo syndrome, is a rare immediate complication of suction curettage characterized by severe lower abdominal cramping in association with an enlarged and markedly tender uterus. We describe the transvaginal sonographic features of this syndrome. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2011
Penetration Testing Curriculum Development in Practice

As both the frequency and the severity of network breaches have increased in recent years, it is essential that cybersecurity is incorporated into the core of business operations. Evidence from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012) indicates that there is, and will continue to be, a severe shortage of cybersecurity professionals nationwide throughout the next decade. To fill this job shortage we need a workforce with strong hands-on experience in the latest technologies and software tools to catch up with the rapid evolution of network technologies. It is vital that the IT professionals possess up-to-date technical skills and think and act one step ahead of the cyber criminals who are constantly probing and exploring system vulnerabilities. There is no perfect security mechanism that can defeat all the cyber-attacks; the traditional defensive security mechanism will eventually fail to the pervasive zero-day attacks. However, there are steps to follow to reduce an organization’s vulnerability to cyber-attacks and to mitigate damages. Active security tests of the network from a cyber-criminal’s perspective can identify system vulnerabilities that may lead to future breaches. “If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. But if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of hundred battles” (Sun, 2013). Penetration testing is a discipline within cybersecurity that focuses on identifying and exploiting the vulnerabilities of a network, eventually obtaining access to the critical business information. The pentesters, the security professionals who perform penetration testing, or ethical hackers, break the triad of information security - Confidentiality, Integrity, and Accountability (CIA) - as if they were a cyber-criminal. The purpose of ethical hacking or penetration testing is to know what the “enemy” can do and then generate a report for the management team to aid in strengthening the system, never to cause any real damages. This paper introduces the development of a penetration testing curriculum as a core class in an undergraduate cybersecurity track in Information Technology. The teaching modules are developed based on the professional penetration testing life cycle. The concepts taught in the class are enforced by hands-on lab exercises. This paper also shares the resources that are available to institutions looking for teaching materials and grant opportunities to support efforts when creating a similar curriculum in cybersecurity.
Report of the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights: Penalization of People Living in Poverty & Human Rights

In the present report, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights analyses several laws, regulations and practices that punish, segregate, control and undermine the autonomy of persons living in poverty. Such measures have been adopted with increasing frequency over the past three decades, intensifying in recent years owing to the economic and financial crises, and now represent a serious threat to the enjoyment of human rights by persons living in poverty. The ways in which States and social forces penalize those living in poverty are interconnected and multidimensional, and cannot be analysed in isolation. For the purpose of this report, the Special Rapporteur identifies the following four areas of concern: (a) laws, regulations and practices which unduly restrict the performance of life-sustaining behaviors in public spaces by persons living in poverty; (b) urban planning regulations and measures related to the gentrification and privatization of public spaces that disproportionately impact persons living in poverty; (c) requirements and conditions imposed on access to public services and social benefits which interfere with the autonomy, privacy and family life of persons living in poverty; and (d) excessive and arbitrary use of detention and incarceration that threatens the liberty and personal security of persons living in poverty.
Comment on Readability of Marital Assessment Measures Used by Behavioral Marriage Therapists

In a recent article, Dentch, O'Farrell, and Cutter (1980) evaluated the readabiliry of behaviorally oriented marital assessment inventories with the Forbes method (Forbes & Cuttle, 1953). This method was selected from che many available techniques (Klare, 1974) since it was, according to Dentch, O'Farrell, and Cutter, "the only readability formula designed specifically for psychological tests and, unlike most other methods, it is not limited to use with complete sentences" (p. 791). Nine self-report marital assessment measures were analyzed by the Forbes method. The analysis indicated that the reading grade-level equivalents of the inventories ranged from Grade 8 to Grade 11. The authors concluded that some of these inventories require greater reading capability than other clinical measures used for diverse populations. The purposes of this article were ( a ) to call attention to problems raised by use of the Forbes method and ( b ) to suggest possible solutions to these problems. The implementation of the Forbes method requires the derivation of word usage weights from the Thorndike Junior Century Dictionary (Thorndike, 1942). Dentch, O'Farrell, and Cutter omit reference to the dependence of the Forbes formula on this anachronistic dictionary. As Pool (1959) points out, word usage changes drastically during different periods. Thus a reference devised nearly 40 years ago for degree of word commonality undoubtedly contains much information that might no longer be valid. Furthermore, even if the Thorndike dictionary were' useful, it is not an accessible tool for scientists as it was not currently available in the university or public libraries of one major urban area sampled. The question must also be raised as to Dentch, O'Farrell, and Cutter's converting rheir Forbes results into Flesch grade-level equivalents. They base their use of this critical maneuver on Forbes and Cottle's results when they already had established their own finding of a .69 correlation between the Flesch and Forbes method for the marital assessmenc insrruments considered, omitting one anomalous inventory. The presenc authors quescion whether a .69 correlation (without reference to statistical significance levels) is adequate for interchangeability of measures. Several alternative methods exist for the appropriate evaluation of readability in marital assessment inventories. The Flesch formula ( 1949) could be applied, as Dentch. O'Farrell, and Cutter did, to all of the scales evaluated except the Spouse Observation ChedclisP because its sentence length is abbreviated. To assess the readability of the Spouse
The development of interspecies social attachments

Strong cross-species social attachments were produced by confining young lambs with canine cohabitants. The reinforcement properties of the attachment, and the conditions for its reversal, were determined.
An examination of Fröhlich's theory of the treppe

It is commonly believed that during the treppe a muscle possesses a progressively augmented power of performing work. According to Frohlich, the augmentation is not real but only apparent. He believes that fatigue of the muscle elements begins with the beginning of the series of contractions, and that, from the first, it is manifested by a slowing of relaxation, a diminution in the extent of contraction, and a diminution in irritability. Successive elements of a stimulated muscle contract successively and those first in contraction begin their relaxation before later elements have reached the maximum of shortening. Since the total amount of shortening of the whole muscle represents the algebraic sum of the amounts of shortening of the several elements, with the slowing of relaxation, the total amount of shortening is increased. This more than counterbalances the diminution in the extent of contraction. The treppe is thus a physical expression of delayed vital processes and signifies a diminished, rather t...
Mammary Analog Secretory Carcinoma of Salivary Glands: Review of a New Entity With an Emphasis on Differential Diagnosis

Mammary analog secretory carcinoma (MASC) is a newly described neoplasm of the major minor salivary glands that is characterized by considerable morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genetic similarities to secretory carcinoma of the breast. Since its initial description in 2010, the number of reported MASCs has grown considerably; it is probably not as rare as was initially believed. As experience with MASC has grown, its clinical histological spectra have come increasingly into focus. This article presents an illustrative case of MASC, followed by a review of its defining features. Finally, the differential diagnosis will be discussed along with strategies to resolve diagnostic dilemmas.
Long-run effects of democracy on income inequality in Latin America

I address the link between democracy and inequality in Latin America, analyzing whether the degree of democracy that birth cohorts experience during the course of their formative years is related to labor income dispersion later, in adulthood. For this, I measure inequality at the cohort level by using pseudo-panel data built from household surveys for fifteen Latin American countries (from circa 1995 to circa 2011) and measure democracy as the discounted cumulative value of the degree of democracy during the cohort’s formative years. I find that cohorts that have higher discounted cumulative values of the degree of democracy show lower income inequality. However, the effect of democracy on income dispersion is driven by those cohorts that benefited from the surge of democracies that came to exist during the second half of the twentieth century. I also present suggestive evidence that education is one mechanism explaining these results.
Differential sensitivities of morphine and motilin to initiate migrating motor complex in isolated intestinal segments. Regeneration of intrinsic nerves

The effect of morphine and motilin on surgically isolated segments of small intestine was studied in 8 dogs. In 4 dogs, the small intestine was divided into four segments by simple transection and reanastomosis (group 1); in 4 others, a 2-4-cm colonic segment was interposed at each of the transection sites (group 2). The migrating motor complex initially cycled independently in each segment in group 1 dogs; after that the migration of the migrating motor complex across transection and reanastomosis began to recover and the recovery was complete 100 days after surgery. In contrast, in group 2 dogs the migration of the migrating motor complex from one segment to the next did not recover even 180 days after surgery. Morphine bolus or infusion initiated premature phase III activity in all segments but the sensitivity to morphine decreased distally. Motilin bolus or infusion initiated premature phase III activity only in the first three segments. The sensitivity to motilin also decreased distally. We concluded that (a) the interposition of a foreign segment severely impedes or prevents the regeneration of enteric nerves; (b) the sensitivity of morphine and motilin in initiating premature phase III activity decreases distally in small intestine; and (c) motilin does not initiate premature phase III activity in the ileum, but morphine may initiate premature phase III activity at all sites in the small intestine.
EXcretion and distribution of iron during chronic deferoxamine therapy.

In order to evaluate the consequences of chronic chelation therapy on iron overload, the cumulative excretion and tissue distribution of iron were analyzed in a child given deferoxamine (DFO) for transfusion hemosiderosis. During 5 yr of treatment, DFO induced a mean urinary loss of 13.0 mg iron per 24 hr per 500 mg injected. Of the 32 grams of iron administered as transfused red cells during the treatment period 30% was recovered in the urine. Mapping of the tissue distribution of iron was facilitated by splenectomy after 41 mo of chelation therapy. Despite an abundance of iron in Kupffer cells and bone marrow reticulum cells, the spleen was depleted of iron. The heterogeneous distribution of reticuloendothelial iron suggests that the spleen contains a reservoir of metabolically active, chelatable iron, whereas those parts of the reticuloendothelial system less active in heme catabolism store iron in a metabolically dormant, nonchelatable pool. The capacity of DFO to chelate spleen iron in the face of severe erythroid hypoplasia suggests that transferrin-prompted flow of iron across cell membranes is not necessary for chelate mobilization.
Continuous Calibration Improvement in Solar Reflective Bands: Landsat 5 Through Landsat 8

Launched in February 2013, the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on-board Landsat 8 continues to perform exceedingly well and provides high science quality data globally. Several design enhancements have been made in the OLI instrument relative to prior Landsat instruments: pushbroom imaging which provides substantially improved Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), spectral bandpasses refinement to avoid atmospheric absorption features, 12 bit data resolution to provide a larger dynamic range that limits the saturation level, a set of well-designed onboard calibrators to monitor the stability of the sensor. Some of these changes such as refinements in spectral bandpasses compared to earlier Landsats and well-designed on-board calibrator have a direct impact on the improved radiometric calibration performance of the instrument from both the stability of the response and the ability to track the changes. The on-board calibrator lamps and diffusers indicate that the instrument drift is generally less than 0.1% per year across the bands. The refined bandpasses of the OLI indicate that temporal uncertainty of better than 0.5% is possible when the instrument is trended over vicarious targets such as Pseudo Invariant Calibration Sites (PICS), a level of precision that was never achieved with the earlier Landsat instruments. The stability measurements indicated by on-board calibrators and PICS agree much better compared to the earlier Landsats, which is very encouraging and bodes well for the future Landsat missions too.
Same-Sex Marriage and the Spanish Constitution: The Linguistic-Legal Meaning Interface

This paper analyzes the implications that the linguistic formulation of the marriage provision of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 had for securing the passage in 2005 of Law 13/2005, which legalized same-sex marriage (SSM). By claiming that a semantic (contextually recovered) omission in the original legal text was a marker of distributiveness (i.e., inclusiveness of SSM), SSM supporters aimed to avoid a constitutional amendment, and succeeded in doing so. This linguistic argument, based on implicitness, was instrumental as a subsidiary argument of political moral argumentation. Linguistic meaning therefore contributed decisively to both the legal meaning of the marriage provision and the content of the law (the extension of marriage rights to same-sex couples via the Civil Code). I argue, against some assumptions in the literature stating otherwise, that linguistic meaning should not be dismissed in constitutional interpretation and adjudication.
Difficult Urethral Catheterization

A difficult urethral catheterization (DUC) occurs when a urethral catheter cannot be advanced into the bladder after one or more attempts. Depending on the practice setting, using a 16–18 F Coude catheter followed by a 12 F silicone catheter can solve most DUC cases. When catheterizing by an experienced practitioner fails, it is recommended to attempt placing a glidewire blindly. If urethral dilation is needed, using small (<14Fr) ureteral access sheaths is usually all is needed. Cystoscopy will be necessary for a small percentage of cases.
NIR transmittance tuneability under a magnetic field of colloidal suspensions of goethite (α-FeOOH) nanorods

Goethite (α-FeOOH) nanorods have been synthesized using two different methods, by aging at different temperatures of ferrihydrite suspensions obtained through co-precipitation, or by fast conversion of ferrihydrite through ultrasonic irradiation. The synthesis method and parameters influenced the size and shape of nanoparticles. Stable colloidal suspensions of nanorods have been prepared by purification of the precipitates and subsequent dispersion in deionised water by sonication. The synthesized nanopowders have been characterized by Powder X-ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy and the colloidal suspensions by Dynamic Light Scattering and ζ-potential measurements. The magnetic field at nuclei level has been investigated by Mossbauer spectroscopy. Moreover, since a colloidal suspension of goethite is a mineral liquid crystal and due to its peculiar magnetic properties, polarized radiation transmittance of colloids in the UV-vis-NIR range has been determined under different magnetic field directions and intensities. It has been found that the transmittance in the NIR range can be tuned by changing magnetic field direction and strength.
An examination of LGBTQ-inclusive strategies used by practicing music educators:

The purpose of this research was to examine LGBTQ-inclusive strategies used by practicing music educators in the United States. Participants (N = 300) in a nonprobabilistic sample completed a survey inquiring as to their comfort using LGBTQ-inclusive strategies in a school music class, their perceptions of barriers to LGBTQ inclusion, and whether they had received training related to LGBTQ issues. Self-identified heterosexual respondents were requested to complete an additional set of questions to determine their attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Additional questions were used to capture demographic data including (1) years of teaching experience, (2) school and community types, and (3) racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual identity. Results revealed that respondents self-identifying as heterosexual generally held positive attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Results suggest that music teacher participants in this study were aware of heterosexist language in their learning environments and likely to d...
G-CSF improves safety when you start the day after autologous transplant in multiple myeloma.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (autoHSCT) remains standard of care for fit patients with multiple myeloma [1]. The use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) after autoHSCT...
Led performance and application considerations for industrial environments

Light Emitting Diode (LED) luminaires have lower maintenance costs, higher energy efficiency, and greater functionality compared to traditional lighting technologies. LED luminaires are quickly becoming established as the preferred lighting technology for industrial applications. As a result of the increased adoption rate, industrial users should consider a host of alternatives to properly specify the correct LED luminaire for the application. The authors will examine the key features of LED lighting, and provide insight into the technical elements of LED lighting with a focus on process and harsh industrial environments. The paper will discuss how industrial users are empowered to select and effectively apply the optimal LED luminaire.
Targeted surgical parathyroidectomy in end-stage renal disease patients and long-term metabolic control: A single-center experience in the current era.

BACKGROUND The long-term results of surgical parathyroidectomy (PTX) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are less well known in the modern era of newer activated vitamin-D analogs, calcimimetics and intraoperative monitoring of parathyroid hormone (PTH). METHODS We performed a retrospective chart review of all ESRD patients undergoing PTX at the University of Mississippi Medical Center between January 2005 and August 2011, with follow-up data as available up to 4 years. All PTXs were performed with intraoperative second-generation PTH monitoring and targeted gland size reduction. RESULTS The cohort (N = 37) was relatively young with a mean (±SD) age of 48.4 ± 13.9. 94.6% of the subjects were African American and 59.5% female. Preoperatively, 45.9% received cinacalcet (CNC) at a mean dose of 63.5 ± 20.9 mg. The size of the largest removed glands measured 1.7 ± 0.8 cm and almost all (94.6%) glands had hyperplasia on histology. The mean length of inpatient stay was 5.5 ± 2.4 days. Preoperative calcium/phosphorus measured 9.6 ± 1.2/6.6 ± 1.7 mg/dL with PTH concentrations of 1589 ± 827 pg/mL. Postoperative PTH values measured 145.4 ± 119.2 pg/mL. Preoperative PTH strongly correlated (P < 0.0001) with both alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels (r: 0.596) and the number of inpatient days (r: 0.545), but not with CNC administration. Independent predictors for the duration of hospitalization were preoperative ALP (beta 0.469; P = 0.001) and age (beta -0.401; P = 0.005) (R2 0.45); for postoperative hypocalcemia, age (beta: -0.321; P = 0.006) and preoperative PTH (beta: 0.431; P = 0.036) were significant in linear regression models with stepwise selection. CONCLUSION Gland-sparing PTX achieved acceptable control of ESRD-associated hyperparathyroidism in most patients from a socioeconomically challenged, underserved population of the United States.
From Regulation to Governance in the Electric Sector

The purpose of this article is to review and synthesize recent scholarship on stakeholder engagement in electric sector governance, placing research within a framework for understanding the role that stakeholders play in regulation and governance. Collaborative, multi-actor forums have developed to assist in the governance of electricity transmission and state-level clean energy activities, allowing stakeholders with divergent interests to help resolve political and technical challenges related to increased use of renewable and distributed electricity. The traditional approaches to electric sector regulation are ill-suited to address the opportunities and challenges facing the sector today. In response to changing conditions in the electric sector, many jurisdictions and regions have developed more flexible, cooperative, deliberative, and inclusive approaches to governance that encourage diverse stakeholders to work together to resolve emerging issues and coordinate between policy venues.
An Empirical Exploration of Mindfulness Design Using Solo Travel Domain

Despite recent popularity of mindfulness smartphone applications and an interest in incorporating mindfulness into new technologies, existing applications tend to focus mainly on its meditation dimension. In this paper, we review existing literature on digital and traditional mindfulness to map its design space and synthesize the findings with our prior research on designing for aesthetic needs. We identify "recollection" and "evaluation" as two important dimensions of mindfulness that have not yet been incorporated into popular digital tools. Through a two-phase design activity over 16 months, we developed ColorAway, an innovative tool that promotes mindfulness through interaction with modified travel photos. Recruited participants evaluated ColorAway and offered unique insights into how mindfulness can be better designed. We also discuss how the process of designing for mindfulness can possibly inform the design of personal technology. This research is part of a larger study that builds on scholarly research and theories with the goal of designing interactive technologies for solo travelers.
In-situ nonlinear calibration of a RF signal chain

A new approach to linearize the cascade combination of multiple RF/mixed signal ICs, correcting in-situ for PCB imperfections and mutual loading is proposed. This allows to substantially reduce system design/prototyping cycles and to maximize the signal chain performance at a negligible power consumption cost. Experimental results performed with RF signals up to 3GHz and using a 12b/10GSPS ADC are reported, validating the effectiveness of the approach.
Seeing Eye to Eye: A Case of Missed Incidental Optic Nerve Meningioma in the Setting of a Symptomatic Chiari I Malformation (P1.146)

Objective: We describe a case of secondary headache due to two intracranial lesions. Background: A 56-year-old woman presents with new severe episodic headache for the past 18 months described as throbbing left periorbital, parietal and occipital pain lasting several hours and associated with photophobia, phonophobia, and nausea. Her headaches are often preceded by a visual disturbance involving fluorescent jagged lines and a scotoma lasting up to 10 minutes. Notably the headaches are both precipitated with and worsened by coughing. She developed gait imbalance, paresthesias in the arms and legs, and bilateral upper extremity clumsiness several weeks after her headache started prompting MR Brain imaging. Design/Methods: MR Brain imaging revealed a Chiari I malformation. She underwent craniectomy and C1 laminectomy. Results: Her gait imbalance, paresthesias and valsalva related headaches gradually improved post-surgically. However, she continued to have severe side-locked headaches around the left eye radiating to the left side of the head. She presented to the John R. Graham Headache Center for second opinion. Her exam revealed a left eye esotropia, partial left eye abduction palsy with double vision on left lateral gaze, brisk asymmetric reflexes right greater than left with right leg spasticity. A review of the patient’s outside MRI demonstrated a mass lesion encasing her left optic nerve that was not appreciated on initial interpretation by the outside radiologist. Surgical resection of the optic nerve mass is pending. Conclusions: Her diagnosis includs secondary cough headache attributed to Chiari I malformation and secondary migraine-like headaches attributed to an orbital mass, likely optic nerve sheath meningioma. This case illustrates the importance of investigating red flag signs for secondary headache and clinicians reviewing their own imaging studies, especially in the setting of new onset neurological examination findings. Disclosure: Dr. Harriott has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mathew has nothing to disclose.
Genome wide approaches to identify protein-DNA interactions

Background Transcription factors are DNA-binding proteins that play key roles in many fundamental biological processes. Unraveling their interactions with DNA is essential to identify their target genes and understand the regulatory network. Genome-wide identification of their binding sites became feasible thanks to recent progress in experimental and computational approaches. ChIP-chip, ChIP-seq, and ChIP-exo are three widely used techniques to demarcate genome-wide transcription factor binding sites. Objective This review aims to provide an overview of these three techniques including their experiment procedures, computational approaches, and popular analytic tools. Conclusion ChIP-chip, ChIP-seq, and ChIP-exo have been the major techniques to study genome- wide in vivo protein-DNA interaction. Due to the rapid development of next-generation sequencing technology, array-based ChIP-chip is deprecated and ChIP-seq has become the most widely used technique to identify transcription factor binding sites in genome-wide. The newly developed ChIP-exo further improves the spatial resolution to single nucleotide. Numerous tools have been developed to analyze ChIP-chip, ChIP-seq and ChIP-exo data. However, different programs may employ different mechanisms or underlying algorithms thus each will inherently include its own set of statistical assumption and bias. So choosing the most appropriate analytic program for a given experiment needs careful considerations. Moreover, most programs only have command line interface so their installation and usage will require basic computation expertise in Unix/Linux.
Evaluation of phased-array weather-radar polarimetry at X-band

The University of Massachusetts is implementing a testbed to evaluate phased-array weather radar polarimetry at X-band. The project seeks to determine the impacts of electronic scanning and associated polarization errors on weather radar measureables such as reflecitvity factor (Z), differential reflectivity (Z dr ), co-polar correlation coefficient (ρ hv ), and linear depolarization ratio (LDR). A phased-array radar on loan to UMass by Raytheon will be operated in tandem with a mechanically-scanned polarimetric X-band weather radar. In this paper we describe initial predictions of the polarimetric performance of an X-band phased array radar antenna.
Support Vector Machine-Based Face Direction Detection Using an Infrared Array Sensor

Facing direction detection plays a critical role in human computer interaction, such as face recognition and head pose estimation in biometric identification, spatial microphone/loudspeaker devices, virtual reality games and etc. Currently detection methods are mainly focused on extracting specific patterns of various facial features from the user’s optical images, which raises concerns on privacy invasion and these detection techniques do not usually work in the dark environment. To address these concerns, this paper proposes a pervasive solution for a coarse facing direction detection using a low pixel infrared thermopile array sensor. Support vector machine (SVM) method is selected as the classifier. Two methods for feature extraction are compared. One is based on pre-defined features and the other is based on pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) model. The detection accuracy resulted from using pre-defined features reaches 87% for identifying five different facing directions up to 1.2 m. However, this accuracy is largely descended when the detection range is increased to 1.8 m. Interestingly, the accuracy resulted from using pre-trained CNN features, however, demonstrates a reliable and steady performance up to 1.8 m. The accuracy keeps above 95% at both detection ranges (1.2 and 1.8 m). This proposed solution leads to many advantages, such as low resolution leading to no intention on privacy invasion, and the low-cost intriguing a potentially large market for human computer interaction in smart home appliances control and computer games.
Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors have antidepressant-like properties in mice: 2. Chronic treatment results in downregulation of cortical β-adrenoceptors

Abstract Down-regulation of cortical β-adrenoceptors is observed in rodents following chronic treatment with many clinically effective antidepressant therapies. [ 3 H ]dihydroalprenolol binding to cortical β-adrenoceptors was examined in mice treated with the nitric oxide (NO) synthase antagonist NG-nitro- l -arginine ( l -NNA). Administration of l -NNA (0.1, 0.3 mg/kg) for 21 days produced a significant reduction (28%, 31%, respectively, P 3 H ]dihydroalprenolol binding to cortical membranes without affecting Kd. Dose 1 mg/kg of l -NNA given chronically also produced a 20% decrease in β-adrenoceptor density, but this effect was not statistically significant. While chronic treatment with imipramine (15 and 30 mg/kg) produced respectively a 30% and 25% (P 3 H ]dihydroalpenolol, single injection of either imipramine (15 and 30 mg/kg) or l -NNA (0.1, 0.3, and 1 mg/kg) had no effect on [ 3 H ]dihydroalprenolol binding. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that drugs which can affect the Ca2+-calmodulin/nitric oxide synthase/guanylyl cyclase signaling pathway may represent a novel approach to the treatment of depression and are congruent with our previous observation, which has demonstrated the antidepressant-like properties of NO synthase inhibitors in the forced swim test.
Racial and Income Disparities in Health-Related Quality of Life among Smokers with a Quit Attempt in Louisiana

Background and objectives: Smoking is associated with a lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, there is little information about the association between HRQOL in relation to race, income, and smoking status. The present study aimed to assess the association between HRQOL and smoking status for those of different races and income levels. Materials and Methods: This study applied a cross-sectional design using data from the 2017 patient survey of the Louisiana Tobacco Control Initiative. We obtained 1108 responses from patients at eight Louisiana public hospitals. The EuroQol (EQ-5D) US index score assessed HRQOL. Smoking status was classified into four groups: never smoked, former smoker, current smoker with a quit attempt, and current smoker without a quit attempt. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to estimate the HRQOL for black or African Americans and whites. Results: The patients were predominantly black or African American (58.9%) with lower-income (71.2%). Bivariate analyses showed that there were differences in income levels between black or African Americans and whites (p = 0.006). Moreover, black or African Americans (median = 0.80) had a higher mean of HRQOL than whites (median = 0.76). Among lower-income black or African Americans, current smokers with a quit attempt had a lower HRQOL than current smokers (coefficient = -0.12; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Racial and income disparities were evident with regards to HRQOL, with lower-income black or African Americans who were current smokers with a quit attempt having a lower HRQOL. Intervention programs for smoking cessation should target lower-income black or African American smokers who have a prior quit attempt and provide effective cessation services to help them quit smoking and improve their HRQOL.
Micro-Volunteering and Virtual-Volunteering as Pedagogical Tools in Computer Science Instruction

Many universities and students look for opportunities to volunteer and contribute to their communities in a variety of ways. However, a host of factors including time, expense, and duration effect instructor adoption, student commitment and student perception of volunteer tasks. In CS curriculums, volunteer work most often takes the form of projects for local charities through a specific course (e.g., a senior capstone or software engineering course) or work in local elementary schools teaching younger students to program. The purpose of this talk is to stimulate a conversation about low-cost, low-commitment ways to incorporate service learning via micro-volunteering and virtual-volunteering into CS classes as pedagogically relevant assignments. Micro-volunteering refers to volunteer actions which take little time (usually less than 30 minutes) and have no expectation of continued involvement. Virtual-volunteering is defined as volunteering which a person can complete via the Internet from any location. While there exist many opportunities for semester-long, service learning-based projects in upper level courses, there is a lack of practical project ideas and assignments which could be incorporated into courses of all levels on a smaller scale. The goal of this project is to develop concrete assignments and short projects which incorporate micro- and virtual-volunteer opportunities in a variety of core Computer Science courses including introductory and non-major courses.
Acute Type A Dissection Repair by High-Volume Vs Low-Volume Surgeons at a High-Volume Aortic Center

Background Previous studies suggest improved outcomes for acute type A dissections (ATAAD) treated at high-volume centers. It is unclear if outcomes are a result of individual surgeon experience or inherent resources available at high-volume centers. To explore this question, we stratified outcomes for ATAAD repair by low-volume and high-volume surgeons at a high-volume center. Methods We reviewed our institutional experience with ATAAD between 1999 and 2016 (n = 580). To evaluate surgeon experience with ATAAD repair, we categorized surgeons as high-volume aortic surgeons (HVASs) (> 10 cases/year) or low-volume aortic surgeons (LVASs) (≤ 10 cases/year). Analysis was stratified according to the following: HVAS in primary and first assist roles, HVAS as primary with LVAS as first assist, LVAS as primary and HVAS as first assist, and LVAS in both roles. Results The total experience for HVAS and LVAS as primary surgeon for the study period was 513 and 67, respectively. Mean annual experience as primary surgeon was 15.2 cases for HVAS and 3.4 cases for LVAS. In-hospital mortality was 14.0% if an HVAS was present and 24.0% with an all-LVAS team (P = .27). After adjusting for preoperative factors, the mortality odds ratio (OR) for an all-LVAS team was 3.72 (P = .01). Conclusions ATAAD repair by an all-LVAS team had nearly a 4-fold increase in-hospital mortality compared with an all-HVAS team. Improved outcomes at high-volume centers may be predominantly due to surgeon experience and not from center-specific resources. This study may have implications on call coverage for ATAAD repair at high-volume centers.
Dust and Related Phenomena in Gaseous Nebulae

The importance of dust in the interstellar medium has long been recognized. The Coal Sack and the Great Rift in the Milky Way are two manifestations most obvious to the unaided eye. Barnard’s classical photographs, for example, and much later surveys such as the Stromlo Atlas of the Southern Milky Way demonstrate the omnipresence of dust and the extremely irregular way in which it is distributed. The Bok globules and the dark lanes in the Trifid Nebula attest to association of dust with HII regions. The dust/gas ratio appears to be of the order of 0.01 by mass and reasonably constant from one part of the galaxy to another. Radio, infrared, and UV observations have disclosed dust in many planetary nebulae. In some of these nebulae, a large fraction of the less volatile metals may be tied up in these grains which play important roles in the interstellar medium. Since they lock away atoms of many heavy elements such as Fe and Ti, and also lighter ones such as C, O, and Si, many atoms which could play roles as coolants for the gas are not there. Accordingly, the energy balance of the interstellar medium is affected. Grains also serve as catalysts for molecule formation. The formation of H2 and other molecules on grain surfaces may be an important process.
Effect of early palliative care on health care costs in patients with metastatic NSCLC.

6004 Background: Introducing palliative care soon after diagnosis for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) leads to improvements in quality of life, mood, end-of-life care, a...
ECONOMIC HARDSHIP INDICATORS ARE DIFFERENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH ADVERSE HEALTH OUTCOMES IN OLDER ADULTS

Previous studies have shown that higher levels of economic hardship in older adults is associated with increased odds of adverse health outcomes such as insomnia, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The objective of this study was to determine if there was a differential association between individual measures of economic hardship and aforementioned adverse health outcomes. Cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2012 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). Logistic models were developed to assess the association between each of the four measures of economic hardship and three previously reported adverse health outcomes. Participants were asked if in the last month they did not have enough money for food, utility bills, mortgage/rent, or medical bills/prescription drugs. Measures of adverse health outcomes were symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. There were 7,075 community dwelling older adults aged 65 and older in the 2012 NHATS data. Results indicated that those who skipped meals were more likely to have depression, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms than those who did not skip meals. After adjusting for race, age, gender, education, and comorbid health conditions, skipping meals was associated with depression (OR=4.11, p<.000), anxiety (OR=2.81, p<.01), and insomnia (OR=2.16, p<.05). These results were higher and more statistically significant than the other measures of economic hardship. These findings are relevant to population-based efforts of nutrition interventions to improve quality of life in aging populations.
MisophoniAPP: Person-Centric Gamified Therapy for Smarter Treatment of Misophonia

Misophonia is a newly-classified chronic psychiatric condition in which an individual experiences highly-negative reactions to "trigger" sounds that do not affect others. In this work, a website has been developed, entitled "MisophoniAPP", as a person-centric serious game which provides a relaxing environment for the treatment of misophonia through exposure therapy. Using highly customizable gameplay and an interface that allows users and administrators to set individualized goals and rewards, as well as data monitoring to track an individual’s progress, MisophoniAPP addresses the challenge posed by conventional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Neural Repatterning Technique approaches, which often only assist a limited subset of the misophonia population.
COVID-19: Projecting the Impact in Rohingya Refugee Camps and Beyond

Background: COVID-19 could have even more dire consequences among refugees living in camps than in general populations. Bangladesh has confirmed COVID-19 cases and hosts almost 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar with 600,000 concentrated in Kutupalong-Balukhali Expansion Site. Projections of the potential COVID-19 infection burden, epidemic speed, and healthcare needs in such settings are critical to inform preparedness planning. Methods: To explore the potential impact of the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 in Kutupalong-Balukhali Expansion Site, we used a stochastic disease transmission model with parameters derived from emerging literature. We considered three scenarios with different assumptions about the transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2. We estimated the number and daily rate of infections, hospitalizations, deaths, and healthcare needs expected under each scenario. Findings: A large-scale outbreak is highly likely after a single introduction of the virus into the camp across scenarios with 65-95% of simulations leading to at least 1,000 infections. Estimated infections range from 119-504 between low and high transmission scenarios in the first 30 days; and between 424,798 and 543,647 in 12 months. Hospitalization needs exceeded the existing hospitalization capacity of 340 beds after 58-139 days between the low and high transmission scenarios. Estimated deaths range from 1,647-2,109 between low and high transmission scenarios. Interpretation: A COVID-19 epidemic in a refugee settlement may have profound consequences, requiring unrealistically large increases in healthcare capacity and infrastructure. Detailed and realistic planning for the worst in Kutupalong-Balukhali and all refugee camps worldwide must begin now. Plans should consider novel and radical strategies to reduce infectious contacts and fill health worker gaps while recognizing that refugees may not have access to national health systems. As global resources to fight this pandemic become scarce, displaced persons must not be forgotten.
Partial Oxidation of Ethanol in Supercritical Water

Ethanol is partially oxidized in a continuous supercritical water reactor at temperatures from 500 to 530 °C, constant pressure of 25 MPa, initial ethanol concentration of 5 wt %, residence times o...
Emission Mechanisms: Blackbody Radiation, An Introduction to Radiative Transfer, Synchrotron Radiation, Thermal Bremsstrahlung, and Molecular Rotational Transitions

In this chapter an introduction to the emission mechanisms commonly encountered in modern radio astronomy is presented. First, a description of blackbody radiation is given which includes a discussion of the Planck function, Wien’s Displacement Law, and the Stefan–Boltzmann Law. An introduction to radiative transfer is presented next: this introduction includes the concepts of optical depth, opacity, the equation of radiative transfer, and Kirchoff’s Law. The phenomena of synchrotron radiation and thermal bremsstrahlung radiation are presented next. The description of these two phenomena includes the concepts of the Larmor formula, the lifetime and the critical frequency of maximum emission from synchrotron-emitting electrons, the power law dependence of self-absorption that is exhibited in a synchrotron spectrum, the energy emitted by an electron through bremsstrahlung emission, self-absorption and the sharp cutoff at high frequencies exhibited by a bremsstrahlung spectrum. Finally, after introducing the concept of quantized angular momentum for a rotating molecule, molecular rotational transitions and the concept of an excitation temperature for these transitions are presented.