cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PER UNIT COSTS TO OWN AND OPERATE FARM MACHINERY

Farm machinery is a vital part of most farming operations, from the physical work it performs in the production process to the enjoyment provided from its operation. As technological advancements in machinery and the crop production process evolve, farm sizes increase and profit margins often decrease. Therefore, efficient use of machinery and its contribution to a producer’s relative cost of production is increasingly important. Machinery costs can be determined from farm records or cost estimators; however, these methods often result in generalized whole farm or per machine costs, rather than per unit (e.g., acre, ton, bale, etc.) machinery costs. One alternative to calculating the myriad of machinery costs is to use custom farming rates. Custom farming rates are rates paid for an operator to perform an operation, such as harvesting, planting, tillage, etc., and are usually based on a per unit charge (i.e. acre, ton, bales, etc.). However, with the large amount of neighbor-to-neighbor work, and family custom farming done, whether published custom rates truly represent full machinery ownership and operating costs is often questioned. If the full cost to perform these operations is known, it will allow an individual farm to evaluate its relative machinery costs and allow its crop machinery costs to be benchmarked against an expected cost.
Needle-Entry Angle for Lumbar Puncture in Children as Determined by Using Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the angle for performing lumbar punctures in children aged 0 to 12 years. We hypothesized that the angle changes for different stages of development. METHODS: Children aged 0 to 12 years who presented to the Yale–New Haven Children9s Hospital at a low-acuity triage level, in need of a lumbar puncture, their accompanying siblings and authors9 children were eligible for the study. Subjects in 3 age groups were recruited and grouped as follows: group 1, 0 to 12 months; group 2, 12 to 36 months; and group 3, 3 to 12 years. Ultrasound images of the L3-L4 and L4-L5 lumbar space were taken with subjects in the lateral recumbent and sitting positions. The angle from the interspinous space to the skin was measured. RESULTS: Thirty-six subjects were included. The mean angles in the lateral recumbent and sitting positions were group 1, 47.8° (SD: 8.2) and 51.1° (SD: 8.5), respectively; group 2, 58.8° (SD: 6.8) and 59.6° (SD: 5.5); and group 3, 60.5° (SD: 6.6) and 61.9° (SD: 4.0). The results of group 1 were significantly different from those of groups 2 or 3 in both positions (lateral recumbent P = .00526 and 0.00160; sitting P = .0499 and .00282). CONCLUSIONS: The angle for lumbar puncture was more acute for infants than for older children in this study. Future studies should assess the difference in success rates of lumbar punctures when clinicians have knowledge of these angles.
Representational aiding for a complex, dynamic control task

Representational aiding is the development of computerized graphics that provide alternative perspectives of a domain. The goal of representational aiding is to provide interface resources that support (rather than replace) an individual in meeting the inevitable and unforeseeable challenges that arise in a domain. The design of successful representational aids depends upon both characteristics of the domain (including the tasks to be performed), and characteristics of human cognition and perception. These issues are discussed with reference to a set of representational aids that were developed for a real-world application. Empirical evaluations of these aids are discussed briefly. >
The practice of radiology: current and future trends.

W559 At the end of a partnership track, the majority of radiologists will become partners. As a partner, the radiologist will typically share equally in the profits of the practice, which after accounting for geography, payer, and case mix, are primarily determined by one factor: volume. In general, this is a path that has been secure and predictable. Year 2020: The neophyte radiologist will be more likely to be employed by a hospital, multispecialty group, or nonhospital corporation. Those entering private practice will likely join groups that are large by the standards of today. The largest practices may be national corporations. Outpatient practice independent of a hospital will be uncommon. There will be less security in many practices because local groups may need to compete with national practices for hospital contracts. The American Board of Radiology (ABR) examination will no longer be the definitive imprimatur of quality and value, rather, radiologists must provide additional evidence to hospitals and payers that what they do is valuable. Currently, one can expect reimbursement for performing and interpreting an imaging study regardless of the quality and value of the examination. In the future if this study does not meet certain metrics for performance and interpretation, it may be reimbursed at a lesser rate or not at all. Under bundled-payment systems, this study may actually add to provider costs rather than profit margins. This will also affect nonradiology imaging providers, who may find that the financial incentives for self-referral are further decreased and that the quality standards are too hard to meet. I have sometimes heard sentiments to the effect that imaging volume will continue to increase because of our aging population and the current widespread use of imaging in clinical medicine and that radiologists always come up with new imaging techniques. Neither of these is, in my opinion, very likely. The Practice of Radiology: Current and Future Trends
Electron reflector to enhance photovoltaic efficiency: application to thin‐film CdTe solar cells

The incorporation of an electron reflector is a proposed strategy to improve the open-circuit voltage of CdTe solar cells. An electron reflector is a conduction-band barrier that can effectively reduce electron recombination at the back surface. In this work, the electron-reflector strategy is numerically applied to a thin-film CdTe record-cell baseline model (efficiency = 16.5%). Simulation shows that to have the optimal effect from an electron reflector, the CdTe thickness should be on the order of 1 µm, or slightly lower if the optical reflection at the back surface can be enhanced. Efficiency above 19% should be achievable with a 0.2-eV electron reflector and currently achievable parameters (1014-cm−3 hole density and 1-ns lifetime). Moreover, efficiency above 20% should be possible at a 1-µm absorber layer if large optical back reflection can also be achieved. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Beliefs about Using Technology in the Mathematics Classroom: Interviews with Pre-Service Elementary Teachers

This study explored the efficacy of web-based workshops in topics in elementary school mathematics in fostering teachers’ confidence and competence in using instructional technology, and thereby promoting more positive attitudes toward using computers and Internet resources in the mathematics classroom. It consisted of in-depth interviews of selected workshop participants in order to provide information on whether the goals of the workshops were realized, and if so, in what ways these goals were accomplished. The interviews showed that most of the students in the experimental group felt comfortable using web-based resources in teaching elementary school mathematics. It was also found through the interviews that all students agreed that the workshops helped them become more confident in using computers to teach mathematics. The findings of this study provide further compelling evidence to support the recommendations of many national reports, such as the NCTM Professional Standards for School Mathematics (2000), to substantially increase the role of instructional technology in the contemporary mathematics classroom.
The Influence of Procedure Volumes and Standardization of Care on Quality and Efficiency in Total Joint Replacement Surgery

Background: The relationship between surgeon and hospital procedure volumes and clinical outcomes in total joint arthroplasty has long fueled a debate over regionalization of care. At the same time, numerous policy initiatives are focusing on improving quality by incentivizing surgeons to adhere to evidence-based processes of care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the independent contributions of surgeon procedure volume, hospital procedure volume, and standardization of care on short-term postoperative outcomes and resource utilization in lower-extremity total joint arthroplasty. Methods: An analysis of 182,146 consecutive patients who underwent primary total joint arthroplasty was performed with use of data entered into the Perspective database by 3421 physicians from 312 hospitals over a two-year period. Adherence to evidence-based processes of care was defined by administration of appropriate perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, beta-blockade, and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. Patient outcomes included mortality, length of hospital stay, discharge disposition, surgical complications, readmissions, and reoperations within the first thirty days after discharge. Hierarchical models were used to estimate the effects of hospital and surgeon procedure volume and process standardization on individual and combined surgical outcomes and length of stay. Results: After adjustment in multivariate models, higher surgeon volume was associated with lower risk of complications, lower rates of readmission and reoperation, shorter length of hospital stay, and higher likelihood of being discharged home. Higher hospital volume was associated with lower risk of mortality, lower risk of readmission, and higher likelihood of being discharged home. The impact of process standardization was substantial; maximizing adherence to evidence-based processes of care resulted in improved clinical outcomes and shorter length of hospital stay, independent of hospital or surgeon procedure volume. Conclusions: Although surgeon and hospital procedure volumes are unquestionably correlated with patient outcomes in total joint arthroplasty, process standardization is also strongly associated with improved quality and efficiency of care. The exact relationship between individual processes of care and patient outcomes has not been established; however, our findings suggest that process standardization could help providers optimize quality and efficiency in total joint arthroplasty, independent of hospital or surgeon volume. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Reintroducing fire into a ponderosa pine forest with and without cattle grazing: understory vegetation response

Reestablishing historical fire regimes is a high priority for North American coniferous forests, particularly ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) ecosystems. These forests are also used extensively for cattle (Bos spp.) grazing. Prescribed fires are being applied on or planned for millions of hectares of these forests to reduce fuel loads, alter forest structure, and maintain and enhance the productivity of native plant communities. However, cattle grazing is ubiquitous in ponderosa pine forests and the consequences of post-fire cattle grazing on plant communities are not well understood. We evaluated cattle grazing effects (grazing, no grazing) on upland bunchgrass and Carex geyeri dominated ponderosa pine plant communities over five growing seasons after prescribed fires (spring reburn, fall reburn, no burn). Vegetation was measured prior to a 5-year interval reburn and the subsequent exclusion of cattle, and in the second and fifth growing seasons thereafter. We found no interactions between reburning and grazing for the understory response variables. For all reburn treatments, including unburned areas, five growing seasons of cattle grazing exclusion significantly increased: (1) total vegetative cover, (2) native perennial forb cover, (3) grass stature, (4) grass flowering stem density, and (5) the cover of some shrub species and functional groups. Grazing exclusion did not strongly affect plant compositional patterns, although differences were detected. Compared to unburned areas, neither spring nor fall reburning increased perennial native species cover or richness, and reburning reduced sedge cover. Fall reburning increased cover of native colonizers, and exotic species cover and richness (largely Bromus tectorum and Cirsium vulgare), although overall exotic cover remains low (<1%). We document several potentially chronic impacts of cattle grazing in both burned and unburned areas, and show that the understory release from a long history of cattle grazing caused a greater degree of change than the initial reintroduction of fire. If a goal of ecological restoration in these forests is increased cover of native perennial plants, and the potential for increased native perennial grass reproduction, then cattle grazing exclusion, or a change in cattle management, could provide critically important options in restoration plans.
A model-coupling framework for nearshore waves, currents, sediment transport, and seabed morphology

This paper presents a framework for synchronously coupling wave, current, sediment transport, and seabed morphology for the accurate simulation of multi-physics coastal ocean processes. The governing equations, which represent models that are commonly adopted in practical simulations, are discretized using finite-difference methods. The resulting system is validated against analytical solutions. In order to test the performance of the proposed framework and the numerical methods, dam-break flow over a mobile-bed and evolution of a wave-driven sand dune are simulated. The interactions among waves, currents, and seabed morphology are illustrated.
Surgical Treatments for Obesity

Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective and durable treatment option for extreme obesity. Restrictive procedures, such as AGB and SG, limit gastric capacity and, thus, food intake while leaving the gastrointestinal tract intact. Malabsorptive procedures, such as BPD, shorten the length of the intestine to decrease nutrient absorption. Combined procedures, such as RYGB, include restriction and gastrointestinal rearrangement. Procedures that bypass segments of the gut are associated with greater weight loss and greater improvements in comorbid conditions than is gastric banding. This may be due, in part, to the differential effects of gastrointestinal rearrangement on the secretion of orexigenic and anorexigenic gut peptides that regulate appetite, glucose homeostasis, and body weight. Bariatric surgery is generally associated with low rates of perioperative and postoperative morbidity and mortality, although rigorous comparative safety data are lacking. High-quality, long-term, randomized, controlled trials are needed to compare the efficacy, safety, and cost effectiveness of the various bariatric surgery procedures with each other, as well as with intensive nonsurgical weight loss interventions.
Turbo quantization of frames

We describe an iterative algorithm for quantizing overcomplete frames that achieves more than 18 dB/Octave improvement in the reconstruction error due to quantization. It starts with the trellis quantization path then successively refines the estimation with monotonically improving quantization through turbo iterations. We call the procedure turbo quantization because it resembles turbo coding in the error control coding literature.
Increased chromosomal instability in peripheral lymphocytes and risk of human gliomas

Brain tumors exhibit considerable chromosome instability (CIN), suggesting that genetic susceptibility may contribute to brain tumorigenesis. To test this hypothesis, in this pilot study, we examined for CIN in short-term lymphocyte cultures from 25 adult glioma patients and 28 age-, sexand ethnicity-matched healthy controls (all Caucasian). We evaluated CIN by a multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization assay using two probes: a classic satellite probe for a large heterochromatin breakage-prone region of chromosome 1 and an alpha satellite probe for a smaller region adjacent to the heterochromatin probe. Our results showed a significant increase in the mean number of spontaneous breaks per 1000 cells in glioma patients (mean K SD, 2.4 K 0.8) compared with controls (1.4 K 0.9; P < 0.001). By using the median number of breaks per 1000 cells in the controls as the cutoff value, we observed a crude odds ratio (OR) of 8.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) J 2.05‐34.9, P < 0.001] for spontaneous breaks and brain tumor risk. After adjustment for age, sex and smoking status, the adjusted OR was 15.3 (95% CI, 2.71‐87.8). A significant increase in cells with chromosome 1 aneuploidy (in the form of hyperdiploidy) (P < 0.001) was also observed in the glioma cases, with an adjusted OR of 6.6 (95% CI J 1.5‐30, P < 0.05). These findings suggest that CIN can be detected in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of brain tumor patients and may be a marker for identifying individuals at risk.
Long-Wave Trapping by Oceanic Ridges

Abstract Long waves are affected by bottom topography and under certain conditions may be trapped along topographical contours which then act as wave guides transmitting wave energy for great distances with little loss. This study examines waves trapped along a submerged ridge described by straight parallel bottom contours which in cross section are composed of constant-slope segments bounded on either side by constant-depth segments. Solutions are found for time harmonic waves periodic in the along-ridge direction and of exponential decay behavior normal to the ridge over the constant-depth segments. Over the linearly varying topography describing the ridge, the solution is in terms of two Kummer (or Whittaker) functions. For a given geometry, a dispersion equation is obtained relating the wave frequency to the along-ridge wavenumber for trapped waves. A constant Coriolis parameter is included. but primary interest is on class I (high-frequency) waves. A comparison of cutoff frequencies predicted for thi...
Evolutionary Psychology and Information Systems Theorizing

Evolutionary Psychology is a relatively new field of research focusing on evolved mental traits and their impact on human behavior. It provides the basis on which innovative theoretical models can be developed in the context of information systems research, which is usually concerned with human behavior toward information and communication technologies . Yet it is important to recognize that not all information systems phenomena can be fully explained based on human evolution, a problem that can be addressed by the careful and selective integration of evolutionary and non-evolutionary information systems theories . This chapter discusses opportunities and difficulties associated with evolutionary information systems theorizing, provides an example of an evolutionary information systems theory (media naturalness theory ), and shows how that theory can be profitably integrated with a non-evolutionary information systems theory.
Stirrings in the attic On the distinction between historical geographical materialism and critical realism

Kevin Cox’s (2013) analysis of the distinction between historical geographical materialism (HGM) and critical realism (CR) offers a sharp and remarkably timely discussion, despite that the debate b...
Viscosity of Nafion oligomers as a function of hydration and counterion type: a molecular dynamics study.

The design of fuel cells and lithium ion batteries is constrained, in part, by mechanical creep and perforation of the polymer electrolyte, a process that is poorly understood at the molecular level. The mechanical stiffness (quantified as shear viscosity) and structure of a widely used polymer electrolyte, Nafion, are studied in the limit of a low solvent volume fraction (≤26% v/v H2O) using molecular dynamics simulations. The viscosity is shown to increase by up to 4 orders of magnitude in response to changes in composition representing as little as 2 wt % of system. Two types of compositional changes are considered, changes in solvent volume fraction and counterion type. A system with a counterion Xv+ for every v Nafion monomers and y water molecules is denoted as (RSO3)vX·(H2O)y. The following trend is observed in viscosity: (RSO3)2Ca > RSO3Na > RSO3H·(H2O)3 > RSO3H ≈ RSO3H·(H2O)10. This trend correlates with changes in the strength of the SO3–/Xv+/SO3– cross-links and the size of the cross-link netwo...
Adrenal Cortical Hormone and Ant. Pituitary Extract on Carbohydrate Levels in Fasted Hypophysectomized Rats.

Hypophysectomized rats are unable to maintain their carbohydrate stores during fasting as do normal animals.1 Certain anterior pituitary extracts are capable of preventing completely the changes found in short fasts, such as 8 hours. In longer fasts, however, while muscle glycogen stores are held at normal or supernormal levels, the liver glycogen and blood glucose are not maintained by this treatment.2 This difference in the response of liver and muscle has led to the suggestion that more than one factor may be concerned in the maintenance of carbohydrate levels in the fasted hypophysectomized rat.3Because of the possibility that the adrenal cortex may mediate some of the effects of the anterior pituitary on carbohydrate metabolism, the relationship of the adrenocorticotropic substance of the A. P. and of the adrenal cortical hormones to the factor or factors mentioned above has recently been investigated. That the maintenance of muscle glycogen stores is possible in the absence of the adrenal cortex was...
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION AND EVOLUTION IN PSEUDOSINELLA HIRSUTA.

Cave collembola furnish excellent material for the study of evolution. This is the result of the limited nature of geographical movement between caves and the limited selective pressure of cave life resulting in the persistence of primitive forms in caves. Early studies have established both the nature of large scale evolution in cave forms and the relationship between behavior and form in this process (Christiansen, 1961; 1965). All of these studies have dealt with large scale changes involving clearly separated forms. In order to examine the small scale changes which have occurred in the caves, the geographical variation of Pseudosinella hirsuta (Delamare) and P. violenta (Folsom) in caves was analyzed in detail. An additional study of surface population variation in P. violenta is in progress. Pseudosinella hirsuta is the most variable troglobitic form of the genus in North America. It has been found in caves of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Virginia (see Fig. 1). The variation is extensive, so that some forms superficially resemble P. argentea (Folsom) and others resemble P. christianseni (Salmon) with all gradations in between. The species is highly cave-adapted and apparently has undergone extensive evolution within caves. Pseudosinella violenta is a cave troglophile that has invaded extensively the caves of the Edwards Plateau and adjoining regions of Texas. It has reached neither the stability nor the adaptations of P. hirsuta. It is in the early phases of the second stage of cave adaptation, as described by Christiansen (1961). P. hirsuta is in the beginning of the third and final phase of cave adaptation. In this first publication of these studies we shall deal with the variations in P. hirsuta. Subsequent papers will analyze the variation in P. violenta.
Body Contouring Surgery for Women

After massive weight loss, pregnancies, and aging, women request removal of loose skin and excess fat of their body followed by suspension of remaining tissues. To that demand, the surgeon should add creating optimal adipose contours. A variety of case presentations have been selected to demonstrate the versatility of a comprehensive approach. Section 4.1 introduces enhancing feminine features through aggressive excisional procedures. Section 4.2 features central high-tension lipoabdominoplasty and its central role in total body lift (TBL) surgery. Section 4.3 combines lower torso and thigh operations in thin, moderate, and oversized patients. In many cases lower body lifts are effectively combined with hemi-circumferential thighplasty with medial vertical extensions. Secondary saddlebag deformity, accompanied by lateral gluteal depression, is treated with combined liposuction and lipoaugmentation. Section 4.4 describes upper body lifts simultaneous with reshaping the breast and arms. Spiral Flap autogenous flap augmentation and suspension of the breast are presented in a variety of patients. Integrating the breast reshaping with the L-brachioplasty leaves a smooth transition across the axilla and a tight lateral torso. Section 4.5 features L-brachioplasty with liposuction and J-torsoplasty. Oversized arms with sagging skin are well treated with radical excision site and cosmetic contouring liposuction. Section 4.6 elaborates on J-torsoplasty which is an oblique advancement upper body lift that exchanges the transverse back scar for a lateral thoracic scar. Section 4.6 examines Mommy Makeover with emphasis on the shaping role of VASERlipo. Abdominoplasty following ablative energy liposuction, such as laser, may leave heavily scarred subcutaneous layer that thwarts adequate descend of the superior abdominoplasty flap (Sect. 4.7, Summary).
Relatively Quantitative Determination Method of Organic Volatiles in Rubber Insulation Materials

A method suitably determining the relative content of organic volatiles in the rubber insulation materials was established by the head-space gas chromatography and using n-pentane as the quantitative reference sample. The experimental results show that the content of organic volatiles in the rubber insulation materials increases with increase of heating temperature and heating time. The quantitative order is 10～15 μg/g at 50 ℃,15～20 μg/g at80 ℃ and reaches 300～350 μg/g at 160 ℃. The established method has good precision and can be used as relatively quantitative determination method of the gaseous organic volatiles in the rubber type materials.
Is above knee bypass defunct

As endovascular treatments improve, the inevitable progress will result in the abandonment of conventional bypasses. First and foremost in this regard is the use of above knee bypass, particularly with prosthetic graft material. Already, endovascular success approaches or exceeds the patency seen with this bypass technique. As a result, in centers with endovascular expertise in infrainguinal intervention, bypass surgery is increasingly being replaced by these techniques and conventional bypass surgery is disappearing. Over the next few years, above knee bypass will be replaced by endovascular techniques in most centers as our results with these techniques improve.
Phase transformation, oxidation stability, and electrical conductivity of TiO2-polysiloxane derived ceramics

There have been increasing needs for high-thermal stability and high-electrical conductivity materials. In this study, we in situ synthesized silicon oxycarbide (SiOC)–TiC x O y composites based on the pyrolysis of polysiloxane and carbothermal reaction between TiO2 nanoparticles and free carbon in SiOC. The TiO2 to TiC x O y conversion is dependent on the pyrolysis temperature. Higher pyrolysis temperature leads to more TiC formation but lower thermal stability. With more homogeneous distribution of TiO2, the thermal stability of the SiOC–TiC x O y composite increases. This family of SiOC composite also demonstrates high electrical conductivity. The highest electrical conductivity is 5.03 S cm−1 at 400 °C measurement temperature, the highest for air atmosphere condition. The key issue for tuning the SiOC–TiC x O y system for both thermal stability and electrical conductivity is to avoid the destabilization of the SiOC system.
Ternary Polymer–Perylenediimide–Carbon Nanotube Photovoltaics with High Efficiency and Stability under Super-Solar Irradiation

Polymer solar cells (PSCs) have achieved power conversion efficiencies exceeding 10%, but their performance has been limited under concentrated sunlight because of poor stability and recombination processes despite their potential for low-cost concentrated solar power. Recently, ternary polymer solar cell blends have been explored as a strategy to improve PSC performance; however, this approach has been demonstrated only for polymer–fullerene solar cells with organic ternary additives and has not addressed stability issues under supersolar irradiation. Here, we present the first polymer solar cells comprising ternary blends of high efficiency polymers, nonfullerene perylenediimide acceptors, and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube additives. We find that the addition of carbon nanotubes reduces efficiency-degrading recombination and improves performance and photostability, most notably under concentrated sunlight exceeding 10 suns. The utilization of carbon nanomaterials as ternary additives in o...
Secondary melting events in Semarkona chondrules revealed by compositional zoning in low-Ca pyroxene

Abstract It is well established that many chondrules contain relict grains formed in previous generations of chondrules. We here describe evidence that chondrules experienced multiple mesostasis melting events while remaining closed systems. Spheroidal chondrule shapes resulted from surface-tension effects following a primary heating event that caused substantial melting (≳40%) of the precursor assemblages. In some high-FeO chondrules in LL3.00 Semarkona, low-Ca pyroxene phenocrysts show multiple overgrowth layers produced by secondary melting events. We characterized these layers with the electron microprobe in terms of Fe, Ca and Cr in two Semarkona chondrules. The first low-Ca pyroxene overgrowth that forms after a minor heating/melting event has low Ca and Fe; concentrations of these incompatibles gradually increase over the next 8 ± 4 μm until falling temperatures and slowing diffusion caused growth to stop. The next melting event remelts and mixes the local mesostasis; cooling causes growth of a normal igneously zoned layer. In the simplest cases, the Ca concentrations at the minima gradually increase towards the edge of the phenocryst. Heat deposition during heating events varied over a wide range; the weakest events produced recognizable changes in slopes (that we call “inflections” rather than minima). Large fractions of the individual phenocrysts were formed by the process that produced the overgrowth layers. It appears that overgrowth formation stopped when the Ca content of the mesostasis became high enough to make high-Ca pyroxene a liquidus phase. Both Semarkona chondrules include olivine phenocrysts similar in size and modal abundance to the low-Ca pyroxene phenocrysts. Olivine compositional profiles show symmetrical, apparently normal zoning except for asymmetries attributable to the presence of relict grains. Surface compositions of different olivine phenocrysts in the same chondrule are very similar to one another, consistent with growth from mesostasis in the present chondrule. Hence, these olivines must have experienced the same heating events as the pyroxenes with overgrowths. As argued in earlier papers, the fraction of chondrules heated to low temperatures (sufficient to melt only mesostasis) during nebular heating and melting processes is much larger than the fraction heated sufficiently to melt half or more of the mafic minerals. Melting is expected to result from flash heating in which heat is transported into the chondrule by radiation.
The Management of Pain in Spinal Malignancies

The management of pain caused by malignant involvement of the spine can be challenging. The pain is often multifactorial with somatic and neuropathic elements and may be complicated by pre-existing non-malignant pain from arthritis, spinal stenosis, or other chronic back syndromes. The mechanics of the back increase the likelihood of incident pain that may be particularly difficult to control. Excellent pain management requires a team approach that might include palliative medicine, anesthesia pain management, orthotics, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. This chapter focuses on medical management with opioid and adjuvant analgesic agents.
En bloc liver-kidney transplantation with renal artery variation using donor splenic artery and left gastric artery as inflow to the kidney: Case report

Abstract Introduction En bloc liver-kidney transplantation can be difficult with renal artery variations for which the risk of multiple anastomoses can outweigh the benefits. Presentation of case This report is the first to describe an en bloc liver-kidney transplantation using a donor kidney with double renal arteries. The indication for a combined liver-kidney transplant was non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis with chronic kidney disease secondary to hypertension and diabetes compounded by hepato-renal syndrome. The explant pathology was consistent with steatohepatitis, but did have PAS/D-positive intracytoplastic globules which suggest an additional component of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. Discussion Diminished arterial inflow to the inferior renal pole was noted intraoperatively, requiring re-anastomosis of the inferior renal polar artery to the donor left gastric artery. The post-operative course was uncomplicated with patient discharge on post-operative day six. Conclusion With increasing numbers of simultaneous liver-kidney transplants being performed, kidneys with multiple renal arteries can successfully be transplanted en-bloc without compromising ischemia time.
Treatment of Horizontal Cleavage Tears – Resection to Repair

Horizontal cleavage tears have recently received more attention. Historically they were treated with benign neglect or resection. Recent biomechanical studies show that resecting one of the leaflets may be as detrimental a partial meniscectomy in tears with a more vertical orientation. New instrumentation has facilitated repair with an all-inside vertical compression stitch. Cadaver studies show repairing horizontal cleavage tears in such a manner can restore the biomechanics of the joint close to the intact state. The approach to treating horizontal cleavage tears has changed and is the focus of this article.
Acute hemodynamic changes following high load and very low load lower body resistance exercise with and without the restriction of blood flow.

OBJECTIVE To examine the acute changes in blood flow and blood pressure of very low load knee extensor exercise (15% one repetition maximum (1RM)) with and without different levels of applied pressure to determine how these effects might differ from high load exercise. We also sought to examine if this differed between men and women. APPROACH A total of 90 participants (45 men, 45 women) were randomized into a very low load condition with no restriction 15/0, (n = 21), a very low load condition with 40% arterial occlusion pressure (15/40, n = 23), a very low load condition with 80% arterial occlusion pressure (15/80, n = 22), and a traditional high load condition (70/0, n = 24). Pre-post change in blood flow and blood pressure were compared across conditions. Evidence for or against the null hypothesis was quantified using Bayes factors (BF10). MAIN RESULTS For blood flow, there was no evidence that the changes were different across conditions (BF10: 0.902). However, only the very low load free flow condition (15/0) had evidence to suggest a change (mean, (standard deviation)) from baseline (5.3 (9.1) ml · min-1; BF10: 3.687). Systolic pressure increased ~17 mmHg for the 15/0, 15/40, and 70/0 conditions, with no change in the 15/80 condition. There was no effect of sex for any variable. SIGNIFICANCE There was substantial variability in our blood flow measurements, making conclusions difficult for this variable. Of note, the blood pressure response was not augmented by blood flow restriction. The hemodynamic changes were also similar between sexes, indicating that men and women were not changing differently.
Capture of nebular gases during Earth's accretion is preserved in deep-mantle neon.

Evidence for the capture of nebular gases by planetary interiors would place important constraints on models of planet formation. These constraints include accretion timescales, thermal evolution, volatile compositions and planetary redox states1–7. Retention of nebular gases by planetary interiors also constrains the dynamics of outgassing and volatile loss associated with the assembly and ensuing evolution of terrestrial planets. But evidence for such gases in Earth’s interior remains controversial8–14. The ratio of the two primordial neon isotopes, 20Ne/22Ne, is significantly different for the three potential sources of Earth’s volatiles: nebular gas15, solar-wind-irradiated material16 and CI chondrites17. Therefore, the 20Ne/22Ne ratio is a powerful tool for assessing the source of volatiles in Earth’s interior. Here we present neon isotope measurements from deep mantle plumes that reveal 20Ne/22Ne ratios of up to 13.03 ± 0.04 (2 standard deviations). These ratios are demonstrably higher than those for solar-wind-irradiated material and CI chondrites, requiring the presence of nebular neon in the deep mantle. Furthermore, we determine a 20Ne/22Ne ratio for the primordial plume mantle of 13.23 ± 0.22 (2 standard deviations), which is indistinguishable from the nebular ratio, providing robust evidence for a reservoir of nebular gas preserved in the deep mantle today. The acquisition of nebular gases requires planetary embryos to grow to sufficiently large mass before the dissipation of the protoplanetary disk. Our observations also indicate distinct 20Ne/22Ne ratios between deep mantle plumes and mid-ocean-ridge basalts, which is best explained by addition of a chondritic component to the shallower mantle during the main phase of Earth’s accretion and by subsequent recycling of seawater-derived neon in plate tectonic processes. The distinctive 20Ne/22Ne ratio in material thought to come from deep mantle plumes provides evidence for nebular gas as a source of volatiles in Earth’s interior.
To follow or not to follow: a feature evaluation

The features available in Twitter provide meaningful information that can be harvested to provide a ranked list of followees to each user. We hypothesize that retweet and mention features can be further enriched by incorporating both temporal and additional/indirect links from within user's community. Our empirical results provide insights into the effectiveness of each feature, and evaluate our proposed similarity measures in ranking the followees. Utilizing temporal information and indirect links improves the effectiveness of retweet and mention features in terms of nDCG.
Molecular basis of force-from-lipids gating in the mechanosensitive channel MscS.

Prokaryotic mechanosensitive (MS) channels open by sensing the physical state of the membrane. As such, lipid-protein interactions represent the defining molecular process underlying mechanotransduction. Here, we describe cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the E. coli small-conductance mechanosensitive channel (MscS) in nanodiscs (ND). They reveal a novel membrane-anchoring fold that plays a significant role in channel activation and establish a new location for the lipid bilayer, shifted ~14 A from previous consensus placements. Two types of lipid densities are explicitly observed. A phospholipid that 'hooks' the top of each TM2-TM3 hairpin and likely plays a role in force sensing, and a bundle of acyl chains occluding the permeation path above the L105 cuff. These observations reshape our understanding of force-from-lipids gating in MscS and highlight the key role of allosteric interactions between TM segments and phospholipids bound to key dynamic components of the channel.
WRONG DECISION MAKING CAN RARELY LEAD TO CORRECT MANAGEMENT- A MISBEHAVING TALE OF SUBCUTANEOUS ICD

Subcutaneous implantable-cardioverter-defibrillator (SICD) has some advantages over transvenous ICD. But it has some limitations which are highlighted in this case. A 50-year-old male with history of nonischemic cardiomyopathy and ventricular tachycardia (VT) had SICD placed in December 2018 at an
Editorial Commentary: Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Harvested From the Ilium During Acetabular Labral Repair: Is the Biologic Juice Worth the Squeeze?

Abstract The use of regenerative technologies including mesenchymal stromal cells, also known as connective tissue progenitors (CTPs), has gained tremendous popularity as a primary and adjuvant treatment for many musculoskeletal conditions. The concentration of bone marrow–derived CTPs delivered to the site of injury has been directly correlated to the therapeutic effect in the setting of rotator cuff repair and the healing of long-bone fractures. In addition, there has been some limited in vitro and in vivo evidence to suggest that the delivery of bone marrow–derived CTPs may improve cartilage regeneration. Bone marrow aspirate concentrate harvested from the body of the ilium during hip arthroscopy yields a CTP concentration that is commensurate with other conventional donor sites and appears to be safe. However, the clinical benefit and financial cost associated with the delivery of bone marrow aspirate concentrate to the hip joint at the time of acetabular labral repair remains unclear at best and should be approached with caution.
The Effect of Recreational Gambling on Health and Well-Being

The relationship between gambling and health has important economic and public policy implications. We develop causal evidence on this relationship exploiting regional variation in access to legal gambling. Empirical models treat gambling as an endogenous regressor in explaining variation in health outcomes. Results from instrumental variable and bivariate probit models show recreational gambling has no or a negative impact on the probability of having certain chronic health conditions and a positive impact on life satisfaction. Past research generally found a positive association between problem gambling and adverse health outcomes. The generation of some positive health benefits provides important context for the expansion of legal sports betting in the USA following the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018.
A PMMA bone cement composite that functions as a drug-refillable depot for localized, multi-window chemotherapeutic treatment of bone cancer

Standard chemotherapy for primary and secondary bone tumors typically involves systemic administration of chemotherapeutic drugs, such as doxorubicin (DOX). However, non-targeted delivery increases dose requirements, and results in off-target toxicity and suboptimal chemotherapeutic efficacy. When chemotherapy is ineffective, substantial resection of tissue and/or total amputation become necessary - a debilitating outcome for any patient. In this work, we developed a proof-of-concept, non-biodegradable, mechanically robust, and refillable composite system for chemotherapeutic (i.e. DOX) delivery comprised of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement and insoluble polymeric {gamma}-cyclodextrin ({gamma}-CD) microparticles. The porosity and compressive strength of DOX-filled PMMA composites were characterized. DOX filling capacity, elution kinetics, cytotoxicity against primary osteosarcoma and lung cancer cells, and refilling capacity of composites were evaluated. PMMA composites containing up to 15wt% {gamma}-CD microparticles provided consistent, therapeutically-relevant release of DOX with ~100% of the initial DOX released after 100 days. Over the same period, only ~6% of DOX was liberated from PMMA with free DOX. Following prolonged curing, PMMA composites with up to 15wt% {gamma}-CD surpassed compressive strength requirements outlined by international standards for acrylic bone cements. Compared to DOX-filled PMMA, DOX-filled PMMA/{gamma}-CD composites provided long-term release with decreased burst effect, correlating to long-term cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Refillable properties demonstrated by the PMMA composite system may find utility for treating local recurrences, limiting chemoresistance, and altering drug combinations to provide customized treatment regimens. Overall, findings suggest that PMMA composites have the potential to serve as a platform for the delivery of combinatorial chemotherapeutics to treat bone tumors.
A Two-Dimensional Study of Block Onset Locations Using a One-Dimensional Index and GIS

Previous climatologies of blocking from this group using a one-dimensional index showed that in the Northern Hemisphere, blocking onsets primarily occurred in the Pacific Ocean region, the eastern Atlantic, and over continental Asia. In the Southern Hemisphere, the western and eastern Pacific are the two active regions for block onset. The development of technologies such as Geographic Information System (GIS) visualization software mean that ingesting data and then rendering it on a map has become easier and faster. This research group has previously not archived the latitude of onset, making a comparison of onset locations with 2-D indexes difficult. Now, the onset latitude is provided on the University of Missouri Blocking Archive. This work shows that the blocking onset regions are roughly consistent with those found by 2-D indexes, but there are some key differences based on the differences in the information presented. Here, block onset locations are slightly equatorward and upstream of those presented in 2-D indexes. Additionally, there are some differences in the onset locations for more persistent blocks and stronger blocks versus their less persistent and weaker counterparts.
Pheochromocytoma: Gasping for Air

There has been increasing evidence that pseudohypoxia--a phenomenon that we refer to as "gasping for air"--along with mitochondrial enzyme dysregulation play a crucial role in tumorigenesis, particularly in several hereditary pheochromocytomas (PHEOs) and paragangliomas (PGLs). Alterations in key tricarboxylic acids (TCA) cycle enzymes (SDH, FH, MDH2) have been shown to induce pseudohypoxia via activation of the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) signaling pathway that is involved in tumorigenesis, invasiveness, and metastatic spread, including an association with resistance to various cancer therapies and worse prognosis. This review outlines the ongoing story of the pathogenesis of hereditary PHEOs/PGLs, showing the unique and most updated evidence of TCA cycle dysregulation that is tightly linked to hypoxia signaling.
Acute corticosterone stress response to handling in four captive gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus).

ABSTRACT Corticosterone is the primary glucocorticoid hormone produced by reptiles in response to stressful stimuli. Evaluating hormone responses to stress in reptiles relies on acquiring baseline corticosterone levels; however, the stress associated with restraint needed to collect blood samples from animals can affect the results. Therefore, it is important to obtain a blood sample in a relatively short time after the capture of an animal. In some avian and reptilian species, a “3 min rule” has been determined, suggesting that blood samples collected within 3 min of capture are more likely to represent baseline corticosterone levels. The purpose of this study was to determine a time limit for collection of blood samples to evaluate baseline corticosterone concentrations in captive gopher tortoises, Gopherus polyphemus. Four nonreleasable, adult gopher tortoises were used for this study. All tortoises were acclimated to their captive environment for 10 months. Each tortoise was then manually restrained f...