cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Long-Term Antibiotic Suppression in the Management of Peri-Prosthetic Joint Infections Treated With Debridement, Antibiotics, and Implant Retention: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Background A number of clinical trials have been conducted, assessing the role of long-term (>1 year) Suppressive Antibiotic Treatment (SAT) combined with debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR) for the management of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). However, no systematic review of the literature has been published to date to evaluate complications associated with long term antibiotic treatment and overall survivorship free from reoperation and revision for infection after DAIR for total hip and total knee PJI. Methods The US National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were queried for publications from January 1980 to December 2018 utilizing keywords pertinent to total knee arthroplasty, total hip arthroplasty, periprosthetic joint infection and antibiotic suppression. Results Overall, 7 articles of low quality (level III or IV) were included in this analysis. The studies included in this systematic review included 437 cases of PJI treated surgically with DAIR and then with SAT. The overall mean infection-free rate of SAT following DAIR was 75% (318/424 patients), while the all-cause reoperation rate was 6.7%. Overall the mean rate of adverse effects associated with long term antibiotic use was 15.4% and the mean rate of adverse effects leading to discontinuation of SAT was 4.3%. There was no study to show significant differences between acute (either postoperative or haematogenous, with onset of symptoms ≤4 weeks) and chronic (onset of symptoms >4 weeks) infections and failure rates of DAIR with SAT. The literature is inconclusive on the influence of anatomic location (hip versus knee) as well as microorganism on the success rate of DAIR with SAT. Conclusions The results of this systematic review demonstrate that there is still only low-quality evidence regarding the therapeutic effect of DAIR combined with SAT, which is not enough to draw definitive conclusions. Further high-quality prospective studies are needed to better understand SAT’s efficacy and safety in a controlled fashion. Although discontinuation of antibiotic treatment due to side effects was found to be low, the high rates of adverse effects noted after DAIR with SAT demonstrate the underlying frailty and complexity of many patients with PJI, and the imperfect therapies available. While S. aureus appears to be a risk factor for increased risk of SAT failure, there is not enough data to establish which patients would benefit most from DAIR with postoperative SAT.
Five years of development in pursuing excellence in quality and global impact to become the first journal in STEM education covered in SSCI

With the completion of its first five publication cycle years (August 2014 to July 2019), the International Journal of STEM Education has made great progress with its commitments to pursue excellence in quality and worldwide impact. In this editorial, I specifically share the journal’s achievements since August 2018 in obtaining Scopus’s CiteScore and for being included in Web of Science’s Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), which reflect the journal’s continued growth with on-going strong support from researchers and readers internationally.
Success and Challenge When Returning to Clinical Practice: A Case Series in Anesthesiologist Re-Entry.

Introduction. Anesthesiologists returning to clinical practice pose unique challenges for licensing and credentialing boards. Few institutions provide re-education. We describe the physician refresher/re-entry program at our College of Medicine. Methods. We launched the physician re-entry program in 2006. This individualized program re-educates physicians who left clinical practice for any reason and are seeking to return. We report results achieved for 12 anesthesiologists who successfully completed the course between August 2012 and February 2018. Results. Seven men and five women left their practices for various reasons, which included relocation, family or medical reasons, substance use, and burnout. None left practice for medical negligence. Range away from clinical activity was 0–10 years. Five had active licenses. Seven were US graduates and five were international. Nine of 12 achieved their goals. Of the 3 others, 1 did not pursue her goal, another did not obtain a residency, and the other just finished the program. Seven out of 9 (78%) achieved their goal within 1 year of course completion. Discussion. Despite our small sample size, our experience to successfully return inactive physicians to the workforce adds to the scant literature and experience in refreshing inactive physicians. Our trainees return to practice serving communities across the country and are now a pivotal part of the anesthesiology workforce. Thus, this program not only services individual physicians, but the whole community affected by their absence.
Deep learning for objective OCTA detection of diabetic retinopathy

Early detection of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an essential step to prevent vision losses. This study is the first effort to explore convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for transfer-learning based optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) detection and classification of DR. We employed transfer-learning using a pre-trained CNN, VGG16, based on the ImageNet dataset for classification of OCTA images. To prevent overfitting, data augmentation, e.g. rotations, flips, and zooming, and 5-fold cross-validation were implemented. A dataset comprising of 131 OCTA images from 20 control, 17 diabetic patients without DR (NoDR), and 60 nonproliferative DR (NPDR) patients were used for preliminary validation. Best classification performance was achieved with fine-tuning nine layers of the sixteen-layer CNN model.
New combinations in Sidalcea (Malvaceae)

The new combinations Sidalcea asprella Greene subsp. elegans (Greene) Halse and Sidalcea asprella Greene subsp. virgata (Howell) Halse are made.
Testing the Black Box: Institutional Investors, Risk Disclosure, and Ethical AI

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) throughout the economy makes the ethical risks it poses a mainstream concern beyond technology circles. Building on their growing role bringing greater transparency to climate risk, institutional investors can play a constructive role in advancing the responsible evolution of AI by demanding more rigorous analysis and disclosure of ethical risks.
A realistic, durable, and low-cost training model for percutaneous renal access using ballistic gelatin.

Objective The purpose of this study was to design and implement a realistic, durable, and low-cost training model for percutaneous renal access. Material and methods Ballistic gelatin mixed with radiographic contrast was poured into surgical gloves to create a radio-dense renal collecting system. The collecting system model was then embedded in a pure ballistic gelatin block resting upon a clear acrylic glass base. Finally, the model was covered by a visually opaque polyurethane foam cover with chalk sticks positioned to simulate ribs. Experienced attending urologists and interventional radiologists, urology residents, and medical students used the model to access the upper, middle, and lower renal calyces under fluoroscopic guidance. Outcomes included model durability, realism rated by participants on a visual analogue scale, and cost. Results The ballistic gelatin model was durable and anatomically realistic. Each model sustained over 200 needle punctures with no significant compromise in structural integrity or any contrast leakage. Attending and resident physicians considered it to provide an accurate simulation of renal access and medical students and residents considered the model to be a practical training modality (residents 8.4/10 vs. medical students 9.4/10). The total cost for one model was $60. Conclusion The ballistic gelatin collecting system provided a realistic, durable, and low-cost renal access training model. This could allow trainees to develop skills without compromising patient safety.
A masked, randomised clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of lokivetmab compared to saline control in client-owned dogs with allergic dermatitis.

Background Interleukin (IL)-31 is an important mediator in canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) and also may be dysregulated in other allergic diseases. Hypothesis/objectives To demonstrate the efficacy and safety of lokivetmab (canine anti-IL-31 monoclonal antibody) for treatment of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis in dogs. Animals Dogs that were at least moderately pruritic with a presumptive diagnosis of allergic dermatitis were enrolled in Portugal, Hungary, France and Germany by 12 primary care practitioners and two veterinary dermatology referral specialists. Methods and materials Dogs were randomised to receive either placebo (saline) or lokivetmab (1.0-3.3 mg/kg) by subcutaneous injection on Day (D)0. Owners evaluated pruritus using a validated Visual Analog Scale (pVAS) daily until D7 and then weekly until D28. The severity of dermatitis was assessed by the investigators using a modified VAS on D0, D7, D14 and D28. Results Beginning at D1, owner-assessed pVAS least square means were significantly reduced in the treatment group versus the placebo group (57.7% versus 21.8% reduction on D28). For all time points, investigator-assessed VAS means were significantly reduced in the lokivetmab group versus the placebo group (57.1% versus 20.5% reduction on D28). Overall, the occurrence of adverse health events during the evaluation period was comparable between the two groups. Conclusions and clinical importance Lokivetmab is a safe and efficacious treatment for dogs with allergic dermatitis.
Gestational Diabetes and Overweight/Obesity: Analysis of Nulliparous Women in the U.S., 2011-2019.

Introduction The rates of gestational diabetes mellitus are increasing in parallel with the rates of overweight and obesity. This analysis examines nationwide trends in the population-attributable fraction for gestational diabetes mellitus associated with prepregnancy overweight and obesity. Methods A serial, cross-sectional study was performed using U.S. population-based birth data files maintained by the National Center for Health Statistics between 2011 and 2019. Live singleton births to nulliparous women aged 15–44 years were included, and all analyses were stratified by race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Asian). Prevalences of prepregnancy overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2 and 23.0–27.4 kg/m2) and obesity (≥30.0 kg/m2 and ≥27.5 kg/m2) based on standard and Asian-specific BMI categories, respectively, were quantified. Logistic regression estimated the adjusted associations between prepregnancy overweight and obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus, with normal weight (18.0–24.9 kg/m2and 18.0–22.9 kg/m2) as the ref. Annual population-attributable fractions for gestational diabetes mellitus associated with prepregnancy overweight and obesity were calculated, which account for both the prevalence of the risk factor and the associated risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Results Among 11,950,881 included women, the mean maternal age was 26.3 years. From 2011 to 2019, the population-attributable fractions for gestational diabetes mellitus associated with overweight were stable (Hispanic: 12.0%–11.3%, non-Hispanic Asian: 12.1%–11.6%, p≥0.20) or decreased (non-Hispanic White: 10.8%–9.4%, non-Hispanic Black: 12.3%–9.2%, p Conclusions The population-attributable fractions for gestational diabetes mellitus associated with obesity largely increased in the past decade, underscoring the importance of optimizing weight before pregnancy.
Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 PCR-Based Detection Using Saliva or Nasopharyngeal Swab Specimens in Asymptomatic Populations.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has challenged clinical diagnostic operations due to supply shortages and high staffing needs to collect nasopharyngeal (NP) swab samples. Saliva is an easily accessible alternative specimen type to overcome some of these challenges. In this study, we first used paired saliva and NP swab specimens (n = 128) to compare test performance characteristics with three RNA extraction platforms, i.e., Maxwell RSC (Promega), MagNA Pure 96 (Roche), and KingFisher Flex (Thermo Fisher Scientific), together with two PCR chemistries, i.e., severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (2019-nCoV) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) quantitative PCR (qPCR) probe assay (Integrated DNA Technologies) and TagPath COVID-19 combination kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific). This study demonstrated that both saliva and NP swab specimens performed well, with 97% agreement when tested by the CDC qPCR chemistry using Maxwell and MagNA Pure RNA extraction platforms. We then compared 12 weeks of saliva and NP swab testing results using two independent asymptomatic populations, including a community surveillance program using saliva samples only (n = 466) and preoperative screening using NP swab samples only (n = 8,461). The positive detection rates among participants with either saliva or NP swab samples were 1.07% and 1.12%, respectively, which confirms the low pretest probabilities for COVID-19 infections in asymptomatic populations. Notably, there was no increased proportion of low-titer cases (inconclusive results) reported in the asymptomatic groups, compared with the all-comers groups (0.21% and 0.66%, respectively, in the community population and 0.25% and 0.49%, respectively, in the preoperative population); this suggests that low-viral-titer carriers can be found similarly in both groups with saliva or NP swab specimens. In summary, saliva can be considered a good alternative for noninvasive but well-instructed self-collection. IMPORTANCE Our study shows that saliva is a noninvasive respiratory secretion sample type that contains equal or more host materials (RNase P), compared with those contained in the corresponding NP swab specimens, in 103 paired samples. SARS-CoV-2 detection with two RNA extraction platforms, Maxwell and MagNA Pure, with CDC qPCR chemistry showed similar test sensitivities for paired specimens. We then analyzed SARS-CoV-2 detections rates in two independent groups of asymptomatic participants, i.e., a group at a community screening station with supervised saliva collection only (n = 466) and a preoperative screening group (n = 8,461) with NP swabbing only. Similar detection rates of 1.07% for the community group and 1.12% for the preoperative group supported the similar test performances in these groups predicted to have low pretest probabilities of infection. With mindful preparation, saliva can be considered for schools and clinical participants when adequate collection education can be provided and compliance can be established.
Legislators and Representational Roles - Habits of the Heart or Strategic Choices?

What are the sources of legislators’ role orientations? The debate on this topic entertains two contradictory visions. Early role theorists perceive roles from a structural-functionalist perspective and highlight particular socio-structural variables as explanations for particular representational roles. More recent contributions to the debate picture representational roles as strategic behavior based on given interests and institutional constraints. This paper contributes to this debate in a twofold way. It firstly contributes to our theoretical understanding of representational roles by emphasizing party organizational careers as crucial mechanisms in explaining representational roles. The paper secondly contributes to our empirical understanding of representational roles by testing both role theories for the German case. The data for the paper are drawn from the German Candidate Study 2005 (GCS 2005) which includes 220 successful candidates elected to the 16th German Bundestag.
Qualifying answers according to user needs and preferences

This paper presents a rigorous methodology for using annotated logic programming techniques to handle user preferences and needs in answering database queries. Two alternative transformations turn a database program into a new program that returns answers to queries according to qualitative labels. The two transformations have different semantics and are each appropriate in different situations. We have modified the standard definitions of annotated logic programs to handle user needs and preferences in databases. In the formalism, the user provides a lattice of domain-independent values that define preferences and needs and a set of domain specific user constraints qualified with lattice values. After the original database and the user constraints have been transformed into a new annotated deductive database, query-answering procedures for deductive databases are used, with minor modifications, to obtain annotated answers to queries. Because preference declaration is separated from data representation and management, preferences can be easily altered without touching the database. The resulting query language allows users to ask for answers at different preference levels.
Leadership in public health.

The modern public health model for leadership will unlikely be the omniscient figure with easy answers.51 Rather the public health leader of the future may well be the transcendent, collaborative «servant leader»50,52 who knits and aligns disparate voices together behind a common mission. They pinpoint passion and compassion, promote servant leadership, acknowledge the unfamiliar, the ambiguous, and the paradoxical, communicate succinctly to reframe, and understand the «public» part of public health leadership. By working between and above the levels of leadership of self, others and organizations, these transcendent leaders can ultimately shift the paradigm from «no hope» to «new hope» and create a renewed sense of community.
Physician behavior and bedside manners: the influence of William Osler and The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

The practice of medicine changes with time as we develop better techniques for diagnosis and improved therapies for treatment. The art of medicine remains constant over the millennia because human nature is unchanging. Patients bring fear, anxiety, and self-pity into the exam room. It has always been the doctor's responsibility to calm their fears and provide hope. The accomplished doctor has a bedside manner that is humane and compassionate, empathetic and supportive. Students are taught bedside skills, the art of medicine, by our senior, most experienced clinicians. However, in the past 20 years, more of these professors are laboratory scientists, often deficient or unpracticed in their bedside skills. Bernard Lown, the famous Boston cardiologist, wrote in 1996 in his book The Lost Art of Healing (1) how essential bedside behavior is to good medical care. He expressed his concern that important bedside skills are disappearing in our technology-focused practice of medicine. Several medical schools have recommended a new emphasis on improving professionalism. Jock Murray, former dean of the Dalhousie Medical School, speaking to the American College of Physicians in 2006, commented on the general erosion of professionalism and a growing public cynicism about the profession. He called for a new focus on the three core principles of professionalism: competency, the primacy of patient welfare, and social justice. Professionalism is not an attempt to protect physicians' power and status, he noted, but a call to practice medicine in patients' best interests (2). No physician has exerted a greater influence on how physicians should behave than Sir William Osler. His essays on the practice of medicine, his leadership in medical organizations, and his personal charisma established a paradigm that has served as a model for physician behavior at the bedside. His textbook of medicine, The Principles and Practice of Medicine, first published in 1892 (3), was the bible of rational medical therapy for 30 years. He was the first chief of medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Medical School, and his leadership at Johns Hopkins transformed American medical care. He led the effort to bring a scientific approach to the care of the patient. Osler famously said, “The practice of medicine is an art based on science” (4) (Figure). Figure Osler at the bedside of a patient. Photo from the Mark Silverman collection. Osler was a unique personality and practiced at a propitious time in medicine. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, medicine was evolving from a practice based on superstition and tradition into a rational biological science. His bedside manners were based on Victorian morals and their notion of the duties of a gentleman. But like the technophobe and iPad enthusiast of today, he eagerly embraced scientific medicine as the new hope for tomorrow. How did William Osler and the Johns Hopkins Medical School influence our current bedside behavior?
Gain and bandwidth boosting techniques for high-speed operational amplifiers

CMOS continuous-time and switched-capacitor filters which operate at high frequencies with high quality factor are difficult to realize. The finite gain and the finite bandwidth of the integrator amplifiers are the main limitation. This paper describes two techniques to simultaneously increase bandwidth, transconductance, and DC gain of an amplifier without changing the excess bias or the power dissipation. Implementations of a continuous-time band-pass filter to demonstrate the high frequency capabilities of the proposed architectures are described.
A Critical Assessment of the PAH Hypothesis: Revisited

Following the proposal that PAH’s may be the source of the unidentified infrared emission bands, extensive laboratory spectroscopy has been carried out. These measurements have been generally consistent with that hypothesis, and interstellar PAH’s have been suggested to explain the far ultraviolet extinction and the diffuse interstellar bands. However, there are several discrepancies between experiments and observations in addition to inconsistencies in the hypothesis that rule out a tendency to accept the PAH concept at this time.
A REPLICATION AND EXTENSION OF THE ANTISYMMETRY EFFECT IN PIGEONS

Pigeons trained on successive AB symbolic matching show emergent BA antisymmetry if they are also trained on successive AA oddity and BB identity (Urcuioli, 2008, Experiment 4). In other words, when tested on BA probe trials following training, they respond more to the comparisons on the reverse of the nonreinforced AB baseline trials than on the reverse of the reinforced AB baseline trials (the opposite of an associative symmetry pattern). The present experiment replicated this finding. In addition, it showed that antisymmetry also emerged after baseline training on successive AB symbolic matching, AA identity, and BB oddity, consistent with the prediction from Urcuioli's (2008) theory of pigeons' stimulus-class formation. Together, these results provide further empirical support for that theory including the proposition that the functional stimuli in pigeons' successive matching consist of the nominal stimuli plus their ordinal positions within a trial.
Metabolic studies of children with idiopathic scoliosis.

Metabolic studies of calcium, phosphorus, and nitrogen in children with moderate to severe idiopathic scoliosis have been carried out. The findings demonstrated no clear-cut abnormality in mineral metabolism, but did show a serious disturbance in catabolism of protein with excessive wastage of nitrogen through the urine. The metabolic error also appears to involve derivatives of sulphur-containing amino acids. The scoliotic children tended to excrete a larger number of essential amino acids than did normal children of the same age range.
Alkaloids of Zanthoxylum monophyllum and Z. punctatum

Abstract The known alkaloids N -methylcorydine and magnoflorine were major constituents of stems and branches of Zanthoxylum punctatum (Rutaceae). Berberine was the major alkaloid of Z. monophyllum , which also contained a new pyrano-2-quinolone alkaloid, zanthophylline, and its desmethyl analog. Zanthophylline has an —NCH 2 OAc functional group which is readily hydrolyzed by dilute acid. Methyl vanillate and the furocoumarin columbianetin were also found in Z. monophyllum .
Potential sources of the electronic materials GaP and AlAs. Synthesis and X-ray structures of [t-Bu2 Ga(μ-(C5H9)PH)]2 and [Et2Al(μ-t-Bu2As)]2 (C5H9 = cyclopentyl)

Abstract Reaction of GaCl3 with t-BuLi (2 equiv.)and Li-(C5H9)PH in THF at −78°C gives colourless crystalline [t-Bu2Ga(μ-(C5H9)PH)]2 (1) in 80% yield (C5H9 = cyclopentyl). Reaction of Et3Al with t-Bu2AsH at 220°C gives the aluminium arsenide dimer, [Et2Al(μ-t-Bu2As)]2 (2) (63%). The X-ray structures of both (1) and (2) have been determined. They are both dimeric with bridging phosphido or arsenido groups and terminal alkyls. The coordination geometry of the Ga or Al atoms is roughly tetrahedral in each case. For compound (1) 31P NMR data indicate the presence of both the syn and anti isomers in solution (relative ratios 1:2.5). In the solid state only the anti isomer is observed. Crystal data for (1): C26H56Ga2P2, M = 570.12, monoclinic, C2/m (No. 12), a = 16.736(3), b = 11.586(1), c = 8.413(2) A, β = 104.62(1)°, U = 1578.6(5) A3, Dc = 1.20 g cm−3, Z = 2, μ(Mo-Kα) = 18.11 cm−1. Refinement of 1054 reflections (I 3σ(I)) out of 1447 unique observed reflections (3° ⩽ 2θ ⩽ 50°) gave RRw values of 0.0503 and 0.0565, respectively. Data/parameter ratio = 12.85, highest peak in final difference Fourier = 0.604 e A−3. Crystal data for (2): C24H56Al2As2, M = 434.29, monoclinic, P21/n (No. 14), a = 8.907(1), b = 11.691(1), c = 14.735(3) A, β = 90.25(1)°, U = 1534.4(5) A3, Dc = 1.88 g cm−3, Z = 4, μ(Mo-Kα) = 44.47 cm−1. Refinement of 1165 reflections (I > 3σ(I)) out of 2700 unique observed reflections (3° ⩽ 2θ; ⩽ 50°) gave R and Rw values of 0.0523 and 0.0600, respectively. Data/parameter ratio = 9.173, highest peak in the final difference Fourier = 0.439 e A−3.
Effect of Skin Removal, Storage Time and Freezing Methods on Tenderness and Rancidity of Broilers

Abstract The removal of skin from breast parts lowered the TBA value. This effect was not detected in thigh-drum samples. Breasts cooked at 0.36 kg./cm.2 pressure had higher TBA values than parts cooked at atmospheric pressure. Both breasts and thigh-drum samples developed more rancidity after three months of frozen storage. Skin removal lowered the total moisture content of all parts. There was less moisture in the breast stored for three months as compared to the initial breasts. The breasts with the skin removed lost the most moisture during storage. The fat content of all the parts was lowered by removing the skin. In thigh-drum samples, there was less fat in the freon-frozen parts than the blast-frozen parts. There was more percentage fat in all parts stored for three months. The removal of the skin from the breast and thighs increased the shear values after freezing.
Transient stresses in a transversely isotropic elastic solid caused by a dislocation moving at tran-or super-sonic speeds

A suddenly applied dislocation, moving at tran- or super-sonic speed, induces a plane stress field in an unbounded, transversely isotropic, elastic solid. Treated in detail are theδ-function plane waves associated with this disturbance. It is shown that at a special dislocation speed, in the tran-sonic range, these head waves disappear. The results are applied to several hexagonal crystals.
Rank-sparsity constrained, spectro-temporal reconstruction for retrospectively gated, dynamic CT

Relative to prospective projection gating, retrospective projection gating for dynamic CT applications allows fast imaging times, minimizing the potential for physiological and anatomic variability. Preclinically, fast imaging is attractive due to the rapid clearance of low molecular weight contrast agents and the rapid heart rate of rodents. Clinically, retrospective gating is relevant for intraoperative C-arm CT. More generally, retrospective sampling provides an opportunity for significant reduction in x-ray dose within the framework of compressive sensing theory and sparsity-constrained iterative reconstruction. Even so, CT reconstruction from projections with random temporal sampling is a very poorly conditioned inverse problem, requiring high fidelity regularization to minimize variability in the reconstructed results. Here, we introduce a highly novel data acquisition and regularization strategy for spectro-temporal (5D) CT reconstruction from retrospectively gated projections. We show that by taking advantage of the rank-sparse structure and separability of the temporal and spectral reconstruction sub-problems, being able to solve each sub-problem independently effectively guarantees that we can solve both problems together. In this paper, we show 4D simulation results (2D + 2 energies + time) using the proposed technique and compare them with two competing techniques— spatio-temporal total variation minimization and prior image constrained compressed sensing. We also show in vivo, 5D (3D + 2 energies + time) myocardial injury data acquired in a mouse, reconstructing 20 data sets (10 phases, 2 energies) and performing material decomposition from data acquired over a single rotation (360°, dose: ~60 mGy).
Mobile Robots for Harsh Environments: Lessons Learned from Field Experiments

Mobile robots for harsh environments provide useful means for automating the collection of research data in the field by reducing human involvement. MARVIN II has been designed and constructed to autonomously collect radar measurements to determine properties of the polar ice sheets. This paper discusses the lessons learned from a number of field experiments with its predecessor MARVIN, and how these lessons influenced the new design of MARVIN II.
An Update on the Hepatitis E Virus

There have been recent key advances in the understanding of hepatitis E virus infection. Since the early 1980s, when the virus was first discovered, hepatitis E has been described as a disease that is endemic only in the African and Asian subcontinents, a disease that is transmitted via the fecal–oral route, and a disease that causes an acute illness that typically resolves, with the exception of the third trimester of pregnancy, when infection can be deadly. We now know that genotype 3 is likely a porcine zoonotic disease that is quite prevalent in certain industrialized nations. Hepatitis E carries high morbidity and mortality in patients with underlying liver disease and can become a chronic infection that causes fibrosis in immunocompromised hosts. Lastly, two vaccines have been developed and studied in clinical trials, with excellent results.
The Dependence of Frequencies of Seeing on Procedural Variables: I. Direction and Length of Series of Intensity-Ordered Stimuli

(1955). The Dependence of Frequencies of Seeing on Procedural Variables: I. Direction and Length of Series of Intensity-Ordered Stimuli. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 53, No. 1, pp. 37-47.
Residual Oil Combustion in Gas Turbines: State of the Art

This is a brief review of the problems encountered in the combustion of residual fuel in commercial gas turbines. The technical problems have been solved except for turbine deposit build-up running base load for long periods. Use of this fuel is economically marginal owing to increased operating complications and maintenance costs.Copyright © 1967 by ASME
Planning for idle time: A rationale for underutilization of capacity

This paper presents an argument that since the proportion of product cost which represents direct labour is diminishing and the material content cost is increasing, western firms are shifting their...
Effect of exercise protocol and lead selection on the accuracy of heart rate-adjusted indices of ST-segment depression for detection of three-vessel coronary artery disease

Abstract To assess the effect of exercise protocol and number of monitoring leads on the ability of the ST HR slope and delta ST HR index to identify threevessel coronary artery disease, the exercise ECGs of 50 patients who had coronary arteriography were reviewed. Test performance of the ST HR slope using the Cornell exercise protocol with 13 leads was compared with performance obtained from the standard 12 leads and from sets of only 3 leads, as well as with test outcome using Bruce protocol equivalent stages with multiple-lead sets. ST HR slopes could be calculated in 100% of patients using data from the Cornell protocol, but in only 80% of patients using the Bruce protocol with 13 leads (χ2 = 8.1, p ST HR slope partition of 6.0 μV/bpm identified three-vessel disease with a sensitivity of 96%, specificity of 58%, and overall test accuracy of 76%. At matched specificity, the Bruce protocol 13-lead ST HR slope partition of 5.0 μV/bpm had a sensitivity of only 48% and overall test accuracy of 53% for three-vessel disease in those patients with calculable test outcomes (each p ST HR slope performance calculated from fewer monitored leads. Performance of the delta ST HR index was similar with 3 leads and with 13 leads. These findings demonstrate the importance of the gently graded Cornell exercise protocol for accurate ST HR slope assessment of the severity of coronary artery disease and also suggest that heart rate-adjusted methods may be accurately implemented with three-lead electrocardiographic monitoring.
The Impact of Motive Attributions on Coworker Justice Perceptions of Rewarded Organizational Citizenship Behavior

Purpose Research was conducted to determine whether and why the perceived motive (traditional or self-serving) underlying an employee’s organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) affects coworkers’ justice perceptions of the rewards distributed in response to the OCB.
Iatrogenic spinal instability: Cervical and thoracic spine

Abstract Iatrogenic spinal instability is defined as an instability resulting from direct surgical and/or medical intervention. Spinal instability of this variety was originally described in the early to mid-20th century and many of the treatments that produce instability have been known and studied for decades. More importantly, patients with iatrogenic instability are now recognized to have decreased functional outcomes and are at increased risk of requiring revision surgery. The most common clinical presentation is seen in an at-risk patient who fails to meet expected post-operative gains, functionally declines, or presents with new symptoms. Arriving at the correct diagnosis requires a high degree of suspicion and detailed history. While improvements in the understanding of spinal stability and advances in surgical technique have altered the incidence of iatrogenic instability, it continues to remain a relatively common clinical problem. A thorough comprehension of the etiologies, prevention strategies, and subsequent management of iatrogenic instability is imperative to the practicing spine surgeon. This review will outline four of the most common clinical scenarios that result from treatment-induced spinal instability: post-laminectomy kyphosis, posterior foraminotomy-induced kyphosis, adjacent segment disease, and radiation-induced instability. The goal will be to detail the proposed mechanisms of the induced instability, allowing for potential prevention strategies, and to provide an approach to treatment for patients with each of these iatrogenic instability conditions.
Oligomerization and divalent ion binding properties of the S100P protein: a Ca2+/Mg2+-switch model

Abstract S100P is a 95 amino acid residue protein which belongs to the S100 family of proteins containing two putative EF-hand Ca2+-binding motifs. In order to characterize conformational properties of S100P in the presence and absence of divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+ and Zn2+) in solution, we have analyzed hydrodynamic and spectroscopic characteristics of wild-type and several variants (Y18F, Y88F and C85S) of S100P using equilibrium centrifugation, gel-filtration chromatography, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopies. Analysis of the experimental data shows the following. (1) In agreement with the predictions there are two Ca2+-binding sites in the S100P molecule with different affinity; the high affinity binding site has an apparent binding constant of ∼107 M−1 and the low affinity binding site has an apparent binding constant of ∼104 M−1. (2) The high and low affinity Ca2+-binding sites are located in the C and N-terminal parts of the S100P molecule, respectively. (3) These C and N-terminal sites can also bind other divalent ions. The C-terminal site binds Zn2+ (with relatively low affinity ∼103 M−1), but not Mg2+. The N-terminal site binds Mg2+ with the apparent binding constant ∼102 M−1. (4) Binding of Ca2+ to the C-terminal site and binding of Mg2+ to the N-terminal site occur in the physiological concentration range of these ions (micromolar for Ca2+ and millimolar for Mg2+). (5) Oligomerization state of the S100P molecule appears to change upon addition of Ca2+. On the basis of these observations a plausible model for S100P as a Ca2+/Mg2+ switch has been proposed.
SU-E-T-543: Is It Feasible to Tighten the Criteria for IROC's Anthropomorphic Phantoms?

Purpose: To analyze results of IROC Houston QA center's (RPC) H&N and prostate IMRT phantoms to determine the effect that tightening criteria would have on the phantom pass rate. Methods: IROC Houston's anthropomorphic H&N and prostate phantoms are used to credential institution's to participate in NCI clinical trials that allow the use of IMRT. The phantoms are shipped to institutions where they are filled with water and undergo imaging, treatment planning, and irradiation as a patient would. Each phantom houses targets and organs at risk. They also hold film and TLD. Dosimeter results are compared to the institution's treatment plan using the criteria of 7% for PTV TLD doses and ≥85% pixels must pass 7%/4 mm global gamma analyses. Pass rates for the H&N and prostate phantoms were recalculated using the following tighter criteria options: 1) 5% TLD and 85% pixels 7%/4 gamma2) 5% TLD and 90% pixels 7%/4 gamma3) 5% TLD and 85% pixels 5%/4 gammaGamma analysis was repeated for the 30 most recent irradiations of each phantom to estimate results for criteria 3. Results: Pass rates using current criteria for the H&N and prostate phantoms are 84% and 85% respectively. Pass rates since gamma criteria were introduced in 2012 are 90% and 87%. Criteria 1 applied to all irradiations drops pass rates to 78% and 82%. Applying it to only irradiations with gamma results give 77% and 84%. Applying criteria 2 to only phantoms with gamma results drops pass rates to 80% and 74% and they fall to 83% and 67% respectively using criteria 3. Conclusion: Applying tighter criteria to phantom results has potential to increase quality in clinical trials. The results of the 30 most recent irradiations indicate that there may be room to tighten H&N phantom criteria in the future. Work supported by PHS grant CA10953 and CA081647 (NCI, DHHS).
Observed kinetics of an exothermic reaction on a temperature-controlled catalytic wire

Abstract Experiments and simulations of the exothermic oxidation of CO on a temperature-controlled Pt wire are presented which elucidate the impacts of transport processes and temperature nonuniformities on the observed steady-state kinetic and multiplicity features. Rate multiplicity was observed over a wide range of average wire temperatures ( T w = 100–350°C), feed compositions (CO/O 2 = 0.01–1), and total pressures (5–760 torr). Several of the multiplicity features are atypical of conventional isothermal CO oxidation behavior, such as a ( T w CO/O 2 ) multiplicity region (bifurcation map) having an extinction branch with a local maximum, which is indicative of a pitchfork singularity. At sufficiently low T w and high CO/O 2 an unexpected high rate state was sustained in addition to the expected CO-inhibited, low rate state. Visual inspection of the wire while in the high rate state revealed a glowing hot spot near the center of the wire. Simulations using a hot wire model comprised of detailed, isothermal Pt-calyzed CO oxidation kinetics and the pertinent transport processes help to elucidate the observations. The apparent kinetic anomalies are shown to be a manifestation of temperature nonuniformities along a wire of uniform activity and thermal conductivity. The generality of the observed multiplicity features, the observation of hot spots, and the rational model construct rules out a more complicated kinetic mechanism that would be necessary to explain the data. Close similarities between the CO oxidation data, the simulations, and previously reported data for other Pt-catalyzed oxidations (of propylene and ammonia) suggest that the thermokinetically-induced nonuniformities are a general phenomenon. The results underscore the danger of using ohmic temperature control to study the isothermal kinetics of a metal catalyzed reaction. Model simulations are presented which help to identify conditions for which the impact of nonuniformities can be minimized.
Optimum fibre orientations for the buckling of thin plates of composite material

Abstract Optimum symmetrical fibre orientations are derived for thin plates of fibre-reinforced material to resist buckling under compression or shear. Design charts are plotted for the buckling coefficients in each case, and a parameter is introduced which relates the maximum stress in the reinforcing fibres to the buckling stress of the plate.
Mobilities, diffusion coefficients, and reaction rates of mass-identified nitrogen ions in nitrogen

Measurements at room temperature of the drift velocity, the longitudinal diffusion coefficient, and the transverse diffusion coefficient have been made for low-energy mass-identified nitrogen ions in nitrogen gas in a drift-tube mass spectrometer. These parameters were evaluated using an analysis described in the article immediately preceding this one. The mobilities of ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$ and $\mathrm{N}_{2}^{}{}_{}{}^{+}$ were obtained over the $\frac{E}{N}$ range from 7 to 700 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}$ V ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, yielding zero-field reduced mobility values of 2.97 and 1.87 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/V sec, respectively. The mobilities of $\mathrm{N}_{3}^{}{}_{}{}^{+}$ and $\mathrm{N}_{4}^{}{}_{}{}^{+}$ were obtained over the $\frac{E}{N}$ range from 2 to 40 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}$ V ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, yielding zero-field reduced mobility values of 2.26 and 2.33 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/V sec, respectively. For ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$ and $\mathrm{N}_{2}^{}{}_{}{}^{+}$, the longitudinal diffusion coefficients were determined from the widths of the experimental arrival time spectra, and the transverse diffusion coefficients were determined from the attenuation of the ion count rate as the drift distance was increased. For both ions the two diffusion coefficients were observed to be equal and in agreement with the Einstein relation at low $\frac{E}{N}$, but to behave quite differently as $\frac{E}{N}$ was increased. It has previously been reported that the longitudinal diffusion coefficients of both ions increase rapidly by more than an order of magnitude; the transverse diffusion coefficient of ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$ has been found to increase in a similar fashion, although much less rapidly, while that of $\mathrm{N}_{2}^{}{}_{}{}^{+}$ remains nearly constant. Measurements were made up to an $\frac{E}{N}$ of 700 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}$ V ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. The rates of the two ion-molecule reactions, ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$ + 2${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} $\mathrm{N}_{3}^{}{}_{}{}^{+}$ + ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ and $\mathrm{N}_{2}^{}{}_{}{}^{+}$ + 2${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} $\mathrm{N}_{4}^{}{}_{}{}^{+}$ + ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, were also measured by an attenuation technique over the $\frac{E}{N}$ range from thermal to 100 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}$ V ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. The reaction rates at thermal energy were determined to be 1.8 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}29}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{6}$/sec and 5.0 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}29}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{6}$/sec, respectively, and both rates were observed to decrease as $\frac{E}{N}$ was increased.
Studies of tau decay modes with K0 mesons from CLEO

We examine five final states involving K 0 mesons, presenting branching fractions for the decays τ → K 0 πν τ , τ → K 0 ππ 0 ν τ , τ → K 0 Kν τ , τ → K 0 Kπ 0 ν τ , and τ → K s K s hν τ . The mass spectra provide evidence for the dominant role of K * in Kπ decays and K 1 in Kππ modes. We find evidence for a significant K * K contribution to the KKπ decays.
PULMONARY EMBOLISM AND PREMATURE LABOR IN A PATIENT WITH BOTH FACTOR V LEIDEN MUTATION AND METHYLENETETRAHYDROFOLATE REDUCTASE GENE C677T MUTATION

Multiple risk factors for thrombosis were found in a 21 year old female who experienced three episodes of premature labor and developed severe pulmonary embolism during her third pregnancy. This patient is heterozygous for factor V Leiden mutation and homozygous for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene nucleotide 677 C to T (C677T) point mutation. This is a first report of the concordance of homozygous MTHFR C677T mutation in an individual with factor V Leiden mutation. This new case provides further evidence that synergism of multiple genetic and acquired risk factors is often encountered in young patients with symptomatic venous thrombosis.
Density gradients formed during compaction of bronze powders: the origins of part-to-part variation

The existence of density gradients in metal compacts has been recognized for over 50 years. However, previous attempts to quantify these gradients were limited by the difficulty of the technique involved and the ambiguity of the results. In this article, the utility of X-ray computer tomography (XRCT) in providing quantitative characterization of part-to-part variation in bronze compacts is demonstrated. Compaction behavior was also contrasted with previous work on porous spray-dried agglomerates. The density distribution patterns are qualitatively and quantitatively dissimilar. Different mechanisms appear to dominate the transmission of stress through assemblies of solid metal particles vs that of “softer,” spray-dried agglomerates. In addition, XRCT reveals that the structures found in the socalled “loose” powder (or “fill”) prior to compaction are both more complex than previously believed and capable of influencing final part-to-part variation.
A 133Ba-loaded charcoal cartridge as a counting standard for 131I

Abstract A charcoal-cartridge counting standard is described which can be used for short-lived 131 I and counted near the detector without cascade summing losses. The 133 Ba used has a 10.5 y half life which makes it a desirable standard for long-term use. This standard can be counted near the detector without cascade summing losses because an absorber attenuates one of the cascade γ-rays and x-rays, which greatly reduces the probability of summing in the detector.
Strategic Challenges and Service Sector Response: An Industry‐specific Approach

This article examines the attitudes of chief executives across five service industries (transportation and travel; retail; financial services; communications and information; and professional services) to explore industry differences with regard to strategic challenges, as well as links between strategic challenges facing firms and specific sets of staffing policies.