cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative cost and utility analysis of monolith and fractionated spacecraft using failure and replacement Markov models

Abstract Failure of a single component on-board a spacecraft can compromise the integrity of the whole system and put its entire capability and value at risk. Part of this fragility is intrinsic to the current dominant design of space systems, which is mainly a single, large, monolithic system. The space industry has therefore recently proposed a new architectural concept termed fractionation, or co-located space-based network (SBN). By physically distributing functions in multiple orbiting modules wirelessly connected, this architecture allows the sharing of resources on-orbit (e.g., data processing, downlinks). It has been argued that SBNs could offer significant advantages over the traditional monolithic architecture as a result of the network structure and the separation of sources of risk in the spacecraft. Careful quantitative analyses are still required to identify the conditions under which SBNs can “outperform” monolithic spacecraft. In this work, we develop Markov models of module failures and replacement to quantitatively compare the lifecycle cost and utility of both architectures. We run Monte-Carlo simulations of the models, and discuss important trends and invariants. We then investigate the impact of our model parameters on the existence of regions in the design space in which SBNs “outperform” the monolith spacecraft on a cost, utility, and utility per unit cost basis. Beyond the life of one single spacecraft, this paper compares the cost and utility implications of maintaining each architecture type through successive replacements.
Isotope or mass encoding of combinatorial libraries

Background: Combinatorial chemistry using solid-phase synthesis is a rapidly developing technology that can result in a significant reduction in the time required to find and optimize lead compounds. The application of this approach to traditional medicinal chemistry has led to the construction of libraries of small organic molecules on resin beads. A major difficulty in developing large combinatorial libraries is the lack of a facile encoding and decoding methodology to identify active compounds. Results: Several encoding schemes are described which use the ability of mass spectrometry to ascertain isotopic distributions. Molecular tags are attached to resin beads in parallel or on the linker used for chemical library synthesis. The tags are encoded via a controlled ratio of a number of stable isotopes on the tagging molecules, and range from a single to a complex isotopic distribution. Conclusions: A novel coding scheme is described that is useful for the generation of large encoded combinatorial libraries. The code can be cleaved after assay and analyzed by mass spectrometry in an automated fashion. An important element of the combinatorial discovery process is the ability to extract the structure-activity relationship (SAR) information made available by library screening. The speed and sensitivity of the mass-encoding scheme has the potential to determine the full SAR for a given library.
Views through a Kaleidoscope: the Dimensions of State Welfare Policy Measures

Q JUITE UNDERSTANDABLY, studies on variable measurement are not among the most popular forms of political science literature. To all but the devoted, they often appear boring, nitpicking and even slightly pompous. Like supply lines for an army, they lack glory; the real action is at the front, not at the depot. And yet, like these same supply lines, appropriate measurements are central to success. Poor measurement, poor results. In fact, some of the most energetic quarrels in the discipline essentially revolve around measurement questions. So it behooves researchers occasionally to provide a detailed scouting report on the different measures that can be used in an area, how choices among them will lead to different conclusions, and what these can tell us about political behavior and outcomes. We propose to do this for one area which has been the target of fairly extensive research, state welfare policy.
Survey of academic pediatric hospitalist programs in the US: organizational, administrative, and financial factors.

BACKGROUND Many pediatric academic centers have hospital medicine programs. Anecdotal data suggest that variability exists in program structure. OBJECTIVE To provide a description of the organizational, administrative, and financial structures of academic pediatric hospital medicine (PHM). METHODS This online survey focused on the organizational, administrative, and financial aspects of academic PHM programs, which were defined as hospitalist programs at US institutions associated with accredited pediatric residency program (n = 246) and identified using the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database. PHM directors and/or residency directors were targeted by both mail and the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Hospital Medicine LISTSERV. RESULTS The overall response rate was 48.8% (120/246). 81.7% (98/120) of hospitals reported having an academic PHM program, and 9.1% (2/22) of hospitals without a program reported plans to start a program in the next 3 years. Over a quarter of programs provide coverage at multiple sites. Variability was identified in many program factors, including hospitalist workload and in-house coverage provided. Respondents reported planning increased in-house hospitalist coverage coinciding with the 2011 ACGME work-hour restrictions. Few programs reported having revenues greater than expenses (26% single site, 4% multiple site). CONCLUSIONS PHM programs exist in the majority of academic centers, and there appears to be variability in many program factors. This study provides the most comprehensive data on academic PHM programs and can be used for benchmarking as well as program development. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2013;8:285–291. © 2013 Society of Hospital Medicine
The structure of a class of Mamdani fuzzy controllers with nonlinear input fuzzy sets

Understanding the analytical structure of fuzzy controllers clears away the difficulties in analyzing the fundamental attributes of fuzzy controllers. This study focuses on some common fuzzy controllers and gives conditions for their structures to be equivalent to certain conventional controllers, especially nonlinear PI/PD controllers with variable gains. All the fuzzy controllers use Mamdani type of fuzzy rules, product fuzzy AND operator, singleton output fuzzy sets, and the centroid defuzzifier.
Effects of growth hormone on anthropometric measurements and cardiac function in children with thermal injury

Abstract Severe burn injuries are associated with growth delays a persistent hypermetabolic response and severe muscle catabolism and wasting. Growth hormone (GH), a potent anabolic agent and salutary modulator of post-traumatic metabolic responses has been shown to decrease muscle wasting, improve net protein synthesis and attenuate growth delays in burned children. In non-burned populations, GH has recently been shown to be of benefit in enhancing cardiac performance and improving cardiac contractility and efficiency. Yet, whether administration of GH will induce similar improvements in cardiac function in severely burned children is presently unknown. We therefore, investigated whether the administration of GH initiated upon hospital discharge (95% healed) and continued for 1-year post-burn would improve resting cardiac function in burned children. Severely burned children were randomized to receive either saline placebo ( n = 37) or 0.05 mg/kg per day of GH ( n = 39) from discharge until 12-month post-burn. Outcome variables included height, weight, lean body mass, resting energy expenditure, cardiac index, stroke–volume index, heart rate and left ventricular ejection fraction. Results: height, weight, lean body mass and ejection fraction showed a significant increase with GH. Our results indicate that severely burned children treated with long-term GH show a significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction.
Electronic control of friction in silicon pn junctions

A remarkable dependence of the friction force on carrier concentration was found on doped silicon substrates. The sample was a nearly intrinsic n-type Si(100) wafer patterned with 2-micrometer-wide stripes of highly B-doped p-type material. The counter surface was the tip of an atomic force microscope coated with conductive titanium nitride. The local carrier concentration was controlled through application of forward or reverse bias voltages between the tip and the sample in the p and the n regions. Charge depletion or accumulation resulted in substantial differences in friction force. The results demonstrate the capability to electronically control friction in semiconductor devices, with potential applications in nanoscale machines containing moving parts.
A Lagrangian approach to dynamic resource allocation

We define a class of discrete-time resource allocation problems where multiple renewable resources must be dynamically allocated to different types of jobs arriving randomly. Jobs have geometric service durations, demand resources, incur a holding cost while waiting in queue, a penalty cost of rejection when the queue is filled to capacity, and generate a reward on completion. The goal is to select which jobs to service in each time-period so as to maximize total infinite-horizon discounted expected profit. We present Markov Decision Process (MDP) models of these problems and apply a Lagrangian relaxation-based method that exploits the structure of the MDP models to approximate their optimal value functions. We then develop a dynamic programming technique to efficiently recover resource allocation decisions from this approximate value function on the fly. Numerical experiments demonstrate that these decisions outperform well-known heuristics by at least 35% but as much as 220% on an average.
Incorporating remotely sensed tree canopy cover data into broad scale assessments of wildlife habitat distribution and conservation

Remote sensing provides critical information for broad scale assessments of wildlife habitat distribution and conservation. However, such efforts have been typically unable to incorporate information about vegetation structure, a variable important for explaining the distribution of many wildlife species. We evaluated the consequences of incorporating remotely sensed information about horizontal vegetation structure into current assessments of wildlife habitat distribution and conservation. For this, we integrated the new NLCD tree canopy cover product into the US GAP Analysis database, using avian species and the finished Idaho GAP Analysis as a case study. We found: (1) a 15-68% decrease in the extent of the predicted habitat for avian species associated with specific tree canopy conditions, (2) a marked decrease in the species richness values predicted at the Landsat pixel scale, but not at coarser scales, (3) a modified distribution of biodiversity hotspots, and (4) surprising results in conservation assessment: despite the strong changes in the species predicted habitats, their distribution in relation to the reserves network remained the same. This study highlights the value of area wide vegetation structure data for refined biodiversity and conservation analyses. We discuss further opportunities and limitations for the use of the NLCD data in wildlife habitat studies.
Danger and Dementia: Caregiver Experiences and Shifting Social Roles During a Highly Active Hurricane Season

This study examined disaster preparedness and decision-making by caregivers of community-dwelling persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia (ADRD). Interviews were conducted with 20 caregivers in South Florida. Twelve of these interviews include caregiving experiences during the highly active 2004–2005 hurricane seasons. Results indicate that persons in earlier stages of ADRD can, and often do, remain engaged in the disaster preparation and planning process. However, during the early stages, persons may also resist evacuation, even if the caregiver felt it was necessary. During later stages of the disease, caregivers reported less resistance to disaster-related decisions, however, with the tradeoff of less ability to assist with preparation.
Introduction and overview of artificial neural networks in instrumentation and measurement applications

The author describes some neural network implementations as well as provides readers with basic artificial neural network theory and references to allow them to explore the applicability of neural network technologies for their specific applications. Ideas presented allow inclusion of neural network computational strategies in instrumentation and measurement applications. The terminology and training methods are outlined. >
Scheler’s Concept of Person

The theory of Sartre on the nature of the human person and his interpersonal relationships which we have outlined in the first section is representative of that branch of existential phenomenology which would deny the possibility of any true community of subjects-as-subjects with one another. The widespread interest in such a view is reflected in the work of other contemporary philosophers and is evident also in the current literature of Europe and America. The gospel of the completely free and independent individual engaged only in his own “project” of “making himself” by his arbitrary choices has been welcomed by many who have despaired of salvation through society after witnessing the spectacle of two global wars within one lifetime.
Warm fresh whole blood and thoracic traumain iraq and afghanistan

Background: Thoracic trauma occurred in 10% of the patients seen at US military treatment facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan and 52% of those patients were transfused. Among those transfused, 281 patients received warm fresh whole blood. A previous report documented improved survival with warm fresh whole blood in patients injured in combat without stratification by injury pattern. A later report described an increase in acute lung injuries after its administration. Survivorship and warm fresh whole blood have never been analyzed in a subpopulation at highest risk for lung injuries, such as patients with thoracic trauma. There may be a heterogeneous relationship between whole blood and survival based on likelihood of a concomitant pulmonary injury. In this report, the relationship between warm fresh whole blood and survivorship was analyzed among patients at highest risk for concomitant pulmonary injuries. Materials and Methods: Patients with thoracic trauma who received a transfusion were identified in the Joint Theater Trauma Registry. Gross mortality rates were compared between whole blood recipients and patients transfused with component therapy only. The association between each blood component and mortality was determined in a regression model. The overall mortality risk was compared between warm fresh whole blood recipients and non-recipients. Results: Patients transfused with warm fresh whole blood in addition to component therapy had a higher mortality rate than patients transfused only separated blood components (21.3% vs. 12.8%, P < 0.001). When controlling for covariates, transfusion of warm fresh whole blood in addition to component therapy was not associated with increased mortality risk compared with the transfusion of component therapy only (OR 1.247 [95% CI 0.760-2.048], P = 0.382). Conclusion: Patients with combat related thoracic trauma transfused with warm fresh whole blood were not at increased risk for mortality compared to those who received component therapy alone when controlling for covariates.
The ambiguity properties of FSK/PSK signals

The ambiguity function characteristics of FSK/PSK (frequency shift keying/phase shift keying) signals based on the Costas frequency hopping technique are presented and compared to those of FSK/PSK signals based on quantized linear frequency modulation. The Costas-based FSK/PSK signal is found to maintain a high Doppler tolerance while yielding instantaneous spreading of the component frequencies along with enhanced range resolution. The question of whether PSK encoding should be performed from frequency to frequency or over each frequency separately is addressed through specific examples. The overall results give the radar designer a much freer hand in the selection of the transmission bandwidth, range resolution, and PRF (pulse repetition frequency) duty cycle. >
Sidelobe reduction for limited diffraction pulse-echo systems

Conventional focused transducers have a sharp focal spot with low sidelobes, but they also have a short depth of field. Commercial medical scanners obtain increased depth of field by combining several images in a montage, each obtained at a different focal depth. Therefore, to get low sidelobes over a large depth of field several transmits must be used, which decrease the frame rate. Limited diffraction beams such as Bessel beams and X waves obtain good resolution over very large depth of field, but they have high sidelobes. A summation-subtraction method developed for decreasing the sidelobes is presented. The method requires three transmits, decreasing the frame rate to one third. The authors apply this technique to limited diffraction beams and obtain an analytic description. >
Reheat optimization of the variable-air-volume box

A data-driven approach for optimizing the reheat process in a variable-air-volume box is presented. Data-mining algorithms derive temporal predictive models from the reheat process data. The bi-objective model formed is solved with a modified particle swarm optimization algorithm. To increase computational efficiency, two levels of non-dominated solutions are introduced while solving the optimization model. A model predictive control strategy is used to generate controls minimizing the reheat output while maintaining the thermal comfort at an acceptable level.
The neurofibromatosis type 1 gene encodes a protein related to GAP

cDNA walking and sequencing have extended the open reading frame for the neurofibromatosis type 1 gene (NF1). The new sequence now predicts 2485 amino acids of the NF1 peptide. A 360 residue region of the new peptide shows significant similarity to the known catalytic domains of both human and bovine GAP (GTPase activating protein). A much broader region, centered around this same 360 amino acid sequence, is strikingly similar to the yeast IRA1 product, which has a similar amino acid sequence and functional homology to mammalian GAP. This evidence suggests that NF1 encodes a cytoplasmic GAP-like protein that may be involved in the control of cell growth by interacting with proteins such as the RAS gene product. Mapping of the cDNA clones has confirmed that NF1 spans a t(1;17) translocation mutation and that three active genes lie within an intron of NF1, but in opposite orientation.
Potassium stimulation of insulin release by the perfused rat pancreas.

The insulin release pattern in response to different concentrations of potassium (8, 12, 16 and 30 mEq/1) was determined using the perfused rat pancreas. A rapid burst of insulin secretion was observed during the first 2 min of potassium infusion, particularly in response to the higher potassium levels (16 and 30 mEq/1). This was followed by a rapid decline to almost basal levels which continued until the potassium infusion was terminated. This pattern of release indicates an actual secretory phenomenon and not an insulin leakage by damaged β cells. No burst of secretion was seen when the potassium concentration was slowly increased. This suggests that a rapid increase in the stimulant level is needed in order to produce rapid depolarization of the cell, which in turn may lead to the burst of insulin. The role, of the adrenergic system in potassiuminduced insulin secretion was investigated. Isoproterenol, a predominantly β adrenergic agent, caused a marked decrease in potassium—induced insulin release. Th...
Thresholds of Response in Nest Thermoregulation by Worker Bumble Bees, Bombus bifarius nearcticus (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Regulation of nest temperature is important to the fitness of eusocial insect colonies. To maintain appropriate conditions for the developing brood, workers must exhibit thermoregulatory responses to ambient temperature. Because nest-mate workers differ in task performance, thermoregulatory behavior provides an opportunity to test threshold of response models for the regulation of division of labor. We found that worker bumble bees (Bombus bifarius nearcticus) responded to changes in ambient temperature by altering their rates of performing two tasks - wing fanning and brood cell incubation. At the colony level, the rate of incubating decreased, and the rate of fanning increased, with increasing temperature. Changes in the number of workers performing these tasks were more important to the colony response than changes in workers' task performance rates. At the individual level, workers' lifetime rates of incubation and fanning were positively correlated, and most individuals did not specialize exclusively on either of these temperature-sensitive tasks. However, workers differed in the maximum temperature at which they incubated and in the minimum temperature at which they fanned. More individuals fanned at high and incubated at low temperatures. Most of the workers that began incubating at higher temperatures continued performing this task at lower temperatures, when additional nest-mates became active. The converse was true for fanning behavior. These data are consistent with a threshold of response model for thermoregulatory behavior of B. bifarius workers.
Monitoring Singlet Oxygen and Hydroxyl Radical Formation with Fluorescent Probes During Photodynamic Therapy

Singlet oxygen (1O2) is the primary oxidant generated in photodynamic therapy (PDT) protocols involving sensitizers resulting in type II reactions. 1O2 can give rise to additional reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as the hydroxyl radical (*OH). The current study was designed to assess 3'-p-(aminophenyl) fluorescein (APF) and 3'-p-(hydroxyphenyl) fluorescein (HPF) as probes for the detection of 1O2 and *OH under conditions relevant to PDT. Cell-free studies indicated that both APF and HPF were converted to fluorescent products following exposure to 1O2 generated by irradiation of a water-soluble photosensitizing agent (TPPS) and that APF was 35-fold more sensitive than HPF. Using the 1O2 probe singlet oxygen sensor green (SOSG) we confirmed that 1 mm NaN3 quenched 1O2-induced APF/HPF fluorescence, while 1% DMSO had no effect. APF and HPF also yielded a fluorescent product upon interacting with *OH generated from H2O2 via the Fenton reaction in a cell-free system. DMSO quenched the fluorogenic interaction between APF/HPF and *OH at doses as low as 0.02%. Although NaN3 was expected to quench *OH-induced APF/HPF fluorescence, co-incubating NaN3 with APF or HPF in the presence of *OH markedly enhanced fluorescence. Cultured L1210 cells that had been photosensitized with benzoporphyhrin derivative exhibited APF fluorescence immediately following irradiation. Approximately 50% of the cellular fluorescence could be suppressed by inclusion of either DMSO or the iron-chelator desferroxamine. Combining the latter two agents did not enhance suppression. We conclude that APF can be used to monitor the formation of both 1O2 and *OH in cells subjected to PDT if studies are performed in the presence and absence of DMSO, respectively. That portion of the fluorescence quenched by DMSO will represent the contribution of *OH. This procedure could represent a useful means for evaluating formation of both ROS in the context of PDT.
Long-term outcomes in patients undergoing vitrectomy for retinal detachment due to viral retinitis.

PURPOSE: To determine the outcomes in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) secondary to viral retinitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, consecutive, noncomparative, interventional case series of 12 eyes in ten patients with RRD secondary to viral retinitis. Results of vitreous or aqueous biopsy, effect of antiviral therapeutics, time to retinal detachment, course of visual acuity, and anatomic and surgical outcomes were investigated. RESULTS: There were 1,259 cases of RRD during the study period, with 12 cases of RRD secondary to viral retinitis (prevalence of 0.95%). Follow-up was available for a mean period of 4.4 years. Varicella zoster virus was detected in six eyes, herpes simplex virus in two eyes, and cytomegalovirus in two eyes. Eight patients were treated with oral valacyclovir and two patients with intravenous acyclovir. Lack of optic nerve involvement correlated with improved final visual acuity of 20/100 or greater. Pars plana vitrectomy (n=12), silicone-oil tamponade (n=11), and scleral buckling (n=10) provided successful anatomic retinal reattachment in all cases, with no recurrent retinal detachment and no cases of hypotony during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Varicella zoster virus was the most frequent cause of viral retinitis, and lack of optic nerve involvement was predictive of a favorable visual acuity prognosis. Vitrectomy with silicone-oil tamponade and scleral buckle placement provided stable anatomical outcomes.
Studies on mechanisms of hepatic insulin resistance in cafeteria-fed rats

Whether hyperinsulinemia causes insulin resistance or vice versa is controversial. The development of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance was tracked in the cafeteria-fed rat to determine which occurred first. After 3 days of cafeteria feeding the rats were obese, manifested a small but significant decrease in fasting glucose levels, and showed no change in fasting insulin levels, basal hepatic glucose production (HGP), insulin binding to hepatic membranes, and glucose utilization during a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, but the rats did demonstrate an increased glucose disappearance rate associated with an enhanced insulin response to intra-arterial glucose and hepatic insulin resistance during the clamp. After 7 days of cafeteria feeding, the results were similar except that fasting hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, an enhanced basal HGP, and decreased insulin binding developed. After 6 wk of cafeteria feeding, both hepatic and peripheral insulin resistances were present. After 7 days of cafeteria feeding in rats given streptozotocin or etomoxir, an inhibitor of free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation, hepatic insulin resistance persisted despite elimination of hyperinsulinemia and reduction of FFA oxidation. These data do not support a causal role for either hyperinsulinemia or enhanced lipolysis of hypertrophied fat stores and subsequent FFA oxidation in the liver in the development of hepatic insulin resistance in this animal model of obesity.
The Relationship Rights of Children: Extending the Theoretical Underpinnings of Relationship Rights to Children

On the whole, the history of liberalism reflects a tendency to expand both the definition of the public sphere and the requirements of equal treatment. … [T]hese recent developments … reflect something fundamental about the inner logic of liberalism. Can the justifications for adult relationship rights elaborated in Chapter 4 be extended to the case of children's relationships, such that something approaching equal treatment of children might be warranted? Political theory to date, in addition to devoting little attention to intimate associations in general, has been almost entirely silent about family formation and dissolution for children in particular. From the outset, political philosophers have focused principally, if not exclusively, on issues of pressing concern to adults in the public sphere outside the home. On the occasions when political philosophers have made mention of children, it has typically been with reference to children's formal education, because that was the one aspect of children's lives they deemed relevant to the public sphere and of interest to the state. Education was the means by which children became future citizens, so both private individuals and the state had interests at stake. And discussion of education has principally been adult centered, focused on the desires of parents to control their children's upbringing and state interests in producing a certain kind of citizen. There has been more discussion of child rearing among political theorists in recent decades than ever before, but it has remained largely confined to schooling, and the perspectives most prevalent are still adult-centered ones, focused either on the rights of parents or on statist aims such as producing tolerant future citizens.
Marketing Western Water: Can a Process Based Geographic Information System Improve Reallocation Decisions?

Reallocating water is a politically sensitive issue in the western United States. Changes from agricultural uses to urban or environmental uses are occurring, but the process tends to polarize competing water users, thus creating barriers to reallocation. Other barriers are inherent in the appropriation doctrine, and some barriers exist because of poor data or inadequate science. These barriers could be more easily overcome and the process made less political if the impacts of change were better known. Water users frequently resist change because of the uncertainty change brings. The biophysical and behavioral models currently used to predict the impacts of change do not account for spatial complexity or information uncertainty in ways that overcome legal and other barriers to reallocation. An integrated approach that couples a spatial and temporal framework to biophysical, institutional, and behavioral science can reduce uncertainty. Process based geographic information systems can fill that role by allowing impacts to be assessed more accurately. A better understanding of impacts will potentially facilitate reallocation decisions in a water market setting.
The neurotic wandering mind: An individual differences investigation of neuroticism, mind-wandering, and executive control:

Cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience have recently developed a keen interest in the phenomenon of mind-wandering. People mind-wander frequently, and mind-wandering is associated with dec...
Up from Gideon

This essay, based on an address delivered at the Sixth Annual Texas Tech Criminal Law Symposium, explores the paradox of Gideon v. Wainwright and suggests some new directions for improving defense of the indigent against criminal charges. The paradox of Gideon lies in the widespread agreement (1) that Gideon was a great decision; (2) that from a formal perspective, the Sixth Amendment’s text and history provide scant support for Gideon’s adoption of the Zerbst rule requiring appointment for all indigent defendants in felony cases; and (3) that from a functional perspective, Gideon has not led to effective representation for all defendants. If almost no one thinks Gideon was required by text and history, and if almost no one thinks Gideon has delivered effective representation, why does almost everyone love Gideon? Reforms are put forward for discussion. These include (1) exempting some self-representing felony defendants, like their misdemeanor counterparts, from sentences of incarceration if convicted; (2) giving counsel for indigent defendants discretion to decline unpromising appeals; (3) permitting lay representation of juvenile and misdemeanor defendants; and (4) recognizing indigent defense as a separate career track from the general practice of law.
An overview of the management of post-vasectomy pain syndrome

Post-vasectomy pain syndrome remains one of the more challenging urological problems to manage. This can be a frustrating process for both the patient and clinician as there is no well-recognized diagnostic regimen or reliable effective treatment. Many of these patients will end up seeing physicians across many disciplines, further frustrating them. The etiology of post-vasectomy pain syndrome is not clearly delineated. Postulations include damage to the scrotal and spermatic cord nerve structures via inflammatory effects of the immune system, back pressure effects in the obstructed vas and epididymis, vascular stasis, nerve impingement, or perineural fibrosis. Post-vasectomy pain syndrome is defined as at least 3 months of chronic or intermittent scrotal content pain. This article reviews the current understanding of post-vasectomy pain syndrome, theories behind its pathophysiology, evaluation pathways, and treatment options.
Mechanical Properties in the Tempering Process of a Low-alloy Quenched and Tempered Steel

Effect of tempering temperature on mechanical properties and microstructure of a lowalloy quenched and tempered steel was investigated.The results show that the as-quenched status is lath martensite with self-tempered precipitates,which possesses both good strength and toughness.The amount of plate-like precipitates increases when tempered at around 250℃,and the yield strength gets a certain rise thereby.Carbide film precipitated along lath boundaries at 400℃inducing tempered martensite embrittiement.The lath morphology still remains generally after high temperature tempering,while laths in some local areas have merged to block ferrite grains.A large amount of nano-scale carbide precipitates was observed above 550℃,and cementite particles were coarsened apparently.Fine grain strengthening and precipitation strengthening are the main strengthening mechanisms of the steel.The microstructure evolvement and precipitation characteristics influence the tensile curve shape and n value directly.
Location of resistant gene and enterotoxin gene of staphyloccus aureus from food

Objective:To investigate the resistant gene and enterotoxin gene of 15 strains of multiple-resistant staphylococcus aureus from food.Methods: The resistant genes and enterotoxin genes of staphylococcus aureus were detected before and after elimination of the plasmids and finding the location of those genes.Results: The resistant gene of 15 strains of staphylococcus aureus were mainly located in plasmids,the 70.6% of resistant gene was mediated by the plasmid and 29.4% of the resistant gene was mediated by the chromosome;the genetic locus of SEA,SEC were located in chromosome,and that of SED was located in plasmids,SEB was located in chromosome or plasmids.Conclusion: Antibiotics resistant gene and enterotoxin gene are located in both plasmids and chromosome.And plasmids play an important role in determining the resistant gene and enterotoxin gene.
Translocation of a semiflexible polymer through a nanopore in the presence of attractive binding particles

We study the translocation dynamics of a semiflexible polymer through a nanopore from the cis into the trans compartment containing attractive binding particles (BPs) using the Langevin dynamics simulation in two dimensions. The binding particles accelerate the threading process in two ways: (i) reducing the back-sliding of the translocated monomer, and (ii) providing the pulling force toward the translocation direction. We observe that for certain binding strength (e_{c}) and concentration (ρ) of the BPs, the translocation is faster than the ideal ratcheting condition as elucidated by Simon, Peskin, and Oster [M. Simon, C. S. Peskin, and G. F. Oster, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 3770 (1992)PNASA60027-842410.1073/pnas.89.9.3770]. The asymmetry produced by the BPs at the trans-side leads to similarities of this process to that of a driven translocation with an applied force inside the pore manifested in various physical quantities. Furthermore, we provide an analytic expression for the force experienced by the translocating chain as well as for the scaled mean first passage time (MFPT), for which we observe that for various combinations of N, e, and ρ the scaled MFPT (〈τ〉/N^{1.5}ρ^{0.8}) collapses onto the same master plot. Based on the analysis of our simulation data, we provide plausible arguments with regard to how the scaling theory of driven translocation can be generalized for such a directed diffusion process by replacing the externally applied force with an effective force.
Are there gender differences or issues related to angiographic imaging of the coronary arteries

The use of coronary angiography and coronary interventions in women with suspected coronary artery disease has recently come under close scrutiny. Clear differences in the utilization of these procedures, including coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery have led to concerns that a bias may exist against the use of these procedures in women. Alternative explanations of these perceived practice differences have focused on their propriety based on patients' ages, underlying disease severity, expected prevalence of coronary disease and comorbid conditions rather than physician bias. The possibility that these procedures are over utilized in men has also been suggested. Pertinent to this debate are historical observational data suggesting that women may be at higher risk of major complications of coronary interventions and CABG surgery. Because coronary artery disease is the most frequent cause of death among women in the United States, there is some sociopolitical urgency in addressing these important concerns. This article reviews the use and findings of diagnostic coronary angiography in women with suspected coronary artery disease. Specific risks to women who have coronary angiography performed are also discussed. Finally, the outcome of percutaneous coronary revascularization procedures in women compared to men is discussed.
Chapter 2 – The Drug Discovery Process: From Ancient Times to the Present Day

The need to discover novel therapeutics for the treatment of diseases and conditions that afflict humanity has been a recognized issue for many centuries. Useful medications were certainly identified long before there was an understanding of the underlying science, but the process as a whole has changed substantially over time. Basic scientific discoveries, advances in applied science, and changes in the regulatory environment have all played a significant role in the evolution of the drug discovery and development process. The historical framework of the evolution of this process provides significant insight into how new drugs are discovered in the modern era, the role of key technologies, and how governmental oversight has impacted the pharmaceutical industry.
Improving accuracy in the MPM method using a null space filter

The material point method (MPM) has been very successful in providing solutions to many challenging problems involving large deformations. Nevertheless there are some important issues that remain to be resolved with regard to its analysis. One key challenge applies to both MPM and particle-in-cell (PIC) methods and arises from the difference between the number of particles and the number of the nodal grid points to which the particles are mapped. This difference between the number of particles and the number of grid points gives rise to a non-trivial null space of the linear operator that maps particle values onto nodal grid point values. In other words, there are non-zero particle values that when mapped to the grid point nodes result in a zero value there. Moreover, when the nodal values at the grid points are mapped back to particles, part of those particle values may be in that same null space. Given positive mapping weights from particles to nodes such null space values are oscillatory in nature. While this problem has been observed almost since the beginning of PIC methods there are still elements of it that are problematical today as well as methods that transcend it. The null space may be viewed as being connected to the ringing instability identified by Brackbill for PIC methods. It will be shown that it is possible to remove these null space values from the solution using a null space filter. This filter improves the accuracy of the MPM methods using an approach that is based upon a local singular value decomposition (SVD) calculation. This local SVD approach is compared against the global SVD approach previously considered by the authors and to a recent MPM method by Zhang and colleagues.
Management of Intra-Abdominal Infections

Intra-abdominal infections are common problem in the practice of the acute care surgeon. Evidence based guidelines have been developed to aid clinicians in the diagnosis and management of this common and potentially complex clinical problem (Solomkin et al., Clin Infect Dis Off Publ Infect Dis Soc Am 50:133–164, 2010). The management of patients with intra-abdominal infections consumes considerable hospital resources and spans multiple areas of the hospital including the emergency department, operating room, and intensive care unit. Intra-abdominal infections can be categorized as either uncomplicated or complicated. Uncomplicated intra-abdominal infections involve a single organ and do not spread to the peritoneum. The mainstay of management of uncomplicated intra-abdominal infections is antimicrobial therapy. Complicated intra-abdominal infections extend beyond a single organ and present with focal or diffuse peritonitis necessitating surgical intervention in addition to antimicrobial therapy. Patient outcomes are strongly influenced by the initial clinical decision making, including rapidity of diagnosis, timely operative intervention to obtain source control, and antibiotic selection. This text will provide a concise but comprehensive review of the key diagnostic and management strategies for the management of patients with intra-abdominal infections. Recommendations for surgical intervention for specific disease processes (e.g.., appendicitis, diverticulitis) are beyond the scope of this chapter and will be discussed in subsequent areas of the textbook.
Comparison of Groundwater and Surface Water Quality in the Area of the Bilanovo Iron Deposit

The quality of groundwater and surface water in the country around the Bilanovo iron ore deposit has been investigated with respect to chemical and bacteriological characteristics. Comparative analysis identified various indicators that exceeded the maximum allowable concentration.
Eating moderates the link between body mass index and perceived social connection

Some studies have demonstrated that heavier people perceive themselves as lacking social connections, whereas others have not. The current study investigated whether eating alters the link between body mass index (BMI) and perceived social connection, providing one explanation for inconsistencies across previous studies. Participants were instructed to refrain from eating or drinking anything except water after 9 p.m. the prior night. Upon arrival at the lab, participants were assigned to the food (n = 63) or no food (n = 110) condition. They also provided a saliva sample that was assayed for ghrelin (an appetite-relevant hormone), and completed a series of questionnaires about their relationships. Participants with a higher BMI felt more socially disconnected than people with a lower BMI, but only among those who had not recently eaten. BMI and perceived social disconnection were unrelated among people who had recently eaten. These results were consistent across multiple measures of perceived social disconnection, and also across the experimental manipulation and continuously measured ghrelin.
Systemic Immunotherapy for Urothelial Cancer: Current Trends and Future Directions

Urothelial cancer of the bladder, renal pelvis, ureter, and other urinary organs is the fifth most common cancer in the United States, and systemic platinum-based chemotherapy remains the standard of care for first-line treatment of advanced/metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC). Until recently, there were very limited options for patients who are refractory to chemotherapy, or do not tolerate chemotherapy due to toxicities and overall outcomes have remained very poor. While the role of immunotherapy was first established in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in the 1970s, no systemic immunotherapy was approved for advanced disease until the recent approval of a programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) inhibitor, atezolizumab, in patients with advanced/metastatic UC who have progressed on platinum-containing regimens. This represents a significant milestone in this disease after a void of over 30 years. In addition to atezolizumab, a variety of checkpoint inhibitors have shown a significant activity in advanced/metastatic urothelial carcinoma and are expected to gain Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in the near future. The introduction of novel immunotherapy agents has led to rapid changes in the field of urothelial carcinoma. Numerous checkpoint inhibitors are being tested alone or in combination in the first and subsequent-line therapies of metastatic disease, as well as neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings. They are also being studied in combination with radiation therapy and for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer refractory to BCG. Furthermore, immunotherapy is being utilized for those ineligible for firstline platinum-based chemotherapy. This review outlines the novel immunotherapy agents which have either been approved, or are currently being investigated in clinical trials in UC.
Quantum nuclear pasta and nuclear symmetry energy

Complex and exotic nuclear geometries, collectively referred to as ``nuclear pasta,'' are expected to appear naturally in dense nuclear matter found in the crusts of neutron stars and supernovae environments. The pasta geometries depend on the average baryon density, proton fraction, and temperature and are critically important in the determination of many transport properties of matter in supernovae and the crusts of neutron stars. Using a set of self-consistent microscopic nuclear energy density functionals, we present the first results of large scale quantum simulations of pasta phases at baryon densities $0.03\ensuremath{\le}\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{\le}0.10\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{fm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$, proton fractions $0.05\ensuremath{\le}{Y}_{p}\ensuremath{\le}0.40$, and zero temperature. The full quantum simulations, in particular, allow us to thoroughly investigate the role and impact of the nuclear symmetry energy on pasta configurations. We use the Sky3D code that solves the Skyrme Hartree-Fock equations on a three-dimensional Cartesian grid. For the nuclear interaction we use the state-of-the-art UNEDF1 parametrization, which was introduced to study largely deformed nuclei, hence is suitable for studies of the nuclear pasta. Density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy is simulated by tuning two purely isovector observables that are insensitive to the current available experimental data. We find that a minimum total number of nucleons $A=2000$ is necessary to prevent the results from containing spurious shell effects and to minimize finite size effects. We find that a variety of nuclear pasta geometries are present in the neutron star crust, and the result strongly depends on the nuclear symmetry energy. The impact of the nuclear symmetry energy is less pronounced as the proton fractions increase. Quantum nuclear pasta calculations at $T=0$ MeV are shown to get easily trapped in metastable states, and possible remedies to avoid metastable solutions are discussed.