cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accurate modeling of rod-type photonic crystal fiber amplifiers

This paper describes a numerical method of accurately modeling large pitch rod type photonic crystal fiber amplifiers taking into account a converged solution to the thermo-optic feedback loop. This method also accounts for the possibility of asymmetric doping profiles and directly treats higher order mode stimulated thermal Rayleigh scattering gain competition along the entire length of the amplifier. Example applications are described. This approach enables further fiber design optimization to increase peak and average amplifier power outputs.
Effect of 2-Phase Oil-Water Flow and Friction Pressure Loss in the Wellbore on Water Cresting in Horizontal Wells

Horizontal well application to mitigate water coning problems have gained wide industry acceptance. However, horizontal wells themselves have not been free from water coning (cresting) problems. A major challenge before industry operators is the effective modeling of water crest development in horizontal wells. More often, mathematical models developed for fluid flow in horizontal pipes have been adopted for modeling horizontal well performance but these have been largely inadequate. This paper presents a more encompassing tool for evaluating the performance of horizontal wells with bottom water drive which incorporates all the effects of perforations, 2-phase liquid-liquid flow and axial influx of fluid into the wellbore. A new value of equivalent pipe roughness function is developed for use in the numerical simulators to accommodate the inadequacies of the current commercial softwares. The empirical results using published data from the North Sea indicate a more practical representation of the phenomenon of water cresting in horizontal wells and the level of severity. Two major factors affected by the application of the new approach are; a reduction in the time to water breakthrough as previously predicted by analytical tools, and an effective representation of the geometry of water cresting in horizontal wells similar to field experiences. The paper also shows that direct application of horizontal pipe models in horizontal well is grossly inadequate. Finally it shows use of horizontal wells in the development of reservoirs underlain by water needs adequate evaluation.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Impact of conscious intent on chunking during motor learning

Humans and other mammals learn sequences of movements by splitting them into smaller "chunks." Such chunks are defined by the faster speed of performance of groups of movements. The purpose of this report is to determine how conscious intent to learn impacts chunking, an issue that remains unknown. Here, we studied 80 subjects who either with or without conscious intent learned a motor sequence. Performance was tested before and up to 1-wk post-training. Chunk formation, carryover of chunks, and concatenation of chunks into longer chunks, all measures of motor chunking success, were determined at each time-point. We found that formation, carryover, and concatenation of chunks were comparable across groups and did not improve over the training session and subsequent testing times. Thus, motor learning progressed in the absence of improvements in chunking irrespective of conscious intent. These data suggest that mechanisms other than chunking contribute to successful motor learning with and without conscious intent.
Titanium Dicarbollide Complexes. Molecular Structures of (η5-C2B9H11)(C5Me5)TiMe and (η5-C2B9H11)(η5,η1-C5Me4CH2)Ti

X-ray structural studies establish that the titanium dicarbollide complexes (η5-C2B9H11)(C5Me5)TiMe (4) and (η5-C2B9H11)(η5,η1-C5Me4CH2)Ti (5) adopt bent metallocene structures. In 4 the metallocene units are linked into chains by weak intermolecular Ti- - -H−B interactions involving B−H units that are meta to Ti within the C2B9Ti cages. The fulvene ligand in 5 is bonded in a π-η5,σ-η1-fashion.
Probing the interaction at the nano-bio interface using raman spectroscopy: ZnO nanoparticles and adenosine triphosphate biomolecules

With the advent of nanobiotechnology, there will be an increase in the interaction between engineered nanomaterials and biomolecules. Nanoconjugates with cells, organelles, and intracellular structures containing DNA, RNA, and proteins establish sequences of nano–bio boundaries that depend on several intricate complex biophysicochemical reactions. Given the complexity of these interactions, and their import in governing life at the molecular level, it is extremely important to begin to understand such nanoparticle–biomaterial association. Here we report a unique method of probing the kinematics between an energy biomolecule, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and hydrothermally synthesized ZnO nanostructures using micro Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy experiments. For the first time we have shown by Raman spectroscopy analysis that the ZnO nanostructures interact strongly with the nitrogen (N7) atom in the adenine ring of the ATP biomolecule. Raman spectroscopy also confirms the ...
Nano-photoluminescence studies of self-assembled quantum dots

Two simple and effective far-field-optics-based methods capable of isolating photoluminescence peaks of different individual self assembled quantum dots (SAQD's) with nanometer scale precision are presented. By using these methods, we performed the temperature and electric field dependent studies on the optical properties of SAQD's. We found temperature induced inter-dot carrier transfer among neighboring quantum dots (QD's) and observed the quantum confined stark effect (QCSE).
Relationship of Proteinuria,Immunopathogenesis and Humoral Immunity in Children with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Nephritis

Objective To explore the relationship of proteinuria,immunopathogenesis and humoral immunity in children with Henoch-schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN).Methods Serum IgG,IgA,IgM,C3 and C4 levels were detected with complete-automatic biochemistry analyzer in 47 children with HSPN and 18 heathy children,and the differences in the findings were compared among groups.The levels of IgG,IgA,IgM,C3 and C4 were compared among groups according to the count of proteinuria.The renal tissues were adopteded with immunity in the children with HSPN were taken for biospy examination,and the differences in immunopathalogy were compared among groups with immunof-luorescence assay.Results The IgG,IgA levels in children with HSPN were higher than those of heathy children,on the contrary,the IgM,C3 and C4 levels were lower than those of heathy children(Pa0.05).There were no obvious differences of the serum IgA,C3 and C4 levels in 3 groups(Pa0.05),but the IgM level of the nephritic syndrome group were higher than that of other groups(Pa0.05),while the IgG level was lower(Pa0.05).There were no obvious differences of the immunopathlogy in 3 groups in children with HSPN(Pa0.05).Conclusions There is severe disturbance of immunologic function in children with HSPN.There is no connections among serum IgG,IgA,IgM,C3 and C4 levels,proteinuria and renal immunopathlogy.
Rapid Anuric Acute Kidney Injury After the Administration of IV Anti-D in a Teenager

Abstract 4691 Introduction: A 16 year old male developed dark brown urine and prolonged anuric renal failure requiring hemodialysis after receiving IV anti-D. He was diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) after presenting with diffuse petechiae and a platelet count of 7000/μl, about a week after onset of viral prodrome that had resolved 2 days before. The white cell count, hemoglobin, PT, PTT, INR, and direct Coomb’s screen (IgG and complement) values were normal/negative at initial presentation, as were plasma chemistries, including LDH and uric acid levels. Except for small ketones and small heme reactions, the initial urinalysis was also unremarkable. Following IV anti-D, the patient developed intravascular coagulation concurrent with hemolysis and renal failure. Method: In this case report we describe a teenager who presented with ITP and rapidly developed severe anuric acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with mild intravascular hemolysis and coagulopathy. We review previous reports of IV Anti-D associated AKI, in order to identify common risk factors that may be used as a pre-treatment screen. Result: Anuric renal failure following IV anti-D has previously been reported and is a profoundly rare complication associated with a high risk of death. There is no reliable screening test, as this case illustrates. The clinical and laboratory course in this teenager, as well as from other reported cases, lead us to speculate that while hemolysis following IV-anti D infusion is necessary for the development of acute renal failure, it is insufficient unless there is a concurrent or antecedent intravascular coagulopathy. We suggest that the D-dimers assay should be formally evaluated as a screen prior to IV anti-D therapy to identify those individuals at risk for this life-threatening adverse reaction. Conclusion: IV anti-D is a good option for the treatment of ITP but the risks should be seriously considered prior to administration. A preliminary workup should be initiated prior to therapy. Other forms of treatment may be necessary in patients with evidence of renal insufficiency, hemolysis, recent EBV infection, known positive C-antigen or evidence of coagulopathy. We are planning a prospective study to evaluate the usefulness of obtaining a D-dimer in ITP patients prior to treatment. This will elicit information that is currently unavailable regarding the frequency of positive D-Dimers in patients with ITP prior to treatment. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Non-operative Management of Adult Lumbar Scoliosis

Non-operative management of adult lumbar scoliosis is a challenging problem. There is a lack of consensus on the most effective conservative clinical treatment. Steroid injections, physical therapy, bracing, and medications are currently the mainstays of non-operative care. There is little literature to support the efficacy of these routine nonsurgical modalities that are currently prescribed.
Theorizing the Adaptation of New Eastern European Immigrants

This chapter summarizes the literature on the cultural, socioeconomic, structural, and political adaptation of post-1991 Eastern European immigrants. It continues with a critical review of competing theoretical perspectives on immigrant adaptation (i.e., classic assimilation theory, cultural pluralism theory, revisionist assimilation theory, and segmented assimilation theory). The goal of testing the applicability of these theories is to develop a theoretical base for understanding the adaptation process of new Eastern European immigrants, and contemporary American immigrants in general. The chapter proposes key research questions and discusses hypotheses to be tested in the book.
Addressing Moderate Interpersonal Hatred Before Addressing Forgiveness in Psychotherapy and Counseling: A Proposed Model.

This paper addresses the problem of pressure on a person to forgive that often makes forgiveness impossible or superficial. It proposes that clients who are unwilling or unable to forgive can still be encouraged to let go of interpersonal hatred because it is psychologically harmful to them. The issue of forgiving the person toward whom the hatred is directed can be treated more easily later, after the hatred has been removed or at least much reduced. The present theoretical approach distinguishes between anger and hatred; it provides a brief understanding of the origin of hatred from an object relations perspective with a focus on splitting. The emphasis is on moderate interpersonal hatred, since severe hatred raises special difficulties. The question of when a person has sufficient freedom to let go of moderate hatreds is addressed. This is followed by identifying reasons why people enjoy hatred, and how hatred provides some short-term psychological rewards. Finally, different psychological harms caused by hatred are identified. Overcoming interpersonal hatred by praying for those you hated is presented; the effect of such prayer on reducing splitting is especially noted. The conclusion is a descriptive summary of stages to be used in treating clients’ hatreds before addressing forgiveness.
Applied Linear Regression Models

(1991). Applied Linear Regression Models. Journal of Quality Technology: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 76-77.
Effects of water level and climate on the hydrodynamics and water quality of Anvil Lake, Wisconsin, a shallow seepage lake

ABSTRACTRobertson DM, Juckem PF, Dantoin ED, Winslow LA. 2018. Effects of water level and climate on the hydrodynamics and water quality of Anvil Lake, Wisconsin, a shallow seepage lake. Lake Reserv Manage. 34:00–00.Interannual differences in the water quality of Anvil Lake, Wisconsin, were examined to determine how water level and climate affect the hydrodynamics and trophic state of shallow lakes, and their importance compared to anthropogenic changes in the watershed. Anvil Lake is a relatively pristine seepage lake with hydrology dominated by precipitation, evaporation, and groundwater exchange enabling the typically subtle effects of water level and climate to be evaluated. Groundwater and hydrodynamic models were used to describe lake water and phosphorus budgets and how its hydrodynamics are affected by water level and air temperature. Decreases in water level are expected to cause Anvil Lake and other shallow lakes to stratify fewer days, and have warmer bottom temperatures and more deep-mixing ev...
Voltage Control of Antiferromagnetic Phases at Near-Terahertz Frequencies

The recent push toward THz sensing, transduction, and memory has created a significant need for materials that operate above ferromagnetic resonance frequencies, which are typically in the low GHz range. Antiferromagnetic materials with THz resonances seem promising, but their lack of a net magnetic moment makes manipulating them difficult. Here a fully coupled magnetomechanical model is developed, showing that antiferromagnetic single domains are controllable via strain coupling. The results indicate that near-THz device response is possible with ultralow power consumption.
Direct measurement of glottal flow waveform in an excised K9 larynx with a vocal tract

False vocal folds (FVF) or ventricular folds have been shown to impact the vibration of the true folds. Using computational and experimental models to examine the aerodynamic and acoustic effects the FVF, previous studies have shown that the presence of FVF lowers the phonation threshold pressure, the overall intraglottal pressure distribution, and enhances intraglottal vortical structures. However, the full effect of the FVF on the glottal flow waveform has never been measured in a tissue model of the larynx. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of FVF on the glottal flow waveform in an excised canine model. A vocal tract model was placed over the larynx, and direct velocity measurements were taken at the glottal exit using tomographic particle image velocimetry. Measurements were taken with a systematic change of the FVF constriction and integrated to calculate the air flow waveform. The results show that a restriction above the folds increased the overall flow rate (dQ/dt) ...
Predictive Successive Approximation ADC

As the demand for better performance in terms of speed and power efficiency of the hardware increases because of the blooming industries such as the Internet of Things (IoT), the science and engineering tries to keep up. IoT is especially interested in faster interaction with the physical world at next to no cost, which is where the value of advancement in the field of A/D converters can be truly seen. Successive Approximation A/D converters (SA-ADC) have proven to be a solid solution for moderate speed and moderate resolution needs, at the same time consuming low power. However, the traditional SA-ADC needs N cycles to convert analog input signal to N-bit digital signal. Our proposed conversion method brings down the number of cycles to only one when configured properly, employing the concepts of oversampling and predicting the next value of the input signal. This can ultimately increase the speed of the SA-ADCs N-fold keeping the same power consumption, or even lower the power consumption when the signal has a narrow bandwidth. The proposed design is done with compatibility and cost-effectiveness in mind, so that it may be easily implemented in any currently existing SA-ADC designs.
Critical Perspectives on Perceptions and Practices of Diversity in Education

The term diversity has been a topic of discussion in educational research and has received increased attention in recent years. Often, the focus has been on the use of the term at policy level. In this article, teacher educators’ and school teachers’ perceptions of diversity in education and self-perceived practices of work with diversity are explored. Five teacher educators and 87 school teachers participated in the study. Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data. The findings indicate that teacher educators and school teachers discuss and reflect on diversity at different levels of operationalization, that they rarely associate socioeconomic and structural issues with the topic of diversity, and that they hardly mention national minorities and the Norwegian indigenous people as part of their understanding and work with diversity. This study suggests stable and long-term arenas for discussion and reflection for both teacher educators and school teachers. Further, the need for a more critical perspective on diversity in education, and an emphasis on learning from historical experiences with education and minorities is needed.
The amniotic band syndrome in monozygotic twins

The amniotic band syndrome is an extremely rare event in obstetrics, occurring with a frequency of between l/1,200 and 1115,000 pregnancies.' To our knowledge, this complex has not been documented in both viable infants of a monozygotic twin gestation. Since the etiology of such constriction ring deformities remains controversial, we would like to present the following case, which suggests an intrinsic, or genetically determined, etiology for this process.
Light Therapy of Premenstrual Depression

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of bright light treatment in patients with premenstrual depression. In a 3 month crossover design, we administered bright (>2,500 lux) white morning, bright white evening, and placebo dim (<10 lux) red evening light, daily for 1 week of the premenstrual phase to 19 patients with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD) and to 11 normal controls. In contrast to our previous pilot study in this area, all light treatments significantly reduced depressive ratings from baseline. None of the light treatments differed significantly from each other. Thus, neither morning or evening bright light were shown to have incremental benefits over placebo in this study of patients with premenstrual mood disorders.
Sedimentation Theory: A Semiquantitative Approach

This chapter discusses the factors controlling the behavior of particles in centrifugal fields in analogy with gravitational fields. It also presents the basic equations of sedimentation. A centrifugal field is similar to a gravitational field; however, its intensity might be thousands of times greater. In a modern centrifuge, the magnitude of this field is under control. To a particle, the two fields are qualitatively indistinguishable and one may usefully compare the behavior of particles in centrifuges to those in simple gravitational fields. A substantial concentration of particles, such as proteins, may measurably decrease the activity coefficient of the particles but increase the viscosity of a medium. These local effects are one of several factors that may cause the sedimentation rate of particles to be less at high concentrations of particles than at low concentrations. The sedimentation behavior of a zone of associating particles may be quite complex. The particles near the center of the zone may sediment more rapidly than particles near the edge of the zone because of association, or less rapidly because of the effects of particle concentration on viscosity and activity.
Classification and Developmental Psychopathology

A basic assumption underlying the writing of this text is that, to be competent in the clinical assessment of children and adolescents, much more knowledge is required than being able to simply administer tests, this being the easier part. Many other crucial areas of expertise are necessary for appropriately selecting the tests to be administered and for interpreting them after administration. One such area of expertise was the focus of the previous chapter: an understanding of the science of measuring psychological constructs. However, a more basic level of knowledge is needed for using measurement theory appropriately. That is, one must have a thorough understanding of the nature of the phenomenon being measured before determining the best method for measuring it. In particular, the constructs of interest discussed in this chapter are the emotional and behavioral functioning of youth. The first hint at the importance of this basic understanding of psychological constructs was made in the previous chapter on psychometrics. It should have become clear that good psychometric properties are not absolutes. They depend on the nature and characteristics of the specific psychological construct being assessed. For example, childhood depression is frequently characterized by multiple episodes of depression interspersed with periods of normal mood (Kovacs, 2001). Therefore, high stability estimates over lengthy time periods should not be expected. In fact, if such stability occurs, then one is measuring something that is not an episodic depression.
Using Child Services: The Importance of the Mother–Child Relationship and Maternal Social Support

Gaps between children’s need for clinical services and receipt of services create a risk for negative child outcomes, therefore, it is important to identify factors that bolster parental use of chi...
Changes in Screening Practices for Prediabetes and Diabetes Since the Recommendation for Hemoglobin A1c Testing.

OBJECTIVE Screening involves the presumptive identification of asymptomatic individuals at increased risk for unrecognized disease. We examined changes in screening practices for prediabetes and diabetes since January 2010, when HbA 1c was first recommended as an option for screening and diagnosis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We studied members without diabetes of an HMO ≥45 years of age continuously enrolled for ≥3 years and assigned to primary care clinicians affiliated with a large academic health system. We defined screening as the first oral glucose tolerance test, HbA 1c , or glucose test performed between 2010 and 2014. RESULTS Of 12,772 eligible patients, 9,941 (78%) were screened at least once over 3 years. HbA 1c was the initial screening test 14% of the time and glucose 86% of the time. Of those screened with HbA 1c , 63% had abnormal results defined as HbA 1c ≥5.7% (≥39 mmol/mol). Of those tested with glucose, 30% had abnormal results defined as glucose ≥100 mg/dL, and 5% had abnormal results defined as glucose ≥126 mg/dL. Patients with abnormal HbA 1c levels and those with glucose levels ≥126 mg/dL were equally likely to be scheduled for follow-up appointments (41% vs. 39%), but those with abnormal HbA 1c levels were more likely to be diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes (36% vs. 26%). CONCLUSIONS As we observed in 2004, rates of screening are high. HbA 1c is still used less frequently than glucose for screening but is more likely to result in a clinical diagnosis. Evidence to support guidelines to define the role of random glucose screening, including definition of appropriate cut points and follow-up, is needed.
Gold-Nanoparticle-Assisted Plasmonic Photothermal Therapy Advances Toward Clinical Application

Plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT), a type of treatment involving the intravenous or intratumoral injection to introduce gold nanoparticles to cancerous cells and the subsequent exposure to heat...
Two minds are not always better than one: Modeling evidence for a single sentence analyzer

A challenge for grammatical theories and models of language processing alike is to explain conflicting online and offline judgments about the acceptability of sentences. A prominent example of the online/offline mismatch involves “agreement attraction” in sentences like *The key to the cabinets were rusty, which are often erroneously treated as acceptable in time-restricted “online” measures, but judged as less acceptable in untimed “offline” tasks. The prevailing assumption is that online/offline mismatches are the product of two linguistic analyzers: one analyzer for rapid communication (the “parser”) and another, slower analyzer that classifies grammaticality (the “grammar”). A competing hypothesis states that online/offline mismatches reflect a single linguistic analyzer implemented in a noisy memory architecture that creates the opportunity for errors and conflicting judgments at different points in time. A challenge for the single-analyzer account is to explain why online and offline tasks sometimes yield conflicting responses if they are mediated by the same analyzer. The current study addresses this challenge by showing how agreement attraction effects might come and go over time in a single-analyzer architecture. Experiments 1 and 2 use an agreement attraction paradigm to directly compare online and offline judgments, and confirm that the online/offline contrast reflects the time restriction in online tasks. Experiment 3 then uses computational modeling to capture the mapping from online to offline responses as a process of sequential memory sampling in a single-analyzer framework. This demonstration provides some proof-of-concept for the single-analyzer account and offers an explicit process model for the mapping between online and offline responses.
A safe minimum standard, the elasticity of substitution, and the cleanup of the Ganges in Varanasi

Despite repeated calls for a thorough cleanup of water pollution in the Ganges river, there are only two papers in the social sciences by Batabyal and Beladi (2017, 2019) that have shed theoretical light on this cleanup problem and its connection to the sustainability of tourism in Varanasi. Hence, we extend the above mentioned analyses and focus on two specific questions. First, we introduce the notion of a safe minimum standard (SMS) into the study and show how to analyze a probabilistic model of the Ganges cleanup problem when the SMS is accounted for. Second, for a representative citizen of Varanasi, we study how the magnitude of the elasticity of substitution between a composite consumption good and water quality in the Ganges---modeled by the SMS---affects the tradeoff between consumption and water quality maintenance.
A New Test for the Detection of Direct Oral Anticoagulants (Rivaroxaban and Apixaban) in the Emergency Room Setting.

Determining whether a patient has taken a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) is critical during the periprocedural and preoperative period in the emergency department. However, the inaccessibility of complete medical records, along with the generally inconsistent sensitivity of conventional coagulation tests to these drugs, complicates clinical decision making and puts patients at risk of uncontrollable bleeding. In this study, we evaluate the utility of inhibitor-II-X (i-II-X), a novel, microfluidics-based diagnostic assay for the detection and identification of Factor Xa inhibitors (FXa-Is) in an acute care setting. Design First-in-human, 91-patient, single-center retrospective pilot study. Setting Emergency room. Patients Adult patients admitted into the emergency department, which received any clinician-ordered coagulation test requiring a 3.2% buffered sodium citrate blood collection tube. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Plasma samples from patients admitted to the emergency department were screened for the use of FXa-Is, including apixaban and rivaroxaban, within the past 24 hours using our new i-II-X microfluidic test. i-II-X results were then compared with results from conventional coagulation tests, including prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR), which were ordered by treating clinicians, and an anti-Xa assay for rivaroxaban. The i-II-X test detected DOACs in samples collected from the emergency department with 95.20% sensitivity and 100.00% specificity. Unlike PT and INR, i-II-X reliably identified patients who had prolonged clotting times secondary to the presence of a FXa-I. Conclusions The i-II-X test overcomes the limitations of currently available coagulation tests and could be a useful tool by which to routinely screen patients for DOACs in emergency and critical care settings. Our new diagnostic approach is particularly relevant in clinical situations where medical records may be unavailable, or where precautions need to be taken prior to invasive interventions, such as specific reversal agent administration.
2957 Non-Mesh Sacrospinous Ligament Suspension for the Correction of Massive Vaginal Vault Prolapse and Ascites in A Patient With Stage IV Metastatic Colon Cancer

Video Objective The objective of this video is to demonstrate a non-mesh sacrospinous ligament (SSL) suspension for massive vaginal vault prolapse with ascites in a patient with stage IV metastatic colon cancer. Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) anchors and porcine bladder extracellular matrix for fixation and bio-scaffolding are utilized. The patient desired to undergo definitive surgical treatment of her symptomatic prolapse for the purposes of “personal dignity”. The patient also desired to maintain sexual options. Fixation utilizing PEEK anchors provides a vaginal repair that requires less dissection than traditional approaches to the SSL since anchoring is performed via palpation rather than tissue visualization. This is of great importance in patients with massive vault prolapse because of the obliteration of the operative field. The extracellular matrix provides bio-scaffolding which promotes constructive remodeling of the tissue rather than encapsulation of synthetic mesh. Risks and benefits were discussed at length including the direct spread of disease if the peritoneal cavity were entered. Synthetic polypropelene mesh continues to show diminishing acceptance with patients and continues to be a source of mass tort litigation. Internationally several jurisdictions have restricted the accessibility or banned the use of transvaginal mesh. Setting St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland Interventions The patient underwent transvaginal SSL suspension, anterior and posterior colporrhaphy, vaginal enterocele repair and perineoplasty utilizing PEEK anchors and porcine urinary bladder extracellular matrix. There were no intra-operative or post-operative complications. The follow up has been 8 months. The patient is currently sexually active. Conclusion Sacrospinous ligament suspension for the correction of massive vaginal vault prolapse utilizing PEEK anchors and porcine urinary bladder extracellular matrix is a reasonable alternative to transvaginal synthetic mesh repairs. Advantages to this vaginal approach include: 1) Avoidance of laparoscopic risks in a patient with massive ascites, 2) Avoidance of chronic pain, erosion and extrusion associated with synthetic mesh.
Peak Sinus Pressures During Sneezing in Healthy Controls and Post-Skull Base Surgery Patients.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Patients are frequently advised to sneeze with an open mouth and avoid nose-blowing following an endoscopic endonasal approache (EEA) to the skull base, despite a lack of quantitative evidence. This study applies computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to quantify sinus pressures along the skull base during sneezing. STUDY DESIGN Case-control series. METHODS Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans of four post-EEA patients and four healthy controls were collected and analyzed utilizing CFD techniques. A pressure drop of 6,000 Pa was applied to the nasopharynx based on values in the literature to simulate expiratory nasal airflow during sneezing. Peak pressures along the skull base in frontal, ethmoid, and sphenoid sinuses were collected. RESULTS Significant increases in skull base peak pressure was observed during sneezing, with significant individual variations from 2,185 to 5,685 Pa. Interestingly, healthy controls had significantly higher pressures compared to post-EEA patients (5179.37 ± 198.42 Pa vs. patients 3,347.82 ± 1,472.20 Pa, P < .05), which could be related to higher anterior nasal resistance in unoperated healthy controls (0.44 ± 0.22 vs. 0.31 ± 0.16 Pa/mL/sec for patients, P = .38). The sinus pressure buildup may be due to airway resistance functioning as a valve preventing air from being released quickly. Supporting this theory, there was a strong correlation (r = 0.82) between peak skull base pressure and the ratio of anterior resistance to total resistance. Within-subject variation in pressures between different skull base regions was much lower (average = ~5%). CONCLUSIONS This study provided the first quantitative analysis of air pressure along the skull base during sneezing in post-EEA patients through CFD, suggesting that pressure buildup may depend on individual anatomy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3b Laryngoscope, 130:2138-2143, 2020.
Optimizing the integration of renewable energy in existing buildings

Abstract This paper presents the development of a novel optimization model for optimizing the use of RE measures in existing buildings to satisfy an owner-specified target reduction in energy consumption while minimizing the required building upgrade costs. The model performance was evaluated using a real-life case study of an educational building with a total area of 20,717 m2. The optimization model was used to identify an optimal combination of RE technologies that minimize the upgrade cost for this case study while satisfying its specified 80% energy reduction goal. The model minimized the building upgrade cost by making a number of optimal selections, such as locating the majority of solar RE technologies in building segments facing south due to their higher exposure to the sun radiations. The results of this analysis highlight the original contributions of the model in identifying an optimal set of RE measures that minimize the building upgrade cost while satisfying all owner-specified requirements, providing a detailed description of the optimal building integration plan of RE technologies, and complying with practical functional requirements, and constructability constraints. These capabilities are expected to support building owners and decision-makers in their efforts to integrate cost-effective RE measures in existing buildings.
Chapter 3 The Integrity of the Reproductive Cell Line in the Amphibia

Publisher Summary This chapter attempts to present the “current state of the art” in addressing the specifics of the determination of the germ line, the integrity of the germ line as a pure cell line and its differentiation, and the developmental significance of the passage of maternal substances into the egg during oocyte growth. It demonstrates that in the Amphibia, a clear distinction exists between a reproductive cell line and a somatic cell line. Only the germ cell line retains unbroken continuity from one generation to the next and at specific times successive somatic cell lines are originated that differentiate into the body of the individual animal. The germ cells are open to the reception of a stimulus of somatic origin. This governs the cellular differentiation of the germ cells in a sperm-forming or egg-forming direction. Even when germ cells are resident in heterotypic gonads, they continue to differentiate into functional gametes and to maintain the detailed characteristics of their species of origin.
CNS stromal cells modulate antiviral CD8 T cell immunity (VIR4P.1009)

Lymphocytes are essential for control of neurotropic viruses such as HSV, HIV, and JC virus. Understanding the mechanisms involved in the regulation of these cells is essential for the development of therapeutic interventions to treat central nervous system (CNS) infections. Using two-photon microscopy, we observed that CD8 T cells responding to a viral infection interact with meningeal stromal cells (MSCs), a population of specialized fibroblasts that comprise a dense, collagenous fiber network within the lining of the brain. Little is known about the immunological functions of MSCs. To gain novel insights into these cells, we conducted genomic analyses of purified MSCs at different time points following CNS infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Our analyses revealed that MSCs responded to virus infection through induction of a robust immunological program that included genes associated with antigen presentation, chemotaxis, immune regulation, among others. We also observed in vivo that MSCs were able to present viral-peptide MHC I complexes, which corroborated our intravital imaging studies showing direct, stable interactions between MSCs and anti-viral T cells. MSCs possess the capacity to regulate these interactions through expression of multiple immune regulators such as PD-L1, galectin-9, and PVR. Our data demonstrate that MSCs are a novel CNS-resident antigen presenting cell with the ability to modulate antiviral T cells following infection.
Exchange rate and relative monetary expansions: The case of simultaneous hyperinflation and rational expectations

Abstract The relationship between the exchange rate and relative monetary expansions of Poland and Germany in the 1920s when the countries are under simultaneous hyperinflation is studied. The results show that for this period of predominantly monetary shocks, the conventional specifications of the monetary model of exchange rate determination with rational expectations cannot be rejected. The results therefore support the monetary approach in its most conducive environment.
Adoptive immunotherapy of cancer with polyclonal, 108-fold hyperexpanded, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells

T cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy is dose dependent and optimally requires participation of antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Here, we isolated tumor-sensitized T cells and activated them in vitro using conditions that led to greater than 108-fold numerical hyperexpansion of either the CD4+ or CD8+ subset while retaining their capacity for in vivo therapeutic efficacy. Murine tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) cells were segregated to purify the CD62Llow subset, or the CD4+ subset thereof. Cells were then propagated through multiple cycles of anti-CD3 activation with IL-2 + IL-7 for the CD8+ subset, or IL-7 + IL-23 for the CD4+ subset. A broad repertoire of TCR Vβ families was maintained throughout hyperexpansion, which was similar to the starting population. Adoptive transfer of hyper-expanded CD8+ T cells eliminated established pulmonary metastases, in an immunologically specific fashion without the requirement for adjunct IL-2. Hyper-expanded CD4+ T cells cured established tumors in intracranial or subcutaneous sites that were not susceptible to CD8+ T cells alone. Because accessibility and antigen presentation within metastases varies according to anatomic site, maintenance of a broad repertoire of both CD4+ and CD8+ T effector cells will augment the overall systemic efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy.
What is wrong with the tenets underpinning current management of severe traumatic brain injury

The results of a recent randomized controlled trial comparing intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor-based treatment of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) to management without ICP monitoring prompt this skeptical reconsideration of the scientific foundation underlying current sTBI management. Much of current practice arises from research performed under conditions that are no longer relevant today. The definition of an episode of intracranial hypertension is incomplete, and the application of a fixed, universal ICP treatment threshold is poorly founded. Although intracranial hypertension is a valid indicator of disease severity, it remains to be demonstrated that lowering ICP improves outcome. Furthermore, sTBI has not been categorized on the basis of underlying pathophysiology despite the current capability to do so. Similar concerns also apply to manipulation of cerebral perfusion with respect to maintaining universal thresholds for contrived variables rather than tailoring treatment to monitored processes. As such, there is a failure to either optimize management approaches or minimize associated treatment risks for individual sTBI patients. The clinical and research TBI communities need to reassess many of the sTBI management concepts that are currently considered well established. Language: en
Fatalities and catastrophic injuries in high school and college sports, 1982-1997 lessons for improving safety

The prohibition of 'spearing' in football and the rules regarding water depth and the racing dive in swimming are examples of how data on deaths and catastrophic injuries can be used to help promote the safety of young athletes. Other preventive measures supported by research include anchoring movable soccer goals to prevent tipping, improved training for high school wrestling coaches, increased awareness of pathogenic weight control in wrestling and gymnastics, rules against pushing or checking from behind in ice hockey, protective helmets for batting-practice pitchers in baseball, and barriers around the discus circle in track and field.
Arterial baroreceptors control blood pressure and vasopressin responses to hemorrhage in conscious dogs

The goal of this study was to determine the role of arterial baroreceptors in the reflex control of arginine vasopressin (AVP), renin, and cortisol secretion in response to a 30-ml/kg hemorrhage in...
Reassessing the reliability and validity of self-report delinquency measures

Several issues related to the reliability and validity of self-report delinquency measures are raised and discussed. These include problems associated with the use of internal consistency as the measure of reliability, the level of reliability or precision required for different types of analyses, problems with the content validity of self-report measures, problems of overreporting and underreporting, problems with the use of official records as a validity check on self-reports, and the lack of any good criterion as a major obstacle in assessing the empirical validity of self-report measures. In the light of these problems, some cautions about the use of self-report measures are made.
Cognitive disturbances in progressive supranuclear palsy.

The cognitive disturbances in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) gave rise to the term “subcortical dementia.” PSP patients demonstrate prominent recall deficits and moderate forgetfulness although their short-term and implicit perceptual memory processes are intact. PSP patients have both slowed motor responses and dramatically slowed information processing speed. Executive dysfunction appears early in the course of the disease and is relatively severe. The combination of severely slowed information processing and marked executive dysfunction are characteristic of PSP and differentiates it from other dementias.
Cyber Counterdeception: How to Detect Denial & Deception (D&D)

In this chapter we explore cyber-counterdeception (cyber-CD), what it is, and how it works, and how to incorporate counterdeception into cyber defenses. We review existing theories and techniques of counterdeception and relate counterdeception to the concepts of cyber attack kill chains and intrusion campaigns. We adapt theories and techniques of counterdeception to the concepts of cyber defenders’ deception chains and deception campaigns. We describe the utility of conducting cyber wargames and exercises to develop the techniques of cyber-denial & deception (cyber-D&D) and cyber-CD. Our goal is to suggest how cyber defenders can use cyber-CD, in conjunction with defensive cyber-D&D campaigns, to detect and counter cyber attackers.
Reproductive status of cows and incidence of antisperm antibodies

Abstract Serum and mucus samples from three groups of cows, i.e., repeat breeder cows, fertile cows, and virgin heifers were tested for anti-spermatozoal antibodies. Agglutinating (Aggl) and immunofluorescent (IF) antibodies were found in serum from all cows. Positive agglutination occurred in 26%, 32%, and 0% of mucus samples tested from the repeat breeder cows, fertile cows, and virgin heifers, respectively. Positive results on IF tests on mucus samples from the same cows were 37%, 28%, and 13%, respectively. In contrast, no sperm-immobilizing antibodies were found in any samples. There was no apparent correlation between the incidence and/or titer of the Aggl or IF antibodies and fertility status of the animal. These antibodies were assumed to be produced naturally (natural antibodies) with no need of female exposure to sperm antigens, since all virgin heifers also demonstrated Aggl and IF antibodies in their sera. The results from this study indicate that antibodies against sperm apparently were not responsible for reduced fertility in this particular group of repeat breeder cows.
Photoionization and threshold photoelectron—photoion coincidence study of propyne from onset to 20 eV

Abstract The photoionization efficiency curves for allene and its fragments C3H3+, C3H2+ and C3H+ are given from threshold to 20 eV. The threshold photoelectron spectra and breakdown curves are given over the same energy span. The adiabatic ionization potential is determined to be 9.69 ±0.01 eV and the heats of formation of the fragments are derived from the appearance potentials. Autoionization is found to be an important factor in the parent ionization and fragmentation.
Hispanic ethnicity, rural residence, and regular source of care.

This study assessed whether Hispanic ethnicity and rural residence were related to usual source-of-care. We studied 3,689 persons over age 65 who lived in their own homes in a 108-county area in West Texas. A telephone interview in two waves was used to collect information. Usual source-of-care was measured in two ways: by asking if the subject had a usual place to go and by asking if the subject had a personal physician or nurse. In a logistic regression analysis, Hispanic ethnicity was independently associated with both having a usual place of care (OR = .511, CI = .32–.82) and a usual provider (OR = .629, CI = .45–.88). Rural residence was not associated with either measure. Efforts to promote usual source-of-care should be targeted at Hispanic seniors in this region of the southwestern United States.