cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do “Rapid” PSA Assays Reduce Anxiety and Stress of Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Regular Review? A Prospective Evaluation

OBJECTIVES Waiting for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) results may create anxiety for patients. Recently developed "rapid" PSA assays have become available, which achieve laboratory sensitivity and specificity. The manufacturers claim these assays will help to reduce anxiety associated with PSA testing. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that rapid received PSA results reduce patient anxiety. METHODS One hundred eighty-eight (n = 188) patients participated in a prospective randomized study. After obtaining informed consent, 67 patients were assigned to receive PSA results within 15 minutes of the blood sample being drawn, facilitating a discussion with the physician while in-clinic. One hundred twenty-one (n = 121) patients were assigned to receive their results within 1 to 4 days by telephone. Patients completed a baseline questionnaire about PSA testing and a follow-up questionnaire after they had received their PSA result by either method. RESULTS There were no significant differences in patient demographics between the "rapid" and "delayed" PSA test groups. Baseline measurements of stress and anxiety were low and not significantly different between the groups. Receiving a rapid PSA result did not significantly reduce stress and anxiety compared with a delayed result. However, 89% of patients receiving a rapid result would elect to have this method again. CONCLUSIONS The rapid PSA test did not prove to alleviate stress or anxiety associated with receiving results. However, the cohort assigned to the rapid PSA test would prefer to have their results rapidly to facilitate discussion regarding their future management.
Improved Fairness in Energy-Constrained Cooperative Ad-Hoc Networks

In ad-hoc networks, cooperative diversity is especially useful where the use of multiple antennas may be impractical. There has been a lot of work on improving the peer-to-peer link quality by using advanced coding or power and rate allocation between a single source node and its relays. However, how to efficiently and fairly allocate resources among multiple users and their relays is still unknown. In L. Dai et al., (2006) a novel multiuser cooperation protocol was proposed, where a power reward is adopted by each node to evaluate the power contributed to and by others so as to guarantee fairness. It was shown that in energy-constrained cooperative ad-hoc networks, fairness can actually bring significant throughput gains. In order to further improve the fairness, in this paper, we propose a price-aware cooperation protocol, where the residual energy information of each node is exploited to shape the relay set. Simulation results show that by using this price lever, fairness can be significantly improved compared to the fair cooperation protocol. This benefit turns out to bring much higher throughput than the traditional direct transmission (without cooperation) and full cooperation schemes.
Deposition Chemistry and Structure of Amorphous Fluorinated Silicon Nitride

The deposition chemistry, optical properties, and structure of plasma-deposited fluorinated silicon nitride films are studied and compared to available results of other researchers. Fluorinated films show an increase in deposition rate and optical band gap, and a decrease in refractive index and film stress compared to unfluorinated silicon nitride films. Fluorine concentration in the films ranges from 5 to 25 atomic percent. The total hydrogen concentration of fluorinated films is lower than that of unfluorinated films. The improved thermal stability of fluorinated films as compared to unfluorinated films is explained by a significant decrease in hydrogen bonded to silicon. All films hydrolyze to some extent and films with large fluorine concentrations hydrolyze rapidly to silicon dioxide. The microstructure of fluorinated films consists of clustered silicon-fluorine and nitrogen-hydrogen regions within an amorphous silicon-nitrogen matrix.
A design algorithm using Z-plane closed loop pole placement

It is argued that the design of a single input single output (SISO) control system is simplified if the designer has direct control over the closed loop poles. A space-laser-communications design example utilizing a two-transform algorithm that constructs a generic discrete compensator is presented. The plant in the example has an anti-aliasing filter, a double integrator, a torquer time constant, and a sample-and-hold as continuous elements, and a discrete proportional plus integral module. This fifth-order system is representative of many instrument pointing control systems. Poles resulting from the compensator are placed near the origin of the Z-plane so that the response is dominated by the closed loop poles from the plant. Root locus, time response, and frequency response data are given. Normalization by the sample interval is used to provide a dimensionless example. >
Synchronization of Olfactory Bulb Mitral Cells by Precisely Timed Inhibitory Inputs

Synchronized oscillatory activity at the gamma frequency (30-70 Hz) is thought to be important for information processing in many sensory systems. Here, I used patch-clamp recordings in neuron pairs in rat olfactory bulb slices to assess the mechanisms underlying such "gamma" activity in the olfactory system. Patterned electrical stimulation of afferents that mimicked a natural odor stimulus elicited rapidly synchronized spikes (lag < or = 5 ms) in mitral cells, along with oscillatory activity at the gamma (approximately 50 Hz) frequency. Analysis of coupling potentials, combined with dendritic sectioning, indicated that mitral cell synchrony was mainly driven by inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) imposed by GABAergic granule cells. Recordings in granule cell pairs indicated that granule cells were themselves synchronized by their excitatory inputs from mitral cells, providing a means to coordinate GABA release. These results demonstrate that rapid synchrony can emerge in a network through the precise back-and-forth interplay between neuronal populations.
Using advice to transfer knowledge acquired in one reinforcement learning task to another

We present a method for transferring knowledge learned in one task to a related task. Our problem solvers employ reinforcement learning to acquire a model for one task. We then transform that learned model into advice for a new task. A human teacher provides a mapping from the old task to the new task to guide this knowledge transfer. Advice is incorporated into our problem solver using a knowledge-based support vector regression method that we previously developed. This advice-taking approach allows the problem solver to refine or even discard the transferred knowledge based on its subsequent experiences. We empirically demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach with two games from the RoboCup soccer simulator: KeepAway and BreakAway. Our results demonstrate that a problem solver learning to play BreakAway using advice extracted from KeepAway outperforms a problem solver learning without the benefit of such advice.
Control of distributed UPS systems

This paper is concerned with the control aspects of distributed uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. These are systems in which the UPS units and the critical loads are located flexibly in an interconnected network in the manner of a typical power system. Decentralized control without data communication is an essential control requirement for such systems. The main aim of this paper is the identification of the major control aspects of distributed UPS systems, and the development of solutions to these control issues. >
Decision Tools for Reducing Congestion at Locks on the Upper Mississippi River

This paper describes the development of tools to support better scheduling and sequencing of barge tows on a congested portion of the Upper Mississippi River. Our study section covers 100 miles and includes five 600-foot long locks that handle commercial tows up to 1200 feet long. Due to the varying nature of the traffic and lockage times (especially the need to split long tows to pass through smaller locks), long queues may form at the locks. This paper provides an overview of our research, including evaluation of lock and traffic management policies, development of a detailed multi-lock simulation model, evaluation of decision rules for sequencing vessels in queues, and development of a prototype GIS-based vessel tracking system. Our findings suggest that better sequencing of vessels at locks would provide small improvements at current traffic levels, but may reduce waiting time by as much as 25% with increasing levels of demand
Microtribological Properties of AL-O-N Thin Films

Friction and wear properties of aluminum oxide, aluminum oxynitride and aluminum nitride ceramic thin films were examined by contacting the film surfaces with sapphire spheres and conical diamond tips and using applied forces in the microNewton to milliNewton range. With our contact geometry, forces in this range create sub-micron to micron-sized contacts, which are comparable in size to the microstructural features present on the film surfaces. Samples studied include bulk sapphire crystals, and Al2O3, AIOxNy, and AIN thin films grown to thicknesses ranging from 50 nm to 200 nm on sapphire substrates by a variety of deposition techniques. Film growth (microstructure) was controlled to contain either amorphous, random polycrystalline, or highly-oriented crystalline architecture as characterized during film growth by RHEED analysis. Film composition was measured with XPS. Friction and wear data were obtained during low-cycle and high-cycle reciprocal sliding experiments performed on the University of Maine nanotribometer, which is designed for the meso-scale regime. Variations in friction coefficient and wear resistance are correlated to differences in composition and microstructure.
Ventricular Response to Increased Outflow Resistance in Absence of Elevated Intraventricular End-Diastolic Pressure

In the isolated, supported, canine heart preparation, the response of the left ventricle to augmented outflow resistance was compared under conditions in which ventricular end-diastolic pressure and volume were increased and in which the pressure and volume remained virtually constant. The compensatory changes were much greater when end-diastolic pressure and volume were increased, even if these alterations in pressure and volume subsequently returned to or toward control levels. Immediately after resistance was augmented, peak ventricular power and stroke work diminished to less than control values. Within a very few beats, however, both of these parameters rose to exceed control levels. However, definite adaptive changes were also observed under conditions in which ventricular dimensions and pressures did not change appreciably, even temporarily. After a similar initial reduction in peak power and work after resistance was increased, peak power rose progressively to a value still significantly below control, while stroke work attained control levels by the end of a mean interval of 32 seconds of increased resistance. The intrinsic adaptation of the ventricle to increased resistance per se undoubtedly contributes to the total compensatory response, even under conditions in which diastolic stretch of the ventricle plays a major role.
Simulating elements of the space radiation environment on Earth

Space radiation research is laying the groundwork for addressing the problem of radiation exposure to humans on extended space missions. This research relies heavily on investigations at ground-based proton and heavy ion accelerators. The interpretation of the data from these experiments depends sensitively on the details of how these heavily ionizing particles deposit their energy in beamline materials and in the instruments used to measure the radiation. We report on the results of measurements with ion beams at several accelerators, including the Bevalac (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), AGS (Brookhaven National Laboratory), HIMAC (National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan), and the new NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) at Brookhaven. These measurements illustrate some of the critical features of heavy charged particle interactions.
Landscape use by cattle affected by pasture developments and season

Allowing cattle (Bos taurus L.) unrestricted access to streams can contribute to degradation of riparian and aquatic habitats. The objectives of this study were (1) to quantify the amount of time cattle spend using streams and associated riparian habitats when off-stream water and shade sources are offered and (2) to relate these patterns of habitat use to diurnal and seasonal changes in environmental conditions characteristic of the lower southeast. Diurnal (dawn-to-dusk) patterns of cattle location and behaviors were monitored between March 2000 and October 2001 in north-central Alabama at farms with pastures in which wooded streams were present. No significant decrease was detected in the length of diurnal periods cattle spent in riparian habitats after water and shade developments were in place. Grazing (7.8 hours) dominated daytime behaviors of cattle during the cool season when preference was for grassland habitat (7.6 hours). During the warm season, time spent lying increased to 4.7 hours versus 2.7 hours during the cool season; cattle consistently sought either riparian or other wooded habitat at midday and afternoon in comparison to morning and evening periods. Overall, grazing behaviors occurred predominantly (80%) in grassland habitat and lying behaviors occurred mainly (60%) in wooded habitat. Results suggested that comfort (relief from heat stress) appeared to be a major criterion in habitat use decisions by cattle during the warm season for the relatively small spatial scales (3.3 and 6.9 ha) studied. Therefore, dependence only on water and shade developments for alterations in livestock distribution may not be the most effective strategy for reduced degradation of many riparian habitats found in this region.
Effects of Supplemental Feeding on Physiological Condition of Northern Bobwhite in South Texas

The effects of supplemental feeding on populations of northern bobwhites (hereafter, bobwhite) have been the subject of many previous studies (Frye 1954; Keeler 1959; Robel et al. 1974; Doerr and Silvy 1987; DeMaso et al. 1998, 2002; Townsend et al. 1999). Burger and Linduska (1967), Ellis et al. (1969), and Guthery (1997) noted that supplemental feeding and food plots have not produced a positive population response for bobwhites. However, Lehmann (1984:16, 276) suggested that bobwhites benefited from feeding in south Texas, USA, and Guthery (1986:48–59) suggested that supplemental feeding could benefit bobwhite reproduction and survival if habitat structure was of sufficient quality and the feeding program was handled correctly. Guthery (2002) now tempers his 1987 position about supplemental feeding and other means of habitat quality enhancement, by supporting maximizing habitat quantity over habitat quality. Townsend et al. (1999) suggested that bobwhites can gain nutritional benefits from supplemental feeders during times of severe winter stress. Doerr and Silvy (2002) reported that supplemental feeding with whole milo increased survival of birds on deep-sand-range sites, but it did not increase bobwhite densities the following fall. Feeding did not affect bobwhite density or survival on clay soils of the Gulf Coast or on red-sand loams of south Texas. Doerr and Silvy (2002) also found that whole milo supplied from winter through early spring did not increase reproductive success on any of their study areas. Improved food supply has been hypothesized to result in better body condition or reduced danger to stress or predation, thus increasing survival (Doerr 1988). Improved food supply may alter time of reproduction, increase realized reproductive effort, or improve nurturing efforts. Stress in bobwhites is reflected by weight loss (Robel 1972; Robel et al. 1974, 1979), reduced fat reserves (Robel 1969, 1972; Robel et al. 1974, 1979), and increased mortality (Robel 1965, Robel and Fretwell 1970, Robel et al. 1979). Kendeigh (1969, 1970) proposed that demands by birds to maintain core body temperatures caused a greater depletion on fat reserves. Leif and Smith (1993) noted that bobwhites feeding on low-energy foods accumulated less body fat than those feeding on high-energy foods. Robel et al. (1974) reported that bobwhites having access to food plots during late winter in Kansas accumulated more body fat compared to birds not having access to food plots. We monitored bobwhite body condition in response to fall feeding of a high-energy supplement (milo) in south Texas. Specifically, we studied the effects of supplemental feeding on the physiological condition of bobwhites in fed and nonfed sites in south Texas. We hypothesized that wild birds fed supplemental whole milo would have greater body fat content than birds not fed supplemental milo.
Inventory Record Inaccuracy, RFID Technology Adoption and Supply Chain Coordination

Most retailers suffer from substantial discrepancies between inventory quantities recorded in the system and stocks truly available to customers. Promising full inventory transparency, RFID technology has often been suggested as a remedy to this problem. We consider inventory record inaccuracy in a supply chain model, where a Stackelberg manufacturer sets the wholesale price and a retailer determines how much to stock for sale to customers. We first analyze the impact of inventory record inaccuracy on optimal stocking decisions and profits. Contrasting optimal decisions in a decentralized supply chain with those in an integrated supply chain, we find that inventory record inaccuracy exacerbates the inefficiencies resulting from double marginalization in decentralized supply chains. Assuming that RFID technology can eliminate the problem of inventory record inaccuracy, we determine the cost thresholds at which RFID adoption becomes profitable. We show that a decentralized supply chain benefits more from RFID technology, such that RFID adoption improves supply chain coordination.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Monoamine Metabolites in Neurological Disorders of Childhood

Intensive investigations over the past two decades provide strong evidence that abnormalities in central monoamines may lie at the core of, and significantly influence the development and course of clinically relevant aberrations in central nervous system (CNS) functioning. Such a notion mandates a more detailed understanding of brain neurotransmitter mechanisms if we are to better comprehend and ultimately unravel and treat those complex and enigmatic neuropsychiatric disorders affecting children. However, the study of central monoamines in human disorders presents both theoretical and practical obstacles. Thus, while a number of different strategies have been employed to assess monoamine metabolism within the CNS of man, they all have in common the dependence on indirect estimates of CNS monoaminergic function. One approach relies on the determination of monoamines or their related enzymes in peripheral blood or urine. A considerable and rapidly expanding literature documents the peripheral concentrations of monoamine oxidase (MAO),56 dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH),33 and serotonin77 in a variety of human disorders. However, there is no assurance that the activity or level of a monoaminergic enzyme or monoamine itself in the plasma reflects the activity of that enzyme in brain.
Effects of Soil Morphology on Hydraulic Properties II. Hydraulic Pedotransfer Functions

Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) have gained recognition in recent years as an approach to translate simple soil characteristics found in soil surveys into more complicated model input parameters. However, existing pedotransfer functions have not yet incorporated critical soil structural information. This study showed that soil hydraulic properties could be estimated from morphological features determined in situ (including texture, initial moisture state, pedality, macroporosity, and root density) through a morphology quantification system. Comparison between the class and continuous PTFs developed in this study indicated that the use of quantified morphological properties yielded predictive power similar to that of physical properties in estimating hydraulic conductivity at zero potential : water flow rates in macro-, meso-, and micropores; and a soil structure and texture parameter α ma The results confirmed that soil structure was crucial in characterizing hydraulic behavior in macropore flow region; whereas texture had major impact on those hydraulic properties controlled by micropores. Depending on the flow domain to be included, estimation of hydraulic properties required the use of different combinations of morphometric indices or physical properties. The PTFs established may be used as starting points for estimating model input parameters.
Excitation-contraction coupling in pigs heterozygous for malignant hyperthermia

A defect in the skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium release channel of malignant hyperthermia-susceptible (MHS) pigs greatly enhances SR calcium release in pigs homozygous for the malignant hyperthermia (MH) gene. In pigs heterozygous at this locus, rates of calcium release from isolated SR stimulated by Ca2+, ATP, or caffeine are intermediate to those of both MHS and normal SR [Mickelson et al. Am. J. Physiol. 257 (Cell Physiol. 26): C787-C794, 1989]. In this study bundles of intact muscle cells dissected from pigs of various genotypes were used to examine the effects of the MH gene on contractile responses to caffeine (direct stimulation of the SR) or to surface membrane (sarcolemma) depolarization (i.e., stimulation by way of the steps in excitation-contraction coupling). The caffeine threshold for contractures in the heterozygous muscles (5 mM) was intermediate to both types of homozygous muscles (2 mM for MHS and 10 mM for normal) as is the case with direct stimulation of calcium release from SR vesicles [Mickelson et al. Am. J. Physiol. 257 (Cell Physiol. 26): C787-C794, 1989]. Sarcolemmal depolarization was elicited by electrical stimuli or elevated extracellular potassium. Control twitch tension for MHS and heterozygous muscles did not differ and was significantly greater in both than in homozygous normal muscles. Potassium-induced contractures were significantly larger in MHS and heterozygous than in normal muscles. Thus, in heterozygous muscles, force production via sarcolemmal depolarization (twitches and potassium contractures) was enhanced as much as in homozygous MHS muscles. This could be the result of feedback from abnormal SR calcium channels producing altered (enhanced) transverse tubule to SR signal transduction.
Antihemophilic Factor (AHF) Levels Following Transfusions of Blood, Plasma and Plasma Fractions.

Summary1. Canine and human hemophilic subjects were transfused with homologous blood or plasma, Dogs were also transfused with AHF-rich plasma fractions. The increase in plasma AHF levels following transfusions was proportional to the amount of AHF administered. Over half of the AHF activity disappeared within a few hours, although traces of AHF may persist for nearly a week. Frequent replacement transfusions are required if AHF levels as high as 5-10% are to be maintained. 2. Injection of potent plasma fractions into normal dogs resulted in transient supernormal AHF levels. Half of the injected AHF was lost in about 2 hours. 3. The minimum amount of AHF required to give normal values is not uniform with different clotting tests. AHF levels above 1% resulted in normal values for the clotting time and prothrombin utilization tests. Levels above 15% resulted in normal values for the PTT test.
Cancer: Denial or Suppression?

Medical personnel often reach erroneous judgments on the reaction of cancer patients to death and dying. Patients with terminal cancer sometimes will say little or nothing to hospital staff members...
Diagnostic conflict and contradiction in psychiatry.

Processus d'etablissement des diagnostics au dispensaire d'un centre municipal de sante mentale. Conflits et contradictions de la pratique clinique dus a plusieurs facteurs de tension: 1) attitudes d'humour et de sarcome pour minimiser les tensions emotionnelles; 2) conflits entre la formation theorique et la pratique professionnelle; 3) conflits survenant entre les structures d'equipement collectives et les autorites medicales universitaires; 4) conflits interinstitutionnels, etc.
Aggressive Management of Bilateral Renal Cell Carcinoma

AbstractWe review 4 cases of bilateral renal cell carcinoma. Treatment included extracorporeal surgery with subsequent autotransplantation in 2 patients and radical nephrectomy combined with contralateral partial nephrectomy in the remaining 2 patients. Absence of recurrence as well as length of patient survival supports this aggressive therapy.
Kinderziekten in de thk praktijk

Mogelijk als gevolg van de huidige mazelenepidemie rolt het aantal vragen met betrekking tot verschillende veel voorkomende kinderziekten mijn computer binnen. ‘Hoe wapen ik mijn praktijk tegen mazelen? Ik woon niet in de biblebelt maar er wel tegenaan.’ De volgende vraag: ‘Ik had onlangs een volwassen patient met kinkhoest in de stoel. Was die patient besmettelijk? Had ik die patient gewoon kunnen behandelen? Ik heb de behandeling uitgesteld. Was dit een noodzakelijke beslissing?’ En: ‘Ik krijg volgende week een 44-jarige patient die Pfeiffer heeft? Zijn zoontje van 3 jaar en zijn vrouw hebben het gehad. Allen hebben het via de kinderopvang gekregen. Kan ik deze patient zonder risico behandelen ?’
Quantum complexity and negative curvature

As time passes, once simple quantum states tend to become more complex. For strongly coupled $k$-local Hamiltonians, this growth of computational complexity has been conjectured to follow a distinctive and universal pattern. In this paper we show that the same pattern is exhibited by a much simpler system---classical geodesics on a compact two-dimensional geometry of uniform negative curvature. This striking parallel persists whether the system is allowed to evolve naturally or is perturbed from the outside.
Novel C-KIT Transcripts Identified in Mast Cell Leukemia: An Update of the Full Transcript and It’s Distribution.

Introduction: Mast cell leukemia (MCL) is the rarest but most fatal form of mast cell neoplasms. Several C-KIT activating mutations have been identified in systemic mastocytosis (SM), the most frequent one being D816V. Little is known about C-KIT mutations in MCL. In 2005, at ASH we presented a novel C-KIT transcript in two patients with MCL, accounting for the sole C-KIT transcript in one of the patients. The novel form had a deletion of exons 12 and 13, encoding the N-terminal portion of the bipartite kinase domain. Here, we describe the complete C-KIT transcript, its response to stem cell factor (SCF) stimulation in vitro , and its expression in non- MCL samples. Materials&Methods: The entire C-KIT coding region was amplified by RT-PCR from cDNA prepared from bone marrow (BM) samples of 2 patients with MCL, 2 patients with SM associated with acute myeloid leukemia, isolated CD34+ cells from healthy individuals, and 2 sets of purified mast cells from patients with SM. Several clones from each sample were fully sequenced. Its expression in patient samples was verified by Western blotting. An expression construct was made, and the mutant C-KIT was expressed in COS-1 cells. Western blotting was used to test the ability of the mutant protein to undergo autophosphorylation upon SCF stimulation. Results: Complete sequencing demonstrated that the mutant C-KIT contained several mutations: a large deletion of amino acids 59–437, corresponding to loss of the first three immunoglobulin-like domains in the extracellular region, deletions of amino acids 510–513, deletions of the amino acids encoded by exons 12 and 13, and novel single amino acid deletions unique to each patient. The mutant C-KIT transcript was present in normal CD34+ cells and in 2 BMs with SM associated with AML. However, it was absent in purified mast cells from 2 patients with SM. In contrast, these displayed the widely recognised D816V point mutation. Western blotting from patient samples revealed a truncated protein of the predicted 59KD size. However, the novel C-KIT did not autophosphorylate upon stem cell factor stimulation. Discussion: We have identified a novel C-KIT isoform. It was exclusively present in MCL but completely absent in purified mast cells of SM. These findings indicate that it is a marker of immaturity and aggressiveness among mast cell neoplasms, which may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic parameter. Its presence in non-neoplastic samples in similar amounts with the wild type suggest that it is not malignancy specific. However, its predominace over the wild type may correlate with a pathologic state that remains to be explored in other hematopoetic neoplasms.
Compressive coding via random replicate mirror

We develop a Compressive Sensing (CS) imaging system that uses titled reflective sub-apertures placed at random angles to create replicates of random placement and orientation within the image plane and a variation adopting the beam splitter. We derive efficient methods based on sparse recovery to calibrate the transfer function of the camera from a set of calibrating images, which allows the reducing number of input-output pairs and to reconstruct the scene from random subsampled measurements after calibration. Various experiments are performed to illustrate successful camera calibration and scene reconstruction from sensor output.
Online estimation of capacity fade and impedance of lithium-ion batteries based on impulse response technique

Lithium ion batteries show a promising potential in the area of electrified transportation due to their high power density and long cycle life among electrochemical cells. This article presents an online monitoring approach for the capacity fade and impedance of lithium ion batteries using impulse response technique. By analyzing the waveforms of response, one can predict the capacity fade and the impedance which characterize the battery health. In the end, the proposed method is validated by experimental results which provides an online estimation tool to describe the aging effects of batteries.
Strategies for Building Trust with the Caregiver of a Patient with End-Stage Dementia

This case describes a patient with advanced dementia and an unrealistic spouse, presenting an apparent dilemma about nutrition for physicians. By eliciting the perspective of the caregiver, the physicians can gain insight and rebuild trust that protects the interests of both the patient and the spouse. Their goal needs to shift from resolving the professional ethical dilemma to affirming the immeasurable contribution of the caregiver, acknowledging her journey, asking for her advice, and enabling the work of making meaning in the time available.
Multi-Robot Assembly Strategies and Metrics

We present a survey of multi-robot assembly applications and methods and describe trends and general insights into the multi-robot assembly problem for industrial applications. We focus on fixtureless assembly strategies featuring two or more robotic systems. Such robotic systems include industrial robot arms, dexterous robotic hands, and autonomous mobile platforms, such as automated guided vehicles. In this survey, we identify the types of assemblies that are enabled by utilizing multiple robots, the algorithms that synchronize the motions of the robots to complete the assembly operations, and the metrics used to assess the quality and performance of the assemblies.
VSim: real-time visualization of 3D digital humanities content for education and collaboration

This paper presents VSim, a framework for the visualization of 3D architectural and archeological models. VSim's design focuses on educational use and scholarly collaboration, an approach that is not commonly found in existing commercial software. Two different camera control modes address a variety of scenarios, and a novel smoothing method allows fluid camera movement. VSim includes the ability to create and display narratives within the virtual environment and to add spatially localized multimedia resources. A new way to associate these resources with points and orientations in space is also introduced.
9.14 From Genes and Molecules to Organs and Organisms: Heart

Mechanical contraction of the heart and its blood-pumping action are activated and synchronized by a wave of electrical excitation. Propagation of the excitation wave involves action potential (AP) generation by cardiac cells and its conduction in the multicellular tissue. AP generation is accomplished through complex, nonlinear interactions between membrane ion channels, transmembrane voltage, and the dynamically changing ionic milieu of the cell. AP propagation is achieved by flow of electrical charge from cell-to-cell through intercellular gap junctions. As described in this chapter, the propagation process involves strong interactions within and across scales between the molecular structure and function of ion channels, the properties of gap junctions, the subcellular organization of the cell, and the tissue architecture. At the whole-heart scale, normal excitation is generated in the right atrium by the sino-atrial (SA) node and transmitted to the ventricles through the atrio-ventricular (AV) node. It then spreads rapidly via the specialized conduction (Purkinje) system to establish broad excitation wavefronts that propagate synchroneously from endocardium to epicardium in both ventricles. Abnormal electrical activity can originate at any scale of this system, possibly leading to cardiac rhythm irregularities that could be fatal (cardiac arrhythmias are one of the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality in the human population).
Aging and Degenerative Diseases

The duration of life in free-living amphibians and reptiles is not really known, but extrapolations can be made from information from captive animals, where the most extensive records are those from zoos (Anon., 1966; Bowler, 1977; Shaw, 1969). Aging degenerative diseases occur in all classes of vertebrates (Andrew, 1971). This chapter will mention some expected diseases of this type in free-ranging herptiles, but specific information on most is almost completely lacking. The fate of aged herptiles in captivity indicates what could occur in wild populations. Arteriosclerosis and gout could be considered the most prominent diseases of this type, but they are covered in the nutritional chapters of this volume.
Expressive Behandlungstechniken: Interventionen und erneutes Zuhören

Nachdem der Therapeut dem Patienten zugehort (Phase 1) und ein gewisses Verstandnis erreicht hat (Phase 2), ist er nun besser in der Lage, hinsichtlich der expressiven Zielsetzungen zu intervenieren (Phase 3). Auch in dieser Phase kann sich der Therapeut von einigen bestimmten Prinzipien leiten lassen, zu denen auch das erneute Zuhoren nach einer Intervention (Phase 1’) gehort. Die Einstellung des Therapeuten auf das Zuhoren mit dem nachfolgenden Bemuhen um Verstandnis fordert in der Regel sehr viel mehr an Gedanken, Hypothesen etc. zutage, als in einer einzelnen Intervention zur Sprache gebracht werden konnten. Bei der Auswahl und der Formulierung seiner Interventionen mus der Therapeut 3 wesentliche Fragen beantworten: Was will ich sagen? Wie soll ich es sagen? Wann soll ich es sagen? Die ersten 7 der im folgenden aufgefuhrten 13 Prinzipien beschaftigen sich mit der 1. Frage; unter diesen wiederum sind die ersten 3 Prinzipien am bedeutendsten und grundlegendsten.
Stability Regions for Differential-Algebraic Systems

Many problems in the theory of power systems such as voltage stability can be modeled by a parameter dependent differential-algebraic system of the form $$\dot x = f(x,y,p),f:{R^{n + m + p}} \to {R^n}$$ (1) $$0 = g(x,y,p),g:{R^{n + m + p}} \to {R^m}$$ (2) $$x \in X \subset {R^n},y \in {R^m},p \in P \in {R^p}$$ In the state space X × Y dynamic state variables x and instantaneous state variables y are distinguished. Typical dynamic state variables are the time dependent values of generator voltages and rotor phases, instantaneous variables are bus voltages and other load flow variables. The parameter space P is composed of system parameters (which describe the system topography, i.e. which lines, buses etc. are energized, and equipment constants such as inductances, transformation ratios etc.), and operating parameters (such as loads, generation, voltage setpoints etc.) Both of these spaces have distinct structural features, sometimes intertwined. Understanding these structures is essential in analysing the voltage dynamics of the power system and of great practical value in the operation [10,12]. The special nature of the dynamics of differential-algebraic equations was recognized and briefly explored by Takens [6,7]. In this paper we make a first attempt at analyzing the structural features of such systems in the state space giving a definition of region of stability for a differential-algebraic system and describing the structure of the stability boundary. Our definition is strongly motivated by qualitative features of power system models for voltage stability, but the results are applicable to any differential-algebraic system with similar features.
The five times sit to stand test: responsiveness to change and concurrent validity in adults undergoing vestibular rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine if patients with balance and vestibular disorders would demonstrate clinically meaningful improvement in the Five Times Sit to Stand Test (FTSST) score as a result of vestibular rehabilitation and to determine the concurrent validity of the FTSST. DESIGN Retrospective chart review of 351 people who underwent individualized outpatient vestibular rehabilitation programs. SETTING Outpatient tertiary balance and vestibular clinic. SUBJECTS One hundred and seventeen patients (45 men, 72 women), mean age 62.7 years, with peripheral, central or mixed vestibular dysfunction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES FTSST, gait speed, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC). RESULTS The mean change in FTSST score was 2.7 seconds. Subjects demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the FTSST, gait speed, ABC, DHI, DGI and TUG after vestibular rehabilitation (p < 0.01). The responsiveness-treatment coefficient (RT) was calculated as 0.58 for the FTSST indicating moderate responsiveness. Logistic regression showed that an improvement in the FTSST of greater than 2.3 seconds resulted in an odds ratio of 4.67 for demonstrating clinical improvement in DHI, compared with a change less than 2.3 seconds. The univariate linear regression model for baseline FTSST predicting FTSST change was significant (p < 0.01) and predicted 49% of the change variance. The FTSST scores demonstrated a moderate correlation with gait speed and the TUG (p< 0.01). FTSST improvement subsequent to vestibular rehabilitation was moderately correlated with improvements in the DGI and the TUG scores (p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The FTSST was moderately responsive to change over time and was moderately related to measures of gait and dynamic balance.
The effect of the block ratio on the thermal conductivity of amorphous polyethylene-polypropylene (PE-PP) diblock copolymers.

Block copolymers have a wide range of applications, such as battery electrolytes and nanoscale pattern generation. The thermal conductivity is a critical parameter in many of these applications (e.g., batteries), which is strongly related to the molecular conformation. In this work, the thermal transport in a representative diblock copolymer, polyethylene (PE)–polypropylene (PP), at different PE to PP block ratios is studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our results show that the thermal conductivity of the PE–PP diblock copolymer can be tuned continuously by the block ratio, and it is strongly related to the molecular conformation, characterized by the radius of gyration (Rg). It is found that increasing the PP portion results in an overall decreasing trend in the thermal conductivity since the PP block has a more flexible backbone, which leads to a smaller spatial extension of the whole PE–PP copolymer molecule. Thermal conductivity decomposition shows that the bonding contribution is dominant in both the PE and PP portions of the block copolymer. The findings from this study can help understand thermal transport in general block copolymers.
Comparison of ionic liquid and salt effects on the thermodynamics of amphiphile micellization in water

Abstract Ionic liquids are low-melting salts that have novel properties and are very useful as solvents or additives on the basis of the intermolecular interactions operating between the ionic liquid ions and various solute or solvent molecules. In this work, we compare the effects of ionic liquids and salt on the micellization of a representative amphiphilic block copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO), Pluronic P123 (EO20PO70EO20). Ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) is used as a representative protic ionic liquid, to compare with its corresponding classic salt, ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BmimBF4) as a representative aprotic ionic liquid. The protic ionic liquid EAN is similar with the classic salt NH4NO3 in promoting PEO-PPO-PEO micellization; they both increase the micellization entropy and lower the micellization enthalpy at higher concentration. The hydrogen bonding between EAN and PEO, and the ethyl group on the EAN cation, both assist the solvation of PEO-PPO-PEO molecules, which partially offsets their dehydration caused by the ionic liquid ions. These lead to a less significant change of the micellization thermodynamics parameters by EAN compared to NH4NO3. The aprotic ionic liquid BmimBF4 exhibits effects that are opposite to those of the protic ionic liquid EAN. The micellization enthalpy of PEO-PPO-PEO significantly increases in the presence of BmimBF4. The hydrogen bonds formed between BmimBF4 and PEO-PPO-PEO, along with nonpolar butyl clusters formed by Bmim cations assist the solvation of Pluronic P123, which in turn hinders micellization. This work compares for the first time the effects of a protic ionic liquid with a classic salt and with an aprotic ionic liquid on amphiphile micellization in aqueous solution in terms of thermodynamics.
Geomorphology of a Harbor-Breakwater Beach along a High Sand-Supply, Wave-Dominated Great Lakes Littoral Cell

Mattheus, C.R.; Diggins, T.P.; Boyce, C.; Cockrell, J.; Kruske, M., and VanWinkle, M., 2019. Geomorphology of a harbor-breakwater beach along a high sand-supply, wave-dominated Great Lakes littoral cell. Journal of Coastal Research, 35(1), 41–55. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.The geomorphology of a breakwater beach along Lake Superior's high-energy SE margin is investigated from aerial photographs, historic nautical charts, and ground-penetrating radar imagery to provide information on littoral dynamics. The study goal was to address shoreline behavior and depositional architecture of the expanding beach in the context of hydrodynamic changes over the last century. Understanding influences of variables such as wave climate, lake level, and winter-ice cover on breakwater-beach development has many coastal management applications, particularly along highly modified coastlines characterized by fragmented littoral cells. Subsurface architectural models of the wedge-shaped Grand Marais beach and shoreline reconstructions are evaluated in the context of hydrologic data. Statistical analyses suggest that although event-based shoreline changes can create lasting depositional architectures, multiyear to decadal patterns of beach development are driven largely by hydrodynamic trends that affect littoral sediment delivery, alter the beach face directly, or both. Periods of above-average wave-height maxima coincide with increased beach growth phases, while high lake levels favor a reduction therein. The direct geomorphic effects of increased erosion through beach inundation and stronger wave climate appear to outweigh influences of higher littoral sediment inputs from increased bluff erosion upstream and accelerated rates of longshore transport. This dynamic stands in contrast to that observed for systems along the southern Lake Erie margin, which are highly sensitive to upstream changes in sediment input. Winter-ice-cover extents and durations are statistically nonsignificant or marginally convincing drivers (low R2) of beach geomorphology.
Conducting Clinical Conferences

Clinical conferences are responding slowly and unevenly to changes in teachers’ knowledge, skills, and convictions. In the past, the clinical conference frequently consisted of discussion of a patient’s symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatment, and prognosis, with relatively little emphasis upon his nursing requirements. The leader might be the instructor, or a student; sometimes several students were asked to present material. One, for instance, might review the anatomy and physiology and the pathologic changes, another might present a summary of the patient’s diagnostic tests, and contrast the results of these tests with normal values, and a third might discuss nursing care. More emphasis was usually placed upon medical aspects than upon nursing, and considerable time was spent in reviewing and reinforcing such factual knowledge as medical terminology.
Stable production of a strongly interacting Bose-Einstein condensate via mode matching

A protocol to prepare a strongly interacting Bose gas in a regime where both adiabatic ramp and direct quench are ineffective is proposed. The used phase-matching approach should lead to nearly unit population transfer to the strongly interacting ground state of a rubidium condensate, enabling investigations beyond the mean-field corrections to the Gross-Pitaevskii equation.
Phenomenological Reflections on the Philosophy of History

In the first part of this essay I question the standard distinction between the speculative and the analytic philosophy of history, pointing to certain substantive philosophical views about history that are tacitly assumed by analytic theories of historical knowledge. I then subject the latter to the same sort of critique that has been directed at epistemology generally by the anti-foundationalists. Instead of abondoning the philosophy of history altogether I propose an alternative philosophical reflection which uses the concept of narrative to link historical knowledge, historical existence and the lifeworld.
Assignment of Terahertz Modes in Hydroquinone Clathrates

Hydroquinone (HQ) and its clathrate are materials of growing interests, due to their promising applications in energy related science and industries. Recently, many studies have been performed to understand the properties of these materials. Terahertz (THz) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying the properties of these materials by non-destructively probing their low-energy (meV) dynamics. Although terahertz spectra of HQ and its clathrates have been measured, a report on the correspondence between THz spectra and low frequency dynamics is still lacking. In this paper, we measure the temperature-dependent THz spectra of both α-HQ (the non-clathrate form) and β-HQ clathrate, with Ar and CO2 as guest species. We also perform density functional theory (DFT) simulations on these materials, in order to assign the spectral features. We find an excellent match between the experimental and the DFT calculated spectra. Using the simulation result, we build connections between the THz spectra and the atomic motions in these materials. In addition, we also perform DFT simulations on β-HQ-He, β-HQ-Ne, and β-HQ-Kr to study the patterns in the change of THz spectra as the guest species changes.