cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Immobilization on Plantar-Flexion Torque, Fatigue Resistance, and Functional Ability Following an Ankle Fracture

Background and Purpose. The goal of this investigation was to study the recovery of ankle plantar-flexor peak torque, fatigue resistance, and functional ability (stair climbing, walking) following cast immobilization in patients with ankle fractures. Subjects . The participants were 10 patients who underwent open reduction-internal fixation and 8 weeks of cast immobilization following a fracture of the ankle mortise and 10 age- and sex-matched, noninjured comparison subjects. Methods. Plantar-flexor torque and fatigue resistance were measured at 1, 5, and 10 weeks of rehabilitation using an isokinetic dynamometer. Ankle plantar-flexor peak torque and fatigue resistance were correlated to timed ambulation, timed stair climbing, and unilateral heel-rises. Results. Following immobilization, plantar-flexor peak torque was decreased at all angular speeds and positions. The decrease in peak torque was associated with an increase in fatigue resistance. With rehabilitation, ankle plantar-flexor torque and fatigue resistance normalized. Regression analysis revealed a strong relationship between plantar-flexor peak torque and functional measures. By 10 weeks post-immobilization, peak torque, fatigue resistance, and all measures of functional performance had returned to control levels. Conclusion and Discussion. The decrease in muscle performance, functional ability, and fatigue resistance induced by 8 weeks of cast immobilization can be reversed with 10 weeks of supervised physical therapy. In addition, this study demonstrated that ankle-plantar flexor torque is a good predictor of stair-climbing and walking performance in patients with ankle fractures.
The Croatian Problem in the Habsburg Empire in the Nineteenth Century

The fundamental fact in the nationality issue in Croatia in the nineteenth century is that by 1914 the majority of the most influential political leaders of the Croats assumed that the indefinite survival of an independent united Croatia, based on the national principle alone, was a political and international impossibility. Once having accepted this premise, which was based on careful consideration of the conditions of their historical past and their position in Europe, the Croatian leaders were compelled to seek a solution to their political future which was in conflict with the major trend of the nineteenth century, namely, the political unification of ethnically homogeneous people into a sovereign state. Although there was a strong nationalist movement in Croatia, which aimed at the creation of an independent state, it could not deal with the realities of the Croatian position. Practical considerations thus left the Croatians with two alternatives: they could either remain within the framework of the Habsburg empire, in union with Vienna or Budapest or both; or they could join with the Serbs and Slovenes in a federal South Slav state. The story of nineteenth-century nationalism in Croatia centers on the vacillation between these two possibilities. The aim at all times was to find the combination which would best protect the Croatian national individuality, since Croatia alone did not have the necessary prerequisites for a completely independent national existence.2
Effects of Testosterone Administration on Growth Hormone Pulse Dynamics in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Women

The effects of testosterone administration on the GH axis in androgen-deficient HIV-infected women are unknown. In this study, we determined the effects of transdermal testosterone administration on GH secretory dynamics and pulse characteristics in this population. GH-IGF-I parameters were determined in response to testosterone (4.1 mg/patch, twice a week; estimated delivery rate, 150 microg/d) vs. placebo over 6 months in 31 HIV-infected women. IGF-I increased significantly in the testosterone-treated compared with the placebo-treated patients [37 (-4, 73) vs. -30 (-98, 39) ng/ml, P = 0.01; 4.8 (-0.5, 9.6) vs. -3.9 (-12.8, 5.1) nmol/liter]. GH pulse frequency increased significantly in the testosterone-treated compared with the placebo-treated subjects [1.0 (1.0, 2.0) vs. 0.0 (-0.5, 1.5) peaks per 12 h, respectively; P = 0.02]. Before testosterone administration, overnight GH pulse amplitude was significantly related to IGF-I in univariate (r = 0.41, P = 0.03) and multivariate regression analysis; however, free testosterone, estradiol, and body mass index were not significantly correlated with baseline IGF-I. In contrast, after 6 months of treatment with testosterone, the change in IGF-I was significantly correlated to the change in free testosterone in univariate (r = 0.40, P = 0.04) and multivariate regression analysis. For each 1.0 pg/ml (3.5 pmol/liter) increase in free testosterone, IGF-I increased 19 ng/ml (2.5 nmol/liter), controlling for estradiol, body mass index, and GH pulse parameters (r(2) = 0.64). We demonstrate that IGF-I increases in response to physiologic, transdermal testosterone in HIV-infected women. The mechanism of this effect is unknown, but may involve a direct effect of testosterone on IGF-I, independent of changes in GH pulse dynamics.
A laboratory course on fuzzy control

In this paper we describe a new control laboratory course at The Ohio State University. Students execute a series of laboratory exercises, for a variety of processes, implementing fuzzy control, adaptive fuzzy control, and other intelligent control techniques, with a particular focus on fuzzy control. Fully instrumented independent testbeds in the laboratory emphasize several sensing and actuation technologies. Both senior undergraduates and graduate students take the course and several have used the experience, coupled with research that they have conducted with our industrial sponsors, to obtain positions in industry working on intelligent control.
Cat Heart Muscle in Vitro : II. The steady state resting potential in quiescent papillary muscles

The steady state transmembrane resting potential difference (Vm) has been measured in quiescent papillary muscles. Vm was determined as a function of the external K concentration in Cl and SO4 solutions and compared with the K equilibrium potential. Other measurements were made after replacement of external Na by choline, K by Rb and Cs, and Cl by SO4, CH3SO4, and NO3. Effects on Vm of albumin, temperature, and variation in internal K concentration are described.
From Situations of Dependency to Globalized Social Democracy

President Cardoso's recent assessment of the prospects for “globalized social democracy” raises, once again, the question of what space for agency exists within the global political economy for actors in the South, which was central to the analysis Cardoso and Faletto presented in Dependency and Development 40 years ago. Dependency and Development's “historical–structural” approach balanced belief in the possibility of political agency with a keen appreciation of structural constraint. Cardoso's current exploration of global possibilities carries forward both tradition of the historical–structural method, arguing that social democracy is an option in the South and that the globalized social democrats in the South will play a growing role in shaping global political institutions. He does not explore the possibility that social democrats in the South may need to play a role in shaping global economic rules. This paper argues that reconstructing global market rules is crucial to the long-run success of “globalized social democracies” in the South and that such reconstruction, however difficult, lies within the realm of the historically viable.
Free Constructions of Powerdomains

A powerdomain is a CPO together with extra algebraic structure for handling nondeterministic values. In the first powerdomains, the algebraic structure was a continuous binary operation or, which met certain axioms. Plotkin [9] and Smyth [14] showed how such a structure could be added to certain kinds of CPOs in a free or universal manner. This paper extends the work of Plotkin and Smyth by giving free constructions of powerdomains for a more adaptable algebraic structure: semiring modules. Prior to the constructions, three detailed examples are given, showing how the semiring module structure can capture information about nondeterministic behavior. By putting the available information in an algebraic framework, the algebraic properties can supplement the usual order-theoretic properties in program proofs.
The Perceptions They Carried: First-Generation College Students and First-Year Communication Courses as a Site of Transition.

x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1 Small Scale and Pilot Studies 13 Research Questions 18 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 20 Sociology and Economics: Foregrounding Student Expectations 20 Education: Examining Subsets of Students 23 Composition and Rhetoric: Considering Communication Courses 40 Conclusion 46 CHAPTER 3 METHODS 48 Theoretical Frameworks 49 Researcher Positionality 53 Study One: Student Perceptions of Challenging Circumstances and Communication 55 Study Two: A Renewed Focus on First-­‐Generation Students in First-­‐Year Communication Courses 72 Conclusion 84
Rates of oxygen-isotope exchange between sites in the [HxTa6O19](8-x)-(aq) Lindqvist ion and aqueous solutions: comparisons to [HxNb6O19](8-x)-(aq).

Rates of steady oxygen-isotope exchange differ in interesting ways for two sets of structural oxygens in the [HxTa6O19](8-x)-(aq) Lindqvist ion when compared to published data on the [HxNb6O19]8-x(aq) version. Because of the lanthanide contraction, the [HxTa6O19](8-x)-(aq) and [HxNb6O19](8-x)−(aq) ions are virtually isostructural and differ primarily in a full core (Kr vs Xe) and the 4f14 electrons in the [HxTa6O19](8-x)-(aq) ion. For both molecules, both pH-dependent and -independent pathways are evident in isotopic exchange of the 12 μ2-O(H) and 6 ηO sites. Rate parameters for ηO exchange at conditions where there is no pH dependence are, for the Ta(V) and Nb(V) versions respectively, = 2.72 × 10-5 s-1 and 9.7 × 10-6 s-1, ΔH⧧ = 83.6 ± 3.2 and 89.4 kJ·mol-1, and ΔS⧧ = −51.0 ± 10.6 and −42.9 J·mol-1·K−1. For the μ2-O sites, = 1.23 × 10-6 s-1, ΔH⧧ = 70.3 ± 9.7 and 88.0 kJ·mol-1, and ΔS⧧ = −116.1 ± 32.7 and −29.4 J·mol-1·K-1. Protonation of the 6 ηO sites is energetically unfavored relative to the 12 μ2-O b...
Pelvic sexual dimorphism among species monomorphic in body size: relationship to relative newborn body mass

Females have larger pelves than males among eutherians to mitigate obstetrical difficulty. This study addresses 3 issues concerning pelvic sexual dimorphism using 8 species that are sexually monomorphic in nonpelvic size: Aotus azarae , Castor canadensis , Dasypus novemcinctus , Hylobates lar , Saguinus geoffroyi , Sciurus carolinensis , Sylvilagus floridanus , and Urocyon cinereoargenteus . Using published data to compute the index of relative newborn body mass (RNBM = [newborn body mass/adult female body mass]100%) for 266 eutherian species, A. azarae , H. lar , and S. geoffroyi are characterized as giving birth to relatively large newborns and the other 5 species as giving birth to relatively small newborns. The 3 issues are, compared to species giving birth to relatively small newborns, whether species that give birth to relatively large newborns have 1) higher magnitude of pelvic sexual size dimorphism (SSD), 2) lower prevalence of pelvic joint fusion, and 3) dissociation between pelvic and nonpelvic sizes. Nine measures of the pelvis were taken, and fusion of interpubic and sacroiliac joints was observed. Species grouped by high and low RNBM do not differ significantly in magnitude of SSD of pelvic inlet circumference. Species with high RNBM have significantly lower prevalence of interpubic joint fusion than those with low RNBM. Sexes do not differ in their multiple correlation coefficients between inlet circumference and nonpelvic body size in 7 of 8 species. Results suggest that 1) there are multiple anatomical pathways for pelvic obstetrical sufficiency, 2) an unfused interpubic joint is obstetrically advantageous, and 3) relative newborn size does not change the association between pelvic and nonpelvic size in females and males.
A Comparison of Four Survey Methods for Detecting Fox Squirrels in the Southeastern United States

Abstract Fox squirrel Sciurus niger populations in the southeastern United States appear to have declined, and 3 (S. n. cinereus, S. n. shermani, and S. n. avicennia) of the 10 subspecies are currently listed with a conservation status of protection. Efforts to conserve and manage fox squirrels in the southeastern United States are constrained by difficulties in studying their populations because of low densities and low detectability. There is a need for an effective survey method to fill knowledge gaps on southeastern fox squirrel ecology. To address this need and to identify a cost-effective and reliable technique to survey and monitor southeastern fox squirrel populations, we compared four survey methods across seasons: live-trapping; camera-trapping; point counts; and line-transect surveys, in regard to whether a detection occurred at a survey point, the total number of detections at a survey point, and the total cost for each method. We assessed the effectiveness of capture and detection methods and...
Nonlinearities in the U.S. wage Phillips curve

We examine the relationship between wage inflation and the unemployment rate in the U.S. economy for the 1964–2014 period by means of a three-regime threshold regression model. The estimated threshold parameters suggest that this relationship changes when the unemployment rate transitions between regimes defined by 5.61% and 7.63%. During mild recessions and their subsequent recoveries, the time-varying estimates of the model indicate a negative relationship between both variables, consistent with the implications of a wage Phillips curve (WPC) derived from the standard New Keynesian model with staggered wage setting in Gali (2011). However, we find that this relationship breaks down during deep recessions and their recovery periods, which explains the difference between wage inflation predicted by standard New Keynesian models and the observed low wage growth in the aftermath of the ‘Great Recession’. This finding and the fact that statistical tests strongly favor our three-regime model suggest that linear and two-regime models are insufficient to account for all the variability in the relationship between wage inflation and unemployment.
Intracavity high harmonic generation with fs frequency combs

We report on a high power Ti:sapphire based frequency comb generating harmonics down to 53nm, with average power up to 77 microwatts at 72 nm. Fundamental limitations due to intracavity plasma dynamics are modeled numerically.
Psychometric Evaluation and Discussions of English Language Learners’ Listening Comprehension

The importance of listening in the context of English language acquisition is gaining acceptance, but its unique attributes in language performance, while substantively and qualitatively justifiable, are generally not psychometrically defined. This article psychometrically supports listening as a distinct domain among the three other domains of language learning—reading, writing, and speaking—through the analysis of listening data from a large-scale K-12 English language proficiency assessment. Student responses in this study were compared on the basis of cognitive, metacognitive, and other learning strategies between high achieving and low achieving listening groups that were formed using a latent mixture distribution model. Latent mixture distribution and differential items functioning analyses together with classical item analysis were used to substantiate or draw attention to literature findings. The article also highlights the importance of social-interactive items that are inadvertently embedded in ...
“Let’s Talk About Sex”: Legislating and Educating on the Affirmative Consent Standard

In 1991, the trio Salt-N-Pepa released the classic hip-hop song “Let’s Talk About Sex” to address an otherwise private and intimate topic. Now, twenty-five years later, and in light of the sexual assault epidemic on college campuses, the song’s title takes on a whole new meaning. The Obama administration, legislators, and colleges and universities are all addressing the pervasive sexual assault problem by taking proactive steps to prevent sexual assault and to educate college students about sexual violence. One such step in campus sexual misconduct cases is a paradigm shift from a “no means no” approach to a “yes means yes” affirmative consent standard, and state legislators are now taking notice of this shift following California’s passage of the first “yes means yes” law. An integral part of successfully shifting to a “yes means yes” consent culture is implementing effective education not only at the college level, but also at the high school level. This Article explains the shift to the “yes means yes” affirmative consent standard and offers compelling reasons why legislators should consider requiring high schools to include awareness and prevention education on the affirmative consent standard. Education that incorporates the affirmative consent standard can be an effective way of enhancing young people’s knowledge of sexual communication and will be one step toward a fundamental advance in how society views the realities of sexual assault.
A methodology for identifying similar days in air traffic flow management initiative planning

Abstract This article describes a methodology for selecting days that are comparable in terms of the conditions faced during air traffic flow management initiative planning. This methodology includes the use of specific data sources, specific features of calendar days defined using these data sources, and the application of a specific form of classification and then cluster analysis. The application of this methodology will produce results that enable historical analysis of the use of initiatives and evaluation of the relative success of different courses of action. Several challenges are overcome here including the need to identify the appropriate machine learning algorithms to apply, to quantify the differences between calendar days, to select features describing days, to obtain appropriate raw data, and to evaluate results in a meaningful way. These challenges are overcome via a review of relevant literature, the identification and trial of several useful models and data sets, and careful application of methods. For example, the cluster analysis that ultimately selects sets of similar days uses a distance metric based on variable importance measures from a separate classification model of observed initiatives. The methodology defined here is applied to the New York area, although it could be applied by other researchers to other areas.
Deciding Upon and Carrying Out a Positive-Psychology-Infused Treatment Plan

The process of deciding upon and carrying out a positive-psychology-infused treatment plan depends largely upon where a client falls within the Complete State Model of Mental Health. For example, when working with clients who fall into the complete mental illness category (i.e., high symptoms of mental illness and low symptoms of well-being), using positive psychology activities to supplement “treatment as usual” is recommended. In contrast, the core of treatment should center on positive psychology exercises for those who fall in the incomplete mental health category (i.e., low symptoms of mental illness and low symptoms of well-being). Hence, appropriate treatment planning hinges upon the information gathered via the process of careful and complete, multiculturally appropriate, positive psychological assessment. This chapter provides a variety of sample treatment plans utilizing positive psychological interventions, based upon the category of the Complete State Model of Mental Health in which a client falls. Therapists are encouraged to use these sample treatment plans as general guides to developing their own treatment plans specific to the unique clients with whom they work.
Calculation of focal spot distortion in the Nike laser

The Nike laser is a 3-5-kJ KrF facility under construction at the Naval Research Laboratory to address technological and physics issues of direct-drive laser fusion. One of the key issues is the ability to produce a focal spot whose time-averaged intensity is smooth and controllable to within a few percent. To accomplish this, Nike will implement the echelon-free ISI technique,1 in which the desired focal profile F(r) formed at the output of a spatially and temporally incoherent oscillator2 is imaged onto the target through the laser system. Because the amplifier stages are located in the quasifar-field of F (r), the large scale gain and phase non uniformities that they inevitably produce will have little effect on the image. However, small-scale phase nonuniformities can perturb the image, and must be minimized to maintain good control over it. The compensation of systematic phase aberrations in the Nike optical design has been discussed earlier.3 Here, we report on numerical simulations of profile distortion due to random phase nonuniformities, self-phase modulation, and self-seeded stimulated rotational Raman scattering (SRRS), and describe the steps being taken to minimize these effects.
Controlled Radical Polymerization as an Enabling Approach for the Next Generation of Protein–Polymer Conjugates

ConspectusProtein–polymer conjugates are unique constructs that combine the chemical properties of a synthetic polymer chain with the biological properties of a biomacromolecule. This often leads to improved stabilities, solubilities, and in vivo half-lives of the resulting conjugates, and expands the range of applications for the proteins. However, early chemical methods for protein–polymer conjugation often required multiple polymer modifications, which were tedious and low yielding. To solve these issues, work in our laboratory has focused on the development of controlled radical polymerization (CRP) techniques to improve synthesis of protein−polymer conjugates. Initial efforts focused on the one-step syntheses of protein-reactive polymers through the use of functionalized initiators and chain transfer agents. A variety of functional groups such as maleimide and pyridyl disulfide could be installed with high end-group retention, which could then react with protein functional groups through mild and bio...
Bytewise Approximate Matching: The Good, The Bad, and The Unknown

Hash functions are established and well-known in digital forensics, where they are commonly used for proving integrity and file identification (i.e., hash all files on a seized device and compare the fingerprints against a reference database). However, with respect to the latter operation, an active adversary can easily overcome this approach because traditional hashes are designed to be sensitive to altering an input; output will significantly change if a single bit is flipped. Therefore, researchers developed approximate matching, which is a rather new, less prominent area but was conceived as a more robust counterpart to traditional hashing. Since the conception of approximate matching, the community has constructed numerous algorithms, extensions, and additional applications for this technology, and are still working on novel concepts to improve the status quo. In this survey article, we conduct a high-level review of the existing literature from a non-technical perspective and summarize the existing body of knowledge in approximate matching, with special focus on bytewise algorithms. Our contribution allows researchers and practitioners to receive an overview of the state of the art of approximate matching so that they may understand the capabilities and challenges of the field. Simply, we present the terminology, use cases, classification, requirements, testing methods, algorithms, applications, and a list of primary and secondary literature.
Motivating dynamic features for resolution time estimation within IT operations management

Cloud-based services today depend on many layers of virtual technology and application services. Incidents and problems that arise in such complex operational environments are logged as a ticket, worked on by experts and finally resolved. To assist these experts, any machine recommendation method must meet the following critical business requirements: 1) the ticket must be resolved, meeting specific time constraints or Service Level Targets (SLTs), and 2) any predictive assistance must be trustworthy. Existing research uses probabilistic models to recommend transfers between experts based on limited features intrinsic to the ticket content, and does not demonstrate how to meet SLTs. To address this lack of research and ensure SLT-compliance for an incoming ticket given its recommended sequence of experts, there needs to be an accurate time-to-resolve (TTR) estimation. This research aims to identify important features for modeling time-to-resolve estimation given the routing recommendation sequences. This work particularly makes the following contributions: 1) constructs a framework for assessing TTR estimations and their SLT-compliance, 2) applies the assessment to a baseline estimation model to identify the need for better TTR modeling, and 3) uses language modeling to study the impact of anomalous content on the estimation error, and 4) introduces a set of dynamic features, and a methodology to rigorously model the TTR estimation.
Formation of Low-Volatility Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere: Recent Advancements and Insights.

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation proceeds by bimolecular gas-phase oxidation reactions generating species that are sufficiently low in volatility to partition into the condensed phase. Advances in instrumentation have revealed that atmospheric SOA is less volatile and more oxidized than can be explained solely by these well-studied gas-phase oxidation pathways, supporting the role of additional chemical processes. These processes—autoxidation, accretion, and organic salt formation—can lead to exceedingly low-volatility species that recently have been identified in laboratory and field studies. Despite these new insights, the identities of the condensing species at the molecular level and the relative importance of the various formation processes remain poorly constrained. The thermodynamics of autoxidation, accretion, and organic salt formation can be described by equilibrium partitioning theory; a framework for which is presented here. This framework will facilitate the inclusion of such process...
More Democracy, Less Constitution

I suspect that most Americans believe that constitutions ought to restrain majorities. There is broad acceptance of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and equality under the law, even though these freedoms and rights often result in thwarting majority preferences (and even though there are disputes about the content of those rights). Unlike the British, Americans conceive constitutions as documents whose raison d’etre is to limit the power of majorities. Professor Sandy Levinson’s stimulating and engaging book, Our Undemocratic Constitution, argues that we have too much constitution and too little democracy. More precisely, Levinson argues that we ought to eliminate a number of the federal Constitution’s basic features that he regards as undemocratic. Among other things, Professor Levinson wishes to consign to the ash heap of history the Senate’s equal suffrage rule, the Electoral College, the presidential veto, and life tenure for federal judges. Although I endorse Professor Levinson’s call for a constitutional convention, share his Jeffersonian enthusiasm for amending the Constitution, and favor some of his minor amendments, I remain unconvinced by many of his more prominent proposals. As discussed later, I am not so eager to toss aside equal state suffrage in the Senate, bicameralism, or the presidential veto. I think these constitutional features further worthwhile values, even as they undoubtedly restrain majorities. Professor Levinson’s book is interesting not only for what it proposes, but also for what it fails to recommend. The logic of his proposals, resting on the undemocratic features of the constitutional provisions he opposes, suggest far more radical solutions than Professor Levinson countenances. His arguments, based on the primacy of democracy, suggest that we ought to revamp the way we elect House members and end judicial review. At the extreme, his arguments suggest that we ought not to have an American style constitution at all because such constitutions necessarily limit the power of majorities. In short, if democracy is the overarching goal, we need much more democracy and far less—if any—Constitution.
Heart Failure Hospitalization (HFH) Despite Digoxin Therapy Versus No HFH Despite Placebo in the Digitalis Investigation Group (DIG) Trial: Insights Into Risk Factors for HFH in hf and Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)

Background: In the DIG trial, 6800 patients with HFrEF (EF≤45%) were randomized to receive either placebo (n=3403) or digoxin (n=3397) and followed for a mean of 37 months. Digoxin significantly reduced the risk of HFH by 28% (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.66–0.79). However, 27% of patients in the digoxin
The Personal and Professional Experiences of Integrative Nurse Coach Certificate Program Graduates: A Pilot Study:

Integrative Nurse Coaching is a new practice in professional nursing. The purpose of this pilot study is to describe Integrative Nurse Coach Certificate Program graduates' personal and professional experiences. This is a qualitative, pilot study with a convenience sample of Integrative Nurse Coach Certificate Program graduates ( n = 13). Researchers conducted semistructured interviews and identified common themes. The pilot study found four common themes from the participants' experiences as follows: (1) development of self, (2) enriched self-care, (3) a call to action for facilitating the health care paradigm shift, and (4) incorporating Integrative Nurse Coaching into practice. The pilot study's findings and conclusions provide insight into the potential benefits of Integrative Nurse Coaching and the importance of nurse self-care.
Duplex Ultrasound Mapping Protocol for Placement of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Cannulae for Robotic Mitral Valve Surgery

BackgroundDuplex ultrasound is a noninvasive, low-cost modality for evaluation of lower-extremity arteries and veins. We developed a protocol to evaluate the lower-extremity vasculature for patient...
The Microbiota of Humans and Microbial Virulence Factors

“The 1990s have been marked by a renewed recognition that our human species is still locked in a Darwinian struggle with our microbial and viral predators.” Although this unreferenced quotation was made by Nobel Laureate Joshua Lederberg, as he was discussing the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis epidemics that emerged in the early 1990s, his comment could also apply to almost any infectious disease process that has occurred since the recognition of the germ theory of disease in the late 1880s. For as we journey through the 21st century, and despite the advances of modern medicine and the continual development of new vaccines and anti-infective therapeutic agents, the human species continues to battle microbial predators in this Darwinian struggle for survival.
Are Physicians Blameworthy for Iatrogenic Harm Resulting from Unnecessary Genital Surgeries

Physicians should be held accountable for physical and psychological harm caused by intersex surgery, cosmetic vaginal surgery, or circumcision.
Perioperative Opioid Analgesics and Hip Arthroscopy: Trends, Risk Factors for Prolonged Use, and Complications

Purpose The purpose of this article is to (1) examine trends in preoperative and prolonged postoperative opioid analgesic use in patient undergoing hip arthroscopy, (2) characterize risk factors for prolonged opioid analgesic use following hip arthroscopy, and (3) explore preoperative and prolonged postoperative opioid analgesic use as independent risk factors for complications following hip arthroscopy. Methods A private insurance database was queried for patients undergoing hip arthroscopy from 2007 to 2015 with a minimum of 6 months of follow-up. Independent risk factors for prolonged opioid analgesic use were determined. Preoperative and prolonged opioid analgesic use as risk factors for complications were examined. Results There was a significantly decreasing trend in preoperative ( P = .002) and prolonged postoperative ( P = .009) opioid analgesic use. The most significant risk factor for prolonged postoperative opioid analgesic use was preoperative use (odds ratio [OR], 3.61; P P P P P P = .0004) and conversion to THA (OR, 1.8; P Conclusions More than a quarter of patients undergoing hip arthroscopy continue to receive opioid analgesic prescriptions more than 3 months postoperatively. The most significant risk factor for prolonged opioid analgesic use is preoperative opioid analgesic use. Additionally, anxiolytics, substance use or abuse, morbid obesity, and back pain were among the more notable risk factors for prolonged postoperative opioid analgesic use. Preoperative and prolonged postoperative opioid analgesic use was associated with a higher likelihood of several adverse effects/complications. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Plasmon-Mediated Entanglement Dynamics

We explore the steady state entanglement of quantum emitters coupled to a lossy plasmonic reservoir and driven by laser or electron-beam pump fields with picosecond antibunching dynamics.
The Computational Modeling of Alloys: From Ab Initio Calculations and Thermodynamics to Heterogeneous Precipitation

This lecture addresses a particular methodology to study thermodynamic driving forces, one of the two terms (thermodynamics + kinetics) that determine evolution in non-equilibrium processes at the atomic level. It is written at an introductory level and focused into the applications to a particular system, FeCr alloys. Since most of the problems related to materials behavior under irradiation are non-equilibrium processes, the challenge for computational modeling is to capture the relevant aspects of this wide class of problems. As a lecture, this paper is self contained. However, for additional readings we list below a series of references where particular aspects are discussed in more detail. P. Hasen, 2005, for thermodynamic of alloys; N. Saunders and A. P. Miodownik, 1998, for a description of the CALPHAD methodology; and a series of papers by our group and collaborators, which includes E. Ogando Arregui, M. Caro, E. M. Lopasso, D. Farkas, P. E. A. Turchi, and D. Crowson, 2002-2007 which cover in detail the methodology discussed here. It can clearly bee seen that today’s belief on the power of the computational approach to physics and materials science has become a
Survey of anesthesiologists’ practices related to steep Trendelenburg positioning in the USA

Steep Trendelenburg during surgery has been associated with many position-related injuries. The American Society of Anesthesiology practice advisory recommends documentation, frequent position checks, avoiding shoulder braces, and limiting abduction of upper extremities to avoid brachial plexopathy. We conducted a web-based survey to assess anesthesiologists’ practices, institutional policies, and complications encountered when using steep Trendelenburg. Two thousand fifty randomly selected active members of the American Society of Anesthesiology were invited via email to participate in a 9-item web-based survey. Results are reported as absolute numbers and proportions with 95% confidence interval (CI). Survey response rate was 290 of 2050 (14.1%). 44.6% (95% CI, 38.9–50.3) of the respondents documented anesthesia start and finish, 73.9% (95% CI, 68.8–79) frequently checked positioning during surgery, 30.8% (95% CI, 25.4–36.2) reported using shoulder braces, 66.9% (95% CI, 61.5–72.3) tucked patients’ arms to the side, 54.0% (95% CI, 48.2–59.8) limited fluid administration, and more than two-thirds did not limit the duration or inclination angle. Notably, 63/290 (21.7%) reported a complication and only 6/289 (2.1%) had an institutional policy. The most common complication was airway and face edema, second was brachial plexus injury, and third was corneal abrasions. Most institutional policies, when present, focused on limiting duration of steep Trendelenburg and communication with surgical team. Only 1/6 policies required avoiding use of shoulder braces. Based on survey results, practices related to steep Trendelenburg varied among USA anesthesiologists. Differences included protective measures, documentation, positioning techniques, fluid management, and institutional guidelines. The singular commonality found among all respondents was lack of institutional policies. Survey results highlighted the need for institutional policies and more education.
The ecological and economic potential for offshore mariculture in the Caribbean

Offshore mariculture could enable increased seafood production and economic development while alleviating pressure on coastal ecosystems and wild fisheries. In the Caribbean, however, an integrated assessment of the ecological and economic potential for mariculture in the region is lacking. We assess site suitability and develop a spatial bioeconomic model to predict yields and profits for offshore cobia (Rachycentron canadum) mariculture across 30 jurisdictions in the Caribbean. We find that (1) approximately 1.4% of the study area may be technically feasible; (2) the model could avoid conflicts with other uses and sensitive habitats and protected areas; and (3) the model could be economically profitable, with the potential to produce almost half the amount of seafood that is currently harvested from wild fisheries globally. Here, we show that potential farm-scale production and profitability vary across and within countries and that accounting for the foreign investment risk associated with a country will impact estimated farm profitability. Offshore mariculture could promote food security and economic development while sparing wild fisheries. This model-based study finds that the Caribbean could produce over 40 million metric tons of cobia (Rachycentron canadum), about half as much as the current global wild fish catch, and in less than 1.5% of the study area.
Volatile metabolites, quality and sensory parameters of "Ferrovia" sweet cherry cold stored in air or packed in high CO2 modified atmospheres.

Abstract Volatile organic compounds, quality and sensory attributes of sweet cherry cv “Ferrovia”, cold packaged in Air or in different modified atmospheres (Low-O2 = 1% O2/0.03% CO2; High-CO2 = 16% O2/20% CO2; Mix = 1% O2/20% CO2), were monitored until 21 days of conservation. Results showed that sweet cherry cv “Ferrovia” is sensitive to CO2 accumulation (over 20%) in low oxygen (about 1%) modified atmosphere, as showed by the increase in respiration rate, biosynthesis of fermentative volatile metabolites, and sensory perception of off-odours. However, High-CO2 treatment seemed to preserve quality and sensory traits, presumably due to the high initial concentration of O2 (16%) that could limit the synthesis of ethyl esters and γ-butyrolactone, keeping the accumulation of off-flavours below their sensory perception threshold. Finally, PLSR analysis allowed to select 1-pentanol as putative marker of sensory alteration and hexanal and 2-hexenal as possible predictors of freshness for “Ferrovia” sweet cherries.
Delayed diagnosis of spontaneous intestinal perforation among very low birth weight neonates: A single center experience

Objective To assess incidence and effect of delayed diagnosis of spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP). Study design Retrospective case series review of 58 VLBW neonates with SIP at our institution. Result SIP was diagnosed in 6.1%, 10%, and 15.1% of VLBW, ELBW, and ≤750 g neonates, respectively. Abdominal distension (58.6%) and abdominal discoloration (53.4%) were the most common presenting signs/symptoms. Smaller (≤750 g) neonates were more likely to present with hypotension and higher FiO2, and larger (751-1500 g) neonates with increased abdominal girth and abdominal distension. All but one neonate had radiographic pneumoperitoneum, and 25.9% had pneumoperitoneum on an X-ray prior to the X-ray at SIP diagnosis. An education module reduced delay in SIP diagnosis. Conclusion SIP presentation varies by birth weight and gestational age. Since SIP diagnosis is often first suggested on X-ray, all X-rays of VLBW neonates in the first 2 weeks of life should be scrutinized for pneumoperitoneum.
Increasing the Generalisaton Capacity of Conditional VAEs

We address the problem of one-to-many mappings in supervised learning, where a single instance has many different solutions of possibly equal cost. The framework of conditional variational autoencoders describes a class of methods to tackle such structured-prediction tasks by means of latent variables. We propose to incentivise informative latent representations for increasing the generalisation capacity of conditional variational autoencoders. To this end, we modify the latent variable model by defining the likelihood as a function of the latent variable only and introduce an expressive multimodal prior to enable the model for capturing semantically meaningful features of the data. To validate our approach, we train our model on the Cornell Robot Grasping dataset, and modified versions of MNIST and Fashion-MNIST obtaining results that show a significantly higher generalisation capability.
Health behaviors of American pregnant women: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2007-2014.

Author(s): Francis, Ellen C; Zhang, Lu; Witrick, Brian; Chen, Liwei | Abstract: BackgroundThis study examined engagement in five health behaviors among pregnant women in the USA.MethodsPregnant women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2014 were included in this study. Five health behaviors were examined: adequate fruit and vegetable consumption, prenatal multivitamin use, physical activity, sleep and smoking. Multivariable regressions were used to estimate the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of characteristics associated with health behaviors.ResultsAmong 248 pregnant women, only 10.2% engaged in all five health behaviors and 35.4% consumed adequate fruits and vegetables. For adequate fruit and vegetable consumption, Hispanic and women of 'other' race were more likely to meet the recommendation compared to non-Hispanic white (Pn=n0.01 and Pn=n0.03, respectively); high school graduates were less likely to meet the recommendation compared to those with at least some college education or more (Pn=n0.04).ConclusionsAdequate fruit and vegetable consumption among pregnant women was poor and differed by race/ethnicity and education status. Because of the cross-sectional design, we cannot examine engagement in health behaviors continuously throughout pregnancy. Future research with longitudinal data over the course of pregnancy is needed to confirm these results.
Functional analysis of Rossmann-like domains reveals convergent evolution of topology and reaction pathways

Rossmann folds are ancient, frequently diverged domains found in many biological reaction pathways where they have adapted for different functions. Consequently, discernment and classification of their homologous relations and function can be complicated. We define a minimal Rossmann-like structure motif (RLM) that corresponds for the common core of known Rossmann domains and use this motif to identify all RLM domains in the Protein Data Bank (PDB), thus finding they constitute about 20% of all known 3D structures. The Evolutionary Classification of protein structure Domains (ECOD) classifies RLM domains in a number of groups that lack evidence for homology (X-groups), which suggests that they could have evolved independently multiple times. Closely related, homologous RLM enzyme families can diverge to bind different ligands using similar binding sites and to catalyze different reactions. Conversely, non-homologous RLM domains can converge to catalyze the same reactions or to bind the same ligand with alternate binding modes. We discuss a special case of such convergent evolution that is relevant to the polypharmacology paradigm, wherein the same drug (methotrexate) binds to multiple non-homologous RLM drug targets with different topologies. Finally, assigning proteins with RLM domain to the Enzyme Commission classification suggest that RLM enzymes function mainly in metabolism (and comprise 38% of reference metabolic pathways) and are overrepresented in extant pathways that represent ancient biosynthetic routes such as nucleotide metabolism, energy metabolism, and metabolism of amino acids. In fact, RLM enzymes take part in five out of eight enzymatic reactions of the Wood-Ljungdahl metabolic pathway thought to be used by the last universal common ancestor (LUCA). The prevalence of RLM domains in this ancient metabolism might explain their wide distribution among enzymes.
Alpha-band oscillations and slow potentials shifts over visual cortex track the time course of both endogenous and exogenous orienting of attention

Abstract Spatial attention can be oriented endogenously, based on current task goals, or exogenously, triggered by salient events in the environment. Based upon literature demonstrating differences in the time course and neural substrates of each type of attention, these two attention systems are often treated as fundamentally distinct. However, recent studies suggest that rhythmic neural activity in the alpha band (8-13Hz) and slow waves in the event-related potential (ERP) may emerge over occipital cortex following both exogenous and endogenous attention cues. To assess whether these neural changes index a common process of spatial attention, we conducted two within-subject experiments varying the two main dimensions over which endogenous and exogenous attention tasks typically differ: cue informativity (spatially predictive vs. non-predictive) and cue format (centrally vs. peripherally presented). Our data demonstrate that all of these cues elicit lateralized ERPs over parietal-occipital cortex and trigger lateralized decreases in occipital alpha activity prior to a target. Critically, each of these measures precisely tracked the commonly observed time course of each type of attention. These results suggest that visual-cortical enhancement in anticipation of a visual target is a universal process of visual-spatial attention, regardless of whether attention was oriented based upon top-down goals or bottom-up salience.
Investigating the effects of leading-edge tubercles on the aerodynamic performance of insect-like flapping wing:

Tubercles are small protuberances or bumps on the leading edge of humpback whale's pectoral fin. To examine the effects of leading-edge tubercles on the aerodynamic performance of a flapping wing, ...
Food Insecurity during COVID-19.

For a decade, Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap (MMG) has provided sub-state-level estimates of food insecurity for both the full-population and for children. Along with being extensively used by food banks, it is widely used by state- and local-governments to help plan responses to food insecurity in their communities. In this paper, we describe the methods underpinning MMG, detail the approach Feeding America has used to make projections about the geography of food insecurity in 2020, and how food insecurity rates may have changed due to COVID-19 since 2018. We project an increase of 17 million Americans who are food insecure in 2020 but this aggregate increase masks substantial geographic variation found in MMG.