cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Joint Asymmetric Tolerance Design and Manufacturing Decision-Making for Additive Manufacturing Processes

Tolerance allocation is a design tool that is proven crucial for enhancing the cost effectiveness and productivity of manufacturing systems. The growing implementation of additive manufacturing (AM) with its unique characteristics requires novel tolerance allocation methodologies to be developed. More specifically, many of the assumptions in traditional tolerance allocation methods such as normality assumption, a priori known probability density function of data, and symmetricity of tolerances cannot be seamlessly applied to AM processes. Furthermore, as the obtained dimensional errors of components in AM processes are significantly affected by the decisions made during the manufacturing stage (e.g., selected process, material, layer thickness, and build direction), the manufacturing parameters need to be jointly considered for allocating feasible and optimum tolerances during the product design phase. In this paper, a methodology for joint dimensional tolerance allocation and manufacturing of assemblies fabricated by AM processes is proposed based on the asymmetric distribution of errors and considering assembly requirements, namely, specification and confidence level. The bootstrap statistical technique is used to estimate the unknown population’s statistics. A cyclic optimization approach is adopted to tackle the formulated problem. The numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Note to Practitioners —Tolerance allocation is an important design task with significant impacts on cost and product quality. As the application of additive manufacturing (AM) for fabricating practical products (especially in critical industries) is increasing, it is important to develop the design and manufacturing standards and guidelines for both designers and manufacturers. Currently, there is a lack of tolerance specification standards and process capability evaluation of different AM processes. As a result, trial and error approaches are usually adopted to determine the feasible tolerances and cost-effective process plans, which are time-consuming (especially due to the slow production speed of AM) and require extensive efforts. In this paper, a methodology is proposed where the design and manufacturing decisions for assemblies with AM components can be made concurrently in a cost-effective way.
Conceptual Sensors Testing Framework for Autonomous Vehicles

This paper highlights a conceptual sensors testing framework for autonomous vehicles. This framework is part of the efforts by the Advanced Mobility Institute (AMI) at Florida Polytechnic University to establish a state-of-the-art sensors testing facility for autonomous vehicles. The conceptual sensors testing framework will address the different types of sensors and communication schemes related to autonomous vehicles and provide a versatile approach to perform testing scenarios in a way similar to what happens in the physical world.
Magnéli phases of anion-deficient rutile as lubricious oxides. Part I. Tribological behavior of single-crystal and polycrystalline rutile (Ti n O2n−1)

In part I of this paper series, wide temperature range SEM-tribometric results generated in vacuum and various partial pressures of oxygen are combined with relevant literature data to examine a hypothesis correlating the oxygen stoichiometry of the Ti n O2n−1 Magneli phases of the rutile polymorph of titania with their tribological behavior. Single-crystal and polycrystalline rutile specimens of narrow stoichiometry ranges were sliding against α-SiC and themselves. The surface shear strength changes were determined as a function of the thermal–atmospheric test environment, and the shear strength values were estimated by the coefficients of friction, the real area of contact and the published yield strength of rutile. The data appear to be sufficient and sufficiently reliable to confirm the accuracy of the hypothesis. The tendency of the rutile stoichiometry (ergo the friction) to shift as a function of temperature and partial pressure of oxygen causes this material to be thermo-oxidatively unstable for tribological applications in extreme environments. In part II, a study is described to formulate oxidatively more stable Magneli phases by Cu-doping, and test the new materials by SEM tribometry using a procedure used for pure rutile here in part I. By employing this doping methodology similar to creating high-temperature superconductive oxides in part II, some feasibility of producing oxidatively stable, lubricious oxides with acceptably low wear rates is indicated.
Updating impressions: The differential effects of new performance information on evaluations of women and men

Abstract In three experimental studies we investigated whether changes in performance would have different consequences on the competence perceptions and performance evaluations of women and men whose earlier performance had been unmistakably successful or unsuccessful. We reasoned that the ambiguity created by new performance information that was inconsistent with previous performance information would facilitate stereotype-based gender bias. The results provided support for this idea. Whereas no differences emerged between reactions to men and women when performance remained the same, differences emerged when performance changed. Moreover, regardless of the nature of the change in performance, in male gender-typed domains women were evaluated more negatively than men: an improvement in performance had a less beneficial effect for women than for men (Study 1) and a decline in performance had a more detrimental effect for women than for men (Study 2). These effects were shown to be moderated by the gender-type of the field. Women were evaluated more negatively than men whether performance improved or declined only when the field was male gender-typed; when the field was female gender-typed, men were evaluated more negatively than women (Study 3). These findings are consistent with the idea that gender stereotypes and the performance expectations they produce can influence responses to new information about men’s and women’s performance.
Plant-by-plant level classifications of cotton root rot by UAV remote sensing

The fungus Phymatotrichpsis omnivora, also called cotton root rot (CRR), is one of the most deadly cotton diseases in the Southwest U.S. Once the cotton is infected by CRR it is very unlikely for it to be cured. Previous research indicates that the CRR will reoccur at a similar area as previous years. A fungicide known as Topguard Terra was proven efficient in CRR prevention. Therefore, knowing the historical CRR-infested area is helpful to prevent CRR from appearing again in the future. The CRR-infested plants can be detected by using aerial remote sensing. When an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was introduced to a remote sensing research field, the spatial and temporal resolution of imagery data increased significantly and higher precision CRR classification was made possible. A plant-by-plant (PBP) level classification based on the Superpixel concept was developed to identify CRR-infested and healthy cotton plants in the field at the single plant level. The PBP classification algorithm was improved to achieve fewer misclassifications.
Fabric-Based Soft Grippers Capable of Selective Distributed Bending for Assistance of Daily Living Tasks

This paper presents two designs of soft grippers able to mount on a Soft-Poly Limb to enable user assistance in manipulation tasks during activities of daily living. The grippers are composed of soft actuators made with high-strength inflatable fabrics, offering variable range of compliance, lightweight designs, and high strength-to-weight ratios. Their motion is achieved based on selective distributed bending, which allows joints to form along any point of the length of the grippers. In particular, the designs of an opposing multi-fingered gripper and a bio-inspired continuum gripper are explored. Furthermore, the introduction of a rotational wrist joint, which converts bending motion of a soft actuator array to rotational motion is utilized to control orientation of the aforementioned grippers. Through series of qualitative and quantitative evaluations the fabricated grippers are found capable of both high-strength pinch and power grasping enabling reliable manipulation of objects encountered in daily living tasks.
Is robotic surgery an option for early T-stage laryngeal cancer? Early nationwide results.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To characterize patients undergoing laryngeal transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and compare to open partial surgery and transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in achieving negative margins, requiring adjuvant radiation, and overall survival. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective database analysis. METHODS Early-stage (T1/2) laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients from the National Cancer Database. Univariable and multivariable logistic and Cox regressions were used to identify predictors. RESULTS There were 1,780 patients included in the study (186 [10.4%] = TORS; 523 [29.4%] = open surgery; 1,071 [60.2%] = TLM). TORS was more commonly treated at academic centers (68.8% = open surgery, 53.9% = TLM, 71.0% = TORS; P < .001) and had more T2 (52.7% = TORS, 46.7% = open surgery, 20.5% = TLM; P < .001) and N-positive disease (26.9% = TORS, 19.5% = open surgery, 5.5% = TLM; P < .001). Surgical approach was significantly associated with margin status (positive margin rates: TORS = 17.4%, TLM = 20.0%, open surgery = 13.8%) between open surgery and TLM in multivariable analysis (compared to open surgery, TLM: 1.63 [1.12-2.38], TORS: 1.18 [0.72-1.94]; P = .04). Surgical approach was not associated with receipt of adjuvant radiation (compared to open surgery, TLM: 1.52 [1.04-2.24], TORS: 1.56 [0.97-2.49]; P = .05). It was not associated with margins or adjuvant radiation in supraglottic patients. TORS had the highest 5-year overall survival, although the survival for TLM was similar (68.7% and 64.8%, respectively), and both were higher than that of open surgery (59.1%; P = .01). In multivariable Cox regression for supraglottic patients, there was no observed difference between TORS and open surgery (compared to TORS, open surgery: 1.44 [0.93-2.24]; P = .25). CONCLUSIONS On multivariable analysis, there was no observed difference in margin status in TORS patients compared to TLM and open surgery (in both the total cohort and supraglottic subgroup). Similarly there was no observed difference in necessitating adjuvant radiation. In Cox regression, there was no observed difference between TORS and open surgery in overall survival for supraglottic patients. This study suggests that TORS may be a viable treatment option for early-stage laryngeal cancer. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 130:1195-1201, 2020.
Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome in Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patients: A Single Institution's Experience.

Objectives 1) Describe the prevalence of acquired von Willebrand syndrome in pediatric patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation deemed to be at increased risk for the disease in our institution, 2) discuss the challenges of testing for acquired von Willebrand syndrome diagnosis, 3) describe the characteristics of the patient population found to have acquired von Willebrand syndrome and their outcomes, and 4) discuss the potential implications of acquired von Willebrand syndrome on bleeding complications. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting PICU and cardiovascular ICU in a single institution. Patients All PICU and cardiovascular ICU extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients 0-18 years old who underwent screening for acquired von Willebrand syndrome between January 2014 and December 2016. Interventions Humate P administration to a small subset of acquired von Willebrand syndrome positive subjects. Measurements and main results Laboratory data of identified patients were analyzed. The diagnosis of acquired von Willebrand syndrome was made based on decreased ristocetin cofactor activity to von Willebrand factor antigen ratio and/or abnormal multimer analysis. Clinical data were extracted from the chart and through the Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Outcome Registry to describe the demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes of this patient population. In the 2 years, 29 patients had laboratory testing performed for surveillance and in cases of clinical bleeding. Of these, 23 (79%) were positive by criteria. No significant difference in mortality rate was found between patients with acquired von Willebrand syndrome versus without. We also did not find a significant difference in the blood product utilization or bleeding complications between patients with acquired von Willebrand syndrome versus without. Humate P was administered in 39% of patients (9/23) who were positive for acquired von Willebrand syndrome, but no significant difference was seen in blood product utilization or bleeding complications between acquired von Willebrand syndrome patients receiving Humate P versus those who did not. Conclusions Acquired von Willebrand syndrome is a common but under recognized disorder in pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients. The clinical implications of this disorder on bleeding and its potential treatments are still unclear.
Solution Catalytic Cycle of Incompatible Steps for Ambient Air Oxidation of Methane to Methanol.

Direct chemical synthesis from methane and air under ambient conditions is attractive yet challenging. Low-valent organometallic compounds are known to activate methane, but their electron-rich nature seems incompatible with O2 and prevents catalytic air oxidation. We report selective oxidation of methane to methanol with an O2-sensitive metalloradical as the catalyst and air as the oxidant at room temperature and ambient pressure. The incompatibility between C–H activation and O2 oxidation is reconciled by electrochemistry and nanomaterials, with which a concentration gradient of O2 within the nanowire array spatially segregated incompatible steps in the catalytic cycle. An unexpected 220 000-fold increase of the apparent reaction rate constants within the nanowire array leads to a turnover number up to 52 000 within 24 h. The synergy between nanomaterials and organometallic chemistry warrants a new catalytic route for CH4 functionalization.
Evaluating glial and neuronal blood biomarkers GFAP and UCH-L1 as gradients of brain injury in concussive, subconcussive and non-concussive trauma: a prospective cohort study

Objectives To evaluate the ability of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase (UCH-L1) to detect concussion in children and adult trauma patients with a normal mental status and assess biomarker concentrations over time as gradients of injury in concussive and non-concussive head and body trauma. Design Large prospective cohort study. Setting Three level I trauma centres in the USA. Participants Paediatric and adult trauma patients of all ages, with and without head trauma, presenting with a normal mental status (Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15) within 4 hours of injury. Rigorous screening for concussive symptoms was conducted. Of 3462 trauma patients screened, 751 were enrolled and 712 had biomarker data. Repeated blood sampling was conducted at 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, 120, 132, 144, 156, 168 and 180 hours postinjury in adults. Main outcomes Detection of concussion and gradients of injury in children versus adults by comparing three groups of patients: (1) those with concussion; (2) those with head trauma without overt signs of concussion (non-concussive head trauma controls) and (3) those with peripheral (body) trauma without head trauma or concussion (non-concussive body trauma controls). Results A total of 1904 samples from 712 trauma patients were analysed. Within 4 hours of injury, there were incremental increases in levels of both GFAP and UCH-L1 from non-concussive body trauma (lowest), to mild elevations in non-concussive head trauma, to highest levels in patients with concussion. In concussion patients, GFAP concentrations were significantly higher compared with body trauma controls (p Conclusions In a cohort of trauma patients with normal mental status, GFAP outperformed UCH-L1 in detecting concussion in both children and adults. Blood levels of GFAP and UCH-L1 showed incremental elevations across three injury groups: from non-concussive body trauma, to non-concussive head trauma, to concussion. However, UCH-L1 was expressed at much higher levels than GFAP in those with non-concussive trauma, particularly in children. Elevations in both biomarkers in patients with non-concussive head trauma may be reflective of a subconcussive brain injury. This will require further study.
Adversarial Examples for Cost-Sensitive Classifiers

Motivated by safety-critical classification problems, we investigate adversarial attacks against cost-sensitive classifiers. We use current state-of-the-art adversarially-resistant neural network classifiers [1] as the underlying models. Cost-sensitive predictions are then achieved via a final processing step in the feed-forward evaluation of the network. We evaluate the effectiveness of cost-sensitive classifiers against a variety of attacks and we introduce a new cost-sensitive attack which performs better than targeted attacks in some cases. We also explored the measures a defender can take in order to limit their vulnerability to these attacks. This attacker/defender scenario is naturally framed as a two-player zero-sum finite game which we analyze using game theory.
A Data-Driven Framework for Learning Dexterous Manipulation of Unknown Objects

We address the problem of developing precision, quasi-static control strategies for fingertip manipulation in robot hands. In general, analytically specifying useful object transition maps, or hand-object Jacobians, for scenarios in which there is uncertainty in some key aspect of the hand-object system is difficult or impossible. This could be in scenarios with standard fully-actuated hands where, for instance, there is not an accurate model of the contact conditions, or in scenarios with fewer control inputs than mechanical degrees of freedom (such as underactuated hands or those that are controlled by synergies or impedance controlled frameworks), since the output space is of higher dimension than the input space. In this work, we develop a method for extracting object transition maps by tracking the state of the grasp frame. We begin by modeling a compliant, underactuated hand and its mechanical properties through an energy-based approach. From this energy model, we provide controlled actuation inputs to change the state of the grasp frame. We observe the response from these actions and develop a regression map of the action-reaction pairs, where the map is subject to our intent for grasp frame movement and the regional relationship between the contacts. Once the regression model is developed, we perform within-hand planning of the grasp frame with newly introduced objects. This approach is agnostic to the global geometry of the object and is able to adapt when undesirable contact conditions, such as sliding, occur. The learning-based methodology estimates the non-linearities representative in the properties of the system. We test our framework physically on an adapted Yale Openhand Model O. By transferring the learned model from simulation to the physical hand without adaptation, we show that this energy modeling approach is robust to inaccuracies in parameter estimation. We demonstrate its efficacy in a handwriting task.
Effects of government regulations and input subsidies on cost efficiency: A decomposition approach

Abstract This paper studies the effects of regulations, input subsidies, their interactions and technical efficiency on cost efficiency and shows how a firm's cost efficiency relates to society's cost efficiency. It finds that from societal viewpoint, the average US public transit system is 45% cost efficient, a product of 84.4% technical efficiency and 53.5% allocative efficiency. From a transit system's viewpoint, it is 78.6%, 59.5% and 84.4% cost efficient when it internalizes input subsidies, regulations and both respectively. Additionally, it finds that the incentive tier regulation reduces capital-labor allocative distortion, the federal labor protection regulation increases nonlabor-labor allocative distortion and cost inefficiency, the incentive regulation increases cost efficiency, and the bus useful-life regulation increases cost inefficiency through increasing technical inefficiency. Together, in the sample of transit systems studied the regulations studied counteract the capital-labor allocative distortion from the subsidies and reinforce the nonlabor-labor allocative distortion from subsidies.
Model-Driven Engineering for Multi-party Interactions on a Blockchain – An Example

Multi-party interactions can be a powerful modeling paradigm for business processes that cross organizational boundaries, but it is typically hard to implement in a distributed setting. Blockchains, however, make such an implementation possible. In a small case study, this paper demonstrates three related approaches how an example taxi dispatcher application involving independent parties can be modeled for implementation on a blockchain: BPMN with an extension for multi-party interactions, synchronized state-machines, and high-level Petri nets, respectively. The three models differ in how well they (a) align with the code in order to support model-driven engineering and (b) support readability of the contractual aspects of the chaincode to business stakeholders. We have implemented and tested the example application as chaincode on Hyperledger Fabric. Our preliminary results suggest that chaincode can be aligned with a high-level model of synchronized state machines which, in turn, can be easily visualized, for example, by an extended BPMN notation.
Outcomes by Race Among Women Referred to an Academic Colposcopy Clinic with a Patient Navigation Program.

Background: Although minority women are at higher risk of cervical cancer in the United States, little is known about differences in rates of colposcopy and loop electrosurgical excision procedure ...
Robot Assisted Renal Allograft Nephrectomy: Initial Case Series and Description of Technique

Objective To evaluate the outcomes and perioperative complication rates following robot- assisted transplant nephrectomy ((RATN). Methods All patients who underwent RATN at our institution were included. No exclusion criteria were applied. Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed and reported. This included preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative outcomes. Complications were reported utilizing the Clavien-Dindo classification system. Descriptive statistics were reported using frequencies and percentages for categorical variables, means and standard deviation for continuous variables. Results Between July 2014 and April 2018, 15 patients underwent RATN. Most patients had the transplant in the right iliac fossa (13/15). Ten patients underwent a concomitant procedure. The total operative time for the entire cohort was 336 (±102) minutes (including cases who had concomitant procedures) and 259 (±46 minutes) when cases with concomitant procedures were excluded. Mean estimated blood loss was 383 (±444) mL. Postoperatively, 3 patients required blood transfusion. Average hospital stay was 4 (±2.7) days. Most patients had finding consistent with graft rejection on final pathology. There were 5 complications; 3 of which were minor (grade 2 = 2 and grade 3 = 1); one patient had a wound infection requiring dressing (3A) and one patient died due to pulmonary embolism following discharge. Limitations include small series and retrospective nature of the study. Conclusion This case series demonstrate that RATN is technically feasible. With continued experience and larger case series, the robotic approach may provide a minimally invasive alternative to open allograft nephrectomy.
Lung clearance index in children with sickle cell disease.

Introduction The lung clearance index (LCI) derived from the multiple breath washout test (MBW), is both feasible and sensitive to early lung disease detection in young children with cystic fibrosis and asthma. The utility of LCI has not been studied in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). We hypothesized that children with SCD, with or without asthma or airway hyperreactivity (AHR), would have an elevated LCI compared to healthy controls. Methods Children with SCD from a single center between the ages of 6 and 18 years were studied at baseline health and completed MBW, spirometry, plethysmography and blood was drawn for serum markers. Results were compared to healthy controls of similar race, age, and gender. Results Healthy controls (n = 35) had a significantly higher daytime oxygen saturation level, weight and body mass index but not height compared to participants with SCD (n = 34). Total lung capacity (TLC) z-scores were significantly higher in the healthy controls compared to those with SCD (0.87 [1.13] vs. 0.02 [1.27]; p = .005) while differences in forced expiratory volume in 1 s z-scores approached significance (0.26 [0.97] vs. -0.22 [1.09]; p = .055). There was no significant difference in LCI between the healthy controls compared to participants with SCD (7.29 [0.72] vs. 7.40 [0.69]; p = .514). Conclusion LCI did not differentiate SCD from healthy controls in children between the ages of 6 and 18 years at baseline health. TLC may be an important pulmonary function measure to follow longitudinally in the pediatric SCD population.
The Social Justice Teaching Collaborative: A Collective Turn Towards Critical Teacher Education

In this article, we share the collaborative curricular work of an interdisciplinary Social Justice Teaching Collaborative (SJTC) from a PWI university. Members of the SJTC worked strategically to center social justice across required courses pre-service teachers are required to take: Introduction to Education, Sociocultural Studies in Education, and Inclusive Education. We share our conceptualization of social justice and guiding theoretical frameworks that have shaped our pedagogy and curriculum. These frameworks include democratic education, critical pedagogy, critical race theory, critical whiteness studies, critical disability studies, and feminist and intersectionality theory. We then detail changes made across courses including examples of readings and assignments. Finally, we conclude by offering reflections, challenges, and lessons learned for collaborative work within teacher education and educational leadership.
Cardiovascular disease and risk of incident diabetes mellitus: Findings from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Background Studies have reported an association between prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and risk of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, factors that may explain the association remain unclear. We examined the association of prevalent CVD with incident DM and assessed whether weight gain and medication use may explain the association. Methods Data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Visit 1 (2008-2011) and Visit 2 (2014-2017) were used to compare incidence of DM among individuals with and without self-reported CVD at Visit 1. A total of 1899 individuals with self-reported CVD were matched to controls free of self-reported CVD at Visit 1 using 1:1 propensity score matching. Covariates included in the propensity model were sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, comorbid conditions, and study site. The effect of self-reported CVD on incident DM was examined using a generalized estimating equation. The mediating effects of weight gain and use of cardiovascular medications were evaluated. Results Covariate distributions were similar among individuals with and without self-reported CVD. The incidence of DM among persons with self-reported CVD was 15.3% vs 12.7% among those without self-reported CVD. Compared to individuals without self-reported CVD, individuals with self-reported CVD had a 24% increased risk for incident DM (odds ratio = 1.24, 95% confidence interval = 1.01, 1.51). The association between self-reported CVD and DM was mediated by the use of beta-blockers (proportion explained = 25.4%), statins (proportion explained = 18%), and diuretics (proportion explained = 8%). We found that weight gain did not explain the observed association. Conclusions Prevalent cardiovascular disease was associated with a significant increased risk of incident diabetes. The observed association was partially explained by some medications used to manage CVD.
In-vivo imaging of targeting and modulation of depression-relevant circuitry by transcranial direct current stimulation: a randomized clinical trial.

Recent clinical trials of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in depression have shown contrasting results. Consequently, we used in-vivo neuroimaging to confirm targeting and modulation of depression-relevant neural circuitry by tDCS. Depressed participants (N = 66, Baseline Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) 17-item scores ≥14 and <24) were randomized into Active/Sham and High-definition (HD)/Conventional (Conv) tDCS groups using a double-blind, parallel design, and received tDCS individually targeted at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). In accordance with Ampere's Law, tDCS currents were hypothesized to induce magnetic fields at the stimulation-target, measured in real-time using dual-echo echo-planar-imaging (DE-EPI) MRI. Additionally, the tDCS treatment trial (consisting of 12 daily 20-min sessions) was hypothesized to induce cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes post-treatment at the DLPFC target and in the reciprocally connected anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), measured using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) MRI. Significant tDCS current-induced magnetic fields were observed at the left DLPFC target for both active stimulation montages (Brodmann's area (BA) 46: pHD = 0.048, Cohen's dHD = 0.73; pConv = 0.018, dConv = 0.86; BA 9: pHD = 0.011, dHD = 0.92; pConv = 0.022, dConv = 0.83). Significant longitudinal CBF increases were observed (a) at the left DLPFC stimulation-target for both active montages (pHD = 3.5E-3, dHD = 0.98; pConv = 2.8E-3, dConv = 1.08), and (b) at ACC for the HD-montage only (pHD = 2.4E-3, dHD = 1.06; pConv = 0.075, dConv = 0.64). These results confirm that tDCS-treatment (a) engages the stimulation-target, and (b) modulates depression-relevant neural circuitry in depressed participants, with stronger network-modulations induced by the HD-montage. Although not primary outcomes, active HD-tDCS showed significant improvements of anhedonia relative to sham, though HDRS scores did not differ significantly between montages post-treatment.
Asymmetry in the frequency and proportion of arm truncation in three sympatric California Octopus species.

Abstract Octopuses have eight radially symmetrical arms that surround the base of a bilaterally symmetrical body. These numerous appendages, which explore the environment, handle food, and defend the animal against predators, are highly susceptible to truncation or loss. Here, we used scaling relationships specific to the arms of three sympatric octopus species of the genus Octopus, to calculate the proportion of arm truncation. We then compared the frequency and proportion of arm losses between different body locations. Truncated arms were found in 59.8 % of specimens examined, with individuals bearing one to as many as seven injured arms. We found a significant left side bias for greater proportion of arm truncation for all species and sexes except in O. bimaculatus males. We also found that sister species O. bimaculatus and O. bimaculoides had a greater proportion of their anterior arms (pairs 1 and 2) truncated, while in O. rubescens, posterior arms (pairs 3 and 4) were more truncated. The mean percent of arm that was truncated was 28.1 % overall but varied between species and by sex and was highest in O. rubescens females (56 %). The arms of O. rubescens also exhibited the steepest scaling patterns, and showed a positive correlation between body size and number of truncated arms. Overall, we show that arm injuries in our sampling of three intertidal species are frequent and asymmetrical, and that when injured, octopus on average lose a considerable proportion of their arm. Through quantifying the variation in arm truncation, this study provides a new foundation to explore behavioral compensation for arm loss in cephalopods.
Patient Perspectives on Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BackgroundPatients received care over telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their perspective is useful for hand surgeons.MethodsOnline surveys were sent October-November 2020 to 497 patie...
Uniquely anisotropic mechanical and thermal responses of hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites under uniaxial strain.

The complete understanding of the mechanical and thermal responses to strain in hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites holds great potential for their proper functionalities in a range of applications, such as in photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, and flexible electronics. In this work, we conduct systematic atomistic simulations on methyl ammonium lead iodide, which is the prototypical hybrid inorganic–organic perovskite, to investigate the changes in their mechanical and thermal transport responses under uniaxial strain. We find that the mechanical response and the deformation mechanisms are highly dependent on the direction of the applied uniaxial strain with a characteristic ductile- or brittle-like failure accompanying uniaxial tension. Moreover, while most materials shrink in the two lateral directions when stretched, we find that the ductile behavior in hybrid perovskites can lead to a very unique mechanical response where negligible strain occurs along one lateral direction while the length contraction occurs in the other direction due to uniaxial tension. This anisotropy in the mechanical response is also shown to manifest in an anisotropic thermal response of the hybrid perovskite where the anisotropy in thermal conductivity increases by up to 30% compared to the unstrained case before plastic deformation occurs at higher strain levels. Along with the anisotropic responses of these physical properties, we find that uniaxial tension leads to ultralow thermal conductivities that are well below the value predicted with a minimum thermal conductivity model, which highlights the potential of strain engineering to tune the physical properties of hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites.
Cost-effectiveness of Single vs Double Debridement and Implant Retention for Acute Periprosthetic Joint Infections in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Markov Model

Abstract Background Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a common cause of revision total knee surgery. Although debridement and implant retention (DAIR) has lower success rates in the chronic setting, it is an accepted treatment of acute PJI, whether postoperatively or with late hematogenous seeding. There are two broad DAIR strategies: single debridement and planned double debridement. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of single vs double DAIR for acute PJI in total knee arthroplasty. Methods A decision tree using single or double DAIR as the treatment strategy for acute PJI was constructed. Quality-adjusted life years and costs associated with the two treatment arms were calculated. Treatment success rates, failure rates, and mortality rates were derived from the literature. Medical costs were derived from both the literature and Medicare data. A cost-effectiveness plane was constructed from multiple Monte Carlo trials. A sensitivity analysis identified parameters most influencing the optimal strategy decision. Results Double DAIR was the optimal treatment strategy both in terms of the health utility state (82% of trials) and medical cost (97% of trials). Strategy tables demonstrated that as long as the success rate of double debridement is 10% or greater than the success rate of a single debridement, the two-stage protocol is cost-effective. Conclusions A double DAIR protocol is more cost-effective than single DAIR from a societal perspective.
Staffing and Protective Equipment Access Mitigated COVID-19 Penetration and Spread in US Nursing Homes During the Third Surge.

Abstract Objectives During the last quarter of 2020—despite improved distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and knowledge of COVID-19 management—nursing homes experienced the greatest increases in cases and deaths since the pandemic's beginning. We sought to update COVID-19 estimates of cases, hospitalization, and mortality and to evaluate the association of potentially modifiable facility-level infection control factors on odds and magnitude of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in nursing homes during the third surge of the pandemic. Design Cross-sectional analysis. Setting and Participants Facility-level data from 13,156 US nursing home facilities. Methods Two series of multivariable logistic regression and generalized linear models to examine the association of infection control factors (personal protective equipment and staffing) on incidence and magnitude, respectively, of confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in nursing home residents reported in the last quarter of 2020. Results Nursing homes experienced steep increases in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths during the final quarter of 2020. Four-fifths (80.51%; n = 10,592) of facilities reported at least 1 COVID-19 case, 49.44% (n = 6504) reported at least 1 hospitalization, and 49.76% (n = 6546) reported at least 1 death during this third surge. N95 mask shortages were associated with increased odds of at least 1 COVID-19 case [odds ratio (OR) 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.40] and hospitalization (1.26, 95% CI 1.13-1.40), as well as larger numbers of hospitalizations (1.11, 95% CI 1.02-1.20). Nursing aide shortages were associated with lower odds of at least 1 COVID-19 death (1.23, 95% CI 1.12-1.34) and higher hospitalizations (1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.17). The number of nursing hours per resident per day was largely insignificant across all outcomes. Of note, smaller ( 75% increased odds of experiencing a COVID-19 case (1.48, 95% CI 1.35-1.62) or death (1.25, 95% CI 1.17-1.34). Conclusions and Implications Adequate staffing and PPE—along with reduced occupancy and smaller facilities—mitigate incidence and magnitude of COVID-19 cases and sequelae. Addressing shortcomings in these factors is critical to the prevention of infections and adverse health consequences of a next surge among vulnerable nursing home residents.
Behavior of Polygonal and Circular Ring Beams

In this paper, expressions for rotational stiffness of polygonal and circular rings are derived and interpreted, and results are also presented graphically as design aids. A special study of the effects of warping is presented. The substantial increase in overall stiffness of the ring due to warping is evaluated and a chart is given for practical use. Two numerical examples in which evaluation of the rotational restraints of the rings are given, and the results used in the analysis of the roof girder under service loads, refer to an actual structure. A comparison made with the results of a conventional analysis which ignores the rotational restraints of the rings shows a desirable reduction of approximately 10% in the moments, rotations, and deflection of the girder. In addition, it is shown that an elastic redistribution of moments occurs in the ring beams as a result of rotation of the supporting radial girders.
Chronic osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus: controlled clinical trial of nafcillin therapy and nafcillin-rifampin therapy

A controlled trial of treatment of chronic osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus compared nafcillin alone with nafcillin plus rifampin for a six-week period. Treatment was well tolerated, the only adverse effect being mild neutropenia in four of 18 patients; no toxicity was observed from rifampin. Eight of ten patients in the combined treatment group had a favorable clinical response (with follow-up of two to four years) as compared to four of eight in the nafcillin group (P = .2). Despite the failure to show a statistically significant advantage of rifampin plus nafcillin, we conclude that the combination, along with appropriate surgery, should be considered for patients with chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis.
Religion, Naturalism, and the Paranormal in Heinrich von Kleist's "St. Cäcilie" and "Der Zweikampf"

I argue that readings of Kleist’s “Die Heilige Cacilie” and “Der Zweikampf” generally fall into religious, naturalistic, or poststructural camps, all of which fail to appreciate the full strangeness of these texts. Taking my cue from the discourse about the paranormal (spirit-seeing, clairvoyance, magnetic healing, etc.) with which we know Kleist was familiar, I demonstrate that these texts reflect a logical structure peculiar to such phenomena. More specifically, I use Jeffrey Kripal’s recent definition of the paranormal as an empirical “meaning event” grounded in a radical breakdown of the subject-object divide to show why it is easy to develop a “religious” or “naturalistic” reading of these stories, but very hard to make it stick. Like the paranormal, Kleist’s unerhorte Begebenheiten only mimic our cultural imaginary. I conclude by reflecting on what this might mean for religious and scientific experience generally.
Intraexaminer comparison of applied kinesiology manual muscle testing of varying durations: a pilot study

Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate the difference in results (strong/facilitated vs weak/functionally inhibited) between short (1 second) and long (3 seconds) manual muscle tests (MMTs) on the same subject and to pilot the use of thin-film force transducers for characterizing the parameters of MMT and for measuring maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC).
Effect of Soybean Maturity on Storage Stability and Process Quality

Hack and Williams 82 soybeans from four maturation stages were studied for storage stability and process quality. As compared to mature beans, trypsin inhibitor, urease and lipoxygenase (LA) activities were lower in immature seeds, but free fatty acid (FFA) was higher and oil was greener. During storage for six months, LA decreased and FFA increased at a faster rate in immature than in mature soybeans. Crude oil and protein contents were similar, regardless of maturation or storage time. Both 7S and US proteins increased with maturation but the 7S/11S ratio decreased. There was no change in protein during storage.
DELIVERY OF CHLORAMBUCIL USING AN ACOUSTICALLY-TRIGGERED PERFLUOROPENTANE EMULSION

Ultrasound-mediated delivery systems have mainly focused on microbubble contrast agents as carriers of drugs or genetic material. This study uses micron-sized, perfluoropentane (PFP) emulsions as carriers of chlorambucil (CHL), a lipophilic chemotherapeutic. The release of CHL is achieved via acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV), whereby the superheated emulsion is converted into gas bubbles using ultrasound. Emulsions were made using an albumin shell and soybean oil as the CHL carrier. The ratio of the PFP to soybean oil phases in the droplets and the fraction of droplets that vaporize per ultrasound exposure were shown to correlate with droplet diameter. A 60-min incubation with the CHL-loaded emulsion caused a 46.7% cellular growth inhibition, whereas incubation with the CHL-loaded emulsion that was exposed to ultrasound at 6.3 MHz caused an 84.3% growth inhibition. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01), signifying that ADV can be used as a method to substantially enhance drug delivery.
Incidence and predictors of mortality following ablation of ventricular tachycardia in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

Background Long-term outcomes following ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) have not been well described. Objective The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence and predictors of mortality following catheter ablation of VT in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Methods The cohort included in the analysis consisted of patients with ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing electrophysiologic study and ablation of VT. Catheter ablation of VT involved the use of pacemapping, entrainment mapping (when possible), and substrate modification. Clinical recurrences, ICD therapy history, and mortality were recorded for all patients included in the cohort. Comparisons were made between those subjects who died over a 3-year follow-up period and those who survived. Results A total of 208 subjects underwent 327 VT ablations over the course of the study period. Sixty-seven deaths (75% of all deaths and 32% of the cohort) occurred within 3 years after VT ablation. After multivariable adjustment, clinical predictors of mortality included age, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, and presence of renal insufficiency. Procedural variables associated with reduced mortality following VT ablation included presence of hemodynamically tolerated VT, lack of inducibilty of any VT following ablation, and procedural date in the latter part of the study. Conclusion The survival rate after VT ablation has improved over time and may reflect improved mapping and ablation techniques, in addition to improved therapies for treatment of congestive heart failure. Tolerated VT and lack of inducible ventricular arrhythmias following VT ablation was associated with improved survival in this study, suggesting their value as a risk factor for subsequent mortality.
Model for tectonically driven incision of the younger than 6 Ma Grand Canyon

Accurate models for the incision of the Grand Canyon must include characterization of tectonic influences on incision dynamics such as active faulting and mantle to surface fluid interconnections. These young tectonic features support other geologic data that indicate that the Grand Canyon has been carved in the past 6 Ma. New U-Pb dates on speleothems are reinterpreted here in terms of improved geologic constraints and understanding of the modern aquifer. The combined data suggest that Grand Canyon incision rates have been relatively steady since 3–4 Ma. Differences in rates in the eastern (175–250 m/Ma) and western (50–80 m/Ma) Grand Canyon are explained by Neogene fault block uplift across the Toroweap-Hurricane system. Mantle tomography shows an abrupt step in mantle velocities near the Colorado Plateau edge, and geodynamic modeling suggests that upwelling asthenosphere is driving uplift of the Colorado Plateau margin relative to the Basin and Range. Our model for dynamic surface uplift in the past 6 Ma contrasts with the notion of passive incision of the Grand Canyon due solely to river integration and geomorphic response to base-level fall.