cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flight testing of a prototype Cockpit Display of Traffic Information for approach spacing applications

Rockwell Collins participated in the operational evaluation of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI) applications sponsored by the Cargo Airline Association (CAA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safe Flight 21 Program Office. The evaluation was held in the Louisville, Kentucky area Oct. 26-30, 2000. The goal of the operational evaluation was to help to validate concepts to enhance aircraft surveillance, separation assurance and situational awareness, as well as evolve the interface between aircraft and Air Traffic Control (ATC) under CNS/ATM initiatives. In addition to participating in the evaluation of advanced operational procedures, Rockwell Collins evaluated prototype implementations of CDTI formats and an advanced approach spacing tool. The advanced approach spacing tool is expected to improve the efficiency of landing operations by achieving more consistent arrival intervals. The company also evaluated the Departure Spacing/Clearance Operation, which has the potential to improve takeoff operations. Rockwell Collins flew its Sabreliner test aircraft equipped with a modified ATC transponder to transmit ADS-B signals in the 1090 MHz band and a modified Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) to receive the ADS-B signals from other participating aircraft. Aircraft information transmitted over the ADS-B link was generated by a Collins GPS receiver. The company also modified the Sabreliner's cockpit to include a prototype CDTI, integrated with Air Transport class 8/spl times/8-inch liquid crystal Navigation and Primary Flight Displays. Results are reported regarding the human factors aspects of the operational concepts and use of the prototype formats.
Suppression of cough during emergence from general anesthesia: laryngotracheal lidocaine through a modified endotracheal tube.

Abstract Study Objective: To ascertain if coughing during emergence from general anesthesia can be suppressed with a modified endotracheal tube. Design: Randomized, double-blind, controlled study. Setting: Operating rooms at a university hospital. Patients: 46 adult ASA physical status I, II, and III patients requiring elective surgery . Interventions: Patients underwent general anesthesia with the laryngotracheal instillation of topical anesthesia (LITA™) endotracheal tube (ETT). Thirty minutes before anticipated extubation, one investigator administered, via the LITA™ tube injection port onto the laryngotracheal mucosa, one of the following according to randomized preselection: 2 mg/kg with 4% lidocaine (Group I; n = 15); 4 mL with saline (Group 2; n = 16); and nothing (Control; n = 15). At the completion of surgery, with the patient adequately anesthetized, the oropharynx was gently suctioned, and the isoflurane was then turned off. When the isoflurane end-tidal concentration was ≤0.2%, the neuromuscular block was reversed and the inspiratory oxygen concentration was increased to 100% while awaiting the return of spontaneous ventilation. Measurements: An observer who was blinded to the study drug regimens judged the presence or absence of cough upon emergence, over a 1-minute period. The observer noted the responses to the following verbal commands, in this order: 1) "open your eyes", 2) "grip my hand", and 3) "lift your head". Coughing was defined as any evidence of irritation from having a tube in the trachea. Blood samples for plasma lidocaine levels were taken at the time of extubation from patients who received lidocaine (Group 1). Main Results: Seventy-five percent of patients were found to have complete cough suppression upon emergence, while Group 2 (saline) had 14% and Group 3 (the control) only had 13% suppression. Conclusions: The technique of laryngotracheal topical lidocaine administered by the LITA™ tube can, in most cases, provide a smooth emergence from general anesthesia without coughing.
Response of the somatotropic axis to alterations in feed intake of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

Abstract To better understand the effects of reduced feeding frequency on the GH–IGF-I axis, channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ), were either fed (Fed control, commercial diet fed daily), fed every other day (FEOD, commercial diet fed every other day), or not fed (Unfed, no feed). Pituitary GH mRNA increased whereas hepatic growth hormone receptor (GHR), IGF-I mRNA, and plasma IGF-I decreased in the FEOD and Unfed fish ( P P
Continued vigilance: enhancing diversity in dental education.

The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) through its policies and programs has addressed the issue of underrepresented minorities in the dental profession, in dental education, and in access to dental care. ADEA’s long-held position is that, without minority practitioners, access to care
Use of Medical Therapy and Success of Laser Surgery and Transurethral Resection of the Prostate for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Objective To assess the impact of surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on use of medication (5-alpha reductase inhibitors, alpha blockers, antispasmodics), we assessed preoperative and postoperative medication utilization among surgically treated men. Patients and Methods Using the Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims Database, we defined a cohort of men aged Results We identified 6430 patients treated with either TURP (3096) or laser procedure (3334) for BPH. Presurgical antispasmodic use was associated with the highest risk of medication use at 4 months after surgery (odds ratio, 5.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.16-8.53 vs no medication use before surgery). At 3 years after surgery, 6% (95% CI, 4%-8%) of laser-treated and 4% (95% CI, 2%-5%) of TURP-treated patients had repeat surgical intervention, and both laser- and TURP-treated patients had an estimated new use of medication rate of 22% (95% CI, 18%-25% laser and 20%-25% TURP). The strongest predictor of intervention after surgery was preoperative antispasmodic use (hazard ratio, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.41-4.43). Conclusion Our results show a need for effective patient counseling about continued or new use of medical therapy after laser and TURP procedures. However, most patients experience durable improvement after surgical intervention for BPH.
Essentials of Musculoskeletal Care. 2nd ed.

Walter B. Greene, editor. Rosemont, Illinois: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; 2001. 725 pages. $90.00 (members), $105.00 (nonmembers). This is the second edition of this text, which was published by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Robert K. Snider edited the first edition, which was published in 1997. The current edition is very similar in format. The eight-member editorial board includes four of the original members. The American Academy of Pediatrics again participated in the review of the material in the section on pediatric orthopaedics and approved the text as a resource for its members. In …
Banff Field, UK Central Graben – evaluation of a steeply dipping, fractured chalk reservoir

The Banff Field is a steeply dipping raft of fractured Late Cretaceous and Danian chalk on the flank of a salt diapir structure on the western margin of the Central Graben in the UK North Sea. Paleocene sands draped over the raft and a carbonate cap rock provide additional reservoir potential. The unusual geometry of the reservoir is a result of a complex structural history. Generally positive relief and minor pulsed growth through the Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary resulted in a condensed sequence of Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments over the structure. Contractional rejuvenation and active diapirism in the mid-Miocene deformed and fractured the thinned overburden to produce a tilted raft with reservoir dips generally over 45°. A vertical oil column of over 950 m (3000 ft) is present. Hydrocarbon migration began during the Oligocene, preserving good porosity in the chalk matrix during subsequent Late Miocene burial. Seismic imaging difficulties caused by the steep dips and uncertainties over reservoir performance and connectivity led to a phased development plan. Phase 1 involved a six month early production system (EPS) via two imaginatively designed production wells, during which time 5 × 10 6 BBL oil were produced. The two wells were drilled from the crest of the raft down to the oil water contact. Each well encountered over 1000 m (3300 ft) of oil-bearing chalk reservoir and provided important geological and reservoir performance data. Seismic data have been reprocessed using 3D pre-stack depth migration to improve image quality and lateral positioning. Geophysical, geological and biostratigraphical data have been integrated with the dynamic performance from the EPS to assess the controls on reservoir quality. The bulk of the reserves, and highest productivity occur in the Late Cretaceous Tor Formation. Chalk porosity ranges from 15–35% but matrix permeabilities are low, generally less than 5 mD. High productivities (up to 40 000 BOPD) achieved during the EPS are attributed to specific zones within the Tor chalks which have a favourable combination of chalk lithofacies (including local reworking to produce chalk debris flows), open fractures, depth of burial, diagenetic history and stratigraphy. Sand units within the Ekofisk chalk may have a significant impact on fluid flow. In situ stress is expected to exert a major (favourable) influence on waterflood performance. An effective phased development programme has resulted in an improved understanding of the complex controls on chalk reservoir performance in preparation for Phase 2 development. First oil is planned for mid-1998 and ultimate reserves are expected to be in excess of 60 × 10 6 BBL oil.
Gastric Perforation Associated with Bilateral Inguinal Hernias.

This Spectacular Case Session, in its 11th year, was presented by the Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeons (RAS-ACS) at the 2015 Clinical Congress meeting. This session presented 7 multidisciplinary cases from RAS members out of nearly 150 submitted from members located all over the world. The presentations were followed by discussions between residents and panelists, who challenged each other with reviews of procedures and processes for patient care. Audio files of the discussions of each case are included as Supplemental Materials.
PPAR Agonists and 3D Alginate Encapsulation Accelerate Oligodendrocyte Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Cellular replacement therapies for myelin disorders require large numbers of cells and relatively mature oligodendrocytes. Oligodendrocyte differentiation from a pluripotent state often involves long protracted protocols. In this study, we investigated the effect that activation of peroxisome proliferator activator receptors (PPAR) alpha, delta and gamma would have on oligodendrocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells. Using a two-dimensional (2D) differentiation platform, oligodendrocyte differentiation stalled at the immature oligodendrocyte stage, i.e., CNPase positive cells. When PPAR agonists for alpha, delta and gamma were added, oligodendrocyte differentiation was accelerated with higher numbers of O1 and CNPase positive cells being detected. PPAR agonist addition also resulted in phenotypic changes with alpha agonist addition resulting in an increase in process length compared to control with some increased secondary branching, delta agonist addition resulted in longer primary pro...
Discrete shells

In this paper we introduce a discrete shell model describing the behavior of thin flexible structures, such as hats, leaves, and aluminum cans, which are characterized by a curved undeformed configuration. Previously such models required complex continuum mechanics formulations and correspondingly complex algorithms. We show that a simple shell model can be derived geometrically for triangle meshes and implemented quickly by modifying a standard cloth simulator. Our technique convincingly simulates a variety of curved objects with materials ranging from paper to metal, as we demonstrate with several examples including a comparison of a real and simulated falling hat.
Abstract 2801: Improved Outcomes among Patients with Decompressive Hemicraniectomy over the Last Decade: Insights from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample

Background: Hemicraniectomy provides a substantial survival benefit for patients with malignant middle cerebral artery infarcts. Over the last few years, our understanding of patient selection criteria for this potentially life-saving procedure has increased. Little is known about whether hemicraniectomy performance has improved outcomes following the procedure outside of clinical trials. Our objective was to evaluate trends in survival and discharge outcomes of ischemic stroke patients receiving hemicraniectomy in the United States over the last decade. Methods: Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the years 2001 through 2009 were reviewed. Hospitalizations with a discharge diagnosis of an acute ischemic stroke (ICD-9 codes: 433.01, 433.11, 433.21, 433.31, 433.81, 433.91, 424.01, 434.11, 434.91 and 436) were included. Hemicraniectomy utilization was determined using procedure codes 01.2, 01.25 and 02.01. Nationwide estimates of deaths and discharge destination were calculated for each year within the hemicraniectomy subset. The Cochrane Armitage test was used to assess trend across the years. Results: The study included information from 4,917,217 stroke discharges over 9 years. Of these, an estimated 3,447 (0.07%) patients received a hemicraniectomy. There was a progressive decrease in mortality among hemi-craniectomy patients, from 50.1% in 2001 to 26.2% in 2009; trend p=0.016. This survival benefit over the years was primarily seen amongst males (trend p=0.04) and in the younger age group (age Conclusions: Over the last decade, deaths from hemicraniectomy have decreased. A considerable proportion of survivors are being discharged to rehabilitation facilities and nursing homes. Appropriate patient selection and timing for hemicraniectomy has improved survival outcomes for these patients over the last decade. Data on long term neurologic recovery and patient satisfaction are needed.
Binding of Pt Nanoclusters to Point Defects in Graphene: Adsorption, Morphology, and Electronic Structure

Graphene nanosheets serve as excellent support materials in the synthesis of advanced metal nanoparticle–graphene electrocatalysts. In this study, we employ a combination of density functional theory and bond-order potential calculations to perform a systematic investigation of the adsorption energetics, structural features, and electronic structure of platinum nanoclusters supported on both defective and defect-free graphene. We establish a hierarchy of point defects and their reconstructions that can act as strong trapping sites for platinum nanoclusters and inhibit catalyst sintering. We demonstrate that the preferred low-energy structure of supported platinum nanoclusters are neither high-symmetry structures (e.g., icosahedral, cuboctahedral) nor readily derived from moderate structural distortions of high-symmetry structures, as is often assumed in computational models. Rather, supported nanoparticles assume open, low-symmetry shapes much like those observed in earlier computational work on annealing...
Mass Media and Presidential Selection

Presidential candidates know that the “press” (that is, print and electronic media) is often a decisive force in American electoral politics and spend much of their time trying to manipulate it for their own benefit. To politicians it is really a personal political matter, and the tendency when they speak about it is to both personalize and over-generalize the decisiveness of its influence. Thus, in 1976, Ted Kennedy stated flatly, “The press made Carter,” whereas Jimmy Carter repeatedly complained of the press's crucial role in “unmaking him” as president. To political scientists the impact of the press, particularly television, is of primarily “systematic” importance rather than of personal interest—except of course, for those who would like to spend some years in Washington as advisor-practitioners. Scholars and students know that television has changed things a lot, but we are not exactly sure how much and what kind of responsibility the press as a whole bears for the substantial institutional changes that have occurred in the last two decades. Let me offer briefly some of the conclusions I have come to after researching, thinking, and writing for some years on this topic. I shall look, first, at what is new about television news compared to the pre-electronic era and, second, how the most significant of these mass communications changes have affected our electoral institutions and the presidency itself.
Structural analysis on multi-tower and linking slab of Zhongfu Garden

The comparison of vibration characteristics is made between the multi-tower structure and a single tower structure through the second-stage construction of Zhongfu Garden.It is found that both the natural vibration characteristics are very close on which a single tower structure design is made for the main building,and the podium buildings connected to the main building is still a multi-tower design.As for the weak connecting plate in the basement roof between the main buildings,which is caused by opening punch between the main buildings,the design method of weak connecting plate is adopted for the features of not cracking in minor earthquake and yielding in medium earthquakes.
AIDS surveillance in injecting drug users in Liangshan,Sichuan,2010-2013

Objective To understand the current status of AIDS prevalence and related risk behaviors among injecting drug users(IDUs) in Liangshan,Sichuan province,and provide evidence for the further intervention in this population.Methods According to the national AIDS sentinel surveillance protocol,questionnaire survey was conducted among IDUs selected by the same sampling method at same period every year to collect the information about their AIDS related knowledge awareness,injecting drug use,commercial sex / other high risk behaviors and condom use.HIV,Treponema pallidum and hepatitis C virus antibodies were detected too.Results From 2010 to 2013,the awareness of AIDS related knowledge among the IDUs in all the areas significantly increased(P 0.01),which was highest in Yuexi(94.5%).The proportion of IDUs sharing needles showed a significant downtrend in all the areas except Ganluo(χ2= 6.269,P = 0.099) and Xichang(χ2= 7.413,P = 0.067).The area specific HIV infection rate varied with year except the slight decline in Meigu(χ2= 19.166,P 0.01).Conclusion The prevalence of AIDS in IDUs was stable in Liangshan during 2010-2013,but the AIDS related risk behaviors were prevalent in this population.It is still necessary to continue the intervention among this population,including health education,methadone maintenance therapy,clean needle exchange program and condom use promotion.
Industrial Reorganization: Learning About Patient Substitution Patterns from Natural Experiments

Despite their widespread usage, little is known about the predictive accuracy of different discrete choice demand models. To evaluate their performance, we use a series of natural disasters that unexpectedly removed hospitals from consumers' choice sets. We compare the model predictions of post-disaster behavior to the benchmark of actual post-disaster consumer behavior. Across our different settings, we find that models that allow for flexible interactions between patient characteristics and unobserved hospital quality perform the best and that it is important to use different classes of models. Further, the use of less accurate models could lead to more lax merger enforcement.
Revisionist Potential: Historical Thought from Absolute to New Idealism

Understanding what place the late Victorian absolute idealists (most notably T.H. Green, Edward Caird, Bernard Bosanquet, F.H. Bradley, William Wallace, Henry Jones, D.G. Ritchie) accorded to historical knowledge in their philosophy has proved to be a non-starter. For some scholars, these idealists’ belief in abstract principles and concepts, such as ‘Absolute Mind’, as the metaphysically necessary forms for the self-realization of individuals has occluded an interest in the contingency and cultural plasticity surrounding the lives of humans. This, in turn, has constrained the development of any serious historical theory, much like it has constrained the development of British sociology. Thus, Stefan Collini writes: ‘Bosanquet and the English Hegelians for the most part ignored the historicity of phenomena, a failing for which they were later castigated by Collingwood, the one English Idealist to repair this omission.’ This chapter examines the shift from a metaphysical absolute idealism to a historicist new idealism, teasing out the implications thereof for postwar revisionist historiography.
Expressive Genetic Programming: Concepts and Applications

The language in which evolving programs are expressed can have significant impacts on the dynamics and problem-solving capabilities of a genetic programming system. In GP these impacts are driven by far more than the absolute computational power of the languages used; just because a computation is theoretically possible in a language, it doesn't mean it's readily discoverable or leveraged by evolution. Highly expressive languages can facilitate the evolution of programs for any computable function using, as appropriate, multiple data types, evolved subroutines, evolved control structures, evolved data structures, and evolved modular program and data architectures. In some cases expressive languages can even support the evolution of programs that express methods for their own reproduction and variation (and hence for the evolution of their offspring). This tutorial will present a range of approaches that have been taken for evolving programs in expressive programming languages. We will then provide a detailed introduction to the Push programming language, which was designed specifically for expressiveness in genetic programming systems. Push programs are syntactically unconstrained but can nonetheless make use of multiple data types and express arbitrary control structures, potentially supporting the evolution of complex, modular programs in a particularly simple and flexible way. Interleaved with our description of the Push language will be demonstrations of the use of analytical tools such as graph databases and program diff/merge tools to explore ways in which evolved Push programs are actually taking advantage of the language's expressive features. We will illustrate, for example, the effective use of multiple types and type-appropriate functions, the evolution and modification of code blocks and looping/recursive constructs, and the ability of Push programs to handle multiple, potentially related tasks. We will conclude with a brief review of over a decade of Push-based research, including the production of human-competitive results, along with recent enhancements to Push that are intended to support the evolution of complex and robust software systems.
Fetal Thrombotic Vasculopathy: Perinatal Stroke, Growth Restriction, and Other Sequelae

Clots in the fetal circulation of the placenta may occlude or narrow the lumens of fetal vessels sufficiently to diminish the placental oxygen and nutritional exchange, causing significant reduction in placental function. When extensive, growth restriction, neonatal encephalopathy, and stillbirth may occur. Propagation of clots in other organs, such as brain, kidney, and liver, may affect the function of these organs, resulting in infarcts and neonatal stroke. This article presents an account of the placental pathology and clinical sequelae of this condition, called fetal thrombotic vasculopathy.
Writs to Rights: 'Navigability' and the Transformation of the Common Law in the Nineteenth Century

This Article argues that nationalist jurists in the early nineteenth century attempted to replace the dominant procedural conception of the common law with a substantive one. Their purpose was to ameliorate the effects of legal federalism. They hoped that the creation of a national body of private law in treatises and judicial reports would encourage legal uniformity among the states. The re-orientation of waterway law around the keyword “navigability” offers one example. As this example demonstrates, the project of forging a national jurisprudence was not entirely successful. But it did, indirectly, generate a way for the Supreme Court to extend its admiralty jurisdiction beyond tidewater and onto the nation’s navigable fresh waters, thereby subjecting many commercial cases to a uniform and notionally transnational body of maritime law.
Trends in the Distribution of Opioids in Puerto Rico, 1999-2013.

Objective: Limited information has been published about opioid prescribing practices in Puerto Rico. The objective of this study was to create baseline trends of opioids distributed over a period of fourteen years in Puerto Rico. Methods: We examined data from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) for the period 1999-2013. ARCOS data reflects the amount of controlled substances legally dispensed. Analyses include the distribution of opioids (in morphine milligram equivalent kg per 10,000 persons) by year and entity (pharmacy, hospital, practitioner). Results: The distribution of four drugs (fentanyl, hydromorphone, methadone, oxycodone) increased over 100% between 1999 and 2013. The distribution of two drugs (hydrocodone and meperidine) declined between 1999 and 2013. Oxycodone distribution grew from 0.13 MME kg grams per 10,000 persons in 1999 to 0.29 MME kg in 2013. Conclusion: ARCOS data showed that the overall amount of opioid pain relievers distributed in Puerto Rico increased by 68% between 1999 and 2013. Currently, prescription opioid pain reliever overdose deaths in Puerto Rico do not appear to be skyrocketing as they are in the mainland U.S. However, the ongoing problem with prescription opioid pain reliever overdoses in certain areas should serve as a warning to monitor consumption of opioid pain relievers, as well as changes in prescription drug abuse, overdoses, and deaths.
Role of the Cu-ZrO2 Interfacial Sites for Conversion of Ethanol to Ethyl Acetate and Synthesis of Methanol from CO2 and H2

Well-defined Cu catalysts containing different amounts of zirconia were synthesized by controlled surface reactions (CSRs) and atomic layer deposition methods and studied for the selective conversion of ethanol to ethyl acetate and for methanol synthesis. Selective deposition of ZrO2 on undercoordinated Cu sites or near Cu nanoparticles via the CSR method was evidenced by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma absorption emission spectroscopy. The concentrations of Cu and Cu-ZrO2 interfacial sites were quantified using a combination of subambient CO Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and reactive N2O chemisorption measurements. The oxidation states of the Cu and ZrO2 species for these catalysts were determined using X-ray absorption near edge structure measurements, showing that these species were present primarily as Cu0 and Zr4+, respectively. It was found that the formation of Cu-ZrO2 interfacial sites increased the turnover freque...
Performance of three electromyogram decomposition algorithms as a function of signal to noise ratio: Assessment with experimental and simulated data

We have previously published a full report [25] comparing the performance of three automated electromyogram (EMG) decomposition algorithms. In our prior report, the primary measure of decomposition difficulty/challenge for each data record was the “Decomposability Index” of Florestal et al. [3]. This conference paper is intended to augment our prior work by providing companion results when the measure of difficulty is the motor unit signal-to-noise ratio (SNR MU ) — a measure that is commonly used in the literature. Thus, we analyzed experimental and simulated data to assess the agreement and accuracy, as a function of SNR MU , of three publicly available decomposition algorithms-EMGlab[1] (single channel data only), Fuzzy Expert [2] and Montreal [3]. Data consisted of quadrifilar needle EMGs from the tibialis anterior of 12 subjects at 10%, 20% and 50% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC); single channel needle EMGs from the biceps brachii of 10 control subjects during contractions just above threshold; and matched simulated data. Performance vs. SNR MU was assessed via agreement between pairs of algorithms for experimental data and accuracy with respect to the known decomposition for simulated data. For experimental data, RMS errors between the achieved agreement and those predicted by an exponential model as a function of SNR MU ranged from 8.4% to 19.2%. For the simulations, RMS errors between achieved accuracy and those predicted by the SNR MU exponential model ranged from 3.7% to 14.7%. Agreement/accuracy was strongly related to SNR MU •
Information complexity of black-box convex optimization: A new look via feedback information theory

This paper revisits information complexity of black-box convex optimization, first studied in the seminal work of Nemirovski and Yudin, from the perspective of feedback information theory. These days, large-scale convex programming arises in a variety of applications, and it is important to refine our understanding of its fundamental limitations. The goal of black-box convex optimization is to minimize an unknown convex objective function from a given class over a compact, convex domain using an iterative scheme that generates approximate solutions by querying an oracle for local information about the function being optimized. The information complexity of a given problem class is defined as the smallest number of queries needed to minimize every function in the class to some desired accuracy. We present a simple information-theoretic approach that not only recovers many of the results of Nemirovski and Yudin, but also gives some new bounds pertaining to optimal rates at which iterative convex optimization schemes approach the solution. As a bonus, we give a particularly simple derivation of the minimax lower bound for a certain active learning problem on the unit interval.
Comparing human and mouse salivary glands: A practice guide for salivary researchers

Mice are a widely utilized in vivo model for translational salivary gland research but must be used with caution. Specifically, mouse salivary glands are similar in many ways to human salivary glands (i.e., in terms of their anatomy, histology, and physiology) and are both readily available and relatively easy and affordable to maintain. However, there are some significant differences between the two organisms, and by extension, the salivary glands derived from them must be taken into account for translational studies. The current review details pertinent similarities and differences between human and mouse salivary glands and offers practical guidelines for using both for research purposes.
Conditioning studies in focal cerebral ischemia: Model selection, physiological monitoring, and other methodological issues

The earliest studies of preconditioning in experimental stroke examined the potential impact of such interventions on the key variable of cerebral perfusion. Based on limited regional or temporal sampling, these were interpreted to suggest that protection could be dissociated from overt CBF changes, and the majority of conditioning studies in experimental stroke have since focused on cellular protection mechanisms. However, evolving results indicate a strong association between delayed improvements in penumbral perfusion and subsequent tissue protection. This presentation will briefly consider the strengths and limitations of commonly used focal brain ischemia models and address the requirements for adequately monitoring those physiological parameters that are recognized to influence outcome in experimental stroke. It will then summarize observations regarding changes in blood flow and relevant physiological variables in conditioning models.
Predictors of Metastases in Rectal Neuroendocrine Tumors: Results of a National Cohort Study.

Background Rectal neuroendocrine tumors are often found incidentally. Local excision alone has been advocated for lesions ≤2 cm; however, the evidence base for this approach is limited. Objective Associations among tumor size, degree of differentiation, and presence of distant metastatic disease were examined. Design This was a retrospective cohort study. Settings This study was conducted using a nationwide cohort. Patients A total of 4893 patients with rectal neuroendocrine tumors were identified in the National Cancer Database (2006-2015). Main outcome measures Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate associations among tumor size, degree of differentiation, and presence of regional and distant metastatic disease. Cut point analysis was performed to identify an optimal size threshold predictive of distant metastatic disease. Results Of patients included for analysis, 3880 (79.3%) had well-differentiated tumors, 540 (11.0%) had moderately differentiated tumors, and 473 (9.7%) had poorly differentiated tumors. On logistic regression, increasing size was associated with a higher likelihood of pathologically confirmed lymph node involvement (among patients undergoing proctectomy), and both size and degree of differentiation were independently associated with a higher likelihood of distant metastatic disease. The association between tumor size and distant metastatic disease was stronger for well-differentiated and moderately differentiated tumors (OR = 1.4; p Limitations This study was limited by its retrospective design. Conclusions Tumor size and degree of differentiation are predictive of regional and distant metastatic disease in rectal neuroendocrine tumors. Patients with tumors >1.15 cm are at substantial risk of distant metastasis and should be staged and managed accordingly. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A778.
ITO-based Mach Zehnder Modulator

We report the first experimental Mach Zehnder modulator on SOI-platform with ITO as the active phase-shifting material. Our results show a low VπL of 0.52 V-mm with 6 dB insertion loss.
Determining the flocculation point of asphaltenes combining ultrasound and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Abstract The characterization of asphaltenes in heavy crude oil remains relevant as continuous extraction of conventional oil pushes industries to seek oil from new, unconventional sources. Unconventional crude oil contains a high concentration of asphaltenes, resulting in a very dense (22.3-10 °API) and viscous substance, which makes the handling and processing of this type of petroleum more challenging. The flocculation of asphaltenes is still a challenge to address during crude oil production, transportation, blending, and processing. Therefore, understanding the phase behavior of asphaltenes as well as their stability and physicochemical properties demands new and more practical characterization techniques capable of providing new insights into the asphaltene flocculation process. Current characterization techniques used to determine the flocculation point of asphaltenes in crude oil are primarily based on optical techniques and ex-situ methodologies. In this work, we propose, investigate, and provide preliminary results on a new approach aimed to determine the flocculation point of asphaltenes using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) assisted by ultrasound (US). Our results show that the asphaltene flocculation process is significantly influenced by using US pulses, which promote the disaggregation of asphaltenes, thus allowing the determination of the flocculation point of asphaltenes via EIS.
Disabling barriers: social movements, disability, history and the law

A historical materialist perspective weaves throughout the interestingly diverse collection of essays gathered in Disabling Barriers: Social Movements, Disability, History and the Law. This edited ...
A unified approach to estimate land and water reflectances with uncertainties for coastal imaging spectroscopy

Coastal ecosystem studies using remote visible/infrared spectroscopy typically invert an atmospheric model to estimate the water-leaving reflectance signal. This inversion is challenging due to the confounding effects of turbid backscatter, atmospheric aerosols, and sun glint. Simultaneous estimation of the surface and atmosphere can resolve the ambiguity enabling spectral reflectance maps with rigorous uncertainty quantification. We demonstrate a simultaneous retrieval method that adapts the Optimal Estimation (OE) formalism of Rodgers (2000) to the coastal domain. We compare two surface representations: a parametric bio-optical model based on Inherent Optical Properties (IOPs); and an expressive statistical model that estimates reflectance in every instrument channel. The latter is suited to both land and water reflectance, enabling a unified analysis of terrestrial and aquatic domains. We test these models with both vector and scalar Radiative Transfer Models (RTMs). We report field experiments by two airborne instruments: NASA's Portable Remote Imaging SpectroMeter (PRISM) in an overflight of Santa Monica, California; and NASA's Next Generation Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-NG) in an overflight of the Wax Lake Delta and lower Atchafalaya River, Louisiana. In both cases, in situ validation measurements match remote water-leaving reflectance estimates to high accuracy. Posterior error predictions demonstrate a closed account of uncertainty in these coastal observations.
Enacting Social Control to Encourage Healthier Partner Diet and Exercise Behavior: Considering the Roles of Constraints and Topic Avoidance

A multiple goals framework examined romantic couples’ use of social control, perceived constraints to using social control, and topic avoidance regarding their health behaviors. Results showed a po...
The Künneth theorem for the Fukaya algebra of a product of Lagrangians

Given a compact Lagrangian submanifold L of a symplectic manifold (M,ω), Fukaya, Oh, Ohta and Ono construct a filtered A∞-algebra ℱ(L), on the cohomology of L, which we call the Fukaya algebra of L. In this paper, we describe the Fukaya algebra of a product of two Lagrangians submanifolds L1 × L2. Namely, we show that ℱ(L1 × L2) is quasi-isomorphic to ℱ(L1) ⊗∞ℱ(L2), where ⊗∞ is the tensor product of filtered A∞-algebras defined in [L. Amorim, Tensor product of filtered A∞-algebras, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 220(12) (2016) 3984–4016]. As a corollary of this quasi-isomorphism, we obtain a description of the bounding cochains on ℱ(L1 × L2) and of the Floer cohomology of L1 × L2.
Diagnostic testing of cervical vertebral maturation staging: An independent assessment

Introduction The reliability of the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method has been questioned. The objective of this research was to evaluate the diagnostic reliability of the CVM method to diagnose the mandibular growth spurt using longitudinal records from an alternative database (Iowa Facial Growth Study [IFGS]) using established diagnostic testing methods. Methods Cephalometric films from 43 subjects (males = 20, females = 23) with Class I or Class II skeletal pattern from the IFGS were scanned, digitized, and adjusted for magnification. At least 5 consecutive, annual films were digitized. For each subject, mandibular length (Co-Gn) was measured for each film, and the growth increment between films was calculated. The largest growth increment was the growth spurt. For each subject, the film displaying CVM stage 3 was identified by a blinded examiner viewing the films in random order. Interrater and intrarater repeatability for Co-Gn (intraclass correlation) and CVM staging (weighted kappa) were calculated. Diagnostic tests, including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were carried out. The present data were compared with data previously derived from samples of the University of Michigan, Oregon, and Burlington Growth studies (UMGS, OGS, and BGS, respectively). A multilevel logistic regression analysis was also run with the mandibular growth peak as the response variable. Results Interrater repeatability for mandibular measurements (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.91) and CVM staging (k = 0.88) were excellent. Intrarater repeatability for mandibular measurements (ICC = 0.98) and CVM staging (kw = 0.55) were excellent to moderate. The UMGS data demonstrated higher sensitivity with comparable specificity. Accuracy was largely similar. Their PPV and NPV had larger ranges. The OGS and BGS data, compared with the IFGS data, showed that our sensitivity and PPVs were higher, that their specificity was higher, and that the NPV and accuracy were very similar. The regression analysis was applied to age groups 10-11 years through 13-14 years. Only chronological age was significant (P = 0.04). Conclusions Agreement between CVM stage 3 and the maximum mandibular growth spurt is inconsistent. The diagnostic capability of CVM for the mandibular growth spurt is questionable.
Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease represents a broad category of back pain resulting from or associated with the degeneration of intervertebral discs. This can also cause pathologic changes that impact the vertebral bodies, facet joints, spinal ligaments, and exiting nerve roots. Important considerations for the clinician include eliciting a detailed history, examining the spine, and choosing appropriate imaging modalities to take a wide differential diagnosis and narrow it to determine the cause of a patient’s low back pain. Treatment for degenerative disc disease begins with conservative therapy, which includes physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, and possibly an epidural steroid injection. Epidural steroid injections provide the most benefit when they are used to facilitate better participation in physical therapy and core-strengthening exercises, which are more likely to provide long-term pain reduction. When pain persists despite conservative therapies, surgical management may be considered. However, surgery is more beneficial than medical therapy only for patients with disc herniation or degenerative spinal stenosis, and the pain reduction usually does not last more than a few years. Future investigation to generate effective, long-term therapies for degenerative disc disease is needed to address the burden of this common condition.
Communicating in a proper way: How people from high-/low-context culture choose their media for communication:

This study investigated the relationship between cultural influence and people’s daily media choices. From the perspective of high-context and low-context culture, an online survey was conducted wi...
Molecular typing of Cyclospora cayetanensis in produce and clinical samples using targeted enrichment of complete mitochondrial genomes and next-generation sequencing

Outbreaks of cyclosporiasis, a diarrheal illness caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, have been a public health issue in the USA since the mid 1990’s. In 2018, 2299 domestically acquired cases of cyclosporiasis were reported in the USA as a result of multiple large outbreaks linked to different fresh produce commodities. Outbreak investigations are hindered by the absence of standardized molecular epidemiological tools for C. cayetanensis. For other apicomplexan coccidian parasites, multicopy organellar DNA such as mitochondrial genomes have been used for detection and molecular typing. We developed a workflow to obtain complete mitochondrial genome sequences from cilantro samples and clinical samples for typing of C. cayetanensis isolates. The 6.3 kb long C. cayetanensis mitochondrial genome was amplified by PCR in four overlapping amplicons from genomic DNA extracted from cilantro, seeded with oocysts, and from stool samples positive for C. cayetanensis by diagnostic methods. DNA sequence libraries of pooled amplicons were prepared and sequenced via next-generation sequencing (NGS). Sequence reads were assembled using a custom bioinformatics pipeline. This approach allowed us to sequence complete mitochondrial genomes from the samples studied. Sequence alterations, such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) profiles and insertion and deletions (InDels), in mitochondrial genomes of 24 stool samples from patients with cyclosporiasis diagnosed in 2014, exhibited discriminatory power. The cluster dendrogram that was created based on distance matrices of the complete mitochondrial genome sequences, indicated distinct strain-level diversity among the 2014 C. cayetanensis outbreak isolates analyzed in this study. Our results suggest that genomic analyses of mitochondrial genome sequences may help to link outbreak cases to the source.
A graph-theoretical basis of stochastic-cascading network influence: Characterizations of influence-based centrality

Abstract Ker-I Ko (葛可一, 1950-2018) made multiple pioneering and milestone contributions to structural complexity theory and real-number computation. His sharp perception of both discrete and continuous structures had led him to study fundamental concepts from one-way functions [29] , to polynomial-time hierarchy [21] , from integral equations [24] , to real functions [28] , from fractals [27] to fixed-points [25] , from optimization [20] to relativization [22] , from instance complexity [36] to real complexity [28] , from NP-completeness [31] to exponential-time completeness [23] . In his final two years, he turned his focus to game-theoretical designs for dynamic processes over social networks [12] , [33] . For this honorary special issue in memory of Professor Ker-I Ko, we are pleased to be able to contribute a paper with scope intersecting the areas that drew his last attention, and with results connecting discrete and continuous formulations of network dynamics. We prove that the complex stochastic network-influence processes have a simple graph-theoretical basis: Every stochastic-cascading influence profile can be written as a linear combination of breadth-first-search-based broadcast-propagations over layered-graphs. This graph-theoretical basis of stochastic network influence provides us with a systematic framework for studying the following fundamental question in network analysis: How should one assess the centralities of nodes in an information/influence propagation process over a social network? Our framework systematically extends a family of classical graph-theoretical centrality formulations — including degree centrality, harmonic centrality, and various notions of “sphere-of-influence” — to influence-based network centralities. Given that group cooperation is essential in social influences, we further extend natural group centralities from graph models to influence models, enabling us to assess individuals' centralities in group influence settings by applying the fundamental concept of Shapley value from cooperative game theory. Mathematically, using the property that these centrality formulations are Bayesian, 3 we prove an axiomatic characterization theorem: Every influence-based centrality formulation in this family is the unique Bayesian centrality that conforms with its corresponding graph-theoretical centrality. Moreover, the uniqueness is fully determined by the centrality formulation on the class of layered graphs, which is derived from a beautiful algebraic structure of influence instances modeled by cascading sequences. We further provide an algorithmic framework for efficient approximation of these influence-based centrality measures. Our study provides us with a systematic road map for comparative analyses of different influence-based centrality formulations. The fact that layered graphs form a basis for the space of influence-cascading-sequence profiles could also be useful in other studies of network influences.