cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk of severe and refractory postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing diep flap breast reconstruction.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is overall a well-recognized entity among perioperative health care providers and also among patients.1,2 Anesthesia literature is rife with studies of PONV risks.2–4 Severe consequences of PONV have been documented repeatedly.3–7 Many antiemetic prevention and treatment regimens have been studied and proven as efficacious.8–13 However, patients express high levels of preoperative anxiety over potential PONV5 most simply because PONV persists.1,2 Multiple investigations into PONV have not translated reliably into clinically efficacious eradication of the disease. A unification of well-documented anesthesia principles regarding PONV risks and therapies with specific experiences of potentially special needs cohorts of surgical patients is necessary to improve overall perioperative experiences. Risk factors, consequences, prevention and treatment regimens, and refractory PONV in other patient populations have been heavily studied in other surgical subspecialties. However, PONV in patients undergoing deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction has not been heavily studied. PONV risk is expected to be high at baseline. These surgeries tend to be lengthy, requiring identification, and dissection of blood vessels through the rectus abdominis muscle, preparation of recipient vessels in the chest, microsurgical anastomoses, abdominal donor site closure, and breast shaping, and almost all patients require postoperative opiates.14–17 Women are up to three times more susceptible to PONV than men,6,18,19 and breast surgeries are associated with PONV incidences ranging between 51 and 84% in the absence of prophylactic treatment.20–22 However, magnitude of risk, actual incidence of disease, severity of manifestations, current interventions, and clinical consequences of PONV are not well documented for DIEP patients. This may hinder efforts to decrease potentially debilitating PONV, especially since it has been shown to be refractory, even in well-defined situations. The primary aim of our study was to examine incidence and severity of PONV disease by investigating complete response (CR), or absence of PONV, to prophylaxis used in patients undergoing DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Our secondary aims were definition of the magnitude of risk, state of the art of interventions, clinical sequelae of PONV, and interaction between these variables, specifically for DIEP patients. With ongoing improvements in surgical techniques, the management of potentially preventable negative sequelae such as PONV has become a rate-limiting step in patient choice of, recovery from, and satisfaction with microsurgical breast reconstruction. By addressing our goals, we hope to establish a foundation for further efforts to improve overall success in breast reconstruction.
Generation of internal gravity waves by an oscillating horizontal disc

Internal gravity waves are generated in a stratified fluid by arbitrary forced oscillations of a horizontal disc. The wave fields are calculated in both the time domain and the frequency domain. In the time domain, an initial-value problem is solved using Laplace transforms; causality is imposed. In the frequency domain (time-harmonic oscillations), a radiation condition is imposed: a plane-wave (Fourier) decomposition is used in which waves with outgoing group velocity are selected. It is shown that both approaches lead to the same solution, once transient effects are ignored. Then, a method is given for calculating the far-field, using asymptotic approximations of double integrals. It is shown that the total energy flux is outwards, for arbitrary forcings of the disc. Further investigations of energy transport are made with a view to clarifying the nature of radiation conditions in the frequency domain.
Mechanism design for online real-time scheduling

For the problem of online real-time scheduling of jobs on a single processor, previous work presents matching upper and lower bounds on the competitive ratio that can be achieved by a deterministic algorithm. However, these results only apply to the non-strategic setting in which the jobs are released directly to the algorithm. Motivated by emerging areas such as grid computing, we instead consider this problem in an economic setting, in which each job is released to a separate, self-interested agent. The agent can then delay releasing the job to the algorithm, inflate its length, and declare an arbitrary value and deadline for the job, while the center determines not only the schedule, but the payment of each agent. For the resulting mechanism design problem (in which we also slightly strengthen an assumption from the non-strategic setting), we present a mechanism that addresses each incentive issue, while only increasing the competitive ratio by one. We then show a matching lower bound for deterministic mechanisms that never pay the agents.
Panax ginseng pharmacology: a nitric oxide link?

Panax ginseng is used in traditional Chinese medicine to enhance stamina and capacity to cope with fatigue and physical stress. Major active components are the ginsenosides, which are mainly triterpenoid dammarane derivatives. The mechanisms of ginseng actions remain unclear, although there is an extensive literature that deals with effects on the CNS (memory, learning, and behavior), neuroendocrine function, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, immune function, and the cardiovascular system. Reports are often contradictory, perhaps because the ginsenoside content of ginseng root or root extracts can differ, depending on the method of extraction, subsequent treatment, or even the season of its collection. Therefore, use of standardized, authentic ginseng root both in research and by the public is to be advocated. Several recent studies have suggested that the antioxidant and organ-protective actions of ginseng are linked to enhanced nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in endothelium of lung, heart, and kidney and in the corpus cavernosum. Enhanced NO synthesis thus could contribute to ginseng-associated vasodilatation and perhaps also to an aphrodisiac action of the root. Ginseng is sold in the U.S. as a food additive and thus need not meet specific safety and efficacy requirements of the Food and Drug Administration. Currently, such sales amount to over $300 million annually. As public use of ginseng continues to grow, it is important for this industry and Federal regulatory authorities to encourage efforts to study the efficacy of ginseng in humans by means of appropriately designed double-blind clinical studies.
Potential Treatment Options for Hydraulic Fracturing Return Fluids: A Review

Return fluids (flowback and produce water) are one of the highest quantity by-product in oil and gas industry. These fluids are treated in wastewater treatment plants, reused as part of hydrofracking fluids, and reinjected into the ground by injection wells. The treatment and management process effects the environment and surrounding ecosystem. In this review, the fate and impacts of hydrofracking fluids and return fluids along with different treatment options published in literature are summarized. The life cycle of hydraulic fracturing from shale resource to return fluids and their possible implications are discussed from an environmental point of view. Observed shift in microbial communities is reported. Physocochemical and biotechnological approaches practiced by several scientists suggest a possible treatment option under optimized conditions on the surface which could not only reduce the impact on the ecosystem but can also provide a huge quantity of reclaimed water.
A High Performance Prolog Processor With Multiple Function Units

We describe the Parallel Unification Machine (PLUM), a Prolog processor that exploits fine grain parallelism using multiple function units executing in parallel. In most cases the execution of bookkeeping instructions is almost completely overlapped by unification, and the performance of the processor is limited only by the available unification parallelism. We present measurements from a register transfer level simulator of PLUM. These results show that PLUM with 3 Unification Units achieves an average speedup of approximately 3.4 over the Berkeley VLSI-PLM, which is usually regarded as the current highest performance special purpose, pipelined Prolog processor. Measurements that show the effects of multiple Unification Units and memory access time on performance are also presented.
The art and practice of gratitude: practicing an overlooked skill to help undergraduate biology students become successful professionals

in our fast-paced, technology-driven world, the age-old custom and etiquette of writing a thank-you note may often be forgotten. Educators need to provide students with the opportunity to master this important professional skill. We might assume that undergraduate biology students have mastered the
Community, Democracy, and Neighborhood News

This ethnographic study examines the interplay between communication, democracy, and community at an inner-city neighborhood newspaper, and explores whether this neighborhood newspaper - through its editor and staff - views itself acting as an agent of strong democracy. The study concludes that, through its focus on neighborhood culture, its acknowledgement of conflict, and its attempts to provide a forum for the neighborhood's self-definition, the newspaper tries to create and maintain participation in its community
The Hamlyn Lectures 2011: The Rule of Law and the Measure of Property

The idea in these lectures is to discuss the relation between property and the rule of law in a deeper way than this has been discussed in the past, in particular in a way that reflects realistic understanding of how property rights are created and modified. I use the Lockean phrase "the measure of property" but the gist of my argument will be that our thinking about the rule of law needs to focus on all the ways in which property is non-Lockean in its origin, legal status, and moral force. In the course of doing this, I will be looking at some of the rather naive assumptions underlying the tight connection that has been forged between property rights and the rule of law in neo-liberal political economy. And I will argue that we can abandon or modify some of these naive assumptions about property without compromising the very great importance that is properly attached to the ideal of the rule of law. There are three lectures in all. Unfortunately the original lecture titles are not a good indication of the eventual contents. Lecture 1 was called "The Classical Lockean Picture and its Difficulties" and it mainly addresses the alleged contrast between (a) the rule of law and (b) rule by law, and the suggestion that property rights might be privileged under (a). It explores Richard Epstein's version of this idea and then it spends some time on the Lockean account of property. The argument is that in the real world even Lockean property has an inescapable public law dimension. Lecture 2 was called "Unraveling the Form and Substance of Property," but it is really about the contrast between formal/procedural and substantive views of the rule of law and the dificulties inherent in identifying respect for private property rights as a substantive dimension of the rule of law. The argument is that given the accordion-like expandability of the category of property, this cannot work to privilege property rights over other legal rights etc. Lecture 3 was called "The Rule of Law, Property, and Legislation" and it is a defense of legislation, including regulatory and redistributive legislation in light of the rule of law. Readers should note that although I spend a lot of time discussing the fact situation in Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council, 505 U.S. 1003 (1992), these lectures are not lectures in American constitutional law, nor do they aim to build pathways through the swamp of US takings jurisprudence.
PD1 - PDL1 - Vaccine

RRMM, stable disease or better responses were seen in 52% (n1⁄432; 1PR, 2MR, 11 SD). The ADC appeared safe with some Gr II/III toxicity (i.e. mucositis, stomatitis, hand/foot syndrome). In the BT062 (cohorts1⁄4 80, 100, 120 mg/m2, dosing1⁄4 IV Day 1, 8, 15) +LEN/Dex combo study, the ORR was 78%(2 sCR, 2 CR, 13 VGPR, 15 PR). TEAE’s were reported in >30% of patients (diarrhea, fatigue, nausea and hypokalemia). Conclusions: Immunotherapy is finally poised to aid in the treatment of MM. AntiCD38 mAbs and several novel ADCs have shown promise.
Grit Unbalance in Sewage Flow Division

When sewage flows from a single inlet conduit to multiple grit chambers, large unbalances in liquid-grit distribution may occur. The slower moving bottom water that carries most of the grit is more easily diverted and will tend to concentrate in side channels at asymmetric bifurcations. Model tests support the proposed method of analysis of flow division distribution and show the complexities of the problem. Several arrangements for correcting unbalance are tested: (1) A vertical wall to advance the point of division and to reduce the effect of lace of symmetry; (2) top vanes that deflect top water into the side channel and force bottom water to move straight ahead; and (3) spiral motion that orients grit in the inlet conduit and alters flow division patterns. None of the tested systems cures all cases of unbalance, but all are effective for appropriate uses.
Anger: The Unrecognized Emotion in Emotional Disorders

Anger plays a prominent definitional role in some psychological disorders currently widely scattered across DSM-5 categories (e.g., intermittent explosive disorder, borderline personality disorder). But the presence and consequences of anger in the emotional disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders, depressive disorders) remain sparsely examined. In this review, we examine the presence of anger in the emotional disorders and find that anger is elevated across these disorders and, when it is present, is associated with negative consequences, including greater symptom severity and worse treatment response. Based on this evidence, anger appears to be an important and understudied emotion in the development, maintenance, and treatment of emotional disorders.
A Review of “The Remarriage Checkup”: Ron L. Deal and David H. Olson. (2010). Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 253 pp., $16.99 (paperback).

The Remarriage Checkup was written to give couples hope and help in achieving a strong, healthy remarriage. The authors take a strengths-based approach to cover a wide range of topics. Just as phys...
Direct optical measurement of the on-shot incoherent focal spot and intensity contrast on the OMEGA EP laser

Characterizing the prepulse temporal contrast of optical pulses is required to understand their interaction with matter. Light with relatively low intensity can interact with the target before the main high-intensity pulse. Estimating the intensity contrast, instead of the spatially averaged power contrast, is important to understand intensity-dependent laser–matter interactions. A direct optical approach to determining the on-shot intensity of the incoherent pedestal on an aberrated high-intensity laser system is presented. The spatially resolved focal spot of the incoherent pedestal preceding the main coherent pulse and the intensity contrast are calculated using experimental data. This technique is experimentally validated on one of the chirped pulse amplification beamlines of the OMEGA EP Laser System. The intensity contrast of a 1-kJ, 10-ps laser pulse is shown to be ~10× higher than the power contrast because of the larger spatial extent of the incoherent focal spot relative to the coherent focal spot.
Limitations of body mass index for counseling individuals with unilateral lower extremity amputation

Background:Body composition is important for health screening, but appropriate methods for unilateral lower extremity amputees have not been validated.Objectives:To compare body mass index adjusted using Amputee Coalition equations (body mass index–Amputee Coalition) to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in unilateral lower limb amputees.Study design:Cross-sectional, experimental.Methods:Thirty-eight men and women with lower limb amputations (transfemoral, transtibial, hip disarticulation, Symes) participated. Body mass index (mass/height2) was compared to body mass index corrected for limb loss (body mass index–Amputee Coalition). Accuracy of classification and extrapolation of percent body fat with body mass index was compared to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.Results:Body mass index–Amputee Coalition increased body mass index (by ~ 1.1 kg/m2) but underestimated and mis-classified 60% of obese and overestimated 100% of lean individuals according to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Estimated mean percen...
BNCT as an Adjuvant to Fast Neutron Radiotherapy for Selected Tumor Systems

In parallel with boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), fast neutron radiotherapy began shortly after the discovery of the neutron by Chadwick. The earliest clinical studies showed considerable toxicity and little efficacy1, and the field languished until the 1950’s when mammalian cell culture techniques allowed a better understanding of the different radiobiological properties of conventional photon radiation and fast neutrons. Clinical trials were resumed at Hammersmith Hospital, London, England in the 1960’s, and since that time approximately 20,000 patients have received fast neutron radiation as all or a part of their cancer therapy. Compared to conventional radiotherapy, fast neutrons offer a therapeutic advantage for salivary gland tumors2, locally-advanced prostate cancer3’4, and sarcomas5. For other tumor systems, the results have been less encouraging. It is not possible to increase tumor control by simply increasing the fast neutron dose because of treatment related toxicity due to normal tissue side effects. For fast neutrons, the dose response curves for both tumor control and normal tissue damage are quite steep, and often located close together, resulting in a narrow therapeutic window. An adjuvant BNCT boost to fast neutron radiotherapy has the potential of selectively increasing tumor dose relative to normal tissue dose, and thus widening the therapeutic window for selected tumor systems. While the physical dose augmentation is relatively small, it is multiplied both by its increased biological effectiveness and the steepness of the dose response curve resulting in a clinically-significant effect.
Lamb Wave Multitouch Ultrasonic Touchscreen

Touchscreen sensors are widely used in many devices such as smart phones, tablets, and laptops with diverse applications. We present the design, analysis, and implementation of an ultrasonic touchscreen system that utilizes the interaction of transient Lamb waves with objects in contact with the screen. It attempts to improve on the existing ultrasound technologies, with the potential of addressing some of the weaknesses of the dominant technologies, such as the capacitive or resistive ones. Compared with the existing ultrasonic and acoustic modalities, among other advantages, it provides the capability of detecting several simultaneous touch points and also a more robust performance. The localization algorithm, given the hardware design, can detect several touch points with a very limited number of measurements (one or two). This in turn can significantly reduce the manufacturing cost.
A Hand-Held, Self-Contained Simulated Transparent Display

Hand-held transparent displays are important infrastructure for augmented reality applications. Truly transparent displays are not yet feasible in hand-held form, and a promising alternative is to simulate transparency by displaying the image the user would see if the display were not there. Previous simulated transparent displays have important limitations, such as being tethered to auxiliary workstations, requiring the user to wear obtrusive head-tracking devices, or lacking the depth acquisition support that is needed for an accurate transparency effect for close-range scenes.We describe a general simulated transparent display and three prototype implementations (P1, P2, and P3), which take advantage of emerging mobile devices and accessories. P1 uses an off-theshelf smartphone with built-in head-tracking support; P1 is compact and suitable for outdoor scenes, providing an accurate transparency effect for scene distances greater than 6m. P2 uses a tablet with a built-in depth camera; P2 is compact and suitable for short-distance indoor scenes, but the user has to hold the display in a fixed position. P3 uses a conventional tablet enhanced with on-board depth acquisition and head tracking accessories; P3 compensates for user head motion and provides accurate transparency even for closerange scenes. The prototypes are hand-held and self-contained, without the need of auxiliary workstations for computation.
Through the Crisis: The “Plane of Living” and the Spatial Disposition of Housing Values in the United States

This article extends previous research by the authors on the spatial and temporal evolution of housing values across the United States to examine the impact of the 2007 financial crisis. The specific goals are to (a) document certain pre- and postcrisis trends in the nation’s economic landscape, (b) estimate a series of simple income capitalization models aimed at weighing the relative importance of household income versus amenities in the aftermath of the recession, (c) examine the present state of the “plane of living” that households navigate when choosing where to live, and (d) posit an observation for public and private policy. The analysis considers the role of both natural and human amenities and, holding those factors constant, evaluates the extent to which the influence of income has waxed and waned over the course of the 2000 to 2010 decade. A key finding is that through the crisis the value of the contemporary plane of living, measured as the difference between 2007 and 2010, fell dramatically ...
Resolving the discrepancy between observed and calculated penetration depths in grazing incidence X-ray topography of 4H-SiC wafers

Synchrotron X-ray Topography with grazing incidence geometry is useful for discerning defects at different depths below the crystal surface, particularly for 4H-SiC epitaxial wafers. However, the penetration depths measured from X-ray topographs are much larger than the theoretical values. In order to interpret this discrepancy, we simulate topographic contrast of dislocations based on two of the most basic contrast formation mechanisms — orientation contrast and kinematical contrast. Orientation contrast considers merely the displacement fields associated with dislocations while kinematical contrast also takes the diffraction volume into account. The diffraction volume is defined by the effective misorientation around dislocations and the rocking curve width for particular diffraction vector. Ray Tracing Simulation has been carried out to visualize dislocation contrast for both models, taking into account the photoelectric absorption of X-ray beams inside the crystal. Results show that orientation contrast plays the key role in determining both the contrast and X-ray penetration depths for different types of dislocations.
Forces on Block Bodies Accelerating in Still Fluid

Experimental results for the drag coefficient and the added hydrodynamic mass coefficient for block bodies, plates, and models of deadweight anchors are presented. A unique method is examined for eliminating noise from an analog signal that relates to the analysis of the recorded forces, and for determining the drag and inertia coefficients in the frequency domain. Results from a regression analysis to determine the drag coefficients and hydrodynamic mass coefficients are presented and compared to the other method employed. The experiments show that both the added mass and the drag coefficients are dependent upon the ratio of the amplitude of the water particle excursion to the major dimension of the body.
Entanglement Entropy and Decoupling in the Universe

In the expanding universe, two interacting fields are no longer in thermal contact when the interaction rate becomes smaller than the Hubble expansion rate. After decoupling, two subsystems are usually treated separately in accordance with equilibrium thermodynamics and the thermodynamic entropy gives a fiducial quantity conserved in each subsystem. In this paper, we discuss a correction to this paradigm from quantum entanglement of two coupled fields. The thermodynamic entropy is generalized to the entanglement entropy. We formulate a perturbation theory to derive the entanglement entropy and present Feynman rules in diagrammatic calculations. For specific models to illustrate our formulation, an interacting scalar-scalar system, quantum electrodynamics, and the Yukawa theory are considered. We calculate the entanglement entropy in these models and find a quantum correction to the thermodynamic entropy. The correction is revealed to be important in circumstances of instantaneous decoupling.
Implicit Social Cognitive Processes Underlying Victim Self and Identity: Evidence With College-Aged Adults.

Past research on victimization has relied predominantly on individuals’ awareness of and willingness to self-report a victimization experience and its effect on self and identity processes. The pre...
An integrated approach to redundancy allocation and test planning for reliability growth

Abstract Previously, two strategies were disjointly considered for improving system reliability: testing components (to identify and remove failure modes, resulting in reliability growth) and installing redundancies. In this paper, we develop a new model that merges these concepts within an integrated optimization model that maximizes system reliability. Specifically, our model considers a series-parallel system in which the system reliability can be improved by both testing components and installing redundant components. We contribute an exact algorithm that decomposes the problem into smaller integer linear programs. We prove that this algorithm is finite and apply it to a set of instances. Experiments demonstrate that the integrated approach generates greater reliabilities than applying test planning and redundancy allocation models iteratively, and moreover, the integrated approach yields significant savings in computational time.
Defining a Clopidogrel Response Cut-Off Value Using Light Transmission Aggregometry Before Pipeline Embolization of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms.

Background The choice of appropriate antiplatelet therapy before the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) placement is usually guided by platelet function testing such as light transmission aggregometry (LTA). In this study, we aimed to define the optimal threshold LTA value for clopidogrel responsiveness to predict the risk of postprocedural thromboembolic complications and to help guide appropriate antiplatelet regimen. Methods A prospectively maintained database at an academic neurosurgical center in the United States was retrospectively analyzed from 2014 to 2017 to identify patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms treated with the PED. Clinical and radiographic data were analyzed to identify thromboembolic complications in the context of platelet function testing performed by LTA. Results A total of 95 procedures were performed for PED placement to treat 110 unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Thromboembolic complications were encountered in 4 (4.2%) of these patients. After stratifying the complication rate based on the maximal extent of platelet aggregation after administration of an exogenous platelet agonist, a marked increase in thromboembolic events was observed in patients with LTA values greater than 50%. When LTA was dichotomized based on this value, patients with an LTA value less than 50% had a thromboembolic complication rate of 1.3% (1/80), compared with 20% (3/15) for those with LTA values ≥50% (P = 0.001). Conclusions We observed the greatest increase in the rate of thromboembolic complications with LTA values of ≥50%. This can serve as an appropriate cut-off value for determining the clopidogrel response in patients undergoing endovascular treatment with the PED.
Pulmonary Vein Stenosis After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: An Iatrogenic Problem Larger Than the Primary Problem

See Article by Raeisi-Giglou et al Catheter-based ablation procedures for patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) have steadily increased over the past decade in the United States. Despite significant technological advances and better understanding of the anatomic substrate, AF ablation can still result in rare, yet life-threatening complications. One such complication is pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) and can incur substantial patient morbidity with recalcitrant symptoms. The incidence of severe PVS has fallen dramatically from 42.4% reported in an early study from 19991 to between 0.29% and 3.4% in studies after 2000.2–7 A high index of suspicion is required as presentation is often delayed (weeks to months after ablation), atypical, and can mimic a case of bronchitis, pneumonitis, or malignancy.8,9 Symptoms depend on the number of pulmonary veins involved, lesion severity, and presence and extent of collaterals. Diagnosis is often delayed or missed, as routine imaging after ablation is not mandated by the current Heart Rhythm Society consensus statements.10 If not recognized early, PVS may progress rapidly and result in total pulmonary venous occlusion, chronic pulmonary hypertension, irreversible lung parenchymal damage, and its sequelae.11,12 Treatment of PVS is also challenging and far from ideal. Pulmonary venous interventions using balloon angioplasty or stenting have been reported from single-center studies, but outcomes have remained suboptimal.13–17 Restenosis rates requiring reintervention are significant and observed in 56% to 72% of the balloon angioplasty cases compared with 27% to 33% of the stenting cases.13,14 Recently, surgical repair of severe PVS has been reported in a small series, with a restenosis rate of 38% over long-term follow-up.18 In this issue of the Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology , Raeisi-Giglou et al19 present the Cleveland Clinic experience of outcomes and …
TESTICULAR GROWTH IN BOARS OF DIFFERENT GENETIC LINES AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE

Testicular growth of 377 boars was compared by obtaining in situ measurements of testes width and length and excised tissue weights. Two experiments involved a line selected nine generations for ovulation rate (OR) and a control line (CL), and two experiments contained boars of the OR line and two other lines; WL, a Large White-Landrace cross, and a line founded by crossing lines OR and CL and selected six generations for increased average daily gain and decreased backfat (LG line). In situ testes measurements were similar for the OR and CL lines and were curvilinearly related to age. The LG line had smaller in situ measurements than the OR line (P less than .05) when both unadjusted means and means adjusted for body weight were compared. The OR line had 10.5% heavier testes than the CL line at 90.8 kg and a 9 to 15% advantage at 120, 141, 162 and 183 d of age. The OR line had more rapid testicular development from 120 to 183 d of age (P less than .05) than the CL line. The LG line had significantly lower excised testes weights (17 to 50% less), a lower percentage of tubules that showed active spermatogenesis and lower mean diameter of the seminiferous tubules (P less than .05) than the OR line. The relative differences between lines OR, CL and LG suggest that selection for lean growth rate has resulted in less rapid testicular development and increased age at puberty. The correlations of testes weights and in situ testes measurements taken at the time of castration were between .76 and .93. The correlations of testes width and testes length with epididymides weights were slightly lower, and correlations of body weight and testes weight ranged from .51 to .70. Mean diameter of the seminiferous tubules and percentage of tubules with active spermatogenesis were correlated with measurements of testes size (r = .50 to .61) and body weight at the time of castration (r = .29 to .36). Correlations of excised testes weights with number born in the boar's contemporary litter and ovulation rate of full sibs were uniformly positive. The correlations of measurements of testes size and backfat (r = -.09 to .20) suggest that the phenotypic relationship between testes growth and body composition is small. However, the response found in the LG line suggests a negative genetic relationship between lean growth rate and testicular growth rate.
Studies on the renal action of ouabain in the rat. Effects in the non-diuretic state.

Recollection micropuncture experiments were carried out on superficial distal rat tubules before and after the infusion of ouabain (0.3 ml h−1 of a 1.37×10−2 M solution) into the renal artery. Fluid was analyzed for14C-inulin, sodium (Na) and potassium (K). Experiments were done in rats on a low-potassium diet as well as in rats on a normal potassium intake. Ouabain induced natriuresis and kaliuresis. These diuretic effects were not restricted to the site of injection since similar but weaker effects were observed in the contralateral kidney. The effects of ouabain upon distal tubular electrolyte transport consisted in depression of sodium transport and an elevation of potassium concentrations in distal tubular fluid. The distal potassium effect in initially non-diuretic animals is considered to be due to partial inhibition of active potassium uptake across the luminal cell membrane of distal tubule cells. In animals reabsorbing potassium from the tubule lumen ouabain induceds a fall in net potassium reabsorption whereas in animals secreting potassium along the distal tubule it augments net potassium transfer from the peritubular to the luminal fluid.
On Revenue Management with Strategic Customers Choosing When and What to Buy

We study a network revenue management model in which a decision maker offers multiple products, which consume capacitated resources, for sale to customers over a finite horizon. The decision maker employs an anonymous posted-price policy, and arriving customers strategize on (a) when, and (b) which product to purchase so as to maximize their utility. Customers’ choices are driven by heterogeneous product valuations that decay over time at heterogeneous rates. Both initial valuations and decay rates are private information. We derive for all nonanticipating dynamic pricing policies an upper bound to expected revenues. We use our bound to conduct theoretical and numerical performance analyses of static pricing policies. In our theoretical analysis, we derive a constant factor guarantee for the performance of static pricing, for the classical fluid-type regime where inventory and demand grow large. Our numerical analysis shows static pricing to be able capture at least 75%-90% of maximum possible expected revenue under a wide range of realistic problem parameters, and suggests that static pricing is likely to perform better under higher product proliferation and lower load factor in the presence of strategic customers.
Soft Tissue and Bony Injuries Attributed to the Practice of Yoga: A Biomechanical Analysis and Implications for Management

Abstract Objective To analyze injuries that were directly associated with yoga practice and identify specific poses that should be avoided in patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Patients and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with injuries that were primarily caused by yoga. Patients were seen from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2018. Injuries were categorized into 3 groups: (1) soft tissue injury, (2) axial nonbony injury, and (3) bony injury. Patients underwent evaluation and were counseled to modify exercise activity. Results We identified 89 patients for inclusion in the study. Within the soft tissue group, 66 patients (74.2%) had mechanical myofascial pain due to overuse. Rotator cuff injury was seen in 6 (6.7%), and trochanteric bursopathy was observed in 1 (1.1%). In the axial group, exacerbation of pain in degenerative joint disease (46 patients [51.7%]) and facet arthropathy (n=34 [38.2%]) were observed. Radiculopathy was seen in 5 patients (5.6%). Within the bony injury category, kyphoscoliosis was seen on imaging in 15 patients (16.9%). Spondylolisthesis was present in 15 patients (16.9%). Anterior wedging was seen in 16 (18.0%), and compression fractures were present in 13 (14.6%). The poses that were most commonly identified as causing the injuries involved hyperflexion and hyperextension of the spine. We correlated the kinesiologic effect of such exercises on specific musculoskeletal structures. Conclusion Yoga potentially has many benefits, but care must be taken when performing positions with extreme spinal flexion and extension. Patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis may have higher risk of compression fractures or deformities and would benefit from avoiding extreme spinal flexion. Physicians should consider this risk when discussing yoga as exercise.
Applying Alignment to Improve the Effectiveness of CS Education

Course alignment refers to the degree to which curriculum, assessments and instruction methods are in agreement with each other. Course alignment can be used by instructors to evaluate the effectiveness of their instructional content and assessments and whether they are meeting their learning objectives. Applying alignment models is time consuming and laborious, making them difficult for a course instructor to use. Current alignment models require a panel of experts to review documents and make judgments about the degree of alignment of the course objectives and assessments. With that in mind, we devised a practical strategy to be used by a course instructor, as part of course design, to assess the alignment between the course content, learning objectives and assessment methods. We developed a process for evaluating the degree of alignment of a course based on attributes from Webb's alignment model and we developed data structures based on Porter's matrix to facilitate the assessment of the alignment. The devised strategy will be applied to various CS courses by instructors and the results of the process will be used to refine the alignment strategy. An alignment process that can be applied timely and simple to follow may encourage instructors to apply it to their course, becoming a common practice for any instructor when modifying their course.
Formation and surface-stabilizing contributions to bare nanoemulsions created with negligible surface charge.

The stabilization of nanoemulsions, nanosized oil droplets dispersed in water, is commonly achieved through the addition of surfactants and polymers. However, nanoemulsions in the absence of emulsifiers have been observed to acquire a significant negative charge at their surface, which ultimately contributes to their stability. While the source of this negative charge is disputed to this day, its presence is taken as an inherent property of the aqueous–hydrophobic interface. This report provides a look at the molecular structure and bonding characteristics of bare aqueous–hydrophobic nanoemulsion interfaces. We report the creation of bare nanoemulsions with near zero surface charge, which are marginally stable for several days. The process of creating these low-charge nanoemulsions (LCNEs) required rigorous cleaning procedures and proper solvent storage conditions. Using vibrational sum-frequency scattering spectroscopy, we measure the structure and bonding of the interfacial aqueous and hydrophobic phases. The surfaces of these LCNE samples possess a measurable free OH vibration, not found in previous studies and indicative of a clean interface. Tuning the nanoemulsion charge through addition of anionic surfactants, modeling potential surface-active contaminants, we observe the free OH to disappear and a reorientation of the interfacial hydrophobic molecules at micromolar surfactant concentrations. Notably, the free OH vibration provides evidence for stronger dispersion interactions between water molecules and the hydrophobic phase at the LCNE surface compared with similar planar water–alkane interfaces. We propose the stronger bonding interactions, in addition to an ordered interfacial aqueous layer, contribute to the delayed droplet coalescence and subsequent phase separation.
A novel mechanism for amplification of sensory responses by the amygdala-TRN projections

Abstract Many forms of behavior require selective amplification of neuronal representations of relevant environmental signals. Following emotional learning, sensory stimuli drive enhanced responses in the sensory cortex. However, the brain circuits that underlie emotionally driven control of the sensory representations remain poorly understood. Here we identify a novel pathway between the basolateral amygdala (BLA), an emotional learning center in the mouse brain, and the inhibitory nucleus of the thalamus (TRN). We demonstrate that activation of this pathway amplifies sound-evoked activity in the central auditory pathway. Optogenetic activation of BLA suppressed spontaneous, but not tone-evoked activity in the auditory cortex (AC), effectively amplifying tone-evoked responses in AC. Anterograde and retrograde viral tracing identified robust BLA projections terminating at TRN. Optogenetic activation of amygdala-TRN pathway mimicked the effect of direct BLA activation, amplifying tone-evoked responses in the auditory thalamus and cortex. The results are explained by a computational model of the thalamocortical circuitry. In our model, activation of TRN by BLA suppresses spontaneous activity in thalamocortical cells, and as a result, thalamocortical neurons are primed to relay relevant sensory input. These results demonstrate a novel circuit mechanism for shining a neural spotlight on behaviorally relevant signals and provide a potential target for treatment of neuropsychological disorders, in which emotional control of sensory processing is disrupted.
Loud and Clear: The Importance of Telling the Stories of African American Male Preservice Teachers

ABSTRACTThe shortage of African American male teachers has been a consistent issue in education. However, there is still much to learn about the experiences and perspectives of African American men...
SynFi: Automatic Synthetic Fingerprint Generation

Authentication and identification methods based on human fingerprints are ubiquitous in several systems ranging from government organizations to consumer products. The performance and reliability of such systems directly rely on the volume of data on which they have been verified. Unfortunately, a large volume of fingerprint databases is not publicly available due to many privacy and security concerns. In this paper, we introduce a new approach to automatically generate high-fidelity synthetic fingerprints at scale. Our approach relies on (i) Generative Adversarial Networks to estimate the probability distribution of human fingerprints and (ii) Super-Resolution methods to synthesize fine-grained textures. We rigorously test our system and show that our methodology is the first to generate fingerprints that are computationally indistinguishable from real ones, a task that prior art could not accomplish.
If Metformin Inhibited the Mitochondrial Glycerol Phosphate Dehydrogenase It Might Not Benefit Diabetes

The mitochondrial glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase is the rate-limiting enzyme of the glycerol phosphate shuttle. It was recently claimed that metformin, a first line drug used worldwide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, works by inhibiting the mitochondrial glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase 30-50% thus suppressing hepatic gluconeogenesis. This enzyme is 30-60 fold higher in the pancreatic islet than in liver. If metformin actually inhibited the enzyme, why would it not inhibit insulin secretion and exacerbate diabetes? Total body knockout of the mitochondrial glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase does not inhibit insulin secretion because insulin cells and liver cells possess the malate aspartate shuttle that is redundant to the action of the glycerol phosphate shuttle. In view of these and other apparent inconsistencies we reassessed the idea that metformin inhibited the mitochondrial glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase. We measured the enzyme’s activity in whole cell homogenates and mitochondria of insulin cells and liver cells using four different enzyme assays and were unable to show that metformin directly inhibits the enzyme. We conclude that metformin does not actually inhibit the enzyme. If it did, it might not be efficacious as a diabetes medicine.
Lessons of Policing and Exclusion

While active shooter training in schools is socially framed as a necessary response to the perception that our educational institutions are inherently dangerous to our children, this paper provides an alternate read that hopefully leads to critical conversations about such training and practices. It situates active shooter training squarely in the ever-expanding culture of fear that has prompted the usurping of various freedoms in exchange for greater levels of security through institutional and intrapersonal policing. In framing episodes of violence as expected and expanding the possibility of who perpetrates violence to include everyone, active shooter training is able to construct a rational justification for furthering hypervigilance and exhaustive surveillance. At the same time, it can be argued that such inclusive and boundless understandings of violence, especially when considering related pedagogical messages in the context of schooling and students, constructs a reality in which trust in others is a casualty, that surveillance is not simply institutional but instead an individual reality in which people normatively monitor one another, and in general, where difference is the impetus for the construction of metaphorical walls. And while these have been the responses to danger present in the commodified and individualized social world, it is important to question whether both the means and ends are justified. If democratic interaction is understood as requiring, among other things, attention to difference and dialogue, can democracy, let alone the expansion of democratic possibilities, exist in a reality in which these things are feared and avoided? Can schools, as sites where democratic interactions can be practiced, carry out this vital function if these needs are viewed in contention with or even subordinate to safety, as defined as furthering fear, policing, and exclusion?