cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trends in Utilization and Outcomes of Hip Arthroscopy in the United States Between 2005 and 2013.

Abstract Background The utilization of hip arthroscopy continues to increase in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in hip arthroscopy procedures and outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study using Optum Labs Data Warehouse administrative claims data. The cohort comprised 10,042 privately insured enrollees aged 18-64 years who underwent a hip arthroscopy procedure between 2005 and 2013. Utilization trends were examined using age-specific, sex-specific, and calendar-year-specific hip arthroscopy rates. Outcomes were examined using the survival analysis methods and included subsequent hip arthroscopy and total hip arthroplasty (THA). Results Hip arthroscopy rates increased significantly over time from 3.6 per 100,000 in 2005 to 16.7 per 100,000 in 2013. The overall 2-year cumulative incidence of subsequent hip arthroscopy and THA was 11% and 10%, respectively. In the subset of patients in whom laterality of the subsequent procedure could be determined, about half of the subsequent hip arthroscopy procedures (46%) and almost all of the THA procedures (94%) were on the same side. Decreasing age was significantly associated with the risk of subsequent arthroscopy ( P P Conclusion The utilization of hip arthroscopy procedures increased dramatically over the last decade in the 18-64-year-old privately insured population, with the largest increase in younger age-groups. Future studies are warranted to understand the determinants of the large increase in utilization of hip arthroscopy and outcomes.
Dual-pulse laser-induced spark ignition and flame propagation of a methane diffusion jet flame

Abstract An experimental investigation was performed to study the ignition and flame propagation behaviors of a methane diffusion jet flame (Re = 5500) when dual pulse laser-induced spark discharges were introduced in a mixing layer. Time intervals (dt) of 50 ns, 100 µs, and 600 µs between two laser pulses were tested, and the results were compared to a single pulse discharge case with the same total laser energy (60 mJ). The laser-induced breakdown was introduced to the mixing layer at 9.5 jet diameters downstream from the jet exit. The chemical delay time scale under the flow condition was approximately 350 µs (tcd). The disturbances in density fields generated by laser-induced breakdowns and chemical reactions were visualized using a high-speed schlieren imaging technique. The visualization at stationary air showed that interactions between two laser-induced breakdowns increased the surface area of hot plumes, but the effects of the interactions diminished when the breakdowns were introduced in a non-reacting air jet. The effects of the flow on the hot plumes prevailed the interaction effects between two breakdowns in non‐reacting air jet condition. However, when the dual pulse laser-induced spark discharges (dt = 600 µs, dt/tcd = 1.71) were generated in a mixing layer of a methane jet, a rapid propagation of the flame was observed since the second breakdown enlarged the ignition kernel surfaces generated by the first breakdown. The results showed that using the dual pulse with intervals shorter than the electron lifetime scale (under 200 ns) or longer than the chemical delay time scale could be beneficial in enhancing ignition and flame propagation processes due to the increased energy deposition or hot surface area, respectively.
Fannish masculinities in transition in anime music video fandom

Politically engaged scholarship often interrogates the experiences of groups without privilege. But in order for social change to happen, privileged identities must also be reworked. An analysis of anime fandom in the early 2000s shows that fan works, such as fan video and cosplay performances, concretize masculinities that are both transgressive and desperately seeking normative confirmation. By means of queer and masculinity theory, I argue that fandom is a uniquely generative space for reworking masculinity. This will only remain true, however, if it can hold onto its subversive practices in a time of increasing mainstream attention.
The effectiveness of dust mitigation and cleaning strategies at The National Archives, UK

Abstract Cultural heritage institutions allocate considerable resource to mitigating the risks of dust in their collections. In archives and libraries boxing collections and cleaning regimes go some way to address the problem. However, evidence of the efficacy of these methods is difficult to validate experimentally as dust is very difficult to see. To evaluate the efficacy of our boxing and cleaning programmes, The National Archives’ Collection Care Department developed a method that used UV-fluorescing powder to mimic the movement and dispersal of dust during experimental cleaning and handling scenarios. Visual evaluation of dust dispersal enabled a qualitative assessment of the efficacy of existing collection cleaning techniques. Photographs and videos confirmed the value of vacuuming as the most efficient method of removing dust in comparison to other methods, and validated the usefulness of folders and boxes in limiting dust deposition and transfer onto archival documents.
Statistical process control charts for monitoring military injuries.

Background An essential aspect of an injury prevention process is surveillance, which quantifies and documents injury rates in populations of interest and enables monitoring of injury frequencies, rates and trends. To drive progress towards injury reduction goals, additional tools are needed. Statistical process control charts, a methodology that has not been previously applied to Army injury monitoring, capitalise on existing medical surveillance data to provide information to leadership about injury trends necessary for prevention planning and evaluation. Methods Statistical process control Shewhart u-charts were created for 49 US Army installations using quarterly injury medical encounter rates, 2007–2015, for active duty soldiers obtained from the Defense Medical Surveillance System. Injuries were defined according to established military injury surveillance recommendations. Charts display control limits three standard deviations (SDs) above and below an installation-specific historical average rate determined using 28 data points, 2007–2013. Charts are available in Army strategic management dashboards. Results From 2007 to 2015, Army injury rates ranged from 1254 to 1494 unique injuries per 1000 person-years. Installation injury rates ranged from 610 to 2312 injuries per 1000 person-years. Control charts identified four installations with injury rates exceeding the upper control limits at least once during 2014–2015, rates at three installations exceeded the lower control limit at least once and 42 installations had rates that fluctuated around the historical mean. Conclusions Control charts can be used to drive progress towards injury reduction goals by indicating statistically significant increases and decreases in injury rates. Future applications to military subpopulations, other health outcome metrics and chart enhancements are suggested.
Accounting for positional uncertainty in historical shoreline change analysis without ground reference information

Systematic shifts in shoreline position are important indicators of environmental change. Shoreline position interpreted from historical aerial imagery is frequently used to assess shoreline change. Although most published studies do not formally consider the effects of source error and interpretation error when analysing shoreline change, the effects of these errors may be significant. This article introduces and evaluates a new uncertainty-aware approach to assessing shoreline change in the presence of positional uncertainty and without ground-reference data, which is typical for historical coastline analysis. The overlapping double buffer ODB approach extends the epsilon band model to account for the effects of source and interpretation errors on shoreline position, and assesses the degree of overlap in order to distinguish between significant change and noise. This approach improves upon standard shoreline change analytical techniques that use regularly spaced shore–normal transects to measure the direction and magnitude of shoreline change without accounting for error. Shoreline position interpreted from historical aerial images for four sites along the Michigan USA coast between 1938 and 2010 were used to demonstrate the feasibility of the ODB approach. An epsilon band was constructed around each shoreline with radius equal to the combined source and interpretation error for each image. These bands were merged and intersected to test whether the observed change was real or an artefact caused by uncertainty in the data sources. The most significant advantage of the ODB approach is its ability to account for uncertainty in shoreline position where ground-reference information does not exist, as is often the case with historical aerial imagery. Results indicate that the overlapping epsilon band method is viable for analysing change in linear features in the absence of a higher-accuracy reference dataset, and that source error contributed more to the positional uncertainty than did interpretation error.
Synthetic Biology and the Gut Microbiome.

The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining human health. Functions performed by gastrointestinal microbes range from regulating metabolism to modulating immune and nervous system development. Scientists have attempted to exploit this importance through the development of engineered probiotics that are capable of producing and delivering small molecule therapeutics within the gut. However, existing synthetic probiotics are simplistic and fail to replicate the complexity and adaptability of native homeostatic mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the ways in which the tools and approaches of synthetic biology have been applied to improve the efficacy of therapeutic probiotics, and the ways in which they might be applied in the future. Simple devices, such as a bistable switches and integrase memory arrays, have been successfully implemented in the mammalian gut, and models for targeted delivery in this environment have also been developed. In the future, it will be necessary to introduce concepts such as logic-gating and biocontainment mechanisms into synthetic probiotics, as well as to expand the collection of relevant biosensors. Ideally, this will bring us closer to a reality in which engineered therapeutic microbes will be able to accurately diagnose and effectively respond to a variety of disease states.
Exploring staring behaviours towards images of physically active individuals with a physical disability

Having a disability is a stigmatized trait that may elicit negative behavioural reactions, such as staring, from able-bodied individuals. These behaviours often cause feelings of ostracization and social discomfort. Portraying individuals with physical disabilities as physically active may improve how able-bodied individuals perceive them. Thus, it is of interest to evaluate whether portraying oneself as physically active is an effective strategy for reducing staring behaviour towards people with physical disabilities. This study aims to characterize able-bodied adults' staring behaviour when viewing images of people with and without physical disabilities. It also aims to evaluate whether portraying a person with a disability as physically active reduces staring. Sixty-three university students (mean age=21.2±2.5;81.5% women) viewed 40 images of people with and without physical disabilities engaging or not engaging in physical activity (10 images/condition). Eye movements were recorded during each trial. A multivariate repeated-measures ANOVA was significant for dwell time, number of fixations, time until first fixation, and number of runs, F(15,48)=37.73, p<.001. Follow-up univariate repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant main effects for image condition for each outcome ps<.001. Participants were quicker to begin staring at images of people with physical disability and examined them for longer than able-bodied images. These findings were more pronounced in the inactive/disability condition than the active/disability condition. The results indicate that there are differences in how able-bodied adults view images of people with and without physical disabilities who are active versus inactive. Staring behaviours may be mitigated by portraying people with a physical disability engaging in physical activity.
Application of surface analysis methods to study alignment mechanism and orientation of liquid crystals

Abstract This review highlights the importance of surface analytical methods in the elucidation of liquid crystal alignment mechanism with the focus on two aspects. In the first part, this review examines current literature related to studies of surface modification of substrates with the goal of creating beneficial interactions with liquid crystals resulting in their alignment. The second part of the paper highlights surface studies of various aspects of surface orientation and properties of aligned liquid crystal layers on various substrates.
Hippo/Mst signalling couples metabolic state and immune function of CD8α + dendritic cells

Dendritic cells orchestrate the crosstalk between innate and adaptive immunity. CD8α+ dendritic cells present antigens to CD8+ T cells and elicit cytotoxic T cell responses to viruses, bacteria and tumours 1 . Although lineage-specific transcriptional regulators of CD8α+ dendritic cell development have been identified 2 , the molecular pathways that selectively orchestrate CD8α+ dendritic cell function remain elusive. Moreover, metabolic reprogramming is important for dendritic cell development and activation3,4, but metabolic dependence and regulation of dendritic cell subsets are largely uncharacterized. Here we use a data-driven systems biology algorithm (NetBID) to identify a role of the Hippo pathway kinases Mst1 and Mst2 (Mst1/2) in selectively programming CD8α+ dendritic cell function and metabolism. Our NetBID analysis reveals a marked enrichment of the activities of Hippo pathway kinases in CD8α+ dendritic cells relative to CD8α− dendritic cells. Dendritic cell-specific deletion of Mst1/2—but not Lats1 and Lats2 (Lats1/2) or Yap and Taz (Yap/Taz), which mediate canonical Hippo signalling—disrupts homeostasis and function of CD8+ T cells and anti-tumour immunity. Mst1/2-deficient CD8α+ dendritic cells are impaired in presentation of extracellular proteins and cognate peptides to prime CD8+ T cells, while CD8α− dendritic cells that lack Mst1/2 have largely normal function. Mechanistically, compared to CD8α− dendritic cells, CD8α+ dendritic cells exhibit much stronger oxidative metabolism and critically depend on Mst1/2 signalling to maintain bioenergetic activities and mitochondrial dynamics for their functional capacities. Further, selective expression of IL-12 by CD8α+ dendritic cells depends on Mst1/2 and the crosstalk with non-canonical NF-κB signalling. Our findings identify Mst1/2 as selective drivers of CD8α+ dendritic cell function by integrating metabolic activity and cytokine signalling, and highlight that the interplay between immune signalling and metabolic reprogramming underlies the unique functions of dendritic cell subsets. A data-driven analysis helps to identify specific roles of the Hippo signalling kinases Mst1 and Mst2 in integrating metabolic activity and cytokine signalling in dendritic cells, and thereby orchestrating immune cell function.
Genetic Mutations in B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Among African American and European American Children

Abstract Background The survival of patients with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is significantly lower in African American (AA) children compared with European American children (EA). Here, we present a whole exome sequencing (WES) study showing race-specific genetic variations that may play a role on the disparate outcomes among AA and EA children with B-ALL. Patients and Methods Five AA and 15 EA patients ranging in age from 1 to 18 years were enrolled. The median blast percentage was 94.8% (range, 64.5%-99.9%). Frozen bone marrow aspirate was used to extract DNA, and WES was performed, focusing on race and B-ALL-specific germline mutations. Results Most genetic variants (n = 339) were shared between AA and EA children. Some genetic aberrations were only uniquely identified in AA (n = 58) and others in EA (n = 52) In AA, the genetic aberrations clustered in canonical pathways related to telomerase signaling and cancer signaling. In EA, the unique genetic aberration clustered in pathways related to stem cell pluripotency and hereditary cancer. Conclusions Our study revealed aberrant genetic aberrations in signaling networks that may contribute to race-specific aspects of leukemogenesis. Our results suggest the value of WES as a tool for development of individual gene signatures and gene scores for AA and EA children afflicted by B-ALL. These findings may ultimately impact disease management and contribute to the elimination of disparate outcomes in AA children with B-ALL.
Motivation in the Service of Allostasis: The Role of anterior Mid Cingulate Cortex.

Abstract In this chapter, we suggest that motivation serves to anticipate the energy of the body and meet those needs before they arise called allostasis. We describe motivation as the output of energy computations that include estimates about future energy/metabolic needs and the value of effort required for potential behaviors (i.e., whether the cost of effort is worthwhile). We bring neuroscience evidence to bear to support this hypothesis. We outline a system of brain networks that have been shown to be important for motivation, focus in on one hub in this network, the anterior mid-cingulate cortex (aMCC), and discuss its importance for establishing motivation in the service of allostasis. We present evidence that the aMCC, positioned at the intersection of multiple brain networks, is wired to integrate signals relating to allostasis with its sensory consequences, termed interoception, as well as with cognitive control processes, sensory, and motor functions. This integration guides the nervous system toward the optimal effort required to achieve a desired goal. Across a variety of task domains, we discuss the role of aMCC in motivation, including (a) processing of the value of prior and expected rewards, (b) assessment of energetic costs in the brain and the body, (c) selectively learning and encoding prediction errors (unexpected changes) that are relevant for allostasis, (d) computations for monitoring of internal states of the body, and (e) modulating the internal state of the body to prepare for action. Finally, we discuss the link between individual differences in aMCC processing and variation in two extreme ends of the range of motivational states, tenacity, and apathy.
Effects of carbon on moisture storage in soils of the Wisconsin Central Sands, USA

Quantifying soil water storage is important for plant growth and agricultural production. This is particularly important in sandy soils because they are widely cultivated and prone to drought. We investigated the effect of soil organic carbon (SOC), soil texture and gravel content on soil moisture characteristics in sandy soils. Soil moisture characteristics were analysed using standard soil physical characterization as well as visible–near infrared (vis–NIR) spectroscopy and pedotransfer functions (PTFs). Volumetric water content (−10, −33, −1500 kPa) and available water capacity (AWC) increased by 0.01 to 0.02 m³m⁻³ with a 2% increase in silt plus clay content. Available water capacity increased by about 0.05 m³m⁻³ with a 1% increase in SOC. A 5% increase in gravel in the subsoil decreased the volumetric water content of the soil by 0.01 m³m⁻³. Predictions of volumetric water contents and AWC by vis–NIR were the best when using a random forest model. Pedotransfer functions for AWC predictions performed best when sand, silt, clay, bulk density and SOC were included. Soil moisture storage ranged from 44 to 65 mm in the top 50 cm. At mean evapotranspiration (4.2 mm day⁻¹), irrigation requirements were reduced by 6 days in the sandy soils that have larger SOC and silt contents in the topsoil. These soils are sandy throughout but have subtle differences in particle‐size distribution, SOC concentrations and gravel content. These differences affect soil moisture storage considerably. Soil management practices that increase the SOC contents in these sandy soils favour moisture storage and tend to reduce irrigation requirements. HIGHLIGHTS: SOC, soil texture and gravel affect soil moisture characteristics in sandy soils. With vis–NIR and PTFs, soil water storage, water characteristics and AWC in soils with >80% sand can be quantified and predicted. Available water capacity increased by about 0.05 m³m⁻³ with a 1% increase in SOC. Subtle differences in particle‐size distribution affect soil moisture storage and reduce irrigation requirements.
Fixing the Poor: Eugenic Sterilization and Child Welfare in the Twentieth Century. By Molly Ladd-Taylor. (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2017. Pp. xiii, 275. $54.95.)

This book addresses Minnesota's history of sterilization through the lens of public welfare. Key issues are the place of sterilization in the child welfare system, the role of institutions in the p...
3D Contact and Strain in Alveolar Bone Under Tooth/Implant Loading

In situ mechanical tester was coupled with micro-CT to investigate the effect of alveolar bone socket geometry and implant anchorage on bone–implant contact interface and the resulting strain distributions in bone. Compressive axial load was applied to occlusal surface of teeth to simulate chewing force. Then, the teeth were extracted and dental implants were placed immediately. The same compressive load was applied to bone–implant complexes. Using image processing and digital volume correlation, the displacement and strain field in the mandible bone were calculated and compared for the bone–tooth structures and bone–implant structures. Under implant loading, high strain concentration was observed in some regions in the mandible bone. In contrast, the strain distribution in bone under tooth loading was relatively uniform. The variations in the strain distribution can be attributed to the differences in the anatomies/geometries, mechanical properties and contact area with bone for implants and teeth. The clinical implications of the results are discussed for the designs of bioinspired dental implants.
An Introduction To The Rules Of Evidence Applicable To Collection Cases In Maryland Trial Courts

This paper was prepared as a handout for a CLE presentation in July of 2002. The paper deals with the following: Why Do We Need Rules of Evidence, Anyway?; Respective Roles of the Judge and the Jury; Relevance Requirement; Authentication: A Subcategory of Relevance; The “Best Evidence Rule”: Rules 5-1001 through 5-1008; Hearsay: General Framework. These questions and concepts are explained in detail, with relevant code and rule references, and with examples where appropriate.
Vein of Marshall ethanol infusion for persistent atrial fibrillation: VENUS and MARS clinical trial design.

Background Although pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is effective in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), its success rates in persistent AF are suboptimal. Ablation strategies to improve outcomes including additional lesions beyond PVI have not consistently shown benefit. Recurrence as perimitral flutter (PMF) is a common form of ablation failure. The vein of Marshall (VOM) contains myocardial connections and abundant sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation implicated in the genesis and maintenance of AF, and is anatomically co-localized with the mitral isthmus, the ablation target of PMF. VOM ethanol infusion is effective in targeting these arrhythmia substrates. Objective To test the safety and efficacy of VOM ethanol infusion when added to PVI in patients undergoing either de novo ablation of persistent AF or after a previous ablation failure. Study design VENUS-AF and MARS-AF are prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled trials. VENUS-AF will enroll patients undergoing their first catheter ablation of persistent AF. MARS-AF will enroll patients undergoing ablation after previous ablation failure(s). Patients (n = 405) will be randomized to PVI alone or in combination with VOM ethanol infusion. The primary endpoints include procedural safety and freedom from AF or atrial tachycardia (AT) of more than 30 seconds on 30-day continuous event monitors at 6 and 12 months after randomization procedure (single-procedure success), off antiarrhythmic drugs. Key secondary endpoints include AF burden, freedom from AF/AT after repeat procedures and quality of life. Conclusions The VENUS-AF and MARS-AF will determine the safety and potential rhythm control benefit of VOM ethanol infusion when added to PVI in patients with persistent AF undergoing de novo or repeat ablation, respectively.
Safety of Early Vitamin D Supplementation in Premature Infants at Risk of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) and Growth Failure (P11-070-19)

Objectives To determine safety and efficacy profiles of enteral vitamin D in extremely preterm infants (< 28 weeks of gestation) exposed to early vitamin D supplementation.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Methamphetamine Abuse Among Veterans With Heart Failure.

Methamphetamine is one of the most commonly abused illicit substances worldwide. Chronic methamphetamine abuse (MA) is associated with the development of a dilated cardiomyopathy. MA in patients with heart failure (MethHF) is increasingly reported yet poorly characterized. This was a retrospective cohort study of veterans treated at the VA Medical Center in San Diego between 2005 and 2015 with a diagnosis of HF and a history of MA. The incidence of MA each year was calculated, and clinical characteristics and outcomes of veterans with HF with and without MA were compared. Among 9,491 veterans with HF, 429 were identified as having a history of MA. Between 2006 and 2015, the incidence of MA in veterans with HF doubled from 3.44% to 6.70%. Of the 429 identified, 106 veterans had a hospitalization for HF and they were compared with veterans with HF without evidence of MA (HF). Compared with veterans with HF, veterans with MethHF were significantly younger (60.7 ± 7.3 vs 71.6 ± 11.6 years, p
Recent Advances in Development of Amine Functionalized Adsorbents for CO₂ Capture

As one of the most promising candidates for adsorptive removal of CO2, amine-based solid adsorbents have been widely investigated by many researchers around the world in the past few years. This class of materials offers great potential for replacing the current energy intensive amine scrubbing technology and address the scalability of adsorption-based capture processes. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in development and evaluation of various types of amine functionalized materials, aiming at providing a comprehensive overview of the current progress and the future directions with respect to both materials development and process application. While there have been recent broad reviews on CO2 capture processes and in particular adsorbent materials for CO2 capture, here we will narrow down our focus on only amine-based materials due to their significant promises in efficiently capture CO2 from various gaseous streams and examine the current state-of-the-art research on these fascinating class of materials.
Radiation-induced molecular hydrogen gas generation in the presence of aluminum alloy 1100

Abstract The United States government currently manages nearly 13 metric tons of aluminum-clad spent nuclear fuel (SNF) without a long-term storage solution, so a fundamental understanding of corrosion processes occurring on aluminum alloy surfaces is of utmost importance to plan for extended (>50 years) interim dry storage of aluminum-clad SNF. While thermal and chemical corrosion processes are well characterized for aluminum, radiation effects are not. To help understand the impacts of radiation on aluminum-clad SNF, the radiation-induced molecular hydrogen gas (H2) generation from pristine and pre-corroded aluminum alloy 1100 (Al-1100) coupons has been studied. Corrosion of coupons was achieved by submerging coupons in water at 95 °C for 29 days, yielding a ~5 μm boehmite/bayerite oxide film. Pre-corroded coupons were exposed to cobalt-60 gamma radiation to absorbed doses of up to 1.0 MGy under a variety of conditions: cover-gas composition (argon, nitrogen, or air), relative humidity (0, 50, and 100%), and temperature (ambient, 100, and 200 °C). Post-irradiation measurements demonstrated that the yield of H2 was directly attributable to the presence of the Al-1100 coupons and their physisorbed water with dependence on absorbed gamma dose, relative humidity, and cover-gas composition. No H2 was quantified in the presence of air, while both nitrogen and argon environments afforded higher H2 yields with increasing relative humidities. This was attributed to the greater availability of adsorbed water for radiolytic processes. Irradiation of pre-corroded Al-1100 coupons at different temperatures under 0% relative humidity argon conditions yielded statistically equivalent H2 yields for ambient temperatures and 100 °C. However, irradiation at 200 °C promoted a 3 to 4-fold increase in the yield of H2, possibly due to the transformation of bayerite to boehmite and/or improved efficiency of H• and H2 release from oxide surfaces.
Distilling Interpretable Models into Human-Readable Code.

The goal of model distillation is to faithfully transfer teacher model knowledge to a model which is faster, more generalizable, more interpretable, or possesses other desirable characteristics. Human-readability is an important and desirable standard for machine-learned model interpretability. Readable models are transparent and can be reviewed, manipulated, and deployed like traditional source code. As a result, such models can be improved outside the context of machine learning and manually edited if desired. Given that directly training such models is difficult, we propose to train interpretable models using conventional methods, and then distill them into concise, human-readable code. The proposed distillation methodology approximates a model's univariate numerical functions with piecewise-linear curves in a localized manner. The resulting curve model representations are accurate, concise, human-readable, and well-regularized by construction. We describe a piecewise-linear curve-fitting algorithm that produces high-quality results efficiently and reliably across a broad range of use cases. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the overall distillation technique and our curve-fitting algorithm using four datasets across the tasks of classification, regression, and ranking.
Is Cooled Radiofrequency Genicular Nerve Block and Ablation a Viable Option for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to determine demographic and psychosocial factors that influence the effectiveness of cooled radiofrequency genicular nerve ablation (C-RFA) and block in patients with chronic knee pain secondary to osteoarthritis (OA). Methods A retrospective review was completed including patients with knee OA who underwent genicular nerve ablation or block or both. Patient information collected included opioid use, psychological comorbidities, smoking history, body mass index, and medical comorbidities. Success was defined using the Osteoarthritis Research Society International criterion of greater than or equal to 50% reported pain relief from the procedure. Patients without a diagnosis of knee OA and patients with ipsilateral total knee arthroplasty were excluded. Patient factors were compared between (1) those that did or did not respond to the initial block and (2) those that did or did not respond to C-RFA. Results Of the 176 subjects that underwent genicular nerve block, 31.8% failed to respond to the procedure. Subjects that failed the initial block were significantly more likely to have psychological comorbidities, smoking history, and diabetes. Of the subjects that proceeded to genicular nerve ablation, 53.7% reported less than 50% pain relief, and 46.3% reported pain relief greater than or equal to 50% at the first follow-up visit. While the presence of psychological comorbidities, smoking, and diabetes were associated with first-stage block failures, these patient factors were not associated with second-stage ablation failures. Conclusions C-RFA may be an effective adjunct therapy as part of a multimodal pain regimen; however, individual patient characteristics must be considered.
High-content, high-throughput imaging of single-cell metabolism by sub-sampled hyperspectral SRS microscopy

Hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering (hSRS) is a label-free microspectroscopic modality that enables live-cell metabolic imaging with chemical specificity. Yet, hSRS in the CH region has low throughput and poor chemical specificity, which limits its application to a broader range of metabolic studies. We propose a high-content, high-throughput hSRS imaging method by a sparsity-driven spectral unmixing and active spectral sub-sampling. We unprecedently generate chemical maps of four major metabolic species (lipid, protein, nucleic acid and carbohydrate) in a Mia PaCa-2 cell using seven spectral frames in the CH region, improving the acquisition speed by over an order of magnitude.
T-cell clonality in peripheral blood as a predictor of progression to systemic treatment in patients with stage IB mycosis fungoides (MF).

e19538Background: A major unmet clinical need in the care of early-stage MF patients is the identification of those with a high risk of failing skin directed therapy or progressing to advanced dise...
The Work of the Neoliberal University: A Critique

The chapter argues that within capitalist systems, universities are corporations and act as such. They are comprised of a creative cadre and a techno-administrative one, the latter having grown so large as to overshadow the more creative one. Students must try to negotiate the university’s labyrinthine systems, structures, policies and practices. The capitalist and entrepreneurial university assiduously develops, promotes and guards its brand. The brand is an iconic representation of the university and the image it wishes to instill in the minds of the student and potential student (positioned as ‘consumers’ in neoliberalist terms), the general public, and governing bodies. Universities are of varied types. Some are public, not-for-profit. Others are for-profit and rapacious, going so far as to essentially defraud students (for whom they ought to have fiduciary responsibilities) and the government. Larger, more ‘prestigious’ universities have incredibly robust foundations built on the largesse of wealthy alumni donors. Many of these hide their monies in off-shore accounts so as to avoid paying taxes, like so many corporations, celebrities, sports stars, tyrannical despots and their families. A clear-eyed and fair critique of the (neoliberal) university ought to allow for its potential and promise. The chapter concludes that higher education still permits for social mobility, and mobility of other sorts. Universities still offer haven for dissidents and intellectual refugees, for those who are different and for those who seek knowledge, wisdom and fulfilment, within or despite the maelstrom of neoliberal ideologies buttressing them.
Current Saturation in Semiconductor and Semimetallic Field Emitters

Field emission from metals was well understood nearly a century ago. Description of its core process given by Fowler and Nordheim was an early success of emerging quantum mechanics. Contrastively, in 1960's and later on it was discovered that nonmetallic (III- V and II -VI semiconductors, diamond, carbon nanotubes, amorphous carbon) field emitters do not obey the very basic Fowler-Nordheim law.
Theories of Uncertainty: Explaining the Possible Sources of Error in Inferences

A central task in legal factfinding is evaluating the warrant for a finding or the soundness of an inference from the evidentiary propositions to a conclusion. This task is especially difficult when there is much at stake, but the evidence is incomplete and the soundness of the inference is uncertain. Analyses of how to improve such inferences have been made at various levels of generality, and for different types of evidence. For example, one general problem is distinguishing “scientific knowledge” from “junk science,” as required for admissibility in judicial proceedings under Federal Rule of Evidence 702, following the Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.1 decision.2 Another general problem is evaluating inferences about unique historical events, the kind of factfinding necessary in criminal cases.3 As opposed to such general problems, some theorists address only particular areas where inferences are difficult in law, such as the “lost chance” cases,4 cases involving “indeterminate plaintiffs,”5 inferences from “naked statistical evidence,”6 or inferences based on DNA identification.7 Such problems of correct inference cannot be solved purely by formal logic, nor can theorists merely duplicate the role of the factfinder by evaluating the specific evidence in a particular case. To be useful as theories of inference, accounts can be neither too general nor too specific. They must provide useful models for handling recurring types of inference in situations where findings must be warranted by incomplete evidence.8
Chapter 5 – Nonlinear Inversion Technique

In this chapter, we will discuss the most general case of geophysical inverse problem, when operator A of the forward problem is nonlinear. This case arises in electromagnetic and seismic methods, and in many other applications. In the framework of general regularization theory, the solution of the inverse problem can be reduced to minimization of the Tikhonov parametric functional. The last problem can be solved by different optimization methods. We will discuss in this chapter the most powerful optimization technique based on the gradient-type methods. They include the steepest descent method, the Newton method, and the conjugate gradient method.
Molecular photoionization processes of astrophysical and aeronomical interest

Ionization processes dominate photon attenuation cross sections over wide spectral ranges and, consequently, are relevant in a significant number of astrophysical connections [1–4]. Although heating and the ionization thought to initiate ion-molecule chemistry in interstellar clouds is largely attributed to cosmic rays [5], uv and x-ray photoionization processes can also contribute in diffuse clouds and in dense clouds in the immediate neighborhoods of uv-luminous O- and B-type stars, planetary nebulae, and supernovae [6–8]. Precursor radiation from recombining gas in shock regions can also ionize molecules under appropriate conditions [9]. Studies of stellar [10] and planetary atmospheres [11], and of cometary comae [12], furthermore, involve a variety of photoionization processes. Refined theoretical and computational models in such astrophysical and aeronomical situations require reliable values of relevant photoionization cross sections [13].
On the Polarization Transforming Power of Radar Targets

This paper discusses the nature of polarization transforming scattering properties and predicts target signatures on the basis of simple symmetry considerazations. It further shows that effective target discrimination can only be obtained by multiple frecmency observations. Experimental data illustrate and confirm these findings.
Nonlinear elastic behavior of graphene: Ab initio calculations to continuum description

The nonlinear in-plane elastic properties of graphene are calculated using density-functional theory. A thermodynamically rigorous continuum description of the elastic response is formulated by expanding the elastic strain energy density in a Taylor series in strain truncated after the fifth-order term. Upon accounting for the symmetries of graphene, a total of fourteen nonzero independent elastic constants are determined by least-squares fit to the ab initio calculations. The nonlinear continuum description is valid for infinitesimal and finite strains under arbitrary in-plane tensile loading in circumstance for which the bending stiffness can be neglected. The continuum formulation is suitable for incorporation into the finite element method.
Diplophrys Marina, A New Scale-Forming Marine Protist with Labyrinthulid Affinities

A new marine protist frequently isolated from marine vascular plants and algae is described. The uninucleate, scale-covered cells have a prominent, refractive lipid body and branched, organelle-free ectoplasmic elements extending from their polar extremities. The protist moves by ectoplasmic elements which do not arise from the membrane-generating sagenogens characteristic of the labyrinthulids. Observations on cellular ultrastructure, motility, and habitat are presented as well as comparisons with labyrinthulids, Sorodiplophrys stercorea, and Diplophrys archeri.
The calculation of partial specific volumes of proteins in guanidine hydrochloride

Abstract A method is presented for calculating the number of guanidine hydrochloride and water molecules bound to proteins in 6 m guanidine hydrochloride solution. By correct combination of these quantities, the preferential interaction parameter of solvent components with proteins can be calculated, and, in turn, accurate values of the apparent partial specific volumes of proteins in 6 m guanidine hydrochloride can be predicted. This method requires only the knowledge of the amino acid composition of the protein. Application of this method to literature data shows that the predicted values of the partial specific volumes of proteins render possible an accurate estimation of their subunit molecular weights from sedimentation equilibrium experiments in 6 m guanidine hydrochloride.
Detection of Nonfat Dried Milk in Whole Milk

Abstract Proteins precipitated from milk by acetic acid at pH 4.7 were reacted with phosphomolybdic acid, and the blue color imparted to them was measured by reflectance speotrophotometry. The computed curves for unknown samples were: Per cent nonfat dried milk (fresh) = 789.2×OD − 129.8; per cent nonfat dried milk (old) − 575.5×OD − 112.5, where OD is optical density (reflectance). The minimum amount of detectable nonfat dried milk was 10%, and the precision of the method was 0.014 OD. Sequential analyses of the fresh-raw, pasteurized, condensed, and dried skimmilk samples revealed significant change in the proteins during drying. Dialysis of milk or washing of the precipitated proteins prior to the reaction with phosphomolybdic acid considerably decreased the blue color imparted to the proteins. Similarly, increased fat in milk progressively decreased the color reaction. Storage of fresh nonfat dried milk at 4 and 22C had no effect on the test up to 8 and 4 weeks.
Multiple-scattering approach to angle-resolved photoemission

A Green's-function formulation of angle-resolved ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy is presented for surfaces with overlayer adsorbed systems. Multiple scatterings of the initial state are included through the use of cluster wave functions solved from a self-consistent $X\ensuremath{\alpha}$ scattered-wave method. The final-state process is expressed in terms of a scattering $T$ matrix which propagates the final-state electron through surface layers of the crystal lattice, in the presence of inelastic damping. It is found that major angular asymmetries in the photoemission intensity profiles arise from multiple scatterings off neighboring ion cores. Our formulation, in the limit of taking a single wave function from a single ion-core, reduces to the photoemission theory of a core level.
An improved fixation technique for fluorescence in situ hybridization for preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

Abstract Objective: To improve existing preimplantation genetic diagnosis fixation techniques. Design: Prospective randomized in vitro study. Setting: Academic medical center. Patient(s): None. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): The intensity and clarity of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) signals and the percentage of successfully fixed blastomeres. Result(s): The described fixation technique resulted in 100% fixation and 100% adequate FISH signals. Two conventional techniques resulted in 94% and 87% fixation, and in adequate FISH signals in 81% and 87%, respectively. Conclusion(s): This newly developed fixation technique simplifies the process of fixation of blastomeres for preimplantation diagnosis while essentially eliminating the possibility of losing a cell during fixation. It will hopefully allow more IVF programs to offer their patients preimplantation genetic diagnosis using the FISH technique.
American Railroad Labor and the Genesis of the New Deal, 1919–1935

There is a tendency to often broadly characterize the 1920s as the “lean years,” a period that witnessed the decline of organized labor and worker rights in the face of renewed political and corpor...
Electrons in Bi-Sb Alloys

Galvanomagnetic and thermoelectric measurements have been performed on doped and undoped ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{85}$${\mathrm{Sb}}_{15\ensuremath{-}}$ alloy single crystals. The thermal gap, obtained from the temperature variation of resistivity on high-purity $n$- and $p$-type samples, is 0.024\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003 eV, a significantly larger value than the previously measured maximum gap (0.014 eV) for this system. Hall data on Te-doped samples indicate that two Te atoms must be added to the crystal to add one additional free electron. Transport properties have been analyzed for Tedoped samples at 20\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, using a multivalley conduction band. The magnitudes of the Seebeck and Hall coefficients indicate that most of the electrons must reside in three (not six) bismuth-like tilted ellipsoids. However, the lack of agreement between experiment and calculations based on the three-ellipsoid model for the ratio ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{33,11}:{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{33,33}$ suggests the possible existence of a small number of electrons in an additional electron ellipsoid along the trigonal axis.
Detection of a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease from synthetic and clinical samples using a nanoscale optical biosensor.

A nanoscale optical biosensor based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectroscopy has been developed to monitor the interaction between the antigen, amyloid-β derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs), and specific anti-ADDL antibodies. Using the sandwich assay format, this nanosensor provides quantitative binding information for both antigen and second antibody detection that permits the determination of ADDL concentration and offers the unique analysis of the aggregation mechanisms of this putative Alzheimer's disease pathogen at physiologically relevant monomer concentrations. Monitoring the LSPR-induced shifts from both ADDLs and a second polyclonal anti-ADDL antibody as a function of ADDL concentration reveals two ADDL epitopes that have binding constants to the specific anti-ADDL antibodies of 7.3 × 1012 M-1 and 9.5 × 108 M-1. The analysis of human brain extract and cerebrospinal fluid samples from control and Alzheimer's disease patients reveals that the LSPR nanosensor provides new informati...