cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The impact of bilingual preschool education on the language development of Spanish-speaking children

Abstract This study addressed the question of what effect bilingual preschool education has on the Spanish and English language development of Spanish speaking children. This question was addressed by measuring the language proficiency of children enrolled in a bilingual preschool program and children who stay at home during the day. Three dimensions of language proficiency were examined: language reception, production, and verbal complexity. Using a repeated measures design, it was found that children enrolled in preschool gained proficiency in English at a faster rate while maintaining a similar level of Spanish proficiency as those children who stay at home during the day. Results of this study are discussed in terms of current issues in the early childhood education of non-English-speaking children.
Diversity declines in Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass) patches

The spread of invasive plant species and their impacts on plant communities have received international attention as global trade and global environmental change enhance the colonization and establishment of introduced species and threaten the integrity of native ecosystems. Because introduced species vary in their impact, studying the relationship between invasion and native communities is necessary to guide allocation of finite management resources. By studying adjacent pairs of invaded and uninvaded plots across an eastern United States forested landscape, we demonstrate Microstegium vimineum was associated with local declines in species richness and cover of native species. Negative impacts of M. vimineum on species richness did not emerge until August when M. vimineum cover and height were greatest, highlighting the value of following study subjects through the growing season. In contrast, native species cover was already lower in invaded plots early in the growing season. M. vimineum invasion was not the only important driver of species richness and community composition within the study region; abiotic environmental gradients, such as soil nitrate concentration and pH, across the six study sites were also important in affecting species richness and cover, but lessened in explanatory power through the growing season. We conclude that M. vimineum has effects on community structure that may have long-term consequences for biodiversity. Studies which track sites through time and consider multiple scales are required as invaders impact multiple biotic and abiotic factors operating at different spatial and temporal scales.
Correcting Mucogingival Deformities at the Time of Extraction for a Future Implant Site: A Case Report

Introduction: Existing soft tissue deformities around a tooth planned for extraction and replacement with a dental implant may jeopardize the esthetic and physiologic outcome of any dental implant treatment. If soft tissue deformities can be prevented, minimized, or corrected at the time of tooth extraction for the future implant site and the adjacent teeth, more predictable outcomes with superior esthetics and health can be accomplished along with fewer surgical visits.Case Presentation: This case report describes a patient who presented with mucogingival deformities around a tooth scheduled for extraction and subsequent implant placement. The adjacent tooth also presented with similar characteristics. Surgical modifications and refinements were used by performing an epithelialized free gingival graft (E-FGG) at the time of tooth extraction to enhance the tissue quality of the future implant site and its neighboring tooth.Conclusion: The identification of inadequate attached gingiva in the area of future...
How the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Develops Research Priorities and Supports Critical Care Research

This report provides a brief overview of some relevant ongoing research on critical care and how research priorities are determined by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Long-term and patient-centered outcomes have become more prominent research questions for clinical studies in patients who are critically ill. Rehabilitation research would be appropriate in this context, and funding is most likely received through investigator-initiated R01 applications. National Institutes of Health program staff are available for discussion and advice and encourage contact from extramural investigators.
Latency-optimized and energy-efficient MAC protocol for underwater acoustic sensor networks: a cross-layer approach

Considering the energy constraint for fixed sensor nodes and the unacceptable long propagation delay, especially for latency sensitive applications of underwater acoustic sensor networks, we propose a MAC protocol that is latency-optimized and energy-efficient scheme and combines the physical layer and the MAC layer to shorten transmission delay. On physical layer, we apply convolution coding and interleaver for transmitted information. Moreover, dynamic code rate is exploited at the receiver side to accelerate data reception rate. On MAC layer, unfixed frame length scheme is applied to reduce transmission delay, and to ensure the data successful transmission rate at the same time. Furthermore, we propose a network topology: an underwater acoustic sensor network with mobile agent. Through fully utilizing the supper capabilities on computation and mobility of autonomous underwater vehicles, the energy consumption for fixed sensor nodes can be extremely reduced, so that the lifetime of networks is extended.
The Creation of a Multi-Human, Multi-Robot Interactive Jam Session

This paper presents an interactive and improvisational jam session, including human players and two robotic musicians. The project was developed in an effort to create novel and inspiring music through human-robot collaboration. The jam session incorporates Shimon, a newly-developed socially-interactive robotic marimba player, and Haile, a perceptual robotic percussionist developed in previous work. The paper gives an overview of the musical perception modules, adaptive improvisation modes and human-robot musical interaction models that were developed for the session. The paper also addresses the musical output that can be created from increased interconnections in an expanded multiple-robot multiplehuman ensemble, and suggests directions for future work.
Some remarks on green's dyadic for infinite space

The validity of the often used dyadic -(\jmath + \frac{1}{k^{2}}\nabla \nabla )\frac{e^{-jkR}{4\piR} to compute the electric field inside a current-carrying region is investigated. It is found that care must be exercised in the definition of the integrals, which should be taken as principal values around the field point.
Light Reflectance Spectroscopy and Autofluorescence (Kidney and Prostate)

Quantitative spectroscopy has been scientifically investigated since the 1800s, but application of spectroscopic techniques in medical diagnosis is relatively recent. Light reflectance and autofluorescence spectroscopy in the kidney and prostate have undergone extensive preclinical evaluation over the past decade. Initial promising findings with regard to differentiation of malignant from benign tissues and in characterization of tissue response to ischemia among others have been reported in select preclinical studies. However, limitations of current spectroscopic equipment, in spectral data processing, and a dearth of in vivo studies of these techniques in appropriate experimental models have resulted in their restricted use to the experimental setting, pending further development and clinical evaluation.
Relationships Between Watershed and Stream Characteristics and Channel Forming Discharge in Snowmelt Dominated Streams

The selection of an appropriate design discharge that best approximates the channel forming discharge is critical to channel design and dictates the success of restoration projects in improving channel stability. Channel forming discharge is defined as the theoretical discharge that if constantly maintained in an alluvial stream over a period of time will produce the same channel geometry that is produced by the long-term hydrograph, and it is often estimated as the bankfull, effective, or recurrence interval discharge. The determination of the channel forming flow often focuses on the physical and erosional characteristics of the stream at a reach scale (analyzing sediment transport characteristics or identifying bankfull indicators). However, with wide variability in streamflow and flood timing across regions, it is critical to examine hydrologic and watershed characteristics and their relationship to channel forming flow. Obtaining a good estimate of the channel forming discharge requires looking beyond the reach scale and gaining an understanding of regional watershed hydrology and runoff characteristics (e.g., rainfall, snowfall, geology, soil type, land use, basin topography). The purpose of this work was to conduct an investigation to determine relationships between channel forming discharge and hydrologic and watershed characteristics for snow-melt dominated streams in Wyoming and Colorado. Significant relationships between bankfull/effective discharge and watershed and hydrologic characteristics were determined. In particular, it was determined that certain characteristics directly related to snowmelt hydrology and runoff (e.g., drainage area above 9000 ft and snow water equivalent) are most significant in estimating a channel forming discharge. The results of this study provide regional characteristics of snowmelt dominant systems that are important when determining a design discharge for stream restoration projects.
High spatial resolution imaging mass spectrometry and classical histology on a single tissue section

The work presented in this report describes and demonstrates a protocol for protein imaging analysis of biological tissue using MALDI IMS where histological staining and MS analysis are performed on the same tissue section. Spatial image resolution is shown at 35 µm for sagittal sections of the cerebellum from rat brain.
Reduction of torque ripple in brushless DC motors

For permanent magnet (PM) brushless DC motors, torque ripple, is an important origin of vibration, acoustic noise and speed fluctuation. In this paper, the output torque profile of a PM motor with one phase energized is decomposed into the commutation torque, the reluctance torque and the armature reaction according to their source origins. It verifies that the output torque profile is qualitatively equivalent to the BEMF profile for low reluctance motors. This paper discusses the effect of magnet pole shaping and magnet arc length on the output torque and torque ripple. A magnet edge shaping is proposed to design a trapezoidal BEMF motor without torque ripple, with minimal sacrifice of the maximum output torque.
A pressure mat for preventing pressure sores

Using a 0.4-mm thick Interlink conductive polymer pressure sensor, the pressure distribution under the buttocks was measured. The measured pressures under the ischial tuberosities were much higher when the subject was seated on a table than when seated on a cushion. A pressure mat incorporating an array of these sensors, to be placed under any bony protuberance, is proposed. When the pressure-time profile of any sensor exceeds safe limits, an alarm would be provided to the patient or caregiver. It is believed that this pressure mat could reduce the incidence of pressure sores in the spinal-cord injured, in the elderly, and in the operating room. >
Delivery of Epitopes by the Salmonella Type III Secretion System for Vaccine Development

Avirulent strains of Salmonella typhimurium are being considered as antigen delivery vectors. During its intracellular stage in the host, S. typhimurium resides within a membrane-bound compartment and is not an efficient inducer of class I-restricted immune responses. Viral epitopes were successfully delivered to the host-cell cytosol by using the type III protein secretion system of S. typhimurium. This resulted in class I-restricted immune responses that protected vaccinated animals against lethal infection. This approach may allow the efficient use of S. typhimurium as an antigen delivery system to control infections by pathogens that require this type of immune response for protection.
Change in child behaviour concerns associated with childcare quality features among a sample of low-income Latino children

ABSTRACTThis study explored the relation between childcare quality (staff–child ratio and staff–child interactions) and behavioural development between the beginning and the end of the childcare year among a sample of 44 low-income Latino four-year-olds in 14 childcare programmes. Neither staff–child ratio nor staff–child interactions were related to children's behaviour at the beginning of the childcare year. Further, staff–child ratio was not significantly related to changes between the beginning and the end of the childcare year in children's behaviour skills. However, staff–child interactions characterised as warm and involving direct instruction related to the development of positive social skills (e.g. taking turns, solving peer conflicts) were significantly associated with decreases in children's behaviour concerns from the beginning to the end of the childcare year. Staff–child interactions characterised negatively (e.g. overly controlling, strict scheduling) were also associated with decreases in...
Bis(dimethylphosphorylmethyl)durene

The structure of the title compound [systematic name: tetra­methyl (2,3,5,6-tetra­methyl-p-phenyl­enedimethyl­ene)bis­phospho­nate], C16H28O6P2, was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at 100 K. The conformer present in the crystal structure lies on an inversion center.
Tests of diffusion-free scaling behaviors in numerical dynamo datasets

Abstract Many dynamo studies extrapolate numerical model results to planetary conditions by empirically constructing scaling laws. The seminal work of Christensen and Aubert (2006) proposed a set of scaling laws that have been used throughout the geoscience community. These scalings make use of specially-constructed parameters that are independent of fluid diffusivities, anticipating that large-scale turbulent processes will dominate the physics in planetary dynamo settings. With these ‘diffusion-free’ parameterizations, the results of current numerical dynamo models extrapolate directly to fully-turbulent planetary core systems; the effects of realistic fluid properties merit no further investigation. In this study, we test the validity of diffusion-free heat transfer scaling arguments and their applicability to planetary conditions. We do so by constructing synthetic heat transfer datasets and examining their scaling properties alongside those proposed by Christensen and Aubert (2006) . We find that the diffusion-free parameters compress and stretch the heat transfer data, eliminating information and creating an artificial alignment of the data. Most significantly, diffusion-free heat transfer scalings are found to be unrelated to bulk turbulence and are instead controlled by the onset of non-magnetic rotating convection, itself determined by the viscous diffusivity of the working fluid. Ultimately, our results, in conjunction with those of Stelzer and Jackson (2013) and King and Buffett (2013) , show that diffusion-free scalings are not validated by current-day numerical dynamo datasets and cannot yet be extrapolated to planetary conditions.
Acceptance and Utilization of Diapausing Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Pupae by Ichneumon promissorius (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

This study was conducted to assess a possible overwintering strategy of Ichneumon promissorius (Erichson), an imported pupal parasitoid of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). This parasitoid's host diapauses in the soil as the method of overwintering. Diapausing hosts were accepted and used by I. promissorius . Development time of immature I. promissorius was related directly to the time held at 15°C and was not related to the diapause status of the host. H. zea diapause did not induce diapause in I. promissorius . This study suggests that if diapausing hosts are encountered in the field, they may be successfully used by active mated I. promissorius females.
Genetic variation of fasting glucose and changes in glycemia in response to 2-year weight-loss diet intervention: the POUNDS LOST trial.

Genetic variation of fasting glucose and changes in glycemia in response to 2-year weight-loss diet intervention: the POUNDS LOST trial
Analysis of the free vibration of an orthotropic shell

The symbolic manipulator Mathematica is used to analyze the nonlinearity associated with the free vibration of a simply-supported orthotropic shell. This expands upon earlier analyses conducted by Rivieccio and Nayfeh (1995) on the nonlinear free vibration of an orthotropic shell. The nonlinear equation of motion is derived using the time-averaged Lagrangian analysis technique. The effects of various initial amplitudes on the nonlinear natural frequencies are evaluated. The effects of the different shell geometries on the nonlinearity are investigated. The nonlinearity is found to decrease with increasing radius of curvature, opening angle, and length. *Member Copyright © 1997 by Jamal F. Nayfeh and Nicholas J. Rivieccio. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. with permission. INTRODUCTION The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the nonlinearity associated with the free vibration of an orthotropic shell is presented. This utilizes the time-averaged Lagrangian analysis technique developed by Nayfeh, Nayfeh, and Mook (1992). The analysis is conducted using the symbolic manipulator Mathematica (1993). The kinetic energy and potential energy expressions are derived using the shell model presented by Soedel (1993). The model accounts for geometric nonlinearities of the von Karman type. Shear deformations and rotary inertia are neglected. The shell geometry is shown in Figure 1.
“Our Share of the Booty”: The Democratic Party Cannonism, and the Payne-Aldrich Tariff

T HE importance of the Payne-Aldrich Tariff in the history of the Taft administration and the Republican party has long been recognized.' Wounds inflicted in the debate in the House and Senate during the torrid, cruel summer of 1909 never healed over the next four years, and President William Howard Taft failed ultimately to regain the initiative thereby lost. Ominously portentous for the G.O.P., these days of anger and recrimination also constituted a less well-known but significant event in the history of the Democratic party. During the Roosevelt administration, the congressional Democratic party had virtually dropped out of sight. Long years of permanent minority status, when the Republicans never lacked a majority of less than thirty-tothirty-five in the House of Representatives and fifteen-to-twenty in the Senate, gradually educed a debilitating habit of defeat. In both houses, the party often shrank to the bedrock elements of the South and the urban East, which meant that southern agrarians and city machine congressmen occupied the most important committee assignments and caucus positions. While each of these groups was not without able representatives, a decidedly parochial and narrowly sectional outlook inevitably developed. By 1909, that compelling sense of destiny which so infused the campaign days
HARD AND SOFT SELECTION REVISITED.

In June 1967 (see Wallace, 1968) at a symposium sponsored by Syracuse University and the New York State Science and Technology Foundation, I first used the terms "hard" and "soft" selection. Since then these terms have enjoyed a modest popularity. Not always, however, have they been used in the sense I originally intended. Such misuse is not unexpected because the terms, although illustrated by examples, were not defined. Admittedly, my own interpretation of these terms has changed during the intervening years. It seems appropriate, therefore, to review the reasons for which the terms hard and soft were first used, to identify instances in which they have been obviously misapplied or misunderstood, and, using the original examples, to develop definitions for them. Finally, I want to examine Clarke's (1973a, b) alpha-selection to see whether, as he suggests, it corresponds to my soft selection.
The anxiety and depression of male homosexual with HIV / AIDS in Nanchang City: current situation and related factors

Objective To explore the anxiety and depression status and influencing factors of male homosexuality with HIV / AIDS. Methods The male homosexuality with HIV / AIDS who received the CD4 cell count testing in Nanchang Disease Prevention and Control Center were selected and surveyed with the self-rating anxiety scale( SAS),the self-rating depression scale( SDS) and a self-made general questionnaire by convenient cluster sampling method during Mar. 2013-Dec. 2013. Results The anxiety detection rate was 32. 31%,SAS mean score was( 45. 31 ± 11. 78); the depression detection rate was 63. 07%,SDS score was( 57. 58 ± 12. 92). Multiple Logistic regression showed that harmonious family and social relationships and CD4 cell counts 200 were protective factors for anxiety,whereas low degree of culture was a risk factor for anxiety; the sociable relationships and CD4 cell counts 200 μl were protective factors for depression,short duration of infection was a risk factor for depression. Conclusions The anxiety and depression state of male homosexuality with HIV / AIDS patients were serious and common,which was affected by multiple factors.
Long-distance IMEG Monitoring of Acute Rejection after Heart Transplantation

Objective: IMEG has been certified reliable in monitoring acute rejection in our prevenient study. But the most distinguished advantage of IMEG, continuous monitoring, can't be maintained after patients were dismissed from hospital. This study is to evaluate the reliability of long-distance IMEG monitoring during episodes of acute rejection after heart transplantation. Methods: From April 2004 to Octobor 2005, 3 cases homogeneous orthotopic heart transplant were performed in two heart centers in our city. Acute rejection after transplantation was monitored by thoracic radiograph, body surface electrocardiogram, echocardiography, myocardial enzymogram, as well as IMEG using long-distance heart monitoring system. Results: Long-distance IMEG monitoring was completed successfully. Supported by GPRS mobile network, all IMEG information was transmitted forthwith to monitoring center in our hospital by iHolter3000, a cardiac electrophysiological monitor like traditional Holter. The voltage amplitude of IMEG QRS complex decreased 22% on the 8th day after heart transplantation in one recipient, 23% on the 9th day and 15% on the 37th day in another, which were highly indicative of acute rejection that were verified by combinative diagnosis of thoracic radiograph, body surface electrocardiogram, echocardiography and myocardial enzymogram. Conclusions: Long-distance IMEG monitoring is a continuous, real-time, sensitive, reliable and noninvasive procedure monitoring acute rejection after heart transplantation, which increases life quality and long-time survival of heart transplant patients for its early diagnosis of mild rejection without necessitating hospital admission.
Surgical options for brain tumor treatment.

Surgical intervention commonly is accepted as the first step in the diagnosis and treatment of the brain tumor patient. Technologic advances in the past 50 years have made the diagnosis, biopsy, and removal of tumors a safe primary therapy preceding radiation therapy, brachytherapy, and chemotherapy. The medical literature provides no simple conclusion regarding the amount of tumor that should be removed for the best surgical results in terms of the patient’s long-term survival with minimal deficit.
Examining the biology of tuberculosis.

The task of critically reviewing current advances in a scientifically burgeoning topic such as tuberculosis is daunting. From 2965 published articles on tuberculosis in 1997 cited in MEDLINE, 180 were selected, and approximately one third of those are included in this review. This paper highlights how molecular biology has greatly advanced our understanding of the epidemiology and transmission of tuberculosis worldwide. In addition, recent data on the dynamics of transmission between close contacts are provided that may challenge conventional views. A global view of drug-resistant tuberculosis is presented, and new data on the prevalence of tuberculosis in diabetics, bone marrow transplant recipients, patients with renal disease, and HIV-infected persons are highlighted. Recent studies on the genetic susceptibility of tuberculosis are outlined, and we review immunotherapy and the impact of tuberculosis on the natural course of HIV infection. Chemoprevention, duration of therapy, and bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination in the setting of HIV are discussed. The value and limitation of nucleic acid amplification tests in rapid diagnosis is addressed, and old diagnostic tests are revisited with new data. Novel mycobacterial culture systems are discussed and screening-for-infection approaches are revisited, including tuberculin skin testing in bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccinees. Therapeutic issues addressing antituberculous drug absorption in HIV-infected patients, the role of pharmacokinetics in predicting clinical outcomes, and important drug-drug interactions are discussed.
The Sensitivity of Demographic Characteristics to the Strength of the Population Stabilizing Mechanism in a Model Hunter-Gatherer System

In agent-based models of human systems where death and birth are represented, changes in population size are the result of the combined effects of mortality and fertility. If stability of population size is desired, these effects must be balanced. This paper investigates how the strength of a mortality-based feedback mechanism for constraining population size affects other demographic outcomes in a nonspatial agent-based model. The strength of the feedback mechanism is adjusted via a single parameter that controls the severity of the mortality penalty imposed when the population size exceeds a set threshold. Holding the values of all other parameters constant, I perform a set of experiments that sweeps through a wide range of values for the parameter and observe the effects on demographic outcomes such as mean household size, mean male age at marriage, mean percentage and intensity of polygynous marriage, mean total fertility, and mean inter-birth interval. Results suggest that the strength of the mortality-based feedback mechanism is positively associated with the range of variability in these outcomes, with the smaller population sizes produced by more severe constraints exhibiting a greater degree of variability in behaviors related to marriage, reproduction, and household size. The range of demographic outcomes remains within that documented in ethnographic cases.
Family language barriers and special-needs children

* Abbreviations: CSHCN — : children with special health care needs ED — : emergency department LEP — : limited English proficiency NEPL — : non-English primary language RCT — : randomized controlled trial Approximately 63 million Americans speak a language other than English at home, and more than 26 million have limited English proficiency (LEP, defined as a self-reported ability to speak English less than very well).1,2 Approximately 12 million school-age children (22%) speak a language other than English at home, a number that has tripled since 1979.2 In the city of Houston, at least 145 languages are spoken at home.3 The marked growth in non–English primary language (NEPL) and LEP families is attributable to the rapid increase in America of the foreign-born population, which grew from 9.6 million in 1970 to 41.3 million in 2013.1,2 Numerous studies document that language barriers affect multiple aspects of health care, including access, health status, use of services, patient-physician communication, satisfaction with care, participation in clinical research, quality, and patient safety.1,2,4–7 The number of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) also has increased substantially. Approximately 16% of children in the United States (18 million) are CSHCN, and the number of CSHCN quadrupled between 1962 and 2005.8 CSHCN comprise almost two-thirds of pediatric hospitalizations, have longer mean hospital lengths of stay, and account for 90% of medical deaths among US children.8 These 2 demographic surges are colliding in America, as 13% of CSHCN reside in NEPL homes. Both populations are at high risk for adverse outcomes and compromised quality … Address correspondence to Ricardo A. Mosquera, MD, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6410 Fannin, Ste 510, Houston, TX. E-mail: ricardo.a.mosquera{at}uth.tmc.edu
Surface Ligand-Mediated Plasmon-Driven Photochemical Reactions.

Contrary to the general expectation that surface ligands reduce the reactivity of surfaces by blocking the active sites, we present experimental evidence that surface ligands can in fact increase reactivity and induce important reaction pathways in plasmon-driven surface photochemistry. The remarkable effect of surface ligands is demonstrated by comparing the photochemistry of p-aminothiophenol (PATP) on resonant plasmonic gold nanorods (AuNRs) in the presence of citrate, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and no surface ligands under visible light irradiation. The use of AuNRs with citrate and no surface ligand results in the usual azo-coupling reaction. In contrast, CTAB-coated AuNRs oxidize PATP primarily to p-nitrothiophenol (PNTP). Strong correlation has been observed between the N–O and Au–Br vibration band intensities, suggesting that CTAB influences the reaction pathway through the Br– counterions that can minimize the electron–hole recombination rate by reacting with the hole and hence in...
Two Case Studies by a Researcher Living Between Worlds

Walsh describes the context of and relationship to each of the case studies in greater detail. She situates each case study in its historical, sociocultural context and describes the mission, philosophical influences, programs, and infrastructure of each trauma response ministry. The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute was founded by a survivor family when their 15-year-old son was murdered in Boston in the 1990s. The Peace Institute follows both a public health model of violence prevention and an anti-oppression model of empowerment. The Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry was founded in the aftermath of 9/11 and draws from Critical Incident Stress Management trainings among others. The second case study focuses on their work with a politically and religiously targeted 2008 church shooting in Knoxville, TN.
Medical Comorbidities Impact the Episode-of-Care Reimbursements of Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Total hip arthroplasty (THA) costs are a source of great interest in the currently evolving health care market. The initiation of a bundled payment system has led to further research into costs drivers of this commonly performed procedure. One aspect that has not been well studied is the effect of comorbidities on the reimbursements of THA. The purpose of this study was to determine if common medical comorbidities affect these reimbursements. Methods A retrospective, level of evidence III study was performed using the PearlDiver supercomputer to identify patients who underwent primary THA between 2007 and 2015. Patients were stratified by medical comorbidities and compared using the analysis of variance for reimbursements of the day of surgery, and over the 90-day postoperative period. Results A cohort of 250,343 patients was identified. Greatest reimbursements on the day of surgery were found among patients with a history of cirrhosis, morbid obesity, obesity, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hepatitis C. Patients with cirrhosis, hepatitis C, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atrial fibrillation, and CKD incurred in the greatest reimbursements over the 90-day period after surgery. Conclusion Medical comorbidities significantly impact reimbursements, and inferentially costs, after THA. The most costly comorbidities at 90 days include cirrhosis, hepatitis C, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atrial fibrillation, and CKD.
21.4 A reduced-order sliding-mode controller with an auxiliary PLL frequency discriminator for ultrasonic electric scalpels

Piezoelectric transducer (PT) is an emerging energy-based technology for electrosurgery. With proper driving signals, the PT is utilized as an electric scalpel as shown in Fig. 21.4.1. It converts an electric signal into physical displacements for various electrosurgical functions, such as ultrasonic vessel sealing and dissecting [1]. The major challenge is to precisely regulate and quickly build a mechanical power up when changing between various surgical functions. The pulse-width modulation (PWM) mainly bases its design on a small signal model, thus, does not often fit for the large signal transient satisfactorily. This problem becomes even worse when changing load impedance due to the pressure upon the surgical tip. The sliding mode control (SMC) has reliable and fast performance for nonlinear large signal applications [2]. However, the SMC cannot be simply applied since the electric scalpel is significantly different from generic DC-DC converters.
On the Notion of the African History of Philosophy

Currently, most likely, the student of the African history of philosophy will be presented with a European history of philosophy, making it appear as if the history of philosophy is synonymous with the history of European philosophy. This is in the mode of African history as presented by a distinguished Oxford historian, who said: Undergraduates, seduced, as always, by the change of breath of journalist fashion demand that they should be taught the history of Black Africa, Perhaps, in the future there will be some African history to each. But at present there is none, or very little: there is only the history of the Europeans in Africa. The rest is largely darkness, like the history of pre-European, pre-Columbian America. And darkness is not a subject for history.37 The black Africa he has in mind is not African Africa, and the African history he has in mind is not African African history. Both are products of European imagination. The darkness he sees in Africa is European darkness. It has nothing to do with African darkness other than that it is a darkness that he and fellow Europeans have imposed on Africans. In European eyes, it would follow that there is no African history of philosophy if only because Africa is without philosophy. Europeans should not assume that their eyes are African eyes or that Africans need their help to see. What they need is a philosophical eye doctor, and if it happens that the doctor they turn to is European, he or she is not likely to offer a proper diagnosis. They could benefit from an African philosophical doctor trained in African African philosophy.
Motor Cortical Visuomotor Feedback Activity Is Initially Isolated from Downstream Targets in Output-Null Neural State Space Dimensions.

Summary Neural circuits must transform new inputs into outputs without prematurely affecting downstream circuits while still maintaining other ongoing communication with these targets. We investigated how this isolation is achieved in the motor cortex when macaques received visual feedback signaling a movement perturbation. To overcome limitations in estimating the mapping from cortex to arm movements, we also conducted brain-machine interface (BMI) experiments where we could definitively identify neural firing patterns as output-null or output-potent. This revealed that perturbation-evoked responses were initially restricted to output-null patterns that cancelled out at the neural population code readout and only later entered output-potent neural dimensions. This mechanism was facilitated by the circuit's large null space and its ability to strongly modulate output-potent dimensions when generating corrective movements. These results show that the nervous system can temporarily isolate portions of a circuit's activity from its downstream targets by restricting this activity to the circuit's output-null neural dimensions.
Invasive plants decrease microbial capacity to nitrify and denitrify compared to native California grassland communities

Exotic plant invasions are a major driver of global environmental change that can significantly alter the availability of limiting nutrients such as nitrogen (N). Beginning with European colonization of California, native grasslands were replaced almost entirely by annual exotic grasses, many of which are now so ubiquitous that they are considered part of the regional flora (“naturalized”). A new wave of invasive plants, such as Aegilops triuncialis (Barb goatgrass) and Elymus caput-medusae (Medusahead), continue to spread throughout the state today. To determine whether these new-wave invasive plants alter soil N dynamics, we measured inorganic N pools, nitrification and denitrification potentials, and possible mediating factors such as microbial biomass and soil pH in experimental grasslands comprised of A. triuncialis and E. caput-medusae. We compared these measurements with those from experimental grasslands containing: (1) native annuals and perennials and (2) naturalized exotic annuals. We found that A. triuncialis and E. caput-medusae significantly reduced ion-exchange resin estimates of nitrate (NO3 −) availability as well as nitrification and denitrification potentials compared to native communities. Active microbial biomass was also lower in invaded soils. In contrast, potential measurements of nitrification and denitrification were similar between invaded and naturalized communities. These results suggest that invasion by A. triuncialis and E. caput-medusae may significantly alter the capacity for soil microbial communities to nitrify or denitrify, and by extension alter soil N availability and rates of N transformations during invasion of remnant native-dominated sites.
Lymphoproliferative Disorders, Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Myeloproliferative Disorders

This chapter provides an overview of lymphoproliferative disorders, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative disorders. Lymphoproliferative disorders are a heterogeneous group of diseases that range from reactive polyclonal hyperplasia to true monoclonal diseases. They manifest with uncontrolled hyperplasia of lymphoid tissues. The diseases that occur due to lymphoproliferative disorders are discussed. Some of the major diseases are angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia, epstein–barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disorders in immunocompromised individuals, and X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome. Myelodysplastic syndrome is acquired from clonal disorders of the pluripotent or multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cell. It is characterized by absolute or functional cytopenias with usually a hypercellular or normocellular bone marrow containing greater than 1 and less than 20% blasts. Investigation for the diagnosis and pertinent differential diagnosis of myelodysplasia can be done by blood, bone marrow, and other methods. Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a clonal myeloproliferative disorder of the primitive hematopoietic stem cell. It is characterized by the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome. This abnormal chromosome results from reciprocal translocation involving the long arms of chromosome.
Accessing and operating agricultural machinery: Advancements in assistive technology for users with impaired mobility

This research focused on the advancements made in enabling agricultural workers with impaired mobility to access and operate off-road agricultural machinery. Although not a new concept, technologic...
Driving Decisions: Distinguishing Evaluations, Providers and Outcomes

Driving is a highly valued instrumental activity of daily living on which many older adults depend for access to their community. The demand to address driving is changing as older adults experience increasing longevity while facing medical conditions that often affect their fitness to drive. As one of the most complex of daily tasks, driving is a multifaceted issue that involves the older driver, family members, state licensing and health care practitioners. This commentary discusses potential options and strategies for making evidence-based fitness to drive decisions by differentiating between driving skills and driving capacities, and how these differences are manifested on the road. Typical service options are described using an algorithm format that suggests decision points with options and referrals for service based on the individual’s experiences and/or needs.
A colony assay for in vitro transformation by human T cell leukemia viruses type I and type II

We report here the development of a rapid and quantitative method for measuring in vitro T cell transformation by human T cell leukemia viruses type I (HTLV-I) and type II (HTLV-II). This method is based on our finding that cocultivation of lethally irradiated HTLV-producing cells with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) preactivated for 24 hours with phytohemagglutinin and interleukin-2 (IL-2) induces colony formation in methylcellulose-containing medium. Colonies of about 200 cells can be clearly distinguished from background aggregates within four to six days after cocultivation. These colonies gradually increase in size and reach 300 to 1,000 cells within 14 days after cocultivation. Cells of these colonies were infected, as evidenced by expression of viral p19 antigen and the presence of HTLV proviral sequences. These cells proved to be transformed in terms of IL-2-independent continuous growth in liquid medium. Colony formation was found to depend in a linear fashion upon the percentage of the infected cells present in the irradiated cell population and is sufficiently sensitive to detect as few as 1% of virus-producing cells.
Experimental Validation of Operator Aids for High Speed Vehicle Teleoperation

Although fully autonomous robots continue to advance in ability, all points on the spectrum of cooperative interfaces between man and machine continue to have their place. We have developed a suite of operator assist technologies for a small (1 cubic meter volume) high speed robot that is intended to improve both speed and fidelity of control. These aids include fast stability control loops that run on the robot and graphical user interface enhancements that help the operator cope with lost peripheral vision, unstable video, and latency. After implementing the driving aids, we conducted an experiment where we evaluated the relative value of each from the perspective of their capacity to improve driving performance. Over a one week period, we tested 10 drivers in each of four driving configurations for three repetitions of a difficult test course. The results demonstrate that operators of all skill levels can benefit from the aids and that stabilized video and predictive displays are among the most valuable of the features we added.
Comparison of prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason 5 and intraductal carcinoma of the prostate with tumor necrosis. A morphometric study.

Abstract Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate(IDCP) is defined as a solid or cribriform neoplastic growth confined to ducts and acini, with preservation of the basal cell layer. Since IDCP can often present tumor necrosis (TN), it should be distinguished from Gleason 5 (GP5) invasive adenocarcinoma for staging and clinical purposes. In the present study we reviewed 344 radical prostatectomies performed at our institution and selected all cases with either >5% GP5 or IDCP for assessment of TN on histology slides (n = 59). A total of 19 cases with TN were identified, and morphology, size, location, and histoarchitecture of the lesions with TN were recorded. Subsequently, the corresponding sections were stained with a basal cell immunomarker (P63), and lesions with TN were assigned to IDCP or invasive carcinoma GP5 for comparison. Our results show that a branched shape and size 501–1000 μm are more common in IDCP, while a size >1000 μm and location within 1 mm of the periprostatic soft tissue are significantly more prevalent in invasive adenocarcinoma GP5. These features, however, usually cannot be assessed in core biopsies. In this setting, the utilization of immunohistochemistry is warranted to differentiate IDCP and GP5 with necrosis.
56 Role of ZFHX3 in atrial fibrillation

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinical arrhythmia, although the pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Population-based genetic studies have identified a susceptibility locus for AF at the gene ZFHX3. Hypothesis We hypothesized that a cardiac-restricted knockout of the transcription factor ZFHX3 in a mammalian model organism would perturb normal cardiac development and function, and illuminate the role of ZFHX3 in AF. Methods and results We generated a murine cardiac-restricted knockdown of ZFHX3 using cre-lox recombination. Knockdown was confirmed by organ specific genotyping. Among knockdown mice, increased inducibility of atrial arrhythmias was observed at in vivo electrophysiology testing at 3 months of age (% arrhythmia induction maneuvers 10 vs 0, p Conclusion We have uncovered a role for ZFHX3 in the left-right patterning of cardiac atria. Disruption of this developmental process predisposes to atrial cardiomyopathy, affects atrial electrophysiology properties, changes which may increase the susceptibility to AF.
Remission and Progression-Free Survival in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Treated With Carfilzomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone: Five-Year Follow-up of a Phase 2 Clinical Trial.

This 5-year follow-up of a phase 2 clinical trial assesses long-term durability of minimal residual disease–negative remission and time to disease progression among patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who received triplet-based induction therapy with lenalidomide maintenance therapy.