cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mode-locked eXtreme Chirped Pulse Oscillator (XCPO) Operation in the eXtreme Chirped Pulse Regime

We demonstrate an XCPO with 10 ns stretched pulse duration. Because the pulse duration is longer than the carrier life time of SOA, the pulse energy is linearly proportional to the stretch ratio.
Comparison of perioperative outcomes following open versus minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in obese patients

Object Minimally invasive (MI) transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) has proven to be effective in the treatment of spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease (DDD). Compared with the traditional open TLIF, the MI procedure has been associated with less blood loss, less postoperative pain, and a shorter hospital stay. However, it is uncertain whether the advantages of an MI TLIF also apply specifically to obese patients. This study was dedicated to evaluating whether obese patients reap the perioperative benefits similar to those seen in patients with normal body mass index (BMI) when undergoing MI TLIF. Methods Obese patients—that is, those with a BMI of at least 30 kg/m2—who had undergone single-level TLIF were retrospectively identified and categorized according to BMI: Class I obesity, BMI 30.0–34.9 kg/m2; Class II obesity, BMI 35.0–39.9 kg/m2; or Class III obesity, BMI ≥ 40.0 kg/m2. In each obesity class, patients were stratified by TLIF approach, that is, open versus MI. Perioperative o...
Daily Quantity of Infant Leg Movement: Wearable Sensor Algorithm and Relationship to Walking Onset.

Background: Normative values are lacking for daily quantity of infant leg movements. This is critical for understanding the relationship between the quantity of leg movements and onset of independent walking, and will begin to inform early therapy intervention for infants at risk for developmental delay. Methods: We used wearable inertial movement sensors to record full-day leg movement activity from 12 infants with typical development, ages 1–12 months. Each infant was tested three times across 5 months, and followed until the onset of independent walking. We developed and validated an algorithm to identify infant-produced leg movements. Results: Infants moved their legs tens of thousands of times per day. There was a significant effect of leg movement quantity on walking onset. Infants who moved their legs more walked later than infants who moved their legs less, even when adjusting for age, developmental level or percentile length. We will need a much larger sample to adequately capture and describe the effect of movement experience on developmental rate. Our algorithm defines a leg movement in a specific way (each pause or change in direction is counted as a new movement), and further assessment of movement characteristics are necessary before we can fully understand and interpret our finding that infants who moved their legs more walked later than infants who moved their legs less. Conclusions: We have shown that typically-developing infants produce thousands of leg movements in a typical day, and that this can be accurately captured in the home environment using wearable sensors. In our small sample we can identify there is an effect of leg movement quantity on walking onset, however we cannot fully explain it.
Epigenetic Mechanisms of Metabolic Memory in Diabetes

Diabetes affects 28.5 million people in the US.1 In addition, several million people with diabetes are estimated to be undiagnosed, thus increasing the risk for developing long-term complications, including macrovascular diseases and end-stage renal disease in a fairly significant fraction of the population. Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that mainly afflicts children, is characterized by the loss of insulin-producing beta cells. Until now, our understanding of this insidious disease relied on classic genetic approaches including genome wide association studies and single nucleotide polymorphisms. Although 40 immune response related genes have been implicated in type 1 diabetes, we are far from understanding how these genes render susceptibility to this complex disorder.2 Type 2 diabetes is common among people >45 years of age and characterized by the lack of serum autoantibodies, progressive insulin resistance, and beta cell insufficiency. Despite the differences in the etiology, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are associated with microvascular complications such as diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy, as well as macrovascular cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and stroke. Tight glycemic control for 3 to 5 years may prevent cardiovascular disease but not all diabetes-related endpoints, referred to as the hyperglycemic memory3 or the legacy effect.4 Although it is unclear how the external cues such as hyperglycemia is perceived as a signal for gene transcription, several intracellular events including generation of oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products, and engagement of the mitogen activated protein kinase pathway have been implicated in metabolic memory (Figure). Recent data indicated a role for epigenetic mechanisms in a preclinical model of type 1 diabetes.5 Although gene-environment interactions have been implicated in the manifestation of type 2 diabetes, compelling evidence for the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the initiation and transmission of the metabolic syndrome to …
Adaptive wavelet decompositions of stationary time series

A general and flexible framework for the wavelet-based decompositions of stationary time series in discrete time, called adaptive wavelet decompositions (AWDs), is introduced. It is shown that several particular AWDs can be constructed with the aim of providing decomposition (approximation and detail) coefficients that exhibit certain nice statistical properties, where the latter can be chosen based on a range of theoretical or applied considerations. AWDs make use of a Fast Wavelet Transform-like algorithm whose filters - in contrast with their counterparts in Orthogonal Wavelet Decompositions (OWDs) – may depend on the scale. As with OWDs, this algorithm has good properties such as computational efficiency and invariance to polynomial trends. A property whose pursuit plays a central role in this work is the decorrelation of the detail coefficients. For many time series models (e.g., FARIMA(0,δ,0)), the AWD filters can be defined so that the resulting AWD detail coefficients are all (exactly) decorrelated. The corresponding AWDs, called Exact AWDs (EAWDs), are particularly useful in simulation of Gaussian stationary time series, if the associated filters have a fast decay. The proposed simulation methods generalize and improve upon existing wavelet-based ones. AWDs for which the detail coefficients are not exactly decorrelated, but still more decorrelated than those of OWDs, are referred to as approximate AWDs (AAWDs). They can be obtained by truncating EAWD filters, or by adopting some of the existing approaches to modeling the dependence structure of the OWD detail coefficients (e.g., Craigmile et al., 2005). AAWDs naturally lead to new wavelet-based Maximum Likelihood estimators. The performance of these estimators is investigated through simulations and from some theoretical standpoints. The focus in estimation is also on Gaussian stationary series, though the method is expected to work for non-Gaussian stationary series as well.
An empirical assessment of ICT diffusion in Africa and OECD

In the present study we examine those factors that affect the diffusion of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Africa and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) over a period of over 21 years. A dynamic comparison highlights the major differences in ICT diffusion between developing and developed nations. A large set of data from the World Bank was used; a pooled regression analysis shows that economic development, education/training, and infrastructures play a significant role in ICT diffusion. It was further observed that the effects of some factors could be similar whereas effects for some other factors could be different for developed and developing nations. The results further indicated that mobile phone and mainline telephone diffusions are substitutive in OECD nations but complementary in African nations.
On exact forms of Taylor’s theorem for vector-valued functions

Exact forms of Taylor expansion for vector-valued functions have been incorrectly used in many statistical publications. We offer two methods to correct this error.
Incremental cost-effectiveness of incorporating oestriol evaluation in down syndrome screening programmes

As screening for Down syndrome becomes increasingly sophisticated, it is important to evaluate the newer technologies in terms of their cost-effectiveness. One recent addition to Down syndrome screening programmes is maternal serum unconjugated oestriol (uE3), especially when used in conjunction with maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin. Using assumptions used in a California proposal to justify an expanded screening programme for Down syndrome, we calculated both the average and the incremental cost-effectiveness of adding uE3. Using the base case assumptions, including an $8 fee for the uE3, the incremental cost-effectiveness of adding uE3 to the proposed California programme is $119,100 per case detected, a value that compares favourably with other Down syndrome screening programmes. The sensitivity analysis supports this conclusion over a wide range of assumptions. However, because of the uncertainty with some key data, it is still too early to fully support the inclusion of uE3 in Down syndrome screening programmes.
Synergy of human Pol II core promoter elements revealed by statistical sequence analysis

Motivation: The subject of our paper is bioinformatics analysis of the distinguishing features of human promoter DNA sequences, in particular of synergetic combinations of core promoter elements therein. We suppose that specific scenarios of transcription initiation are essentially related to various particular implementations of the interaction of basal transcription machinery with promoter DNA, depending on the presence and mutual positioning of core promoter elements. Results: In addition to the combinations of core promoter elements previously experimentally confirmed [TATA box and Initiator (Inr), Downstream Promoter Element (DPE) and Inr, and TFIIB recognition element (BRE) and TATA box] we propose other alternate synergetic combinations: BRE and Inr, BRE and DPE, and TATA and DPE with respective models. The suggestion is based on a high statistical significance of the alternate combinations in promoters, comparable with the significance of the known combinations. We also present arguments that the BRE element is statistically more important than previously thought, and suggest possible mechanisms of action of the core elements in the promoters with multiple transcription start sites. Contact: ioschikhes-1@medctr.osu.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary information is available at http://bmi.osu.edu/~ilya/synergy/Gershenzon_SuppMat-R.pdf
Capacity planning of DiffServ networks with best-effort and expedited forwarding traffic

For networks providing a specific level of service guarantees, capacity planning is an imperative part of network management. Accurate dimensioning is especially important in DIffServ networks, where no per-flow signaling or control exists. In this paper, we address the problem of capacity planning for DIffServ networks with only expedited forwarding (EF) and best effort (BE) traffic classes, The problem is formulated as an optimization problem, where the total link cost is minimized, subject to the performance constraints of both EF and Be classes. The variables to be determined are the routing of EF traffic, and the discrete capacities of the links. We show that Lagrangean relaxation and subgradient optimization methods can be used to solve the problem. Computational results show that the solution quality is verifiably good while the running time remains reasonable on practical-sized networks. This represents the first work for capacity planning of multi-class IP networks with non-linear performance constraints.
Computer-Assisted Virtual Planning in Maxillofacial Reconstruction Using Microvascular Free Fibula Flaps

reconstructive phase of treatment to assist in the retention of facial prosthesis. This is a review of how the Stryker Navigation System can be utilized to enhance craniofacial reconstruction, including the preoperative planning, surgical phase of reconstruction, and final prosthetic results fabricated by the Anaplastologist. Materials and Methods: Multiple patients with both soft tissue and osseous defects were treated by our institutional Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and Anaplastologist. Patient defects were evaluated clinically to determine the proposed prosthetic plan, and the surgical procedure was based on CT guided imaging using the Stryker Navigation software. Preoperative planning was performed using the Stryker Navigation System to assist in the placement of osseointegrated implants for retention of facial prostheses. Methods of Data Analysis: Five patients over a fouryear period were treated by our Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department using the Stryker Navigation System for placement of craniofacial implants to assist with the retention of implant supported prostheses. Patients were evaluated routinely during the post-operative period for post-surgical complications, implant stability and osseointegration, and eventual use of the implants for prosthetic retention. Results of Investigation: All patients in this study were successfully treated according to the pre-operative plan that was made with the assistance of the Stryker Navigation Intellect Cranial software. Osseointegrated implants were placed in compromised osseous anatomic areas that lead to the best predictable cosmetic result with minimal complications. The placement of these implants assisted in the retention of facial prostheses during the final reconstructive phase. In addition, the Anaplastologist was able to reconstruct these patients in a more efficient and cosmetic fashion because the implants were placed in a more precise location. Conclusion: Implant supported facial prostheses are an alternative form of treatment in the reconstructive phase of many patients with craniofacial anomalies, posttraumatic injuries, or post-cancer resections. Using the Stryker Navigation System, osseointegrated implants can be placed in areas of the craniofacial skeleton with predictable results and few complications. In addition, planning with the Stryker Navigation System may show improved clinical outcomes, reduced operating room and clinical treatment time, and improved communication between clinical team members. With the final implant retained prosthesis fabricated by an Anaplastologist, our patients may be rehabilitated to a more esthetic appearance.
Routine restaging PET/CT and detection of initial recurrence in sentinel lymph node positive stage III melanoma

Abstract Background Follow-up of patients with sentinel lymph node–positive stage III melanoma uses history, physical exam, and cross-sectional imaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate positron emission tomographic (PET)/computed tomographic (CT) scans in the detection of recurrence. Methods From 2003 to 2009, a single-institution prospective database of all cutaneous melanoma patients was used to identify sentinel lymph node–positive stage III patients with disease-free survival >1 year and 1 restaging PET/CT scan. Results Thirty-eight patients were identified, with a median follow-up period of 27.5 months. Seven (18%) developed recurrence (median time to recurrence, 25 months). Recurrences were detected as follows: 3 by patients, 1 by physician, 1 by PET/CT scan and lactate dehydrogenase, 1 by PET/CT scan, and 1 by brain magnetic resonance imaging. One hundred eight follow-up PET/CT scans were performed. Two of 38 patients had asymptomatic metastases detected by routine restaging PET/CT scan, and there were 9 scans with false-positive results. Conclusions With short follow-up, the utility of routine PET/CT scans in identifying unsuspected recurrence in patients with sentinel lymph node–positive stage III melanoma appears minimal.
ICT, Social Media, and the Arab Transition to Democracy: From Venting to Acting

There is widespread use of information and communications technology (ICT) in the Middle East and North African countries. Blogging and social media have played an important role in the recent calls for reform and change. Using these new communication systems and devices, citizens have been venting their anger and frustration with their autocratic governments and rulers. Most recently, the venting has turned into action, as shown by the eradication of the old regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen, as well as the ongoing struggle in Syria. The most notable issues include lack of individual freedoms, deteriorating economic conditions, high unemployment, increased corruption, and violent treatment of citizens at the hands of security forces. The Arab Spring, or Awakening, and the events that have since followed have, in part, been promoted by ICT and other means of modern communications. Along with the popular Arab traditions of oral communication as well as Friday and Sunday sermons at mosques and churches, social media were used by organizers of the Arab Spring to call for and coordinate demonstrations against the regimes. Access to this newer media has circumvented the established and government-controlled media such as printed press, radio, and television—outlets bent on appeasing the rulers and misinforming the masses. Arab authoritarian systems have discovered that they cannot simply flip a big red switch to stop the flow of information that they would rather keep hidden from the masses. Further discussed are digital democracies that are currently emerging because of the growing population of netizens, bloggers, and social media political activists throughout the Arab world and the many attempts to silence them.
Progressive CT abnormalities despite clinical improvement in SSPE treated with inosiplex

Inosiplex has been utilized in the treatment of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), though without unequivocally established beneficial effect. We report a patient whose computerized tomographic (CT) scans demonstrated the development of progressive cerebral atrophy and multifocal white matter lesions despite continuous treatment with inosiplex and periods of considerable clinical improvement or stabilization. The findings suggest that inosiplex may not have altered the pathological consequences of SSPE and that clinical staging categories alone may not be reliable long-term correlates of the progression of the disease. Controlled studies utilizing assessment of brain mass by CT scan or other imaging devices in addition to clinical staging are required to evaluate the efficacy of inosiplex.
Low-density parity-check codes for digital subscriber lines

The paper investigates the application of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes to digital subscriber-line (DSL) transmission systems that employ discrete multitone modulation. A family of linear-time encodable binary LDPC codes that are well-suited for DSL transmission is introduced. Encoding and symbol mapping for multilevel modulation are described. Simulation results show that even under tight latency constraints good net coding gains can be achieved. Implementation complexity is analyzed and compared with that of trellis-coded modulation as employed in current asymmetric DSL transceivers. The incorporation of powerful LDPC coding techniques into next-generation DSL modems appears to be possible with reasonable increase in transceiver complexity.
Philip Kasinitz, John H. Mollenkopf, Mary C. Waters and Jennifer Holdaway 2008: Inheriting the City: The Children of Immigrants Come of Age. New York and Cambridge, MA: Russell Sage Foundation and Harvard University Press.

A review of the book "Inheriting the City: The Children of Immigrants Come of Age," by Philip Kasinitz, John H. Mollenkopf, Mary C. Waters and Jennifer Holdaway is presented.
A sulfur-isotope mixing model to trace leachate from pressurized fluidized bed combustion byproducts in an abandoned-coal-mine setting

Approximately 125 tons per acre of dry pressurized fluidized bed combustion (PFBC) byproducts were applied during reclamation to a 7-acre abandoned coal mine in eastern Ohio, USA. The purpose of the application was to raise the pH of the soil and allow for re-establishment of vegetation. To trace leachate derived from the PFBC byproduct, sulfur-isotope ratios (δ 34 S) were measured from solid-phase materials and water samples. The δ 34 S value for the PFBC byproduct ranged from +4.6 to +4.8‰. Spoil and aquifer-material samples had δ 34 S values less than +3.2‰. Unsaturated-zone waters within the PFBC byproduct application area had isotope signatures representative of the byproduct, whereas similar waters from outside the application area had signatures representative of the spoil. A sulfur-isotope-mixing model indicated that as much as 75% of the sulfate in the unsaturated-zone waters in the application area was derived from PFBC byproduct leachate. Sulfate concentrations in ground water increased after reclamation (from 1,110 to 2,100 mg/l in upgradient wells and from 1,770 to 1,880 mg/l in downgradient wells); however, the sulfur-isotope data indicate that sulfate in ground water was derived from oxidation of pyrite in the mine spoil, not by the leaching of PFBC byproduct. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Employment of a Promoter-Swapping Technique Shows that PhoU Modulates the Activity of the PstSCAB2 ABC Transporter in Escherichia coli

Expression of the Pho regulon in Escherichia coli is induced in response to low levels of environmental phosphate (Pi). Under these conditions, the high-affinity PstSCAB2 protein (i.e., with two PstB proteins) is the primary Pi transporter. Expression from the pstSCAB-phoU operon is regulated by the PhoB/PhoR two-component regulatory system. PhoU is a negative regulator of the Pho regulon; however, the mechanism by which PhoU accomplishes this is currently unknown. Genetic studies of phoU have proven to be difficult because deletion of the phoU gene leads to a severe growth defect and creates strong selection for compensatory mutations resulting in confounding data. To overcome the instability of phoU deletions, we employed a promoter-swapping technique that places expression of the phoBR two-component system under control of the Ptac promoter and the lacOID regulatory module. This technique may be generally applicable for controlling expression of other chromosomal genes in E. coli. Here we utilized PphoB::Ptac and PpstS::Ptac strains to characterize phenotypes resulting from various ΔphoU mutations. Our results indicate that PhoU controls the activity of the PstSCAB2 transporter, as well as its abundance within the cell. In addition, we used the PphoB::Ptac ΔphoU strain as a platform to begin characterizing new phoU mutations in plasmids.
Comparison of the effects of total blood substitution during two different levels of hypothermic cardiac arrest.

The effect of total blood replacement with a solution containing neitherhemoglogin nor fluorocarbon was studied under two different levels of hypothermia. Ten dogs were anesthetized and esophageal temperature lowered to about 24° at which time exsanguination began. Upon cardiac arrest and the completion of exsanguination, continuous whole body closed chest extracorporeal circulation of an oxygenated blood substitute was begun. Hematocrit was 1% while core temperature remained < 10°C for 3 hours of perfusion during which nadirs of 1.3°C (Group I, N=5) and 7.3°C (Group II, N=5) were achieved. Replacement of the perfusate with whole blood began once the dog was rewarmed to approximately 10°C. All dogs survived the procedure. Two dogs from each group died by the fourth post-operative day but the others survived long term. Group II showed a faster return to normal based on motor behavioral, biochemical and hematological changes. Thus the combination of profound hypothermia and complete blood substitution with ...
Using the sampling margin of error to assess the interpretative validity of student evaluations of teaching

We present an equation, derived from standard statistical theory, that can be used to estimate sampling margin of error for student evaluations of teaching (SETs). We use the equation to examine the effect of sample size, response rates and sample variability on the estimated sampling margin of error, and present results in four tables that allow users to assess the interpretative validity (IV) of a SET score for a specific evaluation context. In this framework, a small margin of error, e.g. 3% of the range, suggests a greater precision, or IV in a score, whereas a large margin of error, e.g. 10% of the range, suggests a lower IV. We review the SET literature and summarise five ways that low response rates may be ameliorated. We also compare our results to previous published studies. Our findings matched, but greatly extended, prior results.
E2M1 Multipole Mixing Ratios of Gamma Transitions in the 'Quasispherical' Nucleus Xe-132

The $\frac{E2}{M1}$ multipole mixing ratios $\ensuremath{\delta}(\ensuremath{\gamma})=\frac{〈{I}_{f}\ensuremath{\parallel}{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{j}}}_{N}{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{A}}}_{2}^{(E)}\ensuremath{\parallel}{I}_{i}〉}{〈{I}_{f}\ensuremath{\parallel}{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{j}}}_{N}{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{A}}}_{1}^{(M)}\ensuremath{\parallel}{I}_{i}〉}$ of 10 $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ transitions in the quasispherical nucleus ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{132}$ have been measured by means of $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ directional correlations observed with two coaxial Ge(Li) detectors. Spin assignments have been made for the levels at 1963 keV (${4}^{+}$), 2110 keV (${4}^{+}$), 2112 keV (${6}^{+}$), 2395 keV (${4}^{+}$), 2584 keV (${5}^{+}$), 2589 keV (3), 2614 keV (${4}^{+}$), and 2839 keV (${5}^{+}$). In addition, previous spin assignments for levels below 1900 keV were confirmed. Based on the proposed spin assignments, the following values of the quadrupole-dipole mixing ratios were obtained (energies in keV): $\ensuremath{\delta}(506)=\ensuremath{-}1.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4$, $\ensuremath{\delta}(523)=\ensuremath{-}0.25\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15$, $\ensuremath{\delta}(630)={+5.3}_{\ensuremath{-}1.0}^{+2.1}$, $\ensuremath{\delta}(727)=\ensuremath{-}0.32\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04$, $\ensuremath{\delta}(955)=\ensuremath{-}0.15\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05$, $\ensuremath{\delta}(1136)=+0.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3$, $\ensuremath{\delta}(1143)=\ensuremath{-}({0.04}_{\ensuremath{-}0.04}^{+0.09})$, $\ensuremath{\delta}(1173)=\ensuremath{-}0.40\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15$, $\ensuremath{\delta}(1291)=+0.01\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.08$, and $\ensuremath{\delta}(1399)=+0.07\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02$. The results are discussed in terms of the collective vibrational model and in terms of a quasirotational model. However, these models are of limited value in explaining the experimental data concerning the level structure and multipole transitions of ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{132}$.
Fuzzy logic control for nonlinear free vibration of composite plates with piezoactuators

A study of the use of fuzzy logic control techniques to suppress the large amplitude free vibrations of composite plates with embedded piezoelectric actuators is presented. The finite element method is employed to obtain the nonlinear dynamic equations of the plate vibration. The von-Karmen large deflection plate theory is used in the nonlinear finite element formulation. The finite element model considers both structural nodal degrees of freedom and electrical degrees of freedom for composite plates with embedded piezoelectric actuators. The modal reduction method for nonlinear structure dynamic equations using the structure linear modes is used to reduce the finite element nonlinear equations into a set of coupled general Duffing equations with much smaller degrees of freedom. Fuzzy logic control laws are used to actively suppress the plate nonlinear vibration. Employing such control techniques is more robust than the conventional control techniques due to the inherent nonlinearity and uncertainty of the fuzzy logic control algorithms. Self-organizing fuzzy logic controller which is capable of modifying its control policy based on a given performance measure is also employed. Simulation results are given for a simply supported graphite/epoxy composite plate undergoing free vibration with different initial conditions.
Thirst immediately following removal of rats from graded levels of hypoxia.

SummaryThe objective of these experiments was to determine whether the magnitude of the water intake measured immediately following return from hypoxia to normoxia was a function of the percentage of oxygen to which the rats had been exposed. Rats were exposed to an atmosphere containing 17.0, 16.0, 15.0 or 12.0% oxygen in nitrogen for 8 days. Food and water were available at all times both prior to and during exposure to hypoxia. Immediately following removal from hypoxia the spontaneous water intake of each rat was measured during the first, and the entire first 3 hr after removal from hypoxia. The difference in water intake between treated and control groups during both the first and the entire 3 hr after removal from hypoxia increased in a linear fashion with decreasing oxygen percentage to which the rats were previously exposed. The difference in water intakes between treated and control groups (posthypoxic thirst) measured during the first hour after removal from hypoxia reached zero at 16.5% oxygen...
Ultrastructure of Two Invertebrate Synapses.

Summary1. Electron microscope studies of a type of physiologically polarized synapse in the crayfish and the squid have shown that the synapse consists of a region characterized by processes of pos...
Getting “Unstuck”: A Multi-Site Evaluation of the Efficacy of an Interdisciplinary Pain Intervention Program for Chronic Low Back Pain

Chronic low back pain is one of the major health problems in the U.S., resulting in a large number of years of disability. To address the biopsychosocial nature of pain, interdisciplinary pain programs provide integrated interventions by an interdisciplinary team in a unified setting with unified goals. This study examined outcomes of an interdisciplinary program located at two sites with different staff, yet with a unified model of treatment and documentation. Efficacy at the combined sites was examined by comparing standard measures obtained upon admission to the program with measures at completion of a 3–4 week long program for 393 patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Repeated measures included pain severity, pain interference, efficacy of self-management strategies, hours of activity, depression, ability to do ADLs, and physical endurance. All repeated measures differed at the p < 0.001 level, with large effect sizes (0.66–0.85). Eighty-two percent of graduates reported being “very much improved” or “much improved”. A second analyses provided evidence that treatment effects were robust across sites with no differences (<0.001) found on five of seven selected outcome measures. A third analysis found that number of days of treatment was correlated on three of seven measures at the <0.01 level. However, the amount of variance explained by days of treatment was under 5% on even the most highly correlated measure. These finding are consistent with previous research and explore short-term effectiveness of treatment across treatment sites and with variable duration of treatment.
Preload Dependency Dynamic Indices

Volume expansion was formerly assessed by invasive cardiac output monitoring and intracardiac pressure measurement, following the concept of “fluid challenge” [1]. Recently, fluid responsiveness was then evaluated in response to volume expansion. The recent concept is based on the Starling curve. For instance, following a volume expansion, a patient may be situated on the ascending portion of the curve (with a significant increase in cardiac output without massive increases in filling pressures) or may be located on the flat portion of the curve (with a small increase in cardiac output along with drastically increased filling pressures) [2]. In the past, no indication was predictive of the potential effectiveness of volume expansion, and the only evidence used to guide fluid therapy was the preload indices, also known as “static” indices. However, the central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) were never shown to reliably predict the hemodynamic benefit of volume expansion [3, 4] to a greater extent than ventricular diameter or surface measurements [5, 6]. Although a low preload value could still achieve a volume expansion in shocked (and not yet resuscitated) patients, the use of static preload indices is currently not recommended to guide fluid therapy in the ICU. In fact, this practice is likely to lead to the incorrect administration of intravenous fluids and to result in an increased risk or aggravation of pulmonary edema, hypoxemia, or ARDS [7, 8].
Speedometry: A Vehicle for Promoting Interest and Engagement through Integrated STEM Instruction.

ABSTRACTThe curriculum, Hot Wheels Speedometry (Mattel, El Segundo, CA, USA), was designed to align with the Next Generation Science Standards for science and the Common Core State Standards for mathematics. Our objective was to develop, implement, and evaluate the impact of this integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curriculum on students' knowledge, interest, and engagement. The authors conducted the study in a district where students were predominantly from communities under-represented in STEM fields. The findings indicate that student individual interest developed. Furthermore, students demonstrated affective, behavioral, and cognitive engagement along their progression of interest development. The study shows promise for the development of interest and engagement in under-represented groups through the use of an integrated STEM curriculum.
Legal Infrastructure, Judicial Independence, and Economic Development

Economic theory generally supports the idea that judicial independence, and, more generally, high quality courts, facilitate economic growth. Good, independent courts enforce contracts and protect property, and by doing so encourage the investment which is crucial for economic development. Nevertheless, judicial independence and good courts are not necessary to investment, because there are other mechanisms which can enforce contracts and protect property, albeit perhaps not as well as courts. Contracts can be enforced by reputation, without recourse to the courts. Similarly, the government can protect property through executive restraint and policing, even if constitutional protections are weak and private litigation is ineffective. Thus, economic growth often starts without strong courts, and efforts to improve the quality of the judiciary are often the consequence, not the cause, of economic development.The empirical literature, to the extent that it has investigated the relationship between courts and economic growth, has focused on judicial independence. Judicial independence is, of course, only one aspect of quality courts. Nevertheless, it is relatively easy to measure and probably correlated with other indices of court quality. It thus serves as a rough proxy for the quality of legal infrastructure. There is some evidence that judicial independence is associated with economic growth, but the evidence is mixed and causation is unclear.
Towards Exascale Parallel Delaunay Mesh Generation

Mesh generation is a critical component for many (bio-)engineering applications. However, parallel mesh generation codes, which are essential for these applications to take the fullest advantage of the high-end computing platforms, belong to the broader class of adaptive and irregular problems, and are among the most complex, challenging, and labor intensive to develop and maintain. As a result, parallel mesh generation is one of the last applications to be installed on new parallel architectures. In this paper we present a way to remedy this problem for new highly-scalable architectures. We present a multi-layered tetrahedral/triangular mesh generation approach capable of delivering and sustaining close to 1018 of concurrent work units. We achieve this by leveraging concurrency at different granularity levels using a hybrid algorithm, and by carefully matching these levels to the hierarchy of the hardware architecture. This paper makes two contributions: (1) a new evolutionary path for developing multi-layered parallel mesh generation codes capable of increasing the concurrency of the state-of-the-art parallel mesh generation methods by at least 10 orders of magnitude and (2) a new abstraction for multi-layered runtime systems that target parallel mesh generation codes, to efficiently orchestrate intra- and inter-layer data movement and load balancing for current and emerging multi-layered architectures with deep memory and network hierarchies.
Geometry and evolution of fold-thrust structures at the boundaries between frictional and ductile detachments ☆

Abstract Fold-thrust belts formed above a ductile detachment typically contain detachment folds, whereas those formed above frictional detachments contain fault-related fold complexes, such as imbricate thrust systems. Analog models, using silica sand to represent sediments and silicone gel to represent salt were conducted to study the fold geometry, fold-fault relations, and sequential development of structures formed in each setting and at the boundaries between the two settings. The results showed a relatively thinner wedge above a ductile detachment, so that the deformation front propagated farther forward than that above a frictional detachment. The thrust front connects across the two settings with a significant change in position and a resulting change in orientation. The geometry of the deformation front is strongly controlled by that of the detachment boundary, so that an oblique detachment boundary results in an oblique thrust front in the transition zone. Modifications in the taper geometry also result from the presence of a frictional belt behind a ductile belt, the width of the ductile detachment which limits the location of the deformation front, and the lateral propagation of thrust faults between the two regimes. The experimental models can be used to explain observed geometries in natural examples of fold-thrust belts marked by transitions between frictional and ductile detachments.
Fuzzy risk stratification and risk assessment model for clinical monitoring in the ICU.

Abstract Background The decisions that clinicians make in intensive care units (ICUs) based on monitored parameters reflecting physiological deterioration are of major medical and biomedical engineering interest. These parameters have been investigated and assessed for their usefulness in risk assessment. Methods Totally, 127 ICU adult patients were studied. They were selected from a MIMIC II Waveform Database Matched Subset and had continuous monitoring of heart rate, invasive blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. The monitored data were dimension reduced using deep learning autoencoders and then used to train a support vector machine model (SVM). A combination of methods including fuzzy c-means clustering (FCM), and a random forest (RF) was used to determine the risk levels. Results When classifying patients into stable or deteriorating groups the main performance parameter was the receiver operating characteristics (ROC). The area under the ROC (AUROC) was 93.2 (95% CI (92.9–93.4)) with sensitivity and specificity values of 0.80 and 0.89, respectively. The suggested fuzzy risk levels using the combined method of the FCM clustering and RF achieved an accuracy of 1 (0.9999, 1), with both sensitivity and specificity values equal to 1. Conclusions The potential for using models in risk assessment to estimate a patient's physiological status, stable or deteriorating, within 4 h has been demonstrated. The study was based on retrospective analysis and further studies are needed to evaluate the impact on clinical outcomes using this model.
The Mechanics and Reliability of Films, Multilayers and Coatings

A wide variety of applications ranging from microelectronics to turbines for propulsion and power generation rely on films, coatings, and multilayers to improve performance. As such, the ability to predict coating failure - such as delamination (debonding), mud-cracking, blistering, crack kinking, and the like - is critical to component design and development. This work compiles and organizes decades of research that established the theoretical foundation for predicting such failure mechanisms, and clearly outlines the methodology needed to predict performance. Detailed coverage of cracking in multilayers is provided, with an emphasis on the role of differences in thermoelastic properties between the layers. The comprehensive theoretical foundation of the book is complemented by easy-to-use analysis codes designed to empower novices with the tools needed to simulate cracking; these codes enable not only precise quantitative reproduction of results presented graphically in the literature, but also the generation of new results for more complex multilayered systems.
Energy scheduling for optical channels with energy harvesting devices

In this paper, we develop optimal energy scheduling algorithms for optical Poisson channels with energy harvesting devices. The objective is to maximize the channel sum-rate, assuming that the side information of energy harvesting states for K time slots is known a priori, and the battery capacity and the maximum energy consumption in each time slot are bounded. The problem is formulated as a convex optimization problem with O(K) constraints making it hard to solve using a general convex solver since the computational complexity of a generic convex solver is exponential in the number of constraints. This paper gives an efficient energy scheduling algorithm that has a computational complexity of O(K2). The proposed algorithm is also shown to be optimal. The proposed energy schedule is piece-wise constant, which changes when the battery overflows or depletes. Numerical results depict significant improvement of the optimal strategy over benchmark strategies.
Current Perspective on the Use of Opioids in Perioperative Medicine: An Evidence-Based Literature Review, National Survey of 70,000 Physicians, and Multidisciplinary Clinical Appraisal.

Author(s): Jahr, Jonathan S; Bergese, Sergio D; Sheth, Ketan R; Bernthal, Nicholas M; Ho, Hung S; Stoicea, Nicoleta; Apfel, Christian C | Abstract: ObjectiveOpioids represent an important analgesic option for physicians managing acute pain in surgical patients. Opioid management is not without its drawbacks, however, and current trends suggest that opioids might be overused in the United States. An expert panel was convened to conduct a clinical appraisal regarding the use of opioids in the perioperative setting.MethodsThe clinical appraisal consisted of the review, presentation, and assessment of current published evidence as it relates to the statement "Opioids are not overused in the United States, even though opioid adjunct therapy achieves greater pain control with less risk." The authors' evaluation of this statement was also compared with the results of a national survey of surgeons and anesthesiologists in the United States.ResultsWe report the presented literature and proceedings of the panel discussion. The national survey revealed a wide range of opinions regarding opioid overuse in the United States. Current published evidence provides support for the efficacy of opioid therapy in surgical patients; however, it is not sufficient to conclude unequivocally that opioids are-or are not-overused in the management of acute surgical pain in the United States.ConclusionsOpioids remain a key component of multimodal perioperative analgesia, and strategic opioid use based on clinical considerations and patient-specific needs represents an opportunity to support improved postoperative outcomes and satisfaction. Future studies should focus on identifying optimal procedure-specific and patient-centered approaches to multimodal perioperative analgesia.
Effects of different feed management treatments on water quality for Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Increasing feeding rates may provide an increase in production, thus nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter will also increase. These nutrients promote a greater oxygen demand and concentrations of toxic metabolites which can lead to frequent problems with low dissolved oxygen and an abundance of blue-green algae. Four feed management practices were evaluated among sixteen 0.1 ha ponds culturing Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Feeding treatments included hand feeding using the Standard Feeding Protocol (SFP), SFP plus 15% from 8 to 16 weeks, an automatic-solar timer which fed SFP+15%, and an AQ1 acoustic demand feeder allowing up to 12 kg/day·pond based on shrimps feeding response. Samples were analysed at weeks 0, 4 and 8–16 for the following parameters: chlorophyll a, total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite–nitrogen, nitrate–nitrogen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, total suspended solids, total suspended volatile solids, turbidity, conductivity, salinity and biological oxygen demand. Samples were collected and shipped overnight to Auburn, Alabama for off-site analysis. On-site water quality was also obtained at the farm. The AQ1 acoustic demand feeder produced the most shrimp with a yield of 4,568 kg/ha; however, the AQ1 also had the highest total ammonia nitrogen and nitrite–nitrogen levels late in the growing season. The AQ1 feeder may be a viable, reduced labour and cost alternative for the shrimp commercial industry; however, such technologies must also be matched to the ability of the production system to process nutrients.
Including spaceflight in the transportation matrix: the whole is greater than the sum of its parts

The role of spaceflight is evolving. Innovative systems insert an increasing number of assets into orbital slots for the private and public sectors. Private space transportation systems currently transport cargo to the international space station. Private operators will soon be transporting people as well. Despite these strides forward, space transportation is only now gaining traction as the sixth mode. The paper provides policy support for this position, frames the inquiry as to spaceflight's relationship to other modes of transportation, performs a plurality analysis and discusses the feasibility of applying some basic logistics research to help manage these intermodal relationships.
Organization of the Operating Room for Neurosurgical Procedures

Designing the operating room and its different modern devices is a mandatory prelude to any positioning or surgical planning in spinal and cranial neurosurgery. Orientation of the operating table in relation to the microscope, anesthesia space, instrument tables, fluoroscopy, monitoring, navigation and imaging equipment, must be well thought of prior to patient positioning and skin incision. Safety of the patient and operating personnel, prevention of surgical site infection, optimized teamwork, and uncomplicated smooth flow of the surgery are all achievable goals that should not be compromised.