cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prospective analysis of outcomes and economic factors of same-day bilateral cataract surgery in the United States

Purpose To evaluate the visual and economic benefits of same-day bilateral cataract surgery versus separate-day bilateral cataract surgery in the United States. Setting Private practice, Amarillo, Texas, USA. Design Prospective controlled nonrandomized clinical trial. Methods A cohort of patients having same-day bilateral cataract surgery was age-matched with a cohort of control patients who had standard separate-day bilateral cataract surgery. The primary outcome was a comparison of the direct cost for the patient, physician, ambulatory surgery center (ASC), and third-party payer. Results The same-day cohort (42 patients, 84 eyes) had similar baseline characteristics and postoperative outcomes as the control cohort (42 patients, 84 eyes). The same-day cohort had less total distance traveled for care ( P = .0039 and P P = .0008 and P P P P = .0028 and P = .0016, respectively), whereas the total physician time spent caring for the patient in surgery was not different between the 2 groups ( P = .7310). The total ASC expenses were higher in the same-day cohort ( P P Conclusion Visual and economic benefits for the patient can be achieved with same-day bilateral cataract surgery in the U.S. at the present time. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Laboratory Study of Sacrificial Anodes for Reinforced Concrete

Abstract The output of sacrificial current by two metallized coatings was monitored under well-defined conditions. Experiments were conducted at two relative humidities (RH). The performance of a z...
Increased Ocular Pulse Amplitude Associated with Unilateral Dysgenesis of the Orbital Roof.

Introduction: Two patients (one with neurofibromatosis type 1) presented with unilateral ocular pulsation. Methods: A CT scan of the orbits revealed extensive dysgenesis of the orbital roof with herniation of the frontal lobe into the orbit in both cases. PASCAL dynamic contour tonometry was performed. Results: The ipsilateral ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) was greater than the contralateral side, and the ocular pulse waveform morphology more closely approximated the known intracranial waveform in these patients. Conclusions: We hypothesize that the greater OPA was due to stronger transmission of the intracranial pressure waveform amplitude and morphology in the absence of the orbital roof.
Socioeconomic and psychosocial predictors of interleukin-6 in the MIDUS national sample.

Objective: To investigate whether psychosocial factors (i.e., depression, anxiety, and well-being) moderated educational gradients in interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels using data from the Survey of Midlife Development in the U.S. (MIDUS). The influences of educational attainment and psychosocial factors on IL-6 in middle aged and older adults were also examined. Design: Telephone interviews and mail surveys were utilized to collect educational attainment and psychosocial information from respondents (N 1028). Respondents also participated in an overnight clinic visit, during which health information and a fasting blood sample were obtained. Main Outcome Measures: Serum levels of IL-6. Results: Greater educational attainment predicted lower levels of IL-6 independent of age and gender, although this effect was attenuated after taking health behaviors, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and chronic illnesses into account. Psychological well-being interacted with education to predict IL-6, such that for those with less education, higher well-being was associated with lower levels of IL-6. Conclusion: The findings indicate a strong association between education and inflammation, which can be further moderated by psychosocial factors. The health benefits associated with psychological well-being were particularly evident for individuals with low educational attainment.
Using robots in an undergraduate artificial intelligence course: an experience report

In this paper, we report our experience using robots in the artificial intelligence course we taught in Fall 2000. Our objective was to use robots to reinforce the traditional concepts of search and expert systems. We wanted the robots to be simple to build, yet powerful enough to illustrate AI concepts. In this paper, we discuss our choice of robot, describe the projects we assigned and list the problems our students encountered carrying out those projects. We surveyed our class regarding the use of robots in this course at the end of the semester. We discuss the results of this survey, which we believe, make a strong case for using robots in the AI course.
High-speed protocol for bursty traffic in optical networks

An optical backbone network based on WDM (or OTDM) technology may become an economical choice for providing future broadband services. To achieve a balance between the coarse-grain optical circuit switching (via wavelength routing) and fine- grain optical packet/cell switching, optical burst switching is proposed. We study a one-way reservation protocol called just-enough-time (JET), which is suitable for switching bursty traffic in a high speed optical backbone network. The JET protocol has two unique, integrated features, namely, the use of delayed reservation (DR) and buffered burst multiplexers (BBM). By virtue of DR, the JET protocol not only increases the bandwidth utilization, but also facilitates intelligent buffer management in BBMs, and consequently results in a high through-put. Both analysis and simulation results show that the JET protocol can significantly outperform other one-way reservation protocols lacking one or both of these features.
Performance comparison of location areas and reporting centres under individualised mobility models

Location areas and reporting centres are two classical and popular location management schemes in cellular networks. To the best of our knowledge, no performance comparison between reporting centres and location areas has been reported in literature. The paper compares the performance of the location areas scheme and the reporting centres scheme in terms of the paging and update cost. Given a set of reporting centres, the paper describes how to derive the location areas from the reporting centres, and claims that the paging cost in the derived location areas scheme is much smaller than that in the original reporting centres scheme whereas the update cost difference between two schemes is small. Simulations under various mobility models and incoming call arrival rates support the claim.
Shape optimization with topological changes and parametric control

Recent advances in shape optimization rely on free-form implicit representations, such as level sets, to support boundary deformations and topological changes. By contrast, parametric shape optimization is formulated directly in terms of meaningful geometric design variables, but usually does not support free-form boundary and topological changes. We propose a novel approach to shape optimization that combines and retains the advantages of the earlier optimization techniques. The shapes in the design space are represented implicitly as level sets of a higher-dimensional function that is constructed using B-splines (to allow free-form deformations), and parameterized primitives combined with R-functions (to support desired parametric changes). Our approach to shape design and optimization offers great flexibility because it provides explicit parametric control of geometry and topology within a large space of free-form shapes. The resulting method is also general in that it subsumes most other types of shape optimization as special cases. We describe an implementation of the proposed technique with attractive numerical properties. The explicit construction of an implicit representation supports straightforward sensitivity analysis that can be used with most gradient-based optimization methods. Furthermore, our implementation does not require any error-prone polygonization or approximation of level sets (isocurves and isosurfaces). The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated by several numerical examples.
Prospective evaluation of aerosol delivery by a powered nasal nebulizer in the cadaver model.

Background The objective of this study was to compare the distribution of aerosol delivered via a powered nasal nebulizer device in 5 fresh frozen-cadaver heads (10 total sides). Methods Nasoneb® (Medinvent, St. Paul, MN) was used to deliver a total volume of 10 mL (9 mL saline and 1 mL of 10% fluorescein). Aerosol distribution was assessed in 3 trials: (1) unoperated nose; (2) post–functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS); and (3) post-FESS with endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure (EML). Two independent observers rated the distribution of the fluorescein-dyed saline in the anterior nasal cavity (ANC), olfactory cleft (OC), middle meatus (MM), sphenoethmoid recess (SER), nasopharynx (NP), along with maxillary sinus (MS), ethmoid cavity (EC), sphenoid sinus (SS), frontal sinus (FS), and frontal neo-ostium (F-NEO) in the operated specimens. Results The nebulizer consistently delivered aerosolized saline to the ANC, MM/EC, and SER/SS across the 3 trials. A statistically significant increase in delivery was noted to the MM (p = 0.044) post-FESS. In addition, a statistically significant increase in delivery to the F-NEO was noted post-FESS with EML (p = 0.001). Multiplicity adjustment done for the FESS group showed statistically superior delivery to the EC vs OC (p = 0.031) and FS (p = 0.02) and to the SS vs FS (p = 0.031). Multiplicity adjustment after FESS with EML improved delivery to the FS, resulting in no statistical difference in aerosol delivery between F-NEO and EC or SS. Conclusion The nebulizer consistently delivered aerosolized saline to multiple nasal subsites, with improvement in delivery seen to the middle meatal region after FESS and F-NEO after FESS with EML. This may have important implications for the delivery of topical medications to the paranasal sinuses in the postoperative setting. © 2011 ARS-AAOA, LLC.
A multidisciplinary approach to understanding developmental dyslexia within working-memory architecture: Genotypes, phenotypes, brain, and instruction.

A unifying theoretical framework of three working memory components provides a systems perspective for discussing past and new findings in a 12-year research program that point to heterogeneity in the genetic and brain basis and behavioral expression of dyslexia: (a) codes for word-form storage and processing, (b) time-sensitive phonological and orthographic loops for maintaining information in working memory or outputting it, and (c) executive functions for language (e.g., rapid automatic switching of attention). Results, which span the genetic to neurological to behavioral levels of analysis, point to possible impairment in any one or combination of these working memory components in individuals with dyslexia. A DNA variation on chromosome 15 may be linked with the phonological word-form in the first working-memory component. A DNA variation on chromosome 6 may be linked with slow rapid automatic switching, inattention ratings, and impaired goal-directed activity ratings in the third working-memory component. Brain and behavioral findings support (a) Triple Word Form Theory: phonological, orthographic, and morphological word-forms and their parts contribute to learning to read and spell words; and (b) Cross-Word Form Mapping: in the process of learning to read and spell words children compute the inter-relationships among the three word-forms and their parts. However, children with dyslexia may require more focus on the morphological word-form and its parts and their relationships with the other two word-forms and their parts than do normal readers. Also, children with dyslexia have unusual difficulties in sustaining phonological loop function in working memory over time; their impaired orthographic loop function may interfere with learning to write alphabet letters and spell, which may be as impaired as word decoding and reading. Impaired executive functions may interfere with the efficiency of working memory in processing oral and written language.
On 'global convergence' of Steiglitz-McBride adaptive algorithm

The authors investigate the global convergence phenomenon of the Steiglitz-McBride adaptive identification/filtering method (SMM) observed previously under reduced order setting. Specifically, they relate the closeness of SMM solutions to minimum mean square error (MSE) points through sharpness of the MSE surface at these minima. They first define the sharpness, and then propose that generally global minima are sharper than local minima. A local analysis based on the first-order case then reveals that the smaller the MSE is and the sharper a minimum is, the closer the SMM solution will be to the minimum. This explains the striking closeness of the two points observed earlier. Some additional first-order examples that all agree with the results of the analysis are presented. These local results are then generalized to higher order cases. The global properties of the SMM solutions are finally proposed in the form of a conjecture which is based on numerous calculated examples. >
Identification and characterization of a gene activated by the deformed homeoprotein

In Drosophila, the homeotic genes encode transcription factors which control segment identity during embryogenesis by specifying the appropriate set of ‘target’ genes necessary to produce the individual segmental characteristics. Though we know much about the homeotic genes and the proteins they encode, we know little of their targets. Here we identify and characterize one such target gene, a gene activated by the product of the homeotic gene Deformed. DNA binding assays and expression of reporter gene constructs indicate that activation of this gene requires a direct interaction between the Deformed protein and an upstream enhancer element at this target gene. However, although Deformed is required to activate this gene in cells of the maxillary segment, ectopically expressed Deformed does not activate the gene in other regions of the embryo. We conclude from this and other observations that additional factors may be required to activate the target gene, and, therefore, Deformed may participate in either a combinatorial or hierarchical activation signal in the maxillary cells. This newly identified gene encodes a novel protein of unknown function, though proteins with similar amino acid composition have been found. The pattern of transcript accumulation during embryogenesis indicates that this gene may be regulated by other homeoproteins in addition to Deformed.
QR Panopticism: User Behavior Triangulation and Barcode-Scanning Applications

The increasingly ubiquitous two-dimensional barcodes designed by the Denso Wave company, known as the QR code, were originally intended to track millions of parts as they moved about on high-speed assembly lines. Since then, these increasingly ubiquitous black and white squares have been applied to an ever-broader range of nonindustrial uses. In order to make use of these codes, the vast majority of consumers use smart phone technologies in order to convert the codes into usable information. However, neither Apple’s iOS nor Google’s Android operating systems include a robust native capability to decode printed barcodes. As a result, users of these devices must download and install third-party applications that will do this work for them. Our research question is straightforward: are there privacy and security risks associated with this emerging QR app ecosystem? We installed and analyzed over twenty of the most popular QR code applications. Our findings suggest that a majority of the most popular QR code readers found in the Apple App and Google Play marketplaces are not passive systems, but instead capture and transmit additional data about the device back to the application developer. The paper then considers the privacy and security implications of the QR code app ecosystem.
Focusing on Core Patient-Reported Outcomes in Cancer Clinical Trials: Symptomatic Adverse Events, Physical Function, and Disease-Related Symptoms

Cancer clinical trials have relied on overall survival and measures of tumor growth or reduction to assess the efficacy of a drug. However, benefits are often accompanied by significant symptomatic toxicities. The degree to which a therapy improves disease symptoms and introduces symptomatic toxicity affects how patients function in their daily lives. These concepts are important contributors to health-related quality of life (HRQOL). In this article, we discuss patient-reported outcome (PRO) assessment in cancer trials and challenges relying solely on static multi-item HRQOL instruments. We propose focusing on three separate measures of well-defined concepts: symptomatic adverse events, physical function, and disease-related symptoms, which are key contributors to the effect of a therapy on HRQOL. Separate measures of these three concepts may facilitate the incorporation of emerging contemporary instruments that can tailor the PRO assessment strategy to different trial contexts. Irrespective of the PRO measures used, continued improvement in trial design and conduct is crucial to decrease missing data and optimize the quality of PRO information. International stakeholder collaboration and continued research into optimal practices for PRO and other clinical outcome assessments are necessary to advance a common framework for generating and reporting rigorous patient-centered data from cancer clinical trials.
Intimacies of Rock Ethnographic Considerations of Posthuman Performativity in Canada’s Rocky Mountains

This essay engages feminist science studies and theories of performativity to inject with dynamism familiar figurations of static being. Through the modalities of ethnographic writing, memory, and embodied experience, I enact a lively engagement with Canada’s Rocky Mountains. By shifting the way we understand this unique, constitutive feature of the Canadian West, I suggest an approach to ethics that expands categories of agency, disaggregating it from realms of human exceptionalism. Through the analytic of performativity, I attend to the dynamic and agentive capacity/ies of glacial bodies, mountains, and lichen—nonhuman bodies considered passive and inert by prevailing epistemologies—to make/materialize meaning. I animate the argument that what we call nature is not a passive, immutable surface on which culture is inscribed, but rather is the production of active, agential practices, each containing divergent wills to power immanent with the capacity to make cuts of their own. The aim of this writing is ...
Implication of Phospholipids in Rat Proximal Tubule Reabsorption.

SummaryPhospholipase C and pancreatic lipase reduce the reabsorption of fluid droplets infused into rat proximal tubules. Phospholipase D, chymotrypsin, hyaluronidase, collagenase and CaCl2 appeared to have no effect on reabsorption rate. Ribonuclease also reduced fluid reabsorption. When kidney ho-mogenates are treated with the same enzymes, phospholipase C and chymotrypsin reduce the ability of extractable phospholipids to bind sodium and potassium. The data suggest that phospholipase D and ribonuclease may enhance cation binding. It is suggested that phospholipids play a critical role in salt transport by the proximal tubule.
Index of Suspicion in the Nursery: Preterm Infant Born to Mother With High Fever

A 29-5/7-weeks’-gestation female is delivered by urgent cesarean delivery and develops respiratory difficulty soon after delivery. The mother is a 28-year-old primigravida who presented to the emergency department with high fever (102°F), chills, and a sore throat. Results of a rapid influenza antigen detection test (BinaxNOW® Influenza A & B, Alere Inc, Waltham, MA) on nasopharyngeal swab were positive for influenza A and negative for influenza B. Test results for respiratory syncytial virus and legionella were negative. Her clinical course was complicated by mutlilobar pneumonia and adult respiratory distress syndrome requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. Results of repeat rapid influenza antigen tests were negative at 36 hours after starting oseltamivir. The mother received one course of betamethasone 48 hours before the cesarean delivery (with membranes intact), which was performed because of worsening maternal condition. The infant weighed 1,500 g at birth and had Apgar scores of 9 at both 1 minute and 5 minutes. Because of respiratory distress, the infant underwent resuscitation (Neopuff™, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, Panmure, Auckland, Australia) and was transferred to the NICU. She received one dose of surfactant and was immediately extubated to nasal continuous positive airway pressure. The infant’s initial chest radiograph showed mild haziness and a possible right upper lobe infiltrate consistent with pneumonia. …
U.S. Copyright Office Section 512 Study: Comments in Response to Notice of Inquiry

These comments were prepared and submitted in response to the U.S. Copyright Office's December 31, 2015 Notice and Request for Public Comment on the impact and effectiveness of the DMCA safe harbor provisions in Section 512 of Title 17. Of the 30 questions posed in the Notice, we respond to almost half, addressing (1) the overall effectiveness of the safe harbors in balancing stakeholder interests and promoting innovation in online products and services, (2) the operation of the notice-and-takedown process and the problems associated with a proposed "notice-and-staydown" policy, (3) the adequacy of the DMCA's counter-notice provisions to protect non-infringing user expression, (4) the soundness of judicial interpretations of legal standards relating to service providers' knowledge and control of users' infringements, and (5) the effectiveness of service providers' repeat infringer policies in light of the statute's lack of specificity concerning this requirement.
Enhanced release of dopamine -hydroxylase and norepinephrine from sympathetic nerves by dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate and theophylline.

Stimulation of the hypogastric nerve to the guinea pig vas deferens in vitro in the presence of a normal extracellular calcium concentration produced a proportional release of dopamine β-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.2.1) and norepinephrine. Both dibutyryl cyclic AMP (0.1 mM) and theophylline (1 mM) enhanced stimulation-induced release of dopamine β-hydroxylase and norepinephrine, with dibutyryl cyclic AMP also increasing spontaneous release. In a calcium-free medium the stimulation-induced release of dopamine β-hydroxylase and norepinephrine was completely blocked. However, stimulation-induced release did occur when either dibutyryl cyclic AMP (0.1 mM) or theophylline (1 mM) was added to the calcium-free medium. As in the medium containing a normal calcium concentration, dibutyryl cyclic AMP enhanced spontaneous release of dopamine β-hydroxylase and norepinephrine. The ratio of dopamine β-hydroxylase to norepinephrine released was identical whether release was spontaneous or electrically induced and whether or not dibutyryl cyclic AMP or theophylline was present. Thus dibutyryl cyclic AMP and theophylline do not require extracellular calcium to cause the release of neurotransmitter by exocytosis at sympathetic nerve endings. These results suggest that cyclic 39,59-AMP may have a role in release, acting either in parallel with calcium or indirectly by mobilizing intracellular, bound calcium.
Maintenance therapy for superficial bladder cancer.

The role of maintenance intravesical chemotherapy or immunotherapy in possibly preventing tumor recurrence or progression in the urinary bladder is a recurring question that has continued to elude resolution. Issues of controversy in each case appear to involve study designs that examine (1) whether maintenance therapy is truly effective, and (2) the choice of the best regimen. However, other, probably more fundamental, issues also need to be considered. These issues include the intrinsic biological potential of the various disease forms being treated, mechanism of action of various agents and regimens upon which rationale for their use may be based, and end points used to determine treatment efficacy.
Coupling elasto-plastic self-consistent crystal plasticity and implicit finite elements: Applications to compression, cyclic tension-compression, and bending to large strains

Abstract In this work, we describe a finite element (FE) implementation of an elasto-plastic self-consistent (EPSC) polycrystal plasticity model termed FE-EPSC, which is intended for simulations of metal forming. To this end, we present an analytical Jacobian, which is necessary for the implicit coupling and ensuring a fast convergence. Every FE integration point is a material point that can be represented either by a single crystal or a polycrystalline material. The constituent crystal can deform by a combination of anisotropic elasticity, crystallographic slip, and deformation twinning. The model is validated and applied to a suite of tests, including monotonic compression, cyclic forward loading, unloading and reverse loading and non-monotonic four-point bending, and materials, such as different alloy compositions, crystal structures, and initial microstructures. The same FE-EPSC framework is applied for all these cases with the main differences pertaining to intrinsic properties, such as the available slip and twinning deformation modes, and the material parameters for activating and hardening of these modes. Full characterization for these parameters for high-purity α-Ti is presented here for the first time. Through these examples we show that, in addition to being predictive with great accuracy, the key advantage of this model lies in its versatility. It accounts for the development of backstress aided dislocation glide, thermally activated storage of dislocations, elastic anisotropy, crystallographic slip and deformation twinning via multiple modes, and de-twinning as well as multi-level homogenizations.
Influence of particles on partial discharges and breakdown in oil

Particles influence both AC and DC voltage breakdown in insulating oil. Larger and conducting particles decrease the breakdown voltage most. For both DC and AC the ratio of breakdown voltage for clean oil to oil with non-conducting particles is nearly the same. For conducting particles the ratio for DC is generally larger than for AC. Particle concentration and motion is influenced by DC and AC stress in different ways. Particles may be drawn into or expelled from high stress regions. Fine particles may agglomerate or be dispersed. Particle chains may develop. These complex physical factors have not been related directly to voltage breakdown in the oil. Particles may cause partial discharges to develop in oil but these discharges also have not been related directly to short time breakdown of the oil.
Can vessel buybacks pay off: An evaluation of an industry funded fishing vessel buyback

Abstract Fishing vessel and permit buyback programs have been implemented to reduce excess capacity and improve profitability in a number of fisheries around the world. These programs are generally publicly funded, but in a few cases they have been financed by loans to be paid back by the remaining fleet. In 2003, a buyback permanently removed 91 vessels and 239 fishing permits from the Pacific groundfish trawl fishery and associated corollary fisheries of Dungeness crab and pink shrimp. The buyback was financed with $10 million in public funding and a $36 million loan to be repaid over 30 years with fees on landings. In the same year, a control date was set for catch share program in the groundfish trawl fishery. When the catch share program was implemented in 2011, the permit owners that remained in the fishery after the buyback were allocated the quota shares that would otherwise have been issued to the permits bought back in 2003. Estimates of the annual profits generated by this quota are compared to the cost of servicing the buyback loan. The results provide evidence that a buyback program, when implemented in conjunction with catch shares, can enable a sustained increase in profitability for the remaining vessels sufficient to justify its cost. However, using landings taxes as the mechanism to repay the loan may result in a mismatch between those who benefit from and pay for the buyback.
Wolbachia, bottled water, and the dark side of symbiosis

Obligate endosymbiosis is operationally defined when loss or removal of the endosymbiont from the host results in the death of both. Whereas these relationships are typically viewed as mutualistic, molecular and cellular analysis reveals numerous instances in which these symbiotic relationships are established by alternative, nonmutualistic strategies. The endosymbiont usurps or integrates into core host processes, creating a need where none previously existed. Here I discuss examples of these addictive symbiotic relationships and how they are a likely outcome of all complex evolving systems.
Time-varying coefficient of determination to quantify the explanatory power of biomarkers on longitudinal GFR among children with chronic kidney disease.

Abstract Purpose Coefficients of determination (R 2 ) for continuous longitudinal data are typically reported as time constant, if they are reported at all. The widely used mixed model with random intercepts and slopes yields the total outcome variance as a time-varying function. We propose a generalized and intuitive approach based on this variance function to estimate the time-varying predictive power (R 2 ) of a variable on outcome levels and changes. Methods Using longitudinal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children Study, linear mixed models characterized the R 2 for two chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk factors measured at baseline: a traditional marker (proteinuria) and a novel marker (fibroblast growth factor 23 [FGF23]). Results Time-varying R 2 divulged different disease processes by risk factor and diagnoses. Among children with glomerular CKD, time-varying R 2 for proteinuria had significant upward trends, suggesting increasing power to predict eGFR change, but crossed with FGF23, which was higher up to 2.5 years from baseline. In contrast, among those with nonglomerular CKD, proteinuria explained more than FGF23 at all times, and time-varying R 2 for each risk factor was not substantially different from time-constant estimates. Conclusions Proteinuria and FGF23 explained substantial eGFR variability over time. Time-varying R 2 can characterize predictive roles of risk factors on disease progression, overcome limitations of time-constant estimates, and are easily derived from mixed effects models.
WAVE~Ripples for Change Obesity Two-Year Intervention in High School Soccer Players: Process Evaluation, Best Practices, and Youth Engagement

This paper reports the process data on program fidelity, best practices for intervention implementation, youth and coach engagement, and youth application of knowledge and skills for the two-year WAVE~Ripples for Change (WAVE) obesity prevention intervention program focused on healthy eating, physical activity, and life skills with high school (HS) soccer players aged 14–19 years. Internal (staff: n = 7; volunteers: n = 27) and external (youth: n = 100; coaches: n = 9) stakeholders were interviewed/ surveyed. Staff rated program fidelity as high (94%), as did volunteers (85%). Best practices included coach encouragement for athlete participation, use of on-line consent for enrollment, building relationships with HS staff to complete assessments, sending text reminders, and providing incentives. Study results showed an enrollment rate of 72%, completion of baseline assessments of 89–98%, attendance of sports nutrition lessons in Year 1 and Year 2 of 90% and 39%, respectively, and team-building workshop (TBW) attendance of 25–31%. Activities exceeding youth expectations (>90%) included, (1) activities with their soccer team; (2) the TBW-cooking; and (3) sports nutrition lessons. The obesity prevention skills most applied by youth were obtained from the TBW-gardening and harvesting (49%), the TBW-cooking (43%), and sports nutrition lessons (44%). Coaches also rated the sports nutrition lessons highly and reported increased awareness for hydration/fueling during sport by the athletes. Using sport teams/clubs to engage youth in obesity prevention is a feasible model for future study.
Von Softwareagenten zu Cyber-Physical Systems: Technologien und Anwendungen

Anwendungen fur Softwareagenten sind mannigfaltig. In diesem Kapitel werden einige beispielhafte industrielle Anwendungen beschrieben, gemeinsame Anforderungen daraus abgeleitet und die Weiterentwicklung der gemeinsamen Softwarearchitektur in Richtung Cyber-Physical Systems beschrieben. Eine moderne objekt-funktionale Plattform fur Cyber-Physical Systems SMAS wird vorgestellt. Die Diensteorientierung, die Integration von wissensbasierten Komponenten, wie z. B. Regelmaschinen und Complex Event Processing, in SMAS sowie die graphische Benutzeroberflache werden vorgestellt. Die Leistungsfahigkeit der Plattform wird kurz vorgestellt und anhand einer erste Anwendung im Bereich Energiemanagement wir die enge Kopplung der Software mit industriellen Prozessen vorgestellt.
1-Phosphofructokinase from an anaerobe.

Abstract A soluble 1-phosphofructokinase has been extracted from anaerobic bacteria (Bacteroides symbiosus) and sufficiently purified to reveal its mode of action. The enzyme requires a nucleoside 5'-triphosphate (adenosine, inosine, guanosine, or uridine triphosphate) and magnesium or manganous ions. It has been obtained free from hexokinase, d-glyceraldehyde kinase, aldolase, and reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide oxidase. Sorbose-1-P and fructose-6-P are neither substrates nor inhibitors for the enzyme. A spectrophotometric method for the estimation of fructose 1-phosphate is described. It is recommended that hereafter the phosphofructokinases be clearly identified as to their substrate specificities. The previously reported finding of 6-phosphofructokinase in B. symbiosus was not confirmed.
Traumatic lesions of the diaphragm. Our experience in 33 cases and review of the literature.

We reviewed 33 consecutive patients with diaphragmatic injuries. Twenty-nine were admitted in emergency conditions after blunt (22 patients) or penetrating injury, presenting shock, dyspnoea, coma or acute abdomen in 21 cases ; major associated lesions were found in 23 patients. Four patients presented acute complications of visceral herniation 2, 4, 84 and 216 months after the trauma. The diagnosis was preoperative in 23 cases, intraoperative in 9 ; in one case it was missed at laparotomy, becoming evident the day after. The sensibility of preoperative chest x-ray and CT was 86% and 100% in presence of visceral herniation, 14% and 0% in absence of visceral hernia. The diaphragmatic repair was always obtained by direct suture, following 20 haemostatic procedures (liver, spleen, mesenterium) and two bowel resections. The mortality rate was 24.4% ; the morbidity rate was 48%. Traumatic lesions of the diaphragm are generally expression of particularly severe trauma whose outcome is mainly influenced by the associated lesions. They are also correlated to specific morbidity and mortality, so the surgical exploration is mandatory whenever this injury is suspected, considering that the preoperative diagnosis relies on visceral dislocation. Associated lesions influence the surgical strategy but a direct suture is usually effective in preventing specific complications.
Orientation dependent spall strength of tantalum single crystals

Abstract It is generally recognized that single crystals exhibit orientation-dependent elastic and plastic responses. However, it is less known how the dynamic tensile, or spall, strength depends on crystalline orientation, especially for BCC materials. It has been previously shown that the dynamic tensile strength of FCC materials is highly dependent on their plastic response under compression, with a direct correlation between plastic deformation and spall strength. In BCC materials like Ta, where the primary deformation mechanism at high strain rates is a combination of slip and twinning, the quantitative dependence of spall strength on these deformation mechanisms is less understood. To fill this gap in our knowledge, a series of non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations are completed for six tantalum single crystal orientations: , , , , , , to explore the role of directional anisotropy on ductile spallation. Our results show that due to the role of non-Schmid and release effects in BCC Ta, the evolution of plasticity follows a complex trajectory through shock compression, release, and tension. Orientations that contain residual twinning deformation have a reduced spall strength proportional to the amount of twinning present. Twins and their intersections function as regions of increased stress localization within the system due to compatibility requirements and their interactions with dislocations.
Egg desiccation leads to dehydration and enhanced innate immunity in python embryos.

Abstract The immune system is essential for survival and its performance can vary depending on the physiological state of the organism. Much of the current research into immune function dynamics has examined newborn to adult life stages, despite previous studies documenting physiological responses in embryos to environmental stimuli. While energy balance has been the predominant focus as the driver of changes in immune function, recent research has found a positive relationship between dehydration and innate immune performance in adult reptiles. We expanded the understanding of this relationship by examining trans-generational immune effects of female dehydration as well as the effects of egg desiccation on embryonic hydration state and innate immunity using Children's pythons, Antaresia childreni. We used a 2 × 2 experiment with hydrated or dehydrated mothers and eggs either incubated under continuous optimal conditions or experiencing desiccating conditions for 24 h. Our results demonstrate that, similar to adults, embryos enhance some metrics of innate immunity when they are dehydrated.
Effects of Aloe Vera Gel Extract in Doped Hydroxyapatite-CoatedTitanium Implants on in Vivo and in Vitro Biological Properties

Hydroxyapatite-coated titanium alloys have been a popular choice as bone implants for load-bearing applications for the compositional similarity of hydroxyapatite to natural bone. The limited osteo...
QUANTITATIVE LANDSCAPE EVALUATION FOR OPEN SPACE PLANNING

Twenty-three small stream basins in Pennsylvania were quantitatively assessed for open space suitability. Uniqueness Ratio was used to measure each basin's characteristics relative to all other basins in the sample using physiographic, hydrologic, geologic, botanic, anthropologic, and historic parameters. Wilderness Potential was used to evaluate human impact on and alteration of each basin through measurement of air and water quality, quantity of solid waste, road development, degree of urbanization, and aesthetic impression evaluated in the field. General Aesthetic Impression is based on Field Aesthetic Impression and aesthetic judgments of the scenery as viewed in black-and-white photographs and color transparencies. Demographic information concerning the viewers was also collected. A sum of the ranking of Uniqueness Ratio, Wilderness Potential, and General Aesthetic Impression is proposed here as the best assessment of open space suitability, although these components could be weighted if desired. Results of the study support open space recommendation for some areas which might not have attracted attention. Three basins within state parks showed rankings of one, four, and ten. Wilderness Potential, Field Aesthetic Impression, and viewers ratings of scenic quality, especially of black-and-white photographs, exhibited a high degree of correlation, while Uniqueness Ratio showed no correlation with these variables. Aesthetic judgment of natural landscapes based on black-and-white photographs differed substantially from that of color slides. Stepwise regression models show water and air quality, anthropology, and hydrology best explain aesthetic evaluation of natural landscapes. Results of this study show no evidence that age, sex, education, occupation, degree of involvement in outdoor activities or conservation interest significantly influence aesthetic evaluation of these landscape photographs, and that aesthetic judgments transgress social boundaries.
A house is not a home: modeling the effects of social support and connection within resettled refugee populations.

AIM The U.S. resettlement program currently resettles refugees in communities of similar or the same ethnic background known as like-ethnic communities. This practice provides resettled refugees with a familiar community who may be able to provide support through the difficult resettlement process. However, by associating with a like-ethnic community, resettled refugees may limit interaction with the host community, which may have subsequent adverse effects on well-being. METHODS This study examined whether satisfaction with community support is moderated by a premigration factor (trauma history) or a postmigration factor (English fluency) in predicting depressive symptoms in a resettled refugee community (N = 179). Four moderation models were analyzed and compared. RESULTS The model in which English fluency moderated the relationship between satisfaction with community support and depressive symptoms had the best overall model fit. In addition, trauma history was found to also be a meaningful but secondary moderator within this relationship. English fluency and trauma history within this study did not significantly interact. CONCLUSION These results highlight the importance of early English language lessons and community support during resettlement. Further, they emphasize the need to integrate refugees with individuals from similar backgrounds, as well as with host communities throughout resettlement.
Effect of medical comorbidities on treatment regimen and survival in T3/T4 laryngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVE Investigate the impact of medical comorbidities on treatment regimen and overall survival (OS) in patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective Review of the National Cancer Database (NCDB). METHODS The NCDB was queried for patients with T3 and T4 laryngeal cancer. Comorbidity scores were calculated from the Charlson-Deyo comorbidity index (CDCI). Univariate and multivariate analyses explored the association of CDCI scores on treatment regimen and OS. RESULTS 14,053 patients were analyzed. 65% of patients had a CDCI score of 0, whereas 25%, 7%, and 3% had CDCI score of 1, 2, and ≥3, respectively. As patients' CDCI increased, they became more likely to receive treatment options other than a laryngectomy or chemoradiation therapy (CRT) (P < 0.0001). Patients with CDCI ≥1 were more likely have a laryngectomy than those with CDCI 0 (P < 0.0001). In patients with T3 tumors, OS did not differ between those receiving CRT versus laryngectomy with any CDCI score. In patients with T4 tumors, laryngectomy was associated with improved OS compared to CRT across all CDCI scores except CDCI ≥3. CONCLUSION Our results support the current national guidelines with a recommendation for CRT or TL for T3 tumors and a preference for TL for T4 tumors. These outcomes are generally consistent in patients as their CDCI scores increases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA Laryngoscope, 130:1459-1464, 2020.
Fibromyalgia Assessment Screening Tools (FAST) Based on Only Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) Scores as Clues to Fibromyalgia.

Objective The study was designed to develop fibromyalgia assessment screening tool (FAST) indices based only on multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ) scores as clues to fibromyalgia (FM), analyzed for possible agreement with the 2011 FM criteria. Methods All patients with all diagnoses complete an MDHAQ at each visit in routine care. The MDHAQ includes scores for physical function, pain, global assessment, fatigue, self-report painful joint count, and a 60-symptom checklist. MDHAQ items similar or identical to the 2011 FM criteria symptom severity scale (SSS) and widespread pain index (WPI) components of a polysymptomatic distress scale (PSD) were compiled into continuous MDHAQ-FM-SSS, MDHAQ-FM-WPI, and MDHAQ-FM-PSD indices. Ten candidate MDHAQ scores were analyzed against the 2011 FM criteria using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, kappa statistics, and receiver operating characteristic curves for the area under the curve (AUC). MDHAQ candidate variables with the highest AUC were compiled into cumulative MDHAQ-FAST indices of three (FAST3) or four (FAST4) scores. Results The highest AUCs among MDHAQ scores were seen for symptom checklist, painful joint count, fatigue, and pain, which are included in FAST4; FAST3-F excludes pain, and FAST3-P excludes fatigue. AUCs for FAST3-P, FAST3-F, and FAST4, as well as continuous MDHAQ-FM scores, all were greater than 0.92, indicating excellent criterion validity. Kappa statistics versus the 2011 criteria were 0.63-0.68, higher than 0.41-0.47 versus physician ICD-10 diagnoses. Conclusion Pragmatic FAST3, FAST4, and MDHAQ-FM indices are similar to FM criteria to screen for FM in routine care. It is more feasible to collect the same MDHAQ, which is informative in all rheumatic diseases studied, from each patient than to ask different patients with different diagnoses to complete different questionnaires.
Evaluation of Methods to Produce an Image Library for Automatic Patient Model Localization for Dose Mapping During Fluoroscopically-Guided Procedures.

The purpose of this work is to evaluate methods for producing a library of 2D-radiographic images to be correlated to clinical images obtained during a fluoroscopically-guided procedure for automated patient-model localization. The localization algorithm will be used to improve the accuracy of the skin-dose map superimposed on the 3D patient- model of the real-time Dose-Tracking-System (DTS). For the library, 2D images were generated from CT datasets of the SK-150 anthropomorphic phantom using two methods: Schmid’s 3D-visualization tool and Plastimatch’s digitally-reconstructed-radiograph (DRR) code. Those images, as well as a standard 2D-radiographic image, were correlated to a 2D-fluoroscopic image of a phantom, which represented the clinical-fluoroscopic image, using the Corr2 function in Matlab. The Corr2 function takes two images and outputs the relative correlation between them, which is fed into the localization algorithm. Higher correlation means better alignment of the 3D patient-model with the patient image. In this instance, it was determined that the localization algorithm will succeed when Corr2 returns a correlation of at least 50%. The 3D-visualization tool images returned 55-80% correlation relative to the fluoroscopic-image, which was comparable to the correlation for the radiograph. The DRR images returned 61-90% correlation, again comparable to the radiograph. Both methods prove to be sufficient for the localization algorithm and can be produced quickly; however, the DRR method produces more accurate grey-levels. Using the DRR code, a library at varying angles can be produced for the localization algorithm.