cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
51 Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Bariatric Surgery Patients

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disease that affects up to 24 % of North American adults and is characterized by partial or complete airway obstructions that occur during sleep (Young et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 165(9):1217–39, 2002). Patients with OSA suffer from loud snoring, fragmented sleep, daytime somnolence, and cardiorespiratory sequelae (hypoxia) which may go undiagnosed for years. There is a strong link between obesity and OSA, with the typical patient being overweight with numerous comorbidities; thus, a keen understanding of the perioperative diagnosis and management of sleep apnea is paramount when caring for bariatric surgery patients. Sleep apnea is also one of the many comorbidities that improve or resolve after bariatric surgery (Greenburg et al., Am J Med. 122(6):535–42, 2009). This chapter will review the pathophysiology, clinical features, preoperative evaluation, perioperative management, and postoperative outcomes of OSA in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.
Progressive pulmonary venous obstruction and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis associated with tetralogy of Fallot

Stenosis of individual pulmonary veins is a rare condition associated with a very high mortality. The present report is the first known case of progressive pulmonary venous obstruction associated with the tetralogy of Fallot. This clinical and anatomical study suggests that initial dynamic and possibly reversible occlusion occurs at the junction of the pulmonary vein and left atrium. Anatomical lesions in pulmonary veins then develop, possibly secondary to functional stenosis. The usually fatal outcome of these cases is due to the development of fixed pulmonary venous occlusion and possibly pulmonary interstitial fibrosis. The rapid progression of pulmonary venous stenosis strongly suggests that discrete veno-atrial stenosis should be surgically corrected as early as possible to prevent the irreversible diffuse pulmonary venous obstruction associated with an invariably fatal prognosis.
Impaired Nrf2 regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis in rostral ventrolateral medulla on hypertension induced by systemic inflammation

Oxidative stress in rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), where sympathetic premotor neurons reside, is involved in the development of hypertension under systemic inflammation. Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to tissue oxidative stress. In this study, we sought to investigate whether hypertension developed under systemic inflammation is attributable to impaired mitochondrial biogenesis in RVLM. In normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats, intraperitoneal infusion of a low dose Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 7 days promoted a pressor response, alongside a decrease in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, reductions in protein expression of nuclear DNA-encoded transcription factors for mitochondrial biogenesis, including mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) and nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2), and suppression of nuclear translocation of the phosphorylated Nrf2 (p-Nrf2) in RVLM neurons; all of which were abrogated by treatment with intracisternal infusion of an interleukin-1β (IL-1β) blocker, IL-1Ra, or a mobile mitochondrial electron carrier, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Microinjection into RVLM of IL-1β suppressed the expressions of p-Nrf2 and TFAM, and evoked a pressor response; conversely, the Nrf2 inducer, tert-butylhydroquinone, lessened the LPS-induced suppression of TFAM expression and pressor response. At cellular level, exposure of neuronal N2a cells to IL-1β decreased mtDNA copy number, increased protein interaction of Nrf2 to its negative regulator, kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), and reduced DNA binding activity of p-Nrf2 to Tfam gene. Together these results indicate that defect mitochondrial biogenesis in RVLM neurons entailing redox-sensitive and IL-1β-dependent suppression of TFAM because of the increase in the formation of Keap1/Nrf2 complex, reductions in nuclear translocation of the activated Nrf2 and its binding to the Tfam gene promoter may underlie hypertension developed under the LPS-induced systemic inflammation.
Abstract 3443: Associations of immune-related conditions with squamous cell and basal cell skin cancer risk

Elevated risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin has been identified in a number of clinical populations with conditions affecting the immune system, such as organ transplant recipients and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. However, because many other immune-related conditions are rare, their relationships with SCC and BCC have not been studied. We used Medicare claims to identify SCC and BCC cases in 2012 and to select controls in 2012 matched on sex and age with a 10:1 ratio. All subjects were of white race. For cases and controls, we used Medicare claims during 1999-2011 to identify 44 immune-related conditions (immunosuppressive conditions, autoimmune diseases, hematologic malignancies, and allergic diseases). The statistical significance of associations was determined after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. In Medicare in 2012, there were a total of 470,756 SCC and 601,863 BCC cases. Of the 44 immune-related conditions included, SCC was associated with 41 (93%) and BCC was associated with 31 (70%). For most conditions, SCC was more strongly associated than BCC. We identified significant associations of SCC and BCC risk with well-characterized conditions, such as HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, and allergic rhinitis (SCC odds ratios (ORs) of 1.64, 1.29, and 1.29, respectively; BCC ORs of 1.60, 1.10, and 1.22; Table), as well as with poorly characterized or rare conditions, such as deficiency of cell-mediated immunity and polyarteritis nodosa (SCC ORs of 2.87 and 1.92; BCC ORs of 1.55 and 1.49). In conclusion, most immune-related conditions in our study indicated an elevated risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, particularly SCC. These findings provide evidence that immune dysfunction, as manifest across a wide range of conditions, may play an important role in development of SCC and BCC. Possible mechanisms could include direct effects of immune-related conditions or their treatments. Citation Format: Elizabeth L. Yanik, Ruth M. Pfeiffer, D. Michal Freedman, Eric A. Engels. Associations of immune-related conditions with squamous cell and basal cell skin cancer risk. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3443.
The Metaphysics of Capitalism

Joan Robinson once famously wrote that while Marxist writers had Marx in their mouths, she had Marx in her bones. While a proclaimed Marxian scholar may assert an understanding of Marx’s meaning by...
Decay of 9.3-h Zn 62 to Cu 62

The excited levels of ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{62}$ have been investigated from the decay of ${\mathrm{Zn}}^{62}$ with Ge(Li), Si(Li), and standard scintillation counters. $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays of energy 0.042, 0.245, 0.260, 0.395, 0.505, 0.547, 0.595, and 0.682 MeV have been observed to decay with a half-life of 9.3 h. With the help of $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence study, a consistent scheme of levels at 0.042, 0.287, 0.547, 0.637, and 0.682 MeV in ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{62}$ has been obtained. The spin and parity assignments of some of the excited levels of ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{62}$ are discussed. The half-life of the 42-keV level is measured by delayed coincidence to be (2.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ sec.
Rhabdomyolysis and autoimmune variant stiff-person syndrome

Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurologic disorder characterized by waxing and waning muscular rigidity, stiffness and spasms. Three subtypes have been described: paraneoplastic, autoimmune and idiopathic. Rhabdomyolysis has been described in the paraneoplastic variant, but to our knowledge no case has been reported involving the autoimmune variant. We report a case report of a 50-year-old man with history of SPS who presented with recurrent episodes of severe limb and back spasms. He was hospitalized on two separate occasions for uncontrollable spasms associated with renal failure and creatinine phosphokinase elevations of 55,000 and 22,000 U/L respectively. Laboratory tests were otherwise unremarkable. The acute renal failure resolved during both admissions with supportive management. Rhabdomyolysis has the potential to be fatal and early diagnosis is essential. It should be considered in patients who have SPS and are experiencing an exacerbation of their neurologic condition.
An Analysis of Returns of Moderately Aged Buyout Funds with Low Residual Values

In this article, the authors conduct a study dedicated principally to moderately aged leveraged buyout funds that have had the opportunity for multiple portfolio company liquidations, or have been fully liquidated. Examining 186 funds in the vintage years from 2000 to 2007 with complete cash flow data from the Preqin database, they find that 61% of funds beat the S&P 500 Index plus 3% (a common benchmark), and 39% did not. Funds originated during the boom years (2005 to 2007) are less successful, with 41% beating the benchmark to date, and 59% falling short. Thus, they find that funds from the earlier vintage years have better performance, relative to broad equity market benchmarks, than those from later years. The later vintage year funds have larger RVPIs than the early vintage year funds, most of which had been fully liquidated. In addition, the authors find that larger funds tend to perform better than small funds, and moderately-liquidated funds tend to have worse results than mostly-liquidated funds. Lastly, in examining a group of fund families with three or more funds, they find no strong evidence of consistency.
Ernest Hemingway and His Growth as a Political Activist in the 1930s

Ernest Hemingway was one the United States’ most famous authors of the twentieth century. Known primarily for his fiction, Hemingway was also a journalist and a political commentator. Although he was reluctant in his early years to share his political beliefs with a wide audience, as he grew older and the political events of the 1930s grew more ominous, Hemingway went to Spain to cover the Spanish Civil War as a journalist. Although he began with a more neutral approach to the fighting in Spain, as the war wore on, Hemingway openly became a strong supporter of the Republican cause. He then began to work as a political commentator for the magazine Ken , openly espousing an antifascist view, clearly breaking with his previously neutral approach to world affairs, continuing this position with the publication of his world-famous novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls . By the 1940s Hemingway was internationally known and his political beliefs were an integral part of who he was.
Financial Analysis of Scale Versus Lump Sum Timber Sale Payment Methods

Abstract A financial analysis of two methods commonly used by public land management agencies to collect payment for stumpage sold was carried out using data from the St. Louis County Minerals and Land Department (SLCMLD) in northern Minnesota. The two payment methods evaluated were scale (also called pay-as-cut and consumer scale) where the buyer only pays for timber harvested and lump sum (also called sold-on-appraised-volume or SOAV) where a buyer pays for the entire tract’s estimated volume, regardless of the amount of timber actually harvested. The analysis found no significant difference in gross timber sale revenue collected by the SLCMLD under the two payment methods Scaled timber sales incurred an additional $323 in administrative costs per timber sale compared to lump sum timber sales. This increase in administrative costs represents less than 1% of the timber value contained in the average SLCMLD timber sale. Differences in the standards agencies use to estimate merchantable stand volume of a timber sale and the administrative time spent processing timber sales can impact the financial costs associated with each timber payment method.
Neutral and presumptive doubt perspectives of professional skepticism and auditor job outcomes

Abstract This study examines the impact of auditor traits that measure the two predominant perspectives of professional skepticism (i.e., the neutral perspective and the presumptive doubt perspective) on critical job outcomes within the audit profession (i.e., organizational citizenship behaviors and turnover intentions). Using a sample of 176 auditors, we find that the neutral perspective of professional skepticism has a positive effect on the career trajectory of audit professionals (e.g., lower turnover intentions) through higher levels of perceived partner support for professional skepticism whereas the presumptive doubt perspective of professional skepticism has a negative effect on the career trajectory of audit professionals (e.g., higher turnover intentions) through lower levels of perceived partner support for professional skepticism. These results present a troubling dilemma for the auditing profession. That is, while presumptive doubt skeptics potentially improve audit quality (Hurtt, Brown-Liburd, Earley, & Krishnamoorthy, 2013; Quadackers, Groot, & Wright, 2014), we find that presumptive doubt skeptics report lower levels of organizational citizenship behaviors and are less likely to remain within the auditing profession. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Evaluation of pharmacy students' knowledge and perceptions of pharmacogenetics before and after a simulation activity.

Abstract Background and purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate students’ knowledge and perceptions of the clinical application of pharmacogenetics through a simulation activity and to assess communication of pharmacogenetic-guided treatment recommendations utilizing standardized patients. Educational activity and setting Third-year students in the four-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program at University of South Florida College of Pharmacy completed a pharmacogenetics simulation involving a patient case review, interpretation of pharmacogenetic test results, completion of a situation, background, assessment, recommendation (SBAR) note with drug therapy recommendations, and patient counseling. Voluntary assessments were completed before and after the simulation, which included demographics, knowledge, and perceptions of students’ ability to interpret and communicate pharmacogenetic results. Findings Response rates for the pre- and post-simulation assessments were 109 (98%) and 104 (94%), respectively. Correct responses in application-type questions improved after the simulation (74%) compared to before the simulation (44%, p Discussion and summary The simulation gave students an opportunity to apply pharmacogenetics knowledge and allowed them to gain an appreciation of pharmacists’ roles within the pharmacogenetics field.
Relaxation of structural constraints during Amicyanin unfolding.

We study the thermal unfolding of amicyanin by quantifying the resiliency of the native state to structural perturbations. Three signatures characterizing stages of unfolding are identified. The first signature, lateral extension of the polypeptide chain, is calculated directly from the reported crystallographic data. Two other signatures, the radial displacement of each residue from Cu(II) and the angular spread in the chain as the protein unfolds, are calculated using crystallographic data in concert with a geometrical model we introduced previously (J.J. Kozak, H. B. Gray, R. A. Garza-Lopez, J. Inorg. Biochem. 155(2016) 44–55). Particular attention is paid to the resiliency of the two beta sheets in amicyanin. The resiliency of residues in the near neighborhood of the Cu center to destabilization provides information on the persistence of the entatic state. Similarly, examining the resiliency of residues intercalated between structured regions (beta sheets, the alpha helix) provides a basis for identifying a “hydrophobic core.” A principal focus of our study is to compare results obtained using our geometrical model with the experimental results (C. La Rosa, D. Milardi, D. M. Grasso, M. P. Verbeet, G. W. Canters, L. Sportelli, R. Guzzi, Eur. Biophy. J.30(8),(2002) 559–570) on the denaturation of amicyanin, and we show that our results support a classical model proposed by these authors.
A two-step gradient estimation approach for setting supply chain operating parameters

Abstract In earlier work, we found retrospective optimization to be effective for setting policy parameters in supply chains with relatively simple structures. This method finds these parameters by solving an integer program over a single randomly generated sample path. Initial efforts to extend this methodology to more complex settings were in many cases too slow to be effective. In response to this, in this research we combine retrospective optimization over a relatively short time horizon with stochastic approximation gradient search algorithms, an approach that proves to be fast and effective. We compare this approach to retrospective optimization without gradient search on simple serial supply chains where the solution is known, and then use it for effective inventory positioning in more complex biopharmaceutical supply chains.
Many-body Effects in Spin-polarized Transport

This chapter is about the role of electron–electron interactions in spin-polarized transport. It begins with a review of the drift–diffusion theory of spin transport in the presence of electron–electron interactions. The formulation of the theory differs from the usual noninteracting formulation due to the presence of off-diagonal elements in the resistivity, diffusion, and susceptibility matrices. The central concept of spin Coulomb drag (SCD) is introduced phenomenologically and is immediately applied to the study of spin-packet evolution and spin valve devices. I then review the microscopic theory of the SCD and the intimately related concept of spin mass. Recent experiments on the SCD are described. As a final application, the spin Hall conductivity of a doped semiconductor is calculated in the presence of electron–electron interactions.
Genetic and Biochemical Aspects of Reproductive Failure

A few years ago, Wilson (1959) proposed a schematic representation of the growing embryo and some of its relationships to its environment (Fig. 1). It is apparent that genetic and biochemical factors are likely to play a role at various stages of development in this embryo. The early development is sustained by the genetic information stored in the egg during “oogenesis.” Following fertilization, there is a sequential development of the various forms of RNA leading ultimately to the laying down of specific proteins. Certain enzyme systems are undoubtedly involved in the induction of chemical processes and others probably in differentiation and organ formation. Functional immaturity of these enzyme systems can extend into the neonatal period and will sometimes alter the future development of the liveborn infant.
Influence of Airfoil Shape and Incidence Angle on High-Frequency Gust Interaction Noise

A theoretical model is developed for noise generated by the interaction of convected vortical and entropic disturbances with a thin airfoil in a subsonic mean flow. The primary objective is to determine how the airfoil thickness, camber and incidence angle affect the unsteady interaction and the resultant sound field. The analysis is based on a linearization of the unsteady motion about the steady, compressible flow past the airfoil. The solution is developed using singular perturbation methods, with the gust and sound wavelengths assumed short compared to the airfoil chord (k = ωb/U ∞ >> 1). The thickness, camber and incidence angle are assumed to be small (ϵ<<1 ) and the product ϵk is assumed to be O(1). The sound generation is concentrated in the local leading-edge region, which scales on the gust wavelength, with the trailing edge only scattering the leading-edge field. Away from the airfoil edges, there is an outer region in which the solution has a multiple-scales behavior. There are also transition regions which extend over domains of angular width \( O(1/\sqrt k ) \) along and behind the airfoil. We find that the influence of airfoil camber and incidence angle on the total far-field sound power is correlated by the parameter \( {\alpha _{eff}}\sqrt k \) where α eff measure of the strength of the local mean flow around the leading edge. Similarly, the influence of airfoil thickness on the total far-field sound power is correlated by the parameter \( \sqrt S \) where S = ωr n /U ∞ is a Strouhal number based on the airfoil nose radius.
A Scalable 64-Element 280Hz Phased-Array Transceiver with 50 dBm EIRP and 8–12 Gbps 5G Link at 300 Meters without any Calibration

This paper presents a 28 GHz 5G communication link using 64-element (8×8) phased-arrays. The design is based on quad-core (2×2) transmit/receive (TRX) beamformer chips with 6-bit phase control in SiGe BiCMOS. Sixteen of these chips are assembled on a 12-layer printed circuit board (PCB) together with a Wilkinson combiner/divider network and stacked patch antennas. The antenna can achieve an $\mathbf{S}_{11}$ bandwidth of 4 GHz (28–32 GHz) and the array has a measured saturated EIRP of 50 dBm with 5 GHz 3-dB bandwidth. The phased-array can scan to $\pm \mathbf{50}^{\circ}$ in azimuth (H-plane) and $\pm \mathbf{25}^{\circ}$ in elevation (E-plane) with low sidelobes and without any calibration. A 300 meter wireless link is demonstrated with a data rate of 8–12 Gbps over all scan angles using 16-/64-QAM waveforms. To our knowledge, this is the highest data rate at the longest link distance demonstrated for a single-beam 28 GHz 5G array.
Multiscale topology optimization using neural network surrogate models

Abstract We are concerned with optimization of macroscale elastic structures that are designed utilizing spatially varying microscale metamaterials. The macroscale optimization is accomplished using gradient-based nonlinear topological optimization. But instead of using density as the optimization decision variable, the decision variables are the multiple parameters that define the local microscale metamaterial. This is accomplished using single layer feedforward Gaussian basis function networks as a surrogate models of the elastic response of the microscale metamaterial. The surrogate models are trained using highly resolved continuum finite element simulations of the microscale metamaterials and hence are significantly more accurate than analytical models e.g. classical beam theory . Because the derivative of the surrogate model is important for sensitivity analysis of the macroscale topology optimization , a neural network training procedure based on the Sobolev norm is described. Since the SIMP method is not appropriate for spatially varying lattices , an alternative method is developed to enable creation of void regions. The efficacy of this approach is demonstrated via several examples in which the optimal graded metamaterial outperforms a traditional solid structure.
Microcystin Levels in Selected Cyanobacteria Exposed to Varying Salinity.

Microcystins produced by cyanobacteria pose a great threat to human health by releasing toxins upon cell death. In the present study, we studied microcystin production in the cyanobacterial strains Anabaena cylindrica (B629 and 2949) and Fremyella diplosiphon (SF33) exposed to 1, 2 and 4 g/L sodium chloride (NaCl). Cultures grown for 7 days in BG11/HEPES medium were pelleted, re-grown in the corresponding NaCl levels, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) performed. ELISA assays revealed enhanced microcystin production in A. cylindrica B629 exposed to 4 g/L NaCl and A. cylindrica 29414 exposed to 2 and 4 g/L NaCl, after growth in the corresponding NaCl levels for 14 days. We observed a significant decrease (p > 0.05) in microcystin levels in the control strains after exposure to NaCl for 5 days. After exposure to 1, 2, or 4 g/L NaCl for 10 days, no microcystin release was observed in A. cylindrica B629, A. cylindrica 29414 or F. diplosiphon SF33. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis identified the presence of an additional band at 120 - 130 kDa in A. cylindrica B629 exposed to 2 and 4 g/L NaCl, and at 14 kDa in cultures amended with 1 and 2 g/L NaCl as well as the untreated control, indicating that exposure to salinity induces alterations in protein expression.
(Invited) Coupled Experimental and Numerical Investigation of High-Voltage GaN HEMTs

GaN HEMT devices with source-connected field-plates are characterized thermally to quantify their performance. A Thermoreflectance approach is used to obtain surface temperature maps of the unobstructed GaN junction areas. Different temperature behaviors on different power levels are found. In addition, a 3D thermal model is used to simulate the temperature distribution of the device. The simulation results show good correspondence with the experimental data.
Gender Differences in Behavior: Confluence of Nature and Nurture

It has, in recent times, become fashionable in some circles to deny that there are gender-related behaviors to be addressed; to assert that there are no differences between men and women apart from trivial anatomical ones and perhaps certain superficial behavioral traits that are exclusively the product of differential socialization experience, often a socialization experience that is said to favor males. The political goal of equality of opportunity of the sexes does not require for its validity the assumption of biobehavioral sexual homogeneity, needless to say; in any event, that assumption is in fact empirically untenable. Psychological differences between males and females, in terms of central tendency, are manifold across a broad range of traits, and they are often “basic” in the sense of making their appearance prior to any substantial contact with the social environment. Julia Sherman (1971) provides a thorough review of these findings. On the other hand, as will be seen in what follows, the sex-typing proclivities of the social environment are normally exceedingly intense in their deployment and extremely powerful in their effects. However, to reiterate again, the central issue is not that of determining how much of the outcome variance is attributable to nature and how much to nurture (even if that were possible) but of understanding the manner in which innate predispositions affect and are affected by the vicissitudes of life experience.
Challenges of Obesity Medicine and Bariatric Surgery

Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic. Treatment options range from diet and exercise to various bariatric procedures, with the gastric sleeve now the most commonly performed operation. The landscape of bariatric procedures has changed over the last decade and has had an impact on the patients that present for body contouring after weight loss. This chapter discusses the trends in obesity and bariatric surgery. Concepts of weight creep, residual obesity, and body type are reviewed, and strategies to deal with these issues are presented. Body mass index at the time of surgery is addressed to determine who is an appropriate candidate for body contouring, and options for optimizing patients are discussed. Collaborative social support systems and programs uniting bariatrics, weight management, and plastic surgery services are reviewed.
President Donald J. Trump and the Clemency Power: Is Claiming “Unfair” Treatment for Pardon Recipients the New “Fake News”?

President Donald J. Trump commuted four prison sentences and pardoned seven offenders in the first half of his first term in office. He often justified his decision to grant mercy as his way to address “unfair” treatment by the federal judicial system. The word “unfair” has been repeated so frequently that one wonders whether it may be a calculated branding decision, much like Trump redefined “fake news” to describe not just untrue stories, but any unfavorable media reports. In this chapter, Jeffrey Crouch considers each of Trump’s clemency decisions and then discuss the “self-pardon” question. He concludes with a look at several clemency reform proposals.
The poverty of plastics bans: Environmentalism’s win is a loss for disabled people:

Recent proposals in US cities to ban single-use plastic straws have been adopted quickly and met with little resistance. Environmentalists consider this a small but important win for reducing the h...
1603 Fibroid Mapping with MRI to Optimize Surgical Planning

Video Objective This video discusses the use of preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to optimize surgical planning of laparoscopic myomectomies in patients with multiple fibroids desiring future fertility. Setting University hospital that serves as a referral center for patients desiring myomectomies. We will present two patients with multiple fibroids and infertility who elected to undergo surgical intervention. MRI's were obtained and we will highlight the use of imaging to assist in the surgical planning of the myomectomy procedure. Interventions For both patients, preoperative pelvic MRI (with and without contrast) was performed. Multiple fibroids were found and T2 images in 3 planes were used to map fibroid location in relation to key anatomical structures (Endometrium, cornua, cervix, etc). This critical information allows for efficient intra-operative management and resection of fibroids reducing the risk of recurrence. Anticipating endometrial involvement may allow for resection without compromising the integrity of the endometrial cavity which could have a significant impact on fertility and mode of delivery. Conclusion In the setting of 4 or more fibroids, MRI is likely superior to ultrasound for the purposes of preoperative planning. Mapping techniques helps surgeons plan efficient resection of the pathology to optimize surgical outcomes.
Viscoelastic second normal stress difference dominated multiple-stream particle focusing in microfluidic channels

Particle focusing in viscoelastic fluid flow is a promising approach for inducing particle separations in microfluidic devices. The results from theoretical studies indicated that multiple stream particle focusing can be realized with a large magnitude of the elastic second normal stress difference (N2). For dilute polymer solutions, theoretical and experimental studies show that the magnitude of N2 is never large, no matter how large the polymer molecular weight nor how high the shear rate. However, for concentrated entangled polymer solutions, the magnitude of N2 becomes large at high shear rates. Therefore, in order to test the hypothesis that N2 can be used to induce multiple particle stream focusing behavior, we perform the systematic study of the effects of increasing carrier fluid polymer concentrations in a microchannel containing fluorescent particles. In a dilute polymer solution, multiple particle stream focusing is not observed, even at high shear rates and large dimensionless Weissenberg number values (Wi ≈ 30) at which the elastic first normal stress difference (N1) and the viscosity shear-thinning should be very large, while in a concentrated entangled polymer solution, we observe that particle streams focused upon the channel centerline bifurcate to form two symmetric off-channel particle streams at higher shear rates. This particle focusing behavior is different from previous multiple-stream focusing phenomena, and that we attribute to the influence of the second normal stress difference N2. This N2 induced multiple stream focusing phenomenon provides a different approach for manipulating the particle trajectory and separation in a microchannel.
Using Machine Learning for Model Physics: an Overview

In the overview, a generic mathematical object (mapping) is introduced, and its relation to model physics parameterization is explained. Machine learning (ML) tools that can be used to emulate and/or approximate mappings are introduced. Applications of ML to emulate existing parameterizations, to develop new parameterizations, to ensure physical constraints, and control the accuracy of developed applications are described. Some ML approaches that allow developers to go beyond the standard parameterization paradigm are discussed.
Developing a College-Going Habitus: How First-Generation Latina/o/x Students Bi-directionally Exchange Familial Funds of Knowledge and Capital within Their Familias

This qualitative study analyzes interviews with 17 first-generation Latina/o/x students. This study bridges funds of knowledge and social reproduction theory to examine the bi-directional exchange ...
Lesions of the lateral entorhinal cortex disrupt non-spatial latent learning but spare spatial latent learning in the rat (Rattus norvegicus)

The current study examined the function of the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) in a non-spatial latent learning task and a spatial latent learning task. Latent learning is the acquisition of neutral information that does not immediately influence behavior, but can be recalled and utilized when it becomes relevant to the animal. Based on previous research, it was predicted that the LEC would be necessary for latent learning of non-spatial information, but would not be necessary for latent learning of spatial information. Forty-two male Sprague Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus) were either given pretraining neurotoxic lesions restricted to the LEC or were given sham (SH) lesions. The rats were then trained and tested on two latent learning tasks: the Latent Cue Preference (LCP) task which assesses single-cue (non-spatial) latent learning and a spatial latent learning task utilizing a Barnes maze. Results showed that rats with LEC lesions were impaired on the nonspatial LCP task compared to SH rats, but showed no impairment on the spatial latent learning task. Therefore, the LEC appears to be selectively involved in processing non-spatial latent learning and does not process, or is at least not necessary for, spatial latent learning. These findings indicate a specific role of the LEC in information processing and provide new information about the function of the entorhinal cortex.
9 – Best Practices

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the best practices gleaned from cases and consultations across the country. The most important practice would be to catalog everything, including the decisions investigators make, and rely on the records and the good faith efforts of field detectives and the strategies pursued. Most, if not all, investigations usually produce the name of the suspect within the first 30 to 45 days. It is often what happens inside the management procedures and information filing systems of the task force that obfuscates what the investigators learn from their field work. Task forces can work if the task force learns how to simplify its procedures, stay out of its own way, and consistently review all the records relating to each of the victims, the murder sites, the contact sites, and any other relevant sites associated with the cases. The suspect's name is already there. All the task force has to do is find him or her.
Neuromuscular function in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed patients at long-term follow-up.

Abstract Background The permanence of neuromuscular adaptations following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is not known. The aim of this study was to compare bilateral muscle co-contraction indices, time to peak ground reaction force, and timing of muscle onset between anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction subjects 10–15 years post reconstruction with those of matched uninjured controls during a one-leg hop landing. Methods Nine healthy controls and 9 reconstruction subjects were recruited. Clinical and functional knee exams were administered. Lower limb co-contraction indices, time to peak ground reaction force, and muscle onset times were measured bilaterally. Differences in clinical and functional outcomes were assessed with unpaired t-tests, and mixed model repeated measures were used to examine effects of group, limb and interaction terms in electromyography measures. Findings 89% of control knees were clinically “normal”, whereas only 33% of reconstructed knees were “normal”. Anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed subjects tended to achieve shorter functional hop distances but demonstrated symmetrical lower limb electromyography measures that were no different from those of controls' with the exception that biceps femoris activation was delayed bilaterally prior to ground contact but was greater during the injury risk phase of landing. Interpretation With the exception of hamstring activation, lower limb electromyography measures were largely similar between ligament-reconstructed and matched control subjects, which was in contrast to the clinical findings. This result brings into question the significance of neuromuscular function at this long-term follow-up but raises new questions regarding the role of symmetry and pre-injury risk.
High-resolution CubeSat imagery and machine learning for detailed snow-covered area

Abstract Snow cover affects a diverse array of physical, ecological, and societal systems. As such, the development of optical remote sensing techniques to measure snow-covered area (SCA) has enabled progress in a wide variety of research domains. However, in many cases, the spatial and temporal resolutions of currently available remotely sensed SCA products are insufficient to capture SCA evolution at spatial and temporal resolutions relevant to the study of fine-scale spatially heterogeneous phenomena. We developed a convolutional neural network-based method to identify snow covered area using the ~3 m, 4-band PlanetScope optical satellite image dataset with ~daily, near-global coverage. By comparing our model performance to snow extent derived from high-resolution airborne lidar differential depth measurements and satellite platforms in two North American sites (Sierra Nevada, CA, USA and Rocky Mountains, CO, USA), we show that these emerging image archives have great potential to accurately observe snow-covered area at high spatial and temporal resolutions despite limited radiometric bandwidth and band placement. We achieve average snow classification F-Scores of 0.73 in our training basin and 0.67 in a climatically-distinct out-of-sample basin, suggesting opportunities for model transferability. We also evaluate the performance of these data in forested regions, suggesting avenues for further research. The unparalleled spatial and temporal coverage of CubeSat imagery offers an excellent opportunity for satellite remote sensing of snow, with real implications for ecological and water resource applications.
Influences of Caregiving on Development: A Sensitive Period for Biological Embedding of Predictability and Safety Cues:

Across species, caregivers exert a powerful influence on the neural and behavioral development of offspring. Increasingly, both animal and human research has highlighted specific patterns in caregi...
Adjoint-Based Inversion of Geodetic Data for Sources of Deformation and Strain

Author(s): Smith, JT; Vasco, DW | Abstract: An adjoint-based formulation leads to a particularly efficient approach for inverting geodetic measurements for the source of the deformation. Specifically, the quantities necessary to iteratively improve the fit to the observations can be computed with just three forward calculations, one to obtain the current residuals, another to solve the adjoint problem, and a third to compute the step length. An inversion algorithm utilizing the adjoint-based gradient is applied to a set of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data gathered between 2016 and 2018 over the Tulare Basin in California's Central Valley. Because the measured deformation is due to groundwater withdrawal, a penalty function is included in the inversion to avoid placing aquifer volume change in locations that are far from any documented wells. The solution of the inverse problem provides estimates of aquifer compaction that provide a match to the observed range changes while honoring the well data. The solution indicates an average aquifer volume loss of 2.17 (Formula presented.) /year over the two year period from January 2016 to January 2018, encompassing one drought year (2016) and one wet year (2017). This magnitude of lost volume is compatible with the 3.1 (Formula presented.) /year decrease in water volume for the entire Central Valley, estimated from GRACE satellite gravity data.
Timing of delamination of biodegradable temporizing matrix prior to cultured epidermal autografting in burn reconstruction: A case report with literature review

Abstract Background For extensively burned patients in whom donor sites for skin coverage are scarce, cultured epidermal autografting (CEA) is a reliable method for developing tissue coverage. A biodegradable temporizing matrix (BTM) can be applied for wound bed temporization while CEA is being manufactured. This temporizing matrix allows for the integration of vascular tissue supporting a neodermis onto which a skin graft can be applied. Delamination of the sealing membrane overlying this neodermis is required before skin grafting. CEA manufacturer guidelines suggest wound bed preparation occur one to two days prior to CEA grafting, and traditional practice amongst burn surgeons, including at our institution, is to delaminate BTM the day before CEA placement. However, optimal timing of delamination prior to CEA has not been investigated and variability in this practice exists. Methods In this case report, we compare BTM delamination 24 h prior versus immediately before CEA placement in a patient with 75% total body surface area burns whose wounds were covered with BTM and subsequently treated with CEA. The “take” of autograft at two sites that were delaminated in a delayed versus immediate fashion were compared. Results The BTM from the patient’s anterior trunk was delaminated a day prior to CEA placement, while his anterior left leg BTM was delaminated with immediate CEA placement. On day 13 after CEA placement, we observed 100% and 90% take at the anterior torso and anterior left leg, respectively. At 1 and 5 months after CEA placement, the anterior left leg was also found to have complete graft take. Conclusion Although the reconstruction site where BTM delamination with delayed CEA placement seemed to initially demonstrate minor improvement in skin graft take in the early post-operative period in this patient, the ultimate outcome was complete graft take at both sites without morbidity regardless of the delayed versus immediate approach. If similar outcomes between these approaches are confirmed in prospective studies, broader use of immediate CEA placement after BTM delamination may reduce the number of operative cases, overall operative time, hospital length of stay, and overall costs while providing expeditious care of the extensively burned patient.
Giant Electron-Phonon Anomaly in Doped and Other Cuprates

Since conventional superconductivity is mediated by phonons, their role in the mechanism of high temperature superconductivity has been considered very early after the discovery of the cuprates. The initial consensus was that phonons could not produce transition temperatures near 100 K, and the main direction of research focused on nonphononic mechanisms. Subsequent work last reviewed by L. Pintschovius in 2005 showed that electron-phonon coupling in the cuprates is surprisingly strong for some phonons and its role is controversial. Experiments performed since then identified anomalous behavior of certain Cu–O bond-stretching phonons in cuprates as an important phenomenon that is somehow related to the mechanism of superconductivity. A particularly big advance was made in the study of doped . This work is reviewed here.
Admission control of multi-class traffic with service priorities in high-speed networks

We consider a fluid model of a system that handles multiple classes of traffic. The delay and cell-loss requirements of the different classes of traffic are generally widely different and are achieved by assigning different buffers for different classes, and serving them in a strict priority order. We use results from the effective bandwidth of the output processes (see Chang and Thomas (1995)) to derive simple and asymptotically exact call-admission policies for such a system to guarantee the cell-loss requirements for the different classes assuming that each source produces a single class traffic. We compare the admission-control policies developed here with the approximate policy studied by Elwalid and Mitra (1995) for the case of two-class traffic.
Aurora kinase A as a rational target for therapy in glioblastoma

Object Despite advances in the knowledge of tumor biology, the outcome of glioblastoma tumors remains poor. The design of many molecularly targeted therapies in glioblastoma has focused on inhibiting molecular abnormalities present in tumor cells compared with normal tissue rather than patient outcome-associated factors. As an alternative approach, the present study identified genes associated with shorter survival as potential therapeutic targets. It was hypothesized that inhibition of a molecular target associated with poor outcome would impact glioblastoma cell proliferation. Methods The present study correlated patient survival data with tumor gene expression profiling and gene ontology analysis. Genes associated with shorter survival were identified and one of these was selected for therapeutic targeting in an in vitro system. Glioblastoma cell growth suppression was measured by H3-thymidine uptake, colony formation, and flow cytometry. Results The gene expression microarray and ontology analysis rev...
Accuracy of flux-split algorithms in high-speed viscous flows

The flux-vector split methods of MacCormack and Candler (MC) and of van Leer (vL) and the flux-difference split method of Roe are investigated in problems representative of complex flows under laminar conditions: the blunt-body flow at Mach 16 and the flow past a 24-deg compression corner at Mach 14. Higher order accuracy is obtained with the monotonic upwind-centered scheme for conservation laws (MUSCL) approach, viscous terms are centrally differenced, and an implicit relaxation method is employed for time integration. Emphasis is placed on evaluating the accuracy in prediction of surface quantities of engineering interest. The performance of the schemes is problem dependent. For the flow past the blunt body, the surrface pressure is insensitive to the method as well as mesh resolution
Decision-making in time-critical situations

There are a variety of tasks in which the amount of lime available to make decisions does not always allow a careful consideration of all oi the options. AIRPLAN is being developed to assist with one such task, managing the launch and recovery of aircraft on a carrier. This paper describes attempts to represent AIRPLAN's knowledge in a way that enables it to provide as much assistance as possible in the time available.
Factors governing the selection of a microwave material for circuit design

Many times the choice of a material for a particular microwave circuit depends on what was used on the previous job or what happens to be in the plant at the time the design is undertaken. Since the material is an integral part of the microwave design, a great deal of care should be taken to determine the proper material for each individual design. This paper will present the factors that should be considered when choosing the proper material. >