cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical, Diagnostic, and Management Perspectives of Aortic Dissection

The incidence of aortic dissection ranges from 5 to 30 cases per million people per year, depending on the prevalence of risk factors in the study population. Although the disease is uncommon, its outcome is frequently fatal, and many patients with aortic dissection die before presentation to the hospital or prior to diagnosis. While pain is the most common symptom of aortic dissection, more than one-third of patients may develop a myriad of symptoms secondary to the involvement of the organ systems. Physical findings may be absent or, if present, could be suggestive of a diverse range of other conditions. Keeping a high clinical index of suspicion is mandatory for the accurate and rapid diagnosis of aortic dissection. CT scanning, MRI, and transesophageal echocardiography are all fairly accurate modalities that are used to diagnose aortic dissection, but each is fraught with certain limitations. The choice of the diagnostic modality depends, to a great extent, on the availability and expertise at the given institution. The management of aortic dissection has consisted of aggressive antihypertensive treatment, when associated with systemic hypertension, and surgery. Recently, endovascular stent placement has been used for the treatment of aortic dissection in select patient populations, but the experience is limited. The technique could be an option for patients who are poor surgical candidates, or in whom the risk of complications is gravely high, especially so in the patients with distal dissections. The clinical, diagnostic, and management perspectives on aortic dissection and its variants, aortic intramural hematoma and atherosclerotic aortic ulcer, are reviewed.
Fresnel-field range design: array element pattern considerations

Real-time antenna pattern measurements are usually performed using either a far-field range or compact range. Alternative measurement techniques have been proposed in order to reduce the measurement distance without using an optical device (i.e., reflector or lens) required for compact range implementation. Generally, this is accomplished by using an array to synthesize a uniform plane wave at near-field distances. Recently, an alternative plane wave synthesis method which employs a ring array geometry similar to that of Hald has been proposed. In this technique (McKay and Rahmat-Samii, 1993), a uniformly excited ring array is employed to compensate for the phase taper associated with a concentric radiator. Compensation is achieved using Fresnel zone approximations in conjunction with a graphical design approach carried out in the complex plane. The method results in simple design formulas and provides insight into fundamental limitations on the extent of the plane wave which can be generated. Several range design issues related to array element pattern effects are examined in this paper. >
Scaling issues in robot-based sensing missions

Scaling analysis provides a systematic way to translate the performance of a system from one size domain, operating environment, etc., to another. In this paper, we identify scaling issues and present some simple results in the domain of individual mobile robots, as well as teams, swarms, etc., deployed on sensing missions. Since most robot-based sensing missions anticipate mini-, micro-, and nano-scale robots, our explicit examples focus on scaling-down of existing human-scale robot design and concepts. However the principles articulated apply equally to scaling-up situations. The topic is introduced via a simple example that shows why scaling-down of mobile robots that carry their own energy source will generally prove impractical: to obtain reasonable operating times it will rather be necessary to develop small robots into which energy can be beamed, or which can forage for energy sources in the environment. From this concrete illustrative example, the paper moves on to a higher level discussion of robot architecture and the applicability of scaling principles, to varying degrees, to all the modules, i.e., it is not exclusively a mobility issue. There follows a short discussion of how changes of scale are not inherently problematic, but to the contrary, in many cases suitable scale change provides the key to solving a difficult engineering problem. The final section is a quantitative example in which design and operating parameters of the robotic nodes of a sensor network are considered from the perspective of operating time limited by the energy cost of node-to-node communication. This example powerfully illustrates a system in which fairly modest changes contemplated range of engineering parameters result in enormous changes in the anticipated operating time of the system.
Fluid flow patterns and velocity distribution on commercial-scale sieve trays

A fluorimetric technique was used to determine detailed residence time and velocity distribution on commercial sieve trays installed in a five-tray, 1.22 m dia. air/water simulator. Results show a strong effect of the gas rate on the residence time distribution. At low air rates, isochron lines of high residence time are found at the column wall, and the variance distributions suggest the existence of zones of different degrees of mixing. The velocity profiles at Fs (vapor velocity load) factors less than 0.65 show severe flow nonuniformities characterized by a high velocity at the centerline and stagnant zone close to the wall. At higher Fs factors the velocity maldistribution seems to be relatively mild. Correlations are presented to estimate the velocity distribution on the tray as a function of the gas rate.
An Electronic Analog for the Olfactory Processesa

SUMMARY Polarized microelectrodes were utilized as sensing devices, analogous to the human olfactory hairs, for qualitative and quantitative responses to volatiles. The measured response current is attributed to the interaction of a volatile with an electrical double layer at the electrode interface. The use of different microelectrode metals, electrolytes, and impressed voltages makes possible different electrical double-layer phenomena. With the use of only a few of the many possible combinations of electrode metals, electrolytes, and impressed voltages, differential-response sensitivity was obtained for a variety of volatiles at any given microelectrode condition. A comparison of the responses of several odorants at a number of different electrode conditions demonstrated a differential-response specificity similar to that thought to occur in the human at different olfactory receptor sites.
Release and purification of trypanosoma brucei variant surface glycoprotein

Conditions affecting the solubilization of variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) from Trypanosoma brucei have been investigated. The results obtained form the basis for a convenient and efficient method for VSG purification. VSG release from the cell surface was temperature-dependent, following osmotic lysis at 0 degree C, and was inhibited by low concentrations of Zn2+ but not by tosyl-lysine chloromethyl-ketone (TLCK), phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride (PMSF), or iodoacetamide. These and other results eliminated the possibility that release was due to proteolytic cleavage of the C-terminal hydrophobic tail present on newly synthesized VSG. Bolton and Hunter reagent reacted with several components on living cells.
Underwater Weighing Familiarization Program for Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome.

The purpose of the project was to evaluate an underwater weighing (UWW) and residual lung volume (RV) familiarization program developed for adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). UWW was conducted on 15 adults (10 men, 5 women) with PWS following a UWW familiarization program. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed no difference in percent body fat derived from UWW over the four sessions, F(3, 27) = 0.80, p = .505, with an intraclass reliability coefficient of R = .93. There was, however, a significant difference in RV, F(3, 27) = 5.25, p = .006, with an intraclass reliability coefficient of R = .65. The familiarization program is recommended for implementation prior to measuring percent body fat via UWW. However, predicting the RV may be an easier and more consistent alternative to measuring the RV in adults with PWS.
The psychological impact of end-stage lung disease

Study objectives End-stage lung disease is associated with poor quality of life and increased risk for psychological distress. Despite the significant number of individuals with end-stage lung diseases, the emotional health of these patients, as compared with those with other chronic organ diseases, is not well-known. The purpose of this article is to elucidate personality styles and the presence of psychopathology in a clinical sample of patients with end-stage lung disease presenting for possible lung transplantation. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Two academic medical center transplant programs. Participants Two hundred forty-three consecutively referred transplant candidates. Results Cluster analysis of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2 indicated five different personality styles. The majority of patients evidenced mild somatic and depressive symptoms. Approximately one fourth of the sample exhibited marked anxiety and mood disturbances. A small cluster also evidenced features consistent with an antisocial personality style. Conclusions Separate and distinct personality styles that could affect quality of life, the need for adjunct treatments, and medical compliance emerged from this sample of individuals with end-stage lung disease. Results are discussed in light of prior research on other end-stage organ conditions and in relation to personality and coping theories.
On supervisory policies that enforce liveness in discrete event dynamic systems modeled by partially controlled Petri nets

We consider discrete-state plants represented by controlled Petri nets (CtlPNs). A transition in a CtlPN is live if for every marking reachable under supervision, there exists a valid firing sequence that results in a marking under which the said transition can fire. A supervisory policy enforces liveness if every transition in the CtlPN is live under supervision. In this paper we show that the existence of a supervisory policy that enforces liveness for an arbitrary CtlPN is undecidable.
Mechanisms of CDC-42 activation during contact-induced cell polarization

Summary Polarization of early embryos provides a foundation to execute essential patterning and morphogenetic events. In Caenorhabditis elegans, cell contacts polarize early embryos along their radial axis by excluding the cortical polarity protein PAR-6 from sites of cell contact, thereby restricting PAR-6 to contact-free cell surfaces. Radial polarization requires the cortically enriched Rho GTPase CDC-42, which in its active form recruits PAR-6 through direct binding. The Rho GTPase activating protein (RhoGAP) PAC-1, which localizes specifically to cell contacts, triggers radial polarization by inactivating CDC-42 at these sites. The mechanisms responsible for activating CDC-42 at contact-free surfaces are unknown. Here, in an overexpression screen of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEFs), which can activate Rho GTPases, we identify CGEF-1 and ECT-2 as RhoGEFs that act through CDC-42 to recruit PAR-6 to the cortex. We show that ECT-2 and CGEF-1 localize to the cell surface and that removing their activity causes a reduction in levels of cortical PAR-6. Through a structure–function analysis, we show that the tandem DH-PH domains of CGEF-1 and ECT-2 are sufficient for GEF activity, but that regions outside of these domains target each protein to the cell surface. Finally, we provide evidence suggesting that the N-terminal region of ECT-2 may direct its in vivo preference for CDC-42 over another known target, the Rho GTPase RHO-1. We propose that radial polarization results from a competition between RhoGEFs, which activate CDC-42 throughout the cortex, and the RhoGAP PAC-1, which inactivates CDC-42 at cell contacts.
Table-driven problem solvers

This paper suggests an extension of decision tables and finite automata to more general table-driven problem solvers. The basic idea is that when a problem description is changed, only the contents table directing the flow of control and actions taken by a program need be modified and not the actual code. Program actions may be changed easily and documentation and program reliability improved.
Geoengineering: Journey into geopoetry

Jane C. S. Long relishes an erudite exploration of the people and principles of climate intervention.
Influence of climate on the growth of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) in Colorado and southern Wyoming

We analyzed a series of increment cores collected from 260 adult dominant or co-dominant quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) trees from national forests across Colorado and southern Wyoming ...
¡No cierren nuestra escuela! farm worker mothers as cultural citizens in an educational community mobilization effort

ABSTRACTMexican immigrant farm-worker mothers’ class, race, citizenship status, and jurisdictional status of their town in a Northern California community rendered them invisible. However, when the school board decided to close the elementary school the mothers mobilized. Drawing on these mothers’ fototestimonios we examine how they, as cultural citizens, resisted local practices of educational inequity. They wanted to ensure an education for their children. The fototestimonios reveal how farm-worker mothers: (1) negotiated as a collective with the school board; (2) sought negotiation and schooling alternatives; and (3) expressed cultural citizenship through collective efforts to be included within the US polity.
Letters of the Law

Drafting legal correspondence requires attention to the purpose of the communication, its audience, the message, and the medium. Depending upon the circumstances, a letter or memorandum style may be appropriate, but sometimes oral communication may be preferable. The first sentence of a letter or memo should set forth its purpose. Brevity is especially important in correspondence. The final sentence should summarize the key points or identify the requested action.
Dermis fat graft implantation after unilateral enucleation for retinoblastoma in pediatric patients.

PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy of dermis fat graft (DFG) as a primary implant technique in pediatric patients requiring unilateral enucleation due to retinoblastoma. METHODS A retrospective chart review of 14 consecutive pediatric patients who underwent dermis fat graft implantation after unilateral enucleation for retinoblastoma by 1 surgeon (E.A.S.) was performed to evaluate graft efficacy with regard to orbital volume growth and any associated morbidity. Patients who received chemotherapy or external beam radiation were excluded. Demographic information was recorded. Serial MRIs were used to measure orbital volumes to compare the surgical and contralateral orbits over time. The main outcome measure was the difference in bony orbital volume between enucleated and contralateral, uninvolved orbits. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare orbital volume measurements between surgical and nonsurgical orbits. Correlation testing was performed to determine the effect of age, sex, and follow-up time on the orbital volume changes. RESULTS There was no statistical difference between the MRI volume measured for surgical and nonsurgical orbits over time. This was the case at all measured time points and for all ages and genders. All patients were under the age of 4 years at the time of surgery. The median difference in orbital volumes between surgical and nonsurgical orbits was -0.095 cm (range -1.26 to 1.01 cm; quartiles -0.32 to 0.07 cm; mean ± SD, -0.144 ± 0.0522 cm; 95% confidence interval, -0.247 to -0.0419 cm). The median follow-up time from surgery date to the most recent clinical examination was 38.5 months (range, 13 to 70 months; quartiles, 28.75 to 45.5 months; mean ± standard deviation [SD], 38.43 ± 17.21 months; 95% confidence interval, 29.41 to 47.45 months). CONCLUSIONS In pediatric patients below 4 years of age with unilateral retinoblastoma treated with enucleation and primary dermis fat graft implantation, there was no statistically significant difference in bony orbital volume between the surgical and nonsurgical orbits during the follow-up period.
Pif1 removes a Rap1-dependent barrier to the strand displacement activity of DNA polymerase δ

Using an in vitro reconstituted system in this work we provide direct evidence that the yeast repressor/activator protein 1 (Rap1), tightly bound to its consensus site, forms a strong non-polar barrier for the strand displacement activity of DNA polymerase δ. We propose that relief of inhibition may be mediated by the activity of an accessory helicase. To this end, we show that Pif1, a 5'-3' helicase, not only stimulates the strand displacement activity of Pol δ but it also allows efficient replication through the block, by removing bound Rap1 in front of the polymerase. This stimulatory activity of Pif1 is not limited to the displacement of a single Rap1 molecule; Pif1 also allows Pol δ to carry out DNA synthesis across an array of bound Rap1 molecules that mimics a telomeric DNA-protein assembly. This activity of Pif1 represents a novel function of this helicase during DNA replication.
Water-window soft X-ray high-harmonic generation up to the nitrogen K-edge driven by a kHz, 2.1 µm OPCPA source

Water-window soft X-ray harmonics up to ~450 eV are generated, with a kHz, multi-mJ mid-infrared optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier (OPCPA) in a neon-filled gas cell. The photon flux at the nitrogen K-edge is ~1 × 106 photons/s/1% bandwidth.
Gene therapy for lung cancer

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer death and standard chemotherapies are resulting in only marginal improvements in outcome. Experimental approaches involving gene therapy are attractive in this clinical setting. There are two basic types of genes utilized, either those intended to induce immunity or those that are directly tumoricidal. Immunity-inducing genes that have been used in model (and some human) systems include MHC molecules, costimulatory molecules, and cytokines such as IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, GM-CSF. These are intended to induce effective systemic immune responses against tumor antigens which would not otherwise develop. Direct toxic approaches include the reintroduction of tumor suppressor genes or enzymes which convert non-toxic drugs to toxic ones, such as herpes thymidine kinase. As a means for gene delivery, retroviruses are the most common vehicle, although Adenovirus vectors and direct DNA delivery have specific advantages.
Grain Refining of AZ91E Alloy Using SiC Nanoparticles

In this paper, ultrasonic vibration was used for dispersing SiC nano-particles into molten metal in order to use these particles as nuclei for grain refinement. Experimental results indicate that small grains can be obtained in metal molds using ultrasonic vibration alone. Nano-particles that are dispersed into molten metal using ultrasonic vibration can serve as nuclei for grain refining of Mg alloys.
Parasite-induced collapse of populations of a dominant grazer in Michigan streams

The role of parasites in the population dynamics of lotic invertebrates is poorly known. Recently, populations of the caddisfly Glossosoma nigrior (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae), a dominant periphyton-grazer in coldwater streams of eastern North America, have collapsed in several Michigan streams. All known cases of dramatic decline in Glossosoma density have been associated with the presence of the microsporidian parasite Cougourdella sp. (Microspora: Cougourdellidae). In two streams, reductions in Glossosoma abundance from > 2000 m-2 to < 10 m-2 were accompanied by marked increases in the proportion of larvae infected with Cougourdella. In a third stream in which the Glossosoma population had collapsed at least 2 yr earlier, an increase in Glossosoma density was accompanied by a lagged increase in Cougourdella infection levels in the population and a subsequent reduction in Glossosoma abundance to very low levels. Because Glossosoma density for several years pre-collapse was consistently about two orders of magnitude larger than post-collapse levels in all streams and because infected larvae were not detected in any stream until immediately prior to collapse, we suggest that Cougourdella has been recently introduced to Michigan streams.
Control of Shock-Wave / Boundary-Layer Interaction Using Volumetric Energy Deposition

A numerical study of three Mach 14 compression ramp flows was carried out in order to determine whether a moderate power input through an electromagnetic actuator located upstream of separation would lead to beneficial structural changes in the flow. First, high resolution calculations were carried out for a flat-plate boundary layer flow, and volumetric energy addition was found to introduce streamwise vorticity and three-dimensionality into the flow. Then the 15◦, 18◦, and 24◦ compression ramp configurations of Holden and Moselle (ARL Report 70-0002) were examined, and reasonable agreement was obtained between calculations of the baseline flow-fields and experimental measurements on the wall centerline. For all three configurations, volumetric heat addition in the incoming boundary, at a station half-way down the flat plate, lead to decreased pressure, skin friction, and heat transfer directly downstream of the actuator, with a corresponding increase at, and outboard of, the actuator. Volumetric energy deposition is judged to have useful flow control applications, but careful consideration of possible penalties must be made in any design application.
Comment on: Reflections on the Probability Space Induced by Moment Conditions with Implications for Bayesian Inference

Because assessing an application-specific prior is difficult and, for scientific inference, often not even desirable, quick and standardized approaches to generating priors, like that suggested in Gallant's paper, are useful. However, his argument that his procedure can be given a Bayesian interpretation is flawed. In general, his method requires adjusting the prior and model after seeing the data. It cannot be interpreted as delivering inference based on a prior independent of the data. Variants on his method might have small-sample advantages over the straightforward approach of inverting the frequentist asymptotic distribution to interpret it as a posterior, but it is not at all clear that there are any advantages.
The distribution of Leopard(Panthera pardus) in Zhejiang Province

The survival of wild leopard(Panthera pardus) is being confronted with great danger due to habitats loss,poaching and shortage of food resources.To find out the potential distribution and make rescue plans,the surviving status of leopard in Zhejiang Province was surveyed.The leopard was once widespread in Zhejiang,but now its primitive distributions have changed so greatly that it will not fit for leopard's survival.In recent years,any information on leopard has not been found or recorded.No hair,footprint,sleeping trace,claw,dejection and food wreckage trace had been found during the survey.The survey results come out by combining judging of the investigation information such as time,and proof(such as eyewitness,track,livestock lost,etc.) The most possible distributions include Wuyanling national nature reserve,Baishanzu national nature reserve and Jiulongshan national nature reserve.This endangered situation of leopard in Zhejiang mainly reasons rapid reduction of habitat area,deterioration of habitat quality,fragmentation of habitats and frequent poaching.As the amount of wild breed is not clear until now,wild monitoring of leopard should be developed continuously,prey resources also should be under monitoring at the same time.In brief,great efforts should be taken to protect endangered species of wild leopard.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the use of methylprednisolone in infertile men with sperm-associated immunoglobulins * †

Forty-three men with antibody-mediated infertility identified by measuring sperm-associated immunoglobulin with a direct radiolabeled antiglobulin assay were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled protocol to judge the efficacy of corticosteroids in this condition. In the active drug group, men were given 96 mg methylprednisolone in three divided doses for 7 days followed by a 2-day tapering of the drug. The control group was given placebo in the same manner. Both regimens were repeated three times approximately 1 month apart on the basis of their female partner's menstrual cycle. There was not a favorable effect of corticosteroids over placebo on the men's semen parameters, the results of assays for sperm-associated IgA and plasma IgG antisperm antibodies, or the men's subsequent fertility. There was a statistically significant effect on sperm-associated IgG in men given methylprednisolone compared with men given placebo.
WS-6 Discovering the power of an ACP conversation

Background What we mean by having “an advance care planning conversation,” in the US has been largely undefined. It is typically driven by laws and regulations regarding advance directive form completion. The consequences are a single, hurried conversation between the healthcare professional and an individual using the form as a checklist of questions quickly answered and documented. The unintended consequences of this approach have been unprepared individuals making uninformed decisions without first exploring their goals, values and beliefs or considering their state of health. A secondary unintended consequence is unprepared healthcare agents unable to adequately fill the surrogate decision making role. Advance care planning (ACP) as a facilitated process of communication including understanding, reflection and discussion has emerged as an alternative to this failed approach. The Respecting Choices ACP facilitated conversation includes person-centred interactions and shared decision-making with trained professionals in a standardised approach. This approach can be successfully completed in a group (individuals and their healthcare agents) setting as well as individual conversations. Aim This workshop will be an interactive experience of the ACP facilitated conversation in a group setting. The speakers will discuss advantages and outcomes of this approach. Engaging the audience in portions of an ACP facilitated conversation will lead to understanding how organisational commitment to Respecting Choices ACP facilitation skills training and resources is well worth the investment to achieve a service that enables individuals, their healthcare agent and other loved ones to experience the power of this conversation.
Sleep-disordered breathing and nocturnal hypoxemia in young adults with sickle cell disease.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is reported in up to 69% of adolescents and children with sickle cell disease (SCD) [1], but data regarding the prevalence of SDB in adults with SCD are limited. In order to obtain a preliminary assessment of the frequency and degree of sleep-related hypoxemia and potential associations with cardiovascular function in adults with SCD, we conducted overnight sleep studies, 6-min walk tests, echocardiograms, and hematologic and chemistry panels, calculated the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and conducted fatigue- and health-related quality-of-life measurement in 20 young adults with SCD visiting a sickle cell clinic for routine care. Sleep apnea, defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > 5 events/h, was found in 50% of patients. Traditional clinical indicators, such as obesity, the presence of snoring, and reported sleep complaints, did not reliably differentiate them. The patients with AHI > 5 had higher mean systolic blood pressure (p = 0.03), evidence of impaired left ventricular diastolic function (i.e., increased mitral valve E/A ratio, p = 0.05), a trend toward higher reduction in 6-min walk distances (p = 0.06), and lower health-related quality-of-life scores (p ≤ 0.01). Three of nine patients with more severe anemia (total Hb < 9.0) showed nocturnal hypoxemia in the absence of sleep apnea. As prolonged and frequent hypoxemic episodes likely increase risks for vaso-occlusive, cardiovascular, and neurologic complications of SCD, these results suggest that the prevalence and severity of SDB should be investigated further in studies of larger patient populations. If confirmed, these findings could identify opportunities to prevent or reduce nocturnal hypoxia and improve outcomes.
Evaluating the use of acoustic bottom typing to inform models of bottom trawl sampling efficiency

Abstract The sampling efficiency of survey bottom trawls can vary in response to a variety of biotic and abiotic factors. In a previously published model of the sampling efficiency of snow crab (Chionoecetes opilo), based on a trawl comparison experiment, the efficiency of the bottom trawl used in the eastern Bering Sea varied with water depth and sediment size. The sediment size used in the model, however, was not directly sampled at the trawl locations but instead was interpolated from an existing sediment data base. We examine whether bottom type attributes estimated with commercially available software applied to acoustic data collected by the vessels during the experiment was more informative to the model than the interpolated estimates of sediment size. Based on increases in explained deviance, the model fits for males (6% higher) and females (35% higher) were both improved using the acoustically derived estimates of bottom type.
Evolution in Action: a 50,000-Generation Salute to Charles Darwin: The evolutionary process can be directly observed by watching microbes as they change and adapt over time

Like cuneiform on clay tablets, the history of life itself is written in minerals and in code. The minerals are fossils of long-dead organisms, while the code is the language of DNA shared by all organisms, revealing the family tree of life.
Monetizing Your IoT Efforts

Every technology hype-cycle [1] brings along with it the promise of substantial economic benefits and opportunities. Similarly, IoT is expected to create new opportunities worth billions of dollars and lead to benefits worth trillions. It does not matter which numbers we believe, one thing is for sure—the impact of IoT is big. When such projections are made, the premise is always based on assumptions of how IoT (or for that matter, any other technology) is changing how we live, work and engage with our broader environment. Projections are realized by appropriate monetization effort for each individual initiative. So it matters how you monetize your IoT efforts, as the industry does not change or move without your contribution. Moreover, any IoT initiative, like any other technology initiated or technology enabled action, requires investments. The relatively depressed economic climate over last several years has strained investment bandwidths. The window of expectations from any investment is shrinking, and appetite for large-scale investments is reducing. These factors demand more focus on monetization efforts for your IoT initiatives.
Legal Aspects of Geriatric Surgery

The provision of cardiothoracic surgery services to older patients takes place within a pervasive legal environment. It is imperative for health care professionals working in this arena to be conversant with the major legal considerations that affect their activities. This chapter surveys two particular relevant areas of legal regulation. First, it discusses medical malpractice litigation, with special concentration on the legal risks confronted in the realm of cardiothroacic surgery for older persons, focusing on the elements of a negligence claim and how the applicable standard of care is established and proven, with notice of the risk management implications. Next, the chapter reviews the elements of the legal doctrine of informed consent. Particular attention is devoted to the question of decisional capacity in older patients and the various potential types of surrogate decision-making that might be employed when an older patient is not able to make autonomous medical choices personally.
Potential Challenges Meeting the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Lead in School Drinking Water Goal of 1 μg/L

Concern about lead in drinking water has heightened since the Flint water crisis. Moreover, recent medical evidence increasingly shows damage to children’s health at levels of lead exposure once considered low. In order to better protect children from these hazards, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that drinking water in public schools does not exceed 1 μg/L lead. Meeting this goal with current plumbing and fixtures will be challenging, because current “lead-free” standards did not anticipate targets this low. Three styles of recently manufactured “lead-free” faucets were tested and average lead leaching ranged from 1.5 μg/L to 3.0 μg/L after 19 d. Given that the NSF/ANSI 61 test water is less aggressive than some potable waters, even newly manufactured “lead-free” faucets may not meet the standards recommended by AAP.
Algebraic and Geometric Coding Theory

Coding theory is concerned with methods for “packaging” and “unpackaging” messages in order that the most information can be reliably send over a communication channel. In this chapter, a greater emphasis is given to the roles of geometry and group theory in communication problems than is usually the case in presentations of this subject. Geometry and group theory enter in problems of communication in a surprising number of different ways. These include the use of finite groups and sphere packings in highdimensional spaces for the design of error-correcting codes (such as those due to Golay and Hamming). These codes facilitate the efficient and robust transmission of information. Additionally, Lie groups enter in certain decoding problems related to determining the state of various motion sensors.
Retrograde Stainless Steel Flexible Nails Have Superior Resistance to Bending in Distal Third Femoral Shaft Fractures.

Background It has been shown that retrograde titanium flexible intramedullary nails (Ti FIN) provide superior resistance to bending compared to antegrade Ti FIN in distal femur fractures. The purpose of this study was to compare resistance to torsional and bending forces of stainless steel (SS) FIN, with or without a locking screw, and Ti FIN in distal third femoral shaft fractures. We hypothesize that locked retrograde SS FIN will demonstrate greater resistance to both bending and torsional forces. Methods Thirty adolescent synthetic femur models were used to simulate transverse distal femoral fractures at either 60 mm or 90 mm proximal to the distal femoral physis. The femurs were instrumented with antegrade Ti FIN, antegrade SS FIN, retrograde Ti FIN, retrograde SS FIN, or retrograde locked SS FIN. Three models for each construct at both osteotomy levels were tested. Models were analyzed to determine maximum resistance to bending and torsion. Results In fractures 60 mm from the physis, retrograde SS FIN demonstrated statistically superior resistance to bending when compared with both antegrade and retrograde Ti FIN (P=0.001 and 0.008, respectively) and antegrade SS FIN (P=0.0001). Locked SS constructs showed a trend towards greater resistance to bending forces when compared with unlocked constructs (P>0.05). No significant difference was seen in resistance to bending when fractures were 90 mm proximal to the distal femoral physis between the five groups. No significant differences were observed in resistance to torsion in either the proximal or distal fracture models, regardless of construct type. Conclusions Retrograde SS FIN confer significantly greater resistance to bending forces for fractures 60 mm proximal to the distal femoral physis compared with Ti FIN or antegrade entry SS FIN. In fractures 90 mm from the physis, no differences were noted in our model. Our results support the use of retrograde SS nails in the pediatric patient with distal femoral shaft fractures. Level of evidence Level II-comparative biomechanical study.
FTC Regulatory Activity and the Information Content of Advertising

Meta-analysis of studies examining more than 66,000 U.S. advertisements indicates that advertisements contained significantly fewer objective information claims during a period of strict advertisin...
The Vessels Shaping Mental Health or Illness

The mammalian brain receives the lion's share of the body's blood supply and is a highly vascularized organ. The vascular and nervous systems arise at two distinct time points of embryogenesis; however, their functions tend to overlap or complement each other in the growth promoting milieu of the embryonic Central Nervous System (CNS). The pre-existing idea that mental disorders are a direct result from defects solely in neuronal populations and networks is gradually changing. Several studies have implicated blood vessel pathologies and blood flow changes in mental health disorders. Our own studies provide new perspectives as to how intrinsic defects in periventricular endothelial cells, from the earliest developmental time points can lead to the origin of mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), anxiety, and depression, thereby establishing direct links. In this article, we provide an overview of how the endothelial cell compartment in the brain is now gaining attention in the context of mental health disorders.
Making Italy: Afro-Italian entrepreneurs and the racial boundaries of citizenship

This article, based on 16 months of in-depth interviews and participant observation conducted over five years, explores the participation of young Afro-Italian women entrepreneurs in new initiative...
Multi-Element Meta-Lens Systems for Imaging

We experimentally demonstrated chromatic and monochromatic aberration correction in a meta-lens triplet system up to a wavelength range of ~300 nm in the near-infrared by utilizing dispersion engineering of meta-atoms. © 2019 The Author(s)
Introduction: Epidemiology of Traumatic Dental Injuries

Dental injuries as the result of trauma are common and affect people of all ages and socioeconomic levels. Knowing what puts an individual at risk for injury provides an opportunity to prevent or minimize trauma to the child and their teeth. Because traumatic injuries are complex in their etiology, they are not completely preventable. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the epidemiology of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) in children and adolescents and to familiarize dentists with the guidelines available to manage different types of dental trauma. The causes of TDIs in children and how they are addressed vary somewhat due to the child’s age and ability to cooperate for treatment. It is also incumbent upon the dentist to recognize and report injuries that are suspected to be the result of child maltreatment.
Weakness and cognitive impairment are independently and jointly associated with functional decline in aging Americans

Discovering how certain health factors contribute to functional declines may help to promote successful aging. To determine the independent and joint associations of handgrip strength (HGS) and cognitive function with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and activities of daily living (ADL) disability decline in aging Americans. Data from 18,391 adults aged 50 years and over who participated in at least one wave of the 2006–2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study were analyzed. A hand-held dynamometer assessed HGS and cognitive functioning was examined with a modified version of the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status. IADL and ADL abilities were self-reported. Participants were stratified into four distinct groups based on their HGS and cognitive function status. Separate covariate-adjusted multilevel models were conducted for the analyses. Participants who were weak, had a cognitive impairment, and had both weakness and a cognitive impairment had 1.70 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57–1.84), 1.97 (CI 1.74–2.23), and 3.13 (CI 2.73–3.59) greater odds for IADL disability decline, respectively, and 2.26 (CI 2.03–2.51), 1.26 (CI 1.05–1.51), and 4.48 (CI 3.72–5.39) greater odds for ADL disability decline, respectively. HGS and cognitive functioning were independently and jointly associated with IADL and ADL disability declines. Individuals with both weakness and cognitive impairment demonstrated substantially higher odds for functional decline than those with either risk factor alone. Including measures of both HGS and cognitive functioning in routine geriatric assessments may help to identify those at greatest risk for declining functional capacity.
New Perspectives on Causal Mediation Analysis

Social and behavioral scientists have long used path analysis and related linear structural equation models (SEMs) to decompose parameters of ordered systems of equations into “direct effects” and “indirect effects” through mediating variables. These decompositions have been used to address substantive questions of fundamental interest, for example, how a person’s social background affects his/her earnings through education. However, in general, the “direct effects” and “indirect effects” defined in and estimated from these models should not be given causal interpretations, even in randomized experiments. To illustrate this, we first define various direct and indirect effects using potential outcomes notation and discuss situations where an investigator might want to consider these. Second, we consider identification of these effects: the required identifying assumptions are more often than not implausible for the kinds of data collected and questions considered in social and behavioral research. Third, we present other identifying assumptions that might be used to identify direct and indirect effects, and then briefly discuss different methods to estimate these effects, including regression, instrumental variables, marginal structural models, and weighting methods.Finally, we introduce an alternative approach to mediation (principal stratification), define several possible effects of interest, and briefly discuss identifying assumptions and estimation.
Waveguiding in silicon photonic crystal slabs – thrust toward ultradense optical integration

We will review the latest results on development of submicron silicon-on-insulator waveguiding structures – photonic crystals (PhC) and single-mode strip waveguides. We will show that two major problems, which hindered the development of the silicon micro-photonics technology, large waveguide propagation losses and large coupling losses to submicron high index waveguides, have been solved [1-4]. Further optimization of mode matching at interfaces between fiber coupler, strip waveguides and PhC allow elimination of parasitic back-reflections in the optical circuit and suppress Fabry-Perot noise. Clean optical spectra obtained from fiber-coupled devices make it possible to extract detailed quantitative information on the characteristics of each component in the circuit and to perform direct fitting of the transmission with 3D FDTD and band structure calculations.
DDX5 targets tissue-specific RNAs to promote intestine tumorigenesis

Abstract Tumorigenesis in different segments of the intestinal tract involves tissue-specific oncogenic drivers. In the colon, complement component 3 (C3) activation is a major contributor to inflammation and malignancies. By contrast, tumorigenesis in the small intestine involves fatty acid-binding protein 1 (FABP1). However, little is known of the upstream mechanisms driving their expressions in different segments of the intestinal tract. Here, we report that an RNA binding protein DDX5 augments C3 and FABP1 expressions post-transcriptionally to promote tumorigenesis in the colon and small intestine, respectively. Mice with epithelial-specific knockout of DDX5 are protected from intestine tumorigenesis. The identification of DDX5 as the common upstream regulator of tissue-specific oncogenic molecules provides a new therapeutic target for intestine cancers.
Scalable Continuous Flow Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) Synthesis Using Supercritical CO2

The high surface areas and tunable porous structures of Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) materials offer desirable capabilities in a wide range of applications. One challenge to the widespread use of ...
Illuminating the noncoding genome in cancer

Understanding the mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis requires comprehensive annotation of the cancer genome. The majority of the human genome consists of noncoding regions, harboring functional elements that regulate the expression of protein-coding genes, including proto-oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes. Technologies such as whole-genome and long-read sequencing provide powerful means to identify alterations in the noncoding genome of cancer cells, paving the way for the study of their functional relevance. Recent analyses of noncoding alterations have revealed additional mechanisms underlying tumor development, progression and response to therapies, and uncovered new targets for drug development. Here we highlight recent findings about noncoding alterations, review established and emerging methods and models to study these alterations, and discuss the outlook for noncoding alterations as therapeutic targets. Zhang and Meyerson review exciting advances in methodologies, models and datasets to study noncoding alterations in cancer, new insights into their roles in disease and potential translational implications.
Sexual Attitudes, Religious Commitment, and Sexual Risk Behaviours among College-Aged Women

Sexual double standards tend to marginalize women and restrict their sexual expression in comparison to men. Sexual attitudes can heavily influence women’s propensity to engage in sexual risk behav...
Strengthening Effects of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Nanoplatelets Reinforced in Nickel Matrix Nanocomposites

The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) reinforced nickel matrix nanocomposites (Ni-GNP) have been processed via dry ball milling followed by a spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. The CNT and GNP content in these nanocomposites has been varied from 0.5 to 2 wt/% in order to study their effect on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of these composites. Ni-CNT/GNP powder is milled for six hours to investigate the effect on the microstructure, grain size, and the dispersion of CNT/GNP in the nickel matrix. Ni-CNT/GNP nanocomposites exhibited improvement in microhardness and mechanical performance in comparison with pure nickel. This improvement in Ni-CNT/GNP nanocomposites is primarily attributed to the uniform dispersion of reinforcement within the nickel matrix, refined grain size, and strong nickel CNT/GNP interfacial bonding, which effectively transfers stress during tensile deformation.
Cardiovascular Complications in Major 21st Century Viral Epidemics and Pandemics: an Insight into COVID-19.

There have many major history-defining epidemics and pandemics in the 21st century. It is well known that acute infections can cause cardiovascular (CV) complications especially in those with underlying cardiac disease. The variation in rates and types of CV disease complications in major 21st century epidemics and pandemics varies greatly. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused the turmoil of the century and has COVID-19 has resulted in substantial human and economic loss. . The novelty of COVID-19 and emerging CV effects is a new entity. In this review, we discuss the major epidemics and pandemics of the 21st century and associated CV disease complications. .