cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Planning for Steerable Bevel-tip Needle Insertion Through 2D Soft Tissue with Obstacles

We explore motion planning for a new class of highly flexible bevel-tip medical needles that can be steered to previously unreachable targets in soft tissue. Planning for these procedures is difficult because the needles bend during insertion and cause the surrounding soft tissues to displace and deform. In this paper, we develop a planning algorithm for insertion of highly flexible bevel-tip needles into soft tissues with obstacles in a 2D imaging plane. Given an initial needle insertion plan specifying location, orientation, bevel rotation, and insertion distance, the planner combines soft tissue modeling and numerical optimization to generate a needle insertion plan that compensates for simulated tissue de formations, locally avoids polygonal obstacles, and minimizes needle insertion distance. The simulator computes soft tissue deformations using a finite element model that incorporates the effects of needle tip and frictional forces using a 2D mesh. We formulate the planning problem as a constrained nonlinear optimization problem that is locally minimized using a penalty method that converts the formulation to a sequence of unconstrained optimization problems. We apply the planner to bevel-right and bevel-left needles and generate plans for targets that are unreachable by rigid needles.
Inconsistencies Among Nurses in Breastfeeding Knowledge and Counseling

Two hundred three nurses involved in the hospital care of women and their newborn completed a pre-test survey associated with a telephone conference in support of the breastfeeding mother. Inconsistencies among the majority of nurses in their ability to support the breastfeeding women and understand the mechanisms of successful breastfeeding were demonstrated. Results of the survey are presented as well as implications for education of nurses who care for the childbearing family.
Integration of packaged RF MEMS switches with radiation pattern reconfigurable square spiral microstrip antennas

This work describes the integration of commercially available packaged radio frequency microelectromechanical system (RF MEMS) switches with radiation pattern reconfigurable microstrip antennas. Most applications of RF MEMS switches consider the switches as only circuit elements. In contrast, the implementation of packaged switches in this particular antenna must address not only the simple open/closed behavior of the switches but also their impact on the radiation characteristics of the reconfigurable antenna. Here, two Radant MEMS single-pole single throw (SPST) SPST-RMSW100 (packaged RF MEMS) switches are used to reconfigure the radiation patterns of a resonant square spiral microstrip antenna between endfire and broadside over a common impedance bandwidth. Switch insertion, matching network design, and other issues are addressed. Results for both simulated and measured antennas, as well as recommendations for future work in this area, are provided.
Ecological significance of litter redistribution by wind and snow in arctic landscapes

During winter in the Arctic, plant litter is scoured from exposed hills and ridges by wind and snow and is redistributed to other portions of the landscape. The aim of this research was to quantify the physical and biological consequences of this litter redistribution. Litter biomass accumulation was ten times greater in areas of high deposition (e.g. snow drifts) than in areas of low deposition. Spring snow melt was delayed by several days and soils were cooler throughout the growing season and throughout winter in areas of increased litter deposition than areas with no litter. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was reduced to near zero with small accumulations of litter. Annual C and N inputs from allochthonous litter were 143 g Cm-2 and 14 g Nm in high lilter areas and 3.4 g C m−2 and 0.3 g N m-2 in non-drift, ambient litter deposition areas. Although PAR and soil temperatures were significantly reduced with increased litter deposition, we did not observe significant delays in key plant phenological events of several species or measure a decrease in gross ecosystem photosynthesis. We did measure a significant increase in ecosystem respiration with increased litter deposition, which resulted in a shift in the net C balance of dry heath tundra from near zero with no litter to a net source of CO2 to the atmosphere. Our study indicates that the redistribution of litter by wind and snow during winter is an important mechanism of nutrient transfer across the arctic landscape and that allochthonous litter inputs are of great enough magnitude to alter the carbon balance of some areas of the arctic landscape.
A theoretical study of ROX (R=H, CH3; X=F, Cl, Br) enthalpies of formation, ionization potentials and fluoride affinities

Abstract We report the results of a systematic Gaussian2 ab initio study of the ROX (R=H, CH 3 ; X=F, Cl, Br) series. The calculated standard enthalpies of formation (Δ H f 298K ) provide the following estimates for the previously undetermined R=CH 3 series; Δ H f =−94.9, −74.0, and −57.0 kJ mol −1 for X=F, Cl, and Br, respectively. The calculated ionization potentials (IP) provide an estimate of 10.24 eV for the previously undetermined IP of CH 3 OBr. The first determination of fluoride affinities for ROX species are presented and are shown to depend strongly on the orientation of the F − +ROX complex and on the identity of the halogen substituent.
Periodic pulse solutions and stability in the fast absorber model

In the theory of passive mode locking with a fast saturable absorber as formulated by Haus [1], the mode-locking equations can be satisfied by periodic solutions which are described in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions. These solutions have been used by Ausschnitt [4] in his theory of transient mode locking. Here we reexamine the Jacobian elliptic dnoidal solutions and operating points, and show how the operating point in the case of overlapping pulses compares to the case of well separated pulses as found by Haus. We establish an exact stability criterion. These solutions are of interest because they provide a convenient description of the mode-locked waveform all the way from the limit of no mode locking (CW operation) to the limit of infinitely separated hyperbolic secant pulses.
Mechanical properties of shale-gas reservoir rocks — Part 2: Ductile creep, brittle strength, and their relation to the elastic modulus

We studied the elastic moduli, ductile creep behavior, and brittle strength of shale-gas reservoir rocks from Barnett, Haynesville, Eagle Ford, and FortSt. John shale in a series of triaxial laboratory experiments. We found a strong correlation between the shale compositions, in particular, the volume of clay plus kerogen and intact rock strength, frictional strength, and viscoplastic creep. Viscoplastic creep strain was approximately linear with the applied differential stress. The reduction in sample volume during creep suggested that the creep was accommodated by slight pore compaction. In a manner similar to instantaneous strain, there was more viscoplastic creep in samples deformed perpendicular to the bedding than parallel to the bedding. The tendency to creep also correlated well with the static Young’s modulus. We explained this apparent correlation between creep behavior and elastic modulus by appealing to the stress partitioning that occurs between the soft components of the shales (clay and kerogen) and the stiff components (quartz, feldspar, pyrite, and carbonates). Through a simple 1D analysis, we found that a unique relation between the creep compliance and elastic modulus, independent of composition and orientation, can be established by considering the individual creep behavior of the soft and stiff components that arises from the stress partitioning within the rock. This appears to provide a mechanical explanation for why long-term ductile deformational properties can appear to correlate with short-term elastic properties in shale-gas reservoir rocks.
Fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer: a perspective

Colorectal cancer is an important health problem in western countries. Early detection of colorectal cancer reduces mortality. The best evidence for the effectiveness of screening for colorectal cancer is with annual or biennial fecal occult blood testing. While the benefit of fecal occult blood testing is small in absolute terms, the incremental cost-effectiveness of this screening strategy appears acceptable. Combining fecal occult blood testing with periodic flexible sigmoidoscopy or replacing it altogether with infrequent colonoscopy are theoretically attractive screening strategies, but the incremental costs and effectiveness of these more intensive screening strategies have not been well defined. Whether and how to implement population-based screening for colorectal cancer depends largely on available resources.
Brain Politics: Aspects of Administration in the Comparative Issue Definition of Autism‐Related Policy

The construction of public problems has a lasting influence on implementation in a given policy subsystem. National and sociopolitical contexts influence issue definition differently across nations. However, the degree to which nation-specific issue definition takes place has been insufficiently explored. In recent years, the growing incidence of autism has led to a quest for causal factors. One hypothesis posits that the use of mercury in vaccines may be a culprit. This paper examines the definition of the mercury and autism issue in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Insights into the comparative elements of issue definition are suggested by the case. These insights are of particular importance to administrators, as agencies are deeply involved as objects and actors in the process of issue definition and are often responsible for implementing new and redefined policies.
Primary Cutaneous Carcinosarcoma (PCCS0 Aka Metaplastic Carcinoma)

We describe a case of PCCS in a 73 year-old male who presented with a rapidly growing tumor of 6 months duration on the right ear. Clinical examination revealed a 5 × 4 × 4-cm ulcerated, crusted, exophytic tumor on the superior aspect of the helix. Histologically, the mass revealed a biphasic tumor with malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components. The epithelial component consisted of a few foci of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The majority of the tumor was composed of osteogenic sarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH). An intricate transition of BCC into sarcoma was noted in a few foci. Atypical mitosis and necrosis were common. The BCC and tumor giant cells in the MFH area showed positive immunoreaction for cytokeratin and CD68 respectively. The tumor was negative for S-100 protein, HMB-45, muscle actins, chromogranin, and synaptophysin. In conclusion, a PCCS growing predominantly as osteosarcoma and MFH is reported. Although the exact histogenesis of PCCS is unknown, primitive mesenchymal cells of the dermis, surrounding the follicular units, are capable of pluripotent differentiation and are likely the source of origin of the sarcoma. The known aggressive biological behavior warrants wide excision and given the rare reports of metastasis and death, regular follow-up is required
Seasonal variation of a coastal jet in the Long Island Sound outflow region based on HF radar and Doppler current observations

[1] Surface current (HF radar) and velocity profile observations, obtained as part of the Front-Resolving Observational Network with Telemetry (FRONT) project over an approximately 2-year period, are used to describe the seasonal variability of a coastal jet in the Long Island Sound outflow region. The jet is observed in an area of the continental shelf where surface thermal fronts are frequently detected during both summer and winter. The current jet is coincident with a band of high summer frontal probability, and apparently arises from the interaction between Long Island Sound outflow and larger-scale alongshore currents on the shelf. The jet reaches peak strength in summer (transport of ∼0.07 Sv) and is weak or non-existent in winter. Flow is strongest near the surface and weakens with depth, with only moderate seasonal variations in the vertical shear. The relatively long data set of currents combined with historical hydrographic measurements and buoy wind observations is analyzed to examine the seasonal variability of the terms in the depth-averaged momentum balance. The depth-averaged pressure gradient is partitioned into a steric component, evaluated from the hydrography, and a non-steric component that is estimated as the residual of the computed terms in the momentum equation. The depth-averaged momentum balance is found to be approximately geostrophic in the across-shore direction. The seasonal variability in the jet arises due to the shifting balance between buoyancy-driven flow that is always downshelf but intensifies somewhat in summer and wind-driven flow which dominates in winter when wind stress becomes strongly upwelling favorable.
Extending CC-NUMA systems to support write update optimizations

Processor stalls and protocol messages caused by coherence misses limit the performance of shared memory applications. Modern multiprocessors employ write-invalidate coherence protocols, which induce read misses to ensure consistency. Previous research has shown that an invalidate protocol is not optimal for all memory access patterns - an update protocol can significantly outperform an invalidate protocol when data is heavily shared or accessed in predictable patterns. However, update protocols can generate excessive network traffic and are difficult to build on a scalable (non-bus) interconnect. To obtain the benefits of both invalidate and update protocols, we built a speculative sequentially consistent write- update mechanism on top of a write-invalidate protocol. To ensure coherence, a processor wishing to write to a block of data uses a traditional write-invalidate protocol to obtain exclusive access to the block before modifying it. To improve performance, the writing processor can later self- downgrade the modified block to the shared state and flush it back to its home node, which forwards the new data to processors that it predicts are likely to consume the data. We present a practical and cost-effective design for extending CC-NUMA systems to support this speculative update mechanism that requires no changes to the processor core, bus interface, or memory consistency model. We also present two hardware-efficient mechanisms for detecting access patterns that benefit from the speculative update mechanism, stable reader set and stream. We evaluate our update mechanisms on a wide range of scientific benchmarks and commercial applications. Using a cycle-accurate execution-driven simulator of a future 16-node SGI multiprocessor, we find that the mechanisms proposed in this paper reduce the average remote miss rate by 30%, reduce network traffic by 15%, and improve performance by 10%, and in no case hurt performance.
Maximum potential intensities of tropical cyclones near Isla Socorro, Mexico

Abstract The maximum potential intensity (MPI) of a tropical cyclone represents a theoretical upper limit to the strength of the storm imposed by the laws of physics and the energy available to the system in the atmosphere and the ocean. The MPI in this study was computed using a method in which the cyclone is assumed to consist of the environment, an eyewall, and an eye. Calculation of the MPI requires a vertical sounding of temperature, the surface pressure, and the surface air temperature. The soundings used in this study were taken at Isla Socorro, Mexico, during the period 1994–97. The MPIs were compared to the minimum surface pressures for seven tropical cyclones that passed near Isla Socorro. The MPI provided an accurate indication of the potential for the atmosphere to support the intensification of a tropical cyclone. The thermodynamically based MPI also proved to be superior to an SST-based MPI.
Heat transfer simulations of the UO2 particle–graphite system in TREAT fuel

Abstract In this study, a heat transfer simulation of a UO 2 particle–graphite system in highly enriched nuclear fuel at the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) was performed using the finite element method. Different factors that can impact fuel performance were modeled and implemented in the simulated micro-scale UO 2 particle–graphite system. The fission fragments caused an irradiation-induced degradation of the thermal conductivity of the graphite, which added major heat resistance to the irradiated system. The effect of graphite quality and irradiation on the UO 2 particles has also been evaluated, but neither has an impact as pronounced as the fission fragment damage to the graphite. By combining these factors, the dynamic temperature profiles were obtained, and the limitations on particle size in the irradiated and unirradiated UO 2 particle–graphite systems have been determined.
Mineral particles modulate osteo-chondrogenic differentiation of embryonic stem cell aggregates.

Abstract Pluripotent stem cell aggregates offer an attractive approach to emulate embryonic morphogenesis and skeletal development. Calcium phosphate (CaP) based biomaterials have been shown to promote bone healing due to their osteoconductive and potential osteoinductive properties. In this study, we hypothesized that incorporation of CaP-coated hydroxyapatite mineral particles (MPs) within murine embryonic stem cell (ESC) aggregates could promote osteo-chondrogenic differentiation. Our results demonstrated that MP alone dose-dependently promoted the gene expression of chondrogenic and early osteogenic markers. In combination with soluble osteoinductive cues, MPs enhanced the hypertrophic and osteogenic phenotype, and mineralization of ESC aggregates. Additionally, MPs dose-dependently reduced ESC pluripotency and thereby decreased the size of teratomas derived from MP-incorporated ESC aggregates in vivo . Our data suggested a novel yet simple means of using mineral particles to control stem cell fate and create an osteochondral niche for skeletal tissue engineering applications. Statement of Significance Directing stem cell differentiation and morphogenesis via biomaterials represents a novel strategy to promote cell fates and tissue formation. Our study demonstrates the ability of calcium phosphate-based mineral particles to promote osteochondrogenic differentiation of embryonic stem cell aggregates as well as modulate teratoma formation in vivo . This hybrid biomaterial–ESC aggregate approach serves as an enabling platform to evaluate the ability of biomaterials to regulate stem cell fate and regenerate functional skeletal tissues for clinical applications.
Probabilistic Assessment of Regional Scale Ozone Pollution in the Eastern United States

Ozone is formed from chemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight. Aware of the potential health hazards caused by high levels of ozone, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) established a new standard based on the daily 8-hour maximum ozone concentration. The new NAAQS for ozone stipulates that the 3 year-average of the fourth-highest annual daily maximum 8-hour ozone concentration, termed the design value, should be less than 85 ppb. Because ozone in the eastern United States is a regional-scale issue, maps of the design value are essential for assessing regional compliance with the standard.
Calcium-Dependent Plateau Potentials in Rostral Ambiguus Neurons in the Newborn Mouse Brain Stem In Vitro

Rekling, Jens C. and Jack L. Feldman. Calcium-dependent plateau potentials in rostral ambiguus neurons in the newborn mouse brain stem in vitro. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 2483–2492, 1997. The nucleus am...
A Visual Approach to Geometric Series

Students introduced to the notion of series frequently consider it counter-intuitive (if not outright illogical) that one can add up an infinite number of terms and get as a result a finite sum instead of infinity, even if the terms are very small. Thus, many visual arguments have been developed to explain summing of infinite series, see, for example, the collections [2] and [3]. In particular, one can find there reprints of very elegant illustrations by Warren Page [4] and Elizabeth M. Markham [1] that illuminate the formula for the sum of a geometric series. This note describes a visual demonstration of this formula that students seem to enjoy. The demonstration is performed in the classroom without the use of any pictures. I use a "scientific model" of an object that consists of an infinite number of parts-a Calculus book. (All Calculus books I have ever used have a number of pages that approximates infinity quite well.) The demonstration starts by considering all pages of the book as one unit. Next, I divide the pages into 2 equal parts and drop to one side-this is the beginning of my series. I still have 1 of the book in my hand. I split it into 2 equal parts, drop I of
Origin of Ring-like Vortices in the MVG Controlled Turbulent Boundary Layer

In this paper, the origin of ring-like vortices which are found behind the MVG controlled supersonic flow is studied. It is verified that the ring-like vortices can come from the upstream vortex structure and be generated by the shear layer instability at the boundary of the momentum deficit as well. However, if the inflow in front of the MVG is fully developed turbulent flow, the lower boundary layer underneath the ring-like vortex structure would influence the formation of the vortex rings a lot. Furthermore, it is also found that certain vortex structure in the lower boundary layer can be lift up and become the ring-like vortex. The formation and development of the ring-like vortices is more complicated under the consideration of the influence of the fully developed turbulent inflow.
Prevention of viral and transplant tumors in hamsters employing killed and fragmented homologous tumor cell vaccines.

SummaryStudies were continued in SV40 and adenovirus 7 hamster tumor systems to develop means for isolating tumor-specific transplant antigen, essentially free of normal tissue antigens, preparatory to consideration for vaccination experiments employing autochthonous tumor vaccines in man. Consistent with previous experiments, SV40 virus-induced tumor cells lost their immunizing ability for the host when treated with formalin or disrupted by a French pressure cell or nitrogen decompression. By contrast, adenovirus 7 tumor cells treated with formalin or disrupted by freeze-thaw, by use of a French pressure cell, or by nitrogen decompression retained the ability to immunize against the same cell tumor challenge. The latter findings are regarded as a significant step toward eventual development of tumor cell vaccines employing fractionated and purified antigens.
Sketching by design: teaching sketching to young learners

Recent science educational reforms in the United States have prompted increased efforts to teach engineering design as an approach to improve STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning in K-12 classrooms. Teaching design in early grades is a new endeavor for teachers in the United States. Much can be learned from design teaching and research on K-12 design education outside of the US. The purpose of this study was to explore how students learn and use design sketching to support their learning of science and design practices. Researchers provided a treatment of design sketching instruction based on best practices of prior research finding (Hope in Des Technol Educ Int J 10: 43–53, 2005; Gustafson et al. J Technol Educ 19(1):19–34, 2007). A delayed treatment model was used to provide a two-group counterbalanced quasi-experimental design to compare an experimental group and comparison (delayed treatment) group results from (6) grade 3 classrooms. Researchers employed Hope’s Des Technol Educ Int J 10: 43–53, (2005) frame to organize sketching data for analysis. Findings from this study indicated that design instruction treatment did improve student’s design and communication practices, moving from using sketching as a container of ideas to the use of sketching as a form of design communication and to refine design ideas. Both the treatment and comparison groups improved sketching skills after treatment was provided to both groups. Sketching is a design practice that can also help student learn science concepts through the generation of mental models of conceptual understanding.
Comovement and Informational Opacity

Morgan (2002) argues that in the banking sector, the inherent opacity of the intermediation process increases the likelihood of bank runs and magnifies the effects of systemic risk. Motivated by this argument, we develop and test the hypothesis that comovement, or the tendency of stock prices to move together, is explained by informational opacity. We find results consistent with this argument as banks generally have higher levels of comovement than non- banks. We then test whether informational opacity is driving the higher levels of comovement in banks and find that banks with the most opacity generally have the most comovement.
Epitaxial exchange-bias systems: From fundamentals to future spin-orbitronics

Abstract Exchange bias has been investigated for more than half a century and several insightful reviews, published around the year 2000, have already summarized many key experimental and theoretical aspects related to this phenomenon. Since then, due to developments in thin-film fabrication and sophisticated characterization methods, exchange bias continues to show substantial advances; in particular, recent studies on epitaxial systems, which is the focus of this review, allow many long-standing mysteries of exchange bias to be unambiguously resolved. The advantage of epitaxial samples lies in the well-defined interface structures, larger coherence lengths, and competing magnetic anisotropies, which are often negligible in polycrystalline samples. Beginning with a discussion of the microscopic spin properties at the ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic interface, we correlate the details of spin lattices with phenomenological anisotropies, and finally connect the two by introducing realistic measurement approaches and models. We conclude by providing a brief perspective on the future of exchange bias and related studies in the context of the rapidly evolving interest in antiferromagnetic spintronics.
Visible-Light Absorbing, Photolabile, Quinone-Based Protecting Groups for Alcohols and Amines

A new strategy for producing caged alcohols and amines that can be released (decaged) with visible light has been developed. A series of quinone-based structures has been produced, and the mechanism of decaging has been investigated by a number of techniques, including kinetic isotope effects, stereochemical probes, and nanosecond laser flash photolysis. The reaction proceeds cleanly with moderate to good efficiencies in water. Irradiation of a caged-GABA prodrug with a 455 nm LED resulted in activation of GABA_A receptors (α1β2ϒ2 subtype) expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Further mechanistic studies as well as efforts to move to longer wavelengths will be described.
Establishing a Diagnosis of Restless Legs Syndrome

The diagnosis of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is clinical and depends entirely on the patient’s symptoms meeting the five diagnostic criteria set by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (see Table 1.1) [1]. Generally, no confirmatory studies are required. Aside from simply establishing the diagnostic features, it is important to find out the particular temporal pattern of the patient’s symptoms, the situations that might provoke them, how often symptoms occur, and the patient’s problems with sleep and daytime function. Determining these specifics will help determine the optimal therapeutic strategy (see Chap. 5). Other important information includes the age at which symptoms first started, how they have progressed, and whether other family members are affected. During the diagnostic interview, it is also important to be sure that RLS symptoms are not caused by another condition which may “mimic” some aspects of RLS.
Edutainment: Using Technology to Enhance the Management Learner Experience.

Edutainment, while seemingly a new and trending idea, is quite simply the combination of education and entertainment, or improving learning by making it more engaging. What began as a way to teach ...
Unplanned return to operating room after lower extremity endovascular intervention is an independent predictor for hospital readmission

Abstract Objective Hospital readmissions after surgical operations are preventable and are now counted as a quality metric. Patients with peripheral arterial disease often have several serious medical comorbidities. With advancements in endovascular technology and increasing comfort level of vascular surgeons, more and more patients with peripheral arterial disease are being treated with endovascular therapy. Most of these interventions are done as same-day operations. This study retrospectively reviewed the factors associated with hospital readmission after lower extremity endovascular interventions. Methods This study used the 2013 endovascular repair-targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database and generalized 2013 general and vascular surgery Program User Files. Patient, diagnosis, and procedure characteristics of patients undergoing lower extremity endovascular surgery were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent risk factors for hospital readmission ≤30 days after surgery. Results During 2013, 1096 patients (61% men, 39% women) underwent lower extremity endovascular interventions. Indications for operations included claudication (40%), critical limb ischemia with rest pain (19%), critical limb ischemia with tissue loss (35%), and others (6%) Among these patients, 147 (13.4%) were readmitted to the hospital ≤30 days after surgery, and ∼46% of all readmissions were ≤2 weeks after the discharge The following factors had significant associations with readmission: smoking (odds ratio [OR], 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3-0.9), noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 0.9-3.2), dyspnea (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1-3.7), insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.6), body mass index >30 kg/m 2 (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3-5.1), dependent functional status (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.4-4.8), emergent surgery (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.9-9.6), and unplanned return to the operating room (OR, 8.3; 95% CI, 4.7-14.7). Conclusions Readmission after lower extremity endovascular intervention is a serious complication. Various factors place a patient at a high risk for readmission. High body mass index, unplanned return to the operating room, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, nonsmoking status, dyspnea, dependent functional status, and emergency operation are independent risk factors for hospital readmission. Return to operating room is associated with an 8.3-fold increase in hospital readmission.
Genetically engineered mouse models of melanoma

Melanoma is a complex disease that exhibits highly heterogeneous etiological, histopathological, and genetic features, as well as therapeutic responses. Genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models provide powerful tools to unravel the molecular mechanisms critical for melanoma development and drug resistance. Here, we expound briefly the basis of the mouse modeling design, the available technology for genetic engineering, and the aspects influencing the use of GEMs to model melanoma. Furthermore, we describe in detail the currently available GEM models of melanoma. Cancer 2017;123:2089-103. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
The Hierarchical Cortical Organization of Human Speech Processing

Speech comprehension requires that the brain extract semantic meaning from the spectral features represented at the cochlea. To investigate this process, we performed an fMRI experiment in which five men and two women passively listened to several hours of natural narrative speech. We then used voxelwise modeling to predict BOLD responses based on three different feature spaces that represent the spectral, articulatory, and semantic properties of speech. The amount of variance explained by each feature space was then assessed using a separate validation dataset. Because some responses might be explained equally well by more than one feature space, we used a variance partitioning analysis to determine the fraction of the variance that was uniquely explained by each feature space. Consistent with previous studies, we found that speech comprehension involves hierarchical representations starting in primary auditory areas and moving laterally on the temporal lobe: spectral features are found in the core of A1, mixtures of spectral and articulatory in STG, mixtures of articulatory and semantic in STS, and semantic in STS and beyond. Our data also show that both hemispheres are equally and actively involved in speech perception and interpretation. Further, responses as early in the auditory hierarchy as in STS are more correlated with semantic than spectral representations. These results illustrate the importance of using natural speech in neurolinguistic research. Our methodology also provides an efficient way to simultaneously test multiple specific hypotheses about the representations of speech without using block designs and segmented or synthetic speech.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT To investigate the processing steps performed by the human brain to transform natural speech sound into meaningful language, we used models based on a hierarchical set of speech features to predict BOLD responses of individual voxels recorded in an fMRI experiment while subjects listened to natural speech. Both cerebral hemispheres were actively involved in speech processing in large and equal amounts. Also, the transformation from spectral features to semantic elements occurs early in the cortical speech-processing stream. Our experimental and analytical approaches are important alternatives and complements to standard approaches that use segmented speech and block designs, which report more laterality in speech processing and associated semantic processing to higher levels of cortex than reported here.
Suppression of Soilborne Diseases of Soybean With Cover Crops

Field trials were conducted from 2010 to 2013 at four locations in Illinois to evaluate the impact of cover crops (cereal rye [Secale cereal], brown mustard [Brassica juncea], winter canola [B. napus], and winter rapeseed [B. napus]) on soybean [Glycine max] stands and yield, diseases, pathogen populations, and soil microbial communities. Cover crops were established in the fall each year and terminated the following spring either by using an herbicide (no-till farms), by incorporation (organic farm), or by an herbicide followed by incorporation (research farm). Although shifts in soilborne pathogen populations and microbial community structure were not detected, cover crops were found to induce general soil suppressiveness in some circumstances. Cereal rye and rapeseed improved soybean stands in plots inoculated with Rhizoctonia solani and decreased levels of soybean cyst nematode in the soil. Cereal rye increased soil suppressiveness to R. solani and Fusarium virguliforme, as measured in greenhouse bioassays. Cereal rye significantly improved yield when Rhizoctonia root rot was a problem.
Oxidative stress destabilizes protein arginine methyltransferase 4 via glycogen synthase kinase 3β to impede lung epithelial cell migration

Oxidative stress impacts normal cellular function leading to the pathogenesis of various diseases including pulmonary illnesses. Protein arginine methyltransferase 4 (PRMT4) is critical for normal ...
The Specificity of the Literary and its Universalizing Function in Frantz Fanon’s “on National Culture”

This essay considers Frantz Fanon’s chapter “On National Culture” (chapter four of The Wretched of the Earth) in relation to the specificity of literary form and Fanon’s understanding of the universal. Reversing the order in which the essay’s two sections are usually read (and therefore beginning with the second section), the essay traces the evolution of Fanon’s thinking on questions of culture and universalism in relation to the discourse of black cultural movements (principally Negritude) in the late 1950s, particularly as exemplified in the proceedings of the Second Congress of Black Writers and Artists in 1959, at which Fanon delivered a speech. After establishing the nature of Fanon’s universalism and its relation to questions of culture, it is argued that Fanon’s reading of Fodeba Keita’s poem “Aube africaine” in the first section of “On National Culture” reveals an understanding of literature’s relation to the universal.
Role of the tRNA-Derived Small RNAs in Cancer: New Potential Biomarkers and Target for Therapy

Noncoding RNAs are untranslated RNA molecules that can be divided into two main types: infrastructural, including transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and regulatory, including long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) and small ncRNAs (sRNA). Among small ncRNA, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in cancer is well documented. Recently, other small ncRNAs have been described. In particular, tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNA) have been found to be frequently dysregulated in cancer. Since tsRNAs can be considered unique sequences and are able to bind both Argonaute proteins (like miRNAs) and Piwi proteins (like piRNAs), their dysregulation could play a critical role in cancer by interfering with gene expression regulation at different levels. Like microRNAs, ts-53 (previously known as miR-3676) interacts with the 3'UTR of TCL1, therefore supporting a role for tsRNAs on the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Like piRNAs, tsRNAs are produced as single-stranded molecules and can interact with DNA and histone methylation machinery, suggesting a role in the pretranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Herein, we describe the most recent findings about the role of tsRNAs in cancer.
Aerodynamics and CFD analysis of equal size dual-rotor wind turbine

The linear momentum theory is used to analyze the power-extraction capability of dual-rotor wind turbines with equal-size rotors. The rotors of a dual-rotor wind turbine are modeled as two separate actuator disks. The stream tube encompassing the front rotor is modeled as two (inner and outer) stream tubes, with the rear rotor being fully enclosed within the front rotor inner stream tube. No assumption is made on airflow pressure in between the rotors. The effect of the front and rear rotor interaction on the airflow within the inner stream tube is included in the analysis. With the results obtained, axial thrusts on front and rear rotors are determined and later used as input for computational fluid dynamics simulation to determine flow characteristics across the rotors. Based on the flow pattern between the rotors, the total power coefficient of a dual-rotor wind turbine is related to the rotor separation distance. A general solution for the dual-rotor wind turbine is developed, which shows that the lar...
The Journalist Who Interpreted Too Much: The New York Times’ Courtship, Defense, and Betrayal of John W. White:

This study analyzes the behind-the-scenes correspondence, from 1928 to 1941, between the New York Times’ news executives and editors and John W. White, who served as the paper’s first Chief South A...
The Intracellular Heterogeneity of Oxygen Concentrations as Measured by Ultraviolet Television Microscopy of PBA Fluorescence Quenching by Oxygen

If oxygen moves through the cell along special channels (Longmuir, 1977) and the mean solubility coefficient for oxygen in liver cells is rather low as Zander (1976) has shown, then there should be considerable intracellular heterogeneity of oxygen concentration even in a non-respiring cell with uniform PO2 throughout. Since the Polarographie electrode measures PO2 (Longmuir and Allen, 1960), this heterogeneity cannot be detected by this method. However, the fluorescence of pyrenebutyric acid (PBA) is quenched in proportion to the concentration of oxygen in a volume of a few hundred Augstrom’s radius around each photofluor molecule (Longmuir and Knopp, 1976). Thus, this method, with a theoretical geometric resolution of 0.2 μm appears to have this capability.
U.S. vaccine and immune globulin product shortages, 2001-15.

Purpose Trends in shortages of vaccines and immune globulin products from 2001 through 2015 in the United States are described. Methods Drug shortage data from January 2001 through December 2015 were obtained from the University of Utah Drug Information Service. Shortage data for vaccines and immune globulins were analyzed, focusing on the type of product, reason for shortage, shortage duration, shortages requiring vaccine deferral, and whether the drug was a single-source product. Inclusion of the product into the pediatric vaccination schedule was also noted. Results Of the 2,080 reported drug shortages, 59 (2.8%) were for vaccines and immune globulin products. Of those, 2 shortages (3%) remained active at the end of the study period. The median shortage duration was 16.8 months. The most common products on shortage were viral vaccines (58%), especially hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, and varicella vaccines (4 shortages each). A vaccine deferral was required for 21 shortages (36%), and single-source products were on shortage 30 times (51%). The most common reason for shortage was manufacturing problems (51%), followed by supply-and-demand issues (7%). Thirty shortages (51%) were for products on the pediatric schedule, with a median duration of 21.7 months. Conclusion Drug shortages of vaccines and immune globulin products accounted for only 2.8% of reported drug shortages within a 15-year period, but about half of these shortages involved products on the pediatric vaccination schedule, which may have significant public health implications.
The molecular structure of acetycholine and adrenergic receptors: an all-protein model.

“All advances of scientific understanding, at every level, begin with a speculative adventure, an imaginative preconception of what might be true-a preconception which always, and necessarily, goes a little way (sometimes a long way) beyond anything which we have logical or factual authority to believe in. It is the invention of a possible world, or of a tiny fraction of that world. The conjecture is then exposed to criticism to find out whether or not that imagined world is anything like the real one. Scientific reasoning is therefore at all levels an interaction between two episodes of thought-a dialogue between two voices, the one imaginative and the other critical; a dialogue, if you like, between the possible and the actual, between what might be true and what is in fact the case.” Sir Peter Medawar 1972
Multiscale Horizontal Transport for Urban and Regional Air Quality Modeling

Many processes involved in the formation of air pollution problems such as regional oxidant and acid deposition occur on a wide range of spatial scales. Recent studies point to the importance of resolving fine-scales in order to get a better understanding of regional and global air quality problems (e.g. Lamb, 1983; Lin et al., 1988; Cho et al., 1989; Sillman et al., 1990). The current generation of regional air quality models have fixed horizontal scales. Modeling large regions with the scale fixed at the smallest resolvable length is not desirable, because it is computationally very inefficient and expensive. Therefore, fine- scale (2–5 km) resolution should be incorporated within coarse-scale (20–50 km) models only where needed, i.e., in sources regions where observed pollutant concentration gradients are large. Such multiscale or nested grid models will replace the existing air quality models as the next generation (Russell and Odman, 1991).
Rapid Methods for Compositional Analyses of Meat and Meat Products

Meat and meat products comprise one of the most important food groups which provide essential human nutrition. At the same time, for those working in the further processing segment of the industry, meat is a highly variable raw material. Meat animal growth and development is affected by genetics, nutrition and environmental factors, all of which interact to result in large differences in body composition. These differences in body composition produce a broad range of fat and lean proportions in meat and meat cuts which are made available for human consumption.
Multiple Autoimmune Endocrinopathy

The autoimmune polyglandular syndromes are a diverse group of inherited diseases characterized by multiple endocrine disorders developing in the same patient over time. APS-1 is a rare monogenic disorder that usually presents early in childhood. It is caused by a mutation in the AIRE gene and is characterized by chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, hypoparathyroidsm and adrenal insufficiency. APS-2 is a more common polygenic disorder that presents in adults with adrenal insufficiency and another autoimmune endocrine disorder while APS-3 is usually restricted to a grouping of patients with two or more autoimmune endocrine diseases in the absence of adrenal insufficiency and/or hypoparathyroidism. It is important to be aware of the need for careful surveillance for additional autoimmune endocrine diseases in these patients, especially because these syndromes may have clinical presentations that are often complex and variable.
Review of Lori A. Roscoe and David Schenck, Communication and Bioethics at the End of Life: Real Cases, Real Dilemmas

A new book by authors Lori A. Roscoe and David Schenck, Communication and Bioethics at the End of Life: Real Cases, Real Dilemmas, is not just another bioethics casebook. Like most bioethics casebo...
Global Impacts of the Western School Model: Corporatization, Alienation, Consumerism

In this timely analysis of the current state of global educational policies, Joel Spring focuses on the spread of the Western school model and its impact on creating an urban-consumer culture, increasing economic inequalities, contributing to environmental destruction and diminishing compassion and empathy essential for energizing social justice movements. In his signature straightforward, concise style, Spring describes and analyzes the school's role in displacing religious with secular values, promoting nationalism, preparing students to work in global corporations, supporting cultural and linguistic homogeneity, and discusses related goals and effects of anti-globalization movements such as the Alt-right, Anti-fascist groups, radical environmentalism and anarchism. An important addition to Spring’s body of work on global educational policies, this provocative book challenges readers to re-examine what they know about education, globalization and their interconnections.
Sequentially adaptive Bayesian learning algorithms for inference and optimization

Abstract The sequentially adaptive Bayesian learning algorithm (SABL) builds on and ties together ideas from sequential Monte Carlo and simulated annealing. The algorithm can be used to simulate from Bayesian posterior distributions, using either data tempering or power tempering, or for optimization. A key feature of SABL is that the introduction of information is adaptive and controlled, ensuring that the algorithm performs reliably and efficiently in a wide variety of applications with off-the-shelf settings, minimizing the need for tedious tuning, tinkering, trial and error by users. The algorithm is pleasingly parallel, and a Matlab toolbox implementing the algorithm is able to make efficient use of massively parallel computing environments such as graphics processing units (GPUs) with minimal user effort. This paper describes the algorithm, provides theoretical foundations, applies the algorithm to Bayesian inference and optimization problems illustrating key properties of its operation, and briefly describes the open source software implementation.