cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orbital Exenteration and Rehabilitation of the Exenterated Socket

Orbital exenteration is the surgical removal of orbital contents and periorbital structures. The majority of orbital exenterations are performed to remove malignant tumors, including primary epithelial tumors, rhabdomyosarcoma, retinoblastoma, and uveal melanoma. Other potential indications for orbital exenteration include severe and uncontrollable pain or deformity caused by extreme cases of sclerosing orbital pseudotumor, Graves’ ophthalmopathy, neurofibromatosis, and socket contracture. Generally, orbital exenteration is subclassified into three types: standard, eyelid-sparing, and extended orbital exenteration. The type of exenteration performed, as well as the planned reconstruction, depends upon the extent of the oncologic defect. The primary goal of reconstruction is to line the orbital cavity with durable tissue and to exclude the nasal and/or sinus cavities when the medial or inferior orbital wall has been removed and to protect the brain when the orbital roof has been removed. The reconstructed orbit will need to be able to tolerate radiation therapy (if planned) and to accommodate an orbital prosthesis if one is desired by the patient.
Generalized network measures based on modulus of families of walks

The modulus of a family of walks quantifies the richness of the family by favoring many short walks over fewer longer ones. In this paper we investigate various families of walks in order to introduce new measures for quantifying network properties using modulus. The proposed new measures are compared to other known quantities such as current-flow closeness centrality, out-degree centrality, and current-flow betweenness centrality. Our proposed method is based on walks on a network, and therefore will work in great generality. For instance, the networks we consider can be directed, multi-edged, weighted, and even contain disconnected parts. Examples are provided to show the effectiveness of our measures.
The Influence of Non-Misogynous and Mixed Portrayals of Intimate Partner Violence in Music on Beliefs About Intimate Partner Violence

In this study, we investigated the effect of songs that offer non-misogynous and ambivalent portrayals of intimate partner violence (IPV). Participants ( N = 103) were exposed to a misogynous song about IPV, a song critical of IPV, and a song that offered an ambivalent portrayal of IPV. Our results showed positive effects of the anti-IPV song, and both positive and negative effects of the ambivalent portrayal on participants' beliefs about a violent relationship. These findings suggest that the context in which IPV is portrayed should be considered when evaluating the impact of media depicting IPV.
Real-Time Phase-Free and Background-Free Detection of Nanoparticles and Viruses

We implement phase-sensitive optical detection and characterization of nano-particles.The elimination of the phase contribution to the detected signal helps improve the measured particle size accuracy and resolution, compared to standard interferometric techniques.
Drug users as social change agents: example of Austria.

Bastos, F. I., Caiaffa, W., Rossi, D., Vila, M., & Malta, M. (2007). The children of mama coca: Coca, cocaine and the fate of harm reduction in South America. International Journal of Drug Policy, 18(2), 99–106. Bastos, F. I., Nunn, A., Hacker, M. A., Malta, M., & Szwarcwald, C. L. (2008). AIDS in Brazil: The challenge and the response. In D. D. Celentano & C. Beyrer (Eds.), Public health aspects of HIV/AIDS in developing countries: Epidemiology, prevention and care (pp. 629–654). New York: Springer International. Kristvik, E. (1999). Drums and syringes. Bibliotecha Himalayica. Kathmandu: EMR. Page, J. B., & Singer, M. (2010). Comprehending drug use: Ethnographic research at the social margins. NewBrunswick: Rutgers University Press.
Weighted fuzzy reasoning network and its application in water flooded layer identification

A weighted fuzzy reasoning network structure model and its algorithm were proposed here. The basic unit of information processing in this network was fuzzy reasoning neuron. The algorithm combined the excellence of fuzzy logic that can express domain rules and metempirical knowledge wholly with the virtue of neural network that can adapt to the environment automatically. A novel study algorithm of the network was presented based on fuzzy reasoning rule and numerical method for differential dynamic systems. This algorithm had better stability and fast speed quality of convergence. This algorithm could overcome some shortages of falling into local minima. Finally an experiment example was proposed to illustrate the availability of the network and algorithm by water flooded layer identification in oil field producing.
Research on control system and safety monitoring of the intelligent serried shelf

Three control schemes of the intelligent serried shelf were analyzed.The architecture of distributed control system based on Ethernet and CAN bus was presented.The hardware configuration and principle of master controller and slave controller were introduced.The safety questions were fully taken into account,and the structure of the automatic multilayer safety monitoring based on multi-sensor technology was put forward.The type and number of sensors and the layer number of monitoring were determined.The safety monitoring was fulfilled.At the same time,the problems occurred in the process of field debugging of the CAN bus were analyzed and summarized.The experimetal results verify that the system is simple manipulation,low cost,high stability and reliability,reasonable safety measures.It provides a kind of development reference for systems of the intelligent storage and the goods flow management.
MO-B-BRB-03: 3D Dosimetry in the Clinic: Validating Special Techniques

Full three-dimensional (3D) dosimetry using volumetric chemical dosimeters probed by 3D imaging systems has long been a promising technique for the radiation therapy clinic, since it provides a unique methodology for dose measurements in the volume irradiated using complex conformal delivery techniques such as IMRT and VMAT. To date true 3D dosimetry is still not widely practiced in the community; it has been confined to centres of specialized expertise especially for quality assurance or commissioning roles where other dosimetry techniques are difficult to implement. The potential for improved clinical applicability has been advanced considerably in the last decade by the development of improved 3D dosimeters (e.g., radiochromic plastics, radiochromic gel dosimeters and normoxic polymer gel systems) and by improved readout protocols using optical computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. In this session, established users of some current 3D chemical dosimeters will briefly review the current status of 3D dosimetry, describe several dosimeters and their appropriate imaging for dose readout, present workflow procedures required for good dosimetry, and analyze some limitations for applications in select settings. We will review the application of 3D dosimetry to various clinical situations describing how 3D approaches can complement other dose delivery validation approaches already available in the clinic. The applications presented will be selected to inform attendees of the unique features provided by full 3D techniques. Learning Objectives: 1.L. John Schreiner: Background and Motivation i.Understand recent developments enabling clinically practical 3D dosimetry, ii.Appreciate 3D dosimetry workflow and dosimetry procedures, and iii.Observe select examples from the clinic. 2.Sofie Ceberg: Application to dynamic radiotherapy i.Observe full dosimetry under dynamic radiotherapy during respiratory motion, and ii.Understand how the measurement of high resolution dose data in an irradiated volume can help understand interplay effects during TomoTherapy or VMAT. 3.Titania Juang: Special techniques in the clinic and research i.Understand the potential for 3D dosimetry in validating dose accumulation in deformable systems, and ii.Observe the benefits of high resolution measurements for precision therapy in SRS and in MicroSBRT for small animal irradiators 4.Geoffrey S. Ibbott: 3D Dosimetry in end-to-end dosimetry QA i.Understand the potential for 3D dosimetry for end-to-end radiation therapy process validation in the in-house and external credentialing setting. Canadian Institutes of Health Research; L. Schreiner, Modus QA, London, ON, Canada; T. Juang, NIH R01CA100835
IL-17RB+ granulocytes are associated with airflow obstruction in asthma

Abstract Background Interleukin (IL)-25 (IL-17E) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in the T-helper type 2 cell pathway. The effects of IL-25 are mediated by its specific receptor, IL-17RB. Previous studies have defined an IL-17RB + granulocyte population known as type 2 myeloid (T2M) cells that express T-helper type 2 cell cytokines. The correlation of IL-17RB + granulocytes, T2M cells, and asthma parameters is unknown. Objective To investigate the relation of IL-17RB + granulocytes (and its subset, T2M cells) in patients with asthma with clinical parameters including spirometric values and the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Methods Peripheral blood from subjects with asthma and healthy controls was collected and analyzed by flow cytometry. Granulocytes were gated for IL-17RB + , T2M (CD11b + CD16 + CD177 + IL-17RB + ), and eosinophil (CD16 − ) populations. Spirometry testing was performed on subjects with asthma. ACT scores and medical histories were collected by questionnaire and chart review. Correlations of IL-17RB + cells and T2M cells with spirometry and ACT score were analyzed. Results Percentages of IL-17RB + granulocytes and T2M cells were larger in subjects with asthma than in controls. Furthermore, percentages of the 2 cell populations were negatively correlated with degree of airway obstruction as measured by the ratio of percentage-predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second to force vital capacity (r = −0.17, P = .043 for IL-17RB + granulocytes; r = −0.32, P = .03 for T2M cells). There was no correlation with ACT score. The percentage of eosinophils was increased in subjects with asthma. However, IL-17RB + eosinophil percentages were similar between subjects with asthma and controls and did not correlate with any clinical parameter. Conclusion IL-17RB + granulocytes and T2M cells from peripheral blood were increased in subjects with asthma, and the 2 cell types correlated with degree of airflow obstruction.
Devices that make life modern

In recent decades it has become almost impossible to accomplish anything significant without employing semiconductor devices. New cars are rife with them, from the microchip regulating the fuel injector to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) illuminating the dashboard. Look up at a traffic light and you are increasingly likely to be staring at still more LEDs. Answer your mobile phone and you are invoking another complex chain of semiconductor devices.
Enhancement of power factor correction equipment performance using damping reactors (case study)

Overheating in the equipment and conductors can be primarily caused by harmonics in power systems. Decrease of harmonics is considered necessary, especially when capacitor banks exist. Using a detuned harmonic filter is a traditional solution. Current limiting reactors (CLR) can be an economical solution to damp harmonic pollution if installed in the optimal location. In this paper, power system studies, including: load flow, motor starting, and short circuit, are performed when placing CLR in different locations, to find the optimal location. Similarly, limitation of using CLR and costs are discussed. The study suggests CLR to reduce harmonic pollution, while detuned filters are used in case the CLR fails to satisfy the voltage regulation aspects of the network.
A Conceptual Framework of Organizational Orientation Antecedents of Sales and Operations Planning

Strategic collaboration within and between firms is consistently associated with superior performance. Balancing supply and demand so that firms have more of what customers want and less of what they do not want is also recognized as a means of improving customer satisfaction and firm performance. Recent studies indicate that internal sales and operations planning (S&OP) enables demand and supply integration. However, successful S&OP implementations are relatively rare because the process is not well understood. Extant S&OP research is primarily focused on describing stage models, technology implementation, and outcomes of S&OP rather than on identifying antecedent factors like organizational orientations that may facilitate effective S&OP. Building on the VRIO version of the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm, this chapter develops a conceptual framework of organizational orientation antecedents of S&OP. Our framework proposes that a series of complementary organizational orientations (service orientation, internal market orientation, financial orientation, and supply-chain orientation) collectively promote organizational culture that enables S&OP.
Phase I/II study of intratumoral injection of SD-101, an immunostimulatory CpG, and intratumoral injection of ipillumumab, an anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody, in combination with local radiation in low-grade B-cell lymphomas.

TPS8604 Background: Immunotherapy is a promising treatment modality for low grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. SD-101 (Dynavax Technologies) is an immunostimulatory synthetic CpG molecule that activate...
Gathering everyday metacommentary: A methodology to counteract institutional erasure

Abstract This article reports on preliminary research investigating linguistic diversity on a college campus by analyzing individuals' everyday comments about their own language. We developed a three-phase method to gather metacommentary from members of the university community, then analyzed these comments by attending to distinctions participants themselves made about their own repertoire variation across contexts. We illustrate how individuals' fine-grained distinctions about their own language use can be a highly socially relevant tool for disaggregating broad, institutionally generated labels for linguistically, nationally, and culturally diverse groups. Our findings suggests that further research that accounts for the fine distinctions within everyday metacommentary may counter processes of homogenization—discussed herein in terms of erasure ( Gal, 1998 ) and ‘lumping’—coming from both within and outside of institutionally labeled groups.
Liability of foreignness, natural disasters, and corporate philanthropy

This study examines how philanthropy can mitigate liability of foreignness (LOF) in the aftermath of a national disaster. A major disaster restructures the social landscape, creating an avenue for corporate contributions to play a role in recovery and relief efforts. This social restructuring offers a valuable opportunity for multinational enterprises (MNEs) to establish strong local ties. In turn, MNE contributions at such times have a stronger impact on their local acceptance. Thus, MNEs can use these events to strengthen their position in the community and mitigate LOF. Using the context of a national disaster in India, I test these arguments with a sample of 190 MNEs and 660 domestic firms. I found that in the aftermath of the disaster, the increase in MNE contributions was much larger and less strongly tied to promotional activities than the increase in contributions from domestic firms, and this difference persisted over time. Moreover, the performance implication of post-disaster philanthropy was stronger for MNEs than for domestic firms. These findings suggest that philanthropy plays a more strategic role for MNEs in the aftermath of a disaster and it has a pronounced effect on mitigating LOF.
Spoken sentence production in college students with dyslexia: working memory and vocabulary effects.

Background Individuals with dyslexia demonstrate syntactic difficulties on tasks of language comprehension, yet little is known about spoken language production in this population. Aims To investigate whether spoken sentence production in college students with dyslexia is less proficient than in typical readers, and to determine whether group differences can be attributable to cognitive differences between groups. Methods & procedures Fifty-one college students with and without dyslexia were asked to produce sentences from stimuli comprising a verb and two nouns. Verb types varied in argument structure and morphological form and nouns varied in animacy. Outcome measures were precision (measured by fluency, grammaticality and completeness) and efficiency (measured by response times). Vocabulary and working memory tests were also administered and used as predictors of sentence production performance. Outcomes & results Relative to non-dyslexic peers, students with dyslexia responded significantly slower and produced sentences that were significantly less precise in terms of fluency, grammaticality and completeness. The primary predictors of precision and efficiency were working memory, which differed between groups, and vocabulary, which did not. Conclusions & implications College students with dyslexia were significantly less facile and flexible on this spoken sentence-production task than typical readers, which is consistent with previous studies of school-age children with dyslexia. Group differences in performance were traced primarily to limited working memory, and were somewhat mitigated by strong vocabulary.
The Effects of Wars on Postwar Homicide Rates: A Replication and Extension of Archer and Gartner’s Classic Study:

This study replicates and extends Archer and Gartner’s classic work testing whether wars increase postwar homicide rates because they legitimize the use of violence as a means of conflict resolution. Using the Comparative Crime Data File (CCDF), we replicated the original study with data from the two World Wars, as well as 12 smaller wars occurring prior to 1980. Our replication results generally confirmed the hypothesis that wars increase postwar homicide rates, although there were differences in results based on the method of analysis. We then examined the validity of this theory using data on four wars occurring after 1990, but found no support for the legitimation of violence argument. We argue that the null findings encourage theoretical expansion, which is an underappreciated aspect of replication that is just as valuable as empirical validation.
Trading with the enemy: narrative, identity and US trade politics

Most scholars contend that ‘inside’ lobbying such as corporate money, campaign contributions and interest group ties to Congress shape trade policy outcomes. Some scholars also claim that ‘outside’...
Convexity in Banach spaces: some recent results

We all recognize that some of the most fruitful ideas in a particular area of mathematics may well have originated elsewhere. In the case of convexity in Banach spaces, this occurred in 1967, when Marc Rieffel wanted to do a thorough classroom presentation of the Radon-Nikodym theorem for Banach space-valued measures. In formulating a condition on the range of such a measure which would be sufficient for the validity of the Radon-Nikodým theorem, yet would avoid earlier compactness hypotheses, he introduced the notion of a “dentable” set [41]. This was the start of a remarkable chain of results connecting vector-valued integration, the extremal structure of bounded convex sets and generic Frechet differentiability of convex continuous functions. The details of this story through 1976 have been related in a lively and thorough manner by J. Diestel and J. Uhl in their monograph [14], while the more recent results are covered in the forthcoming lecture notes by R. Bourgin [9]. We will present a portion of the chain, centering our attention on the extremal structure of bounded closed convex subsets of Banach spaces (and differentiability properties of some closely related convex functions). This first section contains a review of the notions of exposed points, strongly exposed points, dentable sets and the Radon-Nikodým property (RNP). In Section 2 there is a discussion of the differentiability of convex functions on Banach spaces and the duality between Frechet differentiability and strongly exposed points, followed by one of the main recent results in the subject (Theorem 2.8): A bounded closed convex set with the RNP is the closed convex hull of its strongly exposed points. The concluding Section 3 describes the Krein-Milman property and its relation to the RNP, as well as the duality between Asplund spaces and the RNP.
The Energy Spectrum of a Classically Chaotic System

The quantum mechanics for a dynamical system in a compact space yields a set of discrete energy levels, rather than a continuous range of possible energies as in classical mechanics. Obviously, the discrete set of numbers, called the spectrum, can have many more characteristic features and contains much more information than the continuous, classical interval. The details of the spectrum change from system to system; but certain properties are quite general, and some seem to be directly correlated with the nature of the chaos in the corresponding classical system.
Grundlagen der evidenzbasierten Medizin

In evidence based medicine decisions are made on the basis of proven effectiveness. Assessing the effectiveness is carried out by statistical methods on the basis of clinical trials. The term ‘evidence based medicine’ was introduced in the early 90's by Gordon Guyatt and David Sackett at McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. In Germany, the concept was first introduced in 1995. The full combination of three components: physician, patient, and evidence define evidence based medicine. Approach of evidence-based medicine in practice is the formulation of a research question, identification of relevant literature, evaluation of evidence and selection, implementation and evaluation. The bio-medical literature databases constitute the basis for the evidence. The currently largest electronic medical databases are PUBMED and EMBASE.
Retro-rectus placement of bio-absorbable mesh improves patient outcomes.

There is little consensus on the ideal anatomical placement of bio-absorbable mesh. We hypothesized that retro-rectus placement of bio-absorbable mesh would significantly reduce recurrence rates when compared to intraperitoneal mesh placement. A retrospective review was conducted of patients who underwent open complex ventral hernia repair using bio-absorbable mesh (Bio-A, Gore, Flagstaff, AZ). Patient demographics and Centers for Disease Control wound type were collected. A total of 81 patients were included. Seventy-four (91.4%) of these hernia repairs had mesh in the retro-rectus position, while 7 (8.6%) had intraperitoneal mesh placement. Patient demographics, including preoperative comorbidities, did not differ between groups. The retro-rectus group trended to have larger hernia defects (156.2 cm2) compared to the intraperitoneal group (63.9 cm2) (p = 0.058). Overall complications (e.g., dehiscence, wound drainage, cellulitis, sepsis) were also similar in both groups of patients. Recurrence rates in the retro-rectus and intraperitoneal group were 8.1% and 42.9%, respectively (p = 0.005). When evaluating only patients with CDC class 1 wounds, the recurrence rate in the retro-rectus group was 8.2% and the intraperitoneal group was 50% (p = 0.02). Overall, the average patient follow-up was 22 months and did not differ between groups. Both the retro-rectus and intraperitoneal groups indicated a significant (p 7 days) antibiotics were used and no mesh implants were removed during the study. Patients who underwent open complex ventral hernia repairs with bio-absorbable mesh in the retro-rectus position experienced lower overall complication rates than those with intraperitoneal mesh placement. Despite a larger hernia defect in the retro-rectus group, recurrence rates were significantly reduced with retro-rectus placement of mesh compared to intraperitoneal placement. In addition, recurrence rates using bio-absorbable mesh in clean wounds are comparable to previously published recurrence rates with permanent mesh.
Scalability of Hybrid Sparse Matrix Dense Vector (SpMV) Multiplication

SpMV, the product of a sparse matrix and a dense vector, is emblematic of a new class of applications that are memory bandwidth and communication, not flop, driven. Sparsity and randomness in such computations play havoc with conventional implementations, especially when strong, instead of weak, scaling is attempted. This paper studies improved hybrid SpMV codes that have better performance, especially for the sparsest of such problems. Issues with both data placement and remote reductions are modeled over a range of matrix characteristics. Those factors that limit strong scalability are quantified.
Sex-Specific Link Between Emotional Vulnerability and Poor Weight Control in Cigarette Smokers.

Cigarette smoking and poor weight control independently and synergistically increase risk for morbidity and mortality. However, few studies have examined the etiological role of emotion-regulatory dysfunction in the link between smoking and poor weight control, as well as the possible moderating role of sex. Participants (n = 577; Mage = 44.42; SD = 13.80; 52.7% female) were daily smokers who completed a single survey online through Qualtrics. Emotional vulnerability was indexed by a latent construct comprised of the subscales from the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) and the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3). A regression model was constructed to examine the relation between emotional vulnerability and poor weight control, measured via body mass index (BMI). Emotional vulnerability was significantly and positively associated with BMI (b = .08, p = .020). The effect was moderated by sex, such that emotional vulnerability was significantly related to BMI in female smokers (b = .15, p = .002), but not in male smokers (b = .01, p = .806). Emotional vulnerability appears to be a novel female-specific psychological mechanism related to poor weight control in smokers. Possible limitations are discussed.
Trends in mortality, readmissions, and complications after endovascular and open infrainguinal revascularization.

Abstract Background Although short-term outcomes of endovascular and open infrainguinal revascularization in patients with peripheral arterial disease have been previously reported, 30-day readmission and resource utilization after these procedures remain unknown. Methods We used the 2010–2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database and the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, to identify patients with peripheral arterial disease undergoing either in-hospital endovascular or open infrainguinal revascularization. Results Of an estimated 574,201 hospitalized patients treated for peripheral arterial disease, 308,056 and 266,145 underwent lower limb endovascular and open infrainguinal revascularization, respectively. Compared with patients who underwent open revascularization, endovascular patients were more commonly female (44.8% vs 36.7%, P Conclusion Despite lower rates of adverse events compared to endovascular, open infrainguinal revascularization is independently associated with increased risk of short-term readmission, complications, and mortality. These findings should be considered in the selection of appropriate surgical therapy for lower extremity arterial occlusive disease.
Political information use on WeChat and political discussion in China: toward a networked political discussion model

This study was conducted to test the relationships between WeChat (a popular Chinese mobile SNS) and a number of variables including the structural features of users’ networks, the use of political...
Theory and Practice of Literary Historiography in Brazil, 1950s: A Look into the Corporate Logic of a Modernist Institution

Educational institutions and the state cultural apparatus play a decisive role in canon formation. As an academic subfield usually linked to institutions of higher education and sometimes to government agencies, literary historiography attempts to give the national canon a fixed form, a chronological and thematic structure that aims to regulate the study of literature in the educational field.
Ungovernable and Inviolable: Acts of Resistance in and against Immigrant Detention

This piece presents some stories of resistance by Punjabi Sikh immigrant detained individuals in the United States. In spite of the brutalities of detention, the stories demonstrate how these detai...
Analyzing power of the Li 6 ( n → , H 3 ) He 4 reaction from 0.2 to 2.4 MeV

Analyzing powers of the /sup 6/Li(n,/sup 3/H)/sup 4/He reaction have been measured at six angles for neutron energies from 0.2 to 1.5 MeV. A supplementary data set at two angles extends the energy range to 2.4 MeV. An energy continuum of neutrons was produced by bombarding a thick lithium metal target with a nanosecond-pulsed proton beam. Partially polarized neutrons emitted at 50/sup 0/ were incident on an evaporated /sup 6/Li metal target. A silicon surface barrier detector was used to measure ..cap alpha..-particle and triton yields as a function of particle energy at angles of 30/sup 0/, 60/sup 0/, and 80/sup 0/. For the supplementary data set the reaction angle was 55/sup 0/. Tritons and ..cap alpha.. particles were distinguished by time-of-flight techniques. ..cap alpha..-particle yield asymmetries were converted to backward angle triton asymmetries. Analyzing powers were deduced from asymmetries. The data suggest interference between s waves and the p-wave 5/2/sup -/ resonance at 0.247 MeV. Interference between the 5/2/sup -/ level and a broad 3/2/sup -/ state above 2 MeV also contributes. At higher energies interference between the 3/2/sup -/ state and s waves results in analyzing powers close to +0.9 near 90/sup 0/ which vary slowly with neutronmore » energy between 0.7 and 2.4 MeV.« less
Glucose-Lowering Medication Use in CKD: Analysis of US Medicare Beneficiaries Between 2007 and 2016

Background Information regarding the use of glucose-lowering medications in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is limited. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting & Participants Medicare 5% random sample of patients with CKD with type 2 diabetes, 2007 to 2016. Predictors Study year, CKD stage, low-income subsidy status, and demographic characteristics (age, sex, and race/ethnicity). Outcomes Trends in use of glucose-lowering medications. Analytical Approach Yearly cohorts of patients with CKD and type 2 diabetes were created. Descriptive statistics were used to report proportions of patients using glucose-lowering medications. To test overall trends in glucose-lowering medication classes, linear probability models with adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, CKD stage, and low-income subsidy status were used. Results Metformin use increased significantly from 32.7% in 2007 to 48.7% in 2016. Use of newer classes of glucose-lowering medications increased significantly, including dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (5.6%, 2007; 21.7%, 2016), glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (2.3%, 2007; 6.1%, 2016), and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (0.2%, 2013; 3.3%, 2016). Newer insulin analogue use increased from 37.2% in 2007 to 46.3% in 2013 and then remained steady. Use of sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, older insulins (human regular and neutral protamine Hagedorn), α-glucosidase inhibitors, amylin mimetics, and meglitinides decreased significantly. Insulin was the most highly used single medication class. Insulin use was higher among low-income subsidy than among non–low-income subsidy patients. Combination therapy was less common as CKD stage increased. Limitations Patients with CKD and type 2 diabetes and the CKD stages were identified with diagnosis codes and could not be verified through medical record review. Our results may not be generalizable to younger patients with CKD with type 2 diabetes. Conclusions Use of metformin and newer glucose-lowering medication classes is increasing in patients with CKD with type 2 diabetes. We anticipate that percentages of patients with CKD using these newer agents will increase.
First-principles modeling of conductivity at the (001), (110), and (111) SrTiO 3 / LaAlO 3 heterointerfaces

The complex polar oxide heterojunction of ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}/{\mathrm{LaAlO}}_{3}$ (STO/LAO) is of great interest due to the emergent physical phenomena observed at the interface. STO and LAO separately are wide band-gap insulators. However, upon joining them at the 001, 110, and 111 crystallographic planes, the interface undergoes a transition to a conductive state. Although first-principles modeling of the 001 plane interface has been widely studied, there is a lack of reports regarding the 110 and 111. This paper expands the theoretical model of the STO/LAO heterointerface to the three crystallographic planes (001, 110, and 111) where the conductivity has been experimentally reported. The calculations showed that whereas at the 001 interface the conductivity appears at a critical thickness of 4 monolayers of LAO, the 110 and 111 planes have no clear critical thickness; these two interfaces were always conductive. Nevertheless, the number of conductive electrons per unit cell increases with the thickness of the LAO layer in the 110 and 111 interfaces. This is related to the energy levels downshifting due to the electrostatic potential buildup (which was in the opposite direction respect to the 001 interface), increasing the number of conductive sates below the Fermi level. Given the absence of a critical thickness and the fact that chemical intermixing and oxygen vacancies at the interface were not considered, the main mechanism responsible for the conductivity in the 110 and 111 planes was attributed to the large structure reconstruction that locally changes the energy levels at the interface causing charge transfer and accumulation at the layers close to the interface.
Siri : a constrained-object language for reactive program implementation

Abstract: "Siri is a small language intended to simplify the design and implementation of programs with graphical user interfaces such as those available for the Apple Macintosh. The interfaces for such programs are usually based on three concepts: accurate and appealing visual metaphors, interaction by direct manipulation, and immediate reflection of changes in the data. Programs based on these concepts are called reactive, after Alan Kay's Reactive Engine [Kay69]. A well-designed reactive program maintains an internal model that is kept consistent with an end user model. The end user's model is created and modified by direct manipulation, using an input device such as a mouse to alter a visual representation.This puts the user in control, rather than the computer. Implementing reactive programs is difficult, due to computational mechanisms that are rarely supported in existing programming languages. Siri addresses these needs in a simple and uniform way. The declarative nature of Siri bypasses many issues of control flow; dependency networks and constraint satisfaction will transparently sequence updates. Siri's single abstraction mechanism, the constraint pattern, supports multiple object views simultaneously; seperate hierarchies for visual layout, encapsulation, and class/subclass; and multiple concurrent objects.In addition, Siri will provide a straightforward framework for creation and composition of Siri programs using direct manipulation."
Effect of inlet subcooling on two-phase flow oscillations in a vertical boiling channel

In this work, results of experimental research to investigate the effects of heat transfer augmentation and inlet subcooling on two-phase flow instabilities are presented. For this purpose, a simple set-up was designed and built. The effect of inlet subcooling was investigated using different heat transfer surfaces and inlet temperatures at constant heat input of 415 W. Freon-11 has been used as the test fluid, and the experiments were carried out for six heater tubes having different heat transfer surfaces. Inlet temperatures were in the range of −9.8°C to 38°C. The results indicate that, in the range of present experiments, the system becomes more stable, that it's instability boundary moves into lower mass flow rates, with increase in the inlet subcooling. However, the amplitudes and the periods of the oscillations increase with increase in the inlet subcooling. For some of the tested surfaces there was a particular inlet subcooling, above and below which the system's stability decreased.
Revising the History of the Early American State

Several recent works, such as Brian Balogh’s Government Out of Sight and Sheldon Pollack’s War, Revenues, and State Building, have attacked the “weak state” trope in the American political development literature. My paper intends to assess this revisionist literature. The argument is the revisionists have not gone far enough in revising the history of the early American state because they still have not factored in the effects of slavery on state development. For example, one of the reasons that the federal government was most energetic on the periphery during the pre-Civil War period was paralysis at the center because of disputes over slavery. Another reason was to cloak, from both public and congressional view, controversial policies that directly promoted the interests of Southern slaveholders. One such case was the Second Seminole War, where the Van Buren administration generated very substantial, and for most of the war unreported, expenses forcibly removing the Seminoles from Florida at the behest of local slaveholders who were extremely anxious about the security of their slaveholdings. Other examples would be the federal government’s largely undocumented use of slave labor and subsidization of African colonization. In short, a real revisionism would not keep slavery “out of sight.”
Effects of pH, Ionic Strength, Temperature, and Complexing Anions on the Sorption Behavior of Cobalt on Hydrous Silica

Sorption of Co(II) on SiO2.xH2O (silica gel) has been investigated as a function of time, amount of silica gel (0.10–1.00g), cobalt concentration (5.00 × 10−5–1.20 × 10−3 M), ionic strength (0.20–1.40 M NaClO4), pH (∼6.80–10.80), and temperature (273–318 K). Using the sorption kinetics data, the diffusion coefficient of Co(II) was calculated to be 6.86(±0.44) × 10−12 m2sec−1 under particle diffusion-controlled conditions. The sorption rate was determined as 2.61(±0.19) × 10−3 sec−1 at 298 K, pH 6.70(±0.05) and 0.20 M NaClO4. The sorption data followed the Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherms. Cobalt sorption decreased with increased ionic strength. A gradual decrease in pH with increased ionic strength supported the sorption of Co(II) by an ion exchange mechanism. The effects of different ligands such as , F−, and on the sorption of Co(II) were studied in the pH range 6.50 to 8.50. The sorption of cobalt on silica gel increased with increased temperature and had an endothermic en...
Modeling the X-Ray-Optical Correlations in NGC 3516

We test the "reprocessing paradigm" of optical-UV active galactic nucleus (AGN) variability, according to which the variations in this wavelength range are driven by a variable X-ray component, by detailed modeling of the correlated X-ray-optical (3590 and 5510 A) variability of the recent multiwavelength campaign of NGC 3516. To this end we produce model optical light curves by convolving the observed X-ray flux with the response function of an infinite, thin accretion disk, illuminated by a pointlike X-ray source located at a given height hX above the compact object (the lamppost model). We also produce the ionized X-ray reflection and Fe Kα line spectra that result from the reprocessing of the same X-rays on the disk surface. Then we compare the properties of the model light curves (amplitude, morphology, lags) as well as those of the Fe Kα line profiles to those observed. Our calculations improve on those of similar past treatments by including the effects of an X-ray-heated ionized layer in hydrostatic equilibrium on its surface, which greatly affects its X-ray timing and spectral properties. The results of our calculations do not provide a clear-cut picture that would either support or refute the reprocessing paradigm: despite the large (50%) amplitude excursions of the X-ray flux, the model optical light curves exhibit variability amplitudes of only 3%-4% and vary in synchrony in the two bands, in agreement with observations. However, the model light curves, when viewed in detail, do not have a direct correspondence to those observed. Futhermore, while the observed intraband synchrony generally points toward smaller values for the black hole mass (M = 107 M☉), the X-ray Fe Kα line, X-ray reflection, and optical-UV spectra seem to favor larger mass values (M = 108 M☉). Generally, no combination of the model parameters seems to produce agreement with the ensemble of the constraints imposed by optical/UV/X-ray spectral and timing observations; we are thus led to believe that the simplest version of the lamppost model geometry is inconsistent with the NGC 3516 observations.
Methane generation during experimental serpentinization of olivine.

Oze et al. (1) observed generation of methane (CH4) during experimental serpentinization of olivine, and use the results to make inferences about sources of methane in natural serpentinites. Their data interpretation, however, is directly contradicted by results of prior studies, critically undermining the credibility of their conclusions. Several prior studies conducted using experimental methods essentially identical to those of Oze et al. have demonstrated that natural minerals and other sources contribute significant amounts of background methane during laboratory experiments (e.g., refs. 2⇓–4). In particular, experiments using 13C-labeled reactants to track carbon sources have shown that background sources generate methane at …
Estimating the Effectiveness of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific CD8+ T Cells from the Dynamics of Viral Immune Escape

Antiviral CD8+ T cells are thought to play a significant role in limiting the viremia of human and simian immunodeficiency virus (HIV and SIV, respectively) infections. However, it has not been possible to measure the in vivo effectiveness of cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), and hence their contribution to the death rate of CD4+ T cells is unknown. Here, we estimated the ability of a prototypic antigen-specific CTL response against a well-characterized epitope to recognize and kill infected target cells by monitoring the immunodominant Mamu-A*01-restricted Tat SL8 epitope for escape from Tat-specific CTLs in SIVmac239-infected macaques. Fitting a mathematical model that incorporates the temporal kinetics of specific CTLs to the frequency of Tat SL8 escape mutants during acute SIV infection allowed us to estimate the in vivo killing rate constant per Tat SL8-specific CTL. Using this unique data set, we show that at least during acute SIV infection, certain antiviral CD8+ T cells can have a significant impact on shortening the longevity of infected CD4+ T cells and hence on suppressing virus replication. Unfortunately, due to viral escape from immune pressure and a dependency of the effectiveness of antiviral CD8+ T-cell responses on the availability of sufficient CD4+ T cells, the impressive early potency of the CTL response may wane in the transition to the chronic stage of the infection.
Inverse Optimality in Robust Stabilization

The concept of a robust control Lyapunov function ({\Bf rclf}) is introduced, and it is shown that the existence of an {\Bf rclf} for a control-affine system is equivalent to robust stabilizability via continuous state feedback. This extends Artstein's theorem on nonlinear stabilizability to systems with disturbances. It is then shown that every {\Bf rclf} satisfies the steady-state Hamilton--Jacobi--Isaacs (HJI) equation associated with a meaningful game and that every member of a class of pointwise min-norm control laws is optimal for such a game. These control laws have desirable properties of optimality and can be computed directly from the {\Bf rclf} without solving the HJI equation for the upper value function.
A cumulative national psychiatric register: its structure and application.

The Danish Central Psychiatric Register is a cumulative register comprising all psychiatric in-patient institutions (about 12,000 beds and about 40,000 admissions per year). The system of manual files and an EDP registration is described. Its development, method of operation and function, some applications and results are presented.
An Approach for Categorizing DIF in Polytomous Items

A widely used approach for categorizing the level of differential item functioning (DIF) in dichotomous items is the scheme proposed by Educational Testing Service (ETS) based on a transformation of the Mantel-Haeszel common odds ratio. In this article two classification schemes for DIF in polytomous items (referred to as the P1 and P2 schemes) are proposed that parallel the criteria set forth in the ETS scheme for dichotomous items. The theoretical equivalence of the P1 and P2 schemes to the ETS scheme is described, and the results of a simulation study conducted to examine the empirical equivalence of the P1 and P2 schemes to the ETS scheme are presented.
Remote respiration and heart rate monitoring with millimeter-wave/terahertz radars

The characteristics of continuous-wave millimeter-wave/terahertz radars make them candidates to remotely sense the physiological parameters of individuals, such as respiration and heart rates. The characteristics of these radars include transmission through the atmosphere and clothing, well-collimated beams, and sensitivity to small displacements. The directional Doppler velocity can be used to measure the movement of a subject’s chest wall due to respiration and the more subtle motion of the body due to the cardiopulmonary system. We will present an overview of two systems that have been developed along with representative data from each.