cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultra thin PoP top package using compression mold: Its warpage control

Package on Package (PoP) is one of the increasingly used high density package solution for package stacking technology in various device manufacturing applications. Normally PoP configurations use a top package with a stacked memory packaging system connected to a bottom logic packaging system via solder joint. To guarantee the assembly yield and reliability of the solder joint between the top package and bottom package, mechanical compliance between these two packages is crucial during package stacking. The industry is constantly working toward reducing the total stack height and current road maps point toward a thinner total stack Z height of PoP configuration. It is necessary to reduce the package height by reducing the mold cap thickness as well as reduce the mold cap clearance, the distance between the top silicon die to the mold top. However, it is one of the increasing challenges to reduce top package thickness maintaining its low warpage behaviors during the reflow process and to avoid bonding wire exposure after laser mark process due to thin mold cap clearance. In this paper, we used the compression mold process to fabricate PoP top package test vehicle with different mold cap thickness at around 80 um mold cap clearance on 14×14 package size, and investigated the effects of various molding compound materials and substrate material properties on PoP top package warpage behaviors during solder reflow process. The substrates are all 100 um thickness and 2 layer structure. As the mold cap thickness gets thinner, the warpage variation during reflow process gets larger. The material property of key component in top PoP package plays a crucial role in warpage performance. The thermo-mechanical properties of molding compounds after compression molding process and substrate materials are very important and mainly determine the warpage level of the top package at room temperature and the warpage behaviors during the reflow profile for the board level assembly with bottom package. The compression mold compound material properties and substrate core materials were optimized to improve the ultra thin PoP top package. The findings and results provide a guideline of the material selection for warpage control in the PoP top package to improve the PoP assembly yield and reliability.
Hearing loss as a risk factor for agricultural injuries.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggested that hearing impairment based on self-report might increase the risk of agricultural injuries. However, self-reported hearing measures may be subject to inaccuracy and subjective perception. We assessed the association of agricultural injuries with hearing loss and other hearing characteristics using measured hearing. METHODS: Study subjects were 150 farmers who participated in the Iowa Certified Safe Farm study. Injury information was collected by telephone interviews at 2-5 month intervals from September 1999 to October 2002. Hearing levels were measured annually using the pure tone audiometry from 1998 to 2002. Adjusted rate ratios of injuries were calculated using the multivariate Poisson regression model. RESULTS: Hearing loss in the better ear (RR = 1.62), hearing asymmetry (RR = 1.67), and fair/poor self-reported hearing (RR = 1.96) were significantly associated with the risk of agricultural injuries. It is notable that self-reported hearing might be a stronger predictor of injuries than pure tone audiometry (PTA). Exposure to noise elevated the risk of injuries in those farmers with hearing loss or hearing asymmetry. The occasional use of hearing protection was significantly associated with agricultural injuries. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds substantial evidence that hearing loss acts as a risk for agricultural injuries. Prevention of hearing loss and noise exposure may be important in reducing the burden of agricultural injuries.
Working Memory and Strategy Use Contribute to Gender Differences in Spatial Ability.

In this review, a new model that is grounded in information-processing theory is proposed to account for gender differences in spatial ability. The proposed model assumes that the relative strength of working memory, as expressed by the ratio of visuospatial working memory to verbal working memory, influences the type of strategies used on spatial ability tasks. Strategy use, in turn, influences performance on spatial ability tasks. Gender differences in spatial ability can be explained by gender differences in strategy use as a function of the relative strength of visuospatial working memory to verbal working memory.
Subcutaneous and retropharyngeal emphysema following dental restoration: An uncommon complication

A case of subcutaneous and retropharyngeal emphysema following a dental restoration is presented. The patient complained of swelling, tenderness, and a "crackling feeling" of her right face and neck, as well as pain in the back of her throat. Radiographs confirmed the diagnosis of interstitial air emphysema. The etiology of this unusual complication was the compressed air used in modern dental drills and syringes. Treatment consists of reassurance, observation, and prophylactic antibiotics.
Association of elevated amyloid levels with cognition and biomarkers in cognitively normal people from the community

Importance The role of amyloid in the progression of Alzheimer disease (AD) pathophysiology is of central interest to the design of randomized clinical trials. The presence of amyloid has become a prerequisite for enrollment in several secondary prevention trials for AD, yet the precise effect of elevated amyloid levels on subsequent clinical and biomarker events is less certain. Objective To explore the effect of elevated amyloid levels on subsequent changes in cognition and biomarkers. Design, Setting, and Participants A total of 564 cognitively normal individuals (median age, 78 years) from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, a population-based longitudinal study in Olmsted County, Minnesota, with serial cognitive data were selected for this study. The data used in this study were collected from January 12, 2006, to January 9, 2014. Individuals included in this study had undergone magnetic resonance imaging, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), and Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) PET at baseline were not cognitively impaired at baseline and had at least 1 clinical follow-up. A subset of 286 individuals also underwent serial imaging. Elevated amyloid level was defined as a standardized uptake value ratio of greater than 1.5 on PiB PET. Associations with baseline amyloid status and baseline and longitudinal change in clinical and imaging measures were evaluated after adjusting for age and hippocampal volume. APOE4 effects were also evaluated. Main Outcomes and Measures Cognitive measures of memory, language, attention/executive function, visuospatial skills, PiB levels, hippocampal and ventricular volumes, and FDG-PET measures. Results At baseline, 179 (31.7%) individuals with elevated amyloid levels had poorer cognition in all domains measured, reduced hippocampal volume, and greater FDG-PET hypometabolism. Elevated amyloid levels at baseline were associated with a greater rate of cognitive decline in all domains (0.04 to 0.09 z score units per year) except language and a greater rate of amyloid accumulation (1.6% per year), hippocampal atrophy (30 mm 3 per year), and ventricular enlargement (565 mm 3 per year). Elevated amyloid levels were also associated with an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (hazard ratio, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.7-5.0, and hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.9-2.8, for PiB+ APOE4 carriers and PiB+ noncarriers, respectively, compared with PiB− noncarriers). These associations were largely independent of APOE4 . Conclusions and Relevance In persons selected from a population-based study, elevated amyloid levels at baseline were associated with worse cognition and imaging biomarkers at baseline and with greater clinical decline and neurodegeneration. These results have implications for the design of randomized clinical trials for AD.
Kernelsec: an adaptive authorization model for an operating system kernel

At the heart of every secure computer system is an authorization system that ensures that the actions performed in the system are only those allowed by the security policy of the system. Computer security today is at an all-time low—with attacks against systems constantly on the rise and becoming ever more sophisticated in evading detection, let alone prevention. Apart from the security holes in the software, two key factors have contributed to the failure of the software infrastructure: (1) use of weak authentication techniques to identify remote users and hosts and (2) lack of fine-grained mechanisms to limit the privileges of a process. The former leads to unauthorized access (particularly by users) and the latter allows processes to run with more privileges than needed. In this thesis I present a unified solution to tackle all of the above. Here, I present the KernelSec authorization system. KernelSec authorization system offers fine-grain protections. Here, the permissions of a process can be adapted dynamically based on its actions, e.g., the process cannot access the network after reading a confidential file. A particular application of this dynamic adaptation is in sandboxing. In this thesis I show how dynamic sandboxes can be built using the KernelSec authorization facilities. These sandboxes are complete in their isolation and mediation, significantly improving over existing techniques. KernelSec also provides new operating system facilities for building user-based network services (UBNS). UBNS allow a remote user to be served with the privileges of that user. UBNS allow legitimate users be able to login remotely to a machine and still perform the same set of actions as they would when logging in locally at the machine (or from within the organization). They provide a tighter integration between network authentication and the subsequent authorizations (to customize the server process)—which is absent in today's authorization systems and are instead provided in an ad-hoc manner as part of the applications. KernelSec's facilities for UBNS are implemented at the system layer.
Case Selection After the Trial: A Study of Post-Trial Settlement and Appeal

Studies the decisions of litigants in civil disputes whether to settle or appeal a case after a trial.
I only have eye for ewe: the discovery of cyclopamine and development of Hedgehog pathway-targeting drugs

Covering: 1950s to 2015 During the 1950s, sheep ranchers in the western United States experienced episodic outbreaks of cyclopic lambs. In this highlight I describe how these mysterious incidents were traced to the grazing of Veratrum californicum wildflowers by pregnant ewes, leading to the discovery of cyclopamine (1) as a plant-derived teratogen. The precise mechanism of cyclopamine action remained enigmatic for 30 years, until this steroid alkaloid was found to be the first specific inhibitor of Hedgehog (Hh) signalling and a direct antagonist of the transmembrane receptor Smoothened (SMO). In addition to being a valuable probe of Hh pathway function, cyclopamine has been used to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of Hh pathway inhibitors. I discuss the development of SMO antagonists as anticancer therapies and emerging challenges.
Neuroendocrine-immune system interactions in amphibians: implications for understanding global amphibian declines.

Amphibians are ancient creatures valued by biologists and naturalists around the world. They share with all other vertebrates a complex neuroendocrine system that enables them to flourish in a variety of aquatic and semiaquatic environments. Studies from a number of laboratorie shave demonstrated that the immune system of amphibian species is nearly as complex as that of mammals. Yet for reasons that are not well understood, amphibian species are facing greater survival challenges than in the recent past. This article will review our current understanding of the neuroendocrine immune system interactions in amphibians and address the question of whether environmental stressors may contribute to immunosuppression and amphibian declines.
Medial Arch Strain After Medial Displacement Calcaneal Osteotomy: An In Vitro Study:

Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction with concomitant progressive flatfoot deformity is associated with liga-mentous failure along the medial arch. Medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy is being u...
Edema of the spinal cord in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

SummaryThe hyperacute form of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis produced inflammatory edema of the CNS, with 3-18% swelling of the cord but not of the brain; the magnitude of change paralleled the severity of disease. Overhydration (water intoxication) caused 6-7% swelling of the spinal cord, and changes of similar degree occurred in the brain. The combination of overhydration and inflammatory edema had an additive effect on water content of the spinal cord.
Improved waitlist and transplant outcomes for pediatric lung transplantation after implementation of the lung allocation score

Background Although the lung allocation score (LAS) has not been considered valid for lung allocation to children, several additional policy changes for pediatric lung allocation have been adopted since its implementation. We compared changes in waitlist and transplant outcomes for pediatric and adult lung transplant candidates since LAS implementation. Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing database was reviewed for all lung transplant listings during the period 1995 to June 2014. Outcomes were analyzed based on date of listing (pre-LAS vs post-LAS) and candidate age at listing (adults >18 years, adolescents 12 to 17 years, children 0 to 11 years). Results Of the 39,962 total listings, 2,096 (5%) were for pediatric candidates. Median waiting time decreased after LAS implementation for all age groups (adults: 379 vs 83 days; adolescents: 414 vs 104 days; children: 211 vs 109 days; p p p p = 0.014), whereas deaths on the waitlist decreased (adults: 28.0% vs 14.4%, p p p = 0.025), despite more critically ill candidates in all groups. Median recipient survival increased after LAS for adults and children (adults: 5.1 vs 5.5 years, p p = 0.047), but not for adolescents (3.6 vs 4.3 years, p = 0.295). Conclusions Improvements in waiting time, mortality and post-transplant survival have occurred in children after LAS implementation. Continued refinement of urgency-based allocation to children and broader sharing of pediatric donor lungs may help to maximize these benefits.
Innovative Practice Ability Training of the Undergraduate Based on the Multi-dimension Practice Platform

The higher education plays an important role on the innovation,spread and application of knowledge,so it is significant to enhance the innovation and application ability of undergraduate. Based on the teaching idea of "taking students as center,combining inside and after class,combining science-technology and humanity,combining the teaching with research",the authors' team construct four systems,including the science technology competitions, practicing courses,science technology projects and students' innovative teams,which form a multi-dimension platform of training the students' innovative ability.
Dynamic and functional imaging of the musculoskeletal system.

Abstract Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination of the musculoskeletal system is limited to static evaluation of muscle, spine, and joint morphology. However, using the variety of contrast mechanisms available with MRI, it is possible to obtain functional and biomechanical data about the musculoskeletal system. The function of joints and muscles are for motion and weight bearing, so pathology that only occurs during activity can be missed on static MRI examination. Similarly, important information about muscle biomechanics, muscle energetics, and joint function can be obtained with unique MRI contrast such as T(2)-mapping, spectroscopy, blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) imaging, and molecular imaging. These new techniques hold the promise for a more complete and useful joint examination.
Thermal and pCO2 Stress Elicit Divergent Transcriptomic Responses in a Resilient Coral

The oceans are becoming warmer and more acidic as a result of rising atmospheric pCO2. Transcriptome plasticity may facilitate marine organisms’ acclimation to thermal and acidification stress by tailoring gene expression to mitigate the impacts of these stressors. Here, we produce the first transcriptome of the abundant, ubiquitous, and resilient Caribbean reef-building coral Siderastrea siderea, and investigate this corals’ transcriptomic response to 95 days of thermal (T = 25, 28, 32°C) and CO2-induced acidification (324, 477, 604, 2553 µatm) stress. The S. siderea transcriptome was assembled using RNAseq and then Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis was employed to obtain systems-level insights into the coral’s stress response. Exposure of the coral to both elevated temperature and acidification elicited strong but divergent transcriptomic responses. Gene Ontology analysis suggests that long-term thermal stress disrupts homeostasis by increasing transcription of protein-coding genes associated with protein catabolism and suppressing transcription of genes involved in responding to environmental stimuli. Both next century (604 µatm) and extreme-high (2553 µatm) pCO2 stress increased transcription of genes associated with respiration, highlighting the potentially greater energetic requirements of maintaining calcification under high-pCO2 conditions. Under extreme-high-pCO2, increased transcription of H+-transporter genes was observed, consistent with the proposed role of proton transport in facilitating coral calcification under elevated pCO2. These results suggest that 95 days of exposure to 32°C seawater elicits a more adverse transcriptomic response (i.e., broad scale reductions in gene expression) than exposure to extreme-high acidification (2553 µatm; i.e., increased expression of genes associated with ion transport) within S. siderea—with the response to extreme warming suggesting cellular shutdown and the response to extreme acidification indicating capacity for acclimation. These results are consistent with the observation that rates of net calcification for the investigated corals were more negatively affected by the prescribed thermal stress than by the prescribed acidification stress. This study demonstrates how transcriptome plasticity may promote coral acclimation to these global change stressors, but that there are limits to the efficacy of this plasticity.
Development of nuclear microsatellite markers for the Lesser Blind Mole Rat Nannospalax leucodon (Rodentia: Spalacidae)

We describe here eight polymorphic microsatellite markers for Nannospalax leucodon, an exclusively subterranean and highly specialized rodent species which exhibits range contractions and population declines in Europe. The level of polymorphism was tested on 36 individuals of blind mole rat from Doubroudja region, in South-Eastern part of Romania. The number of alleles across all loci ranged from 7 to 12, with an average of 6.1 ± 0.571 alleles per locus. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.735 to 1. These loci will be a useful tool for the study of genetic structure and diversity of blind mole rat populations, whit immediate consequences in conservation strategy for these species.
Hodgkin Lymphoma Cells Have a Specific Long Noncoding RNA Expression Pattern.

This commentary highlights the article by Tayari et al that suggests studying clinical implications of long noncoding RNAs as possible diagnostic and predictive biomarkers of Hodgkin lymphoma.
The Immune System and Its Contribution to the Radiotherapeutic Response of Glioblastoma

The immune system plays an important role in both counteracting and facilitating cancer development, as well as contributing to the effects of standard cancer treatments. As such, the immune system is most certainly involved in the response of glioblastoma to radiotherapy; however, it is difficult to elucidate the specific role of immunity due to limitations in animal models and the difficulty in obtaining tissue to study molecular correlates of progression and response. Yet there is abundant evidence that leukocytes and other immune mediators recognize and respond to glioma cells, and indirect evidence that they participate in the therapeutic response to radiation. After a brief introduction on the role of the innate and adaptive immune response to cancer, we review the effects of radiotherapy on the anti-tumor immune response, including inflammation, T-cell priming, and immune suppression. We first introduce the concept of radiation induced immunogenic cell death, its application to the unique immunological landscape of the CNS, and present available evidence that radiation induces an immune response against glioblastoma. We then discuss some of the barriers of the brain/tumor microenvironment that may interfere with effective anti-tumor immunity, and conclude with suggested approaches to better harness the immune response in the treatment of glioblastoma with radiotherapy.
Prognostic significance of lymph node yield in ypN0 rectal cancer.

Background Neoadjuvant radiation therapy for locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma decreases lymph node yield. This study investigated the association between survival and number of lymph nodes evaluated in patients with pathologically negative nodes after neoadjuvant therapy. Methods Patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent neoadjuvant therapy and had pathologically negative lymph nodes were included from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database over a 7-year interval (January 2004 to December 2010). Systematic dichotomization for optimal cut-off point identification was performed using statistical modelling. Results A total of 3995 patients met the inclusion criteria. The majority had T3 (66·7 per cent) and moderately differentiated (71·5 per cent) tumours. The median number of lymph nodes retrieved was 12 (i.q.r. 7–16). An optimal cut-off of nine lymph nodes was identified. Increasing age (P < 0·001), increasing T category (T4 versus T1, P < 0·001; T3 versus T1, P = 0·010), response to neoadjuvant therapy (P < 0·001) and number of nodes evaluated (P < 0·001) were significant factors for overall survival in univariable analysis. After adjustment in the multivariable model, the group with nine or more nodes examined had significantly better overall survival (hazard ratio (HR) 0·76, 95 per cent c.i. 0·65 to 0·88, P < 0·001; 5-year survival 83·2 versus 78·0 per cent) and cancer-specific survival (HR 0·76, 0·64 to 0·92, P = 0·004; 5-year survival 87·9 versus 85·1 per cent) than the group with one to eight nodes examined. Conclusion Overall and cancer-specific survival were worse where fewer than nine lymph nodes were identified after neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer.
Practical large-scale production of dihydrocapsiate, a nonpungent capsaicinoid-like substance

Capsinoids represent a novel group of capsaicinoid-like substances found in a nonpungent cultivar, Capsicum annuum “CH-19 Sweet.” They have capsaicinoid-like physiological and biological properties...
Similarity Search in Large-Scale Graph Databases

Graphs are ubiquitous and play an essential role in modeling and representing complex structures in real-world networked applications. Given a graph database that comprises a large collection of graphs, it is fundamental and critical to enable fast and flexible search for structurally similar graphs. In this paper, we survey recent graph similarity search techniques and specifically focus on the work based on the graph edit distance (GED) metric. State-of-the-art approaches for the GED based similarity search typically adopt a pruning and verification framework. They first take advantage of some easy-to-compute lower-bounds of graph edit distance, and use novel graph indexing structures to efficiently evaluate such lower-bounds between graphs in the graph database and the query graph. This way, graphs that violate the GED lower-bound constraints can be identified and filtered from the graph database from further investigation. Then, the costly GED verification is performed only for the graphs that pass the GED lower-bound evaluation. We examine existing GED lower-bounds, graph index structures, and similarity search algorithms in detail, and compare different similarity search methods from multiple aspects including index construction cost, similarity search performance, and applicability in real-world graph databases. In the end, we envision and discuss the future research directions related to similarity search and high-performance query processing in large-scale graph databases.
Optimal control for a new class of singularly perturbed linear systems

Singularly perturbed linear control systems have been traditionally studied with one-vector input that controls both the slow and fast state variables. Motivated by examples of real physical systems, in this paper we extend the study to corresponding two-vector input systems. We have identified several classes of real physical singularly perturbed systems that can be more efficiently controlled using two-vector inputs. In such systems, one vector input is used to control the slow state space variables and the other vector input is used to control the fast state variables. This control structure offers more flexibility controlling given systems and appears to be more effective. We study the linearquadratic regulator (LQR) problem for this new class of singularly perturbed systems and develop a numerical algorithm based on fixed-point iterations to obtain its solution. The latter is obtained in terms of reduced-order sub-problems which avoid possible numerical stiffness issues and are computationally advantageous for large scale systems.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer: A veteran administration registry study

Background:The etiology of pancreatic cancer remains elusive. Several studies have suggested a role for diabetes mellitus, but the magnitude of its contribution remains controversial.Objectives:Uti...
Overview of Planetarium Education Research Methods

The modern digital planetarium, with its inherent ability to show the universe as a real-time three-dimensional model, as opposed to the old-style, earth-centered view of the optical star projector, provides unique opportunities for a fresh look at education research in the planetarium.
263 GHz TWT-Amplified EPR spectrometer

A unique spectrometer is under construction to enable pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance at 263 GHz. The instrument will enhance resolution of the g-tensor components of narrow organic radical signals providing a major advantage when probing protonation and hydrogen bonding effects on the radicals' electronic structures. This capability is enabled by a moderate power (50 W), 5.5% duty 20 GHz bandwidth travelling wave tube amplifier consisting of a high current density sheet beam electron gun, periodic cusped magnet, and severed slow wave structure. The electron gun and modulator have been demonstrated to have turn-off time and jitter of less than 60 ns and 10 ns, respectively. The Nano-CNC machined circuit showed less than 5 dB loss over the operating frequency band. A quasi-optical waveguide system together with a 12 T sweepable, cryogen free magnet will be combined with the vacuum amplifier to create a new generation of high frequency spectrometers.
Role of palliative radiotherapy (PRT) in patients with malignant airway obstruction (MAO) in the intensive care unit (ICU).

143Background: MAO is a challenging sequela of advanced cancer, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. A number of patients with MAO present with significant airway compromise necessitating intubation and mechanical ventilation. PRT for MAO patients in the ICU is complex, requiring high levels of coordination and support. The role and efficacy of PRT in intubated patients is not well defined. We performed a retrospective review of intubated patients with MAO receiving PRT to understand efficacy of treatment and patient outcomes. Methods: After obtaining IRB approval, a retrospective query was performed to identify all patients who received PRT and required mechanical ventilation at some point during the course of RT at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from 2008 to 2016. Data was analyzed looking at demographics, reason for intubation, PRT dose and fractionation, length of intubation, extubation success and overall survival. Data was subsequently entered into a database using the sec...
Transition wavelengths and fine structure for the doublet states of Be

Seventeen bound and core-excited states of Be/sup +/ are calculated using configuration-interaction wave functions. Relativistic and mass-polarization correction are included. The relativistic corrections considered are correction to the kinetic energy, Darwin term, contact terms, and retardation effect. The fine structure is calculated by using spin-orbit and spin-other-orbit operators. The wavelengths computed for the transitions from the core-excited states improve the agreement between theory and experiment. The lifetimes for these states are also calculated. Our calculated transition wavelengths and fine structures for the bound states agree well in most cases with the experimental data tabulated by Bashkin and Stoner.
A basal magma ocean dynamo to explain the early lunar magnetic field

Abstract The source of the ancient lunar magnetic field is an unsolved problem in the Moon's evolution. Theoretical work invoking a core dynamo has been unable to explain the magnitude of the observed field, falling instead one to two orders of magnitude below it. Since surface magnetic field strength is highly sensitive to the depth and size of the dynamo region, we instead hypothesize that the early lunar dynamo was driven by convection in a basal magma ocean formed from the final stages of an early lunar magma ocean; this material is expected to be dense, radioactive, and metalliferous. Here we use numerical convection models to predict the longevity and heat flow of such a basal magma ocean and use scaling laws to estimate the resulting magnetic field strength. We show that, if sufficiently electrically conducting, a magma ocean could have produced an early dynamo with surface fields consistent with the paleomagnetic observations.
The transperitoneal approach for anterior lumbar interbody fusion at L5−S1: a technical note

We read with great interest the recent article by Mobbs et al . (1) regarding the approach for anterior lumbar interbody fusion at the L5-S1 segment. The authors presented a clinical vignette describing a middle-aged woman with severe S1 radiculopathy secondary to a recurrent disc herniation at the L5-S1 level following two posterior microdiscectomy procedures. Subsequently, the authors describe the retroperitoneal technique for anterior lumbar interbody fusion at this level.
The Costs of War

The costs argument is a supplemental moral argument against war: the terrible costs of war in recent centuries and in the foreseeable future, it is argued, establishes the moral wrongness and evil of modern wars. These costs include the great suffering of civilians in combat operations and the post-war effects on both civilians and soldiers, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), This argument is not for unqualified pacifism (because it argues against only modern wars, not all wars), but if successful it shows the correctness of a pacifist approach to modern warfare.
Enabling a Robust Copper Seed Etch Process for Fine Line RDL by Electroplating on a Thin PVD Seed Layer

Abstract Integration of heterogeneous chips into fanout packages requires interconnection by redistribution lines (RDL). As I/O counts increase, higher density routing is required, and can be achie...
Hybrid lipid-nanoparticle complexes for biomedical applications.

Biomolecule–nanoparticle hybrids have proven to be one of most promising frontiers in biomedical research. In recent years, there has been an increased focus on the development of hybrid lipid–nanoparticle complexes (HLNCs) which inherit unique properties of both the inorganic nanoparticles and the lipid assemblies (i.e. liposomes, lipoproteins, solid lipid nanoparticles, and nanoemulsions) that comprise them. In combination of their component parts, HLNCs also gain new functionalities which are utilized for numerous biomedical applications (i.e. stimuli-triggered drug release, photothermal therapy, and bioimaging). The localization of nanoparticles within the lipid assemblies largely dictates the attributes and functionalities of the hybrid complexes and are classified as such: (i) liposomes with surface-bound nanoparticles, (ii) liposomes with bilayer-embedded nanoparticles, (iii) liposomes with core-encapsulated nanoparticles, (iv) lipid assemblies with hydrophobic core-encapsulated nanoparticles, and (v) lipid bilayer-coated nanoparticles. Herein, we review the properties of each hybrid and the rational design of HLNCs for biomedical applications as reported by recent investigations. Future directions in advancing and expanding the scope of HLNCs are also proposed.
A BAFfling liver aspirate: Metastatic high grade SMARCA4 deficient undifferentiated gastroesophageal junction carcinoma masquerading as a hematolymphoid malignancy

Undifferentiated malignant SMARCA4-deficient neoplasms are rare, recently characterized, high grade, potentially lethal malignancies. Such tumors are characterized by the loss of BRG1 encoded by SMARCA4, a key component of the Switch/Sucrose Non-Fermenting (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex. As this complex, also referred as BAF (BRG1/BRM associated factors) complex, is involved in the epigenetic control of hundreds of genes, including those involved in lineage-specific differentiation, BAF-deficient tumors, show minimal or no differentiation and are difficult to classify. Their fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic features are still poorly defined. Here, we describe a 70-year-old man who presented with thickening of the wall of the distal esophagus and stomach and multiple liver and lung lesions. Liver FNA showed relatively uniform dispersed malignant cells with high nucleus: cytoplasm ratio, scant microvacuolated cytoplasm, eccentric nuclei and prominent nucleoli. Mitoses, necrotic debris, nuclear streak artifact, "ghost cells" and focal rhabdoid cytoplasmic inclusions were also present. The liver core biopsy and GI biopsies demonstrated sinusoidal and respectively submucosal involvement by a high grade undifferentiated malignant neoplasm. The tumor cells were negative for all applied markers on immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, and only showed CD138 and weak PAX5 staining. After an initial diagnosis of hematolymphoid neoplasm, additional stains showed intact INI1 protein and loss of BRG1 protein immunoexpression, establishing the accurate diagnosis. This case highlights the difficulties and potential pitfalls encountered in the FNA diagnosis of BAF-deficient tumors, the accurate diagnosis of which is important due to their lack of response to conventional therapy and potential response to targeted therapy.
From Cultural Hybridization to Ecological Degradation:The Forest in Chinua Achebe’s Things Falls Apart and Ben Okri’s The Famished Road

(2012). From Cultural Hybridization to Ecological Degradation:The Forest in Chinua Achebe’s Things Falls Apart and Ben Okri’s The Famished Road. Journal of the African Literature Association: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 93-113.
Effect of Intravitreal Injections on Retinal Imaging Metrics in Glaucomatous and Non-Glaucomatous Eyes

To summarize the available literature on retinal imaging metrics in the context of intravitreal injections in glaucomatous and non-glaucomatous eyes. The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in injected non-glaucomatous eyes appears to thin at a similar rate to uninjected fellow eyes. A total of four studies evaluating RNFL thinning in injected glaucomatous eyes yielded mixed results, with more recent longitudinal investigations suggesting a potential association. The ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer is also being studied as a potential endpoint in both glaucomatous and non-glaucomatous eyes following intravitreal injections. There appears to be minimal association between intravitreal injections and RNFL thinning among non-glaucomatous eyes. However, in glaucomatous eyes, fewer studies have been published, and results have varied due to challenges in study design. Additional prospective studies with longer follow-up periods are warranted.
Customer Search, Competition, and Monetary Non–Neutrality

In this paper, I study monetary non-neutrality in a frictional product market. The model incorporates the idea that goods are in general not monopolistically supplied; rather, consumers can purchase the same good from many outlets. I find that incorporating this feature into a menu cost model increases the degree of monetary non-neutrality. The reason is that competition between stores makes their prices complementary, so that firms face strong penalties for setting prices far away from their competitors. It makes pass-through of cost shocks heterogeneous and decreases the strength of the selection effect. I also use the model to study cyclical changes in monetary non-neutrality. I find that the data are consistent with a decline in the competitiveness of markets in recessions, which makes monetary policy less effective at stimulating output.
How to Effectively Use ResponseWare in Asynchronous and Synchronous Environments to Meet the Needs of Digital Natives

Imagine a world in which a society exists divided into two separate factions. One segment is the “teachers,” those who for 200 years have been the “keepers of the books.” In this segment of society, there exists a hierarchy, and movement within that hierarchy is dependent upon various rights-of-passage. Only those among them who strictly follow carefully laid down rules from the “ancestors” can move within the branches of that society or upward through the hierarchy of that society. Despite these divisional segments, the goal of the faction is clear: impart the “information in the books” to the other segment of their society the “learners” through the use of a methodology that has served the “keepers of the books” well for over 200 years. The “keepers of the books” have now gathered together to face a surmounting problem: Why does it appear that the information is not being absorbed by the “learners”— what is wrong with those “learners”?
Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice to Facilitate "Nano" In Situ Simulation: An Interprofessional Approach to Just-in-Time Training.

Background Simulation is increasingly used to identify latent threats to patient safety, such as delays in recognition and management of time-sensitive conditions. The Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice teaching method may facilitate "nano" (brief) in situ simulation training in a critical care setting to improve multidisciplinary team performance of time-sensitive clinical tasks. Objective To determine whether nano-in situ simulation training with Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice can improve pediatric intensive care unit team proficiency in identifying and managing postoperative shock in a pediatric cardiac patient. Methods A quality improvement educational project was conducted involving nano-in situ simulation sessions in a combined pediatric and pediatric cardiac intensive care unit. The Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice method was used with an expert-driven checklist for 30-minute simulation scenarios. Results A total of 23 critical care providers participated. The proportion of time-sensitive tasks completed within 5 minutes increased significantly from before to after training (52% [13 of 25] vs 100% [25 of 25]; P ≤ .001). Using a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating higher levels, the participants reported high degrees of performance confidence (mean, 4.42; SD, 0.20) and satisfaction with the simulation experience (mean, 4.96; SD, 0.12). Conclusion The Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice method was used to facilitate nano-in situ simulation training and identify areas requiring additional education to improve patient safety. In situ simulation can educate providers in a cost-effective and timely manner.
Factors associated with survival in dogs with a histopathological diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: 94 cases (2007-2018).

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer in dogs. Despite this, relatively few reports of this disease exist pertaining to prognostic factors and outcome. Aim To evaluate factors associated with survival in dogs with all subtypes of HCC diagnosed on histopathology. Methods A retrospective single institutional study was carried out on 94 client-owned dogs with a histopathologic diagnosis of HCC between 2007 and 2018 obtained by biopsy (21/94) or attempted definitive resection (73/94). Signalment, preoperative features, surgical findings, and postoperative outcomes were recorded. Associations between survival to discharge data were collected and univariable logistical regression was carried out. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was carried out to identify negative risk factors for long-term prognosis. Results The median survival time (MST) for all patients was 707 days (95% CI = 551-842). MST was not significantly different (p > 0.05) between patients who had suspected versus incidentally diagnosed HCC (695 vs. 775 days), between complete versus incomplete surgical margins (668 vs. 834 days), or between patients with massive subtype versus nodular/diffuse subtype (707 vs. 747 days). Logistical regression identified an association with the excision of the right medial lobe and risk of perioperative death (OR = 9.2, CI 1.5-55.9, p = 0.016). An American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥4, disease present within the quadrate lobe, and elevated blood urea nitrogen, potassium or gamma-glutamyltransferase were identified as negative prognosticators during multivariable Cox regression. Preoperative imaging (ultrasound or CT) agreed with the surgical location in 91% of the cases. Preoperative cytology was consistent with a diagnosis of HCC in 15/32 (46.9%) cases. Conclusion Type of diagnosis (incidental vs presumed), completeness of excision, and subtype were not associated with MST in this study. Preoperative identification of tumors within the central division may be related to a less favorable outcome. Results of preoperative cytology were not highly sensitive for identifying a malignancy.
What Makes Mental Modeling Difficult? Normative Data for the Multidimensional Relational Reasoning Task.

Relational reasoning is a complex form of human cognition involving the evaluation of relations between mental representations of information. Prior studies have modified stimulus properties of relational reasoning problems and examined differences in difficulty between different problem types. While subsets of these stimulus properties have been addressed in separate studies, there has not been a comprehensive study, to our knowledge, which investigates all of these properties in the same set of stimuli. This investigative gap has resulted in different findings across studies which vary in task design, making it challenging to determine what stimulus properties make relational reasoning – and the putative formation of mental models underlying reasoning – difficult. In this article, we present the Multidimensional Relational Reasoning Task (MRRT), a task which systematically varied an array of stimulus properties within a single set of relational reasoning problems. Using a mixed-effects framework, we demonstrate that reasoning problems containing a greater number of the premises as well as multidimensional relations led to greater task difficulty. The MRRT has been made publicly available for use in future research, along with normative data regarding the relative difficulty of each problem.
Vapor Chamber Thermal Diode with Laser- fabricated Wickless Components

In this study, a vapor chamber - thermal diode apparatus is fabricated and tested. The system’s components are laser-functionalized, wickless, and wettability-patterned copper plates. This is the first thermal management component that is completely wick-free and operates due to surface modification and wettability patterning instead of utilizing wicks or any kind of wicking structures. Our approach takes advantage of the phase-changing property of water in a closed loop composed of two initially identical copper plates, one acting as an evaporator, and the other designed as a condenser. The plates have different wettability patterns, each especially designed/engineered to transform the simple flat rectangular copper plate to a functional component of a vapor chamber. The apparatus, while operating as a vapor chamber, displays a thermal resistance as low as 0.07 ± 0.01 K/W, and while operating as a thermal diode, it shows a diodicity, defined as the heat flux ratio in forward and reverse operation, as high as 9. This value demonstrates the system’s ability to effectively remove the heat from a heat source (i.e., electronic chip) while, in parallel, protecting it from damage by excessive heat backflow. The diodicity of the diode is ascribed to the different wettability-pattern designs on the two copper plates comprising the system. On the forward mode, the two patterns work as designed to enable heat transfer, but on the reverse mode, the patterns no longer function harmoniously with each other, and the heat transfer is hindered. The simplicity of the design and its moderate dimensions are important advantages that make this new thermal management component attractive for engineering applications.
The role of glia in the physiology and pharmacology of glucagon-like peptide-1: implications for obesity, diabetes, neurodegeneration and glaucoma.

The medical applications of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists is evergrowing in scope, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms through which GLP-1R activation impacts physiology and behaviour. A new area of research aims to elucidate the role GLP-1R signalling in glia, which play a role in regulating energy balance, glycemic control, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Once controversial, existing evidence now suggests that subsets of glia (e.g. microglia, tanycytes and astrocytes) and infiltrating macrophages express GLP-1Rs. In this review, we discuss the implications of these findings, with particular focus on the effectiveness of both clinically available and novel GLP-1R agonists for treating metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, enhancing cognition and combating substance abuse.