cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A simplex optimization technique for real-time, reconfigurable transmitter power amplifiers

The increased practice of dynamic spectrum allocation requires radar and communication systems that are able to change operating frequency and other performance criteria while maintaining performance metrics such as power efficiency and spectral compliance. This paper presents a simplex algorithm designed to allow frequency-agile circuits to quickly tune for maximum power-added efficiency. Simulation and measurement algorithm tests show that the algorithm produces consistent results from multiple starting points, and that the results show good agreement with traditional load-pull. This algorithm is expected to be useful in providing fast reconfiguration of transmitter power amplifiers.
Silent Crohn's Disease Predicts Increased Bowel Damage During Multiyear Follow-up: The Consequences of Under-reporting Active Inflammation

BACKGROUND Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) in clinical remission with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) have been labeled "silent CD" and have increased 2-year hospitalization rates when compared with asymptomatic patients with no biochemical evidence of inflammation. The risk of cumulative bowel damage in patients with silent CD is unknown. METHODS Observational study of patients with CD prospectively followed in a tertiary referral natural history registry. Consecutive patients with CD in clinical remission (Harvey-Bradshaw Index ≤ 4) with good quality of life (short inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire score ≥ 50), and same day CRP measurement at first encounter, followed for a minimum of 4 years formed the study population. Disease trajectory was determined using change in Lemann Index as a measure of bowel damage. RESULTS A total of 185 patients with CD (median age 42 years; 51.4% men) were included in the study. CRP elevation was observed in 43 (23%) patients (Silent CD cohort). Majority of them showed worsening disease trajectories based on change in Lemann Index when compared with asymptomatic patients with normal CRP (65% versus 36%, P < 0.0001). Multinomial logistic regression analysis demonstrated that elevated CRP was independently associated with 7-fold higher odds (odds ratio = 6.93, P < 0.0001) of having worse disease trajectories when compared with stable disease trajectories. CONCLUSIONS Two-thirds of patients with CD in clinical remission, while demonstrating elevated CRP, will develop bowel damage over the ensuing years, despite feeling well. These patients with silent CD are an "at-risk" group who warrant further investigation to prevent development of disease-related complications.
Developmental dynamics of cross-modality in mouse visual cortex

Maturation of GABAergic circuits in primary visual cortex (V1) opens a critical period (CP), a developmental window of enhanced plasticity for visual functions. However, how inhibition promotes the plasticity remains unclear. Here, we investigated the developmental dynamics of auditory responses and audiovisual interactions in mouse V1. Modulation of V1 spiking activity by a transient sound was temporally dynamic with alternating enhancement and suppression phases. When paired with grating visual stimuli, sound-driven spike enhancement and suppression were weaker and stronger with preferred orientation than with non-preferred orientations, respectively, leading to impaired net orientation selectivity in V1 neurons. Strikingly, the net orientation selectivity was impervious to sound specifically during the CP due to equal total amounts of sound-driven spike enhancements and suppressions. This balance of spike modulations at the CP was achieved by the preferential maturation of sound-driven spike suppression. However, further maturation of sound-driven spike enhancement broke the balance after the CP. Spectral analysis of field potentials revealed the enhancement of a GABA-mediated sound-driven power suppression specifically at CP. Reduction of inhibition by 10-day dark-exposure or genetic deletion of GAD65 gene dampened sound-driven spike suppression in V1. Furthermore, acute suppression of either parvalbumin-expressing (PV) or somatostatin-expressing (SST) neurons suggested their early or late recruitments by sound, respectively. Our results point to the dampened net non-visual sensory influence as one of the functional roles of GABA circuit maturation during a developmental CP. The insensitivity of visual selectivity to sound during the CP may promote functional maturation of V1 as visual cortex.
Standing on wedges modifies side-specific postural control in the presence of lateral external perturbations

Standing on wedges changes the position in the ankle joints and affects postural stability in the medial-lateral direction. The objective of the study was to investigate the role of wedges and external lateral perturbations on anticipatory (APA) and compensatory postural adjustments (CPA). Ten healthy young participants were exposed to perturbations applied to the lateral part of their right shoulder when standing on a planar surface, on a medial or lateral wedges. Bilateral electromyographic activity of dorsal and ventral postural muscles and the center of pressure (COP) displacement were recorded and analyzed during the APA and CPA phases. When exposed to the lateral perturbation, reciprocal activation of shank muscles was seen on the side of the perturbation while co-contraction of shank muscles was seen on the contralateral side during the APA and CPA phases. Standing on a wedge was associated with decreased magnitudes of co-contraction and reciprocal activation of shank muscles. The COP displacements were smaller in the APA phase and larger in the CPA phase while standing on wedges compared to standing on the planar surface. The outcome of the study provides a basis for future investigations of incorporating wedges in balance re-training paradigms for the elderly or individuals with neurological impairment.
Novel Spiroplasma Spp. Cultured From Brains and Lymph Nodes From Ruminants Affected With Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy

Spiroplasma spp., tiny filterable wall-less bacteria, are consistently associated with the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). Spiral forms have been transiently isolated from TSE-affected brain tissues in SP4 growth media designed for isolation of Spiroplasma spp., but the isolate could not be propagated in SP4 media. A bacterium must grow in vitro in cell-free cultures to allow full characterization of a suspect pathogen. Here, a novel Spiroplasma sp. was isolated from scrapie- and chronic wasting disease (CWD)-affected brains and lymph nodes. Filtrates of tissue homogenates inoculated into Brucella media incubated for 14 days at 35 °C resulted in high titers of spiroplasma as shown by dark-field microscopy. A drop assay of infected media on Bacto Schaedler agar showed spiroplasma isolates forming unique subsurface colonies after 21 days incubation. Spiroplasma coils, coccoid forms and clumps of entwined spiroplasma filaments were seen on the agar by scanning electron microscopy. Since Brucella media has a sodium bisulfite additive that lowers oxygen tension, TSE spiroplasma growth requires media with low oxygen tension. Brucella media allows for isolation and propagation of spiroplasma from TSE-affected tissues, which will lead to complete characterization of this TSE pathogen and determine its role as a candidate causative agent of TSE.
Social determinants of community-level human papillomavirus vaccination coverage in aschool-based vaccination programme

Objective To assess social patterns in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage in a school-based, government-funded vaccination programme located within a single-payer universal healthcare system. Design We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of HPV vaccine uptake data for the 2013–2014 school year for 131 local authorities in England, and then evaluated the association between vaccine uptake and socioeconomic status at the aggregate level. Data sources HPV vaccination coverage data from Public Health England’s vaccine uptake guidance and the UK’s March 2011 Census. Main outcome measures We measured three-dose local authority-level vaccine series initiation to completion. Results We found that in local authorities where there are more high-income families, the vaccination rate is lower than in local authorities with more low-income families. Local authorities with a higher percentage of whites, compared with non-whites, had higher HPV vaccination rates. Additionally, local authorities with more non-migrants had higher rates of vaccination. Local authorities with more education deprivation had higher rates of vaccination. Local authorities’ higher proportions of high-status occupations had worse vaccination coverage. In bivariate analyses across all the socioeconomic indicators, a 1 SD change in the indicators was associated with about a 2.25 percentage point decrease (for income, education and occupation) or increase (for race and migrant composition) in HPV dose coverage in the local authority. In multivariable analyses, only race remained as a significant predictor of HPV coverage at the local authority level. Conclusions Across all three doses, there are notable variations by socioeconomic status, with steep reverse gradients in three socioeconomic indicators. More quantitative and qualitative research needs to be conducted to determine the effects of the 2014 transition from a three-dose regimen to two-dose regimen on vaccination coverage, especially in groups that experience lower rates of vaccination.
A lignin-epoxy resin derived from biomass as an alternative to formaldehyde-based wood adhesives

Wood products are extensively used to make furniture items and construction materials; however, the majority contain formaldehyde-based adhesives that raise serious health concerns. Here, we report a formaldehyde-free adhesive formulation comprised of two high-volume biorefinery biproducts, namely Kraft lignin (pulp and paper) and glycerol (biodiesel), and its adhesion properties as determined by ultimate shear stress as well as wood failure rates. We show that this lignin-based resin displays the same desirable characteristics as formaldehyde-based resins including water-tolerance, fast curing, and comparable adhesion performance. Chemical analysis indicates that resin curing occurs uncatalyzed via formation of ether bonds between lignin hydroxyl groups and the glycerol-derived crosslinker epoxide. We also show that different lignin and crosslinker feedstocks can be used in the formulation, in some cases with water as a cosolvent, to generate a set of lignin-derived resins with similar properties and mechanical strength. In contrast to the majority of formaldehyde-free adhesives, this lignin-epoxy formulation does not require the use of caustic base and known carcinogens. Furthermore, we demonstrate through mechanical testing and attention to processing conditions that this lignin-based resin has the potential to be a viable alternative to widely used formaldehyde resins.
A novel solar powered biomass pyrolysis reactor for producing fuels and chemicals

Abstract In this work, a novel pyrolysis reaction system based on a concentrated solar simulator was designed by using a modified 5 kW cinema projector along with supporting components, modeled, and tested for generating bio-based materials including fuels and chemicals in a quartz glass reactor. A corresponding system for measuring the radiation profile produced by the solar simulator was developed. Furthermore, a series of flux maps was modeled with soltrace® to compare the experimental data with the theoretically derived counterparts. The solar simulator produced a peak solar intensity of over 700 suns in a 10 mm diameter area. The temporal variance for flux is within ±5%. A condensing system which can separate the liquid products at four different temperatures was also designed and constructed. The optimum temperature for maximum bio-oil production was 750 °C measured at the front of the reactor under direct irradiation of solar light. The produced bio-oil, bio-char and gases were analyzed with different instruments such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography (micro-GC), and mass spectroscopy (GC–MS). The effects of solar light intensities on bio-oil composition were studied. Also, solar based pyrolysis was compared with conventional thermal based biomass pyrolysis. The scheme developed in this research opens a new pathway for renewable energy production with solar energy.
Estimating basin-scale water budgets with SMAP soil moisture data.

Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Level-2 soil moisture retrievals collected during 2015-2017 are used in isolation to estimate 10-day warm-season precipitation and streamflow totals within 145 medium-sized (2,000-10,000 km2) unregulated watersheds in the conterminous United States. The precipitation estimation algorithm, derived from a well documented approach, includes a locally-calibrated loss function component that significantly improves its performance. For the basin-scale water budget analysis, the precipitation and streamflow algorithms are calibrated with two years of SMAP retrievals in conjunction with observed precipitation and streamflow data and are then applied to SMAP retrievals alone during a third year. While estimation accuracy (as measured by the square of the correlation coefficient, r2, between estimates and observations) varies by basin, the average r2 for the basins is 0.53 for precipitation and 0.22 for streamflow. For the subset of 22 basins that calibrate particularly well, the r2 increases to 0.63 for precipitation and to 0.51 for streamflow. The magnitudes of the estimated variables are also accurate, with sample pairs generally clustered about the 1:1 line. The chief limitation to the estimation involves large biases induced during periods of high rainfall; the accuracy of the estimates (in terms of r2 and RMSE) increases significantly when periods of higher rainfall are not considered. The potential for transferability is also demonstrated by calibrating the streamflow estimation equation in one basin and then applying the equation in another. Overall, the study demonstrates that SMAP retrievals contain, all by themselves, information that can be used to estimate large-scale water budgets.
VAGUENESS, RATIONALITY AND UNDECIDABILITY: A THEORY OF WHY THERE IS VAGUENESS

L'A. defend la theorie de l'indecidabilite du flou afin d'expliquer le caractere flou de la majorite des predicats du langage naturel. A partir d'une evaluation des trois hypotheses suivantes: l'hypothese de la limite (church-bound), l'hypothese des programmes-dans-la-tete et l'hypothese de l'algorithme, l'A. met en evidence l'universalite du flou dans ces trois interpretations du langage naturel.
Theory and applications of difference evaluation functions

The credit assignment problem (which agents get credit or blame for system performance) is a key research area. For a team of agents collaborating to achieve a goal, the effectiveness of each individual agent must be calculated in order to give adequate feedback to each agent. We use the \emph{Difference Evaluation Function} to find agent-specific feedback. The Difference Evaluation Function has given excellent empirical results in many domains, including air traffic control and mobile robot control. Though there has been some theoretical work that shows why Difference Evaluation Functions improve system performance, there has been no work to show when and under what conditions such improvements are realized. We apply an evolutionary game-theoretic analysis to show the theoretical advantages of the Difference Evaluation Function. We then focus on how to apply these multiagent learning methods to optimize distributed sensor networks in advanced power generation systems.
The Development of the Human Amygdaloid Complex

In a recent paper (Humphrey, 1968), the human amygdala (or better the amygdaloid complex) was identified as the first portion of the striatal complex to appear during development, although other parts of the corpus striatum are identifiable soon afterward. In this paper, the differentiation of the nuclei of the amygdaloid complex was traced from the initial migration of the neuroblasts outward from the medullary epithelium, at the time that the telencephalic hemispheres first begin to evaginate, to 8.5 weeks of menstrual age when all but one nucleus of the complex could be identified. At the present time, when the amygdaloid complex, or archistriatum, is being investigated from so many approaches, it seems appropriate to review briefly this early period of development previously reported, and to include the additional stages in its differentiation necessary to reach the age level at which function has probably begun.
Leakage of an Invagination Pancreaticojejunostomy May Have an Influence on Mortality.

Abstract Purpose: No consensus exists regarding the most effective form of pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Methods: Data were gathered through the American Colle...
Enhancing Language and Literacy Skills for Children of Teenage Parents.

Four organizations were brought together by a common desire to create a unique community service program that focused on increasing the language and literacy skills of children born to teenage pare...
Clinical spectrum of neuromuscular complications after immune checkpoint inhibition

Abstract Cancer immunotherapy has transformed the field of oncology and enabled more effective management of previously refractory neoplasms by activation of the immune response. Upregulation of the immune response may also trigger autoimmune adverse events, including neuromuscular complications. We performed a systematic review of autoimmune neuromuscular complications following immune checkpoint blockade. We searched PubMed database and identified 81 cases described, including 30 cases of myasthenia gravis (MG), 29 cases of neuropathy and 22 cases of myopathy. Most patients (89%) developed neuromuscular complications within 3 months from starting immune checkpoint blockade and 40% of all patients had elevated serum CK>1000 IU/L (typical normal
Imaging of Neurocutaneous Diseases

This chapter reviews the clinical and imaging features of selected neurocutaneous diseases. The following conditions are included: Neurofibromatosis type 1, Neurofibromatosis type 2, Tuberous sclerosis complex, Sturge-Weber syndrome, Neurocutaneous melanosis, Basal cell nevus syndrome, Incontinentia pigmenti, Gardner syndrome, McCune Albright syndrome, Waardenburg syndrome, Oculocutaneous albinism, Marfan syndrome, Menkes disease, Sjogren-Larsson syndrome, and Ataxia-telangiectasia. Additional neurocutaneous syndromes are included in Chap. 7.
Abstract P2059: American Medical Students Have a Higher Prevalence of Stage 2 Hypertension Than the General Public: A Cross Sectional Study

Relevance: Per the National Center for Health Statistics, 7.5% of U.S. adults between 18-39 years of age have stage 2 hypertension (HTN) under 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines. Research on HTN involving Ame...
Not Just for Girls: Encouraging Cross-Gender Role Play and Reducing Gender Stereotypes with a Strategy Game

Harsher socio-cultural sanctions against cross-gender role play amongst boys versus girls create comparatively greater pressure for boys to adhere to traditional gender roles [29]. At the same time, strategically orchestrated play experiences may offer a potential means of counteracting this pressure. In the present research, a pair of randomized experiments, involving a strategy game that puts players in the role of princesses, revealed a positive impact of delaying the timing of the revelation of the characters' gender (Study 1) and reducing the degree of femininity of the illustrated representation of the characters (Study 2) on boys' evaluations of the game, level of experience-taking (identification and role assumption) with the princess characters, and shift in both gender perceptions and self-perceptions. Together, these findings illustrate that strategic design choices can facilitate boys' adoption of cross-gender personae and open the door to malleability in adherence to rigid gender roles and norms.
Otopathology in Kleefstra Syndrome: A Case Report

Kleefstra syndrome is a rare neurogenetic disorder caused by a subtelomeric 9q34.3 deletion or by an intragenic mutation of the euchromatin histone methyl transferase 1 gene (EHMT1). Approximately 20% to 30% of individuals have hearing loss. The left temporal bone of one subject with hearing loss was studied using light microscopy. There were several abnormalities including dysostosis of the stapes without fixation, enlarged vestibular aqueduct, anomalies of the organ of Corti in the basal turn, cyst formation in the stria vascularis, and dysmorphia of the cochlear modiolus and the vestibular labyrinth. This is the first published description of the otopathology in Kleefstra syndrome. Laryngoscope, 130:2028-2033, 2020.
Magnitude of reduction in risk of second contralateral breast cancer with bilateral mastectomy in patients with breast cancer: Data from California, 1998 through 2015.

BACKGROUND Increasingly, patients with breast cancer undergo bilateral mastectomy (BLM). To the authors' knowledge, the magnitude of benefit is unknown. METHODS The authors used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program regarding all women diagnosed with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage 0 to stage III unilateral breast cancer in California from 1998 through 2015 and treated with BLM versus breast-conserving therapy including surgery and radiotherapy (BCT) or unilateral mastectomy (ULM). The authors measured relative risks of second contralateral breast cancer (CBC) and breast cancer death using Fine and Gray multivariable regression modeling adjusted for the competing risk of death and death from another cause, respectively, and potential confounding factors. Absolute excess risk of CBC was measured as the observed minus expected number of breast cancers in the general population divided by 10,000 person-years at risk. RESULTS Among 245,418 patients with a median follow-up of 6.7 years, 7784 patients (3.2%) developed CBC. Relative risks were lower after BLM (hazard ratio [HR], 0.10; 95% CI, 0.07-0.14) and higher after ULM (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.13) versus BCT. Absolute excess risks were higher after BCT and ULM (5.0 and 13.6 more cases, respectively) compared with BLM (28.6 fewer cases). BLM reduced risk more among older women (38.0 fewer cases for women aged ≥50 years vs 17.9 fewer cases among women aged <50 years) but provided similar risk reduction across categories of tumor grade and tumor hormone receptor status. Compared with BCT, the risk of breast cancer death was equivalent after BLM (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.96-1.11) and higher after ULM (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.17-1.25). CONCLUSIONS BLM may reduce second breast cancer risk by 34 to 43 cases per 10,000 person-years compared with other surgical procedures, but is not associated with a lower risk of death. Second breast cancers are rare, and their reduction should be weighed against the harms associated with BLM.
The Dynamic Merge: Using Traffic Volume Based Signing to Improve Workzone Throughput

Roadwork that results in a lane closure can reduce both the safety and efficiency of a roadway. The dynamic merge is a form of merge control designed to mitigate the potential hazards of lane closures by customizing the merge environment to suit the current level of traffic. When traffic is light, early merge signs encourages drivers to merge into the open lane prior to queue formation. When traffic is heavy, late merge signs encourages drivers to remain in the closed lane for as long as possible. The current study used a driving simulator to assess the independent effects of traffic volume and dynamic merge messaging on merge location and traffic throughput. Merge location was influenced by merge environment, such that drivers in the early merge condition merged earlier than those in the late merge condition regardless of traffic volume. In addition, when traffic was heavy, participants in the late merge condition passed through the work zone more quickly than those in the early merge condition. The results are suggestive of the beneficial effects of the late merge on traffic throughput and the effectiveness of the dynamic merge messaging in influencing merging behavior.
Empiric Medical Therapy for Idiopathic Male Infertility

The etiology of male infertility can often be identified as either genetic, endocrine, or anatomic, and appropriately targeted therapy or alternative conception treatment options can be provided. Idiopathic male infertility is the diagnosis given to patients when no identifiable male infertility factor is found but abnormalities are still present on semen analysis, and this condition is found in 30–40% of all infertile males.
Impact of ventricular arrhythmias on outcomes in children with myocarditis

Children affected with acute myocarditis may progress rapidly into profound ventricular dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of ventricular arrhythmias on in-hospital mortality and the use of mechanical circulatory support in patients with myocarditis. Pediatric patients (age 0–18 years) admitted with myocarditis were identified from the National Inpatient Sample dataset for the years 2002–2015. A total of 12,489 patients with myocarditis were identified. Of them, 1627 patients were with ventricular arrhythmias and 10,862 patients without ventricular arrhythmias. Mortality was higher in those with ventricular arrhythmias (19.5% vs. 2.8%, OR = 8.47; 95% CI 7.16–10.04; p < 0.001). The median length of stay and the median cost of hospitalization were higher in the ventricular arrhythmias group (9 days vs. 4 days, p < 0.001 and $121,826 vs. $37,658, p < 0.001, respectively). There was a substantial increase in the utilization of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with ventricular arrhythmias (25.4% vs. 2.7%, OR = 12.40; 95% CI 10.55–14.57; p < 0.001). The use of ventricular assist devices (VADs) was higher in patients with ventricular arrhythmias (4.5% vs. 1.3%, OR = 3.76; 95% CI 2.82–5.01; p < 0.001). An improvement in discharge survival was observed over the years of study in both VA and non-VA groups; associated with this decline in mortality, there was a rising trend of ECMO utilization. Conclusion: Development of ventricular arrhythmia in children with myocarditis is a strong predictor for mortality and ECMO utilization.
Understanding Multisector Stakeholder Value Dynamics in Hurricane Michael: Toward Collaborative Decision-Making in Disaster Contexts

AbstractDespite a growing acknowledgement of shared responsibilities in emergency management, one of the hidden and overlooked issues in the disaster literature is the identification and integratio...
A Scenario-based Approach for Understanding Changes in Consumer Spending Behavior in Response to Rising Water Bills:

Rising infrastructure costs for water providers and the rising cost of water for households pose several challenges for water providers, policy makers, and the research community. Consumers may uti...
Sustaining Workforce Well-being: A Model for Supporting System Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Professional well-being in health care is critical to the success of academic medical centers inpatient care, educating trainees, serving communities, and pursuing research missions. The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-COV-2, has stretched health care teams and individuals in unique ways, leading to high levels of persistent stress with concern for longer term mental health implications. The pandemic is a catalyst to grow and strengthen support for those who work in health professions. Using one academic health center as a model, this paper reviews how professional well-being can be approached comprehensively at a system level while considering the needs of diverse employees during a time of increased need. This ramping up of services has the opportunity to build community and support a trajectory of post traumatic growth.
Skin Preparation for Photodynamic Therapy, Chemexfoliation, and Ablative Laser Resurfacing: a Systematic Literature Review.

Background Photodynamic therapy, chemexfoliation, and ablative laser resurfacing are common practices for dermatologists, yet no formal protocols exist regarding preprocedural skin preparation. Objective To review and summarize the skin preparation protocols for photodynamic therapy, chemexfoliation, and ablative laser resurfacing available in the literature. Methods Data Sources A systematic review of English and non-English articles using the PubMed database was performed. A manual search of bibliographies from relevant articles was also performed to collect additional studies. Study Selection Only articles in the English language with full texts available that pertained to skin preparation for photodynamic therapy, chemexfoliation, and ablative laser resurfacing were included. Data Extraction Article selection was performed by one author, and relevant sources were verified by other authors using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results There is a paucity of scientific research regarding efficacy and safety of dermatologic preprocedural skin preparation agents. Only 2 studies have compared various cleansing agents for these measures. Yet, strong statements regarding the importance of degreasing are published without supportive data. Conclusion Consensus guidelines for preprocedural protocols are lacking for photodynamic therapy, chemexfoliation, and ablative laser resurfacing. Further studies are warranted to explore the efficacy and safety of various preprocedural cleansing agents.
Laser speckle contrast imaging for visualizing blood flow during cerebral aneurysm surgery: A comparison with indocyanine green angiography

Abstract Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) has emerged as a promising tool for intraoperative cerebral blood flow (CBF) monitoring because it produces real-time full-field blood flow maps non-invasively and label-free. In this study, we compare LSCI with indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) to assess CBF during aneurysm clipping surgery in humans. LSCI hardware was attached to the surgical microscope prior to the start of each surgery and did not interfere with the sterile draping of the microscope or normal operation of the microscope. LSCI and ICGA were performed simultaneously to visualize CBF in n=4 aneurysm clipping cases, and LSCI was performed throughout each surgery when the microscope was positioned over the patient. To more easily visualize CBF in real-time, LSCI images were overlaid on the built-in microscope white light camera images and displayed to the neurosurgeon in real-time. Blood flow changes before, during, and after an aneurysm clipping were visualized with LSCI and later verified with ICGA. LSCI was performed continuously throughout the aneurysm clipping process, providing the surgeon with immediate actionable information on the success of the clipping. The results demonstrate that LSCI and ICGA provide different, yet complementary information about vessel perfusion.
Effects of ear-notch sample handling on reliability of antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing for bovine viral diarrhea virus.

Antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ACE) testing of skin samples obtained by ear-notching is commonly used to detect animals persistently infected (PI) with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). At times practitioners may not have access to phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution for specimen storage as suggested by the ACE kit manufacturer. The first objective of this study was to observe the effects of storing ear-notch samples in varying amounts of PBS on ACE results. The second objective was to observe the effects of delayed time before the ear-notch sample was placed in PBS on the ACE results. Using virus isolation and immunohistochemistry, nine PI-positive and eight PI-negative calves were identified to obtain ear notch biopsies for the study. The amount of PBS used to store both positive and negative ear-notch samples was varied (1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mL) in the first trial. In the second trial, the addition of PBS to both positive and negative samples was delayed post-collection; phosphate buffered saline was added to ear-notch samples at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours post-collection. Following sampling and application of treatments, all samples were tested in duplicate for BVDV antigen following the guidelines of the ACE kit manufacturer. Although the S/P ratios were different among treatment groups in both studies (P<0.05), neither varying the amount of PBS added to the sample vial nor delaying the addition of PBS to the sample affected the outcome when testing positive or negative samples.
Governing Democracy Outside the Law: India’s Election Commission and the Challenge of Accountability

Comparative law and politics literature widely recognizes the role of election management bodies (EMBs) in securing the well-being of constitutional democracies. Scholars have noted the political desirability of both independence and accountability of these institutions. But striking balance between these two values is easier said than done. This Article highlights the dilemma of accountability by focusing on India’s Election Commission (ECI) as a paradigmatic version of a powerful EMB. Scholars of Indian politics have long noted the institution’s widening powers – often beyond the original constitutional intent or parliamentary legislation – over the last few decades. This, they argue, has impaired its institutional accountability. This Article adopts a fresh perspective on the ECI’s expansive functions, and the attendant concerns these raise. It argues that the ECI regulates the electoral process not through what we may ordinarily identify as the law. The most compelling and consequential of its functions are through extra-legal modalities of regulation. Drawing from recent scholarship on regulation, the Article argues that the ECI shapes the electoral environment and behaviour through non-legal modalities of architecture, nudge and notice-based regulations. Much like the other fields where they are deployed, these extra-legal modalities exhibit unique, and in many ways, inherent limitations with respect to transparency. It is thus this character of the ECI’s functions – rather than only their widening breadth – that poses the most significant challenge for democratic accountability. Based on this assessment, the Article notes that for powerful EMBs like the ECI, accountability in the form of on-going operational accountability is inherently limited in compelling ways. This increases the stakes for accountability of these institutions through other means, particularly by securing their constitution, composition and tenure.
Exposure to Deepwater Horizon crude oil increases free cholesterol in larval red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus).

Abstract The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacted over 2100 km of shoreline along the northern Gulf of Mexico, which coincided with the spawning season of many coastal species, including red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Red drum develop rapidly and are sensitive to crude oil exposure during the embryonic and larval periods. This study investigates the predictions from recent transcriptomic studies that cholesterol biosynthetic processes are impacted by oil exposure in fish early life stages. We found that red drum larvae exposed for 72-hours to ΣPAH50 3.55 - 15.45 µg L−1 exhibited significantly increased pericardial area, a cardiotoxicity metric, but the expression of several genes targeted in the cholesterol synthesis pathway was not affected. However, whole-mount staining revealed significant increases in free cholesterol throughout the larval body (ΣPAH50 4.71 – 16.15 µg L−1), and total cholesterol followed an increasing trend (ΣPAH50 3.55 - 15.45 µg L−1). Cholesterol plays a critical role in fish embryo development and ion channel function. Therefore, the disruption of cholesterol homeostasis, as observed here, could play a role in the oil toxicity phenotype observed across many fish species.
A Spectrum of Financing and Administrative Alternatives

The funding alternatives available for an employee health care plan range from conventional insurance with the carrier or service plan bearing the risk, holding full reserves, and administering the claims, to an entirely uninsured or self-insured plan, where the employer or union assumes all these functions. Between the two poles lies a wide spectrum of possibilities and hybrids, most developed within the past fifteen years.
Substance Use and Physical Dating Violence: The Role of Contextual Moderators

INTRODUCTION: Theoretic models suggest that associations between substance use and dating violence perpetration may vary in different social contexts, but few studies have examined this proposition. The current study examined whether social control and violence in the neighborhood, peer, and family contexts moderate the associations between substance use (heavy alcohol use, marijuana, and hard drug use) and adolescent physical dating violence perpetration. METHODS: Adolescents in the eighth, ninth, and tenth grades completed questionnaires in 2004 and again four more times until 2007 when they were in the tenth, 11th, and 12th grades. Multilevel analysis was used to examine interactions between each substance and measures of neighborhood, peer, and family social control and violence as within-person (time-varying) predictors of physical dating violence perpetration across eighth through 12th grade (N=2,455). Analyses were conducted in 2014. RESULTS: Physical dating violence perpetration increased at time points when heavy alcohol and hard drug use were elevated; these associations were weaker when neighborhood social control was higher and stronger when family violence was higher. Also, the association between heavy alcohol use and physical dating violence perpetration was weaker when teens had more-prosocial peer networks and stronger when teens' peers reported more physical dating violence. CONCLUSIONS: Linkages between substance use and physical dating violence perpetration depend on substance use type and levels of contextual violence and social control. Prevention programs that address substance use-related dating violence should consider the role of social contextual variables that may condition risk by influencing adolescents' aggression propensity. Language: en
Fabrication technique and thermal insulation properties of micro- and nano-channeled polymer composites ☆

Abstract Sustaining the extra-terrestrial presence of humans in the solar system will require the ability to provide structural, thermal insulation composites (STICs) that have thermal insulation properties in the range of 10–50 mW/m K and mechanical properties at least capable of supporting an anticipated lunar habitat internal pressure of 100 kPa. A technique has been developed which permits the introduction of micro- and nano-scale channels in polymers, in controlled configurations that will allow for optimization of both thermal insulation and mechanical properties. In this approach, conductive heat transfer mechanisms are being limited by the introduction of crisscrossed channel obstacles into an epoxy matrix, which creates a tortuous pathway and inhibits thermal conduction. By varying the volume fraction of micro-channels, control over final density and effective thermal conductivity can be achieved. The micro-channeled materials were created via sacrificial removal of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fiber networks embedded in a high-temperature epoxy matrix, using either selective thermal degradation or solvation of the thermoplastic fiber. These processes allowed for acceptable rigidity and strength to be retained by the epoxy matrix. Furthermore, it is expected that as channel diameter decreases from micro-scale to nano-scale, gas diffusion will be constrained by the Knudsen effect, since the gas molecules will increasingly collide with the channel wall, and less frequently with each other, as channel diameter becomes comparable to, or smaller than, the molecules׳ mean free path. This effect, which may limit convective heat transfer through the channels, may be augmented by an even higher degree of tortuosity (or pathlength) imposed by the tightly packed nano-channels. In this report, the thermal conductivities of micro-channeled specimens were compared over a range of channel fractions to provide insight into the mechanisms controlling and limiting heat transfer in these systems.
Dyadic Green's function of an ideal hard surface circular waveguide with application to excitation and scattering problems

[1] Green's function analysis of ideal hard surface circular waveguides is proposed with application to excitation and scattering problems. A decomposition of the hard surface waveguide into perfect electric conductor and perfect magnetic conductor waveguides allows the representation of dyadic Green's function in terms of transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) waveguide modes, respectively. In addition, a term corresponding to a transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode is included in the representation of the Green's dyadic. The TEM term is extracted in closed form from the eigenmode expansion of TM and TE modes in the zero-cutoff limit. The electric field distribution due to an arbitrarily oriented electric dipole source is illustrated for representative TM, TE, and TEM modes propagating in the ideal hard surface circular waveguide. The derived Green's function is used in the method of moments analysis of an ideal hard surface waveguide excited by a half-wavelength strip dipole antenna. In addition, the scattering of the TEM mode by a thin strip is studied in the ideal hard surface circular waveguide.
On Divisibility of Convolutions of Central Binomial Coefficients

Recently, Z. Sun proved that \[ 2(2m+1)\binom{2m}{m} \mid \binom{6m}{3m}\binom{3m}{m} \] for $m\in\mathbb{Z}_{>0}$. In this paper, we consider a generalization of this result by defining \[ b_{n,k}=\frac{2^{k}\, (n+2k-2)!!}{((n-2)!!\, k!}. \] In this notation, Sun's result may be expressed as $2\, (2m+1) \mid b_{(2m+1),(2m+1)-1}$ for $m\in\mathbb{Z}_{>0}$. In this paper, we prove that \[ 2n \mid b_{n,un\pm 2^{r}} \] for $n\in\mathbb{Z}_{>0}$ and $u,r\in\mathbb{Z}_{\geq 0}$ with $un \pm 2^{r} > 0$. In addition, we prove a type of converse. Namely, fix $k\in\mathbb{Z}$ and $u\in \mathbb{Z}_{≥0}$ with $u>0$ if $k 0}$ with $un+k>0$, then there exists a unique $r \in \mathbb{Z}_{≥0}$ so that either $k=2^{r} $ or $k=-2^{r}$.
Placebo Effect in Tinnitus Management

Masking devices, lidocaine, and analog oral forms of lidocaine have all been reported as being effective forms of therapy to relieve tinnitus. Many studies, however, have used single-blind protocols and were possibly biased by placebo effects. To investigate the contributions of a placebo effect in clinical tinnitus studies, 25 tinnitus patients who had received a placebo injection in a previous double-blind lidocaine study were contacted on the pretense that they would receive a test dose of lidocaine; the 20 who responded were included in this study. A 5 cc bolus of placebo saline solution instead of lidocaine was then administered to each patient. Forty percent of the patients reported a change in their tinnitus following the placebo injection. The results of this study serve to point out the inherent flaws in straight clinical trials, and that the success rates achieved in such uncontrolled clinical investigations may be biased by the placebo effects.
Effects of Matrix Toughness on Fatigue Response of Graphite Fiber Composite Laminates

The effect of the matrix toughness on the fatigue response of graphite-fiber-composite laminates was investigated by comparing the fatigue-response results, obtained using the test method of Bakis et al. (1989), for two graphite-epoxy specimens subjected to constant-amplitude fully-reversed loading, namely, (0/ +45/90/ -45)s4 AS4/PEEK samples with drilled center holes and T300-5208 samples. It was found that, although similar matrix damage modes were observed in the two materials, several significant differences occurred in the S-N data and in stiffness data taken over the lives of the two materials, especially at high cyclic stresses.
Measurement and significance of free and protein-bound 3-nitrotyrosine, 3-chlorotyrosine, and free 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid in biologic samples: a high-performance liquid chromatography method using electrochemical detection.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) detection and quantitation of 3-nitrotyrosine (NT), its deaminated metabolite 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (NHPA), and 3-chlorotyrosine (CT) using HPLC with electrochemical (EC) detection. EC detection is at least 100 times more sensitive than UV detection and therefore more suitable for assay of biological samples where quantities are often limiting. The use of HPLC-EC to measure both free and protein-bound NT, directly Shigenaga measured NT indirectly by acetylating the free amino acid, chemically reducing it to amino tyrosine, and electrochemically oxidizing acetylated aminotyrosine to acetylated NT. The chapter also discusses the more commonly employed direct measurement of several biologically relevant tyrosine analogs, which can be simultaneously identified and quantified in a single run. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the enzymatic hydrolysis of mixed protein solutions.
Base-pairing configurations between purines and pyrimidines in the solid state: II. Crystal and molecular structure of 9-ethyl-8-bromoadenine-1-methyl-5-bromouracil

Abstract 9-Ethyl-8-bromoadenine and 1-methyl-5-bromouracil form a 1:1 hydrogen-bonded complex in the crystalline state. The structure has been determined by three-dimensional X-ray diffraction methods and refined by block diagonal least squares to a final residual of 8.6%. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2 1 c , with a = 10.78 A , b = 13.13 A , c = 13.51 A and β = 123.1 °. The adenine and bromouracil bases form a planar complex, joined by two hydrogen bonds; an NH … N bond between the N(3) ring nitrogen on bromouracil and the N(1) ring nitrogen on adenine, and an NH … O bond involving the adenine amino group interacting with the O(2) carbonyl oxygen on bromouracil. Adjacent base pairs are related by a center of symmetry and are connected by hydrogen bonds between adenine residues, hydrogen-bonding involving the amino group on one adenine residue interacting with the N(7) imidazole nitrogen on the symmetry-related residue. The reversed Watson-Crick type base-pairing configuration found in this study has been seen in previous co-crystallization studies with closely related compounds, and its significance is discussed.
Time synchronization mechanisms for the industrial marketplace

This paper investigates heavy industry power distribution systems and identifies a need for time synchronization within the network. Various methods of time synchronization are presented with pros and cons to each method. The goal of this paper is to educate the reader of various forms of time synchronization and how they can be applied in their industrial application.