cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Active and passive contributions to joint kinetics during walking in older adults

The objectives of this study were to characterize the active and passive contributions to joint kinetics during walking in healthy young and older adults, and assess whether isokinetic ankle strength is associated with ankle power output during walking. Twenty healthy young (18-35 years) and 20 healthy older (65-85 years) adults participated in this study. We measured subject-specific passive-elastic joint moment-angle relationships in the lower extremity and tested maximum isokinetic ankle strength at 30 deg/s. Passive moment-angle relationships were used to estimate active and passive joint moment, power, and work quantities during walking at 80%, 100% and 120% of preferred walking speed. There were no significant differences in walking speed, step length, or cadence between the older and young adults. However, the older adults produced significantly more net positive work at the hip but less net positive work at the ankle at all walking speeds. Passive contributions to hip and ankle work did not significantly differ between groups, inferring that the older adults generated the additional hip work actively. Maximum isokinetic ankle strength was significantly less in the older adults, and correlated with peak positive plantar-flexor power at both the preferred and fast walking speeds. The results of this study suggest that age-related shifts in joint kinetics do not arise as a result of increased passive hip joint stiffness, but seem to be reflected in plantar-flexor weakness.
Learning from Debate: Institutions and Information

We present a model and a laboratory experiment on the informativeness of debate, varying both informational and institutional variables. The informational variable we focus on is a novel factor affecting the extent to which audience members can learn from exposure to unpersuasive arguments. The more easily a listener can learn from an argument she finds unpersuasive, the greater the risk that the speaker will alienate this listener when she fails to persuade her. We find a strong interaction between speakers’ responsiveness to that risk and the institutions of debate. When listeners can learn from unpersuasive arguments, many speakers are discouraged from attempting persuasion, irrespective of the debate rules we consider. In contrast, when listeners cannot learn from unpersuasive arguments, debate rules affect speakers’ willingness to engage in persuasion.
Rigid Body Motion Compensation for Spiral Projection Imaging

Spiral projection imaging (SPI) is a 3D, spiral based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition scheme that allows for self-navigated motion estimation of all six degrees-of-freedom. The trajectory, a set of spiral planes, is enhanced to accommodate motion tracking by adding orthogonal planes. Rigid-body motion tracking is accomplished by comparing the overlapping data and deducing the motion that is consistent with the comparisons. The accuracy of the proposed method is quantified for simulated data and for data collected using both a phantom and a volunteer. These tests were repeated to measure the effect of off-resonance blurring, coil sensitivity, gradient warping, undersampling, and nonrigid motion (e.g., neck). The artifacts of off-resonance, coils sensitivity, and gradient warping impose an unnotable effect on the accuracy of motion estimation. The worst mean accuracy is 0.15 and 0.20 mm for the phantom while the worst mean accuracy is 0.48 and 0.34 mm when imaging a brain, indicating that the nonrigid component in human subjects slightly degrades accuracy. When applied to in vivo motion, the proposed technique considerably reduces motion artifact.
Estimated GFR Decline Following Sodium Phosphate Enemas Versus Polyethylene Glycol for Screening Colonoscopy: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background Associations between sodium phosphate enemas and nephropathy have raised concerns about the safety of use as part of a bowel-cleansing regimen administered prior to colonoscopies. The objectives of this analysis are to evaluate the impact of sodium phosphate enema versus polyethylene glycol powder for oral solution (PEG) use prior to colonoscopy screening on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline in Veterans Affairs (VA) patients and identify other risk factors contributing to eGFR decline. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting & Participants 70,499 VA patients receiving sodium phosphate enemas (with or without PEG) or PEG alone prior to colonoscopy screenings. Predictor Use of either sodium phosphate or PEG. Outcomes A 50% increase in serum creatinine level over a 15-month, over a 6-week, and between a 9- and 15-month period was used to define any, acute, or long-term eGFR decline, respectively. Measurements Multivariable logistic regressions estimated the likelihood of eGFR decline conditional on the use of sodium phosphate enemas versus PEG alone, controlling for potential confounders. Results A greater proportion of patients using sodium phosphate enemas versus PEG had any ( P P =0.003) eGFR declines, whereas similar proportions had acute eGFR declines ( P =0.9). In the adjusted analyses, use of sodium phosphate enemas (± PEG was associated with an increased likelihood of having any (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.2-1.5) or long-term (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8) eGFR decline, but not acute eGFR decline (OR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.6-1.7). Other risk factors for eGFR decline included diabetes and non–iron deficient anemia. Limitations Unobserved heterogeneity due to volume depletion and potential selection bias due to higher-risk patients preferentially prescribed sodium phosphate enemas. Conclusions Use of sodium phosphate enemas versus PEG alone prior to colonoscopy screening increases the risk for VA patients having long-term eGFR decline. Patients with non–iron deficient anemia are at particularly high risk for eGFR decline. These findings motivate the need to re-examine prescribing practices for sodium phosphate enemas as part of a bowel-cleansing regimen.
DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL COUPLING MECHANISM FOR MODULAR SELF- RECONFIGURABLE MOBILE ROBOTS

This paper presents the development of a novel coupling mechanism for modular self-reconfigurable mobile robots. Modular self-reconfigurable mobile robotic systems consist of a large number of self-sufficient modules that can transform into various configurations. One of the most challenging tasks in this field is designing a reliable and flexible coupling mechanism that physically connects modules to form larger and more articulated structures to scale up locomotion and manipulation functions. In this research we propose GHEFT: a Genderless, High strength, Efficient, Fail-safe, and high misalignment Tolerant coupling mechanism that aids the process of self-reconfiguration, and self-repair. Many existing coupling mechanisms fail to possess these crucial design features. The proposed mechanism ensures an efficient and high strength connection due to non-back drivable actuation and specially designed clamping profiles that enables modules to tolerate large misalignments and engage/disengage without gender restrictions in the presence of one-sided malfunction; thus, increasing both the versatility and robustness of the entire robotic system. In this paper, misalignment analysis is performed to formulate simple relations based on clamping profile design parameters to achieve specific misalignment tolerances based on application requirements. These formulations are used to compute maximum misalignment tolerances. Dynamic simulations are then performed to determine maximum misalignment tolerance capabilities and verify computed tolerances.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Lysophosphatidic acid signalling in development

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive phospholipid that is present in all tissues examined to date. LPA signals extracellularly via cognate G protein-coupled receptors to mediate cellular processes such as survival, proliferation, differentiation, migration, adhesion and morphology. These LPA-influenced processes impact many aspects of organismal development. In particular, LPA signalling has been shown to affect fertility and reproduction, formation of the nervous system, and development of the vasculature. Here and in the accompanying poster, we review the developmentally related features of LPA signalling.
Use of Melatonin to Promote Sleep in Older People

Many older Americans purchase the hormone melatonin and take it orally, nightly, to promote sleep onset and to help them fall back asleep after the frequent nocturnal awakenings associated with ageing. This need for exogenous melatonin reflects the fact that the progressive calcification of the human pineal diminishes the organ’s ability to secrete its hormone, so that instead of plasma melatonin levels rising normally by 10-fold or more around bedtime the rise may be only by twofold, or even less. The quantity of melatonin that most ageing people need to restore nocturnal plasma melatonin levels to what they are in youth – and, concurrently, to promote sleep – is tiny, only about 0.2–0.5 mg. However, this dosage is generally unavailable, so patients may take doses 10-fold greater, or more, producing side-effects (e.g., hypothermia; hypoprolactinaemia; morning grogginess) and ultimately desensitising melatonin receptors in the brain. The reasons why low-dose melatonin is generally unavailable are described and a strategy is proposed for enabling patients to consume the correct dosage even when preparations containing that dosage cannot be obtained.
Directing Nature's Creative Forces: Climate Change, Afforestation, and the Nebraska National Forest1

This article argues that the creation of national forests on the Great Plains of the United States during the early twentieth century was an example of using afforestation to change climate. It also explores how different groups' representations of nature supported economic, political, and cultural rationales. Questions of nature and questions of politics are intimately connected, and this historic example of environmental engineering prefigures current plans to use afforestation to ameliorate climate change.
Measured Time: Imposing a Temporal Metric to Classificatory Structures

Describes three units of time helpful for understanding and evaluating classificatory structures: long time (versions and states of classification schemes), short time (the act of indexing as repeated ritual or form), and micro-time (where stages of the interpretation process of indexing are separated out and inventoried). Concludes with a short discussion of how time and the impermanence of classification also conjures up an artistic conceptualization of indexing, and briefly uses that to question the seemingly dominant understanding of classification practice as outcome of scientific management and assembly line thought. 1: Time and the Ethic of Twentieth Century Classification Practice Classification, broadly, is the identification of concepts and the relationship that obtain between those concepts. In a strict sense we can add the requirements of bibliographic classification - that we have hierarchical a systematic order, and that the classes (those names for concepts) are mutually exclusive and jointly exhaustive. When we place documents into classes, we have to first interpret and represent their subject matter. This basic activity happens in time, and as we will discuss below, it is important to consider time when considering the functionality of classification and its evaluation. Classification, as a professional practice, has inherited the assembly-line work ethic of early Twentieth Century scientific management (Day 2001). The ideal of this ethic is that effort is made to make sure the classmark is assigned appropriately, and only once. If it is assembled through a strict, logical, and repeatable method, the process results in a trustworthy, or to some, a scientifically permanent assertion of the class to which the document belonged. The key here is the assumption of permanence.
Kidney toxicity related to herbs and dietary supplements: Online table of case reports. Part 3 of 5 series

Abstract Background No online current list of potentially life-threatening, hepatotoxic herbs and dietary supplements based on PubMed case reports exists in a summarized tabular form. Methods Documented case reports of herbs or dietary supplements (DS; includes herbs) appearing to contribute to liver injury were used to create an online “DS Toxic Table” of potentially hepatotoxic herbs and dietary supplements (PubMed, 1966 to June, 2016, and cross-referencing). The spectrum of DS induced liver injuries (DSILI) included elevated liver enzymes, hepatitis, steatosis, cholestasis, hepatic necrosis, hepatic fibrosis, hepatic cirrhosis, veno-occlusive disease, acute liver failure requiring a liver transplant, and death. Results Over the past 50 years, approximately 21 herbs (minus germander and usnic acid that are no longer sold) and 12 dietary supplements (minus the nine no longer sold and vitamin A & niacin due to excess intake) posed a possible risk for liver injures in certain individuals. The herbs with the most number of reported publications (but not cases studies) in descending order, were germander, black cohosh, kava extract, and green tea extract. Conclusion These online DS Toxic Tables will contribute to continued Phase IV post marketing surveillance to detect possible liver toxicity cases and serve to forewarn consumers, clinicians, and corporations.
The Potential of Animal-Assisted Therapy Within the Supervisory Alliance

ABSTRACTChandler identified eight generalized benefits of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) for a person’s growth. These beneficial areas include (a) motivation, (b) distress tolerance, (c) alternative form of nurturance, (d) physical soothing, (e) genuine acceptance, (f) interactional enjoyment, (g) increased trust, and (h) increased encouragement to overcome barriers. Homestead identified supervision ideals, skills, and barriers within the supervisory alliance. If supervision is negative, this experience may disrupt the supervision relationship, process, and requirements. If not properly addressed, potential harm may come to the supervisee, supervisor, and possibly the client’s welfare. This review will identify how these eight areas of AAT may benefit the supervisory alliance to ensure the best care for the supervisee, supervisor, and the client.
CONSIGHT-I: A Vision-Controlled Robot System for Transferring Parts from Belt Conveyors

CONSIGHT-I is a vision-based robot system that picks up parts randomly placed on a moving conveyor belt. The vision subsystem, operating in a visually noisy environment typical of manufacturing plants, determines the position and orientation of parts on the belt. The robot tracks the parts and transfers them to a predetermined location. CONSIGHT-I systems are easily retrainable for a wide class of complex curved parts and are being developed for production plant use.
Model Validation for Damage Identification and Determination of Local Damage Dynamics

Robust control techniques have allowed engineers to create model sets which are robust to deviations from the actual system through the use of model uncertainty in the form of both additive noise and plant perturbations. To ensure the quality of the uncertain model, experimental unfalsification is employed to guarantee that the model set is able to recreate all experimental data points. In previous work, such a robust control relevant model validation technique was employed to identify the presence of damage on a rotordynamic test rig. Additionally, model-based identification was employed to model the overall change in dynamics due to the damage, as well as to provide a novel quality measure for the identified damage dynamics. In the present work, the technique is extended to include a rotordynamic model. This advancement allows for locating the damage source and to determine the local change in dynamics at the damage location. The method is demonstrated experimentally on a rotordynamic test rig through the identification of a wire EDM cut in the shaft and determination of the local change in dynamics, including axial position along the shaft.
Problems and Perspectives of Geography Education in Japanese Elementary Schools

This paper illustrates geography education in Japanese elementary school and investigates the current problems and perspectives at these grade levels. The problems are summarized as follows: (1) Students have few map skills and only basic knowledge of various place names in Japan and in the world and (2) students learn little about world geography through the elementary school curriculum. As a result, elementary school students have few opportunities to study physical geographic phenomena and to learn about features of the natural environment.
ROAM: Walking, Mapping, and Play: Wanderings in Art and Art Education

This article explores the use of walking in the artistic practice of contemporary artists Francis Alys and Jorge Macchi. The authors propose that these artists use walking and mapping to frame and reframe questions pertaining to social, political, aesthetic, and cultural issues related to structures of power that operate within the city-space. The spatial theories of Henri Lefebvre, Michel de Certeau, and the Situationist International provide a framework for analyzing the notion of space and mobility within the urban landscape. The authors also contend artists’ spatial experiences within the urban city-space create encounters that can provide new territories for art and education. To contextualize the pedagogical implication of the proposed research, in the last section of this article the authors discuss ROAM—a mobile game application that expands critical investigations of walking, mapping, and play. ROAM asks players to let go of control, to intentionally “get lost,” and to create critical and creativ...
A System to Control the Energy of a High-power Laser System with Application to X-ray Generation at Ultra-high Intensity

We demonstrate a system to control the output energy of a high-energy, ultrashort pulse laser system by an order-of-magnitude. This technique is used to control the brightness of an Inverse-Compton x-ray source.
Dynamic Light Scattering from Complex Media

‘“Of late I have been tempted to look into the problems furnished by nature rather than those more superficial ones for which our artificial state of society is responsible.” (Sherlock Holmes to Dr. Watson)
Determining the roles of the three alcohol dehydrogenases (AdhA, AdhB and AdhE) in Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus during ethanol formation

Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus is a promising candidate for biofuel production due to the broad range of substrates it can utilize and its high ethanol yield compared to other thermophilic bacteria, such as Clostridium thermocellum. Three alcohol dehydrogenases, AdhA, AdhB and AdhE, play key roles in ethanol formation. To study their physiological roles during ethanol formation, we deleted them separately and in combination. Previously, it has been thought that both AdhB and AdhE were bifunctional alcohol dehydrogenases. Here we show that AdhE has primarily acetyl-CoA reduction activity (ALDH) and almost no acetaldehyde reduction (ADH) activity, whereas AdhB has no ALDH activity and but high ADH activity. We found that AdhA and AdhB have similar patterns of activity. Interestingly, although deletion of both adhA and adhB reduced ethanol production, a single deletion of either one actually increased ethanol yields by 60-70%.
Chapter 13 Reactions in micelles and similar self-organized aggregates

Publisher Summary Micelles are self-organized aggregates of amphiphiles—that is, of species which contain both apolar, hydrophobic (lipophilic), and polar, (hydrophilic), groups. The solutions are transparent but contain aggregates of the amphiphile, which scatter light. Some amphiphiles are naturally occurring—for example, the bile salts; others are synthetic, and the hydrophilic group may be anionic—for example, carboxylate or sulfate ion; cationic—for example, an ammonium ion; non-ionic—for example, hydroxyl or amine oxide, or zwitterionic. Micelles in water are formed by the self-association of surfactants, also called “surface-active agents” or “detergents.” These amphiphiles contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic (lipophilic) moieties, so that one part of them tends to associate with water and the other part is repelled by water, but readily interacts with apolar molecules. The development of quantitative models of micellar effects upon reaction rates and equilibria is based on the concept that normal micelles in aqueous, or similar associated; solvents behave as a separate medium from the body of the solvent.
Optimal Programming of Rate Modulation Functions

Rate modulated pacemakers (RMP) mimic physiological response by increasing heart rate (HR) and, subsequently, cardiac output in response to exercise. Data exist to demonstrate that these devices enhance exercise tolerance and well-being compared to ~xed-rate pacing [1,2]. RMP use metabolic or motion-derived sensors to adjust pacing rate based on physiologic requirements by translating indices of increased metabolic need into signals that can be used to restore chronotropic competence. The most common and versatile sensors include activity or acceleration, minute ventilation, or combinations; these sensors remain functional with standard pacing leads. QT interval, central venous temperature, oxygen saturation, and mechanical indices of contraction (such as dP/dt, preejection interval, or stroke volume) have also been used, but these require additional complexity or special leads. All sensor systems have some limitations. Although, any rate response is better than none, the degree of rate response depends on programming. For a single activity level, any sensor can be programmed to provide virtually any desired rate. Different sensors respond differently to the same stimuli. Hence, combinations of complementary sensors may better simulate normal sinus node response [3] (Fig. 1). Because of such complexities, careful evaluation and programming is necessary for optimal functioning of RMP. Some devices automatically reprogram rate response parameters based on average activity levels (Fig. 2).
Biomarkers of oxidative damage in bacteria for the assessment of sanitation efficacy in lettuce wash water

In the fresh produce industry, validation of sanitation efficacy is critical to prevent cross-contamination of produce. The current validation approaches are either based on time-consuming plate counting assays or indirect measurements of chemical properties of wash water. In the study, the focus was to identify biomarkers that can provide direct assessment of oxidative damage in bacteria upon exposure to sanitizers in the presence of fresh produce and correlation of these oxidative biomarkers with logarithmic inactivation of bacteria. Two endogenous bacterial biomarkers, protein carbonylation and thiol oxidation, were evaluated for assessing oxidative damage in Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria innocua during sanitation of pre-cut lettuce leaves with NaOCl or H2O2. Results show that NaOCl treatment was more effective than H2O2 for oxidation of both the intracellular thiols and protein carbonylation in the selected strains. Statistical analysis of the measurements illustrates that oxidation of the intracellular thiol induced by NaOCl or H2O2 was correlated with logarithmic reduction of E. coli O157:H7 and L. innocua. In contrast, changes in the protein carbonylation content were not correlated with reduction in bacterial cell viability. In summary, these results provide a novel approach to validate sanitation efficacy for the fresh produce industry.
The Incidence of Perioperative Cardiac Events after Orthopedic Surgery: A Single Institutional Experience of Cases Performed over One Year:

Orthopedic patients with ischemic heart disease are at risk for postoperative cardiac complications. Using information from two medical information retrieval systems which insured the capture of all events for the period of study, our goals were to determine the incidence of myocardial injury in at-risk patients after orthopedic surgery and to delineate the type and incidence of cardiac complications in this population. For one year, at an orthopedic hospital, we identified all postoperative patients with a measured cTnI level using an electronic ordering system. Preoperative cardiac risk factors and postoperative cardiac complications were identified in patients undergoing a total hip arthroplasty (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and posterior spinal fusion (PSF). A postoperative myocardial infarction was defined by a cTnI > 0.1 ng/mL, ECG changes, new echocardiographic regional wall motion abnormalities, and evaluation by a cardiologist. Categorical variables were compared among groups with a Fisher’s exact or Chi-square test. Continuous variables were compared among groups with ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test. The associations of cardiac risk factors with myocardial injury are expressed as odds ratios from logistic regression models. During a one-year period, from 10,627 inpatient orthopedic procedures, 805 patients were identified as at risk for postoperative myocardial ischemia. A total of 20.6% (166/805) of these patients had elevated serum cTnI levels (cTnI > 0.02 ng/mL), and there were ten documented postoperative MIs (10/805; 1.2%). For the at-risk TKA, THA, or PSF patients, 19% (102/532) had elevated cTnI levels and 31% (32/102) had postoperative cardiac complications, including arrhythmias (56%), congestive heart failure (2%), and MI (1%). Adjusting for sex, age, BMI, cardiac risk factors, and medications (statins and β-blockers), PSF patients had 3.9 times the risk of myocardial injury (p = 0.003) compared to TKA patients and 4.2 times that of THA patients. The incidence of postoperative myocardial ischemia after major orthopedic surgery in patients with cardiac risk factors is high (8.7%), but the incidence of documented myocardial infarctions and serious cardiac complications remains low (1.2–2%). Patients with higher postoperative cTnI releases were more likely to have cardiac complications, and some procedures (spinal fusions) placed the patients at a higher risk.
Spatial early warning signals in a lake manipulation

Rapid changes in state have been documented for many of Earth's ecosystems. Despite a growing toolbox of methods for detecting declining resilience or early warning indicators (EWIs) of ecosystem transitions, these methods have rarely been evaluated in whole-ecosystem trials using reference ecosystems. In this study, we experimentally tested EWIs of cyanobacteria blooms based on changes in the spatial structure of a lake. We induced a cyanobacteria bloom by adding nutrients to an experimental lake and mapped fine-resolution spatial patterning of cyanobacteria using a mobile sensor platform. Prior to the bloom, we detected theoretically predicted spatial EWIs based on variance and spatial autocorrelation, as well as a new index based on the extreme values. Changes in EWIs were not discernible in an unenriched reference lake. Despite the fluid environment of a lake where spatial heterogeneity driven by biological processes may be overwhelmed by physical mixing, spatial EWIs detected an approaching bloom suggesting the utility of spatial metrics for signaling ecological thresholds.
Creating Change: An Experiential Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Curriculum for Medical Students

Introduction Medical students are the future drivers of change in health care. The AAMC encourages quality improvement and patient safety (QI/PS) education. Unfortunately, many schools do not have a formal QI/PS curriculum. To offer the patient-centered, safe, evidence-based, and high-value care patients deserve, students will be expected to have both knowledge of and experience in QI/PS. This extracurricular experiential QI/PS curriculum is designed to prepare medical students for this role. Methods The curriculum includes six monthly didactic and work-group sessions that cover QI/PS fundamentals and facilitate the design and implementation of student projects. Results Twenty-two medical students, with representation from academic years 1-4, completed the curriculum. The average Quality Improvement Knowledge Application Tool-Revised score increased from 5.61 to 7.75 (p Discussion This ready-to-implement curriculum offers medical students an opportunity to obtain the knowledge and experience necessary to participate meaningfully in QI/PS now and throughout their careers.
Monitoring the Stimulated Uncapping Process of Gold-Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

To establish a new method for tracking the interaction of nanoparticles with chemical cleaving agents, we exploited the optical effects caused by attaching 5–10 nm gold nanoparticles with molecular linkers to large mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN). At low levels of gold loading onto MSN, the optical spectra resemble colloidal suspensions of gold. As the gold is removed, by cleaving agents, the MSN revert to the optical spectra typical of bare silica. Time-lapse images of gold-capped MSN stationed in microchannels reveal that the rate of gold release is dependent on the concentration of the cleaving agent. The uncapping process was also monitored successfully for MSN endocytosed by A549 cancer cells, which produce the cleaving agent glutathione. These experiments demonstrate that the optical properties of MSN can be used to directly monitor cleaving kinetics, even in complex cellular settings.
Impact of environment, ethnicity, and culture on nutrition and health.

The physiological response to hunger and taste preferences are powerful stimuli influencing Food choices, but the environment combined with the individual’s personal history likely has an equal influence (1). In a contemporary society representing many cultures and differing demographics, it is important to understand how each of these variables interacts. Health professionals can best address the dietary and nutritional needs of the population when the mediating forces can be identified and accommodated in attempts to promote healthful food choices. This chapter considers the external influences of dietary patterns, nutrition, and health on dietary needs on the basis of cultural experiences associated with environments and ethnicity.
Management of Gastrointestinal EMR and ESD Perforation: From Lab to Practice

Endoscopic submucosal dissection and endoscopic mucosal resection allow complete resection of flat lesions of the GI tract, as they utilize submucosal fluid injection for lifting that makes lesions accessible for complete resection. However, perforation is a serious risk as these procedures involve cutting the mucosa and submucosa while sparing the deep submucosa and muscularis propria of the rather thin gut wall. Advances in clinical practice as well as investigative work in the animal laboratory have helped us to develop techniques for successful endoluminal closure of such perforations.
Peroneus Brevis Tenodesis: Side-to-Side or Weave?:

Background:Inversion ankle injuries are extremely common, sometimes causing injury to the peroneus brevis tendon. If more than 50% of the tendon is injured, it oftentimes requires tenodesis to the ...
Robot-Assisted Excision of Congenital Mega-Seminal Vesicle Associated with Zinner's Syndrome.

Abstract Background: Abnormalities of mesonephric ducts are rare congenital conditions, which can present with vague symptoms in otherwise healthy men. Zinner's syndrome is the association of an en...
Translating Phased Array Measurements of a low-noise top-mounted propulsion installation for a supersonic airliner

A novel translating-phased-array technique was applied during a model-scale validation test of low-noise propulsion concepts for supersonic transport aircraft. The test involved particle image velocimetry, far field and translating phased array acoustic measurements. This paper covers the translating phased array portion. Data were acquired for a series of nozzles with different chevron designs, both uninstalled and installed on a representative aircraft planform. The far field data confirmed the noise reduction potential of top-mounted installation, while the phased array results gave insights into how the reduction occurred and highlighted areas for improvement. This was the inaugural test for the new translating phased array, which measures source maps as seen by observers at different polar angles. Propagation effects through the free jet were documented for the different viewing angles. The source maps obtained were used to understand important aspects of the far field noise measurements.
Primary Cutaneous Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, Not Otherwise Specified (NOS)

Rare cases of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma do not fit into any of the better-defined types of T-cell lymphomas and are included in the wastebasket category of primary cutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified. This is a diagnosis of exclusion, and other lymphomas (particularly mycosis fungoides) must be ruled out.
Wireless Powered Encoding and Broadcasting of Frequency Modulated Detection Signals

Wireless transmission of locally detected RF signals is necessary for long-term operation of batteryless and embedded transducers. To improve signal transmission efficiency over larger distances, multi-stage circuits were employed to down-convert RF signals before encoding them onto the emitted carrier wave. Such multi-stage arrangement had complicated design and high-power consumption. Here, a compact and low-power wireless modulator is introduced to directly encode input RF signals onto its oscillation carrier wave. The modulator consists of a double frequency parametric resonator that is overlaid with a single frequency passive resonator to create three resonance modes. By properly adjusting the substrate thickness between resonators, the highest resonance frequency is tuned to approximately the sum of lower two resonance frequencies, enabling efficient conversion of wireless pumping power into sustained oscillation currents. When an input RF signal is present with a certain frequency offset, the oscillation signal can be frequency modulated by the input signal to create multiple modulation sidebands separated by the offset frequency. The frequency encoded carrier wave can transmit MRI signals over larger distance separations to maintain constant image sensitivity, making the modulator useful to improve the remote detectability of miniaturized implantable and interventional devices.
Abstract 13313: Venous Thromboembolism as a Presenting Finding and Complication of Covid-19: A Case Series

Background: Although not yet fully understood, the pathogenesis of the novel RNA betacoronavirus2 currently named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is thought to involve...
Why Have Debt Ratios Increased for Firms in Emerging Markets?: Why Have Debt Ratios Increased for Firms in Emerging Markets?

I study trends in capital structure between 1980 and 2004 in a sample of over 11,000 firms from 34 emerging markets. The average firm's market-value debt ratio rose by 15 percentage points over this quarter century. I study how this rise in leverage was influenced by firm-level factors and by the availability of debt financing at the country level. The central finding is that the increase in debt ratios can largely be attributed to changes in the characteristics of emerging market firms over this period. For the average firm, the most prominent determinants of capital structure – size, profitability, asset tangibility, and growth opportunities – all shifted in the direction implying a higher optimal level of debt. At the country level, increased financial development within the country is associated with lower debt ratios, but increased financial openness to foreign markets is associated with higher debt ratios.
Absorbent and Flexible Conductive Nanocomposites for Bioelectronic Applications

The development of flexible electrodes has garnered heightened interest by the wearables community for monitoring and treating human health and performance in a non-invasive and unobtrusive manner. There remains a gap in developing absorbent, biocompatible, flexible, and scalable electrodes for wearable applications. To address this shortcoming, we developed a carbon black-polyvinyl alcohol (CB-PVA) nanocomposite electrode. Glycerol was used to facilitate hydrogen bonding and crosslink the nanocomposite. The material provides high flexibility, electrical conductivity, and demonstrates electrical stability over a long-term duration (5 hours). This simple and cost-effective fabrication method for CB-PVA nanocomposites provides an opportune pathway for various applications in the bioelectronics field.
Investigating Unhealthy Alcohol Use As an Independent Risk Factor for Increased COVID-19 Disease Severity: Observational Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Unhealthy alcohol use (UAU) is known to disrupt pulmonary immune mechanisms and increase the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with pneumonia; however, little is known about the effects of UAU on outcomes in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. To our knowledge, this is the first observational cross-sectional study that aims to understand the effect of UAU on the severity of COVID-19. Objective: We aim to determine if UAU is associated with more severe clinical presentation and worse health outcomes related to COVID-19 and if socioeconomic status, smoking, age, BMI, race/ethnicity, and pattern of alcohol use modify the risk. Methods: In this observational cross-sectional study that took place between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, we ran a digital machine learning classifier on the electronic health record of patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via nasopharyngeal swab or had two COVID-19 International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes to identify patients with UAU. After controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, BMI, smoking status, insurance status, and presence of ICD-10 codes for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, we then performed a multivariable regression to examine the relationship between UAU and COVID-19 severity as measured by hospital care level (ie, emergency department admission, emergency department admission with ventilator, or death). We used a predefined cutoff with optimal sensitivity and specificity on the digital classifier to compare disease severity in patients with and without UAU. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, BMI, smoking status, and insurance status. Results: Each incremental increase in the predicted probability from the digital alcohol classifier was associated with a greater odds risk for more severe COVID-19 disease (odds ratio 1.15, 95% CI 1.10-1.20). We found that patients in the unhealthy alcohol group had a greater odds risk to develop more severe disease (odds ratio 1.89, 95% CI 1.17-3.06), suggesting that UAU was associated with an 89% increase in the odds of being in a higher severity category. Conclusions: In patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, UAU is an independent risk factor associated with greater disease severity and/or death.
Ultrafast optics with a mode-locked erbium fiber laser in the undergraduate laboratory

We describe an ultrafast optics laboratory comprising a mode-locked erbium fiber laser, autocorrelation measurements, and a free-space parallel grating dispersion compensation apparatus. The gain spectrum of Er fiber provides a broad bandwidth capable of supporting sub-100 fs pulses centered near a wavelength of 1550 nm. The fiber laser design used here produces a train of pulses at a repetition rate of 55 MHz with pulse duration as short as 108 fs. The pulse duration is measured with a homebuilt autocorrelator using a simple Michelson interferometer that takes advantage of the two-photon nonlinear response of a common silicon photodiode. To compensate for temporal stretching of the short pulse due to group velocity dispersion in the fiber, an apparatus based on a pair of parallel gratings is used for pulse compression. A detailed part that lists in the supplementary material includes previously owned and common parts used by the telecommunications industry, which helps decrease costs of the laboratory. This provides a cost-effective way to introduce the principles of ultrafast optics to undergraduate laboratories.
Avoidance of Guided Projectiles

The game of two cars defined by Rufus Isaacs is visualized here in terms of missile avoidance by aircraft and torpedo avoidance by surface ships. Having the system dynamics specified and confined to the horizontal plane, the distinctiveness between the “problems” lies not only in the choice of parameters contained in Isaacs’ original model, but in the choice of target configuration and certain assigned player rationale as well. The guided projectile may or may not be using optimal guidance.
Role of GABAergic neurones in the nucleus tractus solitarii in modulation of cardiovascular activity

GABAergic neurones are interspersed throughout the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), and their tonic activity is crucial to the maintenance of cardiorespiratory homeostasis. However, the mechanisms that regulate the magnitude of GABAergic inhibition in the NTS remain unknown. We hypothesized that the level of GABAergic inhibition is proportionally regulated by the level of excitatory synaptic input to the NTS from baroreceptors. Using the in situ working heart-brainstem preparation in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats, we blocked GABA(A) receptor-mediated neurotransmission in the NTS with gabazine (a specific GABA(A) receptor antagonist) at two levels of perfusion pressure (low PP, 60-70 mmHg; and high PP, 105-125 mmHg) while monitoring the immediate changes in cardiorespiratory variables. In normotensive rats, gabazine produced an immediate bradycardia consistent with disinhibition of NTS circuit neurones that regulate heart rate (HR) which was proportional to the level of arterial pressure (HR at low PP, 57 +/- 9 beats min(1); at high PP, 177 +/- 9 beats min(1); P < 0.001), suggesting that GABAergic circuitry in the NTS modulating heart rate was arterial pressure dependent. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the magnitude of gabazine-induced bradycardia in spontaneously hypertensive rats at low or high PP (HR at low PP, 45 +/- 10 beats min(1); at high PP, 58 +/- 7 beats min(1)). With regard to thoracic sympathetic nerve activity (tSNA), at high PP there was a significant reduction in tSNA during the inspiratory (I) phase of the respiratory cycle, but only in the normotensive rat (tSNA = 18.7 +/- 10%). At low PP, gabazine caused an elevation of the postinspiration phase of tSNA in both normotensive (tSNA = 23.7 +/- 2.9%) and hypertensive rats (tSNA = 44.2 +/- 14%). At low PP, gabazine produced no change in tSNA during the mid-expiration phase in either rat strain, but at high PP we observed a significant reduction in the mid-expiration phase tSNA, but only in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (tSNA = 25.2 +/- 8%). Gabazine at both low and high PP produced a reduction in the late expiration phase of tSNA in the hypertensive rat (low PP, tSNA = 29.4 +/- 4.4%; high PP, tSNA = 22.8 +/- 3%), whereas in the normotensive rat this was only significant at high PP (tSNA = 42.5 +/- 6.1%). Therefore, in the spontaneously hypertensive rat, contrary to the GABA(A) receptor-mediated control of HR, it appears that GABA(A) receptor-mediated control of tSNA in the NTS is arterial pressure dependent. This study provides new insight into the origin of GABAergic inhibition in NTS circuitry affecting heart rate and sympathetic activity.
A Time of Opportunity: Energy, Extension, and Economic Development

If adversity brings opportunity, great opportunity may now be on the doorstep. The dual forces of an economy transitioning from an industrial focus to an innovation imperative, and a global financial downturn of massive proportions are leaving families, organizations,and communities scrambling for relief, solutions, and hope. Meanwhile, a long-time community presence, Cooperative Extension, is finding itself increasingly marginalized as its agricultural roots and stakeholders constitute a diminishing influence within the university, the economy, and the political landscape. In the midst of this pressure for communities and Extension organizations to reinvent themselves, concerns about global warming, national security, and rising energy prices are pushing energy issues to center stage. The emergent possibility is for Cooperative Extension to play a catalytic economic development role in communities interested in taking advantage of energy opportunities by leveraging its ubiquitous community presence, and linking communities to the extensive energy expertise of universities.
Civil Engineering Faculty Development

A method of selecting civil engineering faculty members is proposed to enhance their professional advancement. Each small to moderately large civil engineering program has been advised to select one, two, or a few areas of specialization rather than selecting one or two faculty members from each of the many disciplines housed under the civil engineering umbrella. This requires each specialist to contribute to undergraduate education outside his or her area of spcialization. An approach to assuring that this is effectively accomplished is also proposed. Graduate education and research can be more effectively pursued within these concentrated areas having four to six faculty members with similar or complimentary backgrounds and research interests. The recommended approach is expected to improve stability of graduate programs, assure opportunity for professional growth and development of civil engineering faculty members, and provide for sound undergraduate civil engineering education.
COPII–cargo interactions direct protein sorting into ER-derived transport vesicles

Vesicles coated with coat protein complex II (COPII) selectively transport molecules (cargo) and vesicle fusion proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi complex. We have investigated the role of coat proteins in cargo selection and recruitment. We isolated integral membrane and soluble cargo proteins destined for transport from the ER in complexes formed in the presence of Sar1 and Sec23/24, a subset of the COPII components, and GTP or GMP-PNP. Vesicle fusion proteins of the vSNARE family and Emp24, a member of a putative cargo carrier family, were also found in COPII complexes. The inclusion of amino-acid permease molecules into the complex depended on the presence of Shr3, a protein required for the permease to leave the ER. Resident ER proteins Sec61, BiP (Kar2) and Shr3 were not included in the complexes, indicating that the COPII components bound specifically to vesicle cargo. COPII-cargo complexes and putative cargo adaptor-cargo complexes were also isolated from COPII vesicles. Our results indicate that cargo packaging signals and soluble cargo adaptors are recognized by a recruitment complex comprising Sar1-GTP and Sec23/24.
Sex differences in attitudes toward homosexuals: a meta-analytic review.

Sex differences in attitudes toward homosexuality were examined using Glass's d as an estimator of effects size. There was a small mean effects (d= .207) indicating the males have more negative attitudes than females toward homosexuals. However, this effect was found to decrease in magnitude when sample size was controlled for, with larger studies being less likely to have a sex difference. Year of publication was also found to be related to the effect sized with more recent studies tending to show a larger effect size. Sex of target is also discussed as a potentially important variable.