cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dissecting Costs of CT Study: Application of TDABC (Time-driven Activity-based Costing) in a Tertiary Academic Center.

Rationale and Objectives The lack of understanding of the real costs (not charge) of delivering healthcare services poses tremendous challenges in the containment of healthcare costs. In this study, we applied an established cost accounting method, the time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC), to assess the costs of performing an abdomen and pelvis computed tomography (AP CT) in an academic radiology department and identified opportunities for improved efficiency in the delivery of this service. Materials and Methods The study was exempt from an institutional review board approval. TDABC utilizes process mapping tools from industrial engineering and activity-based costing. The process map outlines every step of discrete activity and duration of use of clinical resources, personnel, and equipment. By multiplying the cost per unit of capacity by the required task time for each step, and summing each component cost, the overall costs of AP CT is determined for patients in three settings, inpatient (IP), outpatient (OP), and emergency departments (ED). Results The component costs to deliver an AP CT study were as follows: radiologist interpretation: 40.1%; other personnel (scheduler, technologist, nurse, pharmacist, and transporter): 39.6%; materials: 13.9%; and space and equipment: 6.4%. The cost of performing CT was 13% higher for ED patients and 31% higher for inpatients (IP), as compared to that for OP. The difference in cost was mostly due to non-radiologist personnel costs. Conclusions Approximately 80% of the direct costs of AP CT to the academic medical center are related to labor. Potential opportunities to reduce the costs include increasing the efficiency of utilization of CT, substituting lower cost resources when appropriate, and streamlining the ordering system to clarify medical necessity and clinical indications.
Evaluation of warehouse bulk storage lane depth and ABC space allocation using simulation

The principal intention of this paper is to develop an approach for modeling bulk lane storage in a high-volume warehouse environment. Poor layout planning can lead to an ineffective use of space and is a concern of many companies today. A simulation methodology is presented to evaluate alternative bulk storage warehouse configurations. Parameters of interest are the depth of bulk lane rows and the space allotted for various frequency zones. Analysis of representative data shows that there are variations of bulk lane depth and zone size that can reduce travel distance and thus reduce cost. In addition, we present an application of the methodology involving the design of a bulk storage facility for a company.
Weight Management Behaviors Among Mexican American Youth: Cross-Sectional Variation by Timing of Growth and Maturation.

Purpose:To assess the association between growth and maturation with weight management behaviors (WMBs) among Mexican American youth.Design:A cross-sectional design was used to measure timing of gr...
The Sodium Channel Auxiliary Subunit β1 is Structurally Critical for Cardiac Conduction: Evidence from the Single Molecule Scale to the Whole Organ

Electrical impulse propagation in the heart's ventricles is thought to occur by means of direct flow of electric current from cell to cell via gap junctions (GJs) composed of connexin43 (Cx43). We recently demonstrated that cardiac sodium channels (Nav1.5) localized within the perinexus, an intercalated disk (ID) nanodomain adjacent to Cx43 GJ, may enable ephaptic coupling between cardiac myocytes. We hypothesized that the cell adhesion function of β1 may contribute to close intermembrane apposition within these nanodomains and thereby facilitate ephaptic coupling. Super-resolution STochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy-based Relative Localization Analysis (STORM-RLA) identified two populations of NaV1.5 within the ID in guinea pig ventricles: One, localized to the perinexus, within 200nm of Cx43 GJs, accounted for 47% of ID-localized NaV1.5 and the other, which co-distributed with N-Cadherin to plicate ID regions, accounted for 29% of ID-localized NaV1.5. These findings were confirmed by immuno-electron microscopy. Confocal microscopy revealed β1 enrichment at the ID, and suggested preferential localization to GJ-enriched interplicate ID regions. STORM-RLA confirmed the preferential localization of β1 to interplicate ID regions: Perinexal nanodomains accounted for 48% of ID-localized β1, whereas N-Cadherin-rich plicate regions accounted for only 8%. In order to test the role of β1 adhesion in the heart, we developed a novel peptide inhibitor of β1 adhesion - βadp1. In electric cell-substrate impedance spectroscopy studies, it inhibited the barrier function in β1-overexpressing 1610 cells but not in native 1610 cells. In guinea pig ventricles, βadp1 (100 µM) compromised the diffusion-resistance of the ID as assessed by perfusion of fixable fluorescent dyes: A 0.5kD molecule preferentially accumulated within IDs in control hearts but not in βadp1-treated hearts. Perinexal intermembrane spacing measured by transmission electron microscopy was increased in βadp1-treated hearts (48 ± 4 µm) compared to untreated hearts (17± 1µm) and those treated with a scrambled control peptide, βadp1-scr (22 ± 1 µm). Notably, neither peptide affected membrane spacing at other ID locations. In optical mapping studies, βadp1 but not βadp1-scr preferentially decreased transverse conduction velocity, increased anisotropy and precipitated spontaneous tachyarrhythmias in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, these results suggest a critical role of β1-mediated adhesion in generating close apposition between NaV1.5-rich perinexal membranes and thereby, facilitating ephaptic conduction in the heart. Further, these data highlight β1-mediated adhesion as a target for novel, mechanistically-driven antiarrhythmic therapy.
Nudging Healthful Consumption and Choices Through the Use of Ambient Scent: An Abstract

A variety of factors have been found to influence eating behavior, which in turn aid in the understanding of how to address the obesity problem being experienced on a global level. In this research, we examine how different types of ambient scents can influence perceived temperature, which in turn can influence consumption volume and choice.
Deficiency of Endogenous Angiotensin-(1-7) in the Nucleus Tractus Solitarii of (mREN2)27 Transgenic Rats May Account for Diminished Baroreceptor Reflex Function.

17 Endogenous Ang-(1-7) facilitates and Ang II attenuates gain sensitivity of the baroreceptor reflex control of heart rate (HR) on the basis of injections of the Ang-(1-7) antagonist [D-Ala 7 ]-Ang-(1-7) or Ang II AT 1 antagonists into the solitary tract nucleus (nTS). In (mREN2)27 renin transgenic rats (TGR+), there is a 2 fold elevation of Ang II in the medulla oblongata while Ang-(1-7) levels are 50% that observed in normotensive SD rats. To determine the potential role of Ang-(1-7) in altered reflex function as a result of an imbalance of Ang peptides in the nTS, the baroreceptor reflex control of HR and cardiac chemoreceptor reflex were tested before and after bilateral injection of the [D-Ala 7 ]-Ang-(1-7) antagonist (144 pmol/120 nl) directly into the nTS of either SD or TGR+. HR and blood pressure (BP) responses to graded doses of phenylephrine were used to determine the slope of the relationship between changes in BP and changes in pulse interval for each animal (baroreceptor reflex sensitivity). TGR+ exhibited an impaired baroreflex compared with SD (0.9 ± 0.2 msec/mm Hg in SD, n = 8, versus 0.4 ±0.1 msec/mm Hg in TGR+, n = 6; p 7 ]-Ang-(1-7) attenuated the reflex (0.9 ± 0.2 msec/mm Hg before versus 0.4 ± 0.1 msec/mm Hg 10 minutes after antagonist, p 7 ]-Ang-(1-7) on the baroreflex in TGR+ (0.4 ± 0.1 msec/mm Hg before versus 0.4 ± 0.1 msec/mm Hg after) or on cardiac chemoreceptor activation by phenylbiguanide (10 μg/kg, iv bolus) in either strain [SD: -40 ± 7 mm Hg and -120 ± 36 beats/min before versus -36 ± 6 mm Hg and -108 ± 38 beats/min after; TGR+: -24 ± 5 mm Hg and -76 ± 31 beats/min before versus -25 ± 4 mm Hg and -106 ± 44 beats/min after]. The present findings indicate that endogenous Ang-(1-7) provides tonic input at novel, non-AT 1 , non-AT 2 receptors in nTS to facilitate reflex control of HR in normotensive but not hypertensive rats. Our studies further reveal that tonic effects of Ang-(1-7) in the nTS influence baro- but not cardiac chemoreceptor activation. (HL-38535, HL-51952, HL-07790)
Sulfur-Tolerant Molybdenum Carbide Catalysts Enabling Low-Temperature Stabilization of Fast Pyrolysis Bio-oil

Low-temperature hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds can greatly improve the thermal stability of fast pyrolysis bio-oil, thereby enabling long-term operation of upgrading reactors which generally require high temperatures to achieve deep deoxygenation. The state-of-the-art hydrogenation catalysts, precious metals such as ruthenium, although effective in carbonyl hydrogenation, deactivate due to high sulfur sensitivity. In the present work, we showed that molybdenum carbides were active and sulfur-tolerant in low-temperature conversion of carbonyl compounds. Furthermore, due to surface bifunctionality (i.e., both metallic and acid sites present), carbides catalyzed both C═O bond hydrogenation and C–C coupling reactions. Combined, these reactions transformed carbonyl compounds to more stable and higher molecular weight oligomeric compounds while consuming less hydrogen than pure hydrogenation. The carbides proved to be resistant to other deactivation mechanisms including hydrothermal aging, oxidation, cokin...
The perils of ‘It’: Clara Bow, experience, agency, and the scandalous life story

ABSTRACTThis article explores the ways Clara Bow’s life story is constructed by biographical narratives from the 1920s and early 1930s, the period in which her film stardom began and ended, and from the 1970s–90s, the period in which interest in her life re-emerged at a time when studio-era Hollywood stars, as well as Hollywood films and its production and promotion practices, became objects of both nostalgia and critique. These biographical narratives, from fan magazine stories to print biographies to video documentaries, tell Bow’s story within a framework of her agency or lack of agency, with the latter connected to scandal. This historiographic approach suggests how both biography and scandal are narratives that have to be deciphered in terms of what is said, and what is not said, by whom to whom as well as in terms of who has the authority to tell his/her own life story or the life stories of others.
CAGD techniques in structured grid generation and adaption

Applications of Computer Aided Geometric Design (CAGD) techniques for effficient and accurate boundary/surface/volume structured grid generation and adaption are presented. The Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) representation for parametric geometric entity definition is employed. The applications include redistribution, refinement, remapping, adaption and optimization of structured grids. Computational examples of practical interst are presented to demonstrate the success of these methodologies.
Treatment of a chronically infected nasal silicone prosthesis with continuous antibiotic irrigation and gentamicin-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate beads

Infected nasal alloplasts in revision rhinoplasty can be a complex problem, as timing between implant removal and reconstruction is the major limiting factor. Delaying reconstruction can result in loss of mechanical support, a constricted nose, and in severe cases, complete nasal airway collapse and respiratory compromise. In this case report, we describe a novel surgical approach for the management of a chronically infected nasal implant combining techniques used to treat biomaterial-associated infections: antibiotic-impregnated polymethymethacrylate beads and a continuous catheter-based antibiotic irrigation system. We report a case of a chronic alloplastic-associated infection following nasal reconstruction using a silicone implant. We utilized a two-staged approach. The involved nasal implant was removed and replaced temporarily with gentamicin-impregnated polymethymethacrylate beads and a continuous closed irrigation and drainage system with local and parenteral delivery of antibiotics. Both modalities allowed for complete eradication of the infection. In addition, the gentamicin beads provided sufficient mechanical support in order to minimize the risk of skin contracture. Twelve days after her initial surgery, nasal reconstruction was performed using a cadaver bone graft. The patient was followed for two years postoperatively and has shown good results with no evidence of skin contracture or recurrent infection. This technique may allow for shorter delay in revision surgery and reduce the risk of long-term complications without compromising functional and aesthetic outcomes.
The Right to Health: The Next American Dream

The American Dream is a strongly held notion that permeates the American psyche. The subtext of the dream is the assumption of equal opportunity for education and the subsequent career opportunities that presumably follow. Assuming equality of opportunity (a large assumption indeed), potential success is based on individual talent and effort resulting in part in the development of the individualistic societal norms of the ‘self-made man,’ ‘every man for himself,’ and ‘rugged individualism’ ideologies that are predominant in the US today. The archetype of the American Dream is the “self-made man” who, through will and determination gains an education, career success, and material wealth exemplified by home ownership. Human rights language would refer to these as the right to education, work, property, and housing. US constitutional law strongly protects civil and political rights. US federal law has even come to protect some economic, social, and cultural rights such as education as part and parcel of the American Dream. Until the 2010 passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), the right to health has for the most part been excluded from both the notion of the American Dream as well as protection under US federal law. This chapter provides an overview of the historical development of the American Dream, an examination of global health models, and the U.S. model more specifically. It also explores the ACA and the 2012 US Supreme Court ruling as it relates to the international conceptualization of the human right to health, specifically focusing on the human rights principles of accessibility and nondiscrimination and how the ACA may contribute to an expanded notion of the American Dream including the right to health.
A Review of Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports as a Framework for Reducing Disciplinary Exclusions

Schoolwide positive behavior interventions and supports (SWPBIS) is currently implemented in more than 23,000 schools nationally and internationally. Several reviews have examined the SWPBIS evidence base, including a meta-analysis of single-case design research. However, to date, there has not been a review of group-based experimental research (e.g., randomized controlled trials [RCTs]) on the school-level effects of SWPBIS implementation to reduce disciplinary exclusion, including office discipline referrals and suspensions. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following What Works Clearinghouse procedures to investigate that relationship. We identified four group experimental studies that included disciplinary exclusion as an outcome variable; two RCTs and two quasi-experimental designs. Overall, 90 schools, including both elementary and high schools, were evaluated. A statistically significant large treatment effect (g = −.86) was found for school suspension, but no treatment ...
Simultaneous determination of intestinal permeability and potential drug interactions of complex mixtures using Caco-2 cells and high-resolution mass spectrometry: Studies with Rauwolfia serpentina extract.

Abstract Caco-2 cells are a commonly used model for estimating the intestinal bioavailability of single chemical entity pharmaceuticals. Caco-2 cells, when induced with calcitriol, also express other biological functions such as phase I (CYP) and phase II (glucuronosyltransferases) drug metabolizing enzymes which are relevant to drug-supplement interactions. Intestinal bioavailability is an important factor in the overall safety assessment of products consumed orally. Foods, including herbal dietary supplements, are complex substances with multiple chemical components. Because of potential interactions between components of complex mixtures, more reliable safety assessments can be obtained by studying the commercial products “as consumed” rather than by testing individual chemical components one at a time. The present study evaluated the apparent intestinal permeability (Papp) of a model herbal extract, Rauwolfia serpentina, using both whole plant extracts and the individual purified Rauwolfia alkaloids. All test compounds, endpoint substrates, and their metabolites were quantified using liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The Papp values for individual Rauwolfia alkaloids were comparable whether measured individually or as components of the complete extract. Both Rauwolfia extract and all individual Rauwolfia alkaloids except yohimbine inhibited CYP3A4 activity (midazolam 1′-hydroxylation). Both Rauwolfia extract and all individual Rauwolfia alkaloids except corynanthine and reserpic acid significantly increased glucuronosyltransferase activity (glucuronidation of 4-methylumbelliferone). The positive control, ketoconazole, significantly inhibited both CYP3A4 and glucuronosyltransferase activities. These findings suggest that the Caco-2 assay is capable of simultaneously identifying both bioavailability and potentially hazardous intestinal drug-supplement interactions in complex mixtures.
Parent-child interaction therapy as a prevention model for childhood obesity: A novel application for high-risk families

Abstract Childhood obesity is a formidable public health issue in the United States. Although childhood obesity risk is complex and influenced by multiple systems and individual domains, there is increasing appreciation for the impact of the family environment generally, and parent-child interactions specifically, on children's levels of risk. Longitudinal research has identified parenting style and quality of parent-child interactions as important targets for reducing child obesity risk. Although, obesity prevention programs have attempted to change general parenting practices to prevent obesity (Haines et al., 2016; Harvey-Berino & Rourke, 2003; Ostbye et al., 2012), no prevention efforts, to date, have attempted to change the parent-child relationship to reduce young children's obesity risk. In this paper, we describe the rationale for and development of an innovative prevention program: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy-Health (PCIT-Health). First, we review the risk factors for the onset of obesity during childhood and assess current approaches to preventing child obesity, including limitations. Next, we articulate the theoretical links and empirical evidence that make PCIT a logical model to reduce the risk for childhood obesity. Finally, we describe the adaptation of the standard PCIT model into the PCIT-Health model and conclude with next steps for evaluating the adaptation.
Superfund Section 301(e) Study Group Report as 'Legislative History': Implications for Supreme Court Deliberations in CTS v. Waldburger

The U.S. Supreme Court, in CTS Corp. v. Waldburger, is set to determine whether the Superfund discovery rule should be interpreted to apply to state statutes of repose in addition to state statutes of limitations. In this BNA Insight, Prof. Alfred R. Light says the text of the law isn’t clear, but the Superfund Section 301(e) Group created in the 1980 version of CERCLA did not recommend that Congress preempt features of state statutes of limitations, much less statutes of repose. The author says principles of federalism and the avoidance of retroactive federal legislation suggest that the discovery provision, Section 9658 of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, should be construed to preempt statutes of limitations that provide only "a remedy, not a right, and not to affect substantive limitations on liability within state law such as statutes of repose."
NASA Roadmap for Fundamental Physics Research in Space

Last year, about 100 fundamental physics researchers met twice to develop plans for the future in this research area. The results of these meetings have been documented in a presentation package titled “A Roadmap for Fundamental Physics in Space”. A summary of the Roadmap is presented along with an overview of the current program. Research is being performed in Low Temperature and Condensed Matter Physics, Laser Cooling and Atomic Physics, and Gravitational and Relativistic Physics. There are currently over 50 investigators in the program of which 9 are being evaluated as potential flight experiments. The number of investigators is expected to grow further during the next selection cycle, planned to start toward the end of 1999. Experimentation in Space has until now been limited to short duration flights aboard the Space Shuttle. In the near future, our investigators will be able to take advantage of long duration experimentation in Space using a suite of different carriers under development. Experiments needing Low Temperatures will be performed in a liquid helium facility being developed by JPL and Ball Aerospace. This apparatus will allow multiple investigations each flight and will attach to the ISS Japanese Experiment Module's Exposed Facility. Experiments in the Laser Cooling area are developing experiments for the EXPRESS racks inside the ISS US module. Experiments in Gravitational Physics can be performed in the low temperature facility, or can be independent free flyers to fully maximize the benefits inherent in the space environment.
Microbiome Ecosystem Ecology: Unseen Majority in an Anthropogenic Ecosystem

Microbiome or microbial diversity is the dominant component of the Earth’s biodiversity. Though present everywhere, the abundance of microbiome varies across different habitats depending on prevailing environmental and biogeographic conditions. Microbiome possesses a central role in general ecosystem ecology in addition to having tremendous applications in agricultural, industrial, and biomedical research. In the recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest to investigate global microbiome diversity (e.g., human, animal, plant, soil, air, ocean, and atmosphere, etc.) within the context of classical community ecology research in an effort to understand the functional role of this tiny majority in performing different services for human well-being. However, since a vast majority of the Earth’s microbiome is uncultured, microbial studies are largely survey-based descriptive reports resulting from DNA fingerprinting, thus making it difficult to link individual microbiome species to attribute to certain ecosystem service or function. This becomes more challenging in an era in which microbiome diversity across spatio-temporal scales is subjected to tremendous alterations in the ecosystem caused by land use and climate changes. Improving culture-dependent and-independent methods with broader applications of eco-statistical approaches may advance the understanding of global microbiome diversity, and thus could help us utilize microbiome resources more efficiently and effectively in this changing world.
Temperature dependent pre- and postprandial activity in Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis).

Bluefin tunas are highly specialized fish with unique hydrodynamic designs and physiological traits. In this study, we present results in a captive population that demonstrate strong effects of ambient temperature on the tail beat frequency and swimming speed of a pelagic fish in both pre- and post-prandial states. We measured the responses of a ram ventilator, the Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis), after digestion of a meal to explore the impacts of the metabolic costs of digestion on behavior and respiration. A combination of respirometry, physiological biologging of visceral temperatures, and activity monitoring with accelerometry were used to explore the metabolic costs of digestion and the impacts on ventilation and swimming speed. Experiments were conducted at temperatures that are within the metabolic optimum for Pacific bluefin tuna (17 °C), and at a second temperature corresponding to the upper distributional limit of the species in the California Current (24 °C). Warmer temperatures resulted in higher tail-beat frequency and greater elevation of body temperature in pre-prandial Pacific bluefin tuna. Specific dynamic action (SDA) events resulted in a significant postprandial increase in tail-beat frequency of ~0.2 Hz, compared to pre-prandial levels of 1.5 Hz (17 °C) and 1.75 Hz (24 °C), possibly resulting from ventilator requirements. Data of fish exercised in a swim-tunnel respirometer suggest that the observed increase in tail-beat frequency comprise 5.5 and 6.8% of the oxygen demand during peak SDA at 24 °C and 17 °C respectively. The facultative increase in swimming speed might increase oxygen uptake at the gills to meet the increasing demand by visceral organs involved in the digestive process, potentially decreasing the available energy of each meal for other metabolic processes, such as growth, maturation, and reproduction. We hypothesize that these post-prandial behaviors allow tuna to evacuate their guts more quickly, ultimately permitting fish to feed more frequently when prey is available.
The protective role of regular aerobic exercise on vascular function with aging

Aging is the primary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), the leading cause of death in developed and developing societies. Much of this age-associated increase in CVD risk is due to arterial dysfunction, characterized by stiffening of the large elastic arteries and endothelial dysfunction. Aerobic exercise is an evidence-based healthy lifestyle strategy for improving arterial function with aging, in part, by suppressing oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Here, we summarize the effects of exercise on arterial function and aging, highlighting recent advancements regarding estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women, cerebrovascular function and healthy lifestyle-inspired interventions that work through similar mechanisms as aerobic exercise.
Ultrasound grayscale image quality comparison between a 2D intracavitary transducer and a 3D intracavitary transducer used in 2D mode: A phantom study.

PURPOSE It is unclear if a 3D transducer with the special design of mechanical swing or 2D array could provide acceptable 2D grayscale image quality for the general diagnosis purpose. The aim of this study is to compare the 2D image quality of a 3D intracavitary transducer with a conventional 2D intracavitary transducer using clinically relevant phantom experiments. METHODS All measurements were performed on a GE Logiq E9 scanner with both a 2D (IC5-9-D) and a 3D (RIC5-9-D) transducer used in 2D mode. Selection of phantom targets and acquisition parameters were determined from analysis of 33 clinical pelvic exams. Depth of penetration (DOP), contrast response, contrast of anechoic cylinders (diameter: 6.7 mm) at 1.5 and 4.5 cm depths in transverse planes, and in-plane resolution represented by full-width half-maximum of pin targets at multiple depths were measured with transmit frequencies of 7 and 8 MHz. Spherical signal-noise-ratio (SNR) (diameter: 4 and 2 mm) at multiple depths were measured at 8 MHz. RESULTS RIC5-9-D demonstrated 0.05; 8 MHz: 17.7 ± 0.9 dB, P < 0.01) compared with IC5-9-D (7 MHz: 25.9 ± 1.2 dB; 8 MHz: 21.5 ± 0.8 dB). The contrast response and spatial resolution performance were comparable between the two transducers. RIC5-9-D showed comparable SNR of anechoic spheres compared to IC5-9-D. CONCLUSIONS 2D images from a 3D probe exhibited comparable overall image quality for routine clinical pelvic imaging.
MICROSCOPY APPLICATIONS | Semiconductors

The transmission electron microscope provides structural and chemical information over a wide range of magnification. Imaging, diffraction, and microanalytical modes can be used individually or in combination to extract essential information about semiconductor materials and devices. Available techniques include transmission and high-resolution electron microscopy, electron-energy-loss and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and convergent-beam electron diffraction. Advanced methods include electron holography, cathodoluminescence, and Z-contrast annular-dark-field imaging. Aberration-corrected electron microscopy coupled with spectrum imaging promises unprecedented insights into atomic structure and chemistry at the 0.1 nm scale. This article reviews applications to semiconductor materials that demonstrate the versatility and power of the instrument.
The Strategic Role of Compensation

Many social scientists and observers of the American scene have recognized for some time that the U.S. has become an “instrumental” culture. It is crucial in such a culture for employees to be convinced that their effort leads to performance and performance leads to valued rewards. Therefore, instituting performance-based pay systems in U.S. organizations is imperative. However, the relationship between performance and rewards is quite complex. Different competitive strategies supported by appropriate organizational cultures intervene between organizational goal attainment and the compensation mix that the organization selects. In other words, there needs to be congruence between goals that organizations seek, strategies that are most likely to attain these goals, cultures that support these strategies, and reward systems that elicit and maintain behaviors that are consonant with the appropriate competitive strategy and its supporting culture. In this manuscript, the author attempts to create just such a congruence.
Multi-Layer Perceptron Artificial Neural Network Based IoT Botnet Traffic Classification

Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming an integral part of our homes today. Internet-connected devices, such as smart speakers, smart bulbs, and security cameras are improving our convenience and security. With the growth in smart environments, there is an increasing concern over the security and privacy issues related to IoT devices. The issue of the IoT security has received considerable attention due to (1) the intrinsic technological constraints of IoT devices (computing and storage limitations) and (2) its prevalence in people’s life’s, in close proximity. IoT devices can be easily compromised (much easier than PCs and/or smart phones) and can be utilized for generating botnet attacks. In this paper, we propose an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based solution for malicious traffic detection. We explore the accuracy of Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) Artificial Neural Network (ANN) learning algorithm in detecting botnet traffic from IoT devices infected by two major IoT botnets, namely, Mirai and Bashlite (also known as Gafgyt). After tuning and optimization, the MLP-ANN algorithm achieved an accuracy rate of 100% in the testing phase of IoT botnet traffic classification.
An automatic approach to establish clinically desired final dental occlusion for one-piece maxillary orthognathic surgery

One critical step in routine orthognathic surgery is to reestablish a desired final dental occlusion. Traditionally, the final occlusion is established by hand articulating stone dental models. To date, there are still no effective solutions to establish the final occlusion in computer-aided surgical simulation. In this study, we consider the most common one-piece maxillary orthognathic surgery and propose a three-stage approach to digitally and automatically establish the desired final dental occlusion. The process includes three stages: (1) extraction of points of interest and teeth landmarks from a pair of upper and lower dental models; (2) establishment of Midline-Canine-Molar (M-C-M) relationship following the clinical criteria on these three regions; and (3) fine alignment of upper and lower teeth with maximum contacts without breaking the established M-C-M relationship. Our method has been quantitatively and qualitatively validated using 18 pairs of dental models. Qualitatively, experienced orthodontists assess the algorithm-articulated and hand-articulated occlusions while being blind to the methods used. They agreed that occlusion results of the two methods are equally good. Quantitatively, we measure and compare the distances between selected landmarks on upper and lower teeth for both algorithm-articulated and hand-articulated occlusions. The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the algorithm-articulated and hand-articulated occlusions. The proposed three-stage automatic dental articulation method is able to articulate the digital dental model to the clinically desired final occlusion accurately and efficiently. It allows doctors to completely eliminate the use of stone dental models in the future.
Probing unintentional Fe impurity incorporation in MOCVD homoepitaxy GaN: Toward GaN vertical power devices

Unintentional impurity incorporation in GaN drift layers represents a challenging issue that can limit their potential performance in vertical power devices. In this paper, we focus on studying the origins of Fe impurity incorporation in metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) grown GaN materials. Acting as a compensator in n-type GaN drift layers, Fe impurities can reduce the electron mobility in GaN and limit the lowest controllable doping level. Two sources, the sample cleaning process and growth susceptor, were identified as the main mechanisms of Fe incorporation in the MOCVD GaN growth process. It was found that solvent cleaning of the wafer can introduce significant Fe contamination at the growth interface, which would slowly be incorporated into the GaN epilayer, thus causing background Fe impurity as high as 1017 cm−3 level. Moreover, the Fe impurity in the coating material on the susceptor can introduce additional Fe impurity during the growth process. Our studies revealed that the Fe impurity level could be significantly suppressed by more than two orders when an alternative cleaning process was used and the susceptor surface was fully covered by substrates. Characterization of the Fe impurity concentrations was performed via secondary ion mass spectrometry. The trap level (EC − 0.57) eV from deep-level transient spectroscopy that had previously been attributed to Fe confirmed the carrier compensation effect from Fe. Room temperature Hall mobility as high as 1007 cm2/V s was achieved on the MOCVD grown low-Fe GaN. Results from this work will provide guidance for achieving high purity GaN toward high performance GaN vertical power devices.
Developing Digital Clinical Simulations for Large-Scale Settings on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Design Considerations for Effective Implementation at Scale

Digital clinical simulations (DCSs) are a promising tool for professional learning on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues across a variety of fields. Although digital clinical simulations can be integrated into large-scale learning environments, less is known about how to design these types of simulations so they can scale effectively. We describe the results of two studies of a digital clinical simulation tool called Jeremy's Journal. In Study 1, we implemented this simulation in an in-person workshop with a human facilitator. We found that participants described their learning experiences positively and reported changes in attitudes. In Study 2, we used the simulation within an online course but replaced the human facilitator with an asynchronous, text-based adaptation of the facilitation script. Although learners in Study 2 described the experience in the simulation positively, we did not observe changes in attitudes. We discuss the implications of these findings for the design of DCSs at scale
Location Privacy Protection in Vehicle-Based Spatial Crowdsourcing via Geo-Indistinguishability

Nowadays, vehicles have been increasingly adopted in many spatial crowdsourcing (SC) applications. Similar to other SC applications, location privacy is of great concern to vehicle workers as they are required to disclose their own location to servers to facilitate the service utilities. Traditional location privacy protection mechanisms cannot be applied to vehicle-based SC since they assume workers mobility on a 2-dimensional plane without considering the network-constrained mobility features of vehicles. Accordingly, in this paper, we aim at addressing issues related to Vehicle-based spatial crowdsourcing Location Privacy (VLP) over road networks. Our objective is to design a location obfuscation strategy to minimize the quality loss due to obfuscation with geo-indistinguishability satisfied. Considering the computational complexity of VLP, by resorting to discretization, we first approximate VLP to a linear programming problem that can be solved by well-developed approaches. To further improve the time efficiency, we conduct constraint reduction for VLP by exploiting key features of geo-indistinguishability in road networks and problem decomposition based on VLPs constraint structure. Finally, we carry out both trace-driven simulation and real-world experiments, where our experimental results demonstrate the superiority of our approach over a known state-of-the-art location obfuscation strategy in terms of both QoS and privacy.
Percutaneous and open tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19: The Weill Cornell experience in New York City.

OBJECTIVE Report long-term tracheostomy outcomes in patients with COVID-19. STUDY DESIGN Review of prospectively collected data. METHODS Prospectively collected data were extracted for adults with COVID-19 undergoing percutaneous or open tracheostomy between April 4, 2020 and June 2, 2020 at a major medical center in New York City. The primary endpoint was weaning from mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes included sedation weaning, decannulation, and discharge. RESULTS One hundred one patients underwent tracheostomy, including 48 percutaneous (48%) and 53 open (52%), after a median intubation time of 24 days (IQR 20, 31). The most common complication was minor bleeding (n = 18, 18%). The all-cause mortality rate was 15% and no deaths were attributable to the tracheostomy. Eighty-three patients (82%) were weaned off mechanical ventilation, 88 patients (87%) were weaned off sedation, and 72 patients (71%) were decannulated. Censored median times from tracheostomy to sedation and ventilator weaning were 8 (95% CI 6-11) and 18 (95% CI 14-22) days, respectively (uncensored: 7 and 15 days). Median time from tracheostomy to decannulation was 36 (95% CI 32-47) days (uncensored: 32 days). Of those decannulated, 82% were decannulated during their index admission. There were no differences in outcomes or complication rates between percutaneous and open tracheostomy. Likelihood of discharge from the ICU was inversely related to intubation time, though the clinical relevance of this was small (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.943-0.998; P = .037). CONCLUSION Tracheostomy by either percutaneous or open technique facilitated sedation and ventilator weaning in patients with COVID-19 after prolonged intubation. Additional study on the optimal timing of tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19 is warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 Laryngoscope, 131:E2849-E2856, 2021.
Orthodox Passions: Narrating Filial Love During the High Qing: Maram Epstein, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Asia Center, Harvard University Press, 2019. 384 pp., $68.00; ISSN:-9780674242276 (cloth)

A pioneering study of filial piety (xiao 孝) in the lens of emotional history, Orthodox Passions challenges the current scholarship on the history of emotions in late imperial China by proposing a d...
How I do it: the trans-laminar, facet-joint sparing minimal invasive approach for ventral dural repair in spontaneous intracranial hypotension-a 2-dimensional operative video.

We describe the minimally invasive, facet-sparing postero-lateral approach to the thoracic spine for a ventral dural repair in a patient with intracranial hypotension secondary to a spontaneous dural breach. We performed a minimally invasive approach using a short paramedian posterior skin incision followed by a 10 × 10 mm targeted trans-laminar approach, to achieve a microsurgical repair of a symptomatic ventral dural defect causing severe disability. The facet-sparing postero-lateral approach is safe and effective in the surgical management of thoracic dural tears, even in the most anterior ones, and avoids the traditional costotransversectomy.
The direct and indirect costs of adult atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis is considered a childhood illness, and the direct and indirect health care burden of atopic dermatitis in adults is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: To measure the dir...
Technology Development for Ultra-Intense OPCPA Systems

Ultra-intense laser systems are being developed by a number of institutions to use the full potential of deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate (DKDP) for high-energy optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) [1] – [3] . Noncollinear optical parametric amplifiers (NOPA’s) made of large DKDP crystals produce broadband gain for supporting pulses as short as 10 fs. Although OPCPA is now routinely used as a broadband front-end technology, scaling OPCPA to >100 J is still an active area of research. This paper reports on the MTW-OPAL Laser System [4] , a mid-scale optical parametric amplifier line pumped by the Multi-Terawatt laser, where the long-term goal is building EP-OPAL, a femtosecond-kilojoule system to add to the Omega Laser Facility.
The tobacco industry's tort reform campaign to avoid liability in Louisiana.

Abstract We analyze the tobacco industry’s “tort reform” campaign in Louisiana, which marked its first takeover of a state tort reform coalition, and interpret the strategies using the Policy Dystopia Model. We searched internal tobacco industry documents in the UCSF Truth Tobacco Industry Documents Library and searched news archives of state and local periodicals between 1985 and 2000. Using alliances, the tobacco industry clandestinely secured legislation in 1988 limiting manufacturer liability for inherently dangerous products. The industry took over a coalition in 1992 to defend its gains, minimize its publicly visible role, and pursue policies it likely could not directly advocate for after Louisiana’s government became more hostile to tort reform. The industry defended gains but failed to secure legislation eliminating liability for inherently dangerous products after its involvement was exposed. This case study expands the applicability of the Policy Dystopia Model. The industry passes laws harmful to the public interest by cloaking its involvement and motivations behind allies, front groups and generalized messaging. Exposing the industry’s role can help public health advocates protect against pro-industry legislation.
Approximate Order Policies

Because optimal policies require the solution of an m – 1 dimensional dynamic program, finding optimal policies is feasible only for moderately small values of m. For that reason, approximate policies are of particular interest. The first issue to be addressed when trying to find approximations is the form of the approximate policy. When perishability is not present, we know that an optimal policy is a function of the total inventory on hand. A reasonable starting point is to restrict attention to policies that are only a function of the total starting stock in any period, independent of the age distribution of stock. (As we see, this approach has pitfalls as well.)
The Second Modernity and the Second Stage of Brazilian Democratic Transition

Due to current worldwide transformations in the institutional designs and in the state as a whole, it is, indeed, meaningful to understand particularities of the unique South American democratic models, which have been categorized, by several scholars, as possible solutions for European public crises. Post-modern freedom bewilders and constrains because it is absolute. It can also discourage, somehow, social institutions’ stability, development and efficacy, which are primarily elements in deliberative democracy. In this scene, individualism and citizenship clash. Social domination, through culture, and legal and political powers work to obstruct the formation of a strong public. However, this second modernity panel must suffer some adaptations to fit into South American realities, since it was built on European sociological patterns that differ from those found in developing countries.This essay intends to briefly summarize the current socio-democratic conditions in South America, particularly in Brazil, from the standpoint and temporal guide of the relatively recent government’s regimes and the transformations that it imposed. To reach this aim, I will use two elementary categories in social studies, individualism and citizenship, which are naturally and philosophically in conflict and combative in post-modern societies. I will also compare two different transitional models that took place among South American countries and then relate them to important political facts that significantly changed the history of democracy in the continent.
Inside the “Black Box”: From Signal to Image

We are now going to take a slightly different perspective by peering inside the scanner to see what it does from the time the raw signal is received to the final image. To some extent, we will be discussing the way the signals appear with some mathematical reference, but please do not become intimidated by this, for there is nothing here beyond simple high-school algebra. For some of you, this will be an important chapter, because it will bring to light some of the more mysterious terms you may have encountered in your reading- such as “real and imaginary signals” or “k-space”, etc. And most important of all, we will examine the relationship of the 2DFT to the image.
Clicking on trans-translation drug targets.

trans-Translation is an attractive target for new antibiotic development because the reaction is required for virulence or viability in many pathogens, and several small molecules that inhibit the pathway have been identified (Ramadoss et al., 2013). A cell-based assay for high-throughput screening has been engineered, enabling screening of diverse libraries for inhibitors that are active in vivo (Ramadoss et al., 2013). The click-based molecular target identification strategy described here should enable rapid advancement through the hit validation process. With these tools available, trans-translation should be pursued as a drug target on many fronts. Conflict of interest statement The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Hyperlipidemia Screening and Semmelweis Re-revisited

Dietary modification can lower lipid levels in children, but will such modification, or therapeutic intervention, lower the probability of developing future coronary heart disease? The answer is still not in, as Dr Glueck well knows. "...diet-heart trials have not unequivocally proved or disproved the underlying hypothesis that cholesterol-lowering leads to reduced incidence of atherosclerotic disease." Moreover, "there is no evidence, either observational or experimental, that conclusively demonstrates a causative relationship between dietary fat per se and human and atherosclerotic disease."1 Faced with an unproved hypothesis pediatricians have four choices: (1) make no recommendation regarding diet changes; (2) Advocate a prudent diet to all families; (3) Screen for hypercholesterolemia and recommend diet changes and other measures to those with high levels; (4) Intervene, either by screening or by diet modification without screening, in only those children with a strong family history of coronary heart disease.