cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Refractory Metal Interconnects For VHSIC

The increasing stringency of the speed, power, and density requirements of signal processors for military systems over the past decade has contributed to a rapid reduction of the typical feature size of IC components and to the development of high-performance technologies such as CMOS/SOS and I2L. The continued evolution of semiconductor technologies to even smaller feature sizes and improved performance characteristics indicates the need to reorganize the chip architecture into cells and to provide a two-level interconnect scheme.(1-7) Specifically the first level of interconnect would be used for low-energy communication within a cell and the second level would route power around the chip and provide communication between cells. Further advantages can be gained if the first level metal is a low resistivity refractory material.(1-7)© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Wide range multi-channel analog switch

A ten-channel analog switch has been developed as a sample and shape circuit for signals used as inputs to a logarithmic pulse height recording system. The circuit employs a field effect transistor as the switching element. Switching transients are reduced to approximately 2 mV by adding to the gated signal an inverted transient generated by an identical circuit with no signal applied. The circuit is linear to 2% from 3 mV to 10 V.
Requirements for capacitation of rabbit sperm.

THE need for capacitation of rabbit sperm has been well documented1–3, but the requirements for the production of this phenomenon are still unclear. Capacitation has not been achieved in vitro in a defined media, and partial Capacitation occurs in uterine fluid and beta-amylase solutions4. Incubation of sperm suspensions in a double ligated and distended uterine horn delays capacitation without altering the fertilizing ability of sperm5.
Infrared stealthy surfaces: Why TES and THEMIS may miss some substantial mineral deposits on Mars and implications for remote sensing of planetary surfaces

[1] Infrared spectral observations have yielded many important insights into the nature of Mars. However, spectral effects tied to surface roughness and particle size can make mineral deposits substantially more difficult to detect and identify than is generally known, including for current investigations. The effects hold for Mars and other planets, but here we focus on the impact on the exploration of Mars. Laboratory spectra of pure, smooth-surfaced minerals have previously been used to conclude that the 1996 Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) and the 2001 Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) will detect a mineral deposit that covers ∼10% of a pixel. Those laboratory spectra have formed the foundation for modeling and interpretations of TES/THEMIS data and for development of the 2003 Mars rover MiniTES. Here, for the first time, we compare TES/THEMIS foundation data to laboratory, field, and unique airborne spectra of rough surfaces. We demonstrate that substantial, well-crystalline, regional mineral deposits, including rock outcrops, can be 100% exposed and remain undetected at the sensitivity of TES/THEMIS. We then detail the physics, which apply to all geologic materials. Previous studies have demonstrated the complicating physical effects for solids versus particulates for a range of minerals, including oxides, sulfates, carbonates, and each of the seven silicate classes. We identify three cases of spectral behavior that can impact interpretations: In Case 1, physical effects cause a target to be undetectable by a given infrared instrument (“infrared stealthy”). In Case 2, variations in spectral contrast mimic abundance variations, which confounds abundance mapping. In Case 3, alteration of the spectral band shape impacts compositional interpretations. Optically smooth materials will be well represented in TES/THEMIS/MiniTES identifications. Conversely, if a material forms an optically rough surface or sufficiently small particles on Mars, then it will be comparatively underrepresented or missed. Surface roughness occurs on three broad scales, and roughness at the grain scale can be a primary variable in whether a mineral is detectable. Nondetection of certain key minerals (e.g., carbonates) can significantly impact geologic and climatic interpretations and landing site selection. The TES/THEMIS detection threshold may be 10% coverage on the basis of specific laboratory samples, but for field measurements, that prediction represents an idealized lower bound. Interpretations built on nondetection should be revisited after defining the uncertainties in detection capabilities for specific instruments as applied to expected mineral surface textures on Mars, including at the grain scale. The impact on future measurement strategies (including MiniTES) should also be assessed.
Postextrasystolic potentiation. Do we really know what it means and how to use it

Postextrasystolic potentiation (PESP), the increase in contractility that follows an extrasystole, is an interesting phenomenon that has been known for almost 100 years. The literature on this effect is reviewed. It is found that there is significant evidence that the phenomenon is independent of muscle loading and represents a distinct property of the myocardium. Examination of the literature pertaining to the cause of the effect suggests that calcium shifts within the sarcoplasmic reticulum are responsible, although there are some conflicts with this conclusion. Regarding the utility of PESP as a diagnostic test of latent viability of ischemic myocardium, the literature review reveals contradictions and conflicts with several methodological problems of the experiments. Finally, concerning the utility of continuous PESP (paired-pacing) to augment ventricular function in the failing ventricle, the studies again are inconclusive and methodologically suspect. Conditions for the proper analysis of the PESP response are reported, and suggestions for future studies are introduced.
The incidence of erectile dysfunction after pelvic fracture urethral injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND:Pelvic fracture urethral injury (PFUI) is associated with a high risk of erectile dysfunction (ED). The effect of the type of posterior urethral disruption repair on erectile function has not been clearly established. We systematically reviewed and conducted a meta-analysis of the proportion of patients with ED at (i) baseline after pelvic fracture with PFUI, (ii) after immediate primary realignment, and (iii) after delayed urethroplasty. METHODS:Using search terms for primary realignment or urethroplasty and urethral disruption, we systematically reviewed PubMed and EMBASE. A meta-analysis of the proportion of patients with ED was conducted assuming a random-effects model. RESULTS:Of 734 articles found, 24 met the inclusion criteria. The estimate of the proportion (95% confidence interval) of patients with ED after (i) PFUI was 34 (25-45)%, after (ii) immediate primary realignment was 16 (8-26)%, and after (iii) delayed urethroplasty was an additional 3 (2-5)% more than the 34% after pelvic fracture in this cohort. CONCLUSIONS:After pelvic fracture, 34% of patients had ED. After primary endoscopic alignment, patients had a lower reported rate of ED (16%). Delayed urethroplasty conferred an additional 3% risk above the 34% associated with PFUI alone, with 37% of patients having de novo ED. The difference in de novo ED after primary endoscopic alignment vs. delayed urethroplasty is probably due to reporting differences in ED and/or patients with less severe injury undergoing primary realignment.
Correlation of Tissue Biopsy and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology with Positron Emission Tomography Results

F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans are positive in any condition which increases metabolism in a mass or tissue and are therefore not specific for neoplastic conditions. The use of an SUV cutoff value of 2.5 may not always help discriminate between benign and malignant cases. For a practicing cytopathologist doing adequacy checks during an image-guided procedure, it may be of value to be aware that elevated SUV values are not always indicative of a malignant process, and vice versa.
Wavelet-based Synchronization of Nongated Confocal Microscopy Data for 4D Imaging of the Embryonic Heart

With the availability of new confocal laser scanning microscopes, fast biological processes, such as the blood flow in living organisms at early stages of the embryonic development, can be observed with unprecedented time resolution. When the object under study has a periodic motion, e.g. a beating embryonic heart, the imaging capabilities can be extended to retrieve 4D data. We acquire nongated slice-sequences at increasing depth and retrospectively synchronize them to build dynamic 3D volumes. Here, we present a synchronization procedure based on the temporal correlation of wavelet features. The method is designed to handle large data sets and to minimize the influence of artifacts that are frequent in fluorescence imaging techniques such as bleaching, nonuniform contrast, and photon-related noise.
The Effect of Apolipoprotein Mimetic Peptides in Inflammatory Disorders Other than Atherosclerosis

Apolipoprotein mimetic peptides have been shown to dramatically reduce atherosclerosis in animal models. Atherosclerosis is an example of an inflammatory disorder. Published studies of apolipoprotein mimetic peptides in models of inflammatory disorders other than atherosclerosis suggest that they may have efficacy in a wide range of inflammatory conditions.
Design of a flow-through integrating cavity for measuring the optical absorption coefficient

Equations are presented for designing a submersible detector for measuring the absorption coefficient of seawater. The design approach requires an isotropic illumination of the curved surface of a right circular cylinder.
Anisotropic Viscosities of an Oriented Fiber Composite with a Power-Law Matrix

Models for the prediction of the longitudinal and transverse elongational viscosities and the inplane and transverse shearing viscosities have been developed for an oriented assembly of discontinuous fibers suspended in both a Newtonian fluid and a power-law fluid with finite yield stress. The present theory is shown to be increasingly ac curate as the fiber volume fraction is increased in contrast to the work of suspension rheology which is largely relegated to dilute and semiconcentrated systems. The approach taken is to assume the fiber kinematics, calculate the resulting fluid motion and determine directly the effective properties of the composite. Solutions are shown to compare favor ably with the results of Batchelor [2] and Christensen [6].
Timelines of cosmic ray intensity, Ap, IMF, and sunspot numbers since 1937

interplanetary magnetic field intensity (B) at Earth orbit are also computed to 1937, using Ap data, inferring that B has a floor at 3.3 nT. Comparing our pseudo‐B values with those estimated by Svalgaard and Cliver (2007b), we find that their estimates are higher than ours in the late 1950s, 1940s, and 1930s. The pseudo neutron monitor rates are also used to compute the annual mean rates (%) for the low‐energy ions at high altitudes and latitudes. They are compared with the sporadic balloon measurements made by Neher during 1933–1965. We infer that the higher flux measured by Neher in 1940 (of an unknown cause) for a few days did not persist long enough to show up in the annual mean ion chamber rate. Citation: Ahluwalia, H. S. (2011), Timelines of cosmic ray intensity, Ap, IMF, and sunspot numbers since 1937, J. Geophys. Res., 116, A12106, doi:10.1029/2011JA017021.
Evaluating North and South Florida Landscape Performance and Fruiting of Ten Cultivars and a Wild-type Selection of Nandina domestica, a Potentially Invasive Shrub

A wild-type selection of heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) and ten cultivars were evaluated for plant performance, growth, flowering, and fruiting in north and south Florida. Onset of flowering generally began by March and April in south Florida and 4 to 8 weeks later in north Florida. Fruit was first noted 8 to 16 weeks after most selections began flowering. Landscape performance and fruit production varied widely among taxa and locations. The dwarf selections ‘Filamentosa’ and ‘Firepower’ failed to flower or fruit in either location; while the medium-sized selection, ‘Moon Bay’, did not flower or fruit in south Florida, and the medium-sized selection, ‘Gulf Stream’, flowered but did not fruit in south Florida. Lar ge-sized selections produced more fruit than did dwarf and medium-sized cultivars. Greater plant survival with generally heavier fruiting was observed in north Florida than in south Florida. In north and south Florida, ‘Monum’ and ‘Compacta’ produced more fruit than did the wild-type selection. Seed viability was fairly consistent among cultivars, ranging from 73 to 86%. Index words: exotic plants, heavenly bamboo, invasive plants, variety trials. Species used in this study: Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica Thunb.) cultivars ‘Filamentosa’, ‘Harbour Dwarf ’, ‘Jaytee’, ‘Firepower’, ‘Gulf Stream’, ‘Moon Bay’, ‘Compacta’, ‘Monum’, ‘Royal Princess’, and ‘Umpqua Chief’.
Dual threshold voltage integrated organic technology for ultralow-power circuits

For the first time, we demonstrate control of organic thinfilm transistor's (OTFT) threshold voltage (V T ) by modifying the gate work function. We present a near-room-temperature, fully lithographic process to fabricate integrated pentacene dual V T OTFTs suitable for large-area and flexible mixed signal circuits. Platinum and aluminum are used as the gate metals for the high V T (more depletion-like) and low V T (more enhancement-like) p-channel devices, respectively. The availability of a high V T device enables area-efficient zero-VGS current source loads. We demonstrate positive noise margin inverters which use pico Watts of power and a 3 V supply. Compared to a single V T implementation, the dual V T inverter occupies an area that is 30x smaller, and is 17x faster. These results show that p-channel only organic technologies can produce functional and low-power circuits without integrating a complementary device.
Massey Products on Cycles of Projective Lines and Trigonometric Solutions of the Yang–Baxter Equations

We show that a nondegenerate unitary solution r(u, v) of the associative Yang–Baxter equation (AYBE) for \(\mathrm{Mat}(N,\mathcal{C})\) (see [7]) with the Laurent series at u = 0 of the form r(u, v) = \(\frac{1 \otimes 1}{u}\) + r 0(v) + ⋯ satisfies the quantum Yang–Baxter equation, provided the projection of r 0(v) to sl N ⊗ sl N has a period. We classify all such solutions of the AYBE, extending the work of Schedler [8]. We also characterize solutions coming from triple Massey products in the derived category of coherent sheaves on cycles of projective lines.
Understanding the Reference Transaction: A Systems Analysis Perspective.

The reference transaction can be understood as a system and modeled as such. By adopting a problem-solving paradigm other than the one traditionally used in this area (i.e., flowcharting), a systems analysis of the question-answering process can yield new insights. In particular, this article identifies fifteen functional requirements of the process as well as fit criteria to measure success in question negotiation. In addition, the process is graphically illustrated using four diagrams of the reference transaction and provides a top-level perspective of the process.
Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase and Reduced Glutathione in Malaria-Infected Erythrocytes (Plasmodium lophurae and P. berghei*

SYNOPSIS. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and the level of reduced glutathione were assayed in host-parasite interactions in which the malaria parasites preferentially invade: 1. mature erythrocytes (Plasmodium lophurae in the duck) and 2. reticulocytes (P. berghei in the mouse). Assay for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was by the dye decolorization test of Motulsky and Campbell. In P. berghei infected mouse erythrocytes with parasitemias ranging from 28–78% there was no deficiency in enzyme except at the 78% level. Similarly, P. lophurae-infected duck erythrocytes with parasitemias of 29–114% showed no enzyme deficiency except above the 80% level. No linear relationship existed between parasitemia and enzyme level. The reduced glutathione stability test of Beutler in duck erythrocytes infected with P. lophurae in the range 27–67% showed no glutathione instability.
A Review of Myotatic Reflexes and the Development of Motor Control and Gait in Infants and Children: A Special Communication

Although the mechanism of the phasic myotatic (or “stretch”) reflex is well-known, the role of this reflex in adult gait remains speculative. The acquisition and development of locomotor skills with respect to the development of the myotatic reflex require further study in both healthy and neurologically impaired children. In this article, the well-documented properties of the healthy adult's myotatic reflex are compared with recent findings of the myotatic reflex in healthy infants and children and contrasted with reflex properties in patients with cerebral palsy. These data allow us to begin to characterize the emerging features of the stretch reflex in normal and pathological early development. From these data, we can begin to speculate about the relationship between changes in stretch reflexes and the acquisition of skillful movement and gait in early childhood.
Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Effectiveness of Methylphenidate

Methylphenidate is prescribed for over 90% of children in the US diagnosed as having attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although ADHD has been widely studied, the use of methylphenidate in ADHD still poses a number of unresolved questions, including its pharmacodynamic characteristics (drug concentration-effect relationship) and the effect of long term treatment on the patient’s psychopathology later in life. The objective of this review is to provide an analysis of the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic properties and therapeutic effectiveness of methylphenidate that may help to answer some of these questions. Methylphenidate has 2 chiral centres, but the drug used in therapy comprises only the threo pair of enantiomers. d-threo-Methylphenidate is more potent than the l-enantiomer. Methylphenidate is administered as a racemic mixture that undergoes stereoselective clearance. Methylphenidate is a short-acting stimulant with a duration of action of 1 to 4 hours and a pharmacokinetic half-life of 2 to 3 hours. Maximum drug concentration after oral administration occurs at about 2 hours. Methylphenidate is absorbed well from the gastrointestinal tract and easily passes to the brain. Methylphenidate is efficacious for short term treatment for children with ADHD. Its mechanism of action is not understood, but may be associated with its influence on multiple neurotransmitters, especially the release and reuptake of dopamine in the striatum. There is marked individual variability in the dose-response relationship for methylphenidate, and therefore dosage must be titrated for optimal effect and avoidance of toxicity in each child. It is unclear whether this variability is predominantly pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic. If variable stereoselective metabolism occurs clinically, therapeutic drug monitoring of methylphenidate will require the application of chiral assay methods for the analysis of the active component, d-threo-methylphenidate. It is difficult to predict which children will have a favourable response to methylphenidate. Nonetheless, several studies have been published linking the severity of ADHD in children with improved clinical response to methylphenidate. The use of individual single-blind medication trials may be a practical solution to this problem. Additionally, the targeted condition warrants careful consideration, since different conditions (e.g. misbehaviour or poor academic performance) may require different regimens. Further studies of the relationship between the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of methylphenidate are required to allow the development of optimal dosage regimens.
Nonlinear metabolic model-based control of ethanol in Escherichia Coli

A 34 state cybernetic model consisting of 15 reaction is developed for the anaerobic growth of E. coli. The cybernetic model is used in the model predictive control (MPC) framework for set point tracking of ethanol concentrations in a continuous mode of operation of the bioreactor by manipulating the dilution rate. A linear MPC algorithm that includes a Kalman estimator with partial state measurements is developed. Two nonlinear MPC algorithms are also developed and both use the extended Kalman estimator for state update. The first algorithm uses an instantaneous linear model for prediction and optimization whereas the second algorithm uses the nonlinear model which significantly increases the computational load. The performance of these algorithms is tested in a highly nonlinear operating regime and in the presence of plant-model mismatch, input and measurement noise and variable constraints. Results show that performance of the nonlinear MPC based algorithms is superior to that of the linear MPC based algorithm. There are insignificant differences in the performance of the two nonlinear MPC algorithms thus enabling higher performance achievement without unreasonable computational loads.
Teaching NeuroImages: Reversible pontomesencephalic edema caused by traumatic carotid cavernous fistula

A 45-year-old man presented with a painful bulging right eye and blindness 6 weeks after a motorcycle accident and traumatic brain injury. He had a complete right oculomotor nerve palsy and only perception of light. MRI revealed ipsilateral pontomesencephalic edema (figure, A and B). Catheter angiography showed a direct right carotid-cavernous fistula (figure, C). Two months after coil embolization, the ptosis, proptosis and ophthalmoplegia resolved. MRI revealed resolution of pontomesencephalic edema (figure, D). The presumed mechanism was transmission of arterialized pressures of the cavernous sinus via a bridging vein to the anterior pontomesencephalic vein, generating venous hypertension and vasogenic edema.1,2
FISHING FOR LOBSTERS INDIRECTLY INCREASES EPIDEMICS IN SEA URCHINS

Two ecological paradigms, the trophic cascade and the host-density threshold in disease, interact in the kelp-forest ecosystem to structure the community. To investigate what happens when a trophic cascade pushes a host population over a host-threshold density, I analyzed a 20-year data set of kelp forest communities at 16 sites in the region of the Channel Islands National Park, California, USA. Historically, lobsters, and perhaps other predators, kept urchin populations at low levels and kelp forests developed a community-level trophic cascade. In geographic areas where the main predators on urchins were fished, urchin populations increased to the extent that they overgrazed algae and starvation eventually limited urchin-population growth. Despite the limitation of urchin population size by food availability, urchin densities, at times, well exceeded the host-density threshold for epidemics. An urchin-specific bacterial disease entered the region after 1992 and acted as a density-dependent mortality source. Dense populations were more likely to experience epidemics and suffer higher mortality. Disease did not reduce the urchin population at a site to the density that predators previously did. Therefore, disease did not fully replace predators in the trophic cascade. These results indicate how fishing top predators can indirectly favor disease transmission in prey populations.
Midtrimester amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) levels above the 90th percentile are a marker for subsequent preterm premature rupture of membranes.

Objective We sought to determine whether midtrimester amniotic fluid levels of matrix metalloproteinase-8 were associated with subsequent preterm premature rupture of membranes. Study design We conducted a case-control study examining 57 asymptomatic women who underwent genetic amniocentesis from 14 to 21 weeks' gestation and subsequently had preterm premature rupture of membranes ( Results The overall distribution of matrix metalloproteinase-8 concentrations was similar in women who had preterm premature rupture of membranes and term controls (median 2.39 ng/mL, 25th to 75th percentile 1.1-10.1 vs 2.37 ng/mL, 25th to 75th percentile 1.5-4.7, P = .94). However, 26% of women who had preterm premature rupture of membranes had a matrix metalloproteinase-8 concentration above the 90th percentile (8.7 ng/mL), compared with only 10% of term controls (odds ratio 3.1, 95% CI 1.1-8.7; P = .03). Elevated matrix metalloproteinase-8 remained associated with preterm premature rupture of membranes after adjustment for maternal age, race, parity, gestational age, and year of amniocentesis (odds ratio 3.4, 95% CI 1.2-9.9; P = .03). Conclusions The overall distribution of midtrimester amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 levels did not differ between women who had preterm premature rupture of membranes and those delivered at term. However, marked elevations of midtrimester amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 were highly associated with subsequent preterm premature rupture of membranes, suggesting that the pathophysiologic processes that contribute to preterm premature rupture of membranes may begin in early pregnancy.
Position recovery using binary sequences

It is shown how to arrange a sequence of 2n−1 bits on the circumference of a rotating device, such that the location of any specified bit is instantly recovered from the values of 2n+1 bits, sensed by fixed contacts.
Recent advances in computational protein design

Proteins are the molecules cells primarily rely on for catalysis, recognition, signaling, defense, locomotion, and structural integrity. Engineering proteins for improved function or new applications is a fast-growing segment of biotechnology and biomedicine. Experimental efforts based on the screening of large mutant libraries have led to many successes but they do not provide quantitative design principles and/or insight into the structural features that underpin the desired function. The computational de novo design of proteins promises to bridge this gap; however, it requires reliable structure prediction, provisions for protein stability, and accurate descriptions of inter-molecule interactions. Studies that successfully meet all these criteria are beginning to emerge including the design of an O2-binding protein and a novel enzyme that catalyzes a Diels–Alder reaction.
Pinning, Fluctuations and Melting of Superconducting Vortex Arrays

We give a brief introduction to the analysis of vortex line fluctuations in high-temperature superconductors. We treat flux lines as classical objects, described by a string tension, their mutual repulsion, and interactions with pinning centers. The classical partition function, however, is isomorphic to the imaginary time path integral description of quantum mechanics. This observation is used to determine the thermal renormalization of critical currents in the presence of columnar pins and the flux lattice melting temperature at low and moderate field strengths. We review as well why flux lattice melting is expected to be a first order transition and argue that a continuous smectic-like freezing transition is likely for field orientations perpendicular to an array of columnar pins.
Iberian Colonial Science

ABSTRACT The Portuguese and Spanish empires were both global and long lasting. This essay focuses on colonial Spanish America, particularly on the practices of natural history. It also suggests that chivalric‐epic ideologies permeated early modern epistemologies, including those of the French and the British. The essay criticizes the application of nineteenth‐century models of empire to the understanding of the early modern composite monarchies in the New World. Finally, it explores the ways metropolitan natural philosophy was transformed in the New World kingdoms to bolster patriotic identities.
Street Gang Recruitment: Signaling, Screening, and Selection

By applying signaling theory to the strategies gangs and their prospective members adopt during the recruitment process, this article addresses one of the most crucial unanswered questions in the literature on street gangs: why, in any given pool of individuals with similar sociological profiles and motivations, do only some gain entry into gangs? Based upon two years of ethnographic fieldwork with gang members in London, UK, this article argues that gangs face a primary trust dilemma in their uncertainty over the quality of recruits. Given that none of the desirable trust-warranting properties for gang membership can be readily discovered from observation, gangs look for observable signs correlated with these properties. Gangs then face a secondary trust dilemma in their uncertainty over the reliability of signs because certain agents (e.g., police informants, rival gang members, and adventure seekers) might mimic them. Thus, gangs look for signs that are too costly for mimics to fake but affordable for the genuine article. This article thus demonstrates how gangs overcome their informational handicap ex ante by screening and selecting among prospective members based on “hard-to-fake” signals.
The Incidence of Subsequent Surgery After Outpatient Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.

Purpose To quantify the incidence and risk factors associated with subsequent shoulder procedures in individuals undergoing outpatient arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR). Methods We examined the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative Systems outpatient database from 2003 through 2014 to identify patients undergoing isolated ARCR with or without concomitant acromioplasty. Patients were longitudinally followed up for a minimum of 2 years to determine the incidence of subsequent ipsilateral shoulder surgery. The impact of age, sex, insurance, concomitant acromioplasty, and tobacco use on reoperation was explored. Results Between 2003 and 2012, 30,430 patients underwent isolated ARCR. The mean age was 56.6 ± 11.5 years, and 55.1% were male patients. A total of 1,826 patients (6.0%) underwent subsequent ipsilateral outpatient shoulder surgery a mean of 24.3 ± 27.1 months after the initial ARCR. Of patients who underwent repeat surgery, 57.3% underwent a revision cuff repair. Patients who underwent additional outpatient shoulder surgery were significantly younger (53.7 ± 10.9 years v 56.8 ± 11.5 years, P v 5.9%, P = .044) and accelerated time to reoperation (16.9 months v 24.7 months, P P P Conclusions We identified a 6.0% incidence of repeat ipsilateral surgery after isolated ARCR. Although reasons for reoperation are likely multifactorial, younger age, Workers' Compensation claim, and absence of acromioplasty at the time of initial ARCR remained independent predictors of subsequent outpatient procedures, whereas a history of tobacco use was associated with accelerated time to subsequent surgery. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Management of acute lower extremity nerve injuries.

While repair of acute nerve injuries in the lower extremity has not been as aggressive as in the upper extremity, there should now be more effective early intervention. Newer microsurgical techniqu...
Analysis of Fukushima Nuclear Power Accident and Its Revelation

A grade-7 nuclear leakage accident has happened in Fukushima nuclear power plant(Japan),which followed the magnitude-9.0 earthquake on March 11,2011,in Japan,and has been in focus worldwide now.This paper introduces the course of the accident,and analyzes its causes,impact and reflection.The inducements of the accident are obviously the earthquake and its resulted tsunami,but the causes in deep are very complex.In terms of technology,the causes are mainly summarized in the paper as three aspects — the second-generation nuclear technology adopted by the plant,the plant design not enough for earthquake proof,and the nuclear power unit 1 has being in operation over its design life time.In comparision of design,performance and technology on the third-generation technology AP1000 and EPR(Europe presure water reactor),it proves that AP1000 is better in securty than EPR.Aiming at the situation of the second and third generation nuclear technologies coexisting in China,the paper discusses the safety supervision system,the development direction of the chief reactor types of nuclear power,the emergency linkage mechanism,and the emergency preplans for the nuclear plants in China.
Soft-Error Aware Power Optimization

As technology scaling continues, the leakage or static power consumption of a circuit increases. When designers try to address reduction of static power consumption via optimizations, they need to be aware of the impact on single event robustness. This is especially important for mission critical applications where the reliability is most important objective over the cost and the performance. This chapter hence discusses soft error tolerance of some power optimization techniques.
Standard Criticisms of the Free Market Argument

Chapter 1 discusses value judgments or assumptions upon which the free market argument is based. For instance, the argument is individualistic in that its advocates believe that the individual is the fundamental unit of the social structure. To the extent that one does not share this assumption, one is likely to disagree with free market conclusions. Likewise, one must accept the relevance and appropriateness of particular economic models before one can accept the invisible-hand laissez-faire faith assumption that social outcomes will be optimal if individuals are left free to barter and exchange. Similarly, the process orientation and belief in an equity-efficiency tradeoff are intimately related to and dependent on assumptions concerning the place of the individual in the social order and stand or fall with one’s view on that issue.
13 – Functional MRI

This chapter discusses the perfusion-weighted techniques that can track changes in brain function continuously with both high temporal resolution (seconds) and high spatial resolution (millimeters). It provides the necessary background for an understanding of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) mechanisms and limitations. The common fMRI methods rely upon the protons of water as the source of signal. In principle, this still leaves a large number of candidate contrast mechanisms for functional brain imaging, including the local water concentration, transverse and longitudinal relaxation rates, and phase of MRI signal. Changes in relaxation rates provide the basis for all common forms of fMRI. Rapid advances are occurring in structural MRI, providing information that is complementary, and often essential, to fMRI. Advanced automated or semiautomated algorithms of computational neuroanatomy, together with tissue classification facilitated by optimize pulse sequences, multiple types of contrast, and prior information, are improving spatial registration, tissue segmentation, and morphometry across subjects and within the large subpopulations for cross-group comparisons.
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome: A real life version of Lewis Carroll's novel

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome was originally coined by Dr. John Todd in 1955. The syndrome is named after the sensations experienced by the character Alice in Lewis Carroll's novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome consists of metamorphopsia (seeing something in a distorted fashion), bizarre distortions of their body image, and bizarre perceptual distortions of form, size, movement or color. Additionally, patients with Alice in Wonderland Syndrome can experience auditory hallucinations and changes in their perception of time. Currently, there is no known specific cause of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome. However, theories point to infections such as the Epstein-Barr virus, medications such as topiramate and associated migraines. Neuroimaging studies have revealed brain regions involved with the manifestation of symptoms. These include the temporo-parietal junction within the temporal lobe and the visual pathway, specifically the occipital lobe. There are no current treatments for Alice in Wonderland Syndrome. Further research is needed to find better treatments for Alice in Wonderland Syndrome and to elucidate the exact cause or causes of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome.
Laser-Etched Designs for Molding Hydrogel-Based Engineered Tissues.

Rapid prototyping and fabrication of elastomeric molds for sterile culture of engineered tissues allow for the development of tissue geometries that can be tailored to different in vitro applications and customized as implantable scaffolds for regenerative medicine. Commercially available molds offer minimal capabilities for adaptation to unique conditions or applications versus those for which they are specifically designed. Here we describe a replica molding method for the design and fabrication of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) molds from laser-etched acrylic negative masters with ∼0.2 mm resolution. Examples of the variety of mold shapes, sizes, and patterns obtained from laser-etched designs are provided. We use the patterned PDMS molds for producing and culturing engineered cardiac tissues with cardiomyocytes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. We demonstrate that tight control over tissue morphology and anisotropy results in modulation of cell alignment and tissue-level conduction pro...
An analytical study of wave propagation in a peridynamic bar with nonuniform discretization

Abstract In this paper, we use an analytical approach to study the propagation of a plane wave and its spurious reflection in a peridynamic bar using two different methods. In the first method, a coupled peridynamic–finite element approach is used in which peridynamic formulation is used in one part of the domain and finite element is used in the other part. In the second method, peridynamic formulation is used in the entire domain but the bar is discretized by two grids of different sizes. In both cases, the size of the grid of each zone does not change and the two grids share one node with each other. The incident wave travels from the finer grid toward the coarser grid. For the case when peridynamics is used on the entire domain, the size of the peridynamics horizon changes based on the size of the gird. For both cases, we investigate the impact of the relative size of the girds on the amplitude and energy of the transmitted and reflected waves. Our analytical and numerical results show that more spurious reflections occur when the size mismatch between the two grids is larger. In both cases, the issue of spurious wave reflection becomes more severe when the peridynamic horizon size increases. For the case of coupled peridynamic–finite element, even when the size of the two grids are the same, spurious wave reflection occurs which is due to the change in the formulation from a nonlocal to a local continuum. The spurious reflection reduces when the wavelength of the incident wave is large compared with the coarse grid.
The optimization approach

In this chapter, we continue the discussion in Chap. 3, and gradually build optimization approaches and linear programming models, without pre-required knowledge in operations research. In order to solve a linear programming, Microsoft Excel Solver software and Microsoft Visual Basic software are used and the required instructions are comprehensively illustrated, so that no previous knowledge about the software are needed. We also discuss a different view for the Petroleum example with two output factors. Two important theorems are provided to explain when a score should be called a ‘relative score’. In addition, two necessary types are added to Types 1–4 in Chap. 1, when the number of input factors and the number of output factors are more than 1. These two types provide a transparent view to rank and benchmark firms through the feasible area, as well as a direction for future arguments on these topics. At the end of this section, readers are prepared to calculate the performance evaluation of a set of homogenous firms and explain the related concepts visibly.
Methods for Improving Cereal Protein Quality

Three methods for improving cereal protein quality are discussed. Two older methods are supplmentation with limiting essential amino acids and with protein concentrates high in those amino acids. The most recent method (since 1964) is the replacement of the normal cereal grain with its high lysine mutant counterpart. Three high lysine cereals are now available, corn, barley, and sorghum. In animal feeding, least cost formulas will determine which of the three improvement methods will be used. In human nutrition, cost, availability, palatability and acceptance are all equally important factors.
Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

The way surgeons consider acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGI-H) has been modified over recent years by the following factors: Due to the availability of modern anti-ulcer pharmacological therapy the incidence of active and poorly controlled peptic ulcers is declining. The introduction of anti-Helicobacter therapy has reduced the incidence of ulcer’s recurrence. The availability of methods to achieve trans-endoscopic hemostasis of bleeding ulcers. Consequently, you are becoming less and less familiar and skilled with the operative management of this condition. Therefore, you need to listen to us ...
Prospective evaluation of a clinical response directed pathway for complicated appendicitis

Abstract Aim Despite evidence to suggest shorter durations of antibiotics are safe in complicated appendicitis, the practice has not been widely adopted in the UK. Our aim was to determine whether a clinical pathway that tailors antibiotics to clinical condition was safe and effective. Methods A new post-operative pathway (NewPath) was devised that reduced mandatory intravenous antibiotics for complicated appendicitis (perforated or gangrenous) from 5 to 3 days post-operatively, provided the child was apyrexial for > 12 h and tolerating oral diet. Oral antibiotics were only given if white-blood-cell counts were raised. Data were collected prospectively (NewPath) and compared to 100 cases immediately prior. Data are presented as median [IQR]. Comparisons used the Fisher's exact or Mann Whitney U tests as appropriate. Significance was defined as p Results One hundred sixty-four children completed the NewPath over 11 months. Age and normal appendicectomy rate were similar [NewPath vs. control, 9y (6–12) vs. 10y (7–13) and 19/164 (12%) vs.15/100 (15%)]. Complicated appendicitis rates were 88/164 [54%] vs. 42/100 [42%]; p = 0.08. Length of stay was shorter for the NewPath [5 (4–7) vs. 7 (6–8) days; p = 0.009], and fewer required oral antibiotics [35/88 (40%) vs. 26/42 (62%); p = 0.01]. Readmissions within 28 days [24/88 (27%) vs. 8/42 (19%), p = 0.39) and intra-abdominal collections [20/88 (23%) vs. 6/42 (14%), p = 0.35] were similar. Conclusions Post-operative appendicitis care guided by clinical progress and white-blood-cell count can reduce hospital stay and antibiotic use without increasing complications. Pathways such as this could save considerable health resource and contribute to important antimicrobial stewardship initiatives. Level of Evidence Level III.
Patterns of Genetic Structure Among Invasive Southwestern United States Quagga Mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) Populations

Over the past decade, large populations of invasive quagga mussels (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) have become established in reservoirs along the lower Colorado River in the southwestern United States. We were interested in whether genetic patterns among these populations have changed during continuing expansion and establishment, and how current genetic patterns in reservoirs along the lower Colorado River would compare with other invasive D. rostriformis bugensis populations. We examined the neutral genetic structure among six populations from different reservoirs along the lower Colorado River. We genotyped individual quagga mussels at 10 microsatellite DNA loci to analyze patterns of genetic diversity and population structure. As in past studies of some of these same populations, overall genetic divergence among populations was negligible and no single reservoir population was significantly differentiated from the overall group. Some populations did exhibit significant, if slight, pairwise genetic differentiation, and there was a moderate pattern of isolation-by-distance. Studies of microsatellite DNA-based population genetic patterns in invasive D. rostriformis bugensis in other parts of the world have been limited to recently established populations and likewise show similar absences of strong genetic structuring.
Is it time to reconsider the term “cancer survivor”?

Purpose: To improve understanding of how people diagnosed with cancer perceive the term “cancer survivor” and what influences those perceptions.Design: Patients’ reactions to the term were surveyed...
RESPONSES OF A MONTANE LIZARD ASSEMBLAGE TO AN EXTENDED DROUGHT

Modern climate change will increase temperatures, as well as the frequency and severity of droughts and wildfires across the semiarid montane regions of the southwestern United States. Predictions of reduced habitat suitability and increases in extinctions precipitated by climate change derive from modeled responses to these conditions, especially increased temperatures. What is often lacking are empirical tests of those modeled predictions. Here I report findings from surveys of montane lizard assemblages during a period of increased temperatures, extended drought, and including a wildfire. I selected survey routes that included upper-elevation limits for western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis), granite spiny lizards (Sceloporus orcuttii), and side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana), as well as the lower limits for southern sagebrush lizards (Sceloporus vandenburgianus), to measure the extent to which habitat occupancy shifted as drought conditions changed over 4 years. At the onset of drought, the abundance of all species declined. After initial declines, populations stabilized and I observed recruitment, positive population growth, and elevation shifts with only modest increases in rainfall. Once the drought abated, there were further increases in recruitment and population growth, but a colder winter and heavy snows in 2017 were coincident with declines and range contractions in both western fence and side-blotched lizards on the higher-elevation survey route. There was no indication that any of these species' populations were at risk of local extinctions; rather, shifts at range margins and use of microclimates revealed resilience and mechanisms of how these species might deal with future conditions, including occupying climate refugia.
Batman or the joker?: the powerful urban computing and its ethics issues

The exponential growth of the urban data generated by urban sensors, government reports, and crowd-sourcing services endorses the rapid development of urban computing and spatial data mining technologies. Easier accessibility to such enormous urban data may be a double-bladed sword. On the one hand, urban data can be applied to solve a wide range of practical issues such as urban safety analysis and urban event detection. On the other hand, ethical issues such as biasedly polluted urban data, problematic algorithms, and unprotected privacy may cause moral disaster not only for the research fields but also for the society. This paper seeks to identify ethical vulnerabilities from three primary research directions of urban computing: urban safety analysis, urban transportation analysis, and social media analysis for urban events. Visions for future improvements in the perspective of ethics are addressed.