cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pelvic incidence and pelvic tilt measurements using femoral heads or acetabular domes to identify centers of the hips: comparison of two methods

The aim of the study was to compare pelvic incidence (PI) and pelvic tilt (PT) measurements using the bicoxofemoral axis obtained from either femoral heads or acetabular domes on lateral digital radiographs of the spine. Standing lateral radiographs of the spine of patients without hip pathologies were analyzed. PI and PT were measured on 50 radiographs using the femoral heads first followed by measurements performed with the acetabular domes to define the bicoxofemoral axis. Agreement between the methods was quantified by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and median error for a single measurement (SEM). Intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver reliability of both methods of identification of bicoxofemoral axis and its impact on PI and PT measurements were tested on 31 radiographs and quantified by ICC and SEM. There was an excellent agreement in PI as well as in PT between measurements performed using whether the femoral heads or the acetabular domes (ICC: 0.99; SEM: 0.56° for PI and ICC: 0.99; SEM: 0.2° for PT). Excellent intraobserver reproducibility was revealed for both methods (ICC: 0.99 and SEM: ≤0.17° for PI and ICC: 0.99; SEM: ≤0.18° for PT). Both methods presented excellent interobserver reliability (ICC: 0.99 and SEM: ≤0.54° for PI and ICC: ≥0.98; SEM: ≤0.9° for PT). We suggest that either the femoral heads or the acetabular domes may be used for reliable PI and PT measurements on the lateral standing long-cassette digital radiographs of the spine.
Waste Rice Seed in Conventional and Stripper-Head Harvested Fields in California: Implications for Wintering Waterfowl

Abstract Waste rice seed is an important food for wintering waterfowl and current estimates of its availability are needed to determine the carrying capacity of rice fields and guide habitat conservation. We used a line-intercept method to estimate mass-density of rice seed remaining after harvest during 2010 in the Sacramento Valley (SACV) of California and compared results with estimates from previous studies in the SACV and Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV). Posterior mean (95% credible interval) estimates of total waste rice seed mass-density for the SACV in 2010 were 388 (336–449) kg/ha in conventionally harvested fields and 245 (198–307) kg/ha in stripper-head harvested fields; the 2010 mass-density is nearly identical to the mid-1980s estimate for conventionally harvested fields but 36% lower than the mid-1990s estimate for stripped fields. About 18% of SACV fields were stripper-head harvested in 2010 vs. 9–15% in the mid-1990s and 0% in the mid-1980s; but due to a 50% increase in planted rice area...
Simple equations for the electrostatic potential in buried-channel MOS devices

Simple equations are presented for the potential in a buried-channel MOS device as a function of channel charge. If either the oxide thickness or the channel charge is reduced to zero, these equations simplify to the equations obtained by others. The predictions of these equations are compared to numerical solutions, and good agreement is found. >
Intergroup Hostility and Social Cohesion

G EORG SIMMEL (1955:33-4) noted that warfare is frequently the only mode of social interaction between primitive societies. He saw the social relations of such groups to be characterized by diametric opposition between the norms of behavior applicable to members of the ingroup, on one hand, and toward members of outgroups, on the other. This dichotomy was internally self-consistent to Simmel, and he wrote (ibid:34):
An overview of SEDACS: a state of the art TRD/TPS environment

The support equipment data acquisition and control system (SEDACS) was developed to allow a prime contractor to control the development of test requirement documents (TRD) and associated ATLAS programs for the suite of avionics residing on an aircraft. The system allows multiple avionics manufacturers to supply data for the test program set (TPS) to SEDACS directly from facilities located in various sites in the nation. It utilizes a menu-driven interface, forms data entry, relational data storage, proprietary data protection, a sophisticated full-screen editor for test program development, and electronic transfer of source and object to the automatic test equipment (ATE) for execution. SEDACS integrates all these functions for complete configuration control and management by the prime contractor. A further overview of SEDACS is given. >
Transcriptional Activation of Bordetella Alcaligin Siderophore Genes Requires the AlcR Regulator with Alcaligin as Inducer

Genetic and biochemical studies have established that Fur and iron mediate repression of Bordetella alcaligin siderophore system (alc) genes under iron-replete nutritional growth conditions. In this study, transcriptional analyses using Bordetella chromosomal alc-lacZ operon fusions determined that maximal alc gene transcriptional activity under iron starvation stress conditions is dependent on the presence of alcaligin siderophore. Mutational analysis and genetic complementation confirmed that alcaligin-responsive transcriptional activation of Bordetella alcaligin system genes is dependent on AlcR, a Fur-regulated AraC-like positive transcriptional regulator encoded within the alcaligin gene cluster. AlcR-mediated transcriptional activation is remarkably sensitive to inducer, occurring at extremely low alcaligin concentrations. This positive autogenous control circuit involving alcaligin siderophore as the inducer for AlcR-mediated transcriptional activation of alcaligin siderophore biosynthesis and transport genes coordinates environmental and intracellular signals for maximal expression of these genes under conditions in which the presence of alcaligin in the environment is perceived.
Coalitions in decision-making groups: organizational analogs

Abstract The literature on organizations has long focused on the concept of coalition behavior. An experiment on coalition formation was designed as a simulation of organizational decision-making groups. Previous research and a variety of game theoretic and social psychological models of coalition behavior provided strong empirical and theoretical bases for the study. Groups of masters students interacted in four sessions that manipulated the power of the five actors in each group. Results were compared to previous findings and were used to evaluate the theories. The findings suggest that (1) revenge was not often used by the players in these groups; (2) social pressure and the weak players' ability to communicate depressed the strongest players' outcomes; and (3) S.S. Komorita and J. Chertkoff's (1973 Psychological Review, 80, 149–162) Bargaining theory and the Roth-Shapley value ( Roth, 1977 , Roth, 1977 Journal of Mathematical Psychology, 16, 153–160; Econometrica, 45, 654–657; L. S. Shapley, 1953 in H. W. Kuhn & A. W. Tucker (Eds.), Contributions to thefs theory of games (Vol. 2), Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press) predicted coalition outcomes better than the other models tested. The implications for organizations and their members are discussed.
Power capping: a prelude to power shifting

We present a technique that controls the peak power consumption of a high-density server by implementing a feedback controller that uses precise, system-level power measurement to periodically select the highest performance state while keeping the system within a fixed power constraint. A control theoretic methodology is applied to systematically design this control loop with analytic assurances of system stability and controller performance, despite unpredictable workloads and running environments. In a real server we are able to control power over a 1 second period to within 1 W and over an 8 second period to within 0.1 W. Conventional servers respond to power supply constraint situations by using simple open-loop policies to set a safe performance level in order to limit peak power consumption. We show that closed-loop control can provide higher performance under these conditions and implement this technique on an IBM BladeCenter HS20 server. Experimental results demonstrate that closed-loop control provides up to 82% higher application performance compared to open-loop control and up to 17% higher performance compared to a widely used ad-hoc technique.
Variable gain amplifier with offset cancellation

In this paper, the design of variable gain ampli.er (VGA) for wireless receiver applications is presented. The VGA uses ac coupling (highpass filter) for dc offset rejection, while each VGA stage is designed to have constant output offset to overcome the slow response of the highpass filter. Due to the architecture chosen, The VGA has a fairly constant bandwidth in the entire gain range, and therefore it has constant settling time. It has been simulated and laid out using IBM SiGe BiCMOS 0.25Ām process. The VGA is OpAmp-R based and has gain range of -4 → 64dB with 2dB steps. It has about 35MHz bandwidth and consumes 1.5mA from 2.5V supply.
Facilitating pattern discovery for relation extraction with semantic-signature-based clustering

Hand-crafted textual patterns have been the mainstay device of practical relation extraction for decades. However, there has been little work on reducing the manual effort involved in the discovery of effective textual patterns for relation extraction. In this paper, we propose a clustering-based approach to facilitate the pattern discovery for relation extraction. Specifically, we define the notion of semantic signature to represent the most salient features of a textual fragment. We then propose a novel clustering algorithm based on semantic signature, S2C, and its enhancement S2C+. Experiments on two real-world data sets show that, when compared with k-means clustering, S2C and S2C+ are at least an order of magnitude faster, while generating high quality clusters that are at least comparable to the best clusters generated by k-means without requiring any manual tuning. Finally, a user study confirms that our clustering-based approach can indeed help users discover effective textual patterns for relation extraction with only a fraction of the manual effort required by the conventional approach.
Alcohol outlet density and violence: the role of risky retailers and alcohol-related expenditures.

Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the association between alcohol outlet density and violence controlling for alcohol expenditures and the density of other retailers. Methods: Cross-sectional ecological study of 1816 block groups in Philadelphia. We obtained 2010 data for aggravated assaults, alcohol outlets, alcohol expenditures, business points, land use and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. We mapped the spatial distribution of alcohol outlets and aggravated assaults using a geographic information system. We estimated the association between assault density and total, on-premise and off-premise alcohol outlet densities using spatial regression models and controlling for the covariates of urban crime rates, alcohol expenditures, and the presence of other general and risky commercial retail outlets. Results: The strong and positive association between alcohol outlet density and violence remained after controlling for alcohol expenditures and the density of other retailers. Conclusion: Findings support the concept that off-premise alcohol outlets in the neighborhood environment may impact health and social outcomes. The positive outlet–violence association in the face of these controls means it is not an association due solely to alcohol availability or to retail density. It also suggests that there is something unique about alcohol outlets or their density that makes them crime generators and links them to violence.
Experiences in reverse-engineering of a finite element automobile crash model

The experiences encountered during the development, modification, and refinement of a finite element model of a four-door sedan are described. A single model is developed that can be successfully used in computational simulations of full frontal, offset frontal, side, and oblique car-to-car impacts. The simulation results are validated with test data of actual vehicles. The validation and computational simulations using the model show it to be computationally stable, reliable, repeatable, and useful as a crash partner for other vehicles.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

In recent years, prostate cancer-specific death rates have fallen significantly in industrialized nations, contributed in part by the widespread application of curative intent treatment and early disease detection afforded by PSA screening [1]. Unfortunately, this progress has been accompanied by the overtreatment of many patients likely to have never died of their prostate cancer. Distinguishing between clinically significant and indolent cancers is a major focus of current inquiry. Contemporary clinical screening regimens utilizing serum PSA and systematic transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy suffer from poor sensitivity and specificity [2, 3] and ultimately lead to both overdetection of low-risk indolent disease as well as missed cancers of more clinical significance. This clinical uncertainty is reflected in the high upgrading rate of approximately 30 % between clinical diagnosis and radical prostatectomy [4]. As a result, neither clinician nor patient can rely on clinical staging information with certainty in order to predict behavior. As a result, many men turn to more invasive and radical treatments even in the setting of predicted low-risk cancer, which while effective in controlling oncologic risk are associated with significant morbidity and cost.
Fostering Capacity Building Among Groups of Disadvantaged Farmers, Southeastern North Carolina (USA)

We present preliminary results from a qualitative comparative case study involving small-scale and disadvantaged (predominantly African American) farmers in southeastern North Carolina. Agricultural assistance organizations have promoted development of farmer cooperatives as an adaptive strategy for these farmers, with only limited success. This research explores factors that contribute to or detract from the capacity of disadvantaged rural households to take advantage of new opportunities, and the role of both tangible intangible assets in shaping outcomes. We gained rich insights about these factors through the provision of tangible assets and business planning assistance to four small groups of disadvantaged farmers attempting to adopt the innovation of collaboration. Provision of tangible assets is insufficient to ensure success; our findings suggest that capacity-building efforts focused too narrowly on assets can lead assistance providers to neglect critical mediating factors that influence outcomes. A key mediating factor is the strength of trust-based relationships among group members and between groups and assistance providers; establishment of such relationships is a necessary precursor to cooperation and capacity development. One implication is that assistance organizations might improve outcomes of programs aimed at disadvantaged populations by focusing on trust-building interactions and by providing coaching and facilitation services.
The Two Main Types of Anterior Pituitary Gland Present in Different Species of Animals.

SummaryDifferent species of animals can be separated into 2 classes in accordance with the effects which their anterior pituitary glands exert on the thyroid gland and sex organs of the guinea pig, namely, Class I: Cattle, sheep, hog, Class II: Rabbit, rat, cat, guinea pig. The effects of the anterior pituitary glands of these two classes of animals on the thyroid gland and sex organs of the guinea pig are compared. We intend to investigate the possible effect of variations in the age of donors of the anterior pituitary glands.
Big data and opportunities for injury surveillance

This issue of Injury Prevention presents injury surveillance activities spanning a range of available methods from paper data collection systems to machine-learning techniques. We have been invited to share thoughts on future opportunities for injury surveillance and public health in general. Our perspective is focused on electronic information and its capacity to transform public health surveillance and provide opportunities for improved targeted interventions. Public health surveillance risks becoming irrelevant if it does not take advantage of electronic information. This includes contextual data that defines the circumstances of an event or outcome and allows for a more complete and informed response to public and population health problems. In considering the future of public health surveillance, we see opportunities in electronic data sources that can be grouped into three categories. We consider electronic sources to be ‘big data’, which is defined by volume, velocity, variety and veracity.1 The definition provides a framework when evaluating big data. For example, veracity, which can range from inadequate to high quality, is critical for determining usability. Big data is repurposed for public health surveillance and will require tools and methods such as machine learning and quality metrics that may improve veracity. The categories are electronic health records (EHRs), sources of electronic information that describe context such as weather, crime, environmental conditions and emergency medical services data, and social media and internet-based data. These data may allow for a level of granularity critical to designing interventions relevant to specific settings, and pose both challenges and opportunities for public health agencies. EHRs are a potential source of public health surveillance data. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 was enacted to promote the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology and has resulted in programmes to improve quality, safety and efficiency …
Hypnosis using a communication device to increase magnetic resonance imaging tolerance with a claustrophobic patient

This is a case report of a patient who prematurely terminated two previous magnetic resonance imaging procedures because of his highly claustrophobic condition. The patient was induced into a hypnotic trance twice before his third magnetic resonance imaging examination and he was given posthypnotic suggestions for decreased anxiety and increased physiologic control. Using a communication device with headphones on the patient, he was induced into a trance as he entered the magnet. This patient was successfully able to cope with this procedure and reported great satisfaction with treatment.
Approaches to Strabismus Reoperation

Patients with strabismus who have undergone previous eye muscle or other extraocular or orbital surgery often present a challenge to strabismus surgeons. The general guidelines used in routine strabismus cases cannot always be applied to these patients and need to be strategically modified to assist in the preparation of an optimal surgical plan. A thorough knowledge of several key surgical principles or pearls can help guide the surgical decision-making process in these often complex and unpredictable situations.
Naegleria fowleri: Diagnosis, Pathophysiology of Brain Inflammation, and Antimicrobial Treatments

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a very rare disease with a high mortality rate. PAM is caused by Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba which resides in freshwater lakes and ponds and can survive in inadequately chlorinated pools (Lopez, C.; Budge, P.; Chen, J., et al. Primary amebic meningoencephalitis: a case report and literature review. Pediatr. Emerg. Care 2012, 28, 272–276). In the past 50 years, there have been over 130 cases of Naegleria induced PAM in the United States with only three known survivors; one survivor was diagnosed and treated at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Successful treatment of PAM started with a rapid diagnosis, extensive antimicrobial therapy including an investigational medication miltefosine, supportive care, an intraventricular shunt, and hypothermia. These treatments address different aspects of the disease process. Increased understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of PAM is important especially for patients who present with meningitis-like findings during the summ...
Mi camino decolonizante: Una experiencia sobre la pertenencia y el devenir

En este trabajo, Malba Barahona da cuenta de su trabajo auto-etnograﬁco, el cual presenta una coleccion de experiencias vividas como actos politicos y conscientes para manifestar su emancipacion y decolonizacion. Para este ﬁn, la autora identiﬁca tres momentos formativos: trasladandose de ser chilena a convertirse en latina, de ser estudiante de doctorado a ser investigadora, y pasando de ser profesora de lengua a mediadora cultural. Barahona explica las nociones de pertenencia y devenir/ devenir y pertenencia expresados firmemente en un repertorio amplio de contextos sociales y actividades relacionadas con instituciones sociales como la familia, la escuela, el lugar de trabajo y la politica. Luego, la autora reﬂexiona sobre su experiencia personal en la construccion y concientizacion de su identidad nacional como chilena, y como esta identidad fue modiﬁcada y cuestionada al emigrar a Australia para completar sus estudios doctorales. El hecho de que Barahona reaccionara rechazando y resistiendo la identiﬁcacion como Latina, la llevo a buscar un entendimiento de sus creencias coloniales profundamente enraizadas. Es asi como la exploracion de su indigenidad negada puede ser rastreada a momentos clave que han iluminado su camino decolonizante: sus aspiraciones de transformarse en profesora de ingles y de viajar al extranjero para ver el mundo con sus propios ojos y de transformarse en una formadora de docentes para crear un sistema educativo mejor. Como profesora de idioma, ella se transformo en mediadora cultural, una que busca encontrarse en una posicion entre el “hogar” y la nacion. Finalmente, Barahona nos otorga su opinion sobre existir “entre medio”, lo que sugiere una conexion fuerte al concepto de identidad trasnacional, es decir, adoptar algunas practicas culturales de la nacion huesped mientras conserva su identidad nacional chilena.
A Temporary Future: The Fiction of David Mitchell

Since his novel ghostwritten debuted in 1999, David Mitchell has produced some of the most innovative, genre-bending, and generally mind-bending fiction in contemporary literature. His increasing s...
Formation of ice eddies in subglacial mountain valleys

Radar data from both Greenland and Antarctica show folds and other disruptions to the stratigraphy of the deep ice. The mechanisms by which stratigraphy deforms are related to the interplay between ice flow and topography. Here we show that when ice flows across valleys or overdeepenings, viscous overturnings called Moffatt eddies can develop. At the base of a subglacial valley, the shear on the valley sidewalls is transferred through the ice, forcing the ice to overturn. To understand the formation of these eddies, we numerically solve the non-Newtonian Stokes equations with a Glen's law rheology to determine the critical valley angle for the eddies to form. When temperature is incorporated into the ice rheology, the warmer basal ice is less viscous and eddies form in larger valley angles (shallower slopes) than in isothermal ice. We also show that when ice flow is not perpendicular to the valley orientation, complex 3D eddies transport ice down the valley. We apply our simulations to the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains and solve for the ice flow over radar-determined topography. These simulations show Moffatt eddies on the order of 100 meters tall in the deep subglacial valleys.
Antibodies in Autoimmune Human Neurological Disease: Pathogenesis and Immunopathology

Immune-mediated processes represent a rapidly expanding categorical etiology for neurological disease manifestations spanning all subspecialties of neurology. Neural autoantibodies can be grossly divided into two main groups based on localization of the antigen: intracellular and cell membrane/synaptic antibodies. Antibodies reactive with neuronal membrane antigens have been identified in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients developing neurological disease either independent of or associated with cancer comorbidity, whereas antibodies directed against intracellular targets have a much higher rate of associated malignancy. Antibodies to neuronal membrane proteins such as the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor are considered directly pathogenic based on disease models. Similar evidence exists for far fewer autoantibodies directed against intracellular targets. Attempts to produce an antibody-mediated animal model of human paraneoplastic disease have been unsuccessful to date. In this article, we review antineural antibodies and their clinical associations, briefly discuss recently characterized entities, and present proposed mechanisms of antibody pathogenicity.
Online Social Networks for Meaningful Social Reform

Online social networks offer valuable tools to foster a variety of connections. In recent years, these networks have served as a hotbed for the expression of human behavior on the entire spectrum of human emotion. Online social networks have offered avenues to connect with family, friends and strangers, served as hotbeds for activism, crowdfunding and dissemination of viral information. However, these networks have also been hosts to malignant behavior manifest in many ways, including cyberbullying, hacking, trolling and fake news. This range of human behavior on online social networks is in large part, a function of the affordances on the networks. In this paper, we study the affordances on a range of current online social networks and propose a framework for the design of social networks that incorporates affordances for meaningful social reform and the mitigation of social unrest. The design of such networks has important consequences for the next generation of online social networks, since a significant share of the world population is not yet online and thus, has yet to experience the power of online social networks.
It’s Automatic: Library Automation as a Catalyst For Transformation

Between October 2018 and February 2019, the Warrenton Community Library began a transformation of library services. With the funding and support available through a 2017 voter-approved levy and a joint LSTA grant with the neighboring Seaside Public Library, this small coastal library was able to introduce a full suite of online services to its patrons. Just as importantly, Warrenton was able to join a shared ILS environment and facilitate patron access to a wider range of resources. Previously, the library used card-based checkout. A simple MARC software application was used to create a catalog of bibliographic records accessible only to staff. In 2018, the license for the MARC database expired and the library no longer had a catalog of its materials. The collections became accessible only by browsing. Warrenton patrons embraced the many outstanding services provided at the library: a diverse selection of resources, collection development that is responsive to patron needs, and a supportive, small-town atmosphere. However, it was time to embrace the opportunities afforded to Oregon libraries in the digital age. This LSTA project, for which I served as Project Manager Librarian, resulted in many expanded services. These included circulation and expanded resource sharing in a shared ILS. Warrenton also joined the Oregon Digital Library Consortium, developed a new library website, and provided patrons with access to Gale databases. For this article, I will be focusing on the systems and cataloging aspects of the project. Through the four months of automation work spent in Warrenton, I gained a new appreciation for the interconnectedness of library services, as the change in systems drove transformations both anticipated and unexpected.
PCR Screening for Epstein-Barr Virus-Related Lymphoproliferative Disease (EBV-LPD) among Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant (AlloSCT) Recipients: The Importance of T Cell Depletion.

PCR monitoring for EBV reactivation is commonly used to confirm the diagnosis of EBV-LPD in alloSCT recipients. Previous studies using multiple PCR approaches have suggested a correlation between high EBV copy number and impending EBV-LPD, potentially allowing for the administration of preemptive rituximab and/or donor leukocytes prior to disease onset. However, subpopulations of alloSCT recipients with EBV reactivation at higher risk for EBV-LPD remain incompletely defined. We sought to determine the demographic factors among alloSCT recipients that affect the predictive value of our EBV PCR assay. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed on serum samples obtained from alloSCT recipients using primers that amplify a portion of the BNRF1-p143 locus. Clinical patient information was retrieved from institutional research databases. Patients who did not undergo appropriate EBV PCR screening (n=13), had a history of EBV-LPD prior to alloSCT (n=1) or received rituximab for prophylaxis against EBV-LPD (n=2) were excluded. 187 alloSCT recipients underwent EBV PCR monitoring between 7/03–7/05, of whom 58 (31.0%) were 500 copies/mL) at some point after alloSCT. The prevalence of EBV reactivation was similar in recipients of TCD and conventional allografts (28.8% vs. 31.5%). Among patients with EBV reactivation, the risk for EBV-LPD did not differ based on age, sex, underlying disease, donor relation or HLA disparity. However, of the 56 patients with EBV reactivation, 5/32 (15.6%) recipients of TCD allografts and 0/24 (0.0%) recipients of conventional allografts developed EBV-LPD (p 500 for >6 months and 3 had ≥1 PCR value >100K. In our study population, the utility of the EBV PCR was maximized in recipients of TCD allografts with PCR values >500 (Table). In conclusion, EBV reactivation is common among recipients of both conventional and T cell depleted allografts, but preemptive therapy guided by EBV PCR should be primarily directed toward the latter. The effects of in vivo TCD with agents such as alemtuzumab on EBV reactivation and EBV-LPD are under investigation.
Abstract P120: Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders and In-Hospital Recovery Among Women with Stress Cardiomyopathy

Background Stress cardiomyopathy (SC) is a reversible condition mimicking acute myocardial infarction usually affecting postmenopausal women and often triggered by emotional or physical stress. The...
Differential recovery rates of fitness following U.S. Army Ranger training

Abstract Objectives To investigate tactically-related physical performance and body composition recovery following U.S. Army Ranger training. Design Prospective cohort. Methods Physical performance was comprehensively assessed using a tactically-related performance battery (i.e., Ranger Athlete Warrior assessment) in 10 male Soldiers at baseline (BL) two-weeks (P1), and six-weeks (P2) post-Ranger School. Body composition was determined using DXA. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was used followed by Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons when group differences existed (p ≤ 0.05). Pearson correlation coefficients were used to establish associations between changes in fitness and body composition. Results All performance domains except the bench press and deadlift worsened following training. Speed/mobility (Illinois agility test, seconds – BL: 16.20 ± 0.86 vs. P2: 18.66 ± 2.09), anaerobic capacity (300-yard shuttle run, seconds – BL: 62.95 ± 6.17 vs. P2: 67.23 ± 5.91), core strength (heel clap, repetitions – BL: 15.80 ± 4.08 vs. P2: 11.50 ± 4.95), and aerobic endurance (beep test, stage – BL: 9.95 ± 2.18 vs. P2: 7.55 ± 1.07) had not recovered by P2. Only upper body muscular endurance and strength (metronome push-up and pull-up, respectively) were similar to BL by P2. Percent body fat increased from 15.62 ± 3.94 (BL) to 19.33 ± 2.99 (P2) (p Conclusions A comprehensive characterization of physical performance and body composition revealed Rangers did not experience full recovery of fitness six weeks after training. Optimal recovery strategies are needed to return Soldiers to a state of readiness following arduous training.
Strategies to limit degradation and maximize Li-ion battery service lifetime - Critical review and guidance for stakeholders

Abstract The relationship between battery operation and their degradation and service life is complex and not well synthesized or communicated. There is a resulting lack of awareness about best practices that influence service life and degradation. Battery degradation causes premature replacement or product retirement, resulting in environmental burdens from producing and processing new battery materials, as well as early end-of-life burdens. It also imposes a significant cost on the user, as batteries can contribute to over 25% of the product cost for consumer electronics, over 35% for electric vehicles, and over 50% for power tools. We review and present mechanisms, methods, and guidelines focused on preserving battery health and limiting degradation. The review includes academic literature as well as reports and information published by industry. The goal is to provide practical guidance, metrics, and methods to improve environmental performance of battery systems used in electronics (i.e., cellphones and laptops), vehicles, and cordless power tools to ultimately better inform users as well as battery designers, suppliers, vehicle and device manufacturers, and material recovery and recycling organizations.
Computation Offloading in Multi-Access Edge Computing: A Multi-Task Learning Approach

Multi-access edge computing (MEC) has already shown great potential in enabling mobile devices to bear the computation-intensive applications by offloading some computing jobs to a nearby access point (AP) integrated with a MEC server (MES). However, due to the varying network conditions and limited computational resources of the MES, the offloading decisions taken by a mobile device and the computational resources allocated by the MES can be formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem, which may not be optimized with the lowest cost. In this paper, we propose a novel offloading framework for the multi-server MEC network where each AP is equipped with an MES assisting mobile users (MUs) in executing computation-intensive jobs via offloading. Specifically, we formulate the offloading decision problem as a multiclass classification problem and formulate the MES computational resource allocation problem as a regression problem. Then a multi-task learning based feedforward neural network (MTFNN) model is designed and trained to jointly optimize the offloading decision and computational resource allocation. Numerical results show that the proposed MTFNN outperforms the conventional optimization method in terms of inference accuracy and computational complexity.
5.06 – Crustal Magnetism

Crustal magnetic fields were first measured systematically by airborne surveys in the 1930s. Ground-based surveying had been developed much earlier as a tool for mineral exploration. Today, crustal magnetic fields are also measured in boreholes, from ships and balloons, and from terrestrial and planetary spacecraft. Metamorphism, petrology, and redox state all have important effects on the magnetism of crustal materials. Mapping of the crustal magnetic field provides a third dimension to surface observations of the Earth’s composition and geologic structure, and a suite of mathematical tools has been developed to assist with this interpretation. Studies of crustal magnetism have contributed to geodynamic models of the lithosphere, geologic mapping, and petroleum and mineral exploration. Inferences from crustal magnetic fields, interpreted in conjunction with other information, can locate kimberlite pipes, impact structures, and other geologic entities which have a magnetic contrast with their surroundings. Present-day efforts are focused on (1) the development of a global, near-surface map of the crustal magnetic field that integrates airborne and satellite coverage, (2) extending the techniques to the other planets and moons of our solar system, and (3) extending regional and detailed mapping of the crustal magnetic field as an exploration and reconnaissance tool.
Breast reconstruction in the high-risk population: current review of the literature and practice guidelines

Breast reconstruction is an important part of the cancer treatment paradigm and the psychosocial benefits are well described in the literature. Notably, breast reconstruction restores both the functional and emotional losses patients experience due to tumor resection. Post-cancer quality of life is an important benchmark of successful treatment; therefore, breast reconstruction is an essential component that should be offered whenever possible. Over time, reconstructive techniques and outcomes have improved dramatically resulting in better patient safety and decreased operative morbidity. When counseling a patient for surgery, the provider must consider all aspects of a patient's health. Ideally, breast cancer patients should be physically, emotionally, and oncologically appropriate candidates for reconstruction. However, in concerted effort to provide opportunities for as many patients as possible, the definition of who is a good candidate for reconstruction has evolved to include higher risk patients. These patients include those with advanced age, nicotine use, obesity, and significant ptosis. With improvements in surgical procedures and perioperative care, this population may also benefit from restorative surgery. However, the exact risk of complications and necessary counseling has gone largely undefined in this population. This article examines particular "high-risk" groups that may be challenging for extirpative and reconstructive surgeons and offers current guidelines for practice.
Ventilation and the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus: Analysis of outbreaks in a restaurant and on a bus in China, and at a Call Center in South Korea

Abstract In a previous paper [10] a model of the distribution of respiratory droplets and aerosols by Lagrangian turbulent air-flow was developed. It is used to show how the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus can be spread by the breathing of single infected person. The model shows that the concentration of viruses in the cloud, exhaled by one person, can increase to infectious levels within a certain amount of time, in a confined space where the air re-circulates. In [10] the model was used to analyze the air-flow and SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus build-up in a restaurant in Guangzhou, China [19, 18]. In this paper, we add the analysis of two more cases, an outbreak among lay-Buddhists, on a bus [26], traveling to a ceremony in Zhejiang province, China, and an outbreak in a Call Center in Seoul, Korea [20]. The analysis and comparison of these three cases, leads to the conclusion that the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus attacks in two steps: The first step is a linear spread between individuals with a couple of days delay. The second step is an exponential spread effected by the air-conditioning system affecting a much larger number of people. Thus in the second step, the ventilation becomes the super-spreader.
Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a positive psychology-based intervention to promote health behaviors in heart failure: The REACH for Health study

Abstract Objective Most patients with heart failure (HF) struggle to adhere to health behaviors, and existing health behavior interventions have significant limitations. We developed a 12-week, phone-delivered, combined positive psychology (PP) and motivational interviewing (MI) intervention to promote well-being and adherence to physical activity, diet, and medications. In this three-arm, randomized trial, we assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the intervention compared to treatment as usual and MI-alone conditions in 45 patients with HF and suboptimal health behavior adherence. Methods Participants in the PP-MI or MI-alone conditions completed weekly phone sessions for 12 weeks. Those in PP-MI completed weekly PP exercises and set health behavior goals, while those in the MI-alone condition learned about HF-specific health behaviors and identified potential behavior changes. Primary study outcomes were feasibility (sessions completed) and acceptability (0–10 ratings of PP exercise ease and utility). The intervention's impact on psychological and behavioral outcomes was assessed using mixed effects regression analyses. Results Participants in the PP-MI condition completed 73% of sessions and rated PP exercises as easy to complete (mean = 7.5 [SD 1.7] out of 10) and subjectively useful (mean = 7.5 [SD 1.6] out of 10). Compared to the control conditions, PP-MI led to medium effect-size improvements in positive affect (Cohen's d = 0.32–0.77), moderate to vigorous physical activity (d = 0.41–0.74), and medication adherence (d = 0.48–0.78). Conclusion This PP-MI intervention was feasible, well-accepted, and associated with promising improvements in well-being and health behavior outcomes. Larger trials are needed to examine this intervention's impact on health behavior adherence and other important outcomes ( NCT03220204 ).
Organizing talk with contrasts: Nixon and Colson discuss watergate

Abstract In this paper, I analyze part of a 1973 phone conversation between President Richard Nixon and Special Counsel to the President Charles Colson, regarding the Watergate scandal. I find that the conversation is organized largely in terms of three, successively developed contrasts. These contrasts brought into play two “dimensions of contrast”—pervasiveness and importance. The analysis resulted ultimately in a structure of meaning that included both taxonomical and scaling relations. It is shown how this structure is developed sequentially and collaboratively, how ambiguities are resolved, and how both participants converge on a common interpretation of the situation. Throughout, Watergate is treated primarily as a news story rather than an event or crime. Matters of law and ethics are subordinated to matters of perception and public relations. The ultimate objective of this analysis is methodological—to add to the toolkit of occasioned semantics, the study of how structures of meaning are developed and manifested in verbal discourse. Whereas my previous work has focused primarily on co-categorization, inclusion structures, and scaling, this study shows how contrast can function as the primary element structuring meaning in talk.
Unifying chemical and biological perspectives of carbon accumulation in the environment.

Heterotrophic microorganisms are fiendishly clever at degrading all shapes and sizes of organic compounds to extract the energy they need to build biomass. Every year marine phytoplankton fix ∼50 billion tons of carbon dioxide into organic matter, and every year marine heterotrophs respire nearly all of this organic matter back to carbon dioxide (1). Nearly all, but not all. With each spin of this carbon cycle, a small amount of organic matter escapes respiration and becomes sequestered in seawater, sediments, and soils. Over time, this small “leak” in the system leads to the accumulation of a vast reservoir of carbon; some 5 × 1019 kg of organic matter are thought to be sequestered in sedimentary rocks (2). This carbon sequestration has immense consequences for life on Earth, as illustrated by the change in climate we are now experiencing due in part to the transfer of a minute portion of this inventory from geologic reservoirs into the atmosphere. The question of why carbon is preserved at all has puzzled geochemists and biogeochemists for well over half a century. Why is organic matter production and consumption not coupled even more tightly? If the organic matter that ultimately accumulates in geologic reservoirs is synthesized by microbes in the first place, why cannot microbes degrade it? In soils and sediments minerals are thought to be an important part of the answer. Adsorption of organic matter onto mineral surfaces imposes a number of penalties on degradation: the extra energy cost of organic matter desorption, impediments to the movement of hydrolytic enzymes through the environment, and irreversible deactivation of enzymes by mineral surfaces, to name a few. Each of these penalties makes degradation less of an energy gain for consumers (3, 4). However, organic matter–mineral surface interactions alone cannot be the whole answer, and … [↵][1]1Email: drepeta{at}whoi.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Medication overuse headache.

Purpose of review Medication overuse headache (MOH)is a disabling problem worldwide with areas of controversy regarding its cause. This article reviews the recent ideas regarding the development of this disorder and its effective management. Recent findings It has been proposed that all acute migraine medications can lead to MOH, with differences in the propensity of different agents to cause the problem. Early data suggests that gepants, which are small-molecule calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonists used for the acute treatment of migraine, may be an exception. Recent studies show that practitioners and the general public are still largely unaware of the problem of medication overuse and its damaging effects. Summary MOH is an accepted concept of an increase in headaches driven by the frequent administration of acute antimigraine drugs. The impressions of providers, and studies documenting the concept may be flawed. Although it is likely that MOH does occur, and restricting the amount of acute medications is necessary to prevent it, it is also possible that increasing amounts of acute medications are simply a reflection of poorly controlled headaches, rather than a cause. Objective markers need to be developed to identify those who have MOH, which does not include all with chronic migraine, and to use these markers in diagnosis and management, particularly in those patients where the frequent acute drugs might only be a reflection of frequent headaches, rather than a cause.
Gender-Stereotyping Theory, Free Expression, and Identity

This Article argues that the expressive components of gender-stereotyping theory serve to delink the equality protections afforded by that theory from fixed and predetermined identity categories in helpful and positive ways. Many have viewed American antidiscrimination law as being normatively grounded in the notion that there are certain identities that, because of their stable and immutable characteristics, deserve equality-based protections. Gender-stereotyping theory can help make the normative case for a more pluralistic understanding of equality, one that is grounded in the need to protect the fluid and multiple ways in which gender is performed or expressed rather than focusing, as American antidiscrimination law has traditionally done, on protecting limited categories of essentialized, fixed, and finite identity categories. In short, gender-stereotyping theory, properly understood, offers a practical way of articulating and implementing a theory of equality that does not depend on the existence of a limited number of privileged identities. A proper understanding of gender-stereotyping theory — one that focuses on how expressive performances of gender and sexuality identities may trigger responses by defendants that are motivated by sex stereotypes — can help antidiscrimination law move away from the notion that plaintiffs must identify according to certain fixed, stable, and predetermined categories in order to succeed in their equality claims.