cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Product Life-Cycle Oriented Approach for Knowledge-Based Product Configuration Systems

Faced with increasing complexity in the global economy, a timely and accurate operation of the market demands an accelerated harmonization of customer and manufacturer perspective in the quotation phase through product configuration systems. An approach for knowledge-based product configuration through the integration of experience and knowledge from the product use phase is presented below. The goal of this approach is to enable a faster and software-controlled harmonization of the different customer’s and the manufacturer’s points of view during the pre-contract phase. Therefore a case-based reasoning method was developed to be integrated in a rule-based product configuration system. It allows a faster ascertainment of customer needs and thereby provides accurate and complete configuration of the provided products.
Comparison of medical versus surgical management of peritonsillar abscess: A retrospective observational study.

Objectives/Hypothesis To compare clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients presenting with peritonsillar abscess (PTA) treated with either initial medical or surgical management. Study Design Retrospective observational cohort. Methods A consecutive cohort of patients presenting between 2010 and 2014 with the final diagnosis of PTA (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 475) were included. Comparisons between groups were evaluated using two-sample t, Wilcoxon rank sum, χ2, and Fisher exact tests. Results Among 297 patients who presented with PTA during the 5-year period, 97 (33%) underwent primary medical management, and 200 (67%) received surgical treatment. Patients who received initial surgical management had larger abscess size (2.6 vs. 1.3 cm, P < .001) and were and more likely to have muffled voice (79% vs. 47%, P < .001), drooling (29% vs. 17%, P = .03), peritonsillar bulge (91% vs. 66%, P < .001), trismus (65% vs. 22%, P < .001), and dysphagia (86% vs. 73%, P = .008). There was no difference in the rates of imaging (55% vs. 59%) or antibiotic administration (100% in both groups), length of hospital stay (median 2 vs. 1 day, P = .27) or complications (1% vs. 2%, P = .6). Patients treated medically were more likely to be admitted to the hospital (22% vs. 11%, P = .014) and less likely to receive steroids (78% vs. 95%, P < .001). There was no difference in return visits (20% medical vs. 14% surgical, P = .17) or failure rates (5% medical vs. 3% surgical, P = .30). Conclusions Initial medical management can be considered in patients with less advanced symptoms or smaller abscess size without compromising outcome. Those with more advanced symptoms may benefit from surgical drainage. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 2016
Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Differences in Patients with Wake-Up Stroke (P05.216)

Objective: We aim to analyze the imaging features between patients who wake-up with stroke versus those with a known onset. Background One quarter of ischemic strokes occur during sleep, in many, shortly before awaking. Studies have shown that clinical features of these patients do not differ significantly from those with a known onset of time. Few studies have compared MRI findings. Design/Methods: Patients were identified using a prospective stroke database, (January 2008 - December 2009). Clinical and imaging data were compared from patients with stroke onset while awake (awake group) versus waking up from sleep (wake –up group) and those with an unknown timeline of symptoms (unknown group). DWI lesions were traced using automatic maximal entropy threshold (Image J v1.42). DWI volumes were obtained using the Cavaleri theorem. Acute lacunar infarcts were defined as subcortical lesions Results: We identified 300 patients. 159 (53%) had ischemic stroke while awake, 66 (22%) during sleep and 75 (25%) were undefined (unknown group). Baseline characteristics (age, gender, hypertension and diabetes) were similar with the exception of tobacco use, lower in the awake group (Chi2, p=0.0017). DWI volume was different (KW, p = 0.042), with larger lesions on the unknown group and smaller lesions on the wake-up group (median [IQR] = awake, 10.9 [1.6, 44.2] vs. wake-up, 6.9 [0.4, 19.9] vs. unknown, 19.09 [4.5, 51.4]). There were no significant differences in lacunar strokes among the 3 groups or between the wake-up group versus awake group. Clinical outcomes were similar among 3 groups. Conclusions: Clinical features were similar between patients with occurrences of stroke while awake versus those during sleep. Extension of DWI lesions in patients with wake-up strokes did not alter outcomes. Disclosure: Dr. Kawano has nothing to disclose. Dr. Roy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Huisa-Garate has nothing to disclose.
Uncertainty Quantification in Hierarchical Development of Computational Models

Computational models for large systems are sometimes built in a hierarchical way from simple components to subsystems made from a collection of components and finally to the full system. In general, individual component data is more readily available then full system data more often than not due to economic reasons (components are cheaper than the full system). This lack of system data requires the use of modeling and simulation to study a particular behavior of the system. Simulation-based certification requires quantification and propagation of uncertainty to the predicted response of the system model in order to establish the confidence in representing the actual system behavior. Sources of uncertainty arise from (1) physical variability, (2) the coupling of various components, (3) from data collection, (4) modeling assumptions and (5) model approximations. This paper proposes a framework that allows quantification of uncertainty in a hierarchical system model prediction and uses the available data at multiple levels of complexity (i.e. components, subsystem, etc). Propagation of uncertainty to a system level prediction is achieved via Bayes networks. In this work, only sources of aleatoric uncertainty are included in such quantification.
A New Synthetic Metal Precursor: Dimethyltetrathiotetracene and Related Compounds

The successful synthesis of dimethyltetrathiotetracene (DMTTT) has been achieved in our laboratory and an account of the details of the synthesis has been reported. Reported herein are studies of the physical properties of DMTTT and some of its chemistry. Both 1:1 and 2:1 DMTTTX charge transfer salts have been prepared and are in the process of being characterized in our laboratory. Comparisons of physical properties and the results of studies such as single crystal x-ray diffraction, solid state ESR spectra, cyclic voltammetry and electrical conductivity are reported. To date, these comparisons reveal considerable similarity between the properties of any given DMTTT charge transfer salt and its corresponding tetrathiotetracene (TTT) charge transfer salt.
Experimental Measurement of Vacuum Assisted Drying of Spent Nuclear Fuel

A prevalent issue within extended long term dry storage units for spent nuclear fuel has always been fuel and cask contamination. This contamination can be the result of the helium within the cask leaking into the atmosphere or inadequate vacuum drying techniques. Once the cask integrity has been compromised, the helium starts to leak, and the resulting space once occupied by helium in the casks is replaced with ambient air. One of the other prominent gases found within ambient air besides oxygen is water vapor which can be a result of both helium leaking and poor vacuum drying techniques. Contact between water and the fuel rods/assemblies for a prolonged amount of time can result in corrosion of the fuel cladding, and the canister if exposed. The potential of corrosion of the fuel cladding increases risk of radioactive fission fragments contaminating the environment, increases the radioactive period of spent nuclear fuel, and decreases the potential for fuel rod repurposing within the future if U.S. law permits.With literary findings showing liquid water within the inner cask in a long term storage unit of fifteen years or longer, proper drying techniques have not been fully developed. There are a number of projected theories about how water is entering the cask without an external crack or imperfection within the inner cask walls. This case study aims to solve this issue by inspecting the vacuum drying process of the fuel rods/assemblies from the temporary on-site storage pools to their respective long term dry storage casks.The purpose of this case study is to conduct a laboratory experiment of a scale replica of one dry storage cask and the vacuum drying process before long term storage. The experiment will be focused around the process of applying several cycles of vacuum and backfilling the cask with Helium. The purpose of several cycles of backfilling gas is to simultaneously introduce more of a pressure gradient for water evaporates to depart the pressure vessel and to avoid thermodynamic temperatures that would otherwise freeze the top layer of water. To do this, the vacuuming process must be properly understood, as pulling a vacuum drops pressures instantaneously. There are possibilities of freezing water vapor into its solidified form due to its thermodynamic triple point during this vacuum process. Once water is trapped under a layer of ice within the vessel, water will remain throughout storage time due to restrictions to its own geometries. The importance of developing a scale model and improving the drying process that precedes long term storage of spent nuclear fuel is a necessary solution to existing contamination results for practical future applications within the United States and other countries moving towards long term storage of spent nuclear fuel.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
The Dimension Control Method of the Bodyside Inner Plate

Through the introduction of the bodyside inner plate general structure and dimension control process,To illustrate the complex assembly parts that the datum selection,dimension tolerance requirement,function evaluation.Interpretation of the complex assembly process of dimension control.
Hemostasis in Pediatric Surgery

Hemostasis is an important concept in pediatric otolaryngologic surgery. This article details the considerations the otolaryngologist should take when it comes to clinical evaluation and surgical technique. It begins with the preoperative evaluation, and evolves into the use of different mechanical and chemical methods of operative hemostasis. We detail use of different hemostatic techniques in common pediatric procedures, and finally, we discuss indications for intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion in pediatric patients if the surgeon encounters significant intraoperative hemorrhage. This paper gives a comprehensive look into the hemostatic considerations for the pediatric patient through the preoperative to postoperative period.
Anatomy of the normal velopharyngeal mechanism.

There is considerable disagreement in the current literature with regard to the anatomy of velopharyngeal area. The greatest disagreement seems to arise from textbook and journal article descriptions based on opinion unsubstantiated by data. In this review, an attempt will be made to differentiate areas of evidence from areas of speculation.
Information source detection in networks: Possibility and impossibility results

This paper studies information source detection in networks under the independent cascade (IC) model. Assume the spread of information starts from a single source in a network and a complete snapshot of the network is obtained at some time. The goal is to identify the source based on the observation. We derive the maximum a posterior (MAP) estimator of the source for tree networks and propose a Short-Fat Tree (SFT) algorithm for general networks based on the MAP estimator. The algorithm selects the Jordan infection center [1] and breaks ties according the degree of boundary infected nodes. Loosely speaking, the algorithm selects the node such that the breadth-first search (BFS) tree from it has the minimum depth but the maximum number of leaf nodes. On the Erdos-Renyi (ER) random graph, we establish the following possibility and impossibility results: (i) when the infection duration 0.5, SFT identifies the source with probability 1 (w.p.1) asymptotically (as network size increases to infinity), where n is the network size and μ is the average node degree; (ii) when the infection duration > ⌈log n/ log μ ⌉ + 2, the probability of identifying the source approaches zero asymptotically under any algorithm; and (iii) when infection duration 0, asymptotically, at least 1−δ fraction of the nodes on the BFS tree starting from the source are leaf-nodes, where δ = 3√log n/μ, i.e., the BFS tree starting from the actual source is a fat tree. 1Numerical experiments on tree networks, the ER random graphs and real world networks with different evaluation metrics show that the SFT algorithm outperforms existing algorithms.
Emergency Department Airway Management of Severe Angioedema: A Video Review of 45 Intubations

Study objective Angioedema is an uncommon but important cause of airway obstruction. Emergency airway management of angioedema is difficult. We seek to describe the course and outcomes of emergency airway management for severe angioedema in our institution. Methods We performed a retrospective, observational study of all intubations for angioedema performed in an urban academic emergency department (ED) between November 2007 and June 2015. We performed a structured review of video recordings of each intubation. We identified the methods of airway management, the success of each method, and the outcomes and complications of the effort. Results We identified 52 patients with angioedema who were intubated in the ED; 7 were excluded because of missing videos, leaving 45 patients in the analysis. Median time from arrival to the ED to the first intubation attempt was 33 minutes (interquartile range 17 to 79 minutes). Nasotracheal intubation was the most common first method (33/45; 73%), followed by video laryngoscopy (7/45; 16%). Two patients required attempts at more invasive airway procedures (retrograde intubation and cricothyrotomy). The intubating laryngeal mask airway was used as a rescue method 5 times after failure of multiple methods, with successful oxygenation, ventilation, and intubation through the laryngeal mask airway in all 5 patients. All patients were successfully intubated. Conclusion In this series of ED patients who were intubated because of angioedema, emergency physicians used a range of methods to successfully manage the airway. These observations provide key lessons for the emergency airway management of these critical patients.
By Staying Together, Two Genes Keep the Motor Running.

In this issue of Structure, Lynch et al. (2017) reveal that the interaction between two key proteins in the bacterial flagellar motor results in a shared structural domain. This unusual arrangement keeps the corresponding genes together through the course of evolution.
Knowledge Gaps among Physicians Caring for Multiethnic Populations at Increased Gastric Cancer Risk.

Background/Aims: Although gastric cancer (GC) preva lence in the United States overall is low, there is significantly elevated risk in certain racial/ethnic groups. Providers caring for high-risk populations may not be fully aware of GC risk factors and may underestimate the potential for selective screening. Our aim was to identify knowledge gaps among healthcare providers with respect to GC. Methods: An Internet-based survey was distributed to primary care providers (PCPs) and gastroenterologists in New York City, which included questions regarding provider demographics, practice environment, GC risk factors, Helicobacter pylori, and screening practices. Three case vignettes were used to assess clinical management. Results: Of 151 included providers (111 PCPs, 40 gastroenterologists), most reported caring for a racially/ethnically diverse population and 58% recommended GC screening for select populations. Al though >85% recommended against testing patients from regions where H. pylori, a known carcinogen, is endemic, <50% were able to correctly identify non-Asian endemic regions. Minorities of respondents correctly identified His panic/Latino (29%), Black (22%), and Eastern European/Russian (19.7%) as additional higher-risk races/ethnicities. Vignette-based questions highlighted variability in the man agement of potentially higher-risk patients. Conclusions: Despite caring for multiracial/ethnic populations, providers demonstrated deficiencies in identifying and managing patients with elevated GC risk. Focused educational efforts should be considered to address these deficiencies. (Gut Liver 2018;12:38-45)
Microbes and associated soluble and volatile chemicals on periodically wet household surfaces

Microorganisms influence the chemical milieu of their environment, and chemical metabolites can affect ecological processes. In built environments, where people spend the majority of their time, very little is known about how surface-borne microorganisms influence the chemistry of the indoor spaces. Here, we applied multidisciplinary approaches to investigate aspects of chemical microbiology in a house. We characterized the microbial and chemical composition of two common and frequently wet surfaces in a residential setting: kitchen sink and bathroom shower. Microbial communities were studied using culture-dependent and independent techniques, including targeting RNA for amplicon sequencing. Volatile and soluble chemicals from paired samples were analyzed using state-of-the-art techniques to explore the links between the observed microbiota and chemical exudates. Microbial analysis revealed a rich biological presence on the surfaces exposed in kitchen sinks and bathroom shower stalls. Microbial composition, matched for DNA and RNA targets, varied by surface type and sampling period. Bacteria were found to have an average of 25× more gene copies than fungi. Biomass estimates based on qPCR were well correlated with measured total volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Abundant VOCs included products associated with fatty acid production. Molecular networking revealed a diversity of surface-borne compounds that likely originate from microbes and from household products. Microbes played a role in structuring the chemical profiles on and emitted from kitchen sinks and shower stalls. Microbial VOCs (mVOCs) were predominately associated with the processing of fatty acids. The mVOC composition may be more stable than that of microbial communities, which can show temporal and spatial variation in their responses to changing environmental conditions. The mVOC output from microbial metabolism on kitchen sinks and bathroom showers should be apparent through careful measurement, even against a broader background of VOCs in homes, some of which may originate from microbes in other locations within the home. A deeper understanding of the chemical interactions between microbes on household surfaces will require experimentation under relevant environmental conditions, with a finer temporal resolution, to build on the observational study results presented here.
Take a Course, Change yOUR Future: The American Cultures Engaged Scholarship Program at the University of California, Berkeley

In a nation with persistent inequities, it is increasingly important that colleges and universities prepare students to be critically engaged in working for the public good while also understanding the inequitable impact of laws, policies, and cultural practices on people from diverse backgrounds. At the University of California, Berkeley, the American Cultures Engaged Scholarship program offers a model for building students’ ethical and active participation in public life through the transformative effects of linking diversity education with public scholarship and engagement. This chapter aims to show the importance of joining diversity education with civic education and share a high-impact, replicable model that others can adapt for their institutions.
The relationship between mentally disordered inmates, victimization, and violence

ABSTRACTThe present study examines the role of violence in the life of a mentally disordered offender before and during incarceration. This article evaluates prior victimization, prison victimization, and the rate of violent crimes against individuals who have been professionally diagnosed with a mental illness. The results suggest there is a clear relationship between mental illness, victimization before incarceration, and the likelihood of committing a violent crime. However, there is a less clear indication of the relationship between mental illness and victimization during incarceration. The results suggest that the likelihood of victimization varies based on specific diagnoses.
Hydrogen Spillover: Effects on Pt Catalysed Ethylene Hydrogenation

Abstract The study of the hydrogenation of ethylene by an alumina supported catalyst showed both the existence of hydrogen spillover and an enhanced reaction rate when spillover had occurred. Using a solid state electrochemical technique to monitor surface hydrogen, it was concluded that the spillover hydrogen was located at the three phase boundary of metal, support, and gas. It is suggested that the rate enhancements are not the result of utilizing this extra hydrogen, but are a result of altering the initial condition under which the reaction begins.
Promoting innovation through systems thinking and systems design

The goal of this work is to show the relationship between innovation and systems thinking by examining the published work in the areas of innovation. We will identify key common requirements between innovation and systems thinking and propose the idea of using systems thinking as a way to promote and enhance innovation. Finally, we propose teaching design process as a practical way to introduce and inspire systems thinking in an engineering curriculum.
“Doctor, I can’t touch my cheek with my tongue” (P3.089)

Objective: NA Background: Tongue weakness is generally evaluated by testing function of the genioglossus muscle. On protrusion the tongue deviates to the weak side. The tongue contains 4 intrinsic and 4 extrinsic muscles, 7 of which are generally not evaluated. We report a case of a patient with difficulty moving his tongue to the inside of his left cheek. Horizontal movement of the tongue appears to involve retraction and curling of the tongue, which are controlled by the styloglossus and superior longitudinal muscles respectively. Design/Methods: A 77 year-old-man reports difficulty touching the inside of his left cheek with his tongue and slurred speech for 5 days. On exam he was unable to touch the inside of his left cheek with his tongue. The right tongue appeared atrophied and on protrusion curled to the right side, suggesting right sided tongue weakness. Electromyography showed active denervation in the left (contralateral) side of the tongue. On repeat examination the left tongue was swollen and deviated to the left on protrusion. CT of the skull base showed an enhancing lesion in the anterior aspect of the left occipital condyle with sclerosis in the surrounding bone, involving the region of the left hypoglossal canal. The patient had a history of prostate cancer. Bone scan showed increased uptake in the region of the left occipital condyle. The lesion was suspected to be metastasis from prostate cancer. Results: na Conclusions: The complexity of tongue anatomy is not well described in the literature and can impact clinical findings on neurologic exam. This patient’s presentation illustrates the symptoms and clinical findings of weakness of not only the genioglossus, but the styloglossus and superior longitudinal muscles, due to hypoglossal nerve pathology. It also highlights that the tongue can appear swollen with acute denervation, which can be misinterpreted as contralateral atrophy. Study Supported by: NA Disclosure: Dr. Goswami has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tenner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Thomas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ahluwalia-Singh has nothing to disclose.
Ultrastrong nanocrystalline stainless steel and its Hall-Petch relationship in the nanoscale

Abstract An ultrastrong nanocrystalline stainless steel with a yield strength of ~2.0 GPa was reported and the Hall-Petch equation of the stainless steel in the nanoscale was determined. The effects of the grain refinement and element segregation on the mechanical behaviors of the nanocrystalline stainless steel were analyzed and discussed. The validated Hall-Petch equation for the stainless steel in the nanoscale regime could provide a guideline for Hall-Petch strengthening of the stainless steel with grain refinement.
New encoding concepts for shape recognition are needed

Models designed to explain how shapes are perceived and stored by the nervous system commonly emphasize encoding of contour features, especially orientation, curvature, and linear extent. A number of experiments from my laboratory provide evidence that contours deliver a multitude of location markers, and shapes can be identified when relatively few of the markers are displayed. The emphasis on filtering for orientation and other contour features has directed attention away from full and effective examination of how the location information is registered and used for summarizing shapes. Neural network (connectionist) models try to deal with location information by modifying linkage among neuronal populations through training trials. Connections that are initially diffuse and not useful in achieving recognition get eliminated or changed in strength, resulting in selective response to a given shape. But results from my laboratory, reviewed here, demonstrate that unknown shapes that are displayed only once can be identified using a matching task. These findings show that our visual system can immediately encode shape information with no requirement for training trials. This encoding might be accomplished by neuronal circuits in the retina.
Portable ultrasound imaging system with super-resolution capabilities.

Abstract This paper discusses an ultrasound technique where the echo signals from the array of transducer elements are compressed to as few as two RF channels while still in analog domain, with a much simplified front-end electronics. The method can achieve resolutions well beyond the diffraction limit, which is set by the excitation signal wavelength and numerical aperture of the imaging system. The fundamental principle that underlies this model based imaging technique is the preservation of the spatial frequency information content of the recorded echo signals with the help of pseudo-random apodization function followed by summation. A Verasonics V1 ultrasonic scanner is used to conduct experiments using an anechoic cyst made from gel phantom, immersed in degassed water. The estimated images were compared to those obtained using traditional B-mode delay-and-sum imaging available with the Verasonics V1 ultrasound machine. The estimated images using the proposed imaging technique showed a contrast ratio of 0.96 and Full-Width-Half-Maximum (FWHM) of about half the wavelength at a depth of 9.1 cm and at 1.875 MHz center frequency while the traditional delay and sum images had a contrast ratio of 0.62 and FWHM of about 5.5 wavelengths.
Risk factors for above-knee amputations in diabetes mellitus.

Background Above-knee amputation (AKA) is a common complication in diabetics, mostly after one or more lower level amputations (LEAs) have been done. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for AKAs among diabetics. Methods We abstracted 1,800 medical records of hospitalizations for LEA. Kaplan's comorbidity classification was used to rank disease severity. We used both univariate and multivariate models to identify risk factors for AKA. Results Of the 1,043 diabetic amputees in this study, 22% had AKA. Variables associated with AKA were locomotor impairment, severe anemia, history of lower extremity bypass surgery, body mass index (BMI) 40 U/L. Conclusions Most of these risk factors represent end-stage processes and do not have good treatment alternatives. Perhaps one of the practical applications of these data is not to describe risk of proximal amputations but instead to look more closely at candidates who should be considered for distal procedures.
Improving distress screening completion rates: Does virtual robot animation make a difference?

e21672Background: Distress screening is an important part of cancer patients’ care. Programs accredited by Commission on Cancer must implement distress screening programs, based on improved doctor-...
Two new species of Stillabothrium (Cestoda: Rhinebothriidea) from stingrays of the genus Fontitrygon from Senegal.

Morphological and molecular analyses of cestode specimens collected during survey work of batoid elasmobranchs and their parasites in Senegal revealed two new species of the rhinebothriidean cestode genus Stillabothrium Healy et Reyda 2016. Stillabothrium allisonae Dedrick et Reyda sp. n. and Stillabothrium charlotteae Iwanyckyj, Dedrick et Reyda sp. n. are both described from Fontitrygon margaritella (Compagno et Roberts) and Fontitrygon margarita (Gunther). Both new cestode species overlap in geographic distribution, host use and proglottid morphology, but are distinguished from each other, and from the other seven described species of Stillabothrium, on the basis of their pattern of bothridial loculi. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequence data for 1,084 bp from the D1-D3 region of 28S rDNA that included multiple specimens of both new species and eight other species of Stillabothrium corroborated the morphologically-determined species boundaries. The phylogenetic analyses indicate that S. allisonae sp. n. and S. charlotteae sp. n. are sister species, a noteworthy pattern given that the two species of the stingray genus Fontitrygon they both parasitise, F. margaritella and F. margarita, are also sister species. Although species of Stillabothrium vary widely in their patterns of facial loculi, the variation does not appear to correlate with phylogeny. Most species of Stillabothrium parasitise myliobatiform elasmobranch genera of the Dasyatidae Jordan. This study brings the number of described species of Stillabothrium to nine, three of which occur in the eastern Atlantic, two of which occur off the northern coast of Australia, and four of which are from coastal Borneo.
Pilot study of a personality-based approach to assessing eating disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder symptom risk in college men and women.

AbstractObjective: To conduct a pilot test of the validity of using empirically derived personality types to characterize eating disorder (ED) risk in college students and resolve discrepancies reg...
Thrombosed aneurysm of the ductus diverticulum mimicking malignancy on 18F-FDG PET/CT

A 45-year-old woman with high-grade sarcoma of the right femur underwent 18 fluorine fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) for metastatic workup. The 18F-FDG PET/CT showed an FDG-avid soft-tissue mass in the aortopulmonary window ([figure 1][1]). Given the history of
On the convergence analysis of a hybrid numerical method for multicomponent transport in porous media

Abstract In this article, the convergence of a hybrid numerical method introduced in Daripa & Dutta (2017) [11] has been established. This method integrates a discontinuous finite element method with a modified method of characteristics (MMOC) in combination with finite difference (FD) procedures, and has been successfully applied to solve a coupled system of nonlinear equations that arises in multicomponent two-phase porous media flows. The present convergence analysis is focused on the MMOC-FD procedure for a nonlinear system of transport equations. For this purpose, an analogous single-component system of transport equations has been considered and some key ideas for possible extension to multicomponent systems have been briefly discussed. Error estimates have been obtained and these estimates have also been shown to be consistent with realistic numerical simulations of flows arising in enhanced oil recovery processes.
Wire-based sternal closure: MRI-related heating at 1.5 T/64 MHz and 3 T/128 MHz based on simulation and experimental phantom study.

PURPOSE The paper investigates factors that affect the RF-induced heating for commonly used wire-based sternal closure under 1.5 T and 3 T MRI systems and clarifies the heating mechanisms. METHODS Numerical simulations based on the finite-difference time-domain method and experimental measurements in ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) phantom were used in the study. Various configurations of the wire-based sternal closure in the phantom were studied based on parameter sweeps to understand key factors related to the RF-induced heating. In vivo simulations were further performed to explore the RF-induced heating in computational human phantoms for clinically relevant scenarios. RESULTS The wire-based sternal closure can lead to peak 1-g averaged spatial absorption ratio of 106.3 W/kg and 75.2 W/kg in phantom and peak 1-g averaged specific absorption rate of 32.1 W/kg and 62.1 W/kg in computational human models near the device at 1.5 T and 3 T, respectively. In phantom, the simulated maximum temperature rises for 15-minute RF exposure are 9.4°C at 1.5 T and 5.8°C at 3 T. Generally, the RF-induced heating will be higher when the electrical length of the device is close to the resonant length or when multiple components are spaced closely along the longitudinal direction. CONCLUSION The RF-induced heating related to wire-based sternal closure can be significant due to the antenna effect and capacitive mutual coupling effect related to the specific geometries of devices.
The Price of Boardroom Social Capital: The Effects of Corporate Demand for External Connectivity

Abstract In this study we examine the effect of boardroom social capital, defined as the aggregate benefits from the social networks of outside directors, on director compensation. Using a large panel of nine thousand firm-year observations for the period 2007–2013, we find that boardroom social capital is positively priced. Further analysis shows that firms pay a premium for networked directors. Firms that have suffered adverse events such as a bad merger, performance declines, or dividend cuts, pay a higher connection premium. We determine that well-connected directors perform important board roles and hold multiple directorships. Overall, our results are consistent with an efficient contracting explanation for boardroom pay.
Effects of high-fiber diets enriched with carbohydrate, protein, or unsaturated fat on circulating short chain fatty acids: results from the OmniHeart randomized trial

BACKGROUND Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs; e.g., acetate, propionate, and butyrate) are produced by microbial fermentation of fiber in the colon. Evidence is lacking on how high-fiber diets that differ in macronutrient composition affect circulating SCFAs. OBJECTIVES We aimed to compare the effects of 3 high-fiber isocaloric diets differing in %kcal of carbohydrate, protein, or unsaturated fat on circulating SCFAs. Based on previous literature, we hypothesized that serum acetate, the main SCFA in circulation, increases on all high-fiber diets, but differently by macronutrient composition of the diet. METHODS OmniHeart is a randomized crossover trial of 164 men and women (≥30 y old); 163 participants with SCFA data were included in this analysis. We provided participants 3 isocaloric high-fiber (∼30 g/2100 kcal) diets, each for 6 wk, in random order: a carbohydrate-rich (Carb) diet, a protein-rich (Prot) diet (protein predominantly from plant sources), and an unsaturated fat-rich (Unsat) diet. We used LC-MS to quantify SCFA concentrations in fasting serum, collected at baseline and the end of each diet period. We fitted linear regression models with generalized estimating equations to examine change in ln-transformed SCFAs from baseline to the end of each diet; differences between diets; and associations of changes in SCFAs with cardiometabolic parameters. RESULTS From baseline, serum acetate concentrations were increased by the Prot (β: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.35), Unsat (β: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.33), and Carb (β: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.24) diets; between diets, only Prot compared with Carb was significant (P = 0.02). Propionate was decreased by the Carb (β: -0.10; 95% CI: -0.16, -0.03) and Unsat (β: -0.10; 95% CI: -0.16, -0.04) diets, not the Prot diet; between diet comparisons of Carb vs. Prot (P = 0.006) and Unsat vs. Prot (P = 0.002) were significant. The Prot diet increased butyrate (β: 0.05; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.09) compared with baseline, but not compared with the other diets. Increases in acetate were associated with decreases in insulin and glucose; increases in propionate with increases in leptin, LDL cholesterol, and blood pressure; and increases in butyrate with increases in insulin and glucose, and decreases in HDL cholesterol and ghrelin (Ps < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Macronutrient composition of high-fiber diets affects circulating SCFAs, which are associated with measures of appetite and cardiometabolic health. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00051350.
The C-19 methyl substituted sarpagine-macroline-ajmaline alkaloids: Diversity, occurrence, bioactivity, and synthesis

Abstract The C-19 methyl substituted sarpagine/macroline/ajmaline alkaloids are an emerging group of structurally and biosynthetically related alkaloids. To date, there are more than 70 alkaloids that can be categorized as belonging to this subgroup. About two dozen of these alkaloids have been reported to possess useful and important bioactivity ranging from anti-inflammatory to anticancer, while the rest of the alkaloids remain mostly unexplored. The total synthesis of more than a dozen of these alkaloids has been reported, to date. This chapter is a compilation of the monomeric alkaloids which possess the C-19 methyl substituent (as a part of the core ring system), which belong to either the sarpagine, macroline, or ajmaline alkaloid series reported recently. An up-to-date discussion of their isolation from various plant sources (and corresponding plant morphology), proposed biosynthetic studies, as well as reported biosynthesis are included. In addition, the partial or formal, as well as the total syntheses have also been included.
To Speak to Me, Address Us: Insights From LGBT Young Adults to Inform Public Education Campaigns.

Draft advertising concepts were tested in a series of focus groups among 140 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) young adults aged 18 to 24 in seven U.S. cities in 2015. In this secondar...
Risk Factors and Management of Postoperative Infection Following Cochlear Implantation.

Objective To determine factors associated with infection, management, and resultant outcomes following pediatric cochlear implantation. Study design Retrospective cohort study with nested case series. Setting Tertiary academic medical center. Patients Children who underwent either unilateral or bilateral cochlear implantation between June 2011 and September 2016 and were under the age of 18 at the time of surgery. Intervention(s) Subjects were compared based on age, cochlea malformation, revision surgery, operative time, device manufacturer, and antibiotic use. Infections were compared based on location, time, bacteria, management, and resolution. Main outcome measure(s) Rate of infection, rate of device explantation. Results There were 16 infections among 246 surgeries, an infection rate of 6.5%. There was a significant age difference between infected and noninfected patients overall (n = 246, 1.4 versus 4.3 years, p = 0.005), but not within the cohort of patients five or younger (n = 172, 1.4 versus 1.8 years, p = 0.363). The most common infectious complication was skin infection, followed by device infection. No cases of meningitis were seen. The most common organism was S Aureus. The implant was salvaged in 9 of 16 patients (56.3%), with higher rates in patients treated with IV versus oral antibiotics (70 versus 40%). Conclusions Postoperative infection is positively associated with younger age overall, but not in patients below the age of 5. With modern devices and surgical practices, risk of meningitis-though a concern-may be lower than cited in the literature. Prompt and aggressive therapy with IV antibiotics and operative intervention can allow for high rates of device salvage.
The association of empowerment measures with maternal, child and family planning outcomes in Plateau State Nigeria by urban-rural residence.

Nigeria is experiencing a high level of urbanization and urban poverty. Within Nigeria maternal and child health and family planning outcomes may differ by residence (capital city, urban/non-capital city and rural) as well as by measures of women’s empowerment and wealth. This paper presents a detailed analysis of maternal and child health and family planning outcomes in Plateau State, Nigeria. Data came from the 2017 Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative Sustainability Study. Multivariable logistic regression was used to study the associations between the key independent variables of residence, women’s empowerment and wealth with having a skilled birth attendant at childbirth and childhood preventative visits. The women’s empowerment variables included perceptions about household decision-making, financial decision-making, views on wife beating and having a prohibition, defined as a restriction on specific activities imposed by a woman’s husband. Multinomial regression was used to study the association of the same factors with the family planning outcome which had three categories – no use, traditional method use and modern method use. Regressions were also run separately for urban and rural populations. Women in the capital city of Jos were significantly more likely to have a skilled birth attendant at childbirth, take a child to a preventative visit and use family planning than women in rural areas of Plateau State. Three of the four measures of empowerment (household decision-making, financial decision-making and having a prohibition) were significantly associated with the family planning outcome, while having a prohibition was negatively associated with having a skilled birth attendant at childbirth. In rural areas, women involved in financial decisions were significantly less likely to use a modern method compared to a traditional method. Wealth was a significant factor for all outcomes. State-level analyses can provide valuable information to inform programs and policies at a local level. Efforts to improve use of maternal and child health and family planning services in Plateau state, Nigeria, should consider women’s empowerment, residence and poverty. Community education on the effectiveness of modern versus traditional methods and potential side effects of specific modern methods, may help women make informed decisions about contraception.
Abortion and mental health: guidelines for proper scientific conduct ignored

Priscilla Coleman’s recent meta-analysis[1][1] ignores guidelines for proper scientific conduct of meta-analyses of observational data. Her results violate at least three major principles of meta-analysis: she fails to assess the underlying validity of included studies; she fails to examine
Ice recrystallization inhibition effect of cellulose nanocrystals: Influence of sucrose concentration

Abstract Stabilizers are commonly used to inhibit the ice recrystallization process that leads to the formation of large ice crystals, decreasing consumer acceptance of ice cream. However, the ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) effect of stabilizers is very dependent on measurement conditions. The cause of this dependence is not clear, which imposes problems in comparing the IRI activity and understanding the IRI mechanism of stabilizers. This study investigated the influence of sucrose concentration on the IRI effect of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), which are newly identified IRI active materials. A splat assay and a sandwich assay were used to determine IRI activities of CNCs at sucrose concentrations from 2.0% to 49.0% w/w and incubation temperature of −8 °C for 30 min. The IRI activities of CNCs were higher at low sucrose concentrations, almost disappeared at medium sucrose concentrations, and restored slightly at high sucrose concentrations. The IRI effect of CNCs is correlated with the ratio between CNCs concentration in the unfrozen phase and total surface area of ice crystals. This surface area-related IRI effect was also observed with guar gum, locust bean gum, and poly(vinyl alcohol). It is a strong evidence of an ice-binding mechanism for the IRI effect of stabilizers. These research findings offer a new perspective in comparing and understanding the measurement condition-dependent IRI effect of stabilizers, which could potentially benefit the ice cream industry in developing new materials and recipes to control ice recrystallization.
Integration of aggressive bound tightening and Mixed Integer Programming for Cost-sensitive feature selection in medical diagnosis

Abstract Silent diseases is an umbrella term that captures a spectrum of chronic illnesses that produce no clinically obvious signs and are diagnosed at advanced stages when the damage is irreversible. Current diagnostic strategies of silent diseases depend on self-reported symptoms and observed behavior through extended periods of time, and until now there are no specific clinical tests to diagnose silent diseases. Scientific research suggests the importance of early diagnosis to restore the functionality and reduce diseases-related complications. Previous studies primarily focused on feature selection methods to aid in medical diagnosis. Traditional feature selection methods are primarily focused on correct classification and often ignore features’ costs; the cost of clinical tests required to acquire the feature value. However, in medical diagnosis, features have different associated costs. Because ignoring features’ costs may result in a high cost diagnostic strategy that cannot be used in practice, developing a low-cost diagnostic strategy remains a subject of much interest. In this paper, new Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) models, namely, Cost-sensitive Support Vector Machine (CS-SVM) and Cost-sensitive Multi-surface Method Tree (CS-MSMT) that allow for simultaneous selection of low-cost and informative features are proposed. The CS-SVM and CS-MSMT are superior because they have the ability to account for shared costs. The CS-SVM and CS-MSMT were modified to embed shared costs across feature groups, and are termed Discounted CS-SVM (dCS-SVM) and Discounted CS-MSMT (dCS-MSMT), respectively. Computationally effective algorithm that integrates aggressive bound tightening with the MIP formulation is proposed. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed models, different analysis paradigms are conducted on six UCI medical datasets; Chronic Kidney Disease, Hepatitis, Heart Disease, Thyroid, Diabetes and Leukemia. The results demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of the CS-SVM and CS-MSMT (and consequently the dCS-SVM and dCS-MSMT) under various conditions. The CS-SVM and CS-MSMT improved accuracy by 10.3% and 3.4% and reduced costs by 94.3% and 72.4% in the leukemia dataset, respectively.