cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies of the human testis. XVI. Evaluation of multiple indexes of testicular function in relation to advanced age, idiopathic oligospermia, or varicocele *

Testicular function was evaluated by morphologic and biochemical methods in 11 infertile men with idiopathic oligospermia, 12 men with varicocele, and 14 elderly men. The results indicate the presence of two separate subgroups within idiopathic oligospermia with distinct endocrine and morphologic parameters and suggest the involvement of different pathogenetic factors for testicular disorders among these four groups. Biochemical indexes provide further confirmation of the validity of the Leydig cell cluster index (number of Leydig cell clusters per tubular section) as a useful evaluation guide. The results support the importance of combined studies of circulating hormones and testicular histologic features in providing insight into spermatogenic disorders. Recognition of etiologic diversity is an essential basis for further efforts to delineate and apply current or new hormonal techniques for therapy.
Two Articles Relating to FDA Approval and "Post-Approval" of Medical Devices

The Journal of Health Care Finance is pleased to present two companion articles by various distinguished authors. The first article examines the cost-benefit situation with respect to the FDA’s post-approval studies for medical devices. The second article presents perspectives concerning possible avenues for improving the effectiveness of post-market studies of medical devices. ARTICLE #1: Assessing the Cost Burden of United States FDA-mandated Post-Approval Studies for Medical Devices (begins on page 2 of master PDF file) ARTICLE #2: A Better, Cost-Effective Way to Evaluate Medical Devices Using Real World Data (begins on page #19 of master PDF file)
A Multidisciplinary Model of Dementia Care in an Underserved Retirement Community, Made Possible by Telemedicine.

The need for memory specialists is increasing as the incidence of dementia rapidly rises across the globe. In rural areas, demand for these specialists far outstrips supply. It is increasingly difficulty for patients to receive care in a timely manner. In this paper, we document our experience using video-conference telemedicine to bring a multi-disciplinary model of care to a rural retirement community in Southern California. To our knowledge, we are one of the first to integrate telemedicine into dementia care on this large a scale. Given the relatively remote location, patients and neurologists have previously had to travel great distances and bear with long wait times. With neurological consultation by telemedicine, and a local team consisting of a geriatrician, a neuropsychologist, and a case manager, we have been able to provide comprehensive dementia care in this underserved area, comparable to university-affiliated California Alzheimer’s Disease Centers, typically found only in major metropolitan areas. We have shown that telemedicine can be very effective in improving access and quality of dementia care.
Quantitative EEG in Neonatal Seizures

While continuous EEG (cEEG) remains the ideal method of monitoring for seizures in neonates, quantitative EEG (qEEG) trends are often used. In particular, amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) is increasingly popular and can be a helpful complementary tool to cEEG monitoring. In situations in which cEEG is not practical, aEEG may be used as a stand-alone method of neuromonitoring. Alternately, aEEG may be used in conjunction with cEEG to allow bedside caregivers in the neonatal unit to monitor EEG trends in real time or to facilitate rapid review of neonatal cEEG by a neurophysiologist. Understanding the fundamentals of how aEEG is recorded and displayed helps clinicians accurately interpret background patterns and identify seizures. Specific factors can impact accuracy of aEEG for seizure detection; modification of these factors can improve sensitivity and specificity. Awareness of limitations of aEEG facilitates appropriate clinical use.
Large Deviations for Random Vectors

In Section II.4, we stated three levels of large deviation properties for i.i.d. random vectors taking values in ℝ d . In Section II.6 we also stated a large deviation theorem for random vectors [Theorem 11.6.1] which generalized the level-1 property. In this chapter, Theorem 11.6.1 will be proved [Sections VII.2–VII.4] and the level-1 large deviation property will be derived as a corollary [Section VII.5]. The results on exponential convergence of random vectors stated in Theorem 1I.6.3 will be proved in Section VII.6.
Assessing end-to-end performance and security in cloud computing

While most studies are concerned with the network performance and security of data centers in the cloud - a shared computing infrastructure, there is little research on the understanding of the end-to-end performance and security of cloud services offered by cloud providers. That is, while cloud providers promise to deliver cloud services that meet predefined Quality of Services (QoS), there is nowadays a lack of efficient tools for the verification of the performance and security of cloud services a user has received. Such research, however, plays an important role in the successful delivery of cloud services. In this paper, we present a systematic way to evaluate the end-to-end performance and security of cloud services in a shared computing infrastructure. We design and develop an end-to-end SECUrity and Performance assessment framework (SECUPerf), where we experimentally and analytically investigate the performance and security of the routers along the path of cloud services between cloud users and providers. Our experimental results have demonstrated the applicability and usefulness of SECUPerf in the cloud. SECUPerf is useful to all the users in the shared computing infrastructure.
A 1400-Year Bølling-Allerød Tree-Ring Record from the U.S. Great Lakes Region

Abstract Since the late 19th Century, geologists and naturalists working in the US Midwest have reported an abundance of tree macrofossils embedded in glacial and lacustrine deposits formed after the Last Glacial Maximum. The most widely-known of these sites is the Two Creeks type locality in Wisconsin. We report progress on development of a long tree-ring record from this subfossil wood in the US Great Lakes region, employing samples collected during a decade-long series of field campaigns at recently eroded lake shorelines, construction projects, and excavations, along with acquisition of archived samples collected from the 1950s to the 1980s during past lake erosion events. A previously-reported tree-ring chronology from the Two Creeks type locality reached ca. 250 years in length; here we used radiocarbon dates and tree-ring crossdating to develop a 1408-year tree-ring chronology (mainly spruce [Picea spp.] with some tamarack [Larix]) comprising a total of 135 overlapped tree-ring width series in thre...
Minimizing bycatch and improving efficiency in the commercial bottom longline fishery in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract We investigated the effects of hook soak time on targeted reef species and shark bycatch in the reef fish bottom longline fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. Beginning in 2010, capture time and catch per unit effort (CPUE) for the primary target species red grouper (Epinephelus morio) in the fishery were evaluated using hook timers. Findings indicated that typical duration of hook soak times is longer than necessary to efficiently harvest red grouper and a reduction in gear soak times to less than one hour would result in minimal or no reduction in red grouper CPUE. The mean capture time of sharks and red grouper differed significantly, suggesting that a reduction in soak time would likely reduce the bycatch of sharks in the fishery. The study also revealed barometric pressure, lunar phase, and fish size were significant covariates with red grouper capture times and that different bait types significantly affected CPUE. Implementing shorter hook soak times would likely improve fishery profitability and potentially reduce discards of unwanted species in the fishery.
Introduction: The Word was Made Film

The introduction summarizes past approaches to theology and film and introduces this book’s method. First, it surveys film studies, samples theories in this field, and details the need for theological interpretations. Second, this chapter provides an overview of religious studies, chronicles tactics in this discipline, and notes its need for cinematographic analyses. Third, this chapter lays out the book’s methodology, arguing that character dialogue explicitly voices theological positions, while film uses cinematic style to comment implicitly on those assertions. With this premise, this chapter asserts that one can analyze the style of a film, or its “flesh,” alongside its rhetoric, or its “word,” to interpret what texts suggest about the theological issues they represent.
The mechanism of blood flow during chest compressions for cardiac arrest is probably influenced by the patient's chest configuration.

Aim Mechanical assist devices are sometimes needed during resuscitation efforts of patients with prolonged cardiac arrest. Two such devices, the AutoPulse and the LUCAS, have different mechanisms of action. We propose that the effectiveness of mechanical assist devices is somewhat dependent on the configuration and compliance of the patient's chest wall. Methods A previous study of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Arizona reported that survivors were younger and many were observed to have narrow anterior-posterior chest diameters. These observations suggest that the predominant mechanism of blood flow during cardiopulmonary resuscitation of individuals with primary cardiac arrest is influenced by the patient's anterior-posterior chest diameter and compliance. It is proposed that in older individuals with an increased anterior-posterior chest diameter and decreased chest compliance that the AutoPulse, which works by increasing intrathoracic pressures, may be more effective. In contrast, the LUCAS device, which works predominately by compression of the sternum, is probably more effective in patients with narrower anterior-posterior diameters and a more compliant chest. Results These hypotheses need to be confirmed by researchers who not only have access to the lateral chest roentgenograms of patients with cardiac arrest, to determine their anterior-posterior chest diameter, but also to the type of mechanical device that was used during resuscitation efforts and their patient's survival. If the observations herein proposed are confirmed, hospitals and paramedics may ideally need to have one of each type of mechanical chest compression unit and select the one to use depending on the patient's age and anterior-posterior chest diameter. Conclusions The mechanism of blood flow in patients with cardiac arrest is predominantly secondary to cardiac compression in younger patients with narrow anterior chest diameters and predominately secondary to the thoracic pump mechanism in older patients with emphysema.
Analysis of risk factors for morbidity in children undergoing the Kasai procedure for biliary atresia

To evaluate the perioperative risk factors for 30-day complications of the Kasai procedure in a large, cross-institutional, modern dataset. The 2012–2015 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric database was used to identify patients undergoing the Kasai procedure. Patients’ characteristics were compared by perioperative blood transfusions and 30-day outcomes, including complications, reoperations, and readmissions. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors predictive of outcomes. Propensity matching was performed for perioperative blood transfusions to evaluate its effect on outcomes. 190 children were included with average age of 62 days. Major cardiac risk factors were seen in 6.3%. Perioperative blood transfusions occurred in 32.1%. The 30-day post-operative complication rate was 15.8%, reoperation 6.8%, and readmission 15.3%. After multivariate analysis, perioperative blood transfusions (OR 3.94; p < 0.01) and major cardiac risk factors (OR 7.82; p < 0.01) were found to increase the risk of a complication. Perioperative blood transfusion (OR 4.71; p = 0.01) was associated with an increased risk of reoperation. Readmission risk was increased by prematurity (OR 3.88; p = 0.04) and 30-day complication event (OR 4.09; p = 0.01). After propensity matching, perioperative blood transfusion was associated with an increase in complications (p < 0.01) and length of stay (p < 0.01). Major cardiac risk factors and perioperative blood transfusions increase the risk of post-operative complications in children undergoing the Kasai procedure. Further research is warranted in the perioperative use of blood transfusions in this population. IV.
A Pharmacologic Approach to Sleep Studies

In chapter 1 we outlined the development of the concept of “wet” neurophysiology, which emphasizes understanding neural systems by the examination of synaptic transmitters. As we discussed, initial animal experiments seemed to indicate that serotonergic, noradrenergic, and cholinergic systems are involved in the regulation of sleep. In this chapter we will describe human studies in which the activity of these systems has been pharmacologically altered. Several types of manipulations are usually employed. Chemical precursors of a transmitter are given to raise its concentration. Drugs that block its metabolism may also raise the concentration, and in addition will prevent formation of metabolites that themselves may be biologically active. The amount of available transmitter can be decreased by administering compounds that inhibit its synthesis. Receptor blockers are used to decrease the activity of a particular transmitter.
Alternative oxidase (AOX) over-expression improves cell expansion and elongation in cotton seedling exposed to cool temperatures.

Evidence that supports a relation between AOX expression and improvement in plant height, internode length, and total leaf area under cool temperature is shown. Cell expansion and elongation appear to be enhanced when AOX expression was increased. Cotton growth is sensitive to cool temperature during germination and early seedling development. Delayed emergence, seedling damage, and increased risk to disease are common. Late seasonal cool weather is a major factor limiting the consistent production of high-quality cotton lint in West Texas. Alternative oxidase functions in the inner membrane of the mitochondria via an alternative respiration pathway and serves as a multifunctional system for amelioration of abiotic and biotic stresses. Cotton seedling emergence and growth exposed to cool temperatures was examined in plants with enhanced AOX expression. Thirteen T1 seed lines showed 3 to 1 segregation for the T-DNA containing the tobacco AOX1 gene. Two over-expressing, single-copy, homozygous AOX lines (94-20T and 66-6T) and Null line (94-3N) were selected for examination. The transcript levels were ≈ 2 to 6 fold higher in the AOX lines compared to those of the Null line and wild-type in stem, leaf, root and boll tissues. The research examined the hypothesis that transgenic cotton with enhanced AOX expression will have enhanced growth traits under suboptimal cool temperatures. Improved plant height, internode length, plant height and internode length from second node, and total leaf area under cool temperatures were observed in AOX over-expression lines. This may be attributed to improved cell expansion and elongation characteristics in the AOX line.
EFL Teachers’ Pedagogical Beliefs and Practices With Regard to Using Technology

Understanding more about the relationship between teachers’ content-specific pedagogical beliefs and practices with regard to their technology will help teacher educators prepare teachers to integr...
Effect of Estrogens on the Structure of Bone

The effects of estrogens on the bone of fowl, immature mice and immature rats are dramatic. In chicks, estrogen causes formation of new bone originating from the endosteal surfaces and eventually almost filling the marrow cavity with trabeculae (1). In normal fowl this is a cyclical phenomenon related to the estrous cycle but can be produced in cockerels by administering estrogen. A superficially similar growth of new bone, primarily in the metaphysis, but extending into the diaphysis, can be caused in mice by pharmacological doses of estrogens (2). This effect is not observed normally and the doses of estrogens used are sufficient to inhibit body growth. Simmons (3) and Uelinger (4) both have measured the uptake of triated thymadine in preosteoblasts after a flash label and found it to be significantly accelerated, indicating an increase proliferation of these cells as a result of treatment with estrogens. Testosterone appears to inhibit or reverse this action of estrogens, possibly by accelerating bone resorptive activity (5).
Steroid receptor/coactivator binding inhibitors: An update.

Abstract The purpose of this review is to highlight recent developments in small molecules and peptides that block the binding of coactivators to steroid receptors. These coactivator binding inhibitors bind at the coregulator binding groove, also known as Activation Function-2, rather than at the ligand-binding site of steroid receptors. Steroid receptors that have been targeted with coactivator binding inhibitors include the androgen receptor, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor. Coactivator binding inhibitors may be useful in some cases of resistance to currently prescribed therapeutics. The scope of the review includes small-molecule and peptide coactivator binding inhibitors for steroid receptors, with a particular focus on recent compounds that have been assayed in cell-based models.
Policing Ballot Access: Lessons from Nader's 2004 Run for President

Ralph Nader was the third most popular candidate for President in 2000. By all accounts, he would be the third most popular candidate in 2004. Millions of voters supported Nader. Yet Democrats orchestrated a nationwide effort to keep him off the ballot. Why? Because Democrats wanted these votes. History is not ignorant to this; consider, for example, John Anderson's 1980 run as an independent candidate. But history was shocked by Democrats' success in removing Nader from state ballots in 2004. Although Nader won most challenges, he was successfully removed in several important states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania and Oregon. My thesis is that Nader, as the clearly third-most popular candidate, should not have been removed in any of these states. In order to prevent this kind of ballot-rigging in the future, I argue that states should adopt a licensing formula for candidates, as opposed to a challenge-model found in most states. Rather than allow the two major parties to challenge independent and minor-party candidates, states should administratively (with judicial review) make ballot decisions.
Mindfulness and Sexual Violence

Mindfulness-based interventions show promise for survivors of sexual assault and abuse. A recently published review of mindfulness intervention research for trauma victims more broadly revealed significant potential for this treatment approach. This chapter identified investigations that tested the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on survivors of intimate partner violence and survivors of childhood sexual abuse specifically. Although nascent, this research yielded ameliorating effects of mindfulness-based interventions for survivors of sexual violence. In addition to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, survivors of sexual violence often face self-blame and lower self-worth. Mindfulness-based interventions teach participants self-acceptance and self-compassion, which are likely to be particularly beneficial for survivors of sexual violence. Additional research has explored the effects of mindfulness practice to help prevent the perpetration of sexual violence and to aid advocates who work with survivors. These two areas of research were reviewed briefly as well, resulting in encouraging findings that call for further investigation.
Clinician Perspectives on mRehab Interventions and Technologies for People with Disabilities in the United States: A National Survey

Mobile health and mobile rehabilitation (mHealth and mRehab) services and technologies have attracted considerable interest from healthcare providers, technology vendors, rehabilitation engineers, investors and policy makers in recent years. Successful adoption and use of mHealth/mRehab requires clinician support and engagement, including the ability to identify appropriate use cases and possible barriers to use for themselves and their patients, and acquire adequate knowledge and confidence using mHealth/mRehab interventions. This article reports results from a survey of rehabilitation clinicians in the United States on their attitudes, experience, expectations and concerns regarding mHealth/mRehab interventions and technologies. Over 500 clinicians in physical, occupational, speech, recreation and psychological therapy professions, among others, participated in the survey. Respondents reported that an overwhelming majority of their patients need additional therapy after discharge from inpatient environments, and over half of outpatients need additional therapy between visits. A large majority reported prescribing specific exercises and interventions for patients to work on outside of the clinic. However, only 51% reported being comfortable integrating mRehab technology into their practice; and only 23% feel knowledgeable about rehabilitation technology currently available. Technologies to support mRehab are maturing rapidly. Clinicians recognize the need for mRehab, but their knowledge and confidence prescribing mRehab represents a significant barrier to adoption.
A transdisciplinary, mixed methods research agenda for evaluating the collective impact approach for tree planting: The CommuniTree initiative in northwest Indiana, U.S

Abstract In this paper, we describe the theory and research design for a new collaborative tree-planting initiative in northwest Indiana in the Midwest United States. The CommuniTree initiative is attempting to alleviate some of the social and ecological issues experienced by post-industrial Rust Belt communities. Northwest Indiana was dominated by heavy industry, particularly steel, throughout much of the 20th century, until the decline of manufacturing and the closing of plants in the 1980s and 1990s, causing well-paying jobs to disappear, population to decline, and leaving residential and commercial vacancies and a decimated tax base. The communities in northwest Indiana are still feeling the social, economic, ecological legacies of this post-industrial history, including environmental degradation, high industrial land use and impervious surfaces, and low tree canopy cover, creating air pollution, stormwater quantity and quality, urban heat island issues, among other problems. With a goal of helping alleviate some of these post-industrial challenges, the CommuniTree initiative was launched in 2017. CommuniTree is a new multi-organizational, collaborative urban forestry partnership that engages in grant- and donor-funded tree planting in several underserved northwest Indiana municipalities. The effort is loosely based on the collective impact model. Collective impact is a means of coordinating multiple organizations around a “shared vision” to solve a specific issue – in CommuniTree’s case, the lack of urban forest governance and resources in northwest Indiana compounding the aforementioned post-industrial social and ecological issues. Supported by over a dozen stakeholder groups, CommuniTree plants and cares for trees and engages communities in urban forestry training. This paper describes CommuniTree programming in more detail, as well as presents an applied, transdisciplinary, mixed methods research agenda. Through research with stakeholders, we seek to understand the mechanisms through which CommuniTree activities translate resources into outcomes in the social-ecological context of northwest Indiana and evaluate the sustainability of CommuniTree.
Causality between Output and Income Inequality across U.S. States: Evidence from a Heterogeneous Mixed Panel Approach

In this paper, we investigate the causal relationship between output, proxied by personal income, and income inequality in a panel data of 48 states from 1929 to 2012. We employ the causality methodology proposed by Emirmahmutoglu and Kose (2011), as it incorporates possible slope heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence in a multivariate panel. Evidence of bi-directional causal relationship exists for several inequality measures -- the Atkinson Index, Gini Coefficient, the Relative Mean Deviation, Theil’s entropy Index and Top 10% -- but no evidence of the causal relationship for the Top 1 % measure. Also, this paper finds state-specific causal relationships between personal income and inequality.
Debt and Stock Market Participation

Nearly all empirical tests of stock market participation employ either wealth (assets less debt) or assets as measures of participation costs. The former implicitly assumes that a $1 increase in assets and a $1 decrease in debt equally impact stock market participation. The latter implicitly assumes debt has no impact on participation. I hypothesize that debt can capture participation costs, behavioral factors (impulsivity and moral licensing), and risk aversion. As a result, the relation between debt and stock market participation is an empirical question. Consistent with debt capturing both participation costs and behavioral factors, and inconsistent with the implicit assumption in the literature, $1 increase in debt has about twice the impact as a $1 decrease in assets. The relation between debt and stock market participation also helps explain why wealth continues to predict stock market participation even among the wealthiest households.
On the applicability limits of some ‘infinite’ models in the course of electricity and magnetism

We present a quantitative analysis of some ‘infinite’ models, occurring in the course of electricity and magnetism. First, we estimate the deviations from the models of an ideal parallel-plate capacitor and solenoid arising due to the bending field effect. Next, we consider the models of an infinite wire and plane of uniform charge. We show that in the first case the real electric field differs from the idealized one because of the finite length of the wire. In the second case this difference is caused also by the non-uniform surface charge density. The issues outlined in this article will be useful for advanced undergraduates, studying solutions to electrostatic and magnetostatic problems.
Targeting inflation targeting: the influence of interest groups

We examine whether sectional interest groups influence monetary policy goals in a manner consistent with their interests as distributive coalitions. In particular, we explore whether bank groups and labor groups are associated with the incidence of inflation targeting by the central bank. Controlling for a variety of economic and institutional factors, our main findings reveal that bank groups are associated with a higher probability that a country is an inflation-targeter while labor groups are associated with a lower probability. The findings are conditional on the level of democracy and on aspects of central bank independence.
Financial Analysis of Operating a Resident Aesthetic Clinic.

BACKGROUND Recent changes to the plastic surgery residency training requirements along with a general call for expanded education in cosmetic surgery have encouraged many institutions to incorporate resident aesthetic clinics into their curricula. Although the safety and satisfaction rates of resident aesthetic clinics have been well-studied, their financial viability has not. This study reviews the financial viability of the resident aesthetic clinic at the authors' institution through a cost analysis. METHODS Billing data were analyzed for all patient visits to the resident aesthetic clinic of the authors' institution during calendar year 2018. Data were extracted, including type and anatomical location of each procedure, charges collected, and supplies used. A financial analysis was performed based on fixed and variable costs and gross revenue. RESULTS A total of 100 unique patients were seen in the clinic over a 1-year period, resulting in 53 operations. This included 15 face, four breast, and 34 body contouring procedures. In addition, 160 cosmetic injections were performed. The gross revenue was $69,955 and the net revenue was $36,600. CONCLUSIONS The resident aesthetic clinic at the authors' institution proved to be financially viable. The authors encourage other institutions to more closely examine the financial state of their resident aesthetic clinics as well. Furthermore, the authors hope that this analysis demonstrates to other programs that, with certain practice models, cost should not be a barrier to initiating and maintaining this valuable training tool.
No prospective association of a polygenic risk score for coronary artery disease with venous thromboembolism incidence.

Background Previous studies are inconsistent about whether chronic coronary artery disease or generalized atherosclerosis is a causal risk factor for venous thromboembolism. No study seems to have taken a genomic approach to this question. Objective To test in a prospective study whether a polygenic risk score for coronary artery disease is associated with risk of venous thromboembolism. Participants/methods Within the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study cohort, we computed a previously validated polygenic risk score for coronary artery disease among 9144 White participants at baseline in 1987-1989. We followed the participants through 2015 for incident hospitalized venous thromboembolism events, validated by physician review. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to associate quintiles of the polygenic risk score to venous thromboembolism incidence rates. Results Over the median of 26 years of follow-up, 476 participants had a venous thromboembolism event. There was no apparent association between the coronary artery disease polygenic risk score and incident venous thromboembolism, with age, sex, body mass index adjusted hazard ratios across quintiles being 1 (reference), 0.87 (0.65, 1.15), 1.08 (0.82, 1.42), 0.96 (0.72, 1.27), and 1.03 (0.78, 1.37). Conclusions A genetic disposition to coronary artery disease did not confer an increased risk of venous thromboembolism in this prospective study.
Changes in Anesthesia Can Reduce Periprocedural Urinary Retention After EVAR.

BACKGROUND Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs provide a streamlined approach for expedient postoperative care of high-volume procedures. Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) has become standard treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysms and implementation of an early recovery program is warranted. Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) remains a problem lending to longer hospital stays and patient discomfort. We aim to demonstrate the utility of monitored anesthetic care (MAC) plus local anesthesia as a modality to minimize urinary retention following EVAR. METHODS Single-center retrospective review from January 2017 to March 2020 of all patients undergoing standard elective EVAR under general anesthesia or MAC anesthesia. Local anesthetic at vessel access sites was used in all patients under MAC. Ruptured pathology and female sex were excluded from analysis. Patient characteristics, operative details, prostate measurements, and outcomes were abstracted from the electronic medical record. Urinary retention was defined as any requirement of straight catheterization, urinary catheter replacement, or discharge with urinary catheter. Chi square tests and logistic regression were used to determine predictors associated with POUR and increased hospital length of stay. RESULTS Among 138 patients who underwent EVAR, eight (5.8%) were excluded due to ruptured pathology. Of the cohort, 113 (86.9%) were male with mean age of 73 years. Excluding female patients, 63 (55.8%) male patients underwent general anesthesia and 50 (44.3%) underwent MAC. Male patients under general anesthesia were more likely to have intra-operative urinary catheter placement when compared to MAC (82.5% vs. 36%, respectively; P < 0.001). POUR was identified in 17 patients (13.1%) of the entire study population with 15 events (88.2%) occurring in males. Excluding patients who were admitted to the ICU, twenty-two (19.5%) male patients stayed past postoperative day (POD) one, of which those who developed POUR were more likely to experience compared to those without POUR (45.6% vs. 9.7%, respectively; P = 0.001). On multivariable analysis, male patients who received MAC had a lower risk of developing POUR (OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.02-0.50). POUR was not associated with elective urinary catheter placement nor with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, urinary retention, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), or use of BPH medications. Additionally, neither prostate size nor volume was associated with developing POUR among male patients. CONCLUSION MAC plus local anesthesia is associated with decreased rates of POUR after elective EVAR in male patients. ERAS pathways during elective EVAR interventions should implement MAC plus local anesthesia as an acceptable anesthetic option, where appropriate, in order to reduce urinary retention rates and subsequently decrease hospital length of stay in this patient cohort.
Life cycle assessment including traffic noise: conventional vs. rubberized asphalt

It is estimated that in Colombia around 25 million tires are disposed of yearly. The management of discarded tires is still a major problem considering that 3 of 10 disposed tires end up on sidewalks, separators, parks, wetlands, and even in front of houses. Additionally, mainly in urban and suburban zones near the main roads, noise is one of the central factors that affect people’s quality of life. In this article, a life cycle assessment (LCA) from cradle to grave of rubberized and conventional asphalt pavements was employed to quantify the consequences associated with the implementation of the alternative technology and the present engineering practices. LCA was performed involving the local materials and available machineries in Colombia, and the inclusion of traffic noise as part of the LCA. LCA in this study involves two methods: attributional LCA (ALCA) and consequential LCA (CLCA). To include the effect of traffic noise in the LCA, a methodology developed by the Swiss author Gabor Doka (2003) was used. Estimation of material’s quantities and their characteristics, noise levels, logistics, and production were done based on a Colombian case study. Damage assessment showed that conventional asphalt (CA) impacts 67% more in human life than rubberized asphalt (RA). Traffic noise assessment results presented that CA has about 38% more impact in human life compared with RA, then, considering the study period (25 years), a reduction of 2.8 dB in noise emission due to the implementation of RA represents a considerable positive impact in human life. The total effect in ecosystems showed that CA has 40% more impact in the extinction rate of species than RA. In total, CA causes 43% more impact in resources than RA. Consequential assessment showed that the implementation of the RA represents 48% less environmental damage than the conventional alternative. RA is a more environmentally friendly alternative compared with CA because it requires less raw material usage, and less mix production due to its better performance (less maintenance and rehabilitation interventions). RA represents a suitable alternative to divert tons of used tires from the landfills.
A Relaxation Theorem for Differential Inclusions with Applications to Stability Properties

The fundamental Filippov-Wazwski Relaxation Theorem states that the solution set of an initial value problem for a locally Lipschitz inclusion is dense in the solution set of the same initial value problem for the corresponding relaxation inclusion on compact intervals. In our recent work, a complementary result was provided for inclusions with finite dimensional state spaces which says that the approximation can be carried out over non-compact or infinite intervals provided one does not insist on the same initial values. This note extends the infinite-time relaxation theorem to the inclusions whose state spaces are Banach spaces. To illustrate the motivations for studying such approximation results, we briefly discuss a quick application of the result to output stability and uniform output stability properties.
End of Life Care and Addictions: A Family Systems Approach, by Suzanne Young Bushfield and Brad DeFord

This volume is refreshing for exploring theory and practice of working with individuals who have a substance use disorder at the end of life. It brings together these typically divergent fields of ...
Connotation and compatibility of generalized intelligent control

Complex controlled object request its control system has more and more functions. Every control theory has its strong points and shortage. The paper demonstrates inherence relation of fuzzy control and state feedback control. And balance compatibility and similarities and difference of the two control method at certain conditions. The connotation of generalized intelligent control is take opening and flexible designing thought to hold distillate of two or more control theory and method concurrently. Its practicability and validity has been testified by salience effect of engineering practice at sub-critical and super-critical pressure thermal power unit of 600MW.
The future of SAPP, WAPP, CAPP, and EAPP

Vital new transmission lines are high on the agenda of energy planners in the various regions of Africa. These lines are identified within the power pools of Southern Africa and West Africa. The new Central Africa power pool is in the process of identifying these lines as also is the East Africa region. What are the economic gains from these new lines and what are the plans for a continent wide network? The power pool modeling at Purdue University is helping utilities across Africa to answer these questions. This paper outlines some of the transmission modeling issues that are being considered at Purdue and with colleagues across Africa.
Clone: solving weighted Max-SAT in a reduced search space

We introduce a new branch-and-bound Max-SAT solver, Clone, which employs a novel approach for computing lower bounds. This approach allows Clone to search in a reduced space. Moreover, Clone is equipped with novel techniques for learning from soft conflicts. Experimental results show that Clone performs competitively with the leading Max-SAT solver in the broadest category of this year's Max-SAT evaluation and outperforms last year's leading solvers.
Component analysis of the fast photoelectric signal from model bacteriorhodopsin membranes: Part III. Effect of the point mutation aspartate 212 → asparagine 212

Abstract This report investigates the effect of mutation in bacteriorhodopsin (BR), which changes residue 212 from aspartate to asparagine (D212N), on the individual components of the fast photoelectric signal; these components are generated by light-induced rapid charge displacement. D212N was expressed in Halobacterium halobium. The photoelectric data were subject to component analysis as outlined in the first of the two companion papers. With the aid of equivalent circuit analysis, we identified two components: B1 and B2. The analysis shows that the B2 component is absent in the medium to high pH range, while the B1 component is intact. The B2 component is, however, present at low pH but with a reversed polarity as compared with the B2 at neutral and high pH. The B2 component at low pH is also dependent on Cl− concentration. This low-pH signal may be generated either by interfacial Cl− ion transfer or by a Cl− dependent interfacial proton transfer. This low-pH signal, although less conspicuous, is also observable in the wild-type BR. The contrasting responses of the two components at the medium to high pH range, again supporting the validity of our component analysis.
Robust guaranteed cost control of uncertain nonlinear robotic system using mixed minimum time and quadratic performance index

To provide better transient performance in controlling robots, the mixed minimum-time and quadratic performance index is used. For known or uncertain revolute robot manipulators, conventional optimal control and robust guaranteed cost control are proposed, respectively. Asymptotic stability is also discussed based an Lyapunov direct method. The proposed robust control is continuous and requires no knowledge of uncertain system except bounding functions. >
Chester Barnard and the systems approach to nurturing organizations

Chester Barnard was best known as the author of The Functions of the Executive, perhaps the 20th century's most influential book on management and leadership. Barnard offers a systems approach to the study of organization, which contains a psychological theory of motivation and behavior, a sociological theory of cooperation and complex inter--dependencies, and an ideology based on a meritocracy. Barnard's teachings drew on personal insights as a senior executive of ATT in the 1920s and 1930s, and he emphasized the role of the manager as both a professional and as a steward of the corporation. For leadership to be effective, it had to be perceived as legitimate, Barnard maintained. Barnard sensed that the central challenge of management was balancing both the technological and human dimensions of organization. The challenge for the executive was to communicate organizational goals and to win the cooperation of both the formal and the informal organization; but he cautioned against relying exclusively on incentive schemes to win that cooperation. Responsibility--in terms of the honor and faithfulness with which managers carry out their responsibilities--is the most important function of the executive.
IFN-γ production by memory helper T cells is required for CD40-independent alloantibody responses.

Cognate T–B cell interactions and CD40–CD154 costimulation are essential for productive humoral immunity against T-dependent Ags. We reported that memory CD4 T cells can deliver help to B cells and induce pathogenic IgG alloantibodies in the absence of CD40–CD154 interactions. To determine cytokine requirements for CD40-independent help, we used CD40−/− mice containing differentiated subsets of donor-reactive memory Th cells as heart allograft recipients. Th1 and Th17, but not Th2, memory CD4 T cells elicited high titers of anti-donor Ab. Abs induced by Th17 memory CD4 T cells had decreased reactivity against donor MHC class I molecules and inferior ability to cause complement deposition in heart allografts compared with Abs induced by Th1 cells, suggesting a requirement for IFN-γ during CD40-independent help. IFN-γ neutralization inhibited helper functions of memory CD4 T cells in both CD40−/− recipients and wild type recipients treated with anti-CD154 mAb. Our results suggest that IFN-γ secreted by pre-existing memory helper cells determines both isotype and specificity of donor-reactive alloantibodies and can thus affect allograft pathology. This information may be valuable for identifying transplant patients at risk for de novo development of pathogenic alloantibodies and for preventing alloantibody production in T cell–sensitized recipients.
Increase of magnetic transition temperatures by reduction of local disorder for perovskite manganites.

We report the synthesis of Sr{sub 1-x}Ca{sub x}MnO{sub 3} and La{sub 0.5}Ba{sub 0.5}MnO{sub 3} perovskites over extended cation and oxygen composition ranges and describe the dependence of their phase stability on the tolerance factor t = t(x,T,{delta}) that is a function of composition, temperature, and oxygen content. We show that magnetic transition temperatures depend strongly on the tolerance factor and charge disorder while dependence on the structural disorder is less important. By reducing charge and structural disorder we have significantly increased the Curie and Neel temperatures for perovskite manganites.
Arthroscopic Biceps Tenodesis From a Superior Viewing Portal in the Shoulder

The purpose of this report is to describe our modification of the Verma-Trenhaile biceps tenodesis technique using a superior viewing portal that allows placement of the tenodesis site at the top of the pectoralis major tendon with interference screw fixation. The advantages of this technique include the following: (1) There is no need to exteriorize the tendon through the skin. (2) Viewing from superiorly allows a panoramic view of the groove all the way to the pectoralis major tendon insertion. (3) This panoramic view allows a more complete view of the biceps down to the muscle-tendon junction beneath the pectoralis major tendon. (4) The improved visualization permits the drill hole to be contained within the constraints of the groove. Short-term follow-up shows favorable results clinically, and no major complications have been associated with this technique.
The Thalamus and Language

The role of the thalamus in language remains a matter of debate. Multiple thalamic nuclei (e.g., pulvinar, intralaminar nuclei, and the ventral tier nuclei) are implicated in language, as indicated by their connectivity with the cortex and lesion data. Lesions of the dominant thalamus may produce difficulties in naming with relative preservation of other functions such as repetition. In addition, dominant thalamic lesions are associated with fluctuations in language performance based on overall level of arousal, perseverations, and relatively rapid recovery. Bilateral thalamic activations (with left greater than right responses), along with activation of traditional cortical areas associated with language, are seen in functional imaging studies of human subjects during covert naming and sentence generation tasks. Potential thalamic mechanisms underlying language behavior are multiple and are discussed within this chapter.
Trust promotes unethical behavior: excessive trust, opportunistic exploitation, and strategic exploitation

Trust is critical for our cooperation and effective working relationships, but trust also enables exploitation and unethical behavior . Prior trust research has disproportionately focused on the benefits of trust, even though some of the most egregious unethical behaviors occur because of misplaced trust. Targets of exploitation misplace their trust, because they rely on the wrong cues and are exploited by people who either opportunistically or strategically take advantage of their trust. We call for future work to explore the critical link between trust and unethical behavior.
Laser polishing for topography management of accelerator cavity surfaces

Improved energy efficiency and reduced cost are greatly desired for advanced particle accelerators. Progress toward both can be made by atomically-smoothing the interior surface of the niobium superconducting radiofrequency accelerator cavities at the machine's heart. Laser polishing offers a green alternative to the present aggressive chemical processes. We found parameters suitable for polishing niobium in all surface states expected for cavity production. As a result, careful measurement of the resulting surface chemistry revealed a modest thinning of the surface oxide layer, but no contamination.