cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Workspace Attributes Under Simulated Index Finger Proximal Interphalangeal Arthrodesis

This article presented an assessment of quantitative measures of workspace (WS) attributes under simulated proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint arthrodesis of the index finger. Seven healthy subjects were tested with the PIP joint unconstrained (UC) and constrained to selected angles using a motion analysis system. A model of the constrained finger was developed in order to address the impact of the inclusion of prescribed joint arthrodesis angles on WS attributes. Model parameters were obtained from system identification experiments involving flexion-extension (FE) movements of the UC and constrained finger. The data of experimental FE movements of the constrained finger were used to generate the two-dimensional (2D) WS boundaries and to validate the model. A weighted criterion was formulated to define an optimal constraint angle among several system parameters. Results indicated that a PIP joint immobilization angle of 40-50 deg of flexion maximized the 2D WS. The analysis of the aspect ratio of the 2D WS indicated that the WS was more evenly distributed as the imposed PIP joint constraint angle increased. With the imposed PIP joint constraint angles of 30 deg, 40 deg, 50 deg, and 60 deg of flexion, the normalized maximum distance of fingertip reach was reduced by approximately 3%, 4%, 7%, and 9%, respectively.
Deposition of Gan Films Using Seeded Supersonic Jets

GaN films were deposited on sapphire (0001) from triethylgallium (TEG) and NH 3 seeded in separate He free jets. as the dissociative chemisorption of NH 3 is expected to be rate-limiting in GaN growth, the NH 3 /He nozzle temperature was varied to control the incident kinetic energy of the NH 3 molecules. Using an NH 3 /TEG flow ratio of 205 and an NH 3 /He nozzle temperature of 400°C, stoichiometric films were deposited at substrate temperatures ≥530°C. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that films deposited at 580°C are polycrystalline α-GaN with randomly oriented 0.5-μm grains. Films with a closely similar morphology are deposited by using an NH3/He nozzle temperature of 90°C. IN contrast, films deposited at 580°C using an NH 3 /He nozzle temperature of 510°C consist of whiskers (aspect ratio = c A. 4 ) which exhibit a-GaN (0001)/sapphire (0001) heteroepitaxy, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction and reflection high-energy electron diffraction.
Nicht entfernte metallische Fremdkörper im hinteren Glaskörper

Meine Beobachtungen zeigen — mit allen Nachteilen einer teils retrospektiven Studie — Ergebnisse moderner Operationstechniken.
Engaging Research Domain Criteria (RDoC): Neurocircuitry in Search of Meaning

The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative was implemented to reorient the approach to mental health research from one focused on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) nosology to one oriented to psychological constructs constrained by neurocircuitry and molecular entities. The initiative has generated significant discussion and valuable reflection on the moorings of psychiatric research. The purpose of this article is to illustrate how a basic or clinical investigator can engage RDoC to explore the neurobiological underpinnings of psychopathology and how a research question can be formulated in RDoC's framework. We utilize a brain region with significant growing interest, the habenula, as an example for probing RDoC's utility. Opportunities to enhance neurocircuitry-psychological construct associations and problems associated with neuronal populations that enable bidirectional circuitry influence are discussed. The exercise reveals areas for further development that could move RDoC from a promising research idea to a successfully engaged foundation for catalyzing clinically relevant discoveries.
Obtaining low distortion load voltages from Y-connected staircase modulated multilevel inverters for AC microgrids

Dc sources such as photovoltaic arrays and fuel cell stacks are of relatively low voltage. So using multilevel inverters to interface these clean sources to an ac microgrid is an approach that has several advantages. While much research has been performed on multilevel inverters during the past twenty years or so, a study of the total harmonic distortion attainable by the line-load neutral voltages produced by staircase modulated three-phase inverters with more than five levels has not yet been performed. But such knowledge is important in light of the IEEE 519-2014 standard, which prescribes distortion limits. This paper presents results on finding the minimum total harmonic distortion (and the necessary waveform parameters) achievable by such voltages produced by Y-connected staircase (block) modulated multilevel inverters (up to nine levels per phase), firstly for equal dc sources, secondly for unequal dc sources, and finally for the case of partially unequal dc sources, which yields an inverter with increased modularity. The results show that 7- and 9-levels are the minimum necessary to satisfy IEEE 519-2014 for low- and medium-voltage ac microgrids, respectively. In addition, it is shown that the total harmonic distortions of the line-load neutral voltages and of the corresponding line-line voltages are equal. Simulation results are presented to support the analysis, along with experimental results that corroborate the simulations.
Individual developmental trajectories in the L2 acquisition of Spanish spirantization

In Spanish, voiced stops weaken to approximants and display variables degrees of lenition according to the context in which the stop occurs, making them a complex pronunciation feature. Accumulated findings from cross-sectional research on second language (L2) speakers suggests that many L2 learners struggle to produce the approximants even at the most advanced levels of study. The present study offers a new perspective on the approximants by studying individual learners’ production of Spanish [β] over time and across phonetic contexts. Twenty-six English-speaking learners of L2 Spanish recorded two speaking tasks five times over a yearlong period corresponding to their second and third semesters of college-level language instruction. Mixed-effects models were fit to learners’ C:V intensity ratio data to examine development, and stress and task type were included as substantive predictors. Although the group trajectory was flat, many learners displayed substantial change over time, including positive and negative trajectories.
Review of Use of Standardized Patients in Psychiatric Nursing Education.

BACKGROUND: Simulations using standardized patients (SPs) are increasingly used to teach and assess competencies in psychiatric/mental health (PMH) nursing education. To advance the field, it is im...
Cost of Independent Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects

State, regional, and local agencies need an established cost estimation method to improve the accuracy of programmed project funds. In particular, accurately estimating the cost of independent bicycle and pedestrian facilities helps improve prioritization, decision making, and the efficient allocation of funds for bicycle and pedestrian projects. The cost estimates vary by category as well as by the construction cost element. Obtaining cost data for an adequate number of projects of each facility type, although important, is challenging because of either the lack of available information or a reluctance in the sharing of information. This paper (a) outlines methods to achieve a statistically significant sampling of cost data for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, (b) addresses challenges associated with collecting the data from various agencies, and (c) examines variations to better understand the estimates of individual construction cost elements. Recommendations pertaining to cost categories and cost el...
Improved modal convergence using the assumed modes method for rods carrying various lumped elements

In this paper, the assumed modes method is used to determine the modes of vibration of an arbitrarily supported uniform and nonuniform rods carrying various lumped elements, including a lumped mass...
Return to Play Following Shoulder Stabilization: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background:Anterior shoulder instability can be a disabling condition for the young athlete; however, the best surgical treatment remains controversial. Traditionally, anterior shoulder instability...
SPHERICAL FUEL ELEMENT CONCEPT FOR SMALL REACTOR DESIGN

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is currently developing a novel spherical fuel element concept that offers low fuel temperatures, low stored energy, and long core life. Fuel performance modeling has been conducted using the PNNL-developed Atoms for Peace Reactor (AFPR)-100 as a platform for demonstrating the potential of the fuel element concept. The AFPR-100 is a small [100-MW(electric), 300-MW(thermal)], water-cooled reactor concept that is designed to use established technology, be passively safe, and be proliferation resistant. The fuel performance modeling has demonstrated that this fuel element has a short thermal time constant, has low fuel temperature, provides a barrier for retention of fission products, and will have long-term dimensional stability. A technique for manufacturing these fuel elements was developed. A fabrication demonstration was conducted in cooperation with a commercial vendor to evaluate the feasibility of manufacturing the fuel elements. In order to demonstrate the proposed technique, the proposed spherical elements were produced using existing processes that could be scaled to large batch sizes. Surrogate ZrO 2 kernels were substituted for the fuel in this demonstration. Thorough characterization of the fuel elements was performed at various stages in the fabrication process. The metallographic characterization included electron microscopic analysis of coating microstructure, and particular attention was paid to interface regions to search for deleterious reaction zones, debonding, and porosity. Although this demonstration is not complete, early results are promising and will be discussed in this paper. This paper will describe the fuel element, show the results of fuel performance calculations for this element, describe the proposed fabrication process, and discuss the results of a fabrication demonstration to date that has been performed for this concept.
Supporting Healthy Relationships in Low-Income Couples: Lessons Learned and Policy Implications:

For the past two decades, policymakers have invested heavily in promoting the quality and stability of intimate relationships in low-income communities. To date, these efforts have emphasized relat...
Detecting and Responding to Threats in the Natural World

Organisms that evolved nervous systems that predict, detect, and assess ecological dangers are at a distinct survival advantage compared to those with less sophisticated neural machinery. The strategies generated and honed by adaptive survival circuits in humans, which we call the survival optimization system (SOS), are controlled by both conscious and implicit systems.
Toxic effects of electrolyte and trace mineral administration in the intensive care unit.

Recent studies have expanded our knowledge of the diverse physiologic roles of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. Their roles are not limited to passive fluid and electrochemical regulation. This article reviews the physiologic function and indications for these electrolytes and trace minerals and discusses toxicities associated with their use. Dosing guidelines and recommendations for monitoring are outlined to maximize efficacy and minimize adverse effects.
The Supply of Stone to the City of Rome: A Case Study of the Transport of Anician Building Stone and Millstone from the Santa Trinità Quarry (Orvieto)

For archaeologists the study of the exotic is a difficult task, as “exotic” is a cultural construct difficult to discern in the archaeological record. Exotic items are those that in some way possess characteristics deemed unusual, rare, or unique, and thereby are often highly desirable. Complicating this, goods that might appear quite mundane to the excavator can reveal themselves to be exotic within a particular cultural context. For studies of the ancient Romans, a more thorough understanding of the exotic is revealed through examination of artifact distribution in the archaeological record combined with a close reading of various Roman and Greek texts to reveal Roman tastes and preferences. These distribution patterns can also be analyzed within their cultural context according to the precepts of formalist economic theory in an attempt to understand the degree to which Roman trade and exchange networks correspond to either a formalist or a substantivist model of economic behavior.
Endoscopic Ultrasonography: Future Directions

Endoscopic ultrasonography currently provides clinical information that is unique. The immediate future is likely to see an expansion of opportunities for training. In the United States, the new American Endosonography Gub should further this development. Instruments, including miniature probes, will continue to improve. Image management and interpretation will be facilitated by increasingly sophisticated computer technology, and the integration of endosonography into clinical practice will be defined.
Social Status and Adolescent Physical Activity: Expanding the Insurance Hypothesis to Incorporate Energy Expenditure:

Low social status (SS) is a determinant of poor health status and is associated with increased disease burden. Obesity affects 20.6% of American adolescents, most of whom are from low-SS families. ...
Using Data Dependence Analysis and Loop Transformations to Teach Vectorization

Parallel computing has been around for more than 5 decades, and is nowadays present in virtually every modern architecture. However, we identified that computer science students are oftentimes introduced to parallelism from a completely theoretical standpoint without any practical instruction nor expected outcome. In this paper, we introduce students to data dependence analysis and loop transformations as a component of parallel computing. Then, using a repository of 2000+ loops, the students apply the transformations to gain understanding of how compilers take advantage of parallelism via vectorization. Our methodology is highly adaptable and was implemented with freshmen and graduate students. The only prerequisite is experience in C programming, but it can be extended to other compiled languages.
Temporal evidence shows Australopithecus sediba is unlikely to be the ancestor of Homo

Understanding the emergence of the genus Homo is a pressing problem in the study of human origins. Australopithecus sediba has recently been proposed as the ancestral species of Homo, although it postdates earliest Homo by 800,000 years. Here, we use probability models to demonstrate that observing an ancestor’s fossil horizon that is at least 800,000 years younger than the descendant’s fossil horizon is unlikely (about 0.09% on average). We corroborate these results by searching the literature and finding that within pairs of purported hominin ancestor–descendant species, in only one case did the first-discovered fossil in the ancestor postdate that from the descendant, and the age difference between these fossils was much less than the difference observed between A. sediba and earliest Homo. Together, these results suggest it is highly unlikely that A. sediba is ancestral to Homo, and the most viable candidate ancestral species remains Australopithecus afarensis.
Oxidation behavior of Zirconium, Zircaloy-3, Zircaloy-4, Zr-1Nb, and Zr-2.5Nb in air and oxygen

Abstract The Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility at the Idaho National Laboratory currently utilizes a legacy Zircaloy-3 cladding, which is no longer commercially available. TREAT is air cooled and routinely operates at temperatures well above that of traditional reactor designs. This study investigates the oxidation behavior of pure zirconium and its alloys (Zircaloy-3, Zircaloy-4, Zr-1Nb, Zr-2.5Nb) in Ar+20%O2 and N2+20%O2 atmospheres at temperatures ranging from 400–800 °C to determine which alloy should be implemented as TREAT's cladding. While the oxidation behavior of zirconium based cladding materials has been extensively documented, this study focuses on direct comparison between legacy Zircaloy-3 and contemporary alloys using a flat plate geometry and similar conditions seen at the TREAT facility. In this work, thermogravimetric analysis was used to measure both steady state and breakaway oxidation, which was then used to calculate oxidation rate constants and activation energies of each material. Oxide thickness was evaluated through microscopy of oxidized specimen cross sections. The Zircaloy-3 and Zr-1Nb alloys were found to be the most resistant to oxidation under the conditions of this study, whereas the Zr-2.5Nb alloy was found to be the most susceptible.
Key receptors involved in laminar and terminal specification and synapse construction

Abstract There are over 80 members of the protocadherin family. They are found in three clusters. Each neuronal growth cone contains molecules from each cluster forming multimers, which bind to identical multimers on an adjacent growth cone. Because of the 1011 combinations produced in this manner, it is plausible that protocadherins specify the correct synaptic connections. Also odorant receptors (ORs) are important in specifying synaptic connections between nasal epithelium cells (NECs) and neurons in the olfactory bulb. ORs are the largest class of G-protein coupled receptors in the genome. Each NEC has one class of OR and these NECs can recognize 100,000 odors. Each NEC also has the same ORs on their axons as on their cell bodies. Deletion of one OR gene causes the NECs having this OR to make inappropriate connections. Some NEC olfactory bulb circuits are hardwired; others are modified by experience.
Exploring strategies to improve gender equity in a masculinized field of study

Abstract Female student representation in PGA golf management academic programs has consistently hovered below 5%. The reasons for this low representation are unclear, although the masculine nature of the golf industry has been well documented and may be contributing factor. Through the use of focus groups with faculty directors of PGA golf management academic programs and PGA industry professionals, this study sought to identify barriers and facilitators women face when enrolled in PGA golf management programs. Findings point to changes in policies and practices that could contribute to an improved rate of persistence for women in these unique academic programs.
Nighttime Habits That Impact Morning Routines of Persons With Chronic Disabilities—Temporality Revealed

Date Presented 04/05/19 This six-year qualitative study examines morning routines of persons with chronic disabilities. The focus of year six was on nighttime habits impacting morning routines. Semistructured interviews were conducted and analyzed using cross-case analysis and grounded theory. Results show night habits are used to manage pain, stiffness, or fatigue the next morning and to manage timeliness. It is critical for OTs to understand morning routines and how nighttime habits impact these routines. Primary Author and Speaker: MaryEllen Thompson
Antibiotics and Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Insertion: A Literature Review.

Abstract Introduction Antibiotic stewardship is now a priority for the urologic community. Perioperative antibiotic use at the time of inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) insertion has become a topic of interest. Objectives To review the literature available to inform the practice of antibiotic administration before, during, and after IPP insertion. Methods We performed a literature review based on a search for the terms “Antibiotics” and “Penile Prosthesis” in the PubMed database. Manuscripts were individually reviewed for relevance to the administration of antibiotics in conjunction with IPP insertion. Best practice statements and guidelines from stakeholder organizations were also reviewed. Results The benefits of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis have been well studied in the orthopedic and general surgery literature, but a dearth of studies are available in the specific context of IPP insertion. High-quality retrospective studies have demonstrated reduced infection rates with the use of antibiotic-impregnated or antibiotic-coated IPPs. Limited research on the use of postoperative antibiotics after IPP insertion has actually not demonstrated a benefit from this very common practice. Indeed, the broader surgical literature suggests a net harm from continued postoperative antibiosis. A 2017 guideline recommendation from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that additional prophylactic antibiotics should not be administered after procedures deemed clean or clean-contaminated. Conclusion The benefits of single-dose preoperative antibiotics and the use of antibiotic-impregnated or antibiotic-coated IPPs are well established. Postoperatively, the available IPP and broader surgical literature does not reflect a benefit from the administration of additional antibiotics and demonstrates higher rates of antibiotic-associated adverse events and the emergence of drug resistance. In average-risk patients undergoing IPP insertion, contemporary data suggest that it is safe for postoperative antibiotics to be withheld. Dropkin BM, Kaufman MR. Antibiotics and Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Insertion: A Literature Review. Sex Med 2021;9:174–180.
Laminar Drag Reduction in Microchannels with Liquid Infused Textured Surfaces

Abstract Liquid infused surfaces (LIS) achieve non-wetting properties through asperity structures containing pockets of a lubricating liquid rather than air. Although studies have demonstrated several potential applications of LIS, the effect of liquid infused texture on the flow of liquid in microchannels has not been systematically addressed. The present work focuses on the effect of liquid-infused texture geometry and the infused liquid properties on the flow characteristics of a bulk fluid in rectangular and round microchannel geometries. Considering four different textured geometries of transverse ridges, longitudinal ridges, in-lined square posts and staggered squares, a detailed parametric study is presented to assess the resulting drag reduction and friction factor, expressed in terms of the Poiseuille number, on the flow in microchannels. The effect of geometrical parameters is investigated for different asperity solid fraction ( ϕ s ), asperity height ( h s ) and channel thickness ( H ) or tube diameter ( D ), while the effect of the infused fluid is studied in terms of a ratio of its viscosity relative to the viscosity of the flowing bulk fluid. Based on the results of the parametric study an extension of the conventional Moody diagram for non-wetting surfaces is developed. Further, a design of experiments study is conducted to relate the drag reduction and Poiseuille number to the various governing parameters, using which conditions that maximize drag reduction are identified.
Electrical Stimulation Mapping of Brain Function: A Comparison of Subdural Electrodes and Stereo-EEG

Despite technological and interpretative advances, the non-invasive modalities used for pre-surgical evaluation of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), fail to generate a concordant anatomo-electroclinical hypothesis for the location of the seizure onset zone in many patients. This requires chronic monitoring with intracranial electroencephalography (EEG), which facilitates better localization of the seizure onset zone, and allows evaluation of the functional significance of cortical regions-of-interest by electrical stimulation mapping (ESM). There are two principal modalities for intracranial EEG, namely subdural electrodes and stereotactic depth electrodes (stereo-EEG). Although ESM is considered the gold standard for functional mapping with subdural electrodes, there have been concerns about its utility with stereo-EEG. This is mainly because subdural electrodes allow contiguous sampling of the dorsolateral convexity of cerebral hemispheres, and permit delineation of the extent of eloquent functional areas on the cortical surface. Stereo-EEG, while having relatively sparse sampling on the cortical surface, offers the ability to access the depth of sulci, mesial and basal surfaces of cerebral hemispheres, and deep structures such as the insula, which are largely inaccessible to subdural electrodes. As stereo-EEG is increasingly the preferred modality for intracranial monitoring, we find it opportune to summarize the literature for ESM with stereo-EEG in this narrative review. Emerging evidence shows that ESM for defining functional neuroanatomy is feasible with stereo-EEG, but probably requires a different approach for interpretation and clinical decision making compared to ESM with subdural electrodes. We have also compared ESM with stereo-EEG and subdural electrodes, for current thresholds required to evoke desired functional responses vs. unwanted after-discharges. In this regard, there is preliminary evidence that ESM with stereo-EEG may be safer than ESM with subdural grids. Finally, we have highlighted important unanswered clinical and scientific questions for ESM with stereo-EEG in the hope to encourage future research and collaborative efforts.
Fingerprinting the Ammonia Synthesis Pathway Using Spatiotemporal Electrostatic Potential Distribution of Intermediates.

It remains a research challenge in determining the catalytic reaction mechanisms primarily caused by the difficulty to experimentally identify active intermediates with current analytic characteriz...
Efficacy of ketamine for major depressive episodes at 2, 4, and 6-weeks post-treatment: A meta-analysis

Major depressive episodes are severe mood episodes which occur both in major depressive disorder and bipolar I and II disorder. Major depressive episodes are characterized by debilitating symptoms that often persist and interfere with typical daily functioning. Various treatments exist for major depressive episodes; however, most primary pharmacologic treatments may take weeks to months to provide relief from depressive symptoms. Ketamine is a demonstrated treatment for major depressive episodes, as relief from depressive symptoms can occur rapidly following treatment. Prior meta-analyses have been conducted to analyze the effectiveness of ketamine for the treatment of major depressive episodes, but at the time of this writing, no meta-analysis had been conducted to observe ketamine treatment efficacy beyond 2 weeks. The present meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of ketamine for the treatment of major depressive episodes; observations of depressive episode severity were analyzed at 2, 4, and 6-weeks post-treatment. The present meta-analysis observed large effects at 2 weeks (g = −1.28), 4 weeks, (g = −1.28), and 6 weeks (g = −1.36) post-treatment. The results from the present meta-analysis indicate that ketamine can be an effective pharmacologic intervention for major depressive episodes, with treatment effects lasting up to 6 weeks post-ketamine administration, which has many positive implications for treatment.
The Role of Inositol Phosphate Multikinase (IPMK) in Time Restricted Feeding in Animal Model

Obesity is a major public health problem of the U.S. and is associated with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other diseases. Most research studies focus on excessive food consumption as the main cause of obesity. However, emerging data indicate that the timing of feeding can have significant effects on body weight and metabolism. Numerous studies in animals and small clinical studies in humans have shown that eating erratically over the 24 hour period or out of phase with the circadian rhythm predisposes toward weight gain, steatosis, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and diabetes. Furthermore, studies indicate that restricting food intake to the active period synchronizes the circadian rhythm and metabolism, enhances weight loss and improves metabolic outcomes. Time restricted feeding (TRF) increases the amplitudes of clock gene expression and pathways mediating nutrient sensing and hepatic metabolism. However, the mechanisms mediating the effects of TRF are not fully understood. Here we characterized mice (10 week-old) fed a high-fat diet ad libitum (ALF) or from 7 pm to 7 am (TRF) for 2 weeks. The basal glucose production rate was similar between the two groups. Under hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, the glucose infusion rate (GIR) was significantly greater in TRF group compared to ALF group indicating an increase in insulin sensitivity. Using radioisotopic tracers, we demonstrated that the hepatic glucose production (HGP) was significantly reduced and the glucose disappearance rate was increased in TRF group compared to ALF group. Moreover, a biochemical analyses of liver tissues revealed that Inositol phosphate multikinase (IPMK) act as a key enzyme for inositol polyphosphate biosynthesis and play a role in insulin-, nutrient-, and energy-mediated metabolic signaling, was increased during TRF. Moreover, deletion of IPMK in hepatocytes decreased insulin stimulated AKT phosphorylation while increased lipid accumulation and gluconeogenesis. Importantly, hepatic deletion of IPMK attenuated the beneficial effects of TRF suggesting that IPMK in the liver may contributes to beneficial effects of TRF. Our findings provide the potential mechanism by which TRF confers the beneficial effects and may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for treating diabetes.
Successful Use of a Subpalpebral Lavage System for Management of Bilateral Uveitis and Conjunctivitis in a Sulcata Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata)

A 22-yr-old male sulcata tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Louisiana State University for acute swelling around the eyes, lethargy, and serous oculonasal discharge. Upon physical exam, the patient had severe bilateral chemosis, was unable to open his eyes, and was dehydrated. Because of a clinical suspicion of bacterial upper respiratory infection, the patient was started on antibiotics, an anti-inflammatory, and fluid therapy. It was also hospitalized for further diagnostics and treatment. The patient was anesthetized for bloodwork, microbiological assays, diagnostic imaging, and an ophthalmic exam. During hospitalization, fluid therapy, parenteral antibiotic administration, nebulization, esophagostomy tube placement, and bilateral subpalpebral lavage system (SPLS) placement were performed. The most significant diagnostic findings were bilateral anterior uveitis and bilateral conjunctivitis. The patient was discharged 3 days following placement of the SPLS. On re-evaluation 11 days later, the patient showed marked clinical improvement and the SPLS were removed. Subpalpebral lavage systems proved to be an effective technique for treating uveitis in this animal. Without an SPLS, topical eye medications can be difficult or impossible to administer to large tortoises.
A Dual Approach for Preventing Blackhole Attacks in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks Using Statistical Techniques and Supervised Machine Learning

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) have the potential to improve road safety and reduce traffic congestion by enhancing sharing of messages about road conditions. Communication in VANETs depends upon a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) that checks for message confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. One challenge that the PKI infrastructure does not eliminate is the possibility of malicious vehicles mounting a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. We present a scheme that combines statistical modeling and machine learning techniques to detect and prevent blackhole attacks in a VANET environment.Simulation results demonstrate that on average, our model produces an Area Under The Curve (ROC) and Receiver Operating Characteristics (AUC) score of 96.78% which is much higher than a no skill ROC AUC score and only 3.22% away from an ideal ROC AUC score. Considering all the performance metrics, we show that the Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Gradient Boosting classifier are more accurate and perform consistently better under various circumstances. Both have an accuracy of over 98%, F1-scores of over 95%, and ROC AUC scores of over 97%. Our scheme is robust and accurate as evidenced by its ability to identify and prevent blackhole attacks. Moreover, the scheme is scalable in that addition of vehicles to the network does not compromise its accuracy and robustness.
Design and Optimization of Non-volatile Capacitive Crossbar Array for In-Memory Computing

Resistive crossbar array for in-memory computing suffers from high static power and sneak-path current. To address these issues, we proposed a ferroelectric HfxZr1-xO2 (HZO) based capacitive crossbar array for in-memory computing. The non-volatile capacitive synapse allows the minimization of both sneak-path current and steady-state power consumption. Furthermore, since the capacitive synapse is read at DC 0V, we claim that this architecture allows read-disturbance-free and energy-efficient in-memory computing. In this paper, we first introduce the device properties of the non-volatile capacitor and their underlying physical mechanism. Moving to array-level analysis, we obtain the optimal ratios between reference and ferroelectric capacitors (Cref/CFE) for the maximum output swing to occur. Subsequently, the tradeoff between output swing and delay has been explored. We show that a 128×128 non-volatile capacitive crossbar array can be designed with >75mV swing and <30ns delay. Under transient noise simulation, capacitive array is compatible with 3-bit partial sum quantization. Without steady-state energy consumption, the optimized capacitive array can achieve 3.8 pJ per vector-matrix multiplication, 14.3×∼57.3× lower compared to those of the representative resistive crossbar arrays. Furthermore, we propose a charge-cancelling technique and a guideline with on/off ratio projection for a system with arbitrary ENOB requirements to address the issues caused by limited on/off ratios. Finally, we suggest a 1/3 Vw scheme with little write disturbance.
Liability and Narrowly Targeted Wars

Targeted killings have traditionally been viewed as a dirty tactic, even within war. However, I argue that just combatants actually have a prima facie duty to use targeted strikes against military and political leadership rather than conventional methods of fighting. This is because the leaders of a military engaging in aggression are typically responsible for the wrongful harms they threaten, whereas significant numbers of their solders usually will not be. Conventional warfare imposes significant risks on soldiers who are not liable to be killed, violating their rights. Narrowly targeted strikes frequently provide a less-wrongful alternative. Consequently, there is a prima facie duty to conduct such strikes, and to exercise “due care” if engagement with conventional forces becomes necessary.
Control Charts for Short Production Runs

This article presents control charts for short production runs. The existing research can be placed into four categories. They are pooled data control charts, control charts with greater sensitivity, control charts for process inputs, and control charts with modified limits. This article also presents advantages and disadvantages of each. Control charts with greater sensitivity include exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA), cumulative sum (CUSUM), and economically designed control charts. Control charts with modified limits include Q charts and two-stage short-run control charts. The particular focus of this article is the two-stage short-run control charting methodology. This article concludes with future research opportunities in two-stage short-run control charts. Keywords: control charts; short run; pooled data; EWMA ; CUSUM ; economically designed control charts; Q charts; two stage
The effects on broiler chicken of polyphosphate injection during commercial processing

Summary Chickens injected with a polyphosphate solution and control samples which had not been injected were submitted to a consumer panel of 389 households. Preference test and laboratory sensory assessments were also made on similar birds. In all tests polyphosphated birds were significantly more tender and juicy, but 32–45% of consumers did not differentiate between the treatments when eaten as part of a meal. In preference tests 265 people divided approximately equally in preferences between birds injected with polyphosphate and control birds.
Fields and Waves in Cylindrical Coordinates

This chapter contains sections titled: Solution of Wave Equation Circular and Coaxial Waveguides and Cavities Circular Dielectric Waveguide Wave Transformation and Scattering Analysis Radiation by Infinitely Long Currents References Problems
Small Press Review

I am going to repeat a clich?, that in the poetry of the early 80's nostalgia is the dominating tone. Grandfathers reign. Mothers-in-law are in ascension, their feminine instincts possibly suggesting the cessation of war at last. A touch of horror and of fantasy mingles with a touch of kindness and wistfulness. Surreal is real, in the cabinets of memory, financed by aid of the NEA. These small press books are good-looking in shape and form and they are consistent in a kind of mastery of subject. I feel as if I know a lot about young poets in America today. But I feel too that there is an awful lot I don't know. How did they vote in the latest election? What ideas are they fond of? What songs do they sing? Birds, I agree, do sing too. In the 1960's I read a great deal of the poetry sent to another quarterly. It was very different because of the times, I think, not because of the magazine. It was strongly observational, focusing on objects in describ able settings. An empty cigarette package floating in a pool of water might be described, for example, but not, as now, the feelings of with drawal, of mere relevance. Those tried to be neutral packs. What we have lost in objectivity, in sense of qualities, we have gained in relevance of association. Take titles: Family Salt, by Elizabeth McKim; My Body Was Eaten By Dogs, by David McFadden; Lust in 28 Flavors, by Lynne Savitt; Love Poem for a Bank Robber, by Jane Teller; Under the Weight of the Sky, by Kirk Robertson; Seeds in the Wind, by Richard Blakely; Light Years, by Merril Gilfillan; November Barometer, by James Hickson; Wild Cherries, by Dale Herd. Or think of the press names themselves: Station Hill, Carpenter, Second Coming, Cherry Valley, Blue Wind, Green Harbor, Turkey Press.
Detection of isoelectric focused antibody by autoradiography and hemolysis of antigen-coated erythrocytes: A comparison of methods

Mouse anti-group A streptococcal carbohydrate (GAC) antibodies were detected in analytical isoelectric focusing (IEF) acrylamide gels by the hemolysis of GAC-coated sheep erythrocytes immobilized in agarose. This procedure is rapid and reproducible but, because it requires diffusion of antibody from the acrylamide gel into the agarose layer, results in poorer resolution than other methods of detection where antibodies can be fixed in the acrylamide gel after focusing, such as protein staining of purified antibodies or autoradiography of 1 2 5 I-GAC bound to focused antibodies.
Design of axial blood pumps for patients with dysfunctional fontan physiology: computational studies and performance testing.

Limited treatment options for patients having dysfunctional single ventricle physiology motivate the necessity for alternative therapeutic options. To address this unmet need, we are developing a collapsible axial flow blood pump. This study investigated the impact of geometric simplicity to facilitate percutaneous placement and maintain optimal performance. Three new pump designs were numerically evaluated. A transient simulation explored the impact of respiration on blood flow conditions over the entire respiratory cycle. Prototype testing of the top performing pump design was completed. The top performing Rec design generated the highest pressure rise range of 2–38 mm Hg for flow rates of 1–4 L/min at 4000–7000 RPM, exceeding the performance of the other two configurations by more than 26%. The blood damage indices for the new pump designs were determined to be below 0.5% and predicted hemolysis levels remained low at less than 7 × 10−5 g/100 L. Prototype testing of the Rec design confirmed numerical predictions to within an average of approximately 22%. These findings demonstrate that the pumps are reasonably versatile in operational ability, meet pressure-flow requirements to support Fontan patients, and are expected to have low levels of blood trauma.
Computation of Lyapunov characteristic exponents for continuous dynamical systems

A new method for computing all the Lyapunov characteristic exponents (LCEs) of n-dimensional continuous dynamical systems is presented. The method relies on the use of the Cayley Transform and a development of the ability to restart the computations for the variational equation. The method intrinsically maintains the orthogonality of the Q matrix in the QR decomposition of the solution of the variational equation. It therefore does not suffer from the type of computational breakdown that occurs with the standard method for computing LCEs. An example of a Lorenz system showing the breakdown of the standard method is presented, and the same example is used to compute the LCEs by the present method. Comparisons of the computational efficiency of the proposed method in relation to the standard method, and the standard-method-with-reorthogonalization are presented. Issues of accuracy are addressed.
Semiclassical Molecular Dynamics of Wavepackets in One-Dimensional Phase Space

A semiclassical method for solving the quantum Liouville equation in one-dimensional phase-space is described. The development is based on constructing a Gaussian density matrix and is applicable to systems in pure and in mixed states having nonlinear interaction potentials. The density matrix is constructed using a set of dynamic variables whose expectation values are considered to be relevant for the dynamics. The self-consistent equations of motion are then derived for these expectations from the quantum Liouville equation using a projection scheme. The solution of these self-consistent equations provides the time evolution of the density matrix. The present method can yield, in principle, exact values for these expectations for all times. A model calculation is carried out to describe the vibrational motion of an arbitrary diatomic molecule on an anharmonic potential surface. However, the potentiality of this method lies in describing the time evolution of systems in mixed states and hence in describing the dynamics of molecular processes in condensed phases.
Notes on random reals

The theory of random real numbers is exceedingly well-developed, and fascinating from many points of view. It is also quite challenging mathematically. The present notes are intended as no more than a gateway to the larger theory. They review just the most elementary part of the theory (bearing on Kolmogorov- and ML-randomness). We hope that the simple arguments presented here will encourage the enterprising student to examine richer treatments of the subject available elsewhere, notably, in Downey and Hirschfeldt (2010).
The initial value problem for Maxwell's equations for two media separated by a plane

Let the column vectors $$ E = \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {{E_1}} \\ {{E_2}} \\ {{E_3}} \end{array}} \right),H = \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {{H_1}} \\ {{H_2}} \\ {{H_3}} \end{array}} \right) $$ describe an electromagnetic field. Denoting the space coordinates by x 1, x 2, x 3 and the time by t we put $$ \xi i = \partial /\partial {{\mathbf{x}}_i},\tau = \partial /\partial t $$
Austerity and growth in Central and Eastern Europe: understanding the link through contrasting crisis management in Hungary and Latvia

Within the context of international debates on fiscal consolidation this article examines the experience of the 10 Central and Eastern European countries which joined the EU in 2004 and 2007 (CEE-10) and asks how austerity influenced growth in the region. By looking at the composition of adjustment, the analysis confirms the pre-crisis consensus – from the perspective of economic growth and competitiveness, expenditure-based consolidations are superior to consolidations which are based on raising revenue. The mechanisms behind this outcome are examined by comparing the fiscal consolidations in Latvia and Hungary, which represent two different approaches to fiscal consolidation. While Latvia followed the textbook approach, Hungary aimed to save households from the burden of adjustment and stimulate the economy. Although both achieved substantial improvements in their fiscal balance, competitive gains and dynamic growth appeared only in the case of Latvia. In explaining this outcome, the article emphasises ...
Stabilization of linear time delay systems by hybrid controllers

Some simple ideas on stabilization of time delay systems are exploited to find realistic robust stabilizing controllers. A discrete time controller is applied to stabilize a time delay system with a single input. Some simulation results are given and the relationship between delay duration and sampling period is discussed. >
Prostate-specific antigen velocity based risk-adapted discontinuation of prostate cancer screening in elderly men.

Study Type – Prognostic (cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Currently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against PSA screening for prostate cancer in men aged ≥75 years as it concluded that “the harm of screening for prostate cancer in men age ≥75 years may outweigh the potential benefits”. Our findings suggest that elderly men with a PSA velocity of ≥0.45 ng/ml/year have higher risk of death from prostate cancer. Continuing PSA testing may be beneficial for these men. OBJECTIVE • To evaluate weather prostate-specific antigen (PSA) velocity could be used to stratify patients at risk of death from prostate cancer (PCa) and be useful in aiding decision making regarding PSA screening in elderly men, as previous studies have shown that PSA velocity can predict PCa risk. PATIENTS AND METHODS • The cohort included 3,525 patients aged ≥ 75 years with two or more PSA tests before a diagnosis of PCa. Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate which variables at time of last PSA measurement were associated with death from PCa. • The rates of death from PCa after diagnosis in different PSA velocity groups were calculated. Kaplan-Meier and log rank test were used to assess the significant difference in death from PCa after diagnosis, stratified by PSA velocity cutoff. RESULTS • On multivariate analysis, men with a PSA velocity of PSA velocity ≥0.45 ng/mL/year had a 4.8-fold higher risk of death from PCa as compared to men with a PSA velocity of <0.45 ng/mL/year (p value = 0.013). After a median 6.5 (up to 16.9) years of follow-up from diagnosis, 1.4% of the men with a PSA velocity <0.45 ng/mL/year had died of PCa as compared to 8.7% of those with a PSA velocity ≥0.45 ng/mL/year. • The cumulative rate of death from PCa after diagnosis, stratified by a PSA velocity of 0.45 ng/mL/year, was statistically different (log rank test, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION • Men age ≥ 75 years old with a PSA velocity of <0.45 ng/mL/year are unlikely to die of PCa. It may be safe to discontinue PSA screening in these men.