cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis on the reimbursement situation of TB treatment costs in the new rural cooperative medical system

Objective To provide an objective basis for tuberculosis(TB) treatment costs fully bringning into the new rural cooperative medical system(NCMS),Methods Applyed the census methods,and investigated the situation of all counties(districts) of TB treatment costs in the new rural cooperative.Results In 2009,the NCMS' coverage rate was 93.5%(2488/2662).With 96.6% of the counties(districts) 'NCMS compensated the TB hospital medical expenses,only 45.3% for out-patient clinics and in which about 70% of the counties(districts) implemented proportional reimbursement for the TB clinics medical expenses(average 43.46%),and another 30% of the county(district) implemented by the amount of reimbursement(an average of 543 yuan).Patients beared the cost of their own was still more than 50%.Conclusion It is important to bring the TB hospital medical expenses into the NCMS,especially the TB outpatient costs as soon as possible.It is necessary to reduce or eliminate the pay line of patients,and improve the cap lines and reimbursement proportion of inpatient and outpatient.So that the NCMS policies can truly benefit the TB patients,and ease their heavy economic burdens.
Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor analysis and its application to central nervous system

Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been established as the primary imaging modality for non-invasive characterization of the direction-dependent motion of water molecules in the living tissue. DTI provides each image voxel with a 3x3 tensor matrix that can be processed to probe tissue microstructure and microarchitecture. In this paper, the imaging principle and diffusion tensor calculation are introduced. Examples are given to describe image-processing techniques for DTI visualization, fiber tracking, and applications to central nervous system.
Recreating planar free-floating environment via model-free force-feedback control

Force-feedback control can be used to recreate a free-floating environment to test Space Robots (SRs). An SR is mounted on a force and torque sensor attached to the end effector of a Robotic Platform (RP), which is controlled to nullify the measured forces and torques. This eliminates external forces acting on the SR through the mount, hence conserving linear and angular momentum of the SR when no external forces are present. The advantage of the proposed method with respect to previous approaches is that free-floating conditions are recreated without any knowledge of the SR's equations of motion, as the only inputs to the controller are the forces and torques measured by the transducer at the mount. The force-feedback control method can also handle external forces such as those arising from contact disturbances and the thrusters without having any SR control input knowledge since the forces and torques that are generated transfer through the spacecraft body into the sensor at the mount. Simulation results collected using the proposed new strategy are compared against previously used free-floating environment recreation methods such as position and orientation tracking control of simultaneous hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation. On average, the comparison between trajectories shows a position RMS error reduction of over 90% and an orientation RMS error reduction of over 96%.
Development of Silicon Micromachined Microlens Antennas at 1.9 THz

The development at 1.9 THz of a microlens antenna consisting of a leaky-wave waveguide feeding and a silicon microlens is presented in this paper. The antenna has excellent performances compared to horn antennas and can be fabricated entirely using silicon micromachining. Two antenna prototypes were developed: one with a 2.6-mm-diameter microlens and a directivity of 33.2 dB and the other with a 6.35-mm-diameter microlens and a directivity of 41.2 dB. Both prototypes were fabricated and measured, obtaining good agreements with simulations. The fabrication, assembly, and measurement process are explained and detailed in this paper.
HYPOTHESES, GENERALIZATIONS, AND CONVERGENCE: SOME PEIRCEAN THEMES IN THE STUDY OF HISTORY

This essay examines the relationship among some key elements of Charles Sanders Peirce's general theory of scientific inquiry (such as final causality, real possibility, methodological convergence, abductive reasoning, hypothesis formation, and diagrammatic idealization) and some prominent issues discussed in the current philosophy of history, especially those pertaining to the role of generalizations in historical explanation. The claim is that, appropriately construed, Peirce's recommendations with respect to rational inquiry in general can provide a reasonable basis for formulating a productive critical method for a responsible philosophy of history. The essay further seeks to reduce the tension between Peirce's interest in epistemic convergence and the arguments that champion the value of historical distance and perspectival pluralism. On the account offered, the kind of methodological convergence envisioned by Peirce need not conflict necessarily with a responsibly construed historical pluralism. On the other hand, the critical perspective of an epistemically disciplined philosophical inquiry may prove indispensable in weeding out wishful but unrealistic ideological perspectives from the writing of history. Hence, the resulting proposal envisions the critique of historical imagination as one potentially viable modality for the pragmatist philosophy of history.
Educational Innovation Diffusion: Confronting Complexities

In order to test Rogers’ (2003) linear and temporal arrangement of innovation diffusion variables in educational contexts, I constructed a Diffusion of Innovations in Education Model (DIEM, Warford 2005). The DIEM, as depicted on page 23 of the article, arranges aspects of educational innovation diffusion from antecedent (background) variables to process dimensions centering on the decision to adopt, and it culminates with consequences variables, which determine either the ultimate rejection or confirmation of the decision to adopt an innovation. This model obviously owes a debt to Rogers, who brought the field from which the model’s name was derived (Diffusion of Innovations) into the social sciences from the field of agriculture (Ryan and Gross 1943). Henrichsen’s (1989) adapted Diffusion of Innovations (DoI) model, which integrated cross-cultural diffusion variables, was also a major influence. The core of the DIEM, however, was informed by a parallel but otherwise ignored strain of diffusion research within the field of education, one that actually preceded Rogers’ rise as the patriarch of DoI.
Choosing Wisely Campaign: Valuable For Providers Who Knew About It, But Awareness Remained Constant, 2014-17.

Together with physician specialty societies, the Choosing Wisely® campaign has codified recommendations of which health care services’ use should be questioned and discussed with patients. The ABIM Foundation administered surveys in 2014 and 2017 to examine physicians’ attitudes toward and awareness of the use of low-value care. The surveys included questions on the factors driving that use, physicians’ comfort in having conversations with patients about that use, and physicians’ exposure to the Choosing Wisely campaign. Despite continued publicity and physician outreach efforts, there were no significant changes between 2014 and 2017 in awareness of the campaign among physicians (awareness increased from 21 percent to 25 percent) or physician-reported difficulty in talking to patients about avoiding a low-value service (42 percent reported that such conversations had gotten harder in 2014, and 46 percent did so in 2017). Barriers to the adoption of recommendations included malpractice concerns, patient d...
Classical and Quantum Information Transmission and Interactions

Quantum information theory has recently been enlarged to include the use of quantum channels for the transmission not only of classical information but also of intact quantum states. We survey known upper and lower bounds on the capacity of quantum channels, alone or assisted by one- or two-way classical communication, to transmit intact quantum states, and relation of this capacity on the one hand to classical capacity and on the other to the quantitative theory of entanglement of pure and mixed states.
Does Bad News Go Away Faster

We study the relationship between content and temporal dynamics of information on Twitter, focusing on the persistence of information. We compare two extreme temporal patterns in the decay rate of URLs embedded in tweets, defining a prediction task to distinguish between URLs that fade rapidly following their peak of popularity and those that fade more slowly. Our experiments show a strong association between the content and the temporal dynamics of information: given unigram features extracted from corresponding HTML webpages, a linear SVM classifier can predict the temporal pattern of URLs with high accuracy. We further explore the content of URLs in the two temporal classes using various textual analysis techniques (via LIWC and trend detection). We find that the rapidly-fading information contains significantly more words related to negative emotion, actions, and more complicated cognitive processes, whereas the persistent information contains more words related to positive emotion, leisure, and lifestyle.
Application to Mechanical Systems

This chapter presents the application of the measurement based approach to linear mechanical systems, civil engineering truss structures and linear hydraulic networks.
Patterns of Superficial Midfacial Fat Volume Distribution Differ by Age and Body Mass Index

The changes that occur to midfacial fat with increasing age and BMI are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine how superficial cheek fat volume and distribution are differentially predicted by changes in BMI versus age. We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients with facial computed tomography scans. Superficial cheek fat volumes were measured, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to model the relationships between cheek fat and corresponding sex, age, and BMI data. A total of 109 patients were included in our analysis (51 male, 58 female). The subjects’ ages ranged from 21.7 to 91.1 years with a mean (SD) age of 59.7 (15.0) years. The mean (SD) superficial cheek volume of the subjects was 10.46 (2.57) cc. Female subjects had a significantly greater mean total superficial cheek fat volume compared to male subjects (11.18 cc vs. 9.64 cc; P < 0.001). The results of multiple linear regression analysis indicated that together, age, sex, and BMI explained 50.8% of the variance in cheek fat volumes (R2 = 0.51, P < 0.001). BMI significantly predicted total cheek fat volume (β = 0.239, P < 0.001), in addition to age (β = 0.029, P < 0.017) and sex (β = − 1.183, P = 0.001; female = 0, male = 1). Age predicted the greatest gain of fat in the caudal subdivision of cheek (β = 0.015, P < 0.001), whereas BMI predicted the greatest gain in the cephalad subdivision (β = 0.106, P < 0.001). Age, sex, and BMI are important predictors of midfacial fat volume. This study shows that increases in age and BMI differentially predict the distribution of superficial cheek fat. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Outcome measures after medial ulnar collateral ligament reconstructions in a military population.

Background Medial ulnar collateral ligament (MUCL) reconstruction outcomes are well described in competitive throwers but not in nonthrowers. This investigation elucidated epidemiologic variables, functional outcomes, and prognostic factors after MUCL reconstruction in young active patients. Methods United States military service members undergoing MUCL reconstruction were isolated using the Management Analysis and Reporting Tool (M2) database from 2009 to 2016. Demographics, injury characteristics, and surgical variables were extracted. Multivariate analysis was performed, discerning variables predictive of postoperative functional outcomes, complications, and reoperation. Results Sixty-six patients met inclusion criteria, and 47% participated in throwing sports. Of these, 36.4% reported a throwing mechanism of injury (MOI), 60.6% reported an acute trauma MOI, 59% reported preoperative ulnar nerve symptoms, and 39.4% experienced symptoms postoperatively. At final follow-up, average Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) scores were 10.8 ± 16.2 and 87.6 ± 17.1, respectively. A total of 86.4% reported no disability (DASH 74). Age Conclusions MUCL reconstruction demonstrates a high good-to-excellent outcome rate and low complication and revision rates in young active individuals with intense upper extremity demands. Nonthrowing MOIs and psychiatric pathology are associated with postoperative complications and poorer outcomes.
Abstract 102: Ferrichrome suppresses pancreatic tumor growth via targeting TAMs and enhancing CD8+ T-cells infiltration

Background : Pancreatic cancer (PanCa) is one of the most lethal malignancy with a very poor survival rate in patients due to inadequate treatment options. Accumulating evidences suggest that tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) and reduce infiltration of CD8+ T-cell population provide tumor suppressive environment leading to advanced growth and metastasis of PanCa. Thus, targeting TAMs and enhancing infiltration of CD8+ T - cells to the tumor site by non-toxic agents could be an effective therapeutic approach for the management of PanCa. In this study, we demonstrate that a novel probiotic-derived agent (ferrichrome) inhibits pancreatic tumor growth in syngeneic mouse model via modulating TAMs and increasing infiltration of CD8+ T-cells. Methods : RAW264.7 cells, murine peritoneal macrophages, mouse pancreatic cancer cells (UN-KC-6141) were used for this study. Effect of ferrichrome on the expression of pro (IL-12, p40, iNOS, IL-6), anti-inflammatory cytokines (MRC1 and Arginase-1) and iron metabolism markers (ferritin and ferroportin) in macrophages and co-culture systems was analyzed by qPCR. Effect of ferrichrome on metastatic phenotypes of PanCa cells was analyzed in a co-culture model of RAW264.7 and UN-KC-6141 cells. Therapeutic efficacy of ferrichrome was determined in syngeneic mouse model. Tumor immune infiltrating cells were analyzed in excised tumors by FACS, double immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry analyses. Results : Ferrichrome treatment reversed the polarization of M2 macrophages towards the M1 phenotype as observed by increase expression of IL-12p40, iNOS, IL-6 and decrease expression of MRC1 and Arginase-1. Ferrichrome significantly (P Conclusion : Our results strongly suggest that ferrichrome inhibits the tumor growth of PanCa via targeting TAMs and enhancing CD8+ T-cell infiltration. Ferrichrome could be used alone or in combination with current therapeutic regimens for the treatment of advanced PanCa. Citation Format: Mehdi Chaib, Bilal Bin Hafeez, Sonam Kumari, Mohammed Sikander, Hassan Mandil, Liza Makowski, Ajeeth Kumar Pingili, Elham Hatami, Advait Shetty, Dan Nirnoy, Murali Mohan Yallapu, Meena Jaggi, Subhash Chauhan. Ferrichrome suppresses pancreatic tumor growth via targeting TAMs and enhancing CD8+ T-cells infiltration [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 102.
Accessing the Erythrocyte Cytoplasm: A Method for Manipulating the Intracellular Environment of Erythrocytes for the Study of Malaria Invasion, Trafficking and Growth.

Abstract Invasion of erythrocytes by malaria parasites requires participation of both parasite ligands and host determinants. Further recent studies show that erythrocyte G protein signaling regulates malarial infection. Many of the Gs-associated signaling components reside on the cytoplasmic leaflet of the erythrocyte plasma membrane, rendering them inaccessible to most extracellular probes. Since erythrocytes are enucleated and terminally differentiated, they cannot be transfected to express exogenous transgenes. We have modified methods of hypotonic lysis and isotonic resealing to generate loaded erythrocyte ghosts that can be efficiently infected by Plasmodium falciparum and sustain normal levels of intraerythrocytic parasite growth and replication. Further, we show that these ghosts can be filled with various membrane-impermeable peptides or other proteinaceous cargoes for studying signaling and transport events inside the erythrocyte. Resealed ghosts morphologically resemble normal erythrocytes, albeit with reduced hemoglobin content. Other measures of erythrocyte function and malarial infection are being investigated. Studies will be presented on the use of ‘reconstituted' erythrocytes in elucidating mechanisms parasite invasion as well as parasite protein trafficking in erythrocytes infected by P. falciparum.
Classification of Brainwaves Using Convolutional Neural Network

Classification of brainwaves in recordings is of considerable interest to neuroscience and medical communities. Classification techniques used presently depend on the extraction of low-level features from the recordings, which in turn affects the classification performance. To alleviate this problem, this paper proposes an end-to-end approach using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) which has been shown to detect complex patterns in a signal by exploiting its spatiotemporal nature. The present study uses time and frequency axes for the classification using synthesized Local Field Potential (LFP) data. The results are analyzed and compared with the FFT technique. In all the results, the CNN outperforms the FFT by a significant margin especially when the noise level is high. This study also sheds light on certain signal characteristics affecting network performance.
Qualifications and Skills Required for Patient Experience Positions

The need to provide patient-centered care has been recognized by major players in the health-care field. As such, attention has been placed on patients' experience of the health care they receive, and health-care organizations have been investing in patient experience initiatives and staffing to implement those initiatives. Given this, the objective for this study was to investigate the qualifications and skills US health-care organizations seek for patient experience positions through a content analysis of job postings. Results show that patient experience positions are largely found in health systems and hospitals. These positions include coordinators, directors, managers, specialists, and advisors. Five key skills were identified: collaborating with stakeholders; coordinating, planning, and executing service excellence programs; handling complaints and grievances; educating and training leadership and frontline employees; and providing excellent customer service. The skills vary depending on the position. The overall goal for patient experience positions is to ensure a complete and positive patient experience. As these patient experience positions are relatively new, requirements will likely evolve over time as organizations adapt patient experience strategies.
Critical Need for Interface with Strong Adhesion and Hard Elasticity in Lithium Solid-State Battery

The challenges for a solid-state battery to satisfy high-rate charging, stability, and cyclability are tremendous. Dixit et al. report a critical coexistence of strong adhesion and hard Young’s modulus at the electrolyte/electrode interface by nm-scale mapping of force-distance curves using atomic force microscopy and demonstrate the importance of the interface mechanical property.
On the Monotonic Lagrangian Grid as Antecedent to the Neighborhood Grid

Abstract We note that a recently described data structure, the Neighborhood Grid, is equivalent to a data structure developed in the mid-1980s called the Monotonic Lagrangian Grid (MLG). The MLG was originally developed to support high-performance molecular and fluid dynamics simulations on both supercomputer and vector processing architectures and still finds use in those and other areas. In this paper we emphasize that the rediscovery of the MLG offers benefits to users of the Neighborhood Grid in the form of an existing literature with results relevant to its efficient implementation in various contexts while users of the MLG similarly benefit from new theoretical results obtained for the Neighborhood grid.
State-dependent differences in the frequency of TMS-evoked potentials

Abstract Previous evidence suggests different cortical areas naturally oscillate at distinct frequencies, reflecting tuning properties of each region. The concurrent use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) has been used to perturb cortical regions, resulting in an observed post-stimulation response that is maximal at the natural frequency of that region. However, little is known about the spatial extent of TMS-induced activation differences in cortical regions when comparing resting state (passive) versus active task performance. Here, we employed TMS-EEG to directly perturb three cortical areas in the right hemisphere while measuring the resultant changes in maximal evoked frequency in healthy human subjects during a resting state (N=12) and during an active sensorimotor task (N=12). Our results revealed that the brain engages a higher dominant frequency mode when actively engaged in a task, such that the frequency evoked during a task is consistently higher across cortical regions, regardless of the region stimulated. These findings suggest that a distinct characteristic of active performance versus resting state is a higher state of natural cortical frequencies.
Alan Brinkley: a life in history

The late Alan Brinkley was highly influential in restoring American political history to its former prominence within the scholarly literature. Little wonder that his former students have edited th...
A Millimeter-Wave ( V -Band) Dual-Circular-Polarized Horn Antenna Based on an Inbuilt Monogroove Polarizer

In this letter, a high-performance dual circularly polarized (CP) circular waveguide horn antenna operating in the V -band (54–60 GHz) is analyzed, built, and tested. The antenna is designed from a cylindrical waveguide section and consists of two mutually orthogonal side-fed ports, a mono-groove, and a conical horn section. The mono-groove is an annulus sector placed at 45° with respect to both the input ports and provides a phase delay of 90° to generate right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) and left-hand circular polarization (LHCP). Simulation results show that the proposed CP horn antenna has interport isolation more than 15 dB, axial ratio (AR) below 2.2 dB, and polarization isolation over 25 dB in the impedance matching bandwidth from 54 to 60 GHz. Also, the proposed antenna provides symmetric radiation patterns. A prototype of this antenna has been fabricated using computer numerical control (CNC) machining technique. The experimental results show good agreement with the simulation results.
Descriptive Quantitative Analysis of First Metatarsal Sagittal Plane Motion.

Abstract Evaluation of the sagittal plane motion of the first ray is a commonly accepted physical examination technique performed during the assessment and treatment of the hallux valgus deformity. Excessive or abnormal motion in this location, termed “hypermobility,” has also traditionally been strongly associated with surgical decision-making and serves as a widely accepted indication for performance of the first metatarsal-medial cuneiform arthrodesis procedure. The objective of this investigation was to perform an analysis of first ray sagittal plane motion from a large population in order to determine the descriptive quantitative characteristics of the data set. First metatarsal sagittal plane motion was measured from a group of 149 subjects (298 feet) with a Klaue device. The mean total first metatarsal sagittal plane motion was 9.37 ± 2.39 mm (3.97-18.76). The data set was found to demonstrate many of the characteristics of a normally distributed population based on the histogram distribution, skewness (0.651), and kurtosis (0.761). No difference was observed between measurement of total sagittal plane motion between right and left feet (9.13 ± 2.37 mm vs 9.61 ± 2.40 mm; p = .081), nor between male and female subjects (9.29 ± 2.27 mm vs 9.58 ± 2.70 mm; p = .352). No substantial correlation was observed between total sagittal plane motion and subject age (Pearson correlation −0.053; p = .522). Results indicate that first ray sagittal plane motion might be best considered as a continuous variable as opposed to categorical variable, and might help objectify the difference between “normal” and “abnormal” motion.
Insight into hydroxyl radical-mediated cleavage of caged methylene blue: the role of Fenton's catalyst for antimalarial hybrid drug activation

Methylene blue with a 10-N carbamoyl linkage was reported to be a hydroxyl radical triggered cleavable ligand. Probed by this platform, hemoproteins were demonstrated to be a much more efficient Fenton's catalyst than commonly used inorganic Fe(ii) salts. The applicability of this ligand was demonstrated through the capability of being triggered by elevated reactive oxygen species levels at diseased tissue, with malaria-parasitized erythrocytes as an in vitro model.
A state’s right to make race through local policy: Hispanics, immigrants and the shifting colour line

This paper analyzes legislative debate over Alabama’s Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act (HB56). Taxpayers and citizens are colorblind legal categories, but the debate associ...
Biomarkers of environmental enteric dysfunction are differently associated with recovery and growth among children with moderate acute malnutrition in Sierra Leone.

Background Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) may influence growth during and recovery from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), however, biomarkers to assess these relations have yet to be identified. Objectives The objectives of this study were to: 1) develop a score for EED based on host fecal mRNA transcripts, 2) compare biomarkers of EED with each other, and 3) examine associations between the EED biomarkers and recovery from MAM and growth outcomes. Methods In a cohort of 520 Sierra Leonean MAM children, biomarkers of EED included the lactulose: mannitol (L: M) test, 15 host fecal mRNA transcripts, and host fecal proteins [α-1-antitrypsin (AAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), neopterin (NEO)]. Anthropometry data were also collected and z scores were computed for length-for-age (LAZ) and weight-for-length (WLZ). Recovery from MAM was defined as midupper arm circumference ≥12.5 cm. Factor analysis was used to identify EED scores using the mRNA transcripts, and mixed effects regression was conducted to test for associations. Results The 15 host fecal mRNA transcripts were clustered into 3 scores: gut inflammation (GI) score, gut structure (GS) score, and gut defense (GD) score. We found agreement between certain inflammation markers (GI score and MPO), and permeability markers (GS score and AAT; AAT and the L: M excretion ratio). Antimicrobial gut defense (GD score) was inversely associated with percent lactulose excreted, a measure of intestinal permeability. LAZ (β: -0.08; 95% CI: -0.14, -0.02) and WLZ (β: -0.03; 95% CI: -0.06, -0.01) were negatively associated with GI score. A high GD score (β: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.64) and low AAT (β: -1.35; 95% CI: -2.35, -0.36) were associated with recovery from MAM. Conclusions Scores derived from host fecal mRNA transcript variably correlated with the L: M test and host fecal proteins. Markers of intestinal inflammation, permeability, and defense were associated with growth outcomes and recovery from MAM.
Does knowing pre-operative penile length influence patient satisfaction post penile prosthesis implantation?

Patients who undergo penile prosthesis implantation as treatment for erectile dysfunction commonly complain of penile shortening after implantation. We conducted a study to determine whether knowledge of pre-operative stretched penile length measurement influences patient satisfaction. This prospective study consisted of 149 patients undergoing inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation from August 2017 to December 2019. Study group participants underwent pre-operative stretched penile length measurement in clinic while the control group did not. Six months post-operatively, patients completed a modified 14-item Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaire to assess overall satisfaction and penile length satisfaction. A total of 102 patients were eligible for final analysis (49 in study group, 53 in control). Mean scores for overall treatment satisfaction were 3.57 and 3.53 (scale from 0 to 4) in the study versus control group, respectively (p = 0.483). Mean scores for satisfaction with penile length were 4.08 and 4.11 (scale from 1 to 5) in the study vs. control group (p = 0.645). The study suggests that knowledge of pre-operative stretched penile length does not influence post-operative satisfaction after penile prosthesis implantation. Therefore, performing pre-operative measurements in clinic solely for informing the patient may be unnecessary. Current interventions aimed at conserving penile length may be effective at maintaining satisfaction with penile length. Trial Registration- This trial is registered and approved by the IRB committee at our institution, ID: HSC-MS-19-0320.
Feedforward Artificial Neural Networks for Solving Discrete Multiple Criteria Decision Making Problems

Decision making involves choosing some course of action among various alternatives. In almost all decision making problems, there are several criteria for judging possible alternatives. The main concern of the Decision Maker (DM) is to fulfill his conflicting goals while satisfying the constraints of the system. In this paper, we present an Adaptive Feedforward Artificial Neural Network (AF-ANN) approach to solve discrete Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) problems. The AF-ANN is used to capture and represent the DM's preferences and then to select the most desirable alternative. The AF-ANN can adjust and improve its representation as more information from the DM becomes available. We begin with the assumption that an AF-ANN topology is given, i.e., specific numbers of nodes and links are predetermined. To adjust the parameters of the AF-ANN, we present an iterative learning algorithm consisting of two steps. (a) generating a direction, and (b) a one-dimensional search along that direction. We then present a methodology to obtain the most appropriate AF-ANN topology and set its parameters. The procedure starts with a small number of nodes and links and then adaptively increases the number of nodes and links until the proper topology is obtained. Furthermore, when the set of training patterns (alternatives with their associated evaluations by the DM) changes, the AF-ANN model can adapt itself by re-training or expanding the existing model. Some illustrative examples are presented. To solve discrete MCDM problems by an AF-ANN, we show how to incorporate basic properties of efficiency, concavity, and convexity into the AF-ANN. We formulate the MCDM problems and use the AF-ANN to rank the set of discrete alternatives where each alternative is associated with a set of conflicting and noncommensurate criteria. We present a method for solving discrete MCDM problems through AF-ANNs which consists of. (a) formulating and assessing the utility function by eliciting information from the DM and then training the AF-ANN, and (b) ranking a rating alternatives by using the trained AF-ANN model. Some computational experiments are presented to show the effectiveness of the method.
Not so lonely at the top: The relationship between power and loneliness

Abstract Eight studies found a robust negative relationship between the experience of power and the experience of loneliness. Dispositional power and loneliness were negatively correlated (Study 1). Experimental inductions established causality: we manipulated high versus low power through autobiographical essays, assignment to positions, or control over resources, and found that each manipulation showed that high versus low power decreased loneliness (Studies 2a–2c). We also demonstrated both that low power can increase loneliness and that high power can decrease loneliness by comparing these conditions to a baseline condition (Studies 3–4, 6). Furthermore, we establish a key mechanism that explains this effect, demonstrating that the need to belong mediates the effect of power on loneliness (Studies 5–6). These findings help explain some effects of power on social cognition, offer insights into organizational well-being and motivation, and speak to the fundamental question of whether it is “lonely at the top” or lonelier at the bottom.
Procedures for Dermal and Inhalation Studies to Assess Occupational Exposure to Pesticides

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses exposure methodology currently employed at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Wenatchee Pesticides Research Branch, as well as newer methodology that has been developed in the past few years by investigators at other laboratories. Until two or three years ago, few investigators were involved in direct exposure assessment; however, with the advent of Rebuttable Presumption Against Registration (QPAR) and its requirement for risk assessment, this has changed dramatically. Several newer techniques have been developed using novel equipment and procedures that will add significantly to the speed, sensitivity, and accuracy with which such exposure studies can be done in the future. Durham and Wolfe defined direct exposure measurement as those techniques that involve the use of some mechanism to trap a toxic material as it comes in contact with the workman during his exposure period. This was later redefined to include the removal of retained toxicant at the end of the exposure period.
CHAPTER 7 – Soldering

This chapter explains the process of soldering in detail. It provides a method for making a good solder joint. The chapter illustrates good and bad solder contact angles with the help of a diagram.
Situating the Early Schelling in the Later Positive Philosophy

This is a translation of the second chapter of F.W.J. Schelling's Abhandlungen zur Erlauterung des Idealismus der Wissenschaftslehre (1796–1797). It is preceded by a brief introduction in which I situate the chapter within Schelling's oeuvre and suggest that it is not only an early articulation of Schellingian Naturphilosophie, but also prescient, anticipating Schelling's later positive philosophy.
The FBI Virtual Case File: A Case Study

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began developing a case management software system called the Virtual Case File in 2000, but eventually abandoned the project in April 2005. The cost of this project was estimated to be over $170 million, and this waste of tax payer money drew sharp criticism. The impetus for the project was due to the FBI’s aging technology infrastructure that included 386-based personal computers and a 12-year-old network system. In 2000, Congress allocated almost $340 million for the proposed FBI Information Technology Upgrade Project (FITUP) that was soon divided into three parts and renamed Trilogy. This project was scheduled to take three years and included an enterprise-wide upgrade of desktop hardware and software and the implementation of a more modern and secure network. In addition, a Virtual Case File system would include a case management system, an evidence management system, and a records management system that would replace the FBI’s antiquated case management system which limited the FBI’s ability to carry out its mission effectively. This study provides a qualitative analysis of this IT project failure. More specifically, this study attempts to answer the questions: Was the failure of the FBI’s Virtual Case File project unique? Or does it share common characteristics with other IT project failures? This case study should be of interest to IT academics in terms of teaching project management or as a theoretical basis for guiding future research. This study should also be of interest to IT practitioners in terms of understanding some important project management challenges when attempting to implement an IT solution.
Results from the Los Alamos Fast Liner Experiment

We present experimental results for aluminum liners imploded magnetically using a 1.75 MJ portion of the Scyllac capacitor bank at Los Alamos. Typical liner dimensions are 10-cm length, 5-cm diameter, and 1-mm initial thickness; because they are thick, these liners remain near solid density throughout the implosion. Implosion velocities of 4−6 × 105 cm/s have been consistently attained. These results agree well with theoretical calculations, which will also be presented. Results obtained with various diagnostics will be presented including voltage and current measurements, pin probes, magnetic field compression probes, and flash X-ray shadowgraphs.
Infinite approximate Peano derivatives

In this paper we introduce approximate Peano derivatives with infinite values allowed, and we show that these derivatives are Baire one, and possess the Darboux and Denjoy-Clarkson properties. Also we show that if they are bounded from above or below on an interval, then the corresponding ordinary derivatives exist and equal the approximate Peano derivatives.
Bioelectrocatalysis of Hydrogen Oxidation/Reduction by Hydrogenases

Hydrogenases are the enzymatic biocatalysts that catalyze the reversible interconversion of hydrogen to protons and electrons. A number of hydrogenases have been immobilized at electrode surfaces, and their electrocatalytic properties investigated, both to understand the fundamental mechanisms of these enzymes and to optimize either fuel production or power output in a hydrogen fuel cell. This chapter discusses the basic enzymology of hydrogenases, and the advantages and limitations of their application in electro‐catalysis. It focuses on the bio‐inspired small inorganic catalyst mimics that have been designed, with the hope of being cheaper and more robust, to reproduce the functionality of these enzymes in technological applications. The chapter considers only the [NiFe]‐ and [FeFe]‐hydrogenases, because they have been demonstrated to be active in electrocatalytic applications. Hydrogenases can generally be thought of as models of biological multielectron catalysis with earth‐abundant transition metals, and, on that front, there is still much to be learned.
A novel vehicular integrated power system realized with multi-port series ac link converter

In recent years, there has been a trend on developing the grid connected vehicles. The futuristic grid connected vehicles need onboard bidirectional power converters to charge their batteries and return the power to the grid during the Vehicle to Grid (V2G) operating mode. This paper extends the functionality of this onboard power converter to a multiport power converter that integrates all the vehicle's sources and loads into a vehicular integrated power system. This highly integrated power system has unique characteristics and brings new functionalities into the vehicle. The general concept of the vehicular integrated power system is introduced in this paper. This concept is realized through the multiport series ac link power converter topology. The fundamental operations are demonstrated through the developed modular experimental setup.
Flawless Consulting: A Handy Tool for Behavior Analysts and Business Consultants

One of the most complex roles for anyone in business is that of the consultant. The consultant assumes the position of persuading others to accomplish various tasks, oftentimes with little or no au...
Intracellular delivery of Bak BH3 peptide by microbubble-enhanced ultrasound.

Purpose. To investigate the possibility of intracellular delivery of Bak BH3 peptide using sonoporation effect by microbubble-enhanced ultrasound.
ELASTIC PROTON-PROTON SCATTERING AT 1.35, 2.1, AND 2.9 Bev.

As a part of our program to study $p\ensuremath{-}p$ collisions at Cosmotron energies, the differential cross sections for elastic scattering were measured at five laboratory angles between 2.3\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 17\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} for each incident energy. Total elastic cross sections obtained by integration are 21.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.4, 17.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.8, and 14.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.7 mb at 1.35, 2.1, and 2.9 BeV, respectively. The angular distribution as a function of the momentum transfer, exhibits a forward diffraction peak, the width of which shrinks slightly as the incident energy increases. The experimental results were fitted by simple optical model calculations and also compared with the predictions of the composite particle theory of Chew and Frautschi.
An Ecological Approach to Examining Body Satisfaction in Caucasian and African American Female College Students

Body satisfaction is a multifaceted concept that depends upon inner biological, psychological, social, and cultural components. Although research has demonstrated the influence of culture and family on the etiology of eating disorders, few studies have examined how these variables are associated with body satisfaction in a nonclinical, racially diverse college population. This study explores the mediating role of race in the assessment of family environment, associated with body satisfaction in college females. More specifically, body mass index (BMI), self-worth, eating behavior, parental attachment, parental control, and media influence are examined in relation to perceived body satisfaction. Females in a southeastern university (231 Caucasians, 80 African Americans) aged 18–24, completed two subscales of Harter’s Self-Perception Scale for College Students assessing self-worth and body satisfaction. Participants reported height and weight to calculate BMI and completed an eating behavior (EAT-26) scale. Attachment to both parents was measured by the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment. Perception of media was assessed by the Media Influence Scale, developed specifically for this study. For both groups, BMI was a predictor of body satisfaction. Self-worth, parental attitudes, media influence, and eating behaviors demonstrated unique interplay with regard to perceived body satisfaction for each race. Findings indicate that body satisfaction, an essential part of self-worth, is constructed differently by each race, and associated with familial variables in distinctive ways.
Special Considerations for Mohs Micrographic Surgery on the Eyelids, Lips, Genitalia, and Nail Unit

Although skin cancers on the eyelids, lips, genitalia, and the nail unit are infrequent, some skin cancers can have higher recurrence rates in these anatomic locations. Intrinsic to Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is maximal tissue preservation and high cure rates, making it a worthwhile procedure for these sensitive anatomic areas to ameliorate any functional or aesthetic compromise. The Mohs surgeon can provide a great service to patients by being aware of the anatomy, specialized instruments, unique histology, and potential complications when performing MMS on these areas.
The method of characteristics applied to a stochastic two-stage model of carcinogenesis

The probability of tumor and hazard function are calculated in a fully stochastic two-stage model for carcinogenesis when the parameters of the model are time dependent. The method used is the method of characteristics.
Do New Drugs Increase Life Expectancy? A Critique of a Manhattan Institute Paper

A recent study published by the Manhattan Institute “Why Has Longevity Increased More in Some States than in Others? The Role of Medical Innovation and Other Factors,” purported to show that the more rapid adoption of new drugs has substantial benefits in the form of increased life expectancy, higher productivity and lower non-drug health care expenditures. This study has been cited as evidence supporting the more rapid acceptance of new drugs in Medicaid, Medicare, and other public programs and has helped to shape public debate on the value of new drugs. This analysis questions the key conclusions of the study. It points out that the key statistical regressions appear to be misspecified, since they show anomalies such as a negative correlation between income growth and life expectancy and find no relationship between education and productivity growth. Methodological flaws addressed include lack of adjustment for infant mortality rates; inadequate proxy measures of health status; lack of adjustment for ages of individuals and other sociodemographic factors; inherent problems with the definition of drug age, or ‘vintage;’ and the failure to consider reverse causation as an obvious explanation for several findings. The Manhattan Institute study does not provide reliable evidence for favoring adoption of newer drugs in either public or private health care programs.
Natural Convection at the Interface Between a Vertical Porous Layer and an Open Space

This paper examines the interaction by natural convection between a fluid-saturated porous medium and a fluid reservoir separated by a vertical impermeable partition. The two fluid systems are maintained at different temperatures. The analysis is simplified by assuming Pr > > 1 in the fluid reservoir. It is shown analytically that the flow and temperature fields in the boundary layer regime consist of two fluid layers in counterflow. The interface temperature is shown to increase monotonically with altitude. The important dimensionless group which governs the fluid mechanics is B = (kRaK 1/2 ) / (k′ Ra1/4 ), where k, k′ , RaK and Ra are, respectively, the porous medium conductivity, reservoir fluid conductivity, Darcy-modified Rayleigh number based on partition height, and the reservoir Rayleigh number based on partition height. The effect of parameter, B, on the flow, temperature, and heat transfer is documented in the range 0 < B < ∞.
A Foxy tango with NFAT.

The transcription factor Foxp3 is essential for regulatory T cell function, yet how Foxp3 operates has remained elusive until now.
Two-dimensional magnetothermal plumes

Abstract The physics of the Kelvin body force and the “buoyancy” it creates is explained. It is demonstrated that, under the Boussinesq approximation, the Kelvin buoyancy can be cast in terms of a spatially variable gravity force. Using the boundary layer approximation, closed form and numerical similarity solutions for steady, laminar, two-dimensional plumes driven by the interaction of a line heat source and a non-uniform magnetic field are obtained and discussed.
Charge exchange in slow H+ + D(1s) collisions

We present the elastic and charge exchange cross sections for slow (meV) H+ + D(1s) collisions based upon a recently formulated adiabatic representation. This representation avoids many of the usual `translational factor' issues, and those that remain have no significant effect for scattering in the n = 1 manifold. The cross sections are converged at the 1% level. The various Feshbach and shape resonances that form in the isotopic gap and in the charge transfer region are identified and compared with previous work. An exact analytical expression for the ratio of H+ + D(1s) and D+ + H(1s) charge exchange cross sections suitable for astrophysical simulations is presented.