cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emergent Precarities and Lateral Aesthetics: An Introduction

This introduction to the special focus section, “Emergent Precarities and Lateral Aesthetics,” takes the recent work of Lauren Berlant and Judith Butler as its point of departure to map the parameters of lateral agency and precarity as a means of exploring what options are available for artistic and cultural projects that attempt to imagine their way through, and/or intervene in, the neoliberal forces producing these attritions in, and of, labor and life. Drawing from certain developments in postwar avant-garde art and culture (e.g., Debord’s notion of drift) as well as more recent investigations in art, aesthetics, and politics (e.g., Ranciere’s notion of indeterminacy), this essay proposes that new habits of attenuation, diminution, and collective de-dramatization, along with new modes of perception—to which “emergent precarities” and “lateral aesthetics” offer a tentative name—serve as options for projects in literature, visual art, and related modes of cultural production that work to describe, investigate, and at times interrupt the conditions of neoliberalism.
HIV infection of the penis

Recent evidence that circumcision decreases HIV infection in heterosexual men by 50-60% has focused research on the foreskin as a target of HIV infection. In this review article, we discuss potential mechanisms underlying the circumcision effect and re-examine the assumption that the foreskin is the principle penile HIV infection site. HIV target cells are present in the foreskin epithelium, but are also found in the epithelia of the penile shaft, glans/corona, meatus and urethral introitus. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can affect any of these sites and increase susceptibility to HIV acquisition by eroding the protective epithelial layer and by attracting and activating HIV target cells in the epithelium. The moist subpreputial cavity, which encompasses the entire penile tip in most uncircumcised men including the glans, meatus and urethral introitus, plays an important role in STI acquisition. Circumcised men have a lower rate of STIs that infect not only the foreskin but also other distal penile sites, especially the urethra. Likewise, the foreskin may trap HIV and HIV-infected cells after intercourse thereby increasing the risk of HIV acquisition not only through the inner foreskin but also other sites covered by the foreskin. The subpreputial cavity also hosts a unique microbiome that may also play a role in HIV infection. We hypothesize that the penile urethra may be the primary HIV acquisition site in circumcised men and possibly also in non-circumcised men because of the presence of superficial HIV target cells and a high incidence of STIs at this site. Both innate and adaptive immune defense mechanisms are operative in the lower male genital region. The penile urethral mucosa contains accumulations of IgA(+) plasma cells and T lymphocytes and may provide a responsive target for future mucosal vaccines to prevent HIV sexual transmission.
Trap Detection of Stored-Grain Insects in Farm-Stored, Shelled Corn

The detection of insects infesting farm-stored, shelled corn was improved with the use of traps as compared with conventional probing methods. The ratios of trap to probe detection at six sites within a bin ranged between 1.13:1 and 7.0:1 for Cryptolestes spp., Ahasverus advena (Waltl), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Typhaea stercorea (L.), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), and Cynaeus angustus (LeConte). Trap to probe detection ratios among paired observations ranged between 2.87:1 and 31.0:1, and for mean insect catch ranged between 36.5:1 and 630.0:1. Traps frequently detected insect species when paired probe samples had zero insect catches. The converse was not true.
Variability in Postdiapause Development Periods of Geographically Separate Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Populations in Pennsylvania

Postdiapause developmental periods of overwintering European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), larvae collected at five geographically separate locations in Pennsylvania (Bradford, Centre, Lancaster, Lycoming, and Mercer counties) were compared. Larvae were reared under constant 25°C and 16-h light conditions in growth chambers after collection, and the days for each individual larva to complete the larval stage were recorded. Degree-days (DD) from 1 January to pupation were calculated. The Mercer and Lancaster populations completed the postdiapause developmental period within 450 DD; whereas the Centre and Lycoming populations required 650 DD, and the Bradford population required more than 900 DD. Although the termination day of a population's pupation period varied greatly between geographic locations, the degree-days for initiation of spring pupation among populations were very similar. The study results suggested that a mixture of univoltine and bivoltine individuals coexist in Centre, Lycoming, and Bradford counties, leading to a prolonged postdiapause developmental period an continual emergence over the growing season. The data also suggested that postdiapause developmental periods may be correlated with length of growing season.
Effects of Process Tube Position on Properties of Graphene Layers

Graphene, with unique electrical, optical and mechanical properties is a promising material in industrial applications, such as batteries, supercapacitors, transistors and semiconductor devices. These potential applications of graphene have motivated the development of large-scale synthesis of graphene on copper substrates by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). To enable practical applications of large-area, high quality graphene layers at the centimeter and wafer scales, process control needs to be implemented for optimizing the morphology and electrical properties and enable repeatable growth-cycle of graphene layers for process-line implementation. Here we investigate the effects of process quartz-tube position on the structural properties of graphene. Furthermore, we describe a procedure for process optimization of the growth parameters. Graphene is grown on copper foils by CVD, and transferred to the SiO2/Si and glass substrates. The detailed characterization of the graphene layers are conducted using Raman spectroscopy, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-vis spectroscopy. The experimental results show that the position of copper foil into the quartz tube plays a significant role in the Raman features of the graphene, and influences the optical, morphology and surface properties of graphene layers. We believe that these results will be useful for determining the optimum processing conditions of high quality graphene layers at the centimeter and wafer scales.
Nonstoichiometry and Point Defect Structure of Olivines, (FexMg1-x)2SiO4

A thermogravimetric study was conducted on synthetic olivines (Fe x Mg 1-x ) 2 SiO 4' prepared either by a conventional ceramic methodor a sol-gel method, to determine the nonstoichiometry and the point defect structure. Measurements were carried out as a function of oxygen activity and cationic composition at elevated temperatures. To avoid the dissolution of transition metal components of the silicate into noble metal containers, commonly used in previous investigations, quartz containers were used. The analysis of the point defect structure of olivines based on the new experimental results is presented.
Internal Jugular Vein Cross-Sectional Area and Cerebrospinal Fluid Pulsatility in the Aqueduct of Sylvius: A Comparative Study between Healthy Subjects and Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Objectives Constricted cerebral venous outflow has been linked with increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsatility in the aqueduct of Sylvius in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy individuals. This study investigates the relationship between CSF pulsatility and internal jugular vein (IJV) cross-sectional area (CSA) in these two groups, something previously unknown. Methods 65 relapsing-remitting MS patients (50.8% female; mean age = 43.8 years) and 74 healthy controls (HCs) (54.1% female; mean age = 43.9 years) were investigated. CSF flow quantification was performed on cine phase-contrast MRI, while IJV-CSA was calculated using magnetic resonance venography. Statistical analysis involved correlation, and partial least squares correlation analysis (PLSCA). Results PLSCA revealed a significant difference (p<0.001; effect size = 1.072) between MS patients and HCs in the positive relationship between CSF pulsatility and IJV-CSA at C5-T1, something not detected at C2-C4. Controlling for age and cardiovascular risk factors, statistical trends were identified in HCs between: increased net positive CSF flow (NPF) and increased IJV-CSA at C5-C6 (left: r = 0.374, p = 0.016; right: r = 0.364, p = 0.019) and C4 (left: r = 0.361, p = 0.020); and increased net negative CSF flow and increased left IJV-CSA at C5-C6 (r = -0.348, p = 0.026) and C4 (r = -0.324, p = 0.039), whereas in MS patients a trend was only identified between increased NPF and increased left IJV-CSA at C5-C6 (r = 0.351, p = 0.021). Overall, correlations were weaker in MS patients (p = 0.015). Conclusions In healthy adults, increased CSF pulsatility is associated with increased IJV-CSA in the lower cervix (independent of age and cardiovascular risk factors), suggesting a biomechanical link between the two. This relationship is altered in MS patients.
The use of electroejaculation and zygote intrafallopian transfer to achieve a pregnancy after a major gunshot wound to the abdomen: a unique application

The application of electroejaculation associated with ZIFT enabled a successful establishment of a viable pregnancy in a couple whose husband sustained a major gunshot wound to the abdomen
SU‐F‐T‐652: Verification of Inter‐Fractional Tumor Motion Using Daily Fiducial Length Measurement for Pancreatic SBRT

Purpose: To evaluate possible inter-fractional tumor motion variability for pancreatic SBRT with length measurement of the fiducial depiction on the scan and to develop an empirical correlation using a moving phantom and fiducials for adjusting gating window on a daily basis Methods: In this retrospective study, motion data for fifty pancreatic SBRT patients with fiducials were selected to find the tumor motion statistics. Three gold fiducials of 5mm were placed around a solid target inside the Quasar Phantom and the 4D CT images of the Phantom were acquired with tumor motion of 1cm in superior-inferior direction. The breathing period was set to 4 seconds with a sinusoidal breathing form. After 4D-CT acquisition, CT50% images were imported into the Eclipse and setup fields were created for acquiring CBCT images. CBCT images were acquired by using the TrueBeam-STx and Pelvis technique. For sinusoidal tumor motions, CBCT images were acquired with tumor motion from zero to 2cm with 0.5cm increment along SI direction. The breathing period was varied from 2∼6 seconds with 2-second increment. Also, real patients’ breathing files acquired from Varian-RPM system were used to simulate real patients’ breathing patterns. Then length of fiducial depiction was measured with a HU threshold of zero and was used to find its correlation with real tumor motion. Results: Tumor motions in SI, AP, and LR directions were 0.7±0.5cm, 0.2±0.3cm, and 0.1±0.2cm, respectively. Breathing period was 4.3±0.8seconds. For a sinusoidal breathing form, there was a significant correlation between length of fiducial and real tumor motions with R2 of 0.98. However, the length of fiducial was independent of varying breathing periods. For a real patient's breathing file, the correlation between fiducial length(Y) and tumor motion(X) was Y=1.1268X+0.2696 with R2 of 0.99. Conclusion: With daily fiducial length measurement, we can evaluate possible changes in the inter-fractional tumor motion in pancreatic SBRT.
Differentiation of self-rated oral health between American non-citizens and citizens.

Background Oral health disparities exist in the USA. However, little is known of the relationship between oral health disparity and citizenship. The aims of this study were: (i) to describe the differences in self-rated oral health (SROH) between adult American citizens and non-citizens (>20 years of age); and (ii) to test whether factors such as frequency of dentist visits and socio-economic status (SES) are differently associated with SROH in these two groups. Methods The data used in this study were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2011–2012. Weighted logistic regression models were used to detect the strengths of the association between a series of predictors and SROH. Results More non-citizens (59.54%) than their citizen peers (26.24%) rated their oral health as fair/bad. All factors analysed in this study were differently associated with SROH based on citizenship. More specifically, natural characteristics, such as ethnicity and age, were significantly associated with SROH among non-citizens, and SES was significantly associated with American citizens. Among non-citizens, Hispanic, Non-Hispanic Black and Asian subjects were more likely than Non-Hispanic White subjects to report their oral health as being ‘good’. Family poverty level, education and the frequency of dentist visits were significantly associated with SROH among citizens. Conclusion The findings of this study indicate that American immigrants report their oral health across most dimensions as being worse than do American citizens. Each explanatory factor may have a different strength of association with SROH in immigrants and citizens, which implies that different steps should be taken within these groups to reduce disparities in oral health.
Prevalence of Thrombophilia in Patients with Retinal Vascular Occlusion

Abstract Background: Retinal vascular occlusion (RVO), both arterial (RAO) and venous (RVO) is an important cause of visual loss. Inherited and acquired thrombophilia are considered important risk factors in the development of RVO. Additionally, cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking and use of female hormones may play a role. Objective: To determine the prevalence of thrombophilia in patients with RVO. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all patients with documented RVO who were referred to our hematology clinic at a tertiary care center between January 2001 and June 2008 for thrombophilia evaluation. Thrombophilia evaluation included testing for factor V Leiden, prothrombin gene mutation G20210A, deficiencies in antithrombin, protein C and S, presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLas), hyperhomocysteinemia and increased levels of lipoprotein (a), factor VIII, IX and XI. Serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation were also performed. Environmental risk factors analyzed included use of female hormones, pregnancy and puerperium, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes. Results: A total of 24 patients were identified; 10 were males and 14 females. The mean age was 62 years (range, 31 to 86 years). Seven patients had RAO and 17 RVO. Of the 24 patients, 19 (79%) had thrombophilia. Of these, 10 had only one thrombophilia and 9 had ≥2 thrombophilia. Of the 10 patients with a single thrombophilia, 3 patients had aPLas, 3 had increased lipoprotein (a) 2 had factor V Leiden, 1 hyperhomocysteinemia, and 1 had increased factor VIII level. Of the nine patients with combined thrombophilia: 3 had hyperhomocysteinemia and increase factor VIII level, 2 prothrombin gene mutation and positive lupus anticoagulant, 1 positive aPLas, hyperhomocysteinemia and a monoclonal gammopathy, 1 aPLas and increased factor VIII, 1, hyperhomocysteinemia and protein S deficiency and 1 hyperhomocysteinemia and polycythemia vera. In 5 patients, no thrombophilia was identified. Of the 24 patients, 11 had hypertension, 9 had hyperlipidemia, 3 were smokers, 3 were using female hormones and 1 was pregnant. Treatment included aspirin 81 mg (n= 9), aspirin >81 mg (n= 5), warfarin (n= 3), folic acid (n=2), aspirin and clopidogrel (n=1), clopidogrel (n=1), no treatment (n=4), and unknown (n=1). Conclusions: Over three quarters (79%) of patients with RVO had an underlying thrombophilia with aPLas, hyperhomocysteinemia and increased factor VIII level being the most prevalent. Our findings suggest that testing for thrombophilia particularly for aPLas, homocysteine and factor VIII levels may be useful in patients with RVO
Predictors of renal dysfunction after endovascular and open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms

Abstract Objective Renal complications after repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, limited data have assessed risk factors for renal complications in the endovascular era. This study aimed to identify predictors of renal complications after endovascular AAA repair (EVAR) and open repair. Methods Patients who underwent EVAR or open repair of a nonruptured infrarenal AAA between 2011 and 2013 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project Targeted Vascular module. Patients on hemodialysis preoperatively were excluded. Renal complications were defined as new postoperative dialysis or creatinine increase >2 mg/dL. Patient demographics, comorbidities, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), operative details, and outcomes were compared using univariate analysis between those with and without renal complications. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of renal complications. Results We identified 4503 patients who underwent elective repair of an infrarenal AAA (EVAR: 3869, open repair: 634). Renal complication occurred in 1% of patients after EVAR and in 5% of patients after open repair. There were no differences in comorbidities between patients with and without renal complications. A preoperative GFR 2 occurred more frequently among patients with renal complications (EVAR: 81% vs 37%, P P P P 2 (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 2.4-8.7), open repair (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.3-5.3), transfusion (OR, 6.1; 95% CI, 3.0-12.6), and prolonged operative time (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.6-5.6). Conclusions Predictors of renal complications include elevated baseline GFR, open approach, transfusion, and prolonged operative time. Given the dramatic increase in mortality associated with renal complications, care should be taken to use renal protective strategies, achieve meticulous hemostasis to limit transfusions, and to use an endovascular approach when technically feasible.
Quantum interference of highly-dispersive surface plasmons(Conference Presentation)

Previous experiments have shown that surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) preserve their entangled state and do not cause measurable decoherence. However, essentially all of them were done using SPPs whose dispersion was in the linear “photon-like” regime. We report in this presentation on experiments showing how transition to “true-plasmon” non-linear dispersion regime, which occurs near SPP resonance frequency, will affect quantum coherent properties of light. To generate a polarization-entangled state we utilize type-I parametric down-conversion, occurring in a pair of non-linear crystals (BiBO), glued together and rotated by 90 degrees with respect to each other. For state projection measurements, we use a pair of polarizers and single-photon avalanche diode coincidence count detectors. We interpose a plasmonic hole array in the path of down-converted light before the polarizer. Without the hole array, we measure visibility V=99-100% and Bell’s number S=2.81±0.03. To study geometrical effects we fabricated plasmonic hole arrays (gold on optically polished glass) with elliptical holes (axes are 190nm and 240nm) using focused ion beam. When we put this sample in our system we measured the reduction of visibility V=86±5% using entangled light. However, measurement using classical light gave exactly the same visibility; hence, this reduction is caused only by the difference in transmission coefficients of different polarizations. As samples with non-linear dispersion we fabricated two-layer (a-Si - Au) and three-layer (a-Si – Au – a-Si) structures on optically polished glass with different pitches and circular holes. The results of measurements with these samples will be discussed along with the theoretical investigations.
Homogenization of layered media based on scattering response and field integration

Abstract The stress wave scattering off of any finite slab may be used as a physical approach to determining some or all of the overall dynamic constitutive parameters of such a specimen. In this paper, this approach is applied to normal incidence of symmetric and asymmetric layered structures with elastic or viscoelastic layers. The method determines all of the overall constitutive constants of a Willis-type material (including zero and non-zero coupling parameters) for all frequencies, even in stop bands of elastic structures, exactly. The ambiguity in phase velocity calculation is overcome using continuity considerations. Symmetries in coupling constants and the restrictions due to energy conservation and dissipation are presented. Integrating the wave equations directly leads to a proposed micro-structural scheme for determination of the overall constitutive parameters. The results of this method are identical to those derived based on the scattering response for all frequencies, including stop bands, and beyond the long wavelength limit of traditional homogenization techniques. The proposed approach has the potential to be applied to 3D-structured unit cells, oblique incidences, and simultaneous scattering of multiple waves.
Sex Determines Cardiac Myocyte Stretch and Relaxation.

Trexler et al1 show for the first time that biological sex differences in isolated rat cardiomyocytes and myofibrils affect myocyte function. In addition, they discovered sex-specific cardiomyocyte gene expression profiles, like the protein kinase A pathway, that could provide insight into sex differences in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study reports sex differences in gene profiles of isolated cardiomyocytes using high-quality RNAseq data, which allows a more detailed look at gene differences than previously published gene expression studies that typically used microarray of whole hearts (a combination of myocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial, and resident immune cells, for example).2,3 A major finding of Trexler et al1 is that healthy female rats have increased fractional shortening in both whole hearts and in paced cardiomyocytes. Female cardiac myocytes and myofibrils also take longer to relax after contraction, which may contribute to cardiac dysfunction in women after cardiac injury or disease. See Article by Trexler et al CVD is the leading cause of death in men and women worldwide.4 Before age 60, men are at an increased risk of death because of heart failure, whereas women develop some forms of heart disease, like stroke and hypertension, more frequently after menopause.4,5 Historically, women have been underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials.6 This led to the National Institutes of Health requirement to include women in clinical trials with the unexpected outcome that the data were in most cases not being analyzed according to sex. Controlling for sex or examining only one sex is not sufficient to understand the reason for sex (biological) and gender (social) differences in CVD and other chronic diseases.7 …
American Indians and the Trouble with Sovereignty: A Turn Toward Structural Self-Determination

With tribes and individual Indians increasingly participating in American electoral politics, this study examines the ways in which tribes work together with state and local governments to overcome significant governance challenges. Much scholarship on tribal governance continues to rely on a concept of tribal sovereignty that does not allow for or help structure this type of governance activity. The resulting tension which emerges in both theory and practice from American Indian intergovernmental affairs is illuminated here and the limits of existing theory are confronted. Kessler-Mata presents an argument for tribal sovereignty to be normatively understood and pragmatically pursued through efforts aimed at interdependence, not autonomy. By turning toward theories of federalism and freedom in the republican tradition, the author provides an alternative framework for thinking about the goals and aspirations of tribal self-determination.
Frolík decompositions for lattice-ordered groups

AbstractFrolik’s theorem says that a homeomorphism from a certain kind of topological space to itself decomposes the space into the clopen set of fixed points together with three clopen sets, each of whose images is disjoint from the original set. Stone’s theorem translates this result to a corresponding theorem about the Riesz space of continuous functions on the topological space. We prove a theorem analogous to that for Riesz spaces in the much more general setting of (possibly noncommutative) lattice-ordered groups and group-endomorphisms. The groups to which our result applies satisfy a weak condition, introduced by Abramovich and Kitover, on the polars; the images of our endomorphisms have a kind of order-density on their polars; the double polars of the images are cardinal summands; and the endomorphisms themselves are disjointness-preserving in both directions. We explain how to extend our result to larger groups to which it does not apply, and, to give additional insight, we provide many examples.
Valsalva maneuver induced vitreous hemorrhage.

Background: A 43 year old male who performed a severe and sustained Valsalva maneuver developed a vitreous hemorrhage that was suspected as originating from an optic nerve vessel. Valsalva hemorrhagic retinopathy is not a common ocular finding and a breakthrough into the vitreous is even more uncommon. The vitreous hemorrhage cleared with recovery of previous acuity levels and a residua of small areas of fibrosis in the inferior vitreous. A discussion of the physiology of the Valsalva maneuver and of possible ocular and nonocular complications is presented. There is also a discussion of how this maneuver is used in the diagnosis of orbital diseases. Conclusion: In this case a vitreous hemorrhage was induced by a marked and sustained Valsalva maneuver which resolved without significant sequelae. The Valsalva maneuver is capable of causing many ocular complications; it is important to advise patients about the potential side effects of this maneuver
SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF A DILATED RIGHT VENTRICLE WITH MULTIMODALITY IMAGING

Sinus venosus atrial septal defect (SVASD) is a rare congenital cardiac defect, which accounts for 2-10% of all ASDs. Embryologically, it arises from the deficiency of septation between the pulmonary veins and the superior vena cava or right atrium. A 19-year-old woman with history of syncope
TRPV2 Ion Channel Gating Through Allosteric Domain Coupling Revealed by Cryo-EM

Cation channels of the TRP family serve important physiological roles by opening in response to diverse intra- and extra-cellular stimuli which regulate their lower or upper gates. Despite extensive studies, the mechanism which couples these gates has remained obscure. Previous structures have failed to resolve extracellular loops, known in the TRPV subfamily as the “pore turret,” which are proximal to the upper gate domains. We establish the importance of the pore turret through activity assays and by solving structures of TRPV2 both with and without this domain intact at resolutions of 4.0 A and 3.6 A respectively. These structures resolve the full length pore turret and reveal fully open and closed states of TRPV2 with an unoccupied vanilloid pocket. Our results reveal how physiological signals, such as PIP2 binding, can regulate the lower gate and couple to the upper gate through a mechanism facilitated by the pore turret.
Air emissions from exposed, contaminated sediment and dredged materials: 2. Diffusion from laboratory-spiked and aged field sediments

The mass transfer of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene) and a heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (dibenzofuran) from sediment to air was studied in a large-area flux chamber. A laboratory-spiked local (University Lake, UL) sediment and an aged contaminated field (Indiana Harbor Canal, IHC) sediment was used. The effects of initial sediment moisture content, and changing air relative humidity were investigated. For high moisture conditions in the UL sediment, the flux remained large whereas for low moisture conditions, there was a sharp decrease in flux as a result of surface drying of the sediment. Under similar air velocities and moisture conditions, the flux from the aged IHC sediment was considerably smaller than from the laboratory-spiked UL sediment. Whereas, the flux from laboratory-spiked UL sediment was predicted satisfactorily by a conceptual mathematical model, that from the aged IHC sediment did not agree with the model predictions. It was concluded that only a portion of the contaminant was available for desorption from the aged sediment due to the differences in the sorption characteristics of relatively fresh and aged contaminated sediments.
Treating the Elderly Stroke Patient: Complications, Controversies, and Best Care Metrics

Acute stroke is a devastating disease that affects almost 800,000 Americans annually. Worldwide, the incidence of stroke is rapidly increasing. Although stroke can affect all age groups, patients over age 80 are at much higher risk for ischemic stroke. Despite this, there are disparities in thrombolytic treatment rates, and as well as outcomes, between elderly stroke patients and their younger counterparts. This article discusses what is currently known about the elderly stroke patient for a greater understanding of the disease burden, research limitations and potential treatment options.
Crush Injury and Extremity Compartment Syndromes

The purposes of this review are to define crush injury and crush syndrome and describe how it relates to extremity compartment syndrome. This review will also describe surgical interventions required once compartment syndrome has been identified and discuss the outcomes and complications of both timely and delayed surgical management. The management of crush syndrome has evolved to push aggressive fluid resuscitation as early as feasible, including into the field. Developments regarding compartment syndrome are primarily exploring new tools to facilitate the early identification of compartment syndrome. Two important and clinically relevant sequela of a crushing traumatic injury are crush syndrome and compartment syndrome. The outcomes of both syndromes are greatly improved with early recognition and treatment. There are several different clinical and diagnostic ways to identify compartment syndrome that can be tailored to the clinical setting; however, surgical intervention to release the compartments should be performed immediately once there is a high suspicion as waiting can lead to devastating consequences.
Factors Associated with Prescription Opioid Analgesic Use in the US Population, 2011–2014

Objective This study examined factors associated with prescription opioid analgesic use in the US population using data from a nationally representative sample. It focused on factors previously shown to be associated with opioid use disorder or overdose. Variations in the use of different strength opioid analgesics by demographic subgroup were also examined. Methods Data came from respondents aged 16 years and older who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2014). Respondents were classified as opioid users if they reported using one or more prescription opioid analgesics in the past 30 days. Results Opioid users reported poorer self-perceived health than those not currently using opioids. Compared with those not using opioids, opioid users were more likely to rate their health as being "fair" or "poor" (40.4% [95% confidence interval {CI} = 34.9%-46.2%] compared with 15.6% [95% CI = 14.3%-17.1%]), experienced more days of pain during the past 30 days (mean = 14.3 [95% CI = 12.9-15.8] days compared with 2.3 [95% CI = 2.0-2.7] days), and had depression (22.5% [95% CI = 17.3%-28.7%] compared with 7.1% [95% CI = 6.2%-8.0%]). Among those who reported using opioids during the past 30 days, 18.8% (95% CI = 14.4%-24.1%) reported using benzodiazepine medication during the same period and 5.2% (95% CI = 3.5%-7.7%) reported using an illicit drug during the past six months. When opioid strength was examined, a smaller percentage of adults aged 60 years and older used stronger-than-morphine opioids compared with adults aged 20-39 and 40-59 years. Conclusions Higher percentages of current opioid users than nonusers reported having many of the factors associated with opioid use disorder and overdose.
Governors Gone Wild: Buying Sex, Selling Senate Seats, and Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Client #9, Elvis impersonations, and a bad sense of geography highlight this chapter dealing with three governors who behaved badly. Two governors—Spitzer and Sanford—were guilty of sexual transgression and the third—Blagojevich—took the idea of “pay to play” to the highest level, trying to sell the US Senate seat just vacated by President Obama to the highest bidder. All three qualify as scandals, but perhaps Spitzer and Blagojevich get much more credit for contributing to pop culture than Sanford and his poor attempt at covering up his affair.
Reactions of DGEBA epoxy cured with diethanolamine: Isoconversional kinetics and implications to network structure

Abstract The curing of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy with diethanolamine (DEA) is studied. DEA has three reactive groups, a secondary amine hydrogen and two hydroxyls. The secondary amine reacts rapidly, forming an adduct containing tertiary amines, epoxides and hydroxyls. The epoxides and hydroxyls then react in the presence of the amines to crosslink and vitrify the epoxy in the “gelation” reaction. The gelation reaction, the subject of this study, is not simple. The reaction exhibits unusual dependencies on both temperature and degree of cure. Previously, the general mechanisms of this curing process were explored by a number of us. In the present paper, both differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC) are used to determine a number of characteristic times associated with the reaction. The characteristic times show that the reaction rate has different functional forms at different temperatures and extents of reaction. This results from the reaction rate not depending solely upon the temperature and over-all extent-of-reaction. The concentration of a number of auxiliary reactive species that are generated in the course of the reaction (as well as their mobility and steric hindrance) appear to be key factors in defining the reaction kinetics. The dependence of the final network structure on cure schedule for this type of tertiary amine activated reaction is then discussed in the context of the literature. Finally, in the Supplementary Material, Kamal-like functions are fit to the isothermal reaction kinetics, with the reader cautioned in applying the functions to non-isothermal cures.
Towards Time-Optimal Trajectory Planning for Pick-and-Transport Operation with a Mobile Manipulator

Warehouses and factories are beginning to deploy mobile manipulators for transporting parts between machines and work stations. Minimizing the number of these robots on the shop floor requires that each robot should complete the assigned task in a time-optimal manner and therefore maximize the robot's capacity. In this paper we present a search-based algorithm for generating time-optimal trajectories for picking and transporting parts using a mobile manipulator. The approach is based on a hierarchical search that uses discrete search for planning of the mobile base. The time cost due to the motion of the manipulator for picking up the part is evaluated and integrated with the search state space at the appropriate times. The trajectories generated result in picking up of the part with the manipulator while the mobile base is in motion. The performance of the algorithm is studied for different factory sizes and obstacle densities. This approach enables the mobile manipulator to perform pick and transport operation in a smaller time duration compared to the operation where it stops to pick up the object.
Intraoperative transradial angiography augments safe hysterectomy for uterine fibroids in the setting of ambiguous arterial anatomy: a case report

Transfemoral access is the traditional gold standard for uterine artery angiography; however, transradial access is gaining in popularity because of its decreased complication profile and patient preference. We present a case of a patient who underwent successful total abdominal hysterectomy for symptomatic uterine fibroids with ambiguous pelvic vasculature that would have been otherwise aborted if it were not for intraoperative transradial access angiography. A 52-year-old Caucasian woman presented to her gynecologist for an elective total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. During preoperative imaging, a 15-cm mass consistent with a uterine fibroid was identified, and the patient’s gynecologist decided to treat her with surgical resection, given the fibroid’s size. The procedure was halted upon discovery of a complicated vascular plexus at the fundus of the uterus, and an intraoperative vascular consult was requested. The vascular operator used a transradial access to perform pelvic angiography in real time to identify the complicated pelvic vasculature, which allowed the gynecologist to surgically resect the uterine fibroid. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 4 without any complications. Intraoperative imaging is a useful technique for the identification of complicated anatomical structures during surgical procedures. The successful outcome of this case demonstrates an additional unique benefit of transradial access and highlights an opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration for management of complicated surgical interventions.
How Should Physicians Steward Limited Resources While Ensuring That Patients Can Access Needed Medicines

Hepatitis C poses public health and fiscal crises for state Medicaid programs trying to respond to this epidemic. Meager funding streams
Focused ion beam-induced droplet formation and motion

Nanometer-scale droplet formation and motion under the effects of a focused ion beam is described using a continuum model that combines a thin-film fluid model for dynamics with a Cahn–Hilliard type model for chemical diffusion and phase separation. The focused ion beam (FIB) is represented as a time and space dependent mass and chemical species source. Drops form and move due to the combined effects of a concentration-dependent surface energy, a concentration gradient on the edges of the droplet, and a beam angle-dependent net FIB incoming mass flux. The velocity is comparable to observations, and it has a similar dependence on the beam angle of incidence. Likewise, the ion dose at which droplets reach a width of 60 nm is in good agreement with experiments. The model also explains the biased motion of droplets under a raster-scan pattern focused ion beam.
Financial Freedom Suits: Bankruptcy, Race, and Citizenship in Antebellum America

This Article presents a new frame of reference for thinking about how the federal government facilitated citizenship claims by free people of color in the antebellum United States. While scholars have accounted for various ways in which free black litigants may have made such claims, they have not considered how the Bankruptcy Act of 1841 enabled overindebted free people of color to reconstruct their economic lives, thereby restoring the financial freedom that was and continues to be an essential component of American citizenship. Relying on a variety of primary sources, including manuscript court records, this Article shows how six free men of color in the Eastern District of Louisiana leveraged the economic benefit provided by the 1841 Act to reintegrate into their commercial communities and thereby protect their claims to citizenship.
“Squandered in Real Time”: How Public Management Theory Underestimated the Public Administration–Politics Dichotomy

The United States places great emphasis on the public administration–politics dichotomy, but what happens to public management when the dichotomy breaks down? The authors critically evaluate the public management frameworks, New Public Management and New Public Governance, in the context of two major public management failures: the U.S. State of Illinois Budget Impasse during 2015–2017 and the COVID-19 Pandemic. A definition of public management failure is proffered, and both public management frameworks are found to have polarized and opposing views on whether process or outcome should have priority in crisis. We question whether the two major seminal theories in our field are still generalizable when their assumptions about the dichotomy and political neutrality are challenged in times of crises. The polarized perspectives were found to contribute to the public management failures. Ultimately, both frameworks were found to minimize the political influences that public administration and public management operate under, leaving a need for a more holistic and realistic framework.
An Exploratory Analysis of Alarming and Reassuring Messages in Twitterverse during the Coronavirus Epidemic.

Twitter has become one of the widely used crisis communication tools In the recent coronavirus outbreak, social media users exchange millions of messages ranging from crisis response to awareness creating messages We conduct an exploratory analysis using tweets collected over initial one month of its outbreak to unveil useful trends and gain insights into managing crisis Our findings from the analysis present that both alarming and reassuring messages surface during crisis situations, however, it is the reassurance messages that build confidence in individuals to overcome the distress that an epidemic creates Following the guidelines of Crisis Management, we establish a linguistic based approach to explore the tweets text Our findings provide insights that the gap between the number of alarming and reassuring messages widen as the epidemic spreads Our findings also show that significantly, there exists a cluster of similar messages among the deluge of information Identifying these clusters help manage the crisis situation © 2020 26th Americas Conference on Information Systems, AMCIS 2020 All rights reserved
Fusion Versus Joint-Sparing Reconstruction for Patients With Flexible Flatfoot

AimsPassively correctible, adult-acquired flatfoot deformities (AAFD) are treated with joint-sparing procedures. Questions remain as to the efficacy of such procedures when clinical deformities are...
Limb occlusion pressure for blood flow restricted exercise: Variability and relations with participant characteristics.

Abstract Objective Assess lower-extremity blood flow restricted exercise (BFR) limb occlusion pressure (LOP) variability and identify related intrinsic characteristics using a portable Delphi BFR system. Design Repeated measures. Setting Laboratory. Participants Forty-two healthy males (n = 25) and females (n = 17) (25.8 ± 5.2 y, 1.76 ±0 .09 m, 78.9 ± 14.9 kg) completed two visits. Brachial artery blood pressure, thigh circumferences (TC), and LOP were measured supine. Main outcome measures Linear mixed-effects models (LMM) and generalizability theory were used to evaluate LOP between legs and days, determine intrinsic characteristic relations, and assess random variance components. Results LOP was not different between legs (p = .730) or days (p = .916; grand mean = 183.7 mmHg [178.4, 189.1]). LOP varied significantly between participants (p = .011, standard error = 47.3 mmHg). 47% of LOP variance was between participants, 18% and 6% was within participants between days and legs, respectively, and 28% was associated with random error. The relative error variance was 14.4 mmHg. Pulse pressure (PP) (p = .005) and TC (p = .040) were positively associated with LOP. A LMM including PP and TC predicted LOP with a mean absolute difference of 11.1 mmHg [9.7, 12.6] compared to measured LOP. Conclusions The relative error variance suggests that clinicians should measure LOP consistently for each patient to ensure BFR safety and effectiveness.
Borders, Migrants, and Writing

We tend to think of migrants as moving between states and borders as fortifications of states. I would like to prove the reverse: that migrants produce and reproduce the state in the first place. I think we have got this story backward, and I think a very different politics would arise by getting this the right way round. I would like to try and rethink political philosophy starting from the figure of the migrant.
422 Million intrinsic quality factor planar integrated all-waveguide resonator with sub-MHz linewidth.

High quality-factor (Q) optical resonators are a key component for ultra-narrow linewidth lasers, frequency stabilization, precision spectroscopy and quantum applications. Integration in a photonic waveguide platform is key to reducing cost, size, power and sensitivity to environmental disturbances. However, to date, the Q of all-waveguide resonators has been relegated to below 260 Million. Here, we report a Si3N4 resonator with 422 Million intrinsic and 3.4 Billion absorption-limited Qs. The resonator has 453 kHz intrinsic, 906 kHz loaded, and 57 kHz absorption-limited linewidths and the corresponding 0.060 dB m−1 loss is the lowest reported to date for waveguides with deposited oxide upper cladding. These results are achieved through a careful reduction of scattering and absorption losses that we simulate, quantify and correlate to measurements. This advancement in waveguide resonator technology paves the way to all-waveguide Billion Q cavities for applications including nonlinear optics, atomic clocks, quantum photonics and high-capacity fiber communications. Integrated photonic all-waveguide resonators are a critical component in many future applications. Here the authors develop an optimized photonic all-waveguide resonator with an ultra-high quality factor, Q, of almost half a billion, and a narrow sub-MHz linewidth.
Bayesian inference for the simple step-stress accelerated life tests under order-restriction

Abstract In this work, we investigate the order-restricted Bayesian estimation for a simple step-stress accelerated life tests. Based on the three-parameter gamma distribution as a conditional prior, we ensure that the failure rates increase as the stress level increases. In addition, its conjugate-like structure enables us to derive the exact joint posterior distribution of the parameters without a need to perform an expensive MCMC sampling. Upon these distributional results, several Bayesian estimators for the model parameters are suggested along with their individual/joint credible intervals. Through Monte Carlo simulations, the performance of our proposed inferential methods are assessed and compared. Finally, a real engineering case study for analyzing the reliability of a solar lighting device is presented to illustrate the methods developed in this work.