cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced visual perception through tone mapping

Tone mapping operators compress high dynamic range images to improve the picture quality on a digital display when the dynamic range of the display is lower than that of the image. However, tone mapping operators have been largely designed and evaluated based on the aesthetic quality of the resulting displayed image or how perceptually similar the compressed image appears relative to the original scene. They also often require per image tuning of parameters depending on the content of the image. In military operations, however, the amount of information that can be perceived is more important than the aesthetic quality of the image and any parameter adjustment needs to be as automated as possible regardless of the content of the image. We have conducted two studies to evaluate the perceivable detail of a set of tone mapping algorithms, and we apply our findings to develop and test an automated tone mapping algorithm that demonstrates a consistent improvement in the amount of perceived detail. An automated, and thereby predictable, tone mapping method enables a consistent presentation of perceivable features, can reduce the bandwidth required to transmit the imagery, and can improve the accessibility of the data by reducing the needed expertise of the analyst(s) viewing the imagery.
The Significance of Serum Inflammatory Factors Level in Children with Refractory Epilepsy

Objective: To explore the significance of serum inflammatory factors level in children with refractory epilepsy.Method: 52 children with refractory epilepsy were selected as experience group and 50 subjects of healthy children as control group.Serum TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-8 were detected in two groups.Result: Serum level of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-8 on 1hour after admission in experience group were much higher than those in control group(P0.05);Comparison with the inflammatory factors level on 1hour and 6 hours after admission,serum level of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-8 on 12 hours after admission in experience group greatly decreased(P0.05);Pearson correlation analysis showed that TNF-α significantly correlated with IL-6 and IL-8.Conclusion: Inflammatory factors may participate in pathogenesis of refractory epilepsy in children,and have relationship with disease prognosis.
The impact of health literacy on rural adults’ satisfaction with a multi-component intervention to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake

SIPsmartER is a 6-month behavioral intervention designed using a health literacy universal precautions approach that has been found effective at reducing sugary beverage intake in rural, low socioeconomic adults. The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to determine if health literacy status influenced participants' satisfaction and perceptions of each intervention component: small group classes, interactive-voice response (IVR) calls, personal action plans and self-monitoring logs. Of the 155 participants enrolled in SIPsmartER, 105 (68%) completed an interview-administered summative evaluation including 68 high and 37 low health literate participants. The quantitative findings show participant satisfaction with each intervention component was high (i.e. classes = 9.6, IVR calls = 8.1, action plans = 8.9-9.1, logs = 8.7 on a 10-point scale) and similar across both health literacy groups. The majority of qualitative responses were positive (81.8%) and code counts were comparable between literacy groups with a few exceptions. As compared with high health literacy respondents, low health literacy respondents more frequently mentioned liking the content and length of IVR calls, liking the motivational aspects of the personal action plans, and identified numeracy issues with the self-monitoring logs. Overall, applying a health literacy universal precautions approach is an effective and acceptable strategy for both high and low health literacy groups.
Skeletal muscle protein synthesis and growth hormone secretion in young lambs treated with clenbuterol.

To determine effects of clenbuterol (CB) on muscle protein turnover and growth hormone (GH) secretion, 16 crossbred wether lambs (14.4 kg) were randomized into two groups designated to receive daily oral boluses of gelatin capsules containing corn starch with either 0 (control, CTL) or 1.87 mg/kg body weight CB for either 14 (n = 8) or 28 d (n = 8). This calculates to be approximately 40 mg CB/kg diet. Lambs had ad libitum access to a 16% crude protein corn-soy diet and feed consumption (FC) was measured. After 14 and 28 d, lambs were slaughtered and semitendinosus (ST), longissimus (LD) and brachialis (BR) muscles were exercised, weighed and analyzed for protein (TP) content. For 6 h prior to slaughter of 28-d lambs, 2.5 microCi L-[U-14C]tyrosine/kg was infused intravenously, blood was sampled and plasma was analyzed for specific radioactivity of tyrosine. Plasma GH concentrations were assessed by radioimmunoassay. No differences due to treatment were found in FC, rate of gain or GH concentrations. Semitendinosus and BR weights of control lambs at 14 d did not differ between treatments. At 28 d, ST and BR weights of control lambs (58.8 and 18.5 g, respectively) were less (P less than .10) than those of lambs treated with CB (74.3 and 23.1 g, respectively). The TP per ST and BR at 28 d for control lambs was 71.5 and 85.1% (P less than .10) that of muscles of lambs treated with CB. Fractional protein synthesis rates (FSR) of the BR (9.4 vs 6.1%/d) and total protein synthesized in ST muscle per day (1.4 vs .8 g) were elevated (P less than .10) in lambs treated with CB compared to controls. These data suggest that the increased fractional accretion rate observed in lambs treated with CB for 28 d was caused by increased FSR.
Effect of enalapril, hydralazine plus isosorbide dinitrate, and prazosin on hospitalization in patients with chronic congestive heart failure

Background. Hospitalization of persons with congestive heart failure for recurrent heart failure or other complications is common. Methods and Results. Male patients aged 18-75 with chronic heart failure were randomized in two sequential trials designed to study the efficacy of vasodilator therapy. Patients were evaluated every 3 months, and information regarding hospitalizations between visits was obtained from the patient, bis family, and/or hospital records. Hospitalization data also were obtained for patients who bad died between scheduled clinic visits. Hospitalizations were not recorded if a patient died during transit to the hospital or in the hospital emergency department before admission
Basic Parameters for Measuring Optical Properties

Publisher Summary The interaction of electromagnetic (EM) radiation is an effective and powerful tool for understanding and probing the electronic and vibrational states of condensed materials. Maxwell's equations that describes the propagation of EM waves are well established and accepted, and they serve as the underlying bases for the optical studies. No optical constants are contained in Maxwell's equations. This chapter summarizes the relations between the optical constants and the macroscopic equations for propagation through the material and the constitutive equations and the intrinsic microscopic parameters of the physics of the condensed state. A series of formulas are developed on the basis of these relationships that are useful in interpreting the optical measurements. The application of either the characteristic or the Fresnel matrices permits descriptions of the systems of varying complexity. The chapter also presents a small sample of the possible lamellar systems.
Optimal sign inverting control for multiple time-delayed systems

In this paper, we present a controversial control concept, Sign Inverting Control (SIC), for systems with multiple time delays. The main motivation for SIC is to provide added robustness capability of a system against delay variations. A nominal control law is formulated for non-delayed case and SIC suggests the sign inversion in these nominal control gains, which is a paradoxical proposition, in order to enlarge the stable operating regions in the domain of the delays. SIC functions with one critical premise that, the union of two control schemes, i.e., nominal and SIC, produces a larger stable region than each of its components does. The selection of an ideal nominal control law for a successful SIC strategy invites some compromising scenarios. Thus an optimization procedure is followed. To achieve this, we propose a systematic procedure starting with an LQR (Linear Quadratic Regulator)-based controller. Then, a 1-D parametric optimization is performed using a scaling factor on the control gain. The proposed optimal SIC procedure is effectively implemented on a single-axis manipulator setup.
Chapter Three: Response to the Jet Age: Federal–Local Interaction and the Shaping of the Aviation Landscape

The introduction of jet aircraft along with the rapid growth within the airline industry required expansion and modernization of the nation’s airport infrastructure. In this chapter, Bednarek explores the important roles played by both local and federal officials. Local officials often faced deciding whether to expand their existing airports or build new. The federal government provided important funding and also periodically turned surplus military bases over to local authorities. In the end, though, in determining exactly where and when new major airports would be established, the shaping of the aviation infrastructure remained a product of negotiation between federal and local officials, with local officials generally having the final word. Case studies include Omaha, Cincinnati and Dayton, Dallas and Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, and Austin.
Pelvic Floor Reconstruction Utilizing a Residual Hamstring Rotational Flap Following Traumatically Induced Subtotal Hemipelvectomy in a Combat Blast Casualty: A Case Report.

ABSTRACTObjective: There are several options for soft tissue coverage following external hemipelvectomy; however, in cases of war-related blast trauma, standard flaps are not always available as a result of the extensive soft tissue damage. Methods: We detail a novel closure technique following a subtotal hemipelvectomy with exposed abdominal viscera using a residual hamstring myofascial cutaneous flap. Results: This flap allowed for fascial tissue to fill the pelvic defect and provided excellent soft tissue coverage for future prosthetic wear. Discussion: In the current literature, there is limited information regarding surgical options for soft tissue coverage following traumatic hip disarticulation. Most cases result from malignancies or severe infection, where tissue distal to the lesion is viable and provides adequate coverage. This case report used a novel technique, provided excellent soft tissue coverage with no wound healing complications, allowed for excellent prosthetic fitting, and the patient...
From Oxymoron to Mainstream: The Evolution and Future of RF CMOS

Well into the latter half of the 1990s, few experts believed that CMOS would ever become a credible RF technology. A scant decade later, CMOS dominates in many RF applications below 10 GHz. Recent developments show credible performance at millimeter-wave frequencies, and continued scaling promises near-THz operation within a decade. This paper tracks key milestones in the evolution of RF CMOS to identify broad themes that permit plausible speculation about possible futures.
Talkin’ about my (re)generation: The who of intrinsic retinal stem cells

World-wide, two degenerative retinal diseases, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, are estimated to affect more than 12% of individuals over the age of 40 (Tham et al., 2014; Wong et al., 2014). Current therapies can slow progression, but cannot restore lost neurons or vision. Thus, there is increasing interest in developing strategies for therapeutic retinal regeneration. Nearly 50years of research on retinal neurogenesis and regeneration has identified Muller glia as intrinsic retinal stem cells in teleost fish. In the mammalian retina, there is no de novo neurogenesis in adults and only very limited injury-induced regeneration has been induced using exogenous growth factors. The study by (Webster et al., 2017) (Evidence of BrdU Positive Retinal Neurons after Application of an Alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonist, this issue) is the first to show robust, retinal neurogenesis in an adult, mammalian retina in the absence of overt injury and provides evidence that the source of the new neurons is likely to be the Muller glia. This exciting finding has the potential to be a game-changer in the field of retinal regeneration.
MATHEMATICAL CONNECTION ABILITY IN SOLVING MATHEMATICS PROBLEM BASED ON INITIAL ABILITIES OF STUDENTS AT SMPN 10 BULUKUMBA

Initial ability is ability to determine the success of students in learning. High or low initial ability can cause differences in solving mathematics problems, particularly in connecting ability in solving mathematics problems based on initial ability of the students. This study is descriptive research with qualitive approach.the researcher is the main instrument guided by test of mathematics initial ability, test of mathematics problems problem solving, anda valid guided interview. Data were coffected through test anda verified through interview. The research subjects were the students of grade IXA at SMPN 10 Bulukumba which consisted of two subjects who have high initial ability anda low initial ability. The research process were conducted in the following steps (a) formulating mathematical connection indicators, (b) formulating supporting instrument, test of initial ability, test of problem solving, and guided interview which is valid anda reliable, (c) choosing research subjects based on initial ability, (d) conducting data collection to reveal mathematical connection ability of the students using test of mathematics problem solving. (e) conducti g triangulation to obtain valid data, (f) conducting data analysis, (g) conducting data analysis, and (h) conducting conclusion drawing based on the results of the study. The result of the study reveal that (a) the subject with high initial ability can complete test of mathematics problem solving based on mathematical connection inndicators, (b) the subject with low initial ability cannot solve the test of mathematical problem solving because there is no knowledge to support the problem solving.
An Experimental Analysis of Windows Log Events Triggered by Malware

According to the 2016 Internet Security Threat Report by Symantec, there are around 431 million variants of malware known. This effort focuses on malware used for spying on user's activities, remotely controlling devices, and identity and credential theft within a Windows based operating system. As Windows operating systems create and maintain a log of all events that are encountered, various malware are tested on virtual machines to determine what events they trigger in the Windows logs. The observations are compiled into Operating System specific lookup tables that can then be used to find the tested malware on other computers with the same Operating System.
Craniofacial Distraction: A Personal Odyssey

By the mid-1980s, approximately 20 years after Tessier reported remarkable achievements in the reconstruction of the craniofacial skeleton with radically new surgical techniques, successful massive en bloc skeletal movements were routinely employed to improve craniofacial function and appearance. Moreover, CT imaging and rigid skeletal fixation systems had been developed, allowing even more complex craniofacial surgical reconstructions. Nevertheless, there remained unsolved problems. The surgical procedures were invasive, and the operations and hospitalizations were lengthy. There was often the need for bone graft harvest, and extensive blood replacement was necessary. Soft tissue problems were often not addressed, and many of the procedures represented what I call “bone carpentry.” The relapse rate for many procedures was relatively high because of the acute intraoperative advancement of skeletal segments against restrictive and deficient soft tissue.
Workload analysis and caching strategies for search advertising systems

Search advertising depends on accurate predictions of user behavior and interest, accomplished today using complex and computationally expensive machine learning algorithms that estimate the potential revenue gain of thousands of candidate advertisements per search query. The accuracy of this estimation is important for revenue, but the cost of these computations represents a substantial expense, e.g., 10% to 30% of the total gross revenue. Caching the results of previous computations is a potential path to reducing this expense, but traditional domain-agnostic and revenue-agnostic approaches to do so result in substantial revenue loss. This paper presents three domain-specific caching mechanisms that successfully optimize for both factors. Simulations on a trace from the Bing advertising system show that a traditional cache can reduce cost by up to 27.7% but has negative revenue impact as bad as -14.1%. On the other hand, the proposed mechanisms can reduce cost by up to 20.6% while capping revenue impact between -1.3% and 0%. Based on Microsoft's earnings release for FY16 Q4, the traditional cache would reduce the net profit of Bing Ads by $84.9 to $166.1 million in the quarter, while our proposed cache could increase the net profit by $11.1 to $71.5 million.
Race in Tolkien Studies: A Bibliographic Essay

Academic discussion on race in Tolkien studies originated fairly recently caused, in part, by the growing influence of cultural studies and the release of the live-action film by Peter Jackson in 2001–2003. For the purpose of this essay, I define Tolkien studies as an inter- and multidisciplinary field encompassing Tolkien’s legendarium as well as adaptations, derivations, and transformative cultural productions arising from his work. My analysis of scholarship dealing with race in Tolkien studies published during the past dozen years reveals two significant patterns of critical approaches and varying, at times oppositional, claims about Tolkien’s work and/or Tolkien himself. These patterns tend toward the binary, especially the conflict between those who see Tolkien or his work as racist and those who see Tolkien or his work as celebrating diversity and multicultural cooperation. The other conflict is between scholarly periods of specialization, specifically the question of whether approaches developed by medievalists or postmodernists are best suited for analyzing Tolkien’s work.
ACL Reconstruction Without Bone Tunnels

A dramatic rise in youth competitive athletic activity and year-round training and competition, along with an increased awareness of ACL injuries in children, has led to a commensurate increase in the frequency of ACL tears in the skeletally immature. Recent understanding of the risks of nonoperative treatment and surgical delay has supported a trend toward early operative treatment. In prepubescent patients, unique anatomy and considerable remaining skeletal growth make physeal-respecting ACL reconstruction challenging. This is significantly more difficult in the smallest knees with congenital ACL absence. Herein we discuss the indications, surgical technique, aftercare, and clinical outcomes after ACL reconstruction without bone tunnels, using an iliotibial band autograft technique.
Jensen's Genetic Interpretation of Racial Differences in Intelligence: Critical Evaluation

Publisher Summary This chapter questions the Jensen's genetic interpretation of racial differences in intelligence, by critically reviewing studies of biological variables related to intelligence, studies of transracial adoptions, studies of racially mixed individuals, regression analyses, and statistical studies of between and within group heritability. Analyses of adoption data indicate that IQs are influenced by the characteristics of the adopting families when children are young but these influences fade over time as children approach adolescence. Transracial adoption data for young children are less persuasive with respect to the influence of the adoptive family on IQ than data on older adoptees. It is suggested that in order to provide decisive evidence against the genetic hypothesis, it would be necessary to demonstrate that children reared from birth by white adopted families have IQs that are determined by the characteristics of their adopted rather than their biological families. It is found that the regression effects for IQ are compatible with genetic influences on intelligence. The chapter concludes that there either are gaps in knowledge, inconsistent results, untested assumptions or flaws in reasoning, so the evidence cited in favor of the genetic hypothesis is not persuasive.
CRT-700.51 Incidence and Treatment of Severe Mitral Regurgitation in Contemporary Clinical Practice

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is present in approximately 15% of those over the age of 50 years. The purpose of this study was to determine incidence and contemporary treatment for patients with severe MR evaluated at a tertiary academic medical center. The echocardiography database at Keck Medical
Major depression in primary care practice : clinical characteristics and treatment implications

Major depression is thought to be underdiagnosed and undertreated in primary medical care facilities. The authors conducted a clinical trial that included a three-phase assessment so only ambulatory medical patients judged eligible for treatment of this disorder in medical settings were recruited. In addition to administering the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule's (DIS) Depression section, the psychiatrists evaluated the DIS-positive patients. This third assessment determined that clinical characteristics of DIS-positive patients were such that 70% of the patients could be treated for major depression in a primary care setting, 13% should probably be referred to a mental health facility, and 17% were experiencing conditions other than major depression.
Evaluating the Level of Openness in Open Source Hardware

Open source hardware is increasingly becoming popular within the makers community, and many organizations are finding ways to leverage the new phenomenon. Open source processes are fundamentally different because they are driven by evolutionary processes, as compared to traditional hierarchical design processes. Hence, a critical driving factor for their success is the ability to use and to make improvements and modifications over existing designs. Making modifications in simple products, where the changes in one aspect of the product do not propagate to other aspects, is relatively easier than in complex products. Currently, such modifications are difficult to perform on complex hardware products, thereby limiting the evolution of open source hardware products. In this chapter, we discuss some of these technological and knowledge barriers faced by the open hardware community in modifying and validating open hardware products. The discussion is guided by an illustrative example of an open source 3D printer.
Book Review: Gilvin, A., Roberts, G., and Martin, C. (eds) 2012. Collaborative Futures: Critical Reflections on Publicly Active Graduate Education

Review of Gilvin, A., Roberts, G., and Martin, C. (eds) 2012. Collaborative Futures: Critical Reflections on Publicly Active Graduate Education. Syracuse: The Graduate School Press, Syracuse University, 409 pp.
Introduction to the Baculoviruses

Of all the viruses known to mankind, baculoviruses are the most beneficial from an anthropocentric viewpoint. While other viruses are studied because they cause problems, the basis of modern baculovirology was stimulated by the potential utility of baculoviruses to control insect pests (see Chapter 13, this volume). The current use of baculoviruses as gene expression vectors (see Chapter 14) evolved from the molecular biology of baculoviruses, a research area pursued while assessing the safety and improving the efficacy of baculovirus pesticides. Basic molecular studies also led to the use of baculoviruses and their genes to explore fundamental questions in biology such as the nature and function of apoptotic pathways (see Chapter 10). However, baculoviruses also cause disease in beneficial species, not just pest species, and understanding what controls the host range of these viruses (see Chapter 9) will become even more important if a balanced ecological perspective displaces anthropocentrism.
Bionomics of the fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its ectoparasitic nematode, Noctuidonema guyanense, in South Georgia.

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), is a perennial immigrant pest of several crops in south Georgia. Moths of S. frugiperda commonly are infested by an ectoparasitic nematode, N...
Persistence and Fadeout of Preschool Participation Effects on Early Reading Skills in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015 marked a new milestone for early childhood education, care, and development. For the first time in the framework of global goals, preschool education was described as integral to children’s school readiness. Yet with few exceptions, much of the research on the impact of preschool has stemmed from high-income countries. Even fewer studies have examined preschool participation and later learning across multiple countries. This article helps fill this gap by connecting preschool participation to early primary reading outcomes, as measured by the Early Grade Reading Assessment. Drawing on a unique data set using student-level learning assessments from 16 countries, we use preprimary participation to explain primary school reading skills, including letter knowledge and oral reading fluency. We also model the influence of key demographic variables on these outcomes, including home language and classroom language of instruction (LOI). For a subset of six countries with exceptionally rich data, we examine national-level policy and practice to better understand what might explain the persistence or fadeout of the effect of preschool. Policy makers and practitioners alike will find these results useful in making cases for improving preschool experiences for children in low- and middle-income countries in the next decade of SDG-related efforts.
Very Low Crosstalk Compact Integrated ROSA for 400G-FR4

A compact integrated ROSA for 400G-FR4 with very low crosstalk has been developed. The package volume is 550 mm3. The lane-to-lane crosstalk penalty is estimated to be 0.1 9 dB and the clear eye-opening using a 53Gbaud PAM4 waveform is observed.
Medical Literature Evaluation and Biostatistics

Abstract The ability to evaluate clinical literature is a key skill for pharmacy students and pharmacists to develop. This chapter provides considerations when reading an article to help readers develop this ability. The structure of this chapter mimics that of a standard article in addition to highlighting many other considerations as it relates to clinical literature publishing and evaluation.
Deep convolutional neural networks for predicting the quality of single protein structural models

Abstract Predicting the global quality and local (residual-specific) quality of a single protein structural model is important for protein structure prediction and application. In this work, we developed a deep one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1DCNN) that predicts the absolute local quality of a single protein model as well as two 1DCNNs to predict both local and global quality simultaneously through a novel multi-task learning framework. The networks accept sequential and structural features (i.e. amino acid sequence, agreement of secondary structure and solvent accessibilities, residual disorder properties and Rosetta energies) of a protein model of any size as input to predict its quality, which is different from existing methods using a fixed number of hand-crafted features as input. Our three methods (InteractQA-net, JointQA-net and LocalQA-net) were trained on the structural models of the single-domain protein targets of CASP8, 9, 10 and evaluated on the models of CASP11 and CASP12 targets. The results show that the performance of our deep learning methods is comparable to the state-of-the-art quality assessment methods. Our study also demonstrates that combining local and global quality predictions together improves the global quality prediction accuracy. The source code and executable of our methods are available at: https://github.com/multicom-toolbox/DeepCovQA
Polydnaviruses: Abrogation of Invertebrate Immune Systems

Viruses in the family Polydnaviridae are symbiotically associated with parasitoid wasps in the families Braconidae and Ichneumonidae. Polydnaviruses persist as stably integrated proviruses in the genome of their associated wasp species and replicate in the ovaries of females. During oviposition into host insects, female wasps inject one or more eggs plus a quantity of virus that infects host tissues. Polydnaviruses do not replicate in the host but expression of viral gene products protects the wasp's offspring from the host's immune system. The main immune defense against parasitoids is encapsulation which is regulated by a number of genes and signaling pathways. Polydnaviruses encode a relatively small number of virulence genes that have diverged into multiple variants. Functional studies indicate that selected members of these gene families encode proteins that target pathways involved in regulating encapsulation and other immune defenses. The types and size of the virulence gene families polydnaviruses encode likely affect how individual parasitoid species interact with particular hosts. Given the large number of polydnavirus-carrying wasps that exist, the diversity of immunosuppressive and other virulence factors that polydnaviruses produce also represents a valuable resource for studies in basic and applied biology.
Problems of accounting legislation in animal breeding and its impact on practice of enterprice

Farmers are required to report reached values of their profit/loss. According to these records the results are evaluated and possible subsidies acquired. Assessing animals as property is one of considerably complicating and complicated entries. Changes in legislation two years ago did not contribute to increasing predicative possibilities of accounting statements and objective farm classification. Larger differences will be evident inside of breeding in areas with higher altitude, especially cattle. It is necessary to improve the legislation.
The effect of hyaluronic acid on the corrosion of an orthopedic CoCrMo-alloy in simulated inflammatory conditions.

Abstract During joint inflammation, various reactive oxygen species (ROS) are present in the surrounding tissue and joint fluid. In the laboratory, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is typically used to simulate inflammatory conditions, and media containing proteins and hyaluronic acid (HA) are employed to simulate joint synovial fluid. Electrochemical interactions between H2O2 and HA in the presence of a CoCrMo surface are expected, since HA molecules contain redox-active moieties. We hypothesized that any redox reactions of these moieties with ROS will mitigate the oxidizing effect of H2O2 on the CoCrMo surface, limiting the corrosion rate of the metal. Non-destructive electrochemical measurements (open circuit potential, linear polarization resistance and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) were used to investigate the corrosion response of CoCrMo in synovial model fluid containing physiologically relevant concentrations of albumin proteins and hyaluronic acid, with and without H2O2. Two different molarities of H2O2, 3 mM and 30 mM, were tested. While both molarities are within physiological limits, 3 mM is well within the range HA could mitigate, whereas 30 mM is not. Contrary to our hypothesis, HA did not alleviate corrosion in 3 mM H2O2 and even caused a corrosion increase in the case of 30 mM H2O2. The decrease in corrosion resistance of the alloy may be attributed to the complexation of degenerated HA molecular chains with chromium ions released from the metallic surface, which are necessary to build a protective oxide film. This finding has clinical implications, suggesting that HA accelerates corrosion of CoCrMo implants in the presence of strong inflammation.
Long-term vancomycin use had low risk of ototoxicity.

Background Vancomycin is a commonly used antibiotic with potent activity against Gram-positive organisms, but prolonged use and high doses can lead to toxicity. While vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity is widely reported, few cases of ototoxicity have been described. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of negative changes in audiograms in patients receiving long-term intravenous (IV) vancomycin and to identify high-risk patients who need audiogram monitoring. Methods This was an IRB approved, cross-sectional study performed at an academic medical center from 1/2012-3/2019. Patients who were prescribed IV vancomycin for ≥ 14 days and had baseline and follow-up weekly audiometry were included. All data was extracted from the electronic medical record. The primary endpoint was worsening audiogram while on vancomycin. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were used to describe the patient population. Results 424 patients were screened for inclusion; 92 received at least two audiograms while on vancomycin. Fifty-three percent of patients were men, the median (IQR) patient age was 44 (34-58) years, and 8% of patients had an estimated Cockcroft-Gault creatinine clearance ≤ 30 mL/min or received hemodialysis. The median (IQR) vancomycin exposure up until the last recorded audiogram was 30 (17-42) days. Vancomycin indications were: 53 (58%) bone and joint infections, 17 (18%) infective endocarditis, 10 (11%) bacteremia, 12 (13%) other infections. Seven (8%) patients experienced a worsening change in hearing from baseline, two (2%) of them suffered mild loss, two (2%) had mild to moderate loss, and three (3%) developed moderate-to-severe hearing loss. In bivariate analyses, no variables were found to be associated with a worsening change in audiogram, including baseline abnormal audiogram, age ≥ 40 years, elevated serum vancomycin levels, or vancomycin doses ≥ 4 grams/day. Conclusions The prevalence of negative changes in audiograms among patients receiving long-term intravenous vancomycin was low. The utility of routine audiogram testing in this population remains questionable except in high-risk patients; however, larger prospective studies with controls may be warranted to further explore the risk of ototoxicity.
The anatomic substrate of mitral annular contraction.

Abstract Background Despite the absence of contractile elements, the mitral annulus undergoes sphincter-like “contraction” resulting in an area reduction of approximately 25%. Its anatomic basis has not, however, been delineated. Since annular contraction helps draw the mitral leaflets into apposition, an appreciation of its anatomic basis could enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of mitral regurgitation. Methods Gross dissection of >100 bovine, ovine and human hearts as well as histologic examination of 5 ovine hearts was performed to ascertain the origins, course and insertion points of the atrial and ventricular muscle bundles related to the annulus. Results Significant circumferentially-oriented left atrial fibers derived from Bachman's bundle flank the annulus internally. These fibers encircle the base of the atrium and insert into the right fibrous trigone. Externally, the annulus is anatomically related to the superficial obliquely-oriented fibers of the left ventricular inlet which course from the subepicardium to the subendocardium. Conclusions Intercalation of the annulus between the musculature of the left atrium and left ventricle subjects it to extrinsic contractile forces resulting in sphincter-like narrowing. The circumferential fibers of the left atrial base are favorably positioned such that their contraction imparts a centripetal force onto the inner aspect of the adjacent fibrous annulus which causes it to translate inward in late diastole. During systole, the superficial oblique fibers of the left ventricular inlet, impose a torsional force onto the outer aspect of the annulus causing it to translate inwards. These observations may have mechanistic implications in mitral regurgitation.
Water proton density in human cortical bone obtained from ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI predicts bone microstructural properties

Abstract Purpose To investigate the correlations between cortical bone microstructural properties and total water proton density (TWPD) obtained from three-dimensional ultrashort echo time Cones (3D-UTE-Cones) magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Materials and methods 135 cortical bone samples were harvested from human tibial and femoral midshafts of 37 donors (61 ± 24 years old). Samples were scanned using 3D-UTE-Cones sequences on a clinical 3T MRI and on a high-resolution micro-computed tomography (μCT) scanner. TWPD was measured using 3D-UTE-Cones MR images. Average bone porosity, pore size, and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured from μCT images at 9 μm voxel size. Pearson's correlation coefficients between TWPD and μCT-based measures were calculated. Results TWPD showed significant moderate correlation with both average bone porosity (R = 0.66, p Conclusions The presented 3D-UTE-Cones imaging technique allows assessment of TWPD in human cortical bone. This quick UTE-MRI-based technique was capable of predicting bone microstructure differences with significant correlations. Such correlations highlight the potential of UTE-MRI-based measurement of bone water proton density to assess bone microstructure.
History of Alcohol Consumption and HIV Status Related to Functional Connectivity Differences in the Brain During Working Memory Performance

Background Poorer working memory function has previously been associated with alcohol misuse, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive status, and risky behavior. Poorer working memory performance relates to alterations in specific brain networks. Objective The current study examined if there was a relationship between brain networks involved in working memory and reported level of alcohol consumption during an individual's period of heaviest use. Furthermore, we examined whether HIV status and the interaction between HIV and alcohol consumption was associated with differences in these brain networks. Methods Fifty adults, 26 of whom were HIV positive, engaged in an n-back working memory task (0-back and 2-back trials) administered in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The Kreek- McHugh-Schluger-Kellogg (KMSK) scale of alcohol consumption was used to characterize an individual's period of heaviest use and correlates well with their risk for alcohol dependence. Connectivity analyses were conducted using data collected during n-back task. Results Functional connectivity differences associated with greater alcohol consumption included negative connectivity, primarily from parietal attention networks to frontal networks. Greater alcohol consumption was also associated with positive connectivity from working memory nodes to the precuneus and paracingulate. HIV positive status was associated with more nodes of negative functional connectivity relative to alcohol consumption history alone, particularly in the frontoparietal networks. The HIV positive individuals with heavier drinking history related to negative fronto-parietal connectivity, along with positive connectivity from working memory nodes to mesolimbic regions. Conclusion Findings allow for a better understanding of brain networks affected by HIV and alcohol and may provide avenues for interventions.
Correlation of dosimetric factors with the development of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis in stereotactic body radiotherapy.

The development of radiation pneumonitis (RP) after Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) is known to be associated with many different factors, although historical analyses of RP have commonly utilized heterogeneous fractionation schemes and methods of reporting. This study aims to correlate dosimetric values and their association with the development of Symptomatic RP according to recent reporting standards as recommended by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. We performed a single-institution retrospective review for patients who received SBRT to the lung from 2010 to 2017. Inclusion criteria required near-homogeneous tumoricidal (α/β = 10 Gy) biological effective dose (BED10) of 100–105 Gy (e.g., 50/5, 48/4, 60/8), one or two synchronously treated lesions, and at least 6 months of follow up or documented evidence of pneumonitis. Symptomatic RP was determined clinically by treating radiation oncologists, requiring radiographic evidence and the administration of steroids. Dosimetric parameters and patient factors were recorded. Lung volumes subtracted gross tumor volume(s). Wilcoxon Rank Sums tests were used for nonparametric comparison of dosimetric data between patients with and without RP; p-values were Bonferroni adjusted when applicable. Logistic regressions were conducted to predict probabilities of symptomatic RP using univariable models for each radiation dosimetric parameter. The final cohort included 103 treated lesions in 93 patients, eight of whom developed symptomatic RP (n = 8; 8.6%). The use of total mean lung dose (MLD) > 6 Gy alone captured five of the eight patients who developed symptomatic RP, while V20 > 10% captured two patients, both of whom demonstrated a MLD > 6 Gy. The remaining three patients who developed symptomatic RP without exceeding either metric were noted to have imaging evidence of moderate interstitial lung disease, inflammation of the lungs from recent concurrent chemoradiation therapy to the contralateral lung, or unique peri-tumoral inflammatory appearance at baseline before treatment. This study is the largest dosimetric analysis of symptomatic RP in the literature, of which we are aware, that utilizes near-homogenous tumoricidal BED fractionation schemes. Mean lung dose and V20 are the most consistently reported of the various dosimetric parameters associated with symptomatic RP. MLD should be considered alongside V20 in the treatment planning process. Retrospectively registered on IRB 398–17-EP.
Mortality after inpatient open ventral hernia repair: developing a risk stratification tool based on 55,760 operations.

Abstract Background The medical complexity of hernia patients imparts higher risk for complications, and mortality is a distinct reality. No study has stratified patients based on preoperative risk for open ventral hernia repair (VHR) specifically. We utilized the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program to create a mortality risk stratification model following VHR. Methods Patients undergoing open VHR were identified from American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program databases. Baseline variables correlated with mortality risk were entered into stepwise regression and bootstrap analysis. β-Coefficients were used to weigh each factor, yielding the risk assessment tool. Results A total of 55,760 patients were included with a mortality of 1.34%. Predictors of mortality included the following: functional status (odds ratio [OR] = 2.87), liver disease (OR = 3.61), malnutrition (OR = 1.43), age greater than 65 years (OR = 2.39), American Society of Anesthesiologists 4 or higher (OR = 2.90), systemic inflammation (OR = 1.99), and contamination (OR = 2.15). Patients were risk stratified into low risk (mortality .33%), moderate risk (mortality 1.86%), high risk (mortality 8.76%), and extreme risk groups (mortality 34.2%). Unplanned reoperations and medical complications increased across risk groups. The model demonstrated high discriminatory ability with a C-statistic value of .86. Conclusions This study provides an accurate model to predict mortality risk specific to open VHR. The strongest predictors were American Society of Anesthesiologists, liver disease, functional status, and older age. This tool may inform clinical decision making to reduce complications.
Evaluating the Performance of Sensor-based Bout Detection Algorithms: The Transition Pairing Method.

Bout detection algorithms are used to segment data from wearable sensors, but it is challenging to assess segmentation correctness. Purpose To present and demonstrate the Transition Pairing Method (TPM), a new method for evaluating the performance of bout detection algorithms. Methods The TPM compares predicted transitions to a criterion measure in terms of number and timing. A true positive is defined as a predicted transition that corresponds with one criterion transition in a mutually exclusive pair. The pairs are established using an extended Gale-Shapley algorithm, and the user specifies a maximum allowable within-pair time lag, above which pairs cannot be formed. Unpaired predictions and criteria are false positives and false negatives, respectively. The demonstration used raw acceleration data from 88 youth who wore ActiGraph GT9X monitors (right hip and non-dominant wrist) during simulated free-living. Youth Sojourn bout detection algorithms were applied (one for each attachment site), and the TPM was used to compare predicted bout transitions to the criterion measure (direct observation). Performance metrics were calculated for each participant, and hip-versus-wrist means were compared using paired T-tests (α = 0.05). Results When the maximum allowable lag was 1-s, both algorithms had recall 80% of criterion transitions were undetected, and >90% of predicted transitions were false positives. Conclusion The TPM improves on conventional analyses by providing specific information about bout detection in a standardized way that applies to any bout detection algorithm.
Correction to: Intergenerational Coresidence and Mothers’ Body Weight at Midlife

In the original publication of this article, the acknowledgement section has been missed to publish. Now the same has been provided in this correction.
Connected Lending in Bank Lines of Credit

We find that firms usually obtain larger credit lines if their executives have common past employers or past board memberships with lenders. The effect not only exists in the initial amount of credit lines but also the amendment amount during renegotiation. The effect is stronger during the financial crisis and persists after the financial crisis. Having a relationship with banks increases the lines of credit for borrowers with financial constraints or high idiosyncratic risks. More importantly, connected firms obtain larger increases in short-term funding during renegotiation when they have negative credit quality or earnings news. Overall, our findings suggest that asymmetric information is reduced through ties between borrowers and lenders, which significantly improves the short-term funding capacity in the dynamic contract of credit lines.
Simulation based Study of TCP Variants in Hybrid Network

Transmission control protocol (TCP) was originally designed for fixed networks to provide the reliability of the data delivery. The improvement of TCP performance was also achieved with different types of networks with introduction of new TCP variants. However, there are still many factors that affect performance of TCP. Mobility is one of the major affects on TCP performance in wireless networks and MANET (Mobile Ad Hoc Network). To determine the best TCP variant from mobility point of view, we simulate some TCP variants in real life scenario. This paper addresses the performance of TCP variants such as TCP-Tahoe, TCP-Reno, TCP-New Reno, TCPVegas,TCP-SACK and TCP-Westwood from mobility point of view.The scenarios presented in this paper are supported by Zone routing Protocol (ZRP) with integration of random waypoint mobility model in MANET area. The scenario shows the speed of walking person to a vehicle and suited particularly for mountainous and deserted areas. On the basis of simulation, we analyze Round trip time (RTT) fairness, End-to-End delay, control overhead, number of broken links during the delivery of data. Finally analyzed parameters help to find out the best TCP variant.