cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Central neural alterations predominate in an insect model of nociceptive sensitization

Many organisms respond to noxious stimuli with defensive maneuvers. This is noted in the hornworm, Manduca sexta, as a defensive strike response. After tissue damage, organisms typically display sensitized responses to both noxious or normally innocuous stimuli. To further understand this phenomenon, we used novel in situ and in vitro preparations based on paired extracellular nerve recordings and videography to identify central and peripheral nerves responsible for nociception and sensitization of the defensive behavior in M. sexta. In addition, we used the in vivo defensive strike response threshold assayed with von Frey filaments to examine the roles that N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels play in this nociceptive sensitization using the inhibitors MK-801 and AP5 (NMDAR), and ivabradine and ZD7288 (HCN). Using our new preparations, we found that afferent activity evoked by noxious pinch in these preparations was conveyed to central ganglia by axons in the anterior- and lateral-dorsal nerve branches, and that sensitization induced by tissue damage was mediated centrally. Furthermore, sensitization was blocked by all inhibitors tested except the inactive isomer L-AP5, and reversed by ivabradine both in vivo and in vitro. Our findings suggest that M. sexta's sensitization occurs through central signal amplification. Due to the relatively natural sensitization method and conserved molecular actions, we suggest that M. sexta may be a valuable model for studying the electrophysiological properties of nociceptive sensitization and potentially related conditions such as allodynia and hyperalgesia in a comparative setting that offers unique experimental advantages. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:1176-1191, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Paraneoplastic neurological complications of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer of women in much of the world. In countries with screening programs, breast cancer is often detected before clinical symptoms are apparent, but occasionally the occurrence of a paraneoplastic syndrome precedes the identification of cancer. In breast cancer, there are known to be paraneoplastic endocrine syndromes and neurologic syndromes. The neurologic syndromes are often hard to identify and treat. The neurologic syndromes associated with breast cancer include cerebellar degeneration, sensorimotor neuropathy, retinopathy, stiff-persons syndrome, encephalitis, and opsoclonus–myoclonus. Most of these are mediated by antibodies against known neural antigens, although some cases appear to be mediated by non-humoral mechanisms. Treatments differ depending upon the syndrome type and etiology. Outcomes also vary depending upon duration of disease, the treatments used and the responsiveness of the underlying cancer. A thorough review of the published literature is provided along with recommendations for management and future research.
Lamp Lighters and Sidewalk Smoothers: How Individual Residents Contribute to the Maintenance of the Urban Commons.

Research on collective efficacy in urban neighborhoods has focused predominantly on whether a community can regulate local behavior and spaces and less on how they do so. This study pursues the latter question by examining the social regularities that create collective efficacy, measured as the behavioral composition of a neighborhood (i.e., the extent to which each individual contributes to a social regularity). This perspective is applied to the database of requests for non-emergency government services received by Boston, MA's 311 system in 2011 (>160,000 requests). The analysis categorized custodians who have used the system to combat physical disorder in the public space (e.g., requesting graffiti removal) into two groups—“typical custodians” who have made one or two requests in a year, and “exemplars” who have made three or more. A neighborhood's collective efficacy in reporting public issues was identified through audits of sidewalk quality and streetlight outages. Analyses revealed a collaborative model of maintenance in which typical and exemplar custodians were each necessary and non-substitutable. A second analysis found that the two types of custodian were associated with different contextual factors, articulating two different pathways from demographic and social characteristics to collective efficacy, suggesting implications for theory and practice.
Ernst Robert Curtius, Kritische Essays zur europäischen Literatur: Bern: Francke, 1950. Pp. 440.

(1953). Ernst Robert Curtius, Kritische Essays zur europaischen Literatur. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 63-65.
The Effect of Quench Rate during Thermal Bonding of Heterohesive Web Systems

The quench rates (i.e. rates of cooling) during thermal bonding of heterohesive web systems were studied. Quench rates were varied over several orders of magnitude and are shown to be an important factor in web strength. Initially web strength increases with increasing quench rate, reaching a maximum which is followed by a decrease in web strength at extremely high rates, probably reflecting frozen-in stresses. These studies of heterohesive systems extend earlier studies on webs and complement studies of model crossed fiber systems.
Overcoming qRT-PCR interference by select carbon nanotubes in assessments of gene expression.

Nanomaterials (NMs) of various types, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), can interfere with standard quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays, resulting in inaccurate gene expression measurement...
The Equilibrium Ranges in Wind—Wave Spectra

A review is given of the present ideas on the structure of the equilibrium range in the spectrum of wind-generated gravity waves in deep and shoaling water. It is also shown that an exact analog of Kolmogoroff’s spectrum in a random field of weakly nonlinear surface gravity waves gives a spectral form for frequency spectra S(ω)~ω-4 in close agreement with the results of recent observational studies. A suggestion is made for the description of a “transitional” range of wavenumbers (frequencies), where the deviation from Kolmogoroff’s equilibrium is due to gravitational instability (wavebreaking). Because of this it is suggested that one of the possible equilibrium forms for the spectrum of wind generated waves has two asymptotic regimes: Kolmogoroff’s and Phillips’ type of equilibrium with a relatively rapid transition from the first to the second at high frequencies.
Considerations for Visualizing Comparison

Supporting comparison is a common and diverse challenge in visualization. Such support is difficult to design because solutions must address both the specifics of their scenario as well as the general issues of comparison. This paper aids designers by providing a strategy for considering those general issues. It presents four considerations that abstract comparison. These considerations identify issues and categorize solutions in a domain independent manner. The first considers how the common elements of comparison—a target set of items that are related and an action the user wants to perform on that relationship—are present in an analysis problem. The second considers why these elements lead to challenges because of their scale, in number of items, complexity of items, or complexity of relationship. The third considers what strategies address the identified scaling challenges, grouping solutions into three broad categories. The fourth considers which visual designs map to these strategies to provide solutions for a comparison analysis problem. In sequence, these considerations provide a process for developers to consider support for comparison in the design of visualization tools. Case studies show how these considerations can help in the design and evaluation of visualization solutions for comparison problems.
Impact of Computerized Provider Order Entry Systems on hospital staff pharmacist workflow productivity: A three site comparative analysis based on level of CPOE implementation

Objective: Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) is a system that enables physicians to send medication orders electronically rather than physically writing out the order. CPOE can reduce handwriting and transcription related medication errors and has been a major implementation goal for health systems. The objective of this study was to quantify and examine differences seen in the workflow of pharmacists at hospitals, with different levels of CPOE implementation. Methods: An observational, prospective time and motion study was conducted among three hospitals within the same health system: one classified as a non-CPOE system, one as short-term CPOE, and one as long-term CPOE. Pharmacists were observed in one-hour blocks, in which a data instrument was used to record 38 different tasks, which were grouped into four activities: clinical, distributive, administrative, and miscellaneous. The distributive category was further divided into three sub-categories. The average time associated with performing activities across the three hospitals was compared by descriptive and comparative analyses using ANOVAs and the post-hoc Tukey’s range test. Results: A total of 252 hours were collected and 235 met the inclusion criteria. The significant differences in time spent on task categories among hospitals were as follows: Non-CPOE vs. short term CPOE vs. long-term CPOE (mean ± SD in min/h) clinical tasks: (6.55 ± 6.40) vs. (4.95 ± 4.15) vs. (3.79 ± 4.91), respectively, ( p < .05); order entry tasks: (29.62 ± 11.24) vs. (17.44 ± 10.73) vs. (10.27 ± 8.88) respectively, ( p < .05); order verification tasks: (0.88 ± 1.77) vs. (13.93 ± 8.50) vs. (16.60 ± 9.63) respectively, ( p < .05); other distributive tasks: (13.60 ± 10.04) vs. (15.86 ± 8.38) vs. (19.66 ± 8.42) respectively, ( p < .05); and miscellaneous: (3.78 ± 4.64) vs. (1.54 ± 3.20) vs. (2.23 ± 3.51) respectively, ( p < .05). Conclusions: The presence of a CPOE system could affect pharmacists’ workflow and time allotment on different types of pharmacy activities. Further, the time spent on certain activities was associated with the amount of time the CPOE system was implemented.
Can statutory rape laws be effective in preventing adolescent pregnancy

PIP: The male sex partners of minor adolescent women are often 3-6 years older. As policymakers and the general public have become increasingly aware of this reality, there have been calls to enforce states' generally ignored statutory rape laws against sexual intercourse between adults and minors. Statutory rape laws became part of the American legal system through English common law, with early lawmakers in the US setting 10 years of age as the legal age of consent to engage in sexual relations. States gradually increased the age of consent during the 19th century so that the age of consent is now 14-18 years depending upon the state. There is also a widespread perception that adolescent mothers account for the large increase in welfare caseloads over the past 25 years. Policymakers are therefore especially interested in the possibility of reducing adolescent pregnancy rates and welfare costs through the enforcement of statutory rape laws. However, most experts argue that the greater enforcement of such laws will fail to significantly reduce adolescent pregnancy and birth rates. Adolescent childbearing is instead the result of a complex web of factors, including limited opportunity, entrenched poverty, low self-esteem, and many other issues which statutory rape laws do not address.
Decision-making skills improve with critical care training: Using simulation to measure progress.

Abstract Purpose Health care professionals are expected to acquire decision-making skills during their training, but few methods are available to assess progress in acquiring these essential skills. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a simulation methodology could be used to assess whether decision-making skills improve during critical care training. Materials and methods Sixteen simulated scenarios were designed to assess a critical care provider's ability to make decisions in the care of a critical ill patient. Seventeen (17) critical care providers managed 8 of the scenarios early during their training and then managed a second set of 8 scenarios (T2) at the conclusion of their training. Results Provider's mean global scenario scores (0–9) increased significantly fromT1 and T2 (5.64 ± 0.74) and (6.54 ± 0.64) with a large effect size (1.3). Acute care nurse practitioners and fellows achieved similar overall scores at the conclusion of their training (ACNP 6.43 ± 0.57; Fellows 6.64 ± 0.72). Conclusions These findings provide evidence to support the validity of a simulation-based method to assess progress in decision-making skills. A simulation methodology could be used to establish a performance standard that determined a provider's ability to make independent decisions.
Do urinary mononuclear cells reflect disease activity in lupus nephritis

Glomerular inflammation is associated with urinary mononuclear cells (UMC) in a number of diseases including IgA nephropathy and glomerulonephritis. We examined UMC from children with lupus nephritis for a number of years to characterize the types of mononuclear cells found in urine and to determine if they were associated with active lupus nephritis. Detailed analysis of UMC by cell counts and by flow cytometry showed that monocytes were the clearly dominant cell type. Evaluation of the smaller number of lymphocytes found in the urine of patients with active lupus nephritis demonstrated a strong predominance of CD8+ lymphocytes, in contrast to the normal CD4+/CD8+ ratio that is found in peripheral blood. The degree of proteinuria strongly correlated with the presence of UMC. The UMC counts decreased as their clinical condition improved as indicated by lower indices of flare. These observations suggest that UMC may be a valuable tool in detecting and monitoring disease activity in patients with severe lupus nephritis. More importantly, this study indicated that both monocytes and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells may play a role in pathogenesis of lupus nephritis.
Reflections on Shakespeare and the Rule of Law

William Shakespeare’s plays often consider fundamental questions of law and justice, and in several contexts Shakespeare floats elegant paeans to the rule of law. This is all the more striking because Shakespeare wrote when princes, such as Queen Elizabeth I and King James I, reigned with almost absolute power. This essay will touch on some of these passages1. The final section explores, in the context of the rule of law, Shakespeare’s most famous line concerning the legal profession, in which the suggestion is made that we should kill all lawyers.
Bounded optimal team coordination with temporal constraints and delay penalties

We address the problem of optimally assigning spatially distributed tasks to a team of heterogeneous mobile agents in domains with inter-task temporal constraints, such as precedence constraints. Due to delay penalties, satisfying the temporal constraints impacts the overall team cost. We present a mathematical model of the problem, a benchmark anytime bounded optimal solution process, and an analysis of the impact of delay penalties on problem difficulty.
Conservative management of sports hernia in a professional golfer: a case report.

STUDY DESIGN Case Report. BACKGROUND Activity-limiting groin pain is relatively common in athletes who participate in sports which involve rapid or repetitive twisting, cutting, and/or kicking. Despite the reported prevalence of this condition in athletes, there is still much controversy as to the anatomical structures involved and most effective treatment approach. There is limited evidence favoring conservative management of sports hernia as opposed to surgical intervention in professional athletes, and there are no reports of sports hernia management in the professional golf population. The purpose of this case report is to describe the conservative management and decision making used with a professional golfer with symptoms consistent with a sports hernia which allowed for successful return to prior level of sport participation. CASE PRESENTATION The subject of this case report is a professional golfer who developed lower abdominal and groin pain after changes in conditioning routine. Clinical presentation was consistent with a diagnosis of sports hernia. Rehabilitation of this athlete included a structured core muscle retraining program which utilized a step wise progression through the neurodevelopmental sequence in order to allow for development of neuromuscular control and stability required for return to golf. OUTCOME This athlete was able to return to full golf participation after 13 physical therapy visits over 4 weeks. DISCUSSION The available evidence supports surgical intervention over conservative management in the treatment of sports hernia in the athletic population. A structured and comprehensive rehabilitation program addressing core muscle weakness and contributing impairments adjacent to injury may be a beneficial treatment option prior to surgical repair potentially allowing return to sport in some athletes. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE 4.
Mechanics of Brittle Cracking of Crystal Lattices and Interfaces

This is a review of some concepts in the mechanics of fracture appropriate to interpreting atomistically brittle modes of cracking of crystal lattices and of interfaces between crystalline phases, especially in solids which are normally, or potentially, ductile. Crack tip modelling is first discussed based on elastic-brittle concepts, assuming either that there is no near-tip dislocation activity or, for the time being, neglecting it. That discussion brings out the importance of the Griffith condition and its generalization to a cracking interface (e.g., an embrittled grain boundary), and includes an account of the thermodynamics of interfacial decohesion in presence of (possibly embrittling) segregants. It is suggested that the phenomenology of grain boundary embrittlement by P and Sn in Fe, and of “cohesion enhancement” by C, can be at least partly understood as an effect of the various segregants on altering the work necessary to separate an interface against atomic cohesive forces.
Overview of Model Verification and Validation

For practical purposes, a simulation model should be thoroughly validated before use. The main reason for this is that users need assurance that the model is wholly adequate and appropriate for use according to the purpose of the model.
Comparison of Residual Stress and Hardness in a Symmetric and an Eccentric Swage Autofrettaged Cylinder

Controlling the induced residual stress distribution is important in manufacture quality control of pressure vessel systems. In this paper, comparison of x-ray diffraction swage autofrettage residual stress and hardness in a symmetric and an eccentric cylinder was made: (1) The radial distributions of residual stress in the two cylinders were similar in magnitudes and characteristics. However, non-axisymmetric yielding was observed in both the symmetric and the eccentric cylinders; (2) X-ray diffraction peak width analysis disclosed large crystal lattice microstrains near the plastically deformed bore compared to small microstrains near the elastic outer diameter, with no obvious angular trend; (3) Rockwell C hardness results indicated that the plastically deformed bore to be harder than the elastic outer diameter region. Non-uniform angular distribution of hardness was observed. Correlation between residual stress and hardness was discussed; (4) In the symmetric cylinder, reduced compressive residual stresses and lower hardness were observed near the 270 degree angular direction, while angular distribution of microstress was uniform. These results suggest that non-uniform material properties such as yield stress are as important as eccentricity in causing the non-axisymmetric plastic deformation in the swaged cylinders.
Curriculum Development: Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions of Design Thinking for Understanding Digital Literacy as a Curricular Framework:

This study examines design thinking (DT) as a strategy to develop K-3 digital literacy curricula. This article chronicles first-year, preservice teachers’ (PSTs’) perceptions using DT to explore an...
Performance Evaluation of Retrofitting in GCU Lahore and its Scope in Public Institutes of Punjab

Growing demand of electricity is a challenge which affects the fate of our economy. Punjab is the major consumer of electricity which consumes more than 60 % of electricity produced. Energy conservation is one of the step towards decreasing the demand supply gap. Punjab Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency (PEECA) conducted energy audits of public sector institutes in order to find the conservation potential which leads towards the retrofitting of conventional electrical appliances with efficient ones for relieving the burden on national grid. PEECA had chosen Government College University Lahore as a pilot project and retrofitted efficient electrical appliances by finding energy conservation potential. In this paper, energy conservation targets are highlighted which were achieved after the retrofitting of efficient electrical appliances in GCU Lahore. Moreover, it has also been demonstrated that if efficient electrical appliances would be retrofitted in other public institutes of Punjab, then huge amount of energy can be saved.
Association between mesothelioma and non-occupational asbestos exposure: systematic review and meta-analysis

The risk of mesothelioma has been shown to be associated with exposure to asbestos fibers. Most of the existing literature focuses on occupational exposure; however, non-occupational asbestos exposure has also been identified as an important risk factor. To estimate the association between mesothelioma and non-occupational asbestos exposure, and evaluate control recruitment and exposure measurement methods. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify case-control (CC) and cohort studies that examined the association between mesothelioma and non-occupational exposure to asbestos, including neighborhood, domestic, and household exposure. Meta-analysis was performed to estimate a summary relative risk estimate (SRRE) and 95% confidence interval using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses were also conducted by exposure type, gender, region, and fiber type. Twenty CC and 7 cohort studies were selected. Controls in CC studies were selected from the general population (55%), hospital records (18%), cancer registry (23%) and a combination of population and hospital records (5%). Multiple methods were used to measure neighborhood exposure (e.g., linear distance and direction of residence from an asbestos factory), domestic (e.g., whether living with an asbestos worker) and household exposure (e.g., whether involved in asbestos-containing home improvement projects). Primary meta-analyses suggested a SRRE of mesothelioma of 5.33 (95%CI: 2.53, 11.23) from neighborhood exposure, 4.31 (95%CI, 2.58, 7.20) from domestic exposure, and 2.41 (95%CI, 1.30, 4.48) from household exposure with large I2 statistics ranging from 83–99%. Non-occupational asbestos exposure is significantly associated with an elevated risk of mesothelioma. Funnel plots indicated a potential of publication bias. Some SRREs should be interpreted with cautions because of high between-studies heterogeneity.
The Foundation for Building the Conservation Capacity of Community Ecology

Ecology is a young discipline that needs to develop into a predictive science to confront the challenges of human population pressure and habitat degradation. Basic ecology has disproportionately focused on undisturbed, charismatic ecosystems, species and academic questions, leaving gaps in its ability to inform the conservation and management of degraded, threatened ecosystems. Foundation species-dependent organisms have been studied at the expense of the habitat-forming species that build and maintain communities. We use cobble beaches as a model system to discuss the consequences of this disparity on translational ecology. We suggest that the historic development of ecology has led to an academic discipline ill suited for proactive conservation. We propose that the incorporation of foundation species and hierarchical organization theory into the conceptual framework of ecology will improve its predictive ability and successful application to conservation and the restoration of degraded ecosystems.
Phase Transformation Contributions to Heat Capacity and Impact on Thermal Diffusivity, Thermal Conductivity, and Thermoelectric Performance

The accurate characterization of thermal conductivity κ, particularly at high temperature, is of paramount importance to many materials, thermoelectrics in particular. The ease and access of thermal diffusivity D measurements allows for the calculation of κ when the volumetric heat capacity, ρcp , of the material is known. However, in the relation κ = ρcp D, there is some confusion as to what value of cp should be used in materials undergoing phase transformations. Herein, it is demonstrated that the Dulong-Petit estimate of cp at high temperature is not appropriate for materials having phase transformations with kinetic timescales relevant to thermal transport. In these materials, there is an additional capacity to store heat in the material through the enthalpy of transformation ΔH. This can be described using a generalized model for the total heat capacity for a material [Formula: see text] where φ is an order parameter that describes how much latent heat responds "instantly" to temperature changes. Here, Cpφ is the intrinsic heat capacity (e.g., approximately the Dulong-Petit heat capacity at high temperature). It is shown experimentally in Zn4 Sb3 that the decrease in D through the phase transition at 250 K is fully accounted for by the increase in cp , while κ changes smoothly through the phase transition. Consequently, reports of κ dropping near phase transitions in widely studied materials such as PbTe and SnSe have likely overlooked the effects of excess heat capacity and overestimated the thermoelectric efficiency, zT.
Objective Measurement of Brace Wear in Successfully Ponseti-Treated Clubfeet: Pattern of Decreasing Use in the First 2 Years.

PURPOSE Once Ponseti correction of a clubfoot is achieved and 3-month full-time bracing treatment is completed, part-time bracing treatment for 12 hours at night for 2 to 4 years is considered necessary to maintain a successful outcome. This study objectively documents the amount of daily orthosis wear time in those who maintained correction at age 2 years and, in so doing, determines how well patients' caretakers comply with the prescribed brace program. METHODS Patients <3 months old with idiopathic clubfeet when Ponseti treatment was initiated, who successfully maintained correction at age 2 years without surgery and who had complete objective brace wear data, were included. The foot abduction orthoses had a temperature data logger embedded in a shoe. Six 3-month time intervals were monitored in every patient as follows: full time: 0 to 3; night time: 4 to 6, 7 to 9, 10 to 12, 13 to 15, and 16 to 18 months. The families were not informed that hours of brace wear were being measured. RESULTS One hundred twenty-four patients with 187 clubfeet were included. During the 0- to 3-month interval, wear time averaged 19.8 hr/d. After this period of full-time use, the night-time brace wear decreased over each of the subsequent five intervals: 11.9, 9.6, 8.6, 7.9, and 7.7 hours. By the 18-month period of brace wear, 1 of 3 patients wore the orthoses less than 6 hours per day, and nearly 1 of 2 patients wore the orthoses less than 8 hours per day. DISCUSSION In patients evaluated at age 2 years whose clubfeet had successful nonsurgical treatment, night-time brace wear varied greatly and decreased over each 3-month period measured. By the second year of bracing treatment, nearly half of the patients wore them 8 hours or less. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level IV case series.
When Deliberation Produces Persuasion rather than Polarization: Measuring and modeling Small Group Dynamics in a Field Experiment

This article proposes a new statistical method to measure persuasion within small groups, and applies this approach to a large-scale randomized deliberative experiment. The authors define the construct of ‘persuasion’ as a change in the systematic component of an individual's preference, separate from measurement error, that results from exposure to interpersonal interaction. Their method separately measures persuasion in a latent (left–right) preference space and in a topic-specific preference space. The model's functional form accommodates tests of substantive hypotheses found in the small-group literature. The article illustrates the measurement method by examining changes in study participants' views on US fiscal policy resulting from the composition of the small discussion groups to which they were randomly assigned. The results are inconsistent with the ‘law of small-group polarization’, the typical result found in small-group research; instead, the authors observe patterns of latent and policy-specific persuasion consistent with the aspirations of deliberation.
Efficacy of benzyl isothiocyanate for controlling Salmonella on alfalfa seeds and sprouts

The efficacy of benzyl isothiocyanate (BIT), a compound found in cruciferous vegetables, for controlling Salmonella on alfalfa seeds and sprouts was investigated. Alfalfa seeds were inoculated by individual Salmonella enterica serotypes Newport, Typhimurium, Tennessee, Montevideo, or Braenderup at two inoculation levels of 3 or 5 log CFU g⁻¹, followed by treatment with BIT (0.5–2%) or chlorine (2%) for 15 min. Treated seeds were sprouted in seed sprouters. Surviving Salmonella populations on the seeds and sprouts were determined. At both inoculum levels, 1.5% and 2% of BIT significantly reduced populations S. Typhimurium and S. Braenderup on seeds to a level comparable to the chlorine‐treated seeds. Salmonella populations recovered from the sprouts germinated from 1.5% or 2% BIT‐treated seeds were significantly lower than the control and chlorine‐treated seeds at both inoculum levels (P < 0.05). The results of the study indicate that BIT can be used to control Salmonella contamination on alfalfa seeds and subsequent sprouting process.
Facile Methods to Make PDMS Hydrophilic: A Time Evolution Study for Microfluidic Devices

Flexible microfluidics have found extensive utility in the biological and biomedical fields. A leading substrate material for compliant devices is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Despite its many advantages, PDMS is inherently hydrophobic, limiting its use in passive (pumpless) microfluidics. To this end, many physical and chemical modifications to PDMS have been introduced, ranging from amphiphilic molecule additions to surface plasma treatments. When transitioning from lab benchtop to realized medical devices, these modifications must exhibit long-term stability. We have investigated an array of PDMS modifications, utilizing contact angle goniometry to study surface energy over a 30-day evolution study. Samples were stored in air and water, and Fourier Transform Infrared-Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) analysis was used to confirm surface functional group uniformity. We have identified preferred modification techniques for long-lasting PDMS devices and characterized often overlooked material stability.
Influence of γ′-raft orientation on creep resistance of monocrystalline Co-based superalloys

Abstract The creep behavior of a monocrystalline Co-based γ − γ ′ superalloy (Co–28.8Ni–6.2Al–1.8Ti–2.0W–2.7Mo–1.8Nb–0.9Ta, at%) is investigated for two types of rafted γ′-phase: (i) rods parallel (p-type) and (ii) plates perpendicular (n-type) to [001]. The tensile creep behavior of these two rafted microstructures (and a control unrafted microstructure) is measured at 900 ∘C for various creep stresses up to a creep strain of 3%. At the highest stress of 305 MPa (2–4 h creep to 3% strain), microstructures with n-type rafts provide better creep resistance than p-type rafts and unrafted cuboids, consistent with n-type plates oriented perpendicular to stress being more effective at hindering dislocation motion. At an intermediate stress of 250 MPa (10–20 h to 3% creep strain), n-type rafts still provide the highest overall creep resistance, but this effect is less pronounced due to the rafts disintegrating under tensile load. At the lowest stress of 205 MPa (100–220 h to 3% creep strain), n-type rafts provide the least creep resistance, as they first disintegrate then transform into p-type rafts. Specimens starting with p-type rods and unrafted cuboids microstructures show better creep resistance, but start to exhibit onset of tertiary creep from their extensively rafted microstructure. The evolution of creep strain rate (and thus the time to reach 3% strain) for the three stresses and three microstructures studied is affected by the rafting evolution, as well as γ − γ ′ topological inversion and development of inhomogeneous γ′ spatial distribution.
Assessment of human vision for spatial patterns and its clinical applications

Human vision for spatial pattern depends on information processes in the visual system for several basic physical variables, such as luminance, spatial frequency (or size), contrast and orientation, which determine characteristics of the pattern. Therefore, assessment of visual performance or visual quality needs to systematically measure the ability of the visual system in response to these variables. Because visual acuity only tests the resolution power under high luminance and high contrast, techniques capable of comprehensively assessing visual ability, such as the contrast sensitivity and contrast visual acuity tests, have been developed and widely applied in both eye research and clinical practice. Studies have shown that visual test under varied contrasts could be effectively used to ①diagnose many common eye diseases in the early stage and monitor effects of ophthalmic intervention and treatment; ②diagnose some specific visual disorders; and ③assess problems in daily performances which are associated with visual defects. Due to its highly standardization, and superior reliability, repeatability and accuracy in visual measurement,computerized technique will be the method for assessing visual performance in the future. Key words: Visual acuity; Contrast sensitivity; Computers
Evaluation of Intraoperative Hand-Off Frequency, Duration, and Context: A Mixed Methods Analysis

Abstract Background Hand-offs in the operating room contribute to poor communication, reduced team function, and may be poorly coordinated with other activities. Conversely, they may represent a missed opportunity for improved communication. We sought to better understand the coordination and impact of intraoperative hand-offs. Methods We prospectively audio-video (AV) recorded 10 operations and evaluated intraoperative hand-offs. Data collected included percentage of time team members were absent due to breaks, relationships between hand-offs and intraoperative events (incision, surgical counts), and occurrences of simultaneous hand-offs. We also identified announcement that a hand-off had occurred and anchoring, in which team members not involved in the hand-off participated and provided information. Results Spanning 2919 min of audio-video data, there were 74 hand-offs (range, 4-14 per case) totaling 225.2 min, representing 7.7% of time recorded. Thirty-two (45.1%) hand-offs were interrupted or delayed because of competing activities; eight hand-offs occurred during an instrument or laparotomy pad count. Six cases had simultaneous hand-offs; two cases had two episodes of simultaneous hand-offs. Eight hand-offs included an announcement. Seven included anchoring. Evaluating both temporary and permanent hand-offs, one or more original team members was absent for 40.7% of time recorded and >one team member was absent for 20.5% of time recorded. Conclusions Intraoperative hand-offs are frequent and not well coordinated with intraoperative events including counts and other hand-offs. Anchoring and announced hand-offs occurred in a small proportion of cases. Future work must focus on optimizing timing, content, and participation in intraoperative hand-offs.
A single-component water-lean post-combustion CO2 capture solvent with exceptionally low operational heat and total costs of capture – comprehensive experimental and theoretical evaluation

A comprehensive evaluation of a recently developed water-lean amine-based solvent, namely N-(2-ethoxyethyl)-3-morpholinopropan-1-amine (2-EEMPA), has been performed to analyze its post-combustion CO2 capture performance. This evaluation comprises (1) fundamental characterization of the solvent–CO2 interaction using vapor–liquid equilibria, kinetics and viscosity measurements; (2) process characterization of the CO2 capture performance as measured in a laboratory scale continuous flow system and via Aspen Plus® simulation using a flue gas simulant; as well as (3) a full techno economic analysis of the capture process at industrial scale with corresponding projections of critical metrics. This paper summarizes the many parts of this comprehensive evaluation and shows how the various parts come together to empower validated conclusions about its process performance. Notably, it is projected that this solvent can operate at a regeneration heat rate of 2.0 GJ per tonne CO2 for post-combustion capture, and at a total cost of capture of $50.6/tonne CO2. With further process optimization significant reductions in the capture cost are predicted.
Molecular Ecological Network Analyses: An Effective Conservation Tool for the Assessment of Biodiversity, Trophic Interactions, and Community Structure

Global biodiversity is threatened by the anthropogenic restructuring of animal communities, rewiring species interaction networks in real-time as individuals are extirpated or introduced. Conservation science and adaptive ecosystem management demand more rapid, quantitative, and non-invasive technologies for robustly capturing changing biodiversity and quantifying species interactions. Here we develop molecular ecological network analyses (MENA) as an ecosystem assessment tool to address these needs. To construct the ecological network, we used environmental DNA from feces to identify the plant and mammal diet of two carnivores: puma (Puma concolor) and bobcat (Lynx rufus); two omnivores: coyote (Canis latrans) and gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus); and two herbivores: black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) in a well-studied Californian reserve. To evaluate MENA as a comprehensive biodiversity tool, we applied our framework to identify the structure of the network, patterns of trophic interactions, key species, and to assess its utility in capturing the biodiversity of the area. The high dietary taxonomic resolution enabled the assessment of species diversity, niche breadth and overlap. The network analysis revealed a dense ecological network with a high diversity of weakly connected species and a community that is highly modular and non-nested. The significant prevalence of tri-trophic chain and exploitative competition patterns indicates (i) the removal or reintroduction of a top predator would trigger a trophic cascade within this community, directly affecting their prey and indirectly the plant communities, and (ii) the potential impact of indirect effects between two predators that consume the same prey. These results suggest that the recent resurgence of puma in the study area may impact the herbaceous and woody vegetation and the population size of other predators. This effect of fluctuating predator populations and plant communities could be predicted through MENA’s fine-scale assessment of the diet selection and the identified keystone species. Although just using a subset of species, MENA more rapidly, accurately, and effectively captured the broader biodiversity of the area in comparison to other methodologies. MENA reconstructed and unveiled the hidden complexity in trophic structure and interaction networks within the community, providing a promising toolkit for biodiversity and ecosystem management.
COVID-19 in Patients with CKD in New York City

Background COVID-19 has affected millions of people, and several chronic medical conditions appear to increase the risk of severe COVID-19. However, our understanding of COVID-19 outcomes in patients with CKD remains limited. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with and without CKD consecutively admitted with COVID-19 to three affiliated hospitals in New York City. Pre–COVID-19 CKD diagnoses were identified by billing codes and verified by manual chart review. In-hospital mortality was compared between patients with and without underlying CKD. Logistic regression was used to adjust this analysis for confounders and to identify patient characteristics associated with mortality. Results We identified 280 patients with CKD, and 4098 patients without CKD hospitalized with COVID-19. The median age of the CKD group was 75 (65–84) years, and age of the non-CKD group 62 (48–75) years. Baseline (pre–COVID-19) serum creatinine in patients with CKD was 1.5 (1.2–2.2) mg/dl. In-hospital mortality was 30% in patients with CKD versus 20% in patients without CKD (P 70 years) had higher mortality than their age-matched control patients without CKD. In patients with CKD, factors associated with in-hospital mortality were age (adjusted OR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.06 to 1.12]), P 0.3 mg/dl above the baseline (adjusted OR 2.6 [95% CI, 1.2 to 5.4]P=0.01), and diagnosis of acute on chronic kidney injury during hospitalization (adjusted OR 4.6 [95% CI, 2.3 to 8.9], P Conclusions CKD is an independent risk factor for COVID-19–associated in-hospital mortality in elderly patients. Acute-on–chronic kidney injury increases the odds of in-hospital mortality in patients with CKD hospitalized with COVID-19.
Arthroscopic Capsular Release and Debridement of Painful Shoulder Osteoarthritis Can Improve Symptoms and Delay Arthroplasty: A Mid- to Long-term Follow-up Study

Abstract Hypothesis In patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the shoulder, arthroscopic debridement and capsular release will provide relief of symptoms and improvement in function for a minimum of two years. Methods Prospective outcome data was collected from patients who underwent arthroscopic debridement and capsular release for painful idiopathic glenohumeral arthritis from 2005 to 2013 by one surgeon. The primary outcome was conversion to shoulder arthroplasty. UCLA and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) scores were also collected by phone or mailing. Preoperative radiographs were evaluated for Samilson and Prieto classification and Walch glenoid classification. Results Thirty-three of 40 patients (82.5%) who met inclusion criteria with an average time since surgery of 6.4 years (range, 2-10 years) were reached for final follow-up. Eight of 33 respondents (24.2%) had conversion to arthroplasty within the study period at an average 1.75 ± 2.37 years (range, 0.5-7 years) postoperatively. Nine patients (36%) reported no pain at the time of survey. Of patients who reported current pain (16/25, 64%), seven (43.7%) had improved pain since surgery. For patients with preoperative UCLA scores, scores were significantly higher at mid-term (p=0.003) and long-term (p=0.017) follow-up. Patients who were less than 8 years since surgery had significantly higher SST (2-4 years, p=0.004; 5-7 years, p=0.024) and UCLA (2-4 years, p=0.004; 5-7 years, p=0.011) scores than those who were 8-10 years since surgery. There were no significant differences in preoperative radiographic classifications and outcome. Conclusion Arthroscopic debridement with capsular release in certain patients with osteoarthritis of the shoulder can provide long-term pain reduction, increased function, and can delay shoulder arthroplasty. Level of Evidence Level IV; Prognostic Study; Case Series
The Acute Effects of a Relative Dose of Pre-Sleep Protein on Recovery Following Evening Resistance Exercise in Active Young Men

The purpose of the present study was to assess the acute effects of pre-sleep consumption of isocaloric casein protein (CP), CP and whey protein (BLEND), or non-caloric control (CTRL) at a dose relative to lean body mass (LBM) on recovery following an evening lower-body resistance exercise (RE) bout. Fifteen active and previously resistance-trained males (age: 21 ± 1 years, body fat: 14.2 ± 2.7%) participated in this randomized, single-blind, crossover study. Participants performed an evening lower-body RE bout and were provided with 0.4 g/kg/LBM of whey protein (WP) supplement post-RE. A single dose of 0.6 g/kg/LBM of CP, 0.4 g/kg/LBM of CP and 0.2 g/kg/LBM WP (BLEND), or CTRL was consumed 30 min prior to sleep. Measurements of perceived recovery (visual analogue scales (VAS) for recovery, soreness, and fatigue), appetite (VAS for hunger, satiety, and desire to eat), as well as pressure-pain threshold (dolorimeter), average power, and peak torque (isokinetic dynamometry) of the right thigh muscles were assessed the following morning. Main effects of time were seen for all recovery variables (perceived recovery: F2,28 = 96.753, p 0.120; hp2 ≤ 0.141). No differences between supplements were found in perceived next-morning hunger (p = 0.06), satiety (p ≥ 0.227), or desire to eat (p = 0.528). Main effects of supplement were seen between BLEND and CP vs. CTRL for measures of pain-pressure threshold at the rectus femoris (F2,28 = 9.377; p = 0.001; hp2 = 0.401), the vastus lateralis (F2,28 = 10.887; p < 0.001; hp2 = 0.437), and the vastus medialis (F2,28 = 12.113, p < 0.001; hp2 = 0.464). Values of peak torque and average power were similar between all supplement groups at 60°/sec (F1.309,18.327 ≤ 1.994; p ≥ 0.173; hp2 ≤ 0.125), 180°/s (F2,28 ≤ 1.221; p ≥ 0.310; hp2 ≤ 0.080), and 300°/sec (F2,28 ≤ 2.854; p ≥ 0.074; hp2 ≤ 0.169). Pre-sleep consumption of CP and BLEND at a dose relative to LBM may enhance perceived overnight recovery to a greater extent than CTRL as a result of less muscle soreness the following morning after an acute evening RE bout.
The Use of Clonidine in the Treatment of Debilitating Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors Comorbid With Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report

Clonidine is an alpha-2 agonist traditionally used as an antihypertensive, and more recently in the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), tic disorders such as Tourette's syndrome, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, there are scarce data in the literature about the use of clonidine in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this report, we present the case of a 16-year-old female suffering from OCD. The first-line treatment with sertraline was not very efficacious in improving her symptoms and even led to worsening of the same. However, subsequent treatment with clonidine resulted in rapid and significant improvement in her condition. We postulate that further research is required to gain more insight into the therapeutic potential of clonidine in OCD patients.