cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Congenital choristomas of the oral cavity in children

Objectives/Hypothesis: To review our institutional experience with oral cavity choristomas in children.Study Design: Retrospective case series and medical record review.Methods: Medical records including clinic notes, operative reports, radiologic studies, and pathology specimens werereviewed. All imaging studies and pathology material were reviewed by a head and neck radiologist and pediatric pathologist,respectively.Results: Sixteen patients (10 males and 6 females) with congenital oral cavity choristomas were identified. Mean age atdiagnosis was 1.8 months. Location of the lesions included tongue (n ¼ 9) and floor of mouth (n ¼ 7). Preoperative imagingincluded magnetic resonance imaging (n ¼ 6), computed tomography (n ¼ 5), plain radiography (n ¼ 1), and no imaging(n ¼ 4). Radiographically, the lesions were consistently lobular with well-defined margins, but other imaging features oftenmimicked other masses that can arise in the tongue and floor of mouth. Symptoms were present in five of 16 patients andincluded difficulty feeding, swelling with upper respiratory infection, and partial airway obstruction. Complete surgicalexcision was performed in 15 of 16 patients; mean age at the time of surgery was 12.7 months. One patient underwentmarsupialization. No complications were noted perioperatively. No recurrences of choristoma were seen. On histologicexamination, the predominant component was cystic with cyst linings of respiratory epithelium (n ¼ 5), gastric (foveolar)epithelium (n ¼ 1), or both (n ¼ 10).Conclusions: This study supports surgical excision as an effective intervention for children with oral cavity choristomas.Because the etiology of these cysts is unknown and diagnostic terminology is widely variable, we propose a more descriptivediagnosis based on the histology (i.e., lingual choristoma [or lingual developmental cyst] with respiratory epithelium or lin-gual choristoma [or lingual developmental cyst] with gastric epithelium).Key Words: Choristoma, foregut duplication cyst, lingual cyst, pediatric.Level of Evidence:4.Laryngoscope, 121:2100–2106, 2011
Factors Influencing Oxidation of Iron During Firing of Ground‐Coat Enamels

The oxidation of the iron beneath a ground-coat enamel was measured by recording the progressive weight change with a sensitive balance on heating a specimen from room temperature to 1550° F. and correcting for the volatile constituents. The permeability of the dry, unfired enamel films was correlated with the variables characteristic of ground-coat enamel slips. Clays caused the greatest change in the permeability of the unfired films; the ball clays gave lower permeability than the kaolin clays. The results showed that the permeability of the unfired coating was not an index of the amount of oxidation that occurred when the coating was fired on iron. The oxidation studies indicated that (1) a kaolin clay in an enamel slip allowed less total iron oxidation than a ball clay, since with the latter a more permeable coating developed between 900 °F. and the fusion temperature, which is believed to be due to either the organic material or the free-silica content of the ball clay, (2) the nickel deposited on the iron by nickel flashing caused a decrease in the total amount of iron oxidation, and (3) with low-temperature ground coats the rate of metal oxidation was the same as with conventional ground coats up to the fusion temperature of the low-temperature enamel, but owing to the lower fusion temperature the total amount of oxidation was considerably less than with regular ground-coat enamels.
Adhesive recruitment by the viscous capture threads of araneoid orb-weaving spiders

The sticky prey capture threads of orb-webs are critical to web performance. By retaining insects that strike the web, these spirally arrayed threads allow a spider time to locate and subdue prey. The viscous capture threads spun by modern orb-weaving spiders of the Araneoidea clade replaced the dry, fuzzy cribellar capture threads of the Deinopoidea and feature regularly spaced moist, adhesive droplets. The stickiness of a cribellar thread is limited by its tendency to peel from a surface after the adhesion generated at the edges of contact is exceeded. In this study we test the hypothesis that viscous thread overcomes this limitation by implementing a suspension bridge mechanism (SBM) that recruits the adhesion of multiple thread droplets. We do so by using contact plates of four widths to measure the stickiness of six species' viscous threads whose profiles range from small, closely spaced droplets to large, widely spaced droplets. The increased stickiness registered by an increased number of thread droplets supports the operation of a SBM. However, the accompanying decrease in mean per droplet adhesion shows that droplets interior to the edges of thread contact contribute successively less adhesion. Models developed from these data suggest that the suspension bridge mechanism is limited to a span of approximately 12 droplets.
Cache-conscious data placement

As the gap between memory and processor speeds continues to widen, cache eficiency is an increasingly important component of processor performance. Compiler techniques have been used to improve instruction cache pet$ormance by mapping code with temporal locality to different cache blocks in the virtual address space eliminating cache conflicts. These code placement techniques can be applied directly to the problem of placing data for improved data cache pedormance.In this paper we present a general framework for Cache Conscious Data Placement. This is a compiler directed approach that creates an address placement for the stack (local variables), global variables, heap objects, and constants in order to reduce data cache misses. The placement of data objects is guided by a temporal relationship graph between objects generated via profiling. Our results show that profile driven data placement significantly reduces the data miss rate by 24% on average.
Letter by Augoustides regarding article "Aprotinin does not increase the risk of renal failure in cardiac surgery patients".

To the Editor: I read with great interest the excellent article by Furnary and colleagues1 detailing an analysis of aprotinin and acute dialysis-dependent renal failure in cardiac surgery patients. Their multivariate analysis has demonstrated that increasing perioperative red blood cell transfusion, rather than aprotinin, is an independent risk factor for acute renal failure after cardiac surgery. The data analysis as presented, however, does …
GWIDD: Genome-wide protein docking database

Structural information on interacting proteins is important for understanding life processes at the molecular level. Genome-wide docking database is an integrated resource for structural studies of protein–protein interactions on the genome scale, which combines the available experimental data with models obtained by docking techniques. Current database version (August 2009) contains 25 559 experimental and modeled 3D structures for 771 organisms spanned over the entire universe of life from viruses to humans. Data are organized in a relational database with user-friendly search interface allowing exploration of the database content by a number of parameters. Search results can be interactively previewed and downloaded as PDB-formatted files, along with the information relevant to the specified interactions. The resource is freely available at http://gwidd.bioinformatics.ku.edu.
Forest mortality in high-elevation whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) forests of eastern California, USA; influence of environmental context, bark beetles, climatic water deficit, and warming

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) in subalpine zones of eastern California experienced significant mortality from 2007 to 2010. Dying stands were dense (mean basal area 47.5 m2/ha), young (...
On decentralized dynamic pole placement and feedback stabilization

In this paper we study the feedback control problem using an r-channel decentralized dynamic feedback control scheme. We will develop the theory in the behavioral framework. Using this framework we introduce an algebraic parameterization of the space of all possible feedback compensators having a bounded McMillan degree, and we show that this parameterization has the structure of an algebraic variety. We define the pole-placement map for this problem, and we give exact conditions when this map is onto, and almost onto. Finally we provide new necessary and sufficient conditions which guarantee that the set of stabilizable plants is a generic set. >
A methodology for system-level analog design space exploration

This paper describes a novel approach to system level analog design. A new abstraction level - the platform - is introduced to separate circuit design from design space exploration. An analog platform encapsulates analog components concurrently modeling their behavior and their achievable performances. Performance models are obtained through statistical sampling of circuit configurations. The design configurations space is specified with analog constraint graphs so that the sampling space is significantly reduced. System level exploration can be achieved through optimization on behavioral models constrained by performance models. Finally, an example is provided showing the effectiveness of the approach on a WCDMA amplifier.
Role-Related Participation in Product Design Teams: Individual- and Group-Level Trends

Organizations often delegate decision-making tasks to groups and teams. At issue is the extent to which participation during discussion reflects both individual-level characteristics and emergent (i.e., group-level) processes. Drawing upon Hewes’s socio-egocentric model and team meeting literature, we used a multilevel approach to examine participation in product-design teams across a series of tasks. Findings indicate that participation consists of both intra- and group-level processes. Team members who were talkative initially continued to participate frequently during the later tasks, and, as predicted, project managers also spoke more often than team members in any other role. In addition, group-level trends became stronger over time, as evidenced by behavioral convergence. Discussion addresses implications for a “middle ground” approach to modeling communicative behavior in groups.
Dissertation Citation Analysis as Preparation for Supporting a New Doctoral Program in Nursing

This study analyzes the citations of 50 Doctor of Nursing Practice dissertations as part of an academic library's preparation to support a university's new Doctor of Nursing Practice program. The study demonstrates that peer-reviewed journals are by a large margin the information resource used the most in preparing Doctor of Nursing Practice dissertations, and it develops a list of serials titles with the most heavily weighted impact. The issue of resource currency is analyzed, and the study finds a heavy reliance on recent information sources. The study follows a method that can serve as a model for other libraries preparing to support new doctoral programs.
High-order aberration control during exposure for leading-edge lithography projection optics

High throughput with high resolution imaging has been key to the development of leading-edge microlithography. However, management of thermal aberrations due to lens heating during exposure has become critical for simultaneous achievement of high throughput and high resolution. Thermal aberrations cause CD drift and overlay error, and these errors lead directly to edge placement errors (EPE). Management and control of high order thermal aberrations is a critical requirement. In this paper, we will show practical performance of the lens heating with dipole and other typical illumination conditions for finer patterning. We confirm that our new control system can reduce the high-order aberrations and enable critical-dimension uniformity CDU during the exposure.
Intimate Partner Violence and Patterns of Safety Strategy Use Among Women Seeking Temporary Protective Orders A Latent Class Analysis

This study examined use of safety strategies, experience of violence, and perception of danger from intimate partner violence (IPV) among 197 women seeking temporary protective orders against their abusive partners/ex-partners. Latent class analysis was used to group women into classes based on their use of safety strategies. Five classes of strategy use were identified: two high-activity classes, two moderately active classes, and one low-activity class. More severe abuse, increased perception of danger, and unemployment were associated with being in the higher activity classes. More effective interventions and outreach tools are needed to help women in IPV situations.
The task for a new peace movement

The potential for nuclear catastrophe has been steadily increasing but is still dimly perceived by the public. The author argues that a determined effort to elect a more responsive administration in 1988 is necessary.
Unusual Lower Critical Solution Temperature Phase Behavior of Poly(ethylene oxide) in Ionic Liquids

We describe the LCST-type phase behavior of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) dissolved in imidazolium-based tetrafluoroborate ionic liquids (ILs). Phase diagrams were determined by a combination of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and cloud point (CP) measurements. Unlike typical LCST phase diagrams of polymer solutions, the PEO/IL phase diagram is either roughly symmetric with a critical composition near 50% polymer or asymmetric with a critical composition shifted to an even higher concentration of PEO. As the molecular weight decreases from 20 500 to 4200 g/mol, the critical temperature (Tc) increases slightly (∼10 °C). However, a larger increase in Tc (27 °C) was observed as the molecular weight decreases from 4200 to 2100 g/mol, likely due to the increasing importance of hydrogen bonds between the −OH end groups of PEO and the fluorine atoms of the anions. This inference is supported by the strong dependence of the phase diagram on the identity of the PEO end groups (hydroxy vs methoxy). Furthermore, ...
Peyer's patches: organizing B-cell responses at the intestinal frontier

Secondary lymphoid tissues share the important function of bringing together antigens and rare antigen-specific lymphocytes to foster induction of adaptive immune responses. Peyer's patches (PPs) are unique compared to other secondary lymphoid tissues in their continual exposure to an enormous diversity of microbiome- and food-derived antigens and in the types of pathogens they encounter. Antigens are delivered to PPs by specialized microfold (M) epithelial cells and they may be captured and presented by resident dendritic cells (DCs). In accord with their state of chronic microbial antigen exposure, PPs exhibit continual germinal center (GC) activity. These GCs not only contribute to the generation of B cells and plasma cells producing somatically mutated gut antigen-specific IgA antibodies but have also been suggested to support non-specific antigen diversification of the B-cell repertoire. Here, we review current understanding of how PPs foster B-cell encounters with antigen, how they favor isotype switching to the secretory IgA isotype, and how their GC responses may uniquely contribute to mucosal immunity.
A Probation Profanation Race, Ethnicity, and Probation in a Midwestern Sample

Racial and ethnic disparities in criminal justice have received increasing scrutiny recently. Little attention, however, has been directed toward understanding inequality in the area of probation. ...
Our Instrumented World

This installment of Notes from the Community covers three topics of frequent interest to readers: our increasingly instrumented world, the instrumentation of our human bodies, and instrumented bodies of the mechanical kind.
Semiconductor technology considerations in high speed data conversion

When designing low-cost, moderate-performance data converters (ADCs or DACs), CMOS is an almost universal choice. However, as the performance requirements increase and the cost constraints diminish, the choice of technology is not as straightforward. This paper analyzes trade-offs between various IC technologies for high-speed ADC/DAC insertions. These technology considerations may influence circuit designers in technology selection and help process engineers to better understand the relative strengths and weaknesses of their technologies.
Determining PV hosting capacity without incurring grid integration cost

Integrating high proportions of residential photovoltaics (PV) in the distribution grid may potentially disrupt the nominal circuit operating conditions and result in power quality issues. The maximum PV capacity that can be integrated without incurring any grid impacts is referred to as the PV hosting capacity of the grid. Integrating more PV than the hosting capacity mandates grid upgrades and additional investments. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the PV hosting capacity of the distribution grid with zero or minimum cost of PV integration in the grid. Using a stochastic analysis framework and quasistatic load flow simulations, the impacts of high PV penetration on the distribution grid are evaluated. The analysis includes the effectiveness of existing voltage regulation equipment namely load tap-changing (LTC) transformer and capacitors in eliminating the steady-state problems such as feeder overvoltages and voltage deviations. The study is carried out on three distribution circuits, and the results indicate that the hosting capacity of the circuits can be increased significantly while incurring a minimal cost to the grid.
Alcohol use and risk of intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objective: To analyze the dose–risk relationship for alcohol consumption and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the Ethnic/Racial Variations of Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ERICH) study. Methods: ERICH is a multicenter, prospective, case-control study, designed to recruit 1,000 non-Hispanic white patients, 1,000 non-Hispanic black patients, and 1,000 Hispanic patients with ICH. Cases were matched 1:1 to ICH-free controls by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and geographic area. Comprehensive interviews included questions regarding alcohol consumption. Patterns of alcohol consumption were categorized as none, rare ( 2 drinks per day and Results: Multivariable analyses demonstrated an ordinal trend for alcohol consumption: rare (odds ratio [OR] 0.57, p p p = 0.2666), and heavy alcohol consumption (OR 1.77, p = 0.0003). Subgroup analyses demonstrated an association of rare and moderate alcohol consumption with decreased risk of both lobar and nonlobar ICH. Heavy alcohol consumption demonstrated a strong association with increased nonlobar ICH risk (OR 2.04, p = 0.0003). Heavy alcohol consumption was associated with significant increase in nonlobar ICH risk in black (OR 2.34, p = 0.0140) and Hispanic participants (OR 12.32, p Conclusions: This study demonstrated potential protective effects of rare and moderate alcohol consumption on ICH risk. Heavy alcohol consumption was associated with increased ICH risk. Race/ethnicity was a significant factor in alcohol-associated ICH risk; heavy alcohol consumption in black and Hispanic participants poses significant nonlobar ICH risk.
Compensation Discretion as Insurance: How Are Targets and Bonuses Affected When Superiors Have a Back-Up Plan?

Target setting by superiors and their discretion in compensation decisions are important interrelated pieces in an organization’s control system. Thus, we examine how these processes affect each other and superiors’ decisions therein. We predict, and experimentally find, that superiors with ex post compensation discretion set more aggressive targets and put less effort into the target-setting process, as they rely on their discretion as insurance against setting an overly aggressive target with insufficient effort. This is an important finding, as targets are often used in performance evaluation and compensation decisions, as well as organizational planning, coordination, and resource allocation. We further examine the target-setting process by analyzing the effect of Dark Triad personality traits on superiors’ target-setting decisions. We find that high Dark Triad superiors with ex post discretion set the most aggressive targets, but without ex post discretion they set the least aggressive targets. This facet can be considered in the design of compensation plans and provides insight as to why compensation plans affect individuals differently. In supplemental analyses, we find that superiors’ target setting affects how they use their ex post compensation discretion. Thus, our study illustrates that target setting and compensation discretion influence each other to affect superiors’ decisions concerning subordinates, providing insight into the use of these processes within management control systems.
Minority entrepreneurship in twenty-first century America

Prior to the 1970s, minority-owned small businesses were small in size and scope, and common in only a few industry niches. Business owners were severely capital-constrained, lacking in higher education, and training in skilled occupations. The median owner today, in contrast, is college educated, access to financing has expanded, and opportunities to serve corporate and public-sector clients are commonplace. Nearly 40% of all new firms created nationwide in 2015 were minority owned. Changing attitudes in mainstream society reduced traditional barriers. True equality of opportunity among small minority- and white-owned firms of similar size and scope has nonetheless not been achieved. This issue of Small Business Economics examines lingering barriers impeding the development of a more vibrant minority business community. Focusing on access to financing and government procurement markets, articles in this issue offer explicit analyses of enduring barriers, along with explanations of adoptive strategic firm behavior appropriate for reducing those barriers.
Localized MRS reliability of in vivo glutamate at 3 T in shortened scan times: a feasibility study.

Glutamate is the prime excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain and has been implicated in a wide range of psychiatric conditions. To improve the applicability and clinical reach of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), research is needed to develop shortened, yet reliable, MRS scanning procedures for standard 1.5–3-T clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, particularly with young or vulnerable populations unable to tolerate longer protocols. To this end, we evaluated the test–retest reliability of a shortened J-resolved MRS sequence in healthy adolescents (n = 22) aged 12–14 years. Participants underwent a series of sequential 6-min MRS scans, with the participants remaining in situ between successive scans. Glutamate and other metabolites were acquired from the rostral anterior cingulate cortex, as glutamatergic function in this region has been implicated in a number of psychiatric illnesses. Thirteen neurochemicals were quantified as ratios to total creatine, and reliability scores were expressed as the percentage difference between the two scans for each metabolite. Test–retest assessment of glutamate was reliable, as scores were less than 10% different (7.1 ± 4.2%), and glutamate values across scans were significantly correlated (Pearson r = 0.680, p < 10−4). Several other neurochemicals demonstrated satisfactory reliability, including choline (Cho) (7.4 ± 5.6%), glutathione (GSH) (8.6 ± 4.1%), myo-inositol (mI) (6.5 ± 7.1%) and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) (3.5 ± 3.6%), with test–retest correlations ranging from 0.747 to 0.953. A number of metabolites, however, did not demonstrate acceptable test–retest reliability using the current J-resolved MRS sequence, ranging from 13.8 ± 13.7% (aspartate, Asp) to 45.9 ± 38.3% (glycine, Gly). Collectively, test–retest analyses suggest that clinically viable quantitative data can be obtained on standard MRI systems for glutamate, as well as the other metabolites, during short scan times in a traditionally challenging brain region.
Models of Spall Fracture by Hole Growth

Since scanning electron micrographs show strong similarities between static and dynamic fracture by hole growth, it is worth reviewing the stages in static fracture, as they are currently understood.
Riemannian multi-manifold modeling and clustering in brain networks

This paper introduces Riemannian multi-manifold modeling in the context of brain-network analytics: Brainnetwork time-series yield features which are modeled as points lying in or close to a union of a finite number of submanifolds within a known Riemannian manifold. Distinguishing disparate time series amounts thus to clustering multiple Riemannian submanifolds. To this end, two feature-generation schemes for brain-network time series are put forth. The first one is motivated by Granger-causality arguments and uses an auto-regressive moving average model to map low-rank linear vector subspaces, spanned by column vectors of appropriately defined observability matrices, to points into the Grassmann manifold. The second one utilizes (non-linear) dependencies among network nodes by introducing kernel-based partial correlations to generate points in the manifold of positivedefinite matrices. Based on recently developed research on clustering Riemannian submanifolds, an algorithm is provided for distinguishing time series based on their Riemannian-geometry properties. Numerical tests on time series, synthetically generated from real brain-network structural connectivity matrices, reveal that the proposed scheme outperforms classical and state-of-the-art techniques in clustering brain-network states/structures.
Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm is an aggressive malignant neoplasm originating from precursor plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm shows a characteristic immunophenotype in which the tumor cells express CD4, CD56, TCL1, and bright CD123, and lack expression of lineage-specific myeloid and lymphoid antigens. Although cytogenetic and molecular aberrations are common, diagnostic recurrent abnormalities have not been identified. In this chapter, we summarize the clinical, pathologic, and genetic abnormalities identified to date. We explore the current concepts in treatment and the potential role of targeted therapies in the management of this rare disorder.
Location-Based Social Network Users Through a Lense: Examining Temporal User Patterns

There has been a rapid proliferation of location-based social networks (LBSNs) during the last years. The spatial component of these systems provides a rich source of information that can be exploited by a number of novel services. However, to better design such services, it is important to understand the way people make use of these platforms and how this usage changes over time. While there exist studies that examine the motivations of people for adopting the usage of LBSNs and the temporal dynamics of these motivations, they are based on interviews and are mostly qualitative. Motivations can further only indirectly reveal or help us infer user behavior. In this paper, we analyze data from two commercial LBSNs to examine the temporal evolution of usage patterns to see what the data on their own reveal. We nd that users of two social networks that we examined increase their level of activity as they use the system. However, depending on the main purpose of the underlying LBSN, users may exhibit dierent behaviors over time. We believe that our ndings can open new directions and stimulate further research on areas such as location prediction and its applications (e.g., urban and transportation planning and location-based advertisment).
Macroscopic modeling of NiTiHf under different loading modes: A finite difference method:

High-temperature shape memory alloys have remarkably solved the limitation of conventional shape memory alloys working at low levels of temperature and stress. The focus of this study is on a semi-...
Maximal Nevanlinna-Pick Interpolation for Points in the Open Unit Disc

This note uses a modification of the classical optimization problem in prediction theory to derive a maximal solution for the Nevanlinna-Pick interpolation problem for each point in the open unit disc. This optimization problem is also used to show that the maximal solution is unique. A state space realization for the maximal solution is given.
SCHEDULING DATA BROADCAST

Data broadcast is an effective method of information dissemination in satellite networks. Communications in satellite networks are usually asymmetric — the downstream communication capacity, from information server to clients, is much greater than the upstream communication capacity, from clients to server. It is not efficient (and sometimes not possible) for clients to send explicit requests to the server and for the server to serve requests individually. In data broadcast approach, the server broadcasts data items periodically over a broadcast channel that all clients listen to, serving a large number of clients demanding for same information simultaneously. One challenge in implementing this solution is to determine the broadcast schedule, such that the clients receive the best quality of service.
Restoring historical fire regimes increases activity of endangered bats

Fire suppression has altered ecological communities globally. Prescribed fire regimes strive to restore function to these fire-dependent ecosystems by mimicking natural fire regimes. Although fire frequency is a widely acknowledged component of fire regimes, the importance of fire seasonality for biodiversity is less clear but appears to play a critical role for a variety of taxa, particularly in the North American Coastal Plain. In subtropical Florida, USA, fire historically occurred primarily at the transition from the dry to wet season (early wet season: April to June) when dry fuel accumulation coincides with a high incidence of lightning. We investigated the effects of fire frequency and season on endangered Florida bonneted bats (Eumops floridanus [G.M. Allen, 1932]), a species endemic to a region that evolved with frequent fires. We surveyed bat activity acoustically in 149 sites in fire-dependent vegetation communities (pine flatwoods and prairies), and evaluated the effects of fire frequency and seasonality, using burn records from the previous 18 years. Variation in bat activity was best explained by both fire frequency and season: bat activity decreased with early wet season (April to June) burn interval and increased with dry season (November to March) burn interval. Bat activity and foraging activity were highest in sites burned at > 3- to 5-year intervals during the early wet season. Fires during the historic fire season at a moderate frequency (> 3 to 5 yr) appear to optimize habitat for bats in both pine flatwoods and prairies, likely through increases in roosts, flight space, and insect prey availability. It appears that Florida bonneted bats are fire-adapted and benefit from prescribed burn programs that closely mimic historical fire regimes. We encourage consideration of both fire frequency and seasonality when managing ecosystems with fire.
The revolution will not be paid: The politics of small town entrepreneurial economic development:

As poverty and unemployment rates rose in small towns in the United States following the economic crisis, austerity measures decreased access to social programs for the most vulnerable populations....
Association Between Stress Urinary Incontinence and the Components of Metabolic Syndrome Among Females 20-59 Years.

Abstract Objective To assess the relationship between stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and metabolic syndrome among a population-based cohort of women 20-59 years. Methods National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database was used between the years of 2013 and 2016 and included women aged 20-59 years. SUI was defined as “Urinary leakage with physical activity.” Metabolic syndrome was defined as >2 risk factors: fasting blood glucose (FBG) >99 mg/dL, triglyceride >149 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein 88 cm, and blood pressure >130/85. We generated weighted estimated prevalence and ran multivariable logistic regression models. Results Among 3430 female subjects, the estimated prevalence of SUI was 38.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 36.7-40.7%) and metabolic syndrome was 10.2% (95% CI 8.9-11.6). Higher rates of SUI were seen with large waistlines, elevated FBG, and elevated triglycerides. Among women with metabolic syndrome, 56.1% (95% CI 39.7-49.0%) had SUI. Among all women, metabolic syndrome and elevated FBG significantly increase the risk of SUI (odds ratio [OR] 1.53 [95% CI 1.02-2.28] and OR 1.86 [95% CI 1.14-3.03], respectively). In women 20-39 years, a large waistline significantly increased the risk of SUI (OR 1.72 [95% CI 1.00-2.99]). Conclusion Among females 20-59 years in the United States, 38.7% report SUI and 10% have metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome and an elevated FBG significantly increase the risk of SUI among all women. A large waistline increases the risk of SUI in women aged 20-39 years. Weight loss and adequate control of metabolic syndrome should be considered key strategies in the management of SUI.
Algorithm of Generalized Solution an Optimal Control Problems for First-Order Differential Equations with Riemann-Hilbert Boundary Conditions

The present paper is devoted to optimal control problems whose behavior is described by first-order differential equations on the plane with Riemann-Hilbert Boundary conditions. Necessary and sufficient optimality conditions are obtained. A numerical algorithm for the solution of an optimal control problem for generalized analytic functions is given.
Real-time processing of the imaging data from the network of Las Cumbres Observatory Telescopes using BANZAI

Work in time-domain astronomy necessitates robust, automated data processing pipelines that operate in real time. We present the BANZAI pipeline which processes the thousands of science images produced across the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope (LCOGT) network of robotic telescopes each night. BANZAI is designed to perform near real-time preview and end-of-night final processing for four types of optical CCD imagers on the three LCOGT telescope classes. It performs instrumental signature removal (bad pixel masking, bias and dark removal, flat-field correction), astrometric fitting and source catalog extraction. We discuss the design considerations for BANZAI, including testing, performance, and extensibility. BANZAI is integrated into the observatory infrastructure and fulfills two critical functions: (1) real-time data processing that delivers data to users quickly and (2) derive metrics from those data products to monitor the health of the telescope network. In the era of time-domain astronomy, to get from these observations to scientific results, we must be able to automatically reduce data with minimal human interaction, but still have insight into the data stream for quality control.
Imaging of surface acoustic waves on GaAs using 2D confocal Raman microscopy and atomic force microscopy

Surface acoustic wave devices have been fabricated on a GaAs 100 substrate to demonstrate the capability of 2D Raman microscopy as an imaging technique for acoustic waves on the surface of a piezoelectric substrate. Surface acoustic waves are generated using a two-port interdigitated transducer platform, which is modified to produce surface standing waves. We have derived an analytical model to relate Raman peak broadening to the near-surface strain field of the GaAs surface produced by the surface acoustic waves. Atomic force microscopy is used to confirm the presence of a standing acoustic wave, resolving a total vertical displacement of 3 nm at the antinode of the standing wave. Stress calculations are performed for both imaging techniques and are in good agreement, demonstrating the potential of this Raman analysis.
Postcontractile blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) response in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

This study examined the postcontractile blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and unaffected controls, and correlated this measure to markers o...
Damages in Dog-Bite and Other Animal-Related Litigation

In dog-bite and other animal-related litigation, disputed damages may involve personal injury to humans caused by animals, or injury to animals caused by other animals or humans. The situations that may give rise to such cases are far-raging. Dogs may injure humans, or may get into a fight with, and injure or kill another dog or cat However, there is a seemingly endless variety of cases where humans harm animals. These cases range from heinous cases of a person deliberately and maliciously killing an animal, to the pet food manufacturer that markets tainted food and kills thousands of animals, to the police officer who shoots a dog without cause, to the veterinarian who negligently treats an animal causing injury or death, to the shelter worker who “accidentally” places a dog on the *40 kill list in the shelter, killing the dog before their owner is able to reclaim him. These are just a few examples of the variety of cases that result in injury or death to a human or animal and for which the wrongdoer may be held liable for damages. The law regarding damages for injury caused by animals to humans, including physical injury, pain and suffering, emotional distress, or death, is no different from any other case in which a human is injured by the tortious conduct of another. However, the law regarding damages for the injury or death to an animal is in flux, controversial, and of specific interest in the area of animal law. Animals are considered to be personal property, and this classification dictates the damage types and awards available. For example, some states limit the value of an animal to the animal’s fair market value. Other states allow for veterinary expenses that exceed the animals’ fair market value depending on whether the animal is injured or killed. Furthermore, some jurisdictions include sentimental or intrinsic value of the animal in the determination of damages, while other jurisdictions may consider the owner’s emotional distress or even punitive damages if the animal is killed by the intentional act of another. Determining the proper damages to be awarded for the injury or death of an animal under the law is important to provide both proper compensation to the owner for the loss of a companion animal and the proper incentive for persons to act with reasonable care to avoid harming animals. The following will discuss the various types of damages that may be awarded for the injury or death to an animal.
A Novel Camera Rotation Approach for a Robot-Assisted Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy for Large Fibroid Uterus

Study Objective This video details a novel approach to camera rotation to better visualize adnexal structures with large intrapelvic mass during robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Design No study design was formulated for this video. Setting This was performed in an inpatient facility. Patients or Participants One 48-year-old female. Interventions Robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy with novel camera rotation approach. Measurements and Main Results The main result of this procedure was for patient to tolerate the procedure well while achieving the end goal of hysterectomy. Conclusion This is a feasible and highly reproducible process that may be adopted by other surgeons.
1-Methylcyclopropene treatment and bruising of different apple cultivars during storage

SummaryThe effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment on the susceptibility of ‘Empire’, ‘Golden Delicious’, and ‘Fuji’ apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) fruit to bruising was investigated. Fruit were either untreated or treated with 1-MCP after overnight cooling, and impact bruising was assessed by measurements of bruise diameter and volume after 1 d, or after 1, 3, or 5 months storage in air at 0.5oC. At each sampling time, the internal ethylene concentration (IEC) and flesh firmness of each fruit was measured, either while still cold (0.5oC) or after warming for 24 h at 20oC. Fruit were then impacted using drop heights of 30, 60, or 90 cm. 1-MCP treatment reduced IEC and resulted in firmer fruit in all cultivars. The extent of bruising was greatest in ‘Golden Delicious’, and lowest in ‘Empire’. Greater drop heights caused greater bruising. Longer storage times resulted in smaller bruise volumes in both cold and warm fruit of all cultivars, but bruise diameter was affected only in ‘Golden Delicious...
Dissolution of a colloidal particle in an oscillatory flow

Abstract Understanding dissolution kinetics of a colloidal particle in an aqueous solution is of great importance in many pharmaceutical and biochemical applications. We present theoretical analysis of low Reynolds number flow dynamics and mass transfer of a dissolving spherical particle in a unidirectional oscillatory flow field. The coupling of fluid flow and passive motion of the particle are solved analytically, and the transient mass transfer associated with the oscillation of the particle is computed numerically. The flow patterns, basic characteristics of mass transport, and the simplified long-time dissolution process under various saturation concentrations and relative flow conditions are discussed in details.
Transport Processes in Air

The transport of air pollutants from localized sources through the air can be a means of disposing of them by dilution during transport but, at the same time, can also be an efficient means of transferring the problem of nearby pollution to locations at long distances away from emission sources. It is especially the long range transport of air pollutants through the atmosphere, measured in hundreds or thousands of kilometers, that has created a need for more quantitative understanding of the processes and distance scales for different gaseous and particulate pollutants. In this section examples of evidence for long range transport of individual chemical substances will be discussed. Because sulfur and lead, two pollutants of considerable ecological and human significance, are to a great degree transported in the form of fine particulate matter, the processes for aerosol transport will be emphasized.
Market Innovation and the Global Environment

The traditional economic assumption that environmental concerns run counter to productivity and growth has come under fire. Recent evidence clearly points in a new direction. To date, markets have evolved some of the most innovative and useful solutions for global environmental problems.
An EM-based channel estimation algorithm for space-time and space-frequency block coded OFDM

The combination of multiple-antenna and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) provides reliable communications over frequency selective fading channels. We investigate this approach and focus on the application of space-time block codes (STBC) and space-frequency block codes (SFBC) in OFDM systems. We compare the performance of maximum likelihood (ML), zero forcing (ZF) and conventional detection algorithms. We show that ZF provides a good trade-off between computational complexity and performance. The problem of channel estimation in STBC-OFDM and SFBC-OFDM systems is also studied, including the derivation of the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB). Since knowledge of the channel is required to coherently decode STBC-OFDM and SFBC-OFDM, we propose an iterative channel estimation algorithm based on the EM algorithm that requires very few pilot symbols. The CRLB can be achieved by the channel estimation algorithm.
Studids of chloroplast development in Euglena. III. Experimental separation of chloroplast development and chloroplast replication.

Abstract Since red light induces chloroplast formation in Euglena and is inactive in photoreactivation, it has been possible to separate the effect of ultraviolet light on chloroplast development from its effect on chloroplast replication. Cells which had received an ultraviolet dose sufficient to yield 100% albino colonies when plated under non-photoreactivating conditions were exposed to red ligth (which does not photoreactivate) and the synthesis of chlorophyll and chloroplasts was followed with time after irradiation under resting conditions. The conversion of protochlorophyll to chlorophyll was found to be unaffected by ultraviolet light. Chloroplast development (followed by fluorescence microscopy) was found to be entirely normal in ultraviolet irradiated cells. When these cells were plated under non-photoreactivating conditions, 100% albino colonies resulted. It is concluded, therefore, that ultraviolet light does not affect the development of precursor bodies into chloroplasts in the ultraviolet irradiated cells but acts specifically to prevent the replication of chloroplasts or the structures which manufacture them, at cell division.
International Law and the Domestic Separation of Powers

This Article uncovers the forgotten role that international law has played in shaping the separation of foreign affairs powers between Congress and the President. Although the use of international law in constitutional interpretation is viewed today with deep skepticism, historically international law shaped how constitutional actors, especially ones outside the courts, understood the allocation of foreign affairs powers between the political branches. Importantly, international law did not play a neutral role in the power struggle between the branches. Rather, it bolstered the President’s expansive foreign relations powers vis-a-vis Congress in ways that continue to affect the distribution of powers today. This history holds lessons for contemporary constitutional interpretation, including the extent to which international law should constrain the President.
Freedom of Expression in Wartime

War and preparation for war create serious strains on a system of freedom of expression. Emotions run high, lowering the degree of rationality which is required to make such a system viable. It becomes more difficult to hold the rough give-and-take of controlled controversy within constructive bounds. Immediate events assume greater importance; long-range considerations are pushed to the background. The need for consensus appears more urgent in the context of dealing with hostile outsiders. Cleavage seems to be more dangerous, and dissent more difficult to distinguish from actual aid to the enemy. In this volatile area the constitutional guarantee of free and open discussion is put to its most severe test. It is not surprising, therefore, that throughout our history periods of war tension have been marked by serious infringements on freedom of expression. The most violent attacks upon the right to free speech occurred in the years of the Alien and Sedition Acts, the approach to the Civil War, the Civil War itself, and World War I-all times of war or near-war.' Yet it was not until the end of World War I that judicial application of the first amendment played any significant role in these events. Up to this point there had been no major decision by the Supreme Court applying the guarantees of the first amendment. Then, in 1919, the Court issued the first of a series of decisions dealing with federal and state legislation that had been enacted to restrict free expression during the war, and thus began the long development of first amendment doctrine. During World War II, in contrast to prior wartime periods, freedom of speech to oppose the war or criticize its conduct was not seriously infringed. This unusual turn of events may have been due, in part, to the increasing judicial protection afforded free expression through the first amendment, particularly by the liberal decisions which began in 1930 under the Hughes Court, and the ensuing education of public opinion that those decisions engendered. Some of these gains