cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quasi-optics of a thin-film polarization converter

A planar thin isotropic film sandwiched between an isotropic cover and an electro-optic substrate crystal can support transverse electric and transverse magnetic guided modes. When an external electric field is applied to the substrate and is harmonically modulated suitably in the propagation direction, the two modes have a phase-matched interaction and exchange energy in the propagation direction. The governing equations of this interaction are deduced, using a quasi-optical technique for two orientations of the substrate crystal, and are analyzed to yield the requirement for the complete polarization conversion. Representative numerical results are obtained to show that for practically realizable film thicknesses, complete polarization conversion can be achieved in acceptable values of the interaction length and with acceptable frequency selectivity.
Automatic segmentation of intravascular ultrasound images based on temporal texture analysis

In our study we developed a novel automatic algorithm for the analysis and delineation of lumen and external elastic membrane (EEM) boundaries using both temporal and spatial variation of IVUS data. The pre-processing steps involve the construction of Laplacian gradient image from neighboring images, and the use of discrete wavelet frame decompositions for texture computation. A smooth Lumen and EEM contour is predicted by applying radial basis functions on contour initialization. This algorithm is evaluated on large data set of multi-patient 2293 IVUS images and pitted against the manually segmented contours by medical experts. It is observed that this algorithm reliably performs contour prediction with clinically appreciated limits of average prediction error equaling 0.1254 mm and 0.0762 mm for Lumen and EEM respectively. Furthermore a custom Lumen detection algorithm for stented images is proposed and tested with average prediction error of 0.048 mm
Mitigating risk in ecommerce transactions: perceptions of information credibility and the role of user-generated ratings in product quality and purchase intention

Although extremely popular, electronic commerce environments often lack information that has traditionally served to ensure trust among exchange partners. Digital technologies, however, have created new forms of "electronic word-of-mouth," which offer new potential for gathering credible information that guides consumer behaviors. We conducted a nationally representative survey and a focused experiment to assess how individuals perceive the credibility of online commercial information, particularly as compared to information available through more traditional channels, and to evaluate the specific aspects of ratings information that affect people's attitudes toward ecommerce. Survey results show that consumers rely heavily on web-based information as compared to other channels, and that ratings information is critical in the evaluation of the credibility of online commercial information. Experimental results indicate that ratings are positively associated with perceptions of product quality and purchase intention, but that people attend to average product ratings, but not to the number of ratings or to the combination of the average and the number of ratings together. Thus suggests that in spite of valuing the web and ratings as sources of commercial information, people use ratings information suboptimally by potentially privileging small numbers of ratings that could be idiosyncratic. In addition, product quality is shown to mediate the relationship between user ratings and purchase intention. The practical and theoretical implications of these findings are considered for ecommerce scholars, consumers, and vendors.
Prosthesis use and satisfaction among persons with dysvascular lower limb amputations across postacute care discharge settings.

Objective To test the hypotheses that patients undergoing major lower limb amputations who received postacute care at an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) would experience higher prosthesis use and satisfaction and lower prosthesis-related adverse effects than those treated at a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or at home. Design Population-based, observational, prospective, multicenter study. Setting Hospitals and communities in 2 racially and geographically diverse states. Participants Patients 21 years and older who were identified during the surgical acute care stay as undergoing major lower limb amputations. Main Outcome Measures Prosthesis use; satisfaction with prosthesis' comfort, appearance, and gait; and the presence of skin irritation, pain, and wounds as a result of prosthesis use. Methods Two-stage instrumental variable models applied to data collected from medical records and patient interviews. Results Only 149 (50.2%) of the 297 study participants had a prosthesis at the 6-month follow-up. Regression-adjusted outcomes indicate that patients treated at IRFs used their prosthesis more hours per week (52.8 versus 36.2 h/wk or 46% higher use), were less likely to experience prosthesis-related pain (16% versus 33.7%) and were significantly more likely to be satisfied with their gait (76.1% versus 59.3%) than were patients treated at SNFs. No significant differences in outcomes were found between patients who received care at an IRF and patients who were discharged home. Conclusions These results add to the growing body of literature suggesting a general pattern of better outcomes for persons with vascular-related amputations who receive postacute care at IRFs relative to SNFs.
System Identification of a Vortex Lattice Aerodynamic Model

The state-space presentation of an aerodynamic vortex model is considered from a classical and system identification perspective. Using an aerodynamic vortex model as a numerical simulator of a wing tunnel experiment, both full state and limited state data or measurements are considered. Two possible approaches for system identification are presented and modal controllability and observability are also considered. The theory then is applied to the system identification of a flow over an aerodynamic delta wing and typical results are presented.
Measurements of surface currents on a finite circular tube illuminated by electromagnetic wave

An experiment is designed to confirm a rigorous theory on the three-dimensional electromagnetic scattering from a circular tube of finite length. Both axial and transverse components of the outside total current for the case of E polarization have been measured for two finite tubes with ka = 1.895 and kh = 0.4827\pi and 0.724\pi , both as a function of z or \theta . Special care was taken to preserve the continuity of the transverse current after each change in the position of the probe. The measured results are in good agreement with the theoretically computed data. Theoretical curves for the corresponding infinite cylinder are also included to show the limitations of using them as approximations to the currents on finite cylinders.
Improving preventive care by prompting physicians.

Objectives To assess the impact of prompting physicians on health maintenance, answer questions regarding the mode of delivery, and identify opportunities and limitations of this information intervention. Methods Systematic electronic and manual searches (January 1, 1966, to December 31, 1996) were conducted to identify clinical trial reports on prompting clinicians. Three eligibility criteria were applied: (1) randomized controlled clinical trial, (2) clinician prompt, alert, or reminder in the study group and no similar intervention in the control group, and (3) measurement of the intervention effect on the frequency of preventive care procedures. Data were abstracted by independent reviewers using a standardized abstraction form, and quality of methodology was scored. A series of meta-analyses on triggering clinical actions was performed using the random-effects method. The statistical analyses included 33 eligible studies, which involved 1547 clinicians and 54,693 patients. Results Overall, prompting can significantly increase preventive care performance by 13.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.5%-15.6%). However, the effect ranges from 5.8% (95% CI, 1.5%-10.1%) for Papanicolaou smear to 18.3% (95% CI, 11.6%-25.1%) for influenza vaccination. The effect is not cumulative, and the length of intervention period did not show correlation with effect size (R= −0.015,P= .47). Academic affiliation, ratio of residents, and technique of delivery did not have a significant impact on the clinical effect of prompting. Conclusions Dependable performance improvement in preventive care can be accomplished through prompting physicians. Vigorous application of this simple and effective information intervention could save thousands of lives annually. Health care organizations could effectively use prompts, alerts, or reminders to provide information to clinicians when patient care decisions are made.
Semilogarithmic Amplifier System

This report describes an amplifier system having the capability of compressing several decade pulse height ranges into several linear step gain ranges covering only a single decade. Rather than employing the usual frequency, voltage, and temperature dependent low voltage semiconductor switching and conduction characteristics, this amplifying system utilizes the reproducible, easily calibrated, abrupt, high level limiting characteristics of a transistor operational feedback amplifier. The several cascaded stages of this amplifier, whose individual outputs drive a pulse adder, use these abrupt, high level limiting characteristics to determine the boundries between several well defined linear step gain ranges as a function of pulse amplitude. The gain in each of these ranges is established by that gain available prior to the point where limiting occurs in the amplifier system. Such an amplifying system has great application in the measurement of wide range nuclear or other pulse height spectra, where the relatively poor resolution uniformity of multichannel analyzers either dictates an unreasonable number of available channels or the use of some sort of compression amplifier. The plot of Fig. 1 clearly displays this resolution nonuniformity.
Diet of the Invasive Frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui, in Hawaii

of 2004. At each site, I collected between 22 and 119 frogs from 20 3 20-m plots, and invertebrates from light traps, beating trays, and leaf litter samples. Prey items in frog stomachs were identified to order, and invertebrates collected in environmental samples were identified to the lowest taxonomic category possible. Multivariate analyses of diet content and invertebrates collected at each site suggest that most prey was from the leaf litter. Non-native ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and amphipods (Amphipoda: Talitridae) comprised 30% and 22%, respectively, of the total prey items consumed. These non-native invertebrates were more abundant in stomachs of E. coqui than in the environment indicating a preference for these species. There was little evidence that E. coqui were reducing important invertebrate pests. No mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) were found in stomachs, and termites (Isoptera) comprised ,1% of the total prey items. Arthropod orders containing endemic species that appear most vulnerable to E. coqui predation include Acarina (mites), Coleoptera (beetles), Collembola (springtails), and Diptera (flies), which each made up .2% of the diet of E. coqui. Dominant prey items in frog stomachs differed among study sites suggesting that frogs are opportunistic feeders and forage on abundant prey items. Eleutherodactylus coqui management should focus on areas with endemic invertebrates of concern because it is these locations where E. coqui may have the greatest impact.
In vivo evidence that Patched and Smoothened constitute distinct binding and transducing components of a Hedgehog receptor complex

During Drosophila development, cells belonging to the posterior compartment of each segment organize growth and patterning by secreting Hedgehog (Hh), a protein which induces a thin strip of adjacent cells in the anterior compartment to express the morphogens Decapentaplegic (Dpp) and Wingless (Wg). Hedgehog is bound and transduced by a receptor complex that includes Smoothened (Smo), a member of the Frizzled (Fz) family of seven-pass transmembrane receptors, as well as the multiple-pass transmembrane protein Patched (Ptc). Ptc is required for the binding of Hh to the complex as well as for the Hh-dependent activation of Smo within the complex. Here, we identify a likely null allele of the smo gene and use it to determine whether Hh is bound by Ptc alone, or by Smo in concert with Ptc. We find that cells devoid of Smo can sequester Hh, but that their ability to do so depends, as in wild-type cells, on the expression of high levels of Ptc protein. These results suggest that Ptc normally binds Hh without any help from Smo and hence favor a mechanism of signal transduction in which Hh binds specifically to Ptc and induces a conformational change leading to the release of latent Smo activity.
Self-acceptance of stuttering: A preliminary study.

Abstract Purpose This study explored the relationship between self-acceptance of stuttering and (1) psychosocial factors (self-esteem, hostility towards others, emotional support, and perceived discrimination); (2) treatment history (support group participation, therapy duration, and perceived therapy success); and (3) previously reported variables in self-acceptance of stuttering, which include age and stuttering severity. Method Participants were 80 adults who stutter who were recruited with assistance from the National Stuttering Association and Board Certified Specialists in Fluency Disorders. Participants completed an electronic survey composed of an acceptance of stuttering scale, psychosocial scales, and a participant information questionnaire. Results Statistical analysis identified significant correlations between participants’ reports of self-acceptance of stuttering and self-esteem, perceived discrimination, hostility towards others, and perceived therapy outcome. Self-esteem was positively correlated with self-acceptance, while hostility towards others and perceived discrimination was negatively correlated with self-acceptance. Participants who perceived their therapy outcome to be successful were significantly more likely to report higher levels of self-acceptance. No significant relationships were found between self-acceptance of stuttering and support group participation, emotional support, stuttering severity, and participant age. Conclusion This exploratory investigation has provided a foundation for future studies on the self-acceptance of stuttering. The findings indicate common psychosocial variables in self-acceptance of stuttering and of other disabilities. The significant relationships between self-acceptance of stuttering and psychosocial and therapeutic variables found need to be further explored to identify its causalities and clinical implications. Learning outcomes The reader will be able to (1) discuss the importance of assessing self-acceptance of stuttering, (2) summarize the literature on self-acceptance of disability, and (3) describe the significant findings related to self-acceptance of stuttering and psychosocial, therapeutic variables.
Traditional use ofCurcuma Longa (Zingiberaceae) in Rotuma

The ritual production and usage of the powder produced from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa L., on the tropical Polynesian island of Rotuma, prior to European contact was integral in every aspect of life, from birth to death and possibly held religious significance. The orange powder called “mena” was formerly produced on a large scale involving entire villages and several months of preparation. The mena (dry powder) and a paint (powder mixed with coconut oil) were used medicinally both internally and externally. The powder was sprinkled on the shoulders of dancers while performing the traditional dance called the maka. This usage is the only tradition involving mena which is still widely practiced, although it has been modified with the substitution of imported Gucci powder from Europe. Possible cultural implications of the substitution and subsequent loss of this traditional plant product are discussed.
An Empirically Based Substance Abuse Course for Graduate Students in Nursing

Currently, no texts or compilations of readings offer a comprehensive graduate-level nursing foundation in addictive behaviors. This article describes the development of a theory- and research-based collection of readings and a course designed to meet this need.
Molecular detection of airborne Coccidioides in Tucson, Arizona

Environmental surveillance of the soil-dwelling fungus Coccidioides is essential for the prevention of Valley fever, a disease primarily caused by inhalation of the arthroconidia. Methods for collecting and detecting Coccidioides in soil samples are currently in use by several laboratories; however, a method utilizing current air sampling technologies has not been formally demonstrated for the capture of airborne arthroconidia. In this study, we collected air/dust samples at two sites (Site A and Site B) in the endemic region of Tucson, Arizona, and tested a variety of air samplers and membrane matrices. We then employed a single-tube nested qPCR assay for molecular detection. At both sites, numerous soil samples (n = 10 at Site A and n = 24 at Site B) were collected and Coccidioides was detected in two samples (20%) at Site A and in eight samples (33%) at Site B. Of the 25 air/dust samples collected at both sites using five different air sampling methods, we detected Coccidioides in three samples from site B. All three samples were collected using a high-volume sampler with glass-fiber filters. In this report, we describe these methods and propose the use of these air sampling and molecular detection strategies for environmental surveillance of Coccidioides.
Analysis of Ferromagnetic Resonance Phenomenon Based on the Case Study in 66 kV System

TV ferromagnetic resonance is a overvoltage phenomenon which frequently appears and causes accidents.It can cause problems such as over-voltage of the system,TV over-current,overheating to leak oil,explosion and busbar short circuit.TV ferromagnetic resonance would seriously affect the safe operation of the power grid.Therefore,it is necessary to make analysis and research on such them to take effective preventive measures for avoiding the occurrence of such incidents.This paper has analyzed a typical case of resonance accident in the grid and given the ferromagnetic resonance elimination measures suitable for 66 kV system.
Aberrant processing of surfactant protein C in hereditary SP-B deficiency

Hereditary surfactant protein B (SP-B) deficiency causes lethal neonatal respiratory disease associated with abnormalities in pulmonary surfactant proteins and lipids. SP-C, a 4-kDa hydrophobic protein produced from a 21-kDa precursor, cooperates with SP-B to enhance the surface active properties of surfactant phospholipids. Anti-proSP-C polyclonal antisera were produced against fusion proteins containing 1) the amino terminus (amino acids 1-20), 2) the region carboxy-terminal to the mature SP-C peptide (amino acids 58-77), and 3) full-length 197-amino acid proSP-C and were characterized using immunoprecipitation, Western blot, and immunohistochemical techniques. Western blot analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage and amniotic fluid from hereditary SP-B-deficient patients allowed identification of a 12-kDa form of SP-C that contained epitopes consistent with the amino-terminal and active peptide regions of SP-C (amino acids 1-57). The 12-kDa SP-C peptide was not detected in bronchoalveolar lavage from healthy adults or adults with alveolar proteinosis or pneumonia. We conclude that SP-B deficiency is associated with the aberrant processing and secretion of an immature SP-C peptide, which may contribute to the respiratory failure associated with hereditary SP-B deficiency.
Glutathione, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase activities in erythrocytes and lymphocytes in chronic renal disease

Erythrocyte and lymphocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities have been investigated in uremic patients pre- and post-dialysis and normal subjects of the same age span. GSH levels and GST activities in erythrocytes and lymphocytes and GR activity in lymphocytes from uremic patients were higher as compared to the corresponding controls. Dialysis resulted in a 17% decrease in GSH levels in erythrocytes. Hemodialysis did not significantly alter erythrocyte GST and GR activities. Hemodialysis produced a 50% decrease in lymphocyte GST activity and a 32% decrease in lymphocyte GR activity. Elevated levels of GSH and increased activities of GST and GR in blood cells of uremic patients may be associated with a compensatory protective mechanism against accumulating toxic wastes in uremic plasma.
From Women's Piety to Male Devotion: Gender Studies, the Acts of Paul and Thecla , and the Evidence of an Arabic Manuscript

When we read early Christian narratives such as the Acts of Paul and Thecla, what is the relationship between the characters portrayed in the story and the “real-life” persons and groups who composed and transmitted the work? In the second-century Greek account, Thecla abandons her fiance and family to follow Paul and his ascetic message. She endures a trial by fire in Iconium, resists sexual assault on the road to Antioch, and survives attacks by beasts in the Antiochene arena, all the while supported by a wealthy widow as her patron, a friendly lioness as her protector, and a chorus of women in the stadium who extol her perseverance and cry out to the governor for mercy. In the end, after baptizing herself, Thecla is released, dresses herself like a man, and begins preaching the gospel as an itinerant apostle.
Evaluation of short synthetic antimicrobial peptides for treatment of drug-resistant and intracellular Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections present a serious challenge because of the emergence of resistance to numerous conventional antibiotics. Due to their unique mode of action, antimicrobial peptides are novel alternatives to traditional antibiotics for tackling the issue of bacterial multidrug resistance. Herein, we investigated the antibacterial activity of two short novel peptides (WR12, a 12 residue peptide composed exclusively of arginine and tryptophan, and D-IK8, an eight residue β-sheet peptide) against multidrug resistant staphylococci. In vitro, both peptides exhibited good antibacterial activity against MRSA, vancomycin-resistant S. aureus, linezolid-resistant S. aureus, and methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis. WR12 and D-IK8 were able to eradicate persisters, MRSA in stationary growth phase, and showed significant clearance of intracellular MRSA in comparison to both vancomycin and linezolid. In vivo, topical WR12 and D-IK8 significantly reduced both the bacterial load and the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in MRSA-infected skin lesions. Moreover, both peptides disrupted established in vitro biofilms of S. aureus and S. epidermidis significantly more so than traditional antimicrobials tested. Taken together, these results support the potential of WR12 and D-IK8 to be used as a topical antimicrobial agent for the treatment of staphylococcal skin infections.
Critical need for plutonium and uranium isotopic standards with lower uncertainties

Certified reference materials (CRMs) traceable to national and international safeguards database are a critical prerequisite for ensuring that nuclear measurement systems are free of systematic biases. CRMs are used to validate measurement processes associated with nuclear analytical laboratories. Diverse areas related to nuclear safeguards are impacted by the quality of the CRM standards available to analytical laboratories. These include: nuclear forensics, radio-chronometry, national and international safeguards, stockpile stewardship, nuclear weapons infrastructure and nonproliferation, fuel fabrication, waste processing, radiation protection, and environmental monitoring. For the past three decades the nuclear community is confronted with the strange situation that improvements in measurement data quality resulting from the improved accuracy and precision achievable with modern multi-collector mass spectrometers could not be fully exploited due to large uncertainties associated with CRMs available from New Brunswick Laboratory (NBL) that are used for instrument calibration and measurement control. Similar conditions prevail for both plutonium and uranium isotopic standards and for impurity element standards in uranium matrices. Herein, the current status of U and Pu isotopic standards available from NBL is reviewed. Critical areas requiring improvement in the quality of the nuclear standards to enable the U. S. and international safeguards community to utilize the full potential of modern multi-collector mass spectrometer instruments are highlighted.
Lawn to Lake: Lessons Learned from a Collaborative Natural Lawn Care Program

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) led a multi-state, collaborative natural lawn care outreach program promoting sustainable lawn care practices at the community and household level. The programmatic goal was to improve Lake Michigan basin ecosystem health by reducing pesticide, synthetic fertilizer, and irrigation water use and runoff within the watershed through changing the practices of those responsible for the creation and upkeep of lawns. Targeted audiences were educated about the relationship between Great Lakes Basin watershed health and lawn care practices as well as trained in natural, low-input lawn care methods. The program aimed at achieving efficiency by leveraging collaborating partner resources to adapt existing materials and transfer programs across partners and states. Anticipated program impacts were estimated prior to implementation based on previous program evaluations and available research, and additional evaluations were conducted during the project period (2010–2014). Over the outreach period, over 300 landscape professionals, 400 Master Gardeners and teachers, and 2,000 homeowners were trained in natural lawn care practices. Using an evaluation transfer approach, this effort translates into an estimated reduction of 3.4 million pounds of weed and feed applied to lawns per year with associated decreases in pesticides, phosphorous, and irrigation. This paper reflects on lessons learned though the natural lawn care program evaluation experience and makes recommendations for future programming.
Seasonal geomorphic processes and rates of sand movement at Mount Baldy dune in Indiana, USA

Abstract Winds are very strong, frequent, and have high energy (annual DP ∼800 VU) along the southern shores of Lake Michigan, allowing the coexistence of fixed and active dunes. Six years (2007–13) of monitoring Mount Baldy in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore reveals that this is the most active coastal dune in the Great Lakes region. This paper documents aeolian processes and changes in the dune’s morphology that occur temporarily, following storms, or seasonally, due to weather (climate) variations. Most of the sand transport in this area takes place during strong storms with gale force (>17.5 m/s) winds, which occur in the autumn and winter months. A single storm, such as the October 28–31, 2013 event, can contribute 25% of the annual sand transport and dune movement inland. In its most active year (June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012), Mount Baldy moved inland on average 4.34 m, with a maximum of 6.52 m along the blowout’s axis (155° azimuth). During this particularly active season, there were six storms with sustained gale force winds, winter air temperatures were warmer than average, and shelf ice on Lake Michigan lasted only one day. The dune is least active during the summer season, when the winds are weakest. The late fall and winter winds are the strongest. But in a typical year, most of the dune’s advance inland takes place during the spring thaw when sand is released from over-steepened and lumpy slip face, allowing it to avalanche to the toe of the slip face. However, with a warming air temperatures, a reduction in the duration of winter shelf ice, and rising Lake Michigan levels, the annual rates of sand transport and dune movement may increase. The recent Mount Baldy management strategy, which includes planting vegetation and installing wind barriers on the dune’s stoss side in an effort to fix the dune and stop its further movement inland, may potentially cause the destruction of the mobile sand, open dune habitat, resulting in the extinction of rare plants, insects, lizards, birds, and mammals.
A Police-Led Addiction Treatment Referral Program in Massachusetts

During the first year of a nonjudgmental referral program for drug detoxification and rehabilitation managed by the police department in Gloucester, Massachusetts, 376 persons presented for assistance; 85% had insurance, and the rate of direct placement was 94%.
Managing Paralympic Sport Organisations—The STEEPLE Framework

As the Paralympic Games continue to grow in their numbers of athletes, spectators, and sponsors, sport administrators are taking a long look at how best to manage the event and the Paralympic Movement. One of the best perspectives to take is to examine the Games using a framework that overlays the current issues sport administrators are dealing with as the Games move forward.
Investigating adjudicator bias in concert band evaluations: An application of the Many-Facets Rasch Model:

Prior research indicates mixed findings regarding the consistency of adjudicators’ ratings at large ensemble festivals, yet the results of these festivals have strong impacts on the perceived succe...
Treating diabetes with exercise : focus on the microvasculature : review

The rising incidence of diabetes and associated metabolic diseases, including obesity, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, have led to investigation of a number of drugs to treat these diseases. However, lifestyle interventions, including diet and exercise, remain the first line of defence. The benefits of exercise are typically presented in terms of weight loss, improved body composition and reduced fat mass, but exercise can have many other beneficial effects. Acute effects of exercise include major changes in blood flow through active muscle, and an active hyperaemia that increases the delivery of oxygen to the working muscle fibres. Longer-term exercise training can affect the vasculature, improving endothelial health and possibly basal metabolic rates. Further, insulin sensitivity is improved both acutely after a single bout of exercise and shows chronic effects with exercise training, effectively reducing diabetes risk. Exercise-mediated improvements in endothelial function may also reduce complications associated with both diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Therefore, while drugs to improve microvascular function in diabetes continue to be investigated, exercise can also provide many similar benefits on endothelial function and should remain the first prescription when treating insulin resistance and diabetes. This review will investigate the effects of exercise on the blood vessels and the potential benefits of exercise on cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Discrete-time Repetitive Control of LTI Systems Sampled at a Periodic Rate

Abstract In this paper, discrete-time repetitive control for linear systems sampled at a periodic time-varying rate is addressed. A necessary and sufficient condition for closed-loop stability is presented along with two control system design procedures. These methods are compared to previous methods developed for repetitive control of linear periodic systems.
The impact of non-severe hypoglycemia on quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Abstract Aims To determine the impact of frequency of non-severe hypoglycemic events (NSHE) and the perceived burden of NSHE on quality of life (QOL) over time. Methods T2D adults (n = 424) were re-contacted two years after initial QOL assessment. Responding subjects (n = 290) reported the frequency and burden of NSHE over time and completed six generic and diabetes-specific QOL measures. Results Most subjects (86%) reported ≥ one NSHE over time. Higher frequency of NSHE was significantly associated with decrements in QOL. Greater perceived burden of NSHE was significantly linked to decreases in QOL over time for all six QOL measures. Interaction terms indicated that participants with a higher frequency of NSHE and higher perceived burden reported the greatest decrease in QOL; participants who experienced frequent NSHE but did not perceive these events as burdensome evidenced little worsening in QOL over time. Conclusions NSHE have a negative impact on QOL over time in T2D adults. However, it is not just the occurrence of NSHE that affects QOL; it is the individual's felt burden of these events that is critical. The greatest reductions in QOL are seen among those subjects reporting a higher frequency of NSHE and indicating that such events are burdensome.
Utilizing Domestic Off-Campus Experiences to Influence Social Justice Awareness and Career Development

This study examines the transformative experiences of a group of academic coaches who participated in the Target New Transitions (TNT) program during the 2014–2015 academic year. The TNT program trains undergraduate students, through professional development workshops and reflective exercises, to serve as year-round academic coaches for first-year students in Chicago’s most impoverished high school districts. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 academic coaches in order to understand the transformative nature of the program in relation to social justice learning, translatable skills and values, and career development. Findings demonstrate that significant learning occurred in relation to coaches’ awareness of social justice issues, including issues of power, privilege, and systemic causes of inequality; that learning was translatable to other academic and nonacademic settings; and that many students developed greater commitments to public service careers. Implications are also presented for colleges interested in further anchoring their institutional commitments within their local communities.
Light-Induced Buckles Localized by Polymeric Inks Printed on Bilayer Films

Buckling instabilities generate microscale features in thin films in a facile manner. Buckles can form, for example, by heating a metal/polymer film stack on a rigid substrate. Thermal expansion differences of the individual layers generate compressive stress that causes the metal to buckle over the entire surface. The ability to dictate and confine the location of buckle formation can enable patterns with more than one length scale, including hierarchical patterns. Here, sacrificial "ink" patterned on top of the film stack localizes the buckles via two mechanisms. First, stiff inks suppress buckles such that only the non-inked regions buckle in response to infrared light. The metal in the non-inked regions absorbs the infrared light and thus gets sufficiently hot to induce buckles. Second, soft inks that absorb light get hot faster than the non-inked regions and promote buckling when exposed to visible light. The exposed metal in the non-inked regions reflects the light and thus never get sufficiently hot to induce buckles. This second method works on glass substrates, but not silicon substrates, due to the superior thermal insulation of glass. The patterned ink can be removed, leaving behind hierarchical patterns consisting of regions of buckles among non-buckled regions.
Male Migration and Female Labor Force Participation: New Evidence from the Mexican Family Life Survey

This paper examines the impact of male migration to the U.S. on female labor market outcomes in Mexico. To understand intrahoushold bargaining and labor reallocation, I restrict my attention to wives left behind by male migrants. This paper differentiates among domestic migration, cross-border migration, and other types of absence, accounting for their differential effects. The nonmigration absence of the husband tends to increase female labor supply in almost all types of income-generating activities. In contrast, women from migrant-sending families are more likely to participate in unpaid work, but less likely to participate in paid work. Similar findings hold for work hours. The overrepresentation of females in unpaid work associated with male migration may threaten the economic wellbeing of women if it leads to weaker labor market attachment and less bargaining power within the family.
Confidence Intervals: Admitting That Estimates Are Not Exact

In this chapter, you will learn about the great variety of confidence intervals: Here is a brief preview of the coming attractions. You can choose the probability of the statement, called the confidence level, which by tradition is set at 95%, but it is also fairly common to see levels of 99%, 99.9%, and even 90%. The trade-off for a higher confidence level is a larger, less useful interval. A confidence interval for a population percentage can be computed easily using the standard error for a binomial distribution. Depending on the question of interest, you may also decide whether the interval is two-sided (it is between this and that) or one-sided (choose one: It is at least as big as this, or, it is no larger than that). You can also create a prediction interval for the next observation (instead of for the population mean). As always, you must watch out for the technical assumptions—in this case, random sampling and normality—lurking in the background, which, if not satisfied, will invalidate your confidence interval statements. And be careful to distinguish the 95% probability for the process of generating the confidence interval from the 95% confidence you have for a particular interval after it is computed.
Hypertelorism-Hypospadias Syndrome

AbstractThe hypertelorism-hypospadias syndrome has been reported previously in 19 affected male patients. In addition, 21 affected boys in 16 families have been evaluated at our center. Genitourinary anomalies other than hypospadias were observed frequently and included cryptorchidism, vesicoureteral reflux and minor upper urinary tract variations. An increased incidence of other developmental defects involving major organ systems also was observed. Since urologists are among the first physicians to evaluate these children, they should recognize this syndrome as an indication to initiate a thorough multisystem evaluation.
Intraventricular bone dust migration after neuroendoscopy: report of 2 cases

Neuroendoscopy has demonstrated safety and efficacy in the treatment of a host of pediatric neurosurgical pathologies. With the increase in its applicability, several associated complications have been described in the literature. A common practice in pediatric neurosurgery is the use of Gelfoam sponge pledget in the burr hole, followed by bone fragments and dust (obtained from the created burr hole), to cover the dural defect. This technique is used to enhance burr hole sealing and potentially prevent CSF leakage from the surgical site. Reports on intracranial bone dust migration associated with this technique are scarce. The authors report 2 cases of intracranial migration of bone fragments after an endoscopic third ventriculostomy and an endoscopic colloid cyst resection. The bone fragment migration was thought to be caused by negative pressure from a lumbar puncture in one case and external trauma to the head in the other. As endoscopy becomes more widely used, it is important to be aware of this pote...
Engineering fusion spatial modeling to enable areal measurement system analysis for optical surface metrology

Abstract Optical surface measurement (OSM) systems are able to reveal local surface variations in detail compared with stylus-based metrology. The major challenges of conducting measurement system analysis (MSA) for such an OSM include inconsistent measurement locations and a lack of characterization of gage capability at local surface areas (areal MSA). In this paper, an improved surface model is proposed to enable areal measurement system analysis for OSM by fusing surface manufacturing process information with spatially correlated data. Case studies discussed the MSA techniques developed from the proposed surface models and compared their performance in characterizing the areal MSA.
SAT-233 Management of Pregestational Diabetes Insipidus in Pregnancy

Introduction: The incidence of diabetes insipidus (DI) in pregnancy is rare, affecting 2 to 4 cases per 100,000 gestations. Management of pregestational DI poses a challenge for patients who are already on 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (desmopressin acetate) (DDAVP) as limited data is available on DDAVP adjustments during pregnancy. This case series describes three patients with pregestational central DI, all of whom required increased DDAVP doses during pregnancy. Case Presentation; Case 1: A 28 year old female with central DI from Langerhans cell histiocytosis was maintained on DDAVP nasal spray 10 mcg twice daily. At 16 weeks gestation, she reported symptoms of polyuria and polydipsia and DDAVP was increased to 20 mcg twice daily. Urine osmolality trended down by 67% (146 mOsm/kg) at 24 weeks gestation but serum sodium (136-143 mmol/L) remained in normal range. Case 2: A 30 year old female with central DI from a concussion was maintained on DDAVP tablet 50 mcg twice daily. Increased polydipsia was reported within the first trimester, however self-reported polyuria occurred at 23 weeks. At this time DDAVP was increased to150 mcg. Urine osmolality trended down by 52% at 27 weeks gestation (237 mOsm/kg) while serum sodium (134-137mmol/L) remained stable. Case 3: A 34 year old female with congenital central DI was maintained on DDAVP tablet 300 mcg total daily dose. During her first pregnancy DDAVP was increased to 500 mcg at 10 weeks gestation due to polyuria and polydipsia. During her second pregnancy DDAVP was increased to 600 mcg at 18 weeks gestation. Serum sodium levels (135-138 mmol/L) in second pregnancy remained stable in normal range. Post-partum, all three patients resumed pre-pregnancy DDAVP dose. Discussion: Although the development and management of gestational DI is reviewed in several papers, there is limited information on the management of pregestational central DI in pregnancy. Physiologic changes in water homeostasis predispose pregnant women to developing symptoms of polyuria and polydipsia. It may therefore be difficult to determine if worsening symptoms are related to inadequate DDAVP dosing. Patients with pregestational central DI can perceive worsening symptoms as early as the first trimester. DDAVP doses increased by 25-100% between the second and third trimester correlating with a decline in urine osmolality by 53-67% in two of our patients. Serum sodium levels remained in normal range. Our goal is to share our clinical experience with managing pregestational DI in pregnancy. It is important to be aware of the physiological changes and how they correlate with fluctuations in DDAVP requirements. Additional standardization regarding the management of pregestational DI would be beneficial for future pregnancy cases, however this may be difficult to achieve due to the rarity of the condition.
A palladium-catalyzed synthesis of isatins (1H-Indole-2,3-diones) from 1-(2-haloethynyl)-2-nitrobenzenes

Abstract An inherently regiospecific synthesis of isatins (1H-indole-2,3-diones) starting from 1-halo-2-nitrobenzenes is described. The isatins are formed by an intramolecular palladium-catalyzed annulation of 2-(2-haloethynyl)-1-nitrobenzenes via the formation of 2-haloisatogens.
Pediatric Urologic Robotic Surgery – PURS

Robotically assisted operations are thought be safe both in adult and pediatric patients.In the laboratory setting, the use of robots resulted in quicker and more efficient performance of standardized laparoscopic exercises compared with the standard laparoscopic approach. In comparison to adults, the pediatric patient poses new challenges such as smaller operative fields and more delicate tissues that necessitate fine suture material. Since there are several limitations of conventional endoscopic tools, such as limited instrument mobility or decreased ergonomics, pediatric surgeons are using the robot to assist in their surgical approach. Furthermore, freehand suturing using the available laparoscopic instruments is time consuming and requires vast experience, especially with small suture sizes. Though the robot might occupy most of the extracorporeal space in small children, the surgery is facilitated by the surgeon’s robotic dexterity. Children present a small working environment when compared to adults. For instance, an adult pneumoperitoneum will typically provide a 5–6 L working space where a 1-year-old will present a 1 L intra-abdominal space. Also, the body surface area is smaller and the chance of port site conflicts such as instrument crossing or trocar head piece collisions is greater for children as their size decreases. Tissue handling without haptic (touch) sensation remains a debatable and controversial topic, but with experience, the surgeon uses visual cues to avoid tissue damage and proper tissue realignment. The absence of tactile feedback and the inability to regulate the force applied to the tissues are characteristic of most endoscopic surgical techniques. When performing robotic surgery, the loss of force feedback (haptics) is a natural phenomenon. Surgeons usually rely on visual cues such as tissue compression and blanching as well as suture stretch (e.g., knot deformation) to determine the tensile strength of tissue and sutures. Advances in integrating imaging into the available robotic systems may facilitate surgeon intuition during the planning of complex reconstructions and improves on haptic. Robotics allows in situ surgery with accurate depth perception and tissue interrelations to accurately depict the pathology and correct it without strain on the target organ. The reconstruction can be done with the target organ in its natural position and location, allowing recognition of the interaction with its surroundings and pathology. Robotic-assisted laparoscopy appears to reduce the learning curve of intracorporeal suturing. Part of the learning curve entails organizing and training the right team. In pediatric urology, Peters et al. were the first authors to successfully complete various complex urological procedures while emphasizing the need for the development of a dedicated team approach to robotic surgery.
UAV-Based Automated Labeling of Training Data for Online Water and Land Differentiation

Wetlands scientists require detailed maps of the land and water contours to correctly understand wetlands water systems. Current methods rely on expensive, manually collected data that are rarely updated, providing obsolete data for modeling. Automating the process would improve data collection and enable scientists to improve wetlands models. The automated solution needs to minimally interact with the fragile environment, to function autonomously to avoid long trips to remote wetland locations, and to provide modularity to support the different measurement techniques for topographic and bathymetric mapping. Unmanned aerial vehicles with varying payloads and autonomous behavior provide a reasonable and effective solution.