cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Finite Strain Biphasic Poromechanics of a 'thin' Poroelastic Layer

In biological tissues, there are many thin, deformable, porous materials, such as basement membranes like the ocular lens capsule [Kaufman and Alm, 2003, Candiello et al., 2007] that, when subjected to dynamic loading, can exhibit coupling between solid skeleton deformation and relative pore fluid flow. These materials deform at finite strain and, since they are thin, they can be modeled as solid-shells [Tan and Vu-Quoc, 2005]. We are in the process of developing a finite strain, dynamic, poromechanical solid-shell finite element. But to start, we first present the results of applying a three-dimensional, Total Lagrangian, finite strain, dynamic, biphasic mixture finite element implementation [Regueiro and Ebrahimi, 2010] to simulate the dynamics of a `thin' poroelastic layer of lung tissue (for which we have porosity, permeability, and elastic parameter estimates from the literature [Lande and Mitzner, 2006, Levental et al., 2006]). The results will demonstrate the importance of accounting for the dynamics of solid skeleton deformation and relative fluid flow in `thin' poroelastic layers, where estimates of effective stress that the solid skeleton experiences are important in developing dynamic failure models of thin, deformable, porous materials.
Differences in treatment and survival among African-American and Caucasian women with early stage operable breast cancer

Objective. To examine racial disparities associated with breast cancer treatment and survival in elderly patients with early stage operable breast cancer. Methods. We studied 23,110 women with node-positive and 31,572 women with node-negative tumor who were aged ≥65 with stages I, II, or IIIA breast cancer in 1991–2002 using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked data. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the odds of receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation after breast conserving surgery (BCS) for blacks compared to whites. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to determine the risk of mortality in blacks compared to whites, stratified by types of treatment. Results. Black women with node-positive and node-negative tumors were 25% (odds ratio = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.65–0.87) and 17% (0.83, 0.70–0.99) less likely to receive chemotherapy than white women, after adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics. This relation was not attenuated and...
Throughput-Gain Analysis of Network Coding in Multi-Channel Multi-Radio Wireless Networks

Wireless network coding (NC) has emerged as a promising technology that improves network throughput and spectrum efficiency. How large can the coding gain be? In this paper, we study the network throughput gains of two types of wireless NC schemes, the conventional wireless NC and the analog NC, respectively, over the traditional non-NC scheme in multi-hop, multi-channel, and multi-radio wireless networks. In particular, we propose an analytical framework, which can exploit the best coding opportunities among all the possible realistic ones, for deriving the network throughput gains of the wireless NC schemes. By solving the problem of maximizing the network throughput subject to the fairness requirements under our proposed framework, we quantitatively analyze the network throughput gains of these two types of wireless NC schemes under various wireless network topologies.
Organizations in the Shadow of Communities

The concept of a community form is drawn upon in many subfields of organizational theory. Although there is not much convergence on a level of analysis, there is convergence on a mode of action that is increasingly relevant to a knowledge-based economy marked by porous and shifting organizational boundaries. We argue that communities play an underappreciated role in organizational theory – critical not only to occupational identity, knowledge transfer, sense-making, social support, innovation, problem-solving, and collective action but also, enabled by information technology, increasingly providing socioeconomic value – in areas once inhabited by organizations alone. Hence, we posit that organizations may be in the shadow of communities. Rather than push for a common definition, we link communities to an organization's evolution: its birth, growth, and death. We show that communities represent both opportunities and threats to organizations and conclude with a research agenda that more fully accounts for the potential of community forms to be a creator (and a possible destroyer) of value for organizations.
Fuzzy controlled hopping in a biped robot

Current biped robots with articulated legs, even the most impressive to date, still lack the ability to execute dynamic motions such as jumping and running with comparable performance to biological systems. This work explores dynamic jumping with the planar biped prototype KURMET, which employs unidirectional series-elastic actuation at each of its joints. While this actuation scheme enables the performance of high-power dynamic movements like the jump, its presence complicates the jumping control problem and has prevented previous researchers from obtaining precise jump control in systems of reasonable complexity. To manage this problem, this paper develops a layered fuzzy control system for KURMET that realizes repeated dynamic hopping and accurate control of both torso height and velocity at each top of flight. An effective two-stage training approach is used for the fuzzy controller to learn the required, yet highly nonlinear, relationships between its inputs and outputs. Finally, the state machine employed at the lowest-level of control is used to achieve a maximal normalized jump height that outperforms most humans and can be sequenced with the hopping movement.
A new architecture for achieving translational invariant recognition of objects

A multistage network that will reduce the translational uncertainty of a one-dimensional object is presented. To implement this network, novel network structures like multiple-valued outputs, competition between links instead of nodes, and cooperation of signals at the links are used. The number of nodes and links needed to implement the architecture is small. If the input field consists of n cells, then the total number of cells needed is only O(n). The total number of connections needed is O(nlogn). It is shown that size-invariant recognition can also be achieved if the input to the architecture is provided by a scale-sensitive network called a masking field. >
Two E-Boxes Are the Focal Point of Muscle-specific Skeletal Muscle Type 1 Na+ Channel Gene Expression

Abstract We have characterized a group of cis-regulatory elements that control muscle-specific expression of the rat skeletal muscle type 1 sodium channel (SkM1) gene. These elements are located within a 3.1-kilobase fragment that encompasses the 5′-flanking region, first exon, and part of the first intron of SkM1. We sequenced the region between −1062 and +311 and determined the start sites of transcription; multiple sites were identified between +1 and +30. The basal promoter (−65/+11) lacks cell-type specificity, while an upstream repressor (−174/−65) confers muscle-specific expression. A positive element (+49/+254) increases muscle-specific expression. Within these broad elements, two E boxes play a pivotal role. One E box at −31/−26 within the promoter, acting in part through its ability to bind the myogenic basic helix-loop-helix proteins, recruits additional factor(s) that bind elsewhere within the SkM1 sequence to control positive expression of the gene. A second E box at −90/−85 within the repressor controls negative regulation of the gene and acts through a different complex of proteins. Several of these cis-regulatory elements share both sequence and functional similarities with cis-regulatory elements of the acetylcholine receptor δ-subunit; the different arrangement of these elements may contribute to unique expression patterns for the two genes.
Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Is Associated With Reduced Risk of Torsades de Pointes in Patients With Drug-Induced Long QT Syndrome

Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Is Associated With Reduced Risk of Torsades de Pointes in Patients With Drug-Induced Long QT SyndromeDawood Darbar, John Kimbrough, Asif Jawaid, Robert McCray, Maryly...
Stability and structure changes of Na-titanate nanotubes at high temperature and high pressure

Stability of Na-titanate-based nanotubes at high temperature and pressure is investigated using X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD). Our results show that the nanotubes can be stable at ~400 °C. Higher temperature annealing of nanotubes result in opening and flattening of the nanotubes, and subsequent structural transformation to Na2Ti6O13-based structure via an intermediate phase with Na0.23TiO2-like structure. In situ EDXRD using diamond anvil cell indicates that the nanotubes collapse at about 15 GPa, and are finally transformed into an amorphous phase at about 30 GPa. The nanotubes kept in an amorphous state were further compressed to 50 GPa according to our in situ EDXRD observation. Titanate nanotubes are mechanically stronger than carbon nanotubes under static compression.
Valuation by conflict

Abstract Nonmarket valuation remains a central issue in ecological and environmental economics. This paper examines the properties of an ex post revealed preference approach to value nonmarket goods-valuation through observed effort expended in an environmental conflict. We consider the strategic interaction between players in a conflict, address the implied Nash equilibrium, and report a benchmark 4x-rule as an ex post valuation estimate for a symmetric player conflict. We then illustrate the degree of bias that exists once one allows for asymmetries in delegation, ability, and valuation. The benchmark tends to overestimate value if a firm hires a powerful delegate who receives a large contingency fee.
Sensitivity of the Standardized Pseudorabies Virus Neutralization Test Varies with the Test Strain Used

The effect of altering the strain of the test virus used in the standardized pseudorabies virus neutralization (VN) test on the sensitivity of the assay was evaluated. Comparative VN tests were performed using 4 different strains: the avirulent Bartha parental, the avirulent recombinant Bartha gIII Ka , the moderately virulent Shope (currently used for the VN test at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, Ames, IA), and the highly virulent P2208 (Funkhauser). A radioimmunoassay and a Western immunoblotting technique were employed to verify the presence of anti-pseudorabies virus (PrV) antibodies in sera. Statistical analysis indicated that replacement of the Shope strain by the Bartha gIII Ka or the P2208 strain resulted in VN titers that were 4.23- and 2.00-fold higher, respectively. Despite these differences, specificity with regard to PrV diagnosis was unaltered. This apparent enhancement of the sensitivity of the PrV VN test would be beneficial for the serologic identification of PrV-infected animals during an eradication effort. Since its inception, the virus neutralization (VN) microtitration test 12 has been an important serologic means to identify virus-infected animals. The VN test has been standardized for the detection of anti-pseu- dorabies virus (PrV) antibodies in swine using the PrV- Shope strain 9 and has become the "gold standard" against which newly developed serologic diagnostic tests are compared. However, questions still remain con- cerning the sensitivity and the specificity of the stan- dardized PrV VN test. In addition, serum toxicity to the cells used in the VN test continues to be a problem for both the practitioner and the diagnostician. Most states involved in a PrV eradication program use a serum dilution of 1:4 as the cutoff for reporting positive anti-PrV antibody VN titer results. Some states, such as Illinois, use the 1:8 dilution in their eradication effort. This criterion helps avoid some difficulties due to serum toxicity and what is empirically thought by some to be nonspecific results (false positives) at the lower serum dilutions. A number of serologic assays for pseudorabies di- agnosis have been developed.
Diffusion in ethylene–propylene rubber

A study of sorption in a copolymer of ethylene and propylene is presented. Long-time sorption and desorption measurements provided the actual diffusion coefficient in the limit of zero concentration gradient. An analysis of the diffusion–sorption data reinforced the Frisch hypothesis about diffusion in a polymer matrix. The better solvent deforms the microstructure, allowing a more marked dependence of the diffusivity upon concentration.
The Paradox of Stasis and the Nature of Explanations in Evolutionary Biology

Recently, Estes and Arnold claimed to have “solved” the paradox of evolutionary stasis; they claim that stabilizing selection, and only stabilizing selection, can explain the patterns of evolutionary divergence observed over “all timescales.” While Estes and Arnold clearly think that they have identified the processes that produce evolutionary stasis, they have not. Instead, Estes and Arnold identify a particular evolutionary pattern but not the processes that produce that pattern. This mistake is important; the slippage between pattern and process is common in population and quantitative genetics and contributes to a persistent misunderstanding of the nature of explanations in evolutionary biology.
Multilevel Parallelization of AutoDock 4.2

Virtual (computational) screening is an increasingly important tool for drug discovery. AutoDock is a popular open-source application for performing molecular docking, the prediction of ligand-receptor interactions. AutoDock is a serial application, though several previous efforts have parallelized various aspects of the program. In this paper, we report on a multi-level parallelization of AutoDock 4.2 (mpAD4). Using MPI and OpenMP, AutoDock 4.2 was parallelized for use on MPI-enabled systems and to multithread the execution of individual docking jobs. In addition, code was implemented to reduce input/output (I/O) traffic by reusing grid maps at each node from docking to docking. Performance of mpAD4 was examined on two multiprocessor computers. Using MPI with OpenMP multithreading, mpAD4 scales with near linearity on the multiprocessor systems tested. In situations where I/O is limiting, reuse of grid maps reduces both system I/O and overall screening time. Multithreading of AutoDock's Lamarkian Genetic Algorithm with OpenMP increases the speed of execution of individual docking jobs, and when combined with MPI parallelization can significantly reduce the execution time of virtual screens. This work is significant in that mpAD4 speeds the execution of certain molecular docking workloads and allows the user to optimize the degree of system-level (MPI) and node-level (OpenMP) parallelization to best fit both workloads and computational resources.
Indicator Media of Environmental Health Status

Critical phases in planning a study to assess the health status of an ecosystem are: 1) determining which samples can be used; 2) understanding what the sample represents in space (area and volume) and time; 3) knowing how chemical elements may be bound in a sample, physically and chemically; and, 4) establishing an ideal scale of sampling with realistic modifications as a function of where a sample type can be collected.
The Political Foundations of Inter-Firm Networks and Social Capital: A Post-Communist Lesson

This essay attempts to offer an understanding of social capital and networks that accounts for both continuity and change in network structures and relationships. The embedded politics approach views inter-firm networks as socially and politically constructed. That is, while firm level actors may develop tenacious socio-economic relationships, the authority structure of a network, which governs dispute resolutions and the distribution of resources, emerges from the ways certain constituent firms align themselves with public institutions. I empirically examine this approach relative to more traditional views by analyzing the transformation of Czech industrial networks during the period of political and economic transformation in the 1990s. The Czech Republic provided apparently supporting evidence for several mainstream approaches to reform and networks. Yet on closer inspection we find instability and significant change in industrial networks. The fragility, eventual stability, and subsequent changes in networks come not from purely “intra-network” factors, but rather from the political approach of the government toward institution building. In short, this essay aims to renew our focus on the origin and evolution of social capital and networks by bringing politics back into the forefront.
Consumption experience An expanded view

Experience has become a primary means by which we understand post-industrial, consumer societies. Whilst we have learned much about consumption experiences, most studies have relied on theories who...
A Combinatorial Certifying Algorithm for Linear Feasibility in UTVPI Constraints

In this paper, we discuss a new combinatorial certifying algorithm for the problem of checking linear feasibility in Unit Two Variable Per Inequality (UTVPI) constraints. A UTVPI constraint has at most two non-zero variables and the coefficients of the non-zero variables belong to the set $$\{+1,\ -1\}$${+1,-1}. These constraints occur in a number of application domains, including but not limited to program verification, abstract interpretation, and operations research. The proposed algorithm runs in $$O(m\cdot n)$$O(m·n) time and $$O(m+n)$$O(m+n) space on a UTVPI system with n variables and m constraints. Observe that these resource bounds match the bounds of the fastest strongly polynomial algorithm for difference constraints. Inasmuch as UTVPI constraints subsume difference constraints, it is clear that the resource requirements of our algorithm are optimal. Additionally, our algorithm is certifying, in that it produces a satisfying assignment when presented with a feasible instance, and a refutation, otherwise. At the heart of our algorithm is a new constraint network representation for UTVPI constraints.
Analysis of the Integration Application of Production Management System and GIS Platform

The integration of production management system and Geographical Information System(GIS) platform can realize structural management and graphical display of grid resources,and raise the production and management level of power system.This paper introduces the integration method,and analyzes in depth the application of GIS in map providing,equipment management,operation maintenance management,two-bill graphical application,thematic map display and engineering aided design in production management system.Based on the electrical request,the development requirement of GIS in production management system is proposed.The practical application shows that a spatial power grid production management system can be constructed by the effective integration of production management system and GIS platform.It realizes all-around management of grid equipments and provides assistant support for decision making in grid analysis.
Cloud Ecosystems Support for Internet of Things and DevOps Using Patterns

An ecosystem is the expansion of a software product line architecture to include systems outside the product which interact with the product. A cloud ecosystem includes interdependent and communicating components. Not only the cloud ecosystem itself keeps evolving, but it also affects the way in which we develop and deploy software. We model the architecture of a cloud ecosystem as a set of patterns, showing partial descriptions for some of them. We then discuss the role of this evolving platform in facilitating the Internet of Things and the new DevOps framework for developing software.
Can your next pediatric patient hear you

Communication with pediatric patients can be complicated when the child has diminished hearing capacity. The prevalence of this problem in various population groups is provided in an effort to assist practitioners as they increase care to diverse population groups.
Sinus inflammation associated with contralateral inverted papilloma.

Objective To assess with computerized tomography (CT) the association of unilateral inverted papilloma (IP) and contralateral sinus inflammation. Design Retrospective analysis of CTfindings in a sample of patients with unilateral IP, a sample with other unilateral sinonasal tumors, and normal controls. Patients and methods Sixteen patients with unilateral IP comprised the study population. Nine patients with other unilateral sinonasal tumors (five with squamous papilloma, two with squamous cell carcinoma, and one each with adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma) were used as a comparison population. Patients undergoing maxillofacial CTfor nontraumatic orbital conditions comprised the control sample (n = 12 sides). Each patient's preoperative CT scan was evaluated with a modified Lund-Mackay scoring system. The scores for the sides opposite the IPs were compared with the sides contralateral to other sinonasal tumors as well as to normal controls. Results Analysis of all three samples' contralateral sides simultaneously using analysis of variance revealed a difference (p = 0.010). The contralateral sinus scores in IPs tended to be higher than the sides opposite the other sinonasal tumors (mean, 2.66 +/- 1.07 versus 1.18 +/- 0.76; p = 0.06). These in turn were higher than the normal controls (mean, 0.75 +/- 0.48; p Conclusions Unilateral IPs are associated with contralateral inflammation as detected by CT. This degree of contralateral inflammation is greater than that seen in other sinonasal tumors. The etiology of this association is unclear. A recent histological review suggested IP is an inflammatory polyp and not a true papilloma. Our data further suggest inflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of IP. Further work is needed to better understand the pathophysiology and behavior of IP and to define its relationship to sinus inflammation.
Screening for coronary heart disease risk in the elderly: total cholesterol versus high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol.

Despite recent national recommendations to use total cholesterol (TC) measures to screen patients for hyperlipidemia and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, it is unclear how predictive this approach is for older adults, who tend to have higher high- density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) values and therefore higher TC. We looked at lipid profiles of 190 adults with a mean age of 70.8 years (range 51 to 86 years) to determine the value of TC in predicting risk states based on HDL-C. One hundred sixty-two did not have a diagnosis of CHD; 28 had a diagnosis of CHD. Of those subjects without CHD, 13 (8.0%) with a TC under 200 mg/dL were “underscreened” since they had a low HDL-C value under 40 mg/dL. Men were three times more likely to be underscreened on the basis of TC alone. Thirty (18.5%) of the subjects were “overscreened” since they had a TC greater than or equal to 240 mg/dL and a normal HDL-C value greater than 50 mg/dL. Only women were overscreened. For those 28 subjects with CHD, TC values alone also “underscreened” 3 (10.7%) of this cohort, and “overscreened” 3 (10.7%). If a provider decides to screen for hyperlipidemia and CHD risk in older patients, a lipid profile rather than a nonfasting TC test should be ordered. Over 26% of the patients in this study would have been misclassified and inappropriately advised regarding their risk for CHD based on a TC value alone.
Genetic predisposition to colorectal cancer: Implications for treatment and prevention

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and women and approximately 5% of cases are associated with identifiable germline mutations associated with hereditary cancer syndromes. Lifetime risks for CRC can approach 50%-80% for mutation carriers in the absence of endoscopic and/or surgical intervention, and early identification of at-risk individuals can guide clinical interventions for cancer prevention and treatment. Personal and family history and molecular phenotype of CRC tumors are used in determining which patients should be referred for clinical genetic evaluation. Outcomes of genetic testing performed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) multigene panels suggest there can be significant overlap in clinical features among the various hereditary cancer syndromes. This review summarizes new developments in diagnosis and management of patients with genetic predisposition to CRC.
Differential privacy preservation for deep auto-encoders: an application of human behavior prediction

In recent years, deep learning has spread beyond both academia and industry with many exciting real-world applications. The development of deep learning has presented obvious privacy issues. However, there has been lack of scientific study about privacy preservation in deep learning. In this paper, we concentrate on the auto-encoder, a fundamental component in deep learning, and propose the deep private auto-encoder (dPA). Our main idea is to enforce e-differential privacy by perturbing the objective functions of the traditional deep auto-encoder, rather than its results. We apply the dPA to human behavior prediction in a health social network. Theoretical analysis and thorough experimental evaluations show that the dPA is highly effective and efficient, and it significantly outperforms existing solutions.
Pediatric Head and Neck Radiology: Selected Cases

The aim of the this article is to give brief overview of a few classic pediatric head and neck disease processes, including congenital malformations, neoplasms, and inflammatory sequelae. Radiologists should be familiar with the imaging characteristics, associated clinical scenario and differential diagnoses of these entities to ensure proper management.
605. Cerebrospinal Fluid for Delivery of AAV Gene Therapy in GM1 Gangliosidosis

GM1 gangliosidosis, a hereditary lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency of lysosomal β-galactosidase, is characterized by rapidly progressing and fatal neurologic disease. The most common form of GM1 affects children and is fatal by approximately 4 years of age. Currently, there is no effective treatment for GM1 gangliosidosis beyond palliative or supportive care. There are several naturally occurring models of GM1 gangliosidosis, including a well-characterized feline model that closely reproduces human disease progression and facilitates testing of experimental therapies for clinical application. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) therapy has proven effective in GM1 cats, with a greater than 6 fold increase in lifespan after thalamic and deep cerebellar nuclei injections. Prior to initiation of human clinical trials, CSF delivery was evaluated to circumvent the risk of cerebellar parenchymal injection and to improve cortical biodistribution. AAVrh10 was delivered at a total dose of 1e12 vector genomes/kg body weight via 3 routes: cisterna magna (CM), bilateral intracerebroventricular (ICV), or lumbar cistern (LC). Cats were followed for 4 weeks post injection, after which biodistribution of enzyme and vector were assessed. After LC injection, enzyme was limited to the spinal cord, where it reached a maximum of 0.7 fold normal. As expected, the highest vector concentration was limited to the lumbar spinal cord. This indicates limited cranial flow of vector from the lumbar cistern of injected cats, minimizing the efficacy of lumbar delivery. Delivery by the CM led to 0.4 fold - 1.5 fold normal levels of enzyme activity in the spinal cord and up to 2.1 fold the cerebellum and thalamic regions. Following CM injection, vector distributed well to the caudal region of the cerebrum, all of the cerebellum, and throughout the spinal cord. Enzyme activity after ICV injections showed increases from 0.2 fold - 0.8 fold normal in the spinal cord and 0.1 fold - 0.5 fold in the brain. ICV injections led to vector distribution throughout the cerebrum as well as the spinal cord. CSF delivery via cisterna magna, ICV, or lumbar injection is substantially less invasive than cerebellar injection. Based on the results presented here, CM or ICV injection may prove beneficial in clinical trials. Additionally, combining cisterna magna and ICV injection of vector could further enhance therapeutic effect.View Large Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
SCOTUS after Scalia

The sudden passing of Justice Antonin Scalia disturbed the Supreme Court’s predictable rhythm. This Foreword will analyze the contentious period from Justice Scalia’s death until President Trump’s inauguration, and draw four lessons about the Court, the Constitution, consistency, and Congress. First, this interregnum allows us to study how the short-handed Court engaged in self-help in the short term, and in the long run, how the Court may remain evenly-divided Court for years at a time. Second, with a possible liberal replacement for Justice Scalia, the conservative legal movement’s faced a near-death experience. Part II analyzes how this brush with fate may impact the Roberts Court’s views on incrementalism, institutionalism, and originalism. Third, the change-in-administrations offers an opportunity to lay down markers and chart future movements on the left and right with respect to three important areas: federalism as a check on federal power, deference to the administrative state, and state-led litigation against the federal government. Part III discusses how constitutional consistency will evolve during the Trump Presidency with respect to federalism, administrative law, and state-standing to pursue nationwide injunctions. Finally, Part IV considers how the unexpected outcome of the election — whereby the Presidency and Senate were both in Republican control — simply delayed the inevitable: at some point, the President and Senate will be of different parties, and they will not be able to agree on a Supreme Court nominee. Through a novel approach developed in this Foreword, the Senate can offer preliminary votes on several possible candidates to fill a Supreme Court vacancy. Though not bound by those resolutions, the President would be wise to consider the Senate’s counsel before making the nomination. By offering Senatorial “advice” before the President’s nomination is made, the “consent” process between the two branches becomes more collaborative and less antagonistic. It is important, not to simply shrug off the past year as an outlier in the Court’s history. The atypical October 2015 term may, soon enough, become the new normal.
3D in Processing

The development of VR apps has an important pre-requisite: learning how to create interactive 3D graphics.
Hypoxemia Due to Patent Foramen Ovale in the Setting of New Right Hemidiaphragmatic Paralysis.

A 58-year old man without cardiac history presented with dyspnea and was found to be hypoxemic (oxygen saturation 88% on room air) with platypnea-orthodeoxia. The symptoms had started soon after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy 3 weeks before. Imaging revealed new right hemidiaphragmatic paralysis (
Circadian Regulation of Ion Channels in Photoreceptors

The circadian oscillators endogenous to photoreceptors lead to morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes that ultimately regulate photoreceptor function and physiology in a circadian fashion. The circadian regulation of ion channels underlies the cellular mechanisms of daily changes in photoreceptors. The apparent affinities of cyclic-guanosine-monophosphate-gated cation channels, the α1-subunit expression and current amplitude of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, and the current amplitude of potassium channels are under circadian regulation. Not only do the complex cell signaling network and microRNAs regulate the circadian rhythms of ion channels, neuromodulators in the retina such as dopamine, somatostatin, and melatonin also play important roles in regulating the circadian rhythms of these ion channels. The overall circadian regulation of the retina enables the visual system to anticipate and adapt to sustained daily illumination changes as well as acute light/dark adaptation.
La desagregación del sector bancario y la solución de un nuevo modelo de negocio basado en componentes.

Technology is a specialization driver which enable banks to focus on products and services with real added value and integrate secondary capabilities handled by partners. These dynamics will force traditional banks to face stark choices regarding which activities the can profitably perform and which activities are best performed by others. IBM proposes the Component Business Model as a diagnosis of bank s strengths and weakness.
Quantization of band tilting in modulated phononic crystals

A general theory of the tilting of dispersion bands in phononic crystals whose properties are being slowly and periodically modulated in space and time is established. The ratio of tilt to modulation speed is calculated, for the first time, in terms of Berry's phase and curvature and is proven to be a robust integer-valued Chern number. Derivations are based on a version of the adiabatic theorem for elastic waves demonstrated thanks to WKB asymptotics. Findings are exemplified in the case of a 3-periodic discrete spring-mass lattice. Tilted dispersion diagrams plotted using fully numerical simulations and semianalytical calculations based on a numerically gauge invariant expression of Berry's phase show perfect agreement. One-way blocking of waves due to the tilt, and ultimately to the breaking of reciprocity, is illustrated numerically and shown to be highly significant across a limited number of unit cells, suggesting the feasibility of experimental demonstrations. Finally, a version of the bulk-edge correspondence principle relating the tilt of bulk bands to the number of one-way gapless edge states is demonstrated.
Split-Array, C-2C Switched-Capacitor Power Amplifiers

This paper presents a 13-b C-2C split-array (SA) multiphase switched-capacitor power amplifier (SAMP-SCPA) implemented in 65-nm CMOS. The SAMP-SCPA was designed for 16-b resolution to offer extra states for linearization/calibration using digital pre-distortion (DPD). Resolution limits for SA SCPAs are presented. The SAMP-SCPA allows for the improvement of the SCPA resolution while minimizing the impact on the input power required driving it. A prototype SAMP-SCPA, occupying 0.85 mm $\times $ 2 mm, delivers a peak output power of 24 dBm with a peak system efficiency (SE) of 40% at 1.8 GHz. When amplifying a long-term evolution (LTE) signal, the average output power and SE are 18.8 dBm and 21.6%, respectively, with an adjacent channel leakage ration (ACLR) < −30 dBc and error vector magnitude (EVM) of 2.65% rms. The increased resolution allows output power to be traded off for improved linearity and a low power mode demonstrates an EVM as low as 1% rms.
Correcting misinformation about climate change: the impact of partisanship in an experimental setting

Misperceptions of the scientific consensus on climate change are an important problem in environmental policy. These misperceptions stem from a combination of ideological polarization and statements from prominent politicians who endorse information contradicting or misrepresenting the scientific consensus on climate change. Our study tests a source credibility theory of correction using different partisan sources of information in a survey experiment. We find that corrections from Republicans speaking against their partisan interest are most likely to persuade respondents to acknowledge and agree with the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change. The extent of these effects vary by the partisanship of the recipient. Our results suggest that the partisan gap on climate change can be reduced by highlighting the views of elite Republicans who acknowledge the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change.
Cardiac stun in infants undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Previous studies have shown that cardiac performance decreases in infants undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Some infants have an exaggerated decrease in cardiac performance during ECMO. This syndrome has been called cardiac stun. To better understand this phenomenon, we reviewed the records of infants with cardiac stun and compared them with infants who did not have the syndrome. Cardiac stun was detected in 12 of 240 infants (5.0%) undergoing ECMO. The diagnoses were congenital diaphragmatic hernia (7/12), meconium aspiration syndrome (3/12), respiratory distress syndrome (1/12), and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (1/12). The weight, gestational age, inotropic support, and time to start of ECMO were similar to infants without cardiac stun. Arterial oxygen tension was lower, carbon dioxide tension was higher, and pH was lower before ECMO in infants in whom cardiac stun developed (p ≤ 0.03). Cardiac arrests were more common, before ECMO, in infants in whom cardiac stun developed (6/12; p ≤ 0.01). Cardiac stun began at an average 2½ hours after beginning ECMO (range 0.1 to 7 hours). Pulse pressure decreased from 20 mm Hg (range 10 to 45 mm Hg) before stun to 8 mm Hg (range 4 to 12 mm Hg) after stun. Heart rate did not change. Cardiac stun lasted for 33 hours (range 1 to 64 hours) on ECMO and recurred in three infants. Decreases in pump flow and increases in preload, afterload reduction, and inotropic agents did not improve cardiac performance. Survival was lower in the infants in whom cardiac stun developed (p ≤ 0.001). Only 5 of 12 infants (42%) survived ECMO when cardiac stun occurred. Our findings show that cardiac stun occurs infrequently during ECMO and is transient in most infants. Infants in whom cardiac stun develops appear to be more ill before ECMO and have a higher mortality after ECMO.
How Do Australian Policies Treat GLBTIQ Students

This chapter provides an overall map of the Australian policy context for GLBTIQ students at international, national and state levels; including different policies within government and independent sectors, and individual school policies. Drawing on media artifacts and interviews with a range of policy-makers and activists, it outlines how media outrages over specific bashings of students, discriminatory acts by schools, court cases and activism promoting research findings have been used as policy catalysts. It also reports on how very specific sexuality education discourses and constructions of GLBTIQ students have emerged in key Australian schooling policies and their processes, serving particular functions.
Phase III: Summing Up

This chapter provides an extended listing of if-then hypotheses for each objective of this research as a way of summarizing observations and/or conclusion from both laboratory and field bioassays. Provides both cons and pros for the following central questions: (a) How likely are the necessary phenolic acid concentrations and environmental conditions present in wheat no-till crop systems for the inhibition of weed seedling emergence to occur? and (b) Do phenolic acids have a dominant role in regulating broadleaf weed seedling emergence or are phenolic acids just one component of a larger promoter/modifier/inhibitor complex that regulates weed seedling emergence in wheat no-till crop systems? Proposes a modified paradigm for the study of plant–plant allelopathic interactions, suggests several ways by with this modified paradigm may be implemented, and updates the criteria to establish plant–plant allelopathic interactions consistent with this modified paradigm.
The Coupling of the Carbon and Sulfur Biogeochemical Cycles Over Phanerozoic Time

The biogeochemical cycles of carbon and sulfur are defined by a system of processes that interacts and responds to external influences on all space and time scales. On the time scale of human civilization the system is exceedingly complex. The need to understand anthropogenic impacts on the C-S system presents a challenging opportunity for detailed and comprehensive study. On longer time scales, constraints imposed by the requirement of mass and isotope balance reduce the system to a much simpler set of processes, the understanding of which should be a more tractable problem.
Race and Gender Are Associated with Opioid Dose Reduction among Patients on Chronic Opioid Therapy

OBJECTIVE Among patients with chronic pain, risk of opioid use is elevated with high opioid dose or concurrent benzodiazepine use. This study examined whether these clinical factors, or sociodemographic factors of race and gender, are associated with opioid dose reduction. DESIGN AND SETTING A retrospective cohort study of outpatients prescribed chronic opioid therapy between 2007 and 2012 within a large, academic health care system in Bronx, New York, using electronic medical record data. Included patients were prescribed a stable dose of chronic opioid therapy over a one-year "baseline period" and did not have cancer. METHODS The primary outcome was opioid dose reduction (≥30% reduction from baseline) within two years. Multivariable logistic regression tested the associations of two clinical variables (baseline daily opioid dose and concurrent benzodiazepine prescription) and two sociodemographic variables (race/ethnicity and gender) with opioid dose reduction. RESULTS Of 1,097 patients, 463 (42.2%) had opioid dose reduction. High opioid dose (≥100 morphine-milligram equivalents [MME]) was associated with lower odds of opioid dose reduction compared with an opioid dose <100 MME (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.54-0.89). Concurrent benzodiazepine prescription was not associated with opioid dose reduction. Black (vs white) race and female (vs male) gender were associated with greater odds of opioid dose reduction (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.22-2.70; and AOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.11-1.83, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Black race and female gender were associated with greater odds of opioid dose reduction, whereas clinical factors of high opioid dose and concurrent benzodiazepine prescription were not. Efforts to reduce opioid dose should target patients based on clinical factors and address potential biases in clinical decision-making.
RGB tunable color filters using germanium telluride

This paper introduces tunable color reflectors for three primary colors (red, blue, and green) for use in low power display systems employing a phase change material (PCM) using interference resonance in an optical cavity. Optical index tunability of the PCM sitting on top of the cavity, results in tuning the device reflection spectrum and thus permits vivid color tuning. The phase change material used to achieve these results was Germanium Telluride (GeTe) due to its high stability. Specifically, ultra-thin films of GeTe was grown on top of a SiO 2 cavity with a bottom palladium reflector in a Fabery-Perot type design. This enhances the color tuning when a double-layer anti-reflection coating with high and low refractive indexes are used on top of the GeTe film. Low sensitivity to incident light angle and polarization without the need of sub-micron lithography, provide the potential for this device to be very useful for portable device applications. The devices with different thickness of GeTe were fabricated to demonstrate green, red, blue colors. Electrical pulses with different periods and duty cycles were used to switch the phase of the GeTe locally using joule heating method for several cycles. After transition, darker green, blue, and purple colors were shown for devices with 8 to 20 nm thickness of GeTe films.
A Study of Adolescent Female Genitalia: What is Normal?

Abstract Study Objective Female adolescents often present to health care providers with concerns about the appearance of their external genitalia. These patients might experience significant distress about their genital appearance and might request surgery to correct a perceived abnormality. Accurate descriptions of normal adolescent female genital anatomy are lacking in the literature. The purpose of this study was to examine a small sample of normal female adolescents to obtain measurements and descriptors of the external genital structures, with a focus on the size and morphology of the labia minora. Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures Participants were female adolescent patients, ages 10-19 years, who underwent routine surgical procedures in the operating room. Results Forty-four patients were examined. The mean age was 14.4 years (range 10-19 years). Mean height was 159.6 cm and mean weight was 60.8 kg. Most were non-Hispanic ethnicity (n = 32/44; 72%) and were Caucasian race (n = 38/44; 86%). Right and left labia minora lengths were different in n = 19/44 patients (43%). Right and left labia minora widths also differed, in stretched (n = 20/33; 61%) and unstretched (n = 24/44; 55%) labia, with a difference ranging from 1 to 22 mm. There was no correlation between size and shape of labia minora and patient age, height, weight, or race. Conclusion Wide variability exists in female adolescent genital anatomy with no established normal range. This study provides a resource for physicians who care for adolescent girls, who need normative data to describe female genital anatomy. We propose that the role of labiaplasty in adolescents should be considered with extreme caution because of the wide range in size and morphology and paucity of data in this population.
Evaluation of the Measuring and Improving Quality in Palliative Care Survey.

Purpose:To evaluate the reliability, content validity, and variation among sites of a survey to assess facilitators and barriers to quality measurement and improvement in palliative care programs.M...
(3RS,4RS,4aSR,7SR,9aRS)-7-tert-Butyl-9a-methyl-5,5-dioxo-3,4-ep­oxy-1,2,3,4,4a,9a-hexa­hydro-8-oxa-5λ6-thia­benzocyclo­heptan-9-one

The sterochemistry of the title epoxide, C14H22O5S, has been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound exhibits an unusually short inter­molecular C—H⋯O contact of 2.30 A between the epoxide O atom and the epoxide C—H unit of a neighbouring mol­ecule.
Sighted Children Learn about Blindness

In a unit of 20 lessons sighted children were taught about the long cane, guide dogs, daily living skills, eye physiology, causes of blindness, eye care, braille, and attitudes toward blindness. Th...
Input Estimation of a Full-Scale Concrete Frame Structure with Experimental Measurements

This paper studies input estimation of a full-scale concrete frame structure, which is modeled with over a thousand degrees-of-freedom (DOFs). With acceleration response measured from dynamic testing, the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the concrete frame are first identified. The experimentally identified modal properties are compared with those obtained from a finite element (FE) model using nominal material properties. The FE model is then used to construct state-space system matrices for input estimation. With only acceleration measurements, an unbiased minimum-variance estimator combined with an online drift filter is used to estimate the dynamic input generated by a shaker. The estimation results show acceptable performance of the proposed algorithms for application on the full-scale two-story two-bay concrete frame with both simulated and experimental measurements. The effect of sensor locations on input estimation performance is also discussed.