cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scattering by arbitrary-shaped over-moded waveguides

The first six TE modes were used to compute the RCS (radar cross section) for a shorted trapezoidal waveguide. It was found that the individual-mode RCS patterns did not agree with measured RCS patterns, and it was necessary to use a combination of modes to obtain satisfactory results. The calculated domain single-mode azimuth-plane RCS and measured RCS were compared. This single-mode calculation underestimates the measured RCS. The measured RCS data, taken over a frequency range of 2 to 18 GHz and an angular range of +/-70 degrees , exhibit fluctuations that indicate phase interference between multiple waveguide modes. Since the precise relative phase between the higher order modes are not usually known, a statistical approach was used to compute a mean RCS and standard deviation. A comparison between the statistically calculated RCS and the fluctuating measured data between 6.75 and 6.95 GHz is shown. >
Fever: a concept analysis.

Aim. The purpose of this paper is to critically analyse the current state of the science literature in order to develop an accurate conception of fever. Rationale. The measurement of body temperature and treatment of fever have long been considered to be within the domain of nursing practice. What body temperature constitutes ‘fever’, however, is often not clear from nursing protocols or the literature. Methods. Literature for this concept analysis was obtained by computerized searches of PubMed, CINAHL and BIOSYS for the years 1980–2004. Additional sources were obtained after reviewing the bibliographies of the literature identified by the initial search. The Wilsonian method of concept analysis provided the framework for the analysis. Findings. Fever has characteristically been recognized as a cardinal sign of illness and has traditionally had negative connotations for patient well-being. Substantive advances over the past 20 years in immunology and neurophysiology have expanded understanding of the process of fever. This new knowledge has shifted the perception of fever as part of the acute-phase response to one of an adaptive nature. This knowledge has yet to be fully translated into changes in the fever management practices of nurses. Conclusions. Consistent usage of terminology in relation to fever should lead to improved and evidence-based care for patients, and to fever management practices consistent with current research. It is important to use clear language about fever and hyperthermia in discussions and documentation between nurses and among disciplines. By creating clarity in our language, we may help to achieve praxis.
The effects of gate field on the leakage characteristics of heavily doped junctions

A gated-diode leakage-current mechanism is reported that is dominant below 4 V in ULSI (ultra-large-scale integration) gated-diode structures. The leakage mechanism has been fully characterized for gated junctions inherent in DRAM (dynamic random access memory) storage capacitor structures and the source-drain junctions of both PMOS (p-metal-oxide-semiconductor) and NMOS device structures. The salient features of the observed leakage current are that it is thermally activated and its magnitude increases exponentially with applied gate voltage. By making measurements at cryogenic temperatures it was possible to distinguish between the reported mechanism and that of band-to-band tunneling that occurs at higher applied voltages. A theoretical model is proposed that attributes the leakage mechanism to transport-limited thermal generation within the depleted space-charge region of the heavily doped side of junctions. An analytical expression derived from the proposed model is shown to be in excellent agreement with experimental results. >
Estimation of peak relative velocity and peak absolute acceleration of linear SDOF systems

In the seismic analysis and design of structures, the true velocity and absolute acceleration are usually approximated by their corresponding pseudo-values. This approach is simple and works well for structures with small damping (say, less than 15%). When the damping of a structure is enhanced for the purpose of response reduction, it may result in large analysis and design errors. Based on theory of random vibration and the established mechanism of seismic response spectra analysis, a method is developed (1) to predict the relative velocity spectra with any damping ratio level directly from the 5% standard pseudo-acceleration spectrum; and (2) to estimate the peak absolute acceleration. The accuracy of both is validated by using two selected ensembles of ground motion records.
Patient safety concerns arising from test results that return after hospital discharge.

Many patients are discharged from hospitals with test results still pending, and physicians are often unaware of potentially actionable findings that appear in the medical record after discharge. H...
Tracing the Effects of Agricultural Commodity Prices and Food Costs

We estimate a system of product and input-demand equations for food-processing industries to trace the links among farm commodity prices, food-processing costs, and food prices. Disembodied technical change, which likely reflects increasing consumer demand for convenience and product variety, has sharply reduced agricultural materials demand relative to most other food-processing inputs. This implies weakening impacts of farm price shocks on food prices. But improving quality and falling relative prices for agricultural inputs, in combination with increasing factor substitution, has counteracted these forces to encourage greater usage of agricultural inputs in food processing, and limit these trends. Food prices today often appear less responsive to farm price shocks than in the past, a development sometimes attributed to failures in market institutions. However, powerful long-run technological and social changes, leading to adaptations in production processes and food consumption patterns, have also altered the demand for primary agricultural materials by changing the structure of food-processing industries. The social shifts surrounding the expanded role of women in the labor force represent one striking example of such changes. The fraction of married women in the labor force—less than one-third in 1960—rose sharply through the next three decades before stabilizing at around 61% in the 1990s. Such demographic shifts increased the demand for food products requiring less home preparation time, which, in combination with enhanced technology, has led to more in-plant processing of agricultural materials, and likely a growing share of nonagricultural inputs in
Laparoscopic colonic resection in inflammatory bowel disease: minimal surgery, minimal access and minimal hospital stay.

Objective Laparoscopic surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is technically demanding but can offer improved short-term outcomes. The introduction of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) as the default operative approach for IBD, however, may have inherent learning curve-associated disadvantages. We hypothesise that the establishment of MIS as the standard operative approach does not increase patient morbidity as assessed in the initial period of its introduction into a specialised unit, and that it confers earlier postoperative gastrointestinal recovery and reduced hospitalisation compared with conventional open resection. Method A case–control study was undertaken on laparoscopic resection (LR) vs open colon resection (OR) for IBD. The LR group was collated prospectively and compared with a pathologically matched historical control set. Outcomes measured included: postoperative length of stay, time to normal bowel function and postoperative morbidity. Statistical analysis was performed using spss. Results Twenty-eight patients were investigated (14 LR, 14 OR). The two groups were matched for type of operation, type of disease and age. There were no conversions in the LR group. Morbidity and readmissions did not differ significantly between the groups. Those undergoing laparoscopic resection had a quicker return to diet (median 2 vs 4 days; P = 0.000002), time to first bowel motion (2 vs 4 days; P = 0.019) and shorter postoperative length of stay (5.5 vs 12.5; P = 0.0067). Conclusion These findings support the routine use of MIS for the elective surgical management of IBD in our department. Patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomies for IBD can expect faster return of gastrointestinal function and shorter hospitalisation.
Building Muscle Mass: Physiology, Nutrition, and Supplementation

One of the most common-sought after goals in athletic performance is attaining and maintaining muscle mass. From protein to creatine, arginine to human growth hormone, how is one to determine what really works, what is legitimate, and what is merely another gimmick in the supplement industry? Coupling the array of supplements with the unique performance needs of an athlete creates an infinite amount of possible combinations. How do you know what is the right combination for successfully building the desired amount of muscle mass, maintaining an “optimal” body composition, and (during periods when additional body mass is desired) ensuring lean mass is gained over fat mass? It is with great time, research, and a foundation laid for us by our predecessors in the field of sports nutrition that we write this chapter on muscle building and optimizing lean body mass. By the end of this chapter you should be able to: Describe the muscle building process Define and determine net protein balance Describe how genetics play a role in muscle growth Know the recommended amounts of protein for gaining muscle Know the suggested protein: carbohydrate ratio for optimal muscle hypertrophy Define nutrient timing and its role in muscle hypertrophy Explain the difference between whey, casein, egg, soy, and vegan protein supplements Explain why and when supplementing with BCAAs are important to muscle growth Explain the major hormones that play a role in muscle growth Explain the potential benefits and drawbacks of anabolic steroids Define the role of IGF in muscle growth Describe the creatine-phosphate system and why creatine is used for muscle hypertrophy Explain why supplements that promote the production of nitric oxide are used by athletes Explain how resistance training stimulates muscle hypertrophy
Assessing species-level biases in tree heights estimated from terrain-optimized leaf-off airborne laser scanner ALS data

Canopy height is an important metric in forest research and management with uses that include estimating stand volume, scheduling silvicultural treatments, and inferring site quality. In recent years, airborne laser scanner ALS data have been frequently used to model canopy height continuously and remotely across large areas. A number of studies have demonstrated that ALS is effective in this regard when collected during leaf-on conditions; however, relatively few studies have investigated the accuracy of leaf-off ALS in modelling canopy height. In this article, we assessed species-level biases in heights estimated from terrain-optimized leaf-off ALS data 1.5 points m–2. We focused on several deciduous and coniferous species common to the forests of the northeastern USA. Our study area included 13 sites located in the temperate deciduous forests of eastern Connecticut. Tree heights were measured in the field for 1192 trees which included 17 deciduous and 2 coniferous species. For one site, terrestrial laser scanner TLS data were collected and used to estimate tree heights. The ALS data were used to create a 1 m resolution canopy height model CHMALS in which cell values corresponded to the heights of the highest returns. The CHMALS underestimated tree heights with a median difference of approximately 1.3 m when compared to field-based measurements. Height biases ranged from approximately 0.1 to 2.1 m with the smallest bias for black cherry, red maple, shagbark hickory, and black oak and the largest for white ash, red oak, and white oak. We found no significant differences in bias corresponding to species’ leaf-types i.e. simple, compound, needle. Biases in tree height estimates increased substantially as the CHMALS cell size increased above 1 m. Our study suggests that leaf-off ALS data with a density > 1 point/m2 can be used to estimate tree heights with relatively small bias regardless of the species type.
Attributions of Control By Hip Fracture Patients

Some hospitalized hip fracture patients assume responsibility for their accidents whereas others do not. Patients also differ in the control they project over their recovery and over future accidents. Patient's expressions of control may provide diagnostic clues and an avenue for social work intervention.
The Effect of Modeling Substitute Activities on Recreational Benefit Estimates: Is More Better?

The range of activities for which data are collected in many standard datasets for recreational fishing is limited by the mission of the funding agencies. We use a nested-logit model of recreational fishing to examine how varying the range of fishing alternatives included in the model affects the welfare results for various policies. The results are intuitive: a travel cost model that omits relevant substitute activities will understate gains and overstate losses for changes in the quality of activities. The magnitude of bias is directly related to the amount of substitution between the activity modeled and the activities omitted. We also use the results to highlight the importance of accounting for model range and portion of the user population represented in the sample, when comparing studies or when conducting benefit transfers.
Nef as a Proliferative Factor for Kidney Epithelial Cells in HIV-Associated Nephropathy.

HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in patients with HIV-1 infection. While HIVAN involves all portions of the kidney, marked changes in podocyte proliferation and dedifferentiation are central to the pathogenesis of this disease. This review focuses on identifying the genes and signaling pathways that trigger terminally differentiated quiescent podocytes to lose their normal markers of maturity and reenter the cell cycle. The parallels between these alterations to malignant transformation are quite striking.
Leadership of the Department of Epidemiology of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Its First Century

This commentary reviews the contributions of each of the 7 Chairs of the Department of Epidemiology from the Department's inception in 1919 to the advent of the Centennial Celebration of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2016. The founding Chair, Wade Hampton Frost (1919-1938), was among the handful of foundational thinkers in the discipline of epidemiology. Kenneth Maxcy (1938-1954) and Philip Sartwell (1954-1970) oversaw the Department through the epidemiologic transition from a preponderance of morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases to a preponderance of noncommunicable diseases. Abraham Lilienfeld (1970-1975) and Leon Gordis (1975-1993) were perhaps best known for their mastery of teaching, influencing generations of both medical and public health students. Jonathan Samet (1994-2008) oversaw a major curriculum revision and expanded the Department significantly, and David Celentano (2008-) is working to rebalance the practice of epidemiology with the etiological foundations of epidemiology. All Chairs were a product of their times, and their research focus and portfolios influenced the direction of the Department. Future generations of Johns Hopkins students will be influenced directly or indirectly by the heritage of these Chairs' actions and those of their faculty.
Multiple mutations are common at mouse Aprt in genotoxin-exposed mismatch repair deficient cells

Mismatch repair deficiency is known to contribute to elevated rates of mutations, particularly at mono- and dinucleotide repeat sequences. However, such repeats are often missing from the coding regions of endogenous genes. To determine the types of mutations that can occur within an endogenous gene lacking highly susceptible repeat sequences, we examined mutagenic events at the 2.3 kb mouse Aprt gene in kidney cell lines derived from mice deficient for the PMS2 and MLH1 mismatch repair proteins. The Aprt mutation rate was increased 33-fold and 3.6-20-fold for Mlh1 and Pms2 null cell lines, respectively, when compared with a wild-type kidney cell line. For the Pms2 null cells this increase resulted from both intragenic events, which were predominantly base-pairs substitutions, and loss of heterozygosity events. Almost all mutations in the Mlh1 null cells were due to base-pair substitutions. A:T-->G:C transitions (54% of small events) were predominant in the Pms2 null cells whereas G:C-->A:T transitions (36%) were the most common base-pair change in the Mlh1 null cells. Interestingly, 4-9% of the spontaneous mutant alleles in the mismatch repair deficient cells exhibited two well-separated base-pair substitution events. The percentage of mutant alleles with two and occasionally three base-pair substitutions increased when the Pms2 and Mlh1 null cells were treated with ultraviolet radiation (15-21%) and when the Mlh1 null cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide (35%). In most cases the distance separating the multiple base-pair substitutions on a given allele was in excess of 100 base-pairs, suggesting that the two mutational events were not linked directly to a single DNA lesion. The significance of these results is discussed with regards to the roles for the PMS2 and MLH1 proteins in preventing spontaneous and genotoxin-related mutations.
The Ellen Meiksins Wood Reader

Within the first pages of The Time Machine (1895), H. G. Wells quickens the conceptual engine of his plot by explaining that objects exist not merely in three familiar spatial dimensions but in tim...
The Effect of the Chemical Nature of a Decolorizer on its Functioning. i. the Gram Classification

Decolorizers which are distinctly acidic or basic in their chemical nature give abnormally high decolorization in the Gram stain for bacteria. Acidic substances yield more regular results. Ideally an “inert” decolorizer should be used, but ordinarily such substances will not dissolve the dye or dye-mordant precipitate from the smear. The most practical substances seem to be those so very slightly acidic in character as to be practically inert, such as acetone or alcohol, or a mixture of such substances.
What English Language Learners Have to Say About NCLB Testing

This study is a phenomenological study that examines the No Child Left Behind testing experience of middle school English language learners (ELLs) through their journal writing. Thirteen students i...
Percutaneous Lumbar Transfacet Screw Fixation: A Technique Analysis of 176 Screws in 83 Patients With Assessment of Radiographic Accuracy, Hardware Failure, and Complications

Background Transfacet screw fixation can be used to supplement varying techniques of lumbar interbody fusion. The percutaneous placement of transfacet screws represents an alternative to pedicle screws for select cases, which can potentially minimize morbidity. Objective To analyze our experience with respect to accuracy, hardware failure, and neurologic compromise. Methods Clinical records gathered from August 2009 to January 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. We identified 83 patients who underwent placement of 176 consecutive percutaneous transfacet screws while in the prone or lateral position. Accuracy of screw placement was assessed on computed tomography (CT) by entry point and end point. Hardware failure was assessed by radiography or CT. Clinical complications were assessed during regular follow-up visits. Results Entry point accuracy was 91.4%. Seven cases of intra-articular screw placement and 1 para-articular screw placement were detected on CT. End-point accuracy was 82.8%. There were 16 cases of pedicle breach from 1 to 3 mm on CT. There were 2 screw fractures and 1 case of a Kirschner-wire fracture that were clinically inconsequential. One patient had new nondisabling leg numbness. One patient with new radicular leg pain required removal of a screw. Conclusion The technique of percutaneous lumbar transfacet screw fixation can be performed accurately and safely with patients in the prone and lateral positions. Entry point inaccuracies were more common at rostral levels due to facet orientation. End-point inaccuracies (pedicle breaches) were more common in the intervertebral foramen where 2 clinical complications occurred.
A prospective 5-year study of the frequency of arrhythmias during serial exercise testing and clinical follow-up after Melody valve implant.

Background Although percutaneous Melody valve implant has become an accepted alternative to surgical pulmonary valve replacement in patients with congenital heart disease, the benefit regarding frequency and severity of arrhythmias remains undefined. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of Melody valve implant on the type and frequency of arrhythmias during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and subsequent clinical outcome. Methods As part of the phase I Melody valve clinical trial, 136 patients with congenital heart disease underwent prospective serial evaluation including CPET before implant, 6 months after implant, and annually thereafter for 5 years. Arrhythmias were defined as premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) and supraventricular or ventricular tachycardia (VT). Results Before Melody implant, PVCs occurred in 55 patients (40%) and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) in 1 patient during CPET. Median age at valve implantation was 19.0 years (range 7–53 years). During median follow-up of 4.9 years (range 0.8–7.3 years), there was no significant change in the proportion of patients with PVCs during CPET at any follow-up interval (40%–45%). However, postimplant, NSVT occurred in 18 patients, including 8 during CPET. Diagnoses in the patients with NSVT were tetralogy of Fallot (11), transposition (2), and post-Ross procedure (5). Improved hemodynamic status was not associated with resolution or prevention of arrhythmias. Conclusion Despite improvement in hemodynamics, Melody valve implant was not associated with resolution or prevention of arrhythmias during CPET. PVCs or VT may be related to pathologic hypertrophy, fibrosis, dilation, or possible mechanical effects of the Melody device.
Biodiversity of Aquatic Ecosystems

Despite their relatively small surface area and volume relative to the ocean or terrestrial habitats, inland waters are disproportionately rich in species. Some groups of species have exceptionally high species diversity, sometimes with unique assemblages of endemic species (species of restricted distribution) in a single lake, spring, or river drainage. Others are cosmopolitan (very widely distributed). Geologic origins, climatic setting, and persistence of particular habitats in specific regions influence the types of species, their spatial distributions, and their relative abundances within each ecosystem. The general relationships between habitat complexity, persistence, and size of inland waters create major differences in the number and kinds of species in each region. Each location reflects the dispersal history and isolation from other aquatic habitats as well as rates of speciation and localized extinctions over geologic time scales. Speciation, adaptation, and the composition of freshwater communities respond first to dispersal of species from other inland waters and, over time, adaptations of some marine and terrestrial species to inland waters. After a period of isolation and evolutionary change, new endemic species can develop as unique additions to inland aquatic habitats. Large concentrations of endemic species are often dominated by specific taxonomic groups (such as a single family of fishes, crustaceans, or gastropods), where speciation was enhanced by periods of evolution in particular types of habitats (such as deep lakes, large wetlands, or springs). These locations as constitute biogeographic ‘hot spots’ and are of great interest to ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and conservation biologists.
Neocolonialism and Health Care Access among Marshall Islanders in the United States

In the Marshall Islands, a history of extensive nuclear weapons testing and covert biomedical research, coupled with the U.S.'s ongoing military presence in the country, has severely compromised the health of the local population. Despite the U.S.'s culpability in producing ill health along with high rates of emigration from the islands to the mainland United States, the large portion of Marshallese who reside in the United States face substantial barriers to accessing health care. Drawing from ongoing field research with a Marshallese community in Arkansas, this article explores the multifaceted impediments that U.S.-based Marshall Islanders face in receiving medical treatment. Calling on an expansive and inclusive notion of neocolonialism, I argue that Marshallese structural vulnerability with regard to health and health care treatment derives from their status as neocolonial subjects and from their limited claims to health-related deservingness associated with this status. [Marshall Islanders, health care access, neocolonialism, radiation exposure, immigrant health] Lōmnak ko rōttino: Ilo Majel, juon bwebwenato kōn kōmmālmel im nuclear baam ko im ekkatak ko rōttino kōn wāwein an baijin ko jelōt armej, barāinwōt an to an ri tarinae ro an Amedka pād ilo aelōn kein, emōj an jelōt ājmour an armej ro ilo aelōn kein. Mene alikkar bwe Amedka in ear jino naninmej kein im ej un eo armej rein rej emmakūt jān āne kein āne er nan ioon Amedka, elōn iaan ri Majel rein rej jelmae elōn apan ko nan aer delone jikin ājmour ko. Jān ekkatak eo ej bōk jikin kiō, jerbal in ej etali kabōjrak rak kein rōlōn im armej in Majel ro ioon Amedka in rej jelmae ilo aer jibadōk lok jikin taktō. Ilo an kar Amedka jibadōk juon jea eo eutiej imejān lal in, ij kwalok juon aō akweelel bwe apan ko an armej in Majel ikijjeen ājmour im jikin taktō ej itok jān aer kar ri kōmakoko ilo an kar Amedka lelōn lok etan ilo mejān lal im jān aer jab pukot jipan kein ej aer bwe kōn jōkjōk in.
Treating the Donor: Strategies to Prolong VCA Preservation

In this review, we summarized the latest advances in vascularized composite allografts (VCAs) preservation along with future directions to improve graft viability before transplantation. At present, VCAs are preserved using static cold storage methods prior to transplantation. This approach ensures reasonable viability up to 6 h. Beyond this time, ischemia and reperfusion result in substantial graft dysfunction. Ex situ VCA perfusion can potentially improve the graft survival and function and can help spread the procurement to a larger geographic area. New strategies to minimize ischemia and reperfusion injury can prolong VCA preservation.
Rate of Sintering of Copper Under a Dead Load

The application of a static load to a copper powder compact during sintering at an elevated temperature accelerates the rate of sintering in such a way that a given load induces the same proportional increase in rate for all times of sintering. It is shown that sintering under a load is like creep under a fixed load in that the stress required to accomplish a given degree of densification is proportional to the logarithm of the sintering time.
The Gauge Integral

Much of calculus deals with the interplay between differentiation and integration. The antiquated term “antidifferentiation” emphasizes the fact that differentiation and integration are inverses of one another. We will take it for granted that readers are acquainted with the mechanics of integration. The current chapter develops just enough integration theory to make our development of differentiation in Chap. 4 and the calculus of variations in Chap. 17 respectable. It is only fair to warn readers that in other chapters a few applications to probability and statistics will assume familiarity with properties of the expectation operator not covered here.
Evidence About the Accuracy of Surveys in the Face of Declining Response Rates

Response rates have declined steadily and substantially over the past 25 years. Despite these declines, high-quality surveys remain among the most reliable sources of data about the public. This reliability is largely due to the fact that, in general, nonresponse rates do not seem to be strongly associated with nonresponse bias. However, there may be differential rates of nonresponse bias for individual measures at any given level of nonresponse. This chapter overviews the connection between nonresponse rates and nonresponse bias and suggests a variety of areas for high-impact research in this space that will help shape how the field of survey research approaches the risk of nonresponse bias in new and important ways.
A randomized clinical trial of counseling and nicotine replacement therapy for treatment of African American non-daily smokers: Design, accrual, and baseline characteristics.

Abstract Background Non-daily smokers (NDS) who smoke on some but not all days are a growing subset of United States (US) tobacco users. Racial/ethnic minorities are more likely to be NDS. African American NDS have strikingly high levels of nicotine and carcinogen exposure, making treatment of this high risk group a priority. Methods The current study is one of three ongoing federally-funded clinical trials of NDS and, to our knowledge the only RCT focused on racial/ethnic minority NDS. The design has been guided by input from Patient and Stakeholder Advisory Panels who helped develop the research questions, design the intervention, and select the outcomes. The objective is to compare the effectiveness of smoking cessation counseling alone (C) or smoking cessation counseling plus participant's choice of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT; C + NRT) for African American NDS. Two-hundred seventy-eight African American NDS will be randomized in a 2:1 fashion to C + NRT or C. All participants receive five sessions of smoking cessation counseling; those randomized to C + NRT receive their choice of nicotine gum, patch, and/or lozenge. Treatment in both groups lasts for 12 weeks. We hypothesize that C + NRT will be more effective than C on the primary outcome of biochemically-confirmed abstinence from smoking at week 12. Secondary aims will compare C + NRT and C on patient- and provider-desired outcomes including abstinence from smoking at week 26, change in biochemically-verified nicotine and carcinogen exposure, days abstinent, and treatment process measures (e.g., NRT use and side effects). Predictors of abstinence will also be explored. Discussion Findings will illuminate effective treatment options for African American NDS and contribute to development of evidence-based guidelines for treating the 8.9 million US adult NDS for whom no guidelines currently exist. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT02244918
Chapter 7 Speech and Gesture

When people talk they can be seen making spontaneous movements called ‘gestures’. These are usually movements of the arms and hands and they are closely synchronized with the flow of speech. Gestures and speech occur in very close temporal alignment and often have identical meanings, or ‘idea units’ (Kendon, 1980). Yet they express these idea units in fundamentally different ways. While speech is segmented (into phonemes, words, phrases, etc.), gestures are global and synthetic. There is no gesture ‘language’. Comparing speech to gesture thus enables us to observe the same idea unit expressed in two different ways at the same time. A comparison of this kind produces an effect on our understanding of the linguistic system and gesture something like the effect of triangulation in vision. Many new details, previously hidden, spring out in the new dimension of seeing. Rather than analytically slicing the person into modules, taking into account gesture encourages seeing something like the entire personality as a single theoretical entity - thinking, speaking, acting as a unit.
Finite-Width Corrections to the Vector-Meson-Dominance Prediction for ρ → e + e −

Finite-width corrections based on a generalized effective range formula for pion-pion scattering modify by a non-negligible amount the well-known relation between $\ensuremath{\Gamma}(\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}})$ and $\ensuremath{\Gamma}(\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi})$ derived on the basis of vector-meson dominance. We also present a new current-algebra prediction for the shape and magnitude of $\ensuremath{\sigma}({e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})$ and estimate the $\ensuremath{\rho}$-meson contribution to the Schwinger term.
High Voltage CT Ratio Errors Dependency on Voltage and Power Factor of the Metered Load

This paper describes the results of performance evaluation of ratio errors of a high voltage current transformer (CT) and a high voltage combined current and voltage transformer (CT/VT) with the aim of discovering the behavior of the CT ratio errors at different operating high voltages, different power factor loads on the transmission line in which the CT (or CT part of the CT/VT) was connected and the effects of the VT burden (in case of the CT/VT).
The Microvascular Pericyte: Approaches to Isolation, Characterization, and Cultivation.

The microvascular pericyte was identified in 1873 by the French scientist Charles Benjamin Rouget and originally called the Rouget cell (Rouget.Sciences 88:916–8, 1879). However, it was not until the early 1900s that Rouget’s work was confirmed, and the Rouget cell renamed the pericyte by virtue of its peri-endothelial location (Dore. Brit J Dermatol 35:398–404, 1923; Zimmermann. Z Anat Entwicklungsgesch 68:3–109, 1923). Over the years a large number of publications have emerged, but the pericyte has remained a truly enigmatic cell. This is due, in part, by the paucity of easy and reliable methods to isolate and characterize the cell as well as its heterogeneity and pluripotent characteristics. However, more recent advances in molecular genetics and development of novel cell isolation and imaging techniques have enable scientists to more readily define pericyte function. This chapter will discuss general approaches to the isolation, characterization, and propagation of primary pericytes in the establishment of cell lines. We will attempt to dispel misinterpretations about the pericyte that cloud the literature.
Trapped ion mobility spectrometry coupled to FT-ICR MS: Fundamentals and applications

Abstract With the introduction of Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry in 2011, a major transformation is happening on the way gas-phase; post-ionization mobility separations can be performed and coupled to existing mass spectrometry workflows. The possibility to decouple the mobility analysis from the experimental time scale, allows for better coupling of mobility and mass analysis; in particular, when current mass analyzers require seconds to achieve ultrahigh mass resolution and high mass accuracy. In this chapter, we will cover the history of trapped IMS and FT-ICR MS, the principles of a TIMS analyzer, modes of operation, mobility calibration of a TIMS-FT-ICR MS datasets, and the comparison of TIMS-TOF MS and FT-ICR MS during the analysis of complex mixtures.
Older women's personal lives, health, and happiness

This issue focuses on the experiences of older women – their personal lives, health, and happiness. However, this commentary is primarily focused on the personal lives of older women. The social li...
Treatment with Parathyroid Hormone

Until approval of rhPTH(1–84), hypoparathyroidism was the only classic endocrine deficiency disease for which the replacement hormone was not an approved treatment. We present a case of a 23-year-old woman with postsurgical hypoparathyroidism on conventional therapy with calcium and calcitriol. She had multiple emergency department visits for hypocalcemia, daily symptoms of hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypercalciuria. Recombinant human PTH(1–84), rhPTH(1–84), was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2015 for the treatment of “patients who cannot be well-controlled on calcium supplements and active forms of vitamin D alone.” We review the indications for rhPTH(1–84) therapy and general management of patients receiving treatment.
Temporomandibular Ankylosis: Treatment by Unilateral Condylectomy in Two Dogs and Two Cats

Four cases of temporomandibular joint ankylosis in dogs and cats were treated successfully by unilateral condylectomy. In all four cases, the ability to open the mouth was reestablished and in three cases was maintained long-term.
Technological Disruptions in Restaurant Services: Impact of Innovations and Delivery Services:

This qualitative exploratory study assesses the technological disruptions in restaurant services caused by innovations in food delivery. A systematic review of the restaurant classification for the...
Modelling of converter systems paralleled via interphase transformers in cyclic cascade topology and optimization of PWM carrier shifts

High power converters can be constructed by paralleling $N$ interleaved converters via Interphase Transformers (ITRs) to produce multilevel output voltages while minimizing circulating currents among converters. With the ITRs connected in cyclical cascade topology, the ITR voltage stress is highly dependent on number of parallel converters and phase shifts between Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) triangular carriers. To analyse the ITR system performance a model of cross-coupling produced by ITRs is needed to establish links between the converter voltages and ITR voltages and cross currents circulating among converters. The main goal of this paper is to give a comprehensive overview of a model of the system based on the ITR cyclical cascade topology which can be used for estimation of its performance. Based on this model, opportunities for minimisation of the ITR voltages and core losses, via optimization of the converter PWM carrier shifts, are identified and discussed. Application of the theoretical results is illustrated in an example case with $N=5$ converters.
Predictors of Opioid Prescription After Orthognathic Surgery in Opioid Naive Adults From a Large Database.

BACKGROUND Orthognathic surgery often requires postoperative opioid pain management. The goal of this study was to examine opioid prescribing patterns in adults after orthognathic surgery and to analyze factors associated with high-dose postoperative opioid administration and persistent opioid use. METHODS We included opioid naive adults in the IBM MarketScan Databases who had undergone orthognathic surgery from 2003 to 2017. Three outcomes were examined: presence of a perioperative outpatient opioid claim; total oral morphine milliequivalents (MMEs) in the perioperative period; and persistent opioid use. Univariate analysis and multiple regression were used to determine associations between the outcomes and independent variables. RESULTS Our study yielded a cohort of 8163 opioid naive adults, 45.6% of whom had an opioid claim in the perioperative period. The average prescribed MMEs in the perioperative period was 466 MMEs total, and 66 MMEs daily. Of patients with an opioid claim, 17.9% had persistent opioid use past 90 days. The presence of a complication was a predictor of having an opioid claim (P<0.001). Increasing age (P<0.001) and days hospitalized (P < 0.001) were associated with increased opioid usage. Persistent opioid use was associated with being prescribed more than 600 MMEs in the perioperative period (P < 0.001), as well as increasing age and days hospitalized. Interestingly, patients undergoing double-jaw surgery did not have significantly more opioids prescribed than those undergoing single-jaw surgery. CONCLUSIONS Prescription opioids are relatively uncommon after jaw surgery, although 17.9% of patients continue to use opioids beyond 3 months after surgery. Predictors of persistent opioid use in this population include the number of days hospitalized, increasing age, and increasing amount of opioid prescribed postoperatively.
Implementation of point-of-care blood gas testing at a large community hospital: Cost analysis, sepsis bundle compliance, and employee engagement

Introduction/background Point-of-care testing (POCT) platforms support patient-centered approaches to health care delivery and may improve patient care. We evaluated implementation of a POCT platform at a large, acute care hospital in the Midwestern United States. Methods We used lactate testing as part of a sepsis bundle protocol to evaluate compliance and mortality outcomes. Respiratory team members were surveyed to assess perception of efficiency, ease of use, timely patient care, and overall engagement with the POCT system. Annualized cost per test of a benchtop analyzer and a POCT platform were compared across 3 years for each platform. Results Lactate testing volume increased from 61% to 91%, which was associated with improved sepsis bundle protocol compliance. Employees reported high levels of engagement, improvements in efficiency and time savings, and better patient care with POCT. Average cost per test was $10.02 for the benchtop system and $6.21 for the POCT platform. POCT saved our institution $88,476 annually in labor costs. Discussion Combined with a robust training program emphasizing the use of lactate testing in the context of the overall clinical picture, POCT enabled adherence to the sepsis bundle protocol and may have contributed to lower mortality. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided us with unanticipated benefits of using POCT; it has enhanced our ability to deal with stringent infectious disease protocols, saving time and minimizing patient and staff exposure. Conclusions Implementation of a POCT platform was associated with improved compliance to our sepsis protocol, reduced sepsis mortality, high employee engagement, and cost savings.
Electroencephalographic Assessment of Infant Spinal Anesthesia: A Pilot Prospective Observational Study

INTRODUCTION Spinal anesthesia is utilized as an alternative to general anesthesia in infants for some surgeries. After spinal anesthesia, infants often become less conscious without administration of sedative medications. The aim of this study was to assess electroencephalographic (EEG) correlates after spinal anesthesia in a cohort of infants. PATIENTS AND METHODS This pilot study included 12 infants who underwent spinal anesthesia. Unprocessed electroencephalography was recorded. The electroencephalogram was interpreted by four neurologists. Processed analyses compared electroencephalogram changes 30 min after spinal anesthesia to baseline. RESULTS Following spinal anesthesia, all 12 infants became sedated. Electroencephalography in all 12 demonstrated Stage 2 sleep with the appearance of sleep spindles (12-14 Hz) in the frontal and central leads in 8/12 (67%) of subjects. The median time to onset of sleep spindles was 24.7 interquartile range (21.2, 29.9) min. The duration of sleep spindles was 25.1 interquartile range (5.8, 99.8) min. Voltage attenuation and background slowing were the most common initial changes. Compared to baseline, the electroencephalogram 30 min after spinal anesthesia showed significantly increased absolute delta power (p = 0.02) and gamma power (p < 0.0001); decreases in beta (p = 0.0006) and higher beta (p < 0.0001) were also observed. The Fast Fourier Transform power ratio difference for delta/beta was increased (p = 0.03). Increased coherence was noted in the delta (p = 0.02) and theta (p = 0.04) bandwidths. DISCUSSION Spinal anesthesia in infants is associated with increased electroencephalographic slow wave activity and decreased beta activity compared to the awake state, with appearance of sleep spindles suggestive of normal sleep. The etiology and significance of the observed voltage attenuation and background slowing remains unclear. CONCLUSIONS The EEG signature of infant spinal anesthesia is distinct from that seen with general anesthesia and is consistent with normal sleep. Further investigation is required to better understand the etiology of these findings. Our preliminary findings contribute to the understanding of the brain effects of spinal anesthesia in early development.
Unsupervised Learning of Spatio-temporal Patterns Using Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity

This paper presents an unsupervised approach for learning of patterns with spatial and temporal information from a very small number of training samples. The method employs a spiking network with axonal conductance delays that learns the encoding of individual patterns as sets of polychronous neural groups, which emerge as a result of training. A similarity metric between sets, based on a modified version of the Jaccard index, is used for pattern classification. Two different neural connectivity models are evaluated on a data set consisting of hand-drawn digits that encode temporal information (i.e., from the starting to the end point of the digit). The results demonstrate that the approach can successfully generalize these patterns from a significantly small number of training samples.
Intelligent modeling, diagnosis, and control of manufacturing processes

Part 1 Knowledge-based statistical approach: chronological equipment diagnosis using evidence integration, N. Chang and C. Spanos process control system for VLSI fabrication, E. Sachs et al. Part 2 Model-based approach: model-based plant diagnosis and control expert system, J. Suzuki et al knowledge representation for multiple fault resolution and corrective action planning in chemical diagnosis, J. McDowell and J. Davies. Part 3 Machine learning and neural network approach: intelligent diagnosis systems for manufacturing using abductive technology, G. Mongermory et al a connectionist approach to diagnostic problem solving, Y. Peng and J. Reggia and others.
Stochastic performance trade-offs in the design of real-time wireless sensor networks

Future sensing applications call for a thorough evaluation of network performance trade-offs so that desired guarantees can be provided for the realization of real-time wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Recent studies provide insight into the performance metrics in terms of first-order statistics, e.g., the expected delay. However, WSNs are characterized by the stochastic nature of the wireless channel and the queuing processes, which result in non-deterministic delay, throughput, and network lifetime. For the design of WSNs with predictable performance, probabilistic analysis of these performance metrics and their intrinsic trade-offs is essential. Moreover, providing stochastic guarantees is crucial since each deployment may result in a different realization. In this paper, the trade-offs between delay, throughput, and lifetime are quantified through a stochastic network design approach. To this end, two novel probabilistic network design measures, quantite and quantite interval, are defined to capture the dependability and predictability of the performance metrics, respectively. Extensive evaluations are conducted to explore the performance trade-offs in real-time WSNs.