cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inorganic nitrogen and microbial biomass dynamics before and during spring snowmelt

Recent work in seasonally snow covered ecosystems has identified thawed soil and high levels of heterotrophic activity throughout the winter under consistent snow cover. We performed measurements during the winter of 1994 to determine how the depth and timing of seasonal snow cover affect soil microbial populations, surface water NO 3 loss during snowmelt, and plant N availability early in the growing season. Soil under early accumulating, consistent snow cover remained thawed during most of the winter and both microbial biomass and soil inorganic N pools gradually increased under the snowpack. At the initiation of snowmelt, microbial biomass N pools increased from 3.0 to 5.9 g N m 2 , concurrent with a decrease in soil inorganic N pools. During the latter stages of snowmelt, microbial biomass N pools decreased sharply without a concurrent increase in inorganic N pools or significant leaching losses. In contrast, soil under inconsistent snow cover remained frozen during most of the winter. During snowmelt, microbial biomass initially increased from 1.7 to 3.1 g N m 2 and then decreased as sites became snow-free. In contrast to smaller pool sizes, NO 3 export during snowmelt from the inconsistent snow cover sites of 1.14 ( 0.511) g N m 2 was significantly greater ( p 0.001) than the 0.27 ( 0.16) g N m 2 exported from sites with consistent snow cover. These data suggest that microbial biomass in consistently snow-covered soil provides a significant buffer limiting the export of inorganic N to surface water during snowmelt. However, this buffer is very sensitive to changes in snowpack regime. Therefore, interannual variability in the timing and depth of snowpack accumulation may explain the year to year variability in inorganic N concentrations in surface water these ecosystems.
The Contingency of the Possible

Les actualistes ne partagent pas tous les memes intuitions quant aux mondes possibles. Cet article caracterise les intuitions platoniciennes et aristoteliciennes, et explore les consequences pour l'actualiste d'accepter le platonisme ou l'aristotelisme. Les arguments en faveur de la conception aristotelicienne tiennent la route, mais pour repondre a certains problemes concernant la verite des negatives existentielles, l'actualisme aristotelicien doit rejeter l'actualisme des proprietes, c'est-a-dire la conception que seules les entites existantes ont des proprietes. Puisque les entites non existantes ont certaines proprietes, l'actualisme aristotelicien sans actualisme des proprietes est la meilleure approche aux modalites.
LATTICE BOLTZMANN SIMULATION OF DROP COLLISION AND SURFACE IMPINGEMENT AT HIGH DENSITY RATIO

In this work, a novel two-phase lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has been employed to study droplet impact dynamics in the presence of a surrounding lighter phase. All the simulations are conducted in a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, and the density ratio of the liquid phase to the gas phase is fixed at 50. First, simulations of binary droplet collisions are conducted to validate the methodology for 20<We<80. Three different types of outcome, namely coalescence collision, separating collision and stretching collision, are presented. Secondly, the normal impact of a liquid drop impinging on a perfectly smooth dry surface is simulated at various liquid Weber and Reynolds numbers. Results are shown in order to compare the spread factor dependence on impact velocity, liquid density, liquid viscosity, surface tension and surface wetting characteristics. The results are validated with experimental data. Two different outcomes are obtained: deposition and splashing break-up. The transition to splashing is found to be dependent on the liquid Weber and Reynolds numbers. Nomenclature a,b,T = free parameter determining φ B = impact parameter ei = particle velocity D = diameter of the droplet d = diameter of the liquid lamella Ei, Fi, Hi = coefficients in equilibrium distribution functions i f = particle distribution function for an order parameter eq i f = equilibrium particle distribution function for i f i g = particle distribution function for predicted velocity u * eq i
Gene expression and immunochemical localization of major cytochrome P450 drug-metabolizing enzymes in bovine nasal olfactory and respiratory mucosa

Despite tremendous advancement in the characterization of nasal enzyme expression, knowledge of the role of the nasal mucosa in the metabolism of xenobiotics is still inadequate, primarily due to the limited availability of in vitro models for nasal metabolism screening studies. An extensive knowledge of the oxidative and conjugative metabolizing capacity of the cattle (Bos taurus) olfactory and respiratory mucosa can aid in efficient use of these tissues for pre-clinical investigations of the biotransformation and toxicity of therapeutic agents following nasal administration or inhalation. Cows are also exposed to a variety of airborne pollutants and pesticides during their lifetime, the metabolism of which can have profound toxicological and ecological consequences. The aim of the present study was to characterize cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme expression in the bovine nasal mucosa. Amplification of the specific genes through RT-PCR confirmed expression of several CYP enzymes in bovine hepatic and nasal tissues. The results demonstrate that bovine nasal olfactory and respiratory mucosal and liver tissues express similar populations, families, and distributions of CYP enzymes, as has been previously reported with other species, including humans. Bovine ex vivo tissues can serve as a readily available reference tissue to elucidate preclinical toxico-kinetic effects resulting from exposure to substances in the environment or following drug administration.
Preliminary Study of Global Sediment Sound Velocities from Sonobuoy Data

Sonobuoy records from Lamont-Doherty’s collection are routinely reduced and analyzed for velocity information. Computed solutions are stored on disk where they are easily available for global studies. Velocity gradients (valid for 5 to 10 Hz waves) have been computed statistically from 16 geographical regions, based on sonobuoy interval velocity solutions from all over the world.
Partitioning the effects of habitat fragmentation on rodent species richness in an urban landscape

Habitat fragmentation plays a major role in species extinction around the globe. Previous research has determined that species richness in fragments is affected by a number of characteristics. These include fragment age, size, and isolation, edge effects, vegetation coverage, habitat heterogeneity, and matrix content. Although most studies focused on one or a few of these characteristics, multiple characteristics work together to affect species richness, showing that the effects of habitat fragmentation are complex. The goal of our study was to partition the complex effects of habitat fragmentation by determining the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of multiple habitat fragment characteristics on rodent species richness. In 2013, we determined rodent species richness in 25 habitat fragments within Thousand Oaks, California. In addition, we measured the following characteristics for each fragment: fragment age, area, isolation, shrub coverage, habitat heterogeneity, perimeter/area ratio, and percent non-urban buffer. Path Analysis was used to test the hypothesized model which described the direct, indirect, and cumulative effect of each habitat fragment characteristic on rodent species richness. Overall, the path model explained 67 % of the variation in rodent species richness among habitat fragments. Habitat heterogeneity had the greatest direct and total effect on rodent species richness. Fragment size had the next greatest total effect on rodent species richness but this was nearly entirely indirect through its influence on habitat heterogeneity, suggesting that large fragments containing the greatest diversity of habitats will support the most species. Our study shows that large habitat fragments support the greatest habitat diversity, which provides the highest likelihood of conserving rodent species richness in an urban landscape.
Responsiveness of PROMIS® Pediatric Measures to Hospitalizations for Sickle Pain and Subsequent Recovery.

Background The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® (PROMIS®) created pediatric self-report scales measuring a variety of health attributes (domains), but their responsiveness to changes in health status has not yet been determined in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Procedure A convenience cohort of symptomatic SCD children, aged 8–17 years, was asked to complete PROMIS pediatric scales at an initial clinic visit, at the end of a subsequent hospitalization for sickle pain, at a subsequent clinic visit or at home 2–3 weeks after hospitalization, and at a clinic visit 1–2 years after their initial assessment. Results A total of 121 participants (mean age 12.5 ± 3.1 years, 56.2% female) participated in the study. Pain interference and fatigue domain scores were elevated at baseline, increased substantially during hospitalization, and largely returned to baseline by the recovery period, whereas the depressive symptoms, anger, and anxiety domain scores displayed a less pronounced elevation during hospitalizations and a slower return to baseline levels. The two physical functioning scales showed a substantial decline in response to hospitalization, but only modest improvements at the recovery assessment, likely representing incomplete recovery. Conclusions Several PROMIS pediatric measures were responsive to changes in health status associated with occurrence and resolution of acute vaso-occlusive pain requiring hospitalization. The substantial differences in these domains during SCD-related pain exacerbations support their potential usefulness in clinical research or in clinical practice. Further studies to characterize variations in symptom patterns over time may provide insights into strategies for more effective management of sickle pain.
Sound Production and Its Evolutionary Significance in the Blattaria

Cockroaches produce sounds by rubbing the abdomen against the wings, tapping the substrate, striking the wings against the abdomen, expelling air through the spiracles, and scraping the pronotum over the costal veins (stridulation). Some of these sounds are made by both sexes when the insects are “disturbed” or by males when they court. Two methods of sound production, namely, stridulation and expulsion of air through the second abdominal spiracles, have evolved in the Oxyhaloinae. Stridulating structures have been found in several genera of the ovoviviparous Oxyhaloinae ( Nauphoeta, Leucophaea, Henschoudetenia, Oxyhaloa, Jagrehnia ) and 1 genus of Panchlorinae (Panchlora) of the Blaberidae. The hypothesis is presented that stridulating structures in the Oxyhaloinae first evolved, in both sexes, on those parts of the pronotum and tegmina that were rubbed together during struggling movements made when the insects were seized by a predator; originally the sound produced, after stridulating structures evolved, may have had a defensive function. Stridulation by males during courtship has so far been observed only in Nauphoeta cinerea (Olivier). Various behavior patterns of males of different blaberids suggest that vibratory and pumping movements, possibly employed to disseminate a pheromone, led to the production of rhythmical sounds in N. cinerea which may have sexual meaning to the female.
A Multidimensional Scaling of Video Games

Ten video games currently used in commercial markets were subjected to pairwise similarity ratings. A multidimensional scaling of the responses revealed three underlying dimensions that accounted f...
Factors influencing anesthesia residency selection: impact of global health opportunities

Purpose There is growing evidence to suggest that the current generation of medical students and young physicians is interested in global health. However, there are few data on the interest in global health by students pursuing a career in anesthesiology. The objective of this survey was to evaluate the importance of global health opportunities in regard to applicants’ choice of anesthesiology residency programs.
Assessment of the Occupational Hazard Control in a Refuse Incineration Power Plant

[Objective] To understand occupational hazards and its control effect in a refuse incineration power plant and put forward further betterment measures. [Methods]Occupational investigation was carried out in the enterprise and detection and analysis was made on the hazardous factors in the working sites.[Results]Soot and noise are the main hazardous factors in the power plant; irritant and suffocating gases such as HC1, SO2, NOx, CO and NH3 also existed, together with heavy metals such as Hg, Pb and Cd and other hazardous factors as Dioxins and pathogeny microorganisms; occupational hazardous factors were found in multiple working posts in the manufacturing process; the eligible rate of noise in the 21 detected posts was 85.7%, that of microorganisms and hydrochloric acid was quite low. [Conclusion]Strict protective and administrative measures should be taken on occupational hygiene; administrative rules and regulations on occupational hygiene and emergency rescue measures should be established and amplified; the workers' health should also be feasibly protected while profiting from protecting environment.
The expert witness.

More and more, dentists are being asked to be involved in medical-legal proceedings. The criteria for being an expert is based upon education, training, and experience, all of which every licensed practicing dentist possesses. Dental record-keeping and unbiased, thorough case analysis are the important factor involved in medical-legal litigation.
Morality, Religious Experience and Overall Probability

The ethical circumstances which have been seen as pointing to the existence of God include both the general fact that we are conscious of moral ideals as exercising a claim upon us, and the particular sense of a demand to perform or refrain from performing this or that act or type of act as morally obligatory or forbidden. We can treat these two ethical realities - general ideals and specific obligations - together and ask whether they require us to postulate a deity as their source or ground. It is the felt absoluteness of the claim upon us that has suggested this inference. When I am conscious that I ought to do something, particularly if it is something that I do not want to do, I feel what can only be described as a pressure upon me as a moral being, a pressure which is real and of which I cannot but take account. It imposes a magisterial demand, confronting me as, in Kant’s terminology, a categorical imperative, an absolute claim that can be defied but cannot be wished away. The question then naturally arises, in what is this moral obligation grounded?
Solution-Processed Organic and Halide Perovskite Transistors on Hydrophobic Surfaces

Solution-processable electronic devices are highly desirable due to their low cost and compatibility with flexible substrates. However, they are often challenging to fabricate due to the hydrophobic nature of the surfaces of the constituent layers. Here, we use a protein solution to modify the surface properties and to improve the wettability of the fluoropolymer dielectric Cytop. The engineered hydrophilic surface is successfully incorporated in bottom-gate solution-deposited organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and hybrid organic–inorganic trihalide perovskite field-effect transistors (HTP-FETs) fabricated on flexible substrates. Our analysis of the density of trapping states at the semiconductor–dielectric interface suggests that the increase in the trap density as a result of the chemical treatment is minimal. As a result, the devices exhibit good charge carrier mobilities, near-zero threshold voltages, and low electrical hysteresis.
Characteristics and functional outcomes of chordoma patients admitted for inpatient rehabilitation.

Purpose: To describe the population and functional changes observed after an inpatient rehabilitation facility stay in chordoma patientsMaterials and Methods: We conducted a consecutive series retr...
Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with lymphoma.

e19506 Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with development of B-cell non Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). However, association of HCV with specific types of NHL and Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) is limited. We sought to determine prevalence and association of NHL and HL in HCV-seropositive cancer patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we abstracted data from electronic medical records of cancer patients screened for HCV antibody at MD Anderson Cancer Center during 2004–2013. HCV cases were defined as those who were tested positive for HCV antibody. Infected patients had detectable HCV-RNA, HCV genotype or received HCV treatment. NHL cases were classified for subtype specific analysis using International Classification of Disease for Oncology (ICD-O3) topography and morphology codes. Controls consisted of other non-lymphoma cancer patients tested positive for HCV antibody during the period. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were excluded. Results: :Out of 34,545 cancer patients tested for H...
Psychological Retardation and Interbehavioral Maladjustments

Because the problems of juvenile retardation are so important, it is gratifying that so many psychologists are interested in describing and interpreting such events in preparation for modifying them. In this connection attention is directed to the field details of retardation which name a particular form of maladaptation included in the in-terbehavioral continuum. To specify the origin and conditions of the unsatisfactory behavior may be useful in practice and in a general understanding of individual and cultural psychology.
Rethinking the Propensity Interpretation: A Peek Inside Pandora’s Box1

Over the past ten years, the propensity interpretation of fitness has attracted a number of proponents2 and a few, persistent detractors.3 Here, two previous supporters turn critics, to acknowledge and reframe some old problems, and to introduce some additional difficulties. We are not sure whether a radically revised interpretation of fitness is necessary. But it does seem to us that certain gross oversimplifications of the propensity interpretation deserve more serious attention.
Growth and Properties of Epitaxial Chromium Dioxide (CrO2) Thin Films and Heterostructures

\({\rm CrO}_2\) is a remarkable ferromagnetic material that is simultaneously an excellent metal for majority spin electrons and an insulator for minority spin electrons [1–3]. For this reason, \({\rm CrO}_2\) is called a half-metal, and in fact, it is the only one experimentally demonstrated [4–6]. Because of this, \({\rm CrO}_2\) has received considerable interest for spintronic applications in recent years. Band structure calculations have shown that the conduction bands in the spin minority channel of this system are completely shifted away from the Fermi level, resulting in 100% spin polarization. This makes it an attractive choice as a ferromagnetic material for spin-dependent devices such as spin injectors and spin detectors. In this chapter, we briefly describe the bonding characteristics in \({\rm CrO}_2\), based on first principles band structure calculations, as well as discuss some of its intrinsic structural, electrical, and magnetic properties. The strain-induced magnetic anisotropy resulting from lattice mismatch with the substrates is also discussed. Finally, we provide some details regarding the fabrication of epitaxial rutile-based heterostructures and their transport properties in micron-sized tunnel junction and GMR devices.
Confrontation: special education placement and the law.

Recently, suits have been brought against public schools for placing certain children in special classes for the educable mentally retarded. Through the courts parents are challenging the administr...
Severity of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use Disorders Among Sexual Minority Individuals and Their "Not Sure" Counterparts.

Abstract Purpose: Sexual minority individuals have heightened risk for substance use; however, previous studies have not assessed severity of alcohol use disorders (AUDs), tobacco use disorders (TU...
Bad Tumors Made Worse: SPINK1

Serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) is a small secreted protein with dual roles—in the pancreas, it is a protective trypsin inhibitor, while in the context of the tumor microenvironment, it is a cell growth and survival factor that promotes tumor progression. While the mechanism by which SPINK1 protects the pancreas is long established and well-understood, the mechanisms that underlie its tumor promoting properties are complex and multifaceted, with major questions remaining to be answered. In this Opinion article, we briefly overview the known functions and mechanisms of SPINK1 both in health and in disease, and then seek to highlight several of the mechanistic “missing links,” with the aim of identifying research opportunities and stimulating new lines of investigation.
Pathological Evaluation, Classification, and Staging of Gastrointestinal Cancers

Pathological evaluation of tissue with tissue diagnosis is an essential component in the management of gastrointestinal cancer and involves appropriate expertise in ruling out various morphological mimickers ranging from reactive process at one end to benign and malignant tumors at the other. A variety of ancillary tests including immunophenotyping by immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry, fluorescence in situ hybridization/chromogenic in situ hybridization (FISH/CISH), cytogenetics, various molecular tests, electron microscopy, etc., may have to be applied if the morphological features are not sufficient enough to reach definitive interpretation. Pathological evaluation also includes classification, grading, and staging of tumor with additional increasing role of molecular tests. Classifications are generally based on histogenesis (tissue of tumor origin)/differentiation. Some, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, are favored over others. Grading of tumor is an additional component of tissue diagnosis, but may not be significantly important for all tumors. Some specific tumor/organ systems such as neuroendocrine tumors and gastrointestinal stromal tumor have special grading system. Staging is a critical component of pathological evaluation of resection specimens for proper clinical management. The most widely practiced staging system is TNM (Tumor, Node, Metastasis) staging by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). Some neoplasms may have modified staging systems.
Sex-dependent link between circadian misalignment and adiposity.

A cross-sectional study shows that proxies of circadian misalignment, such as late chronotype and social jet lag, are associated with increased adiposity in adolescent girls but not adolescent boys, highlighting a potential sex-specific effect of circadian misalignment. Interventions targeting sleep timing should be considered in the prevention of adolescent obesity.
Single Hepatocyte Hepatitis B Virus Transcriptional Landscape in HIV Coinfection.

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a leading cause of liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Approximately 10% of people with HIV also have HBV and are at higher risk of liver disease progression than in HBV monoinfection. Antivirals, common to HIV and HBV, suppress HBV DNA levels but do not eradicate virus because the transcriptional template, covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), is long lived in infected hepatocytes. METHODS Using single-cell laser capture microdissection, we isolated >1100 hepatocytes from 5 HIV/HBV coinfected persons with increasing exposure to HBV antivirals (HB1-HB5; no exposure to >7 years exposure), quantifying cccDNA and pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) in each cell using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The proportion of infected hepatocytes decreased with antiviral exposure from 96.4% (HB1) to 29.8% (HB5). Upper cccDNA range and median pgRNA decreased from HB1 to HB5 (P < .05 for both). The amount of pgRNA transcribed per cccDNA also decreased from HB1 to HB5 (P < .05). Cells with inactive pgRNA transcription were enriched from 0% (HB1) to 14.3% (HB5) of infected hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS cccDNA transcription is reduced in HIV/HBV coinfected people with longer antiviral duration. Understanding HBV transcriptional regulation may be critical to develop a functional cure.
A Case of Hypertensive Emergency

A 70-year-old Caucasian male was referred to the Rheumatology Clinic for an abnormal computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrating thickening of large and medium sized arterial vessels associated with a high sedimentation rate.
Data Streaming Analysis Framework for Through-time 3D Free-breathing Liver DCE-MRI

The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) clinical applications historically have generated large amounts of data, driven by record keeping, data analysis, and regulatory requirements. However, most raw data is not necessarily stored in hard copy form after analysis (like image reconstruction) is completed. In addition, such image analysis, including reconstruction, registration, and perfusion quantification that performed “offline” are computationally-intensive and time-consuming. These limitations make some MRI analysis applications inappropriate for clinical timescale. Driven by the potential to improve the efficiency of MRI analysis and delivery meanwhile reducing the costs, we develop a data streaming analysis framework specifically for Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced (DCE) Liver MRI application in this paper. The proposed framework has two main features. First, the framework transforms the whole image processing from “offline” to “online” to extensively reduce the data saving and transfer time through data streaming architecture. Second, with the design of optimized reconstruction and registration algorithms, as well as the integration of external computing resources, including Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) parallel computing techniques, the streaming framework achieved 180 times speed-up compared with the original protocol. Our in-vivo experiments showed significantly increased speed (Average 7.72 minutes total analysis time compared to 21.6 hours by original protocol) with minor differences in both image quality and perfusion quantification results. This framework allows easy and direct deployment of clinical studies.
Multiplex Ventilation: A Simulation-Based Study of Ventilating 2 Patients With a Single Ventilator.

BACKGROUND: The overwhelming demand for mechanical ventilators due to COVID-19 has stimulated interest in using one ventilator for multiple patients (ie, multiplex ventilation). Despite a plethora of information on the internet, there is little supporting evidence and no human studies. The risk of multiplex ventilation is that ventilation and PEEP effects are largely uncontrollable and depend on the difference between patients’ resistance and compliance. It is not clear whether volume control ventilation or pressure control ventilation is safer or more effective. We designed a simulation-based study to allow complete control over the relevant variables to determine the effects of various degrees of resistance-compliance imbalance on tidal volume (VT), end-expiratory lung volume (EELV), and imputed pH. METHODS: Two separate breathing simulators were ventilated with a ventilator using pressure control and volume control ventilation modes. Evidence-based lung models simulated a range of differences in resistance and compliance (6 pairs of simulated patients). Differences in VT, EELV, and imputed pH were recorded. RESULTS: Depending on differences in resistance and compliance, differences in VT ranged from 1% (with equal resistance and compliance) to 79%. Differences in EELV ranged from 2% to 109%, whereas differences in pH ranged from 0% to 5%. Failure due to excessive VT (ie, > 8 mL/kg) did not occur, but failure due to excessive EELV difference (ie, > 10%) was evident in 50% of patient pairs. There was no difference in failure rate between volume control and pressure control ventilation modes. CONCLUSIONS: These experiments confirmed the potential for markedly different ventilation and oxygenation for patients with uneven respiratory system impedances during multiplex ventilation. Three critical problems must be solved to minimize risk: (1) partitioning of inspiratory flow from the ventilator individually between the 2 patients, (2) measurement of VT delivered to each patient, and (3) provision for individual PEEP. We provide suggestions for solving these problems.
Transition metal carbene complexes and platinum-catalyzed substitution of metal carbonyls

033(00)22 reacts with ethylene oxide in the presence of Br" to give two of the few known dioxycarbene cluster compounds, 0s3(C0)jj(=COCH^CH^). I , and 053(00)io(=cOCH^CH^)2, II . The structure of II , established by X-ray diffraction studies, shows the dioxycarbene ligands to be in terminal, equatorial positions. Investigations of reactions of the dioxycarbene ligand showed that Fe(00)4(=OOOH2CH20), III, decomposes with evolution of OO2 and ethylene, but reacts with oxidizing agents, Me3N0 or O2, to produce ethylene carbonate. The reaction of III with H2 gas gives 1,3-dioxolane. In exploratory studies, ethylene oxide, 00 and H2 In the presence of Pt, Pd and Rh catalysts were found to give 1,4dioxane, 2-niethyl-1,3-dioxolane and 2-ethyl-l,3-d1oxolane.
Louisiana Pharmacies' Availability of Emergency Contraception and Counseling Accuracy to Adolescent and Physician Callers.

ABSTRACT Study Objective Adolescents face many barriers to obtaining emergency contraception (EC), despite it being an approved and recommended method to prevent unintended pregnancy. This study examined pharmacy-related barriers to adolescents’ access to EC in Louisiana. Design Prospective, telephone-call secret shopper study to pharmacies to assess same-day EC availability and barriers to purchase. Setting A total of 182 pharmacies in 5 Louisiana cities. Participants Responses provided by pharmacists or other pharmacy staff assessed between July 2018 and November 2019. Interventions Collected data from secret shopper phone calls and compared responses provided to callers between male and female callers and physician and adolescent callers. Main Outcome Measures Same-day levonorgestrel (LNG) availability, same-day ulipristal acetate (UPA) availability, age restrictions on purchase, requirement of parental consent for purchase, and type of staff member that advised the caller. Results Of 364 calls to 182 pharmacies, 66% of pharmacists or other pharmacy staff reported same-day LNG access and 5% reported same-day UPA access. An inaccurate age restriction regarding EC purchase was reported in 15% of calls. Female callers were cited this age restriction more frequently than their male counterparts (20% vs 10%). Pharmacists were more likely than other pharmacy staff to counsel female callers compared to male callers (52% vs 27%) and physician callers compared to adolescents (50% vs 30%). Conclusions Many pharmacies in Louisiana have limited same-day availability of EC and often report inconsistent and inaccurate age and consent regulations for its use. Continued outreach and education to pharmacies is necessary to address these barriers to adolescent EC access.
Primary and Secondary Optic Nerve Sheath Meningioma.

Objective This study was aimed to review issues relating to the recognition, radiographic diagnosis, monitoring, and management of primary and secondary optic nerve sheath meningioma (ONSM). Design This study is a review of peer-reviewed literature combined with illustrative case studies. Participants and Methods A literature search was conducted via the PubMed database using pertinent search terms. Selected articles were limited to those written or translated into English. Additional works cited within articles were also included. Individual cases were drawn from the experience of a tertiary academic neuroophthalmic and orbital practice. Tables summarize radiotherapeutic and surgical studies, excluding single case reports and studies focusing on meningioma of intracranial origin. Main Outcome Measurements Review of reported surgical and radiotherapeutic series is the primary measurement. Results The natural history of optic nerve sheath meningiomas is primarily characterized by progressive ipsilateral vision loss. Diagnosis is typically based on radiographic imaging findings, with biopsy remaining indicated in some patients. Management strategies may include observation, radiation, and/or surgical intervention, or a combination of these approaches. The role of surgery, especially with respect to primary ONSM (pONSM), remains controversial. Advancement of radiotherapy techniques has shifted modern treatment paradigms in pONSM toward radiation as primary treatment, as surgical outcomes are inferior in major studies. Although radiation remains the treatment of choice in many cases, selected patients may benefit from surgery, especially in the setting of secondary ONSM (sONSM). Conclusion A wide variety of radiotherapeutic and surgical treatment modalities for ONSM exist. The specific indications for each management strategy continue to be redefined.
Novel CCR5 Antagonist for the Treatment of Mild-Moderate COVID-19 Infection after Lung Transplant

Purpose The aim of this study was to describe the clinical course and outcomes of four lung transplant recipients in the CD10 trial (NCT04343651): use of leronlimab (PRO 140), a novel humanized IgG4,κ monoclonal antibody to CCR5, for the treatment of mild-moderate COVID-19 illness. Methods Four eligible lung transplant recipients with positive SARS-CoV2 PCR testing and mild-moderate illness received placebo or 1-2 weekly 700mg subcutaneous doses of leronlimab. Demographics, laboratory, radiologic, and clinical outcomes were reviewed. Results Between March and May 2020, three single-lung transplant recipients received leronlimab and one received placebo for mild-moderate disease. The total median age was 63.5 years (range 59.0-73.0) with equal male and female participants. The median duration between transplant and COVID-19 diagnosis was 409 days (range 149-631). Three patients (75%) required hospitalization for a median of 3 days (range 2-4); however, none required mechanical ventilation or positive pressure support. Baseline median CRP and CD4/CD8 counts were 4.4 mg/dL (range 1.3-15.3) and 1.16 (range 0.73-1.84) respectively, and normalized after one week of therapy. Abnormal imaging findings at the time of diagnosis were identified in native lungs (Figure 1). Baseline median FEV1, FVC, and 6MWT were 2.07 L (range 0.76-3.4), 2.73 L (range 1.46-4.09), and 402 m (range 247-496) with median change in baseline of -1.7%, -2.8%, and 3.8% respectively as of full clinical recovery through September 1, 2020. There were no episodes of acute rejection, by clinical evaluation or biopsy, or other known adverse events noted after leronlimab administration. Conclusion No definitive adverse events, disruptions of immunosuppression, or episodes of acute rejection or BOS were identified following leronlimab administration in a small series of lung transplant patients. Leronlimab may prove a safe and effective therapy for the restoration of immune homeostasis associated with COVID-19 illness in the future.
'The Laryngectomee Guide' in Malaysian Language

'The Laryngectomee Guide' (Panduan Pesakit Laringektomi) is available now in Malaysian language. The Guide provides information that can assist laryngectomees and their medical providers about medical, dental and psychological issues. It contains information about side effects of radiation and chemotherapy; methods of speaking; airway, stoma, and voice prosthesis care; eating and swallowing; medical, dental and psychological concerns; respiration; anesthesia; travelling and how to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Embolization of Dural Arteriovenous Malformations

Dural arteriovenous malformations (DAVMs) are foci of arteriovenous shunting that occur within the dura mater, most often located in the wall of a dural sinus or where a major draining vein enters a dural sinus. Earlier investigators suggested that these arteriovenous shunts were developmental, thereby popularizing the term dural arteriovenous malformation. Recent evidence has documented, however, that this disease is often acquired from a dural sinus thrombosis or traumatic etiology (Houser et al. 1979; Chaudhary et al. 1982; Picard et al. 1987). The term fistulas (or fistulae) implies an acquired etiology usually involving multiple connections and therefore has increasingly been used to describe these dural arteriovenous shunts. Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are subclassified usually by the location of the involved dural sinus (e.g., cavernous DAVF) or the location of the arteriovenous shunting (e.g., ethmoidal groove DAVF).
2D and 3D tunable photonic crystals fabricated in liquid crystal/polymer composites

Two-dimensional transverse square lattice and fcc lattice are formed in liquid crystal/polymer composites by using four-beam holography. The morphology of these lattices is investigated by scanning electron microscopy and electro-optical measurements are performed.
Control of Auditory Attention in Children With Specific Language Impairment

Purpose Children with specific language impairment (SLI) appear to demonstrate deficits in attention and its control. Selective attention involves the cognitive control of attention directed toward a relevant stimulus and simultaneous inhibition of attention toward irrelevant stimuli. The current study examined attention control during a cross-modal word recognition task. Method Twenty participants with SLI (ages 9–12 years) and 20 age-matched peers with typical language development (TLD) listened to words through headphones and were instructed to attend to the words in 1 ear while ignoring the words in the other ear. They were simultaneously presented with pictures and asked to make a lexical decision about whether the pictures and auditory words were the same or different. Accuracy and reaction time were measured in 5 conditions, in which the stimulus in the unattended channel was manipulated. Results The groups performed with similar accuracy. Compared with their peers with TLD, children with SLI had s...
From Sea to Shining Sea: Differing Paths to Marriage Equality in Maine and Washington State

This paper examines the two different routes to endorsing marriage equality at the ballot box taken by Maine and Washington states. We argue that the states’ pro-marriage equality campaigns mattered. These were more intensive endeavors than many campaigns. They drew from applied social science attitude research, used such knowledge in training staff and volunteers, and made modifications based on its persuasive results. Communication across states promoted commonalities even as each campaign organization created local variations. Likewise the sequence of previous gay-rights efforts in each state established its own particular path to marriage equality. Diffusion and learning and intensive person-to-person techniques were key contributors to these successful campaigns.
A Performance Advisor Tool for Shared-Memory Parallel Programming

Optimizing a parallel program is often difficult. This is true, in particular, for inexperienced programmers who lack the knowledge and intuition of advanced parallel programmers. We have developed a framework that addresses this problem by automating the analysis of static program information and performance data, and offering active suggestions to programmers. Our tool enables experts to transfer programming experience to new users. It complements today's parallelizing compilers in that it helps to tune the performance of a compiler-optimized parallel program. To show its applicability, we present two case studies that utilize this system. By simply following the suggestions of our system, we were able to reduce the execution time of benchmark programs by as much as 39%.
Seven hundred million to one: Personal action in reversing language shift

The paper considers what influence a single person can have on language survival and transmission of knowledge, comparing and contrasting the situation of large languages such as Putonghua (traditionally called Mandarin Chinese, with 700 million speakers) and small languages such as Eyak with as few speakers as one. It examines the delights and dilemmas of such work, the practical results (such as texts and documents) and the spiritual rewards (mostly satisfaction), drawing examples from our own work of the last 35 years with Tlingit, and from the work of colleagues, especially Michael Krauss, in the context of a volume celebrating his 70th birthday and 45 years of work on behalf of Alaska Native languages and endangered indigenous languages around the world, especially in the circumpolar north. The paper is by design an informal and non-technical address to the general reader, especially members of communities whose indigenous languages are endangered.
RNA-Seq Analysis of lncRNAs and cisNATs in the Tomato Genome

Since the sequencing of the human genome, it has been revealed that the vast majority of DNA does not code for proteins. Instead, these regions of DNA produce long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which have recently been reported to play important roles such as protein regulation and small RNA processing (Wilusz, Sunwoo, & Spector, 2009). The catalog and functions of lncRNAs in the ripening of tomato species ( Solanum lycopersicum ) are largely unknown. Similarly, the mechanisms of cis-natural antisense transcripts (cisNATs) of proximal complementary RNA strings, which function to inhibit transcription, are also poorly understood (Wang, Gaasterland, & Chua, 2005). Global issues in food production and malnutrition exacerbate the relevance of understanding these biological mechanisms central to the development of fruit. We identified certain functions of lncRNAs and cisNATs in the tomato ripening process using an RNA-Seq pipeline (Wang, Gerstein, & Snyder, 2005). Raw reads from two different stages in the tomato ripening cycle were aligned to a reference genome to test the hypothesis that there would be different expression levels for certain lncRNAs and cis-NATs between the two stages. The two stages were Mature Green, the stage in which the tomato is completely green, and Breaker, the stage in which the tomato shows initial colors of red. Then, the reads were de novo assembled, assessed for coding potential, and annotated by transcript and function. Finally, the results were filtered for lncRNAs (length > 200 bp, ORF 0) and cis-NATs (sense-antisense pairs, overlap length > 50 bp, differential splice patterns, expression value = 0). Differentially-expressed lncRNAs and cis-NATs between the two stages of development were identified, and their functions were analyzed. However, experimental evidence is necessary to confirm our findings and hypothesize models of cis-NAT mechanisms for further classification and identification.
Determination of trace elements in petroleum by neutron activation analysis

Using thermal neutron activation and a large-volume high-resolution Ge(Li) γ-ray spectrometer, the feasibility of the determination of the concentrations of Na, S, Cl, K, Ca, V, Mn, Cu, Ga, and Br in crude oils has been demonstrated. This instrumental method, which requires neither a chemical separation technique nor pre-concentration or post-concentration of trace elements by ashing, eliminates many inherent errors associated with chemical determination. The method is sensitive, precise and suitable for routine analysis. Fast neutron (n, p) and (n, α) reactions do not appreciably interfere and where necessary corrections may be applied. Loss of volatile elements, e.g. chlorine and bromine, due to recoil during irradiation is negligible.
Solution of EMC problems via analysis methods: a review

A comprehensive review is conducted of the most common and presently used analytical tools in the analysis and prediction of EMI. The study outlines the early fundamentals behind the theory of LRC network representation in the coupling mechanisms between noise-source and susceptible circuit elements. The work is extended to include the latest in computational electromagnetic techniques for the analysis of complex topological EMC problems. >
Does neoadjuvant chemotherapy reveal disease precluding surgical treatment of initially resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases

Background The objective of this study is to determine whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy reveals occult disease precluding surgical extirpation of initially resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM). Methods Demographics, clinicopathologic tumor characteristics, treatments, and post-operative outcomes of patients aged 18–80 years, with one to four initially resectable CRCLM, and without concurrent extra-hepatic (EHMD) or previous metastatic disease were reviewed. Results Two hundred and two patients evaluated from 2000 to 2010 met study criteria; 88 (43.6%) were given neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were younger (median 58 years vs. 65 years, P = 0.0096), had shorter disease free interval from resection of primary tumor to CRCLM diagnosis (median 0 months vs. 12 months, P < 0.0001), and had more CRCLM (median 1 [1–3] vs. 1 [1–2], P = 0.0096) compared to untreated counterparts. There were no differences in rates of concurrent EHMD noted intra-operatively and not on pre-operative imaging (4.5% vs. 3.5%, P = 0.7290), greater intra-operatively observed CRCLM compared to pre-operative imaging (25.3% vs. 17.5%, P = 0.2449), hepatic resection and/or ablation (97.7% vs. 100.0%, P = 0.9853), or 6-month disease recurrence after surgical treatment (25.6% vs. 14.9%, P = 0.0882). Only two (2.3%) patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy had disease progression precluding surgical extirpation. Conclusions Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for initially resectable CRCLM does not reveal occult disease precluding surgical treatment. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 105:55–59. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.