cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ubiquitous expression of the calcitonin-i gene in multiple tissues in response to sepsis.

Calcitonin precursors (CTpr), including procalcitonin, are important markers and also potentially harmful mediators in response to microbial infections. The source and function of CTpr production in sepsis, however, remains an enigma. In the classical view, the transcription of the CT-I gene is restricted to neuroendocrine cells, in particular the C cells of the thyroid. To better understand the pathophysiology of CTpr induction in sepsis, we used an animal model analog to human sepsis, in which bacterial infection is induced in hamsters by implanting Escherichia coli pellets ip. Compared with control hamsters, levels of CTpr were elevated several fold in septic plasma and in nearly all septic hamster tissues analyzed. Unexpectedly, CT-messenger RNA was ubiquitously and uniformly expressed in multiple tissues throughout the body in response to sepsis. Notably, the transcriptional expression of CT-messenger RNA seemed more widely up-regulated in sepsis than were classical cytokines (e.g. tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6). Our findings, which describe a potentially new mechanism of host response to a microbial infection mediated by CTpr, introduce a new pathophysiological role for the CT-I gene.
Puerto Rican Populism Revisited: the PPD during the 1940s

Puerto Rican scholars have recently undertaken the task of re-interpreting the populist political project of the Partido Popular Democritico (PPD) during the decade of the I940S. The new studies on this subject have focused on the class basis of the PPD's leadership, the class interests articulated in the policies adopted by the PPD government, and the structural context within which this party came to power and implemented its programme. The most important works in this respect are those of Angel G. Quintero Rivera and Emilio Gonzalez.1 Following the lead of earlier studies on Latin American populism, such as those of Ianni and Weffort,2 these authors interpret the PPD and its political project as the expression of a populist alliance between the middle sectors and the working classes with a nationalistic slant. According to them, the middle sectors that led the PPD were the 'heirs' of the ideological and political tradition of the Puerto Rican hacendados, who had been displaced from their position of social hegemony by the North American imperialist bourgeoisie following the American invasion in 898. Hence, as heirs to the politico-ideological tradition of the hacendados, these middle sectors aimed to seize the
SDS, Brij58 and CTAB at the dodecane-water interface

Abstract The dynamics of interfacial tension of the n-dodecane-water interface in the presence of three different types of surfactants viz. SDS, Brij58, and CTAB, was investigated using the classical dynamic version of the drop-volume method for drop times ranging from a few seconds to several hundred seconds. Experiments were conducted with aqueous sub-micellar solutions of each surfactant at three concentrations. The effects of addition of 0.1 M KCl into each of these systems was also studied. The results are presented as “long time approximation (LTA)” plots of interfacial tension versus 1 √t , where t is the adsorption time. In every LTA plot, two distinct regions are seen: region I, early time; and region II, long time. In most cases, there was a steep fall in the interfacial tensions in region II. For each region, the variation of interfacial tension with 1 √t follows a straight line relationship indicating a diffusion-controlled adsorption process. Using the appropriate surface equation of state for each surfactant system, adsorption in both regions were estimated and diffusion coefficients were calculated from the slopes in the LTA plot. Diffusion coefficients in region I correlate remarkably well with published literature values. The behavior of the two ionic surfactants (SDS and CTAB) was similar. For both, in the absence of KCl, the diffusivities in region II was at least an order of magnitude lower than in region I, suggesting that diffusional transport is “slowed down” in this region. This situation was reversed upon the addition of KCl whereby the diffusivities in region II become higher than in region I. As expected, for Brij58, although a small increase was seen in the effective diffusivities in the presence of KCl, the presence or absence of the neutral salt did not have any major effect on the interfacial tension dynamics. Results are rationalized based on previous interpretations of tension relaxation at interfaces that deal with effects due to electrical retardation or intermolecular cohesion.
Hierarchical multi-formalism proofs of cyber-physical systems

To manage design complexity and provide verification tractability, models of complex cyber-physical systems are typically hierarchically organized into multiple abstraction layers. High-level analysis explores interactions of the system with its physical environment, while embedded software is developed separately based on derived requirements. This separation of low-level and high-level analysis also gives hope to scalability, because we are able to use tools that are appropriate for each level. When attempting to perform compositional reasoning in such an environment, care must be taken to ensure that results from one tool can be used in another to avoid errors due to “mismatches” in the semantics of the underlying formalisms. This paper proposes a formal approach for linking high-level continuous time models and lower-level discrete time models.
Commentary on Pedophilia Diagnostic Criteria in DSM-5

Human beings differ in sexual makeup. Most adults are not sexually attracted to prepubescent children, but some are. Societal values can be of relevance in determining whether such a difference is considered to be a psychiatric condition. Were a society to believe that adult-child sexual interactions should not be prohibited, such a difference might not be viewed as a disorder. According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), a difference in sexual makeup can be considered a disorder when it causes interpersonal difficulty or marked distress. In contemporary society, pedophilia can do both. According to DSM-IV-TR, for a diagnosis of pedophilia, there must be both a qualitative difference in sexual makeup (i.e., sexualized urges directed toward children) and a quantitative difference (i.e., the sexualized urges must be intense). However, just as a heterosexual man with low (i.e., nonintense) sexual urges is still heterosexual, DSM-5 should similarly allow that individuals with low sexual urges in response to children qualify for a diagnosis of pedophilia.
Congress and the Stock Market

We find a strong link between Congressional activity and stock market returns that persists even after controlling for known daily return anomalies. Stock returns are lower and volatility is higher when Congress is in session. This "Congressional Effect" can be quite large - more than 90% of the capital gains over the life of the DJIA have come on days when Congress is out of session. The Effect varies systematically with the public's opinion of Congress: returns are lower and volatility higher when a relatively unpopular Congress is active. Public opinion appears to play a fundamental role in market prices. This is consistent with a mood-based explanation that sees Congress as 'depressing' the average investor. Alternatively, our results can also be reconciled with rational explanations that view Congressional activity as a proxy for regulatory uncertainty or rent-seeking behavior.
A Genealogy of the Confession of Faith in Mennonite Perspective

This essay offers a genealogy, in the Foucauldian sense, of the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective. Thus, it provides an account of the origins of the document and its uses over time with attention given to the politics of both. The essay argues that the Confession was critical for the merger of the General Conference Mennonite Church and the Mennonite Church especially as it took on the function of the "teaching position" of the church. By way of a case study, the essay explores recent uses to which the Confession has been put. The essay concludes by discussing an inherent tension in Anabaptist confessions between the desire to fix a set of common beliefs and convictions, on the one hand, and the necessity for a discursive shift both in meaning and use amid a changing context, on the other.
Pain Management in Patients with Renal Impairment

Patients with chronic kidney disease must be given extra consideration when prescribing medications for symptom control as many medications are excreted through the renal system. Renal function, or glomerular filtration rate, should be estimated by calculating creatinine clearance using the Cockcroft–Gault equation. Patients with CKD are often excluded from trials, and for many medications specific studies regarding dosing and metabolism in this population are lacking. Therefore, it is important to note recommendations, use caution when starting medications, and follow patients closely.
Health-Stimulating Compounds and Effects

In addition to medicinal mushroom species, which are not the topic of this book, culinary mushrooms have gained interest because of their possible health-stimulating constituents. A group of so-called culinary–medicinal mushrooms has originated. The antioxidant activity of many mushroom species is comparable with other vegetables and fruits, with phenolics being the main vehicles. Some species are sources of polysaccharide beta-glucans with antitumor, immunostimulating, and prebiotic properties. Various curative powers have been demonstrated for mushroom lectins, hemolysins, lovastatin, eritadenine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and ergothioneine.
Economic burden of disease studies in patients with epilepsy

Objective To analyze the various factors affecting the economic burden of disease in patients with epilepsy.Methods This research used a multi-stage random sampling method,comprehensive intervention and without intervention of the epilepsy project group conducted a field survey of health examination among patients with epilepsy of 874(422 cases in intervention group and 452 cases in control group) in Mengzhou,Xiuwu,Yancheng,Yuanhui,Wuyang,Linying,Shaoling,Xinye and Fangcheng.DALY indicators combined with human capital approach was used to measure the economic burden of disease in patients from two aspects of the direct economic burden and indirect economic burden.Results The age of comprehensive intervention group was (43.7 ± 8.5)years old,and it was (44.4 ± 7.2)years old in no intervention control group.The age difference was not statistically significant (P =0.365).The direct economic burden per capita of the survey was 1019.6 yuan per year,while epilepsy drugs 434.2 yuan per year,485.2 and 66.4 yuan per year in the intervention group,while 1518.5 and 777.5 yuan per year in the control group.Each object in this study lost (16.67 ± 10.01) DALY,with 8.58 DALY in intervention group and 24.23 DALY in no intervention control group.The per capita indirect economic burden of the intervention and control groups were 68 115.2,401 036.5 yuan,the per capita total economic burden of disease were 68 600.5,408 755.0 yuan.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that disease duration year of ≥37,30-36,20-29,10-19,OR(95％ CI) were 4.44(2.37-8.33),3.32 (1.85-5.94),3.25 (1.90-5.56),2.53 (1.46-4.41).If patients with longer duration,the more serious the patient's disease burden.Medication compliance (in order to comply with a good group control) OR(95％CI) was 3.37 (2.34-4.83),medication in the single form (serving multi-drug groups for control) OR (95％ CI) 0.41 (0.29-0.59).Serving a single agent and good compliance of economic burden of disease were lighter.Conclusion Epilepsy caused serious economic damage.Longer duration,medication adherence poor and serving more than medicine by heavier economic burden of disease; comprehensive intervention could reduce the economic burden of disease of patients with epilepsy. Key words: Epilepsy; Quality-adjusted life years; Economic burden of disease
Beginnings and Endings in Hardy’s Major Fiction

Because of the length of a novel, our memory of it is disproportionately related to its opening and ending. In the opening chapters, the narrator creates for his readers the physical world in which the novel takes place and the first episodes of the story which begin to reveal the personalities of the characters. But more significantly, beginnings introduce the novel’s cosmology and the standards and values by which actions will be judged. (Of course, since the reading of a novel is an ongoing process, as the reader experiences subsequent episodes, the moral terms on which the reader makes his or her judgement will be modified.) Each novel has its own Genesis and Apocalypse; when we open a novel, our world is closed off and the genesis of a new ontology begins. The opening chapters of the novel, that form which more than any other seeks to have the inclusiveness and specificity of the real world, mimes the process of Creation as the author’s language imposes shape and form upon silence and emptiness. Imperceptibly, as we read the first sentences, our sense of time gives way to the internal imagined time of the novel. The ending is an apocalypse which reorders the significance of all that precedes; it is the moment when the imagined world is abruptly sealed off from us and we return to our diurnal activities.1
Sacred Rice: An Ethnography of Identity, Environment, and Development in Rural West Africa

Davidson's captivating ethnography explores the centrality of rice to Jola livelihood and identity in an era of rapid social, economic, and environmental change. Jola are a minority ethnic group in...
Editorial Comment on: Prevalence of Protective Shielding Utilization for Radiation Dose Reduction in Adult Patients Undergoing Body Scanning Using Computed Tomography by Safiullah et al.

In the preceding article by Safiullah and colleagues, the authors highlight an important oversight in many radiology departments, a lack of shielding during CT imaging.
Toroidal coil counter-current chromatography. Achievement of high resolution by optimizing flow-rate, rotation speed, sample volume and tube length.

Abstract This paper deals with optimization of a new seal-free compact toroidal coil centrifuge to achieve high resolution in analytical counter-current chromatography (CCC). Toroidal coil CCC (hydrostatic motion) has advantages compared with high-speed CCC (efficiently mixing solution with planetary motion) in the separation of protein or easily emulsified samples. A toroidal coil separation column of 0.4 mm I.D. PTFE tubing was accommodated around the periphery of the cylindrical centrifuge bowl. Using a two-phase solvent system composed of chloroform–acetic acid–0.1 M hydrochloric acid (2:2:1, v/v/v) and a set of dinitrophenyl-amino acids as test samples, a series of experiments was performed with parameters such as the column length, sample volume, flow-rate, elution mode of the mobile phase and rotation speed. The highest efficiency, over 10 000 theoretical plates, was achieved with a 100 m long coiled tube and an 11 ml total capacity at a flow-rate of 0.01 ml/min at 800 rpm.
Resistance Exercise Training on Disease Impact, Pain Catastrophizing and Autonomic Modulation in Women with Fibromyalgia

Women with fibromyalgia (FM) often complain of whole-body pain, and muscle fatigue, which may be related to autonomic dysfunction. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of resistance exercise training (RET) on disease impact, pain catastrophizing, and autonomic modulation in women with FM. Women with FM (n=26) and healthy control women (HC: n=9), aged 19-65 yrs, were compared at rest. Women with FM were randomly assigned to a resistance-training group (FM-RT: n=14) or a non-exercising control group (FM-CON: n=12). Women in the FM-RT group underwent 8-weeks of RET on 4 different exercises, 2 times per week, 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions at 50%-60% of the pre-determined 1-repetition max (1RM). Autonomic modulation was assessed using heart rate variability and heart rate complexity. Healthy control women had a lower resting heart rate, decreased normalized low-frequency power, and increased normalized high-frequency power compared to the FM groups at rest. After the 8-week intervention, significant increases (p ≤ 0.05) in 1RM were observed for both chest press and leg extension for women in the RT group. Disease impact was significantly reduced (p ≤ 0.05) for participants in the FM-RT group (FM-RT: 59±12 to 41±24 units; FM-CON: 72±7 to71±8 units), but pain catastrophizing was unaltered. There were no significant changes in autonomic modulation after the RET intervention. These data demonstrate that while women with FM may still have autonomic dysfunction after undergoing a RET program, disease impact was significantly reduced.
A Possible Role for Kinetic Reaction Mechanism Dependent Substrate and Product Effects in Enzyme Regulation

Publisher Summary That two different enzymes, catalyzing apparently concerted reactions, should exhibit different kinetic mechanisms of action is a thought-provoking problem for the practicing kineticist. For example, muscle lactate dehydrogenase exhibits an ordered sequential mechanism, while in the case of yeast hexokinase the pathway of enzyme and substrate interaction is thought to be random. For both these enzymes, the transition state is similar in the sense that it lies somewhere between enzyme-substratoi-substrate and enzyme-product-product. From the view of catalysis exclusively, however, there is no clear advantage for lactate dehydrogenase to bind its substrates in an ordered rather than a random fashion. The data for approximately 60 different enzyme systems have been summarized in which there is strong evidence for the participation of covalent enzyme substrate intermediates in catalysis. A number of ways have been listed in which such intermediates can be catalytically important, but the list also states that, considering the catalytic potential of enzymes, such intermediates are not essential for enzyme action.
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Among Youths Living in Group Care Homes: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives. To determine if the Power Through Choices (PTC) intervention can increase the use of birth control and reduce pregnancy among system-involved youths living in group care homes.Methods. We performed a 2-arm cluster randomized controlled trial involving group care homes operated by child welfare or juvenile justice systems in California, Maryland, and Oklahoma with assessments immediately before and after the intervention, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up. We collected data from 2012 to 2014 via self-administered questionnaires. Participants (n = 1036) were young (mean age = 16.1 years), predominantly male (79%), racially/ethnically diverse (37% Hispanic, 20% Black, 21% White, 17% multiracial), and sexually experienced (88%).Results. At 6-month follow-up, participants in the intervention group had significantly lower odds of having recent sexual intercourse without using birth control (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.52, 0.98). At 12-month follow-up assessment,...
Inertial Sensor-Based Assessment of Central Sensory Integration for Balance after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Introduction Optimal balance control requires a complex integration of sensory information from the visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems. The goal of this study is to determine if the instrumented modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance (mCTSIB) was impaired acutely after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) when postural sway under varying sensory conditions was measured with a wearable inertial sensor. Materials and Methods Postural sway was assessed in athletes who had sustained a mTBI within the past 2-3 d (n = 38) and control athletes (n = 81). Postural sway was quantified with a wearable inertial sensor (Opal; APDM, Inc.) during four varying sensory conditions of quiet stance: (1) eyes open (EO) firm surface, (2) eyes closed (EC) firm surface, (3) eyes open (EO) foam surface, and (4) eyes closed (EC) foam surface. Sensory reweighting deficits were computed by comparing the postural sway area in eyes closed versus eyes open conditions for firm and foam condition. Results Postural sway was higher for mTBI compared with the control group during three of the four conditions of instrumented mCTSIB (EO firm, EC firm, and EC foam; p < 0.05). Sensory reweighting deficits were evident for mTBI individuals compared with control group on foam surface (EC firm vs EO firm; p < 0.05) and not on firm surface (EC firm vs EO firm; p = 0.63). Conclusions The results from this study highlight the importance of detecting postural sway deficits during sensorimotor integration in mild TBI individuals.
Social isolation and loneliness in later life: A parallel convergent mixed-methods case study of older adults and their residential contexts in the Minneapolis metropolitan area, USA

Abstract Social isolation and loneliness are increasingly prevalent among older adults in the United States, with implications for morbidity and mortality risk. Little research to date has examined the complex person-place transactions that contribute to social well-being in later life. This study aimed to characterize personal and neighborhood contextual influences on social isolation and loneliness among older adults. Interviews were conducted with independent-dwelling men and women (n = 124; mean age 71 years) in the Minneapolis metropolitan area (USA) from June to October, 2015. A convergent mixed-methods design was applied, whereby quantitative and qualitative approaches were used in parallel to gain simultaneous insights into statistical associations and in-depth individual perspectives. Logistic regression models predicted self-reported social isolation and loneliness, adjusted for age, gender, past occupation, race/ethnicity, living alone, street type, residential location, and residential density. Qualitative thematic analyses of interview transcripts probed individual experiences with social isolation and loneliness. The quantitative results suggested that African American adults, those with a higher socioeconomic status, those who did not live alone, and those who lived closer to the city center were less likely to report feeling socially isolated or lonely. The qualitative results identified and explained variation in outcomes within each of these factors. They provided insight on those who lived alone but did not report feeling lonely, finding that solitude was sought after and enjoyed by a portion of participants. Poor physical and mental health often resulted in reporting social isolation, particularly when coupled with poor weather or low-density neighborhoods. At the same time, poor health sometimes provided opportunities for valued social engagement with caregivers, family, and friends. The combination of group-level risk factors and in-depth personal insights provided by this mixed-methodology may be useful to develop strategies that address social isolation and loneliness in older communities.
Multi-criteria robust optimization framework for bridge adaptation under climate change

Abstract In order to adapt civil infrastructure to changing climate conditions, quantifiable and deep uncertainties must be integrated into the decision-making process. The quantifiable uncertainties, i.e. variability for which a likelihood can be defined, are typically integrated into the management process by considering the reliability or risk level of a structure. The deep uncertainties, i.e. the variability for which a likelihood cannot be defined, are beginning to be integrated in the decision making process as a few robust decision making procedures have been proposed. However, the deep uncertainty associated with the multiple feasible future climate scenarios also provokes a “wait and see” mentality for some decision makers, causing the flexibility of a strategy to be valued. This paper introduces the Gain-Loss Ratio (GLR) as a metric that systematically quantifies what may be gained by postponing adaptation while also considering what is lost with the delay. Additionally, bi-objective optimization models for optimizing bridge adaptation strategies under deep uncertainties are proposed; the advantages and disadvantages of each are highlighted as they pertain to the management of a typical riverine bridge. Two rivers are considered that have comparable climate change trends as those predicted for the Columbia and Mississippi Rivers. It is demonstrated that the desire for flexibility may be justified for certain locations, but may be detrimental in others.
Expressive Writing in the Clinical Context

The use of writing in a therapeutic manner can be traced back to psychotherapeutic traditions that encourage the expression of emotions (see Smyth & Helm, 2003). The majority of psychotherapeutic paradigms, regardless of theoretical orientation, consist of some form of interpersonal disclosure that includes identifying, labeling, and disclosing emotional experiences (Smyth & Helm, 2003). Although individuals may have a desire to disclose their thoughts and emotions about a distressing experience, social constraints may limit such interpersonal disclosure (Lepore, Silver, Wortman, & Wayment, 1996). Some individuals may refrain from discussing negative events due to the social stigma thought to be associated with the experience. Other people may lack a social support system and/or receive insensitive or inappropriate support (Wortman & Silver, 1989). In contrast, written emotional expression offers the opportunity to express one’s thoughts and feelings without regard to social constraints or barriers that might accompany interpersonal disclosure and reduces the likelihood of negative interpersonal responses. Writing has long been a common strategy for expressing strong emotion and has informally been used both personally and in therapeutic settings for a variety of purposes and goals (e.g., Progoff’s intensive journaling; see Smyth & Greenberg, 2000). Despite widespread use, such methods have not been extensively studied within the context of therapy. It is only recently that investigators have begun to systemically examine the effects of structured expressive writing on psychological and physical health. Expressive writing has increasingly been applied as a psychosocial intervention across settings and samples and represents an effective supplemental intervention that clinicians can add to their array of therapeutic tools for clients—both within and outside of the therapy session. The goals of this chapter are to provide an overview of the expressive writing literature as it relates to its use in various health care settings, including its effects among medically ill populations as well as purported mechanisms responsible for these effects. This background information will hopefully serve as the foundation for recommendations on how expressive writing may be used by clinicians and health professionals as a supplement or alternative to traditional forms of care.
Introduction to Essays in the Economics of Invasive Species Management

We begin by outlining some of the more salient issues in contemporary research on the management of invasive species. Next, we note that even though there is a sizeable literature in both biology and economics on invasive species management, until very recently, there has been a significant dearth of theoretical research in this subject. Given this state of affairs, a key objective of this book is to show how dynamic and stochastic approaches from economics and operations research can be fruitfully used to first model and then analyze a whole host of invasive species related problems that also have noteworthy public policy ramifications. This book is concerned with the economics of invasive species management. To this end, we focus attention on the three topics of international trade, inspections, and agriculture. Following this introductory chapter, the next four chapters study the many and varied nexuses between international trade and invasive species related problems. The next eight chapters focus on inspections, an important but nonetheless insufficiently studied topic in invasive species management. Finally, the last two chapters dwell on invasive species related problems in the context of agriculture.
The Central Code of Sight

From bipolar cells of the retina, through the ganglion cells, the neurons of the lateral geniculate nucleus, and the simple-field cortical cells, the neurons of the visual pathway have receptive fields organized into excitatory and inhibitory zones. Between lateral geniculates and the cortex two changes take place: one is the predominance of binocular convergence in the cortex, and the other is the change of the shape of the optimal stimulus from round to elongated (or rectangular). In species which are able to distinguish colors, many of the ganglion cells and of the neurons of the lateral geniculate respond in reciprocal manner to the opponent pairs of wavelengths, red and green, or yellow and blue, respectively. In some rodents (but not carnivores or primates) some retinal ganglion cells respond specifically to stimuli moving in a definite direction. Direction-specific cells were found in the visual cortex of all mammals where they have been sought, and in greater abundance in the superior colliculi of the midbrain. In the primary visual cortex there are, beside the simple-field cells the so-called ‘complex cells’ or ‘tilt-detectors.’ In the peristriate area no simple cells are found any more, only those with complex and hypercomplex receptive fields.
In-vivo Fluorescence Imaging: Applications, Future Trends & Approaches to Standardization

Standards are important for calibration procedures in fluorescence imaging and overall for enabling accurate quantification. However, due to the strong nonlinear dependence of the fluorescence signal on tissue scattering, tissue absorption and activity depth, the construction of standards becomes challenging. So far, most fluorescent standards for diffusive imaging have been based on laboratory solutions that mix scattering, absorbing and fluorescence materials to construct substances of known and stable optical properties. Herein we review the most common characteristics of diffusive imaging and outline strategies to produce materials that can serve as standards in whole body imaging applications.
Planning considerations for persons with access and functional needs in a disaster—Part 2: Evacuation and sheltering

Although disasters can affect anyone in a given community or region, those with access and functional needs have the highest rates of morbidity and mortality during an emergency or disaster. There are many unique and complex issues that should be considered when dealing with these individuals in a disaster situation. Who are these individuals, what specific issues should be addressed, and what recommendations can be made in order to address their unique needs? How can we include them as part of the all-hazard, comprehensive approach to disaster management? The first part of this three-part series identifies who is included in this population and what are the legal considerations that arise in caring for not only this unique group but also all of the members of the community in a disaster. The second part considers evacuation, sheltering, sheltering in place, communication, medical needs, independence, supervision, and transportation (CMIST) with a focus on mental health. The third part deals with the medical aspect of CMIST and with recommendations that may aid disaster responders and planners in caring for these high-risk individuals in a disaster.
DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF A RIGHT ATRIAL MASS WITH MULTIMODALITY IMAGING AND ENDOMYOCARDIAL BIOPSY: A CLINICAL CONUNDRUM

Benign and malignant cardiac masses often have overlapping features on multimodality imaging. Histopathology is critical to guide subsequent treatment. A 78-year-old male presented with dyspnea and cardiac tamponade. He underwent pericardiocentesis with removal of 2L of hemorrhagic fluid (cytology
Spinning Muons and a Path to Discovery.

All physics is fascinating, but some stories are more exciting than others. A story that involves some of the most precise measurements ever made and a tantalizing discrepancy might be one of the most interesting. Throw in a 3200-mile journey, a heavily laden truck covered by a tarpaulin, closed-down highways with police escorts, and hushed whispers of a crashed UFO and a government cover-up, and you have the makings of a real page turner.
Maternal Parvovirus B19 Infection Causing First-Trimester Increased Nuchal Translucency and Fetal Hydrops

This is a case report of a 31-year-old primigravida who was diagnosed with an asymptomatic acute parvovirus B19 infection in the second trimester of pregnancy and its suspected association with an increased nuchal translucency (NT) measurement. Parvovirus B19 is a single-stranded DNA virus that is cytotoxic to erythroid progenitor cells, causing inhibition of erythropoiesis. While maternal disease is usually mild, fetal infection can result in spontaneous abortion, aplastic anemia, nonimmune fetal hydrops, and fetal demise. This fetus had an increased NT of 3.2 mm at 11 weeks' gestation with a normal male karyotype and microarray analysis on chorionic villi sampling, in addition to a normal fetal echocardiogram at 15 weeks' gestation. The anatomy scan at 20 weeks' and 1-day gestation revealed fetal ascites, pleural effusion, and increased middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity suspicious for fetal anemia. At this time, maternal serology for parvovirus was positive for IgM and IgG. Amniocentesis, cordocentesis, and intrauterine transfusion were performed. The amniocentesis revealed elevated parvovirus B19 DNA, quantitative PCR (2,589,801 copies/mL, reference range <100 copies/mL). The patient delivered a viable male fetus at 37 weeks' and 6-day gestation, without sequelae of the previously noted hydrops. Parvovirus B19 infection should be a consideration when evaluating increased NT and hydrops fetalis. It warrants close antepartum surveillance and possible intrauterine fetal transfusions. With prompt recognition, proper treatment, and surveillance, these patients can go on to achieve healthy term deliveries. Long-term outcomes of delivered infants require further study.
First Imaging Data with C-SPECT: A Dedicated Human Cardiac SPECT Imager

C-SPECT is a human cardiac SPECT system designed to acquire all necessary views for imaging simultaneously. The system uses slit-slat collimation focused on a cylindrical region with the capability of identifying the heart either through a scout or transmission image and then re-positioning the patient so the heart is in the common field of view (FOV) of all active slits. The system is adaptive in that the (i) slats used for axial collimation have two modes, high resolution (HR) and high sensitivity (HS), with actuators to control switching while imaging; and (ii) slits move on a track in front of a fixed detector system to exchange different combinations of resolution, sensitivity, and FOV. With the simultaneous acquisition of all needed views, the system is capable of dynamic cardiac imaging. The system has been under development for several years, first at Rush University and now at the University of Pennsylvania. We have recently reached several key milestones in the project: (i) completion of the detector system; (ii) design and fabrication of the conveyor that serves as the system gantry and exchanges slits; (iii) completion and installation of the adaptive slat stacks; and (iv) acquisition of the first sets of imaging data. The detector modules use 2.5 x 3.0 mm (transverse x axial) pixelated NaI(Tl) crystals (10 mm deep). Pixel ID for the 14 modules has been successfully implemented with typical energy resolution of about 11% at 140 keV. Initial sensitivity measurements are consistent with expectations, which vary from 5x10-4 to 20x10-4, depending on configuration. Similarly, resolution also depends on the configuration. We have measured FWHM axial resolution of 24 mm at the center, consistent with expectations of 28 mm in HS mode and supporting the predicted 14 mm resolution in HR mode. Transverse resolutions depend on the minification for slit-slat collimation. The complete initial imaging performance will be presented in comparison with design expectations.
Impulsivity and Sexual Assault

The processes that underlie sexual assault perpetration and victimization are varied and complex, but impulsivity is one factor related to both perpetrators and survivors. Impulsivity is a multidimensional construct generally marked by a diminished ability to delay gratification, acting with insufficient forethought of consequences, disinhibition or lack of self-discipline, poor self-regulation, and sensation seeking. These factors of impulsivity fall into three distinct facets: impulsive behavioral choice, impulsive action, and impulsive personality traits. Impulsive sexual decision-making refers to patterns of choices surrounding sexual behaviors with little regard for or forethought of the potential for negative consequences. Literature reviewed here indicates that impulsivity is associated with both sexual assault perpetration and victimization, although these relationships are complicated and understudied. In some cases, substance use or hostile masculinity better accounts for the association between impulsivity and sexual assault perpetration. However, perpetration of more deviant forms of sexual assault (e.g., pedophilia) is not related to impulsivity. Conversely, impulsive sexual decision-making appears to be a consequence of sexual assault for some survivors, as evidenced by greater likelihood of engaging in unprotected sex. Survivors of sexual assault have a greater likelihood of engaging in sexual risk behaviors, such as unprotected sexual intercourse and having a higher number of casual sexual partners. Avoidant coping and impulsive behavioral choice could possibly explain these survivors’ risky sexual behaviors. Taken together, much remains left for investigation to clarify the associations between impulsivity, sexual assault perpetration, and sexual victimization.
Can Concrete Language Help to Mitigate the Home Bias in Equity Investing? An Extension of Elliott, Rennekamp, and White (2015)

Research by Elliott, Rennekamp, and White (2015) (hereafter, "ERW") finds that investors are more willing to invest in a firm when concrete rather than abstract language is highlighted in a disclos...
A ‘Musical Pathway’ for Spacially Disoriented Blind Residents of a Skilled Nursing Facility

The Auditory Directional System provides a “musical pathway” for blind persons to follow to get to interior destinations in an institutional setting. The system's components are a compact disc play...
Isothiocyanates as Inhibitors of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer in humans occurs worldwide with a variable geographic distribution. A recent estimate has placed it seventh in order of cancer occurrence for both sexes combined1. There is a higher incidence in males, with a male to female ratio of 2: 1 or higher. The highest incidence rates are found in China, Iran, parts of central Asia, and in the Transkei region of South Africa.2–4 The disease occurs consistently among the poor in most areas of the world where the diet is often restricted and nutritional imbalance is common. Worldwide, more than 90% of esophageal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. The characteristics of this neoplasm include keratinization with occasional keratin “pearl” formation and intracellular bridges. About 5% of esophageal cancers are adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinomas usually arise in Barrett’s esophagus, a condition in which the normal squamous epithelium of the esophagus is replaced by glandular epithelium. The remaining 5% of esophageal neoplasms represent metastases from other organs.
Cleft Care Packages and the Impact on Postoperative Care Following a Primary Cleft Lip Repair.

OBJECTIVE To provide caregivers with all the resources needed to care for a surgical site following a primary cleft lip repair and evaluate its efficacy on postoperative care. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS Caregivers of infants ages 3 to 6 months with a cleft lip and/or palate undergoing a primary repair at the Texas Children's Hospital. METHODS Packages were given to caregivers at discharge following repair. Packages included instructions and supplies needed for surgical site care. At discharge an advanced practice provider obtained informed consent and a questionnaire that established baseline knowledge of surgical site care. Following the questionnaire, the advanced practice provider demonstrated how to care for the site using the package provided. Assessment of scar healing, nasal stent compliance, and ease of care was evaluated at postoperative follow up. RESULTS Thirty-two families were enrolled in this study. Our data supports that caregivers who are provided resources to care for the site had increased comfort level, preparedness, and compliance rates following a primary cleft lip repair. Eighty-four percent of respondents strongly agreed that the package provided aided in preparedness for site care with 100% of respondents recommending the resources to future families undergoing a cleft lip repair. CONCLUSIONS Caregivers feel comfortable and equipped with their ability to care for their child's repaired cleft lip when given the appropriate instructions and supplies. In addition, they would recommend the packages to future families following a repair. Empowering families to be proactive in postoperative care will potentially lead to better outcomes in cleft care.
On the existence of birational maximal Cohen-Macaulay modules over biradical extensions in mixed characteristic

Abstract Let S be an unramified regular local ring of mixed characteristic p ≥ 3 and S p the subring of S obtained by lifting to S the image of the Frobenius map on S / p S . Let R be the integral closure of S in a biradical extension of degree p 2 of its quotient field obtained by adjoining p-th roots of sufficiently general square free elements f , g ∈ S p . We show that R admits a birational maximal Cohen-Macaulay module. It is noted that R is not automatically Cohen-Macaulay.
Reinvestigation of crystal symmetry and fluctuations in La 2 CuO 4

New surprises continue to be revealed about ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}{\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$, the parent compound of the original cuprate superconductor. Here we present neutron scattering evidence that the structural symmetry is lower than commonly assumed. The static distortion results in anisotropic Cu-O bonds within the ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$ planes; such anisotropy is relevant to pinning charge stripes in hole-doped samples. Associated with the extra structural modulation is a soft phonon mode. If this phonon were to soften completely, the resulting change in ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{6}$ octahedral tilts would lead to weak ferromagnetism. Hence, we suggest that this mode may be the ``chiral'' phonon inferred from recent studies of the thermal Hall effect. We also note the absence of interaction between the antiferromagnetic spin waves and low-energy optical phonons, in contrast to what is observed in hole-doped samples.
Promise and pitfalls of allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor therapy in plasma cell and lymphoid malignancies.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a promising immunotherapy in haematological malignancies. However, the currently approved products are generated from autologous T cells that require orchestration of several logistically complex steps, which include patient eligibility, apheresis capability, complex manufacturing processes and shipping logistics. Use of third-party donor-derived (allogeneic) effector cells that allows the generation of 'off-the-shelf" CAR T cells (allo-CAR) could circumvent many of the problems associated with autologous CAR T-cell therapy. Several allogeneic products are entering clinical trials, and though early, the results look promising. The recognised potential benefits of allo-CAR do not come without significant challenges, that must be overcome for their widespread use. Alloreactivity, i.e. graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and rejection of donor T cells is one of the major barriers, while other potential barriers include immunogenicity, unknown in vivo persistence, and CAR T-cell yield. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive review of the challenges associated with autologous CAR, the benefits and potential challenges associated with allo-CAR. Finally, we review the available platforms for allo-CAR for B-cell and plasma cell malignancies.
Adaptive-on-time control technique for output ripple reduction and light-load efficiency enhancement in low-power switched-capacitor DC-DC regulators

This paper presents an adaptive-on-time control (AOTC) technique for low-power switched-capacitor (SC) DC-DC regulators in energy-harvesting applications. When the input voltage varies, the proposed AOTC scheme can automatically adjust the duration of charge transfer between input and output of the converter to control the output ripple voltage. The switching frequency can also be decreased with the load current for reducing the converter switching power loss. An AOTC-based dual-output SC DC-DC regulator was implemented in a standard 0.35-µm CMOS process. Experimental results show that the converter can provide two regulated outputs of 2V and 3V, deliver up to 12mA at each output, and achieve a maximum power efficiency of 89.5%. With the AOTC, the converter output ripple is reduced by as much as 3.8 times over a wide input range from 1.1V to 1.6V.
Developing jellyfish strategy hypotheses using circulation models

Little information exists relating life histories of jellyfish species to ocean currents. Successful cycling from sessile polyp to mature jellyfish and back must doubtlessly rely on circulation patterns that serve to retain the species in an optimum environment or disperse the species for other adaptive advantages. In this study, current vectors from a high resolution numerical model of the Gulf of Mexico are applied to a simple advection scheme to develop estimates of time and distance scales from probable polyp habitats to areas in which mature scyphomedusae are observed in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Although seasonal patterns of wind stress form the basis for circulation processes that favour shoreward distribution of medusae of oceanic origin, this dynamic may be altered by deep basin events that occur during critical life history stages. Inter-annual differences in distributional patterns of the sea nettle, Chrysaora quinquecirrha (Desor 1848), in Mississippi coastal waters could be explained by Loop Current processes that alter shelf circulation in the Mississippi Bight.
MDP design tools and methods

A conservative and pragmatic design strategy adopted for logic and layout design of the Message Driven Processor (MDP) to minimize effort and reduce risk, is described. The MDP was produced by an academic-industry research collaboration. The effort demonstrated that a complex VLSI computer can be built successfully in an academic context. >
Delivering interactive services to home using digital video broadcast infrastructure

Commercial deployments of digital TV provide a digital video broadcast (DVB) infrastructure. DVB is a large digital broadband network with data delivery capability and with digital terminals (set-top boxes) at the user premises. As such, it provides a powerful platform for delivery of additional information and data services that can not only enrich but fundamentally transform the television viewing experience. This paper provides an overview of an architecture for interactive service delivery to home via the DVB infrastructure in systems with and without the return channel. The presented approach relies on a novel broadcast model of computing which is ideally suited to the DVB infrastructure. This model works even with low-cost user terminals, such as the basic digital TV set-top boxes with limited computational and graphics capability and no local disk storage.