cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prolonged Coagulopathy Secondary to Superwarfarin Brodifacoum Rodenticide Ingestion

Abstract 4425 Case description– A 47 year old man presented to emergency room due to back pain, hematuria and persistent gum bleed for more than one week after dental procedure. He had also noted easy bruisability for the last two months. He was found to have elevated PT and PTT. On admission, his PT was >120 sec with INR > 9.9 and his PTT > 100 sec. The abnormal PT and PTT were completed corrected by the addition of normal plasma on mixing study. Factor assay showed factor II level 19%, factor VII 1.5%, factor IX 7.4%, factor × 15%, factor V 87%, factor VIII 140%, factor XI 96%, and factor XII 49%. Since he had no other medical conditions and no history of hepatic dysfunction that would cause his coagulopathy, superwarfarin toxicity was suspected. Blood toxicology screen was positive for superwarfarin compound brodifacoum. He received few units of FFP and was given a loading dose of 50 mg phytonadione (vitamin K) followed by 20 mg three times daily. His PT and INR normalized and gum bleeding and hematuria resolved. The patient was discharged from hospital. Patient denied any intentional ingestion of rat poison, any suicidal ideation or any conflicts within family. He was exposed to rodenticide at his workplace. During outpatient follow up, patient was again found to have elevated PT/INR and on questioning informed that he was taking Chinese herbal medications provided by his friends to facilitate excretion of the rat poison. Patient was advised to stop taking any alternative therapies. His phytonadione was increased to 240 mg/day for more than two months which have normalized his coagulopathy. Discussion– Human toxicity from ingestion of older rodenticides that contain warfarin is uncommon because these products contain less warfarin and the drug is rapidly metabolized. Newer derivates of warfarin (superwarfarins) brodifacoum, difethialone and difenicoum have been developed to overcome warfarin resistance. These compounds are more toxic to humans than warfarin because of their more avid binding to hepatic microsomes and longer duration of action. Brodifacoum and difenicoum are far more potent and have a much longer half-life than warfarin. The half-life of brodifacoum has been described as long as 30 days. Superwarfarins produce their anticoagulation effect by inhibiting the conversion of vitamin K1 2,3 epoxide to vitamin K1. This reaction is coupled to the carboxylation reaction required to produce the active form of prothrombin and the other vitamin K dependent clotting factors. There is increase in the vitamin K epoxide to vitamin K ratio and severely decreased activity of vitamin K dependent clotting factors. The duration of coagulation disturbance can be from few weeks to as long as few months. As illustrated by our patient, the treatment of superwarfarin posioning requires large doses of phytonadione, ranging from 50 – 800 mg/day administered for several months. Our patient has required daily 240 mg of phytonadione over two months to normalize his coagulopathy. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Bridging Theory and Practice in the Urban Science Classroom: A Framework for Hip-Hop Pedagogy in STEM

This paper explores the state of urban science education as it relates to achievement and engagement of urban youth in STEM and provides insight on improving the experiences of urban youth in the science classroom through the lens of an urban science educator. It provides a framework for Hip-Hop Pedagogy in STEM as an innovative approach to teaching and learning, which anchors the culture, realities and lived experiences of urban youth in pedagogy. Finally, this paper provides educators with practical tools and approaches, which were formed from theory and research that transcend the traditional monolithic approach to teaching science and allows educators to learn and incorporate the culture of urban youth within their pedagogy.
Travels in North America, 1832–1834: A Concise Edition of the Journals of Prince Maximilian of Wied

Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied (1782–1867) is best known as the man who hired the painter Karl Bodmer to create a visual record of his scientific expedition to the United States during 1832–1834...
Risk-to-Benefit Ratio of Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis for Neurosurgical Procedures at a Quaternary Referral Center.

Background Pharmacological prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the neurosurgical population is still a matter of debate, as the risk-to-benefit ratio is not well defined. Objective To further evaluate the risk-to-benefit ratio of VTE prophylaxis (VTEP) for all neurosurgical procedures. Methods A prospective evaluation was performed after the initiation of a VTEP protocol for 11 436 patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures over 24 mo. Unless a bleeding complication was present, 5000 international units of subcutaneous heparin every 8 h was ordered on postoperative day (POD) 1 for spine, POD2 for cranial, and by POD4 for subdural, intracerebral, and epidural hematoma cases. Incidence of VTE and any subsequent bleeding complications were noted. Results A total of 70 VTEs (0.6% overall) were documented (28 deep vein thrombosis, 42 pulmonary embnolism). The highest rates of VTE were associated with deformity (6.7%); open cerebrovascular (6.5%); subdural, intracerebral, and epidural hematoma (3.2%); spinal trauma (2.4%); and craniotomy for tumor (1.6%) cases. Seven cases of deep vein thrombosis progressed to pulmonary embolisms, and 66 of 70 VTEs occurred while on pharmacological VTEP. Fifty-four bleeding complications occurred on or after POD2 following initiation of VTEP. These bleeding complications consisted of any new clinically or radiographically observed hemorrhages. Twenty-eight of the 54 delayed bleeding complications required operative intervention with 1 mortality. Forty-five patients were on anticoagulation when the initial bleeding event occurred. Overall, an estimated 0.5% incidence of delayed bleeding complications was noted with 99.4% of patients within the study cohort remaining VTE free. Conclusion This VTEP protocol was determined to afford a good risk-to-benefit ratio for a wide variety of neurosurgical procedures.
Cellular therapies and stem cell applications in trauma.

Abstract Background As the leading cause of mortality in the United States, trauma management have improved drastically over the past few decades with improved resuscitation and hemorrhage control. Stem cells are being used in an attempt to augment healing from trauma. Data sources PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for published and registered pre-clinical and clinical trials for the application of stem cells to AKI, ARDS, shock, infection, TBI, wound healing, and bone healing. Conclusions Stem cell therapy for augmentation of healing traumatic injuries appears safe, as demonstrated by completed phase I/II trials. Further large scale studies are needed to assess the clinical efficacy.
voiceTEXT: a safer alternative to texting while driving: keynote address

Cellular telephones have become an integral part of the modern world in much the same way as the Internet has, providing human connectivity in a way never before possible. While most cell phones are used for their original intent, making telephone calls wirelessly, mobile devices are also coming loaded with features and capabilities, which are often times little used and often ignored. Three such capabilities are (a) the Short Message Service (SMS) or text message, (b) WAP browsers, and (c) Java MIDlets. In this talk, I will compare the relative advantages, costs, and lessons learned while developing applications based on each of these technologies. Examples include a wide range of interactive SMS applications, ranging from simple data access applications to more complex applications that maintain session state across multiple accesses.
Therapeutic Hypothermia After Cardiac Arrest and Return of Spontaneous Circulation: It’s Complicated

Providing evidence-based care to patients with return of spontaneous circulation after a cardiac arrest is a recent complex innovation. Once resuscitated patients must be assessed for appropriateness for therapeutic hypothermia, be cooled in a timely manner, maintained while hypothermic, rewarmed within a specified time frame, and then assessed for whether hypothermia was successful for the patient through neuroprognostication. Nurses caring for therapeutic hypothermia patients must be knowledgeable and prepared to provide care to the patient and family. This article provides an overview of the complexity of therapeutic hypothermia for patients with return of spontaneous circulation in the form of a case study.
Dolphins and Porpoises

Dolphins (38 species) and porpoises (6 species) include a diverse group of cetaceans belonging to 6 of the 10 families of modern toothed whales. In general, this group includes the smaller odontocetes, with body lengths less than 9.0 m. Representatives of these groups live in every major marine habitat in the world, from the polar ice edge to the tropics, and in river systems in Asia and South America. Derived from proto-ungulate terrestrial mammals, most modern dolphins originated about 10–11 Ma. Dolphins of the family Delphinidae are generally distinguished externally from the porpoises (family Phocoenidae) by the presence or absence of a beak, dorsal fin shape, and tooth shape; further characteristic distinctions include genetic features and skull morphology. Dolphins tend to live longer than porpoises, mature later, and have longer calving intervals. Dolphins and porpoises eat fish and/or invertebrates such as squid; prey size and type are related to the number and size of teeth and jaw shape. Acoustics are important to both groups; all use echolocation. Porpoises and river dolphins tend to be less social than dolphins, which sometimes occur in schools of thousands. Dolphins and porpoises are threatened by fisheries, habitat loss, environmental contaminants, and underwater noise.
ASSOCIATIONS OF SERUM IONIZED CALCIUM, PHOSPHATE, AND PTH LEVELS WITH PARATHYROID SCAN IN PRIMARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the relationship between various biochemical parameters in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) with positive and negative technetium-99 sestamibi (Tc) parathyroid scans performed with single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT). Methods: This retrospective analysis was used to develop a logistic probability model. It included 218 patients with PHPT. The main outcome measures were serum total calcium, ionized calcium, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), albumin, alkaline phosphatase, phosphate, 25-hydroxy vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D, 24-h urinary calcium levels, and parathyroid adenoma weight. Results: Individually, using cut-off levels of 6.0 mg/dL for ionized calcium, 3.0 mg/dL for phosphate, and 90 pg/mL for intact PTH, we found that 91.3% (P = .005), 70.7% (P = .004) and 87.90% (P = .023) of the patients had a positive Tc scan with their corresponding strengths of associations in the parentheses. Similar significant associations were sustained in multivariate setting for serum ionized calcium (P = .015), phosphate (P = .016), and intact PTH (P = .028). A logistic probability model was designed to predict the probability of being positive for Tc scan given a set of covariates. Conclusion: There are significant associations between the levels of serum ionized calcium, phosphate, intact PTH, and Tc scan positivity. Further studies with larger patient populations are needed. Abbreviations: BMI = body mass index; CT = computed tomography; CV = coefficient variation; DXA = dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; PHPT = primary hyperparathyroidism; PPV = positive predictive value; PTH = parathyroid hormone; SPECT = single-photon emission computed tomography; Tc = technetium-99 sestamibi
Rate Constants of Electrochemical Reactions in a Lithium-Sulfur Cell Determined by Operando X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Author(s): Wang, DR; Shah, DB; Maslyn, JA; Loo, WS; Wujcik, KH; Nelson, EJ; Latimer, MJ; Feng, J; Prendergast, D; Pascal, TA; Balsara, NP | Abstract: The reduction of sulfur during discharge in a lithium-sulfur (Li-S) cell is known to occur in a series of reaction steps that involve lithium polysulfide intermediates. We present an operando study of the discharge of a solid-state Li-S cell using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). In theory, the average chain length of the polysulfides, xavg,cell, at a given depth of discharge is determined by the number of electrons delivered to the sulfur cathode. The dependence of xavg,cell measured by XAS on the depth of discharge is in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. XAS is also used to track the formation of Li2S, the final discharge product, as a function of depth of discharge. The XAS measurements were used to estimate rate constants of a series of simple reactions commonly accepted in literature.
Improving Carbon Estimation of Large Tropical Trees by Linking Airborne Lidar Crown Size to Field Inventory

Quantifying tropical aboveground biomass (agb) is an outstanding challenge that requires knowledge on the 3D structure of forests. Recent studies suggest that the uncertainty in estimating agb of large trees is significantly reduced if tree height and crown size are accounted for in addition to the traditional trunk diameter and wood density. Due to the fact that field inventory techniques are not adapted to characterize the 3D forest structure, crown size metrics (e.g. height and radius) are commonly estimated as a function of trunk diameter using allometric models with limitations in explaining crown variability. Airborne lidar techniques have the potential for characterizing tree height and crown size but are not adapted to estimate trunk diameter, which is a strong predictor of agb. Here, we investigate the synergy of field inventory and airborne lidar techniques to characterize the forest structure by assessing the uncertainty introduced by the field-based allometric models in the estimation of agb at the tree-level. We focus in 1454 large individual trees (trunk diameter > 60 cm) located within the La Selva Biological Station for which we dispose of field observations (trunk diameter and wood density) and lidar derived metrics (tree height and crown radius). We show that the field-based allometric models overestimate tree height and underestimate crown radius. As a result, the allometric approach overestimates the tree-level agb in 0.8 Mg when considering the 1454 individuals and the errors can reach more than 50% of the agb of individual trees. These errors on the large trees agb highly impact on the plot-level results and then propagate to the estimation of carbon stocks at the regional and national-levels.
Principles and applications of transcranial electrical stimulation

Abstract Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) employs low levels of electrical energy, applied across the scalp. In this chapter, we review the physics and proposed underlying mechanisms of tDCS, along with more recent work investigating the reported effects of tDCS on human behavior and brain activity. We further review the state of tDCS research for motor and cognitive rehabilitation and highlight several ongoing efforts by Institute for Engineering in Medicine researchers developing novel tDCS-based interventions. Finally, we present a vision for the future of tDCS research, with an emphasis on the key challenges ahead, namely, functional and anatomical target specification and bringing tDCS into mainstream clinical domains.
Cluster analysis of preoperative echocardiographic findings and outcomes following left ventricular device implantation

Abstract Objective To investigate whether preoperative echocardiography findings determine postoperative continuous-flow left ventricular assist device outcomes. Methods From January 2003 to June 2017, 490 patients received a durable, continuous-flow left ventricular assist device. Two-step clustering of parameters including heart rate and preoperative echocardiographic findings (ie, left ventricular [LV] ejection fraction, right ventricular [RV] function, aortic insufficiency, mitral regurgitation [MR], tricuspid regurgitation [TR]) was performed and identified 5 distinct clusters associated with LV failure: group 1: moderate right ventricular dysfunction (RVD), severe MR and mild TR (n = 110); group 2: severe RVD, severe MR and TR (n = 64); group 3: moderate RVD and severe aortic insufficiency (n = 16); group 4: mild RVD and mild valvular pathology (n = 163); and group 5: moderate-severe RVD and mild valvular pathology (n = 137). Silhouette measure of cohesion and separation demonstrated satisfactory separation at 0.6. Results Group 2 had the greatest Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support Level 1 (25%, P = .010), preoperative right atrial pressure (11 ± 5 mm Hg, P Conclusions Clustering demonstrated the importance of preoperative TR in predicting RVF. Combined severe LV and RV failure with severe MR and TR portends the worse prognosis.
Advances in drug allergy, urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis in 2018

Many notable advances in drug allergy, urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis were reported in 2018. Broad-spectrum antibiotic use and, consequently, antibiotic resistance are widespread, and algorithms to clarify β-lactam allergy and optimize antibiotic use were described. Meaningful data emerged on the pathogenesis of delayed drug hypersensitivity reactions. Progress not only in defining biomarkers but also in understanding the effect on quality of life and developing better treatments has been made for patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria. Patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) have gained additional access to highly efficacious therapies, with associated improvements in quality of life, and some progress was made in our understanding of recurrent angioedema in patients with normal laboratory results. Guidelines have defined clear goals to help providers optimize therapies in patients with HAE. The epidemiology and triggers of anaphylaxis and the mechanisms underlying anaphylaxis were elucidated further. In summary, these disorders (and labels) cause substantial burdens for individual persons and even society. Fortunately, publications in 2018 have informed on advancements in diagnosis and management and have provided better understanding of mechanisms that potentially could yield new therapies. This progress should lead to better health outcomes and paths forward in patients with drug allergy, urticaria, HAE, and anaphylaxis.
Steering Consumers to Affiliated Financial Services: Evidence from Pre-Approvals and the Cost of Credit

We use artificial intelligence to identify financial steering activity in residential mortgage markets. Using mortgage data on bank sold properties and linking those to a unique data set that allows us to observe private information exchanges between listing and buyer agents, our results provide some interesting insights linked to steered mortgages. We find that over 50 percent of mortgages on bank sold properties involved steering activity. The underlying properties when listed for sale had selling constraints requiring financed buyers to be cross-qualified by an affiliated lender even if they had already been pre-qualified with another lender. Furthermore, while steering appears to give lenders selling foreclosed properties an advantage in capturing the mortgage business of new borrowers, we find evidence that steering might actually benefit borrowers.
Quasi-2D Performance Analysis for Axial Compressors Based on Time-Marching Method

In order to get a fast performance analysis tool for multi-stage axial compressors, a quasi-two dimensional analysis model based on time-marching method is developed in this paper. The model is based on Euler equation, and several source terms, like inviscid blade force model and viscous force model, are added to simulate different phenomena of compressor internal flow. The flow line in blade area is adjusted to solve the discontinuity problem at blade leading edge. Two test cases-PW3S1, a 3.5-stage axial compressor and a 1.5-stage high-speed axial compressor, are presented to validate the quasi-2D model. The overall performance characteristics of two compressors at different rotation speed are calculated then. The computed results are compared with experimental data or 3D results. The average errors of pressure ratio and efficiency are 0.52% and 0.63% in PW3S1 case, 1.73% and 2.91% in 1.5-stage compressor case, and the model is able to capture shock wave and to predict choke condition.
Cross-fading motives for simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use: Associations with young adults' use and consequences across days.

Abstract Background Many young adults engage in simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use so that their effects overlap. Little is known about motivations for dual substance use and associations with use and consequences. This study examined daily-level associations between cross-fading motives and levels of alcohol and marijuana use and consequences. Methods Young adults who reported SAM use in the month prior were surveyed in two 14-day bursts. Data included 1049 SAM use days from 281 young adults (age 18–25; M age = 21.80, SD = 2.16; 50 % women). Multilevel models assessed between- and within-person effects of cross-fading motives (i.e., to enhance the effects of marijuana and/or alcohol use by using them simultaneously) on alcohol and marijuana use and consequences, after adjusting for general enhancement, social, coping, and conformity motives and the amount of alcohol and marijuana used that day. Results On 76 % of SAM use days, participants endorsed cross-fading motives (i.e., to enhance the effect of alcohol or marijuana or to get drunk and high at the same time). Having stronger cross-fading motives was associated with greater alcohol use, perceived intoxication, and positive alcohol consequences at the between- and within-person levels. In addition, between-person, individuals who reported stronger cross-fading motives on average reported more negative alcohol consequences and positive marijuana consequences on average. Cross-fading motives on a given day were not associated with marijuana use or marijuana consequences that day. Conclusions Cross-fading motives were common and varied from day to day. Understanding the motivational context for dual substance use may support future interventions for cross-fading.
What can we learn from wildlife sightings during the COVID-19 global shutdown?

Abstract During the worldwide shutdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many reports emerged of urban wildlife sightings While these images garnered public interest and declarations of wildlife reclaiming cities, it is unclear whether wildlife truly reoccupied urban areas or whether there were simply increased detections of urban wildlife during this time Here, we detail key questions and needs for monitoring wildlife during the COVID-19 shutdown and then link these with future needs and actions with the intent of improving conservation within urban ecosystems We discuss the tools ecologists and conservation scientists can use to safely and effectively study urban wildlife during the shutdown With a coordinated, multicity effort, researchers and community scientists can rigorously investigate the responses of wildlife to changes in human activities, which can help us address long-standing questions in urban ecology, inspire conservation of wildlife, and inform the design of sustainable cities
60: Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: An anti-angiogenic state

Objective An imbalanced chronic blood flow between the donor and recipient twin through placental vascular anastomoses is the accepted pathophysiology of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) mRNA is overexpressed only in the syncytiotrophoblast of the donor twin in some cases of TTTS. This study was conducted to determine maternal plasma concentrations of placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble VEGFR-1, and soluble endoglin (s-Eng) in monochorionic-diamniotic pregnancies with and without TTTS.
Toll-like receptor mediated lysozyme expression in Niemann-pick disease, type C1

Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) is a rare neurodegenerative disease. In NPC1 mouse cerebella, the antibacterial enzyme, lysozyme (Lyz2), is significantly increased in multiple cell types. Due to its possible role in toxic fibril deposition, we confirmed Lyz2 overexpression in culture in different control and NPC1 cell types including human NPC1 fibroblasts. Lyz2 expression is induced by Toll-like receptors potentially in response to lipid storage but does not play a functional role in NPC disease pathology.
A PdIII Sulfate Dimer Initiates Rapid Methane Monofunctionalization by H Atom Abstraction

An electrogenerated PdIII2 species in fuming sulfuric acid is competent for rapid and concurrent methane monohydroxylation to methyl bisulfate (CH3OSO3H) and methane sulfonation to methanesulfonic ...
Meaning: A Postqualitative Inquiry That Is Not:

This article is a conversation between two qualitative researchers and many known and unknown virtuals, exploring the limitations, possibilities, and ethics of making meaning (in [post] [qualitativ...
Dual Use Research in the Biomedical Sciences

Scientific research benefits society in many ways. The knowledge generated by science has practical applications in medicine, public health, engineering, industry, transportation, navigation, communication, education, public policy, and numerous other aspects of human life. However, knowledge can also be used to cause harm to individuals, society, and the environment. The knowledge used to build a nuclear reactor may also be used to build nuclear weapons; the knowledge used to launch a rocket to the moon may also be used to guide a missile to kill innocent civilians; and the knowledge used to develop a vaccine might also be used to make a bioweapon.
N-Version Programming for Enhancing Fault Tolerance in Fog-based IoT Systems

With the increase in the abundance and prominence of fog-based systems comes the increase in demand for smarter devices. This can be quite challenging since fog-based IoT systems need to adapt in the event of a sudden deterioration in the level of service they offer due to hardware or software fluctuations. Fog-based IoT systems need to become fault-tolerant in order to ensure the delivery of secure, reliable, robust, and dynamic services while addressing unexpected changes that may occur in terms of both hardware and software. To achieve such fault-tolerance, however, it is imperative to accurately define and identify the differences between errors, faults, and failures that may exist within fog-based environments. In this paper, we propose a solution to this problem and introduce an N-version anomaly-based Fault Detection (NvABFD) technique used for enhancing the fault tolerance of fog-based systems. Using NvABFD, it is possible to identify data anomalies, errors, faults, and failures that may occur in fog-based environments in near real time. We tested the NvABFD technique in a simulated patient monitoring system using the MobiAct dataset. Our results show an accuracy of ~99.9% in anomaly, error, and fault detection indicating that this technique may enhance fault-tolerance in a fog-based system by accurately identifying anomalies, errors, and faults as they occur.
Network analysis and characterization of vulnerability in flood control infrastructure for system-level risk reduction

Abstract The number of catastrophic events such as extreme rainfalls and hurricanes has been growing. These events pose a major threat to the life safety and economic prosperity of urban regions. Flood control networks play a pivotal role in mitigating the risk associated with the stormwater generated by extreme rainfalls and hurricanes. The objective of this study is to propose a framework to examine the vulnerability in flood control infrastructure networks. This framework applies graph theory concepts and tools to define a vulnerability index for flood control network components (e.g., channels and rivers). The topological attributes of flood control networks are used to determine the vulnerability index based on structural attributes of flood control networks. First, a flood control network is modeled as a directed graph and storage facilities are incorporated into the network. Second, co-location exposure, upstream channel susceptibility, and discharge redundancy are characterized as important vulnerability attributes of a channel in flood control network. Then, these three characteristics are formulized based on the topological attributes of the network and characteristics of channels. The vulnerability index is then determined based on the three vulnerability characteristics. The proposed vulnerability index can be used to evaluate the impact of different risk reduction policies on flood control network vulnerability and determine the optimal mitigation strategies aiming at flood risk reduction, such as widening vulnerable channels, placement of storage facilities in the network or increasing the redundancy of the network. The framework is implemented on two watersheds in Harris County (Texas, USA) and the results' implications for decision-making in infrastructure management and hazard mitigation planning are discussed. The results highlight the capability of the proposed graph-based framework to inform flood risk reduction through evaluation of the vulnerability of infrastructure networks.
“Stuck in their Ways”: Examining Parole Officers’ Perceptions on Guiding Older Offenders through the Reentry Process

Parole officers serve a critical role for inmates who are reentering society by monitoring the transitional and rehabilitation process post incarceration. Recently, there has been increased concern among correctional professionals in regard to addressing economic and management barriers of aging inmates. Elderly offenders require unique resources with regard to their health and housing and parole officers represent the initial contact for this population when providing the assistance; however, little is known about the role parole officers play in the reintegration process for older inmates. Therefore, the current study examined the perceptions of 19 parole officers who work with older parolees in a southern state. Through semi-structured, qualitative interviews, we explored parole officers’ primary role in the reintegration process to gain better understanding of demographics, management, and established goals when assisting older parolees.
Short-term assessment of subfoveal injection of AAV2-hCHM gene augmentation in choroideremia using adaptive optics ophthalmoscopy

Abstract Subretinal injection for gene augmentation in retinal degenerations forcefully detaches the neural retina from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), potentially damaging photoreceptors and/or RPE cells. Here, we use adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) to assess the short-term integrity of the cone mosaic following subretinal injections of AAV2-hCHM gene augmentation in subjects with choroideremia (CHM). Nine adult CHM patients received uniocular subfoveal injections of low dose (5x1010 vector genome (vg) per eye, n=5) or high dose (1x1011 vg per eye, n=4) AAV2-hCHM. The macular regions of both eyes were imaged pre- and one-month post-injection using a custom-built, multimodal AOSLO. Post-injection cone inner segment mosaics were compared to pre-injection mosaics at multiple regions of interest (ROIs). Post-injection AOSLO images showed preservation of the cone mosaic in all 9 AAV2-hCHM injected eyes. Mosaics appeared intact and contiguous one-month post-injection, with the exception of foveal disruption in one patient. Co-localized optical coherence tomography showed foveal cone outer segment (COS) shortening post-injection (significant, n=4; non-significant, n=4; unchanged, n=1). Integrity of the cone mosaic is maintained following subretinal delivery of AAV2-hCHM, providing strong evidence in support of the safety of the injections. Minor foveal thinning observed following surgery corresponds with short-term COS shortening rather than cone cell loss.
More on One-Dimensional Simulation

This chapter introduces some advanced concepts of one-dimensional electromagnetic (EM) FDTD simulation. First, it changes the formulation slightly and introduces the use of the flux density into the simulation. One of the most significant developments in the FDTD method is a means to simulate frequency-dependent dielectric materials. Then, the chapter introduces the use of the discrete Fourier transform in FDTD simulation. This is an extremely powerful method to quantify the output of the simulation. The chapter concludes with the simulation of human muscle tissue. Muscle tissue can be adequately simulated over a frequency range of about two decades with the Lorentz formulation.
Development of an Automated Image Collection System for Generating Time-Lapse Animations of Plant Tissue Growth and Green Fluorescent Protein Gene Expression

Robotics systems have been widely used by the industry to perform tasks that may be hazardous, time consuming, or impossible to perform by humans. In the area of plant developmental biology, these systems have been used to gather information on how plants grow and develop under different environmental conditions. Digital imaging permits the non-destructive evaluation of both plant growth and their response to different environments. Images can either be analyzed as they are acquired (real time) or stored for subsequent analysis. Digital imaging has recently been used for the analysis of gene expression using the jellyfish Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). GFP detection requires no exogenous cofactors or destructive assays (Haseloff and Siemering, 1998), which greatly simplifies reporter gene detection in living organisms.
Otitis media in developing countries.

Objective. This article reviews the available information concerning the disease burden, epidemiology, and etiology of otitis media in developing countries and the likelihood that case management with appropriate antibiotic therapy can reduce the burden of this disease. Methodology. The available literature was reviewed to determine the extent to which otitis media impacts mortality and morbidity in developing countries. Epidemiology. In community studies, perforation was present in 0.4% to 33.3% of children and youth; otorrhea occurred in 0.4% to 6.1%; and mastoiditis occurred in 0.19% to 0.74%. In school surveys, perforation was identified in 1.3% to 6.24% of students, and otorrhea was found in 0.6% to 4.4%. Mastoiditis was diagnosed in 18% of children and youth who presented to a hospital ear, nose, and throat (ENT) clinic in Uganda. The proportion of patients presenting to ENT clinics with mastoiditis regardless of their initial symptoms varied from 1.7% to 5%. Patients presenting to these ENT clinics with mastoiditis often experience severe complications, including subperiosteal abscess, labyrinthitis, facial palsy, meningitis, and brain abscess. Hearing impairment was a major public health problem compromising the quality of life in approximately one third of the population of developing countries. Etiology. The pathogens isolated from ear aspirates in children with acute otitis media and chronic suppurative otitis (CSOM) carried out in developing countries are similar to those isolated in studies carried out in developed countries. Case Management. Historical data supports the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy in reducing the frequencies of mastoiditis and CSOM complicating acute otitis media. In addition, the introduction of primary care services targeted at otitis media for high-risk populations living in developed countries may have reduced the prevalence of mastoiditis and CSOM. However, it is not clear whether there is a causal relationship between these programs and the reduction because of the use of historical controls. Conclusions. International research organizations should support controlled intervention studies to document the impact of case management of otitis in developing countries. In addition, the efficacy of a conjugated pneumococcal vaccine to prevent otitis and its complications should be evaluated in a developing country site. Pending the results of studies, developing countries should develop primary care case management programs to diagnose and treat otitis and its associated complications.
Compositionally-tunable mechanochemical synthesis of ZnxCo3−xO4 nanoparticles for mesoporous p-type photocathodes

A solid-state mechanochemical synthesis of ZnxCo3−xO4 was developed with highly tunable Zn concentration. Photovoltaic performance was evaluated in dye-sensitized solar cells and tested with various Zn concentrations, exhibiting maximum performance with ZnCo2O4. Oxidative treatments led to a nearly three-fold increase in dye loading and a significant increase in short-circuit current density.
The SEC and the Internet: Regulating the Web of Deceit

The internet has created challenges for regulators of financial markets unimagined over eighty years ago by drafters of the Securities and Exchange Acts. The recent explosion in internet use has provided many benefits for investors and publicly-traded companies. The Internet has been a boon to entrepreneurs seeking to reach new markets and raise needed capital at minimal cost. Examples of the wealth of information available on demand and at little cost to the investing public includes: the reported financial results of issuers; press releases; product information; research reports of securities analysts; and easy and prompt access to information about corporate events. The SEC has provided guidelines to allow for an issuing company to disseminate to its shareholders the required periodic reports (10-k, 10-q, 8-k, proxy statements, etc.). A series of new challenges face regulators of our securities markets. Cyber-securities fraud arises as a major threat to the evolution of the securities markets. A few of the creative tools available to today’s cybercriminals include: the relative ease of the data theft; transfer of money in the blink-of-an-eye across borders; and stolen identities facilitating market manipulation.Capital formation is the very lifeblood of job creation. The internet has resulted in efficiencies, cost savings, and real productivity gains to all in the capital raising process. The Jumpstart Our Business Startups (“JOBS”) Act and associated changes to the securities laws should facilitate the ability of smaller companies to raise needed capital. This article provides an update regarding the growth and global availability of the internet, an abbreviated overview of the law of electronic transactions, brief discussion of jurisdictional challenges to the prosecution of internet fraud and wrongdoing, JOBS Act, a brief history of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC’s”) incorporation of internet technology into the financial reporting process, identifies the evolving cyber-environment in which securities issuers must adapt to comply with regulatory requirements, and explores developing areas of cyberfraud.
Lifted probabilistic inference: A guide for the database researcher

Modern knowledge bases such as Yago [14], DeepDive [19], and Google’s Knowledge Vault [6] are constructed from large corpora of text by using some form of supervised information extraction. The extracted data usually starts as a large probabilistic database, then its accuracy is improved by adding domain knowledge expressed as hard or soft constraints. Finally, the knowledge base can be queried using some general-purpose query language (SQL, or Sparql). A key technical challenge during the construction, refinement, and querying of knowledge bases is probabilistic reasoning. Because of the size of the data involved, probabilistic reasoning in knowledge bases becomes a central data management problem. The number of random variables is very large, typically one for each fact in the knowledge base. Most systems today perform inference by using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods; for example, DeepDive uses Gibbs Sampling, a form of MCMC. While MCMC methods are broadly applicable, probabilistic inference techniques based on MCMC have no polynomial time convergence guarantees; this is unavoidable, as exact probabilistic inference is provably intractable. Nevertheless, many classes of queries can be evaluated efficiently using an alternate, quite promising approach: lifted inference. While traditional methods first ground the knowledge base and run MCMC over the resulting large probabilistic space, lifted inference performs the inference directly on the first-order expression, which is much smaller than the entire probabilistic space. Lifted inference has evolved separately in the AI community [21] and in the database community [28]. When applicable, lifted inference is extremely efficient, in theory and in practice. Evaluating a query using lifted inference is equivalent to computing a SQL query with aggregate operators. Today’s database engines have a large toolbox for computing aggregate queries, and such queries can be computed quite efficiently both on a single server and on a distributed system. But lifted inference has an important limitation: it only applies to some first-order expressions. In this paper we review lifted inference, both from the AI and from the database perspective, and describe some recent techniques that have expanded the applicability of lifted inference.
The Sexual Abuse of Black Men under American Slavery

I n 1787 a n e n s l av e d m a n i n Maryland raped a free black woman. The story comes to us from the female victim in the incident, elizabeth Amwood. One white man, William holland, had her “Pull up her Close and Lie Down he then Called a Negrow Man Slave” “and ordered him to pull Down his Britches and gitt upon the said Amwood and to bee grate with her.” A fourth individual in this horrific scene, a white man named John Pettigrew, operating with holland, pointed a pistol at the unnamed enslaved man and elizabeth Amwood. All the while, holland taunted them both, asking if it “was in” and “if it was sweet.” Afterward, William “went up into the Company and Called for Water to wash his hand, saying he had bin putting a Mare to a horse.” Scholars have suggested that rape can serve as a metaphor for enslavement—thus applying to both men and women who were enslaved. As Aliyah I. Abdur-rahman argues, “The vulnerability of all enslaved black persons to nearly every conceivable violation produced a collective ‘raped’ subjectivity.” The standard scholarly interpretation of how slavery affected black manhood is perhaps best captured by the comments of one former slave, Lewis Clarke, who declared that a slave “can’t be a man” because he
Using Prime-Time Animation to Engage Students in Courses on Aging

Prime-time animation is a television genre that frequently reflects on issues that are significant in contemporary society, including aging issues. Using such programs to present aging-related content can be a constructive pedagogical device, offering a means of actively engaging students. This article provides a brief overview of the use of media, popular culture, and prime-time animation in college teaching and addresses specific issues in, as well as examples of, how such programs can be used in college courses, particularly aging courses. The article also reports on a small survey of students who were exposed to such a teaching technique in an undergraduate aging course. Results showed that, in general, students were positive about viewing prime-time animation videos in class and indicated that they found the viewings and associated assignments helpful for learning about concepts and issues in aging.
The CNS pericyte response to low oxygen: early synthesis of cyclopentenone prostaglandins of the J-series

Exposure to low oxygen induces adaptive changes at the microvascular level that are beneficial to cell survival. These adaptive changes involve complex signaling mechanisms between the vascular endothelial cell and the pericyte, and are important to the maintenance of vascular homeostasis and hemostasis. We have investigated the early response of the central nervous system (CNS) microvascular pericyte to low oxygen. In vitro exposure of primary rat CNS pericytes to low oxygen induced the rapid synthesis and release of the cyclopentenone prostaglandin (PG) PGD2 and PGJ2 within 15-30 min following hypoxic stress signal. Hypoxia-induced release of PGD2/PGJ2 was COX-1 dependent and did not involve COX-2. The exogenous addition of 15-deoxyDelta(12,14) PGJ2 to pericytes under normoxic conditions increased glut-1 protein in the absence of hypoxia. PGD2 and PGJ2 may be early signaling molecules in the pericyte stress response.
Umami and the foods of classical antiquity

Umami is the taste of foods that are rich in glutamic acid and 2 ribonucleotides, 5#-inosinate and 5#-guanylate. This distinctive taste of modern Eastern cuisine, which is finding a receptive audience in the Western hemisphere, characterized many dishes that ancient Romans consumed .2000 y ago. Romans enjoyed numerous foods that are identified today as containing significant amounts of natural umami substances and frequently used fish sauce as a condiment in their recipes. Fish sauce imparted to Roman dishes a moderately salty, slightly fishy taste that combines synergistically with other foods to create the umami flavor. Fish sauce derives from the hydrolysis of fish in the presence of salt primarily through endogenous enzymic proteolysis. Its simple production process, low cost, and ability to enhance the taste of many foods has made it the basic condiment for traditional dishes consumed in many Southeast Asian countries. Fish sauce also has important nutritional value, primarily in the form of amino acids. Because ancient Romans made fish sauce in the same way and with the same resources as modern fish sauce producers of Southeast Asia, the amino acid profiles of the 2 products are probably nearly identical. Archaeological sources indicate that fish-processing centers operated throughout the Mediterranean area, and processed fish was an important element in longdistance trade. A close study of the remains of the Roman city of Pompeii indicates that fish sauce was a thriving business that rendered the popular condiment accessible to people of all social classes. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;90(suppl):1S‐7S.
The role of music in the lives of homeless young people in Seattle WA and Vancouver BC

I outline my proposed dissertation study of music in the lives of homeless young people. Participants will include homeless young people and service providers in Seattle WA and Vancouver BC. The study is a mixed methods design including surveys, semi-structured interviews, and design activities. This study will lead to contributions to human-computer interaction (HCI) and the psycho-social literature on youth homelessness.
Is tuberculin skin testing reliable during anti-tumor necrosis factor-alfa therapy? A case report and review of the literature.

The increased risk to patients on anti–tumor necrosis factor-alfa therapy of developing active tuberculosis supports screening of these patients for latent tuberculosis infection. The current practice of determining the presence of latent tuberculosis infection primarily, and often entirely, depends on the use of tuberculin skin testing (TST). We report a patient with psoriasis on long-term etanercept therapy who had a negative TST result and a positive interferon-gamma release assay result. Similar cases have also been found through a review of the literature. These findings suggest that TST might be unreliable during long-term anti–tumor necrosis factor-alfa therapy. QuantiFeron-TB Gold testing may be a more appropriate primary test in patients with risk factors for false-negative TST results.