cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multi-agent path finding with kinematic constraints

Multi-Agent Path Finding (MAPF) is well studied in both AI and robotics. Given a discretized environment and agents with assigned start and goal locations, MAPF solvers from AI find collision-free paths for hundreds of agents with user-provided sub-optimality guarantees. However, they ignore that actual robots are subject to kinematic constraints (such as finite maximum velocity limits) and suffer from imperfect plan-execution capabilities. We therefore introduce MAPF-POST, a novel approach that makes use of a simple temporal network to postprocess the output of a MAPF solver in polynomial time to create a plan-execution schedule that can be executed on robots. This schedule works on non-holonomic robots, takes their maximum translational and rotational velocities into account, provides a guaranteed safety distance between them, and exploits slack to absorb imperfect plan executions and avoid time-intensive replanning in many cases. We evaluate MAPF-POST in simulation and on differential-drive robots, showcasing the practicality of our approach.
Abundant carbon substrates drive extremely high sulfate reduction rates and methane fluxes in Prairie Pothole Wetlands

Inland waters are increasingly recognized as critical sites of methane emissions to the atmosphere, but the biogeochemical reactions driving such fluxes are less well understood. The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America is one of the largest wetland complexes in the world, containing millions of small, shallow wetlands. The sediment pore waters of PPR wetlands contain some of the highest concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and sulfur species ever recorded in terrestrial aquatic environments. Using a suite of geochemical and microbiological analyses, we measured the impact of sedimentary carbon and sulfur transformations in these wetlands on methane fluxes to the atmosphere. This research represents the first study of coupled geochemistry and microbiology within the PPR and demonstrates how the conversion of abundant labile DOC pools into methane results in some of the highest fluxes of this greenhouse gas to the atmosphere ever reported. Abundant DOC and sulfate additionally supported some of the highest sulfate reduction rates ever measured in terrestrial aquatic environments, which we infer to account for a large fraction of carbon mineralization in this system. Methane accumulations in zones of active sulfate reduction may be due to either the transport of free methane gas from deeper locations or the co-occurrence of methanogenesis and sulfate reduction. If both respiratory processes are concurrent, any competitive inhibition of methanogenesis by sulfate-reducing bacteria may be lessened by the presence of large labile DOC pools that yield noncompetitive substrates such as methanol. Our results reveal some of the underlying mechanisms that make PPR wetlands biogeochemical hotspots, which ultimately leads to their critical, but poorly recognized role in regional greenhouse gas emissions.
Limitations of mitigating judicial bias with machine learning

Machine-learning algorithms trained with data that encode human bias will reproduce, not eliminate, the bias, says Kristian Lum.
Antiviral activity of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR) against Zika virus

The rapid spread of Zika virus (ZIKV) in recent years has highlighted the severe diseases associated with ZIKV infection, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults and microcephaly in newborns; yet no vaccines or antivirals currently exist to prevent or treat ZIKV infection. We and others have previously identified N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (fenretinide or 4-HPR) as an antiviral compound that inhibits dengue virus 2 (DV2) and other flaviviruses by limiting the steady-state accumulation of viral RNA. Here we show that 4-HPR potently inhibits ZIKV in mammalian cell culture and significantly reduces both serum viremia and brain viral burden in a murine model of ZIKV infection. Consistent with previous observations with dengue virus, this antiviral activity is associated with a significant reduction in the steady-state abundance of viral genomic RNA. We show this reduction is due to a major decrease in the rate of viral RNA synthesis, though not via direct inhibition of the activity of the viral replicase. These results establish 4-HPR's mode of action against DV and ZIKV and, taken with previous clinical trials that established 4-HPR's safety and tolerability, illustrate the potential utility of 4-HPR as an agent for treatment of ZIKV infection.
Abstract TP333: Independent Variables Contributing to Stroke Mortality in a Tertiary Medical Center With a Large Rural Referral Base

Background: Inpatient mortality rates have been used as a quality measure in stroke. Some factors are within the control of healthcare providers and others, such as age or severity of illness are by nature non-modifiable. Various risk adjustment models (UHC, GWTG) attempt to account for severity of illness based on patient characteristics with the presumption that remaining differences in mortality are accounted by differences in health care quality. In this study we examine how patient mortality can be effected by a number of independent variables, including care provided prior to admission, involvement of palliative care team, and patient and family preference Methods: We initially reviewed our mortality reports from GWTG-Stroke and UHC for 2014 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), and identified a cohort of 49 patients deceased from stroke using the appropriate ICD-9 codes and the discharge status of “expired”. We compared cases reviewed by The Division of Quality, Safety, and Value (DQSV) at DHMC with independent chart review performed by neurologists from our stroke program, who focused on factors such as route of hospitalization, management prior to admission and end of life care. Deaths were categorized into three categories: 1. Non-preventable. 2. Possible iatrogenic mortality 3. Non-iatrogenic, but possibly preventable based on specific circumstances of the case. Results: A significant number of preventable cases were found on clinician’s review compared to the case reviews based on the DQSV. Notably at least 7 cases were found to have complications prior to transfer to our facility. None of these preventable deaths were due to premature withdrawal of care. Conclusions: These results suggest that institutions similar to ours would benefit from improving quality of care of stroke patients at the referral hospitals prior to transfer. This work also implies that as health care moves towards an incentivized and outcome-based system, using mortality scores alone to label hospitals as excellent or poor may have the unintended consequences of compromising patient care in order to reach benchmarks that do not take into account the unique variables of different hospital settings.
Canonical Equation K18 for the Special Structure of Vector Observations

This chapter is devoted to the analysis of normalized spectral functions of the empirical covariance matrices of observations with special structure. They are equal to a certain random matrix with arbitrary dependent random entries multiplied by a certain random vector with independent components. This model of observations is fairly general and can find many applications in the contemporary multidimensional statistical analysis.
Dendritic Dynorphin Release in the Hippocampal Formation

Endogenous dynorphin opioids are important modulators of excitability in the hippocampal formation. Dynorphin is synthesized by dentate granule cells, which are polarized neurons extending their axons and dendrites into separate fields. Granule cell dendrites and axons release dynorphin by different mechanisms and these two pools of dynorphin affect different cellular targets. Dendritic dynorphin release is controlled by a distinct transmitter release mechanism involving both L- and N-type Ca2+ channels, and the released dynorphin retrogradely inhibits glutamate release from cortical afferents. Axon terminal dynorphin release is L-channel independent, and the released dynorphin auto-inhibits glutamate release from mossy fiber terminals. In spite of these differences, dendritic and axonal release of dynorphin may cooperate functionally to yield tight control of granule cell activity. Thus granule cells, by releasing dynorphin into their dendritic field to limit excitatory input and their terminal fields to limit output, can provide an effective brake on their own activity. The requirements for intense stimulation to release dynorphin indicate that this brake would only be applied when the system is highly excited. In the normal hippocampal formation, the role of dynorphin released from both dendritic and axonal sites may be to modulate hippocampal activity between adaptive levels of excitation involved in learning and pathological levels of excitation that promote seizures and cell death.
Core Concepts in Abstract Algebra

The main aim of this chapter is to prepare students for their first course in abstract algebra. We begin by introducing binary operations and discuss the meaning of a “well-defined” binary operation. Algebraic structures are defined and then we move on to groups, subgroups, and normal subgroups. Proof strategies are presented that deal with these latter two concepts. We also investigate permutation groups and the symmetric group. The chapter also introduces rings and then ends on the topics of quotient algebras, quotient groups, and quotient rings.
Epidemiology of Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Infection

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is an infrequent complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) but is associated with longer hospital stay, increased hospital cost, and higher morbidity. This chapter critically reviews the literature to form a consensus on the epidemiology of PJI within hip and knee arthroplasty procedures. PJI occurred in 7761 and 16,798 THA and TKA cases in the USA, respectively, in 2010 and is projected to increase to 16,879 and 42,079 cases by 2020. In the USA and internationally, the overall incidence of PJI occurs in 0.7–2.3 % of both THA and TKA procedures. Infection is diagnosed within the first year postoperatively for 60 % of primary surgeries and the vast majority of cases occur within 2 years. Among the reasons for arthroplasty revision, infection is the second most prevalent failure mode in TKA and third for THA, and models project PJI will become the dominant failure mode by 2030. Regardless of revision reason, TKAs that have been previously revised have an increased incidence of infection of 8.3 % and are reported as high as 33 % among arthroplasties previously revised for infection. The most frequently reported risk factors were revealed to be gender, BMI > 50, extended-length procedures, lack of antibiotic bone cement, and comorbidities. Furthermore, treatment for PJI is 2.6–2.8 times more expensive than revision for aseptic loosening and is associated with 1.9–2.2 times longer patient hospital stay.
A moral economy of oil: corruption narratives and oil elites in Ecuador

In oil-dependent nations, the governance of national oil reserves and the redistribution of oil rents are often widely-perceived as moral endeavours, necessary for achieving a minimum just distribu...
Anabolic Steroid-induced Mania.

There are numerous reports of the psychiatric effects of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use. However, these effects have not been clearly elicited in controlled clinical trials. This discrepancy is largely due to the presence of a variety of synergistic factors seen in the real-life setting of AAS abuse. In this case, we report a patient in acute mania admitted to Frederick Memorial Hospital in Frederick, Maryland. He had no prior history or family history of manic episodes. His symptoms were refractory to initial pharmacologic intervention. The onset of his symptoms was likely related to the initiation of AAS use. However, his symptoms were likely potentiated by heavy daily cannabis use. The patient showed a gradual improvement over the second week of his hospitalization. He was discharged on antipsychotics and scheduled to follow up with a therapist and psychiatrist.
What Is a Number

In Chap. 1, we used addition and multiplication of the natural numbers to introduce first-order logic. Now, equipped with formal logic, we will go back and we will reconstruct the natural numbers and other number systems that are built on them. This looks circular, and to some extent it is. The set of natural numbers with a set of two relations—addition and multiplication—is a fundamental mathematical structure. In the previous discussion, we took the structure of natural numbers for granted, and we saw how some of its features can be described using first-order logic. Now we will examine the notion of natural number more carefully. It will not be as easy as one could expect.
Oh, What Times We Live In!

In the span of just a couple of decades, our understanding of diabetes pathophysiology, nutrition, exercise, human behavior, technology, education principles, medications, and hundreds of other nuances of diabetes care has advanced by leaps and bounds. Sometimes, it helps to be reminded of history to truly appreciate this fact. To that point, I would like to introduce you to a person from my personal history book. A young gentleman returned from World War I and found work in his small Iowa town as a rural-route mail carrier. It was a steady job offering decent pay in turbulent times. From a good source, the story goes that he visited the local doctor about continued tiredness and weight loss and was subsequently diagnosed with diabetes. There were no sophisticated methods for treating diabetes then, and he was put on a diet that involved weighing everything he ate and keeping the total weight of his food within specified limits. In effect, it was nearly a starvation diet. His wife helped him immensely, but he continued to lose weight, and so, in the year 1929, he was placed on insulin. At that time, insulin was a new medication and not at all like today’s insulin. It was brown, and although its concentration was stated, it was not very pure and could vary greatly in its glucose-lowering effectiveness. Urine glucose testing was sketchy in terms of accuracy, glass insulin syringes were used and re-sterilized in boiling water, and needles (about 20–22 gauge) were re-sharpened by hand. All of these factors led to many hypoglycemic reactions. But the man lived well with diabetes for more than 30 years. Considering when he was diagnosed, it was a miracle. To me, it …
Does Primary Tumor Side Matter in Patients with Metastatic Colon Cancer Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Primary tumor location has been shown to be prognostic of overall survival (OS) in patients with both locally advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer. The impact of sidedness on prognosis has not been evaluated in the setting of peritoneal-only metastases treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). A retrospective review of prospectively maintained databases of patients with peritoneal surface malignancy undergoing CRS/HIPEC from three high-volume centers was performed. A total of 115 patients with metastatic colon cancer to the peritoneum who underwent CRS/HIPEC with mitomycin C were identified. Fifty-one patients (45%) had left-sided primary tumors, and 64 (55%) had right-sided primary tumors. Patients with right-sided tumors were more likely to be older (median age 56 vs. 49 years, p = 0.007) and to have signet ring cell histology (17% vs. 4%, p = 0.026). Patients with right-sided tumors had median disease-free survival (DFS) and OS of 14 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.5–17.5) and 36 months (95% CI 27.4–44.6), respectively, versus 16 months (95% CI 11.0–21.0) and 69 months (95% CI 24.3–113.7) for those patients with left-sided tumors. On multivariate analysis, primary tumor side was an independent predictor of both DFS and OS. In this study, there was a dramatic, clinically significant difference in OS between patients with right- and left-sided tumors, and primary tumor side was an independent predictor of DFS and OS. Primary tumor side should be considered in patient selection for CRS with or without HIPEC.
Transcriptome analysis reveals overlap in fusion genes in a phase I clinical cohort of TNBC and HGSOC patients treated with buparlisib and olaparib

Fusion genes can be therapeutically relevant if they result in constitutive activation of oncogenes or repression of tumor suppressors. However, the prevalence and role of fusion genes in female cancers remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigate the fusion gene landscape in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), two subtypes of female cancers with high molecular similarity but limited treatment options at present. RNA-seq was utilized to identify fusion genes in a cohort of 18 TNBC and HGSOC patients treated with the PI3K inhibitor buparlisib and the PARP inhibitor olaparib in a phase I clinical trial (NCT01623349). Differential gene expression analysis was performed to assess the function of fusion genes in silico. Finally, these findings were correlated with the reported clinical outcomes. A total of 156 fusion genes was detected, whereof 44/156 (28%) events occurred in more than one patient. Low recurrence across samples indicated that the majority of fusion genes were private passenger events. The long non-coding RNA MALAT1 was involved in 97/156 (62%) fusion genes, followed in prevalence by MUC16, FOXP1, WWOX and XIST. Gene expression of FOXP1 was significantly elevated in patients with vs. without FOXP1 fusion (P= 0.02). From a clinical perspective, FOXP1 fusions were associated with a favorable overall survival. In summary, this study provides the first characterization of fusion genes in a cohort of TNBC and HGSOC patients. An improved mechanistic understanding of fusion genes will support the future identification of innovative therapeutic approaches for these challenging diseases.
Detection of urease and carbonic anhydrase activity using a rapid and economical field test to assess microbially-induced carbonate precipitation

Microbial precipitation of calcium carbonate has diverse engineering applications, from building and soil restoration, to carbon sequestration. Urease-mediated ureolysis and CO2 (de)hydration by carbonic anhydrase (CA) are known for their potential to precipitate carbonate minerals, yet many microbial community studies rely on marker gene or metagenomic approaches that are unable to determine in situ activity. Here, we developed fast and cost-effective tests for the field detection of urease and CA activity using pH-sensitive strips inside microcentrifuge tubes that change color in response to the reaction products of urease (NH3) and CA (CO2). Samples from a saline lake, a series of calcareous fens, and ferrous springs were assayed in the field, finding relatively high urease activity in lake samples, whereas CA activity was only detected in a ferrous spring. Incubations of lake microbes with urea resulted in significantly higher CaCO3 precipitation compared to incubations with a urease inhibitor. Therefore, the rapid assay indicated an on-site active metabolism potentially mediating carbonate mineralization. Field urease and CA activity assays complement molecular approaches and facilitate the search for carbonate-precipitating microbes and their in situ activity, which could be applied toward agriculture, engineering and carbon sequestration technologies.
Sexual Motivation and Satisfaction Among Consensually Non-Monogamous and Monogamous Individuals

Abstract Background Previous research has found differences in sexual motives and, separately, sexual satisfaction in consensually non-monogamous (CNM) and monogamous individuals and that these constructs are related to relationship outcomes (eg, relationship quality). Aims The present study sought to refine and expand on previous research by (i) using a more common, validated measure of sexual motives, (ii) measuring sexual satisfaction with multiple partners within CNM relationships, and (iii) examining how sexual motives are related to sexual satisfaction in CNM relationships. Methods Participants were recruited from a university and using online forums that CNM individuals frequently use (eg, reddit, Facebook). Individuals recruited included those in non-exclusive relationships with one partner (“non-exclusive single-partner;” n = 40), those in non-exclusive relationships with more than one partner (“non-exclusive multipartner;” n = 87), and monogamous individuals (n = 322). Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance and hierarchical multiple regressions. Outcomes The main outcome measures of this study are scores on the Why Humans Have Sex Scale and the New Scale for Sexual Satisfaction. Results Non-exclusive multipartner participants were more motivated to have sex for physical motivations compared with monogamous participants. Although there were no significant differences in sexual satisfaction when comparing monogamous with non-exclusive multipartner participant's secondary and primary partners, unique patterns of sexual motivations were associated with sexual satisfaction based on relationship configuration. Clinical Translation Understanding the unique sexual motives associated with sexual satisfaction in various relationship configurations may help improve clinical approaches to couples counseling for both CNM and non-CNM populations. Strengths and Limitations Data were collected from CNM participants in a variety of relationship configurations and provide analyses comparing primary and secondary partners. However, these results are limited by a small sample of CNM participants who were intentionally recruited from self-identified CNM e-forums. Conclusions These findings add further understanding to the unique traits that characterize CNM individuals and the underlying motivational framework that may encourage individuals to initiate and maintain CNM relationships. Mitchell VE, Mogilski JK, Donaldson SH, et al. Sexual Motivation and Satisfaction Among Consensually Non-Monogamous and Monogamous Individuals. J Sex Med 2020;17:1072–1085.
Feminist Criminology and Gender Studies

Feminist criminology refers to approaches to the study of crime, victimization, and the criminal justice system using a critical, feminist lens. There are many different theoretical approaches, including standpoint feminism, pathways theory, and engendering mainstream theories. These approaches have a critical analysis of how gender inequities shape crime and responses to crime, emphasizing the role of male hegemony in society. Feminist criminology began in the 1970s, with liberal feminist approaches, followed by examination of the roles of victimization and abuse in female offending. These early feminist works were informed by second-wave feminism. More recently, third-wave feminism has informed multicultural and postmodern approaches in feminist criminology. Feminist criminology may use quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods approaches. The subject matter includes women as victims, women as offenders, women working in the criminal justice system, and masculinities and crime.
In Situ Morphologic and Spectral Characterization of Retinal Pigment Epithelium Organelles in Mice Using Multicolor Confocal Fluorescence Imaging

Author(s): Meleppat, Ratheesh K; Ronning, Kaitryn E; Karlen, Sarah J; Kothandath, Karuna K; Burns, Marie E; Pugh, Edward N; Zawadzki, Robert J | Abstract: PurposeTo investigate the major organelles of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in wild-type (WT, control) mice and their changes in pigmented Abca4 knockout (Abca4-/-) mice with in situ morphologic, spatial, and spectral characterization of live ex vivo flat-mounted RPE using multicolor confocal fluorescence microscopy (MCFM).MethodsIn situ imaging of RPE flat-mounts of agouti Abca4-/- (129S4), agouti WT (129S1/SvlmJ) controls, and B6 albino mice (C57BL/6J-Tyrc-Brd) was performed with a Nikon A1 confocal microscope. High-resolution confocal image z-stacks of the RPE cell mosaic were acquired with four different excitation wavelengths (405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, and 640 nm). The autofluorescence images of RPE, including voxel-by-voxel emission spectra, were acquired and processed with Nikon NIS-AR Elements software.ResultsThe 3-dimensional multicolor confocal images provided a detailed visualization of the RPE cell mosaic, including its melanosomes and lipofuscin granules, and their varying characteristics in the different mice strains. The autofluorescence spectra, spatial distribution, and morphologic features of melanosomes and lipofuscin granules were measured. Increased numbers of lipofuscin and reduced numbers of melanosomes were observed in the RPE of Abca4-/- mice relative to controls.ConclusionsA detailed assessment of the RPE autofluorescent granules and their changes ex vivo was possible with MCFM. For all excitation wavelengths, autofluorescence from the RPE cells was predominantly contributed by lipofuscin granules, while melanosomes were found to be essentially nonfluorescent. The red shift of the emission peak confirmed the presence of multiple chromophores within lipofuscin granules. The elevated autofluorescence levels in Abca4-/- mice correlated well with the increased number of lipofuscin granules.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: An Unusual Presentation of Corticobasal Syndrome.

Corticobasal syndrome is an atypical parkinsonian syndrome consisting of a constellation of clinical findings that can be the result of various etiologies. While most cases are a result of a tauopathy, such as corticobasal degeneration, other etiologies must be considered in the evaluation of patients presenting with corticobasal syndrome. We present a case of a patient presenting with clinical features of corticobasal syndrome due to a prion disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), who was initially misdiagnosed due to known pitfalls in the CJD diagnostic criteria. We further discuss this unusual manifestation of CJD presenting as corticobasal syndrome and relevant diagnostic consideration in the evaluation of this entity.
Photon-recoil and laser-focusing limits to Rydberg gate fidelity

The authors present an analysis of the limits on two-qubit Rydberg gate fidelity set by the entanglement of internal states and center-of-mass motion due to momentum kicks from the photons from the laser pulses implementing gate operations. They also discuss an approximation which leads to simple analytic formulas that account for the momentum of the photon, atom temperature, harmonic-oscillator frequency, and atomic mass. The results give valuable guidance for designing future experiments.
The Roles of T Lymphocytes in Immune Responses to Medical Devices and Tissue Regeneration

A majority of the literature on the foreign body response (FBR) to biomaterial implants and medical devices has focused on the role of the innate immune system in mediating the rejection or tolerance of implants. However, the immune system is a complex interconnected network that also involves adaptive immune cells which must be included to form a complete picture of the immune response to biomaterials and medical devices. In this review, we explore recent advances in knowledge about the role of the adaptive immune system –specifically T cells– in modulating the immune response to medical devices. The immune response to implants follows a delicate balance between tissue fibrosis and repair that is mainly regulated by three types of T cell responses –Th1, Th2, and Th17– and their crosstalk with innate immune cells. Interestingly, many T cell response mechanisms to biomaterial implants overlap with the process of fibrosis or repair in different tissues. This review explores this fibrotic and regenerative T cell biology and draws parallels to T cell responses to biomaterials. Additionally, we also explore the biomedical engineering advancements in particle, scaffold and cell-based systems designed to modulate T cell activity for therapeutics and devices. The deliberate engineering design of physical and chemical material properties and the direct genetic modulation of T cells not only offer insights to T cell biology but also present different platforms to develop immunomodulatory biomaterials. Thus, an in-depth understanding of the role of T cells can help to map out biomaterial-immune interactions and reconsider the long-lasting adaptive immune response to implants, which, in the end, contribute to the design of immunomodulatory medical devices that can advance the next generation of regenerative therapy.
Cooling Intervention (MUSTCOOL) for Prevention of Lower Extremity Ulcer Recurrence: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to test our MUSTCOOL cooling patch intervention on the incidence of venous leg (VLU) and diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) recurrence over a previously healed wound. Design A 6-month randomized controlled trial. Subjects and setting The target population was individuals with previously healed ulcers receiving care in outpatient wound centers in the Southeastern region of the United States. The sample comprised 140 individuals with recently healed ulcers; their average age was 62.4 years (SD = 12 years); 86 (61.4%) were male; and 47 (33.6%) were Black or African American. Methods Participants were randomized to the MUSTCOOL or placebo patch. Both groups received instructions to apply the patch 3 times per week, and engage in standard of care including compression and leg elevation (VLU) or therapeutic footwear and hygiene (DFU). Demographic data were collected at baseline, and incidence measures taken at 1, 3, and 6 months. We also studied whether new ulcers developed on the adjacent leg or foot. Data were reported in frequencies/percentages. Results One hundred seventeen participants (84%) were analyzed who completed 6 months of study participation. Thirteen percent (9/69) and 17% (12/69) developed a recurrent or new VLU, respectively; 29% (14/48) and 13% (6/48) developed a recurrent or new DFU, respectively. One person in the DFU group developed both a recurrent and new ulcer. For 9 recurrent VLUs, 6 (66.7%) recurred in the MUSTCOOL group and 3 (33.3%) receiving the placebo. Of the 15 recurrent DFUs (includes individual who developed both a recurrent and new ulcer), 10 (66.7%) recurred in the MUSTCOOL group and 5 (33.3%) receiving the placebo. Conclusions While the incidence of ulcer recurrent was slightly higher in the MUSTCOOL group, this finding was not considered clinically relevant. Overall ulcer recurrence during the 6-month study period was lower than reports in the literature, the time frame in which recurrence rates are highest. Trial registration The study was prospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on December 10, 2015 (Identifier: NCT02626156)-https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02626156.
The Assistant Principal as Instructional Leader: The Redesign of the AP Position in the 21st Century

Every campus leader is critical in supporting student achievement, most notably the principal and the often-unnoticed assistant principal (AP). The problem this study addresses is the lack of advancement in the AP’s role as an instructional leader in light of educational reform and the demands of the 21st century. To address this issue, the purpose of this study was to mine the literature to understand the role of the AP. A semi-systematic review of the limited literature on this topic indicated the AP, whose role has historically been a manager and disciplinarian, must be redefined to reflect an instructional and equitable leader actively seeking to ensure access and opportunity for all students. These findings suggest that the AP should be duly prepared and supported as teaching, learning, and educational leadership continue to evolve in these extraordinary times. Based on a synthesis of the literature, we argue for a revision of the outdated AP role to one more reflective of increased awareness regarding instructional leadership, student diversity, equity, and access within the current educational environment of standards-based reform.
Cultivating joy: Improving nurse resilience through use of a practice playbook.

Abstract Purpose/aims The purpose of this study was to determine whether resiliency activities, compiled into a practice playbook designed for implementation by nurse leaders and self-initiation by clinical nurses, improves resilience in both the nurse leaders and direct care nurses who implement them. Background Evidence indicates strengthening nurse resilience increases well-being, protects against burnout, improves retention and increases patient safety. Methods A resilience playbook was assembled to include stress-reduction activities. Resilience was measured at baseline and after two phases during which participants engaged in leader-led and self-initiated activities. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) was used to measure resilience. Results A total of 118 nurses completed both phases; 17 leaders and 101 clinical nurses. A significant increase in mean CD-RISC scores was detected among those who participated in self-initiated activities (p = 0.01). Initiating or participating in leader-led activities did not positively impact resilience scores. Further, clinical nurses who participated in leader-led activities were not more likely to participate in self-initiated activities. Conclusions This study supports self-initiated resilience-strengthening activities as beneficial to nurses, but not leader-led initiatives. These results are especially important for nursing leaders as they strive to reduce burnout, improve nurse retention and achieve exceptional practice quality.
Rates of violence Perpetration and victimization in Cohorts of Middle and High- School Students During a Sexual violence Prevention Initiative: A longitudinal Analysis

This paper examines the likelihood of violence in successive cohorts of students in a small city during the implementation of a youth-led sexual violence prevention initiative. We compared the like...
Simulation and Analyses of a Refuse Collection System

A mathematical simulation analysis of refuse collection and disposal systems is presented. A computer program capable of considering stochastic variations in the system parameters has been written for the daily route method of refuse collection. Initial computations serve to delineate the relationships of the several performance parameters (over-all collection efficiency, length of workday, etc.) to the characteristics of the system (average daily quantity of refuse, daily variability in the quantity of refuse, truck capacity, etc.). Results are presented in a series of nineteen graphs. Useful extensions of this work are briefly considered.
Realizing the International Human Right to Health for Noncitizens in the United States

Individuals living in the United States who are not citizens comprise seven percent of the U.S. population. These non-citizens have a specific status under U.S. law, and that status dictates entitlement and access to health care benefits and services. And the news is not good. Individuals without so-called legal status suffer tremendous barriers to access to care and are harmed as a consequence. This article first examines what non-citizens of any country can expect in terms of health and health care by virtue of the existence of the international human right to health. Second, this article explores what non-citizens in the United States can expect in terms of health care under the laws of the United States. Finally, this article will examine how trade law and immigration law can be modified to improve access to health care among non-citizens in ways that conform to the norms established by the international human right to health. The article concludes with a statement of principles that should guide the recognition of the international human right to health for all who live in a country in which they are non-citizens.
Subduction Factory 3: An Excel worksheet and macro for calculating the densities, seismic wave speeds, and H2O contents of minerals and rocks at pressure and temperature

[1] An Excel macro to calculate mineral and rock physical properties at elevated pressure and temperature is presented. The workbook includes an expandable database of physical parameters for 52 rock-forming minerals stable at high pressures and temperatures. For these minerals the elastic moduli, densities, seismic velocities, and H2O contents are calculated at any specified P and T conditions, using basic thermodynamic relationships and third-order finite strain theory. The mineral modes of suites of rocks are also specifiable, so that their predicted aggregate properties can be calculated using standard solid mixing theories. A suite of sample rock modes taken from the literature provides a useful starting point. The results of these calculations can be applied to a wide variety of geophysical questions including estimating the alteration of the oceanic crust and mantle; predicting the seismic velocities of lower-crustal xenoliths; estimating the effects of changes in mineralogy, pressure and temperature on buoyancy; and assessing the H2O content and mineralogy of subducted lithosphere from seismic observations.
Improvement in surface fatigue life of hardened gears by high-intensity shot peening

Two groups of carburized, hardened, and ground spur gears that were manufactured from the same heat vacuum induction melted vacuum arc melted (VIM VAR) AISI 9310 steel were endurance tested for surface fatigue. Both groups were manufactured with a standard ground 16 rms surface finish. One group was subjected to a shot peening (SP) intensity of 7 to 9A, and the second group was subjected to a SP intensity of 15 to 17A. All gears were honed after SP to a surface finish of 16 rms. The gear pitch diameter was 8.89 cm. Test conditions were a maximum Hertz stress of 1.71 GPa, a gear temperature of 350 K, and a speed of 10000 rpm. The lubricant used for the tests was a synthetic paraffinic oil with an additive package. The following results were obtained: The 10 pct. surface fatigue (pitting) life of the high intensity (15 to 17A) SPed gears was 2.15 times that of the medium intensity (7 to 9A) SPed gears, the same as that calculated from measured residual stress at a depth of 127 microns. The measured residual stress for the high intensity SPed gears was 57 pct. higher than that for the medium intensity SPed gears at a depth of 127 microns and 540 pct. higher at a depth of 51 microns.
Effect of Water Salinity on Shale Reservoir Productivity

It is well known that rocks containing water-reactive clays may swell when contacting with fresh water. In a conventional formation, this swelling may cause wellbore stability problem or damage formation by reducing its permeability. However, the effect of water salinity on shale rocks may be different. This issue is investigated in this paper. Shale rocks were immersed in water of different salinities. Shale rocks used were Mancos, Marcellus, Barnett and Eagle Ford. Different concentrations of NaCl and KCl salt solutions from 0% to 30% by weight were added in the water. It was observed that Mancos core plugs were crushed into loose grains (fragmented) at low salinity solutions up to 15%. Barnett core plugs showed consecutive cracks along bedding planes at low salinities. Minor cracks were seen on Marcellus, while no cracks at all were found in Eagle Ford core plugs at low salinities. When the shale plugs were saturated with oil, 2-15% oil was recovered by water spontaneous imbibition, depending on water salinity and rock mineralogy. Similar observations were made when shale core plugs were applied to an overburden pressure. The results from this paper help us to understand the drive mechanisms in shale oil and shale gas reservoirs. It also stimulates us to explore new ways to improve oil and gas recovery in shale reservoirs. Key words : Water salinity; Shale reservoir; Oil and gas recovery
Therapeutic use of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in neonatal rats with type III group B streptococcal sepsis.

The use of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) as therapy in neonatal sepsis has been proposed because of observed defects in polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) production and function in infected neonates. Newborn rats were infected intraperitoneally (ip) with type III group B streptococcus (III-GBS) and effects of treatment with rhGM-CSF given ip 7-19 h after infection were studied. Overall mortality was 67% in controls and 37% in animals treated with rhGM-CSF (P = .003). No changes in peripheral blood PMNL number or oxidative metabolic function were found in infected or uninfected animals given rhGM-CSF compared with controls. In uninfected animals, there was an increase in the oxidative burst of peritoneal cells at 3.5 h (P = .043) and in the numbers of peritoneal cells at 3 h (P = .001) in animals receiving ip rhGM-CSF compared with controls. Phagocyte priming, cellular influx into the peritoneum, or both appear to contribute to the decreased mortality observed in this model of rhGM-CSF therapy of III-GBS disease in neonates.
The impact of individual forms of childhood maltreatment on health behavior.

Abstract Objective: This study examines the unique contribution of five types of maltreatment (sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect) to adult health behaviors as well as the additive impact of exposure to different types of childhood maltreatment. Method: Two hundred and twenty-one women recruited from a VA primary care clinic completed questionnaires assessing exposure to childhood trauma and adult health behaviors. Regression models were used to test the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adult health behaviors. Results: Sexual and physical abuse appear to predict a number of adverse outcomes; when other types of maltreatment are controlled, however, sexual abuse and physical abuse do not predict as many poor outcomes. In addition, sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and emotional neglect in childhood were all related to different adult health behaviors. The more types of childhood maltreatment participants were exposed to the more likely they were to have problems with substance use and risky sexual behaviors in adulthood. Implications: The results indicate that it is important to assess a broad maltreatment history rather than trying to relate specific types of abuse to particular adverse health behaviors or health outcomes.
Seizure prophylaxis in an animal model of epilepsy by dietary fluoxetine supplementation

Clinical and animal model evidence suggests that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) act as anticonvulsants. The present studies tested the possibility that the El mouse model of genetically predisposed/handling-triggered epilepsy would exhibit fewer seizures following SSRI treatment via dietary fluoxetine adulteration. In particular, potential bioenergetic and neural mechanisms for anticonvulsant efficacy of fluoxetine were explored using food intake/body weight monitoring and quantification of brain serotonin transporter protein. El mice consuming a chow diet ad libitum or yoked in quantity to fluoxetine diet intake exhibited seizure incidence of 40% in response to tail-suspension handling, whereas seizures were abolished (0%) among El mice consuming a fluoxetine-adultered diet over 7 days. A 3 day period of fluoxetine administration was insufficient to exert anticonvulsant efficacy and all treatment groups exhibited the same circadian locomotor activity patterns at the time of seizure susceptibility testing. Bioenergetic factors could not account for the anticonvulsant efficacy of fluoxetine since yoked diet controls with matched food intake, body weight change and blood glucose levels exhibited the same 40% seizure incidence as ad libitum chow controls. Importantly, the 7 day period of dietary fluoxetine exposure was effective in selectively reducing cell density in the parietal cortex and increasing serotonin transporter protein content in the nucleus accumbens. Taken together, these results suggest that dietary fluoxetine supplementation abolishes handling-induced seizure susceptibility in El mice via a neural remodeling mechanism independent of energy balance.
Neuropeptide Y and Markers of Osteoblast Activity in Dialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background In mice, neuropeptide Y (NPY) decreases bone turnover by means of a parathyroid hormone-independent effect on osteoblast activity. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Setting & Participants We studied the relationship between levels of NPY and biomarkers of osteoblast activity in 161 nondiabetic patients with end-stage renal disease (131 patients, hemodialysis; 30 patients, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis). Predictors & Outcomes We performed an analysis of demographic and clinical variables associated with NPY as a dependent variable and a second analysis testing the association of NPY (as an independent variable) with markers of osteoblast activity. Results Peritoneal dialysis as treatment modality (β = 0.37; P P P P = 0.01). The NPY-alkaline phosphatase link was confirmed in a multiple regression analysis adjusting for a series of potential confounders, including parathyroid hormone. In a categorical analysis in which the study population was divided according to NPY quartiles, the proportion of patients with low alkaline phosphatase levels was lowest in the first 2 NPY quartiles (26%) and highest in NPY quartile 4 (80%; P Limitations The hypothesis generated by this cross-sectional study needs to be confirmed in cohort studies. Conclusions The inverse relationships between levels of NPY and biomarkers of bone turnover support the hypothesis that NPY may be implicated in low bone turnover in dialysis patients by a central parathyroid-independent mechanism.
Orthostatic Proteinuria and Milk Ingestion

An adolescent, contemplating a military career, was found to have orthostatic proteinuria. A thorough evaluation failed to reveal any renal abnormalities. He was tested on a milk-free diet at the request of the parents. The proteinuria cleared, but recurred on an initial open challenge; it did not recur subsequently on a blinded challenge. This experience suggests that patients with orthostatic proteinuria should be evaluated with an elimination diet trial.
Bacteriological Studies of Uteri of Clinically Normal Cows of Low Fertility

Summary This study was undertaken to determine if the uteri of clinically normal repeat-breeder cows contained microorganisms at 16 days postbreeding, a stage immediately followed by a high incidence of embryonic death. Sixty-nine repeat-breeders were slaughtered, the uteri removed aseptically, and flushed with 15ml. of 0.1% tryptone broth. Various media were inoculated with the recovered fluid and incubated in air, in 15% CO 2 and reduced air, and in an anaerobic jar. Triturated endometrial tissue of 35 animals in the study was similarly cultured. Microorganisms were recovered from the uteri of eight (11.6%) of the 69 repeat-breeders. A yeast, Candida krusei , was isolated from four uteri, an Escherichia species from one, a Pseudomonas from one, Brucella abortus from one, and a paracolon from one. Embryos were recovered from 31 of 62 uteri from cows with anatomically normal reproductive tracts; three embryos were recovered from the eight infected uteri. Vaginal mucus samples were obtained from 35 of the animals at from 11 to 13 days postbreeding and at slaughter. One cow had a positive mucus agglutination test for Vibro fetus . Serum agglutination-lysis tests for leptospirosis were made on all animals. None was positive. Microbial infection apparently accounted for few of the embryonic deaths in these clinically normal repeat-breeders.