cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of a Novel Endoscopic Catheter for Direct Visualization and Ablation in an Ovine Model of Chronic Myocardial Infarction

Background—Defining the arrhythmogenic substrate is essential for successful ablation of scar-related ventricular tachycardia. The visual characteristics of endocardial ischemic scar have not been described in vivo. The goal of this study was (1) to quantify the visual characteristics of normal tissue, scar border zone, and dense scar in vivo with the use of a novel endoscopic catheter that allows direct endocardial visualization and (2) to correlate visual attributes of myocardial scar with bipolar voltage. Methods and Results—Percutaneous transient balloon occlusion (150 minutes) of the mid left anterior descending coronary artery was performed in an ovine model. Animals survived for 41.5±0.7 days. Detailed bipolar voltage maps of the left ventricle were acquired with the use of NavX. Video snapshots of the endocardium were acquired at sites distributed throughout the left ventricle. Visual tissue characteristics of normal (>1.5 mV), border (0.5–1.5 mV), and dense scar (<0.5 mV) were quantified with the...
Motility as a Selective Force in the Reversion of Cystic Fibrosis-Associated Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the Nonmucoid Phenotype in Culture

Motility acted as a strong positive selection for nonmucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa in unshaken cultures. Consistent with this finding, electron microscopic examination of mucoid and nonmucoid revertant strains indicated that the mucoid cells were nonflagellated whereas the nonmucoid revertants were flagellated.
Nonlinear Hamiltonian waves with constant frequency and surface waves on vorticity discontinuities

Waves with constant, nonzero linearized frequency form an interesting class of nondispersive waves whose properties differ from those of nondispersive hyperbolic waves. We propose an inviscid Burgers-Hilbert equation as a model equation for such waves and give a dimensional argument to show that it models Hamiltonian surface waves with constant frequency. Using the method of multiple scales, we derive a cubically nonlinear, quasi-linear, nonlocal asymptotic equation for weakly nonlinear solutions. We show that the same asymptotic equation describes surface waves on a planar discontinuity in vorticity in two-dimensional inviscid, incompressible fluid flows. Thus, the Burgers-Hilbert equation provides an effective equation for these waves. We describe the Hamiltonian structure of the Burgers-Hilbert and asymptotic equations, and show that the asymptotic equation can also be derived by means of a near-identity transformation. We derive a semiclassical approximation of the asymptotic equation and show that spatially periodic, harmonic traveling waves are linearly and modulationally stable. Numerical solutions of the Burgers-Hilbert and asymptotic equations are in excellent agreement in the appropriate regime. In particular, the lifespan of small-amplitude smooth solutions of the Burgers-Hilbert equation is given by the cubically nonlinear timescale predicted by the asymptotic equation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Estimation of Ultraviolet-B Irradiance under Variable Cloud Conditions

Abstract Methods to estimate the irradiance of ultraviolet-B (UVB; 280–320 nm) radiation are needed to assess biological effects of changes in atmospheric composition. Measurements of the spatial distribution of sky cloud cover, temporal variability of photon flux density of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; 400–700 nm), and UVB irradiance (I-UVB) were made on 23 days during the summer of 1993 in a rural area (West Lafayette, Indiana). Prediction equations for the measured UVB irradiance under partly cloudy skies were developed based on the photosynthetically active photon flux density (PPFD), cloud cover fraction, probability of cloud obstruction of the sun, and a semiempirical combination of cloud probability and cloud cover. The I-UVB was linearly related to the PPFD, with the variability in PPFD accounting for 77% of the I-UVB variability. Normalized PPFD (PAR F) and I-UVB (UVB F) values, calculated by dividing the observed value by the expected cloud-free sky PPFD and I-UVB, were also linearl...
Out-of-plane ultrasound-guided paravertebral blocks improve analgesic outcomes in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

PURPOSE Paravertebral blocks (PVBs) are a method of limiting postoperative pain for patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). We began providing ultrasound-guided PVBs for patients undergoing VATS in the spring of 2011, using an out-of-plane approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate this practice change. METHODS Following institutional review board approval, we reviewed the charts of 114 patients undergoing VATS by one surgeon at our institution between January 2011 and July 2012. Of the 78 eligible patients, 49 patients received a PVB prior to surgery. We evaluated opioids administered in the perioperative period, pain scores, and side effects from pain medications. RESULTS Patients who received a preoperative PVB required fewer narcotics intraoperatively and during their hospital stay (P=0.001 and 0.011, respectively). Pain scores on initial assessment and in recovery were lower in patients who received a PVB (P=0.005), as were dynamic and resting pain scores at 24 hours after surgery (P=0.003 and P<0.001, respectively). Patients receiving a PVB had fewer episodes of treated nausea both in the postanesthesia care unit (P=0.004) and for the first 24 hours after surgery (P=0.001). These patients also spent less time in recovery (P=0.025) than the patients who did not receive a block. CONCLUSION The current study suggests improved outcomes in patients who underwent VATS with a preoperative PVB. All variables showed a trend toward improved results in patients who obtained a preoperative PVB.
Examining Online Social Network Use and Its Effect on the Use of Privacy Settings and Profile Disclosure

Online social networks (OSN) have become a part of our daily lives whether they are used for socialization and communication or to promote business interests. OSN have become an important tool for ...
Evaluating Individual Change With the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL) Short Forms.

Abstract Objective To provide a clinically useful means of interpreting change for individual patients on the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL) adult short forms (SFs) by applying a classical test theory concept for interpreting individual change. Design Secondary analysis of existing data. Setting Community. Participants Persons with neurologic conditions including stroke, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson disease residing in community settings. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Neuro-QoL SFs for Applied Cognition–General Concerns, Applied Cognition–Executive Function, Applied Cognition–Combined, Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities, Satisfaction With Social Roles and Activities, Positive Affect and Well-Being, Depression, Stigma, Upper Extremity Function (Fine Motor, Activities of Daily Living), Lower Extremity Function (Mobility), Anxiety, Sleep Disturbance, Fatigue, and Emotional and Behavioral Dyscontrol. We estimated conditional minimal detectable change (cMDC) indices from the pooled SEs adjusted for a 95% confidence interval using the average of the SEs for any given pair of scores multiplied by the z score, or ([SE Score1 + SE Score2 ]/2) * (1.96) * (SQRT(2)). Results The cMDC indices are generally smallest in the midrange of all scales, ranging from 3.6 to 11.2 T-score points, and higher on the outer quartiles ranging from 3.7 to 21.6 T-score points. The lowest midrange cMDCs were for Satisfaction With Social Roles and Activities (3.6–4.7 T-score points), and the largest were for Sleep Disturbance (9.4–11.2 T-score points). Conclusions Change indices can help clinicians and investigators identify differences for individual patients or subjects that are large enough to motivate treatment change. cMDCs can reduce misclassification of magnitudes of change that are near the margins of error across the range of the Neuro-QoL SFs.
Back-Calculation of Tensile Properties of Strain Softening and Hardening Cement Composites

Back-calculation procedures are used to obtain uniaxial tensile properties of cement composites from closed loop flexural tests. The proposed methodology uses a forward calculation of obtaining load deflection results based on tensile data in conjunction with crack localization rules. A closed form solution for moment–curvature and load deflection response is obtained using these material parameters. Test results are applied to a series of strain hardening composites to obtain material parameters for polymeric fiber reinforced concrete samples. Test results are compared with data reported for Average Residual tensile Strength (ARS) obtained from ASTM tests such as ASTM C1399 and C1609 and a correlation between the ARS and proposed post-peak strength are obtained. Results point out to the un-conservative nature of reporting the material properties data using the ASTM recommended test procedures.
Approaches to Low Power Radio Design

As discussed in the previous chapter, Low Power Communication is the key to realization of a low power sensor node. Since sensor nodes require only low data rate communication, it might sound intuitively clear that they should also naturally be low power. After all, if a node does less work, it should also consume lesser power. But somehow this doesn’t seem to fit the behavior for low data rate communication, short range radios. If we look at existing radio designs at various data rates and ranges, we see that the design space occupied is very wide. There are designs that operate at very high (~100 Mbps) data rates and designs that operate at low data rates (~100 Kbps). There are designs that take wall supply, consuming a few watts of power, while some work on batteries. If one looks at energy per bit requirements of these designs, while some designs operate at hundreds of nJ/bit, some other designs exist consuming only 0.1 nJ/bit (Fig. 2.1). Now if we plot the range over these designs and examine how they should scale according to the energy/bit requirements we should see radios working at low data rates while consuming few microwatts of power, as required by sensor networks. These designs do not exist. The reasons there aren’t any designs in this space requires us to consider the consequences of scaling traditional design as we go for lower and lower data rate. Since Shannon’s law governs the limit on the energy efficiency of radio communication and link margin vis-a-vis the channel capacity, it makes sense to have a closer look at it and then see what constraints typical radio architectures have that prevent power from scaling in low data rate applications.
Flaubert's Itinerary in Greece

In the various studies of French Hellenism, attention has rarely been directed thus far to determining with exact precision where French travellers went in Greece.1 And yet their itineraries are often very revealing. This is particularly true of Gustave Flaubert. From his itinerary, not only may we know what he saw and what he chose to omit, but also we may divine the reasons for his choices. Their implications will allow us to establish one more facet of his place in nineteenth-century French Hellenism. Further, but within this broad framework, a closer study of the specific problems of his trip through the Pass of Thermopylae and of his difficulties with its topography will permit us to begin evaluating his approach to the problems of Greek archaeology, upon whose resolution so much of modern Hellenism has depended. In his life and works, Hellenism occupied an important place. From the first version of the Education sentimentale begun in 1843 to the final version of the Tentation de saint Antoine published in 1874, passages in his works frequently center about it; and his esthetics are profoundly imbued with the implications and conclusions which he drew, over the years, from his intimate study of ancient Greece. As one part of the total definition of his place in the movement, I am presenting here his itinerary, based upon the confusing data which he has left us,2 and, as a sample of his archaeological efforts, I am offering an elucidation of his complex notes on the Pass of Thermopylae.
Specificity and Potential Pathogenicity of Antibodies to a Central Nervous System (CNS) Autoantigen in Multiple Sclerosis Patients (P07.087)

Objective: To test whether antibodies to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients might contribute to alterations in neuronal function using in vitro and in vivo models of pathogenesis. Background MS patients develop antibodies to hnRNP A1, an mRNA binding protein critical to neuronal survival (J Neuroimmunol 235, 2011). Antibodies were specific for 9M99, its nuclear translocation sequence and caused neurodegeneration. hnRNP A1 has been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of demyelination through molecular control of myelin associated glycoprotein (PNAS 107, 2010). We tested hnRNP A1 antibody specificity for the CNS and its contribution to changes in neuronal function. Design/Methods: Western blots of human tissues and hnRNP A1 fragments were probed for immunoreactivity with MS and control IgG. Multiple mouse monoclonal antibodies (mMabs) were tested for cross-reactivity with the hnRNP A1 epitope recognized by MS IgG. mMabs that cross-reacted with the hnRNP A1 epitope were added to SKNSH neurons and tested for cytotoxicity, apoptosis and cell viability. mMabs were labeled with near-infrared fluorophores, infused into SJL mice and localized with an 9In Vivo Imaging System (IVIS). Results: In contrast to systemic organs and control IgG, MS IgG immunoreacted with human brain, neurons and neuronal cell lines. mMabs were found to cross-react with the same epitope recognized by MS IgG. In contrast to control IgG, mMabs (that recognized the MS hnRNP A1 epitope) caused apoptosis and loss of cellular viability. There was no effect on cytotoxicity. Antibodies co-localized with endosomes within neurons, indicative of their endocytosis. mMabs specific for the MS IgG hnRNP A1 epitope localized exclusively to mouse brain and spinal cord by IVIS, suggesting the immune reaction is specific for the CNS. Control IgG showed no such localization. Conclusions: Antibodies to the hnRNP A1 epitope recognized by MS patients are specific for the CNS and pathogenic to neurons. Supported by: Office of Research and Development, Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs and University of Tennessee Health Science Center Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund. Disclosure: Dr. Levin has received personal compensation for activities with Serono, TEVA, Biogen-Idec, and Gerson Lehman Group. Dr. Lee has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gardner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Groover has nothing to disclose. Dr. Douglas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Raine has nothing to disclose.
A five-year longitudinal study of wearing individual hearing protection earplugs

[Objective]To study the long-term effects of individual hearing protection earplugs( HPEs) on hearing protection of workers,and provide scientific method for prevention and intervention of noise-induced hearing loss.[Methods]A total of 200 noise-exposed workers were selected by random multistage sampling to wear individual HPEs and to receive 5-year-consecutive-examination from 2007-2012,the hearing loss rate was compared between different years.[Results]The results showed that investigated workplaces noise were med- high frequency and noise intensity was monitored between 85.3 dB( A)-93.3 dB( A).There was no significant difference in each frequency hearing threshold and hearing impairment of workers who received 5-year-consecutive-examination( P 0.05).[Conclusion]Suitable hearing protection equipments should be supplied to protect workers away from noise hazards.The individual HPEs' manufacture is according to individual ear canal structure,so it is suitalbe for long time use,and it can play a positive role in protecting the noise-exposed workers' hearing.
Association between intimate partner violence and mentally unhealthy days in women in the U.S.

Background In the United States (U.S.), intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health concern, mainly affecting the health and well-being of women. The objective of this study was to identify the IPV and socio-demographic factors associated with mentally unhealthy days among women in the U.S. of ages ≥18 years. Methods Data for this study were obtained from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Multivariable analyses were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for factors associated with IPV and 14 or more mentally unhealthy days per month. Analyses were conducted using SAS 9.3. Results The analyses show that the following factors increase the likelihood of self-reported 14 or more mentally unhealthy days: having a high school level of education or less (AOR: 1.732; 95% CI: 1.415-2.119) and having an income < $50,000. In addition, experiencing IPV such as: ever being threatened by a sex partner (AOR: 1.499; 95% CI: 1.264-1.779); having a sex partner ever attempt violence (AOR: 1.461; 95% CI: 1.224-1.743); having a sex partner ever become violent (AOR: 1.541; 95% CI: 1.303-1.823); and ever having unwanted sex with a partner (AOR: 1.929; 95% CI: 1.584-2.350) also increased the likelihood of self-reported 14 or more mentally unhealthy days per month. Conclusions The results indicate that, for women in the U.S., IPV and socio-demographic factors have an effect on self-reported 14 or more mentally unhealthy days. Improving access to services that offer protection and guidance for women abused by their intimate partner could decrease the likelihood of selfreported 14 or more mentally unhealthy days and long-term negative mental health outcomes among women.
Self-reference and emotional memory effects in older adults at increased genetic risk of Alzheimer's disease.

ABSTRACTThe present study investigated whether cognitively healthy older adults who are carriers of the e4 allele of apolipoprotein E, the most prevalent genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, benefit from self-referential processing and emotional processing to the same degree as noncarriers of this gene. Participants encoded emotional and nonemotional narratives using a baseline-orienting task, semantic elaboration, or imagination-based self-referential processing and then completed a recognition memory test. Both groups of older adults showed enhanced recognition memory for narrative information following self-referential processing relative to semantic elaboration, and the magnitude of this memory effect was not affected by e4 status. However, older adult e4 carriers did not show an emotional enhancement effect, whereas older adult e4 noncarriers did. These results indicate that whereas the self-reference effect is not attenuated in cognitively healthy older adults e4 carriers, deficit...
Therapeutic Hypothermia in Children

The clinical use of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is established as a standard of care for neonates with perinatal asphyxia, for whom TH leads to improved neurologic outcome at 18-month recovery. TH has not proven effective in randomized trials of children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA). Despite a promising initial randomized-controlled study of TH in severe pediatric TBI [1], two further studies demonstrated decreased intracranial pressure during hypothermia but no difference in neurological outcome in children at 3 and 6 months of recovery and a possible increase in mortality in children treated with TH versus normothermia [2, 3]. The most recent study was stopped early for futility as safety concerns prompted for an interim analysis [3]. A study of TH for out-of-hospital CA in 260 children also showed no benefit at 1-year recovery [4]. In this chapter, we will discuss EEG monitoring in neonates after perinatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and in children in the context of CA, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), status epilepticus (SE), and acute liver failure. A summary of the effects of TH in neonates and children with respect to EEG changes during cooling and rewarming, the clinical applications of EEG in pediatrics, and its use for prognostication in pediatric brain insults is shown in Table 21.1.
The Adventure Therapy Experience Scale: The Psychometric Properties of a Scale to Measure the Unique Factors Moderating an Adventure Therapy Experience:

Adventure therapy (AT) is defined as “the prescriptive use of adventure experiences provided by mental health professionals, often conducted in natural settings, that kinesthetically engage clients...
Bio-Inspired Iron-Catalyzed Olefin Oxidations: Epoxidation Versus Cis-Dihydroxylation

Publisher Summary A number of nonheme iron complexes have recently been identified that catalyze the epoxidation and cis-dihydroxylation of olefins with H 2 O 2 as oxidant. These catalysts have been inspired by a class of arene cis-dihydroxylating enzymes called the Rieske dioxygenases, the active sites of which consist of an iron center ligated by two histidines and a bidentate aspartate residue. The two remaining sites are cis to each other and are utilized for oxygen activation. The most effective biomimetic catalysts thus far have polydentate ligands that provide two such cis-oriented labile sites to activate the H 2 O 2 oxidant. This chapter summarizes recent developments in this area of bio-inspired oxidation catalysis and discusses the evolution of the mechanistic pathways proposed to rationalize the new experimental results and the dichotomy between olefin epoxidation versus cis-dihydroxylation. The epoxidation and cis-dihydroxylation of olefins are important chemical transformations in both natural product and drug synthesis. While epoxidation typically involves either peracids or metal-based catalysts with H 2 O 2 , olefin cis-dihydroxylation involves the use of OsO 4 . These nonheme iron catalysts therefore potentially offer an environmentally more benign alternative to peracid-mediated epoxidations and osmium-catalyzed cis-dihydroxylation reactions. The most extensively studied ones thus far are complexes composed of tetradentate N4 ligands that have cis-oriented available coordination sites, analogous to those observed for the Rieske dioxygenase enzymes. These complexes have been shown to catalyze both the epoxidation and cis-dihydroxylation of olefins, but many factors affect which of these products is favored, revealing a surprisingly complex reaction landscape for catalysis.
Debt as a double-edged risk: A historical case from Nahua (Aztec) Mexico

Debt is one of the oldest and most widespread social arrangements that humans use to manage hardship—and it has also been one of the riskiest. David Graeber convincingly makes this case in his recent study of debt over the last five thousand years, but his focus on the Old World leaves open the question of whether similar contradictions emerged among the markets, cities, and states of the Americas. This article uses sixteenth-century documents to reconstruct the practices, institutions, and morality of debt in Nahua society during the Aztec Empire (AD 1428–1521) and show how debt was a double-edged risk in the Aztec economy. Debt played a constructive role, helping some households through hard times and carrying little of the negative moral valence commonly associated with it. However, debts could create new vulnerabilities when secured by selling family members into slavery. Exploitative debt, however, may have only become a problem during economic and environmental crises that made the risks of debt seem less than the risks of other ways to deal with hardship. Without careful attention to cultural context and historical circumstances, generalizations about debt's exploitative aspects are limited in their ability to explain debt's global extent and historical persistence.
RAB with Various Levels of Information

The first four chapters in this book introduced Linear Programming as an optimal model for calculating the optimal solution to a resource-allocation problem when certain values are known. In this chapter and the seven chapters that follow, we will view resource-allocation behavior under various conditions, structures, and environments and we will examine both normative and cognitive models for understanding how people make resource-allocation decisions. We will begin in this chapter with an examination of how people allocate resources under conditions of Certainty, Risk, and Uncertainty. We will see that participants can learn to perform a resource-allocation task with surprising success, that participants perform best under Certainty and worst under Uncertainty, that participants tend to allocate more resources early in a time period, and that participants prefer to hold some resources in reserve in case of unanticipated needs. This chapter will draw heavily on the 1993 article entitled, Resource-Allocation Behavior Under Certainty, Risk, and Uncertainty, by Langholtz, Gettys, and Foote with sections reproduced here with permission.
A machine learning system for rainfall estimation from spaceborne and ground radars

Rainfall measured by Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) is important for studying precipitation distribution in the tropical regions. The ground validation of TRMM PR is difficult because the ground sensing systems have different characteristics from TRMM PR in terms of resolution, scale, view aspect and sensing environments. In this paper, we introduce a machine learning system to train ground radars for rainfall estimation using rain gauge data and subsequently using the trained ground radar rainfall estimation to train TRMM PR. This system can build a connection between ground gauge measurements and ground radar observations, and transfer this connection to TRMM PR observations for rainfall estimation. The rain gauge, ground radar and satellite data collected from Melbourne, Florida are used for demonstration purposes. The rainfall estimation product derived from this new system is compared against the TRMM standard products, which shows improvement brought by the new machine learning system.
Elimination of Left-Right Reciprocal Coupling in the Adult Lamprey Spinal Cord Abolishes the Generation of Locomotor Activity

The contribution of left-right reciprocal coupling between spinal locomotor networks to the generation of locomotor activity was tested in adult lampreys. Muscle recordings were made from normal animals as well as from experimental animals with rostral midline (ML) spinal lesions (~13%35% body length, BL), before and after spinal transections (T) at 35% BL. Importantly, in the present study actual locomotor movements and muscle burst activity, as well as other motor activity, were initiated in whole animals by descending brain-spinal pathways in response to sensory stimulation of the anterior head. For experimental animals with ML spinal lesions, sensory stimulation could elicit well-coordinated locomotor muscle burst activity, but with some significant differences in the parameters of locomotor activity compared to those for normal animals. Computer models representing normal animals or experimental animals with ML spinal lesions could mimic many of the differences in locomotor activity. For experimental animals with ML and T spinal lesions, right and left rostral hemi-spinal cords, disconnected from intact caudal cord, usually produced tonic or unpatterned muscle activity. Hemi-spinal cords sometimes generated spontaneous or sensory-evoked relatively high frequency “burstlet” activity that probably is analogous to the previously described in vitro “fast rhythm”, which is thought to represent lamprey locomotor activity. However, “burstlet” activity in the present study had parameters and features that were very different than those for lamprey locomotor activity: average frequencies were ~25 Hz, but individual frequencies could be >50 Hz; burst proportions often varied with cycled time; “burstlet” activity usually was not accompanied by a rostrocaudal phase lag; and following ML spinal lesions alone, “burstlet” activity could occur in the presence or absence of swimming burst activity, suggesting the two were generated by different mechanisms. In summary, for adult lampreys, left and right hemi-spinal cords did not generate rhythmic locomotor activity in response to descending inputs from the brain, suggesting that left-right reciprocal coupling of spinal locomotor networks contributes to both phase control and rhythmogenesis. In addition, the present study indicates that extreme caution should be exercised when testing the operation of spinal locomotor networks using artificial activation of isolated or reduced nervous system preparations.
Abstract Analysis and Revision Assignment Using MS Word Readability Statistics

In teaching technical writing for nearly 20 years, I have recognized the importance of including writing assignments focused on improving students' clarity and effectiveness at the sentence level. I present a writing assignment for STEM students ranging from freshman to graduate-level. Students first find a published abstract in their discipline and then use readability tools to analyze the abstract's style. They revise the abstract for better readability while maintaining professional tone. This assignment reinforces research skills, audience awareness, and reflection on sentence-level stylistic choices.
Factors Contributing to Appropriate Sharps Disposal in the Community Among Patients With Diabetes

Background. Proper disposal of sharps has been well studied in hospital settings but not often addressed in the home setting. This lack of attention has resulted in erratic use of proper sharps disposal techniques and thus increased risk of needle-stick injuries and infections. This study aimed to evaluate methods of disposal and patient demographic factors associated with correct disposal of diabetes-related sharps in the community. Methods. A survey was administered to diabetes patients at an endocrinology clinic of an academic tertiary care center. Correct disposal of sharps was defined as use of designated sharps or other leak-proof containers. Numerous patient factors were evaluated for a clinically significant association with correct disposal of sharps via χ2 testing. Results. Fifty-nine percent of patients reported disposing of their sharps correctly. Those with diabetes for >30 years had the lowest rate of correct disposal (36%). Age, sex, education level, type of diabetes, and type of diabetes regimen were not associated with correct disposal. Patients who received formal training on proper sharps disposal from a nurse or from other sources were more likely to dispose of sharps correctly (odds ratio [OR] 3.95, 95% CI 1.37–11.34, and OR 4.55, 95% CI 1.5–13.85, respectively). Married patients were less likely to correctly dispose of sharps (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.14–0.92, P = 0.033). Conclusion/Clinical Relevance. This study was the first to examine disposal practices and associated risk factors for poor disposal methods among patients in a U.S. tertiary medical center. A large portion of patients was found to have improper sharps disposal practices. Prior formal training in sharps disposal was associated with higher rates of correct practices, suggesting that increased emphasis on provider-patient education can lead to significant improvement in disposal habits.
Sol-gel niobia sorbent with a positively charged octadecyl ligand providing enhanced enrichment of nucleotides and organophosphorus pesticides in capillary microextraction for online HPLC analysis.

A niobia-based sol-gel organic-inorganic hybrid sorbent carrying a positively charged C18 ligand (Nb2 O5 -C18 (+ve)) was synthesized to achieve enhanced enrichment capability in capillary microextraction of organophosphorus compounds (which include organophosphorus pesticides and nucleotides) before their online analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography. The sorbent was designed to simultaneously provide three different types of molecular level interactions: electrostatic, Lewis acid-base, and van der Waals interactions. To understand relative contributions of various molecular level analyte-sorbent interactions in the extraction process, two other sol-gel niobia sorbents were also created: (a) a purely inorganic sol-gel niobia sorbent (Nb2 O5 ) and (b) an organic-inorganic hybrid sol-gel niobia sorbent carrying an electrically neutral-bonded octadecyl ligand (Nb2 O5 -C18 ). The extraction efficiency of the created sol-gel niobia sorbent (Nb2 O5 -C18 (+ve)) was compared with that of analogously designed and synthesized titania-based sol-gel sorbent (TiO2 -C18 (+ve)), taking into consideration that titania-based sorbents present state-of-the-art extraction media for organophosphorus compounds. In capillary microextraction with high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, Nb2 O5 -C18 (+ve) had shown 40-50% higher specific extraction values (a measure of extraction efficiency) over that of TiO2 -C18 (+ve). Compared to TiO2 -C18 (+ve), Nb2 O5 -C18 (+ve) also provided superior analyte desorption efficiency (96 vs. 90%) during the online release of the extracted organophosphorus pesticides from the sorbent coating in the capillary microextraction capillary to the chromatographic column using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography mobile phase.
Microstructural characterization and evaluation of certain important physical properties of thuja burl wood

This investigation aimed to characterize certain important anatomical, chemical and physical properties of Tetraclinis articulate (Thuja) burl wood from Morocco. Anatomical properties and constituent structure were analysed using image analysis system, environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) and powder x-ray diffraction techniques. A few important physical properties of Thuja burl wood such as density, specific gravity, equilibrium moisture content (EMC), total swelling and water absorption characteristics were evaluated. Real-time water absorption and swelling profiles were recorded electronically using a digital force sensor and linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) respectively. Microscopic structure observed on fractured surfaces showed very compact and thread-like fibers. Average crystallinity index and diameter of cellulose crystallite was found to be 0.35±0.03 and 36.00±5.58 A respectively. The average values of air-dry density and the EMC of Thuja burl wood were 932.67±50.57 kg/m3 and 10.19±1.43% respectively. Swelling profile as a function of the water immersion duration followed a curvilinear variation with maximum swelling coefficient of 2.9±0.43% after 24 hour from oven-dry condition. The suitability of this wood for decorative and handicraft items is attributed mainly to its dense microstructure, higher dimensional stability, lower water absorption, random grain texture, dark brownish with intense and pleasant smell.
Venous Thromboembolism in Female Adolescents: Patient Characteristics

Abstract Study Objective Our goal was to describe the period prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and characterize adolescent female patients diagnosed with VTE by describing their age, race, and number of comorbidities. Female adolescents with estrogen exposure were of particular interest because estrogen-containing contraceptives increase the risk of VTE. Design, Setting, Participants, and Interventions We queried the Pediatric Health Information System database for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth/Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes to identify female patients aged 12-18 years diagnosed with a VTE or pulmonary embolism from April 2006 to March 2016 in the United States. Patient demographic characteristics and comorbidities were also analyzed. We divided our study population into two five-year groups and calculated the change in period prevalence of VTE between those groups. Main Outcome Measures Primary diagnosis of VTE in the extremities, or pulmonary embolism. Results The period prevalence of VTE increased from 2.3 female adolescents per 10,000 hospitalized children (group 1) to 3.3 per 10,000 (group 2), representing a statistically significant increase of 0.010% (P Conclusion Pediatric health care providers should be aware that the period prevalence of VTEs in female adolescents is increasing. Those with a history of estrogen exposure rarely develop VTEs from estrogen alone and they typically have multiple comorbidities.
Arizona’s Immigration Policies and SB 1070

Enforcement directives are politically popular in Arizona, galvanizing support for elected and public officials. Some of the rhetoric regarding immigration has been largely symbolic and unfairly scapegoats immigrants. Starting in the mid-1990s, there have been a variety of policies passed in Arizona that target unauthorized immigrants. In 2010, one of the most controversial immigration policies in the United States, SB 1070, was passed in the state setting off debates nationally and internationally. As the unauthorized immigrant population increased, so did the number of laws targeting their presence. Immigration policy reform or more enforcement directives becomes politically popular in Arizona, galvanizing support for those elected officials that oppose illegal immigration. This chapter is a review of some of the laws, policies, and bills that led to the passage of SB 1070.
Crop Insurance as a Tool for Price and Yield Risk Management

Agricultural production uncertainty due to events such as drought, frost, insect infestation, and disease is widely recognized. Concern about the effects of this uncertainty on the financial stability of farm firms has generated long-standing interest in providing risk management instruments to protect producers from such production risks. In the United States, crop insurance stands as the most prominent risk-sharing mechanism for agricultural yield risk, while price risk protection has traditionally been afforded through forward pricing instruments such as futures contracts and through price-oriented government programs such as marketing loan programs and deficiency payments. Recent introduction of crop revenue insurance has, however, blurred the separation between mechanisms for price and yield risk protection.
Restoring Intimacy in Relationships Affected by Cancer

Existing medical treatments for men diagnosed with prostate cancer have a number of distressing side effects, which can include erectile ­dysfunction, leakage of urine with orgasm, dry ejaculation, penile shrinkage, loss of libido and responsiveness to sexual visual cues, urinary incontinence, bowel dysfunction and rectal bleeding, hot flashes, weight gain, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, pain, and physical impairment [1, 2]. Symptoms can occur immediately after treatment or may not develop until 2–5 years ­following treatment [3]. These symptoms can be troubling for men because they can compromise masculinity, self-esteem, sexual confidence, responsivity to sexual cues, sexual fantasies, sexual desire, the ability to engage in sexual activity, and subsequently increase psychological distress [2 4–7]. Sexual dysfunction can be a particularly difficult stressor. Although approximately half of men diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer use erectile aids to partially or completely restore erectile functioning [8, 9], the majority of men do not continue to use and/or are not satisfied with these aids [9–11]. Ultimately, many men never achieve the same level of or satisfaction with sexual activity as they experienced before the cancer [6], and the disruptions to sexual activity compromise men’s quality of life [7, 12].
Extracting Crack-tip Field Parameters in Anisotropic Elastic Solids From Full-field Measurements Using Least-squares Method and Conservation Integrals

This paper presents parameter-estimation methods developed to determine crack-tip field parameters in anisotropic elastic solids from full-field experimental data. The crack-tip field parameters of interest include not only stress intensity factors but also effective crack-tip positions. Two approaches that are based on least-squares method and conservation integrals were presented. In the approach based on the least-squares method, the Stroh representation of anisotropic elasticity was used to determine the coefficients in the asymptotic expansion of crack-tip fields in anisotropic solids. On the other hand, conservation integrals in fracture mechanics, such as J-integral, M-integral, Interaction integrals, were also used to extract the parameters including the effective crack-tip position. Both approaches were employed to analyze crack-tip displacement fields obtained by using Digital Image Correlation technique during translaminar fracture test of a fiber- reinforced polymer matrix composite. The applicability of homogeneous isotropic plane-elasticity models to translaminar fracture processes in laminated composite materials is also discussed.
Design and clinical validation of a point-of-care device for the diagnosis of lymphoma via contrast-enhanced microholography and machine learning.

The identification of patients with aggressive cancer who require immediate therapy is a health challenge in low- and middle-income countries. Limited pathology resources, high healthcare costs and large caseloads call for the development of advanced stand-alone diagnostics. Here, we report and validate an automated, low-cost point-of-care device for the molecular diagnosis of aggressive lymphomas. The device uses contrast-enhanced microholography and a deep learning algorithm to directly analyse percutaneously obtained fine-needle aspirates. We show the feasibility and high accuracy of the device in cells, as well as the prospective validation of the results in 40 patients clinically referred for image-guided aspiration of nodal mass lesions suspicious of lymphoma. Automated analysis of human samples with the portable device should allow for the accurate classification of patients with benign and malignant adenopathy. A low-cost point-of-care device that uses contrast-enhanced microholography and deep learning accurately detects aggressive lymphomas in patients referred for aspiration and biopsy of enlarged lymph nodes.
Hierarchical Optimization for Building Energy Systems

Optimal tradeoff between energy efficiency and thermal comfort is a critical aspect for building heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. Traditional optimization and control schemes such as, PID and rule-based control (RBC), may not sufficiently address this issue in smart buildings. Moreover, most optimization-based previous works have only considered either water-side HVAC or air-side HVAC separately while both of these systems significantly affect the performance of each other. This paper presents a hierarchical optimization approach to take water-side and air-side HVAC systems into account simultaneously for energy efficiency and thermal comfort requirements. We establish an outer-inner loop algorithmic framework and develop the hierarchical gradient descent algorithm and its variants to search for optimal set points. A notion of communication period is also introduced to control the computational complexity of the algorithm. A numerical case study is used for demonstrating the efficacy of the proposed approach.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder-Related Deficits and Psychostimulant Medication Effects on Comprehension of Audiovisually Presented Educational Material in Children.

Abstract Objective: We aimed to (1) examine differences in observed visual attention and motor activity, as well as comprehension of a science video between children with and without attention-defi...
Ultrafast Rectifier for Variable-Frequency Applications

In this paper, an ultrafast active rectifier is presented for variable-frequency applications. Three-phase ac-dc converters (rectifiers) are extensively implemented in motor-drives, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and aircraft's power systems. In some technologies, e.g., more electric aircraft and drones, power systems may employ variable-frequency generators for higher efficiency and reliability indices. The proposed ultrafast rectifier is equipped by a step-ahead predictive control scheme, an instantaneous phase-locked loop (PLL), and a module of six SiC MOSFETs. The control scheme regulates the dc voltage and maintains unity power factor with an extremely low total harmonic distortion in the input currents. The instantaneous PLL, applicable only for three-phase systems, is integrated to the proposed variable-frequency control scheme in order to minimize the error in the power factor. The step-ahead predictive scheme and instantaneous PLL combination provides fast and smooth dynamic responses under rapid frequency transients. Experimental results are presented using a laboratory-scale SiC-based MOSFET 115VLL/270Vdc rectifier, and the performance of the proposed controller is compared with a classical power factor correction controller in the presence of frequency ramp and step changes. The experimental results demonstrate a superior dynamic performance of the proposed ultrafast active rectifier.
NON VITAMIN K ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED RISK OF PERIOPERATIVE BLEEDING IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CARDIAC SURGERY

Oral anticoagulation (OAC) is frequently used for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).1 In AF patients, non-surgical major bleeding may be less common with non vitamin K OAC (NOACs) than with warfarin,2, 3 but there is a paucity of data regarding bleeding risk with NOACs in
Novel Prognostic Factors in Resected Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma

Abstract Background Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare malignancy affecting approximately 3000 patients per year in the United States, and there is limited evidence prognosticating patients with resected SBA. We aimed to evaluate prognostic factors and the role of adjuvant therapy in patients with resected SBA. Patients and Methods Two hundred forty-one patients who had resected stage I-III SBA were retrospectively identified at a single tertiary referral institution. Overall survival (OS) analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method, and Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical comparisons. Cox proportional hazards were performed to identify significant variables by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results Median OS for the entire group was 54.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 37.2-81.2 months), with 5- and 10-year OS of 48% and 35%. Median follow-up was 113.7 months (95% CI, 97.9-126.6 months). For patients with stage III disease who received adjuvant therapy, the median OS was 33.8 months (95% CI, 27.8-78.8) compared to 24.7 months (95% CI, 11.5-37.8) for patients with no adjuvant therapy (P 60 years, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio Conclusion Advanced age, advanced T stage, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio
Can Russia Survive Economic Sanctions

Motivated by recent events, this paper studies the welfare impact of extreme sanctions regimes on Russia. To do so, it models the demographic and fiscal transition of the Russian Federation under free trade and autarky. Unlike previous studies of sanctions, our paper utilizes a large scale overlapping generations model with productivity growth, demographic change, region-specific policies, and an energy sector. This model is uniquely suited to understanding the long term impacts of different trade and fiscal regimes. Consequently, this paper investigates the most dramatic sanctions possible, forcing Russia in to long term autarky, under a variety of scenarios. It is consider the role of Russian capital controls as a response to sanctions as well as impacts on labor productivity and the energy sector. The paper finds that older currently living Russian generations are hurt the most by the sanctions. When Russia seizes foreign assets, this is in part due to lower interest rates on the assets of retirees. When the sanctions also reduce Russian government energy revenues, the old are hurt through increased consumption taxation. In all scenarios but the most benign, all generations currently living are made worse off.