cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Necrotizing arteritis and spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage in Sjögren syndrome.

A 37-year-old woman with primary Sjogren syndrome developed mixed cryoglobulinemia and systemic vasculitis. Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurred as a result of necrotizing anterior spinal arteritis. Although rarely seen in mixed cryoglobulinemia, central nervous system complications have recently been documented in Sjogren syndrome. The patient's serum contained antibodies to the Ro(SSA) cytoplasmic antigen, and these antibodies were concentrated in the cryoglobulin fraction. Anti-Ro(SSA) antibodies are associated with the occurrence of vasculitis in patients with Sjogren syndrome, which suggests that the spinal arteritis and subarachnoid hemorrhage in this patient may have been directly related to the underlying connective tissue disorder.
Trends in heart disease death rates in diabetic and nondiabetic Pima Indians

Abstract Background Secular trends over 34 years (1965–1998) in overall and cause-specific mortality were examined in 4623 Pima Indians ≥35 years old. Methods The underlying and contributing causes of the 1363 deaths were determined from a review of all available clinical records; 540 of the deaths occurred in the 2528 nondiabetic participants and 823 in the 2095 participants who had diabetes during all or part of the study period. Age/sex-adjusted death rates were calculated across four 8.5-year time intervals. Results In the nondiabetic participants, the rate of death from natural causes declined gradually over time (20.4, 17.3, 17.3, and 16.0 deaths per 1000 persons/year; P =.11); deaths from ischemic heart disease (IHD) were uncommon ( n =22), and the rate did not change appreciably, remaining as the fifth leading natural cause of death. In the diabetic participants, the rate of death from natural causes was unchanged over time, but the rate of death from IHD ( n =141) increased nearly twofold (3.3, 4.2, 6.4, and 6.4 deaths per 1000 persons/year; P Conclusions The rate of death from IHD remained stable in nondiabetic Pima Indians but increased among those with diabetes. This finding suggests that, in the absence of diabetes, the underlying susceptibility to IHD in this population has not changed.
A Feedback Linearization Approach for Panel Flutter Suppression With Piezoelectric Actuation

Panel flutter suppression by exact state transformations and feedback control using piezoelectric actuation is presented. A nonlinear control system is formulated for the nonlinear partial differential equation governing the dynamics of a simply supported rectangular panel with bonded piezoelectric layers based on the von Karman large-deflection plate theory. Distributed piezoelectric actuators and sensors connected to processing networks are used as modal actuators and sensors to actively control panel vibrations. The control inputs are given by the electric fields required to drive the actuators based on piezoelectric actuation. Nonlinear feedback control laws are formulated through a transformation of the nonlinear system into an equivalent controllable linear system. The simulated results show that the resulting closed-loop system based on feedback linearized controllers effectively suppress panel flutter limit-cycle motions.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Predicting solder joint reliability for thermal, power, and bend cycle within 25% accuracy

Solder joint reliability has received a renewed interest since the inception of BGA and CSP type packages. While traditionally board level reliability during thermal and power cycling is considered important for most applications, solder joint failures due to board bending have also become a major reliability concern for portable applications. With the current trend of cheaper, faster, and better electronic equipment, it has become increasingly important to evaluate the package and system performance very early in the design cycle using simulation tools. Although a number of life prediction models for solder joint under thermal cycle conditions have been proposed in the literature, not enough work has been reported in extending these models to power and bend cycle simulations. The accuracy of life prediction tool has also become critically important, as the designs need to be evaluated and improved with high degree of confidence not through relative comparison but by providing absolute numbers. This paper describes in detail the life prediction model for solder joints for thermal cycle conditions and its extension to power and bend, cycle conditions. The approach uses advance finite element modeling and analysis techniques such as constraint equations and sub-structuring and is based on mechanics of deformation. The model has been correlated with more than 60 data points and predicts life within 25% in most cases. The framework of modeling and prediction methodology described here is fully applicable for developing life prediction models for Pb free solder also, once the deformation mechanisms are identified.
Eliminating products to test in a software product line

A Software Product Line (SPL) is a family of programs where each program is defined by a unique combination of features. Developing a set of programs with commonalities and variabilities in this way can significantly reduce both the time and cost of software development. However, as the number of programs may be exponential in the number of features, testing an SPL, the phase to which the majority of software development is dedicated, becomes especially challenging [12].Indeed, scale is the biggest challenge in testing or checking the properties of programs in a product line. Even a product line with just 10 optional features has over a thousand (210) distinct programs. As an example of a situation where every program must be considered, suppose that every program of an SPL outputs a String that each feature might modify.
Exclusion, gender and education: case studies from the developing world, by Maureen A. Lewis and Marlaine E. Lockheed

Washington, DC, Center for Global Development, 2007, ix + 242 pp., (paperback), ISBN 1‐933286‐22‐8 This book builds on a previous text by the same authors, Inexcusable Absence: Why 60 Million Girls...
Comparison of the Superpave Gyratory and Proctor Compaction Methods for the Design of Roller-Compacted Concrete Pavements

Roller-compacted concrete (RCC) is gaining popularity as a paving alternative for various roadway applications. RCC is a zero-slump concrete mixture that does not require forms, reinforcing, jointing, or finishing. This type of material combines the advantages of conventional concrete pavements with the ease of construction of an asphalt pavement and can be opened to traffic more quickly than conventional concrete pavements. The Superpave® gyratory compactor was investigated as an alternative to Proctor compaction (ASTM D1557) for the design of RCC paving mixtures. Seventeen mix designs that encompassed a range of aggregate sources, gradation types, and natural sand contents were generated. In general, the gyratory method did not produce designs equivalent to the Proctor method, in that the gyratory method resulted in higher densities and lower optimum moisture contents. Gyratory compaction tended to generate a maximum, or terminal, achievable moisture content, regardless of the amount of moisture mixed i...
Epstein–Barr virus infections: prospects for treatment

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) causes infectious mononucleosis and oral hairy leucoplakia, and is associated with a number of malignancies. There are, however, no regulatory agency-approved treatments for EBV-related diseases. Several antiviral drugs inhibit replication of EBV in cell culture including acyclic nucleoside and nucleotide analogues and pyrophosphate analogues, all of which inhibit the EBV DNA polymerase. Despite their potency in vitro, these drugs have limited use in vivo for treatment of acute primary EBV infection as well as EBV-associated malignancies for several reasons. Here we discuss novel anti-EBV compounds, including maribavir, potentially useful for the treatment of acute EBV infections. A number of experimental approaches for treatment of EBV-related malignancies that are not susceptible to conventional antiviral drug treatment are also discussed.
Linezolid-Associated Serotonin Syndrome. A Report of Two Cases

Linezolid, a mild monoamine oxidase inhibitor, is a commonly used antibiotic drug for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections, including diabetic foot infections. Use of linezolid has been associated with serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition typically caused by the combination of two or more medications with serotonergic properties, due to increased serotonin release. The goals of this article are to highlight the risk factors associated with the development of serotonin syndrome related to the use of linezolid and to aid in its prevention and early diagnosis. In this case series we report on two hospitalized patients who, while being treated with linezolid for pedal infections, developed serotonin syndrome. Both individuals were also undergoing treatment with at least one serotonergic agent for depression and had received this medication within 2 weeks of starting the antibiotic drug therapy. In these individuals, we noted agitation, confusion, tremors, and tachycardia within a few days of initiation of linezolid therapy. Owing to the risk of serotonin toxicity, care should be taken when prescribing linezolid in conjunction with any other serotonergic agent. Although serotonin syndrome is an infrequent complication, it can be potentially life threatening. Therefore, risks and benefits of therapy should be weighed before use.
Do Business Plans Make No Difference in the Real World? A Study of 117 New Ventures

This pioneering study examined whether writing a business plan before launching a new venture affects the subsequent performance of the venture. The data set comprised new ventures started by Babson College alums who graduated between 1985 and 2003. The analysis revealed that there was no difference between the performance of new businesses launched with or without written busi-ness plans. It also showed that businesses with male founders outperformed those with females, and that businesses started by alums with only BS degrees outperformed those with MBA degrees. The ἀndings suggest that unless a would-be entrepreneur needs to raise substantial startup capital from institutional investors or business angels, there is no compelling reason to write a detailed business plan before opening a new business.
WiMAX: Opportunity or Hype?

The newest generation of connectivity, currently in research and testing phases, is Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), a new wireless standard for large coverage areas. This paper describes the purpose of WiMAX, its forms, the status of its standardization, and the impact it will have on wireless broadband capabilities. Although it is still too early to tell just how successful WiMAX will be, we conclude that it will play an important part in the future of Internet access. Once the technology hits wide-scale production it should create a low cost connectivity solution that will bee able to provide Internet access to locations where it currently is neither feasible nor affordable.
The Time of Faith: Contemporary Muslims, Secularists, and Anxieties over the Nature of History

My idea is simple: much of the current tension between Muslims and non-Muslims, particularly but not exclusively in Europe, is formed by and around different ideas about the nature of human history. To discuss this simple, but perhaps somewhat elusive, idea, I want to use three things: a recently notorious text, and two caricatures, or what we might more politely and following Weber refer to as ideal-types. I believe we will find that focusing on historical imaginations presents questions of considerable intellectual interest, and even, perhaps, opportunities for political and social rapprochement.
Selection and Postoperative Care of the Living Donor

Live organ donors typically consult their primary care providers when considering live donation and then return for follow-up after surgery and for ongoing primary care. Live liver and kidney transplants are performed routinely as a method to shorten the waiting time for a recipient, provide a healthy organ for transplant, and increase recipient survival. Careful medical and psychosocial evaluation of the potential donor is imperative to minimize harm. This evaluation must be performed by an experienced live donor medical team. Routine health care with careful attention to weight maintenance, cardiovascular health, and prevention of diabetes and hypertension is paramount.
Introduction to special issues: Lithospheric structure and evolution of the Rocky Mountains (Parts I and II)

Two issues (Parts I and II) of Rocky Mountain Geology (RMG) are an attempt to summarize the structure and evolution of the continental lithosphere in a Rocky Mountain transect from Wyoming to New Mexico (Fig. 1). After decades of geologic work, our understanding of the complex history of this region is still incomplete. As in many other regions, first-order questions remain about the deep structure, processes of formation, and evolution of the continental lithosphere. Fundamental new insights are most likely to come through integration of a broad range of data, involving close collaboration among geologists, geochemists, and geophysicists. Figure 1. Proterozoic rocks and boundaries of the North American Southwest, adapted from Karlstrom and Bowring (1993, fig. 7). The Wyoming province contains Archean crust. The Mojave province contains Archean crustal material incorporated into Proterozoic crust. The Yavapai province contains 1.75-Ga juvenile volcanic-arc crust. The Mazatzal province contains 1.65-Ga crust. The Grenville province contains 1.4- to 1.1-Ga crust. Stippled zones are transitions between provinces. Proposed seismic reflection lines are: (1) the Cheyenne belt; (2) a proposed Yavapai–Mazatzal boundary in southern Colorado; and (3) the Jemez lineament, which corresponds to a proposed Mazatzal–Yavapai province boundary in New Mexico. The Continental Dynamics program of the National Science Foundation has provided funding recently for a collaborative effort in the Rocky Mountains that involves many of the contributors to these theme issues of RMG . Plans for coordinated activities include acquisition of about 600 km of seismic reflection and refraction data (in 1999), passive seismic studies, xenolith studies, and a range of geologic and geochronologic studies. We hope that the papers in the two issues of RMG will promote discussion of the best design for our upcoming seismic …
Duelling identities: narrative strategy and the construction of complex identities in porn star memoirs

ABSTRACTThis article is a rhetorical genre analysis of four memoirs by self-proclaimed ‘porn stars’. Using tools of discourse and narrative analysis, the article aims to map the genre by linguistic form rather than content, focusing on key sites of overlap that are salient throughout the texts. These sites are demonstrative of the discursive strategies authors employ to negotiate complex identities; often enabling the creation of a secondary identity while simultaneously maintaining a ‘moral framework’. A few of the ‘sites’ focused on are: the invocation of labels for identity indexing; the use of coherence principles to establish causality for a taboo self; and the utilization of performative language in the declaration of a final, ‘new’ self. In addition to presenting a schematic overview of the genre, the article aims to engage with current feminist discourses on pornography and female ‘empowerment’, with the hope of shedding some light on prevailing hegemonic pressures.
Prospective new developments in laboratory research and clinical trials in prostatic cancer

Laboratory research continues to develop new methods supporting clinicians in the management of prostatic cancer. Routine measurements of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels improve diagnosis, provide insight into tumor burden, and sharpen prognostication. New organ-specific antigenic targets are identified for monoclonal antibody-directed diagnostic and radiotherapeutic reagents. Such new immunospecific conjugates are already under evaluation in clinical trials. Cell culture techniques carry the promise of noninvasive early detection and prognostic evaluation of prostatic malignancy in preclinical stages. Molecular mechanisms responsible for androgen regulation of proliferation and malignancy of prostatic cancer are becoming open for scientific inquiry.
Performance Evaluation and Engineering Guidelines for the M/K Multiple Priority Policy in DQDB Networks

Abstract The Distributed Queue Dual Bus (DQDB) remains a viable candidate for a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) standard, although its support for priorities remains unresolved. Unfortunately, many of the services being considered will require the presence of a successful priority mechanism. Recent results evaluating several proposals for improved priority schemes concluded that only one of those evaluated, the M/K policy, seems to have the potential to meet current requirements and the flexibility to adapt to possible future needs. The detailed performance evaluation given here supports that conclusion. Evaluation criteria include throughput (e.g., fairness), delays and efficient use of the medium. Both equilibrium and transient behavior are considered as are the effects of station spacing, the M/K parameter settings, message sizes and system loading. Engineering guidelines are given for setting the parameters of this policy to meet acceptable performance characteristics. It is shown that the simplest version requiring no new counters and simplified parameter settings may suffice.
Elementary plasma waves

General method for analyzing small-amplitude waves All plasma phenomena can be described by combining Maxwell's equations with the Lorentz force equation where the latter is represented by the Vlasov, the two-fluid, or the MHD approximation. The subject of linear plasma waves provides a good introduction to the study of plasma phenomena because linear waves are relatively simple to analyze and yet demonstrate many essential features of plasma behavior. Linear analysis, a straightforward method applicable to any set of partial differential equations describing a physical system, reveals the physical system's simplest non-trivial, self-consistent dynamical behavior. In the context of plasma dynamics, the method is as follows: By making appropriate physical assumptions, the general Maxwell–Lorentz system of equations is reduced to the simplest set of equations characterizing the phenomena under consideration. An equilibrium solution is determined for this set of equations. The equilibrium might be trivial such that densities are uniform, the plasma is neutral, and all velocities are zero. However, less trivial equilibria could also be invoked where there are density gradients or flow velocities. Equilibrium quantities are designated by the subscript 0, indicating “zero-order” in smallness. […]
Eye Pain in Children

Primary care physicians are often the first to see a child with the complaint of eye pain. The eye examination in children is not easy, and the entities that can cause pain in children range from a foreign body in the cornea to the most serious amblyogenic (inducing decreased vision) and life-threatening conditions. Eye pain is a red flag for ocular and systemic conditions, either in a "quiet eye" or "red eye." A detailed history of present illness; pertinent review of systems; close attention to the past medical, family, and social histories; and meticulous physical examination can help to determine the cause, establish the correct treatment, and serve as the basis for referral to a pediatric ophthalmologist if necessary.
Processing, structure, and properties of carbon fibers

Abstract Carbon fiber is increasingly being utilized as a reinforcing material due to its high strength and high modulus, which is imparted into the properties of the final composite. A comprehensive review of the carbon fiber production process, from polymerization to fiber spinning and stabilization and carbonization, is provided. Relationships between carbon fiber microstructure and material performance is undertaken in order to assess the current status of the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of commercially available PAN and pitch based carbon fibers, as well as recently developed experimental carbon fibers. A discussion of next generation carbon fibers is also provided, with a discussion on carbon fiber derived from alternative precursor materials, as well as hierarchical carbon fiber composites.
Principles of Nonlinear Active Device Modeling for Circuit Simulation

Principles of nonlinear active device modeling for circuit simulation in SPICE and harmonic balance programs are presented, motivated by an examination of three common problems of standard nonlinear GaAs MESFET models. The first problem is that simulations done in large signal analysis don't fit the measured imaginary parts of the Y-parameters versus bias. On the other hand, good fits to the measurements can be obtained in linear (small signal) analysis. The solution is to use nonlinear Voltage Controlled Charge Source (VCQS) elements in place of two-terminal capacitors in the nonlinear model. A VCQS is a reactive analogue of the familiar voltage controlled current source. This improves the accuracy of the large signal reactive FET model. Linearizing the resulting equations produces an accurate small signal model, consistent with the large signal simulations in the appropriate limit. Linearizing a VCQS element produces another unfamiliar quantity, the transcapacitance. A transcapacitance is a reactive analogue of a transconductance. The second problem is that large signal FET models do not simulate time delays of the FET. The transcapacitance associated with a VCQS element between the source and the drain provides a reactive output current proportional to the time derivative of the gate voltage. This current approximates the effect of the delay.
Residential Energy Conservation Among the Elderly

This study analyzes the number and type of home heating energy conservation measures adopted by a sample of Lexington, Kentucky elderly to: determine the reasons certain measures are adopted; to analyse the extent of participation in public programs; and to suggest ways to assist the elderly in implementing energy conservation measures. The respondents are conservation conscious, but have special needs and constraints. Expense, concern for comfort, and perceived need act as major constraints in the adoption of conservation measures, while low participation in public programs is linked to lack of awareness of the programs and their potential benefits.
Prevention of Oxygen Inhibition of PolyHIPE Radical Polymerization Using a Thiol-Based Cross-Linker

Polymerized high internal phase emulsions (polyHIPEs) are highly porous constructs currently under investigation as tissue engineered scaffolds. We previously reported on the potential of redox-initiated polyHIPEs as injectable bone grafts that space fill irregular defects with improved integration and rapid cure. Upon subsequent investigation, the radical-initiated cure of these systems rendered them susceptible to oxygen inhibition with an associated increase in uncured macromer in the clinical setting. In the current study, polyHIPEs with increased resistance to oxygen inhibition were fabricated utilizing a tetrafunctional thiol, pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptoproprionate), and the biodegradable macromer, propylene fumarate dimethacrylate. Increased concentrations of the tetrathiol additive provided improved oxygen resistance as confirmed by polyHIPE gel fraction while retaining the requisite rapid cure rate, compressive properties, and pore architecture for use as an injectable bone graft. Additio...
Media Effects: Accounts, Nature, and History of

This entry traces the history of media effects scholarship, including key instances of public concern over the impact of the media that have motivated scholarly scrutiny and advancement, the changing assumptions about the nature and strength of media influence over time, the variety of theoretical approaches that have been applied to the study of mass communication outcomes, and issues of contestation over the received view of the history of media effects. Keywords: history of media; mass media; media effects; O-S-O-R model; selective processes
Calibration of Millimeter Wave Sounder Radiometers on Polar Orbiting Satellites

This paper discusses the radiometric calibration of millimeter sounder radiometers, on polar orbiter satellites in the NASA Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) constellation; and presents radiometric bias results. Because the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) operated for over 17 years, it is important to combine the TRMM and the GPM precipitation datasets to produce a climate data record for global climate change studies. In the last decade of TRMM's operation, sounder radiometers were introduced into the TRMM constellation, which included: Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B sensors flown on NOAA weather satellites and the microwave humidity sounders sensors flown on NOAA and meteorological operational satellite program satellites. These sensors have provided an invaluable dataset of radiance measurements with full earth coverage, which has been used in precipitation measurements, weather prediction, and climate studies.
Combining Subharmonic and Ultraharmonic Modes for Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging: A Preliminary Evaluation.

Contrast-enhanced intra-vascular ultrasound (CE-IVUS) imaging could provide clinicians a valuable tool to assess cardiovascular risk and guide the choice of therapeutic strategies. In this technical note, we evaluated the feasibility of combining subharmonic and ultraharmonic imaging to improve the performance of CE-IVUS. Vessel phantoms perfused with phospholipid-shelled ultrasound contrast agents were visualized using subharmonic, ultraharmonic and combined CE-IVUS modes with commercial peripheral and coronary imaging catheters. Flow channels as small as 0.8 mm and 0.5 mm were imaged at 12-MHz and 30-MHz transmit frequencies, respectively. Subharmonic and ultraharmonic imaging modes achieved a contrast-to-tissue ratio (CTR) up to 18.1 ± 1.8 dB and 19.6 ± 1.9 dB at 12-MHz, and 8.8 ± 1.8 and 12.5 ± 1.1 dB at 30-MHz transmit frequencies, respectively. Combining these modes improved the CTR to 32.5 ± 3.0 dB and 25.0 ± 1.6 dB at 12-MHz and 30-MHz transmit frequencies. These results underscore the potential of combined-mode CE-IVUS imaging. Furthermore, the demonstration of this approach with commercial catheters may serve as a first step toward the clinical translation of CE-IVUS.
Trauma, Discrimination, and Psychological Distress Across Vietnamese Refugees and Immigrants: A Life Course Perspective

Vietnamese Americans are a heterogeneous group with varied migration histories. The life course perspective (LCP) suggests that different migration histories (immigrant vs. refugee) may affect their psychological health. Using Vietnamese refugee (n = 291) and immigrant (n = 211) subsamples from the National Latino and Asian American Study, selected LCP factors relevant to foreign-born Vietnamese were examined for their associations with psychological distress. Two separate regressions were conducted to examine differential factors across the subgroups. Results showed that sex, age at immigration, and pre- and post-migration traumas were significant factors for refugees. Among immigrants, only racial discrimination was significant factor. The results suggest that applying LCP among Vietnamese Americans helps to discern factors associated with their psychological distress outcomes depending on their initial immigration status. The results also indicate that healthcare professionals should consider the migration background of foreign-born Vietnamese in screening for potential psychological issues, particularly around their trauma history and discriminatory experiences.
Transient dynamics of NbOx threshold switches explained by Poole-Frenkel based thermal feedback mechanism

Niobium oxide (NbOx) two-terminal threshold switches are potential candidates as selector devices in crossbar memory arrays and as building blocks for neuromorphic systems. However, the physical mechanism of NbOx threshold switches is still under debate. In this paper, we show that a thermal feedback mechanism based on Poole-Frenkel conduction can explain both the quasi-static and the transient electrical characteristics that are experimentally observed for NbOx threshold switches, providing strong support for the validity of this mechanism. Furthermore, a clear picture of the transient dynamics during the thermal-feedback-induced threshold switching is presented, providing useful insights required to model nonlinear devices where thermal feedback is important.
Political Environment: Stability, Public Spending and Policy

Access to and attainment of different levels of education depends on many inter-locking factors coming together. Some of these are political. This chapter assesses the extent to which political stability influences educational opportunities and outcomes for Ghanaians through its effects on economic growth, public resource spending and education policy. It also explores, although to a lesser extent, how education can promote the consolidation of democratic institutions in Ghana.
Chronic Exercise Effects: The Therapeutic Outcome

Electrical stimulation causes muscle to contract by the generation of action potentials on nerve and muscle following the application of electrical current to the skin, motor nerve, or the muscle directly (see, e.g. Peckham, 1976; Petrofsky et al., 1976; Solomonow et al., 1978; Thoma et al., 1978). Current design of microprocessors allows multichannel control through standard feedback control techniques for movement in muscle (Petrofsky and Phillips, 1979, 1980, 1981; Phillips and Petrofsky, 1980). Using these techniques, it is now possible to control movement in muscle. However, one problem that may not be apparent is the deconditioning of the body that follows spinal cord injury. After SCI, muscle is not used and atrophies. This so-called disuse atrophy is similar to the atrophy that occurs in muscles after prolonged hospital stays or when a leg or arm is immobilized in a cast for a few months. Associated with disuse atrophy is demineralization of bones. This is analogous to the demineralization that occurs with prolonged bed rest and with prolonged stays outside the earth’s gravity. When bone is not stressed in a normal manner, calcium leaves the bone and is excreted by the body. This makes the bone fragile and predisposes it to injury. The fragility of bones creates a long-term medical problem for people who have been in wheelchairs for many years. The lack of use of part of the body also results in deconditioning of the heart and the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. This predisposes SCI individuals to cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and pulmonary disease (such as pneumonia). Consequently, before wide-scale computer-controlled technology can be applied to wheelchair-bound individuals or before any successful reversal of SCI can be attempted, the patient needs to be reconditioned to normal physical fitness or as near to normal as possible.
Online teaching and learning: a practical guide for librarians

Online teaching and learning is a growing trend in education; all types of libraries are moving services and resources online to serve virtual patrons. Academic, K–12, public, and special libraries...
Evidence-based behavioral treatments for substance use disorders.

Abstract This chapter presents the practices, advantages, and disadvantages of current empirically-supported behavioral treatments for substance use disorders (SUDs). Treatment tenants and protocols for the following SUD interventions are discussed: (1) cognitive behavioral therapy-based approaches, (2) contingency management, (3) motivational interventions, (4) mindfulness-based treatments, (5) marital and family therapies, and (6) self-help organizations/mutual help groups. Additionally, research about the effectiveness of the different interventions targeting specific populations and substances are reviewed. Resources for clinicians interested in learning more about the techniques discussed are included.
Association of US Dialysis Facility Staffing with Profiling of Hospital-Wide 30-Day Unplanned Readmission.

Author(s): Chen, Yanjun; Rhee, Connie; Senturk, Damla; Kurum, Esra; Campos, Luis; Li, Yihao; Kalantar-Zadeh, Kamyar; Nguyen, Danh | Abstract: Background:Unplanned hospital readmissions are a major source of morbidity among dialysis patients, in whom the risk of hospital readmission is exceptionally high. The contribution of dialysis facility staffing to hospital readmission has been largely overlooked. Methods:Using annual data of dialysis patients from the United States Renal Data System from 2010 to 2013, we assessed dialysis facilities with a significantly worse (SW) and facilities with a nonsignificant (NS) standardized readmission ratio (SRR). SRR estimates were risk adjusted for patient factors, past year comorbidities, and index hospitalization characteristics. Facility staffing variables were compared between 2 exposure groups: facilities with SW and NS SRRs. Four measures of staffing, including patient-to-staffing ratio, were compared between SW and matched NS facilities. Results:About 136,000-148,000 dialysis patients with 269,000-319,000 index hospital discharges were used to identify facilities with SW and facilities with NS SRR annually. Approximately 3-4% of facilities were identified as having SW SRR among g 5,000 facilities annually. The percent of nurses-to-total staff was significantly lower in 2010 for SW facilities than in matched NS facilities (42.5 vs. 45.6%, p = 0.012), but this disparity was attenuated by 2013 (44.8 vs. 44.7%, p = 0.949). There was a higher patient-to-nurse ratio for SW facilities than for NS facilities (mean 16.4 vs. 15.2, p = 0.038) in 2010 as well, and the disparity was reduced by 2013. The trends were similar for patient-to-total staff and patient-to-registered nurse, but not statistically significant. Conclusions:This study found that dialysis facilities with SW 30-day readmission rates had lower proportions of nurses-to-total staff and higher patient-to-nurse ratios, but this disparity improved in recent years. Additional research is warranted focusing on how evidence-based staffing at dialysis facilities can contribute to reduction of hospital readmission, and this knowledge is needed to inform clinical practice guidelines and policy decisions regarding optimal dialysis patient staffing.
Efficient Aircraft Rerouting During Commercial Space Launches

Abstract Currently, during a commercial space launch, the Federal Aviation Administration prohibits air traffic within a large column of airspace around the launch trajectory. The prohibited airspa...
Application of Volumetric Absorptive Micro Sampling to Measure Multidimensional Anti-Influenza Hemagglutinin Igg Antibodies by MPlex-Flu Assay

Abstract Recently, volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) has been used for peripheral blood sampling and analyses in several fields. VAMS ensures accurate sampling by collecting a fixed blood volume (10 or 20 µL) on a volumetric swab in blood spot format, and allows for long-term sample storage. The mPlex-Flu assay is a novel, multidimensional assay that measures the concentration of antibodies against multiple influenza virus hemagglutinins simultaneously strains with a small volume of serum (less than 5 µL). Here we describe combining these two methods to measure multidimensional influenza antibody activity using a finger-stick and VAMS. In this study, we compared influenza antibody profiles measured from capillary blood obtained with a finger-stick, and venous whole blood collected by traditional phlebotomy from 20 subjects using the mPlex-Flu assay. We found that results with the two sampling methods were virtually identical across all influenza strains within the same subject (mean of R2 =0.9470), and that antibodies remained stable over three weeks when VAMS samples were stored at room temperature and transported using a variety of shipping methods. Additionally, VAMS sampling is an easy and highly reproducible process; when volunteers performed finger stick VAMS at home by themselves, the results of anti-HA antibody concentrations showed that they are highly consistent with sampling performed by study personnel on-site (R2 =0.9496). This novel approach provides advantages for clinical influenza vaccine studies, including ease of sampling, low cost, and high accuracy. We conclude that these methods could provide an accurate and low-cost means for monitoring the influenza virus antibody responses in large population studies.
RATest: Explaining Wrong Relational Queries Using Small Examples

We present a system called RATest, designed to help debug relational queries against reference queries and test database instances. In many applications, e.g., classroom learning and regression testing, we test the correctness of a user query Q by evaluating it over a test database instance D and comparing its result with that of evaluating a reference (correct) query $Q_0$ over D. If $Q(D)$ differs from $Q_0(D)$, the user knows Q is incorrect. However, D can be large (often by design), which makes debugging Q difficult. The key idea behind RATest is to show the user a much smaller database instance $D' \subseteq D$, which we call a counterexample, such that $Q(D') \neq Q_0(D')$. RATest builds on data provenance and constraint solving, and employs a suite of techniques to support, at interactive speed, complex queries involving differences and group-by aggregation. We demonstrate an application of RATest in learning: it has been used successfully by a large undergraduate database course in a university to help students with a relational algebra assignment.
The AP Computer Science Principles Exam: Teacher Reflections

While AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) has made great strides in increasing the number of women and underrepresented minorities (URM) taking an AP Computer Science course, the percentage of women and URM passing the AP CSP Exam remains lower than that of non-minority males. The AP CSP Exam consists of two performance-based tasks, create and explore, in addition to a multiple-choice section. We conducted one-on-one interviews with Beauty and Joy of Computing (BJC) Master Teachers to find what they like about the exam, what they do not like, and potential barriers to passing. The teachers mentioned preparedness, including test taking skills, and motivation, specifically to complete the tasks, as reasons for their students' performance on the AP Exam. Community mindset was mentioned as a possible reason for lack of motivation and engagement. Some potential barriers to passing, expressed by teachers, are access to technology, job obligations, and languages in which the AP Exam is offered. Although the create task was well liked by the teachers, some thought the scoring could be improved. In addition, teachers detail how their own assessments compare to the AP CSP Exam, with the majority using programming projects as their main way to assess for student understanding. Half of the teachers cited the amount of time for performance tasks and multiple-choice questions as components of the exam they would change. These findings provide insight into AP CSP Exam performance, teacher suggestions for exam improvements, and details on CS classroom assessments.
Commerce and Manners in Edmund Burke's Political Economy

Although many of Edmund Burke's speeches and writings contain prominent economic dimensions, his economic thought seldom receives the attention it warrants. Commerce and Manners in Edmund Burke's Political Economy stands as the most comprehensive study to date of this fascinating subject. In addition to providing rigorous textual analysis, Collins unearths previously unpublished manuscripts and employs empirical data to paint a rich historical and theoretical context for Burke's economic beliefs. Collins integrates Burke's reflections on trade, taxation, and revenue within his understanding of the limits of reason and his broader conception of empire. Such reflections demonstrate the ways that commerce, if properly managed, could be an instrument for both public prosperity and imperial prestige. More importantly, Commerce and Manners in Edmund Burke's Political Economy raises timely ethical questions about capitalism and its limits. In Burke's judgment, civilizations cannot endure on transactional exchange alone, and markets require ethical preconditions. There is a grace to life that cannot be bought.
Sex differences in frailty and its association with low bone mineral density in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives Frailty in the general population is associated with poor health outcomes including low bone mass and osteoporotic fracture. The relationship between frailty and low bone mineral density (BMD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unknown. This study examined associations between frailty and BMD in RA, controlling for established osteoporosis risk factors. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of a longitudinal RA cohort (n = 138; 117 female, 21 male). Participants fulfilled ACR RA classification criteria. Frailty was evaluated using the Fried Index, categorizing each participant as robust, pre-frail or frail. To identify independent predictors of BMD, we performed a multivariable linear regression analysis. Because risk factors for low BMD differ between sexes, we performed additional sex-stratified multivariable analyses. Results Mean age and disease duration were 58.0 ± 10.8 and 19 ± 10.9 years, respectively. The majority of participants were categorized as pre-frail (70%) or frail (10%). Females had higher rates of frailty than males. In the whole cohort, both pre-frail and frail had independent negative associations with BMD (β = -0.074 and -0.092 respectively, p < 0.05). In sex-stratified analyses, frailty did not have a significant association with BMD in females, but had a strong independent negative association in males (β = -0.247, p = 0.001). Conclusion Frailty was associated with BMD in patients with RA. Females had higher rates of frailty than males, yet frailty was independently associated with BMD in males but not in females. Frailty appears to be an important factor associated with low BMD; sex may influence this relationship in RA.
Dose-Response Relationship between Intravitreal Injections and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose To determine if multiple intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors for unilateral exudative age-related macular degeneration (eAMD) are associated with thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), we compared RNFL thickness measurements from the injected eye with that of the fellow eye with nonexudative age-related macular degeneration (neAMD). Design Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Participants Patients undergoing anti-VEGF therapy for unilateral eAMD. Methods Patients receiving anti-VEGF therapy secondary to eAMD in 1 eye with neAMD in their fellow eye were identified. Patients with a known diagnosis of glaucoma were excluded. Spectral domain OCT measurements of the peripapillary RNFL thickness from both eyes were performed and compared. The differences in the RNFL thickness measurements between eyes were correlated with the number of injections and the duration of therapy. Main Outcome Measures Correlation between the number of anti-VEGF injections and peripapillary RNFL thinning. Results A total of 108 eyes of 54 patients were evaluated in this study. The average peripapillary RNFL thickness measurements of the injected eye and fellow eye were 87.3 ± 9.6 μm and 89.0 ± 7.5 μm, respectively (P = 0.055). The RNFL thickness difference (fellow eye minus injected eye) was significantly correlated with the number of injections (r = 0.40, P = 0.002) and months of injections (r = 0.38, P = 0.005). The relationship between the difference in the RNFL thickness and the number of injections had a nonlinear dose-response relationship that became apparent after approximately 30 injections and 50 months of injections. Conclusions The difference in RNFL thickness measurements between injected eyes and uninjected fellow eyes was largely within the reported normal limits for interocular differences between healthy eyes. Nevertheless, there was a dose-response relationship between RNFL thinning and number of injections among patients receiving a greater number of injections, suggesting that anti-VEGF injections may have a modest effect on the RNFL thickness after several years of therapy in eyes requiring more anti-VEGF injections; however, we cannot exclude that the RNFL thinning may be secondary to active age-related macular degeneration (AMD) disease progression in both eyes.
Weather conditions associated with death attributed to bovine respiratory disease complex in high-risk auction market-sourced male beef calves.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate associations between weather conditions and management factors with the incidence of death attributable to bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) in high-risk auction-sourc...
An Unusual Case of the "Terrible Triad" in a Transgender Woman.

With the increasing use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors for type 2 diabetes and heart failure, clinicians need to understand how to treat euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is a potential side effect of the medication. The disease triad of euglycemic ketoacidosis, acute pancreatitis, and hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) has complex pathogenesis, and often the trigger of the triad is unknown. Here, we present an unusual case of euglycemic DKA in a transitioning transgender woman on canagliflozin who was treated with 10% dextrose and insulin infusions and apheresis. What makes our case unique is an added layer of complexity with her use of estrogen supplements contributing to HTG and gallstone formation, which could have set off the disease triad.
Kissing Bugs Identification Using Convolutional Neural Network

Chagas disease is one of the most important parasitic diseases transmitted to animals and people by insect vectors. According to the World Health Organization, around seven million people were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (also known as kissing bug) that causes Chagas disease. As kissing bugs belong to different families with different danger levels, accurate classifications of kissing bugs species would help the public authorities create a controlled surveillance system. Clinical methods for detecting kissing bugs are expensive, time-consuming, and need a high level of expertise. To overcome these limitations, computational methods can be used. In this paper, a fully automated deep learning model using a convolutional neural network (CNN) with a fine-tuned transfer learning model is proposed to identify kissing versus non-kissing bugs and classify the type of kissing bug species. The accuracy of 99.45% for the classifications of kissing vs. non-kissing bugs and 96% for the classifications of different kissing bugs species is achieved. Finally, a web application is developed based on the proposed model to help the community collecting and identifying kissing bugs species.
Coupled-Channel Effects in the 148,152Sm\( \left( {\vec d,d'} \right) \) Reaction

Recent investigations1,2) of the inelastic scattering of vector-polarized deuterons have suggested the possibility of using the \( \left( {\vec d,d'} \right) \) reaction to distinguish between vibrational and rotational states in nuclei. For Fe and Ni isotopes, the relative phase of elastic and inelastic (2+) iT11 angular distributions at 12.3 MeV could be reasonably well reproduced in a coupled-channels calculation. The predictions of this phase depend critically on whether a vibrational or rotational model is usedl).