cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A dynamic, embodied paradigm to investigate the role of serotonin in decision-making

Serotonin (5-HT) is a neuromodulator that has been attributed to cost assessment and harm aversion. In this review, we look at the role 5-HT plays in making decisions when subjects are faced with potential harmful or costly outcomes. We review approaches for examining the serotonergic system in decision-making. We introduce our group’s paradigm used to investigate how 5-HT affects decision-making. In particular, our paradigm combines techniques from computational neuroscience, socioeconomic game theory, human-robot interaction, and Bayesian statistics. We will highlight key findings from our previous studies utilizing this paradigm, which helped expand our understanding of 5-HT’s effect on decision-making in relation to cost assessment. Lastly, we propose a cyclic multidisciplinary approach that may aid in addressing the complexity of exploring 5-HT and decision-making by iteratively updating our assumptions and models of the serotonergic system through exhaustive experimentation.
Spatial Statistical Models for the Evaluation of the Landscape

In this paper the comparative reading of bi-temporal aerial photo data is based on the spatial statistical analysis. The methodological approach of this work introduces a significant improvement in the assessment of changes in the landscape by providing a wider interpretation to the problems of the area of study to encourage better planning. The elements in their origin on which this work is based are spatial data, these types of data were collected from aerial photos which are our containers of different information in their own spatial distribution that geometric. This paper demonstrates the new features used to obtain an accurate analysis of the transformation of the landscape through spatial statistical methodology.
19. A Breathing Manikin Model for Teaching Nasotracheal Intubation to EMS Professionals

Purpose : The wide spread use of orotracheal intubation with rapid sequence induction has made it difficult for EMS professionals to gain experience in nasotracheal intubation (NTI) in a controlled supervised setting. The purpose of this study was to determine if a training session on NTI with a breathing manikin can be used to improve skill and comfort of EMS professionals. Methods : A prospective trial was conducted with a convenience sample of 16 emergency medical service professionals, previously trained in nasotracheal intubation techniques. For the training session a Laerdal airway manikin was modified by replacing the lungs with a bag-valve mask device, to simulate breathing with an inspiratory and expiratory phase. Following verbal instruction, and with direct supervision, each participant practiced NTI using the breathing manikin. Each participant completed a questionnaire, both before and after the training session, to determine self assessed comfort and skill level for both oral and nasal intubations (0 = lowest, 10 = highest). The pre and post intervention scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, £ = 0.01.
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights: Reports on Asian Pacific Americans

Created as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is entitled to substantial credit for passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, among many other achievements in advancing civil rights. In its heyday, its commissioners were distinguished Americans, former governors, cabinet members and university presidents, and though it had no power other than the ability to issue subpoenas and publish reports, its prestige and investigative authority gave it a unique ability to document social conditions in a variety of areas over time. This four volume anthology collects the hearing transcripts and reports of the Commission dealing with Asian Pacific Americans. The anthology begins with the hearings held in Los Angeles and San Francisco in 1973, and the 1975 report that came out of those hearings, Asian Americans and Pacific Peoples: A Case of Mistaken Identity. It ends with the 2001 report of the Hawai'i Advisory Committee on the legal status of programs benefitting Native Hawaiians. The downloadable document is the table of contents and introduction.
Integrated compact optical current sensors with high sensitivity

We demonstrate a Sagnac based fiber optic current sensor using only 10cm of terbium doped fiber with a high Verdet constant of 15.5 rad/Tm at a wavelength of 1300nm. Measurements of the fiber inside a solenoid show over 40dB of open loop dynamic range as well as a minimum detectable current of 0.1mA. In order to decrease size while increasing sensitivity even further, we consider integrated magneto-optic waveguides as the sensing element. Using silicon waveguides alongside magneto-optic material such as cerium doped yttrium iron garnet (Ce:YiG), we model the Verdet constant to be as high as 10,000 rad/Tm. This improvement by three orders of magnitude shows potential for magnetooptic waveguides to be used in ultra-high sensitivity optical magnetometers and current sensors. Finally, we propose a fully integrated optical current sensor using heterogeneous integration for silicon photonics.
Median stable matchings in two-sided markets

We show that generalized median stable matchings exist in many-to-many matching markets when contracts are strong substitutes and satisfy the law of aggregate demand.
Erythrocytic ecdysis. An unusual morphologic finding in a case of sickle cell anemia with intercurrent cold-agglutinin syndrome.

Examination of peripheral blood smears from a patient with sickle cell disease during crisis associated with an upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, a positive Coombs test, and an elevated cold agglutinin titer revealed unique abnormalities associated with her erythrocytes, which have not been reported previously. In addition to the usual changes in peripheral blood occurring during crisis in sickle cell anemia, large numbers of free, filamentous forms that appeared to be derived from erythrocytes were present on repeated Wright’s-stained smears. Erythrocytes were markedly distorted and had single and multiple surface protrusions that appeared to be antecedents of the free filamentous forms. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the marked changes in the erythrocytes and revealed membrane alterations not apparent by use of the light microscope. It is suggested that the membrane stripping observed in this case was due to cold agglutinin-complement-mediated surface injury superimposed on the known abnormalities of the membranes of sickle erythrocytes.
Turlock Virus Infection and Transmission by Culex Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

Two experiments were conducted to determine (1) if Culex mosquitoes could transmit Turlock (TUR) virus to avian hosts and (2) if Culex tarsalis is more susceptible to TUR virus infection than Cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes. Transmission was accomplished by 13 (41%) of 32 infected Culex pipiens pipiens 20 days after feeding on chicks that were circulating 3.7–4.8 log10 PFU of TUR virus per millilitre of blood. A comparison of infection rates among Cx. tarsalis, Cx. p. pipiens , and Cx. pipiens quinquefasciatus that had fed on viremic chickens and House Sparrows showed that Cx. tarsalis contained virus after 3 and 8 days of extrinsic incubation more often than the other mosquitoes. These results support the hypotheses that TUR virus is an arbovirus and that its distribution in North America is limited to western states and Canadian provinces by the distribution of Cx. tarsalis .
Probabilistic Optimization of Resource Distribution and Encryption for Data Storage in the Cloud

In this paper, we develop a decentralized probabilistic method for performance optimization of cloud services. We focus on Infrastructure-as-a-Service where the user is provided with the ability of configuring virtual resources on demand in order to satisfy specific computational requirements. This novel approach is strongly supported by a theoretical framework based on tail probabilities and sample complexity analysis. It allows not only the inclusion of performance metrics for the cloud but the incorporation of security metrics based on cryptographic algorithms for data storage. To the best of the authors’ knowledge this is the first unified approach to provision performance and security on demand subject to the Service Level Agreement between the client and the cloud service provider. The quality of the service is guaranteed given certain values of accuracy and confidence. We present some experimental results using the Amazon Web Services, Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud service to validate our probabilistic optimization method.
Estimation of Rock Mechanical, Hydraulic, and Thermal Properties Using Wire-Line Log and Core Data From the Futuregen2.0 Site, Well No. 1, Morgan County, Illinois

The FutureGen Industrial Alliance is planning for construction and operation of four Class VI underground CO2 injection wells in Morgan County, Illinois, USA. Wireline log and core data from the first stratigraphic well at the site were analyzed to evaluate rock mechanical, hydraulic, and thermal properties. Mineral volume fractions and other log-derived data were used with core data for estimation and calibration of parameters needed for reservoir modeling. The purpose of this work was to develop workflows for efficient data assimilation and parameterization of reservoir models for the site.
The Rectilinear Crossing Number of a Complete Graph and Sylvester's "Four Point Problem" of Geometric Probability

We prove that two fundamental constants of the geometry of the plane are equal. First, if R is an open set in the plane with finite Lesbesque measure, let q(R) denote the probability that if four points are chosen independently uniformly at random in R, then their convex hull is a quadrilateral. Let qt be the infimum of q(R) over all such sets R. Second, let v(Kn) denote the rectilinear crossing number of the complete graph on n vertices, i.e., the minimum number of intersections in any drawing of Kn in
Predicting Student Learning using Log Data from Interactive Simulations on Climate Change

Interactive simulations are commonly used tools in technology enhanced education. Simulations can be a powerful tool for allowing students to engage in inquiry, especially in science disciplines. They can help students develop an understanding of complex science phenomena in which multiple variables are at play. Developing models for complex domains, like climate science, is important for learning. Equally important, though, is understanding how students use these simulations. Finding use patterns that lead to learning will allow us to develop better guidance for students who struggle to extract the useful information from the simulation. In this study, we generate features from action log data collected while students interacted with simulations on climate change. We seek to understand what types of features are important for student learning by using regression models to map features onto learning outcomes.
The Evental City: Moment, Situation, Presence

Events are part of everyday life and cities, and cities’ experience economy. Affect and emotions—real or imagined, collective or subjective, lived or dreamed—are crucial issues to events, including...
Variations in activity and selectivity for supported KClCuO and KClCuClx catalysts

Etude des effets des changements dans la forme du catalyseur (c'est-a-dire CuO par CuCl x ) sur l'activite et la selectivite pour la conversion en phase gazeuse du chlorure de methylene dans un exces d'air a 500 o C
The Impact of Full-Time Enrollment in the First Semester on Community College Transfer Rates: New Evidence from Texas with Pre-College Determinants:

Background/ContextRecent developments in state-level policy have begun to require, incentivize, and/or encourage students at community colleges to enroll full time in an effort to increase the like...
Situation of residents injured by animal and rabies vaccine coverage in Linqing City from 2011-2012

[Objective]To understand the situation of residents injured by animal and rabies immunoglobulin coverage in Linqing City,to evaluate the rabies prevention effect,and provide evidence for its control.[Methods]Descriptive survey was performed on animal injured patients who received rabies vaccination in clinic of Qingyuan CDC from 2011-2012.[Results]A total of 4 284 cases of animal injured patients were reported from 2011-2012,with annual injury rate of 279. 09 /100 000. There was 1 case of rabies, 1 death case in 2012. The peak incidence appeared in June-August(1 542 cases,35. 99%). There were 2 506 male injured patients,1 778 female,the ratio was 1. 41∶ 1. Most patients were peasants(1 178 cases,27. 50%) and scattered children(850 cases,19. 84%),followed by students(835 cases,19. 49%) and workers(811 cases,18. 93%). Age distribution showed most were 20-49 years adolescents(1 698 cases,39. 64%) and children under 10 years(1 258 cases,29. 37%). Most animals were dog(3 780 cases,88. 24%),followed by cat(396 cases,9. 24%). 84. 03% of the animals had no immunization history. There were 192 cases(4. 48%) with head and face injury,1 612(37. 93%) with upper limb(hand) injury,1 902(44. 40%) with lower limb(foot) injury,270(6. 30%) with multiple injuries. There were 3 953 cases(92. 27%) received treatment with 2 hours,4 117(96. 10%) with 24 hours. 91. 36% of the patients received wound cleaning and disinfection in a timely manner. There were 4 189 cases(97. 78%) fully immunized by rabies vaccine,2 498(58. 31 %) by rabies immunoglobulin. [Conclusion]The incidence of animal injury is relatively high in this city,and the vaccination rate of rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin is relatively high too. The key measures for rabies control are correct injury treatment + passive immunization vaccine(immunoglobulin).
Carazolol, an extremely potent β-adrenergic blocker: Binding to β-receptors in brain membranes

Abstract The binding of (±)-[ 3 H ] carazolol , a recently developed β-adrenergic antagonist of high potency, to rat cerebral cortical membranes is compared to the binding of (−)-[3H]dihydroalprenolol (3H-DHA). 3H-Carazolol binds saturably to cortical β-receptors with a KD of 0.15 nM, a value approximately four times lower than that for 3H-DHA. Considering that 3H-carazolol was used as the racemic mixture and 3H-DHA as the (−)-isomer, an equivalent formulation of 3H-carazolol would be 8–10 times more potent than 3H-DHA. This increased affinity can be explained by the observed two fold greater association rate constant and a two fold lower dissociation rate constant. The drug displacement profile of 3H-carazolol binding is very similar to that of 3H-DHA. 3H-Carazolol has equal displacements constants when binding is performed in calf cerebral cortex (which contains mainly β1 receptors) and calf cerebellum (which contains mainly β2 receptors), indicating that 3H-carazolol binds with equal affinity to β1 and β2 receptors. The percent free drug (i.e. unbound to serum proteins) for both carazolol and propranolol in rabbit serum is approximately 10%. At physiologically equivalent doses of carazolol and propranolol in the rabbit, there is no detectable free β-blocking activity at 15, 30 or 60 min after intravenous injection of carazolol, although substantial propranolol activity is detected.
Cushing’s Disease: An Historical Perspective

The history of Cushing’s disease exemplifies one of the triumphs of clinical and experimental medicine, as well as some of their limitations. This history can be described in terms of the development of Cushing’s disease as a clinical entity, which paralleled the history of medicine and the evolution of endocrinology as a discipline. Advances in endocrinology depended on clinical observations combined with laboratory studies – clinicians and chemists. The description of Cushing’s disease and its elucidation depended upon these developments. Not only could treatment be effected by replacing a deficient hormone, but hormone excess could be treated by the removal of the pathologic hormone-secreting tumor, as demonstrated in Harvey Cushing’s 1909 report of the successful treatment of acromegaly by the removal of a portion of the anterior lobe of the pituitary. The maturation of the field of endocrinology brought with it the recognition of the importance of feedback control and the development of the radioimmunoassay (among other scientific developments), as well as a shift in focus to hormone action, the rise of molecular biology, and the unification of endocrinology, immunology, and neuroscience into a single discipline. This chapter is divided into three parts: (1) development of Cushing’s disease as a clinical entity, a process that has moved from bedside to bench and back again, (2) further elucidation of the pathophysiology of Cushing’s disease as the discipline of endocrinology moved from the organism to the organ to the cell, and (3) related developments that apply to issues in healthcare delivery.
Allosteric Pathways in the Multi-Domain Thyroid Hormone Receptor

Allostery is an important regulatory mechanism in biology. Such mechanisms fine-tune the response of the nuclear hormone receptors (NRs) to extracellular stimuli. The structural topology of NRs consists of a mostly unstructured N-terminal (NTD)/activation function-1 domain (AF-1), a DNA binding domain (DBD) that recognizes and binds specific DNA sequences and a C-terminal ligand binding domain (LBD). Besides DNA, these domains also interact with specific factors that are subunits of the basal transcriptional machinery. Through multiple sources of data, we have observed that NRs are not simply docking sites for cellular molecules. Instead, we have characterized multiple allosteric pathways that link ligand, DNA and coactivator-binding sites. Here, we will present data from biophysical and cell-based studies on the thyroid-hormone receptor (TR). TR is a type II NR and functions as a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor (RXR). Thyroid hormone (T3) is essential for development, differentiation, and metabolic balance in higher organisms and humans. Improper functioning of TR has been associated with pathophysiological conditions such as prostate cancer, colon cancer and hypothyroidism. Yet, the mechanism of transcriptional regulation by TR is not completely understood. Here, we present data that describes specific allosteric communication between the multiple TR domains. Specifically, we show how the AF1 influences DNA binding by the DBD and that the DNA-DBD interactions influence AF1 structural conformations. Furthermore, we show that there are direct interactions between the DBD and LBD and these are dependent on the DNA-bound state of the DBD. Our study on TR allostery also links the DNA and coactivator. Finally, propose a novel ‘frustrated-fit’ model to explain the negative cooperativity between TR and RXR ligands in the TR:RXR heterodimeric complex. For our studies, we utilize a combination of crystallography, experimental and theoretical biophysics and cell-based reporter gene assays.
A Moment of Truth: The ‘Year of Europe’ and the Atlantic Crisis of 1973/74

The European reaction to the Nixon administration’s so-called Year of Europe initiative in early 1973, compounded later by the effects of the October Middle East war, constituted a significant watershed in the evolution of US—European relations and of US policy with respect to West European unity. The effect of both developments was to force to the surface the hitherto mostly latent tensions between American notions of Atlantic partnership and the emerging West European identity.
Anticipatory Grief A Family Systems Approach

Anticipatory grief is a natural process in response to an expected loss. Anticipatory grief not only affects the life of the person diagnosed with a terminal illness but the family and systems that they belong to. As a family transitions from anticipatory grief through bereavement, changes and adjustments will affect the relationships within the family system. In this position paper, the advantages of supporting the entire family through use of a family systems theoretical framework, as opposed to treating members of the family individually, will be explored.
Primary hyperoxaluria: spectrum of clinical and imaging findings

Primary hyperoxaluria is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism with three known subtypes. In primary hyperoxaluria type 1, the most common of the subtypes, a deficiency in the hepatic enzymes responsible for the metabolism of glycoxylate to glycine, leads to excessive levels of glyoxylate, which is converted to oxalate. The resultant elevation in serum and urinary oxalate that characterizes primary hyperoxaluria leads to calcium oxalate crystal deposition in multiple organ systems (oxalosis). We review the genetics, pathogenesis, variable clinical presentation and course of this disease as well as its treatment. Emphasis is placed on the characteristic imaging findings before and after definitive treatment with combined liver and renal transplantation.
Exercise Training Normalizes Mitochondrial Function in Myopathies Due to Heteroplasmic Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Mutations (S36.007)

Objective: To assess effects of 6 months of exercise training in mitochondrial myopathy (MM). Background: Oxidative capacity (peak VO2) is low in MM due to low extraction of O2 from blood (low peak a-v O2 difference) while systemic O2 delivery (Q, cardiac output) and ventilation (VE) are high relative to VO2. The biochemical hallmark of MM in mtDNA mutations is deficiency of respiratory chain complexes (RCC) containing mtDNA-encoded subunits (e.g. complexes I, III, &/or IV). Design/Methods: Twenty-eight patients with heteroplamic mtDNA mutations (16 single large-scale deletions, 12 tRNA or coding region point mutations) and eleven age, gender-matched sedentary control subjects were evaluated at baseline and after 6 months of aerobic exercise training. Muscle biochemistry was assessed in needle quadriceps biopsies. Results: Training proportionally increased VO2 in controls (29.7±5.8 to 33.9±4.3 ml/kg/min) and patients (16.9 ± 4.9 to 18.7±5.1) and peak systemic a-vO2 diff (C=14.0±1.2 to 15.0±0.6; MM=9.7 ± 4.3 to 10.7±2.8). Peak cardiac output increased in controls (14.8±4.2 to 15.9±4.7 L/min), but was unchanged in patients; no significant change occurred in controls in Q relative to VO2 (5.6±0.7 to 5.2±0.4) or in VE/VO2 (44.9±9 to 43.0±11.1) but both of these measures normalized in MM (ΔQ/VO2, 9.1 ± 2.8 to 8.0±3.2; VE/VO2, 64.4 ± 15.2 to 59.0±15.5, p<.005). Training significantly increased muscle levels of citrate synthase, succinate dehydrogenase and complexes I, III, and IV in controls but only complexes I (3.4 ± 1.5 to 4.4±1.5), III (10.8 ± 6.5 to 12.7±6.0) and IV (3.3 ± 2.6 to 4.1±2.8) increased significantly in MM. Conclusions/Relevance: These results indicate that exercise training normalized mitochondrial function in MM due to heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations indicated by higer VO2 and lower ΔQ/ΔVO2 and peak VE/VO2 with selective increased activity of RCC containing mtDNA-encoded subunits consistent with enhanced function of wild-type mtDNA. Study supported by: NIAMS (R01AR50597 ) Disclosure: Dr. Haller has nothing to disclose.
Giving It Our Best Shot? Human Papillomavirus and Hepatitis B Virus Immunization Among Refugees, Massachusetts, 2011-2013.

INTRODUCTION The receipt rate of hepatitis B virus vaccine among adolescents in the United States is high, while the receipt rate of human papillomavirus vaccine is low. Rates have not been closely studied among refugees, whose home countries have high rates of disease caused by these viruses. METHODS We examined human papillomavirus and hepatitis B virus immunization rates among 2,269 refugees aged 9 to 26 years who resettled in Massachusetts from 2011 through 2013. This was a secondary analysis of data from their medical screenings. We used binary logistic regression to assess characteristics associated with immunization and bivariate analyses to compare refugee immunization rates with those of the general US population. RESULTS Forty-five percent of US adolescents aged 13 to 17 years received 1 dose of human papillomavirus vaccine, compared with 68% of similarly aged refugees. Males (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52-0.74), refugees older than 13 years (aOR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.60-0.93), and refugees not from Sub-Saharan Africa (aOR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.59-0.92) were less likely to receive human papillomavirus vaccine, while arrivals in 2012 through 2013 were more likely (aOR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3-1.9) than those arriving in 2011. Refugees older than 13 years were less likely to receive 2 doses of hepatitis B virus vaccine (aOR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.37-0.63) than older refugees. CONCLUSION Specialized post-arrival health assessment may improve refugees' immunization rates.
Metaphysics and media: Walter J. Ong’s philosophical milieu

While having a solid foundation in philosophy, Walter J. Ong did not identify with any philosophical school or movement, preferring to interpret philosophy simply as love of wisdom, which is best p...
Effectiveness of physical therapy for Achilles tendinopathy: An evidence based review of eccentric exercises

Achilles tendinopathy is a common overuse injury in athletes, especially older athletes. This condition is difficult to treat and often becomes chronic. This evidence based review summarized the current pathophysiological principles guiding research as well as clinical practice and synthesized the search results to determine if eccentric exercises were effective in the treatment of patients with Achilles tendinopathy. Seven studies were identified, but only two were randomized clinical trials (level A evidence) with the rest controlled clinical studies or prospective cohort studies (level B evidence). Only one study reported follow-up one year beyond the intervention period. Based on a crossectinal analysis of post treatment outcomes, there was modest but significant clinical benefits following eccentric exercise training, but insufficient evidence to predict the long-term effects of eccentric exercise training for the management of Achilles tendinopathy. Although randomized clinical trials with a large subject population are still needed, eccentric exercise paired with biomedical training techniques should be integrated into treatment guidelines for patients with Achilles tendonitis.
Ethical Issues in Withholding Care from Severely Handicapped Infants

Ethical issues are examined that involve withholding medical treatment from severely handicapped infants. Although current laws do not sanction euthanasia, severely handicapped infants are often assisted in dying. Discussion includes society's apparent acceptance of this practice and several solutions to the problems.
High-Speed Rail is Not 'Interstate 2.0'

The administration has likened President Obama's high-speed rail plan to President Eisenhower's Interstate Highway System. Yet there are crucial differences between interstate highways and high-speed rail.First, before Congress approved the Interstate Highway System, it had a good idea how much it would cost. In contrast, Congress approved $8 billion for high-speed rail without knowing the total cost, which is likely to be at least $90 billion.Second, highway users paid for interstate highways, whereas high-speed rail will be almost entirely subsidized by general taxpayers who will rarely use it.Third, interstate highways connect all 48 contiguous states and major metropolitan areas. The FRA's high-speed rail plan consists of six unconnected networks that reach only 33 states and less than two-thirds of the nation's 100 largest urban areas.Fourth, the average American traveled 4,000 miles on interstates in 2007. High-speed rail proponents optimistically estimate that the average American would ride the FRA's high-speed rail system less than 60 miles per year.Finally, interstate highways improved social welfare by increasing highway safety. In contrast, far from saving energy and reducing pollution, high-speed rail would actually increase energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.For all these reasons, the United States government should not fund high-speed rail. The $8 billion in high-speed rail stimulus funds should be invested in safety improvements, not in new trains and new routes that will add to future taxpayer obligations.
The Quantum Leap from Karma to Dharma: Moral Narrative in the Writings of Jon Kabat-Zinn

In this essay, I explore the writings of Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of the mindfulness-based stress reduction program, to discern in them a moral framework that provides a narrative arch of human decline and restoration through greater mindfulness. I argue that this moral narrative framework has striking similarities to what Slavoj Zizek describes as the “Holderlin paradigm” which characterizes the thinking of post-Hegelian thinkers such as Marx, Nietzsche, Benjamin, Heidegger, and Derrida. This narrative takes late modernity as both the nadir of a process of historical decline in the West and the site of its potential restoration. In demonstrating the similarities between the two narratives, I seek to show how the “Buddhification,” as Braun calls it, of American spirituality is internally complex, and to offer some conceptual tools from the philosopher Jane Bennett to account for breakdowns that the scholarly study of the mindfulness meditation phenomenon produces in our broad analytical typologies.
Evaluation and Monitoring of Pulmonary Hypertension in Neonates With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

This review aims to describe the assessment of pulmonary hypertension and ventricular function in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia and the long-term follow-up of their pulmonary vascular disease. In 2015, the pediatric pulmonary hypertension guidelines from the American Heart Association and American Thoracic Society suggested class I level of evidence B guidelines for routine evaluation of patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, including longitudinal care in an interdisciplinary pulmonary hypertension program and following the recommendations offered for all children with pulmonary hypertension. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia causes compression of the lungs during critical stages of fetal development and results in lung hypoplasia. As a result, there is abnormal development of pulmonary vasculature that leads to post-natal pulmonary hypertension and increased afterload to the right ventricle. Left ventricular filling is affected by decreased pre-load and mechanical compression by abdominal content leading to decreased systemic perfusion. Persistent pulmonary hypertension after surgical repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia is associated with increased mortality. Assessment and monitoring of pulmonary hypertension and ventricular function in this population of neonates is crucial to determine response to medical treatment, the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and the timing of surgical repair.
ENERGY LOSS BY VECTOR FLOW MAPPING IS ASSOCIATED WITH SYMPTOM SEVERITY AND SERUM BIOMARKERS IN HEART FAILURE PATIENTS WITH REDUCED EJECTION FRACTION

Vector flow mapping (VFM) can quantify left ventricular (LV) flow mechanics noninvasively. VFM can measure LV energy loss and pump efficiency. However, the association of LV energy loss to symptom severity and serum biomarkers in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is
Determining shelving accuracy via sampling in a community college library

AbstractDuring the Fall 2017 semester, staff at the Hudson County Community College (HCCC), Library began to notice that many books listed as available in the catalog were often not being found on ...
Domains of cognition and their assessment .

Cognitive performance is typically conceptualized in terms of domains of functioning. These domains are hierarchical in nature, with the bottom referring to more basic sensory and perceptual processes and the top referring to elements of executive functioning and cognitive control. Domains are not independent of each other and executive functioning exerts control over the utilization of more basic processes. Assessments are typically targeted at subdomains of each ability area and careful combination of tasks can reveal patterns of performance consistent with a variety of different neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. This review covers the general structures of domains, the patterns of impairments across domains seen in common neuropsychiatric conditions, and use of assessment strategies to differentiate, to the extent possible, between different types of conditions manifesting cognitive impairment. .
Mass casualty event scenarios and political shifts: 2020 election outcomes and the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 models indicate a mass casualty event may potentially occur in the United States. Among numerous social and economic changes, the potential to reshape the political landscape exists. The t...
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs) at the Bedside by X-ray Technologists: A Review of Our Experience.

Abstract Introduction Peripherally inserted central catheters, also known as PICC lines, are very common procedures for patients in the hospital who need to have long-term intravenous access, for various reasons such as antibiotics or total parenteral nutrition. At our institution, there is currently only one interventional radiology (IR) suite in our department to accommodate all IR procedures. Therefore, the bedside PICC program was introduced to help alleviate the workload in the IR suite and to improve overall patient care. Under the supervision of the hospital's interventional radiologists, trained x-ray technologists (medical radiation technologists [MRTs]) are inserting PICCs at the bedside. The purpose of this article is to describe the creation of a bedside PICC program by x-ray technologists in a hospital setting and to analyze the PICC insertions performed by MRTs over a six-year period. Methods In 2012, a bedside PICC insertion program was developed at our hospital, whereby two technologists would perform the procedure, using the Site-Rite® 8 Ultrasound System alongside the integrated Sherlock 3CG™ Diamond Tip Confirmation System. Training on these systems and procedural techniques, including venipuncture, sterile technique, and equipment knowledge and troubleshooting was provided for technologists. The point-of-care program was revamped in 2017 in that only one technologist would go to the bedside alone for PICC insertions. All data for the analyses were obtained from the Radiology Information System program used by our medical imaging department, called Coral RIS/PACS. Results Owing to staffing issues and inconsistent scheduling, an overview of yearly volumes of bedside PICCs performed increased from 45 in 2012 to 486 in 2018. After program changes made in 2017, these changes yielded a total volume of 382 of bedside PICCs performed, and an even more remarkable amount of 486 in 2018. For these two latter years, an evaluation of the program was carried out by analyzing how many bedside PICCs were performed successfully by the solo technologist. Overall success was achieved for both years: in 2017, 82% of the cases were performed by the technologist alone without any assistance, and likewise 89% in 2018. Conclusion Since the onset of this process improvement initiative, the bedside PICC program by MRTs under the supervision of the interventional radiologists at our institution has benefited many patients and the hospital as a whole. It was apparent during the development of the program that consistent scheduling of trained and dedicated MRTs to do these bedside procedures on a regular basis improved the efficiency of the program.
Creation of a novel educational module to improve the proficiency of sexual assault evidence collection among pediatric emergency providers

Background: Of all sexual assaults in the US, 44% of them are perpetrated against victims less than 18 years of age. The standard adopted by the Ohio Department of Health is for forensic evidence collection to be performed or supervised only by a physician or nurse practitioner (NP) trained and experienced in the evaluation of child sexual abuse. Timing of evidence collection is essential. In a study of 273 children less than 10 years of age, no swabs collected after 9 hours were positive for semen. …
Up, down, or no change: weight gain as an unwanted side effect of CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea.

Citation:Brown LK. Up, down, or no change: weight gain as an unwanted side effect of CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(suppl_1):21S–22S.
Equal sums of two cubes of quadratic forms

We give a complete description of all solutions to the equation f13 + f 23 = f 33 + f 43 for quadratic forms fj ∈ ℂ[x,y] and show how Ramanujan’s example can be extended to three equal sums of pair...
Short-term effects of the earned income tax credit on children's physical and mental health.

Abstract Purpose Child poverty is associated with worsened health, although there is limited research on whether U.S. poverty alleviation policies improve children's health. We examined the short-term effects of the earned income tax credit (EITC), among the largest U.S. poverty alleviation programs, on children's food insecurity, weight status, and mental health. Methods Using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS, 1998–2016), we examined the effects of the EITC using a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences methodology. About 90% of EITC-eligible individuals receive tax refunds in February–April, while NHIS interviews occur throughout the year. We took advantage of this timing of refund receipt to compare EITC-eligible families interviewed in February–April with those interviewed in the other months, “differencing out” seasonal trends in outcomes among noneligible families. Analyses involved multivariable linear regressions. Results We found that food insecurity decreased in the months following EITC refund receipt, with no effects for weight status or mental health. Results were robust to alternative specifications. Conclusion While these findings suggest that food insecurity among vulnerable children was reduced immediately after EITC refund receipt, this also means that the EITC may contribute to cyclical food insecurity. Policies to enhance income stability may be one solution to address these findings.
Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing on Clinical Urine Samples by Video-Based Object Scattering Intensity Detection

To combat the ongoing public health threat of antibiotic-resistant infections, a technology that can quickly identify infecting bacterial pathogens and concurrently perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) in point-of-care settings is needed. Here, we develop a technology for point-of-care AST with a low-magnification solution scattering imaging system and a real-time video-based object scattering intensity detection method. The low magnification (1-2×) optics provides sufficient volume for direct imaging of bacteria in urine samples, avoiding the time-consuming process of culture-based bacterial isolation and enrichment. Scattering intensity from moving bacteria and particles in the sample is obtained by subtracting both spatial and temporal background from a short video. The time profile of scattering intensity is correlated with the bacterial growth rate and bacterial response to antibiotic exposure. Compared to the image-based bacterial tracking and counting method we previously developed, this simple image processing algorithm accommodates a wider range of bacterial concentrations, simplifies sample preparation, and greatly reduces the computational cost of signal processing. Furthermore, development of this simplified processing algorithm eases implementation of multiplexed detection and allows real-time signal readout, which are essential for point-of-care AST applications. To establish the method, 130 clinical urine samples were tested, and the results demonstrated an accuracy of ∼92% within 60-90 min for UTI diagnosis. Rapid AST of 55 positive clinical samples revealed 98% categorical agreement with both the clinical culture results and the on-site parallel AST validation results. This technology provides opportunities for prompt infection diagnosis and accurate antibiotic prescriptions in point-of-care settings.
Business Ownership versus Self-Employment

Using data from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79), we find that 68 percent of jobs classified as selfâ€ employment are not independently reported as selfâ€ owned businesses, while 16 percent of selfâ€ owned businesses are not independently classified as selfâ€ employment. Businesses not regarded as selfâ€ employment are often associated with such signs of entrepreneurship as selfâ€ identification as an entrepreneur, job descriptions that refer to business ownership or a managerial role, and high individual skill/asset levels. Selfâ€ employed jobs that are not independently classified as selfâ€ owned businesses are dominated by contract work and homeâ€ based, singleâ€ person pursuits. Our evidence suggests that selfâ€ employment should not be viewed as a synonym for business ownership.
Initiating Opioid Use Disorder Medication via Telemedicine During COVID-19: Implications for Proposed Reforms to the Ryan Haight Act.

Background The Ryan Haight Act generally requires a clinician to conduct an in-person visit before prescribing an opioid use disorder (OUD) medication. This requirement has impeded use of telemedicine to expand OUD treatment, and many policymakers have called for its removal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning March 16, 2020, the requirement was temporarily waived. It is unclear whether clinicians who treat OUD patients perceive telemedicine to be a safe and effective means of OUD medication initiation. Objective To understand clinician use of and comfort level with using telemedicine to initiate patients on medication for opioid use disorder. Design National survey administered electronically via WebMD/Medscape's online clinician panel in fall 2020. Participants A total of 602 clinicians (primary care providers, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners or certified nurse specialists, and physician assistants) participated in the survey. Main measures Frequency of video, audio-only, and in-person visits for medication initiation, comfort level with using video for new patient visits with OUD. Key results Clinicians varied substantially in their use of telemedicine for medication initiation. Approximately 25% used telemedicine for most initiations while 40% used only in-person visits. The majority (55.8%) expressed at least some discomfort with using telemedicine for treating new OUD patients, although clinicians with more OUD patients were less likely to express such discomfort. Conclusion Findings suggest that a permanent relaxation of the Ryan Haight requirement may not result in widespread adoption of telemedicine for OUD medication initiation without additional supports or incentives.
UHC Surgery and Anesthesia as Essential Components of Universal Health Coverage (WHA 68.15)

Universal health coverage (UHC) is the ideal that “all people have access to needed promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health services, of sufficient quality to be effective, while also ensuring that people do not suffer financial hardship when paying for these services.” Achieving UHC has become a global goal set forth under the United Nations Sustainable development goals. Achieving UHC is not possible without also ensuring the five billion people who lack access to safe, affordable surgical care. Strategies to ensure universal surgical care involve a range of economic and political strategies designed to increase financial risk protection with respect to surgical services and ensure that populations can receive surgical care without facing financial hardship.
Evolved gas composition monitoring by repetitive injection gas chromatography

Abstract Performance characteristics and applications of a small volume gas chromatograph oven are described. Heating and cooling properties of the apparatus are evaluated and examples are given illustrating the advantages of greatly reducing the air bath volume surrounding fused silica columns. Fast heating and cooling of the oven permit it to be employed for repetitive injection analyses. By using fast gas chromatography separations to achieve short assay cycle times, the apparatus can be employed for on-line species-specific gas stream composition monitoring when volatile species concentrations vary on time scales of a few minutes or longer. This capability facilitates repeated sampling and fast gas chromatographic separations of volatile product mixtures produced during thermal analyses. Applications of repetitive injection gas chromatography–mass spectrometry evolved gas analyses to monitoring purge gas effluent streams containing volatile acid catalyzed polymer cracking products are described. The influence of thermal analysis and chromatographic experimental parameters on effluent sampling frequency are delineated.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Xq26.1-q26.3 Duplication in Two Fetuses of a Woman with Gonadal Mosaicism

We report prenatal diagnosis of two affected males with an Xq26.1-q26.3 duplication from a mother with gonadal mosaicism. The first affected pregnancy was referred by ultrasound observed intrauterine growth retardation and abnormal cerebellar anatomy. Chromosome analysis on cultured amniocytes found a normal male karyotype but array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) detected a 4.808 Mb duplication at Xq26.1-q26.3. The proband was born at 35 weeks gestation. At age of three years, he presented with growth retardation, scoliosis, short stature and micropenis. Follow up aCGH analysis on a peripheral blood sample from the mother found a normal result. The second pregnancy was referred due to advanced maternal age and previous history of an affected child. Prenatal chromosome analysis on chorionic villus sampling found a normal male karyotype and aCGH detected the same Xq26.1-q26.3 duplication. The recurrence of this duplication indicated the presence of gonadal mosaicism in the mother. Of the 28 refseq genes within the duplicated region, mutations in genes AIFM1, IGSF1, FRMD7, GPC3, PHF6 and HPRT1 are known to be associated with syndromic phenotypes in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). It was reported that deletions of the GPC3 gene in males causes Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome featuring an overgrowth phenotype and a deletion involving IGSF1 results in gonadal enlargement. The duplication of these two genes in our cases is associated with growth retardation and micropenis.
Budget reallocation and the peace dividend. Energy and pollution tradeoffs

Abstract Despite the attention received during times of crisis, energy conservation policy and pollution abatement strategies are seldom considered in the formulation and implementation of government expenditure decisions not directly related to energy-use and pollution emissions. This paper deals with measurement of the energy and pollution costs associated with various budgetary categories including defence, education and other non-defence components of expenditure. In deciding between alternatives, such knowledged provides a broader decisionmaking context potentially useful in assessing the major alterations in defence and non-defence expenditures that may soon take place as tensions between the USA and the USSR diminish. Empirical estimates show that budgetary reallocation away from defence can result in important reductions in energy-use and pollution emissions.