cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The academic achievement gap between blacks and whites: The latest version of blaming the victim?

This paper considers the academic achievement gap between African American and White students at the elementary and high school levels. It attempts to determine if race or lower socioeconomic status impact results of standardized test results at high performing and low performing schools. It presents research involving regression analysis of data for the state of Illinois. Results indicate race is not a negative factor at high performing or low performing schools for both elementary or high school years, given the samples. Also, low socioeconomic status is not a negative factor at high performing or low performing schools for both the elementary and high school years. High performing schools had low to moderate quantities of the identified variables, while low performing schools had high levels of the identified variables. Societal biases toward Blacks-rich or poor-are challenged in this paper.
A Heart Rot of Magnolia Caused by Fomes Geotropus

A heart rot of Magnolia grandiflora L. which appears to be responsible for the destruction of many of the old trees of this species in southern Louisiana is described.A pore fungus, Fomes geotropus...
Thermoelectric Properties of M2Mo6Se6 (M=TI, In)

We have measured the thermal conductivity of TI2Mo6Se6, a quasi-one dimensional conductor which belongs to the family of M2Mo6X6 linear chain compounds. Using these results and our measurements of the Seebeck coefficient and the electrical conductivity we estimate the dimensionless figure of merit to be of the order of 0.08. This result suggest that this compound and other related compounds are good potential TE.
Mythic Patterns in River Niger and Ceremonies in Dark Old Men

There are a number of ways one might approach setting criteria for evaluating Afro-American drama. We might say, for instance, that a significant number of these plays employ reversals of the American minstrel tradition, and thus move from tragedy into satire and farce (i.e., Douglas Turner Ward's Day of Absence). Or we could say that some plays use the mysticism of Black folk tradition as a basis for building their character types (i.e., Jean Toomer's Balo and Adrienne Kennedy's The Owl Answers). We may argue that Black music (spirituals, blues, jazz) provides the key, so to speak, which enables us to decode a large number of Afro-American plays. And, finally, we could trace the development of Afro-American drama thematically by ascertaining the point(s) where the playwrights seem to be concerned with freedom, social protest, theatre for a Black audience, and so on. Though each of these approaches is valid in itself, in this essay I want to discuss another way of criticizing Afro-American popular drama. In many of these plays, there is a tension between the linear and the mythic conceptions of history. These two conceptions are diametrically opposed views, for the linear consciousness advocates the annihilation of the Black historical
Abstract 3710: Stanford GEMS (Girls health Enrichment Multisite Studies): Long-Term Efficacy of After-School Dance and Screen Time Reduction in Low-Income African-American Girls

Objective: To test the efficacy of a 2-year, community- & family-based intervention to reduce weight gain in low-income, preadolescent African-American girls Design: 2 arm, parallel group, randomized controlled trial Setting: Low-income areas of Oakland, CA Participants: 8 –10 year old African-American girls Interventions: Girls were randomized to a 2 year, culturally-tailored after school dance program and a home/family-based intervention to reduce screen media use (dance/TV) versus an information-based community health education (HE) active-placebo comparison intervention Primary Outcome: Change in body mass index measured up to 5 times over the course of the study Results: 261 girls were randomized (134 dance/TV, 127 HE) and 225 (86.2%) completed 1 or more follow-up measures (118 dance/TV, 107 HE; mean ± SD follow-up = 25.7 ± 8.5 mos and 25.2 ± 9.6 mos, respectively). Intent-to-treat analysis found no statistically significant differences between groups in BMI change (mean difference in changes= .04 kg/m2 per year, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] =−.19 to .27; P=.72). Similar results were found for waist circumference and triceps skinfold. Compared to girls in HE, girls in the dance/TV group significantly reduced fasting total cholesterol levels (difference in changes = −3.49 mg/dl per year, 95% CI −5.28 to −1.70; P Conclusions: A culturally-tailored after school dance and screen time reduction intervention did not slow BMI increases more than a health education intervention in low-income African-American girls. The dance/TV intervention resulted in greater reductions in fasting total and LDL-cholesterol and depressive symptoms, but not in other cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Analysis of multicrystal pump-probe data sets. II. Scaling of ratio data sets.

Two methods for scaling of multicrystal data collected in time-resolved photocrystallography experiments are discussed. The WLS method is based on a weighted least-squares refinement of laser-ON/laser-OFF intensity ratios. The other, previously applied, is based on the average absolute system response to light exposure. A more advanced application of these methods for scaling within a data set, necessary because of frequent anisotropy of light absorption in crystalline samples, is proposed. The methods are applied to recently collected synchrotron data on the tetra-nuclear compound Ag2Cu2L4 with L = 2-diphenyl­phosphino-3-methylindole. A statistical analysis of the weighted least-squares refinement residual terms is performed to test the importance of the scaling procedure.
Identification of histamine receptors in the canine gastrointestinal tract

The important role of histamine in chronic gastrointestinal diseases has been increasingly recognized over the last two decades in human medicine. Histamine is released following mast cell activation and exerts its action through binding to four different histamine receptors (H1, H2, H3, and H4). Histamine receptors are dispersed throughout the body, and each different receptor mediates a unique response. Documentation of the presence and type of histamine receptors in the differing sections of the canine gastrointestinal tract will provide additional research opportunities to further explore the role of histamine and its receptors in chronic canine enteropathies, as well as potential therapeutic options. Full thickness gastric, duodenal, jejunal, ileal, and colonic biopsies were obtained from 6 clinically normal adult dogs immediately after humane euthanasia. Commercially available histamine receptor antibodies predicted to react with canine tissues were applied to paraffin-embedded tissue sections using standard immunohistochemistry techniques to identify different histamine receptors. Staining intensity was graded from negative to strong, and the specificity of each antibody was evaluated with western blot. The presence and distribution of histamine receptors varied by anatomic site and histologic level within sections of the canine gastrointestinal tract. All 4 histamine receptors were readily identified, although the distribution of H4 receptors was decreased in comparison to the other histamine receptors. The distribution of the various histamine receptors was similar to that seen in the normal human gastrointestinal tract. H1 receptors were located in the stomach, lymphoid tissue of the ileum and colon, and the smooth muscle and ganglia of all sections. H2 receptors were located in all sections of the gastrointestinal tract, with greatest staining intensity in the gastric mucosa. H3 receptors were located in the stomach and colonic mucosa, smooth muscle and ganglia of all sections, and ileal and colonic lymphoid tissue. H4 receptors were located in the ganglia and smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the gastric and colonic mucosal and ileal lymphoid tissue. Western blot demonstrated both specific and non-specific staining with the H1 and H3 receptor antibody, but good specificity with the H4 receptor antibody. The H2 receptor antibody was not compatible with western blot techniques, despite excellent immunohistochemical specificity and consistency. Further studies to compare the density and distribution of the various histamine receptors in dogs with gastrointestinal disease are warranted.
Global Increase in H3K79 Dimethylation in Murine and Human MLL-AF4 Lymphoblastic Leukemias.

Abstract The t(4:11) is the most common chromosomal rearrangement associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in infants and predicts a poor outcome. We created a conditional knock-in mouse model that expresses the Mll-AF4 fusion protein generated by the t(4;11). The mice developed acute leukemia consisting of bone marrow replacement, splenomegaly and variable lymphadenopathy with a latency from 3–6 months depending upon the method of cre recombinase expression. Immunophenotypic analysis demonstrated the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (mALL), acute myeloid leukemia (mAML) or occasionally mixed lineage (biphenotypic) leukemia (mMLL). Further immunophenotypic analysis of mALL demonstrated the majority of the cells to be B220(+) CD43(low/−) IgM(−) IgD(−), pre-B cells. Unsupervised gene expression analysis confirmed that mALL cells are more similar to pre-B cells than to pre-pro-B, immature B or mature B-cells. Supervised gene expression analysis demonstrated that mALL cells had increased expression of genes including HoxA3/4/5/7/9/10, Meis1, and Myc, similar to previously described human ALL profiles. Furthermore gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated significant overlap between the murine and human MLL-AF4 leukemia gene expression profiles. As it has been previously shown that MLL-AF10 recruits the K79 methyltransferase DOT1L to HOXA cluster genes, we assessed whether Mll-AF4 mediates gene expression through similar chromatin modifications. We assayed H3K4; H3K27; and H3K79 methylation levels on HoxA cluster genes in mALL and pre-B cells. While H3K4 and H3K27 levels were not significantly different between pre-B and mALL cells, H3K79 was increased on HoxA3 through HoxA10 but not HoxA1/2/11/13. Assessment of genome wide distribution of H3K79 mark demonstrated a dramatic increase in H3K79 methylation on HoxA loci, and hundreds of other loci throughout the mouse genome. To determine whether findings in our mouse model have relevance for human ALL we assessed genome wide distribution of the H3K79 modification in MLL-AF4 rearranged ALL, non MLL-rearranged ALL, and human bone marrow CD34(+) CD19(+) pre-B cells. We found approximately 5000 genes in MLL-AF4 ALL cells possessed enhanced levels of the H3K79 modification as compared to normal human CD34(+) CD19(+) cells whereas MLL-germline ALLs did not possess a global enhancement. Moreover, MLL-AF4 ALL samples possessed the H3K79 modification on the promoters of over-expressed genes that distinguish MLL-rearranged ALL from other ALL. Finally, shRNA mediated knockdown of the K79 methyltransferase DOT1 suppressed growth of MLL-rearranged but not non MLL-rearranged ALL cell lines. These data demonstrate that MLL-AF4 induces genome wide abnormalities in H3K79 chromatin modification, which is likely a critical component of its leukemogenic mechanism. Targeting DOT1 with specific inhibitors may be therapeutically useful for the most common MLL-rearranged leukemias.
Avoiding Malar Edema During Midface/Cheek Augmentation with Dermal Fillers

The introduction of more durable and robust dermal filler materials has expanded the indications for dermal fillers, especially for the face. There probably is no area of the face that has not been treated with injectable fillers. Clinicians are now approaching facial aesthetic improvement and rejuvenation in a more global fashion, rather than focusing exclusively on the correction of wrinkles and folds. In contrast to amelioration of isolated wrinkles and folds, volume restoration and contour enhancement have become the objectives of advanced injectors. The value of midfacial volume restoration and enhancement has been well documented in the literature.1–5 However, when treating this area, the injector can experience adverse events, including the significant and long-lasting complication of malar edema. This article presents the anatomic basis of malar edema and the author's preferred injection technique to prevent this untoward event.
An investigation of inactivation mechanisms of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens spores in non‐thermal plasma of ambient air

To utilize the potential of non-thermal plasma technologies for food safety control and sanitation, the inactivation mechanisms of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens spores by non-thermal plasma of ambient air (NTP-AA) were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with chemometric analysis and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, aiming to probe both the morphological and biochemical changes occurring in spores during the kinetic inactivation process. RESULTS Kinetic analysis indicates that there is no intrinsic D-value (i.e. time required to inactivate 90% of the spores) in spore inactivation by NTP-AA because we observed non-linear (biphasic) inactivation kinetics and, in addition, the inactivation rate depended on the initial spore concentration and how the spores were exposed to the reactive species in the NTP-AA. The presence of suitable amount of water in the NTP-AA field accelerates spore inactivation. CONCLUSION Progressive erosion of spore surface by NTP-AA with ensuing or concomitant biochemical damage, which includes the alteration of structural proteins, internal lipids and the loss of dipicolinic acid content from the spore core, represent the main mechanisms of inactivation, and there is evidence that reactive NTP-AA species could penetrate the cortex and reach the core of spores to cause damage. ? 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Degenerative Joint Disease of the Elbow

Degenerative joint disease of the elbow is a broad term which encompasses osteoarthritis and post-traumatic arthritis. This chapter will serve as a general overview for elbow arthritis including the epidemiology, joint anatomy, physical findings, and possible surgical interventions.
Cost and Revenue Restricted Production

In Chapters 2–5 the production structure is modeled in physical terms. In Chapter 6 it is modeled in physical as well as price and value terms. In this chapter we model the production structure in price and value terms alone.
Layered surface fluid simulation for surgical training

We present a novel approach to fluid simulation over complex dynamic geometry designed for the specific context of virtual surgery simulation. The method combines a surface-based fluid simulation model with a multi-layer depth peeling representation to allow realistic yet efficient simulation of bleeding on complex surfaces undergoing geometry and topology modifications. Our implementation allows for fast fluid propagation and accumulation over the entire scene, and runs on the GPU at a constant low cost that is independent of the amount of blood in the scene. The proposed bleeding simulation is integrated in a complete simulator for brain tumor resection, where trainees have to manage blood aspiration and tissue/vessel cauterization while they perform virtual surgery tasks.
MC-Geschäftsmodelle und ihre Bewertung

Um die gesamte Breite der bedeutsamen Akteure und ihrer Interdependenzen zu beleuchten, wurde die Betrachtung der Wertschopfungsaktivitaten in Kapitel 7 breit angelegt und etwa auch der Aufbau der Netzinfrastruktur oder die Lieferung der Endgerate einbezogen. Fur die Untersuchung von MC-Geschaftsmodellen soll nun wieder auf die primaren Aktivitaten eingeschrankt werden.
Improved neutronics model of the High Flux Isotope Reactor

An improved core physics model of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) has been developed and evaluated by comparing calculational results with experimental results and also with calculational results obtained with earlier models. Eleven-group and 4-group cross-section libraries that are problem specific, collapsed, and weighted for the HFIR are generated from the 39-group Advanced Neutron Source Reactor cross-section library (ANSL-V general-purpose neutron library), which is based on ENDF/B-V. A diffusion theory-based procedure to analyze the static neutronics of the reactor is developed. Precise cross sections that take fuel loading variations (not considered in previous work) into account are also generated and implemented into an improved R-Z geometry model of the reactor. Point-by-point power densities are calculated using a detailed mesh structure. The results show that the improved model and procedure developed in this work give good agreement with experiments at interior locations with significant deviations at the outer boundary of the reactor core, which is near the control blades. More importantly, the improved model and procedure provide better overall agreement with experimental results than earlier models.
Normal Operators on Hilbert Space

In this chapter the Spectral Theorem for normal operators on a Hilbert space is proved. This theorem is then used to answer a number of questions concerning normal operators. In fact, the Spectral Theorem can be used to answer essentially every question about normal operators.
Deconstructing Dirac operators. III: Dirac and semi-Dirac pairs

The Dirac operator on the Euclidean space ℝ n , n ≥ 2, is a first-order differential operator \( \mathfrak{D}_{euc,n} \) with coefficients in the real Clifford algebra \( \mathfrak{A}_{euc,n} \) associated with ℝ n that has the defining property \( \mathfrak{D}_{euc,n}^2 = - \Delta _{euc,n} \), where Δeuc,n stands for the standard Laplace operator on ℝ n . As generalizations of this class of operators, we investigate pairs (\( \mathfrak{D},\mathfrak{D}^\dag \)) of first-order homogeneous differential operators on ℝ n with coefficients in a real Banach algebra \( \mathfrak{A} \), such that \( \mathfrak{D}\mathfrak{D}^\dag = \mu _L \Delta _{euc,n} \) and \( \mathfrak{D}^\dag \mathfrak{D} = \mu _R \Delta _{euc,n} \), or \( \mathfrak{D}^\dag \mathfrak{D} + \mathfrak{D}^\dag \mathfrak{D} = \mu \Delta _{euc,n} \), where μL, μR, or μ are some elements of \( \mathfrak{A} \). Every pair (\( \mathfrak{D},\mathfrak{D}^\dag \)) that has the former property is called a Dirac pair of differential operators, and every pair (\( \mathfrak{D},\mathfrak{D}^\dag \)) with the latter property is called a semi-Dirac pair. Our goal is to prove that for any Dirac, or semi-Dirac pair, (\( \mathfrak{D},\mathfrak{D}^\dag \)), there are two interrelated Cauchy-Pompeiu type, and, respectively, two Bochner-Martinelli-Koppelman type integral representation formulas, one for \( \mathfrak{D} \) and another for \( \mathfrak{D}^\dag \). In addition, we show that the existence of such integral representation formulas characterizes the two classes of pairs of differential operators.
Lower Extremity Erythema.

A man who lived a hermit lifestyle presented with an open eschar over the left medial malleolus.
Responses of C4 grasses to atmospheric CO2 enrichment : I. Effect of irradiance.

The growth and photosynethetic responses to atmospheric CO2 enrichment of 4 species of C4 grasses grown at two levels of irradiance were studied. We sought to determine whether CO2 enrichment would yield proportionally greater growth enhancement in the C4 grasses when they were grown at low irradiance than when grown at high irradiance. The species studied were Echinochloa crusgalli, Digitaria sanguinalis, Eleusine indica, and Setaria faberi. Plants were grown in controlled environment chambers at 350, 675 and 1,000 μl 1-1 CO2 and 1,000 or 150 μmol m-2 s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). An increase in CO2 concentration and PPFD significantly affected net photosynthesis and total biomass production of all plants. Plants grown at low PPFD had significantly lower rates of photosynthesis, produced less biomass, and had reduced responses to increases in CO2. Plants grown in CO2-enriched atmosphere had lower photosynthetic capacity relative to the low CO2 grown plants when exposed to lower CO2 concentration at the time of measurement, but had greater rate of photosynthesis when exposed to increasing PPFD. The light level under which the plants were growing did not influence the CO2 compensation point for photosynthesis.
General Systems Theory, Evolution, and Human Settlements

In this chapter, Bowen and Gleeson add the basic principles of Darwinian evolution to their description of how general systems theory (GST) provides a science-based model for understanding the evolution of human settlements. The chapter also describes the powerful role of human agency in the book’s GST model of human settlements. The global-scale network of human settlements that has evolved over the past few centuries as a direct result of human agency focused on material systems, living systems, and social systems continues to create enormous benefits for contemporary humans. But it also has created unsustainable stress on the carrying capacity of the global environment.
Going In, and Coming Back

I suggest three allegorical comparisons for the dilemmas inherent in undertaking our work in the teaching, supervisory, and psychotherapy space, and in reentering the daily territories of our lives lived elsewhere. The landscape glimpsed through this window is that of a recent Master’s thesis I completed with a returning veteran of the Afghanistan wars.
Three year experience of electronic portal imaging device based daily QA for photon radiation beams

An in-house developed EPID based QA strategy was deployed clinically to test daily linac performance before treatment. Beam dosimetric parameters, including output, flatness, symmetry, uniformity, TPR20/10, and MLC repeatability, as well as image quality metrics, such as high and low contrast resolutions, were recorded based on MV and kV EPID imaging analysis. Over a period of three years, data was collected and analyzed. Trend analysis with data visualization, comparisons to ionization chamber (IC) results and QA failure studies were performed to evaluate the reliability and robustness of the EPID based daily QA system. The EPID output tests over the three-year period cross-correlated with the monthly QA IC system within 1.3% and TG51 results within 1%. A consistent positive output drift was detected for all energies during that time. A faster drifting speed was observed after the installation of a new beam monitoring chamber on the machine but slowed down over time. Symmetry, flatness, and uniformity were stable and the changes were directly related to beam steering or QA baseline resetting. TPR20/10 was not sensitive to dosimetry fluctuations and a good delivery repeatability of MLC fields was observed. The image quality metrics were stable and a passing rate greater than 96% was observed. For the most recent eight month of data, a one-time QA passing rate was calculated to be 87.6%. Beam interruptions, human errors and data transfer issues were the major reasons for QA failures. The data gathered over 3 years indicates that the EPID-based process is an efficient and reliable QA solution for daily linac performance checks. The long-term trend analysis and data visualization can help physicists understand the behavior of a linac, optimize the daily QA procedure, and has the potential to predict machine failures prior to incidents.
Structure of a TAPBPR/nanobody complex reveals dynamic plasticity of unbound regions of TAPBPR

Recently determined structures of the tapasin homolog, TAPBPR, complexed with peptide-receptive MHC-I molecules, revealed interaction of TAPBPR with the a2-1 helix of MHC-I, and displacement of the C-terminal region of the peptide binding groove, resulting in a conformation amenable to peptide loading. These structures were based on X-ray data at ~3.4 A resolution and a number of regions of the electron density map were ill-defined. In an effort to obtain a higher resolution structure of TAPBPR, we isolated TAPBPR-specific nanobodies (camelid-derived single domain antibody fragments), from phage display libraries generated from peripheral blood lymphocyte mRNA of an alpaca immunized with TAPBPR. E. coli -expressed and purified nanobodies were complexed with TAPBPR. Crystal structures of a TAPBPR/nanobody complex and of nanobody alone were determined at 2.8 A and 1.55 A resolution respectively. In the structure of the complex the nanobody binds to the C-terminal Ig domain of TAPBPR, rigidifying the region of contact and thus permitting modeling of TAPBPR residues that were not visible in the reported TAPBPR/MHC-I structures. Unliganded surfaces of TAPBPR were more disordered than in the MHC-I liganded form. These data are consistent with the view that the luminal domains of TAPBPR, in solution, are structurally dynamic, and rigidify on ligand (i.e. MHC-I) interaction. Such structural plasticity may explain the ability of TAPBPR to interact with a variety of MHC-I allelomorphs.
Planar Groups

In abstract algebra courses, teachers are often confronted with the task of drawing subgroup lattices. For purposes of instruction, it is usually desirable that these lattices be planar graphs (with no crossings). We present a characterization of abelian groups with this property. We also resolve the following problem in the abelian case: if the subgroup lattice is required to be drawn hierarchically (that is, in monotonic order of index within the group), when is it possible to draw the lattice without crossings?
Pyridine nucleotide regulation of hepatic endoplasmic reticulum calcium uptake

Pyridine nucleotides serve an array of intracellular metabolic functions such as, to name a few, shuttling electrons in enzymatic reactions, safeguarding the redox state against reactive oxygen species, cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme detoxification pathways and, relevant to this study, the regulation of ion fluxes. In particular, the maintenance of a steep calcium gradient between the cytosol and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), without which apoptosis ensues, is achieved by an elaborate combination of energy-requiring ER membrane pumps and efflux channels. In liver microsomes, net calcium uptake was inhibited by physiological concentrations of NADP. In the presence of 1 mmol/L NADP, calcium uptake was attenuated by nearly 80%, additionally, this inhibitory effect was blunted by concomitant addition of NADPH. No other nicotinamide containing compounds -save a slight inhibition by NAADP-hindered calcium uptake; thus, only oxidized pyridine nucleotides, or related compounds with a phosphate moiety, had an imposing effect. Moreover, the NADP inhibition was evident even after selectively blocking ER calcium efflux channels. Given the fundamental role of endoplasmic calcium homeostasis, it is plausible that changes in cytosolic NADP concentration, for example, during anabolic processes, could regulate net ER calcium uptake.
Does duration of residency in the United States influence psychological symptoms and postmigration stressors among refugees? Potential implications of populism for refugee mental health

After relocation, refugees may experience significant difficulty adjusting to a host culture, and this difficulty may persist even after many years following resettlement. However, the influence of...
Revisiting the shape of earnings nonresponse

Abstract Previous research shows a “U-shaped” relationship between earnings and survey earnings nonresponse. We demonstrate that this pattern depends upon the treatment of individuals who worked according to tax data but lack work in surveys. Including these individuals reveals a wave of earnings nonresponse that is increasing in the tails and decreasing for middle earnings quantiles. We illustrate that individuals with positive earnings in tax data yet survey reports of nonemployment lie disproportionately at the bottom of the earnings distribution, bending down the left tail of the traditional “U-shaped” earnings nonresponse pattern. The reporting behavior of survey nonworkers can have important implications for evaluating inequality estimates based on survey data.
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications

Preface to the fourth edition CME information 1. Chemical neurotransmission 2. Transporters, receptors and enzymes as targets of psychopharmacological drug action 3. Ion channels as targets of psychopharmacological drug action 4. Psychosis and schizophrenia 5. Antipsychotic agents 6. Mood disorders 7. Antidepressants 8. Mood stabilizers 9. Anxiety disorders and anxiolytics 10. Chronic pain and its treatment 11. Disorders of sleep and wakefulness and their treatment 12. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and its treatment 13. Dementia and its treatment 14. Impulsivity, compulsivity and addiction Suggested reading and selected references Index.
Motivational Patient Interviewing in the Nuclear Medicine Department

1165 Objectives: Interviewing patients is important for obtaining accurate and comprehensive information. In the nuclear medicine department, a thorough interview provides relevant patient information such as symptomatology, allergies, past reactions and pertinent medical or surgical history. In many instances, only a limited history is provided when a scan is ordered. Obtaining this information during the interview process prevents one from going into a scan “blind”. Additionally, interviewing patients face-to-face in the nuclear medicine department prior to a scan also promotes trust and bonding between the patient and provider. Methods: We describe the importance of patient interviewing in the nuclear medicine department. A thorough and focused interview can help illicit relevant information prior to a patient scan. We also highlight the difference between a face-to-face interview compared to a questionnaire. Benefits of an in-person interview include increased bonding and patient-centered care. Results: Patient interviewing in the nuclear medicine department provides important information about patient health prior to a scan. An interview is often necessary, and oftentimes a limited history is provided. The interview process can help identify contraindications to a scan, as well as other issues. Conclusions: In the nuclear medicine department, face-to-face interviews is important for obtaining pertinent information and fostering trust between patients and providers.
Biomechanical Effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD), the Major Constituents of Cannabis, on Tendon to Tendon Healing in a Sprague Dawley Rat Achilles Tendon Surgical Repair Model:

Objectives:Use of Cannabis is common amongst athletes and the U.S. population at large. Use of Cannabinoid Oil is being increasingly utilized for a number of different pathologies, injuries, and ai...
National center for interprofessional practice and education IPE core data set and information exchange for knowledge generation.

Since 2012, the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education has worked with over 70 sites implementing over 100 interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) progr...
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Policy Process and the Conversation around HIV/AIDS in the United States:

In 2003, the George W. Bush administration passed the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a US government initiative to address the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune def...
Population-based estimates of survival among elderly patients with brain metastases.

BACKGROUND Prognostic estimates for patients with brain metastases (BM) stem from younger, healthier patients enrolled in clinical trials or databases from academic centers. We characterized population-level prognosis in elderly patients with BM. METHODS Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data, we identified 9882 patients ≥65 years old with BM secondary to lung, breast, skin, kidney, esophageal, colorectal, and ovarian primaries between 2014 and 2016. Survival was assessed by primary site and evaluated with Cox regression. RESULTS In total, 2765 versus 7117 patients were diagnosed with BM at primary cancer diagnosis (synchronous BM, median survival = 2.9 mo) versus thereafter (metachronous BM, median survival = 3.4 mo), respectively. Median survival for all primary sites was ≤4 months, except ovarian cancer (7.5 mo). Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)- or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-based therapy for synchronous BM displayed notably better median survival at 12.5 and 20.1 months, respectively, versus 2.8 months exhibited by other patients with NSCLC; survival estimates in melanoma patients based on receipt of BRAF/MEK therapy versus not were 6.7 and 2.8 months, respectively. On multivariable regression, older age, greater comorbidity, and type of managing hospital were associated with poorer survival; female sex, higher median household income, and use of brain-directed stereotactic radiation, neurosurgical resection, or systemic therapy (versus brain-directed non-stereotactic radiation) were associated with improved survival (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Elderly patients with BM have a poorer prognosis than suggested by prior algorithms. If prognosis is driven by systemic and not intracranial disease, brain-directed therapy with potential for significant toxicity should be utilized cautiously.
Integrating single-cell RNA-Seq with spatial transcriptomics in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using multimodal intersection analysis

To understand tissue architecture, it is necessary to understand both which cell types are present and the physical relationships among them. Single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq) has made significant progress towards the unbiased and systematic identification of cell populations within a tissue, however, the characterization of their spatial organization within it has been more elusive. The recently introduced ‘spatial transcriptomics’ method (ST) reveals the spatial pattern of gene expression within a tissue section at a resolution of a thousand 100 µm spots across the tissue, each capturing the transcriptomes of multiple cells. Here, we present an approach for the integration of scRNA-Seq and ST data generated from the same sample, and deploy it on primary pancreatic tumors from two patients. Applying our multimodal intersection analysis (MIA), we annotated the distinct micro-environment of each cell type identified by scRNA-Seq. We further found that subpopulations of ductal cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and cancer cells have spatially restricted localizations across the tissue, as well as distinct co-enrichments with other cell types. Our mapping approach provides an efficient framework for the integration of the scRNA-Seq-defined subpopulation structure and the ST-defined tissue architecture in any tissue.
Recalibrating Cost-per-Use: Implications of COUNTER Release 5 and Unsub

Calculating the cost-per-use of serials is a common practice in academic libraries, but the accuracy of these calculations requires accurate, comparable usage counts, and shortcomings of previous s...
Multi-Rate Control Design Under Input Constraints via Fixed-Time Barrier Functions

In this letter, we introduce the notion of periodic safety, which requires that the system trajectories periodically visit a subset of a forward-invariant safe set, and utilize it in a multi-rate framework where a high-level planner generates a reference trajectory that is tracked by a low-level controller under input constraints. We introduce the notion of fixed-time barrier functions which is leveraged by the proposed low-level controller in a quadratic programming framework. Then, we design a model predictive control policy for high-level planning with a bound on the rate of change for the reference trajectory to guarantee that periodic safety is achieved. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy on a simulation example, where the proposed fixed-time stabilizing low-level controller shows successful satisfaction of control objectives, whereas an exponentially stabilizing low-level controller fails.
Amplitude Factorization and Feynman Diagrams

In the previous chapter, we built the off-shell amplitudes by integrating forms on sections of \(\mathcal P_{g,n}\). Studying their factorizations leads to rewrite them in terms of Feynman diagrams, which allows to identify the fundamental interactions’ vertices. We will then be able to write the SFT action in the next chapter.
A Case Study in Mitigating COVID-19 Inequities through Free Textbook Implementation in the U.S

COVID-19, in addition to disrupting the global education system in general, is widening the economic and racial gaps institutions have spent years trying to address. The economic reality is that students who work to support themselves, their families, and purchase educational materials needed to succeed have been disproportionately harmed. This article discusses how the global COVID-19 pandemic is compounding structural inequities inherent in higher education. This requires faculty to reevaluate their role as agents of change in a world that is fundamentally different than it was a short time ago. The experience of one liberal arts institution in the U.S. who moved all courses to free materials in under six months will be recounted as an example of what is possible during extraordinary circumstances if students are truly prioritized during strategic planning.
Commercial Devices Provide Estimates of Energy Balance with Varying Degrees of Validity in Free-Living Adults.

Background The challenges of accurate estimation of energy intake (EI) are well-documented, with self-reported values 12%-20% below expected values. New approaches rely on gold-standard assessments of the other components of energy balance, energy expenditure (EE) and energy storage (ES), to estimate EI. Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity, repeatability, and measurement error of consumer devices when estimating energy balance in a free-living population. Methods Twenty-four healthy adults (14 women, 10 men; mean ± SD age: 30.7 ± 8.2 y) completed two 14-d assessment periods, including assessments of EE and ES using gold-standard [doubly labeled water (DLW) and DXA] and commercial devices [Fitbit Alta HR activity monitor (Alta) and Fitbit Aria wireless body composition scale (Aria)], and of EI by dietician-administered recalls. Accuracy and validity were assessed using Spearman correlation, interclass correlation, mean absolute percentage error, and equivalency testing. We also applied linear measurement error modeling including error in gold-standard devices and within-subject repeated-measures design to calibrate consumer devices and quantify error. Results There was moderate to strong agreement for EE between the Fitbit Alta and DLW at each time point (rs = 0.82 and 0.66 for Times 1 and 2, respectively). There was weak agreement for ES between the Fitbit Aria and DXA (rs = 0.15 and 0.49 for Times 1 and 2, respectively). Correlations between methods to assess EI ranged from weak to strong, with agreement between the DXA/DLW-calculated EI and dietary recalls being the highest (rs = 0.63 for Time 1 and 0.73 for Time 2). Only EE from the Fitbit Alta at Time 1 was equivalent to the DLW value using equivalency testing. Conclusions Commercial devices provide estimates of energy balance in free-living adults with varying degrees of validity compared to gold-standard techniques. EE estimates were the most robust overall, whereas ES estimates were generally poor.
Inmunosenescencia, infecciones virales y nutrición: revisión narrativa de la evidencia científica disponible

Aging of the immune system, or immunosenescence, alters the viral immune response in the elderly, especially when frailty exists. Research findings have demonstrated an imbalance in pro- and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, reduced production and diversification of T lymphocytes, and an alteration in immunovigilance and antibody synthesis. In this context, nutrition has a role in combating sarcopenia and frailty. Some food components that contribute to immune-competence are protein, vitamin D, n-3 fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins (vitamins C and E), zinc, selenium and iron. In times of a pandemic, nutritional recommendations for immune-competence in the elderly should be based on clinical studies. In this article, immunosenescence and its relationship to nutrition are addressed, including interventions studied in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dendrograms and Irreducible Prefix Codes

Dendrograms have been used in cluster analysis and in hierarchical classification problems. In this paper we note that the Huffman method for producing optimal binary codes also produces only dendrograms.
Automated macromodel generation for electronic systems

Automated model generation methods are becoming an increasingly important component of methodologies for effective system verification, especially for mixed-signal electronic systems. We organize and review the fundamental principles, development and applicability of the algorithmically-based model generation methods available today for linear and nonlinear systems.
Reinsuring Group Revenue Insurance with Exchange-Provided Revenue Contracts

Shows that it is feasible to use exchange-based contracts as a substitute for the Standard Reinsurance Agreement. The authors analyze a Group Revenue Contract, which would allow producers to guarantee against reductions in county-level revenues. The insurance company would then purchase put options on an exchange-based revenue contract to protect against statewide revenue shortfalls. The analysis suggests that this reassurance tool would eliminate most though not all of the systemic risk associated with this product.
The effect of follow-up on limiting non-participation bias in genetic epidemiologic investigations

The use of a comprehensive follow-up strategy to limit non-participation bias was evaluated in a population-based case-control study of orofacial clefts. Birth parents were requested to provide exposure data, and index children and parents were asked to provide blood specimens. Follow-up included telephone or postal reminders every two weeks for up to three months. Consent to participate was received from 281 (76.6%) case mothers and 246 (72.4%) case fathers. The corresponding totals for controls were 279 (54.7%) and 245 (49.8%). Evaluation of participation rates by intensity of follow-up showed that 23% of case and 18% of control families consented without reminders (first stage); 81% of cases and 83% of controls agreed following one or two reminders (second stage); and the remainder of participants consented following three or more reminders (final stage). Cumulative distributions of sociodemographic characteristics differed little between second and final stage participants. Odds ratios for maternal multivitamin use were similar between second and final stage participants, whereas those for maternal and paternal smoking tended to decline. Although follow-up measures were necessary to enroll most families, use of more than two reminders did not appear to increase the representativeness of the sample; however, termination of recruitment after only two reminders would have led to different conclusions. Future studies require data collection protocols that encourage participation from all population subgroups, and one alternative is presented.
Variable pressure insulating jackets for high-temperature batteries

A new method is proposed for controlling the temperature of high-temperature batteries namely, varying the hydrogen pressure inside of multifoil insulation by varying the temperature of a reversible hydrogen getter. Calculations showed that the rate of heat loss through 1.5 cm of multifoil insulation between a hot-side temperature of 425[degrees]C and a cold-side temperature of 25[degrees]C could be varied between 17.6 W/m[sup 2] and 7,000 W/m[sup 2]. This change in heat transfer rate can be achieved by varying the hydrogen pressure between 1.0 Pa and 1,000 Pa, which can be done with an available hydrogen gettering alloy operating in the range of 50[degrees]C to 250[degrees]C. This approach to battery cooling requires cylindrical insulating jackets, which are best suited for bipolar batteries having round cells approximately 10 to 18 cm in diameter.
Reinforced Concrete Frames in Fire Environments

In modeling the fire response of reinforced concrete frame structures, the heat flow problem was separated from the structural analysis and two computer programs were written for solving the separate problems. Both programs account for the temperature dependence of the thermal and mechanical properties of materials; the structural analysis accounts for the degradation of concrete and steel through cracking, crushing, spalling, and yielding. FIRES-T (FIre REsponse of Structures — Thermal) evaluates the thermal response of reinforced concrete elements using a nonlinear finite element approach coupled with time step integration. Using the thermal histories predicted by FIRES-T, FIRES-RC (FIre REsponse of Structures — Reinforced Concrete Frames) evaluates the structural response of reinforced concrete frames by a nonlinear, direct stiffness method coupled with time step integration. An iterative approach is used within time steps to find deformed shapes which result in equilibrium between forces associated with external load and internal stresses and degradation.
Width adjustment in experimental gravel‐bed channels in response to overbank flows

[1] We conducted a series of flume experiments to investigate the response of self-formed gravel-bed channels to floods of varying magnitude and duration. Floods were generated by increasing the discharge into a channel created in sand- and gravel-sized sediment with a median grain size of 2 mm. Flooding increased the Shields stress along the channel perimeter, causing bank erosion and rapid channel widening. The sediment introduced to the channel by bank erosion was not necessarily deposited on the channel bed, but was rather transported downstream, a process likely facilitated by transient fining of the bed surface. At the end of each experiment, bank sediments were no longer in motion, “partial bed load transport” characterized the flat-bed portion of the channel, and the Shields stress approached a constant value of 0.056, about 1.2 times the critical Shields stress for incipient motion. Furthermore, the discharge was entirely accommodated by flow within the channel: the creation of a stable channel entirely eliminated overbank flows. We speculate that similar processes may occur in nature, but only where bank sediments are non-cohesive and where channel-narrowing processes cannot counteract bank erosion during overbank flows. We also demonstrate that a simple model of lateral bed load transport can reproduce observed channel widening rates, suggesting that simple methods may be appropriate for predicting width increases in channels with non-cohesive, unvegetated banks, even during overbank flows. Last, we present a model for predicting the equilibrium width and depth of a stable gravel-bed channel with a known channel-forming Shields stress.
Determination of complex permittivity for low- and high-loss materials at microwave frequencies

We present the determination of the complex permittivity for low loss PCB material FR4 and high loss arsenic-doped silicon wafer in the GHz frequency range, based on closed-form analytical expressions employing the Bessel's functions. For convenience and economical reasons, the FR4 sample is cut from the commercial PCB as a sandwich disk of copper-dielectric-copper, while the bare silicon disk is contained in a prefabricated conducing cavity, referred to as the radial line cavity. Experimental measurements in support with the numerical analysis are also presented. Good agreement between computational results and laboratory measured data is observed.