cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill Versus the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002: Are They Comparable for Assessing Risk of Malnutrition in Critically Ill Patients?

Background Malnutrition influences clinical outcomes. Although various screening tools are available to assess nutrition status, their use in the intensive care unit (ICU) has not been rigorously studied. Our goal was to compare the Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill (NUTRIC) to the Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS) 2002 in terms of their associations with macronutrient deficit in ICU patients. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis to investigate the relationship between NUTRIC vs NRS 2002 and macronutrient deficit (protein and calories) in critically ill patients. We performed linear regression analyses, controlling for age, sex, race, body mass index, and ICU length of stay. We then dichotomized our primary exposures and outcomes to perform logistic regression analyses, controlling for the same covariates. Results The analytic cohort included 312 adults. Mean NUTRIC and NRS 2002 scores were 4 ± 2 and 4 ± 1, respectively. Linear regression demonstrated that each increment in NUTRIC score was associated with a 49 g higher protein deficit (β = 48.70: 95% confidence interval [CI] 29.23-68.17) and a 752 kcal higher caloric deficit (β = 751.95; 95% CI 447.80-1056.09). Logistic regression demonstrated that NUTRIC scores >4 had over twice the odds of protein deficits ≥300 g (odds ratio [OR] 2.35; 95% CI 1.43-3.85) and caloric deficits ≥6000 kcal (OR 2.73; 95% CI 1.66-4.50) compared with NUTRIC scores ≤4. We did not observe an association of NRS 2002 scores with macronutrient deficit. Conclusion Our data suggest that NUTRIC is superior to NRS 2002 for assessing malnutrition risk in ICU patients. Randomized, controlled studies are needed to determine whether nutrition interventions, stratified by NUTRIC score, can improve patient outcomes.
Synthesis and Anticancer and Antiviral Activity of Certain Pyrimidine Nucleoside Analogues

3′-Azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) was first synthesized by Horwitz et al.1 and subsequently was found by Mitsura et al.2 to be a potent inhibitor of the replication of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that is responsible for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AZT has been reported to be of marked benefit in the therapy of AIDS patients, but the usefulness of AZT is limited by its bone marrow toxicity.3 Various 3′-azido, 3′-amino, 2′,3′-unsaturated, 2′,3′-dideoxy, and 5-substituted analogues of pyrimidine deoxyribonucleosides have been synthesized and evaluated against Moloney-murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV), a mammalian T-lymphotropic retrovirus, in vitro in our laboratory.4 Among these 3′-azido and 3′-amino derivatives, 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (2, AZT) was the most active against M-MuLV in vitro with an EC50 value of 0.02 μM. The 3′-azido analogues of 5-bromo- and 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine, compounds 5 and 6, also showed significant antiviral activity with EC50 values of 1.5 and 3.0 μM, respectively. The 3′-azido derivative of 2′-deoxyuridine (1, AZDU, CS-87), and the 3′,5′-diazido and 3′-amino derivatives of thymidine, 11 and 12, demonstrated moderate antiviral activity yielding the corresponding EC50 values of 52, 17, and 42 μM. Conversely, the 3′-azido analogue of 2′-deoxycytidine, compound 7, only showed moderate inhibition against M-MuLV with an EC50 value of 58 μM. The other 3′-azido and 3′-amino derivatives in this group were found to be practically inactive. Among the 2′,3′-unsaturated, 2′,3′-dideoxy derivatives of pyrimidine deoxyribonucleosides, the 2′,3′-unsaturated analogue of thymidine (17, D4T) and 2′-deoxycytidine (18, D4C) and the 3′-deoxy analogue of 2′-deoxycytidine (24, DDC) produced significant antiviral activity with EC50 values of 2.5, 3.7, and 4.0 μM, respectively. The results are summarized in Table 1.
Calorimetric Properties of Mixtures of Ganglioside GM1 and Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine

High sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry has been employed to study the thermotropic behavior, over the range from 12-83”C, of dispersed mixtures of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) with bovine brain ganglioside GM1 of high purity. No thermal phase transitions of pure GM1 alone in excess water could be detected, even at concentrations of 4 mg/ml? over the temperature range of these studies. The excess heat capacity curve for multilamellar dis- persions of pure DPPC was as previously reported, with a pretransition at 32.7”C and a main transition at 41.4”C. As GM1 was added in increasing amounts to DPPC, the curve remained qualitatively similar up to a GM1 mole fraction (xc) of 0.24, but the temperature of the pretransition gradually increased, from 32.7 to about 37”C, and that of the main transition gradually increased, from 41.4-44.3%. When xo was increased above 0.24, several changes were observed: 1) the tur- bidity of the suspensions abruptly decreased, becoming negligible at xo r, 0.40; 2) the pretransition disap- peared; 3) the amplitude of the main transition began to decrease; and 4) a new transition appeared at a higher temperature, 48°C. The calculated enthalpy of the main transition was constant, within the error of the measurement, up to xo = 0.24, and then decreased linearly to zero over the range of xo between 0.24 and 0.63; over the same range the enthalpy of the transition at 48°C increased linearly from zero, so that the sum of the two enthalpies remained constant. All the observed thermotropic transitions were experimentally reversi- ble over a period of at least 2 weeks. These results are interpreted in terms of a model, consistent with pre- vious observations, in which GM1 at concentrations up to xG = 0.24 is incorporated into the multilamellar DPPC structure, but at higher concentrations induces the progressive formation of mixed micelles because of the repulsive interaction of its bulky and negatively charged head groups. In both lamellar and micellar structures, GM1 appears to stabilize the phospholipid lattice, causing the transition temperature to be higher than for pure DPPC. The thermotropic behavior of biomembranes and their lipid components has come increasingly under investigation (1, 2). The calorimetric properties of the numerically predominant
Impacts of Automation on Precision

Automation has significant impacts on the economy and the development and use of technology. In this chapter, the impacts of automation on precision, which also directly influences science, technology, and the economy, are discussed. As automation enables improved precision, precision also improves automation.
Topic Model Diagnostics: Assessing Domain Relevance via Topical Alignment

The use of topic models to analyze domain-specific texts often requires manual validation of the latent topics to ensure that they are meaningful. We introduce a framework to support such a large-scale assessment of topical relevance. We measure the correspondence between a set of latent topics and a set of reference concepts to quantify four types of topical misalignment: junk, fused, missing, and repeated topics. Our analysis compares 10,000 topic model variants to 200 expert-provided domain concepts, and demonstrates how our framework can inform choices of model parameters, inference algorithms, and intrinsic measures of topical quality.
The Complex Laplace-Beltrami Operator Canonically Associated to a Polarized Abelian Variety

A hotomorphic line bundle over an abelian variety whose Chern class is positive definite admits a complex Laplace-Beltrami operator canonical ly determined by the Chern class. In this paper, we study some implications of the Selberg trace formula applied to this elliptic differential operator acting on the Hilbert space of sections of the bundle.
DISCOURSE RULES IN PROGRAM COMPREHENSION: EMERGENCE OF A CONSTRUCT AFFORDANCES RULE?

Several investigators have suggested that rules of discourse for programming exist. These rules reflect programmer expectation and practice. Violations of these rules of discourse may have a negative impact on program comprehension, particularly among expert programmers. One general type of discourse rule is a Construct Affordances Rule. This rule states that a particular programming construct is appropriate for and should be used in certain situations. Soloway and Ehrlich [1] demonstrated that one instance of the Construct Affordances Rule had an effect on performance in a programming comprehension task, particularly among expert programmers. In the current study, both comprehension measures and interest measures were collected from novices, intermediates, and experts. The effects of instances of the Construct Affordances Rule involving the WHILE, FOR, IF, and REPEAT Pascal constructs on comprehension were measured using a fill-in-the-blank procedure. The results revealed that the discourse rules may influence programmer behavior but not necessarily in the predicted ways. However, expertise level had the predicted effect on comprehension. These results are discussed in terms of the role of discourse rules in the formation of problem representations, especially among experts.
Medical Big Data and Big Data Quality Problems

Medical big data has generated much excitement in recent years and for good reason. It can be an invaluable resource for researchers in general and insurers in particular. This Article, however, argues that users of medical big data must proceed with caution and recognize the data’s considerable limitations and shortcomings. These can consist of data errors, missing information, lack of standardization, record fragmentation, software problems, and other flaws. The Article analyzes a variety of data quality problems. It also formulates recommendations to address these deficiencies, including data audits, workforce and technical solutions, and regulatory approaches.
5:20:20:5 EFFICIENCY

Some researchers claim that the typical student's attention span is about 10 to 15 minutes, but most classes last 50 to 90 minutes. In addition, some educators argue that technology can distract students more than it can help them, which makes it harder for teachers to capture student’s attention while teaching them. How a language teacher captures students’ attention and efficiently utilizes the entire 50 minutes is a challenge. The goals of this presentation are to demonstrate how to make the best use of the 50 minutes and to show how technology can be applied to get students engaged. The 50 minutes are divided into 4 phases: 5:20:20:5. The first 5 minutes aims to warm up students’ background knowledge or review related materials. The first 20 minutes focuses on leading students into the core materials for that learning period. The following 20 minutes centers on assessing what students have or have not learned in the previous 20 minutes. The last 5 minutes summarizes the core materials and clarifies any questions. Within each learning period, teachers can use visual and audio applications, such as Power Point slides, Kahoot games, SMART Board and Linoit.com activities, to keep students interested and motivated and make both teaching and learning fun. Article DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.20319/pijtel.2018.22.1219 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.
Longitudinal increases in blood biomarkers of inflammation or cardiovascular disease and the incidence of venous thromboembolism.

Essentials Inflammatory and cardiac diseases are associated with increased venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk. Our prospective study assessed rise in inflammatory or cardiac biomarkers and VTE risk. A greater 6-year rise in N-terminal natriuretic peptide is associated with increased VTE incidence. Volume overload or impending cardiac disease may contribute to VTE occurrence. SUMMARY Background We previously showed that participants in the population-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort with elevated levels of blood biomarkers of inflammation or cardiac disease were at increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Objective We hypothesized that ARIC participants with larger 6-year increases in the levels of three biomarkers - C-reactive protein (CRP), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and troponin T - would also have an increased subsequent risk of VTE. Methods We measured changes in the levels of these biomarkers in 9844 participants from 1990-1992 to 1996-1998, and then identified VTEs through 2015. Results A greater 6-year rise in the level of NT-proBNP, but not in that of CRP or troponin T, was significantly associated with increased VTE incidence over a median of 17.6 years of follow-up. After adjustment for other VTE risk factors, those whose NT-proBNP level rose from < 100 pg mL-1 to ≥ 100 pg mL-1 had a hazard ratio for VTE of 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-1.80), as compared with the reference group with an NT-proBNP level of < 100 pg mL-1 at both times. This hazard ratio was slightly higher (1.66, 95% CI 1.19-2.31) during the first 10 years of follow-up, but was attenuated (1.24, 95% CI 0.99-1.56) after adjustment for prevalent and incident coronary heart disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Conclusions The two most likely explanations for our results are that: (i) an increasing NT-proBNP level reflects increasing subclinical volume overload and potentially increased venous stasis or subclinical PE that had gone unrecognized over time; or (ii) an increasing NT-proBNP level is a risk marker for impending cardiac disease that places patients at risk of VTE.
Kidney transplant outcomes in recipients with cognitive impairment: A national registry and prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment is common in patients with end-stage renal disease and is associated with poor outcomes on dialysis. We hypothesized that cognitive impairment might be associated with an increased risk of all-cause graft loss (ACGL) in kidney transplant (KT) recipients. METHODS Using the Modified Mini-Mental State (3MS) examination, we measured global cognitive function at KT hospital admission in a prospective, 2-center cohort of 864 KT candidates (August 2009 to July 2016). We estimated the association between pre-KT cognitive impairment and ACGL using Cox regression, adjusting for recipient, donor, and transplant factors. RESULTS In living donor KT (LDKT) recipients, the prevalence was 3.3% for mild impairment (60 ≤ 3MS < 80) and 3.3% for severe impairment (3MS < 60). In deceased donor KT (DDKT) recipients, the prevalence was 9.8% for mild impairment and 2.6% for severe impairment. The LDKT recipients with cognitive impairment had substantially higher ACGL risk than unimpaired recipients (5-year ACGL: 45.5% vs 10.6%; P < 0.01; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] any impairment, 5.40 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.78-16.34; P < 0.01); aHR severe impairment, 5.57 (95% CI, 1.29-24.00; P = 0.02). Similarly, DDKT recipients with severe impairment had higher ACGL risk than recipients without severe impairment (5-year ACGL, 53.0% vs 24.2%; P = 0.04); aHR severe impairment, 2.92 (95% CI, 1.13-7.50; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Given the elevated risk of ACGL among KT recipients with cognitive impairment observed in this 2-center cohort, research efforts should explore the mechanisms of graft loss and mortality associated with cognitive impairment and identify potential interventions to improve posttransplant survival.
Language Politics and the Constitution of Racialized Subjects in the Corinthian Church

This study examines the phenomenon of speaking in tongue(s) in the Corinthian church from the point of view of the politics of language. Instead of seeing tongue(s) as a problem of unintelligible-e...
Enantioselective Phenolic α-Oxidation Using H2O2 via an Unusual Double Dearomatization Mechanism

Feedstock aromatic compounds are compelling low-cost starting points from which molecular complexity can be generated rapidly via oxidative dearomatization. Oxidative dearomatizations commonly rely heavily on hypervalent iodine or heavy metals to provide the requisite thermodynamic driving force for overcoming aromatic stabilization energy. This article describes oxidative dearomatizations of 2-(hydroxymethyl)phenols via their derived bis(dichloroacetates) using hydrogen peroxide as a mild oxidant that intercepts a transient quinone methide. A stereochemical study revealed that the reaction proceeds by a new mechanism relative to other phenol dearomatizations and is complementary to extant methods that rely on hypervalent iodine. Using a new chiral phase-transfer catalyst, the first asymmetric syntheses of 1-oxaspiro[2.5]octa-5,7-dien-4-ones were reported. The synthetic utility of the derived 1-oxaspiro[2.5]octadienones products is demonstrated in a downstream complexity-generating transformation.
Pregnancy and Hernia

Abdominal wall hernias can occur in pregnancy as a result of increased intraabdominal pressure and tension on the abdominal wall. Symptoms include pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, and absence of flatus and stool. Physical exam findings may include a palpable lump or defect that may or may not be reducible, prior incisional scars, and skin erythema or tenderness. Ultrasound may be used to further confirm the diagnosis. Pregnant patients with evidence of bowel incarceration, strangulation, perforation, or an irreducible umbilical hernia should have urgent surgery for hernia repair via open or laparoscopic approach. For non-emergent hernias, elective repair via open or laparoscopic approach, with or without mesh, should be considered in pregnant patients and women of child-bearing age with consideration for gestational age, likelihood of recurrence, and potential for incarceration during pregnancy. Further prospective studies are needed to determine best practice for treatment of hernias during pregnancy.
Impact of Exposure to Community Violence on Anxiety: A Longitudinal Study of Family Social Support as a Protective Factor for Urban Children

In a longitudinal study, we examined the relationship between exposure to community violence and anxiety, and the extent to which family social support moderated this relationship within a predominantly African American sample of 385 children in an urban public school system. Children reported notably lower anxiety levels compared to normative data for African American children. A high percentage reported witnessing a variety of violent acts. Cross-sectional results indicated that among girls exposure to violence was significantly correlated with total, physiological, and concentration anxiety. Among boys violence exposure was not associated with anxiety. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that after controlling for gender, exposure to violence at Time 1 did not significantly predict changes in anxiety. A significant interaction was found for gender and exposure to violence on concentration anxiety; girls who reported higher initial violence exposure reported greater increases in subsequent concentration anxiety than boys. Whereas findings from our study did not support a moderating relationship of family social support on children's exposure to violence and anxiety, a strong negative relationship was found between anxiety and family support. Among children with initially low worry anxiety, those with low family social support showed greater increases in subsequent worry anxiety.
Effect of residual solvent on performance of acrylamide-containing dental materials

Abstract Objective Methacrylamide-based monomers are being pursued as novel, hydrolytically stable materials for use in dental adhesives. The impact of residual solvents, due to the chemical synthesis procedures or the need for solvated adhesives systems, on the kinetics of polymerization and mechanical properties was the aim of the present investigation. Methods Two base monomers (70 wt% BisGMA or HEMAM-BDI — newly synthesized secondary methacrylamide) were combined with 30 wt% N,N-dimethylacrylamide. Eethyl acetate (EtOAc), or 75 vol% ethanol/25 vol% water (EtOH/H2O) were added as solvents in concentrations of 2, 5, 15 and 20 wt%. The resins were made polymerizable by the addition of 0.2 wt% 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenyl acetophenone (DMPA) and 0.4 wt% diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate (DPI-PF6). Specimens (n = 3) were photoactivated with a mercury arc lamp (Acticure 4000, 320–500 nm, 250 mW/cm2) for 5 min. Degree of conversion (DC, %) was tracked in near-IR spectroscopy in real time and yield strength and modulus of elasticity were measured in three-point bending after dry and wet storage (n = 6). The data was subject to one-way ANOVA/Tukey’s Test (p ≤ 0.05), or Student’s t-test (p ≤ 0.001). Results In all groups for both BisGMA and HEMAM-BDI-based materials, DC and DC at Rpmax increased and maximum rate of polymerization decreased as solvent concentration increased. Despite the increased DC, BisGMA mixtures showed a decrease in FS starting at 5 wt% EtOAc or 15 wt% EtOH/H2O. Yield strength for the HEMAM-BDI groups was overall lower than that of the BisGMA groups, but the modulus of elasticity was significantly higher. Significance The presence of residual solvent, from manufacturing or from practitioner’s handling, affects polymerization kinetics and mechanical properties of resins. Methacrylates appear to be more strongly influenced than methacrylamides.
113 Identification and correction of bowel injuries as a result of perforation with a uterine manipulator, using the robotic platform

Objectives To demonstrate use of the robotic platform to identify and repair intraoperative bowel injuries secondary to perforation with a uterine manipulator. Methods We present video footage and still photographs of bowel injuries after perforation with a uterine manipulator, in a patient with grade 2 endometrial cancer. Results We demonstrate the identification of both large and small bowel defects after perforation with a uterine manipulator, and their correction using the robotic platform. Emphasis is placed on key components of the procedure, including correctly identifying anatomy, avoiding immediate removal of the manipulator so as to clearly identify the extent of the defect, and meticulous adhesiolysis and suturing technique. A through-and-through defect in the sigmoid colon is identified, and both sides are repaired in two layers using 3–0 PDS suture in a running fashion. The first layer is run, incorporating full thickness bites to reapproximate the bowel mucosa. A second, imbricating layer is placed with interrupted suture to reinforce this closure. Another defect is identified in the small bowel, and repaired similarly; however, both the first and second layers are placed in an interrupted fashion. Both defects are closed to avoid narrowing the lumen of the bowel. The bowel is then run in its entirety to identify any other defects. Conclusions We demonstrate that with prompt identification, gradual removal of the manipulator, and careful dissection, correction of bowel injury after perforation with a uterine manipulator can be achieved using the robotic platform, without obligatory conversion to laparotomy.
Post-surgical hydropneumopericardium: a case report of dramatic increase in the apparent size of pericardial effusion with positional changes.

Background Pneumopericardium is an uncommon clinical finding. It most commonly occurs after chest trauma but can also emerge as a complication following interventional or surgical procedures and can result in life-threatening complications. A high index of clinical suspicion should be present and once the condition is recognized, it should be managed promptly. Paucity of literature on pneumopericardium makes outlining any new case of paramount importance to emphasize the aspects of diagnosis and management of this rare condition. Case summary A 59-year-old woman with severe mitral valve and moderate tricuspid valve regurgitation underwent mitral and tricuspid valve repair with uneventful post-operative in-hospital stay. She presented 10 days after discharge with progressive shortness of breath. Chest X-ray revealed right hydropneumothorax. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) performed in the emergency department showed an apparently small pericardial effusion with patient in supine position; the effusion size increased substantially when imaging in left lateral decubitus, with presence of intrapericardial air bubbles. Computed tomography scan of the chest confirmed the presence of right hydropneumothorax and hydropneumopericardium, with a communicating pleuro-pericardial tract. The patient underwent chest tube placement which successfully decompressed both pleural and pericardial space. Discussion Hydropneumopericardium is a rare post-operative complication. Comprehensive TTE with imaging from multiple acoustic windows is mandatory when evaluating the extent of pericardial effusion. Presence of cardiac tamponade is crucial in determining the management plan.
Identification and Control of a Nonlinear Soft Actuator and Sensor System

Soft robots are becoming increasingly prevalent, with unique applications to medical devices and wearable technology. Understanding the dynamics of nonlinear soft actuators is crucial to creating controllable soft robots. this letter presents a system identification process and closed-loop control of foldable HASEL (hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic) soft actuators. We characterized foldable HASELs with linear frequency response tests and modeled them using a linear superposition of static and dynamic terms. We also identified two responses of the system: an activation and relaxation response. Based on these two responses, we developed a dual-mode controller which was validated through closed-loop control using a capacitive elastomeric strain sensor wrapped around the actuator. Using this integrated sensor, we achieved step response rise times as fast as 0.025 s and settling times as fast as 0.17 s while under load. These system identification and control techniques can be applied to any HASEL-driven soft robot and could be applied to other soft actuators to enable controllable soft robots.
Pre-screening for bariatric surgery patients: comparative effectiveness of transnasal endoscopy versus esophagogastroduodenoscopy

Endoscopic evaluation is frequently performed before bariatric surgery to identify foregut pathology that may alter procedure selection. Transnasal endoscopy (TNE) is an alternative to esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The objective of this study was to compare TNE to EGD. Patients who underwent TNE or EGD before bariatric surgery from January 2012 through April 2019 were reviewed. Statistical analyses included Chi-square, Wilcoxon two-sample, and Fisher’s exact tests. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Three hundred and forty-five patients underwent preoperative screening (63% EGD, 37% TNE) before bariatric surgery. Mean age and preoperative body mass index in the TNE and EGD groups were 46.2 ± 12.4 vs 45.5 ± 11.6 years (p = 0.58) and 46.5 ± 7.1 vs. 45.5 ± 6.1 kg/m2 (p = 0.25), respectively. Three TNEs were aborted, resulting in a success rate of 98%. Of patients who underwent EGD, 1 (0.5%) visited the emergency department (ED), and 7 (3%) called the nurse with post-procedure concerns. There were no ED visits or nurse calls from patients who underwent TNE. The median total time in the procedure room was 77 (57–97) min for EGD vs. 26 (8–33) min for TNE (p < 0.001). One patient who underwent TNE required subsequent EGD. Mean charge per patient for EGD and TNE was $5034.70 and $1464.00, respectively. TNE was associated with less post-procedure care, shorter procedure time and fewer charges compared to EGD. TNE could be considered an initial screening tool for patients undergoing bariatric surgery, while EGD could be used selectively in patients with abnormal TNE findings.
Working the hyphens in contemporary China: reconsidering researcher-participant relationship in an authoritarian state

This article explores the methodological and ethical challenges of doing qualitative fieldwork in an authoritarian state. Drawing on a long-term project conducted in China, I discuss how my interac...
Clinical Impact of a Dedicated Trauma Hybrid Operating Room.

Background Early hemorrhage control is essential to optimal trauma care. Hybrid operating rooms offer early, concomitant performance of advanced angiographic and operative hemostasis techniques, but their clinical impact is unclear. Herein, we present our initial experience with a dedicated, trauma hybrid operating room. Study Design This retrospective cohort analysis of 292 adult trauma patients undergoing immediate surgery at a Level I trauma center compared patients managed after implementation of a dedicated, trauma hybrid operating room (n = 186) with historic controls (n = 106). The primary outcomes were time to hemorrhage control (systolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mmHg without ongoing vasopressor or transfusion requirements), early blood product administration, and complication. Results Patient characteristics were similar between cohorts (age 41 years, 25% female, 38% penetrating trauma). The hybrid cohort had lower initial hemoglobin (10.2 vs 11.1 g/dL, p = 0.001) and a greater proportion of patients undergoing resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (9% vs 1%, p = 0.007). Cohorts had similar case mixes and intraoperative consultation with cardiothoracic or vascular surgery (13%). Twenty-one percent of all hybrid cases included angiography. The interval between operating room arrival and hemorrhage control was shorter in the hybrid cohort (49 vs 60 minutes, p = 0.005). From 4 to 24 hours after arrival, the hybrid cohort had fewer red cell (0.0 vs 1.0, p = 0.001) and plasma transfusions (0.0 vs 1.0, p Conclusions Implementation of a dedicated, trauma hybrid operating room was associated with earlier hemorrhage control and fewer early blood transfusions, infectious complications, and ventilator days.
Correlation of Fine Scale Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Copper-Alumina Nanocomposites

Considerable efforts have been made to manufacture metal matrix composites (MMCs) in the solid state to enhance the mechanical properties by adding various volume fractions of alumina powder to achieve higher homogeneity of ceramic particles in the matrix. Here, we present the fine scale microstructure, interfacial characteristics and mechanical properties of the copper-alumina composite. The fine scale microstructure was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to study the nature of oxide precipitates formed during internal oxidation of copper–aluminum alloy. We used nanoindentation to obtain the hardness and modulus of the composite and demonstrated that the enhancement of strength mostly stems from the nanocrystalline oxide particles. Furthermore, we observed that the elastic modulus of the composite is 15% greater that of the commercially pure copper. The improvement in modulus is shown to be associated with the formation of nanocrystalline coper oxide (Cu2O) or copper–oxygen (Cu–O) clusters in copper matrix.
Evaluation of machine learning methods for classification of rotational absorption spectra for gases in the 220–330 GHz range

Machine learning (ML) methods are implemented to classify rotational absorption spectra for gas-phase compounds in the THz region, specifically 220–330 GHz where experimental data is available. Eight ML methods were trained in both standard and one-versus-rest (OVR) implementations using simulated absorption spectra for 12 volatile organic compounds and halogenated hydrocarbons of interest in industrial and environmental gas sensing applications. The performance of the resulting ML classifiers was compared against simulated training spectra in both a 70–30 training–testing split and in tenfold cross-validation studies, with the classifiers exhibiting accuracies in the range of 88–99% for simulated spectra. The classifiers were then tested for their ability to classify noisy experimental rotational spectra for methanol, ethanol, formic acid, acetaldehyde, acetonitrile, and chloromethane. The OVR implementations of the support vector machine (SVM) classifier with both linear and radial basis function kernels and the multi-layer perceptron (MLP) classifier achieved average classification accuracies of 87–94% for the experimental dataset. The study shows that THz spectra in the present frequency region provide a sufficient spectral fingerprint for ML classifiers to learn and predict speciation, allowing automated gas sensing. The present methods can be extrapolated to different frequency ranges and compounds and conditions.
Desire, Familiarity, and Engagement in Polyamory: Results From a National Sample of Single Adults in the United States

Coupledom and notions of intimacy and family formation with one committed partner are hallmarks of family and relationship science. Recent national surveys in the United States and Canada have found that consensually non-monogamous relationships are common, though prevalence of specific types of consensual non-monogamy are unknown. The present research draws on a United States Census based quota sample of single adults (N = 3,438) to estimate the prevalence of desire for, familiarity with, and engagement in polyamory-a distinct type of consensually non-monogamous relationship where people typically engage in romantic love and sexual intimacy with multiple partners. Results show that 1 out of 6 people (16.8%) desire to engage in polyamory, and 1 out of 9 people (10.7%) have engaged in polyamory at some point during their life. Approximately 1 out of 15 people (6.5%) reported that they knew someone who has been or is currently engaged in polyamory. Among participants who were not personally interested in polyamory, 1 out of 7 (14.2%) indicated that they respect people who engage in polyamory. Few sociodemographic correlates emerged; no differences in prevalence were found based on political affiliation, income, religion, geographic region, or race/ethnicity. Sexual minorities, men, and younger adults reported greater desire to engage in polyamory (compared to heterosexuals, women, and older adults, respectively). Men and people with lower education backgrounds were more likely to have previously engaged in polyamory (compared to women and people with higher education backgrounds, respectively). Given that emotional and sexual intimacy is an important part of most people's lives, understanding the varied ways in which people navigate their intimate lives is critical for the fields of relationship, sexuality, and family science.
Metabolomic analysis of a selective ABCA1 inducer in obesogenic challenge provides a rationale for therapeutic development

Abstract Background Therapeutic agents with novel mechanisms of action are needed to combat the growing epidemic of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and related metabolic syndromes. Liver X receptor (LXR) agonists possess preclinical efficacy yet produce side effects due to excessive lipogenesis. Anticipating that many beneficial and detrimental effects of LXR agonists are mediated by ABCA1 and SREPB1c expression, respectively, we hypothesized that a phenotypic optimization strategy prioritizing selective ABCA1 induction would identify an efficacious lead compound with an improved side effect profile over existing LXRβ agonists. Methods We synthesized and characterized a novel small molecule for selective induction of ABCA1 vs. SREBP1c in vitro. This compound was evaluated in both wild-type mice and a high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model of obesity-driven diabetes through functional, biochemical, and metabolomic analysis. Findings Six weeks of oral administration of our lead compound attenuated weight gain, glucose intolerance, insulin signaling deficits, and adiposity. Global metabolomics revealed suppression of gluconeogenesis, free fatty acids, and pro-inflammatory metabolites. Target identification linked these beneficial effects to selective LXRβ agonism and PPAR/RXR antagonism. Interpretation Our observations in the HFD model, combined with the absence of lipogenesis and neutropenia in WT mice, support this novel approach to therapeutic development for T2D and related conditions.
The Impact of Incentives on the CEO Compensation and Firm Performance

A significant component of a management control system is the incentive mechanism and motivational underpinning of compensation contracts. Most executives are rewarded in the form of cash and company stock. The majority of public companies offers stock options or restricted stock in order to assure congruity of manager's welfare and owners' wealth maximization objectives. Our data indicate that over 75 percent of our observations include bonus pay to the CEOs and even a larger percentage, about 97 percent, have stock option grants. This study analyzes the impact of various incentives used in CEO compensation contracts in conjunction with firm's performance measures. We examined the significance of explanatory power of variables such as size, performance, and change in the number of employees in the compensation models. Our results indicate market-based performance measure is significant as an explanatory variable for both cash compensation (CC) and total compensation (TC) of CEOs. On the other hand, accounting-based performance measure is significant as an explanatory variable only for cash compensation. The regressions results indicate that increases in the number of employees influence both cash and total compensation positively. However, only cash compensation response appears to be statistically significant. Our results indicate significant differences in the means of compensation and performance measures, both market-based and accounting-based, associated with existence of bonus incentives. We also find that means of compensation and stock prices are significantly larger for CEOs who enjoy stock option incentives. However, the accounting-based measure of performance did not appear to be significantly influenced as a result of stock-based rewards.
Understanding social justice discourse in a school facing challenging circumstances: a case study

As an academic counselor of four schools coping with social and educational challenges in the Palestinian education system in Jerusalem, I chose to direct the spotlight on the case of a high school...
Evolving in Collaboration: Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Workflows in North Carolina

Thirty-seven colleges and universities in North Carolina offer advanced degrees, and most require a thesis or dissertation. The websites of thirteen (35%) indicate they accept or require electronic submission of dissertations and/or theses (ETD). How do these institutions handle the interdepartmental communication and collaboration needs of ETD programs? To begin answering this question, this study examines current practices among ETD administrators in North Carolina and in current national literature, paying special attention to communication, collaboration, workflows, and divisions of labor. The literature review surveys current (since 2003) library and higher education articles on topics related to collaboration, workflows, and divisions of labor in ETD programs. Then the authors use a brief web survey (sixteen questions) that was emailed to twenty-three individuals identified on institutional websites as being involved in the ETD program. Fifty percent of recipients completed the survey, and the results tend to support common themes found in the literature: ETD depositories require a great variety of skill sets and thus will involve multiple departments; libraries and graduate schools are primary players, but not exclusively, in ETD workflows; and communication and collaboration between departments are important from start to finish.
Best and Worst Professors: Gender Patterns in Students' Choices

Over 100 primarily White students described their best and worst professor. For “best,” female professors were chosen more by their female students and less by their male students than expected. There were no gender differences in choice of “worst” professors. The qualities that students criticize are similar for their male and female professors, mainly a lack of organization and clarity. “Best” professors most often are described as caring and knowledgeable, but other qualities vary as a function of professor or student gender. These findings suggest that more attention should be paid to gender dynamics in classroom teaching and in student evaluations.
On the tailoring of microstructures for prescribed effective properties

The focus of this communication is the development of genetic algorithms to handle material design problems where particulate microstructures are sought which deliver prescribed effective responses. In the problem formulation, constraints are incorporated on the distortion of the otherwise smooth internal fields corresponding to a pure (inhomogeneity-free) matrix material, due to the presence of particles. The key conceptual feature is that the microstructural variables are represented by a ''genetic string'', and a ''survival of the fittest'' algorithm is applied to a population of such strings in order to determine an optimal set of microstructural material design parameters.
Within Our Reach: Ending the Mental Health Crisis

Rosalynn Carter with Susan K. Golant and Kathryn E. CadeRodale Books, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, 2010ISBN 978-1-59486-881-8Edited byLora Humphrey Beebe, Phd, PMHP-BCUniversity of Tennessee, College of N...
Fisheries oceanography and the ecology of early life histories of fishes: a perspective over fifty years

Fisheries oceanography can be defined as the study of the ecology of fishes in the ocean: so defined, it comprises study at all levels of ecological organization—organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems. The early life history of fishes plays out at each of these levels of organization. A paradigm developed by Johan Hjort at the turn of the twentieth century, along with postulates by Hjort and many of his colleagues that followed, came to guide much of fisheries oceanography through the ensuing hundred years. Research themes that address these postulates can be roughly partitioned as the study of the physiological ecology of the eggs and larvae of fishes in the sea, and the study of the abundance and distribution of fish propagules. Using case studies of organisms and physical processes, considerable progress has been made in understanding the causes of variation in population recruitment, defined either by stage-based models and simulated by individual-based models. Some of this progress has been published in Scientia Marina , or its predecessor Investigacion Pesquera . The causes of variation, however, are interactive and operative at differing, yet often overlapping, spatial and temporal scales. Difficulty in matching spatial scales that typically differ by an order of magnitude or more, will continue to trouble the resolution of causes of population recruitment. Moreover, study of the causes of variation in recruitment has not led to predictive power at an annual scale. Prediction at a decadal scale, using community (or more appropriately larval fish assemblages) and ecosystem level dynamics, is more hopeful.
China and the Escalation of the Vietnam War: The First Years of the Johnson Administration

This article reexamines how concerns about China contributed to the escalation of the Vietnam War during the first years of Lyndon Johnson's administration. Johnson escalated the war in Vietnam to ...
A new method to produce numerous uncontaminated alder seedlings

Seeds of four species of Alnus were surface sterilized and placed on plates containing water agar. After seedlings had been produced, they were, without the seed coats attached, transferred onto malt agar plates. On such media, possible contaminants grew quickly and contaminated seedlings could be detected and discarded. With this method, numerous uncontaminated seedlings can be produced and used for synthesis experiments.
Preface to the Special Issue

The world-wide educational community is increasingly concerned with how research supports the work of practitioners. Recently, this concern has received major attention by the call for vast empiric...
Motor function in microgravity: movement in weightlessness

Microgravity provides unique, though experimentally challenging, opportunities to study motor control. A traditional research focus has been the effects of linear acceleration on vestibular responses to angular acceleration. Evidence is accumulating that the high-frequency vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is not affected by transitions from a 1 g linear force field to microgravity (<1 g); however, it appears that the three-dimensional organization of the VOR is dependent on gravitoinertial force levels. Some of the observed effects of microgravity on head and arm movement control appear to depend on the previously undetected inputs of cervical and brachial proprioception, which change almost immediately in response to alterations in background force levels. Recent studies of post-flight disturbances of posture and locomotion are revealing sensorimotor mechanisms that adjust over periods ranging from hours to weeks.
Comparison of immunoradiometric assays of Bacillus anthracis spores immobilised on multispot slides and on microtitre plates

Indirect immunoradiometric assays (IRMA) for Bacillus anthracis spores are described in which the spores were heat fixed either on multispot microscope slides or on polyvinyl or polystyrene microtitre plates. Assays on plastic plates sometimes suffered from poor intra-experiment reproducibility. Signals were higher in assays in flat-bottomed microtitre wells than in assays in slides, but assay noise, due to non-specific absorption of antibody, was higher also, giving an overall disadvantage in signal-to-noise ratio. Elution of antibody with acid gave up to a doubling in signal-to-noise ratio. When small volumes of antibody reagents were used in assays in round-bottomed plastic wells, signal and noise characteristics were similar to those of the slide assay. While the assays on plastic wells tended to be less sensitive in terms of anti-spore antibody concentration or the number of spores detectable, the larger volume of antigen suspension that could be used in plastic wells gave them an advantage in terms of the minimum antigen concentration detectable.
On Birkhoff-Young quadrature of analytical functions

Abstract A simple method is given for constructing quadrature rules for the numerical integration of an analytic function over a line segment in the complex plane. The Birkhoff-Young 5-point, degree 5 rule is obtained as a special case. An error analysis is used to show how rules preferable to the Birkhoff-Young rule are easily developed.