cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An obstructive bicuspid aortic valve in the setting of tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia: a rare combination

As far as we are aware, a bicuspid aortic valve has not previously been reported in the setting of tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia. We describe this association in a newborn who presented with a murmur and cyanosis. Echocardiography showed tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, and also a moderately stenotic bicuspid aortic valve. The patient underwent open-heart surgery guided by transesophageal echocardiography. Postoperatively, there was only mild obstruction across both outflow tracts. We have also reviewed the pertinent data from our Jesse E. Edwards Registry of Cardiovascular Disease to establish the incidence of bicuspid aortic valve in the setting of obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract, finding the association in no patients with pulmonary atresia and tetralogy of Fallot, in 0.7% of those with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary stenosis, but in 6.6% of those with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum.
Dietary Aflatoxin AMD Copper Acetate Effects on Various Blood Parameters in Bats

The effects of copper acetate (CuAc) and aflatoxin (AFT) dietary supplements on serum vitamins A and E, albumin, cholesterol, and the formed elements of blood in male rats were investigated. The CuAc and AFT dietary supplements were 0.5% and 7.8 ppm respectively. Vitamins A and E, red blood cell count (RBC), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin content (MCHC) and hematocrit (Hct) were not significantly altered by either supplement while albumin and cholesterol was significantly elevated in groups receiving either CuAc or AFT. Serum hemoglobin (HBG) was depressed in animals receiving the AFT + CuAc supplement while the WBC count was depressed in both groups receiving CuAc while AFT had no effect.
University Training in Agricultural Economics for Foreign Students

HE increased role of the United States in the conduct of international affairs leaves few of our citizens untouched. The new position of our nation offers more challenges, more responsibilities and more opportunities to some, however, than to others. To the staff members of the American colleges and universities, and particularly to the workers engaged in the social sciences, the challenges loom large, indeed. But as we, as social scientists, work at our profession, we do so with a frustration brought on by the chaotic state of world affairs and the fact that our social organization and development lags scores of years behind our scientific and technological advances. In spite of these somewhat unsettling vexations-or perhaps, more accurately, in response to them-the American colleges and universities have committed themselves and have often provided the leadership in improving international relations with countries throughout the world, in marshalling human and technical resources to bear on socioeconomic problems in less developed nations, and in stimulating educational programs designed to upgrade man's relationship with man. This is being done in part through educating an increasing number of foreign students in our colleges and universities. I propose to spend a few minutes trying to set in perspective some of the considerations that concern us most in the management of a graduate program for foreign students in the area of agricultural economics. With the added number of students who come for training each year under their own auspices and under the auspices of a multiplicity of agencies, the problems have become further complexing and more intricate. To facilitate the discussion I further propose to group the problems, somewhat arbitrarily, to include (1) the selection of foreign students; (2) the orientation of foreign students to the American scene; (3) the nature of the graduate program; (4) special treatment of foreign students; and (5) the follow-up on the foreign students upon whom graduate degrees have been conferred.
Krüppel-Like Factor 4 (KLF4) Is Not Required for Retinal Cell Differentiation.

During early vertebrate eye development, a regulatory network of transcription factors regulates retinal cell differentiation and survival into adulthood. Among those factors, Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) plays the dual role of maintaining the stem cell status of retinal progenitors cells and repressing the intrinsic axon regeneration ability in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after injury. This study further investigated whether KLF4 plays a role in early retinal cell differentiation or survival into adulthood. We examined different types of retinal neurons, including RGCs, amacrine cells, bipolar cells, Muller cells, and photoreceptor cells, in adult mice in which KLF4 was conditionally deleted in early retinal development using Chx10-promoted Cre by immunohistochemistry. We compared the numbers of retinal neurons and the thickness of photoreceptor and nerve fiber layers between Chx10–Cre-driven KLF4 deletion mice and wild-type mice. There was no significant difference in cell number among any of the retinal cell types or in photoreceptor layer thickness with KLF4 deletion during early development. The thickness of axon bundles in the nerve fiber layer in the Chx10 conditional KLF4 knock-out mice was greater than that in wild-type mice. These results suggest that KLF4 is not required for retinal cell differentiation or survival, but does normally limit retinal ganglion cell axon bundle thickness. These data support a hypothesis that KLF4 suppresses axon growth during development.
BRIEF: Bayesian Regression of Infinite Expert Forecasters for single and multiple time series prediction

Bayesian Regression of Infinite Expert Forecasters (BRIEF) as proposed in the study is a prediction algorithm for time-varying systems. The method is based on regret minimization by tracking the performance of an inifinite pool of experts for single and multiple time series. The inverse correlation weighted error (ICWE) employed in BRIEF takes into account the dependency structure among multiple time series, which can also be adapted to multi-step ahead predictions. Theoretical bounds show that the cumulative regret grows at rate O(log T) with respect to the oracle that can select the best strategy in retrospect. As the per round regret vanishes, BRIEF is indistinguishable to the oracle when the horizon increases. Also since the bound applies to any choice of input subject to the euclidean norm constraint, the method can be applied to adversarial settings. Experimental results verify that BRIEF excels in single and multiple steps ahead prediction of ARMAX simulated data and building energy consumptions.
Syncopated Beats and the History of Sadness: The Affective Fusion of Audience and Film through Music

Recent developments in the disciplines of cinema studies, theology, and religion and film have generated renewed interest in the experiential dimensions of filmgoing. More specifically, those contributing to theological scholarship have begun to explore these cinematic experiences as theologically significant. With these developments in mind, this essay offers a close reading of the principal musical theme in the 2010 film Beginners, noting in particular the ways in which this music is distributed throughout the narrative. In doing so, it suggests that the music in this film expresses in concrete terms one of the key insights from emerging neuropsychological research, namely, that our affective, pre-cognitive, “wordless knowledge” of the world is the foundation upon which human consciousness is constructed. But the essay goes one step further by making an explicitly theological claim. That is, when located within the framework of a lived theology (i.e., a “poetic theology”), the film and its music shed light on the ways in which aesthetic modes of awareness (i.e., intuitive, embodied forms of knowledge) open up spaces in the contemporary world where our affections, the goods of late-modern society, and our spiritual longings are able to meet and interact.
Mitotic events in cerebellar granule progenitor cells that expand cerebellar surface area are critical for normal cerebellar cortical lamination in mice.

Late embryonic and postnatal cerebellar folial surface area expansion promotes cerebellar cortical cytoarchitectural lamination. We developed a streamlined sampling scheme to generate unbiased estimates of murine cerebellar surface area and volume using stereological principles. We demonstrate that during the proliferative phase of the external granule layer (EGL) and folial surface area expansion, EGL thickness does not change and thus is a topological proxy for progenitor self-renewal. The topological constraints indicate that during proliferative phases, migration out of the EGL is balanced by self-renewal. Progenitor self-renewal must, therefore, include mitotic events yielding either 2 cells in the same layer to increase surface area (β-events) and mitotic events yielding 2 cells, with 1 cell in a superficial layer and 1 cell in a deeper layer (α-events). As the cerebellum grows, therefore, β-events lie upstream of α-events. Using a mathematical model constrained by the measurements of volume and surface area, we could quantify inter-mitotic times for β-events on a per-cell basis in post-natal mouse cerebellum. Furthermore, we found that loss of CCNA2, which decreases EGL proliferation and secondarily induces cerebellar cortical dyslamination, shows preserved α-type events. Thus, CCNA2-null cerebellar granule progenitor cells are capable of self-renewal of the EGL stem cell niche; this is concordant with prior findings of extensive apoptosis in CCNA2-null mice. Similar methodologies may provide another layer of depth to the interpretation of results from stereological studies.
Introduction to Part Four

Procedural theory deals with the methodological directives, processes, and principles for employing substantive knowledge in design and planning to manage landscape change. In the first of five readings in this part, I document and review an array of first-generation landscape suitability approaches that have served as models for the development of subsequent approaches in “The First Landscape-Suitability Approach” from Ecological Planning: A Historical and Comparative Synthesis (2002). Landscape suitability is used to ascertain the fitness of a tract of land for a particular use (figure 4-1).
Time Resolved Dynamics of Femtosecond Laser Ablation of Si (100) with Thin Thermal Oxide Layers (20 - 1200 nm)

Femtosecond (fs = 10 −15 sec.) laser ablation of Si(100) with thermally grown oxide films was studied with pump/probe imaging techniques in order to determine the role of film thickness on ablation dynamics. Two different imaging geometries were used in this study. Front view images were formed with the reflection of a delayed probe pulse from the area of a sample irradiated with a pump pulse. By changing the delay between the pump and probe pulses, images were obtained showing the evolution of the surface as a function of time (0 – 12 ns after the arrival of the pump pulse). The side view imaging technique, also known as shadowographic imaging, an image was formed of a delayed probe pulse which passed through the ablation plume produced by a pump pulse parallel to the sample surface. Both laser induced shock wave propagation and material removal were observed to change with increased thermal oxide thickness.
Zone-Melting Recrystallization of Semiconductor Films

The use of zone melting recrystallization (ZMR) to prepare large-grain (and in some cases single-crystal) semiconductor films is reviewed, with emphasis on recent work on Si on SiO2. Encapsulants are generally required to minimize contamination and decomposition, induce a crystalline texture, improve surface morphology and prevent agglomeration. In the case of Si, the solid-liquid interface is faceted, which gives rise to subboundaries. These can be entrained by laterally modulating the temperature through the use of an optical absorber on top of the encapsulant. Control of thermal gradients and in-plane crystallographic orientation are important for reliable entrainment.
A Real-Time Phase Tracking Method Based on Least Square Parameter Estimation With Adaptive Memory Length

In allusion to realtime tracking of system frequency and phase,a least square parameter estimation method based on adaptive memory length is proposed.This method directly observe the angle of voltage vector in three-phase power network,and the phase angle of voltage is decomposed into phase angle of fundamental component and phase angle deviation due to harmonics or system unbalance, and taking initial phase angle and angular frequency of fundamental component as parameters a observation equation is established.Taking quadratic sum of phase error in a full period as objective function,the realtime parameters are estimated by recursive least square method based on adaptive memory length.There is no trigonometric calculation in iterative process of the algorithm.The results of experiments show that the algorithm is of good tracking performance under kinds of distorted utility conditions.
Quantum optics as enabling for quantum information science (Plenary Paper)

A brief overview is given of the research activities in the Quantum Optics Group at Caltech related to the new science of Quantum Information.
Evaluation and Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms After Outlet Surgery for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

There are many options available in the surgical treatment of outlet obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). While most patients exhibit improvement in their lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) following intervention, up to 35 % of patients may exhibit persistent or recurrent LUTS. In the present review, we discuss the pathophysiology of LUTS after bladder outlet surgery and discuss considerations in evaluating and managing such patients. We highlight the crucial role of thorough evaluation with complete urodynamics testing, as pure obstruction only accounts for a minority of post-operative LUTS. Hence, detrusor contractility, detrusor overactivity, urethral sphincter function, and urinary incontinence must be assessed to appropriately guide subsequent therapy and improve patients’ quality of life.
Magnesium and the Immune Response

Generation and maintenance of immunity is essential to the survival of an organism, but it comes at great metabolic and energetic costs. Therefore integrating cues indicative of nutritional status and environmental changes into signaling pathways regulating immune cell development, homeostasis, and activation is a necessity. The biologically essential ion magnesium (Mg 2+ ) plays an important role in these processes; however, our understanding of its cellular regulation and clinical relevance remained limited because molecular components of Mg 2+ homeostasis remain undefined. Mg 2+ permeable ion channels and transporters (such as Acdp2, MagT1, Mrs2, Paracellin-1, SLC41A1, SLC41A2, TRPM6, and TRPM7) have been identified at the molecular level only recently, and their characterization has provided new insights into the regulation of Mg 2+ homeostasis and how it affects immune responses. Gene deletion of Mg 2+ transporters leads to profound phenotypes with serious systemic effects. For example, TRPM7-deficient chicken DT40 B lymphocytes become growth deficient, leading to cell death within 48 h, TRPM7 deficiency in mice results in early embryonic lethality, and murine TRPM7 −/− thymocytes experience a developmental block at the double-negative stage (earliest thymocyte stage, negative for CD4 and CD8). TRPM7 and its closest homologue TRPM6 are unusual proteins because they represent the only known examples of a Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ permeable ion channels linked to a cytosolic kinase domain. The TRPM6/7 Ser/Thr kinases belong to a small family of atypical enzymes related to eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase, a kinase involved in modulating rates of protein translational elongation in response to nutritional mTOR signaling. The strong contribution of the mTOR pathway to immunity has emerged in multiple studies conducted predominantly in T lymphocytes. Recent discoveries revealed that mutations in Mg 2+ transport systems are the underlying cause of two hereditary diseases, human hypomagnesemia with secondary hypercalcemia (defects in TRPM6), and X-linked immunodeficiency with magnesium defect (XMEN). In particular, XMEN represents a novel type of immune disorder that can lead to severe and chronic Epstein–Barr virus infections and neoplasia, suggesting an unsuspected role for Mg 2+ as a second messenger in immunity. Future studies of Mg 2+ permeable ion channels and transporters expressed in immunocytes, which beyond MagT1 and TRPM6 include Mrs2, SLC41A1, SLC41A2, and TRPM7, will increase our knowledge about the potential role of Mg 2+ in the development and activation of the immune system.
Toward building green computing environment for reservoir simulation

In this paper, we analyze the level of power consumption for running large scale hydrocarbonreservoir simulation on high performance clusters (HPC), which may impact the data center design and the overall environment for running massive simulation models. We derive energy consumption from simulation run time and the power needed to keep associated processors running. We then propose a metric that ties reservoir simulation to Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) factor based on energy consumption per-node. This factor works as the efficiency target that can be adjusted to balance execution time and power consumption.
Physical activity induced protection against breast cancer risk associated with delayed parity

Abstract Epidemiological evidence indicates that physical activity between menarche and first pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer among women with at least 20 years between these reproductive events. The mechanism by which physical activity during this interval confers protection is unknown. This study used a novel animal model to assess potentially protective effects of physical activity on tumor development in delayed parity. Thirty-six female Sprague Dawley rats received an i.p. injection of 50 mg/kg N -methyl- N -nitrosourea (MNU) at 5 weeks of age. Estrogen and progesterone pellets were implanted subcutaneously 1 week (early parity, EP, n = 8) or 4 weeks (delayed parity, DP, n = 11) following MNU injection. An additional group of DP rats were progressively exercise trained (Ex + DP, n = 9) on a treadmill following MNU injection for 7 weeks (up to 20 m/min at 15% incline for 30 min). We observed the greatest tumor latency and smallest tumor burden in Ex + DP animals. Ductal hyperplasia and inflammation of non-tumor bearing mammary glands were only found in DP, and we detected a significant increase in collagen for DP and Ex + DP compared to EP. Exercise induced differential gene expression of cyclin-dependent kinase-inhibitor 1C ( Cdkn1c ) and urokinase-plasminogen activator ( Plau ) in mammary tissue of Ex + DP animals compared to DP alone. While there are delayed parity-induced changes in mammary gland collagen and gene expression levels, Ex + DP animals had longer tumor latency, smaller tumor burden, and glandular tissue resistant to ductal hyperplasia. Exercise may induce protection through beneficial regulation of gene expression profiles.
Analysis for Science Librarians of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Molecular Machines

The 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recognized three scientists for their contributions to exploiting molecules that can act as mechanical components in molecular machines. Jean-Pierre Sauvage was th...
Impact of cable and motor loads on wide bandgap device switching and reflected wave phenomenon in motor drives

In inverter based motor drives, the fast switching speeds of the power devices result in over-voltage at the motor end. Corresponding to these over-voltages at the motor end, there are over-currents at the inverter end. While the over-voltage increases stress on motor and cable insulation, the load and the cable parasitics increases the switching loss of the power devices. These effects are more pronounced in converters using Wide Bandgap (WBG) devices because of the their faster switching speed. Previous works have only studied either over-voltages or currents in converters with low source impedance. In this paper, the effect of inductive source impedance on the Reflected Wave Phenomenon (RWP) is studied. The impact of different filter topologies (used to mitigate the RWP) on the switching losses of the devices. Also, the effect of the cable parasitic including the ground and shield wires are studied here. Experiments are carried out to identify losses in different filter topologies, RWP, switching losses of devices and dv/dt at the load.
Effect of pulsed ultrasound versus placebo on muscle soreness perception and muscular performance.

The purpose of this study was to compare the analgesic effect of pulsating ultrasound treatment and placebo on delayed onset of muscle soreness produced by an eccentric exercise bout. In addition, the effect of pulsed ultrasound on muscular performance following an eccentric exercise bout was studied. Eighteen untrained subjects were randomly assigned to: 1) ultrasound (A) [N = 6] over the areas of concentrated muscle soreness, i.e. proximal vastus lateralis and distal vastus medialis; 2) placebo ultrasound (B) [N = 6]; and 3) no therapeutic intervention (C) [N = 6]. Baseline data were recorded for maximum isometric knee extension contraction (MVC), maximum knee extension torque (MT), knee extension work (W), and soreness perception (SP). All values were subsequently reassessed 24 and 48 hours after intense muscular activity. Immediately following the 24 hour reassessment the A group received ultrasound treatment, the B group received placebo ultrasound, while the C group received no treatment. Percent deviation from baseline of SP, MVC, MT and W were significantly less for A than B and C (p less than 0.05) at 48 hours post muscle soreness bout. These data indicate that pulsed ultrasound accelerates restoration of normal muscle performance, and thus is effective in decreasing delayed onset of muscle soreness. The mechanism for decreasing soreness perception in the muscle is unknown, but may be related to decreasing intramuscular pressure and/or decreasing the inflammatory response.
Large-Scale Assessments of Adult Literacy

In this chapter, ETS’s work in large-scale adult literacy assessments is described. This work has been designed to meet policy needs, both in the United States and internationally, based on the growing awareness of literacy as human capital. The impact of these assessments has grown as policy makers and other stakeholders have increasingly come to understand the critical role that foundational skills play in allowing individuals to maintain and enhance their ability to meet changing work conditions and societal demands. Findings from these surveys have provided a wealth of information about how the distribution of skills is related to social and economic outcomes. Of equal importance, the surveys and associated research activities have contributed to large-scale assessment methodology, the development of innovative item types and delivery systems, and methods for reporting survey data in ways that ensure its utility to a range of stakeholders and audiences.
Infections Caused by Antimicrobial Drug-Resistant Saprophytic Gram-Negative Bacteria in the Environment.

Author(s): Raphael, Eva; Riley, Lee W | Abstract: Background:Drug-resistance genes found in human bacterial pathogens are increasingly recognized in saprophytic Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) from environmental sources. The clinical implication of such environmental GNBs is unknown. Objectives:We conducted a systematic review to determine how often such saprophytic GNBs cause human infections. Methods:We queried PubMed for articles published in English, Spanish, and French between January 2006 and July 2014 for 20 common environmental saprophytic GNB species, using search terms "infections," "human infections," "hospital infection." We analyzed 251 of 1,275 non-duplicate publications that satisfied our selection criteria. Saprophytes implicated in blood stream infection (BSI), urinary tract infection (UTI), skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI), post-surgical infection (PSI), osteomyelitis (Osteo), and pneumonia (PNA) were quantitatively assessed. Results:Thirteen of the 20 queried GNB saprophytic species were implicated in 674 distinct infection episodes from 45 countries. The most common species included Enterobacter aerogenes, Pantoea agglomerans, and Pseudomonas putida. Of these infections, 443 (66%) had BSI, 48 (7%) had SSTI, 36 (5%) had UTI, 28 (4%) had PSI, 21 (3%) had PNA, 16 (3%) had Osteo, and 82 (12%) had other infections. Nearly all infections occurred in subjects with comorbidities. Resistant strains harbored extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), carbapenemase, and metallo-β-lactamase genes recognized in human pathogens. Conclusion:These observations show that saprophytic GNB organisms that harbor recognized drug-resistance genes cause a wide spectrum of infections, especially as opportunistic pathogens. Such GNB saprophytes may become increasingly more common in healthcare settings, as has already been observed with other environmental GNBs such as Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Ferrites for RF Passive Devices

Abstract Recent advances in mobile devices and telecommunications demand compact and high-performance radio frequency (RF) devices, including antennas, isolators, circulators, and inductors. Operation mechanism of these RF devices arises from strong coupling of magnetization dynamics with electromagnetic signals. Understanding the role of magnetism and effect of magnetic materials in the RF applications are, therefore, of great importance for the advancement of device design and performance improvement. Ferrites possess many attractive features for RF device applications such as the nonreciprocity, the frequency-dependent permeability, the magneto-dielectric properties, and high electrical resistivity and low eddy current loss at high frequencies. These characteristics can provide unidirectional wave propagation, device miniaturization, and RF performance improvement. This chapter focuses on the dynamic properties of ferrites and the analysis of fundamental characteristics of RF ferrite devices. The important role of ferrites in RF applications is demonstrated, and the ferrite fabrication techniques and device design methods are also discussed in this chapter.
[Biological specimen banks: epidemiological tools and scientific enterprises].

In the last twenty years many large epidemiological studies have made efforts to collect material for biological specimen banks. These banks contain samples collected for short or long-term cryopreservation at low (e.g. -70 degrees C) or very low (-192 degrees C). This report describes general guidelines and methodological issues to take into consideration in designing and developing a biological specimen bank and is based on experience of three large scale studies. The author describes quality, quantity, methods to collect samples, and condition of cryopreservation that ensure both testing of scientific hypotheses and integrity of the stored samples. Feasibility and long-term storage effect studies should always be part of the design and the basic organization of a biological specimen bank. All operative choices a researcher makes in setting up a biological specimen bank have a direct impact on the future use of the biological samples and should be carefully considered.
Androgen Abuse in Sport: International and National Anti-Androgen Programs

The misuse of anabolic androgenic steroids for the purpose of enhancing performance continues to be a difficult problem for major sport organizations. After nearly fifteen years of education, research, and testing there is still ample evidence that the problem has not been effectively solved. The roots of the problem lie somewhere in the psychology, sociology, and economics of sport. Athletes are not drug users by nature and the point of the drugs is not to obtain a high, it is to enhance performance and win. Athletes are placed in an approach-avoidance conflict, the public expects them to win and rewards the winners, and they are expected to play fair. Many do play fair, but the ones that choose to cheat erode the fundamental value of sport.
Risk of cardiovascular disease in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations

Abstract Objective Estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors and endpoints in women with BRCA mutations. Methods Women, age 40 and older, with BRCA mutations identified in Kaiser Permanente Northern California completed a questionnaire and underwent a lipid and fasting glucose panel. Bivariable analysis of clinical and demographic factors was performed. The Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) calculator was used to predict 10-year risk of a cardiovascular event. Results Of the 233 women, 19 women had intact ovaries (median age 56.0) and 214 had undergone risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO). Among the 108 women with RRSO under age 50 (median age 51.0), compared to the 106 women who had RRSO at or over age 50 (median age 63.5) 6.5% vs 10.4% reported diabetes (p = 0.30), 23.2% versus 28.3% had elevated fasting blood glucose (p = 0.39), 21.3% versus 34.0% reported hypertension (p = 0.04) with median systolic blood pressure of 118 mmHg versus 125.5 mmHg (p Conclusion Women who underwent RRSO at age of 50 and over, had higher ASCVD 10-year risk than women who underwent RRSO at younger ages most likely owing to older age at study entry. The ASCVD risks for women with BRCA mutation who had RRSO did not suggest increased risk associated with being a BRCA mutation carrier.
Remote sensing of the ocean surface refractive index via short-wave infrared polarimetry

Abstract The linear polarization of sunlight reflected by ocean surfaces in the short-wave infrared (SWIR), at geometries where specular reflection dominates the signal, is a direct function of the refractive index of the surface microlayer (SML). This simple physical concept is at the base of a novel technique presented in this study. We invert observations obtained by the airborne Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP) in the sunglint region, where each pixel's radiance is dominated by the signal originating from the wave slopes oriented precisely to cause specular reflection. The SWIR wavelength ensures minimization of aerosol interference when radiance travels through the atmosphere; strong absorption by the water body then limits the penetration depth to the first micrometer or so, effectively probing the SML. The resulting Degree of Linear Polarization (DoLP) is then governed by the refractive index via the Fresnel law for the specific pixel geometry, independently of the windspeed. The selected dataset concerns several field deployments from both low- and high-altitude aircraft, including total reflectance measurements with the sole purpose of accounting for the residual aerosol effect. Stable retrievals from transects above pure seawater yielded values of refractive index that match the values published in the literature within an accuracy of 5 × 10−4. Flying over the oil spill caused by the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon platform, detected variations were found compatible with the presence of an oil slick. The robustness of the results, guaranteed by the high RSP polarimetric accuracy (≤ 0.2%), opens the possibility for remote-sensing detection of other entities that similarly affect the refractive index including whitecaps, microplastics, biological gels, seaweed and grass mats.
Utilization of Laboratory Testing Algorithms for Celiac Disease in a Pediatric Hospital.

BACKGROUND At Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, numerous celiac tests are ordered from a wide range of nonspecialty healthcare providers. OBJECTIVE To retrospectively examine the ordering of celiac tests before and after a test ordering initiative at our institution, to determine whether the initiative impacted appropriate usage of those tests and affected costs. METHODS We carefully scrutinized all orders for comprehensive celiac testing from July 2016 through September 2017, implemented an in-house celiac-disease screening cascade, and reflexed it to the comprehensive celiac testing panel if an abnormal screening result was obtained. RESULTS A total of 60 celiac test orders were issued during the 14-month study period. The ordering physician was a gastroenterologist in 6 cases and a nongastroenterologist in 54 cases. Of the 60 orders, only 4 were approved for sending out for comprehensive celiac testing; in 52 of the 60 cases, the order was altered to celiac screening. In the remaining 4 cases, the tests were canceled as a result of incorrect orders. Only 1 of the 52 celiac screenings yielded a positive result and thus was reflexed to the comprehensive panel. CONCLUSIONS We were able to induce appropriate celiac test usage by implementing a celiac-reflexive cascade. Also, our strategy proved to be extremely cost effective.
Design and Development of Daily Morning Surgical Rounds in ICU by Quality Function Deployment.

Objective Most healthcare quality improvement projects focus on change management rather than the design of the process. In this article, we describe the development of a new rounding model based on quality function deployment, a Design for Six Sigma tool. Methods We used affinity diagram, focus groups, and Kano analysis to identify critical customer requirements. We also used Kano analysis to determine the design team's ability to meet the requirements. We then completed a correlation matrix (House of Quality). Results Fifteen quality characteristics were analyzed on a correlation matrix to meet 15 demanded qualities. Numerical values were calculated based on the interactions identified by the design team. We designed a new rounding model based on the House of Quality; this new rounding model resulted in higher provider satisfaction (median 76-80%, P = 0.06). Conclusions We have described a sophisticated approach to the design of a new change strategy/intervention. This technique can be used as a starting point for other projects attempting to implement meaningful changes for complex processes of medical care.
Getting Ready for Adult Healthcare: Designing a Chatbot to Coach Adolescents with Special Health Needs Through the Transitions of Care

Abstract Objective The AAP, AFP, and ACP have authored statements and recommendations to clinicians about the importance of the transition from pediatric to adult care. The Got Transition program provides a framework and resources based on AAP, AFP and ACP recommendations to promote skill attainment in self-care. Engaging adolescents along the transition journey has proven challenging. Use of smartphones, text messaging, and social media are prevalent among teenagers, offering a unique opportunity to engage teenagers in their preferred channel to provide tools and resources to help them successfully transition to adult focused care. Methods A multidisciplinary team of clinicians, quality improvement facilitators, and human-centered designers at the University of Vermont (UVM) Children's Hospital designed tools for teens with chronic conditions that support the Got Transition recommendations. Using a co-creative design process, we created a novel tool to increase engagement among teenagers. We conducted a pilot study of 13 teenagers with a chronic medical condition using a text messaging platform (chatbot) with scripted interactions to increase engagement and deliver educational content according to Got Transition. Results Mean engagement was 97% during the study period. Qualitative feedback from study participants suggests our chatbot should be extended and shows promise to help teenagers attain self-care skills on the transition journey. Conclusions A scripted text messaging platform is feasible and appears to be well-received by patients and caregivers. Furthermore, our approach emphasizes the need to engage teenagers through multiple platforms to effectively serve as “coaches” during the transition to adult care.
A Novel Approach in Spinal Cord Stimulation for Enhancing Gastric Motility: A Preliminary Study on Canines.

Background/aims Gastroparesis is commonly seen in patients with diabetes and functional dyspepsia with no satisfactory therapies. Dysautonomia is one of the main reasons for the imbalanced motility. We hypothesized that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a viable therapy for gastroparesis via the autonomic modulation to improve gastric motility. The aim is to find an optimal method of SCS for treating gastroparesis. Methods Eight healthy-female dogs were implanted with a gastric cannula, a duodenal cannula, 2 multi-electrode spinal leads, and an implantable pulse generator. Gastric motility index (MI) was used to determine the best stimulation location/parameters of SCS. Optimized SCS was used to improve glucagon-induced gastroparesis. Results With fixed parameters, SCS at Thoracic 10 (T10) was found most effective for increasing gastric MI (37.8%, P = 0.013). SCS was optimized with different parameters (pulse width: 0.05-0.6 msec, frequency: 5-500 Hz, motor threshold: 30-90%) on T10. Our findings revealed that 0.5 msec, 20 Hz with 90% motor threshold at T10 were the best parameters in increasing MI. Glucagon significantly delayed gastric emptying, and this inhibitory effect was partially blocked by SCS. Gastric emptying at 120 minutes was 25.6% in the control session and 15.7% in glucagon session (P = 0.007 vs control), while it was 22.9% with SCS session (P = 0.041 vs glucagon). SCS with the optimal parameters was found to maximally enhance vagal activity and inhibit sympathetic activity assessed by the spectral analysis of heart rate variability. Conclusions SCS with optimized stimulation location and parameters improves gastric motility in healthy-dogs and accelerates gastric emptying impaired by glucagon via enhancing vagal activity.
Spatiotemporal variations in traffic activity and their influence on air pollution levels in communities near highways

Abstract Localized variations in traffic volume and speed can influence air pollutant emissions and corresponding concentrations in nearby communities, but most studies have utilized only aggregated traffic activity data. In this study, we compared the estimated influence of highway traffic activity on concentrations of primary oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in communities near highways using a dispersion model informed by highly spatiotemporally-resolved variations of traffic volume and flow compared to the use of Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) data at a few locations. We used two sources of traffic activity data on 500 half-mile roadway segments on the five major highways in the Washington State Puget Sound during 2013. The first consisted of vehicle counts available every half-mile and 5 min; the second was traffic information (e.g., AADT) aggregated across the year and roadway network. Using the Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) and the Research Line source dispersion model (RLINE), we modeled hourly concentrations of primary NOx and PM2.5 generated by highway traffic at nearly 4000 residences within 1 km of major highways. These concentrations were aggregated to daily and annual average concentrations, which were compared by input data source. At most locations, concentrations of primary NOx and PM2.5 modeled using the resolved traffic data had similar spatial and temporal distributions to concentrations predicted using the AADT data. However, several areas showed large differences. For example, 25% of residences within 150 m of a highway had concentrations that differed by more than 19% (8 ppb) for NOx and 32% (0.7 μg/m3) for PM2.5, and the AADT data consistently predicted lower concentrations than the resolved traffic data. Our findings indicate that temporal and spatial variation in traffic patterns can result in complex spatiotemporal variations of air pollutant concentrations that can be captured with the use of dispersion modeling with the appropriate inputs. The use of spatiotemporally resolved traffic activity data can improve exposure estimates and help reduce exposure measurement error in epidemiological studies, especially in communities near highly congested highways.
Mainstreaming environmental education for architects: the need for basic literacies

What are recent architectural graduates’ perceptions about the level of knowledge required of interns entering architectural practice and the suitability of architectural education? Research is presented that examines recent alumni’s engagement with environmental sustainability while in school. Two aspects of their educational experience are surveyed: their readiness for sustainable design work and their familiarity with the benefits of reusing existing buildings. Recent alumni of the Virginia Tech School of Architecture + Design were asked to explain the areas of practice for which they were best and least prepared, to identify additional educational topics they would have found useful, to name the key purposes and priorities of the discipline of architecture, and to articulate changes they wished to see in schools of architecture. The results point to a current pedagogy where the tacit and explicit knowledge that is critical to the adoption of sustainable approaches to design of new and retrofit structures is undervalued in architectural education. Suggestions from the literature and strategies to ameliorate this situation are presented. Practice relevance Two basic areas of literacy necessary for graduating architecture students are addressed. The first is readiness for environmentally sustainable work, which includes understanding building science concepts. Results of rating and open-ended survey questions indicate that many recent undergraduate alumni feel a sense of obligation to protect the natural environment through their design efforts, but do not claim facility with tangible means to achieve this goal in the design of buildings. The second is appreciation of the existing building fabric, which involves engaging a range of preservation and reuse strategies that preserve the embodied energy present in existing structures. Many alumni felt their education did not prepare them for renovation and reuse work that is often prevalent in their current practices. Architectural educators can take an active role to anticipate the changing needs of the profession and adjust their curricula to provide appropriate capabilities.
Physicochemical parameters that underlie inkjet printing for medical applications

One of the most common types of 3D printing technologies is inkjet printing due to its numerous advantages, including low cost, programmability, high resolution, throughput, and speed. Inkjet printers are also capable of fabricating artificial tissues with physiological characteristics similar to those of living tissues. These artificial tissues are used for disease modeling, drug discovery, drug screening, and replacements for diseased or damaged tissues. This paper reviews recent advancements in one of the most common 3D printing technologies, inkjet dispensing. We briefly consider common printing techniques, including fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (STL), and inkjet printing. We briefly discuss various steps in inkjet printing, including droplet generation, droplet ejection, interaction of droplets on substrates, drying, and solidification. We also discuss various parameters that affect the printing process, including ink properties (e.g., viscosity and surface tension), physical parameters (e.g., internal diameter of printheads), and actuation mechanisms (e.g., piezoelectric actuation and thermal actuation). Through better understanding of common 3D printing technologies and the parameters that influence the printing processes, new types of artificial tissues, disease models, and structures for drug discovery and drug screening may be prepared. This review considers future directions in inkjet printing research that are focused on enhancing the resolution, printability, and uniformity of printed structures.
Ataxia and ophthalmoplegia: an atypical case of Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) with anti-GAD antibody

Background: Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS) is frequently encountered variant of Gillian Barre Syndrome (GBS). It has distinct clinical and serological features. Here we describe an atypical GQ1b sero...
Modeling the fire-induced spalling in concrete structures incorporating hydro-thermo-mechanical stresses

Abstract This paper presents a numerical approach for predicting spalling in concrete structural members under fire conditions. The proposed approach evaluates spalling by taking into account the stresses generated due to pore pressure, thermal gradients, and structural loading under fire conditions. This approach is incorporated as a spalling sub-model into a macroscopic finite element based model that is capable of tracing the thermo-mechanical response of RC beams from pre-cracking stage to collapse under fire conditions. The analysis predictions, namely temperature, deflection, and extent of spalling are compared against the measured values from full-scale fire resistance tests on RC beams made with different concrete types of varying strengths. Results from the analysis indicate that pore pressure induced stresses are the primary trigger, though thermal and mechanical stress levels exert influence on the occurrence of spalling. Further, the level of spalling significantly influences fire resistance of concrete beams under severe fire exposures, and neglecting fire-induced spalling can lead to un-conservative fire resistance predictions in certain scenarios, specifically in the case of high strength concrete (HSC) and ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) beams.